Friday, November 28, 2014

DNA : Mom's Cousin Linda


Corresponding recently with mom's DNA match, Linda, with whom I share no DNA.  Linda matches mom on only one segment, chromosome 1, and is predicted to be a 3rd to 6th cousin, according to 23andMe.

When I contacted Linda and shared my family tree at Ancestry, she wrote back and thought that we might be related on the Caldwell line.  Linda sent me a link to her Ancestry tree as well.  Her Caldwell line comes from Andrew Caldwell who died 1759 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  Mom's line, however, comes from an Andrew Caldwell who died 1758 in Frederick County, Virginia.  While there might be a connection further back, this did not appear to be where we connected.

Looking at Linda's tree, I discovered that she had a branch that ended with Ruth Hunt (1745-1767) who married Thomas Thornburgh (1743-1788).  Her Ruth Hunt was born 1745 in Loudon County, Virginia and died January 20, 1767 in Rowan County, North Carolina.  This matches up with the Quaker relative of my mother, Ruth Hunt, daughter of Thomas Hunt (1723-1763) and Ann Beals (1720-1790), members of the New Garden MM, Society of Friends.  Ann Beals was the daughter of John Beals (1685-1745) and Sarah Bowater (1689-bef1767), my mother's 7th-great grandparents.

If this is the connection, it would make Linda and mom 8th cousins twice removed.  The DNA recombination might be a bit higher because I noticed that Linda had Osborn relatives as well, and mom has Quaker Osborn ancestors as well.

I've sent Linda some information today and I'm hoping we can continue the discussion to confirm the connections.

Thursday, November 27, 2014

My Mayflower Connection



With today being Thanksgiving, several Geneabloggers have been participating in the meme of listing their Mayflower ancestors.  I discovered a couple of years ago that my family has a direct connection to the Mayflower through the Hopkins line.  I'd appreciate any additions/corrections to this line.

1. Stephen Hopkins (1581-1644) and wife Mary (  -1613).
2. Constance Hopkins (1606-1677) and Nicholas Snow (1598-1676)
3. John Snow (1638-1703) and Mary Smalley (1647-1703)
4. Rebecca Snow (1676-1753) and Benjamin Smalley (1664-1721)
5. Joseph Smalley (1712-1783) and Jemima Ordway
6. Francis Smalley (1744-1811) and Sarah Hutchinson (1750-1780)
7. Thirsa Smalley (1771-1861) and Gordon Pierce (1773-1865)
8. Francis S. Pierce (1806-1881) and Rebecca Page (1806-1893)
9. Edmund G. Pierce (1837-1875) and Catherine Groenendyke (1843-1913)
10. William Francis Pierce (1865-1950) and Clara A. Penisten (1869-1906)
11. Edna Muriel Pierce (1897-1968) and Virgil Lee Wright (1894-1972)
12. William Lee Wright (1919-1973) and Bonnie Mae Lambertson (1924-1984)
13. My mother
14. Me

Stephen Hopkins has an interesting story, his page at Wikipedia gives more detail.  Apparently, he was previously shipwrecked in Bermuda, and was the inspiration for Shakespeare's The Tempest.  Tried for treason, found guilty and sentenced to hang, sounds like my kind of ancestor.

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Funeral Record : Catherine Metzner (1819-1910), Jay County, Indiana

Baird & Hardy Funeral Home Records, Jay County, Indiana, 1909-1911


Located the funeral record of Catherine (Young) Metzner (1819-1910), my paternal 3rd-great grandmother, while at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne recently.  Catherine was the daughter of Nicholas and Salome Young and the wife of John Metzner (1805-1888).

According to the record, her death occurred at Rome City, Indiana on June 22nd. This matches the facts I'd already discovered through her obituary.  She was living at the home of her daughter, Mary A. (Metzner) Huey, at the time of her death.

According to the record, she was 91 years old.  The funeral was held at 2 p.m. at Mt. Zion church and interment at Mt. Zion cemetery on June 24th. 

No other pertinent details found, nor did it name the informant.

This book is shelved at the library at Gc 977.201 J33scb 1909-11.

Monday, November 24, 2014

Will Abstract : Lewis Bland (1870) Shelby County, Ohio

Shelby County Ohio Will Abstracts Book 2 1869-1881, Shelby County Genealogical Society, Sidney, Ohio, 1999

page 24 LEWIS BLAND  9 Apr 1866  21 Apr 1870 (A-1872)
Of Jackson Tp.  Mentions wife (not named); son Geo. W. BLAND; dau Jane CLATON; the heirs of son Rolla BLAND; step sons Wm. F. & David SMITH.  Wit. William A. JONES John N.W. KIRTLEY 
Located this will abstract of Lewis Bland while at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne recently.  Lewis was the husband of Martha Lemasters (1799-1844), who was the daughter of Jacob and Hannah (____) Lemasters, making Lewis my paternal 3rd-great granduncle.

The will was dated April 9, 1866 and probated April 21, 1870.  I don't have an exact date of death for Lewis, but it must have been before April 21.  

The naming of at least three children George W., Jane and Rolla will give me more potential relatives to search.  I've not looked into the Bland family to trace the line forward.  They might have more information on my early Lemasters.  Apparently Lewis did remarry after Martha's death.  My sources say Lewis was born in 1799 in Paris, Bourbon County, Kentucky.  He is buried in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Jackson Center, Shelby County, Ohio.

Notice that the Claton surname comes back up again, this Jane (Bland) Claton might have been married to a member of the Claton family who married into the Lemasters as well.

I will be looking online at FamilySearch for the original records to see what else I can find about this probate file.



Sunday, November 23, 2014

Funeral Record : John P. Wehrly (1838-1909) Jay County, Indiana

Baird & Hardy Funeral Home Records,  Jay County, Indiana 1909-1911

Located the funeral record of John P. Wehrly (1838-1909) while at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne recently.  John was my paternal 2nd-great granduncle, the son of Johannes "John S." and Barbara (Petry) Wehrly.   John was married to Catherine E. Lemasters (1840-1911), the daughter of Rev. Luman Walker and Nancy (Young) Lemasters.

According to this funeral record, John P. Wehrly was born in Pennsylvania on August 28, 1838.  While his father was born in Pennsylvania, census and other records indicate that he was born in Preble County, Ohio.  His date of death December 13, 1909 in South Portland.  I did not have the exact date of death, so know I can look for an obituary and his death certificate.

The record lists his age as 71 years, 3 months and 16 days.  The attending physician was Dr. Paddock and his funeral services were held at Salamonia on December 15th.

The name of the informant was not given, but was likely his wife Catherine.

This book was located on the shelves at Gc 977.201 J33scb 1909-11.

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Exploratory Data Analysis : Mary Ellen (Swafford) Davis Gilliland (1854-1932)

Mary Ellen (Swafford) Davis Gilliland (1854-1932) was my maternal 3rd-great grandmother.  What follows is an exploratory analysis of the biographical data I have discovered about her.


1. Vital Records

     1.1. Birth Certificate

            Mary Ellen was born August 30, 1854 near Stinesville, Monroe County, Indiana.  The 1900 census lists her birth as August 1854 in Indiana1.  The State of Indiana did not require birth certificates until 1907.

          1.1.1. Birth Notice in Newspaper

                If Mary Ellen's birth has been recorded in a newspaper, I have not yet located it.  Will need to check with local libraries and state archives to see if they have newspapers from the time period.

          1.1.2. Bible Record

               I am not aware of a Swafford family Bible might record her birth.  Will continue to reach out to extended family members in hopes that one can be located.

          1.1.3. Baptismal Record

               I do not know of the church affiliation of the Swafford family.

          1.1.4. Adoption Record

               There is no indication that Mary Ellen was adopted.

     1.2. Marriage License 

          Mary Ellen married James Austin Davis on July 3, 1873 in Monroe County, Indiana2.  James was born circa 1850 in Indiana.  They had two children.  They apparently divorced before 1880.  James died June 12, 1909 in Logansport, Cass County, Indiana.

          Mary married Robert Farrell Gilliland on November 15, 1884 in Monroe County, Indiana.  Robert was born November 27, 1849 in Pulaski County, Kentucky.  They raised two children in Monroe County, Indiana.  Robert died August 4, 1916 in Whitehall, Owen County, Indiana.  I need to obtain a copy of their marriage license.  Will add this to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.

          1.2.1 Marriage Notice in Newspaper

               Will need to search contemporary newspaper accounts to see if mention is made of either of Mary's marriages.

          1.2.2. Anniversary Notice

               Mary Ellen and Robert's 25th wedding anniversary would have been November 15, 1909.  Will need to search contemporary newspaper accounts to see if any mention was made of any anniversary celebrations.

          1.2.3. Divorce Decree

               Will need to search court records in Owen County, Indiana to see if a record can be located relating to Mary Ellen and Austin Davis' divorce.  In the 1880 census of Owen County,  Mary Ellen was living back with her father, and Austin was a resident of the county asylum. 

     1.3. Death Certificate

          Mary Ellen died January 28, 1932 near Dolan, Monroe County, Indiana.  The cause of her death was uremic poisoning.  I do not yet have a copy of her death certificate.  Will add this to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.

          1.3.1. Obituary in Newspaper

                Will need to search contemporary newspaper account to see if Mary's death was mentioned.  Will add this to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.

          1.3.2. Funeral Home Records

                Will need to search the local historical society to see if they have copies of funeral home records to see if I can learn anything about the arrangements for Mary.  Will add this to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.

          1.3.3. Tombstone Photograph

               Mary Ellen's tombstone in Methodist Cemetery in Ellettsville, Monroe County, Indiana has been photographed3.  A link to her memorial page at FindAGrave is located here.

2. Census Records

     2.1. Federal Census Records

          2.1.1. 1930 Federal Census

                On April 28, 1930, Mary Ellen was enumerated in the Peter W. Decker household in Montgomery County, Indiana3, as Mary Gilliland, grandmother, female, age 75, widow.  She was born in Indiana, her father was born in Ohio and her mother born in Indiana.  She could read and write and spoke English.

          2.1.2. 1920 Federal Census

               I have not yet located Mary in the 1920 U.S. census.

          2.1.3. 1910 Federal Census

               On May 3, 1910, Mary Ellen was enumerated in Robert F. Gilliland household in Richland Township, Monroe County, Indiana4, as Mary E. Gilliland, wife, age 55, married 25 years. She was the mother of 4 children, 3 of whom were still living.  She was born in Indiana and both her parents were born in Indiana.  She could read and write and spoke English.

          2.1.4. 1900 Federal Census

               On June 9, 1900, Mary Ellen was enumerated in the Robert Gilliland household in Clay Township, Owen County, Indiana5, as Mary Gilliland, wife, age 45, born August 1854.  She had been married for 16 years and was the mother of 4 children, all living.  She was born in Indiana and both of her parents were born in Indiana.  She could read and write and spoke English.

          2.1.5. 1880 Federal Census

               On June 14, 1880, Mary Ellen was enumerated in the Peter Swafford household in Washington Township, Owen County, Indiana6, as Ellen Swafford, daughter, age 24, single.  She was born in Indiana and both of her parents were born in Tennessee.

          2.1.6. 1870 Federal Census

               On July 8, 1870, Mary Ellen was enumerated in the Peter Swaford household in Franklin Township, Owen County, Indiana7, as Mary Swaford, age 15, housekeeper, born in Indiana.

     2.2. State Census Records

          The State of Indiana conducted state census in 1853, 1857, 1871, 1877, 1883, 1889, 1901, 1913, 1919 and 1931.  These, however, were merely for the purposes of legislative apportionment.

     2.3. Agricultural Census Records

          I have not examined these types of census records to see what light they might shed on the Swafford and Gilliland families.

3. Military Records

     3.1. Draft Registration

           Not applicable, as Mary Ellen was female.

     3.2. Pension Records

          I am not aware of any military service by either Mary Ellen's father or husbands that would qualify her for a military pension.

     3.3. Service Records

          Not applicable, as Mary Ellen was female.

4. Land Records

     4.1. Deed Records

          Deed records need to be thoroughly searched in Owen and Monroe Counties, Indiana to see what records might mention Mary Ellen.  Will add this to my "to-do" list for my next research trip.

     4.2. Plat map / county map

          Plat maps in Owen and Monroe Counties, Indiana will need to be searched to see what information might be relevant to my search for Mary Ellen.

5. Supplemental Records

     Supplemental records available for research on Mary Ellen include city/county directories, court records and will and probate records.  Will add these to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.

Sources :

1. Robert Gilliland household, 1900 U.S. census, Owen County, Indiana, population schedule, Clay Township, ED 106, SD 2, sheet 4, dwelling 92, family 93, National Archives micropublication T623, roll 396.
2. Monroe County, Indiana Marriage Records, Book 5, page 442.
3. Peter W. Decker household, 1930 U.S. census, Montgomery County, Indiana, USA (Brown Township); ED 54-3, SD 6, sheet 8B, National Archives, Washington, D.C.
4. Robert F. Gilliland household, 1910 U.S. census, Monroe County, Indiana, population schedule, Richland Township, ED 40, SD 2, sheet 2, dwelling 289, family 296, National Archives micropublication T624, roll 371.
5. Robert Gilliland household, 1900 U.S. census, Owen County, Indiana, population schedule, Clay Township, ED 106, SD 2, sheet 4, dwelling 92, family 93, National Archives micropublication T623, roll 396.
6. Peter Swafford household, 1880 U.S. census, population schedule, Washington Township, Owen County, Indiana, ED 251, SD 25, page 12, dwelling 112, family 112; National Archives micropublication T9, roll 303, page 284.
7. Peter Swaford household, 1870 U.S. census, population schedule, Franklin Township, Owen County, Indiana, page 24, Deem P.O., dwelling 163, family 163; National Archives micropublication M593, roll 348, page 206.

This post was developed as part of the series relating to Building My 2011 Research Template, an attempt to systematically document and source the details of my ancestors' lives. Comments regarding this template and the conclusions drawn in this article are welcomed.

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Hannah Lemasters household, 1850 U.S. census, Shelby County, Ohio

1850 U.S. census, Shelby County, Ohio, population schedule, Salem Township, page 316, dwelling 161, family 161; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 17 Nov 2014)

Realized I didn't have the 1850 census sourced in my database for widow Hannah Lemasters (b. 1810 PA), widow of Lemuel Quin Lemasters.  Hannah was living in Salem Township, Shelby County, Ohio.

The value of Hannah's real estate was listed as $600.  She was listed as age 40, born in Pennsylvania.  Others in the household include Hannah W, age 16, Marthy, age 13, Eliza, age 11, and Jacob, age 10, all born in Ohio.  Also in the household is 4 year old Sarah E. Reed, born in Ohio.

The names line up with the children of Lemuel and Hannah, though Eliza I have in my data as Elgiva.  The 4 year old Sarah Reed is the daughter of Jesse Reed and Phebe Ann Lemasters (1818-1849).  Why she is not living with her father, I do not yet know.  He is living in the next household, along with a 7 year old Lewis Reed (a brother?) in the John and Elizabeth Lorton household.  Will need to do some more digging in the court records there.


Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Petition of Rueben Claton, Shelby County, Ohio, 1853



While searching at the Allen County Public Library's Genealogy Center in Fort Wayne on Sunday, I started digging into some of the published books on the stacks relating to Shelby County, Ohio.  I was looking for some more evidence to confirm my theories about what happened to the widow Hannah Lemasters, widow of Lemuel Quin Lemasters.

In the book, "Complete Record of Land Sales : Probate Court - Shelby County, Ohio, 1852-1862" compiled by Gladys Dearduff and published in 1997 by the Shelby County Genealogical Society, I located the following :


1853 Nov 5 LIMUEL Q. LEMASTER estate.  Petition by Rueben CLATON, grdn of minor heirs: Martha, Eljwah & Jacob LEMASTER. Dower rights to Hannah CLATON.  Apprs: Abraham STOUT, Jesse LOW & Peter SHEPLEY.  Land : part of S 1/2 SE 1/4 Sec 33 T2 R73 (ca 40 acres) ; sold 16 Feb 1854 to Wm. HOBBY.
Though I need to dig into the actual probate records (which are online at FamilySearch), this snippet tells my that the Hannah Lemasters whose marriage I located in Shelby County to Ruben Claton on June 1, 1851 was the widow of Lemuel Quin Lemasters.  This land sale record was protecting her dower rights (rights she brought into the marriage) and names the minor children of Hannah & Lemuel, even if they did mangle the spellings.  The children were Martha, Elgiva and Jacob.

I'm so used to alternative spellings for Lemaster/Lemasters and now I'm pretty sure that Claton is an alternative spelling for Clayton.

The book was located in the stacks with a call letter of Gc 977.101 Sh4sL



Monday, November 17, 2014

Marriage Record: Hannah Lemasters to Ruben Claton, Shelby County, Ohio, 1851

"Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-1997," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XZZQ-85C : accessed 17 Nov 2014), Ruben Claton and Hannah Lemasters, 01 Jun 1851; citing Shelby, Ohio, United States, reference vo13 p261 No3; county courthouses, Ohio; FHL microfilm 562858.

The State of Ohio, Shelby County, S.S.

I certify that I have this day solemnized the marriage of Ruben Claton with Hannah Lemasters.

Witness my hand this 1 day of June A.D. 1851.

V. Guerin, Minister.

----

Located this marriage record of Hannah Lemasters and Ruben Claton (Clayton?) on June 1, 1851 in Shelby County, Ohio.  This was one of the various Lemaster marriage records found in the county on FamilySearch.

I believe that this Hannah is the widow of Lemuel Quin Lemasters, who died in June 1843 in Shelby County.  Lemuel was the son of Jacob and Hannah (---) Lemasters.  I believe Ruben's surname is Clayton.  

I've been doing some digging in probate records in Shelby County, and am pretty sure that this is Lemuel's widow based on the records I've found.  More to come.

Saturday, November 15, 2014

Surname Saturday : Bennett

The BENNETT surname is in my maternal line.  The origins of the surname are English.  There is much to learn about this line.

Stories and history : 

Ahnentafel # 1669 : Mary Bennett (1675-aft1718).  Mary was born December 10, 1675 in Northampton, Hampshire County, Massachusetts.  She married before 1697 to John Field (1673-1718).  John was born December 8, 1673 in Deerfield, Hampshire County, Massachusetts and died February 17, 1718 in Coventry, Windham County, Connecticut.  They raised a family of 6 children in Deerfield.  They were victims of the Indian attack at Deerfield in 1704, where Mary and their daughter Mary and son John were taken captive, while ten month old daughter Sarah was murdered.  Mary was later ransomed back, she was living at the time of John's will.

Ahnentafel # 3338 : James Bennett (1652-1675). James was born February 14, 1652 in Tenterden, Kent, England.  He married February 16, 1675 in Northampton, Hampshire County, Massachusetts to Mary Broughton (1654-1689).  Mary was born February 18, 1654 in Northampton, Hampshire County, Massachusetts and died August 2, 1689 in Deerfield, Hampshire County, Massachusetts.  James died May 19, 1676 at Northapmton, Hampshire County, Massachusetts in a fight with the Indians.

Related blog posts :




Surname Saturday – create a post in which you discuss a surname and mention its origins, its geographical location(s) and how it fits into your genealogy research. Surname Saturday is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.

Friday, November 14, 2014

Lemaster Marriage Records, Shelby County, Ohio

After locating the information about the marriage Newman Smith and Martha Lemaster in Shelby County, Ohio, I searched the FamilySearch database to see if there might be other marriage records in the county for my relatives. 

Because the surname is sometimes spelled with an 'a' or with an extra 's' at the end, I did a wildcard search for L*master* marriages in Shelby County, Ohio, and this is what I found in the indices of their databases:

S.S. Leymaster married Sarah E. Mills on 4 October 1877.

Martha Lemaster married Newman H. Smith on 25 August 1861.

Lemuel Lemasters married Hannah Allbright on 24 May 1832.

Hannah Lemaster married Joel Brandenburg on 5 June 1853.

Luman W. Lemasters married Nancy Young on 19 January 1832.

Martha Lamaster married Newman H. Smith on 25 August 1861.

Hannah Limasters married Joel Brandenburg on 5 June 1853.

S.S Leymaster married Sarah E. Mills on 4 October 1877.

Roscoe Leymaster married Harriet J. Hetzler on 4 October 1900.

Hannah Lemasters married Ruben Claton on 1 June 1851.

Elvira Lemasters married Lewis Clayton on 6 March 1855.

Jane Lemasters married Thomas Mcvay on 15 March 1831.

Luman W. Lemaster married Nancy Young on 19 January 1832.

Martha Lamaster married Newman H. Smith on 25 August 1861.


Some of these are obviously the same marriage record, though in separate databases and in some cases, indexed with different spellings of the surname.

Know relatives in this mix are my 3rd-great grandparents, Luman W. Lemasters and Nancy Young.   The Lemuel Lemasters who married Hannah Albright is Luman's brother, and the Jane who married Thomas McVay is a sister.

I have some theories as to the identities of the others in the county I will be exploring in future posts.


Saturday, November 08, 2014

Surname Saturday : Beeson

The BEESON surname is in my maternal line.  The origins of the surname are English, and this particularly line was Quaker.

Stories and history :

Ahnentafel # 955 : Charity Beeson (c1715-1809).  Charity was born circa 1715, probably in Chester County, Pennsylvania.  She married Mordecai Mendenhall (c1713-1803).  Mordecai was born circa 1713 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and his death was recorded 11th month, 3rd day, 1803 at Springfield MM, North Carolina.  They were the parents of ten children.  Charity died September 20, 1809 in Guilford County, North Carolina.

Ahnentafel # 1910 : Richard Beeson (1684-1777).  Richard was born October 1684 in New Castle County, Delaware.  He married Charity Grubb (1687-1761) on 10th month, 24th day, 1706 at West Nottingham MM, Pennsylvania and her death was recorded 11th month, 22nd day, 1761 at Centre MM, North Carolina. Charity was born September 29, 1687 in New Castle County, Delaware.  They raised ten children in Chester County, Pennsylvania, Frederick County, Virginia and Guilford County, North Carolina.  Richard death was recorded 1st month, 1st day, 1777 at Centre MM, North Carolina.

Ahnentafel # 3820 : Edward Beeson (1660-1712).  Edward was born in 1660 in Thrussington, Leichestershire, England.  He married Rachel Pennington (1662-1710) on November 7, 1682 at St. Margaret's Church, London, England.  Rachel was born November 11, 1662 in Lancashire, England and died in 1710 in New Castle, Chester County, Pennsylvania.  They were the parents of at least five children.  Edward died on October 20, 1712 in Chester County, Pennsylvania.

Surname Saturday – create a post in which you discuss a surname and mention its origins, its geographical location(s) and how it fits into your genealogy research. Surname Saturday is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.

Thursday, November 06, 2014

Newman Smith and Martha Lemaster, Shelby County, Ohio, 1861

Received an exciting email this week from a potential cousin on my LeMaster side who wrote:


my 2xggfather's brother Newman Smith wife was Martha J. Lemaster, they married in Shelby county Ohio on August 25, 1861. He was also known as Rev Smith a minister of the Methodist church of Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. I think she is the daughter of Luman Walker Lemasters (1808 - 1888) (also a minister of the Methodist church )and   Nancy Young Lemasters (1812 - 1904).  Can you please confirm this?

It is always exciting to make possible new connections, and I don't usually find them on my surname that are close.  Luman Walker Lemasters and Nancy Young Lemasters are my paternal 3rd great grandparents.  As they were married in Shelby County, Ohio and lived there until the mid-1850s, any other Lemaster in that vicinity has a good chance of being a close relative.

I was not aware of the marriage record of Newman Smith and Martha J. Lemaster in Shelby County, Ohio.  A quick search of Familysearch located the record:


"Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-1997," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XDPP-FQJ : accessed 06 Nov 2014), Newman H Smith and Martha Lamaster, 25 Aug 1861; citing Shelby, Ohio, United States, reference volume 4 page 184; county courthouses, Ohio; FHL microfilm 562859.

I quickly wrote him back and let him know that I did not think that the connection came through Luman Walker Lemasters and Nancy Young, as their daughter Martha was born too late to be the one who married in 1861.  Their Martha J. was born circa 1851 and married in 1872 in Jay County, Indiana to William Loofborrow.

That Newman was a Methodist minister is interesting, as that was the occupation of Luman Walker Lemasters and other members of the extended family.  They were closely associated with the Methodist church.

However, where I think there might be a connection is through Luman's brother, Lemuel Quin Lemasters (1811/2-1843) and Hannah Albright.  Lemuel died young, but he did have one son and three daughters.  One of those daughters was named Martha, who was born circa 1837.  She would be the right age to be the one who married Newman Smith in 1861.

I checked out Newman Smith's FindAGrave memorial and noticed that he had a son named Perry Quin Smith and that Perry named his son Lemuel.  Circumstantial evidence, I know, but the use of the uncommon names may indicate a connection.

I need to dig into the records in Shelby County, Ohio and see what I can find on Lemuel's family after his early death.  I believe at one time I requested his estate records, but I haven't sourced them into my database.

I'm waiting with fingers crossed to see if this potential cousin responds with more information and whether or not I'll be able to add more cousins to the tree.  I wonder if he has done any DNA testing?

Sunday, November 02, 2014

DNA: Eileen's Lewis Match

Recently made a connection with one of Eileen's matches at 23andMe that turns out to be her 3rd cousin once removed on her maternal Lewis line.



23andMe predicted that Michael and Eileen were 3rd cousins and turns out they match on 5 segments. Michael listed Lewis as one of his family surnames, so that was where I concentrated on when corresponding began.  

Michael was able to name his 2nd-great grandfather and his wife, who I was able to find in my database and make the connection.  I quickly wrote back to him to share the connection and ask for more information on his line down from the common Lewis ancestors.

The common ancestors between Michael and Eileen are Jacob Lewis (1847-1898) and Marietta Cook (1855-1942).  Michael's 2nd-great grandfather and Eileen's great grandfather were brothers.  The line of descent goes like this:

Jacob Lewis & Marietta Cook

Wilfred Lewis - brothers - Lawrence Solomon Lewis

Glenn Lewis - 1st cousin - Leota Marie (Lewis) Pefley

Michael's grandfather - 2nd cousin - Eileen's mother

Michael's father - 3rd cousin - Eileen

Hopefully, this will spark some correspondence that will generate more family information on these Lewis relatives, as I don't have information on Wilfred's line right now in my database.

Saturday, November 01, 2014

Surname Saturday : Barker

The BARKER surname is in my maternal line.  The origins of the surname are likely English, and this particular line of Barkers were Quaker.

Stories and history : 

Ahnentafel # 235 : Mary Barker (1793-1890).  Mary's birth was recorded 11th month, 24th day of 1793 at Cane Creek MM, North Carolina.  She married John Davis (1794-1877) on 10th month, 12th day, 1814 at Cane Creek MM, North Carolina.  John's birth was recorded 10th month, 31st day of 1794 at Cane Creek MM, North Carolina and died August 2, 1877 in Hamilton County, Indiana.  They were the parents of 11 children and moved to Indiana before 1850.  Mary died January 30, 1890 at Westfield, Hamilton County, Indiana.  Both are buried at the Old Friends Cemetery, Westfield, Hamilton County, Indiana.

Ahnentafel # 470 : Abner Barker (1768-   ).  Abner's birth was recorded 8th month, 11th day of 1768 at Cane Creek MM, North Carolina.  He married Lydia Osborne (1767-   ) on 5th month, 26th day, 1791 at Center MM, North Carolina.  Lydia's birth was recorded 1st month, 24th day of 1767 at New Garden MM, North Carolina. They were the parents of 8 children and were members of Cane Creek and Back Creek MM, North Carolina and Piney Grove MM, South Carolina.

Ahnentafel # 940 : Nicholas Barker (1737-1826).  Nicholas was born March 8, 1737 in North Carolina.  He married Hannah Allen (1741-1834) on June 9, 1760 in Guilford County, North Carolina.  Hannah was born July 10, 1741 in Chester County, Pennsylvania and her death was recorded 12th month, 10th day, 1834 at Holly Spring MM, North Carolina.  They were the parents of 7 children.  Nicholas was recognized by the DAR for supplying the local militia.  Nicholas' death was recorded 3rd month, 24th day, 1826 at Holly Spring MM, North Carolina.

Ahnentafel # 1880 : Daniel Barker (1704-1748).  Daniel was born in 1704 in North Carolina.  He married Elizabeth Nicholas (c1709-    ).  Elizabeth was born circa 1709 in New Castle, Delaware.  They were the parents of at least two children.  Daniel died in 1748.

Ahnentafel # 3760 : Samuel Barker (c1650-1720).  Samuel was born circa 1650.  The name of his wife is unknown.  He emigrated in 1683 to New Castle, Delaware.  He died in July 1720 in Wilmington, North Carolina and is buried in Old Swedes Churchyard, Wilmington, North Carolina.



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