DE LINT: Arent Jansz De Lint was a barber who settled in Brielle, South Holland. He married Anneke Esiasdr [also recorded as Anneke Jans] there prior to 1534.
In 1534, Arent and Anneke De Lint formed a group of Nieugezinden [religious dissenters] at their home in the Coppoenstraat in Brielle. This was in the early days of the Protestant Reformation in the Netherlands. The group met for only a short time, as the DeLints fled to England in June of 1534. Arent died in London in December of 1538 and Anneke returned to the Netherlands. In 1539 at Rotterdam, Anneke was tried executed for heresy [crimes against the church]. The method of execution was drowning. The couple left at least one orphaned child, a son, Esaias. Esaias Arentse de Lint's great-granddaughter, Lijsbetjen [Elizabeth] would be the first of the family to arrive in America.
(Drowning was used as a punishment during the Middle Ages. The offender was bound by hands and feet and thrown from a bridge into the river. A pond, pool, or even a tub of water, was used if no river was available. Drowning was primarily used on women.)
Sunday, March 8, 2015
Saturday, March 7, 2015
Family Stories: d'Ailli - Dally
d'Ailli - Dally: The d'Ailli family was like many others who found their way to the Dutch colony of New Netherland and other places of refuge for the French Protestant Huguenot. The d'Aillis were from the north coastal region of the Somne Valley in France, but fled to England when the Huguenots fell into disfavor with the Catholic Church.
Jean Dally was to bring his wife, Margurite [Madou], and two young children, from London to New Amsterdam during the mid-1640s. By profession, Jean was a mariner and eventually captained his own vessel. He took part in the slave trade during the late 1640s. By 1648 Dally had moved to Virginia. He had returned to New York [now under English rule] by 1676 and took up farming on Staten Island. Jean served as a representative to the New York Assembly in 1689 and 1691. His term in office was cut short as Jean died in 1691 at the age of 75.
Jean Dally was to bring his wife, Margurite [Madou], and two young children, from London to New Amsterdam during the mid-1640s. By profession, Jean was a mariner and eventually captained his own vessel. He took part in the slave trade during the late 1640s. By 1648 Dally had moved to Virginia. He had returned to New York [now under English rule] by 1676 and took up farming on Staten Island. Jean served as a representative to the New York Assembly in 1689 and 1691. His term in office was cut short as Jean died in 1691 at the age of 75.
Friday, March 6, 2015
Family Stories: Remember the Alamo!
CUNNINGHAM: I recently dedicated a handful of posts to my Maryland Cunninghams. Today my other Cunningham family. Like the Marylanders, the immigrant Robert Cunnigham, an Ulster Scot, was a sea captain. He was based out of Philadelphia. He married Lucy Morris about 1783 and fathered three children. Captain Cunningham died at sea in 1791. The widowed Lucy married John Simmons Jr. in 1792.
The eldest son of Lucy and Robert, David Cunningham, married Anna Jennison; sister to Dolly Jennison, who married John W. Simmons Jr. John was the eldest son of John Simmons Jr. and his first wife, believed to be Mary Nelson. The eldest of the Cunningham boys, Robert W. and the eldest of the Simmons boys, James Morris were born days apart in October of 1804.
David and brother-in-law Rufus Jennison operated the first ferry connecting Cincinnati and Covington [KY]. David died from cholera in 1835 or 1836.
Young Robert adapted to river life. Born in Chenango Co., NY, he moved with his family to the river town of Jeffersonville, Indiana during the 1820s. Cunningham worked on flatboats serving the Ohio and Mississippi River towns. He wrote the family in 1832 that he was going to settle in New Orleans. That decision was short-lived. On 4 March 1833, Robert acquired a league of land on Skull Creek in Austin's Texas Colony.
He was probably at Concepcion in late 1835, when the Texas militia moved to San Antonio de Bexar. Cunningham was a sergeant and second gunner in Captain T.L.F. Parrott's artillery company.
On 4 December 1835, the Texans attacked General Cos' garrison at Bexar. On the 10th, Cos surrendered after moving into the old mission-fortress called the Alamo.
Robert wrote his parents in early 1836 that he had joined the Texas Army. By late February, the Texans numbers were at about 150. Among the men stationed at Bexar were Lt. Col. William Barrett Travis in command of the "regulars," Col. James Bowie leading the volunteers and former Tennessee Congressman David Crockett, with a handful of volunteers. Cunningham had been reassigned to Captain Carey's artillery company as a private. Carey's company was assigned to the southwest corner of the Alamo compound.
After a 13 day siege, Generalissimo Santa Ana ordered a pre-dawn attack on the Alamo. The number of defenders had "swelled" to at least 183 by the 6th of March. [It is possible that an additional 25-50 reinforcements joined the fray on the 4th or 5th. By daylight, the battle was over. The Alamo garrison had been put to the sword. There were rumors that 5-7 men had surrendered and were executed on the spot. Travis had fallen early at the north wall. Bowie, near death with typhoid, was killed in his bed, Crockett was killed at the southeast barricade or the small fort at the main gate.
Robert W. Cunningham was probably killed at his post, the SW battery of the Alamo.
The eldest son of Lucy and Robert, David Cunningham, married Anna Jennison; sister to Dolly Jennison, who married John W. Simmons Jr. John was the eldest son of John Simmons Jr. and his first wife, believed to be Mary Nelson. The eldest of the Cunningham boys, Robert W. and the eldest of the Simmons boys, James Morris were born days apart in October of 1804.
David and brother-in-law Rufus Jennison operated the first ferry connecting Cincinnati and Covington [KY]. David died from cholera in 1835 or 1836.
Young Robert adapted to river life. Born in Chenango Co., NY, he moved with his family to the river town of Jeffersonville, Indiana during the 1820s. Cunningham worked on flatboats serving the Ohio and Mississippi River towns. He wrote the family in 1832 that he was going to settle in New Orleans. That decision was short-lived. On 4 March 1833, Robert acquired a league of land on Skull Creek in Austin's Texas Colony.
He was probably at Concepcion in late 1835, when the Texas militia moved to San Antonio de Bexar. Cunningham was a sergeant and second gunner in Captain T.L.F. Parrott's artillery company.
On 4 December 1835, the Texans attacked General Cos' garrison at Bexar. On the 10th, Cos surrendered after moving into the old mission-fortress called the Alamo.
Robert wrote his parents in early 1836 that he had joined the Texas Army. By late February, the Texans numbers were at about 150. Among the men stationed at Bexar were Lt. Col. William Barrett Travis in command of the "regulars," Col. James Bowie leading the volunteers and former Tennessee Congressman David Crockett, with a handful of volunteers. Cunningham had been reassigned to Captain Carey's artillery company as a private. Carey's company was assigned to the southwest corner of the Alamo compound.
After a 13 day siege, Generalissimo Santa Ana ordered a pre-dawn attack on the Alamo. The number of defenders had "swelled" to at least 183 by the 6th of March. [It is possible that an additional 25-50 reinforcements joined the fray on the 4th or 5th. By daylight, the battle was over. The Alamo garrison had been put to the sword. There were rumors that 5-7 men had surrendered and were executed on the spot. Travis had fallen early at the north wall. Bowie, near death with typhoid, was killed in his bed, Crockett was killed at the southeast barricade or the small fort at the main gate.
Robert W. Cunningham was probably killed at his post, the SW battery of the Alamo.
Thursday, March 5, 2015
Family Stories: When the Obvious Fails to Register; Subtitle: The Anny Ice Debacle
CROUSORE, SMITH [REEL, REEDER]: For several years, just about every family tree posted online gave my ancestor Jacob Crousore's wife as Anny Ice. A study of Ice webpages and trees turned up zero likely candidates for Anny. The Salt Lake Institute once again came to the rescue. [The day by day progress of the search is featured in my posts of 23-27 January 2012.]
I knew that Jacob was in Ohio in 1820 and online censuses were incorrectly indexed. That left the 1820 hardcover index. The Crousores appeared in Clinton County, Ohio. Next came marriage records. Jacob Crousore married Jemima Smith on 29 August 1822. [Here's where the obvious began to fail me, but shouldn't have.] I tracked the family into Delaware Co., Indiana, where Jacob and Ama Jemima Crousore were named in a deed. CLICK! How could I have missed it! Jemima! That was my great-grandmother Simmons' middle name! Ama was her first name!
The surname Smith did not hold much promise, but the Clinton Co., Ohio marriage records were a God-send! Jacob's father was confirmed. Ama Jemima's brother was named [John, of course]. John Smith also married in Clinton Co. - his father, William, and spouse, Elizabeth Crousore, were named. [Jacob's sister!] Further investigation led to William's wife - Elizabeth Reel.
The Crousore, Smith and Reel families, along with the Reeders [Elizabeth Reel's maternal line] were a package deal. Those families had traveled from Pennsylvania or Virginia to Ohio and moved on to Rush, Delaware and Howard Counties in Indiana. A few family members left the pack on the way.
Jacob and Amy, as she was referred to most frequently, had quite an adventure. I had been unable to find them after 1870 and guessed the couple died in Howard County. WRONG! Jacob and Amy were not through! The majority of their 10 children had died by 1870. William and Edith were their surviving children. They took in the two youngest sons of daughter Julia Pugh. In 1873, William decided to head west, taking his parents and nephews with him.
The Crousores settled in McPherson Co., Kansas. Amy died about1876 and Jacob about 1877. William moved on after Jacob's death.
It had been quite an adventure for Jacob Crousore and Ama Jemima Smith. Jacob was born in Fayette Co., Pennsylvania and married in Clinton Co., Ohio. He and his wife resided in Rush, Delaware, Madison and Howard Counties in Idiana before spending his last years in Kansas. Ama Jemima was a Virginia native.
I knew that Jacob was in Ohio in 1820 and online censuses were incorrectly indexed. That left the 1820 hardcover index. The Crousores appeared in Clinton County, Ohio. Next came marriage records. Jacob Crousore married Jemima Smith on 29 August 1822. [Here's where the obvious began to fail me, but shouldn't have.] I tracked the family into Delaware Co., Indiana, where Jacob and Ama Jemima Crousore were named in a deed. CLICK! How could I have missed it! Jemima! That was my great-grandmother Simmons' middle name! Ama was her first name!
The surname Smith did not hold much promise, but the Clinton Co., Ohio marriage records were a God-send! Jacob's father was confirmed. Ama Jemima's brother was named [John, of course]. John Smith also married in Clinton Co. - his father, William, and spouse, Elizabeth Crousore, were named. [Jacob's sister!] Further investigation led to William's wife - Elizabeth Reel.
The Crousore, Smith and Reel families, along with the Reeders [Elizabeth Reel's maternal line] were a package deal. Those families had traveled from Pennsylvania or Virginia to Ohio and moved on to Rush, Delaware and Howard Counties in Indiana. A few family members left the pack on the way.
Jacob and Amy, as she was referred to most frequently, had quite an adventure. I had been unable to find them after 1870 and guessed the couple died in Howard County. WRONG! Jacob and Amy were not through! The majority of their 10 children had died by 1870. William and Edith were their surviving children. They took in the two youngest sons of daughter Julia Pugh. In 1873, William decided to head west, taking his parents and nephews with him.
The Crousores settled in McPherson Co., Kansas. Amy died about1876 and Jacob about 1877. William moved on after Jacob's death.
It had been quite an adventure for Jacob Crousore and Ama Jemima Smith. Jacob was born in Fayette Co., Pennsylvania and married in Clinton Co., Ohio. He and his wife resided in Rush, Delaware, Madison and Howard Counties in Idiana before spending his last years in Kansas. Ama Jemima was a Virginia native.
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
A Civil War Story
CRAIL: One last mention of the Crail family. The three brothers, Sylvester, John and Aaron all chose to serve their country during the Civil War.
Sylvester, the eldest, mustered in with Company B the 79th Indiana Infantry on 9 August 1862. He saw action at the Battle of Stone River in Tennessee that December. He came down with a severe cold that settled in his back. During battle on 31 December, Sylvester was struck by a Confederate cavalry mount, became separated from his unit and was captured. He was a POW until July or August of 1863, when he was paroled. Sylvester was listed as being sick in the hospital in Louisville in August. He was hospitalized in Chattanooga in September. From October 1863 until January 1864, Crail was treated in Indianapolis. He was then transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps on 14 January. Sylvester served as a sergeant with the 94th Company, 2nd Battalion. [The VRC soldiers were severely disabled, but capable of handling light duty. This freed up able-bodied men to serve in the front lines.]
After the war, Sylvester tried farming for awhile, but his disabilities prevented him from being a success. He turned to driving hacks [early taxis] in Indianapolis. Sylvester suffered from back and kidney ailments that qualified him for an Invalid Pension in 1882. He also suffered from
disease of the lungs and eyes, chronic gripe, enlargement of the liver, rheumatism of the hips and lumbar region of the back.
Sylvester was married three times. He raised his 2nd wife's son and fathered four of his own. He and his 3rd wife applied for admission to the Indiana State Soldiers' Home near Lafayette in Tippecanoe Co., Indiana in 1897 and were accepted. Sylvester died there on 17 January 1898. He was buried in the cemetery at the Home.
John and Aaron enlisted in Company I of the 124th Indiana on 21 February 1864. John Crail, like his elder brother, contracted a cold while on duty. This happened at Decatur, Georgia in April 1864.
Crail's cold affected his lungs and throat .John also suffered rheumatism. John also suffered from chronic diarrhea and piles [enlarged and engorged blood vessels around the lower back passage] for the rest of his life. He was hospitalized in Atlanta from October - December. John was fit for duty by March 1865 and served out the rest of his enlistment.
Like Sylvester, John returned to farming after the war. By 1870, Crail had moved to Indianapolis and tried his hand at carpentry work. John also qualified for an Invalid Pension [1888]. By 1904, John was blind in his left eye and lost all of his teeth. Shortly before his death in 1907, John suffered from severe paralysis in his tongue, limbs and bowels. He was buried in the Veterans' Section of Crown Hill. John and his wife Melissa had five children.
Aaron, the youngest, served with John. At the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain in June 1864, the troops were hampered by torrential rains. Aaron was taken sick with chronic diarrhea and rheumatic swelling in his lower limbs. He was sent to the hospital; remaining until September then returned to duty at Decatur, Georgia. After a few days, Crail became ill again. Aaron was transferred from one military hospital to another and was discharged at Camp Dennison, Ohio on 6 June 1865.
Upon returning home, Aaron purchased a tract of land in Hamilton Co. [near Castleton] and returned to farming. The complications from the ailments contracted in Georgia developed into consumption [tuberculosis]. Aaron's family held off applying for an Invalid Pension because they expect him to pass at any time. Aaron died 0n 25 March 1868 at the age of 28. He left a widow and six children under the age of ten.
Three brothers served their country and all three came out physical wrecks. Aaron may have been the lucky one, surviving only three years. John suffered from his maladies for 42 years and Sylvester for about 33.
Sylvester, the eldest, mustered in with Company B the 79th Indiana Infantry on 9 August 1862. He saw action at the Battle of Stone River in Tennessee that December. He came down with a severe cold that settled in his back. During battle on 31 December, Sylvester was struck by a Confederate cavalry mount, became separated from his unit and was captured. He was a POW until July or August of 1863, when he was paroled. Sylvester was listed as being sick in the hospital in Louisville in August. He was hospitalized in Chattanooga in September. From October 1863 until January 1864, Crail was treated in Indianapolis. He was then transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps on 14 January. Sylvester served as a sergeant with the 94th Company, 2nd Battalion. [The VRC soldiers were severely disabled, but capable of handling light duty. This freed up able-bodied men to serve in the front lines.]
After the war, Sylvester tried farming for awhile, but his disabilities prevented him from being a success. He turned to driving hacks [early taxis] in Indianapolis. Sylvester suffered from back and kidney ailments that qualified him for an Invalid Pension in 1882. He also suffered from
disease of the lungs and eyes, chronic gripe, enlargement of the liver, rheumatism of the hips and lumbar region of the back.
Sylvester was married three times. He raised his 2nd wife's son and fathered four of his own. He and his 3rd wife applied for admission to the Indiana State Soldiers' Home near Lafayette in Tippecanoe Co., Indiana in 1897 and were accepted. Sylvester died there on 17 January 1898. He was buried in the cemetery at the Home.
John and Aaron enlisted in Company I of the 124th Indiana on 21 February 1864. John Crail, like his elder brother, contracted a cold while on duty. This happened at Decatur, Georgia in April 1864.
Crail's cold affected his lungs and throat .John also suffered rheumatism. John also suffered from chronic diarrhea and piles [enlarged and engorged blood vessels around the lower back passage] for the rest of his life. He was hospitalized in Atlanta from October - December. John was fit for duty by March 1865 and served out the rest of his enlistment.
Like Sylvester, John returned to farming after the war. By 1870, Crail had moved to Indianapolis and tried his hand at carpentry work. John also qualified for an Invalid Pension [1888]. By 1904, John was blind in his left eye and lost all of his teeth. Shortly before his death in 1907, John suffered from severe paralysis in his tongue, limbs and bowels. He was buried in the Veterans' Section of Crown Hill. John and his wife Melissa had five children.
Aaron, the youngest, served with John. At the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain in June 1864, the troops were hampered by torrential rains. Aaron was taken sick with chronic diarrhea and rheumatic swelling in his lower limbs. He was sent to the hospital; remaining until September then returned to duty at Decatur, Georgia. After a few days, Crail became ill again. Aaron was transferred from one military hospital to another and was discharged at Camp Dennison, Ohio on 6 June 1865.
Upon returning home, Aaron purchased a tract of land in Hamilton Co. [near Castleton] and returned to farming. The complications from the ailments contracted in Georgia developed into consumption [tuberculosis]. Aaron's family held off applying for an Invalid Pension because they expect him to pass at any time. Aaron died 0n 25 March 1868 at the age of 28. He left a widow and six children under the age of ten.
Three brothers served their country and all three came out physical wrecks. Aaron may have been the lucky one, surviving only three years. John suffered from his maladies for 42 years and Sylvester for about 33.
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
The Last Immigrant!
CRAIL-O'NEIL: Sticking with the Crail family for another post, I move on to Aaron Crail's wife, Catherine O'Neil, the last of my ancestors to arrive in the US. Catherine was born in County Cork, Ireland in 1833 or 1834. [Hey there has to be some mystery with this family!] According to family lore, Catherine's brother or brothers were about to be impressed by British soldiers when her father, Peter, stepped in and was fatally wounded. The fate of the brothers was unknown. Mrs. Mary O'Neil died shortly thereafter. Catherine went to work as a domestic to earn passage to America. At the age of 18, she left Liverpool, England for the US. If she was born in'33, then Catherine emigrated in 1851/2; if born in '34, then departure was 1852/3. [Census records with year of immigration show three different years - naturally.]
I was originally told that Cate arrived somewhere between Boston and Galveston - a big help! Several years later, I came across an immigration record that fit Catherine rather nicely - arrival at New York on 25 August 1852, age 18. If this was my Catherine, then she would have turned 19 roughly four months after her arrival, making her birth year 1833. My uncle had a sudden memory jolt and told me that she did indeed arrive in New York!
According to the family, Catherine made her way from New York to the Indianapolis area, where she took a job teaching locals how to read. One of her pupils was Aaron Crail, who was several years her junior. The couple married in 1857. Aaron and Catherine had five children, including a set of twin girls, before Aaron enlisted in the 124th Indiana in 1864. During the torrential rains at battle of Kennesaw Mountain and the siege of Atlanta, Aaron fell victim to "lung fever." After his discharge, Aaron returned home. He and Catherine had another son in 1866. Aaron died of tuberculosis in the spring of 1868. Catherine was left a widow with six children ranging in age from 10-2. She was awarded a widow's pension in 1869.
Catherine moved to Miami Co., Indiana, where eldest son James became a blacksmith. She returned to Indianapolis by 1900 and moved in with the family of brother-in-law John Crail. Catherine was in Shelbyville, Indians in 1909 and back with her eldest son James in Chicago in 1910. Shortly thereafter the Crails moved back to Indy. Catherine lived out her years with daughter Martha in a house on S. Belmont.
Catherine gave her grandkids the same gift each Christmas - a piece of candy and a silver dollar. My mother and uncle recalled celebrating Catherine's 100th birthday. She was of sound mind until the day she died. My uncle described her as a miniature version of Maureen O'Hara. He also recalled family members fanning her open casket during the viewing due to an extremely hot July. Catherine outlived four of her six children and never remarried.
Now back to that 100th birthday party. Catherine's gravestone reads 1834-1934. Her death certificate has her year of birth as 1834, but it was originally written as 1833 then crossed out. If she was born in 1834, then Cate died at 99. If she was born in 1833, then the family did indeed celebrate her 100th birthday.
Her d
I was originally told that Cate arrived somewhere between Boston and Galveston - a big help! Several years later, I came across an immigration record that fit Catherine rather nicely - arrival at New York on 25 August 1852, age 18. If this was my Catherine, then she would have turned 19 roughly four months after her arrival, making her birth year 1833. My uncle had a sudden memory jolt and told me that she did indeed arrive in New York!
According to the family, Catherine made her way from New York to the Indianapolis area, where she took a job teaching locals how to read. One of her pupils was Aaron Crail, who was several years her junior. The couple married in 1857. Aaron and Catherine had five children, including a set of twin girls, before Aaron enlisted in the 124th Indiana in 1864. During the torrential rains at battle of Kennesaw Mountain and the siege of Atlanta, Aaron fell victim to "lung fever." After his discharge, Aaron returned home. He and Catherine had another son in 1866. Aaron died of tuberculosis in the spring of 1868. Catherine was left a widow with six children ranging in age from 10-2. She was awarded a widow's pension in 1869.
Catherine moved to Miami Co., Indiana, where eldest son James became a blacksmith. She returned to Indianapolis by 1900 and moved in with the family of brother-in-law John Crail. Catherine was in Shelbyville, Indians in 1909 and back with her eldest son James in Chicago in 1910. Shortly thereafter the Crails moved back to Indy. Catherine lived out her years with daughter Martha in a house on S. Belmont.
Catherine gave her grandkids the same gift each Christmas - a piece of candy and a silver dollar. My mother and uncle recalled celebrating Catherine's 100th birthday. She was of sound mind until the day she died. My uncle described her as a miniature version of Maureen O'Hara. He also recalled family members fanning her open casket during the viewing due to an extremely hot July. Catherine outlived four of her six children and never remarried.
Now back to that 100th birthday party. Catherine's gravestone reads 1834-1934. Her death certificate has her year of birth as 1834, but it was originally written as 1833 then crossed out. If she was born in 1834, then Cate died at 99. If she was born in 1833, then the family did indeed celebrate her 100th birthday.
Her d
Monday, March 2, 2015
Family Story Mystery!
CRAIL: I have written several times about my great mystery family - the Crails, at least my 3rd great-grandparents. Now they get some additional attention here.
James and Mary [Jones] Crail were the parents of at least three sons, Sylvester, John and Aaron. Mary bought two town lots in Marietta, Shelby Co., Indiana, one in 1851, the other in 1853. She and James sold those lots in 1854. They seemingly dropped off the face of the earth until a widowed Mary appeared in the 1875 Indianapolis City Directory.
I may have found James in Hamilton Co., Ohio church and tax records in the early 1830s. The name also appears in the Shelby Co. tax records in the 1840s. Most of the Crails named in the Shelby Co. tax records were the probable brothers and father of James. The rest of the family seemed to have stayed together.
Sylvester, John and Aaron were found in the records of Marion and Hamilton Counties in Indiana beginning with their marriages until their deaths in 1898, 1907 and 1868 respectively. Mary [Jones] Crail lived with John for most of the final 12 years of her life.
Where were James and Mary before 1851? James' birthplace is given as Ohio, probably Hamilton Co., where the two eldest boys were born [according to their military service records.] Aaron was born in Marion Co., Ohio in 1839. They appear to have been in Shelby Co. during the 1840s, in 1851, 1853 and 1854. Mary was a native of Kentucky - probably from one of the northern counties near Hamilton Co., Ohio.
From 1854 until 1875? James and Mary were probably in central Indiana. I can't imagine that they went west [or east, or south, etc.] while the boys started their families. I'm also guessing that they were in a small town or rural area, since the were not in the city directories. At some point, James died, leaving Mary a widow. Mary was with her son John from 1875-1887, when she died.
The wrinkle in the story is that there may well be a fourth son named George. A George B. Crail is recorded as the son of James B. and Mary A. [Jones] Crail. The descendants of George with whom I have communicated have been a bit inconsistent in identifying family members. The number of brothers varied, one of the grandsons claimed for George was in reality a grandson of Aaron. I haven't found any records placing George with the rest of the family.
In support of George belonging to the family? Common parents. He, like James and Mary, is missing from the 1850-70 censuses. James had a brother named George.
If the fit is there then the family is already traced back to Scotland. I just need convincing!!
James and Mary [Jones] Crail were the parents of at least three sons, Sylvester, John and Aaron. Mary bought two town lots in Marietta, Shelby Co., Indiana, one in 1851, the other in 1853. She and James sold those lots in 1854. They seemingly dropped off the face of the earth until a widowed Mary appeared in the 1875 Indianapolis City Directory.
I may have found James in Hamilton Co., Ohio church and tax records in the early 1830s. The name also appears in the Shelby Co. tax records in the 1840s. Most of the Crails named in the Shelby Co. tax records were the probable brothers and father of James. The rest of the family seemed to have stayed together.
Sylvester, John and Aaron were found in the records of Marion and Hamilton Counties in Indiana beginning with their marriages until their deaths in 1898, 1907 and 1868 respectively. Mary [Jones] Crail lived with John for most of the final 12 years of her life.
Where were James and Mary before 1851? James' birthplace is given as Ohio, probably Hamilton Co., where the two eldest boys were born [according to their military service records.] Aaron was born in Marion Co., Ohio in 1839. They appear to have been in Shelby Co. during the 1840s, in 1851, 1853 and 1854. Mary was a native of Kentucky - probably from one of the northern counties near Hamilton Co., Ohio.
From 1854 until 1875? James and Mary were probably in central Indiana. I can't imagine that they went west [or east, or south, etc.] while the boys started their families. I'm also guessing that they were in a small town or rural area, since the were not in the city directories. At some point, James died, leaving Mary a widow. Mary was with her son John from 1875-1887, when she died.
The wrinkle in the story is that there may well be a fourth son named George. A George B. Crail is recorded as the son of James B. and Mary A. [Jones] Crail. The descendants of George with whom I have communicated have been a bit inconsistent in identifying family members. The number of brothers varied, one of the grandsons claimed for George was in reality a grandson of Aaron. I haven't found any records placing George with the rest of the family.
In support of George belonging to the family? Common parents. He, like James and Mary, is missing from the 1850-70 censuses. James had a brother named George.
If the fit is there then the family is already traced back to Scotland. I just need convincing!!
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