Wow! What an honor it is to be mentioned along with so many great genealogy blogs at MyHeritage.com's Top 100 Genealogy Blogs.
I follow many of these blogs, so I know the quality and I'm humbled to even be considered. According to Thomas at GeneaBloggers, 81 of the top 100 are members of the GeneaBloggers community. Congratulations to everyone mentioned!
I only hope I can add quality content to this blog and keep readers interested.
Thanks for stopping by!
I came across an old email I had saved from the NJGLOUCE-L Mailing List at Rootsweb from 2004 that mentioned a relative, Jonathan CHEW. Jonathan was the son of Jeffrey and Amy (DRIVER) CHEW, and was my paternal 6th-great granduncle.
Printed in the New Jersey Gazette of Trenton, December 16, 1778 was a notice from the Courts of Oyer and Terminer and General Gaol Delivery for the county of Gloucester, which opened on November 17th and closed December 5th 1778. Jonathan CHEW was listed among several other men who were convicted of high treason and sentenced to death.
The email mentions that his property was later confiscated because he had joined the army of the King of Great Britain. The email references the On-Line Institute for Advanced Loyalist Studies.
Jonathan CHEW was born 1733 in Gloucester County, New Jersey. He married Mary SWEETEN, daughter of Andrew and Rebecca (________) SWEETEN. Jonathan died in 1799. Jonathan served as a captain in the loyalist forces. Apparently, he was later pardoned by the governor. More research needs to be done on this interesting time period in the CHEW family of New Jersey.
Doing a quick online search, I located this document from the digital collections of the New Jersey State Archives regarding Jonathan CHEW. In the document, a letter written by Associate Judge John Cleves SYMMES to the governor shows he was conflicted about the death sentences handed out:
"In the county of Gloucester there is a Jonathan Chew condemned for high treason; he was convicted by jury. I take it that he was disaffected from the beginning of the troubles, and joined the enemy at their coming to Billingsport, and acted as a captain among them. The charges laid against him in the indictment of levying war and adhering to the enemies of the state was well supported, and I cannot think there is any equitable circumstance in his favor, either as matter of law or fact. But the following considerations may plead for him with your honors for a pardon.
1. He is a very weak man in his understanding. 2. He has a family of twelve children, that must be objects of charity if their friend is taken away, and they have no property left. 3. It appeared in the Court that he was humane, and inclined to distress the inhabitants that were in his power as little as possible, in person or property. 4. He left the enemy after they had retreated through Jersey, and came home and threw himself in the way of justice"
Jonathan was a brother to my Jesse CHEW, a Methodist circuit rider, who also had Loyalist leanings, and his home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Spring Clean: The Spring Clean is my attempt to examine, cite and document the files and scans that I have accumulated over the years in my genealogy research. By cataloging, filing and re-examining different pieces of data I hope to discover new facts about my family.
My maternal 5th-great grandaunt, Elizabeth PUTMAN, married on this date in 1841 in Monroe County, Indiana to Calvin PERCEFIELD. Elizabeth was the daughter of James and Elizabeth (KENDRICK) PUTMAN, and the younger sister of my Mary (Polly) PUTMAN. Nothing further is known at this time.
My paternal 2nd-great grandaunt, Samantha E. METZNER, married on this date in 1878 in Jay County, Indiana to James ORCUTT. Samantha was the daughter of John and Catherine (YOUNG) METZNER, and the younger sister of my John Adam METZNER. Samantha was born July 3, 1857 in Jay County, Indiana. James was born circa 1856 in Indiana. They had at least 1 daughter. Nothing further is known at this time.
My maternal 5th-great granduncle, John HECK, married on this date in 1808 in Bracken County, Kentucky, to Catherine KIMMER. John was the son of Daniel and Catherine (________) HECK, and the younger brother of my Godfrey HECK. Catherine was the daughter of Nicholas and Sarah (FAYLER) KIMMER, and the younger sister of my Elizabeth KIMMER. They had 6 childen. John died in 1822 in Bracken County, Kentucky. Catherine died in 1872 in Fayette County, Indiana.
My maternal 5th-great grandaunt, Catherine WRIGHT, was born on this date in 1789. Catherine was the daughter of John and Sarah (FLEMING) WRIGHT, and the younger sister of my George WRIGHT. Nothing further is known at this time.
My maternal 4th-great granduncle, Henry WARDLAW, was born on this date in 1812 in Brown County, Ohio. Henry was the son of Samuel and Elizabeth (NESBIT) WARDLAW, and the older brother of my Anna WARDLOW. Henry married December 1, 1836 in Brown County, Ohio to Mary L. PURDUM. Mary was born circa 1817 in Ohio. They had 7 children. Mary died after the 1860 census of Brown County, Ohio. Henry died April 1, 1886 in Brown County, Ohio.
