Oct 05

Nicholas Headington in the War of 1812

USS Constitution (aka “Old Ironsides”). War of 1812 U.S. war ship. (2009 photo by author)

Last week I finally finished a project that had been on my To-Do List for some time. I completed my application to the United States Daughters of 1812 (U.S.D. 1812). It wasn’t like I had to go out and do a lot of research to complete the application. I had all the documentation right here at home. I just needed to sit down, gather and copy all the needed proofs and fill out the application.

My 5th great-grandfather, Nicholas Headington, served in the War of 1812. As far as I know he is the only ancestor I have that served in that war. According to the military marker at the foot of his grave he was in Gorsuch’s Company, the 2nd Maryland Militia.

Other sources give a little more information about his service. One tells that he was a Private in Captain Gorsuch’s Co., Randall’s Batallion of Riflemen, 2nd Regiment. [1]

In another source Nicholas is named among the Baltimore Citizens Serving in the 2nd Regiment from 14 October- 1 December 1814, Baltimore County, residence; Camp Hampstead, discharge. The officers were Benjamin Gorsuch, Captain, 32 miles from residence to Camp Hampstead; Ephraim Cook, 1st Lieutenant, 32 mi.; Nathan Gorsuch, 2nd Lieutenant, 26 mi.; George W. Johnson, 3rd Lieutenant, joined  & promoted Nov. 20, 26 mi.; Nicholas Dorsey, 2st Sergeant, 26 mi.; John Cresswill, Sergeant, 26 mi.; John Frizzell, Sergeant, 30 mi.; John Lewis, Sergeant, 12 mi.; James Cresswell, Sergeant, 26 mi.; George Clift, Corporal, 22 mi.; Levin Buckingham, Corporal, 25 mi.; Benjamin Lynch, Corporal, 11 mi.; and John O. Stinchcomb, Corporal, 11 mi.  The roster continues with a long list of over 80 Privates, including Nicholas Headington. It did not state how far away Nicholas was from the camp.  There were a number of desertions and absentees. Some names of interest among the privates are Laban Headington, George Frizzell and William Philips. [2]

Moorshead Magazines Ltd., publishers of Family Chronicle, Internet Genealogy and History Magazine, has also published Tracing Your War of 1812 Ancestors. It is a reference publication in their Tracing Your Ancestors series.

The magazine has an interesting article on Militia Service.  According to the author, the militia was the main defense of the country at that time and soldiers in the War of 1812 were more likely to have been in the militia than in the Army. Militia companies were commanded by a captain and had several officers. They consisted of men from the same district in a county. Units were often known by their commanders’ names and men were permitted to hire substitutes.

I decided to apply to the U.S.D. 1812 this year, the Bicentennial of the War of 1812. Even though Nicholas Headington had already been proved for the U.S.D. 1812 the closest common ancestor was Nicholas himself. So I had to submit proof all the way back to Nicholas as well proof of his military service.  It wasn’t all that difficult because I had proved this family for Settlers and Builders of Ohio, a lineage society of the Ohio Genealogical Society.

I was pleased that the U.S.D. 1812 has an application form that can be completed in Word or PDF. That way I didn’t have to search for my old pica typewriter in the back room of the basement. I completed my application in PDF with no problems.

My lineage from Nicholas Headington and his wife Ruth Phillips:
Their son William Headington & Mary Ann Cottrell
Their daughter Elvira Headington & Daniel Reid
Their son William Reid & Emily Bryan
Their daughter Pearl Reid & Phillip Brewster
Their daughter Gertrude Brewster & Carl Miller (my grandparents)

At one time there was a U.S.D. 1812 chapter named after my ancestor. The Nicholas Headington Chapter National Society United States Daughters of 1812 was established in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1908. In fact it was the first chapter established in the state of Arkansas. The Arkansas State Society U.S.D . 1812 was organized in 1906. Unfortunately The Nicholas Headington Chapter is no longer in existence.

Membership in the U.S.D. 1812 is not limited to an ancestor’s service in the War of 1812. Membership is available to women age eighteen and over who can prove that they are lineal descendants of an ancestor who rendered civil, military, or naval service to our country, rendered material aid to the U.S. Army or Navy, or who participated in the Lewis and Clark Expedition during the period of 1784-1815.

Service may be, but not limited to the following:

  • Those who signed the Oath of Allegiance or the Loyalty Test.
  • All state, county and town officials and also jurors.
  •  A member of the Continental or Federal Congress, or a member of a State Assembly or Legislature of one of the first eighteen states.
  •  A delegate to the convention which framed The Constitution of the United States.
  •  A member of a State Convention which ratified The Constitution of the United States.
  • An elector of one of the first four Presidents of the United States.
  • A legislative, executive or judicial officer of the United States of America, including such appointive officers as Treaty Commissioners, Territorial Officers, etc.

Military or Naval Service in any of the following insurrections or wars:

  • Wyoming Valley, Pennsylvania, 1784-1787.
  • Shay’s Rebellion, Massachusetts, 1786-1787.
  • Wars with Indians, 1784-1815.
  • Whiskey Insurrection, Pennsylvania, 1794.
  • War with France (Undeclared), 1798-1800.
  • Sabine Expedition, Louisiana, 1806.
  • Attack of British warship Leopard upon the United States frigate Chesapeake.
  • Embargo troubles, Lake Champlain, 1808.
  • Engagement between United States frigate President and the British ship Little Belt.
  • Expedition against Lafitte Pirates, 1814.
  • Wars with the Barbary Powers, 1801-5 and 1815.
  • War with Great Britain, 1812-1815.
  • The Creek War, 4 October 1814 to 24 January 1815.
  • Lafitte Aides to General Andrew Jackson.
  •  Local or state militia service, 1784-1815, or giving material aid to the Army and Navy.
  • Member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, 1804-6.

A forever stamp with the image of the USS Constitution was issued on 18 August 2012 to commemorate the bicentennial of the War of 1812. The USS Constitution, aka Old Ironsides, is oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world. The ship received its nickname during the War of 1812.

Now I wait and see if my United States Daughters of 1812 application will be approved.

[1] William M. Marine, The British Invasion of Maryland, 1812-1815, (Baltimore, Maryland: Society of the War of 1812, 1913), 318

[2] F. Edward Wright, Maryland Militia War of 1812, Volume 2, Baltimore, (No place: privately printed, 1979), 88.  

Oct 02

Tombstone Tuesday–Ruth Headington

Ruth Headington, Liber Cemetery, Jay County, Indiana.

This is the tombstone of Ruth Headington, located in Liber Cemetery, Wayne Township, Jay County, Indiana. The tombstone is inscribed RUTH, Consort of Nicholas Headington, Died Dec 1, 1865, Aged 71 Ys, 4 Ms, 25 Ds. She is buried next to her husband Nicholas and their son Washington Headington is buried on the other side of Nicholas. Her date of birth would be 6 Jul 1794, as calculated from her tombstone.

I occasionally see the term consort on a tombstone. According to the Miriam Webster Dictionary it means spouse.

Ruth (Phillips) Headington is my 5th great-grandmother. She married Nicholas Headington in Baltimore, Maryland on 22 September 1813. [1]

The following are some biographical sketches that mention Ruth (Phillips) Headington.

“…The mother of our subject [Colonel John W. Headington] was a woman of remarkable strength of mind, and moral courage. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and possessed all the Christian virtues in an eminent degree, and her pure Christian life left a lasting impression on her family…” [2]

Sketch prepared by Col. J.W. Headington about his father Nicholas Headington, unknown source:

“…His good wife, who had shared the hardships and joys of a pioneer life with him, died in 1865. She desired to live to see the great war of the Rebellion closed and the sons she had given to aid the government in its suppression return to their homes. She lived to see the former, but died before her sons both got home.”                                                          

Another biographical sketch about Ruth’s son, John Wesley Headington:

“…His mother was Ruth Headington, nee Phillips, and is remembered by her son as a Christian of the purest type, from her girlhood to the day of her death, and one of the best women ever called ‘mother.’

“His maternal ancestors were also Marylanders, and his mother came with her widowed mother (her father, James Phillips, having died in Maryland), to Ohio in 1820.” [3]

That last sentence got my attention. I have read this biography several times but never noticed that it mentioned that Ruth’s widowed mother came with the family to Ohio.

Family history says that Ruth’s mother was Catherine (Frizzell) Phillips. I took a chance and looked on Find a Grave for a Catherine Phillips that died in Ohio after 1823. I got lucky, thanks to those that submit photos and information to Find a Grave.com. I found a memorial on the website and it looks very promising as Ruth’s mother.

The grave marker reads, Catherine Frizzell Phillips, wife of J. Phillips, died 26 July 1840, age 72 years, 7 months and 5 days. Her date of birth would be 21 December 1767. She is buried in Berlin Church Cemetery, Knox County, Ohio. [4] There is even a photograph of her tombstone on their website. Thank you Find A Grave! There are quite a few Phillips buried in Berlin Church Cemetery and two Headingtons.

 

[1] Transcription of Baltimore County Marriages Licenses, January 1800-December 1816, on-line database, US GenWeb Baltimore County Site, Rootsweb/Ancestry.com, (http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mdbaltim/marlic/groom_h.htm : accessed 23 September 2012).

[2] Biographical and Historical Record of Jay and Blackford Counties, Indiana, (Chicago, Illinois: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1887), 437.

[3] Will Cumback and J.B. Maynard, editors, Men of Progress. Indiana, (Indianapolis, Indiana: Hugh J. McGrath & William Stoddard, Publishers, 1899), 142.

[4] Memorial No. 39059921, Catherine Frizzell Phillips, Find A Grave.com (http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=phillips&GSfn=catherine&GSby=1767&GSbyrel=in&GSdy=1840&GSdyrel=in&GSst=37&GScnty=2081&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=39059921&df=all& : accessed 30 September 2012).

 

 

 

Sep 28

Nicholas Headington

Nicholas Headington family, 1850 U.S. census, Delaware County, Ohio.

Nicholas Headington is one of the most popular search terms that brings visitors here to Karen’s Chatt. Nicholas Headington is my fifth greatgrandfather and evidently quite a few researchers are looking for information about him and his family. I will share what I know about him and hope the information will be helpful to other Headington researchers.

Nicholas Headington was born 29 April 1790, as calculated from his tombstone. He was born in Baltimore County, Maryland. I do not know who his parents were. Nicholas married Ruth Phillips in Baltimore, Maryland about 1813. [1]

Nicholas and Ruth resided in Maryland for about ten years after their marriage and then traveled west to Knox County, Ohio. They resided in Ohio for about 30 years before moving farther west to Indiana, sometime between 1850 and 1855. [2]

Nicholas and Ruth “Heddington” and their family were residing in Baltimore County, Maryland, in 1820. In the household: 1 male 26-44, 2 males <10, 1 female 26-44, 2 females <10. [3]

The Headington family moved to Ohio about 1823. They were enumerated in Pike Township, Knox County, Ohio in 1830. In the “Hedington” household:  1 male 40-49, 2 males 15-19, 1 male 5-9, 2 males <5, 1 female 30-39, 2 females 10-14, and 1 female 5-9. [4]

Nicholas Headington purchased two U.S. land patents. He first purchased 80 acres of land in the U.S. Military Survey in Knox County, Ohio, on 22 June 1825. The land was located in the east ½ of the north west ¼ of Section 14, Township 8, Range 12. About a year later he purchased another 80 acres in the U.S. Military Survey in Knox County, located in the west ½ of the north east ¼ of Section 14, Township 8, Range 12 on 20 June 1826. [5]

In 1840 Nicholas and Ruth were living in Porter Township, Delaware County, Ohio. Their family in 1840: 1 male 50-59, 1 male 15-19, 2 males 10-14, 1 male 5-9, 1 male <5, 1 female 40-49, and 1 female 15-19. [6] 

Nicholas and Ruth “Hedington” were still living in Delaware County, Ohio, in 1850. Nicholas was 60 years of age and Ruth was 56. Both said they were born in Maryland. Still living at home were Washington (20, b. Maryland), Wesley (17, b. Maryland), and Eli (15, b. Maryland).  This enumeration tells us that Nicholas was a farmer. [7] 

Nicholas and Ruth Headington and some of their family moved to Jay County, Indiana, in about 1853. Nicholas died near Portland in Jay County in 1856. In 1860 Ruth, a widow, was residing with her son J.W. and his family in Wayne Township, Jay County, Indiana. The John W. Headington household in 1860: John W. (26, b. Ohio), Nancy W. (22, b. Indiana), Austin B. (1, b. Indiana), Ruth (65, b. Maryland). Ruth was a seamstress and John W. was a lawyer.  Their post office was the Jay Court House. [8] Ruth died in 1865. Both Nicholas and Ruth are buried in Liber Cemetery, Jay County, Indiana.

Additional information about the Headington family comes from old county history books and other sources. Nicholas and Ruth’s oldest son, James [J.N.] remained in Knox County. In an article about J.N. Headington:  “In 1820 Nichols Headington, from Baltimore county, Maryland, located in Pike township.  James, the eldest, who has since gained considerable celebrity as an auctioneer, married Ruth Hardesty, of the same township, in 1835…”

This same article suggests that the first Headingtons, two unmarried men, came to America with Lord Baltimore in 1634 and settled at Gunpowder Falls, a few miles from Baltimore. [9]

Colonel J.W. Headington wrote a sketch about his father Nicholas. The article was published in a 1901 Jay County, Indiana, book:

“Nicholas Headington was born in Baltimore county, Maryland, in 1792. He was married to Ruth Phillips, and settled in Knox county, Ohio, near Mt. Vernon, in 1820. At that time the country was new and the town of Mt. Vernon, the county seat, was a little village…In 1853 he came to Indiana and settled in the town (now city) of Portland, where he died in 1856. Mr. Headington was a true American, in love with its institutions and it flag…He was a soldier in the war with England in 1812, and always taught his children to be true to the flag…

“Nicholas Headington was the father of twelve children. Two died in infancy, and ten, three daughters and seven sons, grew to manhood and womanhood, namely: James, William, Nimrod, Washington, John W. Eli, Silas, Catherine, Mary and Rebecca. All of these ten have been called to the great beyond except two, Colonel Nimrod Headington, who resides at Portland, and Judge John W. Headington, who also resides in Portland and is engaged in the practice of law…” [10]

From another biography of John Wesley Headington: “…His father was by trade a shoemaker, but after his marriage changed his occupation to that of a farmer, in which he prospered, but eventually lost most of his estate by becoming security for others, and was reduced to a small farm with limited means. He was soldier in the war of 1812, was born in Maryland, and migrated from Baltimore county, in that state, to Knox county, Ohio, in 1820. His mother was Ruth Headington, nee Phillips…

“The paternal ancestors of the subject of this sketch came to America when Lord Baltimore came over to take possession of his grant of land, known as Maryland, about 1634. There were two brothers by the name of Headington amongst the emigrants, one of whom was the founder of the Maryland family from which the Indiana family of the name has descended. ..”  [11]

More about Nicholas Headington next week.

 

[1] Transcription of Baltimore County Marriages Licenses, January 1800-December 1816, on-line database, US GenWeb Baltimore County Site, Rootsweb/Ancestry.com, (http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mdbaltim/marlic/groom_h.htm : accessed 23 September 2012).

[2] Biographical Memoirs of Jay County, Indiana, (Chicago:  B.F. Bowen Co., Publishers, 1901), 304-5.

[3] 1820 U.S.  census,  Baltimore County, Maryland, District 6, p. 52, line 1, Nicholas Heddington; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 26 September 2012); from NARA Series Roll: M33_41.

[4] 1830 U.S. census, Pike, Knox County, Ohio, p. 198, line 1, Nicholas Hedington; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 26 September 2012); from NARA Series M19, Roll 134, Family History Film 0337945.

[5] Nicholas Headington (Knox Co., Oh) patent nos. 241 and 515; U.S. Bureau of Land Management, “Patent Search,” digital images, General Land Office Records (http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/PatentSearch : accessed 26 September 2012).

[6] 1840 U.S. Census, Porter, Delaware County, Ohio, p. 156, line 7, Nicholas Headington; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 26 September 2012); from NARA Series M704, Roll: 391, Family History Library Film: 0020163.

[7] 1850 U.S. census, Porter, Delaware County, Ohio, p. 317A, dwelling 3036, family 3050, Nicholas Hedington; digital images, Ancestry.com  (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 26 September 2012); from NARA Series M432, roll 675.

[8 ] 1860 U.S. census, Wayne, Jay County, Indiana, p. 141, dwelling 10, family 10, J.W. Headington; digital images, Ancestry.com  (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 26 September 2012); from NARA Series M653, Roll 269; Family History Library Film: 803269.

[9] N.N. Hill, History of Knox County, Ohio, (Mt. Vernon, Ohio: A.A. Graham & Co., 1881), 575, 689.

[10] Biographical Memoirs of Jay County, Indiana, (Chicago:  B.F. Bowen Co., Publishers, 1901), 304-5.

[11] Will Cumback and J.B. Maynard, editors, Men of Progress. Indiana, (Indianapolis, Indiana: Hugh J. McGrath & William Stoddard, Publishers, 1899), 141-2.

Sep 25

Tombstone Tuesday–Nicholas Headington

This is the tombstone of Nicholas Headington, located in Liber Cemetery, Wayne Township, Jay County, Indiana. The marker is inscribed Nicholas Headington Died Feb. 6, 1856, Aged 65 ys, 9 mos, 8 ds.

Nicholas Headington, Liber Cemetery, Jay County, Indiana.

At the foot of the grave is a second marker, a military marker inscribed N. Headington, Gorsuch’s Co, 2 MD. Mil.,War 1812. What great information! Gorsuch’s Company, 2nd Maryland Militia, War of 1812. This gives us a starting point to look for more information.

Nicholas Headington, War 1812 marker at foot.

“N Headington, Gorsuch’s Co, 2 MD. Mil., War 1812”

Liber Cemetery is located south of Portland, east of route 27 on E 200 S and east of College Corner. We visited this cemetery last fall and it appeared that the Headington tombstones and several others had recently been repaired. A big thank you to those volunteers who made the repairs on these monuments.

There are three Headington gravestones in a row along the left (east) side of the cemetery driveway as you drive into the cemetery. Unfortunately these tombstones were shaded by several trees and it was difficult to get a good photo of them.

Ruth, Nicholas and Washington Headington tombstones, Liber Cemetery.

The three family stones are Ruth [Nicholas’ wife], Nicholas and Washington Headington [their son]. The next marker is a large Whipple monument. The Headington markers all face west.

Headington tombstones next to Whipple monument, Liber Cemetery, Jay County, Indiana.

As calculated from his tombstone, Nicholas Headington was born 29 April 1790. Some sources say he was born in 1789. Nicholas Headington and Ruth Phillips were married about 22 September 1813 in Baltimore, Maryland. [1]

Nicholas and Ruth had twelve children. Two of them died in infancy. The children that lived to maturity were William, James, Nimrod, Washington, John W., Eli, Silas, Catherine, Mary and Rebecca. [2] I descend from William, who married Mary Ann Cottrell.

Look for more information about Nicholas Headington in this Friday’s blog post.

[1] Transcription of Baltimore County Marriages Licenses, January 1800-December 1816, on-line database, US GenWeb Baltimore County Site, Rootsweb/Ancestry.com, (http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mdbaltim/marlic/groom_h.htm : accessed 23 September 2012).

[2] Biographical Memoirs of Jay County, Indiana (Chicago: B.F. Bowen Co., Publishers, 1901), 304-5.

Sep 21

What’s Back There?

1963

Sometimes what you see in the background of a photo is more interesting and informative than what you see in the foreground.

You may see the location of items that are no longer standing or things that have been moved. You can see what homes and yards and other buildings looked like years ago. You might even be able to date a photo by the age of the cars in the photo, unless your family did not often buy new cars or drove classic cars.

When I was in the sixth grade our teacher, Mrs. Barbara Freeman, took our class on a field trip to downtown Willshire, Ohio. It was not a very long walk from the school to the downtown area. We viewed the old log cabin in the park and had a class photo taken in front of the Straubinger Hotel. The old hotel is no longer standing but you can see what it looked like in the background of this 1963 photo.

At this year’s Miller reunion some of my aunts and uncles were discussing where the farm’s windmill was located years ago. The photo below shows exactly where the windmill was.

Uncle Kenny with 4-H heifer, windmill in background.

Grandma Miller raised geese for extra money, but look in the background of this 1944 photo shown below. There is the horse trough and the windmill. Howard Caffee helped my Grandpa Miller pour cement for the horse trough and years later my dad and grandpa moved it south of the barn.

Grandma Miller 1944

Two of my cousins are posing for a photo in front of Grandma Miller’s garden in 1963. That fence and the garden are long gone.

Miller Cousins 1963

Here is a nice photo of some Schumms. Left to right are H.G., Rev. George, Louis M. and J.F. Schumm at the dedication of the new church in 1915. But look in the background. You can see the both the old and new churches at Zion Lutheran, Schumm.

H.G., Rev. George, Louis M., & J.F. Schumm, 1915.

This is a photo of my great grandmother Lizzie (Schinnerer) Scaer holding my aunt Amy. What nice gingerbread the house once had.

Lizzie (Schinnerer) Scaer & Amy Schumm, 1929.

Below is a photo of the men’s quartet and their accompanist at Zion Lutheran, Chattanooga. But look behind them. The church doors are wooden with stained glass inserts and stained glass above them. The church doors are now all glass. I barely remember those wooden doors and I wonder what happened to them and the stained glass.

Quartet at Zion Lutheran, Chatt. Howard Caffee, Ralph “Stubby” Bollenbacher, Rev. Carl Yahl, Paul McGough, Pauline (McGough) DeArmond.

This is a photo of my great uncle Pete Miller and his family taking a drive. In the background it looks like someone’s cows may have gotten out.

Pete Miller & family

This photo is most likely a photo of the Rueck farm in Oregon. The pine trees in the background indicate that the farm could have been located in the northwestern United States.

Rueck farm in Oregon

However, sometimes you just can’t take your eyes off what is in the foreground. Where did these Schumm Parochial School children get those costumes??

Schumm Parochial School