Stories about the olden times and the settling of America are fascinating. Ok, so maybe some of them are more fascinating than others, and some comments from the readers can catch my attention.
Recently, I wrote about little Isabella POTTER, the daughter of Henry POTTER. As written about in some early history books of the area, little Isabella was captured by the Indians at the tender age of 10 and lived "a life of drudgery" before she was released. As I researched the story sent to me by a cousin of mine who is directly descended from Isabella, I realized I had a double connection to little Isabella. Now, they are both by marriage, but can you imagine the stories told 'round the old fireplace at night? Can you imagine how Isabella and her clan most likely did not like or trust the Indians? Can you imagine what they felt when they were rescued?
Back to the moment at hand. Little Isabella grew up and married Robert BIGHAM. Among other children who I have not researched, they had a son, Robert, and a daughter, Jane. The son, Robert, was born in April 1805 in Moon Twp, Allegheny, PA and married Jane GLENN (1812-1889.) Jane is my 1C4R. In other words, she and share a grandpa-- Her paternal grandfather is my 4g grandpa, who is buried at the St Clair Cemetery in Mt Lebanon, Allegheny, PA.
Just to add fun in to how I relate the family, I also have a cousin, Rachel DICKSON (1820-1909) who married Robert POTTER (abt 1815-1887.) They are both buried in the Chartiers Cemetery, Allegheny Co, PA. Rachel's grandfather is the same man who is the grandfather of Jane who married Robert and my 4g grandpa. Robert POTTER is the son of Adam POTTER, who I suspect is the brother of Henry POTTER.
So, to the kind person who commented they were related to Henry POTTER and asked how I was related, I hope this answers your question. Now, how are you related? And what fun facts or stories can you add to the genealogy branches?
Read the original post here:
Sources:
Armstrong County, Pa., Her People, Past and Present, J.H. Beers & Co., 1914, pg 412-413
Personal email from S. McFeatters 3/2012
Cushing, Thomas. History of Allegheny Co, Chicago: A Warner Company, 1889
Larimer, Rev Bob. A 200th Anniversary of Noblestown
Allegheny County Will Book 3
Probate Index, Holmes Co, OH
©AS Eldredge 2012
Ahhh, genealogy. A glimpse of the past shows of what I am made.....
Showing posts with label glenn. Show all posts
Showing posts with label glenn. Show all posts
Sunday, August 05, 2012
Friday, March 16, 2012
One Little, Two Little, Three Little.......
Just this week, another snippet of genealogy history for my family has made its way to my inbox. Yes, another kidnapping has happened. Ok, so it happened in 1782. However, the tale easily brought thoughts of horror at the events that took place on the CLOCK farm outside of present day Pittsburgh.
History reveals to the readers of today the struggles of the Indians as the white settlers moved west. As the western part of Pennsylvania became open for settlement, many Scot-Irish, including those who share my blood, moved to the area. Times were tough for these settlers. They had to clear the land, and build crude cabins. They had to plant crops and wait for a harvest. They had to be on the lookout for trouble, which usually came in the form of Indian attacks. They had to survive.
Who can blame the Indians? Treaties with them were routinely broken by the government. Their world was rapidly changing as more and more settlers came to claim the land while Indians believed the land belonged to no one person.
The settlers had to watch daily for Indian attacks. Usually these attacks were confined to the warmer months when living off the land was easier. The Indians had been made promises by the British if they would assist them in the Revolution in fighting against the patriots who so wanted their freedom from the power across the pond. This alliance proved quite deadly for the early settlers. Now, the Indians could savagely attack and butcher said patriots without fear of retaliation from the British. Unfortunately, for the Indians, the retaliation from mad-as-a-hornet Scotsmen or Irishmen or Frenchmen whose families were slaughtered seemed much worse.
Here is a snapshot of the newest Indian kidnapping and slaughter to come to my attention, thanks to cousin Susan.
Henry POTTER's young 10 year old daughter, Isabella, had gone to visit neighbors as was oft the case of the times. Women and children had a habit of banding together when the men were off from their hastily constructed cabins. Some roving Indians heard the men felling some trees and quickly killed them. They then went to the cabin with the women and children around and either killed them or took them captive. The gory details of the attack has been preserved by historians and can be read in full.
What horrors did young Isabella see as she watched her friends' heads being dashed against rocks or trees or brutally slaughtered? What horrors did she and her mother endure as they were kidnapped by these Indians and held for 18 months? The history books say they lived a life of drudgery. No doubt that is putting it mildly.
A search party led by George VALLANDIGHAM followed the events of that tragic day. While this particular search had to end when the Indians crossed over the Ohio River, other treks led by George VALLANDIGHAM were successful.
Why the interest of this story to me? The names POTTER and VALLANDIGHAM are intertwined with my beloved genealogy.
I have a cousin, Rachel DICKSON b. 1820 who married a Robert POTTER b. abt 1815. The DICKSON family lived in the same little area as the Henry POTTER family and others who share my blood. I suspect that the young Isabella could have been a cousin of Robert.
Robert is listed as the son of Adam POTTER (1788-1870) whose name is mentioned on several public family trees on Ancestry.com. By the time of the 1850 census which lists the names of the house occupants, Robert is gone and living with his bride. The 1820 census for Adam does show one male below the age of 10, so it is conceivable that Robert is this child. More evidence to support Robert being the son of Adam is found in Cushing's book where it states that Adam POTTER with sons Robert and Adam are remembered as residents before 1820 in North Fayette.
Adam POTTER was an attorney in the area and his name is listed as an executor for the will of Henry POTTER. I will speculate they were brothers. After all, how many POTTER families living in the general area of Noblestown in the late 1700s thru the 1800s weren't related?
Just to make these snippet shots even more interesting in my research, Isabella later married Robert BIGHAM (1805-1893). Robert married Jane GLENN (1812-1889), a cousin of mine through her grandfather who we share.
On to the VALLANDIGHAM connection----
My grandpa fought in the Washington Co Militia under the command of George VALLANDIGHAM. This is documented through the PA Archives. Other stories have surfaced over the years where my grandpa was also part of the group of men that hunted Indians that raided the area and massacred the settlers. The VALLANDIGHAM family were friends of my family as Clement, son of George VALLANDIGHAM and Elizabeth NOBLE, and Rebecca LAIRD (Clement's wife) raised my cousin after the untimely death of Rebecca's sister.
Rebecca's sister, Eleanor LAIRD, died shortly after the birth of her only child, Margaret Eleanor Laird Vallandigham HENRY. Margaret was the daughter of Samuel Smith HENRY who later becomes an Ohio State Representative. An old letter details how Samuel would visit his child and provided for her and her future education. Ahh, but that is another story for another day.
Now you can understand why the story of Isabella's kidnapping caught my attention. Perhaps her story will give you pause to reflect on the blood shed in the making of our great country.
Ahh, genealogy. Life flows on and on through our blood of the past.
Sources:
Cushing, Thomas. History of Allegheny Co, Chicago: A Warner Company, 1889
Larimer, Rev Bob. A 200th Anniversary of Noblestown
Allegheny County Will Book 3
Probate Index, Holmes Co, OH
©2012 AS Eldredge
History reveals to the readers of today the struggles of the Indians as the white settlers moved west. As the western part of Pennsylvania became open for settlement, many Scot-Irish, including those who share my blood, moved to the area. Times were tough for these settlers. They had to clear the land, and build crude cabins. They had to plant crops and wait for a harvest. They had to be on the lookout for trouble, which usually came in the form of Indian attacks. They had to survive.
Who can blame the Indians? Treaties with them were routinely broken by the government. Their world was rapidly changing as more and more settlers came to claim the land while Indians believed the land belonged to no one person.
The settlers had to watch daily for Indian attacks. Usually these attacks were confined to the warmer months when living off the land was easier. The Indians had been made promises by the British if they would assist them in the Revolution in fighting against the patriots who so wanted their freedom from the power across the pond. This alliance proved quite deadly for the early settlers. Now, the Indians could savagely attack and butcher said patriots without fear of retaliation from the British. Unfortunately, for the Indians, the retaliation from mad-as-a-hornet Scotsmen or Irishmen or Frenchmen whose families were slaughtered seemed much worse.
Here is a snapshot of the newest Indian kidnapping and slaughter to come to my attention, thanks to cousin Susan.
Henry POTTER's young 10 year old daughter, Isabella, had gone to visit neighbors as was oft the case of the times. Women and children had a habit of banding together when the men were off from their hastily constructed cabins. Some roving Indians heard the men felling some trees and quickly killed them. They then went to the cabin with the women and children around and either killed them or took them captive. The gory details of the attack has been preserved by historians and can be read in full.
What horrors did young Isabella see as she watched her friends' heads being dashed against rocks or trees or brutally slaughtered? What horrors did she and her mother endure as they were kidnapped by these Indians and held for 18 months? The history books say they lived a life of drudgery. No doubt that is putting it mildly.
A search party led by George VALLANDIGHAM followed the events of that tragic day. While this particular search had to end when the Indians crossed over the Ohio River, other treks led by George VALLANDIGHAM were successful.
Why the interest of this story to me? The names POTTER and VALLANDIGHAM are intertwined with my beloved genealogy.
I have a cousin, Rachel DICKSON b. 1820 who married a Robert POTTER b. abt 1815. The DICKSON family lived in the same little area as the Henry POTTER family and others who share my blood. I suspect that the young Isabella could have been a cousin of Robert.
Robert is listed as the son of Adam POTTER (1788-1870) whose name is mentioned on several public family trees on Ancestry.com. By the time of the 1850 census which lists the names of the house occupants, Robert is gone and living with his bride. The 1820 census for Adam does show one male below the age of 10, so it is conceivable that Robert is this child. More evidence to support Robert being the son of Adam is found in Cushing's book where it states that Adam POTTER with sons Robert and Adam are remembered as residents before 1820 in North Fayette.
Adam POTTER was an attorney in the area and his name is listed as an executor for the will of Henry POTTER. I will speculate they were brothers. After all, how many POTTER families living in the general area of Noblestown in the late 1700s thru the 1800s weren't related?
Just to make these snippet shots even more interesting in my research, Isabella later married Robert BIGHAM (1805-1893). Robert married Jane GLENN (1812-1889), a cousin of mine through her grandfather who we share.
On to the VALLANDIGHAM connection----
My grandpa fought in the Washington Co Militia under the command of George VALLANDIGHAM. This is documented through the PA Archives. Other stories have surfaced over the years where my grandpa was also part of the group of men that hunted Indians that raided the area and massacred the settlers. The VALLANDIGHAM family were friends of my family as Clement, son of George VALLANDIGHAM and Elizabeth NOBLE, and Rebecca LAIRD (Clement's wife) raised my cousin after the untimely death of Rebecca's sister.
Rebecca's sister, Eleanor LAIRD, died shortly after the birth of her only child, Margaret Eleanor Laird Vallandigham HENRY. Margaret was the daughter of Samuel Smith HENRY who later becomes an Ohio State Representative. An old letter details how Samuel would visit his child and provided for her and her future education. Ahh, but that is another story for another day.
Now you can understand why the story of Isabella's kidnapping caught my attention. Perhaps her story will give you pause to reflect on the blood shed in the making of our great country.
Ahh, genealogy. Life flows on and on through our blood of the past.
Sources:
Cushing, Thomas. History of Allegheny Co, Chicago: A Warner Company, 1889
Larimer, Rev Bob. A 200th Anniversary of Noblestown
Allegheny County Will Book 3
Probate Index, Holmes Co, OH
©2012 AS Eldredge
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Treasure Chest Thursday: 1862 "War Meeting" for the Co. D PA 149th Boys
With the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War this week, I've really thought about the families on both sides of the proverbial Mason-Dixon line and the costs the war brought to each.
History tells us of the organization of Co. D of the PA 149th Volunteers at the Hill Church in Robinson's Run on August 22, 1862. Among those who volunteered and were original members of the group were several kin and kissing kin of mine, including Captain James GLENN (1824-1901).
This seems like the perfect time to share some more tidbits about cousin James.
In the Diary of Hannah Glenn SNODGRASS (my 2g aunt), she tells us that on August 19, 1862, her sister, Maggie, and Hannah's future husband, Addison Henry SIMMONS, and Hannah all ..
(Note: spelling and punctuation are the same as found in the diary)
"went to a war meeting down to Scotts. The speakers the Reverands J Y McCartney R McPherson Mr Calhoun Capt McElwain J Snodgrass & two others
Wed the 20 we sewed & put up tomatoes
Thursday the 21 we took the ear & plumbs aft put up some plumbs and sewed & Capt J Gleen (GLENN) was here for tea
Friday 22 Capt G in the morning"....
Captain GLENN was the first cousin of Hannah, and likely came to tea as he was going to be leaving for war that night. J SNODGRASS was also the cousin of Hannah. Two of the Reverends mentioned were from the Mansfield Presbyterian Church and Mansfield UP Church.
According to Hannah's words, Reverend McCartney chose his text on the 24th as Psalm 31 verse 19 which states, "How great is Thy goodness, Which Thou hast stored up for those who fear Thee, Which Thou hast wrought for those who take refuge in Thee, Before the sons of men!". We can only imagine the good Reverend somehow used that verse for the war talk from the pulpit.
The company did leave for Harrisburg on the evening of August 22, 1862, and arrived in Washington, DC on August 31, 1862. To see a letter written by company member (and cousin of Glenn) Frank C DORRINGTON, click on 1863 Civil War Letter from a Member of the PA 149th Bucktails written earlier this week.
The following item I placed in my genealogy files without documenting the source! How could I have done that? So, please forgive me. I acknowledge I didn't write this summary although I suspect it was a local newspaper of the time and I am still looking for the source. When I find it, it will be properly noted.
Civil War Veterans Memorial
10-1903
Memorial for Deceased Veterans
G.A.R. Men Honor Their Dead Comrades in a Service at the First Baptist Church Records and Singing on Program
The First Baptist church was filled with old soldiers and their friends, and relatives of deceased members of Captain Thomas Espy Post No. 153 Grand Army of the Republic, last Sabbath afternoon. Perhaps never before in Carnegie have there been held a more impressive service then this, the service to the memory of the twenty-one members who have passed away in the past seven years. The McKees Rocks Veterans Association was well represented. Rev. C. C. Cowgill, pastor of the First Christian church, read the Scripture lesson and Rev. J. H. Duff D.D., pastor of the First Presbyterian church, made the opening prayer. The pulpit was draped with the American Flag, and the symbols of the mourning, and on the arrival of the Post their half-masted flags were placed upon the platform. Col. Wm J. Glenn announced the program. The choir, with Miss Ella Perrin at the organ, sang several selections. Adjutant W. H. H. Lea read the record of each of the twentyone comrades who had died, and after each one the bugle call and taps were sounded. Rev. J. A. Snodgrass, the pastor of the church and a member of Espy Post delivered an address. Rev. Snodgrass spoke of the great dept which the younger generation owes to the Union soldiers of the Civil War. In the performance of their duty they assured to us the blessings of prosperity which we now enjoy. He called attention to the act that the government pension list, which up until last year grew steadily larger, had commenced to diminish, and last year was smaller then the year pre- ceding. There is only one cause for this, said he, the old soldiers are passing from our midst. The service closed by the congregation singing the doxology. Rev. Cow- gill pronounced the benediction.
*GLENN, James Captain James Glenn, who organized Company D, was a military man before the War, having entered the State service under the old Militia Laws, as Second Lieutenant in the Pennsylvania Blues, an independent Allegheny County Military Company. In this organization he was promoted to First Lieutenant and Captain; his Company being a good organization, and well known under the old system. He was mustered into the Volunteer Service for the Civil War as Captain of Company D, 149th Pa. Volunteers, August 22, 1862, and promoted to Major, April 22, 1864, and to Lieutenant Colonel January 08, 1865. After the Regiment joined the Army of the Potomac it was assigned to the Third Division, First Army Corps, and Captain Glenn was Provost Marshal of the Division. He served in this capacity until he was promoted to Major. Captain Glenn was placed in command of the Regiment after the fight at Gettysburg, July 01, 1863 the Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel and Major being disabled by wounds - and had charge of the Regiment through the second and third days of the battle, and up to July 6th, when Major Irvin returned and took command. After the battle of Dabney's Mills, February 07, 1865, the Regiment was ordered to Elmira, N.Y., for special duty, and Lieut. Col. Glenn was there placed on detailed court martial service. He was mustered out of the service August 22, 1865. After the war Captain Glenn was elected Major in the 14th Regiment, N.G.P., September 01, 1875; promoted to Lieutenant Colonel January 20, 1877, and to Colonel in January, 1882. After serving a term as Colonel he retired roll February 25, 1888. Captain Glenn was well known in the community in which he lived, had no difficulty in securing the requisite number of men to organize a Company for the Civil War, and with the assistance of his Lieutenants and First Sergeant, the Company soon became proficient in drill and discipline. During his service he became known as a fighting officer,being frequently assigned to other commands when severe fighting was expected. He was almost reckless in his bravery. It was a common remark among the boys that "the Captain didn't know when he was licked" and after his attempt to rally half a dozen members of his Company on the retreat from Seminary Hill at Gettysburg, to stop the advance of a division of Lee's Army, followed by his service in the Wilderness and other campaigns, the mention of his name was sure to recall recollection of his bravery and soldierly qualities. He served his entire term of service without sickness or wounds, and was engaged in every march, skirmish or battle in which the Regiment participated. After the war he engaged in the grain and feed business and made his home with his sister, Mrs. Robb, of Glendale, Allegheny Co., Pa., where he lived, honored and respected by the entire community and kindly remembered by the surviving members of his old company. He died August 23, 1902, and was buried by his surviving comrades in the cemetery at Mt. Lebanon, Allegheny Co., Pa.
More on Captn James GLENN:
Sources:
*General History of Company D, 149th Pennsylvania Volunteers: and Personal Sketches of the Members, compiled by John W. Nesbit. pg 52, 1908.
"Captain James Glenn's Sword and Private J. Marshall Hill's Enfield in the Fight for the Lutheran Cemetery" by Wiley Sword Gettysburg, Jan. 1, 1993, Issue No. 8.
"Hannah Glenn Snodgrass Diary 1862-1863" Transcribed by Ann S Eldredge, Theresa Paxton and John Addison Williams, Jr, Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society Quarterly, 32:3 (2006).
Ahh, genealogy. Writing about the past brings warm hugs from beyond on a sunny day.
©2011 AS Eldredge
History tells us of the organization of Co. D of the PA 149th Volunteers at the Hill Church in Robinson's Run on August 22, 1862. Among those who volunteered and were original members of the group were several kin and kissing kin of mine, including Captain James GLENN (1824-1901).
This seems like the perfect time to share some more tidbits about cousin James.
In the Diary of Hannah Glenn SNODGRASS (my 2g aunt), she tells us that on August 19, 1862, her sister, Maggie, and Hannah's future husband, Addison Henry SIMMONS, and Hannah all ..
(Note: spelling and punctuation are the same as found in the diary)
"went to a war meeting down to Scotts. The speakers the Reverands J Y McCartney R McPherson Mr Calhoun Capt McElwain J Snodgrass & two others
Wed the 20 we sewed & put up tomatoes
Thursday the 21 we took the ear & plumbs aft put up some plumbs and sewed & Capt J Gleen (GLENN) was here for tea
Friday 22 Capt G in the morning"....
Captain GLENN was the first cousin of Hannah, and likely came to tea as he was going to be leaving for war that night. J SNODGRASS was also the cousin of Hannah. Two of the Reverends mentioned were from the Mansfield Presbyterian Church and Mansfield UP Church.
According to Hannah's words, Reverend McCartney chose his text on the 24th as Psalm 31 verse 19 which states, "How great is Thy goodness, Which Thou hast stored up for those who fear Thee, Which Thou hast wrought for those who take refuge in Thee, Before the sons of men!". We can only imagine the good Reverend somehow used that verse for the war talk from the pulpit.
The company did leave for Harrisburg on the evening of August 22, 1862, and arrived in Washington, DC on August 31, 1862. To see a letter written by company member (and cousin of Glenn) Frank C DORRINGTON, click on 1863 Civil War Letter from a Member of the PA 149th Bucktails written earlier this week.
The following item I placed in my genealogy files without documenting the source! How could I have done that? So, please forgive me. I acknowledge I didn't write this summary although I suspect it was a local newspaper of the time and I am still looking for the source. When I find it, it will be properly noted.
Civil War Veterans Memorial
10-1903
Memorial for Deceased Veterans
G.A.R. Men Honor Their Dead Comrades in a Service at the First Baptist Church Records and Singing on Program
The First Baptist church was filled with old soldiers and their friends, and relatives of deceased members of Captain Thomas Espy Post No. 153 Grand Army of the Republic, last Sabbath afternoon. Perhaps never before in Carnegie have there been held a more impressive service then this, the service to the memory of the twenty-one members who have passed away in the past seven years. The McKees Rocks Veterans Association was well represented. Rev. C. C. Cowgill, pastor of the First Christian church, read the Scripture lesson and Rev. J. H. Duff D.D., pastor of the First Presbyterian church, made the opening prayer. The pulpit was draped with the American Flag, and the symbols of the mourning, and on the arrival of the Post their half-masted flags were placed upon the platform. Col. Wm J. Glenn announced the program. The choir, with Miss Ella Perrin at the organ, sang several selections. Adjutant W. H. H. Lea read the record of each of the twentyone comrades who had died, and after each one the bugle call and taps were sounded. Rev. J. A. Snodgrass, the pastor of the church and a member of Espy Post delivered an address. Rev. Snodgrass spoke of the great dept which the younger generation owes to the Union soldiers of the Civil War. In the performance of their duty they assured to us the blessings of prosperity which we now enjoy. He called attention to the act that the government pension list, which up until last year grew steadily larger, had commenced to diminish, and last year was smaller then the year pre- ceding. There is only one cause for this, said he, the old soldiers are passing from our midst. The service closed by the congregation singing the doxology. Rev. Cow- gill pronounced the benediction.
*GLENN, James Captain James Glenn, who organized Company D, was a military man before the War, having entered the State service under the old Militia Laws, as Second Lieutenant in the Pennsylvania Blues, an independent Allegheny County Military Company. In this organization he was promoted to First Lieutenant and Captain; his Company being a good organization, and well known under the old system. He was mustered into the Volunteer Service for the Civil War as Captain of Company D, 149th Pa. Volunteers, August 22, 1862, and promoted to Major, April 22, 1864, and to Lieutenant Colonel January 08, 1865. After the Regiment joined the Army of the Potomac it was assigned to the Third Division, First Army Corps, and Captain Glenn was Provost Marshal of the Division. He served in this capacity until he was promoted to Major. Captain Glenn was placed in command of the Regiment after the fight at Gettysburg, July 01, 1863 the Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel and Major being disabled by wounds - and had charge of the Regiment through the second and third days of the battle, and up to July 6th, when Major Irvin returned and took command. After the battle of Dabney's Mills, February 07, 1865, the Regiment was ordered to Elmira, N.Y., for special duty, and Lieut. Col. Glenn was there placed on detailed court martial service. He was mustered out of the service August 22, 1865. After the war Captain Glenn was elected Major in the 14th Regiment, N.G.P., September 01, 1875; promoted to Lieutenant Colonel January 20, 1877, and to Colonel in January, 1882. After serving a term as Colonel he retired roll February 25, 1888. Captain Glenn was well known in the community in which he lived, had no difficulty in securing the requisite number of men to organize a Company for the Civil War, and with the assistance of his Lieutenants and First Sergeant, the Company soon became proficient in drill and discipline. During his service he became known as a fighting officer,being frequently assigned to other commands when severe fighting was expected. He was almost reckless in his bravery. It was a common remark among the boys that "the Captain didn't know when he was licked" and after his attempt to rally half a dozen members of his Company on the retreat from Seminary Hill at Gettysburg, to stop the advance of a division of Lee's Army, followed by his service in the Wilderness and other campaigns, the mention of his name was sure to recall recollection of his bravery and soldierly qualities. He served his entire term of service without sickness or wounds, and was engaged in every march, skirmish or battle in which the Regiment participated. After the war he engaged in the grain and feed business and made his home with his sister, Mrs. Robb, of Glendale, Allegheny Co., Pa., where he lived, honored and respected by the entire community and kindly remembered by the surviving members of his old company. He died August 23, 1902, and was buried by his surviving comrades in the cemetery at Mt. Lebanon, Allegheny Co., Pa. More on Captn James GLENN:
Sources:
*General History of Company D, 149th Pennsylvania Volunteers: and Personal Sketches of the Members, compiled by John W. Nesbit. pg 52, 1908.
"Captain James Glenn's Sword and Private J. Marshall Hill's Enfield in the Fight for the Lutheran Cemetery" by Wiley Sword Gettysburg, Jan. 1, 1993, Issue No. 8.
"Hannah Glenn Snodgrass Diary 1862-1863" Transcribed by Ann S Eldredge, Theresa Paxton and John Addison Williams, Jr, Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society Quarterly, 32:3 (2006).
Ahh, genealogy. Writing about the past brings warm hugs from beyond on a sunny day.
©2011 AS Eldredge
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Wordless Wednesday: Campfires of The Boys of '61 in 1894
I never thought much about the sheer numbers of American men who wore either the Blue or the Grey back during the Civil War. All I thought of while researching my genealogy roots is why did they have to be injured or die. What about their poor widows? And the children they left behind as they marched off to fight for their beliefs.
It also really didn't occur to me why I couldn't find my Yanks in the GAR post near the little town in which so many lived.
Today, I stumbled across a souvenir edition of the Pittsburgh Press from September 9, 1894. The number of stories, posts, and regimental histories combined with poetry and drawings is enough to have me reading for days. The men had all come to Pittsburgh for a grand reunion from many states. There's ton of history and names in these pages.
How many of my loving names which are only a memory will I find?
How many families suffered from the war? How many hearts were broken?
I submit to you the poem "For Freedom Died" found on pg 33 with the notation it was from the New York Evening Post.
"Forward!" was the word when day
Dawned upon the armed array.
"Fallen!" was the word when night
Closed upon the field of fight.
"Hurt, my boy?" "Oh, no! Not much!"
"Only got a little touch!"
"Forward!" was the word that flashed
Homeward, when the cannon crashed.
"Missing!" was the word sent home
When the shades of night had come.
"Fallen?" "Yes; he fell, they say,
In the fiercest of the fray!"
"Died last night!" the message said,
Thus the morrow's papers read.
One young heart that heard the word,
Fluttered like a wounded bird.
One was broken! Bowed her head
"Mother! Mother! Mother's dead!"
Two green graves we'll deck to day,
Son's and mother's side by side,
None will dare to tell us "Nay!"
Both for right and freedom died.
While we honor him who fell
In the fiercest of the fray,
We will honor her as well
Lying by his side today.
Let the flowers forever fair,
Bloom above our fallen braves,
While the angels guard them there,
Glory lingers o'er their graves.
Long ago one sweet soul
Entered her Gethsemane,
Death to her the greatest goal,
As it must to many be!
But life lingers Oh! so long!
And the years so weary grow!
Tears have choked her heart's sweet song,
Dimmed those eyes that used to glow!
Oh! the bleeding, broken hearts,
Living long their lingering death,
Pierced by countless cruel darts,
Smothered sobs beneath each breath.
Comrades! Call the roll again!
Write their name on glory's page!
Whose who bore the grief and pain,
Fiercer far than battle's rage!
When they lie there side by side,
Dearer to him than his life,
Mother, sister, sweetheart, bride,
Or his dear, devoted wife.
And you deck his grave again,
Write her name- but not beneath!
By her agony and pain
Crown her grave with fairest wreath!
Angels called the roll again,
Wrote her name above the stars
For her patient faith in pain,
Deeper far than battle scars.
Three green graves we deck today,
This the third, where lies his bride-
None will dare to tell us "Nay!"
For these three for freedom died!
Take some time to dig through these pages. It's a tear jerker you don't want to miss.
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=djft3U1LymYC&dat=18940909&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
Oh- and here's a picture of cousin William James GLENN. You can read more about him on an earlier blog: I am Simply a Survivor.
Below the drawing of GLENN is William H H LEA, the brother of my 2g-uncle, Cassius LEA.
Sources:
Pittsburgh Press
Sept 9, 1894
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=djft3U1LymYC&dat=18940909&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
Tip of the hat to cousin David for sending me to this newspaper date to find the drawing of WJ GLENN.
Ahh, genealogy. Tis grand to find the family history so intertwined with that of our great country. Tis humbling to know my kin have fought for this country since its beginning. My thoughts and prayers go to all veterans and the ones they leave behind. Thank you.
©2011 AS Eldredge
It also really didn't occur to me why I couldn't find my Yanks in the GAR post near the little town in which so many lived.
Today, I stumbled across a souvenir edition of the Pittsburgh Press from September 9, 1894. The number of stories, posts, and regimental histories combined with poetry and drawings is enough to have me reading for days. The men had all come to Pittsburgh for a grand reunion from many states. There's ton of history and names in these pages.
How many of my loving names which are only a memory will I find?
How many families suffered from the war? How many hearts were broken?
I submit to you the poem "For Freedom Died" found on pg 33 with the notation it was from the New York Evening Post.
"Forward!" was the word when day
Dawned upon the armed array.
"Fallen!" was the word when night
Closed upon the field of fight.
"Hurt, my boy?" "Oh, no! Not much!"
"Only got a little touch!"
"Forward!" was the word that flashed
Homeward, when the cannon crashed.
"Missing!" was the word sent home
When the shades of night had come.
"Fallen?" "Yes; he fell, they say,
In the fiercest of the fray!"
"Died last night!" the message said,
Thus the morrow's papers read.
One young heart that heard the word,
Fluttered like a wounded bird.
One was broken! Bowed her head
"Mother! Mother! Mother's dead!"
Two green graves we'll deck to day,
Son's and mother's side by side,
None will dare to tell us "Nay!"
Both for right and freedom died.
While we honor him who fell
In the fiercest of the fray,
We will honor her as well
Lying by his side today.
Let the flowers forever fair,
Bloom above our fallen braves,
While the angels guard them there,
Glory lingers o'er their graves.
Long ago one sweet soul
Entered her Gethsemane,
Death to her the greatest goal,
As it must to many be!
But life lingers Oh! so long!
And the years so weary grow!
Tears have choked her heart's sweet song,
Dimmed those eyes that used to glow!
Oh! the bleeding, broken hearts,
Living long their lingering death,
Pierced by countless cruel darts,
Smothered sobs beneath each breath.
Comrades! Call the roll again!
Write their name on glory's page!
Whose who bore the grief and pain,
Fiercer far than battle's rage!
When they lie there side by side,
Dearer to him than his life,
Mother, sister, sweetheart, bride,
Or his dear, devoted wife.
And you deck his grave again,
Write her name- but not beneath!
By her agony and pain
Crown her grave with fairest wreath!
Angels called the roll again,
Wrote her name above the stars
For her patient faith in pain,
Deeper far than battle scars.
Three green graves we deck today,
This the third, where lies his bride-
None will dare to tell us "Nay!"
For these three for freedom died!
Take some time to dig through these pages. It's a tear jerker you don't want to miss.
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=djft3U1LymYC&dat=18940909&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
Oh- and here's a picture of cousin William James GLENN. You can read more about him on an earlier blog: I am Simply a Survivor.
Below the drawing of GLENN is William H H LEA, the brother of my 2g-uncle, Cassius LEA.
Sources:
Pittsburgh Press
Sept 9, 1894
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=djft3U1LymYC&dat=18940909&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
Tip of the hat to cousin David for sending me to this newspaper date to find the drawing of WJ GLENN.
Ahh, genealogy. Tis grand to find the family history so intertwined with that of our great country. Tis humbling to know my kin have fought for this country since its beginning. My thoughts and prayers go to all veterans and the ones they leave behind. Thank you.
©2011 AS Eldredge
Monday, April 11, 2011
1863 Civil War Letter from a Member of the PA 149th Bucktails
Francis Crawford DORRINGTON (1838-1925) was a native of Allegheny Co, PA, and distantly related to me through his aunt who married into my GLENN family.
When I was first looking for information on the family after visiting the St. Clair Cemetery and finding DORRINGTONs in the GLENN family plot, I ran across this 1863 letter.
Francis, or Frank, was the son of Joseph DORRINGTON and Eliza LONG of Allegheny Co, PA.
Frank was recruited as a member of Company D, 149th PA Volunteers in August 22, 1862. Of interest is a note that his cousin James GLENN was elected as Captain and was active in recruiting of the local men. This has also been mentioned in the 1862 diary of my great great Aunt Hannah which was first published in 2004 by two of my cousins and myself.
Frank mustered in as a 3rd Corporal. The regiment arrived in Washington, DC in late August 1862 and stayed there until February 15, 1863.
This letter, written on February 11, 1863, details daily life in the camp and mentions several relatives who had moved to DC. It was submitted some 40 years ago to a historical society in CA, but I have yet to determine how the submitter was related to Frank.
For me, it was a great find. The salutation has me suspect it was written to his brother, Joseph.
Frank was severely wounded May 8, 1863, at the Battle of Laurel Hill. His story of survival is fascinating to read and can be found in the regimental history by Nesbit.
Frank married Nancy HEWITT and had a family. After the war, he was in the Temperanceville area of Allegheny Co, and ran a feed store. Frank is buried at Chartiers Cemetery in Carnegie, Allegheny, PA.
Source:
General History of Company D
149th Pennsylavania Volunteers
John W Nesbit
1908
http://digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=pitttext&cc=pitttext&idno=00hc08553m&q1=dorrington&frm=frameset&view=image&seq=1
Ahh, genealogy. Remembering the sacrifices of those who have gone before.
©2011 AS Eldredge
When I was first looking for information on the family after visiting the St. Clair Cemetery and finding DORRINGTONs in the GLENN family plot, I ran across this 1863 letter.
Francis, or Frank, was the son of Joseph DORRINGTON and Eliza LONG of Allegheny Co, PA.
Frank was recruited as a member of Company D, 149th PA Volunteers in August 22, 1862. Of interest is a note that his cousin James GLENN was elected as Captain and was active in recruiting of the local men. This has also been mentioned in the 1862 diary of my great great Aunt Hannah which was first published in 2004 by two of my cousins and myself.
Frank mustered in as a 3rd Corporal. The regiment arrived in Washington, DC in late August 1862 and stayed there until February 15, 1863.
This letter, written on February 11, 1863, details daily life in the camp and mentions several relatives who had moved to DC. It was submitted some 40 years ago to a historical society in CA, but I have yet to determine how the submitter was related to Frank.
For me, it was a great find. The salutation has me suspect it was written to his brother, Joseph.
Frank was severely wounded May 8, 1863, at the Battle of Laurel Hill. His story of survival is fascinating to read and can be found in the regimental history by Nesbit.
Frank married Nancy HEWITT and had a family. After the war, he was in the Temperanceville area of Allegheny Co, and ran a feed store. Frank is buried at Chartiers Cemetery in Carnegie, Allegheny, PA.
Source:
General History of Company D
149th Pennsylavania Volunteers
John W Nesbit
1908
http://digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=pitttext&cc=pitttext&idno=00hc08553m&q1=dorrington&frm=frameset&view=image&seq=1
Ahh, genealogy. Remembering the sacrifices of those who have gone before.
©2011 AS Eldredge
Friday, April 08, 2011
New Life for Family Members of the GAR Captain Thomas Espy Post 153
The GAR Captain Thomas Espy Post 153 has been a place of interest for me over the last several years. I guess it is because I have several uncles, cousins and such who were members of this group in Allegheny County, PA. In addition, two of my lovely female cousins, Wanda and Virginia, have been invaluable in assisting with the donation of materials and acting as docents for the post.
Just recently, a cousin of mine who is of the blood of Colonel William James GLENN sent an article from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette on the Civil War Veterans in the post. The article gives information on the post and my cousins and asks for help in identifying the pictures of the men from their 1904 reunion photo.
I've forwarded the article to my group in Allegheny County to see if we can assist in identifying some more of the veterans in the picture. So far, one lady has responded with the possible identification of her 2g grandpa. Hopefully, more genealogy buffs are grabbing those old photos of grandpa and a magnifying lens to search the 1904 photo. The photo can easily be blown up for viewing purposes. There is also a list of the men who were members of the post.
Here is a link to the article: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11093/1136324-51.stm
Link to the Post information which includes manuscripts, membership forms, transfer card, deceased members, etc. http://www.carnegiecarnegie.org/espycollectionmanuscripts.html
Just this afternoon, another genealogy buddy told me the post even has a Facebook page - Captain Thomas Espy GAR Post 153.
Recent Geni-Tales Blogs on the Captain Thomas Espy GAR Post 153
Whirlwind of Treasure in Carnegie
Simply, I am a Survivor
Captain James GLENN who was the cousin of Colonel William James GLENN mentioned above died in 1901 was also a member of the post. He died in 1901 so he is not in the picture. His picture can be found in an earlier blog of mine:
cousin Captain James GLENN of Co D, 149th PA Volunteers
Just Didn't Know When He was Licked
Ahh, genealogy. Is it just my age or do the magnifying lenses just not get those veterans in clear focus? Must be the lenses---------
©2011 AS Eldredge
Just recently, a cousin of mine who is of the blood of Colonel William James GLENN sent an article from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette on the Civil War Veterans in the post. The article gives information on the post and my cousins and asks for help in identifying the pictures of the men from their 1904 reunion photo.
I've forwarded the article to my group in Allegheny County to see if we can assist in identifying some more of the veterans in the picture. So far, one lady has responded with the possible identification of her 2g grandpa. Hopefully, more genealogy buffs are grabbing those old photos of grandpa and a magnifying lens to search the 1904 photo. The photo can easily be blown up for viewing purposes. There is also a list of the men who were members of the post.
Here is a link to the article: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11093/1136324-51.stm
Link to the Post information which includes manuscripts, membership forms, transfer card, deceased members, etc. http://www.carnegiecarnegie.org/espycollectionmanuscripts.html
Just this afternoon, another genealogy buddy told me the post even has a Facebook page - Captain Thomas Espy GAR Post 153.
Recent Geni-Tales Blogs on the Captain Thomas Espy GAR Post 153
Whirlwind of Treasure in Carnegie
Simply, I am a Survivor
Captain James GLENN who was the cousin of Colonel William James GLENN mentioned above died in 1901 was also a member of the post. He died in 1901 so he is not in the picture. His picture can be found in an earlier blog of mine:
cousin Captain James GLENN of Co D, 149th PA Volunteers
Just Didn't Know When He was Licked
Ahh, genealogy. Is it just my age or do the magnifying lenses just not get those veterans in clear focus? Must be the lenses---------
©2011 AS Eldredge
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Wordless Wednesday: The Nut Really Doesn't Fall Far with Family Traits
I watched the recent news story regarding the family skeleton in Oprah's mother's closet with interest. It must have been hard for her to give up an infant she knew she couldn't care for as it has been for mothers for years. How exciting the genes that were passed were able to provide joy for the family. Oprah and her family talked lovingly of the sister who had previously died and how similar the mannerisms are of the newly discovered sister are. How blessed they are to have found her and to have her presence bring back so many loving memories of one who has gone.
It's the same in so many families. When I think about the cousins I have met whose laugh can stop me in my tracks, or whose eyebrows can make me cry, I think about the genetics and how our deep our family ties can be. I just love hearing the laugh of the cousin who sounds just like my mom did, or looking at the eyebrows of a cousin who I just know took them straight off my dad, or even the I'm-rather-ticked toe tapping that my child does as she stands and looks just like grandma.
And to go further, I love looking at old photographs to see if I can identify any family traits that have been passed down. And yes, the old photos have me looking so much like my dad's mom and my children looking like their 3g grandma. Amazing.
Just recently, I established contact with a descendant of a female cousin. This female cousin, Margaret GLENN (1837-1902) was a bear to find. Tracing married female cousins can be hard to do when they moved away from the area and lost contact over the years.
I knew about Margaret from the 1936 papers of my cousin, S B HERDMAN. In that tree, SB had written that Margaret had married a McKEE and had 3 children of which he was aware. McKEE was a college professor. End of story.
Until a month ago----
One of my other GLENN types had asked me if I had ever traced her line in more detail. I had not as Margaret was the granddaughter of my 4g uncle, William GLENN.
I started digging around and found her living in Centre Co, PA, in the 1880 census with her hubby and children. After searching around more for the one child's name that was listed in the 1880 census, I found the family. They had moved to Cleveland later and the sons were prosperous. I found a great great grandson of Margaret and contacted him. He didn't know much of the family, but directed me to his uncle.
I popped off an email to the uncle's business and waited. Waiting to see if they were interested in the family or just thinking I was a nut job--- kind of like Oprah's staff thought when they were contacted by Oprah's newly discovered sister. You know, you always wonder what people really think when someone contacts them and says,'Hey, we're family."
When I contact someone, I try to give them a sense of who I am by having them check out the family cemetery page where I have done a lot of research and work, and by checking out my blog. I also provide enough background info on our mutual relation that they should be able to verify what I say easily.
Sometimes people don't. They either don't check or they don't care. Or perhaps, they think I want more than a distant cousin who can tell me more of the family. That has happened to me before when someone who was famous did not want to connect the dots or know about the other parts of their blood roots. Oh well, their loss.
Anyway, the uncle did call me the other day, and as luck would have it, I was no where near my computer so I probably sounded like a bumbling fool when I was digging into the deep recesses of my mind for the right family connection.
He did tell me more of his family history and I was able to provide more to him. Hopefully, he'll dig around and find some more old pictures for me so I can look for the family mannerisms or traits that give me such a warm touchy-feely feeling.
Ahh, genealogy. Seeing the past on the young descendants today can still provide me with a sense of family, and warmth and love.
©2011 AS Eldredge
It's the same in so many families. When I think about the cousins I have met whose laugh can stop me in my tracks, or whose eyebrows can make me cry, I think about the genetics and how our deep our family ties can be. I just love hearing the laugh of the cousin who sounds just like my mom did, or looking at the eyebrows of a cousin who I just know took them straight off my dad, or even the I'm-rather-ticked toe tapping that my child does as she stands and looks just like grandma.
And to go further, I love looking at old photographs to see if I can identify any family traits that have been passed down. And yes, the old photos have me looking so much like my dad's mom and my children looking like their 3g grandma. Amazing.
Just recently, I established contact with a descendant of a female cousin. This female cousin, Margaret GLENN (1837-1902) was a bear to find. Tracing married female cousins can be hard to do when they moved away from the area and lost contact over the years.
I knew about Margaret from the 1936 papers of my cousin, S B HERDMAN. In that tree, SB had written that Margaret had married a McKEE and had 3 children of which he was aware. McKEE was a college professor. End of story.
Until a month ago----
One of my other GLENN types had asked me if I had ever traced her line in more detail. I had not as Margaret was the granddaughter of my 4g uncle, William GLENN.
I started digging around and found her living in Centre Co, PA, in the 1880 census with her hubby and children. After searching around more for the one child's name that was listed in the 1880 census, I found the family. They had moved to Cleveland later and the sons were prosperous. I found a great great grandson of Margaret and contacted him. He didn't know much of the family, but directed me to his uncle.
I popped off an email to the uncle's business and waited. Waiting to see if they were interested in the family or just thinking I was a nut job--- kind of like Oprah's staff thought when they were contacted by Oprah's newly discovered sister. You know, you always wonder what people really think when someone contacts them and says,'Hey, we're family."
When I contact someone, I try to give them a sense of who I am by having them check out the family cemetery page where I have done a lot of research and work, and by checking out my blog. I also provide enough background info on our mutual relation that they should be able to verify what I say easily.
Sometimes people don't. They either don't check or they don't care. Or perhaps, they think I want more than a distant cousin who can tell me more of the family. That has happened to me before when someone who was famous did not want to connect the dots or know about the other parts of their blood roots. Oh well, their loss.
Anyway, the uncle did call me the other day, and as luck would have it, I was no where near my computer so I probably sounded like a bumbling fool when I was digging into the deep recesses of my mind for the right family connection.
He did tell me more of his family history and I was able to provide more to him. Hopefully, he'll dig around and find some more old pictures for me so I can look for the family mannerisms or traits that give me such a warm touchy-feely feeling.
Ahh, genealogy. Seeing the past on the young descendants today can still provide me with a sense of family, and warmth and love.
©2011 AS Eldredge
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Treasure Chest Thursday: Whirlwind of Treasure in Carnegie
In the last week or so, there has been a flurry of activity on the DOOLITTLE family of Carnegie, Allegheny, PA. It all started when I wrote a post on August 3 about cousin William James GLENN. Little did I know finding the Civil War personal war sketch at the CarnegieCarnegie site of the Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall in Carnegie, Allegheny, PA, could make me so happy.
Emails have been flying around since then from a descendant of Jacob DOOLITTLE (1809-1891) asking if I could assist with more documentation about his wife, Sarah CUBBAGE, and her family.
Sarah CUBBAGE was the daughter of Irishman George CUBBAGE and his wife, Nancy CALDWELL. I have not yet been able to find evidence that Nancy is one of my CALDWELL clan, but her 1791 birth in the same general neighborhood as my documented 1830ish births make it likely. To read more on CUBBAGE family, go to St Clair Cemetery.
The cool find for me in the email was the noting of the final resting place of Nancy CALDWELL CUBBAGE. She is listed at Venice Presbyterian Church Cemetery in McDonald, Washington, PA. Of more interest was noting Nancy's final resting spot uses the surname of her first husband, George CUBBAGE. My notes and research indicate she married Alexander EWING after the 1826 death of George.
A quick check with the descendant of George and Nancy confirmed what I thought I knew on the marriage to EWING.
To my knowledge, Jacob DOOLITTLE and Sarah CUBBAGE had five daughters. Two of them are of special interest to me.
Susan Belinda DOOLITTLE married into the LEA family-- that is, J W LEA of Carnegie. The LEA family was the neighbors, friends, and sometimes, spouses of my blood line. See a recent posting on Cassius M LEA, the husband of my 2g aunt.
The other daughter of Jacob and Sarah who married into my family was Martha E DOOLITTLE (1842-1907.) Martha was the wife of William James GLENN (1839-9018.)
Maggie (ah, how I love THAT name) of the Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall in Carnegie also contacted me to see if I could identify any of the gents in the picture they have of the Thomas Espy GAR Post as I have several cousins in that group. I took a quick look at the photo and realized that the odds of me recognizing the older men in full beards was basically little to none.
So, I started on a new journey of looking through old files and records to see if I could locate any pictures of some of these men when they were younger. I guess the folks at the library have most likely identified cousin George B FORSYTHE as my dearest cousin, his granddaughter, (yes, I know her) recently donated some more Civil War relics to the post.
I've also seen pictures of some of the GLENN men when they were younger. Could I see enough family resemblences in the pictures as they aged? I think not.
BUT-
I dug around and found some living descendants of William James GLENN! After making a phone call and leaving a message, it was now time to wait.
Today, I got the phone call. After speaking with the gentleman who confirmed his identity and his love of genealogy, my heart experienced a whirlwind of activity. Another connection to the past established! He has pictures! He has stories! And he has a cousin that he works with to research the past! Oh, glorious day!
Click to read the post that is causing such a whirlwind of activity: http://genitalesga.blogspot.com/2010/08/tombstone-tuesday-simply-i-am-survivor.html
Special note to Maggie at the library-- I hope to have some photo ids for you soon.
Ahh, genealogy. What treasures a whirlwind of new finds can be! Sometimes, it takes just a nudge from someone new to bring new energy to the hunt.
©2010 AS Eldredge
Emails have been flying around since then from a descendant of Jacob DOOLITTLE (1809-1891) asking if I could assist with more documentation about his wife, Sarah CUBBAGE, and her family.
Sarah CUBBAGE was the daughter of Irishman George CUBBAGE and his wife, Nancy CALDWELL. I have not yet been able to find evidence that Nancy is one of my CALDWELL clan, but her 1791 birth in the same general neighborhood as my documented 1830ish births make it likely. To read more on CUBBAGE family, go to St Clair Cemetery.
The cool find for me in the email was the noting of the final resting place of Nancy CALDWELL CUBBAGE. She is listed at Venice Presbyterian Church Cemetery in McDonald, Washington, PA. Of more interest was noting Nancy's final resting spot uses the surname of her first husband, George CUBBAGE. My notes and research indicate she married Alexander EWING after the 1826 death of George.
A quick check with the descendant of George and Nancy confirmed what I thought I knew on the marriage to EWING.
To my knowledge, Jacob DOOLITTLE and Sarah CUBBAGE had five daughters. Two of them are of special interest to me.
Susan Belinda DOOLITTLE married into the LEA family-- that is, J W LEA of Carnegie. The LEA family was the neighbors, friends, and sometimes, spouses of my blood line. See a recent posting on Cassius M LEA, the husband of my 2g aunt.
The other daughter of Jacob and Sarah who married into my family was Martha E DOOLITTLE (1842-1907.) Martha was the wife of William James GLENN (1839-9018.)
Maggie (ah, how I love THAT name) of the Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall in Carnegie also contacted me to see if I could identify any of the gents in the picture they have of the Thomas Espy GAR Post as I have several cousins in that group. I took a quick look at the photo and realized that the odds of me recognizing the older men in full beards was basically little to none.
So, I started on a new journey of looking through old files and records to see if I could locate any pictures of some of these men when they were younger. I guess the folks at the library have most likely identified cousin George B FORSYTHE as my dearest cousin, his granddaughter, (yes, I know her) recently donated some more Civil War relics to the post.
I've also seen pictures of some of the GLENN men when they were younger. Could I see enough family resemblences in the pictures as they aged? I think not.
BUT-
I dug around and found some living descendants of William James GLENN! After making a phone call and leaving a message, it was now time to wait.
Today, I got the phone call. After speaking with the gentleman who confirmed his identity and his love of genealogy, my heart experienced a whirlwind of activity. Another connection to the past established! He has pictures! He has stories! And he has a cousin that he works with to research the past! Oh, glorious day!
Click to read the post that is causing such a whirlwind of activity: http://genitalesga.blogspot.com/2010/08/tombstone-tuesday-simply-i-am-survivor.html
Special note to Maggie at the library-- I hope to have some photo ids for you soon.
Ahh, genealogy. What treasures a whirlwind of new finds can be! Sometimes, it takes just a nudge from someone new to bring new energy to the hunt.
©2010 AS Eldredge
Wednesday, August 04, 2010
Weaving the Pieces of the Puzzle Together
I recently received an email from a DORRINGTON descendent who is trying to fit the pieces of the puzzle together for Thomas DORRINGTON and James GLENN.
.....I am researching my Dorrington ancestors and I read your blog and info on James Glenn. I am new at this and I can’t find the link between James Glenn and Thomas and Jane Young Dorrington. I see a Jane Dorrington who married Walter Glenn b. 1777, but didn’t find James in that tree......
Yes, it was a mystery at first to me as well. But time and research has paid off in making the connections in the right places. It's a tough mystery as the good Irish grandpas made sure to name everyone "James."
Of course, it didn't hurt that I happen to have a copy of family papers from another cousin that he had put together in the early 1900s.
I first found Irish immigrant Thomas DORRINGTON and his wife, Jane YOUNG, on a trip to my family cemetery that everyone else calls St Clair Cemetery in Mt Lebanon, Allegheny Co, PA in 2004.
Thomas and wife, Jane, are buried smack dab right next to two of their grandsons, Thomas DORRINGTON, Jr and James GLENN (1824-1901). Thomas and Jane's headstones conveniently list them as "grandfather" and "grandmother" in the younger James GLENN's plot.
How? His parents were Walter GLENN (1777-1843) and Jane DORRINGTON (d.1843). This young James never married, yet he was the James GLENN of the Civil War Fame. Click here to read more of his bravery at Gettysburg.
This James GLENN (1824-1901) is the grandson of my 4g grandparents, James GLENN (1750-1813) and Janet BUCHANAN (1752-1807).
I first visited the cemetery as a child with my dad and my great aunt. She told me my roots in Pittsburgh were deep and that there were something like seven generations of my blood buried there. (I've only documented six of them at this point.) Since that early trip, I have made several trips to the cemetery and have thrown new headstone dedication parties there. You can read more about the cemetery online and read many of my early research contributions to the St Clair Cemetery at http://www.stclaircemetery.com/view.php/page/History_cemetery
Ahh, genealogy. What fun it is to fill in the missing pieces! Just be sure to document your sources so the errors some have made won't be repeated again. And if you plan to use others' research, please remember to give them the credit.
Sources:
Allegheny Co, PA, Will Bk 5 No. 424
Marriage Notices 1786-1910 Film P356 Roll #1: Carnegie Library
Wall, Elizabeth J. "Extracts from Cramers's Pittsburgh Almanack" WPGSQ 3 no. 4 (May 1977): 137.
1822, 4/4 Walter Glenn to Jane Darrington, all of St. Clair Twp., Alleg. Co.
Record of death: RD Docket, Vol 14, pg 470
Will: WB Dkt, Vol 67, pg 228
obit from Carnegie Signal 28 Aug 1901:
Colonel James Glenn
Colonel James Glenn, one of the best known residents of this vicinity, died at the home of his sister, Mrs. Chesterfield Robb at Glenndale, last Friday, August 23, 1901, in his 78th year. He had been ill for many weeks and his death was expected.
©2010 AS Eldredge
.....I am researching my Dorrington ancestors and I read your blog and info on James Glenn. I am new at this and I can’t find the link between James Glenn and Thomas and Jane Young Dorrington. I see a Jane Dorrington who married Walter Glenn b. 1777, but didn’t find James in that tree......
Yes, it was a mystery at first to me as well. But time and research has paid off in making the connections in the right places. It's a tough mystery as the good Irish grandpas made sure to name everyone "James."
Of course, it didn't hurt that I happen to have a copy of family papers from another cousin that he had put together in the early 1900s.
I first found Irish immigrant Thomas DORRINGTON and his wife, Jane YOUNG, on a trip to my family cemetery that everyone else calls St Clair Cemetery in Mt Lebanon, Allegheny Co, PA in 2004.
Thomas and wife, Jane, are buried smack dab right next to two of their grandsons, Thomas DORRINGTON, Jr and James GLENN (1824-1901). Thomas and Jane's headstones conveniently list them as "grandfather" and "grandmother" in the younger James GLENN's plot.
How? His parents were Walter GLENN (1777-1843) and Jane DORRINGTON (d.1843). This young James never married, yet he was the James GLENN of the Civil War Fame. Click here to read more of his bravery at Gettysburg.
This James GLENN (1824-1901) is the grandson of my 4g grandparents, James GLENN (1750-1813) and Janet BUCHANAN (1752-1807).
I first visited the cemetery as a child with my dad and my great aunt. She told me my roots in Pittsburgh were deep and that there were something like seven generations of my blood buried there. (I've only documented six of them at this point.) Since that early trip, I have made several trips to the cemetery and have thrown new headstone dedication parties there. You can read more about the cemetery online and read many of my early research contributions to the St Clair Cemetery at http://www.stclaircemetery.com/view.php/page/History_cemetery
Ahh, genealogy. What fun it is to fill in the missing pieces! Just be sure to document your sources so the errors some have made won't be repeated again. And if you plan to use others' research, please remember to give them the credit.
Sources:
Allegheny Co, PA, Will Bk 5 No. 424
Marriage Notices 1786-1910 Film P356 Roll #1: Carnegie Library
Wall, Elizabeth J. "Extracts from Cramers's Pittsburgh Almanack" WPGSQ 3 no. 4 (May 1977): 137.
1822, 4/4 Walter Glenn to Jane Darrington, all of St. Clair Twp., Alleg. Co.
Record of death: RD Docket, Vol 14, pg 470
Will: WB Dkt, Vol 67, pg 228
obit from Carnegie Signal 28 Aug 1901:
Colonel James Glenn
Colonel James Glenn, one of the best known residents of this vicinity, died at the home of his sister, Mrs. Chesterfield Robb at Glenndale, last Friday, August 23, 1901, in his 78th year. He had been ill for many weeks and his death was expected.
©2010 AS Eldredge
Tuesday, August 03, 2010
Tombstone Tuesday: "Simply, I am a Survivor"
It's another blistering hot summer day as I sit and think about my beloved heroes of the past. To me, it doesn't really matter which side of the "War of Northern Aggression" they believed in and fought. To me, it's the blood that matters.
Recently, I found some interesting tidbits about Civil War cousin, Captain James GLENN of the PA 149th Co. D. Click here to read more about his bravery and willingness to never give up the fight.
I also recently found the Civil War records of my great grandpa, George CALDWELL, who served the Yanks in the PA 102nd Infantry Co E. Click here to read more of George's story.
Today, I found the information of the GAR Captain Thomas Espy Post 153 on the CarnegieCarnegie site of the Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall in Carnegie, Allegheny, PA. I've known of the membership of several of my cousins for quite some time and have found this band quite interesting. I guess it is because I am related either through blood or marriage to many of them. At the least, they were the comrades, the friends and the neighbors of my family.
The site is still under construction, but I took a gander and looked at cousin William James GLENN-- and found----- his Personal War Sketch Questionnaire. Pretty interesting stuff here.
William was a member of the PA 61st Regiment Co E. I found where he and grandpa were both at the battle of Fair Oaks on that fateful day, May 31, 1862, when grandpa George was injured.
William was the first cousin, once removed, from Captain James GLENN and lived in the same general neighborhood and spent his youth in the same church. After William's marriage in 1865 to Martha Doolittle, they attended the Presbyterian Church closer to home in Carnegie.
William and his wife broke tradition with the GLENN family in the final resting place they chose. They are both buried in the Chartiers Cemetery in Carnegie. Was it because Martha's dad, Jacob DOOLITTLE, is buried there with 2nd wife? Martha's mom is buried at my family cemetery that most folks call the St Clair Cemetery.
Or is it because William's folks decided to be buried at the Chartiers Cemetery? I guess it was closer to the family homestead than trekking over to Mt Lebanon (five minutes by car, a lot longer by horse). Never mind. They are remembered and loved.
The most interesting part of the questionnaire was the last statement.
"So many I can't remember them - I simply, reverently thank God, I am a Survivor."
William James GLENN 1839-1908
Ah, genealogy. Perhaps ours words will one day echo those of cousin William J GLENN. Perhaps your words already do.
©2010 AS Eldredge
Recently, I found some interesting tidbits about Civil War cousin, Captain James GLENN of the PA 149th Co. D. Click here to read more about his bravery and willingness to never give up the fight.
I also recently found the Civil War records of my great grandpa, George CALDWELL, who served the Yanks in the PA 102nd Infantry Co E. Click here to read more of George's story.
Today, I found the information of the GAR Captain Thomas Espy Post 153 on the CarnegieCarnegie site of the Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall in Carnegie, Allegheny, PA. I've known of the membership of several of my cousins for quite some time and have found this band quite interesting. I guess it is because I am related either through blood or marriage to many of them. At the least, they were the comrades, the friends and the neighbors of my family.
The site is still under construction, but I took a gander and looked at cousin William James GLENN-- and found----- his Personal War Sketch Questionnaire. Pretty interesting stuff here.
William was a member of the PA 61st Regiment Co E. I found where he and grandpa were both at the battle of Fair Oaks on that fateful day, May 31, 1862, when grandpa George was injured.
William was the first cousin, once removed, from Captain James GLENN and lived in the same general neighborhood and spent his youth in the same church. After William's marriage in 1865 to Martha Doolittle, they attended the Presbyterian Church closer to home in Carnegie.
William and his wife broke tradition with the GLENN family in the final resting place they chose. They are both buried in the Chartiers Cemetery in Carnegie. Was it because Martha's dad, Jacob DOOLITTLE, is buried there with 2nd wife? Martha's mom is buried at my family cemetery that most folks call the St Clair Cemetery.
Or is it because William's folks decided to be buried at the Chartiers Cemetery? I guess it was closer to the family homestead than trekking over to Mt Lebanon (five minutes by car, a lot longer by horse). Never mind. They are remembered and loved.
The most interesting part of the questionnaire was the last statement.
"So many I can't remember them - I simply, reverently thank God, I am a Survivor."
William James GLENN 1839-1908
Ah, genealogy. Perhaps ours words will one day echo those of cousin William J GLENN. Perhaps your words already do.
©2010 AS Eldredge
Monday, December 14, 2009
Memories of Jim in a Letter From 1942
December 15 is the birthday of a cousin of mine. A cousin I never met. But live he did, and so I wish him a happy restful 96th birthday as Jim, the father, the patriot, rests in peace.
However, I do know his daughter and with her permission, I am placing a very special letter written by Jim to his darling wife and baby girl while he was off fighting for America during World War II.
It's a great letter and serves to kinda put everything in perspective as we near Christmas and time of birth of our Savior.
By the way, the dig at the Marines is actually a joke meant for his brother in law who served in the Marines during WWII.
Without further ado----
Somewhere in England
25 December 1942
Dear Babs, Dear Ellen and all,
Christmas morning. This year I have really made my Christmas Day like any other day in the year. I’ve found that it is home and family, not time of year that makes that lovely, friendly, human atmosphere of the days before Christmas. I saw the English equivalent of it there in a town I visited several Saturdays ago. I wish I could tell you what town it was—it was about as charming a spot as I’ve ever seen. Anyhow, as I was saying, on Saturday afternoon the streets were crowded like under Kaufmann’s Clock with pedestrians overflowing off the sidewalks and practically meeting in the middle of the street. The hustle was almost like home, but the percentage of khaki was almost 60%, which is higher than I’ve ever seen in a street scene at home.
Holly is an important part of the Christmas spirit over here. I think I’ve told you how much holly there is over here. In hedges and trees, both green and green with white edges on the leaves. And such a plethora of berries that if you saw it for sale at home, you’d swear that they were tied on. Well, every person I’ve seen for weeks (or so it seems) has had an arm full of holly, and every hedge or tree has had scars and wounds here and there.
Last evening was rather hard to get through. I kept thinking of the candle light ceremony in your room last year; wondering if it was repeated this year and if so, if it was done without tears as it should have been. Every time I’d think, “Now Babs is doing this or that,” I’d remember the five hour difference in time and console myself that this was only a rehearsal over here. The real Christmas Eve, my Christmas Eve, would not come for five hours yet. Did you have the big pink candle burning? I hope so because I kept seeing you in its glow. But if you decided to save it, that’s all right too, because then I’ll see you oftener in its light when I get home.
I tried to get them to fire a 21 gun salute on Wednesday when it was 5 o’clock over there to celebrate Young Stuff’s anniversary, but it seems that she hasn’t received her “federal recognition” yet, and so rates no salutes with the army.
We had a rapid succession of services of various faiths last night. The somewhat involved prayer offered by one chaplain asked blessing for:
(1) All soldiers both here and elsewhere,
(2) All sailors,
(3) All marines,
(4) All allies
(5) Our enemies.
At the end of the prayer I said, quote, “I don’t mind praying for our enemies but let’s leave the marines out of this,” unquote. John will want to settle that when we meet again.
Did the flowers arrive in time or at all? After I spent about 3 quid to send them (the native who sent them through said “whew” when he looked up the price) I heard that all cables were being held up so I don’t know if you got them or not.
Goodbye for now,
Love Jim
However, I do know his daughter and with her permission, I am placing a very special letter written by Jim to his darling wife and baby girl while he was off fighting for America during World War II.
It's a great letter and serves to kinda put everything in perspective as we near Christmas and time of birth of our Savior.
By the way, the dig at the Marines is actually a joke meant for his brother in law who served in the Marines during WWII.
Without further ado----
Somewhere in England
25 December 1942
Dear Babs, Dear Ellen and all,
Christmas morning. This year I have really made my Christmas Day like any other day in the year. I’ve found that it is home and family, not time of year that makes that lovely, friendly, human atmosphere of the days before Christmas. I saw the English equivalent of it there in a town I visited several Saturdays ago. I wish I could tell you what town it was—it was about as charming a spot as I’ve ever seen. Anyhow, as I was saying, on Saturday afternoon the streets were crowded like under Kaufmann’s Clock with pedestrians overflowing off the sidewalks and practically meeting in the middle of the street. The hustle was almost like home, but the percentage of khaki was almost 60%, which is higher than I’ve ever seen in a street scene at home.
Holly is an important part of the Christmas spirit over here. I think I’ve told you how much holly there is over here. In hedges and trees, both green and green with white edges on the leaves. And such a plethora of berries that if you saw it for sale at home, you’d swear that they were tied on. Well, every person I’ve seen for weeks (or so it seems) has had an arm full of holly, and every hedge or tree has had scars and wounds here and there.
Last evening was rather hard to get through. I kept thinking of the candle light ceremony in your room last year; wondering if it was repeated this year and if so, if it was done without tears as it should have been. Every time I’d think, “Now Babs is doing this or that,” I’d remember the five hour difference in time and console myself that this was only a rehearsal over here. The real Christmas Eve, my Christmas Eve, would not come for five hours yet. Did you have the big pink candle burning? I hope so because I kept seeing you in its glow. But if you decided to save it, that’s all right too, because then I’ll see you oftener in its light when I get home.
I tried to get them to fire a 21 gun salute on Wednesday when it was 5 o’clock over there to celebrate Young Stuff’s anniversary, but it seems that she hasn’t received her “federal recognition” yet, and so rates no salutes with the army.
We had a rapid succession of services of various faiths last night. The somewhat involved prayer offered by one chaplain asked blessing for:
(1) All soldiers both here and elsewhere,
(2) All sailors,
(3) All marines,
(4) All allies
(5) Our enemies.
At the end of the prayer I said, quote, “I don’t mind praying for our enemies but let’s leave the marines out of this,” unquote. John will want to settle that when we meet again.
Did the flowers arrive in time or at all? After I spent about 3 quid to send them (the native who sent them through said “whew” when he looked up the price) I heard that all cables were being held up so I don’t know if you got them or not.
Goodbye for now,
Love Jim
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Cold Outside Means Warm Memories of Cemeteries Past
The cold weather ushered in requests from the Pittsburgh area for some assistance with the Mt. Pisgah Presbyterian Church Cemetery.
I have a couple of tidbits which I passed on the gent who is working on the cemetery listing and sent him the few pictures I have. Amazingly enough, I have more information on people buried there than I realized. I also have more names than headstones that can be read easily.
The last time I was at the cemetery was in August 2005 when the family had gathered to dedicate two new headstones at our "family" cemetery, which most folks just call the St Clair Cemetery. We took some time to stop in at Mt Pisgah to check on the family headstones and see if we could find more family.
The SNODGRASS family had long ties with the Mt Pisgah church, even serving as Ruling Elders way back during its early days. I suspect if I looked long enough, I would most likely find evidence of some of the FOSTER and CRANE families there as well.
Some of the information I located on the church I found in the article I (along with two cousins) published in 2006 on Hannah's 1862 Diary in the WPGS Quarterly. I hope it helps.
Just in case you are interested, the family information I passed on today was on the Robert SNODGRASS and Hannah GLENN family. Some of the information was on several of Robert's siblings. The SNODGRASS family is interesting in that Robert Sr bought his land directly from the PENN family. I even have a copy of the deed somewhere around here.
If you've been to Pittsburgh, no doubt you've traveled on some of our land. Unfortunately, the land is now part of the interstate which goes from the airport to downtown.
Forgive my ramblings, but tis too cold to think clearly today. Guess our ancestors really knew the meaning of cold in their day. They survived it-- so will I. In the meantime, I have my memories of hanging out in the cemetery in the warm sun with my cousins.
I have a couple of tidbits which I passed on the gent who is working on the cemetery listing and sent him the few pictures I have. Amazingly enough, I have more information on people buried there than I realized. I also have more names than headstones that can be read easily.
The last time I was at the cemetery was in August 2005 when the family had gathered to dedicate two new headstones at our "family" cemetery, which most folks just call the St Clair Cemetery. We took some time to stop in at Mt Pisgah to check on the family headstones and see if we could find more family.
The SNODGRASS family had long ties with the Mt Pisgah church, even serving as Ruling Elders way back during its early days. I suspect if I looked long enough, I would most likely find evidence of some of the FOSTER and CRANE families there as well.
Some of the information I located on the church I found in the article I (along with two cousins) published in 2006 on Hannah's 1862 Diary in the WPGS Quarterly. I hope it helps.
Just in case you are interested, the family information I passed on today was on the Robert SNODGRASS and Hannah GLENN family. Some of the information was on several of Robert's siblings. The SNODGRASS family is interesting in that Robert Sr bought his land directly from the PENN family. I even have a copy of the deed somewhere around here.
If you've been to Pittsburgh, no doubt you've traveled on some of our land. Unfortunately, the land is now part of the interstate which goes from the airport to downtown.
Forgive my ramblings, but tis too cold to think clearly today. Guess our ancestors really knew the meaning of cold in their day. They survived it-- so will I. In the meantime, I have my memories of hanging out in the cemetery in the warm sun with my cousins.
Monday, May 19, 2008
WWII Heartstrings
When found, old family letters are mighty moving. Especially when letters are found which date back several decades or more. These letters tug at our heartstrings.
The following are a couple of letter fragments from dear cousin Ellen who found them in her attic recently. The letters are from WWII when her father, James R Glenn, Jr (1913-2001) was stationed in North Africa and Italy from the fall of 1942 through 1946.
Undated letter fragment
It rained all night night before last, and all day
yesterday, and we're deep in mud and misery, so I
can't write long but I wanted to write long enough to
tell you about the lovely poems I'd been reading and
let you infer how very much I'd like to be reading
them to you.
I love you,
Jim
9 January 1945
Dear Mrs. Glenn:
I am pleased to inform you that the latest report
states that your husband is making normal improvement
on 15 December. You will be notified immediately when
additional information is received.
Sincerely yours,
J.A. Ulio
Major General,
The Adjutant General
Cousin Ellen writes, "The reason it is funny, is the dates. In fact, Mom got
the letter from my dad saying that he had been
wounded, but was in the hospital recovering before she
got the telegram from the War Department saying that
he had been wounded. It's incredible in this day of
cell phones and email to imagine that they didn't see
each other or hear each other's voices for nearly 5
years..."
"The day I found them in my mom's old suitcase, I spent the
entire day reading through many of them."
"What a day it was! They were not only alive again, if
only for a few hours, but they were young and vital
too."
The following are a couple of letter fragments from dear cousin Ellen who found them in her attic recently. The letters are from WWII when her father, James R Glenn, Jr (1913-2001) was stationed in North Africa and Italy from the fall of 1942 through 1946.
Undated letter fragment
It rained all night night before last, and all day
yesterday, and we're deep in mud and misery, so I
can't write long but I wanted to write long enough to
tell you about the lovely poems I'd been reading and
let you infer how very much I'd like to be reading
them to you.
I love you,
Jim
9 January 1945
Dear Mrs. Glenn:
I am pleased to inform you that the latest report
states that your husband is making normal improvement
on 15 December. You will be notified immediately when
additional information is received.
Sincerely yours,
J.A. Ulio
Major General,
The Adjutant General
Cousin Ellen writes, "The reason it is funny, is the dates. In fact, Mom got
the letter from my dad saying that he had been
wounded, but was in the hospital recovering before she
got the telegram from the War Department saying that
he had been wounded. It's incredible in this day of
cell phones and email to imagine that they didn't see
each other or hear each other's voices for nearly 5
years..."
"The day I found them in my mom's old suitcase, I spent the
entire day reading through many of them."
"What a day it was! They were not only alive again, if
only for a few hours, but they were young and vital
too."
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