William Alexander Smith

Put to factory work at nine after the collapse of his father's finances, he learned the brass-founder's trade in Brooklyn and removed to Chicago in 1855, where the business he started — E.W. Garrett and Brother — grew into the Garrett Company and the Garrett Elevator Company.

Because of the collapse of his father's finances, he got his first job working in a factory at age 9, in 1841 and continued there until 1847. He then learned a trade in a brass foundry in Brooklyn, NY, until 1851, and then worked in New York City until 1855, when he removed to Chicago. Once there, he started the business, E.W. Garrett and Brother, that eventually grew into the Garrett Company and the Garrett Elevator Company, though it began very small as a manufacturer of brass castings that eventually came to include brass finishing in the steam engine line. It was the first major business of its kind west of Pittsburgh. Garrett then added a line of steam fitter's supplies, the conducting of a steam-heating business, the manufacture of wrought iron pipes, steam engine building, and finally the building of steam and hydraulic elevators. By the 1890s, the Garrett Company exclusively manufactured steam fitter's supplies, ie. goods used for heating buildings and steam engineering work generally, and at that time employed 2,500 people. The company also had branch stores in New York, Philadelphia, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Duluth, Kansas City, Omaha, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Portland, OR. He directed some of his vast fortune towards education philanthropies, such as the Tilden School (becoming known as the Garrett School) in Chicago which trained people in a variety of trades which eventually drew the support of the Chicago Board of Education and expanded across nine other schools across the city. He married secondly to Eliza Whitcomb, sister of his first wife, and thirdly to Emma Hutchinson. He wrote an autobiography that was published in 1927.

A Civil War–era politician from Tennessee — a Unionist and abolitionist who kept his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives through the war itself.

A Civil War era politician from Tennessee, he was a Unionist and abolitionist who maintained his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives through the war.

A German Mennonite of the Molotschna colony in southern Ukraine, where his people had farmed under the settlement rights granted by Catherine the Great. He intended to leave with the mass emigration of 1874, but the family was poor and spent years saving; they crossed in 1876.

He was a German Mennonite living in the southern Ukraine and intended to leave with the mass immigration of 1874. The family was poor and they had to spend several years saving money and came in 1876. Under the original proclamation set down by Czarina Catherine the Great in 1763, Germans were invited to come into Russia to farm the Ukraine and Belorussian areas. They were allowed to maintain their own language, customs, religions, and schools. Mennonites were exempted from military service due to their pacifistic discipline. However, during the Franco-Prussian War, the exemption was lifted forcing many of the inhabitants to immigrate elsewhere. The Mennonite communities spread to China, Argentina, Paraguay, Canada, and the United States. It is not known if any Janzens went to China, but contact has been made with branches that went to the other three countries. The Russian authorities were not to be fooled and let young, eligible men escape their borders, and so Johann was forced to dress as a woman to make it through customs. He traveled with his wife and infant daughter. They arrived in the United States in 1876 (landing in New Orleans) and went by boat up the Mississippi. They settled immediately at Fairbury and Jansen, Nebraska. Finding the church discipline too strict, Johann and his family moved to Pueblo, Colorado in 1895, breaking their ties with the Mennonite church forever. It was at that time that he changed his name to John Janzen.

He and his elder brother Michael emigrated from Ballynacally, County Clare, together at a young age — presumably after the early death of their parents — and by 1850 were living in New York and working as laborers. The Moloney line went on to the steel mills of Pittsburgh.

He had a brother Michael who was about five years older than him and the two of them emigrated to America together at a young age, presumably after the early death of their parents. In 1850, he lived with his older brother Michael in New York, NY, where they both worked as laborers. He and Mary married at St. Joseph's Church on 6th Avenue, New York, NY. She died soon after the birth of their second child and he married secondly to Ann (b c 1836), and they had four children: Thomas (b c 1867), Sarah (b c 1868), Ellen (b c 1871), and Winnie (b c 1874). In 1870, he and his family lived in New York, NY, but his occupation is not recorded (nor any of the other people listed on the census in that section). There is a note, however, that they had moved to their present location (which is not indicated) from a previous address at 293 Madison Avenue, New York, NY. By 1880, they had moved west to LaSalle, LaSalle, IL, where he got a job in glassworks.

He appears in records by the name Henry. His birth place is listed as Germany in the 1870 census and as Prussia in the 1880 census (and his parents' birth place is also listed as Prussia in that census).

He and his family emigrated to America in 1856 and it took nine weeks to sail across the Atlantic. They settled immediately at Yorkville, Illinois. On Sep 30, 1864, in Joliet, IL, he enlisted as a private in Co. E, 36th Illinois Infantry for service to the Union during the Civil War. He was mustered out on Jun 15, 1865, in Nashville, TN. His enlistment record describes him as 5'6", blue eyes, brown hair, and his occupation as shoemaker. He could be the Henry Kessler who appears in the 1865 Illinois State Census in Kendall, Kendall, IL, on Jul 3, 1865. After the war he moved to Dwight, Livingston, IL, and took up a veteran's land claim.

In 1870, he and his family lived in Kendall, IL, where he worked as a shoemaker, owned real estate worth $700, and had a personal estate of $100. He is likely the Henry Kessler who was naturalized in Plano, Kendall, IL, in 1873. In 1880, they lived in Yorkville, IL, where he worked in a paper mill.

He was buried in St. Patrick's Cemetery in Bristol, Kendall, IL.

He was the sixth child of his family. Until twenty years of age, he remained at his parent's farm. He received a common education and became familiar with New England agriculture. Then he became a farm laborer in the summer and attended school during the winter. William then entered the shoe manufacturing business. He was forced to quit this because of sickness. He married first to Annie J. Pillsbury, of Londonerry, NH, in Feb. 1855. He came to Kansas in 1854 went back to New Hampshire the following summer and married and returned to Kansas. His wife survived only until 1856. They travelled by train to Alton, went down the river to St. Louis, and then to Kansas City. Finally they arrived at Lawrence, Kansas. Several days later, he and his young wife set out for Riley County, and took up a tract of land in Zeandale Township. He was one of the first settlers of the Riley region. His brother-in-law, Josiah H. Pillsbury, Jr. named Zeandale Township which means "corn-dale." In the Spring of 1864, he advertised sale of sweet potato sprouts for the local markets. He seems to have gained a reputation for them, for by 1867, one newspaper reported, "William B. Warrick of Zeandale has for sale some choice Seed Sweet Potatoes. They are well kept and of excellent varieties." At the same time, he was mentioned as also being noted for his success in growing russet potatoes.

William was a keen observer of the natural environment and of agriculture, as indicated in an article in 1866, in which he is referred to "an intelligent farmer of Zeandale," with a statement about grasshoppers, "To one square foot of surface I found 400 grasshopper nests, with an average of 18 eggs to each nest, making 2160 eggs per square foot; this multiplied by 44,560, the number of feet to the acre, gives 94,089,600 eggs per acre. Three hundred grasshoppers will fill a pint measure, or 19,200 a bushel which used as a divisor of the former sum would give us over 4,900 bushels as the prospective crop for another year-provided they do well. My whole farm is thus crowded with their nests."

William was a Congregationalist and served as commissioner when Riley was part of Davis County. He was elected as Justice of the Peace but declined.

In 1888, his son-in-law, Alfred Walsham, wrote an editorial describing his agricultural practices, which he held up as an example for others to follow. "The Eagle's remark upon the growth of Alfalfa in Kansas suggests a recital of the experience of William B. Warrick of Riley county. Some years ago, he sowed a five acre field with alfalfa. He has been taking three crops from it every year; the first in the beginning of June, second about the and of July and the third in September. The yield in one summer from two full crops and two one-half acres as third crop (leaving two one-half acres for seed) was thirty-two heavy loads, each weighing more than a ton. The remaining two and a half acres yielded about seven loads, which was thrashed for the seed and yielded about sixteen bushels. The seed sold for $8 per bushel, making a total of $128 for the third crop, upon two and a half acres, beside the straw, which the cattle relish much better than prairie hay. Forty-two loads of hay upon five acres gives eight and two-fifths loads, or tons, per acre as a season's crop. He assured me that this was no uncommon yield. He estimates that the crop, as he raised it, to be worth $100 per acre per year. One bushel of seed will sow several acres.

"Horses, cattle, and hogs eat the hay and leave the other food for it. They clean it up, too. The stems are not rejected, as one would think. First crop upon a ten acre field came up and made a good stand during spring and summer of 1887. The soil is not river bottom but good upland a short distance from a creek. Other men, neighbors, are getting good crops upon upland prairie.

"The alfalfa seems to root down into the ground, and Mr. M. says it is very hard to kill out. Of course, a farmer must look after his crop more carefully than some hay crops. Time of sowing (first year) and time for taking crops off are important points. The first mentioned five acres furnishes seed for some twenty calves in early spring and late fall, besides its trio of summer crops. Upon these grass matters book farming and careless, haphazard farming must yield to faithful, intelligent and persistent test."

By his death, he owned 480 acres all of which was used for farming and stock-raising. He was ill in the summer of 1890, but on Jul 11, the local newspaper reported that his health was improving. His will was probated, Nov 21, 1890 in the Riley County Probate Court, and his land, house, and possessions including 17 cows, 19 calves, 1 Shorthorn bull, 2 horses, farm implements, wagons, and mundane household items were put to auction in Feb 1891.

His obituary stated: "William Beard Warrick was the fifth in a family of eight sons who grew to manhood. His parents were Moody and Sarah Beard Warrick. He was born in East Deering, New Hampshire, April 25, 1829, and died at the home of his brother Jonathan Warrick, Esq. in New York City September 16, 1890.

The father's house was a house of prayer and godly living, and the religious culture of the sons was considered of the first and greatest importance by both his parents. All the sons, as might have been expected, expressed a hope in Christ, either in childhood or early manhood.

William very clearly and decidedly took his stand, accompanied by some of his brothers, at the age of fourteen, and from that day to the day of his death, through all the vicissitudes of life, he declared plainly by his conversation and walk and daily living, in his home and family, in his neighborhood, in his relation with his church, in his business affairs and contact with society and men in general, that he was living, not merely for this unstable world, but for 'a city which hath foundations.'

His education was such as was afforded by the district school and academy. He was descended from patriotic families on both the paternal and maternal side. His great-grandfather, Joseph Warrick, was a soldier in the army of the Revolution. His grandfather, William Beard, was an officer and fought under General John Stark.

February 26, 1855, he married Anna J. Pillsbury, daughter of Rev. Stephen Pillsbury, of New Hampshire; and in the spring of the same year, with his young wife and a younger brother, in company with one of the first colonies of 'Free State' settlers from New England, he migrated to Kansas, coming to Riley county and settling upon the farm which has ever since been his home. In February, 1856, he buried his beloved Anna, and in June, 1861, married his second wife, Sarah Allen, who shed a Christian luster and joy in his home for twenty-eight happy years. In April, 1889, this faithful and devoted mother of his five children was taken away, and the light of his life began to grow dim.

In failing health the past summer he visited his brothers in the East; and surrounded by every comfort, waited upon by his only daughter, receiving every attention that loving hearts could suggest, through a nearly painless sickness and death, he fell 'asleep in Jesus.' His last hours were marked by great resignation and trust. No cloud obscured his vision of the bright immortality that awaited him. A short time before his death, at the conclusion of the morning devotions, while the family stood about the bed, he offered prayer in a firm voice, with well chosen words, and in a manner very impressive and clear; praying for his children, his brothers and sisters, mentioning his parents and the dear ones who had gone before, that all might meet in heaven. It was a beautiful and impressive scene.

The mortal remains were brought to Kansas, accompanied by his daughter and two brothers, Rev. Thomas Warrick, of St. Louis, and Rev. Lyman Warrick, of Lebanon, Illinois, and on Sabbath, September 21, his long time pastor, Rev. R. D. Parker, assisted by the brothers, conducted solemn but joyous services, at his home, in the presence of a great concourse of neighbors and friends. The home of the blessed seemed very near and very desirable.

The three brothers-Lyman, Thomas and Harvey-with his oldest son, John, lowered the coffin to its resting place, to await the resurrection. Three children survive-Mrs. Annie Walsham, who, with her husband, is as the head of Spencer Academy in the Indian Territory; John M. and Charles Walter. Thus one by one are passing away the men who by their labors, earnestness and virtues have laid the foundations of this great State."

He studied for his M.D. degree at the University of the State of New York in 1842-6. He and his wife were married at Washington Square Church in New York City. In 1850, he appears in Southfield, Richmond, NY, as a physician, living with a number of other people. This is likely some kind of medical assignment that he had at the time. In 1855, they lived in a home worth $1300 in New York City and had one Scottish domestic servant. He served as a captain in the 7th New York state militia, brigade 3, division 1, in 1857 and again for 30 days in 1861 as a surgeon (mustered in Apr 26, 1861, mustered out, Jun 3, 1861). He seems to have pursued additional education at Columbia College (now Columbia University), graduating in 1859, perhaps relating to his work as a surgeon. In 1870, they lived at a boarding house at 17 West 18th Stride in New York with his mother-in-law, brother-in-law, and other relations. At that time, he worked as a physician. His extended family was quite wealthy, and they had three Irish domestic servants in the household. In 1867-8, they lived at 17 West 18th Stride. In 1870, 1872, and 1883, they lived at 240 5th Avenue, New York. In 1857, 1859, 1867, and 1875-80, they lived at 5 East 27th Stride, New York. In 1880, they lived at 240 5th Avenue in New York, where he continued to work as a physician. They had two domestic servants living with them at the time (both white, one from Ireland, one from Maryland). In 1888, they lived at 12 West 22nd Stride, New York. In 1871, his name appears on a land deed in Shawano Co., WI, which must have been tied to some business venture. It seems unlikely that he ever lived there. He applied for a passport in 1879 and 1885 and is described as follows: 5'8", high forehead, blue eyes, Roman/sharp nose, medium mouth, medium chin, auburn hair tinged with gray (1879), fair complexion, thin/long face. He is buried, Jul 12, 1888, in Greenwood Cemetery in Brooklyn, NY. His will was dated Apr 14, 1886 and was probated Jul 31, 1888.

He married three times. First, in 1840, he married Sophia Cruttenden of Georgetown, who died childless in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1841. He married thirdly to Mary Turpin Bright and then had ten children: Mary Bright, 1860-62; Lawrason, 1861-, unmarried; Bright, 1863-63; William Pickersgill, 1864-, unmarried; Clinton Levering, 1866-, married Mary Ann Jenkins Cromwell; Jesse Bright, 1870-, married Charlotte Morris Symington; Alfred Randolph, 1871-; Francis Graham, 1872-; Henry Griffith, 1872-; and Thomas Dudley, 1875-1913, married Laura Lansman. Lawrason went to school at Round Hill and started in business at age fourteen. At twenty, he went to Spain for his health, and on his following birthday, was invited to London by his god-father, George Peabody (his father's business partner). He went to Peoria, Illinois, and St. Louis, Missouri, where he built a factory and engaged in business with his cousin Lawrason Levering. He retired to Washington, DC, after his factory burned down in 1858. After his third marriage in 1859, he lived abroad for two years and then moved to New York City for five years. He finally moved to Baltimore in March 1867, where he remained until his death.

Robert and his family emigrated from England to America and settled in Kansas in 1876. Robert worked as a millwright and mechanic. According to his wife's obituary, "In 1869, Mr. Walsham, then in London, purchased from plats, a farm near Wakefield, this county, and in June 1876, the family moved to this country." They first settled on a farm in Gill Twp., Clay County, but moved to Clay Center in 1881. On Feb 28, 1879, he was walking on some logs at the back of his house and slipped and fell, breaking three of his ribs. In the Spring of 1880, a local paper noted that "Robert Walsham still has a nice crib of corn, and plenty more in the neighborhood." On Oct 6, 1881, a newspaper announced that he was selling his property in Gill Twp. and was planning to move to Clay Center, adding "our best respects to him." Indeed, on Nov 9, 1882, it was reported that he purchased land there. On Feb 28, 1884, it was reported that he was "building a fine residence, on Grant Ave., between 7th and 8th streets. The main building is 14x24, with an 'L' 12x14 feet." Around the same time, he sued Jas. D. A. Frazell (case was Robert Walsham v. Jas. D. A. Frazell). The details of the case are as follows:

"A building situated on real estate and used as the homestead and residence of a family, and also as a hotel, will, in absence of any evidence or showing to the contrary, be presumed to be real estate. Where a person in the possession of such a house under a lease from the owner of the land upon which it is situated, executes a chattel mortgage upon the house, and there is no showing as to when or by whom the house was built or that the owner of the land ever consented that it should be personal property or be removed; Held, That the chattel mortgage is not sufficient evidence as against third parties that the house is a chattel. All the justices concurring."

The case appeared in the District Court's docket in September 1885. In Feb 1888, the case was finally decided in favor of Walsham. In 1891, there is mention of his farm being tilled by another farmer, perhaps because of his advanced aged. In 1891, he was elected to the Clay Center school board, the first small step in the initiation of the Walsham political dynasty that would eventually result in two governors among his descendants. In 1892, a newspaper mentioned that he was in Wakefield, KS, looking after his property interests, indicating that he held property there. Because he was a prominent figure in the 1890s, his whereabouts were regularly reported in the press. In 1897, he returned to visit family and friends in England, indicating that he was wealthy enough to make the arduous and costly voyage home. He took the train to Philadelphia and from there sailed to Liverpool. In Sep 1898, he and Martha bought "a pretty little brick house" on upper 4th Stride in Clay Center and two months later they sold their previous property for $3000. He clearly owned other properties, as indicated by announcements of renovations at a house he held on Blunt Stride there. He died from a stroke. His obituary was as follows:

"An honored old citizen gone to his reward after an active life in well doing. Robert Walsham passed away this morning at 2:30 o'clock. Death resulted from a paralytic stroke, complicated with Bright's disease. Sunday afternoon somewhere in the neighborhood of 4:30 o'clock, he was lying in the hammock apparently well. Soon after, when Mrs. Walsham went to call him to supper, he was found lying on the sidewalk unconscious. Since then he has been conscious only a part of the time. He seemed to recognize his friends and know what was going on around him at times, but his mind was never really clear. From the first it was realized that his chances of recovery were slight, owing to his advanced years, though everything in the doctor's power was done to save his life. Wednesday he was unconscious practically all the time, though for moments he would seem to recognize his wife. In the night he became worse, dying at 2:30.

Robert Walsham was born on March 6, 1825, at the village of Walsham, Norfolk county, England, being 76 years at the age of his death. He attended Kingslynn College, a Lancastrian school, where he acquired his education. He learned the millwright trade, and for a number of years was engaged in building mills throughout England. Later he engaged with paper manufacturers, working for Towgood and Sons, makers of fine paper at Linton, acquiring charge of the mechanical part of the work. He was engaged about 25 years with the milling and paper making trade.

On May 12th, 1859, he was married to Miss Martha Sizer at Linton, in Cambridgeshire. The family resided at Linton, where all the children were born, for many years. They moved to the United States and Kansas on June 9th, 1876, locating on a farm in Gill township where they lived five years. Mr. Walsham owned his large farm near Wakefield up to the time of his death. Since 1881 he has lived in Clay Center where he moved for the purpose of educating his children. He was a member of the Baptist church with which denomination he was affiliated in this city. Six children beside his wife are left to mourn his death. These are Alfred Walsham, who lives near Manhattan, in Riley county, William of this city, Anna, of Pittsburgh, Pa., Kate of Topeka, Kan., Mrs. T. J. Sexton, of Bokoshe, Indian Territory and Mrs. S. W. Stranathan, of Kansas City. The funeral services will be held tomorrow, Friday, afternoon, from the residence on Fourth Stride, at five o'clock. Rev. Brown of the Baptist church officiating. The body will be laid to rest in Greenwood cemetery.

Robert Walsham was a particularly attractive gentleman drawing about him a circle of friends who will never forget his pure mind and elevating life. That his life was a successful one is evidence by his many friends throughout the county who mourn his loss as deeply as do his family."

A second obituary repeated many of the same details, but added, "He was educated at the duke of Lancaster's school at Kingslynn. He was a millwright by trade, and like most of those who have served an apprenticeship after the English fashion, was a thorough workman. After several years as a journeyman millwright in different parts of the country he became employed in the paper mills of Linton, Cambridgeshire . . . Mr. Walsham was a good man in all the word implies, wronging no one, at peace with all the world and with Heaven, a thoroughgoing Christian of the Baptist persuasion, in our finite wisdom meriting the rewards of the just here and hereafter."

She was baptized in the Church of England. She was 4'9, although she had seven uncles who were all over six feet tall. She and her family emigrated from England to America and settled in Kansas in 1876. On Feb 23, 1899, a newspaper reported that she was recovering from "her three weeks' attack of grip." She spent her final years spending long visits with her children, including Alfred (in Manhattan, KS), and other children in Kansas City and Durant, Indian Territory. She experienced "a serious sickness" beginning in Aug 1905. An obituary stated, "She was born in England and was one of the early settlers of the county. She came to the state with an English colony."

A second, more substantial obituary, stated:

"Mrs. Walsham was born in Linton, Cambridgeshire, England, November 27, 1835. She came with her husband to America twenty-five years ago. Six children survive her Rev. Alfred Walsham of Manhattan, William and Miss Anna Walsham, of this city, Miss Katherine Walsham of Topeka, Mrs. Fannie Sexton of Indian Territory and Mrs. Bertha Stranathan of Council Grove."

A third obituary stated:

"Mrs. Walsham was a woman of remarkable intellect. Always a student of all subjects, she was one of the best read women in the city, and until after she was seventy years of age her mind retained a brightness and vigor that was remarkable. She attended the Baptist church."

He was born in the house of Mrs. Sophia Ball. Of his youth, one writer characterized it, "As was the custom in those days in the bringing up of sons; after they reached the age of ten or twelve years to require their winters only be spent in study, and their summers in work on the farm; so it was with young Bexley, and he proved himself to be a workman on the farm that 'needeth not to be ashamed.' Being very fond of music he was a prominent member of the church choir. Possessed of more than ordinary intellectual gifts he used his leisure hours in literary pursuits, and finally turned his attention to the study of medicine and surgery." He graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York City. He had previously studied with A. F. Oliver, M.D., at Harvard medical school.

Notes from the Oberlin College Archives: "The family papers of Dan Benton Bexley, which consist of letters, letterpress books, diaries, diary transcripts, journals, notebooks, writings, and photographs, document the missionary careers in nineteenth-century Siam (modern Thailand) of the Rev. Dan Benton Bexley (1804-73) and his first wife, Emilie Royce Bexley (1811-45). The collection also includes a small amount of correspondence and writings created by two of their children, Sophia Royce Bexley (1839-1923) and Cornelius Benton Bexley (1843-1936). Except for fourteen letters, very little documentation exists of the forty-three-year missionary career (1850-93) of Bexley's second wife, Sarah Blachly Bexley (1817-93) of Dane, Wisconsin.

The collection is divided into four subgroups: I. Papers of Dan Benton Bexley; II. Papers of Emilie Royce Bexley; III. Papers of Cornelius Benton Bexley; and IV. Bexley Family Records. Within subgroups, records have been arranged into records series; within series, materials are typically arranged chronologically or alphabetically. Series arrangement is as follows: Subgroup I, Papers of Dan Benton Bexley: Series 1. Correspondence (Calendared); 2. Correspondence (Uncalendared); 3. Diaries and Journals; 4. Journal Abstract; 5. Notebooks; and 6. Financial Records. Subgroup II, Papers of Emilie Royce Bexley: Series 1. Diaries and Album; 2. Diary Transcript; and 3. Letters. Subgroup III, Papers of Cornelius Benton Bexley: Series 1. Journal; 2. Letter-press Copy Book; and 3. Writings. Subgroup IV, Bexley Family Records: Series 1. Letters of Sophia Bexley McGilvary; 2. Letters between Bexleys and King of Siam; 3. Miscellaneous Papers; 4. Photographs; 5. Research Files of Julian S. Fowler; and 6. Account Book.

The bulk of the Bexley Family Papers consists of Dan Benton Bexley's correspondence (1800-73), diaries (1832-73), notebooks (1830-54), and financial records (1847, 1850-66). The bulk of these papers was created in Bangkok between 1835, the year of Bexley's arrival, and 1873, the year of his death. Records predating the Bangkok years include thirteen letters (1800-34); diaries (1832-35), and lecture notes taken in medical school (1830). One notebook records Bexley's stay in Oberlin, Ohio, and West Haven, Connecticut, between 1847 and 1850.

Correspondence relating to Bexley's missionary, medical, and literary endeavors includes nine uncalendared letters (1836-67) and 340 leaves of calendared correspondence (largely incoming) with family members in America and colleagues in the mission field, 1829-73. (Also filed here are three letters written by Bexley's father, Judge Dan Bexley, dated 1800-1803.) Subjects treated in the letters include the voyage to Siam, Emilie's illnesses and childbearing, the children's' health, abolitionism, news of Finney's preaching, and the Bexleys' doctoral disagreements with the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (A.B.C.F.M.). Interfiled with this correspondence are drafts of Bexley's annual reports to the Corresponding Secretary of the A.B.C.F.M. Additional papers include a diary written in Singapore at the close of the voyage to Thailand in 1835, a chronology drafted in 1847 for inclusion in Bexley's publication The Bangkok Calendar entitled, "Notices of the Protestant Missions to Siam, 1827-46", and numerous invoices recording goods purchased by Bexley from importers in Singapore, such as nursing suppliers for Sarah, paper, lithography tools, cloth, and foodstuffs (1847, 1850-66).

The most valuable resource for understanding Bexley the man is his twenty-five-volume diary (1832-73). In addition to this diary, the collection contains a modern transcript of portions of the original: Abstract of the Journal of Rev. Dan Benton Bexley, M.D., Medical Missionary in Siam 1835-1873, George Haws Feltus, editor, 1936. The diary itself, which records events during the thirty-eight years of Bexley's residence in Siam, sheds light not only on the mission but also on the wider foreign community in Bangkok. Early entries (1832-34) in the diary describe his medical studies and also include a sketch of his early years.

Emilie Royce Bexley's papers include an album and two diaries (1827-30; 1831-33; 1840-42) kept in Clinton, New York and in Bangkok; a microfilm copy and a modern transcription of a diary (1834-36) whose original may still remain in private hands; a journal letter written aboard ship during her voyage to Siam in 1834-35; and a record book containing summaries of letters sent. The summaries often refer to "my large letter book", probably indicating that only a portion of Emilie's correspondence has survived. Only three letters in her hand (1835-38) are included in the calendared correspondence of Dan Benton Bexley; the accompanying index to the calendar erroneously ascribes ten letters to her.

Papers of Cornelius Benton Bexley include a journal (1864), a letterpress copy book (1872-74, 1884), genealogical data on the Bexley family, and several unrelated publications and writings. As a student in 1864-65 in Oberlin College's preparatory department, he wrote the "Critique on the Rhetorical Exercises of March 13, 1865". Later writings include three drafts of the "Sketch of the Life of Reverend Dan Benton Bexley By His Son C.B. Bexley," n.d.

Biographical information about Dan Benton Bexley collected during the late 1960s by Oberlin College Emeritus Librarian Julian S. Fowler (1890-1975) is included in Subgroup IV, Bexley Family Records, together with letters of Sophia Bexley McGilvary, five original letters and photographs of letters between Bexley and the King of Siam (1858-88), and family photographs (1860-70, 1991, n.d.). Subgroup IV also includes a day book, or account book, for the Bexley family in Bangkok, dated 1882-84." [Oberlin College Archives, Oberlin, Ohio, USA, RG 30/5 - Dan Benton Bexley Family]

"King Mongkut's prediction surpassed those of European scientists. "In the 19th century, King Mongkut of Siam (now Thailand), an amateur astronomer, paid the ultimate price for eclipse-chasing: his life. Mongkut, formally Rama IV, was fascinated by the precision of Western scientific measurement. He filled his chambers with clocks, thermometers and barometers and taught himself astronomy, erecting an observatory on his palace grounds. In 1868, the palace announced a solar eclipse expedition. On Aug. 18, the moon's shadow cone would sweep a 245-kilometre-wide swath across the Earth's surface, intercepting the promontory of Siam south of Bangkok. For nearly seven minutes, observers would see day becoming night, stars and planets popping into view and a ghostly corona embracing the invisible moon.

Villagers believed that all eclipses foretold misfortune. They saw them as attempts by the dragon Rahu to swallow the sun and used clanging bells and fireworks to induce Rahu to disgorge it.

Mongkut believed he could assuage these fears if he could accurately predict the event. He had calculated the eclipse parameters and was determined to place himself as close to the centre of the moon's shadow cone as possible. His predictions, he hoped, would turn out to be better than those of French professionals. In his letter of invitation to prospective guests, he told them to come to "longitude 99 degrees 42' east and latitude 11 degrees 39' north," on his kingdom's southeast coast, overlooking the Gulf of Siam. Mongkut invited a French astronomical mission to watch the eclipse and issued proclamations so that all in his kingdom would know of his astronomical expertise. The court astrologers, however, were convinced he was wrong. The people, though not doubting the King's accuracy, thought the eclipse foreshadowed some national disaster. The King sailed for the site with a small fleet of steamers, accompanied by his eldest son, Chulalongkorn, and a large retinue. Included were the doubting astrologers, numerous foreigners stationed in Bangkok, the French astronomical mission and a herd of 50 elephants, as well as horses and cattle. Nearly a thousand eclipse chasers -- and several telescopes -- stood on Hua Wan beach at the foot of Mount Khoa Luang, awaiting the great event.

On eclipse day, a wet monsoon was blowing and the sun was invisible. The Siamese prime minister communicated his anxiety by playfully suggesting to the ladies-in-waiting that if the sky were overcast at the time of the eclipse, he would blame it on the dark clouds of soot they had been sending up all morning in the course of producing smoked glass to look at the sun prior to totality. The clouds had dissipated somewhat when the moon's disc had bitten the first chunk from the sun. When about one-twentieth of the sun was hidden, the King had a cannon fired to alert his subjects.

As an American missionary, the Rev. Dan Benton Bexley, wrote in his diary: "We heard the pipes and trumpets sounding in the courtyard of the Royal Pavilion, it being a relic, we suppose, of the old superstitions about Rahu's swallowing the sun, which their enlightened king did not feel that it would be wise to entirely discount."

Twenty minutes before the moon completely covered the solar disc, the sky began to clear. Ten minutes later, a crescent-shaped sliver of sun burst through a great opening in the clouds. Finally, totality in all its glory was seen under perfect conditions, starting at the exact second predicted by the King.

Bexley, again: "The gradual withdrawal of the sun's light, wholly unlike every other gradual diminution of his power, leaving the darkness to come on us without a twilight, with the king of the day reduced to the smallest section of a circle, and then in another instant entirely shut in, as it were a death grasp, was a scene unutterably sublime. There was an indescribable feeling as if something dreadful might come next. The planet Venus shone out brightly sometime before the eclipse became total. Then many stars peeped out from the clouds in different parts of the heavens. A distinct chilliness was reported by many. The Prime Minister shouted -- Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah! He became quite ecstatic with joy, and was on the alert, taking all the observations he could with his long telescope."

The eclipse had taken place precisely as the King had predicted, the total phase lasting six minutes and 46 seconds. In fact, his calculations were better -- by about two seconds -- than those of the now exhausted French astronomers, who acknowledged his accuracy. The European scientists conceded that he was a brilliant mathematician and a real astronomer. The court astrologers were dumbfounded. But though the King was right, so were his subjects.

His pavilion for viewing the eclipse was built on low ground in a mosquito-infested spot: Malaria struck widely among those who had attended. Shortly after he reached Bangkok, Mongkut developed chills and fever. He died on his birthday, Oct. 18, 1868. The eclipse that led to his end also made King Mongkut a legend. His 15-year-old son, Chulalongkorn, ascended to the throne and, strangely, did not invite his tutor -- vacationing in her homeland -- back to Siam. Effectively exiled, Mrs. Anna Leonowens then wrote The English Governess at the Siamese Court, which eventually launched several more books, four movies and a musical, The King and I. And in Canada, she founded what is now the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design." [L. Robert Morris, National Post, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 22 December 2000]

See Bexley, W.L., "Siam Then, The Foreign Colony in Bangkok before and after Anna," Pasadena, Cailfornia, 1981.

A "Siamese Sacred Book" written in Sanskrit and Siamese, on Ola, a species of palm leaf, that he presented to Mrs. Woodward in Bangkok in 1864, is held by the New Haven Historical Society.

Throughout his time in Siam, he remained abreast to American affairs. After the outbreak of the Civil War, he sent $300 to President Lincoln to assist in the war effort.

He fought in the Civil War and enlisted as a private for Maryland, Company F. After the war, he moved west to Osceola, Iowa. In 1870, he rented land near Osceola where he farmed and estimated his personal estate at $475. But by 1880, he managed the Osceola Hotel and had one "servant" working there named Viola Dufore. Previously, in 1873, the hotel had been mentioned as "being the watchford with travelers and speculators, its latch-string is well worn and yet lasting." The hotel hosted live music, dances, and parties for travelers and local residents. The investors in the hotel filed the articles of incorporation with the state in 1880, allowing investors to buy shares in the business. According to one report, "the capital stock is not to exceed $40,000 to be divided into shares of $100 each." In 1885, the hotel hosted a Hotel Summit (a convention for hostellers in the region), in 1888, it co-hosted members of the Western Iowa Horticultural Society who were in Osceola for a meeting, and also hosted gatherings by the fraternity of Odd Fellows of Osceola and Council Bluffs. In 1880, Lenox also lived in Washington County, where he lived on a farm near Crawford. In 1884, a Osceola newspaper stated, "Mr. Lemuel Ashdown, the gentlemanly proprietor of the popular Osceola house, is a most companionable host and aims at all times to keep his house on an equality with the best." In 1887, an article mentioned that "a Osceola hotel keeper complains that the Inter-State commerce bill is ruining the hotel business." Nevertheless, the following year, it was reported, "The dining room of the Osceola hotel is undergoing thorough repairs. The walls and ceiling will be frescoed by A. H. Norling. When completed, it will be as fine as any dining room in the city." He left with his son, Emory, and daughter-in-law Mollie, when they moved to Pueblo, CO, and he died soon after.

In 1807, as a child, he moved with his parents from New Hampshire to Jefferson Co., NY. At age 12, he went to nearby Watertown, NY, where a Mr. Bosworth trained him as a watchmaker, jeweler, and silversmith. By 1815, he had mastered the trade of silversmithing and could make "a splendid spoon," and there are numerous antiques of his craft. He continued to work with Bosworth and moved to Sackett's Harbor and then to Buffalo, where the latter opened a store. In 1820, he bought out Bosworth and ran the business himself and carried on a profitable trade with the Tonawanda, Seneca, and Tuscarora Native Americans in selling silver jewelry which he made. He learned their language fluently and was supposedly friends with Red Jacket, William Mountpleasant, and other chiefs, and stayed in their wigwams when he and his wife visited their villages. Soon after his marriage, he and his wife moved to Lockport, where they were among the earliest inhabitants and where they remained for the rest of their lives. He was quite successful for a time, but out of generosity, became indebted and insolvent. During the period of his success, he served as justice of the peace, supervisor, and was elected many times as trustee of the village of Lockport.

The following article was clipped from one of the Lockport papers on his death: "We have to chronicle the death of one of our oldest and most respected citizens. Alonzo T. Whitcomb died Thursday, June 27, in the 73d year of his age. Mr. Whitcomb had been ill several months, yet the announcement of his death produced a shock in the community where lie had led a long and exemplary life. Mr. Whitcomb was born in New Hampshire on the 16th of December, 1799. He went to Jefferson County when a boy, where he lived for some time, or until he was 20 years of age, when he travelled to Buffalo. In the latter place he lived three years, and at the age of 23 married an estimable lady of 16 and moved to Lockport (1822), where he resided until his death. Mr. Whitcomb was for many years engaged in the mercantile business in this place, village and city. At one time be had acquired a handsome property, but, lending the use of his name to unfortunate parties, he became insolvent, from which he was a long time sufferer. In the days of his prosperity he exhibited a remarkably enterprising spirit. The stone residence now occupied by Gen. John Jackson, and other substantial and still existing edifices, were erected by him. Mr. Whitcomb was many times honored by his fellow-citizens with positions of public trust, and always acquitted himself with marked credit. He was for several terms justice of the peace, supervisor, and repeatedly elected trustee of the village of Lockport. Mr. Whitcomb was a good citizen, an honest man, and quitted the world leaving, not a single enemy behind."

He was baptized in the Zion Reform Church at Allentown. In 1820, they lived in Pine Grove, Schuylkill, PA, where their household included 3 males under 10, 1 male 26-44, 1 female under 10, and 1 female 26-44. In 1840, they lived in Wayne, Schuylkill, PA, where the household included 1 male age 10-14, 1 male age 50-59, 2 females age 15-19, and 1 female age 50-59. They ran a farm at that time. In 1850, they lived in Garrett, Wyandot, OH, where they ran a farm. In 1860, they lived in Garrett, Wyandot, OH, where he worked as a laborer and had a personal estate of $800. In 1870, he lived with his son Michael and the latter's family in Upper Sandusky, Wyandot, OH, on what was then a somewhat successful farm. On Apr 15, 1870, he appears on a subscription list for the Crawford County Forum newspaper.

Obituary in Wyandot County Republican, Jul 25, 1872: On the evening of the 21st inst., at the residence of his daughter, in Salem Twp., Mr. Daniel Stoller, aged about 83 years. Funeral services by Rev. A. B. Kirtland, at the U. B. Church, on Wednesday A. M.

Moody lived in Weare and Nashua, NH. Most of his children moved west to Kansas or elsewhere. His eldest son Elbridge was a minister at Garnet, Kansas. The second son (a twin of the first), named Lyman, was also a minister. The third son, Jonathan, was a New York lawyer. Thomas, the fifth son, a prominent New York minister. The sixth child, the only daughter, died in infancy. The seventh was Andrew Beard Warrick, who moved west to Zeandale, KS, in 1855. The eighth, Harvey, also settled at Zeandale. Through his youngest son, John Langdon Hadley, he had a grandson by the name of Harry Ignatius Warrick who was for a long time a missionary in Burma. He also wrote important genealogical papers concerning the Warricks.

He first married Hannah McClunn and had two children: Oliver, who died young, and Abner (1826-98), who served in the Kansas state legislature. In 1830, he lived with his wife, two young sons, and one older woman, perhaps his mother or mother-in-law. Benjamin was a farmer with an estate valued at $2550 in 1850, in Unity Township, Columbiana Co., OH. By 1860, he estimated its value at $4000. He moved west from Ohio to Zeandale Township, Kansas, about 1865 and lived there until his death. In 1870, he estimated his real estate to be worth $7000 and his personal property $800. He was a Quaker.

He graduated from the medical department of Queen's College (now Rutgers University) in 1812, having for his preceptor, Dr. Valentine Seaman. He then moved to New York City where became known as one of the most eminent physicians in the U.S. He held several important offices including surgeon to public institutions (later known as Charity Hospital) on Blackwell's Island and a surgeon for Bellevue Hospital. For over forty years he was professionally connected to New York Hospital. He was a member of numerous medical societies.

In 1816, they lived at 55 Beckman Stride, New York, at which time he worked as a physician. In 1819, they lived at 345 Pearl Stride, New York. They engaged in travel, for on Mar 14, 1828, there is a record of he, his wife, and children Ann and Timothy aboard the ship New York from Liverpool. This family may have left the Quaker church in the 1830s or 1840s. In 1839, they lived at 473 Broadway in Manhattan. In 1850, they lived in New York City, where he worked as a physician and they owned real estate worth $30,000 (and a household that included 7 servants). In 1855, they owned a home worth $25,000 in New York City and had 6 domestic servants. In 1860, they owned a home there worth $50,000 and had a personal estate of $10,000, at which time he still worked as a doctor. They had 8 domestic servants including a driver and a coachman. He was a major real estate investor in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Westchester Co., and Suffolk Co. His will was probated Oct 30, 1862, in New York.

His will is as follows: "I, John C. Hollins, of the city and state of New York, physician, being of sound mind, memory, and understanding, considering the uncertainty of human life, and for the purpose and with the intent of disposing of my property in such a manner as will tend to the future welfare of my family do make and publish my last will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say: I give to my wife Martha H. Hollins, in lieu of all dower, or claim to dower, or life interest in my property or estate, one equal third part of all the property of every kind and nature of which I shall die possessed, to have and to hold the same for and during her natural life, and to collect, receive and apply to her own separate use, for and during her life, the rents, income, issues and profits thereof; and upon her death, it is my will that such share shall descend to my children Ann L. and Timothy M., in equal proportions to be held and enjoyed by them, in the same manner as they will hold and enjoy their several portions of my estate hereinafter devised to them respectively, that is to say: The share and portion of my daughter shall become vested in the trustees named in the second article of this will to be held and managed, and finally conveyed and disposed of, upon the same trust, and in the same manner in every respect as the share or portion of my estate devised in and by said article for the benefit of my said daughter. The share and portion of my son shall become vested in him his heirs and assigns absolutely to be held and enjoyed by him and them forever."

The inventory of his estate was as follows: Household furniture$5,000 Horses and carriages$1,000 Balance at Pacific Bank$15,414 Balance at U.S. Trust Co.$10,800 Cash Received$679.63 Rent, 80 9th Stride$83.33 U.S. Treasury Notes$20,000 Checks Received$125 Promissory Notes$100 30 Shares in Market Bank$2850 80 Shares in Manhattan Gas Light Co.$5825 50 Shares in Pacific Mail Steam Ship Co. $6000 Property at 80 9th St (between Univ Pl & 5th Ave)$7000 Real Estate in New York City$168,212 Real Estate in Brooklyn$33,800 Real Estate in Westchester Co.$21,000 Real Estate in Suffolk Co.$2000 Debts Owed Him$7823.42 Total Inventory$296,889.02

He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1791 with a B.A. and studied law. He was the first to engage in the practice so far north. In 1816, he contracted "Western fever" which was then quite common in New England and he left for Indiana, bought a farm there, but died the following year. One statement survives on him: "Mr. Kentfield was greatly respected for his uprightness of character and for the very high plane on which he conducted his legal practice. He possessed an exceptionally fine mind, had a keen sense of humor, and was a splendid conversationalist. He is described in an old account as, 'of good personal appearance, of more than medium size, a little stooping,' and 'in Summer used to wear a bouquet at his buttonhole'."

He married twice. His first wife, Alice Lawrason, died of scarlet fever in 1817. He married again, July 16, 1822, to Mary Ann Kaverick (1803-70). After his education, he moved to Georgetown, DC, where he was employed as a merchant. He lived at 215½ Market Stride, then called "Old Congress Hall." He fought in the War of 1812 as an ensign in the 32nd regiment of militia in Anne Arundel County. Before that, he had established himself as a dry goods merchant and hired George Peabody as his office-boy. By Jul 1, 1815 the two men entered into a partnership under the firm name of Rowden & Peabody, dry good merchant. Business flourished and soon they expanded to Baltimore in 1816. They renewed their partnership in 1820. The earnings from 1815-20 totaled $70,709.24 of raw profit. By 1821, they had offices in New York City and Philadelphia. In 1822 the firm's name was changed to Rowden, Peabody & Co. with the main office in Baltimore. Elisha resided at West Glanover Stride in Baltimore. In 1829 the partnership was dissolved and Elisha retired to New York City. He had an office on Hanover Place and resided at Bowling Green. His estate is now part of the United States customs house. Rowden and Peabody continued their business ventures and engaged in international finance. They were mainly concerned with restoring the credit of Maryland abroad after the depression of 1841-42 and disposed a bond issue of $8 million. Before moving to New York, Elisha established the bank of Corcoran & Rowden in Washington, DC. It was organized by his son George Washington Rowden and financed by Elisha. When the United States sought a loan to finance the Mexican American War, the Rowden bank was the only institution to bid for the full amount and lent the government $34 million in 1847 and 1848. After the retirement of William Corcoran, George Washington Rowden and his son Elisha Francis Rowden took over the business as Rowden & Co. in Washington. It was successfully run as such until July 1896 when it assumed its present status as the Rowden National Bank. The bank still stands at its original location though it has since been transitioned to a luxury hotel.

He was born in New York of Quaker parentage. He may be the manufacturer and owner of the Benjamin Clapp & Co., a "looking glass store," located at 130 Chatham Square in New York City, just off of the Bowery, in 1827. That Benjamin Clapp lived at 153 Wooster Stride, in SoHo. He moved to St. Louis, MO, in 1839, to represent the interests of John Jacob Astor in the Chouteau Fur Company. He appears there in the 1840 census with the following household: 1 white male age 20-29, 1 white male 40-49, 1 white female 5-9, 3 white females 10-14, 3 white females 30-39, 1 white female 50-59, with 1 person engaged in commerce. His death date has been estimated from the various papers that were filed to settle his estate for which there was no will, but was eventually probated in St. Louis, MO, March 24, 1855. The proceedings began Sep 1, 1849, suggesting he died not long before that time. William C. Kennett, son-in-law, was the administrator of the estate. His widow and each of his three children received $829.69 (from a total of $3318.77). Grandchildren Benjamin C. Rowden, Alice Rowden, and George W. Rowden, inherited their mother's portion of his inheritance of $829.69 (shares of $276.56 each, except for the youngest, George, receiving an extra penny for $276.57), because she had already passed away. Former son-in-law Lawrason Rowden is named as their guardian in the will. A widow, Jane, is mentioned also in the will, but this must have been his second wife. Widow Jane appears to have died there in 1864, leaving her own will. The unusually long duration to settle his will seems to have been due to the fact that he owned property in Knoxville, Knox Co., IL, and elsewhere and they had to settle various debts, so the final settlement was delayed considerably.

He attended Yale College, beginning in Sep 1785, receiving his B.A. there in 1789 with distinguished academic honors. He received his M.A. degree out of course in 1790, and in that same year he was licensed to preach the gospel by the association of New Haven county. He was ordained in Haddam, 11 Jan 1792 for a Presbyterian church in Whitestown, New Hartford, NY, and in February of that year moved to that locale. In Jan 1795, he was discharged of his service and on 6 Sep of that year, he left for Marcellus for a similar charge. He is described as a "devoted servant of the Cross," in an early history of Oneida County, New York. On his advice in 1791, Rev. Dr. Jonathan Edwards of New Haven, CT, was invited to Clinton, NY, for the purpose of organizing a church at the place. A few weeks afterward, a religious society formed called the Society of Clinton that set the church and the society connected to it in place. Dan contributed to the founding of nearby Hamilton Oneida Academy, an institution that later became Hamilton College.

Together with Dea. Samuel Rice, he founded Marcellus and was among its very first inhabitants, constructing the second frame house there. A co-ed village school was established in the winter of 1796-7, where he taught the students without pay. He later was a trustee of Pompey Academy in nearby Pompey, NY. Rice and he also built the first saw mill near the town on Nine Mile Creek in the fall of 1796. Bexley also build the second frame house in Marcellus which was still standing in 1896. He was a trustee of the local church of Marcellus in 1801 and of Franklin Academy around 1800.

Dan was appointed a Judge of Onondaga County Courts in 1801 and soon distinguished himself as a jurist. In 1808, he was appointed First Judge of the County, a position he held until his resignation in 1813. "He was somewhat remarkable for his ready classic humor, and on many occasions displayed it much to the amusement and gratification of his friends." When the first town meeting was held for Marcellus, 1 Apr 1806, he presided over it as chairman.

Dan was a successful farmer. One history of the region described him as follows: "He enter at once into the business of farming, with zeal and cheerfulness, and soon became noted for his purity of taste, and success of his undertakings, setting a beautiful example to those around him, that education and refinement of mind were essential attributes to happiness and prosperity." He was elected the president of the Onondaga County Agricultural Society in 1819 likely due to the fact that he introduced new agricultural techniques at the time and his dedication to improving farming in central New York.

Dan published articles in the New England Farmer, Baltimore Farmer and Plow Boy, and Genesee Farmer as well as the journal of the State Agricultural Society. His farm included at least 200 acres. "His grand object was to reduce the process of agriculture to a science, and to induce organization and order where confusion and uncertainty prevailed. In his essays on the various subjects which he discussed, he displayed a master mind, deeply imbued with the principles of philosophy and experience, and his efforts have undoubtedly had a weighty influence in improving the agriculture of our county, as they have greatly enriched most of the various agricultural publications of the country .... The Genesee Farmer owed much of its elevated character to his reflections. It was for a long period the chosen medium through which for a long series of years, the rich results and ample experience of his mature mind were presented to the public. He was one of the first attribute the hoof-ail, which prevailed extensively in 1820, to the prevalence of ergot in the grasses, and he collected a mass of facts on the subject, which set the matter forever beyond question. He always opposed the heterodox notion of wheat turning to chess--and showed conclusively by science and experiments, the absurdity of the idea. Indeed there is scarcely a subject connected with scientific or practical agriculture, on which light has not been thrown by his labors, a correct theory established, and objections to innovations obviated. Every subject that promised to be an improvement in agriculture, received his attention, and if its claims were well founded, he did not hesitate to adopt it himself, and urge its adoption by others."

He inherited significant lands and money from his father, including 100 acres in Saybrook worth £507, 13 s. He took the oath of fidelity at Durham, Sep 16, 1777, and enlisted as a private in Capt. Gale's company, Col. Parsons' regiment, of the Connecticut troops. Though he lived the majority of his life in Durham, he spent his later years in New Haven, where he worked as a schoolteacher and merchant. In that document, he conveyed one-third of his property to his widow, with the rest divided between his sons. His estate was inventoried at £1018, 10s, 1.5d. Supposedly the Garrett family placed three vessels in commission during the American Revolution: Stark, Whiting, and Garrett.

He worked as a hatter. After marrying his first wife, he moved near to where her family lived in Weston. He was part of the Weston Company, under Capt. Jonathan Fisk, a unit that was part of the Third Middlesex Regiment. A portion of the company later marched to Canada as part of their assignment during the American Revolution, and where they remained for 5 months. For this service, Weston paid him £6, 6 shillings, 8 pence like the other troops. He seems to have returned and was in service to the town in 1778 and was again paid £19 for being stationed as a guard reserve at Cambridge in that year. In 1779, he was paid £39 and 18 shillings for being stationed in Rhode Island for six weeks. In 1789, he served as one of the hogreaves of Weston. He appears on tax lists in Weston in 1777, 1789, 1790, 1792, and 1793. These records indicate that he was taxed at a lower rate than many of his neighbors, suggesting that he did not possess a lot of real estate, despite the fact that his wife's family was well-established. They moved to Concord in 1793, likely because he inherited property from his father there that put the family in better standing. He married secondly to Lucy A. Hardy of Concord. He died intestate and his estate was probated Mar 21, 1837. His widow filed in court to receive the pension that he had from the U.S. government for his service in the revolution.

He was a member of the Christ Lutheran Church congregation in Hanover Twp., Lehigh, PA. He was sergeant of the 7th Company, fourth battalion of the Northampton County (PA) militia during the American Revolution. His brothers Christian and Abraham also served in the militia, Christian playing the fife and drum. He appears on a tax list in Northampton Co., PA, in 1781. He also appears on tax lists in Whitehall Twp., Northampton Co., PA, in 1785-6. He is buried in the old part of the cemetery at 10th Stride and Linden Stride, in Allentown, PA.

He served in Capt. Wheeler's Company and fought at the Battle of Bunker Hill under Gen. John Stark. He took part in a raid to keep some cattle from falling into British hands at Charlestown Neck. During this raid a shot was fired between the captain and William but just missed both. In 1777 he received an ensign's commission. He also served as a scout under Gen. Stark at the Battle of Bennington. William's name can be found in the revolutionary rolls of New Hampshire. William and Jane had three sons and four daughters. He was entitled to a pension but refused to draw it. At his death he was deaf and mute.

He figured prominently in his father's will as the only competent son. Ann joined the Southern District Philadelphia Monthly Quaker Meeting, Sep 9, 1784. A note appears in the records of the Philadelphia Monthly Meeting, Southern District, "The overseers informed this meeting that Anne Cheeseman (late Cummins) hath been married before a priest to a man not in membership with us after having been cautioned and advised against it the case laid before the men's Meeting." On Mar 29, 1786, it was brought to the attention of the Southern District Meeting that Ann had married a man not of them membership and they appointed two men to draw up testimony against her for the next meeting. On Apr 26, 1786, the Southern District meeting notes stated, "Ann Hollins (late Cummins) had a right of membership among us but disregarding our testimony against an hireling ministry, and the order of our discipline, has been married by assistance of a priest, to a man not in membership with us, after being cautioned against such a procedure. Whereby she has separated herself from us, until she comes to be rightly convinced of her deviation and makes a suitable acknowledgment to this meeting, which we desire she may." By 1790, they had moved to New York City, living in Montgomery Ward, and where they owned one slave. From the baptisms of their children, it appears they were members of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in New York in the 1790s. On Jan 28, 1795, it was reported that Ann had sent a letter hoping to gain acceptance with the meeting once again. On Sep 24, 1795, Ann returned to the Southern District meeting of Quakers and acknowledged her previous condemnation by the church for marrying a man before a priest outside of the faith. It seems that this brought them back into the faith with the Quakers and the family remained in the faith until at least the next generation. In 1800, they lived in Morrisania, Westchester, NY. By 1810, they had moved to New York City. He was involved in some kind of shipbuilding or shipping business and built and launched a war vessel in 1818 that got him into trouble with the Quakers. In 1820, they lived in Westchester, Westchester, NY.

He has biographical entries in: Dictionary of American Biography. Volumes 1-20. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1928-1936. (DcAmB) The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography. Volume 24. New York: James T. White & Co., 1935. Use the Index to locate biographies. (NatCAB 24) Who Was Who in America. A component volume of Who's Who in American History. Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Revised Edition. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who, 1967.

He first was employed as a surveyor which likely took him to New Ipswich, NH, where he later became its most prominent citizen. He first invested in the settlement there in 1749 and likely moved to the new settlement a few years later. As such, he worked as an agent for the Masonian Proprietors and sold large tracts of land for them. Kentfield Mountain, near New Ipswich, was named for him. He dedicated large tracts of his own land to the growing of hay and grain, planted orchards of apples and pears "of the rarest varieties," and became known for that produce throughout New Hampshire and neighboring parts of New England before the American Revolution. He erected the first mill in New Ipswich and produced large quantities of apple cider which he sold to individuals and inns and taverns for miles around. His farm house is said to have been a mansion in size and was fell-furnished. This further detail survives of the house: "The parlor contained a beautifully wrought slate mantel-piece, the centre piece of which was an elaborately carved coat-of-arms, purporting to be of the Kentfield family." He also purchased the first carriage in that region, that he drew with black horses, the chief of which was named "Caesar." According to one account, he was "honorable and just in his dealings, courteous and affable to his friends, and respectful to all." These traits made him the most respected citizen of New Ipswich and the nearby area. He was close with Sir John Wentworth (1737-1820), colonial governor of New Hampshire, who made Kentfield the justice of the peace. Gov. Wentworth also conferred the rank of colonel for a regiment of militia. Because of his various social connections, as well as possessing a conservative political stance, he refused to support the American rebels at the outbreak of the revolution and he was replaced in his position in the militia in 1775. He afterwards became quite vocal in his criticism of the Revolution and thus became quite unpopular, but due to his former reputation, he was spared from punishments that many Loyalists faced at the time. For his loyalty to the crown he was granted new arms by King George III. He nevertheless continued to pay his taxes, even during the revolutionary period. He is described as "tall and of commanding appearance, well befitting of a man of his high standing."

He settled in Tyringham, MA. He was a soldier in the revolution and enlisted June 29, 1777 and was discharged July 26, 1777. His service was as a private in Capt Ezekiel Herrick's company, Col Brown's Berkshire County regiment. The service totalled twenty-eight days, including five days (112 miles) travel home. Later he reenlisted Sep 19, 1777 and was discharged Oct 18, 1777. The service totalled 30 days and included the march on expedition to Stillwater under orders of Brig Gen John Fellows. Once again he reenlisted Oct 13, 1781 and was discharged Oct 20, 1781. This time he served in Lt Solomon Jackson's company, Col John Ashley's regiment for twelve days service. They marched from Berkshire county under command of Lt John Collor, by order of Ashley, on alarm at the Northward. His final service was as a sergeant in Capt John Collor's company, Col John Ashley's regiment. He entered service Jul 19, 1779 and was discharged Aug 27, 1779 for one month, nine days. They marched to Connecticut under the command of Lt Col Powel. After the war he removed to Weybridge and later to Berkshire, VT.

He appeared in the Washington County, Maryland census in 1790, when his household included himself, his wife, a boy, and two girls. Abraham moved to Flintsone bottom from Hagerstown, in 1795. Thus in 1800, he appeared in the Cumberland Valley, Bedford County census with his wife, four boys, and two girls. In 1810, his household consisted of himself, his wife, five boys, one young man (aged 16-25), and one girl. He married secondly to Catherine Coontz, daughter of Matthias Coontz, and the widow of George Reed, in 1814. Her first husband had gone to Missouri and never returned. She married secondly to a Mr. Wilson, and then thirdly to Abraham Ashdown. By 1820, his household consisted of himself, his wife, three boys, one young man (aged 16-25), an additional white male over 45 years (his second wife's father?), an adult female (his unmarried daughter Mary?), and three girls. By 1830, it is likely that his household contained grandchildren or possibly young children by his second wife. In the census of that year, the following were present: Abraham, two boys, five girls, and one woman in her forties.

The earliest documented bearer of the family name — Joseph Smyth of Belfast, County Antrim, who lived to about eighty. The name was carried through three further Belfast generations before John Oliver Smith brought it to America, where the spelling settled as Smith — England's and America's most common surname, from the smith at his forge.

After his marriage, they settled in Durham and occupied part of his father's farm, which he and his brother Silas later partitioned with Henry received 358 acres. He was active in civil and religious matters and was one of the leading figures of Durham. He served in the town militia and rose to the rank of sergeant in 1748. His will is dated, Jun 7, 1759, in which he gave one-third of his property to his widow and then split the remainder between his three sons. The will was probated, Mar 1, 1768, having been inventoried at £2177, 11s, 10d, which was very wealthy for the time.

He moved to Weston around the time of its first settlement in 1746 and was one of the most active figures in public affairs there for the duration of his life. At some point by the 1760s or before, he purchased a tavern from Isaac Woolson which was on the "Isaac Fiske property." For much of his life, he was an innkeeper in the town and during that period British army officers would often ride out to Weston for dinner and sleighing parties. Among the esteemed attendees were Gen. Thomas Gage, commander-in-chief of the British armed forces in North America and according to Baldwin's wife's diary, they met the general at a dinner party there in 1773. Just two years later, Gen. Gage's attempts to seize American rebel stores of arms would spark the battles of Lexington and Concord and, ultimately, the American Revolution.

Baldwin must have possessed some skills as a carpenter, for he appears in a record in Weston in 1749 where he repaired some doors for the town. In 1754, town meetings were sometimes held at his house as Weston was still constructing an official structure for such events. He appears in records as working as an assessor with the selectmen of Weston throughout the period 1755-75. He worked for the town in other capacities from time to time. In 1755, he was asked to serve on a committee to determine the best place for a school on the north side of the town. In 1757, he served as one of 30 "alarm men" for Weston. In 1762 and again in 1768 and 1773, he worked as a surveyor of "shingles, boards, hoops, etc." on buildings of Weston. In 1771-4, he worked as town clerk. In the former year, he also worked one of the surveyors of the town. The schoolmaster resided at his inn in the period 1773-4, for during that time he was compensated by the town for the former's upkeep. In the period 1774-5, he was compensated for boarding the poor of the town at his inn for several different periods. In 1775, he served as selectman and surveyor of highways, in 1776, he served on the committee of correspondence (which he had served on previously in 1774), and in 1777, he was selected warden of Weston.

He held significant amounts of real estate, appearing tax lists through the years: 1757 - real estate £65, personal estate £51, 14s 1758 - real estate £65, personal estate £56 1761 - real estate £65, personal estate £45, 3s 1763 - real estate £68, personal estate £32, 6s 1764 - real estate £60, personal estate £34, 12s 1769 - real estate £72, personal estate £42, 16s, 2 slaves 1771 - real estate £61, personal estate £33, 4s 1773 - real estate £61, personal estate £26, 14s 1777 - real estate £61, personal estate £30, 18s

She helped co-run the Baldwin tavern with her husband and was its principal cook. At one time, Gen. George Washington (later first president of the United States) was on his way to take command of the army at Cambridge, MA, but passed over the Weston road and stopped for dinner at the Baldwin tavern. According to records, "Mrs. Baldwin made great preparations for the dinner, but much to her disgust, Washington went into her kitchen and asked for a bowl of bread and milk which he ate there, leaving his staff to eat the formal dinner." Much later, the tavern eventually burned down, though the property remained in the family until the early twentieth century. She appears in a few records of Weston, such as receiving compensation for boarding a guest in the town who stayed at the inn she had taken over after her husband's passing. For example, the schoolmaster was boarded there for nine months in 1783. The inn was a significant landmark, as noted, "At the time of Shays Rebellion in 1787 the troops from Boston, on their way to Springfield, bivouacked one night along our road, and the officers lodged at the Baldwin tavern" as it was then known. She appears on a list for the war treasurer's tax in 1782. She appears on tax lists for Weston in 1789-90 at which time she held 4 pounds of real estate. In 1795, since she had passed recently, "Baldwin's heirs" appears on the tax list of that year with 1 pound of personal estate and 3 pounds of real estate. Her diary was preserved and covers the era of 1756-87.

He lived in Chelmsford, MA and Weare, NH. He married first to Sarah Fane, who died in 1765. He served as a private in Capt. Oliver Barron's company of Militia, in Col. David Green's Reg., which marched on the alarm of Apr. 19, 1775, at Concord. He had 5 days service. He moved to Weare, NH, in 1776, and served in the militia there. He probably fought at the Battle of Bennington. He was buried in East Weare. Between Weare and Bradford, there lies Warrick Pond at Unity, NH, so called because one large school district was made entirely up of Warricks. Today there are none left. Descendants of Joseph's son Benjamin still lived in Weare in 1940.

He emigrated from Coleraine, Ireland to America in 1740, landing first at Boston, where he resided a few years and married. Immediately after his first marriage, they removed to Bedford, NH, and settled on a farm there, though she died without children in 1745. Their land was located in an area known as Souhegan-East on the Merrimack River. He accompanied James McQuade to Concord, NH, to buy corn for their families, when the latter was slain by Indians. Burns was unharmed in the attack, fleeing in a zigzag direction, but famously his shirt bore seven bullet holes, evidence of his narrow escape. He appears on the tax list for Bedford in 1750, indicating that he was fairly wealthy at the time. He also appears on the petition for the incorporation of the town, May 10, 1750. For a time in the 1750s, his house served as a temporary house of worship for the congregation in the town as they prepared a formal church, suggesting that he was a person of ardent faith and significantly involved with the affairs of the church. In 1785, he was involved in a group that rejected the proposed preacher, a Mr. Pickles, who they deemed unfit for the position at their church.

He lived in New Garden Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, according to the 1790 census. At that time, there were eight total people in his household, including two other adult males (over age 16), two boys, and three females (ages unspecified). His will was inventoried at £187, 10d, on Dec 5, 1792, and probated Oct 30, 1794. His estate included 2 horses, 10 cows, 6 pigs, and 12 sheep. It also included a quantity of limestone sledge that suggests he managed a quarry or held some interests in one. He also possessed cooper's tools, a Bible, and numerous farmer's tools.

In Sep 1777, he was drafted for military service in Capt. Isaac Taylor's Company of the Pennsylvania Militia, for term of two months. They marched from Chester Co., PA, and fought at the Battle of Brandywine, Sep 11, 1777. They were subsequently stationed near Valley Forge until his discharge. Then in Sep or Oct 1778, he was pressed into service and worked with a team of horses and carts supplying army units with food another items in Lancaster Co., PA., and in this regard obtained the rank of captain. The company he was attached to was summoned to Philadelphia in 1780 with intentions of marching to New York, but the order was later rescinded, so he returned home. But in 1781, they were again called up and stationed at the head of the Elk River and sometimes moved closer to Philadelphia. Then they marched for Yorktown, but Gen. Cornwallis' surrender occurred before they arrived. In 1803, he received £5 in his father's will and was further forgiven of debts he owed worth £60. In 1834, he applied for a veteran's pension. He resided in Pennsbury Twp., in Chester Co., for much of his life.

He was a shipwright by trade and passed his entire estate onto his son Forman. His will is as follows:

In the name of God Amen. I, Thomas Hollins, late of the city of New York, shipwright, but at present residing in the city of Philadelphia being advanced in years and subject to infirmities incident to old age but of sound mind, memory, and understanding and considering the uncertainty of this frail and transitory life and that it is appointed for all men once to dye do therefore make, publish, and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following that it is to say I do hereby order and direct that all my just debts and funeral charges be fully paid and discharged within some convenient time after my decease. My will is that my executors or the survivors or survivors of them sell my house and lot in Queen Stride in Montgomery Ward in the city of New York as soon as may be convenient for the most money that can be had or gotten for the same and the monies thence arising to be put out at interest on land security which interest together with the rents which my executors shall receive by hiring out my house at the shipyards in the outward of the city of New York shall be applied towards the support and maintenance of my daughter Sarah shall be intitled to and have a convenient room in my said house at the shipyards properly furnished with my furniture which she shall be permitted to occupy as long as she remains unmarried. And as to the residue of my furniture my daughters may divide it agreeable to their pleasure. And my will further is that after my executors have collected the monies due me and paid thereout my debts and funeral expenses that the residue be put out at interest upon land security for the maintenance of my daughter Sarah and sons Thomas and Foreman until my said son Foreman shall attain the age of twenty-one years as aforesaid he shall have the rents, interest, issues, and profits of all my whole estate as well real as personal until he shall attain the age of twenty-four years excepting the furniture I have already disposed of, also excepting the use of the said room to my daughter Sarah as long as she remains unmarried and my will further is that when my said son Foreman shall attain the age of twenty-four years as aforesaid all my whole estate as well real as personal shall be valued and if my monies or other chattles shall be more in value than the house and shipyards as aforesaid then my several daughters to wit Ann the wife of James Brewster, Elizabeth the wife of John Arthur, Mary the wife of James Eyre and Sarah who is unmarried are to pay my son Foreman so much money as shall make the said house and shipyards equal to all their shares but if the said house and shipyards shall be more in value than my money and other chattles then my said son Foreman shall pay until my said daughters so much money as shall make all their shares equal to his half of all my estate. My will further is that after this calculation is made and settled that my said son Foreman shall have a fee simple in the said house and shipyards for which purpose I do hereby divise and bequeath unto my said son Foreman the said house and shipyards in the outward of the city of New York as aforesaid to hold the same to him my said son Foreman, his heirs, and assigns forever upon this express condition that he shall support and maintain in a decent and comfortable manner my son Thomas during the term of his natural life and my said son Thomas shall live in the family of my said son Foreman unless my said daughters or the survivors of them should determine that my said son Thomas should be supported and maintained in any other family. Also upon this further condition that my said son Foreman shall pay unto my said daughter Sarah the yearly sum of twenty-five pounds current money of New York in gold so long as my said daughter Sarah shall remain single and unmarried. And my will further is that in case my said son Foreman shall die without lawfull issue before he shall reach the age of twenty-four years as aforesaid that then and in such case so much of my estate as I have hereby given him shall go to my said daughters and to their heirs and assigns forever share and share alike subject to the support and maintenance of my said son Thomas during the term of his natural life and subject to the payment of the annual sum of nineteen pounds current money of New York in gold to my said daughter Sarah as long as she remains unmarried and in case any of my said daughters should die without issue before my son Foreman shall attain the age of twenty-four years as aforesaid then the part or share of such so dying shall be divided equally between the survivors of my said daughters share and share alike. My will further is that as my three married daughters have already possessed themselves of a part of my property that they shall nevertheless be accountable for so much as they have received so that the one shall not receive at the division of my estate given them one shilling more than the other which settlement shall be made by my executors or the survivor or survivors of them. And lastly, I do hereby nominate, constitute, and appoint my son-in-law John Arthur my daughter Sarah Hollins and son Foreman executors of this my last will and testament hereby reworking and disannulling all former wills or testaments heretofore by me made and declared either in word or in writing allowing this and none other to be my last will and testament. [Signed with witnesses].

He was a watchmaker and silversmith by trade. He and his brother, Col. Timothy, were disavowed by Orthodox Quakers because of their support of military action during the American Revolution. They remained Quakers and formed a group called the Society of Free Quaker. He was also a vocal abolitionist. In 1786, he signed a letter demanding that the New York state assembly ban the trade of enslaved people in the port of New York. He also joined the New York Manumission Society.

Wikipedia

He moved from Grafton to Hardwick in early manhood, living there until 1769 when he settled in Cornish. The following year he moved to Croydon and settled on a farm there, later owned by his grandson Otis. He was chosen deacon of the first Congregational church there. He was elected moderator of Croydon seven times, town treasurer in 1773, tithingman 1773-81, town clerk 1772-74, justice of quorum, selectman nine times (1771-2, 1774, 1776, 1779, 1782, 1786, 1789), and assessor for twenty years. He taught school in Cornish in 1769 and frequently taught at Croydon. One writer characterized John and his descendants, "As a family the Coopers were religiously inclined and distinguished for honesty." Pertaining to John more directly, his grandson, John Cooper, Esq., delivered in a speech that has survived:

"I will confine myself to a few brief remarks concerning my paternal grandfather, one of the earliest settlers of this town. Deacon John Cooper was born in 1725; he married Mary Sherwood, of Grafton, Mass., in 1748, and the same year settled in Hardwick, Mass. While living there he divided his time between the cultivation of a farm and teaching the 'town school.' During the French and Indian War, from 1754 to 1763, he was also engaged largely in supplying the English and Provincial troops with beef. In 1769, he removed to Cornish, NH, and the year following he came to [Croydon]-four years only after the first settlement of the town. His locating here added little to the material wealth of the place (for he was a man of a broken fortune), but he brought with him what was of more value than money, namely, an intelligent and energetic wife and eight healthy children. He settled on a spot within sight of this stand, where Otis Cooper, Esq., one of his lineal descendants, now resides. There he lived; and there, in 1805 [sic], he closed his earthly labors at the ripe old age of eighty years. His remains now rest in the Old Burial Ground on the Hill.

"Tradition does not represent the character of Dea. Cooper as perfectly well-balanced. He did not possess that courgage-that backbone, necessary to face danger of any kind without flinching. But he was distinguished for honesty, sobriety, love of order, and for full an average share of common sense. As far as energy and decision of character were concerned, his wife was the better man of the two. But still his abilities were considered above the general level, as the early records will show; for he was chosen repeatedly Town Clerk, and was often elected one of the selectmen, and several times chairman of the board.

"He ruled his own house well, and was in other respects peculiarly fitted for the office of deacon. He held that office forty-seven years-twenty years in Hardwick, and twenty-seven years in [Croydon]. It is the concurrent testimony of tradition that Dea. John Cooper was a faithful and an efficient church officer."

He married secondly to Mary Alline, Oct 10, 1762, in Boston. He followed his father in the occupation of mariner. Due to the fact that he was still only nineteen years of age at the time of his mother's death (and his father having died a year earlier), his uncle Kenelm Winslow, a brazier of Boston, was his appointed his guardian until he reached the age of twenty-one. His work caused him to travel, though the extent to which is unknown. In 1750 or 1752, he was in London, in 1760, he was in the Azores, and in 1764, he was in Bristol. A glass seal with his name and the date 1764 survived and was in possession of his descendants in 1886. With his first wife, they lived in north Boston and her family attended a church on Brattle Stride. His second wife belonged to an old Boston family. In 1767, he purchased a house on what is now Federal Stride near Essex Stride for £240. They attended what was then called the New South Church which was nearby. The American Revolution ended up being disastrous for him, as he lost his ships due to seizure and decay. During the British occupation of Boston, his house was so exposed, that they removed to Newburyport. British soldiers found the house empty and used it as their headquarters for the entirety of their time there. Having lost his ships, after the war he took up work as a shopkeeper, though Boston directories list him as "captain" in the period 1796-1805. He is described as a man of "commanding presence, a stern expression, and of great willpower." He resided in his mansion house overlooking the sea until his death. He left $2 to each of his children in his will and the remainder, the bulk of his estate, to his widow.

He came to America with his wife and brothers John (Johan Wilhelm - sometimes referred to as merely 'Wilhelm' in early records) and Johan Adam about 1770. It is thought that Henry and John came several times previously and Henry is listed as sailing in 1754 aboard the Friendship and landing at Philadelphia. The inhabitants of the ship were said to be from Franconia and Hesse. The immigration records list his brother as from Runckelischen Land. John settled at Dutchess County, New York, where he joined the Red Hook Lutheran Church, June 5, 1757. Henry was naturalized, September 10, 1765, at All Hollows Parish, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. He and his brother Adam were members of the Salem Reform Church in Washington County. He patented land in Bethel Township, Bedford County, with his brother Adam in 1789 (which was surveyed on both sides of Tonoloway Creek in 1795 totalling 286 acres and passed to Henry's son Henry) but ultimately settled in Washington County, Maryland. He served during the Revolutionary War in the Chester county militia and enlisted in the Bedford County militia in 1781. In 1778 he took the Patriot's Oath of Fidelity and Support in Washington County. He appears in Washington County in the 1790 census when his household consisted of two males over age 16, two males under age 16, three females, and one slave. By 1800, he lived in Conococheague, Washington County, when his household consisted of himself, his wife, two young men (aged 16-25), one young woman of similar age, and three slaves.

He settled in the part of Killingworth that became Durham, where he was one of the original 34 proprietors. In Mar 1708, he was on the committee to settle the boundary between the two settlements. He became the first deacon of the Congregationalist Church in Durham. He was the representative of Durham in the General Court of Connecticut, 1718-40 and he served as Justice of the Peace of New London County, 1728-41. In Oct 1738, he served on a committee to establish a meeting house in the parish of Amity (now known as Woodbridge) in New Haven County. He was involved in the Durham militia train band, where he became lieutenant, May 1716, and on Oct 1718, he rose to the rank of captain. In 1732, he purchased sixty acres of land in Guilford. He employed a servant of African descent named Holland who died, Jan 7, 1729. At his death, his substantial estate was divided between his two sons.

He received his B.A. degree at Harvard in 1715 and was ordained at Dunstable in 1718. He began to preach there in 1720 and in August of that year, he was offered the position of minister of the town church where he was paid £100 on settlement and had a salary of £80 per year. The town also supplied him with firewood and other necessities. As one record indicates, "he was a man of wit and a good sermonizer." His will was dated, Dec 6, 1736, and probated, Mar 24, 1738, in which he left equal amounts of money to each of his children, and all remaining property to his widow. The inventory included a house, 25 acres of land, a variety of livestock, £140, and one enslaved woman. The total value of his estate was estimated at £890.

Abijah Bruce served in the military. From Rev. Ebenezer Parkman's diary we have that Abijah was a Sergeant in September 1740 but was an Ensign by July 1744. He made Lieutenant in August 1748 and must have been in Captain Baker's Company as on October 11, 1748 Parkman "dined with the south Company Officers - Lt Bruce had the Command by Means of Captain Bakers being engag'd as one of the Referrees upon the Case of messers [ William] Nurse and [Cornelius] Cook." Abijah doesn't appear in any Massachusetts Military records but might be found in the Westborough Militia records. To show what the soldiers and even the populace had to contend with during the French and Indian Wars, this July 1745 entry from Parkman's diary is included "Ensign Bruce (who went up to Fort Shirley to bring back his son Jonathan) return'd - and informs that last Friday about 10 a.m. Mr. William Phipps was kill'd by the Indians about 30 Rods from the Garrison at [Putney] (nigh which lives Mr Nehemiah How who went from Grafton) and his body was treated inhumanly, Scalp'd, his Heart taken out, etc."

Abijah Bruce was moderator of the town meetings in 1735. In January 1749 some land was bought for the purpose of building a new meeting house in the town of Westboorough. The house was to be fifty feet long by forty feet wide with posts 23 feet high. In April it was ready for raising and accordingly the precinct voted on the 17th "to provide Half a barrel Roum, by the cost and charge of the precinct, for the Raising of the frame of the meeting-house which the precinct voted to build..." Capt. John Renwick, Lieut. Simeon Tainter, and Lieut. Abijah Bruce were voted to be a committee to take care to provide the Roum for raising the frame of the meeting house.

Abijah at one time kept a tavern (during the 1750's at least). It was located on the road between Westborough and Marlborough about two miles from the center of Westborough.

A letter written by Abijah Bruce, dated at Westborough June 5th, 1772, reads "Whereas my brother David Bruce of Soutb'r is a person Naturally wanting Understanding and not capable of taking care of himself and there being some Estate left by our hon'd Father Roger Bruce late of Said Southb'r Deed for the Support of said David who is not Capable to manage the Same for that purpose, These are to desire your Hon'r to enquire into the truth of the above & appoint Him the said David a Guardian". Signed Abijah Bruce by mark, witnessed by Artemas Bruce and Isaac Johnson.

Abijah apparently had a violent temper. In several places in Parkman's diary Abijah is mentioned as having"warm Speech" or answering "Sharply, and coarsely, and asking....with great Anger". A good example of his temper is found in the diary from June 1755 when Rev. Parkman forgot to mention to the congregation Abijah's desire for prayers for his sick wife. "Lieutenant Bruce came into my House, and tje Storm was great, Thunder, Lightening, and Rain. Yet the Storm of Brother Bruce's Passions was more grievous; uttering many bitter grievous Things; neither could I at all lay his Passionate Heat by anything I could Say. he went away talking and in a Rage, notwwithstanding it was the Sabbath, and the Storm which Should have Struck Terror, into each of our Hearts. I could not Suffer him to go away in Such a Frame. I put on my Great Coat, and went to the Meeting House, ready to declare it was not with Design that I omitted the Note, but through forgetfullness - as I went I Spake to him at the Stables to Mollifie him - and entreated him and all others that were there to go into the Meeting House; but neither of them did. When I got into the meeting House I was Somewhat out of Breath by my running through the Rain. There were many more in the Meeting House (probably) than I expected; Yet I then conceiv'd it best for the prevention of further Mischief to declare that it was thro my Infirmity and no otherwise that his Case was Neglected; I also mention'd to them the Reason of my coming to Speak of it to them, viz. the violent Anger which he was in, and continued in, though I did all in my Power to Compose and Satisfie him; and that he assur'd me he would never bring me any Papers (to desire Prayers) any more. When I return'd from the Meeting House, he being Still at the Stables, I Stop'd there again and there labour'd to pacifie him; but all was in Vain. So that I left him with telling him that I had done and Said enough (and indeed it was too much) I would not trouble my Self any more. This was a just Chastizement from God upon me, for my own Sloth and Negligence! the Lord be mercifull to me a Sinner!" The next day "I made it my Business to Visit Mrs. Bruce...As to Lieutenant Bruce, he now receiv'd me civily - no word of yesterday; only when I parted while I had him by the Hand I told him I would not have any Difficulty between him and me, and he answer'd Smiling, ' with all my Heart' " Abijah finally apologized a month later to Rev. Parkman for his outbursts, " Lieutenant Bruce here and acknowledg'd he did amiss on june 22 and what he said was writ and sign'd" But maybe he had good reason to be angery afterall. His wife Mary remained ill the rest of the year and was very close to death. By Parkman's diary we have that Abijah died on December 2, 1774. "Lieut. Bruce dies about 2 o'clock p.m. He was nigh 81, was born Nov.27.O.S. 1693" And the entry for march 27, 1775"...Calld at Mr Stone's & desired him, if he should be sent for by those concerned, to attend the Funeral of old Mrs, Bruce, who dyd on ye 26th, aged 88 & one Day"

A story has been told of William Cresswell. When he was young, he was walking on a country road near his house when he came upon two farmers trying to help a cow which was choking on a potato. A young girl was also present of eight or ten years of age. The farmers realized that only the girl's small arm could fit down the animal's throat and so she performed the action and saved the cow. William watched this and proclaimed, "That young Miss by and by shall be my wife." The girl was Martha Emerson and they were later married. He acquired bought land from Richard Kent on the Chebacco River that served as a fishery, primarily for what were then known as "alewives." He left an estate of 741 pounds, 2 shillings to be divided among his children. His two brothers Jonathan and Lt. John and eldest son Edward were joint administrators of the estate.

After his father's death, he emigrated to America. He came with two brothers, Benjamin and William, whose families cannot be traced. He settled in Londongrove Township. He brought a certificate from Friends in Ireland to the Newark Monthly Meeting, Feb 3, 1714. He worked as a mason or bricklayer, apparently following his father in that profession. Together with Shadrach Scarlet, they built a mill in around 1730. He served as Chester County assessor, 1740-2. His will follows:

LAST WILL & TESTAMENT, Dec 7, 1769

TO ALL PEOPLE to whom these presents shall or may come, I John Allen of the Township of London Grove in the County of Chester in the Province of Pennsylvania Yeoman being far advanced in years and having under my consideration the uncertainty of human life do make this my last will and Testament in manner and form following that is to say Imprimis I order that my Body be decently interred in Friends Buriing Grounds in a Christian and decent manner at the discretion of my Executors herein after named, and as to my worldly Estate which the Lord in mercy hath been pleased to bestow upon me I give and dispose of the same in manner and form following and first I will that all my just debts which I owe to any manner of person or persons together with my funeral charges be paid and discharged as soon as conveniently may be after my decease by my Executors herein after named.

Item, I give and bequeath unto my loving wife Amy Allen the dwelling house I now dwell in with all the furnature thereunto belonging that she may think convenient together with all the linnen likewise one half of the orchard and the bay mare and one cow which she may like best as also sufficient pasturage and wintering for them as also what fire wood she may stand in need of to be provided for her at the expence of my son William Allen and brought to the door.

Item, I give and bequeath unto my said son, William Allen the plantation on which I now dwell with the appurtenances situate lying and being in the said Township of London Grove containing sixty three acres Except what lyeth in the brick field and also what I have before bequeathed to his mother during her natural life with the saw mill and all my Right and Interest in the Corn or Grist Mill with all the utentials and appurtenances belonging as also all that part of my two hundred acre tract of land situate in the Township of New Garden and lying south of a line now run beginning at a corner stone set in the ground in or near the line dividing between the Township of London Grove and New Garden opposite to the end of a ditch dividing the meadow from the aforesaid Brick Field near the South East Corner of the said meadow thence north fifty seven degrees East sixty four perches to another stone, thence North sixty eight degrees east twenty five perches to a small white oak thence due East sixty six perches to a post in the Eastermost line of the aforesaid tract be. the content of the same more or less with the appurtenances Except the ground my son John Allen built his house upon near the aforesaid mill and it is my mind and will that the said house and what land is between the same and the Ditch and even with the back side of the said house shall be for the sole use and behoof of the heirs of my said son John and their assigns forever all that the aforesaid land lying south of the q.v. mentioned line in New Garden Township to my said son William on condition he pays to his mother the aforesaid Amy Allen the sum of six pounds lawful money of the aforesaid Province yearly and every year during her natural life, to be possessed and enjoyed by him my said son William for and during his natural life and from and immediately after his decease to go and be vested soley in the heirs made of his body lawfully begotten and their heirs and assigns forever and for want of such male issue then to his two brothers to wit Joseph and Benjamin to be equally divided between them share and part alike and to their heirs and assigns forever.

Item, I give and bequeath unto my said son William Allen all that tract of land lying West of the other Containing Sixty Eight acres and the usual allowance for roads together with the appurtenances to hold to him my said son William Allen and his heirs and assigns forever he paying out of the same to his late deceased brother John's Children viz. to Hannah the sum of Five Pounds lawful money of the aforesaid Province, to Amy the sum of Five Pounds of like lawful money aforesaid, to Ann the sum of Twenty Pounds of the like money, to John Twenty Pounds of like money, to Samuel Twenty Pounds of like money which said Several Legacies I will and order to be paid to each of them one year after my decease to the Eldest and so one year between each payment until they are all paid. But in case any of the aforesaid Children shall happen to die or depart this life before the time herein before mentioned for payment there of then and in such case, the part or share of him her or them that shall so happen to die I will and order to remain to my said son William's own particular use.

Item, I give and bequeath unto my said son Joseph Allen all my wearing apparrell and the sum of Five Shillings which with what I have already given him is to be in full of his share or part of my Estate Except a dividing share of the surplus of my Estate if any be as herein after mentioned of the land.

Item, I give and devise and bequeath unto my son Benjamin Allen all that part of my aforesaid tract of land situate lying and being in the said Township of New Garden and north of the Division line herein before mentioned together with the appurtenances be the same more or less To hold to him my said son Benjamin Allen and to his heirs and assigns forever.

Item, All that my tract of land situate lying and being Between the Lands late of Steven Ailes deceased and the land of James Greenfield containing by computation Thirty seven acres and three quarters of an acre be the same more or less together with the appurtenances, I give devise and bequeath one full equal and undivided third part thereof to my said son William Allen and to his heirs and assigns forever, one other full equal and undivided third part thereof I give devise and bequeath unto my said son Joseph Allen and to his heirs and assigns forever and the other one full equal and undivided third part thereof I give devise and bequeath unto my said son Benjamin Allen and his heirs and assigns forever. Item, I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Dixon the sum of Fifty Pounds lawful money of the aforesaid Province.

Item, I give and bequeath unto my daughter Phebe Thompson the sum of Forty Pounds lawful money of the aforesaid Province.

Item, I give and bequeath to my four grand children viz William Moode, Emey Moode, Ruth Moode and Hannah Moode the sum of Twenty Pounds lawful money of the aforesaid Province to be equally divided among them share and part alike. Item, I give and bequeath unto my granddaughter Elizabeth Ward the sum of one Shilling.

Item, I give and bequeath unto my two grandsons viz. Thomas Ward and Phillip Ward the sum of Thirty Pounds lawful money of the aforesaid Province to be equally divided between them share and part alike.

Item, I give and bequeath unto my grandson John Fraizer the sum of Twenty Pounds of like money aforesaid to be paid to him at the age of twenty one years and if in case he should happen to die or depart this life before he arrives at the age aforesaid that then and in such case I give and bequeath the said legacy of Twenty Pounds to my said two grandsons Thomas and Philip Ward to be equally divided between them share and part alike. And I hereby nominate constitute and appoint my loving son in law William Chandler Executor and my loving daughter Rebecka his wife Executrix of this my last Will and Testament to whom I give and bequeath the sum of Fifty Pounds lawful money of the aforesaid Province as a Legacy which said Legacy shall be in full as well for their Administering my said Estate as all other demands they or either of them may have against my said Estate also I charge them with the payment of my debts and Legacies according to the true intent and meaning hereof and lastly it is my mind and will that if any thing remain after my just debts and Legacies are fully paid and discharged that such remainder or residue be equally divided between my loving wife the aforesaid Amy Allen and my said three sons to wit William, Joseph, and Benjamin share and part alike. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, Dated the Seventh Day of the twelfth month in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty Nine.

John Allen Seal.

Signed, Sealed, Published, Pronounced, and Declared by the said John Allen the Testator to be his last Will and Testament in the Presence of us the subscribers who subscribed our names as Witnesses thereto in his presence and by his request, Samuel Sharp, David England, Lewis Lemert.

Chester 5th November 1771 Then personally appeared Samuel Sharp, David England, and Lewis Lemert, who on their Solemn Affirmations according to law did Declare, Affirm and say that they were personally present and did see and hear John Allen the Testator within and above named, Sign, Seal, Publish, Pronounce, and Declare the foregoing writing to be his last Will and Testament and that at the doing thereof he was of a sound and well disposing mind and memory to the best of their understanding. Affirmed before H. H. Graham D. Regs'

At the age of 18 he and his brother Samuel were apprenticed on a British merchant ship. Afterward, he settled at Major's Choice, an estate that had been devised for his brother Samuel, but whose share he aquired. He inherited Barnes Folly and part of Long Benton from his father. He and his brother John were patented with the 632 acre plantation of Brother's Partnership, June 10, 1734. A deed was executed to divide it shortly before Joshua's death, November 23, 1747. He was justice of the peace of upper Anne Arundel County, October 30, 1711. He served as justice of Baltimore County, 1712-14 and captain of the militia in 1732. His will was dated November 14, 1747 and was probated February 6, 1748.

He inherited 42 acres in Middleboro, MA, in his father's will. On Oct 9, 1710, he received two lots in the land division at Marshfield. Like his wife's family, who were engaged in maritime commerce, he is described as a "boatman" and "mariner." He purchased 30 acres of upland and 5 acres of salt marsh on Jan 1, 1711, which included houses and an orchard, and on Jan 26 of the same year, he purchased an additional 50 acres of land there. The foundations of his original house was still visible in 1886, situated on the upland parcel and the remnants of his orchard, by then having evolved into wild, overgrown apple trees. Commerce from the Caribbean came to the port and it is quite likely that he had a stake in that industry. He served on several juries in the town in the 1710s and 1720s and on Mar 20, 1717, he was chosen to be constable. On Mar 27, 1727, he was elected selectman, and on Mar 25, 1728, he was chosen tithingman. By the 1720s, he owned vessels that traded across the Atlantic and some of which were mostly stationed in Boston. Through these connections, he joined the Wiscasset Company, which was particularly interested in the trade of the coast of what is now Maine. In a meeting at the Royal Exchange in Boston by the company, he was put in charge of a large tract of land near the Sheepscot River that was expected to be used for new settlements there and he later hired a surveyor for the purpose. These business dealings proceeded through the 1730s. He also continued to acquire additional property, purchasing 30 acres on Apr 13, 1730, and bought 1/32 share of the land at Sheepscot River. He was elected treasurer of Marshfield, 1734-41. Eventually his business interests in Boston and the expansion of that port generally caused him to spend most of his time there, as evidenced by his sale of some of his Marshfield property in 1742 for £1600. His wife Bethiah moved to Boston with him in 1744. His ships were employed for an expedition against the French during the siege of Louisbourg which was part of the War of the Austrian Succession (known as King George's War in the British colonies). One of these ships, named Dolphin, was used for the entirety of the conflict and for which he received £169, 13s. It is likely that he was actually aboard and was among the sixty sick men who returned from the expedition, and he died with days of his arrival in Boston. His home in Boston was located between what is now State Stride and Dock Square. The inventory of his estate shows that he was excessively wealthy with many pewter, iron, brass, and silver wares, as well as two ships, the Dolphin and Swan. Among other mentions in his estate, there is one of whaling debts and numerous other business relations and partners.

An early member of the Pilgrims through Rev. John Robinson's church, he went with the congregation to Holland and married a Dutch-refuge bride before crossing to America aboard the Mayflower in 1620.

He was a member of Rev. John Robinson's church and therefore an early member of the Pilgrims. He went with them to Amsterdam and married a Dutch woman before emigrating to America aboard the Mayflower in 1620.

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A London merchant who joined the Pilgrims in July 1620 and sailed with them to America. The twelfth signer of the Mayflower Compact, he was chosen for the exploration party that scouted the outer Cape on arrival; his wife and five daughters followed to Plymouth in 1623.

He joined the Pilgrims in July 1620 as a merchant from London, and sailed with them to America. He sailed aboard the Mayflower and was the twelfth signer of the compact. He was one of those chosen for the exploration party that set out upon arrival and explored the outer cape in 1620. He received a lot that amounted to five acres in the land distribution of 1623. His wife and five daughters came to Plymouth in 1623 aboard the Ann. In the division of cattle in 1627, Richard bought lot nine, which consisted of four black heifers and two she-goats.

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He sailed to America aboard the Mayflower and settled at Plymouth; his wife Priscilla Mullins, daughter of fellow passengers William Mullins and Alice Atwood, is also a direct ancestor of this family.

He came to America aboard the Mayflower in 1620 and settled at Plymouth.

He sailed to America aboard the Mayflower but died in the sickness of the first winter. His daughter Priscilla survived and married fellow passenger John Alden — both are direct ancestors here.

He sailed to America aboard the Mayflower, but died in the sickness of the first winter.

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Sir David Murray of Tullibardine, who, on 19 May 1432, was served heir of his grandmother Margaret Murray in the lands of Aldie, she having been dead about twenty years. In 1428 he had a charter of Glenclow, and about 1430 another charter to him and his wife Margaret of the lands of Polgour, and a similar charter, dated 1 June 1443, from his cousin Robert Duncanson, of the lands of Fynnech, all in the earldom of Strathearn. His lands of Tullibardine and others named in a charter under the Great Seal were erected into the barony of Tullibardine 26 January 1443-44, and on 11 October 1446 the lands of Lethindy and Cultrany Litil were confirmed to him. In this year he founded the church of Tullibardine in honour of our Blessed Saviour. He was one of the auditors of the Exchequer 1448 and 1450, bailie of the earldom of Strathearn, and keeper of Methven Castle, for which he received 53s. 4d. He died between 21 July 1451 and 15 June 1452, and was buried in the church of his foundation, where may be seen the arms of Murray impaling Colquhoun. He married in or before 1430 Margaret, and had issue at least ten sons and several daughters.

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He was the fourth surviving son of King Edward III of England and the founder of the House of York as a branch of the Plantagenet dynasty. He was created earl of Cambridge in 1362 and duke of York in 1385, Edmund was the least able of Edward III's sons, and in the political strife of Richard II's reign he played an ineffective part. Edmund was appointed keeper of the realm during Richard II's absence in Ireland in 1394-95, and again on the King's departure for his second Irish expedition in May 1399. When Henry of Lancaster (afterward King Henry IV) invaded England in July, Edmund tried to organize resistance, but soon submitted (July 27), recognizing that Richard's cause was lost.

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Sir James Douglas is first named in a charter dated 7 April 1351, at Dalkeith, by which his uncle, Sir William, granted to him the lands of Aberdour in Fife. He next occurs in the entail of 3 November 1351, already cited, made by Sir William Douglas of Liddesdale, and he is there designed nephew of the granter and son of the late Sir John Douglas, brother of Sir William.

In 1371 he was one of an important embassy to France. Between 1369 and 1372 Sir James received a large accession of territory. Between 1369 and 1370, when David II. was still alive, George, Earl of March, granted to him the castle and lands of Morton in Nithsdale.

On 21 November 1372 the Earl added the lands of Mordington, county Berwick, to his sister and Sir James in free marriage, and also the lands of Whittinghame in East Lothian, both confirmed by King Robert II. on 6 December of same year.

On 20 October 1374, by a special agreement made at Dunfermline with the Earl of Dunbar, John Crauford of Tramprane resigned all rights he had to the barony of Morton in favour of Sir James, receiving an infeftment in the lands of Dalgarnach, county Dumfries.5 On 2 January 1374-75 he had a royal charter entailing his lands of Kincavil and Calder-Clere, county Linlithgow, Kilbucho, Newlands, and Linton-Rotherik, county Peebles, in favour of himself and of James his son by Agnes Dunbar, and the heirs-male of the body of the younger James.

Sir John Gordon had from King Robert II. on 16 June 1376 a renewed confirmation of the charter of Strathbogie granted by King Robert Bruce to his great-grandfather, Sir Adam. This appears to be the earliest notice of him after his father's death, and in the writ he is designed simply John Gordon, not having attained knighthood. He may have been a minor for some years after his succession. In the next year, 1377, he took an active part in fighting against the English, who in retaliation for the Earl of March's attack on Roxburgh, raided Gordon's lands and goods. He also defeated at Garham a superior English force under Sir John Lilburn. In this conflict he was severely wounded, but recovered. He also took part in the combat at Melrose under the leadership of Sir Archibald Douglas, when Sir Thomas Musgrave, Warden of Berwick, was made prisoner. He is also said to have been present at the battle of Otterburn on 5 August 1388, but he was not killed there, as he was witness to a charter by Andrew Leslie of that Ilk, of date 30 May 1391, before which date he had been made a knight, and is also styled Laird of that Ilk.

King of England, 1272-1307. He was directly involved in the Eighth and Ninth Crusades. His wars also subdued Wales and, for a time, Scotland.

He was crowned at Westminister in 1274. An alliance was made between the Scottish and the French in 1295. In 1296, John Baliol resigned and the crown passed to Edward. In that same year, King Edward moved the Scottish coronation stone from Scone to Westminister. The Scots invaded England in 1297 and defeated them at Stirling Bridge. In 1300, King Edward invaded Scotland. The following year he made his son Edward, prince of Wales. In 1302 a truce was made between Scotland and England. The English defeated the new King Robert Bruce of Scotland at Methuen and Dalry in 1306.

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He married Lora, widow of Richard de Bykretone, daughter and heir of Sir William de Cuningesburgh, with whom he acquired the lands of Tullybody in Clackmannan. This Edward I. seized, intending to build a castle thereon, but after his death Sir Thomas presented a petition to Edward II. for compensation of one year's rent value 80 marks. A writ was accordingly issued under the King's Seal of Scotland dated at Sanquhar 28 August 1307, and by the inquisition made at Rutherglen 17 September following before Sir Aylmer de Valence, Warden of Scotland, by William Marchal and others, it was found that the said land of Tolybothevile was formerly William de Cuningisburgh's, who gave it with Lora, his daughter and heir, to Richard, son of Sir John de Bykretone, in frank marriage, viz. to them and the heirs of their bodies lawfully begotten, and if they died without such heirs, to the said Sir John de Bykreton for his life, under reversion to Lora and her heirs; that Richard died without an heir by Lora; that the said Sir Thomas de la Haye lawfully married her; that the said Sir John de Bykretone, the liferenter, died about fifteen days before last Pentecost; and Lora and her heirs are the true heirs ; the land worth 40 marks in all times.

He succeeded his father under the regency of Sir William Marshal (q.v.). At his father's death, a French force landed in England. They were defeated in 1217, at Lincoln and Sandwich. They retreated and left England. In 1218, Henry signed the Peace of Worcester, which brought peace between England and Wales. Henry was crowned at Westminister in 1220. From 1224 until 1227, the Anglo-French war ensued. At its end, Henry declared himself of age, and settled a truce with the French. In 1233, The earl of Pembroke led a rebellion, aided by the Welsh which he put down. A fixed border was set between England and Scotland in 1240 and in 1243, a five-year truce is signed between the two countries. The House of Commons was established in 1258.

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On 1 April 1320 he witnessed, at Berwick-on-Tweed, the King's charter to Sir James Douglas of the lands of Douglasdale and Carmichael,3 and his seal is appended to the letter by the Scots barons to Pope John, dated at Arbroath the 6 day of the same month and year.

"At Scone, on the 5 March 1325, Sir David, as ' Sir David de Graham pater,' received two charters from King Robert, viz. one of the lands of Old Montrose, in the shire of Forfar, in excambion for the lands of Cardross, near Dunbarton, and another of lands in Charlton and Kynnaber, near Montrose, in exchange for the lands of Sokach, in the earldom of Carrick (probably the lands of Succoth, part of Cardross, had been held by the Grahams as vassals of the Earls of Carrick) and the islands of Inchcalliach and Inchfad, in Loch Lomond. The estate so acquired by the King became, as is well known, his favourite residence, and was the scene of his death in June 1329.

He succeeded his brother, Richard I the Lionheart, after his death at a siege in France. In 1200, he signed the Peace of LeGoulet with France. Pope Innocent III placed England under interdict in 1208. The following year, King John invaded Scotland and was excommunicated by the pope. They were reconciled in 1213, however, when John submitted to the pope and made England and Ireland papal fiefs. At the same time, the Council of St. Albans met, being the forerunner of the English Parliament. In 1215, perhaps the most critical point in English history was decided, when King John sealed the Magna Charta at Runnymede.

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He was taken prisoner at the battle of Durham 1346 and imprisoned in the Tower, Windsor, and Odyham Castle. On 15 May 1350 he swore not to bear arms against Edward in. till the Candlemas following, and then to surrender himself prisoner again. He continued a prisoner, though more than once liberated temporarily on parole, till he was released along with King David II. in 1357. He became one of the King's Council, was High Sheriff of Berwick 1364, and one of the Scottish Ambassadors for a treaty of peace with England 1367 ; did homage to Robert II., and sealed the Act of Settlement 1371, and his name is also mentioned as a consenting party to the Act of Settlement in 1373. He witnessed, as Sir Walter de Haliburton dominus ejusdem, with Sir John and Sir Alexander de Haliburton, probably his brothers, a charter by George, Earl of March, to John Sinclair of Herdmanstoun, 12 June 1372. He was also witness to a charter by Margaret Stewart, Countess of Mar, 2 January 1378-79.

Sir Adam Gordon, who first appears on record as doing homage to King Edward I. at Elgin on 28 July 1296, and then held the rank of Knight, which negatives Ferrerius' suggestion that he was so created by King Robert Bruce for his services..........

In 1300 he was Warden of the Bast March, and in the following year an envoy to treat of peace at the instance of France. He surrendered to Edward with John Comyn of Badenoch in February 1303-4, and later on, in 1305, was appointed one of the Scots Commissioners to the English Parliament. For his adherence to Comyn's party he was fined three years' rent of his lands, but was appointed one of the Justiciars of Lothian under the English rule, a post which he held until 1312. In 1306 he held the castle of Inverkip in the English interest, and was ordered to keep Sir Thomas Randolph a sure prisoner there.

Two years later he had a grant from King Edward of Randolph's lands of Stichel, on 4 March 1308-9, which was the first time that property came into the family. In 1310 he had a grant of 100 merks to recompense him for the loss of his lands in Scotland, which shows that he was then opposed to Bruce, who was beginning to gain supremacy in Scotland. It was not until the end of 1313 that Sir Adam forsook his allegiance to England, a fact which refutes Ferrerius' statement that he received the lordship of Strathbogie from Bruce at Perth on 16 June 1311. The cause of his final break with England was the answer of King Edward II. to a petition presented by the Earl of Dunbar and Sir Adam on behalf of those of the English adherents in the south of Scotland, complaining that their lands and goods were harried, not only by the loyal Scots, but by the English commanders, one of whom had unjustly imprisoned Sir Adam himself, exacting a fine of 1000 merks, and who refused redress. Edward promised that he would lead an army into Scotland, which he did, and was defeated at Bannockburn.

This interview with the King, and a formal release from his security of 1000 merks, are the last notices of Sir Adam in the English records. It has been stated that the reason why he was imprisoned was because his loyalty to England was suspected, but this is doubtful. His treatment, however, by the English King apparently led to his joining Bruce either before or after Bannockburn. In any case, his services were rewarded by a new charter of the lands of Stichel, on 28 June 1315, to himself and William Gordon, his second son, granted by the Earl of Moray, and confirmed by King Robert.

In 1320 he was Ambassador from Scotland, carrying to Pope John XXII. the famous letter by the Scottish barons dated 6 April 1320.

He founded the Plantagenet Dynasty that ruled England from 1154 to 1485. In 1154, Thomas a Becket became Henry's chancellor. The following year, Pope Hadrian IV (the only English pope) bestowed Ireland upon King Henry. In that same year, King Henry abolished the fiscal earldoms and restored royal demesne. The quarrels between the king and Thomas a Becket started in 1163. The following year Becket fled to France. In 1170, King Henry and Becket were formally reconciled, but as Becket returned to Canterbury, he was murdered by four Norman knights, by order of the king. Henry's wife Eleanor raised Aquitaine against him in 1172. Also in that year, the pope and Henry were reconciled. Henry had his wife, Eleanor, imprisoned from 1173 until 1185. In 1177, he signed the Treaty of Ivry with King Louis VII of France.

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Duchess of Aquitaine in her own right and the most powerful woman of the twelfth century — queen successively of France and England and mother of two kings. Her effigy lies at Fontevraud Abbey; she appears in this pedigree along five distinct lines of descent.

She was divorced by her first husband, King Louis VII of France in 1152. In 1172, she raised Aquitaine against her second husband, King Henry II of England. The following year she was imprisoned until 1185.

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There is also extant a prior confirmation by Alexander II, dated 23 October 1237, of the charter by the Earl of Dunbar, bearing to be granted to David de Graham for his homage and service, of the whole waste lands of Dundaff and Strathcarron, which was the King's forest, in excambion for the lands of Gretquerquer in Galloway, which the Earl by his charter had formerly conferred on David. This is the original grant of the barony of Dundaffmuir, the oldest existing possession of the house of Montrose. The grants by the Earl of Lennox and his son of the lands of Mukraw, Killearn, and Strathblane recorded in the Chartulary of Lennox were the nucleus of their barony of Mugdock. Towards the close of his life Sir David obtained from Malise, Earl of Strathearn, a grant of the lands of Kincardine, Coul, Olune, Poswell, Pirny, and Berdrals in Perthshire, out of which was formed the barony of Kincardine.

Duke of Normandy who invaded England in 1066, defeated King Harold at Hastings, and was crowned at Westminster on Christmas Day — the last successful conqueror of England. The survey he ordered in 1086 became the Domesday Book.

King of England, 1066-87, Duke of Normandy, 1035-87. He famously conquered England by defeating Kinf Harold at the Battle of Hastings.

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Richard or Richer Gordon is the earliest of the name who has been found on record in Scotland. The first notice of him is in a charter by himself, granting to the monks of Kelso and to the church of St. Michael, in his town of Gordon, certain lands bounded as described, with others named. He also grants that they may place a chaplain in the church as they please. This charter is stated in a recent work on the Gordons to be of date 1160, but the chapel of Gordon only came into the hands of the monks of Kelso in 1171, when the monks of Durham exchanged it for the chapel of Earlston, and the church of St. Laurence at Berwick. The chapel of Gordon, which was under the mother-church of Home, is styled a church in Richard's charter, and the latter was probably granted some years after 1171. Little more is known of Richard Gordon. He is said to have died about 1170, but he and Adam of Gordon, perhaps a brother, appear as witnesses in a writ by Patrick, fifth Earl of Dunbar, to the monks of Durham, undated, but which, from comparison with other writs, was granted after 1182, and most probably between the years 1189 and 1199.

Another Laird of Gordon is said to have fallen at the battle of the Standard, 22 August 1138, though the contemporary account of that conflict makes no mention of such a person. These are parts of the family tradition not necessarily untrue, but unsubstantiated. There was certainly, as will be shown, a family named Gurdon or Gordun, in the south of England. Yet it does not follow that the family were foreign settlers. It has been suggested that they were cadets of the family of Swinton, as the coat-of-arms borne by the two families is the same.Whether this be so or not, and it is not disproved by the fact that they were long at feud, the name Gordon does not occur as a surname on record till after 1171 at the earliest, and was probably assumed by the then owners of the lands of Gordon, who may have been in possession for a long time under the Earls of Dunbar, the overlords of that neighbourhood.

The source records that he ended the domination of the Uí Néill high kings and likely ended Viking domination of Ireland — the most powerful king of Ireland in the medieval period.

He ended the domination of the high kings of Ireland by the Ui Neill family and also likely ended the Viking domination of Ireland. He was the most powerful king of Ireland in the medieval period.

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He appears to have been one of the French and Norman knights attached to the Court of King Edward the Confessor in England when the Scots prince, Malcolm, nicknamed 'Canmore' ('big head'), later King Malcolm III, fled there for refuge after the throne of Scotland was seized by Maelbeatha or Macbeth in the year 1040.

The English King treated Malcolm as his guest for a number of years, and assisted him with Saxon, French and Norman fighting men to regain the throne in 1057. Adam de Gordun was one of these men, and from him come the Scottish Gordons.

Adam de Gordun, for his services to the Scottish King, was granted lands near the lower part of the River Tweed. These lands were called Gordon after his name. We hear no more of Adam till 1093 when Malcolm Canmore invaded England and was defeated and killed near Alnwick. Among the slain was Adam who left a son , also called Adam.

King of Wessex who held off the Viking invasions, fortified England, issued a law code, and began the written English prose tradition — the only English monarch remembered as "the Great."

King of the Franks and Lombards who united most of western Europe under one rule and was crowned Emperor by Pope Leo III on Christmas Day, 800 — the figure from whom nearly every documented medieval royal descent runs. He enters this pedigree along the deep English and French noble lines, thirty-six generations from the subject.