Family Records – A Pennsylvania Dutch Genealogy

Godfrey Wißler (c1757-1829) 1829 Last Will and Testament

Kris Hocker on 12 Dec 2016

Godfrey Wisler 1829 last will and testament

Godfrey Wißler wrote his last will and testament on 23 April 1825. It was proven on 21 October 1829.¹ He died before 21 October 1829.² Based on this will, his wife Eva Catharine (Weiß) Wißler had died previously. At the time of his death, he had three living daughters, as well as the four surviving grandchildren of his deceased daughter Elizabeth (Wißler) Reiter.

Will of Godfrey Wisler

In the Name of God Amen I Godfrey Wisler of Upper Hanover Hanover township Montgomery County and State of Pennsylvania Yeoman being in perfect health of body and of sound mind memory and understanding blessed by God for the same but considering the uncertainty of this transitory life Do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following to wit Principally and first of all I commend my Immortal Soul into the hands of God who gave it and my body to the earth to be buried in a decent and Christian like manner at the discretion of my Executors hereinafter named and as to such wordless estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I give and dispose of the same in the following manner to wit First it is my will and I do order that all my just debts and funeral expenses be duly paid and satisfied as soon as conveniently can be after my decease Item I give unto my youngest daughter and do order my executors to get the same and pay for the same out of my estate unto my youngest daughter Susanna one good and sufficient bed and bedstead and all belonging to the same one cow Spinning weel and drawre and one kittle two iron potts a washtub two buckets a half dozen Knifes and forks one dozen table spoons one dozen tea spoons one dozen plates one dozen cups and sarcers a half doz chairs one table all new and the greater pewter dish Item it is my will that all my personal estate shall be sold by Public Vendue by my Executors hereafter named and the money arriving thereof after due expenses be paid off equally divided share and share alike amongst all my children and grandchildren or to their respective Heirs to wit one fourth to my Grand children born by my daughter Elizabeth deceased (the wife of George Reiter) one fourth to my daughter Catharine (the wife of Jacob Stoyer) one fourth to my daughter Sarah (the wife of Henry Snyder) and one fourth to my daughter Susanna Item it is my will and I do order that my real estate shall be sold by my Executors on Public Sale for the best price may be gotten for the same and the money arriving there from after all expenses be duly paid then it is my will and I do order that first fifty dollars shall be paid unto Jacob Stoyer the husband of my daughter Catharine or to their heirs which said sum and the land I have given already unto them shall be in full of their share and dividents whatever Item it is my will that all the remaining money over the real estate shall be divided equally into three parts that is to say one third unto my four Grand Children by twenty dollars more than her share unto my Grand daughter Eve Reiter and one third unto my daughter Sarah and one third unto my daughter Susanna unto them or to their respective heirs or assigns And Lastly I nominate Constitute and appoint my trusty frands George Hillegas Sr. and George Maurer to be the sole Executors of this my last will and testament and give them full power and authority or the Surveyeor of them to Sign Seal and deliver a good and Suficient title deed to purchaser or purchasers of the same hereby revoking all other will legacies and bequests by me heretofore made and declaring this and no other to be my last will and testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my had and Seal the twenty third day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight Hundred and twenty five

Godfrey Wisler {seal}

Signed Sealed and declared by the said testator as his last will and testament in the presents of us

John Welker George Hillegas

Montgomery County Ss Personally appeared the witnesses to the foregoing will who being duly sworn according to Law did on their solemn Oath respectively say that they Saw and heard Godfrey Wisler the testator therein named sign and seal publish and declare the same will for and as his last will and testament and at the doing of it he was of sound mind memory and understanding to the best of their knowledge and belief Sworn October 21st 1829

Geo M. Potts DR

Be it remembered that on the 21st day of October AD 1829 the foregoing will was proved in due form of Law and Letters of administration with the will annexed Granted unto Jacob Stoyer he having first be duly qualified to execute the same and to render and account thereof according to Law and to comply with the provisions of an Act of Assembly relative to Collateral Inheritances Given under my hand and Seal of office ~

I’ve been able to identify five daughters of Godfrey Wißler and Eva Catharine Weiß:

Susanna Wißler (1776—1785)
Elizabeth Wißler (1785-1794—bef Apr 1825) married George Reiter
Catharine Wißler (1789—1879) married Jacob Stoyer (aka Steier)
Sarah Wißler (1799—1852) married Henry Snyder (aka Schneider)
Susanna Wißler (aft 1799—?)

Henry Snyder purchased 62 acres from Godfrey’s estate in 1830 and got a mortgage from George Hillegas Sr. This became the Snyder and later the Greulich farm across from the New Goshenhoppen Church in Upper Hanover Township.

Godfrey and Eva Catharine are my 5x great-grandparents.

A Great Sickness at Harrisburg The Landis Mill Dam Incident

Kris Hocker on 20 Mar 2013

Yellow fever is one of those diseases that was of grave concern to our ancestors. About 1793, Philadelphia was experiencing an outbreak of the disease and when a febrious illness began to manifest in Harrisburg, there was great concern that it had reached them, too.¹

Efforts were made to protect the town and its inhabitants—the posting of guards on the roads, turning away travelers, etc. But the general feeling amongst the town’s inhabitants was that the disease was caused by the stagnant waters behind a dam on Paxton Creek. The mill was owned by Peter, John and Abraham Landis.

Articles of agreement were written between John Harris, founder of Harrisburg, and the three Landis men on 16 April 1790. Harris granted them “a mill seat on the waters of Paxton Creek the race whereof to be taken out of the said creek at any place between the two bridges now erected over the same opposite Harrisburgh aforesaid and to be dug or carried through the land of the said John Harris.”² The men paid £600, plus interest, and were required to provide a sufficient merchant mill within three years.

Then the sickness came.

On 5 May 1794, a meeting was held and a committee designed to meet with the Landis’ and offer them £2500 in exchange for the mill.³ They met with the men the next day. The Landis’ refused to sell.

By January 1795, the inhabitants were determined to take action. At a meeting on 16 January 1795, it was voted to pay the Landis’ £2600 for the mill, and that in case the Landis’ again refused to sell, they would “prostrate the dam erected… and pay our proportionate parts of all legal expenses and damages that may accrue on any suit or suits.”⁴ An assessment was made on all property in the borough in order to make up the amount of the offer.⁵ Amongst those assessed for property in town were John, Adam, and Christopher Hocker. A George Hocker—possibly their brother—was assessed as a single man, too.

Apparently, the Landis men were still not willing to sell and instead asked for £2000 for the water-rights alone. The committee apparently believed this was little more than extortion. They refused the counter-offer.

On Saturday, 18 April 1795, the committee and a number of inhabitants went to the dam and with four persons they had hired “opened the creek bed twelve feet wide.”⁶ This, for all intents and purposes, ruined the dam.

On 29 April 1795, with the dam all but destroyed and no other options, the Landis’ sold the mill property and equipment to a committee comprised of Stacy Potts, Moses Gilmore, William Grayson, Jacob Bucher, John Keen, John Dentzel and Alexander Berryhill.⁷

The Landis Family

Peter, John, and Abraham Landis may have been, I believe, brothers ~~and sons of Felix Landis~~.

Felix Landis of Derry Township died after writing his will on 25 Jan 1770.⁸ He left his property on Spring Creek to his two sons—Peter and Jacob. Peter, in particular, inherited that piece of the tract “whereupon the house and barn and mill is standing.” This indicates to me that the mill business was a family industry.

All three men were of Derry Township in 1790 when they purchased the water rights from John Harris.⁹ In 1795 when they sold out, Peter and Eva, his wife, were of Derry Township, John and Catharine, his wife, were of Londonderry Township, and Abraham and Barbara, his wife, were of Paxton Township.¹⁰

Friday Finds: Marriage Record of Sarah Craig Buchanan

Kris Hocker on 2 Nov 2012

It’s funny how a record that you dismissed as irrelevant—because it did not pertain to the person you were researching—can abruptly become relevant with additional research.

I viewed the following record on ScotlandsPeople because I was hoping to find information on my ancestress Sarah Craig, wife of James Buchanan. It didn’t pertain and I set it aside. More recently, I researched Alexander Buchanan as a possible brother to my ancestor James Buchanan. The marriage record of Sarah Craig Buchanan became relevant because she was the daughter of Alexander Buchanan and his wife Elizabeth Kelly… and likely niece to James Buchanan and his wife Sarah Craig, quite likely her namesake.

Marriage record for James Sands and Sarah Craig Buchanan of Cuilhill, Scotland on 12 July 1872.

Lesson learned? When there are similarities of name and place, don’t dismiss a record just because it’s obviously not the same person. Those similarities may point to a possible relationship. Niece, nephew, brother, sister—or even neighbor or best friend. Those relationships may provide clues that help you over a brick wall.

In this case, the records from the families of James and Alexander Buchanan seem to indicate that their family may have been amongst those Irish who left Ireland due to the famine in the 1840s. In their case, instead of immigrating to United States, they sought relief by going to Scotland where they became coal miners.

Obituary: George Walker

Kris Hocker on 23 Oct 2012

WALKER – At the age of 85 years, George Walker at his residence at Marsh Creek, on Friday of last week. He was the father of twenty-six children. The funeral took place on Sunday.¹

In 1891, the 3rd of April was a Friday.² So according to his obituary, George Walker died the week prior on the 27th of March and was buried on the 5th of April.

George Walker was married twice, first to Catherine Walker and second to Mary Ellen Woods. Catherine had 12 children; Mary Ellen had 14.³

Amanuensis Monday — Partition of Thomas Kinnard’s Estate (Part 1)

Kris Hocker on 2 Jul 2012

Petition of Benjamin F. Kinnard for Partition of the Estate of Thomas Kinnard late of Burrell Township, Deceased

To the Honorable the Judges of the Orphans Court in and for the county of Armstrong in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ~ The Petition of Benjamin F. Kinnard of the said County Respectfully Showeth that he is one of the heirs and legal representatives of Thomas Kinnard late of Burrell township in the said County deceased that that [sic] the said Thomas Kinnard died on or about the month of April 1858 intestate That the said deceased at the time of his death was lawfully seized in his demesne as of fee of an in a certain piece parcel or tract of land Situate partly in Burrell and partly in Plum Creek township in said County adjoining lands of Samuel Kepple and Jacob Young on the north John L Keir on the east Absalom Klingensmith on the south and William Ramally on the west containing about one hundred and fifty acres more or less. And your petitioner further showeth that the said Thomas Kinnard died leaving surviving a widow Mary Kinnard who is since dead and seven children who are still living to wit: Catharine now married to Henry Darbaker, Christianna married to William Mansfield, Caraline [sic] married to Christopher Hoober (in Jefferson County), Sarah married to Lebius Kunkle, Benjamin F. Kinnard (your petitioner) Henry George Kinnard and Sarah Jane married to Robert Klingensmith, all of the said heirs being of full age. Your petitioner further says that the tract of land has never been parted and divided between said heirs according to law. And your petitioner therefore prays your Honors to award an inquest to make Partition of the premises aforesaid to and among the said parties interest in such manner and in such proportions as by said laws, laws [sic] of this Commonwealth is directed if such partition can be made without prejudice to or spoiling the whole but if such partition cannot be made thereof then to value and appraise the same and make return of the proceedings according to law and as in duty bound he will pay &c

Benjamin F. Kinnard

Sworn & subscribed this 4th day of December 1865

P K Bowman, Clerk OC

And now to wit: 4th December 1865 Inquest award with personal notice on all parties interested

By the Court

5th December 1865 Writ issued

Served on Henry Darbaker and Catharine Darbaker his wife, Wm Mansfield and Christena Mansfield his wife Benjamin F Kinnard, Henry G Kinnard Robert Klingensmith, Susan J. Klingensmith his wife, Lebius Kunkle and Sarah Kunkle his wife by reading and copies, and to Christopher Hoober and Caroline Hoober his wife by the Sheriff of Jefferson County see copy attached, and further Execution of this writ appears [from?] a certain schedule hereto annexed

So answers R M Kiskaden, Shff

Inquisition [executed?] and taken at the late dwelling house of Thomas Kinnard late of Burrell Township Deceased on the 9th day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty six before R M Kiskaden Esq High Sherill of the County of Armstrong in the state of Pennsylvania by virtue of a writ of Partition or Valuation to him directed and to this Inquisition annexed by virtue of the Oaths of Jonathan Myers, Abraham Klingensmith, Isaac Smith, Andrew Cover, Isaac Rupert, Absalom Klingensmith, James Wyatt, Andrew Rubbert, and Samuel Kepple twelve free honest and lawful men of his Bailiwick who on their Oaths as aforesaid respectively do say that on the day and year aforesaid they went to and upon the lands and tenements of which Thomas Kinnard in the said writ mentioned died seized and then and there in the presence of the parties therein named and by me warned and find that the same land and tenements with the appurtenances could not be parted and divided to and among all the children of of the deceased without prejudice to and spoiling the whole thereof. And therefore the inquest aforesaid on their solemn oaths aforesaid did then and there further find that the said lands and tenements with the appurtenances will divide into three parts with out prejudice and spoiling the whole viz That part of the said lands and tenements with the appurtenances included and bounded by the following courses and distances viz Beginning at a post thence by land of Absalom Klingensmith north eighty eight degrees west eighty four perches to a post thence by a part of said land in the diagram hereunto annexed marked as “B” north two degrees west one hundred perches to a post thence by land of Jacob Young South Seventy five degrees east one hundred and nineteen perches to a post thence by lands of John S Kier South forty seven degrees east twelve perches to a post thence by lands of Charles Rubbert South thirty degrees west Seventy three perches to the Beginning Containing fifty seven acres and eleven perches situate partly in Burrell & partly in Plum Creek Township and in the diagram hereunto annexed marked with “A” and therefore the inquest aforesaid on their Oaths have valued and appraised the same at fifteen dollars per acre amounting to the sum of $856.03 at and for which sum of money aforesaid upon their oaths aforesaid do value and appraise the same. And all that piece or parcel of Land with the appurtenances contained within the Boundaries following viz. Beginning at a post thence by land of Absalom Klingensmith thence north eighty eight degrees west one hundred and ten perches to a post thence by a part marked C on the diagram hereunto annexed north two degrees west one hundred and twenty four perches to a post thence by lands of Samuel Kepple and Jacob Young South seventy five degrees east one hundred and fourteen perches to a post, thence by the part marked “A” on the diagram South two degrees east one hundred perches to the Beginning Containing seventy six acres and twenty nine perches (Situate in Burrell Township) and therefore the inquest aforesaid on their oaths aforesaid have valued and appraised the same at the sum of $18.00 per acres amounting to the sum of $1371.26 for which sum as aforesaid the inquest aforesaid upon their oaths aforesaid do value and appraise the same ~ And all that piece or parcel of land with appurtenances contained with the boundaries following viz Beginning at a post thence by lands of Absalom Klingensmith north two west eighty perches to a post, north sixty six west forty six perches to a white oak thence by land of Wm McKenna South Seventy one degrees west twenty one perches to a spruce pine thence by Andrew Rubbert and Wm Ramely north twenty two degrees east one hundred and twenty six perches to a post, thence by lot marked “B” South two degrees east one hundred and twenty four perches to the Beginning Containing thirty six acres and twenty four perches on the diagram marked “C.” And therefore the inquest aforesaid on their oaths aforesaid have valued and appraised the same at $15.00 per acre amounting to the sum of $542.25 the inquest aforesaid do value and appraise the same. In testimony whereof as well the said Sheriff as the inquest aforesaid have to this inquisition, interchangeably set their hands and seals Dated the day and year above written. R M Kiskaden, Sheriff (seal)

Jonathan Myers (seal)      James Wyatt (seal)

Abraham Klingensmith (seal) Wm Ramely (seal)

Isaac Smith (seal)     A. J. Remaly (seal)

Andrew Cover (seal)     Wm Deshong (seal)

Isaac Rubbert (seal)     Andrew Rubbert (seal)

Absalom Klingensmith (seal)     Samuel Kepple (seal)

Allotment A Contains 57 acres 11 perches appraised at $15.00 per acre $856.03

” B ” 76 ” 29 ” ” $18.00 ” ” $1371.26

” C ” 36 ” 24 ” ” $15.00 ” ” $542.25

Amount $2769.54

Partition of Thomas Kinnard's estate diagram

Partition diagram

Read Amanuensis Monday — Partition of Thomas Kinnard’s Estate (Part 2).

James Buchanan: An Update and a Brother?

Kris Hocker on 31 Jan 2012

A while back I wrote about what I had learned about my ancestor James Buchanan. I wasn’t sure if all the information I’d found pertained to the same man. I’m still not sure, but I have new information to ponder.

Elizabeth (Buchanan) Bonnington?

My ancestress Elizabeth Buchanan married Peter Purvis Bonnington on 17 Jun 1864 at Bloomyhall, Junipergreen, in the parish of Colinton, Edinburgh.¹ According to this document, her parents were James Buchanan, a miner, and Sarah (Craig) Buchanan, deceased. Elizabeth died 13 May 1928 in Crown Terrace, in the parish of Prestonpans, East Lothian, Scotland, and her death record names her parents as James Buchanan, coal miner, and Elizabeth (Craig) Buchanan.² Her son Peter was the informant for the document. I’ve not been able to locate a birth record for Elizabeth (Buchanan) Bonnington, quite possibly because I’m not sure where she was born. (Please see notes.)

The only record I’ve been able to find that includes the entire Buchanan family is the 1851 Scottish census. The census enumeration for Cambusnethan parish, Lanarkshire includes the following:³

James Buchanan, head, age 39, coal miner, born Ireland
Saly Craig Buchanan, wife, age 41, born Ireland
Elizabeth Buchanan, dau, age 6, born Ireland
Sarah Buchanan, dau, age 4, born Ireland
Mary Buchanan, mother, widow, age 56, born Ireland

This image from the next page of the census records shows these members of the household:

Robert Collins, lodger, age 20, coal miner, born Wigton, Old House
Alexander Buchanan, lodger, age 22, coal miner, born Ireland
John Hilly, lodger, age 17, coal miner, born Ireland

Of note from this census entry is the fact that all the Buchanans listed are born in Ireland. Also, James Buchanan’s mother was named Mary, and there’s also an Alexander Buchanan living in the household. Is he related to James and Mary? Perhaps a brother to James? It’s not possible to know for sure from this census entry alone.

I believe I found the Buchanans in the 1861 census in the village of Polkemmet, Bathgate parish, Linlithgow, Scotland. If so, James’ family was reduced to just himself and his daughter Sarah. They were enumerated in James Smart’s household, as follows:⁴

James Buchanan, lodger, widowed, 37, coal miner, born Ireland
Sarah Buchanan, dau, 14, born Ireland

Although it’s troubling to me that James is somehow 2 years younger than he was 10 years earlier, all the other details match. He’s a coal miner, born in Ireland with a daughter named Sarah, whose age and birthplace match those of the 1851 family. Elizabeth was apparently living with a family in Edinburgh and working as a dairymaid.⁵

Sarah (Craig) Buchanan apparently died sometime between 1851 and 1861. Her daughter Elizabeth’s marriage record reports Sarah as deceased by 1864⁶, so again this census record is a possible match to known information. I haven’t yet been able to find a death record for Sarah so I haven’t been able to find her actual date of death. It’s also possible that Mary Buchanan, James’ mother, died during this period as well.

Alexander Buchanan—the Brother?

The Alexander Buchanan found in James’ household in 1851 was quite likely enumerated in Chapelhall, Bothwell parish, Lanark, Scotland in 1861. His family was enumerated living on Bigger Road as follows:⁷

Alexander Bouchanan, head, married, age 31, Ironstone miner, born Ireland
Elizabeth Bouchanan, wife, married, age 28, born Ireland
Sarah Bouchanan, dau, age 8, born Neilston, Renfrew
Mary Bouchanan, dau, age 6, born Bothwell, Lanark
Cathrine Bouchanan, dau, age 4, born Bothwell, Lanark
Elisabeth Bouchanan, dau, age 2, born Bothwell, Lanark
John Bouchanan, son, age under 1 mo, born Bothwell, Lanark

A search for these children in the FamilySearch.org Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564—1950 database revealed that Alexander Buchanan and Elizabeth Kelly had children: Mary (b. 1855), Catharine (b. 1857), Elizabeth (b. 1859) and William (b. 1865)—a match for three of the five children in the census record.

Bothwell parish records showed that Alexander Buchanan married Elizabeth Kelly of Neilston parish on 18 Apr 1852.⁸ They were of Neilston parish when “Alexander Buchanan and Elizabeth Kelly spouses Neilston had their first child being a daughter born on the 21st of February and baptized on the 13th of March named Sarah Craig.”⁹ This, too, matches the census record.

Sometime between 1853 and 1855, Alex and Elizabeth must have moved their family back to Bothwell parish. According to the census enumeration the younger children—Mary, Catharine, Elizabeth, and John—were all born in Bothwell parish between 1855 and 1861. Later census records include more information for birthplace, including:¹⁰ Chapelhall (Mary), Mossend (Catharine), Coatbridge (Elizabeth), Chapelhall (John), Longlee (Robert), Cuilhill (William).

Alexander was injured in a mining accident at Heathery Knowe Number 2 (Heathery Knowe Mining Company) in Cuilhill on 11 March 1867. He died 3 hours later from his injuries.¹¹ His death record lists his wife as Elizabeth Kelly. Alexander’s parents were listed as John Buchanan (farmer, deceased) and Mary Buchanan, maiden surname Irvine (deceased). The informant for the record—James Buchanan, brother.

Conclusions

So, were James and Alexander brothers? There are several facts that support that conclusion:

Alexander Buchanan was living with James Buchanan’s family and mother Mary in 1851.
Alexander Buchanan named his eldest daughter Sarah Craig—after his brother’s wife? Maybe.
James Buchanan was the informant for Alexander Buchanan’s 1867 death record. The record says that James was Alexander’s brother.
John and Mary (Irvine) Buchanan are listed as Alexander’s parents in his 1867 death record. John and Mary (Erwin/Irvine) Buchanan are also listed as James’ parents in his 1863 marriage to Margaret Tatlock and his 1888 death record.
John (b. ca 1861, Bothwell), Robert (b. ca 1863/4, Longlee) and William (b. ca 1865/66, Old Monkland) Buchanan are living with James and Margaret Buchanan in Shotts, Lanark in 1881.¹² They match in name, birth date and birthplace the sons of Alexander Buchanan and are identified as James’ nephews in the census enumeration.
Elizabeth (Buchanan) Bonnington named her third son Alexander. Her first son was named William James—presumably after Peter’s father William and her father James. Her second son was named Peter, presumably after her husband. Her fourth and fifth sons were named Robert, presumably after her husband’s brother or uncle. And her last son was named Craig, presumably in honor of her mother Sarah (Craig) Buchanan who died before Elizabeth turned 16.

Additionally, one of the various birthplaces listed for Elizabeth (Buchanan) Bonnington in the records is Neilston, Renfrewshire—Elizabeth Kelly’s “home” parish and where Alexander’s first child—Sarah Craig Buchanan—was born and baptized.

I may have even answered the question of whether the James Buchanan who married Margaret Tatlock was the father of Elizabeth. The main impediment to establishing a connection has been James Buchanan’s age as reported in the records. Here are the ages listed in documents pertaining to “James Buchanan:”

Age 39 (b. ca 1812, Ireland) in the 1851 census¹³
Age 37 (b. ca 1824, Ireland) in the 1861 census¹⁴
Age 39 (b. ca 1824, Ireland) in his 1863 marriage record¹⁵
Age 57 (b. ca 1814, Ireland) in the 1871 census¹⁶
Age 36 (b. ca 1845, Ireland) in the 1881 census¹⁷
Age 66 (b. ca 1822, Ireland) in his 1888 death record¹⁸

The 1881 census—a transcription—is so different from the other ages that I can only conclude it was a transcription error or an enumeration error especially when compared to the age on his death record just seven years later. The age differences place his birth around either 1812/14 or 1822/24. Ten years is not a minor difference and seems to indicate that these records are for different men.

However, there are enough consistencies and connections—particularly if you conclude that Alexander was his brother—to make a case that they are, in fact, the same man. The records consistently name his occupation as a coal or ironstone miner and his birthplace as Ireland.

Alexander was living with James and Sarah (Craig) Buchanan in 1851. Alexander’s sons were living with their uncle James and his wife Margaret in 1881. Alexander and James (d. 1888) have the same parents—John and Mary (Erwin/Irvine) Buchanan. Furthermore, when James married Margaret Tatlock in 1863, his marriage record notes that he was a widower. Sarah (Craig) Buchanan died prior to 1864 and most likely prior to 1861—quite possibly before 1853 when Alexander’s daughter Sarah Craig was born.

In 1871 and 1881, James and family were apparently living in Coltness Iron Company housing. Coltness also had colleries in Bathgate, so it’s possible he was also working for them in 1861 and 1863 when records show him in Bathgate.¹⁹

So, for now, I’ll have to say the evidence is not conclusive. It’s certainly suggestive, but there’s no smoking gun. For research purposes, I plan to keep it as a working assumption. But more work is needed to build a stronger case.

Based on this information do you think James and Alexander are siblings? Do you think that Elizabeth’s father James married both Sarah Craig and Margaret Tatlock or were there two James Buchanans? Leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Notes:

According to various records, Elizabeth (Buchanan) Bonnington was born in:

Ireland³
Shotts, Lanark, Scotland²¹
Neilston, Renfrew, Scotland²²
Chapelhall, Lanark, Scotland²³
Chapelhall, Lanark, Scotland²⁴
Monkland, Lanark, Scotland²⁵

Most of the enumerations place her birthplace in the same general area between Glasgow and Edinburgh. The odd ball locations are Neilston, Renfrewshire (1871) and Ireland (1851). But even these locations provide clues to Elizabeth’s relatives—Neilston to Alexander Buchanan, and Ireland to her parents, sister and presumed uncle Alexander and his wife Elizabeth Kelly.

Friday Find: Smith-Aitken, 1841 Scottish Census

Kris Hocker on 30 Dec 2011

William Aitken household, 1841 Scotland Census

According to the marriage record I found for my ancestors James Smith and Isabella Aitken, they were married 25 Dec 1840 in Carnwath Parish, Lanarkshire, Scotland.¹ This couple has been very difficult to document. After much struggling, I managed to find them in Whitburn, Linlithgow, Scotland in the 1851 census, but hadn’t been able to locate them in the 1841 census.

I also had Isabella’s parent’s names—William Aitken and Marion Brown²—from her 1856 death certificate, but hadn’t been able to locate a birth record or any proof of her parentage. Her brother-in-law William Smith was the informant on her death certificate and I can’t be sure how much he actually knew about her ancestry.

A new search through the records on ScotlandsPeople.gov.uk netted me, not only James and Isabella in the 1841 census, but also her parents and two siblings!

James and Isabella (Aitken) Smith were living with her parents, William and Marion (Brown) Aitken in Auchengray, Carnwath Parish, Lanarkshire in 1841. The household included:

William Aitken, 60, Wright, born in Lanark
Marion Aitken, 60, born in Lanark
John [Aitken], 25, Wright, born in Lanark
George Tweedie, 25, Laborer, born in Lanark
Helen Aitken, 20, born in Lanark
William Tweedie, 2, born in Lanark
James Smith, 25, Ironstone M., not born in Lanark
Isabella Smith, 22, born in Lanark

This information allowed me to also find a birth record for Isabella by both widening the search—searching by surname only—and narrowing the search to only Carnwath parish. That got me one result: Isobel Aitken.

Isabella was born 27 Feb 1816 and baptized 24 Mar 1816 in Carnwath, Lanarkshire, Scotland. So, her age in 1841 was 25, not the 22 as recorded, but age discrepancies like this are quite common in census records. John and Helen Aitken’s ages are incorrect, too. Records found on FamilySearch put John’s birth as 11 Mar 1814 and Helen’s baptism on 19 Aug 1819.

So, with some diligence and a little luck, I was finally able to document my difficult Smith line back one more generation in Scotland! Now to try my luck with Thomas Smith & Agnes Nimmo, James’ parents.

Fearless Females: Marriages

Kris Hocker on 4 Mar 2011

Elmer and Lillian (Snyder) Greulich (c 1901)

Today’s entry for Fearless Females is about family marriages:

Do you have marriage records for your grandparents or great-grandparents? Write a post about where they were married and when. Any family stories about the wedding day? Post a photo too if you have one.

Elmer and Lillian Greulich marriage record, 21 Sep 1901

My great-grandparents Elmer Calvin Greulich and Lillian Witmer Snyder were married on 21 Sep 1901 in East Greenville, Montgomery County, Pennsylvnia.¹ Elmer, born 6 Aug 1880, was the son of immigrant Karl Philipp (Charles Philip) Greulich and his second wife Caroline Krauss Wolf. Elmer was a cigarmaker. Lilliam, born 26 Oct 1879, was the daughter of Henry D. and Saraphine K. (Witmer) Snyder. She was a teacher.

My great-grandparents Edwin Joshua Wieder and Mary Catharine “Mae” Waage were married on 19 Apr 1905 in Pennsburg, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.² Edwin, born 29 Mar 1880, was the son of Emanuel and Alavesta Esther (Dillinger) Wieder. Edwin was a jeweler, then a baker and postmaster at Pennsburg. Mae, born 27 Oct 1877, was the daughter of Dr. Charles Theodore and Lydia S. (Eshbach) Waage of Pennsburg. She was a music teacher and later a postal clerk in Pennsburg. Coverage of their wedding stated:

E.J. Wieder and Mae Waage Marriage Record

“A Pretty Home Wedding. Amid Profuse Decorations in the Presence of a number of Relatives and Invited Guests Two if Our Young People are Married.

A pretty wedding was solemnized at 3:30 o’clock on Wednesday afternoon at the residence of Dr. C. T. Waage, of Pennsburg, when his only daughter, Miss Mae C. was united in marriage to E.J. Wieder Jr. of Pennsburg. The ceremony was performed by two uncles of the bridge, Revs. O.F. Waage, of Pennsburg, and Rev. Kehm, of Sellersville…

…The bride was attended by Miss Stella Troxell, cousin of the bride, of Philadelphia, and Charles W. Keely, of the firm Dotts & Keely, of Philadelphia, was best man. Miss Gertrude Anders, of Lansdale, presided at the piano, and Dr. Fred Waage, cousin of the bride, was usher…

…The guests present were Dr. and Mrs. C. T. Waage, parents of the bride, Mr. and Mars. E. J. Wieder, parents of the groom, John Wieder [brother], Miss Cora Wieder [sister], Miss Lizzie Bobb [cousin of the bride], Miss Ada V. Waage [aunt], Mrs. and Mrs. M. K. Gilbert, Dr. and Mrs. W. H. Hunsberger, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Steckel, Misses Vinnie Mensch [cousin’s F.O. Waage soon-to-be bride], Nora Kneule, and Florence Dyson, of Pennsburg; Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Ott [groom’s cousins], and Mr. and Mrs. Emanuel Moyer [groom’s aunt and uncle] and daughter of Limeport; Mrs. Frank [Dillinger] Heller [groom’s aunt] of Standard; Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Anders, of Landsdale; Miss Alice Welker, of Red Hill; John Hillegass and Miss Bertha Raudenbush, of East Greenville; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Jacoby, Mr. and Mrs. Cressman, Mrs. Dr. Ritter, Harry Kehm [bride’s cousin] and Miss Tillie Cressman, of Sellersville, and George Welker, Mr. and Mrs. F. F. Huber, Mrs. C. F. Schoenly, George Day, Frank Haring, Misses Sarah Weil and Nora Keller, members of the St. Mark’s choir.”³

William and Isabella (Smith) Hocker

My great-grandparents William Howard and Isabella Aitken (Smith) Hocker were married 13 Oct 1914 in Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania by Rev. H. Everett Hallman.⁴ Will, born 17 Aug 1890, was the son of Albert Curtin and Lillian Ainsley (Leedy) Hocker. Will was a carpenter. Isabella, born 4 Apr 1893, was the daughter of William and Eliza Craig (Bonnington) Smith. She was telephone operator in Harrisburg.

Clyde and Nora (Houdeshell) Hoover

My great-grandparents Clyde L. and Nora Melinda (Houdeshell) Hoover were married 16 Apr 1908 in Dubois, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania.⁵ Clyde, born 30 Oct 1886, was the son of Samuel Thomas and Victoria (Walker) Hoover of Pine Glen, Burnside Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania. Clyde was a lumberman. Nora, born 26 Oct 1891, was the daughter of George W. and Lovina Caroline (Force) Houdeshell. Nora, aged 16, was a cook at a lumber camp. Her father apparently told all his daughters at age 16 to either get married or get a job. Nora, I’m told, refused to give her consent to a marriage for any of her daughters who didn’t wait until they were 21 years old.

Fearless Females is, a blogging meme, presented by Lisa Alzo of The Accidental Genealogist blog in celebration of National Women’s History Month.

Tag: Family Records

The Landis Family

Alexander Buchanan—the Brother?

Conclusions

Notes: