The Quest (Williamson Line)

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
Researching our family history is a very rewarding hobby. The satisfication of breaking through a barrier and opening up a new branch of the family tree motivates me to keep looking.

In tonight's digital family gathering I've decided to invite you into the search and witness a sampling of the detective work required to gather and paste a family history together from the tattered remnants of records time forgot to wipe from history.

First, the genealogical problem.....

Look at the family tree (click on the family tree link at the top of the right side bar). Click on my Dad, Charles Williamson. His line will appear. Click on his father Charles. Click on his father William. Click on his mother Margaret Willis. Follow her line until you get to this entry "John Willis and Phebe Bennett". You'll notice the question mark. The question mark signifies a point in the tree I'm unsure about. The "?" was added after spending hours trying to determine if Phebe Bennett and John Willis were the actual parents of the Great Grandfather I was sure about - Bennett Willis.

The frustration comes from a conflict in the records found online and on various genealogical sites. Some records state that Bennett Willis was the son of John Willis and Sarah Jones. Other records indicate Bennett was the son of John Willis and Phebe Bennett. Now you understand the problem. Which record is correct? How does one make such a determination?

I've spent hours on this problem, searching for a link that might definitively solve the mystery. Finally, taking into account all evidence at hand, I choose Phebe Bennett as Bennett Willis' mother and placed the "?" in front of her name because the doubt I could be wrong was still present. Over the last several months I revisited the issue at least once or twice a week, always looking for enough evidence to removed the question mark.

Tonight I spent more time on the issue. Here are my evening's findings:

1. I reasoned that if Bennett Willis lived in Franklin County Virginia in the early 1800's then any other Willis in that county might be related. If they were related, then that relationship might point me in the right direction.

2. I pulled the records for the 1810 Census, the last taken before Bennett Willis died in the War of 1812. I found Bennett living in Franklin County Virginia. I discovered my hunch was right. Near Bennett's name was a certain Mark Willis.

1810 Census. Click to Enlarge

3. In 1810 the Census recorded the heads of households only. So Mark might be Bennett's father, cousin, brother or none of the above.

4. I started looking for information on Mark Willis and found the following:


John Willis and Phebe Bennett are the parents of Mark Willis and Mark Willis appears on the same page of the 1810 Census as Bennett Willis.

5. I went back and pulled more information on John Willis and Phebe Bennett and found the following:


You'll notice that this entry lists Bennett as the eldest child. Looking further down you'll see that Mark Willis is listed as Bennett's younger brother.

6. Therefore, the 1810 Census provides another missing piece to the puzzle and solidifies the case for Phebe Bennett as being the mother of our Great Grandfather Bennett.

Am I convinced enough to remove the question mark from Phebe's name? Perhaps.

And so you have it. A sampling of the process it takes to trace our history.

Thanks for reading and thanks for joining me in remembering and honoring those who came before.

Simply,
Victor

Our Cousins Who Fought for the Confederacy at Gettysburg. (Williamson Line)

The Battle of Gettysburg

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
It’s been a full week since my last addition to the family history. Don’t think me a slacker. If you don’t see a daily post to the blog, then you would be right to assume I’m researching. I’m sorry to say that the easy stuff is posted. I call it the low hanging fruit. Our easily found ancestors are found, posted and their stories told. Now comes the hard part. Instead of a few hours per post, I’m spending days researching to find new information. It is a fact of life that the further back you go the fewer historical resources there are.

I will solider on with your help. If there are stories to tell, they will be told, even if the information is one sentence long. I’m committed to the proposition that this will be an all inclusive story our our American Dynasty. Our ancestor will not be forgotten as long as there is information on them. We will find it and it will be posted.

By the way, much of this week was spent fleshing out our new family tree. You can access it anytime by clicking on the picture of the family tree at the top of the right side bar. Only a fraction of the tree is visible at any one time. To see a person’s ancestry, click on that person’s name. Their ancestors will appear above them.

I need pictures. If you have a picture of an ancestor please send it.

And now, a bit of information on for the Williamsons. We knew we had strong Southern roots. Today we learn about our cousins who fought to defend the Confederacy during the Civil War. We begin with the relationship chart.

Hans George Pfluger (1703-1754) and Eve Franzisk Jost
to
Georg Friedrich Pfluger (Phlegar) (1735-1791) married Maria Margretha Kieffer
to
Hans Jacob, Christine, George Frederick, Hans, Marie Christine, Marie Margaret, Abraham, Hans Michael, Henry.

Abraham Phlegar (1776 - 1865) married Margaret Goodykoontz
to
Arabella Phlegar (1809-1865) married Jonathan Willis
to
George Matthew Williamson and Margaret Ann Willis
to
Selina, William, Abraham, James, Samuel, George, Ella, Walter, Glen, Bertha, Ralph.

William married Effie Helen Victor
to
Vennie, Ima Della, Inez, Lillie Ethel, Josie, Emmett, Walt, Charles, Maurice.
to
US

Tonight we discover the following grandsons of our 4th Great Grandfather Abraham Phlegar served in the Confederate Army (Our first cousins four times removed).

Archer A. Phlegar
Abraham Hogan
Addison Epperly
Headen Epperly
David Willis
Bennet Willis
Samuel Willis
Thomas Willis
James Willis
Peter Willis.

We also learned that five of Abraham Phlegar’s Great Grandsons were commissioned officers in World War One. (2nd cousins, three times removed).

Seven of our 5th Great Uncle George Frederic Phlegar's grandsons served in the Confederate Army (all our 2nd cousins, four times removed).

Benjamin Phlegar’s sons:
George Phlegar was killed in the Battle of Gettysburg, 1863,
Andrew Phlegar
Gideon Phlegar (also killed in battle)
Simon Phlegar

Joseph Phlegar’s son:
Calvin Phlegar

Isaac Phlegar’s sons:
Joseph Phlegar
George Phlegar

World War I Marine Recruiting Poster

At least seven of George Phlegar's descendants were in the World War I. Hagan Phlegar, was with the Marines, first of the American forces sent into battle.

Simply,
Victor

A Essay on Where We've Been and Where our Descendants will Venture.

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

I ponder on what our ancestors accomplished as I research, write and post this history of our family. I marvel at the valleys, mountains, oceans and prairies they crossed and the lands they tamed to give us this land we call home. Then I wonder where our descendants will travel. I think of the challenges they will face.

Who will be the first in our family to venture into the darkness of space? Who will be the first to step foot on a distant planet? Will they remember us? Will they pause and thank us for the gift of life and knowledge as they search their night sky looking for a pale blue dot called Earth?

Please take a moment with Carl Sagan and think of those yet to come that will carry your name and genes to the stars.

Simply,
Victor

Sunday's Photo Album

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
Today I spent time on the new family tree (look at the top of the right side bar on the blog. Click on the photo of the family tree to be taken to the site). I'm adding photographs to go with the names. My goal is one photo per name. I'll need some help. I'll use whatever photo I have handy for the tree. If you'd like a different photo please send it to me and I'll swap them.

Williamson relatives, If you have better photos than the ones I'm using please send them. This tree will eventually include all cousins etc, so please send the photos.

Today, in addition to the work done on the tree, I've scanned a few pictures for you to enjoy.

Simply,
Victor

This is my brother Jon with his wife Lisa, stepson A.J. and son Jet.


This is picture of my Step Grandfather Emmerson Leissman standing at the grave of my Grandmother Elda Vercellino in Bismarck North Dakota.

Yes, we are in total random mode. This is my sister Annette taken in our home at 2214 38th Street, Rapid City, South Dakota. Ah memories.....

Finally today we have my Step Grandfather Emmerson Liessman with Caden Williamson, Lisa's Williamson Coronado's Oldest son. He recently turned 18 years old. Happy Birthday Caden.

Newly Discovered Photograph of our Great Great Grandmother Catterina.

Our Great Great Grandmother Catterina Camerlo

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
I'm spending much of my available family history time on the new family tree. I'd like to get that caught up with everything I've posted in the blog. It will take some time, so while I work on that there will be fewer historical posts.

Tonight I'd like to share a newly discovered family picture found in material our cousin Jared Peterson (Karen Vercellino's son) posted to his Ancestry.com site.

Her name was Catterina Camerlo. This is the relationship chart:

Great Great Grandmother Catterina Camerlo b. 26 Feb. 1853 married Giovanni Viano
Their Children

Joseph Camerlo, Eleanora Viano, Maria Maddalena Gertrude, Julia, Dolph, Frances Delfina, Aurelia

Great Grandmother Maria Maddalena Gertrude married Great Grandfather Giovanni (John) Vercellino.

Their Children
Great Uncle Ray, Grandma Elda, and Great Uncle Ed.

Grandma Elda married Charles Williamson
to
Charles Ray Williamson married Luella Mae Mattson
to
Kim, Victor, Kevin, Janice, Jon, Jilane, Lisa, Annette

Great Great Grandmother Catterina was born in Courgne, Torino, Piedmont Italy. She died on February 1, 1918 in Coal City, Ill.

Simply,
Victor

Our Family Tree Ready for Examination

Our Family Tree, A Work in Progress

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
You may be wondering why its been nearly one week since my last post. If you haven't been wondering then I ask, why? Why aren't you rushing home every day, breaking speed limits along the way, bypassing the welcoming embrace and kiss of a loved one, in a hurry to get to your computer and discover what new ancestor I've unearthed to study? If you haven't, then shame on you. Might I also add a suggestion that you reprioritize your priorities and put long dead ancestors first, at the expense of work, home and family :)

To quash rumors spread through family circles, let me say that I've not fallen off the face of the Earth, or spirited away by Somali Pirates or gray extraterrestrials. The Space Center had a few staffing problems last week caused by a staff that refused to take my suggestion and get a yearly flu shot. When I don't have subs I need to muck in with the troops to get the job done.

What time I had for family history was spent doing something I've know I had to do ever since I started this project. I had to take all these ancestral names and family lines I've discovered and get them into a proper family tree for all of you to study and enjoy.

Well, after hours of work, I've got a family tree that is accessible to everyone. The Williamson line is nearly entered (although I don't have all the dates etc yet). The Mattson line is waiting and will get done this week.

To access our family tree please click on the following link, then bookmark the page for future reference. AN AMERICAN DYNASTY FAMILY TREE.

There are a few things you should know about this site.
Family trees are very large and take up hideous amounts of room. So, family lines are cut off. To access cut lines look for the following:


You know the family line continues if you see a vertical line exiting the name boxes. Click on the person's name and the line will continue on the screen.

If you click on a person's name, information on that person will appear in the left side bar.

These family lines are the result of over one year's research. There is always the chance the information I have might be incorrect. If you see an error please tell me so I can get it corrected.
Remember, these lines may change as additional information is discovered.

You'll also notice a question mark in front of some names ? A question mark means that this line represents my best guess based on all evidence available. I will not add a branch to our tree is I'm not at least 90% - 100% sure it is correct. If I'm between 70%-89% sure then I'll add a question mark before the name. The question mark will stay there until I'm sure, or almost sure it is correct based on the evidence I find.

Please let me know any dates I can add in people's biography.

Simply,
Victor

Our 12th Great Uncles and the Quaker Missionaries

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
A sad tale tonight about the persecution of Quaker missionaries by our Roberts Great Uncles. It begins with our 11th Great Grandparents, Gov. Thomas Roberts and our grandmother Rebecca Hilton.

Thomas Roberts was born in England about 1600. The Rev. Dr. Everett S. Stackpole wrote that Thomas Roberts was apprenticed to a fishmonger of London, as "son of John Roberts, of Woolaston, Co. Worcester 29 April 1622, and probably came to America as an apprentice to Edward Hilton, and lived within a stone's throw of Hilton's house, on Hilton Point. He was not married at the time of coming over, but probably was married in 1627 to Rebecca Hilton.

We begin our story with the Relationship Chart.

Relationship Chart

11th Great Grandparents Gov. Thomas Roberts married Rebecca Hilton

to
William Roberts married Elizabeth Daniels
to
John Harmon Sr. married Sarah Roberts
to
Samual Harmon married Mercy Simpson
to
John Harmon b. 1716 and Mary Hasty b. 1721
to
Martha Harmon b. 1740 and William Williams B. 1740 Prince George Maryland.
to
Nancy Ann Williams and William Cantwell
to
Martha Cantwell and Jacob George
to
Frances George and Henry Fiddler
to
Eldora Elizabeth Fiddler Edwin Sherman Pierce
to
Walter Edwin Pierce and Vesta Althea Dennis
to
Violet Mae Pierce and Walter Albert Mattson
to
Luella Mae Mattson and Charles Ray Williamson
to
US

In 1640 Thomas Roberts succeeded Capt John Underhill as the fourth Governor of the Dover colony. Roberts served until the Massachusetts Bay colony achieved its ambition of annexing, in 1642, the Piscataqua River settlements, Dover, Strawberry Bank and Exeter, also Hampton, and making them a part of Norfolk County.

Thomas had a leading part in the formation and establishment, in 1640, of “The Dover Combination,” an improved scheme of local self-government. He was one of 21 of the 42 signers of the Combination agreement in 1641, a protest against annexation to Massachusetts.

Thomas was not an orthodox Puritan. He thinking was more liberal, which led him 20 years later to embrace the teachings of the Quaker missionaries, who had come here early in the 1660s, and obtained a following from among the orthodox Church people. The Quaker missionaries were driven out of Dover in mid-Winter under harrowing conditions in accordance with Massachusetts laws against Quakers.

While Thomas sympathized with the missionaries and was fined by being deprived of his cow for attending their meetings and staying away from public worship, his two sons, our 12 Great Uncles John and Thomas, both constables, zealously executed their appointed part of Massachusetts’ order expelling the missionaries from its jurisdiction and participated in their whipping.

The Fate of The Quakers


The three female Quaker missionaries, Anne Coleman, Mary Tomkins and Alice Ambrose, were led out of Dover Dec 22, 1662, with ropes to the tail of an ox cart. According to the warrant issued by Maj Richard Walderne, the women were stripped to their waists and whipped on their naked backs “not exceeding 10 stripes apiece” as they passed from one town’s jurisdiction to another.

This process of expulsion was repeated until the Merrimack River was reached at Salisbury, where Maj Pike in pity forbade further whipping and arranged with Dr Walter Barefoot of Dover, a sympathizer , who had accompanied them all the way, to take charge of them and get them out of Massachusetts’ jurisdiction. The doctor took them in a boat to Kittery, Me, and to the home of another sympathizer, Maj. Nicholas Shapleigh.

Recuperating there from their ordeal, these missionary women returned to Dover and resumed their preaching. They were not again driven from town, but constable Roberts, who, a contemporary Quaker writer declared had administered to the women 11 strips for good measure instead of 10, undertook a project of some of the more illiberal members of the community, that of taking the missionaries down river and out of Dover bound in an Indian dugout.

According to the Quaker narrative, the women were taken from a house and were dragged through the deep snow to the river, Alice Ambrose was plunged into the icy water and made to swim beside the boat to escape drowning. A sudden storm rising prevented this attempt to rid the community of the women from succeeding.

Quakers eventually became numerous in Dover and established a church and the Roberts family down through the generations have been divided between the Quaker and Orthodox faiths.

Our Cousin Jessey Kersey, a Prominent Quaker Minister and Author.

A Quaker Minister From the 18th Century

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello Williamsons,
Many of our ancestors on the Williamson / Willis lines were strong Quakers. They left England in a quest for religious freedom. Tonight I continue on the Quaker theme by introducing you to Jesse Kersey (b. 1768), a well know Quaker minister until the end of his life in 1845. Jesse was the son of our 6th Great Aunt Hannah Bennett and her husband William Kersey, making him our 1st cousin, six times removed.

We begin our study of Cousin Jesse Kersey's life with a Relationship Chart (Click to Enlarge):


The following is a description of his early life from a book titled The Early Life, Travel, and Labours of Jesse Kersey.

He was the son of William and Hannah Kersey, of Yorktown, Pennsylvania. Was born on the 5th of 8th month, 1768. In his childhood and early youth, he was much exposed to the corrupting influence of vain and vicious company ; but through the guardian care and religious concern of his parents, and the restraining influence of the Divine gift in himself, he was preserved in a great degree from the contamination of guilty compliance with the customs and manners of the time, by which he was surrounded. In a manuscript found among his papers, he says of himself: " I have frequently looked back with gratitude and wonder, that I should have wholly escaped the crime of using profane language, notwithstanding it was common among my play-fellows. This preservation, I am aware, was without any merit in me, still I cannot reflect on it without a real satisfaction; and I fully believe that those who have children under their care, cannot be too watchful in keeping them from that "hardihood of mind and manners, which is always attendant, when an early habit of using wicked words, is allowed or acquired." It appears that among the first temptations that beset him to disobey his parents, was to accept the invitations of his youthful companions, to wander about with them on the first day of the week; and although he was at a loss to imagine why he should be restrained from this, yet he says, "in every instance, such indulgence rendered him very unhappy afterwards." It seems that on looking back upon the scene of his juvenile sports and pastimes, he was ready to believe that the regrets he had felt for having disobeyed his parents, might have been occasioned more by his affection for them, than from any clear conviction, at the time, of the evil of the practice.

Among the influences that operated to restrain him, he mentions, that " his mother's tears were not soon forgotten." About the fourteenth year of his age, he had frequent convictions for his follies, which induced him often to think it was necessary to be more guarded. Yet he continued to join with his acquaintances in their diversions, until at length those feelings of conviction seemed to be much worn off, and his taste for cheerful company to have left but little relish for serious things. "My parents," he continues, " carefully kept me to meetings, and the frequent reading of the Scriptures."

Our Cousin Jesse worked tirelessly for the abolition of slavery in the United States. The following is taken from the same book mentioned above.

About the year 1804, he visited England and Ireland; and was afterwards extensively engaged in the ministry within this and other Yearly Meetings; and in the

year 1814, again visited the South under a concern, in especial relation to the cruel and unrighteous system of American Slavery, and the mode of deliverance from its terrible consequences, having opportunities with the President of the United States, and other distinguished men, and holding meetings among the people of color and others. On his return, it appears his mind was oomforted in the belief, that way would yet be made safely to remove what he describes as " one of the greatest evils that ever the Spirit of delusions has succeeded in imposing upon mankind."

Cousin Jesse visited President Madison in 1814 to discuss slavery.

Friends Intelligencer,, xiv, 1858, 412, quoting the New Bedford Standard, which quotes the Fall River News. As Madison married Dolly Payne, a Quakeress, he was probably used to plain Quaker speech. Another Quaker, Jesse Kersey, who visited President Madison in 1814, reports that the latter "had thought of the plan to removing the slaves to Africa, as contemplated by Paul Cuffe." (Narrative of Jesse Kersey, 1851, p. 74.)

Jesse Kersey was an accomplished author and poet. The following is an example of his work - a poem on the death of his wife.

JESSE KERSEY, ON THE DEATH OF HIS WIFE.

Ah ! whither, sainted spirit, art thou gone.
And left thy tender spouse now all alone ?
Our time together sweetly passed away,
While we were partners, each returning day.
But now, my love, no more can I behold

Those brilliant eyes that oft thy kindness told.

No ; dearest partner,—thy blest race is run,

And thou art told that all thy work is done.

While we were passing through this world of care,

How oft thy counsel bid me not despair.

When storms and tempests seem'd on ev'ry side.
In thee I found (however greatly tried)

A mind superior to the darkest hour,

Whose trust was firm in the Almighty's power.

Thy gentle spirit, govern'd by the Truth,

Maintain'd with constancy the vows of youth.

Nor did thy soul e'er separated stand

From thy all-wise Creator's blest command.

But, being faithful to " the Light within,"

Was thereby kept from each besetting sin.

And having known a heart that was sincere,

Thy end was peace,—thy future prospects clear.
Thus pass'd the partner of my life away,

The blessed subject of eternal day.

No sorrows, griefs, nor clouds of dark despair,

But joy and peace forever centre there.

Oh! may her offspring, guided as she was,

By principles Divine, and holy laws,

Enjoy with her the pure reward of peace,

Nor from the beauty of her life e'er cease.

Then will they ever prove themselves to be

Examples from all vice and folly free.

Thus wisely meeting ev'ry task assign'd,

In ev'ry trial they will be resign'd.

And when their race on earth shall have an end,

Jehovah God will be their lasting Friend.

Another examples of Jesse Kersey's writing:

But, adored forever be the great Shepherd and Bishop of souls; - his arm is not shortened that it can not save, nor his ear grown heavy that it cannot hear. By the blessed interference of his adorable goodness, wisdom, and power, deliverance was miraculously furnished, and a way made for me to rise again into the glorious liberty of the ever blessed Truth. This I acknowledge with gratitude to have been nothing short of a Divine work. And having witnessed that my God is indeed a God of mercy and long-suffering kindness, I am humbly bound to speak well of his excellent name, and to magnify the arm of his power. Oh! how wonderful is his loving-kindness to the children of men! When, by his Spirit my mind is opened to take a view of his marvellous kindness, long-suffering, and forbearance with transgressing mortals, - no language is sufficient to do the great subject justice. Sometimes the query arises, how is it, that he permits transgressing mortals to go on year after year, in a state of rebellion against the clear impressions of his Spirit, and lengthens out the opportunity for such to return to him, and enjoy his favor? Thus he even extends his call to the eleventh hour of the day; evident ly not willing that any should perish in their sins, but that all should return, repent, and live.

Click to read a sermon delivered by Jessey Kersey

And finally, Jesse Kersey wrote the following book on the Fundamentals of Being a Quaker. Click for the Book on the Fundamentals of being a Quaker

Simply,
Victor

Our 9th Great Grandfather and the Battle of Narragansett Swamp. 1675

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
Tonight we take a moment to learn about our 9th Great Grandfather, John Harmon.
John fought in the Narragansett Swamp Fight in 1675. An outline of the battle is below, along with other events from the life of John and Sarah Harmon.

Simply,
Victor

Relationship Chart

9th Great Grandparents John Harmon Sr. married Sarah Roberts
to
Samual Harmon married Mercy Simpson
to
John Harmon married Mary Hasty
to
Martha Harmon b. 1740 and William Williams B. 1740 Prince George Maryland.
to
Nancy Ann Williams married William Cantwell
to
Martha Cantwell married Jacob George
to
Frances George married Henry Fiddler
to
Eldora Elizabeth Fiddler married Edwin Sherman Pierce
to
Walter Edwin Pierce married Vesta Althea Dennis
to
Violet Mae Pierce married Walter Albert Mattson
to

Luella, Linda, John, Marvin
to
Us

John Harmon was a soldier in the Narragansett Swamp Fight in 1675. On November 2, 1675, Josiah Winslow led a combined force of over 1000 colonial militia including about 150 Pequot and Mohegan Indians against the Narragansett tribe living around Narragansett Bay. The Narragansett tribe had not yet been directly involved in the King Philip's War, but had allegedly sheltered many of King Philip's men, women and children and several of their warriors had reportedly been seen in Indian raiding parties. The colonists distrusted the Narragansett and feared the tribe would join King Phillip's cause come spring, which caused great concern due to the tribe's location. The decision was made to preemptively strike the Narragansett before an assumed uprising. Several abandoned Narragansett Indian villages were found and burned as the militia marched through the cold winter around Narragansett Bay. The tribe had retreated to a large fort in the center of a swamp near Kingston, Rhode Island. The building of such a defensive structure gives credence to the argument that the Narragansett never intended aggressive actions, thus the colonist's preemptive attack may have been unwarranted and overzealous.

Led by an Indian guide, on December 19, 1675 on a bitterly cold storm-filled day, the main Narragansett fort near modern South Kingstown, Rhode Island was found and attacked by the colonial militia from Plymouth Colony, Connecticut Colony and Massachusetts Bay Colony. The massive fort occupying about 5 acres (20,000 m²) of land and was initially occupied by over a thousand Indians was eventually overrun after a fierce fight. The Indian fort was burned, its inhabitants, including women and children, killed or evicted and most of the tribe's winter stores destroyed.

It is believed that about 300 Indians were killed (exact figures are unknown) in the fighting. Many of the warriors and their families escaped into the frozen swamp; there hundreds more died from wounds combined with the harsh conditions. Facing a winter with little food and shelter, the whole surviving Narragansett tribe was forced out of quasi-neutrality some had tried to maintain in the on-going war and joined the fight alongside Philip. The colonists lost many of their officers in this assault and about 70 of their men were killed and nearly 150 more wounded. The dead and wounded colonial militiamen were evacuated to the settlements on Aquidneck Island in Narragansett Bay where they were buried or cared for by many of the Rhode Island colonists until they could return to their homes.

The following is a first hand account of the battle: The close of the "Swamp fight," or "Storming of the Naragansett fort," in 1675, is thus described in Stiles' History of Windsor:

"Amid the shrieks of women and children and rattling of musketry . . . . the Indian defences were fired . . . . a dense column of smoke, which rose from the smouldering ashes, was all that was left of some 4,000 once brave and happy souls. It was a glorious victory for the English, but it brought sorrow as well as safety to their homes. 6 captains and 80 soldiers were killed or mortally wounded, and 150 wounded. Two days of exposure and three hours of hard fighting were followed by a distressing march through sleet and deep snows bearing with them their dead and wounded. The next morning the snow was exceedingly deep and the cold intense, and the jaded and frost bitten army could scarcely move. 400 troops were unfit for duty. (Capt. John) Mason was so badly wounded that he died in a
year after." Not only was John Moses in this battle, but we can fancy the feelings of a father when we know that he had two wounded sons with him on that terrible night march, boys of only 17 and 19 years. William and Thomas would both die in 1681 of wounds they received at the Swamp fight on December 19, 1675.

The Great Swamp Fight was a critical blow to the Narragansett tribe from which they never fully recovered. In April 1676, the Narragansett were completely defeated when their chief sachem Canonchet was captured and soon executed. On August 12, 1676 the leader of King Philip's War the Wampanoag sachem Metacom was shot in the heart by John Alderman, a Native American soldier in Benjamin Church's company. One of the greatest native uprisings in the New England failed.

John Harmon appears next in Wells, Maine, in 1677, when he received a grant of fifty acres of upland from the town. In 1679 he was engaged in the lumbering operations of the Curwen family of Salem and Wells, boarding with Francis Littlefield. At about this time he married Sarah Roberts, whose father, William Roberts, had been a victim of an Indian attack at Oyster River, New Hampshire in 1675. Their first child was born in 1680. On October 20, 1680, he bought from John Wentworth of York a farm of one hundred acres in Wells in the deed for which he is described as a planter. [York Deeds III:84] This farm was the family homestead during their residence in Wells. In 1714, Harmon deeded the property to his son Samuel, reserving a life estate in fifty acres. [York Deeds IX:3] He was received to full communion in the Wells church on June 26, 1726.

In 1726, Samuel Harmon, who had apparently developed unusual business ability as a millwright, bought a large tract of land in Scarborough and settled there, taking his father and mother with him.

In January, 1727, our great grandmother Sarah Harmon journeyed to Biddeford to sign a deed conveying her share of her father's property in Oyster River to Thomas Harris, but, John Harmon being too ill to leave Scarborough, it was necessary to take the deed home for his signature. He was one of the original members of the Scarborough church, founded June 26, 1728.

Recognition of his services in King Philip's War came in 1728, when John Harmon of Scarborough, "alive," received a grant in Narragansett No. 3, Souhegan West, now known as Amherst, New Hampshire. He was still living, at what must have been an advanced age, in 1734, when he sold to Phineas Jones of Falmouth

"all Right, Title and Interest in any of ye Lands Granted to the Narregansett Solgers or that may or shall hereafter be granted by ye General Court to ye sd Narregansett Soldiers which belongs to ye sd. Harmon by virtue of his being in the Narragansett Warrs." [York Deeds XVII:30.]

John Harmon's name appears in a list of Hampton and Salisbury soldiers at Black Point Garrison, Oct. 12, 1676, under command of Lieut. Tippen or Tappan. This was after the Narragansett Fort fight in which he took part on Dec. 19, 1675. It is said that during a parley with the Indians, who appeared at the Garrison 100 strong, the inhabitants took the opportunity to escape to the westward towns of Wells, Portsmouth, etc. John Harmon settled in Wells to which place he probably escaped with the other inhabitants of Black Point. In this attack the Indian chief, Mugg, or Mog Hegon, was killed by Lieut. Tippen, who was sent from Boston with a company of soldiers.

John Harmon, at Wells, took the Oath of Allegiance to the Massachusetts Government, Nov. 6, 1677. In 1677 grants of land were made to John Harmon upon condition, "that he build a house and lives therein." His name appears in a list of inhabitants of Wells from 1641 to 1687. In 1698, 50 acres were granted to John Harmon, the same lying between Webhanet and Ogunquit rivers, on the King's highway. In 1686, John Harmon, of Wells, made a complaint before the grand jury that Richard Rogers had entered upon his land at Wells and carried off 18 loads of candle wood. Rogers was found guilty of trespass and fined, "5 barrels of tar at 5 gallons per barrel." (This term, "candle wood", applied to pitch knots which were used in place of candles.) (History of Wells by Bourne.)

In 1694 a grant of land was made to John Harmon in Kennebunk. The earliest permanent settlers of Wells when it included Kennebunk, were the ancestors of the Harmons and others who were here prior to 1653. (Kennebunk by Remick.)

YORK COUNTY (Maine) DEED.

"To all People to whom these presents shall Come, that I John Harmon do Send Greeting. Know ye that I ye said John Harmon John Harmon to his son of ye Town of Wells in ye County of York in ye Province of Mass. Bay in New England for and in Consideration of ye love good Will and affection, which I bear towards my well beloved Son Samuel Harmon Now living in ye Town of Wells, husbandman have given granted and by these presents do Absolutely give grant unto my sd. Son Samuel Harmon his heirs Exrs. Admrs. halfe my sd. Land lying and being in ye Township of Wells containing 100 acres of Upland butting upon Mr. Wheelwright's land and So runs up into the Country Twenty poles in breadth till ye 100 acres be Accomplished with 5 acres of Meadow lying at Merryland And after my decease do give unto my sd. Son Samuel Harmon his heirs ye other halfe of My sd. Upland and Hadow Lying and being in ye Township of Wells and County aforesd. To have and to hold all ye sd. land as afore Mentioned unto ye sd. Samuel Harmon his heirs Exrs. Admrs, forever In Witness Whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal this thirty day of April in ye thirteen year of ye reign of our Soveraign Lady Anne of Great Brittaine ffrance, Ireland Queen and ct. Anno Dom. 1714."
Signed Sealed and Delivered John Harmon (A seal)
In ye presence of us his J:H mark.
James Wiggins.
James Tanner.

Our 14th Great Grandfather. Hung for Murder and Deer Poaching.

Thomas Fienes, Baron Dacre. Our 14th Great Grandfather.

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
Our digital family reunion this evening finds Utah Valley enveloped in a nice winter storm. I'm in my chair listening to Vivaldi as I research our family history. We have a very interesting ancestor to meet tonight in our online gathering. His name is Thomas Fiennes, 9th Baron Dacre and his wife Mary Neville our 14th Great Grandparents.

Our 14th Great Grandmother Mary Neville.

It amazes me how many of our family lines all come into contact during the reign of Henry VIII of England. Many of our ancestors served in Henry's Court and were counted as his good friends, and yes - his lovers.

Let us begin with the Relationship Chart

14th Great Grandfather Thomas Fiennes Baron Dacre and Mary Neville
to
George Fienes and Ann Sackville
to
Frank Wheatlye and Mary Fiennes
to
Thomas Bliss b. abt. 1590 England married Dorothy Wheatley
to
Mary Martha Bliss married Nathanial Harmon
to
John Harmon Sr. married Sarah Roberts
to
Sarmal Harmon married Mercy Simpson
to
John Harmon b. 1716 d. 1742 and Mary Hasty b. 1721 d. 1753
to
Martha Harmon b. 1740 and William Williams B. 1740 Prince George Maryland.
to
Nancy Ann Williams and William Cantwell
to
Martha Cantwell and Jacob George
to
Frances George and Henry Fiddler
to
Eldora Elizabeth Fiddler Edwin Sherman Pierce
to
Walter Edwin Pierce and Vesta Althea Dennis
to
Violet Mae Pierce and Walter Albert Mattson
to their children
Luella, Linda, John, Marvin
to
US

Thomas Fiennes was the 9th Baron Dacre. He was born in 1515 and hung on the gallows in 1541. Dacre was the son of Sir Thomas Fiennes and Jane Sutton daughter of Edward Sutton, 2nd Baron Dudley. When his father died in 1528 he became heir apparent to his grandfather's title and the family seat at Herstmonceux Castle in Sussex, and he succeeded to the title at the age of approximately 19 in 1533. In 1536 he married Mary Nevill, daughter of George Nevill, 5th Baron Bergavenny.

The Crest of Thomas Fiennes, 9th Baron Dacre

Here are the important facts concerning our 14th Great Grandfather.

• Thomas was a young boy at the time of his father's death in 1528.
• Thomas married our Great Grandmother Mary Neville in 1536 just before his nineteenth birthday.
  
• The couple had three children. Gregory (George) was our 13th Great Grandfather.
  
• Thomas was a Peer of England and served King Henry VIII. In May 1536 Lord Dacre (Thomas) sat on the controversial trial of Queen Anne Boleyn and her brother, George Boleyn on charges of incest. Both were found guilty and condemned to death by beheading.
  
• Lord Dacre gathered a force of 200 men to help Henry VIII against the rebellion of the North.
  
• Lord Dacre served on the jury who found Lord Darcy guilty of Treason.
  
• Lord Dacre was a member of the Commission of Sewers to search and defend the coast of England.
  
• When Henry VIII's son Edward was christened, Lord Dacre was appointed to bear teh spice plates. A month later, when the Queen Jane Seymour, was buried, he was one of those to bear the canopy over her corpse at the funeral.
  
• Lord Dacre met Henry VIII's next bride, Anne of Cleves, upon her arrival from Germany.

On the last day of April 1541, when he was 24 years old, Thomas and several of his friends trespassed in Laughton Park, Susses to hunt deer belonging to Sir Nicholas Pelham. During the evening hunt they were discovered by the gamekeeper. A fight broke out. The gamekeeper was stabbed by the sword and died. Although not the one who delivered the fatal blow, our 14th Great Grandfather was still an accomplice and stood trial.

During the trial he was found guilty and sentenced to hang. Henry VIII did not pardon him.
The following is the complete transcript of the trail in the original language and spelling.

'...There was executed at Saint Thomas Wateringe, three gentlemen, John Mantell (Lord Dacres brother-in-law), John Frowds, and George Roidon; they died for a murther committed in Sussex, in companie of Thomas Fines, Lord Dacres of the South: the truth whereof was thus. The said Lord Dacres, through the lewd persuasion of some of them, as hath beene reported, meaning to hunt in the parke of Nicholas Pelham, esquire, at Laughton, in the same countie of Sussex, being accompanied with the said Mantell, Frowds, and Roidon, John Cheinie, and Thomas Isleie, gentlemen, Richard Middleton, and John Goldwell, yeomen, passed from his house of Hurstmonceux, the last of Aprill, in the night season, toward the same parke, where they intended so to hunt; and coming unto a place called Pikehaie, in the parish of Hillingleigh, they found one John Busbrig (or Busbridge), James Busbrig, and Richard Summer standing togither: and as it fell out, through quarelling, there insued a fraie betwixt the said Lord Dacres and his companie on the one partie, and the said John and James Busbrig and Richard Summer on the other, insomuch that the said John Busbrig received such hurt, that he died thereof the second of Maie next insuing. Whereupon, as well the said Lord Dacres as those that were there with him, and diuerse other likewise that were appointed to go another waie to meet them at the said parke, were indicted of murther; and the seauen and twentith of Jun the Lord Dacres himselfe was arraigned before the Lord Audleie of Walden, then lord chancellor, sitting that daie as high steward of England, with other peers' of the realme about him, who then and there condemned the said Lord Dacres to die for that transgression. And afterward, the nine and twentith of Jun, being Saint Peter's daie, at eleuen of the clocke in the forenoone, the shiriffs of London, accordinglie as they were appointed, were readie at the tower to haue receiued the said prisoner, and him to haue lead to execution on the Tower Hill; but as the prisoner should come forth of the tower, one Heire, a gentleman of the lord chancellor's house, came, and in the kings name commanded to staie the execution till two of the clocke in the afternoone, which caused manie to think that the King would haue granted his pardon. But neuerthelesse, at three of the clocke in the same afternoone, he was brought forth of the tower, and deliuered to the shiriffs, who lead him on foote betwixt them unto Tiburne where he died. His bodie was buried in the church of Saint Sepulchers. He was not past foure and twentie yeeres of age, when he came through this great mishap to his end, for whom manie sore lamented, and likewise for the other three gentlemen, Mantell, Frowds and Roidon. But for the said yoong lord being a right towardlie gentleman, and such a one as manie had conceiued great hope of better proofe, no small mone and lamentation was made; the more indeed, for that it was thought he was induced to attempt such follie, which occasioned his death, by some light heads that were then about him...'

The case was tried in the court of King's Bench on June 27th, before the lord chancellor (Lord Audley of Walden), 'sitting that day as high steward of England.' Lord Dacre at first pleaded 'not guilty;' but, 'overpersuaded by the courtiers, who gaped after his estate, to confess the fact', he pleaded guilty, and 'cast himself on the king's mercy, as the only way to save his own and his servant's life.'

The whole company was indicted on the charge of murder. Although the combined innocence of Dacre and his party was so clear that the privy council hesitated long before ordering a prosecution, and then probably only under pressure from the King Henry VIII, now nearing his worst, 'cruelly, royally vindictive', was resolved that the young man should die, and his 'surpassing self-wilfullness' drove his councilors to a decision, though not without a long and stormy debate.

The judges attempted thereupon to use their influence with the king to obtain mercy. The king, however, was determined, and Dacre was ordered to be executed next day, June 29th, at 11 a.m., on Tower Hill.

Upon his death, our Great Grandmother Mary was penniless. Because of his crime, Thomas lost his titles, lands and wealth.

Mary Neville and her son, our 13th Great Grandfather Gregory (George).

Shortly thereafter, King Henry VIII took pity on the young widow and return some of the land and wealth so she could be cared for to the end of her days.

Simply,
Victor