OHIO STATEWIDE FILES OH-FOOTSTEPS Mailing List Issue 197 *********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest Volume 02 : Issue 197 Today's Topics: #1 [OH-FOOT] Catherine (TRIMMER) FLET [Kreapsparrot@aol.com] #2 [OH-FOOT] Adam FLETCHER [Kreapsparrot@aol.com] Administrivia: To unsubscribe from OH-FOOTSTEPS-D, send a message to OH-FOOTSTEPS-D-request@rootsweb.com that contains in the body of the message the command unsubscribe and no other text. No subject line is necessary, but if your software requires one, just use unsubscribe in the subject, too. ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #1 Date: Fri, 20 Sep 2002 10:14:56 EDT From: Kreapsparrot@aol.com To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <125.16d473f1.2abc8760@aol.com> Subject: [OH-FOOT] Catherine (TRIMMER) FLETCHER Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit >From the Newcomerstown News, April 10, 1938 Letter Gives Story of Pioneer Woman's Battle for Livelihood The 100 year-old story of Catherine Trimmer Fletcher, who surmounted seemingly impossible obstacles to provide a home for her seven children on a farm two miles west of Newcomerstown, is revealed in a letter received this week by Will Fletcher, Neighbor St., a grandson. Catherine was the wife of Adam Fletcher and lived on a 120-acre farm, now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Marlowe, West State St., about two miles west of here on Route 16-36. Her husband contracted "lung fever" while clearing the farm of timber and died at the age of 40 on March 23, 1838. He left his wife with the care of five children. A month after his death, Catherine gave birth to twin sons, Samuel and Adam, adding to her burden. Samuel was the grandfather of Will Flethcer. Turning a deaf ear to the urgings of her neighbors that she go to the poorhouse and leave her children to be cared for by other families, she utilized an early training in tailoring and solicited business thruout the Tuscarawas valley. Many overcoats were turned out by her nimble fingers in her fight against pioneer hardships. The heavy chores about the farm became her work in addition to caring for her seven children. The oldest, Joseph, was 14 and learned at an early age to provide. To make matters worse, the farm was shadowed by a $200 mortgage. But, as she later told her children, her "New Jersey Dutch blood" asserted itself and they got along in the log cabin somehow. She earned enough money to pay off the mortgage and, when the log cabin no longer provided adequate shelter for the large family, started storing lumber for a new home. The house was built in 1849-50 and still stands along the highway on the West Lafayette-Newcomerstown road. Jacob Wolfe, a skilled carpenter of that day, worked 180 days during tow summers at $1 per day, helping to erect the building. A few years later the Pennsylvania railroad was built thru the valley and with it came added tailoring work for Catherine. The job of raising her family was thus lessened. She lived to see all of her children married and installed in homes of their own. With her future secure and the battle won, Catherine gained her chance to rest. Her children visited her often and it was during one of these visits that she died of a heart attack on June 1, 1880. She had risen and eaten her breakfast and appeared in good health. After breakfast, she retired to the living room and it was here that her daughter found her dead a few moments later. Death had come quickly and painlessly. She was buried in a quiet cemetery five miles west of here and today a memorial stands over her grave, placed there by her children in memory of her sacrifices. Her husband, Adam came to Newcomerstown with a brother and his mother during the War of 1812, 17 years before the Ohio canal opened the valley to the east. Adam and Catherine were married and lived for a time in the old Goudy house, situated on land then owned by John Miskimens, just west of the concrete bridge. Adam tended the ferry when the Tuscarawas river's channel passed that point. Later he purchased the 120-acre farm, constructed the log cabin and died of pnumonia, then known as "lung fever". Adam's grave has never been found in the old Newcomerstown cemetery on South Bridge St. The administrator of his estate failed to have it designated and later efforts by his children failed to locate it. The letter received by Will Fletcher was originally written by Phoebe Stewart in memory of Adam. Relatives found it after her death and gave it to descendants of Adam and Catherine. - ------------------------------------------------------------------- >From the Coshocton Age, June 5, 1880, page 4, Orange Items Mother Fletcher of our township, peacefully passed over the river of death the 1st, inst., leaving behind a family that, without an exception, are ornaments to society, well respected by whom known, who mourn her loss, but not without hope. Funeral services the 3rd inst. and her remains will be placed in Waggoner's cemetery. - ------------------------------------------------------------------- Antique Chair Talk, written by Mary Edna Pollock, July 1975 (a great granddaughter) I have my great grandmother's rocking chair. If it could talk what a tale it could tell. It might tell how great grandmother was left a widow at the age of thirty six with five children to raise, the eldest being fourteen years of age. Great grandfather contracted "lung fever" while clearing their small one hundred and twenty acre farm of timber and died at the age of forty. One month later on his birthday, twin sons were born to great grandmother. Not heeding the counsel of her neighbors that she go to the poorhouse and let other families raise her children she said her New Jersey Dutch blood asserted itself and she utilized an early training in tailoring and made many overcoats for the neighbors. To make matters worse, the farm was shadowed by a two hundred dollar mortgage. Great grandmother with the help of her family, paid off the mortgage and began storing lumber to replace the log cabin great grandfather had constructed. A few years later a railroad was built through the valley and with it came added tailoring work for great grandmother. If this rocking chair could talk it might tell how the young children were rocked to sleep or held in great grandmother's arms when they were ill and soothed by the gentle rocking of this favorite chair. It might tell of the worries and cares of the day that were carried away or erased as the family used this chair. Great grandmother lived to see all her children married and settle in their homes. At the age of seventy-eight she suffered a heart attack and peacefully passed on to that better land. Today, this antique chair reposes in the basement of my home and while doing the laundry, I relax in this comfortable chair and think of the sacrifices my great grandmother endured. On hot summer days I carry the daily paper to the basement and cool off sitting in this chair. This chair might also say "I have rocked seven generations". - ------------------------------------------------------------------- ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #2 Date: Fri, 20 Sep 2002 11:55:23 EDT From: Kreapsparrot@aol.com To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: Subject: [OH-FOOT] Adam FLETCHER Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Fletcher, Adam State: Ohio Year: 1820 County: Coshocton Roll: M33_88 Township: Newcastle Page: 24 Image: 38 1820 Census, Oxford Township, Coshocton County, Ohio Adam Fletcher is listed as the head of a household, the listing includes a male under 10 years of age [identity unknown], a male sixteen to twenty six years of age [Adam}, and a female 45 years and upwards [presumably Adam's mother, based on letters from Adam's brother in New York; her identity is unknown.] - ------------------------------------------------------------------- 1830 Census, Oxford Township, Coshocton County, Ohio, enumeration as follows: Males: 1 under 5 (Lewis b. 1830) 1 5 to 10 (Joseph b. 1824) 1 10 to 15 (Unknown) 1 30 to 40 (Adam b. 1797) Females: 1 under 5 (Susannah b. 1827) 1 10 to 15 (Unknown) 1 20 to 30 (Catharine b. 1802) - ------------------------------------------------------------------- Adam was buried in an unmarked grave in what is now known as the Old Pioneers Cemetery in Newcomerstown, Oxford Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio. The records for the cemetery burned more than a hundred years ago. - ------------------------------------------------------------------- 1819, Tax Levy, Oxford Township, Coshocton County, Ohio no levy for 1818; in 1819, his levy for one horse was 30 cts, for one cow was 20 cts, Tax due in 1819 was 40 cts [30+20=40??] - ------------------------------------------------------------------- Coshocton County, Ohio - Common Pleas Journal 1829-1832 March 30, 1830 - Adam Fletcher granted ferry license over the Tuscarawas River in Oxford twp, from Coshocton to New Philadelphia. - ------------------------------------------------------------------- >From the General Index to Deeds, Coshocton County, Ohio June 10, 1835 Mathias Denman to Adam Fletcher; recorded June 4, 1835, deed dreawn from Mathias Denman to Adam Fletcher, for $379.80, 126.60 acres in Coshocton County, Ohio, Range 4, Township 5, and a part of the first quarter or section, United States Military Lands, butted and bounded as follows: "Beginning at a post at the southwest corner of lands owned by John Mullvean on the section line and running N 89 0/2, W eixteen chains and 67/100 of a chain to a post from which a dogwood 14 (or 4) incehes in diameter bear N 41 0/4, W 17 links, thence N 0/4 of a degree, E seventy one chains and 68/100 of a chain to the middle of the Tuscarawas River, thence up said river N 64 0/4, E nineteen chains, thence south eighty chains and 22/100 of a chain to the beginning containing one hundred twenty and four (six) acres and 60/100 of a acre, be the same more or less." Bounded on the west by lands formerly owned by Smith Lounsberry, now by Samuel Forsythe, on the east by lands of Isaac Parse and John Mullvean. - ------------------------------------------------------------------- September 30, 1837,Adam Fletcher mortgaged the farm to the State of Ohio for $150, at 7% interest, payable semiannually. The mortgage was filed with Coshocton County, April 28, 1838. Oct 25, 1847, I certify that the within mortgage has been paid off in full and _?_ County recorder is authorized to make the necessary entry on his record. Signature not legible. - ------------------------------------------------------------------- Common Pleas, April T. 1838 Estate of Adam Fletcher deceased Letters of Administration granted to William Gardner. The State of Ohio, Coshocton County, Court of Common Pleas of April Term 1838 Be it remembered that the Term aforesaid of said court, to wit, on the 30th day of April in the year aforesaid, Catherine Fletcher, widow of Adam Fletcher, decd, relinquished her right to the administration of said decedents estate, in favor of William Gardner, It is ordered that Letters of Administration be granted to the said Wm. Gardner: and thereupon the said William Gardner was duly sworn in open court and gave bond with security to the acceptance of the court in the penalty of one thousand dollars, conditioned as the law directs. James Lisk and Saml. Forsythe are accepted as security. Whereupon it is ordered by the court that Daniel Burt, Geo. W. Price and Geo. Starker appraise the personal property of said estate: And thereupon the said Administrator having filed his bond as herein before ordered Letters of Administration issued in the words following, to wit: The State of Ohio, Coshocton County.ss.Court of common Pleas, for the county of Coshocton and State of Ohio, aforesaid To William Gardiner, Greeting. Whereas at a Court of Common Pleas holden at the Courthouse in Coshocton, within and for the county aforesaid, on the 30th day of April in the yar of our Lord One thousand and eight hundred and thirty eight it was alledged that Adam Fletcher of said county, lately died intestate, and having whilst living and at the time of his death, goods & chattels within said county by reason(?) whereof, the ordering and granting administration of all and singular, the goods, chattels, and credits of the said deceased and also the auditing, allowing, and final adjustment of the accounts thereof doth appertain to the said court, who being desirous that the goods, chattels and credits of the said deceased may be well and _?_ admiinistered, applied and disposed of and grant unto the said William Gardner full power and authority by these presents, to administer and faithfully dispose of all and singular the goods and chattls, to ask, demand and receive the debts which unto the said deceased whilst living and at the time of his death did belong: and to pay the debts the said deceased did ow, so far as his goods and chattels will extend and the Law requires: Hereby requiring you to make or cause to be made, a true and perfect inventory of and singular, the goods and chattels of said deed, so far as shall come to your knowledge, (except the wearing apparel,) which shall be appraised and signed by Daniel Burt, George W. Price and George Starker, good judicious householders, under oath or affirmation: which said appraisement and also a true and accurate statement of the debts due and owing the estate so far as know to you, shall be returned to the Clerk's office of said court within three months; and also, that you adjust and settle up the acocunts of said estate,and deposit such account in the Clerk's office within eighteen months unless further time hereafter be allowed by the Court: That the appraises aforesaid shall allow the widow of said decedent such provisions or other property as they shall think reasonable for the support of herself and Children for twelve months from the time of death of the said intestate, which shall not be returned in the aforesaid inventory, but in a separate schedule which shall also be signed by such appraisers. And we do by there presents, depute, constitute and appoint you administrator of all and singular goods, and chattels, and credits, which were of said deceased, and hereby requiring and enjoining it upon you to discharge the duties of said appointment with fidelity, according to the best of your skill and abilities. In Testimony whereof, the said court on the same day and year aforsaid, at Coshocton, cause their seal to be hereunto affixed, and order these presents to be attested by the Clerk. In Witness whereof, I, Alexander M. Gowan, Clerk of said Court have hereunto subscribed my name at Coshocton, this 30th day of April, A.D. 1838 - ------------------------------------------------------------------- Appraisal Warrant The State of Ohio, Coshocton County, ss. To Daniel Burt, Geo. W. Price & Geo. Starker, We Comman you, that after being duly sworn according to Law, you proceed to appraise the goods and chattels, which were of Adam Fletcher, late, of said county, deceased, and a true and accureate inventory thereof to make under your hands and seals, and that you allow the widow of said deceased such provision or other property as you shall think reasonable for the support of herself and Children for twelve months from teh date of his decease, which shall not be returned in the aforesaid inventory, but in a separate schedule, and which shall also be signed by you. Thereof(?) fail not. Witness the undersigned, Clerk of said Court at Coshocton, this 30th day of April A.D. 1838 A.M. Gowan, Clerk - ------------------------------------------------------------------- Acrostic (Author and Date Unknown) Adieu my partner dear, Dear children all farewell, As I must leave you here, May you in union dwell. Farewell dear sister to, Lifes pleasures swiftly flee, Enjoin my brother dear, That he weeps not for me. Cease all to weep for me, Heaven wisely ordered all, Each one should strive to be, Ready to meet deaths call. Adam Fletcher died March 23rd A.D. 1838 (written in same handwriting as the acrostic) - ------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------- End of OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest V02 Issue #197 *******************************************