The Family of Daniel Goss and Lydia (Ackley) Goss

Daniel Goss  married on 13 August 1813 in Washington County, Ohio to Lydia Ackley born about 1795 in Connecticut.  She died 20 October 1873 in Belpre, Washington Co., Ohio per the death records there. 

Source:  Probate Court, Washington County, Ohio, Washington Co. Marriage Records, V1-3, FHL #0941958.  Or you can go to the courthouse and view the books which are copies of the index.

I cannot determine where Lydia is buried.  It is possible she is with Daniel in an unmarked grave in Rockland Cemetery.  She may have had a sister named Clarissa. I do not know anything about Lydia’s parents.

The 1820, 1830 and 1840 U.S. Federal Census for Belpre are statistical.  Only Daniel Goss appears as the head.  The rest is in numbers.  I have tried to present here a table of those three census for Daniel Goss to get an idea of how his family looked during those years.  It is a summary not the complete census. 

We see that Daniel was consistent at 5 members to the family during those years.  A next step would be to compare the family names from the other census years to see how they might fit with these statistics. I will let others take a crack at it. 

Note:  To view the table click on it to open in a larger page and then hit the back arrow to return to this blog.

Census 1820-1840

Daniel and Lydia are in the 1850 census for Belpre, Washington Co., Ohio:

Line 6 – 168/175 Daniel Gofs (Goss) age 59, Farmer $2,000, born in Virginia, Lydia Gofs, age 54 born in Conn., Thomas B. Hibbard, 28, Farmer, born in NY, Sarah H.P., 25 born in Ohio, Santha I. Rosencrans, age 11, born in Ohio, Lucy D. Rosencrans age 9, born in Ohio, [Lawrence] Linn age 9 born in Ohio.

Source:  1850 U.S. Federal Census, Belpre Township, Washington Co., Ohio, pg. 325, FHL# M653_1049. Ancestry.com.

They are still listed in the 1860 Census but a Thomas Hibbard is the head of household.

1109/916 Thomas Hibbard 38 yrs. $4000/$2095, Born New York. Hibbard, Sarah M. 36 born Ohio, Edna 9, born Ohio, Sarah, 5 born Ohio, Daniel Goss 70, laborer, born Virginia, Lydia age 65, born Conn., Lucy P. Rosecrans age 17 born Ohio

Source:  1860 U.S. Federal Census, Belpre Twp., Washington Co., Ohio, pg. 282 FHL# M423_738.  Ancestry.com.

In the 1870 Census Lydia is still alive.

Line 1, 1, 1, Hibbard, Thos. 49, M, w, Farmer, $6000, $1100. Born NY.  Hibbard, Sarah M, 44, F, W. keeping house, born Ohio. Hibbard, Edna A, 19, F, W. teaching school, born Ohio.  Hibbard, Sarah A., 15, F, W. assisted at home, born Ohio. Goss, Lydia, 74, F, W. aid in house keeping, Connecticut. Rosecrans, Lucy 28, F, W. aid in house keeping, born in Ohio

Source:  1870 U.S. Federal Census, Belpre Twp., Washington Co., Ohio, M593=1278, Pg. 50A FHL#552777. Ancestry.com.

Line 33, 475, 486, Hibbard, Thomas B. w, m. 59. farmer. NY, Vermont, NY.  Hibbard, Sarah M, W, F, 54, wife, Ohio, VA, Conn. Hibbard, Ada S., W, h, 25, daughter, Ohio, NY, Ohio. Rosecrans, Lucy D., w, h, 36 adopted daughter, Ohio, VA, VA.

Source:  1880 U.S. Federal Census, Belpre Township, Washington Co., Ohio, FHL#1255075, pg. 66B, Roll #1075. Ancestry.com.

More about this family is featured in the book:  History of Marietta and Washington County on pages 1134 to 1135: The Thomas Birt Hibbard family sketch which gives a great deal of detail about Thomas.  It is very long so I will only emphasize certain parts:

Thomas Birt Hibbard deceased who spent half a century of his active life in Belpre township, was born near Sacket Harbor, New York, December 1, 1821 and died April 26, 1902.  He is the son of James S. Hibbard, a former resident of Sacket Harbor, who located in Athens County, Ohio, when the subject of these lines was but eighteen months old…

He married (James the father) Lucy Blanchard, whose mother’s maiden name was Birt, which was adopted by the subject of this sketch as his middle name….

Mr. Hibbard was the eldest of nine children who grew to maturity:  Sophia, Henry, Joliette, Clark, Louisa, Mary, Rudolph and Lucy…

He was joined in marriage with Sarah Porter, a daughter of Samuel Porter, who was a native of Massachusetts, but went west and settled in Ohio, near Little Hocking, in the early part of the history of Washington County. 

Mr. Hibbard and his wife reared two daughters, Edna A and Sarah A, both of whom are deceased.  Edna married Prof. Guthrie and their union was blessed with two children – Frank H. and Hattie A., wife of William Ellwood.  Sarah A. married William Richards and five children were born to them, as follows:  Birth H, Ruby, Garnet, Victor and Emerald.  

Mrs. Hibbard crossed the river of death to the life beyond, September 16, 1894 aged seventy-seven years.  She was a devout member of the Congregational Church.

The foregoing notes were furnished to the publishers of this book by Lucy D. Rosecrans, or Lucy Goss, as she is more commonly known, as a tribute to the memory of Mr. Hibbard. Lucy D. Rosecrans is a niece of the illustrious Gen. (Wm. Stark) Rosecrans and also of Bishop (S.H.) Rosecrans, formerly of Cincinnati. When but two weeks old, she was adopted by Daniel Goss and his wife (of Belpre Township). She has two brothers, Columbus and Eli, both residents of California (1902).”

On line family trees at Ancestry have her name as Sarah M. Goss Parker giving her a totally different set of parents other than Daniel or Lydia? Unfortunately the trees at Ancestry do not give sources.  I have not contacted the individuals of those trees.

The above information states Thomas Birt Hibbard married a Sarah Parker.  They had Edna A. and Sarah A.   

I can see that there will need to be some serious digging into Daniel and Lydia’s family connections in order to sort out the family relationships.  Studying the Rosecranz family and also Thomas Birt Hibbard’s life in Belpre and the Parker family. 

The 1900 Census shows that Thomas is alone except for Lucy Rosecranz who is living with him.  Besides the fac that his name is creatively spelled we see that her relationship to him is not indicated? The wd is crossed off and a 2 is next to it and that is very puzzling? 

line 20, 232, 232 Hitlard, Thomas, Head, w, m, Dec 1821, 77, wd 2, 2 born 1 living, New York, father born Vermont, mother born New York,  Farmer, 0, yes, yes, yes, O, F, F, 127.  Rosrecrans, Lucy, w. F, Feb 1841, 59, S, 0, 0, born Ohio, father born Germany, mother born Virginia, yes, yes, yes, O, F, F, 128.

I leave Daniel with many questions yet to ask about his and Lydia’s life in Belpre.  In the photo below you are looking southeast. Rockland is a big cemetery with many secitons.  The small stone with the person laying next to it is Daniel’s.  My hubby was trying for more details.

Rockland Cemetery Overview

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Daniel Goss a Man of Conviction, Belpre, Ohio!

Belpre Water Towers

Daniel Goss was another son of Solomon Goss and Olive (Scott) Goss. He migrated to Belpre, Ohio to live.  Belpre is about 14 miles south of Marietta.  You follow the highway as it curves south along the Ohio river.  Belpre is tucked in along the north edge of the river as it turns west and then curves south.      

Daniel is often confused with a possible younger brother David Goss. Daniel was 10 years older than his younger brother.   

Daniel was born 23 September 1790.  The census indicates that he was born in Virginia, which is very interesting. 

West Virginia was not established till June 20, 1863 when it seceded from Virginia during the Civil War long after the death of Solomon Goss, the father.  One of the goals I have had is to track Solomon Goss and determine the route he took to get to Ohio from Eastern Pennsylvania. If Daniel was born in Virginia, this means that a search of Virginia records is in order.  I have done some research into deeds in Williamstown, West Virginia looking for his brother-in-law John Andrews Spracklin.  I didn’t have much luck. This is another item for the ToDo list. 

Daniel died 18 November 1868 in Belpre, Washington Co., Ohio according to his tombstone (see below).  He is not listed in the death records at the courthouse, which is very curious? He is buried in Rockland Cemetery, Belpre, Washington Co., Ohio.

Daniel Goss 1890 to 1868

It reads:  Daniel Goss, Born Sept 23, 1790, Died Nov. 18, 1868, Ae 75 yrs, 1 mos. and 25 days. There is more wording on the tombstone and so far it escapes me what is written there?  

The publication I consulted didn’t give any more detail about what was written on the tombstone.  (Click the photo and it will open to a bigger picture but don’t forget to click the back button to return to this post.)

Source:  Rockland Cemetery Inscriptions, Belpre Twp., Washington Co., Ohio FHL#977.198 V3r, pg. 92, 1982, by the Washington County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society. 

FindAGrave has a listing for this cemetery but no Daniel nor Lydia is mentioned. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&GSln=McCualsky&GSiman=1&GScnty=2123&CRid=42977&pt=Rockland%20Cemetery& 

The USGenweb Archives Ohio has more information and photographs and no Daniel or Lydia Goss:   http://www.usgwarchives.net/oh/washington/photos1-index.html

I was so happy to find his tombstone and view it.  There was no stone for his wife Lydia and actually no stones close around him.  It is possible she is there but not identified? 

The Belpre Historical Society is updating the cemetery transcriptions and trying to make it easier to find the stones.  I called them before I went to Ohio and they were very helpful.  They gave me the section and lot number so I could find him easily. Rockland is not a small cemetery. 

Belpre Historical Society, Belpre, OH

Rockland Cemetery is south of Hwy 32/7 and best reached via Hwy 618 or the James A. Rhodes Appalachian Hwy/Washington Blvd.  The cross street is Victor St. 

On July 1, 1815 Daniel Goss applies for a license for the purpose of manufacturing or making leather.  A bond is made for $300.00.  This was signed by Daniel Goss.  Followed by a James Whitney and Wm. Skinner as securities. This document was in the Special Collections at the Marietta College.  It is several pages and very fragile.

License to Make Leather!

Daniel acquires land in a deed on  2 October 1815 from his father Solomon Goss for the land in Knox Co., Ohio.  In this deed Solomon refers to Daniel as his “third son of the Town of Bell-Pree.”  There are two pages for this deed.  Here only one page is featured.

Daniel Goss was very active in Belpre. 

pg. 506 Belpre Twp. – Prior to 1815 Daniel Goss, a native of New England, settled near Miles mill. Thos. Burt Hibbard owned the place in 1858 and in 1875 according to maps of those dates. He (Daniel) had a tan-yard. He was a leader in the Methodist Church, and helped organize its first society.”

pg. 519: Belpre Twp. – During the fall and winter of 1820-21 a soc. was organized (Meth Episcopal), there being the first class books thirteen names, as follows: Daniel GOSS and his wife Lydia, Samuel Hooper, Clarissa Ackley, William P. Howe, A. Gridley, Eliz. Howe, Leroy Gridley, Susan Oaks, Susan O’Brien, Chester and Caroline Gridley and Louis Bradford. Daniel Goss, who was one of the most energetic of the early Methodists, was appointed class leader. Among his papers there were found the old subscription paper for the building of the church: – in this list Daniel gave $40.00 in a long list and Solomon Goss gave $2.00.

A log church was built near the forks of the Little Hocking north of Centre Belpre (or Porterfield), of which church there is now (1881) no vestige. The quarterage paid in 1821 and 22 was twelve dollars and 13 1/4 cents, and was subscribed in the following sums: Daniel Goss, cash $2.50 etc.

The Cedarville Church – By the year 1832 the Methodists in Belpre decided to build a house of worship at Cedarville, on the Ohio. Daniel Goss and Daniel Ellenwood were among the first trustees and members of the building committee.

Source:  1788-1881 History of Washington County, Ohio with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, published by H.O. Williams & Bros in 1881 and reprinted in 1976.  Sponsored by the Washington Co. Historical Society. Please note that there are several history books on Washington Co., Ohio and it can get confusing.  Porterville and Cedarville do not show on current maps having become part of Belpre.   Historic Map Works has a great Belpre Township map for 1875.  You can find Cedarville on the Ohio just as it turns west and across from Blennerhassett’s Island.  Further west by the “Belpre Middle Settlment” is the name T. Hibbard.  This was the former land own by Daniel Goss. Apparently the use of Porterville was gone by 1875 and it was known as Centre Belpre. 

Daniel appears in another history that covers Belpre:

pg. 112: The Temperance Reform – Daniel Goss, Perley and Wm. P. Howe, Geo. Dana Sen. and O.R. Loring…prompt in this work. It was the custom in earlier years when neighbors gathered for a “Raising Bee’ to lubricate them freely with whiskey, but the sentiment of the Christian men in Belpre was so far advanced that when the frame of the Methodist Meeting House in Rockland was raised in 1832, no ardent spirits were provided. This is said to have been the first frame so raised in Washington County…”

 http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/Controversies/The-American-Temperance-Society.html

pg. 121: Chapter XII, Slavery and the Underground Railroad: “There were in Belpre — people gloried in the name of “Abolitionists’ though it was given to them by both Whigs and Loco Focos, as a term of reproach. Among these were Capt. John and Mr. Jonathan Stone, Perley Howe, Daniel GOSS, Joseph Smith, T. B. Hibbard and others in different parts of the town.”

Underground Railroad in Belpre, OH

More on the underground railroad in Southeastern Ohio http://henryburke1010.tripod.com/id60.html

I can’t help myself but Wikipedia gives this explanation for the term Loco Focos:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locofocos 

Pages 183-185 – Methodist Churches – there were occasional services held by itinerating Methodist ministers from Virginia in various homes in the township but the commencement of this part of the history was in 1820 when a class of thirteen members was organized with Daniel GOSS as leader. Of this number two soon withdrew and two were expelled leaving nine. About this time a log meeting house was erected near the Little Hocking about one mile north of Porterfield Station, and in the vicinity of the home of Daniel Goss. All traces of this building have disappeared….

About April 1st, 1832 work was commenced on the proposed meeting house and the 9th of June following, the third quarterly meeting was held in the building. The work was greatly facilitated by the memorable flood of 1832 on which the lumber was floated by Daniel Ellenwood from the mill on Little Hocking. This is memorable as being the first building in Belpre Twp. that was raised without liquor and at which there was neither accident nor want of help. In 1842, Daniel Goss was leader of Class No. 2 which met in the church.”

Source:  A History of Belpre, Washington Co., by C.E. Dickinson D.D., Ohio, Globe Printing & Binding Co., 1920. This book is online at the Internet Archive. 

In still another history book:  History of Marietta and Washington Co., Ohio

pg. 390 – Barlow Methodist Episcopal Church…

pg. 391: The Barlow Methodist Episcopal Church. The site of the present (1902) church was selected and deeded by Jesse Lawton and John M. Proctor to John Houghland, Luman Richards, David Ormiston, Daniel Goss, and Jacob Bridges, trustees (1836).”

Source:  History of Marietta and Washington Co., Ohio and Representative Citizens, Edited and compiled by Martin R. Andrews, M.A., Biographical Publishing Co., 1902.

I was unable to locate an estate file for Daniel but I did find a deed. This deed was dated July 10, 1867 and recorded a year later July 13, 1868.  It is in FHL#935960 Vol. 68 pg. 343 of Washington Co., deeds.  Daniel Goss, Gilbert O’Neal, Samuel Barkley, Thomas McFarland and Jesse Pride are the Grantors and they are selling land to Grantee John Edswick for $5.00, in Cedarville, Ohio.  This is a quit claim deed. The men listed as Grantors are the Trustees of the ME Church. The description is very detailed regarding the land being sold. It is interesting that this was recorded just months before Daniel’s death. 

Daniel was listed as an heir in the estate file of his sister Mary Goss.  See the post on this blog dated:  December 18, 2011 “Mary Follows Her Brother Solomon Goss to Iowa!” 

Daniel Goss was apparently a man of conviction and faith.  In the next post Daniel’s marriage to Lydia Ackley will be discussed.

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Notes:  I was surprised to find the sign (see above) regarding the Underground Railroad in Southeastern Ohio outside the Belpre Historical Society.  Later we were returning to Columbus to fly home, my husband and I drove up Hwy 77 and turned west on Hwy 70 and we stopped in Zanesville. 

We went to the Pioneer & Historical Society of Muskingum County, Ohio and learned about the town being divided in half on the issue of slavery and that if was very dangerous to assist runaway slaves.  In the house was a hiding place for the runaway slaves under the floor.  It looked very small and cramped.  If you click the link to this society you will find another name mentioned.  Does the name Rufus Putnam mean anything to you?

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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.

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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 .   

http://www.amazon.com/Connecticuts-Pennsylvania-Colony-Susquehanna-Proprietors/dp/0788442392

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