My last post was about the people who are still in hiding in the Beeks and Harshbarger lines. Today I'll write about the folks I'm still looking for in the Allen and Holbrook lines. Some of these people I have already written about, but I'm putting them all in one place for my own benefit as much as for anyone else's. I do truly hope that someone, somewhere knows something about some of our missing people. Again, these are third and fourth grandparents for my generation. Without further ado, here are the "Elusive Eight":
Allen line:
James Allen apparently dropped out of the sky and landed in Goochland County, Virginia. We first hear of him in 1755, when his son Richard was born, in St James Northam Parish. We know he was married to Sarah Croudas (various spellings), and we know he died in 1801. He owned land around Licking Creek Hole, I think (not sure it was the same James Allen. He and Sarah had nine children: Richard, Martha, James, Mary May, George, William, Sally, Susannah, and Elizabeth. His will can be found on the Library of Virginia website. He left everything to his wife, Sarah, and when she died it all went to his children. Based on the 1755 birthdate of Richard, James could have been born from 1725 to 1735, so I'm guessing about 1730.
Mary Hill was married on January 20, 1761 to Moses Parrish. She was probably born around 1742, but I don't know who her parents were. There were three marriages in this time period between Parrishes and Hills, but so far I have not been able to tie them together. This couple may have lived in Louisa County or in Goochland County, Virginia. There were 6 known children. Mary is my hero because of the life she had to live while her husband was fighting in the Revolutionary War for at least three years, so I'd like to honor her by learning more about her.
Michael Dunn is pretty much a total mystery. The one known fact about him is that he had a son named Lemuel who died in 1829. Michael is believed to have fought in the Revolutionary War, and is thought to have been born in Virginia although of Irish ancestry. He may have lived in the Henry County, Virginia area in the early 1780's.
John Campbell is supposed to have been born in Pennsylvania in about 1760. He married Jane Garvin, who was Irish, but I don't know if she was born there. They had 6 children together. John died in Madison County, Kentucky in 1806 and Jane died 50 years later, in 1856 in Putnam County, Indiana. Both John and Jane are on my "missing" list.
In the Holbrook line, I have three missing ancestors. I've written about two of them previously.
James Lamphire (various spellings) was born in 1773, somewhere in the world. He married Hannah Eames in 1796 in Bozrah, Connecticut. They had 6 children together. James was married to a second wife, Susan Roster, when he died in 1847 in Cazenovia, Madison County, New York.
Sarah Goodnough (spelled any number of different ways, probably) may have been an ancestor. Or the one I'm looking for may be Lydia M. unknown maiden name. Both of these ladies were married to Jude Foster, but it's not clear who the mother of his five children were. Maybe it's more specific to say I'm looking for Betsy Foster's mother. Jude Foster was a Revolutionary War soldier who died less than a month after his pension was finally approved in 1789. I believe I am looking for people in Rowe or Western, Massachusetts.
And finally and always, there's Molly Wright. The lady who haunts my dreams was born in 1759, married Amariah Holbrook in 1779, had 7 children, and died in 1845 in Bellingham, Massachusetts. Of all my missing ancestors, she tugs at my heart and calls to me.
It would be a happy dance day indeed if someone can help me with any of these people. It's not likely that I will ever be able to travel to Virginia, or Massachusetts, or Connecticut, to look in person through old records to try to give these people a birth family. It's also unlikely that I will be able to pay for research help. I will of course keep looking, learning, and hoping, but a nudge from someone who knows something would certainly be welcome.
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Friday, April 25, 2014
Harshbarger and Beeks lines: Actively pursuing (AKA brick walls)
OK, I'll admit it. These two lines have fairly robust family trees. A lot is known about some ancestors in these lines, and a little is known about a lot more. A genealogist working 30 years ago would have been thrilled to have such a full family tree. But it's not 30 years ago, and I'm not a genealogist. I'm just trying to find the story of my husband's ancestors, so I can pass it on to our children and grandchildren. And these folks I've been actively pursuing frustrate me!
Here are the "Disturbing Dozen" of missing ancestors in the Harshbarger and Beeks lines. These are all third or fourth great grandparents to my husband, which in genealogy terms is not so very long ago. The first six are in the Harshbarger lines and the last six are in the Beeks line. I am posting them here in the hopes that someone will stumble across one of these names and be able to offer some help, to tell me where I'm wrong or give me ideas about where to look for records.
Henry Cook: born Berks County, Pennsylvania January 30, 1794. Died Whitley County, Indiana, 1861. He also lived in Stark County, Ohio for possibly about 25 years. He had 9 children living at the time of his death, and two young sons named John had died earlier in the early 1820s. His birth name was possibly Koch. His wife was Catherine Whetstone, see next.
Catherine Whetstone was born December 27, 1799 in Berks County, Pa and she died August 19, 1887 in Whitley County, Indiana. That is what is known about her, except for the details in the above paragraph. Her name may have originally been Wetstein, or another variant because this name is spelled in all sorts of interesting ways.
Joseph Withers was born about 1804 in Pennsylvania. His trade was a shoemaker. He is found in Morris Township, Knox County, Ohio in 1840 and in 1850 in Marion County, Iowa. Then he disappears, as far as I have learned. Some of his family ended up in Whitley County, Indiana, with oldest son John being there as early as 1857. He was married to Mary Gearhart in 1832 in Carlisle, Cumberland County, Pa. He and Mary were the parents of at least 8 children.
Mary Gearhart was born about 1812 in Pennsylvania. I know nothing more about her at this point, other than the information shown above. Her name was probably Gerhard, a generation or two before Gearhart.
Barbara N Long was born in 1826, possibly in Clermont or Brown County, Ohio. I am not sure about that information because it doesn't really make sense as to how she married in 1844 to Benjamin Buchtel in Summit County, Ohio. She moved with Benjamin to Whitley County, Indiana, and after his death married her son-in-law's father, Daniel Kemery. I have not found her death record, so I don't know whether she died in Whitley County or perhaps went to live with one of her children after Daniel's death in 1877 (if she was still living then).
Ann Catherine Wilson was born about 1768 in Virginia, and married Caleb Bennett November 8, 1785 in what is now Wetzel County, West Virginia. She and Caleb had at least 6 children. Caleb died in Scioto County, Ohio on September 23, 1851, but I don't know when Ann died.
On to the Beeks line:
Polly Carter was born about 1805 in Virginia and died March 12, 1880 in Largo, Wabash County, Indiana. She married John Beeks in 1830 in Greene County, Ohio. It appears that they had at least three children, although I don't know of genealogical proof for Casey Beeks. Polly may have been a nickname for Mary.
Jackson Wise is one I am truly actively pursuing at the moment. I think I know who his parents are but I haven't yet seen the records. I've written about him recently, so will not repeat it here, except to say he was born December 27, 1817 in Ohio and died in 1893 in Wabash County, Indiana.
"Possibly Eva" is the wife of Philip Serfass, and that is as much as I know about her right now. Philip was born in 1782 in Northampton County, Pennsylvania. They probably had a large family, if they lived, but I only know of Mary. At one point, the Serfass family were of the Moravian faith, but I don't know whether that applies to this generation or not. I would expect to find that she was of German heritage, if I could find a record of her.
Jeremiah Folsom I have also already written of. He was married to Sally Lock in 1815, and was born about 1795 and died before 1835 probably in Dearborn County, Ohio. His children's guardian was Austin Clark.
Jason Wheeler was born October 4, 1765, possibly in New York, and died about 1843, probably in Lawrence Township, Marion County, Indiana. He was in Herkimer County, New York, in 1800 and Chenango County, New York in 1810, before moving to Clermont County, Ohio with much of his family. He was married to Patience.
Patience, possibly Tracy was born about 1768. The 1850 census can be read either Virginia or Vermont as her birth place. I lean toward Vermont but am keeping my mind open on that subject. She died after 1850 in Lawrence Township, Marion County, Indiana. Other then her marriage to Jason Wheeler and the fact that they had 12 children, that's what I know about Patience.
So you can see that even though these trees are robust, they are certainly not "completed". I need to know more about each of the 12 persons noted above, especially who their parents are. As usual, I'd be delighted to hear from anyone who has any knowledge of any of these people, even if it's just to say "That's all I know, too."
Updated 10/21/2015 correcting birth date for Catherine Whetstone. I am also wondering if perhaps her first name might have been something like Maria or Anna or ?
Here are the "Disturbing Dozen" of missing ancestors in the Harshbarger and Beeks lines. These are all third or fourth great grandparents to my husband, which in genealogy terms is not so very long ago. The first six are in the Harshbarger lines and the last six are in the Beeks line. I am posting them here in the hopes that someone will stumble across one of these names and be able to offer some help, to tell me where I'm wrong or give me ideas about where to look for records.
Henry Cook: born Berks County, Pennsylvania January 30, 1794. Died Whitley County, Indiana, 1861. He also lived in Stark County, Ohio for possibly about 25 years. He had 9 children living at the time of his death, and two young sons named John had died earlier in the early 1820s. His birth name was possibly Koch. His wife was Catherine Whetstone, see next.
Catherine Whetstone was born December 27, 1799 in Berks County, Pa and she died August 19, 1887 in Whitley County, Indiana. That is what is known about her, except for the details in the above paragraph. Her name may have originally been Wetstein, or another variant because this name is spelled in all sorts of interesting ways.
Joseph Withers was born about 1804 in Pennsylvania. His trade was a shoemaker. He is found in Morris Township, Knox County, Ohio in 1840 and in 1850 in Marion County, Iowa. Then he disappears, as far as I have learned. Some of his family ended up in Whitley County, Indiana, with oldest son John being there as early as 1857. He was married to Mary Gearhart in 1832 in Carlisle, Cumberland County, Pa. He and Mary were the parents of at least 8 children.
Mary Gearhart was born about 1812 in Pennsylvania. I know nothing more about her at this point, other than the information shown above. Her name was probably Gerhard, a generation or two before Gearhart.
Barbara N Long was born in 1826, possibly in Clermont or Brown County, Ohio. I am not sure about that information because it doesn't really make sense as to how she married in 1844 to Benjamin Buchtel in Summit County, Ohio. She moved with Benjamin to Whitley County, Indiana, and after his death married her son-in-law's father, Daniel Kemery. I have not found her death record, so I don't know whether she died in Whitley County or perhaps went to live with one of her children after Daniel's death in 1877 (if she was still living then).
Ann Catherine Wilson was born about 1768 in Virginia, and married Caleb Bennett November 8, 1785 in what is now Wetzel County, West Virginia. She and Caleb had at least 6 children. Caleb died in Scioto County, Ohio on September 23, 1851, but I don't know when Ann died.
On to the Beeks line:
Polly Carter was born about 1805 in Virginia and died March 12, 1880 in Largo, Wabash County, Indiana. She married John Beeks in 1830 in Greene County, Ohio. It appears that they had at least three children, although I don't know of genealogical proof for Casey Beeks. Polly may have been a nickname for Mary.
Jackson Wise is one I am truly actively pursuing at the moment. I think I know who his parents are but I haven't yet seen the records. I've written about him recently, so will not repeat it here, except to say he was born December 27, 1817 in Ohio and died in 1893 in Wabash County, Indiana.
"Possibly Eva" is the wife of Philip Serfass, and that is as much as I know about her right now. Philip was born in 1782 in Northampton County, Pennsylvania. They probably had a large family, if they lived, but I only know of Mary. At one point, the Serfass family were of the Moravian faith, but I don't know whether that applies to this generation or not. I would expect to find that she was of German heritage, if I could find a record of her.
Jeremiah Folsom I have also already written of. He was married to Sally Lock in 1815, and was born about 1795 and died before 1835 probably in Dearborn County, Ohio. His children's guardian was Austin Clark.
Jason Wheeler was born October 4, 1765, possibly in New York, and died about 1843, probably in Lawrence Township, Marion County, Indiana. He was in Herkimer County, New York, in 1800 and Chenango County, New York in 1810, before moving to Clermont County, Ohio with much of his family. He was married to Patience.
Patience, possibly Tracy was born about 1768. The 1850 census can be read either Virginia or Vermont as her birth place. I lean toward Vermont but am keeping my mind open on that subject. She died after 1850 in Lawrence Township, Marion County, Indiana. Other then her marriage to Jason Wheeler and the fact that they had 12 children, that's what I know about Patience.
So you can see that even though these trees are robust, they are certainly not "completed". I need to know more about each of the 12 persons noted above, especially who their parents are. As usual, I'd be delighted to hear from anyone who has any knowledge of any of these people, even if it's just to say "That's all I know, too."
Updated 10/21/2015 correcting birth date for Catherine Whetstone. I am also wondering if perhaps her first name might have been something like Maria or Anna or ?
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Harshbarger line: Henry Duliban
This will be a short post, because so far I don't know a lot about Henry Duliban or Tulepan or any of at least a dozen other spellings. I'm using the Duliban spelling because that is how he is listed in at least one military record, and because it is more or less in the middle of other spellings.
He was born in Pennsylvania in about 1762. His parents were Leonard Tulepan and Margareth. The family was likely French, and possibly of Huguenot descent, meaning they would have lived "on the border" between France and Germany, and went to Germany at some point after the Huguenot persecutions began. (Huguenot is the word used to describe French Protestants in a French Catholic world. Thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands, of Protestants were killed and the lucky escaped to what was, for most, a life of poverty in Germany, or England. It is not a pretty period in human history.) Leonard's father, Frantz Tulipan, had arrived in Pennsylvania in 1752, apparently with at least some of his children. Leonard and Margareth began their life here probably about 1760, but so far I have not found marriage records. My guess is that Leonard probably served a period as an indentured servant, to pay for his passage, and married when that time of service was up.
Leonard and Margareth had at least 7 children. The first child we know about was Henry, who was born in 1762. The first evidence I have of his existence was that he was listed in a "return" of the first company, 6th Battalion of the Lancaster County Militias in 1783, when he would have been about 21. As a member of the militia, he would probably have served at least 2 months active duty as that was a requirement at the time. I don't know whether this would have counted as "Revolutionary War Service" or not. Henry is also shown in the 1793 Septennial census of Pennsylvania.
Shortly after Henry's youngest brother, Christian, was born in 1787, Henry started a new generation when he married Catherine Laber, daughter of Martin Laber and Anna Catherina Enck, on April 8, 1788 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The 1790 census shows that there was a male in the family who was under 16 years of age. By 1800, under the spelling of Dullibahn, he and Catherine had one male aged 10-15, one male under the age of 10, and four females under the age of 10. Catherine must have been a very busy lady! One more child, a boy, was born about 1804. Elizabeth Duliban was born about 1800, and she is our link to this family.
So far as I can tell, no one has uncovered a will for Henry. He died sometime after 1800. I haven't located a census for him after the 1800 census, but with all the spellings of his name, I could have missed him. Some of his family was Lutheran, so it is possible that is the religion he practiced also.
We don't know his occupation. Lancaster County is still a largely rural community, so he likely farmed. With such a large family, he may have had a "winter occupation" also, such as weaving or shoemaking. This is just speculation, but it is based on research into how other families lived at this time and near this location.
I would love to find church records, a death date and burial location, an indication of his occupation, and other facts about this man. If you can help, please let me know!
Our line of descent is:
Henry Duliban-Catherine Laber
Elizabeth Tullepan-Conrad Mentzer
Lewis Harshbarger-Catherine Mentzer
Emmanuel Harshbarger-Clara Harter
Grover Harshbarger-Goldie Withers
Cleveland Harshbarger-Mary Margaret Beeks
Children, grand children, and great grandchildren
He was born in Pennsylvania in about 1762. His parents were Leonard Tulepan and Margareth. The family was likely French, and possibly of Huguenot descent, meaning they would have lived "on the border" between France and Germany, and went to Germany at some point after the Huguenot persecutions began. (Huguenot is the word used to describe French Protestants in a French Catholic world. Thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands, of Protestants were killed and the lucky escaped to what was, for most, a life of poverty in Germany, or England. It is not a pretty period in human history.) Leonard's father, Frantz Tulipan, had arrived in Pennsylvania in 1752, apparently with at least some of his children. Leonard and Margareth began their life here probably about 1760, but so far I have not found marriage records. My guess is that Leonard probably served a period as an indentured servant, to pay for his passage, and married when that time of service was up.
Leonard and Margareth had at least 7 children. The first child we know about was Henry, who was born in 1762. The first evidence I have of his existence was that he was listed in a "return" of the first company, 6th Battalion of the Lancaster County Militias in 1783, when he would have been about 21. As a member of the militia, he would probably have served at least 2 months active duty as that was a requirement at the time. I don't know whether this would have counted as "Revolutionary War Service" or not. Henry is also shown in the 1793 Septennial census of Pennsylvania.
Shortly after Henry's youngest brother, Christian, was born in 1787, Henry started a new generation when he married Catherine Laber, daughter of Martin Laber and Anna Catherina Enck, on April 8, 1788 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The 1790 census shows that there was a male in the family who was under 16 years of age. By 1800, under the spelling of Dullibahn, he and Catherine had one male aged 10-15, one male under the age of 10, and four females under the age of 10. Catherine must have been a very busy lady! One more child, a boy, was born about 1804. Elizabeth Duliban was born about 1800, and she is our link to this family.
So far as I can tell, no one has uncovered a will for Henry. He died sometime after 1800. I haven't located a census for him after the 1800 census, but with all the spellings of his name, I could have missed him. Some of his family was Lutheran, so it is possible that is the religion he practiced also.
We don't know his occupation. Lancaster County is still a largely rural community, so he likely farmed. With such a large family, he may have had a "winter occupation" also, such as weaving or shoemaking. This is just speculation, but it is based on research into how other families lived at this time and near this location.
I would love to find church records, a death date and burial location, an indication of his occupation, and other facts about this man. If you can help, please let me know!
Our line of descent is:
Henry Duliban-Catherine Laber
Elizabeth Tullepan-Conrad Mentzer
Lewis Harshbarger-Catherine Mentzer
Emmanuel Harshbarger-Clara Harter
Grover Harshbarger-Goldie Withers
Cleveland Harshbarger-Mary Margaret Beeks
Children, grand children, and great grandchildren
Friday, April 18, 2014
Holbrook line: Alexis Lemmon, soldier in the Revolutionary War
Alexis (probably Electius, but we'll go with the usual spelling) was born on February 26, 1746 in Baltimore County, Maryland. His parents were Alexis (probably Electius) Lemmon and Martha Merryman. He was one of at least 8 children, but since he carried his father's name, perhaps he was a favorite. (His older brother, John, was named for his grandfathers, both paternal and maternal, and John, as the oldest son, was the executor for his father's estate).
Alexis's father was apparently rather well to do, and there are some sources that state that his father had been a member of Parliament, but I haven't found proof of that. The family seems to have come from Ireland, but I don't know whether they were there for just a generation or whether they had been there longer.
Alexis would have been 29 years old when the earliest battles of the Revolutionary War were fought, and he was 30 when we first find him as a captain in the Maryland Militia, on February 4, 1777. (Archives of Maryland, Volume 16, page 114). The rank of captain indicates that either he had prior military service, or that he was of an influential family, or possibly both. Other sources say that he had actually been appointed Caption of the Baltimore Militia, or Horse Troop on January 4, 1777 and was still in service in February of 1782. I have not been able to trace his military experiences as of yet, but it is likely that he was not sitting at home twiddling his thumbs all this time. His older brother, John, served in the war, as did the brothers of his wife, Rachel Stansbury.
Alexis and Rachel were married November 29, 1771 in Baltimore County. She was the daughter of Thomas Stansbury and Hannah Gorsuch. Alexis and Rachel had nine children: Sarah, Ruth, Elizabeth, Mary, James, Rebecca, Jane, Rachel, and Temperance. The children were born between 1772 and 1786, so once again, mother Rachel was a busy, busy lady. They lived on a plantation in northern Baltimore County called "Eight Sisters". I haven't been able to find him in an 1800 or 1810 census, but several of his brothers "owned" slaves in that period, so it is likely that he did, too.
As the children grew up and moved away, several of them moved to the area of Richland (now Morrow) County, Ohio. Rachel died in Maryland in 1823 and after she died , he and daughter Rachel went west to join them. He would have been 77 at the time of the move, and he lived another three years, until January 2, 1826. Our Revolutionary War Hero is buried at Shauck Cemetery, Mount Gilead, Morrow County, Ohio.
Our line of descent is:
Alexis Lemmon-Rachel Stansbury
Sarah Lemmon-Abraham Hetrick
Isaac Hetrick-Elizabeth Black
Alice Hetrick-Louis Stanard
Etta Stanard-Loren Holbrook
Gladys/Lois/Ray/Howard
Their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren
Alexis's father was apparently rather well to do, and there are some sources that state that his father had been a member of Parliament, but I haven't found proof of that. The family seems to have come from Ireland, but I don't know whether they were there for just a generation or whether they had been there longer.
Alexis would have been 29 years old when the earliest battles of the Revolutionary War were fought, and he was 30 when we first find him as a captain in the Maryland Militia, on February 4, 1777. (Archives of Maryland, Volume 16, page 114). The rank of captain indicates that either he had prior military service, or that he was of an influential family, or possibly both. Other sources say that he had actually been appointed Caption of the Baltimore Militia, or Horse Troop on January 4, 1777 and was still in service in February of 1782. I have not been able to trace his military experiences as of yet, but it is likely that he was not sitting at home twiddling his thumbs all this time. His older brother, John, served in the war, as did the brothers of his wife, Rachel Stansbury.
Alexis and Rachel were married November 29, 1771 in Baltimore County. She was the daughter of Thomas Stansbury and Hannah Gorsuch. Alexis and Rachel had nine children: Sarah, Ruth, Elizabeth, Mary, James, Rebecca, Jane, Rachel, and Temperance. The children were born between 1772 and 1786, so once again, mother Rachel was a busy, busy lady. They lived on a plantation in northern Baltimore County called "Eight Sisters". I haven't been able to find him in an 1800 or 1810 census, but several of his brothers "owned" slaves in that period, so it is likely that he did, too.
As the children grew up and moved away, several of them moved to the area of Richland (now Morrow) County, Ohio. Rachel died in Maryland in 1823 and after she died , he and daughter Rachel went west to join them. He would have been 77 at the time of the move, and he lived another three years, until January 2, 1826. Our Revolutionary War Hero is buried at Shauck Cemetery, Mount Gilead, Morrow County, Ohio.
Our line of descent is:
Alexis Lemmon-Rachel Stansbury
Sarah Lemmon-Abraham Hetrick
Isaac Hetrick-Elizabeth Black
Alice Hetrick-Louis Stanard
Etta Stanard-Loren Holbrook
Gladys/Lois/Ray/Howard
Their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Allen line: John Starr 1743-1824, one of our Revolutionary War heroes
There is quite a bit of information on line about John Starr, but one is mostly a repeat of another, so that there really isn't a lot of new information about him. This post is a hodgepodge of the online sources, so that I have pretty much everything in one place. I have a great deal of admiration for John, based on the decisions he made in his life, his willingness to serve his country, (actually it probably started out being willing to serve his state), and his determination to overcome a serious war wound and move on with his life.
John Starr was born in 1743 in Groton, New London, Connecticut, the son of Thomas Starr and Jerusha Street. His early occupation isn't known to me, but the Starrs were largely ship builders or otherwise connected to the sea, so it is possible this is what John did as a young man. John Starr's father, Thomas, died in 1759, when John was only 16 so he was left to make his own way in the world. For John, his way lead to Nova Scotia. Again, we don't know what he did there but it is possible that he was still involved in the sea, although he also seems to have owned land.
We do know that he married Mary Sharp in 1773 while he was there. She was the daughter of Matthew and Margaret Sharp, and it appears they came from Ireland and Mary was born there. The Sharps were in Amherst, Cumberland, Nova Scotia by 1770. Mary was already 33, and three years older than John, when they were married, so this was past the time to have 10 or 15 children. John and Mary had 6 known children. They were John in 1774, Joseph in 1776, Mary in 1782, Hannah in 1785, Rachel in 1787 and Eunice in 1791. John was born in Nova Scotia, Joseph's birth location is unknown, and the other children were born in Connecticut.
John Starr was in a predicament in 1776. He lived with his family in Nova Scotia, but the War for Independence was already brewing, and John knew where his heart and his loyalties lay. While he was making plans to move South, back to Connecticut, there was a military action and he had to leave immediately, leaving his young family behind. I give a lot of credit to Mary, who joined him with her boy or boys just as soon as she could. She had already uprooted her life once, to immigrate from Ireland to Nova Scotia, and now she was moving again, in the midst of war and political upheavals that she thought she had left behind her.
I have not been able to locate John as a soldier until the Battle of Fort Griswold (also known as the Battle of Groton Heights, and as the Fort Griswold massacre) in September of 1781. Fort Griswold was manned by just a handful of militia, and those others of the militia who reached the Fort upon the arrival of a British fleet of 32 ships. The so called raid was conducted by Benedict Arnold, by this time on the side of the British. The Americans fought bravely but they were severely out-manned and under-gunned. Some refer to this as a massacre rather than a battle because many of those who were wounded and many who tried to surrender were simply murdered. It was not the finest hour of the British victors.
John was somewhat fortunate in this battle, in that he was wounded but he escaped the massacre. His injury was to his elbow, which was mangled and left his right arm useless and painful for the rest of his life.
Following the war, John and Mary stayed in Groton. Meanwhile, there were various acts of Congress that gave land to people who were deprived of their homes and livelihood, and in 1806 John was awarded 304 acres in Franklin County, Ohio range 22, township 5, section 5. The city of Columbus, Ohio is built on this land now. This was land that Congress set aside for non-resident proprietors for refugees, and was not based on John's war record. Some sources say that John went to Ohio in 1806 but if he did, it was only for a short time.
John and Mary made a 7 week journey by wagon from Connecticut to Franklin County, Ohio in 1812. Most of their children came with them, although Joseph chose a career on the seas. I have a hard time imagining this. At the age of 69, with a useless right arm, John chose to go to Ohio in hopes of making a better life for his children, and Mary went, too. A 7 week trip in a wagon would be bad enough, but when they got to their land, it was frontier country. There were only a few neighbors and they were miles away. This was in the early part of the war of 1812, so there would have been Native Americans in the area, perhaps plotting against the early settlers. There were wild animals and swamps and all the things that would put fear in our hearts, but the Starrs, father and adult children, went to work to build two log cabins to see them through the winter, and started to clear their land. We don't know whether frame homes were later built, or whether John stayed in the log cabin for the rest of his life. The trip and the hard work of frontier life were too much for Mary, and she died just five months after arriving at her new home.
John lived and worked for another 12 years, dying of one of the fevers that swept the area in 1824. He and his family are believed to be buried in Green Lawn cemetery, in Columbus.
This was a strongly Presbyterian family, but I haven't been able to determine whether the Presbyterian influence was from the Starrs, or the Sharps, or both. I would like to know more about that, and I would certainly like to know more about Mary's parents, Matthew and Margaret (maiden name unknown) Sharp. I'd also like to know whether John was indeed involved in the ship building industry. John is one of the ancestors that I think about each Fourth of July, and maybe this year, you can, too.
Our line is:
John Starr-Mary Sharp
John Starr-Betsy Havens
John Havens Starr-Clarissa Falley
Harriet Starr-John Wilson Knott
Edith Knott-Edward Allen
Richard/Edith/Tessora/Corinne/Vernon Allen
Their children, grand children, and great grandchildren
John Starr was born in 1743 in Groton, New London, Connecticut, the son of Thomas Starr and Jerusha Street. His early occupation isn't known to me, but the Starrs were largely ship builders or otherwise connected to the sea, so it is possible this is what John did as a young man. John Starr's father, Thomas, died in 1759, when John was only 16 so he was left to make his own way in the world. For John, his way lead to Nova Scotia. Again, we don't know what he did there but it is possible that he was still involved in the sea, although he also seems to have owned land.
We do know that he married Mary Sharp in 1773 while he was there. She was the daughter of Matthew and Margaret Sharp, and it appears they came from Ireland and Mary was born there. The Sharps were in Amherst, Cumberland, Nova Scotia by 1770. Mary was already 33, and three years older than John, when they were married, so this was past the time to have 10 or 15 children. John and Mary had 6 known children. They were John in 1774, Joseph in 1776, Mary in 1782, Hannah in 1785, Rachel in 1787 and Eunice in 1791. John was born in Nova Scotia, Joseph's birth location is unknown, and the other children were born in Connecticut.
John Starr was in a predicament in 1776. He lived with his family in Nova Scotia, but the War for Independence was already brewing, and John knew where his heart and his loyalties lay. While he was making plans to move South, back to Connecticut, there was a military action and he had to leave immediately, leaving his young family behind. I give a lot of credit to Mary, who joined him with her boy or boys just as soon as she could. She had already uprooted her life once, to immigrate from Ireland to Nova Scotia, and now she was moving again, in the midst of war and political upheavals that she thought she had left behind her.
I have not been able to locate John as a soldier until the Battle of Fort Griswold (also known as the Battle of Groton Heights, and as the Fort Griswold massacre) in September of 1781. Fort Griswold was manned by just a handful of militia, and those others of the militia who reached the Fort upon the arrival of a British fleet of 32 ships. The so called raid was conducted by Benedict Arnold, by this time on the side of the British. The Americans fought bravely but they were severely out-manned and under-gunned. Some refer to this as a massacre rather than a battle because many of those who were wounded and many who tried to surrender were simply murdered. It was not the finest hour of the British victors.
John was somewhat fortunate in this battle, in that he was wounded but he escaped the massacre. His injury was to his elbow, which was mangled and left his right arm useless and painful for the rest of his life.
Following the war, John and Mary stayed in Groton. Meanwhile, there were various acts of Congress that gave land to people who were deprived of their homes and livelihood, and in 1806 John was awarded 304 acres in Franklin County, Ohio range 22, township 5, section 5. The city of Columbus, Ohio is built on this land now. This was land that Congress set aside for non-resident proprietors for refugees, and was not based on John's war record. Some sources say that John went to Ohio in 1806 but if he did, it was only for a short time.
John and Mary made a 7 week journey by wagon from Connecticut to Franklin County, Ohio in 1812. Most of their children came with them, although Joseph chose a career on the seas. I have a hard time imagining this. At the age of 69, with a useless right arm, John chose to go to Ohio in hopes of making a better life for his children, and Mary went, too. A 7 week trip in a wagon would be bad enough, but when they got to their land, it was frontier country. There were only a few neighbors and they were miles away. This was in the early part of the war of 1812, so there would have been Native Americans in the area, perhaps plotting against the early settlers. There were wild animals and swamps and all the things that would put fear in our hearts, but the Starrs, father and adult children, went to work to build two log cabins to see them through the winter, and started to clear their land. We don't know whether frame homes were later built, or whether John stayed in the log cabin for the rest of his life. The trip and the hard work of frontier life were too much for Mary, and she died just five months after arriving at her new home.
John lived and worked for another 12 years, dying of one of the fevers that swept the area in 1824. He and his family are believed to be buried in Green Lawn cemetery, in Columbus.
This was a strongly Presbyterian family, but I haven't been able to determine whether the Presbyterian influence was from the Starrs, or the Sharps, or both. I would like to know more about that, and I would certainly like to know more about Mary's parents, Matthew and Margaret (maiden name unknown) Sharp. I'd also like to know whether John was indeed involved in the ship building industry. John is one of the ancestors that I think about each Fourth of July, and maybe this year, you can, too.
Our line is:
John Starr-Mary Sharp
John Starr-Betsy Havens
John Havens Starr-Clarissa Falley
Harriet Starr-John Wilson Knott
Edith Knott-Edward Allen
Richard/Edith/Tessora/Corinne/Vernon Allen
Their children, grand children, and great grandchildren
Friday, April 11, 2014
Beeks line: Happy but confused dance for Jackson Wise
I'm learning that in the world of genealogy, when all else fails, "Think!" So I thought about brick wall Jackson Wise, and realized that although he died in 1893 in Wabash County, I didn't have a copy of his death certificate. Once I realized I was missing that important document, I bee-lined to Wabash County and spent a grand afternoon researching.
I am still reeling from the surprise that Jackson Wise's father was John Williams. His mother's name was not noted on the certificate, nor was the informant. Well, one out of three isn't bad, I guess. Jackson's 1880 census says that he was born in Ohio and his parents were born in Virginia, so that' a little bit of a clue.
I put a query out on the Wise Ancestry message board and was answered promptly by a very nice lady, who told me who she thinks John Williams might be. I need to do more research on this before I am comfortable with her ideas, but guess what I'll be doing today on-line, and also the next time I get to go to the Allen County Public Library. At least I have places and names to look at, and I am very thankful to Jayne for her help.
Right now, I have a name for Jackson's father and for that I am thrilled. But of course I want to know who his mother was, and how he came to have the last name of Wise. Was Wise his mother's name, and he was a "natural son" of John Williams? Was he adopted? Did he early in life take "Wise" as an alias for some reason? Does any reader have other ideas, of other possibilities?
While I was in Wabash, I looked for land records for Jackson, and found quite a few. I only had time to look up to about 1860, but in that short time frame (remember, he was in prison until 1854) there were several transactions involving Jackson, mostly centered in and around the little town of America. He seems at this point to be acquiring more than he is selling. I can't wait to go back to trace the land transactions further. I had the idea that he was poor, but in 1860 the census gives him $800 in real estate, which was more than just a little. I'd like to find out what he did manage to keep, and what happened to it.
Here's the line of descent:
John Williams and ??
Jackson Wise and Charity Bodkin
Mary Margaret Wise-William G Beeks
John Beeks-Elizabeth Wise (a different Wise line, we think)
Wilbur Beeks-Gretta Cleo Aldridge
Beeks children, grand children, great grandchildren, etc.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to Ancestry, FamilySearch, and various other websites!
I am still reeling from the surprise that Jackson Wise's father was John Williams. His mother's name was not noted on the certificate, nor was the informant. Well, one out of three isn't bad, I guess. Jackson's 1880 census says that he was born in Ohio and his parents were born in Virginia, so that' a little bit of a clue.
I put a query out on the Wise Ancestry message board and was answered promptly by a very nice lady, who told me who she thinks John Williams might be. I need to do more research on this before I am comfortable with her ideas, but guess what I'll be doing today on-line, and also the next time I get to go to the Allen County Public Library. At least I have places and names to look at, and I am very thankful to Jayne for her help.
Right now, I have a name for Jackson's father and for that I am thrilled. But of course I want to know who his mother was, and how he came to have the last name of Wise. Was Wise his mother's name, and he was a "natural son" of John Williams? Was he adopted? Did he early in life take "Wise" as an alias for some reason? Does any reader have other ideas, of other possibilities?
While I was in Wabash, I looked for land records for Jackson, and found quite a few. I only had time to look up to about 1860, but in that short time frame (remember, he was in prison until 1854) there were several transactions involving Jackson, mostly centered in and around the little town of America. He seems at this point to be acquiring more than he is selling. I can't wait to go back to trace the land transactions further. I had the idea that he was poor, but in 1860 the census gives him $800 in real estate, which was more than just a little. I'd like to find out what he did manage to keep, and what happened to it.
Here's the line of descent:
John Williams and ??
Jackson Wise and Charity Bodkin
Mary Margaret Wise-William G Beeks
John Beeks-Elizabeth Wise (a different Wise line, we think)
Wilbur Beeks-Gretta Cleo Aldridge
Beeks children, grand children, great grandchildren, etc.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to Ancestry, FamilySearch, and various other websites!
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Allen line: Vincent McCoy
Vincent McCoy was born in 1807 in Shelby County, Kentucky, the son of James McCoy and Nancy Lane. His parents were Baptists, and his grandfather, William McCoy, was a Baptist minister in Clark County, Indiana. It's hard to pinpoint when the McCoy's came to Indiana, because for several years William crossed the Ohio River from Kentucky to preach on Sundays, but didn't settle in Indiana until sometime after 1800. I haven't located him in the 1810 census, but by 1820 James and Nancy were in Washington County, Indiana. Sadly, James, Nancy, and at least one of their children died in a cholera epidemic there in 1833.
Vincent left home prior to 1831. He may be the male aged 20-29 in the 1830 census for James McCoy, but he may have already left home by this time and I just haven't located him yet in the 1830 census. He was commissioned a Captain in the Indiana State Militia on 3/30/1830. serving in the 40th Regiment. It appears that the 40th Regiment marched from Marion County, Indiana to at least as far as Lafayette, Indiana, some remaining in Lafayette, some marching as far as the South Bend area, and some going some distance west of the Wabash River, all in response to reported Indian uprisings during the Black Hawk War of 1832. Perhaps this is when Vincent saw the land in northern Indiana for the first time.
He married Eleanor Jackson in Marion County, Indiana on February 24, 1831. It appears that he moved about a good deal, or at least bought property in several counties, including Miami, Kosciusko, and Fulton. The land he bought in Kosciusko County was entered July 13, 1836, and was sold to Lewis Mitchell in 1838 or 1839. He was a treasurer of Kosciusko County for a short time period. It is likely that Vincent and Eleanor traveled what is known as the Michigan Road from Marion County to Fulton County. This was not yet what we would consider a "road" but it was at least a marked wide path. I have read various estimates of how long the trip would have taken, but it would have been measured at least in days and possibly in weeks, camping along the way.
By 1840 he and Eleanor were in Union Township, Fulton County, Indiana, where they stayed for the rest of their lives. He was a justice of the peace there, and a farmer. Vincent and Eleanor had at least 10 children; they were James, Catherine, Nancy, Isaac, William Henry, John, Eliza, George, Sarah, and Nelson. Nelson was only 4 years old when his father died. There are two gaps of 4 years in the birthdates of the children, so it is possible that there were additional children who did not survive.
Vincent died on September 30, 1857 in Fulton County and is buried at Moon Cemetery, aka Sharon Cemetery there. I have visited this cemetery. It is directly across the road from a home that obviously at one time was a church. Perhaps Vincent and Eleanor attended services there, but that is only speculation.
I have a great deal of admiration for Vincent, and for Eleanor. Vincent lived on the frontier for all of his life, possibly excepting the time he spent in Marion County. Frontier life was not easy, for anyone. He lost his parents when he was still a young man, but that did not stop him from living a good life. He must have been highly respected to have been the captain of his military unit, the treasurer of the county, and a justice of the peace at different times in his career. I would like to know more about the church he attended, and I'd like to know more about his experiences in providing a living for his large family.
Our line of descent is:
Vincent McCoy-Eleanor Jackson
Nancy McCoy-George Allen
Edward Allen-Edith Knott
Richard/Edith/Corinne/Tessora/Vernon
Their children, grandchildren, great, and great great grandchildren
Vincent left home prior to 1831. He may be the male aged 20-29 in the 1830 census for James McCoy, but he may have already left home by this time and I just haven't located him yet in the 1830 census. He was commissioned a Captain in the Indiana State Militia on 3/30/1830. serving in the 40th Regiment. It appears that the 40th Regiment marched from Marion County, Indiana to at least as far as Lafayette, Indiana, some remaining in Lafayette, some marching as far as the South Bend area, and some going some distance west of the Wabash River, all in response to reported Indian uprisings during the Black Hawk War of 1832. Perhaps this is when Vincent saw the land in northern Indiana for the first time.
He married Eleanor Jackson in Marion County, Indiana on February 24, 1831. It appears that he moved about a good deal, or at least bought property in several counties, including Miami, Kosciusko, and Fulton. The land he bought in Kosciusko County was entered July 13, 1836, and was sold to Lewis Mitchell in 1838 or 1839. He was a treasurer of Kosciusko County for a short time period. It is likely that Vincent and Eleanor traveled what is known as the Michigan Road from Marion County to Fulton County. This was not yet what we would consider a "road" but it was at least a marked wide path. I have read various estimates of how long the trip would have taken, but it would have been measured at least in days and possibly in weeks, camping along the way.
By 1840 he and Eleanor were in Union Township, Fulton County, Indiana, where they stayed for the rest of their lives. He was a justice of the peace there, and a farmer. Vincent and Eleanor had at least 10 children; they were James, Catherine, Nancy, Isaac, William Henry, John, Eliza, George, Sarah, and Nelson. Nelson was only 4 years old when his father died. There are two gaps of 4 years in the birthdates of the children, so it is possible that there were additional children who did not survive.
Vincent died on September 30, 1857 in Fulton County and is buried at Moon Cemetery, aka Sharon Cemetery there. I have visited this cemetery. It is directly across the road from a home that obviously at one time was a church. Perhaps Vincent and Eleanor attended services there, but that is only speculation.
I have a great deal of admiration for Vincent, and for Eleanor. Vincent lived on the frontier for all of his life, possibly excepting the time he spent in Marion County. Frontier life was not easy, for anyone. He lost his parents when he was still a young man, but that did not stop him from living a good life. He must have been highly respected to have been the captain of his military unit, the treasurer of the county, and a justice of the peace at different times in his career. I would like to know more about the church he attended, and I'd like to know more about his experiences in providing a living for his large family.
Our line of descent is:
Vincent McCoy-Eleanor Jackson
Nancy McCoy-George Allen
Edward Allen-Edith Knott
Richard/Edith/Corinne/Tessora/Vernon
Their children, grandchildren, great, and great great grandchildren
Friday, April 4, 2014
Harshbarger line: Daniel Kemery will
When I started reviewing all the "deeds" that I collected at the Whitley County Recorder's office a few weeks ago, I realized that one of these was actually a will. Daniel Kemery was born about 1811 in Pennsylvania (per 1850 census records) and died before September 12, 1877 in Whitley County, Indiana. After his first wife, Susannah Essig died, Daniel married Barbara Long Buchtel, who was the mother in law to his son Adam. They were married on June 13, 1872, in Whitley County, Indiana. The will was filed April 12, 1878, with acknowledgements by Isaiah B McDonald that he had witnessed the will, signed December 14th, 1876. The acknowledgement was made on September 12, 1877, so Daniel would likely have died during the preceding 30 days or so. G. W. Hollinger was the other witness to the will. Here is the will:
In The name of God I Daniel Kemery of Whitley County - State of Indiana being of sound mind and memory and knowing the certainty of Death I do make and declare the following to be my last Will and Testament hereby and herein revoking any and all former wills by me heretofore made. Item first-I give my soul to God who made it. Item second It is my will that after my death all my proper funeral expense shall be promptly paid and all my just and legal debts be paid. Item Third After the payment of my funeral expenses and debts It my will that all my property both personal and Real shall go to my beloved wife Barbary Kemery to be her own absolute property in fee simple. I therefore will and bequeath to her the undivided third (1/3) Part of the following Real Estate in Whitley County and State of Indiana to wit The West half of the South west quuarter of section No sixteen (16) Township No Thirty one (31) north Range No nine (9) East the whole tract being and containing sixty three (63) acres the same more or less The same the said one third 1/3 of the above described tract to [not sure of word] in fee simple to the said Barbary Kemery for her own use thereof and control the same as though it were conveyed by Deed That the balance of said land belongs to my children and heirs at law of my late deceased wife Susannah Kemery to wit a minor child of my daughter Harriet Cox Mary Ann Mosher Lydia Kemery Amanda Jones Alexander Kemery Daniel Kemery Alfred Kemery Solomon Kemery. Alexander Kemery Adam Kemery and John Kemery and at my death my said wife Barbary Kemery shall pay or cause to be paid all my funeral expenses and debts as in Item second specified and in case she shall pay the same in a reasonable time no letters of Administration shall issue to any one in my estate. Witness my hand and seal this the 14th day of December AD 1876.
Daniel (his mark) Kemery (Seal)
Signed, sealed and declared by Daniel Kemery to be his last will and testament in our presence and that we have signed the same as witnesses at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other this Dec 14 1876.
Isaiah B McDaniel
G W Hollinger
There is following this the statement by Isaiah B McDaniel that he saw the signing of the will of Daniel Kemery on December 14, 1876, etc, so signed by James Krider, Clerk, and then certified by James Krider, Clerk, Whitley Circuit Court, dated 12th day of September, 1877.
I have tried to type this as it is written, with very little punctuation. The will seems to be contradictory to me in that Daniel appears to have given Barbary everything, and then seems to be giving her just 1/3 of the land he had, dividing the rest up among his grand children. Perhaps I should look for a court case about this. The land was in Columbia Township, on the northwest side of the Beaver Reserve, and adjoining railroad tracks that may be the old Nickel Plate RR. It is believed that first wife Susannah and several of the children are buried on land there, and it may be that Daniel is buried there also. It seems that this may be part of the area known as "Hell's Half Acre", an area alleged to be unsafe for travelers for many years. Daniel was in Whitley County by 1850 and may be the Daniel Kemery in the 1840 census in Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County, Pa.
Here is the line of descent:
Daniel Kemery-Susannah Essig
Adam Kemery-Fannie Buchtel
Della Kemery-William Withers
Goldie Withers-Grover Harshbarger
Cleveland Harshbarger-Mary Margaret Beeks
children, grandchildren, great grandchildren
In The name of God I Daniel Kemery of Whitley County - State of Indiana being of sound mind and memory and knowing the certainty of Death I do make and declare the following to be my last Will and Testament hereby and herein revoking any and all former wills by me heretofore made. Item first-I give my soul to God who made it. Item second It is my will that after my death all my proper funeral expense shall be promptly paid and all my just and legal debts be paid. Item Third After the payment of my funeral expenses and debts It my will that all my property both personal and Real shall go to my beloved wife Barbary Kemery to be her own absolute property in fee simple. I therefore will and bequeath to her the undivided third (1/3) Part of the following Real Estate in Whitley County and State of Indiana to wit The West half of the South west quuarter of section No sixteen (16) Township No Thirty one (31) north Range No nine (9) East the whole tract being and containing sixty three (63) acres the same more or less The same the said one third 1/3 of the above described tract to [not sure of word] in fee simple to the said Barbary Kemery for her own use thereof and control the same as though it were conveyed by Deed That the balance of said land belongs to my children and heirs at law of my late deceased wife Susannah Kemery to wit a minor child of my daughter Harriet Cox Mary Ann Mosher Lydia Kemery Amanda Jones Alexander Kemery Daniel Kemery Alfred Kemery Solomon Kemery. Alexander Kemery Adam Kemery and John Kemery and at my death my said wife Barbary Kemery shall pay or cause to be paid all my funeral expenses and debts as in Item second specified and in case she shall pay the same in a reasonable time no letters of Administration shall issue to any one in my estate. Witness my hand and seal this the 14th day of December AD 1876.
Daniel (his mark) Kemery (Seal)
Signed, sealed and declared by Daniel Kemery to be his last will and testament in our presence and that we have signed the same as witnesses at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other this Dec 14 1876.
Isaiah B McDaniel
G W Hollinger
There is following this the statement by Isaiah B McDaniel that he saw the signing of the will of Daniel Kemery on December 14, 1876, etc, so signed by James Krider, Clerk, and then certified by James Krider, Clerk, Whitley Circuit Court, dated 12th day of September, 1877.
I have tried to type this as it is written, with very little punctuation. The will seems to be contradictory to me in that Daniel appears to have given Barbary everything, and then seems to be giving her just 1/3 of the land he had, dividing the rest up among his grand children. Perhaps I should look for a court case about this. The land was in Columbia Township, on the northwest side of the Beaver Reserve, and adjoining railroad tracks that may be the old Nickel Plate RR. It is believed that first wife Susannah and several of the children are buried on land there, and it may be that Daniel is buried there also. It seems that this may be part of the area known as "Hell's Half Acre", an area alleged to be unsafe for travelers for many years. Daniel was in Whitley County by 1850 and may be the Daniel Kemery in the 1840 census in Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County, Pa.
Here is the line of descent:
Daniel Kemery-Susannah Essig
Adam Kemery-Fannie Buchtel
Della Kemery-William Withers
Goldie Withers-Grover Harshbarger
Cleveland Harshbarger-Mary Margaret Beeks
children, grandchildren, great grandchildren
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