Experience Goss was born to Nathaniel and Hannah (Scott) Goss somewhere around 1787 or maybe a little earlier in Luzerne Co., Pennsylvania. The land squabbles had settled down, a bit, and Luzerne County had been established in 1786. It is quite possible for her birth location to be in Luzerne. As for the date of birth that is unclear.
Experience Goss and Aaron Culver have been difficult to research. I will present what I know and try to piece it together.
Experience Goss married an Aaron Culver per the Michael Shoemaker Book (Schumacher), by Williams T. Blair, 1924, pg. 663. This book is online at Internet Archive for viewing. Paul H. Goss discusses them in his Goss Manuscript.
In 1796 there is a list of Taxables for Huntington Twp. I have shared this before, but here it is again. This is from the book the Annals of Luzerne pg. 548, again online at Internet Archive for viewing. We see listed a Daniel, Reuben and Aaron Culver among other names:
Huntington Twp. taxables in 1796.
It is also said that the Experience and Aaron had the following children, see further below for more information:
David born about 1801 and died 1923, but maybe he died in 1854.
Zeno born 1805 and died 1892.
There might have been a Nathaniel Culver and an unknown baby born about 1800.
An Aron Culver appears in the Pennsylvania U.S. Direct Tax List of 1798 in Huntington Twp. Luzerne Co., PA. The listing is: Miles Sutliff Occupant, Aron Culver Owner, Huntington, 1 house $5.00 92 acres 80 perches $162 etc.
Another listing has Miles Sutliff Occupant, Aron Culver Owner. There are two lines across with: Dwelling 57, 1, dollars 940, 12, acres 15,657, perches 39, 92 acres and 80 perches, dollars 23,813 and 162. There is an Abel Sutliff and a Miles Sutliff lower down on the page.
Here is a Claimant listing from Donna Munger’s Connecticut booklet Volume III showing an interesting list of heirs and an interesting chain of title.
Claimant: Reuben Culver
Date Acquired: 11/14/1799
Drawer: Elisha Richards
Twp. Huntington
Div. 2nd
Lot. 29
Acres: 107A, 128p
Chain of Title: Asael Atherton 6/8/1776, Goss, Philip 1/9/1777, Solomon & Olive Goss 4/15/1777, Obadiah Scott Jr. 11/31/1795, Culver, Danl 11/15/1799 Daniel Culver Heir* – Heirs: Reuben, Eunice & Henery Lanfare, Esther, Polly & Isaiah Bencaster, Moses, Aaron, Daniel, Samuel, Pebe & Miles Sutliff.
Patentee: Reuben Culver
Source: CTL:43; MEHun: 180, 202
Patent Book: H12:338
Survey Book: 4:94
Source: Connecticut’s Pennsylvania Colony, Volume III, by Donna Bingham Munger, Heritage Books 2007.
A potential father and mother for Aaron, if you believe the claimant information above, is a Daniel Culver born 5 January 1735 in Waterbury, Bristol, Connecticut and died about 1809 or earlier in Luzerne Co., Pennsylvania. I have not found a probate file for this man in the Luzerne, Bristol or Litchfield records online but that doesn’t mean there isn’t one. He supposedly married Sarah Pringle (1740-1776). I am beginning to believe that Aaron and Reuben were brothers and Phebe is their sister.
There is an Aaron Culver appearing in the 1800 U.S. Census for Huntington Twp. Luzerne Co., PA. If Experience was born 1787 she would be too young at this time – age 13. She would be 18 in 1805. If she married Aaron Culver, he would be 16 years old in 1800 if born in 1784. When you look at this census information we find a male in the 26 to 44 range making the year range 1774 – 1756. There is a female in the 16 to 25 range making the range of years 1784 to 1775.
- Free White Persons – Males – Under 10 – 1
- Free White Persons – Males – 26 thru 44 – 1
- Free White Persons – Females – 16 thru 25 – 1
- Number of Household Members Under 16 – 1
- Number of Household Members Over 25 – 1
- Number of Household Members – 3
There is an Aaron Culver in the 1800 Pennsylvania, Septennial Census living in Huntingdon(ton) Luzerne Co., Pennsylvania. In this census there is listed a Reuben Culver, Aaron Culver, Samuel Culver. There is listed a Nathan Forbes, John Goss, Nathaniel Goss, Philip Goss, and names like Longs, Sewards, Scotts, Tubbs. This census is just a list of names with no other information.
In 1810 the U.S. Census has an Aaron Culver living in Huntington Twp., Luzerne Co., Pennsylvania. The range of years for the male are 1784 to 1766. For the female it is the same. I am taking the first number and subtracting from 1810 and the 2nd number also from 1810. I did this for 1800.
- Free White Persons – Males – Under 10 – 4
- Free White Persons – Males – 16 thru 25 – 1
- Free White Persons – Males – 26 thru 44 – 1
- Free White Persons – Females – 26 thru 44 – 1
- Number of Household Members Under 16 – 4
- Number of Household Members Over 25 – 2
- Number of Household Members 7
I refer again to the Letters written in 1815 and 1816 by John Goss in Ohio, to his brother Nathaniel Goss Jr. in Luzerne Co.
“Randolph, December 22, 1815 Portage County, Ohio – Power of Att. Granted by John GOSS and sister, Hannah Allen to Nathaniel GOSS for sale of their father’s property at Beat Swany to William White.”
“Randolph June 5, 1816:
Dear Brother,
—-I expect you will have great and little AARON (Culver) to see you in a short time. He wants some of father’s land deeded to Wm. White. He is coming to see me on the subject. Hannah and I gave him a line leaving at your discression what to do. I feel willing that father’s will should be fulfilled at any time, and all times. What Culver’s views are I cannot tell. Please do as you think best, as Hannah and I wrote.
Letter of John GOSS written to his brother Nathaniel GOSS, Jr. at Huntington Mills, Pennsylvania.
“Randolph, November 28, 1816:
Dear Brother
–—I have read your letter sent by Aaron. It seems that Aaron is to have the land once dispised. I had rather it would go for (honing) if you have not contracted it on my part you need not. I am willing to deed it to you and you can do as you please. Or let it lie until I see you. If father’s will cane (cone) I shall be glad.. You wrote to me that I give you too much power or none at all. If you have sold it write me and I will send you a deed, so that you shall not be hurt by the same. Aaron would not take the land because it was not good. And I do not want him to keep it from any other one. We can keep it for the right owner as well as he, and be as likely to do justice. If a child thinks a gift not good enough when he is grown a little better they will go after it. I expect Aaron will come out again this winter. He will learn the way.”
I think it is very interesting that John thinks his father Nathaniel Goss Sr. had a will? I have not found one, was it lost?
I find the wording to be very confusing. What is meant by Big and Little Aaron Culver, do we take it literally? That there is an older Aaron Culver and a young Aaron Culver? Maybe he is referring to David or Zeno and didn’t know there names, or is the Nathaniel Culver mentioned really a Nathaniel Aaron Culver? Well, it is fun to speculate. It would be nice to have all the letters that went back and forth, not just half the conversation.
I have searched the Luzerne County Deeds for the time frame of 1815 to the end of Nathaniel Goss Jr.’s life in 1854 and did not find under the “White” listings any deed done by Nathaniel Goss Jr. I have also studied the deeds for the Goss names in the Luzerne Co., Deeds and there is not a mention of a deed to a William White. I also looked at Portage County deeds, but the listings for White start in 1830. The letter implies a lease or mortgage which can be filed separately?
I got to thinking is “Beat Swany” referring to a person? So I took a look at Donna’s books and all her volumes Proprietor, Settler and Claimant and found the name Swain or Swan? Nothing really specific popped up. I also looked at old geographic names of locations for Luzerne County but didn’t see anything remotely resembling this reference.
Sigh! Sadly, we don’t have the total picture to make sense out of the letter’s contents.
Migration:
Note the location of Richland, Medina, Summit, Wayne and Portage counties…
It is true that Aaron Culver and Experience, migrated from Pennsylvania and headed for Wayne Co., Ohio.
Aaron Culver appears in the 1815 Sugar Creek, Wayne Co., Ohio census and next to him is written a “1.” Then in 1819 an Aaron Culver appears again with a 1 written across from his name. A Truman Culver is listed in the next column. This is found on the website of the Wayne County Public Library in their genealogical and digital collection.
Aaron Culver appears in the Tax Assessment Records for Wayne County and Sugar Creek, Ohio in 1818, 1819. Other tax records are 1822, 1824 and 1826. David Culver appears in 1826. Which might imply that he was 18 or a little older so his birth date would be 1807, not 1801? There are at at least one tax record per year from 1818 to 1826 for Aaron Culver. There is also Truman Culver listed. These are found at FamilySearch online. You do have to hunt a little for the name of the county in the earlier years by flipping back till you find the begining of the record, they are not indexed very clearly.
1818 Tax Record of Aaron Culver in Wayne Co., Ohio
In 1818 we find a deed in which the heirs of Nathaniel Goss Sr. are featured. They are partitioning Lot #53 in Huntington Twp., Luzerne Co., Pennsylvania. I presented this deed in a past post published on this blog about the Estate and Legacy of Nathaniel Goss Sr. I suggest you find that and read it for more information: Here they are again.
Nathaniel Goss & others, assigtn To Thomas Betterly
We Nathaniel Goss and Hannah Goss, Experience Culver, Hannah Allen and Rhoda Dodson heirs to the within named Nathaniel Goss for the consideration of one hundred and fifty dollars received to our full satisfaction of Thomas Betterly of Huntington Township in this County of Luzerne and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania do hereby transfer and assign over the above named Thomas Betterly his heirs and assigns forever all the right title interest or demand we have in or to the within described lot of land. In Witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals this ___ day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and nineteen. Signed Sealed and delivered in the presence of Samuel Franklin, Miles Suttiff and Abiel Fellows. Signed and sealed
Nathaniel Goss, Hannah (her mark) Goss, Rhoda Dodson and Richard Dodson.
Huntington Luzerne County January the ___ day of 1819 personally appeared before me the above named heirs to the with named Nathaniel Goss signers and sealers to the above Indenture and acknowledge the same to be their free act and deed before me. Abiel Fellows, Justice of the Peace (Seal) Recorded April 26th, 1819.
Here is another deed regarding Experience’s father’s estate, Continued on page 389 and then to page 390:
Aaron Culver & wife to Miles Suttliff )) This Indenture made the first day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen Between Aaron Culver and his wife Experience of the County of Wayne and State of Ohio of the first part and Miles Suttliff or Pennsylvania County of Luzerne and Huntington Township of the second part. Witnesseth that the said part of the first part for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars to him in hand paid by the said party of the second part the receipt whereof is hereby confessed and acknowledged hath bargained sold revised and quit claimed and by these presents (page 335) doth bargain sell revise and quit claim unto the party of the second part and to his heirs and assigns forever all the lot No. 53 in the 2d division of Huntington and is called “Hermitage” Together with all and singular the hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any wise appurtaining and the reversion and reversions, remainder and remainders rents issues and profits thereof and also all the estate right title interest claim or demand whatsoever of him the said party of the first part either in law or equity (blob of ink) in and to the above bargained premises and every part and parcel thereof to the said party of the second part his heirs and assigns to the sole and only proper use benefit and behoof of the said party of the second part his heirs and assigns forever. In Witness hereof I do set my hand and seal the day and year above written. Witnesses present: Samuel McClelland, Asa Cook Junior.
Signed and Sealed: Aaron (his mark) Culver, Experience Culver
The State of Ohio, Wayne County SS) Personally appeared before me the subscribers one of the acting Justices of the Peace for said county the within named Aaron Culver who acknowledged that he did voluntarily sign and deliver the within deed of Conveyance for the purposes therein expressed, also personally appeared before me the said Experience Culver wife of the said Aaron Culver being examined separate and a part from her said husband acknowledged the within deed of conveyance to be her voluntary act and deed and that she executed the same without the threats of coercion or persuasion of her husband and freely relinquished her right of dower to the premises within mentioned and desires that the same may be admitted to record. Given under my hand and seal this 1st day of June 1818. William Thomas Justice of the Peace — Seal.
Continuing on page 390:
Miles Sutliff & wife to Thomas Betterly )) Know all these presents that Miles Sutliff and Phebe his wife for and in consideration of the sum of three hundred dollars to us in hand paid by Thos Betterly of the township of Huntington County of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania de hereby transfer and assign over to the above named Thos Betterly his heirs and assigns forever all the rite title interest or deman we have in or to the within named lot or parsel of land. In Witness whereof we have herunto set our hands and seals this twenty fourth day of April in the year of our Lord 1819. Signed Sealed and Delivered in the presence of Eucilid Suttliff Abiel Fellows.
Signed and Sealed Miles Suttliff and Phebe (her mark) Suttliff
Huntington Luzerne County April 24 1819 – Personally appeared before me Miles Suttiff and Phebe his wife and acknowledge this transfer to the within deed to be their free act and deed. She well knowing the contents. Abiel Fellows Justice of the Peace — Seal — Recorded April 26th 1819.
We have some very interesting Sutliff/Suttliff connections in these deeds, in fact, I think Phebe is Aaron’s sister and probably Reuben’s sister. This tells us that Experience was alive maybe into 1820 and that she probably died in Sugar Creek, Wayne Co., Ohio and is buried there somewhere.
The 1820 US Census has an Aaron Culver living in Sugar Creek, Wayne, Ohio about August 7, 1820. If Aaron was born in 1774 he would be 45. If he was born in 1766 he would be 54 years old. Same age possibilities for the female.
- Free White Persons – Males – Under 10 – 1
- Free White Persons – Males – 10 thru 15 – 2
- Free White Persons – Males – 16 thru 18 – 1
- Free White Persons – Males – 16 thru 25 – 2
- Free White Persons – Males – 45 and over – 1
- Free White Persons – Females – Under 10 – 1
- Free White Persons – Females – 16 thru 25 – 1
- Free White Persons – Females – 26 thru 44 – 1
- Free White Persons – Females – 45 and over – 1
- Number of Persons – Engaged in Agriculture – 5
- Free White Persons – Under 16 – 4
- ree White Persons – Over 25 – 3
- Total Free White Persons – 10
- Total All Persons – White, Slaves, Colored, Other – 10
There is a marriage for an Aaron Culver to a Susana for 16 October 1820 in Wayne, Ohio, per Ohio County Marriages 1774-1993 at Ancestry.
From the Wayne County Public Library website we find an Aron Culver living in Sugar Creek in 1823 on the census for that area. There is listed on this census a Freeman Culver, and David Culver. This is just a list of names, not other information. If this is the first appearance of David on the census and we use 18 for his qualification for age he was born in 1805.
There is a deed in the Medina Co. Deeds where and Edmund Oviatt sells to an Aaron Culver. Edmund Oviatt and Sally his wife of Hudson in County of Portage, State of Ohio for $400 of Aaron Culver – tract of land situate in Norton Twp. No. 1 Twelfth Range of twp. in the Connecticut Western Reserve in Ohio and in County of Medina known as part of lot # 504 containing 83 acres. Signed by Edmund and Sally Oviatt in presents of Benj. Whedon and Grathan P. Robinson. On 13 July 1829 they came before the Judge, Benj. Whedon JP. Rec’ 28 Nov and Recorded 30 Nov. 1829. Vol. E, page 37.
In the 1830 US Census we find an Aaron Culver living in Norton, Medina, Ohio. This man is older in the 60 to 69 age range with 1770 being the lower number and and 1761 being the 69 age. Hmmm…..It is suggested that Susanna was born in 1780 and died in 1850. The 49 age for the female comes out at 1781 for her birth. The contrast in the family from 8 children down to 2 children by 1830 is very interesting.
- Free White Persons – Males – 5 thru 9 – 1
- Free White Persons – Males – 10 thru 14 – 1
- Free White Persons – Males – 60 thru 69 – 1
- Free White Persons – Females – 40 thru 49 – 1
- Free White Persons – Under 20 – 2
- Free White Persons – 20 thru 49 – 1
- Total Free White Persons – 4
- Total – All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored) – 4
There is deed for Medina Co., dated 5 April 1831, page 409 – This is Aaron Culver to Hannah Culver. Aaron and Susannah Culver his wife of Norton Twp. County of Medina, State of Ohio for $600 from Hannah Culver also of Norton Twp. lot #1, 12th Range in the Connecticut Western Reserve and part of lot #54 – page 410. Attest H. Ward Aaron (his mark) Culver and Attest H. Ward Susannah (her mark) Culver, in presence of Hezekiah Ward and John B. Hurlbut. Aaron and Susannah came before Hezkiah Ward JP. Rec’d and Recorded 6 April 1831. Vol. E, page 409.
We have a deed dated 26 February 1833 Hannah Culver and David Culver to Aaron Culver in Norton Twp., Medina Co., Ohio for $300, tract #1, of the 12th Range in the Connecticut Reserve County of Medina, known as part of lot #54 containing 41.5 acres lot deeded to Aaron Culver by Edmund Oviatt and Sally. Signed by Hannah Culver and David Culver in the presence of Peter Waltz and Dudley Griswold. David and Hannah appeared before Dudley Griswold, JP. Recd. July 4, 1833 and recorded July 9, 1833. Vol. G page 286.
Then on 11 September 1835 for $500 paid by Aaron Culver. Land in Medina No. 1, 12th Range Connecticut Reserve known as part of lot #54, 41.5 acres. Signed by David Culver and Hannah Culver and witnessed by Thomas Johnston, John Sw….David and Hannah appear before Thomas Johnston JP. Recorded Jan 5, 1836. Vol. K page 600.
This is interesting, there are Letters of Admin. Richland Ohio in the mid 1850’s for an Aaron Culver. I have to admit this is very confusing. This would require study of the Richland probate records to determine who this Aaron might be. Unfortunately, I cannot find an index at the online records at FamilySearch.
In the 1850 U.S. Census there is an Aaron Culver age 64 farmer $900 born PA living in Randolph, Portage Co., Ohio. With him is a Mantua P. age 38 (1812) a carpenter born NY, Martha J. age 23 (1827), Sarah W. age 3 (1847) and Mary A. age 5/12 (1845). The last three born in Ohio. This man was born in 1786? I am having trouble finding this family.
See the 1850 Census for Zeno Culver below. There is an Aaron Culver age 84 living with him. Apparently, the name Aaron is very popular in the family.
We have an Agricultural census for 19 June 1860 for Atwater, Portage Co., Ohio for an A. Culver. It is probably the man listed above in the 1850 census.
Aaron and Experience Culver had maybe these children:
Nathaniel Culver born about 1803 or earlier.
David Culver born 1803. There is a marriage of a David Culver to a Hannah Sanderson on 2 August 1821 in Wayne Co., Ohio. She was born 1802 and died 1854. David may have died in Oregon, Lucas, Ohio
In the 1840 US Census a David Culver is living in Sharon, Medina, Ohio. The range is 1810 to 1801 for this male and the female.
- Free White Persons – Males – Under 5 – 1
- Free White Persons – Males – 5 thru 9 – 1
- Free White Persons – Males – 30 thru 39 – 1
- Free White Persons – Females – 10 thru 14 – 2
- Free White Persons – Females – 15 thru 19 – 3
- Free White Persons – Females – 30 thru 39 – 1
- Persons Employed in Agriculture – 5
- Free White Persons – Under 20 – 7
- Free White Persons – 20 thru 49 – 2
- Total Free White Persons – 9
- Total All Persons – Free White, Free Colored, Slaves – 9
In the 1850 US Census there is a David Culver living in Waterville, Lucas Co., Ohio age 49 born about 1801 in Pennsylvania. With him are Hannah age 48 born Canada, Newton B. Culver age 16, Horace Culver age 15 and Martin Culver age 9, all born Ohio. Lucas County is up on the western border of Ohio. If this is them, they made a big move.
Zeno Culver 1805 in Pennsylvania. He died 17 February 1892 in Akron, Summit Co., Ohio aged 83 years 4 months and 22 days. His burial is unknown or someplace in Cuyahoga Falls where his wife is buried. He married a Sophia Sala on 12 April 1838 in Stark Co., Ohio. They may have had William W. Culver 1839 to 1911 and Caroline T. Culver (DeLand) 1843-1920. Sophia Sala was born in Virginia and died 2 February 1884 in Akron.
In the 1850 US Census Zeno Culver is living in Northampton, Summit Co., Ohio. He is 45 years old born PA, farming $1005. With him are Sophia age 38, William age 11, Caroline age 7, Aaron Culver age 84 (means he was born in 1766). This older Culver does not appear in the 1860 U.S. Census. In that census Zeno is 57, Sophia is 51, William is 21 and Caroline is 17.
In an obit about Zeno Culver, with his “first wife he had one daughter, Mrs. Pauline Moody whose three children live in Medina, Ohio”, she died 10 years ago. Unfortunately, the obituary does not state or give any information about his parentage. Source: Akron Beach Journal 17 Feb 1892 page 1.
Pauline Culver may have married an Asahel Wright Moody and had Carrie and Ida. She lived in Brunswick, Medina Co., Ohio and they are buried in the Westview Cemetery. Paulina was born 24 January 1829 and died 5 July 1885. Asahel was born 1828 in Massachusetts and died 30 May 1883. Do not know the name of her mother at this time.
Zeno Culver left a will in Summitt Co., Ohio. Old Original Wills 1884-1901 Probate #6381 date 13 March 1888 (Vol. 9 page 578, Vol. 7 page 171.) He gives to his granddaughters Edith DeLand and Vesta DeLand of Akron, the following real estate situated in the city of Akron, Lots #12 and 13 share and share alike. They are his daughter Caroline’s children. The father William DeLand was the Executor of Zeno’s will.
In Summary: Well, that is all very interesting. There are a lot of questions about Aaron Culver and Experience Goss that have not been answered. I need estates, deeds, vitals, burial (can’t find anyone of them), and more to really understand this family. It would also require studying the records of Luzerne, Summit, Wayne, Medina, Lucas and Portage to see if more clues can be found and actually going to the court house or archives to dig deep. Early Ohio and Luzerne are very hard to research. I do believe that Aaron and Reuben were brothers not one person and that Phebe was their sister.
It is time to move on the Hannah Goss and her marriage to Elnathan Jennings another difficult research problem in the family of Nathaniel Goss Sr. and Hannah Scott.
BJ MacDonald
Solomon Goss of Fearing Township in Ohio 1754-1825 