WILLIAM WILSON JOSEPH AND ELIZA JANE SPITLER OF AUGUSTA CO., VA

In today’s post I would like you to meet my 2^nd Great Grandparents William Wilson Joseph and Eliza Jane Spitler.

  

William Wilson was born 1822 in Virginia to John Joseph and Elizabeth Piper. Eliza Jane was the daughter of Jacob Spitler and Margaret Dunlap. She was born 1828 in Augusta County, Virginia.

My grandfather’s cousin, Rachel Jane Joseph, shared her family stories with him. We knew her as “Cousin Ray”. She was a granddaughter of William Wilson Joseph and Eliza Jane Spitler. Ray was born in 1896 well after her grandfather’s death but heard her father, Henry Milton Joseph, speak of his parents.

William Wilson and Eliza Jane were married October 26, 1848 by a minister associated with the United Brethren Church named J. Markwood.[1] Jacob Markwood was an Elder in the church and would later become a Bishop.

Their first born children were twin boys who died at birth.[2]

When the 1850 federal census was taken, William Wilson and Eliza were living next door to his parents, John and Elizabeth Joseph. [3] William and his father both worked as carpenters.

By September 26, 1860 William and Eliza’s family grew to include six children--Margaret Jane born 1850, Elizabeth born about 1852, Anna Belle Virginia born 1854, John W. born 1855, Jacob M. born 1857 and Henry Milton Joseph born in 1860. William continued to work as a carpenter. [4]

My Great Grandfather, Daniel Franklin Joseph, was born near the end of the Civil War in February 1865. Wilson Otterbein was the last born in 1868.

I haven’t found any documented record to know if Wm. Wilson served with the Confederacy or the Union during the War Between the States.

I suspect life would have been difficult for his family if Wm. Wilson strongly supported or joined the Union Army. As a matter of fact, Rev. Jacob Markwood was a Union supporter. You’ll recall he had married Wm. Wilson and Eliza years earlier. Rev. Markwood was reported to the Southern Confederacy and wasn’t allowed to be in Virginia during the war.[5]

In the following excerpt Cousin Ray tells about a Yankee raid when her father, Henry Milton Joseph, was a small boy.[6]

   “My father remembered when the “Yankees” invaded the Valley. He was five years old and they lived near Swoope. The men had taken the cows and horses to the mountain but left the big stallion as they didn’t think the army would want a stallion but said one of the officers threw a saddle on Barney and rode off. He said he could remember just how Barney looked going down the road.

   They burned the Swoope mill and said his mother stood in the doorway and wept.”

The raid probably took place about 1864/1865 when the Confederacy was losing more often to the Union Army. I can’t help but feel sorrow when I think of Eliza Jane weeping in that doorway.

Ray writes of life after war:

   “After the war ended everyone was very poor and it was very hard to get clothing or any of the essentials of life.

   Grandfather moved to Churchville from Swoope. He was a carpenter and helped to build most of the churches on the Churchville charge, which was the United Brethren. Grandfather was very religious and would walk miles to church to help any way he could. He would go to teach the Negroes in their churches and meetings.”

In June 1879, William Wilson Joseph passed at the age of age of 58 years. His death was recorded in the 1880 federal mortality schedules. His cause of death is difficult to decipher. It looks like it could be ‘pancretic colic’ or ‘paralis colic’.[7]

Eliza Jane died eighteen years later on March 21, 1897 at her son’s home in Staunton (that was my Great Grandfather Daniel Franklin Joseph). She’s buried in the Bethlehem United Church (formerly known as the Bethlehem United Brethren) cemetery.

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[1] Augusta County Marriages 1748-1850 by John Vogt & T. William Kethley Jr.

[2] Rachel Jane Joseph Family Notes Sent to her Cousin, James McFall Joseph

[3] 1850 Federal Census, Virginia, Augusta County, District No. 2, Page 274

[4] 1860 Federal Census, Virginia, Augusta County, District No. 1, Page No. 227

[5] OUR BISHIPS, A Sketch of the Origin and Growth of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ by H. A. Thompson, D. D., L. L. D., page 441

[6] Rachel Jane Joseph Family Notes Sent to her Cousin, James McFall Joseph

[7] U. S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1880, Pastures, Augusta, Virginia; Page 127

TREASURE CHEST THURSDAY: Casper Kimber and the NYC Common Council Minutes

This post was originally published September 5, 2014 on my other blog Casper Kimber Connections


7^th Great Grandfather Casper Kimber was involved in a court suit per the Minutes of the Common Council of the City of New York, Volume IV, published under the Authority of the City of New York; Dodd, Mead and Company, 1905.

The following is from the Council Minutes dated July 27, 1733, pages 185-186:

 

 

   “Whereas Mr. Thomas De Kay (who hold and is in Possession of a Certain Tract of Land in the Out Ward of this City, which, the 21th day of July 1701 was Granted by this Corporation to his father Jacob De Kay and to his Heirs and Assigns for Ever with Convenants of Warranty &c:) hath made Application to this Court that he hath lately been served with a Lease of Ejectment for part of the Said Land in the Name of one [305] Caspar Kimber on the several Demises of Cornelius Cortrecht, & Margaret Cortrecht also on the demise of Adolph Benson and Eva his wife, Mitie Cortrecht, Susannah Cortrecht, Arent Cortrecht, and Lawrence Cortrecht Infants &c: and prays this Corporation will give such Instructions to his Counsel to defend the Said suits as to them shall appear Adviseable &c:  It is therefore hereby ORDERED that Alderman Cruger, Alderman Stuyvesant, Alderman Rutgers, Alderman Roosevelt, Mr. Chambers Mr. De Peyster and Mr. Roos or any four of them be A Committee to Enquire what Right or Title the Plaintiff in Ejectment or any Other Person or Persons have or Claim to the Lands in Question, and the Quantity thereof, that they Call to their Assistance the Surveyors of this City or one of them, and make a true State of the Matter as it Shall Appear to them. That the said Committee do also Enquire what Encroachments are made upon the Lands of this Corporation to the Westward of Harlem Line, and by whom, and make their Report with all Convenient Speed.”

Upper Manhattan was known as the Out Ward comprising the Bowery and Harlem divisions. It’s clear the De Kay family owned the land but I’m having difficulty interpreting Casper’s role as the plaintiff in the court suit. A lease of ejectment was used to regain possession of real estate held by another. Demises means transferred by will or lease. I wonder if the Cortrecht’s and Adolph Benson were turning their leases over to Casper or perhaps vice versa. Or did Thomas De Kay renege on some agreement with Casper and his other tenants? I don’t know why the number 305 appears in brackets prior to Casper’s name.

More details emerged in the Council Minutes Nov. 4, 1734, page 234:

  “ORDERED that Alderman Bayard, Alderman Johnson, Alderman Fell, Mr. Moore, Mr. Leroux and Mr. Myer or any four of them be a Committee to Enquire into what Title Casper Kimber (on the several Demsies of Cornelius Courtrecht and Others) hath to some Lands in the Out Ward of this City near the Harlem Line formerly sold by this Corporation to Jacob Dekey, and make A Report of their Opinion what will be proper for this Corporation to do in that Affair with all Expediton.”

Several years later court orders were issued in the Council Minutes Feb. 28, 1737[-8], page 411:

“No 751 Warrant Issued

ORDERED the Mayor Issue his Warrant to the Treasurer to pay to Mr. Joseph Murray or Order the sum of Seven pounds Current Money of this Colony in full of his Acct. for fees in an Action lately depending in the Supream Court of this Colony wherein Thomas Dekey as Defendant at the suit of Casper Kimber on the Demise of Cornelius Cortrecht & Others was Plaintiff in Ejectment as appears by his Acct. which is Audited and Allowed”

“No 752 Warrant Issued

ORDERED The Mayor Issue his Warrant to the Treasurer to pay Mr. William Smith or Order the sum of Nine pounds Nine Shillings and three pence Currt. Money of this Colony in full of his Acct. for fees in an Action lately depending in the supream Court of this Colony in Ejectment wherein Casper Kimber on the Demise of Cornelius Cortrecht & Others were Plaintiffs agt. Thomas Dekey Defendant as appears by his Acct. which is Audited and Allowed”

Well, the suit went to the Supreme Court of the New York Colony. Remember New York was part of British America at this time. Mr. Joseph Murray was an attorney for the New York Corporation and received seven pounds for his services. Perhaps Mr. William Smith was also an attorney.

This is all the information I have about the court case. I would love to know what happened. Readers, your help would be appreciated! Please comment if you can add to Casper’s tale.

CHURCH RECORD SUNDAY: Casper Kimber Early Member of 1st Ref. Dutch Church, Jamaica, Long Island

 This was originally posted August 28, 2014 on my other blog Casper Kimber Connections


Before 7^th Great Grandfather Casper Kimber arrived in Orange County, New York my research led me to Jamaica, Long Island, New York where I found he was a member of the First Reformed Dutch Church of Jamaica.

 Illustration from History of Queens County, N. Y.

W. W. Munsell, 1882

page 325

Casperus Kimber first appears in the records of the First Reformed Dutch Church of Jamaica, Long Island, NY June 10, 1712. He was a godparent or sponsor along with Mary Kimber to Marten, child of Daniel Phillips and Catrina Phillips.[1] I believe Casperus was still a young man at this time—perhaps Mary Kimber was a sister or even mother.

Casper Kimber and Femmetje Williamse were married about 1720. Femmetje Williamse, daughter of Johannis Willemse and Magdalena Winants, was baptized May 29, 1695. I located Femmetje’s baptism in the Holland Society Year Book, 1897, Volume 10, ‘First Book of Records of the Dutch Reformed Church of Brooklyn, New York’ among two sheets not belonging to the Brooklyn Church records labeled as a ‘THIRD LIST’, page 193. It’s not clear from the Holland Society Year Book which church this baptism belongs with. Her godparents were Jacob Fardon and Femmetje Fardon.

Four of Casper and Femmetje’s seven children were baptized in Jamaica. Their son, George (who was my ancestor), and a daughter Maria would have been born about 1725 and 1723 respectively were not included in the Church’s baptisms. Another son, Petrus, was baptized April 14, 1743 in Orange County, New York.[2]

Machdeleen (Magdeleen), Casper and Femmetje Kimel’s daughter, was baptized at the First Reformed Dutch Church of Jamaica, Long Island Oct. 2, 1722. Her godparents were Hannes Welemson and Machdellen Wellemsen.[3]

The next child baptized in Jamaica was Johannes Cimbel on Jan. 1, 1727. His godparents were Johannis Wellemsen and Leena Willemsen.[4]

Tuen Koevert and Doortie Koevert were godparents for Jacobus Kimmel’s baptism on Dec. 26, 1728.[5]

There were no godparents or witnesses to Elisabet Cimbel’s baptism Dec. 27, 1730.[6]

The last recorded date that Casperus Kimber appears in First Reformed Dutch Church of Jamaica records was Sunday, Aug. 27, 1732 when Kas Kimbel and Leena Willemse were godparents for Johannes, child of Matys van felse and Marytie van velse.[7]

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[1] The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, 1974, Records of the First Reformed Dutch Church of Jamaica, Long Island, Volume 105, page 147

[2] The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, Minisink Valley Reformed Dutch Church Records, 1716-1830 (Printed for the Society 1913), page 107

[3] The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, 1975, Records of the First Reformed Dutch Church of Jamaica, Long Island, Volume 106, page 92

[4] Ibid, page 202

[5] Ibid, page 207

[6] Ibid, 1976, Volume 107, page 37

[7] Baptismal Record of First Reformed Dutch Church of Jamaica, Long Island, New York 1702-1733, copied from the original record by Josephine C. Frost

MATRILINEAL MONDAY, GRANDMA WILSON, Mary M. (Peck) Wilson, 1838-1915

Grandma Wilson, Mary M. (Peck) Wilson, was born in Norwich, New London County, Connecticut about 1838. 2^nd Great Grandmother’s parents, Bester B. Peck and Mary A. Case, were Connecticut natives.

 Mary (Peck) Wilson

1838-1915

When Mary was 18 years old, she married Walter Wilson on August 10, 1856. The August 13, 1856 issue of the Norwich Weekly Courier published a marriage notice:

   “In this city on the 10^th, inst., by Rev. F. Denison, Mr. Walter S. Wilson and Miss Mary M. Peck, both of Norwich.”

Rev. Frederic Denison was a pastor serving the Central Baptist Church in Norwich.

A few years later Mary and Walter’s son, Charles Walter, was born in Worcester, Massachusetts August 28, 1858. A daughter, Ida M., was also born in Worcester December 1860. Walter was working as a machinist during these years.

Another boy, John, was born about 1865. The 1870 federal census indicates John’s birthplace was New Jersey although I haven’t yet been able to trace the family there.

When Mary’s 3^rd son, Hugh Montgomery, was born July 6, 1869, the family was living in Port Jervis, Orange County, New York. Sometime between 1870 and 1875, a 2^nd daughter, Gertrude Ella, was born. Next to join the family was Jerome Walter Wilson on April 17, 1873.

After Walter and Mary moved to Goshen (Orange County) little Gertrude Ella died Dec. 5, 1875. Probably Mary and Walter named their youngest daughter, Ella G., honoring Gertrude Ella.

Mary remained in Goshen for some years after Walter’s death in May 1893. Two daughters, Ida and Ella, resided in Mary’s home on Scotchtown Avenue in 1900. Mary called Murray Avenue home in 1910 with her daughter Ella and husband William Johnston.

2nd Great Grandmother Mary (Peck) Wilson

When Mary (Peck) Wilson passed April 29, 1915, she was staying with her son Jerome in Hartford. The Hartford Courant, Hartford, Connecticut published an obituary April 30, 1915.

    “Mrs. Mary E. Wilson, wife of the late Walter S. Wilson, formerly of Goshen, N.Y., died yesterday at the home of her son, Jerome W. Wilson, No. 112 Oak street, aged 74 years. She leaves, besides her son, another son, H. M. Wilson of Bridgeport, and a daughter, Mrs. W. A. Johnstone.

   The funeral will be held tomorrow morning at 10 o’clock at No. 112 Oak street. The burial will be in Slate Hill Cemetery, Sunday."

(Mary M. Peck was also known as ‘Mary E. (Peck) Wilson’.)

FUNERAL FRIDAY: Erie Railroad Engineer Walter S. Wilson Funeral, May 17, 1893 Goshen, NY

Middletown Daily Times, Middletown, N.Y.

Thursday, May 18, 1893

   “The funeral of the late Walter S. Wilson was held in this village yesterday and was very largely attended. Mr. Wilson was a member of the Order of Railroad Engineers, and a large delegation of the members of that order from all along the line was in attendance. Deceased carried an insurance policy of $3,000 in that organization.”

2^nd Great Grandfather Walter S. Wilson was born 1836 in New London County, Connecticut. His parents, James and Merriam Wilson, were immigrants from Scotland, Great Britain.

Walter found work as a machinist in Norwich, New London County, Connecticut. He wed Mary M. Peck August 10, 1856 in Norwich. After their marriage they moved to Worcester, Massachusetts where 2^nd Great Grandfather continued to work as a machinist.

I wonder if Walter’s machinist job was associated with the railway and locomotive industry as he rose in stature becoming a railroad engineer by June 1870. At this date his home was in the town of Deerpark, Orange County, New York. The 1875 New York State census places Walter and his family in Goshen (Orange Co.) employed by the Erie Railroad.

A short obituary published in the Middletown newspaper tells a bit more of his story.

Middletown Daily Press, Middletown, N.Y.

Monday, May 15, 1893

“GOSHEN

  MATTERS AND THINGS AT THE COUNTY SEAT

     Walter S. Wilson, who for many years has been an Erie engineer, running over the Montgomery and Pine Island Brances [Branches], died last night, at his home on Scotchtown avenue, this village. He had been ill for several months, at times so seriously that his life was almost despaired of, and then he would rally again and seem to be in a fair way to recovery. A few days ago his condition changed for the worse and his death resulted, as above stated. He was 53 years of age. Funeral Wednesday, at 2 30 p. m., from his late residence.”

The Goshen Erie Railroad station on the main line in Goshen, New York

From Wikimedia Commons