Peter and Elizabeth Spracklin – Immigrate 1823…

John Andrews Spracklin, son of Peter and Elizabeth Spracklin, had migrated to the United States in 1817 with his mother’s sister, Anne Rood and her family.  They made their way from New York and settled in Washington County, Ohio and that is where John met Lydia Goss and married her two years later.  I again dedicate this post to my half cousin Janice.

I cannot talk about John Andrews Spracklin and the Rood’s immigration without sharing about Peter and Elizabeth Spracklin who came to the United States 6 years later with most of their children. I wonder what happened to all the letters they wrote back and forth getting ready for this great migration?

Peter and Elizabeth Spracklin followed John to the United States in 1823.  John and the Roods entered the United States at the Port of Philadelphia in 1817, while his parents and siblings arrived in the United States via the Port of New York.  The picture below may be what they saw?  The Statue of Liberty was not yet welcoming immigrants to New York till 1886 a whole 63 years later.

New York from Brooklyn 1824

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1824_Klinkowstrom_View_of_New_York_City_from_Brooklyn_-_Geographicus_-_NewYorksHamnochRedd-muller-1824.jpg

I remain you that I was searching for John,  Peter,  and Elizabeth’s immigration in 2004 at the Family History Library and also at the Seattle Public Library trying to pin down the information so I could find the proper NARA (National Archives) film and get a copy of the passenger list showing their names.  Things took a little longer back then and Family Search and Ancestry.com didn’t have the passenger lists online at that time.

The creative way that the surname “Spracklin,” was spelled caused some confusion as you will see.

I started with Filby’s very large compilation:

The 0-Z volume 1st Edition of Filby and Meyers compilation.

P. Wm. Filby’s enormous compilation of passengers coming to America spells the name “Spacklan.”

This multiple volume work found in most major libraries is at Ancestry.com now.  A WorldCat search reads 773 libraries for all 38 editions in book form just by typing in the name Filby.

I was curious so I looked at the books which were on the 9th floor of the Seattle Public Library where the genealogical collection is housed.  Looking at this volumes is rather daunting but I persisted:

Passenger & Immigration Lists Index

Passenger and Immigration Lists Index O-Z, Vol. III, Guide to Published Arrival Records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the Seventh, Eighteenth and Nineteeth Century, 1st Edition, pg. 1988 Eliza Spacklan and Peter Spacklan, Edited by P. Wm. Filby with Mary K. Meyer, Gale Research Co., 1981.

I found them on pg. 1988, column 1, 9 and 10th from the bottom of the page: 

Spacklan, Eliza 51; New York, N.Y., 1823 9268 p. 288 with 6 children. 

Next line: Spacklan, P 48; New York, N.Y., 1823 9268 p. 288. 

NOTE: When using compilations like Filby’s, you will need to search the codes in the front of the book and more.  The #9268 refers to the following source: 

United States.  Department of  State.  Passengers Who Arrived in the United States, September 1821-December 1823, from Transcripts Made by the State Department. Baltimore, Magna Carta Book Co., 1969.

At the Seattle Public Library I found this book that follows:

Passenger Arrival Transcriptions Port of NY

Passenger Arrivals at the Port of New York 1820-1829 – from Customs Passenger Lists – Transcribed by Elizabeth P. Bentley:  R929-37..472 B446P, Baltimore, Gen. Publi. Co. 1999.  

This book has the abstracts of the passenger lists and gives the following information and now we see the vessel name of  ”Earl of Liverpool.”

Peter and Eliza’s with children.

• Spracklan, Alpia 11 M, Eng., US, Earl of Liverpool 29 Sept. 1823
• Ann, 18, F, England, US, Earl of Liverpool 29 Sept. 1823
• Eliza, 51, F, England, US, Earl of Liverpool 29 Sept 1823
• George, 9M, England, US, Earl of Liverpool 29 Sept 1823
• Pamela, 20, F, England, US, Earl of Liverpool 29 Sept 1823
• Peter 14, M, England, US, Earl of Liverpool 29 Sept 1823
• Peter, 45 M. Farmer, England, US, Earl of Liverpool, 29  Sep. 1823
• Sprackling, Mary, age 28, Female from US to US, Aboard the Silvia on 10 Sept. 1827.

NOTE:  I believe that Alpia is Alfred.  The Mary Sprackling listed has a passenger list for New York at Ancestry.com coming from Bristol on the “Silvia” for 10 Sept. 1827. Is this Mary?

The next book I consulted was edited by a B.W. Stewart. I was looking for a listing for the ship “Cane,” but instead I kept finding “Earl of Liverpool” for the name of the ship that Peter and Elizabeth came on.

There are several sources by other Spracklin researchers that refer to the ship “Cane,” and ship’s master as “Halliday.”   I was very puzzled as to why this confusion with the name of the ship.  So I took a look at this book which lists the ships coming into New York trying to find a ship with the name “Cane.”

Passenger Ships Arriving in New York Harbor 1820-1850, Vol. I,  Edited by B. W. Steuart and Illustrated by Wayne Cooper, Precision Indexing, 1991,pg. 13, 14, 204 and 225.  Date of Arrival September 1823 – Day: 29th Name: Earl of Liverpool, Route: Newry, Nationality:  English, Roll-List: 4-503.  

pg. 204 – No ship by the name of Cane was listed as arriving in New York.

No ship listed for Cane coming to NY?

pg. 225 – List of ship named Earl of Liverpool – Ship, 29 Sep 1823,  Holladay, Frank 4-503 then goes on to list other sailings for 1824 for this vessel.  Found at the Seattle Public Library.

Use WorldCat to find libraries were the above books are located, if you are curious and want to check them out.

In this information that follows we find the FHL film number to seek out and study:

Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving in New York, 1820-1897, #503, Immigration and Naturalization Passenger List #M237 #4-3, April 1823 – 17 Nov. 1823. Ship Earl of Liverpool, Port of Embarkation: Bristol, Date of Arrival Sept. 29, 1823, FHL#2249. 

District of New York – Port of New York, J. Halladay, Earl of Liverpool: List or Manifest of all passengers taken on at Bristol.  Here I am targeting Spracklin. 

• Peter Spracklan, 45, age,
• Eliza 51,
• Eliza 22,
• Pamela 20,
• Ann 18,
• Peter 14,
• Alfred 11,
• George 9.  

So we see that the ship was named “Earl of Liverpool” and that the Capt was J. Halladay or Holladay as written on the top of the ships passenger list.

Halladay vs. Holladay, Ship Earl of Liverpool

You can now find the complete manifest for this ship which features Peter and Elizabeth Spracklin’s migration to the United States in 1823 with the names of some of their children by going to either Ancestry.com or FamilySearch.  Here are my results:

Here is the link to FamilySearch: try New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1891 – 004 – 3 April 1823 – 17 Nov. 1823 image 899 and 900.  Image 900 is the actual manifest of the Earl of Liverpool.  Image 899 is the cover sheet.   I browsed to find it and it took me a while because the search engine would not recognize Peter Spracklin or Spacklan at all.

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-16783-20390-35?cc=1849782&wc=9370110 

This will bring up image 899 so so to the top and click to go to 900.

At Ancestry.com, I just went right there and had the manifest in about one minute.  I also studied the other names on the manifest, but at this point I do not know if there are other family that came with them.

Peter and Elizabeth Spracklin eventually settled in Hardin County, Ohio on land in Dudley Township.  I have visited that area of Ohio on two occasions one in 2007 and again in 2011.  I will share what I know about these two very brave people and their children in future posts.

The inspiration and credit for this research goes to David Spracklin (a descendant of Rev. Alfred Spracklin brother to John and son of Peter and Elizabeth).  David shared his findings on The International Spracklin website years ago that crashed in 2004.

David writes:  ”I have been to the National Archives and copied the following information. It was difficult to read so I may have copied it incorrectly. Peter Spracklen arrived in New York, NY on September 29, 1823 aboard the Earl of Liverpool (388 tons). On the ships manifest, Peter is listed as a farmer…

NOTE:  This information that I have given above is the same that David found at the National Archives in Washington D.C. (NARA).

David goes on to say:  Notice the absence of John (arrived 1817), Sarah and Mary (did they marry? remain in England? or emigrate to the US?).  

NOTE:  I have answered the immigration of John Andrews Spracklin in 1817 in the post just before this one.  As for Sarah and Mary, well I have tried to pin them down in the passenger lists and in census, but I have not had much success. See above for a possible Mary under the name of Sprackling?  I have her marrying an unknown “Matthews” but I have not been able to connect to her to her in the U.S. Sarah was supposed to have married a “Bannard and may have ended up in Trenton, Mercer, New Jersey.  I have not confirmed any of this information about Sarah or Mary Spracklin.

David continues:  Peter’s 22 year old Daughter Elizabeth – got married on 1823 04 Aug and the family set sail on Aug 13, 1823 – 9 days later – need to look on the shop’s manifest for Elizabeth and Samuel Laurence. – Why is she still listed with her family in the manifest?  

NOTE:  I have that Samuel and Elizabeth were married on 9 August 1823 in Pitney Phillimore, Somerset County, England but I have not confirmed that date.  I have attempted to pin down when he arrived but there are too many selections to choose from at Ancestry.com.  The bible of Anna Spracklin does give the date of Aug 13, 1823 as the date they left Pitney for America.  (Copies of the bible page is at Ancestry.com under Stories and Publications.)

Then he makes this statement about the ship “Cane” in the command of Halliday which does not fit with the information that I have given above.

On Aug.,13,1823 Peter and wife Elizabeth came from Pitney England (Somerset Co.) on the schooner Cane under the command of Halliday to the New York port. Pitney is in Somerset Shire,which lies south of Bristol Channel in the southwest portion of England. On those passenger records, Peter was listed as 48 years old and his occupation listed as tanner. Included with Peter were his wife Elizabeth, 51 years old, and the number of children 6.”

So why this confusion about the name of the ship that Peter and Elizabeth Spracklin immigrated to the United States? Let’s speculate?

1.  They sailed on two ships first the Cane and then the Earl of Liverpool.  Frequently ships had to turn back to port after leaving because of some problem like leaking.  This means there might be ships lists in England to search.

2.  It was a mistake or written down wrong.

3.  It was a story told by one of the Spracklin children and passed down to younger generations.

4.  Your theory…

If you know the story of why other Spracklin researchers list the ship that Peter and Elizabeth Spracklin came on as “Cane” and not “Earl of Liverpool.”  I would like to know.

If they did leave on August 13, 1823 from Pitney arriving in New York on 29 September 1823 would be about 7.5 weeks?

I  am not an expert on all lines of the Spracklin family that descends from Peter and Elizabeth so please be kind.  I am seeking clarification and am mostly curious.

Please leave a comment or contact me by finding me under the  tab “Items of Interest” at the top of this blog.

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Solomon Goss, a restless son: From Ohio to Iowa!

Let us study the migration of Solomon Goss (Jr.) from Ohio to Iowa. 

Why he decided to leave Washington County, Ohio I do not know.  The land of his father’s was in a hilly area and the land in Hardin was much flatter and it was probably much easier to farm.  I have seen and walked both areas (Hardin and Washington Co.) in my travels this past year of 2011, so I know the difference in the land is marked. 

Daniel his brother was living in Belpre which is 12 miles south of Marietta.   Elizabeth (Goss) Lake was living in Rainbow 12 miles to the west across the Muskingum River.  Noah was living in Knox County but he died in 1833. Levi was in Kent County, Ontario, Canada.  Lydia was in Knox County, Ohio with her family.  They were busy with their families.  It is fun to speculate!

In 1810 Solomon Goss was made the Executor of his father Solomon Goss Senior’s will.  In 1828 he followed through with this duty.  The only document that is listed in the index for the estate of Solomon Goss is the will.  Usually there are other documents like the appointment of an administrator, appraisement of personal possessions,  inventory, bonds, sale of inventory, settlements and more.  Why there is so little on this estate file is puzzling to me. 

Probate Index, Washington Co., Ohio

The son, Solomon is still in Washington County, Ohio in Fearing Township according to the 1830 U.S. Federal Census.  This census is statistical but it does shown him as head of household.   My last post dated January 5, 2012 covers this census.  It is titled  “The Family of Solomon and Polly Goss!”

Executor Notice!

I tried to find an obituary notice on Solomon Goss Senior instead I found this executor notice from the newspapers.  It was in the obituary binders of the Washington County Historical Society in Marietta.  They have alphabetical books filled with obituaries and it is a lot easier to find things than slogging through a newspaper.  See the link to the right to the historical society.  I am now a member and was very impressed with their dedication and enjoyed my visit in September of 2012. They are well worth a visit. 

The will of Solomon Goss Senior bequeathed to the son Solomon the land in Fearing Township, Washington County, Ohio and the son lives there till around 1832 when he sells it on April 4, 1832 to John Ludham (Leedham).  

In a  future post I will features this deed in more depth for it is truly wonderful and fits in more with the will and land of the father.  You can view this deed at the source below or contact the Register of Deeds at the courthouse in Marietta.

Source:  Washington County, Ohio Deeds, Vol. 22, pg. 324 FHL#941411. 

Once the land was sold, Solomon Goss (Jr.)  heads north to Hardin County, Ohio and settles on Section 10.

 “Solomon Goss settled on land now owned by Mrs. Nancy McLain, in Section 10, about 1831 or 1832, and after residing here about ten years he moved to Iowa. Mr. Goss was a man of character and integrity, of firm and established religious principles, and one of the organizers of the Pisgah Methodist Episcopal Church.” pg. 602

“Pisgah Episcopal Church – …The first class of this society consisted of Solomon Goss and wife, Uriah Williams, Mary Williams, …..etc.” pg. 611

Source:  History of Hardin County, Ohio pg. 602 and 611, Chicago, Warner & Beers & Co., 1883. 

Historic Map Works has an amazing collection of Atlases for many states and counties that you can view.  The 1879 shows where Nancy McLain’s and Alfred Spracklin’s land is located.  He was one of Peter Spracklins sons.  Peter died in 1845.

Solomon Goss appears on various tax lists and records in Hardin County, Ohio.  By 1839 Wesley, his son, appears as well!

1833 Tax Record, Congress District, Blanchard Twp., Chattle Property, Goss, Solomon.

1839 Wesley and Solomon Goss are listed again under Dudley Twp. Chattle List Wesley has 2 horses and 3 cattle while Solomon has 1 horse and 6 cattle.  A note on the tax document states that Wesley had gone to Iowa.

1840 only Solomon is listed under Congress Lands in Dudley R12 T5 S10 and 9 and he has paid.

In 1841 Solomon Goss is listed again under Dudley Twp. Congress Land same land description. 

Source:  Duplicate Tax Records 1821-1850, Hardin Co., Ohio, V. 584, 590, 1821-1833 FHL#506598, and  1838-1842 FHL#945852.

A patent is issued to Solomon Goss on 16 September 1834 for land in Hardin County.

Bucyrus was the land office – #6276 ASN OH 0840__.150, 40 acres. SWSE 3/ Section 5-N Twp. 12 E, Fract Section No, Meridian 1st PM. State of Oh, County of  Hardin, Issue date September 16, 1834. 

Source:  BML – Bureau of Land Management Website see link on right of this blog under Favorite Links – US where you can get  copy of this patent and more.

Actually, Solomon’s land in Hardin County was not that far from Peter Spracklin’s.  See the posted dated August 24, 2011 “Hardin County – Kenton, Ohio,” for the location and photos of Peter Spracklin’s land and Solomon Goss’s.  Please realize that the photographs are approximations of where the lands are located! 

Goss, Solomon Jr. R/12E/T58(S)/S3 Vol: U.S. Lands 18 Ranges North & South Vol 3, pg. 297 (Dec 21, 1837)

also R12E/T58(S)/S10 Vol: US Lands 18 Ranges North & South Vol 3, pg. 299 (Aug. 28, 1837)

Source:  Tract Books and Index for U.S. lands in Ohio but not including Virginia Military Dist., Connecticut Western Res., Fire Lands and Symmes Purchase, FHL#1992829 Index, FHL#196230 V3 Ranges 9-15.

While visiting  the Hardin County Genealogical Society in August of 2007, my cousin found in the stacks an account book from a store which lists the purchases made by customers for supplies.  Here I feature Solomon Goss and his son Wesley.  [Gofs is the written version of Goss using the long S.]

Pg. 94, Tuesday April 14, 1840 Solomon Gofs - 3 yrds Linen - 84 cents.

Pg. 109, Tuesday April 28th, 1840 Solomon Gofs – Ball and [ ] for $5.67.

Pg. 378 Saturday Nov. 14, 1840 Solomon Gofs bought indigo and tea for $1.00.

Pg. 504 Monday Feb. 22, 1841 Solomon Gofs bought for his daughter dishes and more for $4.03.  Below him there might be a Daniel Goss buying combs for 22 cents. 

Source:  Merriam & Carey Day Book, circa 1840, Hardin County Genealogical Society, Kenton, Ohio.

Solomon Goss (Jr.) and Polly are still in Hardin County, Ohio in the census for 1840 which again is statistical.  So this means he left Hardin County sometime after 1841 and was in Henry Co., Iowa by 1850.   In the previous post dated January 5, 2012 “The Family of Solomon and Polly Goss,”  I feature the 1830, 1840 and 1850 census for Solomon toward the end of the post.

******

Additional Notes:  If you seek out the will or any probate/estate files for Solomon Goss Senior you will only find the court clerk’s copy of the will.  The original was removed by some unknown person and never returned back in 1992.  I learned this on my trip to Marietta  in  September of 2011.   This was a terrible disappointment to me.  I was looking forward to seeing it. 

Some of the records of the county are housed at the Washington County Historical Society (WCHS), see the link to the right.  The WCHS is doing everything they can to preserve these records.  Please don’t take these precious documents, leave them for others to enjoy!!!

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The Family of Solomon and Polly Goss!

Solomon Goss (Jr.)  was the 4th child and a second son of Solomon Goss and Olive (Scott) Goss.  He was about 6+ years old when his father left Luzerne County, Pennsylvania and headed west to Ohio. 

The use of the junior with his name is only to him to keep him separate from his father Solomon Goss senior.  I have seen it a couple of times in written documents where they are designated in this manner. 

Solomon Goss, the son, was born 5 May 1788 in Pennsylvania.   I do not have any bible or birth documents that give proof of these birth dates for Solomon’s children.  In some cases it is due to the destruction of records because of the Revolutionary war and the land squabbles in Pennsylvania.  I have tried to find these types of documents but so far I have not been successful. Instead I have relied on those who have gone before me like Flora Montanye Osborn did back in the 1950′s.  (She is in the list of categories to the right where I have written about her articles.)  

He must have made an agreement with his father about 1815 to stay on the land in Washington County, Ohio.  He appears only as a witness on deeds involving his other siblings regarding the land in Knox County, Ohio.   

Solomon Goss (Jr.) married on the 19th of November 1812 to Polly Devol (Mary Coburn Devol).

S. Goss and P. Devol Marriage

Polly was the daughter of Gilbert Devol Jr. and Mary Coburn.  Polly was born 5 July 1795 in Marietta, Washington Co., Ohio.  The Devol’s were a very large family and of some importance in the Marietta area.  Polly’s father Gilbert Devol was a son of Gilbert Devol Sr. and Anne.  Her mother was the daughter of Asa Coburn and Rhoda Baker.  I will talk more about the Devol family in a later post and share what I do know and give some ideas for seeking more information. 

Marriage Book 1

Source Marriage:  There are several sources for Washington County marriages. 

1) Ohio Marriages, Recorded in County Courts Through  1820: An Index, compiled and published by the Ohio Genealogical Society, 1996. The Goss listings are on pages 405-106.  

 2) Washington County, Ohio Marriages, 1789-1840, by Bernice Graham, Elizabeth S. Cottle and sponsored by the Marietta Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in Washington County.  Goss names are on pg. 119-120.   This book is also at the FHL #977.198 V2g. 

3)  Washington County Marriage Records, Probate Court of Washington County, V1-3, Marietta, Ohio FHL#0941958.  NOTE: The Courthouse in Washington County has the books in a special room next door to the Probate Office where you get permission to research.  These records are copies of the books not the originals.  

Washington County Courthouse, Marrietta, Ohio

 The children of Solomon Goss and Polly [Coburn Devol] Goss:

1.  Eliza Goss born 4 Sep 1813  in Washington County, Ohio and died Sept. 1892.  She married a George Sawtell. 

Line 32, 657, 686, George Sawtell, 45, M, Farmer, 7000, England, M. Eliza Sawtell, 36, F, born Ohio, M. John Sawtell, 18, M, Farmer, born Virginia, S. William Sawtell, 16, M, Farmer, Virginia, S. George F. Sawtell, 14, M, Virginia, S. Mary Sawtell, 12, F, Virginia, S. Gilbert Sawtell, 10, M, Virginia, S. Samuel Sawtell, 9, M, Virginia, S. Henry Sawtell, 9, M, Virginia, S. Ann Sawtell, 7, F, Virginia, S. Loisa Sawtell, 5, F, Virginia, S.  (next page) James Sawtell, 3, M Virginia.  Ellen Sawtell, 1, F, Virginia.

Source:  1850 U.S. Federal Census, 44th District, Ohio, Virginia, Sept 5, 1850, B. Kelley, NARA Film M432_966; page 46B; Image 99, Ancestry.com. Note:  This area of the 44th District is now in West Virginia in the county of Ohio. 

UPDATE:  August 26, 2012 – A descendant of this family informed the writer of this blog, that Eliza was formerly named “Elizabeth.”  That the name Sawtell had and “e” on the end before it was dropped.  “George Sawtell was from Somersetshire, England and came with his father in 1820 at the age of 16 in a sailing vessell to America.  They were out of sight of land for 7 weeks.”  Please feel free to contact the me if you would like more information and I will be happy to connect you. 

2.  Wesley Goss 16 March 1815 in Washington County, Ohio and died 10 October 1896 in Spencer, Clay Co., Iowa.    He died 10 October 1896 in Spencer, Clay Co., Iowa. He married Elizabeth Evans before 1837.  Elizabeth was born 26 Octobr 1816 very close to the Canadian border or maybe in Vermont?  She died 28 July 1901 in Spencer, Clay Co., Iowa.  Both are buried in the Riverside Cemetery in Clay County, Iowa.  They had 11 children.  Wesley was even more restless than his father moving around Iowa a great deal.  I will discuss him in a separate post. 

3.  Harriet Melissa Goss was born 9 March 1817 in Washington County, Ohio and died 12 December 1880 in Henry County, Iowa.  She  married a James W. Maynard.  According to the Iowa Gravestones Project online, Harriett is buried in Burge Cemetery, Henry Co., Iowa.  http://iowagravestones.org/gs_view.php?id=225868 There is a photo of the tombstone.

Line 217, 217 James W. Maynard, 40 M, Physician, 1000, Ohio. Harriett Maynard, 35 F. Emily Maynard, 12, F, Ohio. Olive Maynard, 11, F, Ohio, Marian, M, Iowa, James W., 3, M, Iowa, James M. Hare 1, M, Iowa.  

Source:  1850 U.S. Federal Census, New London, Henry Co., Iowa, August 24, 1850 by [D.B. Post], NARA Film M432_184, page 174B, Image 92, Ancestry.com.

4.  Gilbert Devol Goss  was born 28 September 1820 and died in about October of 1838 in Washington County, Ohio.  He was only 18 when he died.  He didn’t marry. 

5. Milton Goss was born 29 December 1823 in Washington County, Ohio.  Date of death unknown.

6.  Solomon Goss (III) was born the 22 of June, 1825.  He was a twin.  Unfortunately he did not survive and died in July 1825. 

7.  Olive Goss was born the 22 of June, 1825.  The other twin.  She died in July 1825 as well. 

8.  Mary Adaline Goss was born 15 August 1826 in probably Fearing Township, Washington County, Ohio.  She probably died before the 1850 census was enumerated for Henry Co. because her husband and children were living with her father Solomon Goss and family in 1850.  She married a Jacob Hare on 6 October 1846.  They had at least two children:  Solomon B. and James.  Later little James would be living with the sister Harriett in Virginia Iowa – See Harriett’s section above.  

This link for the IA GenWeb Project and lists Henry County marriages 1830-1850 and has Harriett’s marriage which would need to be checked with the actual records at the courthouse: 

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~iahenry/hmarr1836_1850.htm

9.  Leroy Swormstedt Goss was born 7 September 1828 in Fearing Township, Washington County, Ohio.  My information has his death in May of 1851 probably in Iowa, however, he is not showing in the Mortality Schedules and in the 1850 census?? 

10.  Terry Goss was born about 1828 in Ohio according to the 1850 census for Henry Co., Iowa.  Terry is a mystery.  I cannot find him in any census after the 1850?  Could his name “Terry” be a nickname?

Note:  Terry and Daniel Goss are listed as being on the McCully Wagon Train to Oregon in 1853.  Terry would have been 25 years old.  Daniel would be 23, certainly old enough to go on an adventure.   There is a book available for sale at the website link and a list of the members of the wagon train.  

11.  Daniel Goss was born 18 November 1830 in Washington County, Ohio and probably in Fearing township because his father was there in the 1830 Census.  He is found in the “History of Henry County” page 653 in New London as a carpenter in 1879.  This history is at Internet Archive. 

Daniel is listed in the 1850 U.S. Federal Census for Henry Co. with his father and mother. 

I have found in the census for 1860 in Minnesota a Daniel Goss that I think is this Daniel.  I did not have his wife or children in my records so this is an interesting development and when you compare it with the other information it gets more interesting and I get this feeling that if Daniel did go on the wagon train, why is he back in Iowa in 1854?  Did something happen?

Page 231, Line 38, 2015, 1867, Daniel Gofs, 29, M, Carpenter, $300, born Ohio. Mary J. Gofs, 28, F, born Vt. Warren D. Gofs, 7, M, Iowa. pg. 232, L. A. Gofs, 3/12, M, Minnesota.

Source:  1860 U.S. Federal Census for Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., Minnesota, 4th Ward, enumerated [Oct] 7th, 1860,by Wm. L. Chapman, pg. 231 and 232, NARA Film M653_570, pg. 941, Image 498, FHL#803570, Ancestry.com.

There is a Daniel Goss in the 1854 Iowa State Census for New London, Henry Co., Iowa with 1 male, 2 females in the family, at Ancestry.com.   The statistic are not quite right but if you compare the other census you begin to see a trend.

In the 1870 U.S. Federal Census for New London Henry County, Iowa

Line 21, 341, 323, Goss, Daniel, 38, M, W, Carpenter, $800, $550, Ohio. Goss, Mary J, 36, F, W, Keeping house, Canada, father of foreign birth, Goss, Warren J, 14, M, W, at. home, Iowa. Goss, Lena, A, 10, F, W, at home, Minnesota. Goss, Nella, 6, 7, W, Iowa.

Source:  1870 U.S. Federal Census, New London, Henry Co., Iowa, pg. 40, P.O. Mt. Pleasant, 27 July 1870 by Mason Bayles, #299. NARA Film M593_395, pg. 299A, Image 603, FHL# 545894, Ancestry.com.

12.  Homer Goss was born 13 November 1838 (maybe 1837) in Ohio.  Homer’s story is a little sad.  His sister Harriett applied to the court 4 May 1868 requesting that a guardian be appointed for her brother ”…a Lunatic.”  As a result a John P. Grantham was appointed his guardian.  Homer appears with his parents in the 1860 census which I will discuss in a later post.  Who is this Mr. Grantham?

Source:  Probate Court, Henry Co., Iowa, Guardianship of Homer Goss, Lunatic, May 4, 1868, Vol. J, pgs. 484, 492, 512 FHL#964926.   

This child is suspect:

13.  Mary Goss was born abt 1842/43 in Iowa. Note:   Polly the mother would be 44 years old so I am doubting this is her child?  She is the last one listed for the family in the 1850 Henry Co., Iowa census for Solomon Goss? I do not know her relationship to the family?   See below.

The Census

The first census that really shows Solomon Goss (Jr.) is the 1830 Federal Census for Fearing, Washington, Ohio.  Even though it is statistical you can try to fit the family members to the census. 

• FWMales Under 5 – 1  (Could be Leroy)
• FWMales 5-9 – 1   (Probably Wesley but he would be 15 or Gilbert Devol?)
• FWMales 40-49 – 1  (Solomon the father)
• FWFemales under 5 – 1 (Mary A.)
• FWFemales 10-14 – 1  (Harriett)
• FWFemales 15-19 – 1  (Eliza)
• FWFemales 30-39 – 1 (Polly the mother)
• FWPersons under 20: 5
• FW Persons 20-49: 7
• Total 7

Source:  1830 U.S. Federal Census, Fearing, Washington, Ohio, pg. 354, NARA Roll M19-141, FHL #0337952.

Here is the statistics for the 1840 U.S. Federal Census for Hardin County, Ohio for Solomon Goss.  Please notice that he left Washington County, Ohio and moved to Hardin County, Ohio.  This census proved harder to fit the family to the statistics and I am not sure I did a a very good job!

• FWMales Under 5 – 1  (Homer would be 2 years old.)
• FWMales 5 thru 9 – 1  (Daniel but I have him at 10 years?)
• FWMales 10-14 – 1   ( Terry Goss be 12, Leroy would be 12)
• FWMales 50-59 – 1   (Solomon head of this family)
• FWFemales 10-14 – 1  (Mary Adaline would be 14 years)
• FWFemales 15-19 – 1   ????
• FWFemales 40-59 – 1   (Polly Devol mother and wife)
• FWPerson under 20 – 5
• FWPerson 20-49 – 1
• Total 7

Source: 1840 U.S. Federal Census, Dudley, Hardin County, Ohio, Roll #401, Page 153, FHL#0020167,  Ancestry.com

The following information from the 1850 U.S. Federal for Solomon Goss. 

Line 20, 79, 79, Solomon Goss, 62, M, Farmer, 1500, Ohio. Mary Goss, 51, F, Ohio. Terry 22, M, farmer, Ohio. Daniel Goss, 20, M, farmer, Ohio. Homer Goss, 13, M, Ohio. Jacob Hare, 30, M. Carpenter, Ohio. Solomon B. Hare, 2 M, Iowa. James, 6/12, M, Iowa. Rachel Barnett, 16, F, Ohio. Mary Goss 7, F, Iowa.

Source:  1850 U.S. Federal Census, New London, Henry Co., Iowa, pg. 164, NARA Roll #M432_184, Ancestry.com.

Please note that I made a mistake in the last post titled “Mary Follows her Brother Solomon Goss to Iowa!” regarding the 1850 Census.  I made the correction in the post.  I had Mary living with her brother and she wasn’t.  The correct information for the 1850 Census for Solomon Goss (Jr.) is indicated above.

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I have had the good fortune to visit the Family History Library in Salt Lake City on several occasions and I discovered a source for this family that is reflected above in the children’s information.  I have added the census to it and I will let you decide.   

Source:  Goss Family & Other Files – Philip Goss immigrant ancestor, born 1664, LDS Film #940938 Items 4-5)

This is a exchange of letters and family histories regarding the Goss, Devol, Spracklin and Cooley surnames and others around 1970-1973 with various repositories in Washington Co., Ohio. 

The information I have shared here on Solomon Goss and Polly Devol’s children and Wesley Goss was contained in the family history of the “Goss-Reynolds Family Genealogy” a part of this series of correspondences. It was written by a Gertrude Smith, of Pittsburgh, who was the daughter of Lois (Goss) Smith, a great-granddaughter of Polly.  The history was donated by a Robert S. McCargar whose paternal grandmother was Addie (Goss) McCargar.  More of this file will be shared in the appropriate place in future posts.

page 1 of the Goss-Reynolds History: 

Solomon Goss, Jr., married Nov. 19, 1812 [Mt.Harmon] [Point Harmar] O., to Mary Colburn Devol.  Died Nov. 2, 1864. Mary Colburn Devol – Born July 5, 1795, died April 1865. 

Children 

	Born	Died	Married
Eliza Goss	Sept. 4, 1813	Sept. 1892	George Sawtell
Wesley	Mar. 16, 1815	Oct. 1896	Elizabeth Evans
Harriet Melissa	Mar. 9, 1817	Dec. 1880	Jas. W. Maynard
Gilbert Devol	Sep. 28, 1820	Oct. 1838
Milton	Dec. 29, 1823
Solomon 3rd	June 22, 1825	July 1825	Twin
Olive	June 22, 1825	July 1825	Twin
Mary Adaline	Aug. 15, 1826	July 1851	Mr. Hare
Leroy Swarmstedt	Sep. 7, 1828	May 1851
Homer	Nov. 13, 1838
Daniel	Nov. 18, 1830

Gertrude Smith does not give her sources.  Mr. McCargar thought it was probably her mother Lois (Goss) Smith and the sister Edith (Goss) Crary who provided the information. Terry is not mentioned in their list.  Mary Goss, the 7 year old, is also not listed although they are in the 1850 Census with Solomon Goss and Polly. You can compare what I have above with what is listed by Mrs. Smith. 

Warning:  My interest in Solomon Goss (Jr.) and his family was to see if he would lead me to more information about his father and mother Solomon and Olive (Scott) Goss.  I do not claim that I know this family well and the research is by far not done to my complete satisfaction, so please take what I have written and doublecheck it and draw your own conclusions. 

In the next posts I will describe more of my finds regarding Solomon Goss (Jr.).   

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Hardin County – Kenton, Ohio

The Hardin County Genealogical Society (HCGS) in Kenton, Ohio is a very active and excellent genealogical society.  I visited them in 2007.   It is now 2011 and it is interesting how memory works.  I had them in the wrong place on Franklin Street.  They are situated right in the heart of Kenton on the south side of Franklin Street next to the theatre and just west of the courthouse.  They are sort of diagonally across from  Brunnell’s restaurant which is on the northeast corner (not open Mondays).  Great for getting some food it you get hungry researching. 

Hardin County Genealogical Society to right of building

I called ahead and made an appointment because they don’t have hours that worked for me.  They are open in the afternoon on Tuesdays.  They are very accommodating.   I spent three hours at the HCGS. 

I was particularly interested in trying to find Caroline Keller Van Houten.  She and her husband Joseph left Morrow County and headed for Hardin County sometime after 1883 and were there by the 1900 U.S. census and settled in Washington Township.  Caroline was the sister of Elizabeth Keller Spracklin my 2nd great-grandmother.  I did not find where they were buried in Washington Township.  I did find their death information at HCGS in the death records.  

Lobby of the Hardin County Genealogical Society

While at the HCGS I looked at several folders for Spracklins.  They have filing cabinets with family histories. George P. Spracklin was in their file of  Civil War veterans.  He is buried in Lee Cemetery as well as other family members.   There was not that much on the Spracklins and the Goss so I think it is time for me to fill out a Pioneer Application and send some reports for their files. 

Hardin County records at HCGS

They have eight volumes of copied obituaries, marriages and death notices from the local newspapers.  It was quite a collection and spanned 1850 to 1900.  They also have other years in the 1900′s like 1902 and 1933.  You can see what they cover in their publications for sale section on their website.  Didn’t find anything of interest on the Spracklins or the Goss.  This is very discouraging to me.  I love obituaries and gossip in newspapers. 

They also have a collection of Hardin County courthouse records like probate, mortgages, chattels, deeds and so much more.  Three hours is not enough time. They are in the process of placing their collection information on their website so check back occasionally.  Some sources are the original courthouse records and some are photocopies of the records. 

I was there in Kenton for two days and on Monday, I visited the Lee Cemetery.  This was my second time there and I was so excited.  My memory of it was accurate in some areas but not in others.  Lee Cemetery is on CR144 just southeast of Kenton off Hwy 309.  You drive past Pfeiffer Station and just before you get to Hepburn you will find it on the left as you travel east.  There is a Morrison Cemetery that comes up first and then Lee.  I did remember the farm but it was much closer to the cemetery than I remember.  The horses were in the pasture to the west having breakfast.  There was a pony hiding in the grass.  The cattle were in the other pasture across the road.  This is Amish country and once again a horse and buggy came by but this time it was filled three children, two boys and one little girl with a black hat.  I waved and they waved back.  The horse seemed to know where to go because the young boy who was driving it was looking everywhere but straight ahead.  Clop, Clop, Clop!!  I was told that the Amish came about the 1950′s. The Spracklins, Lawrence, Cooks, Myers and more are buried in Lee Cemetery.  I will prepare another post to feature this cemetery for it is very important to our family.   The header photo of this blog is currently an overview of the Lee Cemetery.

Lee Cemetery CR144 after Pfeiffer Station

Just east on CR144 and past Hepburn, I came to a crossroads of CR245 and took a picture of the area.  I believe this to be where Peter and Alfred had their land in Dudley Township, Hardin Co., Ohio.  Returning along CR144, I made a turn onto CR235 going north and then left onto CR140.  This is a single lane road and as I headed west a deer came out of the corn stalks and panicked when it saw my car.  A cat went running across the road.  Proceeding cautiously, I positioned myself to take a picture of what might be the area of the land that Solomon Goss (Jr.) had lived on.  He was living not to far from Peter Spracklin.  Solomon Goss’s sister Lydia married John Andrews Spracklin a son of Peter and Betty’s.  After he sold his father’s land in Washington County, Solomon, the son, headed to Hardin and was there for maybe 17 years and his son Wesley left for Iowa.  Shortly after Solomon Goss packed up his family and headed there to Henry County first and finally Mahaska County where he is buried in Iowa.

Peter and Alfred Spracklin Land Dudley Twp

 

Solomon Goss (Jr.) Land CR140

  

My next destination was Grove Cemetery (also St. Mary’s) which are right on Hiway 309 and I had been curious and stumbled on some Spracklins in this cemetery.  Peter John and Mary Spracklin are buried there along with their two daughters Myrtle and Arloa.  Peter John is one of George and Arloa Spracklin’s sons.  George is a son of Peter and Betty Spracklin and younger brother to my 4th great-grandfather John Andrews Spracklin.  George, the father,  left after the death of Betty in 1860, sometime around the mid 1860′s for Shelby Co., Illinois and he is buried there.  I had the honor of emailing and chatting with Hellen Cox Tregillis.  She sold me a copy of her book “ABC Chronicles of Stoneburner, Spracklin, Austin and Boyles.”  She was very kind and helpful regarding the family and was willing to share what she knew.  Unfortunately Helen passed away at the end of 2004.  I will share what little I know about Helen and her book in a later post.   I found Peter John and family in section 4C  on the east and north side of this area which is in the center of the cemetery.  It is not a small cemetery.  The HCGS have the funeral records for this cemetery but be careful for they might not interpret the information correctly.  I was given directions to the wrong area and found them thanks to FindAGrave.  I will write another post about this visit to Grove Cemetery. 

The next stop was lunch at Jolene’s Cozy Cafe on Hwy 67.  I had a salad.  They are open for lunch and dinner and serve cafeteria style.  The restaurants in Kenton are  basic so this was nice to go to and chat with friendly people and have a descent salad.  The night before I had stopped at Michael Angelo’s Pizzeria.  It was pleasant and the food was okay.  I am afraid I am a snob! 

Hardin County Courthouse, Kenton, Ohio

The Hardin County Courthouse is a big beautiful building in the center of Kenton.  The entrance faces west.  I asked for the Peter Spracklin Estate file and the nice lady in the Probate office had to go downstairs into the basement after she verified that the estate did exist in the big books.  It took two index books to find it.  I was stunned they let me take the 4 packets out into the hall and look at them.  They also let me photograph them!  So I spent the next hour lovingly opening each packet and taking pictures in very poor light.  Now I already had a copy of this probate file from the last trip but it was very poorly copied.  Now I will be able to make sense out of what my cousin had obtained.  I know she will be thrilled to get these much better copies.  The highlight of this packet is Elizabeth (Betty) Spracklin making an X to sign away her Administrator duties to her son George. 

Next door to the Probate office (2nd floor) was the Recorders Office and I entered.  They had big books out in the reception area but not the deeds.  The nice lady took me into the back area and there was this huge room with stacks of court books.  She showed me where to look and I started pulling Grantor books.  I had done a whole lot at the Family History Library so I already had what I needed on the Spracklins.  I just wanted to see the books and get an idea.  The A-B was way up high and I had to use a ladder.  I am afraid my right wrist is not doing to well due to arthritis so there was no way I was going to be able to put it back.  I barely got it down. I was able to get other books off and back on.  I was not finding the name Andrews.  I asked the lady if the records from the parent county were transferred and she said not always.  So it is wise to check if you are looking for early deeds.  The Andrews name is Betty Spracklin’s maiden name.

My curiosity was satisfied and I thanked them, apologized for not putting the book back and headed out for the M.L. Johnson District Library down the street.  I like small towns because everything is so close and it takes just minutes to get there. HA!  In Seattle it can be a whole day or afternoon excursion. 

Much to my surprise the M.L. Johnson District Library has a small genealogical collection 180 degrees from the front door and it has a sign.  They had county books, another set of the Hardin County Genealogical Society books.  Newspapers  to view if you wanted.  Not bad!  I also liked it because the hours of the HCGS are not that great and even an appointment doesn’t give you all the time you need.  They had the cemetery records of the HCGS and tried again for the Van Houtens and found them!  Genealogical HAPPY DANCE!  They are in Dunkirk Cemetery in Blanchard Township which is 10 minutes north of Kenton.  So I was pleased and happy that I took the chance to go to this library and found a small treasure. 

M. L. Johnson District Library, Kenton

Genealogy area of Kenton Library

My lodging in Kenton was at the Country Hearth Inn which use to be an Amerihost.  It is on Hwy 67th and Hester St. just past the hospital entrance.  My cousin and I had stayed there before and it was okay then and it was okay now.  They have a Continental Breakfast.  I do know that they have a B&B in the downtown area and that there is the BJ and Kenton motels on Hiway 309. 

If you decide to go to Kenton to do genealogical research the Hardin County Genealogical Society, the courthouse and the library are all good possibilities.  I have found Hardin County records to not be as available elsewhere like other counties.  Not sure why?  The Family History Library does have some of the records and I have done well.

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Remembering Ohio 2007

My trip to Ohio in 2007 was a combination trip.  I wanted to visit the Allen County Public Library  because I had heard so much about it.  They had just completed the new building and it was open for business.  The Federation of Genealogical Societies and APG were having their conferences in Fort Wayne and it was no contest.  I was ready! 

I then realized that Ohio was two hours away. Michigan was about the same.  I could drive up to Michigan and visit several cemeteries on one of the days.  Then I would attend the conferences and after drive to Ohio and return to Fort Wayne.  I could visit Kenton in Hardin County and then onto Mount Vernon in Knox County and be able to pay my respects to my Spracklin ancestors.  Morrow County was just a few miles away and I could visit my Keller ancestors.  Okay, I was now really ready to go!

The trip was amazing and I have fond memories of Ohio.  I remember the pouring rain when my cousin and I visited the Green Valley Cemetery the first time.  Having to ask the locals where the Hedding M.E. Cemetery was located in Morrow County.  Driving along a road we thought would be a short cut and coming upon flooding and water over the road.  This meant we had to turn back and figure out another route.  Listening intently to the TV for information about the weather and more flooding.  Going around and around the roundabout in the middle of Mount Vernon.  I am joking about some of these challenges, of course.  It was a very good trip. 

The following repositories were visited at that time:

• Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, excellent genealogical library. 
• The Mount Vernon Public Library http://www.knox.net/genealogy.html
•  The Knox County Historical Society http://www.knoxhistory.org/about.htm
• The Knox County Genealogical Society http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ohknox/gensoc.htm
• Morrow County Genealogical Society, in Mt. Gilead:  http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ohmorrow/libhldgs.html
• Hardin County Genealogical Society in Kenton http://www.hardincountyconnections.com/
• The Ohio Genealogical Society now in Bellville http://www.ogs.org/research/library.php

Cemeteries visited:

• Lee Cemetery in Dudley Twp., Hardin County, Ohio
• Green Valley Cemetery in Knox County, Ohio
• Hedding M.E. Cemetery in Morrow County, Ohio
• Goss Cemetery, Morenci, Lenawee County, Ohio
• Rice Cemetery, Milan, Monroe County, Michigan

We visited the courthouse and annex in Knox County and the staff was very helpful. 

In August 2011 I will be returning to these repositories, societies, cemeteries and doing a whole lot more.  I will travel to Portage County and to Washington County, Ohio as well.  I will start my trip in Columbus so I can visit the Ohio Historical Society and other archives.  Of course, I will return to the Ohio Genealogical Society.  I am getting excited!

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