BRADFORD’S TWO FAMILIES

When 4^th Great Grandfather Bradford Peck was born the American Revolution was not yet being fought but anti-British sentiments were brewing. The Boston Tea Party occurred just a month after his birth. George Washington became the first president of the United States when he was just sixteen.

Bradford was born November 5, 1773 in Norwich, New London Co., CT to Darius Peck and Hannah Warner. He was baptized Feb. 6, 1774 according to Norwich First Congregational Church records.[1] Bradford was the oldest of his siblings—Darius, John, Joseph, Henry, Bethia and Warner. He was about 16 when his mother died in 1789 shortly after the birth of youngest brother Warner.

Bradford married Lydia Barstow July 24, 1794[2] in Franklin, New London Co., CT. The marriage is included in the Franklin Congregational Church records[3]. Lydia was the daughter of Yetonce Barstow and Esther Wood born March 2, 1774. Lydia and Bradford both were 20 years old when they married. Their family came soon—Nancy born in 1795, Clarissa about 1797 and Barstow (also known as Bester) March 7, 1798.

Four years later Lydia died. The Franklin Vital Records from the Barbour Collection contained a death for Lydia, wife of Bradford, daughter Yetonce Barstow, died June 6, 1798 age 24[4].  She left a 3 year old daughter, a 2 year old daughter as well as a 3 month old baby boy.

The Courier published in Norwich, CT included her death notice June 14, 1798:

Died.—At Franklin, June 6, Mrs. Lydia Peck, consort of Mr. Bradford Peck, age 25

     June 8, in going to the funeral of Mrs. Peck some horses taking fright at a carriage, four persons were thrown to the ground; one of which (Mrs. Priscilla Barker, of Lebanon) was very much hurt, but is in a fair way to recover.

Sometime after Lydia’s death in June 1798, Bradford encountered financial difficulties. A probate record exists for the estate of Barstow Peck, minor, dated May 3, 1805[5].  (Barstow was Lydia and Bradford’s son.) Nathaniel Hyde of Franklin, Barstow’s guardian, petitioned the Honorable General Assembly in October 1804 for permission to dispose of land belonging to Barstow for debts accrued for his support and his future support. The “Connecticut Archives Index Estates of Minors 1715-1820”[6] and “The Public Records of the State of Connecticut”[7] both contained references to Nathaniel Hyde’s petition revealing more details about the family.  Public records stated Barstow’s mother died in June 1798 “when said Barstow was a sucking child”. It further revealed his father was bankrupt and absconded leaving no relatives of ability to care for him except his grandfather, Yetonce Barstow. It’s hard to say when Bradford ‘absconded’. It sounds like it might have been after Lydia’s death and before Yetonce Barstow’s passing Dec. 28, 1799. When Yetonce Barstow’s estate was administered, money was allotted to Asahel Ladd for the keep of one of Lydia’s children dated Oct. 14, 1800.

“The History of Enfield, Connecticut”[8] revealed Bradford’s 2^nd marriage to Mindwell Prior:

     April 20 1800 were joined together in marriage Mr. Bradford Peck of

     Franklin and Miss Mindwell Prior of Enfield

“Bradford Peack” was enumerated as a head of household in the 1800 federal census living in Enfield, Hartford Co., CT. Only two people were in the household—Bradford and his new bride.[9]

Ira B. Peck’s “Descendants of Joseph Peck”[10] state Bradford was a “son of Darius Peck and Hannah Warner (of Franklin, Connecticut) born Nov. 5, 1773 and died in the U. S. service”.  That was all Mr. Ira B. Peck wrote.  A ‘google’ search for Bradford Peck pointed me to Evergreen Cemetery, Lee, Oneida County, New York where Bradford Peck’s tombstone read “Bradford Peck, War of 1812, died 1813, aged 40 years”[11].  

  

 Findagrave.com

His military records supplied more details.  Bradford's 2^nd wife, Mindwell Peck Taylor, claimed his military pension and received a bounty warrant for his service during the War of 1812. After Bradford died, she married Anthony Taylor who died in June 1829.

A Widows Declaration dated June 6, 1855 indicates Bradford enlisted in the United States Army May 25, 1812 assigned to Captain White Young of the 15^th Regiment U. S. Infantry. He was in the action at Little York under General Pike and became sick on the march to Black Rock, and died some place in-between on the 22^nd of June 1813.  Pension papers and a bounty land application from the National Archives state Bradford Peck died in camp on the Niagara frontier[12]. Mindwell received bounty land warrant No. 21972 for 160 acres for Bradford's services during the War of 1812.  It was necessary for Mindwell to provide proof of her marriage and this declaration says her marriage date was April 8, 1799 at East Windsor, Connecticut. This is one year earlier than the church records stated and the location of the marriage is East Windsor rather than Enfield.  Rev. Mr. Pruden performed the marriage[13].  A treasury department official contradicted Bradford's enlistment date as May 25, 1813 in the pension application. 

The Military Bounty Land Warrant Application file from the National Archives garnered more information about Bradford and Mindwell's family[14]. The problem with Bradford's enlistment date surfaced which explains why the pension office suspended Mindwell Taylor's bounty land application on April 16, 1852.  Fortunately, the mistake was clarified and the application again reviewed. On August 24, 1852, Mindwell Taylor submitted a letter to the Commissioner of Pensions providing proof of heirship of her children, Horace, Sarah and Mary Ann along with their relinquishments of bounty land owed their late father, Bradford Peck. The children requested that the bounty certificate be issued to their mother, Mindwell Taylor. Sarah Nicholson and Mary Ann Thayer signed an Oath of Identity & Deed of Relinquishment jointly August 23, 1852 before a Justice of the Peace in Oneida County, New York. Horace Peck declared his Oath of Identify and Deed of Relinquishment in New York City, New York August 3, 1852. Gates Peck of Lee township provided a Proof of Identify and Heirship in Oneida Co., New York August 24, 1852. Gates Peck stated he was well acquainted with Bradford Peck from his childhood until his death. Gates identified Bradford as his cousin and the husband of Mindwell Prior.  He also knew Bradford and Mindwell's children; Horace Peck born in 1808, Sarah Nickelson born in 1810 and Mary Ann Thayer born in 1813. 

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[1] Connecticut State Library, Hartford, CT, Church Records, Norwich First Congregational Church, page 276

[2] Early Connecticut Marriages as Found on Ancient Church Records Prior to 1800, Edited by Franklin W. Bailey, A Reprint with Additions, Corrections and Introduction by Donald Lines Jacobus.  Franklin, CT Marriages, Page 84

[3] Connecticut State Library, Hartford, CT, Church Records, Franklin Congregational Church (formerly Second Church in Norwich), page 111

[4] Connecticut State Library, Hartford, CT, Barber Collection, Franklin Vital Records, page 74

[5] Connecticut State Library, Hartford, CT, Probate Estate Papers, Estate of Peck, Barstow (minor), Town Franklin, District Norwich, Date 1805, No. 8459, 1 Bond

[6] Connecticut State Library, Hartford, CT, Connecticut Archives Index Estates of Minors 1715-1820, Vol. 7, page 23

[7] Connecticut State Library, Hartford, CT., The Public Records of the State of Connecticut, Dorothy Ann Lipson, Editor, Vol. XII, pages 172-173

[8] The History of Enfield Connecticut by Francis Olcott Allen, Page 1511

[9] 1800 Federal Census, Enfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut, page 202, line 2, Bradford Peack household

[10] Genealogical History of the Descendants of Joseph Peck, Who Emigrated With His Family To This Country in 1838 by Ira B. Peck, 1868, Page 343

[11] Web Page Town of Lee, Oneida County, New York, Cemeteries, Evergreen Cemetery, Rt. 26, Turin Road http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~townoflee/

[12]The National Archives Pension Application Files, War of 1812, Death or Disability, “Old War” Widow File No. 11588

[13]Ibid

[14]The National Archives Bounty Land Files, Act of 12-160 warrant 27768, Veteran Bradford Peck, 1812, Private, 15^th Infantry, Capt. Young, Can No. 1667

Myrtle Avenue Gang

Photo from Personal Collection

Viola Lillian Wilson, Ella Mae Wilson

and the Neighborhood Kids

I bet you can spot the ringleader right away. The ‘big girl’, otherwise known as my Great Aunt Ella or the bossy one. Pictured to her left is my grandmother, Viola Wilson, lifelong confidant, sidekick and sister. I wish I knew who the other children were. They don’t seem too happy—I wonder what they were doing on this warm summer day!

This snapshot was taken at 16 Myrtle Ave., Middletown, New York probably about 1907. Sixteen Myrtle Ave. was the home of George B. Hewitt and his wife Lillian Clark. After Viola and Ella’s mother passed away in 1904, Ella lived with Uncle George and Aunt Lillie. Viola was cared for by her grandmother, Harriet Ogden Clark, at her home in Goshen, New York.

BESTER, BARSTOW AND A LEAP OF FAITH

For some time I’ve been in a quandary concerning 3^rd Great Grandfather BESTER B. PECK. I’ve theorized he was called BARSTOW PECK when a child and have located records involving the child BARSTOW and then the young man and adult BESTER B. PECK in Franklin and Norwich, New London Co., CT.

BESTER B. PECK has been mentioned previously in my blog posts Bester B. Peck, Husband and Father, 1798-1863, Hunting for Bester's Parents  and Bester's Early Years ......... Or Should I Call Him Barstow? Today I’m making a leap of faith and am accepting BESTER B. PECK and BARSTOW PECK to be one and the same person. I’ll continue to seek evidence to further my conclusion and welcome comments from my readers.

Please see my earlier posts for details supporting my ‘leap of faith’. 

Bester’s Early Years ……. Or Should I Call Him Barstow?

Bester B. Peck is my 3^rd great-grandfather from Connecticut. My genealogical search for him has been one mystery followed by another!

How am I related to Bester?

   My grandmother, Viola Lillian Wilson, daughter of Jerome Walter Wilson and Grace Lee Clark

   My great-grandfather, Jerome Walter Wilson, son of Walter S. Wilson and Mary M. Peck

   My great great-grandmother, Mary M. Peck, daughter of Bester B. Peck and Mary A. Case

I’ve written about Bester in earlier posts. The first was titled Bester B. Peck Husband and Father, 1798-1863 dated Dec. 3, 2013 discussing his marriage to great-great-great grandmother Mary A. Case and their children.  My next post was called Hunting for Bester's Parents dated Jan. 11, 2014. In this post I zoomed in on Bradford Peck and Lydia Barstow as possible parents for Bester. They married July 24, 1794. Bradford was the son of Darius Peck and Hannah Warner while Lydia Barstow was the daughter of Yetonce Barstow and Esther Wood, all from Franklin, New London Co., Connecticut.  Lydia (Barstow) Peck died a young woman on June 6, 1798. 

Lydia’s father, Yetonce Barstow, died Dec. 28, 1799 in Franklin, Connecticut outliving 2 wives and his 2 daughters. Yetonce didn’t prepare a will and when he died, his son-in-law, Edward Corwin administered his estate.  The probate estate papers are on microfilm at the Connecticut State Library and told this family’s story very nicely[1].  Mrs. Phineas Corwin, Nathaniel Hyde and Cherub Abell were named guardians to Lydia Peck’s children in a document dated Oct. 14, 1800.  Edward Corwin was granted permission by the Court to rent Yetonce Barstow’s lands and Edward received extra monies for taking care of Yetonce in his last illness.  Money was also approved for Mr. Asahel Ladd for keeping one of Lydia’s children. 

‘A Return of the Division of Estate of Yetonce Barstow & the Peck Children” dated Dec. 15, 1800 described who got what[2].  Bester Corwin, the only son of Esther (Barstow) and Edward Corwin received one mare, a feather bed and sundry other articles amounting to the sum of $100.13.  He also inherited 23 acres and 100 rods of land by a highway and bound by Capt. Cherub Abell and Milton Hyde’s lands.

Lydia (Barstow) Peck’s three children got one horse, a silver watch and sundry other articles amounting to $100.13.  The Peck children also received 2 pieces of land to hold as copartners and tenants in common.  The first lot contained 2 acres and 114 rods adjoining Capt. Phinehas Peck’s property and the line of Phinehas Corwin’s land.  The second lot consisted of 26 acres and 46 rods on easterly and northerly side of the highway bound by Edward Corwin’s land and the lot set out to Bester Corwin.  A small three cornered piece of land containing 12 or 15 rods bound by Phinehas Corwin’s property was set aside for the Peck children too. 

The Division of the Estate separated the estate between Lydia Peck’s three children.  Nancy Peck was the eldest child and inherited one woolen sheet and other items equaling $33.38.  One piece of land containing 8 acres and 15 rods was set aside for her as well as the small three cornered lot described above. 

Clarry Peck, another daughter of Lydia Peck, also was gifted with one woolen sheet and other articles amounting to $33.38.  Clarry’s land consisted of two pieces.  The first lot contained 6 acres and 46 rods adjoining the Ayers property.  The second parcel was woodland bordering Capt. Phinehas Peck’s land containing 2 acres and 114 rods. 

Barstow Peck, the only son of Lydia Peck was given one checked coverlid and other articles at inventory price amounting to $33.38.  He also received 11 acres and 82 rods of land bound by the Ayers line and Edward Corwin’s land. 

Yetonce Barstow’s estate papers prove Bradford Peck and Lydia Barstow had three children—Nancy, Clarry and Barstow.  Bradford and Lydia married in 1794 so we know the children would be very young when their grandfather died in 1799 thus legal guardians were named to represent the children. 

Bester Peck was born March 7, 1798 which would make him an infant in 1799.  When Bester Peck married Mary Case, his name was noted in the records as Bester B. Peck.  Could Bester B. be Bester Barstow?  Was Bester and Barstow Peck the same child?

A probate record exists for the estate of Barstow Peck, minor, dated May 3, 1805[3].  Nathaniel Hyde of Franklin, Barstow Peck’s guardian, petitioned the Honorable General Assembly in October 1804 for permission to dispose of land belonging to Barstow for debts accrued for his support and his future support.  The General Assembly granted Nathaniel Hyde the right to sell Barstow’s estate to the best advantage. 

 

This new piece of the puzzle took me directly to Franklin land records.  Barstow’s cousin, Bester Corwin, sold his lands that had belonged to Yetonce Barstow April 17, 1815 to Abner Ladd, Jr. of Franklin, Connecticut[4].  When Bester Corwin sold the property, he was a resident of Cazenovia, Madison Co., New York. 

Nancy Peck who married Asa Ladd was definitely Bradford and Lydia’s daughter.  Nancy and Asa Ladd sold her property she inherited from her grandfather, Yetonce Barstow, Jan. 20, 1817 to Abner Ladd, Jr. of Franklin[5].  They are buried in Yantic Cemetery, Norwich, Connecticut[6].  A tombstone inscription state Nancy Peck Ladd, wife of Asa, was born 1795 and died 1853.  Asa Ladd was born 1793 and died 1869.  Asa and Nancy had four daughters and one son. 

On February 17, 1817, Clarissa and Buel Ladd sold her grandfather’s lands also to Abner Ladd, Jr[7].  This is the Clarissa Peck who married Buel Ladd.   Clarissa and Buell Ladd were buried in the Pautipaug Cemetery, Franklin, Connecticut.  Clarissa died August 9, 1873 at the age of 76 and Buell died July 4, 1879 age 86[8].  The Franklin Vital Records from the Barbour Collection identified three of their children:  Jabez Buel born Sept. 20, 1817, Mary Clarissa born Dec. 18, 1819 and Chester Hyde born Dec. 29, 1821.

I recognized Nancy and Clarissa Peck from earlier surname research when two Peck girls from Franklin, Connecticut had married into the Ladd family in 1816. Could this be the link to Bester’s early years?  Asa Ladd married Nancy Peck March 14, 1816 in Franklin[9].  When I reexamined my records, I realized Asa and Nancy Ladd were residing two doors away from Bester and his family in the 1850 census[10].  This piqued my interest further but I was unable to prove a relationship between Bester and Nancy.  The other Peck girl, Clarissa, married Buel Ladd Nov. 17, 1816 at Franklin, Connecticut[11].  Clarissa and Buel Ladd’s son, Jabez Buel Ladd, is the one I want you to pay close attention to. Bester Peck’s 13 year old grandson, William Warren, was dwelling in Jabez Ladd’s home and working on his farm per the 1870 federal census. This is feeling more and more as though Bester is linked to both Nancy and Clarissa.

There were no land records involving the sale of Barstow’s property in the town of Franklin deeds.  Nathaniel Hyde, acting has his guardian, had petitioned the General Assembly so I began searching for those records.  The “Connecticut Archives Index Estates of Minors 1715-1820”[12] and “The Public Records of the State of Connecticut”[13] both contained references to Nathaniel Hyde’s petition revealing more details about the family.  Barstow was left an orphan and cared for by his grandfather, Yetonce Barstow, who left him a legacy in land.  Nathaniel Hyde wanted reimbursement for $100 that he had spent on Barstow and asked to sell sufficient real estate to meet the debt.  The General Assembly granted Barstow’s guardian the right to sell his land October 1804.  Public records stated Barstow’s mother died in June 1798 “when said Barstow was a sucking child”.  It further revealed his father was bankrupt and absconded leaving no relatives of ability to care for him except his grandfather, Yetonce Barstow.   Yetonce’s legacy to Barstow consisted of about ten acres of land valued at $150.00. 

I examined original guardianship documents for New London County, Connecticut housed at the Connecticut State Archives not finding any papers for Nancy, Clarry or Barstow Peck.

I haven’t been able to locate any later record for Barstow Peck.  Did Barstow use the name ‘Bester’ at this point?  Was Barstow called ‘Barstow’ to differentiate him from his cousin, Bester Corwin?  It is a puzzle.  The preface of Arthur Hitchcock Radasch’s Barstow-Bestor Genealogy adds more confusion to the issue when the author explains:

   “The spelling of the name in any particular way cannot be used as a criterion to tell from which immigrant ancestor an individual is descended.  Indeed, in some families the name has gone from Barstow to Bastow and then to Bestor in a relatively short period as if the family was undecided or experimenting.  Other families seem to have been houses divided against themselves, with one son going off with one name, and other sons using a different name.”

The next time I found ‘Bester’ Peck was when he married in 1827.  In a later visit to the Connecticut State Library, I revisited the probate records just in case some monies were owed him when he turned 21 on March 7, 1819 with negative results[14]. 

I would really like to find supporting documentation that Bester was indeed Barstow.  This will continue to be my goal. 

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[1] Connecticut State Library, Hartford, CT, Probate Estate Papers, Barstow, Yetonce:  Town Franklin, District Norwich, Town Franklin, No. 802, Date 1800,1 Bond, 1 Inventory, 1 Distribution, 1 Account of Administration, 16 Receipts, 1 Misc., 21 Total Documents

[2] Ibid

[3] Connecticut State Library, Hartford, CT, Probate Estate Papers, Estate of Peck, Barstow (minor), Town Franklin, District Norwich, Date 1805, No. 8459, 1 Bond

[4]Connecticut State Library, Hartford, CT, Franklin, CT Land Deeds, Vol. 2-3, Page 133

[5] Ibid, Page 251

[6]Connecticut Headstone Inscriptions, Charles R. Hale Collection, RG 72:1, Volume 98, Connecticut State Library, Hartford, CT, Yantic Cemetery, Norwich, CT, Page 324

[7]Connecticut State Library, Hartford, CT, Franklin, CT Land Deeds, Vol. 2-3, Page 250

[8]Connecticut Headstone Inscriptions, Charles R. Hale Collection,  Town of Franklin, Pautipaug Cemetery, Page 26

[9]Connecticut State Library, Hartford, CT, Barber Collection, Franklin Vital Records, page 74

[10] 1850 Federal Census, Norwich, New London Co., CT, Page 149, Line 18, Asa Ladd Household

[11] Connecticut State Library, Hartford, CT, Barber Collection, Franklin Vital Records, page 73

[12] Connecticut State Library, Hartford, CT, Connecticut Archives Index Estates of Minors 1715-1820, Vol. 7, page 23

[13] Connecticut State Library, Hartford, CT., The Public Records of the State of Connecticut, Dorothy Ann Lipson, Editor, Vol. XII, pages 172-173

[14] Connecticut State Library, Hartford, CT, Norwich Probate Packets, 1748-1850 on microfilm

GREAT GRANDMOTHER ELLA “SKIPPED THE LIGHT FANTASTIC TOE”

 

Great Grandmother

Ella Virginia White

October 10, 1881 – April 21, 1961

Ella Virginia White was the fourth child born to John William White and Mary Agnes Brown in Augusta County, Virginia on October 10, 1881. She would marry James Clyde Clemmer, also of Augusta County, June 5, 1905 and become the matriarch of a large family.

While Ella was still a single lady, she appreciated an evening of dancing and dining as reported in the Staunton Spectator and Vindicator. Her brother, Arthur White, was also included in the festivities.

Staunton Spectator and Vindicator, Staunton, Virginia

Friday, March 18, 1904

A SURPRISE PARTY

   Quite a crowd of young people met at Mrs. Houston Hall’s last Friday night. The musicians arrived about 8 o’clock and then the fun commenced. They danced until eleven, when their hostess invited them to the dining room where they enjoyed a nice supper. After this they returned to the dancing hall and “skipped the light fantastic toe” until early in the morning. Then they bid their hostess good night and returned to their homes, having spent one of the most pleasant times possible –one long to be remembered and not soon to be forgotten by some. Those present were Misses Laurena Brownlee, Ida and Mamer Coyner, Katie and Alma Brown, Ora and Essie Harris, Stella Crickenberger, Mary Younge, Effie Bateman, Ella White, and Mrs. C. A. Brownlee. The gentlemen were Arthur Brown, Elmer Cohran, Willie Coyner, Harry Harner, Ivan Hunter, Arthur Hall, Sidney Bear, Alfred Brownlee, Clarence Brownlee, Edward Wissler, Arthur White and Arthur Waide.

                                                                                                            RAMBLER.

Note: See James Clyde Clemmer's Story published Sunday, February 16, 2014. Ella and James were the parents of my grandmother, Lucy Clemmer.