APHGA's Weekly Report 11/10/2009

The Great A. A. Pomeroy Book Update Project

Nancy continued to research and data-enter Virginia Pomeroys. She is working on the Shenandoah County Pomeroys, of which Chuck Pomeroy of Front Royal was a descendant. Nancy is also working on the West Virginia Pomeroys mentioned in last week’s blog.

Nancy had a nice conversation with APHGA member Diane L., regarding her line of Maine Pomeroys who originally settled on Long Island Plantation (an island off Bar Harbor). Family history points to a possible loyalist past, and Nancy is looking into connections with the Pomeroys of St. Stephens, New Brunswick who settled in Pembroke, Maine. Are these families related?

Nancy continues to work with Chris Pomery of the Pomeroy Family Association with regards to the Pomeroys we have researched who do not connect (at least yet) with the Eltweed line. Nancy has sent a copy of our Unlinked Pomeroy database to Chris and he has been diligently reviewing thousands of records to sort out those Pomeroy families that he knows came from England and Ireland. This will help us to whittle down the research that still needs to be done on those families that may or may not descend from Eltweed. Chris is also the administrator of the Pomeroy YDNA study at FamilyTreeDNA.com. We encourage participation in this study by both confirmed Eltweed descendants and those that haven’t been able to make that connection yet. Results from the Eltweed descendants show interesting consistent mutations between lines of the sons of Eltweed, but more participants are necessary to fill in the data. We’re looking, specifically, for male Pomeroys who descend from the following sons and grandsons of Eltweed, as these lines are not currently represented in the study:

Medad>John (elder)
Medad>Samuel (unlikely, unless his one documented son Lemuel had a male child, or Samuel had additional male children we don’t know about.)
Caleb>Samuel
Caleb>Ebenezer (d. at age 25, not known whether he married and/or had offspring)
Joshua>Joshua
Joseph>Medad
Joseph>Joseph

For more information about the Pomeroy YDNA study, go to the Pomeroy Family Association website at http://www.blogger.com/www.pomeroyfamilyhistory.com/. Stumped on the perfect present for your favorite Pomeroy genealogist? Why not consider a YDNA test?

Barb started and finished matching Pomeroys in the Minnesota Cemetery Inscriptions Index, Selected Counties, and the Minnesota Divorce Index 1970-1995 against our various Pomeroy databases. She also continued to review the New York State Library’s online newspaper collection “America’s Historic Newspapers” for Pomeroy related articles. She found an article in the Topeka, KS Weekly Capital in 1890 “that states that J.P. Pomeroy engaged “an intelligent Swede” to go to Norway and Sweden as his immigration agent. Pomeroy owned 25,000 acres of land in Graham County, was president of a coal company and worth a million or more. His agent was to be in Norway and Sweden for a year.” Is this James P. Pomeroy (Ralph Miller, Pliny, Pliny, Pliny, Daniel, Ebenezer, Medad, Eltweed), who identified himself as a “capitalist” in the 1900 US Federal Census? James was a widower according to this census and was living with a valet and cook. James’ father Ralph Miller Pomeroy was a very successful businessman who lived in Boston, MA in 1870. He identified himself on the 1870 US Federal Census as a Boot and Shoe Dealer with real estate valued at $400,000 and personal estate valued at $100,000. Those must have been SOME SHOES!

Betty spent the week data-entering Canadian marriage records and associated census records, and various Maine records into the Eltweed database. She entered records on Stanley Emerson Pomeroy (Roderick Hunt, Arad Hunt, Arad Hunt, Medad, Seth, Ebenezer, Medad, Eltweed), who was born in Feb 1892 in ME, and married twice, first on 22 Oct 1910 in Hampden, Penobscot Co., ME to Genevieve Hodgins, (b. abt 1892 in MI) and second before 28 Jan 1920 to Ruth F (last name unknown), b. abt 1891 in MA. Stanley and Genevieve had at least one child, Barbara H., b. abt 1912 in ME. Stanley was a machinist and was living in Riviera Beach, FL in 1945 according to the 1945 Florida State Census. She also entered records on Robert Bryan Pomeroy (Silas Cooper, Collins, Titus, Titus, Titus, Ebenezer, Eldad, Caleb, Eltweed). Robert was born 24 Apr 1907 in Westfield, Hampden Co., MA and married in Maine on 20 Sep 1930, Bertha Frances Manson (b. abt 1906 in ME). They had a son Sterling Pomeroy. Robert was elected the financial secretary of the Pleasant Street Methodist Church in Portland, Cumberland Co., ME on 30 Apr 1951.

Ed continued his review of Maine online newspapers in search of those illusive Maine Pomeroys. He found several obituaries that shed light on additional children of Pomeroys in our databases, and read an article about a B-36 plane crash in New Mexico that took the life of Kenneth Bruce Cota, a step-brother of Albert Pomeroy of South Paris, ME. Albert S. Pomeroy was the son of Charles R. and Helene P. (Pitts) Pomeroy. Charles R. Pomeroy was born 3 Oct 1880 in ME and married Helene in South Paris, Oxford Co., ME on 13 Dec 1941. We do not know who Charles R. Pomeroy’s parents were. Is anyone researching this line? There was a Charles Ripley Pomeroy, born 3 Aug 1880 in Peru, Oxford Co., ME, son of Alonzo L and Cynthia Pomeroy, is this the same Charles? Alonzo L. Pomeroy (Asa, Joseph, Joseph, Richard, Richard, Richard, Richard, Isles of Shoals) was born abt 1834 in ME and married twice, first to Martha A. Robinson and second to Cynthia (last name unknown). I think it’s likely that Charles R. Pomeroy who married Helene P. Pitts is the same person as Charles Ripley Pomeroy, as two of Charles Ripley Pomeroy’s sisters, Lula and Edith A, were also living in Paris, Oxford Co. ME.

Lee completed matching Pomeroys in Canadian Marriage records against our databases and handed them over to Betty for data-entry. She has started to match Canadian Birth Records from 1869-1909 against our databases.

Lee “located additional data on Rev. Swan L. Pomeroy (Josiah, Josiah, Josiah, Ebenezer, Medad, Eltweed), regarding anti-slavery activity in John R. McKivigan’s book, “The War Against Proslavery Religion,” Appendix pg. 215. Swan was listed as a Vice President of the American Anti-Slavery Society in 1834-35, and as a Manager from 1836-1839. He was also appointed as a delegate to represent Maine at the World’s Anti-Slavery Convention in London, 1840.”

Caryn completed her mountain of filing and has started to match Pomeroys in Missouri Marriage Records, 1805-2002 against our various databases.

Judy has been working with Lee to find information on George Washington Pomeroy (George A., Silas, Abner, Caleb, Samuel, Caleb, Eltweed), who was born about 1837 in Upper Canada and married Mary Ann Giles 20 Sep 1871 in Muskegon, Muskegon Co., MI. On 8 Apr 1891 he made a declaration of intention to become a US Citizen in Newaygo, Newaygo Co., MI. Judy went to her local Family History Center and checked death records volumes 2-3 for Newaygo Co. MI 1867-1932, but found no Pomeroys in this record. She also checked film for the Muskego Co., MI death index A-K and L-Z 1867-1965. She found a Pomeroy in 1894 but no first name was given. A Pomroy was found dying in 1915, but again, no first name. There was a Charles E. Pomeroy indexed in 1916 which may be George’s son. She also checked the birth records for Newaygo Co., MI and found two of Charles’ children, Melvin and Eunice.

The Pomeroy Anvil Trail

Work continues on the Lyons Pomeroy Anvil Monument. The foundation has been dug and poured. We are expecting full sized drawings of the inscription on the monument by Tuesday, Nov 10th. Once the drawings are approved the work of sandblasting the inscription should take about two weeks. If all goes well, we are looking at a possible date of Sunday, November 29th, 2009 for the dedication of the monument. The dedication will be part of regular Sunday church services at the First Presbyterian Church of Lyons, New York. The Church is located at 11 Queen St., in Lyons, NY, and Sunday services begin at 10:00am. For more information about the Church, check their website at http://lyonspc.googlepages.com/home.

Rick continued to transcribe mortgages for Wayne County that relate to Reverend Francis Pomeroy and his family, and the property they owned in Lyons. Nancy had started a deed search for village lot 2 to try to figure out when the property was parceled out. Rick will be comparing deeds from the First Presbyterian Church on village lot 1 and the deeds from village lot 2 to try to identify where Francis’ house stood on village lot 2.

The Pomeroy Collection

No new accessions this week.

The Mary Ann Coe Project

Nancy received an exciting letter from Henry Timman, our Norwalk, OH researcher. He had spoken with the Secretary of the Mount Vernon Masonic Lodge #64 in Norwalk who looked at the notes from early meetings and was able to tell us why Benjamin Junkins was expelled from the Lodge, effective 3 Dec 1827. From Henry: “The 1827 minutes show that on 1 Oct 1827 at a Lodge meeting there was disapproval expressed on Benjamin living in a state of open adultery, contrary to the code of the organization, and he was ordered to be served notice and to appear.”

“The notice was duly served and he failed to appear. A committee was appointed to meet and work him. The committee reported back on 3 Dec 1827 that he gave them no satisfaction, and that he abused them. Therefore it was voted that he be dismissed and that notice be published in the Norwalk Reporter newspaper.”

WOW! We had long speculated at this being the cause for Benjamin’s expulsion, but this confirmation has led us to wonder about other events and more areas of research. We are now wondering how this expulsion would have effected Benjamin and Mary Ann’s ability to make a living in Norwalk. On 5 Oct 1827 Benjamin had placed a notice in the Norwalk Reporter offering his property and cabinet maker’s shop on lot 26 in Norwalk for sale. On 12 May 1828 Benjamin and Mary Ann Junkins sold the cabinet maker’s shop on lot 26 to John V. Sharp. They held a mortgage on the property for $150. On 20 May 1829 Benjamin and Mary Ann Junkins sold the remaining portion of Benjamin’s property (including the dwelling house) on lot 26 to John Miller. They held a mortgage on this property for $425.00. On 4 Jun 1828, almost a year prior to the sale of this property, Benjamin and Marry Ann settled their accounts with James Williams, and on 1 Jul 1828 a letter remained at the Post Office in Canton, OH for a Benjamin Junkin. Were Benjamin and Mary Ann considering moving from Norwalk?

Benjamin died at the age of 35, “after a short, but severe illness” on 23 Jun 1830 in Norwalk. Mary Ann Junkins and John G. Taylor were named administrators of Benjamin’s estate, as he died intestate. Samuel Preston and Daniel Raitt were named as surety for the administrators of the estate in the amount of $800. If it was well known that Mary Ann was not legally married to Benjamin Junkins in 1827, how was she able to present herself as Benjamin’s wife and as co-administrator of his estate just three years later? What changed the community’s opinion of this couple? Did they perhaps leave town for a short period of time, and return with a divorce decree for Mary Ann and a marriage license identifying Benjamin and Mary Ann as husband and wife? We find no evidence that Mary Ann and Benjamin married in Norwalk, could they have married elsewhere?

Mary Ann filed a “Cancel of Marriage Contract” between herself and Spencer Pomeroy in the Huron County Court in August 1834. It is recorded in Deed Book 8, page 514. Spencer Pomeroy died in the Onondaga County, N.Y., poorhouse on 2 May 1833. The Cancellation of Marriage Contract was dated 19 Oct 1816 and stated “This may Certify to all whom it may concern that I Spencer by a Mutual agreement between me and my wife Mariam, have, and do by these presents revoke, and disannull the marriage covenant between myself and the said Mariam forever, and that I do discharge her the said Mariam in every particular manner name or nature whatsoever, as being no longer my wife, and she has liberty and full right to marry and live with any one that she may make her choice so far as it may concern me, as I will never disturb her in any situation in life whatsoever witness my hand and seal, Spencer Pomeroy, witness Calvin J. Ball.” (We believe it likely that when Ichabod Marshall, the recorder at Huron County Court House entered this record into the deed book that he mistook “Mariann” for “Mariam”. It seems unlikely regardless of whether the contract was real or faked that Mary Ann’s name would be spelled incorrectly!) Doesn’t it seem odd that the place where this contract was signed was not mentioned in the contract? We suspect it was created (or fabricated to appear to have been created) in Pompey, NY, as Calvin S. Ball, the witness, who was Mary Ann’s cousin, lived in Pompey until sometime after 18 Nov 1869. If this contract was signed 19 Oct 1816, Calvin would have been 18 years old. Was he old enough to witness this contract? On 5 Jul 1817 Ebenezer Carr was appointed guardian of Calvin and his brothers and sisters, as minor children.

It would be interesting to learn more about such contracts. Were they legal in N.Y. State or Ohio? Did the spouse released in such a contract still have to petition the state in which he or she lived to get a divorce that would be legally binding in that state? Could the holder of such a contract legally remarry? This seems unlikely. If it were truly that easy to divorce, why would people go through the Court system? We have seen notices in newspapers of contracts where husband and wife agreed to live apart and not hold each other responsible for debts, but does this imply that either spouse could legally remarry?

Nancy continued her research into several Sharps, including Salmon Sharp, administrator of the estate of Edward Pettit. Edward sold property to Mary Ann Coe on inlot 6 in 1825 and she purchased the remaining part of that property from the Estate of Edward Pettit in 1826. Salmon Sharp was the brother of Ephraim Sharp who married Jerusha Pettit, Edward Pettit’s sister. Edward and Jerusha Pettit’s sister Lydia also married a Sharp, but was a widow at the time of Edward’s death. From Nancy’s research into this Sharp family it does not appear that Lydia married a brother of Salmon and Ephraim. Who did Lydia Pettit marry?

Nancy also researched John V. Sharp, who purchased Benjamin Junkins’ cabinet maker shop. Was he related to Salmon and Ephraim Sharp? It appears that John V. Sharp came to Ohio from Pennsylvania, while Ephraim and Salmon Sharp lived in Cayuga Co., NY. Nancy did find a possible connection to John V. Sharp in Hopewell, PA, which bears an interesting connection with Benjamin Junkins, as this was the town that Benjamin and his brothers hailed from. Did John Sharp know Benjamin from Pennsylvania?

Nancy also continued her review of databases available through the Syracuse University Library. If you are lucky enough to live near a college or university, we highly recommend a visit to their library. Most academic libraries have subscriptions to online databases not typically available to, or affordable by, genealogists or genealogical societies. For instance, Nancy is currently reading a dissertation on the geology and migration patterns of the Military Tract of New York.

Barb continued her review of the Western Reserve Historical Society’s catalog. Alena continued her review of the Canton, OH Ohio Repository newspaper for the year 1828, looking for any references to Benjamin Junkins, Mary Ann (Coe) Pomeroy Junkins, Taylors, Sharps and references to cabinet makers.

Lee continued to search for early church records at the Firelands Historical Society. She consulted with Pat about Firelands research she has done and which films are on order through the Family History Library. Two early issues of the Firelands Pioneer Journal noted early church information.

Judy prepared for and visited the Allen County Library in Fort Wayne, IN. She first checked books and family histories that were not likely in circulation at other libraries, then she went to the periodicals section and started pulling and copying articles found in her PERSI research preparation for the trip. She focused on copies of the Firelands Pioneer Journal that we do not own and are not available online. From looking at the report Judy wrote detailing what she looked at and copied or photographed, I can tell it will take her a bit of time to read and digest everything. Here’s a great tip for researchers – find out if you can bring a digital camera to the research facility you’re planning on visiting. It’s a great timesaver when you know what you’re after and don’t have a lot of time, instead of spending precious time reading and transcribing, snap a few photos of the pages you’re interested in, and make sure to photograph your source information! Using a digital camera with a 300dpi setting should allow you to zoom in on the images for ease of reading when you get home.

Pat continued to work on her spreadsheet of heads of household in the 1820 and 1830 New Haven and Norwalk, Huron Co., OH US Federal Census records. Pat is trying to track the heads of household to identify where they were living prior to coming to Huron County. She has also found a list of the members of the Mount Vernon Lodge #64 which she has added to this spreadsheet. She traced David Webb, listed as living in Ridgefield, Huron Co., OH in 1830. In 1800 he was in Whitestown, Oneida Co, NY, in 1810 he was in Pompey, Onondaga Co., NY, in 1820 he was in Riga, Genesee Co., NY. She also researched James Kilbourne and Luther Coe, who were road commissioners and surveyors. Kilbourne was born in 1770 in New Britian, CT and was the founder of Worthington, OH. In 1805 he accepted the position of Surveyor of Public Lands.

Pat continued to review our copies of the Firelands Pioneer and is transcribing articles of interest including an article on the Mount Vernon Lodge listing members and visitors between 1821 and 1828. Pat has also identified online editions of the Firelands Pioneer.

Rick researched early Ohio newspapers for Masonic Lodge notices. He excerpted portions of a Freemason Sciences book found on the internet that might give us some insight on expulsion rules and regulations. He reviewed a reply from the Merry-Go-Round Museum in Sandusky, OH regarding their property (which was previously owned by David Powers). He contacted the Erie County, OH Recorder’s Office for grantor/grantee deeds filed on lots 52 and 54. Rick followed up with the current owner of inlot 6 in Norwalk (which was previously owned by Mary Ann (Coe) Pomeroy Junkins Powers.

Rick reviewed the Huron County tax rolls for 1833-34 which had been ordered from the Family History Library. These are the last rolls held by the Ohio Historical Society. Rick found that Edwin Pettit’s estate continued to pay taxes for inlot 6. He identified neighboring properties – Daniel Raitt paid taxes on inlot 5 and David Underhill paid taxes on inlot 7. Rick is now going to order deeds for properties that bordered on inlot 6 to see if they mention who the owner or resident of inlot 6 was (we’re hoping there is some mention of Mary Ann (Coe) Pomeroy Junkins or Benjamin Junkins). Rick also checked the tax records for neighboring New Haven and identified David Powers as paying taxes on property he owned.

We have added 395 people, 117 sources and 1728 citations to our genealogy databases over the past week.

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