Our 9th Great Grandfather, Present at the British Surrender at Yorktown (Williamson Line)

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
Snow in Utah Valley! This strange winter produced it's third snowfall to dust the valley floor. I thought of shoveling, but a strain of Sunday laziness has infected the Fortress leaving me with no other desire than to sit at the computer and mentally climb up and down our family tree looking for the good and the bad apples residing in its branches.

In today's digital reunion we learn about our 9th Great Grandfather Christian Andereck. We begin with the Relationship Chart

CHRISTIAN ANDERECK (1704 - 1785)

our 9th great grandfather

Christian Andrick (1738 - 1815)

Son of CHRISTIAN

Mary Andrick (1772 - 1853)

Daughter of Christian

Elizabeth Selser (1803 - 1868)

Daughter of Mary

John Tway (1753 - 1828)

Son of Elizabeth

John Tway (1775 - 1850)

Son of John

Jane Tway (1805 - 1889)

Daughter of John

Nancy Morris (1822 - 1886)

Daughter of Jane

Effie Helen Victor (1867 - 1944)

Daughter of Nancy

Effie married William Jonathan Williamson
to their children

Ima Della, Vinnie, Inez, Lillie Ethel, Josie Elvery, Emmett, Walter, Charles, Maurice

to

Us

Christian Andereck was born in 1704 in Rumisberg, Canton Of Bern, Switzerland and died in 1785 in Strasburg, Shenandoah, VA at age 81.

Christian and his bride Anna Catherina Jung were married by Rev. John Casper Stoever at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Lancaster, PA. on December 30, 1735. Anderegg is the correct spelling for the family name. Andereck was the English name that was given at arrival at Philadelphia. Christian arrived in America on the 11th of October 1733 on the ship Charming Betty under the command of Captain John Ball.

Charming Betty, Germany to Philadelphia, October 11, 1733

[List 35 A] List of all the Passengers imported in the ship Charming Betty, Capt John Ball, Philadelphia, October 11, 1733

MEN

Johan Katner 40
George Katner 18
Henry Meakle 34
Peter Gruber 34
Samuel Loody 18
Christian Andereck 28
Ulrich Leebegoot 45
Johan Pieter Leebegoot 16
Adam Spagh 60
Nicholas Burger 20
Wilhelm Imler, sick 55
Peter Stocker 53
Johan Vogt 53
Johan Long 45
Johan Long, Junr 15
Nicolas Heltsell

WOMEN

Feronica Katner 34
Susanna Meckle 35
Anna Gruber 24
Maria Loody 46
Susanna Leebegoot 36
Margaretha Burger 50
Anna Burger 25
Anna lmler 20
Anna Stocker 51
Maria Vogt 46
Anna Long 36
Maria Dorothea Heltzel 30

BOYS

Johan Henrich Katner 9
Henrich Adam Katner 8
Martin Gruber 1 1/2
Adam Leebegoot 13
Jacob Leebegoot 10
Adam Spagh 12
Philip Burger 12
George Breitengross 13
Ludwig Imler 11
Johan Imler 7
Andreas Vogt 12
Caspar Vogt 8
Johan Georg Long 1
Christoffel Heltsel 4 1/2
Hans Jacob Heltsel 1 1/2

GIRLS

Maria Katner 11
Maria Meckle 3 1/2
Catherina Meckle 1/2
Dorothea Loody 9
Elisabeth Loody 9
Maria Loody 3 1/2
Anna Lebegoot 5
Maria Leebegoot 5
Margaretha Burger 10
Margaretha Burger 1/2
Catherina Imler 20
Sabina Imler 18
Maria Stocker 17
Barbara Stocker 13
Catherina Vogt 18
Maria Vogt 16
Maria Long 10
Catherina Long 8
Barbara Long 4
Eva Catherina Heltsel 12
October 12th 1733. A true List. John Bail.
At the Courthouse of Philadelphia, Oct. 12th, 1733.

The male adult heads of households on the Charming Betty signed their names to this roster. As you can see, our 9th Great Grandfather's signature isn't present, meaning he was illiterate.

The “Charming Betty” became a well known privateer ship. It sailed under the British flag and mainly engaged French ships around Bermuda. Today, we would call it a pirate ship because of their activities. In 1747, the “Clinton” of NY and the “Charming Betty” of RI fought two French frigates for three hours. There were many deaths and several prisoners taken.

Great Grandfather Christian served in Captain Alexander Machir's Company during the Revolutionary War. He managed to serve even thoughhe was beyond the age of acceptance. He shaved ten years off his age to be able to serve. Captain Machir's Co. was involved in escorting Cornwallis' army after their defeat at Yorktown to their departure point in New York. Christian's grandson Frederick Jr. inherited a land warrant for property near Fisher's Hill in 1796 that was issued because of Christian Andereck's service during the Revolution.

Read about the British surrender at Yorktown, eyewitnessed by our Great Grandfather.
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/yorktown.htm

The Discovery of a GGG Grandmother. Jane Tway. Williamson Line.

The burial place of our Great Great Grandparents, Whitty Victor and Nancy Morris

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello Williamsons,
Tracing family history has brought me a great deal of satisfaction and an equal amount of frustration. The satisfaction comes from finding a relative you've been searching for and another branch of our family becomes visible. The frustration comes in finding a grand parent with nothing to go on. History doesn't easily give away its secrets. Sometimes I wonder why my numerous great grandparents didn't write their own histories. I'm guessing they thought no one would ever be interested in their common day to day lives.

I'll share an example. Our common Great Great Grandfather, George Matthew Williamson knew who his father was. He knew his grandfather and his aunts and uncles. He knew his family's oral history. It was common knowledge to him. The tragedy is that he never wrote that history down. I've spent dozens of hours over the last two years playing detective with our Williamson lines. I've followed every piece of evidence to its natural conclusion. Today, I'm nearly certain who our Williamson's were in Virginia, but not 100% and never will be. All this confusion because a great great grandfather didn't think it interesting enough to record and pass his history to his children and grand children

Today is a good day for our family history. Today a mystery is solved that I've been researching for a long time. Today we get to meet another Great Grandmother who's identity was unknown.
Her name is Jane Tway.

Shall we begin with a Relationship Chart?

Relationship Chart

Great Great Great Grandparents
Isaac Morris and Jane Tway
to
Great Great Grandparents
Nancy Morris and Whitty Victor
to
Great Grandparents
Effie Helen Victor and William Jonathan Williamson
to
Grandparents
Ima Della, Vennie, Inez, Lillie Ethel, Josie, Emmett, Walter, Charles and Maurice
to
Us

I've been working with Brent Heeren, a distant cousin through the Morris line on finding the identity of Great Great Grandmother Nancy Morris's parents. My thanks to Brent for doing most of the research and a special thanks for sending an email this week with proof positive. Nancy's parents were Isaac Morris and Jane Tway. I can now removed the "?" I had on this line in our family tree.

Brent sent the following obituaries on our two Great Great Grandparents. They are posted below.

Whitty Victor
Born Feb. 18, 1818 in Dover Kent County Delaware, Death: Mar. 17, 1903 Nodaway Adams County, Iowa, USA

Whitty Victor, whose death last Tuesday was mentioned in last week's paper, was 85 years and l month old. He was born of
Elijah VICTOR who was born on 6 January 1785 in Maryland, and Eunice Hitch, born of Christian parents in Essex county, Del,, near Dover, Feb. 18, 1818.

When Whitty was about fourteen years of age he removed with his parents to Cincinnati, O., where he grew to manhood and where he was married Nov. 6, 1845, to Miss Nancy Norris. A year later he removed to Blackhawk county, Indiana., and after several changes of residence he came with his family to Adams county in 1801. He lived near Nodaway for many years and in 1885 sold his farm and bought another six miles west of Corning in Douglas township. His wife died April 22,1886, and he then made his home with his daughter for a time. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Victor, of whom only three ate living, Mrs. Jane Barker of Douglas township, Mrs. Emma Lathrop of Conklin, South Dakota, Mrs. Effie Williamson of Rapid City, South Dakota. A brother and two sisters also survive him, Elijah Victor of Shelbyville, Ind., Mrs. Elvira Brown of Wellington, Illinois., and Mrs. Sarah Green of University Place, Neb. July 28, 1887, Mr. Victor was married again to Mrs. Mary L. Preston, who died in this city June 20, 1901.

Whitty was converted at the age of 43 and became an active and faithful member of the M. E. church. He was a devoted Christian man, a true Christian hushand and father and his Christian life and Christian teaching bore fruit in the family circle and in the community where he was known and respected as a faithful follower of the Lord. "Blessed are those that die in the Lord" The funeral was conducted Thursday from the U. B. church in this city by Revs. W. H. Drake and W. F. Wallace. Mr. Victor had selected for the scripture lesson the 90th Psalm and for a text Second Timothy, 7:4. The family has the sympathy of many friends.
Adams County Free Press, March 25, 1903, page 8

Nancy Morris Victor
Birth Feb. 22, 1822 Ohio, USA. Death: Apr. 22, 1886 Nodaway Adams County Iowa, USA

Nancy M. Morris was born February 18, 1818 in Ohio to Isaac J. Morris and Jane Tway. She married Whitley Whitty Victor November 6, 1845 Cincinnati, Hamilton County. A year later they removed to Blackhawk county, Indiana., and after several changes of residence they came with their family to Adams county in 1801. They lived near Nodaway for many years and in 1885 sold their farm and bought another six miles west of Corning in Douglas township. She died April 22,1886 in Nodaway, Adams County, Iowa, and her then made his home with his daughter for a time. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Victor, of whom only three ate living, Mrs. Jane Barker of Douglas township, Mrs. Emma Lathrop of Conklin, South Dakota, Mrs. Effie Williamson of Rapid City, South Dakota. She is buried on Lot 26 of On Lot With Benjamin C. and Whitty, 22 April 1886 in Methodist Grove Cemetery, Nodaway, Adams County, Iowa

Our discovery tonight is the inclusion of the Tway family in our Williamson history. The Tway's originate from Ireland.

I'll start researching this new family line and post my findings as time permits.

Simply,
Victor

Another Great Grandfather in the Revolutionary War (Williamson Line)

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello Williamsons,

I want to first wish my Dad and all other fathers in our family a very happy Father's Day!

“When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years.”

Mark Twain

Today we discover another of our Great Grandparents who fought in the Revolutionary War. Robert Layton has been designated a "Patriot" by the Maryland Daughters of the Revolution. The official citiation coming from Revolutionary records read: "Paid in 1787 for serivce in Revolutionary period." Apparently, his ht eonly member of the entire Layton family to be so designated. Our Great Grandfather Robert was born about 1739 in Delaware. He married Rosannah about 1761 and died in Sussex in late October or early November 1786.

Relationship Chart

5th Great Grandparents
Robert Layton and Rosannah
to
Hesther Layton and Major Victor
to
Elijah Victor and Unicy Hitch
to
Whitty Victor and Nancy Morris
to
Effie Helen Victor and William Jonathan Williamson
to
Vennie, Ima, Inez, Lille, Josie, Emmett, Walt, Charles and Maurice

to

Charles Williamson and Elda Vercellino
to
Charles Williamson and Luella Mattson
to
Kim, Victor, Kevin, Janice, Jon, Jilane, Lisa and Annette

The Laytons of Maryland (Williamson Line).

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello Williamsons!
Tonight we will meet a few of our Great Grandparents that first settled in Virginia and then moved to Maryland. This is a new branch of the family with the name Layton.

Relationship Chart
8th Great Grandparents William Layton married Ursula ?
to
William Layton Junior married Rachel Nicholson
to
William Layton married Priscilla Lofland
to
Robert Layton married Rosannah Stafford
to
Heather Layton married Magor (Major) Victor
to
Elijah Victor married Unicy (Eunice) Hitch
to
Whitty Victor married Nancy Morris
to
Effie Helen Victor married William Jonathan Williamson
to
Charles Williamson married Elda Vercellino and 2nd Elsie Jensen
to
Charles Williamson married Luella Williamson
to
Us

Of course, there is greater detail with dates on the official family tree (click on the family tree at the top of the right side bar to get to all the names, dates, birth and death locations).

Our 8th Great Grandparent William Layton first appears on records in Somerset County Maryland in 1667. We don’t know whether he came straight from England or from Virginia. One reason for his departure from Virginia into Maryland could come from a court case of January 16, 1666. William confessed to committing “fornication” with Sara, a servant of a so called “Mr. Wise”. On February 18, 1666 William was found guilty and given 20 lashes on his bare back with him also posting bond on good behavior and paying court costs.

On June 12, 1667 William Layton bought Carny’s Chance in Maryland, a 300 acre property. Later William left Carny’s Chance to move north. It’s possible that this move brought William into the company of his future bride, Ursula. There is no record of the marriage but on April 10, 1673 Ursula gave birth to their first daughter Ursula. Their son, our 7th Great Grandfather William was born on March 13, 1675.

William was back in Somerset’s Court in August 1677. Richard Higgenbothem swore that William, along with others,"abused" David Browne, a justice, and his family. This fight involved Brown, Thomas Jones and William Layton. While at Browne’s house Jones ”violently fell upon Higgenbothem to thrust him out of doores and did beate him several blowes”. They then threatened several of the neighbors with a rapier. Browne broke up the fight Jones allegedly “Laid up Browne rending his shirt in pieces and then called him a Scots Rogue," an ethnic insult that appears with some regularity in the Somerset records, indicative of the tension between the Scottish Presbyterians and English Anglicans.

On November 28, 1689 William Layton, along with many others, felt obligated to let King William and Queen Mary know that they remained their loyal subjects by signing an oath of allegiance. The paper also set forth their support for the Protestant religion and disavowed the French and other Catholics that “oppose and trouble us”.

Our story now moves along to William and Ursula’s son, our 7th Great Grandfather William Junior. William married Rachel Nicholson. One interesting character note in the Layton family is something written about our William’s brother’s wife. Thomas Layton, our 8th Great Uncle married Miss Rebecca Turpin. The following was written about her, "A few months ago she was one the height of fashion, but now sees the evil and folly of these things. She is a very happy young woman.” Rebecca was described as a “pattern of piety.” She was one of the holiest women of her age in Maryland; while she fasted, prayed and wept much she was seldom, if ever, seen to laugh. Though in good pecuniary circumstances, she was so self-denying and plain in her dress, that she "wore no other bonnet on holy days and Sundays, other then her white muslin bonnet.”

Remember, the purpose of this history is to introduce you to the people who's DNA operates and governs every cell of your body. The family tree gives you their names, but I'm also interested in their stories. Some of our ancestors have well documented lives, while others have nothing written that survived them. Yet there are many that have brief accounts and historical details that survive. These details may be a sentence or two in length - others longer. Whatever the case, my goal is to compile all these facts, stories and remembrances into one story that tells about our American Dynasty. I tell you this so that at the end of reading you don't ask, "What was the point of that post?" Even if the fact was small and almost hardly worthy of note, it is still a remembrance of someone in our past, someone we all share a kinship with.

Thank you for reading.

Simply,
Victor

Our Woodruff Ancestors (Williamson Lines)

From the Fortress of Solitude

Pleasant Grove

Hello Williamsons!
Today we gather in our digital reunion to talk about several of our Great Grandparents with the last name of Woodruff. This line springs from our Great Grandmother Effie Helen Victor then through her mother’s Morris line. You can follow this line on the family tree (click on the tree at the top of the right side bar).

Relationship Chart

14th Great Grandfather Thomas Woodrove
to
William Woodroffe
to
Robert Woodroffe and Alice Russel
to
John Woodruffe and Elizabeth Cartwright
to
John Woodruff and Ann ?
to
John Woodruff and Mary Ogden
to
John Woodruff and Sarah Cooper
to
Timothy Woodruff and Mary Baker
to
Katherine Woodruff and Benjamin Haines
to
Hannah Haines and Mathias Spinning
to
Mary Spinning and Benjamin Morris
to
Isaac Morris and ?
to
Nancy Morris and Whitty Victor
to
Effie Helen Victor and William Jonathan Williamson
to
Charles Williamson and Elda Vercellino and Elsie Jensen
to
Charles, Raymond, William, Kriss
to
Us

We start with our 14th Great Grandfather, Thomas Woodrove, the first member of the Woodruff family of whom we have definite information. He first appears on record in the town of Fordwich, County Kent, England, in 1508. He died in 1552. In 1538 he was one of the magistrates who arranged for the conveyancing to some favored individuals of a portion of the possessions of the monastery of St. Augustine, which had been despoiled and desecrated by King Henry VIII. The family name has been variously spelled in different generations.

Monastery of St. Augustine Today

In 1535, Henry VIII dissolved all monasteries found to have an annual income less than £100. St Augustine survived this first round of closures, as its income was found to be £1733. But on July 30, 1538, the abbey's fate was sealed when it fell to the dissolution of Henry VIII. The abbey was systematically dismantled over the next fifteen years, although part of the site was converted to a palace, ready for the arrival of Anne of Cleves, from Germany.

Our 13th Great Grandfather William Woodroffe, son of Thomas, died in 1587. He was a jurat or magistrate of Fordwich in 1579.

...during its life time Fordwich, now freed from the restrictions imposed by the Abbot of St. Augustine, was encouraged to rebuild its Cort Hall, and the unpretentious little building of timber and plaster, on the banks of the Stour, remains to-day in much the same condition, both outwardly and inwardly, as when it was completed in 1555. William took an active part in municipal affairs, and became a Jurat. From his generally signing the minutes of the Court, he apparently presided, perhaps as senior Jurat, in the frequent absences of the Mayor. He was also a 'Key Keeper of the Town Chest', a very honorable office conferred upon 'the two best men of the Liberty'.

The 'Chest' was for the safe custody of deeds and other important records, fees being charged for the service. There is little further mention of him in the annals other than the entry in the Fordwich muster roll of 1573 that 'Willyam Wodruf the elder wt his men Robert Woodrufe and Edward Parker wt his furniture' is credited with 'one calyver furny shed one almon rivett furny shed'. (The caliver was a handgun that was fired from the shoulder, the heavier musket of the day requiring a rest).

Our 12th Great Grandfather, Robert, son of William Woodroffe. died in 1611. He and his brother William, whose family became extinct in 1673, were freemen of Fordwich in 1580, and Robert was church warden and jurat in 1584. He married Alice Russel at St. Mary, Northgate, in 1573.

Our 11th Great Grandfather John, son of Robert and Alice (Russel) Woodroffe, was born at Fordwich, in 1574, died in 1611. On reaching manhood he took up his residence in Northgate, where his uncle, William Russel, was church warden. He married Elizabeth Cartwright in 1601.

Our 10th Great Grandfather John Woodruff was the only son of John and Elizabeth (Cartwright) Woodroffe, was baptized at St. Mary, Northgate, in 1604, died in May, 1670, in Southampton, Long Island. In 1636 he was church warden at Fordwich, and a year or two later he accompanied his mother and step-father to America, being in Lynn, Massachusetts, and Southampton, Long Island, in 1639 and 1640. In 1657 his step-father deeded him his own homestead. He married Ann, conjectured to have been the daughter either of his step-father, John Gosmer, or of a Mr. Hyde.

Our 9th Great Grandfather John was the eldest son of John and Ann Woodruff, was baptized in the parish of Surry, county Kent, England, in 1637. He died at Elizabethtown, New Jersey, in April or May, 1691. He accompanied his parents and grandparents to Southampton, and April 30, 1657, is included in the list of arms-bearing men. May 1, 1663, he was elected constable, and between August 29 and September 7, 1665, he sold his Southampton lands, preparatory to removing to Elizabethtown, in which latter place he soon became one of the leading citizens, holding the offices of ensign, high sheriff, magistrate and one of the most prominent opponents of the lords proprietors. His only brother was, like himself, named John, a fact proven by their father's will, but as the latter remained in Southampton, where he inherited the bulk of his father's estate, the two lines have had distinct histories.

Our 9th Great Grandfather John Woodruff and wife Mary and John Ogden came from England to New Jersey, settling in Elizabethtown. He disposed of his property at Southampton in the summer of 1665 to Robert Voolley, husband of his sister Anne. On arriving at Elizabethtown he was accompanied by his two men and one maid servant, he purchased a town lot of one and one half acres on the corner of Elizabeth avenue and Spring street. He was granted a farm of three hundred acres in lieu of settling at Elizabethtown, which was later known as the Woodruff Farms. He also had extensive properties besides some six hundred acres, and was among the well-to-do of the settlement and a prominent factor in the government of the town. His land was next to Governor Carteret the largest landowner in the township.

Our 8th Great Grandfather John served as constable of Southampton from December 11, 1674, and was high sheriff November 28, 1684. He had a gallant career as an ensign. John Woodruff, gentleman, was commissioned ensign of the Elizabeth foot company under Lieutenant Luke Watson by Governor Phillip Carteret, August 4. 1668; commission revoked October 31, 1670. He was recommissioned an ensign of Elizabethtown militia under Captain Knipp by the council of war of New Netherlands during the Dutch occupation. On September 14, 1673-74, on recommendation of Governor Phillip Carteret, he was recommissioned ensign of same company.

Laura Ingalls Wilder. Our Cousin

Laura Ingalls Wilder

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello Williamsons!


I grew up in Rapid City, South Dakota. During the 1960's Rapid City's Public Library had a book mobile that stopped at the elementary schools to service our reading needs. It was in that bookmobile I discovered the works of Laura Ingalls Wilder. I remember seeing them up high on that shelve, nearly out of reach.


I remember their names and the simple artwork that graced each cover. I checked them out one by one. I read each one, and over time began to feel as if I was part of the Ingalls family.

Laura Ingalls Wilder was the creator of the much-loved children's series of "Little House" books that recounted her life as a young girl on the Western frontier during the late 1800s.

By the Shores of Silver Lake was one of my favorites. Laura Ingalls Wilder captured in writing the life and spirit of America's great prairies and the qualities of the people who settled them.

Laura Ingalls Wilder was our 9th cousin 2 times removed through the Morris line, then to the Harrisons (you can follow the line on the family tree - top of the right side bar of the blog). Our 10th Great Grandfather was her 8th.

Perhaps its time to once again rediscover the works of our cousin for ourselves and for our children. And if possible, try to find them in your neighborhood bookmobile - for old times sake :)

Simply,
Victor

"All those golden autumn days the sky was full of wings. Wings
beating low over the blue water of Silver Lake, wings beating high
in the blue air far above it. Wings of geese, of brant, of ducks
and pelicans and cranes and heron and swans and gulls,
bearing them all away to green fields in the South"

Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Our Cousins, Twice Kidnapped By Indians (Williamson Line)

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello Williamsons,
In today's digital gathering I'd like to share a story about Jonathan Haines and his son Thomas. Jonathan was our 1st cousin eleven times removed. He was the son of our 11th Great Aunt, Mary and her husband William. Their relationship is outline on the Family Tree (click on the tree at the top of the right side bar) and below:

Relationship Chart

What a story! It would make for an interesting book and movie. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did.

Simply,
Victor

Summary:
Jonathan Haines, our first cousin eleven times removed, was taken prisoner by the Indians along with is son Thomas only to be killed in an attack several years later. Below is an account of Jonathan and his family (I corrected the original spelling errors but left the grammar and punctuation just as found in the original document).

Jonathan Haynes the eldest son of William and Sarah [Ingersoll] Haynes was born in 1646, in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts - He and his sister Sarah were baptised 2 years later on 11 June 1648.

As a young man Jonathan moved to Hampton, New Hampshire, where he first married Mary MOULTON in 1674. His new marriage was not to last. Mary died in July only a few months after their marriage. The is some confusion as the the exact date.

It was on 30 December of that same year that Jonathan married secondly Mary's sister Sarah.

Jonathan Haynes moved his family to Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts for about 10 years and then to Haverhill also in Essex county, Massachusetts, where the birth of their five youngest children are recorded. They settled in the West Parish near Hawk's Meadow Brook.

Coffin's "History of Newbury", says that at the close of the summer of 1665, by invitation of Bobernor Carteret of New Jersey, several persons went from Newbury and settled in a township which was called Woodbridge. Of these emigrants, some stayed, others returned. among those who returned was Jonathan Haynes, Elish and John Ilsey.

Haverhill, inland on the Merrimac River, was still a frontier town, though founded in 1640, and suffered severely from the Indians. On 16 August 1696, during King William's War, Jonathan and his children were working out in a field nearby Bradley Mills, the children were picking beans, and the father reaping nearby.

The Indians attacked, taking Jonathan and his children captive. They traveled immediately with their captives for Pennacook, Concord, New Hampshire. When they arrived they divided their prisoners and separated. The father Jonathan and his eldest son Thomas age 16, were taken to an Indian Village in Maine from which they were able to escape.

After two to three days traveling in the wilderness, with barley anything to eat, Jonathan collapsed from exhaustion. Unable to get his father to move, Thomas started onward for help. Upon coming to the top of a hill, Thomas climbed a tall tree to see if he could discover any signs of civilization. There were no towns in sight. While pondering on this sad disappointment and
trying to decide what he would do next, his quick ear caught the sound of a sawmill - he listened--- there was no mistaking that familiar sound. He excitedly ran towards it and soon found himself at the settlement of Saco, Maine.

His story was soon told to the settlers and with help and a bottle of milk, he hastened back to his father, who was right were he left him. Jonathan had given up hope and had lay down to die, never expecting to see his son again. The milk, and the good news revived him and with much
difficulty he finally reach Saco. Here, both father and son remained until their strength returned and they started for home in Haverhill, where they arrived without difficulty.

In the mean time, the Indian party which took the other children, Mary 19, Jonathan Jr 12, and Joseph age 7 years, went into Canada where they sold them to the French. The tradition is that Mary was carried to Canada on a hand-sled, and it is presumed the Indians tarried at Pennacook until winter. She was redeemed the following winter, with 100 pounds of tobacco, and
afterward married John Preston of Andover, and moved to Connecticut.

Johnathan Jr and Joseph never returned, A deed of 1731 speaks of them as still in Canada. In one of the companies on the Canada expedition of 1757, were three bothers names HAYNES, from Haverhill. While in Canada they had leave granted to make a search for the captive brothers and found them. They had lost the knowledge of the English language and spoke only French.
They could could only talk to their brothers through an interpreter.

One of them asked about his sister, Mary who had one of her fingers accidental cut off by a young lad, and the son of a neighbor, a short time before her capture. He recollected the circumstance, and asked if she was still living. Nether of them could be persuaded to return.

In the year 1698 the Indians commenced their attacks on the settlers. On the 22nd of Feb, a party fell upon Andover, killing five of the inhabitants and captured as many more. On their return, the same party killed Jonathan HAYNES and Samuel LADD, in Haverhill and captured
a son of each. so it was that Thomas HAYNES was kidnapped for the second time by the Indians.

Jonathan HAYNES and Samuel LADD who lived in the western part of town, had started that morning with their teams, consisting of a yoke of oxen and a horse each, accompanied by their eldest sons, Thomas and Daniel, to bring home some of their hay which had been cut and stacked the preceding summer. They were slowly returning from their meadow in the extreme western part of town, when they suddenly found themselves surrounded by Indians, who had
been hiding in the bushes along the path.

There were 7 Indians on each side with guns pointed and cocked. The fathers seeing it was impossible to escape, begged for 'quarter' to this, the Indians replied, 'boon quarter' [good quarter]. Young LADD , who did not relish the idea of being quietly taken prisoner, told his father that he
would mount the horse and try to escape, but his father forbid him, telling him it was a better risk being taken prisoner. He cut his father's horse loose, however, and giving him the lash, the horse started off at full speed. Though he was repeatedly fired at by the Indians, he succeeded in reaching the settlement and gave the general alarm.

Two of the Indians stepped behind the fathers and dealt them a heavy blow to the head. Jonathan HAYNES, was quite aged and fell instantly, but Samuel LADD did not. Another of the savages stepped before the latter and raised his hatchet as if to strike. Samuel LADD closed his eyes, expecting the blow would fall but it did not and when he opened his eyes, the Indian was
laughing and mocking him. At the same time another from behind gave him the fatal blow.

This was on the 22nd of September 1698. Administration of her husband's estate was granted to Sarah "HAINES" HAYNES widow of Jonathan HAINES of Haverhill on 5 Dec 1698 at Salem Court. She with three other residents of Haverhill signed a petition dated 17 Apr 1701, addressed to the Lt. Governor and Council, begging that the act which has passed for
redeeming of captives be put to execution as speedily as possible.

Thomas HAYNES remained a prisoner with the Indians for several years and was redeemed by his relatives. It is said that when he was about to leave his master, in token of his good will and esteem, presented him with his best cane. This cane, 3 1/2 feet long, top being round and rest 8 sided, it is now in the collection of the New England Historic and genealogical Society in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts. Each side in ornamented with figures, some diamond shaped, other square or diagonal, all neatly cut with a pen knife. There is an iron figure and a pur at the end.

Great Great Grandfather Whitty Victor's Obituary

Obituary, March 1903
Click to Enlarge.

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
A short post today displaying the obituary of our Great Great Grandfather, Whitty Victor. Whitty and Nancy are the parents of our Great Grandmother Effie Helen Victor who married William Jonathan Williamson. This is the Relationship Chart:

Whitley "Whitty" Victor was born 18 Feb 1818 in Delaware, and died 17 Mar 1903. He is buried in Methodist Grove, Nodaway, Adams county, Iowa. He married Nancy Morris on 6 Nov 1845 in Indiana. Nancy Morris was born 22 Feb 1822 in Ohio, and died 22 Apr 1886. She is buried in Methodist Grove, Nodaway, Adams county, Iowa.

Children of Whitley Victor and Nancy Morris are:

• Labitha Eunice Jane Victor
• Benjamin C. Victor
• Amanda A. Victor
• Sarah Emily Victor
• Effie Helen Victor

The Marriage Certificate of our Great Great Grandparents.

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello Williamsons,
Something for the Williamson side of our family tonight. Let us begin with a Relationship Chart.

Tonight I'd like to share the document that contributed to the creation of this family we call Williamson. I'd like to show you the Marriage Certificate of our Great Great Grandparents Whitley and Nancy Morris. They were the parents of our Great Grandmother Effie Helen Victor. Effie married William Jonathan Williamson and of course - here we all are.

Please click on the image to enlarge.

You've noticed the posts to this family blog are not as frequent as they once were. The cause is understandable. Up until recently I've been posting the 'easy' family history. Think of it as the low hanging fruit on the family tree. It is becoming more difficult to find information the higher (or further back) we go. This means that instead of spending 30 minutes to one hour gathering information for a post, I'm now spending hours and hours - resulting in a few posts per week instead of one per day as I was doing.

Regardless, please rest assured that although the frequency of my posting has diminished, the enthusiasm is still there. I'm researching and searching every possible lead and will continue to do so until this American story is told.

Perhaps a goal that will never be reached but well worth the effort.

Simply,
Victor

Our 3rd Great Grandfather and Grandmother, Elijah and Unicy Victor.

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello to All,
Once again I'm at the computer and happy to introduce you to more of our ancestors. Tonight's information for our digital reunion comes from Brent Heeren of Toledo, Iowa, a cousin on the Victor side of our family. Brent and I have been in contact as we both try to push the boundary and learn more about the Victor family. Brent received the information below from another cousin, Rob Livingston. This information presented tonight comes from the the Bible of Elijah Victor Sr. The rest of the information came from census records and the death index. Thanks to both gentlemen.

First, the Relationship Chart.
We begin tonight by meeting our 4th Great Grandfather, Magor Victor. I'm amused by his first name. Have you ever heard of anyone named Magor? Perhaps you'd like to name a member of your family after him. Yes, I doubt that will happen. You know, odd names like Magor can help in the search for family, so it has its advantages.

According the Victor family bible, our 3rd Great Grandfather, Elijah Victor was born to Magor and his wife on January 6, 1785. Elijah had the following brothers and sisters:

• September 6, 1789, William G. Victor son of Magor is born. William married Marth(a) February 15, 1835. William died July 8, 1841.
• September 17, 1787, Henry Victor, son of Magor is born. Henry died April 8, 1808.
• March 22, 1791, Sarah Victor daughter of Magor is born. Sarah died February 27, (1811?), From the Holy Bible of Elijah Sr.: Sarah Victor married John Grure April 30, 1846.
  
• April 18, 1820 Magor died at age 64

The following information concerns our 3rd Great Grandfather Elijah.
In the 1820 Census: Elijah Victor lived at the following location: Township: North West Fork Hundred, County: Sussex, State: Delaware.

• January 6, 1785, Elijah Victor, son of Magor is born.
• February 21, 1811, Elijah Victor married Unicy.
• July 30, 1812, Nancy Victor daughter of Elijah and Unicy is born. Nancy died July 21 1820.
• July 29, 1814, Daniel Victor is born, Daniel died: November 5, 1815.
• February 6, 1817, Mary Victor is born. Mary married Peter Snider December 17, 1835. Mary died April 5, 1852.
• February 18, 1819, Whitty Victor is born. Whitty was married November 6, 1845. Married Nancy Morris November 6, 1846.
• October 8, 1821, William Victor is born. William married Sila Jones July 14, 1847.
• July 6, 1823, Elvara Victor is born. Elvara married William Brown September 2, 1845.
• June 5, 1825, Unicy Victor is born. Unicy died November 25, 1826.
• February 24, 1826, Marriage of Elijah Victor to Elizabeth Hollis (Elijah’s second wife) in Sussex, Delaware.

Note that our 2nd Great Grandfather, Whitty (Whitley) was Elijah and Unicy's fourth child. Whitty married our Great Grandmother Nancy Morris on November 6, 1846.

According to the Family History Library, microfilm reference number: 0006422.
Elizabeth Hollis married Elijah Victor a carpenter and widower who then took the family to Shelby, Indiana. Elizabeth’s previous husband, Eli Hollis of Sussex County, Delaware, died in some mishap with his son, possibly killed by Indians. Elizabeth died in Shelby County and Elijah remarried to Mary Young, his third wife. This date is in question with the following date taken from the Victor Family Bible: Elijah Victor and Eliza (Elizabeth), his second wife, married February 24, 1828. Now there is a bit of a problem with the information given. According to the records, Elijah married Elizabeth while Unicy was alive. Unicy Victor died on 22 October 1827. This is after Elijay marries his second wife Elizabeth.

In the 1830 Census we find Elizah “Elijah” Victor living in Township: Sugar Creek, County: Shelby, State: Indiana.

Now, more dates of interest. Elizabeth (Elijah's second wife) died on April 23, 1836

April 27, 1837, Elijah Victor married Mary Young (Elijah’s third wife), in Johnson County. Their Marriage ended in divorce in 1846. Mary might have died in 1858. Our 3rd Great Grandfather Elijah married for the forth time to Sarah Newton in 1859.

It appears the divorce was not a good one. In a court document dated February 23, 1846, Filed, with the State of Indiana we have a suit (The State of Indiana v. Elijah Victor). According to the documents, Elijah Victor late of Hendricks Township has deserted, abandoned, and separated himself from Mary Victor. In doing so, she has been left in a destitute situation and without the means of Support and & maintenance.

In the 1850 Census we find Elijah Victor, Age: 65 living in Shelbyville, Shelby, Indiana.

It appears Grandpa Elijah was a fit man. On August 10, 1854 there is a report that

Elijah Victor of Shelbyville was involved in an altercation with three Germans at a brickyard east of town in which one German was killed and one wounded.” *Note: Elijah would have been 69 years old at the time.

November 10, 1859, Elijah Victor married Sarah Newton (Elijah’s fourth wife) in Shelby County, Indiana *Indiana Marriage Collection 1800-1941. Notes: He is listed as age 75, and is living with his fourth wife, Sarah, in Shelbyville on the 1860 census.

And that's it for tonight. I'd love to learn more about that altercation with three Germans in the brickyard. There is a story there. Perhaps it may be found in a newspaper from that time. I'll keep looking.

Simply,
Victor

Effie Victor Williamson and Our Scottish Connection. (Williamson Line)

From the Fortress of Solitude

Pleasant Grove

Hello!
I'm glad to see you at our digital family reunion on a cloudy Saturday night. Imagine where else you could be? Perhaps the movies, dining out, bowling, or - if you're like me - drifting in and out of consciousness in front of the TV. You're right when you say, "If there ain't nutten better ta do might as well go to the digital reunion. Besides that lime green jello salad with lettuce and cottage cheese is mighty tasty."

I just got home from Space Camp. Chalk up another successful camp, except for one injury. One of my high school employees wasn't looking where he was walking, got distracted in conversation, and had an interesting meeting with one of the school's sturdy iron door frames. Blood flowed like the Nile. My EMT did what she could to stop the bleeding. He ended up in the hospital getting 9 stitches. I told him I appreciated his giving his all for the Center and thanked him for carrying the scar to prove it for the rest of his life.

Yes, its all GO at the Space Center.

Tonight we are going to pass a few pictures around the circle and remember our Great Grandmother Effie Victor Williamson, wife of William Jonathan Williamson.


This picture of Effie was enlarged from her wedding picture. Does she resemble anyone in your family? Genetics are always intersting, how some physical traits can skip generations and reappear later.

In this picture taken from the Federal Census Records we see the Victor family as it was in 1870.
(Click to enlarge). Effie was listed as two years old. The Victor family line is a hard one to trace. This census record has given me a clue where to look further. As you read you'll see that Effie's father Whity was born in Delaware. I didn't know that before. I'll keep you posted as the search for 'kin' continues.


This is the Iowa Census of 1885. Again we see that Whity Victor was born in Delaware. By 1885 the family was down to four.

This is a picture of Effie's sister, Eunicy Victor Barker, her husband, Melchi and children. Eunicy would be my Great Great Aunt.

Another picture of William Jonathan Williamson, my Great Grandfather. Again, anyone in your family resemble William in any way?

This document verifies the marriage ceremony of Effie and W.J. at her parents' home in Iowa on February 13, 1887. I've notice that Effie's father's name was spelt "Whity" and "Whitty".

In the front row from left to right is Frank, who lived in Canada, Melchi, Eunicy Jane (Effie's Sister), Bill, and Aletha Lawrence, who lived in Montana. Back row left to right, Beach, who lived his later years in Oregon, and Theron, who lived in Iowa.

Effie resting in peace at her funeral in Spearfish, South Dakota with flower arrangements. Effie died on April 9, 1944.

Since we are discussing our Victor line (which I might add is one of our family's line I'm most fond of considering my name is also Victor) I found the obituary of Effie's father, Whitty Victor. That would make Whitty my Great Great Grandfather.

Adams County Free Press, Page-8
3-25-1903
Died
Whitty Victor, whose death last Tuesday was mentioned in last week's paper, was 85 years and l month old. He was born of Christian parents in Essex county, Del,, near Dover, Feb.18,1818. When about fourteen years of age he removed with his parents to Cincinnati, O., where he grew to manhood and where he was married Nov. 6, 1845, to Miss Nancy Norris. A year later he removed to Blackhawk county,Ind., and after several changes of residence he came with his family to Adams county in 1861. He lived near Nodaway for many years and in 1885 sold his farm and bought another six miles west of Corning in Douglas township.

His wife died April 22,1886, and he then made his home with his daughter for a time. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Victor, of whom only three are living, Mrs. Jane Barker of Douglas township, Mrs. Emma Lathrop of Conklin, S. p., Mrs. Effie Williamson of Rapid City, S. D.. A brother and two sisters also survive him, Elijah Victor of Shelbyville, Ind.,Mrs. Elvira Brown of Wellington, Ill.,and Mrs. Sarah Green of University Place, Neb

On July 28, 1887, Mr. Victor was married to Mrs. Mary L. Preston, who died in this city June 20,1901. He was converted at the age of 43 and became an active and faithful member of the M. E. church. He was a devoted Christian man, a true Christian husband and father and his Christian life and Christian teaching bore fruit in the family circle and in the community where he was known and respected as a faithful follower of the Lord. "Blessed are those that die in the Lord"

The funeral was conducted Thursday from the U. B. church in this city by Revs. W. H. Drake and W. F. Wallace. Mr. Victor had selected for the scripture lesson the 90th Psalm and for a text Second Timothy, 7:4. The family has the sympathy of many friends.

We also have a new Scottish line in our Williamson family. Notice on the family tree above, Whity's parents are Elijah and Unicy. Unicy, according to the records, was born in Scotland. There is one major problem in finding the Clan. Unicy's last name isn't recorded on any documents I could find. This is one I'll continue to search. It would be nice to know which tartan to wear at the next family gathering.

Simply,
Victor