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16

Most Wanted Greathouse / Harman Greathouse of Wharton Township, Fayette County, PA

« on: April 21, 2010, 05:37:41 PM »

A Harman Greathouse first appeared in Wharton Township, Fayette County, PA, when he was named on the tax list of said county in 1785.

1785 – Tax Lists: Wharton Township
Greathouse, Harman; amount of tax: 1.10 1/2

Source: http://www.footnote.com/image/#3078503

Determining A Time Period of Birth for Harman Greathouse

Based upon the 1785 tax list, an upper limit for the time period of Harman's birth can be determined.

If Harman Greathouse was age 21 or over, when he was named on this tax list, then he would have been born about 1764 or before, which suggests an upper limit for the time period of his birth.

Based upon another event which occurred in 1777, prior to Harman Greathouse being named on the 1785 tax list, a lower limit for the time period of Harman's birth can be determined.

The Pennsylvania Militia was organized under an Act of the Assembly of March 17, 1777 that required compulsory enrollment by constables of all able-bodied white males between the ages of 18 and 53 to repel invaders.

If Harman Greathouse served in the militia, then he would have been born about 1759 or before.

If Harman Greathouse did not serve in the militia, then he would have been born about 1760 or later.

At this time, no records have been discovered which would suggest that this Harman Greathouse served in the militia, therefore a reasonable time period for his birth would be between 1760 and 1764.

Determining Where Harman Greathouse Came From

An article from Penn in Hand, Vol. 21, no. 2 - - June 2000, Tax Records and their Cousins: The PA Septennial Census, online: http://www.genpa.org/research_taxrecords.html, states:

Tax lists can be very helpful in establishing the comings and goings of individuals. When someone “disappears” from a particular township’s list, it ordinarily means the person either died or moved elsewhere.

Conversely, when someone first appears on a particular township's list, it ordinarily means the person either moved in to the township from elsewhere or that a son of a resident of the township, came of age to move out on his own, either as a resident of said township or perhaps as a resident of a township in an adjacent county.

The appearance of Harman Greathouse in said township and county in 1785 suggests that he either moved in to the township from elsewhere or that as a son of either a resident of the township or a nearby township, perhaps even in an adjacent county, he had come of age to move out on his own.

There appears to be no records for a Harman Greathouse, which suggest that he would have been residing elsewhere, prior to 1785, so until records are found which would suggest that was the case, it would be more reasonable to investigate whether or not Harman could have been a son of either a resident of the township or a nearby township, perhaps even in an adjacent county.

Determining Which Greathouse Residents Of The Area Could Have Been The Father Of Harman Greathouse

The following Greathouse ancestors were known to have been living in the stated township or in a township in an adjacent county by 1785:

1) Mary Morris Greathouse, who had married Andrew McCreary in 1780, after the death of her husband, Daniel Greathouse in late 1777 or early 1778, appears to have been residing with her husband, Andrew McCreary, who was taxed as resident of Wharton Township in 1785. Source: http://www.footnote.com/image/#3078505

The court case recorded in Bourbon County, KY, Gabriel Greathouse vs Andrew McCreary, Mary McCreary, Richard Morris and others, strongly suggests that Gabriel Greathouse was the son and soul heir of the estate of Daniel Greathouse, deceased. So Daniel Greathouse would not have been a plausible candidate to have been the father of Harman Greathouse.

2) Elizabeth Greathouse, born about 1741, probably in Philadelphia. She had married Jonathan Hill about 1779?. She appears to have been residing with her husband, Jonathan Hill, who was taxed as a resident of Wharton Township, on the same page as Harman Greathouse in 1785. Source: http://www.footnote.com/image/#3078503

Additional questions regarding Elizabeth: Was she the sister of William Greathouse Senior of Turkeyfoot Township, Bedford County, PA? Or was she perhaps his niece, the daughter of William's brother, John Greathouse, who died in Philadelphia, about 1750?

3) William Greathouse Senior was taxed as a resident of Turkeyfoot Township, Bedford County, PA in 1785, where he had been taxed as a resident of Brothersvalley from 1771-1773; as a resident of Turkeyfoot Township from 1774-1776, 1779, 1783 and 1785. William Greathouse Senior's will which was probated in Harrison County, VA in 1792, did not name Harman Greathouse as a son, so he would probably not be a candidate for Harman Greathouse's father.

4) William Greathouse Junior was taxed as a resident of Turkeyfoot Township, Bedford County, PA in 1785, owning 400 acres of land, while in 1783 he was taxed as a non-resident of the township owning 150 acres of land. So between 1783 and 1785, William Greathouse Junior appears to have moved to said township and county from elsewhere. He was named as a son in the will of his father, William Greathouse Senior, which was probated in Harrison County, VA in 1792.

Considering that five individuals who were named in the will of William Greathouse Senior of Harrison County, VA, were also named in the records of St. Michael's Lutheran Church at Germantown, Philadelphia County, PA; it would be reasonable and plausible to conclude that William Greathouse Junior would have been the son who was born to William Grothaus, an unmarried young man with Anna Maria Puppin on 2 Aug 1748, whose birth and baptism was recorded at St. Michael's Lutheran Church, Germantown, PA.
 
William Greathouse Junior, born 2 Aug 1748, would have been age 12-16 between 1760 and 1764, when Harman Greathouse would have been born. William Junior's step-mother married his father between the age of 15 and 16. If William Greathouse Junior married at the age of 15 or 16, then he would have married between 1763 and 1764.

He would have been age 17 in 1765, about when Michael Greathouse was born. [Micheal was not named as a son in the will of William Greathouse Senior of Harrison County, VA]

He would have been age 27 in 1775, when John Leonard Greathouse was born to a William & Maria Grothaus of Plainfield Township, Northampton County, PA. John Leonard Greathouse appears to have been name saked after Leonhardt Beyer who along with his wife sponsored the baptism of John Leonard Greathouse. A Leonard Greathouse married Sarah Parsons on 8 Nov 1801, in Harrison County, VA.

The paths of the Beyers, Greathouses, Pauls and Schutz may have first crossed in Philadelphia. Leonhardt Beyer witnessed the marriage of Friedrich Paul in Philadelphia. From Hannah Benner Roach's work,  Jonathan Paul was the trustee of a school, which may have been built by Michael Schutz. Michael Schutz, after recovering from an illness and lamenting about Jonathan Paul's death, was compelled to write his own last will and testament, shortly before the marriage of his daugther, Barbara to William Greathouse Senior.

He would have been age 30-33 between 1780 and 1783, when his daughter Rohanah Greathouse was born. Rohanah Greathouse married John Stackhouse on 11 Oct 1798, in Harrison County, VA. Also between 1780 and 1783, a William Greathouse was serving as a Corporal in Captain Lewis Stacher's Company of Plainfield Township, Northampton County, PA Militia.

Therefore, William Greathouse Junior would be a plausible candidate to have been the father of Harman Greathouse, born about 1764 and Michael Greathouse, born about 1765.

This scenario becomes even more plausible when the 1799 court case from Harrison County, VA, Nathaniel Adam vs Harman Greathouse, is considered... where John McCollough, who married Barbara Akert, a grand-daughter of William Greathouse Senior, was summoned in court to prove that he was not holding land or other assets from the estate of William and Barbara Greathouse deceased, which had been promised to the plaintiff in the case. John McCollough then had the court issue a summons for Michael Greathouse to appear in court to prove the same. The court case does not mention why Harman Greathouse was sued as the lead defendant in the case, but it would be reasonable to conclude that he was sued for similar cause, where the plaintiff believed that Harman Greathouse was holding land or other assets from the estate of William and Barbara Greathouse, deceased, which had been promised to the plaintiff, Nathaniel Adams.

Neither Harman Greathouse, born about 1764, nor Michael Greathouse, born about 1765, were named as sons in the will of William Greathouse Senior which was probated in Harrison County, VA in 1792, so perhaps, in this case, Nathaniel Adams caused three grandchildren of William and Barbara Greathouse, deceased, to appear in court, to prove they were not holding land or other assets, which Nathaniel Adams believed had been promised to him, by either William or Barbara Greathouse, deceased or the executors of their estate.

If Harman Greathouse, born about 1764 and Michael Greathouse, born about 1765, were grandsons of William and Barbara Greathouse, deceased, of Harrison County, VA, then which of their sons could have been the father of Harman Greathouse and Michael Greathouse?

a) William Greathouse Junior, born 2 Aug 1748, was perhaps married by 1763 or 1764 and was named as son in the will of William Greathouse Senior, which was probated in Harrison County, VA in 1792. -- Plausible.

b) John Greathouse, born 1756, was named on tax lists of Bedford County, PA as a "single freemen" for the years 1783 and 1785. He married Milly Gillaspy on 8 Apr 1793, in Harrison County, VA. -- Not plausible.

c) Gabriel Greathouse, born about 1769. He married Nancy Hustead about 1789 in Harrison County, VA. -- Not Plausible.

5) John Greathouse was taxed as single freemen in Turkeyfoot Township, Bedford County, PA in 1783 and 1785. A “single freemen” list was composed of unmarried men (usually age 21 and above). He would not be a plausible candidate to have been the father of Harman Greathouse.

Determining The Migration Path of Harman Greathouse of Wharton Township, Fayette County, PA

In 1787, a Harman Greathouse was taxed in Washington County, Fayette County, which would be near present day Belle Vernon, PA.

17

Most Wanted Greathouse / William Greathouse of Plainfield Township, Northampton County, PA

« on: February 20, 2010, 03:11:54 PM »

A William Grothaus has been documented to have been a resident of Plainfield Township, Northampton County, PA, from, at least, 1775 through Sep 1783, when he either died in said township, or he may have moved elsewhere.

See: Greathouse of Plainfield Township, Northampton County, PA.

His wife was named as Maria, in his son's, John Leonard, baptismal record which was recorded to have occurred on 5 Nov 1775, in the records of Plainfield Reformed Church, of said township.

..

1775, Sep 10 - Plainfield Township: Plainfield Reformed Church Records:

Entries by the Rev. John Wm. Weber, Sept. 1772 - May 1783.

John Leonard, son of William & Maria Grothaus, b. 10 Sep 1775, bap. 5 Nov 1775; Sponsors: Leonard Bayer [Johann Leonhart Beyer] & wife.

..

The question is... if he moved elsewhere, where did he move to?

So we are looking for a William Greathouse, who would have appeared in the records of the county he moved to, after 1783. We would also be looking for records, in which his wife, Maria; son, John Leonard; and any other children this couple may have had, whom perhaps were not documented in the county of origin, in this case, Plainfield Township, Northampton County, PA.

An article from Penn in Hand, Vol. 21, no. 2 - - June 2000, Tax Records and their Cousins: The PA Septennial Census, online: http://www.genpa.org/research_taxrecords.html, states:

..

Tax lists can be very helpful in establishing the comings and goings of individuals. When someone “disappears” from a particular township’s list, it ordinarily means the person either died or moved elsewhere.

..

Conversely, when someone first appears on a particular township's list, it ordinarily means the person either moved in to the township from elsewhere or that a son of a resident of the township, came of age to move out on his own, either as a resident of said township or perhaps as a resident of a township in an adjacent county.

Also, in 1783... a second William Greathouse appeared in Turkeyfoot Township, Bedford County, PA, where he paid taxes upon 150 acres of land in said township, as a non-resident freeholder. While the first William Greathouse, whom was known to have been a resident of said township from 1774-1776, 1779 and 1783, paid taxes upon 200 acres of land in said township, as a resident freeholder.

See: Greathouse of Bedford County, PA

The same article from Penn in Hand, defines the following terms which are typically found in those early colonial PA tax lists:

..

The Colonial and early 19th century lists were usually divided into several lists – one of property owners, usually dubbed “freeholders”; another of married renters heading households, called “inmates”; and a “single freemen” list composed of unmarried men (usually age 21 and above). At times the best proof of an individual’s marriage may be when the groom moves from “single freeman” to “inmate.”

[Freeholder - married males who owned land/property in a township.

Inmate - married males who rented land and owned property in a township.

Single Freemen - unmarried males, usually age 21 and above, who owned land/property in a township.]

..

By 1785, both William Greathouses were taxed as resident freeholders upon 400 acres of land, each, in Turkeyfoot Township, Bedford County, PA.

..

1785 - Tax List: Turkeyfoot Township

Frederick Achor
Wm Greathouse, acres: 400.
William Greathouse, acres: 400.
John Greathouse, single freemen.

..

So it appears that the second William Greathouse who was a non-resident freeholder of the township in 1783, had moved to the township by 1785, where he had increased the amount of land he owned, from 150 acres to 400 acres, between 1783 and 1785.

By 1787, William Greathouse Sr., William Greathouse Jr., John Greathouse and Frederick Akert, all residents of Turkeyfoot Township, Bedford County, PA in 1785, had moved to Harrison County, VA, where they were each taxed as residents of said county, in said year.

See: Greathouse of Harrison County, WV

..

1787 - Tax List: Return of Nicholas Carpenter, Comm., Harrison County, VA

Jun 6 - Ackert, Frederick; white males age over 21 [born 1766 or before]; horses: 7; cattle: 4.
Jun 6 - John Greathouse; white males age over 21 [born 1766 or before, named in Ackert's household].
May 24 - Greathouse, Wm; white males age over 21 [born 1766 or before]; white male age 16-21: 1 [born between 1766 - 1771]; horses: 2; cattle: 1.
Jun 6 - Greathouse, William; white males age over 21 [born 1766 or before]; horses: 3; cattle: 6.

..

Regarding William Greathouse Jr., he was named as such, starting with one of the earliest known records for Greathouse in Harrison County, VA.

..

1786, Oct - Petition To Work Out Taxes And Build A Good Road From The State Road To The Mouth Of Little Kanawha
John Greathouse
William Jr. Greathouse

..

He was named as a son/heir in his father's, William Greathouse Sr.'s will:

I also give and bequeath unto my son William & Daughter Mary the value of the two above mentioned guns to be divided betweeen them & paid to them in property.

which was recorded in Harrison County Court on 16 Jan 1792:

..

1792, Jan 16 - Harrison County Court

This day the last will and testament of William Greathouse deceased was produced in Court and proven by the oath of Owen Davee and Joseph Skelton witnesses thereto and the same is ordered to be recorded.

..

He appears to have used the Jr. suffix while his father was living in the county from 1786 through the death of his father, William Greathouse Sr., in 1792. In what appears to have been the first record created by William Jr., in the county, after his father's death, he was not named as William Greathouse Jr., but rather as William Greathouse:

..

1792, May 22 - Harrison County Court:
Ordered that William Greathouses Mark and Brand be recorded, which is as followeth, to wit, Mark - crop off of the right ear and 2 slits in the left Ear. Brand - W G H.

..

In the 1793 tax list for Harrison County, VA, a William Greathouse was taxed with two (2) titheable males in his household, who were age over 16.

..

1793 - Personal Property Tax List, Return of Benjamin Coplin, Comm., Harrison County, VA
Feb 9 - Graithous, William; white males age 16 or over: 2; horses: 1.

..

If one of his sons had become age over 16, in 1793, then that son would have been born about 1777, or before. This record also suggests that a marriage between a Greathouse male and another resident in the county, or elsewhere, could be expected, in the near future. Aside from the marriage of William Jr.'s brother, John Greathouse to Milly Gillaspy on 8 Apr 1793, the next marriage which involved a Greathouse male in the county, occurred on 8 Nov 1801. More information about that marriage, will be shared later.

A William Greathouse Jr./William Greathouse was taxed as a resident and head of household in Harrison County, VA, continuously year after year, from 1787 through 1803, except for the 1799 tax list, upon which he was not named as a resident of the county.

For the years 1792 through 1796, He was taxed in the same district as John and Gabriel Greathouse and then again from 1800 through 1803. While from 1797 through 1798, he was taxed in the same district as Michael Greathouse, the Husteds and the Stackhouses. In 1799, he could have been the 2nd male titheable, age over 16, in Michael Greathouse's household.

..

1799 - Tax List: Return of Joseph Davidson, Comm., Harrison County, VA

Apr 2 - Greatehouse, Michael; white males age over 16: 2; horses: 2.

..

This Michael Greathouse appeared on tax lists of the county, in the same district as William Jr, John and Gabriel Greathouse from 1789 through 1792, when he appears to have moved to the same district as the Husteds and Stackhouses, between 1792 and 1793. He was taxed in the same district as the Husteds and the Stackhouses from 1793 through 1800, except for 1797, when he was not named on any tax lists of the county.

Again, between 1796 and 1797, a William Greathouse appears to have moved into the same district as Michael Greathouse, the Husteds and the Stackhouses, because he was taxed in the same district as they were, for the years 1797 and 1798 and he may have been the second titheable male counted in the household of Michael Greathouse in 1799.

It has been reported that this Michael Greathouse married Nancy Husted on 12 Oct 1792, although the source for their marriage is unknown. Michael Greathouse's eldest known son, Moses was born in 1794. So Michael would not have had any sons age 16 or over by 1799.

Also, this Michael Greathouse was not named as a son/heir in the will of William Greathouse Sr., deceased, when the will was probated in said county, in 1792. He first appeared as a head of household on tax lists of the county in 1789. If he was age 21 or over in that year, then he would have been born about 1768 or before. Based on the 1830 census of Harrison County, VA, this Michael Greathouse was age 60-70, so he would have been born between 1760 and 1770.

Regarding the children of William Greathouse Jr., there does not appear to be any evidence available in Harrison County, VA, suggesting whom any of his children may have been, until 1798... when he was taxed as a resident of the same district as Michael Greathouse, the Husteds and the Stackhouses, where in the marriage bond of Rohanah Greathouse and John Stackhouse, Rohanah was named as the daughter of William Greathouse.

..

1798, Oct 8 - Marriage Bond: Rehonah [Rohanah] Greathouse married John Stackhouse

Know all men by these presents that we John Stackhouse and David Caldwell of the county of Harrison & State of Virginia are held and firmly bound to James Wood Esq. present Governr of this Comin the and his Liufsers in the sum of $150 which payment will & hereby to made we bind our Selves our heirs, exers and admins firmly by these presents witness our hands and Seals this 8th day of Oct 1798 and 23rd year of the Com.

The condition of this obligation is such that should there be no lawful cause to obstruct a marriage intended between the above bound John Stackhouse and Rehonah[Rohanah] Greathouse daughter of William Greathouse of said county then this obligation to be paid els to remain in full force.

John (his mark) Stackhouse
David Calwell

Test
Benjamin Wilson Clk

..

Regarding the wife of William Greathouse Jr., there does not appear to be any references in records of Harrison County, VA, which names the wife of William Greathouse Jr., until 28 Feb 1799, when a William Greathouse and his wife, Mary, sold land to George Roby:

..

1799, Feb 28 - Deed: William and Mary Greathouse to George Roby [ Page 1 | Page 2 ]

William Greathouse and his wife Mary sold 100 acres of land on Coplin Run, Harrison Co., WV to George Roby.

..

Regarding the marriage of a Greathouse male which occurred on 8 Nov 1801, there does not appear to be any records which would suggest that there was a [John] Leonard Greathouse in Harrison County, VA, until 8 Nov 1801, when a Leonard Greathouse was named in his marriage bond with Sarah Parsons of said county.

..

1801, Nov 8 - Marriage: Leonard Greathouse to Sarah Parsons

Know all men by these presents that we Leonard Greathouse and John Corzad of Harrison County are held and firmly bound unto James Wood in the sum of $150 which payment will and truly to be made and we bind our selves our heirs, executors also firmly by these presents witness our hands and Seals this 8th day of November 1801.

The condition of the above obligation is such that should there be no lawful cause to obstruct a marriage intended between Leonard Greathouse and Sarah Parsons of said county then this obligation to be void els to remain in full force and virtue.

Leonard Greathouse
John Corzad

Teste
Ben Wilson, CHC

..

Therefore, it does appear that the William & Maria Grothaus and son, John Leonard of Plainfield Township, Northampton County, PA, could have moved to Turkeyfoot, Bedford County, PA between 1783 and 1785, and then moved to Harrison County, VA with his father, William Greathouse Sr., between 1785 and 1786.

If that would be the case, then William Greathouse Sr., his wife Barbara, his son William and their son John, all of Harrison County, VA; and their daughter Catharine; would appear to be in common with the similarly named individuals, who were named in the records of Christ Church, Philadelphia, PA and St. Michael's Lutheran Church, Germantown, PA from 1748 through 1757.

18

General Discussion / Greathouse County Update, 20 Feb 2010

« on: February 20, 2010, 02:25:48 PM »

There have been some additions and updates posted for our Greathouse County Project. A summary has been posted on the News page at Greathouse Point.

Of particular interest, would be:

Rev. W. H. Brong, History of Plainfield Reformed Church. The Pennsylvania German, Vol X, No. 7, July 1909.

Brong lists the names of the individuals involved in the catechetical classes 1 through 3 between 1763 and 1767, but after that, he just states the number of individuals involved in the catechetical classes from 1769 through 1783, which is the time period we would be interested in.

For the first three catechetical classes recorded in the first Church Book of Plainfield Reformed Church, see Page 308.

Rev. John William Weber, reported on two catechetical classes during his service as pastor of the Church... the 6th class confirmed 1 Apr 1775 with 24 members and the 7th class confirmed 28 Apr 1776 with 14 members.

For his class summaries, see Page 309.

For those just joining us, we would be interested in Rev. John William Weber's service as Pastor of Plainfield Reformed Church because of the following baptism he performed on 5 Nov 1775:

..

1775, Sep 10 - Plainfield Township: Plainfield Reformed Church Records:

Entries by the Rev. John Wm. Weber, Sept. 1772 - May 1783.

John Leonard, son of William & Maria Grothaus, b. 10 Sep 1775, bap. 5 Nov 1775; Sponsors: Leonard Bayer [Johann Leonhart Beyer] & wife.

..

For more information about William & Maria Grothaus and their son, John Leonard, see:

Most Wanted Greathouse: William Grothaus of Plainfield Township, Northampton County, PA

19

Most Wanted Greathouse / George Rex and wife Barbara ? [? Greathouse]

« on: January 30, 2010, 08:13:32 PM »

George Rex's first wife was Barbara ? [? Greathouse], whom he married in Germantown, about 1719. Barbara ? [? Greathouse] may have been born between 1682 and 1704.

A descendant of George recently asked a question:

Was Barbara ?, maiden name Greathouse?

Considering the common appearance of George and Barbara Rex, Herman Groethausen and his son, John and the Ottingers in later records of Philadelphia County, PA, she would be a "Most Wanted Greathouse", if it could be proven that her maiden name was Greathouse.

On page 17, of Hannah Benner Roach's, "Back Part of Germantown: A Reconstruction", in the footnotes, she stated:

There was probably some relationship to the Rex family, but whether to the elder George Rex or his son George has not been established.

Source:

Hannah Benner Roach, "Back Part of Germantown: A Reconstruction", Jefferson M. Moak, Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, 2001. ISBN 188709914x, 97817887099141. Page 17.

..

George Rex's land was located just across Stenton Avenue from Herman Groethausen's land.

..

Note: Information colored in MAROON below was not part of the original article published in the NGS Quarterly. Where information has been added from additional sources, a source citation will follow.

Extract: Records In Common Between Greathouse, Ottinger and Rex of Philadelphia County, PA

From: George Rex (1682-1772) of Germantown, Pennsylvania
By Doris Rex Schutte

Hans Jurg Ruger (George Rex), a blacksmith, was the founder of this Rex family of Pennsylvania. Born probably in Europe in either May or June 1682 (if we accept his advanced age at death), "Georg Rieger" was buried from St. Michael's Evangelical Lutheran Church at Germantown, Philadelphia County, on 18 October 1772, "alt 90 Jahr 4 Monat." He married in about 1719, presumably to Barbara ______?, known to have been his wife in 1733-1749, but presumed to be dead by 1762, when she was no longer a party to his deeds to their sons. Neither his nor his wife's gravestones have survived.

Hans Jurg apparently arrived at the port of Philadelphia before the systematic recording of ship manifests. He is first recorded 10 June 1720 when he purchased from Claus Braun 27 acres on the road leading from Philadelphia to North Wales [now Germantown Avenue at Chestnut Hill.

"Georg Ruger" appeared at Philadelphia Court 17 August 1728 and swore that he witnessed Pastor Anthony Jacob Henkel's nuncupative will on 12 August 1728.

He signed the will as a witness with Herman Groothausen and Hans Michael Schwenstock on 12 Aug 1728. On 17 Aug 1728, those three gentlemen appeared in court where on their oath they did declare that the testator Anthony Jacob Henkel, on the twelfth day of this instant, August, fell off his horse on the road from Philadelphia to his house in New Hanover Township, which disabled him, and he was carried to the house of the deponent Herman Groothausen in the manor of Springfield, where the testator lying very ill, bid the deponents take notice that the contents of the within and above writing was his will, and the deponents do say that the testator at the time of speaking the said nun-cupative will was of sound mind, memory, and understanding, to the best of their knowledge and belief..

Peter Evans, Reg.-General

Source:

Philadelphia County, PA, Letters of Administration: Estate of Anthon Jacobus Henkel. Reg. Office, Philadelphia, Book C, page 109.

1733, Dec 16 - Barbara Reuger and Christopher Ottinger stood as sponsors at the baptism of Margaretha Barbara, daughter of Leonhardt Kueffer.

1743 - George Rex purchased 50 acres in Springfield, Philadelphia [now Montgomery] County, from the estate of Herman Grotehause.

1746 - Georg and Barbara Rieger had a son baptized at St. Michael's Church.

1747 - Jurg and Barbara Rieger sponsored the baptism of Rahel, daughter of Herman and Maria Grothausen at St. Michael's Church.

1749, Dec 16 - Georg Ruger and Barbara (X) Rex conveyed 276 acres in Heidelberg Township to their son Georg, and 276 acres in the same township to their son Jacob. This was the last record on which Barbara Rex was named.

1762, Oct 29 - By indenture (apparently in lieu of a will) Georg Rux, of Germantown Tonwship, yeoman, conveyed his entire personal and real estate to his sons George, William, Jacob Christopher, John and Abraham Rex. He signed his name Georg Ruger on the receipt for 5 shillings.

Source:

Doris Rex Schutte, George Rex (1682-1772) of Germantown, Pennsylvania, National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Volume 68, Issue 4, December 1980. Page 243.

20

News and Updates / Greathouse County Update

« on: January 29, 2010, 08:59:56 AM »

Greetings,

29 Jan 2010

The following reports in our Greathouse County project have been updated:

Greathouse of Philadelphia County, PA [events added from 1721 through 1733]

Read more:
http://greathouse.us/news.htm

21

General Discussion / Greathouse County Update, 26 Jan 2010

« on: January 28, 2010, 06:12:23 PM »

Greetings,

An update for our Greathouse County Project has been posted at Greathouse Point, which we hope will start off a very productive year for our project in 2010.

We are pleased to present our report on Philadelphia County, PA, which has been compiled with the help of members of Guild Greathouse, who have diligently searched the early records of the county to document the Greathouse and associated ancestors who lived there. We hope that this work will build a much firmer foundation upon which we will
eventually be able to connect most of the Greathouses known to have been residing in America prior to 1800.

http://greathouse.us/county/pa/philadelphia/philadelphia.htm

Already, our Greathouse County Project has been a stellar success, by helping us to discover that there were two adult males, named William Greathouse, residing in their respective townships of  Plainfield and Upper Saucon, Northampton County, PA between 1775 and 1783. That discovery will perhaps, eventually, allow us to correctly track their
migrations to where they settled, raised their families and lived out their lives.

William Greathouse of Upper Saucon Township, Northampton County, PA, married Mary Owen, also of said township. William gave his oath of allegiance to Jacob Moory, Esquire, Justice of the Peace, of said township, on 2 Jun 1778. William served as a Private in Captain John Roberts Company of the Upper Saucon Township, Northampton County, PA
militia in 1778 and as a Private in Captain John Stahl's Company of said township in 1783. He was taxed as a resident freeholder of said township from 1772 through about 1791 and then as a resident freeholder of Mifflin County, PA from about 1792 through the time of his death.

William Greathouse of Plainfield Township, of Northampton County, PA, married Maria [? perhaps Anna Maria Beyer, Source: Johann Leonhart Beyer descendant], marriage date unknown. A son, John Leonard, was born to William and Maria Grothaus on 10 Sep 1775, baptized on 5 Nov 1775 at Plainfield Reformed Church of said township, near present day
Wind Gap, of said county, by Rev. John William Weber. Sponsors for their son's baptism was Leonard Bayer [Johann Leonhart Beyer] and wife, of said township and county. William gave his oath of allegiance to Lewis Stacher, Esquire, Justice of the Peace, of said township, on 2 Jul 1778, as did Leonhard Beyer on 7 Jul 1778. William served as a Corporal in Captain Lewis Stacher's Company of the Plainfield Township, Northampton County, PA militia from 1780 through about Sep 1783. He was taxed as a resident freeholder of said township from 1780 through 1782. He disappeared from the records of Plainfield Township after about Sep 1783, which could suggest that he either died in the township about Sep 1783, or perhaps he had moved elsewhere after Sep 1783.

With your help and continued interest in the research shared at Greathouse Point, we can expect to share more discoveries from our Greathouse County Project with you in 2010.

Also with your help, you made fiscal year 2009 our best year since we began tracking statistics on website usage in 2004.

A summary of Greathouse Point usage statistics for 2009 follows:

Year    Page Loads      Unique Visitors    First Time Visitors     Returning Visitors
2009       22,031            9,764               8,700                      1,064

There will be a graph which shows the statistics for 2009, as compared to all previous years since 2004, posted in our 2009 Archives: New and Updates later this evening.

Read more:
http://greathouse.us/news-2009.htm


Thanks,
Rick

22

Herman Groethausen 1670 / Abr'm Grothouser in Northampton County Militia

« on: August 28, 2009, 05:50:21 PM »

There is a Revolutionary War Military Abstract Card File which is available on the website of the Pennsylvania Archives, http://www.digitalarchives.state.pa.us/archive.asp?view=ArchiveIndexes&ArchiveID=13, in which you can find several index cards for Greathouses of PA who were recorded in various militia units across PA.

In the index cards for the Greathouses of Northampton County, PA, there was a William who served in the companies commanded by John Stahl, a William who served in the companies commanded by John Stacher and an Abr'm Grothouser who served in the company of John Stahl.

For the two Williams there are multiple records for both of them. William in Stacher's company was documented from 1780 - 1783. William in Stahl's company was documented in 1778 and 1783.

However, regarding the Abr'm Grothouser... there is only one record which suggests he served in Stahl's company and that record would be the index card itself, available here:

http://www.digitalarchives.state.pa.us/Archives/13/12/CDLOAD/revwar/0018/3078.gif

As you can see, that index card does suggest that there would have been an Abr'm Grothouser in the company of John Stahl between 1780-1783. These index cards were created in the 1960s by more than likely an underpaid government worker, so we really need to see if this Abr'm Grothouser's presence in this unit can be supported by other records.

If you look at the 1778 roster for Stahl's company in which William Grothouse was in the 2nd class and note the others in his class, you will notice that there was an Abraham Peckman in the same class as William.

1778 Stahl Company... William Grothouse and Abraham Peckman in the same class.
http://www.footnote.com/image/3420418/grotehouse/

Source. PA Archives, Series 5, Volume 8, Fourth Battalion, Northampton County Militia, Page 87.

Then if you look at the 1783 roster for Stahl's company, in which William Grothouse was in the 2nd class, you will notice that for the Abr'm in that class, his last name was noted to have been illegible. There was no Abraham Peckman listed.

1783 Stahl Company... William Grothouse and Abr'm "illegible" in the same class.
http://www.footnote.com/image/3530652/grothouse/#3530652

Source: PA Archives, Series 5, Volume 8, Fourth Battalion, Northampton County Militia, Page 360.

So there appears to be a conflict between the Rev War Index card created in the 1960s versus the PA Archives, Series 5, Volume 8 edited by Thomas Lynch Montgomery in 1902.

Until the microfilm of that militia roster can be viewed to see if the last name for Abr'm is legible or illigible, there will be a question about whether there was or was not an Abr'm Grothouser who served in John Stahl's company of the Northampton County Militia in 1783.

Except for that Rev War Military Index Card, so far, a relatively exhaustive search for Greathouse records in Northampton County, PA has failed to uncover any other records which would suggest that an Abraham Grothouser was residing or served in the militia of that area.

23

Events, Happenings and Reunions / Genealogy Fair | 26 Sep 2009, Spencer, WV

« on: August 12, 2009, 11:39:55 AM »

From Johanna Nutter...

Greetings to all,

The Roane County Historical Society's annual Genealogical Fair will be held Saturday, September 26, 20009 from 9-3, at the Heritage Park Community Building, in Spencer, WV. This is the same location as last year.  Signs posted in Spencer at all major intersections will guide you to the building.

Food will be available on site through out the day.  Table rent for those wishing to sell material will be $10.00 a table.  Please let us know if you will need electricity and how many tables you need.  Tables for sharing your family history will be provided at no cost, but we need to know how many tables you will need.  You may bring your computer but the building does not have internet access.

Bring your computer, books, pictures, and memories to share with us.

Be sure and visit our website at www.wvroane.org.  We are always grateful for any material you would like to share on the website.  If you have any questions about the Fair please contact one of the following committee members.  Let us hear from you soon.

Johanna Nutter joeandjo30@wirefire.com or joe@wvroane.org
Carol Board Westfall legallady@hughes.net or carol@wvroane.org

24

General Discussion / Josef Broeker Collection

« on: April 18, 2009, 09:32:01 AM »

We have recently received a collection of work regarding the Grothaus family in Europe from Josef Broeker.

You may read the first email we received from Josef which was in German, below:

Email from Josef Broeker to Rick Greathouse, 4 Apr 2009.

--
---------- Forwarded message ---------- 
From: Josef Bröker
Date: 2009/4/4
Subject: von Grothaus

Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,
 
leider ist mein Englisch nicht so gut, deshalb dieses Schreiben in Deutsch.
 
Seit etwa 25 Jahren - immer mit Unterbrechungen - forsche ich über die Familie von Grothaus.
 
Dabei kam ich in Kontakt mit mit Otto von Grotthuss aus Kronberg und auch Harry von Grotthuss aus Neuwied, der - wie ich erfahren konnte - mit Ihnen schon Kontakt aufgenommen hat.
Im Jahre 2001 fand hier in Ibbenbüren ( bei Tecklenburg) ein Familientreffen der Barone und Freiherren von Grotthuss statt.
Auf diesem Treffen besuchten wir die Orte, die die von Grothaus einst besessen hatten ( Reste der Mesenburg, Ledenburg, Krietenstein, Spyk bei Lingen.
 
Dieses Treffen bildete den vorläufigen Abschluss meiner Forschungen zur adeligen Familie von Grothaus.
 
Als ein Ergebnis konnte ich den Ahnherrn der heute noch blühenden Familie von Grotthuss ( Kurland/Livland) finden und außerdem die Genealogie der westfälische Linie von Grothaus komplett korrigieren - die  des Max von Spiessen ist total fehlerhaft.
Zur Zeit beschäftige ich mich mit dem Pozess um Krietenstein. Denn bis in die heutige Zeit wird dem Otoo von Grone der Vorwurf der Felonie = Lehnsuntreue gemacht, weshalb sein Burglehen zu Wittlage ( Krietenstein) eingezogen wurde.
Die sogenannte Grothaus Fehde mit dem Blutbad im Gehn ist die unmittelbare Folge davon.
 
Wenn Sie Interesse haben, sende ich Ihnen meine wissenschaftlich = durch Urkunden abgesicherten Forschungsergebnisse.
Zunächst eine Aufschwörungstafel bei der Osnabrücker Ritterschaft.
 
MfG  Josef Broeker
--

Translation provided by Vivian Taylor:

--
Very esteemed Ladies and Gentlemen,
     Unfortunately my English is not too good; therefore I am writing this in German.
     For perhaps twenty-five years--always with interruptions--I have been doing research on the Greathouse Family.
     In so doing, I came into contact with Otto von Grotthuss from Kronberg and also Harry von Grotthuss from Neuwied, who--as I was able to learn--had already made contact with you.
     In the year 2001 there took place here in Ibbenbueren (near Tecklenburg) a family meeting of the Lords and Ladies Grothaus. Immediately after this meeting we tried to find the places which the von Grothauses had once possessed.  (The remaining [places are] at Mesenburg, Ledenburg, Krietenstein, [and] Spyk near Lingen.)
     This meeting organized [shaped, formed] the preliminary conclusion of my research on the noble Grothaus Family.
     As a result I was able to find the ancestors of the Family von Grotthuss still flourishing today ([in] Kurland/Livland) and in addition to correct completely the genealogy of the Westphalian line of Grothaus.  The [research] of Max von Spiessen is totally incorrect.
     At the time I was occupied with the POZESS [not in my dictionary; maybe "possessions"] around Krietenstein. From then up to the present time I have been absorbed with Otoo [Otto?] von Grone, made the subject of a felony violation of feudal obligation, because of which his tenure of a baronial castle at Wittlage (Krietenstein) was taken away.
     The so-called Grothaus feud with the massacre in the Gehn[?] is the direct result of that.
     If you are interested, I'll send you the scholarly results of my research, proven with documentation. Next [will be] a register of those who took the oath among the Osnabrueck nobility.

     MfG[?] Josef Broeker
--

In a later email, Josef shared a copy of his work, titled  "Publikation 1984 von Grothaus" along with several other works he has collected.

Vivian Taylor has been working on translating and extracting anything which might be relevant or interesting to our search for Herman Groethausen's German roots. She has just shared a translated extract which was found in the source mentioned above.

The following is an extract from "Publikation 1984 von Grothaus" by Josef Broeker:

--
Page 313:  Family of Grothaus--without an addition [of an Estate Name] to the Name
 
     1. Hermann von Grothaus
     From the family of Grothaus, he is the first one who was mentioned in the Tecklenburg records.  In those, in fact, he functioned only as a witness (between 1402 and 1414).
     According to the evidence of the investiture books of the Osnabrueck bishops Heinrich von Holstein (1402-1404) and Otto von Hoya (1410-1424), Hermann von Grothaus was invested with, among others, manors in Mettingen and Lengerich (today, the Steinfurt district)--[manors] which previously Arnold and Hermann von Keseling had held in fief.
     Interesting in this connection is an entry in the Tecklenburg investiture book (Chronological Publications, F A Solms-Braunfels), according to which Hermann von Grothaus at that time obligated himself as a Tecklenburg fief holder and lord of the castle provided that the fief which the Keselings had held previously would be transferred to him by the Count of Tecklenburg.
     According to the evidence of the investiture books (F A Rheda and Solms-Braunfels), he was invested, from 1420 to 1428, with the [manor] Hoemoelle near Telgte and the [manor] Overenkamp near Westbevern.
     With that, the information about him in the records is exhausted, and important genealogical questions regarding his family, for example his blood-kin relationship to Johann von Grone and Cord von Grothaus, must unfortunately remain unanswered.
 
 Page 314:        Proof in the records [source citations]
         1402 Aug. 29       Reference Book A 190, No. 149    Muenster State Archive
         1402 without day  OGQ, Vol. V, page 72
         1412 without day  OGQ, Vol. V, page 104
         1412 without day  Tecklenburg Investiture Book        F A Solms-Braunfels
                                                                                     [Family Archive?]
         1412 April 30        Reference Book A 190, No. 175   Muenster State Archive
         1414 May 10        Reference Book A 190, No. 180   Muenster State Archive
         1420 without day  Tecklenburg Investiture Book        F A Rheda
         1428 without day  Tecklenburg Investiture Book        F A Rheda
--


Special thanks to Vivian Taylor for her help in translating Josef's email along with the extract from Josef's work, "Publikation 1984 von Grothaus".

As time permits, a PDF version of Josef's work will be made available in our European research collection, http://greathouse.us/library/families-eu/index.htm .

25

Greathouse Lineage Project / Share Your Greathouse Lineage

« on: February 28, 2009, 11:47:30 AM »

If you are a Greathouse or have ancestors who were a Greathouse, please share your lineage back to the earliest Greathouse ancestor that you can document your lineage through by replying to this topic.

For example my lineage follows:

John Greathouse Senior m. Sarah " Sallie" McDade
..Edward "Ned" Greathouse m. Matilda Elizabeth Blosser
....Isaac Benjamin Greathouse m. Sarah Elizabeth "Sallie" Tanner
......Ervin M. Greathouse m. Effie Leveary Webb
........Paul "Dick" Greathouse m. Zadia Dale Price
..........Paul Richard Greathouse m. Sharon Kay Greathouse
............Richard Ivan Greathouse -> me


Thanks,
Rick

26

General Discussion / Greathouse Point: Goals for 2009

« on: January 03, 2009, 01:40:45 AM »

Greetings to All,

Our research team at Greathouse Point has just established the following goals which we have adopted as the focus of our research for 2009.

John Greathouse m. Sarah McDade Line:

1.  Continue to search out the missing information for his children – birth, marriage and death dates where not documented.
2.  Continue to work on the time line – attempting to determine his whereabouts from 1780 to 1806 and again from 1817 to 1827.
3.  Attempt to pinpoint better the specific areas where he lived from 1806 to 1866

Harmon born about 1750 married Mary Ann – lived in Ohio County; died in Belmont; Harmon born 1787 married Mary and Harmon born 1720 and Harmon Jr.

1.  Try to sort out the Harmons who lived in Ohio/Brooke/Marshall Counties.  Since Harmon born about 1720 left before 1790, and Harmon Jr went to KY, the main concentration will be on the Harmons born 1750 and 1787
2.  Try to determine if the children attributed to the different Harmons can be sorted out correctly.  Try to find sufficient documentation for all of them to make reliable conclusions.

Harrison County Greathouses

1.  Continue to document the children of William and Barbary.
2.  Try to find more information on William, son of William
3.  Try to place the orphan Greathouses of Harrison in families

Maryland and Virginia

1.  Try to track their migratory paths back to origin and tie the early families back to their roots to determine if their presumed heritage is correct.

Illinois and Indiana Greathouses and Kentucky Greathouses

1.  Try to track their migratory paths back to origin and tie the early families back to their roots to determine if their presumed heritage is correct.

Georgia and Arkansas and Tennessee and Texas Greathouses

1.  Try to track their migratory paths back to origin and tie the early families back to their roots to determine if their presumed heritage is correct.


Again, in 2009, we welcome all to our research team who have an interest in sincere research that will withstand careful scrutiny.

For those who may have comments, questions or suggestions on how we can improve upon our collections at Greathouse Point in the coming year, a copy of this announcement has been posted for discussion in our Guild Greathouse forum. You may read the announcement and follow the discussion at:

http://forum.greathouse.us/index.php/topic,465.0.html


Thanks,
Rick

27

Most Wanted Greathouse / Leonard and Sarah Parsons Greathouse

« on: January 02, 2009, 03:18:46 AM »

Leonard and Sarah Parsons Greathouse


1793 - 1801 - A Leonard Greathouse perhaps [speculation], could have been one of two tithable males in the household of William Greathouse Jr. who was taxed as resident of Harrison County, VA. ¹

..

1801, Nov 8 - Marriage: Leonard Greathouse to Sarah Parsons

Know all men by these presents that we Leonard Greathouse and John Corzad of Harrison County are held and firmly bound unto James Wood in the sum of $150 which payment will and truly to be made and we bind our selves our heirs, executors also firmly by these presents witness our hands and Seals this 8th day of November 1801.

The condition of the above obligation is such that should there be no lawful cause to obstruct a marriage intended between Leonard Greathouse and Sarah Parsons of said county then this obligation to be void els to remain in full force and virtue.

Leonard Greathouse
John Corzad

Teste
Ben Wilson, CHC

..

1802 - Leonard Greathouse was taxed as head of household in Harrison County, VA.

..

1803 - Leonard Greathouse was taxed as head of household in Harrison County, VA.

..

After 1803, there are no further records for a Leonard Greathouse in Harrison County, VA.

..

1810 - Census: Harrison County, VA.
A Sarah Greathouse was enumerated as the head of household. She was living next door to an Edward Parsons.

Other Parsons enumerated on the same page were Joseph Parsons and George Parsons. Edward, Joseph and George Parsons are known to have been brothers and sons of Charles "The Red" and Elizabeth Westbrook Parsons.

..

Source Information:
1) Harrison County, Virginia, Personal Property Tax Lists 1793 - 1803, microfilm, WV Archives, Charleston, WV.
2) Earle H. Morris, Harrison County Virginia (West Virginia) 1784-1850, 1966-1970. Page 34.
3) Wes Cochran, Harrison County Marriages 1785-1894, 1985. Page 388.
4) Dodd, Jordan. Virginia Marriages to 1800 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 1997. Original data: Electronic transcription of marriage records held by the individual counties in Virginia.

28

News and Updates / Greathouse Point: 2008 - Year in Review

« on: December 31, 2008, 06:39:43 PM »

Greetings to All,

2008 has been a very successful year for our Greathouse Projects at Greathouse Point!

We had our best year ever with over 18,000 page loads for the year, with over 2,000 page loads in June alone.

Some of our research accomplishments included:

1)  John Greathouse and Sarah McDade line:
  a) Established that sons Solomon and William both married 2nd wives.
  b) Put William A, son of William H, and William Asa into correct families.
  c) Sorted out Davids that were erroneously listed in the wrong families.
  d) Helped people link up to the correct lineage in this line and others.
  e) Ruled out children Isaac, Betsey, Wylie and their descendants.

2) Sorted out the the three Johns - John G, John Jr. and the John of Harrison  - all born around 1810-1812.
3) Challenged the William Groathouse/Grotehouse of Mifflin being the same person as the son of William and Barbara Greathouse of Harrison.
4) Started more intensive research on descendants of Herman and his two sons, Henry and John.
5) Verified that John Greathouse did not marry Phoebe Thompson in Harrison County.
6) Discovered additional information about the Greathouse families of Pennsylvania, Virginia, Georgia, Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois.
7) Made excellent progress on our DNA findings and have recruited new participants.

Our new team of researchers at Greathouse Point are scrutinizing their own work, as well as the work done by others. Our desire is to produce the most accurate and best documented history of the Greathouse family in America, based on primary and secondary source documentation, instead of myths or family legends.

We made the hard decision in 2008 to remove the family databases from Greathouse Point, because they were filled with errors and misleading information. Although we understood the desire for people to connect up their trees, we could not, in good conscience, continue to publish incorrect information.   The prior databases had been built on information from sources such as Ancestry's World Tree, Family Tree Maker CD's, GEDComs found on RootsWeb, and was unsupported  by documentation in most cases.

We are currently using documentation from reliable sources and avoiding making assumptions that cannot be supported by facts. For example, by starting afresh, we have collected documented information on Herman Groethausen that provides a detailed time line of events covering his life in America from when he left Prussia, his emigration and activities in  Philadelphia, PA to the time of his death in 1743.

In 2009, we welcome all to our team who have an interest in sincere research that will withstand careful scrutiny.


Wishing a Happy New Year to all the Greathouse Family and Friends,
Rick

29

Most Wanted Greathouse / Most Wanted Greathouse

« on: December 17, 2008, 01:20:54 PM »

Greetings to All,

Please share any information that you may have on our "Most Wanted Greathouse" ancestors.

Basically, we would like to know more about the Greathouse ancestor who has time after time proven himself/herself to be a "brick wall" dead end which prevents you from being able to connect that Greathouse ancestor to his/her parents.

Please share a little about any "brick wall" dead ends which you have experienced in your research of the Greathouse family.

As we start receiving some information about our "Most Wanted Greathouse" ancestors, there will be a topic for each ancestor discussed, available on our Most Wanted Greathouse board.


Thanks,
Rick

30

Greathouse Surname DNA Project / Genealogy-DNA Kits make great Christmas Gifts

« on: December 17, 2008, 01:15:20 PM »

Greetings to all,

Jim Bartlet just posted the following article on the Harrison County
Genealogical Society's mailing list, which I thought would be great to share
with our mailing list.

For all of our cousins with connections to the Greathouses of Harrison
County, WV, you might also be interested in Harrison County Genealogy
Society's website. http://www.wvhcgs.com


Our Greathouse DNA Project pages:

Greathouse DNA Project at DNA Heritage:
http://www.dnaheritage.com/surnameform.asp?GroupUnique=442944839&Surname=Greathouse

Greathouse DNA Project at Family Tree DNA:
https://www.familytreedna.com/surname_join.aspx?code=P55591&special=true



Merry Christmas to all,
Rick

--
Rick Greathouse
rick@greathouse.us

Webmaster
Greathouse Point
Home of Guild Greathouse
www.greathouse.us

Admin
Greathouse DNA Project
www.greathousedna.us

--


Genealogy-DNA Kits make great Christmas Gifts

Some of you may have attended my presentation on Genealogy-DNA at the
2007 HCPD Gathering.

Genealogy-DNA is a tool, like census records, deeds, tombstones, etc -
AND it is virtually 100% accurate!

Summary: Someone takes a DNA test - if their result matches someone else
they share a common ancestor; they don't share a common ancestor with
someone they don't match.

Prices have fallen recently, and Family Tree DNA (FTDNA) has a very good
sale this month - their 37-marker Y-DNA (for SURNAME projects) is deeply
discounted.

The DNA Kit provides everything you need and thus makes a very good
Christmas Gift.

It's actually kind of a clever gift from us hard-core genealogists to
those who are only slightly (or not-at-all) interested.

Because, in addition to the string of numbers that need to be matched
and genealogical lines traced, the DNA Kit results give us some fun
information about Deep Ancestry:

A 37-marker result will also include the "haplogroup" - the major branch
on the tree of mankind the participant belongs to.

Most American Colonists from England were (and their descendants are)
haplogroup "R1b" - these represent the first settlers in Britain c8,000
years ago (after the last Ice Age)
Some American Colonists from England were I1a or I1b - this DNA comes
from Vikings who invaded Britain, and settled there
A few American Colonists from England were E1b1 - this DNA comes from
men from the Balkans 5,000 years ago, who were drafted by the Romans
c43-400AD to be part of their occupation of Britain

There are many other possiblities depending on where your ancestors
originated - or the ancestors of someone for whom you need a unique
gift... The results include a map, showing were the ancestors migrated
thousands of years ago.

Here's how to get the discounted pricing - join a SURNAME Project at
FTDNA.

Go to: www.familytreedna.com
On the right side, under the blue Search Bar, to the right of "Equals"
box; enter a SURNAME in the box and click on Submit
On SEARCH RESULTS page note the various projects and the number of
Members
If there is a Project for your SURNAME (or a close spelling), click on
that name
You'll get the JOIN THE Surname PROJECT page;
You can have the Kit mailed to you or to someone else; you can pay
on-line by CC or have them bill you. - the best value is Y-DNA37
(options and pricing in pull down box)
You can also order a mitochondrial DNA kit (mtDNA), which traces your
DNA through the participants mother and up the all-female line
You can also click on the Website link
On the _____ Surname DNA Project page
1. Read the Background
2. Click on Goals, News, Results, Y Results (wait for this one to
load)

The good news about a SURNAME Project at FTDNA is that (usually) there
is a Project Admin (like me) who will be happy to help you.

This is my hobby - I'd be happy to answer any questions

Merry Christmas to all;

Jim Bartlett
BARTLETT-DNA Project Admin