DNA Proves Family Lore

 As I work through DNA matches about which Ancestry suggests a common ancestor, I like to research everyone from the common ancestor forward through to the person with matching DNA. Then I add all the new information to my family tree.

My three times great grandmother was Anna Mariah or Marie Waldrond (1782-1868)1. Several of my Waldron DNA matches share Anna's father, Benjamin Walrond (died 1811) as our common ancestor as did this interesting match:

Ancestry.com suggested common ancestor; courtesy Ancestry.com

I had researched Thomas, John and Samuel Washington Waldron extensively. According to my research Samuel Washington Waldron didn't have a daughter named Sallie Bell and why was her maiden name Presley?

I found this note posted by Ancestry.com user Timothy Hunt in 2007:

Courtesy Ancestry.com

After much research, I discovered that the family lore outlined above was true as proved by my DNA to Sallie Belle's grandson as well as several other shared matches that could only be matches to me if a son of John Waldron fathered Sallie Bell. 

What Nina's grandmother, Bertha (Altizer) Waldron failed to mention however, was that Bertha's father Cecil Corbin Altizer was born before Bertha's marriage to Augustus Spotts Waldron, Samuel Washington Waldron's brother. Such a tangled, but oh so interesting family tree.

Relationships between Waldron and Altizer families; created using
Microsoft Powerpoint

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1 Spelling of the Walrond surname was later changed to Waldron.

Rewriting the Biographical Sketch about John Riddell (1877-1975)

I first wrote the biographical sketch about John Riddell in 2014 for the multi-volume book I am writing about the descendants of Robert Muir (c1800-1869), my three times great grandfather. John Riddell was one of his great grandsons. (John Ridell >> John Ridell >> Martha Muir >> Robert Muir)

John was born on 26 April 1877 in the village of Kirkton, East Kilbride to John and Helen (Bain) Riddell.  He was their third child, but only his sister, Margaret, was still living at the time of his birth. She had been born in 1875 and in 1876 his mother had a premature baby girl who died the same day she was born. When John was 14 months old, his mother had David Riddell in 1878, but he died of tuberculosis at the age of four months. In 1879 a son, Robert Riddell, was born.

In 1881 the family remained of village East Kilbride where his father worked as an agricultural laborer. However, by 1885 the John's family had moved to Cambuslang Parish where his parents rented a house at 12 Silverbanks Row. When the 1891 census was enumerated the family lived in Vicarfield Terrace in the village of Cambuslang.

At the age of 13, John was already working in the coal mines. His father died in 1897 and by 1901 John, his mother, and brother, Robert, were living in the village of Bishopbriggs, in Cadder Parish. Also living with them was a 5 year-old granddaughter of John's mother, named Ellen. John and Robert were listed as being single. My assumption is Ellen was the illegitimate child of John's older sister Margaret, but I can find no registration record for the child's birth.

On 6 October 1904, John Riddell and his friend, Thomas Sorbie, boarded the Anchor Line's S/S Furnessia. They traveled in the steerage section and landed in New York on 18 October. Both John and Thomas were miners. John lived in Glenboig before leaving Scotland and Thomas had lived in Dalserf.  Thomas Sorbie's parents were John and Margaret (Hamilton) Sorbie. Interestingly, John Riddell's grand uncle, Thomas Muir's first wife was a Sorbie, Janet Sorbie (1844-1870). Perhaps Thomas Sorbie was a cousin of John's.

Anchor Line's S/S Furnessia; photograph courtesy of ClydeSite

When they arrived in New York, they told U.S. immigration officials their destination was Imperial, Pennsylvania. Imperial was in Allegheny County about 17 miles west of Pittsburgh. Underground was the northern tip of the Pittsburgh coal seam, the thickest and most extensive bed of coal in the Appalachian Basin.

During first decade of the 1900s, when John Riddell and Thomas Sorbie arrived in Imperial, mining companies were sinking new mines at a rapid pace. The growth of mining was so massive and so intertwined with coke production for the iron and steel industry that the era was called the "Golden Age of King Coal, Queen Coke, and Princess Steel." By 1910, however, the golden age was fading, new coke production technology used a lower quality of coal than that of the Pittsburgh seam, which greatly reduced demand.

Pittsburgh coal seam; map courtesy of Wikipedia

Regardless of the reasons why John Riddell left Imperial, he was not there when the 1910 U.S. federal census was enumerated and has not been found in any U.S. documentation after his arrival.

The Rest of the Story

And the rest of John's life remained a mystery until a few weeks ago when a DNA match provided his year and place of death.

It seems the United States didn't suit John for whatever reason and he likely returned to the United Kingdom aboard the Cunard Steamship Company's RMS Campania, arriving in Liverpool on 10 March 1906. He only stayed a few months before immigrating to New Zealand aboard the New Zealand Shipping Company's SS Tongariro, which departed London on 9 August 1906 bound for Wellington. The voyage would have taken 30 to 40 days.

In 1908 John's widowed mother, Helen (Bain) Riddell and brother Robert joined John in New Zealand.

In 1910, John married Amy Alberta Roberts, who was born in 1882 in Bolton, England, to Jessie Alberta Roberts. Amy's mother married John Linihin five years after her birth. In 1901 the Linihin family was enumerated in Farnworth, England, where Amy's step-father worked as a coal miner. They immigrated in 1905.

John's mother died in 1914 and Amy's mother in 1924. John's brother, Robert, died in 1961.

John and Amy lived their lives in Auckland, New Zealand, and had four children, though one was born stillborn in 1915. Amy died on 22 January 1957 and was interred at the Waikumete Cemetery in Glen Eden. John lived to be 98 years old and died on 13 August 1975. He was interred beside his wife.

The children:

1. Jessie Bain Riddell born 13 May 1911 in Auckland; died 15 May 2011; married David William Storey in 1935.
2. Margaret Alberta Riddell born 16 February 1918; died 15 January 2002; married George William Allan Laird in 1941.
3. John "Jack" Victor Riddell born 18 Aug 1920; died 31 July 2015; married Lennox "Lyn" Blanche Jones.

DNA

A new DNA match provided enough clues to find my "lost" second cousin twice removed. And sometimes one more clue is just what you need to continue your research:

Family tree attached to my new DNA match; courtesy of Ancestry.com

The tree attached to my new DNA match said John Riddell was born in April in East Kilbride, Scotland, and died in 1975 in Auckland, New Zealand. I had a John Riddell born in April 1877 in East Kilbride. Could they be the same person? I suspected they were as his daughter's middle name was Bain and that was his mother's maiden name. After hours of research, I know the end of John Riddell's story.

Now if I could just find John's missing sister, Margaret Riddell! She's the only one in the family who is still "lost." Margaret was born on 18 January 1875 in East Kilbride, Scotland, and was enumerated in the 1881 and 1891 census with her family. If anyone knows her story, please contact me.

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John Riddell (1877-Unknown)

Descendants of Robert Muir (c1800-1869), Volume II: Descendants of John and Martha (Muir) Riddell

52 Ancestors #18: Matthew McMullin (bef 1765-c1816): Court Cases Tell the Tale

Ancestor: Matthew McMullin/McMullen, four times great grandfather
Haplogroup: R-M269

My four times great grandfather Matthew McMullin (or McMullen) was a gift that DNA testing provided a year ago when a match contacted me, who was a long-time McMullin researcher. His tree provided the name of my "new" four times great grandfather. Previously, Matthew's daughter Mary "Molly" or "Polly" McMullin, first wife of James Harvey Beard, had been a brick wall.

Matthew's parents are said to be Robert McMullin (c1710-1789) and Susannah, maiden name unknown. I have not yet begun to research those parents. If Robert and Susannah were Matthew's parents, then it is likely he was born in York County, Pennsylvania, as his father lived there about the time of his birth. His parents or grandparents are believed to have emigrated from Ireland. I do not know when Matthew married, or the maiden name of his wife, whose given name is said to be Margaret. I do know, based on the 1810 census, he was born before 1765; and, based on probate records, died before 25 January 1816. His estate was probated in Bedford County, Virginia, and three ensuing Chancery Court cases in Bedford and Botetourt counties provided a wealth of information about his descendants.

Click image to enlarge.
Extended family of Matthew McMullin, Sr.; created using
Microsoft PowerPoint

In 1786, Matthew McMullin lived in York County, Pennsylvania, according to the state's Septennial census. He was also enumerated in the first federal census of 1790 in York County and was one of 21 men named McMullin heading up households in the county. There were seven people in Matthew's household and no slaves. Slavery had been abolished in the state in 1780, but through gradual emancipation:

"That all Persons, as well Negroes, and Mulattos, as others, who shall be born within this State, from and after the Passing of this Act, shall not be deemed and considered as Servants for Life or Slaves; and that all Servitude for Life or Slavery of Children in Consequence of the Slavery of their Mothers, in the Case of all Children born within this State from and after the passing of this Act as aforesaid, shall be, and hereby is, utterly taken away, extinguished and for ever abolished."[1]

According to the History of York, Pennsylvania, Scot-Irish settlers began arriving in the Pennsylvania about 1715:

"At the time of its settlement, the population of Pennsylvania by immigration, principally from Germany and the north of Ireland, was increasing at a rate of 5,000 to 6,000 a year. That of the Scotch-Irish began about 1715, and the number annually increased to such an extent that the Provincial Secretary in writing to the proprietaries, says 'It looks as if Ireland is to send all her inhabitants, for the last week not less than six ships arrived, and every day two or three ships arrive also. The common fear is they crowd where they are not wanted'."

Some time after 1790 but before 1793, Matthew moved his family to Virginia. He may have first lived in Botetourt County, likely having taken the Great Wagon Road. The road was the most important frontier road in the western Piedmont during the eighteenth century. It began in Philadelphia, crossed westward to Gettysburg, turned south to Hagerstown, Maryland, continued south to Winchester, Virginia, and through the Shenandoah Valley, continuing on through North Carolina into South Carolina and Georgia. It was originally a Native American hunting trail called the Warrior's Path. Colonists began using it in the mid 1700s. At first the path was so narrow only a horse-mounted rider could use it, becoming more impassable as travelers entered the wilderness of Virginia. But as the settlers made their way along the road, they cut trees, found suitable fords to cross rivers, and worked around obstacles until wagons could use the route.

After the move to Virginia, Matthew, Sr.'s children began to marry:

• Jane to Joseph Withrow between 1790 and 1793 in Botetourt County
• Elizabeth to William Gilkerson on 23 December 1794 in Botetourt County
• Matthew, Jr. to Mary "Polly" Wysong on 18 August 1801 in Botetourt County
• Samuel to Elizabeth Weaver on 27 January 1803 in Franklin County
• Mary "Molly" or "Polly" to James Harvey Beard on 21 June 1811 in Bedford County
• Robert married Hester "Hetty" Beales on 12 October 1813 in Botetourt County

In 1810 Matthew's household was enumerated in Bedford County, Virginia. There were five people in the household and two "other free persons." He and his wife, Margaret, were over 45 years of age. My assumption is the 16- to 25-year-old female was daughter Mary, who would marry the next year and the two 26- to 44-year-old males were their sons, Daniel, Robert or William. Robert did not marry until after the 1810 census was taken and Daniel died unmarried so they are good possibilities. I have not been able to find a trace of son, William, except in the Chancery court cases; one of which stated he died unmarried and without issue before his brother, Matthew, Jr.

His daughter, Jane (McMullin) Gilkerson, had moved with her husband and children to Mercer County, Kentucky, where they were enumerated in the 1810 census.  Jane likely died some time before 1820 as she was not enumerated in that census. Her widower and several children eventually removed to Parke County, Indiana.

Daughter, Elizabeth (McMullin) Withrow had eight children in Virginia before moving with her family to Washington County, Kentucky, in 1811. She had two more children there before she died some time before 1822. Her widower and several children removed to Sangamon County, Illinois.

Son, Samuel, may have moved first to Kentucky, but married again in 1824 in Wayne County, Indiana. According to his headstone, he died in 1838 in St. Joseph County, Indiana.

Click image to enlarge.
Analysis of the 1810 census for the Matthew McMullin, Sr. family group;
created using Microsoft Excel

Based on the Chancery cases, I believe the McMullin, Sr.'s children lost touch with their siblings who moved away from Bedford County.

Probate

Matthew McMullin, Sr. died some time before 27 January 1816 when an inventory and appraisement of his estate was recorded at the Bedford County court house. He died intestate and the court appointed his son Matthew, Jr. administrator of the estate, which was not completely settled until after the death of Matthew McMullin, Jr. in 1828. The final account was submitted to the court on 28 January 1828 by the administrator of Matthew Jr.'s estate.

Bedford County, Virginia, Will Books 4-6, 1811-1828; courtesy of Ancestry.com

In the final account of Matthew, Sr.'s estate is this item:

"1 February 1816: To cash paid to John Deardoff and others for furnishing two coffins one for M. McMullin, Sr. and the other for his wife @ $5.00 each."

This leads me to believe Margaret McMullin died around the same time as her husband. The couple may have died of a disease which required they be cared for before their death. Again, from the final estate account:

"20 January 1816:  To cash paid 3 gallons whiskey when several people was waiting on the sick and digging graves."

Chancery Court Cases

After Matthew McMullin Sr.'s death, each of his children inherited a share of his land. His son, Matthew, Jr., bought his siblings' shares (though this was contended by the heirs of his brother, Robert) and then sold the tract to William R. Jones in two separate transactions. Jones paid some money down and was to pay off the rest of the land in a series of annual payments. Matthew, Jr. was to provide Jones clear title to the land before then. However, before Jones made the first annual payment, Matthew, Jr. died.[3] William R. Jones was appointed administrator of Matthew Jr.'s estate.

Jones filed a bill of complaint in the Bedford County Chancery Court in 1832. He sued Matthew, Sr. and Matthew Jr.'s heirs for clear title to the land he had agreed to purchase from Matthew, Jr. On 29 May 1834, Daniel McMullin, filed suit in Botetourt County against William R. Jones, administrator of his brother's estate, for payment of the land Matthew, Jr. had purchased from him after their father's death. He received a judgment against Jones in October 1835. However before Jones paid him as directed by the court, Daniel McMullin died. His administrator and brother-in-law, James Harvey Beard, filed a bill of complaint in Bedford County against William R. Jones and all the heirs of Matthew, Sr. and Matthew, Jr. to collect on the payment Jones was directed to make to Daniel McMullin by the Botetourt County courts.

The three cases took until 1845 to resolve. And after reading 121 pages of court files, I have no idea what the final decree ordered. The case in Botetourt County has not yet been digitized but the two cases heard in Bedford County were pure gold for a genealogist as they laid out three generations of Matthew McMullin, Sr.'s family.

A Word about Mary "Molly or Polly" McMullin

Mary McMullin was a daughter of Matthew McMullin, Sr. and his wife, Margaret, and my three times great grandmother. She was born between 1781 and 1790 likely in York County, Pennsylvania. She married James Harvey Beard on 21 June 1811 in Bedford County, Virginia. Harvey and Mary had four known sons before she died, which was sometime before 1850, when Harvey married for the second time. I know as little about her as I did when I took over our family genealogy research from my father. However, I have learned a great deal about her family and I am sure there is more to learn as I continue my research.

This is my entry for Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks. The theme for this week was "Close-up," which I did not follow.

Using the Ancestral Reference Numbering System, Matthew McMullin is Ancestor number 74 on my family tree:

74 Matthew McMullin, Sr., born before 1765 likely in York County, Pennsylvania ; died before 27 January 1816; married Margaret, maiden name unknown.

74.1 Elizabeth McMullin likely born in Pennsylvania on an unknown date; died before 1822 in Washington County, Kentucky; married Joseph Withrow in between 1790 and 1793 in Botetourt County, Virginia. Removed to Washington County, Kentucky, where her husband remarried after her death.

74.2 Daniel McMullin born between 1784 and 1794 likely in Pennsylvania; died between October, 1835 and 25 December 1836 likely in Virginia; unmarried and without issue.

74.3 Jane McMullin born before 1784 likely in Pennsylvania; died before 1820 likely in Mercer County, Kentucky; married William Gilkerson on 23 December 1794 in Botetourt County, Virginia. They later removed to Mercer County, Kentucky

37 Mary "Molly or Polly" McMullin born between 1790 and 1794 likely in Pennsylvania; died before 1850 likely in Bedford County, Virginia; married James Harvey Beard, son of Samuel Beard and Mary Mitchell, on 21 June 1811 in Bedford County.

74.4 Matthew McMullin, Jr.,  born after 1776 likely in Pennsylvania; died before 22 September 1828 likely in Bedford County, Virginia, perhaps on 4 July 1828; married Mary "Polly" Wysong, daughter of Feidt "Fayette" Wysong and Elizabeth Phemach, on18 August 1801 in Botetourt County.

74.5 Robert McMullin perhaps born after 1784 likely in Pennsylvania; died before 1 February 1816 when his estate was appraised in Botetourt County; married Hester "Hetty" Beales, daughter of Jonathan Beales, on 12 October 1813 in Botetourt County.

74.6 Samuel McMullin born 31 August 1782 likely in Pennsylvania; died on 8 September 1838 in St. Joseph County, Indiana; married 1) Elizabeth Weaver, daughter of Jacob Weaver, on 27 January 1803 in Franklin County, Virginia, and 2) Susannah Walters on 9 March 1824 in Wayne County, Indiana.

74.7 William McMullin likely born in Pennsylvania; died before his brother Matthew McMullin, Jr., unmarried and without issue.

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[1] 1780: An Act for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery, Statutes at Large of Pennsylvania (accessed 27 April 2018)
[2] This date is from a biographical sketch of Joseph Withrow in History of the Early Settlers of Sangamon County, Illinois, and is likely not correct as Matthew McMullin's family was enumerated in York County, Pennsylvania, in 1790.
[3] Bedford County Chancery case 1845-017, page 9, stated Matthew McMullin, Jr.'s death date was 4 July 1829, but this cannot be correct as an inventory and appraisement was filed with the Bedford County court on 22 September 1828.

Sources:

1780: An Act for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery, Statutes at Large of Pennsylvania (accessed 27 April 2018)
1790 US Census, (database and images) FamilySearch, Matthew Mcmullan, Mixed Township, York, Pennsylvania, United States; citing p. 407 NARA microfilm publication M637, (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, roll 9, FHL microfilm 568149 (accessed 11 Mar 2017).
1810 US Census, (database and images) FamilySearch, Joseph Withrow, Washington, Kentucky, United States, citing p. 338, NARA microfilm publication M252 (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration), roll 8, FHL microfilm 181353 (accessed 27 Apr 2018).
1810 US Census, (database and images) FamilySearch, Matthew Mc Mullen, Bedford, Virginia, United States; citing p. 14, NARA microfilm publication M252 (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration), roll 67, FHL microfilm 181427 (accessed 11 Mar 2017).
1810 US Census, (database and images) FamilySearch, Matthew Mcmullen, Bedford, Virginia, United States; citing p. 15, NARA microfilm publication M252 (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration), roll 67, FHL microfilm 181427 (accessed 11 Mar 2017).
1810 US Census, (database and images) FamilySearch, Samuel M Mullin, Franklin, Virginia, United States; citing p. 302, NARA microfilm publication M252 (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration) roll 68, FHL microfilm 181,428 (accessed 12 Feb 2018).
1810 US Census, (database and images) FamilySearch, William Gilkison, Mercer, Kentucky, United States; citing p. 314, NARA microfilm publication M252 (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration), roll 7, FHL microfilm 181352 (accessed 18 Feb 2017).
1820 US Census, (database and images) FamilySearch, Daniel Mcmullen, Northern District, Bedford, Virginia, United States; citing p. 44, NARA microfilm publication M33 (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration), roll 133, FHL microfilm 193692 (accessed 15 Feb 2018).
1820 US Census (database and images), FamilySearch, Harvey Beard, Northern District, Bedford, Virginia; citing p. 34, NARA microfilm publication M33, (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration), roll 133; FHL microfilm 193692 (accessed 16 Jun 2014).
1820 US Census, (database and images) FamilySearch, Matthew Mcmullen, Northern District, Bedford, Virginia, United States; citing p. , NARA microfilm publication M33 (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration), roll 133, FHL microfilm 193692 (accessed 11 Mar 2017).
1820 US Census, (database and images) FamilySearch, William Gilkerson, Mercer, Kentucky, United States; citing p. 97, NARA microfilm publication M33, (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration), roll 26, FHL microfilm 186186 (accessed 11 Mar 2017).
1830 US Census (database and images), FamilySearch, Harvey Beard, Bedford, Virginia; citing 124, NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration), roll 194, FHL microfilm 29673 (accessed 16 Jun 2014).
1830 US Census (database and images), FamilySearch, Joseph Withrow, Sangamon, Illinois, United States, citing 148, NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration), roll 24, FHL microfilm 7649 (accessed 30 Apr 2017).
1840 US Census (database and images), FamilySearch, Harvey Beard, Southern District, Bedford, Virginia; citing p. 271, NARA microfilm publication M704, (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration), roll 550, FHL microfilm 29683 (accessed 16 June 2014).
1840 US Census (database and images), FamilySearch, Jos Withrow, Sangamon, Illinois, United States, citing p 41, NARA microfilm publication M704, (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration), roll 69, FHL microfilm 7644 (accessed 30 Apr 2017).
1850 US Census, (database and images) FamilySearch, Mary Dickinson in household of Daniel Dickinson, Lee county, Lee, Virginia, United States; citing family 1469, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration) (accessed 23 Nov 2017).
1850 US Census, (database and images) FamilySearch, Hetta Mc Mullen in household of Eads Eads, Lee county, Lee, Virginia, United States, citing family 1191, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration) (accessed 23 Feb 2018).
1860 US Census, (database and images) Ancestry, Mary Dickinson in household of Daniel S Dickinson, Lee County, Virginia, United States; citing p. 823, NARA microfilm publication M653 (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration), roll 1357, FHL microfilm 805357 (accessed  7 Apr 2017).
Franklin County, Virginia Marriage Bond Index, 1786-1858, (database) Ancestry, Samuel Mcmullen and Elizabeth Weaver 27 Jan 1803, Franklin, Virginia; citing page 156 (accessed 12 Feb 2018).
Gibson, John (editor). History of York County, (Chicago, IL: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886), pages 15-20, 35-161 (accessed 27 Apr 2018).
Great Wagon Road, NCpedia (accessed 27 Apr 2018).
Great Wagon Road, Wikipedia (accessed 27 Apr 2018).
History of Slavery in Pennsylvania, Wikipedia (accessed 27 Apr 2018).
Indiana Marriages, 1811-2007, (database and images) FamilySearch, Samuel Mcmullen and Susannah Watters, 9 Mar 1824; citing Wayne, Indiana, United States, various county clerk offices, Indiana, FHL microfilm 1838642 (accessed 10 Dec 2017).
Kentucky County Marriages, 1797-1854, (database and images) FamilySearch, Joseph Withrow and Susan Landers, 11 Jun 1822; citing Washington, Kentucky, United States, Madison County Courthouse, Richmond, FHL microfilm 241382 (27 Apr 2018).
Kentucky County Marriages, 1797-1954, (database and images) FamilySearch, Joseph Withrow and Susan Sandres, 05 Jun 1822; citing Washington, Kentucky, United States, Madison County Courthouse, Richmond, FHL microfilm 241382 (accessed 27 Apr 2018).
Massie, Evelyn Booth. Gilkerson (Gilkison/Gilkeson) Genealogical History & Archives, (Chelsea, MI: BookCrafters, 1996), pages 634-635.
Pennsylvania, Septennial Census, 1779-1863 (database and images) Ancestry, Matthew McMullen, Warrington, York, Pennsylvania, 1786 (11 Mar 2017).
Power, John Carroll. History of the Early Settlers of Sangamon County, Illinois: Centennial Record, (Springfield, IL: Edwin A. Wilson & Company, 1876), pages 781-782.
US, Find A Grave, 1600s-Current, (database and images), FindAGrave, Hettie Easter McMullin, (1785-1857), Jonathan Bales Cemetery; citing Memorial No. 41309049 (accessed 11 Apr 2018).
US, Find A Grave, 1600s-Current, (database and images),  FindAGrave, Samuel McMullen (1782-1838), Mount Pleasant Cemetery; citing Memorial No. 15938376 (accessed 11 Feb 2018).
US, General Land Office, 1776-2015, (database) Ancestry, Joseph Withrow, 1 May 1826, Springfield, Illinois, citing Document 762 (accessed 30 Apr 2018).
US, General Land Office, 1776-2015, (database) Ancestry, Samuel McMullen, 15 Mar 1837, La Porte, Indiana, citing Document 83 (accessed 12 Feb 2018).
Virginia Chancery Court Records, 1786-1961 (database and Images), Library of Virginia, Bedford County, 1832-067, Jones v. McMullin, Admrs (accessed 3 Jan 2018).
Virginia Chancery Court Records, 1786-1961 (database and images), Library of Virginia, Bedford County, 1845-017, Admr of James McMullen v. Admr of Matthew McMullen etc. (accessed 3 Jan 2018).
Virginia Deaths and Burials, 1853-1917, (database) FamilySearch, Hettie Easter Bales McMullin, burial Edds Mill, Lee, Virginia, United States of America, Jonathan Bales Cemetery; citing record ID 41309049, FindAGrave (accessed 11 Apr 2018).
Virginia Deaths and Burials, 1853-1917, (database) Ancestry, Mary Dickinson, 1861, Lee Co., father Fayette Wys...lg; citing FHL microfilm 32441 (accessed 3 Apr 2017).
Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940, (database) Ancestry, Mary Mcmullin and Henry Beard, 21 Jun 1811, Bedford, Virginia (accessed 16 Jun 2014).
Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940, (database) FamilySearch, Matthew Mcmullin and Polly Wysong, 18 Aug 1801; citing Botetourt, Virginia, reference p. 122; FHL microfilm 30734 (accessed 3 Apr 2017).
Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940, (database) FamilySearch, Robert McMullin and Easter Beals, 11 Oct 1813, citing Botetourt Co., Virginia, reference p. 215, FHL microfilm 30734 (accessed 3 May 2017).
Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940, (database) FamilySearch, Samuel Mcmullen and Elizabeth Weaver, 27 Jan 1803; citing Franklin County, Virginia, reference p. 65; FHL microfilm 31523 (accessed 11 Feb 2018).
Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940, (database) FamilySearch, William Gilkinson and Jane Mcmullin, 23 Dec 1794; citing Botetourt, Virginia, reference b1 p8 n224; FHL microfilm 30731 (accessed 13 Feb 2018).
Virginia, Select Marriages, 1785-1940, (database) Ancestry, M. Mcmullin father of Minerva Dickinson married Frederick S Miles, 3 Jul 1854, Lee Co, Virginia; citing FHL microfilm 32441, line 37 (accessed 3 Apr 2017).
Virginia, Select Marriages, 1785-1940, (database) Ancestry, Matthew Mcmullon father of Minerva Miles married D Jno W Carmack, 9 Sep 1866, Lee Co, Virginia; citing FHL microfilm 32441, page 16 (acccessed 3 Apr 2017).
Virginia, Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1938, (database and images) Ancestry, Matthew McMullin, Sr. Estate Inventory and Appraisement; citing Bedford County Will Book 4, page 239 (accessed 23 Jan 2018).
Virginia, Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1938, (database and images) Ancestry, Matthew McMullin, Sr. Estate Account; citing Bedford County Will Book 7, page 24 (accessed 23 Jan 2018).
Virginia, Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1938, (database and images) Ancestry, Matthew McMullin, Jr. Estate Inventory and Appraisement; citing Bedford County Will Book 7, page 75 (accessed 23 Jan 2018).
York County Pennsylvania Militia 1777, Journal of the American Revolution (accessed 27 Apr 2018).

52 Ancestors #12: John Beard (c1705-1780): A Man of Means

Ancestor: John Beard, six times great grandfather
Haplogroup: I-M253

Today, I begin writing about my Beard ancestors and the families allied to them through marriage. John Beard was the three times great grandfather of my great grandmother, Effie (Beard) Jennings.

Beard Direct Ancestors with Allied Families (Ancestral Reference Number System
identifier in lower left corner); created using Microsoft PowerPoint

When I took over Dad's genealogical research, Dad had recently discovered the maiden name of his grandmother, Effie, and that she had been born in Bedford County. He did not know who her parents were. In 2013 my brothers and I took the autosomal DNA test offered by Ancestry. One of the first matches I was able to resolve that did not have an already identified common shared ancestor was to a family tree with extensive information about the Beard family. That tree and others provided direction to my Beard family research and eventually I was able to prove my descent from John Beard (1705-1780).

Peter Viemeister, author of From Slaves to Satellites, had this to say about John Beard:

"John Beard's grandfather, Richard Beard, had come to Virginia back in the 1600s...John and son Adam Beard were paying taxes in this region as early as 1748, before Bedford became a distinct county apart from Lunenburg. John was a man of considerable resources: the evaluation of his estate revealed him to be worth several million in today's terms."

Peaks of Otter and the Town of Liberty, Edward Beyer, oil on canvas; courtesy
of Amazon.com

Later Viemeister wrote, "The Beards brought British heritage..." Did Viemeister mean the Beards were English?

A different theory of Beard origins, and one to which I subscribe, indicates they were Scots and perhaps John's grandfather took what became known as the Great Wagon Road through the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia and eventually he or his descendants settled in Lunenberg County. Later Beard descendants were members of a Presbyterian church and they intermarried into Scots-Irish families in the area. The Presbyterian Church was the national church of Scotland at the time and had been for several years when John Beard was born.

It is not known where John Beard was born or exactly what year. Some secondary sources indicate he was born between 1705 and 1710 and that his father was named Matthew.  A possible land record indicated he was the son of Thomas. John married a woman named Elizabeth, but her maiden name is not known. They had several children, including one son. When John Beard settled in Lunenburg County, it was frontier country. The settlements developed by European Americans were widely scattered. The settlers worked hard to clear land and establish productive farms.

In 1750 John deeded 150 acres on Reedy Creek to William Rutherford "for love and affection I have for my "son-in-law." In 1755 John sold 400 acres to his son-in-law Edward Phair. The land was described as lying on both sides of Falling River including the mouth of Reedy Creek beginning at John Manley's corner.

In 1761 John, his wife, Elizabeth, and their son, Adam, were co-founders of the Peaks of Otter Presbyterian Church.

John and Elizabeth Beard likely furnished supplies to the patriot cause during the Revolutionary War. Several of John and Elizabeth's grandsons fought in the war, including David, Samuel and Adam Beard, Jr., who all served in the Virginia Militia. Samuel Beard also served in the Continental Army.

John Beard's only son, Adam Beard, who had been appointed Constable of Bedford County and had a reputation for "good sense and responsibility,"[1] died sometime December 1777. Adam's wife died the early next year. John's daughter, Hannah (Beard) Rutherford and Rachel (Beard) Phair were also deceased. When John wrote his will on 20 April 1780, he felt it necessary to provide for his grandchildren.

Primogeniture was still law in Virginia in 1780 so the eldest son of John's only son, Adam, should have inherited John Beard's land. Primogeniture only included real estate, or land, and John's will bequeathed his personal property to his his children and grandchildren. 

Last Will and Testament of John Beard; courtesy Ancestry.com

In the name of God Amen. I John Beard of Bedford County and Commonwealth of Virginia being weak of body but of perfect mind and memory blessed by God, knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do this twentieth day of April in the year of one thousand seven hundred and eighty make and declare this to be my last will and testament in form and manner following. Viz.

And first I give and recommend my soul to God who gave it and my body to the Earth to be lived in a Christian manner. At the discretion of my Executor nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God and touching such worldly goods and estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I give and bequeath in the manner following. That is to say --

First I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Beard my true and loving wife my negro woman Moll during her life and after her death I give and bequeath said wench to my granddaughter Elizabeth Campbell and I give and bequeath my negro Will to my daughter Elizabeth Campbell. I give and bequeath my negro boy to Isabel Boze[2] my granddaughter. I will and bequeath also my negro boy Jacob to my granddaughter Rosannah Russell. I will and bequeath also my negro girl Nell to my granddaughter Jean Rutherford. I also leave to Edward Phair my former son in law the sum of five shillings. Unto my grandson David Beard I leave the sum of five shillings as also to my granddaughter Rachel Dixon the sum of five shillings. To my grandson Samuel Beard the sum of five shillings. To my grandson Adam Beard, five shillings. To my granddaughter Rachel Robinson I leave my loom with the tacklings [?] thereto belonging. I like mays bequeath to my beloved wife Elizabeth Beard my negro man Dik and the whole of my moveable estate not before divided such as my stock, household furniture, etc., during her life and to be divided at her discretion at her death whom I likewise appoint as also my daughter Elizabeth Campbell Executrix of this my last will and testament and I also do hereby renounce all former wills made by me or for me. In witness hereof I have hereto set my hand and seal the day and year above written.

John Beard (his mark)

Thomas W. Reynolds
Charles Hall
James Campbell

At a court held for Bedford County the 26th day of Nov 1780:
This last will and testament of John Beard deceased was proved by the oath of Thomas W. Reynolds, Charles Hall and James Campbell witnesses thereto subscribed and ordered to be recorded and on the motion of Elizabeth Beard __________ the Executrix therein named who made oath thereto certificate is granted her for obtaining probate in due form giving security whereupon she together with James Campbell, Charles Hall and Archibald Campbell her securities entered into and acknowledged their bond in penalty of one hundred thousand pounds for the said Executrix due faithful administration of the said decedent's estate and performance of his will.

Teste,

J. Steptoe

I have not yet found the remaining documents of John Beard's probate package. According to Peter Viemeister, "John had been a very wealthy man. He had sold 2,106 acres of Bedford land between 1775 and 1779, most of which he had acquired before Bedford became a separate county. His estate was valued at 35,466.10 pounds sterling. In terms of equivalent amount of silver, the estate would be worth today between $2.6 and $7.9 million."

This is my entry for Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks. The theme for this week was "Misfortune," which I did not follow.

Using the Ancestral Reference Numbering System, John Beard is Ancestor number 288 on my family tree:

288 John Beard born about 1705 in Virginia; died before 26 November 1780 when will was proved in Bedford County, Virginia; married Elizabeth maiden name unknown.

144 Adam Beard born in 1725 in Virginia; died between 2 and 6 December 1777 in Bedford County, Virginia; married Elizabeth maiden name unknown.

288.1 Agnes Beard born on an unknown date; died on an unknown date likely in Burke County, North Carolina; married William Rutherford, widower of sister, Hannah.[3]

288.2 Rachel Beard born 1730 in Lunenburg County (now Bedford), Virginia; died before 1790 when her husband remarried; married Edward "Neddy" Phair in 1748 in Lynchburg, Virginia.

288.3 Hannah Beard born about 1735 in Virginia; died about 1755 in Virginia; first wife of William Rutherford (see sister, Agnes).[3]

288.4 Elizabeth Beard born on an unknown date in Virginia; died after 1780 in Virginia; married Archibald Campbell on an unknown date likely in Virginia.

There may be another daughter named Alce (not Alice) Beard who married Henry Brown, but she has not been proved to be a daughter of John Beard and the Brown children were not mentioned in John's will.

________________
[1] Viemeister, Peter. From Slaves to Satellites: 250 Years of Changing Times on a Virginia Farm, (Bedford, VA: Hamilton's, 1999), pages 21-22.
[2] This was Isabel Rutherford, daughter of William Rutherford and Agnes Beard. She married Shadrach Boaz.
[3] A note on John Beard (1705-1780), former DAR Patriot, indicates that Hannah and Agnes were the same person and the correct name was Agnes.

Sources:
Ancestry DNA and Finding a New Cousin, Tangled Roots and Trees (accessed 7 Mar 2018)
Beard, Irene. History of Adam Beard and His Descendants, (Salt Lake City: UT, Genealogical Society of Utah, 1982), pages 1-93.
Deed Book A-1, Bedford Deed books, citing John Beard and Edward Phair, 24 Nov 1755.
Family Data Collection-Births, (database) Ancestry.com, John Beard, born 1705, Virginia, father Matthew Beard (accessed 17 Nov 2013).
Family Data Collection-Deaths, (database) Ancestry.com, John Beard, died 26 Nov 1780, Bedford County, Virginia (accessed 17 Nov 2013).
Family Data Collection-Births, (database) Ancestry.com, Rachel Beard, born 1730, Virginia (accessed 17 Nov 2013)
Genealogical Research Service, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, Ancestor A008059, David Beard (accessed 18 Mar 2018).
Genealogical Research Service, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, Ancestor A008062, Elizabeth X Beard (accessed 18 Mar 2018).
Genealogical Research Service, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, Ancestor A008077, John Beard (accessed 18 Mar 2018).
Genealogical Research Service, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, Ancestor A008084, Samuel Beard (accessed 18 Mar 2018).
Great Wagon Road, Wikipedia (accessed 7 Mar 2018).
Interactive Map of Virginia County Formation History, Map of the U.S. (accessed 7 Mar 2018).
National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (compiler), Lineage Book, Vol. 158, (Washington, DC: NSDAR, 1920), page 231.
Pharr, Henry Newton, Pharrs and Farrs with Other Descendants from Five Scotch-Irish Pioneers in America, (Salem, MA: Higginson Book Company, 1955, pages235-237.
Prichard, A. M. Mead Relations, (Salt Lake City, UT: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1933), pages 99-102 
Primogeniture and Succession, Bob's Genealogy File Cabinet (accessed 9 Mar 2018)
Slaves of John Beard (1705-1780 of Bedford County, VA, Tangled Roots and Trees (accessed 7 Mar 2018)
U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1590-1900 (database), Ancestry.com, John Beard and Elizabeth (accessed 17 Nov 2013).
U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1590-1900 (database), Ancestry.com, William Rutherford and Agnes Beard, Virginia (accessed 17 Nov 2013)
U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1590-1900 (database), Ancestry.com, William Rutherford and Hannah Beard, Virginia (accessed 18 Nov 2013)
U.S. Sons of the American Revolution Applications, 1889-1970 (database and images), Henry Brown (?-?), SAR Membership 40644 (accessed 18 Nov 2013)
U.S. Sons of the American Revolution Applications, 1889-1970 (database and images), John Beard c1710-1780, died Bedford County, Virginia, father of Hannah Beard (accessed 17 Nov 2013).
Viemeister, Peter. From Slaves to Satellites: 250 Years of Changing Times on a Virginia Farm, (Bedford, VA: Hamilton's, 1999), pages 14-15, 20-24.
Virginia Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1983 (database and images), Ancestry.com, Adam Beard, 23 March 1778, Bedford County, Virginia, citing Will Books Vol. 1 1763-1787, images 193-194 (accessed 3 Jan 2018).
Virginia Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1983 (database and images), Ancestry.com, Elizabeth Beard, 23 Mar 1778, Bedford County Virginia, citing Will Books Vol. 1 1763-1787, image 194 (accessed 3 Jan 2018).
Virginia Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1983 (database and images), Ancestry.com, John Beard, 26 Nov 1780, Bedford County, Virginia, citing Will Books Vol. 1 1763-1787), image 246 (accessed 3 Jan 2018).

Who's Your Daddy, Adam Beard?
Beard and Jennings: More Interconnected than I Thought
The Court Case Regarding the Slaves of Mary (Mitchell) Beard
Proving James Harvey Beard's Father
Slaves of John Beard (1705-1780) of Bedford County, Virginia
The Court Doth Adjudge, Order and Decree
The Mother Nobody Knew
George Washington Spoke to Him
Ancestry DNA and Finding a New Cousin

The enslaved named in the last will and testament of John Beard have previously been released to the Slave Name Roll Project. If you learn about named slaves in documents about your ancestors, I hope you will consider contributing.

Momma, Meet Your Great Uncle, Gustav August Fabrizius

Dear Momma,

Remember that DNA test you took in 2013 and how we hoped it would help us learn more about your family? It has and I want to tell you about the latest discovery. We surmised from a Russian birth registration which included the patronymic middle names for your Schalin grandparents that your great grandfather's name was Wilhelm Fabrizicius. I think we were right! I'm waiting on all the DNA science mumbo jumbo to prove or disprove this. (see below)

But it brought us no closer to learning the name of Wilhelm's wife and the mother of your grandmother, Auguste (Fabrizius) Schalin. I found a new DNA match whose family tree included a man named Gustav August Fabrizius along with his parents, Wilhelm Fabrizius and Anna Holstein. Momma, I think Gustav was your grand uncle, a brother to your maternal grandmother.[1]

My pedigree chart on 1 January 2018; note the missing great great grandmother;
who was Auguste (Fabrizicus) Schalin's mother? Image courtesy of Ancestry.com

Gustav was born on 5 August 1868 in the Ruthenia[2] area of the Russian Empire to Wilhelm Fabrizius and Amalie Holstein. At the age of 19, he traveled to Bremerhaven, Germany, with his maternal aunt and uncle August and Marie Louise (Holstein) Linck, and boarded the North German Lloyd SS Eider. The ship stopped at Southampton, England, before arriving at New York on 17 December 1887. He was processed at Castle Garden at the tip of Manhattan, now part of Battery Park.

Gustav made his way to Iowa and married Maria "Mary" Freund, daughter of Hans Freund and Fredricke Toglitz on 21 June 1890 in Clinton County. Mary's mother had immigrated from Germany as a young girl. Gustav and Mary's first two children were in Clinton County. On 22 October 1894 Gustav became a naturalized United States citizen at the District courthouse in Clinton County.

By 1899, Gustav had moved his family his family to Muscatine, Iowa, which is located on the west bank of the upper Mississippi River. Gustav worked as a foreman at a pickle farm. The cucumbers were likely planted after the last frost in mid-May. Those cucumbers would generally be picked in July, which might make it possible to get two crops per year.

They rented a house on Fletcher Avenue in Muscatine across the street from Greenwood Cemetery, which had been open since 1843. At the time the city did not yet have a system for numbering houses to provide an exact address. By 1904 they moved a short distance to a house on Nyenhuis Street and then by 1907 to 1212 Henry Avenue, which no longer exists.

By 1910 Gustav and his family moved to Seventy-Six Township in Muscatine County, which was about 50 miles southwest of the city. Gustav rented a truck farm which he worked on his own account. They had a hired man, named George Peters, who lived with them and helped out on the farm.

Muscatine County Townships; courtesy of the University of Iowa

About 1918 Gustav moved his family back to the city of Muscatine and began working at the McKee Button Company as a button cutter. Muscatine was known as the pearl button capital of the world...at least according to their museum. The buttons were made from mussel shells and an an article on the Muscatine History and Industry Center website describes the work of a cutter:

"Shell cutters operated lathes with tubular saws made of hardened steel and used tongs to hold the shell in place. Jets of water sprayed on the saw during cutting to keep it cool and to control dust. The cutter produced blanks or circular pieces of shell with one rough side and one smooth side. Before the shell could be cut, it soaked in water for at least one week. Without proper soaking, the brittle shell splintered and caused extreme wear on cutting saws.

Working conditions in shell cutting shops were unpleasant at best. The water needed during the cutting drenched workers with building temperatures fluctuating. All workers experienced the discomfort of standing in the same position all day, but many also sustained injuries. While shell dust irritated the throat and lungs, flying shell particles caused eye injuries.

The average cutter could use up to 100 pounds of shell a day, resulting in about 25 gross, or 3,600 blanks. Since workers were paid by the piece, they wanted to produce as many blanks as possible. The cutting shop carefully weight the amount of shell given to each worker. The skill and careful attention of the cutter was required to obtain the optimal number of blanks per shell. Managers penalized workers for cutting imperfect, thin, or otherwise unusable blanks. Workers were also held responsible for excessive waste of shell."[3]

Button cutters at work; courtesy of the Muscatine History and Industrial Center

Three of Gustav's sons also worked at the button factory. Gustav worked at the McKee Button Company until 1936. 

By 1925 Gustav rented a home at 116 Clinton Avenue and paid his daughter, Esther, $16 per month in rent. She owned the home valued at $1,600 and her mortgage was $800. Gustav and Mary remained at 116 Clinton Avenue until Gustav died on 19 March 1939 of broncho-pneumonia and chronic myocarditis. The funeral was held at their home on 22 March and officiated by Rev. D. R. Anderson, pastor of the Mulford Congregational Church. Gustav was interred at Greenwood Cemetery.

116 Clinton Avenue, Muscatine, Iowa; courtesy Google Maps

When the 1940 census was enumerated Gustav's widow, Marry lived at 600 Liberty Street. She rented it for $15 a month. Living with her was her son, Henry, who never married; and daughter, Kathleen; Kathleen's daughter Deryth; and Mary's brother, Charlie. She continued to live in Muscatine at various addresses including 1011 Mill Street until her death on 16 May 1957. She was interred beside her husband at Greenwood Cemetery.

Like your grandmother, Auguste, and mother, Wilhelmina, Mary Fabrizius had nine children:

• Bertha Amelia Fabrizius born 14 Jun 1891 in Clinton County, Iowa; died 7 August 1971; married 1) Ralph Clarence Strohm in January 1917 in Rock Island County, Illinois, (divorced) and 2) Henry Jearold McEwen 28 January 1931 in Gretna, Louisiana. 
• Otto Albert Fabrizius born 28 September 1894 in Clinton County; died 17 March 1980 in Muscatine; married Verna Marie Schlipf on 12 September 1922 in Muscatine; World War I Veteran.
• William A. Fabrizius born 18 February 1897 in Muscatine; died 20 September 1968 in Muscatine; married Verna Minnie Bierman.
• Esther Alvena Fabrizius born 23 November 1899 in Muscatine; died 15 August 1987 in Cook County, Illinois; married widower, Arthur E. Kindler 26 April 1940 in Cook County.
• Henry Fabrizius born 21 October 1902 in Iowa; died 29 September 1966; never married
• Ruth A. Fabrizius bon about 1906 in Muscatine; died 18 July 1994 in Muscatine; married Hugo Frederick Braasch on 11 September 1924 in Muscatine.
• Kathleen Marie Fabrizius born on 28 February 1908 in Musatine; died 15 November 2000; married Albert Henry Benninger after 1940.
• Carl Herbert Fabrizius born 12 October 1910 in Seventy-six Township, Iowa; died in October 1970; married Vera Pauline Allensworth.
• George Arthur Fabrizius born 17 April 1913 in Muscatine; died in January 1983; married Odetta M. Farrier on 9 April 1938 (divorced).

Momma, remember how we speculated that Fabrizius might be a Russian name and that your grandmother, Auguste, may not have been of German heritage like her husband? We were wrong. In the 1920, Gustav indicated his native tongue was German. So I began researching the origins of the Fabrizius surname. It dates back to the 13th century and was first found in Bavaria. It was an occupation surname, used by an artist or craftsman, and was derived from the Latin word "faber," which means ingenious or skillful.

And the Fabrizius family was of the German Baptist faith as Gustav reported on the 1915 Iowa state census as were your maternal grandparents.  The federal census began asking people the birthplace of their parents in 1880. Gustav indicated his father was from Ruthenia Russia in 1920. This is now part of Ukraine and encompasses Kiev and the surrounding area. This would be east of where your Schalin ancestors lived.

Here's that science mumbo jumbo that makes your eyes glaze over:

DNA tests I manage with matches to people with the Fabrizius Surname in
their tree (centimorgans/segments); created using Microsoft Excel

Mom, since you died several of your nieces and nephews have also DNA tested and either shared their results with me or allowed me to manage their tests. As of today, we have three different people with the Fabrizius surname in their family trees who match with one or more of our relatives. Next, I need to ask the three Fabrizius testers if they would be willing to upload their results to GEDMATCH so I can compare the matching segments. Hopefully, I'll be able to make your eyes glaze over some more!

I love you and miss you every day.

Your loving daughter.

_______________
[1] Another relationship possibility is that the Wilhelm Fabrizius married to Amalie Holstein was a brother to Auguste (Fabrizius) Schalin named for his father Wilhelm. If this is the case, then I still do not know the name of my great great grandmother.
[2] Ruthenian Russia included Kiev and its surrounding areas now in Ukraine.
[3] Button Cutting, Muscatine History and Industrial Center (accessed 27 February 2018)

DNA Discoveries: Hiram Abiff Boaz -- Genealogy

Continued from DNA Discoveries: Hiram Abiff Boaz -- The Meaning of His Name.

Hiram Abiff Boaz, was my fourth cousin three times removed, a Bishop in the Methodist Church and former president of Southern Methodist University. I discovered him when resolving a DNA match who shared John Beard (1705-1780), my six times great grandfather, as the common shared ancestor.

Bishop Boaz wrote Eighty-four Golden Years: Autobiography of Bishop Hiram Abiff Boaz in 1951. I am quoting a small portion of Chapter I. Ancestry, Childhood, and Early Youth, which begins on page 13, about his genealogy.

"Where the family name, Boaz, cam from I confess that I do not know. It is certain that it did not come from the the original Boaz, who married Ruth, for the name of his son was Obed and his grandson was called Jesse. In that ancient day each son was given a new name that had but little, if any, connection with the name of the father. Obed was known as Obed, the son of Boaz. Not until a much later date has the son borne the surname of his father. For many years in the province of Cornwall, England, the name Boaz has been a familiar name. From there it appears to have scattered out into other sections. But from whence did the first people of that name come? The question has interested me for years.

Historical map of Cornwall, England, c. 1783; courtesy of Wikipedia

There are reputable scholars who devoutly believe that the ten lost tribes of Israel migrated to England, Scotland, Ireland and other parts, about six hundred years before the Christian Era, and are now known as Anglo-Saxons. Mr. C. A. L. Totten has written extensively in defense of this theory. Rev. J. H. Allen has written a most interesting book supporting this thesis and brings many interesting facts from the Bible and history to prove his contention. He is quite sure that the throne of England is a lineal successor to the throne of David and supports this idea by quoting many prophecies from the Bible. Queen Victoria believed this to be true, and so do many scholars of today. Many families in England, Scotland and Ireland bear names that were borne by some of the lost tribes of Israel. The most eminent scholars, however, hold that the ten lost tribes were absorbed in Assyria. Which of these theories is true I am not prepared to say.

It is a fact, however, that quite a few people bearing the name Boaz still live in Scotland, Ireland, and especially in Cornwall, England. Our first ancestor of whom we have definite and positive information, Thomas Boaz, was born in Scotland. Since so many bearing our family name still live in Cornwall, England, it may be that Thomas Boaz, or some of his ancestors, migrated to Scotland at an earlier time. The name in those early days was spelled in several different ways such as Boaz, Boaze, Boze, Bows, Bowes, Boase, and Boas, all belonging to the same family of people. The different spelling would have the same pronunciation. English genealogists tell us that the various ways of spelling the name were accounted for by the tax collectors who heard the name pronounced and spelled it for their records as it sounded to them.

About two hundred years before the birth of Thomas Boaz, the noted Presbyterian divine, John Knox, lived and preached in Scotland. Under the influence of John Calvin he quit his orders in the Catholic Church and became a "Presbyterian Dissenter." His faith, zeal and eloquence made many converts. His influence went far and wide. His first wife was Marjorie Bowes, by whom he had two sons. My great great grandfather, Thomas Boaz, was also a "Presbyterian Dissenter" according to our family records. It is possible that he believed himself in some way related to John and Marjorie Bowes Knox, and that he out to follow in the footsteps of his illustrious ancestors.

It is readily admitted that my family does not have the slightest proof (except the name) that we are descended from distinguished ancestors. Our family records go back only a little more than two hundred years and that is not far enough to tie them in with such illustrious people. Yet it is interesting to know that people bearing our name were of some importance in the days long gone by...

...My paternal grandfather was David R. Boaz. He was born in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, April 24, 1790, later moved to Murray, Kentucky, and is buried there. He served faithfully in the war of 1812. My paternal great grandfather was Shadrach Boaz, a brother to Meshach and Abednego, and was also born in Virginia during the year 1951. We are told that he was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and rendered valiant service to the cause. In the courthouse at Chatham, Pittsylvania County, Virginia, I found his will dated January 2, 1817, and probated September 30, 1817. He was a wealthy planter.

The first portion of 1797 land grant to Shadrach Boaz in Pittsylvania,
Virginia; courtesy of the Library of Virgiia

My paternal great great grandfather, Thomas Boaz, was born near Aberdeen, Scotland, about 1723. Early in life he joined the "Scotch [sic] Presbyterian Dissenters." On account of religious persecutions by the Church of England he emigrated to Ireland while a young man. There he soon met and married an Irish lassie whose Christian name was Agnes. Her surname has been lost from the records. Four sons were born to them while they resided in Ireland. Meeting persecutions from the Catholic Church on account of religious beliefs, he and his wife and four sons came to America in 1748. After a brief sojourn in Buckingham County, Virginia, they settled in Pittsylvania County, where they lived to the end of their days. some of there descendants still live in Virginia but many of them migrated to Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Illinois, Alabama, Arkansas, and on to Texas. The Land Office records in Richmond show that Thomas Boaz patented twenty-eight hundred acres of land in Pittsylvania County, showing great wisdom in this.

The beginning of the land grant of 1,577 from George III to  Thomas
Boaz in Pittsylvania in 1763; coutesy of the Library of Virginia

My maternal grandfather was Nathaniel Hill Ryan, of Irish descent. He was born in Nelson County, Virginia, June 6, 1806. On November 10, 1827, he married Sallie Ann Wills who was born in Nelson County, Virginia, December 28, 1806. She was the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Pettyjohn) Wills. John Wills, my maternal great grandfather, was born in Virginia, 1775, and died in 1871, being more than ninety-six years old at the time of his death. My maternal great great grandfather was James Wills who fought in the French and Indian War before the days of the Revolutionary War. I have in my possession now a photostatic copy of the land grant allowed him for his service in that war and it was signed by Edmund Randolph, Governor of Virginia. I have also a copy of his will signed on September 29, 1820. It was through him I was elected to the membership in The Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Virginia.

My mother frequently told us that we had English, Irish and Scotch [sic] blood flowing in our veins. The sturdiness of the English, the thrift of the Scotch [sic] and the humor and generosity of the Irish ought to make a good citizen, provided they are mixed in proper proportions.

_______________
Boaz, Hiram Abiff. Eighty-four Golden Years: Autobiography of Bishop Hiram Abiff Boaz, (Nashville, TN: Parthenon Press, 1951), page 13-15,18-19.

Shadrach Boaz married Isabelle Rutherford, daughter of William Rutherford and his wife, a daughter of John Beard (1705-1780), my six times great grandfather. The given name of Isabelle's mother was Agnes or Hannah. Isabelle Rutherford and her father, William, are mentioned in John Beard's will.

DNA Discoveries: Hiram Abiff Boaz's -- The Meaning of His Nam
DNA Discoveries: Hiram Abiff Boaz's Parents -- A Description