Field Notes: Is That Joseph or Joesph Langrill?

The whole thing started Sunday. I received an email from FamilySearch, a notification titled "Weekly FamilySearch changes for people you are watching". I opened it immediately. It looked wrong. I went to FamilySearch to see just what had been done.

Oh oh.

Can of worms.

The person I was watching was (I thought) my 5th great grandfather, Joseph Rowley; or Joseph L Rowley, or even sometimes Joseph Langrill Rowley. But the wife that FamilySearch had listed for him was wrong. The family they had listed for him was wrong.

This was not a case of someone 'fixing' a family without any knowledge (for a change) No, this was a case of sources being added to support the family unit. It made sense. The sources were correct. Shoot.

That means the problem was me.

Or rather, my grandmother AND the 10 people who used this man to join the DAR.

Yes, Joseph was a patriot. My grandmother's supplemental patriot. One I really hadn't investigated since it had been approved by the DAR. Oh, I would have gotten around to it eventually - but he wasn't a high priority.

Until now.

I am a tenacious researcher. I see a problem and I must fix it. Dog with a bone kind of thing. Funny in a way, not so much to those outside the inner sanctum. (aka husband). I can easily look (and act) like Gary Bussey after untold hours in the Cave. Babbling about stuff and nonsense to the unenlightened. (aka: see above)

So I dug in.

First stop the DAR website. I can't share the actual images, but I can tell you that there are 2 patriots named Joseph Rowley. (DAR Disclaimer: The databases contain DAR proprietary information which should under no circumstances be redistributed to others; assembled or collected for purposes other than DAR membership or for citation in genealogical scholarship; or reproduced, published or posted in any form whatsoever.) One, my grandmother's patriot, Joseph Rowley #A099328; the other? Joseph Langrill Rowley #A210894. You can look for yourself here. If you look at the descendants list for each application you will begin to see the same confusion that I had.

Hoo boy.

Seems somebody's got some 'splainin' to do.

And, to make it MORE confusing (because, why not?) Both men we born in Colchester, CT! One in 1750 the other in 1752. They were listed as dying in different states, in different years and the service records were completely different, they were certainly different men, and it's highly unlikely they were brothers. Cousins?

There is only one DAR application associated with Joseph Langrill Rowley. This application shows his wife to be the same as the FamilySearch entry that started this whole thing.

The other Joseph has 10 applications associated with him, including my grandmother's. Some show his name as Joseph, some show Joseph L while others show Joseph Langrill. The SAR applications are even more confusing - let's just not go there ....

What to do?

Put aside all previous research! Start over. Start with what I know.

1) Joseph Rowley (A099328) b. 1752 Colchester CT d. 12/23/1835 Victor, NY m. (1) Sibbel Fox (2) Hannah Loveland; Service: Mass. Rank: Private, Pension #: SR9051V

2) Joseph Langrill Rowley (A210894) b. 4/16/1750 Colchester, CT d. 10/1849 Fayette Twp, OH m. Mary Welch; Service: Conn. Rank: Staff Officer, Pension #: S7408

Edith Rowley's Notes
in Pension File 7408

I started two research trees on Ancestry with the above information. I was able to put together Joseph #2's life pretty quickly. There were lots of good records on him, including his complete 35 page pension file (#7408)! And one very interesting document (on page 27) that perhaps started the confusion. Dated 1903, a letter from a  Miss Edith Rowley requesting information for her DAR application. Her letter gave the name, birth/death dates and service history (correctly) of  Joseph #1 - but the Pension Office sent her the service records of  Joseph #2 - or at least filed her letter with the wrong Joseph Rowley! Poor Edith! Was she as confused as I was? (Who knew our boy had a middle name - well, he does now!)

Since I had found Joseph #2's pension so easily* - and read the entire thing through, of course -(*Ancestry actually gave it to me as a hint) I searched within the "U.S., Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, 1800-1900" database for Joseph #1.

Jackpot!

Excerpt From Pension File 9051

There it was in all of it's 52 tattered, dog-eared, glorious pages! THIS was the file Edith was looking for. THIS file explained everything. Well, started to anyway. This file listed both wives, birth dates, death dates, children's names - every place Joseph had lived his entire life! Entire life! I read those 52 pages three times, I'll read them again ... (and yes, they are safely downloaded to my computer - and my back-up) Seems there was quite a stink over widow's rights, the second wife was trying to get death benefits, lots of court stuff but what a great read!!

Back to the DAR records for a minute. There was a second son listed on two of the applications, eight of the records used my 4th great grandfather, but two used his brother. This brother was not listed in the pension records, but not all the grown children were. I added him to the new tree and man did things explode!

Sideways research is my new best friend. Collateral research has solved more 'brick walls' for me in the last few years than I can count on one hand. (they are, after all 'brick walls')

Turns out this guy, Jireh Rowley, was an early pioneer of Will County Illinois and much was written about him. Through him I was able to discover his father Joseph #1's parents, found Joseph's birth record (it was actually 1753) and, ultimately linked the whole thing together.

Joseph and Joseph Langrill were second cousins!

As I began to put the trees together, the farther back I was able to get the more familiar the names were getting. Turns out Joseph and Joseph Langrill shared a great grandfather. Their grandfathers were brothers. I had most of it right, but a two generation chunk was diverted. Like a detour. I think I blame the Pension Office for giving the wrong records to Edith back in 1903.

But it's all good now.

And I'm still related to Edward Fuller* - x2 now!

AND, when I got my Ancestry tree corrected - my DNA hints started to make sense for this line.

Happy dance in the Cave!

(Personal disclaimer: this is the Cliff Notes version - it took a while longer, with many fits and starts, to get it sorted! Still a work in progress - I've got a date with the American Ancestors database in the very near future!)

Grandma's Patriot Pin - Oh oh, wrong guy!

Rowley GENEALOGY

*Edward Fuller is Joseph #1's 4th great grandfather through his grandfather's line ... AND his 3rd great grandfather through his grandmother's line. Much has been written about the descendants of Edward Fuller. 

1) Moses Rowley Jr (1634 - 1735)  - - - - -  Mary (1650 - 1713)

among the children, two sons:

     ► 2a) John Rowley Sr (1690 - 1762) m. Deborah Fuller - they had:

               3a) John Rowley Jr (1727 - ?) m. Rebecca Hurd (Brainard) - they had:

                    *4a) Joseph Rowley - Patriot A099328
                        b. 6/15/1753 Colchester CT d. 12/23/1835 Victor, NY
                        m. 5/29/1773 Sibbel Fox (b. 1749 d. 5/8/1784)
                        m. 2/9/1785 Hannah Loveland (b. ?  d. 12/25/1847)


    ► 2b) Moses Rowley III (1679 - 1735) m. Martha Porter - they had:
       
               3b) Daniel Rowley (1719 - ?) m. Bethial Langrill - they had:

                    4b) Joseph Langrill Rowley - Patriot A210894
                      b. 4/16/1750 Colchester, CT d. 10/1849 Fayette Twp, OH
                      m. UNK (b. ? d. 1788/98)
                      m. Mary Welch (b. 4/8/1766 - d. ?)


So. There it is. Two Joseph Rowleys, two Patriots. The two men turned out to be second cousins. Mystery solved.


Now to figure out where these Patriots are buried.....

Research is never "done"!! 

©2017 Anne Faulkner - AncestorArchaeology.net, All Rights Reserved

Video Of The Week: Everything you need to know about Irish family history records

We watch a lot of videos in the Cave. Webinars, instructional videos, continuing education videos, you name it! If it helps with our genealogical pursuit we are all over it!

Each week we thought we'd share one we've enjoyed.

Hope you enjoy it too!









©2017 Anne Faulkner - AncestorArchaeology.net, All Rights Reserved

Frasers Of Fife: Generation Four | James Fraser and Mary Buckley

38. James Fraser (John - 11, William - 3, Duncan - 1) born July 13th 1836


married May 6th 1879


Mary Buckley born October 25th 1852 Essex, England


children of this union:


i. John Duncan Buckley Fraser b. March 24th 1880

ii. Thomas Brown Lovat Fraser b. October 14th 1881


Neither James' nor Mary's deaths are recorded

note: Generation Four was (mostly) still living when the Original Tree was created.

~ all information provided here has been taken directly from the John Fraser family tree compiled in 1880 and as such is the only source for these writings - the objective being to record his work for further study and documentation ~ 

©2017 Anne Faulkner - AncestorArchaeology.net

©1880 John Fraser - Scotland

All Rights Reserved

Finding Faulkner: The Progeny | Gabriel Houston {Gen 3}

It started, as good quests always do, with a family tale.

Gabriel Houston (Sarah, James, William) was born May 25th 1798 in Middletown, Orange Co, New York. He was the third child and first son born to Sarah Faulkner and Thomas Houston.

Gabriel married Susan Ann Owen January 25th 1821 in Goshen, Orange Co, New York. Susan was the daughter of Isaac H Owen And Abigail Wisner.

Shortly after their marriage Gabriel and Susan Ann removed to Sussex Co, New Jersey where Gabriel was a businessman and farmer. The family resided on the Owen Homestead.

The couple had the following children: (all born Sussex Co, New Jersey)

• Sarah Ann Houston b. 30 Jun 1822 d. 8 Jun 1858 m. Festus Hathaway Vail
• Abigail Jane Houston b. 2 Apr 1824 d. 11 Jun 1891
• Isaac Owen Houston b. 7 Feb 1826 d. 9 Feb 1826
• Thomas E Houston b. 5 Oct 1827 d. 17 Jun 1862 m. Araminta Fleet
• Erminda Houston b. 1 Apr 1830 d. 1 May 1833
• Gabriel Wisner Houston b. 28 Mar 1832 d. 24 Feb 1911
• Henry Owen Houston b. 10 May 1834 d. 5 Aug 1894 m. Harriet Hindes
• Elizabeth W Houston b. 3 Apr 1836 d. 26 Jan 1840
• James Nelson Houston b. 22 Apr 1838 d. 1921
• Elizabeth Houston b. 1839 d. UNK
• Susan Houston b. 8 Jan 1841 d. 19 Jan 1841
• Susan Amelia Houston b. 28 Aug 1842 d. UNK m. Thomas Pickens
• Philip L Houston b. 13 Jun 1844 d. 24 Dec 1872
• Mary Ophelia Houston b. 24 Apr 1848 d. 1938

Gabriel Houston died January 22nd 1864 in Sussex Co, New Jersey. His wife Susan Ann Owen Houston died on December 15th 1878 also in Sussex Co, New Jersey. There is a large family burial plot in Warwick Cemetery, Orange Co, New York where their names appear on a large monument. The monument lists many of the children presumed buried there as well, however some of the children it has been discovered, are recorded on the monument but buried elsewhere.

©2017 Anne Faulkner - AncestorArchaeology.net, All Rights Reserved

Notes From My Grandmother | Twining Lineage and Genealogy, Part Nine

Somehow, much of my grandmother's hand written and (badly) typed notes and research wound up in my possession. Traveling from Chicago to Los Angeles and back to Chicago again. It sat, in the dark of my mother's closet, until my dad passed and my mom decided to begin her great purge. Knowing I had picked up the torch, the next generation to pursue the Greatest Hobby on Earth, the papers came to live with me. Unsure for many years on just what to do with them, I have decided to bring them out and share them with you - transcribed, of course - no one can read my grandmother's handwriting! But in her own words; mistakes, rambling sentences, and all. I think she will be pleased her work and her writing are once again out in the light!

The Twining Papers

The Twinings held a special fascination for my Grandmother. Her middle name was Twining. Her mother was a Twining. She drank Twining's tea, as did the rest of our family. I'm unclear as to the link between our family and the Twining's Tea Company, however. Our Twining ancestor came to the 'New World' c.1640 and has been recorded in the small book Genealogy of the Twining family : descendants of William Twining, Sr, who came from Wales or England.

Of all the research I inherited, the Twining collection is by far the most expansive. My grandmother wrote 'stories' and typed up other little sketches on them. I will present them to you here, as written by her.

Twining Story, cont.

This week I'll will share with you some pages from an account book of Edward Wolcott Twining. I don't know what ever became of the book - my grandmother had transcribed this - as follows:

1840 - - - - 8 lb. cheese - - - - .50

Sept. - - - - 3 "    butter - - - - .25

Oct.  - - - - 2 "     "        - - - - .16

1846

Sept.        2 1/2 lb. candles     .25

Oct.         15 lb. salt               .15

 "             34 lb. flour             .51

Nov.        51 lb.   flour           .76

"              1 bu. corn              .18 3/4

Sept.       1 bu. potatos               .18 3/4

Nov.       2 fowls                        .12 1/2

 "            9 1/2 lb. buckwheat    .15

Dec.       19 lb. flour                  .28 1/2

 "            18 1/4 lb. beef            .54 3/4

Mch.      5 lb. venison               .30

 "            1 bu. potatos               .25

 "            4 lb. coffee                 .50

Nov.       1 load wood               .50

Received on table expenses up to second quarterly meeting - $8.14 1/2

 "    "        in produce to second meeting                               -  $4.86 1/2

 "  "         in cash                                                                        $1.75

 "  "          " missionary money                                                  $30.00

Almira - infant (of E.W.T. & A. Twining) deceased (born 28th Oct 1842)

Oct 21 1843 - 9th hour - nine o'clock morny - aged 11 mo. 24 da.   

Birth of children:

Adaline Tennet was born Sept. 12 A.D. 1840

          (died March 13, 1848 at five o'clock morning)

Almira Twining was born October 28, A.D. 1842

           (died Oct. 21, 1843 nine o'clock morning)

Edward Thomas Twining was born August 5, A.D. 1844

Josepth Fenimore Twining was born Sept. 27, 1846

           (dec. Dec. 23 A.D. 1847 - 25 min before 9 o'clock)

             infant of E.W. & A. Twining

Lauriston Twining was born June 10, A.D. 1848

Jesse Lewis was born August 8, A.D. 1850

  1853                 For General Expenses

Oct 17              1 washboard        .35

                         1 basket               .30

"    20              repairing boiler     .30

                         for oats                .50

"    29               steel pens             .05

Nov. 12            boots                  3.00

Dec. 14            brush & comb     .75

                         snuffers              .15

"      17              muslin              3.10

                   pants for Edward   1.30

                      boys clothes        2.00

Jan. 14       teapot, bucket etc.  1.25

Mch.            coat for Edward   1.00

"     29     clothing for family  17.00

July 12  ~to Washington          1.50

1853          ACCOUNT BOOK

Oct.             flour             1.25

                    butter            .60

                   fresh pork      .35

                    sugar            1.15

                  wood             1.50

          potato & cabbage  1.60

                molasses            .35

                 candles             .15

                1 fowl                .10

                    beef               .50

Nov.          eggs                 .20

               tea & candles     .35

               for bread            .30

               milk & butter     .50

                 beef  7 lb.         .42

             matches & bread  .40

                flour                  .40

                 rice                  .16

                tallow               .75

             sweet potatos    1.00

note:

  (received note of various citizens and noted payments on) 

             expenses for collection note

Horse took to pasture May the 19th

~~~~~ end of notations ~~~~~

 

.....................to be continued.................                        

©2017 Anne Faulkner - AncestorArchaeology.net, All Rights Reserved

©1980-82 Elizabeth Twining Potwin Thomas - private collection