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!

Friday, August 3, 2018

Index to my Rootsweb pages

Cynthia H. Smith - My Rootsweb pages

I needed to migrate some of my early family history pages over to the blog to protect them from getting lost in the future. 👀 These pages were first published on Geocities in the early days of the internet when an amateur genealogist like me could learn a little about HTML and publish on the internet. But all good things come to an end and Geocities went belly up. I quickly moved everything over to Rootsweb, a free service I started using in sometime around 2006. That was good, because Rootsweb offered a file manager and a WYSIWYG publishing format. While Rootsweb is still free they no longer offer the ability to edit and publish. In the meantime I started the blog where I have enjoyed the privilege of being able to publish my family history in a format that is easy for me to maintain. Therefore this page is an index of sorts which takes you to the Rootsweb page. Several of these pages have been redone on this Blog.

To learn more about who I am see, Cynthia's Family Lines.

I have dedicated all of my genealogy work to my Great great great grandmother, Anna Houck McEwen. Please read my Dedication page.

The Photo Gallery contains family pictures from several branches and many generations.

Part of my interest in local history includes working at the Slate Belt Historical Museum located in Upper Mount Bethel, Northampton Co., Pennsylvania.

I am a member of the cemetery board of the Old Union Cemetery in Stone Church, Mt. Bethel, Northampton Co., Pennsylvania.

Read a list of the burials in the Old Union Cemetery of Stone Church, Mt. Bethel, Northampton Co., Pennsylvania.

Smith Family Pages

Smith Family Descendants list.

Smith Family File Family regester report .

Charles Kunkle family lines.

Hughes Family Pages

A photo history of the Hughes family of Tioga Pennsylvania.

Thomas Hughes circa 1742 - 1809

More about Jeptha Hughes, son of Thomas, pioneer to Tioga Co. PA.

More about Frederick Hughes, son of Jeptha.

Thomas Hughes Descendants from 1750's to 1900.

For a complete Ahnentafel of the ancestors of the Richard and Zilpha Estep HUGHES.

Estep Family Pages

Estep Family Story, James and Elizabeth Pritchard Estep family came to America in 1858.

The Welsh history of the family of James Estep.

LIST of Descendants of James and Elizabeth Pritchard Estep.

The family tree of Zilpha Estep HUGHES, an Ahnentafel report of the anscestors of her mother Helen Scott .

McEwen Family Pages

The ancestors of the Homer & Eliza McEwen, an Ahnentafel report.

More about William McEwen I

More about John McEwen

More about William McEwen

More about Henry McEwen , the son of William and the father of Homer.

A picture history of the McEwen Family, of Richmond Pennsylvania.

The Heffner family pages, the ancestors of Eliza Long McEwen.

The John Houck page, his daughter Anna married John McEwen.

The Paulus Brodt page, his daughter Susanna married Christopher Illick.

Good Family Pages

Henry ( Heinrich Guth) Good (1764-1829) & Catherine Barbara Schick (1761-1839), Good Family Descendants list of Northampton Co. Pennsylvania.

More about Heinrich Guth and brother George.

More about John Good, Sr., son of Heinrich.

More about John Good, Jr., son of John, Sr and the father of Henry.

Miller Family Pages

The Descendants of Bernhart Mullar (Miller) (1722-1792) & Maria Eva Muller (1724-1802) of Northampton Co. PA.

Bernhart Miller Ahnentafel Report , the ancestors of Bernhert and Maria Eva Miller.

Miller Family Register, the First and Second generations of the descendants of Bernhert and Maria Eva Miller.

The Third Generation of the descendants of Bernhart Miller.

The Fourth Generation of the descendants of Bernhart Miller.

The Fifth Generation of the descendants of Bernhart Miller.

Your comments and suggestions are appreciated.

📧 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. 👀

Friday, May 25, 2018

Russel R.G.E. Chauncey (1774-1859)

Russell Chauncey was the son of Israel and Elizabeth Petty Chauncey. He was the father of Sarah Angeline Chauncey Scott. She is the grandmother who knew our family history like the back of her hand, knowledge she passed on to her granddaughters. My grandmother Zilpha being one of those young ladies.

The earliest records of the Chauncey family date back to the 11th century. Chauncy de Chauncy (1045) was a Norman nobleman who came into England with the Norman Invasion of William the Conqueror. Chauncy came from Canchy, Normandy, France. Since he was a nobleman he may have had a family crest similar to this modern day rendition of the family crest.

Russell Rawson Graham Estabrook Chauncey was given the last names of four of his father's uncles, all of whom were ministers, when he was born on December 7, 1774, in Canaan, N.Y. There must have been a whole lot of religion in that family!

Russell's parents were attracted to the community of the Shakers when he was a youngster. The Shaker community, founded by Mother Ann Lee, was known for their unusual frantic dancing until the Holy Spirit came down! They lived in separate facilities that separated men and women, practiced celibacy and banned marriage. Maybe that was the attraction for Russell's mother: no more sex! She had given birth to 7 children by the time they joined up with the Shakers: Rocksena, Cynthia, Levi, Rozzel, Lucinda, Salome and Russell R.G.E. Chauncey, my great, great, great grandfather!

Young Russell was admitted to membership in the Shaker Society when he was 13. His father, Israel, and grandfather, Charles, had both died 2 years earlier while members of the Shaker's. Evidently the Holy Spirit came down on them!

So, I know the first thing you are thinking is that since the Shakers practiced celibacy and therefor did not leave any descendants how are we descended from someone who belonged to the Shaker Society! Well, my great, great, great grandpa Russell R.G.E. Chauncey wised up and left the order on January 4, 1796 after nine years of membership. His brother Rozzel also left, but the girls all remained with the Shakers throughout their life times.

Russell was 22 years old when he left the Shakers. He moved to Ashfield, Massachusetts where he met Mable Porter. They were married in 1802, afterwhich Russell brought Mable back to New York. They settled in Ghent, Columbia Co., New York, just a few miles south of the Shaker Community in Canaan.

I found this genealogy chart among the family record papers my father, Richard L. Hughes, had kept. The chart was prepared by his mother Zilpha Estep Hughes. Not only does Grandma show the children of Russell and Mable, but she also shows the ancestors of the two of them. This tree most likely reflects the oral and written history passed down from Sarah Angelina Chauncey Scott.

Russell and Mable were the parents of fifteen children, but only eleven of them lived to become adults. First was a boy born on June 16, 1803 who died in infancy followed by John Andrew, who was born on June 10, 1804 and died 1832. Mable, who married William Mitchell, was born June 4, 1805 and died 1856. Her sister Elizabeth who married George Porter was born September 19, 1806. Two sons Levander, born March 3, 1808 and Russell, born October 2, 1809 died in infancy. Those names were used again when Russell Levander was born November 18,1810. Russell Levander married Aurelia Crane and died May 7,1893. Next were two daughters who also died in infancy, Flora Judith, born December 18, 1811 and Sarah Angeline born March 14, 1813. Alford Gaston who was born June 17, 1815 died in California on May 1, 1888. William Ross was born November 20, 1816, married MaryAnn Austin and died January 7, 1886. A son, Austin, was born on December 25, 1817. On April 24, 1820 my great, great grandmother, Sarah Angeline, was born. She married Hosea P. Scott and lived to be 101 years old when she died on May 21, 1921. Her brother Israel was born on April 27, 1821, married Charlotte Leadbetter and died in 1901. The last child was Edwin who was born on January 16, 1823. He married Christina Peck and died on December 30, 1877.

Russell and Mable lived out their old age with their son William R. Chauncey. They are buried in the Spencer Cemetery outside of Maryland, New York. My cousin Jane Dean visited there in 1994 and shared these photos with me.

So, thank you Grandpa Russell for leaving the Shaker Community and realizing that you wanted to be a family man! If not, I guess I wouldn't be here to tell your story.

Sources:

Family history of Cynthia Hughes Smith
Cemetery photos courtesy of Jane Wodarski Dean, 1994
Mount Lebanon Shaker Society. https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/shaker/mou.htm
Find A Grave Memorial #86496615, Russell Rawson Graham Estabrook Chauncey
John M. Smith's History of the Town of Sunderland, Massachusetts, 1899 edition, Israel Chauncey married Elizabeth Petty, Feb. 16, 1763.
"History of Northfield, Massachusetts", page 515, Elizabeth Petty born

19 Nov 1744.

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.