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Monday, May 18, 2015

MILITARY MONDAY Spitler Family Saga, Augusta Co., VA Part 3, The War Years

3^rd Great Grandfather Jacob Spitler married a second time to Jane F. (Roberts) Acord July 26, 1860.[1] Jane married Andrew B. Acord Jan. 11, 1843[2] and divorced him June 1860[3] in Augusta County. Two Acord stepchildren, Sarah and Jacob F., were living in Jacob and Jane’s home Sept. 10, 1860.[4] Thomas Spitler (Jacob and Margaret’s son) resided with his father and stepmother. A Spitler son, Jacob F., Jr. and his young wife, Eliza Frances Argenbright, lived next door with their 2 children.

Tough times were coming for the Spitler’s. Jacob was 62 years old when the Civil War began. Five of his six sons joined the Confederacy. They served in Co. F, 52nd Regt. Va. Infantry.

Henry enlisted April 29, 1861 at West View a few weeks after Confederate troops fired on Fort Sumter. He went directly to Harper’s Ferry. I don’t know whether he became ill or was wounded but he was on sick leave from July 1861 until Jan. 27, 1862. Pvt. Henry Spitler was discharged at the end of his sick leave.[5]

John S. Spitler joined Company F the same day as his brother Henry on April 29, 1861. He contracted typhoid fever and was hospitalized from August to December of 1861. On May 3, 1863 John was wounded at Chancellorsville and died 3 days later at a hospital in Staunton.[6]

Pvt. Thomas Spitler enlisted May 15, 1862 and was present at Appomattox April 9, 1865.[7]

Jacob, Jr., joined up August 15, 1862. He was wounded at Manassas and Wilderness. Jacob survived the War and was paroled at Staunton, Virginia May 15, 1865.[8]

Samuel Spitler died of fever in the army according to Henry Spitler’s obituary.

In the meantime, Jacob died Sept. 7, 1864 while the War was being fought. Grandfather prepared his will a few months after the fighting started on August 2, 1861.[9] He wanted his 2^nd wife to get his entire estate and named her his Executrix.

Jacob Spitler's Will, Augusta Co. VA Will Book 40, page 89

Jacob Spitler's Will, Augusta Co. VA Will Book 40, page 90

Transcription:

I Jacob Spitler, of Augusta County, in the State of Virginia, do make this as and for my last will and Testament hereby revoking all others and former wills by me at any time heretofore made

1^st I direct the payment of my funeral expenses, and all my Just debts.

2^nd I give and devised to my beloved wife all my Estate – of every kind and description, of which I may die possessed of or be in any way entitled to.

Last I Nominate and Constitute my said wife as the Sole Executrix of this will,

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and seal the 21^st day of August in the year of our Lord one Thousand Eight hundred and Sixty one

Jacob Spitler

Witness present – Signing in the

Presences of the Testator & of each

Other – he having signed in _?_ presences

A. F. Kinney

N. K. Trout

In Augusta County Court October 24^th 1864

This Last will and Testament of Jacob Spitler dec’d was presented in court and and proved by the oaths of A. F. Kinney and N. K. Trout the Subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded And on the motion of Jane F. Spitler the Executrix therein named, who made and thereof according to and together with Jacob Bayler her Security (who Justified as to his Sufficiency) Entered into a bond in the Sum of Twenty five hundred dollars payable and wich condition as required by law, which bond was acknowledged in open court by the obligers thereto and ordered to be recorded.

Certificate is granted the said Jane F. Spitler for obtaining a probate of said will in due favor.

Teste

William A. Burnett clk

Jacob Baylor, acting as Jane F. Spitler’s Security, requested Augusta County Court revoke Jane’s right to her powers as Executrix August 22, 1865.[10] The court document states Jane renounced her powers in a written document before Staunton Mayor Nicholas K. Trout. It’s hard to say what prompted this. Grandfather had faith in her abilities to handle his estate as he made her his ‘Sole Executrix’. When the Civil War ended, Virginia was part of the United States of America again. The economic future of Southerners was uncertain. Perhaps Jane needed help to wade through the political climate.

Alexander B. Lightner became the administrator for Grandfather’s estate with Albert G. Wayland acting as his Security. Mr. Lightner arranged for an inventory of Jacob’s personal estate that same month. He presented the court with an account of the sale of Jacob’s personal estate that took place Sept. 20, 1865. The estate sale raised $923.45.[11]

I don’t know what became of Jacob’s land. As of 1860 it was still in his possession. No doubt land records will tell another story.

Saturday, May 16, 2015

SURNAME SATURDAY Spitler Family Saga, Augusta Co., VA Part 2

Today’s installment of the Spitler Family Saga will focus on my 3^rd Great Grandfather Jacob Spitler. In an earlier post I told the Spitler Family Saga by discussing Cousin Rachel Joseph’s family stories and findings (click here to read).

In 1992 I hired the late Mrs. Katherine G. Bushman, an Augusta County genealogist, to help me with my ancestry. Mrs. Bushman added to Cousin Ray’s knowledge. My contribution to the saga comprised internet sleuthing.

Jacob Spitler was born December 1799[1] in Virginia to John Spitler Sr. and Mary Eccord/Accord. He was one of six children raised in Augusta County. When 3^rd Great Grandfather was 24 years old, he wed Margaret Dunlap, daughter of Archibald and Betsey Dunlap June 14, 1824.[2] Rev. Michael Meyerhoeffer, a minister serving the Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church, married them in Augusta County. Great Grandmother was also born in Augusta County about 1799[3].

Augusta County, Virginia Countryside

View from Parnassus

Contributed by Hamiltonl at English Wikipedia

Jacob didn’t appear as a head of household in the 1830 federal census. I located “John Spidler” in the Southern District of the county with a household of eleven. The family included boys and girls, mothers and fathers and probably grandparents too [4]. Perhaps Jacob’s family lived in his father’s home.

Mrs. Katherine Bushman and the Augusta County Land Grantee Index confirm John Spitler sold 138 acres in Back Creek to his son Jacob March 30, 1833.[5] The land was property John Spitler originally purchased from John and Elizabeth McPheeters Sept. 15, 1795[6]. The sale to Jacob also included land George and Katherine Baylor sold to his father Dec. 22, 1800[7]. I haven’t seen the clerk’s copy of the deeds yet so I don’t know if Jacob’s father gifted the land to him or if it was a sale.

The 1840 federal census shows Jacob and his father listed next to each other.[8] His household included Jacob, Margaret, and seven individuals under the age of 20 years. Two persons were employed in the agriculture industry. One female between 10 and 14 years was my 2^nd Great Grandmother Eliza Jane. One male between 15 and 19 years was the eldest son, William B. Two males between 10 and 14 were Henry and Thomas. Three boys from 5 to 9 were Jacob F., Jr., Samuel, and another not identified. No children were younger than 5 years old according to the census tick marks.

By the time the 1850 federal census was enumerated[9], Jacob’s son, William B., had already married and left home. William B. and Margaret Arehart wed Nov. 9, 1848. The same was true of my 2^nd Great Grandmother Eliza Jane who married William Wilson Joseph Oct. 26, 1848. Living at home with Jacob and Margaret were Thomas, age 22 years; Henry, age 20; Jacob, age 18; Samuel, age 16; John, age 12, and Sarah, age 10. (I believe the 10 year old daughter was Susan Margaret incorrectly identified as Sarah.) Jacob’s 76 year old father and 75 year old mother lived in his home too. The Spitler’s farmed their land. Jacob, his father, and sons Thomas, Henry, Jacob and Samuel were all farmers.

After 34 years together, 3^rd Great Grandmother Margaret (Dunlap) Spitler died Oct. 28, 1858.[10] She was just 59 years old.

[1] Find-A-Grave web site, www.findagrave.com, Memorial #38713503, birth calculated from age at time of death.

[2] Augusta County, Virginia Marriages, 1748-1850, compiled by John Vogt & T. William Kethley, Jr.

[3] Find-A-Grave web site, www.findagrave.com, Memorial #38713360, birth calculated from age at time of death.

[4] 1830 Federal Census, Southern District, Augusta County, VA, Page 102, John Spidler household.

[5] Augusta County, Virginia Land Deeds, Grantee Index, page 84, Deed Book 55, page 58.

[6] Ibid, Deed Book 28, page 390.

[7] Ibid, Deed Book 31, page 288.

[8] 1840 Federal Census, Augusta County, VA, Page 39, Jacob Spitler Household.

[9] 1850 Federal Census, District 2, Augusta County, VA, Page 274B, John Spitler Household.

[10] Abstracts of Augusta County, Virginia Death Registers compiled by Margaret C. Reese, page 114.

Thursday, April 30, 2015

TREASURE CHEST THURSDAY Spitler Family Saga, Augusta Co., VA, Part 1

My earliest introduction to the Spitler family came from my grandfather’s cousin, Rachel Joseph. I recall the family gathered around the kitchen table listening to Rachel’s letter. I must have been about 11 or 12 years old.

‘Cousin Ray’ was the Joseph family historian and included a few tidbits about the Spitler’s in her research notes. My grandfather and Rachel were the great grandchildren of Jacob Spitler and Margaret Dunlap.

My Spitler line begins with 2^nd Great Grandmother Eliza Jane Spitler. She married William Wilson Joseph Oct. 26, 1848. You can see a photograph of Eliza Jane and William Wilson by clicking here. This will link you to my earlier post titled “William Wilson Joseph and Eliza Jane Spitler of Augusta Co., VA”

I’ll begin with Cousin Ray’s family lore:

“Grandmother Joseph’s mother was a Miss Dunlap. Her father was Jacob Spitler. There was a large family but have no records.

Uncle Henry Spitlar was a confederate soldier as was Uncle Thomas Spitlar who was killed in the Battle of Gettysburg. He wasn’t married.

Uncle Henry Spitler married Nancy Dodson. They had no children. Aunt Susan (Sis) Livick was grandmother’s sister. She had two children but they died without heirs.

I do not know Jacob Spitlar’s father name but he married an Irish girl, her name unknown to us. She came from Ireland with others who were to bind themselves out to farmers or anyone that would hire them and would work until their passage was paid. The young women would marry if the men would pay their passage. My father & Aunt Annie told me that she never told anyone of her past or anything about her people. She would never attend church so they thought she must have been a Catholic and the Spitlars were Lutherins. The Spitlars came from Scotland. They were farmers and owned farms near Middlebrook, Va. Grandfather Spitlar took great pride in his horses and had fine teams. He would take the cured meat in covered wagons to Richmond, Va. where they traded for coffee, sugar, and such items that were hard to buy in those days.”

‘Grandmother Joseph’ was Eliza Jane (Spitler) Joseph. Her parents were Jacob Spitler and Margaret Dunlap.

Uncle Henry and Uncle Thomas mentioned above were Eliza Jane’s brothers. They both fought for the Confederacy but Uncle Thomas wasn’t killed at Gettysburg. He survived the War and married Jennie Virginia Bishop.

Recently I found Uncle Henry’s obituary published in the Staunton Spectator Friday, Nov. 1, 1905 describing his service and his brothers.

Mr. Henry Spitler of Augusta county, died on November 10, 1905, at the home of his niece, Mrs. James A. Wagner, near Swoope's aged 75 years. Mr. Spitler was one of the fine soldiers of Augusta county, and with his four brothers, all members of Company F, 5th Virginia Infantry, commanded at the outbreak of the war by Capt. St. F. C. Roberts, and later by Capt. P. E. Wilson, went from West View in this county to Harper's Ferry in April, 1861. Of these Spitler boys, John was killed at Chancellorsville; Thomas S. was wounded in the same fight; Samuel died of fever in the army, and Jacob survived the war, but died some years ago.

Jacob Spitler’s father was named John Spitler and his mother Mary Eccord. Ray thought Mary Eccord was born in Ireland but I’m not certain about this. The 1850 federal census enumeration states she was born in Virginia. It’s well known census records can be right or they can be wrong. More research needs to be done.

To add to Ray’s research, I hired the late Katherine G. Bushman, an Augusta County genealogist, in 1992. Just this past month a Salt Lake City genealogist provided me with estate papers for two of my Spitler grandfathers. I’ll tell you about it soon. Consider today’s post Part 1.

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