Betty's Boneyard Genealogy Blog

MARY MILLER born about 1715, of Lancaster Co VA, wife of JOHN WOODSON--Not the daughter of WILLIAM MILLER & MARTHA TAYLOR!! FOR GOODNESS SAKES!!!

2012-02-12T16:33:00.001-08:00

I know I will ruffle some feathers with this post, but here goes.

There is so much misinformation in online family trees about MARY MILLER b about 1715 who married JOHN WOODSON Aug 10, 1731 in Lancaster Co VA. It's absolutely shocking. And if only people would take the time to a) actually look at records and b) think about the facts, they might refrain from putting such erroneous information on the web.

The record that started everything can be found in the book "Married Well & Often" by Robert K Headley, page 384. There we see the following entry:

WOODSON, John & MILLER, Mary; marriage bond dated Aug 10, 1731; WILLIAM MILLER (sec). Groom was from Goochland Co VA; marriage took place in Lancaster Co VA.

Clearly, MARY MILLER was from the Miller family of Lancaster Co VA, from which I directly descend (my great grandmother being ALICE MILLER born May 3, 1856 Springhill, Livingston Co MO). I've been researching this family for over 12 years. The problem is, too many people have assumed that a WILLIAM MILLER was MARY's father, and have tried to insert her into various branches of the family for which there are many records proving otherwise!! There were several individuals with the name MARY MILLER and WILLIAM MILLER, not to mention several lines of this family that have never been properly researched.

So, without further ado, here is evidence to prove who MARY MILLER WOODSON wasn't:

1) MARY MILLER, daughter of WILLIAM MILLER & MARY HEATH of Goochland Co VA. First off, this couple couldn't be the parents of MARY who married JOHN WOODSON in 1731,as their own marriage didn't occur until 1741! Also, all of their children's births were noted in the Douglas Register, Goochland Co VA. This MARY MILLER was born March 6, 1756 in Goochland Co VA and married Obediah Periere.

2)MARY MILLER, born about 1715, daughter of JOHN MILLER & MARGARET of Lancaster Co VA.
There is circumstantial evidence in the 1732 Lancaster Co VA will of MARGARET MILLER indicating that one of her daughters married a ROGERS. And I believe that was JOHN ROGERS, who died 1765 Lancaster Co VA; his will shows that wife MARY renounced all benefits, that he had a son RICHARD ROGERS, a son WILLIAM ROGERS who died 1768, a son JOHN ROGERS (gleaned from his brother's 1768 will), a daughter MARGARET ROGERS and a daughter ELIZABETH ROGERS who married WILLIAM MITCHELL.

The 1732 Lancaster Co VA will of MARGARET MILLER shows she had a granddaughter ELIZABETH ROGERS; she does not mention daughter MARY in her will, but MARY is named as the granddaughter of RANDOLPH MILLER in his will dated 1720 Lancaster Co VA, and he indicates she was a daughter of his son JOHN MILLER.

This is convoluted & circumstantial evidence, I know, and if anyone has any further evidence, I would be glad to see it. On the other hand, there is absolutely NO evidence to show that JOHN & MARGARET MILLER of Lancaster Co VA had any grandchildren who were Woodsons.

My ROGERS theory has met with extreme hostility from at least one researcher, who believes that this MARY MILLER was the one who married JOHN WOODSON 1731 in Lancaster Co VA. However, this person was unable to provide documentation to prove my theory wrong.

3) MARY MILLER, daughter of WILLIAM MILLER & MARTHA TAYLOR of Lancaster Co VA.
The last time I checked, there were 60 Rootsweb online family trees with this error. And there are over 400 on Ancestry.com public family trees with this error.

WILLIAM MILLER was born about 1700 Lancaster Co VA to WILLIAM MILLER & FRANCES PARFITT, and was grandson of RANDOLPH MILLER of Lancaster Co VA; MARTHA TAYLOR was the daughter of THOMAS TAYLOR & ELIZABETH THERRIOT of Lancaster Co VA.

Their marriage bond was dated Dec 10, 1718 Lancaster Co VA, William Dare, sec; Joseph Carter witness (as per "Married Well & Often" by Robert K Headley, page 245.)

The fact is, WILLIAM MILLER & MARTHA TAYLOR were a childless couple, as can be seen from MARTHA's will written 1774 & probated 1776, which shows her as a "widow, being old" with no children, but leaving property to siblings, nephews, nieces & cousins:

Will of MARTHA (TAYLOR) MILLER written April 22, 1774; probated March 21, 1776, Lancaster Co VA will book 20, page 94:

Nephew: JOHN TAYLOR, son of my brother THOMAS TAYLOR; Cousin: MARTHA BALL, dau of Capt GEORGE BALL; FRANKIE CARTER, dau of DALE CARTER; Nephew: THOMAS BALL; SARAH BALL, dau of Capt GEORGE BALL; ELIZABETH PORTES BALL, dau of my nephew THOMAS BALL; sister ANNA BALL; nephew: DAVID BALL; Cousins: SARAH BALL & MARTHA TAYLOR; Overseer: BENJAMIN WILLIS; "To old JENNY her bed and 1 cow"; "To my nephew JOHN TAYLOR my blind boy ADAM and the care of old PATRICK as a Freeman;" Nephew: DAVID BALL Jr; Executors DAVID BALL Jr & JOHN TAYLOR; Witnesses: JOSEPH WILLIAMS, MARGARET BALL, SARAH JONES.

A quick check of marriage records in "Married Well & Often" by Robert K Headley shows that MARTHA (TAYLOR) MILLER's sister ANNA TAYLOR, daughter of THOMAS TAYLOR & ELIZABETH THERRIOT, married GEORGE BALL Jr, son of CAPT GEORGE BALL; their marriage bond dated June 14, 1736 Lancaster Co VA

Clearly, MARTHA TAYLOR & WILLIAM MILLER had no children of their own, and absolutely no connection with the family of JOHN WOODSON of Goochland Co VA.

So who was MARY MILLER b 1715 who married JOHN WOODSON? Stay tuned....

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2012

A Friend of Friends Friday: African American Slaves Named in the 1804 Will of ROBERT LYON of Caswell Co NC

2012-02-03T06:53:00.000-08:00

Note: "A Friend of Friends" was a password used on the Underground Railway

1804 CASWELL CO NC, WILL OF ROBERT LYON In the name of God Amen. I ROBERT LYON of Caswell County of State of North Carolinabeing in a low state of health but of sound mind and memory do constitute and ordain this my last will and testament revoking all will or wills heretofore made by me.

--Item I lend unto my beloved wife REBECCA LYON three negros, old GRACE, CHARLES and CATE, one feather bed & furniture,one gray mare by the name of Iwa, two milk cows, four head of fatning hogs, one sow & pigs & fifteen barrels of corn during her natural life and at her death to be equally divided among my children (viz) JANE JOHNSTON, ANN DANIEL, MARY MIDDLEBROOK, WILLIAM LYON, ROBERT LYON, JOHN LYON, TEMPERANCE POTEAT, them & their heirs.

--Item I give unto my daughter JANE JOHNSTON, one negro named JOSH unto her & her heirs forever

--Item I give unto my son, ROBERT LYON, one negro boy named REUBIN & twenty pound current money of Virginia unto him and his heirs forever.

--I give unto the heirs of MARY MIDDLEBROOKS one negro boy named MOSES to them and their heirs forever,

--I lend unto my daughter TEMPERANCE POTEAT one negro girl named PHILLIS & twenty dollars in cash and if she should have an heir to her heirs

forever and if she should die without an heir to be equally divided among my chidren before named.

--Item I give unto my daughter ANN DANIEL one negro girl named AMY unto her & her heirs forever.

--Item I give unto my son, JOHN LYON one Negro boy named PETER unto him & his heirs forever.

--Item I give unto my son WILLIAM LYON one negro boy named PHILL to him & his heirs forever.

--Item I give unto my grandson EMOND LYON forty pounds current money of Virginia

--Item I give unto my granddaughter ELIZ BETSEY LYON twenty pounds current money of Virginia

--It is my will and desire that my wife live on the land whereon I lived during her life and at her death for it to be sold and equallydivided among my children above mentioned to viz JANE JOHNSTON, ANN DANIEL, MARY MIDLEBROOKS & Heirs, WILLIAM LYON, ROBERT LYON, JOHN LYON, TEMPERANCE POTEAT; and as for the stock and all other property not given away to be sold and discharge my lawfull debts and the balance to be equally divided among my children above named.

--Page 2 And lastly I do appoint James Burton & Henry Howard Executors to this my last will and testament in testamony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 23rd day of October 1804. Signed sealed ROBERT LYON **Seal**

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2012

Technology is Supposed to Make Your Life Easier, Isn't it??

2012-01-11T15:14:00.000-08:00

The holiday season has now officially passed, and Voila! I have become a procrastinator. I have been putting off writing this, the first blog of the new year. Normally I would have posted sooner, but I find myself holding back--possibly because of several frustrating developments in the last couple of days. All have to do with new technology.

I have reached a point in my genealogy research where I must consolidate my data and upgrade to a new system.

My personal genealogy website, Betty's Boneyard, was written on software that is now twelve years old (!). I must face the fact that a new website eventually must be built--probably sooner rather than later! Yet I seriously don't want to let go of the old website. However, if I wait any longer, I will reach a point where the old Mac operating system will be completely obsolete, and I won't be able to update the website at all. So a decision must be made.

Also, I have been happily using Mac Family Tree for several years now to upload my family trees onto Rootsweb, but about a week ago, one of my trees crashed completely when I tried to upload it to the website. The tree contained over 2000 individuals. Luckily, I was able to retrieve the data (thank goodness I backed it up last fall!).

After this little escapade, I made the decision to purchase Family Tree Maker for Mac. Now that all of my trees are posted on Ancestry.com, the ability to sync my desktop back-up trees to my Ancestry trees was VERY appealing. So I went ahead and made the jump.

I will review Family Tree Maker for Mac in a subsequent blogpost, after I've had the chance to get used to it, and explore its features.

Right now I'm just trying to make sure that my Ancestry trees download correctly in the Family Tree Maker program. Yes, I've had a few problems. My Ancestry trees are HUGE with many photos, census images and other documentation. One of them took 3 hours to load. One seemed to be missing images, and caused my Ancestry tree to lose some images too--which I was able to restore. There also seem to be unexplained duplicate images in the Family Tree Maker trees, once they've downloaded.

And then came the realization that the notes in my Ancestry.com trees are over two years old, and not the same as the updated notes in my Rootsweb trees, which contain transcribed wills, historical references, bios and other really cool info on my ancestors. So after I get all the trees successfully downloaded, I will be painstakingly copying the new notes to the Family Tree Maker trees.

Technology is supposed to make your life easier. Isn't it?

Happy New Year! Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2012

A Friend of Friends Friday: African American Slaves Named in the 1743 Will of JOHN FRAZIER of Carteret Co NC

2011-12-02T05:55:00.001-08:00

Note: "A Friend of Friends" was a password used on the Underground Railway

JOHN FRAZIER may be the father of my ancestor THOMAS FRAZIER (sometimes referred to as GEORGE THOMAS FRAZIER), whose children all married Quakers and were adherents of that faith in Guilford Co NC and after about 1820 in Indiana. Some of the FRAZIERs were fervent abolitionists and involved in the Underground Railway in Indiana.

WILL OF JOHN FRAZIER written 1743, probated 1744 Carteret Co NC
In the name of God Amen. I, JOHN FRAZIER of Carteret County in the Province of North Carolina, planter, being sick and weak in body but of sound mind and memory, thanks to God for the same, do make my last will and testament in manner and form following ( viz.)

--Imprimis. I will and desire that my beloved wife MARY shall have the use of my plantation during her natural life except she should mary (stet) and then in such case only the use of the third part thereof.

--I give unto my son JOHN and to his heirs and assignes forever, my plantation and land whereon I now dwell after the decease of his mother as aforesaid, I also give to my said son JOHN his heirs and assignes one Negro girl named SARAH.

--I give and bequeath unto my son JAMES his heirs etc. one Negro boy called TOMBY.
--I give and bequeath unto my son THOMAS his heirs etc. one Negro girl called JUDY.
--I give and bequeath unto my son DANIEL to him his heirs etc. one Negro boy called COLE.
--I give and bequeath unto my daughter MARY and her heirs etc. one Negro girl called ROSE.
--My desire is that my wife shall have the labour of my three Negroes (Viz.) CATO, PHILLIS and old ROSE during her natural life and after her decease to be equally divided between all my children, and if the Negro woman ROSE should be safely delivered of the child she now goes with, I give that child unto my daughter MARY, her heirs, etc.
--I give and bequeath unto each of my sons one young horse and to my daughter MARY one young mair to be marked or branded in their own mark as soon as can be after my decease.
--I give unto my wife one third part of my other stock; and the old horses and mairs for the use of the plantation, and the remaining two thirds to be equally divided between all my children and to be marked in their own marks.
-My will and desire is that all my household goods be kept together for the use and support of my wife and children during my said wives natural life excepting she should marry and then to be equally divided among all which aforesaid legacys mentioned for the use of my wife to be in lieu of her dower, and if any of my children should die before they are of age, his or her part (so dying) of the personal estate to be equally divided among the survivours of them.
--I will and desire that the sum of one thousand pounds which is in the hands of CARY GODBE be applyed for the schooling of my children.
--My will is that my trustees hereafter named may kill so much out of the male kind of cattle belonging unto my children as may be thought necessary for said children?s provisions.
--I do hereby appoint my beloved wife MARY executrix and my trusty friends ___ THOMAS LOVICK, Mr. DAVID SHEPARD and GEORGE READ trustees of this my last will and testament, making null and void all other will and wills heretofore made by me. In witness wh ereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seal this 17th day of February 1743.
--Signed, sealed and delivered JOHN FRAZIER (mark) in presence of Sarah Johnson (mark) William W. Dennis (mark) Thomas Mann
--Carteret County North Carolina June Court 1744 These are to certifie that William Dennis one of the subscribing evidences made oath that he saw JOHN FRAZIER the testator of the within will sign and seal the same and that he also saw Thomas Mann and S arah Johnson the other evidences, evidence the same, and by that court admitted to be recorded Test. Geo. Read, (title, perhaps County Clerk?)

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2011

Was LUTHER HUBER Who Died 1915 Nashville TN the Same Person as my Great Grandfather PHILLIP L HUBER who Disappeared 1882 Hardin Co Iowa?

2011-11-29T09:05:00.000-08:00

A researcher contacted me recently with a very interesting but completely unproven theory. Apparently she is doing research for a client or friend, who is a descendant of LUTHER HUBER born Oct 31, 1843 supposedly in Pickaway Co OH, who married IDA HALE in 1891 in Sumner TN. He was 48 at time of marriage, and she was age 15.

According to this researcher, LUTHER HUBER is the same person as my great grandfather PHILLIP L HUBER who was born 1844 OH, son of ELIJAH HUBER & CATHERINE SHRIVER.

My great grandfather PHILLIP L HUBER married CAROLINE AMELIA "CRAMELIA" FRAZIER Nov 24, 1869 in Boone Co IN. They resided 1870 in Montgomery Co IN with his mother, CATHERINE SHRIVER HUBER, and in 1880 in Bangor, Marshall Co Iowa, near his wife's mother NANCY VAN ARSDALE FRAZIER.

According to family members, PHILLIP L HUBER disappeared without trace in 1882, while accompanying his twelve year old son ALONZO HUBER (my grandfather) to a fair in nearby Hardin Co, Iowa (some sources say Marshall Co Iowa fair). No one knows what became of him. I have been unable to find him in any census records after 1880, or any newspaper accounts indicating what happened, or whether his body was ever found. His wife CRAMELIA and children remained in Marshall Co, Iowa; she remarried in 1895 to PETER CLOW.

LUTHER HUBER, according to this researcher, first surfaced in Nashville, TN in 1885 (her source for this is what??). He was married in TN in 1891. He and wife IDA are listed in the 1900 Davidson Co TN census, Nashville Ward 1, he age 56 born 1843 OH, she age 24 born 1876 TN. In 1910 Davidson Co TN census, he is listed as age 61 (born 1849), she as age 34, with their daughters ETTA HUBER born 1903 and DAISY HUBER born 1906. His occupation in both census records is listed as carpenter, building houses.

According to his death certificate, LUTHER HUBER died Jan 5, 1915 of Hodgkin's Disease in Nashville TN. His birth date on the certificate is listed as Oct 31, 1833, OH. His mother is listed as "KATIE SHRIVER", but on closer inspection, one sees that it also might also be 'KATIE SHRINER".

Based on that death certificate bearing the mother's name as "SHRIVER", the researcher is now thoroughly convinced that PHILLIP L HUBER and LUTHER HUBER are one and the same. They might be, but I am not entirely convinced.

Here's why:

1) There were an extraordinary number of HUBERs & SHRIVERs in the United States during the time period in question, especially in Ohio. It's especially daunting when you consider all the spelling variations that can be found for both those surnames. So, to say--with such thin evidence--that the two men are one & the same seems foolhardy without a lot more intensive research.

2) Even if the name on the death certificate was "Katie Shriver" there is no proof that Katie was the same person as my gg grandmother CATHERINE SHRIVER HUBER--who was never referred to as "Katie" in any record or family correspondence that I have ever found. Likewise, the name "LUTHER" was never used in my Huber, Shriver or Luckhart family. It is more likely that my great grandfather's middle name was "LEWIS" or "LUCKHART", both of which were used again and again as first and middle names. He may in fact have been named for his grandmother's brother PHILLIP LUCKHART.

2) The researcher has given me no indication how she knows that LUTHER HUBER was born in Pickaway Co OH. While it is true that my great grandfather's parents ELIJAH HUBER & CATHERINE SHRIVER were living in Pickaway Co OH in 1840, according to census, there is no way of knowing if my great grandfather PHILLIP L HUBER was born there in 1844. This was a family on the move in the 1840s, and according to a bio of ELIJAH's brother JACOB HUBER, they both moved in quick succession through OH to Fountain Co IN, then to Montgomery Co IN, where they lived for decades. There were, however, other members of this HUBER family who did live in Pickaway Co OH, notably VALENTINE HUBER, who was ELIJAH HUBER's uncle.

3) The death certificate is inconclusive. The birthdate is seemingly incorrect, according to census records, which show a birthdate of Oct 1843 and Oct 1849, respectively. The mother's name "Katie Shriver" could also be "Katie Shriner". Also, there are no records that I have found showing that my great grandfather had a birthdate of Oct 31.

I suggested that the researcher have her client or friend obtain an autosomal DNA test from 23andMe so that we can compare DNA. If we are both descendants of the same great grandfather, we should share a significant amount of DNA.

Already this researcher has added ELIJAH HUBER & CATHERINE SHRIVER as the parents of LUTHER HUBER in her client's family tree. I think that's a bit premature.

Personally, I think a lot more thorough research, documentation and/ or a DNA test are required before we can say for sure whether or not LUTHER HUBER is the same person as PHILLIP L HUBER.

Comments, anyone?

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2011

A Friend of Friends Friday: African American Slaves Named in Early Vital Records of Somerset Co MD 1684-1697

2011-11-25T15:56:00.000-08:00

Note: "A Friend of Friends" was a password used on the Underground Railway

A few days ago, while I was researching several of my families in Somerset County Maryland, I stumbled over some vital records on the US Genweb Archives for Somerset Co MD webpage for African American slaves belonging to "Living Denwood" . A quick search of the book, "They Lived in Somerset" by Wilmer O Lankford, shows that "Living Denwood" was actually LEVIN DENWOOD (not one of my ancestors).

Here are the records as they were transcribed on the website :

Six Negroes belonging to Mr. Living Denwood
  --PEGG daughter to BOOBO and TORKES nigroes belonging to Living Denwood was
  borne September one thousand six hundred eighty foure
  
  --ROSE a nigro daughter to BOOBO & TORKES belonging to Mr. Living Denwood was
  borne August one thousand six hundred eighty six
  
  --SARAH a nigro daughter to GOLA and NAN belonging to Mr. Living Denwood was
  borne ffebruary one thousand six hundred eighty six
  
  --DOMINIK a sonn to GOLA and NAN nigroes belonging to Mr. Living Denwood was
  borne May one thousand six hundred eighty six
  
  --SUE a daughter to TONY and JANE nigroes belonging to Mr. Living Denwood was
  borne May one thousand six hundred ninety
  
  --SAMPSON a sonn to TOM and GINNY nigroes belonging to Mr. Living Denwood
  was borne June one thousand six hundred ninety

Aprill the 15th 1697
  --MOLL a negro girle belonging to Livin Denwood sew was bore the last of July
  anno Domy 1695
  --JAMES a negro boy belonging to ditto (Livin Denwood) was borne the 10th day of           Feby anno Domy  1696/7
 --WILL a negro boy belonging to ditto (Livin Denwood) was borne the 1st day of Aprill anno Domy 1697

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2011

Happy Thanksgiving! Honoring My Mayflower Ancestors

2011-11-23T09:39:00.000-08:00

Well, it's official. I am now a member of the Society of Mayflower Descendants in Washington State. And here, in honor of the holiday, is my ancestral connection to the first Thanksgiving!

1) JOHN HOWLAND & ELIZABETH TILLEY, Mayflower passengers

2) DESIRE HOWLAND b abt 1625 Plymouth MA & Capt JOHN GORHAM

3) DESIRE GORHAM b April 2, 1644 Plymouth MA & JOHN HAWES

4) ELIZABETH HAWES b Oct 5, 1662 Yarmouth, MA & THOMAS DAGGETT/DOGGETT Jr

5) JEMIMA DAGGETT b 1694 Edgartown, MA (Martha's Vineyard) & MALACHI BUTLER

6) Rev BENJAMIN BUTLER April 6, 1729 Windham CT & DORCAS ABBOTT b Andover MA

7) MARY BUTLER b March 30, 1760 Nottingham, NH & ABRAHAM BROWN Jr

8) BENJAMIN BUTLER BROWN b April 19, 1800 Northfield, NH & PHEBE GALE

9) HENRY "NEW HAMPSHIRE" BROWN b 1825 Sanbornton, NH & CORDELIA RICKARD

10) FRANK R BROWN b Feb 5, 1858 Sacramento, CA & MARY ETTA KENNEDY

11) RUBY BOLTON BROWN b July 17, 1893 Alameda, CA & RANDOLPH B "Rolla" MARTINE (my grandparents)

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, everyone!

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2011

The Wife of SOLOMON OTWELL of Somerset MD was RACHEL CURTIS--not RACHEL SMITH, daughter of HOLLIDAY SMITH

2011-11-20T15:07:00.000-08:00

After 12 years of researching, I have now come to the conclusion that RACHEL the wife of SOLOMON OTWELL b about 1716 of Somerset Co MD was most likely RACHEL CURTIS, daughter of JAMES CURTIS & SARAH HALL of Annamessex, Somerset Co MD.

Some others have listed her name as "RACHEL SMITH", and I have been laboring under that assumption all this time. But I was never able to connect RACHEL to any of the Smith families in Somerset Co MD.

At one point I suspected that RACHEL SMITH was the daughter of HOLLIDAY/HOLLADAY SMITH of Dorchester Co MD, as he did indeed have a daughter RACHEL, but that has been disproved, because HOLLIDAY SMITH was actually born in 1771, about 60 years after RACHEL who married SOLOMON OTWELL.

Unfortunately, many people have picked up on my previous theory and have added HOLLIDAY SMITH as the father of RACHEL who married SOLOMON OTWELL on their online family trees.

THIS IS NOT CORRECT!!!!

SOLOMON OTWELL died in about 1755 in Somerset Co MD and RACHEL his wife may have possibly married 2nd to a SMITH.

RACHEL CURTIS, who was probably age 10 when her father JAMES CURTIS died in 1721 in Somerset Co MD, received two parcels of land, "Curtis' Lott" and "Curtis' Adventure" in Somerset Co MD. It would be interesting to see if that land was passed down to any of the children of SOLOMON OTWELL.

If RACHEL was indeed RACHEL CURTIS, that would certainly explain the great number of descendants of SOLOMON & RACHEL OTWELL with the first name "James" and "Curtis" !!!!

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2011

A Timeline of my Earliest American Colonial Ancestors PART TWO 1631-1640

2011-11-06T12:04:00.000-08:00

Here is part two of my timeline of earliest Colonial American Ancestors 1631-1640 (and far from complete I might add). For each immigrant, I have tried to add the name of the ship if known, and where they eventually settled. ORANGE is my maternal line; BLUE is my paternal line, and PURPLE is both.

1631 Deacon JAMES HURST & wife GERTRUDE BENNISTER & dau PATIENCE; Pilgrims, emigrated from Leyden Holland; ship? Plymouth MA

1632 MATTHIAS ST JOHN ship? Dorchester, MA

JAMES ROLLINS/RAWLINS; ship? Ipswich MA to NH

1633 ROBERT ELWELL “Recovery” Gloucester, MA

DAVID PHIPPEN “Recovery” Boston, MA

DAVID SELLECK Ship? July 24 Boston MA to Stamford CT

GEORGE HUBBARD Ship? MA to CT

JOHN CORKER bef 1633 James City Co or Surry Co VA

DEACON JOHN DUNHAM bef 1633; ship? Plymouth MA

FREDERICK LUBBERTSEN bef 1633 ship? New Amsterdam

1634 CHRISTOPHER OSGOOD & wife MARGERY “Mary & John” Salisbury MA

HENRY KIMBALL & wife SUSAN & 8 chl “Elizabeth” Wenham, MA

MARTHA WHATLOCK SCOTT “Elizabeth” MA mother of...

THOMAS SCOTT & wife ELIZABETH STRUTT & chl“Elizabeth” MA

THOMAS SHERWOOD & wife ALICE SEABROOK & chl”Francis” CT

RICHARD RAYMOND ship? Salem MA to Norwalk CT

Rev THOMAS LYNDE & wife MARGARET MARTIN & chl by 1st wife; “Griffin” Charlestown MA

1635 Col RICHARD LEE Ship? York & Northumberland Co VA

JOHN EMERY II “James” Newbury MA

THOMAS SMITH “James” Newbury MA

DANIEL SCOFIELD “Susan & Ellen” Stamford, CT

RICHARD LAW Ship? Stamford & Milford CT

ROBERT PENOYER “Hopewell” Stamford CT

ROBERT TITUS & wife HANNAH & chl “Hopewell” Huntington LI NY

MATTHEW MARVIN & wife ELIZABETH GREGORY & chl “Increase” Hartford, CT

THOMAS KILBORNE & wife FRANCES MOODY & chl“Increase” CT

WILLIAM RUSCOE & wife REBECCA & chl “Increase” Westchester NY

THOMAS MILLETT & wife MARY GREENAWAY & chl “Elizabeth” MA

JOHN BRUTON Ship? July1; headright of John Seaward/Seward Surry Co VA

SAMUEL SILAS JORDAN “Sea Venture” m FRANCES MOODY & 2nd) Cecily Reynolds Bailey in Jamestown (possibly a cousin).

WILLIAM HICKOCK “Plaine Joan” Farmington, CT

ELIZABETH COLES, wife of Wm Hickock, “Batchelor”; she was maidservant to Lyon & Mary Gardner before her marriage to Hickock. Farmington, CT

THOMAS HALE & wife THOMASIN DOWCETTE; ship? Newbury MA

RALPH GORHAM & wife MARGARET STEPHENSON & chl ship? Plymouth MA

1636 Col THOMAS LIGON/LYGON ship? Henrico Co VA

RICHARD COCKE of Bremo plantation; bef 1636; ship? Henrico VA

RICHARD FERRIS Ship? June 2 headright of Robert Hollom Henrico VA

ROBERT BRASSEUR Ship? Nansemond Co VA

GEORGE SLAWSON/SLAUSON “Jonah” Stamford, CT

WILLIAM MEAD Ship? Stamford CT

JOHN GILL ship? Salisbury MA

EDWARD SAWYER & wife MARY PEASLEY; ship? Ipswich to Rowley MA

1637 PIETER CLAESSEN WYCKOFF “Rennselaerwick” New Netherlands

ROELOF CORNELIS Van HOUTEN “Rennselaerwick” New Netherlands

WILLIAM CROSS bef 1637, ship? Pequot War, Wethersfield CT

WILLIAM CHANDLER & wife ANNIS BAYFORD & dau HANNAH; ship?

Andover MA

JOHN PRIDE bef 1637 ship? Salem, MA

GRESHAM COFFIELD/CAUFIELD ship? Isle of Wight Co VA

1638 HENRY SMITH & wife JUDITH & chl “Dilligent” MA to CT

GERRIT HENRICKSEN de BLAUBOER (aka Blauvelt) “Kalmar Nykel” Rennselaerwick, New Netherlands

Capt ANDREIS LUYCASZEN of Frederickstadt, Denmark/Norway; “Kalmar Nykel”; listed as upper boatswain on 1638 voyage; later was skipper of his own vessels; New Netherlands

CHRISTOPHER GARLINGTON Sr ship? York to Northumberland Co VA

THOMAS UPSON Ship? Hartford, CT

TEUNIS NYSSEN DENYSE Ship? New Amsterdam

THOMAS CROSBY & wife JANE SOTHERON; ship? Rowley MA

NICHOLAS BUTLER & wife JOYCE BAKER & chl; “Hercules” Dorchester MA to Martha’s Vineyard

WILLIAM PRIDE & wife SARAH MAYS; bef 1638 ship? Henrico Co VA

1639 DEACON HENRY BROWN bef 1639 Ship? Salisbury MA

CHRISTIAN HIBBERT BROWN mother of Henry bef 1639 Ship? Salisbury MA

ISAAC BUSWELL bef 1639 Ship? Salisbury MA

WILLIAM SARGENT bef 1639 Ship? Salisbury MA

JOHN STEVENS & wife CATHERINE CODMAN bef 1639 Ship? Salisbury MA

JOHN EDWARD SEVERANCE; bef 1639; ship? Salisbury MA

RICHARD AMBLER bef 1630 Ship? Watertown MA to Stamford CT

DEACON SAMUEL EDSON Ship? Bridgewater MA (unverfied ancestor)

WILLIAM DUDLEY Ship? June; Guilford, CT

JOHN BISHOP Ship? June; Guilford, CT

BENJAMIN TURNEY Ship? MA to Fairfield CT

ROBERT SEABROOK & wife ALICE GOODSPEED; ship? Stratford, CT

JOHN PETTIT ship? Roxbury MA to Stamford CT

THOMAS BETTS bef 1639 Guilford CT to Norwalk CT

NICHOLAS HATHAWAY & wife & chl; bef 1639; ship? Braintree to Taunton MA

1640 ROBERT BATES bef 1640 ship? Wethersfield CT to Stamford CT

CLAES CORNELISSEN Van SCHOUWEN bef 1640; Ship? New Amsterdam

GEORGE ABBOTT bef 1640 ship? Andover MA

EDMUND GALE befo 1640 ship? Cambridge MA

WILLIAM PILLSBURY bef 1640 ship? Newbury MA

MICHAEL BACON III & wife MARY JOBS bef 1640 ship? Woburn MA

GEORGE LITTLE & wife ALICE POOR; ship? Newbury MA

WILLIAM SAWYER & wife RUTH BITSFIELD; ship? Salem to Newbury MA

MOSES COX/COXE; ship? bef 1640 MA to NH

GEORGE LEWIS & wife ANN AWARDS/HAWARDS & chl; bef 1640 Casco Bay Maine. Most of this family perished in an Indian Massacre Aug 11, 1676. Two granddaughters Priscilla & Mercy Lewis were adopted by Rev George Burroughs, & taken back to Salem; Mercy Lewis was one of the accusers in the Salem Witch trials, and in fact accused Rev George Burroughs, who had taken them in after the massacre!

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2011

A Friend of Friends Friday: African American Slaves Named in the 1825 will of Capt JOSEPH WOFFORD Sr of Spartanburg, SC

2011-11-04T07:15:00.000-07:00

Note: "A Friend of Friends" was a password used on the Underground Railway

Will of JOSEPH WOFFORD Senr of Spartanburgh District: Being of sound mind....to MARTHY WOFFORD my wife, all my household furniture and stock of every living creature, and the plantation where we now live, and all my negroes; to my son JEREMIAH WOFFORD after his Mother's deceased one Negro boy named MOSES for his natural life or till sd. MOSES is 40 years of age, which the sayd MOSE was twenty two years old last May; to my daughter ANN TUCKER, the tract she now lives on to the Buck Branch, adj. JOSEPH WOFFORD Junr line, adj. SAMUEL TUCKERs line, besides the Negroes I have made her a Deed of gift of... to my daughter REBECKAH the Land and Negro which I have deeded to her; to my son BENJAMIN WOFFORD, after his Mother's deceased, one Negro boy JEMRELL and Negro girl SIDNEY, besides the land I deeded him...to my son JOSEPH WOFFORD, after his Mother's decease, one negro boy DAREN and boy ISAAC which I have made a Deed of gift for...to my daughter MARTHY WHITE, tract which I now live on after her Mother's decease...I leave to my Executor an old Woman named FLOROW and UNO her daughter for him to take Steps to place them in such a situation as he shall deem proper so that they shall not be brought into bondage to any person and to keep them from being chargable to the District & UNO is to have a cow at her Mistress' death...son BENJ. WOFFORD, Exr...25 Aug 1825. JOSEPH WOFFORD (LS), Wit: S. Tucker, William Powell, Nancy Tucker. Prov. 17 March 1828.

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2011

Surname Saturday: RASBURY or RASBERRY of Virginia & Chowan/Bertie Co North Carolina

2011-10-29T09:22:00.000-07:00

While I have not yet located a direct ancestor with the surname RASBURY/RASBERRY, the family certainly seems to have been deeply connected with my JONES family of Chowan/Bertie Co NC.

The first mention of JOHN RASBURY/RASBERRY & his wife BRIDGET BROWNE of Isle of Wight Co VA in Chowan/Bertie Co NC was in 1711:

1711 Chowan County, North Carolina Deeds, Book W : "Know all men by these presents that I John EARLY of North Carolina living in the County of Albermarle & in the Precinct of Chowan for and in consideration of the sum of half pound current money of Nor th Carolina to me in hand paid by JOHN RASBERRY, hatter, living in the above County & in the Precinct of Chowan at and before the sealing and delivery of these presents wherewith I confess myself to be fully satisfied contended and paid have bargained & sold and by these presents do fully clearly and absolutely bargain & deed unto the said JOHN RASBERRY a certain parcel of land containing two hundred acres of land plantation thereon houses orchard fencing & all that is belonging to the said two hundred acres of land lying upon Chowan River betwixt John Hales land and Thomas Daniel to have and to hold the above said two hundred acres of land all appurtenances belonging thereon to the above said JOHN RASBERRY his heirs ex'ors adm'trs or assigns to him & t hem forever from me my heirs ex'ors adm'trs or assigns and every one of us or whosoever shall come after me & against all people who shall and will warrant acquit and forever defend by these presents given from under my hand and seal the 16th day of April in the Reign of Sovereign Lady Queen Ann Anno Domi 1711. Signed sealed and Delivered in the presence of George Smith and John Hale. Signed (his mark) John Early."

CHARLES JONES Sr & SARAH unknown (his first wife) of Westmoreland Co VA was in Chowan/Bertie Co NC as early as 1713, according to a land deed to George Smithwick; he is also listed in a 1717 Chowan Co tax list. Parts of Chowan Co NC became Bertie Co NC in the 1720s.

In 1725, CHARLES JONES Sr gave 100 acres of land to BRIDGET RASBERRY, the daughter of JOHN RASBERRY & wife BRIDGET BROWNE.

April 23, 1725 CHARLES JONES to BRIGET RASBEARY (Rasberry or Rasbury):
"For love I do bare BRIGET RASBEARY, the daughter of JOHN RASBEARY and BRIDGET his wife.... 100 A at Hors(Horse) Swamp adj. James Howard, Peter West to Cow Hall (Haule). Wit. Thomas Bird, Stephen Williams. May 1725 Thomas Pollock C. Justice" Colonial Bertie County, Vol I, Abstracts, Deed Book A 1720-1725.

CHARLES JONES Sr married 2nd to KATHERINE unknown; he wrote his will in 1739 and it was probated in 1748 in Bertie Co NC. In the will he names CHRISTOPHER HOLLOMAN & WILLIAM RASBARRY (son of JOHN RASBERRY & wife BRIDGET) as overseers/executors of the will.

JOHN RASBERRY died the following year, 1749, but the only mention of CHARLES JONES in JOHN RASBERRY's will is in the location of JOHN's property (they owned adjoining property), which he bequeathed to his son-in-law ARTHUR PINNER.

So what exactly was the relationship between CHARLES JONES Sr & the RASBERRY family? Were they only close neighbors & nothing more?

I suspected at first that perhaps SARAH, the 1st wife of CHARLES JONES, was a daughter of JOHN RASBERRY of Bertie, but after finding JOHN's will, that appears NOT to be the case. Then I suspected that perhaps CHARLES JONES Sr's mother, the wife of JOHN JONES II of Westmoreland Co VA, may have been a RASBERRY. But that too has been unprovable.

That the two families were somehow intertwined seems indisputable. JOHN JONES b 1780-1790 who died after 1850 in Henderson Co TN & married BEATRICE "BEDA" PRESLAR/PRESLEY was a son of my ancestors NICHOLAS JONES & MARTHA "PATSY" MOORE, and great grandson of CHARLES JONES Sr & SARAH unknown. JOHN JONES named one of his sons RASBERRY JONES b 1828 in TN; another son ARCHIBALD JONES b 1818 named his son RASBERRY JONES also. And there were several more with the name in descending generations. So clearly there was some kind of connection...but what?

For more information on these families, and my documentation, please check out my Rootsweb online tree "Southern Ancestors of Minttie Mae Bruton".

And as always, your comments are appreciated!

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2011

A Timeline of my Earliest American Colonial Ancestors 1608-1630

2011-10-19T08:25:00.001-07:00

Recently I decided that it might be fun to make a timeline of my earliest immigrant ancestors to the American colonies. Fun indeed! It has turned into a much bigger project than I imagined!

The website Pilgrim Ship Lists by Date , by Anne at Packrat Productions, was very helpful in assembling my list. If you have the time & inclination, she needs volunteers to transcribe ship's lists!

Here is my timeline 1608-1630 so far (and far from complete I might add), beginning with my earliest known ancestor. For each immigrant, I have tried to add the name of the ship if known, and where they eventually settled. ORANGE is my maternal line; BLUE is my paternal line, and PURPLE is both.

1608 EDWARD GURGANEY “Phoenix” Jamestown VA

1610 CECILY REYNOLDS age 10? possibly relative or servant of William Pierce ?; “Swan”; she married Thomas Bailey, Samuel Silas Jordan (possibly her cousin) & William Farrar in Jamestown, VA.

1611 Capt THOMAS HARRIS “Prosperous” Jamestown VA; married Adria Gurganey; she came later on the “Marmaduke”

1619 THOMAS OTWELL, “Bona Nova” Jamestown (sons went to Maryland)

Dr JOHN WOODSON & wife SARAH WINSTON “George” Jamestown VA

1620 JOHN HOWLAND, Pilgrim, “Mayflower” Plymouth MA

ELIZABETH TILLEY, Pilgrim “Mayflower” Plymouth MA

WILLIAM HANCOCK ship?, Berkeley Hundred, Jamestown VA

THOMAS SHIPPEY, “Supply”, Berkeley Hundred, Jamestown VA

RANDALL/RANDOLPH HOLT Sr ; “George” indentured servant to Dr John Potts & his wife Elizabeth; Surry Co VA

1621 HENRY WATKINS I b Wales; “George” settled Eastern Shore, which later became Henrico Co VA

EDWARD BOMPASSE/BUMPAS “Fortune” Plymouth to Marshfield MA

WILLIAM PALMER & son WILLIAM “Fortune” Plymouth MA (later CT)

ADRIA (GURGANEY) HARRIS “Marmaduke” Jamestown VA

1622 JOHN SEAWARD/SEWARD “Gift” Isle of Wight Co VA

THOMAS CRISPE “Warwick” Easten Shore (Henrico Co VA)

1623 JOHN BROWNE & wife MARGARET HAYWARD ship ? Pemaquid, Maine

THOMAS HEATH “Safety” Jamestown, VA (unverified ancestor)

1624 JORIS JANSEN de RAPALJE & wife CATALYNTJE TRICO “de Eendract” New Netherlands

1625 HANS HANSEN BERGEN; bef 1625; ship? New Amsterdam

1626 RICHARD WEBB Sr Ship? Cambridge MA to Norwalk, CT

Capt RICHARD NORMAN Ship? Salem, MA

1627 LAMBERT HUYBERTSEN MOLL ship? New Amsterdam

1629 SIMON HOYT/HOYTE Higginson Fleet “Lyon’s Whelp” ; MA, later CT

1630 Gov THOMAS DUDLEY & wife DOROTHY YORK & chl Winthrop Fleet“Arbella” MA

SIMON BRADSTREET & wife ANNE DUDLEY “Arbella” Cambridge MA

JOHN DAGGETT/DOGGETT Winthrop Fleet “Arbella” Martha’s Vineyard

NICHOLAS KNAPP Winthrop Fleet “Arbella” Stamford, CT

JEREMIAH JAGGER Winthrop Fleet “Arbella” Stamford CT-Barbados

ABRAHAM FINCH Winthrop Fleet Ship? MA to Stamford CT

EDMUND LOCKWOOD Sr & wife ELIZABETH & son Winthrop Fleet, ship? Cambridge MA to Stamford CT

ROBERT LOCKWOOD, bro of Edmund, Winthrop Fleet, ship? Watertown MA to Stamford CT

Gov THOMAS WIGGIN Winthrop Fleet, ship ?; 1st Gov NH

GARRETT/JARRETT HADDON Winthrop Fleet ship ? Salisbury MA

ISAAC MORRILL Winthrop Fleet “Lyon” Roxbury MA

JOHN PERKINS & wife JUDITH GATER & chl Winthrop Fleet “Lyon” Salisbury MA

Gov THOMAS MAYHEW Winthrop Fleet ship? Watertown MA to Martha’s Vineyard

ROBERT SEELEY Winthrop Fleet Ship? CT to Huntington Long Island NY

ANTHONY COLBY Winthrop Fleet Ship? Salisbury MA

GARRETT CHURCH Winthrop Fleet Ship? Watertown, MA

JOHN SAYLES, wife PHILLIPA, daughter PHOEBE Winthrop Fleet ship?MA, then New Amsterdam after 1632

THOMAS LOMBARD & wife REBECCA & chl Winthrop Fleet “Mary & John” Dorchester MA to Barnstable MA

JOHN GREENAWAY & wife MARY Winthrop Fleet “Mary & John” Dorchester MA

BRANT PEELEN VAN NIERKIRKE May 24; “de Eendracht” New Amsterdam

GOOSEN GERRITSEN Van SCHAICK ship? New Netherlands

Deacon HENRY COBB; Pilgrim; emigrated from Leyden Holland; ship? Plymouth

SAMUEL GRAVES Sr & sons MARK, THOMAS & SAMUEL; ship? Lynn MA

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2011

My 3rd Blogiversary!

2011-08-21T06:21:00.000-07:00

Today is my 3rd Blogiversary!

My first post was on Aug 21, 2008, and was entitled "The Myth of 'George Thomas' Frazier, Born 1725 Inverness, Scotland"

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2011

Wedding Wednesday: The Marriage of Phebe Cordelia Brown & Charles Wallace Rhodes, Jan 1896 Sacramento, CA

2011-08-17T07:00:00.000-07:00

My great grandfather's sister PHEBE CORDELIA BROWN (born April 12 1868 Sacramento, CA) married CHARLES WALLACE RHODES Jan 1896 in Sacramento, CA.

CHARLES was from a prominent pioneer family in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. I have no idea how they met, or what brought CHARLES to Sacramento.

PHEBE lived in Victoria, BC Canada for the rest of her life, and had two daughters, ETHEL RHODES and MABEL RHODES. ETHEL became a nurse, and later a nanny for the Tupper family; apparently she married a DOVEY and adopted two children. MABEL married FRANCIS MIDDLETON STERRY, who was born in England, and had two children with him, both born in Canada. MABEL died Aug 31, 1930, and FRANCIS MIDDLETON STERRY returned to England with the two children, and raised them there. I believe the children and their descendants are still living in England.

Source of article: Sacramento Daily Record-Union, from the California Newspaper Digital Collection (CNDC website), from UC Riverside.

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2011

Wedding Wednesday: The Marriage of Miss Gladys Brown and Joseph B Dryden, 1912 San Francisco CA (from the San Francisco Call newspaper)

2011-08-10T09:05:00.000-07:00

From the San Francisco Call newspaper, Aug 2, 1912, an article on the wedding of my great aunt GLADYS BROWN who married JOSEPH B DRYDEN. My grandmother RUBY and her sister GENEVIEVE are mentioned as bridesmaids. Source: California Newspaper Digital Archive.

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2011

Tuesday's Tip: The California Newspaper Digital Archive

2011-08-09T08:06:00.000-07:00

If you are researching your family in California 1850 to 1900s, you may want to take a look at the California Newspaper Digital Archive, a free online database from UC Riverside.

This database contains early newspapers from Sacramento, San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, and more. The search function is easy to use, and the website even gives you the ability to "clip" only the article that you want, then download or print it!

While Ancestry.com does have some California newspapers, this website has a MUCH better search engine, directs you right to the object of your search with yellow highlighting, and is MUCH more user friendly. No more searching through an entire page of old newspaper to find what you are looking for!

I found nearly a dozen articles about my ancestors in Sacramento and San Francisco, all of which I had never seen before, and some of which provided me with some fascinating new info!! Also, I was able to find an obituary in Sacramento for my gg grandfathe HENRY "NEW HAMPSHIRE" (HNH) BROWN, which I needed to complete my (now-approved!) application to the Society of Mayflower Descendants!

Have a great day!

Betty

PS Thanks to Lynne Roberts, the lookup volunteer from Sacramento Genealogical Society, who referred me to the CNDC website!!

© Betty Tartas 2011

Surname Saturday: Another VAN ARSDALE Ancestor! or How My Two Grandfathers Are Related

2011-07-30T07:45:00.000-07:00

artists rendition of New Amsterdam, source unknown

Sometimes finding just one piece of genealogical information sets off a whole cascade of unexpected finds! This was the case when I finally found the names of the parents of one of my maternal grandfather's ancestors, MARIA/MARYTJE WYCKOFF.

MARIA/MARYTJE WYCKOFF was born Dec 11, 1681 Flatbush, Long Island, NY, and married STEPHEN STEPHENS, who was born Sept 6, 1677 (DRC) in what became Brooklyn, NY. I have not found their marriage record as yet, but by 1731 they were living in Tappan, Rockland Co NY, where they joined the Dutch Reformed Church on July 19, 1731.

For years I was uncertain where exactly MARIA was born, but a chance search lead me to the names of her parents, CORNELIUS PIETERSE WYCKOFF & GEERTJE SIMONSE VAN ARSDALE.

I was thrilled to find a VAN ARSDALE in my maternal grandfather's pedigree! One of my great great grandmothers on my paternal grandfather's side was NANCY VAN ARSDALE, who died Jan 27, 1899 in Marshall Co Iowa, and of course I had traced her back to the immigrant ancestor SYMON JANSEN VAN ARSDALE, who died Oct 29, 1710 Flatlands, Long Island, NY. GEERTJE SIMONSE VAN ARSDALE was SYMON's daughter.

So here is a list --so far-- of the shared Dutch immigrant ancestors of my two grandfathers:

SYMON JANSEN VAN ARSDALE & PIETERJE CLAESSEN VAN SCHOUWEN

PIETER CLAESSEN WYCKOFF & GRIETJE CORNELISE VAN NESS

CORNELIS HENDRICKSE VAN NESS & MAYCKE VAN DER BURCHGRAEFF

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2011

Surname Saturday: New Information on the Wife of JOHN HUTTON, Quaker, of Lupton, Westmoreland (now Cumbria) Co England, and County Cavan, Ireland

2011-07-23T06:29:00.000-07:00

Thanks to several intrepid researchers, including two who found original records in Cumbria Co England, we now have the correct name for the wife of JOHN HUTTON, the Quaker, who migrated in about 1658 from Lupton, Westmoreland Co (now Cumbria Co) England to County Cavan and later possibly County Meath in Ireland, and who was the father of THOMAS HUTTON, also a Quaker, of Rainstown, County Carlow, Ireland. Several of THOMAS' children emigrated to Chester Co Pennsylvania in the early 1700s.

The go-to source for this family has always been the book, "Immigration of the Irish Quakers into Pennsylvania," by Albert Cook Myers, which was originally published in 1902. This book has detailed information on THOMAS HUTTON and his family, including genealogical notes, transcribed letters, THOMAS' signature, and more.

For years now, researchers have speculated that the wife of THOMAS' father JOHN HUTTON was someone named RACHEL LADBURNER. It is unclear exactly where that information originated, and that surname has proved impossible to research.

Finally with the Lupton Parish records, and Kendal Monthly Meeting records, it is clear that the wife of JOHN HUTTON was named ELIZABETH.

According to the Kendal MM records, JOHN & ELIZABETH had a daughter named SUSANNAH HUTTON born 1st month, 29th day, 1653; a daughter named MARGARET HUTTON born 7th month, 30th day, 1655, and a son THOMAS HUTTON born 2nd month, 7th day, 1657.

THOMAS & MARGERET's births are also noted in the Lupton parish records.

Many, many thanks to record sleuths Maurice and Tony for locating and copying these, and to Bernice for so kindly sharing them with me!!

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2011

A Friend of Friends Friday: African American Slaves Named in the 1746 Will of William Massie of New Kent Co VA

2011-07-08T12:53:00.000-07:00

In the name of God, amen, I, WILLIAM MASSIE of the Parish of St. Peters in the county of New Kent make this my last will and Testament. I resign my Soul to its Creator in all humble hope of its future Happiness (as in the disposal of a Being infinitely Good), and as to what Temporal Estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me, I dispose of it as followeth:

Imprimis, I give to my Beloved Wife MARTHA during her Natural Life my Plantation with the Stocks of all kinds thereon, and other the Personal Estate belonging to the same, with three Hundred Acres of Land, be the same more or less, on Powhite Swamp in Hanover County. I allso give my said Wife Eighteen Slaves to wit: NELL, DELPH, and her children, DAVY, FAN, BECK and her children, SARAH, JOYCE, TOM, SQUIRE, PETER, OLD BEN, and at Powhite Plantation JACK, JOE, CUPID, DICK, EDY and her Children, ROSE & SIS, and my Will and desire is that my Wife may have the Liberty of disposing of the said Slaves at her Death to whichsoever of our two Sons she shall think fit, but in case my said two Sons William and Thomas should die before my Wife's decease then I give the above mentioned Land and Slaves to my said Wife and her Heirs.

Item, I give to my Son WILLIAM and his Heirs my Tract of land & Plantation on the Branches of the little Bird in Goochland County, containing two thousand acres be the same more or less. I allso give to my said Son William my land and plantation which I purchased of Col WILLIAM MACON commonly called and known by the name of Hardens to him and his Heirs, as allso one half of the low and sunken ground Land which my father purchased of William Allen on Chickshominy swamp to him and his heirs.

Item, I give to my son THOMAS and his Heirs my Tract of Land containing Seven Hundred and ninety Acres be the same more or lam lying on the little Bird in Goochland County, part of which was grantee to me by Patent, the other part I purchased of DAVID MASSIE. I alias give to my Son Thomas and his Heirs my Tract of Land and Plantation where I now live Except the Tract of Land called Hardens which adjoint to the same, and which is given to my son WILLIAM. I allso give to my said Son Thomas and his Heirs the other half of the above mentioned low and sunken ground Land on Chickahominy swamp purchased by my Father of WILLIAM ALLEN as aforesaid.

Item, I give to my son THOMAS and his Heirs my Tract of Land en Black Creek which my Father purchased of Ashcroft, I allso give to my said Son Thomas and his Heirs my tract of land near the mouth of Black Creek containing one Hundred Acres be the same more or lea* which my Father purchased of JOHN FOSTER.

Item, my will and desire is that my wife MARTHA may have the use and Improvement of the Plantation and Houses and Lands belonging to the same where I now dwell during the time my Son Thomas is under the age of Twenty one years, but in case my said son Thomas should die before he arrives to Lawfull age, then I give the said Lands, Houses and Plantation to my said Wife during her Nature 1 Life. I allso give to my said wife Martha all my Household goods and Furniture of what Nature or kind soever and other the Personell Estate where I now live,

Item, my will and desire is that in case my two Sons WILLIAM and THOMAS should both die before they arrive at Lawfull age, then I give to my Wife MARTHA her choice of one third part of the forty three slaves hereafter mentioned as allso one third part of all my Personelt Estate ofwhat nature or kind Boever to her and her heirs.

Item, I give to my two sons WILLIAM and THOMAS the following forty three slaves to wit: GEORGE, SUSAN, POMPEY, WILL, JAMEY, JAMES, CHESTER, NATT, DUKE, CHARLES, DICK, NED, BILL, PAUL, ROBIN, PATRICK, JACK, WILL, LUEY, DOLL, SUE, BETTY, SAUL, TAMER, PHILLIAS, PHILLIS, FEBEE, MOLL', children BEN, MIALL, NEPTUNE, JEMMY belonging to LUCY, MIALL, JEFFREY, NANNY belonging to DOLL, AGGE, HANNAH, ROGER belonging to SUE, SUSANNA, MARTIN belonging to PHILLIS, JOE, FILLIS belonging to TAMER, and JAMES, a Mulatto boy, to be equally divided and their Increase between my said Two sons, when my son WILLIAM arrives at Lawful! age.

Item, my Will and Desire is that the cattle and hogs on the plantation given to my two sons shall be delivered to them, when they arrive at Lawfull age, to whom I give the same.

Item, I give to my son William my lott and house in New Castle town to him and his heirs.

Item, my Will and Desire is that the Lands and Slaves now under mortgage to me may be Equally divided between my two Sons to whome I give the same and to their heirs, or in case of Redemption, I desire the money may be equally divided between my said sons to whome 1 give the same.

Item, I give my gold watch to my son William.

Item, my will and desire is that the crops of Tobacco made by the slaves hereby Given by this my Will to my two Sons may be ship'd and consign'd to some Merchant in England by my Ex" hereafter named, or part of the said crops as my said Executor shall Judge most for my 2 sons advantage and the other part sold in Virginia, and after my affairs are settled the money due to my Estate I desire may be Equally divided between my sons Willam and Thomas to whome I give the same when my son William arrives at Lawfull age to have the said Money and Produce of the said Crops divided between him and his Brother, and my Will and Desire is that part of the Money that shall be due my Estate, and is hereby given to my Sons as aforesaid, may be put into the Merchant's hands that has the Consignment of the Tobaccos, or so much thereof as shall be sufficient to pay the Bondable Duty and the remainder put out to Interest after the yearly charges are paid ofmaintaining & educating my Sons Cloathing their negroes & supplying their Plantations with necessaryes.

Item, my Will and Desire is that in case either of my two Sons should die before they arrive at Lawfull age or Leave no Lawfull issue, then I desire the Survivor may inherit all the Estate given to my said two sons both real and personal to whome I give the same, and to his Heirs, but in case both my said Sons should die before they arrive at Lawful age or leave no Lawfull Issue then my Will and desire is that what I have hereby given them my Sons by this my Will may be equally divided between or amongst my five kinsmen, Thos. Darrieott, William Massie, son of my Brother Peter, Thomas Massie, son of my brother James, John Pinchback and Joseph Smith, or the survivors of them, to whams I give the same and to their Heirs, and Lastly my desire is that there should be no appraisement of my Estate, and I do hereby appoint my beloved Wife Martha Executrix, Colo William Macon, Capt. John Darricott, Capt. Richard Meaux, and Mr. William Macon Executors of this my Last Will and Testament, in Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal this 25 day of October, 1749.

Note: WILLIAM MASSIE was the son of THOMAS MASSIE & MARY WALKER, and grandson of PETER MASSIE, the immigrant. His wife was MARTHA MACON, the daughter of WILLIAM MACON & MARY HARTWELL. He was the nephew of my ancestor CHARLES MASSIE, who also died in 1749.

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2011

Happy 4th of July!

2011-07-04T13:12:00.001-07:00

In honor of all of my ancestors who fought in the American Revolutionary War!

Revolutionary War 1776

Mother's lineage
Jeremiah Martine b 1736 lived Haverstraw, Orange Co NY. Married Rachel BAREE or BARRE. Signed the Association petition against taxation without representation. Supposedly fought in Rev War, but so far no records have been found. Was not present in 1790 census, but his sons were still in Haverstraw, NY. Source: New York Historical Manuscripts: Revolutionary Papers, Volume 1, p 5-7. My great x4 grandfather.
Abraham Brown II b May 8, 1753 Nottingham or Epping, NH; died March 8, 1824 Northfield, NH; married on May 27, 1777 in Epping NH, Mary BUTLER born March 30, 1760 Nottingham, NH, Mayflower descendant, daughter of Rev Benjamin BUTLER & Dorcas ABBOTT of Andover, MA & Nottingham, NH. Abraham Brown II served several terms of duty; defended West Point under Capt. Daniel Gordon in 1780. His widow Mary received his Rev War Pension in 1832; she survived him by over 20 years dying in 1846. Source: Abraham Brown II's Rev War Pension Record (Footnote.com), DAR records, DAR Patriot Index (1966) & bios/genealogies from "History of Northfield NH" by Lucy Cross; "History of Town of Canterbury NH" by James Otis Lyford; "History of the Town of Andover, NH" by John R Eastman, and more. My great x4 grandfather
Thomas Miller b March 20, 1754, Goochland Co Virginia, d 1819 as per his will. Married Constance MASSIE. Was a prominent and very wealthy landowner, often listed in records as "gentleman". At his death he owned numerous plantations in Goochland, Prince William, and Spotsylvania Co VA, according to his will. Was said to have been a Lieutenant in Revolutionary Army. Stlll searching for records. DAR Patriot index (1966) shows only his father William Miller who married Mary Heath, and who would have likely been too old to fight in the Rev War. My great x4 grandfather
Capt Charles Woodson b Dec 30, 1759 Cumberland Co VA; Capt Charles Woodson was at the battle of Charleston SC, and apparently was captured and imprisoned. He and 30 of his comrades escaped and walked home to Virginia, an extremely slow and hazardous endeavor. Upon his return home, he married Judith LEAKE, daughter of Josiah Leake below. They settled at "Rosebank": Plantation, Cumberland Co VA, a large tract of land given to him by his father "three miles in circuit, skirted by the Willis River". Source: DAR Patriot Index (1966), and "History & Genealogy of the Woodsons" by Henry Morton Woodson, which has a large section on Capt Charles Woodson including several interesting stories & letters. His wife Judith applied for his Rev War pension in 1843. My great X 4 grandfather
Josiah Leake b 1733 Rocky Springs Plantation, Goochland Co VA; married 1st) Ann FENTON; 2nd) Ann Minter, 3rd) Mrs Anne Foster. Joined the VA Militia, and attained rank of Captain in July 1777. Source: DAR Patriot Index (1966) and "Virginia Militias in the Revolutionary War" by McAllister
Lt Robert Peter Moseley my great x4 grandfather b 1732 prob Henrico Co VA. Lived Buckingham Co VA, Owned the "Willow Shade" plantation. Married Mary Magdalene GUERRANT. Served as Lt. in the Rev Army along with his two sons Thomas and Capt Arthur Moseley, and his wife's brothers, Jean John Guerrant and Pierre Peter Guerrant. All survived. Source: Moseley family records, and DAR Patriot Index (1966)
Thomas Saunders/Sanders b abt 1727 poss Middlesex Co VA or Caswell Co NC? lived Buckingham Co VA, then TN; m Mary MITCHELL; died Nov 28, 1812 Davidson Co TN as per his will. Related to my Moseley family. Father of Mary "Polly" Saunders b 1774 VA who married William Francis Moseley (my great x3 grandparents) DAR Patriot Index (1966). My great X 4 grandfather.
Nathaniel Massie Sr related to my Miller family of VA; b Aug 2, 1727 New Kent Co VA d 1802 Goochland Co VA; married Elizabeth "Betsey" WATKINS. Served as a Captain in the Goochland Co VA Militia in the Revolutionary War, alongside his son Nathaniel Massie Jr, who in 1796 founded the town of Chillicothe, Ohio. Source: DAR Patriot Index (1966), The Story of Goochland, by Wight publ 1935; and "A Catalogue of Descendents of Thomas Watkins of Chicohominy" by Francis Watkins. My great X 5 grandfather.
Jonathan Scofield Jr b abt 1748 Stamford, Fairfield Co CT; died Feb 15, 1788 Stamford Fairfield Co CT. Married Jemima FINCH. Was a private in Rev War, CT Militia, under Capt Silvanus Brown, in Col David Waterbury's Regiment. Jonathan Scofield died at age 40, and in 1799 his son Reynolds Finch SCOFIELD chose Selleck SCOFIELD as guardian. Source: Stamford, Fairfield Co CT records, copy of muster rolls (Footnote.com) and "A Scofield History". My great X 4 grandfather.
Jonathan Dibble b abt 1747 Fairfield Co CT; died aft 1820 Pound Ridge, Westchester Co NY. Married Rachel SLASON. Revolutionary War Soldier, private in Poundridge, Westchester Co NY Militia, under Capt Stephen Delavan. Gave an account of the attack on Ward's house by Major Campbell to J.M McDonald, which was subsequently quoted in Bolton's "History of Westchester" and later in Otto Schufeld's "Westchester During the Revolutionary War". Source: copy of muster rolls (Footnote.com); DAR Patriot Index (1966).
Maj Stephen Gale II b 1736 NH, grandfather of Phebe Gale my great x3 grandmother. Married Mrs Phebe PAGE; 2nd) Mehitable PLUMER . He was one of the first men to scale the walls at Fort Ticonderoga, and was promoted to the rank of Major for his gallantry. Source: DAR records, DAR Patriot Index (1966). My great X 5 grandfather.
Andrew Jewett: b abt 1750 Stratham, Rockingham Co NH, Married Mary PIPER. He served on the Safety Committee of Sanbornton, Belknap Co NH Source: DAR records, DAR Patriot Index (1966) My great X 5 grandfather
Rev Benjamin Butler: b May 1, 1729 Great Neck, Bristol Co MA (his great great grandfather Nicholas Butler originally settled at Martha's Vineyard) died NH: father of Mary Butler who married Abraham Brown listed above. Rev Benjamin Butler was a graduate of Harvard, and was a descendent of John Howland, a Mayflower passenger. He married Dorcas ABBOTT of Andover MA. Rev Benjamin Butler signed the Association Test of Nottingham NH against taxation without representation and was on the committee to hire soldiers for the Revolution. Source: DAR records, DAR Patriot Index (1966), and "A History of Martha's Vineyard" by Dr Charles Banks. My great X 5 grandfather.
Daniel Bolton Sr b July 1, 1747 Reading, Middlesex Co MA; died aft 1790 ME. Fought in Rev War on frontier of Lincoln Co MA, which later became Lincoln Co ME. Daniel Bolton married Reliance (Pratt) HOVEY, widow of Ebenezer Hovey who died 1777 in the Revolutionary War. Daniel Bolton was also administrator of the will of Ebenezer Hovey, which was probated 1785 in Hallowell, Lincoln Co ME (NOTE: I have not completely verified this individual as grandfather of my gg grandmother, Sarah Jane Bolton of Cumberland Co ME, but it seems quite likely. Use at your own risk!).
Ebenezer Morton b abt 1758 Gorham, Cumberland Co ME; died bf 1820 Standish, Cumberland Co ME, married Susannah IRISH. As per book, "History of Gorham ME" by McClellan; Served in the Revolutionary Army Capt Jenkins' company, 12th Massachusetts. McClellan notes that when he enlisted, he was little more than a boy. Apparently lived all of his life on Standish Neck.. My great X 4 grandfather
Thomas Irish b Jan 29, 1737 Falmouth, Cumberland Co ME, died Aug 14, 1832 Gorham, Cumberland Co ME; married Deliverance SKILLINGS. DAR Patriot Indexs hows him as a Sgt in MA, wife Deliverance Skillings. Thomas was a soldier of the Revolutionary War, enlisting in 1775. In 1779 he was a sergeant in Capt. McLellan's Company, Col. Mitchell's Regiment and took part in the Penobscot Expedition.
Albert Campbell b abt 1748 Clarkstown, Rockland Co NY; died aft 1799 NY? NJ? married Catharina VAN HOUTEN. Albert is named on list of enlisted men from Clarkstown Rockland Co NY. Listed as Albert Cammel (Cammel being a common Dutch misspelling of Campbell). Source "History of Rockland Co NY". My great X 4 grandfather.
Eleazer Slauson/Slason/Slosson/Slawson b abt 1728 Stamford, Fairfield Co CT; died abt 1790 Salem, Westchester Co NY; married Sarah RAYMOND. Served in the Westchester Militia, 4th Regiment, during the Rev War, along with his son Eleazer Jr. DAR Patriot Index (1966). My great X 6 grandfather.
Solomon Brown b abt 1746 Pound Ridge, Westchester Co NY; died abt 1821 Pound Ridge, Westchester Co NY; married Sarah SLASON. Revolutionary War Westchester NY Militia, listed in 3rd Regiment. DAR Patriot Index (1966) My great X 5 grandfather.

Father's lineage
James Whitecotton b 1755 Stafford Co VA; m Ruth Newton HUDSPETH; died age 99 years on June 7, 1849 Pleasant Run, Marion Co KY. Enlisted 1776 in Captain William Fountain's company, which marched to Charlottesville VA to join the regiment commanded by Col Woodford & Lt Col Charles Scott. This unit marched to Williamsburg VA and on to "Long Bridge" where the regiment met & defeated the British. James re-enlisted in 1778. Later was posted at Kaskaskia IL to help defend settlers from Indians, under George Rogers Clark. Later lived Hampshire Co VA, which part became Hardy Co W VA, then later still migrated to Washington, Mercer and Marion Co KY. Source: James' Rev War pension records; DAR Patriot Index (1966). My great x 5 grandfather
Michael Stump II b 1744 Tulpehocken, Lancaster Co PA; m Sarah HUGHES. Moved to Stafford Co VA, was a Lt Col in the VA Militia, but resigned this post and was commisioned as Captain in the Continental Army. He raised a company of soldiers and marched them to join the forces fighting Cornwallis. He was in the final battle of Yorktown. By 1782 he lived in Hampshire Co VA, which part eventually became Hardy Co West VA. Died 1799 Hardy Co WV. Source: JW Neff Research, DAR records, DAR Patriot Index (1966). My great x 5 grandfather
Simon Simonse Van Arsdale b April 18, 1726 NY? NJ? died March 17, 1791 Southampton, Bucks Co PA; m Elsje KROESEN; no records as yet, but service mentioned in "History of Bucks Co PA" by Davis publ 1905 (great grandfather of Nancy Van Arsdale).
Matthias Fenton b 1740s-1750s PA? m Rachel HARDING; served as private in Southampton, Bucks Co PA; by 1779 owned the Red Lion Inn in Bensalem. Source: DAR Patriot Index, which shows wife incorrectly as "Rachel Hardy" (1966) and "History of Bucks Co PA" by Davis publ 1905 (great grandfather of Nancy Van Arsdale).
Isaac Thomas Thompson b abt 1750 near the Dan River in VA (possibly Pittsylvania Co); moved to Rowan Co NC with his family as a very young child. Isaac is the likely (but unproven) father of my ggg grandfather Joseph Thompson b abt 1797 prob Burkc Co NC. Isaac fought in Rowan Co NC, which part became Burke Co NC, and lived in the same area all of his life. Spouse as yet unknown, but census shows many children. Rev War pension applied for March 7, 1833 in Burke Co NC, age 79, showing that Isaac was a private in the NC militia. Pension records indicate he died June 1, 1839 in Burke Co NC. "Revolutionary Soldiers of Western North Carolina:Burke Co Volume I" by Emmett White, p 278 indicates birthplace & death date, and that Isaac was living in Rowan Co NC in 1776 at beginning of Rev War; three tours of duty during the Rev War 1) in John Hardin's company of Col Christopher Beekman's regiment from Rowan (later Burke) Co NC. 2) Capt Thomas Lytle's Co of McDowell's Burke Co NC regiment; 3) Capt Thomas Kennedy's company of McDowell's Regime.
David Bruton Sr b abt 1736 NC? SC?; died Spartanburg, SC; was said to have fought in the Rev. War in SC, along with his son Major George Bruton who married Sarah Addington. No verification or documentation as yet. David may have lived in Anson Co NC prior to and at the time of the Revolution; and by 1785 purchased land on the Tyger River, which area became Spartanburg Co, SC. Actually it appears he may have been living in the same place all along, and the state/county changed around him. The area in which he settled endured many name changes in the 1700s. My great x 5 grandfather
Robert Scott b abt 1760 VA, grandfather of Lavina Scott Bruton, my gg grandmother, as per bio of her brother William W Scott. Robert Scott signed the marriage license of Thomas Scott & Elizabeth Jones (1802 Pulaski Co KY) Fought as private in Virginia.Source: Rev War Pension. (still researching this individual)
Nicholas Jones b abt 1761 VA, grandfather of Lavina Scott Bruton, my gg grandmother, as per bio of her brother William W Scott, and marriage license of Thomas Scott & Elizabeth Jones (1802 Pulaski Co KY). Apparently fought in Virginia, married Martha "Patsy" MOORE in Granville Co NC then lived KY and TN. Source: Moore family records (still researching this individual)
John Wofford Sr b 1730 MD, m Eleanor Sarah BUSHROD; father of Dorcas Wofford who married Enoch Bruton, my gx4 grandfather b 1766 SC. .John was said to have served as an enlisted man in the 6th Carolina Regiment, enlisted June 1, 1778--Sept 11, 1778 in W Henderson's & Capt John Buchanan's Company. Several of his brothers also enlisted. He was called "Stompin' John" because he was a preacher who would stomp his feet to emphasize points from the Bible in his sermon. Source: "History of Spartanburg SC " by Dr. J.B. O Landrum, published 1900, DAR Patriot Index (1966), and website/research of David Foster
Jacob Huber b abt 1750, PA? Germany? died Oct 8, 1803, Berlin, Somerset Co PA; married Magdalena unknown. Lived possibly in Eastern Pennsylvania, Maryland or Western Virginia prior to 1790; migrated to Berlin, Brother's Valley twp, Bedford/Somerset Co PA by 1793, when he begins to show up in Lutheran church records there. Also listed in the 1800 census there. Died Aug 1803. My great x 5 grandfather, father of William Huber b abt 1779-1780 Hampshire Co VA who married Anna Elizabeth Keffer in Somerset co PA. Unverified as yet, no Rev War records.
Johann Jacob Keffer/Keefer/Keifer b June 3, 1734 Zeselberg, Germany; died May 1802, Berlin, Brother's Valley Twp, Bedford/Somerset Co PA; married Anna Maria "Mary" NASS in Germany. Listed in the DAR Patriot Index as "Jacob Keefer" Pvt PA (1966 edition). My great X 5 grandfather.
Frederick William Shriver (Friedrich Wilhelm Schreiber) b Feb 8, 1744 prob Anne Arundel Co MD; died Feb 27, 1820 , buried St John's Lutheran Church Cemetery, Creagerstown, Frederick Co MD. According to land deed records, he was living in York Co PA near the time of the Revolution. Later lived at Thurmont, Emmitsburg and possibly Creagerstown, Frederick MD, as per census, Lutheran church, land and other records. Unverified as yet, no Rev War records, but it seems highly likely, since other siblings in his family did fight in the Revolutionary War. My great X 4 grandfather.

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2011

Sentimental Sunday: Happy Father's Day!

2011-06-19T07:20:00.000-07:00

My Dad, Bill Huber (1922-2001) with me, 1954

Joseph Tartas (1921-1996), my father-in-law, with his two children, early 1960s.

All photos copies of originals, my collection.

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2011

Surname Saturday: Some Quaker Surnames of Chester Co PA, Bucks Co PA and Guilford Co NC

2011-06-18T08:11:00.000-07:00

My gg grandfather, Eli Branson Frazier, a Quaker, Thorntown, Boone Co IN

The last few weeks I have spent time a lot of time revisiting my numerous Quaker ancestors, and updating my online family trees with new information--thanks to Susanna Epler and Sallie Hughes from our Anacortes genealogy group, who are also descended from several Quaker families, and have provided fascinating new sources-- including some from Yorkshire, England!

AND after a run-in with a skeptical 23andMe Relative Finder contact--who didn't believe that WEST could be a Quaker surname, or that Quakers lived in North Carolina--I decided to compile a list of some of more well-known Quaker surnames from Chester Co PA, Bucks Co PA and Guilford Co NC.

While I don't claim to be an expert in Quaker genealogy--and I'm sure someone else has done this already-- I just wanted to put this list up on my blog for others to use as a reference, along with some of the more commonly known Quaker settlements. Some of the surnames are unusual and immediately recognizable.

This is not a complete list by any means, and it's not alphabetized!

QUAKER SURNAMES FROM CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA:

BEALS, BROWN (descendants of brothers William Brown & James Brown, both Quaker ministers), CLAYTON, REYNOLDS, BEESON, MENDENHALL, CHAMNESS, OZBURN/OSBORN, HIATT/HYATT, COX, BRINTON, HUTTON, PEACHY, MILLER (descendants of John Miller, a Quaker from Ireland), JANNEY, BOWATER, PIGGOTT/PICKETT, HARRY (aka HARRIS in records), BEZER/BEZAR, MACY, COLLETT, UNDERWOOD, PACKER, HEWES/HUGHES, WITHERS, RICHARDSON, WILLIAMS, ROBERTS, JONES, PUGH (ap HUGH), PRICE (ap RHYS), BEVAN (ap EVAN).

Note: Many of these families migrated to Guilford Co NC around 1754.

QUAKER SURNAMES FROM GUILFORD COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA:

BRANSON, FRAZIER/FRAZER, HOGGETT/HOCKETT, HINSHAW, STANLEY, POPE, WHEELER, OTWELL, HODSON/HODGESON, MILLIS, UNTHANK, SAFERIGHT, HAWORTH/HAYWORTH, RUDDUCK, MILLIKAN, THORNBROUGH, WAY, HUNT, STEVENS/STEPHENS, COFFIN (Nantucket MA to Guilford NC) STARBUCK (Nantucket MA to Guilford NC).

Note: Many of the Guilford Co NC families & entire monthly meetings moved to the midwest in the early 1800s: Indiana, Iowa & Ohio.

QUAKER SURNAMES FROM BUCKS COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA:

COWGILL, STACKHOUSE, HAYHURST, HEATON, SCOTT, CUTLER, HARDING, BULLOCK, NAYLOR, COMLY, PAXSON, LOVETT, MARRIOT, HUTCHINSON.

Note: Several of these families migrated to the midwest by the 1800s.

Some of the locations of early Monthly Meetings pre--1800:

Chester Co PA: New Garden MM, Nottingham MM, Chichester MM (and more)
New Castle MM, Delaware
Burlington MM, NJ
Salem MM, NJ
Bucks Co PA: Middletown MM, Falls MM, more?
Guilford Co NC: New Garden MM, Center MM, Deep River MM and more
Cecil Co Maryland: Nottingham MM originally in Chester Co PA, ended up in Maryland due to state borders being changed.
Frederick Co VA: Hopewell MM
Loudon Co VA: Fairfax MM

There were many more, of course. Often entire congregations would move together, as can be seen with the New Garden MM, which left Chester Co PA and settled in Guilford Co NC.

And another note: In my Quaker family, especially in the 1800s, parents seemed to like to name children after other members of their monthly meeting. Sometimes they were related, and sometimes not. For instance, my grandfather's full name was ALONZO COX HUBER, and he was named after his mother's first cousin, ALONZO COX b 1857, son of JEREMIAH COX & ELZENA FRAZIER.

My great great grandfather ELI BRANSON FRAZIER b 1826, was likely named after ELI BRANSON b 1776, of Cane Creek MM, in NC ( I have not yet found a family connection between the BRANSONs & the FRAZIERs). In fact, all of ELI's siblings were named after other Quakers.

If anyone has anything to add to this discussion or if you'd like to add to the surname or location list, please let me know!

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2011

Surname Saturday: Fixing My Mistakes!!!

2011-06-11T09:05:00.000-07:00

Over the past eleven years, I have been working hard on my family's genealogy. And yes, while I have learned so many facts & stories about my ancestors, I have also made many mistakes in my family trees.

Sometimes they were my own silly transcription errors, misread dates, or location errors, discovered later while going through my Rootsweb or Ancestry.com online trees. Sometimes the mistakes stemmed from misinformation given to me by family members, which later proved false when I actually did some research. And, unfortunately, sometimes the errors came from published sources.

The most recent and daunting mistake that I had to correct involved the SHRIVER family. My ggg grandfather was LEWIS SHRIVER born between 1785-1790 in Maryland, died April 1831 in Ross Co Ohio. His wife was SUSANNAH LUCKHART, and their eldest son was FREDERICK WILLIAM SHRIVER b abt 1810 who married ELIZABETH SCHRECKENGAUST; they died in Cass Co IN.

In my initial research, I was able to trace this SHRIVER family in Ohio and beyond, but could not seem to connect them with the SHRIVER family in Maryland. The likely progenitor was JACOB SHRIVER who died 1794 in Anne Arundel Co MD. He did have a son named FREDERICK WILLIAM SHRIVER, and at least one grandson with that name. Actually there were several of that name in descending generations, as well as many named LEWIS SHRIVER--a very popular monicker.

The only source that I could locate on the family of JACOB SHRIVER of Anne Arundel MD was "A History of the Shriver Family" by Harry C Shriver, which was published in 1962. Actually, I was thrilled to find it. My questions-- I thought--would be answered!

Listed in Harry Shriver's book was FREDERICK WILLIAM SHRIVER b Feb 8, 1744 Anne Arundel Co MD, son of JACOB SHRIVER, with a second wife, ELIZABETH SEESMAN, married in 1794. No children were mentioned.

Also listed in the book was FREDERICK WILLIAM SHRIVER b abt 1790, son of LEWIS SHRIVER b abt 1750 (Rev War, Adams Co PA) & MARY SHEETS, and grandson of JACOB SHRIVER. Harry Shriver indicated that this person was the progenitor of the SHRIVER family in Ohio. And he had a son named LEWIS SHRIVER.

This was it! I thought. I'd found the connection to the Maryland family. I gleefully added a couple hundred people to my family tree ( a big mistake), feeling very proud that I'd uncovered yet another line.

But the problem was, FREDERICK WILLIAM SHRIVER, son of LEWIS SHRIVER & MARY SHEETS, was not the progenitor of "MY" Shriver family in Ohio--as I found out later, after much more extensive research on the Internet. (In defense of Harry Shriver, he did not have the Internet back in 1962. But on the other hand, he did not even mention my midwestern branch of the Shrivers, which is both sizable and in census records!).

FREDERICK WILLIAM SHRIVER, son of LEWIS SHRIVER & MARY SHEETS, settled in Columbiana Co Ohio, and never set foot in Ross Co Ohio. His son LEWIS SHRIVER lived all his life in Columbiana Co Ohio, and can be found in census records there. He was not the same person as my ggg grandfather LEWIS SHRIVER, a miller who died 1831 in Ross Co OH, who in his will left his mill to wife SUSANNAH, and had numerous children, one of which was my gg grandmother CATHERINE SHRIVER HUBER.

So who was my LEWIS SHRIVER's father? Actually, after years of research, I have found baptism records which make me believe that it was actually FREDERICK WILLIAM SHRIVER b Feb 4, 1744 Anne Arundel Co MD, who married 1st) MARIA ELISABETH BEYERLE and 2nd) in 1794 ELIZABETH SEESMAN. He lived in Emmitsburg, Thurmont & Creagerstown, Frederick Co MD. According to the 1790 Frederick Co MD census, he had a wife, three young sons and one slave. The baptism records of Apple's Church (Lutheran), Thurmont MD, shows sons PHILLIP SHRIVER born Feb 8, 1780 and JACOB SHRIVER born Dec 25, 1783.

There was no baptism record for the third son. I'm still researching this. But there are numerous reasons why I believe this is the family of my ggg grandfather LEWIS SHRIVER who died 1831 in Ross Co OH.

I went for several years w/o repairing the family tree, using notes that this LEWIS SHRIVER was actually the son of that FREDERICK WILLIAM SHRIVER and vice versa. Finally, I just couldn't let it go any longer.

Fixing my Ancestry.com online tree was pretty simple and didn't take much time. Fixing my MacFamilytree gedcom (which I upload to Rootsweb) was another story, and involved a process of tagging a couple hundred incorrect individuals and then deleting them, one by one. It took hours. Then I had to rebuild the tree with the correct information.

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2011

My Love/Hate Relationship with Ancestry.com--Revisited

2011-06-06T08:23:00.000-07:00

Well, a year has passed since I wrote my blog entry entitled My Love/Hate Relationship with Ancestry.com. Since it's time again to renew my subscription, I decided it was a good opportunity to revisit my opinions on the website!

Despite my continuing issues with Ancestry's search engine, I have to say there is now more to love about the website.

Several months ago, Ancestry.com updated the format of their online family trees. The upgrade looked so appealing that I decided to upload all of my gedcoms onto the websites' public family trees.

This time, no data was lost. The trees look marvelous and are easy to navigate. I really LOVE some of the features of these trees, especially the ability to attach photos & scanned documents. The shaking leaf "Ancestry hints" seem to be a bit more intriguing and in some cases actually helpful (although I have already found census for most of ancestors through my gg grandparents).

The online trees are especially good for people just starting out building their family tree. A friend and I recently started a small Genealogy group and some of the members have recently joined Ancestry so that they could start an online family tree. The data entry process and step by step instructions are very user friendly. Folks new to the format seem to really like it!

I have had two problems with my new Ancestry.com public online trees. Both involved photos. In one case, a person lifted the photo of my gg grandfather JOHN F MARTINE from my tree and attached it to their own completely different Martine family. The person was not cooperative in removing the photo, and when I complained to Ancestry.com, their comment was that they "had no control over what people put in their trees". I wrote about this in a previous blog post, posted it on Facebook, and even included research on the individual's family, so that they could see that my photo was NOT of his/her ancestor. Eventually the person removed the photo.

I made my online trees private--briefly--then realized that I really wanted them to be public--despite the possibility that someone might nick my family photos in the future. Because they are public, I frequently get contacted by other members researching the same families, which has been wonderful!

The second incident involved a person who found a box of unlabeled photos and surmised that they were members of my Martine/Miller family. They were not. I contacted the individual through Ancestry.com and pointed out the error(s). Eventually the person emailed me, asking for family photos so that she could compare with the unlabeled photos in her possession. I sent them to her. She indicated that she would remove the erroneous tree if my photos didn't match hers (which they don't).

In conclusion: kudos to Ancestry.com for adding more databases, for more access to more books and actual scanned documents, and for their new format online trees which are very user friendly, easy to navigate, and have great features.

That said, new members should realize that there are A LOT of errors in Ancestry's public family trees, as people are allowed to merge their trees with other member's trees--whether the info is correct, or not. So, unfortunately, errors get replicated exponentially.

Please folks, do your own research, find primary documents, and use other member's public family trees as a way to get clues about your family! And resist the urge to merge!!

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2011

Amanuensis Monday: 1855 Letter from DAVID BRUTON (b 1790) Green Co MO to his Brother BENJAMIN BRUTON in Texas

2011-05-23T07:11:00.001-07:00

My great X 3 grandfather, DAVID BRUTON, was born Jan 18, 1790 in Spartanburg SC, and died April 4, 1869 Webster Co MO. He was the son of ENOCH BRUTON & DORCAS WOFFORD, and lived in SC, McNairy Co TN and Tishomingo Co MS before migrating to Missouri.

His brother BENJAMIN BRUTON was born June 20, 1788 Spartanburg SC and married GEMINA/JEMIMA, who was previously married to a LANGFORD, and had a son LECIL B LANGFORD. He may have been named after LECIL BRUTON of Spartanburg, a cousin of BENJAMIN & DAVID, but I am not sure exactly why. They all moved to Texas by 1850.

In this case I am not the amanuensis, but the recipient of this transcription which was made by Shirly Ford, who kindly sent it to me. A few days ago she also sent me a scanned copy of the original. Many thanks to Shirly for taking the time to send this letter to me! I'm certain there are many other Bruton researchers who will be interested in seeing it.

Here is a copy of Shirly's transcription. I have added punctuation as there was none in the original, have capitalized names, and added my notes in red.

Transcription of letter to Benjamin Bruton from David Bruton.

As written, including capitals/spelling

Greey Cty (Green County)., MO May the 15^th A.D 1855

Well, brother & Sister & family All LEICEL B LANGFORD & SALLY & family

I take my pen in had to wright you a few lines & can inform you Something of the health of myself and my old wife. We are Enjoying tollerable health for old people but are geting tolerable frail not able to Do very much. But we Should be thankful that we are blest with Common health. Some of our Children is enjoying bad health EDIA Which Maried EDMUND CARDWELL she has too children the youngest one is something like six years old & She (Edia) has never been Able to set up or walk to Do any good Since she was put to bed with her last one. ELIZABETH has enjoyd bad health for four or five years though is geting some stouter at this time. Both their Complaints are Chronic nervous affections My Son HIRAM Died of A Chronic Disease left A and wife & one Child. my Children are all Married & enjoying Common health through the kind merceys of god except the too Above Named ones. they are all a living in this part of the Country Except BENJAMIN he is living in Mississippi & all a geting A Long tolerable well I hope through the kind mercey of god when these lines comes to hand they may find you all well & Doing well. Times is tolerable hard in this part of the Country at this time. Money Scarce & provisions high & Scarce. Crops was very light with us last season & if it don’t rain shortly here it will be impossible for us to make much grain. This Season there has Not been rain. Enough where I live to wet the ground three inces Deep. This spring though in Some parts of the Country good rains lately. there has been no rise of water this Spring here. A great Many Springs gone Dry. property is low here except work Cattle are high and ready Sale. there has been A good deal of sickness in Brother Jesseys family this Spring & winter. past the winter found Sister Annis Died of the winter fever in march. Brother Jesse is living in Wright County forty Miles east of me. (Turn to the left town over excuse my aucardness Note: I did not see this part in the scanned copy of original. )

I moved to Crafford (Crawford) County, Arkansas the winter that LEICEL moved to texas .expecting to go on to texas in the fall but we was all taken down sick in the Summer. the last one of us Down in the fall. we got so we could travel & we moved back to Mo, green County. I never have been as well Satisfyd in Mo, As I would wish to be. it is a good farming Country but verry rough & rocky only in the prararies there it is Scarce of timber & water verry Cold in the winter by Spells & not verry healthy. I believe there is better Countreys than Mo. But I am too old to hunt them out. I want you to give me All the information you can About yoursel & family and Country that you Can by letter. I want you to write to me as soon as you get this letter without fail & let me know the times in your Country & how Land Can be got there & whether there is good land there to take up by entry yet or not. there is A great Stir in our Country About the gold mines near the head of the Arkansas river. A great many of our people has gone to search for it, it is thought they will have to Combat verry heavily with the idians to get at it. if it is found that there is plenty of gold there Southwest Mo, will be Almost deserted. I write this letter you and LEICEL both I can not express my desire and wish to see you all & Converse with you face to face & will State again write to me soon and often and I will Answer all your letters as well Direct your letters to Dallas, PO, green Cty, Mo I will Close my stamering letter by Subscribing myself your affectionate Brother till Death so no more

DAVID BRUTON BENJAMIN BRUTON

& JAMIMAH

& NANCY

my childrens

names

THOMAS EDIA

BENJAMIN TYRELL P

DARKEY(Dorcas)
ELIZABETH

HIRAM
MILES

CLARINDA

DAVID PINCKNEY

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2011

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday: MARIAH HUBER b 1845 OH & ALFRED CLOUSER of Montgomery Co IN

2011-05-18T07:01:00.000-07:00

I recently found this photo of MARIAH HUBER & her husband ALFRED CLOUSER of Montgomery Co IN on the website Find-a-Grave. MARIAH was the daughter of ELIJAH HUBER & CATHERINE SHRIVER of Montgomery Co IN, and sister to my great grandfather PHILLIP L HUBER who married CAROLINE AMELIA "CRAMELIA" FRAZIER (see my Rootsweb or Ancestry tree called "Ancestors of Alonzo Cox Huber").

The source of this photo was listed as Mary Jo Barton. I have been trying to contact her.

Then, a few days later I discovered this photo of a young MARIAH HUBER on someone's Ancestry.com public family tree. I have left a message to contact this individual also, as the person listed MARIAH as a great great grandmother.

These are really exciting finds, as my family has virtually no photos of the early HUBERs !

Have a great day!

Betty

Tombstone Tuesday: SIMEON DIBBLE & MARY "POLLY" (BROWN) DIBBLE, of Poundridge, Westchester Co NY

2011-05-17T08:37:00.001-07:00

Headstones of SIMEON DIBBLE born May 10, 1786 Poundridge, Westchester Co NY, died Nov 10, 1868, son of JONATHAN DIBBLE & RACHEL SLASON; and his wife MARY "POLLY" BROWN, born July 7, 1797 Poundridge, Westchester Co NY, died Feb 5, 1873; daughter of SAMUEL BROWN & his wife RHEUA (see previous blogpost).

SIMEON DIBBLE & MARY "POLLY" BROWN were my great X 4 grandparents, in the lineage of my grandfather R B Martine.

These graves are located in the Longridge Union Cemetery, Stamford, Fairfield Co CT, which is only a few miles away from Poundridge, NY. Source of photos: Find-a-Grave website.

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2011

Surname Saturday: RHEUA, wife of SAMUEL BROWN b 1777 CT, of Poundridge, Westchester Co NY

2011-05-14T09:15:00.000-07:00

The last few blogposts have dealt with the BROWN family of colonial era Poundridge, Westchester Co NY. I am going to continue here with my current research, which involves RHEUA, the wife of SAMUEL BROWN (see previous post for the pics of their gravestones).

I have been trying for several years to figure out the maiden name of RHEUA, wife of SAMUEL BROWN. Here are the facts so far: She was born around April 17, 1777, this date gleaned from her headstone which says: died July 17, 1865; 88 years, 3 mo. According to 1850 and 1860 census records for Poundridge, Westchester Co NY, she was born in Connecticut (most likely Fairfield Co CT, which is where many in Poundridge originally came from). In 1850 census, her first name is was listed as "Rhuama", and in 1860 her name was listed as "Ruhamah". But her gravestone and other records show her first name as "Rheua".

She was married about 1796 to SAMUEL BROWN, most likely in Poundridge, Westchester Co NY. Their eldest daughter, MARY "POLLY" BROWN, was born 1797, and married SIMEON DIBBLE.

So what on earth was RHEUA's maiden name?

I have several theories, but no hard evidence. And very few clues.

I have looked through birth records from Fairfield Co CT, and have come up empty-handed. I have not been able to find a marriage record for RHEUA & SAMUEL in Westchester Co NY or Fairfield Co CT, either.

My current "pet" theory, and one which I have not been able to prove, is that RHEUA was a daughter of EBENEZER DeFOREST (Rev War) and his wife MERCY. So far I have not been able to find a birth record indicating that they had a daughter named Rheua or Ruhamah.

However, there are a few facts that make this seem quite possible.

1) According to the 1831 Rev War Pension Application of EBENEZER DeFOREST, applied for in Poundridge, Westchester Co NY, he was living in Fairfield Co CT at the time of the Revolutionary War.

2) Both SAMUEL's father SOLOMON BROWN and EBENEZER DeFOREST (listed as DeFreeze) were present in the 1790 Poundridge, Westchester Co NY census. I don't have access to the actual records, but a transcription I found shows the two families living close by. So EBENEZER had moved to Poundridge by 1790.

3) SAMUEL & RHEUA BROWN lived next door and/or nearly next door to EBENEZER DeFOREST at the time of the 1800, 1810 and 1820 census, and next door to EBENEZER DeFOREST's son JAMES DeFOREST at the time of the 1830 census. EBENEZER applied for his Rev War Pension in 1831, but may have been living with one of his children? (not listed in census)

4) In the 1850 Poundridge, Westchester Co NY census, STEPHEN N. DeFOREST age 22, a shoemaker, is listed in the household of SAMUEL age 77 & RHEUA age 74 BROWN. Was he a nephew or grandnephew of RHEUA?

Also listed in the household were NEHEMIAH NORTON age 24 and his mother LETITIA NORTON age 40. I have not been able to discern how or if they are related. According to records I have found so far, LETITIA was not a daughter of SAMUEL & RHEUA BROWN.

So that's it, in a nutshell. If anyone out there can recommend resources or shed light on the DeFOREST family, it would be most appreciated.

Other surname possibilities for RHEUA:

WEED, JONES, SLAWSON/SLASON, BOUTON, LOCKWOOD, SHERWOOD, MEAD, WATERBURY.

I have explored several different RHEUA's from these families, but still have not found the one who married SAMUEL BROWN.

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2011

Tombstone Tuesday: SAMUEL & RHEUA BROWN, of Poundridge, Westchester Co NY

2011-05-10T07:56:00.000-07:00

SAMUEL BROWN b April 15, 1773, Poundridge, Westchester Co NY; died Oct 5, 1866, Poundridge, Westchester Co NY. His wife RHEUA (maiden name unknown), born April 17, 1777; died July 17, 1865 Poundridge, Westchester Co NY.

They are my great x 5 grandparents, in the lineage of my grandfather R B Martine.

SAMUEL was the son of SOLOMON BROWN & SARAH "SALLY" SLAWSON/SLASON, whom I wrote about in my previous blogpost.

SAMUEL & RHEUA BROWN are buried in the Longridge Union Cemetery, Stamford, Fairfield Co CT. Apparently Poundridge & Stamford are only a few miles apart.

Source of photos: Find-a-Grave website

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2011

Surname Saturday: BROWN of Fairfield Co CT and Poundridge, Westchester Co NY

2011-05-07T09:14:00.000-07:00

After taking a short break from blogging, I'm back to report on my latest genealogy find!

With a little sleuthing, I was able to find out that one of my ancestors, SOLOMON BROWN b about 1746 Westchester Co NY, had made a will in 1821, and that it was available through the Westchester Co NY Archives. I sent for the will and whatever other papers they might have, and the packet arrived this week.

This BROWN family has always given me fits. There appears to have been several different BROWN families in Westchester Co NY in the colonial era--OR they are all different branches of the same family. Without access to records, it is nearly impossible to tell. They apparently lived in various places, from Ridgefield & Norwalk, CT to Salem and Poundridge, in Westchester Co NY.

In about 1772, SOLOMON BROWN married SARAH "SALLY" SLAWSON/SLASON who was born Oct 22, 1750 Stamford, Fairfield Co CT. She was the daughter of THOMAS SLASON & MARY BATES, both of Stamford.

Finally, I discovered on Footnote.com the Revolutionary War record of SOLOMON BROWN, noting that he served in the NY Militia, Crane's Regiment from 1779-1781--as did all of his brothers, sons of ELIPHALET BROWN Sr & THANKFUL WOOD:

Lt BENAJAH/BENIJAH BROWN who married SARAH WEED

ELIPHALET BROWN Jr who married REBECCA SLAWSON/SLASON

TIMOTHY BROWN who married MERCY SLAWSON/SLASON

Also in this regiment were his brother-in-law STEPHEN SLAWSON/SLASON, who married sister THANKFUL BROWN, and JESSE BOUTON, a neighbor whose children later married SOLOMON BROWN's children.

WILL OF SOLOMON BROWN of POUNDRIDGE, WESTCHESTER CO NY (transcribed by me from copy of original) written April 19, 1815; proved Nov 1821.

-In the name of God Amen. I SOLOMAN BROWN of Poundridge in the county of Westchester and the State of New York, being weak in body but of sound and perfect mind and memory (blessed be God therefor) do this nineteenth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifteen make and publish his my last will and testament, in manner and form following, that is to say--

--First will and order that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid by my Executors herein after named out of my personal Estate.

--Item--I give devise and bequeath unto my son SOLOMON all my homestead farm and lands adjoining, containing one hundred acres or thereabouts, to him and his heirs and assigns forever, and also all my personal estate except as aforesaid on the conditions and limitations following-- that he pay to my daughters MATILDA and SALLY each whenever they shall marry a sum equal to what I have heretofore given any daughter married, not exceeding one hundred dollars and supporting my daughter NANCY during her natural life.

--Then I do will and order that my wife SARAH have her reasonable maintenance our of my Estate so long as she remains my widow in lieu of her dower, and that my said daughters MATILDA , NANCY and SALLY have a home in my house with my said wife and son SOLOMON so long as my said wife remains my widow.

--Item I do give, devise and bequeath unto my son SAMUEL one undivided half of that tract of land situate in Poundridge whereon my son ISAAC lives, containing about twenty acres, to him and his heirs and assigns forever. And I do give the other half to my said Executors in trust to hold during the natural life of my son ISAAC (xcept the sum of Fifty dollars which I order my said Executors to pay out of the same towards the support of my said daughter NANCY, or other legacies herein bequeathed , and I do order my Executors to apply the use of the residue of said half towards the maintanance and support of my said son ISAAC and his family during his natural life and at his decease to sell the same and divide the monies equally among his surviving children, as son as they in their discretion may think proper.

--Item I do further order that in case of my daughters that have been married and shall not have received as a portion articles not amounting to one hundred dollars, that they be made equal to that amount out of the share herein given to my son SOLOMON.

--Lastly I hereby nominate and appoint my son SAMUEL and my friend EZRA LOCKWOOD Executors of this my last Will and Testament. In writing whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written.

--(signed) SOLOMON BROWN; witnessed by JESSE BOUTON, RICHARD CRABB & CYNTHIA THACHER

The children of SOLOMON BROWN & SARAH "SALLY" SLAWSON/SLASON, all born Poundridge, Westchester Co NY, were:

1) SAMUEL BROWN born Aug 15, 1773; married RHEUA/RUHAMAH unknown born April 17, 1777 (lineage of my grandfather R B Martine).

2) SOLOMON BROWN Jr born about 1774; married Unknown; was made guardian of his sister MATILDA's two sons in 1834, as per Westchester Court documents.

3) RHODA BROWN born April 9, 1775; married 1st) LEWIS NORTHRUP, 2nd) SQUIRE DAN/DANN

4) ISAAC BROWN born June 5, 1780; married RACHEL BOUTON

5) ELIZABETH BROWN born 1780-1790; married unknown.

6) THANKFUL BROWN born about 1780-1790; married unknown

7) SARAH "SALLY" BROWN born about 1795; married unknown

8) MATILDA BROWN born about 1799; married WILSON BOUTON; apparently both were dead by 1834 and their two sons ROSWELL BOUTON age 12 & WILSON BOUTON Jr age 10 made their maternal uncle SOLOMON BROWN Jr their guardian, as per court records, Westchester Co NY.

9) NANCY BROWN born about 1800; married unknown. She may have never married, as her father indicated that she should have provisions from his estate for the rest of her life.

RHODA, ELIZABETH & THANKFUL are not mentioned directly in the will, but SOLOMON does make provisions for his "daughters that have been married" to receive the same $100 from his estate that his other children were to enjoy.

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2011

Happy Easter

2011-04-24T07:41:00.001-07:00

Easter Greeting postcard, undivided back, postmarked 1901. Copy of original, my collection.

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2011

A Friend of Friends Friday: African American Slaves Named in the 1767 Will of Michael Stump Sr of Hampshire Co VA

2011-04-15T06:27:00.000-07:00

Note: "A Friend of Friends" was a password used on the Underground Railway

MICHAEL STUMP Sr was born about 1715 in Schoharie, NY, the son of German immigrants who settled first in Schoharie, NY and then migrated to Tulpehocken, Lancaster Co PA.

MICHAEL married ANNA CATHERINE NEFF on Sept 10, 1739 in Tulpehocken, Lancaster Co PA. They migrated in about 1748 to Augusta Co VA as per records there, and in Frederick Co VA by 1749 as per land & survey deeds there. Parts of Frederick & Augusta Co VA eventually became Hampshire Co VA.

According to the book, The Dyer Settlement...."In the spring of 1748 George Washington accompanied a surveying party into the South fork and South branch valleys; They surveyed for Lord Fairfax, and Washington kept a record of this (in his journal). He found settlers in the lower South Fork valley, where he surveyed for MICHAEL STUMP..."

Entries from GEORGE WASHINGTON'S diary dated March 29th through April 2 1748 indicate that he and the surveying crew were camping on the land of MICHAEL STUMP Sr while surveying for Lord Fairfax.

WILL OF MICHAEL STUMP Sr written 1767, probated 1768 Hampshire Co VA
In the Name of God Amen, I, MICHAEL STUMP of the South Fork of the South Branch of Potowmack in the County of Hampshire in the Colliny of Virginia being in a perfect state of health at present but considering the uncertainty of it and that it is necessar y for all men while they have the happiness to enjoy their sences and memory perfect to settle and dispose of their affairs in manner as may prevent any dispute of or law suits after their death amongst their friends and relations therefore to prevent the same as much as possible in my own family think proper to dispose of my estate in manner following viz.

First I give to my Beloved Wife CATHERINE the one third part of the plantation whereon I now live together with its profits and appertainences also her full third part of whatever Personal Estate I die possessed of. I also give unto each of my three Daugh ters the sum of Fifty Pounds Currancy in lieu of lands given to their respective brothers as below will appear and that my Estate may not be divided and squandered away I direct the same to be only appraised and not soulde.

Item I give and Devise to my Eldest son MICHAEL the Plantation whereon he now Lives Containing four hundred Acres Known by the Name of Lot Number two to him and his Heirs for Ever.

Item I give and devise to my Second son GEORGE the Plantation on Lot No. thirteen Joyning to the lower part of the Plantation whereon I Now live Containing four Hundred Acres to him and his Heirs for Ever. also I give unto him the said George and his heir s for Ever the Plantation Whereon I now Live Except a full third to his Mother During her Life as aforesaid.

Item I give to my Son LEONARD A Plantation on Lot No. three Joyning to the Land given to my son Michael Containing near four Hundred acres to him and his heirs for Ever.

Item I give to my Grandson MICHAEL, the son of Michael aforesaid twenty Pounds Currancy to be Left in the hands of My Wife and aplyed towards the Schooling of Said Child.

Item and as for my Personal Estate and Negroes I bequeath in manner Following that is to say I give to my son GEORGE one Negroe Named SAMPSON

Item I also give to my son LEONARD one Negroe Named DICK and all the residue of my Personal Estate not before mentioned, with one Negroe Named SAM to be Equaly Divided Between my said Chilldren. Except the twenty Pounds Left to my grandson, which said twenty Pounds to be Deducted or taken off his Fathers Share of my Estate and to be aplyed to the use aforsaid.

And Lastly I do hereby Nominate and appoint my said Wife CATHERINE and my said son GEORGE Executrix and Executor of this my Will hereby Revoking and makeing Void all Former Wills Declareing this and no other to be my true Last Will and Testament In Witnes s whereof I have here unto Set my hand and Seal this
Second Day of July 1767."
Signed and Sealed and
published by the Testator
in the Presence of us.
Michael Stump (Jr)
Felix Seymour

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2011

Betty's Civil War Ancestors and Their Kin

2011-04-12T10:24:00.000-07:00

This is an excerpt from my "Betty's Boneyard" Genealogy website, on the page "Betty's Veterans of US Wars".

Mother's line

John F Martine b June 15, 1831 Spencerport, Monroe Co NY; died Jan 30, 1907 Orting Pierce Co WA. Served 2nd Wisconsin Cavalry, Union Army, company G, rank of Corporal. Entered service Dec 1861, discharged May 1862 due to failing health. Was a member of the GAR. Buried at the US Soldier's Cemetary, Orting Pierce Co WA Source: John's Civil War pension record from National Archive. My gg grandfather.

Isaac Martine b April 1824 NY; died April 10, 1897 Sleepy Eye, Home twp, Brown Co MN. Brother of John F. Martine. Served 2nd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, company F, Union Army rank of Sergeant. Was at the Battle of Bull Run. Entered service Dec 1861 and was discharged 1862 due to a gunshot wound while on guard duty. Source: Isaac's Civil War Pension record from National Archive.

William Frederick Miller b abt 1815-1821 Buckingham or Cumberland Co VA; died 1880 Chillicothe, Livingston Co MO. Served 1st Missouri Confederate Militia, rank of Sgt Major, in Gen Sterling Prices' CSA Army of the West. Was captured 1862 at the Elkhorn tavern, during the battle of Pea Ridge AR, and put in Gratiot prison. Was released in exchange for Union prisoners and banished to Richmond VA for the remainder of the war, where he worked at the Confederate Treasury. He was separated from his wife and children for two years. Sources: MO Civil War records, books on Gratiot prison, and family letters from the time period. My gg grandfather, who was educated as a lawyer in VA

John S Wilson b 1834 OH, died before 1900 Clinton Co MO. Son-in-law of Wm F. Miller ( John married Mary Ellis MILLER in 1858). John was also educated as a lawyer. He arranged for Wm F Miller's release from Gratiot Prison in 1862, in exchange for Union prisoners. John served in the CSA near the end of the war. He later became a lumber merchant and lived Lathrop, Clinton Co MO. Sources: Same as above

Dr. Orsino Ayres Williams Son in law of Wm F Miller. Served in the CSA as a surgeon, and was stationed in a Confederate hospital at Springfield, MO. His wife, Lucy Ann "Lou" MILLER died in August of 1864. He remarried and lived in Versailles, MO. Sources: same as above.

Thomas Kennedy b abt 1829-30 in Windsor, Hants Co, Nova Scotia, Canada, son of John KENNEDY and Elizabeth "Betsey" RINES of Hants Co Nova Scotia Canada. John KENNEDY & most of his children emigrated to US before 1840 census, settling first in Lubec, Washington Co ME and then Portland, Cumberland Co ME. Thomas Kennedy married 1st) Sarah Jane BOLTON; 2nd) Elizabeth Ann "Lizzie" CORBETT. Thomas likely served in the 1st Maine Heavy Artillery, Company K, as did his brother & nephew, see below. Still searching for records. In late 1870s Thomas Kennedy moved his wife & daughters to Bodie, Mono Co CA. He likely died there before 1890. My gg grandfather.

Daniel Kennedy b 1824 Windsor, Hants Co Nova Scotia Canada; m Rosalinda RIPLEY. Brother of my gg grandfather, Thomas Kennedy above. Served 1st Maine Heavy Artillery, Company K, and died of disease while in service during the Civil War on July 25, 1864, location unknown, as per regimental records.

Jotham J. Kennedy Son of Daniel above, nephew of gg grandfather Thomas Kennedy above, b abt 1846 ME; m Sarah EICHER. Jotham served in the Union Army, 18th Maine Infantry Regiment, Company K, and in the 1st Maine Heavy Artillery Regiment, Company K. He enlisted on Aug 21, 1862 at age of 18, and was discharged June 6, 1865. He received commendation for distinguished service, according to his pension records. He died Feb 17, 1889 at the age of 43 in Biddeford, York Co Maine.

Father's line

Martin Huber brother to my great grandfather Phillip L. Huber, who was too young to fight in the Civil War. Either 10th or 27th Indiana Infantry, possibly both? Union Army. No records as yet. Married Eliza Sappenfield after the war.

Lewis Huber brother to my great grandfather Phillip L Huber. Union Army. No records; may have died in the Civil War? No dates or notation on his tombstone.

William V Huber brother to my great grandfather Phillip L Huber. Regiment unknown; Union Army. Married Margaret J Hemphill after the war. Moved to Cass Co IN. Middle name probably Valentine after two of his uncles.

Benjamin Benton Bruton b 1847 Christian Co MO. No records; he would have been a very young soldier, age 15 and would have probably fought for the Union Army. He joined the Christian Co Militia in 1866, after the Civil War, at age 19. Enlistment records show him as five foot nine inches tall, black hair, blue eyes and fair complexion. The militia was set up because Missouri remained such a turbulent area even after the war ended. Source: "A Reminiscent History of the Ozark Region" and Christian Co MO records. My great grandfather.

James J Bruton brother of my great grandfather BB Bruton. Served 4th Missouri State Militia, Company M, Volunteer Cavalry, Union Army, as bugler, age 17. Also served 14th Cavalry Missouri State Militia, Union Army, company D. Some records and his gravestone indicate he served in the CSA, but I have not found any evidence of this, and both the 4th & 14th MO State Militia are listed as Union regiments. Enlisted April 7, 1862. His Civil War pension record from National Archive show both the 4th & 14th Cavalry, Missouri State Militia. Source: Bruton family records, MO state records,National Archive Civil War Pension records and Civil War Sailors & Soldiers database from the National Parks Service.

William Ward Scott brother of my gg grandmother Lavina Scott Bruton and maternal uncle to my great grandfather B B Bruton. WW Scott was said to have been a guide in MO for the Union Army; no records as yet. Source: "A Reminiscent History of the Ozark Region"

Louis Lyons Ross Beamon b 1849, brother-in-law to BB Bruton, married his sister Nancy Jane Bruton. Served Illinois Infantry, Company D, Union Army.

William T Guthrie b 1840s, brother-in-law to BB Bruton, married his sister Lucinda Bruton. Served in the 6th Missouri Cavalry, Union Army.

James Monroe Whitecotton b Oct 1825 AL; died after 1900 Jackson Co AL. Service not verified as yet in any record. Lived in Jackson Co AL after the war. Possibly served 12th Alabama Confederate Cavalry, CSA, as did his first cousin Valentine Whitecotton. There is a record for a James Whitecotton in this unit. Source CWSS database. My gg grandfather.

Isaac M Whitecotton b 1830 AL brother to my gg grandfather James Monroe Whitecotton. Served 8th TN Confederate Cavalry, company H, private. Lived at Chattanooga TN until 1890s, then joined brother Lindley in AR. Source: TN Civil War records and Whitecotton family records.

Lindley M Whitecotton b 1826, brother to my gg grandfather James Monroe Whitecotton. Fought for the 62nd Arkansas Militia company G, CSA until 1862, then switched allegiance and fought for the Union Army 4th Arkansas Cavalry, company A. Was wounded and disabled in 1864. Source: Lindley's Civil War pension records from the National Archives.

Pleasant Whitecotton b 1839 AL brother to my gg grandfather James Monroe Whitecotton. Lived Chattanooga TN. Served 21st TN Confederate Infantry, company H. Died 1871 Jackson Co AL at age 32. Source: TN Civil War records.

Harrison Whitecotton b 1842 AL brother to my gg grandfather James Monroe Whitecotton. Lived Chattanooga TN. Served Barry's TN Light Artillery, company C, CSA. Source: TN Civil War records.

Valentine Whitecotton b 1835 AL Served 12th Alabama Confederate Cavalry.. 1st cousin to my gg grandfather James Monroe Whitccotton. Killed during the war 1862 in Farmville, Prince Edward Co, VA.

Hiram Whitecotton b 1831 AL 1st cousin to my gg grandfather James Monroe Whitecotton. Married Phebe C Posey. Served in Mead's Confederate Cavalry. Survived the war only to be killed in a gunfight in 1869. Widow & children remained in Jackson Co AL.

Isaac Newton "Pete" Whitecotton b 1833 AL 1st cousin to my gg grandfather James Monroe Whitecotton. Served in Young's company, Alabama Nitre & Mining Corps, CSA. Was killed 1863 near the end of the Civil War, killed as a bushwhacker.

Christopher Columbus Burns b 1833 AL, 1st cousin to my gg grandfather James Monroe Whitecotton. Served Morgan's Regiment,TX Cavalry CSA, company I.

Isaac Avery Thompson b 1820 NC, died Christian Co MO; brother to my gg grandmother Sarah Thompson Whitecotton. He served 8th TN Infantry, company A, then 10th TN Infantry, company D, Union Army. Was in hospital at Nashville from 1862 until 1865 with complications from smallpox. Source: Avery's Civil War Pension records from the National Archives and "Bradley Divided" by Melba Lee Murray .

Timothy Lafayette Thompson Avery's son, nephew to my gg grandmother Sarah Thompson Whitecotton. Served in the 10th TN Infantry, company D Union Army at age 17, then apparently switched allegiance and fought for the 6th TN Cavalry, company K, CSA. Source: "Bradley Divided" by Melba Lee Murray, Lafayette's enlistment records, and his gravestone which indicates his tenure in the CSA.

Josiah Blair Thompson brother of my gg grandmother Sarah Thompson Whitecotton. No records, but prob fought in AR, prob Union Army. Pension record found indicates a Josiah Thompson from Washington Co AR applying in 1873.

Alexander Thompson Brother of my gg grandmother Sarah Thompson Whitecotton. No records, but prob fought in AR, prob Union.

George William Thompson Nephew of my gg grandmother Sarah Thompson Whitecotton, and 1st cousin/half-brother to my great grandmother Siloama K Whitecotton. No records; was said to have been inducted into the Confederate army at age 13. Married Sarah Jackson Bledsoe after the war and lived in Marion twp, Christian Co MO.

Daniel Jackson Thompson brother of George, nephew of my gg grandmother Sarah Thompson Whitecotton and 1st cousin/half brother to my great grandmother Siloama K Whitecotton. Was said to have lied about his age to fight for the Union Army. No records as yet. Married Rosa Killough after the war and lived at Alma, Christian Co MO by 1880 census.

David Mowery Son of James Mowery & Priscilla Thompson, nephew to my gg grandmother Sarah Thompson Whitecotton, first cousin to my great grandmother Siloama K Whitecotton, who was raised in the Mowery family 1856-1878. No records for David as yet, but would have fought for the Union Army in Arkansas. No records after the Civil War. As per Thompson family stories, it is unlikely he survived the war.

William Jackson Mowery Son of James Mowery & Priscilla Thompson; nephew to my gg grandmother Sarah Thompson Whitecotton, first cousin to my great grandmother Siloama K Whitecotton, who was raised with the Mowery family from 1856-1878. William was the only Mowery to serve in the Confederate Army. He enlisted at age 17 in the 14th AR Infantry (Powers) CSA on July 13, 1861 at Yellville, Marion Co AR, deserted on July 26 1862 (this may mean that he was just actually separated from his unit), and re-enlisted in Marshalls Light Artillery, CSA in Sept 1862. No records after the Civil War. As per Thompson family stories, it is unlikely he survived the war.

John A Mowery Son of James Mowery & Priscilla Thompson, nephew to my gg grandmother Sarah Thompson Whitecotton, and first cousin to my great grandmother Siloama K Whitecotton, who was raised in the Mowery family 1856-1878. Lied about his age to join the Union Army at age 13, 4th Arkansas Infantry, company I, enlisting April 9th 1861 at Yellville, Marion Co AR. Was said to be five ft nine inches tall, eyes hazel, hair and complexion fair. Occupation was indicated as farmer,and the enlistment records shows that he was born in Bradley Co TN. John died in hospital at DeValls, AR on Jan 22, 1864, from wounds sustained from fighting in the war. He was 16 years old.

James Wesley Mowery Son of James Mowery and Priscilla Thompson, nephew to my gg grandmother Sarah Thompson Whitecotton, first cousin to my great grandmother Siloama K Whitecotton, who was raised in the Mowery family from 1856-1878. Like his brother John, James must have lied about his age to enlist in the Union Army. He was only twelve when he enlisted in the 4th Arkansas Infantry, company I. Later he transferred to the 13th Arkansas Infantry, company B. According to an 1864 roster he was listed as "badly wounded". He did not survive the war, dying at age 15.

Joseph Abraham Goodwin Son of Thomas Goodwin & Mary Lucinda Thompson, nephew to my gg grandmother Sarah Thompson Whitecotton; first cousin to my great grandmother Siloama K Whitecotton. Served in the 4th TN Cavalry, company I. Received a pension, as per records.Source: descendents & Civil War Sailors & Soldiers database.

Meredith Isaac (or Isaac Meredith?) Goodwin Son of Thomas Goodwin & Mary Lucinda Thompson, nephew to my gg grandmother Sarah Thompson Whitecotton, first cousin to my great grandmother Siloama K Whitecotton. Served in the 4th TN Cavalry, company I. According to sources, he was incarcerated at Andersonville prison, and evidently died just after the end of the war. Source: CWSS database

Matthew Ford Goodwin Son of Thomas Goodwin & Mary Lucinda Thompson, nephew to my gg grandmother Sarah Thompson Whitecotton, first cousin to my great grandmother Siloama K Whitecotton. Served in the 4th TN Cavalry, company I. Received a pension. Source : CWSS database.

In memory of all my ancestors who fought in the Civil War, and their kin, who lived through those bitter years.

Betty

Persistance is a Virtue...Sometimes! And Sometimes Not...

2011-04-07T07:33:00.000-07:00

Often I get email requests from others searching for ancestors, documents, proof, photos and so forth.

It is my policy to help every person who emails me as much as I possibly can. Personally, I would not know much at all about my own family without the generosity of others who have helped me over the years. So I feel strongly motivated to "give back" by helping others who are searching for information.

And if I don't have what the the other person is looking for, I tell them so-- right up front. I might recommend sources or websites that might be helpful, if I know of any. I try very hard to be helpful.

Persistance can be a virtue, especially in genealogy research. And, as my mother-in-law used to say, "there's no harm in asking".

HOWEVER. Asking the same question over and over again and/or emailing repeatedly in the face of my protestations that I don't have any information is JUST PLAIN RUDE.

If I say that I don't have the information, I don't have the information. I am not holding back, hiding photos in a box under my bed, or being willfully secretive and unhelpful.

I have had several run-ins recently with overly-persistent people who have not been willing to take NO for an answer.

My most extreme example is a case of two cousins who have been pestering me FOR YEARS, insisting that our two families with same name MUST be related (they absolutely are not--except in the way that people with the same common surname are related).

The final straw came when one of them had DNA tested with 23andMe --and did not match with me or another of my cousins descended from the same family on my father's side. In the face of scientific evidence (not to mention my well-documented genealogy), this individual continued to insist that we "had to be related"!!!

Sheesh.

Has anyone else had this experience? Or is it just me?

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2011

Fearless Females: Catalyntje Trico, wife of Joris de Rapalje of New Amsterdam

2011-03-31T09:56:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Lisa Alzo of The Accidental Genealogist blog for providing the writing prompts & inspiration: Fearless Females: 31 Blogging Prompts to Celebrate Women's History Month.

Much has already been written about Catalyntje Jeronimus Trico and her husband, Joris Jansen de Rapalje, who were some of the first settlers in New Netherlands. And I am certain that many,many people in the United States are descended from this couple. So I can't claim her as mine solely. But I do believe that she deserves to be recognized as a true "Fearless Female".

Catalyntje & her husband Joris were married Jan 21, 1624 in the Walloon Church of Amsterdam, just before emigrating to New Netherlands. They were from Huguenot families who had fled from France and settled in the Netherlands. It is difficult to understand how they could be convinced to leave the safety, cleanliness & religious tolerance of the Netherlands--which was considered one of the most desirable places to live in the 1600s. But despite that, Catalyntje & Joris chose to leave the relative comfort of Amsterdam and emigrate.

After what must have been a grueling voyage on the ship "Unity" from the Netherlands to the New World, Catalyntje & Joris were first settled at the primitive and remote Fort Orange (now Albany, NY). However, in 1626, the Dutch authorities abandoned Fort Orange (it would be resettled later) and relocated all Dutch settlers to Fort Amsterdam, on the south end of the island of Manhattan. Catalyntje & Joris built a house on Pearl St, near the fort, and lived there for many years. In 1636 Joris purchased land in what is now Brooklyn, and his son-in-law, Hans Hansen Bergen, secured the parcel next door. Catalyntje & Joris lived in the area that became Brooklyn until their deaths.

Life in New Amsterdam must have been very challenging, especially early on. It was an incredibly lawless place, full of drunkeness, licentiousness, & criminal activity. It's difficult to believe that anyone would find it a suitable place to raise a family. But that is exactly what Catalyntje & Joris did. They had eleven children. I descend from two of the daughters: Sarah, their eldest, who married Hans Hansen Bergen, and Judith who married Pieter Pietersen Van Nest. Both are ancestors of my grandfather Alonzo Cox Huber.

The most amazing thing about Catalyntje Trico de Rapalje is that, in an era and place where people did not expect to live long, she survived to a ripe old age of 84, and according to depositions of the time, still had a strong mind and heart long into her later years.

Have a great day!

© Betty Tartas 2011

Fearless Females: Brick Walls & Mystery Women in My Family Tree

2011-03-20T08:13:00.001-07:00

Thanks to Lisa Alzo of The Accidental Genealogist blog for providing the writing prompts & inspiration: Fearless Females: 31 Blogging Prompts to Celebrate Women's History Month.

There are so many mystery women in family tree. I wrote about several of them in both 2009 and 2010, and--for the most part-- those women have remained mysteries despite all my best efforts. I am constantly searching for clues--any clues whatsoever--that might help me find maiden names, marriage records, parents' names, census records and more. Here is a link to 2010's blog post listing several of them: Fearless Females: Mystery Women in My Family Tree

And here is a list of even more female "brick walls" for 2011:

RACHEL BAREE (aka Barre, Barry, Berry, Baryea, etc). She was born about 1730-1740 in New York (not sure exact location) and married JEREMIAH MARTINE, and they settled in Haverstraw, Orange Co NY. She may have had a sister Susanna Baree/Barre who married William Felter in Clarkstown, Rockland/Orange Co NY; RACHEL named a daugher Susannah/Susanna. Her father's name may have been "Isaac" or "Abraham" as those two first names did not appear in previous generation of the Martine family.

CHARITY, wife of JAMES PALMER, born April 20, 1731 (birthdate unverified by me) probably New York or Fairfield Co CT. JAMES PALMER was of Greenwich, Fairfield Co CT, but moved to Dutchess Co NY sometime after 1756. One of their eldest sons was GABRIEL PALMER b abt 1752 who married ABIGAIL LOUNSBURY, my great X 5 grandparents, who named a son HANMER PALMER b abt 1778 Fairfield Co CT. This is the only clue I have been able to glean, so far. Clearly HANMER PALMER was named with the surname of a relative, and it wasn't from his mother ABIGAIL LOUNSBURY's family! It is possible that CHARITY was somehow descended from GABRIEL LUDLOW b 1697 who married SARAH HANMER, daughter of Rev JOSEPH HANMER of New York. But how? and who? There were no Hanmers or Ludlows living in Fairfield Co CT during the time period.

MAGDALENA, born about 1750 PA or Germany, the wife of JACOB HUBER Sr. JACOB died Oct 8, 1803 in Berlin, Brother's Valley twp, Somerset Co PA according to his will. He left his wife well-off, with land, a house in the town, and household goods. Only one son, WILLIAM/WILHELM HUBER is listed in the will--although baptism records show there were indeed several other children. I have not been able to trace this couple previous to 1797, when they arrived in Brother's Valley twp, Somerset Co (then Bedford Co), PA (according to church records). MAGDALENA is a complete mystery. (she is not, by the way, MAGDALENA SCHOLL who married JACOB HUBER of Milford twp, Bucks Co PA. They are a completely different couple).

TRYPHENA FISHER (aka Trufener, Triffinah, etc) born about 1737 in Ireland? Delaware? Maryland?
She married CURTIS OTWELL Sr and died in Sussex Co DE. She was supposedly the daughter of HENRY FISHER, and they were likely Quakers. Ann M Frazier Way, a descendent, wrote a letter in 1898 that listed all children & spouses; the letter indicated that CURTIS OTWELL and his wife TRYPHENA FISHER were from Ireland. But many other sources & records connect CURTIS OTWELL with an Otwell family from England that lived for several generations in Jamestown VA, MD & DE. TRYPHEN is listed as "Trufener" on her husband's 1779 Sussex Co DE will; children are mentioned but not listed. At least two of the children of TRYPHENA FISHER & CURTIS OTWELL Sr married Quakers and/or joined the Quaker church.

According to Ed Brezenger, TRIFFINAH OTWELL (likely the widowed wife of CURTIS OTWELL) is listed in the 1790 Northwest Fork Hundred, Delaware census. I have not yet seen this record myself. Another source I found indicates that the 1790 Delaware census was destroyed in the war of 1812. So now I am very confused.

ELIZABETH McLEAN born April 7, 1748 in County Down, Ulster Province, N Ireland; married on June 1, 1762 in N Ireland (exact location unknown) PATRICK McDONALD who was born March 17, 1727/1728 in Invernesshire, Scotland. This couple settled in Douglas twp, Hants Co, Nova Scotia, Canada. The source for this information is the book, "Rawdon & Douglas: Two Loyalist Townships in Nova Scotia" by John V Duncanson. ELIZABETH died Nov 3, 1796, Upper Kennetcook, Hants Co, Nova Scotia, Canada. I have a lot of facts--birth, death, marriage--but no information on her parents.

ELIZABETH TOAL (aka Tole, O'Toole, Toole) born 1730-1740 in probably Ulster Province, N Ireland; married sometime after 1755 JOHN RINES Sr (aka Ranes, Rhines, etc), who was from Corn Hill (Truro), Barnstable Co MA. JOHN was conscripted in the British Army and was a soldier at the time of the expulsion of the French Acadians from Nova Scotia. He decided to settle in Hants Co Nova Scotia, rather than return to Massachusetts. The source for this information is the book, "Rawdon & Douglas: Two Loyalist Townships in Nova Scotia" by John V Duncanson, and several other historical references. Unfortunately I have never been able to trace ELIZABETH previous to her marriage to JOHN RINES Sr.

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2011

Awards! One Lovely Blog Received, One Genea-Angel Given

2011-03-19T08:47:00.000-07:00

I was very pleased and surprised to receive the "One Lovely Blog" award from Yvonne, author of the blog Swedish Thoughts. Thanks very much, Yvonne!

The Rules for the award are as follows:

1. Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who granted the award and their blog link.
2. Pass the award on to 15 other genealogy blogs that you’ve newly discovered.
3. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

And here are the 15 blog that I have chosen as recipients:

1) Are You My Cousin? Lisa

2) Dr Bill Tells Ancestor Stories Bill Smith

3) I Will Remember Kathy

4) John Brown Kin Alice Keesey McCoy

5) Genealogy & Me Lori

6) Canada Genealogy or "Jane's Your Aunt" M. Diane Rogers

7) Before My Time T K

8) Geneapprentice Sarah B

9) It's All Relatives Chris Odom

10) Nolichucky Roots Nolichucky

11) Ciccolella Family History Chuck Bennett

12) Twice Upon a Time Cheryl Lundy Stuart

13) Climbing My Family Tree Marian Burk Wood

14) Saving Stories Robin

15) The Lineal Arboretum Jim Owston

And I would like to present the Genea-Angel Award to my friend Barbara Poole, whose blog is called Life From the Roots, for her kind, supportive comments on my recent Betty's Boneyard blog post "My Great Great Grandfather Suddenly Has a New Identity..." I know she has received this award previously, but I believe it is well-deserved! :)

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2011

John F Martine, My Great Great Grandfather--NOT John Albert Martine who married Mary Buttencarrier

2011-03-17T10:40:00.000-07:00

The is my great great grandfather, JOHN F MARTINE born June 15, 1831 Spencerport, Ogden twp, Monroe Co NY, who married Mary Ann Scofield--NOT "John Albert Martine" who married "Mary Buttencarrier", and had a son Jacob Martine who married Margaret Alvina Grandstaff.

Actually the parents of Jacob Martine who married Margaret Alvina Grandstaff were JOHN C MORTINE / MARTINE born Nov 30, 1830 Strasbourg, Alsace, France; and MARIA ANNA (Mary Ann) BORDENKIRCHER born abt 1830 France. JOHN C MORTINE / MARTINE died April 17, 1905 in Nebraska City, Nebraska. Mary Ann Bordenkircher Martine died March 8, 1875 in Otoe Co, Nebraska.

The above photo of JOHN F MARTINE is a copy of an original that belongs to my family. As I said in my last blog post, it has been appropriated by someone, given a new identity as John Albert Martine, and added to their Ancestry.com public family tree without my consent. So far the person has refused to remove the photo, and has blocked my messages.

Here is a marriage affidavit from JOHN F MARTINE's Civil War Pension file, showing his wife and all his children. JOHN F MARTINE did not have a son named Jacob Martine.

Here is a birth affidavit from JOHN F MARTINE's Civil War Pension file, upon his application to the Old Soldier's Home in Orting, Pierce Co, WA in 1906.

Here is the 1860 census for JOHN F MARTINE Yorkville, Racine Co WI. It lists his wife, and two of his children, Charles Albert Martine & Ida K Martine (bottom of the page). He did not have a son named Jacob Martine born 1856.

In 1860 JOHN C MORTINE / MARTINE and his wife MARY ANN BORDENKIRCHER lived in Coshocton Co Ohio. His surname was mistakenly transcribed as MARTIN. His son JACOB MARTINE who married MARGARET ALVINA GRANDSTAFF is listed on the 2nd page.

And here is a biography of JOHN C MORTINE / MARTINE b Nov 30, 1830 Strasbourg France

From "Portrait and Biographical Album of Otoe and Cass Counties, Nebraska", Volume I, 1889:

Capt. John Martine, who has hosts of friends in Otoe Precinct, is the subject of a very interesting history, and a man who has fought his way through many difficulties to a good position among his fellow-citizens, socially and financially. He owns and operates a good farm of 160 acres, comprising the southwest quarter of section 16. He has distinguished himself as a patriot and a soldier, having ample right to his title as Captain, which was obtained through his military service in the Union Army.

The Martine (formerly La Martine) family is of French descent, and allied to the nobility of fair France. The father of our subject, Adam Martine, was of French birth and ancestry, a native of Alsace, which was then Lorraine; he married Miss Catherine Glodney, who was born in the same Province. They were the parents of nine children, six of whom died in infancy; the living are: Our subject, Michael and George. The parents, in the year 1835, emigrated to America, settling in Philadelphia, and later went to Ohio; there the father was prospered in his labors as an agriculturist, and accumulated a fine property. He rested from his earthly labors in the year 1868, at the age of seventy-six years and five months. The mother survived her husband a period of eight years, her death taking place in 1876, when she was eighty-one years old; she, like her husband, was of noble birth. Our subject's brother, Michael and George, are both residents of Coshocton County, Ohio, and have large families, and are in good circumstances.

Capt. Martine was born near the city of Strasburg, in the Province of Alsace Lorraine, France, Nov. 30, 1830, but when brought to America was too young to have retained any recollection of his native place. He grew up on the farm in Ohio, although he had begun his education in the city schools of Philadelphia. After the removal of the family to Ohio, where they were among the early pioneers, young Martine was obliged to travel three miles through the woods, climbing over logs three or four feet in diameter, through bush and bramble, to reach the temple of learning. Limited as his opportunities were, however, he appreciated them and kept his place at the head of his class. When not in school his services were utilitized around the homestead, where he remained until his marriage, Aug. 30, 1852. The lady who at that time became the wife of our subject was Miss Mary Ann Bordenkarker, who was also of French birth and parentage, and by whom he became the father of six children. They lived upon a farm in Lyndon Township, Coshocton Co., Ohio, until the outbreak of the Civil War. Before his enlistment the Captain went to Corinth, Miss., to take care of a brother-in-law who was dangerously ill, but who died before he could reach him. Immediately upon his return home, his sympathies being now doubly enlisted in the cause of the Union, he assisted in the organization of a company made up mostly from the young men and boys of his own neighborhood, with whom he had previously drilled. This was Company C, and was part of the 80th Ohio Infantry. He went with them to the front, but at Corinth was taken seriously ill, and obliged to accept his honorable discharge. He did not by any means, however, intend to give up the fight, and as soon as his health would permit he left his sick bed and organized Company K of the 1st Ohio Militia, and of which he was elected Captain, receiving a five-years commission from Gov. Todd, then Governor of Ohio. He participated in the efforts made to capture Morgan while on his raid through Ohio, after that did guard duty in different parts of the State, and the regiment was subsequently disbanded.

After the close of the war Capt. Martine removed with his family, in September, 1865, to Brown County, Ill., but staid there only about two years, next crossing the Mississippi and settling in Nebraska City. Here our subject was Superintendent of a section of the Council Bluffs & St. Joseph's Railroad, which was then in process of construction. Later he had the supervision of a company of men working in the Summit cut on the Midland Pacific. In the year 1868 he purchased the land which he now owns and occupies, and thereafter gave his attention to it. Here the wife and mother died, at the age of forty years, March 8, 1875. The six children of this marriage were names respectively: John, Jr.; George, Maria, Jacob, Maude Lena and Ella. John married Miss Rosa Morgan, is farming in the vicinity of Syracuse and is the father of two children; George married Miss L. Anderson, lives on a farm in Otoe Precinct, and has three children -- George, Lena and Joseph; Maria is the wife of Benjamin Griffin, of Buffalo County, and the mother of three children; Maude Lena married James White, of this county, lives on a farm in Russell Precinct, and is the mother of three children; Ella married Otis Brown, is a resident of Otoe Precinct and the mother of three children -- Howard, Dessie and John; Jacob is married, and farming in Custer County, this state.

Capt. Martine, on the 12th of May, 1876, contracted a second marriage, with Miss Lucy Scherrer, a native of Baden, Germany, and who became the mother of three children, only one of whom is living, a daughter, Mary, who resides with her father at home. Mrs. Lucy Martine departed this life at her home in Otoe Precinct, Nov. 8, 1880, aged thirty-seven years. Capt. Martine, Aug. 16, 1883, was married to Mrs. Elizabeth High, nee Schuster, who was born in Prussia, Sept. 17, 1836, and came to the United States in 1882. She is the mother of one child, a daughter, Katie, who is now in school. The captain also has an adopted son, Frank Fuller, now fourteen years of age, and living with them.

The principles of the Democratic party have usually been the exponent of the political opinions of Capt. Martine, although he refuses to be controlled by party lines, and votes for the men whom he considers best qualified for the office. He has never desired official honors, and with the exception of serving as School Director one term, has steadily declined holding office in Nebraska. While a resident of Coshocton County, Ohio, he served as Justice of the Peace and Assessor, and was continuously in office of some kind until entering the army. He prefers now to relegate its duties and responsibilities to other men. Both he and his excellent wife are members in good standing of the Catholic Church at Nebraska City.

Clearly JOHN C MORTINE / MARTINE and JOHN F MARTINE are two different people. My great great grandfather JOHN F MARTINE never lived in Ohio or Nebraska. He did not have a son name Jacob Martine who married Margaret Alvina Grandstaff. My John F Martine served in the Civil War in the 2nd Wisconsin Cavalry, Company G, as per his pension records, and NOT in the 80th Ohio Infantry, Company C, or the 1st Ohio Militia, Company K, as did JOHN C MORTINE / MARTINE.

I am posting these records in the hopes that the person who appropriated my gg grandfather's photo will find them, see their mistake, and remove the photo of my gg grandfather JOHN F MARTINE from their Ancestry.com public tree.

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2011

My Great Great Grandfather Suddenly Has a New Identity......

2011-03-13T07:49:00.000-07:00

This is a photo of my great great grandfather JOHN F MARTINE. The photo is a copy of an original that was sent to me by a relative.

While browsing public family trees on Ancestry.com, I discovered that someone had appropriated this photo of my gg grandfather and had given him a new identity "JOHN ALBERT MARTINE", as well as five wives and numerous children, none of them correct. They also "borrowed" all of my research including birth and death dates and attached census records.

Clearly the person merged and combined several Ancestry.com public family trees, including mine. Besides all my attached census records, which are correct for JOHN F MARTINE, this person has my gg grandfather living in Bromley, Middlesex England in 1861, Cmudu, Glamorganshire, Wales in 1890, and Hillsborough, Somerset Co NJ in 1900.

At this point I don't know whether or not the photo was intentionally attached to the family tree, but the person has so far refused to remove it. Their only excuse was that they are "new to this", and that I need to "back off". And now they have blocked my emails, so I can't inform them that I actually found their correct ancestor.

Here is a link to the erroneous Ancestry.com public family tree:

JOHN ALBERT MARTINE

Note 3/19/2011: The person has removed the photo from his/her online family tree, so I have removed the link.

And here is a link to the "correct" ancestor of the owner of the erroneous Ancestry.com public tree.

JOHN C MORTINE/MARTINE

Using the information on this person's family tree, I found their correct Martine ancestor in about two minutes. If the person had even tried to do some research, they too would have found that my great great grandfather was not the same person as their ancestor John C Mortine/Martine, who was born in Strasbourg, France.

Here is the correct information for my great great grandfather JOHN F MARTINE, the man in the photo:

Born June 15, 1831 Spencerport, Ogden twp, Monroe Co NY
Died Jan 30, 1907 Old Soldier's Home, Orting, Pierce Co WA

Married April 12, 1851 Racine Co WI to MARY ANN SCOFIELD, as per copy of original marriage record & Civil War Pension Record. MARY ANN SCOFIELD was the daughter of CHARLES SCOFIELD & SALLY ANN HOYT DIBBLE.

JOHN F MARTINE Fought in Civil War 2nd WI Cavalry Co G, rank Corporal. Disabled & discharged by May 1862, as per numerous sources, including his Civil War Pension Record.

Children:
--CHARLES ALBERT MARTINE born April 12, 1854 Yorkville, Racine Co WI m Alice Miller (my great grandparents)
--IDA K MARTINE born June 24, 1857 Yorkville, Racine Co WI m James Myers
--MINNIE LUCINDA MARTINE b Aug 16, 1869 Hardin Co Iowa m 1st) William Clifton 2nd) Joseph Rainford; died Everson, Whatcom Co WA
--JOHN EDSON MARTINE b Jan 10, 1875 Kansas City, MO m (late in life) Pearl unknown in Everson, Whatcom Co WA

Census records:
--1850 Monroe Co NY Spencerport, Ogden twp census age 19 with his sister Rachel Martine age 34 only (parents both deceased)
--1860 Racine Co WI census with wife Mary Ann and children, near father in law Charles Scofield
--1870 Hardin Co Iowa census, Etna twp, town of Eldora with wife Mary Ann and children, surname incorrectly written listed as "Morten"; occupation, drayman.
--1880 Livingston Co MO census, town of Chillicothe with wife Mary Ann and children, next door to daughter Ida and son in law James Myers.

I have not been able to find JOHN F MARTINE in the 1900 census, but his Civil War Pension record shows that he & his wife were living in Kansas City, MO until the late 1890s, before moving to Whatcom Co WA to be near their daughter Minnie.

Here is a photo of JOHN F MARTINE's tombstone in the Old Soldier's Cemetery, Orting, Pierce Co WA.

Betty

Fearless Females March 4, 2011: Marriage Records for Grandparents & Great Grandparens

2011-03-04T08:59:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Lisa Alzo of The Accidental Genealogist blog for providing the inspiration: Fearless Females: 31 Blogging Prompts to Celebrate Women's History Month.

I am fortunate to have marriage records for both sets of grandparents, and for three out of four sets of great grandparents. While I don't have any stories about the weddings, I do have a few facts about the couples, gleaned from various sources.

My maternal grandparents RUBY BOLTON BROWN & R B MARTINE were married April 6, 1915 in Seattle WA. They moved to San Francisco CA in 1921, and lived there until the 1950s, when they returned to the Seattle area. I have written many blog posts about my adventurous grandmother Ruby!!

My paternal grandparents MINTTIE MAE BRUTON & ALONZO COX HUBER were married July 6, 1901 in McCracken, Christian Co MO. They moved to Marshall Co Iowa by 1905, raised a family of ten children, and lived in Iowa the rest of their lives.

My maternal great grandparents MARY ETTA KENNEDY & FRANK R BROWN were married July 2, 1878 in Aurora, Esmerelda Co NV. They were living in Bodie, Mono Co CA, about 15 miles away from the town of Aurora, but at that time, there wasn't a justice of the peace in Bodie. Both are ghost towns now. By 1887, Frank R Brown was living on remote Unga Island in Alaska. His wife & daughter joined him in 1888, and the family lived there until 1904, when they moved to San Francisco. Mary Etta died there at age 49, in 1907. The family lived in San Francisco at the time of the great 1906 earthquake.

My maternal great grandparents ALICE MILLER & CHARLES ALBERT MARTINE are the only couple for whom I don't have an actual marriage record. However, I do know they were married 1880 in Clinton Co MO, probably at the home of ALICE's sister, MARY ELLIS MILLER who married JOHN WILSON. Alice & Charles lived in the town of Chillicothe, Livingston Co MO at the time of the 1880 census. They moved around a great deal during their marriage! By 1884 they lived in Alburquerque, New Mexico. By 1886 they lived in Wyandott, Kansas. By 1887 They lived in Kansas City, Kansas. By 1893 they lived in Yamhill Co, Oregon. By 1897 they lived in Seattle, WA. By 1905 they lived in Stanwood, Snohomish Co WA. By 1920 they were back in Seattle WA. All of this moving around could not have been easy on Alice or their five children!!

My paternal great grandparents CAROLINE AMELIA "CRAMELIA" FRAZIER & PHILLIP L HUBER were married Nov 17, 1869 in Thorntown, Boone Co IN. In the 1870 census, Phillip & Cramelia were living next door to Phillip's mother CATHERINE (SHRIVER) HUBER in Sugar Creek twp, Montgomery Co IN. By 1880 they had moved to Bangor, Marshall Co Iowa, where Cramelia's mother, Nancy (Van Arsdale) Frazier, lived. Phillip L Huber disappeared without a trace sometime between 1880 and 1885, leaving Cramelia to raise their three children alone.

My paternal great grandparents SILOAMA K WHITECOTTON & BENJAMIN B BRUTON were married Nov 8, 1875 in Christian Co MO, Rev Jacob Burkhart presiding. Benjamin B Bruton was a newly ordained Baptist minister at the time of their marriage, and would eventually become a school teacher in Christian Co MO. He also wrote numerous tracts, presided over several congregations and performed over at least twenty marriages in Christian Co MO. Siloama preceded him in death by over twenty years.

Surname Saturday: New England Ancestors Shared with Heather Wilkinson Rojo

2011-02-26T08:23:00.000-08:00

Well. This week brought eight inches of snow with bitter cold temperatures following, a rarity in the Pac NW. For several days we were housebound here at Heart Lake Farm, waiting for the snowplows to come out our way. So conditions were absolutely perfect for completing genealogical stuff that I had been meaning to do, but had been distracted from in the past few months by other pressing genealogical stuff--such as documentation for an application to the Society of Mayflower Descendants.

So this week I compared my New England family tree with Heather Wilkinson Rojo's. Heather writes the blog Nutfield Genealogy.

This was a somewhat daunting task, as I had three separate pedigrees of Heather's to compare with two of my pedigrees (which actually turned out to be all four of my pedigrees ). But I stuck with it. And my work produced some very interesting results!

Here are the ancestors, in no particular order, that Heather & I share in her WILKINSON lineage:

All ancestors shared with my maternal grandmother RUBY BOLTON BROWN

William Chandler & Agnes Bayford
Frances Bayford & Joan unknown
Robert Mayhew & Joan Bridman
Thomas Mayhew & Alice Waterman
Matthew Mayhew & Alice Barter
Thomas Mayhew & Jane Gallion, mayor of Martha's Vineyard
John Howland & Elizabeth Tilley, Mayflower passengers
John Gorham & Desire Howland
Henry Howland & Margaret Aires
John Tilley & Joan Hurst, Mayflower passengers
Ralph Gorham & Margaret Stephenson
James Gorham & Agnes Bennington
Edmund Hawes I & Jane Porter
Edmund Hawes II & unknown wife
John Hawes & Desire Gorham
John Daggett & Alice Brotherton
William Daggett & Alice Lappage
Thomas Daggett & Hannah Mayhew
Thomas Daggett II & Elizabeth Hawes
Nicholas Norton I & unknown wife
Nicholas Butler & Joyce Baker
John Butler & Priscilla Norton
John Butler II & Mary Lynde
Nicholas Norton II & Elizabeth Isaac
Thomas Lynde & unknown wife
Ezekiel Northend & Edna Halstead
John Emery & Agnes Northend
Richard Hutchinson & Alice Bosworth
Thomas Hutchinson & Alice unknown
John Sawyer & Agnes Sharpe
Samuel Platts & Sarah Bates

Here are the ancestors that Heather & I share in the lineage of her grandfather STANLEY ELMER ALLEN:

Ancestors shared with maternal grandmother RUBY BOLTON BROWN

Henry Howland & Margaret Aires
John Howland & Elizabeth Tilley, Mayflower passengers
John Tilley & Joan Hurst, Mayflower passengers
Edmund Gale & unknown wife
Thomas Bray & Mary Wilson
John Swett & Phoebe unknown
John Perkins & Judith Gater
Henry Perkins & Elizabeth Sawbridge
Michael Gater & Isabel Bayley
William Sawbridge & Elizabeth unk
Samuel Graves & Grace Beamsley
Mark Graves & Amy unknown
Henry Kimball & Mary Riddlesdale Wyatt
Richard Kimball & Ursula Scott

Henry Scott & Margaret Whatlock, shared with both my maternal grandparents
Edmund Scott & Joan unknown, shared with both my maternal grandparents
Thomas Whatlock & Joan unknown, shared with both my maternal grandparents

David Phippen & Sarah Pinckney, shared with my maternal grandfather R B MARTINE
Robert Fitzpen/Phippen & Cecily Jordan, shared with R B MARTINE & both my paternal grandparents ALONZO COX HUBER & MINTTIE MAE BRUTON
Thomas Jordan & Agnes Burte, shared with grandparents R B MARTINE, ALONZO COX HUBER & MINTTIE MAE BRUTON.

Here is a link to one of my previous blog posts about how three out of four of my grandparents share ancestors in the PHIPPEN, JORDAN & REYNOLDS families of England & the US.

Here are the ancestors I share with Heather in the lineage of her grandmother GERTRUDE MATILDA HITCHINGS:

All ancestors shared with my maternal grandmother RUBY BOLTON BROWN

Henry Howland & Margaret Aires

John Howland & Elizabeth Tilley, Mayflower passengers

John Tilley & Joan Hurst, Mayflower passengers

Thomas Crosby & Jane Sotheron

Anthony Crosby & Alison Blanchard

William Sotheron & Constance Lambert

Michael Bacon I & Elizabeth Wyle

Michael Bacon II & Alice unknown

Mary Lynde Butler (married 1st to John Butler, 2nd to William Weeks, Edgartown, Dukes Co MA--Martha's Vineyard)

Thomas Lynde & unknown wife

Richard Holland & Winifred Pierce shared with my maternal grandfather R B MARTINE

I count 111 shared ancestors with Heather Wilkinson Rojo (not counting the Howlands & Tilleys more than once)!

This breaks the record for shared ancestors previously held by my DNA cousin "Stan" who shares 96 ancestors, and Barbara Poole, who shares about 45 ancestors, and writes the blog Life From the Roots! See my previous blogposts about sharing ancestors with them!

And there may be more. I was suffering from a flu/cold virus when I compared our pedigrees, so in my delirium may have missed a few :)

Phew! I'd say that was a pretty good day's work, wouldn't you?

Have a great weekend!

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2011

A Friend of Friends Friday: African American Slaves Named in the 1783 will of CHARLES CHRISTIAN II of Goochland Co VA

2011-02-25T06:27:00.000-08:00

WILL OF CHARLES CHRISTIAN
In the name of God amen. I, CHARLES CHRISTIAN of Goochland County, being
in perfect sence and memory do ordain this my last will & testament. It
is my desire that all my just debts should be paid after my decease.
--Item. I give unto my son WILLIAM CHRISTIAN four hundred Acres of land lying in Amherst County the said land I bought of John Warrin, but if my Son WM. CHRISTIAN should die without Ishew lawfully begotten of his body the said land to be equally divided between my Son WALTER CHRISTIAN and my Son GEORGE CHRISTIAN.
--Item. I give unto my Son WALTER CHRISTIAN two hundred and Fifty Acres of land lying in Amherst County the said land I bought of James London and one Negro Man named WILL. I give unto him and his Heirs and assigns forever. I like wise do give him one feather bed and furniture and two Cows and Calves forever.
--Item. I give unto my son GEORGE CHRISTIAN the land whereon I now live one Negro Woman named SUCK and her increase from the time forward likewise a Negro Girl named HANNAH one feather bed and furniture, and two Cows and Calves forever.
--Item. I give unto my daughter MORNING CHRISTIAN half the land whereon Benjamin Lacy now lives, to be equally divided, I further give to my said Daughter MORNING one Negro woman named FANNY, one Negro boy named BEN, and a Negro Girl named JUDITH; one feather bed and furniture, two Cows and Calves forever.
--Item. I give unto JUDITH WOODSON DANIELL, one Shilling Sterling and no more as she hath had her portion likewise before.
--Item. I give the remainder of my Estate after my Just debts be paid, to CHARLES CHRISTIAN, JOHN CHRISTIAN, ELIJAH CHRISTIAN, TURNER CHRISTIAN, WM. CHRISTIAN, WALTER CHRISTIAN, and GEORGE CHRISTIAN, ELIZABETH HUMBER, MARY GRISHAM, JUDY LACY and MORNING CHRISTIAN to be equally divided among them, and I do appoint TURNER CHRISTIAN, WALTER CHRISTIAN, & GEORGE CHRISTIAN, Executors to this my last Will and Testament, in Witness here of I do Sett my hand and Seal the 18th day of Sept. 1783,

Test:William Turner Charles Christian Seal
Josiah Leak and Lucy Leak.
Proved Feb.16, 1784, Recorded in D.B. No. 13, p359

CHARLES CHRISTIAN II, the son of CHARLES CHRISTIAN I and ELIZABETH HUNT, was born around 1727 in Charles City Co VA, and died Feb 16, 1784 in Goochland Co VA. He was married 1st) to JUDITH WOODSON, who before her death in 1738 bore him two daughters JUDITH & LUCY; and 2nd) to MARY LEAKE, who was the mother of most of his children.

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2011

A Friend of Friends Friday: African American Slaves Named in the 1821 will of ARTHUR MOORE of Franklin County, Tennessee

2011-02-18T08:52:00.000-08:00

Note: "A Friend of Friends" was a password used on the Underground Railroad.

1821, December 8. In the name of God Amen. I, ARTHUR MOORE of the County of Franklin, State of Tennessee, being weak in body but of sound and perfect mind and memory blessed be almighty God for the same so make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following, that is to say,

First I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife, ELIZABETH MOORE, the following property to wit: One negro named SARAH, a girl named HANNAH, a boy the name of GEORGE, a boy the name of DAVID, also one boy by the name of ISAAC.

Item 2nd - I will that ANNA GRAHAM has a negro girl named DESA during her natural life, then revert to the heirs of her body.

Item 3rd - I will that my wife as aboved named has the residue and remaining part of my property real and personal at my death to have and hold and enjoy in full and peaceful possession of the same during her natural life and after her decease, the above named property is to be equally divided between the following children to wit: ALEXANDER MOORE, LODAWICK MOORE, ARCHIBALD MOORE, MARTHA JONES, PENELOPE NICHELSON , ANNA GRAHAM, MARY CORIGAN to be equally divided amongst them.

I also bequeath unto my beloved daughter, ELIZABETH HARTGROVE, a negro girl by the name of MARY and a negro girl by the name of JANE unto my granddaughter DICY is to be considered their legacy and full share out of my real and personal estate and that they are entitled to no more out of my estate whomsoever.

I also nominate and apppoint my beloved sons, ALEXANDER MOORE, LODAWICK MOORE and ARCHIBALD MOORE, or any two of them my Executors to this my last Will and Testament disallowing and revoking all former wills by me made ratifying this and only this to be and remain my last Will and Testament the 8th day of December, 1821. ARTHUR MOORE Signed, sealed, published and declared in presence of John Jones, Stephen Wilkinson, James Stanley.

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas 2011