John Wortman of Bedminster: Blacksmith, Patriot, and Citizen‑Soldier

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In the rolling farmland of Somerset County, New Jersey, during the tumultuous years of the American Revolution, John Wortman (1729–1807) emerged as one of those indispensable local leaders whose influence rarely makes it into textbooks but was essential to the patriot cause. Born into a Dutch‑American farming and blacksmithing family, Wortman grew from a colonial artisan into a respected community figure — a man his neighbors called “Squire Wortman” for his civic authority and steady leadership.

John was born on February 1, 1729, in Somerville, the son of Jan Evertsen Bout Wortman and Beletje Post, descendants of Dutch settlers who had migrated inland from Long Island at the turn of the 18th century [3]. His baptism at the North Branch Reformed Dutch Church tied him to a congregation that would later become a center of revolutionary thought and action [1][3].

A Community Leader Before the Shooting Started

By the 1770s, Wortman had become a prominent landowner and blacksmith in Bedminster Township. His 500‑acre plantation, his forge, and his role as Justice of the Peace placed him among the township’s most trusted figures [1][6]. When tensions with Britain escalated, he stepped naturally into leadership.

He served on the Bedminster Committee of Observation, the local body responsible for enforcing boycotts, identifying Loyalists, and preparing the militia for conflict [4]. In May 1775, he was chosen to represent Bedminster at the Provincial Congress in Trenton, where New Jersey began its transition from royal colony to revolutionary state [4]. His home became a gathering place for patriot organizers — a quiet but vital hub of planning and coordination [1][6].

These early political roles reveal a man deeply invested in the future of his community and the emerging nation.

Corporal in the Somerset County Militia

When war arrived in earnest, Wortman joined the 1st Battalion of the Somerset County Militia as a Corporal [3]. This rank placed him in a position of tactical responsibility, overseeing a squad of men in a battalion frequently called into service to defend the “Neutral Ground” of New Jersey — the contested corridor between British‑held New York and patriot‑held Philadelphia.

The Somerset Militia played a crucial role during the Middlebrook encampments and the Battle of Monmouth, providing security, scouting, and harassment of British foraging parties [9][13]. Wortman’s service spanned 1777 to 1783, covering some of the most intense years of the war in New Jersey [3].

A Blacksmith’s Contribution: Keeping the Army Moving

One of the most compelling aspects of Wortman’s service was his technical skill. As a trained blacksmith, he was invaluable to the Continental Army. Local tradition holds that he personally shod the horses of General George Washington during the army’s movements through Somerset County [1][6]. Whether literal or symbolic, the story reflects the essential role of blacksmiths in maintaining the army’s mobility.

His forge repaired wagon hardware, shod cavalry horses, and kept the transport teams functioning — work that directly supported the army’s ability to maneuver across New Jersey’s rugged landscape. This technical service ran parallel to his militia duty and his logistical work within the Wagonmaster General’s Department, where he helped coordinate the movement of supplies and equipment [3].

This blend of military, logistical, and artisanal service made Wortman a true citizen‑soldier, contributing wherever he was most needed.

Family, Faith, and the Bedminster Estate

In 1777, John married Sarah Howard, with whom he raised ten children — one son and nine daughters [3]. Their household was sustained by a combination of family labor and enslaved individuals, a difficult but historically accurate reality of Somerset County’s agrarian elite [3]. The names of four enslaved people — Sam, Jack, Dick, and Bet — appear in records associated with the Wortman estate.

The family worshipped at the Bedminster Reformed Church, a congregation led by patriot clergy and deeply involved in the revolutionary movement [9][17]. Wortman’s status as a “Squire” suggests he likely held leadership roles within the church community as well.

His only son, John Duryea Wortman, born in 1789, inherited the Bedminster plantation after John’s death in 1807, continuing the family’s presence in the region [3].

Final Years and Legacy

John Wortman died on August 25, 1807, at age 77, and was buried in the cemetery of the Bedminster Reformed Church — today known as Schomp Cemetery [3][7]. His will, probated that same year, provides a detailed picture of his estate, including land, livestock, blacksmithing tools, and enslaved individuals [3].

His widow, Sarah, lived until 1837 and filed a pension application documenting his Revolutionary War service, ensuring that his contributions would be preserved in the historical record [3].

Sources

  1. Jan Dircksen Woertman (abt.1665–aft.1716) | WikiTree – https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Woertman-4
  2. Workman Family History Americana – https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~n3kp/genealogy/workman_hist (freepages.rootsweb.com in Bing)
  3. Jan Woertman (1729–1807) | WikiTree – https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Woertman-76 (wikitree.com in Bing)
  4. The Story of an Old Farm; or, Life in New Jersey in the Eighteenth Century – https://archive.org/download/storyofoldfarmor00melli/storyofoldfarmor00melli.pdf (archive.org in Bing)
  5. Jan (John) Woertman – Ancestry – https://www.ancestry.com.au/genealogy/records/jan-john-woertman-24-1946x41 (ancestry.com.au in Bing)
  6. Workman Family History – Internet Archive – https://archive.org/stream/workmanfamilyhis00ande/workmanfamilyhis00ande_djvu.txt (archive.org in Bing)
  7. “Wortman Word” (Heritage Library PDF) – https://heritagelib.squarespace.com/s/Wortman-Word-Winter-98-Vol-23.pdf (heritagelib.squarespace.com in Bing)
  8. Record of the First Presbyterian Church of Morristown – Internet Archive – https://archive.org/stream/recordoffirstpre01firs/recordoffirstpre01firs_djvu.txt (archive.org in Bing)
  9. Somerset County Historical Quarterly – Internet Archive – https://archive.org/stream/somersetcountyhi02hone/somersetcountyhi02hone_djvu.txt (archive.org in Bing)
  10. The Township of Bedminster – Seeking My Roots – https://www.seekingmyroots.com/members/files/H006433.pdf (seekingmyroots.com in Bing)
  11. Official Register of the Officers and Men in the Revolutionary War – New Jersey State Library – https://www.njstatelib.org/research_library/new_jersey_resources/highlights/revolutionary_war_officers_and_men/ (njstatelib.org in Bing)
  12. New Jersey State Archives Collection Guide – https://www.nj.gov/state/archives/guides/sdea0003.pdf (nj.gov in Bing)
  13. Somerset County Historical Quarterly (Vol. 7) – Internet Archive – https://archive.org/stream/somersetcountyhi07hone/somersetcountyhi07hone_djvu.txt (archive.org in Bing)
  14. Bangor Historical Magazine – Internet Archive – https://archive.org/stream/bangorhistorical01bang/bangorhistorical01bang_djvu.txt (archive.org in Bing)
  15. Sarah Wortman Records – Ancestry
  16. John T. Wortman (1757–1831) | WikiTree – https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Wortman-6
  17. Somerset County Historical Quarterly (Vol. 6) – Internet Archive – https://archive.org/stream/somersetcountyhi06hone/somersetcountyhi06hone_djvu.txt (archive.org in Bing)

John T. Wortman: A Teamster’s Journey Through the Revolutionary War

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When we talk about Revolutionary War service, we often picture soldiers on the battlefield or officers directing maneuvers. But for many men in New Jersey, the war was fought on the roads — muddy, frozen, rutted roads that carried the lifeblood of Washington’s army. Few stories illustrate this better than that of John T. Wortman, born in Morristown on September 25, 1757, and later known in the records as the teamster who helped keep the Continental Army alive during its darkest winters [1]. His life offers a window into the logistical backbone of the Revolution, a side of the war we rarely talk about but absolutely should.

John Jr. grew up in a world already shaped by the long Dutch presence in New Jersey. His father, John Wortman Sr., remained rooted in Somerset County, but John Jr. came of age farther north, in the developing communities of Morris County. That shift in geography — a short distance on a modern map — made all the difference in the kind of service he would eventually render. While his father’s life revolved around Bedminster, John Jr.’s world centered on Morristown, Roxbury, and Chester, places that would become synonymous with the Continental Army’s winter encampments and supply struggles [1][6]. This geographic divide is one of the most important clues for genealogists trying to distinguish the two men.

Enlistment During the “Hard Winter”

By the fall of 1779, the war had entered one of its most desperate phases. The army was preparing for what would become the infamous “Hard Winter” at Morristown, a season so severe that even seasoned soldiers later recalled it with dread. It was in this moment that John Jr. enlisted in the Morris County Militia [1]. His role was not that of a traditional infantryman. Instead, he joined the specialized team brigades — the mobile transport units that hauled food, clothing, equipment, and forage across New Jersey’s interior.

These brigades, led by George Allen and Samuel Hunt, operated under the broader umbrella of the Wagonmaster General’s Department, the logistical backbone of the Continental Army [1][10]. Their work was relentless. Supplies arrived by water at Lamberton, a small but strategically vital port just south of Trenton, where sea‑going vessels could unload their cargo. From there, men like John Jr. took over, guiding heavily loaded wagons northward through the state’s most important military corridor [1]. This corridor — stretching from Lamberton to Morristown and then into the Hudson Highlands — was one of the most strategically important supply routes of the entire war.

What John Jr. Carried — and Why It Mattered

The pension testimony preserved by his widow, Charity Messler, paints a vivid picture of what this work entailed. John Jr. hauled:

  • Flour, sugar, salt, rum
  • Hard soap and animal feed
  • Boxes of clothing and shoes

These weren’t abstract “supplies”; they were the difference between endurance and collapse for the men stationed at Morristown, New Windsor, Pompton, Tappan, and even West Point [1]. Each load he carried represented a small but essential piece of the army’s survival. This is the kind of detail that helps us understand the daily realities of Revolutionary logistics in a way that battlefield reports never could.

The roads he traveled were not the smooth turnpikes of later centuries. They were often little more than dirt tracks, churned into deep mud by rain or frozen into jagged ridges by winter storms. Driving a wagon through such conditions required strength, patience, and a deep familiarity with the landscape. John Jr. had all three.

The Condict Papers: Witnesses Who Remembered Him

One of the most valuable pieces of evidence for his service comes from the Lewis Condict Papers, a collection of notes taken between 1833 and 1837 from pension applicants and their neighbors. In these papers, witnesses such as William Todd confirmed John Jr.’s enlistment in October 1779 and his work as a teamster in the Allen and Hunt brigades [12]. These testimonies, combined with Charity’s pension application (W100), firmly anchor him in Morris County and distinguish him from his father, whose service belonged to Somerset County [1][6].

This kind of corroboration is gold for anyone doing serious genealogical reconstruction, especially when dealing with repeated names across multiple counties.

Life After the War

After the war, John Jr. settled permanently in Chester, where he and Charity raised a large family of ten children — Jane, Benjamin, Mary, Agnes, Charity, Ann, Sarah, Abraham, Ruth, and John [1]. Their household became part of the post‑war growth of Morris County, and later generations would carry the family westward into Ohio and beyond.

His death on May 19, 1831, closed the chapter on a life defined not by battlefield heroics but by the unglamorous, indispensable labor that kept an army functioning [1]. His story reminds us that the Revolution was not only fought with muskets and bayonets, but with wagons, wheels, and the steady determination of ordinary men who understood that their work mattered.

Sources

  1. John T. Wortman (1757–1831) | WikiTree – https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Wortman-6
  2. Workman Family History Americana – https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~n3kp/genealogy/workman_hist (freepages.rootsweb.com in Bing)
  3. Collections of the New York Historical Society – Internet Archive
  4. Centennial History of Somerset County, NJ – Genealogy Trails
  5. WorkmanFamily.org – Wortman Genealogy
  6. A Rare Opportunity – National Society Sons of the American Revolution
  7. Somerset County Historical Quarterly – Internet Archive
  8. WikiTree G2G: Revolutionary War Ancestors
  9. Essex County Rev War Project – Plainfield Public Library
  10. Geertjie (Messler) Wortman | WikiTree – https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Messler-2
  11. New Jersey Historical Society Proceedings, Vol. 9 (1924) – Internet Archive
  12. Lewis Condict Papers, 1833–1837 | New Jersey Historical Society
  13. Clarke County Historical Association Proceedings, Vol. 17

The Revolutionary War Service of Eli Stiles

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Eli Stiles (1746–?) entered the Revolutionary War from Hollis, New Hampshire, though he was born in Westfield, Massachusetts, and spent his early adulthood in the Berkshires. His service appears across New Hampshire war rolls, Massachusetts legislative records, and the Naval Documents of the American Revolution.

1775: Arnold’s Expedition to Quebec

Stiles’ first enlistment began on May 14, 1775, when he joined Captain John Worthley’s Company in Colonel Edmund Phinney’s Regiment (Fold3 Military Records; Worcester, History of Hollis). That autumn, he was one of four Hollis men who volunteered for Benedict Arnold’s march to Quebec. The expedition is well documented for its failed logistics and the severe conditions along the Kennebec River. Stiles survived both the march and the failed assault on December 31, 1775 (Worcester).

1776: Sergeant Stiles in the Northern Department

By 1776, Stiles had risen to the rank of Sergeant. The Naval Documents of the American Revolution record his formal “examination” on September 16, 1776, identifying him as “Serjt Stiles” aboard the Royal Savage. He had been sent to reconnoiter British positions at St. John’s, where he counted tents, observed troop movements, and reported the presence of British-allied Native forces traveling in birch canoes (Naval Documents, Vol. 6).

1777–1778: Eight-Month Enlistment and the Hollis–Littleton Quota Dispute

In early 1777, Stiles enlisted for an eight-month Continental term (Fold3; Worcester). This enlistment triggered a jurisdictional dispute: although he lived in Hollis, NH, he had accepted a bounty from Littleton, MA. Both towns attempted to count him toward their required quotas.

The matter reached the Massachusetts House of Representatives on January 31, 1778, which ruled that Stiles was an inhabitant of Hollis and must be credited to New Hampshire. Littleton’s bounty money was ordered returned (Massachusetts House Resolve, Jan. 31, 1778).

During this same period, Hollis records show that its soldiers—including Stiles—were serving with the New Hampshire Brigade during the winter encampment of 1777–1778. The town sent clothing and supplies to its men at Valley Forge in January 1778 (Worcester, History of Hollis).

1780–1782: “For the War” Enlistment

In 1780, Stiles reenlisted “for the war,” joining the long-term Continental establishment (Fold3; Register Report). New Hampshire war rolls from 1780–1782 occasionally list him as “absent” or “deserted,” but importantly add the notation “returned to his duty,” a common pattern among soldiers who left temporarily during periods of hardship (NH War Rolls; Worcester).

His continued presence in the army is confirmed by a 1782 sworn deposition from sutler Joel Abbot, who testified that he saw “Eli Stiles… many times this last summer” serving in the Continental Army and noted that Stiles had enlisted “for the town of Hollis during the war” (Deposition of Joel Abbot, Nov. 1782).

By the close of the conflict, the Hollis Selectmen described him as “a soldier who has done Singular Exploits” (Worcester).

Post-War

After the war, Stiles remained in New Hampshire until 1806, when he moved to Northfield, Vermont (Register Report; Stiles, Stiles Family in America).

Sources

  • Fold3 Military Records: Service entries for Eli Stiles.
  • Worcester, Samuel T. History of the Town of Hollis, New Hampshire (1879).
  • Naval Documents of the American Revolution, Vol. 6: “Examination of Serjt Stiles,” Sept. 16, 1776.
  • Deposition of Joel Abbot, Hollis, NH (Nov. 1782).
  • Stiles, Henry Reed. The Stiles Family in America (1895).
  • Massachusetts House of Representatives, Resolve concerning Eli Stiles (Jan. 31, 1778).

Lester Hickmott or rather Kenneth Hickmott

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A while ago, I had discovered a birth certificate for Lester Hickmott – a son of Bert Hickmott and Anna Wortman (who are my great-grandparents). I had never heard of Lester before – but his birth certificate clearly makes him as part of the family – being the 5th child born, the 3rd living on August 2, 1909.

Birth Certificate for Lester Hickmott.

What I knew of the family was that Bert and Anna had a stillborn girl in 1900, a stillborn boy in 1901, Charles Frank in 1903, my grandfather Raymond L in 1904, Kenneth in 1908, Della in 1911, John in 1913 and another stillborn girl in 1914 that ultimately killed Anna a few weeks later as she never stopped bleeding. So, another child in 1909 would not be totally out of the realm of possibility.

However, grandpa never knew of a brother called Lester. Further research shows this birth certificate is the ONLY evidence of Lester. So, I re-examined the birth certificate. I saw that he was the 5th child born and the 3rd living. Well, honestly, that described what I knew about Kenneth.

However, Kenneth’s birth date is questionable. I cannot find his birth certificate online. He claimed in several sources August 16, 1908 as his birth date (Social Security, and obituary). His World War II Draft Registration Card actually has October 12, 1908.

World War II Draft Registration Card for Kenneth Hickmott

So, I looked at the 1910 US Census – which lists Kenneth as being 8 months old. The 1910 census was enumerated in April 1910 – so calculating his birth would give August 1909! Of course, this assumes that his age was recorded accurately. I looked at the 1920 census – he’s living with his foster parents and recorded as 10 years old (which again, would agree with the 1909 birth since it was enumerated in January 1920). The 1930 census lists him as 20 years old – he was still living with his foster parents (enumerated April 1930 – so August 1909 birth would agree). In 1940, when he has started his own family, he’s suddenly 31 years old (enumerated April 1940 – making it August 1908 for birth). In 1950, he’s 41 years old (enumerated April 1950 – so August 1908 for birth).

Kenneth was taken from his father and siblings when his mother died – so when he was about 5 years old. It would be understandable that the DAY of birth could be changed. It’s also clear from the census records that it was only after Kenneth married and began his own family, that his birth year changed to 1908 instead of 1909.

Given the lack of documentation of Kenneth’s birth date of August 16, 1908 and the lack of documentation other than a birth certificate for Lester on August 2, 1909, I can only conclude that this birth certificate for Lester is really Kenneth’s. So, Lester Hickmott born August 2, 1909 is really my great-uncle Kenneth Hickmott who claimed to be born August 16, 1908.

Benjamin Byam

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Benjamin Byam (1733–1795) lived a life shaped by steady service, devotion to family, and a willingness to step forward when history called. Born in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, on November 29, 1733, he came from early colonial stock. Like many families of that era, the Byams built their lives through practical skill and community responsibility. Benjamin learned the trade of a cooper, crafting the barrels that kept New England’s farms and merchants supplied.

His first experience in military service came long before the Revolution. In 1754, he joined Captain Melvin’s company during the French and Indian War, gaining the discipline and leadership that would later define his role in the fight for independence. By 1760, he had risen to 1st Lieutenant. That same year, he married Mary Keyes, and together they raised nine children — a family line that would spread across New England.

By the spring of 1775, Benjamin was living in Temple, New Hampshire. When word arrived on April 19 that British troops were advancing on Concord, he joined fifty-five of his neighbors who set out at once. Though they reached the scene after the first shots at the North Bridge, they joined the long pursuit of the British back toward Cambridge, marching through the day and into the night. Benjamin remained with the forces encamped there for eight months, supplying his own blanket — one of those small but telling sacrifices made by ordinary men who found themselves doing extraordinary things. He later served again in 1777 during the march toward Bennington.

Benjamin spent his final years in Randolph, Vermont, where he died on November 22, 1795. His life reflects the kind of legacy that endures: a craftsman, a soldier, a father, and a man whose quiet courage helped shape the nation his descendants continue to remember.

The parentage of Eleanora “Ella” B Gibbs

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Like most women in genealogical research, my second great-grandmother, Eleanora B Gibbs, has been a tough one to trace. Knowing her name from her marriage to my second great-grandfather, John Wortman, and my great-grandmother, Anna Wortman Hickmott, was just the beginning of the mystery. Also, from census records, it was apparent that she lived in the Dryden area in Lapeer County Michigan. Those 2 facts still were not enough to definitively say who her parents were.

Eleanora was born in 1854, so theoretically, she should be in the 1860 and probably the 1870 census with her parents. This is where the confusion starts. In 1860, she can be found living in Dryden with Philo, Mary Jane and Lester Gibbs next door to a Jason and Abigail Gibbs.

1860 Federal Census, Dryden, Lapeer County, Michigan. Page 172.

Eleanora’s placement in the list suggests that she is Lester’s child, although the 1860 census does not indicate family relationships, and she could possibly be Philo’s daughter.

In 1870, Eleanora is married to her husband, John Wortman. The interesting tidbit here though is that John and Eleanora are listed between Mortimer Hillaker’s household and Abigail Gibbs house. Eleanora is living near relatives.

1870 Federal Census, Dryden, Lapeer County, Michigan. Page 26.

Lester disappears after the 1860 census. I have not been able to find any death record for him much less any other record for him after 1860. However, I did find a marriage record for Lester Gibbs in 1850. He marries Mary Conly on November 12, 1850 in Lapeer County. Given that Mary is not in the same household in 1860, it is certainly possible that she died or they divorced. While I have not found a divorce record, I have found additional marriages for Mary Conly – in 1861 to Charles Garner in New York and in 1868 to Mortimer Hillaker in Lapeer County, Michigan.

The obvious question here is how do I know that the marriage in 1861 in New York is her when both before and after that date, she’s living in Lapeer County, Michigan? Well, it’s thanks to her will. In the probate record from 1872 Lapeer County, Michigan, her will is included. She names her husband, Mortimer Hillaker and 2 children: Albert Garner and Harriet Garner. She charges her husband Mortimer to take care of Albert and Harriet until they turn 21 or are married. This would indicate that Albert and Harriet are minors. Records for both Albert and Harriet indicate this is true – Albert was born in 1864 in New York and Harriet in 1863 in New York. Harriet’s marriage record in Michigan names Charles Garner and Mary Conly as her parents. Charles dies in the Civil War.

So, Mary Conly was married 3 times – Lester Gibbs, Charles Garner and Mortimer Hillaker. Her probate record goes on to indicate that her legal heirs are Mortimer Hillaker, Harriet Garner, Albert Garner, Lillie Hillaker and Ella Workman (a variation of Wortman). Lillie is her daughter with Mortimer. Ella is Eleanora Gibbs who in some other independent records is also known as Ella.

Part of the Account Papers in the Probate record for Mary Hillaker dated April 6, 1872.

This means that Eleanora Gibbs parents were Lester Gibbs and Mary Conly.

Elizabeth Ann Jones Sumner Showers Manzer Campbell

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My great-grandfather, Aaron Jones, has a sister, Elizabeth Ann Jones. She was born on November 7, 1861 in Michigan and died September 20, 1937 in Saginaw, Michigan. She has been difficult to trace. I first learned of her several years ago when researching Aaron – she’s mentioned only as “Mrs Showers” in Aaron’s obituary. Then I found the 1870 and 1880 census where she’s listed as Elizabeth A Jones.

Since then, I’ve been trying to track her down and it hasn’t been easy. I found a marriage record for her in Ovid, Clinton County, Michigan in 1879 – marrying Francis Sumner.

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This seems to conflict with the 1880 census, where she is clearly listed in the same household as her parents in Ovid, Clinton County, Michigan and with her maiden name.

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Francis is listed as living in Bennington, Shiawassee County, Michigan in 1880 – married, but living with a different family, seemingly alone (no other Sumner in that household). Francis dies in 1898. If they were married in 1879, why are they living separate in 1880? How long did they remain married?

Now, in 1900, Elizabeth is listed as the wife of Joseph Showers and they have apparently been married for 10 years and she is the mother of 2 with 1 living – apparently the Rachael in the same household.

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I find no other instance of Elizabeth with a Joseph Showers including a marriage record for her to a Showers.

However, in 1910, the only instance I can find of Elizabeth A Showers is as a wife of Charles Showers in Saginaw and they have been married for 17 years. Meaning they were married in 1897. This conflicts with the 1900 census. So is it really her?

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Interestingly, there is a Dewey Mc Stowers aged 11 years living in the 1910 household – as he is indicated as a son. That would make him born about 1899. But the household is confused as there is a stepdaughter (widowed at 25) and another stepdaughter with the same surname as the 25-year-old but she is 8 and a stepson age 5 with a totally different surname. It would seem the 8-year-old and 5-year-old might be step-grandchildren instead of step-children, but that is speculation. I can’t find any other instance of Dewey Mc Stowers.

In 1920 – nothing that I can confirm as her – the only Showers that I can find are the wrong names and too young to be Elizabeth.

In 1930, Elizabeth marries George F. Campbell – on April 7, 1930. Except she’s listed as Mrs. Elizabeth A Manzer. I know it’s her because it lists her parents as Thomas Jones and Emeline Groff (which I can verify independently). Also one of the witnesses is Mr. Dewey Manzer – who is he? I can find him in the 1930 and 1940 census – and he apparently was born in late 1898 and dies in 1979. Could he be the Dewey Mc Stowers from the 1910 census?

Additionally, in the 1930 census, she is listed in the household of George F. Campell as Elizabeth Manzer. Considering the census date is April 1, 1930 – it makes sense.

Elizabeth Campbell dies on September 20, 1937 – with her parents listed on her death certificate as Thomas Jones and Emmaline Groof.

I have not found a marriage record for Elizabeth to a Manzer yet. I also can’t find her definitively in the 1910 and 1920 census. There are so many questions left unanswered about Elizabeth. In trying to track her down, I’ve gone down several rabbit holes – but so far nothing definitive about the 30-year gap between 1900 and 1930. Also, her Showers husband – was his name really Joseph – or was it Charles L as I can find evidence of her being with a Charles L Showers during that time. Are they 2 separate men, or the same man going by different names? Who was her Manzer husband? Who is Dewey Manzer – and is he somehow related to Elizabeth?

Who are Mr. & Mrs. Potter?

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One of the many brick walls that I have is figuring out who the parents of Mary Potter Hickmott are. Mary Potter was born sometime between 1794 and 1801 (most likely before 1797) in England. I know this from several census records starting with the 1841 census for Horsmonden, Kent, England.

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The Potter surname is confirmed from a marriage index (no image of the original is found online – just an index, which of course could be wrong).

Screen Shot 2018-12-28 at 5.47.36 PM

When I first saw the 1841 census and saw there was a James Potter living with the Hickmotts, and that he was aged appropriately to be a brother of Mary, it turned me onto the name. So, combined with the marriage record, I’m fairly certain of the surname Potter.

So, who were Mary and James Potter’s parents? Darned good question. I still don’t know. Given that I know the Hickmotts were in Horsmonden for a number of years prior to this, it stands to reason the Potters may also be from there. However, there isn’t a record for a baptism of a Mary or James Potter in the 1790-1810 timeframe. So, I expanded my search to the surrounding area. I found a few possibilities – but not all of the parents are recorded, and of the ones that are recorded, there isn’t one couple that stands out as the possible parents of Mary and James (they all have different parents). There’s one baptism for a Mary Potter that catches my eye – but I discount it because the baptism date is my birthday (obviously different years) – so I think it catches my eye only because of that. Of course, it is certainly possible that Mary and James are not siblings – but close cousins (or not even related – just a coincidence of same surname). However, I tend to think that if something happened to James’ wife and he ended up a single parent of a young girl, that a female family member would step in to help out for a bit – which is why I hold the belief they were siblings.

This is one puzzle that may go unsolved….

Origin of a name

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I remember when I was younger and had started wondering about my genealogy roots, asking my mother how she and dad came up with my name. She told me, “You were named after your father’s sister and one of my sisters who both died as babies.” Then she told me that if I had been born a boy, I would have been named after both grandfathers.

Names tend to run in families, with children being named after grandparents or siblings of the parents in order to honor them. So, I began to wonder about where the names came from – were my two aunts named after others and if so, who?

Mom’s sister was Carol Jean. Carol was born August 31, 1943 and died September 20, 1943. As far as I have been able to determine, Grandpa and Grandma didn’t name Carol Jean after any relatives. Her’s was a “new name” in that part of my family tree. Of course mom wasn’t the only one who wished to honor her sister as I have a cousin who also gets her name from this infant.

Dad’s sister was Nancy Jane. Nancy Jane was stillborn July 9, 1943 – a macerated fetus. She was 11 years after my father, and would be the last child of my paternal grandparents. Grandma named her only daughter after her paternal grandmother, Nancy Jane Whitney. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to find much information on Nancy Jane Whitney’s family, so I’m not sure if she was a name sake too.

So, 30 years after their deaths, my two infant aunts had a namesake – me.

My brother was named after my father, so that made me wonder about my sister’s name. After all, she’s 13 years older than I am. When I asked mom – she told me they just liked the name – there wasn’t any other reason for her name. If you ask my sister, she’ll say she was named after a Johnny Cash song that dad liked – but that’s a bit hard to believe considering the song was released almost a decade after her birth. Sometimes names are just new to the family.

My paternal grandmother was partly named after her paternal great-aunt Sabria Whitney – and preferred to go by this name. My own father’s name  honors our Munson ancestry – where we descend from 3 generations of Daniel Munson, and our Lacy and Foster ancestries for his first name.

When my brother had his first child, he wanted that Daniel name to continue – and when that child turned out to be female, they feminized the name.

Nancy J Whitney’s mother?

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Researching family history can be challenging. Records were destroyed in various natural disasters, records were not kept at all, people changed their names, etc. One source that genealogists tend to like is the census. Why? Because starting in 1850, everyone in the household was enumerated – not just the head of the household. Generally, the enumeration went like this: name of head of household (usually this is the male), then the head of household’s spouse (usually his wife), then their children in descent from oldest to youngest then typically anyone else living in the household (borders, parents, in-laws, etc). Now it’s true, that this wasn’t always the case, but in general, that’s the principle. It’s also true that for the 1850, 1860 and 1870 census you can’t say for any certainty about the relationships of the people in the household because it’s not spelled out that way. Starting in 1880, the relationships were added to the census.

So, imagine for a moment my excitement to find my 2nd great-grandmother Nancy J. Whitney in the 1850 census.

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There she is, age 7 years old (which corresponds with other census records for her age) – the oldest of 3 children. It would appear from this enumeration that she is living with her parents – John Whitney (which is also independently confirmed) and probably Hannah. Hannah is 4 years younger than John – which isn’t unheard of for a husband and wife. Hannah would have been 17 when Nancy was born – again, not unheard of – it’s certainly possible. The last person in the household is Susan Robinson – age 26. This would seem to indicate that Susan is a border – even possibly a sibling to either John or Hannah.

Here’s the rub – neither Hannah nor Susan appear in later censuses with John and Nancy. In fact, this is the only instance that I have of Hannah. I do find a marriage record for John and Susannah Robinson in 1842 (hmmm… Nancy is born in 1843 – coincidence?).

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Since the 1850 census is for Wayne County and this marriage record is also for Wayne County – it stands to reason that these are the same people. So why 8 years after John and Susannah get married, they are enumerated in the same household – but she is listed with her maiden name and appears to not be married to him and John appears to be married to a Hannah?

I have not been able to find a divorce for John and Susannah. I have not found a marriage for John and Hannah. I have not been able to find a death for John, Susannah or Hannah.

So, who is Nancy’s mother?