This person is my { } great grandparent or

Lydia Archer b. 1601

/ Kirstin Miller

Lydia Archer 10th great grandma on RootsMagic tree.

This person’s name may or may not be Lydia Archer, all that is really known is that she was a wife of Francis Sprague and mom of Mercy Sprague. Francis Sprague was a Pilgrim in Plymouth colony. He sailed with Mercy Sprague and Ann Sprague in 1623. It’s proven that Mercy Sprague was his daughter. Ann Sprague could have been a daughter or could have been a wife, could have been the mom of Mercy or not. There’s nothing to show who ‘Lydia Archer’ was. 

A great source, New England marriages prior to 1700 by Clarence Torrey, has Lydia as a wife, with questions. “SPRAGUE, Francis & [?Lydia]/?Anna ____; by 1621 in Eng; Plymouth/Duxbury/Dartmouth “

The Great Migration, another solid source, shows no info on Francis’s spouse(s) and a note, ‘there are very few dates for this family and many unanswered questions’.

In the ‘cattle division’ of 1627 Francis, Anna and Mercy Sprague are listed, same 3 from the passenger list of 1623. It doesn’t seem possible that Francis was a widow caring for 2 daughters on his own, for 4 years.

Sprague family 1627

Francis, Anne and Mercy Sprague 1627 ‘cattle division’

So it’s possible Lydia died in England then Francis with 2 daughters sailed to America and married a 2nd wife in Plymouth. Or it’s possible Lydia sailed with her husband and 2 daughters, made it to Plymouth Colony and died shortly after. Then Francis married a woman, probably recently widowed, whose name was never recorded. Lydia Archer’s story is speculative, hypothetical, ’thrown together’ or made up with no proof for names, dates, relationships.

Sources

  • Volume 2 page 1425, New England marriages to 1700 database at American Ancestors
  • Volume 3 P-W, page 1725-1728, Great Migration Begins at Ancestry
  • Page 95. History of Plymouth County, Massachusetts: with biographical sketches at HathiTrust

Elizabeth Harter Bair b. 1836

/ Kirstin Miller

Elizabeth Bair 3rd great grandma on RootsMagic

Elizabeth was born in July, 1836 in Plain Township, Stark, Ohio. She was the oldest child of George and Margaret Bowman Harter. Elizabeth’s middle name ‘Harter’ was her maternal grandmother’s maiden name. Both the Harter and Bair families were pioneers in Plain, Elizabeth’s great grandparents some of the first settlers.

Bair, Elizabeth and family 1850 census

1850 Plain Township, Ohio census, Elizabeth Bair and family

On the 1850 census Elizabeth is 13. The Bair family is on page 45 of 53. The 53 pages with 20 or fewer person on each page contain Elizabeth’s future husband’s Druckenbrod family, the Henry Miller family, future in laws of granddaughter Fianna and lots of ancestors: Miller, Bair, Harter, Druckenbrod, Malone, Kryder and Shuler families. Also in laws by marriage: Grubb, Essig, Troxel, Christ, and Bishop families. And no relation: Kissinger, Trump and Pence families too, all in this tiny township with population at 896 people in 1820 then 2277 people in 1850.

Population in Plain Township, Ohio from 1855 map

Population from 1820-1850

Elizabeth married Samuel Druckenbrod around 1854. They lived on a farm, and had 12 children. Elizabeth was 24 when the Civil War started. 320,000 Ohio men were drafted in to the war which was covered in the local newspapers: Stark County Democrat and Stark County Republican.  Elizabeth could have read Mrs. Samuel Stover’s eyewitness account of ‘the march of Lee’s rebel army into Pennsylvania; also of the retreat of the remnant of said army to the Potomac’ in the Republican and details of the battle in the Democrat.

Sources

John Speedy b. 1825

/ Kirstin Miller

John Speedy 3rd great uncle on RootsMagic tree

John was the 2nd son of Thomas and Elizabeth Glenn Speedy, the older brother of Manford Speedy. John was born in 1825 in Jefferson County, Ohio. He grew up on a farm. On March 8, 1855 he married Jane Foulks, a sister of his his older brother Thomas’s wife. John and Jane farmed and had 4 kids. The 1850 US agricultural census shows John Speedy’s farm: 40 acres of improved land, 18  acres of unimproved, $1650 cash value of farm, $ 85 cash value of machinery,  2 horses, 5 cows,13 sheep, 5 pigs, $ 250 value of livestock; produced 200 bushels of wheat, 300 bushels of Indian corn,  200 bushels of oats, 158 lb. of wool, 20 lb. of Irish potatoes, 200 lb. of butter, 2 tons of hay.

In 1863 John was 38 and was drafted or signed up for the Civil War. He fought with the Ohio 157th Infantry Company K, he was a Private. The 157th Infantry reported to Columbus, Ohio for duty on May 15, 1864, one of the’ Hundred Days’ Men’. The infantry went from Columbus, Ohio to Baltimore then on to guard Fort Delaware on the Delaware River south of Philadelphia. A Major Eames wrote, “Our journey from Columbus to Baltimore was tedious but full of interest. All along the route we were saluted with cheers and smiles and waving of handkerchiefs and flags from early dawn to long after sunset. Never in all my campaigning have I seen anything to compare with those manifestations of rejoicing for the promptness of the 100 day men of Ohio”. At Fort Delaware the soldiers were guarding Confederate prisoners of war. When not on duty John probably watched ships sailing and fished. “The heavy shipping traffic on the Delaware River was a source of fascination to the farm boys from Ohio, who would sit and watch the steamers, side-wheelers, ironclads and fishing boats for hours”. Fort Delaware is where John died. He and 9 others died from disease. 

Speedy, John in 157th Ohio Infantry

John Speedy, 157th Ohio Company K

Sources

 

 

Polly Ann Howard b. 1813

/ Kirstin Miller

Polly Howard 4th great grandma on RootsMagic tree.

Polly was born on October 17, 1813 in Indiana, not yet a state. Her mom Phoebe was from Kentucky and her dad Elbert from Georgia. Polly was the only sister with four brothers. In 1833 Polly married Benjamin Swain. By 1837 Benjamin, Polly and Polly’s parents and brothers were in Lake, Illinois. In Lake, IL Benjamin was known as Yankee Swain- the only resident not recently from England, Germany, Ireland, Poland, etc. Polly and Benjamin had 4 children. Polly was suddenly a widow in 1847.
In 1849 she married Jacob Montgomery he was also a widow. The 1850 census showed Jacob, Polly and their kids. Next door were Charles and William, Jacob’s sons from his first marriage. Polly’s dad and brothers were also nearby, married with families. By 1855 Polly Howard Swain Montgomery with Jacob, his kids, her kids, their kids, Polly’s dad and her Howard brothers, they all moved to Floyd County, Iowa where they owned land. And they attended church, the Howardville Church is still right there today. Polly’s dad Elbert held services in his home as the church was being built. A couple sources state Howardville or Howard Grove Township is named for the Howards.

Polly, 45, and her brother Sanders, 36, both died in 1858 and are buried in Howardville Cemetery.

Howard, Polly headstone closeup

Polly Howard Swain Montgomery headstone closeup

Sources

Samuel Hill b. 1652

/ Kirstin Miller

Samuel Hill 8th great grandpa on RoostMagic tree.

Samuel was born in 1652 in Malden, Massachusetts son of Joesph Hill and second wife Hannah Smith. Samuel’s dad Joseph, was well known in Malden: a lawyer, town rep, deputy etc. Samuel fought in King Philips war between 1675-79 in Captain Brocklebank’s command and may have been a sergeant. In Newbury, Massachusetts on the coast, about 40 miles northeast of Malden, Samuel married Abigail Wheeler on May 20, 1679.

Hills, Samuel and Abigail Wheeler marriage 1679

Samuel Hill and Abigail Wheeler marriage 1679

Samuel and Abigail stayed in Newbury and had more than 10 children. On August 5, 1732 Samuel was 80 years old and wrote his will. ‘Weak in body but of perfect mind and memory, the mortality of my body … give and command my soul to the hands of God that give it’.  Samuel’s will mentioned his widow Abigail and  listed his children. His inventory included silver, books, armor, pewter, earthenware, Indian and English corn, barrels and casks and cooper’s tools to make barrels and casks. Samuel is buried in Bridge Street Cemetery in Newbury, Massachusetts, his headstone is still there.

Sources

Lydia Parrish b. 1687

/ Kirstin Miller

Lydia Parrish 8th great grandma on RootsMagic

Lydia was born in Groton, Massachusetts on April 20, 1687, the daughter of John Parrish and his 2nd wife Mary Wattles.

Parrish, Lydia 1687 birth register

Lydia’s family moved from Groton to Ipswich, Massachusetts, then to Preston, Connecticut. In Preston on May 20, 1705 Lydia married Christopher Tracy.

Lydia’s brother and sisters also married into the Tracy family. Benjamin P. married Mary T., Sarah P. married David T. and Elizabeth P. married Frencis T. All these Tracy and Parrish families stayed in the Preston, New London Connecticut area. Lydia and Christopher had 9 children. Lydia was a widow in 1725 and the executor of her husband’s estate. After her husband’s death Lydia probably lived with a daughter and family, and probably died around 1745.

Sources

Alexander Glenn b. 1803

/ Kirstin Miller

Alexander Glenn 4th great uncle on RootsMagic

Alexander was born in Ohio in 1803, a younger brother of Elizabeth Glenn, mom of Manford Speedy, they were 2 of 12 children in the Glenn family. In 1833 on March 31, Alexander married Sarah Parrish in Ohio. It’s very likely that Manford Speedy with his uncle Alexander and family left Ohio for Iowa, all are in Shell Rock, Iowa by 1856. Alexander is on the 1860 agricultural census. His farm has 100 acres of  improved land, 100 acres unimproved land, cash value of $3500, value of farm machinery $150. The farm has 4 horses, 6 milk cows,  6 other cattle, 30 swine, value of livestock $725. The farm produced 225 bushel of wheat,  600 bushel of Indian corn,  200 bushel of oats, 100 lbs of butter, 15 lbs of cheese and 20 bushel Irish potatoes. Alexander was a widow in 1877 and living in Hampton, Iowa with his son Edward and family.

Alexander died in 1894 and is buried in the Old Town Cemetery in Clarksville, Iowa. The source Iowa Cemetery Records, 1662-1999 confirms he was buried in this cemetery: ‘Alex Glenn b. 1803, d. 1894 age 91 buried in Old-town Cemetery, Clarksville, Butler County. Source Gravestone Records of Butler County, Iowa page 37’. The Glenn headstone has a readable inscription for Sarah. On the other side of the headstone is some engraving, most likely Alexander’s information, completely unreadable because it was made 125 years ago, weather and age have worn the words away. The headstone has an open book at the top, inscription also worn away.

Glenn, Alexander and Sarah headstone has a book on top.

 

Sources

  • Iowa, Cemetery Records, 1662-1999
  • Ohio county marriages 1789-2013 database
  • Iowa non-population census schedules 1850-1880 images

Hannah Littlefield b. 1633

/ Kirstin Miller

Hannah Littlefield 9th great grandma on RootsMagic tree

Hannah was baptized on August 10, 1633 with her twin, Thomas at St Peters Church Titchfield. This church was built beginning in the 7th century, with updates and additions it still stands and has an amazing history involving monks, Henry the 8th, Victorian disapproval and more. Photos on google Maps. Hannah, her dad, grandpa and grandma all lived in Titchfield. Hannah’s grandma Mary Littlefield is buried at St Peters. Hannah would barely remember Titchfield, she left for America at 5 years old. Her dad and a brother sailed earlier, then Hannah, her mom. siblings and two servants, maybe one a tutor sailed on the Bevis in 1638. The Littlefields were in Boston, then left for Wells, Maine where they were among the first settlers on the Webhannet River.

At age 29 Hannah married Peter Cloyes. Hannah and Peter stayed in Salem, they probably had 10 children. Hannah had died by 1683 when Peter married Sarah Towne, also a widow.

Hannah was named in her mom and dad’s wills. Her dad Edmund leaves her 15 pounds, her mom Annis leaves Hannah a bed and bolster, woolens and linens and Annis leaves son in law Peter acres of land.

Sources

Yevkea Frerichs b. 1862

/ Kirstin Miller

Updated from August 5 2017

Yevkea Frerichs 3rd great aunt on RootsMagic tree

Yevkea  Frerichs was born on February 26, 1862 in Germany. She was the oldest child of Casjen and Kuna Janssen Frerichs and was already married when she emigrated in 1883. She and her husband Joost Reents were on the same ship as Yevkea’s family- the America which sailed from Germany, checked in at a New York harbor then docked in Baltimore, Maryland on October 10, 1883. Both Joost and Yevkea have ‘brewer’ as their occupation on immigration cards. Fairly quickly the whole group was in Butler County, Iowa. How they made this 1000 mile journey isn’t known.

Yevkea’s name on records is: Kate, Carrie, Jerkea, Terker. Her name was almost certainly Yevkea or Yeikea.

Frerichs Reents, Yevkea immigration 1883

Yevkea had her first child on June 15 1884, Kurnie Reents, born in Butler County, Iowa. Yevkea and Joost had 6 children, Kurnie, another duaghter Jennie and a son Casjen survived to adulthood. Yevkea and her infant daughter died in the winter of 1891. Joost married again, Henrieko Winterboer from Germany, they had children and settled in South Dakota. The family farmed. Yevkea and Joost’s son Casjen also farmed in South Dakota then lived and is buried in Bend, Oregon. Daughters Kurnie Dockter stayed in South Dakota, had a family and lived to age 95,  Jennie Giebink stayed in South Dakota, married and her family also farmed.

Yevkea is buried at Jungling Cemetery near Allison, Iowa. Her mom and dad Kuna and Casjen are buried in buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Parkersburg Iowa, their headstones look the same and both have a mix of English and German words.

Sources

Martha Bulkeley b. 1572

/ Kirstin Miller

Martha Bulkeley 11th great aunt on RootsMagic tree

Martha was born in Odell, Bedfordshire England in 1572. Her father and then her younger brother Peter were pastors at All Saints Parish in Odell. Martha would have been baptized and married in the church which was built in the 1400s and is still standing. Martha married Abraham Mellows around 1595. In 1630s England, Martha, her husband, her brother Peter and other friends and church members left England for America specifically for religious freedom. The Mellows arrived before 1633 when they were admitted to the First Church of Charlestown, Massachusetts.. “Abraham Mellows and Martha his wife and Edward Mellows their son … were admitted to Charlestown church on August 19 1633.”. The family stayed in Charlestown and Martha and Abraham had at least 8 children. Their son Edward was the first husband of Hannah Smith 9th great grandma.

  • Source
    Charlestown (Mass.). Records of the First church in Charlestown, Massachusetts, 1632-1789, Boston Printed for J.F. Hunnewell, by D. Clapp and Son 1880
    http://tinyurl.com/y66jzuk6