Weavers of A Legacy

Ancestors and Descendants of

Samuel Rogers (1760-1828)

Ann Gaunt (1762-1823)

Leeds,  Yorkshire,  England

AND

ALLIED  FAMILIES

Jean Peterson Rosenkranz

2006

All mankind is of one author and is one volume. 
When one man dies, one chapter is not torn out of the book, but translated into a better language; and every chapter must be so translated
...God’s hand is in every translation–John Donnne

Other family history books by this author:

Ancestors and Descendants of John G. Christensen and Ruby V. Davis, 1999

Die Familie, Verwandten und Vorfahren von C. Arthur and Erwin Rosenkranz, 1999

(This book is written in English - not Deutsch)

Prairie Conquerors, 1999

This book is a genealogy of the ancestors and descendants of brothers,Theodore and Clarence Nelson, and their wives, Pearle Heitzman and Edith Larson. Theodore and Pearle (Heitzman) Nelson were the author’s maternal grandparents.

Preface

 “He who careth not from whence he came, careth little where he goeth.” Daniel Webster

Dear readers,

I invite you to join me on a journey back through time to mother England in the 1600's to meet the Rogers and allied families whose stories are the fabric of Weavers of A Legacy. The Rogers were literally weavers of their family legacy as they introduced mechanized weaving to post-revolutionary America. “Weavers” as applied to the allied families is usually figurative rather than literal although some were involved in the textile industry.

The allied families who married Rogers–Harding, Warren, Molyneux and Bird–emigrated from England in the late 1700's. They settled in northeastern Pennsylvania just a few years before Samuel Rogers (1) and some of his children moved to what would later become Forksville, Pennsylvania. The Bennett and Thurber families, however, were among the earliest colonists in New England arriving on the scene in the 1600's. How these families from Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut met and married Rogers sons and daughters is part of this story.

“How did this book come to be?” you might ask. What began as a hobby over 20 years ago eventually became a personal search for roots for your storyteller–a journey that lured me many times to the LDS Family History Library in Salt Lake City, to the National Archives and DAR Library in Washington DC, to courthouses and cemeteries in several states, and even a trek across the Atlantic Ocean. At some point during the research journey, the silenced voices of the ancestors moved me to share their stories with present and future generations. Grandpa John and Grandma Elizabeth Rogers aren’t just my grandparents to be hidden in a file drawer or a hard drive. Their stories (however small or great) deserve to be heard and shared. Weavers of a Legacy is the fourth book in response to the ancestral voices that refused to be silenced.

I have personalized Weavers of A Legacy by including comments and tentative interpretations of confusing and contradictory data. My research methods professor would be aghast at this deviation from objective, technical writing. The longer I researched and became “acquainted” with these long dead relatives, the harder it was to be impersonal or scientifically objective.

As an amateur history and sociology buff, I had hoped to include the historical setting to give depth and substance to the lives of the grandfathers and grandmothers I met on my journey. To do justice to the historical framework, however, would have required several more years of research and writing. Weavers of A Legacy represents the manageable version of my original vision. Within these pages you’ll find only a splattering of history.

The earliest Rogers biographies are compiled from the original parish records of Yorkshire, England. With few exceptions the parish birth dates were actually baptism/christening dates. Christening usually, but not always, took place from two weeks to two months after the actual birth. Parish death records were usually the burial date rather than the actual death date.

Chapter 1 covers the pre-emigration Rogers in Yorkshire, England and introduces us to the immigrant ancestors, Samuel (1) Rogers and Ann Gaunt. In chapter 2 we continue the emigration saga of Samuel (1) and Ann from England to northeastern Pennsylvania and begin the direct-line descendancy of this writer through Samuel (2) and Mary Akroyd Rogers. Chapter 3 carries the descendancy of Samuel (2) and Mary Rogers for three more generations to Dakota Territory. In chapter 4 we return to Pennsylvania to meet the Harding, Warren, Molyneux and Bird “in-laws.” Chapters 5 and 6 take us to colonial New England where we encounter the Bennett and Thurber families. The biographies in these first six chapters are primarily those of your storyteller’s direct-line ancestors, but occasionally a cousin or uncle finds his voice and shares his story. Chapter 7 is a tribute to the descendants of Benjamin Rogers, a younger son of the immigrants, Samuel (1) and Ann Rogers. This final chapter was authored by Benjamin descendant, John Rogers Woolston of Princeton, New Jersey.

Laying out the descendancy of these very large families has been one of the greatest challenges in writing this book. A generational numbering system was used to assist the reader in tracking generations. Family group sheets are included at the end of chapters 1 through 6 to further aid the reader. Direct-line ancestors of this writer are underlined the first time the names appear and sometimes thereafter to avoid confusion. The three direct-line Samuel Rogers are further identified by generation with the numeric code of (1), (2) and (3).

Appendix A is a family group sheet for Samuel (4) who is my uncle rather than grandfather, but some of you readers do descend from Samuel (4) and requested this family be represented. Richard “Dick” Rogers, now deceased, descends from Samuel (4) and assisted me with the research years ago. I am pleased to be able to honor his contribution in this small way and hope his descendants might be inspired to write an in-depth chronicle about the Samuel (4) line. Appendix B is a descendant report of Joseph Rogers, brother to Samuel (2), as submitted by Delores Harding Lutz of Charlottesville, VA. Appendix C is a descendant report for Richard Harding, brother to my grandmother, Sarah Harding, who married Samuel Rogers (3). That report was submitted by Delores Harding Lutz. Appendix D is “Notable Thurbers.” The final appendix (E) brings us back to where we start with the direct-descendant report from John Rogers carried for nine generations to this writer’s paternal grandmother, Edna Maethorne Rogers. You will note on this report that the marriage of first cousins, Samuel Rogers (2) and Mary Akroyd of Generation 6, puts an interesting jog in the tree and results in the duplication of the descendants from Generation 6 through 9. That’s one of the least of the challenges created by numerous cousin marriages among the families woven into this book.

The index is computer-generated by my FamilyTreeMaker program and lists only names from the genealogy reports–not the biographical texts. The index will lead you to the relevant chapter. My apologies for the less than complete index.

Errors will likely be found in spite of careful scrutiny and proofing by multiple editors. A “Correction and Addition” page is included at the end of the book to record the corrections. I invite reader feedback on errors in facts and dates and would especially appreciate the documentation to support the corrections submitted.

Unfortunately, it is usually our grandmothers whose stories didn’t get recorded in the annals of history. This book does little to remedy that travesty. It is essentially patriarchal. As a small memorial gesture, I have included the family group sheet for my paternal grandmother, Edna Maethorne Rogers, at the end of chapter three. Grandma Edna Rogers Peterson’s biography was intentionally omitted because it is included in the Peterson family history book in progress, A Legacy of Courage.

There are still many unanswered questions about “from whence we came,” and it is my fervent wish that someone who reads Weavers of A Legacy will be motivated to continue the quest.

Jean Peterson Rosenkranz

Dedication and Acknowledgments

Weavers of a Legacy is dedicated to the memory of my paternal grandmother, Edna Maethorne Rogers Peterson, and of my cousin, Ferne Rogers Roggow.

My grateful appreciation to the following people who contributed in so many different ways to this book. The deceased will not know the value of their contributions and support, but to the rest of you, I offer my sincerest gratitude:

Myron Northrop (deceased).

Ferne Rogers Roggow (deceased).

Richard “Dick” Rogers (deceased) and Mavis Rogers.

Marlys “Peggy” Peterson Bloom who passed on her compiled Rogers data to me many years ago. I thank Peggy also for her editing assistance and encouragement during many years of research on both the Rogers and Peterson lines.

Eldon “Bud” Rogers for his several contributions to the manuscript and editing assistance.

Thomas Grimshaw for his expertise in computer technology, his photo contributions and editing assistance.

Delores Harding Lutz for her research assistance and contribution of the Joseph Rogers descendant report.

John Rogers Woolston, descendant of Benjamin Rogers, for his contribution of chapter 7.

Charlotte Brennan, Bennett genealogist. Without Charlotte’s research assistance, there would be no separate Bennett chapter.

Florence Thurber Gargaro, Thurber genealogist. Without Florence’s research assistance, there would be no separate Thurber chapter.

Delores Harding Lutz, Harding genealogist and contributor of the Richard Harding descendant report.

Connie King McMichael, Warren genealogist.

Lorin “Larry” F. Pardoe, genealogist, for editing the Harding, Warren, Molyneux and Bird chapter as well as extensive research assistance. Larry is related in some manner to the above families plus Rogers.

Dr. Robert E. Sweeney, Sullivan County, Pennsylvania Genealogy Project (sponsored through PA GenWeb and posted by RootsWeb) for his generous copyright permission of materials on this award-winning genealogy site and for linking me with other Pennsylvania researchers and resources.

Samuel Rogers, (assume this to be Samuel, Jr. rather than Samuel, Sr.) along with Powell Bird and a William King, played a major role in the establishment of the first school in Lycoming/Sullivan County.^[19] These three were district trustees in 1816 when widow Sarah Huckell conveyed a small plot of land at Forksville for a schoolhouse. A July 4^th celebration was held by the local settlers to begin clearing the land, and the school was officially opened on December 1, 1816.^[20] Moses Rogers, Samuel (2)’s youngest brother at the age of 10, made biographical history as the bearer of water to the school construction workers.^[21]

Samuel (2) was a member of the Baptist Church as were most of the other English families on the Loyalsock. He was one of the chief organizers of the First Baptist Church established at Muncy Creek. Although it appears he had been a Baptist all of his life, he was not baptized into the church until April 25, 1823 at the Rogers’ factory at Muncy. Samuel is credited with organizing the first Sunday School in the Muncy Valley and frequently served as moderator of the Northumberland Baptist Association.^[22]

A story that surely adds some colorful threads to Samuel’s biography follows:

He (Samuel) was often applied to by acquaintances for advice in business matters, and sometimes in the event of domestic trouble. In case of family feuds he was shy, however, it is said in giving counsel. He once had a disagreeable experience as a domiciliary peace-maker. When a young man, on the way with his family to locate on the Loyalsock, while stopping at some settlement for rest and refreshment, he came to the house of a married couple who were engaged in actual hostilities. The weaker vessel seemed to be suffering the most damage, and was apparently worthy of the most sympathy. He kindly advocated peace. Finding kind words ineffectual, he finally felt obliged to protect her by taking her liege lord by the neck. The result was that the woman instantly turned on him in defense of her husband, and the combative twain fell upon him and gave him a fearful thrashing. Such vigorous reproof, he said, was enough to last him his life-time.^[23]

The 1850 Lycoming County census shows Samuel (2) living in the home of his son-in-law, William Vandyke, and daughter Elizabeth. Samuel died of apoplexy on February 7, 1857 at the home of his son, Jeremiah, in Plunkets Creek Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. He was buried in the Emanuel Church graveyard, Muncy Creek Township, but later both his and his wife’s remains were buried in the Muncy Cemetery, Muncy, Pennsylvania.

Samuel left a will dated February 10, 1849 and proved February 13, 1857. By mid-1800 standards, he was quite a wealthy man. Excerpts and abstracts from his will that might be of interest include:

_bequeath to my son Jacob Rogers all my real estate on the east branch of the Loyalsock Creek where John R. Riley now lives

_bequeath to my son Samuel all that track (sic) of land and appurtenances thereon that William Rogers and widow Bryan now occupy (plus several other tracts to Samuel)

_bequeath to my sons Richard G. Rogers and Jeremiah A. Rogers the remainder of this farm I now reside on which is not sold to them by article with all the appurtenances and two undivided third of the two additional tracks (sic)

_bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth Ann Van Dyke all of my Track (sic) of land Warrantee Peter Beck Jr. situated in Plunkets Creek Township, Lycoming County with all the appurtenances thereon which is now leased to John Davis.

_Samuel Rogers Jr. is to pay to Mary Woodley my daughter three hundred dollars

_daughter Margaret Winchell to receive $150 after four years plus $50 in bank notes

_E. A. Van Dyke $650 one year after my departing this life^[24]

Samuel and Mary’s children, who were not listed in Samuel’s will, had all died before 1849.

River Rafting

Attempts to capture the entrepreneurship of the industrious Rogers have been feeble ones at best. In absence of oral history dating this many generations back, I have relied heavily on the existing published works. Fred M. Rogers, great grandson of Samuel (1) and Ann Gaunt Rogers, was the author of an article, “Rafting Days on the Loyalsock” that details the technical aspects and hazards of river rafting.  The Loyalsock Creek was actually a small river with two main branches (Little Loyalsock and Big Loyalsock) which drained parts of current Bradford, Lycoming and Sullivan counties, it apparently was always called a creek. The Loyalsock flaunted bars, narrow channels and sharp right angle turns as it rushed through narrow mountain canyons on its way to the Susquehanna River at Mountoursville. The Creek required “grit, courage, manliness, plenty of good active brain cells and quick insights”^[25] to survive the watery excursion from the sawmills to market.

In the abstract that follows, Fred often references a Rogers. This Rogers remains the mystery man in his story. He does specifically name John W. Rogers (his father) as well as Moses Rogers, Reuben Rogers, Jonathan Rogers, S. S. Rogers, Thomas Rogers, Joseph Rogers, and John W. Rogers as raftmen on the Loyalsock and the Susquehanna River. It seems that many, if not most, of our Lycoming/Sullivan Rogers male ancestors were skilled boaters, rafters and raft pilots. Let’s join them now and see if we can stay afloat:

The construction of the rafts was no easy task as they had to be built of sufficient strength to withstand the wrenching and rough going on the course of the Loyalsock. The ordinary raft was from eighty to one hundred feet in length–sixteen feet in width and one and a half feet in depth and it was pinned and boomed for a rough voyage on the Loyalsock and the River. The raft was manned by a first and second steersman and a first and second pilot; and was run with oars at the front and rear ends. These oars were stems, about twenty feet long, usually made from small hemlock trees, seasoned; to each was spiked a tapering plank from fourteen to sixteen feet long, the oar being balanced so as to work to the best advantage.

After the rafts were in shape to move, the cabin had to be furnished with sleeping and cooking equipment and provisioned. The raftmen were good feeders and demanded good sleeping quarters as they were very active, often starting from the mouth of the Loyalsock at Montoursville at 2:00 a.m. hiking to near Forksville and returning on a raft to Montoursville on the same day (a distance of about 32 miles from Mountoursville to Forksville).

In early times the raftmen depended on the spring rains and snow for the water on which to run their rafts, but later on, when the water was not high enough to run them on the natural rafting water, they used the water stored by the splash dam about four miles below Forksville. Two splashes could be used for rafting purposes daily. Each splash would raise the water on the Loyalsock about three feet, and the rafts running on the splashes could reach the landing at Montoursville twice each day.

The rafts were often loaded with lumber, five thousand feet to the raft, and in such cases a raft would contain about thirty thousand feet of lumber. Sometimes they would join their rafts when they reached the river and run them as a fleet, separating them when they came to the river dams and running them as sleds.

On boarding a raft on the Little Loyalsock above Forksville, at Millview, you would soon learn that the Little Loyalsock is not the rough roaring stream that you find the Big Loyalsock is. Once on the latter, however, the excitement begins as you are soon at the Gulf, a sharp, rocky turn in the stream; then a short, rapid run brings you to the Dye Kettle, another sharp rock turn. Here the dye kettle, now at the Rogers’ homestead, was pulled from a deep hole and again used for years at the woolen factory...The old Cape Dam site is soon passed and you are headed straight for the rocks in one of the sharpest right-angle turns on the Loyalsock, which is commonly known as Figgles Turn (English dialect for fidgets), and the Turn is rightly named as it gives the raftmen the figgles when they face it on a raft with an excitable pilot. It was in this Turn that the writer (Fred M. Rogers) nearly succumbed to the figgles when the pilot put the raft straight into the rocks. The front end of the raft attempted to climb the rocks and succeeded in doing so for some thirty feet up; and the middle of the raft sank beneath the water up to my ears and the rear of the raft ran out of the stream onto dry land. Rogers stuck to the ship up to his ears in April ice water, but was not excited; John W. Rogers shouted to Rogers to take to the mountain. Then the raft slid off the rocks and the middle of the raft came to the surface with Rogers still hanging on. The front end swung about into deep water and then pulled the rear end from the dry land. Then the raft was boarded by the steersmen and pilot who had put the raft into the hill and rocks, all of whom had deserted the ship a few moments before. Rogers received plenty of excitement–a good wetting in real ice water–and was none the worse for the experience. But he was never caught on any other raft with that pilot again.

The excitement and kick which the raftmen received when running the Loyalsock was what they liked and what they never forgot. Many of them turned back when they had finished running the rafts to Montoursville as river rafting was not as interesting and exciting as rafting on the Loyalsock. Other men in such cases took the rafts down the Susquehanna.

The log floaters made rafting very dangerous for the raftmen after they began their drives on the Big and Little Loyalsock about the year 1870. They continued to drive logs on the two Loyalsocks for 20 years and until the greater part of the hemlock was taken from the upper Loyalsock and its tributaries. The logs were usually stocked during the fall and winter by men with teams or by use of log slides and rollways down the mountains and through the gorges to points on the banks of the streams. This “stocking” was a hard and risky business. Few men were able to make any profit on their jobs. The expense of cutting and stocking the logs was often more than the first cost of the logs in the woods and driving them to the mouth of the Loyalsock was a body killer. As for the men employed in floating the logs, few reached their homes with any of the hard earned cash that they received when they finished their drives.

Some of the raftmen who did not know the river secured the services of regular river steersmen and pilots, but most of the Loyalsock raftmen, who were the leading men in the business, ran their own rafts on the river.^[26]

Fred M. Rogers wore many hats besides those of author and raftman. He was a teacher, an attorney and a housing developer at Forksville. He was also very involved in the community life of Forksville as a civic leader and organizer and was an active member of the Methodist Church.^[27]

I hope you enjoyed the raft excursion down the Loyalsock and didn’t fall in the creek more than a time or two. This story just had to be included because my great grandfather, Jeremiah “Jerry” Rogers, was a skilled river rafter and log floater on the rivers of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and South Dakota as the family moved westward. Jeremiah’s father, Samuel (3), likely learned the ways of the river on the Loyalsock as he spent the first 30 years of his life in Lycoming County before moving to Wisconsin.

Civil War Heroes and Casualties

Before we follow the Rogers farther west in the next chapter, let’s take a moment to honor our Rogers kin who served in the Civil War, some of whom gave their all.

Corporal William Rogers, son of Moses and Jane (Sadler) Rogers, was killed on May 12, 1864 at Spotsylvania Court House, Virginia and was buried at the Wilderness Burial Grounds. William served in K Company 141^st PA Infantry.^[28]

Thomas Winchell, Samuel (2)’s grandson through his daughter Margaret Winchell, served in the 10^th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry and in the 38^th Wisconsin. At the siege of Petersburg he received a lieutenant’s commission in Co. C., 10^th Wisconsin and when mustered out in June 1866, he was adjutant of the regiment. Thomas’ brother, Clinton, also of the 38^th Wisconsin was badly wounded at Petersburg.

Richard G. Rogers, son of Samuel Rogers (2), had two sons who served in the war from Pennsylvania: Jeremiah of the 112^th P.V. Infantry who died in the prison camp at Andersonville, Georgia; and Judson K. Rogers who survived the war.

Sarah Rogers Bryan, daughter of Jonathan Rogers, had five sons who served in the war, and two of them were killed: Lt. William Bryan, 106^th P.V., fell at Antietam; Jonathan 2d Wisconsin Infantry, fell at Gettysburg. Two other sons, Major Samuel Bryan, 84^th P.V., was twice severely wounded, and David M. Bryan also of the 84^th P.V. lost a leg in the battle of Fredericksburg. Only Ellis L. Bryan, 106^th P.V. escaped injury.

William Rogers, son of Jonathan Rogers, had two sons who served in the Civil War, one of whom (J. Horace Rogers) died of disease contracted in the field after his discharge.^[29]

This is only a sampling of the many Rogers descendants who served, were wounded or  died in the Civil War.

On this gloomy note, we invite readers to climb aboard the old covered wagon and accompany Samuel Rogers (3) and Elizabeth Harding and their descendants on the westward migration trek into Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and South Dakota.

Why did most of the descendants of Samuel Rogers (1) migrate out of central Pennsylvania within a few decades of landing on American shores? The search for greener pastures certainly was a westward pull factor for many, if not most, of the “covered wagon” settlers. The Homestead Act of 1862 offering 160 acres of public domain land to any United States citizen who was 21 years of age and head of a family was a major catalyst of westward migration. But let’s run this question by Myron Northrop, a Rogers genealogist who laid the groundwork for the Rogers ancestry in the 1970's.^[1] Myron apparently was often asked why the Rogers went west and why they abandoned the woolen industry. He answered these questions in a letter written to his cousin, Richard “Dick” Samuel Rogers, of Eugene, Oregon on August 15, 1978. This letter is particularly valuable because it references the migration pattern of the children of Samuel Rogers (2) both before and after his death. Several paragraphs from this lengthy letter follow with explanations in parentheses:

Dear Dick, I was pleased to receive your letter of August 9 with enclosures of photocopies of Fred M. Rogers letter of April 4^th, 1935 and Molly Wheat’s letter of June 1, 1952. These letters show how some members of the family were trying to keep in touch with each other and gather genealogical records many years ago. I agree with you that your father went west where the “grass is greener.” (Richard “Dick” Rogers’ father was also named Richard Samuel Rogers and had migrated from Wisconsin to Oregon around 1920.) In Columbia County, Wisconsin in 1850 you have the Winchells (Margaret Rogers Winchell was daughter of Samuel 2); your great grandfather Samuel (3), and the Woodleys (Mary Rogers Woodley was daughter of Samuel 2); and in Adams County that corners on Columbia County my grandfather Jacob. This accounts for four of the seven children of Samuel (2) in 1850. Other 1850 census enclosed shows that the VanDykes were living with Samuel (2) in the home place in Lycoming County while Richard G. (Gaunt) and family, including brother Jeremiah, were running a woolen mill in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, town of Briar Creek. Brother Jeremiah was not yet married.

Brother Jeremiah, son of Samuel (2), did marry in Briar Creek, and this young couple also migrated west–to White Cloud, Michigan where he had a sawmill.

Sister Elizabeth and her husband, William VanDyke, also came west after the death of father Samuel (2). See the 1870 census enclosed for Barnesville, Missouri. In the census for Ironton, Missouri you will note that my grandfather Jacob is not listed. He and family had moved from Montour, Iowa to be near the Winchells and again go into the lumber business. Shortly after moving to Missouri, my grandfather died of pneumonia, leaving my grandmother with five young children to raise–my mother being the youngest–2 years old!

So, great uncle Richard Gaunt Rogers was the only child who lived to maturity of Samuel (2) who stayed in Pennsylvania and in the woolen business. His sons continued in the woolen business.

This has been a “long winded” explanation of the migrations of Samuel 2's children so you won’t have the feeling that your great grandfather Samuel (3) was the only one who gave up the woolen business. S/ Myron

Generation 7: Samuel Rogers and Elizabeth Harding                                         

Samuel Rogers (3) born December 15, 1817 in Muncy, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, now carries on the direct-line descendancy for some of you readers. He married Elizabeth Harding, daughter of James Harding and Sarah Warren Harding on December 2, 1840 in Lycoming County. (Harding and Warren biographies are narrated in chapter 4.) Samuel and Elizabeth were the parents of Mary born 1842, George born 1843, and James born 1845 all in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania; Emaline born 1847 in Wisconsin, Jeremiah Akroyd born 1849 at Muncy, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Sarah born 1852 in Juneau County, Wisconsin; Samuel born 1854 in Vernon County, Wisconsin; and William born 1861 in Juneau County, Wisconsin.

The U. S. federal census trail for Samuel and Elizabeth includes:

1850 Columbia County, Wisconsin

Westpoint Twp., 715/715, Samuel Rogers 33 farmer born PA, Elizabeth 30 born PA, May E. 8 born PA, George H. 7 born PA, James P. 5 born PA, Emiline 3 born WI, Jeremiah 2 born PA

1860 Juneau County, Wisconsin

Kildare, 1034/925, Samuel Rogers 42 farmer $1000 value of real estate born PA, Elizabeth 40 born PA, James 15 born WI, Emeline 13 born WI, Jeremiah 11 born PA, Samuel 5 born WI

1870 Vernon County, Wisconsin

Town of Sterling, Post Office West Prairie, Samuel Rogers 51 lumberman $1500 value of real estate born PA, Elizabeth 49 keeping house born PA, James 25 sawmill operator born PA, Emeline 23 domestic servant born WI, Jeremiah 21 farm laborer born PA, Samuel 15 born WI William 7 born WI, Mary Wesley 6 born MN, Nelson Emmons 30 day laborer born PA

Note: Emeline Rogers married the boarder Nelson Emmons on June 12, 1870 one day after this census was taken.

1880 Vernon County, Wisconsin

Town of Sterling, Elizabeth 60 born PA, S.R. Rogers farm hand son 25 born WI, W. G. Rogers farm hand son 18 born WI

Birth places of the children on the census indicate this family was on the move during a 20 year period from Lycoming County, Pennsylvania to Wisconsin where Emeline was born in 1847 and then back to Pennsylvania by 1849 where my ancestor Jeremiah Akroyd was born in Lycoming County and then again to Wisconsin. In 1850 Samuel was farming in Westpoint Township, Columbia County, Wisconsin. (In this census Samuel (3) was a neighbor of Thomas Molyneux whose deceased wife, Hannah Rogers Molyneux, was Samuel’s aunt.) It appears the family then moved to Juneau County, Wisconsin where Sarah was born and died in 1852. By 1854 Samuel had moved on to Vernon County, Wisconsin if birth place information is correct for Samuel Richard Rogers (4).

In 1860 Samuel (3) was in Juneau County, Wisconsin where he owned land valued at $1,000 and was farming. By 1870 he was living in the town of Sterling, Vernon County, Wisconsin and working as a lumberman. In 1880 Elizabeth was still living in the town of Sterling with the two youngest sons, Samuel (4) and William, and she was boarding a school teacher.  Samuel’s whereabouts in the 1880 census is unknown.  

On October 28, 1875 from Sterling, Vernon County, Wisconsin, Samuel wrote a letter to his sister, Margaret Winchell, and her husband, A. B. Winchell. Margaret and Amasa were probably living in Iowa where Margaret died in 1880, but this letter does not give that information. The spelling is so poor that my first impulse was to grab my red correction pen or retype it correctly. I did neither. Instead I humbly typed the letter verbatim (with a few blanks that I couldn’t decipher) with a deep appreciation for my great great grandfather who, with limited education, eked out a living from the land and rivers and raised children who became hard-working, productive citizens.

My Dear Sistter Margret Winchell & Brouther A B Winchell         Whee Recivd your Kind letter of the 14 ints in Due time of the sad inteligence of the Death of our Dear Sister E A Vandicke it appears Dear Sister She is Done withe the trobles & triels of this van world_______ Sin whee ar all Reseible whell at present & hope By the Blesing of god thiss May find you & all of your Dear family enjoying the Same Blessing. I would like to Know verry much to hear how Harvey & his family & all the Rest of your Childrens familys are getting allong you say you whant me to tell whare our Daughter Emma lives She lives at the Grand Rappds Wood County Wisconsin Emmailine & Dear little familey is getting allong verry Nislley he husband is Dowing verry well at the guiler Bissiness his name is Nellson Emmons________our Son Jerramiah A Rogers what Marred abought a year aggo our Son J P Rogers is in Kanses going to Scooll Jerimiah & Samuel is runing a thrashing machine this fall I have sold two thirds of our plase to Jerimiah & Samuel toe years agoe

My Dear Sister you Speak of Ellizebeth & me coming to se you this whinter But I am Doutfull whe will not So Sittiutated as to come this year But it mabe possible another year I whas Down to Se Brouther Jerimiah in Michigan (St. Joseph) last Septtember a year ago I found his Elath (?) rather poor he as lost the yuse of one of his eys he whas in rather Depresed        The Woodleys familley ar all in ioway Escsept Samuel Woodley I Doee Sinserlley hope you will So Kind as to anser this line & plea to have the rest of the familley wright to us if thay will to enny of them (?) Our family they will anser you must eccuse Me for not ansering your letter       I thought you whant us Both to let you our ages My age is December 15^th 1875 I will be 58 yeares old & Ellizebeth age 56 years old of January 11^th 1876

Ellizebeth Jones (joins) me with love you all from you

Brouther Samuel Rogers

In an earlier letter to his sister, Margaret Winchell, dated December 22, 1872 from Sterling, Vernon County, Samuel (3) inquires about her family and asks her children to write to him. He also writes that Elizabeth has been to Pennsylvania to visit family and friends in the “old home country.” He mentions his brother, Jeremiah Rogers, was losing sight in one of his eyes. Samuel’s son, Jeremiah, was working in the woods and his son, James, was running the sawmill for him.

Land Records

The earliest land record from a thick Homestead file for Samuel Rogers (3) is a Pre-emption Homestead Affidavit, filed January 13, 1887 for Lots 3 and 4 and S1/2 of NW1/4 of Sec. 9, T100, R71 to homestead entry original No. 9206, Charles Mix County, Dakota Territory. On November 21, 1889, Samuel completed Homestead Affidavit for the above land in Charles Mix County. Improvements listed on this affidavit were a sod house, 13 x 16 feet, and 18 acres under cultivation valued at $100.00.^[2]

On October 3, 1892, Samuel (3) filed the Intention to Make Final Proof form at Wheeler, South Dakota. Witnesses listed on this form were his neighbors–Jacob Barnett, Edgar Barnett, Andrew Johnson and Henry Ford. On November 19, 1892, Samuel completed the Homestead Proof–Testimony of Claimant form showing his age as 74 years, his address as Bijou Hills, Charles Mix County, South Dakota^[3] and his birth place as Pennsylvania. He writes in answer to the question about date of actual residence, “In the fall of 1885 to January 10, 1887, good sod house, 12 x 15 feet, 130 rods of fence, good well and 18 acres of breaking; total value of said improvements, $175.00. Family consists of “myself and wife–I have resided continuously on this land since January 10, 1887. My wife lives with her son and refuses to live with me.” Jacob Barrett and Henry Ford also verify that the claimant lived alone on the property as his “aged and infirm wife prefers to live with her married son.”

Looking back 100 years later at this glimpse into the marriage of my great great grandparents, it seems most of my gender could muster up a little compassion for a 70+ year old, sick lady’s refusal to live in a 12 x 15 foot sod house on the prairie. There, of course, could have been other circumstances besides ill health and poor living conditions involved.  Regardless of the circumstances, such a stand in the1890's surely must have met with some degree of social disapproval.^[4] The relatives left behind in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania probably were not aware of the marital discord and living arrangements of Samuel (3) and Elizabeth as a news item in The Now and Then reports, “He (Samuel) and his wife, Elizabeth Harding, celebrated their golden wedding in December 1890. They are living in Bijou Hills, South Dakota, and are said to be enjoying a healthy and vigorous old age.”^[5]

Samuel (3) died on August 29, 1895 probably on his farm in Charles Mix County. A well-preserved gravestone marks his final resting place in the Union Cemetery, Bijou Hills, South Dakota.

In spite of Elizabeth’s apparent ill health, she lived to the age of 90 and died July 4, 1910 in St. Cloud, Minnesota. She was survived by Emmaline who died in 1916 in Grand Rapids, Wisconsin; James who died a missionary in India in 1923; Jerry who died in Charles Mix County, South Dakota in 1929; Will who died in Chehalis, Washington in 1932; and Samuel who died in Manor, Washington in 1834. The informant on her death certificate is S. R. Rogers of 1118 3^rd (or 8^th) Ave. S., St. Cloud, Minnesota. Elizabeth was probably living with her son, Samuel, at the time of her death. She is buried with her husband in the Union Cemetery at Bijou Hills, South Dakota.

Grave Site of Samuel
and Elizabeth Rogers
Union Cemetery, Bijou Hills,
South Dakota
Photo by Jean Rosenkranz

^[1]Myron Northrop was the son of Alma Rogers (Jacob³, Samuel II², Samuel I¹).  

Harding, Warren and Allied Families:England to Pennsylvania

We backtrack now from South Dakota once again to mother England to pick up the Harding and Warren direct-line ancestors as well as brief biographies of two Rogers allied families, Molyneux and Bird, who married Rogers. All of these families were neighbors in Lycoming/Sullivan County, Pennsylvania.

James Harding and Sarah Warren

James Harding was born 1791 in Wickham, London, England. Much of what is known about this immigrant ancestor comes from a most unusual source. In 1838 an Englishman, whose name is now unknown, visited the Muncy Valley apparently looking for land to purchase. He probably died on his way back to London, but he kept a detailed diary of the places and people he encountered from April 28, 1838 to November 30, 1838 beginning with departure from London and ending with a final entry about his illness. This diary took a circuitous journey of its own from London to Pennsylvania to a London book shop to the Cadmus Book Shop of New York City to the James V. Brown Library, and finally to the Lycoming Historical Society–a journey spanning over 108 years.  The journal in its entirety with editorial comments is now on line at Penn State Digital Library, (The Now and Then, Volume V, Part 58, pages 151 through 169).

The journal entries of July 20 , 21, and 22, 1838, along with the editorial comments, not only give us a biography of James Harding, but also a description of the North Mountain Settlement where the Harding family lived. Those entries are recapped below without spelling, grammar or punctuation corrections:

July 20 - Finished haying Mr. James Harding called stayed all night

July 21 - Walked home with Mr. Harding to the North Mountain Settlement started at 2

pm arrived at 7 pm passed through a very hilly country

July 22 - Up at 5 o’clock Breakfasted and started for the top of the mountain a distance of one and quarter miles which took nearly 2 hours, it being very steep, about halfway up is a most beautiful spring running out from between the rocks. The Mountain is composed of rocks and covered with Woods of all kind allmost. We stopped and drank of the spring and eat Raspberrys which grew by the side. I cleaned out the spring and piled up some rocks at the head. Mr. Harding said he would in future call it (Sash or Sart?) Tavern in compliment to me to my taking so much pains with it, and being so much pleased with the refreshment it afforded, when we reached the top we were well paid for the trouble of climbing the side. The view was splendid in the extreme I saw the Susquehanna river and Lewis Lake and the 2 villages of Hughesville and town of Muncy no end of Farms and woods. The Mountain is between the North and West Branch of the Susquehanna. We got back to Mr. Hardings at 2 o’clock, dined and afterwards went getting rasberrys with his daughters.

Mr. Harding is an Englishman and was pressed from the Bull and Mouth in London on board a Man-of-War at the age of 15, was in several engagements and ran away when he was 21 at the taking of Washington in America, was marched up the country by the Americans and set to work by the Captain. He was very saving and now owns 400 acres of land on which he lives and has brought up a family of 12 children. He Mr. Harding is now 47 years old.^[1]

An editorial by T. Kenneth Wood, M.D., continues with the history of North Mountain and an interview with James Harding’s daughter, Sarah, wife of George Edkin:

The spring is located on the saddle between the two highest peaks of North Mountain. Tradition has it that during the Civil War, the men who resisted the draft and brought about the situation known locally as “The Fishing Creek Rebellion,” retired to this inaccessible spot and remained there hidden from the searching government agents.

James Harding was born in London “at the Wickham” in 1791 and is buried at Mount Zion Church in Penn Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. From his daughter, Mrs. George Edkin, now a woman of over ninety years of age and living in Brocton, N.Y., the following verification of the Diarist’s notes was obtained.

At the tender age of 12 years,^[2] her father was apprenticed to a London tavern keeper, the proprietor of the “Bull and Mouth.”^[3] He was at work scouring knives and forks when an English press gang entered and took him along with them. His parents were too poor to pay his ransom and he was placed aboard an English war vessel. He remained in the English Navy for eleven years. The Captain took a great interest in him and taught him how to read and write. This was the extent of his education.

At the time the British sacked and burned the city of Washington in 1812,^[4] young Harding was in the landing party and succeeded in deserting to the American forces. He was taken in charge by an American officer named Massey, who sent him to his estate in Delaware, where he worked for two years. From there he joined a party going to Forksville, Sullivan County, helping them to erect a woolen mill. The man at the head of this party was Samuel Rogers. It was at this settlement that he met and married Sarah, daughter of Joseph^[5] and Mary Warren. Four children were born to them on the Loyalsock and they then moved to a farm on Big Muncy Creek near Strawbridge. Seven more children were born there before they made their permanent home at the North Mountain settlement, where he bought 400 acres. It was here that their twelfth child was born in 1837, our informant (writers insertion: Sarah Harding Edkin) who in 1927 is still in fair health and vigor.

In the later years of James Harding’s life, he had a great desire to return to England. One can understand his eager hospitality to the visiting Englishman. Whether he feared to go back or not

is not known, but his wife persuaded him to write instead and urge his relatives to come here to live. One brother, Joseph, his wife, two sons and two daughters, consented to come at his expense.  Joseph resided in Montoursville.^[6]

The diarist visited many other Muncy Township residents besides James Harding. His mode of travel was by foot, and he sometimes walked several hours to visit a neighbor. He mentions spending time with “Mr. Rogers” and visiting Mr. Rogers father’s cloth factory, corn, plaster and saw mills. The father would have been Samuel Rogers (2), but there is some dispute about which son was “Mr. Rogers.” The editor of the diary claims it was Richard Rogers who was working at the mills and who was the companion of the diarist. Myron Northrop, grandson of Jacob Rogers, however, notes that Richard was only 15 in 1838 and not likely to have been referred to as “Mr. Rogers” nor have been “in charge of the Muncy Mills” as stated by the editor. Myron contends it was more likely his grandfather, Jacob Rogers, age 22 at the time, than Richard Rogers. Regardless of the identity of “Mr. Rogers,” the various entries about visiting the Rogers’ home and mills were of great interest to this writer, and some readers may wish to read this journal in its entirety.

James Harding married Sarah Warren, daughter of John Warren and Mary Ward about 1816 at Forksville, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. Sarah was born April 22, 1791 at Liverpool, England. James and Sarah were the parents of 12 children according to their youngest daughter, also named Sarah, although only nine have been found to date:

Josiah born about 1817, a tailor who lived at Williamsport, Pennsylvania and lived to a ripe old age

Elizabeth born January 11,1820, direct-line ancestor whose biography will follow

Joseph born about 1821

Richard born April 16, 1822, married Permelia Bingham Converse March 8, 1846 and died March 5, 1897.

Lavina born March 28, 1825, married Benjamin O. McCarty and died 1910 at Penn, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania

William born about 1830

Hulda born about 1834

John born about 1836

Sarah born 1837, married George Edkin about 1858. She died in 1930 at the age of 93.

It is difficult to capture the essence of James Harding since he left few paper trails. Besides the diary and brief excerpts in biographical and historical sources, the paper trail includes three federal census records:

1840 Sullivan County, Pennsylvania

James Harding in Davidson Township as head of household listing 1 male under 5, 2 males 5‑10, 2 males 15‑20, 1 male 40‑50; 2 females under 5, 1 female 10‑15, 1 female 15‑20, 1 female 20‑30, and 1 female 40‑50.

1850 Sullivan County, Pennsylvania

James Harding in Davidson Township, age 60, farmer born England, Sarah 60 born England, William 20 farming born PA, Hulda 16 born PA, John 14 born PA, and Sarah 12 born PA.

1860 Sullivan County, Pennsylvania

James Harding in Davidson Township, age 67, born England, Sarah 62 born PA , and Harriet L. Morris 8 born PA.. (The 8 year old child could be a grandchild living with James and Sarah.)

Sarah Harding Edkin provided one more tidbit about her father–a mermaid tattoo on one arm and a heart tattoo on the other arm, probably souvenirs of his forced British Naval experience.  Grandson, Howard Edkin of Strawbridge, reportedly possessed James’ Last Will and Testament, a document which might provide proof of the children and in-laws if it could be found.

James died October 30, 1869, probably at his farm on North Mountain, Sullivan County.  Sarah Warren Harding died before her husband on May 8, 1855.     

The Saga of John Warren, William Molyneux and Powell Bird: First Permanent Settlers of Sullivan County

Genealogy of William Molyneux and His Descendants

(Northumberland County until 1796, then Lycoming County, and then Sullivan County in 1847)

William Penn was the owner of most of Pennsylvania through royal land grants in the late 1600's. By the 1790's this territory was opened to private investment ranging from six cents an acre to one dollar an acre. Joseph Priestley, Jr. whom we’ve encountered in chapter 2, had purchased large tracts of land in northern Pennsylvania to form a commune. Joseph’s father arrived on the scene in 1794 and hired crews to survey the land that had been purchased with his financial backing in Northumberland County.^[7] Three Northumberland men surveying for Priestley would become the first permanent settlers of the territory. Although there are different versions of how and when Molyneux, Bird and Warren settled along the Loyalsock Creek about 30 miles from Muncy, it is believed that all three were connected with Priestley who gave each of the men 50 acres in payment for their services.

One version of the story is that Priestley sent all three men to the Forks of the Loyalsock where they cleared two acres and built a small house for Priestley. Another version is that William Molyneux was the first to come with a surveying party for Priestley. Molyneux then returned to Northumberland and brought Powell Bird with him and built his own house. This latter version is told by Josiah Warren, son of John and Mary Warren.^[8] The three then returned to Northumberland and, according to Josiah Warren, Molyneux returned to England at that time to get his family (another version of that event by Moses Rogers will be taken up in the Molyneux family history).

John Warren and Mary Ward

John Warren was born April 17, 1767 in Liverpool, England.^[9] He was married to Mary Ward, born April 22, 1769 in Liverpool. John and Mary’s eleven children were:

Sarah, this writer’s ancestor, born April 22, 1791, who married James Harding

Jane born May 24,1795, married John Lambert

Joseph born January 27,1798, married Eliza Ann Bryan, died March 22, 1878

Mary born September 30, 1800, married John Wenck, died September 4, 1884

John born November 16, 1801, married Elizabeth Glidewell, died August 5, 1872

Elizabeth and Hannah, twins born September 15, 1803; Elizabeth died March 20, 1823^[10] or March 20, 1828,^[11] and Hannah died August 5, 1821^[12] or August 5, 1824^[13]

James ** born September 17,1805, died July 26, 1888

Josiah ** born May 10, 1808, died March 9, 1904
** Editor's Note: In June 2007, Rob Love provided a genealogical history of the branch of the Warren family that descends through Josiah Warren. You can see it at Josiah Warren: Son of John Warren and Mary Ward. In December 2010, Laura McDaniel provided a link to her McDaniel family history, which includes the genealogical trees for both James and Josiah Warren's branches of the Warren family. You can find this information at The McDaniel Family Tree.

Twins Charlotte and Judith born March 7, 1810; Judith died March 8, 1881.

All of the children were born in Sullivan County, (then Lycoming) Pennsylvania except Sarah who was born in England before John and Mary emigrated in 1793.^[14]

In all the confusion of trying to reconcile different versions of the “first settlers” story, it is this writer’s “best guess” that John Warren was the first to actually bring his family to live at the Forks. Enroute Mary Warren delivered daughter Jane on May 24,1795 at the home of Abram Webster on the old Gennessee road between Muncy and Hillsgrove. Mary Warren and the new baby spent several weeks with the Webster family while John and the oldest child, Sarah, continued on to the Loyalsock on horseback.^[15] (Editorial comment: Sarah would have been only four years old in 1795.) The Warren family was joined by William Molyneux and the Bird family, whose land adjoined the Warren’s, in the fall of 1795.

John Warren is credited with establishing the first school in Elkland Township. The kitchen of John’s family home was used for a classroom. Classes were taught by John Bull probably between 1804 and 1806. In 1808 Mr. Priestley offered some of the building supplies for a log school house, but it seems the settlers couldn’t agree on where it should be built so it wasn’t until 1816 when widow Sarah Huckell donated land at Forksville that the first school in Sullivan County was constructed^[16] as noted in chapter 2.

Historical records tells us that John and Mary actually built three houses at different times along the creek in close proximity to the original homestead. The Warren homestead was owned by descendants of William Molyneux and Powell Bird for a number of generations. We can assume that these families formed a close bond through the years as they carved out their livelihoods in virgin wilderness. John Warren died on April 17, 1813. Mary Ward Warren died on May 14, 1840 having outlived her husband by many years. She died on May 14, 1840. John and Mary were buried in the Warren Cemetery which today is the Millview Cemetery.

Editor's Note: The Warren, Molyneux and Bird families were all tightly bound by geography, marriage and local community ties. But that doesn't mean they always got along. It turns out that longstanding feuds developed between the Warren and Molyneux and the Warren and Bird families, respectively. These hard feelings passed down into the late 20th century, as recounted in The Molyneux Feuds.

________

William Molyneux and Margaret Atherton

William Molyneux was born February 17, 1761 near Manchester, Lancashire, England. He married Margaret Atherton on July 18, 1785 in Warrington Parish, Lancashire, England. Margaret was born October 24, 1759 in Warrington. William and Margaret were the parents of John, Elizabeth, Edward, Thomas and Ann.  William was nicknamed “Willie the Weaver” because if his occupation as a weaver.  The Molyneux family traces back to 11^th century England and can be found in “Genealogy of William Molyneaux and His Descendants” by George Molyneux Pardoe, 1936 (revised 1976 and 2002 by Louise E. M. Woodhead). 

Historical accounts claim that in 1792 or 1793, while purchasing materials for his weaving business in Manchester, William was seized by a press gang and forced into service on a man-of-war ship for the English Navy (a story very similar to that of James Harding). Unfortunately this was a rather common occurrence during the time frame when England was trying to control its insubordinate colonies in America. Unlike James Harding, however, William made his escape rather quickly while the ship was anchored in Chesapeake Bay. He joined a surveying party on its way to the English settlement at Northumberland, Pennsylvania.^[17]

As noted, William was one of the original three settlers who surveyed for Priestley and received 50 acres on the Loyalsock. After clearing the land for Priestley, he cleared a spot to build a cabin for himself located on the opposite side of the creek from Millview. That house was destroyed by fire. He built a second house of hewn logs near his sawmill. This house seemed comfortable enough for a family so he returned to England in 1797 for his wife and children only to find that his wife, Margaret, and his daughter, Ann, who had been born in 1792 had died.^[18] He returned with three of his four children, John, Thomas and Elizabeth. At a later date his other son, Edward, who would become the husband of Rebecca Bird, daughter of Powell Bird, also came from England and joined the family. William’s third house was built within the boundaries of the village of Millview just a few yards from the original Molyneux Homestead.^[19]

In December 1808 a petition by William Molyneux to the Lycoming county court was read which indicates the condition of the roads in those early years:

The petition of the subscribers inhabitants of Shrewsbury and Elkland townships respectfully showeth: That some alteration and addition to the road laid out some few years since from Peter Carson’s to Edward J. Eldred’s by the Forks of the Loyalsock creek, would be greatly beneficial to your petitioners and the inhabitants in general of Shrewsbury and Elkland townships. That so much of the present road as leads from Rock Run to George Edkin’s may be laid on much better ground for a road. Likewise, so much of it that is from the Eleventh to the Twelfth Mile Tree might keep down the mountain to the creek in a more gradual descent to the Forks of the Loyalsock being too steep and by its declivity rendered almost impassible for carriages. Also, that a branch may start out at or near the Eleventh Mile Tree in an easterly direction until it strikes the Berwick and Newtown turnpike (Susquehanna and Tioga) at or near the junction of the Birch and Loyalsock creeks as these improvements are evidently of great advantage.^[20]

The outcome of this petition is unknown, but once more we find that roads–lack thereof, and improvements thereof–were of paramount importance to these early settlers.

By 1815 there is record of William Molyneux, John Warren and John Huckel/Huckell involved in a joint lumber manufacturing venture. Pine was plentiful along the Little Loyalsock Creek. After harvesting, the sawed lumber was rafted down the Loyalsock.^[21] The Loyalsock had a rapid current which made rafting dangerous, but it seems many of the Lycoming/Sullivan County settlers had to learn how to raft as part of their economic survival.

William Molyneux never remarried. He died April 3, 1848 and is buried in the old Molyneux family cemetery at Millview.

William’s son, Thomas, married Hannah Rogers, daughter of Samuel and Ann Gaunt Rogers. They settled near William’s farm and built a grist mill, a stone dam and sawmill. Both the sawmill and grist mill burned about a year after they were built in 1848. The same year that Thomas’ livelihood went up in flames, both Thomas’ father and his wife died. Shortly thereafter Thomas moved to Wisconsin with some of his children. He is on record in the 1850 census in Columbia County living neighbors to Samuel (3) and Elizabeth Harding Rogers.^[22] Like his father, Thomas remained a widower and raised his children by himself. Thomas’ daughter, Sarah, married Powell Bird, Jr.; and his daughter, Harriet, married Charles Bird. Both Powell Bird, Jr. and Charles Bird were grandsons of the immigrant Powell Bird.^[23] These marriages not only linked the Molyneux and Bird families, but connected the Rogers with the Birds as well since Sarah and Harriet were granddaughters of Samuel and Ann Gaunt Rogers.

Powell Bird and Lydia Hannant

Powell Bird was born at Worstead, Norfolk, England about 1750. Egle’s Notes reports that he “came from London.” This could mean he lived in London as an adult or merely that he sailed from London. He was a weaver by trade. Powell married Lydia Hannant on September 5, 1773 in Dilham, Norfolk, England. Lydia was born in 1754 in Dilham.^[24]

Powell and Lydia were reportedly the parents of 21 or 22 children; however there seems to be record of only 12 children, 11 of whom were born in England. It is noted that the older children did not come to America with their parents so it is likely that Pennsylvania records are not available for those who did not immigrate. The last and only child born after emigration, Rebecca, is credited with being the first white child to be born in what would later become Sullivan County. As noted earlier, two of Powell Bird’s grandsons married daughters of Thomas and Hannah Rogers Molyneux.

The Bird family emigrated in 1793, and like Samuel and Ann Gaunt Rogers, they lost a son (Robert) at sea. They initially settled in what was Northumberland County, Pennsylvania for about a year before Powell joined the Priestley surveying party to the Little Loyalsock Creek and built a small house near the creek, the first of three homes the family would live in during their lifetime on the Loyalsock. The Bird household goods had to be transported up the creek in dug outs to get to their new home.

By 1797 Powell Bird of Shrewsbury Township was noted on a tax record as owning 150 acres, a yoke of oxen, a cow and was living in the second house he had built at that time.^[25] Powell is also on an 1808 list of Shrewsbury taxables.^[26]

Powell Bird was one of the organizers of the Northumberland Baptist Church. He, along with Samuel Rogers, was among the prominent members of the Little Muncy Baptist Church which was organized in 1817,^[27] and he was active in the Loyalsock Baptist Church. William Henry Egle noted that Powell’s name was most frequently found in church records so we can assume church life was very important to the Bird family. Egle provides yet another glimpse into the character and reputation of Mr. Bird as follows:

Mr. Bird seems to have been a man remarkably well adapted to open a new settlement, possessing energy and forethought, he by all accounts surrounded his home with the comforts and to an extent the luxuries of life. Morally and socially he stood high and by his example gave an enterprising and healthful tone to society.^[28]

Powell Bird died April 13, 1829 at his home in Forks Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, and Lydia died there on January (or June) 29, 1832. They were buried in the Bird family cemetery at Millview.

Much more detail on the intermarriages of these families and their historical backgrounds can be found on the Sullivan County, Pennsylvania Genealogy Web Page for the information of any readers wishing to know more about our allied kin. Meanwhile we will take our leave of Pennsylvania and once more return to England from “whence came” two more direct-line ancestors, John Bennett and John Thurber.

 Bennett:  English Ancestors in Colonial America

(Also spelled Bennet, Bennit in colonial records)

Our family history now continues from chapter 3 with the ancestors of Martha Bennett whose pedigree dates back to the 1600's in England.

Generation 1: John Bennett and Ursula White

John Bennett was born about 1630 in Weymouth, Dorset, England. He immigrated as a young, unmarried man sometime before 1655. One source claims he settled first in Boston and then in New London County, Connecticut. He was married to Ursula White on October 22, 1655 in Providence, Rhode Island or Rehoboth (now Bristol County) Massachusetts, depending upon which source one chooses, or more likely both places are correct. Rehoboth was founded in 1643 as a very large territory encompassing part of what today is Rhode Island.^[1] A short history of Rehoboth can be found in chapter 6.

Ursula White was the daughter of William and Elizabeth Cadmam White born about 1636 in Massachusetts.^[2] If birth locations are correct for the children of John and Ursula, we can assume the couple lived most of their married life in Stonington, New London County, Connecticut.

John and Ursula were the parents of John (born about 1658 and died 1660), William born 1660, Thomas born after 1660, Isaac born about 1662, John born 1666, Elizabeth born1672, Cornelius born after 1672, Joseph born 1681, Ursula born about 1682 and Susanna born about 1683. This writer’s immigrant ancestor, John, Jr. was named in memory of his deceased brother John–a very common practice in an era of high infant/child mortality rates. Note that some of these birth dates are “best guess,” and the children may not all be in the correct birth order.

John Bennett, Sr. died September or October 22, 1691 in Stonington, and Ursula died May 17, 1703.^[3]

Generation 2: John Bennett and Elizabeth Parke

John Bennett, son of John above, was born on February 10 or 19, 1666.^[4] He married Elizabeth Parke March 8, 1687 in Stonington.^[5] Elizabeth was born October 28, 1671 to Samuel and Hannah Parke. John and Elizabeth’s children were Hannah born 1688, John born 1691, Samuel born 1694, Thomas born 1697, Joseph born 1699, Elizabeth born 1702, Isaac born 1705, and Nathan born 1709 all in Stonington, New London, Connecticut. John and seven of his eight children were baptized in April 1710. The family lived at Stonington and Preston, New London County, Connecticut. Conflicting information makes the moving dates uncertain.

Two of John’s sons, Samuel and Joseph, became known as the progenitors of the Coventry, Rhode Island Bennetts. Samuel, Thomas, Joseph, Isaac and Nathan all took Harrington women as their brides. Elizabeth married Josiah Harrington.

John Bennett’s will was dated December 7, 1745. He died on December 20, 1745 at Preston, and his will was proved January 10, 1746.^[6] Elizabeth died about 1751.

Generation 3: Thomas Bennett and Jemima Harrington

Thomas, son of John above, was born November 14, 1697 in Stonington, New London County, Connecticut.^[7] As noted above, Thomas was baptized April 1710 in Preston, Connecticut along with his father and siblings. He married Jemima Harrington April 22, 1719 at Preston.^[8] Jemima was the daughter of John and Anna Harrington.^[9] Thomas and Jemima were the parents of Thomas born 1720, twins Josiah and Daniel born 1721 or 1722, Nathan born 1723 and Ishmael born about 1725.

By 1733 Thomas, Sr. owned land in and resided in Scituate, Providence County, Rhode Island. In 1735 he deeded 500 acres from Ishmael Spink, and in 1743 deeded 100 acres of land to each of his sons. Other deeds between Thomas and his sons are recorded in 1750, 1768 and 1769.^[10]

Jemima died April 30, 1761 in Scituate. Thomas, Sr. may have died shortly after the last recorded land record in 1769 in Scituate, Rhode Island.

Thomas Sr.’s brother, Isaac, and two of Thomas’ sons, Thomas, Jr. and Ishmael, migrated to the Wyoming Valley of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania in the 1770's, more than 20 years before Rogers, Bird, Molyneux and Harding settled in neighboring Northumberland and Lycoming Counties. We don’t know why our Bennetts migrated to Pennsylvania, but they probably were not anticipating restless Natives. Indian hostility, fueled in part by the British, was at an all-time high. In 1769 or 1770 Thomas, Jr. joined up with 40 other New England settlers who built a fort (the Forty Fort) on the west bank of the Susquehanna River. Because Thomas is noted as one “who figures so conspicuously in the Wyoming massacre and whose name is held in veneration by the present inhabitants of that beautiful valley,^[11] it might be worth our while to divulge in a short history lesson.

The Battle of Wyoming

In late June 1778 an alarm was sounded about a large force of British Loyalists under the command of Major John Butler, and Cayuga and Seneca Indians (Iroquois tribes) under the command of Chief Cornplanter who were swooping into the Wyoming Valley from New York. The British had suffered an embarrassing defeat at Saratoga in upstate New York the previous year and since then had been conducting hit-and-run raids among the colonial Patriot settlements. The British commander had sent an Indian and a Ranger under a flag of truce to demand surrender of Forty Fort, but the fort refused to capitulate.

Colonel Zebulon Butler, on leave from the Continental Army, meanwhile had dispatched a missive to Philadelphia for reinforcements from the Continental Army. Rather than wait for reinforcements to arrive, however, Colonel Butler and Lt. John Jenkins, Jr. in command of the Fort, were persuaded by some of the younger rebel rousers to go on the offensive. History reports that the 24^th Regiment at Forty Fort was a motley group of “the undisciplined, the youthful, and the aged.^[12] That might have been a bit harsh, but it is evident that most were farmers–not trained soldiers whose motivation for fighting was self-protection of their families and farms.

On July 3, 1778, Colonel Zebulon Butler led the small army of 375 men (including our Thomas Bennett) out of Forty Fort up what is now Wyoming Avenue, Wilkes-Barre. The army made a short stop at a bridge crossing Abraham’s Creek where Thomas Bennett loudly announced that they were marching into a snare, and he returned to the fort. Late in the afternoon, the 24^th Regiment engaged the British and Indians and were horribly defeated in less than a 30-minute battle, but the massacre continued for another 12 hours. The captured were tortured and killed by the Indians.

The next day the articles of capitulation were signed with the agreement that the settlers would lay down their arms and the fort would be destroyed. In turn the settlers could remain on their farms unmolested, but that is not exactly what happened. The Indians, in violation of the

agreement, continued the killing and also destroyed approximately 1,000 homes resulting in a mass exodus to other settlements, especially of women and children. Thomas Bennett, Jr. and his son, Andrew (about 16 years of age), were taken prisoners by the Indians, but they escaped from their captors a few days later.

One of the casualties of the massacre flight, as it would later be called, was a Hannah Rogers who became lost in the swamps and died of exhaustion. Her body was placed under a fallen log and epitaph written in charcoal: “Here rests the remains of Hannah WIFE of Josiah Rogers, who died while fleeing from the Indians after the massacre at Wyoming.^[13] Since our direct-line Rogers did not arrive in Pennsylvania until 1800, the identity of Josiah and Hannah Rogers is unknown by this writer.                                                       

Thomas Jr.’s brother, Ishmael, also served in the military during the Wyoming Valley Massacre in 1778. Ishmael and his son, Rufus, are listed in 1796 taxables in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Ishmael was a grindstone manufacturer at Hanover, Luzerne County. He had moved on to Delaware County, Ohio by 1816.^[14]

The Revolutionary War was an historical backdrop for both the Bennett and Thurber families, but detailed history is beyond the scope of this book. Perhaps this small thread of Revolutionary War history provides readers with an appreciation for our Bennett Pennsylvania ancestors engaged in the fight for independence and protection of their families.

Generation 4: Josiah Bennett (1) and Susannah Bates

2^nd wife, Sarah

Josiah Bennett (1), son of Thomas above and twin to Daniel, was born February 2, 1721 or 1722 in Preston, New London County, Connecticut. His first wife was Susannah Bates, daughter of Francis and Mary Bates,^[15] whom he married about 1744 in Scituate, Providence County, Rhode Island. Susannah Bates was born July 28, 1724 in Voluntown, New London County, Connecticut.^[16] She died sometime between the birth of her last child in 1765 and Josiah’s remarriage to Sarah (surname unknown) in 1768.

Josiah (1) and Susannah were the parents of Francis born 1745, Josiah (2) born 1747, Dorcas born 1749, Zilpha born 1750, Matthew born 1752, Susanna born 1755, Stephen born 1757, Amie born 1759, Micajah born about 1762 and Ichabod born 1765. Josiah (1) fathered another eight children by his second wife, Sarah.

Three of Josiah and Susannah’s sons followed in their father’s footsteps as Baptist preachers–Francis, Josiah (2) and Matthew. Josiah (1) served a Baptist Church at Scituate.

Rhode Island and Vermont colonial records provide some additional information about Josiah (1). As noted earlier, he was deeded 100 acres by his father in 1743. He was admitted as a freeman in 1748 in Scituate, Rhode Island,^[17] and he is listed in the Rhode Island 1774 census at Scituate.^[18] Josiah (1) purchased 100 acres of land from Elijah Gore at Guilford, Vermont on June 14, 1775,^[19] but the family apparently did not move immediately to Vermont as he is on record in the Rhode Island 1777 military census as age 50-60 and able to serve.^[20] Josiah (1) and his son, Joseph, may have served in the Revolutionary War in the state of Vermont.^[21]

Josiah (1) died in 1785 in Guilford, Vermont,^[22] leaving Sarah widowed with eight children to raise including an infant. His estate wasn’t settled for another 35 years.

Generation 5: Josiah Bennett (2) and Sarah “Sally” Baker

Josiah (2) Bennett, son of Josiah (1) above, was born May 10, 1747 in Scituate, Providence County, Rhode Island. His wife was Sarah Baker, daughter of George Baker. Sarah is identified through the will of George Baker dated November 1, 1803 and proved March 15, 1804 in which he bequeaths to a daughter, Sarah, wife of Josiah Bennett.^[23]

Josiah (2) and Sarah were the parents of ten children: Israel, Samson and Susanna (birth dates unknown), Hannah born 1776, Sarah born 1783, Josiah (3) born 1789, Solomon born 1795, Thirza born 1796, Celia born 1799 (also spelled Selah in some records), and Noah born 1800.^[24] It is believed that the older children were born in Foster, Rhode Island; and the four youngest children were born in Sterling, Windham, Connecticut. To confuse the “mailing address” issue, however, there is a posting on Ancestry.com listing the daughter, Sarah, born in New London County, Connecticut.^[25]

Josiah (2) died in 1819 at Sterling, Windham County, Connecticut. No further record was found for Sarah Baker Bennett.

Generation 5: Ichabod Bennett and Nancy Peterson

Ichabod Bennett, son of Josiah (1) and brother of Josiah (2), was born April 4, 1765 in Scituate (later to become Foster), Providence County, Rhode Island. His wife was Nancy Peterson who was born about 1768 in Rhode Island. Nancy’s parents may have been Nathan and Dorcas Peterson, but this information is unproven.^[26] Ichabod and Nancy were the parents of Israel, Elizabeth and Susanna (birth years unknown),^[27] George born 1792,^[28] Olney born about 1804 based on 1850 Providence County, Rhode Island Federal Census, Charles born about 1805^[29] and possibly Nancy born about 1811 per an Ancestry.com entry.^[30] More research needs to be done to prove the children in this family.

Ichabod Bennett was listed in the 1840 Foster, Providence County, Rhode Island Federal Census in the 70-80 age group with a female listed in the 70-80 age bracket. In the 1850 Foster, Providence County, Rhode Island Federal Census, Ichabod is listed as age 85 and wife, Nancy, as age 83. Nancy died in Foster on August 9, 1856. It is assumed Ichabod died before the 1860 census as he is not listed on that census.

In the ongoing effort to weave some flesh onto the bones of these ancestors, a sad reference about the fate of Ichabod’s son, Olney, was noted in the 1850 Providence, Rhode Island Federal Census. Olney, age 46, no occupation, was living in the “poor house” along with 28 other unfortunate souls.

Generation 6: George Bennett and Martha Wilcox                     

George Bennett, son of Ichabod above, was born in Foster, Providence County, Rhode Island on May 5, 1792. His wife was Martha Wilcox, daughter of Solomon and Mercy (or Mary) Wilcox. Martha was born May 20, 1795 in Foster.^[31] Her Wilcox family dates back to the 1500's in Suffolk County, England and can be found on Ancestry.com’s OneWorldTree.

George and Martha were married about 1813 in Foster, Rhode Island.^[32] They were the parents of Solomon born 1817, Betsey born 1819, Mercy born about 1821, Orrin W. born about 1823, Eliza born 1825 and Hiram W. born 1831, all in Foster, Providence County, Rhode Island.

Census records for Providence County, Rhode Island show George and Martha were living in Foster in 1850 with their son Hiram, age 20. In the 1860 Providence County census, George and Martha were living alone in Foster. George Bennett died September 26, 1869 in Foster.

In the 1870 census (after George’s death) Martha was noted as the head of household with son, Hiram, his wife, Mary, and their children, Herbert, Delpherd (Delford) and Lillian. In 1880 Martha at the age of 85 was living with her 61-year old widowed daughter, Betsey Tyler. Martha died April 23, 1883 in Foster.^[33]

Generation 7: Solomon Bennett and Lydia Thurber

Solomon Bennett, son of George Bennett above, was born May 10, 1817 in Foster, Providence County, Rhode Island. He married his second cousin, Lydia Thurber, daughter of Alfred C. and Celia Bennett Thurber, on December 10, 1840 according to family records. Lydia Thurber was born January 1,1823 either in Connecticut or Providence County, Rhode Island.^[34] Her family had moved to Pennsylvania when she was a young child. It is unknown how or when she met her cousin, Solomon. Had Solomon moved to Pennsylvania with Bennett kin, or was Lydia visiting her extended family in Rhode Island? While it is intriguing to speculate on all the possibilities, lets continue with what we do know about Solomon and Lydia.

Sometime before 1848 they had moved to Nicholson Township, Wyoming County,^[35] Pennsylvania where they joined a large extended family on both the Bennett and Thurber lines. Readers may recall that Isaac Bennett and his two nephews, Ishmael and Thomas, Jr. of Wyoming Massacre fame, had settled in the Valley at least by the mid 1770's.^[36] Ishmael migrated on to Ohio, but he had a large family, and some of his sons remained in Pennsylvania. Thomas and Isaac Bennett lived out their lives and died in the Wyoming Valley of Luzerne County. Thomas married Martha Jackson and had several children, at least two of whom had descendants of the same age group in Luzerne County when Solomon and Lydia migrated from Rhode Island. Isaac Bennett also had a large family, and some of his descendants remained in Luzerne County. Thomas Jr.’s grandson, George Bennett, moved to Fairfield Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania in 1840 not too far from where the Rogers lived. Lydia Thurber’s sister, Mary, and her brother, Daniel, also settled and died in Pennsylvania.

Solomon and Lydia lived in Wyoming County, Pennsylvania for 11 to 14 years where Solomon made his living as a carpenter. The Bennett trail then picks up in Iowa County, Wisconsin where the family was enumerated in the 1860, 1870 and 1880 federal censuses. In the 1860 Wisconsin Federal Census Solomon and Lydia were living in the town of Clyde, and Solomon was working as a carpenter. In the 1870 census he was a miller in the town of Wyoming, and in the 1880 census a blacksmith in Avoco.

Researching Solomon and Lydia’s children has been a genealogical challenge complicated by the fact that some of them had nicknames that really stuck. It seems the family historians never knew their real names. Below are the children of Solomon and Lydia which represents my best (but possibly inadequate) detective work:

Alfred Bennett, born 1843 in Rhode Island, homesteaded in Eagle Township, Brule County, Dakota Territory in 1885.^[37] He married Bertha Weber^[38] November 21, 1876. Alfred and Bertha had only one known child, Harley S. Bennett. Bertha died in 1916, and Alfred died February 9,1932 at the home of his son, Harley, in Stratford, Iowa after a 2-day illness.^[39] He is buried with Bertha in the Union Cemetery at Bijou Hills, South Dakota.

Celia Ann, born 1844 in Rhode Island, may be the “Clara” listed in the 1860 federal census in Iowa County, Wisconsin although the age is off by two years. The census was taken on August 7, 1680, and Celia died September 8, 1860.^[40]

Martha Marie Bennett - see chapter 3.

Mary Eliza Bennett, born 1852 in Pennsylvania, married James Weekly, Rev. B. W. Smith and James Cross. She died February 12, 1921, and is buried in Rapid City, South Dakota.^[41]

George Bennett, born 1854 in Pennsylvania, was unmarried. The last record of him is the 1900 Floyd County, Iowa Federal Census where he was noted as living with his brother, Harley W. This George Bennett may be the George Bennett who bought land in the town of Bijou Hills, Brule County, South Dakota and built a second hand store and repair shop.^[42] An unidentified record notes that George lived for 40 years in Floyd County, Iowa until his death in 1928. If so, it raises the possibility of yet another George Bennett who was the proprietor of the above mentioned store. George did, however, own a store in Rudd, Iowa so it is possible that he was the owner of the store in Bijou Hills also. 

William R. Bennett, born 1855 in Pennsylvania, migrated to South Dakota where he homesteaded in Eagle Township, Brule County, South Dakota in 1890.^[43] He and “Carry” were enumerated in the Charles Mix, Dakota Territory Census in 1885^[44] and in Eagle Township, Brule County, South Dakota in 1895.^[45] William and Carrie (maiden name unknown) were the parents of

five known children.^[46] They returned to Rudd, Floyd County, Iowa where they are listed in the 1920 and 1930 Floyd County, Iowa Federal Census. Their death dates are unknown.

Harland Warren Bennett, (or Warren Harland) born 1859 in Wisconsin, was still unmarried in the 1900 Iowa census. He does not appear in any later census records. Harland and his whereabouts remain a mystery. It is possible he died before the 1910 census.

Alma Ann “ Allie” Bennett, born 1863 in Wisconsin, also migrated to South Dakota sometime between 1883 and 1889. She was married to James Trewartha, but the marriage did not last, and Allie raised her four children and two foster or adopted children by herself. She and her son, Orien, built the Snake Creek Store as noted in chapter 3. She died January 16, 1939, and is buried at Union Cemetery, Bijou Hills under the name of Allie Trewartha.

Betsy Amelia Bennett born 1865 in Wisconsin was also known as Alma, Emily and Ammie. The nicknames in this family have created a great deal of confusion, perhaps no more so than with Betsy who apparently never went by Betsy, and her given name is uncertain. She seems to have been called Alma whereas her sister Alma was called Allie. She was married to Benjamin P. Skewis, a photographer and the family spent a number of years in Minnesota. In the 1900 Minnesota Federal Census she was noted as “Ammie.” An unidentified source notes her name as Betsy Amelia Bennett Skewis in her obituary, but this is unconfirmed as the referenced obituary has not been found by this writer. She died March 3, 1936 in Salem, Oregon.

We don’t know when Solomon and Lydia moved from Wisconsin to Iowa, but the next paper trail is the 1895 Iowa State Census where they were living in the tiny village of Rudd in Floyd County. The 1895 census lists Solomon as a farmer and a Baptist. Solomon and Lydia would have been advanced in years by the time they settled in Rudd, Iowa. Solomon died two years after the 1895 census on November 4, 1897 at Rudd. This photo of Lydia and her sons, George and Harley, must have been taken shortly after Solomon’s death as she holds a picture in her hand which supposedly is a photo of Solomon. In the 1900 Iowa census, Lydia was living with George. She died at Rudd, Iowa on July 13, 1909.

Thurber: More English Ancestors in Colonial America

The ancestry for Lydia Thurber, whom we met in chapter 5 as the wife of Solomon Bennett, dates back to the 1600's in England. Some Thurber web sites will show the lines much further back, but we will pick up the Thurber history with the immigrant ancestors, John and Priscilla Thurber.

In compiling the Thurber ancestry, I’ve relied heavily on the research of other writers as so footnoted. I am particularly indebted to Florence Thurber Gargaro for the extensive research she has done on the Thurber family, her Thurber and Dow Family Home Page, her generous sharing of resources and her patience in answering numerous questions.

Thurber Origins

The origin of the Thurber family in England is still being researched. Unfortunately a great deal of misinformation about the origins can be found on genealogy web sites. The most often noted, but disproved, origins are Stanton or Market Stainton in Lincolnshire, England about 130 miles from London. Stanton did not exist in Lincolnshire. Apparently Market Stainton was substituted for Stanton by some well-meaning researcher. There is no evidence to support either Stanton or Market Stainton in Lincolnshire as the birth place of John Thurber that I am aware of. An English archivist hired to do Thurber research in Lincolnshire reported that there was a Stanton in Leicestershire, however, which borders Lincolnshire.

 A theory worthy of serious consideration suggested by Gargaro and others is that the Thurber name is a shortened version of the name Thirdborough, Tharborough, Thurburrow or other variant spellings. This quite unusual name is found almost exclusively in Leicestershire, England. Pallot’s Marriage Index for England: 1780-1837 lists Thirdboroughs in Blably, Leire, Barros on Soar and Gilmorton all in Leicestershire. The Free BMD Marriage Index 1837-1983 shows all but one entry for this name located in Leicestershire. The IGI (International Genealogical Index) as posted on Ancestry.com also verifies that the name in its several variant spellings was almost exclusively from Leicestershire. The English pronunciation of the name Thurburrow puts less stress on the latter syllables than the American pronunciation which would make the name sound similar to Thurber.

From Gargaro’s research we also learn that the word “thirdborough” means deputy constable or tithingman. A tithingman was the chief man of a tithing/tything or the headborough who presided over the tithing (a group of about ten households). Villages often had several tithings. The tithingman served for a year at a time and was expected to be physically fit enough to maintain order.^[1]

Generation 1: John Thurber and Priscilla

John Thurber was born about 1620-1625 in England. He married Priscilla (maiden name unknown)^[2] about 1646-1647 in England. Priscilla was born between 1625 and 1627. John and Priscilla were the parents of John born about 1649, Mary born about 1652, Edward born about 1654, Thomas born about 1656, Elizabeth born about 1658, James born 1660 and Charity born about 1663-1664.^[3] All were born in England. Because the birth years of some of the children are approximations, the birth order above may have errors. (Some Thurber researchers show an Abigail born 1647. If Abigail was the oldest child, she may have died young as there is no known record of her.)

John Thurber was a Baptist and a religious dissenter because of his refusal to take the Anglican communion or to conform to the tenets of the restored Church of England in 1662. Various acts passed by Parliament between 1661 and 1665 resulted in a hostile religious climate and considerable persecution for dissenters.

Swansea/Rehoboth, Massachusetts

The future home town of John and Priscilla had been purchased in 1641 from the Indians and was first established as the town of Seekonk in 1645. Two other tracts were added between 1641 and 1667. In 1669 Rehoboth covered a very large area including the present town of Rehoboth, Seekonk, Attleborough, parts of Swansey/Swansea and Barrington as well as Pawtucket (now in Providence County, Rhode Island), and the greater part of Warren in Bristol County, Rhode Island.^[4] Rehoboth was the largest town in the colony during the colonial era and was a contender for the state capital when Massachusetts received statehood. Rehoboth also had the dubious distinction of being the scene of the commencement of King Philip’s War and was nearly destroyed when the Indians set the town on fire on June 14, 1675.

Rev. John Myles from Swansea, Wales had brought part of his Baptist congregation to Rehoboth, Massachusetts in 1663 and organized the first Baptist Church there. He had left Wales, as did 2000 other independent clergymen, to escape Charles II’s Act of Uniformity which severely restricted practices of the church. Rev. Myles and Capt. Thomas Willett, a trader, shipper and politician, from Leyden, Holland, were the founding fathers of the town of Swansea (misspelled Swanzey on the document naming the town in 1667). The application to become inhabitants of this new town dated February 22, 1669 was signed by both John Thurber and his son, John Thurber,^[5] along with 53 other Englishmen

Undocumented sources claim that John, Priscilla and six of their eight children sailed from England to Massachusetts on the ship William and Mary in 1669, and that the remaining two children–Mary and James–came in 1672.^[6] (These sources assume a daughter Abigail bringing the number of children to eight rather than the seven shown on John and Priscilla’s Family Group Sheet in this chapter.) There are several problems with the above scenario including the fact that no passenger list for the William and Mary has been found to determine which family members, if any, were on board in 1669. Mary was about 17 and James was 9 years old in 1669, and it seems unlikely that they would have been left in England. It is possible that the eldest son, 20-year old John who was a sailor on a brigantine, was already “at sea” in 1669. Since John, Jr.  was married in England in 1671, if he did not stay in England, then he likely returned there as a sailor. The unconfirmed report that Mary and James came at a later date, of course, is possible, but it is being discarded by this writer unless supporting documentation is found.

 A John Thurburrow is noted as a surveyor of highways in Dartmouth in 1674, a surveyor of highways in Swansea in 1675 and a constable in Swansea in 1677.^[7] There were no other known “Thurburrows” in Plymouth Colony at this time in history that could account for a John Thurburrow versus John Thurber. It seems reasonable to conclude that John Thurburrow is the same person as John Thurber, and that the English spelling was used in these records rather than the possible Americanized variant of Thurber.

John initially received Lot 40 at Rehoboth in February 1670/1671 when the land was divided.^[8] His son, Capt. John, received Lot 47. Another land record is noted at New Meadow Neck, Rehoboth (which today is part of the town of Barrington, Rhode Island) per quit claim deed from Major William Bradford to John Thurber^[9] (date not noted). In another lot drawing on December 24, 1686 John, Sr. received Lots 3 and 4, and Capt. John received Lot 84.^[10]

Although John probably emigrated to escape religious persecution in England, he seemed to have considerable trouble conforming to the standards of the Baptist Church in Swansea where he is cited in the church records for various offenses. Transcription of two church entries follow (without spelling changes):

May 6, 1671, “John Therbor propounded and was deferred till he can give a cleerer account of the work of conversion on his soul.”^[11]

July 15, 1682, "John Thurber being charged with several evills but especially with a high contempt of the church, when dealing with him for his negligence of meetings and communion; is called to an account this day for the same; and manifested some sorrow for his severall evills the church agree to defer the full determinacion of his case to this day 14night. Upon which day he acknowledged his evills, with relacion to bro Allen, the pastor and the whole church and being admonished against pride, passion, neglect of meetings and exhorted to a more circumspect walking for the future was admitted to continuance of communion."^[12]

Priscilla Thurber also was written up in the Swansea church records on January 11, 1680 where it is noted that she proposed and was put off “till we see a further change in her.” Apparently Priscilla’s sins could not have been too grievous because on the following day “Priscilla Thurber was assented to.”^[13]

It seems the church was not entirely successful in ridding our immigrant ancestor of his “pride and passion” as on May 8, 1691, John was in trouble again. This time he was the defendant in a defamation suit brought by Hugh Cole of Swanzey. The gist of this suit was that John Thurber, Sr., did “reproach and defame Mr. Cole by calling him a thief and a liar.” Four men mutually agreed upon by Thurber and Cole heard the complaints of the two hostile parties and concluded that Thurber should make public acknowledgment that he had sinned against God and wronged his neighbor. He was further cautioned to keep a ”strict watch over his passions for time to come” and fined twenty shillings as vindication of Mr. Cole’s reputation.^[14]

Unfortunately these tidbits of 17^th century records give us only a tiny glimpse into the essence of our immigrant ancestor. The records portray both a hot-tempered Baptist as well as a repentant Baptist whose faith must have been very important to him. Whatever his earthly shortcomings, however, we honor John Thurber for establishing the Thurber lineage on American soil long before our nation was a nation.

John’s death year of 1706 is based on a list of inventory signed by his wife, Priscilla, which was dated July, 3,1706. His will was dated December 17, 1705 according to one source,^[15] or March 21, 1703/04 according to another.^[16] The back of the latter referenced will notes that Priscilla was married to John for 57 years. John bequeathed his carpentering tools to his son, James, which could indicate that both John and James were carpenters.

Before continuing with Generation 2, readers might enjoy this short biography of Capt. John, son of John above and brother to our James:

In 1685 Capt. John Thurber, master of a brigantine, was sailing from Madagascar to America when his ship was blown off course by a storm. He sailed his damaged ship into the harbor of the settlement of colonial Carolina now known as Charleston, South Carolina. Capt. John Thurber expressed his thanks for the kindness of settlers there by giving them about a bushel of seed rice from Madagascar. Rice had been introduced as a crop in the area previously without success. However, when the rice supplied by John Thurber was planted in the rich black soil of swampland in the area, the crop grew well. Within a few years rice was one of the most important crops in South Carolina which led the states in rice production for the next 200 years.^[17]

Generation 2: James Thurber and Elizabeth Bliss

Second wife: Elisabeth Toogood (widow of John Bosworth)

James Thurber, son of John and Priscilla Thurber above, was born August 26, 1660 in England. His first wife was Elizabeth Bliss, daughter of Jonathan and [Rachel?] Puffer Bliss, whom he married June 25, 1684 in Rehoboth, Bristol County, Massachusetts. **^[18] Elizabeth was born January 29, 1657 at Rehoboth.

** Editor's Note: Originally, this text identified the wife of Jonathan Bliss as Miriam Harmon. However, on March 4, 2007, Florence Thurber Gargaro e-mailed Jean Rosenkranz with the following information:

James and Elizabeth were the parents of Elizabeth (possible twin of James, Jr.), James, Jr. born March 3, 1865, John born 1686, Rachel born 1688, Elizabeth born 1690, Bethia born 1692, Jonathan born 1695, Prizzell (Priscilla) born 1697, Samuel born 1700 and Edward born 1702.^[19] All of these children were born at Rehoboth.

Records are scare for James in Rehoboth, but he is noted in Proprietors and Inhabitants of the Town of Rehoboth as having rights and titles to the measuages (dwellings) tenements and lands in a quit‑claim deed given to William Bradford to James dated February 7, 1689.^[20]

As noted previously, James inherited his father’s carpentering tools so James may have been a carpenter by trade.

Elizabeth Bliss Thurber died June 19, 1723 in Rehoboth. The Bliss family was well known in colonial Massachusetts, and their long line of English ancestors can be found on Ancestry.com.

On February 18, 1724 James married Elizabeth Toogood, widow of John Bosworth, in Rehoboth. Elizabeth was born July 25, 1682 and died on June 7, 1773 in Barrington, Bristol County, Rhode Island.^[21] She was the daughter of Nathaniel Toogood.

James Thurber died March 26, 1736 in Rehoboth, Bristol County, Massachusetts.^[22]

Generation 3: Samuel Thurber and Rachel Wheeler

Second and third wives: Lydia Singletary and Welthian Sheldon Williams Tourtellot

Samuel, son of James above, was born August 26, 1700 in Rehoboth, Bristol County, Massachusetts. He and Rachel Wheeler filed their intention to marry on August 4, 1722. The marriage ceremony was performed by Reverend David Turner on December 27, 1722 in Rehoboth.^[23] Rachel was the daughter of James and Grizzelle Squire Wheeler. Rachel’s English ancestry can also be found on Ancestry.com for those wishing to learn more about the Wheeler family.

Nine known children were born to Samuel and Rachel: Samuel, Jr. born 1724, James born 1726, Rachel born 1728, John born 1730 and died 1733, Mary born 1732 and died 1736, Benjamin born 1734, Mary born 1736, Daniel born 1738 and Hezekiah born 1741 all in Rehoboth. Rachel died June 19, 1755 in Rehoboth and is buried with Samuel in the North Burial Cemetery in Providence, Massachusetts.

The family had moved from Rehoboth, Massachusetts to Providence, Rhode Island at least by 1757 where he is on record in the 1757 Ratable List and again in the 1774 census in Providence County.^[24] He was a yeoman which in colonial times was a farmer who owned land above a certain value and who was entitled to serve on a jury. Not surprising, Samuel was a member of the First Baptist Church in Providence.^[25]

On November 9, 1756 Samuel married Lydia Singletary of Sutton, Worcester County, Massachusetts.^[26] Lydia was 59 years old when she married Samuel. Although she and Samuel did not have children together, he must have had a good relationship with her children as he bequeathed to heirs of his late second wife, Lydia Thurber. Lydia died July 12, 1769 in Rehoboth and is buried with Samuel in the North Burial Cemetery in Providence.

Thirdly, Samuel married the twice widowed Welthian Sheldon Williams Tourtellot on May 27, 1772 at Warwick, Rhode Island. The marriage ceremony was performed by Elder Charles Holden. Welthian’s first husband was John Williams and her second husband was Abraham Tourtellot.^[27] Samuel predeceased Welthian. An abstract of Samuel’s will from Providence Probate 6-539, Docket A1230 and inventory of personal property follows:

Samuel Thurber of Providence, yeoman, being advanced in years - will - debts and funeral charges to be paid...heirs of my second wife, Lydia Thurber, late deceased in equal division...my well beloved present wife Welthian...my sons Samuel, James Benjamin, Daniel, Hezekia...daughters Rachel Martin and Mary Mason...my two grandsons-in-law Silas Covel and Olney Winsor Joint executors...8 Nov. 1785...witnesses Ben Covell, Joseph Burrill Jr., Squire Thurber...proved 6 Feb. 1788.

Probate record 6-541 inventory of personal property Mr. Samuel Thurber of Providence deceased 20^th Dec. 1785 and taken Jan. 16, 1788...”^[28]

As noted, Samuel died on December 20, 1785, and he is buried with his first two wives in the North Burial Ground, Providence, Rhode Island where a granite monument marks the burial.

Generation 4: Daniel Thurber and Lois Peck

Daniel Thurber, son of Samuel above, was born June 30, 1738 at Rehoboth, Bristol County, Massachusetts.^[29] He married Lois Peck at Rehoboth on October 9, 1760; marriage intention was posted on September 13, 1760.^[30] Lois was born August 1, 1741 to Thomas and Deliverance (May) Peck, at Rehoboth.^[31]

Daniel and Lois were the parents of Nathaniel born 1761, Polly born 1763, Daniel, Jr. born 1766, Lois born 1768, Chloe born 1771, Lydia born 1775 or 1776, Della born 1777, Nancy born 1780, and Abel born 1783 all at Rehoboth. Rehoboth was home to Daniel and Lois all of their married life. The family was enumerated in Rehoboth, Bristol County, Massachusetts in 1790 and 1800. Like his father, Daniel was a yeoman.

Descendants of Daniel claim he took part in the Revolutionary War. If so, he is probably the Daniel Thurber on record in “A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services.^[32]

In Daniel’s will of December 16, 1803 he bequeathed to his wife, Lois; his sons, Nathaniel, Daniel and Abel; and his daughters, Lydia, wife of Obadiah Wheelock, Polly Thurber, Chloe Thurber and Nancy Thurber. This will was proved April 3, 1804 with Abel Thurber as executor.^[33]

Daniel died February 8, 1804,^[34] and Lois died March 25, 1812. They are buried in the Burial Place Hill Cemetery at Rehoboth, Massachusetts.

A brief biography of Daniel and Lois’ son, Daniel, Jr., who was a prominent physician at Rehoboth, is included in Notable Thurbers as Appendix D. The Thurber Medical Association was named in honor of Dr. Thurber after his death.

Generation 5: Nathaniel Thurber and Polly Shores

Second wife: Mary Paine

Nathaniel, son of Daniel above, was born April 13, 1761 at Rehoboth, Bristol County, Massachusetts.^[35] Nathaniel married Polly Shores (noted in some records as Mary Polly Shores) on May 20, 1792^[36] in Rehoboth, ceremony performed by Stephen Bullock, Esq. Polly was born June 17, 1766, daughter of Zephaniah and Lydia Codding Shores. Nathaniel and Polly were the parents of Alfred born1792, Lydia born about 1796, Alice born between 1796 and 1800 and Daniel born 1803.^[37]

At the young age of 15, Nathaniel became a private in the Revolutionary War. He served from 1776 until 1779 and took part in the battle of the Burning of Bristol, Rhode Island.^[38] His name was on an oath of allegiance to the commonwealth list of persons who took the oath and delivered up their arms during March 1787. Nathaniel is also on record for a military pension from the State of Rhode Island commencing March 4, 1831.^[39] To further substantiate his military service, a brief excerpt from the autobiography of Nathaniel’s grandson, Albert King Thurber, follows:

My grandfather was in the Revolutionary War. When I was but six years of age, he took me by the hand and walked out south of the city of Providence, and showed me earthworks (rifle pits), which he assisted in throwing up to resist the threatened raid of the British forces that were lying at Newport, and intending to land between that place and Providence, and march into the interior.^[40]

Polly died at the age of 45 per engraving on the Thurber tombstone. Either her age was incorrect or her birth date is incorrect. We can be certain that she died sometime between the birth of her last child in 1803 and Nathaniel’s remarriage to Mary Paine on April 9, 1808 in Rehoboth. This ceremony was performed by Rev. John Hill. Nathaniel and Mary had a son, Nathaniel, Jr.

The census trail for Nathaniel places him in Rehoboth, Bristol County, Massachusetts in 1800; in Foster, Providence County, Rhode Island in 1810 and 1820;and in Warwick Township, Kent County, Rhode Island in 1830. The numbers and ages of people in these pre-1850 censuses often does not mesh as well as we would like with the ages and number of people we “assume” should be in the household. That is a common occurrence, though, in an age when the household often consisted of elderly parent (s) or orphaned children of a relative or neighbor. In both the 1800 and 1810 census there is an older female enumerated in Nathaniel’s household. This could possibly be Polly’s widowed mother. In the 1840 census Nathaniel, Jr. was living in Killingly, Windham County, Connecticut with his young family, and apparently Nathaniel and Mary were living in his household. This fits with the Charles H. Thurber biography of Nathaniel Thurber in which he states Nathaniel died at the home of a son in or near Killingly, Connecticut at about 85 years of age.^[41]

Following along with the extant records, particularly the census, we can make some reasonable conclusions (although unproven) about where the children were born. Nathaniel and Polly were married at Rehoboth, Massachusetts in 1792, and Nathaniel and Mary Paine were also “of Rehoboth” when they were married in 1808. If Nathaniel lived continuously in Rehoboth from 1792 to 1808, the children would have been born in Massachusetts with the possible exception of Nathaniel, Jr. as his birth year is estimated to be about 1810. In the 1810 census Nathaniel was living in Foster, Providence County, Rhode Island.

Let’s look more closely at the census records to see if the hypothesis that the children were born in Massachusetts holds up since there’s a mixed bag of information floating around on the internet citing Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts for the various birth places of the children. The 1860 and 1870 census lists Alfred born in Massachusetts whereas the 1850 census lists him born in Rhode Island. Lydia is not listed in the 1850 census in the household of her husband, Arnold W. Sweet, so we can assume she died before 1850. Her premature death makes it impossible to check the birth state for her by means of the census. Alice Thurber Johnson was found in only one census, but that census does list her born in Massachusetts.^[42] Daniel Thurber with his wife Rebecka were in the 1850 and 1880 Rhode Island censuses showing Daniel’s birth state as Massachusetts. The census records, then, do support the birth of the children from Alfred through Daniel as being born in Massachusetts.

Nathaniel died November 2, 1848 at the home of Nathaniel, Jr., as previously noted, near Killingly, Windham County, Connecticut. Both he and Polly are buried in the Burial Place Hill Cemetery at Rehoboth, Massachusetts.^[43]

Generation 6: Alfred C. Thurber and Celia (Selah) Bennett

Alfred C. Thurber, son of Nathaniel above, was born September 28 or 29, 1792^[44] in Bristol County, Massachusetts. He married his second cousin, Celia or Selah Bennett, who was born 1799-1800 probably in Connecticut although some sources list Rhode Island as the birth place. She was the daughter of Josiah and Sarah Baker Bennett whose biography is found in chapter 5. No date has been found for the marriage of Alfred and Celia, but since their first child was born in 1817-1818, we can assume the marriage occurred about 1817. We can also guess that they were married in Windham County, Connecticut where the bride lived since she was a teenager when married and probably still living at home.

Alfred and Celia were the parents of Samuel born about 1817-1818, Abel born 1819, Lydia born 1823, Theodore born 1825, Mary born 1829, and Daniel born 1837. Census records, once again, prove valuable in tracing the migration route of Alfred and Celia as we follow the birth states of the children. Samuel and Abel were born in Windham County, Connecticut. It is unclear from census records whether the family was still in Connecticut in 1823 when Lydia was born or if they had moved to Providence County, Rhode Island by then. Their fourth child, Theodore W., was born in Rhode Island in 1825. Sometime before the birth of Mary in 1829, they had moved to Abington Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.

Census records show Alfred enumerated in Abington Township, Luzerne County in 1830; in Nicholson Township, Luzerne County in 1840; and in Nicholson Township, Wyoming County, Pennsylvania in 1850. Wyoming County was carved out of Luzerne County in 1842 so a county boundary change probably accounts for Alfred being in Wyoming County in 1850 rather than an actual move. Alfred was noted as a lumberman in the 1850 census.

By 1855 Alfred and Celia had moved to Iowa County, Wisconsin where Alfred purchased 80 acres of farm land.^[45] In 1858 he purchased another 40 acres.^[46]

The census trail picks up Alfred, “Cila” and Daniel in the 1860 census in the town of Clyde, Iowa County, Wisconsin. On this census Alfred was working as a farmer, and Daniel was working as a farm laborer. In the 1870 Iowa County census Alfred and Celia were enumerated under the name of “Shurber,” an error resulting in many new gray hairs for this genealogist.

All four of the Thurber sons followed their parents to Iowa County, Wisconsin. Abel lived in Clyde until 1884 when he moved to Lone Rock, Wisconsin where he died the following year. Mary married William Driggs in Pennsylvania on August 18, 1853, and the young husband died four months later.^[47] She remarried Lewis Jackson and is buried with Lewis and their son, John, in the Thurber Cemetery, Clyde Township, Iowa County, Wisconsin. Daughter Lydia’s marriage to Solomon Bennett and their family is narrated as Generation 7 in the Bennett chapter 4.

Alfred died November 8, 1875 at the age of 83 years, 1 month and 10 days according to the tombstone transcription in the Thurber Cemetery, Iowa County, Wisconsin.^[48] The death date and age calculate to a birth date of September 29, 1792 which conflicts with other sources which show September 28, 1795. The 1860 and 1870 census records showing his age as 68 and 78 supports the 1792 birth year taking into account that the August enumeration date of the census was a few weeks shy of Alfred’s birthday.

Celia Bennett Thurber died in 1879 at the age of 79 years and 7 months according to the Thurber cemetery transcription. A search of the Wisconsin Pre-1907 Death Index and Iowa County Register of Deeds did not yield a death record for either Alfred or Celia, but the search continues.

The Thurber cemetery has only 16 graves on record. The “newest” burial is 1914 so it is not surprising that it reportedly is not maintained. Information from the Iowa County Genealogy Society notes that it is hidden in the trees on a knoll between roads and cannot be seen from the main road. One must walk through a cow pasture to find it. That sounds like a challenge for genealogists who take pride in tracking ancestors in remote cemeteries. The cemetery legal description, for the information of any reader who wishes to accept the challenge, is the NE corner of SE1/4 of SW1/4, SEC 27, T8R2 (off county Highway NN in Clyde township).