Happy Birthday, Freelove!

Posted on September 13, 2019 by Pat Shaul

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.

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Happy 262nd Anniversary, Grandparents Jenks!

Posted on September 11, 2019 by Pat Shaul

It was on 11 September 1757 in Smithfield, Rhode Island, that my five times great grandparents, Jesse Jenks and Mary Smith were married.   Grandfather Jenks was born 22 January 1735 in Dartmouth, Massachusetts to John and Rachael Lawrence Jenks.  Grandmother Jenks was born 30 September 1737 to Jacob and Dinah Harris Smith.

The marriage produced 10 children: William, Allen, Stephen (1759), Jacob (1760), Peter (1764), Jesse, Jr. (1764), Shubael (1767), Huldah Caroline (1770), Laban (1772) [my four times great grandfather], and Elisha (1774).
The Jenks Family of America – William B. Browne.
Jesse Jenks

J”Jesse Jenks was born in Dartmouth, Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1734/ 5. He was involved in the settlement of Sackville New Brunswick during the late 1750’s and 60’s. He, along with other members of his family were acquiring land that he would eventually sell off. Jesse and his brother Edmund were both involved in the New Brunswick venture when the settling lots in East Hoosick (now Adams Massachusetts) became available. In 1769, Jesse and his brother Edmund purchased three 100 acre lots which were lots two, three, and four in the west range of settling lots at East Hoosick. This transaction took place on July 26, 1769, and was not recorded in Berkshire County until August 23, 1773. It appears that Edmund was the first to settle on this property. Some of the subsequent early deeds of Jesse Jenks in Western Massachusetts were signed only by his brother Edmund.

“It was written that sometime in Feb. 1790, Jesse Jenks arrived at his nephews house in Adams Massachusetts on horseback carrying as much gold and silver as a man could lift. The concealed gold and silver was in a bag of oats that he carried for his horse. He eventually settled opposite the glebe farm (First Baptist Church) on what is now called Stafford’s Hill named for Col. Joab Stafford who fought in the American Revolution and who was also an early settler there.

“Jesse’s descendants thrived there clearing much of the farm land that is still open pasture and one of the most beautiful areas in Berkshire County. The site that he settled is marked by foundations and a large willow that feeds from the water of the farms well. North and west of the farm site is the family graveyard that is still marked with many stones and was used until the 1850’s when some of the graves were removed to the towns main cemetery on West Mountain Road where a virtual Jenks history can be viewed by simply walking through this large, to our rural standards, cemetery.”

It is through Grandfather Jenks that I was admitted to the Sons of the American Revolution due to his patriotic service in raising provisions for the Revolutionary Army and providing his son, Jacob,  as a substitute in Rhode Island troops.

 

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Happy 432nd Birthday, Grandfather Humphrey!

Posted on September 9, 2019 by Pat Shaul

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.

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Remembering Great Great Grandmother Koontz

Posted on September 7, 2019 by Pat Shaul

Mary Ann Allen Koontz died 155 years ago today, 7 September 1864, in Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana.  Mary Ann was born in 1836, also in Indiana, to Robert and Mary Allen.  She was the second of seven children.  On 15 April 1855, in Markle, Huntington County, Indiana, Mary Ann married Ezra Peter Koontz, the son of Peter and Elizabeth Derr Koontz.  The couple had five children: Huntington (1854), Ephriam (1855), Casmear P. (1857) [my great grandfather], Harriett Honora J. (1859), and Orrin Deforest (1862).  Grandfather married Mary Anna Sibert on 29 December 1867 in Noble County, Indiana, with whom he fathered an additional three children.

Much information is gathered from Ezra Peter’s obituary:

Ligonier Leader, 31 January 1907

Obituary — Ezra P. Koontz

“Ezra Peter Koontz was born at Navarre, Ohio, May 15, 1832. He came to Indiana in 1846, walking from Ft.Wayne to Ligonier where he was engaged in manufacturing of chairs for a year or more. He went to Markle, Ind., where he was married to Mary Ann Allen April 11, 1853. [According to the State of Indiana Vital Records, the date reported above is the correct date and the one in the obituary is off by 2 years] To this union was born four children: Ephraim R., who died in infancy [under age 2]; Casmear P. of Columbus, O., Harriet H. J. Smith of Port Clinton, O., Orrin D. of Glenville, Minn. [Son, Huntington, not mentioned, also died in early childhood – under age 2]

“In 1863 he moved to Huntington, Ind., remaining there a year. He then moved to Ft. Wayne, Ind. where on Sept 7, 1864, the wife and mother answered the devine [sic.] summons from this life here to a life of the blessed, beyond this world of pain. After the death of his wife he removed to Navarre, O., leaving the motherless children with their grandmother. He soon returned to Indiana, settling in Ligonier in the spring of 1865, where he engaged in the manufacture of furniture for thirty years.

“He was married to Mary Anna Sibert in Ligonier, Ind., Dec 29, 1867. To this union there were three children born: Phineas H., who died at the age of six years; Ezra B. E. of Savage, Neb, Geo D. of Chicago, Ill.

“The children were all present the funeral except one, who arrived later.

“Mr. Koontz answered the roll call on Monday morning at 4 o’clock, Jan 21, 1907, aged 74 years, 8 months, and 6 days. The lamp of this temporal life went out, but to be relighted on the shores of God’s eternal bliss.

“Those present from a distance were: Mr. and Mrs. C. P. Koontz, Columbus, O.; Dr. Sirvenius [Sylvanis] Koontz, Roanoke, Ind.; Mr. Wm. Koontz, Roanoke, Ind.; Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Koontz, Milford, Ind.; Mr. and Mrs. Tuff and daughter, Gladys, Kendallville, Ind.; Messrs Harry and Herman Smith, Port Clinton, O.

“Card of Thanks

“We desire to than the friends and neighbors who so kindly assisted us during the sickness and death of husband and father.

“Mrs. E. P. Koontz [Mary Anna Sibert] and Children”

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Happy 123rd Anniversary, Aunt Ora and Uncle George

Posted on September 2, 2019 by Pat Shaul
Ora and Myra Lee Churches

Myra Lee and Robert Churches. Ora Lee and George Churches

 

It was on 2 September 1896, in Pontiac, Oakland County, Michigan, that Ora Lee and George W. Churches were wed.  Ora was the youngest child of Charles Norton and Esther Jenks Lee, born on 29 May 1874 in Southfield, Oakland Country, Michigan.  She was the sister of my Great Grandmother, Effie Clarissa Lee Weaver.  George Churches was the middle child of Thomas and Harriet Roper Churches, born on 11 November 1869, also in Southfield.

From the Reunion Papers of the Jenks Family by Eva Seymore Jenks:

“Ora Lee, youngest daughter of Charles and Esther Jenks Lee, and Geor ge W. Churches [ed note: brother of Robert Richard Churches, husband of Ora’s sister, Myra] were married September 2, 1897, at Pontiac, Michigan by the Rev Mr. Pillsbury. Their only attendants were Mrs. Pillsbury and Miss Bernice Green. The bride’s dress was light gray serge with trimmings of lace and pale blue ribbons. They are the parents of three daughters, Pearl Geneva born February 21, 1899, Erma Lorene – July 29, 1906, and Ella Madelene – June 25, 1913. Pearl, the oldest, was married August 5, 1921, to Mr. Orthaldo Miller of Redford and is very happily situated in a lovely home a few doors south of her mother’s. Madelene, the youngest, made her appearance as reunion baby at our third reunion. At the 13th reunion she entertained the company with several readings which were highly enjoyed by all present. She, with Erma Lorene, help make the folks and home happy on Philbrick Ave, Redford, Michigan.”

Aunt Ora and her sister, Hannah Almira [Myra] married brothers.  Aunt Myra married Uncle George’s older brother, Robert.

Aunt Ora died on 23 April 1953 and was buried at Grand Lawn Cemetery in Detroit.  Uncle George passed away on 29 December 1960 and was interred next to Aunt Ora.

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Happy 105th Birthday, Gardner!

Posted on August 30, 2019 by Pat Shaul
Gardner

Charles Gardner Griste with his Aunt Forence and Uncle Lee Weaver in Toledo, Ohio 1918.

It was on 30 August 1914 in Toledo.Lucas County. Ohio, that my mother’s cousin, Charles Gardner Griste was born to Charles McKinley and Ethel Jeanette Koontz Griste.  To keep things simple and to keep with the German tradition of using the middle name as the person’s call name, he was always called Gardner.  Gardner was the first grandchild of C.P. (don’t call me Casmear) and Phebie Ann Gardner Koontz and therefore the first nephew of Aunt Ethel’s siblings (i.e. her sister, my grandmother, Florence).

Gardner married first, Loretta White, with whom he had one daughter, Mary Elizabeth (1947).  They were divorced on 2 March 1962.  Loretta died on 15 November 1991.  He later married Vera Emanuel.  Gardner died in Akron, Summit County, Ohio on 9 October 1998.

Gardner wrote the “Bean Man” essay about Uncle Heinie [Henry Allen Koontz] and his charitable work during the Great Depression among the less fortunate in Columbus, Ohio.  That essay was published with Uncle Heinie’s biographic information on 20 August 2018.

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Remembering Grandmother Jenks…

Posted on August 29, 2019 by Pat Shaul

It was on 29 August 1770, 249 years ago, that 7 times Great Grandmother Jenks passed away.

Patience Sprague was born at Smithfield, Rhode Island in 1674 to Jonathan and Mehitable Holbrook Sprague.  At about the age of 21, in 1695, she married William Jenks at Providence, Rhode Island.  The pair had ten children: Joseph, Mercy, Susanna (1696), William (1700), Patience (1701), Margaret (1704), Jonathan (1707), Esther, Mehitable, and John (1710) [my 6 times great grandfather].

The family lived in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, a family homestead for many generations of the Jenks family.  Grandfather Jenks passed away on 2 October 1765 in Pawtucket.  Grandmother lived almost another five years and departed on 29 August 1770.

Both the Sprague and Jenks lineages have been captured in many volumes over the years as each family played roles in the founding of this country.

 

Bot

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Remembering Billy G.

Posted on August 19, 2019 by Pat Shaul

My mother’s cousin, William Gardner Koontz, called Billy G., was born 94 years ago on 19 August 1925, to William Peter and Ethel Emma Chidester Koontz.  William Peter was my grandmother’s brother.  Billy G. was 6 years younger than my Aunt and 2 years younger than my mother.  From family lore, he was the favorite of both.  Around the time Billy G. graduated from High School in Ohio and Uncle Bill needed to move to California for work, Billy G. took seriously ill.   It was in Nevada, near Las Vegas, that he succumbed to Spinal Meningitis and died on 19 August 1943.  He was the first of my mothers 13 cousins to pass away.   I remember as a child he was still discussed in hushed tones as such a tragedy.

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Happy 375th Birthday, Grandmother Botsford!

Posted on August 16, 2019 by Pat Shaul

Hannah Baldwin, my 8th great grandmother, was born 375 years ago on 16 August 1644 in Milford, Connecticut, to Timothy and Mary Welles Baldwin.   As mentioned earlier, Grandmother was the granddaughter of Gov. Thomas Welles of Connecticut, the subject of a six volume series of books published by the Welles Family Association.  [And yes, I have all six volumes in my personal library!]

Scanning back two days in this blog you will find that her husband. Elnathan Botsford celebrated his birthday just two days before Grandmother.  It must have made it convenient for family celebrations.  Maybe they split the difference and just had one cake on the 15th?

Hannah married Elnathan [my 8th great grandfather] on 12 December 1667.

Hannah and Elnathan were the parents of 11 children: Esther (1668), Samuel (1670) [my 7th great grandfather], Mary (1671), Hannah (1674) [my 7th great grandmother through her marriage to the Prindle line and additional descendants from there], Joanna (1674), Henry, (1676), Timothy (1678), Deacon John (1680), Sarah (1683), Ruth (1686), and Sergeant Joseph (1688).

Grandmother Botsford died on 7 August 1706, in Milford, Connecticut.

Milford has served as the ancestral family seat for the Botsford family and is the gathering place for the annual Botsford Family Reunion.

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Happy 246th Birthday, Grandmother Lee!

Posted on August 15, 2019 by Pat Shaul

Mary Sommers , my 4th great grandmother, was born on 15 August 1773, in Old Hebron, Connecticut, to William Sommers and his wife whom I have not as yet been able to identify.   Mary was wed to William Lee on 27 May 1793.  The couple migrated from Connecticut to New York to Michigan as is evident from the birth locations of their eight children: Chauncy (1794 – Guilford, Connecticut), William (1796 – Guilford, Connecticut), Harvey (1798 – Guilford, Connecticut), Horatio (1800 – Guilford, Connecticut) [my 3 times great grandfather], Mary Ann (1804 – West Bloomfield, New York), George (1806 – West Bloomfield, New York), Richard (1808 – West Bloomfield, New York), and Norman (1811 – West Bloomfield, New York).  By the early 1820s, the entire family had settled in Farmington Township, Oakland County, Michigan.  Grandfather passed away on 1 June 1840.   Grandmother lived almost 20 years longer and passed away on 8 May 1860.

Both Grandmother Lee and Grandfather Lee are buried in the newly restored Quaker Cemetery in Farmington, Michigan.

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