Another Mayflower interred in Butternut Ridge Cemetery

       To follow up on my first Mayflower post about Cynthia Fitch Adams, this one is on Priscilla Sears Thompson. The Thompsons lived on Butternut Ridge Road. We have already posted about them. Now we will trace Priscilla Sears or Sares as it was sometimes listed. I had traced her back to Plymouth already I just needed some additional background on the family. It was off to Fairview Park branch of CCPL. They have an awesome collection of New England and Mayflower/Plymouth Colony Research books. Plus research materials on everything else pertaining to Genealogical/Historical research. The staff there is very helpful. 

     Now to the rest of the story. Priscilla was born on 31 September 1771 in Rochester  MA , the oldest daughter of William and Betsey Wood Sears.  Betsey was the second wife of William and bore him three of his seven children 
Priscilla died on the 11th of February 1859 and is buried in Butternut Ridge Cemetery

William Sears was born in Rochester  MA on the 14th of January 1726 second of the seven children of Paul Jr. and Charity Whittredge Sears. William first married Patience Parker in 1753 they had four children She died in 1768. He then married Betsey Wood in 1770. William died in Windham VT in about 1790.  Paul Sears Jr. was born on the 21st of September 1695 in Yarmouth  MA second of the twelve children of Paul and Mercy Freeman Sears. He married Charity in 1721 in Yarmouth. Paul Jr. died in Rochester  MA in 1770. We will now follow the lineage of Mercy Freeman.

Mercy Freeman was born in Eastham MA on the 30th of October 1655. Mercy was the oldest of the ten children of Deacon Thomas and Rebecca Sparrow Freeman. Mercy married Paul Sears in 1693 She died in 1747 in Brewster  MA. Deacon Thomas was the first Deacon of the church in Harwich  MA  He was very involved in Plymouth government. Thomas was the oldest of nine children born to Major John and Mercy Prence Freeman Thomas was born on the 16th of September 1653 in Eastham MA. Thomas married Rebecca in 1673 Thomas died in 1715 in Eastham MA We will now follow Mercy Prence.

Mercy Prence was born in Plymouth MA in 1631 the third of four children of Gov. Thomas and Patience Brewster Pence. Mercy and Maj. John were married in Eastham MA in 1649. They had eleven children. Mercy died in 1711 in Eastham MA 

Patience Brewster was a daughter of Elder William and Mary Wentworth Brewster Elder Brewster was the religious leader of the Plymouth Colonies. He arrived on the first Mayflower landing


       

A warm and fuzzy feeling

This is not the reason I do what I do, but it gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling when I get an email like this:

 

This is a post I posted on three different Find A Grave Facebook pages, I wanted to send this to you and personally thank you Gary Porter if it wasn't for you and your knowledge of the cemetery this might not have ever happened for me, I received my Deed for the grave today which will allow me to buried with the Todd family, Thank You Again Gary.

 

The Daley Family - is there a graph of their graves or a layout of their graves you might have for them - 4 family members Louise, Hezekiah and 2 children.

 

This is the post:

 

I have been doing this for a short time. I find it to be a wonderful way to learn not just my family but all the history behind it, 

 

nothing different than anyone else right, but I learned this that I thought I would pass along to you, learning of my great grandparents and the time they lived in the family after someone passed-away they would buy a burial plot large enough for the whole family, you just never knew who or when someone would pass,

 

but not everyone was buried there because one would get married and move on to other places, my point being is most plots were for a family of let's say 6, and lets say 5 were buried there leaving 1 empty grave, 

 

it just so happen my mother had the original deed of the plot of 6 graves, my mother already had a plot for her and my father in another cemetery so I had my mother claim the empty grave for me seeing she was the last of the family line before it falls on me and my siblings, but it's my mom who had to claim it because of course she is still alive, 

 

So me and my mom hand delivered a certified letter and any info of the family line to the city in which the grave was located asking for it to be claimed/transferred to me, 

 

Yes it's nice it was free and a families right to have, but more to me, comforting knowing I'll be buried with my 2x Great Grandparents and 2x great Uncle and Aunts in a historical cemetery is so cool, 

 

I'm sure others out there have the same situation, claim those empty graves and be interned there, be with the family and show the connection you have with them, 

 

 The deed is not necessary as long as you prove who you are, it's you as a family has that right I just wasn't sure if anyone else thought of or has done this, I hope I helped in any way to enlighten someone to look into their family to help claim any empty graves they might have.

Trials of a Pioneer

Some of the most interesting stories are found in unusual places. Like the August 3, 1882 Berea Advertiser Obituary of John Adams Jr.  John Jr. was a son of John and Cynthia Fitch Adams.  His parents were the subject of an earlier blog post as Cynthia was a direct descendant of Gov. William Bradford of the Plymouth Colonies.

 Here is the obituary:           
        OBITUARY. In the death of Mr. John ADAMS which occurred on the 15^th of June, at West View, another of that little band of pioneers that settled northern Ohio has passed away. Another one of the Adams brothers is gone, only one of that family of seven --- who so narrowly escaped from the waters of Lake Erie in 1810 --- Ransom Adams of Olmsted Falls, now remains to tell of that terrible ordeal; and of the hardships and privations of pioneer life of that family.

       John ADAMS was born in Waterbury, Conn., Aug 19, 1799, and in 1810 his father John ADAMS Sen., emigrated with his family to northern Ohio.  When leaving Waterbury his family consisted of his wife and six children, five sons and one daughter, his oldest son Benoni, having preceded him, and one daughter Sally, remained in Ct. A young man by the name of Marshall BRONSON also accompanied them.  But in the disaster at lake Erie his daughter Hannah was drowned , an account of which was published in the Advertiser in April of 1877.   

       After a Long and tedious journey of about eight weeks, filled with painful events, they reached Euclid sometime in Dec., where they remained until spring, when they removed to Columbia and settled on a farm near the south part of the township, then owned by Benoni.  Here, in addition in addition to the many privations incident to a life in almost trackless forest, after the commencement of the war of 1812, they suffered much through fear of Indian assassins, whose treacherous designs were culminated by the influence of foreign foe, and whose hostility the defenseless pioneer was constantly in dread of.  One incident as related by Mr. ADAMS of his own experience, may not be out of place here.  One night when in his wakefulness from the excitement of the times, he was startled by the barking of a dog, and instead of savage whoop that he momentarily expected to hear, the sound of a well known neighbor's voice rang out through the forest in unmistakable accents --- turn out! turn out! the British and Indians are upon us.  The whole family at once rallied and the work of decision as to their course was quickly accomplished.  Which as to get together as soon as possible, the few families of the neighborhood, and go to  some more thickly settled place.  The journey was to be made with oxen, as this was the only team they had, and those were away in the woods, and where they knew not.  But there was no time to be lost and as quickly as possible in darkness of the hour, for it was long after midnight, they scoured the woods and found the oxen, and hastily gathered together such necessaries as they could carry, and after concealing the remainder of their household effects, they formed a band and started for Hudson. But their progress was slow as the sun had advanced by some hours ere they started, they had gone but a few miles when, night over took them and arrangements were made for encampment.  But the following day brought news of the cause of the alarm, which was only the landing of the prisoners at Cleveland at the time of Hull's surrender.  The fugitives then returned to their homes with the exception of one or two families who proceeded to Hudson for safety.   

        Mr. ADAMS was raised a farmer and always followed that vocation, often working from the rising of the sun till the setting of same, and sometimes later. He was well acquainted with the hardships and privations in the life of the early settlers of the Western Reserve, and which the boys and girls of to-day are strangers to. He experienced religion when about twenty years of age, soon after united with the M. E. church remaining with them until 1844 when he withdrew and joined the Wesleyan Methodist church, with which connection he remained until his death.

       He married on the 8th of March, 1820 to Miss Maria HOADLEY of Olmsted, a daughter of Maj. Lemuel HOADLEY, who was also one of the first settlers of Columbia and came from Plymouth, Ct., in 1807.    

       Mr. and Mrs. ADAMS had eight children and with the exception of one that died in infancy all are now living, six daughters and one son. They celebrated their golden wedding in 1870, and at the time of his death they had lived together for over 62 years. Of his virtues and good qualities it becomes us not to speak, nor is it necessary; no eulogy is more befitting than the memories left in the hearts of his friends and those who knew him best, and yet it is but justice to give credit where it is due in the mention of a few characteristics.  In his habits he was steady and industrious, his manners quiet and retiring, and yet against that which he looked as wrong he was wont to speak in earnest terms,  He was anti-slavery in the fullest sense and with him the use of tobacco and intoxicating drinks found no favor.  He was greatly attached to his home not caring to seek society or recreation, and with the exception of attending church and the prayer meetings, or when he could be persuaded to go out for a visit occasionally, spent his evenings and leisure hours by his own fireside. His home after marriage (with exception of about 4 years), was in Olmsted, in which township he has been the owner of four different farms, and on one of which the last of forty years of his life was spent. Near the spot where he first settled after marriage, and on a part of the first farm he ever owned, is built the silent city --- that city of marble and granite, of flowers and shrubbery; whose turf has been so often watered with tears of sorrow, and where rest the remains of the  sacred dead.  Here is where rest the remains of his father and mother and two brothers, their wives and children; where an infant daughter and five grandchildren sleep their last sleep, and where now, he too, has been laid in his last resting place, and where after so many months of suffering he sleeps peacefully and rest is undisturbed.

Comments;

In 1836 John sold his first farm (30 acres) to Charles Olmsted, for 600 dollars, who in turn sold the south east 1/2 acre to the Olmsted trustees for 1 dollar to be only used as a cemetery. This became part 1 of the 5 parts that make up Butternut Ridge Cemetery.  
John and Maria are buried in Lot 194


  

      

The Thompson house moving to Frostville

http://westlife.northcoastnow.com/schools-historical-society-agree-to-move-thompson-house/

Sandi's project would like to thank all those involved in saving the Thompson house Specially the North Olmsted School Board, MetroParks, Anonymous donors, and members of Olmsted Historical Society. It will benefit Frostville and the history of North Olmsted very much. Now the real work begins.

Here is part of the family story:

The obituary of Daniel Thompson the youngest son of Jonathan and Priscilla Sears Thompson tells a lot of both.  Daniel was born on the 13 of December in Dover, Windham, VT.

Here is a transcript of the obituary from the Berea Advertiser of May 12 1881. 

DANIEL THOMPSON. The last but two of the Old Pioneers of Butternut Ridge, and the last of his father’s family, who died on the 16 of March 1881 was born in Dover, VT, Nov 13, 1808.  Was married in VT, and came to Olmsted 1n 1828, in company with John CARPENTER and family, his father’s family having been on the ridge two or three years before. About 1829 he settled on the farm where he died and where he had resided 51 years, being 72 years, 4 months and 3 days old when he died.  He was the youngest of nine children, having five sisters and 3 brothers.  In early times, when in the vigor of manhood, he was active and influential in the aid of schools, religion and whaever he believed to be good, either for the physical, intellectual or moral well-being of his fellowmen.

Mr. THOMPSON was one of the original incorporators of the Olmsted Library an institution of considerable in its time, but which lately fallen into neglect and decay. He was quiet, peaceable and unobtrusive in his manners; sociable, friendly, and obliging in his intercourse with fellows; and, though decided and outspoken in his opinions and occasion for offense.  And though very careful and even close in deal, yet no man was readier, to do a neighbor a good turn, and in cases of sickness or want, no man’s sympathies were more ready, and no man’s hand opened  wider.   He had eight children, five of them now living.  One son died in the army, and two children died when quite young.  His first wife, the mother of his children, was subject to fits for many years, causing him a great deal of trouble and expense.  Mr. THOMPSON was not rich, but he helped his children some, and leaves his widow in comfortable circumstances.

Of his sisters, the eldest married John CARPENTER, and was the mother of Wm. CARPENTER Esq. of Olmsted Falls, who was Justice of the Pease for several successive terms, and a leading businessman of the Tp,, of Jonathan, Richard, Charles, and George, of Butternut Ridge, (the two latter having been Justice of the Peace) and others. The second sister, Hannah, married a Mr. HOWE, and was the first wife of Wm W MEAD, Esq., of Olmsted, Edward F, HOWE, Esq., of mount Sterling Wis., familiarly called “Frank HOWE” and others.

The third, Priscilla, married Vespasian STEARNS, and was the mother of wives of Newell NELSON and Jas. W. FITCH of Olmsted, and the wife of D. W. Briggs, of Wis., and six others sons and daughters, all living, and all very nice people.  Betsey died in the east

The fifth Aurilla married Elliott STEARNS, brother of Vespasian, and was the mother of the wife of Rev. J. F. RICE, of Butternut Ridge, or Gardner STEARNS., water inspector of Cleveland, Edmund STEARNS Esq., of Olmsted, Mrs. Rev Nelson SAXTON, and others.  

His brother Jonathan died when a young man; another died when young. His brother, Alden, settled on the Ridge as early as 1826, and owned the farm where Mrs. WAGNER, now lives, where he resided for nearly forty years.

The remarkable good fortune of this truly happy family, was that all the living members on it, but one, were settled around and in plain sight of the old couple.  Jonathan THOMPSON and Priscilla his wife, father and mother of Daniel were in comfortable circumstance; all respectable, honorable, nice people; and all are very agreeable and friendly with each other, and indeed with everybody else. The old man Jonathan THOMPSON, had a farm of 150 acres on the south side of the Ridge road, his house standing a little back, and southeast of where Mrs. P. M. HENRY’S house now stands.

His son–in-law, Elliott STEARNS, owned a farm of 100 acres on the north side of the road, in front of the Thompson’s.  His house stood near the road and nearly in front of J. F. RICE’S house.   This farm has been badly cut up. Reuben RICE, Lawrence BRAMLEY, and H. RICHARDSON each own a portion of it. Harrison’s mill is on it, and a parcel of 11 Acres was sold to Newell NELSON.

Vespasian STEARNS lived where Edmond STEARNS now lives, built the house and barn there, with several other out buildings which have been moved away.  He owned a farm of 150 acres and over, joining Elliott’s on the west, north of the road, and THOMPSON’S south of the road; the same now owned by Charles CARPENTER, Edmond  STEARNS, and W. T. WILLIAMS.  “Uncle Paish” as he was familiarly known, was a leading man of the times and place, was Justice of the Peace, County Commissioner ,&c, was named as a candidate for the Legislature, but for some reason refused to go into the convention, he might have had the place by putting himself forward, but that he never did.  He was jolly, sociable, friendly, his latch-string always out, and a good dinner and hearty welcome always waiting the hungry at his house. Indeed hospitality was general in this community.

John CARPENTER had a farm of 151 acres, next west of Vespasian, where his house, a substantial two story building, now stands on the old place, at present owned and occupied by his sons, Richard and George, who have each a handsome new residence.  But the old house, which is yet quite good, stands there as a reminder of old times, and occupied by a tenant.  John CARPENTER was a prominent man, though different from M. STEARNS, and known far and wide in northern Ohio.  This house wasone of the homes, which many a weary traveler looked forward to with feelings akin to those of the struggling Christian striving to gain Heaven; especially preachers and brethren of the Baptist persuasion, but none were turned empty away.  Hospitality was the law, and there was no prescription in this happy little community though there was wide difference in opinions. Daniel THOMPSON’S farm joined his fathers on the east, and Alden’s already mentioned, next east of Daniel’s.  Alden owned 100 acres and Daniel not quite so much.

The THOMPSON’S were all Baptists, I believe, and the two STEARNS’S Universalists, their wives Baptists. Old Father Dimnick, an old Baptist preacher, a fine old man, was a frequent visitor in the place.  I have heard him preach frequently, and heard him on his birthday when 90 years of age.  He preached frequently after that, and lived to be a little over 93, I believe.  Here, thus surrounded by their children and children’s children, all prosperous, respected, and happy, lived this good old pair, to a ripe old age, blessing and being blessed, and passing away loved and esteemed by all, with a bright anticipation of a bright hereafter. And “Grandma THOMPSON,” the queen of this happy little realm was known and loved and esteemed for her many deeds of goodness by all the country round.    E. MERRIAM     

Edward Merriam wrote and published a book of some essays on life in the 1890’s

This article came from a compilation Birth Marriages Deaths by the Southwest chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society it is available to use for research at the research section of Fairview Library 

Father Dimnick should have been Dimock   

The Motorcycle Picture

One of our volunteers, Nancy Mitchell a member of the Ruple family, on the North Olmsted First Families tree provided us with a photograph of George Ruple and Reuben Elliott on Motorcycles. The picture was taken in the early 1920’s. The road they were sitting on is brick so we believe they were on Lorain Rd. This picture has been passing around the families involved an their friends like a wildfire all week.

 We contacted the American Motorcycle Museum to see if we could find out the year and brand of cycle. Here is their very quick reply:   “Thanks for emailing the Motorcycle Hall of Fame (in Pickerington Ohio) with this photo – very cool!  I have compared the images with several motorcycle books and I believe the Ruple bike is a 1913 Indian Single and the Elliott bike is a 1911 Indian Single”.   “That said, I have also sent this photo to a friend who is a motorcycle historian and is very good at picking out details I miss! So I will let you know if I hear otherwise about these machines”. From the Museum Collections Manager.

Enough for the cycles (Love’em) we usually talk about people.

George William Ruple was the son of Samuel and Elmina (James) Ruple and was born on 23 July 1892 and passed away peacefully in his bed on 7 March 1952. George was married to Emily Samland on 26 Nov1919 they had one child.  George and Emma are interned in the Coe Ridge Cemetery with his parents.  The Ruple family has a long line of Peace Officers. George was a policeman in North Olmsted and built a house across the street from the police station.

Reuben Elliott was the son of Will N. and Bertha (Demaline) Elliott. He was born on 27 January 1894.  Reuben married Helen May (Briggs) on 14 Oct 1919 they had five children.  Helen passed away 28 December 1942 and Reuben passed away 10 August 1965. They are both interned in Butternut Ridge Cemetery.   

Reuben W Elliott Joined the ONG in Cleveland Ohio on 18 July 1917 Hq Co I Engrs ONG to 30 Sept 1917; Co E 112 Engrs to Disch.  Wag 5 Sept 1917; Pvt. 30 Sept 1917; Pvt1cl 1 Oct 1917; Corp 20 Oct 1917; Mr Engrs sr gr 23 Nov 1917. Meuse-Argonne; Ypres-Lys; Defensive Sector. AEF 23 June 1918 to 14 Apr 1919. Hon Disch 17 Apr 1919                                          
His soon to be wife Helen Briggs joined the (Crile Nurses). Nurse 6 May 1917 fr CL. BH 4 Cleveland O to June --/17; BH 4 AEF to Apr --/19; Demob Sta to disch AEF ExJune --/17 to 3 Apr 1919. Reserve nurse relieved from active duty 27 May 1919; not disch

I found out that Reuben and Helen grew up across the street from each other they were childhood sweethearts.  They got married after they came back from the War 

The Descendants of Robert Coe

Ashur Miller Coe “Coo” “Koe” “Cooe” was born in Middletown Connecticut on 26 April 1773.  His parents were Col Elisha and Elizabeth (Miller) Coe. “His father was a thrifty and prosperous farmer, he attained the rank of colonel in the militia, and from 1815 to 1820 he was a representative in the Connecticut Assembly for Middletown.  He died in 1 Dec 1831”    From the book Robert Coe, Puritan by J Gardner Bartlett

Ashur married Abigail Wilcox 10 Oct 1814.  They had four children in Middletown before moving to Dover Township in 1823.  
The oldest was Edwin Wilcox Coe who married Harriet Peck from Lorain Ohio in 1839.  They had two Children Leon Melville and Levia. 
Next was a daughter named Sina Coe, married Nathaniel H. Austin on 23 September 1872. They had six children. They were Bertrand C., Rienzi W., Lucia A., Clarissa I., Cora G., and Edwin N.
Lucetta was next she was born 1 February 1821. She died at Coe Ridge Ohio in 19 October 1900 and was unmarried.
The last child Andrew Jackson Coe was born 14 May 1823 he was a farmer and held the office of township trustee he married Mercy Ann Bancroft on 17 October 1849. They had 4 children none of which were married. They were Ashur M., Florence E., Lua A., and Dollie They were all buried in the Coe Family cemetery  All of the children of Ashur Sr. and most of his grandchildren are also buried in the Coe cemetery

 Picture ca. 1878 From the Archives of the Olmsted Historical Society


 Ashur’s home was at the corner of Lorain road and Columbia Rd. Lorain Rd was originally known as Coe Ridge Rd. and Coe founded a post office in his house.  The cemetery he created is just east of his house. The family burial grounds became Coe Ridge Cemetery. Ashur was instrumental in the founding of the Village of North Olmsted, as it was mostly his and his neighbors land that broke away from Dover Township to join the northern part of Olmsted Township in about 1909.  
Ashur M Coe the grandson was the North Olmsted cemetery sexton from 1909 till about the 1920’s the city still has his original legers.

Here are some more:  Excerpts from Robert Coe Puritan Page 72 “In the spring of 1834 Robert Coe took his family to Ipswich, the port of Suffolk county (England) and about fifteen miles east of Boxford, and there on Apr. 30 1834, they were among the eighty-three passengers who embarked for New England in the ship “Francis”, commanded by Captain John Cutting.   At the Record Office in London is still preserved the roll of the of the ships passengers taken at the Customs House in Ipswich, on which appears Robert Cooe aged 38, Anna Cooe his wife aged 43, and children John Cooe Aged 8 Robert Cooe aged 7, and Benjamin Cooe  Aged 4.” The voyage in those days took about 10 weeks.  

 To see the whole connection it is in the North Olmsted First Families tree. They have a connection to the Stearns Family we still have the Rice Family and the Stearns family its self

The Mystery of Rebecca Walker

Rebecca Walker

Sept 30, 1849

Wife of  

John Walker

No Walker families have been found in the Census for our area during that time.

 We will come back to this later. From now on we will be featuring stories of the first settlers of North Olmsted for their Bicentennial year. It would be logical to start with David Johnson Stearns. But that is too easy and not Sandi’s style. We think that we should start with the Fitch family as all the Olmsted Fitches started from one couple.  They are Thaddeus Fitch b. July 27, 1761 at Hartford Connecticut d. April 16, 1816 Vernon Connecticut and Rebecca Webster b. September 10, 1766 d.?

The Fitch Family of North Olmsted

There are 67 Fitch internments in Butternut Ridge Cemetery (The Ridge) not counting the females that would be buried under their husband’s name. The Stearns family is the only family with more. The Fitches are related to the Stearns and Thompson families.  I found a digital book on line (Google Books) Genealogy of the Fitch Family in North America collected and arranged by John G Fitch. John was born in Olmsted and wrote the book in 1886.  In creating the Ancestry© family tree (North Olmsted First Families) we have found that there are a few of the digital books for the families of North Olmsted.

The tree traces the 7 original families that arrived in the 1820's and how they started in America There are about 2100 in the tree now. Those that are buried in in Butternut or Coe have their grave location and if they have a Find a Grave site it is there.

Now back to Mrs. Walker. In the Fitch book we found the following entry.

“Thaddeus Fitch died April 16 1816, aged 54 years, and was buried at Vernon Connecticut.
Rebecca, widow of Thaddeus Fitch, married (2) February 11, 1819, John Walker, Esq., of Vernon, Connecticut.   
After the death of her second husband, Rebecca Walker went to Ohio with her children. She died at the home of her son Eli, at Olmsted Ohio. September 30, 1849 aged 83 years and was buried at Olmsted, Ohio"

We use the term Township of Olmsted for the area before it was divided into Olmsted Falls, Olmsted Township and the Southern part of North Olmsted. The northern part from just west of Columbia Rd east (Coe Property) was part of the Township of Dover.

Next month we will have the Webster Family and find out how we found out they were an early family