William and Deliverance Longley were killed by Indians on July 27, 1694. Their son John was carried off and remained with the Indians for several years. He was then ransomed off. The daughter Lydia was carried off in the same raid and ransomed to the French in Montreal, converted to Catholicism and became a nun, the first American born woman to become a nun. The daughter Betty died soon after her capture from hunger and exposure.
Their grandmother, the widow of Benjamin Crispe, made her will April 13, 1698. In it she states, "I give and bequeath unto my three grandchildren that are in captivity, if they return, these books". One of them was a Bible, another a sermon book treating of fairh, and the other a psalms book. John Longley returned about the time that the grandmother died. Subsequently he filled many important offices both in the church and the town.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
WILLIAM, THE CONQUEROR
William, the Conqueror, was born in 1028 in Chateau de Falaise in Falaise, Normandy, France. He died 9 September 1087. He was known as William the Conqueror and was the first Norman King of England from Christmas 1066 until his death. He was also Duke of Normandy from 3 July 1035 until his death, under the name William II. William was the only son of Robert I, Duke of Normandy, as well as the grandnephew of the English Queen, Emma of Normandy.
To press his claim to the English crown, William invaded England in 1066, leading an army of Normans, Bretons, Flemings, and Frenchmen to victory over the English forces of King Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings. He suppressed subsequent English revolts in what has become known as the Norman Conquest.
William created a feudal state that brought order, peace, law to England, promoted commerce, and created a strong central government that long endured.
To press his claim to the English crown, William invaded England in 1066, leading an army of Normans, Bretons, Flemings, and Frenchmen to victory over the English forces of King Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings. He suppressed subsequent English revolts in what has become known as the Norman Conquest.
William created a feudal state that brought order, peace, law to England, promoted commerce, and created a strong central government that long endured.
Monday, May 21, 2012
THE JOHNSON FAMILY
Humphrey Johnson was born November 5, 1620 in Hertfordshire, England. He came from England with his father, Captain John. He settled in Scituate, Massachusetts and later went to Hingham, Massachusetts where he was an innkeeper. He was a member of his brother's company in the Narragansett Expedition. The following was said about him. "He had an uncommon inclination to lawsuits, Few men have left on the records of the court, so many evidences of his litigeous disposition."
Humphrey had two wives: Elinor Cheney (1626-1678) and Abigail Stansfield (1638-1714). He had a total of eleven children: Mehitable, Martha, Deborah, John, Joseph, Benjamin, Margaret, Deborah, Mary, Nathaniel, and Isaac. He married Elinor in 1642 in Roxbury, Massachusetts. She was a daughter of William and Margaret Cheney, ancestors of President William Howard Taft. He married Abigail May, widow of Samuel May in 1678.
Humphrey died July 24, 1692 in Hingham, Plymouth, Massachusetts. His second wife Abigail lived until 1714.
Humphrey had two wives: Elinor Cheney (1626-1678) and Abigail Stansfield (1638-1714). He had a total of eleven children: Mehitable, Martha, Deborah, John, Joseph, Benjamin, Margaret, Deborah, Mary, Nathaniel, and Isaac. He married Elinor in 1642 in Roxbury, Massachusetts. She was a daughter of William and Margaret Cheney, ancestors of President William Howard Taft. He married Abigail May, widow of Samuel May in 1678.
Humphrey died July 24, 1692 in Hingham, Plymouth, Massachusetts. His second wife Abigail lived until 1714.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
THE PEABODY FAMILY
William Peabody was born in 1764 in North Stonington, New London, Connecticut. He married two Brown sisters. He married first Polly Holmes who died shortly thereafter. His second wife was Rebecca Brown. They had Rebecca, William, Esther, Thomas, and Daniel. After her death he married a sister Asenath Brown. They had twelve children: Polly, Alfred, Anna, Asenath, Amelia, Alvah, Lucinda, Nelson, Selah, Charles, Ralph, and Laura.
There is an ancient tradition that this name was derived from one Boadie, a kinsman of Queen Boadicea, who assisted her in her revolt against the Romans. After the Britons were subdued by the Romans, Queen Boadicea dispatched herself by poison, and Boadie, with a remnant of the Britons, escaped to the mountains of Wales. Boadie, among the Cambri or Britons, signified a man or a great man, and Pea signified a large hill, a mountain, from which Boadie came to be called Peabodie, or the mountain man, which became the name of the tribe.
The American Peabody line goes back to John Alden and Priscilla Mullins. A William Peabody married Elizabeth Alden, John's daughter. Other Peabody marriages are also taking place in the 1600's in the colonies.
There is an ancient tradition that this name was derived from one Boadie, a kinsman of Queen Boadicea, who assisted her in her revolt against the Romans. After the Britons were subdued by the Romans, Queen Boadicea dispatched herself by poison, and Boadie, with a remnant of the Britons, escaped to the mountains of Wales. Boadie, among the Cambri or Britons, signified a man or a great man, and Pea signified a large hill, a mountain, from which Boadie came to be called Peabodie, or the mountain man, which became the name of the tribe.
The American Peabody line goes back to John Alden and Priscilla Mullins. A William Peabody married Elizabeth Alden, John's daughter. Other Peabody marriages are also taking place in the 1600's in the colonies.
Friday, May 11, 2012
BRECHT FAMILY
The surname Brecht (pronounced like "bright") was first found in Austria and Germany. The family's Coat of Arms was a black shield with a gold lion rampant, over all, a red fess.
Our ancestry to this family can be traced to Kuntz Brecht who was born about 1565 in Neudorf, Karlsrue, Baden, Germany. He married Catrina. This couple lived in the village of Neudorf in the Odenwald Mountains. Their son Christoph Brecht (1591-1676) moved with his wife, Anna, to Shriesheim, a few miles away.
The first of our family to come to this country was the family of Kuntz' grandson Johannes Michael Brecht. He was born 12 October 1662 and married Anna Katherine Hoffman, a daughter of Hans Yost Hoffman, a councilman of their village of Schreisheim. Johannes Michael Brecht (1706-1794) son of Johannes and Catherine, left Schriesheim to go to the town of Heidelberg which was some miles south. In 1726, at the age of 23, Michael left Heidelberg for Germantown, Pennsylvania.
In Germantown, Johannes Michael Brecht's name was anglicized to Michael Bright. Two years after his arrival, he married Margaretta Simone, daughter of Jacob Simone, a French Huguenot who had come to Pennsylvania in 1686. They were married in April of 1728 in Berks County, Pennsylvania. They had ten children including Peter Bright, your ancestor.
In Germantown, Johannes Michael Brecht's name was anglicized to Michael Bright. Two years after his arrival, he married Margaretta Simone, daughter of Jacob Simone, a French Huguenot who had come to Pennsylvania in 1686. They were married in April of 1728 in Berks County, Pennsylvania. They had ten children including Peter Bright, your ancestor.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
THE WILLARD FAMILY
The Willard surname dates back to the 11th century. The surname is from Norman-Saxon origin. The Willard family is a very old English and Norman family, and before that Italian family. Humbert, Count Bianchi de Villard, inherited the title from his brother Othon in 1240 and had two children named after himself and his brother.The younger child Humbert became CARDINAL Humbert, whose son led the papal army.
The oldest son of Count Humbert was named Othon for his grandfather. Count Othon went to Rouen and from there to Caen. In Caen, he no longer used the title and went only by the name of Villard. In 1310 he was suspected of being disloyal to the French Crown, and he fled with his family to England.
In England, Henri, Count Villard, was awarded grants of land in Sussex and Kent by King Edward III. Later King Richard appointed him as a magistrate and Deputy Lieutenant of five counties. He was also granted a coat of arms described as "argent a: chevron sable between three fish weirs proper five ermine spots." The family motto is Patientia Duris: Endure with Strength. His children thereafter were named with the Willard surname.
One of the first Willards to this country was Simon Willard, born in 1601. In May of 1634 he voyaged with his wife, children, sister Margerie, and her husband Captain Dolor Dvis to the New World. They are believed to have come on one of Winthrop's ships. They arrived in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. They bought the land from the Indians where Concord is today. They paid them in trade goods. They bought the land from Indians in 1636 and remained friends with them.
The oldest son of Count Humbert was named Othon for his grandfather. Count Othon went to Rouen and from there to Caen. In Caen, he no longer used the title and went only by the name of Villard. In 1310 he was suspected of being disloyal to the French Crown, and he fled with his family to England.
In England, Henri, Count Villard, was awarded grants of land in Sussex and Kent by King Edward III. Later King Richard appointed him as a magistrate and Deputy Lieutenant of five counties. He was also granted a coat of arms described as "argent a: chevron sable between three fish weirs proper five ermine spots." The family motto is Patientia Duris: Endure with Strength. His children thereafter were named with the Willard surname.
One of the first Willards to this country was Simon Willard, born in 1601. In May of 1634 he voyaged with his wife, children, sister Margerie, and her husband Captain Dolor Dvis to the New World. They are believed to have come on one of Winthrop's ships. They arrived in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. They bought the land from the Indians where Concord is today. They paid them in trade goods. They bought the land from Indians in 1636 and remained friends with them.
JOSH HITE
JOSH HITE
John Hite (sometimes spelled Heydt) was born December 5, 1685 in Bonfield, Baden, Wurttemberg, Germany. He married first Anna Maria Merckle, the daughter of Abraham Merckle and Anna Landvatter. They were married in 1704 in Bonfield. According to church records, he immigrated to America in 1710. He remained in Kingston, New York for five years. He received a grant of 100,000 acres from the Virginia governor and council in the late 1720's with the stipulation that 100 families be settled within two years. In 1732, Jost and his wife Anna Maria and their eight children along with 16 other families moved to Fort Stephens, Virginia. Jost founded the first permanent settlement in Frederick County, Virginia. He sold off parcels of his land, but retained the choice locations with generous acreage for himself and his children.
Josh and his family can be remembered for many historical events. He had 5 sons who were officers of the Continental Line of the Revolutionary War. His family, while students at William and Mary College, became one of the founders and first secretary of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. He was the first white man who entered the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.
Josh, also had an Indian wife, who bore him a daughter, Karren Happuck Hyatt (Hite), born 16 May 1742 in Old Town, Alleghany, Maryland. She married John Lewis Friend (who was also part Indian) in 1759. They had nine children born in Virginia and Maryland. Karren died 13 October 1798 in Friendsville, Maryland.
Our genealogical line comes through Josh's daughter, Maria Elizabeth Hite, who was born January 2nd, 1707 in Keizersgracht, Germany. She married George Bowman in 1730 in Berks County, Pennsylvania.
John Hite (sometimes spelled Heydt) was born December 5, 1685 in Bonfield, Baden, Wurttemberg, Germany. He married first Anna Maria Merckle, the daughter of Abraham Merckle and Anna Landvatter. They were married in 1704 in Bonfield. According to church records, he immigrated to America in 1710. He remained in Kingston, New York for five years. He received a grant of 100,000 acres from the Virginia governor and council in the late 1720's with the stipulation that 100 families be settled within two years. In 1732, Jost and his wife Anna Maria and their eight children along with 16 other families moved to Fort Stephens, Virginia. Jost founded the first permanent settlement in Frederick County, Virginia. He sold off parcels of his land, but retained the choice locations with generous acreage for himself and his children.
Josh and his family can be remembered for many historical events. He had 5 sons who were officers of the Continental Line of the Revolutionary War. His family, while students at William and Mary College, became one of the founders and first secretary of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. He was the first white man who entered the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.
Josh, also had an Indian wife, who bore him a daughter, Karren Happuck Hyatt (Hite), born 16 May 1742 in Old Town, Alleghany, Maryland. She married John Lewis Friend (who was also part Indian) in 1759. They had nine children born in Virginia and Maryland. Karren died 13 October 1798 in Friendsville, Maryland.
Our genealogical line comes through Josh's daughter, Maria Elizabeth Hite, who was born January 2nd, 1707 in Keizersgracht, Germany. She married George Bowman in 1730 in Berks County, Pennsylvania.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
HOUSTON FAMILY
HOUSTON FAMILY
Sam Houston was a 19th century American statesman , politician and soldier. He was born in Timber Ridge in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia of Scotch-Irish descent.
He was elected as the first and third President of the Republic of Texas. He was also U. S. Senator for Texas after it joined the United States and also a governor of Texas. He refused to swear loyalty to the Confederacy when Texas seceded from the Union, and resigned as governor. To avoid bloodshed, he refused an offer of a Union army to put down the Confederate rebellion. Instead, he retired to Huntsville, Texas, where he died before the end of the Civil War.
His father Samuel Houston was a sibling of Jane Agnes Houston, a great grandparent of ours. They grew up in Carlisle, Cumberland, Pennsylvania as did our family. Samuel Houston married Elizabeth Paxton and Jane Agnes Houston married Matthew Patton.
Samuel Houston and his spouse settled in Kentucky and Tennessee. His sister Jane Agnes Houston Patton and her family went on to Jefferson County, Indiana.
Sam Houston was a 19th century American statesman , politician and soldier. He was born in Timber Ridge in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia of Scotch-Irish descent.
He was elected as the first and third President of the Republic of Texas. He was also U. S. Senator for Texas after it joined the United States and also a governor of Texas. He refused to swear loyalty to the Confederacy when Texas seceded from the Union, and resigned as governor. To avoid bloodshed, he refused an offer of a Union army to put down the Confederate rebellion. Instead, he retired to Huntsville, Texas, where he died before the end of the Civil War.
His father Samuel Houston was a sibling of Jane Agnes Houston, a great grandparent of ours. They grew up in Carlisle, Cumberland, Pennsylvania as did our family. Samuel Houston married Elizabeth Paxton and Jane Agnes Houston married Matthew Patton.
Samuel Houston and his spouse settled in Kentucky and Tennessee. His sister Jane Agnes Houston Patton and her family went on to Jefferson County, Indiana.
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