New DAR member!

DAR Building Washington, D.C. image from the Library of Congress

Well, it happened.  After all the hand wringing, researching, and yelling “WHY!” at the ceiling, my DAR application was accepted.  Whew…

For those who have read the whole saga here on the blog you know that this was a long process.  Sometimes I get overly stubborn, but darn it I was going to prove this line!  A few times I was encouraged to change to a different, easier, ancestor.  No! Darn it all I started with this one I was going to finish this one.  Yes, I get like this a lot; it is part of my endearing nature you know. 

To say this has been a labor of love would put it mildly.  It has been a year and a half in the making.  There were multitudes of phone calls to various libraries, archives, courthouses, cousins, and of course my parents who listened patiently to every single development.  Late nights talking to my husband about new evidence, lack of evidence, possibilities, and frustrations.  Not to mention the hundreds of emails and phone calls to my fellow research friends. 

The hard part was done, and if I want to submit a second patriot right way I have his father, William Hayden, who fought with Virginia.  Too bad it’s not two for the price of one.  Wouldn’t that be awesome?  There should be a father son rule somewhere.

I do have a new quest to prove my mother’s 4^th great grandfather.  No one has submitted an application for him, ever.  When I saw that I was so surprised.  I hope with my fingers crossed, that this is very easy; particularly since I have his request for a pension through the Loudon County, Virginia Courts.

Now to get cracking on all that.  I have stuff to read, things to get involved in, and tons more to put on my plate.  Nope, just can’t do anything half way it seems.

An inventor, with a patent, in the family

A scene from the Lawrence Collection Irish Life series. 

Date: Circa 1897 from wikimedia commons

Periodically my genealogy ADD kicks in and I start following the odd rabbit trail.  In the past few days it has been the trail of Noah G. Hayden and his patent.  Yes, I said patent.  How cool is that? An inventor in the family.

During a search under his name on Google Books I discovered several publications with a reference to this patent.  On 12 April 1833 Noah G. Hayden from Harrodsburg, Kentucky was issued a patent for a machine that thrashed both hemp and flax.  If you go back to my last post concerning his mother, Elizabeth Gilpin Hayden, you will read that she grew both of these on their farm in Mercer County. Perhaps he was trying to cut down on the labor intensive work on the farm.

Under the Directory of American Tool and Machinery Patents (DATAMP) website I found it was registered as number 7,527X.  This information was gathered by volunteers from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) online database.  Unfortunately there was not a lot of information or an image of the machine.  A footnote on the bottom of the page states:

Most of the patents prior to 1836 were lost in the Dec. 1836 fire. Only about 2,000 of the almost 10,000 documents were recovered. Little is known about this patent. There are no patent drawings available. This patent is in the database for reference only.

Upon further investigation I found a full description in the 1833 issue of the Journal of the Franklin Institute.  I can just image what it would have looked like!

 

Color me frustrated: Where is the Death Source Citation???

19th century marble sculpture 

My 3^rd great grandfather was James M (possibly for McGraw or McCraw) Combs.  I know where he was born, who his family members were, and a few interesting tid-bit stories about him, but not his death place or date.  Usually this wouldn’t be a big deal except that I have seen a metric ton of death dates out there for him…without a source citation.

Cousin Debby is my Combs family research partner.  She is the one who gave me this date first.  Her information came from other Combs family members, who got it from another Combs family researcher many years ago.   Unfortunately, this gentleman is now gone and no one in that chain is certain on what happened to his research notes.

The family lore that has been passed on to me by these cousin researchers is an interesting one.  In the end they all agree on his death date, but no one can give me a source, preferable one that I can see and read myself.  Below I have outlined the story of James’s life as I know it. Maybe someone out there will be able to help me.  Worth a shot.

James M. Combs was born to Charles Combs and Abigail Reavis Brassfield in 1820 at Surry County, North Carolina.  He was the oldest of 8 children, all but the last 2 born in North Carolina.  Before 1845 a portion of the family moved to Indiana, with the presumption that several of the sons and older daughters stayed in North Carolina with their new families.  From the court house record I know on 23 February 1845 James Combs and Mary Jane Hayden were married in Orange County, Indiana.   Her family had moved to the area from Mercer County, Kentucky shortly before then as well. You can read about her family under the Hayden links on this blog.

From US Federal Census Records I know they resided in the following places:

·         1850 Franklin Township, Owen, Indiana

·         1860 Center, Greene, Indiana

·         1870 Center Greene, Indiana

·         1880 Columbia City, Dubois, Indiana

For a bit of geographic perspective, Orange County is 2 counties southeast of Greene. Owen County is immediately north of GreeneCounty, and Franklin Township is near to the Greene / Owen County line.  Dubois County is a neighbor county to the southwest of Orange County. 

He is listed as a farmer in the Censuses, married only to Mary, and they raised 11 children. As of yet there are very few other records that I have been able to locate on James besides his Civil War Draft Registration (on Ancestry) from June 1863 for the Indiana 7^th.  Then there is a giant hole.

Family lore and legend tells that James, Mary, and several of their children moved from Dubois County, Indiana to Wabash County,Illinois between 1880 and 1885.  From what I have been told James shot someone who was, well, trying to court his wife.  How much of that, if any of it, is true I don’t know.  I have been looking through what I can find on line to prove it since I have not made it back home to search there.  According to the Combs researcher the family moved to Keensburg, Wabash County, Illinois where James died on 23 January 1885.

In August last year I contacted the County Clerk Office in Wabash County.  It was a very nice phone call; they were very friendly and helpful, just in case you need to contact them too.  The clerk searched for any trace of him in the county and called to tell me she couldn’t find any.  She looked though the death records, cemetery listings, probate records, and real estate deeds as well.  I was very disappointed, but at least that is one county court house searched.  While I was on the phone with her after the search was complete she said it is entirely possible that he did die in the county but since his wife was still alive there may not have been a probate as she would have inherited it all.  Also, he may have been buried in a small graveyard or on private property which would mean that he may not have been recorded in their cemetery listing.

Mary Jane abt 1874
Picture thanks to
Cousin Debby

After James’s death Mary moved onto Missouri with 2 of her sons, John Wesley Combs and Daniel Webster Combs.  I have found records for them there and have a picture of her tombstone from Willow Springs, Howell County, Missouri.  I even went so far as to look for James there too, just in case.  No luck.

I will keep looking, digging, and annoying my family with this mystery.  It really bugs me that so many people have latched onto this fact with only the word of others without seeing any evidence.  I would be thrilled even if that evidence was written in a research journal where someone had documented the fact when they found it with all the information on where it was located.  At least it would be something.

Hayden Records from Mercer County Kentucky: Part 3

As promised here is the time line I have written out thus far for my confusing who-belongs-to-who puzzle concerning the Hayden family.  To fill in the gaps refer back to part 1, part 2, or any Hayden tags on this blog.  Also, unless otherwise noted, all these events took place in Mercer County, Kentucky

1.       Noah Hayden Born 1755 Shrewsbury, Monmouth County, New Jersey to his parents William Hayden and Lydia Kierstede

2.       Noah Hayden and Mary (Elliott?) married about 1780 (possibly Randolph County, VA)

3.       John Elliott Haden possible son of Noah and Mary born and possibly died in childhood, most likely in the 1780-1790 time frame (oblique references to him but I can’t find firm records)

4.       Nancy Hayden born to Noah and Mary about 1783

5.       24 May 1787 Enoch Hayden, Noah’s twin brother, gives him part of his bounty lands which he then gives on the same day to Elizabeth Gilpin

6.       16 June 1788 Noah hires Elizabeth Gilpin to care for his 2 children and house

7.       Mary’s death dates range from 1788-1804, no clear evidence yet on when she died

8.       Permelia Hayden born to Noah and (?) about 1795

9.       Elizabeth Hayden born to Noah and (?) about 1796

10.   Noah Gilpin Hayden born to Noah and Elizabeth between 1798-1801

11.   15 April 1803 Receipt of land, property, and £237, 5 shillings from Noah to Elizabeth

12.   15 April 1803 Description of land and property given by Noah to Elizabeth for her work

13.   2 May 1803 receipt of £25 cash from Noah to Elizabeth

14.   12 Dec 1803 “article of agreement with the assignment” acknowledged by Noah

15.   12 Dec 1803 acknowledgement of a bond and receipts from Noah to Elizabeth

16.   Sarah Ann (Sally) Hayden born to Noah and Elizabeth 1804

17.   Noah Hayden and Elizabeth Gilpin married in Mercer County, Kentucky 23 May 1804

18.   James Hayden born to Noah and Elizabeth 1806

19.   John W. Hayden born to Noah and Elizabeth 1806

20.   Lemuel Hayden born to Noah and Elizabeth 1808

21.   Melinda Hayden born to Noah and Elizabeth 1809

22.   18 May 1824 Elizabeth deeds land to Noah G. Hayden

23.   Noah Hayden Died about 1825 Mercer County, Kentucky

24.   18 (?) 1829 Elizabeth deeds land to Noah G. Hayden

25.   Elizabeth Gilpin Hayden probate recorded for her death February 1835

From this I see I need to nail down a firmer death date for Mary, Noah’s first wife.  While it may not help with paternity (they could each have had children with Noah at the same time) it will help make the waters a bit less murky.  I would also like to find out more about the possible son John Elliott.

Of course, we may never really know what in the world was going on here, but my-oh-my do I love a good scandal!  Have any ideas for other things that I should look into?  Let me know.

Hayden Records from Mercer County Kentucky: Part 2

This is the continuation of my post about the records I received from Mercer County, Kentucky.  You can read part 1 here.  The next deed books had one record each in them.  Thankfully book 19 had what I was looking for, Elizabeth naming Noah as her son.

In the transcriptions below I placed question marks where I could not read the letters.  If you think you may know the word that would fit there, or what they were trying to say, leave a reply.  My husband and I have not been able to figure it out.

Mercer County Deed book 13 Pages 109-110 

This Indenture made this 18^th day of March in the year of our lord 1824 Between Elizabeth Hayden of the state of Kentucky and County of Mercer of the one part and Noah Hayden of the County and State afforsaid  of the other part witnesseth that the said Elizabeth Harden For and inconsideration of Love and affection and of the just and full sum of thirty five dollars to her in hand paid the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged hath this day Bargained and sold and by these property doth Bargain and sell to the said Noah Hayden and his Heirs a certain tract or parcel of land lying and being in the County of Mercer aforesaid on Hayden Creek at the forks above the lick containing fifty seven and 2/3 acres be the same more or less and Bounded as follows (viz) Beginning at the hickory one of the original corners of the survey Hune(?) with the old line N.?.W. 153 poles to a white oak and Hickory 15 poles short of the original comes thense south 13 W 104 poles to a Hone(?) in the Field west of the forks of the oak Hence S31 E90 poles to two white oaks in the original line Hune(?) N59 E76 poles to the Beginning To have and teola(?) said tract of Land with its appurtenances to the said Noah Hayden and his heirs forever and the said Elizabeth Hayden covenants with the said Noah Hayden and his Heirs or herself and his heirs that she will forever warrant and defend said tract of land with its appurtenances to the said Noah Hayden and his heirs From the claim of his and his heirs as well as against the claim or claims of all and every others person whatever. In Testimony whereof she has (?) set her hand and affixed her seal this day and year above written.Elizabeth Haden (her mark and seal) Mercer County Sct. March 17^th 1824The foregiving Indenture was this day before me in my office acknowledged by Elizabeth Hayden a party thereto be her act and deed wherefore I have made the same record. AttestTho. Allin

Mercer County Deed Book 19 Pg 21-22 

This Indenture made this 18^th day of 1829 between Elizabeth Hayden of Mercer County State of Kentucky of the one part and Noah Hayden of the same County and State of the other part.  Witnesseth that for and in consideration of the Natural Love and affection which she hath and bears to the said Noah her Son and for the first her consideration of the sum of one Dollar current money by the said Noah to her in hand paid the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged she the said Elizabeth hath bargained and sold and by these presents doth give grant bargain sell and convey to the said Noah Hayden and his heirs and assigns forever two certain tracts or parcels of land situate lying and being in the county and state a foresaid and on the waters of Hayden Creek and the first containing about four acres and is bounded as follows the to wit, Beginning at the white oak and hickory the most Northward corner of Enoch Haydens original Survey at a Siut Hole thence with a line of said survey S 58 ½ W31 ½ poles to a stake in said line on the bank of a small drain on the SW side thereof thence down the drain on the southside thereof a straight line to a stake in said Noahs line thence with his line barly North 26 poles to a white oak said Noahs corner in the original line of said Enochs survey thence with said original line 12 ½ poles to the Beginning the other Tract contains by estimation about one hundred and fifty five acres be the same more or les and is bounded as follows with to wit, Beginning at a white oaks and hickory begin corner on Haydens SE line of his original survey thense with said Hayden line about 30 poles to a white oak in said line and in a small Drain whence down the said Drain as it meanders to Haydens creek and crossing the creek to two walnut trees on the south side there of thence up the creek keeping two poles from the south bank thereof to a hickory and sycamore in Boyces line thence with said line south and passing his corner and containing south until that course shall strike Henrys line at a stake thence with said line as the course and distance thereof shall be to said Henrys corner a white oak in a small drain thence with said Henrys line about a north course to his original corner in cleared ground thence with another of said Henrys original lines about a west course to a stake where said Henrys line crosses Boyses line thence Boyses line to the Beginning with the appurtenances belonging to each of the said tracts to the and to hold the said two tract or parcels of land with the appurtences until the said Noah Hayden and his Heirs and assigns forever to his and their only proper use and behoof and his heirs and assigns forever to his and their only proper use and behoof and the said Elizabeth Hayden for herself her heirs executors and administrators the said two tracts or parcels of land with their appurtenacnes unto the said Noah Hayden and his heirs and assigns forever against the claims or claims of her the said Elizabeth her heirs executors or assigns and against the claim or claims of all and every other person and persons whatsoever claiming by though or under her she will arrant and forever defend but not against the claim or claims of any other person or persons whatsoever. In testimony whereof the said Elizabeth Hayden hath hereinto set her hand and affixed her seal the day and year first written.Elisabeth Hayden (her mark and seal)Executed in presence of Nancy CareyDanl Carey Mercer County Scts Jany 16^th 1830The fore going indenture was this day produced to me in my office and proved to be the act and deed of Elizabeth Hayden a party thereto by the oath of Nancy Carey and Subscribing witness thereto and on yhr 18^th of the same month and year the same was fully proven by the oath of Danl Carey another Subscribing witness thereto whereupon I have made the same record.Att Tho. Allin

Having the description of the land laid out like this makes me want to go and find it.   It also made me jump for joy with the acknowledgement of Noah as her son.  In addition, Nancy Carey was her husbands daughter from his first marriage.  She and her sister Permelia both married men named Carey.  Nancy first married James Campbell and then Daniel Carey (signature on deed above).  Permelia married Ebeneezer Carey.

In the next post I will have a timeline showing the actual order the documents were made and other information that I have about the family group.  I hope this will help make sense of the documents as well as give me ideas of what holes I still need to fill in.

Hayden Records from Mercer County Kentucky

At the beginning of May I received an envelope in the mail with documents from the Mercer County, Kentucky Court House concerning my Hayden Family line.  I had as many appendages crossed as possible as I read and transcribed these records.  Boy, there were some surprising things in there that I was not expecting.

As a recap, the Hayden family line is the one I am using to apply for the DAR and the GSMD.   However, the registrar from my local DAR chapter ran into a snag.  It was my intent to try and dovetail into a line already approved by the organization, but unfortunately that member had her file sealed so I was unable to do that.  It was then on me to find more concrete links between two to the generations proving, beyond a reasonable doubt, that this was the correct family.

In March I wrote to the Harrodsburg Historical Society, in Mercer County, to do some research for me at the local courthouse.  I had references to the fact that my ancestor had given his second wife large tracts of land before their marriage.  In my letter I asked them to send me any deeds, probate, marriage, or other records they could find related to this family group.  I knew that there had to be something in there somewhere!

Very quickly the direct line in question is:

Noah Hayden who married first Mary (Elliott?) and second Elizabeth Gilpin         

Noah Hayden, son of Noah and Elizabeth, who married Unity Patterson

Mary Jane Hayden who married James Combs

My weak link was in the definitive proof that Noah Hayden had a son by Elizabeth named Noah.  Until these records I did not have really good proof, just inference, that there was a relation.

The records sent to me were records from the Mercer County deed books 5, 13, and 19.  They even sent me a handwritten family group sheet from their files.  While this is not firm evidence it did confirm a lot of the information I had, and gave me leads for information that I did not have. 

Over the next several posts I will go through the documents, post my transcriptions, and see if anyone out there has any thoughts on them.  The first one is deed book 5.  It contained documents concerning Noah’s hiring of Elizabeth, receipts of payments made to her, Noah giving her land, and their marriage bond.  All of which left me scratching my head.  It seems that she had Noah make a prenuptial agreement guaranteeing that if he died she and her children would not be left destitute. 

I would love to know if anyone else has seen anything like this before.  Of course, a more nefarious thought, would be 1) he was hiding his wealth from his family or 2) she was a manipulating woman who was gold digging.  Personally, I am okay with any theory as people are people and we haven’t changed in millennia, and I just want to know what could have been going on to have this chain of events happen.

Pg 183-184

Hayden to Gilpin Know all men by this that I Noah Hayden of the state of Virginia hath this day June the sixteenth day and year one thousand Sevenhundred and Eighty Eight hiard Elizabeth Gillpin to ceap my house and to Kook and wash and mend and ceap the house clean and deasant and to ceap my too children clean and to due by them as if they ware hur one and for During what is Mentioned Above I do Agree too give her twenty five pounds Current Money of Virginia for Everry Year or each Year So long as she seas cause to Stay or I see cause to ceap hur self all spare time and to have the privelig of ceaping of gees and duke on My Place and to fead them out of My corne and to find hur flax or hemp and wool to make clothing for hur Beds and hur self and for the ceaping of the geaz or Ducke or Boh and for flax and wool she is to due as much spinning for meaz will clothe me and my too children and to my true performance I do bind myself My Ears Executors Adminestrators in the Just and full sum of one thousand pounds good and lawfull Money of Virginia Pennillty to be paid whereunto I set My hand fix My seal the above date Ritton witness presentNoah Hayden (seal)Jeams McbrideSary Mcbride (hur mark)

This seems like a pretty straightforward employment contract.  Noah is hiring Elizabeth to care for his two children.  He had three children with his wife Mary: James Elliot, Nancy/Mary, and Permelia.  This record was from 1788, and I have sources that state Permelia was not born until the mid-1790s.  Also, there are no records for James Elliot as an adult so I am assuming that he died as a child. I am also unclear on when Mary died as I have a range in dates from the 1795 to 1801.

Pg 184

Received April 15^th 1803Inland and property and notsTwo hundred and thirty seven pounds and five shillingsFrom Noah Hayden by me Elizabeth Gilpin (hur mark)testeWilliam HungateMajor faris Pg 184Received May 2^nd day 1803 in cash the some of twenty five pounds currant money of Cantucky from Noah Hayden by me Elizabeth Gilpin (hur mark)teste Nancy Hayden (hur mark)Rebecky Hayden (hur mark)  

Pg 185

April 15^th day 1803 this day I say Elizabeth Gilpin is out of My carvis Noah Hayden and likewise I have paid hur a part of hur wages in Lands which I due not warrant and likewise all my goods and chattles that ware on the said land where she Now lives which I warrant and defend to hur from all persons whatsoever bodies Pollitic or corporate to which I set My hand and fix my sealNoah Hayden (seal)TesteMaj. Faris (his mark)

Pg 185

Mercer Sctn(?) December 12^th 1803This bond was this day before me acknowledged by Noah Hayden a party thereto to be his act and Deed and the Riceipts thereon Endorsed was proved to have been acknowledged by Elizabeth Gilpin and at the request of the said Noah I have recorded the said bond and Recipts in My office.Teste Tho. Allin Clk.

These seem to be receipts of payment for her wages as caretaker of the children and house.

Pg 185-186

May the twenty forth one thousand seven hundred and eighty seven On Articles of an agreement made and concluded between Enoch Hayden of Louden County Virginia the first part and Noah Hayden his brother of the other part witnesseth that that both of them hath bin at the truble of gitting a treasuary warrant for fore hundred acres of land and have entered it on the waters of Salt River Marser County Virginia on a branch caled Hayden Crick Running in Chalpin fork and as it was entred in the name of the above Mentioned Enoch Hayden and Not in the name of them both the said Enoch for the safety of the said Noah to make him an Equil Part of the above Mentioned Land doth bind himself his hars Executors and Admminestrators or assizns or Either of them to pay and make good unto the said Noah Haden him hi ars or assigns one hald of the Land above mentioned or an Equil part according to the quillity of it with a deed for the same a soon as its in the power of the said Enoch to perform if fails them to pay and make good all Dammage the said Noah should substance by it Provide that the said Noah doth pay half the cost that shall arise here after in secureing and defending the above Mentioned Land from all others that should contend for the same whare by we bind our selves in the penal sum of one thousand Pounds to preform to each other the Year and day above mentioned where by we set our hands and sealEnoch Hayden (seal)Noah Hayden (seal)Witness preasentBenjamin ThomasJoseph Thomas I sell my right of the in bond to Elizabeth Gilpin and she to run all chansezNoah HaydenTesteWilliam HungateMaj. Faris

Portion of a map from the National Geodetic Survey

Noah's twin brother Enoch was able to secure land bounty for them. I do not know why, but Noah tried for many years to receive bounty for his Revolutionary War service and was unable to.  Why then, after he gets land, does he sign it over to Elizabeth Gilpin?

Pg 186

Mercer Set December 12^th 1803 These Articles of agreement with the Assignment thereon was acknowledged before me the Noah Hayden a party thereto to be his act and deed at his Request I have recorded the same in my office Teste Tho. Allin Clk.

 Must be referring to a previous transaction.

Pg 272-273

An agreement made this day between the subcribers Noah Hayden and Elizabeth Gilpin both of the County of Mercer in the state of Kentucky Witnesseth That the aforesaid parties have agreed to unite themselves in the bonds of matrimony on the following conditions namely that the said Elizabeth before he marriage with the said Noah being possessed of considerable property in lands houses cattle household furniture te te te a correct schedule of which property is anneseed(?) to this agreement reserves to herself after her marriage with the said Noah Hayden the full entire and complete possession and disposal of the property mentioned and describes in the said anneseed(?) schedule.  The schedule of Elizabeth Gilpins property refered to above 200 acres of land known by the name of Haydens Creek and lick also house barns our houses te te te 2 mares and 2 geldings 12 head of cattle 100 hogs more or less 20 geese and 20 ducks 2 plows 2 hoes 1 mattock 3 asces and 1 iron wedge 1 stone sledge 4 chessels 1 hand saw 2 goudges 1 drawing knife 4 augers 1 plase iron small wheel 1 woollen wheel with 2 bar cards 3 scythes 5 feather beds and bedsteads complete with 5 chaph underbeds their Bolsters pillows te te te 2 chests 1 large cupboard 2 large pewter basons 4 small pewter basons 2 large dishes and 24 plates 2 sets of knives and forks a 17 gallon kettle an 8 gallon kettle 1 pot and Dutch oven 2 smothing irons 3 traumels(?) cooker wares sufficient for the house a set of Smiths tools bellows Anvil Vice and other nessasary tools 1 good loom with 4 reeds and gears 2 large basons Also all notes bonds Debts dues and demands to be considered as concluded in the above schedules.  And the said Noah Hayden hereby engages to all intents and purposes to garuntee to the said Elizabeth Gilpin the full possession and disposal of the above described property after marriage to her and her Heirs forever and also to protect her and her Heirs from any claims made upon the said property by him and his Heris forever. In witness whereof we have hereunto affixed our hands and seal this 23 day of May in the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred and four.Noah Hayden (seal)Elizabeth Gilpin (her mark)In the presence of us Jno Hale William Stukher (?)UD (?) Ferrego

 Do you notice that she gets everything, and that everything is inventoried in great detail.  This is the document that blew my mind away.  Any thoughts on why this would have happened?  Also, their son Noah, was born before they were married.  In fact, I think that perhaps 2-3 of their children were born before they were married.  It all depends on which date of death you use for Mary, and which of the birth dates you use for those children.  Fuzzy dates, I have to fix the fuzzy dates.

Digging up Roots in New Netherlands

Joan Vinckeboons (Johannes Vingboon),
"Manatvs gelegen op de Noot [sic] Riuier", 1639.

Over the past month I have been reading the book about my family from this post.  It is a compiled genealogy (with footnotes and sources!) from a married couple by the names of William Kenneth Rutherford and Anna Clay (Zimmerman) Rutherford.  Our common line is my most frustrating line currently: the Hayden Family.

I knew that my line descended from John Alden and Pricilla Mullins through marriage into the Hayden family.  I also knew that our common ancestor William Hayden married a woman who had Dutch ancestry.  Besides that I didn’t know much else about their lines.  Very quickly I have learned that I need to do a lot more research.  I mean lots, particularly in the early founding of this area of the country.

Lydia Kierstede married William Hayden about 1748.  Originally from Staten Island, New York her family has deep roots into the New Netherlands colony.  I don’t know much about this time in colonial history, besides the fact that the British took control of the colony during the Anglo-Dutch Wars.  This is now a subject that I am eagerly learning more about.

Various lines of Lydia’s family appear to have been involved in many functions of the colony from the start.  Several lived in Fort Orange, New Amsterdam, and as well as on what is now Staten Island and Long Island.  There were farmers, doctors, an interpreter and a midwife.  While most were simple colonists quite a few were skilled workers employed by the Dutch West India Company.

I never thought I would find roots to this part of Europe.  The lines of German ancestry were not surprising, I have several recent immigrant lines, but it was interesting to see town names in Norway, the Netherlands, and Denmark. This is a whole new area of history, geography, politics, and social history I need to study.  Lots of trips to the library and hours on the computer I guess.

Anneke Jans

Several of the biographical sketches from the book also made me think that I have had a colorful and amazing family from the earliest of times.  I need to do further research, of course I want to see these documents myself is possible, but it is fantastic that I have a bit of a road map to read and use for clues to my past.  Plus, telling my kids about the adventures, trials, success, and failures their ancestors had makes their family real.  I just love hearing my kids ask me if they had relatives who participated in major historical events. 

One ancestor that has grabbed my attention, and the attention of many of her descendants, is Anneke Jans.  I am descended, it appears, through her daughter Sara from her first marriage to Roelof Jansen.  There are many legends, folk tales, and stories that have been built up around her including the exploits of her great grandson to take back land on Manhattan that once belonged to her. 

I plan on writing more over the next few months about these relatives.  This is going to be so much fun!

DAR Application Woes: My Hayden line is driving me crazy!

Many of you know that I have been plugging along on my DAR application on my Hayden family line for a little more than a year.  (This is the same family I am applying with for the GSMD.)  Silly me to think that it would be quick, simple, or easy.  Silly me to think that anything in my life could ever be quick, simple, or easy.  Thus, let Murphy step into the picture, just to say to me “You silly girl.”

A few weeks ago I found out that the patriot I am pursuing, whom is on file with the DAR and that I could dovetail into, is a closed file.  Yes, a closed file. What is that you ask?  It seems that for a short period of time starting in the 1960s a member could request that their application file, and all the paperwork in it, be closed.  No one after that could have access to any part of it except the staff at the library.  The staff can read it but not give out any information contained within.  No big deal right? Yeah, well, it throws a big wrench into everything for me.  Particularly when you hear that the information in it could help.  Insert heavy sigh here.

I now have a weak link that I am trying to prove, and I am told that this information is in the file, you know the file I can't see.  This is the way my life goes in a majority of the things I do.  However, having to scrape and fight for something just builds character.  At least that is what I have told myself for 30+ years.

My weak link is in proving (beyond a doubt with documentation) that the parents of Noah Gilpin Hayden are Noah Hayden and Elizabeth Gilpin.  As a form of brainstorming, and a not very well masked plea for help, I am putting out here what I have so far.  Everything I have, which I am beginning to realize really isn't that much.

First off:  the line (the way I know it)

Noah Hayden (Patriot) married second Elizabeth Gilpin

Noah Gilpin Hayden married Unity Patterson

Mary Jane Hayden married James Combs

Tying the first 2 couples, the weak link, is what I have to do.  All the couples from Noah G. and Unity forward are proven through records satisfactorily, but I included their daughter Mary Jane as there is information in her generation which helps the prior one.  I also know that Noah’s father William Hayden, who is also in the DAR database, had a son named Noah but I need to prove that my Noah is his Noah. 

All of which is approved for the GSMD, however, different lineage societies require different things.  Thus I can not use one as proof for the other.

Alright: the sources, information, and documentation:

Here is the proof paperwork that I have.  Of course, as I already stated, once I see it all written down I am beginning to see the gaping holes.  Again the reason everyone needs to do things like this for their research.

I.          Mary Jane Hayden and James Combs

• Marriage record from Orange County Indiana 23 Feb 1845
• Both listed in her father’s will (Mary Jane Combs formerly Hayden and her Husband James Combs)
• Mary Jane Birth/Death:  No death records from the time frame for this county according to the county clerk. Headstone picture from Willow Springs, Howell County, Missouri born 12 Sept 1827, died 16 Jul 1888, know she moved there with several of her children in the mid 1880s.
• James Birth/Death: No records for either just suggestion of birth in Surry County, North Carolina where his family lived and death in Wabash County, Illinois through family lore.
• 1840 Census for Monroe County, Indiana page unidentified for Charles Combs shows a possible James
• 1840 Census for Mercer County, Kentucky page 211 for Noah Hayden shows a possible Mary Jane
• 1850 Census for Franklin, Orange County, Indiana page 107B; information for Mary Jane: age 23, born KY; information for James: age 27, born NC
• 1860 Census for Center, Greene County, Indiana, page 672; information for Mary Jane: age 29, born KY; information for James: age 39, born NC
• 1870 Census for Center, Greene County, Indiana page 285B; information for Mary Jane: age 43, born KY; information for James: age 49, born in NC
• 1880 Census for Columbia, Dubois County, Indiana page 4C Enumeration District 158; information for Mary Jane: age 53, wife, born KY, father born KY, mother born VA; information for James: age 59, born NC, father born NC, mother born NC

II.         Noah Gilpin Hayden and Unity Patterson

• Marriage listed in the Marriage registry 12 Dec 1822 for Mercer County, Kentucky (image available on  Family Search) 
• Marriage Bond for 10 Dec 1822 for Noah G. Hayden and Unity Patterson signed by Noah G. Hayden and William Patterson for Mercer County, Kentucky (image available on  Family Search)
• Noah Gilpin Hayden Birth /Death: Tombstone with known wrong information in Trimble Cemetery near Bromer, Orange County, Indiana.  States he was born 1 Jan 1811 and died 28 Aug 184 (2 or 7) Probate Record from the Indiana State Archive.  Need to contact them for full source information as I cannot make out the date.  I think it says 24 November 184(4 or 7) from Orange County, Indiana
• Unity Patterson Birth/Death: Tombstone Emanuel Hatfield Pioneer Cemetery Owensburg, Greene County, Indiana.  Born 19 Sept 1802, died 12 Apr 1870 dates seem correct based on family lore.  No death records from the time in Greene County Indiana according to clerk
• 1820 Census for William Patterson in Mercer County, Kentucky page 105 shows the possible parents of Unity with a child her age
• 1830 Census for Noah Hayden in Perryville, Mercer County, Kentucky page 359 shows the correct family unit with one slave
• 1850 Census for Indian Creek, Monroe County, Indiana page 344B;  information for Unity: age 49, birth VA

   III.                    Noah Hayden and Elizabeth Gilpin

• Marriage Bond for 23 May 1804 for Noah Hayden and Elizabeth Gilpin signed by Noah Hayden and William Wilham (image available on  Family Search)
• Marriage Register for Mercer County, Kentucky 11 Jun 1804 (image available on Family Search)
• Noah Hayden Birth/Death: Baptism record for him and 3 of his brother on 31 Oct 1756 Shrewsbury, Morris County, New Jersey Christ Church Parish Record (Google Book) 
• Elizabeth Gilpin Birth/Death: Will on file in Mercer County, Kentucky signed 26 Sept 1825.  A son named Noah is listed in the will, as is a William Patterson.  All known children are listed in the will as well.

Clues and other sources:

In a magazine that was published from 1929-1933, The HaydenFamily Chronicles, there is quite a bit of information on this line of the family.  All editions are online and can be read there too.  A few interesting facts that I think I need to follow up on, as they are clues to where Noah was during his lifetime, can be found on these pages.  I have listed a few of the passages below:

Volume 2, Issue 1, Page 17

Volume 4, Issue 2, Page 92

I also have access to another genealogical book (thank you mom and dad) titled Genealogical History of Our Ancestors by Rutherford.  We have a common ancestor, Noah’s parents William Hayden and Lydia Kierstede.  Volume 2, of the 2 volume set, contains the descendant’s listings for all the families.  Not a lot of new information, a listing of children and spouses, and known birth/death dates.  Noah is entry 215 on page 231 is you have access to a copy and is shown below.   It has no death date listed but a possible death place of Mercer County, Kentucky.

Next  Steps?

Okay, I think I know what I need to do now.  The checklist I have put together for myself is listed below.  I really hope it doesn't take me another year though.  If you have suggestions or advice...I am all ears.

• Talk to the GSMD, they have this line proved, maybe they can help
• Confirm birth of Elizabeth Gilpin
• Confirm the birth of Noah Gilpin Hayden in Kentucky
• Confirm birth of Unity Patterson in Virginia
• Confirm will date with Indiana State Archives for Noah Gilpin Hayden probate
• Find death, if possible, for Noah Hayden
• Find record of supposed deed transfer from Enoch to Noah, maybe it will give more clues
• Find any mention of him in the records from Randolph County, VA (now West Virginia)
• The reason he fought for Pennsylvania (he was from New Jersey and his father enlisted in  Virginia) may help
• On the 1830 NG Hayden Census there is a slave listed, perhaps I can find references looking in these records for slave transactions

Last resort...I throw in the towel and tackle one of my dozen plus other eligible, and recognized,  patriots.  While it would still take time, and not something I want to do, it is always an option if I can't get this link fixed.

Fingers crossed!

Genealogy Packages and Discoveries

The past couple of weeks have been a whirlwind of activity on the genealogy front around here.  My best day was last Monday when I received two items in the mail.  One, a letter from a cousin helping me research my Combs family line, and two, books from my parents.  Boy, it was like my birthday at the mailbox ripping open packages.  The kids, once again, thought mom had completely gone off her rocker.

In the letter there were two marriage certificates.  These certificates are needed to complete the DAR and the GSMD lineage society applications I am still working on.  She had to do battle with an unfriendly court clerk to get these, and I am very thankful that she put up with lady to further our research.  I am sure I am going to get to do that the next time I get back to Indiana.    Oh course, there were a couple of surprising elements to the marriage certificates.

First was the certificate for William Hall and Malira Price.  They are my 3^rd great-grandparents who were married in Greene County Indiana on 25 February 1854.  It is a short form marriage register, so no good genealogical information for previous generations, but at least I have something for them.  From the form I see they received the license on the 23^rd and had the marriage recorded on March 1^st.  There isn’t any other information, not even a pastor’s name, but like I said I won’t be complaining.

Next was the certificate of their daughter Mary Margaret Hall.  She married Willis Franklin Combs in Greene County on 5 September 1877.  I stopped cold in my tracks, because something wasn’t adding up with that date.  I read, and re-read, and read a third time.  Then I went to look at my information on their oldest son Ira in my database.  Ira was born 29 October 1877.  Huh, that is interesting.  Now I wonder all sorts of things:  did they just wait a long time, was this "shot gun", was Ira his son?  I could go on and on.  Oh a puzzle and a family mystery!

The books were equally exciting, and proof that my parents spoil me.   A few weeks back I received two books through inter-library loan that have a significant amount of information on early colonial generations of my family.  I talked excitedly over the phone to my dad about it and he found a gently used copy online and bought them for me.  I jumped up and down with delight when I opened the package.  Tuesday I spent several hours reading and placing tabs in the book for each of the generations to make future look-ups easy.  It is going to take me a while to read and digest all the information presented, but boy is t going to be fun.  I particularly love that there are footnotes, sources, and a bibliography.  If you have any of the following lines check out this 2 volume book set.

It is going to be interesting to read about my ancestors who were from New Amsterdam.  I had no idea I had roots to Norway through one family.  Or that my family owned property in what is now Manhattan (60 acres…imagine what that would be worth today!).  Most unusual, “a husband selling his wife into Adultery”, I can guess what that meant.  I foresee several more days of night time reading in my future.

My most common recent ancestor with the author of this book is William Hayden.  William was born in Braintree, Massachusetts 5 October 1727 and died in Fayette County, Pennsylvania 18 July 1823.  He married Lydia Kierstede who was baptized 14 February 1725 in Staten Island, New York and died 1794-1795 in Hampshire County, Virginia.  This is the listing of their ancestor’s surnames that are covered in the book, all of whom are on my father’s side. 

Alden

Bass

Dey

photo credit: Bunches and Bits {Karina} via photopin cc

Duyts

Hayden

Holmes

Hyde
Jan

Jansen

Johnson

Laurenszen

Molenaar

Mullin

Neale

Pray

Pullen

Roelofs

Satyrs

Savil

Scott

Stillwell

Webb

Giving Thanks at FTF

Signing of the Mayflower Compact
from the Library of Congress

My next post is up at Family Tree Firsts. All about….wait for it…. The Mayflower!  You know I couldn’t resist.  It is that time of the year after all.

I have written several times about learning from my grandmother that we were from “those Pilgrims.”  Several times I have even told you about my application process with the GSMD.  Well, this week is when those stories and dreams are realized.  I have the last pieces of documentation in my hand to prove her tales and hopefully by this time next week it will all be in the mail.  Then I can concentrate on my husband’s multiple lines.  I only have the one line since my family left Massachusetts by the 3^rd generation after settling here, my husband’s family on the other hand stuck around for a while.  300 years  in New England is a while right?  He has 4 potential lines if I can prove them beyond a doubt.

What makes me even more excited is that members of my family are excited too.  I even have cousins of my mother-in-law helping me with their family lines.  Collaboration at its best!  Without their help this would have been a longer process with more costs for me.  Since we are sharing documents, records, and sources with each other we all benefit from on another’s resources. 

Best of all, my oldest got on the bus this morning with his Mayflower ancestors extra credit report.  We had the best time putting it all together.  He looked up their names on the internet, wrote a ½ page about each of them, added some pictures from wikicommons, and by the end of it had a basic understanding of a pedigree chart.  He was so excited to take it to school and show everyone.  In particular to show it to the kids who didn’t believe him.

 

 

Yes, there was some teasing.  Kids are kids right?  My son is very sensitive to others and I was happy the teasing from unbelieving children made him more resolved to prove them wrong.  That would be the desire to become a historian showing through I think.  Now, it would be great if I could get him to have the same drive when it comes to studying math.

Having this last document also proves my first ancestor for the DAR.  I am up over a dozen patriots on both sides of my family.  My mom and dad are tied with patriot ancestors, and at times I wonder if there is a bit of competition between the two of them.  I sometimes wonder if when I call do they get all excited about another one being found to pull them in the lead for the ancestor count?

As I stated in the post at FTF I am submitting William Hayden as my first patriot.  I can also put in for his son Noah as he fought along with his father in the war.  In fact, 5 of William’s sons fought in the Revolution:  John, Stephen, Enoch, Noah, and Hosea.  Enoch and Noah were twins too, but I haven’t figured out if they were identical or not.  In an out of print Magazine called  The Hayden Family I found an interesting description of what William did during the Revolution in Volume 1, No. 3, page 102:

 

 

We also know he died after working on his farm one afternoon in July of 1823 thanks to a poem written after his death.  I have not found a pension record for him or his son Noah; I hope to uncover more about their family’s service in the Revolution.  Oh, and find out where the Fredericksburg Magazine was.  That would be a worthy field trip to take.  Maybe on my next run to the grocery store.

Source Citation Fail: Where is this marriage record kept?

In August I was so excited when I found an online image of the marriage record for my 4^th great grandparents Noah Gilpin Hayden and Unity Patterson.  I copied it to my software, my computer, and bookmarked (I thought) the URL.  Several weeks later I went back to make a full source citation for the GMSD application and I couldn’t find the source. 

Insert Panicked frenzy of trying all the different search tricks I know to back track my steps.

Which leads me to this post:  do any of you think you can help me figure out where I got this image? PLEASE?  Oh, and tracing the image name won't work because when I saved it I changed the name to something more in sync with my files.  Teaches me, huh?

 

 In addition, here is what I know about this couple.  Just in case you would like some more background.

Noah Gilpin Hayden was born 1 January 1801 in Harrodsburg, Mercer County, Kentucky to Noah Hayden and Elizabeth Gilpin.  He married Unity (Catherine?) Patterson on 10 December 1822 in Mercer County, Kentucky.  Unity was born 19 September 1802 in Virginia (possibly Louisa County) and her parents are potentialy William Patterson and Catherine Trower.  Between 1840 and 1841 they leave Kentucky for Indiana and settle in Orange County near a town called Bromer.

Noah and Unity have 8 children that I can find:

Noah D. Hayden born 1826 Kentucky
Mary Jane Hayden born 1827 Kentucky; married James Combs
Permelia Catherine Hayden born 1830 Kentucky; married Noah Redenour
Thomas J. Hayden born 1832 Kentucky
Martin C. Hayden born 1834 Kentucky
Samuel Hayden born 1837 Kentucky
Elias Leslie Hayden born 1839 Kentucky
Robert Wright Hayden born 1842 Indiana
 
Noah died before 24 November 1846 (the date of his probate) on his farm near Bromer, Indiana.  Unity is said to have moved to one of her sons houses in Greene County, Indiana with her 5 minor children at this time.  She died 12 April 1870 in Owensburg, Greene County, Indiana. 

 

A Mayflower Family or Not

There was a sense of awe in me as a child when I thought about the Pilgrims; with their bonnets and starched white collars sharing a meal with the friendly Indians.  Yes, as an adult I know how unrealistic this was, but as a child it was the image of the Pilgrims and their friends that permeated all you saw, and knew, about those historic events.  Imagine my glee when I was told by my Grandmother how our family was related to people who sailed on that ship!  She read to me the poem by HenryWadsworth Longfellow, TheCourtship of Miles Standish,   and seared into my memory the line “speak for thyself John.”  My world was crushed when I learned it was a fictional account.

According to the article Mayflower Descendants by Jim Faber, 25% of Americans think they are descended from the 26 surviving Mayflower passengers.  Best guess is that actually only 35 million people worldwide have a Mayflower ancestor; much less that the 25%, or 70 million who think they do.   The odds looked like they would not be in my favor from the outset, but that is no reason to quit!

One of the first long-lost-cousins I connected with online had grown up with the same story about John and Priscilla, which made me think that there had to be something to the story.  She also had a clue, which family line the connection was to be through!  That was something I could work with.  According to her family source (which I later found out was the same source my grandmother had, Aunt Eliza Jane) the connection was through our 3^rd great-grandmother Mary Jane Hayden. 

 Thanks to many different societies, organizations, and published works on the subject many of the lines are well documented and proven.  My task was to connect my line into the ones already proven.  Easier said than done I have to admit.  Almost a year later I think I am pretty sure of my research, but not completely.  I think it will take a trip to New England, or a really good genealogy library, to make me feel 100% confident in my work.  I found this website just a few days ago, and it helped me confirm my line past Mary Jane. 

The working hypothesis for my family line is:

1.       John Alden and Priscilla Mullins
2.       Ruth Alden
3.       Ruth Bass
4.       Priscilla Webb
5.       William Hayden - Revolutionary War Soldier
6.       Noah Hayden
7.       Noah Gilpin Hayden
8.       Mary Jane Hayden
9.       Franklin Willis Combs
10.   Everett Combs
11.   Paul Combs
12.   My Dad
13.   Me

Of course, this little endeavor left me looking  sideways at my Texan husband; the one with deep roots in New England.  He had to have someone in that web of New England genealogy that could trace a possible lineage back to a Mayflower passenger.  My bloodhound instincts have been working on this for well over 6 months.  Finally I had a break through, and I am a little more confident in his line than mine.

The working Hypothesis for his family line is:

1.       Stephen Hopkins
2.       Giles Hopkins
3.       Mary Hopkins
4.       Mary Smith
5.       Mary Hamilton
6.       Elizabeth Mayo
7.       Slathiel Nickerson -Revolutionary War Soldier
8.       Polly Nickerson
9.       James Cunningham
10.   Eliza Cunningham
11.   Charles Greeley
12.   Frances Maude Greely
13.   Elsie Crabb
14.   His Mother
15.   Him

Our families appear to have come over on the same boat!  My oldest child can't wait to get to school on Monday and tell everyone.  Especially the story of dear Stephen Hopkins, a Mayflower Compat signer and a Jamestown Settler.  Thankfully his teachers humor his history obsession and just go with it.

Well, there it is.  Anyone have any ideas, suggestions, or comments for me about how to completely prove this lineage?  I have twiddled with the idea of actually going on and submitting both of us to one of the many lineage societies for the Mayflower, like the General Society of Mayflower Descendants.

*wikimedia commons:   Sculpture of John Alden and Priscilla Mullins: "Why Don't You Speak for Yourself, John?"

*Photograph taken by me at Jamestown archeology site, Jamestown, Virginia.