An Uncommon Colonial Woman-Herodias Long and our 9th Great Grandfather George Gardner, and their Gardner Descendants.

The Biblical Herodias with the Head of John the Baptist...would you name your daughter after this woman??

I am afraid I have come to the point in this Blog, which I knew was inevitable...I have run out of Maternal ancestors to write about.  So, unless I uncover something new on my Mother's family...I will probably be featuring Paternal ancestor's from here on out.

The last Post was about an 8th Great Grandfather-this one will be about a couple who were my 9th Great Grandparents:  George Gardner and Herodias Long.   And once again, our connection to this couple is thru the Mother of Henry Pattison, Emma Gardner and her father George Gardner.

This line begins with me (1), my Dad Robert Wayne Wright (2), his father, my Grandfather, Robert Burns Wright (3)his Mother, my Great Grandmother, Kate Pattison Wright (4), her Father, my 2 Great Grandfather, Henry Pattison (5), his Mother Emma Gardner Pattison (6), her Father, my 3 Great Grandfather, George Gardner (7), his father, my 4 Great Grandfather,Othniel Gardner, my 5th Great Grandfather (who married Lydia Reynolds, a descendant of Theophilus Whaley of the last Post) (8), his father, my 6th Great Grandfather, Benoni Gardner, (9), his father, my 7th Great Grandfather Isaac Gardner (10), his father, my 8th Great Grandfather, also Benoni Gardner (11), his Parents, my 9th Great Grandparents George Gardner and  Herodias Long Hicks Gardner (12).

George was born in England; he is the Immigrant of the Gardner line.  For many years, he has been considered to be the son of Reverend Michael Gardner (Gardiner, Gardener) of Greenford Magna, Middlesex, England 1522-1630.  Apparently, this man had a son named George, baptized in 1599 or 1600, who married Sarah Slaughter and who immigrated to the American Colonies with an infant child named Benoni.  It was surmised that Sarah died in childbirth or aboard ship and was buried at sea.  Our George was thought to be this George.  A well-known Genealogist G. Andrews Moriarty has pretty much debunked that theory-basing his new theory on the age of  George, son of Reverend Michael with the ages of the children of the George of  Newport, Rhode Island Colony, who was our Grandfather.  He is now considered to not be the son of the Reverend-as our George Gardner  fathered five children between 1667 and 1674.    If our George was born in 1599-1600 as was the son of Reverend Michael, he would have been 67-74 when those five children were born.  Possible but improbable.  We know that our George had reached the age of majority by 1638-therefor he had to have been born before 1618.  1608-1615 is the generally accepted Birth year for our George.

In "The Gardiners of Narragansett" by Caroline E. Robinson, written in 1819, a man named Thomas Gardiner, born in England and died in 1636 in Roxbury, Massachusetts is presented as the probable father of George.  This can be neither proven nor disproven; there is no credible connection between the men except the name.

So...we do not know who the parents of our 9th Great Grandfather was, nor do we know where in England he was from.    It is believed that he settled in the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in 1637.  In 1638, he is admitted as an inhabitant of Portsmouth, on Aquidneck Island; this is the first time we see him in the public record.  He then removed from Portsmouth, RI to Newport RI where he became a land owner and was an active member of the Newport community.  It was here and at about this time that he met our 9th Great grandmother Herodias Long Hicks.

Herodias, born in about 1622-23 probably in Somersetshire,  had come to the New World with her husband John Hicks-to whom she was still married when she began a relationship with George.  She had married Hicks in London when she was 13-14 years old

Almost impossible to read, but this is the Marriage Record of John Hicks and  'Miss"Harwood" Long, daughter of William Long in London.  Herodias' name is variably spelled Hored, Herod, Odias, Harwood etc.  This is dated 14 March 1636

She had been sent to London, by her Mother, possibly to live with relatives after her Father's death.  Here she met and married John Hicks who was most likely in his 20's.  Shortly after the Marriage, the couple left England and settled in Massachusetts Bay Colony.  In 1640, following Anne Hutchison's lead,they removed to Aquidneck Island and settled in Newport, in the Rhode Island Colony. http://www.history.com/topics/anne-hutchinson     Their first Daughter Hannah was probably born in Massachusetts; a second, Elizabeth in Rhode Island;  there was possibly a son born to them also.    Problems arose in the marriage- In December 1643, Herod filed a complaint that John was beating her.  Hicks was in March 1644 "bound to the Peace by the Governer [sic], Mr. Easton, in a bond, for beating his wife, Harwood Hicks..."   

Hicks eventually left Herodias..going to live among the Dutch colonists in New Netherland
(today parts of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island ).
 (New Netherland is  part of early American history that is alluded to but never delved into in  the History 
books.)
 Learn more of this fascinating part of our history and the Dutch influence on our Culture here:
https://www.newnetherlandinstitute.org/history-and-heritage/digital-exhibitions/a-tour-of-new-netherland/
 Hicks took what little personal goods Herodias brought to the Marriage with him and apparently the children. 
She then began living  with George  Gardner, for protection and for support; they stayed together as
Common-law husband  and wife for some 20 years and 7 children.  Hicks did eventually file for and obtain a divorce from her on the grounds of Adultery.

During the 20 years, Herodias became acquainted with several people who were fervent Quakers.  The Quakers were regarded as Heretics by the Puritans who controlled Massachusetts.  Quakers were banned from living within Massachusetts Bay Colony.A short history of the conflicts between the two Religious groups may be read here:   http://digging-history.com/2014/02/09/early-american-faith-puritans-vs-quakers/
 One of the women that Herodias met and admired was a neighbor Mary Dyer who was hanged for her religious fervor and Quaker proselytizing in Puritan Massachusetts.  Mary was one of the 3 Martyrs to Quaker Faith known as "The Boston Martyrs"...she was the only woman executed as a Quaker by the Puritans.

Mary Dyer 1611-1660

Herodias, in support of her friend Mary,  in 1658, went to Weymouth, 60 miles on foot with a twelve year old Village girl to help her and her youngest child, Rebecca Gardner at breast.  We don't know if Herodias had actually converted to Quakerism but she was in The Bay Colony in support of Mary.  The women were captured, imprisoned for 2 weeks and received a lashing-while Herodias tried to shield the infant child with her arms, to protect her from the whip.

 In 1665, Herodias Hicks Long Gardner appeared before the Court, demanding a Separation from George Gardner-stating they were never married (although a neighbor stated that they had recited vows before him and his wife) and she essentially requested a Restraining Order against him, wanting him to bother her no more.

Apparently she had caught the eye of a very wealthy and landed man, John Porter.  She was not a young woman any longer, having given birth to 9 children; she was in her 40's.  She evidently had a fair amount of charm however, because John Porter abandoned his wife for her.  This poor lady, the first Mrs. Porter,  was forced to plead to the Court for a settlement from her Husband so that she could live and buy food.  Apparently Porter complied to the Court's and the lady's satisfaction and Herodias and John Porter began cohabitating.  Eventually they were called out by the Court because of the irregularity of their living conditions (Herod pretended to be his Servant) and it is thought they married in 1673.

John gave large tracts of land to all of Herodias' children including the eldest, Benoni, our Grandfather (who used to be thought to be the son of Sarah Slaughter not Herodias Long).

Map showing the lands Herodias' and George's children inherited from her 3rd Husband

On the above map we can see the Gardner boys. Nicholas, William, Henry, Benoni, George, then John Watson who was the Husband of Daughter Dorcas and after her death, he married  Daughter Rebecca.


The name Benoni is from the Hebrew and means "Son of sorrow".  It frequently was given to boys whose Mother died at their birth.  This actually makes a good case for Ben to be the son of Sarah, but it is now believed that Herodias named his this because of her sorrow with her unhappy marriage with her first husband when she initially went to live with George.

George Gardner moved on to marry Lydia Ballou and father 5 more children.

If you are interested in reading more about George Gardner and Herodias, there are 2 wonderful Historical novels by Joanne Butler, available on amazon.com "The Rebel Puritan" and "The Reputed Wife".  (There apparently was a 3rd scheduled but it has not yet come out).  Very readable and informative.  https://www.amazon.com/Jo-Ann-Butler/e/B008I5N05G/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

She also has a great Blog http://www.rebelpuritan.com/More.html 

It is believed that Herodias died in 1722 which would make her about 100 years old at the time of her death.  No grave site for her or George Gardner has been identified.

Benoni-the eldest child of George Gardner and Herodias Long Hicks Gardner (his Common-law wife)  was born about 1647.  He married a woman named Mary.  The maiden name of this woman is not known-Grandpa Wright gave it as Eldred.  This has been in question recently and a couple other names have been given as possibilities-Mary Sherman and Mary Dyer (not the Mary Dyer who was executed by the Puritans but a descendant of hers).  Benoni and Mary had many children-one of which was Isaac Gardner, our 7th Great Grandfather.

Hannah Gardner, Daughter of Benoni, a Granddaughter of George and Herodias.

Isaac Gardner was born in January 6 or 7th , 1687/8.  On March 24, 1709, Isaac married Elizabeth Davis, daughter of Thomas Davis and in 1713, Isaac received land from his parents-part of the land deeded to his father from his mother Herodias' 3rd husband John Porter.  Isaac and Elizabeth Gardner raised 10 children in Exeter, Rhode Island-one of these, another Benoni, was born Mar 13, 1720 and became our 6th Great Grandfather.
Benoni Gardner (II) 1720-1765 married Elizabeth Hall, a daughter of Zuriel and Susannah Sheffield Hall.  Their son was Othniel Gardner...Othniel supposedly fought in the Revolutionary War-he was a Lieutenant and may have died in Service in December 1777.  I also have reports that he died at home in Petersburgh, Rensselaer County, NY


Othniel was married to Lydia Reynolds (

Snips of SAR Application for a Descendant of Othniel  Gardner

Othniel, son of Benony and Elizabeth ( ) Gardner, was born 

1742 in Rhode Island; died 1783. He married Lydia Reynolds, a famous 
beauty; after his death, she married a Babcock. Othniel Gardner, with 
wife Lydia, removed from Block Island, R. I., to Stephentown, N. Y., 
about 1769. In 1775 he signed a compact to organize a new colonial 
government of New York State. He was an officer in the Revolutionary 
army. He died at Petersburg, N. Y., leaving a family of six children, 
and was buried in the Reynolds cemetery at Petersburg. His two old- 
est sons were born in Exeter, R. I. He was sheriff of the county during 
the Revolution. 

George, born 1766; died 1840; married Louisa Dawley. 

Excerpt from "The Gardiners of Narragansett" pertaining to Othniel and Lydia Reynolds Gardner and George.  

Reynolds Cemetery, Petersburgh, Rensselaer County, NY.  Othniel and Lydia Gardner are reported buried here.

The family record of John Carroll Watts : containing his Lewis\u002C Gardner\u002C Barber\u002C Kennedy\u002C Teter\u002C and Watts lines

I can add to the above as I too have checked the National Archives and the DAR with no results for Military Service in the Revolutionary War for Othniel Gardner


Anywho...Othniel's son George was the Grandfather of our Henry Pattison (our Great Great Grandfather).  George's claim to fame was the fact that he owned the first Newspaper "The Recorder" published in his home town of Troy, New York.

Note misspelling of Pattison

"The Recorder," the first newspaper published in Troy, made its 
first appearance in 1791. It was a small folio, four columns to the 
page, and was printed by George Gardner. It was in Troy that the 
first paper mill in Northern New York was constructed in 1792. This mill 
was built by Mahlon Taylor on the west side of the Poesten kill, near 
which he also erected a grist mill and a saw mill. Power for all the 
mills was supplied from a dam which he built some three hundred feet 
up the stream from the grist mill. The proprietor soon found a purchaser for the paper

mill, which he sold, December 29, 1792, to Charles 
R. Webster and (icorge Webster of Albany and Ashbel Seymour and 
Perely Ensign of Hartford, Conn., for 400 pounds. 

^{History of Troy, New York (As a Village)FROM LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY
BY: GEORGE BAKER ANDERSON
PUBLISHED BY D. MASON & CO. PUBLISHERS, SYRACUSE, NY 1897}

George married Lois or Louisa Dawley.  I tend to believe her name was actually Louisa as that name is used often in subsequent generations.  The Dawley family originally came to the Colonies from Lisburn, County Down in what is today Northern Ireland (that part that is still part of Great Britain).  They came in the late 1600's.  All of the families that married into the Gardners seem to have been Colonial families that arrived in the states in the 1600's-they are well documented and thankfully I inherited this part of the Family Tree, from my Grandfather, intact.  It seems they used the same names over and over...for example-the Stafford family had 3 Amos Staffords in a row; Grandfather, father and son.  Both the father and Son died in 1760.  Grandpa Stafford was a Lieutenant in the French and Indian Wars-Sonny was a Captain in the Militia and his son Stukely (not Amos) was a Private in the Revolutionary War.  (Lois or Louisa Stafford was the Mother of   Lois or Louisa Dawley who married George Gardner)

Okay-got that little rant out of the way...
You may remember-if you are really paying attention...that Henry Pattison's mother, Emma Gardner, in her will, left a Parcel of land to her daughter-in-law Josephine.  This land was in Illinois and was the land in Mercer Co. that Henry, Josephine and their family were living on.  I had always thought that Emma inherited the land from her father, George Gardner and that George must have served in the War of 1812.  However, I have found George's Will and there is no mention of 80 acres of land in Illinois.  I do not know how Emma came to own this land and will have to dig deeper.Perhaps it came from her Mother's side of the family.  I also cannot find Military Records for George.  Of course, I cannot find Othniel Gardner's records from the Revolutionary War either.  Maybe next time I go to Gettysburg, I will take the train to DC and visit the National Archives in person!  Or perhaps a Land Title search at the Mercer Co Court House...

George and Lois Dawley had several children-the 1st two were daughters Emma (26 December 1794-9 July 1863) and Olivia (12 May 1796-4 June 1871).  The Sisters married Brothers John (15 October 1778-6 February 1867) and Elias (5 August 1789-19 March 1863) Pattison.  I cannot find the description of the Double Wedding but I remember reading that they wore identical outfits-one in Apple green and the other in Rose pink.
Found it!!

http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=12201  
The Patterson and Pattison Association:a contribution of genealogical records

The above regarding the Countess of Stafford and Edward IV is BS. For one thing, the Countess of Stafford died in 1474, Emma Gardner was born in 1794.  The Countess of Stafford could hardly have been her Great Grandmother!!  To put in perspective-I had 3 Great Grandparents living when I was born.
 My Grandfather Wright had correspondence from the lady that wrote this (no reason to put her name here but I do remember it)  This where I read the part about the wedding.  May be true, may not....but creates a pretty mental image of the wedding.

John and Emma Gardner Pattison had twelve children.  The first five were Sons;  Henry, our Great Great Grandfather was Number 3.

John Pattison died in 1867; his wife Emma Gardner had died in 1863.  They are buried in Union Cemetery, Fort Edward, Washington County, New York.

"Here Were Buried Theophilus Whale "The Singular Good Old Man"

The grave may be found about six miles southwest from East Greenwich Court House

I decided to go back in time for a bit and cover some of the earlier Ancestors.  There is almost no one, in my opinion who is more interesting or more mysterious than Theophilus Whaley (Whale, Whally, Whalley etc.)  Theophilus was my 8th Great Grandfather; he lived to be 103 years old, was the 1st cousin of Oliver Cromwell, "The Lord Protector", and he was either one of the Judges who signed the Death Warrant of King Charles I of Great Britain or he was his brother.  Theophilus is connected to us through Henry Pattison's mother Emma Gardner.  The (long) line is me (1); my Dad, Robert Wayne Wright (2); my Grandfather Robert Burns Wright (3);  his mother, my Great Grandmother, Kate Pattison Wright (4); her father, my GG Grandfather, Henry Pattison (5);  his mother, my 3 Great Grandmother Emma Gardner Pattison(6); her father, my 4 Great Grandfather, George Gardner (7); his mother my 5 Great grandmother, Lydia Reynolds Gardner (8); her Mother, my 6 Great Grandmother,  Joanna Spencer (9); her mother, my 7 Great Grandmother, Theodosia Whaley Spencer (10) and her Father, my 8 Great Grandfather Theophilus Robert Whaley (11).  Whew!!

The man known as Theophilus Whaley was born in 1616 in Screveton, Nottinghamshire, England and was given the name Robert Whaley.    King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland,  son of Mary, Queen of Scots, was  King.   As this was well before the American Revolution, in fact, 4 years before the Pilgrims had even arrived at Plymouth, the English King was also the "American King".  James was the Father of Charles Stuart, Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland, and also over the American Colonies.

 Robert's parents were Richard Whaley, who had been the High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire and Frances Cromwell.  Frances was the Aunt of Oliver Cromwell,, he being the son of her brother, Richard Cromwell.
The Whaleys were an ancient family; as a scion of this family, Robert had a comfortable early life ; he apparently had a University education.   Most likely he went to Cambridge as did many of his family including Cousin Oliver Cromwell.    Robert came to the American colony of Virginia and served with the English Army here.  He returned to England in the 1640s and he fought on the side of Parliament in the English Civil Wars between the Parliamentarians and the Royalists (also known as the Roundheads and Cavaliers)  You can find out more about the English Civil Wars which form the backdrop for the life of Theophilus Robert Whaley at this site http://www.history.com/topics/british-history/english-civil-wars

King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland

The main outcome of the War was the trial and Execution of King Charles I in 1649; his son the future Charles II was exiled and England came under the control of the Lord Protector, the 1st cousin of Robert, Oliver Cromwell.   This makes Cromwell my 1st cousin also, although removed by a few generations!

The Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell, my 1st Cousin, 10 Generations removed.  

One of the Judges who signed the Death Warrant of the King was a man named Edward Whaley.  Edward was the brother of Robert; Edward Whaley was also one of the King's Keepers or Jailer when he was in the custody of the Roundheads (Parliamentarians).  

Edward Whaley, the Regicide

The Death Warrant of King Charles I, Edward Whaley 's signature and seal is the 4th name in the 1st row, just below that of his Cousin Oliver Cromwell.  

Transcription of the Death Warrant

King Charles II of England, Scotland and Ireland

The son of the Executed King was restored to the Throne as Charles II in 1660.  He began a manhunt to hunt down and punish the men responsible for his Father's death.   Those who had already died, including Cromwell were exhumed and submitted to indignities.  Oliver Cromwell's head was placed upon a stake overlooking the site of the King's Execution.

Many of those Judges still living fled England and sought refuge in various European countries.  Three of them, Edward Whaley and William Goffe, his  Son-in-law, and  John Dixwell fled to the American Colonies.  They went to the Puritan Colonies of New England hoping their fellow Religious brethren would help shield them from the Agents of King Charles II. They lived initially in Boston and Cambridge.   Dixwell managed to assume another identity and was assumed by the King's men to have died; however Whaley and Goffe continued to be pursued.   Feeling unsafe in Massachusetts, they moved on to Connecticut.  At one point, they spent several month hiding out in a Cave, now known as Judge's cave in New Haven Connecticut.

Judge's Cave at West Rock Ridge State Park, New Haven, Hamden and Woodbridge, CT

 https://environment.yale.edu/blog/2013/11/welcome-to-judges-cave/  They later moved on to Hadley, Massachusetts where they lived for 15 or more years.  It is believed that Edward died in 1674.

It was at about this time, a few year later, that a man known as Theophilus Whaley, appeared in New England.  He reportedly left England after the Restoration in 1660 and returned to Virginia.  There he married a young woman Elizabeth Mills and had several children with her, born in Virginia. (including a daughter Theodosia Whaley, our 7th Great Grandmother)  In 1680, the family removed to Narragansett,  Rhode Island. It is possible that they left Virginia,  where the Church of England was the official religion, because of his adherence to the Baptist faith.   Or, perhaps, because he was afraid of being captured by the Agents of the King.  The first home in Rhode Island was quite crude, a sod hut dug into a hillside.  Theophilus supported his growing family by Teaching-he was University educated and had knowledge of Hebrew, Latin and Ancient Greek.  He hunted and fished for food and also did Weaving.  He used his education to write letters, deeds  and other documents for people of the area.  He was quite reclusive, appearing very little in the records of the time.

There is one interesting anecdote that appears in every account of Theophilus' life (and there are many!!  See my Bibliography at the end or...just Google his name!!)  It seems that while he was living in Rhode Island, a British ship commanded by a Captain Whaley pulled into Narragansett Bay.  He called at the Whaley home and had a pleasant chat with his distant relative.  He then invited Theophilus aboard ship for a meal in the near future.  Theophilus accepted; however as the date approached he feared that this may have been a ruse to capture him and return him to England.  This episode plus his reticence and reclusiveness, and the fact that he showed up in New England about the same time that his brother supposedly died-lead many to believe that Edward and Theophilus were the same man.  They point out that Theophilus is an assumed name-the man was born Robert.  Theophilus means "God Lover".  Many felt that he (Edward?) felt guilt for his part in the Execution of the King-this was the age of, in fact it was the ending of the age of,  the Divine Right of Kings-where it was believed the King derives his authority from God, not from his subjects.  Perhaps he was serving penance, self-inflicted, for killing the Divinely appointed Monarch.  

There is also the story of the inkpen of the Regicide, Edward Whaley.  Apparently the supposed pen was in the possession of descendants of Theophilus Whaley-it was supposedly the pen Edward Whaley used to sign the Death Warrant of the King.  If Theophilus and Edward were not the same man-how did the pen come to be in Theophilus' family?  A Whalley descendant has written a novel about the Whalleys and the pen he reportedly inherited from his father.  "https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002K2QY1U/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1


The most plausible story I have found is that Theophilus was not Edward, the Regicide but was his younger brother  Robert.  Robert had served as a Lieutenant in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Francis Hacker. Note in the above Transcription of the Death Warrent that it is addressed in the lower Left, above the signatures to "Col. Francis Hacker..."  Hacker was one of the Regicides; he was present at the Scaffold and supervised the Execution.  He was later captured by King Charles II, son of the executed King; he was sentenced to Death and was hanged in 1660.  Fearful because of his close association with both his brother and Hacker, Robert fearing for his life, fled to Virginia Colony and assumed the name Theophilus.  To me this makes the most sense although it does not explain how the inkpen of the regicide ended up in Theophilus' family but what verifies that the Pen actually belonged to Edward Whaley except word of mouth?


Charles Spencer, the brother of Diana Princess of Wales has written a book that I have ordered
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PH5RIL2/ref=oh_aui_d_detailpage_o00_?ie=UTF8&psc=1  It is entitled:  

Killers of the King: The Men Who Dared to Execute Charles I

Elizabeth Mills died in about 1715 at approximately 50 years of age.  Theophilus died in 1719 at age 103.

The daughter of Theophilus and Elizabeth, Theodosia Whaley married one Robert Spencer...and became our 7th Great Grandmother.  Their daughter Joanna married into the Reynolds family and she to the Gardners, then the Pattison, to us, the Wrights.  Another daughter of Theodosia Whaley and Robert Spencer, Susanna Spencer became a grandmother of Lucille Ball, the Actress and Comedienne.  This makes Lucy my 7th Cousin 1 generation removed.  Our earliest  common ancestor is Theophilus Whaley; he was my 8th Great Grandfather and Lucy's 7th Great Grandfather.

Cousin Lucy

BIBLIOGRAPHY

https://familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/14739166
http://www.jamestowne-wash-nova.org/TheophilusWhaley.htm
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=71386900
https://www.jstor.org/stable/4246390?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
http://www.whitelawlovefamilyhistory.com/theophilus-whaley/
https://environment.yale.edu/blog/2013/11/welcome-to-judges-cave/
https://www.jstor.org/stable/4246390?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
https://books.google.com/books?id=IG_w70jniooC&pg=PA85&lpg=PA85&dq=theophilus+whaley&source=bl&ots=F3p2AvjYCy&sig=DU5oRLiOMwP_hLQrIDwHbyqjEOo&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiY_afM9NjTAhUr64MKHVEyByQ4ChDoAQgxMAQ#v=onepage&q=theophilus%20whaley&f=false

Frank McKenrick

Frank (Francis Henry) McKenrick was my Great Grandfather, my Mother's Paternal Grandfather.  The McKenrick line is my Mom, Barbara Carolyn McKenrick Wright, (1); my Grandfather, William Francis McKenrick (2); my Great Grandfather, Frank (Francis Henry) McKenrick. (3); my 2 Great Grandfather Samuel Baxter McKenrick  (4) and my 3 Great Grandfather Andrew McKenrick (5).  As Grandpa William had no sons, our direct line, through William  has ended.  However, there were 2 others sons of Frank, my Grandfather's brother Orlo and Roy; one of whom  had sons who had sons and so Frank's DNA has continued through them

I do remember Grandpa McKenrick-so called to distinguish him from his son, "Grandpa Mac."   I mostly remember going to the McKenrick Reunion every June in Camanche.
Grandpa McKenrick was born 18 Jan 1873 in Adams County, Pennsylvania.  He was the 10th of the 12 children of Samuel Baxter and Susan Elizabeth Bart McKenrick.

Little Frankie McKenrick in a Little Lord Fauntleroy suit

 He, my Great Grandfather  traveled to the Camanche, Clinton County, Iowa area in the  early 1890's from Adams County, Pennsylvania.  We are told that he came, with some of his brothers,  to run their Uncle Andrew McKenrick's,  Bee Keeping business.  Andrew died in 1884, so I do not know what happened to the business between Andrew's death in 1884 and the arrival of several of his nephews from Pennsylvania around 1890.  Maybe one of the boys came earlier, but as there is no 1890 Census for Clinton County, IA-I have no way of knowing.  (Andrew's only son to survive infancy had been killed in the Tornado of  June 1860.  You can read more about the Tornado at this link;  http://www.nytimes.com/1860/06/07/news/terrible-tornado-towns-camanche-iowa-albany-ill-entirely-destroyed-thirty-fifty.html  or here https://www.gendisasters.com/illinois/2463/camanche-ia-tornado-jun-1860

Frank, my Great Grandpa may have helped some with the bees-he later kept his own hives.  He was a meat cutter and either worked in or ran a Grocery store for most of his life.

  He married Sarah A. Duncan, daughter of Matthew and Agnes Horton Duncan, on 06 June 1894 in Rock Island County.  They had a daughter who did not survive and then 3 sons. My Mother's Father William Francis was the eldest, born  28 Dec 1896.

Sadie Duncan McKenrick and husband, Franck McKenrick, maybe a marriage photo?  I think it is a bit later than that, though.

Between  1905 (they are on the Iowa State Census of 1905-living in Camanche, IA)  and 1907, the McKenricks moved to the Silvis, Hampton Township of the Quad Cities in Illinois.  They lived in an area that used to be called Watertown  The East Moline Correctional Facility-formerly East Moline State Hospital (The Illinois Western Hospital for the Insane) is in "Watertown".
Grandpa had his Grocery Store on Highway 84/92 which follows the Mississippi along the Western part of Illinois. The building is still standing but is no longer a Store.  The McKenrick Market sign that was there in my childhood is gone.

Interior of the McKenrick Market in Hampton, IL.  My Grandpa William F. McKenrick is 2nd from Left.  This would have been in about 1920

The McKenrick Market as it looks today.  When I was a kid, MCKENRICK MKT was painted in black on the white horizontal wood above the door and the and the windows were not boarded over. 

Tiny house that Grandpa Frank McKenrick and his wife Sadie lived in.  1815 1st Ave Silvis, IL.  His Bee hives must have been in the back yard.   This is the house address listed on the 1930 and 40 Censii.   This is the house my Mom remembered.  She commented on it being very small.  I believe this is the house he lived in until his death in 1961.

603 1st Ave-the house they were living in in 1920 with both the younger boys, ages 17 and 20 and Uncle Orlo's wife, Jessie

Frank and Sadie married in Rock Island County on 6 June 1894.  I am not sure why Rock Island when I think they both lived in Clinton County, Iowa.  Of course, there are no surviving 1890 Census for this area so I am not sure but  maybe they were living in Rock Island in 1894.  Sarah (Sadie) was Protestant, Frank was Roman Catholic.  He converted to Sadie's religion and the 3 boys were raised Protestant.  After Sadie's death in 1949, Grandpa returned to his Catholic Church.  I have a copy of his Baptism as a baby which he requested in 1949 as proof of Baptism.  His son, William, my Grandfather, converted to Catholicism in order to marry my Grandmother.  He, like many converts was very active in the Church and took his Religion very seriously.  My Dad then converted also to Catholicism in order to marry Mom, daughter of William.  Dad,  however, was not religious and had merely gone through the classes and all to make Mom happy.  So we have 3 generations of  religion switching for marriage.

As mentioned, Sadie died in 1949 on 25 July-I was born at the end of 1948.  I have never seen a picture of the 2 of us together so I do not know if she ever met me.  I know that her last illness and death is mentioned in my Grandmother's journal...I hope to find time tonight to get it out and see what I can dig out.

I do have a photo of Grandpa McKenrick and me...(there are others as he lived until 1961)

Frank McKenrick and his happy Great Granddaughter, Me

Frank was required to register for the Draft when WWI hostilities broke out.  While his son William was drafted, Frank, at 44 years of age,  was not.

There was a Party that I remember, it was for Grampa's 84th Birthday in 1957.  I think it was in Silvis-I just remember the "Money tree".  It was a clear plastic, leafless tabletop tree that someone-I think my Mom had tied dollar bills to.  I thought it was very clever!

Grandpa McKenrick died on 23 Feb 1961, it was a month after his 88th birthday.  He lived alone.  I remember there was some question as to whether or not his death was because of foul play.  He apparently died from blunt trauma to the head, in his home.  The theory was that he may have interrupted a home invasion but it was determined that he died as the result of a fall.  His son, my Grandpa Mac, brought the round golden oak table from Grandpa McKenrick's home.  My Dad was always upset because Grandpa did not also bring the matching China Cabinet.  The table is still in the family.  My parents used it for many years as our Dinning table and it now is in the possession of one of my brothers.  

Frank and Sadie are buried in Rose Hill Cemetery, Camanche IA

"Mr. Wright was of a retiring disposition and in the truest sense a home man." Wrights of Mercer County, Illinois, Part 1)

Center: James Monroe Wright, Left: his Grandson, Robert Burns Wright and Right: his Son Traverse Rock Wright.  About 1910, Aledo, Mercer County, Illinois.  This was taken the same day as the Family Photo below-Grandpa Robert B. is wearing the same suit, minus the hat (his bow tie is still askew)

James Monroe Wright was born in Bristol Township in 1834 to Joshua (Jr) and Bathsheba Rue Wright. My Family Line  is Grand-Nephew Wright, (1), Nephews Wright (2), Brothers Wright (3), Father, Robert Wayne Wright (4), Grandfather Robert Burns Wright, (5), Great Grandfather Traverse Rock Wright (6), Great Great Grandfather James Monroe Wright  (7), 3 Great Grandfather, Joshua  Wright(8), 4 Great Grandfather, Joshua Wright (9), 5 Great Grandfather James Wright(10), 6 Great Grandfather Anthony Wright (11).
 He was the youngest of 13 children.  He first shows up on the Federal Census and the age of 17, on the 1850 Census working as a carpenter.  He is residing with a man named William White, also a Carpenter and William's wife Mary.  One could assume that this is like an Apprenticeship for James.

On the  1860, he is living with his parents.  He is married and his son, Traverse Wright age 1 are also there as well as his 37 year old widowed sister Christianna Wright Cummings and her two teenage daughters, Melissa (which is what James named his only daughter) and  Mary.  James is here listed as a Farmer so I assume he was helping his Father farm.

On 3 April 1863, James' wife, Maria Watson died from causes unknown to us.  (Possibly childbirth complications, but I really have no idea)  Then, on  November 20, 1863, James' Father Joshua died.

According to James' Obituary, he came to Mercer County, Illinois in 1864.  He had a nephew, Garrett VanSant Wright (who, in 1870, married the sister of James' 2nd wife), a brother, Lewis Rue Wright and an Aunt Elizabeth Penelope Wright Cabeen already residing in Mercer County, IL with their respective families.    James remarried on 31 August 1864 to Virginia Elizabeth Hanby of Iowa.  They must have then returned to Pennsylvania at least for a short time as the couple's 1st child together, Thaddeus Hanby Wright was born in  Bristol, Bucks County, PA in 1865.  They had a second child together Melissa Gazelle Wright who was born in Mercer County, IL in 1870.

I do not have any Service records for James; I do not know if he served in the Army during the Civil War.  There were many James Wrights serving both in PA and Illinois but without birth dates or even County of Service on many of them, it is impossible to know if our James was one of them.  There is however, a list of the men in Bucks available for the Draft and there is a good candidate on there.  A James Wright, listed directly below George W. Watson, Blacksmith.  George was our James' brother-in-law, brother of his 1st wife Maria Watson.  This James is listed as single, which James was as Maria had died 3 April 1863 and this list is dated June 1863.  The 2 men are listed as living  in Bristol Township which is where the Wright's farm was.  Also the man listed after James, Abner Wiley, married James niece Caroline Blackwood, the daughter of his older sister Mary Wright and Philip Blackwood.  I cannot find that James ever served , however. In 1864, he removed to Illinois.

 

James is listed above as a Laborer (Lab), I believe.

James remarried in 1864. Virginia Hanby, his second wife was from Iowa City-her sister married James nephew, Garrett Wright, son of his eldest brother Charles Rhodes Wright.

I think that this young James looks very much like  my Father, his Great Grandson.

L-R, Robert Burns Wright, Kate Pattison Wright, Melissa Gazelle Wright Duvall, James Monroe Wright, Louise Gazelle Wright, Marian Kate Wright (Jarman), Virginia Hanby Wright.  About 1910-photo taken by TR Wright.  

On the 1870 Mercer County Census we have the 2 families living together (Virginia) Jane and her sister Mary with their husbands Garrett VanSant Wright and James Monroe Wright, Traverse (our Great Grandfather) and his half brother Thad.

James was apparently and according to his Obituary, a retiring man.  He does not appear often in the Public Record and because of this, it has been difficult to piece together his later years.  

James Monroe Wright abt. 1910, taken by his son TR Wright

I do have an interesting letter from a Dentist in Sterling IL who was married to Orania E.Wright, a daughter of  Garrett VanSant Wright (son of James' Brother Charles Rhodes) and Mary Fulkerson Hanby Wright (sister of Virginia Hanby).  It was written to his wife's cousin Marion Watson Wright Lynn, daughter of Frank Rhodes Wright and Granddaughter of Charles Rhodes Wright.  Gives lots of great Family info!!

James died on 20 October 1912-his Obituary appeared in the Aledo Illinois newspaper.

Obituary James Monroe Wright

Death Certificate of James Monroe Wright, signed by his nephew Dr. Lewis W. Wright  Cause of Death "Cirrhosis of the stomach" ; Contributory  "Old age and vitality wore out"

James is buried in the Aledo City Cemetery

Aledo Cemetery

The pages of the family Bible that pertain to James