First, let me say I have no original research about our ancestor, and the long, long genealogy I have for his mother may be completely erroneous. So as far as we know for sure, James may have been dropped from a spaceship back in 1607. Many websites indicate that his father was William Morgan and his mother was Elizabeth Morgan. Elizabeth ties into a long long line leading to royalty, but I just found a website that listed the children of William and the well known Elizabeth, and there was no James listed. So for now, James may be the son of William Morgan, and his wife may have been named Elizabeth, but there's no proof.
It's believed that James was born (not to aliens from a spaceship) in Llandaff, Glamorgan, Wales, about 1607 and later lived in Bristol, Gloucester, England. Nothing further is known of him until he sailed from Bristol in the summer of 1636 and landed in Boston. Massachusetts Bay Colony. He settled in Roxbury, Massachusetts and there married Margery Hill on August 6, 1640. In 1649 or 1650, he and his young family moved to New London, Connecticut, where he was associated with the church of Rev. Richard Blinman. Most of the congregation was of Welsh background, which lends credence to the belief that James was also Welsh, although if records have been found and proven I am not aware of them.
He was apparently a respected person in his community, for he was one of a committee to lay out the bounds of New London on the east side of the Great River in 1661. He was one of three people to seat the people in the meeting house in 1661, and in 1662 he was one of a committee to contract to build a house for the ministry. This year he also had the third highest assessment of any town member, with a value of 250 pounds. Apparently his relative wealth were as a result of his land holdings, as there is no mention of other occupations he may have followed. The lands he was first granted were just 6 acres of uplands, which doesn't seem to be a basis for wealth, but he may have been a speculator, also. He sold these lands and moved to what is now Groton, Connecticut in 1657.
Besides serving as a selectman for many years, he was the first Deputy from New London plantations to the General Court at Hartford in 1657 and was returned there annually until 1671. Despite his standing in the community, his relative wealth, and his political achievements, as far as can be found he always signed his name with an "X", indicating he couldn't sign his name.
His known children are Hannah, James, John, Joseph, Abraham, who lived just 11 months, and a daughter who also died in infancy.
I wonder why James chose to come to Massachusetts and then was willing to move from Roxbury to the New Haven (then known as Pequot) settlement? Was it for economic reasons, or was he an adventuresome sort, or was it for religious reasons, or did all three come into play? I'd also like to know what was in his mind as he and his family fled Groton in 1676, when the Indians burned all but four buildings during King Philip's War? Did he have any regrets, or did he and Margery get through this crisis one day at a time, as the other refugees also did? How did they summon up the courage to return and rebuild their home?
Our line of descent is:
James Morgan-Margery Hills
James Morgan Jr-Mary Vine
Mary or Mercy Morgan-Thomas Starr
Thomas Starr Jr-Jerusha Street
John Starr-Mary Sharp
John Starr-Betsy Havens
John Havens Starr-Clarissa Falley
Harriet Clarissa Starr-John Wilson Knott
Edith Clarissa Starr-Edward Allen
Richard/Edith/Vernon/Corinne/Tessora
kids, grandchildren, etc
James is my 8th great grandfather.
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Friday, December 27, 2013
Harshbarger line: Andrew Kepler 1777-1855
Andrew Kepler, perhaps also known as Andreas, was born February 16, 1777, which may actually be his christening or baptism date. For the sake of accuracy, we should probably say, "born on or before" that date. His parents are Bernard Kepler and Maria Elizabeth Lindemuth. Andrew's grandfather, Benedict Kepler, was the immigrant to America, having been born in 1714 in Sulzfeld, Baden Wurttemburg, (Germany, now), and dying in 1778 in Berks County, Pa. Bernard was one of at least six children, and Andrew was the father of at least 9 children. Andrew's wife was Anna Maria Kramer, and she also was of German extraction, and came from a large family.
Internet sources say that the two were married in Pennsylvania in about 1800 in Centre County, Pennsylvania. If this is accurate, it is possible that the family never moved from their original settlement, because part of Centre County was originally part of Northumberland County, which was originally part of Berks County. At any rate, they need not have moved far from their original home, perhaps just over a mountain ridge.
Andrew and Anna Maria had at least 9 children: Mary, Andrew A, John, Rebecca, Samuel, Sarah, Jacob, Elizabeth, and Catherine. Some were born in Centre County, Pa and some were born in Stark County, Ohio. Andrew and his brother John were two of the earliest settlers in Green Township, Stark County, Ohio, having gone there about 1808-1809. John became a justice of the peace there and Andrew was a constable, so the family was respected in the area. Andrew served in the war of 1812, while brother John stayed to take care of the families whose husband/father was gone. He was part of either Rayen's Regiment of the Ohio Militia or the Second Regiment (Hindman's) of the Ohio Militia, or possibly both, at differing time periods. At this point in my research, I can only say that he was probably guarding against Indians who were fighting with the British against the Americans, but I don't know any specifics about when or where these units fought, or even if they actually fought at all.
Andrew "entered" (meaning he was the original land owner, after the natives) land in Green Township in 1832 and again in 1834, with his brother John. By 1850, Andrew's farm was valued at $5500, a pretty considerable sum for the time. There are at least two other listings on the same page of Andrew Kepler, with smaller farms. It is likely one of these was Andrew's son Andrew, but perhaps another of the farms belonged to Andrew Sr. Mary Harshbarger is listed on the same non-population schedule, with a small farm. (This would have been when she was a widow, before her third marriage.
About 1849, Andrew and Mary donated land for the present day cemetery where he and Mary, along with other family members, are buried. It is known as East Liberty Cemetery, and is in what is Green Township, Summit County, Oh. Mary died in 1852 and Andrew died in 1855.
A lot of the dates in this blog are vague, because I haven't found sources for them yet. I intend to do more research on this family, but I want to share what I'd found about them now, "just in case" I never find more.
The line of descent is:
Andrew Kepler-Anna Maria Kramer
Mary Kepler-George Harshbarger
Lewis Harshbarger-Catherine Mentzer
Emmanuel Harshbarger-Clara Ellen Harter
Grover Harshbarger-Goldie Withers
Cleveland Harshbarger-Mary Margaret Beeks
Harshbarger children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren
Internet sources say that the two were married in Pennsylvania in about 1800 in Centre County, Pennsylvania. If this is accurate, it is possible that the family never moved from their original settlement, because part of Centre County was originally part of Northumberland County, which was originally part of Berks County. At any rate, they need not have moved far from their original home, perhaps just over a mountain ridge.
Andrew and Anna Maria had at least 9 children: Mary, Andrew A, John, Rebecca, Samuel, Sarah, Jacob, Elizabeth, and Catherine. Some were born in Centre County, Pa and some were born in Stark County, Ohio. Andrew and his brother John were two of the earliest settlers in Green Township, Stark County, Ohio, having gone there about 1808-1809. John became a justice of the peace there and Andrew was a constable, so the family was respected in the area. Andrew served in the war of 1812, while brother John stayed to take care of the families whose husband/father was gone. He was part of either Rayen's Regiment of the Ohio Militia or the Second Regiment (Hindman's) of the Ohio Militia, or possibly both, at differing time periods. At this point in my research, I can only say that he was probably guarding against Indians who were fighting with the British against the Americans, but I don't know any specifics about when or where these units fought, or even if they actually fought at all.
Andrew "entered" (meaning he was the original land owner, after the natives) land in Green Township in 1832 and again in 1834, with his brother John. By 1850, Andrew's farm was valued at $5500, a pretty considerable sum for the time. There are at least two other listings on the same page of Andrew Kepler, with smaller farms. It is likely one of these was Andrew's son Andrew, but perhaps another of the farms belonged to Andrew Sr. Mary Harshbarger is listed on the same non-population schedule, with a small farm. (This would have been when she was a widow, before her third marriage.
About 1849, Andrew and Mary donated land for the present day cemetery where he and Mary, along with other family members, are buried. It is known as East Liberty Cemetery, and is in what is Green Township, Summit County, Oh. Mary died in 1852 and Andrew died in 1855.
A lot of the dates in this blog are vague, because I haven't found sources for them yet. I intend to do more research on this family, but I want to share what I'd found about them now, "just in case" I never find more.
The line of descent is:
Andrew Kepler-Anna Maria Kramer
Mary Kepler-George Harshbarger
Lewis Harshbarger-Catherine Mentzer
Emmanuel Harshbarger-Clara Ellen Harter
Grover Harshbarger-Goldie Withers
Cleveland Harshbarger-Mary Margaret Beeks
Harshbarger children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Beeks line: Solomon Rees 1744-1829
I'm choosing to write about Solomon today because
1) his ancestry leads us back to Wales
2) study indicates that his family was Quaker, perhaps for several generations
3) there are some mysteries still surrounding him
4) I happen to like the name Solomon!
5) while preparing this blog, I discovered a major error on my part, and will have to change the ancestry family tree as soon as I have a chance. Suffice it to say that his father was Thomas Rees born 1706, not Thomas Rees born 1734.
Solomon was born to Thomas Rees and Margaret Bowen, about 1743 or 1744, possibly in Frederick County, Virginia, or perhaps en route from Chester County to Frederick County. His parents had married in Chester County, Pa. and were Quakers, or members of the Society of Friends. Many of the settlers of Chester County were Quakers, who had been forced from Wales due to religious persecution, and many eventually went to Virginia, and then eventually on to Pennsylvania and points west. Thomas and Margaret had 10 children who lived to adulthood, and given the facts of the time, they may have had more children who died young.
Solomon was married in or near Frederick County, Virginia, contrary to the rules of the Friends, and thus was disowned prior to June 6, 1774. Quakers were permitted to marry only Quakers, and being disowned was a serious matter, since technically Quakers were no longer permitted to speak to him or help him in any way. So we must assume that he really loved his wife, believed to be named Ann or Anna. The couple stayed in Frederick County until 1787. Some of his brothers had moved to Washington County, Pennsylvania about 1780 and it is possible that this is where Solomon and Ann
went. This would have been a difficult time to be living in that part of the country, as it was very much frontier country. The British had made allies of the Indians, and there were numerous battles and skirmishes as part of the Revolutionary War, and after, so it was not really a safe place to raise a family.
There are records of several Rees families, including Solomon, in Hocking Township, Fairfield County, Ohio in 1806, but it isn't yet known when the family had moved there, and it appears that he moved on to Fayette County, Ohio about that time. He built and operated a brewery on the outskirts of New Martinsburg. Solomon died in 1829 in Fayette County. I have not yet located a copy of his will, if there was one.
His known children are Sarah, Lydia, Hiram, Owen Traveler, John, Sampson, and possibly two other daughters, Margaret and Katherine.
I'd like to know who Solomon's wife was, and whether there is a will, and details of his travels. From Chester County, Pa to Frederick County, Va. to possibly Washington County, Pa to Fairfield and Fayette Counties, Ohio, from Quaker to whatever religion he may have accepted, from whatever his earlier occupation might have been to brewer, from settled land to dangerous frontier, this man led a fascinating life.
The line of descent is:
Solomon Rees-Ann
Owen T Rees-Margaret Ellen Moon
Eliza Matilda Moon-Samuel Goodnight Dunham
Margaret Catherine Dunham-Harvey Homer Aldridge
Gretta Cleo Aldridge-Wilbur Beeks
Beeks children-grandchildren, etc.
1) his ancestry leads us back to Wales
2) study indicates that his family was Quaker, perhaps for several generations
3) there are some mysteries still surrounding him
4) I happen to like the name Solomon!
5) while preparing this blog, I discovered a major error on my part, and will have to change the ancestry family tree as soon as I have a chance. Suffice it to say that his father was Thomas Rees born 1706, not Thomas Rees born 1734.
Solomon was born to Thomas Rees and Margaret Bowen, about 1743 or 1744, possibly in Frederick County, Virginia, or perhaps en route from Chester County to Frederick County. His parents had married in Chester County, Pa. and were Quakers, or members of the Society of Friends. Many of the settlers of Chester County were Quakers, who had been forced from Wales due to religious persecution, and many eventually went to Virginia, and then eventually on to Pennsylvania and points west. Thomas and Margaret had 10 children who lived to adulthood, and given the facts of the time, they may have had more children who died young.
Solomon was married in or near Frederick County, Virginia, contrary to the rules of the Friends, and thus was disowned prior to June 6, 1774. Quakers were permitted to marry only Quakers, and being disowned was a serious matter, since technically Quakers were no longer permitted to speak to him or help him in any way. So we must assume that he really loved his wife, believed to be named Ann or Anna. The couple stayed in Frederick County until 1787. Some of his brothers had moved to Washington County, Pennsylvania about 1780 and it is possible that this is where Solomon and Ann
went. This would have been a difficult time to be living in that part of the country, as it was very much frontier country. The British had made allies of the Indians, and there were numerous battles and skirmishes as part of the Revolutionary War, and after, so it was not really a safe place to raise a family.
There are records of several Rees families, including Solomon, in Hocking Township, Fairfield County, Ohio in 1806, but it isn't yet known when the family had moved there, and it appears that he moved on to Fayette County, Ohio about that time. He built and operated a brewery on the outskirts of New Martinsburg. Solomon died in 1829 in Fayette County. I have not yet located a copy of his will, if there was one.
His known children are Sarah, Lydia, Hiram, Owen Traveler, John, Sampson, and possibly two other daughters, Margaret and Katherine.
I'd like to know who Solomon's wife was, and whether there is a will, and details of his travels. From Chester County, Pa to Frederick County, Va. to possibly Washington County, Pa to Fairfield and Fayette Counties, Ohio, from Quaker to whatever religion he may have accepted, from whatever his earlier occupation might have been to brewer, from settled land to dangerous frontier, this man led a fascinating life.
The line of descent is:
Solomon Rees-Ann
Owen T Rees-Margaret Ellen Moon
Eliza Matilda Moon-Samuel Goodnight Dunham
Margaret Catherine Dunham-Harvey Homer Aldridge
Gretta Cleo Aldridge-Wilbur Beeks
Beeks children-grandchildren, etc.
Friday, December 20, 2013
Holbrook line: John Adam Brown
John Adam Brown was born sometime around 1760, according to his tombstone and census records, and died before March 31, 1834. He had at least one brother, George. He was possibly born in or near Rowan County, North Carolina, and died in Preble County, Ohio. We know that he married Catherine Clapp on March 24, 1784 in Orange County, North Carolina. The Clapps were a German family who came from Weissenheim-Berg, Hesse (Germany) originally, via Berks County, Pa. The Clapps came to Orange County about 1754 in one of the famous wagon trains from Berks County, but we don't yet know if Adam's family came that way, too, or whether they may have been some of the Germans who came up through the Carolinas and went west. It's not even known for sure whether the Brown family was German, but since there is a remark in an 1881 history of Preble County that this family spoke only German in the home, we are guessing that Adam was originally known at Johann Adam, and that his family name was originally Braun. The Clapp family is proven but I have found no proof for the Brown/Braun family back further than this John Adam.
When John Phillip Clapp, Catherine's father, died in 1798 he left land on or near Sandy Creek in the northeast corner of Randolph County to Adam Brown, and this is where they apparently raised their family until they left for Ohio.
The only descendent that we have found definite baptismal/christening records for is John Adam Brown, Jr., who was born in Guilford County, NC in 1804. He was christened at the "Old Brick Church" in Guilford County, and the date (not sure if this is birth date or christening date) was March 18, 1804. He is possibly the last of Adam and Catherine's children, or at least the last born in North Carolina.
In 1805, Adam sold his land so quickly that it was only recorded after the fact, when Adam and Catherine and their family were probably already on their way to their new home in Preble County, Ohio. The children that we think we have identified are Polly, George A, John, John Adam, Frederick, and Peter. In the 1790 census in Guilford County,there were four females listed, which would indicate there could have been two older daughters. , and in the 1820 census in Harrison Township, Preble County there are two white males 10-15, one 16-18 (perhaps our John Adam), two who are 16-25 (John Adam and Frederick?), and one white female under 10 as well as two white females 16-25. George, John, Peter and Polly have apparently left home, and we still have several females to identify. Were they children, or were they another relative? And who were they? At any rate, this family settled in Preble County when there were only three other men in the county, so they were very early pioneers.
We know that Adam was already listed as a taxpayer in Preble County in 1808, and that when he arrived he was o. In 1817, Adam Brown and wife Catherine donated or sold 1 acre of land to John Lock Sr and Peter Ozias as Trustees of the German Lutheran and German Calvinist Society, by name of Frederick Meeting House Congregation of Preble County, Ohio, for $20. Adam Brown also purchased goods or chattel at the auction of John Lock's goods, in 1818, in Harrison Twp., so they must have been near neighbors. He may have been too old to have participated in a regular basis in the War of 1812, but it is likely that he at least stood guard duty while the younger men were out on campaign. I have not been able to show that he fought in the Revolutionary War, either, although with a battle having taken place at Guilford Court House, it is possible that he was at least involved in that battle in some way.
Adam Brown's estate is listed as case number 543 in the Preble County Probate Abstracts. He was buried in either Old Euphemia Cemetery, or in Roselawn Cemetery, Lewisburg, Preble County. The death date matches for Roselawn Cemetery, but Find A Grave gives a birthdate of 1757 for him, which is a little earlier than other sites give.
As to the parents of John Adam St, I have two theories. One is that he is one or another of the several Johann Adam Braun's born in Berks County, Pa in the 1755-1765 time period, and that he came to North Carolina with one of the family groups that moved together. The other is that his father was Frederick Brown. Frederick is listed as having been on a road crew in Rowan County in 1753, so he was at least 21 at that time. He owned land in the same tract as Ludwig Clapp (Catherine's grandfather) in 1758, on Sandy Creek. He was naturalized in Salisbury, Rowan County in 1763, and is clearly noted as having been from Germany. So far I have found not a hint as to who his wife, if any, may have been.
As usual, there are more questions than answers about Adam. I would love to know whether he was at the battle at Guilford Court House. I'd love to know what his role was in the War of 1812, if any. I'd love to know more about his descendants, and where they ended up besides Cook County, Illinois. And of course, I'd love to know his parents, and where they came from.
Our line of descent is:
John Adam Brown-Catherine Clapp
John Adam Brown, Jr.-Elizabeth Myers
Phoebe Brown-Fremont Holbrook
Loren Holbrook-Etta Stanard
their children, and their children's descendants-we know who we are!
When John Phillip Clapp, Catherine's father, died in 1798 he left land on or near Sandy Creek in the northeast corner of Randolph County to Adam Brown, and this is where they apparently raised their family until they left for Ohio.
The only descendent that we have found definite baptismal/christening records for is John Adam Brown, Jr., who was born in Guilford County, NC in 1804. He was christened at the "Old Brick Church" in Guilford County, and the date (not sure if this is birth date or christening date) was March 18, 1804. He is possibly the last of Adam and Catherine's children, or at least the last born in North Carolina.
In 1805, Adam sold his land so quickly that it was only recorded after the fact, when Adam and Catherine and their family were probably already on their way to their new home in Preble County, Ohio. The children that we think we have identified are Polly, George A, John, John Adam, Frederick, and Peter. In the 1790 census in Guilford County,there were four females listed, which would indicate there could have been two older daughters. , and in the 1820 census in Harrison Township, Preble County there are two white males 10-15, one 16-18 (perhaps our John Adam), two who are 16-25 (John Adam and Frederick?), and one white female under 10 as well as two white females 16-25. George, John, Peter and Polly have apparently left home, and we still have several females to identify. Were they children, or were they another relative? And who were they? At any rate, this family settled in Preble County when there were only three other men in the county, so they were very early pioneers.
We know that Adam was already listed as a taxpayer in Preble County in 1808, and that when he arrived he was o. In 1817, Adam Brown and wife Catherine donated or sold 1 acre of land to John Lock Sr and Peter Ozias as Trustees of the German Lutheran and German Calvinist Society, by name of Frederick Meeting House Congregation of Preble County, Ohio, for $20. Adam Brown also purchased goods or chattel at the auction of John Lock's goods, in 1818, in Harrison Twp., so they must have been near neighbors. He may have been too old to have participated in a regular basis in the War of 1812, but it is likely that he at least stood guard duty while the younger men were out on campaign. I have not been able to show that he fought in the Revolutionary War, either, although with a battle having taken place at Guilford Court House, it is possible that he was at least involved in that battle in some way.
Adam Brown's estate is listed as case number 543 in the Preble County Probate Abstracts. He was buried in either Old Euphemia Cemetery, or in Roselawn Cemetery, Lewisburg, Preble County. The death date matches for Roselawn Cemetery, but Find A Grave gives a birthdate of 1757 for him, which is a little earlier than other sites give.
As to the parents of John Adam St, I have two theories. One is that he is one or another of the several Johann Adam Braun's born in Berks County, Pa in the 1755-1765 time period, and that he came to North Carolina with one of the family groups that moved together. The other is that his father was Frederick Brown. Frederick is listed as having been on a road crew in Rowan County in 1753, so he was at least 21 at that time. He owned land in the same tract as Ludwig Clapp (Catherine's grandfather) in 1758, on Sandy Creek. He was naturalized in Salisbury, Rowan County in 1763, and is clearly noted as having been from Germany. So far I have found not a hint as to who his wife, if any, may have been.
As usual, there are more questions than answers about Adam. I would love to know whether he was at the battle at Guilford Court House. I'd love to know what his role was in the War of 1812, if any. I'd love to know more about his descendants, and where they ended up besides Cook County, Illinois. And of course, I'd love to know his parents, and where they came from.
Our line of descent is:
John Adam Brown-Catherine Clapp
John Adam Brown, Jr.-Elizabeth Myers
Phoebe Brown-Fremont Holbrook
Loren Holbrook-Etta Stanard
their children, and their children's descendants-we know who we are!
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Allen line: Will our John Campbell please stand up and identify himself?
The known facts about John Campbell are few and far between. We know he died in Madison County, Kentucky, on April 20, 1806 and is buried in Madison County, Kentucky. This John Campbell is most probably "our" John Campbell, because he was married to Jane Garvin and in 1809 we have a copy of Jane G Campbell giving permission for her daughter, Sarah, also known as "Sally", to marry Lemuel Dunn in Madison County, Ky.
There was a John Campbell who was the witness of his brother Thomas's will in Madison County, Ky on May 17, 1796. We don't know if this is the same John Campbell, because Campbell was a common name in Kentucky at that time, and even in Madison County there seem to be several families of Campbell. There was a John Campbell listed in the Madison County Tax list of 1800. On that list, he is named as "John A." Is this a correct initial for our John? What might it signify? There is also a John Campbell who was a witness to the will of William Hamilton on June 28, 1800 in Madison County, Kentucky. Again, is this one ours, or someone else's?
A transcript of information, or more precisely, a query, was printed in the Boston Transcript on January 14, 1929. "Wanted, parents of John Campbell born in Pa in about 1760, married Jane Garvin born in Ireland abt 1763. They were married about 1784, and had John G, born January 22, 1785, Mary Powers, born December 22, 1786, Sarah Reid born November 22, 1788, Isaac, born March 19, 1797, and David Garvin, born October 2, 1799. The younger members of the family were born near Union, Monroe County, WV. They emigrated to Kentucky 1802-1805, settled in Mercer County. John Campbell died April 20, 1806 and is buried in Madison County, Kentucky. He had a brother, Hugh, and I do not know names of other children of this family. Would like this information. H.M."
There were Garvins in Madison County, Ky during this same time period, and also in Monroe/Greenbrier County, WV a decade earlier. If we trace Garvins back further, they can be found in Cumberland County, Pa., as can several families of Campbells. This may be a possible clue. However, there are also a large number of Campbells in Augusta County, Va,, who may somehow be connected. To complicate matters, a biography of George Washington Dunn, son of Lemuel Dunn and Sarah Reid Campbell, indicates that John Campbell fought in the Revolutionary War from Virginia. There are too many pieces to this puzzle; some have to belong to some other family. The question is, which ones?
Well, H.M., I would certainly like to have the answers to your query, also. I can find hints and bits and pieces of two or possibly three John Campbell families in Monroe/Greenbriar County, WV and in Augusta County, Va, but nothing that would rule one of the families in or out. Then there is a list of taxables from 1792 in Washington County, Virginia that includes the names of Hugh, James, John, and Thomas, (also Anne Campbell) which should probably be pursued, since John's brothers were Hugh and possibly Thomas, and there was a James Campbell in Mercer County, Ky (where Sarah Campbell Dunn lived) in 1830 who would have been the right age to be the brother of John and possibly Thomas and Hugh. There are so many clues, but my puzzle just isn't taking shape yet.
I'm reasonably sure that John is going to trace back somehow to one of the Campbells of Scotland, but I don't know if it will be ever be possible to make that connection. For now, I'd just be excited to find out whether he came from Cumberland County, Pa, or August County, Va, or Washington County, Va, or some other location entirely, and I'd be thrilled to know who his parents were!
Here's the line of descent:
John Campbell-Jane Garvin
Sarah Reid Campbell-Lemuel Dunn
Margaret J Dunn-Archibald Allen
George R Allen-Nancy McCoy
Edward Allen-Edith Knott
Vernon/Edith/Corinne/Tessora/Richard
The rest of us-we know who we are!
There was a John Campbell who was the witness of his brother Thomas's will in Madison County, Ky on May 17, 1796. We don't know if this is the same John Campbell, because Campbell was a common name in Kentucky at that time, and even in Madison County there seem to be several families of Campbell. There was a John Campbell listed in the Madison County Tax list of 1800. On that list, he is named as "John A." Is this a correct initial for our John? What might it signify? There is also a John Campbell who was a witness to the will of William Hamilton on June 28, 1800 in Madison County, Kentucky. Again, is this one ours, or someone else's?
A transcript of information, or more precisely, a query, was printed in the Boston Transcript on January 14, 1929. "Wanted, parents of John Campbell born in Pa in about 1760, married Jane Garvin born in Ireland abt 1763. They were married about 1784, and had John G, born January 22, 1785, Mary Powers, born December 22, 1786, Sarah Reid born November 22, 1788, Isaac, born March 19, 1797, and David Garvin, born October 2, 1799. The younger members of the family were born near Union, Monroe County, WV. They emigrated to Kentucky 1802-1805, settled in Mercer County. John Campbell died April 20, 1806 and is buried in Madison County, Kentucky. He had a brother, Hugh, and I do not know names of other children of this family. Would like this information. H.M."
There were Garvins in Madison County, Ky during this same time period, and also in Monroe/Greenbrier County, WV a decade earlier. If we trace Garvins back further, they can be found in Cumberland County, Pa., as can several families of Campbells. This may be a possible clue. However, there are also a large number of Campbells in Augusta County, Va,, who may somehow be connected. To complicate matters, a biography of George Washington Dunn, son of Lemuel Dunn and Sarah Reid Campbell, indicates that John Campbell fought in the Revolutionary War from Virginia. There are too many pieces to this puzzle; some have to belong to some other family. The question is, which ones?
Well, H.M., I would certainly like to have the answers to your query, also. I can find hints and bits and pieces of two or possibly three John Campbell families in Monroe/Greenbriar County, WV and in Augusta County, Va, but nothing that would rule one of the families in or out. Then there is a list of taxables from 1792 in Washington County, Virginia that includes the names of Hugh, James, John, and Thomas, (also Anne Campbell) which should probably be pursued, since John's brothers were Hugh and possibly Thomas, and there was a James Campbell in Mercer County, Ky (where Sarah Campbell Dunn lived) in 1830 who would have been the right age to be the brother of John and possibly Thomas and Hugh. There are so many clues, but my puzzle just isn't taking shape yet.
I'm reasonably sure that John is going to trace back somehow to one of the Campbells of Scotland, but I don't know if it will be ever be possible to make that connection. For now, I'd just be excited to find out whether he came from Cumberland County, Pa, or August County, Va, or Washington County, Va, or some other location entirely, and I'd be thrilled to know who his parents were!
Here's the line of descent:
John Campbell-Jane Garvin
Sarah Reid Campbell-Lemuel Dunn
Margaret J Dunn-Archibald Allen
George R Allen-Nancy McCoy
Edward Allen-Edith Knott
Vernon/Edith/Corinne/Tessora/Richard
The rest of us-we know who we are!
Friday, December 13, 2013
Holbrook line: Libbeus Stannard 1756-1846
Libbeus Stannard was born in Suffield, Hartford County, Connecticut, December 5, 1756, and died at Perryville, Madison County, New York on September 5, 1846. His parents were John Stannard and Hannah Hatchett, and he was one of at least 10 children. So far, his story doesn't look very remarkable.
However, during his early manhood the colonies were forced to fight the Revolutionary War, and Libbeus joined the service of his country that was not yet born. He lived at Rupert, Vermont, at the time, enlisted in January 1776, and served four months and six days as a private in Captain Gideon Brownson's Company, Colonel Seth Warner's Regiment of Green Mountain Boys, and was in Arnold's Expedition to Canada. He enlisted in July 1776 and served three month as a private in the Connecticut Troops. Again, he enlisted in 1781 and served three or four weeks as a private in the Vermont troops. (I am not sure that the information about Arnold's Expedition to Quebec is correct, because that was in 1775. Either he was not on this expedition, or Libbeus's file at Fold 3 doesn't reflect this, except in a letter dated September 19, 1924 from the War Department to Jane S Johnson of Brookline, Mass. The expedition's records may or may not clear this up.)
It's not clear when Libbeus moved to Rupert, Vermont, but there was a child, Eunis, born there in 1779, and the war records say he enlisted first at Rupert, in 1776. A biography of his grandson indicates that Libbeus's son Libbeus, who was born in 1785, was 21 when the family moved to New York (Madison County), so that would put the move about 1806. The senior Libbeus is found in various New York locations, all in Madison County, in the 1810, 1820, and 1830 censuses. I have been unable to determine his occupation but I'm thinking he may have been farming. Known children of Libbeus and Eunice Pomeroy are Eunis, noted above, Libbeus, mentioned above, Lydia, Lucinda, and Alvin. Census records indicate the possibility of more children, because in 1800 there were two white males under 10, 1 aged 10-15, one aged 16-25, two white females under 10, and two aged 16-25. It is possible, of course, that there were other configurations that would support this census, such as a son or daughter with spouse and children living with them.
In 1832, by this time 78 years of age, he applied for a pension from the government, based on his Revolutionary War service, and eventually was approved for it as an invalid. He lived 14 more years, and there is a final payment voucher received from the General Accounting Office sent to Albany, New York, for the third quarter of 1846.
Much of the information for this post was taken from Fold 3, and from Ancestry.com. More research needs to be done in New York, to determine whether Libbeus owned land, and in Vermont, to try to figure out when Libbeus moved there, and whether he was the only family member who did so. I also want to clarify whether or not Libbeus was actually part of Benedict Arnold's expedition to Canada in 1775. Does someone reading this have any of this information?
The line of descent is:
Libbeus Stannard-Eunice Pomeroy
Libbeus Stannard Jr-Luceba (Euzebia) Fay
Hiram Stanard-Susan Eddy
Louis Stanard-Mary Alice Hetrick
Etta Stanard-Loren Holbrook
Ray/Howard/Lois/Gladys Holbrook
However, during his early manhood the colonies were forced to fight the Revolutionary War, and Libbeus joined the service of his country that was not yet born. He lived at Rupert, Vermont, at the time, enlisted in January 1776, and served four months and six days as a private in Captain Gideon Brownson's Company, Colonel Seth Warner's Regiment of Green Mountain Boys, and was in Arnold's Expedition to Canada. He enlisted in July 1776 and served three month as a private in the Connecticut Troops. Again, he enlisted in 1781 and served three or four weeks as a private in the Vermont troops. (I am not sure that the information about Arnold's Expedition to Quebec is correct, because that was in 1775. Either he was not on this expedition, or Libbeus's file at Fold 3 doesn't reflect this, except in a letter dated September 19, 1924 from the War Department to Jane S Johnson of Brookline, Mass. The expedition's records may or may not clear this up.)
It's not clear when Libbeus moved to Rupert, Vermont, but there was a child, Eunis, born there in 1779, and the war records say he enlisted first at Rupert, in 1776. A biography of his grandson indicates that Libbeus's son Libbeus, who was born in 1785, was 21 when the family moved to New York (Madison County), so that would put the move about 1806. The senior Libbeus is found in various New York locations, all in Madison County, in the 1810, 1820, and 1830 censuses. I have been unable to determine his occupation but I'm thinking he may have been farming. Known children of Libbeus and Eunice Pomeroy are Eunis, noted above, Libbeus, mentioned above, Lydia, Lucinda, and Alvin. Census records indicate the possibility of more children, because in 1800 there were two white males under 10, 1 aged 10-15, one aged 16-25, two white females under 10, and two aged 16-25. It is possible, of course, that there were other configurations that would support this census, such as a son or daughter with spouse and children living with them.
In 1832, by this time 78 years of age, he applied for a pension from the government, based on his Revolutionary War service, and eventually was approved for it as an invalid. He lived 14 more years, and there is a final payment voucher received from the General Accounting Office sent to Albany, New York, for the third quarter of 1846.
Much of the information for this post was taken from Fold 3, and from Ancestry.com. More research needs to be done in New York, to determine whether Libbeus owned land, and in Vermont, to try to figure out when Libbeus moved there, and whether he was the only family member who did so. I also want to clarify whether or not Libbeus was actually part of Benedict Arnold's expedition to Canada in 1775. Does someone reading this have any of this information?
The line of descent is:
Libbeus Stannard-Eunice Pomeroy
Libbeus Stannard Jr-Luceba (Euzebia) Fay
Hiram Stanard-Susan Eddy
Louis Stanard-Mary Alice Hetrick
Etta Stanard-Loren Holbrook
Ray/Howard/Lois/Gladys Holbrook
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Harshbarger line: Hans Jacob Kemery and those darn facts, or lack thereof
One of the things blogging makes me do, which is a good thing, is look for weak links in the tree. It looks like Hans Jacob Kemery or Kemmerli may be one of them. He was born sometime in the 1780s (per 1840 census) in York County, Pa, and married Anna Maria Lauber. He died in Stark County, Ohio on October 8, 1847 and is buried in Sherman Church Cemetery there. The known children of Jacob and Anna Maria are John, Adam, Daniel, Jacob, and George. I suspect there are more children, especially girls, but I have not yet found them.
The 1840 census in Pike Township, Stark County, Ohio does show three females who could be his children. This is the only census record I've found that fits the family and the suspected locations they would have been, although there are records in Northampton County, Pa that may be the family in earlier years.
The reason I'm questioning the information on my tree is that I was looking for some names in a copy of a book edited by Don Yoder, called Pennsylvania German Immigrants. In that book there is listed a Johann Jacob Kuemmerle and wife Margaretha nee Heintzelman of Neckarlenzlingen, (Germany), along with a son Johann Jacob born 12/ 6/1744 and daughter Anna Margaretha born 12/27/1742. This family came to America on the Richard and Mary, landing in Philadelphia on September 17, 1753.
The information on the internet, unsourced, gives a birth date for our H. Jacob's father as 1734 and says he was born in Holland. I have found other ancestors who were listed as from Holland when their actual birth location was a German state or Switzerland. The families may have stayed in Holland for a year or two to raise money to come to America, but they weren't permanent residents there. I suspect this may be the case with this family. I would life to look at the "Kuemmerle" family in more depth to determine whether they could be ancestors of Hans Jacob born 1791. And if so, was the Johann Jacob born in 1744 the father of our H. Jacob, or the grandfather? Either would be a possibility.
Indications are that this family may have been in York County, Pa, possibly Windsor Township, so my next trip to the Allen County Public Library will include a search of the records there. In the meantime, I would love to hear from anyone researching this family. Maybe you've already found the answers I'm looking for, or maybe we can work together to solve this mystery.
This is the line of descent.
H. Jacob Kemery-Anna Maria Lauber
Daniel Kemery and Susannah Essig
Adam Kemery and Nancy Buchtel
Della Kemery and William H Withers
Goldie Withers and Grover Harshbarger
Cleveland Harshbarger and Mary Margaret Beeks
Harshbarger children and grand children-you know who you are!
The 1840 census in Pike Township, Stark County, Ohio does show three females who could be his children. This is the only census record I've found that fits the family and the suspected locations they would have been, although there are records in Northampton County, Pa that may be the family in earlier years.
The reason I'm questioning the information on my tree is that I was looking for some names in a copy of a book edited by Don Yoder, called Pennsylvania German Immigrants. In that book there is listed a Johann Jacob Kuemmerle and wife Margaretha nee Heintzelman of Neckarlenzlingen, (Germany), along with a son Johann Jacob born 12/ 6/1744 and daughter Anna Margaretha born 12/27/1742. This family came to America on the Richard and Mary, landing in Philadelphia on September 17, 1753.
The information on the internet, unsourced, gives a birth date for our H. Jacob's father as 1734 and says he was born in Holland. I have found other ancestors who were listed as from Holland when their actual birth location was a German state or Switzerland. The families may have stayed in Holland for a year or two to raise money to come to America, but they weren't permanent residents there. I suspect this may be the case with this family. I would life to look at the "Kuemmerle" family in more depth to determine whether they could be ancestors of Hans Jacob born 1791. And if so, was the Johann Jacob born in 1744 the father of our H. Jacob, or the grandfather? Either would be a possibility.
Indications are that this family may have been in York County, Pa, possibly Windsor Township, so my next trip to the Allen County Public Library will include a search of the records there. In the meantime, I would love to hear from anyone researching this family. Maybe you've already found the answers I'm looking for, or maybe we can work together to solve this mystery.
This is the line of descent.
H. Jacob Kemery-Anna Maria Lauber
Daniel Kemery and Susannah Essig
Adam Kemery and Nancy Buchtel
Della Kemery and William H Withers
Goldie Withers and Grover Harshbarger
Cleveland Harshbarger and Mary Margaret Beeks
Harshbarger children and grand children-you know who you are!
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Harshbarger Line: Lewis Harshbarger 1828-1875
This really more like a "not a post" because I know so little of this man. I do want to at least get what little is known about him posted, however, because if I wait till I know more, I may never post at all about him. He was known as "a man of great powers" so there must have been something remarkable about him.
Lewis was born in either Ohio or Pennsylvania, depending on which census you believe, in 1828. His parents, George Harshbarger and Mary Kepler Harshbarger, were from Pennsylvania and so far I haven't been able to determine when they moved from Centre County, Pennsylvania to Summit County, Ohio. Both of these areas had large German communities and indeed, the Harshbargers and the Keplers both go back to Germany (the Harshbargers actually to Switzerland and the Keplers to Hessen, which became part of Germany).
Lewis had at least three brothers, Milo, Andrew Jackson, and John, and a sister, Leah. His father, George, died in 1844 when Lewis was just 16. His mother eventually remarried and sometime in the 1850s he along with his brothers moved to Union Township, Whitley County, Indiana. Lewis had married in Summit County, Ohio to Catherine Mancer (Mentzer), on February 26, 1852. She also was of German ancestry, and it is believed that only German was spoken in this household.
Lewis supported his family in several ways. He was an undertaker in Ohio, and a cabinet maker, but apparently did not carry on either of those trades when he moved to Indiana. He became a farmer in Whitley County, and apparently a successful one. When he came to Whitley County, the only building on the land was a crude log cabin. He cleared most of the land himself, probably using the oxen he was known to have, which aided him greatly in his farm work. In the 1860 census, he is shown as having a farm valued at $1100 with $250 in personal property, and in 1870 his farm had grown from 66 acres to 252 acres, valued at $8000 and $500 personal property. A comment in a Whitley County history which I failed to document says that he was a "man of great powers".
He and Catherine were also busy raising a family. Their children were Milo, Emanuel, Lovina, Matilda (who was four months old and unnamed at the 1860 census), Henry, and Catherine. David, Cassie, and Mary are also shown on the internet as their children. Since I don't have birth dates for them, it's hard to know whether these were their children or not. If even some of them were part of this family, Catherine certainly had her hands full when Lewis died in 1875. Catherine, who had been born in 1830, lived until 1914 and was buried beside Lewis, at the Egolf Cemetery next to the Thorncreek Church of God, in Whitley County, Indiana.
Obviously, much more research needs to be done for Lewis but I am posting this now on the theory that something is better than nothing, and that this will at least give a sense of the man. The line of descent is:
Lewis Harshbarger-Catherine Mancer (Mentzer)
Emanuel Harshbarger-Clara Ellen Harter
Grover Harshbarger-Goldie Withers
Cleveland Harshbarger-Mary Margaret Beeks
Harshbarger children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren
Lewis was born in either Ohio or Pennsylvania, depending on which census you believe, in 1828. His parents, George Harshbarger and Mary Kepler Harshbarger, were from Pennsylvania and so far I haven't been able to determine when they moved from Centre County, Pennsylvania to Summit County, Ohio. Both of these areas had large German communities and indeed, the Harshbargers and the Keplers both go back to Germany (the Harshbargers actually to Switzerland and the Keplers to Hessen, which became part of Germany).
Lewis had at least three brothers, Milo, Andrew Jackson, and John, and a sister, Leah. His father, George, died in 1844 when Lewis was just 16. His mother eventually remarried and sometime in the 1850s he along with his brothers moved to Union Township, Whitley County, Indiana. Lewis had married in Summit County, Ohio to Catherine Mancer (Mentzer), on February 26, 1852. She also was of German ancestry, and it is believed that only German was spoken in this household.
Lewis supported his family in several ways. He was an undertaker in Ohio, and a cabinet maker, but apparently did not carry on either of those trades when he moved to Indiana. He became a farmer in Whitley County, and apparently a successful one. When he came to Whitley County, the only building on the land was a crude log cabin. He cleared most of the land himself, probably using the oxen he was known to have, which aided him greatly in his farm work. In the 1860 census, he is shown as having a farm valued at $1100 with $250 in personal property, and in 1870 his farm had grown from 66 acres to 252 acres, valued at $8000 and $500 personal property. A comment in a Whitley County history which I failed to document says that he was a "man of great powers".
He and Catherine were also busy raising a family. Their children were Milo, Emanuel, Lovina, Matilda (who was four months old and unnamed at the 1860 census), Henry, and Catherine. David, Cassie, and Mary are also shown on the internet as their children. Since I don't have birth dates for them, it's hard to know whether these were their children or not. If even some of them were part of this family, Catherine certainly had her hands full when Lewis died in 1875. Catherine, who had been born in 1830, lived until 1914 and was buried beside Lewis, at the Egolf Cemetery next to the Thorncreek Church of God, in Whitley County, Indiana.
Obviously, much more research needs to be done for Lewis but I am posting this now on the theory that something is better than nothing, and that this will at least give a sense of the man. The line of descent is:
Lewis Harshbarger-Catherine Mancer (Mentzer)
Emanuel Harshbarger-Clara Ellen Harter
Grover Harshbarger-Goldie Withers
Cleveland Harshbarger-Mary Margaret Beeks
Harshbarger children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Holbrook brick wall: James Lamphire
Someone who died in 1848 and was married in 1796 shouldn't be so hard to find. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. For now, he's pretty much a mystery.
The first real evidence of James Lamphire is his marriage to Hannah Eames on May 8, 1796 in Bozrah, Connecticut. I have not been able to find evidence of his birth date, and I have several theories as to why that is, but it may be that none of them are correct. At any rate, he was probably born in 1774, based on information at his death, and it seems possible or even likely that he descends from the Lanfear/Lanphear/Lanphire/Lamphire etc families of Westerly, Rhode Island. My "favorite" candidate for his parents changes every time I look at his file, so obviously I need to do more research. The answer as to his parentage has to be somewhere!
He was in Bozrah, Connecticut in 1800 and in Warren, Herkimer, NY in the 1810 census. He and Hannah already had three children by this time, two girls and a boy. They seem to not be listed in the 1820 census, at least I haven't found them yet, but there are four families of various spelling in Madison County, New York, which is where we find James in 1830. (The other families are in Brookfield but James shows up first in Fenner.) By then, he and Hannah are each 50-59 years old, and there is one male aged 10-14 with them. There is also a James Lamfere back in Herkimer County, New York, young enough to be our James's son, but there is no proof that he is a son, that I know of. In fact, his estate papers say that David was his only son. In the 1840 census, James and Hannah are by themselves in Fenner, both aged 60-69.
Hannah probably died prior to November 7, 1847, when James, aged 73, of Cazenovia, married Susan Roster, of Stockbridge. James was likely already ill, for he died of cancer on June 2, 1848, aged 74 years old. He is described as a farmer, which is likely how he made his living throughout his life. He died without a will, and there is a request on file that David Mitchell was owed $10 from the estate and therefore asked to be appointed administer. The application for administrator lists the widow, David Lamphire of Wisconsin, Alvin Stannard, Mrs. Polly Sullen, Mrs. Reuben Hattin, and Mrs. Simeon Green all of various locations in New York as heirs. There is no mention of the younger James in Herkimer County, but there is also no mention of our ancestor and his daughter, Susan Lamphire Eddy. Perhaps each of those people had already been given a share of the estate, or had been gifted prior to James's death. (Or maybe the younger James had died without issue.) The estate (personal property only) was valued at less than $1000.
Known children of James and Hannah are Parmelia, Polly, Harriet (known as Nancy), David, and Susan. David's birthdate is listed as 1817, which would not make him the boy listed in the 1810 census, so more work needs to be done here.
This is as much as I know of James. He seems to be a sly one, and is probably hiding behind a different spelling than the ones I have tried, or perhaps even behind a different first name. Several people in the collateral lines are known by their middle name, or by a different name altogether, for whatever reason.
I've been working on this part of the line for a long time and my "possible clues" folder is about an inch thick. The answer may be in that file, but I'm not fitting the puzzle pieces together yet. If you know anything that might help me, please contact me! I owe Jessica Franks a huge debt of gratitude for showing me all the information she had from Madison County, New York, and for sharing pictures and estate information with me!
Our line of descent:
James Lamphire-Hannah Eames
Susan Lamphire-Joseph Eddy
Susan Eddy-Hiram Stanard
Louis Stanard-Mary Alice Hetrick
Etta Stanard-Loren Holbrook
Lois/Gladys/Howard/Ray
The first real evidence of James Lamphire is his marriage to Hannah Eames on May 8, 1796 in Bozrah, Connecticut. I have not been able to find evidence of his birth date, and I have several theories as to why that is, but it may be that none of them are correct. At any rate, he was probably born in 1774, based on information at his death, and it seems possible or even likely that he descends from the Lanfear/Lanphear/Lanphire/Lamphire etc families of Westerly, Rhode Island. My "favorite" candidate for his parents changes every time I look at his file, so obviously I need to do more research. The answer as to his parentage has to be somewhere!
He was in Bozrah, Connecticut in 1800 and in Warren, Herkimer, NY in the 1810 census. He and Hannah already had three children by this time, two girls and a boy. They seem to not be listed in the 1820 census, at least I haven't found them yet, but there are four families of various spelling in Madison County, New York, which is where we find James in 1830. (The other families are in Brookfield but James shows up first in Fenner.) By then, he and Hannah are each 50-59 years old, and there is one male aged 10-14 with them. There is also a James Lamfere back in Herkimer County, New York, young enough to be our James's son, but there is no proof that he is a son, that I know of. In fact, his estate papers say that David was his only son. In the 1840 census, James and Hannah are by themselves in Fenner, both aged 60-69.
Hannah probably died prior to November 7, 1847, when James, aged 73, of Cazenovia, married Susan Roster, of Stockbridge. James was likely already ill, for he died of cancer on June 2, 1848, aged 74 years old. He is described as a farmer, which is likely how he made his living throughout his life. He died without a will, and there is a request on file that David Mitchell was owed $10 from the estate and therefore asked to be appointed administer. The application for administrator lists the widow, David Lamphire of Wisconsin, Alvin Stannard, Mrs. Polly Sullen, Mrs. Reuben Hattin, and Mrs. Simeon Green all of various locations in New York as heirs. There is no mention of the younger James in Herkimer County, but there is also no mention of our ancestor and his daughter, Susan Lamphire Eddy. Perhaps each of those people had already been given a share of the estate, or had been gifted prior to James's death. (Or maybe the younger James had died without issue.) The estate (personal property only) was valued at less than $1000.
Known children of James and Hannah are Parmelia, Polly, Harriet (known as Nancy), David, and Susan. David's birthdate is listed as 1817, which would not make him the boy listed in the 1810 census, so more work needs to be done here.
This is as much as I know of James. He seems to be a sly one, and is probably hiding behind a different spelling than the ones I have tried, or perhaps even behind a different first name. Several people in the collateral lines are known by their middle name, or by a different name altogether, for whatever reason.
I've been working on this part of the line for a long time and my "possible clues" folder is about an inch thick. The answer may be in that file, but I'm not fitting the puzzle pieces together yet. If you know anything that might help me, please contact me! I owe Jessica Franks a huge debt of gratitude for showing me all the information she had from Madison County, New York, and for sharing pictures and estate information with me!
Our line of descent:
James Lamphire-Hannah Eames
Susan Lamphire-Joseph Eddy
Susan Eddy-Hiram Stanard
Louis Stanard-Mary Alice Hetrick
Etta Stanard-Loren Holbrook
Lois/Gladys/Howard/Ray
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