52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – 3 – Jemima Booth

Today's ancestor, Jemima Booth, was my 4^th gt-grandmother. She was married to Benjamin Townsend (who I wrote about on 10 Dec 2017) and was the mother of Edith (Townsend) Marsh (who I wrote about on 8 Dec 2017.)

If you tried to read about Jemima on my genealogy website, you would find very little information there about her. See http://www.joanneskelton.com/p15.htm#i369

The main source of information about Jemima that I have found is the Quaker record of her marriage to Benjamin Townsend, as his second wife, at the Concord Monthly Meeting in Chester County (now Delaware County) Pennsylvania in 1784. I will try to do a transcription of that record sometime soon.

There are a number of public member trees on Ancestry.com (at least 40) which include her. However, as often happens they don't all agree. About 2/3 of them list her parents as Robert Booth and Elizabeth Cloud, while the rest show unknown. Since the Quaker record names her father as Robert Booth, at least that appears to be correct. There was a Robert Booth in that Quaker community who married an Elizabeth Cloud in 1741, so if they were the same Robert, her mother would probably be Elizabeth Cloud.

Most of the public trees show her birthdate as 1759 in Pennsylvania or Delaware. The Delaware may mean Delaware County, Pennsylvania, but Elizabeth Cloud was from Delaware. Looking at Jemima's death date I found that most with a date listed 1803 and a few gave 1805 and all but one gave her death place as Pennsylvania. The one which showed her death place as Ohio was most likely the correct one. I base this on an item I had found in the History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties Ohio, by J. A. Caldwell, published 1880, pg 554. It was in the section about Smithfield Friends Church and said that original members of the church in 1802 were Benjamin Townsend and Jemima his wife. It also said that the first grown person to be buried at that church's cemetery was “Jemima Townsend wife of Benjamin Townsend.”

This Quaker record from the Westland Monthly Meeting in Washington County Pennsylvania showed that the Townsend family, including Jemima, were planning to go to the Concord Monthly Meeting in Ohio in June of 1803.

I checked in the Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, edited by William Wade Hinshaw, Volume IV for Ohio, page 161, Concord Monthly Meeting, and found in the Townsend listings, Benjamin and w. Jemima, as well as 5 of their children were received on certificate there 1803, 9, 17.  Smithfield, or Plymouth, and Concord were in the same basic area. So it appears that if Jemima died in 1803 it was after the 17^th of September. I am fairly confident that she had died before 1807 since Benjamin married a third wife then.

Although public member trees can give clues about an ancestor, often a part or even all of the information can be incorrect. We need to do our own research, even though sometimes we can find very little.

Ancestor Birthday – December 10 – Benjamin Townsend 1742

Today's ancestor, Benjamin Townsend, was the father of my 3^rd gt-grandmother, Edith Townsend, who I wrote about day before yesterday, December 8^th. So that means that Benjamin was my 4^th gt-grandfather.

He was born 10 Dec 1742, the son of Joseph and Lydia (Reynolds) Townsend in Chester County Pennsylvania. They were members of the Quaker Concord Monthly Meeting. While he was still quite young, in 1749, his father died and Benjamin was named in his father's will.

It was about 1767 when Benjamin married Edith Evans. They had 6 children before Edith died 8 May 1783. Benjamin married his second wife, Jemima Booth, 6 May 1784. About 2 years later, in 1786, the family moved to Washington County Pennsylvania. Benjamin and Jemima had at least 5 children before they moved farther west into Columbiana County Ohio in 1803. It appears that Jemima died before 1807 because Benjamin married his 3^rd wife, Elizabeth Naylor, then.

From a probate record in Columbiana County, May term 1822, Benjamin was then deceased and apparently did not have a will. It does name 11 children who were his heirs at law, including the daughters' married names and locations for most of them.

Ancestor Birthday – December 7 – Edith Townsend 1791-1837

Three of my ancestors, all female, were born on December 7, so the later 2 are being posted a day or two late.

Today is Edith Townsend who was one of my 3^rd gt-grandmothers. Edith was the daughter of Benjamin and Jemima (Booth) Townsend. Jemima was Benjamin's second wife, so Edith had 6 older half-siblings. But Edith also had at least 4 full siblings. Her parents were married in Chester County (now Delaware County) Pennsylvania at the Quaker Concord Monthly Meeting in 1784. It was 1786 when the family transferred their membership to the Westland Monthly Meeting in Washington County, Pennsylvania. It was there that Edith was born on the 7^th day of the 12^th month (December) 1791. In 1803 the family moved again, or at least transferred their membership to Concord Monthly Meeting in Columbiana County Ohio. They seem to have been members of the Short Creek Monthly Meeting which was set off from the Concord meeting in 1804. In 1806 Edith, as a minor (age 14) transferred to Salem Monthly Meeting which was also in Columbiana County. In 1808 the New Garden Meeting was set off from Salem and Edith was probably one of the charter members there.

It was in 1810 that Edith married Elias Marsh, who had come from New Jersey to Ohio. Edith and Elias had 8 known children: Robert b.1811, Martha b.1812, William b.1817, Lydia b.1818, Jesse b.1820, Sabina b. 1823 (my 2^nd gt-grandmother), Fanny b. 1827 and Joseph b. 1830.

In 1834 the family moved to Indiana, apparently to Hancock County. They were members of Walnut Ridge Monthly Meeting which was in neighboring Rush County.

It was there in Hancock County that Edith died 5 Aug 1837, as recorded in the minutes of the Walnut Ridge Monthly Meeting. Her youngest son Joseph died just 2 months later at age 10. So that must have been a sad year for their family.

Ancestor Birthday - September 7 - Elias Marsh 1788 - 1871

My 3rd gt-grandfather, Elias Marsh, was born 7 Sep 1788 in Woodbridge, Middlesex County, New Jersey, the son of Elias and Martha (FitzRandolph) Marsh. From the post I made on 21 Jun 2017 about the children of his parents, I concluded that Elias was the 2nd child of 7.

Their family moved to Ohio in 1806 as indicated in the Quaker records of Salem Monthly Meeting in Columbiana County. It was in 1810 that Elias married his 1st wife, Edith Townsend, who was the mother of all his known children. Since there are not census records for 1790 or 1800 for most of New Jersey nor for 1810 for most of Ohio, the first census record for Elias is in 1820. I believe he is listed in Columbiana County in Hanover Township as Elias Marsh, age 26-45, with 1 female age 26-45, 2 females under 10 and 3 males under 10. These children correspond well with his known children: Robert b.1811, Martha b.1812, William b.1817, Lydia b.1818 and Jesse b.1820.

Apparently Elias was considered a member of the New Garden Monthly Meeting in Columbiana County, when it was formed in 1808. Then in 1822 Elias, Edith and their 5 children transferred to Sandy Spring Monthly Meeting, still in Columbiana County. While there 3 more children were born: Sabina b.1823 (my 2nd gt-grandmother), Fanny b.1827, and Joseph b.1830.

In 1834 the family moved to Indiana. Elias received 80 acres from cash entry in Brandywine Township in Hancock County Indiana in 1835. Apparently he moved to Blue River Township in the same county in 1837 as the U.S. records show he purchased 280 acres there. A local history for that township stated that Elias erected a tile factory on his land.

Elias became a widower when his wife Edith died 5 Aug 1837, as recorded in the minutes of the Walnut Ridge Monthly Meeting. It also recorded Elias' 2nd marriage 24 Apr 1839 to widow Elizabeth (Hawkins) Boyd. She died about 1844 or 45 and Elias married for a 3rd time to another widow, Margaret (Reynard) Osborn. His son, Jesse, married Margaret's daughter Catherine, and the 1850 census shows Elias, now age 63, and Margaret living in the household of Jesse and Catherine and their children. Elias again became a widower in 1866 when Margaret died. He and Margaret were living alone on the 1860 census and he was by himself on the 1870 census.

Elias died 9 Feb 1871 and was buried at Westland Friends Church Cemetery, in Hancock County, Indiana.

The Children of Elias and Martha (FitzRandolph) Marsh

Yesterday, 20 Jun 2017, I wrote about Martha FitzRandolph who was married to Elias Marsh. Then I stated that I concluded they had 7 children. This is a time period where there are few birth records. I have used online trees and other records found through Ancestry.com. I based their order on the listing of the younger 5 in the Quaker records at Salem Monthly Meeting in Columbiana County Ohio. Here are some of my conclusions.

1. Mary Marsh, born in New Jersey 5 Feb 1779, married in 1795 to William Webster. On 1820 census they were in Liberty Township, Butler County Ohio. I believe she was the female age 26-44.
2. Elias Marsh, born in New Jersey 7 Sep 1788, married in 1810 to Edith Townsend. On 1820 census they were in Hanover Township, Columbiana County Ohio. I believe he was the male age 26-44.
3. Lydia Marsh, born in New Jersey 27 Aug 1790, married in 1808 to John Walton. On 1820 census they were in Butler Township, Columbiana County Ohio. I believe she was the female age 26-44.
4. Fanny Marsh, born probably in Pennsylvania about 1795, married in 1814 to Joseph Underwood. On 1820 census they were in Fairfield Township, Columbiana County Ohio. I believe she was the female age 14-25.
5. Joseph Marsh, born probably in Pennsylvania about 1796, married in 1816 to Hannah Rigby. On 1820 census they were in Hanover Township, Columbiana County Ohio. I believe he was the male age 14-25.
6. Samuel Marsh, born in Pennsylvania 4 Dec 1799, married in 1823 to Rebecca Gilbert. On 1820 census I believe he was in the household of his mother Martha Marsh in Hanover Township, Columbiana County Ohio I believe he was the male age 14-25.
7. Jane Marsh, born in Pennsylvania about 1800, married in 1817 to Joseph Scott. On 1820 census they were in Middleton Township, Columbiana County Ohio. I believe she was the female age 14-25.

I would be glad to receive any source information from other Marsh researchers than can correct or expand on what I have found.

Quaker Cousins - Elias Robert Lamb - 1857 - 1879

Today is another post about an Elias in the Marsh family. Elias Robert Lamb was the son of another one of Sabina (Marsh) Albertson's sisters, Lydia (Marsh) Lamb and her husband Joseph Lamb.

Both Elias Robert's birth and death in Hancock County Indiana were recorded in the records of the Quaker Westland Monthly Meeting. Elias Robert was number 6 in a family of 8 children, born 18 May 1857. He was the 5th and the last one born who was named Elias of the grandsons of Elias and Edith (Townsend) Marsh.

However, he was the 1st one who died, as he died at age 22 on 9 Jun 1879. The other 4 all lived past 1910.. I wish I knew what caused his death at such a young age.

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Ancestor Birthday - June 8th - Joseph Townsend - 1715

Joseph Townsend was one of my 5th great grandfathers. As the Quaker record shows he was the son of Joseph and Martha (Wooderson) Townsend, born the 8th day of the 4th month in 1715, so since before the calendar change it was June 8th. This was recorded at the Chester Monthly Meeting in Chester County, Pennsylvania.

His parents, Joseph and Martha, were from England and immigrated to Pennsylvania in 1712. They had been Quakers in England and brought a certificate from the Monthly Meeting at Newbury in Berkshire. Their oldest son, William, was born in England, but the other 7 children were born in Pennsylvania.

Joseph who was born in 1715 married Lydia Reynolds 17th day of 3rd month 1739, or 17 May 1739, as recorded at the Concord Monthly Meeting in Chester County, Pennsylvania, which is now Delaware County, Pennsylvania. I wrote about Lydia on her birthday 24 Apr 2017. There I named their 5 children and showed a portion of Joseph's will showing his bequest to his wife Lydia. He died rather young, at age 34 in Dec 1749.

His will did have bequests for his children when they came of age. The oldest son Francis was to receive the saw mill with 60 acres. Benjamin and Joseph were to get the other part of his plantation of about 152 acres. Benjamin would get the house and that would effect the division between the two. His daughter Esther was to get 50 pounds currency when she was 18. There was an unborn child when he wrote his will, so he designated that 20 pounds was to go to them when they were 21. Also if there was any money left over it would go to that child.

By reading his will we can deduce that Joseph owned a little over 200 acres and had a sawmill. He believed there was enough money to give cash in the future. As his oldest child was only 9 years old when Joseph died, I wonder if his wishes were followed, considering the amount of time before the children would be of age. All of the children did live long enough to be married.

Ancestor Birthday - April 24th - Lydia Reynolds 1716

It was 301 years ago when my 5th great-grandmother, Lydia Reynolds, was born, 24 Apr 1716 in Chester County, Pennsylvania. It was probably in Chichester Township, which was in the part of Chester County which became Delaware County in 1789. Her father, Francis Reynolds, was listed in the township in both 1715 and 1722. Francis had married her mother, Elizabeth Acton, in 1712at the Quaker Salem Monthly Meeting in New Jersey. Chichester Township was located along the Delaware River adjoining Delaware and across the river from New Jersey. Lydia had 1 older sister, 1 younger sister and 5 younger brothers.

The family were Quakers and Lydia stayed within the faith when she married Joseph Townsend Jun of East Bradford Township at the meeting house in Chichester as recorded at Concord Monthly Meeting. It was the 17th day of the 3rd month in 1739, which would translate to 17 May 1739.

She and Joseph had four children: Francis, Benjamin (my 4th great-grandfather). Esther and Joseph, before her husband Joseph died at age 34 in Dec 1749. Their 5th child, Elizabeth, was born in 1750. I find it interesting that Lydia and Joseph's children all seem to be named for family members:

Francis -- Lydia's father, Francis Reynolds

Benjamin -- Lydia's grandfather, Benjamin Acton

Esther -- Joseph's grandmother, Esther ( ) Wooderson

Joseph -- Joseph's father and himself, Joseph Townsend

Elizabeth -- Lydia's mother, Elizabeth (Acton) Reynolds

A portion of the will of Lydia's husband, Joseph Townsend, 1749

Joseph provided for Lydia generously in his will. Here I am quoting from a portion of it as best as I can transcribe that old handwriting. (See above.) "I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Lydia all the household goods that are now in Being which Shee brought me at Marriage and all the furniture that belongs to the room Over the Dwelling house Two pots and the warming pan and half a Duzon of platters and one Duzon of pewter plates half a Duzon of porringers one pewter _____the tea kettle and pewter cup and two silver tea spoons.....the full sum of Six pound a year and every year during her widowhood...."

Her father, Francis Reynolds, died in 1760 and Lydia was named as an heir in his will also. It was 8 May 1761 when Lydia married her 2nd husband, widower Joseph Talbot, who had 10 children by his first wife. It was just the next year on 8 Jul 1762 that Lydia's oldest son Francis married Joseph Talbot's 6th child, Rachel. So Lydia was Rachel's step-mother and mother-in-law at the same time.

I have not yet found the date for Lydia's death. But it is reasonable to believe that she had died before Joseph Talbot married for a 3rd time 21 Aug 1776.

  

Triple Jump Ancestors

Ancestors of Joanne (Albertson) Skelton

Born, Married & Died in Different States

Generation	Name	Born	Married	Died
3	Oran J Albertson	Iowa	Kansas	Oregon
4	Nathan E Albertson	Indiana	Iowa	Kansas
4	Lafe Smalley	Ohio	Nebraska	Kansas
4	Rosa Ella Shipman	Illinois	Nebraska	Kansas
5	Benjamin Albertson	North Carolina	Indiana	Missouri ??
5	Sabina Marsh	Ohio	Indiana	Kansas
5	Rebecca Hartley	Ohio	Indiana	Kansas
5	Lucy Jane Chase	Connecticut	Ohio	Kansas
5	Solomon Bond	Kentucky	Iowa	Oregon
5	Huldah Hayes	Ohio	Iowa	Oregon
5	Commodore Perry O'Neal	Indiana	Iowa	Oregon
5	Margaret J England	Illinois	Iowa	Oregon
6	Elias Marsh	New Jersey	Ohio	Indiana
6	Edith Townsend	Pennsylvania	Ohio	Indiana
6	Isaac Hockett	North Carolina	Ohio	Iowa
6	Sarah Frazier	North Carolina	Ohio	Iowa
6	Joseph L. Shipman	Connecticut	Ohio	Michigan
6	Sarah Chastain	Virginia	Kentucky	Washington
6	Seth Hayes	New York	Ohio	Oregon
6	Lydia Jewett	New Hampshire	Ohio	Oregon
6	William L England	Kentucky	Tennessee	Oregon
6	Mary Jane Walker	South Carolina	Tennessee	Oregon
7	Solomon Bond	North Carolina	Kentucky	Iowa
7	Joseph England	Maryland	Kentucky	Missouri
7	Mary Reed	Virginia	Kentucky	Missouri

To read more about these individuals look on my genealogy website:

www.joanneskelton.com