Histories and Mysteries: Family Stories and Genealogy : June 2017

Friday, June 30, 2017

Independence Day

It has been a busy spring and summer with very little time for genealogy research or blogging. I'm sure when fall weather arrives, I will start having time for research again. Until then, I will post when I can, but suspect I won't do too much blogging for the next couple of months.

Today I wanted to do a post that ties in to Independence Day, the 4th of July. Here is a list of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. So far, I have not found any links in my research to any of these people, but it wouldn't surprise me to eventually discover a connection to one of my husband's lines since he has numerous ties to early American families and early settlements. For example, Charles Carroll is in my database because of his links to the Young family of Prince Georges Co., Maryland. My husband is related to that Young family through William Young, however I haven't found a direct connection to Charles Carroll.

My lines, however, mostly end in brick walls long after the American Revolution.

Have you seen the new Ancestry ad about descendants of the Signers? It is excellent. Here is a link to a story about it with a link to play the ad: Declaration Descendants.

I have several lines that might lead me to Revolutionary era ancestors, but I haven't thoroughly researched them yet. For example, I descend from Jeremiah Fielding Owens and his wife, Jane Kenton. Jane's brother, Simon Kenton, fought in the Revolution and was a frontiersman and friend of Daniel Boone. I suspect that further research into my 'brick wall lines' will uncover additional links to the cause for American Independence.

There are however, a number of Revolutionary War soldiers in my database. Here are a few:

Captain John Metcalfe, born 1724 in Fauquier Co., Virginia. Son of John Metcalfe and Diana Watkins. Married Sabrina Farrar (1st), Mary O'Bryan (2nd), and Sarah Rhoda Dent (3rd). He was the father of Thomas P. Metcalfe, U.S. Senator and Governor of Kentucky. Captain Metcalfe was my 7th great grandfather.

Meshack or Mesheche Pierson, born in 1754 in Virginia, was one of a set of triplets who all fought in the Revolution. I wrote a bit about the triplets and linked to other information about them HERE. Pierson was my 6th great grandfather.

On my husband's side there are multiple ancestors who fought in the Revolution. There is his 4th great grandfather, George Jacob Shireman, who was born about 1761 in Culpepper Co., Virginia. He served in the Revolutionary War until about 1782 and applied for a pension in 1835.

Thomas Darnel Stevens, my husband's 5th great grandfather, may be the same Thomas Stevens who fought in the Battle of Point Pleasant in October 1774. I need to do more research to try and confirm that they are the same person. I did a post about Thomas Stevens that can be found HERE.

I wrote about David Jenners HERE. Another 5th great grandfather of my husband, David is one mystery I would dearly love to solve. He served in the Revolution from Concord, Massachusetts as a sergeant in Captain Adam Wheeler's company, but was listed as deserted in August 1780. I have yet to discover what happened to him. A guardian was named for his son, Abiel, in 1789 and his wife remarried in 1792.

Joseph Buttrick, born 1724 in Concord, Massachusetts, served as a private in the Revolution and fought in the Battle of Concord. He married Sarah Brown. His daughter, Sarah Buttrick married David Jenners, listed above. Joseph was my husband's 6th great grandfather.

William Young of Maryland (son of William Young and Eleanor Birkhead) who married Ruth Ann Jackson before 1773 was my husband's 5th great grandfather. While I have not yet found Revolutionary War records for William, I have discovered that he, his brother Abraham, and his sister Elizabeth owned much of the land that now is Washington, D.C. There are records from 1791 of William and his brother negotiating with George Washington for their lands being incorporated into the new District of Columbia.

Jonathan Taylor of Rockland Co., New York, born 1746 and died 1831, served in the Revolutionary War as a private in the Orange Co. Militia, Second Regiment. Some research indicates that his son, Aaron Taylor, also served in the Revolution, but if Aaron was truly born in 1766, he would have been very young to have served. Jonathan was my husband's 5th great grandfather and Aaron was his 4th great grandfather.

Garret Ackerson (also found as Gerrit Eckerson) was born in 1743 in Rockland Co., New York, the son of Jan C. Eckerson and Geesje Straatmaker. He served as a captain in Colonel Hay's regiment of the New York Militia during the Revolution. He died in 1811. He was my husband's 5th great grandfather.

John Kimberlin, 1751-1835, served as a Second Lieutenant in the Second Battalion, Bedford Co., Pennsylvania. He was another 5th great grandfather of my husband. He married Ruth Jones in 1777.

Robert Brinton, 1758-1838, also served in the Revolution from Pennsylvania. I have not done much research on him. He is my husband's 5th great grandfather. His daughter, Ursula, married Daniel David Kimberlin, son of John Kimberlin above.

Joseph B. Mann, who died in August 1791, was a private during the Revolution and served from Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania. He married Sarah Rogers. Another 5th great grandfather of my husband.

Elias Stilwell, 1754-1828, was the 5th great grandfather of my children. He was a captain in the 3rd Connecticut Regiment of Foot, and served from October 1776 to December 1780.

I'm sure as I do more research that I will find other Revolutionary ancestors.

Happy July 4th!

Monday, June 19, 2017

Letter to Minnie Stilwell from "Cousin Fannie," June 20, 1878

This is another letter to Mary Elva "Minnie" Stilwell from her friend, Fannie (no surname). Fannie is probably Fannie Hanchett, who was the daughter of Jennie Bent & John Hanchett. Jennie Bent was the sister of Edward Clarence Bent who married Minnie's sister, Hannah Stilwell. So, if this is indeed the same person, Fannie was the niece of Minnie's sister's husband.

Others mentioned:

Warren = Warren Stilwell, Minnie's brother.
Blanche = Blanche (Stilwell) Munn, Minnnie's sister who was married to Fannie's uncle, Frank Munn
Mae = not known
Clara = not known
Belle = Belle Osborn, daughter of Annette (Stilwell) Osborn and Charles Osborn; Belle was Minnie's niece
Edie = Edith Stilwell, Minnie's younger sister
Minnie B. = not known
Cora = not known

******************

Letter addressed to Miss Minnie Stilwell, Ripon, Wis. No return address. Postmarked Sheboygan Falls, Wis.

                                     Sheboygan Falls, June 20, 1878

Dear "Cousin" Minnie:
   I should have thought you would have been sick a bed when you got home, after you left here, but I see by Warren's letter you were able to ride out, why Minnie I am astonished at your conduct, I wouldn't go out to ride with a young gent and stay until the "wee small hours" of the night or morning which ever you please to call it. I thought you was a good steady girl, but I have changed my mind. Minnie please tell me who you went to ride with. I will promise not to tell, tell your "sisser" won't you. I was so lonesome after you went away I didn't know what to do with my self. I enjoyed your visit so much, I say your visit of course I didn't enjoy Warren's any. How long is Cousin Blanche going to stay at the lake?
   My school is out one week from to-morrow. I do hope I can come and make you a visit, but I don't know yet, whether Papa will feel as though he could afford it or not, but if I do come won't we have a jolly time. I don't see what makes you remember the festival so well, it surely can't be the ice-cream, wouldn't you like a dish now? There is going to be a dance here to-morrow evening and I am going with -- "I know who," can you guess? I expect to have a jolly time. Last Sunday was Childrens Day at the Methodist Church. The church was beautifully decorated with evergreens and flowers of all descriptions, house plants and there was 8 or 9 singing birds hung around the church (I took my bird) They had responsive reading and singing by the children. It was real nice. I wish you had been here. Mae was home last Sunday. I don't know whether she will come home tomorrow or not. She wanted me to send her love to you all. Clara is going home Saturday to stay two weeks We shall miss her very much. Tell little Belle Cousin Fannie thought her little letter was "buful" and give her two, three kiss for me. I guess I shall have to bid you good night as I want to say a few words to Edie with three, four, five kisses you "Sisser" and Cousin Fannie (please write soon)
Dear "Cousin" Edie:
   I was so glad you wrote too. I am going to say a few words to you. I shall surely expect you to come home with me, if I come to make you a visit this summer. Have you heard from Minnie B. since she returned to Waupun? I have once, but I had to write first. Did you and Miss Cora have a nice time in Ripon last week. I am glad you enjoy taking music lessons. I am not taking now. It is almost ten o'clock and Mama is hurrying me to bed. She joins me in sending love to you all. Papa would if he was here but he is not so can't. With lots of Kiss
          Coz Fannie
Please write

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Decoration Day, 1920

I was recently contacted by a Clifton relative, and so thought I'd post this batch of photos taken at the Clifton farm near Jamestown, Boone Co., Indiana. Some of them have been posted in various places on this blog before, but I don't think I've posted them all.

For reference:

My grandparents, Georgia Licher and James Perry were married in November 1920, so these were taken while they were courting.

John Marion Clifton was born in the fall (probably October) 1919. He was the son of Marion Clifton and Alice (Rodgers) Clifton.

Herschel Clifton was born in 1907. He was the son of Marion Clifton and Marion's first wife, Rosa Canada.

Marion Clifton ("Doc") was the second husband of Alice Myrtle Rodgers. Her children by her first marriage to James Madison Perry were James Mortimer Perry (my grandfather) and Venus Perry.

Nell Pomeroy was a friend of my grandmother, Georgia Licher. She may be the Ellen Cecelia "Nelle" Slane (born 1900) that lived in Delaware Co., Indiana and married Byron Pomeroy (in 1922). That couple lived on S. Hackley Street in Muncie, Indiana, so would have been in the same general neighborhood as where my grandparents lived after they married. I am tending toward thinking this is the correct woman. She died in 1964 and is buried in Beech Grove Cemetery in Muncie. If she is indeed, Nell Slane, then she was not married when these photos were taken, however, Nell Pomeroy is how she was identified to me by my mother, so I have used that surname.