Last first: We had new flooring installed, so putting the house back in order trumps genealogy, for the moment. [I'm on break for a few minutes.]
St. John update: It appears that I was misinformed about the termination of the theory that Christopher and Matthias Sension / St. John were of "Dutch" heritage. That idea is dormant, but alive and kicking. So, I'm back to square one or near to it.
Were the St. Johns from Highlight, Glamorgan, Wales or Antwerp, Spanish Netherlands [Belgium]?
Stay tuned, there may eventually be an answer!
Thursday, July 25, 2019
Sunday, July 21, 2019
John Simmons Jr.: Three wives mentioned
Several sources have mentioned that the only reference to all three of John Simmons Jr.'s three wives is in the DAR files. It is. One supporting document lists all three Mrs. Simmonses:
1. Mary Nelson
2. Lucy Cunningham
3. Margaret Harbison Moffat
1. Mary Nelson
2. Lucy Cunningham
3. Margaret Harbison Moffat
Friday, July 19, 2019
John Simmons: Tavern keeper
Supporting documents suggest that John may not have left New York City when the Redcoats arrived.
It was noted that John Simmons provided food for American prisoners in 1777.
John may also have been the scourge of small children. Local kids appeared to have been terrified of him and called John "Old Simmons." [Maybe ol' John just enjoyed scaring the local urchins in good-natured fun! [A 400 pounder cold have done a lot of scaring!]
It was noted that John Simmons provided food for American prisoners in 1777.
John may also have been the scourge of small children. Local kids appeared to have been terrified of him and called John "Old Simmons." [Maybe ol' John just enjoyed scaring the local urchins in good-natured fun! [A 400 pounder cold have done a lot of scaring!]
Wednesday, July 17, 2019
DC heating up for 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11
We were in Washington DC over the weekend. It was HOT. The capital city is ramping up for the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11. Sound systems, screens and other elements are being set up on the Mall for the celebration. It should be a spectacular event!
On the junket this weekend were Ford's Theater and the Peterson House, Mount Vernon, the Smithsonian Udvar-Hazy Museum, the Spy Museum and the Smithsonian Castle. While my better half attended a conference, I took in the WWII Memorial and conducted a bit of research at the DAR Library.
For those of you planning on a trip to DC, several displays at the Air and Space Museum will be shut down while the facility undergoes renovation. Many of the items at A&S are being moved to Udvar-Hazy. [Udvar-Hazy is part of the Smithsonian and holds planes, spacecraft, etc. not on display at A&S, or, like Space shuttle Discovery - too large for A&S. It's located near Dulles Airport.]
The Spy Museum is quite an experience! It covers the history of spy craft and has a ton of interactive displays. The gift shot has an interesting variety of books, gizmos, attire, games and such. [The beverage cooler is labeled "truth serums."]
The research session at the DAR Library was worth the effort. I was able to fing a gem or two on my Revolutionary War ancestors. More on that later!
On the junket this weekend were Ford's Theater and the Peterson House, Mount Vernon, the Smithsonian Udvar-Hazy Museum, the Spy Museum and the Smithsonian Castle. While my better half attended a conference, I took in the WWII Memorial and conducted a bit of research at the DAR Library.
For those of you planning on a trip to DC, several displays at the Air and Space Museum will be shut down while the facility undergoes renovation. Many of the items at A&S are being moved to Udvar-Hazy. [Udvar-Hazy is part of the Smithsonian and holds planes, spacecraft, etc. not on display at A&S, or, like Space shuttle Discovery - too large for A&S. It's located near Dulles Airport.]
The Spy Museum is quite an experience! It covers the history of spy craft and has a ton of interactive displays. The gift shot has an interesting variety of books, gizmos, attire, games and such. [The beverage cooler is labeled "truth serums."]
The research session at the DAR Library was worth the effort. I was able to fing a gem or two on my Revolutionary War ancestors. More on that later!
Thursday, July 11, 2019
St. John Conclusions for now, maybe
Here is what I think may be the lineage for my St. John line to Samuel. This is subject to reevaluation at any time!
1) Christopher Sension / St. John: [button maker]
b. by 1581 - location to be determined, possibly Highlight, Glamorgan, Wales.*
m. before 1601 possibly St. Olave, Silverstreet, London, England
d. [buried] 19 June 1629 St. Olave, Silverstreet, London, England
Joan / Jone _______ [midwife]
b. unknown - England
d. after 1653 London, England
2) Matthias Sension / St. John I: [chandler]
bp. 9 Aug 1601 St. Olave, Silverstreet, London, Englang
m.1 Nov 1627 New Windsor, Berkshire, England
d. 19 Oct - Nov 1669 Norwalk, Fairfield, Connecticut, British America
Mary Tinker
bp. 6 Aug 1606 New Windsor, Berkshire, England
d. aft Jan 1670 prob. Norwalk, Fairfield, CT
3) Matthias Sension / St. John II:
bp. 30 Nov 1628 New Windsor, Berkshire, England
m. c1656 Norwalk, Fairfield, CT
d. Dec 1728 Norwalk, Fairfield, CT
Elizabeth _______
b. c1636 unknown
d. unknown
4) Samuel Sension / St. John
b. 1672 -77 Norwalk, Fairfield, CT [no later than 1680]
m. c1702 Norwalk, Fairfield, CT
d. c1752 Cortland Manor, Westchester, New York
Rebecca Olmstead
b. c1681 Norwalk, Fairfield, CT
d. aft 1755 Cortland Manor, Westchester, NY
1) Christopher Sension / St. John: [button maker]
b. by 1581 - location to be determined, possibly Highlight, Glamorgan, Wales.*
m. before 1601 possibly St. Olave, Silverstreet, London, England
d. [buried] 19 June 1629 St. Olave, Silverstreet, London, England
Joan / Jone _______ [midwife]
b. unknown - England
d. after 1653 London, England
2) Matthias Sension / St. John I: [chandler]
bp. 9 Aug 1601 St. Olave, Silverstreet, London, Englang
m.1 Nov 1627 New Windsor, Berkshire, England
d. 19 Oct - Nov 1669 Norwalk, Fairfield, Connecticut, British America
Mary Tinker
bp. 6 Aug 1606 New Windsor, Berkshire, England
d. aft Jan 1670 prob. Norwalk, Fairfield, CT
3) Matthias Sension / St. John II:
bp. 30 Nov 1628 New Windsor, Berkshire, England
m. c1656 Norwalk, Fairfield, CT
d. Dec 1728 Norwalk, Fairfield, CT
Elizabeth _______
b. c1636 unknown
d. unknown
4) Samuel Sension / St. John
b. 1672 -77 Norwalk, Fairfield, CT [no later than 1680]
m. c1702 Norwalk, Fairfield, CT
d. c1752 Cortland Manor, Westchester, New York
Rebecca Olmstead
b. c1681 Norwalk, Fairfield, CT
d. aft 1755 Cortland Manor, Westchester, NY
*The Returns of Aliens in London for 1617 show Christian Santken in Silverstreet, his wife, English, five children, bottonmaker - dwelt here 36 years. Based on this information, Christopher's wife was born in England, while he was foreign born. Christopher had been in England since 1581. He either arrived shortly after his birth or was an infant when his family arrived, suggesting a birth earlier than 1581.
Alternate Lineage: [suggested by current research]
Matthew Sension [1590-1670] & Sarah [d. 1647] - Matthias Sension [1635-1712] & Rachel Button [1667-unk] - Samuel Sension [1685-1752] & Rebecca Olmstead [1681-aft1755]
Monday, July 8, 2019
St. John Issues
The time line presented in the previous post presents, for me, some issues:
[1] Matthew St. John, as a resident of London, has a relatively complete time line there. A date for his marriage is missing, but a wife Sara/Sarah is named in baptismal records. Births and deaths for children are recorded, A burial is recorded for Matthew. Missing is a burial or second marriage record for wife Sarah.
[2] Events taking place in Connecticut, that involve Matthew coincide with events taking place in London. Baptisms are being held in England at times that it would have been difficult for Matthew to have been there at the time of the child's conception.
[3] Toby St. John was baptized on 5 April 1646 and buried on the 13th. Would his mother have boarded a ship shortly thereafter to join her husband in Connecticut, where she died the following year?
[4] There is no record, to date, of a death in Norwalk, CT for Matthew St. John.
In defense of the Matthew theory:
[1] Matthew St. John's name appears on the Norwalk Founders Monument and Norwalk records.
[2] The names of Matthew and Matthias were used interchangeably in CT records at times. [The sketch on Matthias in the Great Migration 1634-34 discusses Matthias, but is entitled Matthew Sension.]
[1] Matthew St. John, as a resident of London, has a relatively complete time line there. A date for his marriage is missing, but a wife Sara/Sarah is named in baptismal records. Births and deaths for children are recorded, A burial is recorded for Matthew. Missing is a burial or second marriage record for wife Sarah.
[2] Events taking place in Connecticut, that involve Matthew coincide with events taking place in London. Baptisms are being held in England at times that it would have been difficult for Matthew to have been there at the time of the child's conception.
[3] Toby St. John was baptized on 5 April 1646 and buried on the 13th. Would his mother have boarded a ship shortly thereafter to join her husband in Connecticut, where she died the following year?
[4] There is no record, to date, of a death in Norwalk, CT for Matthew St. John.
In defense of the Matthew theory:
[1] Matthew St. John's name appears on the Norwalk Founders Monument and Norwalk records.
[2] The names of Matthew and Matthias were used interchangeably in CT records at times. [The sketch on Matthias in the Great Migration 1634-34 discusses Matthias, but is entitled Matthew Sension.]
Wednesday, July 3, 2019
The Brothers St. John / Sension
Until recently, it has been assumed that Mathias Sension [b. 1601] and his brother Nicholas were the sole representatives of the Sension family to venture to the British American Colonies.
Recent research suggests that Matthew Sension [b. 1590 London], a brother to Christopher, also made the journey about the same time as his nephew, Mathias. Matthew and Christopher were son of Sir Thomas St. John, a native of Highlight, Glamorganshire, Wales. He entered Gray's Inn, London in 1577. Thomas was married to Jane Matthew. Christopher was born in Highlight. Matthew and the other children were born in England.
Based on details presented on Matthew St. John the following timeline covers his life in England:
Matthew St. John / Sension [son of Thomas St. John & Jane Matthew
b. 13 Apr 1590 St. Andrew Holburn, London, England
by 1629 Matthew was a shoemaker
m. before 1629 – Sarah _______
23 Aug 1629 - St. Botolph Bishopsgate, London, Eng. – William
6 Nov 1631 - St. Botolph Bishopsgate, London, England – Elizabeth
1 Sep 1633 - St. Botolph Bishopsgate, London, England - Sarah
13 Dec 1635 – Hackney, St. Leonard, Shoreditch, Middlesex, Eng – Mathias
28 Jul 1639 – Hackney, St. Leonard, Shoreditch, Middlesex, Eng. – Joyce
19 Nov 1643 – Hackney, St. Leonard, Shoreditch, Middlesex, Eng. – Walter
5 Apr 1646 – Hackney, St. Leonard, Shoreditch, Middlesex, Eng. – Toby
13 Apr 1646 – Hackney, St. Leonard – burial of Toby
15 Dec 1669 – Hackney, St. Leonard – burial of Mathias [Matthew] Senshon
The following is the corresponding timeline for the same Matthew St. John in Massachusetts and Connecticut:
1634 – in Dorchester [p. 81]
1637 – keeper of the cows; removed to Windsor, but not with first company. [p. 81 & 156]
Before 1636 – name appears on list of settlers whose names appear in Dorchester town records previous to January 1636. [p. 39]
18 Mar 1638 – residing in Dorchester, Suffolk, MA
1640 – residing in Windsor, CT
19 Nov 1643 – member of Grand Jury in Wethersfield, CT
1647 – death of Sara Senchon in Windsor
1655 – resides in Norwalk, CT
1670 – dies intestate in Norwalk
3 Jan 1671 – town votes that son Matthias Sension is to take up his portion of six acres to the 100 upon Elie’s Nek, next to his uncle Hoite.[osa 5]
The page numbers above refer to histories of Dorchester, Windsor and the St. John Genealogy.
Matthew Sension had a son, Mathias, baptized in 1635. Per the research, this Mathias went to Norwalk after the death of his father to take over his property.
[to be continued...]
Recent research suggests that Matthew Sension [b. 1590 London], a brother to Christopher, also made the journey about the same time as his nephew, Mathias. Matthew and Christopher were son of Sir Thomas St. John, a native of Highlight, Glamorganshire, Wales. He entered Gray's Inn, London in 1577. Thomas was married to Jane Matthew. Christopher was born in Highlight. Matthew and the other children were born in England.
Based on details presented on Matthew St. John the following timeline covers his life in England:
Matthew St. John / Sension [son of Thomas St. John & Jane Matthew
b. 13 Apr 1590 St. Andrew Holburn, London, England
by 1629 Matthew was a shoemaker
m. before 1629 – Sarah _______
23 Aug 1629 - St. Botolph Bishopsgate, London, Eng. – William
6 Nov 1631 - St. Botolph Bishopsgate, London, England – Elizabeth
1 Sep 1633 - St. Botolph Bishopsgate, London, England - Sarah
13 Dec 1635 – Hackney, St. Leonard, Shoreditch, Middlesex, Eng – Mathias
28 Jul 1639 – Hackney, St. Leonard, Shoreditch, Middlesex, Eng. – Joyce
19 Nov 1643 – Hackney, St. Leonard, Shoreditch, Middlesex, Eng. – Walter
5 Apr 1646 – Hackney, St. Leonard, Shoreditch, Middlesex, Eng. – Toby
13 Apr 1646 – Hackney, St. Leonard – burial of Toby
15 Dec 1669 – Hackney, St. Leonard – burial of Mathias [Matthew] Senshon
The following is the corresponding timeline for the same Matthew St. John in Massachusetts and Connecticut:
1634 – in Dorchester [p. 81]
1637 – keeper of the cows; removed to Windsor, but not with first company. [p. 81 & 156]
Before 1636 – name appears on list of settlers whose names appear in Dorchester town records previous to January 1636. [p. 39]
18 Mar 1638 – residing in Dorchester, Suffolk, MA
1640 – residing in Windsor, CT
19 Nov 1643 – member of Grand Jury in Wethersfield, CT
1647 – death of Sara Senchon in Windsor
1655 – resides in Norwalk, CT
1670 – dies intestate in Norwalk
3 Jan 1671 – town votes that son Matthias Sension is to take up his portion of six acres to the 100 upon Elie’s Nek, next to his uncle Hoite.[osa 5]
The page numbers above refer to histories of Dorchester, Windsor and the St. John Genealogy.
Matthew Sension had a son, Mathias, baptized in 1635. Per the research, this Mathias went to Norwalk after the death of his father to take over his property.
[to be continued...]
Monday, July 1, 2019
The St. John conundrum #3
OK, here's what we have so far, based in documented fact:
Christopher St. John / Sension / Sention [buttonmaker,buried 19 June 1629] and Jaon _______ [a midwife, living in 1653]were the parents of
Mathias St. John /Sension / Sention, bp. 9 August 1601 St. Olave, Silver Street, London, England
Mathias, a chandler, was married in New Windsor, Berkshire, England on 1 Nov 1627 to Mary Tinker [bp. 6 Oct 1606 at New Windsor], daughter of Robert Tinker and Mary Merwin.
They had, among others,
Mathias Jr. [II], bp. 30 Nov 1628 in New Windsor, Berkshire, England.
The Sensions were in London by 1631 and sailed for America sometime after the birth of son Mark in June 1633.
[Christopher's will was written on or about 17 June 1629 named sons Mathias, James, Thomas and Nicholas and wife 'Jone.']
Figuring in to the confusion over the Sension family are the following factors:
[1] The use of Mathias as a given name in multiple generations.
[2] Th similarity between the names Mathias and Matthew.
[3] The two names occasionally being used interchangeably. [R.C. Anderson's Great Migration article was entitled "Matthew Sension," but nearly all citations used 'Mathias.'
[4] Another line of the family that included both Matthew and Mathias contemporary to Christopher, Mathias Sr. and Jr.
[to be continued...]
Christopher St. John / Sension / Sention [buttonmaker,buried 19 June 1629] and Jaon _______ [a midwife, living in 1653]were the parents of
Mathias St. John /Sension / Sention, bp. 9 August 1601 St. Olave, Silver Street, London, England
Mathias, a chandler, was married in New Windsor, Berkshire, England on 1 Nov 1627 to Mary Tinker [bp. 6 Oct 1606 at New Windsor], daughter of Robert Tinker and Mary Merwin.
They had, among others,
Mathias Jr. [II], bp. 30 Nov 1628 in New Windsor, Berkshire, England.
The Sensions were in London by 1631 and sailed for America sometime after the birth of son Mark in June 1633.
[Christopher's will was written on or about 17 June 1629 named sons Mathias, James, Thomas and Nicholas and wife 'Jone.']
Figuring in to the confusion over the Sension family are the following factors:
[1] The use of Mathias as a given name in multiple generations.
[2] Th similarity between the names Mathias and Matthew.
[3] The two names occasionally being used interchangeably. [R.C. Anderson's Great Migration article was entitled "Matthew Sension," but nearly all citations used 'Mathias.'
[4] Another line of the family that included both Matthew and Mathias contemporary to Christopher, Mathias Sr. and Jr.
[to be continued...]
Saturday, June 29, 2019
Sension / St. John #2
Matthias and Mary Tinker had six children, perhaps seven:
Matthias Jr. [or II]: bp. 30 Nov 1628 New Windsor - d. Dec 1728 Norwalk, CT
Thomas: bp. 24 Oct 1631 St. Nicholas Cole Abbey, London - d. 16 May 1639 Windsor, CT
Mark: bp.10 Jun 1633 same place - 12 Aug 1693 Norwalk, CT
Samuel: b. 1638-40 Dorchester, MA or Windsor, CT - d. 14 Jan 1685 Norwalk, CT
Mercy: b. 1643-45 prob. Windsor, CT - 1 Feb 1684 Norwalk, CT
James: b. c1648 Windsor or Wethersfield, CT - 9 May 1684 Norwalk, CT
The possible 7th child:
Sarah: b. c1636 prob. Dorchester, MA - d. 1647 Windsor, CT [A Sarah Senchon died in Windsor in 1647. Relationship to other Sensions not given.]
Now, what about Matthias Sension Sr.? We must turn to London records for his origin.
The records of St. Olave Silver Street, London offer the following:
baptisms:
Mathias, son of Christopher Sangins: 9 Aug 1601
Joane, daughter: 27 Feb 1602/3
Sarah, daughter: 28 Oct 1604
Katerine, daughter: 3 Nov 1605
Roger, son: 5 Nov 1607
James, son: 30 Oct 1608
Sara: daughter, ? Dec 1609
Thomas, son: 30 May 1613
Nicholas, son: 1 Jan 1617/8
Christopher is listed as Christofer & Xstofer
Surname: Sangins, Sangyne, Sengenes & St. John
burials:
Sarah: 3 Dec 1604
Jane: 29 Aug 1603
unbaptized child: 17 Jan 1610/11
Elizabeth: 11 Mar 1616/7
Humfrey: 8 July 1625 [mother Joane]
Sara: 19 July 1625
Christopher: 19 Jun 1629
Rent records for St. Olave Silver Street identify Joan Senchion as the widow of Christopher and a midwife by trade.
So we have Matthias' parents as Christopher and Joan. He was baptized on 9 Aug 1601.
[to be continued]
Matthias Jr. [or II]: bp. 30 Nov 1628 New Windsor - d. Dec 1728 Norwalk, CT
Thomas: bp. 24 Oct 1631 St. Nicholas Cole Abbey, London - d. 16 May 1639 Windsor, CT
Mark: bp.10 Jun 1633 same place - 12 Aug 1693 Norwalk, CT
Samuel: b. 1638-40 Dorchester, MA or Windsor, CT - d. 14 Jan 1685 Norwalk, CT
Mercy: b. 1643-45 prob. Windsor, CT - 1 Feb 1684 Norwalk, CT
James: b. c1648 Windsor or Wethersfield, CT - 9 May 1684 Norwalk, CT
The possible 7th child:
Sarah: b. c1636 prob. Dorchester, MA - d. 1647 Windsor, CT [A Sarah Senchon died in Windsor in 1647. Relationship to other Sensions not given.]
Now, what about Matthias Sension Sr.? We must turn to London records for his origin.
The records of St. Olave Silver Street, London offer the following:
baptisms:
Mathias, son of Christopher Sangins: 9 Aug 1601
Joane, daughter: 27 Feb 1602/3
Sarah, daughter: 28 Oct 1604
Katerine, daughter: 3 Nov 1605
Roger, son: 5 Nov 1607
James, son: 30 Oct 1608
Sara: daughter, ? Dec 1609
Thomas, son: 30 May 1613
Nicholas, son: 1 Jan 1617/8
Christopher is listed as Christofer & Xstofer
Surname: Sangins, Sangyne, Sengenes & St. John
burials:
Sarah: 3 Dec 1604
Jane: 29 Aug 1603
unbaptized child: 17 Jan 1610/11
Elizabeth: 11 Mar 1616/7
Humfrey: 8 July 1625 [mother Joane]
Sara: 19 July 1625
Christopher: 19 Jun 1629
Rent records for St. Olave Silver Street identify Joan Senchion as the widow of Christopher and a midwife by trade.
So we have Matthias' parents as Christopher and Joan. He was baptized on 9 Aug 1601.
[to be continued]
Thursday, June 27, 2019
St. John - Sension Family: What I know or think I know
The St. John - Sension story becomes more and more frustrating as I dig into it. Genealogy research can do that to you - constantly!! Were Mathias Sension, his uncle Matthew and cousin Mathias all in America? Was Samuel St. John's father Mathias II or Mathias, son of Matthew?
Here's what I know and think I know.
Robert Leigh Ward's Two Contemporaries Named Mathias Sension was published in the Oct. 1977 issue of The American Genealogist, [Vol. 33, #4, p. 241-3]. In the article, Ward established that there were two Mathias Sension residing in London during the early 1600s.
One lived in the parish of St. Botolph's Bishopsgate, London, was a shoemaker and married a woman named Sarah. Mathias and Sarah had three children baptized at the parish church, William [23 Aug 1629], Elizabeth [1 Nov 1631] and Sara [1 Sep 1633].
The other Mathias resided in St. Nicholas Cole Abbey, London, was a chandler by trade and married a woman named Mary. Further research would reveal that she was Mary Tinker. The parish registers turned up a baptism for two sons, Thomas [24 Oct 1631] and Marke [10 Jun 1633]. There was also a James Sension in the same parish. He married Anne and they had 8 children. Like Mathias, James was a chandler.
Ward concluded that it was the second Mathis who settled in Massachusetts and later Connecticut.
Mathias' marriage record was located in New Windsor, Berkshire, England. On 1 Nov 1627, he married Mary Tinker, daughter of Robert Tinker and Mary Merwin. Their eldest son, Mathias was baptized at New Windsor on 30 Nov 1628.
The St. John Genealogy [1907] claims that Mathias and Mary were in Dorchester, Massachusetts Bay Colony by 1631/2. With sons born in London in 1631 and 1633, that was highly unlikely.
Dorchester records do place Mathias there in 1634, when he was made a freeman on 3 September of that year.
Mathias and Mary had at least three more children in America, possibly four. Samuel [c1639]. Mercy [c1645] and James [c11649] were probably born in Windsor, CT. A Sarah Senchon died in Windsor in 1647. Robert Charles Anderson's Great Migration 1634-1635 R-S article on "Matthew Sension" [p.232] suggests that the Sarah Sension who died in 1647 was the daughter of Mathias and Mary, born circa 1636.
The Sensions were in Dorchester from 1634 until 1640, then moved to Windsor, CT from 1640 until 1648, Wethersfield, CT from 1648 until 1654 and Norwalk, CT from 1655 until his death in 1669.
[to be continued]
One lived in the parish of St. Botolph's Bishopsgate, London, was a shoemaker and married a woman named Sarah. Mathias and Sarah had three children baptized at the parish church, William [23 Aug 1629], Elizabeth [1 Nov 1631] and Sara [1 Sep 1633].
The other Mathias resided in St. Nicholas Cole Abbey, London, was a chandler by trade and married a woman named Mary. Further research would reveal that she was Mary Tinker. The parish registers turned up a baptism for two sons, Thomas [24 Oct 1631] and Marke [10 Jun 1633]. There was also a James Sension in the same parish. He married Anne and they had 8 children. Like Mathias, James was a chandler.
Ward concluded that it was the second Mathis who settled in Massachusetts and later Connecticut.
Mathias' marriage record was located in New Windsor, Berkshire, England. On 1 Nov 1627, he married Mary Tinker, daughter of Robert Tinker and Mary Merwin. Their eldest son, Mathias was baptized at New Windsor on 30 Nov 1628.
The St. John Genealogy [1907] claims that Mathias and Mary were in Dorchester, Massachusetts Bay Colony by 1631/2. With sons born in London in 1631 and 1633, that was highly unlikely.
Dorchester records do place Mathias there in 1634, when he was made a freeman on 3 September of that year.
Mathias and Mary had at least three more children in America, possibly four. Samuel [c1639]. Mercy [c1645] and James [c11649] were probably born in Windsor, CT. A Sarah Senchon died in Windsor in 1647. Robert Charles Anderson's Great Migration 1634-1635 R-S article on "Matthew Sension" [p.232] suggests that the Sarah Sension who died in 1647 was the daughter of Mathias and Mary, born circa 1636.
The Sensions were in Dorchester from 1634 until 1640, then moved to Windsor, CT from 1640 until 1648, Wethersfield, CT from 1648 until 1654 and Norwalk, CT from 1655 until his death in 1669.
[to be continued]
Friday, June 7, 2019
St. John: Antwerp or Wales?
I think the jury is in on the St. John ancestry. Wales appears to be the homeland for the family, rather than Antwerp of the Spanish Netherlands.
It seems that some of the findings in the London records were misinterpreted and some incorrect assumptions were made.
There were other factors involved that do not warrant inclusion here. Suffice it to say, I'm rather disappointed, for several reasons.
1) I spent a week in Salt Lake verifying misinterpreted research.
2) I did not catch the fact that what I was thinking were Dutch church records were not and the consultant did not catch on either.
3) I could have spent the week on another project.
4) I've lost 5 years on updating the St. John family.
I will outline the St. John lineage in the next post.
Note: St. John, for whatever reason, is pronounces Sin-jin in England. That accounts for some early spelling such as Sention, Sension and Senshon.
It seems that some of the findings in the London records were misinterpreted and some incorrect assumptions were made.
There were other factors involved that do not warrant inclusion here. Suffice it to say, I'm rather disappointed, for several reasons.
1) I spent a week in Salt Lake verifying misinterpreted research.
2) I did not catch the fact that what I was thinking were Dutch church records were not and the consultant did not catch on either.
3) I could have spent the week on another project.
4) I've lost 5 years on updating the St. John family.
I will outline the St. John lineage in the next post.
Note: St. John, for whatever reason, is pronounces Sin-jin in England. That accounts for some early spelling such as Sention, Sension and Senshon.
Wednesday, June 5, 2019
Cruising delays Posts
We returned from a cruise on Memorial Day Monday. In addition to souvenirs, I brought back a cough and have been under the weather ever since.
Cruise recap: We flew from Indy to Chicago to Dublin, Ireland on May 13 and checked into the Arlington Hotel near the O'Connell Street Bridge. The afternoon was spent wandering Dublin. Various souvenir shops and Marks & Spencer Department Store were among the stops.
On the 14th we took a bus trip to Galway. The primary purpose of the trip was that it stopped in the village of Cong. Cong doubled for Innisfree in John Ford's 1951 classic "The Quiet Man" [John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara, Victor McLaglan, Ward Bond, Barry Fitzgerald, etc.]. It is one of our all time favorites. Cong was the lunch stop, so we picked up sandwiches, chips and drinks at a rest stop and ate on the bus. Cong is the stereotypical perfect Irish village, even if it is a tourist stop courtesy of the film. Galway was OK, but focused on a younger generation. We hooked up with Miriam's sister and brother-in-law back in Dublin and had dinner at the Brazen Head, Ireland's oldest pub, established in 1198.
[Genealogy note: Miriam's Murphy & Malone families were Dubliners.]
We boarded the Celebrity Reflection on the 15th.
May 16 - 1ST PORT: Greenock, Scotland, near Galway. Excursion: Stirling Castle. William Wallace "Braveheart" and Robert the Bruce waged war near the castle. The views of the Scottish countryside from the castle were magnificent. Our guide informed us that Mel Gibson's "Braveheart" renewed interest among the Scots. Scotland's emphasis on history in the classroom was sorely lacking. Sound familiar? Stirling Castle was one of the top excursions!
[Genealogy note: I wandered through a section of the cemetery on the castle grounds. A researcher's dream! The maiden name of the wife was given on nearly every tombstone! ]
May 17th: at sea.
May 18-19 - 2nd PORT: Reykjavik, Iceland: Day 1 - we hopped the shuttle bus into town and walked around Reykjavik. We visited with a local cat and dog, hit numerous shops and visited the main church, an architectural marvel! There was a statue of Leif Erikson out front. On the way into town, the shuttle driver was a bit taciturn to say the least. Our driver back to the ship was great and full of information. He pointed out the house where Churchill stayed during WWII and where President Reagan met with Gorbachev Day 2 saw an excursion to a couple of geothermal plants and a restaurant for geothermal baked bread and tea. Stops were either too short or too long. Probably the weak link of the excursions.
May 20 - 3RD PORT: Akureyri, Iceland: The excursion was to more geothermal sites, Sulphur fields, volcanoes, mountains and a water fall. Descriptions cannot do this excursion justice! The scenery was magnificent! We also crossed one of the places where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet. #1 excursion!!
May 21-22: at sea
May 23: 4th PORT - Belfast, Northern Ireland: We toured the historic Crumlin Road Gaol, which closed in the mid-1990s. Our guide was a former guard. The tour included a visit to neighborhoods impacted by the "Troubles" between the Unionist/Loyalists [protestants] and the Nationalist/Republicans [Catholics] beginning in the 1960s.
May 24 - 5th PORT - Cobh [Cove/Queenstown], Cork: Excursion - Blarney Castle. The line to kiss the Blarney Sone was 90 min. and we had two hours on site, so no smooching the rock. I'm eloquent enough, I guess. The Cork countryside was beautiful. We also wandered around Cobh a bit.
[Genealogy note: My 3rd great-grandmother, Catherine O'Neil was a native of County Cork. She may have sailed from Cobh for England where she worked for passage to America.]
May 25 - back to Dublin and the Arlington Hotel. We did a tour of Dublin that included the Book of Kells at Trinity College and Dublin Castle. We took in a dinner show at the hotel as well.
May 26: Home. A 7+ hour flight took 10+ hours thanks to snafus at the Dublin airport and storms in Chicago. We rented a car and drove back to Indy, rather than waiting on the delayed flight that arrived about the time we went to bed.
Somewhere along the line, I picked up a cough and Miriam caught a bug on the flight home. We have been uner the weather since!! Bleah!
Coming up: St. John update.
Cruise recap: We flew from Indy to Chicago to Dublin, Ireland on May 13 and checked into the Arlington Hotel near the O'Connell Street Bridge. The afternoon was spent wandering Dublin. Various souvenir shops and Marks & Spencer Department Store were among the stops.
On the 14th we took a bus trip to Galway. The primary purpose of the trip was that it stopped in the village of Cong. Cong doubled for Innisfree in John Ford's 1951 classic "The Quiet Man" [John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara, Victor McLaglan, Ward Bond, Barry Fitzgerald, etc.]. It is one of our all time favorites. Cong was the lunch stop, so we picked up sandwiches, chips and drinks at a rest stop and ate on the bus. Cong is the stereotypical perfect Irish village, even if it is a tourist stop courtesy of the film. Galway was OK, but focused on a younger generation. We hooked up with Miriam's sister and brother-in-law back in Dublin and had dinner at the Brazen Head, Ireland's oldest pub, established in 1198.
[Genealogy note: Miriam's Murphy & Malone families were Dubliners.]
We boarded the Celebrity Reflection on the 15th.
May 16 - 1ST PORT: Greenock, Scotland, near Galway. Excursion: Stirling Castle. William Wallace "Braveheart" and Robert the Bruce waged war near the castle. The views of the Scottish countryside from the castle were magnificent. Our guide informed us that Mel Gibson's "Braveheart" renewed interest among the Scots. Scotland's emphasis on history in the classroom was sorely lacking. Sound familiar? Stirling Castle was one of the top excursions!
[Genealogy note: I wandered through a section of the cemetery on the castle grounds. A researcher's dream! The maiden name of the wife was given on nearly every tombstone! ]
May 17th: at sea.
May 18-19 - 2nd PORT: Reykjavik, Iceland: Day 1 - we hopped the shuttle bus into town and walked around Reykjavik. We visited with a local cat and dog, hit numerous shops and visited the main church, an architectural marvel! There was a statue of Leif Erikson out front. On the way into town, the shuttle driver was a bit taciturn to say the least. Our driver back to the ship was great and full of information. He pointed out the house where Churchill stayed during WWII and where President Reagan met with Gorbachev Day 2 saw an excursion to a couple of geothermal plants and a restaurant for geothermal baked bread and tea. Stops were either too short or too long. Probably the weak link of the excursions.
May 20 - 3RD PORT: Akureyri, Iceland: The excursion was to more geothermal sites, Sulphur fields, volcanoes, mountains and a water fall. Descriptions cannot do this excursion justice! The scenery was magnificent! We also crossed one of the places where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet. #1 excursion!!
May 21-22: at sea
May 23: 4th PORT - Belfast, Northern Ireland: We toured the historic Crumlin Road Gaol, which closed in the mid-1990s. Our guide was a former guard. The tour included a visit to neighborhoods impacted by the "Troubles" between the Unionist/Loyalists [protestants] and the Nationalist/Republicans [Catholics] beginning in the 1960s.
May 24 - 5th PORT - Cobh [Cove/Queenstown], Cork: Excursion - Blarney Castle. The line to kiss the Blarney Sone was 90 min. and we had two hours on site, so no smooching the rock. I'm eloquent enough, I guess. The Cork countryside was beautiful. We also wandered around Cobh a bit.
[Genealogy note: My 3rd great-grandmother, Catherine O'Neil was a native of County Cork. She may have sailed from Cobh for England where she worked for passage to America.]
May 25 - back to Dublin and the Arlington Hotel. We did a tour of Dublin that included the Book of Kells at Trinity College and Dublin Castle. We took in a dinner show at the hotel as well.
May 26: Home. A 7+ hour flight took 10+ hours thanks to snafus at the Dublin airport and storms in Chicago. We rented a car and drove back to Indy, rather than waiting on the delayed flight that arrived about the time we went to bed.
Somewhere along the line, I picked up a cough and Miriam caught a bug on the flight home. We have been uner the weather since!! Bleah!
Coming up: St. John update.
Saturday, May 25, 2019
Advice #9: Online research
There are more and more records and books becoming available online each day. Many are free, others are pay sites and still other pay per usage.
Ancestry, My Heritage, Find My Past: Pay sites, millions of records, books, newspapers and family trees.
FamilySearch: Free, millions of records, books and family trees.
Fold3: pay, military records
Find a Grave: free, cemetery records
Rootsweb: free, family trees
Genweb: free, search for state and county records
Archive.com: free, online copies of books
Various repositories in Great Britain and other countries have searchable databases, pay per record options and research help.
Many organizational libraries [DAR, SAR, etc.] have free searchable databases, but records are available for a fee.
National Archives: Military records and pensions, personnel records. Washington, DC [pre 20th century] and St. Louis [personnel and 20th century military]
There are numerous online pay and free sites not mentioned here.
Ancestry, My Heritage, Find My Past: Pay sites, millions of records, books, newspapers and family trees.
FamilySearch: Free, millions of records, books and family trees.
Fold3: pay, military records
Find a Grave: free, cemetery records
Rootsweb: free, family trees
Genweb: free, search for state and county records
Archive.com: free, online copies of books
Various repositories in Great Britain and other countries have searchable databases, pay per record options and research help.
Many organizational libraries [DAR, SAR, etc.] have free searchable databases, but records are available for a fee.
National Archives: Military records and pensions, personnel records. Washington, DC [pre 20th century] and St. Louis [personnel and 20th century military]
There are numerous online pay and free sites not mentioned here.
Thursday, May 23, 2019
Advice #8: Societies
Returning to historical and genealogical societies: Join a local, regional or national society, or a combination of the three. Membership is generally reasonable and discounts are available on programs and products. Some of the societies will sponsor research trips to nearby research libraries, Salt Lake City or overseas venues. Most will offer speakers.
Advise #7: Software
Investigate the various family tree software programs that are available. Family Search [LDS], Ancestry, My Heritage, Find My Past, American Ancestors and other research sites have the capacity to host family trees. Using one of these can make your tree available for others to view.
You should have your data on a personal software program as well. There are several available to download for free, others are offered for a fee.
Among the highest rated are RootsMagic, Family Tree Builder, Family Tree Maker, Family Historian and Legacy.
Investigate the various software programs online.
You should have your data on a personal software program as well. There are several available to download for free, others are offered for a fee.
Among the highest rated are RootsMagic, Family Tree Builder, Family Tree Maker, Family Historian and Legacy.
Investigate the various software programs online.
Advice #6: Filing
Come up with a filing system for your research material.
Read articles or books on filing systems of others and then modify to suit your needs.
File folders work well. Some people digitize everything and keep it on their computer.
Read articles or books on filing systems of others and then modify to suit your needs.
File folders work well. Some people digitize everything and keep it on their computer.
Tuesday, May 21, 2019
Advice #5: Document! Document! Document!
Documentation of sources is key to successful research!
Document:
1] Write the date, location and source of each document you find, be it probate, deed, vital record or map. Write the info on the back of each document.
2] Identify photos! On the back or on a note card write who or what is in the photo, when it was taken, by whom it was taken [if possible], who provided the photo.
3] Family trees: identify the source of each birth, marriage and death date for each person on the tree.
4] Local histories, genealogies, etc.: Make a hard copy of each page, write the title, author, publisher, place and date of publication, and page number. Better yet, copy the title page!
5] Family lore and interviews: Write down who said, when they said it and who told it to them.
Document:
1] Write the date, location and source of each document you find, be it probate, deed, vital record or map. Write the info on the back of each document.
2] Identify photos! On the back or on a note card write who or what is in the photo, when it was taken, by whom it was taken [if possible], who provided the photo.
3] Family trees: identify the source of each birth, marriage and death date for each person on the tree.
4] Local histories, genealogies, etc.: Make a hard copy of each page, write the title, author, publisher, place and date of publication, and page number. Better yet, copy the title page!
5] Family lore and interviews: Write down who said, when they said it and who told it to them.
Sunday, May 19, 2019
Advice #4: Check into local opportunities
Many cities and towns have a genealogical or historical society. They generally have a research library. You can volunteer to help man the library, answer research queries, or some other activity. Many local organizations have monthly meetings with speakers brought in on various topics.
Help out or attend the meetings.
Help out or attend the meetings.
Friday, May 17, 2019
Advice #3: Attend a conference
There are several state, regional and national conferences available for researchers of all skill level to attend.
At the national level there are two major conferences: National Genealogical Society and Federation of Genealogical Societies are the sponsors. These conferences are held in different locales each year to give attendees the opportunity to visit area research facilities before or after the conference. Salt Lake City [UT], Fort Wayne [IN], Orlando [FL], Pittsburgh [PA], Nashville [TN], Chicago [IL], San Antonio [TX] and St. Charles [MO] are among the cities that have hosted these conferences.
There are pre-conference activities held on Wednesday [workshops, research at local libraries, etc.] with sessions beginning on Thursday running through Saturday. Nationally known speakers head up the sessions. Special tracks focusing on regional topics are held as well. [Midwest research at Ft. Wayne, for example.] A banquet is held on Friday evening. A wide variety of vendors are available.
Regional and state conferences have a much narrower focus. The Ohio Genealogical Society Conference, for example, highlights Ohio Valley topics. Vendors tend to be fewer nd more localized.
The New England Historic and Genealogical Society sponsors week long and weekend conferences in Boston throughout the year. NEHGS also sponsors research trips to Salt Lake, Ireland, England and other places during the year. Occasionally, NEHGS sponsors a one or two day conference in other cities.
The Utah Gen. Society hosts the Salt Lake Institute in January each year offering as many as 12 tracks varying from Beginning Research, to German Research, Advanced Research, Writing Family Histories, etc. It is a 5 day conference with sessions scheduled throughout the day, special classes or research opportunities at the FHL in the evening.
Try attending a national or local conference at least once. Give NEHGS, SLIG or another "institute" format a try as well. All will give you a great learning opportunity and a chance to network with other researchers.
At the national level there are two major conferences: National Genealogical Society and Federation of Genealogical Societies are the sponsors. These conferences are held in different locales each year to give attendees the opportunity to visit area research facilities before or after the conference. Salt Lake City [UT], Fort Wayne [IN], Orlando [FL], Pittsburgh [PA], Nashville [TN], Chicago [IL], San Antonio [TX] and St. Charles [MO] are among the cities that have hosted these conferences.
There are pre-conference activities held on Wednesday [workshops, research at local libraries, etc.] with sessions beginning on Thursday running through Saturday. Nationally known speakers head up the sessions. Special tracks focusing on regional topics are held as well. [Midwest research at Ft. Wayne, for example.] A banquet is held on Friday evening. A wide variety of vendors are available.
Regional and state conferences have a much narrower focus. The Ohio Genealogical Society Conference, for example, highlights Ohio Valley topics. Vendors tend to be fewer nd more localized.
The New England Historic and Genealogical Society sponsors week long and weekend conferences in Boston throughout the year. NEHGS also sponsors research trips to Salt Lake, Ireland, England and other places during the year. Occasionally, NEHGS sponsors a one or two day conference in other cities.
The Utah Gen. Society hosts the Salt Lake Institute in January each year offering as many as 12 tracks varying from Beginning Research, to German Research, Advanced Research, Writing Family Histories, etc. It is a 5 day conference with sessions scheduled throughout the day, special classes or research opportunities at the FHL in the evening.
Try attending a national or local conference at least once. Give NEHGS, SLIG or another "institute" format a try as well. All will give you a great learning opportunity and a chance to network with other researchers.
Wednesday, May 15, 2019
Adivce 2: Collecting Ancestors vs. Collecting Ancestral Stories
Having all of the branches on the family tree filled with names is the goal of every family historian. However "collecting ancestors" should not be your goal. Some people are only interested in the begats, but wouldn't telling each person's story be more interesting?
Try to flesh out each person's story with as much detail as possible, even if it means including family lore. [Be sure to note that family lore is just that.] Include birth, death, marriage, occupation, residence and the like.
Write up a bio of each individual. It may be two sentences, it may be two pages. Try to bring the ancestors to life with their stories. Add pictures of the person, family, his/her home, map of the town[s] in which they lived, anything that adds to the story, if you can find them.
Try to flesh out each person's story with as much detail as possible, even if it means including family lore. [Be sure to note that family lore is just that.] Include birth, death, marriage, occupation, residence and the like.
Write up a bio of each individual. It may be two sentences, it may be two pages. Try to bring the ancestors to life with their stories. Add pictures of the person, family, his/her home, map of the town[s] in which they lived, anything that adds to the story, if you can find them.
Monday, May 13, 2019
Advice for beginning, intermediate and advanced family history researchers - online family trees
While I spend a considerable amount of time evaluating the material I have filed away on the St. John family in an effort to determine if the Welsh ancestry is the correct line to follow. In looking over my London church records, I have already discovered a couple of interpretation errors that were not caught earlier in the research process that will figure into the evaluation.
In the mean time, I will attempt to keep things rolling with some genealogy research advice. This has probably all been posted before, but will reappear for the benefit of those would chose not to search for it!😁
1. Family Trees posted on-line and elsewhere: Family trees can be a great source of information, if they are accurately documented.
Many trees offer no documentation or cite other family trees. Use them with serious caution. Look for sources that back up what this person failed to document.
In what seems to be a new and disturbing trend, or just plain carelessness, some trees will be documented, but the evidence doesn't support the facts. A marriage record, with image, will accompany an event. The problem is that the record is for another couple! Make sure the records match the event and people it is intended for.
Documented trees still need to be approached with caution. Make sure the sources fit the facts they are intended to. Find, or try to find, other supporting documentation for each fact.
Saturday, May 11, 2019
One argument agaist Matthias [1635-1712] and Rachel as Samuel St. John's parents
My primary argument against Matthias and Rachel is one of age. No evidence is involved in this particular argument.
(1) Matthias St. John was born in 1635 and Rachel Bouton in 1667. An age gap of 32 years was a bit uncommon in a first marriage.
(2) Matthias and Rachel were married about 1689, per the St. John site. That would have been four years after Samuel's birth. Even if they married about 1684, Matthias would have been 49 and Rachel 17.
(3) Matthias and Rachel are credited with 3 or 4 children, Samuel, Matthias [alleged], Rachel and Hannah. The youngest born c1701. Ages of the parents - 66 and 34.
(4) Matthias died in 1712, leaving Rachel with at least two minor children. Did she remarry?
Revisiting Norwalk deeds and records is definitely in order. The 32 year gap between Matthias and Rachel really bothers me, especially if it was a first marriage for both. Still, this could be accurate. We shall see.
(1) Matthias St. John was born in 1635 and Rachel Bouton in 1667. An age gap of 32 years was a bit uncommon in a first marriage.
(2) Matthias and Rachel were married about 1689, per the St. John site. That would have been four years after Samuel's birth. Even if they married about 1684, Matthias would have been 49 and Rachel 17.
(3) Matthias and Rachel are credited with 3 or 4 children, Samuel, Matthias [alleged], Rachel and Hannah. The youngest born c1701. Ages of the parents - 66 and 34.
(4) Matthias died in 1712, leaving Rachel with at least two minor children. Did she remarry?
Revisiting Norwalk deeds and records is definitely in order. The 32 year gap between Matthias and Rachel really bothers me, especially if it was a first marriage for both. Still, this could be accurate. We shall see.
Thursday, May 9, 2019
Who were the parents of Samuel St. John?
Who were Samuel St. John's parents?
I thought I had this one answered a few years ago, thanks to James Noll Churchyard and the Salt Lake Institute.
Alexander Orline St. John, in The St. John Genealogy, had Samuel [b. 168_] as the son of Matthias St. John III [1662-1748] and Rachel Bouton [1667-1748]. This held, and still does in most trees and sources on the St. John family.
James Noll Churchyard wrote an article, published on his website, Those Four Early Children of Matthias3 St. John: A Solution and a Challenge [2004] in part contending that Samuel was not the son of Matthias III, but Matthias II. He offered convincing arguments and evidence.
I was in contact with James at the time, sharing info and theories. I decided his article would make a good Problem Solving project. Digging through Fairfield Co., CT deeds, histories and various records, I came to the conclusion that Samuel was the son of Matthias II and Elizabeth [_______] St. John, not Matthias III and Rachel Bouton. His estimated birth was altered from the 1680-1685 range to 1672-1677.
A third theory now exists, bringing Matthias St. John and Rachel Bouton back into the picture - in a manner of speaking.
The St. John Genealogy Website the third theory. A bit of background is called for here. This will be expanded upon in later posts, but here in a thumbnail sketch.
Thomas St. John of Highlight, Glamorgan, Wales moved his family to London in 1577. His wife was Jane Matthew. Thomas and Jane had nine children. Two, Christopher [1581-1629] and Matthew [1590/1-1671] were central figures to the theory.
Christopher was the father of Matthias I [1601-1669, who married Mary Tinker, Thomas [1613-1696]and Nicholas [1617-1689]. The three brothers went to America, Matthias and Nichols to Massachusetts, Thomas to Virginia. Matthew married Sarah [Hoyt?] and went to Massachusetts as well.
Matthew and Sarah had William [1629-1664], Elizabeth [b. 1631], Sarah [1633-1689], Matthias [1635-1712], Joyce [b. 1639], Walter [1643-bef 1703] and Toby [1646-1646].
Per theory, this Matthias was the husband of Rachel Bouton or Button, not Matthias III [1667-1748].
In addition, Sarah married John Gregory and Elizabeth was the wife of her cousin, Matthias II.
Matthias and Rachel were the parents of Samuel St. John. Samuel was born c1685.
The website cites an ancient genetic mutation in the St. John DNA that separates Matthew's line from Matthias' line. Also cited are several Norwalk deeds tying Matthew to son Matthias.
I need to sift through the copies of deeds that I used in Salt Lake to see if I copied the deeds used on the St. John site. For now, I'm trusting my research and the Churchyard research.
I thought I had this one answered a few years ago, thanks to James Noll Churchyard and the Salt Lake Institute.
Alexander Orline St. John, in The St. John Genealogy, had Samuel [b. 168_] as the son of Matthias St. John III [1662-1748] and Rachel Bouton [1667-1748]. This held, and still does in most trees and sources on the St. John family.
James Noll Churchyard wrote an article, published on his website, Those Four Early Children of Matthias3 St. John: A Solution and a Challenge [2004] in part contending that Samuel was not the son of Matthias III, but Matthias II. He offered convincing arguments and evidence.
I was in contact with James at the time, sharing info and theories. I decided his article would make a good Problem Solving project. Digging through Fairfield Co., CT deeds, histories and various records, I came to the conclusion that Samuel was the son of Matthias II and Elizabeth [_______] St. John, not Matthias III and Rachel Bouton. His estimated birth was altered from the 1680-1685 range to 1672-1677.
A third theory now exists, bringing Matthias St. John and Rachel Bouton back into the picture - in a manner of speaking.
The St. John Genealogy Website the third theory. A bit of background is called for here. This will be expanded upon in later posts, but here in a thumbnail sketch.
Thomas St. John of Highlight, Glamorgan, Wales moved his family to London in 1577. His wife was Jane Matthew. Thomas and Jane had nine children. Two, Christopher [1581-1629] and Matthew [1590/1-1671] were central figures to the theory.
Christopher was the father of Matthias I [1601-1669, who married Mary Tinker, Thomas [1613-1696]and Nicholas [1617-1689]. The three brothers went to America, Matthias and Nichols to Massachusetts, Thomas to Virginia. Matthew married Sarah [Hoyt?] and went to Massachusetts as well.
Matthew and Sarah had William [1629-1664], Elizabeth [b. 1631], Sarah [1633-1689], Matthias [1635-1712], Joyce [b. 1639], Walter [1643-bef 1703] and Toby [1646-1646].
Per theory, this Matthias was the husband of Rachel Bouton or Button, not Matthias III [1667-1748].
In addition, Sarah married John Gregory and Elizabeth was the wife of her cousin, Matthias II.
Matthias and Rachel were the parents of Samuel St. John. Samuel was born c1685.
The website cites an ancient genetic mutation in the St. John DNA that separates Matthew's line from Matthias' line. Also cited are several Norwalk deeds tying Matthew to son Matthias.
I need to sift through the copies of deeds that I used in Salt Lake to see if I copied the deeds used on the St. John site. For now, I'm trusting my research and the Churchyard research.
Tuesday, May 7, 2019
Samuel & Rebecca [Olmstead] St. John's Children
1In the Hull article discussed in the previous post, 11 children were identified as being the offspring of Samuel and Rebecca.
Four daughters were listed in the following order: Joanna [Christopher] Burt, Perigrine [Nathan] Northrop, Jane [Ebenezer] Brooks and Sarah [John] Maynard.
The three youngest sons were listed in the following order: Daniel, Job and Ebenezer.
Two elder brothers: Samuel and Noah.
Two other daughters: Rebecca [Samuel] Lobdell and Abigail.
If we consider the order in which the children are named, we may have the birth order for the four girls named in the deed and the three younger boys; probably the two elder boys as well. That leaves two wild cards: Rebecca and Abigail.
Rebecca was deceased by 1773 and Abigail died in 1720.
Samuel [1672-77 - bef 1752] and Rebecca [1681 - c1756] were married about 1701 or 1702. Rebecca was approaching "risky" childbearing years by 1721. So we have about a 20 year stretch for 11 children to be born.
I believe that Rebecca was probably the eldest girl and Samuel the eldest boy. Ballpark marriage age for girls was about 18-22 and 20-24 for boys., but that can be tossed out with this group!
Rebecca married in 1722. Born say 1702
Joanna married in 1727. Born say 1703-1707
Peregrine married in 1730. Born say 1706-1710
Jane married in 1730. Born say 1706-1710
Abigail deceased in 1720. Born say 1710-1720
Sarah married in ???? Born say 1712-1715
Samuel married in 1727/8. Born say 1702-1704
Noah married in 1737. Born 1713
Daniel married by 1752. Born 1715-1717
Job married about 1749 Born say 1717-1719
Ebenezer married in ???? Born say 1721
Possible birth order: [subject to change]
Rebecca c1702
Samuel c1703
Joanna c1705
Peregrine c1707
Jane c1708
Abigail c1710 [as late as 1720]
Nathan c1713
Sarah c1715
Daniel c1716
Job c1718
Ebenezer c1721
Abigail and Sarah are the new wild cards. Abigail could have been born anytime between 1702 and 1720. Sarah's marriage date needs to be located to get a better read on her year of birth.
Four daughters were listed in the following order: Joanna [Christopher] Burt, Perigrine [Nathan] Northrop, Jane [Ebenezer] Brooks and Sarah [John] Maynard.
The three youngest sons were listed in the following order: Daniel, Job and Ebenezer.
Two elder brothers: Samuel and Noah.
Two other daughters: Rebecca [Samuel] Lobdell and Abigail.
If we consider the order in which the children are named, we may have the birth order for the four girls named in the deed and the three younger boys; probably the two elder boys as well. That leaves two wild cards: Rebecca and Abigail.
Rebecca was deceased by 1773 and Abigail died in 1720.
Samuel [1672-77 - bef 1752] and Rebecca [1681 - c1756] were married about 1701 or 1702. Rebecca was approaching "risky" childbearing years by 1721. So we have about a 20 year stretch for 11 children to be born.
I believe that Rebecca was probably the eldest girl and Samuel the eldest boy. Ballpark marriage age for girls was about 18-22 and 20-24 for boys., but that can be tossed out with this group!
Rebecca married in 1722. Born say 1702
Joanna married in 1727. Born say 1703-1707
Peregrine married in 1730. Born say 1706-1710
Jane married in 1730. Born say 1706-1710
Abigail deceased in 1720. Born say 1710-1720
Sarah married in ???? Born say 1712-1715
Samuel married in 1727/8. Born say 1702-1704
Noah married in 1737. Born 1713
Daniel married by 1752. Born 1715-1717
Job married about 1749 Born say 1717-1719
Ebenezer married in ???? Born say 1721
Possible birth order: [subject to change]
Rebecca c1702
Samuel c1703
Joanna c1705
Peregrine c1707
Jane c1708
Abigail c1710 [as late as 1720]
Nathan c1713
Sarah c1715
Daniel c1716
Job c1718
Ebenezer c1721
Abigail and Sarah are the new wild cards. Abigail could have been born anytime between 1702 and 1720. Sarah's marriage date needs to be located to get a better read on her year of birth.
Saturday, May 4, 2019
St. John Family: Additions, Corrections, Updates, etc.
My revisiting the St. John family is turning up a variety of issues.
[1] The children of Samuel and Rebecca [Olmstead] St. John
[2] Samuel's parentage - AGAIN!
[3] Origin of the St. John family
The latter was to be my focus, but I'll begin at the top of the list. I came across an article from the March 2002 issue of the Connecticut Nutmegger [Vol. 34, p. 542-547] by Robert W. Hull, CSG #12200, entitled Updating the family of Samuel St. John and Rebecca [Olmstead] St. John: "Love, respect and goodwill" of generous sisters for brothers.
Hull used 1773 land deeds to prove the identity of Samuel and Rebecca. From my own early research, I had the following children for the couple: Samuel, Rebecca, Joanna, Peregrine, Jane, Abigail, Abigail, Noah, Daniel, Job and Ebenezer.
I, and many others, had included Abigail St. John, wife of John Marvin, as a child of Samuel and Rebecca, without sufficient evidence. The fact that the life spans of both Abigails overlapped should have been a red flag.
Hull's article showed 11 children for the couple as well.
Samuel, Rebecca, Joanna, Peregrine, Jane, Abigail, Noah, Sarah, Daniel, Job and Ebenezer.
I will discuss birth order [probably correct here], spouses, birth, marriage and death dates later.
[1] The children of Samuel and Rebecca [Olmstead] St. John
[2] Samuel's parentage - AGAIN!
[3] Origin of the St. John family
The latter was to be my focus, but I'll begin at the top of the list. I came across an article from the March 2002 issue of the Connecticut Nutmegger [Vol. 34, p. 542-547] by Robert W. Hull, CSG #12200, entitled Updating the family of Samuel St. John and Rebecca [Olmstead] St. John: "Love, respect and goodwill" of generous sisters for brothers.
Hull used 1773 land deeds to prove the identity of Samuel and Rebecca. From my own early research, I had the following children for the couple: Samuel, Rebecca, Joanna, Peregrine, Jane, Abigail, Abigail, Noah, Daniel, Job and Ebenezer.
I, and many others, had included Abigail St. John, wife of John Marvin, as a child of Samuel and Rebecca, without sufficient evidence. The fact that the life spans of both Abigails overlapped should have been a red flag.
Hull's article showed 11 children for the couple as well.
Samuel, Rebecca, Joanna, Peregrine, Jane, Abigail, Noah, Sarah, Daniel, Job and Ebenezer.
I will discuss birth order [probably correct here], spouses, birth, marriage and death dates later.
Tuesday, April 23, 2019
Revisiting an old research project: The Origins of the St. John family
Back in 2014, I worked on the origins of the St. John family at the Salt Lake Institute. The debate was between the family being from Antwerp in the Spanish Netherlands [now Belgium] or having roots in Wales.
My conclusions at the time leaned toward Antwerp, but not with absolute certainty. That research project has gathered dust since then.
Loose ends existed on both sides of the argument. The time has finally come to try to tie up those loose ends.
I have plenty to examine:
[1] a copy of the article that promoted the Antwerp origin.
[2] a rebuttal article stating the case for Welsh origins.
[3] my own research on both theories.
[4] numerous articles on the Welsh families.
[5] my SLIG project report and summary findings.
Perhaps I missed something last time around. One item is missing from the Welsh research that is crucial - the will of Thomas St. John's will. Likewise, similar documentation is missing from the other side.
What is known:
[1] Matthias St. John, the immigrant, was the son of Christopher St. John.
What needs to be determined:
[1] Was Christopher born in Antwerp, Wales or possibly London?
[2] Was Christopher's father Mathias of Antwerp or Thomas of Wales?
Let the fun begin!!!!
My conclusions at the time leaned toward Antwerp, but not with absolute certainty. That research project has gathered dust since then.
Loose ends existed on both sides of the argument. The time has finally come to try to tie up those loose ends.
I have plenty to examine:
[1] a copy of the article that promoted the Antwerp origin.
[2] a rebuttal article stating the case for Welsh origins.
[3] my own research on both theories.
[4] numerous articles on the Welsh families.
[5] my SLIG project report and summary findings.
Perhaps I missed something last time around. One item is missing from the Welsh research that is crucial - the will of Thomas St. John's will. Likewise, similar documentation is missing from the other side.
What is known:
[1] Matthias St. John, the immigrant, was the son of Christopher St. John.
What needs to be determined:
[1] Was Christopher born in Antwerp, Wales or possibly London?
[2] Was Christopher's father Mathias of Antwerp or Thomas of Wales?
Let the fun begin!!!!
Thursday, April 18, 2019
Historical Perspective
In my humble opinion, one of the failings of our current "politically correct" attitude is the inability for a great number of people to put things in historical perspective. 20th and 21st century values seldom apply to events that took place 50, 75, 100 or 300 years ago.
What people believe to be abhorrent today was accepted in other eras. Many people cannot grasp that fact.
Let's take a look at a few examples:
[1] World War II's Pacific Campaign came to an end, in part, due to the US decision to drop the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Between 90000 and 166000 Japanese lives were lost. People have ranted in recent years about the evils of the decision to drop the bombs on the two Japanese cities. What were the alternatives? Continue the war until Japan elected to surrender? Launch an allied invasion of Japan? Experts have estimated that Allied forces would have met with extreme civilian resistance in addition to military opposition. The cost in lives among the Allies would have been upward of one million. Weigh the options. 100000 Japanese deaths and an end to the war or upwards of a million US and Allied casualties as a result of invading Japan? How many of those decrying the use of the atomic bomb in 1945 would have never been born because their fathers were killed invading Japan. Look at the bigger picture.
[2] Slavery is and was an abhorrent institution. It became a primary basis for the economy of the southern American colonies and eventual states. Slavery began as indentured servitude in 1619. Native American tribes were enslaved for awhile, but that practice failed. The tribes enslaved other Native Americans and colonists. Some were adopted into the tribe, others were sold back to their people, others remained enslaved. Europeans were sold into servitude in the colonies. Most could work off their indentures in seven or so years. Yet there were rules in place that could extend those indentures indefinitely. The first African servants were brought to Virginia in 1619. Most were prisoners captured by other African tribes, traded to European and American slave traders. Slavery existed in all 13 colonies. Gradually slavery faded in New England and most of the northern colonies by the outbreak of the American Revolution, but continued as an economic foundation in the South.
The institution continued to be hotly debated and spread westward as more states joined the Union. Southern states believed in states' rights and felt that the federal government had no right to interfere in what policies the states followed, including slavery. Some slaveowners believed slavery would die a natural death and should be allowed to do so. Actual slaveowners made up a small percentage of the Southern population. Slavery was outlawed in 1863. Attitudes toward the former slaves took almost a century to change, in some cases it hasn't. Slavery is still a worldwide problem. It now comes under the heading of "human trafficking."
For centuries slavery was an accepted institution. It existed in America from 1619 until 1863. It existed. That cannot be denied, no matter how one feels about it. From 1619 until well into the 1700s, it existed in all colonies. There's a fair chance that an ancestor may have owned a slave in any of the colonies before the Revolution. If southern roots are found on the family tree chances are much stronger. For nearly 250 years slavery existed in America and was accepted by many, right or wrong. You have to live with the choices made by your ancestors.
[3] Treatment of Native Americans has been an issue since the first treaty was broken. The Native Americans were not the peaceful farmer-hunters that some make them out to be. Some tribes definitely were. Others were warlike tribes that preyed on their peaceful neighbors. Weaker tribes formed alliances against those encroaching on their territory. Stronger tribes forced weaker ones to find new homes. Once Europeans arrived, some tribes formed alliances with them. Others instantly opposed the whites' arrival. Some colonists purchased land from local tribes in good faith. Others took it.
Tensions existed early and continued until the last of the tribes were defeated during the late 1800s. For centuries stronger, more technologically advanced cultures have conquered less advanced cultures. Was the westward migration of an Iron Age culture across the American continent at the expense of a Stone Age culture any different. It was more recent and impacted American history more than, say, the Mongols moving across Asia into Europe.
Was the treatment of the "American Indian" fair and just? No. Did it happen? Yes.
[4] Immigration is a real hot topic nowadays. Do we close our Southern borders? Do we let everyone from foreign countries who wants to enter the US? Do we institute immigration reform?
Let's take a look back at a few groups from other countries. The Irish Catholics were refused work and lodging for decades. "No Irish need apply" signs hung in windows across America. They took jobs as servants, miners, railroad workers, soldiers and any low paying job they could get. Similar treatment awaited Italians and immigrants from predominately Catholic southern European nations.
As railroads were being built, Chinese workers were brought in to help build them. German and Scandinavian immigrants came into the country as the 19th century progressed.
The main thing that these groups had in common was the desire to better themselves. They settled in their own communities and neighborhoods for support. They worked hard, [generally in legal endeavors,] to provide for their families. As time passed, they assimilated into American culture. These people did not expect handouts, just the opportunity to work, provide for their families [or bring them to the States] and become Americans.
Sometimes we forget the efforts of our own ancestors to give us the opportunities we have today.
The above views may not be popular. We have to realize that our opinions today aren't those of two generations ago. You can't apply 21st century values to 19th century events and understand them in context.
What people believe to be abhorrent today was accepted in other eras. Many people cannot grasp that fact.
Let's take a look at a few examples:
[1] World War II's Pacific Campaign came to an end, in part, due to the US decision to drop the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Between 90000 and 166000 Japanese lives were lost. People have ranted in recent years about the evils of the decision to drop the bombs on the two Japanese cities. What were the alternatives? Continue the war until Japan elected to surrender? Launch an allied invasion of Japan? Experts have estimated that Allied forces would have met with extreme civilian resistance in addition to military opposition. The cost in lives among the Allies would have been upward of one million. Weigh the options. 100000 Japanese deaths and an end to the war or upwards of a million US and Allied casualties as a result of invading Japan? How many of those decrying the use of the atomic bomb in 1945 would have never been born because their fathers were killed invading Japan. Look at the bigger picture.
[2] Slavery is and was an abhorrent institution. It became a primary basis for the economy of the southern American colonies and eventual states. Slavery began as indentured servitude in 1619. Native American tribes were enslaved for awhile, but that practice failed. The tribes enslaved other Native Americans and colonists. Some were adopted into the tribe, others were sold back to their people, others remained enslaved. Europeans were sold into servitude in the colonies. Most could work off their indentures in seven or so years. Yet there were rules in place that could extend those indentures indefinitely. The first African servants were brought to Virginia in 1619. Most were prisoners captured by other African tribes, traded to European and American slave traders. Slavery existed in all 13 colonies. Gradually slavery faded in New England and most of the northern colonies by the outbreak of the American Revolution, but continued as an economic foundation in the South.
The institution continued to be hotly debated and spread westward as more states joined the Union. Southern states believed in states' rights and felt that the federal government had no right to interfere in what policies the states followed, including slavery. Some slaveowners believed slavery would die a natural death and should be allowed to do so. Actual slaveowners made up a small percentage of the Southern population. Slavery was outlawed in 1863. Attitudes toward the former slaves took almost a century to change, in some cases it hasn't. Slavery is still a worldwide problem. It now comes under the heading of "human trafficking."
For centuries slavery was an accepted institution. It existed in America from 1619 until 1863. It existed. That cannot be denied, no matter how one feels about it. From 1619 until well into the 1700s, it existed in all colonies. There's a fair chance that an ancestor may have owned a slave in any of the colonies before the Revolution. If southern roots are found on the family tree chances are much stronger. For nearly 250 years slavery existed in America and was accepted by many, right or wrong. You have to live with the choices made by your ancestors.
[3] Treatment of Native Americans has been an issue since the first treaty was broken. The Native Americans were not the peaceful farmer-hunters that some make them out to be. Some tribes definitely were. Others were warlike tribes that preyed on their peaceful neighbors. Weaker tribes formed alliances against those encroaching on their territory. Stronger tribes forced weaker ones to find new homes. Once Europeans arrived, some tribes formed alliances with them. Others instantly opposed the whites' arrival. Some colonists purchased land from local tribes in good faith. Others took it.
Tensions existed early and continued until the last of the tribes were defeated during the late 1800s. For centuries stronger, more technologically advanced cultures have conquered less advanced cultures. Was the westward migration of an Iron Age culture across the American continent at the expense of a Stone Age culture any different. It was more recent and impacted American history more than, say, the Mongols moving across Asia into Europe.
Was the treatment of the "American Indian" fair and just? No. Did it happen? Yes.
[4] Immigration is a real hot topic nowadays. Do we close our Southern borders? Do we let everyone from foreign countries who wants to enter the US? Do we institute immigration reform?
Let's take a look back at a few groups from other countries. The Irish Catholics were refused work and lodging for decades. "No Irish need apply" signs hung in windows across America. They took jobs as servants, miners, railroad workers, soldiers and any low paying job they could get. Similar treatment awaited Italians and immigrants from predominately Catholic southern European nations.
As railroads were being built, Chinese workers were brought in to help build them. German and Scandinavian immigrants came into the country as the 19th century progressed.
The main thing that these groups had in common was the desire to better themselves. They settled in their own communities and neighborhoods for support. They worked hard, [generally in legal endeavors,] to provide for their families. As time passed, they assimilated into American culture. These people did not expect handouts, just the opportunity to work, provide for their families [or bring them to the States] and become Americans.
Sometimes we forget the efforts of our own ancestors to give us the opportunities we have today.
The above views may not be popular. We have to realize that our opinions today aren't those of two generations ago. You can't apply 21st century values to 19th century events and understand them in context.
Monday, March 25, 2019
Cheesman of Hampshire, England
This is an update on the great-grandparents of "Wall Street" John Simmons, the tavern keeper in New York City during the last half of the 18th century.
The records fit with Edward Cheesman and Elizabeth Pearson and paint a potentially bleak future for their son, Edward.
An Elizabeth Cheesman [husband Edward] was buried in Hampshire 21 October 1672. This would have been about the time of her son's birth. Complications from childbirth?
The Hampshire Records Office has a microfiche copy of the inventory and other probate information of an Edward Cheesman of Gosport, shipwright, who died in 1674 on board the HMS Adventure. My guess would be he fellor was fatally injured in some other kind of accident while working on the ship.
If Elizabeth and Edward are indeed the Cheesman couple who had a son Edward born in 1672, then they left a son orphaned by his 2nd birthday.
Young Edward grew up and went on to marry Catherine Penford in 1696. They had at least four children christened in Portchester, Hampshire:
Isaac - 4 July 1698
Edward - 7 November 1699
Robert - 7 December 1701
Catherine - 13 November 1703 [Wall Street John's mother]
The records fit with Edward Cheesman and Elizabeth Pearson and paint a potentially bleak future for their son, Edward.
An Elizabeth Cheesman [husband Edward] was buried in Hampshire 21 October 1672. This would have been about the time of her son's birth. Complications from childbirth?
The Hampshire Records Office has a microfiche copy of the inventory and other probate information of an Edward Cheesman of Gosport, shipwright, who died in 1674 on board the HMS Adventure. My guess would be he fellor was fatally injured in some other kind of accident while working on the ship.
If Elizabeth and Edward are indeed the Cheesman couple who had a son Edward born in 1672, then they left a son orphaned by his 2nd birthday.
Young Edward grew up and went on to marry Catherine Penford in 1696. They had at least four children christened in Portchester, Hampshire:
Isaac - 4 July 1698
Edward - 7 November 1699
Robert - 7 December 1701
Catherine - 13 November 1703 [Wall Street John's mother]
Tuesday, March 12, 2019
Olmstead update
Well, as I've mentioned, I support rechecking your "early" research. I mentioned Richard Olmstead's wife, Magdalena Hill. I had her on record as his 2nd wife, which she was.
Speculation on wife #1: Elizabeth Haugh/Hough, daughter of Atherton Haugh [1580 Eng. -1650 VT] and Elizabeth Bulkley [1585 Eng. - 1643 Boston, MA], born c1619 Boston, Lincoln, Eng. - died 1672 Hartford, CT.
Some trees speculate she was Atherton's daughter, others give no parents for Elizabeth. The children are not named on the "Griffin," the ship on which the Haugh's arrived. It is known they had a son, Samuel.
So, there is at least a lead on Mrs. Olmstead #1. A bit thin, but a lead non the less.
As to Richard's 1608 birth? It's possible, but doubtful, that Richard was baptized four years after his birth. Estimates on the marriage of Richard's parents are around 1610. It follows that Richard's birth came between 1610 and 1612. Therefore, I will amend Richard's birth year to 1611/12.
More later, if anything interesting turns up.
Speculation on wife #1: Elizabeth Haugh/Hough, daughter of Atherton Haugh [1580 Eng. -1650 VT] and Elizabeth Bulkley [1585 Eng. - 1643 Boston, MA], born c1619 Boston, Lincoln, Eng. - died 1672 Hartford, CT.
Some trees speculate she was Atherton's daughter, others give no parents for Elizabeth. The children are not named on the "Griffin," the ship on which the Haugh's arrived. It is known they had a son, Samuel.
So, there is at least a lead on Mrs. Olmstead #1. A bit thin, but a lead non the less.
As to Richard's 1608 birth? It's possible, but doubtful, that Richard was baptized four years after his birth. Estimates on the marriage of Richard's parents are around 1610. It follows that Richard's birth came between 1610 and 1612. Therefore, I will amend Richard's birth year to 1611/12.
More later, if anything interesting turns up.
Friday, March 8, 2019
Some updates to come...
I have managed some time to sneak in a post!
The next update will involve the Olmstead family. Richard Olmstead's reported birth and christening dates are four years apart and the birth before the marriage of his parents! That needs clarification, Also, since I laid my Olmstead research to rest many years ago, a wife has surfaced for Richard. Her name was Magdalena Smith, widow of William Smith. Her maiden name was Hill.
So, I hope to get all of this updated in the next week or so.
The next update will involve the Olmstead family. Richard Olmstead's reported birth and christening dates are four years apart and the birth before the marriage of his parents! That needs clarification, Also, since I laid my Olmstead research to rest many years ago, a wife has surfaced for Richard. Her name was Magdalena Smith, widow of William Smith. Her maiden name was Hill.
So, I hope to get all of this updated in the next week or so.
Finished with your family tree?
I just read a blog post about "completing family trees." Trust me, it never happens! You may reach a brick wall, like finding little or no information on an ancestor, have missing details on a female ancestor [maiden name missing, birth or death dates, etc.], find conflicting or undocumented information on ancestors. All these may force you to stop researching for awhile, but you are not done!
New books and records are constantly being digitized and made available on various genealogy sites [Ancestry, Family Search, World Vital Records, Find My Past, My Heritage, etc.]
Updated records are being published in books and can be found in libraries.
Family trees are being uploaded on numerous sites, many of them well documented.
Searching the websites, trees, and books available needs to be done frequently. That family tree always has a twig or two missing leaves.
You may think you are done, or you may decide to quit researching, but you are never done!
Posts may be few and far between for a month or so due to other commitments. Eventually posts will return somewhat regularly as updates are completed or words of wisdom flow onto the page.😊
New books and records are constantly being digitized and made available on various genealogy sites [Ancestry, Family Search, World Vital Records, Find My Past, My Heritage, etc.]
Updated records are being published in books and can be found in libraries.
Family trees are being uploaded on numerous sites, many of them well documented.
Searching the websites, trees, and books available needs to be done frequently. That family tree always has a twig or two missing leaves.
You may think you are done, or you may decide to quit researching, but you are never done!
Posts may be few and far between for a month or so due to other commitments. Eventually posts will return somewhat regularly as updates are completed or words of wisdom flow onto the page.😊
Wednesday, March 6, 2019
Sowter Family Update
Changes to birth and death details for Philippa Sowter [Thomas Sowter/Alice Turner], wife of William Oldham:
born: 6 July 1568 Derby, Derbyshire, England
christened: 10 July 1568 All Saints Parish, Derby
death: 22 Mar 1615/6 All Saints Parish, Derby
born: 6 July 1568 Derby, Derbyshire, England
christened: 10 July 1568 All Saints Parish, Derby
death: 22 Mar 1615/6 All Saints Parish, Derby
Monday, March 4, 2019
Sowter Family Update:
Thomas Sowter:
Thomas Sowter was born in 1540 in Derby, the son of John Sowter and Alice Fynymore. He married Alice Turner on 19 May 1560 in All Saints Parish, Derby.
Children, all minors in 1574, not named in Thomas'will were Rachel, Pilippa, Edward and William. [There is also a son "Ricus" listed for the couple in addition to Richard.]
Thomas made his will on 29 September 1574. He named his eldest son Thomas, son Richard and eldest daughter Margery [both under 21] and an unborn child [daughter Isabelle]. Wife Alice was named co-executor with brother-in-law, Edward Turner. Siblings William and Agnes were named as well.
Also named in the will were William, Joan and Margery Robinson. Richard Oughtie [brother-in-law], Thomas Isley and Richard Fletcher were named overseers.
Thomas died in early October of 1574 and was buried in the All Saints Parish Churchyard on 5 October of that year.
Thomas Sowter was born in 1540 in Derby, the son of John Sowter and Alice Fynymore. He married Alice Turner on 19 May 1560 in All Saints Parish, Derby.
Children, all minors in 1574, not named in Thomas'will were Rachel, Pilippa, Edward and William. [There is also a son "Ricus" listed for the couple in addition to Richard.]
Thomas made his will on 29 September 1574. He named his eldest son Thomas, son Richard and eldest daughter Margery [both under 21] and an unborn child [daughter Isabelle]. Wife Alice was named co-executor with brother-in-law, Edward Turner. Siblings William and Agnes were named as well.
Also named in the will were William, Joan and Margery Robinson. Richard Oughtie [brother-in-law], Thomas Isley and Richard Fletcher were named overseers.
Thomas died in early October of 1574 and was buried in the All Saints Parish Churchyard on 5 October of that year.
Saturday, March 2, 2019
Sowter Family Update
This is a new bio for John Sowter, father of Thomas:
John Sowter was born between 1510 and 1515 in Derby. He married Agnes Fynymore in 1534. Sowter died before 4 October 1571, when wife, Agnes, made her will.
The couple had 11 children: Catherine [1536-1536], James [1538], John [c1540], Thomas [19 May 1540 - Sep 1574], Johis [1541-1574],
Margery [1543 - d. bef. 1546], William [1544-1592], Agnes [1545-1600], Margery [1546], Alice [1547-1585] and Elizabeth [1548]. Based on the wills that follow, John and Johis could be the same person and Alice may be in error.
A will for a John Sowter was dated 24 September 15?? He named only sons Richard and Thomas and a daughter with only the ending letters "my" legible. "Ane"was named executrix. This may have been the will of John's son.
Thomas Sowter named siblings William and Agnes in his 1574 will.
Widow Agnes made her will on 4 October 1571. She named sons James, John, Thomas and William and daughters Agnes, Margery and Elizabeth.
John Sowter was born between 1510 and 1515 in Derby. He married Agnes Fynymore in 1534. Sowter died before 4 October 1571, when wife, Agnes, made her will.
The couple had 11 children: Catherine [1536-1536], James [1538], John [c1540], Thomas [19 May 1540 - Sep 1574], Johis [1541-1574],
Margery [1543 - d. bef. 1546], William [1544-1592], Agnes [1545-1600], Margery [1546], Alice [1547-1585] and Elizabeth [1548]. Based on the wills that follow, John and Johis could be the same person and Alice may be in error.
A will for a John Sowter was dated 24 September 15?? He named only sons Richard and Thomas and a daughter with only the ending letters "my" legible. "Ane"was named executrix. This may have been the will of John's son.
Thomas Sowter named siblings William and Agnes in his 1574 will.
Widow Agnes made her will on 4 October 1571. She named sons James, John, Thomas and William and daughters Agnes, Margery and Elizabeth.
Thursday, February 28, 2019
Oldham Family Update
Here is an update on William Oldham:
According to Oldham Family History [Guild of One Name Studies website], William was preceded by three generation of John Oldhams. The surname has appeared as Houldham, Ouldham, Odum and Oldham.
His great-grandfather was John Oldham [1480 Lancashire, England - 28 Sep 1550 St. Leonard's Parish, Middleton, Lancashire, England]. No spouse was given.
William's grandfather was John Oldham [1505 Kirkburton, West Yorkshire, England - 1560 Middleton, Lancashire, England. Spouse named Johanna.
Oldham's father was John Oldham [1530 Lancashire, England - 23 jUL 1578 Derby, Derbyshire, England]. He was married 31 Jan 1563 at Derby Cathedral, Derby, Derbyshire, England to Isabelle Hall.
William was born in 1568 in Derby. He married Philippa Sowter in All Saints Parish, Derby. The couple had five children. John, baptized 14 July 1592 in All Saints, Derby; Elizabeth, christened 24 February 1594; Jacobus, christened 12 June 1597; Lucretia, born 14 January 1599/1600 in Derby; and Thomas born in 1602. William was buried 26 June 1636.
Of the Oldham children, at least two, John and Lucretia, would make their way to New England.
According to Oldham Family History [Guild of One Name Studies website], William was preceded by three generation of John Oldhams. The surname has appeared as Houldham, Ouldham, Odum and Oldham.
His great-grandfather was John Oldham [1480 Lancashire, England - 28 Sep 1550 St. Leonard's Parish, Middleton, Lancashire, England]. No spouse was given.
William's grandfather was John Oldham [1505 Kirkburton, West Yorkshire, England - 1560 Middleton, Lancashire, England. Spouse named Johanna.
Oldham's father was John Oldham [1530 Lancashire, England - 23 jUL 1578 Derby, Derbyshire, England]. He was married 31 Jan 1563 at Derby Cathedral, Derby, Derbyshire, England to Isabelle Hall.
William was born in 1568 in Derby. He married Philippa Sowter in All Saints Parish, Derby. The couple had five children. John, baptized 14 July 1592 in All Saints, Derby; Elizabeth, christened 24 February 1594; Jacobus, christened 12 June 1597; Lucretia, born 14 January 1599/1600 in Derby; and Thomas born in 1602. William was buried 26 June 1636.
Of the Oldham children, at least two, John and Lucretia, would make their way to New England.
Monday, February 25, 2019
Newcomb Update: Francis Newcomb Bio
I have some minor changes to the Francis Newcomb bio, mostly background in the first paragraph.
Francis Newcomb was born in England in 1605. It is believed he was a native of St. Albans, Hertfordshire, a few miles north of London. There were three parishes in St. Albans. The records of one date back to only 1643. The name Newcomb was not recorded from 1590 to 1640 in the second. The records of the third parish were destroyed by fire in 1743. There is also a tradition that Francis hailed from Oxfordshire and was of pure Saxon blood. The idenity of his parents has yet to be learned.
Francis Newcomb [aged 30] set sail from London for New England in April 1635 with wife Rachel [aged 20] and two children, Rachel [aged 2½]and John [aged 9 months] aboard the Planter, Nicholas Trarice, Master. Also on board the ship were Rachel's mother, Rachel, and her 2nd husband, Martin Sanders and three half-siblings.
The Newcombs settled in Boston, where on 28 February 1635/6 Rachel became a member of the Boston First Church. They removed to Mt. Wollaston, which became Braintree on 13 May 1640 [now Quincy]. Rachel was one of thirteen Boston church members recommended to the Church of Christ at "Mount Wollystone" on 16 February 1639/40. At Braintree, Francis acquired several tracts of land, one being near the Iron Works and another on the south side of the Monaticut River. He probably resided at or near the "Neck."
Francis died 27 May 1692 at Braintree. The Hancock Cemetery records there gave Francis' age as 100, but since he was listed as being 30 in 1635, an age of about 87 would be more likely.
Francis Newcomb was born in England in 1605. It is believed he was a native of St. Albans, Hertfordshire, a few miles north of London. There were three parishes in St. Albans. The records of one date back to only 1643. The name Newcomb was not recorded from 1590 to 1640 in the second. The records of the third parish were destroyed by fire in 1743. There is also a tradition that Francis hailed from Oxfordshire and was of pure Saxon blood. The idenity of his parents has yet to be learned.
Francis Newcomb [aged 30] set sail from London for New England in April 1635 with wife Rachel [aged 20] and two children, Rachel [aged 2½]and John [aged 9 months] aboard the Planter, Nicholas Trarice, Master. Also on board the ship were Rachel's mother, Rachel, and her 2nd husband, Martin Sanders and three half-siblings.
The Newcombs settled in Boston, where on 28 February 1635/6 Rachel became a member of the Boston First Church. They removed to Mt. Wollaston, which became Braintree on 13 May 1640 [now Quincy]. Rachel was one of thirteen Boston church members recommended to the Church of Christ at "Mount Wollystone" on 16 February 1639/40. At Braintree, Francis acquired several tracts of land, one being near the Iron Works and another on the south side of the Monaticut River. He probably resided at or near the "Neck."
Francis died 27 May 1692 at Braintree. The Hancock Cemetery records there gave Francis' age as 100, but since he was listed as being 30 in 1635, an age of about 87 would be more likely.
Saturday, February 23, 2019
Moore Family Update: Confusion!
Yikes! You would think that the name CASON MOORE would be easy to track down. Moore settled in Virginia [Lower Norfolk/Princess Anne Co.] I have found references to at least two of that name - if both existed!
The child in question is a daughter named Mary. This Mary was the wife of Richard Bonney [c1640-1706].
One Cason Moore was born c1610 in England and died leaving a will in VA in 1686/7. He named his children - no Mary. Another, also born c1610 is purported to have been Mary's father. But, was this just a case of "Mary's father is Cason Moore, but there's no evidence to support it"?
Various family trees have Mary's mother listed as Mary Moore, Hutchinson or Shipp. A few have her as Dinah, but that appears to be based on some confusion in transcribing Richard Bonney's will. It would have been nice if Richard and Mary had given a son her maiden name!
Looking into the neighbors of Richard and the Bonney girls' husbands may offer some clues. Mores news when/if available.
The child in question is a daughter named Mary. This Mary was the wife of Richard Bonney [c1640-1706].
One Cason Moore was born c1610 in England and died leaving a will in VA in 1686/7. He named his children - no Mary. Another, also born c1610 is purported to have been Mary's father. But, was this just a case of "Mary's father is Cason Moore, but there's no evidence to support it"?
Various family trees have Mary's mother listed as Mary Moore, Hutchinson or Shipp. A few have her as Dinah, but that appears to be based on some confusion in transcribing Richard Bonney's will. It would have been nice if Richard and Mary had given a son her maiden name!
Looking into the neighbors of Richard and the Bonney girls' husbands may offer some clues. Mores news when/if available.
Thursday, February 21, 2019
Marsh Family Update: John Marsh, Jr.
John Marsh, Jr. was born in April of 1618 in Braintree, Essex, England to John Marsh, Sr. and Grace Baldwin.. His elder brother, Joseph became a clothier in Braintree.
He arrived in Newtowne/Cambridge about 1635. Marsh was one of those who joined Rev. Thomas Hooker in the move to Connecticut and become one of the original proprietors of Hartford in 1636. His home lot was on the road from the Little River to the North Meadow [now Front St.] Hooker would die in an epidemic that swept through New England on 7 July 1647.
He married Anne Webster about 1640. He father, John, would become Governor in 1655. Their children were:
[1] John III [c1642 - July 1727, m. Sarah Lyman]
[2] Samuel [c1645 - 7 Sep1728, m. Mary Allison/Ellison]
[3] Joseph [bp. 21 Jan 1647 - bef 1649]
[4] Grace [c1648 - 31 May 1676, m. Timothy Baker]
[5] Joseph [bp. 15 July 1649] twin
[6] Isaac [bp. 15 July 1649] twin
[7] Jonathan [c Sep 1650 - 3 July 1730, m. Dorcas Dickerson]
[8] Daniel [c1653 - 24 Feb 1724, m. Hannah [Lewis] Crow
[9] Hannah [c1655/6 - 1699, m. Joseph Loomis]
John signed his intent to leave the First Chuch of Hartford on 11 July 1656. Marsh would be chosen chimney-viewer in 1658 prior to leaving Hartford.
John Marsh was part of the group, known as the "withdrawers," led by his father-in-law, John Webster, that were in opposition to Rev. Samuel Stone's policies on baptism. In May 1658, the group received permission to withdraw to Norwottuck, Massachusetts. Webster's group moved upriver through a gorge between Holyoke and Tom in April 1659. Norwottuck was renamed Hadley, after Hadleigh, Suffolk, in 1661.
In February 1660, town lots were drawn. John Marsh drew lot 34 and John Webster drew lot 19. The lands were recorded on 19 June 1674. Webster died 14 months later.
The Marshes moved to Northampton and joined the Congregationalist Church there on 18 June 1661. Anne died in Northampton on 9 June 1662.
John married Hepzibah Lyman on 7 October 1664. She was the widow of Richard Lyman and daughter of Thomas Ford and Elizabeth Charde. They had a daughter, Lydia [9 Oct 1667 - 1727]. Hepzibah died 11 April 1683.
John also adopted, Grace Martin, daughter of John's sister Lydia after she died in 1669.
John Marsh died on 28 September 1688 in Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut. It is believed he was visiting his daighter Lydia, who resided in Windsor.
John's will was presented on December 1688 in the court at Northampton. The following bequests were made: John - £5, Jonathan - all of his father's gold, Daniel - two Cob irons, Hannah - £30, Samuel - family land in Hadley, Lydia - a green rug, Grandson Baker [Timothy, son of Grace Marsh Baker] - £5. John and Samuel were named executors. Inventory had been made on 27 November 1688.
He arrived in Newtowne/Cambridge about 1635. Marsh was one of those who joined Rev. Thomas Hooker in the move to Connecticut and become one of the original proprietors of Hartford in 1636. His home lot was on the road from the Little River to the North Meadow [now Front St.] Hooker would die in an epidemic that swept through New England on 7 July 1647.
He married Anne Webster about 1640. He father, John, would become Governor in 1655. Their children were:
[1] John III [c1642 - July 1727, m. Sarah Lyman]
[2] Samuel [c1645 - 7 Sep1728, m. Mary Allison/Ellison]
[3] Joseph [bp. 21 Jan 1647 - bef 1649]
[4] Grace [c1648 - 31 May 1676, m. Timothy Baker]
[5] Joseph [bp. 15 July 1649] twin
[6] Isaac [bp. 15 July 1649] twin
[7] Jonathan [c Sep 1650 - 3 July 1730, m. Dorcas Dickerson]
[8] Daniel [c1653 - 24 Feb 1724, m. Hannah [Lewis] Crow
[9] Hannah [c1655/6 - 1699, m. Joseph Loomis]
John signed his intent to leave the First Chuch of Hartford on 11 July 1656. Marsh would be chosen chimney-viewer in 1658 prior to leaving Hartford.
John Marsh was part of the group, known as the "withdrawers," led by his father-in-law, John Webster, that were in opposition to Rev. Samuel Stone's policies on baptism. In May 1658, the group received permission to withdraw to Norwottuck, Massachusetts. Webster's group moved upriver through a gorge between Holyoke and Tom in April 1659. Norwottuck was renamed Hadley, after Hadleigh, Suffolk, in 1661.
In February 1660, town lots were drawn. John Marsh drew lot 34 and John Webster drew lot 19. The lands were recorded on 19 June 1674. Webster died 14 months later.
The Marshes moved to Northampton and joined the Congregationalist Church there on 18 June 1661. Anne died in Northampton on 9 June 1662.
John married Hepzibah Lyman on 7 October 1664. She was the widow of Richard Lyman and daughter of Thomas Ford and Elizabeth Charde. They had a daughter, Lydia [9 Oct 1667 - 1727]. Hepzibah died 11 April 1683.
John also adopted, Grace Martin, daughter of John's sister Lydia after she died in 1669.
John Marsh died on 28 September 1688 in Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut. It is believed he was visiting his daighter Lydia, who resided in Windsor.
John's will was presented on December 1688 in the court at Northampton. The following bequests were made: John - £5, Jonathan - all of his father's gold, Daniel - two Cob irons, Hannah - £30, Samuel - family land in Hadley, Lydia - a green rug, Grandson Baker [Timothy, son of Grace Marsh Baker] - £5. John and Samuel were named executors. Inventory had been made on 27 November 1688.
Tuesday, February 19, 2019
Marsh Family Updates: Grace Baldwin, wife of John Marsh Sr.
Grace Baldwin:
Grace is given to be the daughter of William Baldwin [1570 - 16 Feb 1631] and Sarah Ann Payne [1570 - 7 Jan 1611].
The 1627 will of Grace's husband, John Marsh, mentions a Sarah Baldwin, widow. This is presumably Grace's mother. If this is the case, Grace's father, William, was not the one of that name who died in 1631. Nor could Sarah Ann Payne, who died in 1611, be her mother.
Most sources [primarily undocumented] agree that her parents were William Baldwin and Sarah.
Grace's will was dated 29 January 1657 [1667?] and proved 22 May 1667. Grace probably died earlier in the month. She left all of her holdings in Ingsteston, Essex, approximately 50 acres with buildings, to son Joseph. Daughter Grace Tyers and husband Nathaniel were to receive £7 annually until Grace's death. Her heirs were then to receive £3-score. Joseph was to pay the surviving children of son John "now in New England" £3-score upon their having reached 21. Daughter Lydia [William] Martin was to receive £7 yearly until her death, then her children were to receive £3-score. Joseph was to provide Grace's brother with £6 annually or see to his expenses. Grandson John Marsh was to receive £30 upon reaching 21, as were grandchildren William Martin and son John Marsh. Joseph was also to receive other properties owned by his mother. John was bequeathed certain household goods. John's children Geace and Samuel also received household items. Daughter Grace was left household goods that were to go to daughter Lydia upon Grace's death as well as other household goods. Grandson John Sharp was left £10 to be paid in three years. Rev. Algar was to be given 20 shillings and preach at Grace's funeral. She also left 40 shillings to the poor of Braintree. Joseph was named executor. Witnesses: Adrian Mott, John Maryan and Edward Tabor.
Grace is given to be the daughter of William Baldwin [1570 - 16 Feb 1631] and Sarah Ann Payne [1570 - 7 Jan 1611].
The 1627 will of Grace's husband, John Marsh, mentions a Sarah Baldwin, widow. This is presumably Grace's mother. If this is the case, Grace's father, William, was not the one of that name who died in 1631. Nor could Sarah Ann Payne, who died in 1611, be her mother.
Most sources [primarily undocumented] agree that her parents were William Baldwin and Sarah.
Grace's will was dated 29 January 1657 [1667?] and proved 22 May 1667. Grace probably died earlier in the month. She left all of her holdings in Ingsteston, Essex, approximately 50 acres with buildings, to son Joseph. Daughter Grace Tyers and husband Nathaniel were to receive £7 annually until Grace's death. Her heirs were then to receive £3-score. Joseph was to pay the surviving children of son John "now in New England" £3-score upon their having reached 21. Daughter Lydia [William] Martin was to receive £7 yearly until her death, then her children were to receive £3-score. Joseph was to provide Grace's brother with £6 annually or see to his expenses. Grandson John Marsh was to receive £30 upon reaching 21, as were grandchildren William Martin and son John Marsh. Joseph was also to receive other properties owned by his mother. John was bequeathed certain household goods. John's children Geace and Samuel also received household items. Daughter Grace was left household goods that were to go to daughter Lydia upon Grace's death as well as other household goods. Grandson John Sharp was left £10 to be paid in three years. Rev. Algar was to be given 20 shillings and preach at Grace's funeral. She also left 40 shillings to the poor of Braintree. Joseph was named executor. Witnesses: Adrian Mott, John Maryan and Edward Tabor.
Sunday, February 17, 2019
Updates on the Marsh Family: John Sr.
John Marsh was, according to his wll, a clothier. Most sources give his birth in 1579, although a few claim 1589.
His will, dated 15 April 1627, included several bequests. Samuel Collyn, minister, 50 shillings. William Waslin, late servant and kinsman, 40 shillings. Joseph Waslin, William's father, one suit of apparel [one doublet, pair of breeches, pair of stockings and a hat.] Francis Waslin, John's sister and wife of Joseph, 20 shillings a year for life. Jeremy Mannyng, John's servant, 10 shillings. Richard, Mary and Thomas Outing, children of John's brother-in-law Richard Outing, 20 shillings apiece. Daughters Sarah, Mary, Grace and Lydia, £100 apiece upon reaching age 19. Wife Grace, all lands, houses and buildings that were to be given to son Joseph upon reaching 21. Son Joseph, the messuage or tenement with the two orchards in Braintree, currently in occupation of Thomas Hudson, and the copyhold lands, fields or closes in the parish now in the occupation of Richard Bedwell. All of the rest of John's lands and messuages were to go to Grace until son John came of age. Sarah Baldwin, widow and mother-in-law, 10 shillings. Son Samuel, £400 paid to him by friends and fellow clothiers Adrian Mott and John Marryon upon reaching 21. The residue of John's estate was to be divided equally among Grace and the children. Grace was named executrix. Witnesses: Adrian Mott, William Barnard, John Maryon, Richard Outing and James Sparhawke. The will was proved 29 May 1627. John Marsh probably died earlier in the month.
John and Grace had seen children:
[1] Sarah [c1614 - c1657]
[2] Joseph [c1615 - bet. 1676-1681]
[3] Mary [1617-20 - c1657, m. John Sherry]
[4] John Jr. [Apr. 1618 - 1688, m. Anne Webster]
[5] Grace [c1622 - 1696, m. Nathanial Tyres]
[6] Lydia [1623-26 - c1669, m. William Martin]
[7] Samuel [c1626 - 1683]
Without documentation, a WikiTree entry offers the following ancestry for John Marsh:
John Edward Marsh [1560 -1592 of Braintree] and Lydia Emerson [1562 -1592 of Braintree]
Samuel Marsh [b. 1540 Braintree]
William Marsh [1520 Haverhill, Suffolk - 1570 Braintree] & Mary Ann _______ [b. 1520]
His will, dated 15 April 1627, included several bequests. Samuel Collyn, minister, 50 shillings. William Waslin, late servant and kinsman, 40 shillings. Joseph Waslin, William's father, one suit of apparel [one doublet, pair of breeches, pair of stockings and a hat.] Francis Waslin, John's sister and wife of Joseph, 20 shillings a year for life. Jeremy Mannyng, John's servant, 10 shillings. Richard, Mary and Thomas Outing, children of John's brother-in-law Richard Outing, 20 shillings apiece. Daughters Sarah, Mary, Grace and Lydia, £100 apiece upon reaching age 19. Wife Grace, all lands, houses and buildings that were to be given to son Joseph upon reaching 21. Son Joseph, the messuage or tenement with the two orchards in Braintree, currently in occupation of Thomas Hudson, and the copyhold lands, fields or closes in the parish now in the occupation of Richard Bedwell. All of the rest of John's lands and messuages were to go to Grace until son John came of age. Sarah Baldwin, widow and mother-in-law, 10 shillings. Son Samuel, £400 paid to him by friends and fellow clothiers Adrian Mott and John Marryon upon reaching 21. The residue of John's estate was to be divided equally among Grace and the children. Grace was named executrix. Witnesses: Adrian Mott, William Barnard, John Maryon, Richard Outing and James Sparhawke. The will was proved 29 May 1627. John Marsh probably died earlier in the month.
John and Grace had seen children:
[1] Sarah [c1614 - c1657]
[2] Joseph [c1615 - bet. 1676-1681]
[3] Mary [1617-20 - c1657, m. John Sherry]
[4] John Jr. [Apr. 1618 - 1688, m. Anne Webster]
[5] Grace [c1622 - 1696, m. Nathanial Tyres]
[6] Lydia [1623-26 - c1669, m. William Martin]
[7] Samuel [c1626 - 1683]
Without documentation, a WikiTree entry offers the following ancestry for John Marsh:
John Edward Marsh [1560 -1592 of Braintree] and Lydia Emerson [1562 -1592 of Braintree]
Samuel Marsh [b. 1540 Braintree]
William Marsh [1520 Haverhill, Suffolk - 1570 Braintree] & Mary Ann _______ [b. 1520]
Friday, February 15, 2019
Update on Mrs. Martha Mac Callum
Mrs. Martha MacCallum:
A handful of sources claim that Martha's maiden name was Proctor. Likewise, those same sources estimate her birth between 1634 and 1637.
Find A Grave has a Martha Proctor [b. 1637 in Ipswich, MA] who married James White in 1672. Her parents: John Proctor and Martha Harper. Also noted is a death date of 14 Oct 1658 in Salem for Martha.
The death date comes from an entry on familysearch.org "Massachusetts Deaths and Burials 1795-1910" for Martha Prockter, daughter of John Prockter and Martha Giddens. This Martha has been assigned as Mrs. MacCallum, but she was born in 1658 and died the same year.
A forum post on the Scots Prisoners purports to have evidence that Martha was indeed a Proctor. I posted a request for the evidence. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.
A handful of sources claim that Martha's maiden name was Proctor. Likewise, those same sources estimate her birth between 1634 and 1637.
Find A Grave has a Martha Proctor [b. 1637 in Ipswich, MA] who married James White in 1672. Her parents: John Proctor and Martha Harper. Also noted is a death date of 14 Oct 1658 in Salem for Martha.
The death date comes from an entry on familysearch.org "Massachusetts Deaths and Burials 1795-1910" for Martha Prockter, daughter of John Prockter and Martha Giddens. This Martha has been assigned as Mrs. MacCallum, but she was born in 1658 and died the same year.
A forum post on the Scots Prisoners purports to have evidence that Martha was indeed a Proctor. I posted a request for the evidence. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.
Wednesday, February 13, 2019
Surname Update: J-L
You may notice I got skipped. No surnames to match that letter. So, we begin with letter J.
J:
[direct]
Jennison
Jermy
Jones
Joyce
[collateral]
Jerrell
K:
[direct]
Keeling
Keeney
L:
[direct]
Lakin
Land
Latham
Laubscher
Lies
Lockwood
Look/Looke
Low
Lowe
[collateral]
Lane/van Laenen
LaRue
Monday, February 11, 2019
Surname Update: D - H
D:
[direct]
Dally
Dodge
Douglas
Dowrish
Dubois
Dungan
[collateral]
Doddridge
Dunham
[not related]
Dart
Doty
E:
[direct]
Evans
[collateral]
Emmons/Emans
Earthenhouse
F:
[direct]
Farringdon
Faucett
Folkard
French
G:
[direct]
Garrison / Gerrits
Gaymer
Gorton
Grant
Greeley / Greelee
Goddard
Gulley
Gye
H:
[direct]
Haburne
Harding
Harris
Haskell
Hazen
Hills
Holden
Hostetler
Howell
Howland
Howlett
Hurin /Mahurin
Hutton
[collateral]
Haught
Homan
As always, if anyone has questions about any of the above surnames, please feel free to contact me.
[direct]
Dally
Dodge
Douglas
Dowrish
Dubois
Dungan
[collateral]
Doddridge
Dunham
[not related]
Dart
Doty
E:
[direct]
Evans
[collateral]
Emmons/Emans
Earthenhouse
F:
[direct]
Farringdon
Faucett
Folkard
French
G:
[direct]
Garrison / Gerrits
Gaymer
Gorton
Grant
Greeley / Greelee
Goddard
Gulley
Gye
H:
[direct]
Haburne
Harding
Harris
Haskell
Hazen
Hills
Holden
Hostetler
Howell
Howland
Howlett
Hurin /Mahurin
Hutton
[collateral]
Haught
Homan
As always, if anyone has questions about any of the above surnames, please feel free to contact me.
Saturday, February 2, 2019
Looking Back: Research Gone Haywire, Ancestors Lost [and Gained]
Over 29 years of research things have not always gone smoothly. I've messed up a time or two, but the real scary situations have been the family genealogies that have been researched with a lot left to be desired.
In four cases that I can recall, I lost about 15 believed-to-be ancestral families. Of course, I have picked up at least that many in the process!
Case #1: The St. John Switch: Early St. John research had carried my line through three generations of Mathias St. Johns. Later research spearheaded by James N. Churchyard led to the realization that Samuel St. John was the brother and not the son of the third Mathias. That knocked Mathias III out of thee direct line. Also removed were the BOUTON, MARVIN & GREGORY families. No new families were added until the ancestry of Mathias I came to light. That story has appeared in a few earlier posts.
Case #2: The Hazens and the Mayflower Connection: The authors of the Hazen genealogy had Elizabeth Dart married to John Hazen. A fellow researcher mentioned that there was supposed to have been a Mayflower connection in the family. That led to the discovery that Elizabeth Dart was a Dart by marriage, not by birth. She was a Turner. Seven families initially bit the dust: DART, HOUGH, CALKINS, SPEAKE, PAYNE, EATON & DOUGLAS. One made a return to the fold, DOUGLAS. Several new families joined the tree: TURNER, KEENEY, OLDHAM, SOWTER, GAYMER, MASON & BREWSTER [Mayflower connection]. As for the Douglas family, a son dropped and a daughter added from the same family.
Case #3: The Wrong John Low: Here was an error on my part. I had the wrong John Lew attached to my tree. A little geography lesson put John Low and his wife Elizabeth in the wrong part of Massachusetts! A quick check determined the correct couple. I had John married to Elizabet Stoddard. My John Low actually married Elizabeth Howland. It was an easy fix. Elizabeth was already family. Her brother Arthur was an ancestor. STODDARD & ROGERS went by the wayside. No new families added.
Case #4:The Lockwood Debacle: The Hazen Lockwood effort on the Lockwood family was a complete disaster. The authors claimed Robert Lockwood to be the progenitor of the family in the US. They all but ignored his brother Edmund. As I turned out, Edmund contributed far more to the Lockwood line than did Robert. Robert, Jonathan, Joseph and Reuben were supposed to make up my first four generations. Remove Robert, Jonathan and Reuben. Actually, Joseph was Edmund's son and fit the lineage. His line continued with James and daughter Anna, who married John St. John. Lost families: NORMAN, FERRIS, AYERS & CRAMP. Added: WEBB & NORTON.
16 families went by the wayside, while 9 new families came into the fold. One got dropped, then added back to the tree. That was a lot of research down the tube! The important thing is that errors were corrected.
In four cases that I can recall, I lost about 15 believed-to-be ancestral families. Of course, I have picked up at least that many in the process!
Case #1: The St. John Switch: Early St. John research had carried my line through three generations of Mathias St. Johns. Later research spearheaded by James N. Churchyard led to the realization that Samuel St. John was the brother and not the son of the third Mathias. That knocked Mathias III out of thee direct line. Also removed were the BOUTON, MARVIN & GREGORY families. No new families were added until the ancestry of Mathias I came to light. That story has appeared in a few earlier posts.
Case #2: The Hazens and the Mayflower Connection: The authors of the Hazen genealogy had Elizabeth Dart married to John Hazen. A fellow researcher mentioned that there was supposed to have been a Mayflower connection in the family. That led to the discovery that Elizabeth Dart was a Dart by marriage, not by birth. She was a Turner. Seven families initially bit the dust: DART, HOUGH, CALKINS, SPEAKE, PAYNE, EATON & DOUGLAS. One made a return to the fold, DOUGLAS. Several new families joined the tree: TURNER, KEENEY, OLDHAM, SOWTER, GAYMER, MASON & BREWSTER [Mayflower connection]. As for the Douglas family, a son dropped and a daughter added from the same family.
Case #3: The Wrong John Low: Here was an error on my part. I had the wrong John Lew attached to my tree. A little geography lesson put John Low and his wife Elizabeth in the wrong part of Massachusetts! A quick check determined the correct couple. I had John married to Elizabet Stoddard. My John Low actually married Elizabeth Howland. It was an easy fix. Elizabeth was already family. Her brother Arthur was an ancestor. STODDARD & ROGERS went by the wayside. No new families added.
Case #4:The Lockwood Debacle: The Hazen Lockwood effort on the Lockwood family was a complete disaster. The authors claimed Robert Lockwood to be the progenitor of the family in the US. They all but ignored his brother Edmund. As I turned out, Edmund contributed far more to the Lockwood line than did Robert. Robert, Jonathan, Joseph and Reuben were supposed to make up my first four generations. Remove Robert, Jonathan and Reuben. Actually, Joseph was Edmund's son and fit the lineage. His line continued with James and daughter Anna, who married John St. John. Lost families: NORMAN, FERRIS, AYERS & CRAMP. Added: WEBB & NORTON.
16 families went by the wayside, while 9 new families came into the fold. One got dropped, then added back to the tree. That was a lot of research down the tube! The important thing is that errors were corrected.
Thursday, January 31, 2019
More Hostetler News
The agonizing part of surname research is that there were numerous spelling variations of so many surname. My own suffers that curse: Prall, Praul, Prawl, Prale, Praall and Praal just to name a handful. Some family members keep one spelling, others a different one.
Such is the case with Hostetler. Hostetler, Hostetter, Hochsetter, Hochstatter, Hochstadter and Hochstetler.
My Nicholas Hostetler arrived in Philadelphia in 1749 and settled in York Co., PA. He may have had two brothers, Christian and Ulrich. That's open to debate. Also open to debate, as I've mentioned before, is the identity of Nicholas' wife. Was she Mary, Anna, Magdalena or Anna Ulrich?
Mary is the wife named in Nicholas' will. There's a Magdalena buried on the family farm. Anna or Anna Ulrich is the wife of choice on most family trees. Most of those trees have "bonus children" not named in Nicholas' will. This suggests an error - probably uniting two Nicholas' into one. Anna is likely the wife of the "other Nicholas."
I've been sharing info with another Hostetlet-Miller researcher and she uncovered some intriguing records in York Co.
(1) Nicolas Hochstatter married Magdalena Euler on 27 May 1754.
(2) Joh. Niclaus Hochstatter son of Niclaus and Magdalena, bp. Jan 1760; Frantz and Frantzina Hochstatter, sponsors.
and I turned up
(3) Maria Magdalena Ohler daughter of George and Maria Magdalena Jacobia, bp. 12 Dec 1730 in Baden, Germany
We have supporting, albeit circumstantial, evidence for Mrs. Hostetler - Maria Magdalena Ohler/Euler [there's that surname thing again]. Nicholas gave his wife's name as Mary [Maria] and the Magdalena buried on the farm died in 1801 at age 70 [born 1730].
Question: Where do Frantz and Frantzina fit into the picture with Nicholas?
There were other Ohler/Euler/Oiler families in York Co. , Valentin and Conrad. Were they related to Maria Magdalen?
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Such is the case with Hostetler. Hostetler, Hostetter, Hochsetter, Hochstatter, Hochstadter and Hochstetler.
My Nicholas Hostetler arrived in Philadelphia in 1749 and settled in York Co., PA. He may have had two brothers, Christian and Ulrich. That's open to debate. Also open to debate, as I've mentioned before, is the identity of Nicholas' wife. Was she Mary, Anna, Magdalena or Anna Ulrich?
Mary is the wife named in Nicholas' will. There's a Magdalena buried on the family farm. Anna or Anna Ulrich is the wife of choice on most family trees. Most of those trees have "bonus children" not named in Nicholas' will. This suggests an error - probably uniting two Nicholas' into one. Anna is likely the wife of the "other Nicholas."
I've been sharing info with another Hostetlet-Miller researcher and she uncovered some intriguing records in York Co.
(1) Nicolas Hochstatter married Magdalena Euler on 27 May 1754.
(2) Joh. Niclaus Hochstatter son of Niclaus and Magdalena, bp. Jan 1760; Frantz and Frantzina Hochstatter, sponsors.
and I turned up
(3) Maria Magdalena Ohler daughter of George and Maria Magdalena Jacobia, bp. 12 Dec 1730 in Baden, Germany
We have supporting, albeit circumstantial, evidence for Mrs. Hostetler - Maria Magdalena Ohler/Euler [there's that surname thing again]. Nicholas gave his wife's name as Mary [Maria] and the Magdalena buried on the farm died in 1801 at age 70 [born 1730].
Question: Where do Frantz and Frantzina fit into the picture with Nicholas?
There were other Ohler/Euler/Oiler families in York Co. , Valentin and Conrad. Were they related to Maria Magdalen?
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Tuesday, January 29, 2019
Hostetler - Miller research hiccups
First of all, way too many Pennsylvania Miller parents named their sons Nicholas during the 1740-50s. Trying to find proof of service for my Nicholas Miller during the Revolutionary War has become a seemingly insurmountable task. He is listed as having served with the Continental Army in Pennsylvania on his veteran's burial permit. That's the only clue so far.
My Hostetlers have an interesting situation. Nicholas Hostetler is not well documented, but there are a few clues. Those clues may have gotten twisted. Buried on the Hostetler farm was a Magdalena Hostetler, died 1801, aged 70. That's an ideal fit for Nicholas' wife. However, most family trees have Nicholas' wife as Anna, some have her as an Ulrich. Nicholas' will names wife Mary.
Theory? My Nicholas was married to Mary Magdalena _______. Another Nicholas married Anna Ulrich. Unfortunately, most family trees have the two Nicholas Hostetlers as one. My Nicholas named his children in his will and the trees have extras.
Oh, if genealogy was easy!
Saturday, January 26, 2019
Keeney Update: Maiden name of Captain William Keeney's wife, Agnes
Discovering my Keeney ancestors was one of my most interesting Salt Lake Institute ventures. A fellow researcher of the Hazen family had heard that we had a Mayflower ancestor. Absolutely nothing to date had pointed in that direction. If the Mayflower connection was true, someone goofed in earlier research.
That proved to be the case. Research had Elizabeth Dart marrying John Hazen. Technically, that was correct. Elizabeth Turner had married Thomas Dart. She was not a Dart by birth as Hazen researchers had stated. Elizabeth Turner Dart Hazen was indeed a descendant of the Mayflower's William Brewster. She was the daughter of Ezekiel Turner and Susanna Keeney, granddaughter of William Keeney.
One of the gaps in the Keeney research was the maiden name of William's wife, Agnes. Various sources gave her maiden name as Duglas, Parker and Duckett.
A possible resolution has been found in Phillimore's Leicester records for marriages in Ashby Parva from 1589-1837.
Phillimore shows a William Kynney marrying Agnes [written over Mary] Duckett on 30 Nov 1627 in Ashby Parva, Leicestershire. This may or may not be the correct William Kenney. It does, however, fit with the estimated date of William's marriage to Agnes.
http://leicestershireparishrecords.blogspot.com/2010/05/phillimores-marriages-ashby-parva-1589.html
Thursday, January 24, 2019
Hutton Update: Minor Changes
Matthew Hutton and Beatrice Fincham get a minor tweaking. Beatrice's birth is estimated to have been about 1547 in Owtwell, Isle of Ely, Norfolk, England. The date of her marriage to Matthew Hutton was25 August 1567 in Downham, Huntingdonshire [now Cambridge], England.
Tuesday, January 22, 2019
Miller Family #2
Second Generation
2. Nicholas Miller2–3
(Ludwig-1) was born circa Aug 1749 in Pennsylvania.3 He died on 23 Jul 1833 at the
age of 83 at Woodmansee Sugar Valley Cemetery, Maustown, Butler Co., OH in
Liberty Twp., Butler, Ohio, United States.3
Nicholas Miller was the second son of Ludwig and Barbara [Grable] Miller. He
was born in August of 1749 probably in SE Pennsylvania or near Antietam, MD.
The family had settled in what was to become Fayette Co. about 1771.
Nicholas served as a private in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War according to his Grave Registration Card.. No record of his service has been located to date.
Nicholas been appearing in Luzerne and Manellen Township tax records from 1785 to 1789. Nicholas married Margaret Hostetler about 1786. He was residing in Manellen Twp. at the time of the 1790 census. Miller was renting 400 acres, a house and barn in German Twp. from Nicholas Fast in 1798.
Nicholas Miller recorded a deed for 110 acres in Manellen and Luzerne Twp. purchased from his brother, Samuel on 16 August 1803. He sold his land about 1814. The Millers were in Liberty Twp., Butler Co., OH by 1820 and as early as 1815.
Nicholas and Margaret had eight children: Lewis, Catherine, Sarah, Daniel, Ann, Mary, Israel and Eliza.
Nicholas died in Butler Co. om 23 July 1833 and was buried in the Woodmansee Sugar Valley Cemetery in Maustown, Butler Co., Ohio. Margaret followed him in death on 18 July 1834.
Nicholas served as a private in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War according to his Grave Registration Card.. No record of his service has been located to date.
Nicholas been appearing in Luzerne and Manellen Township tax records from 1785 to 1789. Nicholas married Margaret Hostetler about 1786. He was residing in Manellen Twp. at the time of the 1790 census. Miller was renting 400 acres, a house and barn in German Twp. from Nicholas Fast in 1798.
Nicholas Miller recorded a deed for 110 acres in Manellen and Luzerne Twp. purchased from his brother, Samuel on 16 August 1803. He sold his land about 1814. The Millers were in Liberty Twp., Butler Co., OH by 1820 and as early as 1815.
Nicholas and Margaret had eight children: Lewis, Catherine, Sarah, Daniel, Ann, Mary, Israel and Eliza.
Nicholas died in Butler Co. om 23 July 1833 and was buried in the Woodmansee Sugar Valley Cemetery in Maustown, Butler Co., Ohio. Margaret followed him in death on 18 July 1834.
Nicholas Miller and Margaret
Hostetler3–5
were married circa 1786 in Prob. Fayette Co., Pennsylvania, United States.2 Margaret Hostetler2,4,
daughter of Nicholas Hostetler and Mary Magdalena Ulrich?, was born in Jan 1764
in Pennsylvania.4 She died on 18 Jul 1834 at the
age of 70 in Butler Co., Ohio, United States.4
She was also known as Ellen Miller.2
Margaret was buried at Woodmansee Sugar Valley Cemetery, Maustown, Butler,
Ohio.4 Margaret was buried in the Woodmansee
Sugar Valley Cemetery in Maustown, Butler Co., Ohio.
Nicholas Miller and Margaret Hostetler had the following
children:
3 i. Lewis Miller, born 1788, Fayette Co.,
Pennsylvania, United States;
married Loraine Griffis, 1830, Butler Co., Ohio, United States; died ca 1865, Butler Co., Ohio, United States.
4 ii. Catherine Miller, born 30 Nov 1791, Pennsylvania; married Isaac Clark, 30 May 1815, Reily Twp.,
Butler, Ohio; died 7 Jan 1879, Hendricks Co., Indiana.
5 iii. Sarah Miller, born 7 Jun 1795, Fayette
Co., Pennsylvania, United States;
married Benjamin Enyart, 7 Apr 1818, Butler Co., Ohio, United States; died 14 Feb 1883, Cass Co., Indiana, United States.
6 iv. Daniel Miller, born 2 Apr 1798,
Fayette Co., Pennsylvania, United States; married Ruth Collier, 25
Oct 1831, Butler Co., Ohio, United States; died 17 Aug 1870, Newtown, Fountain, Indiana, United
States.
8 vi. Mary Miller, born ca 1800, Fayette
Co., Pennsylvania, United States;
married Alexander Sickles, 16 Dec 1834, Butler Co., Ohio, United States.
10 viii. Eliza Miller, born 19 Nov 1806,
Fayette Co., Pennsylvania, United States;
married Daniel Griffis, 21 Apr 1825, Butler Co., Ohio, United States; died 17 Sep 1894, Hamilton, Butler, Ohio, United States.
Sources:
1. "Ludwig
Miller Family Tree", database, WikiTree, WikiTree
(https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Miller-39979 : accessed )"; submitted, [contact information for private use].
2. Frank Clark, Catherine Miller - Hendricks Co., IN
Message Board, Subject: Re: Obits, Listserve: Ancestry.com (21 March 2004,
Original Date, 29 May 2000).
3. Find A Grave, compiler, "Woodmansee Sugar Valley
Cemetery, Maustown, Butler, OH," database, Find A Grave
(https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/42259348/nicholas-miller : accessed 14
January 2019), Nicholas Miller.
4. Find A Grave, compiler, "Woodmansee Sugar Valley
Cemetery, Maustown, Butler, OH," database, Find A Grave
(https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/42259700/margaret-miller : accessed 14
January 2019), B/D of Margaret Hostetler Miller.
Sunday, January 20, 2019
Miller Family #1
The Millers and Hostetlers link up with the Clark family in Butler Co., OH.
First Generation
1. Ludwig Miller1 was born circa 1725
in Germany.1 He died in 1813 at the age of 88
in Fayette Co., Pennsylvania, United States.1
Ludwig Miller was of German extraction. According to family tradition, Ludwig
and George Craft [b. 1727] were two of thee cousins who sailed for America
together and settled near Antietam, Maryland. The third cousin was purportedly
a Grable, possibly a Joseph Grable who was born about 1725.. Ludwig and George
both married Graables. Craft was a native of Nurenberg, so Ludwig may have been
from there as well. The trio reportedly were indentured servants.
Craft settled in Coventry, Chester Co., PA in 1751and was residing near the PA/MD border in 1755. He migrated to what was then Westmoreland Co., PA about 1771/2. Joseph Grable was baptized at the Conestoga Brethern Church in Lancaster, PA in 1747. [George and Ludwig reportedly converted to the Bretern faith as well.] He was residing between Hagerstown and Sharpsburg in Washington Co., MD in 1749. Grable was in what became Fayette Co., PA by 1773. Miller had a land warrant in Rapho Twp., Lancaster Co. in 1752 and was living near Craft in 1757. Ludwig moved on to western Pennsylvania around 1771.
Ludwig made his will in 1808 and died in 1813. Children of Ludwig and Barbara [Grable] Miller were believed to be Samuel, Nicholas, Catherine, Hannah, Elizabeth, Solomon, Jonathan, David, Mary, Jacob, Abraham, Rebeccah and possibly John.
Craft settled in Coventry, Chester Co., PA in 1751and was residing near the PA/MD border in 1755. He migrated to what was then Westmoreland Co., PA about 1771/2. Joseph Grable was baptized at the Conestoga Brethern Church in Lancaster, PA in 1747. [George and Ludwig reportedly converted to the Bretern faith as well.] He was residing between Hagerstown and Sharpsburg in Washington Co., MD in 1749. Grable was in what became Fayette Co., PA by 1773. Miller had a land warrant in Rapho Twp., Lancaster Co. in 1752 and was living near Craft in 1757. Ludwig moved on to western Pennsylvania around 1771.
Ludwig made his will in 1808 and died in 1813. Children of Ludwig and Barbara [Grable] Miller were believed to be Samuel, Nicholas, Catherine, Hannah, Elizabeth, Solomon, Jonathan, David, Mary, Jacob, Abraham, Rebeccah and possibly John.
Ludwig Miller and Barbara Grable1 were married circa 1742 in Maryland or
Pennsylvania.1 Barbara Grable1 was born circa 1725
in Germany.1 She died in Prob. Fayette Co.,
Pennsylvania, United States.1 Barbara was
probably the daughter of Nicholas Grable of Frederick Co., MD who named
children Samuel, Barbara and Elizabeth in his will. Elizabeth Grable married
George Craft, a neighbor of the Millers and possibly Nichols' cousin. Samuel
Grable lived just across the line in northern Maryland.
Barbara was named in several early deeds with her husband, but not later ones. This would suggest that she preceded Ludwig in death.
Barbara was named in several early deeds with her husband, but not later ones. This would suggest that she preceded Ludwig in death.
Ludwig Miller and Barbara Grable had the following
child:
2 i. Nicholas Miller, born ca Aug 1749, Pennsylvania; married Margaret Hostetler, ca
1786, Prob. Fayette Co., Pennsylvania, United States; died 23 Jul 1833, Liberty Twp.,
Butler, Ohio, United States.
Friday, January 18, 2019
Hostetler Family #2
2. Catherine
"Cathy" Hostetler6–7,10
(Nicholas-1) was born in 1760–1765 in Pennsylvania.6–7,10
She died before 1810 at the age of 50 in Mason Co., Virginia, United States.6–7,10
Catherine "Cathy" Hostetler was named in the father's will of 1795,
by which time she had married Mathias Riffle. The Riffles moved to Mason Co.,
VA shortly before Cathy's death. Cathy's children were not named in brother
Jacob's petition for inquest in the June 1840 Orphan's Court for Fayette Co.,
PA.
Catherine "Cathy"
Hostetler and Mathias Riffle7 were married circa
1782 in Fayette Co., Pennsylvania, United States.7 Mathias
Riffle was born before 1765 in Germany. He died before 1830 at
the age of 65 in Mason Co., Virginia, United States.
3. Margaret Hostetler11–12
(Nicholas-1) was born in Jan 1764 in Pennsylvania.12 She died on 18 Jul 1834 at the
age of 70 in Butler Co., Ohio, United States.12
She was also known as Ellen Miller.11
Margaret was buried at Woodmansee Sugar Valley Cemetery, Maustown, Butler,
Ohio.12 Margaret was buried in the Woodmansee
Sugar Valley Cemetery in Maustown, Butler Co., Ohio.
Margaret Hostetler and Nicholas
Miller12–14
were married circa 1786 in Prob. Fayette Co., Pennsylvania, United States.11 Nicholas Miller11,13,
son of Ludwig Miller and Barbara Grable, was born circa Aug 1749 in
Pennsylvania.13 He died on 23 Jul 1833 at the
age of 83 at Woodmansee Sugar Valley Cemetery, Maustown, Butler Co., OH in
Liberty Twp., Butler, Ohio, United States.13
Nicholas Miller was the second son of Ludwig and Barbara [Grable] Miller. He
was born in August of 1749 probably in SE Pennsylvania or near Antietam, MD.
The family had settled in what was to become Fayette Co. about 1771.
Nicholas served as a private in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War according to his Grave Registration Card.. No record of his service has been located to date.
Nicholas been appearing in Luzerne and Manellen Township tax records from 1785 to 1789. Nicholas married Margaret Hostetler about 1786. He was residing in Manellen Twp. at the time of the 1790 census. Miller was renting 400 acres, a house and barn in German Twp. from Nicholas Fast in 1798.
Nicholas Miller recorded a deed for 110 acres in Manellen and Luzerne Twp. purchased from his brother, Samuel on 16 August 1803. He sold his land about 1814. The Millers were in Liberty Twp., Butler Co., OH by 1820 and as early as 1815.
Nicholas and Margaret had eight children: Lewis, Catherine, Sarah, Daniel, Ann, Mary, Israel and Eliza.
Nicholas died in Butler Co. om 23 July 1833 and was buried in the Woodmansee Sugar Valley Cemetery in Maustown, Butler Co., Ohio. Margaret followed him in death on 18 July 1834.
Nicholas served as a private in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War according to his Grave Registration Card.. No record of his service has been located to date.
Nicholas been appearing in Luzerne and Manellen Township tax records from 1785 to 1789. Nicholas married Margaret Hostetler about 1786. He was residing in Manellen Twp. at the time of the 1790 census. Miller was renting 400 acres, a house and barn in German Twp. from Nicholas Fast in 1798.
Nicholas Miller recorded a deed for 110 acres in Manellen and Luzerne Twp. purchased from his brother, Samuel on 16 August 1803. He sold his land about 1814. The Millers were in Liberty Twp., Butler Co., OH by 1820 and as early as 1815.
Nicholas and Margaret had eight children: Lewis, Catherine, Sarah, Daniel, Ann, Mary, Israel and Eliza.
Nicholas died in Butler Co. om 23 July 1833 and was buried in the Woodmansee Sugar Valley Cemetery in Maustown, Butler Co., Ohio. Margaret followed him in death on 18 July 1834.
Nicholas Miller and Margaret Hostetler had the following
children:
5 i. Lewis Miller, born 1788, Fayette Co.,
Pennsylvania, United States;
married Loraine Griffis, 1830, Butler Co., Ohio, United States; died ca 1865, Butler Co., Ohio, United States.
6 ii. Catherine Miller, born 30 Nov 1791, Pennsylvania; married Isaac Clark, 30 May 1815,
Reily Twp., Butler, Ohio; died 7 Jan 1879, Hendricks Co., Indiana.
7 iii. Sarah Miller, born 7 Jun 1795, Fayette
Co., Pennsylvania, United States;
married Benjamin Enyart, 7 Apr 1818, Butler Co., Ohio, United States; died 14 Feb 1883, Cass Co., Indiana, United States.
8 iv. Daniel Miller, born 2 Apr 1798,
Fayette Co., Pennsylvania, United States; married Ruth Collier, 25
Oct 1831, Butler Co., Ohio, United States; died 17 Aug 1870, Newtown, Fountain, Indiana, United
States.
10 vi. Mary Miller, born ca 1800, Fayette
Co., Pennsylvania, United States;
married Alexander Sickles, 16 Dec 1834, Butler Co., Ohio, United States.
12 viii. Eliza Miller, born 19 Nov 1806,
Fayette Co., Pennsylvania, United States;
married Daniel Griffis, 21 Apr 1825, Butler Co., Ohio, United States; died 17 Sep 1894, Hamilton, Butler, Ohio, United States.
4. Ann
Hostetler8,15
(Nicholas-1) was born on 25 Sep 1767 in Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania, British
America.8,15
She died on 25 Sep 1807 at the age of 40 in Hardiin Co., Kentucky, United
States.8,15
Ann Hostetler and Peter
Cooperider15 were married circa 1787 in
Fayette Co., Pennsylvania, United States.15 Peter
Cooperider was born on 10 Oct 1767 in at sea.15
He died in 1847 at the age of 80 in Clay Co., Indiana, United States.15
Sources:
1. Harvey Hostetler & William Franklin Hostetler, Descendants
of Jacob Hochstetler: the immigrant of 1736 (Elgin, IL: Brethren Publishing
House, circa 1912), 941, 945; digital images, Ancestry.com, Ancestry.com
(www.ancestry.com : accessed October 2018.
2. J.L. Cooprider, Chronicles of the families of
Cooperider, Cooperrider, Cooprider and their descendants (Evansville, IN:
J.L. Cooprider, 1952), 139; digital images, Family Search, familysearch.org
(www.familysearch.org : accessed 7 January 2019; #895.
3. "Family Search Family Tree", database,
collaborative, Family Search (www.familysearch.org : accessed 3 January
2019), "Nicholas Samuel Hostetler I"; submitted 2013 by
collaborative, [contact information for
private use].
5. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [LDS],
"International Genealogical Index," database, FamilySearch
(www.familysearch.org : accessed 9 January 2019), North American Region, Johan
Nicholas Hochstatter; citing FHL microfilm .
7. Scott Novak, "Re: Mason Co., WV Riffles,"
e-mail message from [e-mail for private
use] ([street address for private
use]), to Reply to D. Greeve query; Ancestry Message Board, 1 January
2002.
9. Fayette Co.,PA, Fayette Co. Register of Wills, Book
3:277-8 24, Petition for Iquest, Hostetler family, June Session Orphans Court
1840; Fayette Co. Courthouse, Uniontown, PA.
10. Don Greeve, "Mason Co., WV Riffles," e-mail
message from [e-mail for private use]
([street address for private use]),
to Ancestry Message Board: Mason Co., WV Riffles, 1 October 2000.
11. Frank Clark, Catherine Miller - Hendricks Co., IN Message
Board, Subject: Re: Obits, Listserve: Ancestry.com (21 March 2004, Original
Date, 29 May 2000).
12. Find A Grave, compiler, "Woodmansee Sugar Valley
Cemetery, Maustown, Butler, OH," database, Find A Grave
(https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/42259700/margaret-miller : accessed 14
January 2019), B/D of Margaret Hostetler Miller.
13. Find A Grave, Cooprider and their descendants,
.compiler, "Woodmansee Sugar Valley Cemetery, Maustown, Butler, OH,"
database, Find A Grave (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/42259348/nicholas-miller
: accessed 14 January 2019), Nicholas Miller.
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