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Ch/grch of Aaron Van Cleave & Rachel Schenck
By Richard November 10, 2002 at 09:03:42
Fellow VanCleef-Van Cleve-Van Cleave family reseachers & cousins,
In this post, I will concentrate on the five sons & dau of Aaron Vancleave & Rachel Schenck who moved from the Yadin Valley, Rowan Co, NC, to KY with members of the Boone family.These six ch of Aaron & Rachel were all born in New Brunswick, Middlesex, NJ, and moved with their parents to Yadkin Valley, NC in 1750, where they were md (near Mocksville), and they all moved with their spouses & young ch to KY (near Ft Boonesborough) in 1775.
4. John b abt 1739, md abt 1760/1, d 5/12/1812Madison Tp, Jefferson Co, IN, bur Ryker Ridge Cem. md
Mary Shepherd b abt 1742 Shepherdtown, WV, killed by Indians under command of Simon Girty, during Rev. War, enroute from Bryant's (Squire Boone's) Station to Ft Boonesborough on the 14th of Sep 1781.
Mary was a dau of Thoams Shepherd (founder of Shepherdstown, WV) & Elizabeth Van Metre. Children:
4-1 Rachel b 10/25/1762, md 7/1/1783 Lin Co, KY to Peter Banta, d 4/26/1842 place of death-burial unk.
4-2 Leah b abt 1764, md abt 1786/7, Ln Co, KY to Gerardus Ryker, Jr, d 10/4/1848 pod/b same as father.
4-3 JOHN "Big John"b 4/18/1765,md 9/23/1794Shelby Co, Ky to Eunice Van Cleave (Ben-AIJ),John d 9/5/1848 Stampers Creek Tp, Orange Co, IN, where Eunice d abt 1831.(AIJ = Aaron-Isabrandt-Jan).John was father of my 2nd grt grmother, Sarah Jane Van Cleave who md David Van Cleave.
4-4 AARON b 4/25/1769, md 6/2/1791 Jeff. Co, KY to Elizabeth Griffin, d 2/24/1846 Browns Valley, IN.Elizabeth was a dau of Ralph Griffin & Catherine Munson, dau of Samuel Munson & Sarah Allen/Alling.Samuel Munson md (1) Sarah Allen, mdher sis, (2) Mary Allen,Catherine a 1/2 sis of Ruth Munson.Aaron was father of my 2nd grt grfather, David Van Cleave who md Sarah Jane Van Cleave.Aaron & Elizabeth (Griffin) Van Cleave were also parents of "Aunt" Betsy, who md "Uncle" Jonathan Van Cleave.
4-5 Benjamin b 1/20/1771, md 1/1/1801 Sh'y Co, KY to Sarah Kerns, d 1840 Millersburg, Orange, IN.
4-6 Elizabeth b1773, md 3/4/1794 Sh'y Co, KY to Aaron Van Cleave (Ben-AIJ), d 1834 Browns V'y, IN.
4-7 Nancy b 3/14/1780 Ft. Boonesborough, KY (captured by Indians under Simon Girty, 9/14/1781).
4-8 Sarah "Sally" b 3/14/1780, md 2/3/1801 Sh'y Co, KY to Edward McPike, d 12/?/1830 (Ledley).
4. John b abt 1739, md (2) 1782 Jeff. Co, KY to Rachel (Demarest) Ryker, widow of Gerardus, Sr.
4-9 Peter b abt 1784, md 3/20/1808 Sh'y Co, KY to Anne Kennedy, md (2) 7/25/1816 Jeff. Co, IN, and he d abt 1829, place of d/b unk.
4-10. David b 3/14/1787, md 2/16/1809 Sh'y Co, KY to Rachel Swerington, d 11/18/1852, pl of d/b unk.
5. Benjamin b 11/15/1741, md 7/11/1765, d 7/27/1819 Shelbyville, Shelby, KY, md Ruth Munson, dau of Samuel Munson (of same Munson family as Thomas & Theophilus Munson, who gave land for Yale "College", Theophilus being one of original trustees) & Mary Allen/Alling (John Alling/Allen was another of the orig. trustees of Yale).Ruth Munson b 7/10/1746 Morristown, Morris, NJ, d 12/5/1823 Shelbyville, Shelby, KY.The following are the eleven children of Benjamin Van Cleave & Ruth Munson:
5-1 Mary b 5/22/1766, md 6/17/1784 Ln Co, KY to Jonathan Ryker (stp-son/John), d 1837, pl of d/b unk.
5-2 Aaron b 12/15/1768, md 3/4/1794 Sh'y Co, KY to Eliz. Van Cleave(John-AIJ), d 8/29/1844 Mont, IN.
5-3 Samuel b 2/25/1770, md abt 1791 (where?) to Elizabeth Wood(s), d 8/29/1843, Browns Vy, Mont, IN.Samuel md (2) Sarah Garner 12/20/1823 Sh'y Co, KY.
5-4 Rachel b 5/7/1772, md 8/3/1788 (where?) to Hugh Conoway, d 8/3/1849, Browns Valley, Mont, IN.Rachel md (2) Henry Smith 12/20/1810 Sh'y Co, KY.
5-5 John b 4/15/1774, md 11/18/1794 Sh'y Co, KY to Marjorie Kerns, d 4/24/1833, Browns Vy, Mont, IN
5-6 Jane b 1/29/1778, md 12/17/1795 Sh'y Co, KY to Adam Wible Sr, d 1/15/1833, Browns Vy, Mont, IN
5-7 EUNICE b 11/15/1779, md 9/23/1794 Sh'yKY to John Van Cleave (John-AIJ) d 1831 Orange Co, IN.Eunice was mother of my 2nd grt grmother, Sarah Jane VanCleave who md David Van cleave.
5-8 Sarahb 12/15/1781,md8/11/1802Shelby Co, KYtoJohn Brent Van Cleave (son of Aaron-AIJ),d 7/30/1851, Parke Co, IN (Sarah in 1850 FC of Parke Co, IN).
5-9 Ralph b 3/18/1784, md 2/25/1805 Sh'y Co, KY to Elizabeth Stubbins, d 2/2/1855, Br'ns Vy, Mont, IN.Ralph & Elizabeth (Stubbins) Van Cleave were parents of "Unlce" Jonathan Van Cleave, who md "Aunt" Betsy Van Cleave, dau of Aaron & Elizabeth (Griffin) Van Cleave.
5-10 Benjamin b 2/9/1787, md 12/18/1809 Sh'yKY to Mary S Mount, d 10/27/1855, Br'ns Vy, Mont, IN.Benj. & Mary S (Mount) Van Cleave were parents of "Elder"/Rev. Matthius Mount Van Cleave.
5-11 William b 5/3/1789, md 7/31/1810 Sh'y Co, KY to Polly Mount, d 2/26/1815,Shelbyville, KY.
Note: Errett Van Cleave (son of Susan Catherine Bowers & Joseph Albert Wright Van Cleave) was actually a nephew of James William Van Cleave (bro of Joseph A W), sons of Marjorie Jane McMullen & John Payton Van Cleave, son of Matilda B Taylor & Benjamin Van Cleave, son of Aaron Van Cleave (Ben-AIJ) & Elizabeth Van Cleave (John-AIJ).Therefore, James Wm Vancleave's grfather, Benjamin (the Benj who md Matilda B Taylor) was a double cousin to my "Uncle" Jonathan & to my "Aunt" Betsy.He was also a double cousin to "Elder"/Rev Matthius Mount Vancleave.So, just for the benefit of those who do not already know, and for clarity, I feel that I should point out that James Wm Van Cleave was using the titles of "Elder", "Aunt" & "Uncle" out of repsect for his Elders, which was a common practice back then.These days you may be fornuate indeed to be able to get your own ch & grch to address their own actual "Aunts" & "Uncles" by those titles, but I have always insisted on it whenever I hear mine addresstheirs by their 1st name only.O.K., I'm a dinasoar, but if one does not show proper respect for their own family, then ....
6. William b abt 1743, md abt 1763, d 1786-8 Mercer/Madison Co, KY, md Abigail Frost, dau of William or Ebenezer Frost & (???) (???).My list of ch agrees with Ledley's, except Mary & John are switched:
6-1 Elizabeth b abt 1764, md 10/25/1784LnCo,KY to Samuel Harris (Dan'l Harris & Elizabeth Demrest)
6-2 Phebe b abt 1766, md abt 1785/6 (Ln Co, KY?) to John Harris (poss bro or cousin of Samuel Harris)
6-3 Sarah "Sally" b abt 1768, (killed by an Indian on way home from a church meeting before 1786).
6-4 Jonathan b abt 1770, md 12/17/1793 Mad Co, KY to Jinny (Jane) Benecha, d9/14/1847 Mer Co,KY.
6-5 Mary b abt 1772, md 5/27/1788 (where?) to George Teeter, nothing further.
6-6 Ebenezer Frost b abt 1774, md 9/26/1796 Mad Co, KY to Susannh Maniere, d 186_ Breathitt Co, KY.
Ebenezer F md (2) Elizabeth Garrick 12/30/1819 Wmson Co, TN.
6-7 Jane b abt 1776, md (???) Thompson, nothing further.
6-8 John b abt 1778/9, d unmarried abt 1786.
6-9 William b 10/9/1781, md abt 1806 to Elizabeth Frost (dau of his Uncle Ebenezer Frost), d 2/27/1855 Johnson Co,IL.
7. Aaron b abt 1745, md abt 1775, d 11/?/1813 Loretta, Washington (now Marion) Co, KY, bur Thomas Ch Cem near Loretta, KY, md Rachel Brent, dau of (John?) Brent & (???) (???).Aaron & Rachel had:
7-1 Elenore b abt 1778, md 3/6/1805 Wash(Mari)KY to Robert Bailey, nothing further.
7-2 John Brent, b abt 1780, md 8/11/1802 Sh'y Co, KY to Sarah Van Cleave (Ben-AIJ), d 1825 Wash,KY
7-3 Elizabeth b abt 1782, md > 1813 (where?) to (???) Phillips, nothing further.
7-4 Joseph b abt 1784, md (when?where?) to Jane G (???), d 185_ Taylor Co, KY.
7-5 Rachel b abt 1786, md 10/1/1813 Wash(Mari)KY to John Chandin, nothing further.
7-6 Mary b abt 1788, md 12/26/1809 Wash(Mari)KY to Joseph Love, nothing further.
7-7 Benj."Burdett"Aaron b abt 1790,unmarried, d 186_ Mari Co, KY.
7-8 William D b abt 1792, md 5/5/1823 Wash(Mari)KY to Sidney Rowland, d 186_ Taylor Co, KY.William md (2) Mary (???) (when?where?).
7-9 Sam'l Baird b abt 1797/8, md 3/18/1820 Nels Co, KY to Elizabeth Tutt, d 186_ Mari Co, KY.
7-10 Cary Allen b 8/23/1802, md 12/16/1823 Wash(Mari)KY to Sarah Beam, d 5/14/1865 Mari, KY.Cary md (2) Pauline Bell (when?) Wash/Mari, Co, KY.
8. Ralph chr 5/10/1847, md abt 1768, d 9/15/1798 Shelbyville, KY, md Lydia Combs, dau of (???) Combs & (???) (???).Ralph & Lydia had the following children, of which Ledley listed 7:
8-1 Elizabeth b abt 1770, (killed by an Indian 5/23/1790)
8-2 Rachel b abt 1774, md 6/18/1793 (where?) to Benjamin Daugherty, nothing further.
8-3 Mary b abt 1779, (unm, said to mentally incompetent, & "seduced by a Mr Tague"), Son-Levi Van Cleave md Matilda Van Cleave (Aaron-John-AIJ).
8-4 Jane b 11/20/1781, md 1/7/1796 Sh'y Co, KY to Nathan Chapman, d 5/14/1836 (killed by Indians).Jane md (2) Elias Thomas 2/22/1806 (where?).
8-5 Joseph N b 12/31/1784, md 12/24/1805 Sh'y Co, KY to Polly Allen, d 1846 Shelbyville, KY.
8-6 Achsah b abt 1786, md 10/5/1803 (where?) to Edward Polke, nothing further.
8-7 Jesse P b abt 1788, md 8/30/1807 Sh'y Co, KY to Lucy(Hubbard)Goodman, d 187_ Andr Co, MO.
8-8 Benjamin b abt 1790, md 10/19/1809 Sh'y Co, KY to Elenore "Nelly" Floyd, nothing further.
8-9 Thomas G. b abt 1792, md 1/1/1815 Sh'y Co, KY to Mary Shepherd Van Cleave(Aaron-John-AIJ),d 4/2/1856 Harrison Co, MO.
8-10 Hope b abt 1794, md (when?where?) to Jonathan Wood(s), nothing further.
9. Jane b 10/16/1749 New Brunswick, Middlesex, NJ, md 8/8/1865 Mocksville, Rowan, NC, d 3/10/1829 Otter Creek, Meade, KY, bur beside husb in Harrison Co, IN, md Squire Boone, Jr b 10/5/1784 Berks Co, PA (son of Squire Boone Sr & Sarah Morgan), d 8/5/1815 Harrison Co, IN, bur beside wife there.Jane & Squire Boone, Jr had the following children:
9-1 Jonathan b 8/30/1766, md 4/10/1793 Sh'y Co, KY to Catherine Fullenwider, d 3/9/1837 pod/b unk.
9-2 Moses b 2/23/1769, md 12/20/1786 Jeff Co, KY to Hannah Boone, d 3/8/1852 Putnam Co, IN.
9-3 Isaiah b 11/17/1772, md (when?where?to?), d 1846 Mauchport, IN.
9-4 Sarah b 9/26/1774, md 3/1/1791 Jeff Co, KY to John Wilcox, d 1847 Boone Co, MO.
9-5 Enoch Morgan b10/6/1777,md 2/8/1797 Sh'yCo,KY to Eliza Lucy Goldman, d 3/8/1862 Otter Cr, KY
Note:Apparently, when Bryants (Squire Boone's) Station (where Sqire Boone & Van Cleave families lived) was attacked by Indians under command of Simon Girty, and Mary Shepherd Van cleave was killed shorlty after, Mary had twin daus abt 18 mos old, and poss all of the other Van Cleave wives were with child.
Now I feel confident that story of the attack on Bryants Station will be easier to follow, since the story mentions several Van Cleave fam members by name.I will try to post that story very soon,
More later,
Richard.
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By Janice Pranger February 01, 2009 at 12:31:56
In reply to: Ch/grch of Aaron Van Cleave & Rachel Schenck
Richard 11/10/02
Mr. Lawson,
I've spent most of the day learning about my Van Cleave ancesters, for the first time, thanks to you and others in this forum.
Just a small point that our family records show that Elizabeth Van Cleave's (dtr of William Van Cleave and Abigail Frost) husband Samuel Harris was the son of Silas Harris and Mary Jackson, not of Daniel Harris.
Thank you again for all the work you've done, and for sharing it with us all.
Jan
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By Glenda Scarborough May 07, 2007 at 04:43:07
In reply to: Ch/grch of Aaron Van Cleave & Rachel Schenck
Richard 11/10/02
This is just be a minor point but you may have Jane VanCleave Boone buried in the wrong place.
Squire Boone, Jr. was buried in a cave in Harrison County, IN.His coffin has since been removed from the cave he choose and is now on display in a much bigger cave for viewers to see.There is no mention of his wife being buried with, or near, him.
After Squire died, Jane moved to KY to live with her son Enoch. When she died she was supposedly buried on his farm at the mouth of Otter Creek in Meade County, Kentucky.
Glenda
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By Jill HArtwig March 21, 2004 at 04:10:57
In reply to: Ch/grch of Aaron Van Cleave & Rachel Schenck
Richard 11/10/02
George Teeter and Mary 'Polly' Van Cleave married 28 May 1788 in Lincoln Co. KY. They had several (probably 10) children and moved to Henry Co. KY where John and Phebe were living. John died in 1808. George eventually left KY for Boone Co. MO where he died abt 1834. Polly stayed in Henry Co. KY through 1830. Jane married Noble Daugherty and had at least 10 children. She was in Henry Co. on one census without him. I believe it was the 1830. I assume he had died. Polly and Jane were gone in 1840. Phebe moved to Montgomery Co. IN where she was living with her son James in 1850. She probably died there. He moved to Wapello Co. IA about 1852 or 3.
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By Richard April 01, 2003 at 05:34:02
In reply to: Ch/grch of Aaron Van Cleave & Rachel Schenck
Richard 11/10/02
Fellow Van Cleave family descendents & researchers,
When addressing the relationship of Catherine Munson Griffin to Ruth Munson Van Cleave as 1/2 sisters, somehow I gave the names & order of wives of Samuel Munson incorrectly.Post #497 lists the correct names & order under 4-4 Aaron Van Cleave.I apologize for any inconvieience or confusion that incorrect order & repective names of his wives may have caused.
Sincerely,
Richard Lawson.
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Ch/grch of Aaron Van Cleave (John-AIJ) & Elizabeth Griffin
By Richard March 10, 2003 at 03:12:40
In reply to: Ch/grch of Aaron Van Cleave & Rachel Schenck
Richard 11/10/02
Fellow Van Cleave family researchers;
This post, to the Vancleave Family Genealogy Forum, is about my dad's mother Dulcena Elizabeth (Van Cleave) Lawson's direct paternal Van Cleave line.Her genealogy goes on forever, literally, with several lines back to Adam & Eve.Those are from the proven royal lines, which I have tried to avoid spending too much time on, after I have indentified them.After several days of considering different options of how to post the most interesting facts & stories about her family, I have decided to divide her ancestry into two separate posts.
In this first of these two posts, I will concentrate on the continuation of her direct paternal Van Cleave line, primarily, with the dates & places of the spouses birth and death, and a few stories, comments and explanations throughout.In the second, I will post the vital records of her ancestors going backwards in the number-wheel or ancestral chart fashion, i.e. father's # is 2x the child's # and the mother's 2x the child's # + 1.The second post willtake awhile, and will be after several other posts by me, I'm sure.
4-4 AARON Van Cleave, b 3/25/1769, md 6/2/1791 Jefferson Co, KY to Elizabeth Griffin, d 2/24/1846 Browns Valley, Montgomery Co, IN. Elizabeth was a dau of Ralph Griffin & Catherine Munson, dau of Samuel Munson & Sarah (???) Prudden (widow of Bois John Prudden).Elizabeth Griffin was b 7/5/1775 (Rowan Co, NC?, or Chester Co, Camden Dist, SC?; where her father enlisted in Rev War 1779), and she d 9/30/1834 Browns Valley, IN.Aaron & Elizabeth (Griffin) Van Cleave are said to be buried in the Old Hickory Cem, Mont. Co, IN.
Samuel Munson md (1) 11/9/1743 Elizabeth Potter (no children), md(2) 10/91745 Mary Allen (ch: twins-Ruth & Elizaph/Elisha Munson b 7/10/1746 chr 6/19/1748), md (3) 5/1/1751 Mrs Sarah (???)) Prudden (ch: Elizabeth chr 1/27/1854; Catherine b 2/15/1756; Charity b abt 1758/9; Samuel b abt 1761/2 & Isaac b abt 1764/5).
Samuel Munson's 3rd wife, Sarah (???), md (1) Bois John Prudden (ch: Boice John 1743, md Elizabeth Baldwin; Amos 1745, md Damaris Harrison; Sarah 1748 & John 1751 md Abigail Riggs).Bois was a son of Joanna Lyon & Joseph Prudden, son of John Prudden & Grace (???).
My 3rd grt granfather, Aaron Van Cleave, was about six years old when he moved with his parents to KY, and he was only about twelve years old when his mother was killed by Indians (see "Tragedy in the Woods" in Vancleave fam genforum post #491).He was md there in KY when about 22, and spent most of his life there.I have only one story about Aaron, other than what was mentioned about him in post #491.It was written by my grt grandfather, Benjamin Milton Van Cleave, and sent to me by Ben's grson, Julien Van Cleave Root, in 1971.
"Grandfather Van Cleave was a very tall man, tradition stating that he was over seven feet tall [and his brother was called "Big John"].One day he and others were hunting in Kentucky and were in the midst of the Indian country.It was night and they had made camp.In the night they heard a turkey calling from a tree near the camp.The hunters were for getting the turkey, but grandfather told them that the turkey had no feathers, and to 'leave it to him.'He slipped out of camp from the opposite side and, crawling around to the far side of a large tree that overlooked the camp, he spied a large dark object up in the top of the tree, giving the turkey call.Raising his rifle he fired at the object and brought down an Indian who was awaiting an opportunity to shoot the hunters."
Children & grandchildren of Aaron Van Cleave & Elizabeth Griffin:
4-4-1 Samuel, b 3/18/1792 Shelbyville, Shelby Co, KY, md (1) 1/31/1816 Mont. Co, IN to Rachel Catherine Van Cleave, dau of John Van Cleave (Ben-AIJ) & Marjory Kerns, md (2) 8/27/1834 Mont. Co, MO to Lydia Van Cleave, dau of John Van Cleave (John-AIJ) & Eunice Van Cleave (Ben-AIJ), d 10/17/1843 Mont. Co, IN, when & where his younger brother David, my gg grandfahter, was admin of his estate.Rachel was b abt 1798 Shelbyville, Shelby, KY & d 5/5/1833 Mont. Co, IN.Samuel & Rachel are buried in Indian Creek Hill Cem, Mont Co, IN.Lydia was b abt 1807 Sh'yv., Shelby, KY & d (when/where?), after 1850 FC of Ft.Dodge, Webster, IA.
Samuel was almost certainly named for his mother's maternal grandfather, Samuel Munson prob still living in 1792, although her paternal grandfater's name was Samuel Griffin.Also, Aaron's step-mother was Rachel Demarest-Ryker-VanCleave, dau of Samuel Demarest & Leah Demarest, and Aaron's father was said to have had a brother named Samuel.
Children of Samuel Van Cleave & Rachel Catherine Van Cleave:
4-4-1-1 Preston B, b 2/10/1817 Shelbyville, Shelby, KY, md 4/16/1840 Mont. Co, IN to Mary Elizabeth Van Cleave, dau of Benjamin S Van Cleave (Aaron Van Cleave [Ben-AIJ] & Elizabeth Van Cleave [John-AIJ]) & Matilda B Taylor, d(when/where?), after 1880 FC of Lyndon TP, Furnas, NE & before 1900 FC of Bear Prec, Wash., ID.Mary E was b 6/12/1822 Sh'yv., KY & d 7/9/1914 (when/where?), after 1900 FC of Bear Prec, Wash., ID.
4-4-1-2Richard L, b 2/22/1822 Sh'yv., KY, md 6/4/1846 Mont. Co, IN to Amanda M F Pottinger, d (when/where?), after 1860 FC of Ft Dodge, Webster, IA & before 1900 FC of Des Moines, Polk, IA.Amanda M F was b abt 1827 OH & d (when/where?), after 1900 FC of Des Moines, Polk, IA.
4-4-1-3 Marjory, b 2/5/1823 Sh'yv., KY, md 3/28/1842 Mont. Co, IN to John Richardson Hall, son of Bainbridge Hall & Polly Nichols, d 3/18/1903 Mont. Co, IN.John was b 1819 KY & d after 1880 (& poss after 1900) prob in Mont. Co, IN.
4-4-1-4 Elizabeth, b 3/17/1825 Sh'yv., KY, md (1) 9/10/1846 Mont. Co, IN to Benjamin McMullen, son of James McMullen, Jr & Martha Van Cleave (John-Ben-AIJ), md (2) Benjamin Harden Elrod, son of Benjamin Elrod & Polly Carver, d 3/15/1908 near Emporia, Lyon, KS.Benjamin McMullen was b 12/11/1820 Sh'yv., KY & d 9/18/1854 Browns Valley, Mont, IN.Benjamin Elrod was b 4/21/1821 IN & d 8/24/1880 near Emporia, Lyon, KS.
4-4-1-5 Sarah, b 8/1/1828 Browns Valley, Mont, IN, (never md?), d 7/14/1900 Mont. Co, IN Poor Farm.
4-4-1-6 Angeline 10/27/1830 Br'ns Vy, IN, md 3/29/1849 Mont. Co, IN to Jeremiah Ledbetter Hinkle, son of ____ Hinkle & ____ ____ d 11/17/1915 New Ross, Mont, IN.Jeremiah was b 5/5/1824 Botetourt Co, VA & d 12/3/1902 New Ross, Mont, IN.
Children of Samuel Van Cleave & Lydia Van Cleave:
4-4-1-7 Silas, b abt 1835 Br'ns Vy, IN, md 10/1/1857 (Ft. Dodge, Webster, IA?) to Rosanna Broadstone, d (when/where?) after 1870 FC of Ft. Dodge, IA.Silas was a veteran of the Civil War.
4-4-1-8 Eunice Matilda, b 4/21/1840 Br'ns Vy, IN, md 8/20/1857 (Ft Dodge, IA?) to Isaac Reardon Williams, son of John H Williams & ____ ____, d 7/12/1883 (where?), after 1880 FC of Ft Dodge, IA.Isaac was b 6/24/1840 IN & d 5/11/1923 KS.
4-4-1-9 George W, b abt 1842 Br'ns Vy, IN, md?, d after 1860 FC of Ft Dodge, IA.
4-4-2 Mary "Polly", b 10/24/1793 Shelbyville, Shelby, KY, md 1/1/1815 Shelby Co, KY to Thomas G Van Cleave, son of Ralph Van Cleave & Lydia Combs or Coombs, d (when/where?), after 1875 Fannin Co, TX..Apparently, there has been some question whether Thos G was a son of Ralph & Lydia, or if he was a son of Benjamin & Ruth Munson.Please feel free to post a follow-up, or to contact me directly by e-mail, with questions or additional information about that subject.
Mary was actually listed in the widow's pension record for service of Thos G in the War of 1812 as Mary/"Polly S", although none of the ch of Aaron & Elizabeth (Griffin) Van Cleave were recorded in the births section of their Family Bible with any middle names.I have not found any references to the S standing for Shepherd, except on a few internet sites, but it seems very fitting & honorable that Mary/Polly would have been named for her father Aarons's mother, who was killed by Indians when Aaron was so young.However, it is quite possible that she chose to use Shepherd as a middle name herself.
Thomas G was b 8/20/1792 Sh'yv., KY & d 4/2/1856 Harrison Co, MO, a veteran of the War of 1812.The 1/1/1815 date of marriage is from pension records, while in Shelby Co, KY marriage records, it is given as 12/31/1814 (perhaps the date license was issued?).Apparently, the marriage was performed by Rev. Samuel Van Cleave (Ben-AIJ, see Van Cleave post #496 for more info about Rev. Samuel), and the bondsman was Mary's elder brother, Samuel Van Cleave.
Neither date of marriage explains the date & year of birth recorded for Jesse, this couples eldest son, given by several sources.Personally, I tend to believe that Jesse was probably b 3/27/1816, but that would leave me to argue that he was only 16 1/2 years old at tthe time of his 1st marriage, and that Elizabeth Combs/Coombs & Nancy Griffin were probably twins born 18/19 Nov 1816/17.As there is no conclusive evidence of either being the case, I will have to leave it to others to find an explantion for Jesse's year of birth in relationship to his parent's marriage.
Children of Mary "Polly" Van Cleave & Thomas G Van Cleave:
4-4-2-1 Jesse, 3/27/1815 Sh'yv., KY, md (1) 11/29/1832 Mont. Co, IN to Anna McMullen, dau of James McMullen, Jr & Martha Van Cleave (John-Ben-AIJ), md (2) 3/22/1836 Mont. Co, IN to Ellen Sullenger, dau of ____ Sullenger & ____ ____, md (3) 2/?/1839 Mont. Co, IN to Charity Brewer, dau of ____ Brewer & ____ ____, d 7/2/1895 Mont. Co, IN.Anna was b 7/8/1815 KY & d 1835, age 20 yrs, Mont. Co, IN. No further info about Ellen, and Charity was b abt 1815 KY & d after 1880 FC of Mont. Co, IN.Charity was possibly a sister of Daniel Brewer who md Catherine Heddon 4-4-5-2, see below.
4-4-2-2Elizabeth Combs/Coombs, 11/19/1816 Sh'yv., KY, (md Harvey Van Cleave [John-John-AIJ], see 4-3-9 of VanCleave post #491).
4-4-2-3 Nancy Griffin, 11/18/1817 Sh'yv., KY, (md Benjamin C Van Cleave [John-John-AIJ], see 4-3-11 of VanCleave post #491).
4-4-2-4 (female?, b abt 1819? dy?)
4-4-2-5 Levi Cyrus, b abt 1821/2 Sh'yv., KY, md (when/where?) to Louisa Barnard, dau of Owen Barnard & Mary (???), d (when/where?), after 1880 FC of Mercer Co, MO (& before 1900 FC of Nance Co, NE?).Louisa was b 5/19/1830 Sh'yv., KY & d 2/27/1914 Fullerton, Nance Co, NE. Louisa had md (2) (when/where?) to Herman Rood/Root, and her father Owen md (2) Louisa Van Cleave (Rev. Sam-Ben-AIJ), who became Louisa Barnard Van Cleave's step-mother.
4-4-2-6 Matilda, b abt 1824 Sh'yv., KY, md (when/where?) to Joseph Young, nothing further.
4-4-2-7 Mary Jane, b abt 1826 Sh'yv., KY, md 1/7/1851 Mont. Co, IN to Charles H Van Cleave, son of Joseph N Van Cleave (Ralph-AIJ) & Mary "Polly" Allen/Alling, d (when/where?), after 1880 FC of Mont. Co, IN.Charles was b abt 1825Sh'yv., KY & d (when/where?), after 1880 FC of Mont. Co, IN.His mother was a dau of ____ ____& Stephen Allen/Alling, son of Martha Crane & John Allen/Alling, son of Samuel Allen/Alling & Abigail Prudden.
4-4-2-8 Lindsay Thomas, b 7/4/1831 Br'ns Vy, IN, md 3/24/1853 Mont. Co, IN to Rebecca Barnard, dau of Owen Barnard & Mary (???), d 4/7/1914 Headrick, Navajo TP, Jackson Co, OK.Rebecca was b 12/8/1833 Sh'yv., KY & d 8/?/1914 Headrick Co, OK.
4-4-2-9 Serilda A(nn?), b abt 1834 Br'ns Vy, IN, md (when/where?) to Joseph Lee, nothing further.
4-4-2-10 Gilbert Barnett, b abt 1836 Br'ns Vy, IN, (never md?), prob d before 1850.
4-4-3 Elisha, b 7/13/1795 Sh'yv., KY, md 11/15/1826 Mont. Co, IN to Elizabeth Davis, d 185_ Parke Co, IN.Elizabeth was b abt 1807 KY & d after 1860 FC of Parke Co, IN.Elisha Van Cleave has the distinquished honor of being the 1st Van Cleave md in Mont. Co, IN, that I've found.This brother of David apparently left no presently living desc's, same as Sarah Jane's brother, Aaron (4-3-12 of VanCleave post #491).
Elisha was apparently named for the twin brother of Ruth Munson who md Benjamin Van Cleave (AIJ), whose name may have been spelled Elizaph Munson, and who md Sarah (???).Elizaph/Elisha Munson & Sarah (???) were said to have been the parents of Allen Munson who md Sarah "Sally" Griffin, dau of Ralph Griffin & Catherine Munson.
Child of Elisha Van Cleave & Elizabeth Davis:
4-4-3-1 Martha E, b abt 1831 IN, (never md?), d after 1860 FC of Parke Co, IN.
4-4-4 Katherine, b 8/1/1797 Sh'yv., KY, md 12/19/1818 Shelby Co, KY to James Heddon, son of Abraham Heddon & Charity Munson, d (when/where?) prob in Shelby Co, KY after 1840.James was b abt 1793 (KY?) & d 1836 Shelby Co, KY.
Katherine was no doubt named for her mother's mother, Catherine Munson Griffin.I mentioned above that Samuel Van Cleave was almost certainly named for Catherine's, & Ruth's, father Samuel Munson, even though there were several other Samuels on both sides.One reason was Samuel Munson was prob still living in 1792.
Another reason is that, apparently, Samuel 4-4-1, Elisha 4-4-3 & Katherine 4-4-4 were all named for Elizabeth Griffin's mother's side.There also seems to be several close relationships between Aaron & Elizabeth and her mother's relatives, including various Griffin-Munson-Heddon connections.It took 14 children & seven sons for Aaron & Elizabeth to name a son John, after Aaron's father.Aaron's father & step-mother & Elizabeth's parents all moved to Madison, Jefferson Co, IN in the 1st decade of the 1800's, but Aaron & Elizabeth stayed in Shelby Co, KY, where his Uncle Benjamin Van Cleave & Aunt Ruth Munson Van Cleave (also Elizabeth's Aunt & Uncle on her mother's side) & where many of the other Griffin-Munson-Heddon families remained for the rest of their lives.
Children of Katherine Van Cleave & James Heddon:
4-4-4-1 Aaron J(ames?), b abt 1819 KY, (never md?), died after 1880 FC ofHarrisonville, Shelby, KY. See comments with Rachel 4-4-5 & family for the middle name of James.
4-4-4-2 Matilda J, b abt 1821 KY, md (when/where?) prob Shelby Co, KY to ____ Hankins, d after 1880 FC of Harrisonville, KY (she was listed as wd sis living with Aaron).
4-4-4-3 Abram/Abraham, b abt 1823 KY, md (1?) (when/where?) prob Shelby Co, KY to ____ ____, md (1?/2?) (when/where?) prob Shelby Co, KY to Ann ____, d late 1870's Harrisonville, KY.Ann ____ was b 1843 KY & d after 1880 FC of Harrisonville, KY (she was listed as wd sis-in-law living with Aaron, with her 2 ch listed as his niece & nephew).
4-4-4-4 Francis, b abt 1825 KY, (never md?), d 1840-1846 Shelby Co, KY.
4-4-4-5 female, b abt 1827 KY, (never md?), d 1840-1846 Shelby Co, KY.
4-4-4-6 female, b abt 1829 KY, (never md?), d 1840-1846 Shelby Co, KY.
4-4-4-7 Isaac Munson, b abt 1831, md (when/where?) prob Shelby Co, KY to Nancy ____, d after 1880 FC of Harrison, KY.Nancy was b abt 1831 KY & d after 1880 FC of Harrisonville, KY.
4-4-4-8 Elizabeth, b abt 1833 KY, (never md?/md when/where/to whom?), nothing further.
4-4-4-9 Nancy A, b abt 1835 KY, md (when?) Shelby Co, KY to Solomon Griffin Heddon, son of Ruth Griffin & Samuel Heddon, son of Abraham Heddon & Charity Munson, d after 1880 FC of Harrisonville, KY.Solomon Griffin Heddon was b abt 1833 KY & d after 1880 FC of Harrisonville, KY.
Solomon's mother, Ruth Griffin was a dau of Ralph Griffin & Catherine Munson, and a sister of Elizabeth Griffin who md Aaron Van Cleave (see other relationships of Munsons & Heddons above).I do believe there were a few more marriages between these maternal relatives of Eliabeth Griffin-VanCleave, and prob some that I have not found or proven, yet.When I first found out that my gg granfather's sisters, Katherine & Rachel, had md Heddons, I must admit that I was somewhat surprised they had not married their cousins, as all of their other siblings, except Elisha, and as even my gg grandfahter himself had.I had spent much more time researching the Van Cleave side, and had no idea of the many connections of the Heddon's to the Griffin-Munson families.
4-4-5 Rachel, b 12/30/1799 Sh'yv., KY, md 1/8/1822 Shelby Co, KY to William Heddon, son of Gilbert Heddon & Priscilla McHuren, d 1840-1846 Marion TP, Putnam Co, IN.Wm was b abt 1799 Shelby Co, KY & d 1861 Marion TP, Putnam Co, IN.Gilbert Heddon was son of Abraham Heddon & Charity Munson, so the Wm Heddon who md to Rachel was a nephew of the James Heddon who md Rachel's sister Katherine.Rachel could have been named for Aaron's step-mother, Rachel Demerest-Ryker-Van Cleave, or even though less likely, for Aaron's paternal grandmother, Rachel Schenck-Van Cleave.
Children of Rachel Van Cleave & William Heddon:
4-4-5-1 Elizabeth (named for Griffin-Van Cleave?), b abt 1823 Sh'yv., KY, (never md?), nothing further.
4-4-5-2 Catherine (named for Munson-Griffin?), b abt 1823 Sh'yv., KY, md 3/30/1843 Putnam Co, IN to Daniel Brewer, d after 1880 FC of Hendricks Co, IN.
4-4-5-3 Emily Jane, b abt 1826 Sh'yv., KY, (never md?), nothing fruther.
4-4-5-4 Sarah Ann, b abt 1833 Sh'yv., KY, md (when?) Putnam Co, IN to ____ Ridpath, d after 1880 FC of Putnam Co, IN.
Wm Heddon md (2) 1/29/1846 Putnam Co, IN to Mary Smith, and had Mary Ellen b abt 1849, Isaac Munson b abt 1851 & James Aaron, or poss Aaron James, b abt 1853.Note: James Heddon & Katherine Van Cleave (4-4-4) also had son named Aaron J(ames?) & a son named Isaac Munson Heddon.Also see Isaac Munson Van Cleave (4-4-11-2) below.
4-4-6 Matilda, b 11/20/1801 Sh'bv., KY, md 4/12/1824 Shelby Co, KY to Levi Van Cleave, son of Mary Van Cleave "said to be silly, and seduced by Mr. Tague", dau of Ralph Van Cleave (AIJ) & Lydia Combs/Coombs, d 3/31 1876 Browns Valley, Mont., IN. Levi was b 9/1/1799 Sh'yv., KY & d 9/10/1868 Br'ns V'y, IN.Matilda & Levi are buried in Old Hickory Cem, Mont Co, IN.I believe Levi was the admin. of Matilda's father Aaron Van Cleave's estate in 1846.
Children of Matilda Van Cleave & Levi Van Cleave:
4-4-6-1 Elizabeth, b 2/22/1825 Sh'yv., KY, md 4/11/1848 Mont Co, IN to Adam Wible, Jr, son of Adam Wible, Sr & Jane Van Cleave, dau of Benjamin Van Cleave (AIJ) & Ruth Munson, d 4/30/1883 Br'ns V'y, IN.Adam, Jr was b 1/29/1813/4 Sh'yv., KY & d 1/19/1889 Br'ns V'y, IN.Elizabeth & Adam are buried in Old Union Cem., Mont Co, IN.
4-4-6-2 Nancy J, b 7/27/1827 Sh'yv., KY, md 10/5/1848 Mont Co, IN to Robert L Coons, son of George W Coons & Julia Ferree, d 11/7/1884 Br'ns V'y, IN, and she is buried in Old Hickory Cem, Mont Co, IN.Robert was b abt 1829 Overton Co, TN & d (when, where?).
4-4-6-3 Sarah A, b 10/11/1829 Br'ns V'y, IN, md 11/22/1846 Mont Co, IN to James Madison Coons, son of George W Coons & Julia Ferree, d 12/19/1891 Br'ns V'y, IN, and she is buried in Old Hickory Cem, Mont Co, IN.James was b 1/27/1825 Overton Co, TN & d 4/15/1916 (Mont Co, IN?).
4-4-6-4 Aaron, b 1/27/1832 Br'ns V'y, IN, md 3/13/1853 Mont Co, IN to Lucinda E Taylor, dau of Benjamin S Taylor & Margaret Van Cleave, dau of Aaron Van Cleave (Ben-AIJ) & Elizabeth Van Cleave (John-AIJ), d 2/10/1913 Br'ns V'y, IN.Lucinda was b 12/25/1837 Br'ns V'y, IN & d 5/1/1878 Br'ns V'y, IN.Aaron & Lucinda are buried in Old Hickory Cem, Mont, Co, IN.Aaron was a Union veteran of the Civil War serving in Co C of the 4th IN Inf.
4-4-6-5 Lucinda, b 5/2/1834 Br'ns V'y, IN, md 12/24/1861 Mont Co, IN to James Burdin/Burden, son of ____ Burdin/Burden & ____ ____, d 4/28/1879 Br'ns V'y, IN, and she is buried in Old Hickory Cem, Mont Co, IN.James was b 12/5/1830 Bourbon Co, KY md (1) (when/where?) to ____ ____, (2) Lucinda Van Cleave, (3) 10/5/1879 Mont Co, IN to Harriet Castle, d 9/10/1908 Br'ns V'y, IN.
4-4-6-6 Malinda, b 3/26/1837 Br'ns V'y, IN, md 4/24/1867 Mont Co, IN to Samuel T Gott, son of ____ Gott & ____ ____, d 3/10/1920 Br'ns V'y, IN.Samuel was b 4/1/1841 IN & d 6th Feb/Apr 1917 Br'ns V'y, IN.
4-4-6-7 Amanda, b abt 1840 Br'ns V'y, IN, (never md?),prob dy, nothing further.
4-4-6-8 Mary F, b 2/7/1843 Br'ns V'y, IN & d 8/13/1849 Br'ns V'y, IN.
4-4-7 Elizabeth "Aunt Betsy", b 11/10/1803 Sh'yv., KY, md 9/6/1827 Shelby Co, KY to "Uncle Jonathan" Van Cleave, son of Elizabeth Stebbins & Ralph Van Cleave, son of Benjamin Van Cleave (AIJ) & Ruth Munson, d 4/23/1886 Br'ns V'y, IN.Uncle Jonathan was b 12/13/1805 Sh'yv., KY & d 3/5/1900.Aunt Betsy & Uncle Jonathan are buried in Old Hickory Cem, Mont Co, IN.
On p8 of JAN VAN CLEEF, a partial Genalogy of his Descendants in America, compiled by Edward S Harvey, 1931 (partly from notes by Ransom Van Cleave, son of Aunt Betsy & Uncle Jonathan) is written: "Jonthan came with his parents, to Indiana in the fall of 1826.After clearing ten acres of land for his father, he went back to Kentucky, and was married.They came back to Indiana on horseback, and built a cabin on the farm where James A Duncan now lives. (1914)They moved into their new home that fall, and lived there the remainder of their lives.
"Jonathan VanCleave, joined the Indian Creek Church, of the 'Old School' Baptists, on Saturday before the third Sunday of May 1842.Elizabeth, his wife, joined the same Church, the third Sunday of July in the same year.They were both born in Shelby Co. KY.
"In 1844 Jonathan had a Divine call to the Ministry, and was liberated to exercise his gift in public in 1846, was licensed to preach in 1848, and was ordained November 17 1849.He preached for the Indian Creek Church from 1846 to 1899, and period of fifty-three years.His last sermon was delivered the third Sunday of December, 1899.He was a Moderator of the Church for about the same length of time."
"I will now give Jonathan's own account of his call to the Ministry."
" 'I had a dream about the downfall of this government.I was standing with my face to the south, and saw George Washington on the face of the sky, surrounded by everything beautiful, all kinds of fowl, and one of the most beautiful peafowls I ever saw, and two monster beasts.One of the beasts was crouched ready to spring upon him, the other lying lazily by.
"I said to someone standing by, 'What does this mean?'He said, 'This is your form of Government, and Washington is the Father of it.If that beast does not destroy it, the other one will.'
"He took me by the arm and turned me around between the handles of a plow, which had the largest sorrel horse hitched to it, I ever saw.
"The horse and plow were between two rows of corn.He said, 'Plow those two rows of corn.' I said, 'I cannot. I am away from home.'He said, 'They are allotted to you to plow and no other man can plow them, but you.' I took hold of the plow and started the horse.
"The corn began to grow, and when I got to the North end of the rows, the corn was in roasting ears.I turned and started back, and the corn began to ripen, and when I got to the South end, the corn was ripeand ready to be gathered.
"I think that the plowing of the rows of corn, was my ministerial course, and all of the brothers and sisters who heard me when I began to preach, were the corn, and are about to be gathered home.
"I an 83 years old, and my labors are nearly ended, and I am ready to be gatherd home.
(Signed) Elder Jonathan VanCleave.
"Written in 1888, by his son, Ransom VanCleave."
On pgs 507 of A PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD, of Montgomery, Parke & Fountain Co.s, Indiana, [I did not copy publisher, place or date-1892?], is written:"JONATHAN VANCLEAVE, the venerable and eloquent pioneer preacher whose early round of ministerial duties called him to speak the word throughout Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky and Indiana, located in Montgomery County, Ind., more than three score years ago and is today an honored resident of Brown township.... Rev. Jonathan Vancleave may claim direct descent from an ancestry of brave and hardy patriots.His great-grandfather, Aaron Vancleave, a man of strong character and earnest purpose, emigrated from Holland to America before the colonists had engaged in their determined struggle for independence from the mother country.Stirring events, however, were near at hand; the whole country was ablaaze with indignation, the colonies joined in a federal union and the war of the Revolution was declared.Actuated by stern resolve and ardent enthusiasm, seven stalwart sons of the old Hollander entered the ranks and bravely fought for God and liberty.Two of these patriotic defenders of our national existence served in the War of 1812.
"The Vancleaves settled in an early day in Kentucky and the five elder sons of old Aaron Vancleave--Jonathan [JOHN], William, Ralph, Aaron and Benjamin--made their home within the borders of that state, but one son located in Ohio and another in Virginia.The only sister of these energetic, hardy men was Jane, who married Squire Boone, the brother and devoted companion of the famous old hunter and Indian scout, Daniel Boone, whose wife and daughters were the first white women who ever stood upon the banks of the Kentucky River.While Daniel Boone and his brother were on a hunting excursion Squire Boone was killed and scalped by the Indians.Amid the perilous and exciting scenes of those pioneer days upon the borders of frontier life, the father of our subject, Ralph Vancleave, was born; his wife Elizabeth Stebbins, was a native of Puritanical New England and a woman of rare character and ability; both parents were deeply imbued with the spirit of religion and were active members of the Baptist Church.
"Jonathan Vancleave, their son and our subject, ... was the eldest in a family of seven children and was reared in the family home.In 1827 he married Elizabeth Vancleave, a daughter of Aaron Vancleave, [and] a distant relative [Aunt Betsy & Uncle Jonathan were 3rd cousins--distant?] of the family into which the young bride now entered.The newly-wedded couple journeyed at once to Montgomery County, Ind., and settled upon a farm, where they now reside [he resides--Aunt Betsy died 1886].The Indians occupied a large body of land nearby, but the newcomers were fearless and soon grew accustomed to their daily presence.Our subject has never enjoyed the advantages of even a primary school, but soon after his marriage his intelligent and cultivated wife taught him how to read, and assisted by her earnest efforts the husband gained a wide book of knowlegde and a liberal education.Later, feeling himself called to preach 'the Gospel', he made a preparation and was ordained in the county in 1849.There were presnt at the ordination, from various localities, near and remote, the delgates of seventeen different church organizations, all deeply interested in the addition to their religious forces of a powerful leader and representative of a family long noted for their zeal in church work [Uncle Jonathan's grt Uncle Ralph, son of "Old Aaron Van Cleave & Rachel Schenk, was educated for the ministry at Princeton, NJ, and Uncle Jonathan's Uncle Samuel, son of Benjamin Van Cleave & Ruth Munson, was an early Baptist Minister of KY & IN, see Vancleave post #496 for more info about Rev. Samuel]."
With Jonathan's mother being from Puritanical New England, and with the knowledge that I have about the members the Vancleave family being generally very highly educated for their time, I have often been somewhat curious as to why Aunt Betsy needed to teach Uncle Jonathan to read & write, even though she was a full two years his senior.They lived in the same area of Shelby Co, KY and Uncle Jonathan was only about three months shy of being 22 years old at their marriage."Old Aaron" Vancleave was actually born on Staten Island, NY, and he purchased Daniel Boone's land in Yadkin Valley, Rowan, NC when the Vancleaves and Boones left there for KY.
On page 508; ibid: "children, of whom seven are still livng.David is a farmer of Parkersburg; Ralph is a carpenter in Elmdale; Ransom lives upon the old homestead; Adam is a resident of Trenton, MO; Aaron is dead; Lucy is the wife of Mark Skelton; Jane married William Coons; Emily is the wife of Martin Badgley."
The following excerpts from the obituary of Uncle Jonathan Vancleave are from a Mar 1900 issue of The Crawfordsville Journal Weekly:
"ELDER JONATHAN VANCLEAVE"
"The Patriarch of the Old School Baptist Church Passes to His Reward"
"Elder Jonathan Vancleave is dead.He was taken ill with the grip last week and grew steadily worse until death came Monday at five o'clock p.m. at his home nine miles southwest of town.He was unconscious most of Monday, but shortly before the end he became conscious and recognized his family.His demise closes the career if one of the most remarkable and intense personalites in the history of Montgomery county.
"Jonathan came to this county in 1826 and entered the 100 acre farm he died on.In the low rambling old house is still treasured the government deed in parchment bearing the sinature of John Quincy Adams.There is also held the deed to the farm entered by the Elder's father-in-law Aaron Vancleave, (the elder married a distant cousin), who entered his farm in 1833.This grant bears the signature of Andrew Jackson, who is the political saint of the Vancleave family, and for whom the first vote of Elder Vancleave was cast.
"His earliest recollections were of the big Baptist meetings in the bluegrass woods of Kentucky, but not until he was fourteen years of age [1820] did he become convicted of his sin.And for a number of years after that he wrestled with his lot, not reaching the mountain top of triumph until 1840 [abt same time his Uncle Samuel moved from KY to IN-see below], when 'he felt the spirit of the Lord come upon him like a dove' in the Indian Creek Church which had been erected in 1832 by Elder Steppleton, Elder John Lee and Randall Davis.Bonam Kester was pastor when Jonathan felt that he was at last gloriously converted and saved and he [Elder Kester] soon gave place in the pulpit to the new convert who entered a pastorate of over sixty years, just now closed by his death.A night or so after his conversion, Jonathan had a remarkable vision sent to him [see above], as he verily believed, by the Lord, the object of which was to present to him his duty to enter the Christian ministry.He did so at once, and while he was not formally ordained until 1849, he became in fact the pastor of the Indian Creek church immediately after his conversion and a most faithful shepherd did he prove....In 1896 he stated to a representative of The Journal that he had averagd three sermons a week, exclusive of funeral sermons, since 1840.And Elder Vancleave did not preach sermonettes.In the old school Baptist church, a three hour sermon is not a long one. The elder never received a cent for his services as a minister and had a profound and deep-seated contempt for 'a hireling ministry'.He would always quote on this subject the words 'a hireling fleeth and careth not for the sheep'.He made his living by farming, and in the early days by acting as a gunsmith for the rural community--an important trade forty or fifty yaers ago.His work nowise interfered with his effectiveness in the pulpit for he regarded it as wrong to prepare for a sermon.He spoke on the inspiration of the moment and prefaced his sermon with the statememt that the text would be found somewhere between the covers of the Good Book.... He believed and preached the doctrine of election and a literal hell and in no church in which he preached was there ever such an abomination as instrumental music.'We sing from the hymn book', said he, 'and the sound goes up to God from the souls of those who sing and not from squeaky music machines.'
"The elder was a Democrat among Democrats, and was proud of the fact that he had never scratched his ticket.He lived and died a sincere believer in states rights, and during the [Civil] war, he preached and prayed against the war with a religious fervor.He was bitterly opposed to slavery, but his sympathies during the war were with the south on the doctrine of state's sovereignty.
"The wife of Elder Vancleave died some years ago and of the six children born to them, four still live, Mrs. William Coons, Mrs. Mark [sic] Badgely [either Mrs. Mark Skelton or Mrs. Martin Badgley?] , Ralph Vancleave and Ransom Vancleave, the last named now living at the old homestead.Two children, David and Aaron are dead."
According to, VAN CLEAVE (VAN CLEEF-VAN CLEVE) FAMILY GENEALOGY, by Georgia Gosney Wisda, Norwalk, OH, 1956; p93: "F. 552. JONATHAN VAN CLEAVE (Ralph-Benj-Aaron-Isabrant-Jan) ... He preached between 10 & 15 thousand sermons; married more than 700 coulpes; his marriage records being excelled only by that of his cousin Elder Matthias Van Cleave [Benj-Benj-AIJ] of Crawfordsville.
"Jonathan was a Democrat, his 1st. vote for 'Gen. Jackson, the grandest man who ever lived.' He [Uncle Jonathan] also said: 'Slavery Wasn't right, our folks left Ky. because of it.' "
Children of Aunt Betsy Van Cleave & Uncle Jonathan Van Cleave:
4-4-7-1 William, b 7/19/1828 Br'ns V'y, IN, d 1/20/1832 buriedin Old Hickory Cem.
4-4-7-2 David, b 11/15/1830 Br'ns V'y, IN, md 12/13/1849 or 12/9/1850 Mont Co, IN to Emaline Davis, d 9/28/1892 Mont Co, IN.Emaline d 2/9/1890 69yr. 8m. 24d.David & Emaline are buried in Old Union Cem, Mont Co, IN.
4-4-7-3 Lucy, b abt 1832 Br'ns V'y, IN, md 7/24/1848 Mont Co, IN to Mark Skelton, d (when/where?).
4-4-7-4 Ralph, b 7/31/1834 Br'ns V'y, IN, md 4/6/1854 Mont Co, IN to Catherine Coons, dau of John Coons & Mary Brunner, d 7/3/1903 Mont Co, IN.Catherine was b 5/28/1836 & d 2/4/1925 Mont Co, IN.Ralph & Catherine are buried in Pleasant Hill Cem, Mont Co, IN.
4-4-7-5 Jane, b abt 1837 Br'ns V'y, IN, md 11/22/1853 Mont Co, IN to Wm S Coons, son of John Coons & Mary Brunner, d (when/where?).
4-4-7-6 Ransom, b 12/27/1838 Br'ns V'y, IN, md 10/28/1858 Mont Co, IN to Sarah Zerface, dau of Adam Zerface & Sarah Rhinehart, d 3/13/1923 Mont Co, IN.Sarah was b 4/10/1837 OH & d 3/5/1906 Mont Co, IN.Ransom & Sarah are buried in Indian Creek Hill Cem, Mont Co, IN.
4-4-7-7 Adam, b abt 1841 Br'ns V'y, IN, md 1/9/1868 Grundy Co, MO to Martha E McConnell, d (when/where?, after 1910 FC of Grundy Co, MO).
4-4-7-8 Aaron, b 2/14/1844 Br'ns V'y, IN, (never md?), d 7/8/1868 buried in Old Hickory Cem.
4-4-7-9 Emily, b abt 1847 Br'ns V'y, IN, md (when/where?) to Martin Badgley/Badgely, d (when/where?).
4-4-8 Benjamin, b 1/5/1806 Sh'yv., KY, (never md?), d 2/23/1832 (Mont Co, IN?).
4-4-9 David, b 11/15/1807 Sh'yv., KY, md 8/16/1831 Orange Co, IN to Sarah "Jane" Van Cleave (4-3-5 of post #491), dau of John Van Cleave, Jr (John-AIJ & Mary Shepherd) & Eunice Van Cleave (Ben-AIJ & Ruth Munson), d 3/16/1874 Parkersburg, Mont Co, IN.Jane was b 10/7/1803 Sh'yv., KY & d 4/27/1896 Parkersburg, Mont Co, IN.David & Jane are buried in Indian Creek Hill Cem, Mont Co, IN.
David Van Cleave was abt 6'4" tall and of a rather large yet slender build.He was probably named for his father's 1/2 bro David Van Cleave, son of John Van Cleave, Sr & Rachel (Demarest-Ryker) Van Cleave.David, b 1807 Ky, moved to Montgomery Co, IN soon after his marriage in 1831, and he lived there with his wife until his death in 1874.He also had a parchment deed, for land he entered in 1831, signed by President Andrew Jackson.
The following story was told to me, Richard Lawson, by my Uncle George Patterson Lawson on Sunday the 27th of May 1984.Uncle George told me "this story was related to me by my grandfather, Benjamin Milton Van Cleave (4-4-9-5 below), many years ago."
"How a Bear Saved His Life"
"David Van Cleave, my father, was taking some grain to the local mill to be ground into flour and meal, when he saw a bear running out of the woods toward the road and his team and wagon, and then back into the woods.He evidently thought the bear was acting strangely, so he got off of his wagon and followed the bear into the woods.After some time, the bear was gone, and father returned to his wagon, and once again headed for the old mill.Upon arrival, all he could see was a cloud of smoke, and as he went closer, he discovered that the Indians had just burned the mill and killed all the white men who were there.By an investigation of the scene, he was able to reason that if he had not followed the strangely acting bear into the woods, he would have been at the mill at the very moment that the Indians had attacked it.Thus he concluded, and always told this story of, how a bear saved his life."
Children of David Van Cleave & Sarah Jane Van Cleave:
4-4-9-1 James Marshall, b 6/18/1832 Parkersburg, IN, md 9/13/1859 Putnam Co, IN to Frances Ann Washington Shanks, dau of David Shanks & Mary (Elizabeth/Eliza?) Brannick, d 10/28/1910 Yountsville, Mont Co, IN.Frances was b 8/31/1836 near Cynthiana, Harrison, KY & d 7/10/1907 Marion Co, IN.
Uncle James's life was full of heart aches.To begin with, soon after his marriage, he and Frances were blessed with a baby girl in the Spring of 1861, whom they named Mary Elizabeth, but she died at just a little less than a month old.
Then in Sept of 1861, Uncle James, age 29, enlisted in Co B, 10th Regt. IN Vols, along with his brothers, Uncle Wm, age 25 & my grt grandfather, Ben only 19 years old, for three years of service in the Union Army during the Civil War.Grt grandpa, Ben, still only 19 years old, was "wounded in action at Mill Springs, KY, January 19, 1862.", according to his certificate of discharge papers.
I have a picture, that was evidently sent back to their parents, of Uncle James holding his youger brother Ben on his knee, and grt grandpa Ben looked very weak. He was probably still in an Army field hospital at the time.Uncle James no doubt felt some responsibility as the eldest of the three brothers, to take care of his younger brothers.
Then, their youngest brother, Uncle Aaron, enlisted for two years of service in the Union Army, in Co C, 40th IN Inf., just a couple of months after his 17th birthday.About that same time, Uncle Wm was captured and taken prisoner by the Confederate Army, and was eventually taken to Andersonville Prison where he became very ill. He was then apparently taken out on a hospital boat, where he died.After his capture, Uncle Wm's family was trying to find out about his whereabouts, a picture was taken of him in his uniform, and it was sent to his folks back home.It is the only picture I have of any of the four brothers taken while in uniform.
Uncle James returned home to his wife, Frances, after his three years of service was up in Sept 1864, and on 3/10/1865, they were blessed with a baby boy whom they named James David (after father & grandfather), who md (1) Carrie Ruth Dodge (2) Wilhelmina (Diefenbach-Utrect) Harris.Just as things may have been looking up for this couple, near thirty years old now, and they were blessed with another liitle girl whom they named Eliza Jane (after grandmothers?), this 2nd baby girl died at just a few days after being a month old.
It was during this time that Uncle James wrote the following poem, dated 1866, and signed James Marshall Van Cleave:
"What vessel are you sailing in, Pray tell to me the same; Our vessel is the Ark of God, And Christ the captains name.
Hoist every sail to catch the gale, Each sailor apply the oar; The night begins to wear away, We soon shall reach the shore.
What port is this you're sailing for, Pray tell to me straightaway; The heaven of heavens it is our port, The realms of endless day.
Our company is the word of God, Our anchor blooming hope; The love of God our main top sail, And faith our cable rope.
But are you not afraid some storm, Your bark will overthrow; We cannot fear our captain's near, Our father's at the helm.
And when we all are landed safe, On that celestial plain; Our song shall be worthy of the lamb, That was for sinners slain.
Heave out the boat I'll go along, If you can find me room; There's room for you and all the world, Make no delay but come."
4-4-9-2 William Martin, b 4/14/1836 Parkersbrug, IN, d 11/30/1864 (on a "hospital boat" & apparently buried at sea?).Uncle Wm was captured and taken prisoner by the Confederate Army during the Civil War., and died in Nov 1864.His term of three years of service was up in Sept 1864, and he might have been released by being "paroled" or "exchanged" if his physical condition would have made that possible, or, more importantly, if the condition of the Confederacy & its Army in general, and the deplorable conditions at Andersonville Prison in particular, had not been so bad by this last few months of the war.
4-4-9-3 Elizabeth Katherine, b 3/12/1838 Parkersburg, IN, (never md?), d 12/11/1895 MontIN & buried near parents in Indian Creek Hill Cem.She was named for her mother Jane's sisters, who were born just before and just after Jane, and who both evidently died young.
4-4-9-4 Eunice Susannah, b 3/16/1840 Parkersburg, IN, (never md?), d 7/6/1875 MontIN & buried near parents in Indian Creek Hill Cem.
4-4-9-5 Benjamin Milton, b 5/19/1842 Parkersburg, IN, md 12/24/1868 Parkersburg, IN to Mary Elizabeth Chase, dau of Rev. Moody Chase, Jr & Hannah Jewett, d 11/21/1928 Topeka, Shawnee Co, KS.Mary was b 10/9/1849 Parkersburg, IN & d 3/18/1920 Topeka, Shawnee Co, KS.My grt grandparents, Ben & Mary, are buried in Mt Hope Cem, Topeka, KS.
Benjamin Milton was named for David's brothers who were born just before and just after David, and who both were (never md?), dying at ages 26 & 15 respectively, and for a long list of other Benjamin Van Cleaves."Ben" was born & raised on the farm near Parkersburg, that had been entered by his parents in 1831.When my wife and I, and our oldest five children lived near Crawfordsville in the late 1970's, we used to go and draw & drink water from the spring at Parkersburg.Steps leading down to the spout were broken and generally in bad need of repair, but I would go down and draw a gallon or two of water for us to all drink.The Parkersburg Spring had been "known" in the "early days" for its "purity & medicial benefits".I drew & drunk it mainly because I knew that many of my ancestors had once drawn & drunk spring water from it.
Ben entered Wabash College in Crawfordsville when he was about 17 or 18 years old, but left there at age 19 to serve in the Union Army with his brothers.He was apparently unable to complete his studies upon his return due to poor health.There is a plague on the outside of one of the buildings, with the names of the students from Wabash College who served in the Civil War, including B.M. Van Cleave.
While teaching school, he met Mary Chase, who perhaps also taught school.She had attended college at Terre Haute, IN, along with her sisters, Harriet, Abbie, Myra and Cassie, all of whom were school teachers.Ben & Mary were married on Dec. 24, 1868, in the home of the bride by the bride's father, Rev. Moody Chase.
In 1881, after six children were born to this couple and Mary was expecting the seventh child (my grandmother, Dulcena Elizabeth), their little son Raymond died, and Ben was stricken with typhoid fever.While he was convalescing, the doctor felt he needed a change of climate.Mary's father had died in 1879, so her mother sold the property from his estate, and Mary's brother, Uncle James Chase went to Texas and bought a ranch on the fork of the Nolan, near the Brazos River.After their little dau "Lizzie" was born, Ben & Mary, with their six children and the rest of the Chase family, moved to Cleburne, Johnson Co, TX, and began a stock-raising business on an elaborate scale.Being unfamiliar with the climatic and other conditions of the new area, and not knowing anything about raising cattle on that scale, the Van Cleave & Chase families lost disastrously in the venture.Ben then became an engineer in one of the large flour mills of Cleburne.A little dau Nellie was born to Ben & Mary, but she died three days later.
In about 1888, the surving members of the Van Cleave & Chase families moved to KS, from where some of them later moved on west to Colorado & California.Ben & Mary moved to Topeka where he worked at the carpenter's trade for a time, until he entered the employ of the Santa Fe Railroad, where he remained until he was retired on a pension.After his retirement, Ben raised poultry at his Oakland, KS (now part of Topeka) home until the death of his wife in early 1920.He then sold that home and made his home with his daughter & her husband, Minnie & George Allen Root.
Ben was an interesting man to chat with.He was well read and had a remarkable memory and a fine choice of words.He wrote many articles for religious periodicals after his wife's death.He also wrote many poems, and a number of them were published in the Topeka Daily Capitol and in the Herald and Presbyter.Uncle George Root, his son-in-law, was curator of records for the Kansas State Historical Society, and many of Ben's poems were included in a pamphlet entitled, GLEANINGS ALONG LIFE'S PATHWAY, by Benjamin M Van Cleave; Topeka, Kansas; 1922.
Ben was a large man, standing about six feet, two inches tall & weighing from 185 to 200 lbs, and never having an once of fat.He was a Repubican in politics, and he was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) and of the Modern Woodmen of America.He was also an elder in the Presbyterian Church.As long as he was able, he walked to the Potwin Presbyterian Church where he maintained his membership until his death in 1928.The Grand Army and the Ladies of the G.A.R. took charge of his funeral services, as he had expressed a wish to that effect.Rev H.L. Nelson, minister of the Potwin Church, officiated at the services and he was buried in the Van Cleave-Lawson lots at Mt Hope Cemetery in Topeka, KS.
The family of Ben & Mary (Chase) Van Cleave: Edwin Spencer b 8/20/1870, md Mattie Miller; Minnie Jewett b 3/8/1872, md George A Root; Walter Wilson b 11/4/1873, md Cora Lester; Arthur Chase b 11/22/1875, md Lennie Georgia; Grace Vernon b 1/27/1879, md (1) Calvin Harrop (2) Hervy Barrett; Raymond Morton b 1/27/1879 & d 2/9/1881; *Dulcena Elizabeth b 8/19/1881 Parkersburg IN, md 2/19/1902 Topeka, KS to George Henry Lawson, an intern of the School of Medicine, at Washburn University of Topeka, and d 12/19/1921 in a hospital in Topeka, KS, while she was a resident of Bloom TP (near Morganville), Clay Co, KS; and little Nellie b 8/15/1884 & d 8/18/1884.
*Dulcena Elizabeth, my dad's mother, named her youngest son Benjamin, but I knew him as "Uncle Benny".After learning more about my grandmother's Van Cleave family, while living in Indiana in the late 70's, my wife & I named our youngest son Benjamin after Uncle Benny & Grt-grandpa Benjamin Milton Van Cleave.
The following is the author's note on p1 inside the front cover of GLEANINGS ALONG LIFE'S HIGHWAY, by Benjamin M Van Cleave; Topeka, Kansas; 1922:
"GREETINGS"
"I'm sending out these verses small, To meet the critic's eye; And pray that you be kind enough,To pass my errors by.
I do not claim a poet's wreath, Or long for worldly fame; But only 'mongst the comforters, Would I inscribe my name.
And if I may induce one smile,Where frowns were seen before; Or add one word that speaks of peace, I would not ask for more."
A true soldier & defender of the Union cause during the Civil War, my grt grandfather, Ben wrote the following poem, Sept.1921, p8; ibid:
"THE CAMP WHERE THERE'S NO REVEILLE"
"Just sixty years back! Ah, is it so long?Our ranks were complete in each file;With uniforms bright, and limbs that were strong,We met every care with a smile.
Our marches were made with a very good grace,And our battles unflinchingly fought;
Each comrade was there, every one in his place,And no easy places were sought.
But soon as we marched it was easy to find,Our feet on the journey would lag;And life seemed one wearisome circle and grind;And our former good spirits would flag.
And we listened for 'taps', but 'twas only 'retreat',And the the night did not bring us much glee;And we listened to hear the 'long roll' as it beat,Or be waked by the loud reveille.
The nights were so short ere the reveille's call,And the day seemed to stretch out before; And we longed for the shadows of evening to fall, For our feet with the journey were sore.
Our ranks have grown thin, and our step is more slow,And the glow of the fires we can see; We have only a few marches to go,To the camp where there's no reveille.
We have fought for the right and the victory won,And we now only wait for release;
We are weary of war and our marching all done, And we now have the blessings of peace.
There will be no 'long roll' to disturb that sweet rest,For from conflict we then shall be free;And we'll hear the glad 'welcome' that comes to the blest,In the camp where there's no reveille."
4-4-9-6 Aaron Wilson, b 10/2/1844 Parkersburg, IN, md 1/17/1870 Mont Co, IN to Mary E/C Hamilton, dau of ____ Hamilton & Marian ____, d 12/18/1908 at the homestead of David & Jane in Parkersburg, IN.Mary was b abt 1849 & d (when/where?).Uncle Aaron (and Aunt Mary?) is/are buried in Indian Creek Hill Cem.After a search of my files, I'm wondering if the several desc's of this couple that I met & corresponded with did not know more about Aunt Mary (Mollie?), or if I somehow neglected to ask.I would very much appereciate knowing the names of her parents, and about her death & burial.
4-4-9-7 Sarah Jane, b 7/26/1848 Parkersburg, IN, md 9/5/1883 Mont Co, IN to Levi N Lee, d 3/9/1923 Parkersburg, IN.Evidently, her marriage to Levi was of short duration, and she died as Sarah Jane Van Cleave, leaving no ch.Nothing else is mentioned abt Levi.
The family of Uncle Aaron & Aunt Mary (Hamilton) Van Cleave: Benjamin Franklin b 3/23/1871, md Almeda Margaret Cline; David Ulysses S Grant b 8/18/1872, md Winifred May (Hampton) Points; Nancy Ellen b abt 1874, prob d.y.; Eunice Jane b abt 1877, prob d.y.; and Wilber Hamilton b 9/3/1879, md Mary Maude Hester.
4-4-10 Milton, b 1/23/1809 Sh'yv., KY, (never md?), d 10/29/1824 (note that David had a son named Benjamin Milton, also see note after Catherine 4-3-6 of post #491).
4-4-11 Sarah, b 12/9/1811 Sh'yv., KY, md 7/22/1830 Mont Co, IN to Crawford Van Cleave (5-2-6 of post #489), son of Aaron Van Cleave (Ben-AIJ & Ruth Munson) & Elizabeth Van Cleave (John-AIJ & Mary Shepherd), d abt 1840 Mont Co, IN.Crawford was b abt 1808 Sh'yv., KY, md (2) Eunice King, dau of Cornelius King & Mary Van Cleave (4-3-2 of post #491), dau of John Van Cleave (John-AIJ & Mary Shepherd) & Eunice Van Cleave (Ben-AIJ & Ruth Munson), & d after 1870 FC of Trenton TP, Grundy Co, MO.Eunice King Van Cleave then md (2) James F Layson of Grundy Co, MO.
Children of Sarah Van Cleave & Crawford Van Cleave:
4-4-11-1 Elizabeth (Griffin?), b 4/15/ 1834 Br'ns V'y, IN, md 10/6/1853 Mont Co, IN to Henry C Lisby, d 9/30/1897 Grundy Co, MO.Henry was b 8/19/1830 KY & d 4/6/1906 Grundy Co, MO.Elizabeth & Henry are buried in Stepp Cem, Grundy Co, MO.Elizabeth was prob named for Sarah's mother
4-4-11-2 Isaac M(unson?), b abt 1836/7 Br'ns V'y, IN, md (1) (when/where?) Elizabeth Husted, (2) 12/26/1865 Grundy Co, MO to Elizabeth E(lmira?) Stevenson, d (when/where?, after 1880 FC of Buchanan Co, MO).Elmira was b abt 1830/31 OH & d (when/where?, after 1880 FC of Buchanan Co, MO).Isaac was prob named for Rev Isaac Munson, an early Baptist Minister of KY, a brother of Sarah's grandmother, Catherine Munson & a 1/2 brother of Crawford's grandmother, Ruth Munson.
See children of Crawford Van Cleave (5-2-6) & Eunice King in post #489:
4-4-12 James (twin of Nancy), b 11/23/1813 Sh'yv., KY, d 8/28/1814 Sh'yv., KY.(Coincidently, my father who was named at birth Donald James, was b 11/23/1913).
4-4-13 Nancy (twin of James), b 11/23/1813 Sh'yv., KY, d 9/15/1814 Sh'yv., KY.
4-4-14 John (named for Aaron's father?), b 9/10/1815 Sh'yv., KY, md 9/3/1835 Mont Co, IN to Malinda Van Cleave, sis of Uncle Jonathan who md Aunt Betsy 4-4-7 above, and dau of Elizabeth Stebbins & Ralph Van Cleave, son of Benjamin Van Cleave & Ruth Munson, d 2/28/1846 Mont Co, IN.Aunt Malinda was b 5/15/1814 Sh'yv., KY & d 4/4/1846 Mont Co,IN.
Both Uncle John & Aunt Malinda died quite young in 1846, leaving four young children, the youngest of whom died in 1847.In the 1850 FC of Brown TP, Mont Co, IN, the other three children; Isaiah, Edwin & Marion were living with their grandfather, Ralph Van Cleave, whose wife had died in 1848, and also with their Aunt Lucy.Evidently, it was Uncle Ralph who had the paper that his brother, Rev Samuel (see Vancleave post #496 for more info about Rev Samuel), had written the names of their parents and sibs down on.In any case, it was Mrs. America Sayler, dau of Edwin Van Cleave, son of Uncle John & Aunt Malinda, who had in her possesion, in 1937, this "brown piece of paper".If only the families of the other sons of Aaron Van Cleave & Rachel Schenck had been recorded and preserved that way.
Children of Uncle John Van Cleave & Aunt Malinda Van Cleave:
4-4-14-1 Isaiah, b 10/4/1836 Br'ns V'y, IN, md 2/28/1861 Mont Co, IN to Mary A Catherine Van Cleave, dau of Mary Brown & Benjamin Van Cleave, son of Marjory Kerns & John Van Cleave, son of Benjamin (AIJ) & Ruth Munson, d 12/25/1907 Mont Co, IN.Mary was b abt 1843 IN & d 5/29/1887 Mont Co, IN.Isaiah (and Mary?) is/are buried in Indian Creek Hill Cem, Mont Co, IN.
4-4-14-2 Emily E, b 7/4/1838 Br'ns V'y, IN, d 8/24/1841 Br'ns V'y, IN.
4-4-14-3 Edwin, b 5/2/1841 Br'ns V'y, IN, md 12/26/1861 Mont Co, IN to Sarah Hicks, dau of ____ Hicks & ____ ____, d 10/14/1916 Mont Co, IN.Sarah was b 7/301842 IN & d 9/16/1923 Mont Co, IN.Edwin & Sarah are buried in Indian Creek Hill Cem, Mont Co, IN.
I met with Edwins grson, "Ed"win Armstrong b late 1890's,in the late 1970's while living in IN, and we shared many notes and stories about our Van Cleave families.
4-4-14-4 Marion, b 11/10/1843 Br'ns V'y, IN, md 3/10/1864 Mont Co, IN to Sarah "Sally" E/C Taylor, dau of Benjamin S Taylor & Margaret Van Cleave, dau of Aaron Van Cleave (Benjamin-AIJ & Ruth Munson) & Elizabeth Van Cleave (John-AIJ & Mary Shepherd), d 10/18/1925 Br'ns V'y, IN.Sally was b 12/23/1842 Br'ns V'y, IN & d 4/5/1894 Br'ns V'y, IN.Marion & Sally are buried in Indian Creek Hill Cem, Mont Co, IN.I believe my father's brother, Marion Van Cleave Lawson, who was lost in Colorado, was named after this cousin of my grt grandfather, Benjamin Milton Van Cleave.
4-4-14-5 Rebecca, b 4/3/1846, Br'ns V'y, IN, d 2/18/1847 Br'ns V'y, IN.
I suspect that Uncle John & Aunt Malinda, and their two little daus, are also buried in Indian Creek Hill Cem, but with sand-stone or other well-worn and unreadable grave markers or headstones.
This concludes my post about the paternal Van Cleave line of my grandmother, Dulcena Elizabeth "Lizzie" Van Cleave Lawson.Please feel free to post a follow-up with any questions, comments, suggestions of possible corrections or errors, etc.I'll leave you fellow Van Cleave family researhers with just one more coincidence in the Van Cleave family trivia.My 4th grt grandparents, John Van Cleave & Mary Shepherd had a son they named Benjamin Van Cleave who md Sarah Kerns, while Benjamin Van Cleave & Ruth Munson, also my 4th grt grandparents, had a son they named John Van Cleave who md Marjory Kerns.So, 1st cousins Benjamin & John md sisters Sarah & Marjory, daus of Peter Kerns & Anna Jordan.
Thanks in advance for any additions, corrections, or comments of follow-ups &/or e-mail messages..
More later,
Richard Lawson
Niangua, MO
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Re: Some ancestors of my ch & of Dulcena Eliz. "Lizzie" Van Cleave
By Richard January 02, 2008 at 02:25:05
In reply to: Some ancestors of my ch & of Dulcena Eliz. "Lizzie" Van Cleave
Richard 4/26/03
To all Van Cleave - Shepherd - Van Meter researchers & their readers.
I purchased a copy of THE VAN CLEEF FAMILY, by Wilson V. Ledley, C. G. [Certified Genealogist]; Polyanthos, New Orleans; 1976: in 1981.I had only been active in research of my family's history for 5 years with family members, plus 10 more years in libraries, courthouses, cemeteries, ect.I was not then nor am I now a Certified Genealogist, a Professional Researcher,or an expert in any field related to genealogy or family history.
I still own my copy of Mr. Ledley's book and the following quote is the first sentence of page 97: "John married (1) Mary, daughter of Capt. Thomas Shepherd and Elizabeth Van Meter, of Shepherdstown, Va., and so named in her father's will 25 March 1776 [200 yrs previous to the publishing of this book].
Also in 1981, I copied a family group sheet from the LDS Family History Library.The sources given in this FGS, sumitted by Lela De St. Jeor of Provo, Ut.: p.13 1705 - 1776 of Sheperdstown; and p.345 Hist. of Sheperdstown, Jefferson, Va.
That FGS list children of (Capt) Thomas Shepherd & Elizabeth Van Metre as: Elizabeth, born 23 Oct 1738; David, b Jan 1734; Sarah, b 1736; William, b 1740; Thomas, b 1743; Mary, b abt 1746; John, b 1749; Martha, b 1752; Abraham b 10 Nov 1754 & Susannah, b 1 Sep 1758; all born in Shepherdstown [Mary only child with abt before yr of birth; parents both born in 1712, no date of marrige given].I did not find or copy the two pages of the sources given.I assumed the order of birth was, at least, consistent with those sources; John between Mary & Martha.I have no idea why Elizabeth was listed out of order, first.David b 1734 seems to suggest parents married about 1733, or at about age 21, which seems young.
If Mary were born in 1752 & twin of Martha, then there was a six year gap between Thomas & John.I do not even know the order of the children listed in their father's will, given as Mr Ledley's source.If Thomas was born in 1742 andMary was born in 1744, she would still have been only 16/17 in 1760/61 or approximate years of marriage to John Van Cleave.As all those possibilites seem doubtful, at best, I have to admit it is just about as possible that Mary was a twin of Martha, and married to someone other than John Van Cleave.I will therefore list the ancestors of Thomas Shepherd & Elizabeth Van Meter [Metre] as questionable in brackets in any futher posts or correspondence.
Desc's of Thomas & Elizabrth are believed to have settled in same areas of KY & IN as the Van cleave family, and Elizabeth's brother, Jacob Van Meter & wf Letticia Strode & ch were at Bryant's Station, KY in 1781.I'm sure Van Cleave family members believed their Mary (Shepherd) Van Cleave's Uncle Jacob was with her until Mary & other members of the Van Cleave family joined with others to try to reach safety of Ft Boonesborough, and Mary was killed along the way.
Mary Shepherd, wife of John Van Cleave,if not the dau of Capt Thos of Shepherdstown, was probably some close kin of his.Hopefully, someone will have more time than I do, to prove how she was related, daughter or not.
At this point though, if anyone uses information from this post that I am posting this follow-up to, please use brackets for ancestors beginnig with 290/298. Thomas Shepherd & 291/299. Elizabeth Van Metre; and any of their lines going back from them.
Please continue to provide further comments in the future.
I left out a few comments to this
_____________________________
Griffin
By Richard March 14, 2003 at 10:21:05
In reply to: Ch/grch of Aaron Van Cleave (John-AIJ) & Elizabeth Griffin
Richard 3/10/03
Fellow Van Cleave family researchers;
There have been several questions raised by my posts on the Van Cleave family, including whether Elizabeth Griffin's mother (Ralph Griffin's wife Catherine) was Catherine Munson.And, as I mentioned in my post #497, there is apparently still some question of whether Thos G Van Cleave, husb of Mary "Polly" (Shepherd?) Van Cleave (dau of Aaron Van Cleave & Elizabeth Griffin), was a son of Benjamin Van Cleave & Ruth Munson or a son of Ralph Van Cleave & Lydia Combs/Coombs.I was considering trying to include the following information on those two questions in post #497, but it seemed to make that long enough post even longer, and also possibly even more confusing.Therefore, I decided to address these questions in this follow-up post.
QUESTION #1: What proof do I have that Ralph Griffin's wife, whose name was known to be Catherine, was actually Catherine Munson?
I have in my possession, in my Munson file, a letter dated June 2, 1986 from Electa Munson Hutchins, Solomon Clan Chairperson, Thomas Munson Foundation (on Thomas Munson Foundation Letterhead) in which she stated: "To maintain the integraty established by Myron Munson [author of Munson Record Vols. I & II] the Foundation planned to publish new found data [concerning Samuel Munson, his family & desc's] in the addendum [of Munson Record Vol. III]."Later, in the same paragraph, she continued: "Enough evidence has been uncovered that the decision has been made to publish all new found data in Vol III of the Munson Record."
I am not personally aware of the names of the members of the Foundation who were on the committee of the Thomas Munson Foundation that made that decision, or of all of the evidence they used in forming that decision.I only have Vols. I & II, and have not even read what was included in Vols III-V.I was told, about ten years ago, they had been published, and were $130.00 for all 3 vols, but I was not sure if that price was for members or non-members of the Foundation.
I was also told that the female lines of women with the maiden name Munson-plus only two generations from them-were to be published in Munson Record Vol III.I assume that Ruth Munson & Benjamin Van Cleave, and Catherine Munson & Ralph Griffin, with all of their ch & grch were included in Vols III-V.I was glad to have the opportunity to correspond with so many very interesting fellow Munson rearchers, nearly twenty years ago, all that we shared over the years, and especially all that I was able to learn from them.
While I felt privileged to have been invited, over many years, to join the Thomas Munson Foundation, and to sereral of the Family Reunions, including Yale Campus Reunions (our Munson ancestors were among the original founders/benefactors of Yale), I have not joined or attended that foundation, or many other organizations such as the SAR, that I have been invited to join.It is probably due to similar reasons that I have not entered all the information I have gathered about my ancestors over the last nearly forty years, in FTM, or in other internet sites.I still using all my "genealogy hobby funds" for research.
Members of my family have offered to buy the FTM& other software for me, butI have continued to tell them that I am still way too busy gathering more information to take that much time away from my research.Since I do reconize my time is limited, and much would be lost if I do not communicate it in some understandable form, I decided to post as much as possible, as I gather it, to genforum.I only want to share the most reliable and correct information possible about our ancestors, so if you have any additional information about our Munson family members please share them with us.
QUESTION #2: What evidence do I have that Thomas G Van Cleave was a son of Ralph Van Cleave & Lydia Combs/Coombs?
As far as Thomas G Van Cleave being the son of Ralph Van Cleave & Lydia Combs or Coombs goes; on p124 of THE VAN CLEEF FAMILY by Wilson V. Ledley, C.G. [Certified Genealogist], Polyanthos, New Orleans, 1976, Mr Ledley listed the following children with family ofBenjamin #104 (AIJ) & Ruth Munson:"309. xii. (sup.) Hope/Hopey; m. Jonathan Wood (IMH [Indiana Magazine of History] 33:511); no further data12
6; omitted by GGW [Georgia Gosney Wisda].310. xiii. (sup.) Thomas G.5
6 (listed in this family by ESH [Edward S Harvey]12
6 &WEVC [Wm E Van Cleave]),".
On p126; ibid:
6 "5. In 1846 Aaron[Van Cleave]'s heirs signed receipts for their share of his estate; three filed claims for boarding Aaron from 1 Apr. 1836, so his wife Elizabeth evidently died shortly before."On p127; ibid:
6 "12. Mr. Harveystated (IMH 33:511), 'The names and birth dates of Benjamin Vancleave's family, except Thomas (emphasis mine), were written on a piece of brown paper found among the effects of his son Samuel,' and that in 1937 it was in the possesion of Mrs. America Sayler [see 4-4-14-3 below], of Crawfordsville, Ind.JWmVC [James Wm Van Cleave] also quoted from this 'piece of course letter paper.'Mr. Harvey gave no authority for including the last two, Hope and Thomas, in this family, but Thomas fits in there chronologically, and nowhere else logically.The fact that he married a Van Cleave is good evidence that he was apparently accepted by others of the family, even though the Rev. Samuel (#303) did not include Thomas among his brothers and sisters.Another discrepancy is that [Mr.] Harvey gives the birth of Thomas as 'about 1799', some ten years after the last recorded birth in this family (with 'Hope (or Hopey)' in the interval but no birth date), which might suggest that their mothers were different."
Before the series of articles on the Van Cleave family by Mr Harvey were printed in the Indiana Magazine of History 1937/8, Edward S Harvey had compiled: JAN VAN CLEEF, A partial Genealogy of his Descendants in America, by Edward S Harvey, 1931. On p5 of this 1931 work by Mr. Harvey, he begins with:
"BENJAMIN Van CLEAVE."
"Note; The greater part of the following data, concrening BENJAMIN VAN CLEAVE, and his descendents, and of the three brothers, Aaron, John and Joseph N. Van Cleave, who were Benjamin's nephews [they were Ben's nephews, but Aaron & John were sons of Ben's brother John, and Joseph N was a son of Ben's brother Ralph], was taken from a manuscript in the possession of Mr. Jesse Van cleave, of Montgomery Co. Ind. written from dictation of his father, Mr. Ransom Van Cleave, in April 1914. This account is here rewritten (1931) by E. S. Harvey, of Lebanon, Ind. with additions and connotations".
Ransom was a son of Uncle Jonathan Van Cleave & Aunt Betsy Van Cleave, see below. Note that the account of the attack on and seige of Bryant's Station was excerpts from HISTORY of THE VAN CLEAVE FAMILY THE McMULLEN FAMILY THE TAYLOR FAMILY, compiled in 1946 by Errett Van Cleave, were from notes left by his Uncle James Wm Van Cleave of Montgomery Co, Ind. 1926, and that James Wm Van Cleave stated that much of his notes were from accounts of Elder Matthias Van Cleave and of Uncle Jonathan Van Cleave & Aunt Betsy Van Cleave, see below.
Mr. Harvey's 1931 compilation, p5 cont. "BENJAMIN VAN CLEAVE, was the youngest son of AARON VAN CLEAVE.He was born in New Jersey, went to North Carolina, where he was married to Ruth Munson, and went with the Boones to Kentucky."
"Benjamin and Ruth had eleven children;"
"1. John. 2. Benjamin. 3. Samuel. 4. Aaron. 5. William. 6. Ralph. 7. Hopey.[should be Eunice who md "Big John" Van Cleave] 8. Polly. 9. Jane. 10. Sarah. 11. Rachel."
While there are many descrepancies in this 1931 compilation by Mr. Harvey, we are certainly indebted to him for all of his good work in it.The most important item that I will now quote from this compilation by Mr. Harvey is from p12; ibid (under family of Benjamin's nephew Aaron who md Elizabeth Griffin): "2. Mary VanCleave, 4, born October 24 1793.Married Thomas VanCleave. (Line unknown)".Since neither Mr. Harvey, nor Ransom Van Cleave, listed Thomas G Van Cleave as a son of Benjamin Van Cleave & Ruth Munson, and his line As also mentioned by Mr. Ledley, there was a manuscript compiled or written by William E(dgar) Van Cleave, MD, date of original material unknown to me, but 1931-1945, entitled: THE VAN CLEAVE FAMILY IN AMERICA.I also have a copy of a later edition by Dr. Wm E Van Cleave that was borrowed by Professor Harley Jones Van Cleave of Urbana, Ill., 1944-45.Prof. HJVC made a "memoranda on the Wm E. Van Cleave document on Genealogy, prepared by Harley J. Van Cleave, Nov. 25, 1945 on basis of additions, errors and queried material form his personal records."I also have a copy of A NUMERICAL LISTING & OFFSPRING INDEX OF INDIVIDUALS KNOWN TO BE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE VAN CLEAVE FAMILY IN AMERICA, complied by Harley Jones Van Cleave, Urbana, Illinois, 1944, which included my father, his parents & sibs.
After all of his work on the Van Cleave family, Prof. Harley Jones Van Cleave stated, in his book of 1944, that the lineage of Thos G Van Cleave was "not 8." (8. being Benjamin Van Cleave who md to Ruth Munson), and he left the space for the # of Thos G's father blank in his "numerical listing".However, in the later manuscript/"document" of Van Cleave Family in America by Dr. Wm E Van Cleave, on p#9 Group D [family of Benjamin Van Cleave & Ruth Munson, ggg grandparents of WEVC] p#6, WEVC does add Hopey & Thomas G b abt 1799.Another mystery to me is why in this same work by WEVC, p#11 Group E [family of Aaron Van Cleave & Elizabeth Griffin, gg grandparents of WEVC] p#1b, he listed "(2) Mary b Oct, 1793 m Thomas Van Cleave (Line unknown) See Group 'F' ", and on p#13 Group F [family of Mary Van Cleave & Thomas Van Cleave, grt grandparents of WEVC] p#1, "Mary Van Cleave b Oct 24, 1793, oldest daughter of Aaron Van Cleave and Elizabeth Griffin (See Group 'E' married Thomas Van Cleave)(line undertermined)".
Mr. Ledley was quite correct that both Edward S Harvey & Wm Edgar Van Cleave listed Hope/Hopey & Thomas G Van Cleave b abt 1799 as children 12 & 13 of Benjamin Van Cleave & Ruth Munson.His reasoning that Thos G (b abt 1799) would not fit in chronologically elsewhere would also be the most logical conclusion, since Ralph Van Cleave, brother of Benjamin, died in 1798.However, Thos G fought in the War of 1812, and was listed in 1850 FC of Montgomery Co, IN.Even his approximate date of birth would have had to be closer to the 1792, the actual year of his birth.Ihave a copy of Mr. Ledley's book & it contiues to be one of the greatest assets in my knowledge of our various Van Cleave family lines, but even Mr Ledley was not convinced and included (sup) in front of the names of Thomas G & Hopey.
While Thos G would have been only abt 6 yrs old when his father, Ralph Van Cleave died, and he may have been raised in part by his Uncle Benjamin, the descendents of Benjamin Van Cleave & Ruth Munson are quite clear on the fact that Benj & Ruth had 11 ch, 6 sons & 5 daus.Unfortunately, there is no record known to me of a complete list of the ch of Ralph Van Cleave & Lydia Combs/Coombs.Note: Ralph & Lydia are generally accepted as parents of Joseph N & Jesse P Van Cleave, both of whom had middle initials, but to my knowledge, no/unknown midlle names.Also, apparently, Ralph and his brothers Aaron & William had children with middle names or middle initials, while their brothers, John & Benjamin gave no middle names or middle initials to any of their children.
I have found posts in this VanCleave family genforum that state that Thos G Van Cleave was a son of Ralph & Lydia, but the sources are not clearly known to me.Unless I find, or I am given any evidence to the contrary though, I will continue to believe Thos G (& Hope/Hopey) are not children of Ben & Ruth, and I will logically conclude that they are children of Ralph & Lydia.Thos G & Mary "Polly" did name their first dau Elizabeth Combs or Coombs. If anyone has any other evidence, either way, please post it in a follow-up to this post.
If you still have any others questions, or additional information or corrections, about other family members mentioned in my post #497, please let me know by posting a follow-up, or by a direct e-mail message.
Richard Lawson,
Niangua, MO
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Re: Ch/grch of Aaron Van Cleave (John-AIJ) & Elizabeth Griffin
By Richard March 14, 2003 at 10:21:05
In reply to: Ch/grch of Aaron Van Cleave (John-AIJ) & Elizabeth Griffin
Richard 3/10/03
Fellow Van Cleave family researchers;
There have been several questions raised by my posts on the Van Cleave family, including whether Elizabeth Griffin's mother (Ralph Griffin's wife Catherine) was Catherine Munson.And, as I mentioned in my post #497, there is apparently still some question of whether Thos G Van Cleave, husb of Mary "Polly" (Shepherd?) Van Cleave (dau of Aaron Van Cleave & Elizabeth Griffin), was a son of Benjamin Van Cleave & Ruth Munson or a son of Ralph Van Cleave & Lydia Combs/Coombs.I was considering trying to include the following information on those two questions in post #497, but it seemed to make that long enough post even longer, and also possibly even more confusing.Therefore, I decided to address these questions in this follow-up post.
QUESTION #1: What proof do I have that Ralph Griffin's wife, whose name was known to be Catherine, was actually Catherine Munson?
I have in my possession, in my Munson file, a letter dated June 2, 1986 from Electa Munson Hutchins, Solomon Clan Chairperson, Thomas Munson Foundation (on Thomas Munson Foundation Letterhead) in which she stated: "To maintain the integraty established by Myron Munson [author of Munson Record Vols. I & II] the Foundation planned to publish new found data [concerning Samuel Munson, his family & desc's] in the addendum [of Munson Record Vol. III]."Later, in the same paragraph, she continued: "Enough evidence has been uncovered that the decision has been made to publish all new found data in Vol III of the Munson Record."
I am not personally aware of the names of the members of the Foundation who were on the committee of the Thomas Munson Foundation that made that decision, or of all of the evidence they used in forming that decision.I only have Vols. I & II, and have not even read what was included in Vols III-V.I was told, about ten years ago, they had been published, and were $130.00 for all 3 vols, but I was not sure if that price was for members or non-members of the Foundation.
I was also told that the female lines of women with the maiden name Munson-plus only two generations from them-were to be published in Munson Record Vol III.I assume that Ruth Munson & Benjamin Van Cleave, and Catherine Munson & Ralph Griffin, with all of their ch & grch were included in Vols III-V.I was glad to have the opportunity to correspond with so many very interesting fellow Munson rearchers, nearly twenty years ago, all that we shared over the years, and especially all that I was able to learn from them.
While I felt privileged to have been invited, over many years, to join the Thomas Munson Foundation, and to sereral of the Family Reunions, including Yale Campus Reunions (our Munson ancestors were among the original founders/benefactors of Yale), I have not joined or attended that foundation, or many other organizations such as the SAR, that I have been invited to join.It is probably due to similar reasons that I have not entered all the information I have gathered about my ancestors over the last nearly forty years, in FTM, or in other internet sites.I still using all my "genealogy hobby funds" for research.
Members of my family have offered to buy the FTM& other software for me, butI have continued to tell them that I am still way too busy gathering more information to take that much time away from my research.Since I do reconize my time is limited, and much would be lost if I do not communicate it in some understandable form, I decided to post as much as possible, as I gather it, to genforum.I only want to share the most reliable and correct information possible about our ancestors, so if you have any additional information about our Munson family members please share them with us.
QUESTION #2: What evidence do I have that Thomas G Van Cleave was a son of Ralph Van Cleave & Lydia Combs/Coombs?
As far as Thomas G Van Cleave being the son of Ralph Van Cleave & Lydia Combs or Coombs goes; on p124 of THE VAN CLEEF FAMILY by Wilson V. Ledley, C.G. [Certified Genealogist], Polyanthos, New Orleans, 1976, Mr Ledley listed the following children with family ofBenjamin #104 (AIJ) & Ruth Munson:"309. xii. (sup.) Hope/Hopey; m. Jonathan Wood (IMH [Indiana Magazine of History] 33:511); no further data12
6; omitted by GGW [Georgia Gosney Wisda].310. xiii. (sup.) Thomas G.5
6 (listed in this family by ESH [Edward S Harvey]12
6 &WEVC [Wm E Van Cleave]),".
On p126; ibid:
6 "5. In 1846 Aaron[Van Cleave]'s heirs signed receipts for their share of his estate; three filed claims for boarding Aaron from 1 Apr. 1836, so his wife Elizabeth evidently died shortly before."On p127; ibid:
6 "12. Mr. Harveystated (IMH 33:511), 'The names and birth dates of Benjamin Vancleave's family, except Thomas (emphasis mine), were written on a piece of brown paper found among the effects of his son Samuel,' and that in 1937 it was in the possesion of Mrs. America Sayler [see 4-4-14-3 below], of Crawfordsville, Ind.JWmVC [James Wm Van Cleave] also quoted from this 'piece of course letter paper.'Mr. Harvey gave no authority for including the last two, Hope and Thomas, in this family, but Thomas fits in there chronologically, and nowhere else logically.The fact that he married a Van Cleave is good evidence that he was apparently accepted by others of the family, even though the Rev. Samuel (#303) did not include Thomas among his brothers and sisters.Another discrepancy is that [Mr.] Harvey gives the birth of Thomas as 'about 1799', some ten years after the last recorded birth in this family (with 'Hope (or Hopey)' in the interval but no birth date), which might suggest that their mothers were different."
Before the series of articles on the Van Cleave family by Mr Harvey were printed in the Indiana Magazine of History 1937/8, Edward S Harvey had compiled: JAN VAN CLEEF, A partial Genealogy of his Descendants in America, by Edward S Harvey, 1931. On p5 of this 1931 work by Mr. Harvey, he begins with:
"BENJAMIN Van CLEAVE."
"Note; The greater part of the following data, concrening BENJAMIN VAN CLEAVE, and his descendents, and of the three brothers, Aaron, John and Joseph N. Van Cleave, who were Benjamin's nephews [they were Ben's nephews, but Aaron & John were sons of Ben's brother John, and Joseph N was a son of Ben's brother Ralph], was taken from a manuscript in the possession of Mr. Jesse Van cleave, of Montgomery Co. Ind. written from dictation of his father, Mr. Ransom Van Cleave, in April 1914. This account is here rewritten (1931) by E. S. Harvey, of Lebanon, Ind. with additions and connotations".
Ransom was a son of Uncle Jonathan Van Cleave & Aunt Betsy Van Cleave, see below. Note that the account of the attack on and seige of Bryant's Station was excerpts from HISTORY of THE VAN CLEAVE FAMILY THE McMULLEN FAMILY THE TAYLOR FAMILY, compiled in 1946 by Errett Van Cleave, were from notes left by his Uncle James Wm Van Cleave of Montgomery Co, Ind. 1926, and that James Wm Van Cleave stated that much of his notes were from accounts of Elder Matthias Van Cleave and of Uncle Jonathan Van Cleave & Aunt Betsy Van Cleave, see below.
Mr. Harvey's 1931 compilation, p5 cont. "BENJAMIN VAN CLEAVE, was the youngest son of AARON VAN CLEAVE.He was born in New Jersey, went to North Carolina, where he was married to Ruth Munson, and went with the Boones to Kentucky."
"Benjamin and Ruth had eleven children;"
"1. John. 2. Benjamin. 3. Samuel. 4. Aaron. 5. William. 6. Ralph. 7. Hopey.[should be Eunice who md "Big John" Van Cleave] 8. Polly. 9. Jane. 10. Sarah. 11. Rachel."
While there are many descrepancies in this 1931 compilation by Mr. Harvey, we are certainly indebted to him for all of his good work in it.The most important item that I will now quote from this compilation by Mr. Harvey is from p12; ibid (under family of Benjamin's nephew Aaron who md Elizabeth Griffin): "2. Mary VanCleave, 4, born October 24 1793.Married Thomas VanCleave. (Line unknown)".Since neither Mr. Harvey, nor Ransom Van Cleave, listed Thomas G Van Cleave as a son of Benjamin Van Cleave & Ruth Munson, and his line As also mentioned by Mr. Ledley, there was a manuscript compiled or written by William E(dgar) Van Cleave, MD, date of original material unknown to me, but 1931-1945, entitled: THE VAN CLEAVE FAMILY IN AMERICA.I also have a copy of a later edition by Dr. Wm E Van Cleave that was borrowed by Professor Harley Jones Van Cleave of Urbana, Ill., 1944-45.Prof. HJVC made a "memoranda on the Wm E. Van Cleave document on Genealogy, prepared by Harley J. Van Cleave, Nov. 25, 1945 on basis of additions, errors and queried material form his personal records."I also have a copy of A NUMERICAL LISTING & OFFSPRING INDEX OF INDIVIDUALS KNOWN TO BE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE VAN CLEAVE FAMILY IN AMERICA, complied by Harley Jones Van Cleave, Urbana, Illinois, 1944, which included my father, his parents & sibs.
After all of his work on the Van Cleave family, Prof. Harley Jones Van Cleave stated, in his book of 1944, that the lineage of Thos G Van Cleave was "not 8." (8. being Benjamin Van Cleave who md to Ruth Munson), and he left the space for the # of Thos G's father blank in his "numerical listing".However, in the later manuscript/"document" of Van Cleave Family in America by Dr. Wm E Van Cleave, on p#9 Group D [family of Benjamin Van Cleave & Ruth Munson, ggg grandparents of WEVC] p#6, WEVC does add Hopey & Thomas G b abt 1799.Another mystery to me is why in this same work by WEVC, p#11 Group E [family of Aaron Van Cleave & Elizabeth Griffin, gg grandparents of WEVC] p#1b, he listed "(2) Mary b Oct, 1793 m Thomas Van Cleave (Line unknown) See Group 'F' ", and on p#13 Group F [family of Mary Van Cleave & Thomas Van Cleave, grt grandparents of WEVC] p#1, "Mary Van Cleave b Oct 24, 1793, oldest daughter of Aaron Van Cleave and Elizabeth Griffin (See Group 'E' married Thomas Van Cleave)(line undertermined)".
Mr. Ledley was quite correct that both Edward S Harvey & Wm Edgar Van Cleave listed Hope/Hopey & Thomas G Van Cleave b abt 1799 as children 12 & 13 of Benjamin Van Cleave & Ruth Munson.His reasoning that Thos G (b abt 1799) would not fit in chronologically elsewhere would also be the most logical conclusion, since Ralph Van Cleave, brother of Benjamin, died in 1798.However, Thos G fought in the War of 1812, and was listed in 1850 FC of Montgomery Co, IN.Even his approximate date of birth would have had to be closer to the 1792, the actual year of his birth.Ihave a copy of Mr. Ledley's book & it contiues to be one of the greatest assets in my knowledge of our various Van Cleave family lines, but even Mr Ledley was not convinced and included (sup) in front of the names of Thomas G & Hopey.
While Thos G would have been only abt 6 yrs old when his father, Ralph Van Cleave died, and he may have been raised in part by his Uncle Benjamin, the descendents of Benjamin Van Cleave & Ruth Munson are quite clear on the fact that Benj & Ruth had 11 ch, 6 sons & 5 daus.Unfortunately, there is no record known to me of a complete list of the ch of Ralph Van Cleave & Lydia Combs/Coombs.Note: Ralph & Lydia are generally accepted as parents of Joseph N & Jesse P Van Cleave, both of whom had middle initials, but to my knowledge, no/unknown midlle names.Also, apparently, Ralph and his brothers Aaron & William had children with middle names or middle initials, while their brothers, John & Benjamin gave no middle names or middle initials to any of their children.
I have found posts in this VanCleave family genforum that state that Thos G Van Cleave was a son of Ralph & Lydia, but the sources are not clearly known to me.Unless I find, or I am given any evidence to the contrary though, I will continue to believe Thos G (& Hope/Hopey) are not children of Ben & Ruth, and I will logically conclude that they are children of Ralph & Lydia.Thos G & Mary "Polly" did name their first dau Elizabeth Combs or Coombs. If anyone has any other evidence, either way, please post it in a follow-up to this post.
If you still have any others questions, or additional information or corrections, about other family members mentioned in my post #497, please let me know by posting a follow-up, or by a direct e-mail message.
Richard Lawson,
Niangua, MO
____________________________________
VanCleave Griffin-Munson. No proof.
By Bob Scott November 15, 2004 at 05:45:44
In reply to: Re: Ch/grch of Aaron Van Cleave (John-AIJ) & Elizabeth Griffin
Richard 4/27/03
Hi Rich
I wanted to point out that there is no proof that Catherine Munson married Ralph Griffin. It was printed as fact in the Munson Record, but that list is undocumented. I think it is highly likely that Ralph and Catherine did marry, but the circumstantial evidence is fairly thin. It rests on the folllowing.
1. Ralph and Catherine named a daughter Ruth and Catherine Munson had a sister Ruth.
2. Ralph, Allen Munson (son of Catherine Munson's brother Elisaph), and Benjamin VanCleave who m. Ruth Munson are listed consecutively in the 1795 Shelby Co., Ky. tax list.
3. Generally, Ralph's migration parallels that of Samuel Munson, except that we can't definitely put Ralph in the same neighborhood as the Munsons in North Carolina.
Bob Scott
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