John Logan was born in 1699 in Ahoghill, Antrim, Ireland1. (It is referenced that his father was from Restalrig, a suburb of Edinburgh, Scotland.) Restalrig is notable because my mother shared that my father named his ranch in Washington State “Restalrig.”
John Logan arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1717 and married Margaret Carr in 1723. Margaret, born in Massachusetts about 1703, remains a subject of ongoing research. The gap between John’s arrival and their marriage—six years—is a mystery still waiting to be unraveled. Together, they had eight children: seven sons and two daughters.
Service During the American Revolution
Two of their sons, John and Mathew, served under General George Washington during the battle for New York City in the American War for Independence. After the Continental Army became surrounded, Washington orchestrated a strategic nighttime evacuation to Philadelphia. John and Mathew likely endured the hardships of Valley Forge later on.2
Roots in Voluntown, Connecticut
John Logan founded the Logan family in Washington, Connecticut, and was descended from a lineage of Scotch barons. Their ancestral home, Logan, in Ayrshire, lent its name to the family. John immigrated with a group of Scotch Presbyterians led by Reverend Samuel Dorrance, a University of Glasgow graduate. After facing numerous challenges, the group traveled from Marblehead Harbor and Boston to Connecticut. There, they purchased Volunteer Grants in Voluntown and established the Presbyterian church on Ekonk Hill.3
The Scotch-Irish Influence in Connecticut
“John Logan, the founder of the Washington family, was descended from a long line of Scotch barons deriving their name, Celtic in origin, from the ancestral home, Logan, in Ayrshire. He came from the north of Ireland with the Gordons, Kassons, Keigwins, Parkes, Wylies, and other Scotch Presbyterians, under the leadership of Reverend Samuel Dorrance, a graduate of the University of Glasgow.
Their party, after experiencing a great many unusual difficulties, came from Marblehead Harbor and Boston to Connecticut, and buying up the Volunteer grants at Voluntown, forming the nucleus of the Presbyterian church Ekonk hill.”3
The Rising Sun Inn and the Logan Legacy
In 1748, John Logan built the Rising Sun Inn at 6 Romford Road in Washington, Connecticut. Originally a 1-1/2-story, five-bay lean-to house, it underwent significant renovations in the early 19th century. Matthew Logan, John’s son, expanded the house, adding three bays to the north, raising the roof to two stories, and incorporating a ballroom. The surrounding property features a historic barn, and photographs from the Sunny Ridge Historic District highlight additional barns that once stood behind the house.
A black-and-white postcard from July 1913 depicts the Logan Homestead—formerly the Rising Sun Inn—with its clapboard façade, dark trim, and multi-paned windows. The Gunn Historical Museum archives this image, offering a glimpse into the home’s storied past.5
Interesting Note: The Rising Sun symbol was associated with Edward III and appears in the arms of Ireland. It also served as a favorable omen for businesses and inns during that era.6
The Church on the Green: The First Two Centuries of the First Congregational Church at Washington, Connecticut
We are related to the Hollister family. A Hollister Logan lived at the Logan homestead. I have a letter from her (actually, a friend wrote it for her as she was in her 90s.)
The Church on the Green: The First Two Centuries of the First Congregational Church at Washington, Connecticut
Family Connections and Tragedy
John married Dorcas Root around 1771 after the death of his first wife, Margaret. Dorcas was previously married to John Royce; he died in 1760. Their daughter, Azubah, married John Logan, Jr. This makes John and Dorcas my double-sixth great-grandparents.
Dorcas died on 07 January 1777, at age 58. John Logan, Sr. passed away on 2 December 1777, at age 77, in Washington, Connecticut, during a year marked by a smallpox epidemic. His grandson, Matthew, also died that year at age 2. While it’s uncertain if smallpox caused their deaths, it remains a likely possibility.
The Logan Lineage
The Gunn Historical Museumin the Washington Green Historic District holds numerous Logan artifacts, photographs, and stories. My connection to John Logan was confirmed through DNA testing, initially via a Yahoo group and later through collaboration with a distant cousin—the President of the Clan Logan Society International. Together, we aim to uncover the link between John Logan and his Scottish origins.
Logan name variations include Loban, Lobban, Loben, Logan, Logane, Logen, Loggan, Loggane, Loggans, and Login.
Discover more about the Lowland Logans by clicking below:
I received a copy of a letter from the Gunn Memorial Library and Museum, written in 2008 by Marlene Flanders, a former aide to Mrs. Verna Logan, who passed away in 1987. In the letter, she mentioned a story she had heard about the Rising Sun Inn, also known as The Logan Homestead, which allegedly harbored an “interracial couple”: a Cherokee Indian man and a white woman. I was intrigued by this account, as I had not come across it before. This blog post tells the story.
Letter written in 2008 by Marlene Flanders, former aid to Mrs. Verna Logan., who died in 1987.
The Beginning: Two Lives, Worlds Apart
In 1803, a boy named Killekeenah Oowaite was born into the Cherokee tribe in New Echota, Cherokee Nation (now Georgia, USA). His upbringing was steeped in the traditions of his family, including his father Dutse Oowaite, and his mother, the daughter of High Cherokee Chief Attaculcullah. Their family name was eventually shortened to Watie. Two years later, in Cornwall, Connecticut, Harriet Ruggles Gold was born into the prominent Gold family, whose legacy was rooted in strong Christian values and community leadership.
Education and Encounter
At 18, Killekeenah met Elias Boudinot, a Revolutionary War figure, a friend and counselor to George Washington, and former President of the Continental Congress, who saw potential in the young Cherokee man. Boudinot sponsored Killekeenah’s education, sending him to the Foreign Mission School in Cornwall, where he adopted the name Elias Boudinot. It was here that he met Harriet Gold, whose family often hosted students from the school.
Their friendship deepened into love, but the cultural and racial norms of the time set them on a path fraught with opposition and challenges.
The Challenges of Love
In 1822, Elias returned to the Cherokee Nation due to illness but remained in contact with Harriet and her brother Franklin through letters. By 1824, their correspondence revealed a deepening relationship. When Harriet shared her intentions with her parents, they vehemently opposed the union. The Gold family, known for its standing in Connecticut, was divided. Harriet’s brothers-in-law, both ministers, argued it was her Christian duty to prioritize the mission school’s reputation over her personal happiness.
Harriet, however, stood firm in her convictions. Despite public outcry and even the burning of an effigy depicting Harriet, Elias, and an ally, Mrs. Northrop, Harriet’s resolve did not waver. (Elias’ cousin, John Ridge also attended the Mission School, where he met Sarah Northrop, the daughter of the school’s steward. The two became romantically involved and wed in January 1824.)
The Honeymoon at the Logan Homestead
After enduring months of familial and societal pressure, Harriet’s immediate family softened their stance. In May 1826, Harriet and Elias married at the Gold Homestead and spent their wedding night at the Logan Homestead, which was fortified and protected by Captain Logan and his armed men. This act of defiance by Captain Logan ensured the couple’s safety during a time of heightened tension.
The couple left Connecticut the next day, embarking on a 47-day journey to the Cherokee Nation in Georgia.
A New Life and Tragic Loss
Settling in New Echota, Elias became the editor of the Cherokee Phoenix, the first tribal newspaper in the United States. It was printed in English and Cherokee, using the Cherokee syllabary created by Sequoyah. In her family letters, Harriet described a good life, and that she had been warmly welcomed upon her arrival. Harriet gave birth to six children, but tragedy struck during her seventh pregnancy. In May 1836, Harriet’s child was stillborn, and she passed away three months later at the age of 31. She was buried in New Echota, and Elias erected a tombstone made from marble brought from Connecticut—a testament to her enduring connection to her roots.
Elias Boudinot, formerly known as Killekeenah Oowaite
The Aftermath
The Cherokee Nation’s land was increasingly encroached upon by settlers, culminating in the infamous Trail of Tears. Elias’ eventual support of the Treaty of New Echota, which advocated for Cherokee relocation, marked him and others as traitors in the eyes of many. In 1839, Elias was assassinated for his controversial stance.
Harriet and Elias’ children were sent back to Connecticut, where they were raised by Harriet’s sister Mary Brinsmade. The boys, William, Frank, and Elias, attended The Gunn School in Washington, Connecticut, while the girls were cared for by their aunt.
Legacy of the Logan Homestead
The Logan Homestead, a witness to this extraordinary love story, remains a symbol of courage and resilience. Harriet and Elias’ union defied societal norms, blending two distinct cultures in an era resistant to change. Captain Logan’s decision to protect the couple during their wedding night speaks to the power of individual acts of bravery in shaping history.
Harriet’s grave stands as a poignant reminder of a woman who followed her heart, defied convention, and left an indelible mark on both her family and history.
Threatened by Georgia soldiers for championing Cherokee nationalism yet executed by his own people for treason, Elias Boudinot left a complex legacy.
1800 Photograph of the grave of Harriet Ruggles Gold Boudinot, New Echota, Gordon County, Georgia
Acknowledgments
Special thanks to Stephen Bartkus, previous Curator of the Gunn Historical Museum, and Sarah Griswold, previous Curatorial Assistant, for their invaluable contributions to the previous research by Mark Oliver*.
Gunn Memorial Library and Museum Archives. (Special thanks to Amy Campanaro and Corinne Tabolt.)
Correspondence of Harriet Gold and Elias Boudinot. To Marry an Indian: The Marriage of Harriett Gold and Elias Boudinot in Letters, 1823-1839. United States, University of North Carolina Press, 2006.
Historical records from the Foreign Mission School, Cornwall, CT.
“[Photograph of the grave of Harriet Ruggles Gold Boudinot, New Echota, Gordon County, Georgia].” 1800/1994. January 25, 2025. https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/vang/do:gor379.
Is That Year Correct? The 1600s? You Betcha! Meet My 10th Great-Grandfather Have you ever wondered what life was like for our ancestors in the 1600s? My 10th great-grandfather, William Hickok—whose last name can be found spelled as Hicox, Hikox, Hickox, Heacock, or even Hickcock—arrived in America in 1635 aboard the ship Plain Joan1. At about 36 years old, he stepped onto Virginia soil, ready to start a new chapter in his life.2
The Pioneer of Farmington, Connecticut Not long after arriving, William became one of the original settlers of Farmington, Connecticut. This small settlement, primarily established by families from Hartford, began with a land purchase from the local Native Americans in 1640. The early days were challenging, with most landowners still living in Hartford and traveling back and forth to Farmington. William’s home lot, purchased in 1645, marked the start of his family’s roots in the New World.3
William’s wife, Elizabeth, is somewhat of a mystery—historians have yet to agree on her maiden name.4 Together, they had two sons, Samuel and Joseph, the latter of whom is our ancestor. Tragically, shortly after acquiring his Farmington land, William passed away while farming.
A Family Torn Apart Elizabeth remarried and had two more children, but in 1655, heartbreak struck again. Her second husband died, and mere weeks later, Elizabeth also passed away—likely victims of the smallpox and fever epidemic that swept through New England. This left four young children, ranging in age from 3 to 12, without parents:
Benjamin-6 years, Elizabeth-3 years, Samuel Heacock-12 years, Joseph Heacock-10 years
What became of Samuel and Joseph’s upbringing remains unclear. However, Joseph later married Mary Carpenter and fathered five children before his own untimely death in 1687. Their eldest son, also named Joseph, ensured the Hickok line endured—and from this lineage came one of the most legendary figures in American history.
Wild Bill Hickok: Family Ties to a Legend Yes, that Wild Bill Hickok, the gunslinging icon of the Wild West, is my 4th cousin, five times removed! James Butler “Wild Bill” Hickok is the 5th great-grandson of our William Hickok. His lineage follows this path:
But wait—there’s more! Did Wild Bill know that his 4th great-grandmother, was accused of being a Salem witch? That story is here, and it’s a tantalizing footnote in our family history.
They Called Him Wild Bill: The Life and Adventures of James Butler Hickok, By Joseph G. Rosa
Was William Hickok a Neighbor of Shakespeare?
Here’s another twist: William may have been born in London or Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire, England—Shakespeare’s stomping grounds! According to records, Shakespeare’s birthplace in Henley Street was later leased to a Lewis Hiccox, who converted it into an inn. Could William have been connected to this family? It’s fun to imagine our ancestor rubbing elbows with the Bard himself!5
The Hickok family’s journey to Connecticut ultimately brought together other branches of my family tree. John Logan, one of my immigrant ancestors, married Dorcas Root, Joseph Hickok’s granddaughter, and she became my 6th great-grandmother. What a fascinating tapestry of connections!
It was exciting for me to stumble across a great article in the New England Ancestors Fall 2008 issue about my 11th great-grandmother, Dionis Stevens Coffin.
As I read the article and dug deeper, I discovered that Mary Coffyn (later Coffin) Starbuck, her daughter and my 10th great-grandaunt, born in 1645 in Massachusetts, had an impressive education. Despite living in the 1600s, she had a strong Puritan work ethic and was literate and proficient in Latin and Greek, which was unusual for a woman at that time. Mary was also well-versed in the scriptures. Her ability to read and write the classical languages was mostly only a skill obtained by young men studying the ministry at Harvard College.
At sixteen, she was engaged to Nathaniel Starbuck, her father’s business partner, in a marriage probably arranged by her parents. Their wedding in 1661 was the first in New England on the island of Nantucket, and their daughter was the first white child born there. Mary’s brother had already married Nathaniel’s sister, so she knew Nathaniel as a family friend.
Women of Petticoat Row ca.1895. Courtesy of Nantucket Historical Association.
With her education, Mary confidently expressed her knowledge of the world around her and actively participated in town meetings. She and her husband hosted many town meetings in their home, which became known locally as the “Parliament House.” Mary started a trading post or “country store” attached to their house shortly after their marriage. One of their primary customers was the Algonquian Indians. Mary’s account books, owned by the Nantucket Historical Association, date from 1683 to 1757 and reveal that they traded goods and labor in the store. The account books indicate that as many as 200 Indians, mainly involved in cod-fishing, fowling, routine manual work, and later whaling, received necessary tools, cloth, and supplies for their efforts.
Mary found her religious freedom and was allowed to sell items as she pleased. She was truly a free woman. Mary became a leader in introducing Quaker practices in Nantucket. She became a minister in the Society, as were several of her children. She was consulted on all matters of public importance because her judgment was superior, and she was well-acknowledged as a great woman.
The first Meeting House on Nantucket was built in 1711; however, Mary did not live to see the official Nantucket Monthly Meeting established. Mary Coffin Starbuck passed away on Nantucket Island on November 13, 1717, at the age of seventy-two. Her body was buried in the Friends’ burial ground next to the new meetinghouse, which was constructed on land donated by her son and the Nantucket proprietors.
Mary Coffyn Starbuck’s remarkable life serves as a testament to the strength, intellect, and determination of women in early American history. Her contributions to her community, her role in introducing Quaker practices to Nantucket, and her ability to navigate both the public and private spheres with grace and authority make her a figure worth remembering. As we reflect on her legacy, we are reminded of the power of education, faith, and resilience in shaping the course of history. Mary’s story is not just one of personal achievement but also one of enduring influence, leaving a lasting impact on the island of Nantucket and beyond.
Gavin, A. M. (2008, January 9). A Tale of Two Women: Seventeenth Century Coffin and Starbuck Matriarchs. Fall 2008 New England Ancestors, 9(4), 21-24.
So, witches run in my family. Why doesn’t that surprise me?
Susanna (née Clark) was the wife of Josiah Rootes (1613-1683). Josiah Rootes, originally from Great Chart, Kent, England, was a passenger on the Hercules of Sandwich, under the command of Captain John Witherley. The ship was bound for “the plantation called New England in America” in the spring of 1634/5. Josiah, along with his mother and brother, migrated to America and was instrumental in founding the Beverly Church.
Josiah had taken the oath of allegiance and supremacy at Great Chart and received his certificate from Robert Gorsham, curator of Great Chart, on 20 March 1634/35. The Hercules of Sandwich is probably the same as the Hercules of Dover mentioned by Winthrop as being here in the summer. ~~Samuel G. Drake, Result of Some Researches Among the British Archives for Information Relative to the Founders of New England: Made in the Years 1858, 1859 and 1860 (n.p.: H.W. Dutton and Son, Printers, Transcript Office, 1860; reprint Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1963), 84.
On June 25, 1678, Josiah made a sworn accusation of thievery against William and Elizabeth Hoar. He claimed the family had stolen (clothing, apples, wood, and hay) from him for nearly twenty years, and he had only just discovered proof – in the form of Goody Hoar’s apron.
When several neighbors came under suspicion of receiving stolen goods from Mr. Hale’s maid, Margaret Lord, Josiah Rootes complained to the court in a written statement that “for neare twenty years together we haue ben Aflicted by hauing owr goods stollen At sundri time And we not Abell To make due profe haue ben forsed To sufer owr seuellfes To be wrownged in estat And name: And god by his prouidens hauing latlie discouered sum of Theas wokes of darknes wee Judg yt. To be owre duty To speake in vindicasion of Truth and Conuictccion of sine…. He deposed in Salem Court that same month, aged about 65, and again, aged about 60, as did his wife “Susanah Roots, aged about forty-eight years…”
Their son, Jonathan Rootes, aged about thirteen years, affirmed…” Among those who testified were Abigell Stone, Jr., Abigall Ston, Jr., John Lovet, Jr., and Bethiah Lovet (Sussanah’s daughter).”
That same day, Susanna first appears on record: Susanah Roots, aged about fifty-three years, Mary, wife of Heugh Woodbery, aged about forty-eight years, and Sarah Roots, aged about twenty-four years, deposed that about two months ago they saw Mary, wife of Samuell Harres and Tabitha Slew carry a parcel of small linen into Samuell Harris’ house.
Five years later, in the spring of 1683, Josiah Rootes passed away. He named Susanna as the executrix of his will and stipulated, “…my loveing wife Susanna [have] the use & improvement of all my small estate, what ever untill such time, as my son Jonathan cometh to the age…” and if she did not remarry, “[Jonathan] shall pay unto her, his said mother eight pounds, [yearly] duerring the terme of her widdowhood, or her natural life, and let her have the use of the west end of my now dwellinghouse, of a bed, beding, her firewood brought to the doare [door].”
For the period, this is an appropriate provision for a wife who worked land, maintained a household, bore and nurtured six children. Josiah’s specification that Susanna have the sunny west-facing room with cozy bed and fire burning is lovely and fitting after 40 years of toil at his side. –Poor Irish & Pilgrims. New World Shoots from Old World Roots.
Inventory of the estate of Josiah Roots of Beverly, who deceased June 3, 1683, taken by Samuel Corning, sr., and Andrew Elliott: one coverlaide, lOs.; 1 bed ticking, iSs.; coverlaide, ili.; 4 yards of red Cloth at 6s. per yard, 21i. 4s.; 7 yards of Lining Cloth, ili. 8s.; 4 yards of Dowless, 8s.; 4 yards and 1-2 of kerzey, ili. 6d.; New England money, 71i. 8s.; old England money, 16s., 81i. 4s.; 2 yards of broad Cloth, ili. 2s.; 1 yard & 1-2 of broad Cloth, 18s.; 2 yards and 1 quarter of Red Cloth, 155.; 1 Carpet, lOs.; 11 yards of sarge, 21i. 4s.; 7 yards of white Cotten, 14s.; 1 Chest, 2s. and his woolling wearing Cloths, 51i. 5s.; and his wearing Linning, ili. lOs.; 61i. 17s.; 6 yards of kerzey, ili. 16s.; 4 yards and a quarter of kerzie, 31i. is. 6d.; 3 yards of Lining Cloth, 55. & 1 hatt, 45. 9s.; 8 pair of sheets for beding, 41i.; bed and its belongings, 41i. lOs.; 1 bed and 2 bed steads with other furniture, 5 li.; 1 bed with its furniture, 21i. lOs., and other Lumber, 31i.; 3 chests, ili. 2s.; 1 Table and 3 Joint stooles, 1 Table, 18s.; Cushions, 6s.; 1 Little Table, 4s. 21i. lOs.; 2 Chairs, 3s.; pewter, 21i.; brass & Iron, ili. 13s., 31i. 13s.; I Cart & wheels, plowghs & plowgh tackell, 41i.; 1 sled & 4 axes, 6s.; 3 hoes, 3s. 9s.; barrell, Tubs and other Lumber, 12s.; 3 other Tubs, 2s. & 2 spades, 55. 7s.; 1 horse, 2li. lOs.; parcel of shingles, ili. 55., 31i. 155.; 10 thousand of shingle nailes, ili. 105.; 2 oxen, 71i. & 4 Cows at 121i., 19 Ii., 2 Steeres, 41i. los.; 19 Sheep & Lambs at 3 Ii. 19s., 81i. 9s.; houses, land and orchard, 2601i.; 6 Acres of meadow, 301i.; 5 swine, lOs. per, 21i. lOs.; total, 3841i. 19s. Several debts, 191i. 8s. 3d.
In his will dated 15 May 1683, Josiah Rootes, “of the town of Beverly,” leaves his entire estate to his son Jonathan, after settling legacies for his other children, Bethiah, John, and Thomas. He entrusts the management of his estate to his wife Susanna, whom he appoints as executrix until Jonathan reaches adulthood. After Jonathan comes of age, he is responsible for his mother’s support as long as she remains unmarried.~~ George Francis Dow, Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, IX: 66. 67.
On June 26, 1683, Susanna Roots, now a widow, renounced her role as the executor of her husband’s will in a Salem court. She stated that she had “many weaknesses and infirmities of old age” and, therefore, could not serve as executor.
The court appointed John Hill and Nehemiah Grover to bring in an inventory as soon as possible, and the inventory was sworn to on 6 July 1683. (Andrew Elliot, who would, in 1692, accuse Susanna Rootes of witchcraft, was one of the appraisers).~~ George Francis Dow, Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, VIII: 66, 6
Nine years later, as she approached her 70th year, she found herself being taken to Boston and thrown into jail with irons on a charge of witchcraft, which carried a sentence of death.
Accusing neighbors of theft in a close-knit community is a serious matter. It’s possible that friends of William and Mary Hoars, Mary Harres, and Tabitha Slew held a grudge against the Rootes family, or they might have been jealous of the Rootes’ wealth, leading to the accusations.
(Warrant for Arrest of Susannah Roots )
Salem May 21-1692
To the Constables of Beverly.
Whereas Complaint hath been this day made before us, by Sergent Thomas Puttnam and John Puttnam: both of Salem village yeomen against Susannah Roots of Beverly widdow for sundry acts of witchcrafft by her Commited on the bodys of Mary wallcott Abigal williams Marcy Lewis Ann Puttnam and others.
You are therfore in their Majesties names hereby Required to apprehend and forthwith bring before us Susannah Roots of Beverly widdow, who stands charged with Committing Sundry acts of witchcraft as aboves’d to the wrong and Injury of the bodys of the above-named Persons, in order to her Examination Relateing to the aboves’d Premises faile not Dated Salem May the 21’st 1692
John Hathorne
Jonathan. Corwin
[Pbar ]r order of the Govener & Councell
To the Marshall of Essex or his Deputy vera Copia attest
May 21 — 1692
*Geor: Herrick Marshall of Essex
I doe apoint mr Jonathan Biles to bee my Lawffull Deputy to serve this warrant
*Geo: Herrick Marshall of Essex
(Reverse) I have prosecutted the within written warant and have apprehended the person of the within mentioned Suzannah Roots and Brought her befour awthority. 23: may 1692
An information if it might be any help in the examination of the person before you goode Roots I being in the house of Mr Laurence Denni’s some time since she was suspected for what shee is now before you & there was Likewise Leonard Austen of our Town of Beverly s’d Austen then s’d that he thought she was a bad woman, his reason was that he Living in the house with s’d Roots not Long since and when he went to prayer at any time with his wife & thought s’d Roots would acompany them in s’d Duty but Did not at any time but would withdraw & absent herselfe: & further when my self were gone to bed & she unto her bed. she would rise in the night & we Could hear her talk in the roome below I lying in the Chamber over s’d roome as if there #[there] were: 5: or six persons with her more s’d Austen might speak if caled thereunto as far as know more concer[n]ing Roots
Susannah was eventually released, but while she was in prison, her grandson John Lovett III visited her and gave the following deposition about his conversation with Dorcas Hoar, another prisoner:
The depersision of John Lovet aged about 25 years this deponant tetifieth & say that he the s’d deponant sume time in June last past went into the prisan to see my gran mother then goodee hore asked me the s’d. deponant whether I knew of any witnesses that would Come in or be brought in against hear.&.I the s’d deponant told her I did not know of any and then the s’d. hore asked me whether goodman witreg would not Come in against her about his Cow I the s’d debonant tould the s’d whore I did believe he Would the s’d whore replyed she did not know that he had ara Cow, furder saith not
Supposedly Susannah was released due to insufficient evidence but died less than a month later. Susannah ended up in the care of Ambrose Gale after Josiah died since she had no known family members who survived her. However, the arrangement was not without a business-like aspect. In June of 1684, the court ordered that Susannah’s inheritance should be given to Gale to reimburse him for expenses. It was agreed that with the transfer of her assets, Gale would care for her for the rest of her life. (Note: Susannah was the mother of Ambrose Gale’s deceased son-in-law, Thomas Rootes, husband of Elizabeth Gale. Not much is known about how she died. Maybe her decline in health and the conditions in jail made her too weak.
A student essay submitted in the UK states an interesting theory:
“Some of the witches like Susannah Roots were also accused for entertaining people late at night or adultery, but just because they did those kinds of things did not mean they were looking for power or attention from the whole town, but from the people they did it with. What we know now that did not know then is that the accused must have had been sick in some way or form. We can conclude this with the fact that the symptoms of witchery are the same symptoms as the Encephalitis Epidemic that accrued in the early 1900s to the mid-1900s.” https://www.ukessays.com/essays/history/salem-witch-craft-hysteria-history-essay.php
Spring has sprung, and soon the yard will start bursting with new growth and the flowers with new buds. My other passion is gardening, or ‘yardening’ as I call it. I love getting out in the fresh air and enjoying what nature offers. It is excellent for my mental health, tending to plants, bees, pollinators, and birds.
But I love researching my ancestry too. Lately, I’ve been dabbling and making headway into some ancestors who have been sitting on my branches waiting to be explored. I proved a so-called family myth: “Wild Bill” Hickox William Hickox- 1608-1645 (Logan Family) was related to my Hickok line. I also connected him to his 4th great-grandmother, who was accused of being one of the Salem witches. Warrant for Arrest of Susannah Roots (Logan Family).
FamilySearch has this “Are We Related?” feature where you can see if you are related to famous people or others you follow in social media groups, etc. One thing they don’t really explain to the novices of the genealogy world is that the accuracy is only as good as the tree it is based on. When you place your tree on FamilySearch, anyone can change it anytime. This is because the premise behind FamilySearch’s trees is to have one shared tree.
This is not meant to be your private working tree. It is one public tree where anyone can provide input and collaborate. But, because not everyone understands this, things get changed and deleted without information. In other words, when you click on the “Are We Related?” feature, beware! You may not be related at all. I spent several weekends digging into several of these so-called relations. Most were untrue because of the wrong information in the tree, but a couple of them were correct, which was pretty exciting.
Do not get me wrong, I love FamilySearch for its immense repository of free information compiled and maintained by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Their records are second to none! I highly recommend using their records for your genealogy research.
Several years ago, I wrote about my 9th great grandfather, a Scottish POW, John MacBean – Scottish POW (Logan Family). A few weeks ago, as I was dabbling in my tree, I discovered that his daughter married his POW friend, John Sinclair, making them my 8th great-grandparents. Sinclair evidently comes from the noble St. Clair family of Roslin, Scotland. And, as intermarriage goes, John MacBean’s grandson married John Sinclair’s granddaughter.
I also researched my Coffyn/Steven’s line, which stems from my Convicted of High Treason! Oh No, 9th Great Grandfather! (Logan Family) Gove family. Dionis Stevens was part of the Great Migration to New England and arrived in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1642. She was quite the businesswoman. More on her after some more research.
Things have also been changing in my personal life, giving me more time for gardening and family history. In a couple of months, I will be going part-time. I’ve been working towards this goal for a while now. It is exciting and scary at the same time. This means you’ll be hearing more from me, I hope.
Until then, keep researching your own family tree. As always, let me know if I can help.
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It is the American Genealogical Biographical Index and one of the most essential printed genealogical sources in the United States. But I did not always know that. It was a hint, a source in Ancestry.com that would come up periodically on my New England ancestors. I never really understood it except for it to confirm a birth or some other fact. Ah, the ignorance of the early days!
Recently, I looked back at some older entries in my family tree to see if I could find new leads on some of my more elusive ancestors. One was Margaret Car(r), my 6th great-grandmother. She married John Logan, the ancestor who came to Connecticut through Massachusetts. Although I know John came from Ireland, I do not know anything about Margaret before she came to Connecticut. Although I know they married in Massachusetts.
One of the first clues I looked at again was the AGBI. In researching it, I came across a blog by Diane B. of OneRhodeIslandFamily.com. In it, she wrote, “The Boston Transcript was a Boston, Massachusetts newspaper that regularly carried a page of genealogical questions and answers. That feature ran for several decades in the late 1800s/early 1900s.” And, it is indexed in the AGBI!
Even more exciting was learning that I can order them and over 800 printed genealogies and other compiled sources from the Godfrey Memorial Library. From their website, “Godfrey Memorial Library is the owner and publisher of the American Genealogical Biographical Index (AGBI), which contains more than four million names, statistics, and sources for research, including local histories, church and vital records, military lists, and more. It also includes over two million records from the Boston Transcript. AGBI is the largest and most important genealogical reference set ever published, and clearly the best starting point to find any early New England settlers. This is an index to the books and periodicals on our shelves.”
This is what it looks like in Ancestry.com.
Did I just stumble upon a gold mine? We’ll soon find out, as I mailed out my request a couple of days ago. I printed out their order form, and for $10 each entry, I can soon find out what they know about my ancestor.
You, too, can access this gold mine at https://www.godfrey.org/agbi.html. Print and fill out the order form, then use the information from the AGBI index for each ancestor requested. I limited myself to three ancestors, including Margaret.
Another source attached to Margaret is regarding her marriage in Marshfield, Massachusetts, to John, titled “Mayflower Source Records.” Upon closer inspection, it was from the New England Historical and Genealogical Register called the “Mayflower Source Records: Primary Data Concerning Southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod, and the Islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard” by Gary Boyd Rogers. It’s a source of material where the majority of the descendants of the Mayflower Pilgrims settled by the end of the 18th century. Am I, or is Margaret, descended from a Mayflower passenger?
Exciting stuff! New revelations to dig up for sure.
Thanks for reading!
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