Some first Christmas babies, also families & cousins in this mess of photos. My computer died back in 2006, and I lost many well-loved photos. Now of course, I back up constantly in 3 ways!!
Cheers for the Holidays!!
Saturday, December 17, 2022
Sunday, December 4, 2022
CLUES GALORE! Greatgrandmother Sarah E. WHITEHOUSE's 1858 Birth Certificate
I love receiving snail-mail. The clunk of the letterbox outside the front door as the mailman drops in something unknown and flops the metal flap back over it. The feel of envelopes, the stamps, the possibilities.
In late 2006, I received a large brown envelope from Dudley, County of Worcester, England, with FIVE certificates: 3 labelled "Certified Copy of an Entry of Birth", 2 labelled "Certified Copy of an Entry of Marriage." What wonderful treasure indeed for a genealogist! However, I was retiring at that time, going into hospital for surgery, and didn't really look at them beyond confirming the contents of that big brown envelope. As I later wondered what next to work on in my family tree, I looked over each of those five documents, now scanned and filed. And in scanning, I looked in detail at each record. At this point in time, they now are all scanned, labelled, and filed appropriately. My desk is almost totally clear of genealogy paperwork right now! Amazing.Here is a copy of my paternal line Sarah Elizabeth WHITEHOUSE - Greatgrandmother's birth record - with interesting information about her parents and her life. (I made it X-large so that you could read more details.)
When I teach Introduction to Genealogy classes for beginners, I always tease people by saying "There are at least 19 clues or questions to ask, on every document you find!"... because I've found that beginners only see two or three, and think they're done looking: "Yes, there's the parents and birthdate. Done." I know I still have much research to do with these certificates in hand. And I will need to be ordering several more certificates as well - my list of "to order" items is growing.
This birth registration document is very easy to read, with careful clear writing, birthdate of Seventh November 1858. We have her address (born at home) as Northfield Road, Netherton, Dudley, in the County of Worcester. I had to look up more about the relationship of Netherton and Dudley to understand why there are two towns listed as if they were separate ones, in Worcestershire. More to learn. The number in the first column "448" is the number of the registration, not the house number, by the way.
There is her father's name Thomas Whitehouse. I do wish he had a more interesting name, like Linus or Beauregard, or something quite out of the ordinary. But my father's ancestor men were good solid folk with plain names: Thomas, George, William, John, James, Henry.
But then there is Sarah's mother's name, written as: Sarah Whitehouse late Shutt, formerly Price. Here we see that Sarah's maiden name is PRICE. And she was previously married, to a gentleman, surname of Shutt. I have a few clues to indicate his name was Thomas Shutt, and they were married only 1-2 years at most. However, I haven't been able to confirm this yet - I have a list of more records to order: another marriage certificate, his death record, plus more research still to do.
We have the father's occupation: "Laborer at an Ironwork". There is a reason this area was once termed the Black Midlands, due to the smoke/soot in the air which landed on the ground, trees, houses, people and - I am sure - on the laundry put outside to dry. I'm trying to think how anyone kept clean when they worked such difficult dirty jobs as iron works jobs, or coal mining. I thought I might be able to discover which ironworks Thomas might have worked at. I assumed I'd find something quite specific about an Ironworks foundry near Netherton, or near Northfield Road. Perhaps. I was able to find the following on Wikipedia [scroll down on the page]:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Iron_Company :
Netherton[edit]
The 'old ironworks' at Netherton (with two furnaces) were acquired from Attwood in 1825 as part of the Corngreaves transaction. The company remained in possession until c1852 when the works were sold to Noah Hingley & Sons. The company is also known to have worked coal mines here.
Brierley Hill, Dudley Wood and Netherton were all held under lease from the Dudley estate.
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Note that Sarah made her mark X The Mark of Sarah Whitehouse Mother, Northfield road, Netherton/Dudley, on the Fifteenth December 1858. This registration date is about 5 weeks after the birth of their daughter, Sarah Elizabeth Whitehouse. And I'm making an assumption that my greatgrandmother went to the office to register the birth herself, as her husband, Thomas, had to work.
Sarah would need to bundle up the baby plus her 5 year old stepdaughter against the December cold and wet, and walk to the office where the birth needed to be registered. Then back they would have to go home again. I would like to find out how she might have gotten to the Dudley Registration office. Surely someone would have given her a lift... was there a railroad? a cart? Perhaps they were close enough to walk there. I'm abysmally ignorant about transportation options in the 1850s in England villages! I also wonder if it mattered to her that she was not able to write her name on the birth registration form at the office in 1858. I know so little about her. On later census records she is listed as having the occupation of "Nailer" which was piece-work, adding to their income.
I went back to look again at the 1856 marriage record for Thomas WHITEHOUSE and Sarah Shutt, finding Sarah's father's name as John PRICE, Miner. There were extensive coal mines in and around this area, so that is likely what John mined. Sarah's first husband was also a miner, named Thomas.
Thomas WHITEHOUSE and Sarah Shutt PRICE had 5 children: 1 daughter - Sarah Elizabeth (my ancestor) and 4 sons. Thomas' father was noted as Joseph WHITEHOUSE (Dead), occupation, Nailer. Netherton was known as THE place for nailmaking, from the 1600s onwards into the early-mid 1800s. Also on the marriage record, Thomas is listed as a Widower, occupation "Furnace Man." I have begun to search for his first wife, whom I believe may have been also named Sarah, 5 years younger than him.
I first found the records of a Thomas marrying a Sarah, and a Sarah marrying a Thomas for both first and second marriagesfor this couple, an interesting symmetry. Perhaps not so unusual, as those were quite common names in this time. It is said that there are so many Bunn and Whitehouse families in Netherton that if you had a stone for each one, you could build a home with them! Several of the Bunn and Whitehouse individuals in my tree were born in Windmill End and in Darby Hand (Darby End), both tiny neighbourhoods near to Netherton.
I first found the records of a Thomas marrying a Sarah, and a Sarah marrying a Thomas for both first and second marriagesfor this couple, an interesting symmetry. Perhaps not so unusual, as those were quite common names in this time. It is said that there are so many Bunn and Whitehouse families in Netherton that if you had a stone for each one, you could build a home with them! Several of the Bunn and Whitehouse individuals in my tree were born in Windmill End and in Darby Hand (Darby End), both tiny neighbourhoods near to Netherton.
I have a few photos of my greatgrandmother, Sarah Elizabeth WHITEHOUSE... she married George BUNN in 1879, and they soon moved up to the north-east of England, to Barrow-in-Furness, where iron foundries and ship-building opportunities abounded. They had 9 children, one died as an infant.
George BUNN died 10 Nov 1919 aged 62; Sarah Elizabeth WHITEHOUSE died 30 Sep 1928 at the age of 69 years. I can't help feel they were both "too young" to die at those ages.
Any and all BUNN & WHITEHOUSE relatives - please get in touch and I'm happy to email you the copy of any of the Bunn and Whitehouse certificates I have received to date. And if you have additional details I'd be thrilled to receive them!! (contact information, scroll below)
Any and all BUNN & WHITEHOUSE relatives - please get in touch and I'm happy to email you the copy of any of the Bunn and Whitehouse certificates I have received to date. And if you have additional details I'd be thrilled to receive them!! (contact information, scroll below)
(This post is an updated version of my original post in 2010.)
Sunday, November 27, 2022
Margaret C. WALTERS - 1837-1918, Tennessee to Illinois
Another RICE ancestor in our LEWIS-RICE family, here is Margaret C. WALTERS, 5th daughter and youngest child of Anderson WALTERS & Elizabeth JOYNER.
Margaret's 6 siblings were all born in Sumner County, Tennessee, but shortly after 1837 the family migrated westward and settled in the southeast portion of Illinois, to White County. The Township for this region is Indian Creek.
Children of Margaret C WALTERS & Phillip Wesley VINEYARD:
1. Florence, b 15 Nov 1857 Saline co. IL, d 1931 Saline co. IL); m 16 Jul 1882 to Samuel Madison Orr, 4 children
2. Priscilla, b 1859 White co. IL, d. Dec 1879 Indian Creek, White IL; m. 15 Feb 1876 to Thomas Shelby Millspaugh, 2 girls
3. William Anderson, b 20 Nov 1860 White co. IL, d. 31 May 1940 Los Angeles CA; m 13 Dec 1883 to Arabel Hill; 6 children
4. Martha Jane [ancestor], b 2 Aug 1864 White co IL, d. 19 Mar 1954 Los Angeles CA; m. 1887 to Henry Luther RICE; 8 children
5. Lucy Lanah [?Leanah?], b 14 Jan 1867 White co IL, d. 4 Mar 1921 Saline co. IL; m. 21 Feb 1886 to Robert James Sneed, 6 children
6. Thomas Milligan, b 24 Jun 1869 White co IL, d 26 Jul 1941 Greenway Clay AK; m. 22 Nov 1891 to Rhoda B. Pettigrew, 2 girls
7. Rebecca E., b 1871 White co IL; no further information found on Rebecca
Margaret's husband Phillip W. VINEYARD died unexpectedly, aged 40, on 6 Feb 1874 in Indian Creek, White county, IL, leaving her with 7 children, aged 17 to 3 yrs of age. His estate took some time to settle, with debt claims to settle, Margaret's dower portion to settle, and the land and property to sell. His probate papers detail these issues, and may easily be found on FamilySearch.org. Note that Phillip's father died scarcely 2 years earlier.
Several years later, in 1878, Margaret married for a second time to a widower with a number of children, Francis Marion Berry. Two boys were delivered of this second marriage:
8. Lewis Perdue, b 1878 Indian Creek, White, IL
9. Garfield H., b 1880, Indian Creek, White, IL, d. 16 Oct 1919
Margaret's second husband, Francis, died in 1914, aged 80 yrs. Margaret moved to be with one of her children - her daughters were living with their families in Salina County. She died 12 Feb 1918 in Buelah Heights, Salina co., IL. She was aged 81 years old. She is buried with her second husband in the Odd Fellows Cemetery, in McLeansboro, Hamilton county, IL.
Margaret C WALTERS is the great-grandmother to brothers Jack & Bill Lewis, the 2nd-great-grandmother to their children, and 3rd-great-grandmother to the following generation. I have not been able to find any photos of Margaret. As she died in 1918, I might assume there are photos somewhere in the extended family. Hopefully we will find several eventually.
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If these are your ancestors, I am happy to share what little I have on these ancestors. And if there are errors, please do let me know, via calewis at telus dot net, or in the Comments below and I will get back to you either by email or in the Comments. I appreciate the opportunity to correct any issues or add additional information in these family trees.
Blogger - or my computer - is not letting me "reply" to your comments. If I don't reply to your Comment, please know that I'm totally thrilled you came to read my post and commented! You truly make my day!!
Thursday, November 10, 2022
REMEMBRANCE : Lest We Forget... LEWIS, BUNN, GILLESPIE
This is a repeat of an earlier post.
"WWI Roll Call" with basic details of the three relatives who died in "The Great War" 1914-1918. Two relatives (great-uncles) are on my GILLESPIE-BUNN side, the other on the LEWIS-RICE line. The photo on the right is #1 below, George Armstrong Gillespie, aged 28.
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1. George Armstrong GILLESPIE, b. 1886, Barrow in Furness, Lancashire, England, d. 8 Aug 1916, France.
The 4th and last child of George GILLESPIE & Catherine ARMSTRONG, a bachelor, he was living with his unmarried older sister, Mary, and his parents, at 44 Earle Street, Barrow, at the time he entered military service in 1914. His older two brothers, including Jack Gillespie, were living in Canada at this time.
George A. Gillespie died August 8, 1916, aged 30; his identifying number is R/3245, attached to the 11th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps. He is buried in Hebuterne Communal Cemetery, France. His headstone carving, as requested by his parents, is the following:
THE WICKED / CEASE FROM TROUBLING /
AND THE WEARY / ARE AT REST
2. Thomas BUNN, b. 12 Dec 1886, Barrow in Furness, Lancashire, England, d. 8 Oct 1917, Belgium.
Thomas was the 4th child (of 9) of George BUNN & Sarah Elizabeth WHITEHOUSE, the brother of my grandfather Jack Gillespie's wife, Harriett BUNN .Thomas lived for a short time in Canada, following his older brother George Bunn who had immigrated in 1910. He is a bit of a mystery and there is a story that he married or lived common-law with a woman while living in the Maritimes in Canada. However, when war was declared, he returned to Barrow and enlisted there. He joined the Royal Army Medical Corp, 23rd Field Ambulance, (the 7th Division). He was killed in action on 8 Oct 1917, in Belgium, and is buried in Tyne Cot Memorial, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. His name may be seen on Panel 160. (The link shows the cemetery ringed by Panels filled with approximately 35,000 names of casualties...)
3. Arthur Aiken LEWIS, b. 16 Apr 1887, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, d. 8 May 1917, Vimy Ridge, France.Arthur was the eldest of 8 children of Isaac Charles LEWIS & Alma Jane AIKEN. Arthur worked as a Surveyor, on Vancouver Island,as seen on 1911 Census. His CEF - Canadian Expeditionary Force - papers show he enlisted 26 Oct 1915, service number #61710, 22nd Battalion, Canadian Infantry. There is some confusion re his death date, as the Vimy Memorial certificate provides date of death as 15/09/1916 (Sept. 15, 1916); but the official notification of his death is May 8, 1917, "in the trenches south of Acheville" which is by Vimy Ridge. The confusion has not been reconciled at this point. The Canadian Vimy Memorial is a remarkable construction, sitting on the Ridge itself. You can read of its design, construction, and more by clicking on this link.
So many young men were killed in World War I.
Lest We Forget...
Thursday, February 17, 2022
Elisha RICE, 1679-1761, Sudbury Massachusetts
Another RICE ancestor in our LEWIS-RICE family: Elisha RICE, Jack & Bill's 5th-great-grandfather, 6th- to their children, and 7th- to their children. Elisha was the grandson of the first RICE immigrant to Massachusetts: Deacon Edmund RICE and his wife, Tamsin FROST who arrived in 1632. Much information on the RICE family is found on the Edmund RICE (1632) Family Association, and I have written on a number of their ancestors to date. Search on the surname in the search box to the right for more RICE family.
On February 10th, 1707/8 at Concord MA, he married Elizabeth WHEELER, the daughter of Obadiah WHEELER & Elizabeth WHITE. The latter was the granddaughter of Mayflower settler, Resolved WHITE, who came to Plymouth in 1620 with his parents William WHITE & Susanna JACKSON. So here we find the link for Mayflower descendency through this family.
The couple lived in Sudbury until about 1719, when Elisha was a "proprietor" of Worcester, where he had 30 acres of land granted to him the previous year. I have not found the deed record/s for this land. He moved back to Sudbury after that year apparently. Elisha and Elizabeth had 7 known children:
1. Eliakim, b 27 Feb 1709, Sudbury, d after 1763; m. 14 May 1730 in Weston
MA to Mehitabel Livermore; 5 children [1 died young].
2. Elisha [jr], b 27 May 1711, Sudbury; never married; apparently cared
for sister Julia at times.
3. Elizabeth, b 3 Nov 1713, Sudbury, d 29 Mar 1799, Leicester MA; m
28 Nov 1735 in Sudbury to Jonas Livermore; 8 known children.
4. Julia, b 20 Mar 1716, Sudbury, d after 1766, never married; apparently
had severe mental illness, and her brother Elisha apparently cared
for her at times.
5. Silas, b 28 Apr 1719, Worcester MA, d 24 Mar 1800 Northborough MA;
m[1]Copia Broughton 10 Mar 1744/5; m[2] Lois Pollard 20 Sep 1770;
m[3]Mehitable Goodnow 8 Dec 1784. 8 children from [1]marriage, 1
child from [2].
6. Elija, ancestor, b 5 Mar 1721 Sudbury or Worcester, d Mar 1818 Holden
MA; m 23 Nov 1748 Shrewsbury, MA to Huldah KEYES; 9 children
7. Zebulon, b 5 Jun 1725 Sudbury or Worcester, d 26 Dec 1799 Boylston,
MA; no marriage information.
Note that with the Mayflower descendency books providing genealogical information going 5 or more generations down from the original settlers, much of the information about Elisha & Elizabeth's children is taken from the William White bk, Vol.1.
Elizabeth died in 1727 in Sudbury, 2 years after her last child Zebulon. Elisha did not marry again. His siblings lived near him, and his three eldest children were likely able to help as needed.
Elisha died before 19 October 1761 at Sudbury MA, intestate. The estate was appraised on 19 Oct 1761, with the oldest son Eliakim as the Administrator. John Rice, Thos Damon and Phinobus Brintnall were the witnesses to the Bond document as well as the Inventory, which latter was completed Jan 18, 1762. I believe John is Eliakim's grand-uncle, but this has not been verified as yet. The Probate records mentioned were found on NEHGS [AmericanAncestors.org].
There are surprisingly few records that I have found to date on Elisha, other than birth, marriage, a few comments of his land in Worcester, residence in Sudbury, and his Probate records. No deeds, tax rolls, or other such paperwork on him. It is clear he farmed, as his Probate Inventory lists Land valued at over £226, with 1 horse, 4 cows, 1 heifer, 2 calves, plus 420 bushels of oats, 22 bushels and a half of Rye, 30 bushels of Indian corn. He also had a plough share and cotter and other farming equipment.
I noted that on his inventory he is called "Cap'n Elisha Rice," so he likely had a military role at one point. To date I have not found the details of his military activities. There had certainly been several wars between the local Indians and early settlers, and perhaps he was part of the local militia, called on when needed.
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If these are your ancestors, I am happy to share what little I have on these ancestors. And if there are errors, please do let me know, via calewis at telus dot net, or in the Comments below and I will get back to you either by email or in the Comments. I appreciate the opportunity to correct any issues or add additional information in these family trees.
Blogger - or my computer - is not letting me "reply" to your comments. If I don't reply to your Comment, please know that I'm totally thrilled you came to read my post and commented! You truly make my day!!
Saturday, February 12, 2022
Samuel TREAT 1714-1798 in Milford, Connecticut
Samuel TREAT is my 5th great-grandfather up in my mother's Terwilliger line, 6th to my children, 7th to their children. Samuel is the great-grandson of the original immigrant to the New England colony, Richard TREAT, bef 1584-1670, who immigrated from Pitminster, England, about 1637, ending up in Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut. Richard came with his wife Alice GAYLARD and the majority of their children. For more information, use the search box to the right, to read about those two, and/or others listed below.
Born 13 Aug 1714 in Milford CT, Samuel was the 4th child (3rd son) of Capt. Joseph TREAT & Elizabeth MERWIN, his second wife. His mother died a few months after her 5th child in 1716. There would have been several older children and older step-siblings able to help raise the young children, I'm sure. I do not have a record of any third marriage of his father.
Samuel TREAT married Beulah JENNINGS on 26 Oct 1743, in likely Milford CT. She was the 3rd of 4 daughters of Michael JENNINGS & Elizabeth JACKSON. They had 8 children, all born in Milford CT, one of whom died young:
1. Beulah, b 15 Jan 1744, d 30 Mar 1844 in Watertown, Litchfield CT;
apparently did not marry.
2. Mary, b 29 Oct 1744, m 1762 to Joel Titus; no further research
3. Elnathan Peet, b 18 Jun 1749, d Aug 1749
4. Elnathan Peet, b 1 Sep 1751; no further information
5. Samuel Peet [ancestor], b 29 Sep 1754, d 5 Jul 1837 Russia, Herkimer,
NY; m 29 Sep 1780 to Sarah THOMPSON, in Milford, New Haven, CT;
5 daughters
6. Elizabeth, b abt 1756; no further information
7. Abijah, b 15 Dec 1761, d. 5 Jan 1799; m. 12 Jul 1780, likely Milford CT
to Mary Margaret Sperry; no further research
8. Hepzibah, b 1763, d unknown; m est 1785 to [unknown] Warner; no further
research
As you can see there is a lot of possible research to undertake, although this period of time is not awash in high quality documents, as well as finding frequent same names in same generations!
The 1790 Census for Milford township in CT shows the household of Samuel consisting of 1 male over 16, and 3 females. Unfortunately the enumerator copied his findings so that surnames were alphabetical, so it is not possible to see who is living next or close to him.
It is believed that Samuel died about 1798 in Washington, Litchfield, CT. I have no further information on him as yet. It is stated on several trees that Samuel was a veteran of the Revolutionary War during 1775-1783. He would have been in his late 50s to 60s at this point, and it would be somewhat unlikely. There were many many Samuel Treat men in Connecticut, and I believe the Rev. War veteran is one of other Samuel Treat men.
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If these are your ancestors, I am happy to share what little I have on these ancestors. And if there are errors, please do let me know, via calewis at telus dot net, or in the Comments below and I will get back to you either by email or in the Comments. I appreciate the opportunity to correct any issues or add additional information in these family trees.
Blogger - or my computer - is not letting me "reply" to your comments. If I don't reply to your Comment, please know that I'm totally thrilled you came to read my post and commented! You truly make my day!!
Monday, January 31, 2022
Ruth JEROME, 1760-1824, CT USA
My 4th great-grandmother on my maternal line, Ruth JEROME, is the youngest daughter [the 11th child] of my favourite-named ancestor, Zerubbabel JEROME - and his wife Phebe COOK. Interestingly, Zerubbabel married her younger sister Sarah first. Unfortunately Sarah died in childbirth of her first child who also died, a daughter named Mary.
I do wonder how those marriages were talked about in the family. Probably the families were close, I have found several siblings to Sarah and Phebe Cook; their father married several times, with 1-4 children from each wife. More research would be helpful in understanding the social context. Certainly the region was still opening up to settlers.
Back to Ruth JEROME: She was born 14 Jun 1760, in Harwinton, Litchfield, CT, surrounded by her many siblings. And on 8 Dec 1778 in Harwinton, CT, she married Stephen Wells GRAVES [sr], b 2 Feb 1752 in East Plymouth, Litchfield CT. Take note of that 1778 date - the "Revolutionary War" had been ongoing for 2 years by this time. Both the Jerome and Graves families, as well as some of their farming neighbours, were apparently not actively pro-revolution. Stephen had furnished a substitute soldier after first being drafted into service. But he and up to 30 of his neighbours were harassed regularly by "Patriot" vigilantes - the Sons of Liberty - attempting to hogtie the men and force them into fighting the British. The Graves' home was particularly targeted by the Sons of Liberty as it was known to be a rendezvous for the local Loyalists.
Interestingly, a 32 page history of the region provides anecdotes of how the neighbouring women would blow conch shells to warn the working men to high-tail it to the Tory Den [see photo] and other hiding places when the Patriots came calling on horseback to their farms. Unfortunately that small history is no longer shown on any of the Harwinton sites, nor on Internet Archive.
I have two short articles which you can request from me - see email address at bottom of page - with this historical information. One was from the NEHGS March 2015: "The Connecticut Tory Den - Safe Haven for the Royalist Sympathizers." The second source would be "The Tories of Chippeny Hill, Connecticut," by E.LeRoy Pond. In addition, there is a history of Harwinton House, compiled by Roger Plaskett, Harwinton Town Historian, 2006. Stephen GRAVES built this house after the war, 1795. It was moved from Harwinton to New Canaan, where it still stands.
Ruth JEROME and Stephen GRAVES in lived in Harwinton CT, where their 7 children were born - note the two first little girls dying on the same day:
1. Nancy, b 7 Nov 1779, d. 20 Aug 1783
2. Ruth, b 1 Mar 1781, d. 20 Aug 1783
3. Cornelius [ancestor], b 15 Feb 1783, d. 27 Sep 1828 Auburn, Cayuga,
NY; m. Anna TREAT est. 1803 in Harwinton; 8 known children, 2 died
young.
NY; m. Anna TREAT est. 1803 in Harwinton; 8 known children, 2 died
young.
4. Major Nelson, [Major is his name], b. 29 Dec 1784, d. 4 Aug 1861 Jordan,
Onondaga, NY; m. 3 Apr 1806 in Litchfield CT to Abigail Lankton; 10
known children, of whom 4 died young.
Onondaga, NY; m. 3 Apr 1806 in Litchfield CT to Abigail Lankton; 10
known children, of whom 4 died young.
5. Stephen Wells jr, b 5 Aug 1791, d. 3 Aug 1854 in Dover, MI; m. 15 Nov
1811 to Rhoda Clark, in Burlington CT; 3 known children
1811 to Rhoda Clark, in Burlington CT; 3 known children
6. Nancy, b. 23 Jun 1793, d. 11 Dec 1873 in Cambridge IL; m. 15 Feb 1815
in Jordan NY to Miles Welton; 10 children, 9 of whom lived to adulthood.
in Jordan NY to Miles Welton; 10 children, 9 of whom lived to adulthood.
7. Ruth, b. 20 Jul 1795, d. 15 Apr 1886 in Plymouth Hollow [Thomaston],
Litchfield CT; m. 26 Mar 1817 to Marvin Blakeslee from Plymouth Hollow;
no children researched as yet.
Litchfield CT; m. 26 Mar 1817 to Marvin Blakeslee from Plymouth Hollow;
no children researched as yet.
As you can see, 18 year old Ruth married, moved to Stephen's farm during the early years of the Revolutionary War, and suffered her first two children dying on the same day - likely from a contagious disease - while caring for her 3rd child, a son, who was only 6 months old. During the Revolutionary War, she and her husband were fighting off the Sons of Liberty who stole and destroyed her conch shell at gunpoint, as she was trying to keep her husband safe. She also brought food for the men hiding, leaving it a ways from the cave so as not to lead the Patriots to the loyalist men. Fascinating challenging times.
Several of her children moved away with their spouses to Michigan, Illinois, and further in New York.
Ruth died 28 Aug 1824, in possibly Harwinton, CT, and has a tall slab gravestone next to her husband's in Terryville, Litchfield, CT. Her gravestone is inscribed with a short sentence: "The memory of the just is blessed" She was 64 years old, her original 5 living children were married, and with eventually over 28 grandchildren. Note Terryville is just under 8 miles from Harwinton. See FindaGrave for image of both Ruth and Stephen's gravestones.
Stephen lived a few years past her death, and died 6 Jun 1828, in Terryville, aged 76 years. He is buried beside her, with his own tall slab gravestone as well. Terryville is a town within the town of Plymouth CT.
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If these are your ancestors, I am happy to share what little I have on these ancestors. And if there are errors, please do let me know, via calewis at telus dot net, or in the Comments below and I will get back to you either by email or in the Comments. I appreciate the opportunity to correct any issues in these family trees.
Blogger - or my computer - is not letting me "reply" to your comments. If I don't reply to your Comment, please know that I'm totally thrilled you came to read my post and commented! You truly make my day!!
Saturday, December 11, 2021
Mary OLIN 1809-1872, Canton NY to Norris ILL
After a rather long hiatus from blogging, here is Mary OLIN, born in NY state, married, had 7 children, and died in Norris city in Illinois. Mary is in the RICE line of my children's father's mother, and is their 3rd great-grandmother. I was caught by her surname, thinking it seemed a Scandinavian surname perhaps. The earliest OLIN ancestor I've found in the New England states is John OLIN born about 1675, who at about 14 left his ship at harbour in Rhode Island. He later married Susannah SPENCER, a daughter of one of the original Spencer brother immigrants. Some information came from a useful book titled:
"A Complete Record of the JOHN OLIN FAMILY, the first of that name who came to America in the year A.D. 1678. Containing an account of their settlement and genealogy up to the present time -- 1893. By C.C. OLIN, Historian."
Mary was the second child of Joseph Mitchell OLIN and his first wife, Huldah SMITH [d. 1831]. Joseph and Huldah had been living and married Dec 25, 1806 in Addison Vermont, but moved to Canton New York state shortly after, where their first child, Joseph, was born in 1807. All 11 children appear to have been born in Canton NY.
In about 1828, Canton NY, Mary OLIN aged about 19 years, married 27 year old farmer, Calvin HEALY, [b.1801], another person whose family had moved from Vermont to northern New York in very early 1800s. Calvin's parents were Jabez HEALY and Grace BAILY.
Children of Mary OLIN & Calvin HEALY, all born White County, ILL:
1. Arlette M, b 9 Mar 1830 Potsdam NY, d 5 Jan 1890 White Co ILL;
m. Henry C Rice 30 Jan 1850 White Co ILL; 4 children
2. Charlotte Lovina [ancestor] b 18 Mar 1835 OH; m. Joel RICE jr. [bro
Henry above] 19 Aug 1854 White Co ILL; 5 children known survived.
3. George Calvin, b 10 Mar 1836 poss. OH, d. 10 Apr 1887 Iron, White, ILL;
m. Mary Bryant est 1861; 7 known children
4. James Harvey, b 15 Aug 1840 White Co ILL, d 14 Jul 1920 Norris, ILL;
m. Frances "Fanny" A Veach 26 Dec 1867 White Co ILL; 12 children
5. Jerusha Ann "Jenny", b 1844 White Co ILL, d. 3 Feb 1889; m Newton
Bryant [bro to Mary B above] est 1860; 9 children
6. Joseph "Joe" Mitchell, b 26 Nov 1846 White Co ILL, d 7 Nov 1912
Saline Co, ILL; m 1867 to Mary R Steele; 6 children
7. Henry Gilbert aka Gilbert, b 4 Mar 1849 White Co ILL, d 13 Mar 1881
Pope Co., ILL; m 1870 to Sarah Ann Crank; 6 children
8. Francis E, b 5 Nov 1852, White Co ILL, d 3 Aug 1890 White Co ILL;
m 1 Mar 1874 ILL to Sarah A Bryant; 9 children.
All eight children were born in White County ILL, likely settling in Norris City - actually a small village, currently under 1400 persons. I have no church details for this family; there are three existing churches at present.
Calvin HEALY, Mary's husband, died aged 80 years, 2 Mar 1881, in Sacramento, White Co., Ill, possibly living with one of his children or grandchildren. He is also buried in the Rice Cemetery, in White Co., Ill, his details on the other side of Mary's stone.
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If these are your ancestors, I am happy to share what little I have on these ancestors. And if there are errors, please do let me know, via calewis at telus dot net, or in the Comments below and I will get back to you either by email or in the Comments. I appreciate the opportunity to correct any issues in these family trees.
Blogger - or my computer - is not letting me "reply" to your comments. If I don't reply to your Comment, please know that I'm totally thrilled you came to read my post and commented! You truly make my day!!
Thursday, November 11, 2021
REMEMBRANCE - the 11th hour, the 11th day, the 11th month
This is a repeat of an earlier post.
"WWI Roll Call" with basic details of the three relatives who died in "The Great War" 1914-1918. Two relatives (great-uncles) are on my GILLESPIE-BUNN side, the other on the LEWIS-RICE line. The photo on the right is #1 below, George Armstrong Gillespie, aged 28.
1. George Armstrong GILLESPIE, b. 1886, Barrow in Furness, Lancashire, England, d. 8 Aug 1916, France.
The 4th and last child of George GILLESPIE & Catherine ARMSTRONG, a bachelor, he was living with his unmarried older sister, Mary, and his parents, at 44 Earle Street, Barrow, at the time he entered military service in 1914. His older two brothers, including Jack Gillespie, were living in Canada at this time.
George A. Gillespie died August 8, 1916, aged 30; his identifying number is R/3245, attached to the 11th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps. He is buried in Hebuterne Communal Cemetery, France. His headstone carving, as requested by his parents, is the following:
THE WICKED / CEASE FROM TROUBLING /
AND THE WEARY / ARE AT REST
2. Thomas BUNN, b. 12 Dec 1886, Barrow in Furness, Lancashire, England, d. 8 Oct 1917, Belgium.
Thomas was the 4th child (of 9) of George BUNN & Sarah Elizabeth WHITEHOUSE, the brother of my grandfather Jack Gillespie's wife, Harriett BUNN .Thomas lived for a short time in Canada, following his older brother George Bunn who had immigrated in 1910. He is a bit of a mystery and there is a story that he married or lived common-law with a woman while living in the Maritimes in Canada. However, when war was declared, he returned to Barrow and enlisted there. He joined the Royal Army Medical Corp, 23rd Field Ambulance, (the 7th Division). He was killed in action on 8 Oct 1917, in Belgium, and is buried in Tyne Cot Memorial, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. His name may be seen on Panel 160. (The link shows the cemetery ringed by Panels filled with approximately 35,000 names of casualties...)
3. Arthur Aiken LEWIS, b. 16 Apr 1887, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, d. 8 May 1917, Vimy Ridge, France.Arthur was the eldest of 8 children of Isaac Charles LEWIS & Alma Jane AIKEN. Arthur worked as a Surveyor, on Vancouver Island,as seen on 1911 Census. His CEF - Canadian Expeditionary Force - papers show he enlisted 26 Oct 1915, service number #61710, 22nd Battalion, Canadian Infantry. There is some confusion re his death date, as the Vimy Memorial certificate provides date of death as 15/09/1916 (Sept. 15, 1916); but the official notification of his death is May 8, 1917, "in the trenches south of Acheville" which is by Vimy Ridge. The confusion has not been reconciled at this point. The Canadian Vimy Memorial is a remarkable construction, sitting on the Ridge itself. You can read of its design, construction, and more by clicking on this link.
So many young men were killed in World War I.
Lest We Forget...
Wednesday, July 28, 2021
Wordless Wednesday: Cousins
It's so difficult for me to keep this absolutely wordless!
Photo taken in 1946 on steps at 2033 Victoria Street, in cold weather.
I'm in bottom right holding out an apple to whoever is taking the photo, little cousin Wendy watching me, and above, Leita watching the photo-taker, and Derek [Wendy's brother] who looks as if he's saying something!
Wish we'd taken more photos like this...
Tuesday, July 6, 2021
#52Ancestors: Jacob Jansen Van ETTEN 1632-1693, Netherlands to New Amsterdam
Jacob's parents might possibly be Johannes Marinessen & Wilhelmina Hoannes from Etten - this has not yet been verified. I have no further information on Jacob's family of origin.
Jacob Van ETTEN, b. 1632, came over to New Amsterdam about 1659 under a 6 year contract, with another man, Aert Pietersen Tack. Aert was about 6 years older than Jacob, and quickly married a very young girl, Annetje ADRIANSE, (b. 29 Aug 1645), on Aug 14, 1660. They had 2 children: Cornelius Aertszen abt 1661, and Grietje abt 1663. After Grietje was born, Aert abandoned his wife and children and returned to the Netherlands, where he was known to have immediately married again, and to have several children with this second 'wife.' Because this was known information to the authorities, Annetje was allowed to divorce him immediately.
On Oct 21, 1664, there is a record in Kingston Records [in New York Albany Deeds] of a request from Jacob Jansen Van Etten, Aert PietersenTack's "head farmhand to be paid out from Aert Pietersen Tack's estate," per a bill he sent in earlier. Several months later, on Feb 3, 1665, he again requests that his wages from working the farm be taken out of Aert's estate.
And then what happened? Yes, you've probably guessed: Jacob, Aert's work partner, married Annetje, 11 Jan 1665, taking on her two small children, Cornelius & Grietje. Tanslation of the marriage record in the Old Dutch Church Register [found in the NY Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol.30, p52]:
"1665, 11 Jan. Jacob Jansen, young man of Etten in Brabant [Netherlands] and Annetje Arians of Amsterdam, deserted wife of Aaert Pietersen Tack, both residing here [in Wiltwyck now Kingston]. First publication of Banns, 28 Dec 1664, second 4 Jan, third 11 Jan 1665."
1. Jan Van Etten, bap Jan 3, 1666; m. abt 1690 to Jannetje Roosa, dau of Capt Arie Roosa; second, June 22, 1731 to Cornelia Van Aaken, widow of Jan Chammers; 10 children
2. Sytie Jacobsz Van ETTEN (ancestor), bap 1668, Kingston, New York; m. 1685 in Kingston, NY to Jan EVERTSEN [var. Evertz] whose surname changed shortly afterwards to TERWILLIGER; 12 children
3. Adriaen, bap Mar 25, 1669; m. Catharine Crom
4. Pieter, b.est 1672; m. Eva de Hooges
5. Petronella, b abt 1675; m. Aldert Roos
6. Heiltie, bap Apr 21 1679; m. William Van Vredenburg
7. Emanuel, bap Dec 29, 1681; m. Antje de Hooges
8. Tietie, bap Feb 24, 1684; m. Evert Roosa
9. Jacobus, bap May 2, 1686; m. Rebekka Roosa
10. Gessje, bap Dec 25, 1688; m. Jacob Decker
I was able to find a few documents about Jacob Jansen Van ETTEN. He signed the 1676 petition to Governor Andros for his assistance in procuring for them a minister at Esopus [early name for area which became Kingston NY] - particularly wanting a minister who could preach both in English and Dutch. In addition, his name is found on a roll of the names and surnames of those who took the oath of allegiance, 1st day of September, 1689.
However I have yet to find a death record or a gravestone/cemetery listing. I have seen a date of 1693 for his death, in Hurley, New York, about 8 or 9 miles away [abt 14km], but I haven't found a verifying document or historical note. So his death is unverified, but possible. No will or probate as well. More research to do.
Annetje ADRIANSE went to live with one of their children, and died in 1717, in Rhinebeck, Dutchess, New York. Rhinebeck is on the east side of the Hudson River, so quite close to Hurley, New York, where the children were born and raised. Again, I have yet to find a will/probate, a gravestone or, a death registration for her.
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If these are your ancestors, I am happy to share what little I have on these ancestors. And if there are errors, please do let me know, via calewis at telus dot net, or in the Comments below and I will get back to you either by email or in the Comments. I appreciate the opportunity to correct any issues in these family trees.
Blogger - or my computer - is not letting me "reply" to your comments. If I don't reply to your Comment, please know that I'm totally thrilled you came to read my post and commented! You truly make my day!!
Sunday, June 13, 2021
#52Ancestors: John HUDSON 1736-1789, Pennsylvania
Another post in the year-long challenge, #52Ancestors by genealogist Amy Johnson Crow. Although I am behind, every post is another post! Today I am sharing information on John HUDSON, my 4th greatgrandfather on our KUHN lines, 5th greatgrandfather to our children, and 6th greatgrandfather to our grandchildren. There is very little information to be found about John HUDSON/HUTSON, partly as there are a number of Hudson/Hutson men all with same names, generation after generation. However, here is what I've found to date:
John HUDSON was the eldest son the six children of Nicholas HUDSON & Jean/Jane BOWEN, both of whom appear to have emigrated from Wales in the early 1730s. They came to Lancaster County, PA, with John's grandfather George & stepmother Margaret and their adult children.
John's birthdate is estimated 1735/36 in Churchtown, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. [Photo is of 1830s building] No register has been found to date to verify this information.
On 20 June 1768, John HUDSON married Mary MORGAN [b. 20 Jun 1748], the 4th child of Col. Jacob MORGAN & Rachel PIERSOL. Note that Col. Jacob MORGAN [Sr.] is a well-known Revolutionary War Patriot for whom Morgantown is named.
John and Mary had 7 known children said to have been born in Lancaster county - but note that Morgantown/Caernarvon in Berks county was on the county border with Lancaster County.
1. Rachel M., b.19 Mar 1769, d. 20 Apr 1849 Pottsville PA; m. 25 Aug 1794
in Exeter PA to Morgan A. Lewis [1771-1843]; 9 known children
2. Jacob B., b. abt 1772, d. 1823 PA; m. 1798 PA to Elizabeth Porter [-1823];
no research on children as yet.
3. Nicholas, b. abt 1773, d. 29 Sep 1861 Berks Co. PA; m. 25 Sep 1793
in PA to Elizabeth McAnnully; no research on children as yet.
4. Rebecca [ancestor], b. 16 Mar 1777 Morgantown PA, d. 10 Feb 1844
Berks Co. PA; m. 17 Jul 1797 Morgantown PA to Edward McCABE
[1760s Ireland-1814 PA]; 3 known children
5. Jonathan [jr.], b. 30 Mar 1781, d. 1820 PA; m. est 1805 to Sarah Williams;
no further research as yet.
6. Sarah, b. 6 Sep 1783; no further research as yet
7. George, b. 16 Nov 1785; m. 11 Sep 1808 Reading, Berks PA to
Anna Williams; no further research as yet. But note that Jonathan
married a Williams in same period, likely sisters.
John apparently was in Capt. [later Col.] Jacob Morgan's company during the period from March 1777-1780.
He died unexpectedly, intestate, before 13 May 1789, aged 54 years. His wife Mary was Administer of his account, and she signed a £500 bond to detail a full inventory on 13 May 1789, along with "Jacob Morgan Esquire and Aaron Rattice," who were signatories with her. The inventory [not including his property] signed off on 5 Jun 1789, came to £65 8s 11p. I can find no records of land ownership, but he did have a small farm. There should also be guardians registered for the children, the majority being underage, although I have not found these as yet.
I have not been able to find a cemetery where he might be buried, but it is likely in Caernarvon/Morgantown.
Mary died only 6 years later, aged 47, in 1795, in Caernarvon, Pennsylvania. Again, I have not found a cemetery burial as yet. I note that she would have seen only her first child married. No further documents found to date regarding the likely guardians appointed for the younger children.
John - occasionally listed as Jonathan - does not seem to have left many clues to his life, his interests, nor to how he died so young. More research is planned, but to date, these are the major points.
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If these are your ancestors, I am happy to share what little I have on these ancestors. And if there are errors, please do let me know, via calewis at telus dot net, or in the Comments below and I will get back to you either by email or in the Comments. I appreciate the opportunity to correct any issues in these family trees.
Blogger - or my computer - is not letting me "reply" to your comments. If I don't reply to your Comment, please know that I'm totally thrilled you came to read my post and commented! You truly make my day!!
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