Christopher Douglass - Husband and Cousin

Christopher Douglass was born today 225 years ago, on 22 February 1787 in New London, CT. I don't know if his last name should have 1 s or 2, I have seen it both ways. I have seen it more often with a double s, so that's the way I'm spelling it for now.

His parents, Capt. Daniel Douglass and Lydia Douglass, were 3rd cousins. So does that make Christopher's brothers and sisters also 4th cousins? In addition to that, he married Phebe Douglass, who was his 1st cousin, once removed. If it were me, I might be a little suspicious of marrying someone with the same last name as me, especially when they were born in the same town as me, in the same year...in colonial Connecticut. They must have known. When they were kids at Christmas they would be like "Merry Christmas grandma!"
"No that's great grandma!"
"Hey, wanna get married?"

I have found reference to him in a few different books. Here is a quote that gives a brief summary of his life:

History of Walworth county, Wisconsin
By Albert Clayton Beckwith
Pg 511

Christopher Douglass was twice descended from William and Ann, who came to Boston in 1640, and to New London about 1651. He was son of Capt. Daniel5 (Robert4, Thomas3, Robert2, William1), and Lydia5 (William4, Richard3, William21); that is, these were third-cousins. Christopher was born February 22, 1787, at New London, Connecticut; married Phoebe Douglass, his mother's brother William Jr.'s granddaughter. Her parents were Ivory Douglass and Phoebe Smith. He came from Cattaraugus county, New York, to section 28, Walworth, in 1837, with ten children. He was chairman of the board of county commissioners, 1840-2, and a supervisor in 1848. He was one of the earliest school commissioners. He died February 16, 1867. His children were: Oscar Houghton, Christopher Columbus, Aurilla Ann, Roxana Columbia, Maria Theresa, Gilbert Lafayette, Phoebe Angeline, Agnes Noailles, Carlos Lavallette, Maria Louisa Josephine.

In the same book in a different section it made reference to the fact that he was at one time judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Erie county, NY, and also served in the war of 1812.

So in the end it looks like he did ok for himself. 10 kids, getting to be called "Your Honor," and the advantage of having 6 fingers.

Tombstone Tuesday - Henry Collamer Greene

116 years ago today, on 21 February 1896, Henry Collamer Greene died in St. Albans, Vermont. He was 85 years old

Tjerk Jack Broersma & Baukje Betty Reeder

Tjerk "Jack" Broersma and Baukje "Betty" Reeder were married 96 years ago today on 19 February 1916 in Sneek, the Netherlands. Tjerk would be my GG Uncle, which would make him my Great Grandfather's brother. My Great Grandfather, Laas Broersma is in the far left, and his dad Jetze Broersma is the one with the beard.

The Search For Edith May Hilton

There is an adoption in our direct line, which created some mystery about the real parents. Ernest William Earls was born as Aubrey Norman Lovell-Hilton, and his mother was Edith May Hilton. She was born 121 years ago today, on 16 February 1891, in Weymouth, Massachusetts.

Very little is known about her, but at least I was able to find her name on the adoption record. With that I started to look for her in the census records and found her first in 1900 in Weymouth, MA, the daughter of Frank E Hilton.


She had her son when she was 15, in 1906. The story goes that she was with the gardener of her school, and was either raped, or maybe consensual (I've heard both). Either way it was gross because the story also says that he was about 60 years old. She gave him up for adoption and then she can be found in the 1910 census, again in Weymouth, and still living with her father.


On Christmas Eve, 1914, Edith was married to Seth Reed Bates in Abington. I found their marriage in the Massachusetts Marriages, 1841-1915 on Familysearch.org. One thing that I find interesting is that it says that their residence at the time of marriage is the same. Does that mean they were living together before they were married?


She can be found then in the 1920 census with her new husband in Abington, living in the house of his parents.


By the 1930 census though she is not listed with her husband. According to the column, she is still married and living in Abington, but they are obviously separated.


He is found living at his parents house again, also in Abington.


So now I'm looking forward to the 1940 census to see where she has ended up. I haven't been able to find any other records on her. I am limited to searching online, and unfortunately not all records in the world are available online.

Workday Wednesday - Pedalling Petro

Jetze Broersma pedalling petro in the Netherlands.

Annie Rosendale Turns 136

Antje van Rosendal, or in the American tongue Annie Rosendale, was born 136 years ago today, on 13 February 1876. She was born in the tiny town of Dispatch, Kansas to Beert Berends van Rosendal and Maartje Hessels de Jong. I recently was able to scan this photo of her when she was probably 12. It's with her mother and older sister Maggie. Just a couple years later Annie would be married to Marinus Wichers.

Jeremiah Jack & Jane Bailey

There are a number of Jeremiah Jacks in my family. This one I'm writing about is NOT the one who was in a canoe and was almost killed by Indians. This Jeremiah Jack would be that other Jeremiah Jack's grandson. He was born in 1804, and 183 years ago today, on 12 February 1829, he married Jane Bailey in McMinn County, Tennessee. They are my 4 Great Grandparents.

I feel like I don't really have a whole lot of information on the Jack line. Most of it has come from someone that I have corresponded with. But one thing that I have found is a record of their marriage, and Ancestry.com has an image of it, which is always a bonus.


I don't know what the 1250 dollars has to do with it. If their marriage was unlawful, then would they have to pay the $1250? And I'm not sure who Andrew Jack is. As far as I know Jeremiah doesn't have a brother named Andrew. In my notes Jane's father is Andrew Bailey, but the signature is clearly Andrew Jack, so it's not a mistake. On the back there is a little more writing. I can see the word "bond" at the top. On another page in this same collection it looks like it says "marriage bond." I guess I just don't quite understand how the system works.


From their marriage they had at least 7 children:
1. John Andrew Jack b: 27 JAN 1836 in Alabama
2. Narcissa Jack b: ABT 1833 in Tennessee
3. William A. Jack b: ABT 1835 in Alabama
4. Hannah Ann Jack b: 20 MAR 1840 in Alabama
5. Thomas M. Jack b: ABT 1843 in Alabama
6. Mary N. Jack b: ABT 1848 in Alabama
7. Lewis B Jack