Showing posts with label Townsend. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Townsend. Show all posts

Saturday, September 29, 2012

SSN Application: Illinois (Townsend) Wallen 1958



This is the application for a Social Security number filled out by my paternal grandmother, Iva Illinois (Townsend) Wallen in March of 1958. "Noy" was already grandmother to 5 children at the time she filled this out. My grandfather deserted her about 1954 and they divorced sometime in the early 1960s.


Grandmother Noy lived with her daughter Jeanne for the rest of her life. Aunt Jeanne had divorced in 1951 and neither woman ever remarried.

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Monday, June 11, 2012

Amanuensis Monday: The Will of David B. Owen, Sr.



Last Will and Testament of David Brashears Owen


David Brashears Owen was born in Ohio on 16 Feb 1836 to James and Nancy Ann (Brashears) Owen. He was my paternal great, great grandfather. David married Sarah Samantha Miller, daughter of Benjamin B. and Elizabeth (Smith) Miller, on 31 Dec 1858 in Fayette Co., Illinois and died there on 5 Oct 1919, over nine years after his will was written. His deceased daughter, Mary Ellen Lucretia Townsend, as mentioned here in his will, was my great grandmother. Mary Ellen's daughter, Iva Illinois Townsend, also mentioned, was my grandmother.


The Last Will and Testament of David B. Owen of the Township of Sefton in the County of Fayette and State of Illinois made and published the 30th day of March in the year of our Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred Ten

In The Name of God Amen
I David B Owen of the Township of Sefton in the County of Fayette and State of Illinois of the age of Seventy Four years and being of Sound mind and memory, do hereby make publish and declare this my Last Will and Testament in manner following that is to Say:
First ÷ It is my will that my funeral Expenses and my just debts be fully paid:
Second ÷ I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Sarah S Owen all my Estate both Real and personal So long as She lives and remains my widow. That upon her Death or remarriage all remainder of Personal property and all Real Estate I give bequeath and Devise to My Dear children as follows:
To - George W Owen  One Seventh part Thereof
To - Benj M Owen  One Seventh part Thereof
Subject to advancements To each of Five Hundred ($500.ᴼᴼ) Dollars in lands Conveyed to them Severally hereinafter more particularly set forth.
To - Roxanie Durbin  One Seventh part Thereof
To - James Owen  One Seventh part Thereof
To - David B. Owen Jr  One Seventh part Thereof
To - Sarah Dellas Simpkins  One Seventh part Thereof
and to my Dear Grand children, children of my deceased Daughter Mary E L Townsend as follows
To - Gladys S Townsend  One Thirtyfifth part Thereof
To - Floyd Townsend  One Thirtyfifth part Thereof
To - Mary E Townsend  One Thirtyfifth part Thereof
To   Iva Illinois Townsend  One Thirtyfifth part Thereof
To   Andrew Nelson Townsend  One Thirtyfifth part Thereof
The Specific charge of Five Hundred Dollars is here made against the interest of George W Owen in such of my Estate left by me on account of the following deemed and given to him by way of advancement To wit:
S 1/2 of the SW 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Section 24 Town 7-N-A-2 - East of the 3rd PM in Fayette County, Illinois.
and the Specific charge of Five Hundred Dollars is here made against the interest of Benj M Owen in such of my Estate left by me on account of the following described land given to him by way of advancement to wit:
W 1/2 of the NW 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Section 8 Town 7-N-R-3 East 3rd PM and the S 1/2 of the S 1/2 of the SE 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Section 24 Town 7-N-R-2 East 3rd PM all in Fayette County, Illinois.
That upon a Division and final Settlement of my Estate as above provided, the Sums of Five Hundred Dollars shall be deducted from the Share each of George W Owen and Benj M Owen as herein charged against them and the Same distributed in Equal parts to Roxainie Durbin, James Owen, David B Owen Jr. and Sarah Dellas Simpkins. Each One Fifth (1/5) part Thereof and to Gladys S Townsend, Floyd Townsend, Mary E Townsend, Iva Illinois Townsend and Andrew Nelson Townsend My Grand children herein named Each one Twentyfifth (1/25) part Thereof:
Third, I hereby authorize direct and Empower my Executor hereinafter named upon the death or remarriage of my Said Wife or with her Written Consent before her Death or remarriage to Sell and Convey such of my Estate either Real or personal, part or all, without the order or Direction or Decree of any Court, having in View at all times the personal welfare of my Said Wife and making Such provisions for her care and comfort as She may need or require;: and upon such Sale being made to divide and Distribute the same to the Several parties named herein, or to their heirs:
It is Expressly provided That my Estate Shall be divided and settled up within a year after the Death or remarriage of my Said Wife:
Lastly, I hereby nominate and appoint James Owen to be the Executor of this my Last Will and Testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made:
In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal the 30th day of March in the year of Our Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred Ten (1910)
David B Owen (seal)

The above Instrument consisting of Two Sheets was now here Subscribed by David B Owen the Testator in the presence of each of us and was at the same time declared by him to be his Last Will and Testament and we at his request sign our names hereto in his presence as attesting Witnesses:
                    J C Burtschi of Vandalia, Ill.
                   F I Henry of Vandalia, Ill.




Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.

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Wednesday, April 11, 2012

(Not So) Wordless Wednesday: A Heavy Heart


L to R: Sarah Frances (Davis) Wallen/Livesay, Myrtle D. Livesay,
Robert L. "Bobby" Wallen and Iva Illinois "Noy"  (Townsend) Wallen
This photo was taken around September of 1921. On the left is my paternal great grandmother, Sarah, and her youngest child Myrtle. Next is my father, Bobby, who is Sarah's first grandchild, son of her first born son William Jesse Wallen, and her daughter-in-law, Noy, holding my dad. Baby Myrtle was born October 1920 and Baby Bobby (Myrtle's nephew) was born March 1921.

Myrtle is the last living child of my great grandmother. She is 91 years old and sharp as a tack. It is with a heavy heart that I learned just yesterday that she will be leaving us soon and may not see her 92nd birthday. For the past few years, Myrtle has given me the most wonderful encouragement in what I do as far as family history research. Her appreciation has been a joy. In return, Myrtle has helped me to come to a much better understanding of some of the relationships and personalities in family members that I never had the chance to know personally. One of those relationships was that of my grandfather, who all but disappeared from our lives when I was very young and was probably badly misjudged by us all.

Just a few months ago I was able to send Myrtle photos of her maternal grandparents, John Miller and Ursula Ann (Martin) Davis/Burnette that were taken circa 1874. John and Ursula both died long before Myrtle was born and none of us ever knew any photos of them existed until a cousin alerted me that he had uploaded them to FindAGrave.com. Myrtle's joy and elation over seeing those photos was a priceless moment. I was looking forward to sending her more happy discoveries with the release of the 1940 census, but some things will not be discovered until the indexing is complete. 

Time is not on my side.



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Thursday, February 23, 2012

In The Beginning...... Year 3: Cousins and More



Today begins my third year in documenting our family history through blogging. The year of 2012 has started out with a bang and there are days I have to struggle to keep up with the momentum. I find myself behind on projects, both genealogy and non-genealogy, and I have yet to fulfill my goals of 2011. But that's OK, most of them can wait.

Blogging, social networks, and volunteerism on FindAGrave.com have certainly been a plus for running into cousins lately; cousins from both sides of my family who are thrilled to swap information and photos back and forth. 

One new paternal cousin, *Ginny, upon finding my blog, immediately sent me an e-mail with a photo attached. The second I saw it, I knew I already had a photo with some of the same people in it. I dug mine out. It was a photo from my paternal grandmother's collection that was unidentified. We knew it was of family but...who? 

My photo, previously unidentified. 
Well, Ginny's photo was completely identified on the back. Her's was a photo of my paternal great grandfather, Andrew Melvin Townsend, son of Lewis and Mary Ann (Patterson) Townsend, and all his living siblings. You can tell by the clothing and background that it was taken on the same day as mine, and you can tell from a camera glitch near the bottom center, that it was taken from the same camera.

Back row L to R: Emma Jane, Lewis Oscar, Olive M., Andrew Melvin, Margaret Ellen; Front row L to R:  Mary C., Theodore E., Sarah Elizabeth "Sadie"

My photo at the top has the three brothers and sister Sadie with unidentified women in the background. Those women are likely daughters or wives. Since I had no other photos of Andrew, I had no idea that the photo I already had was of Andrew and his brothers and one of his sisters. Now, I know! God bless cousin Ginny and God bless me!

Yes, my third year of blogging is starting out with lots of that mysterious stuff they call "serendipity". It could just be the power of the Internet. Or it could be something more....


*Ginny is the granddaughter of Lewis Oscar Townsend.


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Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Wednesday's Child: Joseph W. Townsend 1877-79



Tombstone of Joseph W. Townsend,
son of Uriah W.* and Mary Ann (Cameron) Townsend
Yolton Cemetery, Fayette Co., Illinois
Inscription on stone:

JOSEPH W.
Son of
URIAH W. & M. A.
TOWNSEND
Died
Aug. 3, 1879
Aged 1 Y. 11
M. 12 D.

Take this little lamb said He
And lay him on my breast
Protection it shall find in me
And be forever blest.


*Uriah W. was the brother of my paternal great, great grandfather Lewis; both sons of Joseph L. and Christianna (Wheaton) Townsend.

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Friday, November 11, 2011

Veteran's Day: Honoring The Patterson Patriots


In honor and recognition of 6 patriots, the sons and grandson of Robert and Mary (Root) Patterson of Fayette Co., Illinois, who served in the Mexican and Civil War.  

Civil War Infantry - U. S. National Archives

JOHN PATTERSON
Mexican War  
Private, Co. E, 3rd Illinois Infantry
Civil War  
Corporal, Co. F, 130th Illinois Infantry - Camp Butler
DIED Sept. 5, 1863 at Carrollton, LA

ROBERT PATTERSON, JR. 
Mexican War
Private, Co. E, 3rd Illinois Infantry - Camp Butler
DIED Nov. 6, 1846 at Carmago

DAVID PATTERSON 
Civil War 
Private, Co. I, 106th Illinois Infantry 
Sep. 17, 1862 - July 12, 1865

GEORGE PATTERSON 
Civil War 
Private, Co. F, 130th Illinois Infantry - Camp Butler
Private, Co. F, 77th Illinois Infantry
Oct. 25, 1862 - ? (Taken prisoner - Camp Tyler, Texas)
                          
HENRY R. PATTERSON 
Civil War 
Private, Co. F, 130th Illinois Infantry - Camp Butler
Private, Co. H, 130th Illinois Infantry
Oct. 25, 1862 -  ? May have died during service.

ROBERT W. PATTERSON (son of John, age 15) 
Civil War 
Private, Co. F, 130th Illinois Infantry
Private, Co. C, 130th Illinois Infantry
Private, Co. F, 77th Illinois Infantry
Feb. 27, 1863 - Aug. 15, 1865

Robert Sr. and Mary (Root) Patterson were my paternal 3rd great grandparents. Their daughter Mary Ann (Patterson) Townsend was my great, great grandmother. These men were her brothers and nephew.

Happy Veteran's Day to ALL U. S. Veterans and thank you for your service and sacrifice to keep America free.

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Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Tombstone Tuesday: Robert J. Townsend



ROBERT J. TOWNSEND
b. November 26, 1864, d. December 9, 1871

Old Liberty Cemetery, Sefton Twp., Fayette Co., Illinois
Robert was the 7 year old son of my paternal great, great grandparents, Lewis and Mary Ann (Patterson) Townsend. Photo was taken by me on Tuesday, May 31, 2011. Stone was laying on the ground, worn and hard to read.

Transcription:

Robert J.
Son of
Lewis & M. A.
Townsend
Died
Dec. 9, 1871
Aged
7 y's. & 13 d's.

Take this little lamb said he
And lay him on my breast 
Protection it shall find in me
In me be ever blessed



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Monday, July 25, 2011

Amanuensis Monday: The Will of Jonas Sutton, Sr.



Jonas Sutton Sr. was my paternal 5th great grandfather. He married Elizabeth Runyan, daughter of Peter and Providence (Blackford) Runyan and granddaughter of Vincent and Ann Martha (Boutcher) Rongnion. This is one of two Sutton lineages of my father's that ties into my mother's Runyan lineage. My parents were 7th cousins.

Will of Jonas Sutton, Sr.
Amwell Township, Hunterdon Co., Pennsylvania 
dated 25 March 1797 

"Wife Elizabeth, what movables pleaseth her to keep; also use of lands jointly with son Amos, while widow. Son, Amos, remainder of personal and all real; he paying legacies. Daughter, Prudence 120 pounds. Sons, Jonathan, and Jonas each 120 pounds. Son, Nathan 75 pounds. To grandchildren (children of William), 120 pounds to be divided between them, when of age, except Elizabeth. Grandchildren (children of John) 120 pounds divided between them, when of age. Grandchildren (children of daughter Sarah) 120 pounds when of age except the son who appears not to have common sense. Grandson, Joshua (son of son Jonas) 120 pounds when 21." 

Executor - son Amos Witnesses - Joseph Lequear, George Trout and Adam Bellis, Jr. 
Proved Nov 11, 1797  

Descendants from Jonas Sutton, Sr. to Lisa Wallen

Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.


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Saturday, July 16, 2011

Surname Saturday: BLOOMER


England to America

Descendant Chart: Robert Bloomer 1634 to Lisa Wallen 1952


A brief description of each generation from my 9th great grandfather, Robert Bloomer, to my 4th great grandmother, Elizabeth Bloomer Wallen, where the Bloomer line daughters out. 

1) Robert Bloomer b. ca. 1634 in Birmingham, England - Early (mid 1800s) family histories coincide on certain details: Robert was a foundling, adopted in infancy by the Bloomerings. He was kidnapped from the streets of England as a teenager and sold in America into four years of indentured service. Married Rachel ca. 1670. Lived in New York.

2) Robert Bloomer b. bet. 1671-1673 - Miller. Married Elizabeth Sutton (The Sutton lineage is where my father is twice descended from my mother's ancestor, Vincent Rongnion/Runyan). Lived in Rye, Westchester Co., New York. Filed a will on 12 March 1738/39.

3) John Bloomer b. bet. 1705-1710 - Mentioned in Rye, Westchester Co., New York from 1735 to 1740 and was justice of the peace in 1746. He married Berthia Fowler, daughter of John and Mary (Tatum) Fowler.

4) Nehemiah Bloomer b. ca. 1754 - Taylor. Left New York just before the Revolution and is found in Pennsylvania by 1777 and appears in tax records (Pennsylvania Archives, 3rd series p. 53) for Hampton Township in Cumberland Co., NY in 1778. By 1790 Nehemiah was in Wilkes Co., North Carolina. He married Elizabeth Ketcham, of Welsh descent, in New Jersey in 1773.

5) Daniel Bloomer b. ca. 1778 - Married Lucinda. Her maiden name is recorded by some as Defoe and by others as Looney. Neither name has been verified. In May of 1821 Daniel made an entry for 86 1/2 acres on the North Fork of the Clinch River in Hawkins Co., Tennessee. On 30 Nov 1836 Daniel bought 432 acres of land laying on both sides of the North Fork of the Clinch river near Wallen's Bend in the same county. His children are listed in his will.

6) Elizabeth Bloomer b. 12 June 1801 - d. April 1860. Married William Wallen/Walling, Jr. ca. 1820 in Tennessee. Family migrated to Rockcastle Co., Kentucky around 1851. Elizabeth gave birth to 10 children, two boys died as teenagers. This is where the Bloomer line daughters out and becomes Wallen all the way down to me. (click on descendant chart above to enlarge.)




For much more information on the descendants of Robert Bloomer I highly recommend the following book:

Bloomer, Robert John. The Bloomer Family in America, 1655-1988: a History and Genealogical Record of the Bloomer Family. Fountain Valley, CA: R.J. Bloomer, 1988. Print.


Sorry Michael, another "damned Anglish" pedigree in your bloodlines...but at least it's tempered with a wee bit o' Welsh!


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Sunday, July 10, 2011

Sunday's Obituary: Sarah Samantha (Miller) Owen




Sarah Owen was my paternal great, great grandmother. 

Obituary taken from the Fayette County Genealogical and Historical Society publication:
"Fayette Facts" Vol. 31, No. 2, pg. 30 at the Evans Public Library in Vandalia, Illinois.
           "OWEN, Sarah Samantha b 18 May 1839 Holmes Co., OH died at her home 4 May 1927 age 88y 1m 16ds. She was the dau of Benjamin and Elizabeth MILLER and came to this county at age 6. She m 30 Dec 1858 David B. OWEN and they were parents of 7 children - George Winfield, Ben McClellan, James and David B., Roxana E. DURBIN, Mrs. Dellas SIMPKINS and Lucretia TOWNSEND who died 7 Nov 1905. Her husband died 5 Oct 1919. Also surviving with the 6 children were 2 sisters, Mrs. Talitha ROBERTS of St. Elmo, Selecta OWEN, Aurora, MO and bro Ayres OWEN, 15 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren. Burial was in Fairview Cem. Vandalia Union 12 May 1927."

[A correction to the above obituary: "Selecta" should be "Electa".]


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Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Tombstone Tuesday: Benjamin and Elizabeth Miller



Benjamin B. Miller
b. 1814  Pennsylvania  -  d.1892  Illinois
Elizabeth [Smith] Miller 
b.1814  Ohio  -  d. 1858  Illinois
married January 14, 1835 in Holmes Co., Ohio
My paternal third great grandparents
buried Post Oak Cemetery, Louden, Fayette Co., Illinois
This stone is, I assume, replacing an old or missing stone and appears to have been put in place by a grandchild, considering the inscription below the names. There are more complete birth and death dates to be found on various family trees but are somewhat suspect because none seem to be sourced. If anyone reading this has that source information I hope you will consider e-mailing me at the g-mail link towards the bottom of this page.


Photos were taken May 31, 2011.

Descendancy Chart

Miller tombstone and me









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Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Capt. Joseph L. Townsend: 1812 New Jersey Militia



I am certainly pleased that my husband and I decided to make a visit to the EVANS Public Library (named for a descendant of my paternal 5th great grandfather, Jeremiah Evans) on our recent trip that included a 3 day stop in Vandalia, Illinois. I am even more pleased that I had my trusty Flip-Pal portable scanner with me. I discovered the library houses a large collection of the Fayette County Historical Society's publication called "Fayette Facts". For over a dozen years I had owned all the Fayette Facts that had previously been offered by the FCHS as back issues to the public...about 25 of them. But when I looked on the library shelf there were a good 40-50 issues there and most of them were copies I did not have in my personal library. I pulled them all from the shelf and sat down at an empty table and started going through the indexes for my surnames: Evans, Miller, Owen, Patterson and Townsend. It was Wednesday, June 1 and being a week day morning it was quiet in there, but my Flip-Pal was smokin'!

By far the most surprising and exciting item concerned my paternal 3rd great grandfather's military service and was found in Fayette Facts, Vol. 38, No. 4, pg. 36:


"WAR OF 1812 VETERANS BURIED IN FAYETTE COUNTY

            Joseph L. Townsend, born 1796 and died 1875 was a Captain in the New Jersey Militia. He married Christianna Wheaton and is buried at Howard's Point, Howard Township, according to Daughters of the War of 1812 records.

            Howard Township is now known as Avena and a check of these burial records indicated that Christianna Townsend, wife of J. L., died August 28, 1872, aged 74 years 10 months and 22 days and is buried in Yolton Cemetery. Joseph's grave is probably here as well."

            
Prior to seeing this short article I had found no clues of any military service for Joseph, not that I hadn't tried to find them. His family was from Quaker stock back in New Jersey but after they came to Illinois it appears they left that faith behind so there shouldn't have been a refrain from serving due to religious views, but I still failed to produce anything showing a service record for Joseph. This find was certainly a lucky break! It just goes to prove what I've heard over and over again: 95% of genealogical information is found in repositories other than the Internet.

A search on Ancestry.com's War of 1812 Service Records turned up two entries for a Joseph Townsend in the New Jersey Militia.  One shows a Captain in Read's Battalion and the other shows a Private in Howell's Regiment. Nothing about the online records proves to me that either of these entries is for MY Joseph Townsend. I guess the Daughters of the War of 1812 have already done this investigation for me. I'd certainly like to see a copy of the records myself though!

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Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Tombstone Tuesday: Christianna Townsend



Christianna Wheaton Townsend  
October 6, 1797 - August 28, 1872



Wife of Joseph L. Townsend, daughter of Uriah Wheaton
buried Yolton Cemetery, Avena Township, Fayette County., Illinois

My paternal third great grandmother.

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Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Tombstone Tuesday: James H. and Mary C. (Townsend) Paslay



James H. and Mary C. (Townsend) Paslay

Old Liberty Cemetery, Sefton, Fayette Co., Illinois

James H. Paslay was the son of George Dudley and Cynthia Janetta M. (Davis) Paslay. Mary C. Townsend was my great grandaunt. She was the daughter of Lewis and Mary Ann (Patterson) Townsend. James and Mary had four (known) sons: George Lewis, Clyde Emory, Harold Leland and Bruce E.




Photo used with permission from FindAGrave Volunteer, Gary Feezel

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Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Tombstone Tuesday: Theodore E. Townsend



THEODORE E. TOWNSEND 1870 - 1963

Old Liberty Cemetery, Sefton Township, Fayette Co., Illinois


Theodore Townsend was my paternal great granduncle, son of Lewis and Mary Ann Patterson Townsend, second husband of Nora Adeline Paslay. No known descendants.


Photo used with permission from FindAGrave Volunteer, Gary Feezel

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Saturday, January 8, 2011

Surname Saturday: TOWNSEND


Joseph L. Townsend 1795 - 1875

Joseph L. Townsend was born November 11, 1795 in New Jersey. Earlier genealogists placed him as Joseph Ludlam Townsend, the son of Daniel Townsend, Jr. and Hannah Lord Townsend of Cape May Co., New Jersey. Daniel was the great grandson of Richard Townsend, the oldest of the three well researched Oyster Bay Townsend brothers.

I have not yet seen actual proof that my ancestor is the son of Daniel and Hannah. Perhaps someone will see this article and provide me with that proof. I suppose I am in some agreement since my Joseph named his first two children Daniel and Hannah. The fact he was born in New Jersey and that his middle initial is L. adds even more interest in that direction. I have yet to find a document where Joseph's middle name is spelled out.

Joseph married Christiana Wheaton, daughter of Uriah Wheaton, on April 18, 1921 in Pike Co., Ohio. Christiana's mother, as far as I know, has not yet been identified for certain. Some say her mother's name was Margaret but I believe they have her confused with Margaret Macky who was Uriah's second wife and not the mother of Christiana, and I have also seen it said that her mother was Margaret Wheaton, first cousin of Uriah. The second two children of Joseph and Christiana were named Eleanor and Uriah W. Christiana's grandmother was Eleanor (Elinor) and her grandfather was also named Uriah.

Two more children were born to Joseph and Christiana, my ancestor Lewis and then William H.

I have been able to identify this family in the 1830 census in Sunfish, Pike Co., Ohio and again in the 1840 census in Roundhead, Hardin Co., Ohio. All children born by those dates are accounted for with the addition, in 1830 only, of two female children that I have not yet identified. William was born shortly after the 1840 census so he does not appear until 1850.

In the 1850 census we find this family in Effingham Co., Illinois. Joseph purchased land there in 1850 and again in 1853. It should be noted that in 1850 Uriah W., who was born in 1832, is clearly listed on the census sheet as "David". For years this threw me off. I searched and searched for anything I could find on David and never found a thing. And why was Uriah missing? I couldn't find Uriah anywhere in 1850. When I was able to identify this family in the 1840 census I realized the name David on the 1850 census was just a simple, but glaring, error. There was only one male child for that age slot listed for this family in the 1840 census and that could only have been Uriah.

In 1856 Joseph, Christiana, Uriah W., Lewis, and William H. all appear on the Benton Co., Iowa State census. The two oldest children, Daniel and Hannah, were both married by this time and were living with their families in Fayette Co., Illinois. In 1857 Joseph purchased land in Benton county.

In 1860 through 1870 Joseph and Christiana are back in Illinois, not in Effingham county this time but near Daniel and Hannah and their families in the neighboring county of Fayette. They took up residence in Sefton Township. Christiana died in Sefton on August 28, 1872 and is buried in the Yolton Cemetery. Joseph died almost two and a half years later on March 19, 1875 and I presume he is also buried in the same cemetery with his wife and other family members but apparently there is no stone or record of his burial.

The children of Joseph and Christiana

Daniel md. Evelina Scoles. They had 8 children and lived in Fayette Co., IL

Hannah md. Abel Scoles (brother of Evelina) and had 7 children. Hannah died in Prowers Co., CO

Eleanor md. George Washington Phifer. They had 8 children and lived in Effingham Co., IL then moved to Sumner Co., KS and later to Bates Co., MO

Uriah W. md. Mary Ann Cameron. They had 8 children and lived in Fayette Co., IL

Lewis md. Mary Ann Patterson and they had 9 children and lived in Fayette Co., IL (Their son Andrew Melvin Townsend was my great grandfather.)

William H. - no information found on William after 1860, however there is a William Townsend who was killed in the Civil War on March 7, 1864 and buried in the Mound City National Cemetery in Pulaski Co., IL who needs to be researched.

There may have been other children born to the children of Joseph and Christiana but these 40 are all that I have found.

My paternal great, great grandparents Lewis and Mary Ann Patterson Townsend  Fayette Co., Illinois



Written for submission to the Townsend Society of America Genealogical Journal


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Thursday, December 30, 2010

Genealogy Goals - New Year 2011



COG 101: My genealogy research/writing plan for 2011




This may be the first time in my entire life to have actually written down goals for the upcoming year. Good intentions and thoughts about them don't seem to "get 'er done". I have been working on four lists: Genealogy, Business, Household, and Personal. Below are 5 goals for genealogy that I hope to accomplish in 2011.

1) Write an updated article on my Townsend lineage for the Townsend Society of America Genealogical Journal before the first quarter deadline which is mid January. The last TSA Journal that came out had some misinformation on my lineage and it was also extremely scanty. I'm pretty sure it was the same information I originally submitted to them over a dozen years ago when I first joined the TSA. This doesn't need to be a lengthy article so it shouldn't take much time.

2) Finish transcribing my great grandfather's diary. Oliver Morton Wallen wrote a daily diary that ended with his death in 1907 at the age of 37 years. The first few pages are a summary of his early childhood and then it continues as a daily journal. Over the years, Oliver filled up four  composition books. I have completely finished transcribing three of those books and I made an every-name index for two of them. I need to finish the index for the third book and transcribe and index the fourth. It tends to take me a while because for every new name or place, I go off in all directions gathering information, and that's OK by me because I have made some significant discoveries by doing that. The completion of this project has been put on hold for 3 years and I have several near and distant relatives that are eager to get their hands on the finished product.

3) Gather information on living relatives. I have been great at gathering all the pertinent data on the dead but I have many living relatives who's marriage dates and places are missing or their children's dates of birth and middle names are missing, and so on. I am sometimes met with those who are reluctant to give out that information and I have to explain that I am not doing it because I am nosy. We all know how that goes.

4) In 16 years I have accumulated a rather large genealogy library. By far the largest of my goals is to inventory my personal library and make a catalog of the books, CDs, and other reference materials I have and that I sometimes forget I have. I have many rare and out of print county histories, plat maps, surname genealogies, etc. For some counties I have up to a dozen books. This will be a time consuming effort.

5) Set up a daily/weekly/monthly schedule for organizing my genealogy data both on my computer and off, including scanning of documents and photos. This is just a schedule, not the actual organization of all my "junk". The actual organization and all it entails is an ongoing, never-ending process. I do not expect it to be a "finished" effort, but rather a habit formed. (Note to God: Please help me, I can't do this by myself!)

Just thinking about #4 and #5 makes me wonder where I am going to find time for the rest of my life and those other three lists! However, I remember a time, just about four years ago, when I was effortlessly organized....our house/yard, our business records, and my personal (social/spiritual) life, all organized! And it was all because I was following the prompts of the "Fly Lady" (flylady.net). What a complete idiot I was for letting myself fall off THAT wagon! To accomplish even half of my goals I will need to become a Fly Baby once again. I can do this!




(Written for the 101st edition of the Carnival of Genealogy)

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