When I am working on a surname, I do the siblings of my ancestors as well as their descendants for one or two generations. I find that I tend to spend more time on a person when there is a story waiting to be told. Such was the case when I started to look at Mary Ann Shaffer, a daughter of George Washington Shaffer and his first wife, Elizabeth Helman. Elizabeth Helman was a daughter of George "Big George" Helman who lived in East Mahoning Township in Indiana County, Pennsylvania.
Mary Ann Shaffer married Washington Wilhelm who died in 1871. She then appears in the 1880 census as the wife of Samuel Helman who is 62 years old. This is where it gets interesting. An article in The Indiana Progress dated 14 September 1892 states "Mary Ann Wilhelm, by her next friend [her son-in-law], John A. Bothel, vs Samuel Helman; divorce proceedings. The parties were duly married and after living together for several years in White twp., the petitioner discovered her husband had another and former wife still living. They then separated, and now she wants a legal decree of separation." An article in The Indiana Weekly Messenger on the same date states ..."divorce decreed." Why did she wait until 1892 to ask for a divorce when she was married to Samuel Helman prior to 1880? Since her son-in-law was acting for her in the divorce, her children may have wanted her to get a divorce. I believe that the Samuel Helman who married Mary Ann Shaffer was the Samuel Helman married to Sarah Custer. This Samuel Helman was a son of Daniel Helman, Jr. Samuel Helman was born in 1814 and died in 1898 according to his tombstone at the McGregor Cemetery in Somerset County.
While looking for newspapers articles on Mary Ann Shaffer who married Samuel Helman, I came across newspaper articles dated June, 1890 and June, 1891 for a Mary A. Helman who divorced Samuel J. Helman since he deserted her. He then moved to Cambria County where he had another wife and family. Now I was really confused. It appeared there was another Samuel Helman married to a Mary. I knew that Samuel J. Helman was a son of John Helman and Martha Layton. John Helman was a son of John Daniel Helman who moved to Somerset County after 1800 from Franklin County. I knew that Samuel J. Helman had married Sarah Ann Jones about 1872 and that they lived in Adams Township, Cambria County in the 1900 census. Was Samuel J. Helman married to a Mary A. before he married Sarah Ann Jones? According an article in The Indiana Gazette dated 10 June 1891, "Mary A. Helman sued Samuel J. Helman on the ground of desertion. The parties to this suit were married in White township, during the time of the war. In 1871 they moved to near Johnstown, in Cambria county, and lived there about six months. On their way back to Indiana county, the husband started back to attend to something he had neglected. The wife and family came on to Indiana county. Mr. Helman never made his appearance again, having left the country with another woman, and, according to the testimony, he is now a resident of Cambria county and has a family over there. Divorce granted." Samuel Hellman was living in Rayne Township, Indiana County in the 1870 census with Mary and three daughters. Mary A. Helman married John F. Piper in Reynoldsville, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania on 18 June 1891. This must be why she filed for divorce in 1890 after all those years since Samuel J. Helman deserted her in 1871. She wanted to get married again. Her marriage license application gave her parents' names as Peter and Sarah Menges. She died in 1897 in Jefferson County where she is buried.
Many times I find that trees on Ancestry.com confuse people with the same name in the same area. It is important to find out all you can about each person with the same name to help you place someone with the same name into the right family. That is where doing extended research rather than just ancestor research helps. It also uncovers buried family stories. I will be going to the National Archives in August and will request Washington Wilhelm's and Samuel J. Helman's Civil War pension files to see they give any more information. Also, I will request the divorce files from the Prothonotary's Office in Indiana County, Pennsylvania the next time I am there.
Indiana County in 1817
Indiana County in 1817
Sunday, July 3, 2022
Sunday, August 22, 2021
Alexander Barr ( before 1752-1785) of Derry Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
Alexander Barr was the father of Jane Barr. Jane Barr was the mother of Elizabeth Fulton. (see previous blog post "Who was the father of Elizabeth Fulton dated April 14, 2020 for background). When the State of Pennsylvania opened Westmoreland County for settlement, Alexander Barr took out a warrant on 3 April 1769 for 300 acres of land that was located in Derry Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. The land (called Barr's Choice) was surveyed on 10 June 1769 and contained 351 acres (see New Purchase Register, number 1630, Alex'r Barr) that is available on the Pennsylvania State Archives website (http://www.phmc.state.pa.us). The survey is also available online at this website.
Alexander Barr was taxed as a single man in 1773 in Armstrong Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania (see Pennsylvania Archives, Series 3, Volume XXII, pages 21-22). The Pennsylvania Archives are available for free on Fold3.com. Since Alexander had to be at least 21 to be taxed, he was born before 1752. His father was Thomas and Jennet Barr from Franklin County, Pennsylvania. The Barr family will be discussed in a future blog post.
Alexander Barr was in the Westmoreland County militia from 1776 to 1778. He was a captain in September, 1776 in the Westmoreland County militia according to the declaration in Martin Funk's Revolutionary War pension application and was a major in December, 1776 according to Martin Funk's and Adam Maxwell's Revolutionary War pension applications. Colonel Alexander Barr commanded a detachment of Westmoreland County militia that was ordered by Brigadier General Edward Hand on an expedition to the "Indian Country" from 10 February 1778 to 12 March 1778 during the Revolutionary War. The payroll signed by Colonel Alexander Barr is available on Fold3. The published Pennsylvania Archives, Series 6, Volume II, pages 299-310 gives the officers of the Westmoreland County Militia for 1777 and 1778. Alexander Barr is the colonel of the First Battalion of the Westmoreland County Militia. Alexander does not appear in any Westmoreland County records again until 1783 when he was taxed in Westmoreland County on 300 acres, two horses, and two cows (see Pennsylvania tax and exoneration lists for Westmoreland County on Ancesty). He was also elected a commissioner in 1783 in Westmoreland County. He was a signer on an indenture as one of the judges for the elections in 1784 in Hannastown, Westmoreland County.
Alexander Barr was in what later became Jefferson County, Kentucky, in the spring of1779. James Welch, his brother-in-law, gave a deposition on 11 February 1804 in Jefferson County, Kentucky in a land dispute that stated "about the last of April or the first of May, 1779, he in company with James Guthrie, Alexander Barr, ...set out from the Falls of Ohio to make improvements...Further, that at the time of building the aforesaid cabin at this place, he saw the letters a. b. marked on the aforesaid oak by Alexander Barr..." James Guthrie, a brother-in law of Alexander Barr's wife, gave a similiar deposition naming Alexander Barr also. Alexander Barr, James Guthrie, and James Welch were also listed as members of Captain William Harrod's Company in 1780 at the Stations near the Falls that are now Jefferson and Shelby Counties.
A biographical sketch of Rev. Thomas Barr, Alexander Barr's son, (see
The Plan of Union or A History of the Presbyterian and Congregational
Churches of the Western Reserve by William S. Kennnedy, pages 41-54,
biography of Rev. Thomas Barr based on his autobiography) states "When about two or three years old, his father, Colonel Barr, was called to serve in the Revolutionary struggle, and took his family to his wife's father's [place], near Fort Loudon, Franklin County." An Alexander Barr is taxed in Cumberland County (later Franklin County) from 1778 to 1782 but it is not known if this is the same Alexander Barr. Alexander Barr is not in any records from 1779 to 1782 in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.
According to the biography of Rev. Thomas Barr, Alexander Barr was killed in 1785 near Wheeeling, Ohio Country, Virginia (now West Virginia) by the Indians while on an expedition down the Ohio River with Richard Wallace (see The Plan of Union referred to above). Alexander Barr died sometime prior to 2 November 1785 when his wife, Margaret Barr, and others were appointed administators of his estate.
Alexander Barr married Margaret Welch/Welsh. Her parents were John and Susanna Welch/Welsh, also from Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Her family will also be discussed in a future blog post. Margaret Barr was listed as widow Barr on the tax and exoneration list in 1786, and was listed as Margaret Barr on the tax and exoneration list in 1787, 1788, and 1789 in Derry Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. She married Uriah Matson after Alexander Barr's death, probably about 1790 since she does not appear in the 1790 census. She died 3 September 1812 according to her tombstone in the Old Salem Church Cemetery, aged 58 years. She was born from 1753 to 1754 according to her tombstone. She and Uriah Matson had the following children: Samuel (eldest son); Margaret married John Peoples, Ohio; Uriah; Mary married John Robison; Joseph; Rebecca married Hugh Robison (Petition Docket 5:307). Uriah Matson died 5 June 1826 and is also buried in the Old Salem Church Cemetery. After his wife Margaret's death, Uriah Matson married Rebecca Sterling Robison (a widow of William Robison). Two of their children married two of Uriah and Margaret's children.
Thomas Barr petitioned the Orphans Court in 1799 to partition/value two tracts of land of Alexander Barr (Partition Docket 3:404). The petition names the widow, Margaret, and four children, three of whom are minors, John, Jennet, and Susannah. Jennet was also known as Jane and was born about 1784 since she was 76 in the 1850 census. John and Susannah were born after 1778 and before Alexander Barr's death in 1785 since they were were minors and under 21 in 1799 when the petition was filed.
Each of Alexander Barr's children received a portion of his land. The following distribution is for the larger tract. His son Thomas received 207 acres. He received a double portion as the eldest son. It was surveyed for him on 23 April 1799 and patented on 4 February 1806 to Uriah Matson, Thomas' stepfather. Alexander's son John received a patent for 87 acres on 4 February 1806. His daughter Jane and her husband, Robert Thompson, received 107 acres. It was surveyed on 16 March 1833 and patented on 10 April 1834. 8 1/2 acres was surveyed on 23 April 1799 and patented on 29 December 1808 to John Craig and his wife Susanna.
The original survey on 10 June 1769 was for 351 acres but Alexander owned two tracts of land according to the petition, one for 350 acres and another for 110 acres. A warrant for the 110 acre tract was granted on 12 September 1787 to William Guthrie and John Pumroy in trust for the heirs of Alexander Barr (no. 111, Westmoreland County, Derry Township). It was surveyed on 4 June 1789 for William Guthrie and John Pumroy in trust for the heirs of Alexander Barr for 111 1/2 acres. A patent was granted to them on 1 February 1806 for 16 acres after it was surveyed. They transferred this land to John Barr on 30 November 1806. A patent was granted to John Craig and Susannah his wife for 95 acres on 29 December 1808. The final distribution to Alexander Barr's children was about 520 acres.
More information is available on Alexander Barr and others near him in Derry Township if anyone is interested. Some of this information may be included in future blog posts.
Tuesday, April 14, 2020
Who was the father of Elizabeth Fulton, wife of James Fulton, of Indiana and Westmoreland Counties, Pennsylvania
My third great grandparents are James Fulton and Elizabeth Thompson. James and Elizabeth Fulton were living in Indiana County in the 1850 census and later moved to Westmoreland County where James died in 1883. Elizabeth died on 21 May 1875 and is buried in Old Salem Church and Cemetery in Derry Township, Westmoreland County. The Fulton family is well documented in the book, "The Fulton family of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, 1712-1772-1940." It is available on archive.org.
Although I knew Elizabeth's maiden name was Thompson from a couple of her children's death certificates, I had no idea who her father was. I had looked at various Thompson wills on Family Search for Indiana and Westmoreland Counties but none gave any clue as to who her father might be. I was in Westmoreland County last summer doing research on another family and decided to see if I could determine who Elizabeth's father was. I checked the 1830 census for Derry Township, Westmoreland County to see if there were any Thompson males of the right age living close to James Fulton, Jr. Robert Thompson was the only Thompson male living near James Fulton, Jr. I checked the probate records at the Westmoreland County Courthouse where there was a partition for Robert Thompson in partition docket 7:276. Partitions are wonderful documents to find since they usually name all living heirs. A petitioner, often a relative, petitions the Court to have the deceased's property partitioned (divided) among the heirs or valued/appraised if it it cannot be partitioned without spoiling the whole.
The partition docket names the widow Jane and five children and one grandchild: Alexander, his eldest son; Willliam, the petitioner; Elizabeth intermarried with James Fulton of Indiana County; Maria intermarried with David Lewis of Indiana County; Jane Thompson; and Jane Wallace, a minor under 14 years of age, the only child of Susan Thompson, deceased, who was intermarried with Samuel Wallace of Derry Township.
Robert Thompson owned land in Derry Township and a lot near New Derry when he died. Alexander Thompson as the eldest son elected to purchase the 145 1/4 acres of land in New Derry for $23 an acre and the lot in New Derry for $52.25. He was to pay his mother interest on $1110.01 during her lifetime, being the valuation of one-third of the real estate. Jane Thompson died sometime prior to 15 April 1860 when the heirs signed a release: Wm. Thompson; James and Elizabeth Fulton; D. W. and Maria Lewis; J. B. and Jane Craig; Alexander Thompson; and also J. C. Wallace.
Robert Thompson first purchased land in Derry Township on 30 May 1801 from Wm. Guthrie for 420 pounds (deed book 8:352). He bought and sold property in Derry Township during his lifetime. He appears in the 1810, 1820, and 1830 censuses in Derry Township and was living in Blairsville, Indiana County in the 1840 census.
The death certificate for Jane Craig, Robert and Jane Thompson's daughter (Ohio death certificate number 62512; available on Family Search), gives her parents' names as Robert Thompson (born Ireland) and Jane Barr (born Westmoreland County).
Robert Thompson died on 20 November 1847 and is buried in Old Salem Church and Cemetery. A picture of his tombstone is available on Find A Grave. He was born from 1770 to 1771 since his tombstone states he was 70 years old. His birth place has been listed as at sea, Ireland, and Scotland in various places.
The parents of Elizabeth Thompson, the wife of James Fulton, are Robert Thompson and Jane Barr. Another petition in Westmoreland County gives the name of Jane Barr's father, Alexander Barr. This will be discussed in a future blog post.
Although I knew Elizabeth's maiden name was Thompson from a couple of her children's death certificates, I had no idea who her father was. I had looked at various Thompson wills on Family Search for Indiana and Westmoreland Counties but none gave any clue as to who her father might be. I was in Westmoreland County last summer doing research on another family and decided to see if I could determine who Elizabeth's father was. I checked the 1830 census for Derry Township, Westmoreland County to see if there were any Thompson males of the right age living close to James Fulton, Jr. Robert Thompson was the only Thompson male living near James Fulton, Jr. I checked the probate records at the Westmoreland County Courthouse where there was a partition for Robert Thompson in partition docket 7:276. Partitions are wonderful documents to find since they usually name all living heirs. A petitioner, often a relative, petitions the Court to have the deceased's property partitioned (divided) among the heirs or valued/appraised if it it cannot be partitioned without spoiling the whole.
The partition docket names the widow Jane and five children and one grandchild: Alexander, his eldest son; Willliam, the petitioner; Elizabeth intermarried with James Fulton of Indiana County; Maria intermarried with David Lewis of Indiana County; Jane Thompson; and Jane Wallace, a minor under 14 years of age, the only child of Susan Thompson, deceased, who was intermarried with Samuel Wallace of Derry Township.
Robert Thompson owned land in Derry Township and a lot near New Derry when he died. Alexander Thompson as the eldest son elected to purchase the 145 1/4 acres of land in New Derry for $23 an acre and the lot in New Derry for $52.25. He was to pay his mother interest on $1110.01 during her lifetime, being the valuation of one-third of the real estate. Jane Thompson died sometime prior to 15 April 1860 when the heirs signed a release: Wm. Thompson; James and Elizabeth Fulton; D. W. and Maria Lewis; J. B. and Jane Craig; Alexander Thompson; and also J. C. Wallace.
Robert Thompson first purchased land in Derry Township on 30 May 1801 from Wm. Guthrie for 420 pounds (deed book 8:352). He bought and sold property in Derry Township during his lifetime. He appears in the 1810, 1820, and 1830 censuses in Derry Township and was living in Blairsville, Indiana County in the 1840 census.
The death certificate for Jane Craig, Robert and Jane Thompson's daughter (Ohio death certificate number 62512; available on Family Search), gives her parents' names as Robert Thompson (born Ireland) and Jane Barr (born Westmoreland County).
Robert Thompson died on 20 November 1847 and is buried in Old Salem Church and Cemetery. A picture of his tombstone is available on Find A Grave. He was born from 1770 to 1771 since his tombstone states he was 70 years old. His birth place has been listed as at sea, Ireland, and Scotland in various places.
The parents of Elizabeth Thompson, the wife of James Fulton, are Robert Thompson and Jane Barr. Another petition in Westmoreland County gives the name of Jane Barr's father, Alexander Barr. This will be discussed in a future blog post.
Tuesday, August 20, 2019
James Fleming and his wife Nancy Clawson of Conemaugh Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania
James and Nancy Clawson were my third great grandparents. They lived in Conemaugh Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania and had the following children:
1. Eliza Jane Fleming (born about 1820-died between 1870 and 1880) married James C. Householder (1815-).
2. James Fleming (1824-1898) married Jane Fulton (1834-1913).
3. Charlotte Fleming (5 June 1825-2 September 1892) married John Johnson (1822-1916)
4. Eli G. Fleming (born about 1827-died 9 June 1896) married Mary Elizabeth Bradford (1829-1911) and Sally D. Hoover (1856-1900). See previous blog post on Eli G. Fleming.
5.William G. Fleming (born 27 June 1829)-30 October 1908 married Nancy Davis, daughter of Nancy Clawson Fleming's second husband.
6. Nancy Jane Fleming (July 1832-3 July 1910) married Joseph T. Gordon (1831-1875) and died in Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas.
7. Evaline born date est. 1835- death after 6 February 1844
James Fleming received his land from his father, John Fleming, on 1 May 1799. The following summary is a history of this land.
A warrant was surveyed for John Mechlin on 18 March 1789 in pursuance of a warrant dated 6 September 1785. It contained 456 and 3/4 acres and was situated on Black Legs Creek joining lands of Samuel Dixon and an improvement known by the name of Campbell's Improvement. This land was later patented on 27 January 1854 to John Barclay, 220 acres and 84 perches; Archibald Coleman, 23 acres and 144 perches; and James and William Fleming, 209 acres.
John Fleming purchased this warrant from John Mechlin on 8 April 1790 and later sold/transferred this property to his sons Alexander, James, and William. Alexander sold his property to Alexander Barclay. William Fleming left his property to his sons, James and William, in his will. William's sons, James and William, later sold their property to John Barclay.
John Fleming's son, James Fleming, sold 24 acres to Archibald Coleman in 1840. He died in 1844 and left his property to his sons, James, William, and Eli. Eli sold his interest to his brothers, James and William who patented their property in 1854. James Fleming, Jr. died in 1898 and his property was sold to pay his debts but William's property remained in his family.
The following survey shows this land that James Fleming and his brother, William Fleming, patented in 1854.
James Fleming wrote his will on 6 February 1844 and it was probated on 16 February 1844. His will mentions his wife Nancy and the children listed above.
Nancy Clawson Fleming married a neighbor, David Davis (1785-1855), sometime between 1844 and 1850 when she appears with him in the census along with her son, Wm. Fleming, and her daughter, Nancy J. Fleming in Black Lick Township, Indiana County.
David Davis 65 Farmer
Nancy Davis 52
James Davis 27
Nancy Davis 19
Wm. Fleming 21
Nancy J. Fleming 18
James Wineman 9
James and Nancy Fleming's son, William Fleming, later married Nancy Davis, a daughter of David Davis. David Davis died 31 January 1855. His will mentions his wife, Nancy Davis, and his step daughter, Nancy Jane Fleming.
Nancy appears in the 1860 census with her granddaughter, Nancy J. Householder in Black Lick Township, Indiana County.
Nancy Davis 60
Nancy J. Hausholder 12
Nancy J. Householder was Nancy Davis' granddaughter, the daughter of James Householder and her daughter Eliza Fleming.
Nancy Clawson Fleming Davis died sometime between 16 December 1862 when her will was written and 23 January 1863 when it was probated. She probably died close to the time it was probated. Her will names her son, James Fleming, and her daughter, Nancy Jane Gordon. It also mentions the following granddaughters: Nancy Jane Flemming; Letitia Charlot Householder; Nancy Jane Johnston; Anna Lena Flemming; and Nancy Jane Householder.
Her will states she is is the widow of David Davis. Her bequests to her granddaughters provide the surnames of the men her daughters married. Her granddaughter, Nancy Jane Flemming, was the daughter of her son, James Fleming. Her granddaughters, Nancy Jane and Letitia Charlot Householder, were the daughters of her daughter, Eliza and her husband, James C. Householder. Her granddaughter, Nancy Jane Johnston, was the daughter of her daughter Charlotte and her husband, John Johnston. Her granddaughter, Anna Lena Flemming, was the daughter of her son, William Fleming and Nancy Davis, a daughter of David Davis.
There are not many wills written by women in this time period. She left bequests to some of her older granddaughters rather than her grandsons. Perhaps she was an early feminist.
1. Eliza Jane Fleming (born about 1820-died between 1870 and 1880) married James C. Householder (1815-).
2. James Fleming (1824-1898) married Jane Fulton (1834-1913).
3. Charlotte Fleming (5 June 1825-2 September 1892) married John Johnson (1822-1916)
4. Eli G. Fleming (born about 1827-died 9 June 1896) married Mary Elizabeth Bradford (1829-1911) and Sally D. Hoover (1856-1900). See previous blog post on Eli G. Fleming.
5.William G. Fleming (born 27 June 1829)-30 October 1908 married Nancy Davis, daughter of Nancy Clawson Fleming's second husband.
6. Nancy Jane Fleming (July 1832-3 July 1910) married Joseph T. Gordon (1831-1875) and died in Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas.
7. Evaline born date est. 1835- death after 6 February 1844
James Fleming received his land from his father, John Fleming, on 1 May 1799. The following summary is a history of this land.
A warrant was surveyed for John Mechlin on 18 March 1789 in pursuance of a warrant dated 6 September 1785. It contained 456 and 3/4 acres and was situated on Black Legs Creek joining lands of Samuel Dixon and an improvement known by the name of Campbell's Improvement. This land was later patented on 27 January 1854 to John Barclay, 220 acres and 84 perches; Archibald Coleman, 23 acres and 144 perches; and James and William Fleming, 209 acres.
John Fleming purchased this warrant from John Mechlin on 8 April 1790 and later sold/transferred this property to his sons Alexander, James, and William. Alexander sold his property to Alexander Barclay. William Fleming left his property to his sons, James and William, in his will. William's sons, James and William, later sold their property to John Barclay.
John Fleming's son, James Fleming, sold 24 acres to Archibald Coleman in 1840. He died in 1844 and left his property to his sons, James, William, and Eli. Eli sold his interest to his brothers, James and William who patented their property in 1854. James Fleming, Jr. died in 1898 and his property was sold to pay his debts but William's property remained in his family.
The following survey shows this land that James Fleming and his brother, William Fleming, patented in 1854.
James Fleming wrote his will on 6 February 1844 and it was probated on 16 February 1844. His will mentions his wife Nancy and the children listed above.
Nancy Clawson Fleming married a neighbor, David Davis (1785-1855), sometime between 1844 and 1850 when she appears with him in the census along with her son, Wm. Fleming, and her daughter, Nancy J. Fleming in Black Lick Township, Indiana County.
David Davis 65 Farmer
Nancy Davis 52
James Davis 27
Nancy Davis 19
Wm. Fleming 21
Nancy J. Fleming 18
James Wineman 9
James and Nancy Fleming's son, William Fleming, later married Nancy Davis, a daughter of David Davis. David Davis died 31 January 1855. His will mentions his wife, Nancy Davis, and his step daughter, Nancy Jane Fleming.
Nancy appears in the 1860 census with her granddaughter, Nancy J. Householder in Black Lick Township, Indiana County.
Nancy Davis 60
Nancy J. Hausholder 12
Nancy J. Householder was Nancy Davis' granddaughter, the daughter of James Householder and her daughter Eliza Fleming.
Nancy Clawson Fleming Davis died sometime between 16 December 1862 when her will was written and 23 January 1863 when it was probated. She probably died close to the time it was probated. Her will names her son, James Fleming, and her daughter, Nancy Jane Gordon. It also mentions the following granddaughters: Nancy Jane Flemming; Letitia Charlot Householder; Nancy Jane Johnston; Anna Lena Flemming; and Nancy Jane Householder.
Her will states she is is the widow of David Davis. Her bequests to her granddaughters provide the surnames of the men her daughters married. Her granddaughter, Nancy Jane Flemming, was the daughter of her son, James Fleming. Her granddaughters, Nancy Jane and Letitia Charlot Householder, were the daughters of her daughter, Eliza and her husband, James C. Householder. Her granddaughter, Nancy Jane Johnston, was the daughter of her daughter Charlotte and her husband, John Johnston. Her granddaughter, Anna Lena Flemming, was the daughter of her son, William Fleming and Nancy Davis, a daughter of David Davis.
There are not many wills written by women in this time period. She left bequests to some of her older granddaughters rather than her grandsons. Perhaps she was an early feminist.
Monday, June 17, 2019
Captain Eli G. Fleming from Indiana County to Tennessee
Eli G. Fleming, my second great uncle, was a colorful character compared to my other Fleming ancestors. He was frequently in trouble with the law and obviously had a temper. I obtained his pension file while at the National Archives this month. His compiled military service record is available on Fold 3 as well as a general correspondence file showing his many petitions to Congress to have his Civil War service record reversed so he could obtain a pension. According to his pension file, he had many health problems which he attributed to his Civil War service and was penniless at the end of his life.
Eli G. Fleming (abt 1827-1896) was a son of James Fleming (1782-1844) and Nancy Clawson (b. abt 1798 to 1800-d. Dec 1862 to Jan1863). His father left his three sons, James, Eli G. and William, his land in his will when he died in 1844. Eli sold his portion to his brothers, James and William, on 16 March 1852 in Conemaugh Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania for $1000. According to The Indiana Weekly Messenger (Indiana, Pennsylvania) dated 9 May 1888, he sued his brother James Fleming but the suit was later settled. It is not known what the suit was about.
Eli appears with his wife Elizabeth in the 1860 census in Warren County, Tennessee, with a post office address of McMinnville. He enlists in the Civil War as a captain in Company F, 5th Tennessee Cavalry on 24 July 1862. He was court marshaled on 23 January 1863 and sentenced to death for shooting and wounding his commanding officer, Colonel William B. Stokes, in the leg after an altercation over his candidacy for major in a regimental election and over charges of being absent without leave. The sentence was later reduced to dismissal from service by General Rosecrans but his name appears on a muster out roll for his company on 25 June 1865. The book, The Papers of Andrew Johnson: 1862-1864, states "Both before and after his Army service, Captain Fleming was a scout and guide for Union commanders operating in Warren and adjacent counties." The book, Homegrown Yankees: Tennessee's Union Cavalry in the Civil War, also mentions Captain Eli G. Fleming and Colonel William B. Stokes.
Captain Eli G. Fleming ran against Colonel William B. Stokes in the election for Congress in Tennessee's Third Congressional District in 1867. The book, Tennessee's Radical Army: The State Guard and Its Role in Reconstruction, describes the acrimonious election between them. Stokes accused Fleming of trying to assassinate him and Fleming accused the militia of trying to kill him. Colonel Stokes won the election.
He had two children by his first wife, Mary Elizabeth Bradford, whom he married about 1856 in Tennessee. They had two sons, James T. (1861-1912) and William Bradford (1864-1926). Mary Elizabeth separated from him in 1867 and divorced him in October, 1868. She gave an affidavit on 7 December 1891while living in Dallas, Texas that is in his Civil War pension file. She died in Dallas on 28 February 1911. According to the newspaper, The Tennessean (Nashville, Tennessee) dated 8 March 1874, Captain E. G. Fleming became intoxicated on "busthead whiskey" and "forcibly entered the residence of Mrs. Lizzie Fleming...and taking all the china and glassware from her table, together with some articles of silverware, highly prized as souvenirs of Mrs. Fleming's mother, and tying them up in the tablecloth, swung the same on his shoulder, breaking them and shivering them, mounted his horse, and left town with them. A warrant was procured for his arrest...and Fleming made good his escape."
He had at least two other incidents where he was arrested after the Civil War. According to the newspaper, Nashville Union and American (Nashville, Tennessee) dated 30 September 1869, George Fisher was allegedly stabbed by Capt. E. G. Fleming about 20 September 1869 in Huntsville, Alabama but there were no witnesses to the incident. Capt. Fleming was charged and was bound over for the next term of the Circuit Court. His bail was reduced from $2500 to $1500. No other information is available regarding this incident. According to The Tennessean (Nashville, Tennessee) dated 16 July 1870, Captain E. G. Fleming was placed in the Rutherford County Jail on 11 July 1870 for stabbing Henry Primm, who was his rival for the affections of Betty White, whom he also stabbed. Henry Primm was "colored" and Betty White was a "mulatto girl" with whom he had allegedly "been living on terms of intimacy." No further information is available regarding this incident.
He was living in Murfreesboro, Rutherford County, Tennessee in the 1870 census. He was married to Sallie D. Hoover on 30 April 1872 by Rev. Smith Bolin in Bedford County, Tennessee at her father, Jno P. Hoover's home. He was living in District 1, Bedford County, Tennessee, in the 1880 census with his wife, Sallie, and two children, Lottie and Theodore. Eli and Sallie had three children: Lottie, born about 1874; Belmont or Theodore born about 1878; and Joe Ivie, born 7 March 1886. They were living together as late as 6 October, 1885 when Eli's niece, Nannie Eightney, stated in an affidavit in his pension file that he and his wife with his son were living with her and her parents in Brady, Indiana County, Pennsylvania. Eli's daughter was living with Nannie's brother, Eli Johnson. Nannie said "his wife is hired by the week and he is pennyless. I have let him have five dollars to enable him to prosecute his claim."
He and his wife were divorced on 10 December 1885 in Bedford County, Tennessee. Their son, Joe Ivie, was born after they were divorced. Sallie D. Fleming applied for a Civil War widow's pension on 5 July 1900 but her widow's claim was rejected since she was divorced in 1885. According to The Indiana Progress (Indiana, Pennsylvania) dated 16 June 1887, "...Mrs. E. G. Fleming, now separated from her husband E. G. Fleming and living in Kentucky, desired the possession of her two children, now in the hands of the husband in this county, she accordingly sent a man from Kentucky to capture them..." The alleged kidnap attempt was not successful.
He applied for an invalid pension on 13 October 1885 claiming he was disabled since he "was injured in the right leg by riding eleven days in succession, below Nashville, in pursuit of Gen. Wheeler's rebels, exposed to very severe weather, sleeping in the snow, without shelter. Also, on the same scout contracted rheumatism of back, shoulder, and breast." His claim was rejected because "at the specified date of origin of alleged disabilities claimant was willfully disobeying his superior officers and was not in line of duty, as is shown by the record." His repeated attempts to get a pension between 1891 and 1894 were rejected each time. There were three Bills for Relief introduced in the House on his behalf: HR No. 11368 in July 1890; House No. 8624 in May 1892; and House No. 5156 in January 1894. He never received a pension due to his court marshal and the order dismissing him from service.
He lived in Washington, D.C. from about 1890 until at least 1894 when he is listed in a city directory. He worked for the federal government for awhile but more information is not available as to where he worked or for how long. He died on 10 January 1896 according to the application for widow's benefits filed by Sallie D. Fleming and the card record for his headstone provided for deceased Union veterans of the Civil War .
The following timeline was taken from information given by him and others in his pension file:
was a grocery merchant prior to his enlistment
lived in Murfreesboro, Rutherford County, Tennessee from January, 1863 to 1870
lived in Bedford County from 1870 to 1885 (Post Office Bell Buckle) where he lost several crops due to his disability contracted in the service
was in mercantile business from latter part of 1863 to spring of 1865
grew cotton on the East Fork of Stones River in Rutherford County, Tennessee from the spring of 1865 and continued farming until 1869
went to Alabama four miles from Huntsville and put in 600 acres of cotton in that State (1869)
after above crop was gathered lived in Rutherford and Bedford Counties, Tennessee (sometimes in Rutherford County and sometimes in Bedford County near the line of the two counties; lived on rented land and hired labor and farmed but did not do the work himself
moved to Indiana County, Pennsylvania in March, 1885
lived with Charlotte and John Johnson, (sister and brother-in-law) and niece, Nannie Eightney, from 1 April to at least October 1885 in Brady, Indiana County, Pennsylvania
lived with Clark Fleming, second cousin, during winter of 1886-1887 until at least April, 1887 in Atwood, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania
lived in Indiana County, Pennsylvania until June, 1888 when he went to Leavenworth, Kansas
spent the month of June, 1888 in Leavenworth, Kansas
went to Dallas, Texas where he visited his sons and remained there until October, 1889
lived at National Temperance Home, Washington, D.C.; 516 13th St., NW, Washington, D.C.; and 1726 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. from at least 1890 to 1894
Eli G. Fleming (abt 1827-1896) was a son of James Fleming (1782-1844) and Nancy Clawson (b. abt 1798 to 1800-d. Dec 1862 to Jan1863). His father left his three sons, James, Eli G. and William, his land in his will when he died in 1844. Eli sold his portion to his brothers, James and William, on 16 March 1852 in Conemaugh Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania for $1000. According to The Indiana Weekly Messenger (Indiana, Pennsylvania) dated 9 May 1888, he sued his brother James Fleming but the suit was later settled. It is not known what the suit was about.
Eli appears with his wife Elizabeth in the 1860 census in Warren County, Tennessee, with a post office address of McMinnville. He enlists in the Civil War as a captain in Company F, 5th Tennessee Cavalry on 24 July 1862. He was court marshaled on 23 January 1863 and sentenced to death for shooting and wounding his commanding officer, Colonel William B. Stokes, in the leg after an altercation over his candidacy for major in a regimental election and over charges of being absent without leave. The sentence was later reduced to dismissal from service by General Rosecrans but his name appears on a muster out roll for his company on 25 June 1865. The book, The Papers of Andrew Johnson: 1862-1864, states "Both before and after his Army service, Captain Fleming was a scout and guide for Union commanders operating in Warren and adjacent counties." The book, Homegrown Yankees: Tennessee's Union Cavalry in the Civil War, also mentions Captain Eli G. Fleming and Colonel William B. Stokes.
Captain Eli G. Fleming ran against Colonel William B. Stokes in the election for Congress in Tennessee's Third Congressional District in 1867. The book, Tennessee's Radical Army: The State Guard and Its Role in Reconstruction, describes the acrimonious election between them. Stokes accused Fleming of trying to assassinate him and Fleming accused the militia of trying to kill him. Colonel Stokes won the election.
He had two children by his first wife, Mary Elizabeth Bradford, whom he married about 1856 in Tennessee. They had two sons, James T. (1861-1912) and William Bradford (1864-1926). Mary Elizabeth separated from him in 1867 and divorced him in October, 1868. She gave an affidavit on 7 December 1891while living in Dallas, Texas that is in his Civil War pension file. She died in Dallas on 28 February 1911. According to the newspaper, The Tennessean (Nashville, Tennessee) dated 8 March 1874, Captain E. G. Fleming became intoxicated on "busthead whiskey" and "forcibly entered the residence of Mrs. Lizzie Fleming...and taking all the china and glassware from her table, together with some articles of silverware, highly prized as souvenirs of Mrs. Fleming's mother, and tying them up in the tablecloth, swung the same on his shoulder, breaking them and shivering them, mounted his horse, and left town with them. A warrant was procured for his arrest...and Fleming made good his escape."
He had at least two other incidents where he was arrested after the Civil War. According to the newspaper, Nashville Union and American (Nashville, Tennessee) dated 30 September 1869, George Fisher was allegedly stabbed by Capt. E. G. Fleming about 20 September 1869 in Huntsville, Alabama but there were no witnesses to the incident. Capt. Fleming was charged and was bound over for the next term of the Circuit Court. His bail was reduced from $2500 to $1500. No other information is available regarding this incident. According to The Tennessean (Nashville, Tennessee) dated 16 July 1870, Captain E. G. Fleming was placed in the Rutherford County Jail on 11 July 1870 for stabbing Henry Primm, who was his rival for the affections of Betty White, whom he also stabbed. Henry Primm was "colored" and Betty White was a "mulatto girl" with whom he had allegedly "been living on terms of intimacy." No further information is available regarding this incident.
He was living in Murfreesboro, Rutherford County, Tennessee in the 1870 census. He was married to Sallie D. Hoover on 30 April 1872 by Rev. Smith Bolin in Bedford County, Tennessee at her father, Jno P. Hoover's home. He was living in District 1, Bedford County, Tennessee, in the 1880 census with his wife, Sallie, and two children, Lottie and Theodore. Eli and Sallie had three children: Lottie, born about 1874; Belmont or Theodore born about 1878; and Joe Ivie, born 7 March 1886. They were living together as late as 6 October, 1885 when Eli's niece, Nannie Eightney, stated in an affidavit in his pension file that he and his wife with his son were living with her and her parents in Brady, Indiana County, Pennsylvania. Eli's daughter was living with Nannie's brother, Eli Johnson. Nannie said "his wife is hired by the week and he is pennyless. I have let him have five dollars to enable him to prosecute his claim."
He and his wife were divorced on 10 December 1885 in Bedford County, Tennessee. Their son, Joe Ivie, was born after they were divorced. Sallie D. Fleming applied for a Civil War widow's pension on 5 July 1900 but her widow's claim was rejected since she was divorced in 1885. According to The Indiana Progress (Indiana, Pennsylvania) dated 16 June 1887, "...Mrs. E. G. Fleming, now separated from her husband E. G. Fleming and living in Kentucky, desired the possession of her two children, now in the hands of the husband in this county, she accordingly sent a man from Kentucky to capture them..." The alleged kidnap attempt was not successful.
He applied for an invalid pension on 13 October 1885 claiming he was disabled since he "was injured in the right leg by riding eleven days in succession, below Nashville, in pursuit of Gen. Wheeler's rebels, exposed to very severe weather, sleeping in the snow, without shelter. Also, on the same scout contracted rheumatism of back, shoulder, and breast." His claim was rejected because "at the specified date of origin of alleged disabilities claimant was willfully disobeying his superior officers and was not in line of duty, as is shown by the record." His repeated attempts to get a pension between 1891 and 1894 were rejected each time. There were three Bills for Relief introduced in the House on his behalf: HR No. 11368 in July 1890; House No. 8624 in May 1892; and House No. 5156 in January 1894. He never received a pension due to his court marshal and the order dismissing him from service.
He lived in Washington, D.C. from about 1890 until at least 1894 when he is listed in a city directory. He worked for the federal government for awhile but more information is not available as to where he worked or for how long. He died on 10 January 1896 according to the application for widow's benefits filed by Sallie D. Fleming and the card record for his headstone provided for deceased Union veterans of the Civil War .
The following timeline was taken from information given by him and others in his pension file:
was a grocery merchant prior to his enlistment
lived in Murfreesboro, Rutherford County, Tennessee from January, 1863 to 1870
lived in Bedford County from 1870 to 1885 (Post Office Bell Buckle) where he lost several crops due to his disability contracted in the service
was in mercantile business from latter part of 1863 to spring of 1865
grew cotton on the East Fork of Stones River in Rutherford County, Tennessee from the spring of 1865 and continued farming until 1869
went to Alabama four miles from Huntsville and put in 600 acres of cotton in that State (1869)
after above crop was gathered lived in Rutherford and Bedford Counties, Tennessee (sometimes in Rutherford County and sometimes in Bedford County near the line of the two counties; lived on rented land and hired labor and farmed but did not do the work himself
moved to Indiana County, Pennsylvania in March, 1885
lived with Charlotte and John Johnson, (sister and brother-in-law) and niece, Nannie Eightney, from 1 April to at least October 1885 in Brady, Indiana County, Pennsylvania
lived with Clark Fleming, second cousin, during winter of 1886-1887 until at least April, 1887 in Atwood, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania
lived in Indiana County, Pennsylvania until June, 1888 when he went to Leavenworth, Kansas
spent the month of June, 1888 in Leavenworth, Kansas
went to Dallas, Texas where he visited his sons and remained there until October, 1889
lived at National Temperance Home, Washington, D.C.; 516 13th St., NW, Washington, D.C.; and 1726 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. from at least 1890 to 1894
Sunday, July 15, 2018
Where Is Daniel McCoy's Family Bible?
There was a notation in Daniel McCoy's Revolutionary War pension file for Hon. A. Drum, 23 August 1854, but there were no letters to him or from him in the file. The Historical Society of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia holds a box of papers for Augustus Drum who was an attorney from Greensburg, Pennsylvania and served one term in Congress (March, 1853-March, 1855). Since I was visiting family at the end of June in Maryland and Pennsylvania, I decided to see if the Augustus Drum papers would yield any further information on Daniel McCoy.
There were two letters to Augustus Drum asking for his help since the surviving children of Daniel McCoy believed there was money owed to their deceased father from his Revolutionary War pension.
The first letter was from James McCreay, Shelocta, Indiana County, Pennsylvania and was dated 30 June 1854. He stated in his letter that there were two surviving children of Daniel McCoy, his mother, Mary McCreay, and Joseph McCoy. It also states that there is a family Bible.
The second letter was from James Gordon, Indiana County, Pennsylvania and was dated 25 April 1854. He states that Daniel McCoy's son, Joseph McCoy, believes there is money owed to his deceased father from his Revolutionary War pension.
Although Daniel McCoy had at least three daughters based on the early census records, Mary is the only child for whom we have a baptism record. We know from the first letter that Mary married a man named McCreay and had a son James McCreay. The 1850 census lists a Samuel McCreay with a wife Polly (Polly was a nickname for Mary) and a son James in Plum Creek Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania.
Samuel McCrea 78 born Ireland
Polly 68 born Pennsylvania
James 30 Laborer
One of the trees on Ancestry.com lists the following daughters of Daniel McCoy but does not list any source(s) for the information: Mary married to Samuel McCreasy, Margaret married to James McCain, and Nancy married to Nicholas Gordon. Mary was married to a McCreay and there was a Samuel McCrea in 1850 in Plum Creek Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania where Daniel McCoy was living in the 1820 census. The name Samuel McCreasy is very similiar to Samuel McCreay. The letter from James McCreay supports the information in this tree for Daniel McCoy's daughter Mary.
The second letter was from James Gordon. Daniel McCoy's daughter Nancy was supposedly married to a Nicholas Gordon but no census or other record can be located for a Nicholas Gordon in Armstrong or Indiana County. It is interesting that James Gordon's surname is the same as that given for the husband of Daniel McCoy's unproven daughter Nancy.
There was a James McKean (similiar to McCain) living in Plum Creek Township in 1820 where Daniel McCoy was living.
I contacted the owner of the family tree on Ancestry.com but she had been given the information by someone and did not have a source for the information. Since the first letter states there is a family Bible, one can only hope that maybe someone reading this blog will know if it still exists and where a copy of it is available.
There were two letters to Augustus Drum asking for his help since the surviving children of Daniel McCoy believed there was money owed to their deceased father from his Revolutionary War pension.
The first letter was from James McCreay, Shelocta, Indiana County, Pennsylvania and was dated 30 June 1854. He stated in his letter that there were two surviving children of Daniel McCoy, his mother, Mary McCreay, and Joseph McCoy. It also states that there is a family Bible.
The second letter was from James Gordon, Indiana County, Pennsylvania and was dated 25 April 1854. He states that Daniel McCoy's son, Joseph McCoy, believes there is money owed to his deceased father from his Revolutionary War pension.
Although Daniel McCoy had at least three daughters based on the early census records, Mary is the only child for whom we have a baptism record. We know from the first letter that Mary married a man named McCreay and had a son James McCreay. The 1850 census lists a Samuel McCreay with a wife Polly (Polly was a nickname for Mary) and a son James in Plum Creek Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania.
Samuel McCrea 78 born Ireland
Polly 68 born Pennsylvania
James 30 Laborer
One of the trees on Ancestry.com lists the following daughters of Daniel McCoy but does not list any source(s) for the information: Mary married to Samuel McCreasy, Margaret married to James McCain, and Nancy married to Nicholas Gordon. Mary was married to a McCreay and there was a Samuel McCrea in 1850 in Plum Creek Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania where Daniel McCoy was living in the 1820 census. The name Samuel McCreasy is very similiar to Samuel McCreay. The letter from James McCreay supports the information in this tree for Daniel McCoy's daughter Mary.
The second letter was from James Gordon. Daniel McCoy's daughter Nancy was supposedly married to a Nicholas Gordon but no census or other record can be located for a Nicholas Gordon in Armstrong or Indiana County. It is interesting that James Gordon's surname is the same as that given for the husband of Daniel McCoy's unproven daughter Nancy.
There was a James McKean (similiar to McCain) living in Plum Creek Township in 1820 where Daniel McCoy was living.
I contacted the owner of the family tree on Ancestry.com but she had been given the information by someone and did not have a source for the information. Since the first letter states there is a family Bible, one can only hope that maybe someone reading this blog will know if it still exists and where a copy of it is available.
Saturday, July 14, 2018
Participation of Harry W. Rowland in Company F (Indiana County), 110th Pennsylvania Infantry in World War 1
Harry W. Rowland enlisted in the 10th Pennsylvania National Guard unit (Company F) located in Indiana, Pennsylvania on May 7, 1917. The 10th Pennsylvania National Guard Regiment was mobilized on Sunday, July 15 and mustered into federal service on July 16. It became part of the of the United States Army on August 5. On Friday, September 7, the Regiment departed for Camp Hancock, Georgia for training purposes. The 10th Pennsylvania National Guard Regiment became part of the 110th Pennsylvania Infantry on October 11, 1917, a part of the 28th Division (known as the Keystone Division) of the American Expeditionary Force. A Short History and Illustrated Roster of the 110th Infantry is available on Google Books. It has pictures of all the officers and enlisted men. The following picture is that of Harry W. Rowland in this book.
The Regiment left Camp Hancock on April 24, 1918 for Camp Merritt in New Jersey where they received their equipment and their final physical examinations. On May 2 the Regiment went to Hoboken, New Jersey where they boarded four ships: the Corsican, Demosthenes, The City of Calcutta, and Ansonia. Harry W. Rowland boarded the Corsican along with other members of Company F. The Corsican sailed on May 3, 1918 for Europe. The Army Transport lists are available on Ancestry.com. The easiest way to access them is to enter Army Transport as a keyword search in the card catalog. The following page shows Harry W. Rowland's name on the Corsican Army Transport list.
The troops on the Corsican debarked at Liverpool on May 17 and left Dover for Calais, France on May 19. They received training from both the British and the French before being placed in the front lines on July 4. The History of the 110th Pennsylvania Infantry gives a detailed record of the unit's participation in World War 1. It is available on https://archive.org to search and download. It also lists all the officers and enlisted men in the 110th Pennsylvania Infantry. Individual service records for many World War 1 veterans were destroyed in the fire in St. Louis, Missouri in 1973. It is possible to know where a soldier was during the war if one knows what unit he was in. The above book lists all the officers and enlisted men in the 110th Pennsylvania Infantry with additional information on them. The following entry is for Harry W. Rowland on page 268.
ROWLAND, HARRY W. (1240653) Cpl. Co. F; Disch. May 23, '19; (75-17) Indiana, Pa.
The war ended when the armistice was signed on November 11, 1918 at 11 am. Company F with the 110th Pennsylvania Infantry remained in France and Germany and became part of the Army of Occupation until they returned home in May, 1919. Harry W. Rowland left St. Nazaire, France on April 29, 1919 on the Santa Olivia and arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on May 12, 1919 with other members of Company F (see Army Transport lists on Ancestry.com). He was discharged from Camp Dix New Jersey, on May 23, 1919. The 28th Division (Keystone Division) had a Welcome Home Parade in Philadelphia on May 15, 1919 that over two million people watched.
Harry W. Rowland's discharge papers, application for a victory medal in 1922, and application for veteran's compensation from Pennsylvania in 1934 listed the following engagements he participated in: Champagne-Marne Defensive from July 15 to July 18, 1918; Aisne-Marne Offensive from July 18 to August 6, 1918; Fismens Sector, August 7 to August 17, 1918; Oise-Aisne Offensive from August 18 to September 8, 1918; Meuse-Argonne Offensive from September 26 to October 9, 1918; and Thiacourt Sector from October 15 to November 11, 1918.
The applications of Pennsylvania men that participated in World War I for a victory medal and for veteran's compensation are available on Ancestry.com.
The Regiment left Camp Hancock on April 24, 1918 for Camp Merritt in New Jersey where they received their equipment and their final physical examinations. On May 2 the Regiment went to Hoboken, New Jersey where they boarded four ships: the Corsican, Demosthenes, The City of Calcutta, and Ansonia. Harry W. Rowland boarded the Corsican along with other members of Company F. The Corsican sailed on May 3, 1918 for Europe. The Army Transport lists are available on Ancestry.com. The easiest way to access them is to enter Army Transport as a keyword search in the card catalog. The following page shows Harry W. Rowland's name on the Corsican Army Transport list.
The troops on the Corsican debarked at Liverpool on May 17 and left Dover for Calais, France on May 19. They received training from both the British and the French before being placed in the front lines on July 4. The History of the 110th Pennsylvania Infantry gives a detailed record of the unit's participation in World War 1. It is available on https://archive.org to search and download. It also lists all the officers and enlisted men in the 110th Pennsylvania Infantry. Individual service records for many World War 1 veterans were destroyed in the fire in St. Louis, Missouri in 1973. It is possible to know where a soldier was during the war if one knows what unit he was in. The above book lists all the officers and enlisted men in the 110th Pennsylvania Infantry with additional information on them. The following entry is for Harry W. Rowland on page 268.
ROWLAND, HARRY W. (1240653) Cpl. Co. F; Disch. May 23, '19; (75-17) Indiana, Pa.
The war ended when the armistice was signed on November 11, 1918 at 11 am. Company F with the 110th Pennsylvania Infantry remained in France and Germany and became part of the Army of Occupation until they returned home in May, 1919. Harry W. Rowland left St. Nazaire, France on April 29, 1919 on the Santa Olivia and arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on May 12, 1919 with other members of Company F (see Army Transport lists on Ancestry.com). He was discharged from Camp Dix New Jersey, on May 23, 1919. The 28th Division (Keystone Division) had a Welcome Home Parade in Philadelphia on May 15, 1919 that over two million people watched.
Harry W. Rowland's discharge papers, application for a victory medal in 1922, and application for veteran's compensation from Pennsylvania in 1934 listed the following engagements he participated in: Champagne-Marne Defensive from July 15 to July 18, 1918; Aisne-Marne Offensive from July 18 to August 6, 1918; Fismens Sector, August 7 to August 17, 1918; Oise-Aisne Offensive from August 18 to September 8, 1918; Meuse-Argonne Offensive from September 26 to October 9, 1918; and Thiacourt Sector from October 15 to November 11, 1918.
The applications of Pennsylvania men that participated in World War I for a victory medal and for veteran's compensation are available on Ancestry.com.
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