Finding my great-grandmother-in-law

Ancestry.com.uk made their UK records free this weekend, so I'm taking advantage of the opportunity to do more research on my husband's family. His grandfather was born in London, and since UK records are, quite frankly, rubbish - at least for the slums of Victorian London - it's been hard to track down more information about them.

Here are the facts we know about my great-grandmother-in-law:

• Her name was Annie Dyer Beaver, and her full name may have been Jane Ann or Ann Jane. This is common knowledge among her descendants.
• She was born in England (as all her U.S. census documents attest)
• There is a marriage registration for Ann Jane Dyer and Thomas Alfred Beaver, second quarter of 1899, in St. Giles, London.[1]
• In the 1901 UK Census, she was head of household, living with three of her husband's siblings (Albert J, 23, printer (I think - it's hard to read); William H., 18, copper plate printer; and Victoria H., 14). Her age is given as 31 (for a birth year of 1870), and her birth place as Clerkenwell (a region of central London).[2]
• She arrived, with her children, in the United States on Oct. 16, 1913, to join her husband, who was already working in Ohio. We have the passenger manifest from the ship Haverford, which docked in Philadelphia. She gives her age as 39 (which would mean a birth year of 1874), her husband's address as South Euclid, Ohio, and her nearest relative in England as "Mrs. Puleston" of 47 Arlington Rd., London. (Deciphering that name was, um, difficult. See below).[3]

OK, those are the basic facts. Several ancestry.com users have her in their family trees, and most put her birth year as 1877 in Lancashire, and her parents as George Dyer and Margaret Smith. I believe this is incorrect, and the result of the poor British records. There is a "Jane Ann Dyer" who shows up in a record search as the daughter of George and Margaret in Lancashire, born 1877. But the facts of this Ann's life don't fit those of "our" Annie.

First, Annie's 1901 census record clearly gives her birthplace as London (granted, it could be wrong), and her birth year as 1870 (making her 4 years older than her husband). Although she self-reported a later birth date in the passenger manifest (making herself 39 instead of 43, because no woman ever lies about being over 40!), in the 1920 census documents she gives her age as 50 [4]. She didn't record her age in the 1930 census, but she gave her age at first marriage (in 1899) as 29. Both of these records correspond to a birth year of 1870, not 1877.[5]

So is there another Annie Dyer, one born in 1870 in Clerkwell? The short answer is "no". However, there's a record for an Ann Jane Dyer, born Oct-Nov-Dec, 1869, in Holborn.[6] Holborn is very close to Clerkenwell, less than an mile away in central London. 

The next logical place to look, of course, is the UK Census for 1871. There is more than one Dyer family in London in 1871, but here is my best bet for the correct family: John Robert Dyer, 35, an electroplating worker born in Holborn, living in St. James Clerkenwell, with his wife Mary Ann, 35, who was born in Birmingham. Living in their household are son George, 13, born in St. Pancras; daughter Mary Ann, 11, born in Holborn; son John, 6, born in Holborn; daughter Clara, 4, born in Holborn; and daughter Ann, 1, born in St. Pancras.[7]

Clerkenwell Green and St. James's Church
Nothing proves that England and the U.S. are two nations divided by
a common language quite like the realization that anyone could call
this a "green"

First, a note about the locations. St. James parish in Clerkenwell, which is where the family was living in 1871, is the area around St. James Church of England, which is located in central London, NE of King's Cross Road (A201) and Clerkenwell Rd. The census was taken in the summer, so if Ann was born in the last quarter of 1869, she would still be one at the time of the census. Although the 1871 census says she was born in St. Pancras, and the birth record says she was born in Holborn, it is easy to see how, as an adult, she would have given her birth place as Clerkenwell, since apparently the family was living there when she was very young, and, as we will see, she lost her parents soon after. It's hard to know the exact location of St. Pancras (listed as Annie's place of birth in the 1871 census) relative to Holborn (where her birth was registered), because St. Pancras is no longer a separate political entity. It is, in fact, put together with Holborn in the UK Parliament, as the borough of Holborn-St. Pancras. I can only guess that, even at the time, a birth that took place in the parish of St. Pancras was registered in the civil registry of Holborn. 

47 Arlington Rd, London
Google Map Street View

I have a number of reasons to believe that John Robert and Mary Ann Dyer were the parents of Annie Dyer Beaver. Remember that on the passenger manifest of her immigration ship, Annie gave the name of her closest relative in England. The name was Mrs. Puleston of 47 Arlington Rd., London. Actually, the name was almost illegible. I read it as Pulcolow. However, the address was much more useful. According to the 1914 London City Directory, the resident of 47 Arlington Rd, London, was William Edwin Puleston.[8] The 1911 UK Census shows William Puleston, age 49, French Polisher, lived at 47 Arlington Road, St. Pancras, NW, with his wife, Clara, aged 44. Remember, the second daughter of John Robert and Mary Ann Dyer, in the 1871 census record above, was named Clara. She was 4 in 1871, which means she should be 44 in 1911, just like Clara Puleston. The Mrs. Puleston listed as Annie's closest relative, then, was probably her sister. Further corroboration of this comes from the marriage record for William Edwin Puleston and Clara Dyer, in Oct-Nov-Dec of 1886, in Lambeth, London.[9]

Further evidence that our Annie Dyer was the daughter of John Robert and Mary Ann Dyer comes from the 1891 Census, in which Ann J. Dyer, born in Clerkenwell, is listed as "sister" in the household of Henry R. Louch, 34, and his wife Mary Ann Louch, 31. Mary Ann was the name of the oldest daughter of John Robert and Mary Ann Dyer, and since she was 11 in 1871, she would have been 31 in 1891. Confirmation that this woman is indeed Ann J Dyer's sister (and that the census taker's handwriting was horrific) can be found in the marriage record for Mary Ann Dyer and Henry Robert Leach, in the winter of 1882.[10]

The most obvious next step would be to trace the Dyer family from the 1871 census to the 1881 census, but here we run into a common problem among the poverty-stricken families of London's Victorian slums: the family had split apart and the children were scattered. Where the parents were remains mystery. My best guess is that one or more of them died, and the children were divided out among relatives. There was a John Dyer, 44, electroplator, living at 43 Gloucester St., Holborn, in 1881. He was living with a wife named Fanny, their one-year old child Jessie, and two step-daughters aged 8 and 11.[11] This may be John Robert, Annie's father, and his new family. But where were the children of the previous marriage?

The oldest son, George, was out on his own, following his father's professional footsteps. George E. Dyer, 23, Electroplate Maker, was living in 1881 in St. Pancras, with his wife, Mary Anne Dyer, age 20.[12] The eldest daughter of John Robert was named Mary Anne Dyer, and she would have been around 20 in 1881. Since I can find no other Mary Anne Dyers in the 1881 census, I wonder if this census document erred in listing Mary Anne as George's wife, and if in fact she was his sister.

The second son, John, would have been 16 in 1881. There are two possible census records for him. One is a John Dyer, age 16, who's a patient in the Royal Naval Hospital, and gives his birth location as St. Pancras. Alternatively, there is a John A. Dyer, age 17, living and born in Shoreditch, with his younger sister, Emily, age 8.[13] I'm not sure which, if any, of these are our John Dyer. 

The second daughter, Clara, would have been 14 in 1881. The only plausible census entry is for a Clara Dyer, 14, born in Mile End, who lived in West Ham, 20 Leyton Rd., Albert Cot, with her grandparents Samuel Hersom, 53, and Elizabeth Hersom, 63, as well as another of the couple's granddaughters, Annie Hersom, aged 1. Samuel was born in Horsleydonn, Surrey, and Elizabeth was born in Clifton, Somerset. None of these birth places fit with Annie's mother, Mary Ann Dyer, who gave Birmingham as her birth place. Furthermore, I can't find any record of a Mary Ann Hersom married to a John Robert Dyer. Attempts to follow Samuel and Elizabeth Hersom into the past show no daughters of the correct age or name. This remains a possible lead to follow later. It would be exciting if we had some insight into Annie's mother's family! Unfortunately, it's entirely plausible that one or more of the Dyer children were just left out of the 1881 census, having dropped through the cracks, so to speak.

What about Annie herself? Where was she in 1881? I am fairly confident I have found her. There is an Annie Dyer, age 12, listed as "niece" to the head of the household, Sophia Ward, widow, age 38, living in 1 Huntley Place, Shoreditch. Sophia Ward gives her birthplace as Shoreditch, as well. A nephew, Thomas Dyer, aged 10, presumably a brother of Annie's, is also living in the household.[14] 

Huntley Street, London (Google street view)
This is the closest to the likely address I could find.
Number 1 is on the left in this picture.

I determined the name of Sophia Ward's deceased husband by looking at the 1871 census, which lists her as wife in the household of William Ward, 31, born St. Andrew's Middlesex, England, and living in Shoreditch.[15] There is a Sophia Dyer who married a William Thomas Ward in Shoreditch in 1862, which is about right for the birth year of their first child.[16] I'm guessing, therefore, that Sophia was Annie's paternal aunt.

But how do I know that the Sophia Dyer who married William Ward was the sister of John Robert Dyer? Unfortunately, I can't find that smoking gun document to prove the connection. However, I have a strong circumstantial case based on the names that John Robert and Sophia gave to their children. First, Sophia Ward's children, as listed in the 1881 census, are Edwin, Charles, Albert, and Eliza.[14] John Robert and Mary Ann Dyer's first son was named George, but he was christened George Edwin Dyer, born March 8, 1858, and christened May 2, 1858 in St. Anne, Soho, Westminster.[17] Their eldest daughter was named for her mother, Mary Ann, but their second daughter, Clara, was christened Clara Sophia Dyer.[18] And, of course, the two families both named a daughter Annie. 

I searched for John Robert and Sophia Dyer as young siblings in the 1851 census, but I was not successful. I did find a census record for a family living in St. Giles-in-the-fields, Middlesex (which, believe it or not, is in the middle of London). The family consists of Edwin (or Edward) Dyer, a bookmaker, his wife Sophia, and their children Anne, John, and Edwin. Edwin/Edward was born in Devonshire, and his wife was born in Suffolk. All of their children had been born in Middlesex. Each of the family names were also used by John Robert Dyer and Sophia Dyer Ward for their children. But young Sophia, who would have been around seven at the time of the census, is not listed as a member of the family. Could she have been living with another relative? Or do I have the wrong census record?[19]

To summarize, at this point I'd say with 99% certainty that Annie Dyer Beaver was the daughter of John Robert and Mary Anne Dyer. I have about 85% certainty that John Robert Dyer and Sophia Dyer Ward were the children of Edwin and Sophia Dyer. Someday, I hope, I'll be able to find some trace of Annie's mother's family.


Sources:
1. "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:269F-SYR : accessed 17 September 2015), Ann Jane Dyer, 1899; from “England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005,” database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Marriage, St. Giles, London, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.

2. "England and Wales Census, 1901," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X9D4-WGW : accessed 19 September 2015), Ann J Beaver, Islington, London, Middlesex, England; from "1901 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing Islington South East subdistrict, PRO RG 13, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.

3. "Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Passenger Lists, 1883-1945," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2379-QBL : accessed 17 September 2015), Annie Beaver, 1913; citing Immigration, NARA microfilm publication T840 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,402,621.

4. "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDBX-VXH : accessed 17 September 2015), Ann Jane D Beaver in household of Thomas A Beaver, Euclid, Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States; citing sheet 4A, family 92, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,821,374.

5. "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X4QF-KKW : accessed 17 September 2015), Ann Jane Beaver in household of Harley Brown, South Euclid, Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 0710, sheet 5A, family 115, line 27, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1788; FHL microfilm 2,341,522.

6. "England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2X7S-M46 : accessed 20 September 2015), Ann Jane Dyer, 1869; from "England & Wales Births, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Birth Registration, Holborn, London, England, citing General Register Office, Southport, England.

7. 1871 UK Census, Ancestry.com Class: RG10; Piece: 387; Folio: 4; Page: 2; GSU roll: 824620

8. http://specialcollections.le.ac.uk/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p16445coll4/id/112417/rec/13

9. "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2DD4-GDS : accessed 20 February 2016), William Edwin Puleston, 1886; from “England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005,” database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Marriage, Lambeth, London, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.

10. "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2DTH-LL9 : accessed 20 February 2016), Mary Ann Dyer, 1882; from “England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005,” database, findmypast(http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Marriage, St. Giles, London, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.

11. Class: RG11; Piece: 337; Folio: 68; Page: 32; GSU roll: 1341073. Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1881 England Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.

12. Class: RG11; Piece: 321; Folio: 132; Page: 32; GSU roll: 1341069. Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1881 England Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.

13. Class: RG11; Piece: 390; Folio: 15; Page: 23; GSU roll: 1341084. Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1881 England Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.

14. England and Wales Census, 1881," database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK6T-HFD5 : accessed 22 February 2016), Sophia Ward, Shoreditch, London,Middlesex, England; from "1881 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing p. 29, Piece/Folio 399/109, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 101,774,255.

 15. "England and Wales Census, 1871", database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VRJX-296 : accessed 20 February 2016), Sophia Ward in entry for William Ward, 1871.

16. "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2DVS-JTQ : accessed 20 February 2016), William Thomas Ward, 1862; from “England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005,” database, findmypast(http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Marriage, Shoreditch, London, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.

17. "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JWXR-HRS : accessed 22 February 2016), John Robert Dyer in entry for George Edwin Dyer, 02 May 1858; citing , reference ; FHL microfilm 918,608.

18. England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915, FreeBMD, Ancestry.com Operations Inc

19. Class: HO107; Piece: 1508; Folio: 103; Page: 68; GSU roll: 87842 Ancestry.com. 1851 England Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.

James Dean. No, not the cool one.

In Deans in a Nutshell, I summarized the straight patronymic line of Deans from central Pennsylvania in the mid-1700s down to my great-grandfather. The post was a bit misleading, though, in the tone of certainty with which I discussed James Dean, the founder of our line in the Americas.

The truth is, while we have lots of documentary evidence tracing the Dean line from the present day back to Abraham Dean (1763-1806), our knowledge of his father is sketchy. I was inspired by the impressive genealogical work of Larry Dean (probably not a relation, but who knows!) to combine his knowledge of 18th century Pennsylvania Deans - laid out in this on-line essay - with the few bits of information I have gleaned from other sources, to try and clarify our relationship to the various Deans who were running around the Appalachians at the time.

I started my search with one assumption: while the name James is frustratingly common, the name Abraham is more unique. Therefore, any Abraham Dean on record in central Pennsylvania in the late 18th century was - in all likelihood - "our" Abraham Dean. I then worked back from known records of Abraham to try and identify his father and other relatives.

First, some facts about Abraham Dean:

Abraham Dean's Tombstone
In the Dean Cemetery in South Salem, Ross County, Ohio

Abraham Dean was born around 1763; his tombstone says he was 43 in 1806. We know this tombstone belongs to "our" Abraham Dean because he was buried next to Hannah Baird Dean (his daughter-in-law) and James Harvey Dean (his grandson).

Abraham died in South Salem, Ross County, Ohio. However, there are multiple secondary sources that tell us Abraham originally came from Pennsylvania. For example, a book on the history of Polk County, Iowa, published in 1890, wrote of Abraham's son, "John Stuart Dean, deceased, was born in Lancaster County, Pa, August 9, 1797, and closed a busy and useful life, December 21, 1872." (1)

Today Lancaster County, PA, is southeast of Harrisburg. However, in 1797, it was a much larger area. Primary documents suggest Abraham settled near modern-day Alexandria, PA, which is in Huntingdon County. Huntingdon County was created from Bedford County in 1787. Bedford County was created from Cumberland County in 1771. And Cumberland County was created out of Lancaster County in 1750. Either John was born farther east than his father later settled, or the shifting county lines hadn't been remembered twenty years and two states after his death.

Primary documentation confirms the family lived in Pennsylvania before moving to Ohio around 1800. These documents include:

1. Abraham's children's birthplaces, listed in their census records. In 1850, for example, James Stewart Dean, John's older brother, stated he was born in Pennsylvania(2).
2. The name Abraham Dean is found only twice in the 1790 census. One of those Abraham Deans is in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. The other is in Maine. (3) 
3. An Abraham Dean was issued a land warrant on September 2, 1784, for an area in Franklin Township, north of the Little Juniata River (near modern-day Alexandria, PA). This purchase would have been made when he was 21, just as he was coming of age (4)
4. In 1788, Huntingdon County's tax records show Abraham Dean paid  £10 on 2 horses and 1 head of cattle (5). 
5. In June of 1789, Abraham Dean served as a juror at a Court of General Quarter Sessions of the Peace held at Huntingdon(6). 
6.  In 1798, the United States Direct Tax in Huntingdon County listed Abraham Dean as the owner of 395 acres at the headwaters of Shavers and Standing Stone Creeks (about 10-15 miles NE of Alexandria, PA). Two other Deans are listed as living at those same headwaters, and there are no other families there. Those Deans are James and Robert.

Secondary sources back up the primary sources. In a history of central Pennsylvania, I found this quote: "Continuing down the creek [Spruce Creek, which is north of Alexandria] we find next Abraham Dean's tract at the Great Falls, called Mexico, the warrant for which was issued Sept. 2, 1784. From this tract to near the mouth of the creek, which was then called the East Branch of the Little Juniata, the best land had been taken up by speculators in 1766."(8)

So Abraham Dean was in central Pennsylvania, near modern-day Alexandria, in the late 1700s. But who was his father? Who were his other family members? There were a number of Deans living in that area, were they all kin?

Abraham's name is directly linked in the primary sources to only two individuals: James Dean and William Dean.


The Connection Between Abraham and James Dean

Abraham and James Dean were listed next to each other in the 1790 census (3), suggesting they were neighbors. Unfortunately, that first census only listed the name of the head of household and ages/sexes of other household members. So, all we know about James Dean is that his household consisted of 3 boys younger than 16, 1 man older than 16 (himself) and 4 women/girls. Abraham's household, at the same time, consisted of one boy younger than 16, two men older than 16, and two women/girls. Abraham's surviving children were all born after 1790 - he may not have been married yet in 1790 - so it is not clear who the other members of his household were.

James Dean appears on the tax records of what is now Huntingdon County much earlier than Abraham Dean. Abraham bought his land in 1784, but James is first listed as paying taxes in Barree Township in 1774, as well as in 1775, 1776, and 1779 (5). Barree Township in Huntingdon County is about 10 miles NE of Alexandria, PA. James, then, is older than Abraham. We can assume there is some family relationship, since they owned land close together, but is James Abraham's father? An older brother? We cannot tell for certain on the basis of the primary sources alone, but secondary sources and family naming patterns suggest that James was Abraham's father.

First, a note about naming conventions: Scotch-Irish families frequently followed a standard naming tradition, in which the first-born son was named for his paternal grandfather, the second-born for his maternal grandfather, and the third for his father. The next sons, if there were any, were often named for a paternal uncle, then a maternal uncle, etc., etc. Daughters followed a similar convention: the first-born daughter was named for her maternal grandmother, the next for her paternal grandmother, and the third for her mother. Maternal and paternal aunts' names could follow (9).

Not everyone followed these rules to the letter, but Abraham's first-born son was named James, and therefore that was likely Abraham's father's name, as well.

We also have significant evidence that James Dean was the father of Margery Dean Canan. Margery Dean Canan married Col. John Canan, who later became a prominent Pennsylvanian businessman and politician. Because Canan was well-known, his life was somewhat better documented than other citizens of that time and place. Therefore, we know that he was married in 1775, meaning Margery had to have been born at or before 1760, at the latest.  Since Abraham was born in 1763, this makes Margery the correct age to be his sister.

The James Dean who was Margery Dean Canan's father was clearly the same James Dean who lived in Huntingdon County in the last quarter of the 1700s. The primary evidence connecting John Canan and James Dean is as follows:

1. As I mentioned in a previous blog post, the 1784 journal of James Harris, surveyor, mentions drinking cider "with Mr. Canan at Mr. Mitchell's and Mr. Dean's his father-in-law." In the same journal entry, he mentions his assistant taking a horse to Warrior's Mark that evening. Warrior's Mark is less than ten miles NE of Alexandria, PA. A William Mitchell, possibly the Mr. Mitchell of the journal entry, is listed in the 1790 census on the page before James and Abraham Dean (3).

2. Larry Dean records a Canan family bible that listed a number of deaths, including those of John and Margery Canan. Only one Dean was mentioned in that bible: James Dean, who died in November of 1795. 

Secondary sources and naming conventions support the contention that James Dean was the father of Margery Dean Canan. A biography of their grandson, S. Dean Canan, published in 1907 stated that  "He [John Canan] married, in 1775, Margery Dean, born 1760, died 1815, daughter of James and Catherine Dean, both natives of Ireland, and married after their arrival in America." (10). John and Margery named their second son James (as would be expected for a second son who was named after his maternal grandfather), and their first daughter Catherine (again, as expected, if that was the name of Margery's mother.)

If James Dean is Margery Dean Canan's father, then the ages of James, Margery, and Abraham suggest that James was the father of Margery and Abraham. There is some support for this in the names Abraham gave his children. His two oldest children are James and Catherine, and his third daughter was named Margery.

I mentioned before that Abraham's name is linked in primary documents with a man named William Dean. There were a number of Dean men documented in Central Pennsylvania in the late 1700s, but there's so much material to cover, those relationships will have to wait for another post.

References:

(1) "Portrait and Biographical Album of Polk County, Iowa", 1890, p. 428, (https://archive.org/stream/portraitbiograph08chic#page/428/mode/2up)] 

(2). United States Census, 1850," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MX7S-R6B : accessed 1 June 2015), James Dean, Buckskin, Ross, Ohio, United States; citing family 2812, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

(3) "United States Census, 1790," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHKJ-8MR : accessed 17 July 2015), James Dean, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, United States; citing p. , NARA microfilm publication , (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll ; FHL microfilm .

(4) History of the Early Settlement of the Juniata Valley by U. J. Jones, published by Floyd G. Hoenstine, Holidaysburg, Pennsylvania

(5) The Pennsylvania Archives Third Series, Vol. 22

(6) Source: Extracts from Court Quarter Sessions, 1789-1795, Huntingdon County, PA,http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/huntingdon/othcourt/1789-1795-court.txt

(8) "History of Huntingdon and Blair Counties, Pennsylvania", by J. Simpson Africa, p. 329, 

(9) http://www.johnbrobb.com/Content/TheScottishOnomasticPattern.pdf

(10) "History of Cambria County Pennsylvania, volume 3", by Henry Wilson Storey, p.64

(11) Allegheny Co., PA will book #1, page 10, FHL #0858898

LeFebvres in Minneapolis

I went to a doctor's appointment in the Twin Cities today, and I took the opportunity to drop in at St. Mary's cemetery in South Minneapolis, to find the graves of my great-great-grandparents, Leon LeFebvre dit Boulanger (1848-1918) and Obeline (sometimes Ombeline) Blouin (1848-1926)

Leon and Obeline were born in adjacent very small farming towns, about 15 miles southeast of Quebec City. They were married in 1870 in Sherbrooke, a town east of Montreal, near the Maine border. I don't know why they were there. After their marriage, they moved to Lewiston, Maine, a major mill town. The French-Canadian population was booming at the time, and the first French Catholic church, St. Peter's, was built there in 1872. Leon and Obeline worshiped there, and it was there that their children were baptized.

In 1882, they moved to Minneapolis. Leon was a carpenter, and in the 1900 census his occupation is listed as "millwright". Presumably he moved to Minneapolis for more work or better pay. Although the family mostly used their "Boulanger" name while in Maine, in Minneapolis they used "LeFebvre", which is the name that has continued down through most of their children's children.

In the 1900 census, Obeline reported being the mother of eight children, only four of whom were still living. One of these was my great-grandmother, Dora LeFebvre Cunningham.

With no further ado, some pictures of their graves:

This is the shared tombstone for Leon and Obeline. As far as I can tell, none of their children are buried nearby, but I haven't checked all of the names yet.

A close-up so you can see the inscription. It says "Leon Lefebvre 1848-1918 Obeline Lefebvre 1848-1928"

An overview of the cemetery where they are buried. That's their tombstone just left of center. It really is a lovely area, although the dirty, melting snow at the tail end of a January thaw doesn't do it justice.

If you go to St. Mary's you may find yourself wondering, as I did, "where, in this giant cemetery, are the graves I'm looking for?" I took this screenshot of the map on my phone while I was standing at the grave. the blue dot marks the spot.

Ancestors in the Virginia Muster

Haven't been able to find a source for this image, which is found all over the internet.
I'm assuming it now longer is under copyright.

The original Jamestown expedition was an economic outpost, rather than a settlement. The first fort was established in 1607 by the Virginia Company of London. Its mission was to extract as much wealth as possible from Virginia, either through mining, cash crops, or other resources. Unsurprisingly, the company had problems from the start. Men whose primary raison d'etre was to make money had no interest in grubbing in the dirt to grow food, and although the original fort was placed on unwanted land, as the company expanded fields for tobacco, the English more and more came into conflict with the local political authority, Powhatan.

Powhatan reasonably assumed that any settlement placed on his lands, with his permission, was under his political authority. In fact, the story of John Smith being "saved" by Powhatan's daughter Matoaka (aka Pocahontas) was likely a ceremony (misunderstood by Smith) during which the English offered fealty to Powhatan. The frequent conflicts between the English and the Powhatan Confederacy reached a head in March 1622, when about one third of the English were killed in a highly successful attack on the plantations and villages surrounding Jamestown. That March battle was the closest the English came to being driven from Virginia, but the early years of Jamestown were tough on the English in many ways. Nearly half of the English population died between 1607-1622.

In the aftermath of the 1622 disaster (or success, depending on one's perspective), the Crown decided to take over from the Virginia Company and make Jamestown a royal colony. This was the first American lesson in the folly of choosing free-enterprise over a centralized government. (Almost 400 years later, I'm not sure we've fully learned the lesson.)(1)

As part of the transition to royal colony, the king and privy council demanded a census of all people and goods in Jamestown. This 1624/25 document is known as the Virginia Muster.  Those who appear in its pages are truly Virginia's first families (from a European perspective, at least).

I've blogged before about my Hancock line. Although some of the Hancocks go back to early Huguenot settlement in the area,  others lead back to the original English settlement. Two families of Hancock ancestors appear on the Virginia Muster(2):

Thomas and Adria Harris: Thomas and Adria lived in Neck-of-Land, Charles Cittie, with a girl of 7, Ann Woodlase, who was "theire kinswoman". They also had a 15 year old servant named Elizabeth, who had arrived on the Margaret and John in 1620. Thomas was 38 and arrived on the ship Prosperous. His wife had arrived November 1621, on the Marmaduke. Her maiden name was probably Hoare (they appear to have married after she arrived). Thomas and Adria owned two houses, a boat, 11 pounds of powder, 2 pounds lead, 3 "piece fixed" (some kind of gun), a sword, and a coat of mail. They also had, at the time of the census (which was taken January 24, 1624/5), 7.5 bushels of corn, 1 bushel of peas, 11 cattle (young and old), and 30 poultry.

Thomas and Adria's daughter, Mary, married Thomas Lignon (whose status as a "gateway ancestor" I blogged about previously). Their daughter, Johana Lignon, was the wife of Robert Hancock, the first of our Hancock ancestors born in Virginia.


William Coxe (or Cox): William Coxe was 12 years old when he arrived in Jamestown on the Godspeed, June 10, 1610. He was with the party of Thomas West, Third Lord De La Warr (for whom Delaware was later named). Lord De La Warr's brother had married an Elizabeth Coxe, daughter of Sir Henry Coxe of Broxburne, Hertfordshire, so it's assumed William was part of that family, although the exact relationship is not known. At the time of the muster, he was in the household of Thomas Bouldinge in Elizabeth City. At the time, Thomas Bouldinge was a man of 40, with a house, a palisade, and quite a lot of stored food. It's not clear if William was his servant, relative, or had some other role in the household. In addition to William Coxe, Thomas Bouldinge's household included Richard Edwards, aged 23, and Niccolas Dale, aged 20. Thomas's wife was already dead, but his son, William, born in Virginia, was part of the household. It appears William Coxe returned to England at least once, and then came back to Virginia before claiming land in the Arrowhattocks area.

William's great-great-granddaughter, Jane Cox, married Francis Hopkins. Their daughter, Patsy Hopkins, married John Walden. And their daughter, Harriet Walden, was the wife of Justus Hancock, and mother of Ammon Goode Hancock.


Although he didn't appear in the Virginia Muster, it's worth noting one more family connection to Jamestown, this time through the Kinney line. Stephen Hopkins was one of our Mayflower ancestors. Although he ended up at Plymouth, he was in Jamestown from 1610-1614, under John Smith. This experience proved valuable to the early colonists of Massachusetts.

References:
(1) There are a number of excellent sources on the history of Jamestown. I recently read (and recommend) a more general history of Native/Colonist conflict in the early English colonies. Weidensaul, Scott. 2012. The First Frontier: The Forgotten History of Struggle, Savagery, and Endurance in Early America. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

(2) All genealogical material comes from John Frederick Dorman's book, Adventurers of Purse and Person, 5th edition. Published in 2004 by Genealogy Press.

The genetic legacy of Appolonia Baker Stoecklein

Appolonia Baker Stoecklein
She looks young, and I wonder if she's pregnant
in this picture, perhaps with her first child, Cody.
Photo credit: Annabelle Leyes Clinger

My last post was about Appolonia Baker Stoecklein and her family background. I've been thinking about her recently because I'm grappling with her genetic legacy: gallbladder problems, and in particular, cancers of the biliary and digestive system (Spoiler: I don't have cancer!)

Appolonia died at the age of 41, after suffering for four years from an unknown disease. We don't know what that disease was - it could have been TB or MS - but if I had to guess, I'd say she died from some type of biliary cancer. Her descendants, certainly, have a sad history of succumbing to it. This type of medical history, in fact, is one of the practical applications of genealogy. It can be used for research on the genetic component of biliary cancers, and also as advanced warning for relatives.

What, exactly, is this family history?

First generation:

• Appolonia Baker Stoecklein died in 1895 after four years from an unknown wasting disease, possibly (although it is unproven) cancer. Age 41.

Second generation: Appolonia had three daughters.

• Her eldest, Cora Stoecklein, died of "stomach cancer" (no more specific information is available) in 1961, age 85. 
• Her youngest, Irene Stoecklein Leyes (my direct maternal line great-grandmother) died of gallbladder cancer that spread to her liver, in 1967, age 76. 
• Appolonia's middle daughter, Betty, died of a stroke.

Third generation: Appolonia had one granddaughter and one grandson.

• My maternal grandmother, Mary Jane Leyes Cunningham, died of gallbladder cancer that spread to the liver and other organs, in 1972, age 56. 
• Her brother, Bill, died of lung cancer, unrelated to the biliary system

Fourth generation: Appolonia has seven great-grandaughters and two great-grandsons (I won't give the names for privacy reasons). Joyfully, all but one member of this generation are still alive. 

• My own mother had her gallbladder removed at the age of 27 after developing gallstones during her first pregnancy. The surgeon found no signs of cancer. 
• Sadly, my mother's first cousin died of bile duct cancer in 2013, at the age of 46.

Fifth generation: 11 male and 10 female descendants. I'm one of the older ones, and one of the few to have reached the "danger zone" of middle age (I'm 42). Although I've known since I was quite young that I needed to watch for signs of gallbladder stones, it wasn't until December that I first experienced the classic symptoms of a gallstone attack. I quickly made a doctor's appointment and presented the family history above, at which time the medical-industrial complex swung into high gear. (The doctors were pretty bowled over by the family history. They hadn't seen anything like it.) Because of the cancer risk, I had my gallbladder removed at the nearest big city research hospital, where they could remove it without rupturing it, rush it to pathology to check for cancer while I was still on the operating table, and then - if necessary - remove part of my liver and bile ducts if it turned out I had cancer.

I am very happy to say that the surgery went as well as possible, and I have no signs of cancer. I did, however, have two huge gallstones (one was 3.5cm long!), and the surgeon assures me I'll feel much better once I've healed. Now that I've done more research on gallstone symptoms, I realize that I've been feeling their effects for years, I just hadn't recognized the low-level and constant pain in my side and back as "gallbladder problems" as opposed to "back pain" or "acid reflex" or other issues. I'm very grateful to have this problem taken care of before it could become worse.


To summarize, of the six deceased individuals who are direct descendants of Appolonia Stoecklein, four of them died of cancers of the gallbladder, liver, "stomach", or bile system (all closely related organs). There is clearly a genetic component here, but what is it? It is unlikely to be a simple Mendelian trait, but rather a suite of multiple genes that create high risk for her descendants. The good news, then, is that a suite of genes is likely diluted with each generation.

Lynch Syndrome is one possible hereditary link to bile duct cancers. This syndrome was mentioned to my cousin and her sisters, when she was diagnosed with bile duct cancer. To say someone has "Lynch Syndrome" is to say they carry a dominant variant of one (or more) of five genes. These variants are associated with high risk for colon cancer, in particular, but also pancreas, endomitrium, and liver. These risks can be insanely high (much higher than usual when we say someone has a genetic risk for a particular cancer). For example, individuals have a 52-82% lifetime risk of colorectal cancer, with a mean age diagnosis of 44-61 years, and 30% of individuals are diagnosed before age 40(1). We'll know more about my particular Lynch Syndrome genes soon, but our family history differs from Lynch Syndrome in that most Lynch Syndrome cancers are associated with the colon, pancreas, endometrium, and ovaries. We do not seem particularly prone to cancer in those organs, but rather related organs, such as the liver and gallbladder.

The genes particularly associated with a high risk for bile duct cancer are only now being identified, although initial work suggests they aren't the same genes as those associated with Lynch Syndrome(3). Gallbladder cancer, in particular, is extremely rare, so little research has been done on its heritability. Most gallbladder cancer is caused by gallstones. The constant irritation of the organ by the stones can lead to out-of-control cell growth. Once possibility, then, is that Appolonia Stoecklein handed down genes that made her descendants more likely to develop gallstones, and in particular large gallstones, which are more highly correlated to cancer(2). Certainly, a combination of Lynch Syndrome genes, plus genes associated with the growth of large gallstones, could account for the particular patterns of cancer seen in our family.

As I said, we'll know more soon. I received a personal gene testing kit for Christmas, and the results are due any time now. I look forward to delving into the full data and seeing what I can find. In the meantime, I'd urge any descendants of Appolonia Stoecklein to consult with a doctor to schedule periodic scans of their liver and gallbladder. These are silent cancers, and by the time you're aware of the problem, it can be too late.



References:
(1) Kohlman, Wendy, and Stephen Gruber. 2014. Lynch Syndrome. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1211/
(2) Lowenfels, A.B., et al. 1989. Gallstone Growth, Size, and Risk of Gallbladder Cancer: An Interracial Study. International Journal of Epidemiology 18:50-54. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2722383
(3) Maroni, Luca, et al. 2013. The Significance of Genetics for Cholangiocarcinoma Development. Annals of Translational Medicine Oct: 28. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4200671/

Appolonia Baker Stoecklein

Photo from Mike Cunningham

My plan for the ancestral biosketches was to jump between family lines (that is, one from my mom's side, then one from my dad's side), but I find myself thinking about Appolonia Baker Stoecklein recently. Although my last biosketch was about her husband, John T. Stoecklein, I'm going to write a short sketch of what we know about her family for this week's post.

Appolonia died quite young, at the age of 41. Because her children had few memories of her, they weren't able to pass down much family lore. In fact, we didn't know her full name or anything about her birth family, which, as far as I know, had little contact with her children after she passed away.

I discussed her married life, children, and death in my post on her husband. Other than a few photographs handed down through the family, I have only public documents to shed light on her early life. Luckily, the name Appolonia is unusual enough that she can be easily traced, despite her common maiden name, which was Baker or Becker. Originally, the name was probably Baker with an umlaut over the a, and this got transliterated various ways in English-language documents. Baker is closer to the original spelling, but Becker is closer to the original pronunciation.

Appolonia Baker/Becker was the daughter of Casper and Anna Maria Baker. Casper Baker was born March 18, 1822, according to his tombstone, and his wife was born Feb 2, 1826(1). In census documents, they both list their birthplace as Saxony. Place names in Germany are difficult to interpret. The same town and region names can be used for a variety of different locations, and, of course, the boundaries of those regions could change over time. Saxony, in the period 1820-1860, most likely referred either to the Kingdom of Saxony (an independent member of the German Confederation that included the major cities of Dresden and Leipzig) or the Province of Saxony (a somewhat less coherent region annexed by Prussia and including areas that had previously been part of the Kingdom of Saxony, such as Wittenberg, but also Magdeburg, Halberstadt, and parts of the former territories of Brandenberg and Erfurt.) Where, exactly, Casper and Anna were from is unknown, but my best guess is that they were from the Kingdom of Saxony rather than the Province, since they would have been more likely to give their nation of birth as Prussia in the later case. On the other hand, the areas annexed by Prussia, particularly Upper Lusatia which used to be part of Brandenberg, had much higher Roman Catholic populations, and the Bakers were clearly Catholic, since they are buried in the Catholic Calvary cemetery in Dayton.

So far, I've given Appolonia's mother's name as "Anna Maria", but in fact, her name is a bit of a mystery. In the 1850 census, she is listed as "Mary Baker", 24, of Germany(2). In 1860, she is "Anna M. Becker" of Saxony, age 35(3). In the 1870 census, Casper's wife's name is given as Elizabeth, 41, from Saxony(4). In 1880, she's back to being "Mary Baker", born in Germany, aged 54(5). On her tombstone in Calvary Cemetery, her name is given as Anna M. Becker(1). Her name was probably Anna Maria, since German naming practices tended to give child a more formal first name and a less formal second name. Either one could be used in official documents, particularly in the United States. I'm not sure why she was called Elizabeth in the 1870 census. One possibility is that the 1870 census was mistake (perhaps a neighbor gave the information). This would explain why her age is incorrect in that census, as well. Alternatively, her full name was Anna Maria Elisabeta. 

Anna Maria's maiden name is unknown. On her son Casper's death certificate, it is listed as "Derorph", but I can find no records of this name in the U.S. or Germany. The name may have been imperfectly known by Casper's daughter (who was the source for the information on his death certificate), or it may have been poorly written by the clerk. I can only guess that her maiden name was actually something like Dierdorf.

Appolonia had a number of siblings recorded in the censuses of 1860 and 1870. All were born in Ohio, suggesting her parents were married in the U.S., or moved to the U.S. very soon after marriage, and that they arrived before 1849. The recorded children of Casper and Anna Baker are:

• Mary E. (1849)
• Casper (1852)
• Appolonia (1854)
• Joseph (1856)
• Louis (1858)
• Anne (1859)
• Louisa (1860)
• Katy (1862)
• Emma (1865)

We know from the 1860 census, when Appolonia was 6 years old, that she and her family lived in the fourth ward of Dayton, Ohio. The fourth ward, defined in 1829, was "Bounded on the north by a line running due east from the river to the south line of Market Street and along that line to Jefferson Street; thence north to Third Street, and along Third Street to the corporation line; on the south by Fifth Street, and on the east by the corporation line."(6).  

According to the 1870 census, Casper was a stone cutter. He is also listed as such in a number of city directories. The oldest daughter, Mary, worked as a cigar maker, and the oldest son, Casper, was a shoe maker. Appolonia, 16, was living at home, her occupation listed as "helps mother". Two years later, she married. She would have been around 18 years old.

This was in a Stoecklein family album, so there must have
been some contact between the families.
Photograph from Mike Cunningham

Although Appolonia herself died young, in 1895, a number of her family members would have been in Dayton throughout the childhood of her own orphaned children. Her mother did not die until 1905, for example. I was not able to trace all of Appolonia's siblings, but her eldest brother, Casper Jr., was a shoemaker in Dayton. His wife, Barbara, and his children, Ralph and Carrie, lived in Dayton their whole lives. His married daughter, Daisy Baker Breen, was there at least part of her life.

Similarly, Appolinia's youngest sister, Emma, married Frederick Toby. She was widowed rather young, but lived in Dayton with her children, Frederick Toby and Florence Toby Plummer, (and later her orphaned grandson, Marvin Plummer) until 1950. Part of that time she lived with her sister, Katy Baker, and her sister's daughter, Beatrice Baker Poling. (As a side note, as far as I can tell, Beatrice was illegitimate.) Katy moved to New York in the 1920s with her daughter's family, but would have been in Dayton during the formative years of Appolonia's children.

Louisa Baker married Joseph Bennett, and she also lived in Dayton for her whole life. She had at least three children: Charles Bennett, Corrie Mountjoy, and Henrietta Geiger.

Do any of the Stoecklein descendants recognize these names? Was there ever contact between these Baker descendants and Appolonia's children or grandchildren?

To me, personally, the most pertinent legacy of Appolonia Baker Stoecklein is in her genetic contribution to subsequent generations, but that is a topic for another post, coming soon.

References:
1 - ↑ http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=56952586&PIpi=100987812
2 - "United States Census, 1850," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MX3W-6GM : accessed 31 January 2015), Casper Baker, Dayton, ward 5, Montgomery, Ohio, United States; citing family 3261, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
3 - 1860 census
4 - "United States Census, 1870," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M6L8-NHY : accessed 31 January 2015), Joseph Baker in household of Casper Baker, Ohio, United States; citing p. 88, family 746, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 552,748.
5 - "United States Census, 1880," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M8S3-62R : accessed 15 January 2015), Casper Baker, Dayton, Montgomery, Ohio, United States; citing enumeration district 159, sheet 331D, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 1051; FHL microfilm 1,255,051.
6 - http://www.daytonhistorybooks.com/page/page/3428681.htm

Hancocks in their own words

I mentioned in my biographical sketch of Ammon Goode Hancock that he had written a petition to then-President Johnson asking for an official pardon for, essentially, being rich while in the Confederacy. I wanted to post a transcription of that petition, and this seems like a good time to also post the contents of a couple of letters written to Ammon's wife, Charlotte Hewitt Hancock, by her nephews, during the Civil War. Without any further ado, here are the Hancocks (and Hewitts) in their own words...

Lynchburg, Va, in 1875

To his Excellency Andrew Johnson, President of the United States of America.

The Petition of Ammon G. Hancock, of the City of Lynchburg and State of Virginia, respectfully represents:

That he is a native of the County of Bedford, Va, is fifty years of age and has been a resident of said city for the last twenty years, engaged in the business of buying and selling Tobacco. He has at no held (sp.) time held any political office and [illegible] of any kind except that of Justice of the Peace for the County of Campbell. He has had no connection with the army of the Confederacy in any way or held any position of profit or trust under its government. He was not aware that he had subjected himself to any penalties by any thing he has done or omitted during the Rebellion. He accepted the overthrow of the Confederacy as an accomplished fact after the surrender of Genl. Lee, and designed to embrace the first opportunity of declaring his allegiance to the Government of the United States. Accordingly on the 26th of May last, he took the amnesty oath under the Proclamation of President Lincoln of the 8th of Dec. 1863, and supposed that by so doing he was re-instated to all his rights and immunities as a loyal citizen of the United States. He promised, if he had incurred penalties, that amnesty was afforded by the bona fide taking of that oath and meeting the obligations imposed by it – which he honestly intended [intends?] to do.

But he is advised, that being the owner of more than $20,000 worth of taxable property, it is safer for him to obtain, by special applications to your Excellency, a warrant of Pardon, so as to assure him in his rights of property and enable him to peaceably to enjoy it. As a condition precedent, he is willing to [illegible] all right and title to the slaves heretofore owned by him and let them at liberty.

The premices (sp.) considered, your Petitioner respectfully asks your Excellency to grant him a special warrant of Pardon under the provision of the Proclamation of the 19th of May last, so that in all things he may be fully restored to his rights and immunities as a loyal citizen of the United States.

And as in duty, etc., etc.

A.G. Hancock
Of the City of Lynchburg
17th day of June 1865



Letter from Virgil Hewitt to Charlotte Hewitt Hancock. Virgil was the third son of Robert Hewitt, Charlotte Hewitt Hancock's brother, and his wife (and first cousin) Elizabeth Chastain. Robert and Elizabeth Hewitt settled in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, where Charlotte's father had moved long before the war. He was a well-educated man who ran a school and the family was prominent in Kentucky. We have letters preserved from three of the four sons. This one is from Virgil, who served with General Helm in the first year of the war, He was promoted to first lieutenant and adjutant to the Sixth Kentucky regiment in October of 1863. He fought at Murfreesboro, Jackson, Chickamauga, Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, and then was wounded in Dallas, Georgia during the Atlanta Campaign (May 26, 1864). He returned to fight at the battle of Intrenchment Creek, another battle for Atlanta at the end of July, but was so severely wounded there that he was out for the remainder of the war.

Camp near Tyners Station(1)
October 30, 1863

My dear Aunt,

You must always look over any delay in answering your letters, for a soldier's life, as you are aware, is decidedly wandering and uncertain. Your kind and interesting letter came to hand after the Battle of Chickamauga. It would have been answered immediately but we were bivouacking around Chattanooga with no tents or shelter or any baggage whatever with us. We were of course entirely devoid of any materials for writing.

We are now very comfortably fixed, having some fires to protect us from the weather. It is now pouring down rain. The pattering of the rain upon the tent has a dreary, lonely sound and makes me sick for home and its comforts. Such longings are vain and fruitless of course and I always dismiss them from my mind but it is perfectly natural that one should long for home occasionally, but oft as we are from the pleasures of ladies' society and their refining influences. I know you would be shocked at my behavior were I to visit you now, for one almost becomes a savage from associating with none but soldiers for eighteen months. I think that with your good teaching and kind influence I would soon become civilized and presentable to ladies. Do you not think so? I wish I could have an opportunity of being trained by you for a month or so. It would be quite pleasant to me.

Battle of Chickamauga by Kurtz and Allison

The Battle of Chickamauga was bloody and decisive. It was a complete and utter rout of the enemy. The fight lasted two days - Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th. On Saturday our Brigade was posted on extreme left of our line and was engaged in attracting the attention of the enemy whilst the main attack was made on the right. There is something grand and sublime in an artillery fight. The cannon belching forth, every discharge a perfect hail of shell and shot, carrying death along with it, whilst the thundering report echoed and re-echoed among the neighboring mountains. Whilst we were in the midst of the fight we received orders to march to the extreme right. This was about 4p.m. We immediately withdrew and proceeded as ordered. As we neared the right wing of our army the deadly war of rocketry and the wounded coming to the rear told us plainly that a terrible conflict was then progressing and that each volley sent a spirit back to its creator. Oh, how solemn a scene is a battle field. To think that every second an immortal soul wings its flight to an unknown and untried reality [illegible]. It is sad, sad, sad. It was dark when we arrived upon the battle field. As we marched we passed hospital after hospital of our wounded and met them in large numbers hobbling off the field. It was really amusing to hear their replies to questions asked by our boys as we passed. One fellow in particular I remember - a tall, strapping fellow - was limping to the rear. I asked him if he was wounded, to which he replied in the negative. I then asked him what was the matter. In a very piteous tone he informed me that he had been knocked down by a bomb. The tale was so ridiculous that I burst out laughing right there - the idea of a man being knocked down by a bomb shell and not wounded. I knew immediately that he was scared.

We built large fires that night for the air was very chilly. Ere retiring for our bed upon Mother Earth, Fayette(2) came from Headquarters to see me. We talked a short time and parted about 10. No one can imagine one's feelings upon retiring to bed at night upon a battle field with the certainty of a desperate conflict on the morrow. The heavers were filled with bright starts which seemed to look solemnly down upon the bloody scene. I gazed upward at them and wondered if I would have the pleasure of doing likewise on tomorrow night. Then my mind sped away to loved ones at home. Oh, what a pleasure to sit by Ma's side tonight with my head resting on her lap whilst I gazed into those eyes which so often beamed upon me with a mother's love. Such a pleasure would certainly make me strong for the conflict tomorrow. Then I saw her kneeling in prayer as she retired and I knew she was praying for her absent sons. With such thoughts as these floating through my mind, I sank to sleep on the night preceding the bloody fight of Sunday at Chickamauga.

About 3 a.m. we were aroused by the stirring notes of the drums and soon all were ready. It was yet dark and very chilly. We had to march a mile or more yet to gain our position in line of battle, which we reached about daylight. Here we remained inactive until 10 a.m., when Gen. Breckenridge(3) rode down our line and informed us that in five minutes we would begin the fight and he wanted us to carry everything before us. In five minutes the signal gun was fired and before its report had died away the command "Forward [illegible] center, march!" was given. At that command the boys marched steadily forward for five or six hundred yards, when the enemy met us. First came an occasional shot from a skirmisher, then often and more often the bullets came until there was one deafening roar from one end of our line to the other. The brave fellows fell fast but on we marched. The battle raged with terrific fury for several hours, when there was a cessation at sundown. We renewed it and completely routed the enemy. They fled in every direction. Thus ended the Battle of Chickamauga.

I thanked God for the preservation of my own life and Fayette's. Fayette has gone to the hospital sick. I have not heard from him since he left. I miss him so much. I would be miserable without him in the army. He is much sick.

My love to Uncle Ammon and Uncle Wils, also to Tex, Brud, and your children (4). I would like so much to see all of you but that pleasure is denied me.

Write soon to your devoted nephew.

V.

Direct to Chattanooga
Virgil Hewitt


Notes:
(1) Tyners Station is today Tyner, Tennessee, and is within the city limits of Chattanooga. The Battle of Chickamauga, described here, had taken place September 19-20, 1863. The first of the Battles of Chattanooga began in October and continued until the end of November.

(2) Fayette Hewitt, eldest son of Robert and Eliza (Chastain) Hewitt. Fayette served adjutant-general in the trans-Mississippi department under "President" Davis, and then under General Breckenridge. See his letter below.

(3) Major General John C. Breckenridge, commanded one of the divisions on the right wing, under Lt. General Leonidas Polk.

(4) Uncle Ammon is Ammon Hancock, Charlotte Hewitt Hancock's husband. Uncle Wils is Wilson C. Hewitt, one of Charlotte Hewitt Hancock's older brothers. No idea who Tex and Brud are.

Fayette Hewitt
 (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6101155/fayette-hewitt)

Letter from Fayette Hewitt to Charlotte Hewitt Hancock. Fayette was the eldest son of Robert and Eliza Chastain Hewitt. He was appointed adjutant-general in the trans-Mississippi department by "President" Davis, under General Breckenridge (see Virgil's letter above).

Headquarters(1)
Jan. 15, 1864

Dear Aunt,

Your letter announcing the sending of the second box was not received for some time after it was due. Since it came to hand I have been so busy - the general big attack on Richmond - that I have not had time to write to you. The first box was received shortly after I wrote you last - the other has not yet come to hand. I am sorry Uncle Wils(2) went to so much trouble to get the boots and overcoat. I would have written to him not to buy them but I did not know whether it would reach him. I believe I wrote you at one time to tell him I could get along without an overcoat and afterwards that he need not get the boots. I had no idea he would have to go away from home for them. I thought perhaps he could get me a pair made in Bedford County(3) without any trouble and I had just paid $150 for a pair of shoes and they asked $250(4) for boots - I thought I might save a little by getting them made in the county somewhere. But I had no idea of putting you and Uncle Wils to the trouble you have been in getting the articles I asked for and I am very sorry you did so, for I might have gotten them here.

I have had a long letter from Fox(5) telling me how he has been enjoying himself with you all. I should have liked very much to have taken my Christmas dinner with you. As it was I had to content myself with [illegible] beef and corn bread. I have no doubt it was a great treat for Fox to get with you once more, for I expect he does not live very famously in Richmond now since the present high prices for provisions.

I have just stopped to read a long letter from Fox enclosing a couple of letters from home. All well - Hannibal(6) talks a great deal about the little negroes (sp, 7), the dogs and the canary bird. I should not be surprised at all if he were to send in his next letter the pictures of the little negroes (sp, 7) and his favorite dogs. I know he would never think of sending his own or Ma's.

Chattanooga during the Civil War

Nothing new. Virgil(8) keeps well - both of us are far and hearty, in far better health than we were before. The army has made men of both of us. I believe we can stand almost everything.

The army lies still - it is impossible to move at this season on account of the roads. We are about to be mounted. The men are all anxious to be on horseback and placed under Morgan(9). I think we will probably be mounted. I greatly prefer being with Infantry but will go with the Brigade. I have not been promoted - was offered it but refused because I would have been separated from men whom I love and who have every confidence in me.

We are about electing members of congress - the army has to vote - or rather [illegible] soldiers. My name was placed before the Convention for our District but I refused to let it be used. I shall leave the army for nothing so long as the war shall last(10).

Love to all - a good, warm kiss to all the children - Lil and Lucy(11) are of course included among the children. In which direction from Liberty(12) is Mr. Hopkins' farm?

Good Bye
Fayette

Notes:
(1) There is no location included with the letter, but General Breckenridge fought the battle of Missionary Ridge in Chattanooga, TN, on Nov. 25, 1863, and afterward his army had retreated toward Dalton, GA.

(2) Wilson C. Hewitt, born 1816, one of Charlotte Hewitt Hancock's older brothers.

(3) Bedford County, Virginia, just northwest of Lynchburg, where both the Hancock and Hewitt families lived, although Fayette's father, Robert, had moved to Kentucky with his own father and many of his siblings before Fayette's birth.

(4) Given the rampant inflation at the time, it is very difficult to adjust this to "modern" dollars, but this would be around $320 for a pair of shoes and $535 for a pair of boots.

(5) Fox Hewitt, Fayette's youngest brother and the youngest son of Robert and Eliza (Chastain) Hewitt. He was a clerk  in the Treasury Department of the Confederacy until May 1863 when he joined the 25th VA Battalion and served on the fortifications of Richmond for the remainder of the war.

(6) Hannibal Hewitt (seriously, what's with these names?!), the second son of Robert and Eliza (Chastain) Hewitt. I don't know anything about his service record. It seems he was at home in Kentucky, at least at the time this letter was written.

(7) I maintained the original language, with humble apologies to anyone who is offended. It gives me some hope to realize that the children mentioned here were so close to freedom that they likely would never remember the days of slavery.

(8) Virgil Hewitt, third son of Robert and Eliza (Chastain) Hewitt. He served with General Ben Hardin Helm, and in October 1863 he was made Adjutant of the 6th Regiment, fighting in the Battle of Chickamauga (see his own letter).

(9) Not sure to whom Fayette refers. There was a General John Hunt Morgan who led a foolhardy raid into Ohio in 1863. He was a Kentuckian, a cavalryman, and served under General Bragg (with whom Fayette was at the time). However, Morgan had only recently escaped from a Union prison in Ohio (at the end of November), and was in more-or-less disgrace at the time. He was killed in September of 1864.

(10) After the war, Fayette served as State Auditor and Quartermaster General for Kentucky.

(11) Not certain who Lil and Lucy are. I would assume cousins, but whose children I'm not sure. Ammon and Charlotte (Hewitt) Hancock had a daughter named Lily, but she was born in 1864, so presumably she's not the person intended. Ammon had a sister named Lucy, who is living with the family in 1870. She would not have been a blood relative of Fayette, but perhaps she was living with the family during the war, so he knew her?

(12) Liberty was the previous name for Bedford City, Virginia

Letter from Fox Hewitt to Charlotte Hewitt Hancock. Fox Hewitt was the youngest son of Robert and Elizabeth Chastain Hewitt. He was a clerk  in the Treasury Department of the Confederacy until May 1863 when he joined the 25th VA Battalion and served on the fortifications of Richmond for the remainder of the war. (At least, that's what his cousin remembered, but note that this letter suggests that he's working in the Treasury Department still in 1864.)

Richmond, Virginia

December 15, 1864

My dear Aunt,

Your kind letter would have been answered sooner but that I have been very busy at the Office. The rest of the clerks in this Office have been detailed for 30 days from the field and we are working very hard to get up the work of the Department which is a long ways behind.

Mildred(1) treated me badly about her wedding by not inviting me, nor letting me know it was to take place. Your letter was my first intimation of it. You can tell her for me when you see her that I never intend to speak to her again, and that I don't care if she breaks her leg [illegible] so that she may be a fit companion for that husband of hers.

Richmond in 1865, after it was recaptured by the U.S. Army

I had a short note from Virgil(2) today from Columbus, Georgia, on his way to the army. He has not entirely recovered but was anxious to be on duty again, though he had a delightful time wherever he had been staying lately, being almost taken possession of by the ladies, I have heard. The Georgia ladies are exceedingly kind to him. I am told Fayette(3) is very popular among them also. He is at present sick at Newman(4), though not seriously ill. Virgil will not go back to his Regiment but goes on duty during the winter at least with Col. Cofer, who is Provost Marshal General of Hood's Army. He will be assistant to the Col. The position will be easy, pleasant and safe - no danger at all. Col. C. is on the Staff of the Commanding General. Virgil has induced Fayette to accept a similar position with the Col. who will shortly issue the order detailing him.

Fayette's health is so bad that he has not been with the Brigade for several weeks, and I am fearful his health has been permanently injured by his last arduous campaign.

I am very grateful, my kind aunt, for your very warm and cordial invitation to spend the Christmas with you. Schwarzman's(5) family made me promise last summer that I would pay a visit to them at that time. If I leave here at all I will have to go there, but there is so much work to be done in the next few weeks in the Office that I have not much expectation of being able to leave here for a single day. Nonetheless thanks to you dear Auntie, for your kindness. It would indeed be a great relief and happiness to be with you for a short time, but I will have to put it off until some other time, soon I hope.

There has been no truce boat for two months, consequently no letters from home.

I enjoyed myself very much while Burkett was here and regretted he could not stay with me longer. How long did he remain with you?

What are Brud [word not quite legible] and Tex doing now? Love to them, Uncle Wils, if with you, and the boys (6).

A merry Christmas to all of you, especially Miss Lily(7).

Your affectionate nephew,

Fox Hewitt

Notes:

(1) A relative? An ex? I have no idea if he's honestly upset or just joking

(2) Virgil Hewitt, Fox's younger brother and third son of Robert and Eliza (Chastain) Hewitt. He served with General Ben Hardin Helm, and in October 1863 he was made Adjutant of the 6th Regiment, fighting in the Battle of Chickamauga (see his own letter).  He was wounded at the Battle of Dallas, near Dallas, Georgia, May 26, 1864. 

(3) Fayette Hewitt, eldest son of Robert and Eliza (Chastain) Hewitt. Fayette served adjutant-general in the trans-Mississippi department under "President" Davis, and then under General Breckenridge.

(4) Probably this should be Newnan, GA, just southwest of Atlanta. General John Bell Hood, who had lost a leg at the Battle of Chickamagua the year before, was the general in charge of defending Atlanta from General Sherman. Atlanta had been liberated September 2, 1864 (or had fallen, I suppose, depending on one's perspective), just a couple of months before this letter was written. From then through December, Hood was engaged in the Tennessee Campaign, trying to cut Sherman's supply lines from Ohio. Since Sherman was heading in the opposite direction, and was perfectly happy to live off the land, this was not much of a problem. Hood would have been near Nashville at the time this letter was written. Col. Cofer, mentioned here, was probably Col. Martin Cofer of the 6th Regiment Kentucky Mounted Infantry. Couldn't find much information about where exactly they were in the fall/winter of 1864.

(5) A friend?

(6) Yeah, no idea who Burkett, Brud, or Tex are. Uncle Wils is Wilson C. Hewitt, born 1816, one of Charlotte Hewitt Hancock's older brothers, and "the boys", presumably are James, Earnest, and Edwin Hancock, the sons of Ammon and Charlotte Hewitt Hancock. Fox mentions there have been no truce boats, and therefore no letters from home. His immediate family lived in Kentucky, which by this time was entirely in Union hands.

(7) Ammon and Charlotte Hewitt Hancock's youngest child, Lily Hancock Thornhill, born that year. She was the one who preserved these letters.