Who's Your Grammie?

I have been writing about the grandmothers in our family tree since August of 2012. Beginning with "A is for Anna" each entry introduced you to a different grandmother. Telling the Grandmother stories was a fun way to share my research with family and friends. Now I am looking at our Revolutionary War ancestors, their service records, the story of their families and of course the stories of their wives, our grandmothers. After all, "Who's Your Grammie?" is about our grandmothers!

Showing posts with label Brick Wall. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 29, 2019

William McEwen (1775-1840)

When I asked my grandfather, Wm. Homer McEwen of Lower Mount Bethel, Northampton Co., Pennsylvania what he knew about the McEwen family history he said, "There were 21 McEwens and they all went west but ours." So my task back in 1976 was to figure out where all those McEwens had gone. I knew Pappy's father was Henry McEwen and that his father was Billy McEwen and that Billy's father was a man named John McQuown. It was unknown who John's parents were, they must have been the ones who "went west".

After a whole lot of research I hit pay dirt! A letter in answer to an inquiry I had placed in the Tri-State Trader, a weekly antiques newspaper published in Indiana arrived with the connection I was looking for. Marjory Gerold wrote that she suspected that my John was the son of William and Sarah McEwen who had migrated to Seneca County, Ohio in 1823. Her family history refered to him as "John, the Pennsylvanian."

James McEwen, younger brother of our John, came with his parents, William McEwen and Sarah Johnson McEwen, to Seneca Co., Ohio in 1823, and settled upon the land now occupied as Greenlawn Cemetery was quoted in the History of Seneca Co. about the family's journey from Northampton County, Pennsylvania to Ohio:

"My father, William McEwen, was born in Berwick, Pennsylvania. He went to Northampton county, Pennsylvania, to learn the trade of a blacksmith, and was married there to Sarah Johnson. We came here in the fall of 1823 and brought with us one half ton of hay, which we made at New Haven. With this hay we kept four horses and two cows all winter. There was plenty of picking in the woods all winter in 1823. Father entered the southwest quarter of section twenty-seven, in Clinton, and put up a cabin there and a blacksmith shop. My parents had twenty-one children altogether, of whom sixteen were then living. I am the youngest of the family. (History of Seneca Co.: 1880)"

McEwen is a Scots-Irish name. The McEwen family came to the United States prior to the Revolutionary War. John McQuown was living in Northampton Co., PA in the township of Lower Mt. Bethel at the time of the Revolutionary War. The family, like so many other Scots -Irish, were people who lived on the outer edge of the settled areas of the time. They relocated many times between Northampton, Co. and Columbia, Co., Pennsylvania. John's son, William McEwen, the pioneer to Ohio, was born at Berwick, Columbia, Co., Pennsylvania on Nov. 8, 1775.

When a young man William came to Northampton Co.,Pennsylvania to learn the trade of blacksmith, which became his life's work. He married Sarah Johnson, daughter of John Johnson, and together they had a family of 21 children. William and Sarah bought and sold property in both Berwick, Columbia, Co., Pennsylvania and Mt. Bethel, Northampton, Co., Pennsylvania. In 1823 when William and Sarah McEwen pioneered west to Seneca Co., Ohio they were one of the first families to open up that territory for settlement. Their son John returned to Mt. Bethel to marry his sweetheart, Anna Houck. John's descendents continue to live in Northampton Co. Pennsylvania.

A very good book has been published by Marjory McEwen Gerold, "The Descendents of Thomas Clark and Maria Disinger McEwen" which traces the McEwens in Ohio. It was through her research and mine that the connection of our John in Northampton Co., Pennsylvania to his father William in Seneca Co., Ohio was made.

William McEwen, with his large family homesteaded the southwest quarter of section twenty-seven, in Clinton township, Seneca Co. There he built a cabin for the family and a blacksmith shop where he carried out his trade. William & Sarah Johnson McEwen are buried at Rock Run Cemetery, Sect.4, Eden Twp., Seneca Co., Ohio. The Cemetery is not far from the place where they lived.

Sarah Johnson McEwen

William McEwen

The Children of William McEwen I (1775 - 1840) and Sarah Johnson (1785 - 1842) were:
Margaret (~1803-1877), John (1806-1832), Mary (Polly) (1807-1886), Henry (1809-1896) William (1810-1898), Elizabeth (Betsy) (1811-1843), Sarah (1814-1899), Elmira Rebecca (1816-1842), Robert (1817-1875), James (1818-1885), George W. (1819-1856), Samuel (1821-), Permelia (Milly) (1823-), Rachel (1824-), Anna (1826-1890), Martha (1827-1899)

The linage of William and Sarah McEwen.

1. John McEwen (26 May 1806 - 23 Apr 1832) married Anna Houck (10 Feb 1807 - About 1871/1880)

2. William McEwen (9 Jul 1832 - 21 Apr 1902) married Sarah Rasley (24 Jan 1829 - 12 Jan 1919)

3. Henry McEwen (14 May 1856 - 19 Aug 1946) married Clara Illick (15 Sep 1859 - 20 Feb 1942)

4. William "Homer" McEwen (10 Oct 1895 - 21 Oct 1977) married Sarah "Eliza" Long (24 Mar 1898 - 9 May 1987)

Sources:

History of Seneca County: from the close of the Revolutionary War to July, 1880 - Springfield, Ohio: Transcript Print. Co., 1880 - Page 522
Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 29 January 2019), memorial page for William McEwen (8 Nov 1775–7 Aug 1840), Find A Grave Memorial no. 19829008, citing Rock Run Cemetery, Tiffin, Seneca County, Ohio, USA ; Maintained by Anonymous (contributor 46795196) .
Lake, D. J. (1864) Map of Seneca Co., Ohio. Philadelphia: Cyrus Stone, Clarence Titus, . Phila.: Printed by Thos. Wagner. [Map] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2012592236/.
"The Descendents of Thomas Clark and Maria Disinger McEwen", Marjory McEwen Gerold.

Please see list of all My Revolutionary War Ancestors.

Please see the Index to my "Who's Your Grammie" Blog

GENEALOGY IS A WORK OF HEART

Your comments and suggestions below are appreciated. It is with pleasure that I am able to present this information here for you to see. If you discover a relationship here, I would very much enjoy hearing from you.

Send email to chsmith47@yahoo.com

This site may be linked, but not duplicated in any way without consent. The copyright on this page must appear on all copied and/or printed material.

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

Eliza Musselman (1824 - 1904)

Eliza Musselman Anewalt was one difficult Grammy to track down! Who were the parents of this grandmother? My curious mind wanted to know.

Eliza Anewalt, Salem Church Cem.,

Gilbert, Monroe Co., Pa

Stephen Anewalt, St. John’s Cem.

Palmerton, Carbon Co., PA

Trying to learn the maiden name of a grandmother in the family tree can be a challenge! There are many reasons why her maiden name may not have been included in official records, but I think the biggest reason was that recording her birth name was just not considered important.

Beginning with the personal records kept by Beatrice Graver Smith, Ron's grandmother, I learned that Beatrice's mother was Jennie Lauer, daughter of William Lauer and Amanda Anewalt and that Amanda's father was Stephen Anewalt. The 1850 census record showed that Stephen's wife was named Eliza. Clearly her gravestone confirms that Eliza was the wife of Stephen Anewalt.

Next I wrote for the death certificates of William and Amanda Anewalt Lauer. Viola! Confirmation of her maiden name was found when I received those death certificates. Imagine my excitement! For a genealogist, breaking down a brick wall is like the joy experienced with the birth of a baby. Amanda’s certificate provided the names of her mother and father, Stephen Anewalt and Eliza Musselman. Finally, I had proof of Eliza's birth name!

A record for her birth was found on Ancestry.com. This record appears in a list of baptisms from 1820. Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, Schoenersville, Lehigh, Pennsylvania. "Musselmann, Elizabeth b. 24 Aug. ----, bp. (no date) Parents: Michael Musselmann and Sara. Sponsors: Casper Meier and Barbara." It should be noted that the names Sara and Salome where often interchangeable. I have also found records that use the name Sally.

An email note from a fellow researcher confirmed that she was the daughter of Michael Musselman and his wife Salome Miller of North Whitehall Twp., Lehigh Co., PA. They were the parents of:

Clarissa (1821-1878) m. Charles Roth;

Eliza (1824-1904) m. Stephen Anewalt;

Thomas (1823-bef 1830);

Aaron (1826-1885) m. Diana Schady

Elias (1829-1904) m. Fevanna Schneck;

Reuben (1833-1859) m. Anna Moyer;

Tilghman (1837-1916) m. Anna Moyer (widow of his brother Rueben)

Additional proof that I had the right family connection was found in the obituary of her brother, Aaron Musselman, who died December 25, 1885 which names his living siblings; brothers and sister: Tilghman of Lockport; Elias of Ironton; and Mrs. Eliza Anewalt of Lehigh Gap.

Eliza Musselman Anewalt was born on August 24, 1824 and died September 4, 1904. She is buried in the Salem Church Cemetery in, Gilbert, Monroe Co., Pa. She 70 years old. Her husband Stephen Anewalt was born on June 10, 1815 and died May 28, 1871 at the age of 56 years, 11 months and 18 days old. He was buried in the Old Towamensing Cemetery at St. John's Union Church, Palmerton Pa.

They had the following children:

1. Sarah, born on April 1, 1842, died August 6, 1910; she was married to John Hepler.

2. Elias, born in 1844. He married Eliza Reichert.

3. Lewis, born on May 2, 1845, died on December 16, 1910; he married Sarah Schneck.

4. Tobias, born on February 15, 1847. Tobias died in 1847.

5. Amanda, born May 21, 1848, July 7, 1909; she was married to William Lauer.

6. Samuel, born on 24 February 24, 1851, died April 15, 1925; he married Mary Knecht.

7. John, born on August 13, 1853, died on January 6, 1929; married to Mary Gruber.

8. George Oskar, born on 27 June 27, 1859. He died on 8 October 1859.

9. Edward Milton was born on April 1, 1861.

10. Ellen Susanna was born on July 13, 1863.

Sources:

Personal family history records of Cynthia H. Smith, Mt. Bethel, Pennsylvania
Personal family history records of Beatrice Smith
Bowmanstown Budge, http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~tonybennyhoff/lp1908-1909.pdf
Lehighton Evening Leader, http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~tonybennyhoff/lel1906-1907.pdf
Find A Grave Memorial # 97720466 and #141644320
Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1924: Amanda Lower, #66156; William Lower, #16280

GENEALOGY IS A WORK OF HEART

Send email to chsmith47@yahoo.com

This site may be linked, but not duplicated in any way without consent. The copyright on this page must appear on all copied and/or printed material.

Friday, April 27, 2018

Wilson Graver (1872 - 1954)

I always thought Wilson Graver must have been a stinker to have gone off and left his young wife with a boat load of kids to raise. At least that was the way he was portrayed by his daughter, Beatrice, my husband's grandmother. But after much research I have come to know him better and just maybe he wasn't such a bad guy after all.

Photo of Members of the Ed Graver family

He is recorded with his parents on the 1880 census in Franklin Twp., Carbon Co.,PA. Ed Graver is a 45 year old farmer living with his wife 46 year old Elizabeth who is keeping house. Seventeen year old Thomas is a laborer, daughter Carrie is 11, Wilson is 6 and Sarah is 4 years old.

This tin type picture of the Ed Graver family is a treasure. Here you see Ed and Elizabeth along with Wilson in the middle back row flanked by a brother and sister. I am not sure if the brother is Thomas or which sister this might be. However Wilson was identified; a handsome fella indeed!

Twenty-five year old Wilson married Jennie Lauer when she was still a teenager and needed her father's consent to marry. Jennie had just turned 16 when she and Wilson were married on the 4th of July in 1898. Must have been a shotgun wedding because their first child, Helen, was born five months later on January 4, 1899. A search of census records shows that in 1900, 26 year old Wilson is married to 17 year old Ellen J (Jennie), living in Lower Towamensing Twp., Carbon Co., PA. with two infant daughters, Helen, age 1 year and Beatrice, 4 months of age.

The 1910 census record for the Wilson Graver family included Wilson, age 37, Jennie E. age 28, Helen M, age 11, David D., age 6, Naomi, age 4 and Ida A, age 3. According to the 1910 census his daughter Beatrice was living with his brother, Uncle J. David Graver and his wife Annie in East Allen Twp., Northampton Co. By 1911 the family had grown to seven children; Helen M., born January 4, 1899, Beatrice, born January 16, 1900, Arthur born circa 1902 and died circa 1902, David, born December 14, 1904, Naomi I., born March 17, 1906, Ida A., born December 23, 1907 and Thomas, born June 1911. Wow! Seven kids in 7 years! Beatrice remembered that her father left the family in 1912 and skedaddled to Ohio.

The fact that Wilson was in Ohio in 1918 is evidenced by his World War I Draft Registration Card which shows wonderful personal information about him. Wilson Sefelen Graver, the son of Edward and Elizabeth Trach Graver, was born Aug. 15, 1872 on a farm near Lehighton, PA. His birth date and middle name were recorded by him on the draft card which was filed Sept. 10, 1918. Wilson notes that he has blue eyes. He lists his occupation as a bricklayer working for a construction company and his next of kin is older brother Thomas E. also living at 118 E. 32nd St in Lorain Ohio. It appears that these two brothers were living together. Perhaps, he went to Ohio to find work to support his large family in Pennsylvania.

Three of Wilson's children are listed as "inmates" in the Ebenezer Orphanage Home in Seneca Co., Ohio. On the 1920 census Naomi is 14, Ida is 13,and Thomas is 9 year old. Naomi and Ida are known to have been deaf. So Wilson must have arranged for these children to live at the orphanage and be closer to him. I have not found a 1920 census record for Wilson so he may have been serving in WWI at that time as he was drafted in 1918 in Lorain Ohio.

Fifty-six year old Wilson is living in Akron Ohio as recorded in the 1930 Census where he gives his occupation as bricklayer. He reports that he is divorced and was first married at age 25. He is living alone with property valued at $1500. In 1940 he owned his house at 553 Pricilla St in Akron, Ohio. The house is valued at $2000. He says he is widowed. He is a bricklayer. He attended school through the 5th grade.

He died in Akron in 1954. No mention is made in his obituary that he remarried after leaving Jennie and the children in Pennsylvania. He is buried in Stow Twp. Cem, Summit Co., OH.

Wilson's obituary was published in the Akron Beacon Journal, Akron, OH on Saturday, July 17, 1954. "Wilson S. Graver, of 553 Highgrove Blvd, who continued work as a stone mason and bricklayer in his 80's, died Friday night in City Hospital. He would have been 82 in August. He was active until last summer when he became ill. Born in Walksville, PA., Mr. Graver lived in Lorain, Cleveland, Columbus and Tuscarwas County before moving to Akron three decades ago. He was a member of Bricklayers Local 7, AFL. He leaves four daughters, Mrs. Russell Smith of Bath Pa, Mrs. Murv Chester of Madison, NJ, Mrs. Harvey Crake of Wilkes-Barre, PA, and Mrs. Naomi Brown of Fort Wayne, IN ; two sons, Thomas and David, both of Stow; 10 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Services will be at 2 pm Monday in Degnon Funeral Home, Stow, where friends may call after 7 tonight and Sunday afternoon and evening. Burial will be in Stow Cemetery. William H. Degnon Funeral Home, 3333 Kent Rd., Stow, Ohio."

To tell the truth, I think Wilson was a hardworking man who did his best to provide for his family at a time when work was hard to find in Carbon Co., Pa. He was trained as a stone mason, an occupation he practiced all his life. At one time I saw an awesome picture of him standing beside his wooden tool box with a masonry trowel in hand. So maybe he was offered a job in Ohio around 1912. By 1920 he had brought three of his children to Ohio to attend school while they lived in an orphanage. He owned his home in Akron from the 30's until he died in 1954 and his two sons lived near by. I guess he really wasn't a bad guy after all.

Sources:

Find A Grave Memorial # 181507296, Wilson Graver
Personal family history files of Cynthia H. Smith, Mount Bethel, Pa. Interview of Beatrice Graver Smith as told to and recorded from her family history files by Cynthia H. Smith, 1981.
The Smith Family Reunion Notebook belonging to Beatrice Graver Smith now in the possession of Cynthia H. Smith.
Akron Beacon Journal, Akron, Ohio, Saturday, July 17, 1954
Billion Graves https://billiongraves.com/grave/Wilson-S-Graver/14845687
U.S.A. Federal Census Records, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940.
WWI Draft Registration Card, Ohio, Lorain; Roll:1832489https://search.ancestry.com/collections/6482/records/18879928

This page 2018, Cynthia H. Smith

Send email to chsmith47@yahoo.com

This site may be linked, but not duplicated in any way without consent. The copyright on this page must appear on all copied and/or printed material.

GENEALOGY IS A WORK OF HEART

Your comments and suggestions are appreciated. It is with pleasure that I am able to present this information here for you to see. If you discover a relationship here, I would very much enjoy hearing from you.

Sunday, January 21, 2018

Andreas Correll - The Hessian

Have you ever heard of the Hessians? They were German soldiers hired by the British to supplement their military during the Revolutionary War in their fight against the Yankee Americans.

Well, what do you know, our ancestor, Andrew Correll, was a Hessian soldier! I have written about ancestors who fought in the Revolutionary War, imagine my surprise when I discovered one

who fought against the colonies. Andrew Correll was a young man of 26 years who in 1775 was appointed to serve in the Hessian armed forces Regiment of Reichsfreiherr Wilhelm von Knyphausen during the American Revolutionary War as a private. He was from Hesse-Kassel in Germany where young men were hired as mercenaries by the British to fight the rebelling Americans. The 6 volumes of HETRINA (Hessisiche Truppen im Amerikanischen Unabhangigkeitskrieg) contain the names of soldiers from Hessen-Kassel, Hessen-Hanau and Waldeck who served in North America and among them I found: Corell, Andreas (born circa 1748), appointed as a private to the Regiment of von Knyphausen in April of 1775. From those records he was calculated to be 26 years old.

The record shows that he was wounded in February, 1777 and captured at that time. The Johannes Schwalm book provides the name of Andreas Corell which appears in a compiled list of Hessian prisoner of war soldiers who were marched from Lancaster in 1778 to be exchanged for work with local people. Lancaster Exchange list #1 states that Andreas Correll was assigned to work for George Coyer of Warwick sometime around June 17, 1778. Apparently Hessian prisoners were held in camps at Lancaster where there was a large population of Pennsylvania Dutch, who treated the German prisoners well. And, why not? These fellows were from the fatherland and spoke their language. The Hessian POW's were well received by their fellow countrymen and volunteered for extra work assignments, filling in for local men who were serving in the Continental Army. After the war, many of these men never returned to Germany, but instead remained in America enjoying the liberties of religious freedom and free land, and becoming permanent settlers.

Andreas' period of service is interesting. On four additional occasions it is noted that Andreas was captured: September 1779, September 1782, November 1782 and May 1783. The Schwalm book also gives this interesting notice that while he was held at the new goal in Philadelphia he was taken to a hospital on March 26, 1782, but that he ran away from the hospital on April 2, 1782. I'm beginning to think he was an escape artist! It is known that by 1779 he was married to Anna Maria Godhard who was the widow of Johann Friederich Frutchey and the mother of several children. Which means that he married her while still in the service of the Hessian armed forces. No wonder he was escaping all those years; the man had a wife and children to provide for! Together Andrew and Anna Maria had a son John George who born June 18, 1785 before the end of the war.

Tax Records and Census Records help us to track his movements from the end of the war until the time of his death around 1819. In 1786 Andrew Korrell was taxed in Lower Saucon, Northampton Co., for 100 acres, 2 horses, 2 cattle. And again in 1787 the name Andrew Korrell appears on the Lower Saucon tax list. By 1789 Andrew Correl had relocated to Williams twp., Northampton Co. where he was taxed 3.6 pounds for 2 horses and 3 cattle.

The 1790 census for Upper Mount Bethel, Northampton, Pennsylvania shows Andrew Correl [Andrew Corret] with a household of one male over the age of 16 who would be Andrew, two males under 16 (one being his son John George, born 1785) and 3 females (one being his wife Anna Maria Godhard). Anna Maria ("Goetthard" Frutchey) Correll died August 8, 1794. Andrew Correll appears on the 1800 census in Upper Mount Bethel, Northampton, Pennsylvania there are two males under the age of 10: one male between the ages of 10 and 15, and one male over the age of 45 as well as one female between the age 16 and 25. By 1810, his family included one male under 10 years and one male over the age of 45. In addition there is one female under 10 and one female between 10 and 15 years old.

Now things start to get confusing regarding the wives and marriages of Andrew. Andrew Correll had at least four wives and was the father of four children as well as the step father to many others. Andrew Correll married the first time, about 1779 to Anna Maria Godhard. She brought a number of children to this marriage and together Andrew and Anna Maria had a son John George, born June 18, 1785. By 1794, this Anna Maria had died. She is buried in the Old Union Cemetery, Centerville, Northampton, Co. PA.

Next, Andrew married another lady named Anna Maria. The second marriage to Anna Maria Schmidt Weidman, the widow of John Jacob Weidman, as is recorded in "Forks of the Delaware", "Andrew Correll of Mount Bettle (Bethel) with Anna Maria Weidman, Jan. 10, 1797." Together they had three children, Catherine (1798-), John (1799-1883) and Elizabeth (1801-1891). It is not known if Anna Maria had children with Weidman. Anna Maria Schmidt Weidman Correll died June 14, 1803.

Andrew Correll was married third to Christina Gross in First Reformed Church, Easton, Northampton on December 8, 1803. I have not found a record of any children born to this union.

Andrew must have had a fourth wife named Catherine. Reference is made to the widow of Andrew Corell in the Records of the Orphans Court in Easton, Book 9 page 269. The petition of John George Correl, eldest son of Andrew Correl who died 1819, for the settlement of his father's estate reports the following: leaving widow Catherine and four children. Children named are John George, the petitioner; Catherine, married to Henry Beck; John and Elizabeth, both minors over the age of 14. Reference to ownership of 167 acres in Upper Mt. Bethel (listed in Book A Vol. 2, page 373) is made. Value of the estate was over $8,000. On page 282 of Orphan's Court Record the final disposition of property is made. All lands of Andrew Corell have been sold and the money dispersed to John George, $2957, John to receive $3060 and the widow Catherine, daughter Catherine and daughter Elizabeth each to receive $758.

While the household of Andrew Correll is enumerated in the 1820 Census it is most probable that he had passed away. Even though his gravestone gives a death date of Oct. 21, 1824 the above mentioned petition for the settlement of his estate says he died in 1819.

Josephine Correll, the daughter of John and granddaughter of Andrew Correll was the great,great grandmother of Ron Smith. Josephine married Henry Good our Civil War veteran. Their son George married Lillie Deats and had a son named Earl who married Edna Frey and had a daughter Dorothy who married Clarence Smith.

Sources:

Auerbach, Inge and Otto Froehlich. HETRINA (Hessische Truppen im Amerikanischen Unabhangigkeitskrieg = Hessian Troops in the American Revolution) 6 vols. Marburg : Archivschule Marburg, 1972-1987, a listing compiled from original German records of all who served from the principalities of Hesse-Cassel, Hesse-Hanau, and Waldeck. HETRINA III, 3181 [Page 64] The HETRINA is now available as an online database at: http://lagis.online.uni-marburg.de/en/subjects/index/sn/hetrina
Ken Miller, Dangerous Guests: Enemy Captives and Revolutionary Communities during the War for Independence (Cornell Univ. Press, 2014)as found at Wikipedia, "Hessian Soldier"
"Corell, Andreas (* ca. 1748)", in: Hessische Truppen in Amerika <http://www.lagis-hessen.de/en/subjects/idrec/sn/hetrina/id/24302> (Stand: 20.1.2015)
Johannes Schwalm, the Hessian / Lyndhurst, Ohio : Johannes Schwalm Historical Association, 1976
Johannes Schwalm Historical Association, Inc. online at http://jsha.org/jsharegis.htm
Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, Tax and Exoneration, 1768-1801 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission; Records of the Office of the Comptroller General, RG-4; Tax & Exoneration Lists, 1762-1794; Microfilm Roll: 331
Ancestry.com. United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.
Find A Grave Memorial # 7750367 - Andrew Correll
John Humphrey, Gravestones of Northampton County, page 64
First Reformed Church (Easton, PA), published by H. M. Kieffer in 1902 under title “Some of the first settlers of the Forks of the Delaware”

Send email to chsmith47@yahoo.com

This site may be linked, but not duplicated in any way without consent. The copyright on this page must appear on all copied and/or printed material.

GENEALOGY IS A WORK OF HEART Your comments and suggestions are appreciated. It is with pleasure that I am able to present this information here for you to see. If you discover a relationship here, I would very much enjoy hearing from you.

Monday, December 4, 2017

The Sparkling Wave - 1857

OKAY... Estep family descendants and friends!!! This post is an update of information that I presented several years ago on the family of James Estep. I have found the actual ship's manifest from the Sparkling Wave showing their names and ages when they sailed from Wales and arrived in New York on October 29, 1857!
Family history passed down through the last several generations of the Estep family in Tioga Co., Pennsylvania has always said that the immigration of James and Elizabeth Pritchard Estep to the United States was in 1858 entering through the port of Philadelphia. Contrary to family lore, I have discovered that they in fact landed in New York, not Philadelphia. Believe me, it wasn't easy finding this document! For one thing, the family name is spelled ASTOP.

Thanks to the internet and that so many historical documents are now being digitized I found the ship manifest and for the first time now know the name of the ship they sailed on; The Sparkling Wave! This manifest lists the names and ages of all passengers. Take a look by tapping the image here. It is quite clear that this is the family of our James and Elizabeth Estep since the children's names which were all previously known are listed. James' age is given as 32 years and his occupation is listed as miner (good to know because he and his sons were all coal miners once they came to Pennsylvania). Elizabeth is shown to be 30 years old on this list. These ages are different from what was previously thought. Here's what I knew when I made one of my first webpages in 1998:

The ancestral history of JAMES ESTEP, immigrant ancestor to Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania.

James was born 5-12-1818 in Breconshire, Wales, the son of John and Jane (Lewis) Estop. John and Jane had sons names John, Lewis James and George. They also had daughters named Mary and Rachel. The children were all baptised in Llanover (Llanvoyer) Breconshire, with the exception of Mary who was baptised again in Llanfair Kilgeddin at the age of two.

John, the father, was listed as a laborer until the 1834 baptism of George. He is listed there as a carpenter. He was born in 1794, in Great Whitley, Westershire and died in Llanfair Kilgeddin, Monmothshire in 1860. He married Jane Lewis, born 1794 in Llanfihangel Cwm Du, Breconshire, in 1814 in the same town. She also died in 1860 in Llanfair Kilgeddin. Her parents were Lewis Lewis and Mary ?. She had a sister named Anne, who was born in 1797 in Llanfihangle, also.

John Estop was the son of John Easthop born about 1760, place unknown, but believed to be Great Whitley. He married Martha Goodsir, born in 1765, in 1791 at Great Whitley. He died in 1844 at Llanfair Kilgeddin and she died in 1859, also in Llanfair Kilgeddin.

This is information gathered from Dewi Thomas, of Consultant Ancestral Research Wales by Al Estep (nekkid@hiline.net) who most generiously provided it to me to add to these ESTEP family history pages.
UPDATE: James married ELIZABETH PRICHARD who was born in Grosmont, Monmouth, England August 16 1824 Christen 14 November 1824. Father William Pritchard, Mother Elizabeth Charles. (provided by Daniel B. Estep at dane26@juno.com)

Imagine you are a 30 year old women, the mother of 6 children aged 9 years to 2 months and you are on board a sailing ship for 6 to 8 weeks heading for a better life in the United States. Such was the position of my great, great grandmother, Elizabeth Pritchard Estep. The names and ages of the children when they arrived were: Sarah Anne age 9, Ann Astop age 3, Lewis Astop age 8, John Astop age 4, William Astop age 2 and the baby James Astop age 2 months. The country of origin is given as England (Wales was under English rule) and their destination is listed as Pennsylvania. They brought with them one chest, one trunk and bedding. During the voyage they traveled in the Baggage section of the ship with these very few of possessions from home.

They arrived on the Sparkling Wave at the port in New York City on October 29th, 1857. I found this advertisement card on pinterest showing a picture of the ship. Even though this ad is from 1859 and says the Sparkling Wave is next sailing to San Francisco, I thought it was really neat to be able to see exactly what kind of ship the family traveled on.

I also found several newspaper advertisements in a Cardiff, Wales paper that listed costs and what was provided for a journey to New York in 1857. A limited number of passengers were taken on in steerage for the cost of 8 Guineas per person. That cost included food and water, but passengers needed to provide their own bedding. Accommodations were simple, you shared space in the hold below deck with other passengers, sleeping on the floor or on your belongings which for the Estep family were few. Little privacy there. Imagine nursing an infant let alone being watchful of your other 5 children. Such was life for the 6 to 8 weeks it took to traverse the Atlantic.

Finding this record was not easy. The family name is written "Astop" rather than Estep. And their ship arrived in New York, not Philadelphia! No wonder it took so long to locate this record! You may see a list of the descendants of James and Elizabeth Estep here.

Sources:

Personal family history records of Cynthia H. Smith, Mt. Bethel, Pennsylvania
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939V-5P92-9?/cc=1849782&wc=MX62-XZS%3A165789901 : 21May 2014
New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1891, database with images, FamilySearch, 180-23 Oct 1857-24 Nov 1857>image 162 of 640; citing NARA microfilm publication M237 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~chsmith/estepfamhist.html

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Saturday, September 3, 2016

John Good, Sr. (1787 -1872) Mystery solved

If I have said it once I have said it a thousand times: "Talk to the old forks before it is too late and never, never toss out any research you collect along the way." Maybe I should throw in, "Leave no stone unturned." And "not every notation is fact until you can prove it so."

Here is a handwritten note given to me by Arvilla Good Stevens of Lower Mt. Bethel twp., Northampton Co., PA several years ago before she passed away in 2000. The note was written by Henry Good (1841-1919), Arvilla's grandfather. It is a wealth of information about the Good family. First, Henry records that he believes his grandfather, John Good Senior, lived to the age of 87 years, 1 month and 29 days. John, Sr. was born in Nockamixon on Feb. 2, 1787, the son of Henry Good and his wife Catherine Schick. His birth is recorded in the Nockamixon, Bucks Co., PA Church records. Henry's note is a good place to start to learn more about Old John's demise. What is missing is where he is buried, a fact I have been searching for for many years.

Next, Henry put down the name "John Good, Jr." who was his father and then he has written "Uncle Williamsport". Under that Henry wrote "George Good 65 y - 1 mon". This is John Good, Junior's brother George (therefore Henry's Uncle George) who was born Sept. 13, 1810 in Mount Bethel twp., and whose record of baptism is recorded in the Upper Mt. Bethel Church records. Combining these facts, a death date of October 13, 1875 can be calculated for George. The rest of the persons listed on the little slip of notepaper seem to be members of the family of George and Polly, his wife.

Using this information I was able to find a cemetery record for George on Find A Grave. And this is where the fun began. George is buried at Wildwood Cemetery in Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pa. The entry lists several children and the wife of George, Mary (who is listed above as Polly, a popular nickname for Mary back in the day). These are names that match what was written almost 100 years ago by Henry Good on this little torn off piece of paper. Thank you Aunt Arvilla, for saving this and passing it on to me. You trusted me that I would cherish it as you had done. Today, I am grateful to you for doing so. I have held onto it for over 16 years and now it has proven to be the key to unlocking the mystery of where John Good Senior is buried.

And how for the big reveal--- TA DAH... Check out the first line on that tombstone!
"JOHN GOOD 1787 -1872" Here's our Grandpa! He must have gone to Lycoming Co. to live with his younger son George. He had out lived his oldest son, John Jr., who died November 10, 1871 at the age of 63 and is buried in Lower Mount Bethel, Northampton Co. PA. Younger son, George, only survived old John by a few years.

Used with permission of Karin Randall, photographer.

John Good, Senior lived to be 85 years old, (I know Henry jotted down 87 years, but he was probably doing that from memory.) This memorial is a great example of multiple family generations recorded on one stone. Seen here, after John, is his son George and his wife Mary Smith Good. Next is George's daughter, Josephine, who died at age 24 and her unnamed infant daughter. Finally, Laura Good Johnson, another daughter of George and Polly Good.

One last thing, I wrote to the Lycoming Co. Historical Historical Society in search of an obituary for the old boy. They found his will which was probated on August 26, 1872, Will Book number 3, page 533. Awesome! In the will John provides for the children of his son John. One more proof of the family relationship. The Historical Society also told me "we have an original copy of the "Sexton Records and Death Records" of Lycoming county. In this book, it is detailed that John Good was buried on August 24, 1872 in Wildwood Cemetery in Section 6."

So there you have it. Sometimes it takes years to put all the clues together. But I have finally proven the birth and death dates for this ancestor. Here is the link to some early research I collected on John Good Sr. back in 1997. This family is full of men named Henry, John and George. I have told the story of Henry Good (1764-1829) our Revolutionary War Veteran. Here you have read about his son John, Sr. Our line of descent continues from John, Sr. to John, Jr. (1808-1871) of Lower Mt. Bethel. From there we have another Henry (1841-1919) of Civil War fame, whose son George was Ron's Great Granddad.

Sources:

Saint Luke's Union Church, Ferndale, Nockamixon Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania : known as Nockamixon Church, Pa, B.F. Fackenthal, Jr., 1933
Church record of the Lutheran and Reformed congregations in Upper Mount Bethel Township, Northampton County, 1774-1833 / copied by Wm. J. Hinke, 1934.
History of Lycoming County Pennsylvania, edited by John F. Meginness; ©1892. "George Good" http://www.usgennet.org/usa/pa/county/lycoming/history/Chapter-54.html. visited Nov.3, 2004.
Find A Grave Memorial# 114625864, George Good
Find A Grave Memorial# 114675452, John Good, Senior
Lycoming Co. Historical Historical Society, Williamsport, PA

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Monday, January 4, 2016

Eleazer Davis (ca 1735 - ca 1820)

There is evidence to suggest that the father of Rachel Davis Lloyd who married Henry Lloyd was Eleazer Davis (circa 1735 - ca 1820) of Bedford Co. Pennsylvania. The rub is, I can't prove it because I have not found that one tidbit of evidence, like a birth record or a mention of her name and his on a document, that would show a relationship between them. According to John Simpson Africa, Henry Lloyd, (circa1756 -1820) "settled on the farm which was afterwards occupied by his son Eleazer and which is now the home of his grandson, Henry. Mr. Floyd Hoenstine, well known genealogist and librarian of Hollidaysburg. Pa. states, "I have examined many Davis wills and biographical sketches, but no where is the name Eleizer found except in the Davis and Lloyd families. And there are at least six of those." Those two items are the best evidence so far that Eleazer Davis is the father of Rachel.

I love the name Eleazer! He has to be Rachel's father, and even if he isn't he deserves to be recognized for his time and service in the War for Independence.
He was a Ranger, a duty that I imagine he performed throughout the time of the hostilities on the Bedford County frontier. He is listed on the Pay Roll of men under the command of Michael Johnson of the Pennsylvania Rangers in Bedford Co. for 7 months in the year of 1781. The name of Elizer David is listed with Capt. Boyd's company of Rangers, 20th April, Ano dom. 1781. The Rangers were mustered to protect the frontier from frequent and merciless Indian attacks. Like the minute men of New England they were farmers who answered the call when an alarm was sounded. It was their job to patrol the perimeter and watch for the approach of the enemy into the settlement.

This Abstract Card shows that he was paid 11 pounds, 4 pence for service in the Bedford Co. Militia.

The Pa Archives, 5th series, Volume 8 mentions his name several times. On the Class Roll of Capt. Wm. McCall's Company of the 3rd Battalion, Eliezer David,1st Class, the 9th of May, 1775.
On the Muster Roll of Captain Samuel Davidson's Company, in Colonel Smith's Battalion of Bedford County Associators the name Eleazer David appears, March 22, 1776.

Eleazer didn't leave a large footprint for his descendents to follow, but we do know from tax records that he had property, animals, a house and family. The following tax assessment records were found. In 1783, Eliazer Davis of Bedford was assessed with one horse, one lot and one cow for which a State tax of 0.1.3 and a county tax of 0.0.3 were paid. In 1784, Eleazer Davis on the return for Bedford Township is assessed for one dwelling and 3 inhabitants. Elizer Davis of Bedford paid a state tax of 0.0.8 in 1789. In the 1790 census for Bedford Twp., Eleazer Davis is listed as the head of a household consisting of one adult over 16 (self) and three females. It is unknown who his wife was. Church records that would show the names of his children on the occasion of their baptism have not been found by this family historian. His final resting place or gravestone marker for him or his wife have not been located. There are many unanswered questions regarding the life of Eleazer Davis. If a reader has information to add to this narrative, I would be delighted to hear from you.

The time period that Rachel Davis was born is the late 1760's. She died somewhere between 1820 and 1830. Birth and death dates for her husband, Henry Lloyd are just as elusive. He was born about 1756 and died after 1820. Rachel and Henry were the parents of Catherine Lloyd who became the wife of William States, of McConnellstown. Catherine and William States were the parents of Abraham who married Catherine Mumper and they became the parents of Ann Eliza States, my great, great grandmother. Eliza States married Ben Heffner and had a daughter named Ella Mae who married Rev. Howard Long. They had a daughter named Eliza who married Homer McEwen, my grandparents. Rachel, Rachel, Rachel, I just want to know who your father was.

Source:

Revolutionary War Military Abstract Card File, http://www.digitalarchives.state.pa.us/archive.asp.
PA Archives, 5th Series, Volume V, Muster Rolls and Papers Relating to the Associators and Militia of the County of Bedford.
Revolutionary War Military Abstract Card File, http://www.digitalarchives.state.pa.us/archive.asp
Africa, J. Simpson. History of Huntingdon and Blair counties, Pennsylvania. Walker Township Pioneers. Published 1883. https://openlibrary.org/books/OL24143417M.
Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, Tax and Exoneration, 1768-1801.

Please see this list of all My Revolutionary War Ancestors.
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