Wednesday, October 2, 2024

In Memoriam - Eula Erkmann


Eula Faye (Huffstutler) Erkmann

Born: March 24, 1939, McLeansboro, Hamilton Co., IL
Died: September 26, 2024, Nixa, Christian Co., MO
Buried: cremated

Married: John Robert Erkmann, March 31, 1957

Children: 
Cheryl Janey

Wednesday, June 26, 2024

In Memoriam - Ivan Holler

Ivan Edward Holler

Born: Oct. 10, 1930, Wayne Co., IL
Died: June 24, 2024, Fairfield, Wayne Co., IL

Buried: Brush Creek Cemetery, Clay County, Illinois

Married: Oct. 22, 1949, Bonnie Lathrop, First United Methodist Church, Wayne City, IL

Children:
Jackie md. Phil Hogue
  • Rachael Hogue md. Darren Guttman
    • Conner Guttman
    • Aden Guttman
  • Jennifer Hogue
Dennis md. 1) Pamela Teeter, 2) Judith Sabbert
  • Ryan md. Mary Jo Spreitzer
    • Nora 

Thursday, June 20, 2024

In Memoriam - Lois Cherry

Lois Mae (Meeks) Cherry 

Born: May 16, 1933, Barnhill, Wayne Co., IL
Died: June 6, 2024, Carmi, White Co., IL
Buried: June 10, 2024, Barnhill Cemetery, Barnhill, Wayne Co., IL

Married: (--?--) Cherry

Children:
Mark Cherry, Sr. md. Debbie (--?--)
Brenda Lefever
Monica Tomblinson
Brian Cherry md. Sherri (--?--)

Ahnentafel: 
1. Lois Mae (Meeks) Cherry 1933-2024
2. Casper Otto Meeks 1886-1945
3. Margaret Francis Atteberry 1890-1979
4. Benjamin Hardin Meeks 1838-1931
5. Amanda Belangee 1865-1941

Friday, April 19, 2024

In Memoriam - Ronnie Shelton



Born: October 11, 1940, Paxton, Ford Co., IL
Died: April 17, 2024, Mt. Vernon, Jefferson Co., IL 

Burial: April 20, 2024 Farnsworth / Mt. Zion Cemetery, Wayne Co., IL

Married 1) Elaine Savage, May 13, 1961, 2) Carol Huchcraft, June 6, 1982

Children:

Debra md. 1) Joe Tannahill, 2) Roy Tannahill, 3) Darrell Blakely
  • Jacqueline Tannahill md. Steve Withrow
  • Nickolas Tannahill md. Maria (--?--)
Scott Shelton md. 1) Yvonne Herreld, 2) Catherine Spradlin
  • Matthew

Monday, April 1, 2024

Gurley Notebook, Part 1

Johnston County, NC Courthouse

Chapman, Blanche. Wills & Administrations of Southampton County, Virginia 1749-1800, Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., In. 1980
  • Edwards, Elizabeth of Nottoway Parish. Leg. - son Micah; son Joseph; daughter Patty; son William; daughter Ann; daughter Patience; son Benjamin; daughter Martha Edwards. Exs., sons Thomas & William Edwards. D. Dec. 31, 1761, R Jan. 14, 1762. Wit: George Gurley, Jr., Mary Gurley, Mary Peden, p. 418
  • Gurley, Nicholas of the Parish of Nottoway. Leg. - son Benjamin; son Nicholas; son William; wife Ann. Exs., friends George Gurley, Jr. & Joseph Cobb. D. April 23, 1761. R. March 11, 1762. Wit: George Gurley, Sr., Mary Gurley Jr., Thomas Edwards, p. 439.
  • Gurley, Benjamin. Estate appraised by John Drake, Nathan Vasser & Thomas Edwards. R. May 13, 1762 p. 465.
  • Gurley, Nicholas. Estate appraised by John Drake, Nathan Vasser & Thomas Edwards. R. May 13, 1762, p. 467.
  • Edwards, Elizabeth. Estate appraised by Henry Thomas, William Thomas & Benjamin Williams. R. May 13, 1762, p. 475.
  • Edwards, Benjamin. Leg. - to all my sisters and brothers; to mother; brother William; brother Thomas; brother John. Exs: brothers Thomas & John Edwards. D. George Gurley, Jr., Mary Gurley, Mary Peden, p. 489.
  • Gurley, Benjamin. Account estate audited by Micajah Edwards & Joseph Cobb. R. May 13, 1762,

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Notebook - Indiana #3 Part 2

Bolding, James. 1850 Census Washington County, Indiana, Salem, IN: Washington County Historical Society, 1991.

210 Galbraith, John 39 IN farmer
  • Mary 30 IN
  • Cynthia A. 17 IN
  • William H. 15 IN
  • Samuel A. 13 IN
  • Mary A. 11 IN
  • David J. 8 IN
  • Francis M. 5 IN
  • Elizabeth J. 1 IN

Hulen, Carol. Daviess County, Indiana 1850 Census & Marriages 1817-1849, Bicknell, IN: Hulen, nd.

213/213 Wilson, Alexander 37 m farmer 200 KY

Sunday, March 17, 2024

Notebook - Indiana #3 Part 1

Alig, Leona (compiler). Index 1830 Federal Population Census for Indiana, Indianapolis, IN: Indiana Historical Society, 1981
  • COLCLASIER 
    • (Colclasure) Abraham Orange 94
    • (Colclazier), Abraham Washington 612
    • Daniel Washington 610
    • David Shelby 758
    • David (2) Washington 610
    • (Colclasure), Jacob Orange 88 - son of Abraham above
    • Jacob Shelby 758
    • John Orange 92
    • John Shelby 758
    • John Washington 610
    • Philip Shelby 758
    • Polly Shelby 758
    • Washington Orange 90
  • CORNWELL [selected]
    • Harrison Orange 26
    • James Orange 76

Monday, March 11, 2024

Ahnenafel #1455 - Sarah Stout

Sarah Stout

Born: 1656, Gravesend, Long Island, New York
Died: between Nov. 18 & Dec. 29 1714

Buried: 1714 probably First Presbyterian Church, Woodbridge, Middlesex, New Jersey

Married: John Pike, 2 Feb. 1674/5 in Middletown, New Jersey

Children:
John
Sarah
Joseph
John (2nd)
Hannah
Zabulon
Joseph

Friday, March 8, 2024

Ahnentafel #1454 - John Pike


John Pike

Born: 1639, Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts
Died: 13 Aug. 1714 Middlesex, New Jersey

Buried: Aug. 1714 First Presbyterian Church, Woodbridge, Middlesex, NJ

Married: 2 Feb. 1674/75 Sarah Stout in Middletown, New Jersey

Children:

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Research Log - Robertson Clan (Duncan)

The Robertsons are known in Gaelic as clan Donnachaidh after Duncan, who led the clan at Bannockburn in 1314. The clan continued to be known as Duncan until around 1450, when hey adopted the name of Robert, one of their chiefs who captured two of the murderers of King James I and handed them over to justice.

The clan's early history is obscure, several accounts being given - one that they are descended from the MacDonalds, another that they descend from the old Earls of Atholl, and yet another that they belong to the Kindred of Columba and would thus descend from very early Irish kings. 

Duncan who led the clan at Bannockburn seems to be the earliest chief on record, and it is from his son Robert that the Robertsons of Struan descend. Their chiefly title of Struan-Robertson is derived from their Struan lands which were ereced into a free barony in 1451. The question of style was a matter of chiefly choice, and the Robertson chief could just as easily have elected to be called the MacDuncan or the MacRobert of MacRobert. 

William Struan was killed by the Earl of Atholl in 1530, and the Earl seized nearly half of the clan lands. The 11th laird died in 1636 leaving an infant to succeed him, and the child's uncle Donald became the captain of the clan during his infancy. He was

Saturday, March 2, 2024

Research Log - MacGregor Clan

Our Magruders are descendants of the MacGregor clan of Scotland.  The following is from Charles MacKinnon's book The Scottish Highlanders, New York, NY: Barnes & Noble, 1984.

Clan MacGregor, the 'Children of the Mist,' proclaim their Alpinian descent in their motto 'S Rioghal Mo Dhream' - Royal is my race.'  They have never failed to assert their seniority in the Alpinian 'family,' a menaingless seniority since the clans always acted independently and were bound only by a common origin. In fact . . . if anybody was senior it was the MacNab, who was a generation nearer the ancient thron than MacGregor, MacKinnon or MacQuarrie. . . . 

Glen Orchy Parish, Scotland
The MacGregor's earliest lands were in Glenorchy, as far back as the reign of Malcolm Canmore. John of Glenocrchy, who was chief in 1292, was captured by the English in 1296, and his successor, Malcolm, fought for [Robert the] Bruce at Bannockburn [1314] and afterwards accompanied Edward Bruce to

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Ahnentafel #1453 - Rebecca Rolfe

Rebecca Rolfe

Born: ca. 1661
Died: 23 Nov. 1751 Middlesex Co., MA

Buried: Nov. 1751 probably in Old Burying Ground, Arlington, Middlesex Co., MA, no stone 

Married: 1) William Cutter ca. 1680
2) John Whitmore, Sr. 3 June 1724 as his second wife

Records:
1692 - Middlesex Co., MA - William & Rebecca received a mortgage from his brother & sister-in-law  Ephraim & Bethia Cutter.

1700 - July 28 - Cambridge, Middlesex Co., MA - Rebecca and her first husband William Cutter were admitted to the church. 

1713 - Middlesex Co., MA - William & Rebecca Cutter paid off the mortgage. 

1722 - 1 June - Cambridge, Middlesex Co., MA - Rebecca is mentioned in William Cutter's will:

Sunday, February 25, 2024

Ahnentafel #1452 - William Cutter

Here lyes ye Body
of Mr William
Cutter: who dec'd
April ye 1st 1723
in ye 74th year of
his age
William Cutter

Born: 22 February 1649/50 Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts
Died: 1 April 1723 Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts

Buried: April 1723, Old Burying Ground, Cambridge, MA

Married: Rebecca Rolfe by 1680

Occupation: carpenter, housewright, farmer, miller

Biography:
He married Rebecca Rolfe, but no record of the date of the marriage has been found. William and wife were admitted to membership in Cambridge church, July 28, 1700; and a cherished relic, the famly Bible, bears marked evidence of frequent use. His residence was in that part of the town which formed the district called Menotomy [Arlington, MA], and on the banks of the stream flowing from Lexington through Arlington into Mystic River. Here, on the occasion of his father-in-law's death, he received from the estate an acre of land.  Later, April 10, 1684, he purchased of John Rolfe, Jr., four additional acres, on which he built the house, afterwards his son John's, which formerly stood on the site of the present residence of his descendant, Cyrus Cutter. This land was the "west corner" of the Rolfes'

Thursday, February 22, 2024

Ahnentafel #1450 - Joseph Hind(s)

Joseph(?) Hind(s)

The name has also been spelled Heynes, Haynes & Haynes

Born: bapt. 27 Feb. 1647/8 - maybe, this could be a Joseph in Salem, MA
Born: by 1655 for sure
Died: ca. 1709 Elizabeth, Essex Co., NJ

Buried: Unknown

Married: Ann Barclay(?)

This is a very messed up mess . . . and needs a lot more work. 

Records: 
1709 - said to have left a will. 

Children:



Monday, February 19, 2024

Notebook - Illinois #12

Madison County, Illiinois 1861

















1850 Madison County Illinois Census - loose page
Pin Oak Twp. T4N, R7W, enumerated on & since 22 Oct. 1850

Household 44, Family 44 Smart, Henry B. 49 m farmer b. NC
  • Smart, Sarah 43 f b. KY
  • Harris, Eliza J. 21 f b. IL
  • Harris, Benjamin 29 m b. IL
  • Harris, Sarah E. 1 f b. IL
  • Smart, Alsa 22 m farmer b. IL
  • Smart, Lucy 16 f f b. IL
  • Smart, Martha 14 f b. IL
  • Smart, Henry 8 m b. IL
  • Smart, Rachael 5 f b. IL
  • Holman, J.W. 21 m b. IL 
Household 45, Family 45 Smart, Peter 26 m farmer b. IL married within the year
  • Elizabeth 16 f b. IL married within the year

Friday, February 16, 2024

Ahnentafel #1449 - Comfort Mann

Comfort Mann

Born: 1633, Braintree, Essex Co., England
Died: 1685 Elizabeth, Essex Co., NJ

Buried: 1685 First Presbyterian Church, Elizabeth, New Jersey

Married: April 1647 Samuel Marsh in New Haven, Connecticut

Children: 
Mary
Samuel
Comfort
Hannah
Elizabeth
John

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Ahnentafel #1448 - Samuel Marsh

Samuel Marsh

Born: by 1628 Essex, England
Died: September 1683, Elizabeth, Essex Co., New Jersey

Buried: September 1683 First Presbyterian Church, Elizabeth, Essex Co., New Jersey

Married: April 1647, Comfortt Mann in New Haven, Connecticut

Records:
1683, June 10 - Essex Co., NJ - Samuel Marsh, Sr. made his will.  His wife is not mentioned.  Children listed: John, Joseph, Elizabeth & Samuel. 

Children: 
Mary b. 1648
Samuel b. 1649
Comfort b. 1652

Saturday, February 10, 2024

Ahnentafel #1447 - Susanna (--?--)

Susanna (--?--)

Born: by 1680
Died: after 1726-27

Buried: Unknown

Married: Joseph Morse

Records:
1726-27 Elizabeth, Essex Co., New Jersey - Susanna is mentioned in her husband Joseph's will. 

Children: 
Joseph
Amos
Lydia
Ann
Elizabeth

Wednesday, February 7, 2024

Dad's Notebook No. 10, Part 2

Anderson, Viginia. Pucketts, Vaughans, Harlans, Meeks & Allied Families, Wayne County, Illinois, 1988. 

Our earliest known Meeks ancestor was William Meeks, who came from England, according to the journal of a great grandson, Priddy Meeks (1795-1886). Two of William Meek's sons were William Jr. and John. We are descended from William Meeks, Jr., who married Molly Nolin / Nolan.  We do not have definite dates for the birth and marriage of William Jr., but it is thought that he was born around 1730 and married about 1750. He may have died in Greenville District, S.C.   There is a bill of sale in Greenville District, SC, Deek Book D, p. 359 from Wm. Meeks to his son Athe Meeks - 7 Jan. 1797. I have no record that William Jr. accompanied his children to Kentucky, so he may have died in South Carolina .

The children of William Jr. & Molly (Nolin) Meeks are believed to have all been born in Allens Creek, Hanover Co., VA. Their children are as follows:
  1. Priddy Meeks, b. ca. 1751 md. Elizabeth Denny (our ancestors)
  2. John Meeks b. ca. 1753 md. Elizabeth Walker
  3. Susanna Meeks b. ca. 1755 md. Paul Meecham
  4. Athe Meeks b. ca. 1756, md. Margaret Snead (parents of Priddy Meeks, who wrote

Sunday, February 4, 2024

Notebook - Dad's Families # 10, Part 1

Dove, Milton. Dove Trails: The History & Genealogy of the Dove & Related Families, no imprint, nd. Available on Family Search.

*=date has been verified, any other date is estimated.  [Some dates are contradicted in the body of the book . . . ]

Dove Descendancy Chart:
Gen. 1. Christopher 1509 England -1589*
Gen. 2 a Thomas 
Gen. 2 b. William I 1540 England - 1610 md. Katherina Martison 1562*
Gen. 3. Elizabeth, Eden, Martison
Gen. 3 a. William II 1570 England - 1635 md. Alice Clark, England 1592*
Gen. 4 William III 1599* England - 1678 Dorchester Co. VA, arrived Jamestown 1618, md. 1629 in Jamestown, VA
Gen. 5 (incomplete) William IV 1630 VA - 1701 Dorchester Co. MD md. 1654 VA
Gen. 6 (incomplete) William V 1658 VA - 1723 Anne Arundel Co. MD md. 1684 Dorchester Co., MD

Thursday, February 1, 2024

Ahnentafel #1446 - Joseph Morse

Joseph Morse

Born: by 1660
Died: ca. 1729 Elizabeth, Essex County, New Jersey

Buried: unknown

Married: Susanna (--?--) by 1686

Occupation: Miller - He was one of three men to erect the first mill at "Morse's Mills" in Rahway, Union Co., New Jersey.  

Records:
1726/27 - March 16 - Elizabeth, Essex County, New Jersey - Joseph Morse wrote his will. Abstract:
Joseph of Elizabeth Town, Essex County, yeoman. Wife Susanna. 
Children: Joseph, Amos, Lydia, Mary (wife of Jonas Wood, who has children Ann, Phebe, Samuel, Jeremiah), Ann (wife of John Wood, daughter Bachel), Elizabeth. 
Real estate: Home farm of 140 acres in Elizabeth Town; Pardon's Island bought of Col. Richard Townley; 43 acres of Rahway meadows granted to the father Peter Morse; 10 acres of salt marsh bought of Capt. John Baker.  

Monday, January 29, 2024

Ahnentafel #1444 - Edward Wood

Edward Wood

Born: unknown
Died: unknown

Buried: unknown

Married: unknown

Records:
1635 - Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts - Edward was living in Watertown. 

Children:
John d. before 1726
Joseph

Friday, January 26, 2024

Ahnentafel #1441 - Hannah Norris

Hannah Norris

Born: ca. 1665
Died: before 1742 - probably in Elizabeth, Union County, New Jersey

Buried: Unknown

Children:
Hannah
Elizabeth
Jonathan
John
Henry
Abigail

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

Ahnentafel #1440 - Richard Clark

Richard Clark

Born: between 1662 & 1666 Souhampton, Suffolk Co., New York
Died: 1742 Elizabeth, Union Co., New Jersey

Buried: Unknown

Married: Hannah Norris by 1680

Occupation: ship wright

Records:
1742 - Aug. 17 - Elizabeth, Essex Co., NJ - Will abstract:
Clark, Richard of the Borough of Elizabeth, Essex Co., ship carpenter. 
Children: Hannah, Richard, Abigail, Elizabeth, Henry, John, Jonathan. 
Land: purchased of Sayre about 200 acres. Had both real and personal estate.
Executors: sons Richard, Henry, Jonathan
Witnesses: Edward Willmott, Edward Griffing, Nath'l Hubbell 

1742 - Aug. 17 - Elizabeth, Essex Co., NJ - "being very sick and weak," Richard made his will and died

Saturday, January 20, 2024

Ahnentafel #1782 - Christopher Landis

Chrisopher Landis or Christian Landis / Landers

Born: by 1690
Died: ca. 1771, Mecklenburg Co., NC

Buried: unknown

Married: unknown

The date that Michael and his family first set foot in Mecklenburg County, Province of North Carolina is not known, but we do know that he was there on May 3, 1764 because on that date, he and his father-in-law, Christopher Landys, purchased 190 acres for 65 pounds from James and Ruth McClain. The location was described as being on Three Mile Creek, being a branch of the Rocky River. Mecklenburg County was then two years old, having been cut off from Anson County in 1762. As was often the case, the deed was not recorded until the property was sold. Then, this deed was proved in the October term of Court 1774 by martin Phifer, Esq. a subscribing witness thereto.

For years, we searched and searched trying to identify the parents of Mary Landers / Landis without success until recently when we received records from Robert McAlear of Nice, CA. He wrote:

Wednesday, January 17, 2024

Notebook - Virginia #7 Part 4

Bentley, Elizabeth. Virginia Marriage Records, Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1982

From the Virginia Magazine of History & Biography, the William & Mary Quarterly & Tyler's Quarterly.

Amelia County Marriage Bonds
  • Robertson, Henry & Tralucia Greenwood, April 1762
  • Robertson, Frances & Lucretia Townes, Wm. Townes, March 20, 1769
  • Robertson, John & Elizabeth Royall (d. of John), June 31, 1776
  • Robertson, George & Nancy Anderson, John Anderson, July 10, 1779
  • Robertson, Wm. & Betty Branch Worsham, Wm. Worsham, Oct. 25, 1777
  • Robertson, Matthew & Elizabeth Hurt, May 5, 1785
  • Robertson, George & Betsy Bayley (d. of Dicey), Dec. 21, 1786
  • Robertson, Jno. & Betty B. Robertson, April 8, 1786
  • Robertson, Robert (s. of Nathan) & Molly May Porter (d. of James May), June 5, 1785
  • Robertson, James & Mary Epes Robertson, Nov. 1798
  • Robertson, Archer Jr. & Frances Brooking, ward of Vivion Brooking, Aug. 1795

In Memoriam - Ted Wilson

Ted Oran Wilson

Born: June 30, 1957 
Died: January 15, 2024, St. Louis, Missouri

Buried: January 18, 2024, Salem Mateer Cemetery, Wayne Co., IL

Married: Hollie Morgan

Children:
Jennifer md. James Moore
  • A.J. Moore
  • Kylee Moore
  • Lily Moore
  • Logan Moore
Christina 
  • Isabella Wilson
  • Evalon Wilson

In Memoriam - Beverly Clements

Beverly Kay (Wiggins) (Thomason) Clements

Born: November 13, 1943, Jefferson Co., IL 
Died: January 14, 2024, Evansville, Vanderburgh Co., IN
Buried: January 19, 2024, Richland Cemetery, Boyleston, Wayne Co., IL

Married:
1) James Roger Thomason, June 13, 1963
2) Lloyd Clements, January 1, 2011

Children:
LaVaughn Thomason md. Charles Dillman
Robin Thomason md. Wesley Johnson

Ahnentafel:
1. Beverly (Wiggins) (Thomason) Clements
2.  Chester Wiggins 1920-1993
3. Marjorie Shaw 1923-2014
6. Vern Elmer Shaw 1893-1978
7. Mary Edith Rainwater 1895-1959