Birth given as Mass. in his detailed Censuses of 1850 and 1860, his bit younger wife Martha, listed as born Connecticut. His occupation was the common one then, farmer, younger men laborers until they saved enough money to rent or own a farm.
The place repeatedly cited in his and relatives is New Marlborough in Berkshire County, Mass, near both NY and Conn, with his northeast Ohio not far, today reached if following freeways along the Great Lakes, in his day, taking steamboats and then trains. He had had multiple crude censuses earlier, in Mass., for example, the 1830 in Berkshire County, his presumed brother Almon Baldwin a neighbor there, as were several Nortons, presumed brother Nathaniel on a different page, also with Nortons. How many went with him later, to Perry or its next-door Painesville, Ohio? to what had been Geauga County in old records, but in 1840, split off as Lake County, Ohio? His county's name fit, as they were right on Lake Erie.
The crude censuses back in Mass. named household heads only, then counted everyone by age category, male vs female. The township at the top was New Marlborough. All three adult male Baldwins had eldest male middle aged, with women and had children. Almon's eldest male was one age category younger than Jehiel's.
Berkshire was at the far edge of Mass., not near Boston, extremely west, rural New York a neighbor. Their county was a bit later to settle than next-door Hampshire County, Mass., for several reasons. Hampshire's main town of Northampton was right on the Conn. River, so was the place first encountered when settlers came up the Connecticut river. You passed through it to get to Berkshire, if coming from the big River.
Second, Berkshire land was not as good, uphill and not enriched periodically by being in the Connecticut's flood plain. If not happy with just the beauty of the hills, if wanting good land to farm, fewer rocks, that gave a reason to move to the better land in Ohio.
Third, pre-Revolution, British officials in New York province believed future Berkshire should be part of their turf. (Was it not called Berkshire yet, as the old mother counties imposed by New York were not yet extinct?)
Fourth, New York's huge landowners had dominated since the Dutch days. Many of it rural settlers of any ethnicity along the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers would grow unhappy with "forever renting", never owning, with some troubled by the excesses of New York's provincial governor pre-Revolution.
Thus, New Englanders stayed away until post-Revolution. Note that his birth was after that.
His 1850 and 1860 censuses in Ohio did not say someone was a wife or mother, just listed names. His best census was the 1850, with birth states. His female co-head, Martha, born Conn., was a few years younger than himself, NOT exactly the same age.
He'd married a Sacket at New Marlborough in 1816. There were more Sackets in next-door Hampshire County than his Berkshire, as if they's come up the Conn. River and decided the towns they'd found were good for town work, did not need to go west.
His bride of 1816 used a "pioneer nickname", scribbled as copies were made, modern guesses about the scribbles wide-ranging, from Betty to Patty, plus Peggy. (Seen at FamilySearch.org, of that era's English nicknames, Betty was for Elizabeth; if Scottish-leaning, then Peggy was for Margaret; if Irish or Irish-admiring, Patty was for Patricia.)
People not looking for a second marriage assumed the two women, Ms. Ambiguous Sacket in 1816, and Conn. born Martha in 1850, were the same. However, the common nicknames for Martha were Mattie and Martie. Did the first wife of 1816 die, and he then married Martha? Scenarios abound. Wanting someone who would love his prior children, he then married her relative, maybe another Sacket? or a close friend and neighbor, not a Sacket?
His children by Ms. Sacket and /or Martha were born in Mass. In 1850, the newly-wed son present, but not called that, was with him and Martha, at Perry in Lake County, in Ohio, listed as George M Baldwin, age 20, for their 1850 Census. They were on Lake Erie, outside Painesville, its village earlier called Champion, their township at Painesville's NE-to-east edge. That put them east of Cleveland.
George's young wife present was Ohio-born Adelia C, 17, seeming to have maiden name French. Marriages were usually at the bride's location. That let a good-bye feast for her be given by her parents before leaving with her spouse.
Given they wed in Perry Twp., Adelia C's father was probably Edwin French, son of people the Baldwins likely knew "from before, back home". Edwin was born in Mass. in 1807, his father of Jehiel's age, that Jacob French who wed in Hampshire County to Abigail Bartlett in 1801. (George's marriage the prior Feb. at Perry Township, tells us Adelia C was local, cased her to be missing from the 1850 Census naming her younger siblings with her parents. Once in Ohio, by 1850, Edwin and the Baldwins shared the Perry townhall as a voting place.
To summarize, Adelia's maiden name at marriage is read as French, but with the last letters ill-formed. There was only one family of Frenches inside Perry. Edwin French had come from a neighboring township and married Perry's Nancy Burridge, apparently buying her father's farm, many deeds lost from the days pre-Lake County, when Geauga's old courthouse burned. Helping to locate themas they moved, Edwin and Nancy had son Julius French and daughter Amelia Climena still at at home in 1850, not yet married. All were out of Perry after those two married, Julius widowed young and needing parents near, off to Chagrin and then to Cleveland and Willoughby
Pre-marriage, turning 23 in Sept of 1812, Jehiel had time to serve in the War of 1812, if he'd wished. The War's naval battles were often on the Great Lakes, as a debate done by ships' guns rather than well-reasoned people decided where to put the Canada-US border. Due to reports by soldiers and sailors returning, more in New England had learned of good land in Ohio.
Most had feared going there during the warring, waited until it was done. Daughter-in-law Adelia's Frenches were different. They went before the War, taking advantage of a land deal done, as old colonies turned into the new states, elderly investors wit the cash to buy into the newly created Western Reserve land wanting to sell or see their children and neighbors go there, before they died. Such an investor was a Col. Amasa Clapp of western Mass., buying into what was called New Connecticut, a major chunk later to be Perry Township's neighbor across the Grand River, LeRoy Township, attracting Adelia French ancestor Jacob French. A Spencer Phelps told the story, as he came with Col. Clapp's tow sons.
They left for lakeshore Ohio early, arriving from 1803 to 1806. Once the war concluded, others followed, Jehiel late, waiting until after Cleveland had overtaken and surpassed Painesville. At that point farmland around Painesville maybe seemed less desirable, became more affordable?? That's a question for land economists. Regardless of reason, Jehiel moved.
In Dec. of 1860, while Jehiel was still able to read his copy of the Painesville Telegraph, or, at least, listen while it was read to him, the story of his old neighbors and likely in-laws was told by Spencer Phelps
THE FIRST COMERS 1803-1806. Typically, with no EMS or child care, young single men went first, with tools, to set up a food supply, to clear land for pasture and plant garden. Married people then came, with furniture, the singles' parents and younger children. A series of marriage records then showed the singles marrying. In their case, in 1803, from Berkshire's neighboring Hampshire County, came a Spencer Phelps and two Claps, employing a Russel, just one of the four married. Then, several Frenches came with their half-Hessian future brother-in-law. By 1805, the Frenches' older brother, Jacob French, came with his single brothers' parents and their sisters. In 1806, the Hessian father arrived, bringing two daughters.
The marriages began. Paul Clap was already married, a child of his, Spencer noted, was their first death in 1806. Rebecca French married Elah Clapp in 1808. Of the former Hessian's two daughters, both married, one to Spencer Phelps in Dec 1808, the other to David French early in 1809. Elah died in 1811.
Writing pre-Civil War, his illuminating Leroy history for the Painesville Telegraph, transcribed in modern times by Ohio GenWeb volunteer Judy J Stebbins.
FROM OTHER SOURCES. The burials accumulated over time. After David French died in 1826, the Hessian father was then buried in Indiana. Often see as Christian Kneippe, his surname was sounded out as "Chrisgan" by Spencer Phelps, at one point, when writing the history of old Leroy Township, for the Painesville Telegraph.
Spencer was the one male both long-lived and staying local. He'd gone, from Leroy, farm sold to the Brakemans, off to Concord Twp. Censuses show he was also of record at Kirtland Twp., before or wile writing.
Aged, going blind at the writing, Spencer would be buried at Mentor Twp.'s cemetery with relatives, including the Hessian's two daughters, one, Spencer's wife. David French's brother Timothy French was with David and Jacob in their 1820 Census, future Leroy blended into Painesville Ohio. By the 1830 Census, Timothy was the only one of the three still listed, David dead, Jacob either deceased or gone off to Michigan, not named as a household head if he was in aged count doubled up at someone else's house, as they were back in a frontier situation again.
Timothy French clearly went to Michigan, seen on the same Census page in 1840, at Branch County as a Ransom French and Jacob French, not much younger than Edwin. Ransom still held property at Mentor, was of record in property arrangements back in Ohio with Edwin. Was Timothy their uncle, Jacob their father? Timothy was still in Mich. for an 1870 Census, then disappeared, so he outlived both Spencer Phelps and new in-law Jehiel Baldwin.
Jacob's son Edwin is known, subject of a grave-robbing story after dying of typhoid fever, causing his grave to be moved to Cleveland. His father and grandfather French were named in a bio of a daughter's legislator spouse. Amelia's sister. The daughter was Amelia C, for Amelia Climena. Adelia C French was not mentioned, nor any other people to become in-laws of Jehiel, early in 1850, when Adelia married George M. Baldwin.
Too much then, has to be described as "probably and "likely" now, based on old-timers' proximity at key times. We have birth records now kept by the govt., naming parents, also done at marriage and at death. They didn't do that in frontier places.
The place repeatedly cited in his and relatives is New Marlborough in Berkshire County, Mass, near both NY and Conn, with his northeast Ohio not far, today reached if following freeways along the Great Lakes, in his day, taking steamboats and then trains. He had had multiple crude censuses earlier, in Mass., for example, the 1830 in Berkshire County, his presumed brother Almon Baldwin a neighbor there, as were several Nortons, presumed brother Nathaniel on a different page, also with Nortons. How many went with him later, to Perry or its next-door Painesville, Ohio? to what had been Geauga County in old records, but in 1840, split off as Lake County, Ohio? His county's name fit, as they were right on Lake Erie.
The crude censuses back in Mass. named household heads only, then counted everyone by age category, male vs female. The township at the top was New Marlborough. All three adult male Baldwins had eldest male middle aged, with women and had children. Almon's eldest male was one age category younger than Jehiel's.
Berkshire was at the far edge of Mass., not near Boston, extremely west, rural New York a neighbor. Their county was a bit later to settle than next-door Hampshire County, Mass., for several reasons. Hampshire's main town of Northampton was right on the Conn. River, so was the place first encountered when settlers came up the Connecticut river. You passed through it to get to Berkshire, if coming from the big River.
Second, Berkshire land was not as good, uphill and not enriched periodically by being in the Connecticut's flood plain. If not happy with just the beauty of the hills, if wanting good land to farm, fewer rocks, that gave a reason to move to the better land in Ohio.
Third, pre-Revolution, British officials in New York province believed future Berkshire should be part of their turf. (Was it not called Berkshire yet, as the old mother counties imposed by New York were not yet extinct?)
Fourth, New York's huge landowners had dominated since the Dutch days. Many of it rural settlers of any ethnicity along the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers would grow unhappy with "forever renting", never owning, with some troubled by the excesses of New York's provincial governor pre-Revolution.
Thus, New Englanders stayed away until post-Revolution. Note that his birth was after that.
His 1850 and 1860 censuses in Ohio did not say someone was a wife or mother, just listed names. His best census was the 1850, with birth states. His female co-head, Martha, born Conn., was a few years younger than himself, NOT exactly the same age.
He'd married a Sacket at New Marlborough in 1816. There were more Sackets in next-door Hampshire County than his Berkshire, as if they's come up the Conn. River and decided the towns they'd found were good for town work, did not need to go west.
His bride of 1816 used a "pioneer nickname", scribbled as copies were made, modern guesses about the scribbles wide-ranging, from Betty to Patty, plus Peggy. (Seen at FamilySearch.org, of that era's English nicknames, Betty was for Elizabeth; if Scottish-leaning, then Peggy was for Margaret; if Irish or Irish-admiring, Patty was for Patricia.)
People not looking for a second marriage assumed the two women, Ms. Ambiguous Sacket in 1816, and Conn. born Martha in 1850, were the same. However, the common nicknames for Martha were Mattie and Martie. Did the first wife of 1816 die, and he then married Martha? Scenarios abound. Wanting someone who would love his prior children, he then married her relative, maybe another Sacket? or a close friend and neighbor, not a Sacket?
His children by Ms. Sacket and /or Martha were born in Mass. In 1850, the newly-wed son present, but not called that, was with him and Martha, at Perry in Lake County, in Ohio, listed as George M Baldwin, age 20, for their 1850 Census. They were on Lake Erie, outside Painesville, its village earlier called Champion, their township at Painesville's NE-to-east edge. That put them east of Cleveland.
George's young wife present was Ohio-born Adelia C, 17, seeming to have maiden name French. Marriages were usually at the bride's location. That let a good-bye feast for her be given by her parents before leaving with her spouse.
Given they wed in Perry Twp., Adelia C's father was probably Edwin French, son of people the Baldwins likely knew "from before, back home". Edwin was born in Mass. in 1807, his father of Jehiel's age, that Jacob French who wed in Hampshire County to Abigail Bartlett in 1801. (George's marriage the prior Feb. at Perry Township, tells us Adelia C was local, cased her to be missing from the 1850 Census naming her younger siblings with her parents. Once in Ohio, by 1850, Edwin and the Baldwins shared the Perry townhall as a voting place.
To summarize, Adelia's maiden name at marriage is read as French, but with the last letters ill-formed. There was only one family of Frenches inside Perry. Edwin French had come from a neighboring township and married Perry's Nancy Burridge, apparently buying her father's farm, many deeds lost from the days pre-Lake County, when Geauga's old courthouse burned. Helping to locate themas they moved, Edwin and Nancy had son Julius French and daughter Amelia Climena still at at home in 1850, not yet married. All were out of Perry after those two married, Julius widowed young and needing parents near, off to Chagrin and then to Cleveland and Willoughby
Pre-marriage, turning 23 in Sept of 1812, Jehiel had time to serve in the War of 1812, if he'd wished. The War's naval battles were often on the Great Lakes, as a debate done by ships' guns rather than well-reasoned people decided where to put the Canada-US border. Due to reports by soldiers and sailors returning, more in New England had learned of good land in Ohio.
Most had feared going there during the warring, waited until it was done. Daughter-in-law Adelia's Frenches were different. They went before the War, taking advantage of a land deal done, as old colonies turned into the new states, elderly investors wit the cash to buy into the newly created Western Reserve land wanting to sell or see their children and neighbors go there, before they died. Such an investor was a Col. Amasa Clapp of western Mass., buying into what was called New Connecticut, a major chunk later to be Perry Township's neighbor across the Grand River, LeRoy Township, attracting Adelia French ancestor Jacob French. A Spencer Phelps told the story, as he came with Col. Clapp's tow sons.
They left for lakeshore Ohio early, arriving from 1803 to 1806. Once the war concluded, others followed, Jehiel late, waiting until after Cleveland had overtaken and surpassed Painesville. At that point farmland around Painesville maybe seemed less desirable, became more affordable?? That's a question for land economists. Regardless of reason, Jehiel moved.
In Dec. of 1860, while Jehiel was still able to read his copy of the Painesville Telegraph, or, at least, listen while it was read to him, the story of his old neighbors and likely in-laws was told by Spencer Phelps
THE FIRST COMERS 1803-1806. Typically, with no EMS or child care, young single men went first, with tools, to set up a food supply, to clear land for pasture and plant garden. Married people then came, with furniture, the singles' parents and younger children. A series of marriage records then showed the singles marrying. In their case, in 1803, from Berkshire's neighboring Hampshire County, came a Spencer Phelps and two Claps, employing a Russel, just one of the four married. Then, several Frenches came with their half-Hessian future brother-in-law. By 1805, the Frenches' older brother, Jacob French, came with his single brothers' parents and their sisters. In 1806, the Hessian father arrived, bringing two daughters.
The marriages began. Paul Clap was already married, a child of his, Spencer noted, was their first death in 1806. Rebecca French married Elah Clapp in 1808. Of the former Hessian's two daughters, both married, one to Spencer Phelps in Dec 1808, the other to David French early in 1809. Elah died in 1811.
Writing pre-Civil War, his illuminating Leroy history for the Painesville Telegraph, transcribed in modern times by Ohio GenWeb volunteer Judy J Stebbins.
FROM OTHER SOURCES. The burials accumulated over time. After David French died in 1826, the Hessian father was then buried in Indiana. Often see as Christian Kneippe, his surname was sounded out as "Chrisgan" by Spencer Phelps, at one point, when writing the history of old Leroy Township, for the Painesville Telegraph.
Spencer was the one male both long-lived and staying local. He'd gone, from Leroy, farm sold to the Brakemans, off to Concord Twp. Censuses show he was also of record at Kirtland Twp., before or wile writing.
Aged, going blind at the writing, Spencer would be buried at Mentor Twp.'s cemetery with relatives, including the Hessian's two daughters, one, Spencer's wife. David French's brother Timothy French was with David and Jacob in their 1820 Census, future Leroy blended into Painesville Ohio. By the 1830 Census, Timothy was the only one of the three still listed, David dead, Jacob either deceased or gone off to Michigan, not named as a household head if he was in aged count doubled up at someone else's house, as they were back in a frontier situation again.
Timothy French clearly went to Michigan, seen on the same Census page in 1840, at Branch County as a Ransom French and Jacob French, not much younger than Edwin. Ransom still held property at Mentor, was of record in property arrangements back in Ohio with Edwin. Was Timothy their uncle, Jacob their father? Timothy was still in Mich. for an 1870 Census, then disappeared, so he outlived both Spencer Phelps and new in-law Jehiel Baldwin.
Jacob's son Edwin is known, subject of a grave-robbing story after dying of typhoid fever, causing his grave to be moved to Cleveland. His father and grandfather French were named in a bio of a daughter's legislator spouse. Amelia's sister. The daughter was Amelia C, for Amelia Climena. Adelia C French was not mentioned, nor any other people to become in-laws of Jehiel, early in 1850, when Adelia married George M. Baldwin.
Too much then, has to be described as "probably and "likely" now, based on old-timers' proximity at key times. We have birth records now kept by the govt., naming parents, also done at marriage and at death. They didn't do that in frontier places.
Birth given as Mass. in his detailed Censuses of 1850 and 1860, his bit younger wife Martha, listed as born Connecticut. His occupation was the common one then, farmer, younger men laborers until they saved enough money to rent or own a farm.
The place repeatedly cited in his and relatives is New Marlborough in Berkshire County, Mass, near both NY and Conn, with his northeast Ohio not far, today reached if following freeways along the Great Lakes, in his day, taking steamboats and then trains. He had had multiple crude censuses earlier, in Mass., for example, the 1830 in Berkshire County, his presumed brother Almon Baldwin a neighbor there, as were several Nortons, presumed brother Nathaniel on a different page, also with Nortons. How many went with him later, to Perry or its next-door Painesville, Ohio? to what had been Geauga County in old records, but in 1840, split off as Lake County, Ohio? His county's name fit, as they were right on Lake Erie.
The crude censuses back in Mass. named household heads only, then counted everyone by age category, male vs female. The township at the top was New Marlborough. All three adult male Baldwins had eldest male middle aged, with women and had children. Almon's eldest male was one age category younger than Jehiel's.
Berkshire was at the far edge of Mass., not near Boston, extremely west, rural New York a neighbor. Their county was a bit later to settle than next-door Hampshire County, Mass., for several reasons. Hampshire's main town of Northampton was right on the Conn. River, so was the place first encountered when settlers came up the Connecticut river. You passed through it to get to Berkshire, if coming from the big River.
Second, Berkshire land was not as good, uphill and not enriched periodically by being in the Connecticut's flood plain. If not happy with just the beauty of the hills, if wanting good land to farm, fewer rocks, that gave a reason to move to the better land in Ohio.
Third, pre-Revolution, British officials in New York province believed future Berkshire should be part of their turf. (Was it not called Berkshire yet, as the old mother counties imposed by New York were not yet extinct?)
Fourth, New York's huge landowners had dominated since the Dutch days. Many of it rural settlers of any ethnicity along the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers would grow unhappy with "forever renting", never owning, with some troubled by the excesses of New York's provincial governor pre-Revolution.
Thus, New Englanders stayed away until post-Revolution. Note that his birth was after that.
His 1850 and 1860 censuses in Ohio did not say someone was a wife or mother, just listed names. His best census was the 1850, with birth states. His female co-head, Martha, born Conn., was a few years younger than himself, NOT exactly the same age.
He'd married a Sacket at New Marlborough in 1816. There were more Sackets in next-door Hampshire County than his Berkshire, as if they's come up the Conn. River and decided the towns they'd found were good for town work, did not need to go west.
His bride of 1816 used a "pioneer nickname", scribbled as copies were made, modern guesses about the scribbles wide-ranging, from Betty to Patty, plus Peggy. (Seen at FamilySearch.org, of that era's English nicknames, Betty was for Elizabeth; if Scottish-leaning, then Peggy was for Margaret; if Irish or Irish-admiring, Patty was for Patricia.)
People not looking for a second marriage assumed the two women, Ms. Ambiguous Sacket in 1816, and Conn. born Martha in 1850, were the same. However, the common nicknames for Martha were Mattie and Martie. Did the first wife of 1816 die, and he then married Martha? Scenarios abound. Wanting someone who would love his prior children, he then married her relative, maybe another Sacket? or a close friend and neighbor, not a Sacket?
His children by Ms. Sacket and /or Martha were born in Mass. In 1850, the newly-wed son present, but not called that, was with him and Martha, at Perry in Lake County, in Ohio, listed as George M Baldwin, age 20, for their 1850 Census. They were on Lake Erie, outside Painesville, its village earlier called Champion, their township at Painesville's NE-to-east edge. That put them east of Cleveland.
George's young wife present was Ohio-born Adelia C, 17, seeming to have maiden name French. Marriages were usually at the bride's location. That let a good-bye feast for her be given by her parents before leaving with her spouse.
Given they wed in Perry Twp., Adelia C's father was probably Edwin French, son of people the Baldwins likely knew "from before, back home". Edwin was born in Mass. in 1807, his father of Jehiel's age, that Jacob French who wed in Hampshire County to Abigail Bartlett in 1801. (George's marriage the prior Feb. at Perry Township, tells us Adelia C was local, cased her to be missing from the 1850 Census naming her younger siblings with her parents. Once in Ohio, by 1850, Edwin and the Baldwins shared the Perry townhall as a voting place.
To summarize, Adelia's maiden name at marriage is read as French, but with the last letters ill-formed. There was only one family of Frenches inside Perry. Edwin French had come from a neighboring township and married Perry's Nancy Burridge, apparently buying her father's farm, many deeds lost from the days pre-Lake County, when Geauga's old courthouse burned. Helping to locate themas they moved, Edwin and Nancy had son Julius French and daughter Amelia Climena still at at home in 1850, not yet married. All were out of Perry after those two married, Julius widowed young and needing parents near, off to Chagrin and then to Cleveland and Willoughby
Pre-marriage, turning 23 in Sept of 1812, Jehiel had time to serve in the War of 1812, if he'd wished. The War's naval battles were often on the Great Lakes, as a debate done by ships' guns rather than well-reasoned people decided where to put the Canada-US border. Due to reports by soldiers and sailors returning, more in New England had learned of good land in Ohio.
Most had feared going there during the warring, waited until it was done. Daughter-in-law Adelia's Frenches were different. They went before the War, taking advantage of a land deal done, as old colonies turned into the new states, elderly investors wit the cash to buy into the newly created Western Reserve land wanting to sell or see their children and neighbors go there, before they died. Such an investor was a Col. Amasa Clapp of western Mass., buying into what was called New Connecticut, a major chunk later to be Perry Township's neighbor across the Grand River, LeRoy Township, attracting Adelia French ancestor Jacob French. A Spencer Phelps told the story, as he came with Col. Clapp's tow sons.
They left for lakeshore Ohio early, arriving from 1803 to 1806. Once the war concluded, others followed, Jehiel late, waiting until after Cleveland had overtaken and surpassed Painesville. At that point farmland around Painesville maybe seemed less desirable, became more affordable?? That's a question for land economists. Regardless of reason, Jehiel moved.
In Dec. of 1860, while Jehiel was still able to read his copy of the Painesville Telegraph, or, at least, listen while it was read to him, the story of his old neighbors and likely in-laws was told by Spencer Phelps
THE FIRST COMERS 1803-1806. Typically, with no EMS or child care, young single men went first, with tools, to set up a food supply, to clear land for pasture and plant garden. Married people then came, with furniture, the singles' parents and younger children. A series of marriage records then showed the singles marrying. In their case, in 1803, from Berkshire's neighboring Hampshire County, came a Spencer Phelps and two Claps, employing a Russel, just one of the four married. Then, several Frenches came with their half-Hessian future brother-in-law. By 1805, the Frenches' older brother, Jacob French, came with his single brothers' parents and their sisters. In 1806, the Hessian father arrived, bringing two daughters.
The marriages began. Paul Clap was already married, a child of his, Spencer noted, was their first death in 1806. Rebecca French married Elah Clapp in 1808. Of the former Hessian's two daughters, both married, one to Spencer Phelps in Dec 1808, the other to David French early in 1809. Elah died in 1811.
Writing pre-Civil War, his illuminating Leroy history for the Painesville Telegraph, transcribed in modern times by Ohio GenWeb volunteer Judy J Stebbins.
FROM OTHER SOURCES. The burials accumulated over time. After David French died in 1826, the Hessian father was then buried in Indiana. Often see as Christian Kneippe, his surname was sounded out as "Chrisgan" by Spencer Phelps, at one point, when writing the history of old Leroy Township, for the Painesville Telegraph.
Spencer was the one male both long-lived and staying local. He'd gone, from Leroy, farm sold to the Brakemans, off to Concord Twp. Censuses show he was also of record at Kirtland Twp., before or wile writing.
Aged, going blind at the writing, Spencer would be buried at Mentor Twp.'s cemetery with relatives, including the Hessian's two daughters, one, Spencer's wife. David French's brother Timothy French was with David and Jacob in their 1820 Census, future Leroy blended into Painesville Ohio. By the 1830 Census, Timothy was the only one of the three still listed, David dead, Jacob either deceased or gone off to Michigan, not named as a household head if he was in aged count doubled up at someone else's house, as they were back in a frontier situation again.
Timothy French clearly went to Michigan, seen on the same Census page in 1840, at Branch County as a Ransom French and Jacob French, not much younger than Edwin. Ransom still held property at Mentor, was of record in property arrangements back in Ohio with Edwin. Was Timothy their uncle, Jacob their father? Timothy was still in Mich. for an 1870 Census, then disappeared, so he outlived both Spencer Phelps and new in-law Jehiel Baldwin.
Jacob's son Edwin is known, subject of a grave-robbing story after dying of typhoid fever, causing his grave to be moved to Cleveland. His father and grandfather French were named in a bio of a daughter's legislator spouse. Amelia's sister. The daughter was Amelia C, for Amelia Climena. Adelia C French was not mentioned, nor any other people to become in-laws of Jehiel, early in 1850, when Adelia married George M. Baldwin.
Too much then, has to be described as "probably and "likely" now, based on old-timers' proximity at key times. We have birth records now kept by the govt., naming parents, also done at marriage and at death. They didn't do that in frontier places.
The place repeatedly cited in his and relatives is New Marlborough in Berkshire County, Mass, near both NY and Conn, with his northeast Ohio not far, today reached if following freeways along the Great Lakes, in his day, taking steamboats and then trains. He had had multiple crude censuses earlier, in Mass., for example, the 1830 in Berkshire County, his presumed brother Almon Baldwin a neighbor there, as were several Nortons, presumed brother Nathaniel on a different page, also with Nortons. How many went with him later, to Perry or its next-door Painesville, Ohio? to what had been Geauga County in old records, but in 1840, split off as Lake County, Ohio? His county's name fit, as they were right on Lake Erie.
The crude censuses back in Mass. named household heads only, then counted everyone by age category, male vs female. The township at the top was New Marlborough. All three adult male Baldwins had eldest male middle aged, with women and had children. Almon's eldest male was one age category younger than Jehiel's.
Berkshire was at the far edge of Mass., not near Boston, extremely west, rural New York a neighbor. Their county was a bit later to settle than next-door Hampshire County, Mass., for several reasons. Hampshire's main town of Northampton was right on the Conn. River, so was the place first encountered when settlers came up the Connecticut river. You passed through it to get to Berkshire, if coming from the big River.
Second, Berkshire land was not as good, uphill and not enriched periodically by being in the Connecticut's flood plain. If not happy with just the beauty of the hills, if wanting good land to farm, fewer rocks, that gave a reason to move to the better land in Ohio.
Third, pre-Revolution, British officials in New York province believed future Berkshire should be part of their turf. (Was it not called Berkshire yet, as the old mother counties imposed by New York were not yet extinct?)
Fourth, New York's huge landowners had dominated since the Dutch days. Many of it rural settlers of any ethnicity along the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers would grow unhappy with "forever renting", never owning, with some troubled by the excesses of New York's provincial governor pre-Revolution.
Thus, New Englanders stayed away until post-Revolution. Note that his birth was after that.
His 1850 and 1860 censuses in Ohio did not say someone was a wife or mother, just listed names. His best census was the 1850, with birth states. His female co-head, Martha, born Conn., was a few years younger than himself, NOT exactly the same age.
He'd married a Sacket at New Marlborough in 1816. There were more Sackets in next-door Hampshire County than his Berkshire, as if they's come up the Conn. River and decided the towns they'd found were good for town work, did not need to go west.
His bride of 1816 used a "pioneer nickname", scribbled as copies were made, modern guesses about the scribbles wide-ranging, from Betty to Patty, plus Peggy. (Seen at FamilySearch.org, of that era's English nicknames, Betty was for Elizabeth; if Scottish-leaning, then Peggy was for Margaret; if Irish or Irish-admiring, Patty was for Patricia.)
People not looking for a second marriage assumed the two women, Ms. Ambiguous Sacket in 1816, and Conn. born Martha in 1850, were the same. However, the common nicknames for Martha were Mattie and Martie. Did the first wife of 1816 die, and he then married Martha? Scenarios abound. Wanting someone who would love his prior children, he then married her relative, maybe another Sacket? or a close friend and neighbor, not a Sacket?
His children by Ms. Sacket and /or Martha were born in Mass. In 1850, the newly-wed son present, but not called that, was with him and Martha, at Perry in Lake County, in Ohio, listed as George M Baldwin, age 20, for their 1850 Census. They were on Lake Erie, outside Painesville, its village earlier called Champion, their township at Painesville's NE-to-east edge. That put them east of Cleveland.
George's young wife present was Ohio-born Adelia C, 17, seeming to have maiden name French. Marriages were usually at the bride's location. That let a good-bye feast for her be given by her parents before leaving with her spouse.
Given they wed in Perry Twp., Adelia C's father was probably Edwin French, son of people the Baldwins likely knew "from before, back home". Edwin was born in Mass. in 1807, his father of Jehiel's age, that Jacob French who wed in Hampshire County to Abigail Bartlett in 1801. (George's marriage the prior Feb. at Perry Township, tells us Adelia C was local, cased her to be missing from the 1850 Census naming her younger siblings with her parents. Once in Ohio, by 1850, Edwin and the Baldwins shared the Perry townhall as a voting place.
To summarize, Adelia's maiden name at marriage is read as French, but with the last letters ill-formed. There was only one family of Frenches inside Perry. Edwin French had come from a neighboring township and married Perry's Nancy Burridge, apparently buying her father's farm, many deeds lost from the days pre-Lake County, when Geauga's old courthouse burned. Helping to locate themas they moved, Edwin and Nancy had son Julius French and daughter Amelia Climena still at at home in 1850, not yet married. All were out of Perry after those two married, Julius widowed young and needing parents near, off to Chagrin and then to Cleveland and Willoughby
Pre-marriage, turning 23 in Sept of 1812, Jehiel had time to serve in the War of 1812, if he'd wished. The War's naval battles were often on the Great Lakes, as a debate done by ships' guns rather than well-reasoned people decided where to put the Canada-US border. Due to reports by soldiers and sailors returning, more in New England had learned of good land in Ohio.
Most had feared going there during the warring, waited until it was done. Daughter-in-law Adelia's Frenches were different. They went before the War, taking advantage of a land deal done, as old colonies turned into the new states, elderly investors wit the cash to buy into the newly created Western Reserve land wanting to sell or see their children and neighbors go there, before they died. Such an investor was a Col. Amasa Clapp of western Mass., buying into what was called New Connecticut, a major chunk later to be Perry Township's neighbor across the Grand River, LeRoy Township, attracting Adelia French ancestor Jacob French. A Spencer Phelps told the story, as he came with Col. Clapp's tow sons.
They left for lakeshore Ohio early, arriving from 1803 to 1806. Once the war concluded, others followed, Jehiel late, waiting until after Cleveland had overtaken and surpassed Painesville. At that point farmland around Painesville maybe seemed less desirable, became more affordable?? That's a question for land economists. Regardless of reason, Jehiel moved.
In Dec. of 1860, while Jehiel was still able to read his copy of the Painesville Telegraph, or, at least, listen while it was read to him, the story of his old neighbors and likely in-laws was told by Spencer Phelps
THE FIRST COMERS 1803-1806. Typically, with no EMS or child care, young single men went first, with tools, to set up a food supply, to clear land for pasture and plant garden. Married people then came, with furniture, the singles' parents and younger children. A series of marriage records then showed the singles marrying. In their case, in 1803, from Berkshire's neighboring Hampshire County, came a Spencer Phelps and two Claps, employing a Russel, just one of the four married. Then, several Frenches came with their half-Hessian future brother-in-law. By 1805, the Frenches' older brother, Jacob French, came with his single brothers' parents and their sisters. In 1806, the Hessian father arrived, bringing two daughters.
The marriages began. Paul Clap was already married, a child of his, Spencer noted, was their first death in 1806. Rebecca French married Elah Clapp in 1808. Of the former Hessian's two daughters, both married, one to Spencer Phelps in Dec 1808, the other to David French early in 1809. Elah died in 1811.
Writing pre-Civil War, his illuminating Leroy history for the Painesville Telegraph, transcribed in modern times by Ohio GenWeb volunteer Judy J Stebbins.
FROM OTHER SOURCES. The burials accumulated over time. After David French died in 1826, the Hessian father was then buried in Indiana. Often see as Christian Kneippe, his surname was sounded out as "Chrisgan" by Spencer Phelps, at one point, when writing the history of old Leroy Township, for the Painesville Telegraph.
Spencer was the one male both long-lived and staying local. He'd gone, from Leroy, farm sold to the Brakemans, off to Concord Twp. Censuses show he was also of record at Kirtland Twp., before or wile writing.
Aged, going blind at the writing, Spencer would be buried at Mentor Twp.'s cemetery with relatives, including the Hessian's two daughters, one, Spencer's wife. David French's brother Timothy French was with David and Jacob in their 1820 Census, future Leroy blended into Painesville Ohio. By the 1830 Census, Timothy was the only one of the three still listed, David dead, Jacob either deceased or gone off to Michigan, not named as a household head if he was in aged count doubled up at someone else's house, as they were back in a frontier situation again.
Timothy French clearly went to Michigan, seen on the same Census page in 1840, at Branch County as a Ransom French and Jacob French, not much younger than Edwin. Ransom still held property at Mentor, was of record in property arrangements back in Ohio with Edwin. Was Timothy their uncle, Jacob their father? Timothy was still in Mich. for an 1870 Census, then disappeared, so he outlived both Spencer Phelps and new in-law Jehiel Baldwin.
Jacob's son Edwin is known, subject of a grave-robbing story after dying of typhoid fever, causing his grave to be moved to Cleveland. His father and grandfather French were named in a bio of a daughter's legislator spouse. Amelia's sister. The daughter was Amelia C, for Amelia Climena. Adelia C French was not mentioned, nor any other people to become in-laws of Jehiel, early in 1850, when Adelia married George M. Baldwin.
Too much then, has to be described as "probably and "likely" now, based on old-timers' proximity at key times. We have birth records now kept by the govt., naming parents, also done at marriage and at death. They didn't do that in frontier places.
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