Speedy, Elizabeth b. 1917

Jane Howlett b. 1753

/ Kirstin Miller

Jane Howlett 5th great grandma on RootsMagic tree

Jane, from Maryland, was born in 1753, the oldest child of Andrew and Margaret Howlett. Jane and her siblings grew up near Baltimore. Andrew Howlett owned lands: Howlett’s Ambition and Howlett’s Triangle, the two lots totaled 75 acres.

Baltimore, Maryland

About 1770 Jane married Henry Crooks. In 1776 she was 23 years old. On the Maryland census, Jane and family lived on a farm which Jane would have taken care of, when Henry went off to the Revolutionary War. After the war, Henry earned land from his military service. In 1786 on the Pennsylvania, Septennial Census, Jane and Henry, their family lived in Washington County, in western Pennsylvania, about 5 miles east of the Ohio River. Jane and Henry had 7 kids, 4 sons and 3 daughters.

Jane died in 1816, Henry lived another 15 more years. They are both buried at Raccoon Church Cemetery in Candor, Pennsylvania, USA. They share a headstone, carved with on the front and on each their initial J. C. and H. C. on the back. Henry Crooks was in the Revolutionary War so has a

Sources

Henry Crooks b. 1743

/ Kirstin Miller

Henry Crooks 5th great grandpa on RootsMagic tree

Henry Crooks was born in 1743, probably in Maryland to William and Mary Weir Crooks. In 1768 or so Henry married Jane Howlett. Henry and Jane had 7 kids. By 1786 Henry, his brothers, his wife’s family and other families from Harford County, MD were in Washington County Pennsylvania, a 200 mile journey. They all farmed on land they owned and paid taxes on properties and possessions. The 1798 taxes for Henry show his home, 1 dwelling valued at $20, and 200 acres of land valued at $1620.

Crooks 1798 taxes

Henry was a widow in 1816, he was 73 and lived 25 more years, he died in 1831 at age 88. Henry’s will is at Ancestry . com, a typed up record. He named his children in the will with his son Henry and friend James McAdams as executors.

“In the name of God Amen, I Henry Crooks Senior of Robinson Township in the county of Washington, being in an afflicted state of body, but having a sound mind and understanding (thanks be to the Almighty God for the same) being mindful of my mortality, do make and constitute this my last will and Testament. First and principally, I recommend my immortal Spirit to God who gave it, in hopes of a joyful resurrection, and my body to the earth (when it shall please God to separate my soul and body) to be buried decently at the discretion of my executors. And as to my worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me with I give and depose thereof as follows, after my lawful debts and funeral expenses being paid. I do leave and bequeath to my son William Crooks two dollars, to my son Andrew Crooks two dollars, to my son Henry Crooks two dollars to my son John Crooks two dollars to my daughter Jane now wife of John Burns two dollars also to my daughter Mary McKillip two dollars, likewise and all the residue to my daughter Margeret Crooks to be paid to her at the discretion of my executors as to time and manner. I do nominate and appoint my friends James McAdams and Henry Crooks my son to be my executors of this my last will and testament. I publish and declare this and none other to be my last will and testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this thirteenth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty five.
Henry Crooks Sr (Seal)
Signed and sealed in the presnece of John R McEwen, John Crooks,
Washington County ss: Be it remembered, that on the 21st day of March A D 1831 Before William Hoge Deputy Register”

Sources

Andrew Crooks b. 1773

/ Kirstin Miller

Andrew Crooks 4th great grandpa on RootsMagic tree.

Andrew was born in Maryland in 1773 and grew up in Harford County, about 50 miles northeast of Baltimore. A 1776 colonial census shows Andrew 3 years old, with his dad Henry, mom Jane Howlett, older brother William, younger sister Margaret and Elizabeth Kerby who could have been a relative, nanny or servant. In Harford County, Broadcreek Hundred in the population of 342 there was one Crooks family and a couple Howlett families.

Crooks family 1776 US census

Around 1795 Andrew married Elizabeth Jeffrey from Pennsylvania. Andrew and she had 7 kids. Elizabeth died in 1818 at age 39. Andrew then married Margaret Allen, they had 4 kids. Andrew was a farmer, his sons helped him farm.

Andrew wrote his will on January 8, 1849 and died on January 8, 1849. In the will Andrew provides for his widow and all children with lands or money. Each daughter received $100 including Elizabeth who was living in French Creek, PA and married to William Stewart. By 1860 Elizabeth and William were in Wisconsin, the in 1870 lived in Shell Rock, Iowa where their youngest daughter Elizabeth married Manford Speedy in 1873. Daughter Elizabeth Crooks Stewart was the only child of Andrew to make it to Iowa. Youngest son Andrew went to Missouri, all other kids stayed in Pennsylvania.

Sources

Elizabeth Frances Green b. 1809

/ Kirstin Miller

Elizabeth Green 4th great grandma on RootsMagic tree

Elizabeth Frances Green was born in 1809 or 10 in Seaford, Sussex, England. A church, parish register shows her baptism on April 1, 1810. The handwritten record is viewable only at FamilySearch, it’s copyrighted, text reads, ” Elizabeth Frances Green, baptized 1 Apr 1810 Seaford, Sussex, England, parents Stephen Green and Mary”. Elizabeth was the 5th of 7 kids of Stephen and Mary Hoad Green. On February 13, 1830, the day before Valentine’s Day, Elizabeth married Richard Mockford of nearby Brighton, Sussex, England. In 1830 Valentine’s Day was already a thing based on Saint Valentine, a 3rd century saint.

In 1851 and 1861 Elizabeth and family were on the England censuses living on the southwestern edge of England in Budock, Cornwall, England. Elizabeth and Richard had 8 kids: 4 sons and 4 daughters. Richard was a ‘Miller, Foreman’ an advanced skill and his oldest son Henry a ‘Miller, Journeyman’ an apprenticed skill.

All of the Mockford family moved to America, not all together but over a few years. Their son Henry migrated in 1854, their son William in 1859. Elizabeth and Richard followed and by 1863 were living in the Brockport, Rochester New York area. Richard started a flour business, his sons Henry and William followed in this business. Elizabeth would have managed the home and probably was famous for making bread with fresh milled four from her family’s store.

All of the Mockford kids married and when Richard died in 1867 he and Elizabeth had at least 8 grandkids. As a widow, on the 1870 census Elizabeth was the head of house and her youngest son Edward and 2 daughters Clarissa and Emily lived with her. Clarissa was a dressmaker, Emily a milliner and Edward worked in a furnace, maybe a pottery furnace or an industrial furnace, not sure. On the 1880 US census was living with Edward, his wife Adella and their kids in Batavia, New York. Elizabeth died on June 28, 1889 and was living with he daughter Clarissa and family.

Sources

  • England Sussex parish registers 1538-1910 database copyrighted image FamilySearch
  • This could have been her view growing up in Seaford, Sussex via Google Maps https://goo.gl/maps/xQ8mY2zECawZDcoF8
  • England and Wales Census, 1851 at FamilySearch
  • 1870 United States Federal Census at Ancestry

John Johns and Philippa b. 1800

/ Kirstin Miller

John Johns and Philippa 4th great grandparents on RootsMagic Tree

John was born around 1800 in Mylor Cornwall England. He married Philippa, last name unknown, around 1820. John and Philippa stayed in the Mylor area and had 7 kids: 5 daughters and 2 sons. Their children were baptized in the local church from 1827 to 1840. John was a gardener, Philippa would have managed the house.

Johns, John 1851 England census

John died then was buried on September 25, 1856 he was 55. John may have known about his grandson Richard Mockford born on September 21, 1856 but probably not, news traveled way slower in 1856. John’s grandson Richard Mockford left NY for Iowa where he married Matilda Flood and they named their daughter Philippa after Richard’s mom and grandma. Great granddaughter and the 3rd Philippa married Harve Speedy, their first child was Elizabeth Speedy.

New York 1856John and Philippa Johns in Cornwall did live to see their daughter Philippa marry Henry Mockford in July of 1853 then sail to New York in November 1855. John and Philippa probably had a postcard in the mail, from daughter Philippa Johns Mockford in America, showing the Statue of Liberty.

Sources

Thomas Glenn b. 1766

/ Kirstin Miller

Thomas Glenn, my 4th great grandpa on RootsMagic tree

Thomas Glenn was born on March 4, 1766 in Pennsylvania. His parents were Thomas and Elizabeth, newly discovered ancestors, maybe from Coleraine, County Londonderry, Ireland, not a lot of facts and records yet. His dad most likely came to America with others from Ireland at the beginning of the Irish Potato Famine.

Thomas Glenn married Jane Bromfield on May 12, 1789 in Cumberland, Pennsylvania at the Presbyterian church. Thomas and Nancy probably had 10-12 children and farmed in Island Creek, Jefferson County, Ohio. Thomas fought in the War of 1812, a major in Andrews Regiment, Ohio Militia.

There was a cholera epidemic in Ohio that began in 1830. Both Thomas and his daughter Elizabeth died of cholera. Thomas was 82, Elizabeth was 55. Thomas is buried at Island Creek Cemetery in Toronto, Jefferson County, Ohio, in the “Pioneer Section”.

The 1850 US census mortality schedule database proving Thomas and Elizabeth’s deaths is little morbid but packed with family history information and at the bottom, a note of about the crops, land soil and cholera in the area. “The above township is well adapted to raising wheat crop, oats and indeed almost kind of product common to this country. The land is rolling but little broken rich and fertile soil mostly limestone. Wheat and apple crop … in 1849 of the farmers … our third crops better … the cholera carried off many of the citizens in 1849” Some of the note is unreadable.

Glenn, Thomas and Elizabeth 1850 mortality schedule
Thomas Glenn and daughter Elizabeth Speedy 1850 mortality schedule


Sources

  • Ohio Tax Records, 1800-1850 at FamilySearch
  • United States War of 1812 Index to Service Records at FamilySearch
  • United States Census (Mortality Schedule), 1850 at FamilySearch

Deborah Angell b. 1639

/ Kirstin Miller

Deborah Angell 8th great aunt on RootsMagic tree.

Deborah was born in Providence, Rhode Island in 1639. Her dad Thomas Angell and mom Alice Ashton were ‘banished’ from Massachusetts and left for Rhode Island with Roger Williams then in 1636 founded Providence, RI. The census of 1636 shows 10 families, 25 households in Providence. Elizabeth Speedy and her ancestors are related to 4 of those 10 families: Angell, Arnold, Smith and Williams.

Angell, Deborah marriageDeborah Angell married Stephen Sabeere on November 7, 1668. Deborah and Stephen lived in Providence all their lives and had at least 3 children. Deborah Sabeere is in her mom and dad’s wills. Her dad leaves her shillings, her mom leaves her clothing, woolens and linens, a chamber pot and some wooden trays.

Angell, Thomas and Alice wills

Just like us in modern times, our ancestors argued, disagreed, fought then compromised, made-up and worked together for the good of the cause. In November of 1672 Stephen Sabeere and neighbor Henry Palmer traded insults: Stephen Sebeere called Henry Palmer’s wife a witch, Henry called Stephen a French dog and rouge. Both men were in court on November 19, 1672 and each had to acknowledge their error in judgment.

Sources

 

William Stewart and Jenny White b. 1776

/ Kirstin Miller

William and Jenny White Stewart 4th great grandparents on RootsMagic tree

William’s will, his Find a Grave memorial and a letter are all the records for William and Jenny. Both were probably born in Pennsylvania about 1776, then married around 1796 and probably farmed in Allegheny County, PA. Jenny and William had at least 5 kids: sons John and William and 3 daughters, names unknown, all mentioned in William’s will. Son John stayed in Pennsylvania and his sons Alexander and Henry were in the Civil War. Son William married Elizabeth Crooks, their daughter Elizabeth Stewart is the mom Harve and great grandpa of Elizabeth Speedy.

John’s son Henry wrote a letter to his cousins Harve and Ernest Speedy. Henry was a genealogist and was working on his Stewart family tree. He shared his info with his cousins, not sure what his cousins shared back with him.

Stewart, Henry letter to Harve Dec 31 1939

Stewart, Henry letter to Harve Speedy Dec 31 1939

William wrote his will May 7 1813 in Moon Township, Allegheny County, PA. The will names John and William and 3 daughters, names not given, one is probably Francella or Francina. Part of the will, handwritten 3 pages: My body I commit to the dust and my soul unto god who gave it me as to my worldly substance that God has been pleased to bestow me I divide in the manner following. I leave and bequeath unto my well beloved wife Jenny Stewart one of my houses and she is to have her choice of them. -William leaves his wearing apparel and books to his children, at the discretion of his wife. Except the large Bible which he leaves to son William. John receives a saddle. All the remaining is offered up for sale, as his family thinks proper.

William has a Find a Grave memorial at Clinton UP Cemetery- most likely that’s his burial place. Jenny White Stewart’s death and burial place are unknown, it’s likely she remarried.

Sources

Asa Angell b. 1771

/ Kirstin Miller

Asa Angell 5th great grandpa on RootsMagic tree

Asa Angell was the 4th child of Israel and Martha Angell, born  August  24, 1771 in Providence, Rhode Island. Asa grew up during the American Revolution, his dad was a Colonel in the 2nd Rhode Island Regiment  and probably came home with stories of the war.

Asa married Cynthia Hill in 1794 and they moved to New Berlin NY. From the Genealogy of Thomas Angell book, “Asa, Abner and Israel Angell, sons of Col. Israel, went to the State of New York, and settled in the town of New Berlin, Chenango Co., where they purchased farms. A cousin of theirs, who has visited them, reports that their descendants are numerous. We are told that the family of Dexter Angell have in their possession the gold medal awarded by Gen. Lafayette, to Col. Israel Angell. We know less of the descendants of Asa, than of either of the other brothers.” Asa’s son Dexter may have had his grandpa’s gold medals for awhile, with him in Indiana and New York, today they’re at the Rhode Island Historical Society.

Asa and Cynthia stayed in New Berlin and had 8 children. Asas was a farmer and a cooper- he made big wooden barrels, casks, kegs. Asa’s children Betsy, Lewis and Henry all stayed in the NY area, Adeline died young. Oldest son Dexter Angell went further west, to Indiana. Two of Dexter’s children, Charles and Delia, went to Iowa where their aunt, Asa’s sister, Mehitable Angell Wilkinson was living. Delia married William Flood they had a son Asa and are the great grandparents of Elizabeth Speedy. Angell, Asa and family

Sources

Henry Angell b. 1807

/ Kirstin Miller

Henry Angell 5th great uncle on RootsMagic tree

Henry was born December 16, 1807 in Chenango, New York, that’s central New York, farm country. Henry was the 5th of 7 kids of Asa and Cynthia Hill Angell. On the 1850 census Henry was living in New Berlin, Chenango, NY with his wife Mary Ambrosia Jeffords. Henry was a farmer, he and Mary had 8 kids, maybe 10. In October of 1854 Henry and brother Lewis were named executors in their older brother Dexter Angell’s will and guardians for Dexter’s 2 young children: Delia- Elizabeth Speedy’s great grandma- and Julius Angell.

1860 agricultural censusThe 1860 agricultural census records Henry’s farm production. His farm was valued at $9000 and produced hay, oats, wool, butter beeswax and honey. Brother Lewis Angell’s farm was recorded too, similar to Henry’s with no honey or beeswax, a little less wool and 8000 pounds of cheese produced.

Henry died of consumption (now tuberculosis, then a leading cause of death) on January 15, 1869 he was 61 years old. He wrote his will December 8, 1866. “I Henry H Angell of this town of New Berlin … do hereby make and publish this my last will and testament. I give and devise unto my wife Mary Ambrosia Angell my home farm on which I now reside containing about one hundred acres and to her heirs forever. I give and devise all the rest residue and remainder of my real estate and I bequeath all my personal estate to my children … share and share alike.”

Henry is buried in Scribner Cemetery in New Berlin, NY. More than 30 Angells are buried at this cemetery including Henry’s parents Asa and Cynthia, and Henry’s siblings, Dexter, Lewis, Adelaide and Betsy Angell.

Sources

  • Henry’s will, Chenango Wills, Vol N-O, 1866-1869 page 515 image 619 of 642 at Ancestry
  • Photo of Henry, Public Ancestry photo “shared by klm927”
  • U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1885 at Ancestry
  • Snapshots of farm production, U.S., Selected Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1880 at Ancestry.
  • Find a grave memorial https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/50602911