The relative who is the keeper of the Gray family history and treasures is the 5th Generation son to live on the Riverview Farm which began with 1. John Sr purchasing the homestead in 1866; he passed it on to 2. George R; he passed it on to 3. George Alvey; he passed it on to 4. Robert Lyn; he passed it on to 5. Don; his son 6. Gary is now living in 'The Big House' and is still farming crops with some seasonal help from his father...
When I compare the Gray Records I have found on-line to some of the writing done by one of the Gray Family relatives I have found some differences. I created this document as a place to keep track of those differences and the explanations for them and/or questions still remaining for future research.
I believe that most of the 'History of the Gray Family and Riverview Farm' started as 'word of mouth' stories, etc. It was built by the memories of the descendants of John Gray Sr; only George R, Robert C and George A grew up with him around; John Gray Sr died in 1892 before the children of George Alvey were born. The people who began to 'build the family tree' were doing so before the arrival of the Internet and Genealogy Websites; it appears they had very little in the way of actual records, e.g. birth certificates.
In 2006 my father wrote down some notes about the beginnings of Riverview Farm and what it was like (for him) growing up there. I'm fairly certain that his notes on the beginnings of Riverview Farm came from an 'epistle' written by his father, Robert Lyn Gray, before he died.
The first time I began to view the Family Collection of photos and scrapbooks, etc. and ask my Uncle Don questions was in July 2015 when I visited him at his home. The second time was at the Family Reunion, August 2015. The third time was another visit to his home (he was helping his son combine corn so I didn't get to chat much with him); I was able to take some things to my daughter's to look at, overnight.
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Monday, October 19, 2015
New Info from Don’s house
Photos and Documents from my last visit to Don's house
Eliza Lucretia DeLong
Eliza Delong-Piper: Obituary
*includes Probate announcement for Mary Henry-DeLong (her mother)
Alexander Gray: Civil War Service Records and Memorial
Don donated $200. towards the Dodge County Civil War Memorial in 2010, "In Honor of Alexander Gray". There was an an event held for the Wasioja Civil War Days, 150 Years in 2011. Wasioja was the designated recruitment office for Dodge County beginning in 1861.
See, Media: Alexander Civil War (3) (4) (5)
(4, Doug) Kerr record (May, 2006): Alexander born 1810; died 10/13/1866
(5, Peg) John and Bathia arrived sometime in 1865, George in 1866 or 67.
(3, Doug) until 1865 when John and Bathia arrived
Both the family history of the Gray Family and the Kerr Family write that John and Bathia arrived sometime in 1865. There is a family portrait that has names across the top and this across the bottom: First generation in the Gray farm. Personal Note: the portrait had to have been taken sometime after the 1860 Michigan Census, as the baby, Jane appears to have died sometime after. My sources for 1866
A Chronicle of Claremont Township and Village (see, Media, Gray, George R and John, Historical Information -John Gray Sr Profile Page) state he arrived in 1866 and purchased the homestead; Warranty Deed, 3/17/1866; transferred from John Sr to George R, 1/25/1867 (see, Media, 6th Generation Gray lives on Riverview Farm in 2015).
Probate File, Bathia (Davidson) Gray; Estate in Michigan, minor children (George 20 and Bathia Jr 18) filed 1/16/1866 (1st court appearance and filing -Petition to appoint guardian, 12/12/1865). Petitioner, son of John Sr, John Jr).Timothy and Louisa (Paddock) Lynch
Documents: Timothy and Louisa (Paddock) Lynch (2 pgs) written by Robert Lyn *includes his handwritten page
add to Timothy and Louisa
Gray Family Reunion: Questions, errors in Gray Family History
Gray family reunion held July 13th from 2002. Interesting note: John and Bethia Gray emigrated from Aberdeen Scotland and settled in Claremont Township in 1866. Which is incorrect. By what I have seen so far in the family notes: Michigan is not mentioned; on the Family Portrait the person who wrote the names across the top of it also wrote across the bottom: First Generation in the Gray Farm and we know this photo to have been taken in Michigan; appears to me it was taken after the 1850 Census.
John Sr with Bathia, family portrait: the person who wrote the names across the top must be the same person who wrote the names in the front of the scrapbook because William was written as the youngest son and John as the oldest; the youngest daughter's name was unknown (Jane)
according to the stamp on the cardboard frame taken in Brainerd, Minnesota?
Note to Self: could have been a ‘traveling’ photographer. The portrait may not have been taken in Brainerd, MN but later placed in that frame for display. Most of the family portraits I've seen have not been in any kind of frame. I do know that Gray relatives had land that area (I think they were Paddock's). I think William was added to the children of John Gray (on that photo and on the scrapbook cover I spoke of earlier) after Don received the visit from W. Scott Gray and learned of the existence of William Gray, son of John Gray Sr.
John Gray Sr and Bathia Davidson
Note to Self: the marriage certificate states that he was a farm servant when he married Bathia Davidson (the spinster). My theory goes something like this: he was a servant for Bathia's family; his wife (Barbara Troup) died at the time of the birth of William; he needed a wife and Bathia needed a husband. Her father provided the money needed and as insurance for his daughter's financial security John also had to put the home and some land in her name; that would explain the Probate of her estate; which startled me when I read it because women weren't normally allowed to own land or have their own bank accounts, etc.
Stephen sent me something about a Davidson family you found on the internet, if I remember correctly (without looking for it in your email history), they were well-to-do, titled, landowners, etc. Makes me wonder if you should revisit that information and do some more research.
Also, I remember the William Davidson, age 24, under John Gray's name on the 1834 Passenger List, likely Bathia's brother; unfortunate that neither of us has been able to find any record of him in a Federal Census, which seems odd.
the land John Gray Sr purchased in Michigan (refer to, The Gray Family Story, Scotland to America:
Factors influencing new settlement in Michigan, particularly focused on Wayne County: In the late 1830’s and early 1840’s, ‘Michigan fever’ swept the East, and millions of acres of land were grabbed at the bargain price of $1.25 an acre… Michigan employed an emigrant agent… selling land helped the government pay debts and accumulate tax-payers…
And, this quote from a letter from Michigan to relatives in Scotland:
We own 720 acres which we purchased from the US Government at one dollar and 25 cents and acre. There is plenty of government (land) within a few miles mostly very good. People are crowding in almost every day so that there will not be an acre of Government land within a great many miles in a short time. Lots of land cost a hundred dollars last year can be sold for two hundred this year.
1850 Census, Farm Value $800. Equip $70.
1860 Census, RE Value $4,000. Personal Estate $600.
The increase in his RE Value in ten years is phenomenal! Appears by this he would have had no trouble paying $1,800. for 160 acres (11.25 per acre).
9/6 Blog Post: John Gray Sr’s family photo comparison
I added to the new photos to my 9/6 Blog Post: John Gray Lineage Photo Comparison. To me, in the Family Portrait, George R looks younger than Bathia Jr!
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
REMINDERS: My Family Trees and My Blogs
Note to self: What happens to my Ancestry.com Family Trees when I die?
I need to find out if there’s a way of changing ownership of a tree after death of the current owner [there may be a ‘beneficiary’ notification system I need to register in] or if a tree can have a ‘joint’ ownership.
I found nothing on Ancestry.com about this, only what happens if I cancel my membership.
All my family trees will stay on Ancestry.com FOREVER unless I delete them. That includes my photos, stories, documents I added. In order to continue to build on a tree a person would have to start a new one and copy the family members and attach all the photos and media.
I was told I can create a GEDCOM Tree: I clicked on this option and was told it couldn’t be done (on my Chrome PC). I need to try it on my HP/PC.
I purchased the Family Tree Maker and it is on my HP/PC. Problem, seems I can only have one tree linked to Ancestry.com.
xxx
Project: Merkley-Casselman Connections
The Immigrants: Palatine Refugees
Casselman and Markel
Markel, Frederick 1669
Casselman, Hans Dietrich 1662
Memorial Plaque; West Camp
Caselman
Mercke
|
1756 Map of Mohawk Valley
|
Map of late 18th century Holy Roman Empire
Rhine port of Speyer ca 1750
German Peasants
|
Stone Arabia Patent 3rd Allotment
|
Stone Arabia Patent and 1723 Stone Arabia Patent holders (pg 1, 2)
|
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, West Camp, NY
Stone Arabia Churches
Stone Arabia Historical Buildings
Stone Arabia, Triinity Lutheran Cemetery
|
Stone Arabia History - Amsterdam (NY) Evening Recorder - 1922
|
Saltsman’s Hotel and Restaurant
|
Early Ontario Settlers A Source Book
|
Loyalists in Ontario
Casselman & Markle
Loyalist Casselmans: List of officers who settled in Upper Canada after the Rev. War
|
Casselman, Compendium 1, 2, 3, 5
|
Casselman2: Capt. Cephrenus Wilhelm (pg 29)
should be: Compendium
|
Casselman4: Capt. Cephrenus Wilhelm (pg 29)
should be: Casselman, Sons and Daughters
John (served in Butler’s Rangers)
Maria
William
Eve
|
Casselman, Stone Arabia, NY
|
Markle, John The Loyalists in Ontario
|
xxx
Project: Zach-Freese Family
Raymond, Frank Simon 1888 m: Augusta Zach B: 1889
son: Harry David 1911 and Clara Edna Blanchard B: 1908
|
Zach: Augusta Zach B: 1889 m: Raymond, Frank Simon B: 1888
see: Raymond, Frank
Zach Raymond, Augusta and Frank with Irene, Marion (pg 1)
|
xxx
Project: Sams Family
Sams: Jonas 1758 m: Sarah Harper B: 1768
*Inscription: Beesons’ Co. Penn Militia Revolutonary War
son: Edward 1794 m: Cassandra Edgington B: 1800 (pg 10)
Sams, Cemetery: Sams aka Fremont Cemetery *Burial List
|
Ping, Mathias 1821 m: Elinora Ann Callaway B: 1822
daughter: Laura aka Lorena 1859 m: Stephen Douglas Sams B: 1859
See: Sams, Jonas
Ping, Cemetery: West Liberty Old Stone Cemetery (pg 10)
Mathias Ping, Elinora Ann Callaway
|
Sams, Cemetery: Sams aka Fremont Cemetery *Burial List
Cass Township, Jones County, Anamosa, Iowa (pg 9, 10)
*Private Land (Fremont)
Edward 1794
|
PHOTOS:
Sherry Jongsma (Sams)
She identified people in the pictures
1. Back row left to right: Gene or Bill Smith (George Gray); Chester Sams holding his son Bill; Sylvenus; and Rock Hess.
2. Front row: Alvin; Lawrence; Charles Sams; and Glenn Sams
Picture 2. Back row left to right: Chet (Chester Sams twin to Charles Sams)
Front row: Amy; Hester; Glenn; Opal (my parents); Charles Sams; Trinnie Lee (Brennan) Sams and Lawrence.
My note: The guy you thought was Gene or Bill Smith is George Gray, my Dad -Grandpa and Grandma and Mom and Dad must have made a trip down to Iowa to visit. I could identify Alvin, Lawrence and Chet. I had forgotten that Chet and Charles were twins.
I think the first picture is Uncle Charles home on leave from the service with Uncle Lawrence. I am sending a picture that is of Uncle Joy and he was in the Navy.
Sams, Lawrence and Charles
Charles, home on leave. Identified by his niece.
|
Project: Merkley Family
Markle, Frederick 1669 m: Anna Barbara Alman B: 1681
Markle, Frederick 1756 m: Rebecca Pickard B: 1769
*Matilda Twp, Dundas, Ontario, Canada to Eureka, Sac, Iowa
son: Markley, Levi 1842 m: Rosaline Casselman B: 1851
son: Markley, Michael Frederick 1808 m: Nancy Casselman B: 1805
son: Merkley, William Ira 1833 m: Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ Casselman B: 1836
son: Merkley, Edgar(Cephrenus) 1861 m: Matilda (Wiley) B: 1865
See: next ‘Box’
|
Merkley, Edgar(Cephrenus) 1861 m: Matilda (Wiley) B: 1865
Merkley, (Cephrenus) Edgar
Photos (Group); Matilda’s Grandchildren (pg 2-3)
Merkley, Cemetery: Schaller Cemetery
son: Merkley, Ross John and Laura Ellen (Barnard)
|
Merkley, (Cyphus) Merle 1887 m: Minnie Belle Larson B: 1887
son: Everil Dwain 1909 m:
daughter: Elaine Marie 1910 m:
daughter: Ferne (Evelyn) 19112 m:
daughter: Dora Belle 1914 m: Gayle Domino
daughter: Alta Lucille 1918 m:
son: Robert Merle 1922 m: Betty Jean Robinson B: 1922
daughter: Jean Ellen 1924
daughter: Margaret Ann ‘Peg’ 1928 m:
daughter: Mary Louise 1930 m:
|
Merckel, Christopher 1693 m: Catherina Kurtz B: 1696
son: Merckel, Christopher Friedrich 1722 m: Marla Catharina Hoellrigel B: 1723
son: Marcley or Merkley, Christian (Michael) 1762 m: Anna Loucks B: 1763
daughter: Merkley, Magdalene ‘Lany’ 1804
daughter: Maria Mary Merkley 1790 m: Sephrenes Casselman B: 1786
see: Casselman, Sephrenes
|
Nellis, Christian 1697 m: Barvalis Elizabeth Klock B: 1697
*Klock Burial grounds moved to St. Johnsonville
*1722 Land Patent (Nellis, Klock)
son: Robert 1725 m: Anna Merckel B: 1729
See: Merckel, Anna; daughter of Frederick Markle m: Anna B. Alman
son: William Robert 1761 *Photo, Walnut Bend, Pennsylvania (pg 10. 11)
|
Whittaker, Roland Eugene 1858 M -Eva Merkley B: 1861
daughter: Carrie Edna 1885 m: Hanson
Ottawa Civic Hospital:
Carrie Edna Whittaker Hanson; Bertha Merkley (?)
|
Other, Noteworthy People
Bush (Bosch) -Merckel
Bush, Thomas 1717 m: Elizabeth Maria Merckel B: 1719Story of the Bush Children
|
Kennedy: Kennedy, James 1808 m: Martha Gallagher B: 1811 (pg 8)
1851 Census, Ontario, Canada
daughter: Mary 1842 m: John Wylie Sr B: 1840
See: Wylie
daughter: Matilda 1865 m: Edgar Merkley 1861
See: Merkley
Wiley: John Sr 1840 m: Mary Kennedy B: 1842
See: Kennedy
daughter: Matilda 1865 m: Edgar Merkley 1861
See: Merkley
son: Howard 1876 m: Orpha Luella (Riddle) |
Merkley, Cemetery: Schaller Cemetery
Merkley, Edgar and Matilda (Wiley)
Cemetery: Schaller Cemetery
Cemetery: Linwood Park *Merkley: David son of Robert
Cemetery: Forest Lawn Memorial Cemetery *Merkley, John and Laura
|
xxx
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)