Amy Johnson Crow, of No Story Too Small, has
again this year put forth her 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge. Essentially
each week, using optional weekly prompts, we examine one ancestor. That is, one
ancestor each week.
This week’s prompt: “Seems appropriate for the beginning of
the year. What ancestor had a fresh start? What ancestor has been so confusing
to research that you’d like to have a fresh start?”
A fresh start is exactly what I need on my VanHorn line.
Chrispin P VanHorn is my 3rd great grandfather. His parents, which I
have documented, are George W. VanHorn (1815-1878) and Jane Dudbridge (1811-?).
George’s lineage is where I have things all tangled. I have his parents as John
and Jane VanHorn but I have seen many others list his parents as Nicholas and
Catharine VanHorn. None of us have it documented as to George’s parents. I am
setting aside what I think I know of George and starting a fresh!
I have to admit I have never thrown away, so to speak, an
ancestor before! What do I do now? Go back to the beginning of course!
I first “met” George through my Aunt Helen. She is my great
grandfather’s sister. Well, was. She passed in 1995. She was the youngest of
Franklin Still and Sarah Jennie VanHorn’s children. Sarah Jennie’s parents were
Chrispin Pierson VanHorn and Maria Rice. Aunt Helen and I visited, wrote and
chatted often about the family.
Most of her letters and conversations centered around the
Still line specifically but she did tend to throw in bits and pieces here and
there about everyone else. Going through her old letters, she included a family
tree which she had transcribed from the family bible which she had in her
possession. She wrote that George Van Horn (she left a space between the Van
and the Horn) was the son of John and Jane Van Horn. George married Jane
Dubridge, the daughter of Wm. & Joanna Dubridge, on 10 January 1839.
George was 24 years and seven days old when they married.
Jane was 27 years, 11 months and 14 days. That would put George born 1815 and
Jane in 1812. She lists their children as: Chrispin P. (10 Sept. 1839 0 1902),
Asher W. (27 May 1841 – 3 June 1842), Benjamin (born 8 March 1843), Martha
Elizabeth (23 June 1845 – 6 June 1915), Joanna D. (11 March 1848 – 20 January
1915), Geo W. (4 November 1850 – 14 Feb. 1851), and Wm. G. (born 11 Feb. 1852).
So, going by that (family bible & my now late Aunt
Helen), George is the son of John and Jane … and I am right back where I
started from.
I also had in my files the 1850 and 1860 census records for
George. He shows up on the 1850 census in Kensington, Philadelphia . He is a 34 year old sawyer,
born in Pennsylvania .
Jane is 37. This fits especially when considering children. Also living there
are: 10 year old Pierson, seven year old Franklin (this would be Benjamin
Franklin), five year old Martha, and two year old Joanna. A Samuel Taylor, 30,
also lives there. He is a Team Driver. Ages and names all fit. The 1860 Census
shows George, Jane, Chrispin P., Benjamin F., Martha E., Joanna, and William G.
living in Valley Township , just outside Coatesville.
George and Chrispin are farmers.
That still does not help with his parents though. Then I
found a baptismal record for George Washington Vanhorn. George was born 3
August 1814 to John and Jane Vanhorn! He was 63 when he was baptized on 22 June
1878 at the Bridesburg Methodist Church ,
Philadelphia . He
was baptized the same day as his granddaughter, Anna Louisa. Anna Louisa is the
daughter of Chrispin Pierson VanHorn and Maris Rice so I am pretty confidant
that this George is Chrispin’s father and therefore, I have just documented
George’s parents as John and Jane Vanhorn!
The 1828 Northampton , Bucks County , PA
Tax Records show a John Vanhorn listed. He is listed in the parent column.
While it says Parents Names, it only lists the fathers. It the child column is
an eight year old George W Vanhorn and a 6 year old Rachel Vanhorn. Two things
should be mentioned here. First, If George was born in 1814 then he should be
14 years old, not eight. The second thing, is that Rachel is crossed out, just
a single line so it can still be read.
The 1829 Northampton , Bucks County , PA
Tax Records offers more information. The reason these are listed in tax records
is because it is prefaced by this statement: :List of children whose parents
are unable to pay for school and whose education is not otherwise provided for
in Northampton Township, 1829.” Wow! Both 11 year old George W. and nine year
old Rachel are listed next to their father, John Vanhorn.
If my George is the George listed in these two tax records
then he was probably born in 1819 not 1814.
Since these dates are closer to his birth, they are more apt to be
correct than the later records. This contradicts the info in the family bible
where it states how old he is when he marries.
Did he make the conscious decision to change his age? If so,
did he simply do so to impress Jane, who was born in 1812?
I have many unanswered question about George and John and
John’s lineage still. I feel good that I can comfortably say John and Jane are
George’s parents … and I found a sister Rachel! As for more information on
George and John’s lineage, that will be continues another day. While I can
cross off #8 of my Genealogical Goals for the year, I will now add #21 – Gather
more information about John, his wife Jane, their lives together, and his
lineage.
Sources:
Historical Society of Pennsylvania ; Historic Pennsylvania Church
and Town Records; Reel: 785
The Bucks County Historical
Society; Doylestown, Pennsylvania; Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Tax Records,
1782-1860; Collection: Title No. 102; Roll Number: 16
52
Ancestors in 52 Weeks is a weekly genealogical challenge issued by Amy Johnson
Crow,
© Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, 2015
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