A Tree Grew in Oakland

184 years ago, 24 September 1835, in Oakland County, Michigan, my first cousin, 4 times removed, Oliver Torrey Case was born to Leman and Polly Jenks Case.  Ol was the fifth child of six in his parents’ brood, and the first son.    Ol married Eleanor M. Pearsoll and they had one child, a son, Harry C. P.   I have very little information about Cousin Ol — I know that he died on 31 March 1920, in Lansing, Ingham County, Michigan.  His wife died two years earlier on 7 May 1918. also in Lansing.

Now where would they have gotten that name for their first born son?  From his uncle, Oliver Torrey, husband of his mother’s sister, Laura Jenks.  Always follow the names — especially when they do not seem to make any sense in their immediate context.

My first cousin, 4 times removed, Eli Thayer was born 187 years ago on 21 September 1832 in Pembrooke, New York, to Darius and Diadama Jenks Thayer.  Eli was the second of five children.  Soon after Eli’s birth, and before that of his next sibling, Emily in 1840, Darius and Diadama with their family removed from New York and joined her parents, Laban and Prudence White Jenks, in Oakland County, Michigan.   In 1855, Eli married Jane Powell and the couple had one child, Myron.  Eli fought in the Union Army during the American Civil War and died during 1864 in Libby Prison, Richmond, Virginia.

His widow, Jane, married Eli’s older brother, Seth Darius Thayer around 1890 after the death of Seth’s first wife, Catherine C. Crosby.

Edwin R Williams

Edwin R. Williams, my first cousin, 4 times removed, was born 20 September 1836, in Oakland County, Michigan, to John and Patience Jenks Williams.  He was the second of three children Aunt Patience had with John Williams.  She was married prior to Nathan Park, on 23 April 1815, in Caroline, New York.  With her first husband she had three children as well.

In 1860, Edwin married Jennie Curtis and he couple had four children: Ella, Minnie, Flora, and Fred S.  In May of 1870, Jennie died.  Edwin then married  Laura Higbee on 5 November 1870 and they had four children as well: Grace A., Frank E., Earl R., and Ray C.  The marriage ended in divorce on 1 November 1887, granted on the basis of cruelty.

Edwin served in the 4th Michigan during the Civil War.  He is listed as a farmer and married in 1863.

302 years ago, on 13 September 1717, my first cousin, 8 times removed, Freelove Jenks, was born to Ebenezer and Mary Butterworth Jenks.  [You just cannot make up these names – just imagine, a child of the 60s with a cousin named Freelove and then having that cousin having a grandmother who was Mrs. Butterworth!!!!]  Freelove was the 11th child of 14 and apparently the only one caught in the practice of naming your children after what was considered favorable attributes (i.e. Patience, Mercy, Honor).  I really do not know much about Cousin Freelove since she was so far removed on not high on my list to research.  I have not found any records of her marrying or any records of her death, although I am sure by now she has probably passed away.

It was on 9 September 1587 that my 10th great grandfather, Jonas Humphrey was born.  He married Frances Coley and they had my 9th great grandmother, Susanna Humphrey about 1615 in Wendover Bucks, England. It was their grandchildren that began to really muck up and gnarl the family tree — not bad considering they were born in the mid 1600s!

Susanna married Nicholas White on 11 June 1637.  The two produced Elizabeth (9 June 1643, born in Dorchester, Massachusetts) and Nicholas (1647, also born in Dorchester).  Seems innocent enough.  And did you catch that they were in New England at the time of the birth of the children?

Well, Elizabeth is my 8th great grandmother.  She married Samuel Hall on 20 March 1663 in Taunton, Massachusetts.  The line that follows:  George (1681) → Lydia Hall (1706) → Mehitable Morey (1737) → Prudence White (1772) → Morris Jenks (1801)→ Esther Jenks (1832) → Effie Clarissa Lee (1859) → Lee Norton Goodliff Weaver (1893) → my mother → me.

Now, on to brother, Nicholas, who happens to be my 8th great grandfather!  Grandfather married Ursula Macomber on 9 December 1673 in Taunton, Massachusetts.  The line that follows:  Thomas (16__) → Nathaniel (17__) → Nathaniel, Jr. (1744) [who married Mehitable Morey — see above!!!!] → Prudence (1772) → Morris Jenks (1801) → Esther Jenks (1832) → Effie Clarissa Lee (1859) → Lee Norton Goodliff Weaver (1893) → my mother → me.

So, for those counting (I used my genealogy software), 5 times great grandparents, Nathaniel White, Jr. and Mehitable Morey were third cousins!  So, I guess that would make me my own 10th cousin.   Should I get myself birthday and Christmas gifts?

PS: Nathaniel White, Jr. served as a Sergeant in Capt. Silas Cobb’s Company , Col. Timothy Walker’s Regiment of the Massachusetts Revolutionary Army.  He is one of the Supplemental Ancestors I am preparing to submit for my Sons of the American Revolution membership.