Susan Johnson: Melancholy Orphan

1820-1904
great-great-grandmother

3 sisters: Rhoda Johnson Green, Susan Johnson Carroll and Parthena Johnson Dike. Photo courtesy of Carol Hoefler of Alaska, wife of 4th cousin. 

       Susan Johnson was born October 12, 1820, in Hawkesbury, Canada, the daughter of William L. Johnson and Parthena Burch. (At the time of her birth, Hawkesbury was in Upper Canada, later Canada West and later southern Province of Ontario!) Susan was the fourth of 7 children, with siblings: Elizabeth (1810), Eden (1813), Nathaniel Reeder (about 1815), Rhoda S. (1825), William S. (about 1827) and Parthena (1830). Both parents were born in Vermont, but likely married in Canada. A magazine entitled “Earnest Christianity”, published in 1875, gave a description of her father William and compared him to his younger brother Abbott. “Abbott was larger than the average man, but William was almost gigantic. Abbott was constitutionally calm and moderate; William was vehement, ardent and demonstrative. William’s gifts and zeal were such as to qualify him for the class-leader’s, exhorter’s and local preacher’s offices early in his religious life… The elder brother grew the faster, but the younger, perhaps in the end, was the more matured Christian and preacher.” (Let’s all admit it… we know this man.) Our earliest known Johnson ancestor is Eden Johnson, Susan’s grandfather. 

      Susan’s father William died in January 1832 of consumption and her mother Parthena died in February 1835. So at the age of 14, Susan was an orphan. At the time, her 2 eldest siblings, Elizabeth and Eden, were married, so the younger children may have lived with them or with an aunt or uncle. Eden died in 1839 and Elizabeth died in 1840. Nathaniel married and remained in Canada. The four youngest children, Susan being the eldest, all moved to Washington and Chittenden counties in Vermont between 1837 and 1850, probably living with a Burch or Johnson aunt and uncle. Parthena, the youngest, came in 1847 and went to live with her married sister Susan.

      Susan Johnson married George B. Carroll in February 1846 in Williston, Vermont. In the Personal Notes section of a July 1879 Montpelier paper, comments are made about her fuchsia that stands 8 feet high, with 4-foot branches and numerous blossoms.

      After her husband George died in April, 1886, Susan continued to live with her brother-in-law, Pliny Carroll, and his family. In the spring of 1896, Susan and her sisters, Rhoda and Parthena, held a reunion in Waitsfield (or Warren), reflected in the photo above! The photo inspired additional research and I discovered that sister Rhoda had married Jacob Green, an undertaker, whose father had died in an insane asylum. When Jacob drowned himself in Lake Champlain, Rhoda won a $10,000 settlement from the insurance company, which increased her options! She worked as a nurse in Oakland, California, for almost 20 years, taking care of the 5 orphaned children of her son Warren, the only 1 of her 4 children to reach age 27. Sister Parthena married Alonzo Dike and lived most of her life in Stockholm, New York, not far from the St. Lawrence River. Local newspapers reported frequent visits to Susan from her sister, Rhoda, of Burlington, VT, and the daughter of her sister Parthena. When Parthena’s husband died in 1907, Rhoda appears to have moved in with her. Rhoda had no surviving children and Parthena’s one surviving son had moved west.

      Susan died on January 14, 1904, age 83, in Warren, Vermont, of capillary bronchitis and heart failure, and was buried in Irasville Cemetery, next to her husband. A short mention of her in a Montpelier paper said “she was much respected by a large circle of friends.”

      Susan Carroll seemed melancholy in both pictures that I had of her, so I explored what happened to her mysterious son Bert. Evidently, he went to the Black Hills in the Dakota Territory, in about 1879, to look for gold. In September 1880, Bert’s brother George brought him back to Iowa. Herbert was “almost without clothing when found at Rapid City, and considered by the people there insane.”  In Danbury, Iowa, Herbert thought he was a millionaire and thought he was in charge of his brother’s store. Herbert lived in 2 different mental hospitals, for a total of 53 years. When he was admitted to the second hospital, Clarinda Hospital, in 1888, the diagnosis was ‘melancholia – chronic delusional’. He appeared to have very good physical health, spent most of his time working as a gardener or at the dairy and appeared to be higher-functioning with more privileges than most residents. In June 2015, I visited Clarinda to put a rose on his grave and let him know he was understood and not forgotten.

Lillian Blanche Kaufman: Sweet Gramie

1895-1983
grandmother

Lillian Kaufman, age 17, Lawler IA. Photo by brother Walter.

Lillian Carroll, age 19 or 20

      Lillian Blanche Kaufman was born March 16, 1895, in Armour, South Dakota, the daughter of Charles William Walter Kaufman and Frances Jane “Jenny” Coon. She was the youngest of 4 children with siblings Hattie A. (1880), Winifred M. (1888) and Walter Charles (1891). In addition, she was raised with “the mysterious Francis Coon”. Mom thought that Francis might be Jenny’s son, born out of wedlock. An obituary, however, revealed that Francis was the son of Hiram Coon, Jenny’s brother. Hiram’s wife died within a week after delivering Francis and Hiram must have felt unable to raise a baby on his own!  

      Lillian grew up on the farm in Walnut Grove Township, Douglas County, South Dakota, which her parents had homesteaded. In about 1902, the family moved into Armour so the 3 younger children could attend high school. In 1907, when Gramie was just 12, her father died of spinal meningitis. In 1910, she was living with her mother, the other children having left home. After Gramie graduated from high school, she and her mother moved to Sioux City and lived with Gramie’s sister Winifred and her family. Her brother Walter lived immediately next door.  

      On April 8, 1914, Lillian Blanche Kaufman married Ira Munson Carroll in Sioux City, Iowa. They were married by a Methodist Episcopalian minister, but did not tell anyone of their marriage for 3 weeks, when they moved in together! From this point forward, Lillian’s mother Jenny lived with Ira and Lillian until Jenny’s death in 1929!

      During their years on a farm, Ira and Lillian lived near Toronto, Brookings and Garden City, South Dakota. In 1925, Gramie wrote a letter talking about threshing the grain, drying corn and making Pickle Lilly, a type of relish. She mentioned having to shoot Tillie, their grievously injured horse. She wrote “school started yesterday, Lois is the happiest kid you ever saw.” In 1929, she wrote another letter to her niece Josephine, signing it “The Farmerette”. “Can you beat it we have an all-white calf it’s only a week old but it’s a beauty. Do you still want a cow coat?” “I drove new car for first time Sat. the gear stuff gets my goat.” “Say Kiddo you better forget your week of whoopee and come out and rescue me.”

      No doubt, Ira’s volatility posed some dilemmas for Gramie. In the late 1920’s, Ira helped put Gramie’s brother Walter in jail for ‘family indiscretions’. So in 1930, Walter’s 2 children, Clair (aged 19) and Mary (aged 17) were living with Ira and his family, since Walter’s wife was deceased. Meanwhile, Walter lived in the South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls, working as a barber!    

      Shortly after her husband Ira died in November, 1956, Gramie came to live with us in Great Falls, Montana, where Jane was born on May 4, 1957. Jane was named after Gramie’s mother “Jenny” who had died on May 4, 28 years earlier, and Gramie always felt a special closeness to Jane. Gramie moved with us to Redwood City a few months later, but decided to move to Colorado Springs in 1961 to be near her son Bob and his family. Gramie kept the letters that George and Jane and I had written when she left. George reported on the status of Dad’s stock, helping Dad paint our bedroom and being able to press 130#. I reported on swimming lessons, watching the kittens and having mandatory ‘quiet times’. Mom wrote for Jane, “I am missing you so much. I feel like to cry, because you are gone. Is it all right if Aunt Dorothy uses your room? I been worrying about you.”

      In December 1961, Gramie graduated from the ‘Gray Lady’ program sponsored by the American Red Cross and did volunteer work in a local hospital. A few years later, she moved to her own apartment on San Miguel. In about 1969, she moved to Overland Park, Kansas, to live with son Bob and his wife Mary. In about 1970, she went to the Los Angeles area to spend 4-5 months with her sister Winifred. In 1971, she moved to Oklahoma City, where she lived the remainder of her years.   

      Gramie died on March 30, 1983, age 88, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where she was living with Mom and Dad. Cause of death was listed as congestive heart failure. Mom and Dad and I erected a tombstone in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, where both of her parents were buried, and spread her ashes over the graves of her parents.   

      In February of 1983, Gramie had written a note to her 3 adult children. “I have had a good life, have loved and enjoyed my children grandchildren also great grands. I am ready to leave this life at any time… So many happy memories for us all, do not want them forgotten and only a vegetable to remember. My Love, Mother.” Cousin Kathy Kunkel came to visit Gramie in late March and said that the doctor came the day before she passed and said she would probably be able to live another good couple of years. The next day, Kathy read Gramie letters that had just arrived from her sister Winifred and niece Frances Mary and Gramie passed peacefully a few moments later.

Add caption

Silas Haines: Revolutionary War patriot, killed at Battle of Fairfield

Introduction

      I would like to start a tradition of writing a blogpost each July 4th for an ancestor who fought in the Revolutionary War. 

      This year, I am somewhat randomly selecting Silas Haines. Silas is one of my 5th great-grandfathers on my father's paternal side.

Early Life

      The Barbour Collection vital records for Weston, Connecticut, state that Silas was born November 22, 1745. His birth is recorded here because this is where his children were born. His parents, John Haines and Mary Curtis, were married September 6, 1739. Their marriage record is from the Congregational Church, formerly called "Unity, of North Stratford". (This area later became the town of Trumbull.) At the time, both were living in Stratford. So most evidence points to Silas Haines being born in Stratford, Connecticut.

      Silas married Amy Whitney on November 3, 1768. (Her name is also spelled Amey, Ama, and even Anna in different places.)  The  marriage took place at the church at Greenfield Hill, in Fairfield, Connecticut. At the time of the marriage, Silas was living in North Stratford and  Amy was living in Greenfield.

      On October 29, 1769, Amy and Silas were admitted to communion. This appears to be the same church in which the parents of Silas Haines were married. I have had a difficult time pinning down the expression, "admitted to communion", but it was certainly related to a level of membership in the church that enabled them to baptize their children in the church.

Their children, born in Weston, were:
          Molly, born Dec. 15, 1769.   

          Amy, born Nov. 12, 1771.

          Sarah, born Mar. 7, 1774, died Aug. 15, 1794.  (my 4th-great-grandmother)

          Ruth, born Feb. 25, 1776.

          Silas, born Dec. 8, 1779.
Even though the children were born in Weston, they were baptized in nearby Eaton. Given their marriage date, and the death date of Silas, and the normal birth rate of every 2-3 years, this is probably a complete list of their children! The delay between the birth of Ruth and Silas may have been due to Silas' involvement in the Revolutionary War.

Maps

   

https://www.chuckstraub.com/Letterboxing/ctmap.htm

This is a modern-day map of Fairfield County, that shows the towns of Fairfield, Stratford, Trumbull, Weston, Easton and Ridgefield.

https://ctmirror.org/2020/05/21/ccm-chastises-lamont-for-not-sharing-federal-relief-funds-with-cities-and-towns/

This is a modern-day map that shows all the counties of Connecticut.

The History of Fairfield... from the Settlement of the Town in 1639; Elizabeth Hubbell Godfrey Schenck. Frontispiece.

This is a map of early Fairfield that shows Fairfield, Greenfield Hill, Stratford, etc.

Revolutionary War Service 

      There are references to 2 terms of service during the Revolutionary War for Silas Haines/Haynes.

      One is for The Battle of Ridgefield on April 27, 1777.
      The second is for the battle at Fairfield on July 8, 1779.

      Silas Haines is listed in the DAR Ancestor Database for Patriots. Only 1 DAR application has been submitted for his service. I believe this application was submitted by one of the daughters of Helen (Crooks) McFarland. He is listed under Silas Haynes.

https://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/default.cfm

Battle of Ridgefield

      The main battle in The Battle of Ridgefield was fought in the village of Ridgefield on April 27, 1777. The British had landed between Fairfield and Norwalk two days earlier, marched to Danbury, and destroyed some Continental Army supplies. The main battle occurred as the British sought to return to the coast. According to some sources, 20 colonials were killed in the conflict and 40-80 were wounded.

     The Genealogy of the Redfield Family states that Sarah Haines Redfield's father was killed by a cannon ball in the action on Ridgefield Hill in 1777.    

      There is a plaque to commemorate the Battle of Ridgefield on April 27, 1777. It was dedicated in 2002 by The Connecticut Society of the Order of the Founders and Patriots of America. It names the 13 colonial men who died in the conflict. One named person is Silas Haines!

   
      From the maps above, one can see that Ridgefield is diagonal to Weston, Connecticut, where Silas Haines lived. The problem, of course, is that Silas could not be killed in both 1777 and 1779! And there is much stronger evidence for his death during the Battle of Fairfield. One possibility is that this is NOT my Silas Haines. A second possibility is that Silas was injured, but not killed, in this battle.

      

Battle of Fairfield

      The Battle of Fairfield refers to the July 7-8, 1779, engagement, where British forces attacked Fairfield, defeated its militia forces and burned down most of Fairfield. It is estimated that 10 colonials were killed and 2 wounded. The British wanted to punish Fairfield, which was a Patriot stronghold.

      The Barbour Collection vital records for Weston, Connecticut, state that Silas Haines died July 8, 1779, and was "killed in battle at Fairfield". Based on the other entries for Silas in Weston, I know this is my Silas! This is also stated by Donald Jacobus, who wrote a history of Fairfield, but the vital records were probably his source.

      Silas Haynes is listed in the Daughters of the American Revolution lineage records as A109693. The person applying for membership under his name is one of my Dad's cousins. One of the main sources for his service is the Connecticut Historical Society Collection, which lists the men in Fairfield that belonged to the Continental Regiments, 1775, based on returns of service. These returns were made and signed by the selectman of each town. In this list, his name is given as 'Silas Hanes'. In addition, Silas was mentioned in at least 3 pension files of fellow soldiers.

      The pension file of Nathan Lyon provides additional information related to the battle and Silas. Nathan was formally a resident of Redding, but was residing and working in Weston, which is where Silas lived. Nathan joined Captain Benajah Bennet's Company and volunteered to go to Fairfield when it was burned in 1779. The company followed the British to McKenzies Point. Nathan stated that Peter Sunderland and Silas Hayins were killed. Nathan returned to Fairfield and was dismissed... Ruth Haines, daughter of Silas, married a Nehemiah Lyon, who was probably related to Nathan Lyon.

      McKenzies Point, referenced in the above pension file, is also known as Kenzie's Point and Kensie Point. This is where the British disembarked prior to the Battle of Fairfield. The map below  shows the relationship of McKenzies Point to Fairfield, and also shows the proximity of Long Island to Connecticut! The British had a base on Long Island and attacked Fairfield from that base.

https://mapcarta.com/22020120

      The pension file of Thomas Stratton also mentions Silas, but it is harder to put this information into context. Thomas enlisted in Stratford under David Lake. After this, "Silas Haines of Fairfield was drafted out of the militia for 3 months under Capt. Jabez Wheeler and Stratton went as his substitute to Fishkill". He then says Silas Haines was subsequently killed.

      The pension file of Diamond Wheeler states, that in April 1779, Diamond enlisted under Captain Joseph Sherwood and served 6 months. During this term of service, Fairfield and Norwalk, in Connecticut, were burned. His company responded to an alarm that the British were landing, and discovered that the town was burned. The engagement the next morning caused the British to retreat to their vessels. Lt. Seeley, Ensign Hoit and private Silas Haines were killed near the deponent... Amy Haines, daughter of Silas, married a Freeman Seeley, likely related to the Lt. Seeley that was killed.

After the death of Silas

      Silas Haines died at the age of 33, leaving a wife and four children behind. About five months after his death, his fifth child, Silas Haines, Jr., was born. Baby Silas was born December 8, 1779, most likely in Weston. Clearly, this is evidence for Silas dying in the Battle of Fairfield, and not in the Battle of Ridgefield!        

      In 1779, the estate of Silas Haines, late of Fairfield, was opened in the Fairfield Probate District. On September 6, 1779, Amy Haines was appointed administratrix. A bond was issued to Amy Haines and Aaron Whitney, most likely Amy's brother. Land was set aside for daughters Sarah and Molly and Ami. Other land was set off to Ami, his widow, his son Silas and his daughter Ruth. 

      In 1794, Silas Haines, Jr., at least 14 years old, selected Nathaniel Freeman Seelye as his guardian. In colonial America, one had to be at least 14 years of age to choose one's own guardian. Otherwise, a guardian was appointed for the child. His mother Amy was still living and Silas probably lived with her! The guardian was primarily responsible for looking after the child's inheritance... Silas's sister Amy married this Nathaniel in 1790, so Silas's guardian was actually his brother-in-law!

Sources

Ancestry.com.  Connecticut Town Birth Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection) [on-line database]. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. ORIGINAL DATA: White, Lorraine Cook, editor; The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records; 55 volumes; Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co.; 1994-2002.
- Weston Vital Records 1787-1850; p. 30; birth, marriage and death of Silas Haines.

Ancestry.com. "Connecticut, Church Record Abstracts, 1630-1920". Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. ORIGINAL DATA: Connecticut, Church Record Index. Connecticut State Library, Hartford, Connecticut.
- Volume 115 (Trumbull), pgs. 79-80.

Ancestry.com. Connecticut, Wills and Probate Records, 1609-1999. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.
- Probate Packets, Fairfield Connecticut, Case 2812, Silas Haines.

Ancestry.com. Early Connecticut Marriages [on-line database]. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.  ORIGINAL DATA: Bailey, Frederic W. Early Connecticut Marriages as Found on Ancient Church Records Prior to 1800. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1997.
- Book 7, p. 93, John Haines and Mary Curtiss.
- Book 7, p. 33, Silas Haynes and Anna [sic] Whitney.

Ancestry.com. The New England Historical & Genealogical Register, 1847-2011. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. ORIGINAL DATA: New England Historic Genealogical Society. The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Boston: The New England Historic Genealogical Society.
- Volume 070, page 36.

DAR Ancestor Database. https://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/default.cfm; Silas Haynes (A109693).

Jacobus (compiler and editor), Donald Lines. History and Genealogy of the Families of Old Fairfield. 3 volumes. New Haven, Connecticut: The Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Company, 1930, 1932.
- Volume 2, p. 442. Family of Silas Haynes.
- Volume 3, p. 190. Pension file for Nathan Lyon.
- Volume 3, pgs. 316-317. Pension file for Thomas Stratton.
- Volume 3, pgs. 346-7. Pension file for Diamond Wheeler.
- Volume 3, pgs. 382-3. Service records for men in Fairfield.

Redfield, John Howard; Genealogical history of the Redfield family in the United States: being a revision and extension of the genealogical tables compiled in 1839 by William C. Redfield; Albany, New York: Munsell & Rowland, 1860; p. 94.
-https://archive.org/details/genealogicalhist00inredf

Schenck, Elizabeth Hubbell (Godfrey); The history of Fairfield, Fairfield County, Connecticut, from the settlement of the town in 1639 to 1818; New York, The author, 1889-1905. (map)

Leander Coon: Wisconsin Settler

1814-1876
great-great-grandfather

Leander with his wife Harriet; from Kaufman Family Album.

 

      Leander Coon was born about 1814. Based on census data, he was born in New York state. However, according to Gramie, her mother Jennie Coon (Leander's daughter) said that Leander was born in Holland of English parents. Mom said that Leander's parents left England because of religious persecution and eventually came to America from Amsterdam! I currently suspect that he was born in New York, but it is not clear. At this time, I do not know who his parents or siblings are, although there are several candidates for brothers and cousins.

      Leander Coon married Harriet Potter in about 1842. Their eldest child, Hiram Mark, was born September 1843, in New York. We do not actually know where they married! They could have married in Hampton, New York, near the Vermont border, where Harriet grew up. On the other hand, they could have married in Genesee County, in western New York, where Leander appears to have lived. In 1843, Leander came to Palmyra, Wisconsin, from Genesee County.

      In 1849, Leander obtained the deed for 40 acres of land slightly southeast of the town of Palmyra from the federal government and worked as a farmer. In the 1850 census, he was living with his wife Harriet, son Hiram Mark, mother-in-law Orrilla Potter, brother-in-law Henry Potter and sister-in-law Frances Potter. His youngest child, Frances Jane, was born in 1852 in Palmyra and by 1860, all of the in-laws had departed! Leander's real estate was valued at $800, but his occupation in 1860 was speculator! In 1870, his occupation was keeping livery, so presumably he kept horses and let them out for hire. Jenny was still living at home, but son Hiram lived nearby working as a teamster.

      On December 20, 1876, age 62, Leander died in Palmyra. His daughter Jenny (Mom's grandmother) was still living at home, possibly to help take care of her father. There was a very brief obituary that identified Leander as one of the earliest settlers of Palmyra. His tombstone has not been found, but he most likely was buried in Hillside Cemetery in Palmyra.

      Leander Coon has remained a tantalizing mystery! It appears that he came from Genesee County, New York. The land in this area was purchased by the Holland Land Company in 1796. So I wonder if this was the basis for the story of Leander being born in Holland!... Even though Leander did purchase land in Palmyra, his primary occupation did not seem to be farming. Was his speculation related to buying and selling land?... In addition, one census stated that he was unable to read or write.

      The Coon family origins are a mystery as well! The Coon, Potter and Knapp surnames are very common in New York state and it quickly gets tangled. Orrilla Knapp's daughter, Harriet, married Leander Coon. But in addition, two of Orrilla's siblings married someone named Coon. Mom said that her grandmother Jenny was Scotch and French, so it is possible that Coon origins are in Scotland and Potter origins are in France. I think it likelier, though, that Potter origins are English.

Harriet Potter: Underground Railroad

1823-1901
great-great-grandmother

From Kaufman Family Album

      Harriet Potter was born April 20, 1823, in Hampton, New York, near the Vermont border. She was the daughter of Stacey Potter and Orrilla Knapp. She was the 5th of 12 children, her siblings being: William (1816), Eliza (1818), Mary (1820), Emery (1821), Caroline (1824), Henry (1827), Phoebe (1828), Esther (1830), Pliny (1831), Paulina (1835) and Frances (1837). Four of her siblings (William, Eliza, Esther and Paulina) died very young and were buried in Hampton Hill Cemetery. 

      Stacey Potter is our 3rd great-grandfather and earliest known Potter ancestor. He was born in Rhode Island and was possibly Quaker. Our earliest known Knapp ancestor is Nicholas Knapp, 9th great-grandfather. He came to Watertown MA, in the Boston area, in 1630, as part of the Winthrop Fleet. He later moved to Fairfield County CT, where the Knapps lived for several generations. (Dad's early ancestors were in the same county.)

      Her father Stacey died in the early 1840's. Her family then moved to Monroe County in western New York. They appeared, however, to move in waves, with brother Emery moving west first. It appears that they went to Monroe County because that was where Orrilla's siblings lived.

        In about 1843, Harriet and Leander moved to Palmyra, Wisconsin, with their young son, Hiram Mark. Most of her siblings moved to Palmyra in this same time frame. Two of Orrilla's brothers (Timothy and Reuben) and her brother-in-law (Ephraim Coon) also moved to Palmyra, although some moved several years earlier. Harriet remained in Palmyra until the death of her husband in December 1876.

      Two years later, Harriet married Captain Henry P. Willson, a man 13 years her senior. In the 1880 census, Henry (70) is listed as a farmer, unable to work due to blindness. In addition, Harriet's 2 grandsons, Ira (12) and Loren Mark (10), are living with her and attending school. Their mother had died in 1876 and their father, Hiram Mark, had gone to Nebraska looking for opportunities. Harriet's marriage to Henry must have been an uneasy one. According to Mom's cousin, Frances Mary, Henry Willson had been involved in the slave trade, whereas Harriet's family had been involved in the underground railroad for slaves going north for freedom! Harriet's daughter Jenny said that Henry had been a rascal! Harriet and Henry must have divorced because when Henry died in 1895, probate states that he left no widow.

      Harriet and her 2 grandsons joined her children, Hiram Mark and Jenny Coon, in Walnut Grove Township, Douglas County, Dakota Territory. Jenny was raising Hiram's third son, the mysterious Frank Coon! Harriet made a claim for her own 110 acres, based on the 1862 Homestead Act, although it appears that she lived with her son Hiram.

      Harriet died May 18, 1901, age 78, and is buried in Ebenezer Cemetery in Douglas County, South Dakota.

      The Potters remain a mystery! What are Stacey Potters origins? Was he Quaker? Did Orrilla leave him because he had died or did he by any chance desert his family? I did hire a genealogist from Palmyra, Wisconsin, for a brief period! Later, a 4th cousin, John Potter, sent me a 4-page letter, titled 'Family Record of Mr. Stacy Poter and Orrellia Potter', written by Elizabeth (Town) Tuttle, one of Harriet Potter's nieces, that helped fill in some of the gaps.

Lillian McConnell: Merry Survivor

1859 - 1929

Lillian, on her back porch.

      Lillian McConnell was born in Madison, Wisconsin, on September 28, 1859, the daughter of Lawrence McConnell and Mary Ann Moore. She was the 5th of 6 children and had siblings: Richard (1845), Juliette (1848), Margaret (1852), Mary Jane (1853) and Cary (1860). Her father was a habitual drunkard, was not supporting the family and had been jailed several times for beating his wife and eldest son. In 1864, Mary sought a divorce from Lawrence and 15-year old Juliette testified against her father.

      By 1870, the family was divorced. Mary Ann had married Edgar Hunt of Madison, who had 3 children of his own from an earlier marriage. Richard, Lillie and Cary were also living in the household. However, Lillie (age 11) is also listed as residing with her sister Maggie (age 19), who had married Isaac Taad/Teede. Her sister Julia, age 21, had married George Lyford and had a daughter. Her sister, Mary, age 16, was working in a Madison household as a domestic servant. It appears that the sons still lived with their mother, but maybe none of the daughters!
   
      In 1880, Lillian married Frank Williams in Madison, Wisconsin. They later lived in Olney, Illinois, and Waukegan, Illinois, where they raised their 2 biological children and their adopted daughter Maggie. Their son, George Allen Williams, was a baseball player in the minor leagues. He worked as a weaver in a fence factory and as a laborer for American Steel and Wire. His nickname was "Cinders", because he was a wire-thrower at a wire mill in North Chicago. George fought in World War I, as a corporal, in the Illinois 56th Infantry.  He married his wife Anna in 1919, although they never had children. After about 1930, he developed Parkinson's  disease and largely took to bed, according to Aunt Dorothy.
   
      Lillian was widowed in November 1922, when her husband Frank died. At the time, her son George was living next door to her and her daughter Nellie Crooks was living in Chicago with her husband Charlie, son Ray and daughter Dorothy! When Charlie died on December 22, 1926, in Chicago, Nellie and her 3 children moved in with Lillian at 728 Ash Street. Soon after, the upstairs was made into an apartment for daughter Maggie, whom we knew as Aunt Monie, and her husband, Ozzie Eide! (We visited Monie and Ozzie in Port Townsend, Washington. They had a wonderful lot backing up to Puget Sound!)

      Lillian died on December 19, 1929, age 70, in Waukegan, Illinois. She died in Victory Memorial Hospital the day after an operation to remove gallstones from the common bile duct. She had been in failing health for some time prior to the operation and the cause of death was listed as heart disease (myocarditis). She is buried in North Shore Garden of Memories next to her husband and our grandparents, Nellie Williams and Charles Crooks.

      Dad had memories of Lillie chasing the kids around the kitchen with a broom and cackling with merriment!     
 

Nellie Reed Williams: Gentle Humorous Teacher

1885 - 1959

      Nellie Reed Williams was born sometime between October 16 and October 19, in 1885, in Waukegan or North Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Frank Dunn Williams and Lillian McConnell. She had 1 sibling, George Allen Williams (1887), who married Anna Mead, but never had children. According to Aunt Dorothy, Annie did not get along with Nellie. Because Nellie just had the one sibling and he did not have children, Dad did not have any first cousins on his Mom's side.

      In 1904, Nellie was a senior at Waukegan High School, where she played right guard on the girls' basketball team. In the Senior Prophecy, they predicted "her horror of laughter and merriment will grow as the years slip by and she will devote herself to prayer and repentance". She was listed in the "Want Ads" as wanting lessons in boxing! Since all of her pictures show her with a gentle smile on her face, I am certain these comments were ironic.

      Nellie worked as a teacher at Dudley elementary school and lived with her parents in Waukegan until she married Charles Henry Crooks in February, 1920.

      According to Aunt Dorothy, Nellie dated a man named Jim Reardon before she married Charles. Her mother Lillian did not want her to marry Jim, however, because he was Catholic. Aunt Dorothy also said that Nellie was Methodist, but only went to church on holidays. Evidently, the family switched to the Episcopalian Church because Dad had tangled with another boy at the Methodist Sunday school! When Nellie was ill, she told Dad and Aunt Dorothy, "I hope you get back in the Methodist church before I die".

      When Nellie's husband, Charles, died in December, 1926, Nellie and her 3 children (Ray, Dorothy, George) moved in with Nellie's mother at 728 Ash Street in Waukegan. Nellie's brother George lived immediately next door at 724 Ash. (These 2 properties were both jointly purchased by Nellie and George about 1910-1916, although 728 Ash was transferred to Nellie's mother after Nellie married.) Even though George had health issues, he was the closest person to a father figure for Dad... Dad's grandmother, Lillian (McConnell) Williams, died in December, 1929, just 3 years after Nellie and her kids moved in.

      In 1930, Nellie was working as a bookkeeper at the Waukegan county courthouse. She was initially the only female there, found the work environment coarse and decided to return to teaching. She also received $40 per month as rent from Aunt Monie and Uncle Ozzie, who lived in the upstairs apartment. In 1940, Nellie had some additional income because Dad was working as an usher in a theater while attending college and Aunt Dorothy was working as a telephone operator!

    Nellie died November 25, 1959, age 74, in Waukegan, after having strokes and being in a nursing home. She is buried in North Shore Garden of Memories cemetery in North Chicago, next to her husband.

    Dad's McFarland cousins said that Nell really liked the dishes that Charlie brought back from the Philippines for his sister Helen's wedding. Charlie said she could have had them too if she had agreed to marry him before he left for the Philippines. (If so, they knew each other longer than I had realized!) When Charlie got back, Nellie visited him and his brother Ray asked if she was going to break his heart a second time and she said "no"... When Charlie died less than 7 years after their marriage, she dated Jim Reardon again and brought him to visit her sister-in-law, Helen Crooks McFarland. Dad's McFarland cousins said Jim was very nice and owned a plant that made women's clothing. Jim was Nellie's boyfriend, but the relationship was limited.

Frank Dunn Williams: Pioneer Railroad Man

1853 - 1922

      Frank Dunn Williams was born in Dodgeville, Wisconsin, on May 6, 1853, the eldest child of Josiah Williams and Ellen Shand. He had 5 siblings: Mary Jane (1858), George Burrell (1859), David C. (1862), Margaret (1870) and Nellie (1876). Nellie appears to have died as a child and David never married.

      When he was a very small boy, his family moved to a farm 12 miles from Dodgeville. At the age of 19, he left the farm to go railroading and devoted the rest of his life to railroads, both steam and electric. Frank was fascinated with railroads, building new lines, extending old lines and replacing temporary construction work with permanent structures.

      In 1880, Frank married Lillian McConnell at Madison, Wisconsin. In that same year, he is listed as working as a carpenter. In 1881, he was raised to the degree of Master Mason in the Madison Lodge. Frank and Lillian had 2 children together, Nellie Reed (1885) and George Allen (1887). George was born in Olney, Illinois, almost 300 miles south of Waukegan and Nellie was probably born in Waukegan.

      In 1889, Frank and Lillian came to Waukegan, where Frank built railroad sidings and yards for the Washburne and Moen company, later absorbed by the American (US) Steel and Wire Company. For almost 20 years, he was employed by the North Shore electric line. He served with the crew which built the new line from North Chicago to Milwaukee and was later made road master in charge of the line from Waukegan to Evanston. In 1919, a strike at the US Steel and Wire Company, led to a call for intervention from the state militia. This could likely have impacted either Frank or his son George.
   
      In 1895, Frank's brother David came to live with Frank and was a wire worker. But David was a rolling stone and by 1900, he was living with his cousin in Deer Creek, Nebraska, where he died 2 years later at age 39. In August 1901, Frank purchased a lot in the subdivision known as Waukegan Highlands, in North Chicago Village, from The American Steel and Wire Company. By 1907, he owned the lot free of a mortgage. By 1910, he was living at 553 Ash Street, later renumbered to 728 Ash Street, where Dad lived as a boy. In the 1920 census, Frank and Lillian still lived on Ash Street. Nellie was living with them and teaching in a public school. Their son George was living there with his wife Anna and was a laborer for American Steel and Wire Company. In addition, adopted daughter Margaret, age 12, was living with them. Margaret was a student of Nellie's who was quite poor.

      Frank Williams died on November 25, 1922, age 69, in Waukegan, of heart disease (listed as myocarditis). Funeral services, led by a Methodist minister, were held at the home, with Masons from Lodge #78 participating. Frank is buried in North Shore Garden of Memories in North Chicago.   

Rhoda Blossom: Peeling back the layers of her life

Introduction

   
      The first time that I encountered Rhoda Blossom was when I was researching Susan Johnson, my great-great grandmother. In 1850, Susan was living with her husband, George B. Carroll, and her younger unmarried sister, Partheny Johnson, in Richmond, Vermont.

      A short distance away, William Johnson was living with Rhoda Blossom, Emily Bates, 3 children of Emily Bates and 2 other laborers/servants. Emily is the daughter of Rhoda and Emily was previously married to a man named Bates.

1850 U. S. census; Richmond, Chittenden, VT; Page 60A.

   
      This is the first evidence I had that Susan Johnson had a brother William! Even though William Johnson is a common name, there were several pieces of evidence that he was Susan's brother! First, in 1850, they were both living in Richmond, Vermont. Second, William is listed as born in Canada and we know Susan was born in Canada.  Third, William is 22 years old and Susan is 29 years old, so they could easily be siblings. Fourth, Susan's father was named William Johnson. Fifth, and most interesting, is that "Aunt Rhoda Blossom" appears in the Carroll Family Album in my possession, that was passed down from Susan Johnson Carroll!   
   

Aunt Rhoda Blossom; Carroll Family Album, page 10, in possession of Dorothy Crooks.

   
      The back of the photo lists 'A. S. Mears, Photographic Artist, 147 1/2 Church Street, Burlington, VT'. Burlington is 13 miles away from Richmond and the nearest big city. At one time, Rhoda Johnson Green, sister of Susan Johnson Carroll, lived in Burlington. The photos of Rhoda Green's children were taken at the City Photograph Gallery, at the northwest corner of Church and Bank Streets. Looking at Google Maps, these 2 gallery locations are within easy walking distance and could even be the same location. Rhoda Blossom could have had the photo taken when she went to visit Rhoda Johnson Green.

      There is a pencil note at the bottom of the photo suggesting that Rhoda Blossom might have been a sister of Grandma Carroll, referring to Susan Johnson Carroll. I have been hesitant to over-interpret the label 'Aunt' since relationship names were often used loosely in the past. But when the exploration is complete, Rhoda Blossom may indeed be an aunt! (I currently suspect that Rhoda Blossom may have been the AUNT of Susan Johnson Carroll, the sister of Susan's mother Parthena Burch Johnson. But I jump ahead of myself...)

      Since I have Rhoda Blossom's photo, I feel a genealogical duty to tell her story! She looks like a tough woman and I take her semi-defiant gaze as a personal challenge! Her life story has turned out to be more complicated and convoluted than it originally appeared.

Acknowledgments

   
      This post would not have been possible without the information, insight and perseverance of Nancy Bates! She was pivotal in terms of identifying the 2 earliest layers of Rhoda Blossom's life! Nancy is a descendant of the Edgar Bates listed in the 1850 census above and thus a descendant of Rhoda Blossom.

      Genealogical collaboration is so much fun because different people always have different pieces of the puzzle!

Warning and Preview

   
      This started as a relatively small blogpost, but it took on a life of its own! It may be easier to grasp if it is first printed using the green 'Print Friendly' icon at the end of the post. I used 90% size for the text, but 80% would also work.

      The post is organized into 4 layers, moving back in time. So Layer #1 is about Rhoda Blossom and her third marriage to David Blossom. Layer #2 is about Rhoda's second marriage to Joseph Lockhart Day. Layer #3 is about Rhoda's first marriage to Jesse Munson. Layer #4 is about her birth family of Burch... Within each layer, I describe what I know about that portion of her life and how I know it.

Layer #1: Life as Mrs. Rhoda Blossom in Richmond, Vermont  

   
      Rhoda became Mrs. Rhoda Blossom when she married David Blossom on November 6th, 1817, in Richmond, Vermont. They were married by a Justice of the Peace. (Curiously enough, the Marriage-Bride card just lists 'Day' with first name not given.)

Ancestry.com; Vermont, Vital Records, 1720-1908; Marriage-Groom; David Blossom/Rhoda Day.

         
      If Rhoda was 71 in 1850, she would have been about 38 years of age when she married David. So Day could be a maiden name. But it could be the name of her preceding husband... We later learn that David was 62 years old when they married.

Death and Will of David Blossom

      David Blossom died May 27, 1833, at the age of 78, in Richmond, Vermont. At least, this seems to be the accepted date! His death notice in the Vermont Chronicles (07 Jun 1833) stated that he died May 25, but it also stated that he was 85 years old at the time of his death, and we know this is incorrect! The date of May 27 actually comes from the will in his probate records. This is the date where the witnesses make their attestation and sign the document. Since David Blossom's signature is also included, shaky as it is, presumably he is not dead yet!

Ancestry; Vermont, Wills and Probate Records, 1749-1999; Chittenden; Estate Files, Box 9; File #910, David Blossom; Image 375.

      In his will, David Blossom named his wife and many children! First, he named his wife and 2 minor children, Emily and Norman. Since David died 16 years after his marriage to Rhoda, all of his children with Rhoda would be minors!

Ancestry; Vermont, Wills and Probate Records, 1749-1999; Chittenden; David Blossom; Image 371.

      The other heirs that he named as recipients of real and personal property were 'my son Hiram Blossom' and 'my daughter Alma Marinda Rhoads [Rhodes] wife of Anthony Rhoads'. The remaining children had already received their legacy, so he left 'but the benedictions of an aged parent'!

Ancestry; Vermont, Wills and Probate Records, 1749-1999; Chittenden; David Blossom; Image 375.

  Prior Marriages of David Blossom

      Since David married Rhoda when he was 62 years old, it is not surprising that he had prior marriages. In fact, he appears to have had 3 prior marriages!

      First, he married Thankful Bodfish on December 21, 1780, in Barnstable, Massachusetts. (Barnstable is where David was born.)  Their children were:

1. Mehitabel, born August 31, 1782, in Wells, Vermont. [Vermont Vital Records]
2. David Crocker, born February 1, 1784, in Wells, Vermont. [Vermont Vital Records]
3. Elizabeth, born October 6, 1785, in Wells, Vermont. [Vermont Vital Records]
4. William, born June 4, 1787, in Wells, Vermont. [Vermont Vital Records]
5. Joseph, born April 12, 1789, in Wells, Vermont. [Vermont Vital Records]
6. Chloe, born February 5, 1791, in Wells, Vermont. [Vermont Vital Records]

According to Find A Grave, Thankful died June 4, 1787, in Wells, Vermont. But there is no photo of a tombstone to validate that date. I am guessing that she died about June 4, 1791! [Several Ancestry trees state that she died in 1852 in Pawlet, Vermont, but there are no sources and this lacks credibility.]

For reasons that I cannot explain, Chloe is not mentioned in the will of her father David. One possibility, of course, is that she is deceased. However, DAR application #100411 (Mrs. Olive H. Shaw Bowen) states that Chloe Blossom was born in 1791, married Milton Clark in 1807 and died in 1868.   

      Second, he apparently married Lena (or Seana) Miner! (The capital letter 'L' often looks like the capital letter 'S' in old handwriting.) Their children were:

1. Nathan, born about 1795, likely in Wells, Vermont. [Lineages of Members of The National Society of Sons and Daughters of the Pilgrims, Vol. II; Pennoyer, Dr. Charles H.]
2. Miner Blossom, born about 1797, likely in Wells, Vermont. [Order of sons in David Blossom's will. He likely was given the maiden name of his mother.] 

I have no idea when Lena Miner died. At this time, I have seen very little information about her. 

      Third, he married Desire Denison on February 25, 1798, in Cavendish, Windsor, Vermont. At the time, David was residing in Wells, Vermont. Their children were:

1. Alma Maranda, born about 1802, in Richmond (or Wells!), Vermont. [Death record of Alma M. Cooper names father as David Blossom, but no mother.]
2. Hiram, born October 7, 1807, likely in Richmond Vermont. [Tombstone from Find A Grave; 1810 census of father David].

According to Ancestry family trees, Desire Denison died November, 1816, in Richmond, Vermont. Although I have not seen source documents for this fact, David Blossom did live in Richmond in 1810 and 1820. And David had married Rhoda Day by November 1817.

Curiously enough, Desire Denison's mother was a Keturah Miner. So it is possible that David's second wife (Lena Miner) and third wife (Desire Denison) were related somehow. 

Rhoda's life with David

   
      Rhoda had 2 children with David Blossom.

1. Emily, born 1819, in Richmond, Vermont. [Will of David; Emily's tombstone; 1810 and 1820 census for David].
2. Norman, born about 1820, after August 7, in Richmond, Vermont. [Will of David; Death notice of Norman; 1820 and 1830 census for David]

Find A Grave; Memorial ID 35775077; Emily Blossom.

Originally, I thought that Norman was born in February 1820, but I no longer think this is true. David's will named Norman as one of his 2 minor children, and presumably he is the younger child, since he is named second. The will stated that Rhoda Blossom was to have the use and occupation of all of David's real estate for the support of herself and his minor children for 8 years from the previous March 1, which would be March 1, 1841, since the will was made in May 1833. I assumed that was because Norman would have been 21 years old on that date, but based on census data, that is not the case!

      The first census in which Rhoda and David appear together is the 1820 census in Richmond, Chittenden, Vermont. There are 6 persons in the household and one person is engaged in agriculture. Two of the persons are clearly David and Rhoda. The female under 10 must be Emily and the female 16-25 must be Alma Maranda Blossom, since she did not marry until 1824. The male 10-15 must be Hiram and the male 19-25 must be Miner, since Miner's brother Nathan had married by 1815.

Since Norman Blossom was not included, and the official enumeration date of the 1820 census was August 7, 1820, Norman must have been born after this date!

So in 1820, David and Rhoda were living with their joint daughter Emily and 3 of Rhoda's stepchildren (Miner, Alma Maranda, Hiram) from two of David's earlier marriages.

      For the 1830 census (taken June 1, 1830), David and Rhoda were also living in Richmond, Vermont. There were now 7 people in the household! They included David, Rhoda, Emily (now 10-14) and Norman (now 5-9). The male 20-29 is almost certainly Hiram, since he did not marry until at least 1840. Miner was 33 years old and was no longer in the household. Alma Miranda married in 1824. But there are 2 other unexplained persons in the household. One is a male 15-19 and one is a female 15-19. That age range does not match any of the children of David or any of the children of Rhoda.

Rhoda's life after David's death

       

      On about May 27, 1833, David C. Blossom died in Richmond, leaving Rhoda with 2 minor children. 

      On June 18, 1837, Emily married William G. Bates in Richmond. 

      In 1840, Rhoda was still living in Richmond, Vermont. She was living with her son Norman (15-19) and an unidentified female (15-19). William Bates lived immediately next door to Rhoda, with his wife Emily and eldest son Edgar G. Bates.

      In 1841, Hiram Blossom, Rhoda's step-son, was given 1/3 of Rhoda's real estate, based on the terms of David's will.

      In 1847, there were numerous deaths in the family! Rhoda's son Norman died. Rhoda's son-in-law and Emily's husband, William G. Bates, appears to have died. And Rhoda's stepson, Nathan Blossom, appears to have died!

      1. Shortly before February 28, 1847, Norman Blossom died, according to a small newspaper article written by Thomas Browning, a Universalist minister. I believe Norman was actually 26 years old, but he would have turned 27 later in the year. This short article also confirms that Norman was Rhoda's only son. 

The Universalist Watchman (Montpelier, VT); 09 Apr 1847; Page 3.

     2. On July 28, 1847, William G. Bates died in Rome, Illinois, of protracted illness. He is the right age to be Emily's husband and he is formerly of Richmond! It is not clear what he is doing in Illinois. Is the marriage with Emily over? Was he scouting economic opportunities?

The Free Soil Courier and Liberty Gazette (Burlington, VT); 26 Aug 1847; Page 3.

      

      3. On March 18, 1847, a Nathan Blossom died in Compton Township, in Quebec, at age 52. He was buried by a minister of the Universalist Church. (He is exactly the right age to be Rhoda's stepson and he is living directly north of Vermont.)

Probate of Rhoda's son Norman

      In 1847, Rhoda would have been about 68 years old. The death of both her son and son-in-law must have been a major financial, as well as emotional, hardship! Her son, Norman, was living with her when he died and incurred about $50 worth of doctor bills between Dr. Reuben Nims and Dr. C. A. Sprague. So he may have had an extended illness... Since Norman was living with Rhoda when he died, it was problematic determining which personal property belonged to her, and which belonged to her son Norman. It is also confusing determining what real estate was considered part of Norman's estate. It is clear that Rhoda still had valuable real estate after Norman's probate was complete. Nancy Bates has suggested that the land that Norman WOULD have inherited if he had outlived his mother Rhoda may have been considered part of HIS estate and therefore available to be sold to pay off his debts. That seems the likeliest explanation! We would need to see land records to know for sure...

      There are 27 pages in Norman Blossom's probate file! (File #1309 in the Chittenden Probate District in Vermont). The administrator of the estate was Amos B. Cooper, brother-in-law of Norman. Amos filed his final administrator account on October 28, 1848.

      The value of the real estate was valued at $650, but only $500 was obtained when the property was sold! It appears that the land was sold to William Rhodes, Jr., who I believe is related to his sister, Alma Miranda.

      The personal property is also inventoried and valued. It included clothing, a valise (suitcase), a buffalo robe, a leather fly net (to keep flies off livestock!), a single and double harness, 6 cows, 50 bushels of oats and a farming (grinding) mill and a note for about $8.

      Rhoda Blossom disputed the original division of personal property, so the court assigned referees on June 9, 1847. They allocated the following items to her: 2 horses, 1 cow, 2 hogs, 15 bushels of wheat, 8 bushels of corn, one single sleigh, one simple waggon, one horse rake, 2 ploughs, 2 harnesses, one axe, 2 scythes, 1 saddle and bridle, one barn shovel, 2 pitchforks, 2 chains, 2 dung forks, 1 iron bar, 1 wood saw, 1 hand saw, 1 hoe, 75 bushels of potatoes, one buffalo robe and 100 bushel of oats.

      Expenditures were also documented. They included money paid to appraisers, commissioners, the judge, witnesses, the attorney, the grave-digger and the coffin supplier. They also included an advertising fee and probate fees.

      In addition, a notice of probate was posted at 4 different public places to allow creditors to come forward over the next 6 months. Some claims were based on notes, some based on accounts. There were 28 creditors named! George B. Carroll (my great-great-grandfather) claimed $30.25, based on an account, probably related to his ownership of a store, but the claim was disallowed! Rhoda Blossom also made claims against the estate and it was determined the estate owed her $25.56. Both doctors made claims against the estate. Amos B. Cooper, William M. Rhodes and Blossom Goodrich, all relatives, also made claims... Because the debts exceeded the value of the estate, creditors were paid 83.6 cents on the dollar!

Rhoda's daughter Emily marries William Johnson

      In 1850, as noted at the very beginning of this blog, Rhoda was living in Richmond with her daughter Emily and her 3 children. William Johnson (my 3rd great-uncle) was also living in the household and was listed as a laborer. He came to Vermont, likely to be with relatives, sometime after being orphaned at age 8. There were 2 other persons in the household, but I do not believe they were related to Rhoda. They may have worked for Rhoda in exchange for lodging or may have paid rent... Two dwellings away, Amos B. Cooper (the administrator of Norman's estate) was living with his wife Alma (half-sister of Emily), 2 of their children together and 5 of Alma's children from a previous marriage, including William M. Rhodes! (The latter may be the person to whom Rhoda's land was sold.)... The value of Rhoda's real estate was listed as $2,000, so it appears that not all of her land was sold in conjunction with Norman's probate!

      On October 23, 1851, Mrs. Emily Bates married William L. Johnson in Richmond, Vermont. They were married by a Minister of the Gospel. About 3 years later, on January 9, 1855, their only daughter together, Emily P. Blossom, was born. Emily was born in Vermont, and likely in Richmond.

Ancestry; Vermont Vital Records 1720-1908; Town of Richmond (Vol. 2 of Records of Town Proceedings); Mrs. Emily Bates

RELATIONSHIP #1: This record officially makes Rhoda the mother-in-law of William L. Johnson, who is the brother of my great-great-grandmother, Susan Johnson Carroll. (This is NOT a biological relationship.) 

Rhoda Blossom on the hunt for income

      On November 20, 1852, Rhoda applied for a pension based on her husband David's service in the Revolutionary War. David had been a private in the Massachusetts Militia.

      In 1832, a year before his death, David had applied for a pension, based on the Act of June 7, 1832. The application was rejected, however, based on having served less than 6 months.

      Rhoda appointed William Weston of Burlington, Vermont, as her attorney to find defects in the original application rejection, but her application was also rejected. See her signature below!

Ancestry; U. S. Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, 1800-1900;  David Blossom.

      

      On July 7, 1855, Rhoda Blossom, "aged seventy five years and upwards" and "a Resident of Washington County in the State of Vermont" appeared in court to obtain bounty land based on her husband David's service in the Revolutionary War.  Rhoda was applying for bounty land based on the act approved March 3, 1855, known as the ScripWarrant Act of 1855. Under this act, the scrip was issued to veterans (or their heirs), who in turn typically sold it. This law reduced the service requirement to 14 days and made the minimum entitlement 160 acres!

      Since the witnesses for Rhoda were residents of Waitsfield, I am assuming that Rhoda was also residing in Waitsfield. In 1860, my great-great-grandmother, Susan Johnson Carroll, was living in Waitsfield, having lived in Richmond in 1850. Susan was the original owner of the Family Album I inherited, so Aunt Rhoda Blossom may even have lived with Susan! 

      In the application for bounty land, Rhoda declared that she married David on November 3, 1816. This differs from the November 6, 1817, date stated in the Vermont Vital Records. I am guessing that the Vital Records probably reflect the correct information.

Bureau of Land Management; Accession # MW-0178-086; Document # 38823.

   
      On January 1, 1863, the above patent was actually issued for 160 acres in Wabasha County, Minnesota. By this time, the warrant had exchanged hands multiple times!

      In the meantime, Rhoda began leasing out her land on March 25, 1855. My best guess, at this time, is that she was leasing out her entire real estate, and that she was in fact living in Waitsfield, possibly with Susan Johnson Carroll. She leased land to Horace M. Bruce, first for a one year term and then for a two year term. She was charging about $150 per year. So the leases ran from March 25, 1855, to March 25, 1858. She always drew up the lease agreements the preceding fall, so on September 12, 1857, she made arrangements with Blossom Goodrich to lease the farm for the year beginning March 25, 1858.       

 

Ancestry; Vermont Land Records; Richmond; Volume 9, p. 145 (from Family Search)

Rhoda Blossom's waning days

   
      The last evidence that we currently have of Rhoda being alive is the above lease document, dated September 12, 1857!

      Then on February 10, 1858, David Blossom's will was presented at the Chittenden Probate Court.

Ancestry; Vermont Land Records; Richmond; Volume 9, p. 163-5 (from Family Search)

Two days later, it was recorded in the Richmond, Vermont, land records. This only makes sense to me if Rhoda had died! Because when she died, her life interest in David Blossom's real estate needed to be distributed to their heirs!

Layer #2: Life as Mrs. Rhoda Day in Quebec and Vermont

   
      WHEW! Time to take a deep breath!!..........

      Even though we do not know where Rhoda Blossom is actually laid to rest, we know a LOT about Rhoda Blossom! The earlier layers of her life will not be as information-rich, but we will excavate what we can.

Evidence for Rhoda Day      

   
      There are at least 4 pieces of information testifying to the fact that Rhoda Blossom was Rhoda Day before she was Rhoda Blossom!

      First, there is her marriage record from Vermont Vital Records, which I will repeat here:

      Second, when Rhoda Blossom applied for bounty land based on David's Revolutionary War service, she established her identity in part by mentioning her identity before marrying David.

Ancestry; Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Applications; Blossom, David; Image 541. 

She does, however, give a different marriage date than the Vermont Vital Records!
   
      Third, and more interesting, is the information from the Hodges Family genealogy!

Ancestry; Genealogical record of the Hodges family of New England, ending  31 Dec 1894; p. 227.

      This source links Rhoda to new persons and new places! And yet, this must be our Rhoda because it includes a marriage of Rhoda's daughter in 1824 in Richmond, Vermont. Plus, Rhoda's daughter Elizabeth names her eighth child William Bates Hodges. If Elizabeth is indeed Rhoda's daughter, William G. Bates is her half-sister Emily's husband!

      Fourth, and most interesting, is that Nancy Bates is a DNA match to MF, who is a direct descendant of Elizabeth Day and Jacob Spafford Hodges! Nancy knows that she is a descendant of Rhoda Blossom through her daughter Emily Blossom Bates Johnson. So this is very compelling  evidence that Elizabeth Day is indeed the daughter of Rhoda Blossom! 

Questions Abound

      This naturally raises a lot of questions! Did Joseph and Rhoda marry in Canada or in Vermont? Did Joseph die in Canada or Vermont? Did Joseph and Rhoda have any children besides Elizabeth? Was Joseph truly born in England? Or was he actually born in Canada?? Or did Joseph actually have New England roots?

Looking for Joseph 

   
      Since so many of my ancestors went back and forth between Vermont and Canada, I started by checking numerous Vermont and Massachusetts records. I did find a Joseph Day, born 1775 in Winchendon, Massachusetts, son of John and Elizabeth. At first I thought that looked promising, but name of wife and death date just did not fit.

      I looked at a lot of Vermont records, including wills and probate, land records, VVRI, principal officers of Vermont, gazetteers, biographical records, 1800 and 1810 census data, and History of Chittenden County. There was nothing I could really sink my teeth into. I did notice that there were 13 Day households in Chittenden County in the 1810 census, with 8 of these households being in Jericho, Vermont. But none of household heads are named Joseph or Rhoda. And I did note that a Hiram Day was an officer of Vermont from Chittenden County in 1848.

      I also looked at Canadian records, especially those for British military in Canada. I did find several Joseph Days, although none was identified as Joseph Lockhart Day. Several seemed to have been born about 1765, which is earlier than the tentative birth year of Joseph Day. There was, however, a Fort Longueuil, at Longueuil, which is where his daughter Elizabeth Day, was born. This fort, however, was demolished in 1810.

      I also checked birth records in England.  There were several Joseph Days, but that is too big of a jump until more is known about Joseph in Canada.

      Although the search for Joseph has not been productive so far, my best guess at this point is that he may have served in the British military in Canada. It would tie in with his stated birth in England and it may help explain what appears to be an early death.

Daughter Elizabeth Day     

   
      We know a fair amount about Elizabeth Day, but I have yet to find evidence of other Day family members that crossed her path!

     On December 21, 1824, Betsey Day married Jacob Hodges in Richmond, Vermont, which is where Rhoda Day Blossom was living. The Vermont Vital Records indicate that both Betsey and Jacob were living in Williston, Vermont, at the time they married.

Ancestry; Vermont, Vital Records, 1720-1908; Marriage, Betsey Day.

      Elizabeth and Jacob had 12 children together, although 5 died as children or young adults. The 7 survivors included 6 sons and 1 daughter: Hannibal Hamlin, Albert Fuller, Ralph Watson, William Bates, Edmund Saxton, Charles Leonard and Electa Spafford. It appears that all of their children were born in Williston, Vermont.

      The earliest record for the family, subsequent to the marriage, is an 1837 newspaper article in which Jacob Hodges offers a reward for a strayed horse.

Newspapers.com; Sentinel and Democrat (Burlington VT); 18 Aug 1837, p. 1.  

      Although son William Bates Hodges and Charles Leonard Hodges lived essentially all of their lives in Vermont, the other children eventually moved to other states.

Layer #3: Life as Mrs. Rhoda Munson in Quebec 

   
      Although the information concerning Rhoda's husband, Joseph Day, was very scanty, the evidence is very compelling that he was her husband!

      The Munson layer, although earlier, is actually more information-rich! This layer started to come into view when Nancy Bates noted that there was evidence for a THIRD marriage for Rhoda Blossom! She also noticed that this third husband was already in my family tree!!

Evidence for Rhoda Munson

      The first piece of evidence is Filinda's (or Philinda's) death record.  It names her mother as Rhoda Birch, with the same spelling as in the History of the Hodges family. It names her father as Jesse Munson, so presumably Rhoda and Jesse were married at one point! If she was 69 years old at the time of her death in August 1868, she must have been born about 1799 in Canada.  This seems to fit! Rhoda would have been about 21 years old when Philinda was born. And her next daughter, Elizabeth Day, was born about 1804 in Longueuil, Canada, near Montreal.
   

Ancestry; Vermont, Vital Records, 1720-1908; Death - Filinda R Munson.

      The second piece of evidence is Philinda's marriage record. This states that Philinda was living in Richmond, Vermont, and married Ebenezer Mellen in Richmond on April 25th, 1819. But we know that Rhoda Blossom lived in Richmond in 1819! (At the time of the marriage, Ebenezer was living in Jericho.)

Ancestry; Vermont, Vital Records, 1720-1908; Marriage- Philinda Munson.

So who is MY Jesse Munson?

      I have been researching the Munson family for a long time! My most recent Munson ancestor is Samantha Munson, my great-great-grandmother, who was born in 1814 in Duxbury, Vermont, in Washington County. My immigrant Munson ancestor is Thomas Munson, my 8-great-grandfather. He was born in England in about 1612 and was one of the founders of New Haven, Connecticut.  My most distant Munson ancestor is Richard Munson, my 10-great-grandfather, who appears to have died in 1590, in Rattlesden, England. One of the primary resources for the Munson family has been 'The Munson Record', by Myron A. Munson, published in 1896. This book is available for free online viewing on the Internet Archive website (archive.org).

      Jesse Munson, in my family tree, is my 4th great-uncle. He is the son of Caleb Munson, my 4-great-grandfather, and the brother of Loammi Ruhami Munson, my 3-great-grandfather.

      Below are the birth records, in Goshen, Connecticut, for the Munson family. Caleb Munson and Mary Lee married in Goshen on March 19, 1767.

Ancestry; Connecticut Town Birth Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection); Goshen Vital Records; Munson surname.

  Their children, per the Goshen Vital Records, were:

          Seth,                        born 18 Feb 1768. 

          John,                        born 23 Nov 1769.

          Jesse,                       born 26 Jan 1772.

          Caleb, Jr.,                born 5 Jun 1775.

          Loammis Ruhamis, born 17 May 1777.   

According to Vermont Vital Records, though, a Reuben Munson, died in 1871 in Morristown, Vermont. His calculated birth date was July 31, 1781, and the death record states he was born in Goshen, Connecticut, to Caleb and Mary Munson.  Curiously enough, the Vermont Vital Records also state that Reuben Munson was born July 30, 1781, in Duxbury, Vermont, but I believe this is incorrect.

So where did MY Jesse Munson live?

     The best way to understand Jesse Munson is to look at his family. And The Munson Record, mentioned earlier, is a great source.

The Munson Record; Munson, Myron A.; Munson Association; 1895; p. 1069.

      Jesse's father, Caleb Munson, was born in 1746 in Wallingford, Connecticut. (Many residents of New Haven, Connecticut, helped found Wallingford, Connecticut... I have visited both places...)  On June 12, 1766, he bought land in Goshen, Connecticut. Evidently in the land record, he was described as "late of Branford, ... now of Goshen". And on May 3, 1770, it appears that he bought or sold 2 pieces of land at 25 pounds "in a place called Canada".  Per Caleb's account book, he appeared to be a weaver, although he also seemed to have some involvement with chair-making. He enlisted for Revolutionary War service in late 1776 or early 1777 and returned home in October 1777. In late 1778, he re-enlisted, was taken prisoner by the Hessians and returned home in 1781. While in the army, Caleb did cooking and drumming.

      By at least 1787, Caleb was living in Torrington, Connecticut. On January 3, 1787, Elijah Barber conveyed 40 rods of land in Torrington to Caleb Munson of Torrington.

     On February 21, 1788, Stephen Goodwin of Goshen conveyed "one full Right or Share of Land in the Town Ship of Waterbury... Said Township Lyeth on the Onion River".  Today, Waterbury is in Washington County, Vermont. At the time, it was part of New Hampshire since Vermont did not become a state until 1791.

The Munson Record; Munson, Myron A.; Munson Association; 1895; p. 1069.

   
      In March 1788, Caleb moved to his land in Waterbury with his wife and 6 sons. At the time, Jesse Munson would have been 16 years old. Caleb Munson was the third settler of Waterbury, after James Marsh and Ezra Butler.

      In 1800, Caleb Munson moved into Canada and located on the North River. In December 1802, both Caleb and Jesse died! One Sons of the American Revolution stated that Caleb died December 1, but this may be a default day. As noted above in the Munson Record, Jesse died December 9. At the time, Caleb would have been 56 years old and Jesse would have been 30 years old. It appears that both died in the North River area, but I have not seen that explicitly stated. But it does appear that their causes of death could be related, whether due to illness or an accident... In addition, Loammi Ruhami Munson, my 3g-grandfather, must have moved to Canada.

Understanding the lay of the land

Google maps; CONNECTICUT; Branford, Wallingford, Goshen, Torrington.

            Branford is actually quite a bit south of Wallingford, which is confusing to me, since I believe Caleb was actually born in Wallingford, based on the Barbour Collection of Connecticut Vital Records. From Wallingford to Goshen is about 47 miles. But Torrington is only about 6 miles from Goshen. From Torrington, Connecticut, though, to Waterbury, Vermont, is about 230 miles!

Google Maps; Vermont; Waterbury, Duxbury, North Duxbury.

   
      The Munson record states that "they located on the first farm south of the bridge crossing from Waterbury Street to North Duxbury Corner, and east of the Onion River." (The Onion River was the former name of the Winooski River.) Duxbury was divided into smaller communities, based on topography, including Duxbury Corner and North Duxbury. I am not sure which community "North Duxbury Corner" represents, but it seems likelier to me that it is the Duxbury south of Waterbury, rather than North Duxbury... If the farm was east of the Onion River and south of a bridge, that limits the locations where the farm could be!

      Duxbury is significant to me, because Samantha Munson, my great-great-grandmother was born in Duxbury in 1814. (Furthermore, she died in 1897 in Ontario, Canada.)

      In 1800, Caleb Munson, and evidently his 2 sons, Jesse and Loammi Ruhami, moved to Canada and settled on the North River. There are multiple North Rivers in Canada, which creates confusion, but I know from other research, that the Munsons had a connection with Lachute, Quebec. And Lachute has a Riviere du Nord running through it!

Google Maps; Lachute and Riviere du Nord.

     
      The following documents that Loammi's eldest son, Ira, was born March 30, 1800, in Lachute, Province of Quebec.

The Munson Record; Munson, Myron A.; Munson Association; 1895; p. 1081.

MY Jesse Munson is RHODA'S Jesse Munson

      The purpose of the recounting of the life of Caleb Munson and his sons, Jesse and Loammi, is to show that their dates and places sync up with the dates and places of Rhoda's Jesse. 

      First, we know that my Jesse Munson was living in the Lachute area in Quebec in about 1800. And we know that Rhoda's daughter Philinda Munson was born about 1799 in Canada. The slight difference in dates could be due to the fact that Jesse went to Lachute in advance of Caleb's stated 1800 migration. Or Philinda's birth year, estimated from her death record, may be slightly off.  Based on the birth information for Loammi's son, Ira, they must have been in Lachute AT LEAST by March 1800. 

      Second, we know that Jesse Munson died in December 1802 in the Lachute area. This makes it feasible that Rhoda would have remarried prior to the birth of her second child, Elizabeth Day, who was born October 25, 1804, in Longueuil, Quebec. Longueuil is about 60 miles east of Lachute.

      Third, we know that the Munson family not already in the Waterbury, Vermont, area, returned there, living in Chittenden (C) and Washington (W) Counties in Vermont!

      1. Seth, son of Caleb, lived in Middlesex (Chittenden, 1800), Moretown (Washington, 1810-1830) and died in Duxbury or Waterbury (Washington, 1830).

      2. John, son of Caleb, lived in Williston (C, 1799-1840) and Burlington (C, 1850-1864).

      3.  Caleb Jr., son of Caleb, lived in Williston (C, 1800), Duxbury (C, 1810), Williston (and Essex) (C, 1820-1857).

      4.  Loammi (aka Ammi), son of Caleb, lived in Duxbury (C, 1810) and Williston (C, 1820). By 1830, he had moved to Potsdam, New York, in Saint Lawrence County. Both he and his wife died in Potsdam.

      5. Reuben, son of Caleb, lived in Duxbury (C/W, 1810-1850). In 1870, he was living in Morristown, Vermont, in Lamoille County, with his son.

      6. Mary Lee, widow of Caleb Munson, Sr., died in 1835 in Williston (C). Presumably, she also returned to Vermont after the death of her husband and son.

We also know that Rhoda's family lived in Chittenden and Washington Counties. Her daughter, Philinda Munson Mellen, lived in Richmond (Chittenden) from about 1819 to 1858. From 1860-1868, she lived in Waterbury in Washington County.

Rhoda's daughter, Elizabeth Day Hodges, was married in Richmond, Vermont, where her mother Rhoda was living. But Elizabeth's husband, Jacob Hodges, was from Williston,  which is where the Hodges lived until at least 1850. Both Richmond and Williston are in Chittenden County.

RELATIONSHIP #2: If Rhoda's husband, Jesse Munson, is the Jesse Munson who is the brother of Loammi Ruhami Munson, my 3rd great-grandfather, then Rhoda was the wife of my 4th great uncle! (This is still NOT a biological relationship.) 

Layer #4: Life as Rhoda Birch (aka Burch). 

      To review, there are 2 pieces of evidence that Rhoda Blossom was born a Birch. Based on significant research, the spelling Birch, Burch and Burtch were all used interchangeably. 

      The first piece of evidence comes from the Hodges Family genealogy. Elizabeth Day's mother is given as Rhoda (Birch) Day. 

Ancestry; Genealogical record of the Hodges family of New England, ending  31 Dec 1894; p. 227.

      

      The second piece of evidence comes from the death record of Filinda R. Munson. Filinda's mother's maiden name is given as Rhoda Birch.

Ancestry; Vermont, Vital Records, 1720-1908; Death - Filinda R Munson.

Linking MY Parthena Johnson to the Burch Family

      Once again, Rhoda Blossom interwines with my family lines! My 3-great-grandmother was Parthena Burch! She was the daughter of Benjamin Burch and Sarah ("Sally") Strong, and the wife of William Johnson.

      The first piece of information linking Parthena Johnson to the Burch family was the following item shown to me by Doug MacFarlane, also a Burch descendant. If the Johnson referenced below is William Johnson, his wife was the daughter of Benjamin Burch.      

History of the Counties of Argenteuil, Que. and Prescott, Ont.; Thomas, Cyrus; John Lovell & Son; page 222.

   
      The second piece of information linking Parthena Johnson to the Burch family was the Carroll Family genealogy in the History of the town of Waitsfield, Vermont. This indicates that Parthena Burch married William Johnson.

History of the town of Waitsfield, Vermont, 1782-1908; Jones, Matt Bushnell; Boston, MA; G. E. Littlefield; 1909, p.268.

The Family of Parthena Burch and William Johnson

      It has taken many years to piece together the children of Parthena Burch and William Johnson! 

      Of course, my 2g-grandmother, Susan (Johnson) Carroll, was one of their children. In addition, they had children Rhoda, William and Parthena. These 4 children were all born in Hawkesbury, Ontario, about 17 miles from Lachute, Quebec, on the opposite side of the Ottawa River. But some time after the death of their father William in 1832 and the death of their mother Parthena in 1835, they moved to Vermont. (This William Johnson is the person who married Rhoda's daughter, Emily Blossom!) I have always suspected that they went to Vermont to be closer to members of Parthena's Burch family.  

      Later, I found a transcription for the JOHNSON tombstone in Greenwood Cemetery, West Hawkesbury Township, Prescott County, Vankleek Hill, Ontario. This tombstone was erected by their daughter, Rhoda (Johnson) Green and by William Sr.'s nephew, C. Abbott Johnson. This identifies 2 additional children of Parthena and William, namely Elizabeth, who died in 1840, and Eden, who died in 1837... Additional research revealed a son, Nathaniel Reeder Johnson, who was named after a traveling Methodist minister, who deeply influenced William Johnson. 

Greenwood Cemetery; Researched, Transcribed and Compiled by Ross G.H. Cotton, Roger Belanger & Leslie Higginson.

The Trajectory of the Benjamin Burch Jr. Family

      Benjamin Burch Jr., son of Benjamin Burch Sr. and Anna Udall, was born in 1751 in Stonington, Connecticut. He may have lived for a while in New London, Connecticut.

      In 1765, when young Benjamin was about 14 years old, the Benjamin Burch Sr. family moved to Hartford, Vermont, in Windsor County. Benjamin Sr. farmed for a living. The family initially occupied a log house, but later built a large frame house.

      In 1773, Benjamin Burch Jr., with his father-in-law John Strong and others, began the settlement of Woodstock, Vermont, also in Windsor County. (John Strong was also from Hartford, Vermont. Benjamin married John's daughter Sally.) Benjamin Burch and John Strong built a log house together and then built a frame house together in 1777. Additions were periodically made to accommodate both families. "Burtch's share consisted of himself and wife, and a fine flock of children, which was constantly increasing in numbers." Both men kept tavern as long as they lived in Woodstock, the tavern including lodgings for travelers. In 1788, John Strong moved to the jail-house on the Common, serving as jailer and inn-keeper. In 1792, Benjamin moved to the Green, taking possession of the jail-house... In the 1790 census, when the 2 families were probably living apart, the Benjamin [Jr. or II] Burch household in Woodstock, Vermont, lists 2 males 16+, 3 males under 16 and 5 females. Even if we assume that these 5 females include Sarah Strong, daughter Minverva, daughter Anna and daughter Wealthy, that still leaves room for Rhoda.

      There was a falling out between the Strong and Burch families as a result of business issues. In about 1802-1804, Captain John Strong, at the age of 81, moved with his wife and grandson, Benjamin Burch III, to Argenteuil, Canada, near Montreal. It appears that Jonathan Burch, a son of Benjamin Burch I, moved to Canada at this same time, with family members. Benjamin Burch II remained in Woodstock until 1806, but then "went away". It appears that he joined other family members in Canada! (His father-in-law, John Strong, had died in 1806.) Eddy/Edy Burch, another son of Benjamin Burch I, lived in Canada for 4 years. He could have moved to Canada as early as 1797, but since he was living in Hartford, Vermont, in 1800, he probably went to Canada after that time.

The official roster of the soldiers of the American Revolution buried in the state of Ohio;  p. 75. 

      In 1810, there were 2 Benjamin Burches and 2 Jonathan Burches living in Lachute, which is in Argenteuil County.

History of the counties of Argenteuil, Que....; p. 233

      In 1825, there is a census listing for Benj Burch Senr and Benj Burch Junr, with a Wm Johnson living immediately adjacent to Benj Burch Junr. The locality is given as "Argenteuil, Chatham, Gore between Chatham and Argenteuil, Ile aux Chats, Lachute", but I believe these 3 persons are counted as part of Lachute.

1825 Census of Lower Canada for Benj Burch; p. 1280.

   
      The household of Benj Burch Senr [aka Benjamin Burch II, b. 1751] has 3 persons in the household. One person is a married male 60+. One person is married female 45+. Another person is a non-married female 14-17. This is most likely Benjamin Burch, wife Sally and a granddaughter.
      The household of Benj Burch Junr [aka Benjamin III, b. 1780] has 9 persons in the household. This is the grandson of Captain John Strong, who came to Argenteuil in about 1803-1804.
      The household of Wm Johnson has 4 persons in the household. I am having a difficult time, though, making sense of the entry details. It appears to me that he should have had 4 children in the household. Perhaps his eldest child, Elizabeth, who would have been 15, was living with her grandfather.

How early did the Benjamin Burch Jr. family live in Lachute, Quebec, area?

      To summarize the above information:

1. Benjamin Burch Jr. (born 1751) probably moved to Lachute 1806-1810. 
2. Jonathan Burch, brother of  Benj Burch Jr., moved to Lachute about 1802-1804, according to one source. But I found a notarial record for a Jonathan Burch, a farmer in Argenteuil, selling furnishings in 1801. So he must have arrived earlier than we thought!
3. Edy Burch, brother of Benj Burch Jr., moved to Canada sometime after 1800.
4. Benjamin Burch III (born 1780), son of Benjamin Burch Jr. moved to Lachute with his grandfather about 1802-1804.

      Looking at the children of Benjamin Burch Jr.:

1. Minerva Burch may have married Francis Durant about 1798 in an Anglican Church in St. Andrews East, according to a descendant of Minerva. (Original source not found)
2. Rhoda Burch must have been in Canada by about 1799 when her daughter Philinda Munson was born. 

Looking at the DNA match data

      Although I initially looked at my own DNA matches, it eventually occurred to me that it would be much more valuable to look at my mother's DNA matches! My mother matches 2 descendants of Elizabeth Day, Rhoda's daughter by her second husband.  She matches 27cM with C. L. and 28 cM with E. S. (My sister matches these same 2 persons by 8cM and 7cM, respectively, but I do not match either person.) 

      So it seems quite clear to me, based on both DNA and genealogical research, that Rhoda Burch Blossom is biologically related to me. It is slightly less clear whether she is a child of Benjamin Burch II (b. 1751), and thus a sister of Parthena Burch, or if she is descended from Benjamin Burch I (b. 1728). Because there are only 2 fairly low matches, I cannot use the tool What Are the Odds to determine where Rhoda fits in!

      It is very plausible that Rhoda is a daughter of Benjamin Burch II and a sister of Parthena Burch. Rhoda was born about 1778 in Vermont. In 1778, Benjamin II was living in Woodstock, Vermont, in Windsor County, and would have been 27 years old.  Prior to 1775, he built a log house with his father-in-law, John Strong, so presumably he was already married.

      It is highly unlikely that Rhoda is a daughter of Benjamin Burch I and Anna Udall since Anna would have been 50 years old at the time of Rhoda's birth. If she were a granddaughter of Benjamin I, she would have to be a daughter of one of his other sons: Jonathan, William or Edy. 

1. Jonathan could be Rhoda's father. In 1778, he would have been living in Windsor County, Vermont, and would have been about 25 years old. Some genealogy trees have indicated that his son Jonathan Burch Jr. was born in 1778, so he was probably married by that time. Per the 1790 census, there were 3 females in his household, 2 likely being daughters. However, at this time, I have not identified any of the children of Jonathan, except for Jonathan Jr., so it does leave room for Rhoda. It appears that he was living in Argenteuil County by September 1801, based on notarial records for a sale transaction. 
2. William did not marry until 1786, so it seems unlikely that he was Rhoda's father.   
3. Edy Burch was born in 1760. He served in the Revolutionary War and returned to Hartford, Vermont, in 1777. In 1778, when Rhoda was born, he would have been just 18 years old. In the 1790 census in Hartford, there are females in the household. Presumably, they are his wife and daughter Diantha, which leaves no room for Rhoda. According to his own account, when applying for a Revolutionary War pension, he lived in Hartford for 20 years after the war, and then moved to Canada for 4 years. Since he was living in Hartford in 1800, it would appear that he lived in Canada from about 1801-1805. His family subsequently headed to Ohio, Indiana and Illinois.  

         In summary, the likeliest candidates for Rhoda's parents are Benjamin Burch II and Sarah Strong. But another possibility is that her father was Jonathan Burch, a brother of Benjamin Burch II. My first choice, though, is still Benjamin Burch II and Sarah Strong. Rhoda lived in Chittenden and Washington Counties in Vermont, which is where Parthena's children lived after the deaths of their parents.

RELATIONSHIP #3: If Rhoda is the daughter of Benjamin Burch II and Sarah Strong, Rhoda is my 4th great-aunt. If Rhoda were to be the daughter of Jonathan, brother of Benjamin Burch II, she would be a 1st cousin 5 times removed. (In either case, this IS a biological relationship.) 

Summary

      Rhoda (Burch) Munson Day Blossom was born about 1778 in Windsor County, Vermont. She had 4 children, 3 daughters and 1 son, by three different husbands. Her 2 oldest children were born in Quebec, probably in the Lachute area. By at least 1817, at age 39, she was living in Richmond, Vermont, in Chittenden County. She probably died in Chittenden County about 1858, but she may have lived for a short time in Washington County, Vermont. 

      It is not completely certain who her parents were. Most likely, they are Benjamin Burch II and Sarah Strong. But she COULD be the daughter of Jonathan Burch, brother of Benjamin Burch II.   

      Due to the amazing family tangles created by my Vermont-Canadian ancestors, I am related to Rhoda in 3 different ways.

1. She is the mother-in-law of William Johnson, my 3rd great-uncle and brother of my great-great-grandmother, Susan (Johnson) Carroll.
2. She is the wife of Jesse Munson, my 4th great-uncle and brother of my 3rd great-grandfather, Loammi Ruhami Munson.
3. She is either the daughter of Benjamin Burch II and Sarah Strong or she is the daughter of Jonathan Burch, brother of Benjamin Burch II. If the former, she is my 4th great-aunt. If the latter, she is my first cousin 5 times removed.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

        

      Rhoda looks like a tough woman who does not suffer fools gladly. Like so many of my Vermont-Canadian ancestors, she had to be tough to survive! The weather was often harsh and she had to be resourceful to earn money, especially after the death of her third husband. She brought in income by obtaining and selling bounty land based on David Blossom's Revolutionary War service. She also leased out her farmland to support herself.  

      I visited Chittenden and Washington counties in Vermont in the fall of 1996 and I fell in love! I had just left my father after quadruple-bypass heart surgery and the stunning beauty of the foliage and the play of light helped heal my soul. I felt like I had come home. And I still feel my Vermont ancestors in my bones! And Rhoda heads the list.

Sources

CENSUS DATA

Vermont, Rutland County. 1790 U. S. census. Ancestry.com. 2010.

- David Blossom. (Wells)

Vermont, Windsor County. 1790 U. S. census. Ancestry.com. 2010.

- Benjamin Burch II. (Woodstock)
- Jonathan Burch. (Hartford)
- William Burch. (Hartford)
- Eddy/Edy Burch. (Hartford)

Vermont, Chittenden County. 1800 U. S. census. Ancestry.com. 2010.
- Seth Munson. (Middlesex)
- John Munson. (Williston)
- Caleb Munson Jr. (Williston)

Vermont, Rutland County. 1800 U. S. census. Ancestry.com. 2010.

- David Blossom. (Wells)

Vermont, Chittenden County. 1810 U. S. census. Ancestry.com. 2010.
- David Blossom. (Richmond)
- Seth Munson. (Moretown)
- John Munson. (Williston)
- Caleb Munson Jr. (Duxbury)
- Loammi Munson. (Duxbury)
- Reuben Munson. (Duxbury) 

Vermont, Chittenden County. 1820 U. S. census. Ancestry.com. 2010.
- David Blossom. (Richmond)
- Philinda (Munson) Mellen. (Richmond)
- John Munson. (Williston)
- Caleb Munson Jr. (Williston)
- Loammi Munson. (Williston)
Vermont, Washington County. 1820 U. S. census. Ancestry.com. 2010.
- Seth Munson. (Moretown)
- Reuben Munson. (Duxbury)

Canada, Lower Canada Census, 1825.
- Benjamin Burch II, (Argenteuil, Chatham, Gore, Ile aux Chats, Lachute), p. 1280.
- Benjamin Burch III, (Argenteuil, Chatham, Gore, Ile aux Chats, Lachute), p. 1280.
- William Johnson, (Argenteuil, Chatham, Gore, Ile aux Chats, Lachute), p. 1280. 

Vermont, Chittenden County. 1830 U. S. census. Ancestry.com. 2010.
- David Blossom. (Richmond)
- Philinda (Munson) Mellen. (Richmond)
- John Munson. (Williston)
- Caleb Munson Jr. (Williston)
Vermont, Washington County. 1830 U. S. census. Ancestry.com. 2010.
- Seth Munson. (Moretown)
- Reuben Munson. (Duxbury)

Vermont, Chittenden County. 1840 U. S. census. Ancestry.com. 2010.
- Rhoda Blassom [Blossom]. (Richmond)
- William Batis [Bates]. (Richmond)
- Philinda (Munson) Mellen. (Richmond)
- John Munson. (Williston)
- Elizabeth (Day) Hodges. (Williston)
- Caleb Munson Jr. (Essex)
Vermont, Washington County. 1840 U. S. census. Ancestry.com. 2010.
- Reuben Munson. (Duxbury)

Vermont, Chittenden County. 1850 U. S. census. Ancestry.com. 2009.
- Rhoda Blossom. (Richmond)
- Philinda (Munson) Mellen. (Richmond)

- George B. Carroll. (Richmond)
- Amos B. Cooper. (Richmond)
- John Munson. (Burlington)
- Caleb Munson Jr. (Williston)
- Elizabeth (Day) Hodges. (Williston)
Vermont, Washington County. 1850 U. S. census. Ancestry.com. 2009.
- Reuben Munson. (Duxbury) 

Vermont, Chittenden County. 1860 U. S. census. Ancestry.com. 2009.
- John Munson. (Burlington)
- Elizabeth (Day) Hodges. (Williston)

Vermont, Washington County. 1860 U. S. census. Ancestry.com. 2009.

- Susan (Johnson) Carroll. (Waitsfield)
- Philinda (Munson) Mellen. (Waterbury)

VITAL RECORDS

Connecticut, The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records.
- Births, Benjamin Burch. (Stonington Vital Records, p. 62)

Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988. Ancestry.com. 2011.

- Marriages, David Blossom and Thankful Bodfish. (Barnstable)

Quebec, Canada, Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1968. Ancestry.com. 2008.
- Burial, Mr. Nathan Blossom.

Vermont, Vital Records, 1720-1908. Ancestry.com. 2013.

- Births, Chloe Blossom. (Wells)

- Births, David Crocker Blossom. (Wells)

- Births, Elizabeth Blossom. (Wells)

- Births, Joseph Blossom. (Wells)

- Births, Mehitabel Blossom. (Wells)

- Births, William Blossom. (Wells)

- Deaths, Alma M. (Blossom) Cooper. (Richmond)
- Deaths, Filinda Munson. (Waterbury)

- Marriages, David Blossom and Desire Denason [sic]. (Cavendish)

- Marriages, David Blossom and (Rhoda) Day. (Richmond)
- Marriages, Emily Blossom and William G. Bates. (Richmond)
- Marriages, Emily (Blossom) Bates and Wm L. Johnson. (Richmond)
- Marriages, Betsey Day and Jacob Hodges. (Richmond)
- Marriages, Philinda Munson and Ebenezer Mellen. (Richmond)

OTHER DEATH RECORDS

Find A Grave. www.findagrave.com.
- David Blossom, #174361849.
- Emily (Blossom) Johnson, #35775077.
- Hiram Blossom, #152258532.
- Emily (Johnson) P. Perrin, #8061298.

Newspapers.com, The Universalist Watchman (Montpelier, VT).

- Norman Blossom, 09 Apr 1847, Page 3.

Newspapers.com, The Free Soil Courier and Liberty Gazette (Burlington, VT).

- William G. Bates, 26 Aug 1847, Page 3.

Newspapers.com, Sentinel and Democrat (Burlington, VT).

- Jacob Hodges, 18 Aug 1837, Page 1.

Vermont, Wills and Probate Records, 1749-1999. Ancestry.com. 2015.
- David Blassam [Blossom], Chittenden Probate District, Estate Files, Box 9, File #910.

- Norman W Blossom, Chittenden Probate District, Estate Files, Box 12, File #1309.

BOOKS

Dana, Henry Swan; History of Woodstock, Vermont; pg. 76-78.

Dwight, Benjamin Woodbridge; The history of descendants of Elder John Strong, of Northampton, Mass.; Albany; J. Munsell; 1871, pgs. 840-841.

Hodges, Almon D.; Genealogical record of the Hodges family of New England, ending December 31, 1894; Boston; Printed for the family by F. H. Hodges, 1987.
- p. 227-8, Jacob Spafford Hodges, references Rhoda (Birch) Day and Elizabeth Day.

Jones, Matt Bushnell; History of the Town of Waitsfield, Vermont 1782-1908; Boston, Massachusetts; George E. Littlefield; 1909; p. 268.

Munson, Myron A.; The Munson record: a genealogical and biographical account of Captain Thomas Munson (a pioneer of Hartford and New Haven) and his descendants; New Haven, Conn.; Printed for the Munson Association, 1895, p. 1069-1071. (https://archive.org/details/16371887munsonre18961muns)

Thomas, Cyrus; History of the counties of Argenteuil, Que. and Prescott, Ontario: From The Earliest Settlement To The Present (1896); Montreal; Lovell Publication; 1896; pgs. 222, 233.

MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS

Bureau of Land Management, (https://glorecords.blm.gov/details/patent/default.aspx?accession=0178-086&docClass=MW&sid=w4bkbe44.0aj), David Blossom/Rhoda Blossom.

Carroll Family Album, in possession of Dorothy Crooks.

DAR lineage books. (North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000; Ancestry.com. 2016.
- Chloe Blossom, Volume 101, Application 100411 (Mrs. Olive H. Shaw Bowen)

DNA match data, Ancestry.
- Nancy Bates to MF, direct descendant of Elizabeth Day.
- L. C. to CL and ES, direct descendants of Elizabeth Day.

Greenwood Cemetery; Researched, transcribed and compiled by Ross G.H. Cotton, Roger A. Belanger and Leslie P. Higginson; image 9
https://ottawa.ogs.on.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2020/05/GREENWD.pdf

Lineages of Members of the National Society of Sons and Daughters of the Pilgrims, Vol. II.
- Capt. David Blossom, Seana Miner, Nathan Blossom. (#6414, Dr. Charles H. Pennoyer).

Quebec, Canada, Notarial Records, 1637-1935; Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; 2016.
- 29 Nov 1803; Deed sale to Jonathan Burtch in Seigneurie of Argenteuil.

The Official roster of the soldiers of the American Revolution buried in the state of Ohio; Ancestry.com Operations Inc.; 2005.
- Burch, Eddy/Edy, Volume 2, page 75.

U.S., Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, 1800-1900; Ancestry.com. 2010.
- Blossom, David. R961 (rejected).

Vermont, Land Records, Early to 1900; Ancestry.com, 2014.
- Volume 8, p. 379, Lease by Rhoda Blossom to Horace M. Bruce.
- Volume 8, p. 481, Lease by Rhoda Blossom to Horace M. Bruce.
- Volume 9, p. 145, Lease by Rhoda Blossom to Blossom Goodrich.
- Volume 9, p. 163, Will of David Blossom.