Working on Wednesday:Susan Hanon Matthews (1805 - 1884) Farm Wife & Mother

To date almost all my Wednesday posts have been about men in my family tree because it's easier to categorize the work men did while the women's contributions to the household have been taken for granted. Here's an example from the 1850 U.S. Census for the family of a pair of my maternal third great grandparents Susan (Hanon) and her husband Eli Matthews, who were then living in Christian County, Illinois.

[Year: 1850; Census Place: District 22, Christian, Illinois; Roll: M432_100; Page: 132B; Image: 27. Ancestry.com. 1850 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, 1009 rolls); Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington, D.C.]

Read the instructions sent to the marshalls and their assistants for this census:

[census.gov]

At the time it simply wasn't contemplated that women could have an occupation or profession.

Susan and Eli were the first couple married in Sangamon County in 1823.* This quote taken from 2011 article in the Illinois Times titled Pioneer life here was hard on women and animals gives us a glimpse into aspects of a woman's life in Illinois.

Christiana Tillson and her husband moved to central Illinois from the east coast in 1822 and settled in Hillsboro; she wrote about her experiences and impressions of 19th century pioneers here. She said husbands often mistreated their wives. “If (the farmers) had slaves,” wrote Tillson, “the authority was exercised over them; if not, the wife was the willing slave.…” 

Men hunted for food, built cabins and farmed, while women helped farm, planted and harvested vegetables, picked, carded, and spun cotton, made the family’s clothes from cotton or wool they’d weaved, cooked, kept the house clean, took care of the children and animals, made candles, soap and butter, tapped maple trees for sap and made sugar, and birthed many children. 

While pioneer men visited friends or took off on long hunts with them, the women didn’t have time to visit friends, who usually lived several miles away. One such pioneer wife recorded that she only left her neighborhood three times in four and a half years. Men were able to play because their wives were taking care of things at home.**

I don't know any personal details about Susan's life but I'm sure it wasn't greatly different from this description. Susan had eight children, her youngest one William was born when she was 40. Eli died in 1864 and Susan survived him by 20 years.

*Christian County was formed from Sangamon County in 1839 along with parts of Montgomery and Shelby Counties.

**All of this reminded me of this humorous folk song:

© 2018 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

Limited Time Free Webinar: "Understanding DNA Matching Technology" by Ran Snir and Regev Schweiger (MyHeritage)

Oh boy, another DNA testing site (MyHeritage) that I will eventually have submit DNA to.

"Understanding DNA Matching Technology" by Ran Snir and Regev Schweiger gives a walk-through for DNA matches at MyHeritage and what's coming soon:

DNA Matching technology is a hot topic in genealogy today. It is an affordable and increasingly reliable method for discovering relatives you never knew you had. DNA Matching technology can indicate possible relationships between you and your DNA Matches, and allow you to learn more from family trees with people who share your DNA. It also allows you to contact those people and collaborate to expand your family history research. In this webinar, you will learn everything you need to know to make the most of DNA Matching technology. 

Free to non-subscribers.
Runs 1 hour 27 minutes.


© 2018 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

Monday Is for Mothers: Alta Mae Slater (1917 - 1886)

Last night I realized that it was was the 32nd anniversary of the death of my biological mother Alta Mae Slater Norville in Casa Grande, Arizona. The reminder?

[Newspapers.com]

Alta died on the same day as the Challenger explosion. Here's her obituary, printed in the Casa Grande Dispatch:

[From the Casa Grande Historical Society files]

© 2018 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

Sunday Drive: Encanto - June 29, 1931

These snapshots of Junior* show his injuries caused by a "mash up" in 1931. The bandages hide the fact that his jaw was severely damaged which affected his bite. Poor kid indeed!

[From my personal collection]

Ironically, this is what enabled the identification of his remains in the late 1940s as the Army Air Force dentist kept a cast he had taken during Junior's pilot training because he considered it significant.

*Harold Delbert Currey, Junior (his friends called him Hal) was the only biological child of the parents who raised me.

© 2018 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

Some Notes on John Rittgers (1767-1848) Naturalized in Fairfield County, Ohio in 1844

Naturalization index card for "John H. Rittgers" (John Augustus Rittgers). Note that the reference is to "P203, C Journal No. 17", which is conveniently digitized on FamilySearch. "Ohio, County Naturalization Records, 1800-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L996-QY4C?cc=1987615&wc=MCFK-B29%3A265561801%2C265569001 : 21 May 2014), Fairfield > Naturalization cards 1801-1900 A-Z > image 260 of 362; county courthouses, Ohio.

I'd seen this index listing of the naturalization of my 4th great grandfather John Augustin Rittgers in 1844 before, but I hadn't looked up the full entry until now.  I found the following through the FamilySearch catalog:

John's name is at the center bottom right, clustered with the men who came from France (!).  I'm assuming that means like Alsace Lorraine?  I thought Rittgers sounded German.  Ohio, Fairfield County, Common Pleas journal no. 17, 1844-1846, October Term 1844, page 202, Admitted as Citizens, October 1844; Fairfield County Court House, Lancaster; FHL microfilm 505,919; digital image, FamilySearch Fairfield County court records, 1801-1900 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C911-C7GK-H?i=440&cat=26342) :  accessed 27 Jan 2018.

It always pays to see the original, or as close as you can get to the original, when it comes to these index entries.

Saying someone was from France is quite vague, and although the journal entry did not elaborate on where in France Rittgers was from, it did at least group the new citizens by where they originated from.  John Rittgers not listed in any of the following places:
Kingdom of Wertemberg [sic]
Dukedom of Baden
Government of Switzerland in Germany
Kingdom of Bavaria
Kingdom of Hanover
Dukedom of Hesse Kassel
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Kingdom of Denmark
Free City of Brehman
King Emporer of Germany
Govern[ment?] of Waldick (?)
Kingdom of Prussia
Dukedom of Berlinberg (?)
Wales

He is listed, along with the following men, from "the Kingdom of France":
Joseph Etienne
Momon (?) Bersee (?)
Michael Bersee (?)
Joseph Philips
Jacob Eissemman
Bernard Vagnier
Barthol. Vagnier
Victor Vagnier
Augustus Winter
Michael Strahl
Fred'k Walters
Nicholas Jacob
John H Rittgers
Barnhart Claus

I hadn't seen these names before.  Maybe he knew them from back in the old country, or maybe they all just ended up in Fairfield County, Ohio from different paths.  The only thing the court mentioned was that "they have severally resided in the United States for more than five years last past".  I am not quite sure when John Rittgers came to the United States, although he might be the "John Riticher" who came into Philadelphia in 1792:

Ancestry's index to the entry.  Follow this link at the Internet Archive to see the transcribed name in context (The ship Fame came into the Philadelphia port from Rotterdam on 23 Sep 1792).

He was in Shenandoah County, Virginia by 1797, when he married Catherine Comer.  They moved to Fairfield County about 1816.

So my next step will be researching the other men, and consulting contemporary maps (circa 1844 or before) to try to narrow down what "Kingdom of France" meant, minus the other governments.



© 2018 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

From the Probate Files: Ann Sill - Allegheny County, Pennsylvania - 1851

Ann Sill, one of the daughters of William Sill (and therefore my fifth great aunt), signed her will on November 28, 1850, and it was presented in court on February 4th of the following year.

In the name of God Amen, I Ann Sill of
the Borough of McKeesport, County of Allegheny
State of Pennsylvania, being weak in body
and of sound mind memory and understanding
but considering the uncertainty of this transitory life do make and publish this
my last will & Testament in manner and form following, to wit; First,
It is my will, I do order, that all my just debts and funeral Expenses be duly
paid and satisfied as soon as conveniently can be after my decease Second,
I give devise and bequeath to my sister Jane Penny and my niece Margaret
Miller my farm of land situate in Versailles Township, containing one hundred
acres, or thereabouts, which is now in the occupancy of John Gray to them
the said Jane Penny and Margaret Miller  their heirs and assigns forever
share and share alike, Subject however to the payment of the sum of Fifty
dollars each as set forth in the following bequests Third - If the congregation
worshiping in the Presbyterian Meeting house in this Borough should within
the period of four years from the time of my decease, erect a new meeting house
I give and bequeath unto the Trustees of the same the sum of One Hundred Dollars
for the purpose of assisting in paying the expense of erecting the same
which sum is to be paid by my sister Jane Penny and my niece Margaret
Miller viz Fifty Dollars each when the said building is finished, which
sum I have left as a lien upon the farm above bequeathed to them. Fourth, I
give and bequeath unto my brother Jesse Sill the sum of Tow hundred Dollars
and my watch Fifth I give and bequeath unto my nephew John Penny son of 
William the sum of Two hundred Dollars - Sixth - I give and bequeath to the
American Bible Society the sum of One hundred Dollars, to be applied to
the uses and purposes of said society. Seventh - My nephew John Penny
has in his hands the sum of Five hundred Dollars of my money, out of which
is to be paid the foregoing legacies to my brother Jesse Sill, and The 
American Bible Society: which it is my will that he may retain 
      
              

the same, in his hands for the term of one year after my decease without paying
interest therefor; and if at the expiration of that period, he is unable to pay
the said legacies, it is my desire, and I order that he be not distressed therefor
but that he have further time, not exceeding Three years, to pay the same
he giving the Legatees security, and paying them lawful interest annually
for the time he retains the same in his hands after the first year above
mentioned. His own Legacy he may retain in his hands; and what shall
remain of the other one hundred Dollars after defraying my funeral expenses
etc he shall pay out to my residuary Legatees hereinafter named, in the
same manner as the above mentioned legatees are to be paid. Eighth - 
I give and bequeath to Rachel Miller, daughter of Margaret Miller one of
my beds and bedding. Ninth. I give and bequeath to her sister Caroline
Miller my Bureau.            
                                            Tenth - I give and bequeath to her sister Martha
Miller one set of chairs. Eleventh. I give and bequeath to Mrs. Jane Webb, one
of my Beds and Bedding - Twelfth. I give and bequeath to Martha Houghton all
the articles contained in my cupboard, consisting of Plates, Dishes etc
Thirteenth - I give and bequeath to Mrs Jacobs (wife of my Pastor) my saddle
bridle and whip Fifteenth I give and bequeath unto Ruth Penny and Marga-
ret Penny, all that shall remain of my personal estate, after paying my just 
debts, funeral expenses and the foregoing Legacies to be divided between
them, share and share alike. Lastly, I nominate constitute and appoint
Hezekiah Gamble to be the Executor of this my last will, hereby revoking
all others, by me heretofore made, and declare this and no other, my
last will and Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Twenty eighth day of November A.D. one thousand eight
hundred and fifty                                                     Ann Sill {seal}
Signed sealed and delivered by the said Testator as her last will and
Testament in the presence of us, who have subscribed in the presence of each other
The words son of William being first interlined between the 20th and 21st lines
from the top of the first page                                John Patterson
                                                                              Alex Miller

[All the above are from "Pennsylvania Probate Records, 1683-1994," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G991-MTMH?cc=1999196&wc=9PMX-ZNL%3A268499101%2C281889701 : 3 July 2014), Allegheny > Wills 1845-1854 and 1888 vol 6-7 > image 436 of 724; county courthouses, Pennsylvania.]

                               Be it Known that on the 4th day of Feby. A.D. 1851 person-
ally came before me John Scott Register etc in and for the County aforesaid John Patterson&
Alex Miller Ergo the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing instrument of writing who being
by me duly sworn did declare and say that they saw & heard the Testatrix Ann Sill
sign publish and declare it as being her last will and Testament. That at the time of so
doing she was of sound mind, memory and understanding to the best of their observation &
belief and that at her request and in her presence they subscribed their names as witnesses thereto
     Given under my hand the above           John Scott  Register
Allegheny County    }
                                 } Be it Known that on the 4th day of Feby 1851 Letters testamen-
tary with the will annexed on the estate of Ann Sill were granted to Hezekiah Gamble
Executor in said will name who was duly sworn to administer the goods and chattels rights
& credits which were if said decd. to make a true Inventory & appraisment of the personal
property & file the same in the Registers office in one month to settle an account of his
administration in one year or when thereto legally required and to comply with the provisions of an
act of assembly of this commonwealth entitled an act relating to collateral Inheritances
        Given under my hand etc                       John Scott  Register
Recorded Feby 5th 1851

It's clear from these clippings from the Pittsburgh Daily Post dated April 28, 1853, that Mr. Gamble complied with his instructions to comply with the provisions of the law pertaining to "collateral inheritances":*

[Newspapers.com]

Looking back at her father's 1841 will, we see that Ann retained the property he left to her (and that John Gray was still residing there).

I haven't been able to determine whether McKeeesport's Presbyterian congregation built a new meeting place in time to receive Ann's bequest but I learned that The American Bible Society is still in existence.


 *Here's a description of Pennsylvania's inheritance taxes: "Traditionally, the Pennsylvania inheritance tax had two tax rates. A rate of six percent applied to assets that passed to so-called lineal descendants, such as children, grandchildren and stepchildren. A rate of 15% applied to so-called collateral beneficiaries. This included brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews and all others."




© 2018 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

A Visual Comparison of My Son's Ethnicity Estimates to Steve, Me, and My Parents

My son's Grandtree on 23andMe.  I finally have enough people on my direct lines to make interesting comparisons (the problem of the only child (Marc) of an only child (Christine) of an only child (Pat Hartley, sorta).

Marc's father Steve's map.  His paper trail is mostly German/Polish with some British Isles.

My map.  My paper trail is mostly British Isles/Scandinavian/Germanic and some French.

My mom's map.  Her paper trail is mostly British Isles, German/Dutch, and some French.

My dad's map.  His paper trail is Scandinavian, British Isles, and Germanic.  On most DNA ethnicity tests he has trace Native American, but 23andMe points to Subsaharan African, even at 90 percent confidence (I get West African at 90 percent confidence).

Marc's map, a combination of all the people above.  He didn't get any of the fancy stuff, just 100 percent European.  Very interesting.

© 2018 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

Working on Wednesday: Joseph Baker, Jr. (1667 - 1735) Yoeman

It seems there were two men known as Joseph Baker, Jr. in late 17th century Pennsylvania only one of whom was the son of Joseph Baker Sr. who arrived in the colony in 1684 with his older brother John. And that Joseph Jr. isn't my direct ancestor.*

Of course, historically the appellation of Junior could be applied to the younger of two men with the same given name without it signifying a father-son relationship and that what happened here. My Joseph Baker is believed to be the nephew of Joseph Sr. and John, therefore he would have been a grandson of John Baker, Sr. of Edgmond in Shropshire (about 2 miles west of Newport). His father's name is unknown.

['Shropshire by John Seller' Seller, J. (c. 1703) Furneax Antique Maps]

It's unclear when Joseph Jr. left Shropshire for Pennsylvania--he may have traveled with his uncles but the reason they all left was because they were Quakers** and hoped to find greater religious freedom in the New World. The township they ended up living in was named Edgmont, originally in Chester County, now in Delaware County.

[From "Our Family Ancestors" by Thomas Maxwell Potts. Cannonsburg, Pennsylvania, 1895.

Source: Internet Archive - original at Allen County Public Library, Ft. Wayne, Indiana ]

Thomas Maxwell included a "fac-simile" of the page of the Baker family bible.

[From "Our Family Ancestors" by Thomas Maxwell Potts. Cannonsburg, Pennsylvania, 1895.

Source: Internet Archive - original at Allen County Public Library, Ft. Wayne, Indiana ]

And here's a reminder of how I'm descended from him:

[Ancestry.com]

*Joseph Sr.'s son Joseph had four children we know of: Robert, Sarah, Hannah and Joseph.
**There are numerous mentions of "Joseph Baker" in the Chester Monthly Meeting Minutes but I don't know which ones might refer to my ancestor.





© 2018 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

Re-Installing Legacy 9

I'm still getting used to the program.  This is a chance to review how to set up and customize the program, which never hurts.  The new features in Legacy 9 can be previewed here.

Well, my plans for genealogy tonight were altogether different.  I planned to experiment with an older version of my tree with the "Map Your Family" on my Legacy 9 and realized that it didn't work (something to do with Bing's new programming maybe?).  It's a  new year and I don't feel like futzing about with this, soI've decided to just re-install my Legacy 9 tonight and start fresh.



© 2018 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

Monday Is for Mothers: Anne Baker (1703 - 1779)

Anne Baker, one of my maternal seventh great grandmothers, was the grandmother of William Sill whose life and probate we've been examining in the last week. She outlived her husband James and wrote her own last will in 1779.*

[Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1669-2013 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data: Historic Pennsylvania Church and Town Records. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Methodist Church Records. Valley Forge, Pennsylvania: Eastern Pennsylvania United Methodist Church Commission on Archives and History.]

 As far as I can tell, Ann and James had eight children, five boys and three girls. I'm descended from their oldest son, another James Sill.

[Ancestry.com]

All the records we have for the Sills place them in Pennsylvania, first in Chester County** and later in Allegheny. My great great grandfather Abner Webb was the first of that lineage to leave, settling first in Iowa in the 1850s and later dying in Texas, probably in 1861..



*Which I'll post about at a future date.
**Edgmont Township is now in Delaware County, which was created out of Chester in 1789.

© 2018 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

Sunday Drive: Borrego Springs, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park - 1936

The Curreys went camping in the desert--the date is a guess on my part because there were no captions on these photos.

[Mother and Dad Currey--that's probably Junior's shoe in the foreground.

Too bad about the damage to the image of the waterfall.]

[Someone was tired after the hike! All photo from my personal collection]

© 2018 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

Spring Cleaning 2018: Using Mary Hill's Color-Coding System in Legacy

My pedigree with Mary Hill's color scheme, which is included in Legacy 9.

I have a tendency to overthink things.  Organization is one of them.  I've needed something that works for my genealogy papers and notes, and while I have my online files well organized, until now I had yet to settle a system for my offline work.  I think Mary Hill's relatively uncomplicated color-coding filing system might just do the trick.

Legacy Family Tree Webinars has a great collection of how-to organization videos, most only for subscribers.  Mary Hill presented "Get Organized Using the FamilyRoots Organizer Color-Coding System" in 2014.  I prefer the narrative and explanation of the webinar, but if you don't have a subscription to Legacy Family Tree Webinars, you can visit her website The FamilyRoots Organizer Color-Coding System.

I already have the folder box with the lip or ridge around the edge.  Now I need to buy the appropriate hanging colored folders and supplies and can set up my color coding system.

© 2018 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

From the Probate Files: William Sill - Allegheny County, Pennsylvania - 1841

Eighty-one year old William Sill executed his last will and testament on May 5, 1838, dividing his property fairly equitably among his son Jesse and his three daughters, although in the case of his two married daughters he directed that each of them and their husbands were to hold the property for their lifetimes and that it then was to go to a named grandson of each couple.

The will wasn't presented for probate until March 9, 1841.

The Last will and testament of William Sill of
Versailles township Allegheny County._____
In the Name of GOD Amen: I William Sill
Considering the uncertainty of this mortal life and being
of sound mind and memory (blessed be Almighty God
for the same) do make and publish this my last will and
testament  in the maner and form following (that is to say)
First I give and bequeath to my Daughter Ann that
messuague or tract of Land containing on hundred Acres
now in possession of John Gray being part of the original
tract on which I now reside in Versailles township Allegheny
County to have and to hold forever together with all the
appurtenances                    Item I give and bequeath
unto my son Jesse Sill for and during his natural 
life and the lifetime of his wife Elisabeth that messuage
or tract of land on which I now reside containing one
hundred and fifty acres being the same more or less
and on the death of Jesse Sill and his wife Elisabeth
the aforesaid messuage or tract of Land is to Entail
to my Grandson William Sill together with all the app
urtances to hold the same forever and the residue of my origin
al tract of about thirty acres be the same more or less is
bequeathed to Jesse Sill [???] together with the Apurtenan
ces   Item I Give and bequeath to my soninlaw William
Penny and my daughter Martha that tract or parcel
of land on which they now live in Elisabeth township
County aforesaid containing one hundred and Eighty six
Acres with the allowances, for and during the natural live
time of the aforesaid William and Martha 

together with all and singular the appurtenances
to the same and on the death of the said William and
Martha the aforesaid tract of land is is toto Entail to my
Grandson John Penny (son of William and Martha
Penny) with all appurtenances [????]      Item
I give and bequeath to my soninlaw James Penny and
Jane his wife all that messuage or tract of land set
ini Versailles township County aforesaid Containing one
hundred and sixty acres be the same more or less o which
said Penny now lives during their natural lives
together with all all appurtenances and on the death of
said James and Jane Penny I bequeath the aforesaid
tract of land to my Grandson Levi Penny son of James
and Jane Penny aforesaid  to him and his heirs to hold the land
forever.  Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Ann one
good horse & saddle two Cows six chairs 2 beds one beaureau
two tables and ten sheep __ __ Item I give and bequeath to my
four children the residue of my household goods [????] and
Live stock of every kind that is to say Jesse Martha
Ann & Jane to be Equally divided share and share alike
Lastly my debt and Money'd matters I will after my funeral
Expenses and expenses of the Execution of this my will is paid
allowing my just debts to be paid {????????????????????? ]
more may be is to be equally divided between Jesse Sill
Martha Penny Ann Sill and Jane Penny
Further I make and ordain William Penny
Hamilton Stewart and Fauntley Muse Jr Executors
of this my last will and testament

In testamony whereof I have hereunto set my hand
and Seal this 5 day of May in the year of our Lord
one thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty Eight
                                               William Sill {Seal}

Signed Sealed Published and declared by the above named
William Sill to be his last will and testament in the 
presence of us; who at this request and in his presence
have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto
                                                      John Kelly
                                                      Andrew F Cowan

Allegheny County
Be it remembered that on the 9-th
day of March 1841 personally came before Me D Gilliland
Register fore the Probate of Wills in and for Said County John
Kelly & Andrew F Cowan the subscribing witnesses to the
foregoing Instrument who being by Me Solemnly Sworn
Say that they heard William Sill the above testator publish
and declare the foregoing Instrument as and for
his last will and testament and that at the time
he done so he was of sound and disposing mind
memory and understanding according to the best of their
observation and belief given under my hand the date aforesaid
                                                           D Gilliland
                                                           Registrar


The tape used to repair the pages make it really difficult to read some of the lines and some of the wording in the section written by the registrar was deduced by looking at other wills.

His daughter Ann Sill never married and I'll share her will with you next time.


© 2018 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

Limited Time Free Webinar: Pam Stone Eagleson presents "Finding Thomas' Father: an 18th Century Prince William County Virginia Case Study"

Oh boy do I have a few of these types in my ancestry--Virginians in the 1700s:

Thomas Stone left few records when he died in 1791 in Prince William County Virginia. No document or reference names his parentage. Finding Thomas's father took thirty years. Using indirect evidence and helped by technological advances, Thomas's father has been found. Land records make the case. This presentation demonstrates the process of creating a proof argument to identify Thomas's father.

Pam Stone Eagleson presented this Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) webinar, "Finding Thomas' Father: an 18th Century Prince William County Virginia Case Study," on January 16, 2018.

Runs 1 hour 23 minutes
Free through January 23, 2018

© 2018 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

Working on Wednesday: William Sill (1757 - 1851), Farmer, Veteran

William Sill (or Sills) is one of my maternal fifth great grandfathers. He was residing in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, by 1800 according to the Pennsylvania Septennial Census of that year which only gives the most general information.

[Year: 1800: Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, Septennial Census, 1779-1863 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Original data: Septennial Census Returns, 1779–1863. Box 1026, microfilm, 14 rolls. Records of the House of Representatives. Records of the General Assembly, Record Group 7. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, PA.]

We know he owned land in Versailles Township and he's mentioned several times in The Pittsburgh Weekly Gazette. The first reference shows us that he paid his taxes in 1806:

[Pittsburgh Weekly Gazette, 3 March 1807. Newspapers.com]

In the next mention of William Sill that I found he was listed as one of the neighbors of a William Richardson who was in the process of losing his land. The description of Mr. Richardson's property gives us clues to the location of my ancestor's land holdings.

[Pittsburgh Weekly Gazette, 12 May 1807. Newspapers.com]

Early in 1808 his name appears as the lead defendant in a court case scheduled for the January term. I don't know what the cause of the suit was.

[Pittsburgh Weekly Gazette, 15 January 1808. Newspapers.com]

The 1810 federal census lists him in Versailles Township. (His son Jesse Sills is my direct ancestor.)

[Year: 1810; Census Place: Versailles, Allegheny, Pennsylvania; Roll: 44; Page: 340; Image: 00178; Family History Library Film: 0193670. Ancestry.com. 1810 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: Third Census of the United States, 1810. (NARA microfilm publication M252, 71 rolls). Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.]

In 1811 his name appears in another bankruptcy case, this time as a court-appointed custodian of the "certain goods, chattels and effect" of John Hill, a fellow resident of Versailles Township.

[Pittsburgh Weekly Gazette, 9 August 1811. GenealogyBank.com]

The 1820 U.S. Census once again shows William and his son Jesse living in Versailles Township.

[1820 U S Census; Census Place: Versailles, Allegheny, Pennsylvania; Page: 189; NARA Roll: M33_97; Image: 107. Ancestry.com. 1820 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.

Original data: Fourth Census of the United States, 1820. (NARA microfilm publication M33, 142 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.]

Although I haven't found any mention of William Sill in the 1830 U.S. Census, we know he was still living in Versailles Township from the following newspaper clipping and we also learn that Jesse Sill was facing a forced sale of his land.*

[Pittsburgh Weekly Gazette, 26 October 1830. Newspapers.com]

By the date of the 1840 federal census, it appears that William was living in Jesse Sill's household.

[Year: 1840; Census Place: Versailles, Allegheny, Pennsylvania; Roll: 441; Page: 520; Family History Library Film: 0020536. Ancestry.com. 1840 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.  Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: Sixth Census of the United States, 1840. (NARA microfilm publication M704, 580 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.]

William Sill died in 1841 and is buried next to his wife Jane in the McKeesport and Versailles Cemetery. Next time I'm going to try to figure out what's behind this record:**

[Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, Veterans Burial Cards, 1777-2012 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Original data: Pennsylvania Veterans Burial Cards, 1777–2012. Digital Images, 3–5. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Bureau of Archives and History. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.]

As far as I can tell, William never applied for the 1832 pension which would give us details of his service.


*You can find a definition of the legal term "venditioni exponas" here.
**There are records for at least two men named William Sill and I'm not certain which refer to my ancestor.


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