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Friday, February 27, 2015

Family Friends Friday: Oh My! Another Cubbage in the Cupboard

Oh my goodness.

Ever have to urge to clear out an old cupboard to see what is hidden away?  I did so today, and much to my surprise, found a blog on Cubbage Genealogy.

My goodness.  It's a name one doesn't typically see in a day, that is, unless you look at my family tree.

To make it all sweet and short:

James CUBBAGE (1777-1854) married the lovely Jane GILFILLIAN (1782-1861).  One would suspect the knot was tied in Allegheny Co, PA and one would suspect it was done by the Presbyterian minister from the (what is now called) the Mt Lebanon UP Church. 

How can I say that?

Jane's father, Alexander GILFILLIAN was prominent in the old church and a resident of the neighborhood.  Oh yes, he was also a close friend to my HENRY and GLENN families.

James CUBBAGE (1777-1854), son of John CUBBAGE and his wife, Martha, was also known to the family as a member of the old church.

Of course, one of the final clues is that they are buried in the old St. Clair Cemetery, fondly known as my family cemetery.  Before 1858, one had to be a member of the church in order to be buried there.  The church did not open up burials to the public until 1858, and even then, most burials were from family members of those who are resting there.

In addition to many other children of John CUBBAGE and wife Martha is:

George CUBBAGE d. 1826 Robinson Twp, Allegheny, PA who married Nancy CALDWELL (1791-1883).  As Nancy is buried at Venice Presbyterian Church, Washington Co, PA, it is a theory George may not be there.  The church and its graveyard seems to have started around 1849, so it's a tad late for George.  To top it off, Nancy had remarried after the death of George.

To continue:
George and Nancy had seven children, one of whom is:

Sarah B CUBBAGE ( abt 1814-1851) Note:  She, too, is buried at the old St Clair Cemetery.  She married Jacob DOOLITTLE (1809-1891)  Note:  He is buried at Chartiers Cemetery, Allegheny, PA, with his second wife.

Jacob and Sarah had a daughter, Martha E DOOLITTLE (1842-1907) who married my 2nd cousin William James GLENN (1839-1908).  Read more on William James GLENN on my previous blog.

They also had another daughter who married in to the LEA family as did my great grandfather's sister.

So, there's plenty of CUBBAGE in my cupboard. Perhaps we can determine how the Cubbage Genealogy crowd connects with mine.

Ahhh, genealogy.  You never know what you can find hidden way back in the cupboard.



©2015 AS Eldredge


Government at its Best during the War of 1812

Yesterday, the main topic of concern was unanswered questions on the St Clair Boys aka the Hunting Shirt Rifle Company during the War of 1812. Why is there so little on the PA Militia group that comprised this band of patriotic boys?  Their fathers had mostly fought during the American Revolution and had instilled those wonderful stories of glory and honor as the colonists declared independence and followed up with a war of lasting several years.

Our schoolbooks barely mention the War of 1812. The war lasted over three years with no land exchanging hands.  The Americans opposed Britain impressing American sailors in to the British Navy.  In addition, America opposed the trade restrictions brought by the Brits fighting the French. Another reason for this war is the British support of the American Indians as the Indians opposed western expansion beyond the original 13 colonies. If you want to learn more about this conflict that shaped our early country, our patriotism, and our presidents, be sure to check out the History Channel.

The part of the early War of 1812 that intrigues me most is the history of the war in Pennsylvania.
John C. Fredriksen, in his informative article, demonstrates the deficiency of the United States forces.  He tells us that Pennsylvania Governor Snyder enlisted close to 100,000 men by the fall of 1812.  This is my area of interest as the local Butler Co and Allegheny Co Regiments were formed at this time.  I know an uncle of mine, Thomas McMillen HENRY enlisted at a local tavern as documented in his Pension File.

The call went out that men were needed to protect against the forces of British troops and Indians who were rumored to be marching to the area.  While the rumor proved to be just that, the general panic resulted in local men volunteering to protect the new nation and their homes in Pennsylvania.  The St. Clair Boys led by James Turbett enlisted September 12, 1812.  They joined other regiments as they marched north from Pittsburgh to Meadville, the point of rendezvous. 

Unfortunately, over three thousand other men were camped there with insufficient arms, ammunition, provisions and housing.  The lack of coordination between the state and the federal government is demonstrated in Pennsylvania during this time.  While the men faithfully volunteered, the federal government refused to pay or equip the men. Turbett's men were part of the group whose arms were over half defective, thus forcing them to stay in Meadville for over six weeks.  No wonder the men were frustrated.  No pay, no training, not enough provisions.  These men finally did leave Meadville to march to Buffalo.  To date, I have not determined what they did while there.  Alas, these brave men who were willing to fight for the new country were told they could go home in December 1812.  Some of them were sent out west to General William Henry Harrison (yes, that one, the 9th President of the United States and War of 1812 hero), and the rest just went home without ever firing a shot.  Of course, it can be tough to fire a shot with no working gun.  Some of them deserted.  Of course, they were sitting in a winter encampment to what purpose?

What happened to St Clair boys?  I reckon they went home and continued their lives.  Their tales of their short tenure in the military must have been rather boring.  Lucky for us, their sons and grandsons still felt patriotic when it came to the next big test this country had, The War of Northern Aggression, oops, I mean the War Between the States.

Ahhh, genealogy.  One great thing came out of the War of 1812.  It's a little song we all know--The Star Spangled Banner by Francis Scott Key.  Oh, say can you see.........

Sources:
Fredriksen, John C. The Pennsylvania Volunteers in the War of 1812: An Anonymous Journal of Service for the Year 1814, https://journals.psu.edu/wph/article/viewFile/4054/3871
War of 1812, History Channel, http://www.history.com/topics/war-of-1812
Fold3 1812 Pension Files, Thomas M Henry
http://www.pa-roots.com/armstrong/smithproject/history/chap4.html 
Sapio, Victor.  Pennsylvania and the War of 1812, pg 183-185.  https://books.google.com/books?id=FuQeBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA185&dq=meadville+war+of+1812&hl=en&sa=X&ei=gIfwVOGpN4KRyQTuv4CoCw&ved=0CDIQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=meadville%20war%20of%201812&f=false 

 ©2015 ASEldredge

 

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Thankful Thursday: Dreaming of Answers to Questions on the War of 1812

It's been a long hard road to where we are now.  Just think of how our ancestors lived in this frigid weather without benefit of the newscasters telling them how bad it was!

Seriously, the road our ancestors took was a hard one and I am so thankful for what they endured so I can sit in my toasty warm house and spend countless hours online looking for that elusive answer to the questions that swim around in my head.

I am still trying to determine what happened to those "St Clair Boys" of the War of 1812.  Someone suggested I spend some time on Fold3 where they just happen to have the pension files for those wonderful veterans of old.  Too bad for me as they only have the documents uploaded for the first 13 letters of the alphabet (that's "M" for those who have to count it out on their fingers.)  And to make it even more fun, most of them did not serve long enough to be eligible for pensions and then they had the nerve to die by 1820.

I know the St Clair Boys were under the command of James TURBETT so I went to see what I could see... and this is what I have found so far....

Muster Rolls of the Pennsylvania Volunteers in the War of 1812
Company commanded by Captain James TURBETT from St Clare Twp and attached to the 2nd Regiment of Infantry commanded by Lieut. Col. John Purvinse (PURVIANCE) commanded by Brigadier Gen'l Adamson TANEHILL of the 1st Brigade of PA Volunteers

Date of enlistment:  Sept 12, 1812
Time of engagement:  March 25, 1813
Discharged Dec 18, 1812

Marched to Meadville, the place of rendezvous  and march from Buffalo
Note: The troops marched to Meadville where they were put under the command of John PURVIANCE  of Butler, PA, in September.  Unfortunately, they were held in Meadville until November due to their firearms being defective. Can you imagine their frustration?  General Mead had sent the call out to the area to defend their state back in the late summer of 1812. These chaps volunteered and then sat for about 6 weeks or so doing nothing for the cause. More on this tomorrow.

James Turbett               Capt
George Cochran        Lieut
Nath'l Pearson            Insign
James Sibett            Sergt
Sam's Simmons        Sergt    deserted(Buffalo)
James Turner            Sergt    deserted(Buffalo)
Wm Ramsey            Sergt
Lewis McFarland        Corp'l
Chas Rigdon            Corp'l
Isaac Elliott            Corp'l
Ebenezer Pearson        Corp'l
John Maxwel            Privit
Arch'd Gilkeson        Privit
David Jewel            Privit
Thos Black            Privit
Jno Sinclear            Privit    deserted
Arch'd Allison            Privit
Thos Mathews        Privit    deserted
Jos Gooshorn            Privit
Wm Sinclear            Privit    deserted
Jno Turner                    deserted
David Kennedy
Wm McCleran (McClaren)
Nath'l Eastep (Eastop)
Geo Vonn
Jno McCallister                deserted
Hugh McKean
Thos Parker
Thos Henry
John Andrews                    deserted
Eben Kerr
Wm Cochran
Hugh Menis

Another source calls the group the Hunting Shirt Rifle Company. An 1873 affadavit of Samuel PEARSON, a younger brother of one of the men in TURBETT'S company recalled "At the time, there was much excitement about the War of 1812, and Nathaniel and his brother Ebenezer enlisted in the Hunting Shirt Rifle Company led by Captain James Turbett (1st Regiment, Pennsylvania Militia) shortly after Nathaniel's wedding. Samuel relates: "My mother & sisters filled a pretty large contract of making Linen Jackets and knapsacks for the Company. (I remember) the departure of the Co. for the seat of war. They passed my grandfather's house, and being at school a few rods distant, school was dismissed, and with the other scholars I ran and climbed upon a board fence to see the soldiers pass." Nathaniel, an Ensign, served a three-month term. His second child was named Oliver Hazard Perry Pearson in honor of the Battle of Lake Erie (1813) hero."

The pension file for Thomas (McMillan)  HENRY is boring at best, although it did provide a marriage date and location of his marriage.

War of 1812 Pension File
Svc: Capt James Torbett’s Co PA Militia
Enlisted Sept 25, 1812
Discharged Dec 31, 1812
Residences:
1850, 1855 Lawrence Co PA
1872 New Wilmington, Lawrence, PA
Maiden name of widow:  Eliza Clark
Marriage:  Jan 13, 1818 Burgettstown, Washington, PA
Death of Soldier:  Sept 15, 1873 New Wilmington, PA
Bounty Land:
77608 40 50
40971 120-55

In looking at the names of the roster, I know I am by blood related to three of them, marriage related to at least two, and am familiar with the families of a number of them.  Some of them are buried at my family cemetery (aka the old St Clair Cemetery in Mt Lebanon, Allegheny, PA.)

Ahhh, genealogy. So thankful for these men who volunteered to protect their homeland.

Sources:
Muster Rolls of the PA Volunteers: in the War of 1812-1814, edited by Thomas Lynch Montgomery, pg 729. https://books.google.com/books?id=uEQOAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA730&lpg=PA730&dq=James+turbett+war+of+1812&source=bl&ots=a4dtBXedsZ&sig=bv_22WgJrLHwhmYAY37INpQhyRg&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ZFXvVLOGGePGsQTlvYBY&ved=0CB4Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=James%20turbett%20war%20of%201812&f=false
St Clair Cemetery Profile on Nathaniel P PEARSON http://www.stclaircemetery.com/view.php/page/Profile_Pearson
Fold3 1812 pension file on Thomas M HENRY
War of 1812, The Second Revolution by Rainier Chapter, NSDAR, pg 71, https://books.google.com/books?id=xM_AAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA71&lpg=PA71&dq=meadville+war+of+1812&source=bl&ots=Atc99_vEkI&sig=kR8oy2dcxfz2xnt3lryseAELKbk&hl=en&sa=X&ei=M17vVNW9Ja_ksATUjoHgBQ&ved=0CEcQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=meadville%20war%20of%201812&f=false

©2015 ASEldredge

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Wordless Wednesday: Death Index and More from Old Pittsburgh Newspapers

Just a quick update of our old Pittsburgh area death notices--

Tis a group effort started some five years ago by a dedicated group of volunteers through our rootsweb mail list.  While the project has taken a long break now due to other commitments in life,  I am pleased to announce:

Death - over 106,6000 entries
Marriage- over 24,000 couples
Divorce- over 1400
Photos
WWI Military Personnel with over 73k entries
Civil War:  The men of Company E

To check to see if your loved one is on the list, please go to:
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/allegheny/death-index.htm

In addition, we also have 1864 Tax Returns which were published in the newspaper.  Can you imagine that happening today?

There are also WWI articles pertaining to Pittsburgh area men, House of Refuge information, Poor House articles, Veterans Schedule and other transcriptions done by loving hands, although tired ones, of our volunteers.

Take time to check it out:
Pittsburgh Old Newspaper Project Updates

Why, it's almost enough to render you speechless!  Enjoy!

Ahhh, genealogy. Gotta love it especially when you help someone you don't know find a smile.

©2015 ASEldredge

New Day for an Old Genealogy Blog

Welcome to the winter of 2015. It's been cold and snowy, so let's start anew together.

This will be the new home of Genitales, A Genealogy Column by AS Eldredge.

Yep, I've had to start over so enjoy the new found thoughts of the past as well as checking in with the old thoughts on the old blog site.

Ahhh, genealogy.  Gotta love it.