Genealogical Gems

The War of 1812 is, in my opinion, an often overlooked war. Schools just kind of gloss over it. The Revolutionary War was the war for America ’s independence from England . The Civil War was the brother fought against brother, literally in some cases. But the War of 1812 … what was it even about? Philadelphia Gazette , 29 July 1812 Britain tried to enact trade restrictions on the United States . Britain also tried to limit our young nation’s expansion. On 18 June 1812, our Congress finally declared war against Britain . In August 1914, Britain captured and burned our Washington DC capital. New York , New Orleans and Baltimore were able to stand up to British forces. Our young nation once again found herself fighting for independence. The War of 1812 ended on 17 February 1815 with the signing of the Treaty of Ghent. Ancestry.com recently added a database titled, “Pennsylvania Volunteers in the War of 1812” My Still family was already well established in Chester Cou...

The other day I visited the Octorara Presbyterian Church down along Route 372/Valley Road between Quarryville and Christiana, Lancaster County . I saw a grave marker I had not seen before. There was an outer circle reading “In honor of service.” Inside the circle is a star reading “N.S. U.S.D. 1812.” Unfortunately the stone had worn and was not readable.    N.S.U.S.D. stands for National Society of United States Daughters of 1812 . The organization was founded 8 January 1892 by Mrs. Flora Adams Darling for the descendents of those who fought for America in the War of 1812.   Think you might have an ancestor who served in the War of 1812? The NSUSD offers a database of member ancestors. Some entries are more detailed than others.    Francis Harbison ( member # 14849 ) was born in 1758 in PA. He served PA as a Private in the Chester County Militia. His entry also reveals his wife was Katherine Hart. They had a daughter, Jane, who married James Ewing...

President James Madison submitted a treaty to the US Senate On This Day in 1815 to end the War of 1812. The Senate however tabled the treaty and recessed for the day. The treaty was ratified the next day unanimously. Source: Jefferson, Thomas. “ The Papers of Thomas Jefferson: 1 October 1814 to 31 August 1815 .” Princeton University Press. Pp 267-268.      Photo of Madison: Wikipedia, public domain image.       On This Day is a prompt I started this month to further explore historical events.                  © Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, 2015

Today, in Maryland, is Defenders Day. It is a legal holiday in which Maryland residents recall the day in which their ancestors defended the City of Baltimore on 12 September 1814 from the Brits in the War of 1812. The events gave birth to our national anthem as well. This weekend commemorates the 200th anniversary of "The Star Spangled Banner." On 24 August 2014, the Maryland Historical Society and Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine unfurled the Star-Spangled Banner Replica at President's Park on the White House Ellipse, located near 15th and E Streets, in Washington, DC.  It was two hundred years to the day that the British burned the White House. During the War of 1812, British troops captured Washington, DC and burned the White House. This caused President James Madison to flee. Just three weeks later, the British attacked the Baltimore. The British fired more than a thousand rockets and "bombs" on Fort McHenry but Balti...

This month we have been honoring a different veteran each day. Today's randomly chosen veteran is Jacob Eckman who served in the War of 1812. He enlisted on 25 August 1813 and served as a Private in Capt. Stansbury's Co 38 US Inf. He was discharged 30 April 1814. Jacob was born 30 September 1791 in Loudon, Virginia to Peter and Elizabeth Eckman. According to a fellow researcher, Peter was a son of Hans Jacob Eckman and was born in 1751 in Pennsylvania. His first wife was Margaret Lind (1801-1834). He married Mary Raney (1792-1875) in 1844. He passed away on 10 September 1877. They lived in Cleves, Hamilton County, Ohio. He fathered five children between the two wives. They are: Addison Shannon Eckman (1820-1860); George Washington Eckman (182-1877); Peter L. Eckman (1824-1867); William Henry Eckman (1828-1884); and Eliza Eckman Geeding (1840-1924). He is buried in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Cleves, Hamilton County, OH. Source: Ancestry.com. War of 1812 Pension ...

After the Revolutionary War that has gained our young country independence from Britain, there were still many unresolved issues. The War of 1812 was again between the United States and Britain but this time land was not an issue. The causes of the war, according to History.com, were trade restrictions, the Royal Navy's impressment of American seamen and America's desire to expand its territory. The war lasted 32 months. Jacob Eckman enlisted on 25 August 1813. He was discharged on 30 April 1814. He served as a Private under Captain Stansbury in Co. 39 US Infantry. He claimed to have served as a substitute for another but does not name that person. Jacob married Mary Raney that same year (1814) in Cleveland, Ohio. He died in 1877. Source: Ancestry.com. War of 1812 Pension Application Files Index, 1812-1815 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010.