Surname Saturday : Aaronsen

The AARONSEN surname is in my paternal line.  The origins of the surname are Dutch, though I have much to discover about them.

Stories and history:

Ahnentafel # 281 : Hannah Aaronsen (1739/44-1788).  Hannah was born between 1739 and 1744 in Burlington County, New Jersey.  She married in April 1762 in Burlington County, New Jersey to Cornwell Woolston (1738-1814). Cornwell was born 1738 in Burlington County, New Jersey and died May 22, 1814 in Northampton, Burlington County, New Jersey.  Hannah died October 28, 1788 in Burlington County, New Jersey.

Ahnentafel # 562 : Joseph Aaronsen (1706-     ).  Joseph was born in 1706 in Burlington County, New Jersey.  He married August 25, 1736 in Burlington County, New Jersey to Hannah Folwell (1718-bef1749).  They raised 5 children in Burlington County, New Jersey. Hannah was born in 1718 in Burlington County, New Jersey and died before 1749 in Burlington County, New Jersey.  Joseph died in Chestefield, Burlington County, New Jersey.

Ahnentafel # 1124 : John Aaronsen (1678-aft1741).  John was born in 1678 in Flushing, Queens County, New York.  He married before 1702 in New Jersey to Mary ________ (c1680-    ).  They had 5 children.  John died after December 14, 1741 in Mansfield, Burlington County, New Jersey.

Ahnentafel # 2248 : Dirk Aarosen (bet1635/45-1678).  Dirck was born between 1635 and 1645 in the Netherlands.  He married between 1655 and 1665 to Sarah ________ (c1640-aft1707).  Sarah was born circa 1640 and died after 1707 in New York.  Dirck died in October 1678 in Flushing, Queens County, New York.

Related blog posts:

• Happy Anniversary : Joseph Aaronsen and Hannah Folwell

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.

DNA : My Top Ten Matches at 23andMe

Here is a screenshot of the top ten DNA matches for me at 23andMe.  My parents are my closest matches.  Because I was fortunate enough to be able to have them tested, all of my other matches show whether they are paternal or maternal matches by the "P" or "M" displayed after their names.  For privacy reasons, I've erased the last names of public matches.

My next closest match is on my paternal side, William, who I've already contacted and determined that we are third cousins through common ancestors of Luman Walker Lemasters Jr. and Mary Keziah Chew.

The next closest public match is on my maternal side, Ellen. We've corresponded but have not made the connection.  She has not yet shared a family tree, but states she has many Quaker ancestors, so that gives me a starting point to searh on my maternal side.  She is predicted to be a 3rd to 5th cousin, which means we could share 2nd-great through 4th-great grandparents.  

I have reached out with introductions to the remaining matches and hope that they eventually respond.

Photograph : Luman Walker LeMasters Jr. & Mary Keziah (Chew) LeMasters

Luman Walker LeMasters Jr. & Mary Keziah (Chew) LeMasters

How appropriate that on Memorial Day weekend I would receive a blessing in my email inbox from cousin Jill - a photograph of Civil War veteran Luman Walker LeMasters Jr. (1842-1931) and his wife Mary Keziah (Chew) LeMasters (1847-1927).  They are my 2nd-great grandparents.

I noticed in the photograph that Luman is wearing a medal signifying he was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.  Luman served in Company C, 39th Regiment of Indiana Volunteers, enlisting in July 1861.  The unit was later reclassified as the 8th Indiana Mounted Infantry.  

It was a part of the mounted infantry on 3 July 1863 that he was wounded at Decherd's Ford, near Winchester, Tennessee.  He was shot through the left breast.  He spent time in the hospital in Nashville and Louisville before being discharged with 1/2 disability on February 27, 1864.  The notes of his injuries state: Gun shot wound of the chest.  The ball entered between the first and second ribs (left side) and lodged within the thorax.

He came home and married Mary Keziah Chew, daughter of Dr. Ezekiel Cooper Chew, on October 2, 1864 in Versailles, Darke County, Ohio.  I've often wondered if Dr. Chew was helping treat his wounds, and that is how he met Mary.  Either way, as the ancestor of the LeMaster families of Jay County, Indiana, had he not survived the war, we wouldn't be here.