John BLANDFORD/BLANFORD 1611-1687, From England to Massachusetts

John BLANFORD, sometimes written as BLANDFORD, is the 8th great-grandfather of my ex-husband, 9th great-grandfather to our children, and 10th great-grandfather to the grandchildren! He is an end-of-line ancestor on our LEWIS-RICE family tree.

We do not have an exact birth date for John, mainly because we are not certain exactly where he was born. A number of people believe he was born in or near Sutton Mandeville in Wiltshire England. The church pictured here, All Saints, dates from 1270, and is still in use, with a fairly small parish. The surname BLANFORD is generally considered a locational surname, referring to the name of a place, but there are other possibilities. Click on this link for a brief explanation. Since he is listed as 27 years on the ship list, described below, he was likely born in 1611 plus or minus a year.

The first mention we have of him is on the ship, Confidence, as listed on Olive Tree Genealogy website, Ships lists:
CONFIDENCE, of London, two hundred tons, John Gibson, Master. She salled from Southampton the last of April, "by vertue of the Lord Treasurers warrant of the 11th of April,1638."

On this ships list, John, aged 27, is listed as "his servant" along with two other young men, in reference to coming with a wealthy linen merchant, Walter Haynes and his family, of Sutton Mansfield [Mandeville], Wiltshire. This is of course a clue to John's possible birthplace in Wiltshire. Note that a descendant of John BLANFORD married a descendant of Walter HAYNES, leading directly to the RICE line. They all braided together, a not uncommon occurrence in early settlements.

Before the time John was 30, he had acreage in Sudbury, and he married Mary ___ [unknown], likely in Sudbury, Massachusetts. To date, we are not certain who Mary was, in this early time of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Over 20,000 immigrants, mainly Puritans from England, came to the region in the 1630s.

Unfortunately, Mary is seen in the Sudbury town vital records to have died April 10, 1641 in Sudbury, likely in childbirth, although that information is not given. It is possible that John and Mary had a daughter named Mary born approximately 1639, but it is not confirmed as yet. On the other hand, there is confusion in these vital records re John and Mary's daughter, Sarah, whose birthday is given as Jan 2, 1642, parents named as John and Mary. This may be a confusion in transcriptions or possibly in writing down the old/new dates issue. Sarah is the direct ancestor here, so I am continuing to search for more details of which of John's wives was her mother. Currently, on logical analysis, it seems most likely Dorothie was her mother, and the transcription was incorrect listing Mary as her mother.

Children of John and Mary:
   1.  Mary? b. abt 1639, d. Feb 1676 Framingham MA; m. 1) Oct 5, 1652 to Jonathan Paddleford; 2) Oct 5 1663 to Thomas Eames.  Not proven.
   2.  Sarah [ancestor], b. Nov 27, 1642 [?], d. March 16, 1724/25 Ashburnham MA; m. 1) Sep 11, 1665 to Elias/Elijah KEYES d. bef 1679,  5 children; m. 2) abt 1679 to John Maynard, 3 children.
     

After his first wife's death, John married a widow, Mrs. Dorothie Wright [unknown surname], on March 10, 1641/42 [1642], as seen in records in Sudbury MA vital records [transcribed].
Children of John and Dorothie, all born in Sudbury MA:
   2. or is Sarah their first child? b. Nov 27, 1642, d. March 16, 1724/25 Ashburnham MA; m. 1) Sep 11, 1665 to Elias/Elijah KEYES d. bef 1679,  5 children; m. 2) abt 1679 to John Maynard, 3 children.  The record below was a Sudbury MA record sent to Boston with other early MA vital records:

   3.  Hannah, b. Mar 7, 1643/44, m. Dec 23, 1667 to Javits "Jabez" Brown; no further research done
   4.  John jr, b. Mar 6, 1645/46, d. Nov 18, 1719 Sudbury; no further research done
   5.  Lydia, b. Jan 28, 1646/47; no further research done
   6.  Stephen, b. Dec 3, 1649, d. abt Feb 28 1699/00; m. Jun 9, 1682 to Susannah Long; 2 children known
   5.  Thomas, b. abt 1651; no further research done

The Sudbury Archives hold many documents re John BLANFORD, including listings of Sudbury land grants, land adjustments, and various town issues such as sizing the town commons, naming constables, naming surveyors for different purposes. This excellent resource also provides historical context and editor notes to each document, if/as indicated.

John died on Oct 23rd, 1687, in Sudbury, aged 76 years old. His wife, Dorothie lived until some time before 21 June 1703.  In John's will, his inventory of goods and lands amounted to approximately £167  I still need to write out the will, having just found it, along with his wife, Dorothie's will and inventory; her inventory valued at just over £41. Below is a snippet of John's will, which is several pages long, including inventory and probate, plus witness statements.

And what did I realize as I went through researching Sudbury?  That a number of the names on the list of early settlers in Sudbury intermarried and ended up in the RICE line. Somehow I hadn't noticed that when I first started researching John BLANFORD. Blind, clearly. One of the reasons I write on individuals is that I always learn something more about the ancestors, the resources, the quality of sources, and mapping. Some of the surnames are: RICE, NOYES, KEYES, HAYNES, BENT, HOW, KING, GOODENOW. They all show up within 5 generations.

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If any of these are ancestors of yours, I would be happy to hear from you with your comments or corrected information. I am also very happy to share any details I might have that are not shown on this post. Contact information is found at the very bottom of this blog.

Blooger has a glitch which is stopping me from replying to your comments, but please do know that I appreciate your comments very much. You make my day! Thanks so much for stopping by to read my family blog. 

Joseph Jacobus KUHN, 1803-1878 Pennsylvania

Joseph Jacobus KUHN, was the 12th and the youngest child of John Ignatius KUHN and his wife Theresa/Tarasy FRICKER. Of interest is that he was only the 2nd boy of this marriage. The priest used the latin form of his second name, Jacob.

Joseph J. KUHN, was born October 4, 1803 in Conewago, Adams, Pennsylvania.  An early note states he was a drummer boy in the War of 1812, which did not actually end until 1815. Very young. I have not yet researched whether or not his one and only brother, John Kuhn, fought in the war as well; John would have been 5 years older. Later, Joseph was a Colonel in the Pennsylvania State Militia.

The obelisk to the right is on the KUHN burial region in the Conewago Chapel Basilica Cemetery, Conewago Twp, Adams, PA, where many of the Kuhn children and spouses are listed, as well as their ancestors. This obelisk provided much information on my KUHN ancestors, with names and dates to help in genealogy research. [photo, by permission]

On Nov. 5, 1826, in Conewago Chapel, by Rev. I. Barth, Joseph married Jane Rebecca McCABE, the younger daughter of Edward McCABE (from Ireland) and Rebecca HUDSON. Note that my Kuhn ancestors were Catholics who emigrated from the Wurttemburg region of Germany approximately 1730-1740.

Very soon after his marriage, Joseph bought a farm on the banks of the Conewago [the Big Conewago], near East Berlin, Adams, PA, where the family lived. He and his wife stayed here for about 40 years. Note the KUHN family were living only 12 miles or so from the famous battleground of Gettysburg.

From their marriage, there were 9 children known, all born in East Berlin, Pennsylvania:
   1.  Edward John, b. 23 Sep 1827, d. 25 Feb 1906 Hanover PA; m. 1) Annie Gill 1856, dec. 1862 in Troy MO;  m. 2) Sarah Jane Hilt abt 1870; 8 children
   2.  Dr. Louis DeBarth [ancestor], b. 22 Oct 1829, d. 7 May 1908 Brooklyn NY; m. 17 Jan 1864 Port Townsend, Wash.Terr. to Amelia A. PETTYGROVE; 10 children.
   3.  Sarah Jane, b. 25 Dec 1831, d. 29 Apr 1834, East Berlin PA.
   4.  Maria Rebecca, b. 2 Feb 1834, d. 8 Nov 1857 [typhoid] in Cuba on honeymoon; m. abt 1857 NY to Charles F. Leisen
   5.  Charles Edmund, b. 16 Nov 1836, d. 23 Nov 1909 Denver, CO; m. 1862 to Jennie M. Myers; 1 child who died aged 23.
   6.  Jane Elizabeth, b. 5 Feb 1839, d. 8 Jun 1916, Brooklyn NY; m. abt 1865 to Philip Reilly, 5 children
   7.  Joseph Augustine, b. 1 Sep 1841, d. 4 Oct 1918 Port Townsend, Wash. Terr.; no marriage/children.
   8.  John Randolph, b. 28 Aug 1844, d. 2 Nov 1926 East Berlin PA; m. 13 Feb 1870 Brooklyn to Henrietta Marie Rabitte; 13 children
   9.  Dr. George Richard Montgomery, b. 2 Sep 1847, d. 5 Nov 1915 Brooklyn NY; m. 13 Nov 1879 Brooklyn NY to Mary E Hussey; 5 children.

Joseph J KUHN was a farmer, but for a number of years he also acted as Associate Judge of Adams County, as well as other minor offices. He was referred to as "Col." from his military engagement with the PA State Militia. His farm holdings included the original farm on the bank of the Big Conewago, as well as a place in New Oxford, Adams, PA, a few miles away.

Joseph died September 18, 1878, leaving his wife as well as seven living adult children.  He is buried in the KUHN gravesite, and details engraved on the KUHN obelisk, in the Conewago Chapel Basilica Cemetery. Image of chapel on left. He left a considerable estate, which two of his sons administered: Edward J, and John R. Kuhn. It was finally probated in full by Aug 16, 1893.  

There is conflicting details on exactly where he died: either New Oxford or in McSherrystown. These two towns are very close together.  I am researching this currently, along with finding his actual will, plus his wife's will of 1883.

On the 1880 census of Brooklyn His wife, Jane Rebecca, is seen living with her daughter Jane Elizabeth Kuhn who had married Philip Reilly, with five Reilly grandchildren. She died Jun 15, 1883 in Brooklyn, and her body was taken back to Conewago Chapel Basilica Cemetery.

Of his children, Joseph seems to have done well, making sure they had a good education, and worked hard for a good life.  An obituary writeup on his life notes the following about the children:
Edward is a wealthy farmer of Hanover, Pa.  
Louis DeBarth who was a surgeon in the United States Navy during the war is now a practicing physician in Brooklyn; he married Miss Pettygrove of Portland Ore., daughter of the founder of that city.
Joseph A. is a lawyer of considerable wealth, president of a bank at Port Townsend, Wash.; he has been in the legislature and state senate for twenty years and is a prominent Mason, a past master of the grand lodge of Washington, and a shriner.
John R. is a lawyer in Brooklyn
George K. is a physician in Brooklyn.
Maria R. married C.F. Leison, and died on her wedding journey i Cuba.
Jane is the widow of P. Reilly, an eminent lawyer of New York, where she is still residing.
Charles E. has one of the largest ranches in Denver, Colorado, situated near Kuhn's Crossing in Elbert County, and covers an area of ten square miles, devoted principally to grazing.

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If any of these are ancestors of yours, I would be happy to hear from you with your comments or corrected information. I am also very happy to share any details I might have that are not shown on this post. Contact information is found at the very bottom of this blog.

Blooger has a glitch which is stopping me from replying to your comments, but please do know that I appreciate your comments very much. You make my day! Thanks so much for stopping by to read my family blog.