Category: Research

Family research

Clustering Shared Hoover Matches Using shared matches to show Christian was the son of Philip & Hannah Hoover

Kris Hocker on 4 May 2017

As I reported  last year in “A Beautiful Circle,” I am a member of both the Philip Hoover and Hannah Thomas circles on AncestryDNA. This means that my DNA matches that of at least two people who have public trees in which both Philip Hoover and Hannah Thomas appear within six generations as a common ancestor. Therefore, my DNA results support my hypothesis—though does not prove—that my three times great grandfather, Christian Hoover, was the their eldest son.

However, my matches from the circle include two cousins who descend from Samuel Hoover and Victoria Walker, Christian’s son, and only one cousin who descends from another child (Sarah) of Philip and Hannah. This cousin also matches two descendants from yet a third child of Philip and Hannah, Margaret, but neither I nor the other Samuel descendants match them.

I decided to see if I could find additional evidence of the connection through my other matches.

Clustering Shared Matches

Blaine Bettinger at The Genetic Genealogist put forward a technique using the Shared Matches tool at Ancestry. By mining the shared matches of your matches, you can look for shared ancestry. Since only my Mom and I have tested, and the Hoovers are on my paternal side, I couldn’t use this technique exactly as explained.1

However, what I did is not all that different, just not as thorough.

First I identified the Shared Matches between myself and the one Philip and Hannah descendant I match—let’s call them VR. There were ten. I listed them and included the amount of DNA and the number of segments we shared. The amounts ranged from 8.4 cMs to 615 cMs, across between one to twenty-eight segments. These amounts are included in figure A and B (amount/segments). The AncestryDNA Circle members are bold.

Ancestry circle shared matches

Figure A: Hoover Shared Matches

Then for each of these people, I listed all of the matches they shared with me. If these shared matches were not also on the list of at least one of the others, I removed them from consideration.

Within the first couple, it was clear that there were going to be additional Hoover cousins on my list who were not members of the AncestryDNA circles. Several of them were easily identified because we had Shared Ancestor Hints. Those I highlighted in green. If I recognized one as being a descendant of an associated family—a Walker, Kinnard or Thomas—I highlighted them another color.

Of the ten I shared with VR, I quickly identified four of them among my Hoover relatives—three as descendants of my two times great grandfather Samuel Hoover (NH, CH, and DC) and one as a descendant of his brother Simon (BC). I also identified another two of the recurrent matches as Hoovers (MP and BL). With some research I was able to identify three more Hoovers—one positive identification (MR) and two possibles (m50 and g65). I highlighted all of those I was sure of in green.

Four of the matches I shared with VR—la, a49, JB and DB—didn’t match these Hoovers. They matched only a group of testers that they shared with each other, myself and V. As none of them had shared ancestor hints, I decided to put them aside for later consideration and further research.

I was also curious to see if any of my known Hoover relatives matched the two other members of Philip and Hannah’s circles: IC and SH. Two of the Hoovers I’d identified (BC and MR) and one of the possibles also matched them (g65).

Putting It Together

So, now I had eleven matches for whom I could identify their descent from Philip and Hannah, and two who I could, I think, place in the appropriate branches. Maybe. The chart below shows this information (click to enlarge).

Ancestry Shared Match Tree

Figure B: Hoover Shared Matches on tree

Based on the AncestryDNA matches, VR and I share DNA with descendants from two of Christian’s children: Samuel and Simon. These descendants and I also share matches that include other descendants of Samuel and one of Reuben’s. VR also matches descendants of Philip and Hannah’s daughter Margaret. Even though I do not match Margaret’s descendants, they match two of my matches who belong to Simon’s line and one of Samuel’s (presumably).

To my mind this is not a fluke.

The next question? Do I share DNA with each of these matches within the expected amount for each relationship?

The matches include relationships as follows:

  • NH (615/28) : first cousin once removed
  • CH (52/2) : third cousin
  • DC (15/3) : third cousin
  • BL (36/4) : third cousin
  • g65 (40/2) : third cousin—third cousin twice removed?
  • MP (52/3) : third cousin once removed
  • BC (49/2) : second cousin twice removed
  • MR (42/2) : second cousin twice removed
  • m50 (27/4) : third cousin once removed?
  • VR (8.4/1) : fourth cousin once removed

Based on the Shared cM Project, there are ranges of expected shared DNA for each relationship as shown in the following chart:

Shared cM Project

Shared cM Project by Blaine Bettinger

As you can see the amount of DNA I share with each cousin is lower than average in some cases, but all fall within the expected ranges for the proposed relationship. This doesn’t prove the relationship, nor does it disprove it. But, as far as I can tell, the numbers do not suggest that any of these presumed relationships are erroneous.

The Limitations

Does this prove that we all inherited our matching DNA from Philip and Hannah, and, therefore, prove our descent? No. Unfortunately, there are several limitations to this approach.

First of all, I was only able to identify my shared matches with those cousins who appeared on my shared match list with VR. I could not identify the matches shared by VR and each of these cousins. I don’t believe the other Hoover cousins I identified would have appeared on VR’s list, but maybe there would have been other’s I could have identified with whom I don’t share DNA.

Furthermore, Ancestry’s Shared Match tool only shows us people who are on both our match list and our match’s match list. The fact that we have matches in common only means that we share DNA somewhere on our chromosomes with the same people. It does not, however, mean that we share the same segments on the same chromosomes with the same people.

For instance, VR and I share both DNA with BC, so she appears on both our match lists. However, BC and I could share DNA inherited from the Kinnard family, while VR and BC may share DNA inherited from the Hoover family or another relative they share who is completely unrelated to me. It would be different DNA and wouldn’t link us genetically, but BC would still be a shared match to both VR and I. There’s no way of knowing based strictly on the data and tools available through Ancestry.

In order to prove the relationships between all these shared matches, I would need segment data for each of them. While I could use FTDNA’s chromosome browser to ensure that I matched each of these people on the same segment of the same chromosome, I could not perform the comparison to ensure that they matched each other in the same location. The only way to prove our shared DNA is inherited from Philip and/or Hannah would be to compare each of us one-on-one to be sure that we share overlapping segments.2 To do this, I’d need to use the tools and data on GEDmatch.

So, I guess my next step is to contact my cousins to find out if any of them is willing to upload their results to GEDmatch (it’s free!) for analysis.

John Witmer (1811-1885) 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

Kris Hocker on 2 May 2017

52 ancestors in 52 weeks

John Witmer was born 15 January 1811 in eastern Pennsylvania and died 21 May 1885 in Milford Township, Bucks County.1 About 1832, he married Rachel Jones, daughter of Henry Jones and presumably Martha Bartleson. She was born 5 March 1809 in Hilltown Township, Bucks County and died on 10 September 1897.2 Both John and Rachel were buried in the old section of the cemetery at Christ Church in Trumbauersville.

John appears on tax records for Milford Township from 1837 through 1853 on Ancestry and census records from 1840 through 1880.

1880 John Witmer census

1880 John Witmer census

In 1880, John and Rachel were residing next door to their son Eli J. Witmer and his family in Milford Township.3 John was a 69-year-old farmer and Rachel, aged 71, was keeping house.

1870 John Witmer census

1870 John Witmer census

Their children Susanna, Abel, Eli, and Catharine, aged 14 through 27, were still living at home with John and Rachel in 1870.4 John’s occupation was listed as “Super Wiser.” Daughter Susanna was working as a “taylor,” Abel was attending school, Eli was a farm laborer, and Catharine was a domestic servant.

1860 John Witmer census

1860 John Witmer census

In 1860, John and Rachel were living in Milford next door to a Jacob and Susanna “Witemer,” quite likely John’s parents.5 Jacob was 73-years-old and Susanna was 71. John and Rachel’s children John, Milton, Eli, Catharine and William were all living in their household. John was a farmer, while Jacob was a retired farmer.

1850 John Witemer census

1850 John Witemer census

John was working as a “huckster” or peddler in 1850.6 His household included: wife Rachel, children Edward, Henry, William, Mary Ann, Susan, John, Able, Milton, and 70-year-old Henry Jones, Rachel’s father.

1840 John Witmer census

1840 John Witmer census

In 1840, John can be found living near his brothers-in-law Levi Jones and Lewis Jones.7 John’s household included: two males under 5 [Henry and William], one male 5-10 [Edward], one male 15-20 [?], one male 20-30 [John], and one female 20-30 [Rachel]. Henry Jones was likely the 50-60 year-old man in Lewis Jones’ household.

John Witmer and Rachel Jones had the following children:

  1. Edward Jones Witmer (1833-1912), married Lydia Amanda Kline
  2. Henry Witmer (1835-1907), married Caroline Keller
  3. William Jones Witmer (1839-1919), married Elizabeth Hinkel
  4. Mary Ann Witmer (1840-1880)
  5. Susan Witmer (1843-1931)
  6. John Jones Witmer (1844-1909), married Lavinia Nicholas
  7. Abel Jones Witmer (1846-1915), married Sabina Schreiber, Hattie Glassmeyer
  8. Milton Jones Witmer (c1848-1910), married Sarah Pedrick
  9. Eli Jones Witmer (1850-1930), married Caroline Harwick
  10. Catherine Witmer (c1856-?), married Leidy Benner

52 ancestors in 52 weeks

This post is part of a blogging challenge entitled 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, created by Amy Crow of No Story Too Small in 2014. Participants were to write about one ancestor every week. I’m revisiting this challenge for 2017. This is my fourteenth 52 Ancestors post, and a make-up post for week thirteen.

Lillian (Snyder) Greulich and son

Kris Hocker on 26 Apr 2017

Lillian (Snyder) Greulich and son, circa 1911

This photo was most likely taken at the Witmer farm about 1911. The clothing she’s wearing match her outfit in a group shot taken with her parents, grandparents, and other family members.

What Are My Genetic Genealogy Goals?

Kris Hocker on 24 Apr 2017

I’ve been spending a lot of time—a real lot of time—working with my Ancestry DNA, FTDNA, and GEDmatch results, working through my match lists, compiling data, and, where I can, identifying my most recent common ancestors with various matches. It’s a great deal of work. And most of the time I feel like I’m flailing about, trying to swim in water that’s really too deep for my abilities.

As I was traversing a match’s GEDCOM file searching for a common surname—unsuccessfully, I might add—it occurred to me to wonder why I was doing so. Just what did I hope to gain from all this work?

It’s common online to see folks trying to identify relatives in order to identify their or a relative’s birth family. That’s not my situation. I know who my parents, grandparents, and great grandparents are—and my DNA matches confirm this.

So, why am I spending so much time analyzing my results? What do I get out of it? I took the test for fun. I thought it would be interesting to see my ethnicity results, maybe find some cousins. I’ve already done so much research to build the “paper trail,” I didn’t really consider that it might be useful otherwise.

But recently I’ve been spending significantly more time working with the DNA results, than I have been researching. Maybe it’s time to stop and consider whether that’s a productive use of my time.

What do I want to get out of it?

Here’s that I’ve been able to come up with so far.

1. I want to use genetic genealogy to confirm my research.

Not particularly exciting and rather obvious, but a true and useful goal. My DNA matches have become another piece of source data to add to a proof argument. The fact that I share DNA with other descendants of Philip Hoover and Hannah Thomas of Armstrong County strengthens my assertion that my ancestor Christian Hoover was their eldest son. As more matches come in which share DNA with their descendants—or those of their ancestors—the stronger my argument will grow.

2. I want to “ancestor map my chromosomes.”

Since I know the majority of my ancestry back six generations, and a number of lines back even further, sounds like a simple thing to do, right?  Uh huh. Wouldn’t that be nice? There are actually several factors that complicate this process.

First, in order to find how you and a DNA match are related, you need to compare ancestors. Sometimes it’s as easy as finding a shaking leaf on Ancestry. It’s more common, however, to find no family tree to examine, a private family tree, or a tree with only couple of generations—all marked “private”—with no names or dates. Somewhat less than useful. Furthermore, when you contact matches hoping to collaborate, you get no response.

Second, my ancestors on both sides of my family tree arrived in Pennsylvania, decided it was a good place to live, and then never left. Although this really helps with the document research, it complicates the DNA research. You see, they not only stayed, but they married. Then their descendants intermarried. So, finding how I match that 4th-6th cousin prospect is not always as simple as locating the common surname in a family tree. Occasionally, there are multiple common ancestors. Which one (or more) is the reason for the match?

Which brings us to the next difficulty—Ancestry’s total lack of useful tools to analyze the actual DNA. At most, you can identify the overall amount to DNA you share and the number of segments. Because there is no means of identifying segment or chromosome information; there is no method to triangulate your matches. You can’t determine whether the DNA you share with several matches is actually the same segment on the same chromosome—or that they share that same DNA between them, too.

To actually use Ancestry DNA results for more than just guessing, you need to upload it to GEDmatch or Family Tree DNA so that you can access segment and chromosome data. You can upload to both for free—although to use FTDNA’s tools, you’ll need to pay a small fee. It was $19 when I did it and well worth the price.

Several of my Ancestry matches have already uploaded to both places. Because they’ve done so, I was able to identify the specific segments we share from our common ancestors. It’s cool to see that I likely got about 30 centimorgans (cM) of DNA on chromosome 16 from my 4x great grandfather George Walker of Boggs Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania. A shorter segment on chromosome 16 may have come from his in-laws, Andrew and Catharine Margaret (Fetter Fetzer) Walker.1

3. Break down some genealogy brick walls.

This one is the trickiest of my three goals. Christian Hoover was a brick wall ancestor for some time. Research, however, pointed to a possible location and family. DNA, so far, has been supporting that conclusion. More on that in another post.

Another brick wall ancestor is Jefferson Force. I believe he was orphaned at a young age, possibly as early as age ten. My research to date has not yielded much. I would like very much to identify his parents. Identifiable DNA matches between other Force descendants to some of Jefferson’s descendants might provide other avenues to explore. Jefferson’s parents would be my 4x great grandparents. This is pushing the limits of usable DNA information as 25% to 50% of 4th cousins share no DNA. Someone of my generation would likely be my 5th cousin, making it even a bit more unlikely a share DNA with any given 5th cousin.

The Plan

So now that I’ve identified some goals for using DNA testing in my genealogy, it’s time to come up with a plan and action items. What exactly do I need to do to accomplish them? More testing will likely be required. Any aunts, uncles, or cousins out there who want to volunteer to take a DNA test?

Friday Find: Is This Our Christopher Hocker?

Kris Hocker on 31 Mar 2017

I recently came across a reference to a Christopher Hocker who was living in Ohio in the early 1800s. As you recall, Johann George Hacker’s son Christopher was allegedly “of a rather headstrong disposition; he left his wife here in Montgomery county and went to Ohio, lived and married there a second time.”1

In Pennsylvania

Christopher was born about 1772 in Whitemarsh Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, son of Johann George and Anna Margaretha (Weidman) Hacker.2 He married Catharine Daub, daughter of Henry and Christianna (Wohlfarth) Daub,  10 April 1792 at Saint Michael’s Lutheran Church in Germantown.3

The couple lived in Whitemarsh Township until about 1800. In 1805, he purchased a tavern and acreage from his father-in-law in Sandy Run.4 According to deed records, Christopher (Innkeeper) purchased a lot in Whitemarsh Township from the daughters of Jacob Edge on 1 April 1807.5

About 1808, Christopher apparently ran into financial troubles. On 5 April 1808, Christopher (Farmer) and Catharine Hocker sold this land to Daniel Hitner.6 He also gave up the tavern to assignees John Wentz, George Price, and Samuel Maulsby.7 According to family legend, Christopher found himself in debt and fled to Ohio.

I haven’t been able to track Christopher down in Ohio. His son George, who later returned to Whitemarsh Township, was said to have been born there in 1814. And we know Christopher was still alive as of 1821 as he was named as one of the surviving children in his father’s estate files.8

So, just where did Christopher go?

In Ohio

Maybe he was living on Licking Creek in Falls Township, Muskingum County, Ohio. I found reference to a Christopher Hocker living there in a Cumberland County Historical Society journal article about Jacob Fought, a Carlisle tavern keeper. About Christopher, it says:

“In April 1814, Christopher Hocker, who lived on Licking Creek in Falls Township, Muskingum Counry, Ohio…hired a young man, Asher Nichols, to help take the horses to Philadelphia… Their eastward trip passed through Carlisle, Pennsylvania where they arrived on the sixth or seventh of February 1815. In Carlisle, they stayed at Jacob Fought’s inn, Sign of the Plough and Harrow, located only two blocks from the town center where the courthouse, market, and two established churches were.

On 9 February 1815, Nichols left the inn and stable along with Hocker’s two horses, and without Hocker’s permission. He arrived at Hummelstown, probably the town by that name near Harrisburg. Nichols was found and brought back to Carlisle to stand trial for horse stealing. A great effort was made to seek evidence for this serious accusation. This included sending prosecution and defense interrogatories to the Muskingum County court, which deposed four key Ohio witnesses.

Asher Nichols was indicted on a charge of larceny, for horse stealing, on oath of Christopher Hocker, in the summer of 1815… Asher Nichols was found guilty and sentenced to hard labor. The bills or taxes for witnesses and the docket session findings do not state the term of the sentence.”9

This is the first reference I’ve found to a Christopher Hocker in a specific location in Ohio at a time when Johann George’s son was alleged to have been there. 1814, the year Christopher’s son George was said to have been born in Ohio. This passage also provides several sources to follow-up with—Cumberland County court records and Muskingum County court records—regarding the theft of Christopher’s horses in Carlisle.

Time to get crackin’.

William Bonnington (c1816-1885) 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

Kris Hocker on 27 Mar 2017

William Bonnington, my four times great grandfather, was born about 1816 most likely in Bowden, Roxburghshire, Scotland.1 He was the son of Robert and Agnes (Inglis) Bonnington.2 He died 11 June 1885 in his brother’s house in Bowden.3

About 1838, he married Margaret Purves4 (or Fairborn).5 She was born about 1821 and died between 1844 and 1847. William married for the second time on 9 July 1847 in Melrose, Scotland to Mary Reavely.6 She was born about 1825 in Galashiels, Selkirkshire, daughter of Mark and Margareth (Paterson) Reavely, and died 21 April 1855 in Newington and Grange, Edinburgh.7 After her death, William married for the third time to Elizabeth Thomson on 16 June 1857 in St. Boswell’s Parish, Roxburghshire.8 Elizabeth was born about 1803, daughter of James and Janet (Goodfellow) Thomson, and died 15 November 1880 in the district of Bathgate.9

William worked as a joiner, a carpenter, and apparently moved with his work. In 1841, he can be found in the census for Galashiels, Selkirkshire.10 By 1851, he and family were in Ladhope, Melrose, Roxburghshire.11 Ten years later, the family was in Colinton, Edinburgh, Midlothian.12 He and third wife Elizabeth, as well as his daughter Isabella, were in Ilkley, Yorkshire, England in 1871.13 By 1881, William was living alone with a domestic in Bathgate, Linlithgow.14

William and Margaret (Purves) Bonnington had children:

  1. Anne Bonnington was born 5 May 1839 in Galashiels and likely died before 1851.
  2. Robert Bonnington was born 30 May 1841 in Galashiels and may have died prior to 1851.
  3. Peter Purvis Bonnington was born about 1844 and died 16 September 1891 of Phthisis Pulmonalis, a.k.a. Tuberculosis, in Lasswade Parish, Edinburgh. He married Elizabeth Buchanan on 17 June 1864 in Colinton.

William and Mary (Reavely) Bonnington had children:

  1. Margaret Bonnington was born about 1849 in Galashiels and died of Typhoid Fever on 23 December 1883 in Selkirk, Selkirkshire. She was a lady’s maid.
  2. Agnes Bonnington was born about 1850 in Galashiels and died sometime before 1855.
  3. Isabella Bonnington was born 16 February 1855 in Edinburgh, Midlothian. She was living with her father and step-mother in Ilkley in 1871, but no more is known about her after that time.

52 ancestors in 52 weeks

This post is part of a blogging challenge entitled 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, created by Amy Crow of No Story Too Small in 2014. Participants were to write about one ancestor every week. I’m revisiting this challenge for 2017. This is my thirteenth 52 Ancestors post, and a make-up post for week twelve.

James Smith (c1812-1856) 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

Kris Hocker on 25 Mar 2017

James Smith, my three times great grandfather, was born about 1812 in Whitburn, Linlithgow, Scotland1 to Thomas and Agnes (Nimmo) Smith and died on 8 February 1856 at age 44 in Whitburn.2 He was an “engineer,” a.k.a. engine worker, who worked in the coal mines.

On 25 December 1840, he married Isabella Aitken, daughter of William Aitken and Marion Brown of Lanark, Scotland.3 Isabella was born 27 February 1816 in Carnwath4 and died 1 December 1856 in Whitburn.5 Both she and James were buried in the Whitburn church yard.

On Sunday, 6 June 1841, the couple was living with Isabella’s parents at Auchengray in Carnwath parish.6 William and his son John were wrights, son-in-law George Tweedie a laborer, and son-in-law William Smith an ironstone miner.

By 30 March 1851, James and Isabella and their children were living at Crossroads in the parish of Whitburn in Linlithgow.7 They had apparently moved there by 1844 as all their childrens’ birthplaces are listed as Whitburn.

1856 was a terrible year for Thomas, Marion and William Smith, James and Isabella’s three children. After the death of their parents in February and December, they likely went to live with James’ brother and sister: William and Margaret. Marion died 11 May 18578 of hydrocephalus, likely acquired hydrocephalus caused by an injury, infection or tumor. Thomas and William can be found in Uncle William’s household in Whitburn in 1861.9

Thomas remained in Fauldhouse until his death in 1909. William became a ship’s engineer and travelled abroad, eventually marrying in Edinburgh and emigrating to the United States. He filed an intention to become a naturalized American citizen on 20 September 1886 in Berks County and became a citizen on 12 January 1893 at Harrisburg.10

James and Isabella (Aitken) Smith had children:

  1.  Thomas Smith was born circa 1844 and 9 May 1909, Fauldhouse, Greenburn, Whitburn parish. He married married Jane Bryce.
  2. Marion Smith was born circa 1846 and died 11 May 1857, Greenburn, Whitburn parish.
  3. William Smith (25 Sep 1851—23 Feb 1905, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania), married Eliza Craig Bennington, 12 December 1882, Uphill parish, Linlithgow

52 ancestors in 52 weeks

This post is part of a blogging challenge entitled 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, created by Amy Crow of No Story Too Small in 2014. Participants were to write about one ancestor every week. I’m revisiting this challenge for 2017. This is my twelfth 52 Ancestors post, and a make-up post for week eleven.

Jefferson Force (1833-1910) 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

Kris Hocker on 20 Mar 2017

My 3x great grandfather Jefferson Force’s ancestry remains a mystery. He was born 9 December 1833 in Centre County, Pennsylvania and died 20 October 1910 in Pine Glen.1 He married Susan L. Mulhollan, daughter of John and Emily (Boileau) Mulhollan, on 22 March 1857.2 His obituary reads:

“Died at his home in Pine Glen on Thursday, October 20th, Jefferson Force, a well known and respected citizen of that place, aged 76 years, 10 months and 11 days. During the Civil War, he was drafted in 1864 and received an honorable discharge in 1865. He was married to Susan Mulholland in 1857, with whom he spent a long and happy life. Mr Force was a charter member of Messiah Church, of that place and always remained steadfast to the church of his choice and served its teachings. He leaves a large circle of friends to mourn his loss. Funeral services were conducted by Rev. E.A. Meredith.”3

He enlisted in the Civil War on 20 December 1864 and mustered out 17 July 1865 at Alexandria, Virginia. He served in Company E of the 45th Pennsylvania Infantry Volunteers, 1st Brigade, 1st Division.4 During this period the regiment was involved in the advance on Richmond, Virginia, the Battle of Cold Harbor, the siege of Petersburg, the Battle of Chaffin’s farm, and the Appomattox campaign.5 Jefferson apparently was not wounded during the war, or at least not enough to impact his health.6

After the war, Jefferson lived and worked in Pine Glen, Centre County, Pennsylvania, as a house plasterer and farmer.7 Between 1857 and 1884, Jefferson and Susan had 14 children, five of whom died before 1900—nine daughters and five sons.

It’s been suggested to me that Jefferson was the son of Isaac and Polly (___) Force, who both died in the 1840s based on a Bible owned by Mrs. Agnes E. Shope. I have yet to find evidence to prove this supposition. A number of young Force children—including Martin and Agnes—can be found in a variety of non-Force-led households in the 1850 census enumeration for Centre County, indicating that they were most likely orphaned.

Agnes was born 8 April 1839 and may have been Jefferson’s sister. She named two of her sons Jefferson T. Shope and Martin V. Shope—both names of Centre County Force men. Jefferson also named a daughter Agnes E., perhaps after Mrs. Shope. She lived in Milesburg, Centre County and died in 1922. Martin V. Force (12 Dec 1835-28 May 1902) lived in Pine Glen and was Jefferson’s neighbor.

Jefferson and Susan (Mulhollan) Force had the following children:

  1. Wilhelmina Susan Force (29 Oct 1857-5 Nov 1921), married Robert Askey
  2. Catharine E. Force (13 Sep 1859-9 Mar 1899), married Albert Gilmore
  3. Hannah M. Force (1 Sep 1861-1 May 1938), married Johnson Watson
  4. Agnes E. Force (1 Aug 1863-16 Jul 1936), married John Thomas Fye
  5. Carrie Amanda Force (23 Aug 1865-3 May 1932), married William Henry Meeker
  6. Martin Luther Force (6 Feb 1868-23 May 1945), married Delilah N. Hamilton
  7. John C. Force (16 Jan 1870-27 Aug 1890)
  8. Lovina Caroline Force (28 Jan 1872-28 Oct 1964), married George W. Youdeshell
  9. Mary Alice Force (28 Jun 1873-12 Oct 1913), married Richard Whiles
  10. Martha Ellen Force (9 May 1875-10 Aug 1934), married Jacob Whiles, Wilson R. Smeal
  11. Lucy Malinda Force (26 Sep 1876-Mar 1960), married William Emetic, John G. Kein/King
  12. George W. Force (6 Jan 1878-10 Jan 1878)
  13. William E. Force (14 Sep 1883-9 Oct 1883)
  14. Albert M. Force (4 Sep 1884-5 Sep 1884)

Jefferson and Susan are my 3x great grandparents.

52 ancestors in 52 weeks

This post is part of a blogging challenge entitled 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, created by Amy Crow of No Story Too Small in 2014. Participants were to write about one ancestor every week. I’m revisiting this challenge for 2017. This is my eleventh 52 Ancestors post, and a make-up post for week ten.

Henry Jones (1776-1854) 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

Kris Hocker on 18 Mar 2017

Perhaps not so surprisingly, I’ve fallen behind on my 52 ancestors posts. I’m hoping to catch up. Here’s a short one to start me off.

Henry Jones was born 15 July 1776 in Hilltown Township and died 10 December 1854 in Milford Township, both in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.1 He was buried in Christ Church cemetery in Trumbauersville. He was the son of Edward and Rachel (Lewis) Jones.2

Henry married Martha Bartleson by 1806.3 They lived in Milford Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania where Henry was a farmer and carpenter. Martha died prior to 1 June 1830.

Henry and Martha (Bartleson) Jones had children:

  1. Levi Jones (c1807-bef 1870), married Catharine (Rhoads?)
  2. Rachael Jones (5 Mar 1809-10 Sep 1897), married John Witmer
  3. William Jones (c1811-23 Aug 1899), married Mrs. Hedrick and Catharine “Kate” Hartzell
  4. Mary Ann Jones (c1813-?), married Samuel Gilmore
  5. Lewis Jones (10 Nov 1815-21 Nov 1900), married Lydia Frederick
  6. Eliza Jones (c1817-c1849), married Wilson Davis
  7. Matilda Jones (? 1819-?)
  8. Isaac Bartleson Jones (11 Jan 1820-22 Apr 1892), married Sarah Senderling
  9. Henry Jones (12 Apr 1822-22 May 1893), married Peninah Shive
  10. Abel Jones (1 Feb 1824-27 Aug 1853)
  11. John Jones (c1826-?)
  12. Oliver Bartleson Jones (16 Aug 1829-4 Jan 1858), married Mary Elizabeth Bibighaus

Henry and Martha are my 5 times great grandparents.

52 ancestors in 52 weeks
This post is part of a blogging challenge entitled 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, created by Amy Crow of No Story Too Small in 2014. Participants were to write about one ancestor every week. I’m revisiting this challenge for 2017. This is my tenth 52 Ancestors post, and a make-up post for week nine.

Philip Hoover (1802-1882) 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

Kris Hocker on 25 Feb 2017

I’ve written extensively about my ancestor Christian Hoover and the search for his family. Now that I’ve got another piece of evidence that his parents were Philip Hoover and Hannah Thomas, I thought I’d write about them.

Philip Hoover was born about 1802, most likely on his father’s property on Plum Creek in Armstrong County.1  He was the third son and fourth child of Christian and Barbara (Harmon) Hoover. He died in May 1882 in Burlingame Township, Osage County, Kansas.2

Philip Hoover land survey

1820 Survey for Plum Creek Township land

About 1820, Philip married Hannah Thomas, daughter of John and Margaretta (Mackin) Thomas. She was born 14 July 1802 in Armstrong County and died 16 August 1880 in Burlingame Township.3  Hannah’s sister Sarah had married Samuel Hoover, Philip’s eldest brother, several years earlier. They lived in Plum Creek Township where Philip was a farmer.

On 21 August 1820, Philip had 73 acres surveyed.4 The survey was returned 28 June 1825. Philip sold this land on 3 February 1826.5 When his father died in 1850, Philip received land from his estate. He sold this land in a series of transactions in January 1876 and April 1877 before he and his wife headed west with his son Jacob and his family. Philip and Hannah both died in Burlingame several years later. Jacob and his family continued moving west, finally settling in Grays Harbor County in Washington by 1889.6

Philip Hoover 1850 census household

Philip Hoover 1850 census household

Based on census records, Philip and Hannah (Thomas) Hoover had children, born in Armstrong County:

  1. Christopher Hoover was born circa 1821 and died 1 October 1887, Covington Township, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. He married Caroline Kinnard, also of Armstrong County. She was born about 1830 and died 11 February 1877 in Covington Township.
  2. Mary Ann Hoover was born 22 Nov 1825. She may have married a Fisher.
  3. John Thomas Hoover was born 4 November 1827.
  4. Margaret Hoover was born 1831. She married Stewart Davis Pitt.
  5. Barbara Hoover was born 1833. She may have married a Gibson.
  6. William Hoover was born 1835.
  7. Jacob Hoover was born 8 February 1846 and died 14 September 1909 in Aberdeen, Grays Harbor County, Washington. He married Julia Ann Rupert in Pennsylvania.
  8. Ralston Hoover was born 1839 and died 13 June 1862 at Baltimore Cross Roads in Virginia as a result of injuries sustained during fighting in battle during the Civil War.
  9. Sarah Hoover was born 1842 and died 1917. She married Henry Blystone on 28 March 1860.
  10. Samuel M. Hoover was born 1845.

52 ancestors in 52 weeks

This post is part of a blogging challenge entitled 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, created by Amy Crow of No Story Too Small in 2014. Participants were to write about one ancestor every week. I’m revisiting this challenge for 2017. This is my ninth 52 Ancestors post, part of week eight.