Amanuensis Monday: Van Horn connection made

Last month I received an email from a potential Van Horn connection! Many of the names fit but the dates seem off a bit. It took a little searching but our two lines do connect.

Hi Jeanne,

I found your blog while on Amnesty.com and I’m wondering if you would have any information on my Grandmother’s mother. Grandma was Margaret E. Van Horn/ Lilley(DOB 1897-1968). She married Roy E. Lilley. They had 4 girls and two boys. One of the girls, Laura Lilley/Kulp/Hilbish was my Mother. My question who was Margaret’s Mother . She died while my Grandmother was very young and no one in the family knew who her Mother was or how she died.

I have George W. as her father (DOB 1867) and 1900 census shows George W. and Margaret E. living with Robert Newsom (DOB 1840 England-Immigration 1877-Married 1882 to Martha Van Horn/Newsom (Dob- June 23, 1845-June 6, 1915) but can’t figure out what the first husbands name was.(George W. ’s father) George is listed as a stepson and Margaret as a Granddaughter. I’m thinking that Martha married the second time after having her children.

So, I am still looking for George W’s father and also George W’s wife and mother to my Grandma. I thought since you have done a lot of research on the Van Horn side you might have some answers for me. We must be related somehow but right now, I’m not sure what the connection is.

Thanking you in advance for your help.

Donna M. Kulp/Pressley

I can trace – with documented certainty - my Van Horn family back to John Van Horn. John was born 13 November 1785, according to the US Federal Census Mortality Index. The same Index notes his death as having occurred May 1850 in Bucks County. His wife’s name was Jane and they had two known children: George W. and Rachel.

George W. Van Horn was my 4^th great grandfather. He was born 3 August 1819 in Pennsylvania. He grew up in Northampton, Bucks County, according to tax records which also confirm his father was John Van Horn. George moved to Kensington, Philadelphia. He was living there in 1850. The 1860 Census shows him living in Valley Township, Chester County. He is back in Philadelphia by 1863 though, working as a carpenter. He died in Philadelphia 23 June 1878.

George had married Jane Dudbridge (born 1811). They had seven children:

Chrispin Pierson (1839 – 1902) ß my 3^rd great grandfather
Asher (1841 – 1842)
Benjamin Franklin (1843 – 1909) ß a Civil War veteran
Martha Elizabeth (1845 – 1915) ß Donna’s
Joanna D (1848 – 1915)
George W (1850 – 1851)
William G. (b 1852)

Martha appeared in the 1870 US Census as a 24 year old keeping house in Wilmington, New Castle, DE. Living at home with her were 20 year old Joanna labeled "idiotic" and 2 year old George W. Van Horn. Martha and Joanna were born in PA. George was born in DE.

Fast forward to 1910. Forty-three year old widower George W Van Horn is living in Leacock Township, Lancaster County with his 65 year old mother Martha E and her husband Robert Newsam. Living there also is 13 year old Margaret E Van Horn, listed as Robert’s granddaughter. This is the second marriage for both Robert and Martha. Martha notes she has only one child.

Hence, Martha Elizabeth had George most likely out of wedlock before marrying Robert Newsam in 1881. Margaret E Van Horn is then the daughter of George W. Van Horn, and the granddaughter of Martha Van Horn Newsam.

Donna was still looking for George W’s father and his wife. Sadly, I cannot answer who fathered George. As for his wife … in 1900 George was a widower living with his daughter and his mother in law Ann Margie Eesmuth, as well as his brother in law John A Eesmuth. So, while I do not have a first name for his wife, I do have her maiden name!

Amanuensis Monday is a genealogical prompt of GeneaBloggers.

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