Book Spotlight: "The Two Johan Michael Grauels" by Gail Komar

My 7th great grandfather, Johan Michael Grauel, was an immigrant to the Colony of Pennsylvania from Germany, specifically the town of Heuchelheim bei Frankenthal, which is currently in the German State of Rhineland-Palatinate. In the 1700s, what is now known as Germany was a collection of small territories, although generally they made up the Holy Roman Empire. Johan Michael Grauel came to America with his family, including his wife's parents, in 1736 aboard the Harle, which arrived in Philadelphia on September 1st of that year. He settled in Berks County, Pennsylvania soon after his arrival, like many other so-called "Pennsylvania Dutch" did. 

The complicated thing for Grauel descendants to unravel, is that there was another man named Johan Michael Grauel who settled in Berks County, Pennsylvania around the same time. He came from Langenselbold, Hesse in 1733, and his family is unrelated to the Grauel's of Heuchelheim. Many internet sites frequently confuse the two separate Grauel families, making it impossible to do much research on the family. 

Gail Komar, seeing this, has done us all a service with the publication of "The Two Johan Michael Grauels". This book attempts to unravel the Grauel families, and provide a genealogy of the two families. It traces the descendants of the two Johan Michael Grauels up to around the 1850s. It also includes great biographical information on the families, providing well sourced and well documented information that i've never seen before. It is also color coded, allowing you to know immediately which family you are reading about. 

If you are a descendant of either Johan Michael Grauel, I highly recommend this book. 

MY LINEAGE 

1. Johan Michael Grauel, master carpenter of Heuchelheim, married Sybilla Elisabeth Fulmann, daughter of Johan Jacob Fullman, and they had: 

2. Johan Heinrich Grauel married Margaretha Bader and they had: 

3. Henry Crowel Sr. married Rachel, maiden name unknown, and they had: 

4. Mary Crowell married Jacob Sadler (maternal grandson of generation 2), and they had: 

5. Henry C. Sadler married Araminta White, daughter of Achilles White, and they had: 

6. Wiley Winton Sadler married Virginia B. Champ, daughter of James Henry Champ, and they had: 

7. Luther Allen Saddler Sr. married Mary Roberta Morris, daughter of George Alexander Morris, and they had

8. Luther Allen Saddler Jr., had a relationship with (LIVING), and they had: 

9. Brian Keith Winn married (LIVING), and they had: 

10. Hunter Winn, me. 

Ancestral Discoveries: The Battles of John Harter Wise Sr. (1846-1932)

Today, I visited the Herrick District Library for the first time in several months, now that it has re-opened. I checked out some books about Genealogy, printed an SF-180 form to request military documents on my paternal grandfather, etc. Before I left though, I decided to check out the cabinet in the back of the Library that contained obituaries, death records, etc. for people in our city. I have used this cabinet before- it's how I discovered my 2nd great grandfather committed suicide, by finding his obituary. I noticed three interesting drawers however, containing newspaper clippings about family reunions that were published in the city newspaper. I decided to look for the usual family surnames in the files: TerVree, Huyser, Harkema, Wise, etc., but did not find much, except for some Huyser family reunion stuff. For example, that my 2nd great grandfather, Jan Peter Huyser, was the president of an assocation that organized a reunion for the many descendants of his father, Pieter Huyser Sr., an immigrant from Zoetermeer, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands, and an original settler of Dutch West Michigan. But the most interesting discovery was about my 3rd great grandfather, John Harter Wise Sr., born in 1846 in Reading, Pennsylvania, to Abraham Wise and Clara Harter.

When he was only 16, Wise enlisted in the Pennsylvania Infantry. Wise's service is pretty well documented, he applied for and received a pension for his service, and he is listed in the 1890 Veteran's Schedules. Wise led a fascinating life- he was a teenager in the Union Army who fought in vicious battles when he was younger then I am now. Can any of us imagine fighting in brutal battles as teenagers? We may not, but he lived through it for the unity of his country. And not to mention the fighting, he was wounded and also captured during the war. In 1869 he married Lucy Saxton, a maiden of rich New England heritage, in Toledo, Ohio. By 1880 he was an engineer in Grand Junction, Michigan, the father of three children at the time. Wise died in 1932, a much respected man. He was even an honorary member of the United Spanish War Veterans.

The newspaper clipping that I came across was headlined "Veteran J. Wise Celebrates 85th Birthday" and was published on May 14, 1931. It would have just been an interesting clipping if not for this passage: "Among the battles in which he fought were South Mountain, Antietam, Chancellorsville, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, and Petersberg."

Previously, it was known that he had fought at the Battle of Antietam where he was wounded, at the Battle of Chancellorsville where he was captured, and at Cold Harbor. The additional four battles listed are completely new to me, especially the Siege of Petersburg, which was also a battle that I have been always interested in. To find an ancestor who fought there, laboring out of love for his country, which was being torn asunder by rebellion, is a truly beautiful thing.

Let us always remember the human side of Genealogy, and ponder and reflect upon our discoveries. Let us put ourselves in the shoes of John Harter Wise Sr., and imagine fighting battles, being wounded, and even captured as a teenage boy. Many of us could never imagine that, could never match his patriotism, and could never live the life that this brave teenage soldier experienced, my great-great-great grandfather.

My Revolutionary War Ancestors

In honor of the Fourth of July, I have compiled a list of my known ancestors who served in the American Revolutionary War, either as Patriots on the battlefield or as faithful citizens who rendered patriotic service. Lists like these are always incomplete, because tracing all of your ancestral lines to the late 1700s is truly a challenge.

• Clifton Bowen Jr, North Carolina- While his service is well spoken of, the details are little. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant, and served in the Duplin County Militia (NC) under Captain Aaron Williams, and eventually resigned his commission due to illness. Other then these facts, what is often told are stories, without any sources that I know of. For example, that he was a minuteman, and that he fought at the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge. Supposedly in 1781, he received an honorary discharge, due to a pulmonary ailment, supposedly from a British musketball, that made him too weak to carry on. 
• Elijah Bowen, North Carolina- The son of Clifton, his service is better known because of existing pension information. He was drafted in 1782, in Duplin County, North Carolina, under Captain Robert Merritt and Colonel Kenan, and proceeded to march against the Tories on Black and South Rivers. He was then put as a guard over some Tories, and marched to Halifax on Roanoke River, from where he went back to Duplin County, joined Colonel Kenan, and stood guard over prisoners for 2-3 months. Then he was marched to the Mulberry Grove in New Hanover County, and joined General Rutherford, and they marched into Wilmington, then back into Duplin County, where they stood guard until peace was proclaimed. He was discharged by Captain Merritt after having served 6 or 8 months. Interestingly, when he was interviewed during the process of applying for a pension, he stated that his discharge documents were burnt, and that his house was burnt down during the "troublesome times of the Indians". Possibly the Creek War? His house would have to have been burnt between 1783 and 1832 (the time of his testimony). He was later pensioned, although the specifics are contradictory. 
• James Bullard, North Carolina- A resident of Robeson County, North Carolina for much of his life, the service of Bullard is well known due to his wife receiving a widow's pension based on his service. They had married before the war began and were lifelong partners. He entered the service around 1777 under Captain John Cade and served for a few months. He again entered under Captain Robeson or Ervin, and served several more months. And he again entered and served a number of months under various different officers. He performed other services in the US Army which his widow had forgotten due to her advanced age when she testified about his service. He served in the Army in the Carolinas and in Georgia under General Green, Colonel Brown, Captain McKissick, Captain McRee and others. He fought at the Battle of the Slipery Bridge and some others. His widow was pensioned at the rate of $63.33 per annum beginning March 4th, 1831, and ending June 27, 1843. 
• Robert Crump III, North Carolina- Rendered patriotic service, furnishing supplies. 
• Robert DeShazo, North Carolina- According to "My Eighty Years in Texas" by William Physick Zuber, he supported the Patriotic cause from his lands in North Carolina. His son Louis served as a soldier, but he stayed at home to take care of his family and property. However, he did serve for short terms as a volunteer soldier, and sometimes participated in battles. Most of his neighbors were Tories, and tried to persuade him to join them. Then they threatened to kill him, and robbed him of his property and hunted him, leaving him to hide in swamps. The Tories drove away all his horses and cattle, and then kidnapped and sold 12 of his Slaves. Another time, some British and Tories surrounded his house and threatened his wife with death if she did not give up his location, however she heroically resisted and they later left. When the war ended, his Tory neighbors tried to mend their friendship, but he was tortured by their presence, and he moved to South Carolina.
• Johan Heinrich Grauel, Maryland: Born in the German Palatinate in 1729, Johan came here with his family in 1736 at the age of seven. When the Revolution broke out, like many other "Pennsylvania Dutch", he supported the Patriot cause. He rendered patriotic service, as a member of the Committee of Observation, and an associator in Frederick County in 1775. In 1778 he was a juror to the Oath of Allegiance. According to "The Two Johan Michael Grauels": "Henry Crowle of Burnt Woods Hundred was appointed by the Committee of Correspondence to solicit subscriptions in 1775 to purchase arms and ammunition". 
• James Joyce, South Carolina- According to the DAR, he rendered patriotic service, furnishing beef for use of the Army. 
• Michael McKenzie Mattox, South Carolina- An early pioneer of Tattnall County, Georgia, and a prominent local citizen and slaveholder, he was first a resident of Colleton County, South Carolina. Record is found of payment to him for 104 days of service in the South Carolina Militia during the Revolution. His grave is inscribed "Michael McKenzie Mattox, SC Militia, Continental Line, Rev War, 1745-1815", although this grave was probably placed a long time after his death. 
• John Parr Sr, Virginia- Rendered patriotic and civil service, furnishing supplies and serving as Surveyor of the Road in 1779. He took the Oath of Allegiance in 1777 in Henry County, Virginia. 
• Michael Sadler Sr, Pennsylvania- Born in Germany, his parents came to the Province of Pennsylvania in 1751, when he was a small boy. By the time of the Revolution he was a married man with several children. Not much is known about his service in the Revolution, except that he served in the Pennsylvania Militia. According to the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), he rendered Patriotic service, paying the supply tax in 1781, 1782, and 1783. His grave references his service in the PA Militia. 
• Jasper Saxton, Massachusetts- The first Patriot ancestor that I discovered, back at the beginning of my Genealogical research, the only Northern Patriot in my ancestry. Born in Massachusetts to a family of well documented descent in New England back to the time of the Great Migration, his service is possibly the best documented in my tree. He was a Sergeant in Lieut. Jeremiah Hickocks Company of Colonel John Ashleys Regiment from July 6, 1777 to July 27 of the same year. He marched with his Company to Kingsbury at the request of Maj. General Schuyler. He also served in Captain John Spoor's Company of Colonel John Ashley's Regiment from September 19 to October 19, 1777. He marched with his Company to Stillwater, and is listed as a participant in the Saratoga Campaign. His roll was certified at Sheffield by Brigadier General John Fellows. He also served in Captain Enoch Noble's Company of Colonel John Ashley's Regiment from Octopber 15-17 of 1780. He marched to the Northward by the order of Brigadier General fellows on an alarm, around the time the British took Forts George and Ann. 
• Simon Smith, Georgia- According to a certificate given to him by General Elijah Clarke on 20 April 1784, he was a Sergeant in a Georgia battalion of Minutemen. He was granted bounty land for his service and later also drew land in the 1827 Georgia Land Lottery. According to the certificate, he was not a resident of Georgia at the time of his enlistment in 1777, nor had he been for at least six months prior thereto. Thus, we can deduce that he moved to Georgia during the Revolution. 
• Joshua Stafford, South Carolina- A resident for many years of North Carolina, he had moved to South Carolina before the Revolution and served with the South Carolina Militia in 1780-1. Record of payment is found to him for 176 days service, 7 Apr 1785. He also served as a petit juror and furnished supplies. He later moved to Georgia, where he died.
• Daniel Winn, Virginia: Rendered patriotic service, by furnishing supplies and by paying the supply tax in 1783. Prior to the Revolution, Winn was a Lieutenant in the Lunenburg County Militia. He likely did not serve in combat during the Revolution due to his age.  

One person I did not mention is the Reverend Nathan Grantham, because my descent from him is lacking hard proof at this point. If it can be established that I am a descent of the Reverend, I will later speak of his service.

Have a good Independence Day. 

Sources:

• https://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A028279   Henry Crowell, Daughters of the American Revolution 
• https://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/default.cfm?action=full&p_id=A028365   Robert Crump, Daughters of the American Revolution 
• https://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A063231   James Joyce, Daughters of the American Revolution
• https://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A088047   John Parr, Daughters of the American Revolution
• https://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A108082   Joshua Stafford, Daughters of the American Revolution
• https://sarpatriots.sar.org/patriot/display/295792   Joshua Stafford, Sons of the American Revolution
• https://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A128552   Daniel Winn, Daughters of the American Revolution 

The Spirit of '76 

The Surrender of General Burgoyne at Saratoga, where Jasper Saxton fought 

Will Wednesday: Jonathan Brigham (1675-1768) of Marlborough, Massachusetts

Jonathan Brigham, my 8th great grandfather, was born in Marlborough, Massachusetts in 1675, and died there in 1768. He was the son of Thomas Brigham Jr. and Mary Rice. His father was the son of Thomas Brigham Sr., a Puritan immigrant, possibly from Holme-on-Spalding-Moor, Yorkshire. His mother was a granddaughter of Edmund Rice, a noted figure in 1600s New England, and of Thomasine Frost, who was of well established roots in Glemsford, Suffolk.

WILL

In The Name of God Amen this 28th day of December 1757 I Jonathan Brigham of Marlborough in ye County of Middlesex in his Majesties Province of ye Massachusetts Bay in New England Gent'm Considering my age In these my declining years: though at present in helth as to my Body mind and Memory thanks be given to God therefor: But calling to minde ye Mortallity of my Body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to Die Do ordain & Make this my Last Will and Testament (viz) principally & first of all I give and Recommend my Soul into ye hands of God y't gave it: And my Body I Recommend to ye Earth to be Buried in a decent Christian burial at ye Discretion of my Exe'tors hereafter Named: Nothing Doubting but at ye General Resurrection I Shall Receive ye Same by ye Mighty Power of God: And as touching such Worldly Estate as it hath pelased God to Bless me with in this Life: I Give Demise and Dispose in ye following order manner & forme:

Imprimis: I Give and bequeth unto my Beloved Sons Jesse Brigham & Joel Brigham whom I appoint Constitute make & ordain to be my Sole Executiors [sic] of this my Last Will & Testament as followeth

Item I Will & give to my Beloved Son Jonathan Brigham Eaight Shillings Lawfull money: having heretofore given him a Settelment by Deed

Item I Will and Give to my Beloved Son Joel Brigham the one half of all my Stock of Cattle Sheep and Swine: And Likewise all my utensels for Husbandry And Likewise a deed of ye half of ye home place which I Now possess Being Now in ye hands of James Brigham [obscured]: And Likewise all my Hogsheds and Barrils

Item I Will and give to my Beloved Son James Brigham Eaight Shillings Lawfull money Having heretofore given him a Settelment by Deed

Item I Will & give to my Beloved Daughter Keziah Keys and to her Heirs thirteen pounds Six Shillings & Eaight pence Lawfull money

Item I will & give to ye Children (of my Beloved daughter Zerviah Brag who is deceased) thirteen pounds Six Shillings * Eaight pence Lawfull money to be Equally devided amongst them

Itme I Will & give to ye Children (of my Beloved Daughter Mary Bruce who is deceased) thirteen pounds Six Shillings & Eaight pence Lawfull money to be Equally devided amongst them

Item I Will & give to my Beloved [D]aughter Ruth How & to her Heirs Thirteen pounds Six Shillings & Eaight pence Lawfull Money

Item I Will & Give to my Beloved daughter Thankfull Brigham & to her Heirs all my Beding which is for 8 beds with all ye furnituer belonging to ye Same: Likewise all my chests which are five and all my Lining with all my Brass Pewter and Iron which are Indoor Utensells and Likwise thirteen pounds Six Shillings & Eaight pence Lawfull money allso Two cows and fouer Sheep Ews Such as She shall Chuse: and the free use and Improvement of ye west Room and Bed-room as Longe as She Lives or Remains Single and allso my great Bible and her Equal Share in my other Books & Allso three meat-tubs & what meat shall be Left at my deceas with part of ye crop of corn which should be mine for that year in which I deceas

I Allso give unto her all ye Remainder of my money which shall be Left if any their be after the Legacies to my sons are paid and funerall charges and all other Nessary Charges that may arise: and allso ye purchasing of two pare of Midling Grave-Stones the one pair for my selfe & the other for my Wife

Item My Will is that all my wearing Cloths bouth woolling Lining & Leather be Equally devided between my fouer Sons: And allso that my Books (which are not allready disposed of by this will) be Equally devided amongs my Nine chilldren

Item I Constitue apoint & ordain my two Sons Jesse Brigham and Joel Brigham to be ye Sole Executiors of thks my Last Will & Testament as Before Specifyed: and my Will is y't they be Reasonabelly paid out of my money for their time & trouble in gathering it in: and if any part thereof cannot be Recovered by Reason of ye poverty of ye debtor or debtors said money shall not be demanded of s'd Executors by ye other Heirs

Item my Will is that my son Joel one of my Exe'tors pay out of my money to his three brothers y't money bequeth'd to them as affore s'd at ye End of one year after my deceas: and Allso that he pay to his Sister Keziah Keys or her Heirs the whole Legacy bequeth'd to her in this Will at ye End of five years after my decease: And that he pay to Each of his other Sisters or their Heirs one pound Six Shillings & Eaight pence L. M. apeace at ye End of one year after my decease and so one pound six shillings & Eaight pence apeace yearly untill ye whole of all their Legacys be paid And allso that he finds his Sister Thankfull a hors & tackling to Ride to meeting and other Where when she has a mind to Ride

Item my Will is y't if there be any of my Stock of Cattle or Sheep Left after my decease which is not dispos'd of before in this Will y't they shall be equally devided amongst my fouer Sons their Sister Thankfull having an Equal Sheair with them

Item My Will is y't if any of these my Heirs afore mentioned Shall Contend or quarril about ye disposition of my Estate in this my Last Will & Testament y't he she or thay shall be finally cut of[f] from having any right to any Legacy or any part thereof which in this Will is bequethed to them

And I do hereby utterly disalow revoke & Disanul all & Every other former Testament will Legicies Bequest & Exe'tors by me in any ways before Named willed & Bequethed: Rattifying & Confirming this & no other to be my Last will and Testament: in Wittness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal y day & year above Written:

[signed] Jonathan Brigham

Signed Sealed Pronounced & Declared by the s'd Jonathan Brigham as his Last Will & Testament In the presence of us Wittnesses and Subscribers: Benja Brigham, Jonathan How, Tho's Goodenow

ADDITIONAL CODICIL

Be it known to all men by these presents that whereas I Jonathan Brigham of ye Town of Marlborough in ye County of Middlesex in ye Province of ye Massachusetts Bay in New England Gen't: Have made & declared my Last Will and Testament in writing bearing Date ye 28th day of December 1757 I the S'd Jonathan Brigham by this present Codicil do Ratify & Confirme my Last Will & Testament in every Respect; Except what is hereafter specified & altered in this Codicil; N.B. I utterly Revock & disanul ye thirteeth Item in my s'd Last Will & Testament & dispose of it as follows: I Will & bequeath unto my Loving Son Joel Brigham my mear & all my Live Stock of Every Sort That shall be left at my deceas; he paying all my Funeral Charges my Doctring & Nursing if any there be; & all other Chares y't may Nessesarily arise upon my account: Furthermore my Will is that my son Joel Brigham one of ye Exe'tors of my Last Will & Testament do pay ye several Legaces to my Several daughters or their Heirs: Via: Kezia Keys & ye Heirs of Zerviah Brag & ye Heirs of Mary Bruce; & to Ruth How & Thankfull Brigham out of ye Estate or Effects of what I have given him by deeds & Will allready. I Will & bequeath to my daughter Thankfull Brigham all my Shoo Leather Bouth uper & Sole Leather y't Shall be Left at my decease. I forgot to Insert it in ye Will: And my Will & meaning is: Y't this Codicil or Schedule be & be Adjudged to be part & parcel of my Last Will & Testament as that [obscured word] things herein mentioned and Contained be faithfully & truly performed, and as fully & amply in every Respect, as if ye same were so declared and set down in my Last Will and Testament In Wittness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this twenty-third day of January 1762.

[signed] Jonathan [his mark] Brigham

Signed Sealed Delivered & Declared in presence of us Wittnesses & Subscribers: Benj'a Brigham, Benajmin Brigham Jr, Tho's Goodenow