Happy 417th Birthday Grandfather / Uncle Matthew Fuller!

Posted on October 16, 2020 by Pat Shaul

My 10 times great granduncle, Matthew Fuller, was born 417 years ago, 16 October 1603, in Redenhall Parish, Harleston, Norfolk, England. His parents were my 11 times great grandparents, Mayflower passengers, Edward Fuller and his wife. His brother, Samuel, accompanied his parents on the ship and, unlike them, survived the first winter.

Matthew arrived in Massachusetts Colony somewhat later. From the Silver books, Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, Vol Four, 2nd Edition, pages 5-6, we know that he was in the Plymouth colony by 26 October 1640 since he sold land on that date.

“In 1642 he was propounded a free man, served as a journey man, and was assigned 10 acres of land near Thurston Clark. In 1643 he was chosen Sgt. in the newly established “military discipline.” He was called of Plymouth in a deed.

“Exactly when he moved to Barnstable is unknown, but on 5 October 1652 the court approved his election as Lieut. of the Barnstable militia. He was admitted a Freeman on 7 June 1653, and in that year served as deputy from Barnstable to the Plymouth court. On 20 June 1654 he was appointed Lieut., under Capt. Myles Standish, of a 50 man quota to fight against the Dutch at Monhattoes (New York), but receipt of news of peace between England and Holland on 23 June 1654 made the expedition unnecessary. On 2 October 1658 he was elected a member of the Council of war, and in 1671 became its Chairman. On the 17 December 1673 he was appointed Surgeon General of the colony troops; he also served as captain of the Plymouth colony forces during King Philip’s war.

He was one of the first physicians to settle at Barnstable. He took a public stand on the side of the unpopular Quakers and received a fine for it. He lived in the northwest corner of Barnstable at Scroton Neck, and also own land in Falmouth and Middleboro which had been granted to him by the colony for distinguished service. He died a wealthy man for the times.

Children:

Samuel (ca 1630), Mary (aft 1630), Elizabeth (aft 1630), Anne (ca 1640, or earlier) [married Samuel Fuller, son of Samuel Fuller, son of Edward Fuller], and John (after 1640)

The marriage of his daughter, Anne, to my 9th great grandfather, Samuel Fuller, [her first cousin] started the complexity of being my own cousin, and Matthew changing his status from being simply my Uncle to being a Grandfather.

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Happy 330th Birthday, Grandmother White!

Posted on October 7, 2020 by Pat Shaul

330 years ago on 7 October 1690, in Tauton, Bristol Co, Massachusetts, my 7th great grandmother, Abigail Crossman was born to John and Joanna Thayer Crosman. About 1711, Abigail married Thomas White, in Tauton. I only have record of two of their children, but knowing the times, I would imagine there were more.

They had a daughter, Abigail (not too original in the naming), and a son, Nathaniel, who was born around 1719, still in Tauton.

Nathaniel was the father of Nathaniel, Jr. who fought in the American Revolutionary Army and was the father of Prudence who married Laban Jenks which joined with that family line.

Grandfather White died in 1730, leaving Grandmother to raise the children and support herself. I have found no record of her marrying a second time. Grandmother died 22 January 1767, still in Tauton where she had lived her entire life.

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Happy 192nd Birthday, Cousin Ransom!

Posted on September 27, 2020 by Pat Shaul

192 years ago, 27 September 1828, in Speedsville, New York, my first cousin, 4 times removed, Ransom M Jenks was born to Seth and Levinia Jenks Jenks [she was the daughter of Michael and Sarah Hunt Jenks].

On 2 October 1849, Ransom married Lucinda A Boyer, daughter of Nathaniel and Eunice Boyer. They were the parents of 2 children: Stella (1858) and Edla (1859). Lucinda died soon after.

On 1 February 1863, still in Tioga County, New York, he married Lucinda Elizabeth Albertine Legg, the daughter of Lennard Legg. Ransom and Lucinda were the parents of 5 children: Fred (1865), Mary S (1867), Bertie (1871). Harry Scott (1878), and Edythe (1882).

Between the birth of Bertie and Edythe, the family left New York and settled in Washington County, Minnesota. It is there that Ransom died on 16 Aug 1898.

This is another in the “I wonder why they chose this name” group of names that I just had to add to the blog. Of the over 16,000 entries in my database, there is only one other instance of the given name of Ransom.

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Happy 215th Birthday, Uncle Simeon!

Posted on September 26, 2020 by Pat Shaul

My third great granduncle, Simeon Botsford, Jr., was born 215 years ago on 26 September 1805, in Salisbury, Connecticut, to Simeon and Esther Clark Botsford, my 4th great grandparents. Uncle Simeon was the seventh child in a list of 11 for Grandfather and Grandmother Botsford. On 29 April 1834, in Oakland County, Michigan, where he relocated with his family in the early 1820s, Simeon married Mary Ann Delling, the daughter of William Delling. The couple would be the parents of seven children: Elijah (1835), Olive (1836), Jerusha (1838), Mary Ann (1839), Simeon (1841), Levi (1841), and Betsey E (1846).

From the History of Tuscola County, p 103, pub. 1883

“Simeon Botsford, one of the earliest settlers of the town of Ellington, and one whose name is intimately connected with the early history of that town. He mas born in the State of Connecticnt, September 27, 1805 [actually on 26 September]. At twenty years of age he removed to Michigan with his parents and settled in Oakland County. In April, 1834, he was married in Oakland County to Miss Mary Ann Delling. In 1853 he visited Tuscola County on an esploring [sic.] expedition with a view of locating if the prospect suited him. He found a choice piece of land in the present town of Ellington. In 1856 he brought his family and became one of the early settlers of that region, as is stated in the history of that town, which also is a record of Mr. Botsford’s activity in public affairs, and the service he was able to render in building up a new town and society. About two years ago Mr. Botsford left the farm, and is now living in the village of Caro.”

Uncle Simeon died in Ellington Twp, in 1898. Aunt Mary followed on 26 July 1901.

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Happy 190th Birthday, Cousin Susan!

Posted on September 9, 2020 by Pat Shaul

My second cousin, 4 times removed, Susan Adelia Jenks was born in Jenksville, New York,190 years ago to Calvin and Annis Ellen Brown Jenks, the sixth of twelve eventual children in that family. Susan grew up in Jenksville and in June of 1862, married Alfred Smith. I have only found record of one child of the couple, Mary Benedict Smith.

Susan passed away on 3 July 1894, in Berkshire, Tioga, New York, not far from where she was born.

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Happy 239th Birthday, Cousin Ahab!

Posted on September 7, 2020 by Pat Shaul

My first cousin, 5 times removed, Ahab Jenks, was born 239 years ago on 7 September 1781 to Jacob and Martha Mowrey Jenks. On 16 April 1802, he married Abigail Wilbur, the daughter of Jeremiah and Patience Wilbur.

Of his life, The Jenks Family in America, by William B Browne, records:

He resided at Pittsfield, Mass., 1812-1814, and was a Methodist preacher. He founded the first M.E. church at Pittsfield, Jan. 3, 1813.

Ahab and Abigail were the parents of four daughters: Caroline, Martha, Anna, and Maria.

Cousin Ahab passed away in 1830 in Pittsfield, Birkshire, Massachusetts.

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Happy 107th Birthday, Cousin Van Norman

Posted on September 4, 2020 by Pat Shaul

My fourth cousin, once removed, Van Norman Jenks, was born 107 years ago on 4 September 1913, in Birmingham, Oakland County, Michigan, to Donald Marsh and Rosetta Mabel Rogers Jenks. What caught my attention was Van Norman’s name — it was a bit out of the usual mainstream of the family.

Well, to get on with his biographical history, Cousin Van Norman, a name which he appeared to always use with both parts, was a life long resident of Oakland County. On 21 June 1941, he married Mary LaVerne Manzo, daughter of Joseph and Eleanor Naveck Manzo, in Detroit. The pair resided in Oxford. The couple were the parents of four children: Donald, Susan, Kathleen, and Nancy.

Now as to Van Norman’s name and where did it originate. Donald and Rose had three children, Van Norman was the eldest. His younger siblings had run of the mill names: Margaret Dorothea and Warren. So why Van Norman? One generation up, I find Donald’s parents were William Cooper Jenks and Eunice Van Norman. He was given the name of his paternal grandmother’s family. This makes quite a bit of sense when I jump back one more generation and find William Cooper’s parents were Nathan Park Jenks and Sophronia Cooper.

Van Norman Jenks passed away on 23 May 1987, and is buried at Ridgelawn Memorial Cemetery in Oxford, Oakland County, Michigan. Mary passed way on 25 November 2000 and is interred next to him.

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Happy 189th Birthday, Cousin William Flint Jenks!

Posted on August 29, 2020 by Pat Shaul

William Flint Jenks, my second cousin, 4 times removed, was born 189 years ago, on 29 August 1831, in Burlington, Otsego County, New York, to Hawkins and Lora Flint Jenks.

The Homorable William Flint Jenks

From The Otsego Farmer & Republican (Cooperstown, NY), October 7, 1910, p. 7]

“The Hon. William F. Jenks, died at his home in Southern Pines, N. C., Monday. The burial was made at New Berlin, Friday. William F. Jenks was born in Burlington, Otsego County, August, 29, 1831. His boyhood was spent upon the home farm and in the public schools, later he taught school and pursued the study of law in the office of Gorham & Foster, at Burlington, completing his legal studies with Cutler Field of Cooperstown. In 1853 he was admitted to the bar and began practice at Friendship, N. Y., and in 1855 moved to New Berlin forming a partnership with his brother-in-law, Oscar F. Mattersen. He continued the successful practice of law in New Berlin until 1875 when he moved to Norwich and in 1877 was elected Chenango County judge and Surrogate on the Democratic ticket and was re-elected in 1883 …”

In the midst of this life, he married Eliza Matterson, daughter of Nathan W and Sarah Matterson. They were the parents of three daughters: Caroline L, Anna E, and Laura M.

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Happy 219th Birthday, David Miller Seymour!

Posted on August 22, 2020 by Pat Shaul

On 22 August 1801, in Sangerfield, New York, David Miller Seymour was born to John and Rachel Miller Seymour. Now when I check my relationship to David, I find there is none. So why is he here?

In 1840, David married Mary Parker, the daughter of William Morse and Lydia Bull Parker. David and Mary were the parents of three children:

  1. Mary Seymour
  2. Julia Helen Seymour
  3. Evelyn Roselia Seymour.

For those of you who are long time readers, you recognize the name of their third child, Evelyn Roselia Seymour Jenks — my great grandaunt (by marriage to my great granduncle, Oliver Torry Jenks), and the source of the material used in the often quoted The Reunions of the Jenks Family of Oakland County, Michigan – 1911-1927. So, I would of course, honor her parentage.

And not to slight Aunt Eva’s sister, Julia, who married into the Jenks family as well — she wed Francis William Jenks, the son of William and Amy Constock Jenks. Francis was my first cousin, 4 times removed. So. as weird as it might seem, Aunt Eva’s sister is my cousin.

I have not found the records of possible marriage of Mary Seymour…. Maybe another Jenks?

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Happy 152nd Anniversary, Aunt Margaret and Uncle Wesley!

Posted on August 18, 2020 by Pat Shaul

152 years ago, on 18 August 1868, in Hill City, Carroll County, Missouri, my great grandaunt, Margaret Anne Weaver, daughter of Goodliff (nee Gottlieb Weber) and Anne Lane Weaver, married Wesley Wells.  I have not been able to determine the why or when Aunt Margaret migrated from Monroe, Perry County, Ohio, where she was born and raised to Missouri.  Aunt Margaret and Uncle Wesley were the parents of 7 children, only the first was born in Missouri; the rest were born in Kansas:

  1. Fletcher Goodliff (1869)
  2. Bertha Syphina (1871)
  3. Charles Everett (1873)
  4. Chestoria Belle (1875)
  5. Sarah Ann (1877)
  6. Ida Margaret (1880)
  7. Marion Wesley (1890)

The family settled in Onaga, Pottawatomie County, Kansas.  It was there that Aunt Margaret passed away on 21 October 1898.  Uncle Wesley continued until 8 October 1912.

Now with their choice of names for their children, my cousins will probably appear as future blog entries……

 

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