John and Lydia Spracklin settle on Solomon Goss Land in Knox Co., Ohio

John and Lydia settled on the land in Knox County, Ohio, purchased by Solomon Goss, Lydia’s father, from Zaccheus Biggs on 28 July 1802.

Mr. Biggs has a patent for land for Knox County at the BLM Land website as well as many others. On the patent it states that he obtained the land, “4000 acres, appropriated for satisfying Warrant for Military Service.”  The Biggs family was very busy in Ohio buying and selling land.  They were not the only ones.

The link below to the BLM will take you to the search page.  I used in my search, Ohio, Knox Co., and “Biggs.”  This search will get you to the patent Biggs had for Knox County.  It showed up at the bottom of the search page.  If you just search for Zaccheus Biggs you might not get the one you want.  Also be aware that they spell the name most creatively especially the first name in many abstracts and documents.

The Biggs Patent before Solomon Goss

http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/search/default.aspx#searchByTypeIndex=0&searchTabIndex=0

Title Transfer:  3/20/1800

Land Office:  Ohio,

Authority:  June 1, 1796 United Brethren Warrant (1 Stat.480)

Survey:  Ohio

Acres:  4000

Accession/Serial Nr.: OH2100

BLM Serial Nr.: OH No S/N

Sec. 2, Twp. 6-N, Range 14-W, US Military Survey, OH, Knox 2nd quarter of Township

There is a deed at the Washington County Historical Society in Marietta in the stacks in books. It is down the hall and around the corner.  This society was given a great many records from their county courthouse so you may have to check with them for older records.

Zaccheus Biggs is selling 450 acres of land to Solomon Goss in 1802.  The deed is very hard to read and of course the book contained only a copy of the original deed handwritten by the court clerk. It was very faint in certain parts of the document where the ink had faded.

Zacch* Biggs)

Deed)

Sol. Gofs) 

Know all men by these presents that I Zaccheus Biggs of Jefferson County in the Northwest Territory, Esquire. For and in consideration of the sum of Four hundred and fifty dollars to me paid in hand before the ensealing hereof, by Solomon Gofs of the County of Washington in said Territory, husbandmen, the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge and myself therewith contented and satisfied, I do hereby give grant bargain sell and convey unto the said Solomon Gofs his heirs and asfsigns forever a certain tract or parcel of land lying and situate in the County of Fairfield in the Territory aforesaid containing four hundred and Fifty acres, bounded and butted as follows viz:  beginning at a post at the Northeast corner of Section Number Two in the Sixth Township of the fourteenth range of the United States, Military Lands ___ called, thence [west ] Seventy two chains [courfing a small branch of Owl Creek  thirty Links upside of a post, thence south sixty two chains & thirty links to a post Thence east Seventy two chains to a post thence North Sixty ___ chains __________to place of beginning.  To have and to hold the gr____and bargain premises with the privileges and appurtenances thereof to him the said Solomon Gofs, his heirs and asfigns forever as of Fee Simple and ____ said Zaccheus Biggs _____any heirs, executors and administrators.  Covenant with the said Solomon Gofs his heirs and asfigns that I ____lawfully Seized is free of the premises that they are free from all impediments _____ that I will so warrant and _____the same.  To the said Solomon Gofs his heirs and asfigns forever, against the lawful claims and _______of all persons claiming __________________.

In witnefs whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal the 28^th day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & two.  Signed and sealed by Zac’hs Biggs

Singed Sealed & delivered in the present of ___Rufus Putnam and So____Putnam

Washington County __ Personally appeared this twenty eight day of July, Eighteen hundred & two Z___ Biggs signer and sealer to the witnessed Instrument and acknowledged it to be his act & deed Before me.

____Rufus Putnam Justice of the Peace.

412 Washington County __ January 15, 1803 __________is a true copy and text Dudley [Headbridge] Rec’d

Page 1 of the Zaccheus Biggs deed of Land to Solomon Goss 1802

In 2007, I was traveling in the northern part of Ohio.  I had attended the FGS (Federation of Genealogical Societies) conference in Fort Wayne were the Allen County Library is located.  After that conference I headed east to Ohio which is about two hours to get to Kenton, Ohio and then another hour to Mt. Vernon, Ohio.  I couldn’t pass it up.  Knox County was part of Fairfield County till it broke off after this deed was written and recorded in March 1, 1808.

The Recorder of Deeds in Knox County is in the Records Center and they had this huge map of Knox County dated 1847.  Yes, before three of the townships were annexed to Morrow County which was established in 1848.  I purchased the large map for $5.00.  I do not know if they are still selling them?

The Knox County Genealogical Society is in the basement.  If you visit stop by.  Their hours are limited so check their website.

The deeds are on the main floor and the court records are in the basement of the Records Center near the genealogical society.

This website is for all government offices in Ohio so be careful if you start exploring, they do have a map to the location, I have identified Knox for you:   http://www.ohiorecorders.com/knox.html

Knox County Records Center, Ohio, Go here for the Records for Knox Co, Ohio

Lovely Courthouse but it is not where the records are!

Here is a portion of that map featuring the townships of Liberty and Bloomfield Twps. Remember South Bloomfield was part of Knox in 1847 but became part of Morrow County in 1848.  The area in yellow highlights the Spracklin land and a little more.

Knox County before Morrow is formed 1847

NOTE:  This map is not only important for Spracklin Research but for anyone who had family in Knox Co., Ohio in 1847.  This is also important to me for my John and Mary Keller research. The parents of Elizabeth Keller who married Daniel D. Spracklin a son of John and Lydia Spracklin.

Interesting stuff:  In the past I have mentioned Rufus Putnam and the deed above is signed by a Rufus Putnam. He was a Justice of the Peace in Washington County.  I visited his land in North Brookfield, Massachusetts where he lived before he left for Marietta, Ohio.  I visited Campus Martius and viewed the house that he lived in.  They had it indoors inside the museum to preserve it.  The land office building is outside this museum.  He knew the Goss family.  He knew Capt. Philip Goss and Judith and probably Philip Goss and Keziah Cooley.

Try this link to his papers at the Marietta College Library Special Collections.  Who knows you might get luckier than me and find something about your family.  Click on the finding aid to see all the people he interacted with in his life.  Does the name Timothy Pickering mean anything to Goss researchers.  Also try the search engine.  Enjoy.

http://drc.library.marietta.edu/handle/2374.MARIETTA/428

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Mt. Vernon County Seat – Knox Co., Ohio

 I visited Mt. Vernon from August 26 to September 2, 2011.  I am home now but I will continue to post highlights about the trip and archives that I visited and hopefully it will assist you in your research in these areas of Ohio.

Records Annex, Knox County, Ohio

Mt. Vernon is the county seat for Knox County, Ohio.  The courthouse is located just down from the Records Annex  at 117 High Street in Mount Vernon (Hwy 36) and not far from the round-about in the center of Mt. Vernon.   The Recorder’s office (for deeds) is on the floor when you enter through the main door.  The Record Center is in the basement.  I suggest you visit both for court documents such as probates, court records and more.  The clerks are all helpful and very nice.  The Recorders office has the indexes and books right out there for you to access.  The first index to 1843 contains a listing of old deeds.  I asked the clerk behind the counter and was told they go all the way back in the first book to 1803.  They will let you take photographs. 

Deed Index, Knox County, Ohio

I  tried to dig deep into early Knox County history looking for Kellers, Delano, Askins and more.  I have already studied the Spracklins and associated surnames of the children so I am confident I have them covered.  I decided this time to emphasize the other surnames. 

The Knox County History and Genealogical Society is also located at 117 High Street  in a room in the basement area right across from the Records Center office.  They have updated their website so you might want to check it out.   They are very small but I noticed that there was change from my last visit and they had been busy.  They have an obituary file, family histories, have books and more.  They are also very helpful.  Hours are short so check the website.  They are in the process of updating the cemetery books done by R. DeLauder so keep and eye out because they will make them even better.  Unfortunately they have to rebuild the database because the company that printed the books went out of business.  They could use volunteer help. 

Public Library of Mount Vernon & Knox County

The Mt. Vernon Public Library  (Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County) is located on Sugar Street and Mulberry St.  There is parking in the back of the library.  You can enter on Sugar (a narrow ramp up to the parking) or try Mulbery which is one way going south.  I visited the History room in the Mount Vernon Library which is heavy on Knox County sources.  They also have Mount Vernon newspapers on microfilm, family histories, city directories, school yearbooks and more.  It is worth a visit.  I spent two hours one day and another hour on another day at the library checking sources for obituary readings, plat maps and more. 

History Room of Library, Mt. Vernon, Ohio

The Mound Cemetery, one of the oldest in Knox County, is just north of the public library and even if you don’t have family buried there I suggest you visit it.  It is amazing, for there are a lot of huge, I mean huge, monuments in this cemetery.  I was overwhelmed by it.  You know me, I have seen a lot of cemeteries on my travels but this was awesome.  So once again get a map from the Delauder publications (Knox county books) so you can find the graves you are interested in and that may still be a challenge.  I will feature this cemetery in another post in the future. There are Kellers buried in Mound Cemetery.

Overview - Mound Cemetery, Mt. Vernon, Ohio

My recommendations are that if you want to do genealogical research in Knox County then you need to visit the Knox County Historical Society, Knox County History and Genealogical Society, the Mount Vernon Public Library and the Courthouse Annex and include the Morrow County Genealogical Library Annex as well.  Each has sources to offer and is worth a little of your time.  Now they might duplicate what each other has but because of the short hours of some of these respositories you may have to revisit a book or source and you will find it at one or the other location. 

I would like to encourage those of you with Knox and Morrow County roots, including the surrounding counties,  to submit some form of our family history:  copy of a bible, chart, booklet, reports to the historical society and genealogical societies.  It is really needed!!!!  I would also like to encourage you to volunteer your help if you live in the area or join as a member and learn about the people who built this State of Ohio.

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Mt. Gilead County Seat of Morrow County, Ohio – Est. 1848

Morrow County was in the title of my last post but I didn’t really mention it.  It stands on its own even though it is right next door to Knox and a portion was part of Knox.  

Morrow County was created from four other counties.  Bloomfield township was part of Knox County and is now South Bloomfield.  Morrow was established in 1848 but apparently it takes time to create a county and it was formally a county by 1849.  Where are the records?  Well the volunteer at the Morrow County Genealogical Society Library told me that the original books are still at the courthouse in Knox County.  So if you are researching ancestors from 1803 to 1848 you will need to include Knox in your Morrow County research on your list to study both counties and there records or other counties that were parents of Morrow like:  Richland, Delaware, Knox and Delaware.   I asked several times about records and whether they had been moved to the new county but it was not a clear cut answer so check the parent counties as well. 

Mt. Gilead Center round-about

I visited Mt. Gilead on August 30th a Tuesday during my trip.  The center of Mt. Gilead has an obelisk in the center yet it is still a lovely town.  I found it easy to drive from Mt. Vernon up Hwy 13 and then turned left onto Hwy 95 heading west to Mt. Gilead.  Mt. Gilead is the county seat of Morrow County.  The road took me through Chesterville where I stopped at the Maple Grove Cemetery to search out a Keller Monument.  I found the Keller tombstone in the far back area to the right.  Maple Grove is huge with this very large brick entrance which you cannot miss.  They do have a map on the board at the entrance but the writing is very tiny so bring your magnifier. 

Morrow County Genealogical Library Annex

After parking in the back of the Genealogical Library Annex in Mt. Gilead, I discovered that the Morrow County Genealogical Library Annex was open a bit earlier than 10 am so that was cool.  I spent a great time studying their family histories, Morrow County sources, and other county information.  There was a Sells/Lacy book that was new (not there in 2007) and I found Harriet Keller who married John Lacy in this book but not their children.  This is a very nice library with a nice collection and publications.  I found several obituaries one for Martha (Kees) Keller and another for Peter Keller.  Not all the newspapers in their collection are on microfilm.  A lot of the same publications and information is at this library that I had found for Knox so it made it nice for double checking something if I wanted. I like one stop shopping.  I tried to find the burial location of Harrison and Amarilla (Keller) Barr but they were not showing up in Crawford County information.  I did find some of their children?  More on this in a future post.

Morrow County Library Annex - next door to Main Library

After I finished up at the genealogical library I headed to Sames and Cook for lunch and had French Onion soup and homemade cherry pie which was delicious.  They are located on the main street in Mt. Gilead.  They are on Facebook so click the link on the name.  The proprietor wanted me to sign their guest book because I had come a long way.   They had the most wonderful tin ceiling.

Sames & Cook Restaurant (A little fuzzy)

Well, I got lost and headed west instead of east back to Mt. Vernon and couldn’t figure out why I was entering Marion County.  Giggle…I finally righted myself.  I seem to do that when I get tired.  I found the Rivercliff Cemetery tucked in off Center Street at the west end of town.  It is huge.  I was again looking for Keller monuments and found one this time with no writing on it.  However there were two tombstones in front of it about 3 feet or more?  This is a very big cemetery and you need a map which I found in a cemetery publication.  

On the way back from Mt. Gilead I turned south on Hwy 314 in Chesterville and headed south to Hwy 229.  I wanted to take a picture of the area that was John and Mary Keller’s land and John and Lydia Spracklin’s land.  I found John Keller’s off of Hwy 194 down to the Keller Road which was unmarked but a deadend.  I might be slightly to north but it is the general area for John and Mary’s land. 

John and Mary Keller's land approximately!

John Spracklins land was more tricky.  I east and back up Cochran off Hwy 229 and about the middle before the Wayne Township sign I took several photos.  Green Valley Cemetery is in Wayne Township while John and Lydia’s land is just on the border of Liberty and Wayne townships. 

Wayne Township Sign - Cochran Road

 

 

John and Lydia Spracklin's Land - approximately!

I will share my findings for Maple Grove and Rivercliff in a future post with more photos.  I am on the trail of Keller’s trying to see if I cannot figure out who John Keller’s parents are and collecting more information.  I was told by a man doing research at the Morrow County Genealogical Society Library that finding parents in the early 1800′s in Ohio was very hard to do?  Sigh!

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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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Ohio Bound: The Goss Family Story Continues!

My trip to Ohio is almost here!   Here is a bit of a quick review of why I am off to Ohio!

The story of the Goss family started in Boston or what was called Muddy River (Roxbury) in the mid 1600′s.   Philip Goss settled there and married 1st Hannah Hopkins and 2nd Mary Prescott.  He migrated to Lancaster purchased land from Joseph Rowlandson 1687 and settled there.  He is buried in the Old Settler’s Burial Ground in Lancaster.

Philip Goss of Roxbury & Lancaster

His son Capt. Philip Goss and wife Judith Hayward Goss moved to Brookfield and lived their lives in that area.  They are buried in the Old Indian Burial Ground in West Brookfield. 

Capt. Philip and Judith Goss 2011

Philip and Judith’s son Philip (III) married Keziah Cooley and it is not clear how or where he is buried but there is an estate file for him in 1742 in the Worcester County Records as well as for the Philip Gosses mentioned above I & II.  Keziah and Philip (III) had a son name Philip which I call number 4 (IV) in order to keep him straight from other Philips.  He migrated to Simsbury or rather North Granby, then to Granville and next to Becket.  He didn’t stop there heading for the area around Wilkes-Barre which we know as Lucerne County, Pennsylvania.  It is a long and sad story what happened in Pennsylvania because it was considered part of Connecticut for a long time.  Many of the descendants of Philip Goss IV stayed in Pennsylvania but several of them did not and they migrated to Ohio. 

My up and coming trip to Ohio next week will delve into the history of those Goss ancestors that migrated to Ohio.  So basically I started with Pennsylvania and wrote about my trip there in Pennsylvania Wanderings and then I went to Massachusetts Meanderings and wrote about my travels there (see side bar Blogs I like).    

Ebenezer Goss went to Portage County, Ohio about 1804.  Ebenezer is a younger brother to my Solomon Goss, my 4th great-grandfather, who migrated to Ohio first to what is now the Dayton, Ohio (1796) area and then to Marietta, Ohio in Washington County and was there about 1798.  Nathaniel Goss another brother to Solomon and Ebenezer had a son name John who migrated to Ohio and settled near Ebenezer.  Just recently someone emailed me about Sewards (Seawards) in Ohio and I realized that some of the Enos and Sarah Goss Seward family migrated to Ohio and beyond. 

Here are two sources that you need to read if you are not familiar with this line of the Goss family.  They are downloadable from the Family History Library and more. 

Paul H. Goss – Goss Family 

The chart below is based on one of Paul H. Goss’ (Rev. Paul H. Goss or Paul Henry Goss) manuscript in which he discusses sources. 

First Generation: PHILIP (1) GOSS, the Immigrant Ancestor of Roxbury and Lancaster, Massachusetts 1652 to 1698
Married 1st, Hannah Hopkins about 1675	Married 2nd Mary Prescott m 29 March 1690
2nd Generation
PHILIP (2) GOSS 1676 to 1747 Married Judith Hayward m 30 Aug. 1699	JOHN (2) GOSS b. 1/20/1693, died about 1745 Married Mary Woods m 9 Nov. 1711
3rd Generation
PHILIP (3) GOSS b about 1700 and died 1742 Brookfield, MA Married Keziah Cooley m 25 Nov. 1723	PHILIP (3) GOSS, b. circa 1720 at Lancaster,MA. Died 17 Apr. 1804 in Winchester, NH Married Hannah Ball m 12 May 1748
4th Generation
**PHILIP (4) GOSS, “of BROOKFIELD” b. 18 Nov. 1724 died 9 Nov. 1778 Married Mary Kendall of Lancaster 7 Jun 1744 Left Brookfield for Simsbury (North Granby), Granville, Becket and then to Luzerne Co., Pennsylvania.	PHILIP (4) GOSS, of Montague,Massachusetts. b. 17 Oct 1757, died 23 Jun 1840 in Montague, Franklin, Massachusetts Married Esther Gale 23 Sep 1779 Winchester, NH
5th Generation
PHILIP (5) GOSS, Jr., Harveyville, Pennsylvania b. 12 Aug 1746 died 25 Oct. 1833 in PA Married Hannah Darby unknown	PHILIP (5) LAMPSON GOSS of Brighton,Ohio married twice died in 1878.

Elbert Garrett Goss – Descendants of Philip Goss of Lancaster, MA 1650  This discusses the descendants of John Goss the 1/2 brother and son of Philip Goss and Mary (Prescott) Goss.  His family is featured in the 2nd column.  

There is another recently published book by David Goss – Abel Goss of Lower Waterford, that further digs into the John Goss line and where the descendants that went to New Hampshire migrated too. 

These sources are not all the sources for these Goss family lines.  They are just the beginning.  It is confusing for there are a  lot of “Philip Goss” names in the family lines.  Be advised that there are other Goss lines in New Hampshire, Vermont, Pennsylvania and in the southern states that are not our line.  I refer you to Paul H. Goss’ manuscript cited above for clues and a start. 

**My interest and focus on the family of Philip Goss and Mary Kendall Goss who died in Huntington Township, Luzerne Co., Pennsylvania.  See the chart above 1st column Philip #4.  Philip and Mary had:  Sarah m. Enos Seward, Philip Goss Jr. m. Hannah Darby, Experience Goss, Nathaniel Goss married Hannah Scott, Comfort Goss, David Goss, Solomon Goss m. Olive Scott,  Mary Goss, Ebenezer Goss who marred Bede Blakeslee.  

The Spracklins married into the Solomon Goss family.  I will visit those family history sites near Mount Vernon and Kenton, Ohio where the Spracklin’s settled.   Daniel D. Spracklin (son of John and Lydia Spracklin a daughter of Solomon and Olive) married Elizabeth Keller in 1853.  Elizabeth’s mother was a Delano.   I will visit Morrow, Franklin and Knox County again and see if I cannot learn more about the Delano and Keller families.   

As I stated, this blog will cover the highlights of my trip to Ohio this August (wow it is almost here!) and not be a travelogue – day-to-day!  I will however, as I always do, journal the trip and take lots of pictures.   Information from this trip will be discussed in future posts.

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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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