+LOCKHART NEWS
NEWSLETTER # 6
EDITED VERSION...STILL UNABLE TO UPLOAD ALL OF THE PHOTOS.
This newsletter will explore some of the relatives of Jane Hutchins of Henrico County, Virginia. Other names directly related to Jane include Cox, Trent, Sherman, Elam, Watkins, Crispe and Alexander.
Jane Hutchins, daughter of Strangeman and Elizabeth Cox Hutchins was born in Henrico County June 10, 1748. Jane married Athanacius Barnett in Hanover County, Virginia on December 12, 1767. She and her husband were both Quakers and had migrated first to Ohio and then to West Newton, Marion County, Indiana. Jane died in the West Newton area on November 30, 1833 and is buried in Easton Cemetery, West Newton, Indiana. Jane is one of my 4th great grandmothers on the Mendenhall side of the family. Again, I will tell you that the names of counties in Virginia changed during this period.
Some relatives of Jane’s father, Strangeman, insist that his name is pronounced Strong-mun. After reading some about the man, I prefer Strangeman. Strangeman was the son of Nicholas and Mary Watkins Hutchins and was born about 1707 near the James River in Henrico County, Virginia.
The following biographies from: http://home.earthlink.net/~glendaalex/strange.htm
Strangeman Hutchins and Slavery
Strangeman (pronounced Strong-mun) Hutchins was born in 1707 in Henrico County, Virginia. He married Elizabeth Cox in 1731 in Hanover County, Virginia. After their marriage, he and Elizabeth moved to Goochland County. However, Strangeman's name appears frequently in the records of the Cedar Creek Monthly Meeting of Friends in Hanover County, where he was an elder, from 1741-1786.
Strangeman Hutchins was prosperous. He was a planter who owned about 750 acres of land. Early Quakers, like people of other religions, often bought slaves to work their land and raise cash crops like cotton and tobacco. When slavery became a subject of debate in the Friends' meeting houses, Quakers began to free their slaves, with opposition from the states. Both Virginia and North Carolina passed laws against manumission. Strangeman
-1-
freed twelve slaves in Virginia, in 1782, when the law there was changed. This was accomplished by a deed of manumission, a legal document by which the state allowed a slave-owner to set someone free. Strangeman is listed on several DAR site as a patriot.
-2-
When Strangeman and his wife were in their seventies, they sold their land in Virginia and moved to Forbush Creek in Surry County, (now in Yadkin County) North Carolina about 1786. There, he joined the Deep Creek Friends Meeting.
Dying Words
Strangeman died February 10, 1792, in Surry County, North Carolina, at the age of eighty-five. His friend Sylvanus Hadley recorded his dying words, stating that Strangeman was taken ill about mid-October 1791 and suffered a good bit during the next few months. The evening before his death, Sylvanus wrote down his prayers for forgiveness and mercy and his expressions of faith, reporting that "He was heard to say that he had been afraid that he had displeased his Creator, that was the cause He continued him here so long in affliction." Strangeman said, "Oh that we might all be prepared so that when we come to lie upon a dying bed and a rolling pillow, we may have nothing to do but die."
His will was proved in Surry County Court in July of that year. In his will he names his wife, Elizabeth Hutchens, son Benjamin Hutchens, daughter Mary Brooks and her husband Samuel Robert Brooks, from whom she is apparently separated, his granddaughter Elizabeth Stanley, who is the daughter of Mary Brooks, daughter Edieth Stanley, grandson John Hutchens Stanley, sons and daughters John, Nicholis, Thomas and Benjamin Hutchens, Obedience Harding and Jean Barnett. He also names John Stanley, who is apparently the husband of Edieth.
Witnesses include Jonathan Johnson and John Johnson. John Johnson is the husband of Strangeman's daughter, Lydia. John and Lydia's son Jonathan was about 20 years old at his grandfather's death.
The Long Life of a Friend
Elizabeth Cox Hutchins was born in 1713 in Henrico County, Virginia. She was the great-granddaughter of William Cox, who is said to have come to the Jamestown colony on the ship Godspeed in 1610, at only eleven years of age. Jamestown was the first permanent English colony in America and had only been established in 1607. In spite of the hardships there, William prospered and eventually married to a woman named Elizabeth. Their son John was born in 1640 and was married to Mary Elam, born in 1645.
John and Mary Cox had a son named Richard in 1678, who was the father of Elizabeth Cox. Her mother was Mary Trent, born in 1682, daughter of Henry Trent, Jr. and Elizabeth Sherman.
Elizabeth Cox married Strangeman Hutchins in 1731, at about age eighteen. If their marriage was typical, they declared their intentions to a monthly meeting and were investigated by a committee of members to determine their suitability. In Elizabeth's time, Friends were disowned for marrying outside the church membership. Disownment could mean being cut off from family and friends, as well as any inheritance.
Over the next twenty-five years, Elizabeth gave birth to at least eleven children whose names are given in the chart above. Miscarriages and still-births were common in that period and were rarely recorded. She survived her husband by twenty-four years and was reported by one of her grandsons to have lived to the age of 103. She died in Surry County.
-3-
NANCY B DAVIDONIS nanby@juno.com
Following is my transcription of the will of Strangeman Hutchins. His daughter Jane married Atha(nacius) Barnett. Their son, Atha Barnett, married Margaret Mendenhall 12/19/1813 at "Mendinghall's MM" in Green Co., OH. I have made two notes (in brackets) and the rest is translation with spelling etc. intact. The original copy came from the probate Archives, State of NC. He is a (great-) grandfather to a Mendenhall (decendant). It is so delightful that he was really upset with son-in-law!! and that the problem lives 200 years later!
STRANGMAN HUTCHINSLast Will and Testament1791
I Strangman Hutchens Surry county and State of North Carolina
being desirous to settle my outward estate while in my sound sences and memory & to prevent disputes after my death do make this my
last will and Testament in manner following~~~~~~~
First I give to my Beloved wife Elizabeth (Cox) Hutchens all my Personal Estate not hereafter given to any of my children or grandchildren hereafter named to dispose of as she may think proper amongst my children and grandchildren~~~~~
2ly it is my will and Desire that John Stanley shall have the tract of land he now lives on containing seventyfive acres being in the
county abovesaid for his own Property provided he pay me or my Executor the sum of twentyfive pounds Virginia money by or before the twenty fifth day of december anno 1791 agreeable to a verbil contract made between him the said John Stanley and myself. If the money is not paid by that time~~then it is my desire that my son Benjamin Hutchens sall have the said seventyfive acres of land By setling and paying some demands that are against me in Virginia and paying the Ballance of the above mentioned sum of twentyfive pounds Virginia money to his mother.~~~~~~
3ly I lend to my Daughter Mary Brooks a tract of land containing
fifty five acres lying in goochland county in Virginia it being
the land whereon my said daughter Mary now lives during her natureal life provided she lives seperate and apart from her husband Samuel Robert Brooks it is not my intent the said Brooks should live on my land or have any part of my estate whatever & after the death of my said Daughter Mary then I give the said fifty five acres of land to my grand
Daughter Elizabeth Stanley Daughter of my said daughter Mary Brooks to her & her heiers forever
4ly I lend to my daughter Edith Stanley one feather Bed which she has now in posession during her natural life and then I give the said Bed to my grandson John Hutchens Stanley.
5thly it is my will and desire that whatever I have already given to my sons and Daughters hereafter Named the same remain in their
posession forever (To Wit) John Nicholis Thomas and Benjamin Hutchens Mary Brooks Edith Stanley Obedience Harding and Jean Barnett (aka Jane)
and last I appoint my son Benjamin Hurchens Executor to this my last will and testament Revokeing all wills heretofore made By me in Witness whereof I have hereunto sit my hand and seal this 23th day of ye 11th month 1791
-4-
Signed seald publised and declaired the last will and
Testament of Strangman Hutchens in
Presants of}
Jonas Reynolds } his
Jonathan Johnson} Strangman X Hutchens
seal
John Johnson mark
The next few pages are wills that involve our family. I have included these wills because they prove the family connection and show what property these individuals possessed. The first will is for Richard Cox, father of Elizabeth Cox Hutchins above. Don’t ask me what a peid cow is…….
I, Richard Cox, Ser., of the parish and County of Henrico, being Sick and Weak but in perfect sence and memory, I thank almighty God for it, I do make this my last Will in manner following;
Imprimis, I give and bequeath to my Son, John Cox, and to his heirs and assigns forever all my outward Land it being one hundred and five acres where he now liveth.
Item: I give devise and bequeath to my Son Henry Cox all my Lands it lying and being on the North side of Cornelious Creek containing fore hundred Acres, to the Said Henry Cox and his heirs forever, only I give to my Loving Wife Mary Cox, one hundred Acres of it during her life, where the House is.
Item: I give and bequeath to my Daughter Mary Fore and to her heirs one bell-mettle Skillett, a small Iron pott.
Item: I give and bequeath to my Daughter Elizabeth Hutchens one peid Cow and all her increass to her and her Heirs forever.
Item: I give and bequeath to my grandson Hickenson Cox one hundred and five Acres of Land where my Son Richard Cox now liveth bynding upon Will Fermer and Mich:ll Turpin line to him the Said Hickenson and his Heirs forever.
Item: I give and bequeath to my Daughter Obedience Purkins, one shilling.
Item: I give and bequeath to my Daughter Edith Wirtler my Book and Specttels.
Item: I give and bequeath to my loving Wife Mary Cox all my hoggs and Sheeps and my mare bridle and Sadle and all rest of my estate and lastely constitute and appoint my Loving Wife Mary Cox my Whole and Sole Executor of this last my Will and Testament disannulling and making void all other Wills hereunto by me made. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Seal this 13 day of July, 1734. I also give to my Said Wife Mary my Negro man Daniel during her Life and then to return to my Son John Cox.
Richard Cox (his mark) (seal)
In presence of us
Mich:ll Turpin
? Turpin
James I. Whitler
-5-
The will of John Cox, father of the above Richard Cox.
10 February 1691
In the name of God, Amen!
I John Cox, of Henrico County, in Virginia, planter, being sick and weak in body, but in perfect and sound memory, Blessed and praised be Almighty God, therefore I do make, ordain, constitute, and appoint this my last will and testament in manner and form following;
First, I bequeath my soul to God that gave it, hoping through the merits and meditation of my ever blessed Savior Jesus Christ, to obtain pardon and remission of all my sins and inherit life everlasting. I order my body to be decently buried at the charge and discretion of my executor hereafter named, and for such worldly goods as it hath pleased God to bless me with, I give and dispose of in manner and form following;
Item: I bequeath unto my son, John Cox, the plantacon called by the name of New plantacon -beginning at a white oak out the river being Bartholomew Cox, so up the bottom to a slash at the headline and so long the pond to Captain Cardner's crick's mouth, to him and his heirs forever.
Item: I bequeath unto my son, Bartholemew Cox, the plantacon as he now liveth on, beginning at a white oak by the river at a bottom and so up the bottom to a wett slash and so along my head line to Captain Davis's. to him and his heirs forever.
Item: I bequeath unto my son, Richard Cox, a negro called Robin, to him and his heirs forever.
Item: I bequeath unto my son, Henry Cox, the bed I ly on with all belongings to it as it stands, and one negro child called Molly, to him and his heirs forever.
Item: I bequeath unto my son, George Cox, the plantacon I now live on and all the neck of land from Jarrett's Spring to the mouth of captain Gardner's Creek, running along the ponds and up the river to a hickory at bote's landing, and one bed with all as belongs to it standing in the best room, one negro woman called Betty, and one chest and all that is in it, one chest of drawers and one cupboard and a great table as it stands and two yoak of oxen and cart with spoak wheels and ox chains and plow irons, six leather chairs four high and two low, to him and his heirs forever.
It is my will and pleasure for Henry to live with George and he to let Henry have ground to tend and menure and housing for it and Henry to repair the housing he makes use of either with him or by himself, and George to be a help to him.
Item: I give and bequeath to my wife, Mary Cox, one silver spoon.
Item: I bequeath all other of my personal estate after my debts are paid to be equally divided between my six sons, John Cox, William Cox, Bartholomew Cox, Richard Cox, Henry Cox and George Cox.
I also hereby ordain, constitute and appoint my said son, George Cox my executor of this my last will and testament. Lastly, I hereby revoke forever all other former wills written or verbally by me at any time heretofore made, confirming this to be my last will and testament. Witness whereof I have set my hand and seal this day and year above written.
John Cox (his mark) (seal)
-6-
Witnesses:
John Ironmonger
Joh Tayler
John Davis
The will of Henry Sherman, great grandfather of the above Elizabeth Cox Hutchins.
September 2, 1695
I, Henry Sherman of ye County of Henrico being sick and weak of body but of perfect sence and memory make this my last will and testament. First bequeath my soul to God that gave it to me and my body to the ground, and after my soul and bnody shall be united both in one and enjoy the eternall bliss where my redeemer liveth. All the world goods that it has pleased God of his mercy to bestow upon me I give and bequeath in manner and form as followeth:
Imprimis - I give and bequeath to my well beloved wife - Sisly Sherman all my negroes and Slaves and the halfe part of all my Estate within doors and with out for ever.
Secondly - I give to Ellicksander Trent all my wearing Apparrell, and what money he owes me I freely give to the Said Ellixsander Trent for ever.
Thirdly, I give the other moiety of halfe part of Estate to be equally divided between my Daughter Elizabeth wife to Henry Trent, my Daughter Ann wife to Christopher Branch and Ellixsander Trent, sone of the said Elizabeth Trent.
Fourthly, I give to my Grand Children Ellixsander Trent and Henry Trent all the land that is really mine to be divided between them. Ellixxander to have that part whereon I now live and Henry to have the upper part of Said land. To have hold and Enjoy the Same for them and their heirs for ever after the death of my above said wife.
Lastly, I nominate and appoint my well beloved wife, Sisly Sherman to be my Sole and absolute Exectx. of this my last will and testament.
Signed and Sealed in ye presents
Henry Sherman
His Mark
Will Burriss
His mark
Thos. Howell
James Fugeett
Henry Sherman wrote his will in Henrico County 2 Sept. 1695, perhaps anticipating that he would die soon for they recorded his will 1 Oct. 1695. He left Cicely all his slaves and half his personal property. The rest of his personal estate he left to be divided between his daughters and grandson Alexander Trent. His sons were already dead. After the death of Cicely, his land would descend to the two Trent grandsons (Henrico Co. Deeds & Wills 1688-97, p. 595). Peter Field, Francis Epes, William Farrar, and William Soane inventoried Henry’s estate and the court recorded the division of his estate in Dec. 1695 (Henrico Co. Deeds & Wills 1688-97, p. 609)."
-7-
Summary of the will of Henry Trent, grandfather of the Elizabeth Cox Hutchins above.
April 1, 1701: Will of Henry Trent recorded (written Jan. 8, 1700). He leaves each of his sons, Alexander, Henry, John and William, 109 acres in Varina Parish. William gets first choice when the land is divided. Henry gets a cow at Richard Cox's. His daughter, Mary Cox, wife of Richard Cox, receives a gold ring; daughters Rebecca Trent and Susanna Trent receive 2,000 pounds of tobacco each. His widow, Elizabeth, gets three servants
I could not find a will for Henry Watkins, the great grandfather for Strangeman Hutchins, but did find some interesting facts.
1677: assisted Richard Cocke, Col. Ligon, and Gilbert Jones in the survey of "Mawburne Hills," which he owned. 1678: Henry Watkins paid tithes in Varina parish.1679: Deed patented for 170 acres of land on the north side of the James River in Henrico County. Henry Watkins held land in the "Turkey Island" district of eastern Henrico County, north of the James River, when a militia roll was taken in June 1679.1684: Fined for continuing in his Quakerism. 1690: Purchased 360 acres of land in Varina Parish, Henrico Co, south side of Chickahominy Swamp from Lyonel Morris. That same year, he bought 60 acres of land adjoining his own land and touching a run of Turkey Island Creek. 1699: Subscribed 500 pounds of tobacco towards building the Friends meetinghouse at Curls1703: Paid 50 pounds of tobacco towards furnishing the Friends building. 1704: Quit Rents of Virginia lists Henry Sr. with 100 acres in Henrico CountyHis religion, at times, caused him to clash with the ruling authorities in Virginia. In 1660, the Virginia Assembly passed a strict law against Quakers, who they described as ""... an unreasonable and turbulent sort of people, who daily gather together unlawful assemblies of people, teaching lies, miracles, false visions, prophecies, and doctrines tending to disturb the peace, disorganize Society and destroy the peace, disorganize society and destroy all laws, and government, and religion." You’ll find many mentions of Henry Watkins in "Quaker Records of Henrico Monthly Meeting" by F. Edward Wright. When his wife was assaulted, he refused to prosecute the criminal because the law required actions contrary to the Quaker doctrine (Henry‘s wife, Katherine Watkins, was raped by a slave from adjoining property. A copy of the testimony is available , just GOOGLE, Katherine Watkins and 1681.) . In 1661 an act was passed that anyone who failed to attend services of the established church for a period of one month would be subject to a fine. And again in 1666 an act was passed imposing fines on 'refractory persons' for failure to comply with the militia laws and regulations. In 1684 Henry Watkins was fined by the court for "continuing in his Quakerisms." His fine was later remitted. .
-8-
Henry Watkins disbursed his lands to his children prior to his death. He mentions his love
or his children when he gave land to each of his sons on the south side of Chickahominy Swamp in 1692. The tradition of primogeniture was still common in the early colonies.
However, by making a will you could distribute your property as you saw fit. Henry went even further than this when he partitioned his land to his sons prior to his death. I feel it showed a great deal of confidence in the ability and integrity of his sons. Our direct relative Henry (II) Watkins was gifted in January 1691, with love and affection, "the tract where I now live".
-9-
AFTER THOUGHTS. If you do go to the trouble to GOOGLE Katherine Watkins 1681, keep in mind that Virginia passed a law against Quakers, who they described as ""... an unreasonable and turbulent sort of people, who daily gather together unlawful assemblies of people, teaching lies, miracles, false visions, prophecies, and doctrines tending to disturb the peace, disorganize Society and destroy the peace, disorganize society and destroy all laws, and government, and religion."
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
+LOCKHART NEWS
NEWSLETTER # 5
This letter will focus on some of the German relatives of Dortha Demaris Myers Lockhart. Almost all of the Germans on the Mendenhall side of the family came to America as members of the Second Germanna Settlement and include the names Blankenbaker, Schone, Tanner, Hoffmann, Harnsberger, Schuster, Zimmerman, Aylor and Kaifer.
In 1717, about eighty Germans left their homes in southwest Germany expecting to go to Pennsylvania. Instead, they became guardians of the frontier in Virginia and a vanguard in the westward expansion of English civilization on the North American continent. This happened because Lieutenant Governor Spotswood of Virginia needed people to settle on his land in Virginia and he made a deal with captain Andrew Tarbett of the ship Scott to bring them from England to Virginia where Tarbett sold them as servants to Spotswood and his partners.
The Second Germanna Colony came from many different villages which were mostly south and east of Heidelberg with a few from outside this area. They worked seven years for Spotswood and his partners in naval stores projects and in vineyards. When they did move, they went about twenty-five miles farther west to land in the Robinson River Valley at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. This again was an extremely exposed position but they chose this general region because the land there was free at the time and there were few or no English settlers which gave them space for expansion.
First to have mention is one of Dortha’s sixth great grandmothers, Anna Barbara Schone.
Image left: 2000 Photo of the Village of Neuenbürg.
Anna Barbara was christened at Neuenbürg, Baden, on September 29, 1664. She was the daughter of Quirinus Schone and Maria Barbara. Anna's first marriage was to Hans Thomas Blanckenbuhler and took place on November 2, 1680 in Neuenbürg. Anna was 16 years old at the time. Anna and Hans Thomas had four children: Hans Nicolaus, Hans Balthasar, Hans Matthias, and Anna Maria. All four of these children were immigrants to America. Anna's first husband, Hans Thomas, died sometime between 1687 and 1691, but no death records has ever been found in the Neuenbürg Parish records.
Anna Barbara then married Johann Jacob Schlucter November 3, 1691 in Neuenbürg. Anna and Johann Jacob had one child: Heinrich, who also came to America
in 1717. Anna's second husband, Johann Jacob, died at Neuenbürg on 13 February 1698 at age 45, placing his birth as approximately 1653.
Anna Barbara then married Cyriacus Fleischmann on March 5, 1701 in Neuenbürg. Anna and Cyriacus were the parents of three children: Maria Catharina (presumed to have died young); (2nd) Maria Catharina, who married Hans Jacob Broyles in Virginia; and Hans Peter.
Our direct relative from this passel of people is John (Hans) Nicholas (Nicolaus) Blankenbaker (Blanckenbuhler). All of the children of Anna Barbara’s other marriages are half aunts and uncles. There are several different spellings of all of the above names.
Located just north of Madison, VA, the Hebron Lutheran Church is the oldest continuously operating Lutheran Church in the United States and is one of a handful of wooden Virginia churches that pre-date the Revolutionary War. It was built in 1740 by the Germanna immigrants of 1717 (the second Germanna Colony). They had moved down to the Madison area from the Germanna settlement (located where Virginia Route 3 crosses the Rapidan River) in about 1726 and took out land patents. They had finally won their freedom from their indenture to Governor Spotswood, and it was in this area that they began building lives for themselves and their children.
The settlers first built a log chapel on the current site of the church, then set about attracting a minister. Initially they were not successful, and made do with Michael Cook as lay reader. In 1733 they were able to attract Johann Caspar Stoever to be their pastor. They then commenced a fund-raising drive to finance the construction of a real church. Rev. Stoever and two of the immigrants, Michael Smith and Michael Holt, went to Europe to raise money and find an assistant pastor. On both counts they were successful, securing the needed funds and hiring George Samuel Klug. Rev. Stoever died on the return trip, however, leaving the task of building and consecrating the church to Rev. Klug.
The church is located on small a rise that affords it a pretty view of the Robinson River
and surrounding area. The building had an annex put on around 1800 and it was fitted
(Photos above)
with a Tannenburg organ from Pennsylvania. The organ, largely unmodified, is still in
use today. The church was substantially renovated in 1962.
The information above on the Hebron Church was taken from John Blankenbaker's article in Beyond Germanna, v.2, n.4, July 1990, and is itself based on Rev. W.P. Huddle's History of the Hebron Lutheran Church, Madison County, VA, from 1717 to 1907, published in 1908.
The John Nicholas Blankenbaker named on page 2 was born in Neuenbürg, Germany on January 12, 1692 and on May 6, 1714 married Apollonia Kaifer, daughter of Wolfgang and Elizabetha Kaifer, in Neuenbürg. He arrived in Virginia in 1717 with the passel of people mentioned above. He died in Virginia on September 22, 1743.
Ursula Blankenbaker, daughter of John and Apollonia was born after 1717 in Virginia. She married John Zimmerman, son of Christopher Zimmerman and Dorothea Rottle about 1737 in Virginia.
John Zimmerman, the eldest son of Christopher Zimmerman, was six years old when he came to Virginia with his father in 1717. He obtained his first land patent in 1735 when he was 24 years old. Whereas his father lived in the Mt. Pony area, John took his land, 400 acres, in the Robinson River Valley. This was about twenty miles west of his father. From the record of people imported by Spotswood in 1717, we know that, in 1717, John Nicholas and Apollonia were not yet the parents of Ursula. Whether Ursula or the land came first for John, we do not know. Probably the land was first. With John's acquisition of the land in 1735, and with Ursula just up the road, the union probably came not long after this date. John was aggressive in his land acquisitions, and he had, in the end, more than 1700 acres. (John Hoffman, (one of my 5th great grandfathers) his immediate neighbor to the south, was even more aggressive as he acquired about 3500 acres, but Hoffman had a very large family.) Thus, John moved from a community, which was definitely English, to a community which was definitely German. This may have been his reason for moving. And, he was not on the best of terms with his stepmother and had moved out of the home earlier. John was naturalized in 1743 with several other Germanna settlers. He died in 1796 or 1797, when he was about 85 years of age. In 1759, he and Ursula gave 200 acres of land to their son, John. This was a pattern that continued. The parents gave 150 acres to Margaret Zimmerman; 200 acres to their daughter, Dorothy Tanner, and her husband Jacob; 150 acres to their son Christopher; 150 acres to their daughter, Mary Zimmerman; 300 acres to their daughter, Rosanna Zimmerman; and 200 acres to their daughter, Elizabeth, and her husband Joseph Holtzclaw. Thus, he and Ursula were generous in giving away their land before death, even unto the unmarried daughters.
Our next in line from this group is Dorothy Zimmerman, daughter of the above John and Ursula. Dorothy was born in Virginia about 1742 and she married Jacob Tanner, son of Christopher and Elizabeth Aylor Tanner, in Virginia about 1764. (I would list the county but since new counties were being formed from old counties it does not make much sense. The people did not move during this time, the county boundaries moved.) Dorothy seems to have had a very hard life. If vague comments are correct, she had some sort of handicap and her husband, Jacob, died in 1781, shortly after or during his Revolutionary War service. Dorothy did receive a pension for Jacob’s war service however it was only $26.66 a year. Dorothy died in Virginia between 1808 and 1812.
Frederick Tanner, son of Jacob and Dorothy Zimmerman Tanner, was born in Virginia about 1770. Frederick married Roshannah Huffman, daughter of Henry and Margaret Harnsberger Hoffmann, in Virginia on January 12, 1795. (Yes, I know some of the last names are spelled differently but that is the way it is.) Frederick and Roshannah moved to Kentucky sometime after 1800 and Frederick was a volunteer in the Kentucky contingent that fought in New Orleans during the War of 1812. Roshannah died in Barren County, Kentucky in 1808, Frederick remarried twice and died in Barren County in 1850.
Lydia Elizabeth Tanner, daughter of Frederick and Roshannah Huffman Tanner, was born in Virginia on May 8, 1800. Lydia married Thomas Jefferson Pedigo on January 23, 1820 in Barren County, Kentucky. Lydia and Thomas Pedigo are Dortha’s great grandparents.
The Second Germanna Colony came from many different villages which were mostly south and east of Heidelberg with a few from outside this area. They worked seven years for Spotswood and his partners in naval stores projects and in vineyards. When they did move, they went about twenty-five miles farther west to land in the Robinson River Valley at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. This again was an extremely exposed position but they chose this general region because the land there was free at the time and there were few or no English settlers which gave them space for expansion.
First to have mention is one of Dortha’s sixth great grandmothers, Anna Barbara Schone.
Image left: 2000 Photo of the Village of Neuenbürg.
Anna Barbara was christened at Neuenbürg, Baden, on September 29, 1664. She was the daughter of Quirinus Schone and Maria Barbara. Anna's first marriage was to Hans Thomas Blanckenbuhler and took place on November 2, 1680 in Neuenbürg. Anna was 16 years old at the time. Anna and Hans Thomas had four children: Hans Nicolaus, Hans Balthasar, Hans Matthias, and Anna Maria. All four of these children were immigrants to America. Anna's first husband, Hans Thomas, died sometime between 1687 and 1691, but no death records has ever been found in the Neuenbürg Parish records.
Anna Barbara then married Johann Jacob Schlucter November 3, 1691 in Neuenbürg. Anna and Johann Jacob had one child: Heinrich, who also came to America
in 1717. Anna's second husband, Johann Jacob, died at Neuenbürg on 13 February 1698 at age 45, placing his birth as approximately 1653.
Anna Barbara then married Cyriacus Fleischmann on March 5, 1701 in Neuenbürg. Anna and Cyriacus were the parents of three children: Maria Catharina (presumed to have died young); (2nd) Maria Catharina, who married Hans Jacob Broyles in Virginia; and Hans Peter.
Our direct relative from this passel of people is John (Hans) Nicholas (Nicolaus) Blankenbaker (Blanckenbuhler). All of the children of Anna Barbara’s other marriages are half aunts and uncles. There are several different spellings of all of the above names.
Located just north of Madison, VA, the Hebron Lutheran Church is the oldest continuously operating Lutheran Church in the United States and is one of a handful of wooden Virginia churches that pre-date the Revolutionary War. It was built in 1740 by the Germanna immigrants of 1717 (the second Germanna Colony). They had moved down to the Madison area from the Germanna settlement (located where Virginia Route 3 crosses the Rapidan River) in about 1726 and took out land patents. They had finally won their freedom from their indenture to Governor Spotswood, and it was in this area that they began building lives for themselves and their children.
The settlers first built a log chapel on the current site of the church, then set about attracting a minister. Initially they were not successful, and made do with Michael Cook as lay reader. In 1733 they were able to attract Johann Caspar Stoever to be their pastor. They then commenced a fund-raising drive to finance the construction of a real church. Rev. Stoever and two of the immigrants, Michael Smith and Michael Holt, went to Europe to raise money and find an assistant pastor. On both counts they were successful, securing the needed funds and hiring George Samuel Klug. Rev. Stoever died on the return trip, however, leaving the task of building and consecrating the church to Rev. Klug.
The church is located on small a rise that affords it a pretty view of the Robinson River
and surrounding area. The building had an annex put on around 1800 and it was fitted
(Photos above)
with a Tannenburg organ from Pennsylvania. The organ, largely unmodified, is still in
use today. The church was substantially renovated in 1962.
The information above on the Hebron Church was taken from John Blankenbaker's article in Beyond Germanna, v.2, n.4, July 1990, and is itself based on Rev. W.P. Huddle's History of the Hebron Lutheran Church, Madison County, VA, from 1717 to 1907, published in 1908.
The John Nicholas Blankenbaker named on page 2 was born in Neuenbürg, Germany on January 12, 1692 and on May 6, 1714 married Apollonia Kaifer, daughter of Wolfgang and Elizabetha Kaifer, in Neuenbürg. He arrived in Virginia in 1717 with the passel of people mentioned above. He died in Virginia on September 22, 1743.
Ursula Blankenbaker, daughter of John and Apollonia was born after 1717 in Virginia. She married John Zimmerman, son of Christopher Zimmerman and Dorothea Rottle about 1737 in Virginia.
John Zimmerman, the eldest son of Christopher Zimmerman, was six years old when he came to Virginia with his father in 1717. He obtained his first land patent in 1735 when he was 24 years old. Whereas his father lived in the Mt. Pony area, John took his land, 400 acres, in the Robinson River Valley. This was about twenty miles west of his father. From the record of people imported by Spotswood in 1717, we know that, in 1717, John Nicholas and Apollonia were not yet the parents of Ursula. Whether Ursula or the land came first for John, we do not know. Probably the land was first. With John's acquisition of the land in 1735, and with Ursula just up the road, the union probably came not long after this date. John was aggressive in his land acquisitions, and he had, in the end, more than 1700 acres. (John Hoffman, (one of my 5th great grandfathers) his immediate neighbor to the south, was even more aggressive as he acquired about 3500 acres, but Hoffman had a very large family.) Thus, John moved from a community, which was definitely English, to a community which was definitely German. This may have been his reason for moving. And, he was not on the best of terms with his stepmother and had moved out of the home earlier. John was naturalized in 1743 with several other Germanna settlers. He died in 1796 or 1797, when he was about 85 years of age. In 1759, he and Ursula gave 200 acres of land to their son, John. This was a pattern that continued. The parents gave 150 acres to Margaret Zimmerman; 200 acres to their daughter, Dorothy Tanner, and her husband Jacob; 150 acres to their son Christopher; 150 acres to their daughter, Mary Zimmerman; 300 acres to their daughter, Rosanna Zimmerman; and 200 acres to their daughter, Elizabeth, and her husband Joseph Holtzclaw. Thus, he and Ursula were generous in giving away their land before death, even unto the unmarried daughters.
Our next in line from this group is Dorothy Zimmerman, daughter of the above John and Ursula. Dorothy was born in Virginia about 1742 and she married Jacob Tanner, son of Christopher and Elizabeth Aylor Tanner, in Virginia about 1764. (I would list the county but since new counties were being formed from old counties it does not make much sense. The people did not move during this time, the county boundaries moved.) Dorothy seems to have had a very hard life. If vague comments are correct, she had some sort of handicap and her husband, Jacob, died in 1781, shortly after or during his Revolutionary War service. Dorothy did receive a pension for Jacob’s war service however it was only $26.66 a year. Dorothy died in Virginia between 1808 and 1812.
Frederick Tanner, son of Jacob and Dorothy Zimmerman Tanner, was born in Virginia about 1770. Frederick married Roshannah Huffman, daughter of Henry and Margaret Harnsberger Hoffmann, in Virginia on January 12, 1795. (Yes, I know some of the last names are spelled differently but that is the way it is.) Frederick and Roshannah moved to Kentucky sometime after 1800 and Frederick was a volunteer in the Kentucky contingent that fought in New Orleans during the War of 1812. Roshannah died in Barren County, Kentucky in 1808, Frederick remarried twice and died in Barren County in 1850.
Lydia Elizabeth Tanner, daughter of Frederick and Roshannah Huffman Tanner, was born in Virginia on May 8, 1800. Lydia married Thomas Jefferson Pedigo on January 23, 1820 in Barren County, Kentucky. Lydia and Thomas Pedigo are Dortha’s great grandparents.
For fun, I have included some Germanna Notes from John Blankenbaker. Now, figure out who is who………
Note_67 Johann Christopher Zimmerman was a 1717 colony member from Sulzfeld in Baden. His father was Christian Zimmermann (a Junior) who was christened 30 December 1669 and who died 22 May 1735 after the son above had moved to Virginia. He had married on 28 January 1688 Eva Dünstlerin who was the daughter of Michael Dünster and by whom he had four children Johann Georg, b. 23 April 1688, d. 8 May 1688 Johann Conrad, b. 22 January 1690, d. 18 April 1700 Johann Christopher, b. 16 March 1692, will dated 30 November 1748 in Orange Co. Maria Eva, b. 15 May 1697, fate unknown. Christian Zimmerman (Junior) was the son of Christian Zimmerman (Senior) and Maria Schucter. Depending upon the church records, a history or ancestry can sometimes be carried back several generations, but information in the 1500's is hard to come by. In the following notes, one family will be carried back several generations in more than one branch. In the names above, Eva Dünstlerin has the "in" added to her father's name. This is a feminine ending showing that she was a female. Her name and her father's name are also spelled differently, apart from the feminine ending. This is not unusual.
Note 81
The frequency of mixed nationality marriages is very much a function of the size of the communities. The Second Colony which has the largest number of Germans had the fewest marriages to the English in the early years. The First Colony which had fewer Germans had more marriages sooner with the English. There is another group of Germans, very few in number, who lived in the Mt. Pony area. This group moved the most rapidly to become assimilated into the English speaking world. They learned to speak English very quickly and adopted the Church of England as their church. By the 1730's, Christopher Zimmerman, from the Mt. Pony group, was a Lt. in the militia. At the other extreme, in the Robinson River community which had the most Germans, the elders forbid the pastor, William Carpenter, from speaking English in the community. This was after the Revolutionary War, a full fifty years after the community was formed.
If you did read the notes, the only person which is of no relation is William Carpenter.
Note_67 Johann Christopher Zimmerman was a 1717 colony member from Sulzfeld in Baden. His father was Christian Zimmermann (a Junior) who was christened 30 December 1669 and who died 22 May 1735 after the son above had moved to Virginia. He had married on 28 January 1688 Eva Dünstlerin who was the daughter of Michael Dünster and by whom he had four children Johann Georg, b. 23 April 1688, d. 8 May 1688 Johann Conrad, b. 22 January 1690, d. 18 April 1700 Johann Christopher, b. 16 March 1692, will dated 30 November 1748 in Orange Co. Maria Eva, b. 15 May 1697, fate unknown. Christian Zimmerman (Junior) was the son of Christian Zimmerman (Senior) and Maria Schucter. Depending upon the church records, a history or ancestry can sometimes be carried back several generations, but information in the 1500's is hard to come by. In the following notes, one family will be carried back several generations in more than one branch. In the names above, Eva Dünstlerin has the "in" added to her father's name. This is a feminine ending showing that she was a female. Her name and her father's name are also spelled differently, apart from the feminine ending. This is not unusual.
Note 81
The frequency of mixed nationality marriages is very much a function of the size of the communities. The Second Colony which has the largest number of Germans had the fewest marriages to the English in the early years. The First Colony which had fewer Germans had more marriages sooner with the English. There is another group of Germans, very few in number, who lived in the Mt. Pony area. This group moved the most rapidly to become assimilated into the English speaking world. They learned to speak English very quickly and adopted the Church of England as their church. By the 1730's, Christopher Zimmerman, from the Mt. Pony group, was a Lt. in the militia. At the other extreme, in the Robinson River community which had the most Germans, the elders forbid the pastor, William Carpenter, from speaking English in the community. This was after the Revolutionary War, a full fifty years after the community was formed.
If you did read the notes, the only person which is of no relation is William Carpenter.
Monday, April 27, 2009
+LOCKHART NEWS
NEWSLETTER # 4 (The image on the right should be near the end of this letter...my computer skill did not, however allow it.)
This letter will deal with the Shull family from arrival in America to Martha Jane Shull who was born January 19, 1876, probably in Washington Township, Washington County, Indiana and died on December 28, 1948 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Recent DNA tests among known Shull descendants seem to prove the following relationship.
The first of our line to arrive in America was Frederick Scholl who sailed from Rotterdam, Holland on May 24, 1728 aboard the ship James Goodwill and landed in Deal, England. Ships from the continent bound for England's North American colonies at this time were required to visit an English port to register their cargo before crossing the Atlantic. Scholl then sailed on June 15, aboard the same ship, bound for America. Scholl arrived in Philadelphia in September 1728. Along with Scholl there were 90 some Palatine immigrants, 42 were men above the age of 16 making up 37 families. The Palatinate is in the southwestern part of Germany adjoining the upper Rhine River.
Upon arrival in Philadelphia, they declared their intent to settle peacefully in America before the Provincial Council and signed a declaration of allegiance to King George II of England. From the Minutes of the Provincial Council, printed Colonial Records, Vol. III, p. 331.
"At a Council held in the Courthouse of Philadelphia, September 11th, 1728..... A List was presented of the Names of Forty two Palatines, who with their Families, making in all about Ninety persons, were imported here in the Ship James Goodwill, David Crockat, Master from Rotterdam, but last from Deal, as by Clearance from the officers of the Customs there, bearing Date the Fifteenth day of June, 1728."
Frederick and his wife, Maria Barbara (Hertzel), settled first in Franconia Township, Philadelphia County where, in 1730, he signed a protest concerning church activities and he is on the tax list for 1734 for that township. On June 11, 1734, he received a land warrant (he purchased the property) from Thomas and Richard Penn. (Thomas and Richard were the sons of William Penn of Quaker fame.) The 300 acres tract was located in Lower Saucon Township in what was then Bucks County but is now Northampton County. The property is located in an area that is today called Hellertown, east of Allentown and south of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
-1-
The Scholls built their home in the Saucon Creek area and called their plantation "Athens". Do not associate the term plantation with the vision of large houses and women in hoop skirts, this is just a term used during the time to designate a farm. The home was probably a log cabin, perhaps a few rooms. During Frederick’s lifetime, this was, at best, a very remote area. Frederick purchased three separated plots of land, over 150 acres from 1747 to 1749 making a total of over 450 acres.
Frederick and Maria Barbara were the parents of nine children with at least the last four children being born at Athens. By 1740 Frederick was an Elder of Saucon Church, located on the Saucon Creek in Lower Saucon Township when he signed a congregational pledge of support for the ministry. (I will digress here to discuss his religion. I find this church and this religion totally confusing. And yes, you might say that I am totally confused by most religions, but follow this. Frederick is of German origin, the church seems to have been part of a Reformed Dutch Church with headquarters in Holland but they sometimes seemed to do what they wanted without having the approval of the Reformed Dutch Church. It seems to have been close to Lutheran ideas, at times, but not Lutheran…..Oh well!) The family appears in the records of the Tohickon Reformed Church, which, I think, was part of the church on Saucon Creek. Now that I have totally confused you on this matter, we will move on.
Frederick died at Athens some time between March 7, 1754 when he wrote his will and March 21, 1754 when he is mentioned in a court record as deceased; His will was proved on April 15, 1754. On April 5, his wife and one of his sons, Philip Henry and George Michael Schortz, mason of Easton posted an estate bond for 1200 pounds and the inventory was listed as 595 pounds, 2 shillings and included 394 acres of improved lands and 100 acres of unimproved lands and several old books. His will was written in old German and mentioned his sons Frederick, Nicholas and Tobias and his wife, "Meine Frau Maria Barbara, sie soll frei uber den ganzen Platz, so lange die Kinder folgen". The will is now lost or misplaced. Of interest: Dr. Matthias Otto of Bethlehem attended him during his illness, Daniel Heller made his coffin and the parson received 1 pound 10 shillings for the burial. Maria Barbara died sometime after 1767.
The next of our honored ancestors is John Frederick Scholl, son of the above Frederick and Maria Barbara Hertzel Scholl. Some family historians say that Frederick was probably born in Europe and came with his family to America. To me, this seems unlikely as he was married to Gertrude Merckel at Tohickon Church on April 10, 1759 by Rev. Egidius Hecker. If he had been born in Europe prior to his family’s arrival in America in 1728 he would have been at least 32 at the time of his first marriage, this would have been considered as an advanced age.
I am not sure exactly when Frederick and Gertrude (Fred and Gertie) moved to North Carolina, but it was after their daughter, Elizabeth, was baptized in Pennsylvania in 1764. They appear on the 1790 census in the Morgantown District of Burke County, North Carolina as Fred Shell.
-2-
Now, another digression…..The Shulls lived in an area that was called the Watauga Settlement which is today in parts of Virginia, Tennessee and North Carolina and was a very remote area. It seems that the Shulls liked being remote. If you have an interest in this period of family history, Google WATAUGA SETTLEMENT to learn the history of this area.
Sometime before 1793, John Frederick Shull, his wife Gertrude, and their son Simon and his wife Mary came and settled upriver from the Joseph Mast property in what is now Watauga, County, North Carolina. (If you Google WATAUGA COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA - MAST, then go to images, you can see the area in which they lived….probably.) Death dates are not known but there is a memorial stone in Simon/Frederick Cemetery on Broadstone Road in Watauga County, North Carolina with inscription "Frederick Shull and Wife Charity Shull 1765". The 1765 date may refer to the date of there arrival in the area. I will not go into a long-winded explanation of why Frederick’s wife is named Charity on the stone, but this is Gertrude. This cemetery is located between Valle Crucis and Shull’s Mill, North Carolina.
Fred and Gertie had at least four children, John, Frederick, Elizabeth and Simon. It appears that we descend from Frederick. Neither Frederick’s birth date nor his death date are known. On top of that, his wife’s name and children’s names are unknown and this (our descent) seems to be a toss up and there is a remote chance that the son John may be our direct relative or even a son of Fred and Gertie that we do not now know anything about at this time.
Well, moving on! Our next in line is Philip Shull who was born between 1770 and 1785 in either North Carolina or Virginia and his wife Susanna who was born between 1775 and 1785 in Virginia (probably). These dates and place of birth come from the 1810 and 1820 census and later census information for one of their sons, Leonard Shull.
The first official sighting of Philip is the 1809 and 1810 tax lists for Knox County, Kentucky and the 1810 census that also lists a wife and four children. Philip next appears in the Probate Court records of Washington County, Indiana in 1812 when he is paid $15 for clearing the public square in Salem, Indiana.
Philip was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1817. Philip died sometime late in the year 1819 or early 1820. On April 2, 1820, John Sapp was appointed guardian of the Shull children. I have a copy of that record but it is of such poor quality that I will not
-3-
use it here. The children were completely orphaned in 1823 when Philip’s wife Susan
na died..
The memorial stone for Philip and Susanna Shull shows how difficult tracing family members can be. If you take the information on the stone as gospel, Philip came from France in 1800. No records of this exist and DNA evidence disproves the France fantasy.
Recent DNA tests among known Shull descendants seem to prove the following relationship.
The first of our line to arrive in America was Frederick Scholl who sailed from Rotterdam, Holland on May 24, 1728 aboard the ship James Goodwill and landed in Deal, England. Ships from the continent bound for England's North American colonies at this time were required to visit an English port to register their cargo before crossing the Atlantic. Scholl then sailed on June 15, aboard the same ship, bound for America. Scholl arrived in Philadelphia in September 1728. Along with Scholl there were 90 some Palatine immigrants, 42 were men above the age of 16 making up 37 families. The Palatinate is in the southwestern part of Germany adjoining the upper Rhine River.
Upon arrival in Philadelphia, they declared their intent to settle peacefully in America before the Provincial Council and signed a declaration of allegiance to King George II of England. From the Minutes of the Provincial Council, printed Colonial Records, Vol. III, p. 331.
"At a Council held in the Courthouse of Philadelphia, September 11th, 1728..... A List was presented of the Names of Forty two Palatines, who with their Families, making in all about Ninety persons, were imported here in the Ship James Goodwill, David Crockat, Master from Rotterdam, but last from Deal, as by Clearance from the officers of the Customs there, bearing Date the Fifteenth day of June, 1728."
Frederick and his wife, Maria Barbara (Hertzel), settled first in Franconia Township, Philadelphia County where, in 1730, he signed a protest concerning church activities and he is on the tax list for 1734 for that township. On June 11, 1734, he received a land warrant (he purchased the property) from Thomas and Richard Penn. (Thomas and Richard were the sons of William Penn of Quaker fame.) The 300 acres tract was located in Lower Saucon Township in what was then Bucks County but is now Northampton County. The property is located in an area that is today called Hellertown, east of Allentown and south of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
-1-
The Scholls built their home in the Saucon Creek area and called their plantation "Athens". Do not associate the term plantation with the vision of large houses and women in hoop skirts, this is just a term used during the time to designate a farm. The home was probably a log cabin, perhaps a few rooms. During Frederick’s lifetime, this was, at best, a very remote area. Frederick purchased three separated plots of land, over 150 acres from 1747 to 1749 making a total of over 450 acres.
Frederick and Maria Barbara were the parents of nine children with at least the last four children being born at Athens. By 1740 Frederick was an Elder of Saucon Church, located on the Saucon Creek in Lower Saucon Township when he signed a congregational pledge of support for the ministry. (I will digress here to discuss his religion. I find this church and this religion totally confusing. And yes, you might say that I am totally confused by most religions, but follow this. Frederick is of German origin, the church seems to have been part of a Reformed Dutch Church with headquarters in Holland but they sometimes seemed to do what they wanted without having the approval of the Reformed Dutch Church. It seems to have been close to Lutheran ideas, at times, but not Lutheran…..Oh well!) The family appears in the records of the Tohickon Reformed Church, which, I think, was part of the church on Saucon Creek. Now that I have totally confused you on this matter, we will move on.
Frederick died at Athens some time between March 7, 1754 when he wrote his will and March 21, 1754 when he is mentioned in a court record as deceased; His will was proved on April 15, 1754. On April 5, his wife and one of his sons, Philip Henry and George Michael Schortz, mason of Easton posted an estate bond for 1200 pounds and the inventory was listed as 595 pounds, 2 shillings and included 394 acres of improved lands and 100 acres of unimproved lands and several old books. His will was written in old German and mentioned his sons Frederick, Nicholas and Tobias and his wife, "Meine Frau Maria Barbara, sie soll frei uber den ganzen Platz, so lange die Kinder folgen". The will is now lost or misplaced. Of interest: Dr. Matthias Otto of Bethlehem attended him during his illness, Daniel Heller made his coffin and the parson received 1 pound 10 shillings for the burial. Maria Barbara died sometime after 1767.
The next of our honored ancestors is John Frederick Scholl, son of the above Frederick and Maria Barbara Hertzel Scholl. Some family historians say that Frederick was probably born in Europe and came with his family to America. To me, this seems unlikely as he was married to Gertrude Merckel at Tohickon Church on April 10, 1759 by Rev. Egidius Hecker. If he had been born in Europe prior to his family’s arrival in America in 1728 he would have been at least 32 at the time of his first marriage, this would have been considered as an advanced age.
I am not sure exactly when Frederick and Gertrude (Fred and Gertie) moved to North Carolina, but it was after their daughter, Elizabeth, was baptized in Pennsylvania in 1764. They appear on the 1790 census in the Morgantown District of Burke County, North Carolina as Fred Shell.
-2-
Now, another digression…..The Shulls lived in an area that was called the Watauga Settlement which is today in parts of Virginia, Tennessee and North Carolina and was a very remote area. It seems that the Shulls liked being remote. If you have an interest in this period of family history, Google WATAUGA SETTLEMENT to learn the history of this area.
Sometime before 1793, John Frederick Shull, his wife Gertrude, and their son Simon and his wife Mary came and settled upriver from the Joseph Mast property in what is now Watauga, County, North Carolina. (If you Google WATAUGA COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA - MAST, then go to images, you can see the area in which they lived….probably.) Death dates are not known but there is a memorial stone in Simon/Frederick Cemetery on Broadstone Road in Watauga County, North Carolina with inscription "Frederick Shull and Wife Charity Shull 1765". The 1765 date may refer to the date of there arrival in the area. I will not go into a long-winded explanation of why Frederick’s wife is named Charity on the stone, but this is Gertrude. This cemetery is located between Valle Crucis and Shull’s Mill, North Carolina.
Fred and Gertie had at least four children, John, Frederick, Elizabeth and Simon. It appears that we descend from Frederick. Neither Frederick’s birth date nor his death date are known. On top of that, his wife’s name and children’s names are unknown and this (our descent) seems to be a toss up and there is a remote chance that the son John may be our direct relative or even a son of Fred and Gertie that we do not now know anything about at this time.
Well, moving on! Our next in line is Philip Shull who was born between 1770 and 1785 in either North Carolina or Virginia and his wife Susanna who was born between 1775 and 1785 in Virginia (probably). These dates and place of birth come from the 1810 and 1820 census and later census information for one of their sons, Leonard Shull.
The first official sighting of Philip is the 1809 and 1810 tax lists for Knox County, Kentucky and the 1810 census that also lists a wife and four children. Philip next appears in the Probate Court records of Washington County, Indiana in 1812 when he is paid $15 for clearing the public square in Salem, Indiana.
Philip was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1817. Philip died sometime late in the year 1819 or early 1820. On April 2, 1820, John Sapp was appointed guardian of the Shull children. I have a copy of that record but it is of such poor quality that I will not
-3-
use it here. The children were completely orphaned in 1823 when Philip’s wife Susan
na died..The memorial stone for Philip and Susanna Shull shows how difficult tracing family members can be. If you take the information on the stone as gospel, Philip came from France in 1800. No records of this exist and DNA evidence disproves the France fantasy.
-4-
Philip and Susanna had at least seven children and one of their sons, Leonard is our next in line. Leonard was born in Kentucky on February 28, 1808 and, of course, arrived in Washington County, Indiana with his parents around 1812. Okay, I put the obits in an odd place but they did not fit elsewhere.
The four obits for Leonard are split on the subject of his birthplace. The obit does show some of the life of Leonard however. I put in the obit of his wife to show family unity…Heee Hee! The Shull family seems to have had a thing for squabbles.
Philip and Susanna had at least seven children and one of their sons, Leonard is our next in line. Leonard was born in Kentucky on February 28, 1808 and, of course, arrived in Washington County, Indiana with his parents around 1812. Okay, I put the obits in an odd place but they did not fit elsewhere.
The four obits for Leonard are split on the subject of his birthplace. The obit does show some of the life of Leonard however. I put in the obit of his wife to show family unity…Heee Hee! The Shull family seems to have had a thing for squabbles.
Leonard and Emily Jane Aton were married in Washington County on October 21, 1832 by Jeremiah Rowland, Judge, Probate Court, Washington County.
Leonard and Emily had at least five children one of which, William Dawson is our next of line. William Dawson Shull was born in Salem on March 21, 1837, also trained as a blacksmith and married Amanda Adeline Rogers on September 24, 1859.
Dawson’s Civil War record, there are also a soldier’s pension record and a widow’s pension record which I did not show. On the blurb above, Dawson’s time with the unit starts at the red dot. He was mustered out of service on July 20, 1865 in Indianapolis. On the 1860 and 1870 census, Dawson is listed as a farmer but on his war record, he is listed as a blacksmith. Dawson does not appear on the 1880 census and there is no 1890 census.
Some time after 1870, Dawson moved to New Market, Indiana in Montgomery County.
At least one of his sons lived there, George, and Amanda’s brother, John lived in Montgomery County.
Dawson’s obituary on the right states that he died while bathing in Sugar Creek. I have no idea where on Sugar Creek that he died, but I have included a photo (bottom right) taken along the creek showing a bridge that was in place when Dawson lived in the area.
Our next in line is Martha Jane Shull born in Washington County on January 19, 1876. Little is known about Martha’s childhood but the family seemed to have moved around several times before her father died and she, with her family, moved back to the Salem vicinity prior to 1898.
Our next in line is Martha Jane Shull born in Washington County on January 19, 1876. Little is known about Martha’s childhood but the family seemed to have moved around several times before her father died and she, with her family, moved back to the Salem vicinity prior to 1898.
We know that she was living in Washington County at this time because on her marriage application she lists her place of residence as Salem. In addition, on the 1900 census, her mother and two siblings were living in the area.
I included the marriage return for Jesse and Martha to show several things.
This clearly shows that Jesse was a farmer living near Salem. It also confirms the names of his parents.
And SURPRISE!! Jesse’s 2nd marriage.
Martha Jane used the name, ‘Mattie A.’. Her nickname was Mattie but the use of nicknames on official documents makes it difficult to track a person.
It also confirms the name of her parents.
This clearly shows that Jesse was a farmer living near Salem. It also confirms the names of his parents.
And SURPRISE!! Jesse’s 2nd marriage.
Martha Jane used the name, ‘Mattie A.’. Her nickname was Mattie but the use of nicknames on official documents makes it difficult to track a person.
It also confirms the name of her parents.
One other thing to note here. They were married by E. H. Wood, a minister in the M. E. Church. Few members of this family were actually married by a minister. I am not sure if they were married in a church, but Mt. Zion M. E. Church was located close to some family property in the area and Martha Jane’s father, Dawson, is buried in Mt. Zion Cemetery.
The church is no longer in operation.
-8-
The 1900 census shows that Jesse and Martha Jane were living in Washington Township, Washington County. Jesse a farmer and Martha Jane (Mattie) as wife and Ralph, their first born, as six months old.
Martha Jane was left a widow when Jesse died on May 15, 1909 (or ‘08 depending on the record). I have assumed that the family was living in Brown Township, Washington County when Jesse died and he is buried in Saltillo Cemetery. Martha Jane appears on the 1910 census as living in Bono, Lawrence County, Indiana with three children, Ralph, Mary and Maude, her profession is dressmaker. Several of Jesse’s brothers and sisters also lived in Bono at this time and the children attended school at Ft. Ritner.
I assume that Martha Jane and the children lived in Bono until Martha Jane’s second marriage. She married John Little on October 7, 1916 in Washington County. On the 1920 census, Martha Jane and John Little were living in Brazil, Clay County, Indiana with the three Lockhart children. On the 1930 census, John and Martha Jane were living in Beech Grove, Indiana where John is listed as owner of some type of furniture store.
I lived with them for a short time in the early 1940’s. I cannot say when, I was too young to remember the dates but I do remember that it was wartime and I remember them glaring at each other a lot and arguing. After moving back with my family, I do not remember seeing her again.
Martha Jane died on December 28, 1948 in Beech Grove at the age of 72 years, 11 months and 9 days. I am approaching that age now…. funny, I remember her as being much older than me!!! Of course, on certain days I feel much older than she was.
I would have liked to put in some more recent photographs of her but I cannot find any. I would have thought that some would be around, but I guess not.
This newsletter composed (almost entirely) by Jon C. Lockhart, CVI.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
+LOCKHART NEWS
NEWSLETTER # 3
Photo right: The Willits at home near McLouth, Kansas. L. to R. Addie, daughter of Mahala and John F., John F., Mahala, Lulu Bell, another daughter, and Harry Nevins, a son, who is seated on the horse. For those not paying attention, Mahala Myers Willits was an older sister of William P. Myers.The next page is a riot! Ralph’s first divorce! Bear in mind that Ralph and Alleen were married on January 17, 1920. The divorce is dated February 23, 1921 and a marriage license was applied for on February 25, 1921 and he married Helen M. Baldwin in Kalamazoo, Michigan on February 26, 1921. There were no interstates in those days!
Finding this divorce was just pure dumb luck….I have no idea what county in Michigan to search for the second divorce, so I will, also, leave that for future generations.
-1-
-2-
The following contributed by Donald and Deloris Willits.
John F. and Mahala had a large family. While still living in Indiana, before the move to Kansas, their first child, Clara Violet was born on September 28, 1860. January 16, 1864, their second child, Flora Helen was born. In Kansas, on December 28, 1865, another daughter, Mary Alice was born. Daughter four, Lizzie Jane was born August 3, 1867. Two years later, Mahala gave birth to twins on June 8, 1869. The twins were named Charles Cromwell and Cora Adda (Addie.) On March 20, 1871, Harry C. was born, but he died on September 12 at age five months, 12 days. On August, 1873, Mahala gave birth to her second set of twins, a boy named Harry (the second Harry) and a girl named Eva May. On June 17, 1875 Lula Bell was born. The second Harry, Eva's twin, sadly, caught fire in the family fireplace and died in November of 1875. The youngest son, Leonidas John was born July 15, 1878. Leonidis was my husband's grandfather. If I count correctly, John F. and Mahala had eleven children, including the two sets of twins. John F. passed away on December 18, 1910 at age 77. Mahala passed away June 29, 1923 at the age of 84.
Obituary for Mahala Myers Willits.
Mrs. John F. Willits died at her home in the north part of town last Friday at the age of 83 years, following a period of slowly declining health. The funeral was held at the home Sunday afternoon, the sermon being preached by Miss Nettie Haworth, minister of the Friends Church, of which deceased had been a member. Music was furnished by the United Brethren choir.
She was the widow of a noted pioneer citizen of this community and state, who passed away in December of 1910.
Mahala, daughter of Nathan and Mary Myers, was born near Noblesville, in Hamilton County, Indiana, December 8, 1839, where she grew to young womanhood, and was married to John F. Willits October 9, 1859. They moved to Howard County, Indiana, and lived three years. On August 25th, 1865, they arrived on the old homestead north of McLouth where they lived to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. Soon after this event, they moved to the present home in McLouth where one year and a few days later Mr. Willits died. Since that time she has lived alone with her daughter, Addie. To this union were born twelve children, three of whom died in infancy, and three, Mary Alice, Lizzie Jane and Charles Cromwell lived to be grown, dying in young man and womanhood. She leaves to mourn her loss, one brother, Chas. F. Myers of Noblesville, Indiana and five daughters and one son, Mrs. Clara Steeper, Mrs. Flora Nevins, Mrs. Lulu Sparks of Lawrence, Kansas, Mrs. Eva Pyle of Phoenix, Arizona, Addie Willits and Lee J. Willits of McLouth. Fifteen grandchildren and eight great grandchildren remain as her descendants.
She had been gradually failing since last February but was never confined to her bed. She lived an exemplary life, took a friendly interest in her neighbors, and was a most unselfish mother, met each one with a smile until the last breath of her life, uncomplaining of any hardship, and she met not a few, coming as she did, to this country
John F. and Mahala had a large family. While still living in Indiana, before the move to Kansas, their first child, Clara Violet was born on September 28, 1860. January 16, 1864, their second child, Flora Helen was born. In Kansas, on December 28, 1865, another daughter, Mary Alice was born. Daughter four, Lizzie Jane was born August 3, 1867. Two years later, Mahala gave birth to twins on June 8, 1869. The twins were named Charles Cromwell and Cora Adda (Addie.) On March 20, 1871, Harry C. was born, but he died on September 12 at age five months, 12 days. On August, 1873, Mahala gave birth to her second set of twins, a boy named Harry (the second Harry) and a girl named Eva May. On June 17, 1875 Lula Bell was born. The second Harry, Eva's twin, sadly, caught fire in the family fireplace and died in November of 1875. The youngest son, Leonidas John was born July 15, 1878. Leonidis was my husband's grandfather. If I count correctly, John F. and Mahala had eleven children, including the two sets of twins. John F. passed away on December 18, 1910 at age 77. Mahala passed away June 29, 1923 at the age of 84.
Obituary for Mahala Myers Willits.
Mrs. John F. Willits died at her home in the north part of town last Friday at the age of 83 years, following a period of slowly declining health. The funeral was held at the home Sunday afternoon, the sermon being preached by Miss Nettie Haworth, minister of the Friends Church, of which deceased had been a member. Music was furnished by the United Brethren choir.
She was the widow of a noted pioneer citizen of this community and state, who passed away in December of 1910.
Mahala, daughter of Nathan and Mary Myers, was born near Noblesville, in Hamilton County, Indiana, December 8, 1839, where she grew to young womanhood, and was married to John F. Willits October 9, 1859. They moved to Howard County, Indiana, and lived three years. On August 25th, 1865, they arrived on the old homestead north of McLouth where they lived to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. Soon after this event, they moved to the present home in McLouth where one year and a few days later Mr. Willits died. Since that time she has lived alone with her daughter, Addie. To this union were born twelve children, three of whom died in infancy, and three, Mary Alice, Lizzie Jane and Charles Cromwell lived to be grown, dying in young man and womanhood. She leaves to mourn her loss, one brother, Chas. F. Myers of Noblesville, Indiana and five daughters and one son, Mrs. Clara Steeper, Mrs. Flora Nevins, Mrs. Lulu Sparks of Lawrence, Kansas, Mrs. Eva Pyle of Phoenix, Arizona, Addie Willits and Lee J. Willits of McLouth. Fifteen grandchildren and eight great grandchildren remain as her descendants.
She had been gradually failing since last February but was never confined to her bed. She lived an exemplary life, took a friendly interest in her neighbors, and was a most unselfish mother, met each one with a smile until the last breath of her life, uncomplaining of any hardship, and she met not a few, coming as she did, to this country
-3-
as one of the pioneers. No sacrifice was too much for her to make for her family. She passed quietly away June 20, 1933, aged 83 years, 6 months and 21 days in the eventide of a long life of unselfish service for those she held most dear, and with a firm belief in her Maker, and that all was well with her soul. She was a birthright member of the Friends church and for a number of years attended meeting at the Friends church at Springdale.
There is no proof, as yet, that Mahala was a birthright Quaker. I can find no records in Indiana or Ohio that state that Nathan and Demaris were Quakers. Demaris (Mary) joined the Quakers after Nathan died.
As a side note: John F. Willits started his political life as a Republican switched to the Populist and ran for governor and U. S. Senate (lost both in hotly contested elections) and finally switched to the Socialist Party and ran for Congress twice. This Socialism thing seems to have been a trend with some of the old Quakers.
There is no proof, as yet, that Mahala was a birthright Quaker. I can find no records in Indiana or Ohio that state that Nathan and Demaris were Quakers. Demaris (Mary) joined the Quakers after Nathan died.
As a side note: John F. Willits started his political life as a Republican switched to the Populist and ran for governor and U. S. Senate (lost both in hotly contested elections) and finally switched to the Socialist Party and ran for Congress twice. This Socialism thing seems to have been a trend with some of the old Quakers.
SOME PHOTOGRAPHS WERE DELETED FROM THIS LETTER TO SAVE SPACE.
Edited version. I was not able to load photographs.
+LOCKHART NEWS
NEWSLETTER # 2
The following information on the Myers family was found, in part, in documents provided by Karen Kirby.
Nathan Myers died, without a will, on October 27, 1859 leaving 10 heirs. According to court papers filed by John F. and Mahala Myers Willits on June 4, 1860 in the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas the estate was valued at about $10,000 and included 480 acres of farmland and a part interest in a sawmill located in the area.
The court action named above was a Petition for Partition asking the court to divide the estate property amoung the heirs: Mary (Demaris) his widow, Joseph, George W., Rebecca, Samuel, William, Elizabeth, Mary J. and Charles Myers and Mahala Myers Willits, his children.
Each heir received 48 acres, with the property of Mahala, Rebecca, George W. and Joseph being set off and assigned, the remainder belonging to Mary, his widow, and the minor children was left as a whole until such time as the minors reached maturity.
The property assigned to Mahala was actually assigned to her husband, John F. Willits; women did not have much control over their own property in those days. Mahala was John F.’s second wife; he had first married Prudence Myers, Mahala’s sister, who died December 2, 1856 and was buried at Gray Cemetery. The Willits soon moved to Kansas where John F. became a well-known populist politician.
In 1862, Samuel Myers listed above as an heir to the estate of Nathan Myers died in Scottsville, Kentucky.
On September 16, 1862 a marriage license was issued to Rebecca Myers and Joshua J. Clark, they were married in Hamilton County on September 17, 1862.
The Nathan Myers estate was fully and finally settled at the January Term of the Hamilton Circuit Court, 1863.
Samuel Myers’ estate was divided among his siblings and his mother. July 16, 1864 Mahala Myers Willits sold her share of Samuel’s estate to her brother George W.
-1-
All seems to be relative calm in the Myers family until the January 1870 Term of the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas when Mary (Demaris) and her children, George W., William, Elizabeth, Mary J. and Charles Myers and Rebbeca Myers Clark file suit against Joseph Myers. Now then, I have read this summary about a dozen times and I guess that this case is about dividing the undivided lands from the estates of Nathan and Samuel Myers.
On September 13, 1872, a marriage license was issued to Elizabeth Myers and John S.(tockley) Lamb and they were married in Hamilton County on September 15, 1872.
On March 1, 1873 a marriage license was issued to (Mary) Jane Myers and Thomas Levi and they were married in Hamilton County on March 2, 1873.
On March 26, 1874 William P. Myers was married to Phoebe Pauline Ballard in Hamilton County.
In 1877 Charles F. Myers married Alta Hunt.
Well, here we go again! On August 10, 1884 Mary (Demaris) Myers died suddenly without a will. In the November Term, 1884 of the Hamilton County Circuit Court,
The Willits, Lambs, Levis and Charles F. Myers file suit against Joseph, George and William Myers and Rebecca Myers Clark, a person of unsound mind, George Myers, her guardian.
Being of limited mind myself, I am not sure what the complaint was, however our William P. seems to have won his part. The case records in part, “The defendant William P. Myers for his separate answer herein denies every allegation in the complaint contained and for a separate cross complaint herein, the said William P. Myers says that he is the owner in fee simple of the 16 acres described in said complaint. That Mary Myers on the __ day of ____, 1884 was the owner of all land described in plaintiffs complaint that at said date she sold said 16 acre tract to the cross complainant for the sum of $900.00 which amount was all paid to her at the time. And the Plaintiff took possession of same and made valuable and lasting improvements and that it was the intention of said Mary Myers to execute a deed of conveyance to cross complainant in a short time for said 16 acres, but on the __ day of August, 1884 she suddenly departed this life without executing said deed of conveyance. The defendants George and Joseph Myers for answer to the cross complaint of William P. Myers say that the matter and things stated therein are true.” The court agreed and on October 19, 1886, a court commissioner’s deed was issued to William P. for the 16 acres.
August 9, 1886, Phoebe Pauline Ballard Myers, wife of William P. died.
-2-
The next item to deal with occurs in 1898 and since I do not have a clue as to what happened, I will simply copy items from the abstract prepared for the estate of William P. Myers in 1916.
William P. Myers Warranty Deed $5000.00
unmarried, Dated February 17, 1898.
To Rec. February 17, 1898.
Orlando H. Wise Book 71 page 29.
Conveys:- The north half of the
north west quarter of section 22 town-
ship 18 north, range 4 east.
Subject to mortgage of $1700.00.
Signed:- William P. Myers, and acknowledged before J.W. Smith, seal
a Notary Public for Hamilton County, Indiana.
Orlando H. Wise, Warranty Deed $5000.00
Wife, Mary E., Dated March 5, 1898.
To Rec. April 9, 1898
William P. Myers. Book 71 page 282.
Conveys:- The north half of the
north west quarter of section 22 township 18
north , range 4 east.
This deed is to be delivered to the grantee when said grantee shall
surrender to the grantor a certain unrecorded deed made by the grantor
in this deed and his wife to said grantee conveying to him the south east
quarter of section 22 township 27 south range 17 east in Wilson County,
Kansas. Also a certain promissory note calling for $295.00 executed by
said O. H. Wise and Artemus H. Myers to said William P. Myers. Also when
grantee shall have paid to the grantor the sum of $100.00.
Signed:- Orlando H. Wise, and Mary E. Wise and acknowledged by them before
Milton Hanson, seal, a Notary Public for Hamilton County, Indiana.
June 8, 1896, William P. Myers places a $1700.00 mortgage on his 80 acre farm with Aetna Life Insurance Company, Hartford County, Connecticut.
May 7, 1903, William P. Myers marries Ida Jane Mendenhall Revis in Fountain County, Indiana.
June 6, 1905, Aetna Life Insurance Company releases the mortgage on the William P. Myers farm.
-3-
May 26, 1915, John W. Myers (son of William P. by his first marriage), as Guardian of William P. Myers, by order of the Hamilton Circuit Court and Ida J. Myers wife of William P. Myers place a $1400.00 mortgage on his 80 acre farm with Wainwright Trust Company, Noblesville, Indiana.
June 14, 1916, William P. Myers died at Central State Hospital, Indianapolis, Indiana, without a will.
June 19, 1916, Hamilton Circuit Court approves Wainwright Trust Company as administrators of the estate of William P. Myers.
June 19, 1916, Hamilton Circuit Court approves Wainwright Trust Company as guardians of Dortha, Mary, Ruth and Nathan Myers, minor heirs of William P. Myers.
October term, 1916 of Hamilton Circuit Court dealing with the division of property of William P. Myers. 20 acres to John Myers and Alva H. Myers (sons of William by first marriage) as tenants in common, 20 acres to Ida Jane Myers, his wife and 40 undivided acres to the minor children ( Dortha, Mary, Ruth and Nathan Myers) of William P. Myers.
+LOCKHART NEWS
NEWSLETTER # 2
The following information on the Myers family was found, in part, in documents provided by Karen Kirby.
Nathan Myers died, without a will, on October 27, 1859 leaving 10 heirs. According to court papers filed by John F. and Mahala Myers Willits on June 4, 1860 in the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas the estate was valued at about $10,000 and included 480 acres of farmland and a part interest in a sawmill located in the area.
The court action named above was a Petition for Partition asking the court to divide the estate property amoung the heirs: Mary (Demaris) his widow, Joseph, George W., Rebecca, Samuel, William, Elizabeth, Mary J. and Charles Myers and Mahala Myers Willits, his children.
Each heir received 48 acres, with the property of Mahala, Rebecca, George W. and Joseph being set off and assigned, the remainder belonging to Mary, his widow, and the minor children was left as a whole until such time as the minors reached maturity.
The property assigned to Mahala was actually assigned to her husband, John F. Willits; women did not have much control over their own property in those days. Mahala was John F.’s second wife; he had first married Prudence Myers, Mahala’s sister, who died December 2, 1856 and was buried at Gray Cemetery. The Willits soon moved to Kansas where John F. became a well-known populist politician.
In 1862, Samuel Myers listed above as an heir to the estate of Nathan Myers died in Scottsville, Kentucky.
On September 16, 1862 a marriage license was issued to Rebecca Myers and Joshua J. Clark, they were married in Hamilton County on September 17, 1862.
The Nathan Myers estate was fully and finally settled at the January Term of the Hamilton Circuit Court, 1863.
Samuel Myers’ estate was divided among his siblings and his mother. July 16, 1864 Mahala Myers Willits sold her share of Samuel’s estate to her brother George W.
-1-
All seems to be relative calm in the Myers family until the January 1870 Term of the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas when Mary (Demaris) and her children, George W., William, Elizabeth, Mary J. and Charles Myers and Rebbeca Myers Clark file suit against Joseph Myers. Now then, I have read this summary about a dozen times and I guess that this case is about dividing the undivided lands from the estates of Nathan and Samuel Myers.
On September 13, 1872, a marriage license was issued to Elizabeth Myers and John S.(tockley) Lamb and they were married in Hamilton County on September 15, 1872.
On March 1, 1873 a marriage license was issued to (Mary) Jane Myers and Thomas Levi and they were married in Hamilton County on March 2, 1873.
On March 26, 1874 William P. Myers was married to Phoebe Pauline Ballard in Hamilton County.
In 1877 Charles F. Myers married Alta Hunt.
Well, here we go again! On August 10, 1884 Mary (Demaris) Myers died suddenly without a will. In the November Term, 1884 of the Hamilton County Circuit Court,
The Willits, Lambs, Levis and Charles F. Myers file suit against Joseph, George and William Myers and Rebecca Myers Clark, a person of unsound mind, George Myers, her guardian.
Being of limited mind myself, I am not sure what the complaint was, however our William P. seems to have won his part. The case records in part, “The defendant William P. Myers for his separate answer herein denies every allegation in the complaint contained and for a separate cross complaint herein, the said William P. Myers says that he is the owner in fee simple of the 16 acres described in said complaint. That Mary Myers on the __ day of ____, 1884 was the owner of all land described in plaintiffs complaint that at said date she sold said 16 acre tract to the cross complainant for the sum of $900.00 which amount was all paid to her at the time. And the Plaintiff took possession of same and made valuable and lasting improvements and that it was the intention of said Mary Myers to execute a deed of conveyance to cross complainant in a short time for said 16 acres, but on the __ day of August, 1884 she suddenly departed this life without executing said deed of conveyance. The defendants George and Joseph Myers for answer to the cross complaint of William P. Myers say that the matter and things stated therein are true.” The court agreed and on October 19, 1886, a court commissioner’s deed was issued to William P. for the 16 acres.
August 9, 1886, Phoebe Pauline Ballard Myers, wife of William P. died.
-2-
The next item to deal with occurs in 1898 and since I do not have a clue as to what happened, I will simply copy items from the abstract prepared for the estate of William P. Myers in 1916.
William P. Myers Warranty Deed $5000.00
unmarried, Dated February 17, 1898.
To Rec. February 17, 1898.
Orlando H. Wise Book 71 page 29.
Conveys:- The north half of the
north west quarter of section 22 town-
ship 18 north, range 4 east.
Subject to mortgage of $1700.00.
Signed:- William P. Myers, and acknowledged before J.W. Smith, seal
a Notary Public for Hamilton County, Indiana.
Orlando H. Wise, Warranty Deed $5000.00
Wife, Mary E., Dated March 5, 1898.
To Rec. April 9, 1898
William P. Myers. Book 71 page 282.
Conveys:- The north half of the
north west quarter of section 22 township 18
north , range 4 east.
This deed is to be delivered to the grantee when said grantee shall
surrender to the grantor a certain unrecorded deed made by the grantor
in this deed and his wife to said grantee conveying to him the south east
quarter of section 22 township 27 south range 17 east in Wilson County,
Kansas. Also a certain promissory note calling for $295.00 executed by
said O. H. Wise and Artemus H. Myers to said William P. Myers. Also when
grantee shall have paid to the grantor the sum of $100.00.
Signed:- Orlando H. Wise, and Mary E. Wise and acknowledged by them before
Milton Hanson, seal, a Notary Public for Hamilton County, Indiana.
June 8, 1896, William P. Myers places a $1700.00 mortgage on his 80 acre farm with Aetna Life Insurance Company, Hartford County, Connecticut.
May 7, 1903, William P. Myers marries Ida Jane Mendenhall Revis in Fountain County, Indiana.
June 6, 1905, Aetna Life Insurance Company releases the mortgage on the William P. Myers farm.
-3-
May 26, 1915, John W. Myers (son of William P. by his first marriage), as Guardian of William P. Myers, by order of the Hamilton Circuit Court and Ida J. Myers wife of William P. Myers place a $1400.00 mortgage on his 80 acre farm with Wainwright Trust Company, Noblesville, Indiana.
June 14, 1916, William P. Myers died at Central State Hospital, Indianapolis, Indiana, without a will.
June 19, 1916, Hamilton Circuit Court approves Wainwright Trust Company as administrators of the estate of William P. Myers.
June 19, 1916, Hamilton Circuit Court approves Wainwright Trust Company as guardians of Dortha, Mary, Ruth and Nathan Myers, minor heirs of William P. Myers.
October term, 1916 of Hamilton Circuit Court dealing with the division of property of William P. Myers. 20 acres to John Myers and Alva H. Myers (sons of William by first marriage) as tenants in common, 20 acres to Ida Jane Myers, his wife and 40 undivided acres to the minor children ( Dortha, Mary, Ruth and Nathan Myers) of William P. Myers.
+LOCKHART NEWS
NEWSLETTER # 1
This letter is an outline of the life of Ralph F. Lockhart, November 29, 1899 - February 8, 1979. This time frame covers the period November 29, 1899 to July 26, 1924.
November 29, 1899 Ralph was born on a farm in Washington Township, Washington County, Indiana. He was the son, and first child of three, of Jesse Harvey and Martha Jane Shull Lockhart. The 1900 census lists Jesse as a farmer on a rented farm. Both Jesse and Martha Jane could read and write.
Ralph’s maternal grandmother, Amanda A. Rogers Shull, along with an aunt and uncle of his are listed on the 1900 census as living on a rented farm in the same township. The census record also notes that Amanda could not read nor could she write. Amanda died on July 17, 1901and was buried in Crown Hill Cemetery, Salem.
Ralph’s paternal grandmother, Mary E. Elliott Lockhart is listed, as a widow, on the 1900 census as living on a rented farm with her son Benjamin Franklin and daughter Lizzie in Bono Township, Lawrence County, Indiana. While Benjamin appears as head of household, it is listed that Mary E. also rented the farm next to Benjamin’s. Next to this family on the census is Leonard and Rachel Lockhart Howard and their family, Ralph’s aunt, uncle and cousins. It appears that all of Mary E. Elliott Lockhart’s children could both read and write. Mary E. does not appear on the 1910 census nor could I find any record of death or burial.
May 15, 1909 (or 1908, depending on which document you believe) Ralph’s father dies (Ralph said years later his father was killed in a farming accident) and is buried in Saltillo Cemetery in Brown Township, Washington County, Indiana.
1910 census lists Ralph, his mother and sisters Mary and Maude living in Bono, Bono Township, Lawrence County, Indiana. His mother is listed as a dressmaker. It is believed that he attended school at Ft. Ritner. (Information: Madeline Griebennow Heaton)
October 7, 1916 Ralph’s mother, Martha Jane Shull Lockhart, married John A. Little in Washington County, Indiana. It was the second marriage for Martha Jane and third marriage for John. Ralph’s children remember her as Little Mom. John Litle’s 1st wife
-1-
November 29, 1899 Ralph was born on a farm in Washington Township, Washington County, Indiana. He was the son, and first child of three, of Jesse Harvey and Martha Jane Shull Lockhart. The 1900 census lists Jesse as a farmer on a rented farm. Both Jesse and Martha Jane could read and write.
Ralph’s maternal grandmother, Amanda A. Rogers Shull, along with an aunt and uncle of his are listed on the 1900 census as living on a rented farm in the same township. The census record also notes that Amanda could not read nor could she write. Amanda died on July 17, 1901and was buried in Crown Hill Cemetery, Salem.
Ralph’s paternal grandmother, Mary E. Elliott Lockhart is listed, as a widow, on the 1900 census as living on a rented farm with her son Benjamin Franklin and daughter Lizzie in Bono Township, Lawrence County, Indiana. While Benjamin appears as head of household, it is listed that Mary E. also rented the farm next to Benjamin’s. Next to this family on the census is Leonard and Rachel Lockhart Howard and their family, Ralph’s aunt, uncle and cousins. It appears that all of Mary E. Elliott Lockhart’s children could both read and write. Mary E. does not appear on the 1910 census nor could I find any record of death or burial.
May 15, 1909 (or 1908, depending on which document you believe) Ralph’s father dies (Ralph said years later his father was killed in a farming accident) and is buried in Saltillo Cemetery in Brown Township, Washington County, Indiana.
1910 census lists Ralph, his mother and sisters Mary and Maude living in Bono, Bono Township, Lawrence County, Indiana. His mother is listed as a dressmaker. It is believed that he attended school at Ft. Ritner. (Information: Madeline Griebennow Heaton)
October 7, 1916 Ralph’s mother, Martha Jane Shull Lockhart, married John A. Little in Washington County, Indiana. It was the second marriage for Martha Jane and third marriage for John. Ralph’s children remember her as Little Mom. John Litle’s 1st wife
-1-
died, he married Eva Chastain in 1914, divorced her (or was divorced by her) in 1916 and married Martha Jane in 1916.
Federal records of Ralph’s military service seem to have been destroyed in a fire some
time between 1950 and 1970, however according to records from the Indiana Adjutant
General’s Office dated November 10, 1948, I have found the following. July 18, 1917, listing his residence as Bloomington, Indiana, he enlisted in the army at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri and was assigned to Company I, 36th Infantry. He was made a Private. 1st Class on November 1, 1917 and seems to have been demoted to a Private on June 25, 1918. He was transferred to Company I, 73rd Infantry on August 19, 1918 and promoted to Sergeant on September 14, 1918. He did not serve overseas nor engage in any battles. He was honorably discharged from the service on February 8, 1919. The record lists his age at time of enlistment as 18 years, 7 months old, he was in fact 17 years, 7 months old, or 5 months under the legal age to enlist. X See last page.
The next few years seem to be a very active time for Ralph. Less than a year after his military discharge, Ralph is listed in Clay County, Indiana marriage index as having married Alleen Lee on January 17, 1920. Alleen is listed in different places as being 7-8 years older than Ralph. He is listed on the 1920 (July) census as living in Ward 1, Brazil, Clay County, Indiana with his mother, step father and sisters and is listed as single. (He is also listed as Rupert Lockhart in some indexes.)
Less than 14 months later, he appears on the return of marriages index for both Calhoun and Kalamazoo Counties, Michigan listed as marrying Helen M. Baldwin on February 25, 1921. They were married by John L. Hollander, Judge of Probate, Kalamazoo County, Michigan. Ralph is listed as 21, a mechanic living in Brazil, Indiana and Helen is listed as 24, a stenographer living in Battle Creek, Michigan both had been married once before. X See last page.
Michigan law prohibits searching records and restricts searching indexes for births recorded less that 100 years ago. If Ralph had a child (or children) with Helen some family researcher in the future will have to record the event.
I, as yet, have not been able to find any record of divorce in either case, but am searching.
He appears, again in a marriage record, when on Saturday, July 26, 1924, he married Dortha Demaris Myers in Hamilton County, Indiana.
During the time span of approximately 4 ½ years, Ralph was married 3 times….I am checking Kentucky, Illinois and Ohio for records. It seems that he was on a roll and maybe was trying for a record of some sort.
-2-
Federal records of Ralph’s military service seem to have been destroyed in a fire some
time between 1950 and 1970, however according to records from the Indiana Adjutant
General’s Office dated November 10, 1948, I have found the following. July 18, 1917, listing his residence as Bloomington, Indiana, he enlisted in the army at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri and was assigned to Company I, 36th Infantry. He was made a Private. 1st Class on November 1, 1917 and seems to have been demoted to a Private on June 25, 1918. He was transferred to Company I, 73rd Infantry on August 19, 1918 and promoted to Sergeant on September 14, 1918. He did not serve overseas nor engage in any battles. He was honorably discharged from the service on February 8, 1919. The record lists his age at time of enlistment as 18 years, 7 months old, he was in fact 17 years, 7 months old, or 5 months under the legal age to enlist. X See last page.
The next few years seem to be a very active time for Ralph. Less than a year after his military discharge, Ralph is listed in Clay County, Indiana marriage index as having married Alleen Lee on January 17, 1920. Alleen is listed in different places as being 7-8 years older than Ralph. He is listed on the 1920 (July) census as living in Ward 1, Brazil, Clay County, Indiana with his mother, step father and sisters and is listed as single. (He is also listed as Rupert Lockhart in some indexes.)
Less than 14 months later, he appears on the return of marriages index for both Calhoun and Kalamazoo Counties, Michigan listed as marrying Helen M. Baldwin on February 25, 1921. They were married by John L. Hollander, Judge of Probate, Kalamazoo County, Michigan. Ralph is listed as 21, a mechanic living in Brazil, Indiana and Helen is listed as 24, a stenographer living in Battle Creek, Michigan both had been married once before. X See last page.
Michigan law prohibits searching records and restricts searching indexes for births recorded less that 100 years ago. If Ralph had a child (or children) with Helen some family researcher in the future will have to record the event.
I, as yet, have not been able to find any record of divorce in either case, but am searching.
He appears, again in a marriage record, when on Saturday, July 26, 1924, he married Dortha Demaris Myers in Hamilton County, Indiana.
During the time span of approximately 4 ½ years, Ralph was married 3 times….I am checking Kentucky, Illinois and Ohio for records. It seems that he was on a roll and maybe was trying for a record of some sort.
-2-
I was unable to paste a Google map of Washington County here but I assume if you have an intrest, you can Google your own map.
#1 Salem. Amanda A. Rogers Shull, Ralph’s grandmother, is buried in Crown Hill Cemetery, Salem. Leonard and Emily J. Aton Shull, Ralph’s great grandparents are buried in Crown Hill Cemetery, Salem. Charles De Pauw, Ralph’s 3rd great grandfather, is buried in Crown Hill Cemetery, Salem. William Dawson Shull, Ralph’s grandfather, is buried in Mt. Zion Cemetery which is a few miles outside of Salem. Henry and Phoebe Aton, Ralph’s 2nd great grandparents, are buried in Peugh Cemetery which is located a few miles north of Salem, just off of 135.
#2 Claysville. William and Elizabeth Fletcher Lockhart, Ralph’s 2nd great grandparents, are buried near this town.
#3 Campbellsburg. Mary Elisabeth De Pauw Gabbert, Ralph’s 2nd great grandmother, is buried near this town.
-3-
#4 Saltillo. Jesse H. Lockhart, Ralph’s father, is buried near this town.
#5 Bono. Ralph and his family lived in this area for several years.
#6 Ft. Ritner. Ralph went to school in this area.
A Goggle search. All of the dates don’t match up for Ralph but this is the best that I could do.
36th Infantry. April 1917 stationed Ft. Clark, Texas. Assigned March 20, 1917 to 3rd Brigade, 1st Provisional Infantry Division. Moved to Ft. Snelling, Minnesota. Assigned to 23rd Infantry Brigade July 5, 1918: relieved from 12th Division January 31, 1919. Moved to Camp Devens, Massachusetts in August,1918.
73rd Infantry. Organized July 1918 at Camp Devens, Massachusetts and assigned to 23rd Infantry Brigade: Relieved from 12th Division and demobilized January 31, 1919, Camp Devens, Massachusetts.
Helen May Baldwin Lockhart, 2nd wife of Ralph, married Peter DeYoung on April 16, 1924 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. So, I assume there was a divorce from Ralph.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)