b. 1700

John Connable b. 1749

/ Kirstin Miller

John Connable 5th great grandpa on RootsMagic tree.

John Connable was born in 1749 in Bernardston, Massachusetts, the 3rd of 7 kids of Samuel & Mary English Connable. John grew up in Bernardston on the northern edge of Massachusetts and stayed there for most of his life with a short time in Guilford, Vermont a town 10 miles north.

John farmed and owned a sawmill. He was a deer reeve- decided hunting quotas for the community. He was on inspection committees, a surveyor of highways and also built, engineered bridges like his dad Samuel. John was the executor for his dad’s estate and inherited the family home which he passed on to his oldest son Joseph Connable.

Genealogical memoir of the Cunnabell, Conable or Connable family

John and was a private in the Revolutionary War with Colonel Elisha Parker who kept a diary noting orders from General George Washington and from Colonel Benedict Arnold in an expedition to Canada with 1000+ men.

John married 3 times, was a widow twice. He and 2nd wife Sarah Dewey were parents of Leydia Connable who with her husband Obed Gaines went west to Black Hawk County, Iowa in 1854. Leydia and Obed’s son William had a daughter Mary Ella Gaines who married James Miller in Waverly, Iowa. Their son William married Lola and they were the parents of Faber Miller born 1905.

John Connable is buried at Old Cemetery in Bernardston, Massachusetts. His headstone still stands, it’s faded, with this inscription ‘Death is a sweet sonorous sound To those who have salvation found, It wafts them to the courts of bliss, Where all is joy and happiness’.

Sources

Phebe McNeil b. 1789

/ Kirstin Miller

Phebe McNeil, my 5th great grandma on RootsMagic tree.

Phebe was born March 12, 1789 to Jonathan and Jane McCord McNeil. Phebe’s mom and dad married in Virginia, between the Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains, then moved to the “Western Colony of Virginia”- where they raised their family in current day Knox County, Kentucky. Kentucky became a state in 1792, a few years after Phebe’s birth.

Eight miles south of Knox County is a national park, Dr. Thomas Walker State Historic Site. Thomas Walker was a doctor, farmer, served in the Virginia General Assembly and explored the “Western Colony of Virginia”. At the park there’s “a replica of the first Kentucky home” a cabin, similar to Phebe’s family home.

Original 1790s log house

In Knox County, Phebe married Elbert Howard on October 24, 1811. Phebe and Elbert had 1 daughter and 5 sons. By 1820 they’d moved 250 miles southwest and settled in Lawrence County, Indiana where Phebe’s older sister Elizabeth and Elbert’s older sister Elizabeth lived with their husbands and families.

Phoebe died in June 1826 she was about 40 years old. She’s buried at Old Shiloh Cemetery in Lawrence, Indiana. After Phebe’s death Elbert moved to Lake, Illinois with his 4 younger sons, aged 10, 6, 4 and 2 years old. He married again and was in Floyd County, Iowa by 1855.

Sources

Mary Magdalena [ ] Young b. 1787

/ Kirstin Miller

Mary 4th great grandma on RootsMagic tree.

Mary Magdalena was born in 1787 in Pennsylvania. Her last name, parents, nothing is known of her until she was married to Michael Young around 1807. They married in Pennsylvania and lived there until about 1820.

In 1820 Mary and Michael had moved to Stark County, Ohio. They had 2 children in Pennsylvania, then 5 more were born in Ohio. The Young family owned land, farmed. In 1850 Mary was 63 years old and on the 1850 census she lived in Marlborough Township, Stark, Ohio with her husband and youngest son Israel. Her older kids were married and in homes of their own. Michael and Israel farmed, Mary kept house and probably had a spectacular garden. Mary’s daughter Esther had married Peter Miller and they moved near Waverly Iowa. Their son William Miller was the grandad of Faber Miller.

Mary died at age 70 and is buried at Union Cemetery in Hartville, Stark County, Ohio.

Sources

  • 1850 United States Federal Census at Ancestry
  • New map of Stark County, Ohio at Library of Congress
  • Trinity Lutheran Church, Canton, Ohio : births, baptisms, deaths, marriages at FamilySearch
  • Find a grave memorial 105743390

Elizabeth Jeffrey b. 1779

/ Kirstin Miller

Elizabeth Jeffrey 4th great grandma on RootsMagic tree.

Elizabeth was born in 1779 in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. She was the oldest child of Samuel and Jane Hanna Jeffrey. A published family history states Elizabeth’s dad Samuel Jeffrey was from Ireland and came to America, first Maryland then Pennsylvania. There’s no proof for this, just a statement.

Around 1795 Elizabeth married Andrew Crooks from Pennsylvania. Elizabeth and Andrew had 7 kids. Four of the seven kids stayed in Pennsylvania. 2 moved to Ohio and 6th child Elizabeth Crooks married William Stewart in PA then went all the way west to Shell Rock, Iowa. Elizabeth Crooks Stewart was the great grandma of Elizabeth Speedy.

Elizabeth Jeffrey Crooks died in 1818 at age 36. She is buried at Montour Cemetery in Oakdale, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Her husband Andrew remarried, died 30 years later and is buried in the same cemetery.

Sources

Sarah Dewey b. 1770

/ Kirstin Miller

Sarah Dewey 6th great grandma on RootsMagic tree

Sarah Dewey was born on February 14, 1770 in Vermont, the 2nd of 7 kids of David and Sarah Witter Dewey. Sarah’s 4th great grandpa was Thomas Dewey, in colonial America in 1631, from England. Some say all American ‘Dewey’s’ are descended from this Thomas Dewey. No proof, just a rumor.

Connable-Dewey

Sarah Dewey married John Connable, a widow, on November 5, 1786. They lived in Franklin, Massachusetts, 10 miles north of Rhode Island. They had at least 10 children. At their home they farmed and John had a mill pond and mill yard. Sarah had her last child Samuel Connable in 1805. It’s stated in a family history book that Sarah, with her baby Samuel, her husband and her dad. they all went to Oneida County, New York to visit family. Sarah died there on October 25, 1806 and is probably buried in Bridgewater, New York. She was 37 years old.

Sarah’s children married, had families and stayed in the Massachusetts, New York area, except for 2: John Jr. went to Ohio. Daughter Leydia and husband Obed Gaines moved west, all the way to Iowa where their son, William’s daughter Mary Gaines, married James Miller, whose son William was the dad of Faber, husband to Gladys Cable.

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Abraham Bair b. 1784

/ Kirstin Miller

Abraham Bair 5th great grandpa on RootsMagic tree

Abraham Bair, born 1784, in Adams, Pennsylvania was the oldest son of Jacob and Barbara Bair who were probably 2nd generation German Americans. By 1810 Abraham was 22 years old and with his family had moved west to Ohio, a state for 7 years, since 1803. On March 31, 1812 Abraham married Elizabeth Harter. A family history book states this was the first marriage in Stark, Ohio. “Tradition says the marriage ceremony of the first couple was: You bromis to take te voman you holt by te hant to pe your vife, and tat you will shtick to her through hell-fire und dunder? Den I bronounce you man and voman, by Got!!,”

Abraham fought in the War of 1812, his pension records show he fought with the Ohio Militia in Captain James Downing’s Company. Abraham and Elizabeth had at least 7 children and lived on a farm. They grew clover, corn, hay, hemp, oats, wheat; produced butter, honey, milk; raised bees, bulls, cows, geese, hens, horses, pigs, sheep.

Bair, Abraham will

Abraham’s 1829 inventory, partial from his estate

Abraham died at age 45 in 1830. His will was dated September 5, 1829. Brother in law Jacob Harter was the administrator. Abraham’s inventory included 2 iron kettles and a Dutch oven, barrels, a weavers loom and gears, a spinning wheel, a plough, a wagon saddle and sheepskin, a black mare, a bay horse, walnut and poplar boards, Dresden ware and a wooden clock with case. The will is several handwritten pages. In 1833 Abraham’s town lot was offered for sale, his children who were still minors, had Abraham’s brothers and brother in laws as guardians, estate managers.
Sources

  • War of 1812 Pension Application Files Index, 1812-1815 at Ancestry
  • Ohio Repository, The (Canton, Ohio) 1833 May 17 at Ancestry
  • Ohio, Wills and Probate Records, 1786-1998 at Ancestry
  • Ohio county marriages 1789-2013 database at FamilySearch
  • Notes on the Bowman, Harter and Sauer families at FamilySearch

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

Maria Anna Kryder b. 1770

/ Kirstin Miller

Maria Anna Kryder 5th great grandma on RootsMagic tree

Maria Anna Kryder was born in 1770 in Berks County, Pennsylvania to John & Anna Fuchs or Fox, the 2nd of 5 kids. In 1790 Maria married Johann Fryberger and by 1800 Maria and Johann had 3 kids and were on the census in Centre County, about 147 miles west of Berks County, PA. In 1810 Maria and Johann had 7 kids and lived on a farm in the same area. Maria’s brother John and his family were nearby.

The 1820 US census has Maria with Johann and kids in Stark County, Ohio. Along with Maria’s brother John Kryder and family and hundreds of others from Pennsylvania they moved 200 miles further west to Stark, OH. Maria’s parents and other siblings stayed in Pennsylvania. Maria’s daughter Elizabeth Fryberger married Henry Miller. Their son Peter Miller and his wife Esther moved 700 miles further west to Bremer County, Iowa, their great grandson was Faber Miller my grandpa.

Miller, Wm bio with mom

Elizabeth, daughter of Maria and Johann 

Maria was a widow in 1845, she was 75 years old. Maria lived to age 81 she died in 1851. Both she and Johann are buried at Maplegrove Mennonite Cemetery in Hartville, Stark County, Ohio, USA.

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.

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