Mary Jennie Carter Meador (1872-1947)

Mary Jennie Carter Meador

Mary Jennie Carter Meador with her husband,
James Henry Meador

Mary Jennie Carter

born 9 April 1872 in Amelia Court House, VA
died 14 July 1947 
buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery & Mausoleum (Find A Grave #25480448) in Richmond, Henrico County, VA.
married James Henry Meador (1872-1954)
children: Lillian Carter Meador 1904-1952; James Lyman Meador 1908; Meridith L. Meador 1913

Mary Jennie Carter was the third child of Thomas Carter and Elizabeth B. McKee. She was born in Amelia, and married James Henry Meador about 1900.

According to a distant cousin, Mary’s daughter Lillian became an invalid at age 15 and was permanently in a wheel chair; Meridith never married; and Lyman married later in life and did not have any children. 

William L. Carter (1842-1926)

William Carter

William L. Carter
Born: 20 April 1842 (note: this year would be the same as Thomas, his brother; not sure if it is correct; I believe William was one year younger than Thomas) in Ireland, probably Northern Ireland
Mother: Mary Fitzpatrick (1805-1885)
Father: Andrew Carter (1806-1886)
Married Eliza Wiley (1850-1935)
Died: 1926 

Children with Eliza:
1. Anna Leedom Carter  (1868-1955) Married Cornell, then possibly Sabbott and Pitman 
2. Mary V. 1870-1885
3. Thomas Wiley 1872-1952
4. Emma W. 1874-1885
5. James Wesley 1882-1883
6. Lillie 1885-1885

William L. Carter was my great-great-grand-uncle. He was born in Ireland, probably Northern Ireland. I have not been able to determine when he and his family immigrated to the United States. He lived in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, working as a farmer for most of his life. 

William Carter is listed with his brother Thomas (my great-great-grandfather) on the U.S. Civil War Draft Registrations Records for Bucks County, PA., but have not been able to determine where or if he served. 

He married Eliza Wiley on 27 Dec. 1866 at the Dutch Reformed Church in Richboro, PA. (This is documented in the Pennsylvania Church and Town Records 1708-1985.) She was born in New York; both her parents – Sampson Wiley and Margaret Clark – had come from Ireland. 

Eliza and William on their 50th wedding anniversary

Four of their children died young; Mary (15) and Emma (10) died of scarlet fever in 1885, within two days of each other, and James and Lillie died in infancy. Only two children survived to adulthood. His daughter Anna was troubled; she left her two young children by her first husband, and eventually married at least once, and perhaps twice more. 

The 1920 Federal Census shows William and Eliza living in Newtown, Pennsylvania. 

William and Eliza and an unknown man in front of their house in Newtown, PA.
Photo courtesy of Lynn Curtis

 

Eliza with two great-grandsons,
probably Charles and William Walton.
Photo courtesy of Lynn Curtis.

On the funeral home document, William is listed as a “gentleman” and cause of death is listed as “carcinoma of prostate gland.” He is buried in the Union Cemetery in Richboro, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, with his wife and four of their children.

Union Cemetery in Richboro, Bucks County, Pennsylvania

Julia Ann Alexander Paulson (1835-1921)

Born: 1835 in Beaver County, PA
Died: 15 August 1921 in PA (age 86)
Mother: Frances (1806-1836)
Father: Joseph M. Alexander
1st Husband: Henry George Paulson (1838-1898) Married at age 20, in 1855
Divorced 1867
2nd Husband: Valentine Stewart Hobaugh (1831-?) Married on 21 May 1876 in Beaver Falls, PA, at the First United Methodist Church, at age 41
Children with Henry George Paulson:
1. Drusilla, 1857-?
2. Charles Hall, 1860-1927
3. Fanny Mary, 1862-1915
4. Joseph Fillmore Paulson, born May 21, 1867 in New Brighton, Beaver County, PA; died 1957

Julia was my great-great grandmother. She was born in 1835 in Beaver County, and married Henry George Paulson in 1855. Henry’s life was troubled; he may have been an alcoholic or compulsive gambler. This quote is from the “Record of the Family Powelson” by Frank Wible Powelson:

“Henry Powelson (Paulson) married Julia Alexander of New Brighton, Penna. From reports told by the members of his own family, he must have been a rounder, because his wife divorced him and went back to her people. There were three or four children by this union. Henry married a second time and there was at least one son born, whose name could not be learned.”

Note: A “rounder” is an old-fashioned word that means someone who throws money away by gambling or drinking. Records show that he and Julia divorced in 1867, the same year that their fourth child, a son named Joseph, was born. Joseph is my great-grandfather. 

Julia was buried with Valentine and his first wife, Catharine, after her death in 1921, at Beaver Cemetery in Beaver, PA. Find-a-Grave Memorial #26404617:

I found the following account by Joseph A. Bachman (great-grandson of Julia’s eldest daughter, Drusilla) on Ancestry.com:

“ALEXANDER
Early: Pennsylvania and New York; also Belmont County in Ohio?; by 1835: Butler County, PA, and Beaver County, PA. By 1850s, some had moved to Monroe County, Ohio, and Allegheny County, PA. 

 My earliest known Alexander ancestry was my G-G-G-Grandfather, who was Joseph Alexander (1806-1888). He was born in Pennsylvania, lived briefly in New York State in 1828 when his son, James was born; he'd  moved to the southwestern PA areas of Unionville (in Bulter County) by 1835 and then to New Brighton (Beaver Conty). His wife - at least by the time of the the 1850 census in Beaver County – was Nancy (1814-1875); we may well have been his second wife. I know of eleven children born from 1828 to 1855:

1. James M. Alexander (1828-1855)
Married Catherine M. ___ and moved to Monroe COunty, Ohio, where he purchased a mill. Known children were: John Waddell Alexander (who married Harriet Roberta Martin) and Charles H. Alexander (who married Martha C. Hawkins)

2. Elias H. Alexander (1831-1898)
Married Emaline ___ (1830-1878) and then Sophie. Courthouse records of several counties – Beaver, Butler and Allegheny of PA, and Monroe of Ohio, show him involved in land transactions, but he apparently lived in only two of them as an adult: Beaver County (New Brighton, PA) and eventually, Allegheny County (Allegheny City, which is now a part of Pittsburgh). His chilren were by his first wife and were: William D. Alexander (who married Jennie ___), Clara (Married Baker), Mary (married Dudgson), Ella (married Vickerman), Charles L. Alexander, Julia Forres Alexander, Alice Emaline Alexander, and Joseph E. Alexander, who died in 1878 age 11. 

3. Julia Ann Alexander (1835-1921) married Henry Paulson and then, sometime after 1870 married Valentine Steward Ezra Hobaugh. The four children were born and raised in New Brightons, except the oldest daughter, Drusilla, who went to live with her uncle James M. Alexander in Monroe County, Ohio, when she was a teenager. The four Paulson children were: Drusilla (m. John Bachman in Monroe County, OH, in 1876), Charles Hall Paulson (married Estelle Fridiger in Beaver County in 1885), Fanny (married Charles VanArsdale) and Joseph Fillmore Paulson (married Drusilla Gertrude Funkhouser in Beaver County in 1887). 

4. Ellen Alexander (1839-?) the wife of a James D. Harris

5. Eliza Alexander (1840-?) the wife of a George MacManagel

6. Sarah J. Alexander (1843-?) wife of Fred Hollensworth

7. Joseph Benz Alexander (1845) was his wife Louise Wallace? If so, they bought land in Independence Township, Beaver County in 1873 from Joseph & Rachel Wallace. 

8. Frances Alexander (1847) Married Irwin Campbell

9. William F. Alexander (1847) He was a painter

10. George Clark Alexander (1850) Married Elizabeth Langnecker (1854-1923). They're buried in New Brighton, as is a son Harry (1882-1912)

11. David Alexander (1855)”

Thomas A. Braden (1844 - 1911)

Thomas A. Braden, age 18
photo courtesy of Jack Braden

Thomas A. Braden
Born: July 1844 in Pennsylvania

Father: James Braden, Sr. (1812-1888)

Mother: Ellen "Elinor" Elliott (1814-1895)

Siblings: Mary (1837-1903); Margaret (1838-1917); Rachel A. (1840-?); William John (1841-1908); James Braden, Jr. (1842-1880); Arabella B. (1846-1916); Anna M. (1848-1886); Rebecca J.(1849-?); Susan Mariah (1853-?)
Children: James A. (1868-1891); Effie Frances (1869-1939); William John (1870-?); Charles H. (1872-?); Blanch (1874-?); Pearl (1876-?); Nellie S. Braden (1883-?)
Spouse: Mary E. Gorshorn (1844-1903), married 1865

Died: 26 January 1911

I just got this photo (above) from a distant cousin, Jack Braden of Allentown, PA, whom I did not know before. He discovered my genealogy blog when he googled our g-g-grandfather's name. 


It shows our great-great-grandfather, Thomas A. Braden, at age 18, about the time when he entered the Union Cavalry (17th Cavalry, 162nd Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers; Company A from Beaver County, PA) Sept. 6, 1862 at Harrisburg. He rode under General Buford, who was the first to engage the South at Gettysburg in a twelve-hour battle. They gave them stiff resistance and when they were nearly out of ammunition, they were relieved at the last moment. We think that Thomas fought in approximately 42 battles, all in PA, WV, VA and MD. His brother-in-law, a Potter, was killed next to him in battle. Thomas was "discharged by General Order on June 12, 1865." The company mustered out on June 16. 


According to the website Civil War Archive:

17th Regiment Cavalry (162nd Volunteers)

Organized at Harrisburg September to November, 1862. Left State for Washington, D.C., November 25, 1862. Attached to Cavalry Brigade, 11th Corps, Army Potomac, to February, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, Cavalry Corps, Army Potomac, to August, 1864, and Army Shenandoah to March, 1865. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, Cavalry Corps, Army Potomac, to June, 1865.

SERVICE.---Camp at East Capital Hill, Defenses of Washington, until December, 1862. Skirmish at Occoquan, Dumfries, Va., December 19. Occoquan December 19-20 and 27-28. Frying Pan, near Chantilly, December 29. Wiggenton's Mills February 6, 1863. Kelly's Ford April 28. Chancellorsville Campaign April 26-May 8. Rapidan River April 29. Chancellorsville April 30-May 6. Brandy Station and Beverly Ford June 9. Upperville June 21. Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 1-3. Williamsport, Md., July 6. Boonsboro July 8. Benevola or Beaver Creek July 9. Funkstown July 10-13. Falling Water July 14. Kelly's Ford July 30-August 1. Brandy Station August 1. Expedition from Leesburg August 30-September 2. Advance to the Rapidan September 13-17. Brandy Station and Culpeper C. H. September 13. Raccoon Ford September 14-16. Reconnaissance across the Rapidan September 21-23. Jack's Shop, Madison C. H., September 22. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Raccoon Ford and Morton's Ford October 10. Stevensburg October 11. Near Kelly's Ford October 11. Brandy Station or Fleetwood October 12. Oak Hill October 15. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Parker's Store November 29. Demonstration on the Rapidan February 6-7, 1864. Kilpatrick's Raid on Richmond February 28-March 4. Fortifications of Richmond March 1. Ashland March 1. Reconnaissance to Madison C. H. April 28. Rapidan Campaign May-June. Wilderness May 5-7. Brock Road and the Furnaces May 6. Todd's Tavern May 7-8. Sheridan's Raid to the James River May 9-24. North Anna River May 9-10. Ground Squirrel Church and Yellow Tavern May 11. Meadow Bridge May 12. Line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Hanovertown May 26. Hanovertown Ferry and Hanovertown May 27. Crump's Creek May 28. Haw's Shop May 28. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Old Church and Mattadequin Creek May 30. Bethesda Church, Cold Harbor, May 31-June 1. Bottom's Bridge June 1. Sheridan's Trevillian Raid June 7-24. Trevillian Station June 11-12. Newark or Mallory's Cross Roads June 12. White House or St. Peter's Church June 21. Black Creek or Tunstall Station June 21. Baltimore Cross Road, June 22. Jones' Bridge June 23. Demonstration on north side of the James at Deep Bottom July 27-29. Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley Campaign August 7-November 28. Toll Gate, near White Post, August 11. Near Newtown August 11. Cedarville, Guard Hill or Front Royal, August 16. Summit Point August 21. Kearneysville and Shepherdstown August 25. Leetown and Smithfield August 28. Smithfield Crossing of the Opequan August 29. Berryville September 6. Sevier's Ford, Opequan Creek, September 15. Battle of Opequan, Winchester, September 19. Middletown and Strasburg September 20. Near Winchester and Smithfield September 24. Fisher's Hill September 29 and October 1. Newtonia October 11. Winchester November 16. Expedition from Winchester into Fauquier and Loudoun Counties November 28-December 3. Expedition to Gordonsville December 19-28. Madison C. H. December 21. Liberty Mills December 22. Near Gordonsville December 23. Sheridan's Expedition from Winchester February 27-March 25, 1865. Occupation of Staunton March 2. Waynesboro March 2. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Dinwiddie C. H. March 30-31. Five Forks April 1. Scott's Cross Roads April 2. Tabernacle Church or Beaver Pond Creek April 4. Sailor's Creek April 6. Appomattox Station April 8. Appomattox C. H. April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. Expedition to Danville April 23-29. March to Washington, D.C., May. Grand Review May 23. Consolidated with 1st and 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry to form 2nd Provisional Cavalry June 17, 1865.

Regiment lost during service 6 Officers and 98 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 128 Enlisted men by disease. Total 232.

Thomas was descended from our ancestor James Braden, who came to America in 1760. He was an Ulster Scot (Scots-Irish) immigrant from County Down, Ireland. His cousins were attacked, and one scalped, by Shawnee near the PA/Ohio border, and James formed a militia in 1782 to drive the Native Americans out. Fascinating history. To learn more, go here.

Thomas married Mary E. Groshorn in 1865, at age 21. They lived in New Brighton, PA, and had seven children: 

James A. 1867-

Effie Frances, 1869-1939

William John, 1870-

Charles H., 1872

Blanch, 1874-

Pearl, 1876-

Nellie S., 1883- 

We think this is a photo of Thomas A. Braden later in life.
Photo courtesy of Jack Braden

Thomas worked part of his life in the iron mill of Jones & Laughlin at Woodlawn. It was there that he sustained what must have been a fairly severe head injury that left him in constant pain, and was perhaps partially responsible for his taking his own life in 1911. His suicide was chronicled in the Beaver Falls Tribune on Jan. 27, 1911:

Clipping courtesy of Jack Braden

Here is the transcription:  

Brighton Veteran Commits Suicide

––

Thomas Braden of New Brighton went to this room in the Clyde House, turns on the gas and is dead when found an hour later

––

Was in poor health

––

Had been in poor health for several years due to a fall at the Jones & Laughlin Works when he was injured about the head

––

Well “Good bye” were the last words uttered by Thomas Braden of New Brighton as he left his friend Aaron Smith in the office of the Clyde house, New Brighton, yesterday afternoon and walked up to his room and committed suicide by the gas route.

Mr. Braden who was a well known resident of New Brighton, had been spending a few days in Pittsburg and returned on Tuesday. He was seated in the office talking to Mr. Smith and rising walked over to the key rack and took the key to his room No. 9 and with the above remark walked upstairs about 4:30 o’clock, which was the last seen of him alive.

As he had been a boarder at the hotel for several yeas nothing was thought of his actions but shortly after six o’clock the odor of escaping gas became quite strong and Proprieter Wm. Leckemby went upstairs to investigate and on walking along the hall found that the gas was coming from room No. 9. The door was forced and they were horrified to find the body of Mr. Braden lying on the floor.

That the suicide was premeditated was proven by the care with which it was carried out in detail. He had taken off his coat and laid it along the bottom of the door, then removed the hose from the gas stove, placed the hose in his mouth, turned on the gas, lay down and pulling a blanket over his head was dead when found.

Dr. Painter was summoned but his efforts were unavailing as the man was beyond human aid. Couch’s ambulance was called and the body removed to the morgue. No cause can be assigned for the rash act expect that of melancholia as Mr. Braden had been in poor health for some time and it is supposed he decided to end it all. Some time ago Mr. Braden sustained a bad fall from an open hearth furnace at the Jones & Laughlin works at Woodlawn and since that time had complained that his head hurt him greatly. He was 67 years of age and was born in Raccoon township in 1844. He had been a resident of New Brighton for many years and for the past two years had made his home with his daughter Mrs. Fred McDanel on Sixth avenue. He was a veteran of the Civil War, having been a member of the Seventeeth Pennsylvania cavalry. He is survived by three daughters Mrs. Fred McDanel and Mrs. Walter Harvey of New Brighton, and Mrs. Miles of Allentown, Pa. Two sons, William and C. H. Braden of Allentown, also survive.

Funeral services will be held from the residence of his daughter, Mrs. Fred McDanel at an hour to be announced later.

James Braden, Thomas’ cousin,
who moved to Missouri after the war.Photo courtesy of Jack Braden

Elizabeth Brady McKee Carter (1848-1889)

Elizabeth Brady McKee Carter (1948-1889)

Elizabeth Brady McKee Carter

Born: 24 June 1848 in Pennsylvania 
Father: John Moodey/Moody McKee (1811-1868) Mother: Sarah Linn (1820-1859)

Siblings: John L. McKee (1844-), Mary J. McKee (1850-)
Half-brother: George Brady McKee (1862-1920); his mother was Susan J. Crist (1834-). George was born in Saville, Perry County, PA.
Children: Richard Henry (1868-1870), Thomas Lynn Carter (1870-1913), Mary Jennie (1872-1947) William Russell (1874-1933), Ella (1876-1878), Lillian Ross (1878-1958), Effie Mae (1880-1948), Edward Vernon (1882-1882), Walter McClure (1883-1955), Elizabeth “Lizzie" Brady (1885-?) and Robert Lyman (1888-1944)
Spouse: Thomas Fitzpatrick Carter (1912) Married 1867
Died:  22 May 1889 in Amelia Court House


Finally! I now can see what Elizabeth McKee Carter, my great-great-grandmother looked like! I uncovered this photo when visiting Jack Vaughan, a distant cousin, in Amelia Court House, VA last week. It was marked E.M. Carter on the back, so we are certain that it is her. The photograph appears to have been taken around the time of the Civil War, about the time she married Thomas Fitzpatrick Carter in 1867 at age 18. 

Elizabeth was born in Pennsylvania, but I have not determined the exact place yet. Another distant cousin (in his 80s) thinks it is Kane, PA. Kane is a borough in McKean County in northwestern Pennsylvania, bordering New York state, about 94 miles southeast of Erie. But John M. McKee and his second wife Susan J. Crist raised Elizabeth’s half brother, George Brady McKee, in Saville township in  Perry County (in central Pennsylvania). George B. McKee grew up to be a Baptist minister, and performed the marriage of one of Elizabeth and Thomas’ sons, Thomas Lynn Carter, my great-grandfather, in 1899. 

Elizabeth’s father’s mother, Elizabeth Brady (1765-1849), is the source of her middle name. The Brady family is rather illustrious, and includes:

Nicholas Brady (1659-1726) Composer (with Tate) of “A new version of the psalms of David;” attended Westminster School; Christ Church, Oxford; and Trinity College. After ordination, he served for a while in County Cork before moving to London. There he was Vicar of St. Catherine Cree Church (1691-96). Chaplain to King William II and Queen Anne. Brady also wrote a tragedy entitled “The Rape, or the Innocent Impostors,” acted at the Theatre Royal in 1692.

From Wikipedia:
Nicholas Brady (28 October 1659 – 20 May 1726), Anglican divine and poet, was born in Bandon, County Cork, Ireland. He was the second son of Major Nicholas Brady and his wife Martha Gernon, daughter of the judge and author Luke Gernon: his great-grandfather was Hugh Brady, first Bishop of Meath. He received his education at Westminster School and at Christ Church, Oxford; he graduated from Trinity College, Dublin.^[1]
Brady was a zealous promoter of the Glorious Revolution and suffered in consequence. When war broke out in Ireland in 1690, Brady, by his influence, thrice prevented the burning of the town of Bandon, after James II gave orders for its destruction. The same year he was employed by the people of Bandon to lay their grievances before the English parliament. He soon afterward settled in London, where he obtained various preferments. At the time of his death, he held the livings of Clapham and Richmond.^[1]
Brady's best-known work, written with his collaborator Nahum Tate, is New Version of the Psalms of David, a metrical version of the Psalms. It was licensed in 1696, and largely ousted the old Sternhold and Hopkins Psalter. He translated Virgil's Aeneid and wrote several smaller poems and dramas, as well as sermons.^[1]
He married Letitia Synge and had four sons and four daughters. Notable descendants include Maziere Brady, Lord Chancellor of Ireland.

Captain John Brady (1733-1779) Fought in Revolutionary War, including Battle of Boston with sons Samuel and James. Killed during a battle with Native Americans in 1779; fought His son James was also killed by Native Americans, in 1778. Samuel and Hugh (below) also played important military roles.
 
Captain Samuel Brady (1756-1795). Fought in Revolutionary War in Battles of Boston, New York, Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine Creek, Paoli Massacre in Chester County, PA, and Germantown, likely wintered with George Washington at Valley Forge, frontier scout and “Indian fighter”

General Hugh Brady (1768 - 1851) Northwest Indian War under General “Mad” Anthony Wayne, War of 1812, Black Hawk War.

Elizabeth is also distantly related to the social reformer Jane Addams on her Linn side. Jane’s sister, Mary Catherine Addams (1845-1894) was married to Rev. John Manning Linn (1842-1924). John Ross Linn (1807-1892), who was Rev. John Manning Linn’s father, was Sarah Linn’s brother.

Elizabeth and Thomas moved with his brother Robert to Amelia Court House, Virginia, about 1870. Thomas built this house, probably in the 1870s:

Thomas Carter (seated) with some of his children, about 1910

According to family members, Elizabeth died at age 40 in childbirth in 1889 with her 12th child. She is buried in the Amelia Court House Presbyterian Church graveyard, with Thomas, and Thomas’ second wife, Nannie Vaughan. 

Germanna Colony ancestors

Last year, I discovered that a huge number of my Polish/Czech/German/Swiss/Austrian/Bavarian ancestors in my paternal lineage (my Brubaker side) were part of the Germanna Colony, located in present-day Orange County, Virginia. 

Hundreds of Germans fleeing the devastation of the Franco Prussian wars and persecution of their Lutheran beliefs came to America in the early 1700s. The group to which most of my ancestors belonged left England in 1717. Their story is an amazing one. Either they were kidnapped by an English sea captain who had an agreement with the (then) lieutenant governor of Virginia, Alexander Spotswood, or they were driven off course by a raging storm at sea, and landed in Virginia instead of Pennsylvania. 

Alexander Spotswood

In either case, when they arrived in America in 1717, they were sold into indentured servitude and sent to work at Spotswood’s colony. They were the first white people in this part of Virginia. You can read a version of the tale on the website of the Second Germanna Colony. It states that Spotswood was motivated to settle people on the land in order to obtain ownership of the lands from the crown of England.

The following information is taken from the website for The Memorial Foundation of the Germanna Colony website, which contains extensive information about the Germanna Colony:

In 1717, about 80 Germans from Wuerttemberg, Baden and the Platinate made an agreement with a Captain Tarbett in London to take them on the ship Scott to Pennsylvania. The plan was to go to Pennsylvania, where Governor William Penn had offered free passage to Pennsylvania, and religious freedom. Tarbett then hijacked the Germans and took them to Virginia instead, where Lieutenant Governor Spotswood made them indentured servants (since they could not pay for the cost of their voyage). At the Germanna Colony, they were forced to do hard labor, including mining for silver and iron, and quarrying. The community was primarily Lutheran.

According to the website for The Memorial Foundation of the Germanna Colony website :

“The name Germanna, selected by Governor Alexander Spotswood, reflected both the German immigrants who sailed across the Atlantic to Virginia and the British Queen, Anne, who was in power at the time of the first settlement at Germanna. Though she was to die only months after the Germans arrived, her name continues to be a part of the area.

The Germanna Colonies consist primarily of the First Colony of 42 persons from the Siegerland area in Germany brought to Virginia to work for Spotswood in 1714, and the Second Colony of 20 families from the Palatinate and Baden-Wuerttemberg area of Germany brought in 1717,  but also include other German families who joined the first two colonies at later dates. Although many Germanna families later migrated southward and westward from Piedmont Virginia, genealogical evidence shows that many of the families intermarried for generations, producing a rich genealogical heritage.

“The 1717 Colony from the Kraichgau of Baden and Wurttemberg, as well as  some from the Rhineland Pfalz (Palatinate) settled first across the Rapidan River from Fort Germanna, then from 1725 and 1727 began to move to the Robinson River Valley in present day Madison County and patent land in their own names.” 

Alexander Hays Philson

My Great-great-great-grandmother, Eleanor Crigler (1801-1873) is a descendant of many Germanna residents, so I will start with her. Eleanor married Alexander Hays Philson, son of Whiskey Rebellion hero Robert Philson). She was born in Madison County, with her Germanna Colony ancestors, but died in Pennsylvania. The rest of my paternal lineage on this line lived in western Pennsylvania.

The birth and death places of these ancestors are somewhat confusing because county lines changed. For example:

Spotsylvania County was created from Essex County in 1721.
Orange County was created from Spotsylvania County in 1734.
Culpeper County was created from Orange County in 1748.
Madison County was created from Culpeper County in 1793.

In the information below, those who lived or were born at Germanna Colony are marked in red.

Headstone of Alexander Hays Philson.
Born 10 Feb. 1801 in Berlin, Somerset County, PA. Died 31 Mach in Berlin.
Buried IOOF Cemetery in Berlin.
SOURCE: www.findagrave.com

Headstone of Eleanor Crigler Philson
Buried IOOF Cemetery in Berlin, with Alexander.
SOURCE: www.findagrave.com

FIRST GENERATION (my third great-grandmother):
1. Eleanor CRIGLER. Born in Madison County, VA 30 July 1801. Died in Berlin, Somerset County, PA 23 July 1873. 

Headstone for Rev. Jacob Crigler
and his second wife, Nellie Tanner Crigler.
SOURCE: www.findagrave.com

SECOND GENERATION (my fourth great-grandparents):
2. Rev. Jacob CRIGLER. Born in Madison County, VA, Jan. 15, 1778. Married Lydia Utz in 1799. Married Nellie Tanner in 1808. Died in Florence, Boone County, KY, July 14, 1847
3.  Lydia UTZ. Born in Madison County, VA, Jan. 1781.  Died in Madison County, VA, 15 July 1805

THIRD GENERATION (my fifth great-grandparents):
4. Aaron CRIGLER. Born in Madison County, VA, 9 July 1756. Died in Madison County, VA, August 1832
5. Catherine CRISLER. Born in Madison County, VA, about 1758. Died in VA 1804.
6. George UTZ. Born in Madison County, VA, 1757. Died in Madison County, VA, 1839
7. Dinah CARPENTER. Born in Madison County, VA, 15 June 1764. Died in Madison County, VA, 1830

FOURTH GENERATION (my sixth great-grandparents):
8. Nicholas CRIGLER. Born in Germanna, Spotsylvania County, VA, in 1723. Married Margaret Kaifer in 1749. Died in Madison County, VA, 19 October 1789.
9. Margaret KAIFER. Born in Albemarle County, VA, in 1725. Died in Albemarle County in 1771. Sister of Mary (#13 below).
10. Johann Theobald Fawatt CRISLER. Born 18 August 1709 in Lambsheim, Ludwigshafen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany, 18 August 1709. Married Rosina Garr about 1736. Died in Madison County, VA, about 1776.
11. Rosina GARR. Born in Illenschwang, Ansbach, Bayern, German, 11 August 1713. Died in Madison County, VA, in 1778.
12. George UTZ. Born 1718 in Spotsylvania, VA in 1718. Married Mary Kaifer in 1754. Died in Madison County, VA in 1808.
13. Mary KAIFER. Born in Virginia in 1728. Died in Culpeper, VA, in 1808. Sister of Margaret (#9 above).
14. Michael CARPENTER/ZIMMERMAN. (NOTE: Zimmerman means Carpenter in English, and the name was changed once the families Americanized.) Born in Culpeper VA in 1737. Married Maria Barbara Christler/Crisler in 1757. Died in Madison County, VA 1808.
15. Maria Barbara CHRISTLER/CRISLER. Born 1737 in Orange, Madison County, VA 1736. Died in Madison County, VA in 1808.

FIFTH GENERATION (my seventh great-grandparents):
16. Jacob CRIGLER/KRIEGLER: Born in Dittsmandorf, Germany in the late 1690s. Married Susanna Koch in 1719. Died in Virginia in 1734. (Jacob used the spelling Kriegler when he obtained his original land grant in Virginia on June 24, 1726.)
17. Susanna KOCH. Married Jacob in 1719. Married Nicholas YAGER sometime after Jacob’s death in 1734.
18. Wolf Michael KAIFER/KAEFFER. Born in Ansbach, Bayern, Germany in 1695. Married Anna Maria Blankenbaker. Died in Culpeper, VA, 17 November 1768.
19. Anna Maria BLANKENBAKER. Born in Neuenberg, Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany, 5 May 1687. Died in Broomfield Parrish, Culpeper County, VA, 28 December 1762.
20. Matthais CRISLER/KREISLER. Born in Breslau, Silesia, Austria in 1664. Died in Madison County, VA 1759. Info from www.werelate.org: Matthais and his two younger sons, David and Michael removed to the land grant located in the center of the present city of Madison, Madison County, Virginia, in the early German settlement of 1714-1726 on the Robinson River and White Oak Run which was then in the County of Spotsylvania, Colony of Virginia, where they joined other early German colonists of 1717 and received a land grant just NE of Madison. Matthais left Germantown for Virginia because of their dissatisfaction with Lutheranis, which was non-existent in the Colony of Pennsylvania. Matthais’s name is sometimes seen as Castler. He was granted a patent of 300 acres dated September 28, 1728. The “Old Crisler” house in Madison on Highway 29 sits on the same land patented to Matthais Crisler in 1728.
21. Barbara VON DER SCHELLENBERGER. Born in Breslau, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, in 1678. Died in 1709.
22. Andreas/Andrew GARR. Born in Frankenhofen, Ansbach, Bayern, Germany, 14 June 1685. Married Eva Katherina Seidelmann on 23 February 1711 in Germany. Died in Madison County, VA, 1750.
23. Eva Katherina SEIDELMANN. Born in Illenschwang, Ansbach, Bayern, Germany on 23 February 1685. Died in Culpeper, VA in 1778.
24. Hans/Johann George UTZ. Born in Sayn, Mayen-Koblenz, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany, 12 April, 1693. Married Anna Barbara Majer. Died in Culpeper, VA 21 August 1766.
25. Anna Barbara MAJER. Born in Wolfartsweier, Stadt Karlsruhe, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany in 1695. Died in Culpeper, VA, 1741.
26.Wolf Michael KAIFER/KAEFFER. Born in Ansbach, Bayern, Germany in 1695. Married Anna Maria Blankenbaker. Died in Culpeper, VA, 17 November 1768.
27. Anna Maria BLANKENBAKER. Born in Neuenberg, Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany, 5 May 1687. Died in Broomfield Parrish, Culpeper County,VA, 28 December 1762.
28. John CARPENTER/ZIMMERMAN. Born in Salxburg, Hamein-Pyrmont, Niedersachsen, Germany, in 1695. Married to Anna Barbara Kerker. Died in Culpeper VA, 1782
29. Anna Barbara KERKER. Born in Zazenhausen, Stuttgart, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany, 2 April 1709. Died in Culpeper, VA in 1787.
30. Theobold Fawatt CHRISTLER/CRISLER. Born 1701 in Land Saxony, Germany. Married Rosina Gaar. Died in Culpeper, VA, 20 Feb. 1776.
31. Rosina GARR. Born in Illenschwang, Ansbach, Bayern, German, 11 August 1713. Died in Madison County, VA, in 1778.

SIXTH GENERATION (my eighth great-grandparents):
32. Martin KRIEGLER. Born Dittmansdorf, in German Silesia.
33. Unknown.
34. Johann Michael KOCH/Cook. Born in Hollenbach.
35. Maria Barbara REINER. Born in Schwaigern.
36. Wolfgang KAIFER/KAEFFER. Born in Zaberfeld, Heilbronn, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany, in 1660. Died there 8 August 1728.

37. Elizabeth ???. Born in Ansbach, Stadt Ansbach, Bayern, Germany in 1674. Died in Burchau, Lorrach, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany, 25 June 1678.
38. Hans Thomas BLANKENBAKER. Born in Gresten, Schelbbs, Lower Austria. Married Anna Maria Blankenbaker. Died in Neuenberg, Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany, 1691.
39. Anna Barbara SCHONE. Born in Neuenberg, Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany, 29 September 1664. Died in Virginia, 1743.
40. Unknown CRISLER/KREISLER
41. Unknown.
42. Unknown VON DER SCHELLENBERGER
43. Unknown.
44. Johannes GARR. Born in Franconia, Bayern, Germany, 17 May 1657. Married Elizabeth Barbara Schuebel. Died in Frankenhofen, Ansbach, Bayern, Germany, 22 May 1738.

45. Elizabeth Barbara SCHUEBEL. Born in Dinkelsbuel, Mittelfranken, Bayern, Germany, 8 June 1663. Died in Frankenhofen, Ansbach, Bayern, Germany, 15 May 1748.
46. Unknown SEIDELMANN
47. Unknown.
48. Unknown UTZ
49. Unknown.
50. Unknown MAJER.
51. Unknown.
52. Wolfgang KAIFER/KAEFFER. Born in Zaberfeld, Heilbronn, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany, in 1660. Died there 8 August 1728.
53. Elizabeth ???. Born in Ansbach, Stadt Ansbach, Bayern, Germany in 1674. Died in Burchau, Lorrach, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany, 25 June 1678.
54. Hans Thomas BLANKENBAKER. Born in Gresten, Schelbbs, Lower Austria. Married Anna Maria Blankenbaker. Died in Neuenberg, Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany, 1691.
55. Anna Barbara SCHONE. Born in Neuenberg, Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany, 29 September 1664. Died in Virginia, 1743.
56. Unknown CARPENTER/ZIMMERMAN
57. Unknown.
58. Andreas/Andrew KERKER/KERCHER. Born in Zazenhausen, Stuttgart, Baden-Wuettemberg, Germany, in 1689. Married Margaret Unk. Died in Madison, VA, in 1738.

59. Anna Margaretha/Margaret UNK. Born in Germany, 1675. Died in Virginia.
60. Unknown CHRISTLER/CRISLER
61. Unknown.
62. Unknown GARR.
63. Unknown

Andrew (1806-1886) and Mary (1805-1885) Carter

North & Southampton Reformed Church
Photo by Susan Brubaker Knapp taken Sept. 11, 2013

Headstone of Andrew and Mary Carter at North & Southampton Reformed Church.
Photo by Susan Brubaker Knapp taken Sept. 11, 2013

Andrew and Mary Carter are my maternal great-great-great grandparents.

Andrew Carter
Born 1806 (probably in Northern Ireland)
Died August 1, 1886
 
Mary Fitzpatrick
Born 1805 in Ireland (probably Northern Ireland)
Died June 19, 1885.

Children:

Margaret
William (about 1842-1926)
Richard D. probably born about 1830. Murdered 1869.
Andrew (1834-1902)
Thomas Fitzpatrick (1842-1913)
Robert 1849

According to family sources, they came to America in the 1830s, and lived in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia.

Andrew and Mary are buried in the North and Southampton Churchyard in Churchville (also known as the Dutch Reformed Cemetery), Bucks County, PA, at 1380 Bristol Road, Churchville, PA. The Dutch Reformed Church was a Christian denomination in the Netherlands that grew out of the Roman Catholic Church in the 1570s. 

My great-great-grandfather Thomas was Presbyterian, so I was curious as to whether or why Andrew and Mary would have attended this church. When I visited in September 2013, one of the pastors told me that in the early 1800s in this part of Bucks County, there would have only been four options for them: Lutheran, Catholic, Quaker, and Dutch Reformed. The Dutch Reformed was closest in theology to Presbyterianism, and many Presbyterians coming from Scotland or Northern Ireland were members.

Andrew is noted in Find A Grave Memorial# 53722688 and Mary in Find A Grave Memorial# 53722689 (www.findagrave.com). 

Headstone of Andrew Carter, Sr. at North & Southampton Reformed Church.
Photo by Susan Brubaker Knapp taken Sept. 11, 2013

His headstone reads:
Andrew Carter Sr. 
Died August 1st 1886
In his 80th year

Mary is buried next to him:

Headstones of Andrew and Mary Carter (lower right)
at North & Southampton Reformed Church.
Photo by Susan Brubaker Knapp taken Sept. 11, 2013

Headstone of Mary Carter at North & Southampton Reformed Church.
Photo by Susan Brubaker Knapp taken Sept. 11, 2013

Her headstone reads: Mary
Wife of Andrew Carter Sr
in her 80th year
died June 19, 1885
in her 80th year

North & Southampton Reformed Church
Photo by Susan Brubaker Knapp taken Sept. 11, 2013

North & Southampton Reformed Church.
Photo by Susan Brubaker Knapp taken Sept. 11, 2013