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.

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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.

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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.

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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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Mary Follows Her Brother Solomon Goss to Iowa!

Some time around 1845 Mary Goss moves to Mt. Pleasant, Henry County, Iowa. 

Iowa County Map

Once again Mary gets involved with land transactions on her own.  What follows are two deeds, one in 1845 and another in 1850. I have transcribed them from the film of the court clerk’s books to the best of my ability. 

GM [Teas & wife]
To M. Gofs
Deed

This Indenture, made and entered into this twenty fifth day of February in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and forty five between George W. Teas and Sarah S. his wife of the County of Henry and Territory of Iowa of the first part and Mary Gofs of the same place of the second part.  Witnesfeth that for an in consideration of the sum of Twenty five dollars to them in hand paid the receipt whereof is hereby confessed and acknowledged the said party of the first part has this day bargained and sold and doth by these presents bargain, sell and convey unto the said party of the second part Lot No (5) five in Block No. (13) thirteen in the Town of Mount Pleasant situated in the County and Territory aforesaid. Together with all and singular the hereditainments and appurtenances thereunto belonging to have and to hold unto her the said Mary Gofs her heirs and afsigns forever and the said George W. Teas doth covenant to warrant and will forever defend the title to the above described Lot – In witness whereof the said party of the first part have hereto set their hands & seals. George W. Teas (Seal), Sahar S. Teas (Seal) 

In the presences of John P. Grantham.

Territory of Iowa, Henry County [Sct.] I John P. Grantham, Deputy for E. Killpatrick Clerk of the District Court for said County do hereby certify that George W. Teas & Sarah S. Teas his wife whose names are subscribed to the above deed of conveyance and who are known to me as parties thereto personally appeared before me and acknowledged the execution thereof to be their voluntary act and deed for the uses and purposes therein expressed. And the said Sarah S. Tease having the contents of the said deed explained to her acknowledged apart from her husband that she relinquished her right of dower in the real estate therein described without compulsion or under influences of her said husband.  (Seal) Given under my hand and seal of the Office the 25^th day of February A.D. 1845.  John P. Grantham Deputy for E. Killpatrick Clerk. Record 25^th February A.D. 1845 John P. Grantham RHC.

Deeds:  Henry Co., Iowa Feb. 15, 1845, Vol. D, pg. 517 FHL#964769.

 Five years pass and Mary is once gain involved with land!

Gofs
To
Stockton
Deed

This indenture made this Sixteenth day of October in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight hundred and Fifty Between Mary Gofs of the county of Henry and State of Iowa of the first part – And Thomas I. Stockton of the County and State aforesaid of the second part.  Witnefseth, That the said part of the first part for and in consideration of the sum of Four Hundred & Seventy five dollars to her paid by the said part of the second part, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged has granted, bargained, sold, released and conveyed – And by these presents does grant, bargain, sell, release, and convey to the said part of the second part, & to his heirs and assigns.  Forever all of two certain pieces or parcels of Real Estate situate, lying and being in the county of Henry and State of Iowa and known designated and described, as follows, to wit – The East half of the South East quarter of Section 25 – Township [15] North of Range 7 West containing 80 acres, more or lefs.  Also Fifteen acres off of the South side of the North half of the West half o the South East quarter of Section Twenty one, Township 15 north of Range seven West containing in the whole 95 acres be the same more or lefs. Together with all the privileges and appurtenances to the said Real Estate in any were appertaining and belonging; To Have and To Hold the above granted premises: to the said party of the second part and to his heirs and assigns to his other’s use and behoofs Forever – And the said party of the first part for herself & her heirs does convenant with the said part of the second part & to his heirs and assigns that she is lawfully secured in fee of the afore granted premises.  That they are free from all encumbrances – That the said party (page 148) of the first part, has good right to sell and convey the same to the said party of the second part, as aforesaid. And that she will and her heirs & executors, shall Warrant and Defend the same to the said part of the second part and to his heirs and assigns against the lawful demands of all persons, In Testimony whereof the said party of the first part, has hereunto set her hand and seal, the day and year first above written, signed, sealed and delivered in the presences of John P.Grantham N. Lathrop.  Signed Mary Gofs (seal)

State of Iowa, Henry County SS:  On this day personally appeared before me, the undersigned clerk of the District Court for said county Mary Gofs who is personally known to me to be the identical person described in, and who executed the foregoing Deed of conveyance as grantor therein and acknowledges the signing and sealing as the same appear thereto to be her free and voluntary act and deed for the uses and purposes therein expressed.  (Seal) Given under my hand and seal of the court affixed at Mt.Pleasant the Sixteenth day of October A.D. 1850.  John P. Grantham, clerk of said court.  Recorded 16^th Oct. A.D.1850.  W.M. Snyder [R….Cl]

 Source:  Deeds Henry Co., Iowa, Book J, pg 147, FHL#964771, Oct. 16, 1850.

UPDATE January 5, 2012 – This is not correct – Mary is not living with her brother Solomon in 1850. 

In the 1850 U.S. Federal Census, Henry County, Iowa we find Mary living with her brother Solomon Goss (Jr.). in Henry County, New London Twp., pg. 164, Roll M432_184, Ancestry.com.

Solomon Goss, Jr. age 62 born 1787, bp Ohio; Mary Goss, age 51, est by 1798, bp Ohio; Leroy Goss, age 22 est. 1827, bp Ohio; Daniel Goss age 20, est. 1829, bp Ohio; Homer Goss age 13, est. 1836, bp Ohio; Mary Goss age 7, est. 1842 born in Iowa; Mary Goss, age 65, 1784, born Pennsylvania. 

She is on her own living in Mt. Pleasant, Henry Co., Iowa. 

Line 14, 342, 342, Goss Mary, 65, F, 300,  Pennsylvania,

Source:  1850 U.S. Census, Mt. Pleasant, Henry Co., Iowa, NARA Film M432_184, page 183A, Image 109, 27th Day of August 1850, A. B. Porter, Asst Marshall, Ancestry.com.

The 1854 Iowa State Census for Henry County shows statistics and I believe it is Mary Goss.  She is living in Mt. Pleasant, Henry Co., Iowa and is listed as head of household (Line 30, Roll IA_121, Ancestry.com).

We follow with the 1856 Iowa Census for Mary Goss and find her at 70 years old.

pg. 476 – Salmon C. Rodgers age 20 M. married, 0 yrs in state, Born Ohio, Farmer, Voters, Militia. Sarah L. age 19 Female married, 0 years in state, born Ohio, Mary Goss age 70, Female in state 10 years, born PA.  Roll IA_56 Family #182, Ancestry.com

The Rodger or Roger family may be a link back to Ebenezer Goss, younger brother to Solomon Goss and his descendants but at this time I do not know that link for I have not studied the Roger’s family that closely. 

Getting old is never easy and on the 12 September 1857, Solomon Goss (Jr.) was made the guardian for Mary Goss in a document titled:  Inquest of Insanity. 

Upon satisfactory proof being made to the court that Mary Goss is incapable of taking care of herself or her property and by reason of her physical debility could not be brought to the court ordered that Solomon Goss, by appointed guardian of the said Mary.  Whereupon the said Solomon Goss gave Bond in the penal sum of sixteen hundred dollars with [ ] Maynard as security approved by the court, and was duly sworn and confirmed according to law. Ordered that said guardian, give notice of his appointment in the courthouse and other public places in the county.  

Source:  Probate Records, Henry County, Iowa, Vol. D, pg. 311 FHL#964922

Not long after on April 13, 1859 a brief note appears in the court books regarding the estate of Mary Goss.

On application to that effect and cause therefor being shown, it is ordered by the court that Solomon Goss be and he is hereby appointed administrator of Mary Goss deceased.  Therefrom the said Solomon Goss gave bond in the penal sum of eight hundred dollars with H. W. Maynard as security, which was approved by the court and he was duly sworn according to law.  It is also ordered by the court that the said administor give notice of his appointment by posting up notices, at the courthouse and two other public places in the county.  And said Administrator is authorized to sell so much of the said personal property as he may deem proper, and in said terms as to him may seem best.  It is further ordered by the court that Isaac P. [Cove], Francis Alter & James H. Stephens be and they are hereby appointed appraisers of the personal property of said estate.

There was only 3 pieces of paper regarding the estate of Mary Goss, there are no dates on these next two pieces. 

Estate of Mary Goss dec.  On this day Solomon Goss administor of the Estate of Mary Goss dec’d filed his report of the condition of said Estate showing a balance of in his hands subject to order of distribution of $26.88 which report is approved by the court. 

Followed by the Inventory and report:

Solomon Goss administor of the Estate of Mary Goss dec’d and makes the following report which is filed same [        ].

To Cash left by the deceased $25.00. To cash for personal property as the appraisement $76.13, Total $104.13.  One note given by [Chas A of W. Viney] dated June 25, 1858 given the day after date drawing [oper cent Int.]  $200.00.  One note given by Daniel Goss dated Jan 26, 1857 due one year after date with 10 per cent int from date for $200.00.  Jany. 29th 1861 Probate fees paid $3.00, 5 percent commission $19.20.  My share of the Estate being 1/5th $19.20.  Bal. cash in my hands $76.73. 

Said balance [  ] due to the following heirs as follows:  Daniel Goss (brother of Deceased) 1 share $19.19.  Heirs of Lake Deceased 1 share $19.19.  Levi Goss 1 share $19.19.  Heirs of Lydia Spracklin deceased 1 share $19.19.    Source:  Henry Co., Probate Records, Vol. D pg. 395, 528, 602, FHL#964922.

If we study the dates we can determine that Mary passed sometime between September of 1857 and 1859.  She outlived her two sisters and we know from this probate file that Daniel and Levi are still living.  Again there is no mention of David. 

Where Mary is buried in Henry County is unclear.  I cannot find her at this time, but I assume she is buried there because Solomon (Jr.) and his wife Mary are still living there according to the 1860 census for Henry County, Iowa. 

Update:  Mary’s tombstone and burial location has been found.  She is buried next to her brother Solomon Goss and sister-in-law Mary C. Goss in the Burge Cemetery in New London, Henry Co., Iowa.  Find the Cemetery category and click on Burge Cemetery on the right side of this blog.

I ponder what Mary would have been like.  Finding her in the records is very unusual for a woman, but very rewarding.  Her bond with her brother Solomon must have been strong for what would have compelled her to leave her home in Washington County to travel to Hardin County and then onto Iowa?

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Note:  When I visited Iowa in April of 2003 I traveled to and did research in several repositories like the State Historical Society for Iowa which has two offices, one in Iowa City and the main one in Des Moines.  I was at both for several days.  The Iowa Genealogical Society is also excellent and located in Des Moines near the Archives.  I traveled mostly through the southern part of Benton County and the north part of Iowa County my emphasis was on finding Daniel Spracklin, Lydia’s son.  Another stop was the Iowa County Genealogical Society which was in the basement in the tiniest room I have ever seen at that time, but they have moved since.  See the links on the sidebar.

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Mary Goss, School Teacher!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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U.S. Military Lands: Land Deeded to his Children!

All of Solomon Goss and Olive’s children received land, not as you would think in Washington County, Ohio where he settled after about 1797 but rather in Knox County, Ohio.  Knox County is in the middle of Ohio, about 1 hour north of Columbus, Franklin County,  and south of Mansfield, Richland County.  The county seat is Mount Vernon.  Apparently, the Ohio Company Associates had some of this land in their holdings?  I discovered this when I was studying the holdings of the Special Collections of the Marietta College, Digital Collections, Ohio Company Associates.   Another website has the Donation Lands http://www.washogs.org/donation_lands.html   Solomon Goss (Jr.) inherited the land in Fearing Twp., Washington County, Ohio at his father’s death and therefore, he did not get any land in Knox County.  You will see that he is a witness in some of these deeds of his siblings. 

Somehow, Solomon Goss secured this land from Zaccheus Biggs on July 28th, 1802.  On April 19, 1815 he deeded the land to Elizabeth Lake and her siblings.  These deeds that are in the Knox County Recorders office state his relationship to his children “eldest daughter Elizabeth Lake, wife of Andrew Lake of Union Twp., Washington County.”  This is a wonderful find and a dream, most deeds are not that specific regarding the relationship of the children.   The land is west of Mount Vernon, in Knox County. 

Deed in which Solomon Goss of Fearing Twp., Washington Co., sold land in Knox. Co., Ohio to his eldest daughter Elizabeth Lake, wife of Andrew Lake of Union Twp. of Washington Co., on April 19, 1815 and recorded Oct. 2, 1815. Witnessed by Joel Tuttle JP, Simon Porter and Signed by Solomon Goss Sr. Description of the land: ” …certain tract or parcel of Land, Situate and being in said State of Ohio, in the Fourteenth Range and Sixth Township of the United States Military Lands so-called, containing fifty acres being part of a tract of four hundred and fifty acres Deeded to me the said Solomon Goss by Zaccheus Biggs which is dated July 28th 1802, Refference thereunto being had and is butted and bounded as follows, beginning on the North East corner, Thence West Twenty four chains to Land this day deeded to Noah Goss, Thence South South Twenty chains 83 1/2 links, Thence East twenty four Chains, Thence North twenty chains 83 1/3 links to the place of beginning…” Source:  Knox County, Ohio Deeds, FHL#314037, Vol. B-C, pg. 273-274.

I will go into more detail in later posts about this land Solomon Goss, the father purchased.

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Solomon and Olive Goss’s Family!

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

Wyoming Valley!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Susquehanna River - Wilkes-Barre 2008

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

*******

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

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

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

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Ebenezer Goss – Portage County, Ohio

Ebenezer Goss was the younger brother of Solomon Goss.  They both migrated and settled in Ohio.  Solomon actually arrived about a good 10 years before Ebenezer.  Ebenezer headed for the Western Reserve and Solomon Goss ended up in Washington County, Ohio.

Paul H. Goss, my cousin, wrote many articles and manuscripts back in the 1930′s, 1940′s and 1950′s about the Goss family.  He was born in Portage County in 1890.  I have collected Paul’s manuscripts and articles over the years and visiting Portage County was another part of my walking in his footsteps.  I also wanted to see Ebenezer and Bede’s graves.

After visiting the Dunkirk Cemetery in Hardin County, I headed East.  I took Hwy 30 to Interstate 71 and then took Interstate 76/224 and made my way to Randolph Township, Portage County, Ohio.  It took me about 2.5 hours to get across the state.  As I drove along I watched the land change from flat to more hills and thicker with trees about Akron.  Portage County reminds me of home although we have more fir and pine trees.  It is very green. 

First stop was the Hillside Cemetery which contains the Sand Hill Cemetery at the south end.  It is on the Hartsville Road just above Waterloo north of 224.  The newer part is on the left to the west and the older part is on the east side of the road.  If you get to 44 north you have gone too far.   I will describe and talk about this cemetery in another post.  Ebenezer Goss, Bede, Beder and other Goss family are buried in this cemetery so it is of great importance to descendants of this family.  Unfortunately there are several dogs on the other side of the chain link fence that were challenging me if I came to close and I needed to do that because the stones are almost to the fence.  Another dog was trying to move the chain link. I did find the graves for Ebenezer and Bede and others.

Sign to Hillside Cemetery

On my way up 44 to Ravenna I passed through the towns and townships of Randolph, Rootstown and on into Ravenna.  I found the Rocking Horse Bed and Breakfast on Riddle Street.  Again watch out for one way streets.  The B&B is located within walking distance of Main Street and I set out to explore.  I found Guidos for dinner and had some ravioli.  It was okay, I liked the ravioli but the sauce was odd.  Guidos’ is right across from the Portage County Courthouse on Main St.  Finding a really good restaurant in Ravenna is a challenge most of them are fast food.  There is a Giant Eagle east on Main Street but they only had an olive bar, no salad bar?   Now I do like olives. 

Portage County Historical Society & Museum

The following day I had an appointment with the Portage County Historical Society.  The genealogical chapter is also located there.  You will find them by going to Main Street and turning north onto Chestnut Street.  They are located before you get to the cemetery and the Ravenna High School.  They have plenty of free parking on the north side. At first I was only going to get 2.5 hours of research but it turned into 4 hours.  I had made an appointment.  Barbara gave me a quick tour and I was busy with studying the scrapbook collection that they have filled with newspaper articles like marriages, obituaries and more.  They have a list of names with a number of the scrapbook and page.  Now there are many many shelves of these scrapbooks and not everything is on the website.  I found several interesting articles.  They have family surname files, Portage County atlases, township records, church records and some of the probate packets, not all.  They have much more.  The Portage County Historical Society is a must stop for anyone with Portage County roots.  I really enjoyed my visit. 

Portage County Historical Society Interior

Ebenezer and Bede had the following children: Mary, David, Carver and Beder. 

The last three children David, Carver and Beder are buried with or near their parents in Sand Hill in Randolph.  Mary she is in West Lawn west of  Brimfield.  David married Hannah Ryder and they are buried in Sand Hill although their tombstones are missing.  Carver, a son of David, is back several rows next to Lucretia his wife.   The older Carver, son of Ebenezer and Bede is also there and apparently noted on the backside of the Joel Pegg stone but I didn’t see any inscription.  More in another future post.

David and Hannah Goss had the following children:  Cyrus, Weathy, Carver, Emeline, Sidney and Lucius Beder Goss.   Weathly Goss Gorby is buried in Sand Hill with her family near the Goss family toward the chain link fence with a big monument (same row to the south).  Lucius is buried in Fairview Cemetery in Hiram which is north of Ravenna.  He was a Civil War soldier.  I stopped and paid my respects to Lucius in Fairview.  He is located behind the large stone building several rows back.  The others left and went to Indiana and Michigan.

Lucius and Lovincy had ten children of which David Ephraim Goss was their third child.  David married Virginia Fowler first and had Paul H. Goss and other children.  David and Virginia are buried in Park Cemetery in Garrettsville.  So I was trying to identify burials of Ebenezer’s children and then go down the descent to Paul H. Goss’s parents.  Paul is buried in San Diego with his wife Gail in the Fort Rosecrans Cemetery.  I visited there several years back.    I will share these cemeteries that I visited in Portage County and more in a future posts.

So while in Portage County, I made a tour through Randolph and Ravenna up to Hiram and over to Garrettsville and back into Ravenna in order to get an idea of what the area was like.  There are other towns that are part of the Goss history but these were my targets on this trip. 

Randolph Township Office

That was pretty much the end of my day in Portage County. 

Rocking Horse Bed and Breakfast, Ravenna, Ohio

The Rocking Horse Bed and Breakfast  is located on Riddle Street just past Meridian.  You have to take the side street (Cherry) by coming in from the back for it is one way next to the B&B.  At first glimpse of the Rocking Horse I thought maybe I had made a mistake.  The outside of the house is in need of a paint job and I wonder how much that would cost?  However, upon further examination I found the garden is beautiful and well maintained.  I was jealous of the full bed of hostas that lined the side street.  I love old houses and this was no exception.  Everyone has its own personallity and charm. You enter the foyer and the living room is to the right and the dining room is to the left.  The kitchen is in the back area and there is the old stove that looks like something out of the 1930′s.  The rooms are on the second floor and they are lovely.  My room had a pink theme.  I have a TV, a place to put my luggage, a chair, a separate bathroom and comfy bed.  Breakfast is more Continental than a full breakfast like the 50 Lincoln B&B.  Lots of coffee is available and can be ready very early.  They also have WiFi but no desk.  I was doing fine sitting in bed computing.  Yes, there are stairs but they are wide and easy to negotiate and not as steep as other B&B’s.  You can hear the train toot its horn in the distance.  The dog next door was chasing his ball in the backyard yesterday but I don’t see him today.  They have the biggest cats in this same neighbor’s window.  My host is a young man and he made the banana nut bread that he served which was very tasty and apparently he runs this B&B himself and also works a day job.  My bed was made and everything was cleaned up by the time I returned so he must come home for lunch!  I sort of feel like the “Princess and the Pea.”  It was a lovely stay and I recommend you visit. 

They had a very interesting storm with strobe lighting and several strong and loud cracks of thunder and it went on for a good hour or more late at night!  It made the B&B very mysterious!

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Ohio Bound: The Goss Family Story Continues!

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

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

Philip Goss of Roxbury & Lancaster

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

Capt. Philip and Judith Goss 2011

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

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

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

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

Paul H. Goss – Goss Family 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Previous Travels: In Search of Family History!

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

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

Old Indian Cemetery, West Brookfield, MA 2011

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

Forty Fort - Nothing is left of the old fort

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

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

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

The Mayflower Society House, Plymouth, MA

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

D.A.R. 2008

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

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

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

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

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

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