The Life of Sheffield Wilcox, Sr.

My maternal 6^th great-grandfather, Sheffield Wilcox, Sr. would travel over 1,000 miles in his lifetime. What could I learn about his life as he grew up and became a man as the colonies began to desire and fight for freedom from Great Britain?

Sheffield was born on 2 April 1746 in Washington County, Rhode Island to Edward and Esther Wilcox. Sheffield would meet Eunice Ross and they would marry on 11 Dec 1771. Their children would also be born there before deciding to leave for parts west.

In the 1774 Rhode Island Census Sheffield his wife and daughter Lois are living in Richmond, Rhode Island, British America.

Following the Revolutionary War the Wilcoxes, Sheffield Sr., his wife Eunice and children Lois (my 5th great-grandmother), Thomas, Rowland, Freeman, Sheffield Jr., Amy, Desire, Eunice and Jemima first went to the Cooperstown, New York area on Otsego Lake and remained a short time before moving down the River. I wonder why they decided to move to the Cooperstown area in the first place and why they then left?

In the 1800 US Federal Census Sheffield his wife and 5 children are living in Burington, Otsego, New York. Otsego county was officially established in February 1791. The town of Burlington, NY was organized 10 April 1792. Burlington was an area with ridges being about 400 feet above the valleys. In 1795 then Governor of New York, George Clinton, established common schools throughout New York State.

Next the family went down the Susquehanna River to Monroe township, Bradford County, Pennsylvania. They lived there on the west side of the Towanda creek, about ¾ mile below the Monroeton bridge. Sheffield and his sons scouted out locations in the area called Albany for their new home.

In the Spring of 1804 Sheffield moved his family to Albany, Bradford County, Pennsylvania. To get to this new home in Albany township they had to cross the Towanda creek 11 times. Sheffield and three of his four sons were among the first group of settlers in Albany township, PA. According to Clement Heverly in his book Pioneer and Patriot Families of Bradford County Pennsylvania 1770-1800 “the country was a wild and dreary prospect, inhabited only by savage animals. The woods were full of deer and brook trout were found in myriads in the streams.” Their nearest neighbors were several miles away. Sheffield built his cabin on a little plateau. The cabin reportedly had all the novelties of pioneer style and was a one story building floored with split plank with a huge fireplace at one end.

In the 1810 US Federal Census Sheffield, his wife and 6 members of his family are living in Towanda, Luzerene County, Pennsylvania. Bradford County was created in February 1810 from parts of Lycoming and Luzerne Counties. Census day was August 6^th, 1810. Interesting that the County was still listed as Luzerne County in the Census.

His wife of 42 years, Eunice, died suddenly on 29 Oct 1813. Sheffield gave his house to son Rowland after the death of Eunice and continued to reside there with his son and family.

In the 1820 US Federal Census Sheffield and 6 family members are living in Asylum, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.

Sheffield died a few months short of his 80^th birthday on 27 Feb 1826 in Albany, Bradford, PA. According to Heverly’s book Sheffield was described as a “very strong man, medium height and well proportioned with the reputation of being a great worker”. Sheffield is buried in the Wilcox Stevenson Cemetery in New Albany, Bradford County, PA.

I still find it so interesting to see how much my ancestors moved around in the late 1700-early 1800s. Sheffield moved by horse from Washington County, RI to Burlington, NY to Albany, PA a distance of over 1,000 miles.

If you have any corrections or additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.

Enjoy the journey,
Debby

Sunday Obituary–Sophronia Benham Johnson

Sophronia is my maternal 4^th great-grandmother:

From the Reporter-Journal newspaper dated 13 July 1893:

Transcription:

Again we have been most forcibly reminded us the truth of the saying, “The old must die and the young may die.” … a dear old lady, Mrs. Sophronia Johnson, but as she was known by nearly everyone, “Grandma Johnson,” quietly slept the sleep that knows no waking, June 25, after a lingering illness of many months, which she bore with true Christian fortitude. She had lived to the advanced age of 89 years and six months. One by one the old people of our little village are leaving us, but their memory will always remain with us, and the world will be the better for their having lived in it.”

See previous post entitled The Life of Sophronia Behnam Johnson for information about her life.

If you have any corrections or additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.

Enjoy the journey,
Debby

The Life of Sophronia Benham Johnson

Sophronia Benham Johnson

217 years ago my maternal 4^th great grandmother was born.  Unfortunately, there is so little information we can find out about women in the 1800s so I wonder what I can learn about her?

Sophronia was born on 25 December 1803 in New Hartford, Litchfield County, Connecticut to Jehiel and Lydia Cadwell Benham.  Their 10th and last child was a Christmas baby.

Sophronia, at 16 years of age, married Joel Johnson, aged 20 on 1 June 1820 in Orwell, Bradford County, Pennsylvania. Ten children were born to them: Asahel, Amanda (my 3^rd great grandmother), Jehiel, George W., Harriett, Emeline, Avery, George N., Frank, and Charlotte.

• The first settlement in what is now called Orwell was in 1796. The first township was officially begun and named Mount Zion in 1801. Some of the first settles to this new frontier were from Litchfield and Tolland Counties in Connecticut.

According to the US Federal Census for the years 1830 to 1880 Sophronia and husband Joel continued living in Orwell, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.

In 1850 when Sophronia was 47 years old, there are 6 children still at home and daughter Amanda (my 3^rd great grandmother) and her family were living right next door.

In 1860 when Sophronia was 57 years old there were still 5 children living at home.

In 1870 when Sophronia was 67 years old her daughter Charlotte, her husband and child were found living with Sophronia and Joel.

In 1880 when Sophronia was 77 her daughter Harriett, nephew and niece (Johnson side) and a domestic servant were living with them.

Sophronia’s husband Joel died after 60 years of marriage in November of 1880.

Sophronia died 25 June 1893, six months before her 90^th birthday, in Orwell, Pennsylvania.

Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas Sophronia

If you have any corrections or additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.

Enjoy the journey,
Debby

The Wyoming Massacre and Congress

In an earlier post entitled 3 July 1778 the Wyoming Massacre I wrote about the Wyoming Massacre that occurred during the Revolutionary War and the connection to ancestors of mine. Visiting this historic site was very important to me in order to pay respect to all those who died for our country and be grateful for my ancestors that survived this attack.

While I was searching for the location of the monument (Wyoming Valley, PA) the GPS on my phone was having difficulty pinpointing the actual location. I realized that I needed to get further directions the old fashioned way and ask someone. A local man helped me with directions and informed me about a connection between the Wyoming Massacre and Congress that I hadn’t heard before. He stated he was grateful to help because I was telling the story of the Battle of Wyoming and it’s significance in history.

Did you know that there are bronze doors in Congress at the House wing and the Senate wing? Each half of the door consists of three panels and a medallion depicting significant events in American history.

The bronze doors at the east portico entrance of the US Capital’s House wing were designed by American sculptor Thomas Crawford in 1855-1857. After Crawford’s death William H. Rinehart took the sketches and had models made between 1863-1867. The models were stored in the Capital Building Crypt until 1903 when they were cast in Massachusetts by Melzar H. Mosman. The doors were installed in 1905.

The panels on this door depict the following events:

• Upper left: Wyoming Massacre, Pennsylvania
• Middle left: Battle of Lexington
• Lower left: Presentation of Flag and Medal to General Nathaniel Greene
• The medallion on the left represents the Death of General Montgomery

• Upper right: Public Reading of the Declaration of Independence at Philadelphia
• Middle right: The Signing of the Treaty at Paris Between the United States and Great Britain
• Lower left: Washington’s Farewell to His Officers in New York
• The medallion on the right represents Benjamin Franklin in his studio

You can learn more about the Capitol building at Architect of the Capital.

How interesting to know that a historical event that my ancestors were part of helped shape the colonists’ response during the Revolutionary War and that this event would be important enough to be part of the Capitol Building. I wonder how many people walk by this door every day and have no idea of the significance of the panels?

While I always love learning about what my ancestors’ lives were like I very much enjoy learning how their experiences helped shape the history of our Country. I am so grateful to the man I met while looking for directions who helped me learn more about my ancestors’ connection to history. You just never know how those chance meetings with strangers can help you learn more about history and where that history will be displayed. A very special thank-you to this man who took the time to help me learn more!

If you have any corrections or additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.
Enjoy the journey,
Debby

More on the Life of Asahel Johnson

Friday marked the 252^nd anniversary of the birth of my maternal 5x great grandfather Asahel Johnson. I originally told the story of Asahel in a post entitled Celebrating the Life of Asahel Johnson last year. This year I thought I would honor his birthday with some additional information I have been able to locate that tells more of his life’s story.

In the 1790 US Federal Census (1^st US Federal Census) Asahel is listed in Bristol, Hartford County, Connecticut. Also listed are 3 Free White Males under the age of 16, 2 Free White Males 16 and over, and 6 Free White Females. 11 total Household Members.
In the winter of 1795-6 Asahel Johnson and Zenas Cook first came to Sheshequin and made that there base while they explored the area for a location to settle. Asahel decided on the Orwell area, purchasing Towner Hill.

In 1797 Asahel Johnson and 2 others permanently joined the new settlement of Orwell Township, founded one year prior. The town was 6 miles square and was first called Menden.

In the 1800 US Federal Census Asahel is listed as having his home in Ulster, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. The listing includes 2 Free White Males under the age of 10, 1 Free White Male 10-15 years of age, 1 Free White Male aged 16-25, 1 Free White Male aged 26-44, 2 Free White Females under the age of 10, 1 Free White Female age 10-15, 1 Free White Female age 26-44, 9 Members total in the Household.

In the 1810 US Federal Census Asahel is living in Wyasox, Luzerne County, PA. There are listed 1 Free White Male under age 10, 1 Free White Male aged 10-15, 2 Free White Males aged 16-25, 1 Free White Male aged 26-44, 4 Free White Females under age 10, 1 Free White Female aged 10-15, 1 Free White Female aged 16-25, 1 Free White Female aged 26-44, Number of Slaves 12, 24 total Household Members.

Bradford County, PA was founded in 1812-13. In a list of “Residents at County Organization-the taxable inhabitants (all males 21 years and over and females owning property) at the organization of Bradford County as ascertained from assessment rolls, voting lists and other sources” shows Asahel Johnson living in Orwell.

On 10 February 1815 in The Susquehanna Democrat newspaper (Wilkes-Barre, PA) on page 4 reports in a column entitled “LETTERS ON HAND, At Bridegwater Post Office, Susquehanna County, PA” that on 31 December 1814 Asahel Johnson had mail.

On 10 August 1815 there was a Federal-Republican meeting for the towns of Wysox and Towanda. A committee was appointed to call a delegate meeting of the townships and Asahel Johnson was on the committee for Orwell township.

I have been unable, yet, to locate Asahel in the 1820 US Federal Census.

In the 1830 US Federal Census I find 

possibly, Aseal Johnson

right above my 4x great grandfather Joel Johnson in Orwell, Bradford, PA. In this listing there is 1 Free White Male aged 20-29, 1 Free White Male aged 60-69, 1 Free White Female age10-14, 1 Free White Female ages 60-69, 4 Total in Household. I believe this is Asahel.

In the 1840 US Federal Census Asahel is listed as having his home in Orwell, Bradford, Pennsylvania. The listing included 1 Free White Male aged 70-79, 1 Free White Female aged 20-29, 1 Free White Female aged 70-79, 1 Person Employed in Agriculture, 3 Total All Persons in Household.

In the 1850 US Federal Census taken on 20 September for Orwell, Bradford County, Pennsylvania, Asahel is an occupant of the area on 1 June and listed as a Farmer by occupation, 82 years of age, born in CT. Also on the list are his wife Beulah age 80, Mary Johnson age 38, born in PA and Azubah Fletcher age 55, born in Vermont.

I also found the following notation about Asahel “Married Beulah Hitchcock in 1788. The children were, as listed in the Bible of Asahel Johnson and his son Joel: Lydia, Artemus, Simeon, Amanday, Charlotte, Joel (my), Welthy, Julia, Clarissa, Lydia (2^nd), Nelson, and Mary.” Oh, to be able to locate that family Bible and see the handwriting of my ancestors.

This information adds so much more to the story of the  life of Asahel Johnson then I previously knew.  I like to go back occasionally and see what else I can find on my ancestors.  New information continues to become available, so the story of their lives continues to grow.  Don’t be discouraged if at first there seems to be only a small bit of information.

If you have any corrections or additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.
Enjoy the journey,
Debby

Tombstone Tuesday-Lois Wilcox Alden

Lois,

Wife of

Timothy Alden

Died

Jan. 10, 1851

Aged 77 Yrs

11 M & 8 D

Lois is buried at the Monroeton Cemetery, Monroeton, Bradford County, PA

You can read more about the life of my maternal 5x great-grandmother at Celebrating the Life of Lois Wilcox Alden.

If you have any corrections or additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.
Enjoy the journey,
Debby

Celebrating the Life of Lois Wilcox Alden

Lois Wilcox Alden

my maternal 5^th great-grandmother.

Lois was born to Sheffield Wilcox Sr. and Eunice Ross Wilcox on 5 February 1773 in Westerly, Rhode Island. Lois was, I believe the oldest of nine children born to Sheffield and Eunice. Westerly is a town on the southwestern shoreline of Washington County, Rhode Island. English colonists first settled this area in 1661.

The family moved from Westerly to Cooperstown, New York before settling in Monroe township, Pennsylvania in 1798.

On 11 November 1790 a 17 year old Lois Wilcox and a 20 year old Timothy Alden would marry in Tyringham, Berkshire County, Massachusetts before moving to Monroe Township, Bradford County, Pennsylvania in 1801. I wonder what brought Lois to Tyringham?

When the couple came to the area 'Monroe Township' wasn’t even formed yet. The area was a wilderness and they were among the early settlers.

Lois and Timothy would have 7 children, that I know of, between 1792-1810: Adonijah, Sophronia, Louisa (my 4^th great-grandmother), Permilla, Philinda, and twins Sylvester William and Sevellon Wells.

  

Lois would die on 10 January 1851 in Monroe, Bradford County, Pennsylvania at the age of 78. Lois was a daughter, a sister, a wife and a mother. She would have traveled a distance of about 266 miles from her place of birth to her home in Monroe, Pennsylvania. Perhaps a day trip today but by horse and wagon a long way to travel by the time she was 28 years old.

Unfortunately, women of that era left very few records for us to discover and know about them. What I do know is that today is her birthday and I can remember her birth 247 years later! Happy birthday Great-Grandmother Lois!

If you have any corrections or additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.
Enjoy the journey,
Debby

Revolutionary War Pension of John Jacobs

John Jacobs is my maternal 6^th great-grandfather from Pennsylvania. John was a Revolutionary War soldier who served in the battle of Sullivan’s Island (see blog post Revolutionary War Soldier John Jacobs). Beyond that battle there wasn’t a lot known about his service. After learning of the Wyoming Massacre (see post 3 July 1778 The Wyoming Massacre) and learning of John’s wife Eliza’s escape down a corn path I wondered where John had been during this battle?

After locating John’s pension # W2805 I was able to locate his Revolutionary War Pension Record. Now I could, hopefully, learn more about John’s military service.

First, I needed to learn more about Pensions for the Revolutionary War. Who was eligible and when where soldiers able to collect?

According to the National Archives;

• Not every Revolutionary War soldier received a pension.
• Pension and bounty-land warrant application files contain mainly the records of enlisted men, not officers.
• On 15 May 1778 the Continental Congress passed a resolution allowing half-pay for officers and $80 for all enlisted men who remained in service to the end of the war.
• 24 August 1780 the Continental Congress passed the first act offering pensions to widows and orphans of Revolutionary War soldiers.
• Pensions were offered to encourage enlistment, prevent desertion and resignation.
• In 1818 Congress passed a pension law granting pensions to Revolutionary War Veterans who had not been disabled. Based on financial need these were granted for life.
• This was amended in 1820 (due to the large number of soldiers that had filed), 1822 and again in 1832 when full pay was given to officers and enlisted men who had served for two or more years and partial pay for six months to two years of service.

One of the first documents I found in John’s Pension File was an affidavit from John’s son, John Jacobs, Jr. dated 1842 to help his mother, Eliza Pensel Jacobs, obtain a pension for John’s service. John died in 1831 in Exeter, Pennsylvania.

(click on images to enlarge)

Transcription:

Declaration

In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7^th July 1838, entitled “An Act granting half pay & pensions to certain widows”

State of Pennsylvania
Luzerne County Pa

On this twenty ninth day of June AD 1842, personally appeared in open Court John Jacobs, a resident of Exeter Township, Luzerne County, & state aforesaid, aged Sixty Eight years or there abouts, & who was appointed by this Court among others to make a Declaration for Mrs Eliza P. Jacobs, who being f ? ? , according to Law, with, on his oath makes the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the Act of Congress, passed July 7, entitled “An Act granting of half pay & pensions to certain widows for his Mother Mrs. Eliza Jacobs-That she is the widow of John Jacobs declarants Father and that he has heard his father say that he was in the Revolutionary Army during the whole war as a Malitia Man, but does not know what State line he served in, that he was drafted-That he served in the Army & was in the battle of Sullivans island, that Genl Lee, Genl Moultrie & Rutledge Commanded, that he has very often heard his deceased father Speak of his being in this engagement: that he has no recollections of hearing his father speak particularly of any other engagement but he has heard him say that he was in many Skirmishes with the Enemy.
That he does not remember the names of the officers under whom his Father served, nor the time of his entering the Service-but he uniformly Stated the tour of his Service, to have been during the whole war_That he was in the Massacre of Wyoming, & that? his Mother escaped to Fort Allese, where his Father joined them after the battle, and this declarant who was then about four years old well remembers to have Seen a ball extracted from his fathers breast by a Surgeon, & which his father kept for many years; his father stated to him that he received it in the battle, that it struck his musket which he was in the act of priming it & shirred the musket & glancing lodged in his breast; that he was with Sullivan when he marched into the valley of Wyoming with his Army- That he remembers that many years since his father prepared & took evidence of his Services for the purpose of getting a pension, & that Solomon Dotter_ was one of this witnesses; but that his father gave it up as he understood because of his hearing some property which would deter him; that he was searched his fathers papers but cannot find them; that he has c? with Said Dotter Since that time, who told him that in the Said application he had proved his Service in the Revolutionary Army of this declarants Father, and that the said Dotter he thinks died before his Mother made application to the Pennsylvania Legislature for his pension- That he remembers to have heard his Father say that he performed services in the Army, in New Jersey, on the Delaware river & on the Minisinks, and that he was on the lines during the whole war and that this dependent does not know of every documentary evidence in the possession of his Mother or the family in Support of the claim, That his Father died on the 15 of March 1831-leaving no property, real or personal after the payments of his funerals expenses-And that his Mother has never been married to any person since-That his father has told him often he was a private soldier-That the said Eliza Jacobs his Mother now resides in Newport, in Said County, that previous thereto she resided in Hanover in Said County.

That he has known his Mothers age for a long number of years, and that as near as he can ascertain the day of Month it was the 15^th of June, and that on the 15 of this present Month She was one hundred and four years old- and that she is unable to make the Declaration required, owing to Deafness and an ? ? of her mental faculties, and loss of memory-

That declarants father & Solemon Dotier have both told him that at one time they were in the Same Camp together when in the Revolutionary Army-
Sworn & Subscribed in Open Court 29 June 1842
__
__                                                                                     John Jacobs
(additional names are illegible)

Thank-you to Kathy and Allen Hughes who were able to provide me with a visual and help me in understanding how John was injured during the battle.
It appears that John was injured while loading his musket. Loading was a 2-part process done by taking some powder from a paper cartridge and pouring it into the pan by the Frizzen then putting the rest of the powder and ball down the barrel.  Before putting powder and ball down the barrel John’s musket must have been struck by enemy fire which deflected the round into his chest.

This Pension file was found on Fold3 and difficult to read due to age. Please excuse any transcription errors. If you are able to identify any of the missing words I would appreciate knowing them. Once again using Vivid-Pix Restore enabled me to have a higher quality version to transcribe. The handwriting in the document was not easy to read either. I needed to do additional research about the Revolutionary War and the Battle of Sullivan’s Island to know the proper spellings of several of the names mentioned in this document. I also did further investigation on Fold3 to find the name of the fellow soldier mentioned in this document who’s name was difficult to read. I was able to locate a pension record (#22735) for a soldier named ‘Samuel Solomon Dotter’ also from Luzerne County, PA for the correct spelling of his name.

Now I know that John fought in the Wyoming Massacre and was fortunate to be one of the survivors when so many others perished. There are other documents in John’s Pension file and more to be discovered.

If you have any corrections, additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.
Enjoy the journey,
Debby

Who Were Biddy, Patrick and Michael Meenan

When my paternal 3x great-grandmother Ann Meenan Rowan (see posts A Lot More Questions than Answers-the Life of Ann Rowan and Success!!  Emigrant Savings Bank-Ann Meenan Rowan) immigrated from County Monaghan, Ireland in August 1837 she arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Ann was listed as a Spinster, 25 years of age (1812) but there were 2 children named Meenan that appeared to have been traveling with her.  Biddy Meenan was listed as 2 years old (1835) and Patrick was listed as 4 years old (1833).  Several lines below them I found a Michael Meenan age 20 (1817) who was listed as a Weaver by occupation. 

I wondered if perhaps Ann and Michael were siblings?  Were the two small children another brother’s children?

• I know ‘Biddy’ may have been the nickname for Bridget.

Here’s what I have been able to find:

Patrick

• Patrick Meenan with a birth year of 1833 Ireland dying in Flint, Michigan in 1893, ironically with a mother Ann Meenan and father Francis Meenan.
• Patrick Meenan living in Philadelphia in 1870 with a birth about 1833 Ireland.   He was living with his wife Ann and children Michael, A. Rose, Mary and Emma. 
• Patrick Meenan serving in the Civil War enlisting in Philadelphia February 1864.
• Patrick Meenan death notice in Philadelphia on 6 May 1897

My guess is that the Patrick that lived in Philadelphia may be the Patrick that was on the ship’s manifest with Ann but there is no confirmation of this.  If I obtain the Civil War record for the Patrick who served from Philadelphia, perhaps I would find a connection.

Biddy

• Bridget Meenan listed in the Philadelphia City Directory in 1890, 1893
• Bridget Meenan dying at the age of 34 in August 1897

Is this the Bridget I am looking for or did she die shortly after arriving in America?  I am unable to find Biddy and Patrick on a census record together after arriving.  Perhaps they were cousins and not siblings?

Michael

There are many ‘Michael Meenan’ that could possibly be the one who was on the ship manifest with Ann and the children but no definitive connection to Ann, Biddy or Patrick.

Was ‘Meenan’ Ann’s married name?  Was she really a ‘widow’ and came with Biddy and Patrick, her children?  There is no reference to them being with Ann after she married William Rowan in the 1840s.  Were these children even ‘Meenan’ children or someone else’s children that Ann brought to America for them?  I still have no idea if these 4 people are related.  I believe they are but I have been unable to prove it…so far.  I believe the children came over with Ann and she probably delivered them to one of her brothers but who they were and where they were, I don’t know yet. 

Sometimes the search just doesn’t resolve anything but leave you with even more questions.  Perhaps one day I will find the answers to my many questions and know who Biddy, Patrick and Michael are.

If you have any corrections, additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.
Enjoy the journey,
Debby

Trying Out a New Research Technique: Finding Ancestors in the Early 1800s

I thought I would do some research on my maternal 3rd great-grandmother Amanda Johnson Browning.  I know nothing about Amanda except a possible date of birth and that her husband was listed as William Browning.  Amanda is on my direct maternal line and the line that my mitochondrial DNA traces back now through 6 generations.  (See post My Maternal Line and Mitochondrial DNA).  In my family tree I have Amanda as being born in 1823 in Pennsylvania.  I am not sure how or where I found this information because it was recorded in my tree years ago before I understood the importance of citing my sources.  My guess is I found it on Family Search back in the late 1990s.  Now I would like to go back and try to verify the information with valid sources, if possible. 

I knew that finding information on Amanda would be difficult since I am now going back in Pennsylvania to the early to mid 1880s, before the time of required birth, death and marriage records.  I also knew that census records will not name her until 1850.  I decided to try a technique I had heard about at the Southern California Genealogy Jamboree this past June.  (See post Southern California Genealogy Jamboree 2018-Friday and Saturday).  The presentation was by Annette Burke Lyttle entitled How Research Plans Can Up Your Genealogical Game.  Annette talked about developing a good research question and making a list of all possible sources of information for the area where your ancestor lived before hitting the

                                   

button on a record source.  I know that I have several ancestral lines that were in PA in the early 1800s, so, I decided to try her technique.  The list of resources in PA would be valuable help with other lines.

My research question:  When and where was Amanda Johnson born?

I knew that 'Pennsylvania' was too broad so I thought I would narrow my options down.  I knew that Amanda’s daughter Harriett Browning DeLeon Coolbaugh (see post) was born in 1850 in Orwell, Bradford County, PA.  I decided to look for information and records in Bradford County, Pennsylvania.  
Here are the sources of records/information I found for Bradford County:

Source	Information Found
Bradford County, PA History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
Linkpendium - Bradford County
Tri-Counties Genealogy and History Site - Bradford and Tioga County (PA) and Cemung (NY) For family and local history information
Sullivan-Rutland Genealogy Project This database focuses on the ancestors and descendants of the early nineteenth century pioneers who migrated to Tioga and Bradford County, Pennsylvania, primarily from Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont. It also includes Chemung County. New York.
USGenWeb project.
Bradford County Historical Society
Bradford County PA Genealogy
FamilySearch Catalog: Pioneer and patriot families of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, 1770-1826 : including history (1615-1840), marriages (1776-1850), soldiers of the Revolution, ministers, justices, original officers and all matters relating to early times Author: Heverly, C. F. (Clement Ferdinand), fl. 1885
Family trees on Family Search
Family trees on Ancestry
Family trees on My Heritage
Ancestry.com -North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000       The Coolbaugh Family in America, from their earliest appearance at New Amsterdam, 1686-1938

At first look I found a lot more resources than I thought would be available for me to search.  It was VERY tempting to just hit the SEARCH button but I am going to give this technique a chance and see what I can find.

Will I be able to verify Amanda’s birth?  Will a research question help me stay focused to find an answer?

In future posts I will tell you if I am able to answer my research question and what other great finds may come my way.

If you have any corrections or additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.
Enjoy the journey,
Debby

Mary E. _ King

One of my paternal 3x great-grandmothers was Mary  E. _ King.  If I trace back on my paternal side this would be George Washington King’s father Louis’ mother. 

What have I been able to find out about Mary and can I figure out where she was born?  I have a lot of questions about Mary.

I first find Mary in the 1850 US Federal Census as living on the 2nd day of August 1850 in Brooklyn Ward 6.  Mary was married to Theodore King (see post Theodore King or Should I say Theodor Konig?) She was listed as 34 years old and her birthplace was listed as Germany.  She did not have an occupation listed and was listed as being unable to read or write.  At the time Mary and Theodore had 5 children: Catherine (15), Jacob (11), Louis (8) my 2x great grandfather, Mary (6) and Caroline (4).  All the children were listed as having been born in New York.

1850 Wards of Brooklyn Map from Wikipedia

New York State Census 1855.  On 23 June 1855 date Mary and her family is living in Brooklyn City, Ward 12, Election District 1, Kings County, New York.  Mary is listed as 37 years old and a birthplace of Pennsylvania.  She was widowed with an occupation of Wash Woman.  She had lived in the City for 12 years.  Jacob, Louis, Mary and Caroline were living with her.  Was Catherine married or had she passed away along with her father Theodore?  This census lists Jacob as being born in PA.  Hmm…did Mary and Theodore marry in PA?

New York State Census 1865.  On 1 June 1865 Mary was living in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York.  She was listed as being 48 years old, birthplace- Pennsylvania. Of how many children the parent of -7.  Number of times married –1.  Widowed.  She was living with Caroline (18), a Seamstress and Single.  They were living in a 2 family dwelling.  The other family was the Daniel and Catherine Lewis Family with their 4 children.  Interesting because the wife was named Catherine and the age fits that perhaps she was Mary’s daughter??  I’m aware of 5 children, so, who were the other 2?

US Federal Census 1870.  On 17 June Mary was living in Brooklyn Ward 12, Kings County, New York.  Mary was 55 years old, birthplace – PA.  Occupation was Keeping House.  Mary was living with her sons Jacob (30) and Louis (28).  They were living in a 2 family dwelling.  Mary is again living in the same house as Daniel and Catherine Lewis and their 4 children.

According to the 1870 Brooklyn City Directory Mary lived at 54 Wolcott in Brooklyn.
New York State Census 1875.  On 1 June 1875 Mary was living in Brooklyn Ward 12, Election District 2, Kings County, New York.  She was 58 years old, a Housekeeper, and widowed.  Mary was living with her son Jacob (39).  They were living in a 2 family brick dwelling.  Mary is again living in the same house as Daniel and Catherine Lewis and their 3 children.

I was unable to locate Mary in the 1880 US Federal Census.

Mary died on 6 August 1890 at 14 1st Avenue (on the second floor) in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York and is buried in Greenwood cemetery with her great granddaughter Louisa King.  Mary was about 70 years old at her death.  Her cause of death is listed as Old Age and Neuralgia.  I wonder if she was living at the time of her death with one of her children?  I noticed Mary’s death certificate was presented to her daughter-in-law Sarah King, my 2x great grandmother and the wife of Louis King who had died 3 months before his mother.  According to Louis’ death certificate he was living at 14 1st Avenue when he died, so, Mary died at the home of her daughter-in-law.


I was able to locate a lot of information about Mary but still have many questions.  From the census record I would guess, and still need to research, that: 

• Mary was born about 1816—18.  I am guessing in PA since that is listed on more of the census records then Germany is. So, I still don’t know where she was born.
• Mary and Theodore married about 1834 due to the birthdate of their oldest child Catherine.  Since I see Catherine listed many times in census records as having been born in Pennsylvania I am guessing that is where Theodore and Mary met and were married?
• Mary came to Brooklyn in the 1840s is my best guess?  Catherine is reported to be born in PA as is her brother Jacob on some of the census records.
• What was Mary’s maiden name and who were her parents?

With further digging I was able to determine that Catherine King Lewis was Mary and Theodore’s daughter as I had suspected.  Now I know her married name as well.

If you have any corrections or additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.
Enjoy the journey,
Debby

Obituary Sunday-Abigail Betsey Granteer Coolbaugh

I previously wrote a post about the life of my maternal 3x great grandmother Abigail Betsey Granteer Coolbaugh (click on bolded name to read) and a post about her tombstone entitled Tombstone Tuesday-Abilgail Betsey Granteer Coolbaugh.  I was recently able to find a copy of Abigail “Betsey”’s obituary from the newspaper Monroeton Enterprise dated 20 April, 1912. Transcription: Mrs. Betsey Granteer Coolbaugh died at her home on Bridge Street at about 8 o’clock Sunday evening and was buried in the Monroeton cemetery on Tuesday afternoon.  Deceased was born in Canton on the 10th of May, 1823.  She was married to Marvin Coolbaugh on the 27th of October, 1841, and soon afterward accompanied him to Monroeton, where she has since resided.  Mrs. Coolbaugh leaves one daughter, Mrs. Dutton of Elmira, and one son, Arthur Coolbaugh, who has always resided at home with his mother, she having been a widow since 1879.  Through all the hardships and trials of life she always showed a cheerful and hopeful disposition, fulfilling all her duties with patience and fortitude, and has been called to the reward that awaits the faithful and the just. A special thank-you to the Bradford County Historical Society for finding this obituary for me. I find it interesting that my 2x great grandfather Portis Coolbaugh is not mentioned at all in the obituary of his mother.  Portis died in 1910 in Otis, New York.  His brother Francis is not mentioned either.  Francis died in 1895 in Sayre, PA.  From this obituary I now know the married name of Betsey’s daughter and that she lived in Elmira, NY. If you have any corrections or additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them. Enjoy the journey, Debby

Tombstone Tuesday-Jacob Grantier

Jacob Granteer

Griffin Cemetery, Canton, Bradford County, Pennsylvania

Maternal 5th great-grandfather

1750-1805

 See post Sunday Serendipity-Jacob Grantier

If you have any corrections or additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.

Enjoy the journey,

Debby

Tombstone Tuesday - Timothy Alden

Timothy Alden is my maternal 5th great-grandfather and the great-great-grandson of John and Priscilla (Mullen) Alden.  

Timothy was the son of Israel and Lucy (Markham) Alden. 

He was born 23 Feb 1770 in Tyringham, Berkshire County, Massachusettes.

Timothy died 29 Sept 1859 in Monroeton, Bradford, PA.

 

(See the post Using County Histories to Find Information-Timothy Alden from Sunday to find out more about Timothy.)

Timothy Alden is buried in the Monroeton Cemetery in Monroeton, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.  I took this picture on a quick stop in the late 1990s.  Wish I had found it before the stone became weathered to know what else it may have said.
 

If you have any corrections or additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.

 

Enjoy the journey,

Debby

Using County Histories to Find Information-Timothy Alden

With Thanksgiving a little over a month away I have been thinking of my Pilgrim ancestors.  I decided to take a look at what I could find out this week about Timothy Alden,  my maternal 5th great-grandfather and the great-great-grandson of John and Priscilla Mullen Alden.

I was surprised at what I was able to find out on the web by searching County Histories.
I knew that Timothy was born in 1770 and died in Pennsylvania in 1859.  That’s a long time ago.    Where do I start???

I had information that Timothy had lived in Monroe, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.  I began searching on the web by putting in the search “Bradford County, Pennsylvania”.  I found the following:

From this I found an amazing 143,000 results, maps of Bradford County and a lot of sites to begin checking out.  Wow!!  Now the reading begins…….

After I read through several sites and I found The History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania-Tri-Counties Genealogy.  BINGO!  This website had information from several books/pamphlets published in 1885, 1891, 1892.

Since I knew Timothy had come from Berkshire County, Massachusetts I repeated the process and searched the History of that county as well.  From the website Berkshire County History  I found:

From just these 2 websites I was able to find an amazing amount of information about Timothy Alden:

• Timothy, son of Israel Alden and Lucy Markham Alden, was born on 23 Feb 1770 in Tyringham, Massachusetts.
• Timothy married Lois Wilcox on 11 Nov 1790 in the Town of Tyringham, Berkshire County, Massachusetts.
• Timothy moved from Otis/Tyringham, Berkshire County, Massachusetts with his family to Monroe, Bradford County, PA in 1801.
• Timothy purchased eight hundred acres of land in Monroe.
• “Mr. Alden moved in with his family in the month of December, with horses and sleighs, having two or more. The party crossed the river at Binghamton, where, at that time, there was but one log house. Mr. Alden had built a little log house, where there was a natural opening, about twenty rods below the stone house on the creek, and moved his family into it.”
• In 1827 Timothy built a stone house for his family.
• "Mr. Alden was of a distinguished and honorable line of ancestry, being a direct descendant of John Alden of the Mayflower."  (Gee, I wonder if this statement published in 1885 will help me prove my Alden lineage??)
• Timothy was a blacksmith by occupation and worked at this in Monroe also.
• For a change, Timothy enjoyed a hunt.
• “Mr. Alden is described as a man six feet two inches in height, well proportioned commanding and of noble bearing. He was firm, benevolent, and possessed of good judgment. Though not given to frivolous things, he was fond of humor.”
• For some time he was captain of militia, and was generally addressed as "Captain Alden."
• “He was one of the first and most liberal supporters of the Baptist church in Monroe, and remained a consistent and faithful member until the time of his death.”
• “He was a great reader and had a most retentive memory. He was a frequent contributor to both the local and foreign press.”
• Education was with him a necessary and not an ornamental accomplishment. His power to acquire an education was great, and his mental retention scarce ever at fault when in the prime of life.
• Timothy died Sept 29, 1859 in Monroe, Bradford County, Pennsylvania

A huge thank-you to Joyce M. Tice and Berkshire County Gen Web Project for all the hard work they have done to make this information available to so many via the Web!

Now this man who I knew basically nothing about except the date of his birth and the date of his death has come to life for me just from searching County Histories on the web.

If you have any corrections or additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.

 

Enjoy the journey,

Debby