Always Learning...Even in Surprising Ways!

I love learning anything I can regarding genealogy, family history, and history in general. There are many times that I can be seen leaving the library where I work with some genealogy books or a Family Tree magazine.

Here are my latest finds!

But, sometimes, the learning happens when you least expect it!

We had just recently gotten all four seasons of Finding Your Roots on DVD at my library, and my husband and I were watching a few episodes a night.

I don't know how many times I had to pause the DVD to right down a source I wanted to remember!

Also, I would be watching an episode, and realize the celebrity's ancestor would have something in common with my ancestors! For example, Bryant Gumbel's German ancestor had sailed to America from Hamburg on the Germania? So did my 2x- great grandfather, Henry (Henri, Heinrich) Haessig!

And, of course, the researcher in me has to always go and look up what I can on the Germania! Below, is a description I found on theshipslist.com that tells a little more about this passenger ship:  

"GERMANIA 1870 
Built in 1870 by Caird & Co, Greenock for the Hamburg America Line, the GERMANIA was a 2,876 gross ton ship, length 330ft x beam 39ft, straight stem, one funnel, two masts(rigged for sail), iron construction, single screw and a speed of 11 knots. There was accommodation for 150-1st, 70-2nd and 150-3rd class passengers. Launched on 24/12/1870, for the New Orleans service, but made her maiden voyage from Hamburg to New York on 4/5/1871. She commenced her fourth and last voyage on this service on 26/10/1872. She was chartered to the Hamburg South America Line in 1876 and was wrecked at Bahia, Brazil on 10/8/1876. [North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P.Bonsor, vol.1,p.390]"

A week or so ago, I had started reading this book just because it had sounded like a good book I would enjoy. It is part house history and part family history. I was not wrong; it is a good book that I am enjoying immensely.

But, again, I am learning so much about German history, and more specifically, Berlin's history. It covers almost 100 years from World War II and the Berlin Wall through to the present.

DAR Patriot Index &
1820 Federal Census for Indiana

And last, but not least, a local library was discarding these two gems and I was able to snag them for myself. I did check my library's shelves first to make sure we owned them already!

I have only had a chance to glance through the DAR book to ensure my known Patriot (Daniel Pearce/Pierce) was in there. He was!

But, it was the 1820 Census book that had really caught my attention. Even though everyone but Adam is only represented by a a number in a column, it still told gave me another little piece of their story.

My 4x-great grandparents, Adam and Judith (Smith) Moore, had travelled from Maryland to southeastern Indiana in 1818.  The census was taken only two years later in 1820. The fact that they had 5 children 10 years old or younger means that they had to have travelled with at least three to all five of these young children, along with a few older children.

Traveling, across the Cumberland Road until they reached the Ohio River. And then, down the Ohio River to just past Cincinnati...with all these children, mostly 10 or under! 

Just Wow!! 

Also, there were a lot more Moores in Dearborn County in 1820 than I ever realized. ADAM was the one that started the little town of Moores Hill in Dearborn County. How many other family members had travelled with him?

Since I know nothing of his family in Maryland, this might help break down a brick wall or two?

All this learning that happened accidentally is in addition to my research into DNA. I have been tested by 23andme.com and have found cousins through GEDmatch.com, but still don't understand it all very well. 

So, this book is going to teach me all I need, right?

I have heard from several reliable sources that Blaine Bettinger is not only one of the most knowledgeable onmy the subject of DNA, but he makes it much easier to understand.

So, tell me, what are you learning these days, purposefully or accidentally?

Daniel Pearce and Family ~ Maryland, Virginia, Ohio and Illinois

In my most recent post, I started sharing a little about my Pearce side of the family, and the part these pioneers played in settling the small town of Oswego, in Kendall County, Illinois.

I also introduced you to a newly-found 3rd cousin, who I referred to as Cousin Pearce.

When you've started writing a blog not to long after moving, cousins such as this can be a real lifesaver! I still have much of my genealogy paperwork packed away, and sometimes forget what I have accumulated so far.

After my last post (The Pearces and Warners of Kendall County), Cousin Pearce reminded me of information she had sent to me, and sent it to me once more. Thank you again!

It is from a book titled "A Partial List of the Descendants of  Daniel Pearce, born 1760" written by Charles Gilbert Pearce, assisted by Bernice Adell Pearce, in 1934.

Since there are very few copies and I cannot find a digital version on the internet, I am going to share some portions of it here to help fellow family historians, if I can.

In the last post, I claimed that the Pearce brothers travelled to, and staked a claim, in northern Illinois in 1832...and their father, Daniel, followed a little later.

My mistake lay in the fact that there are a Daniel, Sr. and a Daniel, Jr.; and that Daniel, Sr. never made it to Illinois.

Daniel Pearce, Jr., my 3x-great grandfather

As Daniel, Sr. is the father of many of the first settlers of Kendall County, I feel that it is right to start the story here. And, I also feel that it is quite fitting to do so in his descendant's words that I have transcribed here.

(A small note: I have highlighted my line in yellow. Also, I used bulleted/numbering systems, at times, for ease of reading. I am listing some basics on each of the children here from the book, and will continue following each of them in future posts.)

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Daniel, Sr. - Born 1760. The early part of his life was spent in the vicinity of Elk Ridge Landing, Maryland. The "Landing" was located about 500 feet easterly from the bridge crossing the Patapsco River, at the place now called Elk Ridge, which is on the main highway between Washington and Baltimore about nine miles from the latter city. At this time (1934), the water is too low, and has been for many years but, in Colonial times the British ships came to this port with supplies for the colonists and returned to England loaded with tobacco. A sign board at the side of the highway reads as follows: -

“Elk Ridge Landing”

“An important colonial port for shipment of tobacco.

Here in 1765 Zachariah Hood, Maryland Stamp Act Agent,

was hanged in effigy.

LaFayette’s troops camped April 17-19, 1781 on the

way to engage Cornwallis of Virginia. George Washington

passed this way many times.”

               State Road Commission

Daniel enlisted in the American Revolutionary Army May 24, 1778. (See Archives of Maryland, Muster Rolls Volume I Pages 316-318). He enlisted for three years or duration of war.

• Muster Roll for July 1778 reads:- Daniel Pearce, Pvt. Capt. Lilburn Williams Company of 2nd Maryland Regiment of Foot, Commanded by Col. Thos. Price.

• Transferred to Capt. Davidson's Company Aug. 1, 1778.

• Roll dated Aug. 12, 1778 at White Plains:- Daniel Pearce, Fifer etc.

• Roll dated Oct. 5, 1778 at Fishkill:- Daniel Pierce, Drum and Fife, etc.

• Roll dated Jan. 21, 1779 at Middle Brook:- Daniel Pierce, Drum and fife.

• Remarks: - Hospital, Fishkill.

• Another Roll: - Discharged Nov. 1, 1780.

• Transferred.

Daniel married Ann “Nancy” Ankers on 5 Feb. 1782 (Pierce as recorded in List of marriages, Baltimore County). The Ankers family came from Ireland, and “Nancy” was in born 1763.

• Daniel is said to have been an overseer on the estate of William Patterson. The estate was located about one mile from the Village of Sykesville, about 25 westerly from Baltimore.

• Living in Maryland until 1797. Had 8 children here.

• Moved to Hampshire County, Virginia in 1797. Had 3 more children there.

• Moved to Champaign County, Ohio in 1808. Daniel, Sr. died here in 1830.

• Thereafter Nancy lived with her son John who moved to Kendall County, Illinois in 1832. She died in 1840, and was buried on his farm in the west side of Fox River in Oswego.

Daniel, Sr. and “Nancy” Pearce’s children ~

1. Ezekiel. Born 1783 in Maryland. Married Sally Provost. One daughter. Died in 1808 in Virginia.

2. Nancy. Born 1785 in Maryland. Married Mr. Sargent. Two daughters.

3. Elijah. Born 1787 in Maryland. Married Mary (Polly) Davis who was born 6 March 1793. Eight children.

4. Daniel. Born May 2, 1789 at Elk Ridge Landing,Maryland. Was a soldier in War of 1812. Married Elizabeth Johnson in 1814, and had three children. Elizabeth died (year ?), and he married Sarah Burgess about 1821. Two daughters were born to them, and she also died (year ?). In 1824 Daniel married Sarah Titsworth, and they had nine children. The last five of his children were born in Kendall County.

5. Elizabeth. Born 1791 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Married about 1821 in Champaign County, Ohio to James Titsworth. Six children born in Ohio.

6. Matilda. Born 1793 in Maryland. Died young.

7. Edward. Born 1794 in Maryland. Died young.

8. Israel. Born 1796 in Maryland. Died young.

9. Walter. Born Jan 10, 1798 in Hampshire County, Virginia. He had married first Jan. 1st, 1818, Perlina Davis, mother of seven of his children. She died in 1843, and Dec. 27, 1854 Walter married Josinah Kimball. Two children were born to them.

10. Rebecca. Born 1800 in Hampshire County, Virginia. Married about 1821 to William Smith Wilson.

11. John. Born 1802 in Hampshire County, Virginia. Married about 1824, Nancy Conroy.

** Stay tuned for mor information about the Pearce family!

Sources:


Pearce, Charles Gilbert; assisted by Bernice Adell Pearce. A Partial List of the Descendants of  Daniel Pearce, born 1760. Compiled 1934.