Betty's Genealogy Wish List for 2011

Well, 2010 is nearly done and, sad to say, I did not get my genealogy wishes fulfilled--as laid out in my two blog posts from last December:

Betty's Genealogy Wish List for 2010 Part One

Betty's Genealogy Wish List for 2010 Part Two

The "brick walls" outlined in those two posts are still standing.  I have not made one iota of progress on them. They are still as much a mystery as they were last year at this time. So essentially my 2011 wish list is exactly the same as the 2010 wish list.

Sigh.

That is not to say that this has not been an interesting year for my genealogy research. DNA testing has broadened my genealogy horizons.  I made interesting connections, such as discovering that three out of four of my grandparents were related through the Reynolds family.  Through online parish records from Cornwall, England, I was able to expand the pedigree of my maternal gg grandmother CORDELIA RICKARD. And I did find some clues that may help to solve at least two of my most persistant family mysteries.

1) Concerning JACOB HUBER Sr, my great X 5 grandfather who died Oct 8, 1803 in Berlin, Brother's Valley twp, Somerset Co PA:  as I noted in my 2010 wish list blog post, he was not living in Somerset (aka Bedford) Co PA before 1792.  I had long suspected he had migrated from PA to either VA or MD , as so many colonial German immigrants had.

This year  I managed to find a curious German Reformed Church record from Hagerstown, Washington Co MD. On July 7, 1776 Hagerstown, Washington Co MD records show the baptism of three sons of JACOB HUBER and wife (unamed) in the German Reformed church. Children were:


WILHELM HUBER born June 22, 1776
CHRISTOFEL/CHRISTIAN  HUBER born Nov 6, 1770
JOHANN ADAM HUBER born April 6, 1773

The children may or may not have been born in Hagerstown, Washington Co MD;  they were all born in different years and all baptized on the same day. If CHRISTOFEL/CHRISTIAN & JOHANN ADAM HUBER were indeed the sons of JACOB HUBER Sr of Berlin, Somerset Co PA,  they were not named in JACOB HUBER Sr's 1803 will (the only adult child mentioned is son WILHELM/WILLIAM).  Nor did they ever live in Berlin, Brother's Valley twp, Somerset Co PA  (aka Brother's Valley twp, Bedford Co PA previous to 1795) according to census & other records.

However, it should be noted that at the 1799 baptism in Berlin, Somerset Co PA of ANNA MARIA HUBER, the daughter of my great X 4 grandparents WILHELM/WILLIAM HUBER & wife ANNA ELIZABETH KEFFER, the witness was CHRISTIAN HUBER--who did not live in Berlin, Somerset Co PA, and is not in any other records besides this one baptismal record from  the Evangelical Lutheran/Evangelical German Reformed Church of Berlin.

2) Ahh. The mystery of LEWIS SHRIVER born 1785-1790 who married SUSANNAH LUCKHART. Turns out there were several with the name "Lewis Shriver" born during this time period, unfortunately. I had been led to believe that "my" LEWIS SHRIVER born 1785-1790 was the son of FREDERICK WILLIAM SHRIVER born 1786 Adams Co PA who died Sept 4, 1820 in Tiffin,  Seneca Co OH (son of LEWIS SHRIVER & MARY SHEETS).  After careful examination of census and other records, it is clear these two "Lewis Shrivers"were completely different men, even though they were born at about the same time.

My great X 5 grandfather LEWIS SHRIVER born 1785-1790 was a miller, and named his son "Frederick William Shriver". He also named a son "Phillip Shriver".  His two other sons Thomas Shriver and John Luckhart Shriver, were named after two brothers of his wife SUSANNAH LUCKHART.

According to census records LEWIS & SUSANNAH (LUCKHART) SHRIVER migrated to Huntingdon Co PA with his wife's Luckhart family, and ended up settling near them in Ross Co OH, in an area which by 1825 became Hocking Co OH.  LEWIS SHRIVER died there in April 1831, according to his will, leaving his mill to his wife SUSANNAH and children.

SUSANNAH LUCKHART was born about 1790 in Washington Co MD, the daughter of CONRAD LUCKHART Sr and his wife ANNA MARIA, who lived in Berks Co PA from 1780-1785, according to tax & church records, and moved to Washington Co MD by the 1790 census. CONRAD LUCKHART Sr lived in Huntingdon Co PA from 1800-1820, and was in  Colerain twp, Ross Co OH by 1830. He apparently married 2nd to a MARGARET, and also died in 1831.

So I decided to start looking in Maryland for clues as to the parents of LEWIS SHRIVER born 1785-1790. This year discovered that he might be the son of FREDERICK WILLIAM SHRIVER born Feb 8, 1744 probably Anne Arundel Co, MD, who died Feb 27, 1820 Creagerstown, Frederick Co MD.

This FREDERICK WILLIAM SHRIVER married first to MARIA ELISABETH BIERLE, had three sons with her as per church & census records; after her death FREDERICK W married ELIZABETH SEESMAN in 1794, and apparently did not have any children with her.

I have found birth records for  two sons by the first wife:

 PHILLIP SHRIVER born Feb 8, 1780
 JACOB SHRIVER born Dec 25, 1783.

Census record of 1790 Frederick Co MD shows a couple, three sons and one slave.  Census record 1800 Emmitsburg, Frederick Co MD shows Frederick W Shriver; older couple 45+;  2 men 16-25;  one boy 10-15 and one slave.

I strongly suspect that the youngest son was my great X 5 grandfather LEWIS SHRIVER born 1785-1790.

And oh yes--this FREDERICK WILLIAM SHRIVER born Feb 8, 1744 was a miller--just as my great X 5 grandfather LEWIS SHRIVER was in Hocking Co OH.

So my online family tree for the SHRIVER family will now require a complete overhaul.  But that's what holidays are for, aren't they? :)

Have a great day!

Betty


© Betty Tartas  2010

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday: Christmas 1958

Christmas 1958: Mom with me, Dad with Debbie

Copy of original photo, my collection.

Happy Holidays!

Betty

© Betty Tartas  2010

Surname Saturday: Cruisin' Down the mtDNA Highway: SUSANNA IRISH

SUSANNA IRISH is my great X 5 grandmother in my direct maternal line.

She was born Oct 22, 1760 in Gorham, Cumberland Co, Maine, the daughter of THOMAS IRISH and DELIVERANCE SKILLINGS of Falmouth & Gorham, Cumberland Co Maine.

She was the granddaughter of JAMES IRISH born about 1700, Boxford, Suffolk or Surrey Co England, who emigrated to New England as a boy in about 1711, and his wife ELIZABETH--who were some of the first settlers in Gorham.

On Dec 7, 1780 SUSANNA married EBENEZER MORTON in Gorham, Cumberland Co Maine. By 1800 they were living in Standish, Cumberland Co, Maine. That is where she likely died, sometime before 1820.

I have not yet found any historical references to SUSANNA (IRISH) MORTON, so I do not have any insight into her character or the details of her life.


Have a great day!


Betty

© Betty Tartas  2010

A Friend of Friends Friday: African American Slaves Named in the 1815 Will of GEORGE BRUTON/BREWTON Esq of Spartanburg SC

GEORGE BRUTON/BREWTON Esq born about 1742 was the brother of my ancestor DAVID BRUTON Sr, of Spartanburg, SC.

According to DAVID's 1816 Spartanburg will, he owned only one slave, his "man ISAAC".  Census & other  records show that  only one of DAVID's sons, PHILIP MILES BRUTON, owned slaves, which came to him through the family of his wife AGNES AUTRY.  And my own branch of the BRUTON family, descendants of DAVID's son ENOCH BRUTON,  did not own slaves after DAVID BRUTON Sr's "man Isaac" in 1816, according to records.

GEORGE BRUTON/BREWTON Esq owned many slaves. He was apparently a very wealthy & learned man (yet embraced slavery wholeheartedly). He witnessed dozens of deeds and served several terms as a Grand Juror in the Spartanburg court system, as well as serving as a Gentleman Arbitrator on several cases, some with his brother DAVID BRUTON Sr.  GEORGE BRUTON Esq served at least one term as Justice of the Peace.  He owned a great deal of land; one purchase in 1803 was for a parcel of 1058 acres on Ferguson's Creek & the Tygar River!!! Apparently GEORGE BRUTON Esq lived adjacent to his brothers DAVID BRUTON Sr, and JAMES BRUTON, and some of their children, as per numerous land deeds from 1784 until GEORGE'S death in 1815.


Will of GEORGE BREWTON (BRUTON) Esq
--In the name of God Amen. I , GEORGE BREWTON of the State of South Carolina, Spartanburgh District being unwell in body but perfect and sound in Memory do make this my last will and Testament revoking all others - Resigning myself to the divine Providen ce of Heaven, hoping for a Joyful resurrecton -
--In the first place my will and desire is to be decently Inter'd and all my Just and lawful debts paid.
--Secondly I leave and bequeath to my beloved wife CATHERINE BREWTON the House and plantation whereon I now live and my riding Chair with LEWION and BATTY his wife BIDDY, GRACE, DICK, MARY & VIOLET - and also a Negro boy named DICK which I bid off at the sale of the estate of DANIEL BRAGG decd. at three hundred and five dollars if the legatees fail to settle up the price and keep him with as much of the stock and household furniture as seemeth her good during her life and at her death the above Negroes and stock to be desposed of at hereafter directed.
--Thirdly my eldest daughter ELIZABETH BRAGG has received of my estate two Negroes GRACE and REUBEN and land some stock and household furniture my will is she receive nothing more till a division hereafter directed.
--Fourthly, whereas my second daughter POLLY GRACE has received of my estate a Negro woman named MILL with her increase some stock and household furniture. My will is that she receive nothing till a division hereafter directed.
--Fifthly, I leave to my eldest son JOHN BREWTON a negro boy BOB and the tract of land whereon he now lives containing two hundred and forty two acres with some stock and furniture already received.
--Sixthly I leave to my third daughter ABIGAIL BRAGG two negroes Girls SINAI and MILLEY and the tract of land whereon PETER BRAGG now lives containing one hundred and nineteen acres with stock and furniture which she has already received.
--Seventhly, I leave to my fourth daughter CATHERINE GAMBRELL (wife of David Gambrell) a negro woman SALLEY with her two children both boys and a negro girl named CHANEY with all their increase as long as she the said CATHERINE lives and after her death her children to heir the same by equal division.
--Eightly, I leave to my fifth daughter DELILAH OTT the tract of land whereon WILLIAM OTT now lives containing two hundred and ten acres with stock and furniture which she has received and also a negro woman named LEAK and her child HANNAH which she is to keep during her life time and at her death her children to have them by equal division with the whole of their increase.
--Ninthly, I leave to my sixth daughter NAOMI ACKER the stock and furniture which she has received, and as long as she said NAOMI shall live I leave her one Negro woman named MILLEY and her child VITATE and a girl named LYDIA with the whole of their increase and at her death her children to heir them all by equal division.
--Tenthly, I leave to my second son GEORGE BREWTON a tract of land where he settled containing two hundred and seventy three acres forty five of which lies on the south side of the Georgia Road also a negro boy named PRIMUS with stock and furniture which he has already received.
--Eleventhly, I leave to my seventh daughter CASSANDER BREWTON one Featherbed and furniture and my bay Mare and a Saddle and a good Cow and Calf and a walnut chest also as long as she the said CASANDER shall live I leave her one Negro woman named BECK and her three youngest children GRACE, ALLEN, and ANDERSON with all their increase And at her death if she should have children, the said negroes to be equally divided amongst them if she has none the said negroes with the whole of their increase to be returned to my heirs and equally divided amongst them.
--Twelfthly, I leave to my third son JOEL BREWTON the tract of land whereon I now live being a part of seven tracts including my still with all the utensils belonging to them --his mother to have the Houses plantation and conveniencies with necessary priv ileges during her life -- containing in the whole four hundred and eighty six acres together with the plantation and smith tools and waggon and rifle gun and his choice of two negro boys when he becomes of age DICK or NED and a yearling Colt which he now Claims and two Cows and Calves and one feather bed and furniture and DICK and a reasonable part of the Household and Kitchen furniture and the half of my stock of hogs sheep and Goats.
--Fifteenthly, my will is that if any of the above Negroes which is left to my wife during her lifetime should prove refractory that they be sold by my Executors for the use of my legatees and at her death the whole of them with all other property not oth erwise desposed of to be equally divided among my legatees Exclusive of JOEL and CASANDER, the division to be made without a sale if it can to satisfaction.
--ELIZABETH BRAGGS part to be enjoyed by her during her lifetime And then be equally divided among her children except POLLEY CLAYTON : Nevertheless any alteration made by me either written or Verbal shall stand good And lastly I nominate and appoint JOHN BREWTON, GEORGE GRACE, GEORGE BREWTON, and JOEL BREWTON Executors to this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this 6th day of July in the year of our Lord 1815. Signed Seal'd and acknowledged in presence of us: PHILIP BREWTON, JOHN BRAGG, ENOCH BREWTON, CASANDER BREWTON.
Recorded in Will Book A, pages 69, 70, 71, and 72.
Box 140, Pkg. 100
Recorded 23rd day of October 1815


Have a great day!


Betty

© Betty Tartas  2010

Surname Saturday: Cruisin' Down the mtDNA Highway: THANKFUL MORTON

Deering Bridge, Westbrook, Cumberland Co ME circa 1840

THANKFUL MORTON was my great great great grandmother. She was born about 1794 in Standish, Cumberland County, Maine, the daughter of EBENEZER MORTON & SUSANNAH IRISH. She was raised in Standish, the youngest of nine siblings.

On  March 6, 1817 she married DANIEL BOLTON in Windham, Cumberland Co Maine.  Census records show that after their marriage DANIEL & THANKFUL and their family lived in Windham, Portland and then,  by 1850, Westbrook, Cumberland Co Maine. DANIEL BOLTON was a joiner or carpenter by trade, according to city directories; by 1851 he ran a business doing ship carpentry in Westbrook, near the Deering Bridge.

DANIEL & THANKFUL (MORTON) BOLTON had five children according to census records. Their eldest daughter ADELINE BOLTON b March 18, 1818 married JEDEDIAH GRAFFAM.  Daughter RACHEL BOLTON was born 1821 (never married?); SARAH JANE BOLTON was born about 1825-1830 and married THOMAS KENNEDY (my gg grandparents); a son HOLLIS R BOLTON was born Feb 15, 1833 and married SARAH LOUISA MILLER of Portland (no children?), and youngest daughter ELLEN J BOLTON was born 1848 (never married?).

DANIEL BOLTON died before 1860, and THANKFUL was left a widow with children to raise.  The 1860 Portland, Cumberland Co Maine census shows her as a widow, with her youngest son and daughters, with boarders living in the household.

By 1870 census, THANKFUL was living with two of her daughters in the household of her son-in-law, JEDEDIAH GRAFFAM in Gorham, Cumberland Co Maine.  His wife, ADELINE (BOLTON) GRAFFAM had died sometime between 1860--1870.  She must have been quite a woman, as several girls were named after her in both the GRAFFAM family and in my branch, the KENNEDY, BOLTON & BROWN families.

 In 1870 JEDEDIAH GRAFFAM was listed in the census as the owner and operator of a hotel, and THANKFUL and two of her daughters RACHEL & ELLEN were  all working at the hotel. Local histories of the area indicate it was called the Clement Hotel.

THANKFUL (MORTON) BOLTON died sometime between 1870 and 1880, probably in Gorham, Cumberland Co Maine.

Here is the ancestry of THANKFUL MORTON, as far back as I've researched it:

Capt. BRIANT/BRYANT MORTON b abt 1704 England? Barnstable Co MA? married THANKFUL PARKER; 2nd) LUCY WHITE
|
THOMAS MORTON b abt 1730 Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland Co ME married RACHEL ELWELL
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EBENEZER MORTON b abt 1758 Gorham, Cumberland Co ME married SUSANNAH IRISH
|
THANKFUL MORTON b abt 1794 Standish, Cumberland Co ME married DANIEL BOLTON



Have a great day!


Betty

© Betty Tartas  2010

A Friend of Friends Friday: African American Slaves Named in the Wills of JAMES BRUTON and his son WILLIAM BRUTON, Lawnes Creek Parish, Surry Co VA

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


JAMES BRUTON was born about 1660 in Lawnes Creek Parish, Surry Co VA.  He married MARY SEWARD.   He came from a family that has for many decades been tenant farmers and before that, indentured servants in Surry Co VA.  His family apparently did not own land.  Upon his marriage to MARY SEWARD, he acquired land and possibly slaves that were willed to MARY by her maternal uncle ROBERT CAULFIELD of Surry Co VA. 




Will of JAMES BRUTON written Feb 5, 1734, proved March 17, 1735 Lawnes Creek Parish, Surry Co VA; Left to daughter ELIZABETH 5 shillings; to daughter MARY KAE (Kea, wife of Charles Kea) one Negro girl JUDY, and her increase; and if MARY should die JUDY would go to Mary's son BRUTON KAE (Kea). To grandson JOHN KAE, one negro (not named), etc. To daughter ANN JURDIN (Jordan, wife of Wm Jordan), one Negro boy DANIEL. To son WILLIAM, two Negroes PLIMOTH (Plymouth) & STEVEN. To grandson JAMES BRUTON, three Negroes JIM, HANNAH & (illegible). To wife MARY two old Negroes for life, at her death to son WILLIAM BRUTON. To two daughters, ANN and MARY, a cow apiece. Executors son WILLIAM BRUTON & wife MARY. 


WILLIAM BRUTON, only son of JAMES BRUTON & MARY SEWARD, was born about 1690 in Lawnes Creek Parish, Surry Co VA. He was likely married twice, the second time to SARAH BINNS.
The will does not mention his son JAMES BRUTON, who may have already gone to North Carolina by 1739. Curiously,  WILLIAM's will also does not mention the land that was bequeathed to MARY SEWARD by her uncle ROBERT CAUFIELD.   

WILL of WILLIAM BRUTON/BREWTON, Wills of Surry Co VA book 9, page 57:In the name of God Amen. I, WILLIAM BRUTON of Lawnes Creek Parish in the County of Surry, Virginia, being very sick of body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be to Almighty God for the same but knowing how many ways the life of a man may be abridged h ave thought it fit to make and constitute and ordain this my last will and testament, and for that temporal estate it hath pleased Almighty God to bestow on me I dispose in formand manner following viz -
I give to my sister MARY thirty shillings credit in a store. I give and bequeath to my sister ANN thirty shillings credit in a store. I give and bequeath to my daughter SARAH three young negroes, viz STEAVEN, TOM, JENNY. I give and bequeath to my daughter MARTHA, three negroes. I give and bequeath to my daughter ELIZABETH one negro boy called ABRAHAM and the first two children my negro wench NAN shall bring and raise to the age of seven years old. I give and bequeath to each of my daughters a feather bed and furniture and six pewter dishes and six head of cattle apeace. I give and bequeath to my Dear and Loving Wife all the rest of my Estate of what nature and quality so ever and I do nominate my dear and loving wife and my good friend CHARLES BINNS to be my whole and sole executors of this my last will and testament.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 18th day of July in 1737.
 WILLIAM (WB) BRUTON
Witnesses: 
GEORGE (X) BRUTON
THOMAS BINNS (His Mark) (note: this was likely his brother in law)
JOSEPH BRIDGES
--Surry County, Virginia, Court, 16 May 1739. Will of WILLIAM BRUTON dec'd presented by SARAH BRUTON and CHARLES BINNS. Probated on the oath of Thomas Binns, one of the Witnesses.

Have a great day!

Betty


© Betty Tartas  2010