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.

*********

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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Mary Goss, School Teacher!

Mary Goss was a school teacher.  She is mentioned in the History of Washington County. 

“Mary Goss taught a small school of young children in an old log barn.”  History of Washington Co., Ohio, pg. 688,  C. Williams & Bros, 1881.

She was a daughter of Solomon and Olive (Scott) Goss and was born 4 March 1785 probably in the area that Connecticut claimed ownership of which we know as Luzerne County.  The area eventually went under the ownership of Pennsylvania in 1786.  

Again for Mary Goss, the actual date of birth comes from the manuscripts of Flora Montanye Osborn, a cousin of mine.  Flora is a descendant of Levi Goss, a younger brother.

1.   ”Additions to the Cooley Family,” The Detroit Society for Genealogical Research Magazine, Vol. VII, No. 1, Sept-Oct, 1943.  This magazine can actually be found in a large public library, or the Family History Library.  You can contact the Burton Historical Collection at the Detroit Public Library.

2.  ”Keziah Cooley Goss Chapter of the D.A.R., May 3, 1942, Yearbook 1943-1944, FHL#940938 Items 4-5.” 

3.  Notes of Flora Montanye Osborn DAR Goss Family File: Flora writes: “I have a song book which states “From Mary Goss of Washington Co, Ohio to Mary Goss of Lenawee Co., Mich.”)   

Note:  The Mary Goss of Lenawee Co., Michigan is a daughter of Levi and Sophia Rummersfield who married Joseph Rice Flora’s grandparents.

Mary’s father, Solomon Goss, deeded land to her just like he did to her brother Noah and her sister Elizabeth (Goss) Lake.  Date of deed 19 April 1815:

Deed of Solomon Goss of Fearing Twp., Washington Co., Ohio to his second daughter Mary Goss (Gofs) for $100 (50 acres). Witnesses were Simon Porter and Solomon Goss, Jr. and Joel Tuttle JP. Description of the land: ” …certain tract or parcel of Land, Situate and being in said State of Ohio in the Fourteenth Range and Sixth Township of the United States Military land so called, containing fifty acres being part of a tract of four hundred and fifty acres of Land deeded to me by Zaccheus Biggs the 28th July 1802, Refference thereto being had, butted and bounded as follows beginning at the South East corner of a Tract of land this (day) deeded to Elizabeth Lake, Thence West Twenty Four Chains to Lands this day deeded by me to Levi Goss, Thence South Twenty Chains 83 1/3 Links, Thence East Twenty four Chains, Thence North Twenty Chains 83 1/3 links to the place of beginning….”

Source:  Knox County, Ohio Deeds, Vol. B-C, pg. 274-275, FHL#314037.

Not too many years later Elizabeth Lake husband Andrew decided to sell their share of the land in Knox County to Mary.  Here is a transcription of that deed to the best of my ability in being able to read the interesting spellings and legalese. 

Andrew Lake
Deed to
Mary Goss
Rec’d for Record
Jany 5^th 1818
 

To all people to where these Presents shall come.  Greetings:  Know ye, That we, Andrew Lake and Elizabeth his wife of Washington County and State of Ohio, for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred Dollars, lawful money to use in hand  before the ensealing hereof  well and truly paid by Mary Goss of the same County and State.  The receipt whereof we do hereby acknowledge, and ourselves therewith fully satisfied and contented. Have given, granted, bargained, sold, alien, conveyed & confirmed and by these Presents do freely fully and absolutely give, grant, bargain, sell, alien, convey and confirm unto her the said Mary Goss, her heirs and assigns forever, a (page 6 ) certain tract or parcel of land situate and being  in the said [County] of Ohio, in the fourteeth range and tenth Township of the United States Military land (so called) containing fifty acres being part of the tract of land containing four hundred and fifty acres, deeded to Solomon Goss on the 28^th of July 1802 by Zaccheus Biggs.  The land hereby conveyed abutted and bounded as follows:  Beginning at the north east corner of said tract of four hundred and fifty acres running thence West four chains to lands belonging to Noah Goss.  Thence south twenty chains 33 1/3 links: thence East 24 chains; thence North 20 chains 33 1/3 links to the place of beginning, being the said land conveyed to said Elizabeth Lake by Solomon Goss, April 19, 1815. 

To Have and to Hold the said granted and bargained premises, and all the appurtenances, privileges and commodities to same ___ anywise belonging to her the said Mary Goss, her heirs and assigns forever to her and their only proper use, benefit, and behoof forever in fee simple and we the said Andrews and Elizabeth Lake for ourselves, heirs, executors and administrators, do convenant to and with the same Mary Goss her heirs and assigns that before the ensealing hereof ___ she true sole and lawful owners of the above bargained premises and are lawfully seized and possed of the same in their own proper as a good perfect and absolute estate of Inheritance in fee simple have full forever and authority to sell and convey the said bargained premises, in manner as aforesaid, and furthermore do convey and engage the above demised premises to the said Mary Goss___  and assigned against the lawful claim or demands and persons or persons whatsoever forever hereafter to Warrant, secure and defend by these presents.

In Witness thereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals this 26^th day of December, in the year of our Lord one hundred and sixteenth.  Signed, Sealed and Delivered in the presences of Geo. Dunlevy, Elizabeth Cogswell.  Signed Andrew Lake (Seal) Elizabeth Lake (Seal)

The State of Ohio Washington County ss.  At Marietta, Dec. 26 A.D. 1816.  The above named Andrew Lake and Elizabeth Lake his wife the signers and sealers of the above instrument personally appeared and acknowledged the same to be their free and voluntary act and deed before me and the said Elizabeth being examined freely and apart from her said husband relinquished all right to dower and other estate in the fee conveyed by said Deed.  Certified mg. Aug 28^th, 1817 Sardius …….. State of Ohio Washington County ss.  I George Dunlevy Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas within and said County do hereby certify and make know that Sardius…who hath signed his name to the annexed certification was at the —– his signing and certifying the matters and things in the same certification and was act this being is an acting Justice of the Peace within and forever duly elected, commissioned and qualifying agreeable to the said State and that full faith and credit is and ought to be given to all things by him, this certificate – as well in Courts of Justice as Elsewheres.

In testimony Whereof I do hereunto set hand and affix my official seal at Marietta in said County this first day of December A.D. one thousand eight hundred and seventeen.  Geo. Dunlevy, Clerk. (Seal).

Source:  Deed Book 1, 1843 Recorders Office, Knox County Annex, Mt. Vernon, Ohio, 2011.

Mary appears years later as a witness on a deed in 1835 involving land being sold to Peter Spracklin.  Her brother Solomon Goss (Jr.) is also a witness.  

Wine Rood. Grantor, to sell land in Dudley Twp. to Peter Sprantlen Grantee of Hardin Co., Ohio. Description: “…The east half of the south east quarter of section No. Twelve (12), in Township No. (5) Five, south of Range No. 12 Twelve in the District of Delaware containing 80 acres more or less…(Signed by Wine Rood and witnessed by Solomon Goss and Mary C. Goss 1834).

Note:  Peter Sprantlen’s name is spelling very different here but it is still the Peter Spracklin who is the father-in-law of Lydia (Goss) Spracklin sister to Mary Goss. 

Source:  Hardin County, Ohio Deeds, Vol. A, pg. 366-368 (373-375), FHL# 913819,

Jump ahead two more years to 1837 and Mary Goss appears in the deed records.   This time it is in Knox County, Ohio.  In this deed she is the grantor and she is selling land to John Spracklin of Knox County. 

Deed: Mary Gofs of Union Twp., Washington Co., sold land to John Spracklin of Knox Co. on Jan. 24, 1837 and recorded in August 12, 1837. The deed was for $250. Witnesses were S. Bartlett and Andrew Lake. Description of Land: ” …following described lots a parcel of land to wit, one tract situate in said State of Ohio, in the fourteenth Range and Sixth Township of the United States Military lands, so called, containing fifty acres, bounded as follows beginning at the South East corner of a tract of land deeded the 19 of April 1815 by Solomon Gofs to Elizabeth Lake, hence that 24 chains to lands deeded to same day by Solomon Gofs to Levi Gofs, hence South 20 chs 38 1/3 links, thence East 24 chains, then North 20 chs 83 1/3 links to the place of Beginning, likewise one other tract of fifty acres deeded by Elizabeth and Andrew Lake to me 26th Dec 1816 situate in the aforesaid Military lands in Range 14, Township Sixth, both of these tracts were conveyed to Solomon Goss by Zacheus Biggs on the 28th of July 1802, being a part of four hundred and fifty acres conveyed by said Biggs to the said Solomon Gofs on that day.” 

Source:  Knox County, Ohio Deeds, Vol. R. pg. 354, FHL #314044.

Mary will follow her brother Solomon Goss (Jr.) and his family to Iowa.

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Noah Goss, A Mystery!

Noah Goss is sort of a mystery, at least he is to me.  I have tried to learn more about him, a son of Solomon Goss and Olive (Scott) Goss.

Noah Goss was born 24 June 1782 which means he probably was born in what is presently called Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.  This is the area around Wilkes-Barre that was under the ownership of Connecticut at the time and the land squabbles between Pennsylvania and Connecticut were still going on.   The Revolutionary War was ending so it might have been safe for Solomon and Olive to be living in the area?  

The only record I have found on Noah’s birth is from the information on his tombstone in the Green Valley Cemetery in Knox County located next to his sister’s tombstone - Lydia (Goss) Spracklin.  It states he was 51 years old at his death.  His death date is 18 July 1833 and the age at his death is 51 years.  This means he was born about 1782.

Noah Goss Tombstone

 

As you can see from his tombstone it is standing, but it is damaged and there is evidence that it is flaking.  Someone fixed it for you see at the base what looks like a circular line of new cement.  Fortunately, his grave stone has been recorded and published.  Find A Grave has another photo and description of his tombstone.   

 

Noah Goss more detail

 

Noah Goss

 

The actual date of birth comes from the manuscripts of Flora Montanye Osborn “Additions to the Cooley Family,” The Detroit Society for Genealogical Research Magazine, Vol. VII, No. 1, Sept-Oct, 1943.  This magazine can actually be found in a large public library, or the Family History Library.  You can contact the Burton Historical Collection at the Detroit Public Library or  seek out the “Keziah Cooley Goss Chapter of the D.A.R., May 3, 1942, Yearbook 1943-1944, FHL#940938 Items 4-5.”

 

Where Flora found this information is unclear.  I suspect she might have learned of these dates through her family connections because she cared for several of the elderly children of Levi Goss, Noah’s younger brother.  Believe me I have tried to find  her sources but have not been able to locate her actual research files which I had hoped might be at some archive in the Ann Arbor area of Michigan? I know that she was a member of the Detroit Society for Genealogical Research but they don’t seem to have her files? Flora did a lot of research on the Goss family back in the 1940′s and is the great-granddaughter of Levi Goss.  She died in 1951 and is buried in the Rice Cemetery near Milan, Michigan.  I will post more on Flora and her work at a later time.

 

As far as I know, Noah did not marry.  If he did it is not recorded in Washington County or in Knox County, Ohio marriage records or indexes which I have studied on several occasions.

 

Ohio Historical Society Reading Room

 

The circumstances of his death would be interesting to know.   I have not been able to find an obituary notice or article about his death either in the newspapers or the abstracted newspaper publications of  Knox County, Ohio.   The newspapers in Ohio are a tough record to search as I learned on my visit there in August of 2007 and again in 2011.  A lot of issues are missing.  There is the fact that they just didn’t publish death information like obituaries until much later.  Still I gave it a valiant try and if you have ever done newspaper research you know it can be slogging work!  I also checked the county abstracted published newspaper books and did not find anything that was of significance. 

 

An estate file has not been found for Noah Goss in Knox County, Ohio where he died.  I have looked at the probate indexes at the Knox County courthouse annex on two occasions and studied the microfilms done by the Family History Library and have had no luck. 

 

What little I know of Noah has come from two deeds that he was involved with. 

 

One is when his father Solomon Goss sold to him the land in Knox County, Ohio and the other is when Noah turned around and sold it to a Stephen Minton.

 

Deed dated  October 2nd, 1815:  Deed of Solomon Goss of Fearing Twp., Washington Co., Ohio selling land to Noah Goss his eldest son in Knox Co., Ohio for $200 (100 acres). Witnesses were Simon Porter and Solomon Goss Jr. and Joel Tuttle JP. Description of Land: ” …certain tract or parcel of Land, Situate and being in said State of Ohio, in the Fourteenth Range & Sixth Township of the United States Military Lands so called, containing one hundred acres, being part of a – tract of Land deeded to me the said Solomon Goss by Zaccheus Biggs July 28th, 1802, Refference thereunto being had, and is butted and bounded as follows, beginning at the North West corner of the tract, Thence Running East Forty eight Chains, Thence South Twenty Chains 83 1/3 Links Thence West Forty eight Chains to the West line of said Tract, Thence North Twenty Chains 83 1/3 Links to the place of beginning.” Knox County, Ohio Deeds, FHL#314037, Vol. B-C pg. 276.  

 

S. Goss to son Noah Goss: Deed

 

 

Deed Dated:  Dec. 15, 1815:  Deed in which Noah Goss sold his land to Stephen Minton of Morris Twp., Knox Co., Ohio on Dec. 15, 1815 recorded in Dec. 16, 1815 and witnessed by Benjn Hillman and Benj. Barney also JP. Description of the land: ” …certain tract or parcel of land, situate and Being in the said State of Ohio in the Second Section, Fourteenth Range and Sixth Township of United States Military Lands so called, containing one hundred acres, being part of a tract deed to Solomon Goss by Zaccheus Biggs July the 28th 1802, Reference thereunto being had – And butted and bounded as follows, Beginning at the North West corner of said tract, thence running East forty eight chains, Thence South Twenty chains 83 1/3 links, Thence forty eight chains to the West line of said tract Thence North Twenty chains & Eighty three & 1/3 links to the place of beginning. To Have and To hold the said….”  Knox County, Ohio Deeds FHL #314037, Vol. B-C pg. 320.

 

Solomon Goss (Sr.) prepared a series of deeds for all but one of his living children in 1815.  They are recorded in Knox County, Ohio deeds.  Normally in a deed, relationships are not stated, but much to my delight they are in these deeds.   

 

 

 

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Solomon and Olive Goss’s Family!

It is now time to turn to my research on Solomon and Olive (Scott) Goss, my 4th great grandparents, who lived their lives during major conflicts like the American Revolution, the Wyoming Massacre and the Connecticut and Pennsylvania land wars.  Life was probably good when they were young children but once their parents decided to move to the Wyoming Valley near the Susquehanna River in about 1769, things got very interesting and probably difficult? Connecticut claimed the area and Pennsylvania was not happy.  Then about 23 years later Solomon left Pennsylvania around 1792-1793 and headed for Ohio which was virgin lands. 

Wyoming Valley!

The marriage date for Solomon and Olive’s marriage is given as 25 June 1776.  Unfortunately and even with a lot of searching I have not found a primary source for this marriage and a location.  I have tried vital and church records for Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania.  I have studied every possible piece of history about the Wyoming Valley area.  I would call it a comprehensive search but not necessarily exhaustive.  I visited the Wilkes-Barre area, Connecticut and Massachusetts investigating their resources but nothing has come up on this marriage. 

So I have placed their marriage in Plymouth, now Pennsylvania, across the river from Wilkes-Barre based on their parents land holdings at the time and land records for Solomon Goss.* I refer you to the map above (Microsoft Streets & Trips).  Click on the map and it should open up into a bigger screen, just remember to hit the back button to return to this blog. 

I will discuss Solomon and Olive’s earlier years in more detail in the future and their origins, so this topic of their marriage will be revisited.  If anyone has any primary or even a secondary source (church, bible)  for this marriage and a location please leave a comment. 

The Second Continental Congress voted in favor of independence on July 2, 1776, so they married just days before this momentous event.   Here is a link to a timeline about the American Revolution.

http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/revwartimeline.htm

Try this link for the conflict over the land between Connecticut and Pennsylvania as a start:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennamite-Yankee_War

Wyoming Massacre:
http://www.colcohist-gensoc.org/Essays/wyomingmassacre.htm
 

The Susquehanna River - Wilkes-Barre 2008

Solomon and Olive had a family of seven (7) children.

1.  Elizabeth Goss was born 9 December either 1777 or 1778 in the Wyoming Valley probably in Plymouth.  She married Andrew Lake on 17 May 1798 (1797?) in Washington County, Ohio and raised a large family.  Andrew and Elizabeth are buried in the Rainbow Cemetery in Washington County, Ohio.  

2. Noah Goss was born 24 June 1782 probably in the Wyoming Valley (Plymouth).  As far as I am aware Noah never married.  Noah died the 18th of July 1833 and  is buried next to his sister Lydia in the Green Valley Cemetery in Knox County, Ohio. 

3.  Mary Goss was born 4 March 1785 probably in the Wyoming Valley (Plymouth).  Mary didn’t marry but she followed her brother Solomon Goss (Jr.) to Hardin County, Ohio and then to Iowa and is buried probably in Henry County, Iowa.  She died before the 13th of April 1859 in Mt. Pleasant, Henry Co., Iowa. 

4.  Solomon Goss  was born about 5 May 1788 probably in the Wyoming Valley (Plymouth) in Pennsylvania.  He married Mary (Polly) Coburn Devol on 19 November 1812 in Washington County, Ohio.  They lived on his father’s land till about 1832 when Solomon sold it an migrated to Hardin County, Ohio settling near Peter Spracklin the father of his brother-in-law John Andrews Spracklin who married his sister Lydia.  For ease of identification I usually refer to him as “Jr.”  Solomon Goss (Jr.) died 1 November 1864 in Oskaloosa, Mahaska Co., Iowa (death provided by an online source).  Back in 2003 I traveled to Iowa.  I did not blog about that trip so I will share in future posts. 

5.  Daniel Goss was born 23 September 1790 per his tombstone.  He died 18 November 1868 in Belpre, Washington County, Ohio.  He married  Lydia Ackley on 13 August 1813 in Washington County.  He is buried in the Rockland Cemetery in Belpre, Washington County, Ohio.  Lydia Goss is listed in the death records of Washington County as passing on the 20th of October 1873 in Belpre, Washington County, Ohio.  I do not know where she is buried?

6.  Levi Goss or rather the Rev. Levi Goss was born 22 October 1793  maybe in the Wyoming Valley or somewhere on route with his parents to Ohio.  He married Sophia Rummerfield (no record yet found) probably in northern New York state and he died on 31 March 1872 in Medina Township, Lenawee County, Michigan.  He is buried with his family and wife in the Goss Cemetery west of Morenci, Michigan. I visited Levi on a earlier trip to Ohio in 2007 and I will share what I found in later posts. 

Levi is the great-grandfather of Flora Montanye Osborn.  Flora contributed to the research on the Goss family back in the 1920′s to the 1940′s.  She was a member of the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) and Mayflower. She corresponded with Paul H. Goss who wrote many manuscripts and articles on the Goss Family.  In the future, I will write about these two individuals and their contributions to the body of knowledge of the Goss family. 

7.  Lydia Goss was born 8 June 1796 probably either in what was eventually called Cincinnati or maybe in what became Dayton, Ohio? The history books of the Montgomery County area state that another male child was the first-born in Dayton?  One of Lydia’s children’s obituaries told the story that Lydia was the first child born in Dayton!  More on this in a later post.  Lydia married John Andrews Spracklin on the 19th of July 1819 in Washington County, Ohio.  She and John are buried with Noah and Ida in the Green Valley Cemetery in Knox County very close to the land that was bequeathed in a deed in 1815 to Lydia by her father Solomon Goss.  Lydia and John A. Spracklin are my 3rd great grandparents and this is my link to the Goss family through her father Solomon. 

8.  David Goss was born probably sometime in the late 1790′s in Washington County but so far no record has been found of his birth or his death which might be about 1810 in Fearing Township, Washington County, Ohio? I will discuss David a little more in a future post.  Not much is known about David but he is usually confused with his brother Daniel. 

NOTES:  Susquehannah was spelled with an “h” at the end in the beginning and then it was later dropped. 

The Wyoming Valley is located in Northeastern Pennsylvania and I found this online series of maps that might help to show it in more detail: 
http://www.mapcenter.org/community/wv-model.html
  My map above is not as detailed and I am focusing more on the area that was specific to the Goss, Scott and allied families.

*******

Sources:   Here are the general categories of the sources used: Washington County, Ohio vital records, Washington County Cemetery Records, cemetery visits, tombstone photographs, the manuscripts and articles of Paul H. Goss and Flora Montanye Osborn, DAR Applications, compiled indexes, estate files, county history books, deeds, tax lists,  U.S. Federal Census, family histories and more.  Each child and their family will be discussed in more detail in future posts with sources. 

*If you have ancestry in this area of Pennsylvania that has been discussed in this post, you will need to study the writings and books of Donna Bingham Munger.  Her Connecticut’s Pennsylvania “Colony” 1754-1810 Volumes:  Proprietors, Settlers and Claimants are a must.  This link to Amazon has them for sale.  However, you should be able to find copies in your local large library, archive or genealogical society.  Donna, my friend, took many sources and created a detailed index of the land records for the area.  I have seen some of these sources and they are not easy to read.  This three volume set can be of great help to researchers .   

Connecticut's Pennsylvania "Colony": Susquehanna Company Proprietors, Settlers and Claimants, Volume 2 The Settlers

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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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Previous Travels: In Search of Family History!

Traveling to a family history location is very important to me.   So, I have made a big effort to go to as many family history locations as I can manage! 

In April 2011, I traveled to Massachusetts and Connecticut to go in search of Goss and Barclay ancestors.  I described my experiences on that trip in the blog:  Massachusetts Meanderings and More!!  I visited cities like Brookfield, Lancaster, Becket, Granville and more.   I studied the graves at several cemeteries like the Old Indian Cemetery in Brookfield where Capt. Philip Goss and Judith (Hayward) Goss are buried.  They are Solomon’s great great grandparents. 

Old Indian Cemetery, West Brookfield, MA 2011

Going further back to 2008,  I traveled to Pennsylvania and shared that experience in the blog:  Pennsylvania Wanderings…!   That blog was about my trip to the Wilkes-Barre and Luzerne County area where Philip Goss and Mary (Kendall) Goss settled.  That blog is a bit old and some links are broken but rather than fix those links I left them alone.  The blog still has good information such as pictures of the towns, historical sites and cemeteries that are part of the Goss history. 

Forty Fort - Nothing is left of the old fort

The recent trip to Massachusetts is where the Goss family came from in Massachusetts, and the Pennsylvania trip was where my line of the Goss family went to.   One day I will return to Boston and head west and see if I cannot dig further into the family history.  

There are many more trips taken to search for family history that I did not blog about. 

In June of 2003 I traveled with my husband to Plymouth, Massachusetts and visited the Mayflower Society Museum and Library and  I spent four lovely days researching sources in the  Library behind the big house.  I even managed the research although I had a cold.  During this same trip, we traveled to Boston so my husband could attend a conference there.  I took the opportunity to visit the New England Historic and Genealogical Library and the Boston Public Library where I found more sources and information. 

The Mayflower Society House, Plymouth, MA

I have traveled on three separate occasions to the DAR Library in Washington D.C.  The first in 2000, the second in 2008 and recently in 2011.  I shared the 2011 experience in the Massachusetts blog and a little of my experience in 2008 in the Pennsylvania blog.   I spent a great deal of time searching sources when I was at this library. 

D.A.R. 2008

There have been several trips to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City where there are many sources to study and discover.  I have been there in the hot summer and during a snow storm.  The Family History Library is going through a major change and within the next 10 years they should have digitized their collection.  A lot of sources are being posted online that can be accessed from home while others are only accessed there at the library. 

In August of 2007, the Federation of Genealogical Society and APG were having a conference in Fort Wayne.  I knew I had to go and visit the Allen County Library.  They had just opened up the brand new library.  The curious creature that I am, I realized that Ohio was only two hours to the east with Michigan about the same.  I did not blog that trip but I will share some highlights in this blog.  This trip was in search of Spracklin, Goss, Delano and Keller family history. 

The header photo of this blog is the Lee Cemetery in Hardin County, Ohio where Peter and Elizabeth “Betty” (Andrews) Spracklin and some of their children rest.

All the repositories that I have mentioned are excellent facilities to do research on the Goss family and more.  I have had some great discoveries and some disappointments but I am glad I had these opportunities.  I have been blessed to have the chance to travel a great deal in search of my family history!

I am not done yet, I am off to Ohio for the second time in August 2011.  I will share some of my experiences in this blog.

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