Civil War Stories

I have discovered several Civil War stories as I have researched my family history and I'm certain I have others that are yet to be discovered. As the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War fast approaches Bill West at West in New England has issued a challenge:

Did you have ancestors in America on 12Apr 1861? If so, where were they and what were their circumstances? How did the Civil War affect them and their family? Did the men enlist and did they perish in battle or die of illness? On which side did they fight, or did you have relatives fighting on BOTH sides? How did the women left at home cope, or did any of them find ways to help the war effort? Were your ancestors living as slaves on Southern plantations and if so when were they freed? Or were they freemen of color who enlisted to fight?

Most of my paternal family was living in Canada or England and I have no idea if or how the Civil War may have affected them. My 2nd great-grandfather, Michael Kelly lived in Adams, Jefferson, New York. I believe he is the Michael Kelly that served in two units of the New York Heavy Artillery. Thanks to Patti Browning of Consanguinity I have a pension file number now I need to convince myself to part with $75 to order the file. I also need to look into the local history of the period and the history of the units he served with.

On my maternal side, serving from the Carlisle family of Buchanan, Michigan were brothers Ashley and Orville Carlisle and their step-mother Hannah. I will be sharing letters written by family members during the war and learning more about the locations that the war took each of them. I was shocked to learn that a fourth member of the family, Arabella Carlisle who was born in 1857, accompanied Hannah to the hospital where she was stationed. The family lost their home during the war and one daughter was forced to work away from home which set her on an interesting course for life. After the war Hannah Carlisle and her step-daughter, Tamerson Carlisle worked for the Freedmen's Bureau as teachers.

My cousin, Abraham Jay Buckles, had been abandoned by his father and was being raised by his grandparents when he enlisted in June 1861 at the age of 14. On 5 May 1864 at Wilderness, Virginia he was wounded several times and lost a leg. After loosing his leg he was forced to find a way to support himself other than by farming. He studied law and ended his career as a Superior Court Judge in California. On  4 Dec 1893 he was awarded the Medal of Honor.

My 2nd great-grandfather, James Madison Graham, had abandoned his family and was living in California in 1860. I very much doubt that he served in the war but at least one of the sons that he left behind did. I'd like to learn more about the service of Luther W Graham and his life after the war. At the end of his life he was living in the National Soldiers Home in Sawtell, California.

My great-grandfather, Joseph Camfield was 14 at the start of the war and his father, Michael Camfield was in his 40's. I have no idea if either served and I have not located the family on the 1860 census. I'd like to know if they moved from New York to Illinois before, during or after the war and if the war affected their decision. Michael's brother-in-law, Anthony B. Wisner, did serve and died of disease at the very end of the war, leaving a widow and at least three daughters. His widow and two of his daughters left Michigan and returned to New York after his death. How different would their lives have been if Anthony had lived?

Then there was a more distant cousin, Edward Carlisle Boynton. He had retired from the military after a distinguished career and was teaching at the University of Mississippi when the war started. He returned to New York and duty as Quarter Master at West Point.

I have only recently started exploring my Virginia Roots. I think it is quite likely that I had cousins who remained in Virginia and perhaps fought for the Confederacy.

I'm looking forward to learning more about the war and my family and also how what I discover compares to the stories shared by others.

Tombstone Tuesday, Sarah Ann Camfield

Sarah A. Camfield

1817 - 1912

Sarah Ann Wisner Camfield

Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Branch County, Michigan.

Sarah Ann Wisner Camfield - Marriage, Children and Migration

Marriage, Children and Migration


Family lore is that Sarah Ann met her future husband, Michael Camfield, on the banks of the Erie Canal. In 1995 my cousin, Cecil Camfield, wrote a brief history of the Camfield family which included this:

The next I know Mike is driving horses on the Tow Boats on the Erie Canal. Sarah Wisner liked to sit on the Canal bank, where it ran through her father's farm, and met Mike, two years her junior. Can you imagine the furor in the Wisner family when Sarah announced she was marrying that Mike Camfield (his Master had Anglicized his name) who couldn't speak passable English. I don't know when they married, but when Fred (my father, Mike and Sarah's grandson) lived with them, 1887 - 1896, he learned a lot of German because Mike's English was so broken.

Based on the land records that I've found I'm not certain that this is entirely true. In the early 1830's land was sold and other acreage bought but in 1841 her father bought a large parcel of land in Clay, and the family moved there. The Erie Canal did not run through this parcel but it is possible that a feeder canal did. But no matter, I'm certain that there is some truth to the story and obviously Sarah Ann and Mike did meet as they were married on Christmas Eve, 1846.

What was there about Mike that captured Sarah Ann's heart? On the surface it appears that they had very little in common. She was literate, Mike was not. She came from a family of means, Mike had spent seven years as an indentured servant. When she married she was 29 years old. Was she worried about becoming an old maid? How I wish she had retold the story of their courtship in one of her letters!

I don't know if Mike continued to work on the canal after they married or if he switched to farming at that time. I don't know if they lived with Sarah Ann's family or if they set up housekeeping on their own. I do know that their first child, Joseph Harrison Camfield, was born 25 November 1847.

Family legend is that in 1849, William Wisner packed up his family and traveled by wagon to Lake County, Illinois. His son Anthony remained behind and was living (presumably) on the Wisner property in Clay, where he is found on the 1850 census. Sarah Ann and Michael remained behind also, and on the 1850 census are found in Salina, farming land that they did not own.

On 5 Aug 1853 a baby girl was born but the names of her parents remain a mystery. Our oral history is that a man brought the infant to Sarah Ann and Mike and asked them to look after her for which they were originally paid. At some point the payments stopped but the child was loved and Sarah and Mike raised her as their own. Nothing was ever said about her mother nor is it clear if the man was her father. I do not know if the name Sarah Ann was given to her at birth or by her adoptive parents but she was called Annie or Anna. Joseph and Anna were the only known children of Sarah Ann and Mike and in a time when large families were the norm I've often wondered why there were not more.

I loose track of the family for about 15 years; I've yet to find them on the 1860 census. Based on letters between Anna and her cousins, I believe that Sarah Ann and Mike moved their family to Avon, Lake County, Illinois by about 1865. Cecil Camfield's history places the family "near Waukegan" and further says that Mike worked in Chicago. My mother told me a wild story regarding Anna's birth that had her born in Chicago. While I've proven my mother's story wrong it is possible that the reference to Anna being born in Chicago is true and that they were in Lake County much earlier than I can find evidence of. I have found no record that Mike served during the Civil War but Sarah Ann's brother did go to war and died of disease 17 April 1865.

By 1870 they had again moved, this time to Buchanan, Berrien, Michigan. What took them to Buchanan? Another mystery that I do not know how to unlock. For reasons unknown they packed up and moved again about 1875 to Burr Oak, St. Joseph, Michigan. I believe they were either renting a farm or sharecropping. The farm they were living on was sold and on 21 March 1877 Sarah Ann wrote to Anna that they had to move. Not only did they loose their home but also the wheat that they had planted. They found another place in Burr Oak and their son, Joseph, his wife and two children lived with them briefly.

They did not stay in this home for very long either. By January 1880 they had rented a farm house in Noble, Branch, Michigan that was owned by Henry Bogardus, who Sarah Ann would have known from her early days in Manlius.

So while I know more or less where Sarah Ann was living while she was raising her children I know very little about what life was like in the family. Anna went to school and eventually became a teacher for a short time. Joseph however could barely write. I have to infer from the number of moves and the fact that they seemed to be sharecropping that life was difficult. Even difficult lives can be happy and I believe that Sarah Ann was happiest when she lived near family or friends so at least for some of these years I choose to believe that Sarah Ann knew some happiness.


This is the third in a series written for the 91st edition of the
Carnival of Genealogy: A Tribute to Women!



Sarah Ann Wisner Camfield Timeline
Sarah Ann Wisner, The Early Years
Sarah Ann Wisner Camfield, Marriage, Children and Migration
Sarah Ann Camfield, The Final Years

Also see:

Family of William Wisner
Badgley and Wisner Deed Abstracts, Onondaga, NY
Henry Bogardus, Shirt Tail Cousin

Thanks for the poster fM!

Sarah Ann Wisner, The Early Years

The Early Years

The first record I've found for William Wisner is a record of a land purchase in 1812. At that time he was 29 years old and paid $1662 for just over 268 acres in lot 42, Manlius, Onondaga, NY. While not wealthy, the sum paid indicates that William was doing well financially. It is unclear whether he already knew Elizabeth Badgley when he settled in Onondaga County or if they met there. Nor do I know when or where they married. But they settled on his land and began clearing it and shaping it into a farm. Their first child, Prentice, was born there in 1815. This is how we find the family on 9 October 1817 when Sarah Ann was born.

 

Sarah Ann was born the same year that work was begun on the Erie Canal and if you look closely at the map above you will see where the canal ran through the middle of the map. The family home would have been just north of the canal in the box with the M. With the canal came prosperity for the region.

Other than her birth date and where she lived I have no other hard and fast facts for Sarah Ann. I have no idea what type of home the family lived in. Was it constructed of logs, lumber or stone? Was it a single story or two? The winters in Onondaga County are long and cold so there might have been a fireplace or perhaps just a wood stove. The kitchen would have been where the family gathered. Sarah may have had a mattress stuffed with hay and placed of the floor or perhaps she had a slightly more comfortable rope bed.

There must have been some time for play while Sarah Ann was growing up but during the period when she was born life would have consisted of lots of work. As the oldest daughter she must have learned to help her mother at a very early age. While her father and uncle worked on improving and farming the land, her mother would have been responsible for the household including the care of the children (there were seven more after Sarah Ann, one about every second year), all of the cooking which would have been done on a wood stove, housework, sewing, washing and surely there was a large kitchen garden to tend. Most likely there were chickens and a cow or two to care for too.

Sarah Ann would have known her maternal kin. In 1820 her Uncle Egbert Badgley is listed just after her father. It is possible they were living in the same house. Her grandparents, Anthony and Mary Badgley, lived a short distance away in what was then Orville but today known as Dewitt however Mary died just before Sarah Ann turned three. Other aunts, uncles and cousins also lived nearby. I have so far not discovered which of the four available churches the family attended but religion would always play an important role in her life.

There was a school nearby and since Sarah Ann could read, write and do math I assume that she attended school during the winters, at least for a few years but it is possible that she was educated at home.

I have many more questions than answers about Sarah Ann's youth. The family did sell the land in lot 42 and by 1831 were said to be of the town of Salina just a little to the west. I do not know exactly where the family was living but my cousin, Cecil Camfield, wrote in a short history of the family that their farm was on the banks of the canal. You can still make out the path of the old canal in some of the roads today and my mother and I often detour down Towpath Road on those rare occasions when we visit the old Orville Cemetery.

Why have I mentioned the Erie Canal so many times? Sarah Ann's story continues tomorrow.

This is the second in a series written for the 91st edition of the
Carnival of Genealogy: A Tribute to Women!



Sarah Ann Wisner Camfield Timeline
Sarah Ann Wisner, The Early Years
Sarah Ann Wisner Camfield, Marriage, Children and Migration
Sarah Ann Camfield, The Final Years

Also see:

Family of William Wisner
Badgley and Wisner Deed Abstracts, Onondaga, NY
Henry Bogardus, Shirt Tail Cousin

Thanks for the poster fM!


Sources:
David Rumsey Collection: Map of the County of Onondaga. By David H. Burr. Published by the Surveyor General, pursuant to an Act of the Legislature. Entered according to an Act of Congress Jany. 5th. 1829 by David H. Burr of the State of New York. Engd. by Rawdon, Clark & Co., Albany & Rawdon, Wright & Co., New York. - Images copyright © 2000 by Cartography Associates. Images may be reproduced or transmitted, but not for commercial use. For commercial use or commercial republication, contact mailto:carto@luna-img.com This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License. By downloading any images from this site, you agree to the terms of that license.


Google Maps

Badgley and Wisner Deed Abstracts, Onondaga, NY

When I was beginning my genealogy research I visited the Onondaga County Clerks office and looked at deeds. There were far too many to copy so I made notes on each, not really knowing what information would be important later. I will have to go back and gather more details but for now here is the information that I have for the Badgley and Wisner surnames. There are land sales for which I have no information about how or when the land was acquired. I can not place Josiah Badgley or the James Badgley of 1852 and 1857. I have bolded all names for easier reading. All names that have been highlighted have some family connection, even if I haven't figured out exactly what it was.

1784 - July 28. Josiah Badgley, late a lieutenant in the 1st New York Reg’t Commanded by Col. VanSchaick, sold the land he recieved for his service, located in the town of Fabius, Onondaga Co, NY, part of lot 17, for 11 pounds 4 shillings, to Samuel Broome of the city of New York, merchant. Book 2-CF page 142

1792 - June 19. John Wisner, of Warwick, Orange Co, NY and Sarah his wife, sold the land that he received for service as a soldier in the New York line of the Army of the United States - 600 acres in the town of Camillus, Herkimer Co, NY (now Onondaga Co), part of lot 73, for 26 pounds to James Wisner of Warwick, Orange Co. Witness William Raynor. Registered 17 May 1795. Book 1-CF page 61

1804 - July 9. Anthony Badgley of Bethlehem, Albany Co, NY, bought 316 acres in the town of Fabius, part of lot 83, for $1150.00 from Bowen (Boin) Brewster of the town of Fabius. (Mr Brewster had received the land for his military service) Witnessed 27 Sept 1804 by Henry Young & David Merrill. Book D page 2

1805 - Nov 9. James Wisner bought 173 1/4 acres + 7 rods of land in the town of Camillus, part of lot 57, for $433.00 from George D Wickham Esquire. Book H page 121

1806 - April 22. Anthony & Mary Badgley Of the town of Manlius, Onondaga Co, sold 316 acres in the town of Fabius, part of lot 83, for $1092.00 to Jonathan & Daniel Wilcox of the town of Fabius. Mary signed with her mark. Book F page 219

1808 - Apr 2. James Wisner, of the town of Camillus, bought 214 acres in the town of Camillus, part of lot 73, for $500.00 from Moses and Hannah Carpenter of Camillus. Witnesses Jacob Bacon & Samuel Seely. Book H page 321

1809 - May 16. Anthony Badgley of the town of Manlius, farmer, sold 50 acres in the town of Manlius, part of lot 29, for $1.00 to Joshua Forman and Comfort Tyler of the town of Onondaga. Witnesses George W Olmstead & William H Sabin. Book I page 207

1812 - Oct 29. William Wisner, of the town of Manlius, Onondaga Co, bought 268 acres & 52 perches in the town of Manlius, part of lot 42, for $1664.00 from John Dill of the town of New Windsor, Orange Co, NY. Book M page 498

1814 - June 15. James Wisner, of the town of Camillus, bought 50 acres in the town of Camillus, part of lot 28, for $350.00 from Moses Phillips of Walkill, Orange Co, NY. The land adjoined land owned by John Morley. Witnesses Sally W Eastman & Peter Eastman. Book V page 170

1815. James and Hannah Wisner sold land in Camillus, part of lot 57, to T. Clemments. Book P page 514

1815. James and Hannah Wisner sold land in Camillus, part of lot 73, to T. Brown. Book Q page 205

1818 - Sept 9. Eliza Wisner of Wolcott, Seneca Co, NY, bought in the town of Camillus 1 acre “land on which Jacob Nivens now lives” and 4 acres “east of Daniel Nails land”, both parts of lot 73, for $150.00 from Moses Carpenter. Book V page 162

1822 - Jan 19. Egbert & Elizabeth Badgley of the town of Manlius, sold land in the town of Manlius, part of lot 40, for $1100.00 to Asa Foot of the town of Manlius. The land adjoined land owned by Ebenezer Ward. Book EE page 111

1824 - Oct 2. Elizabeth Badgley of the town of Manlius, bought 60 acres in the town of Manlius, part of lot 40, for $666.00 from Origan & Sophia Eaton. Book II page 459

1825. Anthony Badgley bought land in the town of Manlius, part of lot 20, from J. Seboret. Book GG page 86

1825. Anthony Badgley sold land in the town of Manlius, part of lot 29, to J Forman. Book GG page 87

1826 - Dec. Egbert & Elizabeth Badgley sold 60 acres in the town of Manlius, part of lot 40, for for $666.00 to William Wisner of the town of Salina, Onondaga Co. Book II page 460

1827 - Jan 4. William Wisner sold 60 acres in the town of Manlius, part of lot 40, for $666.00 to Jacob Ryder of the town of Manlius. Book LL page 76

1827.  Egbert & Elizabeth Badgley sold land in the town of Manlius, part of lot 40, to H Church. Book LL page 202

1828. William Wisner bought in the town of Manlius, part of lot 30, from E. Ward. Book LL page 388

1828. James Wisner sold land in the town of Camillus, part of lot 28, to R. Shannon. Book NN page 188

1829. Egbert & Elizabeth Badgley sold land in the town of Manlius, part of lot 40, to J B Benedict. Book OO page 468

1831. William Wisner sold land in the town of Manlius, part of lot 42, to J. Dill. Book VV page 68

1833. William & Elizabeth Wisner sold in the town of Manlius, part of lot 30, to E. J. Ward. Book Z Z page 172

1833. William Wisner bought in the town of Manlius, part of lot ?, from R. Bulkley. Book 51 page 461

1835. Egbert Badgley bought land in the town of Manlius, part of lot 40, from Anthony & Mary Badgley. Book 57 page 357

1835. Anthony heirs of & Egbert Badgley bought land in the town of Manlius, part of lot 40, from J Forman. Book 58 page 355

1837. Egbert Badgley bought land in the town of Manlius, part of lot 11, from S Sperling. Book 68 page 91

1840. Elizabeth Badgley bought land in the town of Manlius, part of lot 11, from N J Ryder Book 75 page94

1840. Elizabeth Badgley bought land in the town of Manlius, part of lot 44, from L Shults. Book 76 page 97

1841 - Apr 2. William & Elizabeth Wisner of the town of Salina, Onondaga Co, sold 153 acres (excepting 50 acres previously sold to Stephen Carpenter) in the town of Salina ( which was previously the town of Manlius) for $3187.00 to Wildman Williams of the town of Pompey, Onondaga Co. [Sale to S Carpenter not recorded in the grantor index.] Book 78 page 77

1841 - July 1. William Wisner of the town of Clay, Onondaga Co, bought 136 acres in the town of Clay, part of lots 90 & 91 for $4000.00 from Benjamin G. Avery and Eliza his wife of the town of Clay. The land was bounded by Chesbro Rd, State Rd & Liverpool Rd. Book 78 page 385

1841. Elizabeth Badgley bought land in the town of Dewitt, part of lot 11, from R Sperling. Book 79 page 175

1842. Elizabeth Badgley sold land in the town of Manlius, part of lot 44, to J Henry. Book 81 page 102

1843. Elizabeth Badgerly bought land in the town of Dewitt, part of lot 11, from P Kellogg. Book 84 page 40

1849. William W & Julia J Wisner sold in the town of Manlius, part of lot 66, to L. VanInevergen. Book 97 page 226. [Believe this is William A Wisner, son of William and Elizabeth]

1849. William W & Julia J Wisner sold in the town of Manlius, part of lot 66, to S.F. Dowling. Book 97 page 227. [Believe this is William A Wisner, son of William and Elizabeth]

1850 - Apr 1. William & Elizabeth Wisner of the town of Clay, sold 65 92/100 acres in the town of Clay, part of lot 90, for $2307.20 to Miles Adams of the town of Salina. Book 100 page 168

1850 - Apr 1. William & Elizabeth Wisner of the town of Clay, sold 79 79/100 acres in the town of Clay, part of lot 91, for $2790.90 to Moses Hinsdell of the town of Pompey. Book 101 page 97

1852. James Badgley bought land in Syracuse, lot 5-6, block 193, from
N Townsend Book 108 page 341

1857. James Badgley bought land in the town of Dewitt, part of lot 5, from
J B Wheeler Book 127 page 123

1861. Jacob R Badgley bought land in the town of Dewitt, part of lot 5, from J B Wheeler Book 154 page 220

1/9/1863 - Jan 9. Will of Elizabeth Badgley of the town of Dewitt. Left lot known as the Sperling lot, being part of Military lot 11 town of Manlius, but now of Dewitt, being 1/3 of 50 acres to her four children: Mary Watkins wife of Jonathan, Cornelia Coburn wife of George, William and Jacob. Will Book 1 page 3

1865. Jacob R Badgley bought land in the town of Dewitt, part of lot 5, from
A Thompson. Book 154 page 220

1867. Jacob R Badgley bought land in the town of Cicero, part of lot 84, from S A Shonnard Book 163 pages 235 & 236

Finding the Original Pays Off!

Yesterday I posted my transcription of Adam Wisner's Revolutionary War pension application. I had previously seen a transcription of this document in: The Wisners in America and their kindred: a genealogical and biographical history, by George Franklin Wisner, 1918. The book is now available online at Google Books. The following is a snip of a portion of the transcription found on page 131.



It says, " In the month of March, 1813, I removed to the town of Coshocton, in the County of Coshocton, in the State of Ohio, and resided there until 1819."

Here is a crop of the image found at Footnote.com:



And my transcription of the same section with the difference bolded:

In the month of March 1813 I removed to the town of Andrus (now Dewitt) in the County of Onondaga and State of New York at which place I resided until 1817. On the 15th day of September 1817 I left the County of Onondaga and Removed to the town of Coshocton in the County of Coshocton in the State of Ohio and resided there until 1819.

These few lines may be a huge find for me! I don't understand the reference to "Andrus," as Dewitt was called Orville. But the important thing is that Dewitt is mentioned. Dewitt was part of the town of Manlius until 1835.

My 3rd great-grandfather, William Wisner was born 27 March 1783. Some records list his place of birth as Pennsylvania and others as New York. The earliest record I have found for him is a land purchase on 29 Oct 1812 in Manlius, Onondaga, New York.

William Wisner was the only Wisner I could place in Manlius during this time period, until now. Was Adam his father, uncle or cousin? I'm not sure but I'm betting there was some relationship. Now I just need to dig deeper and find out what it was...........

Pension Application of Adam Wisner

Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.

Amanuensis Monday, hosted by John Newmark at Transylvanian Dutch.

The following Revolutionary Pension application may offer clues as to the parents of my 3rd great-grandfather, William Wisner. I have a line by line transcription however I have made adjustments here to make it easier to read. I have no idea why the pages at Footnote are number as they are. The three pages were found in the order that I have transcribed them. There are other pages in the file that are not included here. I haved bolded the names and places mentioned.

Revolutionary War Pension application of Adam Wisner: found at Footnote.com, December 2009

Page 42

State of New York -County of Livingston
On this 27th day of January - 1840 personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Common Pleas of Livingston County now sitting Adam Wisner a resident of the town of Geneseo in the County of Livingston and State of New York, aged Eighty [three crossed out] four years on the 27th day of April past. Who being first duly Sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benifit of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832. ----- That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated: That during the Revolutionary War (until the month of July 1778 as herein stated) he resided in the town of Northumberland, in the County of Northumberland in the State of Pennsyvania. That from the commencment of hostilities, So long as he resided in the State of Pennsylvania. he always stood as a minute man. and. as such. whenever drafted went in Service in the Militia of that State. As a minute-man he was called Every Monday (with the exception of five Mondays and with the exception of the town service hereinafter Specified) to appear on parade. and actually did so together with the company to which he was attached. At the commencement of the War he remembers well taking the oath of allegiance to the United States before one Thomas Hewitt, who was then a Justice of the Peace in the County of Northumberland; at which time he received from said Thomas Hewitt a certificate of haveing taken said oath and also a copy of the oath. These papers are now destroyed, having been burned at the destruction of his house by fire hereinafter stated but he remembers that the oath read Substantially as follows- "I Adam Wisner renounce all allegiance to George the third his heirs and Successors and Solemnly swear that I will make known all conspiracies which I now know or hereafter may know against the United States" __ Besides being called on the parade as before stated he can now specify the following tours of service which he performed in the State of Pennsylvania - viz- That he was drafted and went into the service as a Militia man in the month of December 1775 as a private in a company there commanded by one Captain Wrong whose given name he cannot now remember and continued without intermission in the service until the month of March thru that ensu[ ] and was then discharged- During the time he was with the company for the three months aforesaid, they, together with the Regiment to which they were attached, lay at Reading and Northumberland and small detachments were often sent out from the Regiment as frontier Scouts. for the purpose of intercepting the Tories and Indians. The Colonel of the Regiment was one James Murray of the Regiment was attached to a Brigade or Division commanded by General Potter he remembers the following named persons who were, during said three months privates in the same company with him - viz - his brother Annanias Wisner - Henry Doughtery - Samuel King - Joseph Coven and William Clark. Afterwards in November 1776 he again went into the service as as a drafted Militia man and served three months – cannot remember the name of the Captain under whom he did this service – but remembers well that one Charles Clark was the Lieutenant of the Company and that the same Colonel Murray & General Potter were the commanding officers. Remembers well that Charles Clark was Lieutenant from the fact that said Clark commanded a Small Scouting detachment which went out to a place called White Marsh where they had a Skirmish with the enemy and Clark was taken prisoner + was gone three Years before he returned. During this three months they lay at Reading Except

Page 91

when detached on Scouting parties. The following persons he remembers were privates in the company at the time – viz – Timothy Livingston – John Gray – Israel Barrett – and Annanias Wisnar -remembers being discharged at the end of three months in February next ensuing the time of his going into service. The next service which he can now definitely recollect was in the month of May 1778, at which time he went in Company with a person by the name of John Coats, to conduct and guard a Spy, who had been captured, to the city of Philadelphia. The Spy gave his name as Nicholas Pickard and was a Tory. They delivered him at Philadelphia and afterwards heard that he was hung. This is the only service for which he ever received any pay – The Governor of Pennsylvania paid him for this – and also gave him a pass, Signed with his own hand, to enable him to get home. This pass he kept until 1825., when it was burned at the destruction of his house by fire as herein -after stated. Soon after the destruction of Wyoming by the Indians and British a general alarm prevailed through the section of Pennsylvania where he resided and most of the inhabitants abandoned their homes and sought various places of refuge – And he, the said Adam Wisnar, left then and went to the County of Ulster in the State of New York in which County he resided until after the proclamation of Peace. Remembers that he left Northumberland on the 3rd day of July 1778, and arrived in Ulster County in the latter part of the same month. From the best estimate he can make he thinks he served In all, as a drafted Militia man, in the New York Militia, Six months. The two following are all the tours of service which he can now Specify – viz – In the fall of 1778 – recollects of forming one of a party of six. And going under Ensign David Wisnar to waylay a pass in Orange County for the purpose of intercepting a body of tories – and was gone at this time three days__ In May 1779. went on a scouting party to a place on the Delaware River, then called Pin Pack, beyond Neversink, in a company Commanded by Captain John Newkirk. The company was attached to a Regiment Commanded by Colonel Jacob Newkirk. Remembers the ensign of the Company whose name was Daniel McHenry. And remembers the following privates – viz – John Sears_ a man by the name of Criss – Benjamin Sears – Samuel Sears – James Sears and James Rogers – The company went on a Scouting Party but had no Skirmish – was in the Service at this time two weeks – And the said Adam Wisnar Says that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory + of his Papers by fire (which occurred at the township of White Water, in the County of Hamilton and State of Ohio in the Spring of the Year 1825. at which time his house and nearly all of his Effects were burned) He can give no more definite Statement than is above set forth of his Service, but he always has And still does believe that during the war he Served two years – As to the service he has Specified his recollection id distinct. The Mondays which he spent for three years (with the Exception aforesaid) in appearing on parade in the State of Pennsylvania – he claims would amount to four months. which added to the other three tours of service done in Pennsylvania, would make the whole time which he served in Pennsylvania and which he can now remember and Specify. ten months and ten days – which with the two weeks at one time, and three days at another time. Which he can now remember and Specify as having Served in the State of New York, makes in all ten months and twenty seven days actual service by him performed, which he can now recollect. During all of which time he served as a private – And said Adam Wisnar further Says that he has no documentary evidence – And that he knows of no person whose

Page 116

Testimony he can prcure who can testify to his service. That Since the fall of 1836 He has spent much of his time in fruitless and un__aiting search to find some person who Knows of his service. During which time he has traveled more than thirteen hundred miles In various parts of the States of Pennsylvania and New York. But has been unable to find Any one who knew him, or knew of his service in the Revolutionary War. He hereby relinquishes Every claim whatever to an annuity or pension, except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of any Agency of Any State.

In answer to the interrogatories propounded by the Court the declarant answers As follows –
1 - I was born at Goshen, in the County of Orange and State of New York, on the 27th day of April 1755
2 – I have a Record of my age in my Bible now in my possession.
3 – When first called into service I lived in the town of Northumberland in the County of Northumberland in the State of Pennsylvania, at which place I continued to reside, and did service as before Stated until the 3rd day of July 1778. when I left there and removed to the County of Ulster in the State of New York, where I performed the service above specified. In 1784, after the proclamation of peace I returned to Northumberland in the State of Pennsylvania, where I continued to reside until December 1800. when I removed to the town of Leicester which was then in the County of Genesee(now Livingston) and State of New York, where I resided until 1813. In the month of March 1813 I removed to the town of Andrus (now Dewitt) in the County of Onondaga and State of New York at which place I resided until 1817. On the 15th day of September 1817 I left the County of Onondaga and Removed to the town of Coshocton in the County of Coshocton in the State of Ohio and resided there until 1819. In February 1819 I removed to White Water township [crossed out- in White Water township] in the County of Hamilton and State of Ohio and resided there until the Spring of 1835, when my house together with the papers aforesaid, and most of my Effects were destroyed by fire – In the Spring of 1825 I removed to the County of Bartholomew in the State of Indiana and resided there until near the close of the month of August 1836. when I returned to the State of New York (on my way back passing through the State of Pennsylvania for the purpose of ascertaining if I could
find any witness to prove my service by) and have since resided with such my relatives + friends who were willing to keep me in the Counties of Onondaga, Seneca and Livingston, until the month of June last, when, having Exhausted the Charity of my connections + friends, having no property, and from old age and infirmity, being unable to labour I entered as a pauper the Poor House of Livingston County in the State of New York, where I have Since, to the date hereof continued to reside. I was always drafted when called into the service. The names of the officers whom I can now recollect were, in Pennsylvania General Potter Colonel James Murray, Captain ____Wrong Lieutenant Charles Clark – And in the State of New York Captain John Newkirk, Colonel Jacob Newkirk and Ensign Daniel McHenry. I can give no other account of the circumstances of my service than as above stated.
I never received a written discharge from the Service Adam Wisner
To and subscribed the day and Year aforesaid

Wisner 1850 and 1851 Deeds

Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.

Amanuensis Monday, hosted by John Newmark at Transylvanian Dutch.

I wish I could remember where and when I found these deeds. I have many such documents in my files without this detail. [Update: Both of the deeds are available online from the Bureau of Land Management]

There were two William Wisners. The father did not seem to use a middle initial. His son was William Abner Wisner. I believe that the first one was for William Abner and the second for his father. However, it is possible that William Wisner, Sr also had A as a middle initial and both deeds are his.

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA E 291

CERTIFICATE}
No. 28.080

To all whom these Presents shall come, Greeting:
WHEREAS William A. Wisner, of Lake County, Illinois,

has deposited in the GENERAL LAND OFFICE of the United States, a Certificate of the REGISTER OF THE
LAND OFFICE at Chicago whereby it appears that full payment has been made by the said
William A. Wisner,
according to the provisions of the
Act of Congress of the 24th of April, 1820, entitled "An act making further provision for the sale of the Public Lands, " for
the North West Quarter of the North East fractional
Quarter of Section nine in Township forty five, of
Range Nine, in the District of Lands subject to sale
at Chicago Ilinois, containing twenty Acres, and Seven-
ty Eight hundrethes of an Acre,

acording to the official plat of the survey of said Lands, returned to the General Land Office by the SURVEYOR
GENERAL, which said tract has been pruchased by the said William A. Wisner,

NOW KNOW YE, That the
United States of America, in concideration of the Premises, and in conformity with the several acts of Congress,
in such case made and provided, HAVE GIVEN AND GRANTED, and by these presents DO GIVE AND GRANT,
unto the said William A. Wisner,

and to his heirs, the said tract above described: TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the same, together with all the rights,
privileges, immunities, and appurtenances of whatsoever nature, thereunto belongong, unto the said William A. Wisner,
and to his heirs and assigns forever.

IN TESTOMONY WHEREOF, I, Millard Fillmore
ORESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, have caused these Letters to be made PATENT, and
the SEAL of the GENERAL LAND OFFICE to be hereunto affixed.
Given under my hand, at the CITY OF WASHINGTON, the second day of December
in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty and of the
Independence of the United States the Seventy fifth
BY THE PRESIDENT: Millard Fillmore
By M. P. Fillmore Sec'y
Jos. S. Wilson acting Recorder of the General Land Office,
ad interim

SEAL
063883
1504718



THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA E 147

CERTIFICATE}
No. 28504

To all whom these Presents shall come, Greeting:
WHEREAS William Wisner, of Lake County, Illinois,
669
has deposited in the GENERAL LAND OFFICE of the United States, a Certificate of the REGISTER OF THE
LAND OFFICE at Chicago whereby it appears that full payment has been made by the said
William Wisner,
according to the provisions of the
Act of Congress of the 24th of April, 1820, entitled "An act making further provision for the sale of the Public Lands, " for
the West fractional half of the South East fractional
quarter and the South West fractional quarter of the
North East fractional quarter of Section nine in
Township forty five of Range nine in the District of
Lands subject to same at Chicago Illinois, containing
Eighty five acres and forty nine hundredths of an
acre

acording to the official plat of the survey of said Lands, returned to the General Land Office by the SURVEYOR
GENERAL, which said tract has been pruchased by the said William Wisner,

NOW KNOW YE, That the
United States of America, in concideration of the Premises, and in conformity with the several acts of Congress,
in such case made and provided, HAVE GIVEN AND GRANTED, and by these presents DO GIVE AND GRANT,
unto the said William A. Wisner,

and to his heirs, the said tract above described: TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the same, together with all the rights,
privileges, immunities, and appurtenances of whatsoever nature, thereunto belongong, unto the said William Wisner,
and to his heirs and assigns forever.

IN TESTOMONY WHEREOF, I, Millard Fillmore
ORESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, have caused these Letters to be made PATENT, and
the SEAL of the GENERAL LAND OFFICE to be hereunto affixed.
Given under my hand, at the CITY OF WASHINGTON, the first day of July
in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and Fifty one and of the
Independence of the United States the Seventy fifth
BY THE PRESIDENT: Millard Fillmore
By Alex McCorrmick apt. Sec'y
E S Terry Recorder of the General Land Office.


SEAL
1504718

Rose Graham Camfield, Oct 1, c1906

South Bend Oct 1st
Dear Ann,
We received your letter yesterday and in regards to Uncle Henrys coming here, I will say it seems by Mr Halls few short lines that we havent any thing to say in the matter of his coming, or how long he will stay or any thing else all we are called on to do or rather he demands of us is to send our address plainly so he cant miss the place or have any trouble in finding us, and that would be easy to do

2

after he gets here he could find us easy enough, and I doubt if they wait for directions I expect to see him any day. I think they have planned to send him here for a while and Mr Halls letter (or note) signifys that they are not waiting our convenience or our letters, or our advice on the subject in any way shape or form if he had written a letter stating about how long uncle Henry would stay with us or even asked if we could have him, but instead of that he writes that he is coming so I shall look for him every day without our writing to them

3

Now about our opinion on the subject, Joe says and so do I that it would be awful nice for mother to see her brother that is if he would come and stay a fiew weeks and then go home but we have none of us ever seen him (I havent’) we dont know what his disposition is or how feeble he may be and if he should be sick here so fore from his friends we would be forcect to keep him perhaps all winter I think an old person like that ought to stay home if they

4

well now to change the subject how are you all any way Pearl is still at the same position and Roy is in the store yet and Ruby goes to school I have one bushel of sweet apples I am going to make som preserve som with _inces My sister is taking care of a woman who is paralised she has been there some time this is a gloomy October day and makes us begin to ___ for mother we shall look

5

for you her most any time now
well you will write all abot it when you com if we hear anything from Uncle Henry we will be sure to send you word so good by and love to all Rose

oh yes, did Mrs Matth_____ favor you with a Call? she Called here she said she was going to see you when she returned to Buchanan
Rose



This was originally published August 2, 2008. I have included it here for continuity.

For more see:
Camfield Family Letters
Descendants of Sarah Ann Wisner
Michael Camfield
Hall Family Letters


Camfield, Rose Graham (South Bend, Indiana) to “Dear Ann”
[Sarah Ann Camfield Carlisle]. Letter. 01 October c. 1906. Digital Images 1-5. Privately held by Apple, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Snowville, New York. 2008. [Carlisle Family, Box #1, Correspondence, Undated c. 1900-1940, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. 2008.]

Sarah Ann Camfield, April 8, 1902

South Bend April 8th 1902

Dear Children and friends


I will try to write once more to let you knwo we are all well as usual and hope you are the same I got aletter from Elizabeth last week and one from Wirt not very long ago I dont know if I told you in the other letter or not I have been looking for one from Ella nut have not got it yet

I am all alone again so I thought to write but its nothing new to be alin awhile almost every day Rose has an errand to town three or four times aweek and some times more but I am glad to be alone it is preferble to so much noise and confusion

page 2

I have been sewing carpet rags this for noon I am getting most done I dont know what I shall do next I got all sowed up week before last and wondered what I should do but Mrs Brady gave me a lot I have two or three balls to sew yet there will be 4 or 5 pounds of them she says she is going to piece a block for your pattern quilt before I go out there I want to piece one more if I can I almost forgot to tell you that Frank called on us and how glad we all was to see him than they did last winter to see Ben and Bell when they here I donot know of any one I should have been any gladder to see

page 3

apr 9th

I have not seem Tola since she made my dress then she made my bedtick I wanted to change the feathers but did not think I could but 3 week ago I thought I would try so went at it and done it nicely allalone there is two meetings here closeby I intendid to go but I have one of my spells of cold in my head or catarrh I have to sit with my handkerchief inone hand and write with the other to finish my letter Ruby is going to write to Tammerson

from your affection Mother
hoping to see you soon S A Camfield good by



Marshall Wirt Wisner was Sarah Ann's youngest brother. Sarah Elizabeth Hall Beldon and Ella Hall McKinnon were her nieces, daughters of Maryetta Wisner Hall.

For more see:
Camfield Family Letters
Descendants of Sarah Ann Wisner
Michael Camfield


Camfield, Sarah Wisner (South Bend, IN) to “Dear Children and friends”
[Anna Camfield Carlisle]. Letter. 8 April 1902. Digital Images 1-3.
Privately held by Apple, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,]
Snowville, New York. 2009.
[Carlisle Family, Box #1, Correspondence, Apr – Dec 1902,
Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. 2008.]

Sarah Ann Camfield, March 6, 1902

South Bend March 6th 1902

Dear Children

we are well and hope you are I am alone so I would write to you to let you know that we have not forgotten you I am not peasing anymore I am carpet ragging I have about ten good balls sewed and enough torn to make about two more balls now if you would like them I will make what I can but if not I will stop and find some else to do I have got the blocks for the three quilt done and two over I believe that makes twenty six since two years ago the 12th of last november

page 2

ther is more pieces but I have got so tired of it I do not want to do any more of it and I dont know as any wants any more quilts

I got apicture of Wirt and his two boy about two weeks ago and a letter from him last week I have not had any from Elizabeth yet since I wrote to her

how is the Cremery is it running yet it will seem strange to Jim Woods folks to live out in the Country I should think Joseph thinks it must be the Cathaway they have got

page 3

I dont know what this is a piece of but thought I would send it to Tamerson

Joseph and Rose is talking of buying alot this spring I dont know whether it will be any thing but talk or not I have down town once since I back to the bend and I went and spent the day with Mrs Tampson that is all I have been away only to meeting I have been serveral times in the evenings as well as in the day time I believe itold you they built a new Church close by it is just about as down to the Osborn plac from your place ther has als bee built a minnonite Church built about as far as down to McKnight corner I think

page 4

I have not been there but think of going when the weather is more settled I can go the biggest half of the on the street so it wont be very bad I can go once in awhile any way it will be better than sitting here day after day that is gettin quite tire some I am getting anxious for the time to when I can come to Buchanan for a but I shall hate to go away now and leave the meetings it is such acomfort to go we got aletter from Libby this after noon they are well well I am tired and guess you will be when you get done reading this. So good by for this tine

S A Camfield

Marshall Wirt Wisner was Sarah Ann's youngest brother. I did not find his letter or picture. Sarah Elizabeth Hall Belden was her niece. Elizabeth "Libby" Warner Camfield was married to Sarah's grandson Fred. Fred lived with Michael and Sarah Ann for years and was more like a son to her. I believe Fred was living with his parents and Sarah Ann in South Bend and Libby and son Earl were still in Branch County, Michigan. Wood's and McKnight's were family friends in Buchanan.

Twenty-six hand pieced quilts in 2 1/2 years. I think I would have wanted to do something else too. I wish I knew how big the rag balls were and what what she did with them.

I'm not sure what churches were in Buchanan at that time and I should look into it as Sarah mentions missing meetings when she stayed there. The family lived out at the edge of town and on a hill so perhaps it was just too much of a walk for her to get to any of the churches.

For more see:
Camfield Family Letters
Descendants of Sarah Ann Wisner
Michael Camfield


Camfield, Sarah Wisner (South Bend, IN) to “Dear Children”
[Anna Camfield Carlisle]. Letter. 6 March 1902. Digital Images 1-4.
Privately held by Apple, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,]
Snowville, New York. 2009.
[Carlisle Family, Box #1, Correspondence, Jan – Mar 1902,
Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. 2008.]

Sarah Ann Camfield, Nov 27, 1901

South Bend Nov 27th 1901

Dear Children and Grand Children

well Ann I have written to Wirt and now I will dare write to you and Elizabeth we are all well and ought to be happy and thankful we have enough to eat and wear to be warm and comfortable and are having such beautiful weather I think it ought to make every one feel thankfull wel Libby and Earl is in Chicago they went last wednesday we have had 2 letters from her they seem to like it very much and why should they not Fred gets 4 dollars aday and gets house rent for 10 dolars amonth the same as we pay they have all conveniences I kept my clothes bars and feather

page 2

and pillows now I want you to have them if you will excet them you can have them any time you can get them over thare I have made and tied acomfeter all alone since I came back and pieced 31 blocks for the three quilts we planed and have pieced one pattern block for your pattern quilt yesterday Rozy and I walkedup where they are building a new Evangelical Church it seem to be most done it will nice when it is done I can go to Church it is just anice walk from here last Monday was Joseph Birthday and we never thought of it until this morning we are expecting Ben and Bell Marsh here for avisit she said look for us friday or saturday

page 3

Earl was very much pleased with his rabit Libby thought hers nice she said she must make something for you we are going to have the big Rooster for dinner to morrow if the Lord is willing and spares his life and ours

Joseph is at work at the depot yet he seems to like it and he seems to be so well I dont know when I have seen him look and seem so well he sits down to the table and eats lik other folks he says his work is not hard as a general thin he does not complain of being tired or sick that is something new for him you know S A C



Sarah had written to her nephew, Marshall Wirt Wisner and niece Elizabeth Hall Belden. See the Hall family letters for more information.

Joseph has given up his job as a barber and is now working for the railroad. Fred, Libby and Earl have all moved to Chicago. Fred may have been working as an electricians apprentice.

Breaks over! Sarah's back to piecing quilts.

For more see:
Camfield Family Letters
Descendants of Sarah Ann Wisner
Michael Camfield



Camfield, Sarah Wisner (South Bend, IN) to “Dear Children and Grand Children”
[Anna Camfield Carlisle]. Letter. 27 November 1901. Digital Images 1-3.
Privately held by Apple, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,]
Snowville, New York. 2009.
[Carlisle Family, Box #1, Correspondence, 1901,
Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. 2008.]

SNGF - 16 Great Grands

Randy's Saturday Night Genealogy Fun for this week:

Here is your SNGF assignment for the evening (if you choose to accept it - this is not stump the genealogist or even Mission Impossible):

1) List your 16 great-grandparents in pedigree chart order. List their birth and death years and places.

2) Figure out the dominant ethnicity or nationality of each of them.

3) Calculate your ancestral ethnicity or nationality by adding them up for the 16 - 6.25% for each (obviously, this is approximate).

4) If you don't know all 16 of your great-grandparents, then do it for the last full generation you have.

5) Write your own blog post, or make a comment on Facebook or in this post.

Listing them all out shows me where I have some holes to fill.

16. Thomas David Berry was born 8 Sept 1821 in Blockley, Worcestershire, England and died 4 May 1907 in or near Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. On 4 August 1851, in Blockley Parish, Worcestershire, England, he married......

17. Jane Rawlings was born 8 September 1830 in Bourton on the Hill, Gloucestershire, England and died 20 September 1914 in or near Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

18. James Hollington was married 7 August 1845 in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada and died 31 August 1923 Nepean, Carleton, Ontario, Canada. On 27 April 1868, in St Mathews, Quebec City, Canada, he married..........

19. Sarah Ann Ross was born 1848 in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada and died 21 June 1882 in Ottawa, Carleton, Ontario, Canada.

20. Michael Kelly was born about 1822 in Ireland and died between 1870 and 1880 most likely in Adams, Jefferson, NY. It appears he may have immigrated to Canada prior to moving to the USA. It is not know when or where he married..........

21. Mary is missing her maiden name! She was born Aug 1830 and died in 1901 or 1902 in Adams, Jefferson, NY.

22. James M. White was born November 1824 in Dalhousie Twp, Lanark, Ontario, Canada and died 20 May 1907 in Dalhousie Twp, Lanark, Ontario, Canada. On 31 December 1855, at at the Manse of Dalhousie by James Geggie, Minister, ............

23. Isabella Craig was in 1826 in Paisley, Renfrew, Scotland. She died 1 October 1908 in Watson's Corners, Dalhousie Twp, Lanark, Ontario, Canada.

24. Daniel Carlisle was born 22 September 1797 in Westmoreland, Cheshire, New Hampshire and died 31 March 1872 in Buchanan, Berrien, Michigan. He married 1st Louisa Glover. He married 2nd, Hannah Lewis Glover, sister of Louisa.

25. Louisa Lambert Glover was born 24 December 1801 in Dedham, Norfolk, Massachusetts and died 1851 in Cass, Michigan.

26/28. Michael Camfield was born 15 March 1822 in Germany and died 18 February 1899 in Batavia, Branch, Michigan. About 1845 in Onondaga, New York he married.........

27/29. Sarah Ann Wisner was born 9 October 1817 in Onondaga, New York and died February 1912 in Buchanan, Berrien, Michigan.

Pearl Camfield married her cousin Ashley Carlisle which explains the above double entries. However Sarah Ann Camfield was actually the adopted daughter of Michael Camfield and Sarah Ann Wisner. I have very little hope of ever learning who her biological parents but I've had fun trying.

30. James M. Graham was born about 1825 in Ohio and died 28 October 1897 in Hoyle, Woods, OK. On 22 Aug 1844, in Delaware, Indiana he married Elizabeth Doughty. She divorced him in 1855.

31. Elizabeth Doughty was born 1826 in Fort Comfort, Virginia and died 05 Jan 1880 in Niles, Berrien, Michigan.


My ancestors came from Great Britain with just a few exceptions. Michael Camfield was from Germany and there is a drop or two of Dutch and Swiss ancestry in the 1600's.

For nationalities I have 5 from the USA, 3 from Canada, 2 from England, 2 from Ireland, 1 from Scotland and 1 from Germany plus 2 unknown.

Princess for a Day

I've known my family's "secret" since I was a teenager. My grandparents were 1st cousins. I admit to being a bit surprised when I filled out my first family tree chart and asked my mother about it. She told me that they had been raised as cousins but the marriage was OK because her grandmother had been adopted. I was reminded today by Mom that I must remember to point out that Anna was adopted whenever I write about her parents. This is a very big deal to her - a mere shoulder shrug for me.

My great-grandmother, Sarah Ann Camfield Carlisle, was known as Anna or Annie and was the one who saved all of the letters that I've been sharing. She was the adopted daughter of Michael and Sarah Ann (Wisner) Camfield. The story that I remember hearing was that a man brought infant Anna to Sarah and Mike and asked them to look after her for which they were originally paid. At some point the payments stopped but Anna was loved and Sarah and Mike raised her as their own. Nothing was ever said about Anna's mother nor is it clear if the man was her father.

Today while visiting Mom, we were talking about a letter I found that talked about Anna being adopted but gave me no clues. Well Mom piped right up and told me the story. It seems that the Prince of Wales was touring the United States and while visiting Chicago he enjoyed the company of many women and left some of them with illegitimate children. Mom had no idea how Sarah and Mike became involved but they dealt with a lawyer who paid them to be foster parents for Anna. They fell in love with her and decided to adopt her and when the adoption was final the payments stopped. So my great-great grandfather was Edward VII and therefore I'm a Princess!

My mother is not known for joking around and I must have looked skeptical because she asked me if I had ever seen a picture of her father in his army uniform. I told her I have a couple and she said that all I had to do was compare them to pictures of the Prince of Wales at about the same age I would see the resemblance. I argued that Anna was born in Onondaga Co, NY according to census records and her obituary but I had to admit that I still have not found the family on the 1860 census but I know they lived near Chicago in the mid 1860's.

I left Mom's and went back to work and spent all of my downtime thinking about the possibilities and how I could go about proving this. Would DNA testing provide an answer? Would I find newspaper articles about the Prince's visit to Chicago?

I got home and started looking at information on Edward VII. He was a ladies man and had several mistresses so it's not unreasonable to think that he might have dallied with several women in his youth. He is possibly the great-grandfather of Camilla Parker Bowles.

The story quickly unravelled when I looked at the dates. Albert Edward was born 9 November 1841. Anna was born 5 August 1853.

I'm left wondering why Mom had never shared this version of the tale of Anna's birth before. When I told her what I had found she was very disappointed. She has had some memory problems of late but she seemed quite sharp today.

Oh well, it was fun to think I was a Princess for a few hours and it made for an entertaining afternoon.