52 Ancestors: Rachel Jones (1809-1897)

Amongst my grandfather Greulich’s things, I found the following newspaper clipping

I believe it’s from the the Town and Country. It reads:

Another Four-Generation Group Of This Section

Witmer-Kline-Snyder-Greulich Freundschaft

The above illustration represents another four-generation group of a widely-known family — the Witmer-Kline-Snyder-Greulich freundschaft, of which the oldest, Edward J. Witmer, has died since the picture was taken, he having passed away at his home in Marlbrough township, near Finland, last Wednesday [24 January 1912], aged 78 years.

Mrs. Witmer, aged 75 years is the mother of Mrs. Henry D. Snyder, aged 51, of near East Greenville. Mrs. Witmer’s maiden name was Miss Lydia A. Kline. Mrs. Elmer C. Greulich, of near East Greenville, aged 33 years, is a daughter of Mrs. Snyder. The youngest in the group is Master Russell Roy Greulich, who was born July 23, 1910.

Mr. Witmer was a direct descendent of the famous Jones family of England. There is an interesting romance connected with the emigration to this country of Mr. Witmer’s grandmother. She was a typical English girl and exceedingly pretty and fearless. Crossed by her parents in a love affair, Miss Jones escaped from her home with the aid of her favorite saddle horse, and swam across the English Channel on horse-back and fled the country.¹

I love this article because it creates a direct link from my grandfather, Russ Greulich, to his great grandparents—Edward J. and Lydia A (Kline) Witmer. It also provides clues to Edward Witmer’s maternal family line—the Jones family. The story of Miss Jones riding her horse across the English Channel is rather amusing and adds a dash of romance to the family story for all that it must be a total exaggeration.

But who was this “Miss Jones” and how does she connect to the Witmer family? Was she really Edward’s grandmother?

The Jones Family Connection

It turns out that the connection to the Jones family is actually much closer than grandmother—grandson. Edward Witmer’s 1912 death certificate lists his parents as John and Rachel (Jones) Witmer.² Both parents were born in Pennsylvania. Making it unlikely that his mother crossed the English Channel on her trusty steed.

Edward was listed with his parents in the 1850 census for Milford Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.³ The household included:

• John Witemer, 38, M, Huckster, $1200, Pa
• Rachel [ditto], 39, F, Pa
• Edward [ditto], 16, M, Farmer, Pa, attended school within the year
• Henry [ditto], 15, M, Pa, attended school within the year
• William [ditto], 11, M, Pa, attended school within the year
• Mary Ann [ditto], 9, F, Pa, attended school within the year
• Susan [ditto], 7, F, Pa, attended school within the year
• John [ditto], 6, M, Pa
• Able [ditto], 4, M, Pa
• Milton [ditto], 2, M, Pa
• Henry Jones, 70, M, None, Pa

John and Rachel are listed in the 1860⁴, 1870⁵ and 1880⁶ census records for Milford Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. In each census their place of birth is consistently listed as Pennsylvania. In the 1880 census, Pennsylvania is given as the birthplace of their parents, as well.

John died 21 May 1885⁷ and Rachel died 10 September 1897.⁸ They were buried in the Christ Church cemetery in Trumbauersville, Bucks County.

Rachel’s entry on Findagrave.com names her father as Henry Jones (1776-1854) which is consistent with the Henry Jones living with the Witmer family in 1850. In 1840, a John Widmer was living next to Levi and Lewis Jones in Milford Township.⁹ Lewis Jones is listed as one of the children on Henry Jones’ entry on Findagrave.com¹⁰ and there is a 50-60 year-old male living in Lewis’ household in 1840.¹¹ So, it’s quite possible that Henry Jones was Rachel’s father and Lewis her brother.

Henry Jones

Henry Jones was born 15 July 1776 and died 10 December 1854, both most likely in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.¹² He was buried in Christ Church cemetery in Trumbauersville. He is included in the 1820¹³  and 1830¹⁴ census for Milford Township. In 1830, his household included:

•  1 male, 50-60 [Henry]
• 1 male, 20-30 [Levi?]
• 2 males, 15-20 [Lewis?, ?]
• 1 male, 10-15 [?]
• 3 males, 5-10 [Henry?, Abel?, Oliver?]
• 1 male, <5 [?]
• 2 females, 20-30 [?, Rachel]
• 1 female, 15-20 [?]
• 1 female, 10-15 [?]

Henry’s wife—possibly the “exceedingly pretty and fearless English girl”—must have died prior to 1830.

Henry’s household in 1820 included:

•  1 male, 45+ [Henry]
• 1 male, 10-16 [Levi?]
• 2 males, up to 10 [Lewis?, ?]
• 1 female, 26-45 [wife?]
• 2 females, 10-16 [?, Rachel]
• 2 females, up to 10 [?, ?]

In 1810, Henry can be found in the census for Hilltown Township.¹⁵ His household included:

• 1 male, 26-45 [Henry]
• 1 male, up to 10 [Levi?]
• 1 female, 26-45 [wife?]
• 2 females, up to 10 [?, Rachel?]

Henry Jones had a neighbor named John Hiller/Heller¹⁶, aged 26-45 in 1820 and aged 50-60 in 1830. In 1840, John Witmer, Levi Jones and Lewis Jones had a neighbor named John Heller, aged 60-70. It seems to me that I’m looking at the same physical location for these three census records, and thus there is a connection between Henry Jones and John Witmer, Levi Jones and Lewis Jones.

I’ll need to keep looking for clues to build a sound case that Henry is Rachel (Jones) Witmer’s father, but I’ve made a good start.

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This post is part of an on-going, blogging challenge entitled 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, created by Amy Crow of No Story Too Small. Participants must write about one ancestor every week. This catch-up post is my third 52 Ancestors post and part of week three.

• Category: Family, Fun stuff
• Tag: 52 Ancestors, Family Research, Maternal Line