In search of the final resting place of Solomon Goss & Olive (Scott) Goss

Now that I have shared my findings regarding Solomon Goss’es will, I would like to share about my search for the final resting place of Solomon, Olive and David and Solomon Goss Jr’s two babies, while visiting the area of Marietta in September 2011.

Sadly, I was not successful in locating their graves.  I did give it a very good try.  Finding them with their stones would answer a lot of questions.  Here is what I did.

1.  I personally visited as many cemeteries as I could during the time I had. I noted their establishment dates like Rainbow, Harmar, Mound, Oak Grove, Berg, Rockland, and Waterford. Mound and Oak Grove are in the town of Marietta and they have monuments to the early pioneers. They also have DAR and SAR memorial plaques and flags:

Blog Posts about various cemeteries I visited:

1. Marietta and Washington County – A Dream Come True!, dated Sept. 13, 2011.  This post featured a little about Mound and Oak Grove and mentions my visits to Rainbow, Watertown, Rockland and Harmar.

http://sgossfamily.wordpress.com/2011/09/13/marietta-and-washington-county-a-dream-come-true/

2. Rainbow Cemetery was featured in the post The Lakes: Rainbow Cemetery, Washington County, Ohio, dated October 31, 2011:

http://sgossfamily.wordpress.com/2011/10/31/the-lakes-rainbow-cemetery-washington-co-ohio/

3. The Family of Daniel Goss and Lydia Ackley Goss, April 9, 2012 features Rockland Cemetery in Belpre.

http://sgossfamily.wordpress.com/2012/04/09/the-family-of-daniel-goss-and-lydia-ackley-goss/

I will present more of my photographs from my cemetery tour of Washington County in the next posts:  Mound, Oak Grove, Harmar, Berg, and Watertown.

2.  I studied as many of the published cemetery books for Washington County, Ohio, targeting the Marietta area and the Fearing Township area. The farther back a cemetery was recorded the better.  Some of these publications  are with the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.  I made an Excel spreadsheet as I studied the FHL records to keep track of my progress.  You will find that here in the form of a PDF:  SolomonGossCemSearch.  Some involved searching the newsletters of the genealogical and historical society for publications of the cemeteries in Washington County.  These publications cover established cemeteries not private ones.  I did not have time.

The Tallow Light is featured in the PDF – SolomonGossCemSearch.  It is the main publication of the Washington County Historical Society.

3. On my visit to Marietta, I visited the Washington County Public Library Genealogical and Historical Annex and searched their records, publications, maps and articles including the Jerry Devol collection. Mr. Devol has passed but he did leave his genealogical research which includes a lot of his cemetery research.  The volunteer at the annex, Lila Hill, is very knowledgeable and helpful and a member of the Washington Co. Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society.  Here is their website:  http://www.washogs.org/index.html

4.  I worked with Jean Yost, President of the Sons of the American Revolution Marietta Chapter who was very helpful.  They had a listing on their website of soldiers of the American Revolution from the area and Solomon Goss was included under their “Spirit of ’76 Patriots.”  http://mariettasar.com/spirit76.htm  Of course, there is more information and names at their website and it is definitely worth studying.

5. Mr. Yost gave me the name of the current owner of Solomon’s land in Fearing Twp. We both personally visited the land and met the owner. I do not publish the owners name out of respect for his privacy but I am willing to share if you contact me or leave a comment.

The current owner of Solomon Goss’es land told me he had never found nor located any burials on his property.  I took his word.  He further stated that he had lived there all his life and his parents had been there for a good 80 years.  He mentioned that there were other burials sites on farms near him. The area is very hilly and the roads are gravel.  They are very rough, very steep and have deep ruts.  My husband was brave in our rental car and drove up a steep hill with huge ruts to the Berg Cemetery which is on top of a big hill.  We did venture up to one area east of Solomon’s land which placed us on a ridge.  Again we climbed steep hills with gravel roads to get there.  My husband knocked on a door but no one was home. The farm was filled with lots of equipment, buildings, houses, junk and overgrown grass.  It was not a good idea to explore their land because we did not have permission and that would be trespassing.  So we decided to back off.  Much to my sadness, I was told that some of the farmers had plowed over burials.

6.  I studied online versions of cemetery lists for Washington County.

a.  Find A Grave is a good place to start.  They have Rainbow, Berg, Watertown, Harmar, Mound, Oak Grove, Oak Grove, Rockland and many more. I did not visit the Stanleyville Cemetery in Fearing Township but you will find it on Find A Grave. Caution:  Online listings are not always complete so check a publication as well or search out other alternatives.

b. The Washington County Cemetery Index was very helpful:  http://wchs-ohio.org/cem_index.htm  It gives a listing of the cemeteries and townships they are in and it also has a surname index.  There are no Goss listings.

c. Cemeteries in Fearing Twp are:

• Berg Church 1st Protestant 1846,
• Berg Old
• Saint Jacobs,
• Chapman
• Cherry
• St. Jacobs
• Flanders 1874,
• Gerkin,
• August Spindler Farm/Hobby Farm (Goldsmith) 1822,
• Lynch Church 1842,
• Miller
• Minor
• Mt. Ephraim,
• St. Jacob Church,
• Stanleyville 1806,
• Zimmer Family (Tuttle Family) 1817.

As you can see I was having trouble finding establishment dates for these cemeteries. I did not find any Goss names in any of these cemeteries.

In evaluating these cemeteries in my search I had to consider the religious affiliation (Protestant, Catholic, German etc.) as well.  See my  SolomonGossCemSearch PDF listed in #2 above for more detail.

The Washington Co. Public Library Annex has Cemetery readings for all except Gerkin, Cherry, and Miller.

7.  I called several historical societies like the one in Belpre for the Rockland Cemetery to find out where the grave of Daniel Goss was located and was informed they were updating their cemetery book.  I tried the Marietta Cemetery department but struck out.

8.  I was told by the President of the Washington County Historical Society that Marietta used to be a big shipping port and the ships would come in and the disease they brought would race up the Muskingum River valley wiping out many people.  They would bury people quickly and fast back in those days.  Did Olive and David get caught in one of these epidemics?

9.  There were floods on the Ohio and Muskingum River that destroyed graves.  Harmar Cemetery suffered greatly which is one of the oldest.

Solomon died in 1825.  Olive his wife and David his son probably died earlier before 1810 so those events took place 187 years ago.  See my previous post regarding Solomon’s will and my conclusions about the deaths of Olive and David.  I have seen how quickly a cemetery can be overcome with fallen and broken stones and the elements.

10.  The town government did not keep records of the cemeteries in the early years and many were moved as progress came.

The book “Mound Cemetery, Marietta, Ohio” by Owen Hawley is an excellent book published in 1996 by the Washington County Historical Society.  This book gives the history of the cemeteries in Marietta. I will share some of it in the post on the Mound Cemetery in following posts.

“Pioneer Cemeteries of Washington County,”  compiled by Mrs. C.R. Sloan.  ”Washington County (Ohio) Cemeteries 1789-1940,” by Mrs. Helen Hill Sloan, 1964.

Burials in Harmar Cemetery, Marietta, Ohio, Washington Co. Historical Society, April 1977

Oak Grove Cemetery, Marietta, Ohio Burials 1860-1920, by the Washington County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society

11.  The area around Rainbow was once a thriving community and it is possible that Solomon, Olive and David and Solomon Goss Jr’s two babies are buried in that area of Washington County, north and west of Marietta and west of Fearing Twp.  I personally visited Rainbow Cemetery.   I have posted about that cemetery.  See number #1 above for the link to the post I wrote on Rainbow.

12.  I have researched Solomon and Olive’s children trying to see if any information would shed light on the burial of their parents.  I have asked of descendants and cousins if they have any ideas or knowledge of the burials.

13.  Early vital records in Washington County were consulted.  Marriage is more widely published and death is very difficult to find before about 1867.

14.  I consulted the newspaper clipping files of the Washington County Historical Society and all I found was the estate notice that I have published in several posts in this blog regarding the Solomon Goss estate.  Here is a listing of Marietta newspapers I found in a Tallow Light publication.  As you read this list you see that there is a gap of missing issues right in the 1825 time period when Solomon died.

Marietta Newspapers and the years.

15.  I tried to find Obadiah Scott Jr’s resting place. He was Olive Scott Goss’es brother.  He is said to have been buried in the Waterford Cemetery/Round Bottom.  So we visited that cemetery but did not find any tombstone showing his burial. A Tallow Light publication did list him in the Waterford Landing Cemetery (Waterford Cemetery) on pg. 48 third from the bottom “Scott, Obadiah died 30 Nov. 1827 in 57th y.”

16.  I did find a listing for Wine Rood and Anne Andrews Rood and the Rood family in the Mound Cemetery in Marietta.  The Mound Cemetery book mentioned in #10 above has some good information about them.  Unfortunately when I visited the Mound Cemetery and searched out were they were buried I found no tombstones and that verifies what the Mound Cemetery book states. They are buried left of Rufus Putnam’s tombstone monument in the back north corner. Anne Andrews Rood is the sister of Elizabeth “Betty” Andrews Spracklin. I will talk about what I know about the Rood family in a future post.

In summary, I was traveling in an unfamiliar area with little time, so I had to target specific cemeteries and records.  I  feel that if the descendants of Solomon and Olive were to do more searching, it would require cultivating friendly connections to seek out further possibilities.  I did meet a lot of people while visiting Marietta and hopefully these contacts will remember me and something might turn up.

So Solomon, Olive, David and the two babies of Solomon Goss Jr. remain missing and I continue to dig into other records to learn about more them.

Read Full Post »

The Will of Solomon Goss 1810!

Solomon and Olive (Scott)  Goss had Elizabeth, Noah, Mary, Solomon Goss (Jr.), Daniel, Levi, Lydia and David.  I have posted about each of these individuals in past posts.

I have just begun with sharing about Lydia and her life and plan to do more.

It is time now to show the relationship of Solomon Goss to his children.

In 1810 Solomon Goss wrote his will and it was on file at the Washington County Courthouse for years.  What I share with you below is a transcription obtained by Flora Montanye Osborn sometime in the 1940′s.

Transcribed Version

I verified this transcription with the will in the court clerks version:

Source:  Probate Record, 1789-1855 Probate Court, Washington Co., Ohio, Index V A #FHL#946211 Under “G,” Will Record Vol. 4 pg. 132 and 133 FH#946211.  I did had a bit of trouble finding it in these films so do take your time it is there.  I also looked at the copy in the Washington County Courthouse books when visiting in there in 2011.

Solomon Goss Will pg 1

Solomon Goss Will pg 2

In the name of God, Amen; I Solomon Goss, of the Town of Fearing Co. of Washington and State of Ohio, Although laybouring at present under some indisposition of body, yet being of sound and disposing mind and memory and understanding through the mercey of God do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following.

First and principally I resign my soul with the utmost humility into the hands of Almighty God my Creator, humbly hopeing for a blessed immorality through the merits and mediation of my Saviour and Redeemer, Jesus Christ and my body I desire may be decently buried at the expense and discretion of my Executor. And as for such temporal Estate as the Lord in his great goodness and mercy hath instructed me to be Steward of, I give devise and dispose thereof as follows, I give and bequeath to my son Solomon Goss, my messuage of tenements wherein and wheron I now dwell with the appurtenances with all the privileges in any way or manor their unto belonging Sittuate in said Town of Fearing which is Lot No. — Allso all my personally property which I own or am in Lawful possession to the said Solomon with the exception of two cows. I give and bequeath to my sons, Noah, Daniel and Levi one hundred acres of land each and to my three daughters Elizabeth Lake, Mary and Lydia Goss fifty acres of land each, which land thus bequeathed to my three sons and three daughfters lyeth in what is called the Milletary tract of land in Range 14 Twp. 6th N. East Corner of Section 2nd to be equally divided among them in joint of Quallity & according to quantity. I do also give and bequeath to my two daughters Mary and Lydia Goss one cow each, being the two cows above reserved which will be left in the hands of my Executor. The one to Mary in three months after my deceas the one to Lydia in three months after she arrives to the years of eighteen if they then demand them, or any time thereafter. An I do hereby will and appoint that my Executor shall pay all cost and charge that he shall be put to in the Execution of this Will and I do hereby revoke all other Wills by me formerly made, and declair this only to be my last Will and Testament and appoint my son Solomon Goss Executor there of in Witness whereof I the said Solomon Goss have to the first side of this sheet of this my will set my hand to this last side being the second my hand and seal, in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and ten Twenty sixth day of March.

Solomon Goss (SEAL)

Signed, Sealed, Published and declared by the said Testator Solomon Goss as, and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto in the presence of the said Testator.

Robert Baird
Thomas Stanley
Lucy Stanley

Flora stopped at this point but I found more in the court clerk book and I transcribed it as best I could:

The State of Ohio – Common pleas April 1828

Washington Co., PA — This judgment of writing purporting to be the last will and testament of Solomon Goss late of Fearing in this County deceased was presented in court for probate. Whereupon Percy Blake the late Lucy Stanley being sworn deposed and said that she and Thomas Stanley and Robert Baud, with the latter now deceased, subscribed their names as witnesses to the said will in the presence and at the request of the testor who at that time was of sound mind. And ____Warner being also sworn he and the said Percy Blake both deposed and said that the name of Thomas Stanley subscribed as a witness to said will is the proper hand writing of the said Thomas Stanley now deceased, they having frequently seen him write, and being acquainted with his hand writing and therefore the said will and probate thereof are approved and ordered to be recorded. An on the motion of Solomon Gofs the Executor the said will named, ____granted him he having taken the oath that required by Law and together with George Dunlevy & Elisha Allen his Securities ____and acknowledge their bond in the penalty of four hundred dollars conditioned as the law ditates and the Court appoint ____Scanna, Doirt Ward and Asak Perkins to appraise the personal property belong into the said decedents Estate agreebly to Law. Geo. Dunlevy, Clerk.

In this will, Solomon clearly names his children: Solomon as executor, Noah, Levi, Daniel, Elizabeth, Mary and Lydia.

========================================================

There are several points that I wish to express regarding this will.

1)  Solomon makes no mention or provision for his wife Olive (Scott) Goss.  There is no mention of my “loving wife, I bequeath to her.”

2) On all the deeds written by Solomon Goss selling the land in Knox County, Ohio to his children, you will not find the statement for release of dower by Olive at the bottom of these 1815 deeds.

3)  Why does he name his children and their relationship to him in the deeds?  Most deeds do not have that type of wording.

 I submit. that Olive (Scott) Goss did not die on 4 July 1825 like so many publications and sources indicate, but she died prior to Solomon’s will being written.  The will was dated March 26, 1810. He is said to have died on 1 July 1825.  The July 4th date was probably Solomon’s burial date not Olive’s death date.  Unfortunately the graves have been lost to time so I was unable through extensive research to verify this information on my visit to Washington County, Ohio in August/September 2011.

3)  Solomon makes no mention of David, his youngest son or any provisions for him in the will? I did not find a deed for the land in Knox County with David’s name.

I also submit that David the youngest son died before 1810 as well.

Solomon Gosses’ will was probated in 1828 but the only piece of paper from that estate is the court clerk copy of the will itself.  There are no inventories, final accounts, heirs-at-law or other documents.  This is a photograph of the index page on the microfilm showing that at the very bottom they list only one document for Solomon Goss in contrast to the listing given above for another individual.

Probate Index, Washington Co., Ohio

Executor Notice!

This Executor Notice was in the newspaper clipping files of the Washington Co. Historical Society and is the only other evidence that a process was done regarding Solomon’s estate.  I did not find an obituary notice in these clipping files.  I did not take time to study the newspapers which I believe are rather thin in editions  for the 1825 -1828 time period.

A Serious Situation:  Again, the original will of Solomon Goss is missing from the files in the Washington County Historical Society.  Someone removed in back in 1992 leaving a note with initials that was useless.  This was before the books were transferred to the society.  So don’t blame them.  I was there and witnessed in September of 2011 when the President of the Washington County Historical Society tried to find the will for me.  He was very upset when he was unable to do so.  I was also very disappointed for I had traveled many miles to see this original will.

If you know where the  original will is please return it to the historical society so that others like myself can enjoy it in the future.

In this will Solomon Goss acknowledges his children:  Elizabeth, Noah, Mary, Solomon, Daniel, Levi, and last Lydia.  If you are a descendant of Solomon Goss and Olive (Scott) Goss please leave a comment.  I would love to hear from you.

=========================================================

NOTE:  Some of the abstracted published books on the wills and estates of Washington County are incorrect regarding Solomon Gosses’ estate. They confuse the father with the son of the same name.  So please be careful.  Here is an example.

Abstracts of Wills & Administrations of Estates of Washington Co., Ohio Compiled by Genevieve, Mary Potts 390 Oak St. Columbus, Ohio – no date, Fiske Lib. 7/2002 Binder for Washington Co.

Goss, Solomon – of Fearing Township. Will made 3/26/1810, probated April 1828. Children, Noah, Daniel, Elvi (Levi), Solomon, Mary, Lydia and Elizabeth (Lake). 4, 132. NOTE: His wife, Mary was the daughter of Gilbert Deval, Jr. and his wife Mary (Coburn) Deval. See “Genealogy and History of Hugh and Wm. Mason and Allied Familes by mary Eliza Mason. 

It was Solomon Goss the son that married Mary Deval/Devol, better known as Polly.

Read Full Post »

Wesley Goss: Even More Restless!

Wesley Goss has been a challenge.  Fortunately he lives passed the 1850 U.S. Federal census so he can be traced.  Wesley was restless moving to Iowa about 1840,  but from that point on he at least stayed in Iowa.   He moved around the state and was in the following counties:  Henry, Keokuk, Mahaska, Woodbury, and Clay. 

Wesley was born the 16th of March 1815 in Washington County, Ohio and he married Elizabeth Evans who was born October 26, 1816 either in Vermont or across the St. Lawrence river from Montreal. 

He died of old age on 10 October 1896 and Elizabeth passed 28 July 1901, in Spencer, Clay County, Iowa.  They are buried in the Riverside Cemetery, Clay Co., Iowa.

FindAGrave has a listing for Wesley and Elizabeth and the IAGenWeb has a partial listing that does not include Wesley and Elizabeth:  http://iagenweb.org/clay/cemriverside.htm

“Wesley spent his boyhood days on his father’s farm and acquired such education as only could be had at that time in the common schools.  After three years of farming near Marietta, Ohio, Wesley and his family moved to Iowa.  He took two yoke of oxen and a covered wagon and followed the old corduroy road through Indiana.  The family camped at Chicago, that city then (1839) consisting of a few fishermen’s shacks.  The family settled near Mt. Pleasant,  Henry County, Iowa, but soon moved to a more favorable location near Lancaster, Keokuk County, where Wesley built a flour mill on the Skunk River.  In 1861, the family moved to a farm near Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa. 

While there, Wesley enlisted in a military company known as the “Gray Beards,” for service in the civil war.  He was not permitted to go to the front however, as it was believed that his two sons then at home were too young to properly work the farm. 

 Again greener pastures called Wesley Goss in 1869, when he moved to Peterson, Clay County, Iowa.  During the winter of 1869-70 they lived in the village.  M.E. Griffin, a prominent resident of Clay County, boarded with the family during the first winter.  Mrs. Goss told him that he could pay his board of $25 per month when he made good — and he did both.  The following spring, Wesley took a homestead four miles north and one mile east of Peterson in a community later known as “Yankee.” 

 After retiring from the farm, Mr. Goss made his home for a time in Correctionville, Iowa, and later in Spencer, Iowa.  In 1894, he went to Salt Lake City, where he visited a son for several years.  Upon his return to Spencer, his health began to fail, and Oct. 10, 1896 he passed to the great beyond.  The funeral was held in the Spencer M.E. Church, Rev. Kennedy officiating, assisted by Rev. Thrush of the Congregational Church.  The Masonic fraternity, of which he was a member, conducted the services at the grave in Riverside Cemetery.  He was born of Christian parents, united with the Methodist Church at an early age and was an active worker in the denomination, frequently conducting services himself when no minister was available.  In addition to his church and fraternal interests, he was active as a politician and held the offices of School Treasurer, Postmaster at Yankee and County Supervisor of Clay County.” *

The children of Wesley and Elizabeth are as follows:

1.  Eliza Almeda Goss born 3 March 1837.

2.  James Gilbert Goss born 5 July 1839 in Washington Co., Ohio and died 24 October 1926 in Ollie, Keokuk, Iowa.  He is buried in the Ollie Cemetery there.  He married Eliza Reynolds, daughter of Benjamin Cornwall Reynolds and Sara Lowers.  She was born 16 February 1841 in Peru, Miami Co., Indiana. 

Eliza and James had 10 children: 

1.) Gilbert James Goss 1863-1885 Oakland Cemetery in Ollie, IA.  I am not sure about this cemetery so it may need to be checked.

 2) Lois Almeda Goss 1866-1962. She married an Isaac Lincoln Smith and had 5 children:  Gertrude Almeda Smith, Lillian Mildred Smith, Monroe Oliver Smith, Arminta Lola Smith, Althea Smith.

3) Addie May Goss b 1866 married Leslie McCargar and had Gladys and Harold

4) Joseph Edward Goss b. 1868 married Luzette Richardson and had Mildred, Edward, and Ardith

 5) Laura Ann Goss 1872-1873

6) Emma Viola Goss b. 1874 married Dick Richardson and had no children

 7) Lucy Jane Goss b. 1876 married a Harry Fox and had Dolly

 8) an infant son born and died 1878

 9)  Edith Rose Goss b. 1880 married a Sam D. Crary and had Merrill, Gordon and Robert; and

10) Leona Goss 1884-1894.

The following excerpt was written by James Gilbert Goss:

“I was nine months old when we crossed the Mississippi River.  My cradle was a clothes basket.  Tige, the dog, watched over me and wouldn’t let any one touch the basket.  My first school was at the Henderson Schoolhouse in Clear Creek Township.  I think I was 7 years old when I first went to school.  At 14 years of age I walked from our house to New Lincoln to stay with my grandparents, taking lessons under my uncle Homer Goss, an invalid at the time.  Then my mother and father moved back to New London, Henry Co. where I continued going to school.  An uncle, Dr. James Maynard, and family lived closed to Solomon Goss who were farmers in the vicinity.  When Emily and Olive Maynard, my cousins, went to school and church, I took each by the hand, walking between them on the rails of the railroad and steadied them while they walked a mile and a quarter to church and school.  On Saturday when home from school, I helped Grandfather Goss husk corn and put it in the crib.  When a very small boy, grandfather would call me to stand between his knees and sing old hymns from the Methodist Hymnal.  One hymn was “Lord, in the morning, Thou shalt hear my voice ascending high, to thee will I direct my prayers; to thee lift up my eyes, and oh for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer’s praise.”  He was a grand old Methodist, belonging to the Methodist Church at New London and his family took care of the ministers in their home.  In 1868 moved from Keokuk County to Clay County, accompanied by J.H. Reynolds and family, where he took up claims of government land 6 miles north of Peterson.  Two sons Will and Chell and daughter Ella were still with him at home.”  Written by James Gilbert Goss, date unknown.”*

Obituary of James Gilbert Goss:

“James Gilbert Goss was born July 5, 1839 in Hardin County, Ohio and died at Ollie, Iowa, October 24, 1926 at the ripe old age of 87 years.  On the 18th day of May, 1862, he was married to Eliza Ann Reynolds at Lancaster.  On August 18th of the same year, he enlisted in the Federal Army and became a member of Co.I, of the 40th Iowa Infantry Volunteers and served faithfully until August 2, 1865.  On his return from the Civil War, Mr. and Mrs. took their residence on a homestead near Peterson, Iowa where they resided for several years.  Then they moved Des Moines and a little later to Ollie, Iowa, near the home of their youthful days.  They spent the rest of their lives and around Ollie.  Mr. Goss has been a devout Christian practically all of his long life.  He has given freely of his time, money and energy to work of the church.  The militancy that he learned in the service of his country he carried into the work of the Lord and thus he labored until overtaken by old age and infirmity.  His constant happiness is shown in the songs he always sang: which he sang a week before he passed away.  The Rev. Pettit, a former pastor, now of Des Moines had charge.  Burial was made in the Ollie cemetery.”*

FindAGrave: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Goss&GSiman=1&GScid=95730&GRid=48116619&

3.  Mary Adeline Goss, born 10 May 1841.

4.  Charles Wesley Goss born 22 September 1842

The Iowa State Census for 1844, places Wesley in Keokuk Co., Iowa.  This is statistical with the following people in the household designated as numbers: 1, 2,3, 6. Roll IA_117. Ancestry.com.

5.  Lucy Mariah Goss born 9 August 1845

6.  Solomon M. Goss born 3 March 1848, died 1861 Talleyrand, Keokuk, Iowa and is buried in the Talleyrand Cemetery.  http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Goss&GSiman=1&GScid=96470&GRid=18982157&

7.  Elizabeth Lucretia Goss born 11 April 1850

The 1850 U.S. Federal Census has Wesley living in District #26, Keokuk, Iowa, Roll #M432_185, pg. 271, Image 542. Ancestry.com. 

Line 29: 693/728: Wesley Goss, age 35 male, farmer $740, born Ohio. Elizabeth Goss age 32 female, born NY. James G. Goss, age 11, male, born Ohio, Mary Goss 10, female, born Iowa. Charles W. Goss, age 8, male, born Ohio. Lency Goss age 6, female, born Iowa, Solomon Goss, age 2, male, born Iowa. Elizabeth Goss, 2/12, female, born Iowa, Eliza A. Goss age 13 female born Iowa.

8.  Olive Angeline Goss born 19 May 1852

The Iowa State Census for 1852 Wesley is in Clear Creek Twp., Keokuk Co., Iowa, Line 22, Roll IA_119, Ancestry.com.  It is statistical and reads:  Males 4, Females 4, Voter 1, Militia 1, total 9.

The Iowa State Census for 1854 we find Wesley is still in Clear Creek Twp., Keokuk, Iowa again it is statistical with 4 Males, 6 Females, 1 Voter and 1 Militia for total of 10.  Line 4, Roll IA_121, Ancestry.com.

9.  William Harlan Goss born 2 February 1855

10.  Chalapha George Goss born 28 February 1858 in Clear Creek, Keokuk Co., Iowa.  He married Anna Jane Huston and had at least two children:  William H. Goss and C.G. Goss. Jr.  (Clear Creek was a township in Keokuk prior to 1880).

A cousin sent me an article on Chalapha from the Salt Lake Tribune, Sunday Morning, April 22, 1945, pg. 8B, Column 1-3. “Native Iowan Pioneer’s Son, Loyal Utahn Knows Life,” by Old Timer.  There is a photograph of this man. What follows is only a portion of a very large and detailed article of this man’s life.

“Chalapha George (Chell) Goss was born on Clear Creek homestead, Keokuk County, Iowa, Feb. 28, 1858, son of Wesley Goss, born in 1815 and Elizabeth Evans born in 1817.  It was his grandfather, Solomon Goss, who floated down the Ohio river on a barge and named Marietta, Ohio after his wife, Marietta.  C. G. Goss’s father and mother had made their way, with him and one other child to Iowa by ox team.  His first log school-house was known as the Shin Bone school.  When the family moved to Oskaloosa, Mahaska county, Iowa, he attended the Gospel Ridge school.”

11.  Ella Rhodavel Goss born 14 January 1860

*Source:  The information given above was found in the “Goss Family and other files, ” FHL#940938, Items 4-5.  One of the papers was the “Goss-Reynolds Family,” by Gertrude Smith who lived in Pittsburgh. It is a typed written manuscript.  This is only a portion of what was in the documentation.  The article about Wesley above, the comments from his son James and the obituary did not have any sources indicated as to their original origin, dates, etc..   There are inconsistencies in the paragraphs above so please check with the census and other source documents. 

The 1860 U.S. Federal Census for Clear Creek Township, Keokuk, Iowa, NARA Roll #M653_329, Pg. 87, Image 88, Ancestry.com.

Line 18, 618/619 Wesley Goss, age 45, male, farmer, $800, 600, Ohio. Elizabeth age 43, female, New York, James C. age 21, male, Ohio. Mary A, age 19, female, Iowa. Charles W, age 17, male, Iowa. Lucy, age 15, female, Iowa. Solomon M. age 12, male, Iowa. Elizabeth F, age 10, female, Iowa. Angeline, age 8, female, Iowa, Amilan, age 6, male, Iowa. Mellville, age 4, male, Iowa. Ella age 5/12 female, Iowa.

The 1870 U.S. Federal Census places Wesley and Elizabeth in Clay County, Iowa, NARA Roll M593_383, Page 120, Image 240, Ancestry.com.

Line 9, 21/21 Goss, Wesley, age 54, m. white, farmer $1000, $1300, Ohio. Elizabeth age 53, female, white, keeping house, New York, mother of foreign birth. Elisabeth S, age 20, female, white, school teacher, Iowa. William H. age 14, male, white at home, Iowa. Chalapatha age 12, male white, at home, Iowa. Ella, age 10, female, white, at home, Iowa, last 3 in school.

The 1880 U.S. Federal Census places Wesley and Elizabeth in Peterson, Clay Co., Iowa, Roll T9_333, FHL#125433, pg. 20, SD4, ED 59, Ancestry.com.

Line 24, 168, Goss, Wesley, White, Male, age 65, married, farmer, born Ohio, father born PA, mother Ohio. Elizabeth, W, Female age 63, wife, married, keeping house, born NY, father NY, mother Canada. Anderson, Benj. W, Male age 12, servant, at home, born Iowa, father Ohio, mother Indiana. Pickering, Orra, White, Male, age 18, servant, farm laborer, born Wisc, father Tenn, mother Indiana.

The 1885 Iowa State Census has Wesley in Correctionville, Woodbury, Iowa, Roll #IA1885_280, Line 29, Family #79, Ancestry.com.

Line 29, 78/79 Frank Davis, East Correctionville, age 21 Male, Single, Born Illinois, N, N, military duty, vote. Wesley Goss, age 69 male, married, born Ohio, N, N, vote. Elizabeth Goss, age 68, F, married, born New York, N. F. Ella Goss age 22, F, Single, Teacher, New York, N, N.

The 1891 Iowa State Census has Wesley living in Spencer, Clay Co., Iowa.  #IA_124, Line 23. Goss, Wesley, Goss, Elizabeth, Ella, W.H. C.G. Emma.

I did not do any probate, birth, death, deed or other research on Wesley and his family.  I have no photographs of their tombstones. 

Please note that the information given above on this family was dated in the early 1970′s.  Hopefully someone has found additional information since that time that includes vital records and more.  So please use this as a guide only!

When I traveled to Iowa in 2003 and visited the State Historical Society, I did not know about Solomon Goss (Jr.) and Polly’s move to Iowa. I learned about it when I saw a note about Wesley, their son, moving to Iowa in the tax records of Hardin County, Ohio.   Be advised that the Iowa State Historical Society has two locations, one in Des Moines and another in Iowa City.  Each covers certain geographic areas of the state.  The state genealogical society called the Iowa Genealogical Society is located in Des Moines near the State Historical Society.  See the Favorite Links – Iowa on the right side of this blog for more information on these archives.

Photo:  The Iowa State Historical Society in Des Moines. This is the main archive and it covers the rest of Iowa.  It has a great newspaper collection and so much more.

Photo:  Iowa State Historical Society Archive in Iowa City on the university campus.  This archive covers the eastern part of Iowa.

Iowa’s State Capital

In summary:  I am a curious person and would like to dig further into this family of Solomon Goss and Polly Devol Goss but time and money is always a consideration.  The other issue is focus, I have other goals.  If I make it back to Iowa, I will do a little more digging because I won’t be able to resist and spend a little more time pinning down the inconsistencies in the stories and determining what happened to all those children.   If you know more about this family and would like to comment, please do!  If you have a link with more information, I would be happy to present it here for others to find you.

Read Full Post »

A Wish Fulfilled: Solomon and Polly Goss’s Graves & sister Mary!

Sometimes I think I have a genealogy angel watching over me.  Recently I have been very blessed.  A cousin found me on this blog and she has been very kind and very helpful.  She went out and found the tombstones of Solomon Goss (Jr.) and Mary (Polly) Coburn Devol Goss!  Next to them was Solomon’s sister Mary Goss!! 

Talk about a genealogical happy dance!

The following tombstone photographs were taken by Pat Stoudt a descendant of Virda Huston Spracklin,* a half-brother to my Amarilla Spracklin Barclay. 

Solomon and Polly are buried in the Burge Cemetery in New London, Henry Co., Iowa.  The book by Jerry Devol that I featured in my post of January 29, 2012 “A Little About Mary “Polly” Coburn Devol Goss!” is not correct.  It states that they were buried in Oskalooska, Mahaska County, Iowa. 

Solomon’s will was probated in Henry Co., Iowa and they are in the 1860 U.S. Census there and it all makes better sense!  See the last post about Solomon Goss (Jr.) estate file.  

The Burge Cemetery is west of New London in Henry County off of Main Street and sandwiched between Oasis Avenue and 257th St.  New London is south of Iowa City and located in the southeastern part of Iowa.

A sign for the Burge Cemetery, Henry Co., Iowa!

Burge Cemetery Sign off 260th

Plaque on the pillar for the Burge Cemetery!

Plaque Pillar - Back Entrance

Overview of the Burge Cemetery!

Overview of Burge Cemetery, Goss Stones!

The three stones stand together!

The Goss Stones!

Find A Grave has a listing for Mary Goss d. 1859, Mary S. Goss d. 1865, Solomon Goss d. 1864 and Harriet M. Goss Maynard the daughter who died 1880.  I think some of the listing is not correct?   http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=685810  There are no photos of the tombstones at this site.

Solomon Goss (Jr.) stone, apparently it had been reattached?  It is difficult to see the dates it is so close to the ground.   

Solomon Goss the Son of Solomon & Olive Goss

This is a closer look and you can make out 1864!

Close up of Solomon's stone

The next stone is of Mary C. Goss wife of S. Goss.  It is definitely a C, not an S as listed at FindAGrave.

Mary C. Goss (Polly Coburn Devol)

Mary Goss, the sister!

Mary Goss, sister to Solomon and daughter of Solomon & Olive Goss

FindAGrave has her years as 24 yrs.  I think it reads 84 which would be more accurate! Here is a close up! (Click on the photographs and they will be made larger.  Remember to click your back button to return to this post!) 

This gives a death of April 6, 1859.  See my post dated December 18, 2011, “Mary Follows her Brother Solomon Goss to Iowa!”  I did not have this information when I published that post so this is good news.   

Closer Look at Mary Goss' tombstone

 

Mary Goss, the top of the stone. The sister!

Here is another overview of the Burge Cemetery, New London, Henry Co., Iowa:

I would like to thank Pat for taking the time to go to this cemetery and take these great pictures.  It is not easy to photograph tombstones!   I am glad she had fair weather.  It looks like it is well-kept and that is good news!  I wish I could have gone!  I so love to find my ancestors graves! 

Harriett Goss Maynard is also at the Burge Cemetery, she is a daughter of Solomon and Polly Goss. Here is a link to the Iowa Gravestone Photo Project with a picture of her tombstone:

http://iowagravestones.org/gs_view.php?id=225869

The main page for the Burge Cemetery but I am not finding anyone other than Harriett. Iowa Gravestones website:

http://iowagravestones.org/cemetery_list.php?CID=44&cName=Burge

*Virda Huston Spracklin is discussed briefly in the posted dated December 2, 2011 “Sarah and Daniel’s Family, the second Family!  This post is written on my blog: The Barclays of Pine River: The Lives of George and Amarilla Barclay.  I am slowly working my way to revealing more about the full and half siblings of my great-grandmother Amarilla Spracklin Barclay Dawes Urton on the Barclay blog.  A link to this blog is on the right side panel under Blogs I like!

++++++++

A Tip:  This website “The Families of Dennis W. Brumm“ has photographs of some of the Burge Cemetery tombstones and a map showing its location, as far as I can tell no Goss are listed.  It is a very nice and worth checking out there is so much more presented there.  Go to the top of the website  and just above the picture is a Find drop down menus and more: 

 http://brumm.com/genealogy/showmap.php?cemeteryID=4&PHPSESSID=c3e93e92c3c24992994b731071eb1146

Read Full Post »

The End Comes: Solomon & Polly Goss Rest Peacefully!

The son of Solomon and Olive (Scott) Goss left his childhood home and headed for greener pastures.  He left Washington County, Ohio about 1832 and headed for Hardin County, Ohio.  He lived there till after 1841 and followed his son Wesley to Iowa.

In 1860 we find Solomon living in Henry County, Iowa. 

Line 1, 2184/88, 1995/95, Sol Gofs, 72, M, Farmer, $4000, $800, PA. Mary Gofs, 65, F, born Ohio. Homer Gofs, 21, M, Farmer, 150, 200, born Ohio.

Line 4, Family 1924/96/ Mary Davis, 36, F, not known. Wilber Davis, 4, M, Iowa.

Source:  1860 U.S. Federal Census, New London Twp., Henry Co., Iowa, pg. 279, July 23, 1860, John S. Bartneff, enumerator, P.O. New London, Ancestry.com.   I do not know what relationship the Davis family if any to the Goss family.

The IA GenWeb for Henry County, Iowa has a transcription of a directory for some of the areas of Henry Co., Iowa for 1859-1860, by Watson Brown Publisher, transcribed by Pat Ryan White.  If you scroll down to New London and then a little further down you will find Solomon Goss listed in the township. 

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~iahenry/hendir1860maritosalem.htm

Solomon Goss (Jr.)  died 1 November 1864 and Polly passed about April 1865.  The Devol book by Jerry Devol featured in the last post, has him passing in Oskaloosa, Mahasaka Co., Iowa?  I have tried to verify the burials but with little success checking both Henry County and Mahaska County online sources.  Published records have yet to be searched. 

Update:  The tombstones of Solomon & Polly Goss have been found. They were buried in the Burge Cemetery in New London!  See the post to follow for the details. 

The interesting fact is that Solomon’s  probate and will are in Henry Co., Iowa?  

The estate file for Solomon Goss (Jr.) consists of the following documents: 

• Vol. G, pg. 560-561 – Proving of Will FHL#964924, Friday Dec. 8, 1865 December term.
• Vol. G, pg. 401 Notice of Publication ,
• Vol. G, pg. 485 Appt. of Administrator and Bond, FHL#964924:  Administration was granted to Charles F. Devol as Special Administrator on Nov. 11, 1865 November term.
• Probate Journal Vol. I, pgs. 8 to 12 Report of Sale of Real Estate, Full Record, Notice Proven FHL#964925;
• Probate Journal Vol. J, pg. 576 to 579 Report of Administrator;
• Vol. H, pg. 286-291 Inventory, Report of Appraisers, Report of Sale, Appt. of Regular Executor FHL#964924; March Term 1866, March 19th.  March 10, 1866 by C.E. Devol.
• Record of Heirs FHL#964934 Item 2;  W. Gofs, Daniel Goss, Homer Gofs, Eliza Sawtell, Harriet Maynard, Mary Adaline’s son Solomon B. Hare.  His wife Mary C. Gofs is mentioned in the will.
• Will Record Vol. B, pg. 124-125 FHL#965935.
• Deed of Conveyance by Executor to George Van Beck dated 12 of July 1866, sale of real estate.

Source:  Probate Records 1847-1868, Henry Co., Iowa, FHL films.  V. G-H 1865-1866, #964924; V. I 1866-1867 #964925; V. J-K 1867-1868 #964926 and Indexes to probate papers disposed of, no 1 964934 Item 1 and v. 2 1920-1937 Item 5964935.

The Will of Solomon Goss (Jr.)

Regular December Term 1865 Friday December 8th page 561

Will of Solomon Gofs dec’d

Know all men by the following that I Solomon Gofs of New London Henry County State of Iowa feeling many infirmities and old age coming on do desire to arrange my worldly businesf in the fear of God so as to give my wife and family as little trouble as possible when life shall cease I wish my body to be buried in a plain and Humble manner and after my funeral expenses and debts are all paid I wish my wife Mary C. Gofs – to have and to hold one third of my property personal and real estate what I may leave then wish Twenty dollars to be given to the Missionary Society of the M.E. Church – I then wish any remaining property to be equally divided between my remaining children with this consideration that Wesley Gofs has had one hundred Dollars the receipt is among my papers. And I wish it to be so arranged as to give my grand son Solomon Beverly Ware one half as much as one of my own children. Solomon Gofs –

The foregoing will of Solomon Gofs was this day Signed and acknowledged by the Testation in our presence and we at his request in his presence & into the presence of each other do sign the same as witnesfes – John P. Grantham, G. Thompson.

I Solomon Gofs of Henry County Iowa being as heretofore of sound mind & memory do hereby make the following change or alteration in my will within made by me on the 13th day of February 1860 to wit I hereby change the item of twenty five Dollars give to the Missionary Society of the M.E. Church so as to make it read Fifty Dollars instead of Twenty five. Witnefs my name the 29th of Jany 1861. Solomon Gofs.

The above change or alteration of the written will is this day subscribed in one presence by Solomon Gofs and we in his presence and at his request sign the same as witnefses date above. John P. Grantham, Francis White.

Notes:  Please understand that they use the spelling with the elongated “S” that looks like an “f” in this court clerk version of the original will.  The name is spelled “Goss.”  I try to write it as they did back then.

Summary page of the heirs (click on the photo to make it larger, remember to hit the back button to return to this post - see the list of films above and realize there is more detail in the films.  I am only showing a small portion of the estate file.  I started with the index and worked through the films at the Family History Library.

Record of Heirs Nov 1, 1864

+++++++

Additional Information:

Suggestions:  Here are two great sources for graves in Iowa.  One is from the WPA Work Project which was very helpful to me in the published version when I visited Iowa in 2003 and I am glad to see it is now on line: http://iowawpagraves.org/index.php 

The other is the Iowa Gravestone Photo Project:  http://iowagravestones.org/

A wish:  If someone has a picture of Solomon and Mary’s tombstone(s) and location I would be very happy to receive a copy and if they wish, post it here on this blog with their name as contributor.  

Read Full Post »

A Little about Mary “Polly” Coburn Devol Goss!

Mary or rather Polly was the wife of Solomon Goss (Jr.).  She was a member of the Devol family who were rather prominent in the Washington County, Ohio area.

I promised to share a little of what I know of the Devol family.  My curiosity of course was always with Solomon and Olive (Scott) Goss and any leads on them.  However, I was also a little curious about where Polly came from.  On my trip to Ohio in August and September of 2011, I finally found the link for Polly to her parents.  I feel much better now!

Apparently I was not the only one that was confused with all the Polly Devol’s that I was finding.  A Robert McCargar wrote a letter on May 18, 1970 to a Mr. Devol in which he is discussing the identity of different Polly Devols.  Unfortunately the letter from Mr. Devol is not included in the correspondence of this file.

“There must be a least two Mary Coburn (Polly) Devols.  Polly #1, as described by you was born but the date is unknown m. Gilbert Devol. Jr. on March 25, 1790 and d. ca. 1802.  She had ten children. 

Polly #2…was born July 5, 1795, according to records in my family.  The Old Northwest Genealogical Quarterly, Vol. IV., p. 86 says that a Rev. David Young married Solomon Goss, Jr. and Polly Devol., Nov. 19, 1812.  Two independently written histories of the Goss family say that Mary Coburn Devol married Solomon Goss Jr. on that same date.  One of these historians says she died April 1865.  This Mary Coburn (Polly) Devol is certainly distinct from the one you describe.  She had eleven children, among them, one named Gilbert Devol Goss. (Polly #2 was my great, great, great-grandmother.) ”  Mr. McCargar was living in Ann Arbor at the time. 

Source:  Goss Family and other files:  FHL#940938 Items 4-5.

The Washington County Public Library in Marietta has an Annex for the genealogical and family history located down the street from the main library to the south.  It is on the corner.  See the links to the right for Ohio.

The Main Library in Marietta, but not the genealogy annex

Mr. Jerry Devol, who passed in the late 1990′s, was quite the researcher having documented many of the cemeteries and the families in the area.  All his work is still housed at the library genealogical annex.  The Washington County Genealogical Society is also located there along with their holdings.  It is a really great archive.

The Marietta Library Annex and Me!

They had in their possession a book titled Rhode Island Genealogical Register, Jan. 1983, Tiverton Wills.

Devol. Jonathan, of Ti, gentleman.  Will dated 6 Aug 1782, proved 2 Sep 1782, pg: 321-322. Mentions: Wife Mary Devol., Sons Gilbert Devol, Silas Devol presumable dec., Stephen Devol., Daniel Devol, Benjamin Devol, & Jonathan Devol Jr. The unnamed heirs of my son Silas Devol. Witn. Charles Hull, Philip Briggs, Thos. Howland.  Note:  The Gilbert Devol mentioned is Sr. I believe?

They also had a big book titled “Devol Early Settlers in Rhode Island (1639) and in Ohio (1788)” with the coat of arms on the front cover.  This book was researched and compiled by Jerry Barker Devol (same as the man mentioned above in the letter) and printed and published by Herbert Gordon Devol.  There are also file folders containing information about the families in the area. I tried Worldcat to search for this book and see where it might be housed and was surprised to see that there is another copy in the Marietta College Library but nothing else was suggested.  The Family History Library had Jerry Barker Devol titles but not this book exact book.  So you will have to call or contact the annex.  The volunteer who does a lot of the research for those who inquire is very eager to be of service.

The Devol Book – it’s very detailed!

Mary Coburn “Polly” is listed on page 127  under Gilbert Jr., here are some highlights:

• III.  Mary Coburn “Polly”
• b. Marietta, Washington County, North West Territory, 5 Jul 1795
• d. Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa, __5 Jul 1795.
• m. Solomon Goss, Jr., Harmar, Ohio 19 Nov. 1812, by Rev. David Young, Vol. 4, page 86
• b.  Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania (?), 5 May 1788.
• d. Oskaloosa, Iowa, 2 Nov. 1864
• Son of Solomon, Sr. and Olive (Scott) Goss.
• Resident Fearing Township, Washington County, Ohio, 1830

On page 65 Polly’s father and mother are listed – Gilbert Devol and Mary Coburn:

• V. Gilbert, Jr. 10c
• b. Tiverton, Rhode Island, ______1766
• d. Point Harmar, Marietta, Ohio, 25 Apr 1812. Ref.: Western Spectator, Marietta, Ohio
• Buried Harmar Cemetery
• m. 1. Mary “Polly” Coburn, Washington County, North West Territory, 25 Mar 1790, by Benjamin Tupper.
• b. Sturbridge, Worcester County, Massachusetts, __ ___ 1770
• d.
• Daughter of Major Asa and Mary (McClure) Coburn.
• m. 2 Rachel Peek, Washington County, Ohio, 14 Jul 1803, by Rev. Nehemiah Davis,
• b. Connecticut 1786
• d.
• Rachel m. 2 Oliver Shute, Washington County, Ohio, 6 Oct 1821, by Rev. John McMahon
• b. New  Jersey, 1786.
• d.

The Devol book goes onto describe more about the life and activities of Gilbert Devol, Jr. with sources.  He was a blacksmith in Point Harmar (west of Marietta) and some of his work has survived.

Polly’s siblings are and I believe these were the children of Mary Coburn from the same book:

Harriet Devol b. about 1795, d. about 1826, m. George Dunlevy 8 July 1812, b. 1776 in Virginia and died 28 Dec 1836, Marietta, Washington Co., Ohio.  He remarried to a Mrs. Eliza (Buell)  Buell, 20 April 1826.  Eliza was born 22 August 1798 and d in Indiana 26 March 1885.  She was the daughter of Timothy and Sarah “Sally (DeWitt) Buell.  Widow of Salmon D. (DeWitt) Buell. Both are buried in Mound Cemetery, Marietta, Ohio, Range 64, Lot 1.

 Clarissa Devol b. about 1791, Farmer’s Castle, Belpre, Northwest Territory m. Joseph Cook (III) 29 November 1812, born 20 July 1785 Long Plain, (Bristol Co.)  Massachusetts, d. 3 August 1823, Belpre, Washington Co., Ohio. Joseph was the son of Captain Joseph Jr. and Elizabeth (Barker) Cook.  Residence Wood County, Virginia then Belpre 1813.  Kept a tavern “Cook House.” They are buried in (Riverview) Cemetery, Parkersburg, West Virginia.

Mary “Polly” Coburn Devol – our subject in past posts and wife of Solomon Goss (Jr.).

Lucy b. 18 Dec 1797, Marietta, d. 17 January 1867, Danbury Twp., Ottawa Co., Ohio m. Isaac Rice 25 November 1816,  b. 7 May 1792, Brattleboro, Windham Co., Vermont and died 14 April 1845 Danbury Twp., Ottawa Co., Ohio.

Gilbert Devol III b. 25 March 1800, Marietta, Washington Co., Ohio and died 24 July 1871, Lancaster, Fairfield Co., Ohio  m. Cynthia Goodwin 25 Mary 1823, she was born 6 April 1803 in Canada and died 8 June 1870 in Lancaster, Fairfield Co., Ohio. They had one child Sophia S. Devol who died after 1897 in Belpre, Washington Co., Ohio?

With his second wife Rachel he had

Harrison Devol b. about 1804 in Washington Co., Ohio and died 29 May 1873 Staunton Twp., Miami Co., Ohio m. Jane Orr 11 June 1835,  b. about 1806 in Pennsylvania and died 6 January 1870 in Staunton Twp., Miami Co., Ohio

Benjamin Franklin Devol b. about 1809 Point Harmar, Washington Co., Ohio and died after 1870, Prairie Creek Twp., Vigo Co., Indiana, m. Sarah C. Turnham 16 December 1841, she was born before 1823 in Spencer Co., Kentucky and died about 1868 in Vigo Co., Indiana.  They had two children Athelinda b. before 1813 m. Myhew Rollins.  Austin Devol b. Feb 1813 and died after 1840, m. Elizabeth Blue 28 November 1838.

The book Abstracts of Wills and Administration of Estates of Washington Co., by Genevieve Mary Potts about 1946 is at the FHL in book and microfilm form, here is the book form FHL#977.198 P28p and I have run into it in other archives. This book is a good start to located estates for families and the Devols, Goss and many others are listed.  Be careful mistakes have been made in the transcribing so check the actual record in the probates of the county.

Contacting the Washington County Library Local History and Genealogy Annex is at this link.

http://www.wcplib.lib.oh.us/locations.htm#hist

Don’t forget the Marietta College’s Special Collections and Digital Collection – Manuscripts and Documents of the Ohio Company in particular for land records regarding the families in the area.  The archivist I interacted with when I visited was very nice and very helpful.   http://digicoll.marietta.edu/oca/

The Washington County Historical Society is also very good and if you are doing any research in the area you need to contact them as well.  They have a lot of the old records from the courthouse.

Regarding the cemeteries in Washington County, Ohio.  I will write a post or two about this topic as regards to my visit there in 2011 with sources and photographs.  Mr. Devol mentions Harmar one of the oldest but it is right on the Muskingum River and has been flooded.  The other is another old cemetery the Mound.

Read Full Post »

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.).   

Read Full Post »

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 .   

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

Read Full Post »