Christopher Hocker was born about 1772 at Erdenheim, Whitemarsh Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania to Johan Georg and Anna Margaretha (Weidman) Hocker.^[1] He most likely had a fairly privileged upbringing as his father owned a sizable estate just outside Germantown. George Hocker was a trustee at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Germantown and was involved in the creation of the Union Church in Whitemarsh Township.

Christopher married well, selecting as his bride Catherine Daub, daughter of Henry Daub Sr. of Montgomery County. They were married at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church on 10 Apr 1792.^[2] Henry Daub Sr. built the Sandy Run hotel, later known as the Clifton House, in 1801 and owned and operated the mill just opposite the hotel.^[3]

Christopher appears in the tax lists of Whitemarsh Township from 1793 through 1800 when his name was crossed out.^[4] He likely had at least two children born during this time period. Samuel and Elizabeth Hocker, of Christoph Hocker and wife, were baptized on 31 Mar 1809.^[5] Samuel was 16 years old (born circa 1793) and Elizabeth was 17 years old (born circa 1792).

In 1805, Daub sold the tavern and 25 acres of his Sandy Run property to his son-in-law Christopher Hocker.^[6] According to deed records, Christopher (Innkeeper) purchased a lot in Whitemarsh Township from the daughters of Jacob Edge on 1 Apr 1807.^[7] On 5 Apr 1808, Christopher (Farmer) and Catharine Hocker sold this land to Daniel Hitner.^[8]

Apparently, Christopher was not successful as a tavern-keeper. In 1808, he also gave up the property he’d purchased from his father-in-law to assignees John Wentz, George Price, and Samuel Maulsby. According to family legend, Christopher found himself in debt and fled to Ohio.^[9] There, Christopher Hocker supposedly had a child, George Washington Hocker, born on 16 Aug 1814, supposedly with a second wife.^[10] I have yet to find record of Christopher in Ohio or the name of his second wife.

If Christopher did remarry, it was apparently done without a divorce from or the death of his first wife Catharine. Henry Daub’s will, written 19 Jun 1813, refers to his daughter Catharine as the wife of Christopher Hocker.^[11] I believe she was alive and quite possibly living with her mother in Whitemarsh Township in 1830.^[12] She is still referred to as the wife of Christian Hocker as of Aug 1836 when John Hocker, her nephew, was appointed as her trustee in the estate proceedings.^[13] I have not found her in the 1850 census, nor have I found a death date or place, but it is quite possible that she died prior to 1855 when the estate was finalized.^[14]

Christopher was named as one of the surviving children in his father’s estate files in 1821.^[15] The 1823 auditor’s report mentions a bond to Christopher Hocker that was “more than his share.”^[16] There is no location given for Christopher in these files, nor is there any indication that he appeared in court in person during the proceedings.

So, while I may not know where Christopher was in 1821 and 1823, at least I know he was still alive. I’ve still got a lot to find before I can solve this mystery. If you’ve any suggestions or clues, please, please, please send them my way!

For the purposes of the book, I’ll most likely include them in either separate chapters or appendices. In the past I’ve shared some of these families here on the website. I thought I’d list out these families in hope that someone out there recognizes them and might have some clues to offer…

Adam and Eve (Hamaker) Hocker

Adam Hocker was born 19 October 1812 and died 26 September 1870. He was buried in Churchville Cemetery in Oberlin, Swatara Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. On 22 February 1838, he married Eve Hamaker, daughter of Adam and Magdalena (Snavely) Hamaker of Derry Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. She was born 24 June 1817 and died 14 November 1892. She was buried with her husband in Churchville Cemetery. The family lived in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.

Adam and Eve (Hamaker) Hocker had children:

1. Jacob H. Hocker (10 Jan 1839-1 Mar 1911) m1. Catharine Eshnour (ca 1838-31 Dec 1862), m2. Barbara A. Leonhart
2. John Hocker (17 Jan 1841-18 Feb 1905) m. Rebecca Brenner (26 Nov 1842-19 Jul 1928)
3. Adam H. Hocker (15 Jan 1843-11 Jun 1902) m. Martha Shope
4. Mary Elizabeth Hocker (ca 1844/5-?) m. George Cumbler (31 Oct 1841-14 Apr 1904)
5. Sarah Hocker (19 Sep 1848-13 Apr 1930) m. Peter Page
6. Dr. David R. Hocker (1 Dec 1850-21 Nov 1887) m. Hettie Esther Rudy (3 Jan 1854-11 May 1894)
7. Malinda Hocker (Jan 1853-aft 1920) m. Wilson G. Smith
8. Martin M. Hocker (15 May 1855-25 Apr ?) m. Mary Elizabeth Marbuger (9 Apr 1856-5 Aug 1918)
9. Anna C. Hocker (1859/60-?) m. Charles Leonhart

John and Sarah (Beinhower) Hocker

John Hocker was born 6 July 1815 and died 21 January 1882 in Swatara Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. He was buried in Churchville Cemetery. On 3 December 1835, he married Sarah Beinhower, daughter of John Peter and Mary Ann (Smith) Beinhower). She was born 12 January 1814 and died 12 November 1901. She, too, was buried in Churchville Cemetery. The family lived in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.

John and Sarah (Beinhower) Hocker had one child:

1. Maria Ann/Anna Maria Hocker (2 Jan 1840-11 Sep 1873/83) m. Christian Gingrich (4 Mar 1837-8 Sep 1886)

Jacob and Maria (Krieg) Hacker

Jacob Hacker was born 28 September 1803 in Lancaster County and died 26 July 1873. He was buried in Emanuel Lutheran Church cemetery in Brickerville, Elizabeth Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Circa 1841, he married Maria Krieg, daughter of John Elias and Anna Maria (Gibbons) Krieg. She was born 5 August 1819 and died 22 March 1898. The family lived in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Jacob and Maria (Krieg) Hacker had children:

1. William Harvey Hacker (ca 1841-bef 1873)
2. Elias K. Hacker (Jun 1845-6 Nov 1920) m. Isabella Weidman (11 Nov 1846-31 Jan 1912)
3. Allen K. Hacker (31 Mar/1 Apr 1847-24 Mar 1928) m. Lydia Eitnier (5 Sep 1850-12 Jul 1925)
4. Martin Kissinger Hacker (25 Jan 1850-16 Nov 1906) m. Annie Kissinger (27 Jun 1863-5 Apr 1894), m2. Sadie Bates (Jan 1881-aft 1915)
5. Henry K. Hacker (16 Sep 1852-3 Oct 1925) m. Kate (___)
6. Benjamin K. Hacker (Apr 1856-1938) m. Annie H. (___)

 Jacob R. and Sarah (___) Hacker

Jacob R. Hacker was born 26 August 1838 and died 16 February 1906 in Ephrata. He was buried in Bowman’s Cemetery in Ephrata. Circa 1870, he married Sarah (___). She was born 6 February 1849 and died 26 July 1921. The family lived in Lancaster and Lebanon counties.

Jacob R. and Sarah (___) Hacker had children:

1. Franklin K. Hacker (ca Dec 1870-1952) m. Maggie M. Rishel (ca Sep 1876-1957)
2. Amanda K. Hacker (ca 1872-?) m. John S. Turner (ca 1873/4-?)
3. Jacob Hacker (Feb 1879-aft 1910)
4. Emma K. Hacker (Dec 1883-?) m. Frank A. Crall (ca 1881-?)
5. Annie K. Hacker ( May 1886-?) m. William I. Mull (ca 1885-?)
6. Elizabeth Hacker (Nov 1888-?)
7. Lottie Hacker (27 Aug 1892-11 Nov 1895)

 Rev. Dr. Thomas Jefferson and Susan (Meckly) Hacker

Thomas Jefferson Hacker was born 24 September 1854 in Lincoln, Lancaster County and died 4 March 1924 in Wyomissing, Berks County. He was the son of Levi and Harriet (Yagle) Hacker. Circa 1874/5, he married Susan Meckly, daughter of William and Lucinda (___) Meckly. She was born 25 December 1855 and died 31 January 1943. The couple are both buried in Bergstrasse Cemetery in Ephrata.

T.J. and Susan (Meckly) Hacker had one child, a son:

1. Dr. Oswald William Hacker (24 Oct 1875-14 Jul 1915)

 Maurice Elwood and Margaret Wilhelmina (Murray) Hacker

Maurice Elwood Hacker was born 28 July 1868 in Akron, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and died 21 Dec 1915. He was buried in Mt. Tunnel Cemetery in Elizabethtown. On 23 February 1894, he married Margaret Wilhelmina Murray in Lancaster County. She was born 22 September 1870 and died 3 January 1955. She, too, was buried in Mt. Tunnel Cemetery.
The couple had children:

1. Ida M. Hacker (ca 1897-?) m. Joseph J. Faltine?
2. Margaret S. Hacker (ca 1899-?)
3. Maurice M. Hacker (27 Oct 1900-27 May 1901)
4. Harry F. Hacker (ca 1902-?)
5. Florence M. Hacker (ca 1905-?)
6. Frederick C. Hacker (26 Jun 1908-2 Dec 1908)
7. John E. Hacker (28 Jul 1910-11 Aug 1996)

In addition to these families, there are several from Wingeard’s genealogy that I’m researching and wondering about, questioning their placement in the family tree. More on them later.

Do you have Hacker/Hockers from Pennsylvania that you’re researching? Drop me a line and tell me all about them.

In the first edition, Bill did not include any information on Johan “Hans” Adam Hacker’s son Johan George (1766-1846). Fortunately, I have found some information on my 6 times great uncle. Unfortunately, it’s causing some consternation as I try to determine whether it actually refers to Johan George, son of Adam, or George, son of Frederick—Johan’s George’s older brother.

Johan George Hacker (1766-1846)

Most of the information that I’ve located on Johan George can be found on his page in the “My Family” section of the site. I won’t repeat it here.

The problem I’m running into is in trying to identify his children. I have one definite child—Joseph Hacker (1816-1891). His baptism record lists Johan George and Christina Hacker as his parents and Christopher and Ann Miller as his sponsors. This is consistent with Johan George’s data, including his association with his brother-in-law Christopher Miller.

I also found a communion list from 1825 that lists what appears to be Johan George and Christina with two daughters—Catharina and Elisabetha. Three other Hackers—George, Peter, and Lydia—are listed with those receiving confirmation.

6 Nov 1825, Communion List at Salem Lutheran Church

I’m wondering if the George, Peter and Lydia listed are Johan George and Christina’s children. There are no other Hackers listed in the communion list and it seems plausible that Johan George and Christina would want to see their children confirmed. I know little about the confirmation process in the Lutheran or Reformed Church, but if I recall correctly my friends who were confirmed did so at about the age of 14 years. Assuming that there could be some leeway to either side, that would put the birth years for George, Peter and Lydia as approximately 1810-1815 (aged 10-15).

According to the 1810 census record for Johan George in Cocalico Township, his family was composed of the following members:^[1]

• 1  male under 10 (George or Peter?)
• 1 male 16-26 (?)
• 1 male 26-46 (George)
• 2 females under 10 (Catharina?, Elisabetha?)
• 1 female 26-45 (Christina)

So far, this looks a good match for these children belonging to Johan George and Christina. Let’s look at the 1820 census enumeration for the family:^[2]

• 2 white males up to 10 (Joseph?, Peter?)
• 1 white male 16 to 18 (George?)
• 1 white male 16 to 26 (same as 16 to 18)
• 1 white male 45 & up (George)
• 1 white female up to 10 (Lydia?)
• 2 white females 10 to 16 (Catharina?, Elisabetha?)
• 1 white female 26 to 45 (Christina)

Again, it seems plausible that George, Peter, Lydia, Catharina and Elisabetha were the children of Johan George and Christina (Miller) Hacker. Joseph, born in 1816, would likely have been too young for confirmation in 1825.

George Hocker (1785/90-?)

However, George’s nephew, George Hocker—son of Frederick Hacker—allegedly had sons named George and Peter and a daughter Christina. I say allegedly, because Bill included the information in his book, but did not include his source for this information, making it difficult to verify.

From what I can tell he may have posited them as children from the 1840 census enumeration of Ephrata Township. In 1840, there are four Hacker families in Ephrata Township—George Hacker, George Hacker Sr., John Hacker, and Peter Hacker. Here are their households:

Neither of the two Georges appears to be a match to Johan George Hacker, both men being too young. They could be George Hocker, son of Frederick, and his alleged son, George Hocker Jr., with a few extra household members. Peter Hocker’s household is a good match to that of Peter and Hannah (Reinhold) Hacker of Lancaster County.

If so, what were they doing back in Lancaster County? And is proximity enough to identify them as immediate family?

George received his father’s property after Frederick died in 1812 and his older brother John refused it. George sold the property in 1813 and purchased property in Lower Paxton Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania in 1814.^[7] George and his wife Elizabeth had children baptized at Zion Lutheran Church in Harrisburg in 1814 (Catharina) and 1817 (Sarah). They also had children baptized at Shoop’s Church in 1819 (Andrew), 1821 (Daniel), and 1824 (Eli).

According to my family members, George’s property was in the southwest corner of Lower Paxton, near where Lower Paxton, Susquehanna and Upper Swatara townships meet. I found one tax record for George Hocker in Lower Paxton Township in 1813. I found multiple tax records for Susquehanna Township for George Hocker between 1816 and 1829.

I believe I found George Hocker in Upper Swatara Township in the 1830 census. The household included:

• 2 males 5 to 10 (Daniel, Eli)
• 1 male 10 to 15 (Andrew)
• 1 male 20 to 30 (George or Peter?)
• 1 male 30 to 40 (?)
• 1 male 40 to 50 (George Sr.)
• 1 female < 10 (?)
• 2 females 10 to 15 (Sarah, Catharina)
• 1 female 15 to 20 (?)
• 1 female 40 to 50 (Elizabeth)

I also found records of a George Hocker as a tenant taxed in Upper Swatara in 1830 through 1832, and 1834 where his name is crossed out and removed written in.

I haven’t found gravestones for George or Elizabeth, so he may have moved back to Lancaster County. The evidence places him in Dauphin County until at least 1834, then I have no more data until the possible 1840 census enumeration. If George did move back to Lancaster County, not all of his family went with him. Two of his children were married in Salem Reformed Church in Harrisburg in 1840. Andrew Hocker married Susan Wannamacher on 27 Aug 1840.^[8] Sarah Hocker married Jacob Ruth on 12 Nov 1840.^[9]

The Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia, Dauphin County states that Joseph Hocker, son of George and Mary “Polly” (Brubaker) Hocker, was born in Lancaster County on 19 Feb 1839.^[10] That would make him one of the 2 males under 5 years old in the 1840 census enumeration for George Hocker in Ephrata Township. But this isn’t enough to prove that George was the son of George Sr. and grandson of Frederick Hacker.

By  1850, George and Mary “Polly” (Brubaker) Hocker were in Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania and they remained in this area until their deaths in 1872. Both were buried in Dauphin County, perhaps in Crum’s cemetery. Today their tombstones can be found in Shoop’s Cemetery in Lower Paxton Township.^[11] George and Polly (Brubaker) Hocker have similarities of location to George and Elizabeth (Hassler) Hocker. It’s possible that George Sr. moved back to Lancaster County where he’d grown up and George Jr. eventually moved back to Dauphin County where he’d grown up.

Conclusions?

So, while this is all very interesting information, it doesn’t help me to identify Johan George’s children. If George, Peter and Lydia, Catharina, and Elisabetha were the children of Johan George and Christina (Miller) Hacker, what happened to them? Do the 1840 enumerations of Ephrata Township refer to this George and Peter or to George Hocker’s children—if they were, indeed, his children?

At this point, I don’t have any answers. Baptismal records for the early 1800s—specifically from 1804 through 1815—may help identify the parentage of Catharina, Elisabetha, George, Peter and Lydia. Tax records for Lebanon (1810—1825) and Lancaster (1820—1846) counties may help to pinpoint Johan George’s exact location and whether or not George Hocker moved back circa 1834. I’m hoping I can find some evidence.

Oh, did I mention that Frederick’s eldest son John also had a son named George and daughter named Lydia?! Wish me luck.

Elizabeth (Buchanan) Bonnington?

My ancestress Elizabeth Buchanan married Peter Purvis Bonnington on 17 Jun 1864 at Bloomyhall, Junipergreen, in the parish of Colinton, Edinburgh.^[1]  According to this document, her parents were James Buchanan, a miner, and Sarah (Craig) Buchanan, deceased. Elizabeth died 13 May 1928 in Crown Terrace, in the parish of Prestonpans, East Lothian, Scotland, and her death record names her parents as James Buchanan, coal miner, and Elizabeth (Craig) Buchanan.^[2] Her son Peter was the informant for the document.  I’ve not been able to locate a birth record for Elizabeth (Buchanan) Bonnington, quite possibly because I’m not sure where she was born. (Please see notes.)

The only record I’ve been able to find that includes the entire Buchanan family is the 1851 Scottish census. The census enumeration for Cambusnethan parish, Lanarkshire includes the following:^[3]

• James Buchanan, head, age 39, coal miner, born Ireland
• Saly Craig Buchanan, wife, age 41, born Ireland
• Elizabeth Buchanan, dau, age 6, born Ireland
• Sarah Buchanan, dau, age 4, born Ireland
• Mary Buchanan, mother, widow, age 56, born Ireland

This image from the next page of the census records shows these members of the household:

• Robert Collins, lodger, age 20, coal miner, born Wigton, Old House
• Alexander Buchanan, lodger, age 22, coal miner, born Ireland
• John Hilly, lodger, age 17, coal miner, born Ireland

Of note from this census entry is the fact that all the Buchanans listed are born in Ireland. Also, James Buchanan’s mother was named Mary, and there’s also an Alexander Buchanan living in the household. Is he related to James and Mary? Perhaps a brother to James? It’s not possible to know for sure from this census entry alone.

I believe I found the Buchanans in the 1861 census in the village of Polkemmet, Bathgate parish, Linlithgow, Scotland. If so, James’ family was reduced to just himself and his daughter Sarah. They were enumerated in James Smart’s household, as follows:^[4]

• James Buchanan, lodger, widowed, 37, coal miner, born Ireland
• Sarah Buchanan, dau, 14, born Ireland

Although it’s troubling to me that James’ is somehow 2 years younger than he was 10 years earlier, all the other details match. He’s a coal miner, born in Ireland with a daughter named Sarah, whose age and birthplace match those of the 1851 family. Elizabeth was apparently living with a family in Edinburgh and working as a dairymaid.^[5]

Sarah (Craig) Buchanan apparently died sometime between 1851 and 1861. Her daughter Elizabeth’s marriage record reports Sarah as deceased by 1864^[6], so again this census record is a possible match to known information. I haven’t yet been able to find a death record for Sarah so I haven’t been able to find her actual date of death. It’s also possible that Mary Buchanan, James’ mother, died during this period as well.

Alexander Buchanan—the Brother?

The Alexander Buchanan found in James’ household in 1851 was quite likely enumerated in Chapelhall, Bothwell parish, Lanark, Scotland in 1861. His family was enumerated living on Bigger Road as follows:^[7]

• Alexander Bouchanan, head, married, age 31, Ironstone miner, born Ireland
• Elizabeth Bouchanan, wife, married, age 28, born Ireland
• Sarah Bouchanan, dau, age 8, born Neilston, Renfrew
• Mary Bouchanan, dau, age 6, born Bothwell, Lanark
• Cathrine Bouchanan, dau, age 4, born Bothwell, Lanark
• Elisabeth Bouchanan, dau, age 2, born Bothwell, Lanark
• John Bouchanan, son, age under 1 mo, born Bothwell, Lanark

A search for these children in the FamilySearch.org  Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564—1950 database revealed that Alexander Buchanan and Elizabeth Kelly had children: Mary (b. 1855), Catharine (b. 1857), Elizabeth (b. 1859) and William (b. 1865)—a match for three of the five children in the census record.

Bothwell parish records showed that Alexander Buchanan married Elizabeth Kelly of Neilston parish on 18 Apr 1852.^[8] They were of Neilston parish when “Alexander Buchanan and Elizabeth Kelly spouses Neilston had their first child being a daughter born on the 21st of February and baptized on the 13th of March named Sarah Craig.”^[9] This, too, matches the census record.

Sometime between 1853 and 1855, Alex and Elizabeth must have moved their family back to Bothwell parish. According to the census enumeration the younger children—Mary, Catharine, Elizabeth, and John—were all born in Bothwell parish between 1855 and 1861. Later census records include more information for birthplace, including:^[10] Chapelhall (Mary), Mossend (Catharine), Coatbridge (Elizabeth), Chapelhall (John), Longlee (Robert),  Cuilhill (William).

Alexander was injured in a mining accident at Heathery Knowe Number 2 (Heathery Knowe Mining Company) in Cuilhill on 11 March 1867. He died 3 hours later from his injuries.^[11] His death record lists his wife as Elizabeth Kelly. Alexander’s parents were listed as John Buchanan (farmer, deceased) and Mary Buchanan, maiden surname Irvine (deceased). The informant for the record—James Buchanan, brother.

Conclusions

So, were James and Alexander brothers? There are several facts that support that conclusion:

1. Alexander Buchanan was living with James Buchanan’s family and mother Mary in 1851.
2. Alexander Buchanan named his eldest daughter Sarah Craig—after his brother’s wife? Maybe.
3. James Buchanan was the informant for Alexander Buchanan’s 1867 death record. The record says that James was Alexander’s brother.
4. John and Mary (Irvine) Buchanan are listed as Alexander’s parents in his 1867 death record. John and Mary (Erwin/Irvine) Buchanan are also listed as James’ parents in his 1863 marriage to Margaret Tatlock and his 1888 death record.
5. John (b. ca 1861, Bothwell), Robert (b. ca 1863/4, Longlee) and William (b. ca 1865/66, Old Monkland) Buchanan are living with James and Margaret Buchanan in Shotts, Lanark in 1881.^[12] They match in name, birth date and birthplace the sons of Alexander Buchanan and are identified as James’ nephews in the census enumeration.
6. Elizabeth (Buchanan) Bonnington named her third son Alexander. Her first son was named William James—presumably after Peter’s father William and her father James. Her second son was named Peter, presumably after her husband. Her fourth and fifth sons were named Robert, presumably after her husband’s brother or uncle. And her last son was named Craig, presumably in honor of her mother Sarah (Craig) Buchanan who died before Elizabeth turned 16.

Additionally, one of the various birthplaces listed for Elizabeth (Buchanan) Bonnington in the records is Neilston, Renfrewshire—Elizabeth Kelly’s “home” parish and where Alexander’s first child—Sarah Craig Buchanan—was born and baptized.

I may have even answered the question of whether the James Buchanan who married Margaret Tatlock was the father of Elizabeth. The main impediment to establishing a connection has been James Buchanan’s age as reported in the records. Here are the ages listed in documents pertaining to “James Buchanan:”

• Age 39 (b. ca 1812, Ireland) in the 1851 census^[13]
• Age 37 (b. ca 1824, Ireland) in the 1861 census^[14]
• Age 39 (b. ca 1824, Ireland) in his 1863 marriage record^[15]
• Age 57 (b. ca 1814, Ireland) in the 1871 census^[16]
• Age 36 (b. ca 1845, Ireland) in the 1881 census^[17]
• Age 66 (b. ca 1822, Ireland) in his 1888 death record^[18]

The 1881 census—a transcription—is so different from the other ages that I can only conclude it was a transcription error or an enumeration error especially when compared to the age on his death record just seven years later. The age differences place his birth around either 1812/14 or 1822/24. Ten years is not a minor difference and seems to indicate that these records are for different men.

However, there are enough consistencies and connections—particularly if you conclude that Alexander was his brother—to make a case that they are, in fact, the same man. The records consistently name his occupation as a coal or ironstone miner and his birthplace as Ireland.

Alexander was living with James and Sarah (Craig) Buchanan in 1851. Alexander’s sons were living with their uncle James and his wife Margaret in 1881. Alexander and James (d. 1888) have the same parents—John and Mary (Erwin/Irvine) Buchanan. Furthermore, when James married Margaret Tatlock in 1863, his marriage record notes that he was a widower. Sarah (Craig) Buchanan died prior to 1864 and most likely prior to 1861—quite possibly before 1853 when Alexander’s daughter Sarah Craig was born.

In 1871 and 1881, James and family were apparently living in Coltness Iron Company housing. Coltness also had colleries in Bathgate, so it’s possible he was also working for them in 1861 and 1863 when records show him in Bathgate.^[19]

So, for now, I’ll have to say the evidence is not conclusive. It’s certainly suggestive, but there’s no smoking gun. For research purposes, I plan to keep it as a working assumption. But more work is needed to build a stronger case.

Based on this information do you think James and Alexander are siblings? Do you think that Elizabeth’s father James married both Sarah Craig and Margaret Tatlock or were there two James Buchanans? Leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Notes:

According to various records, Elizabeth (Buchanan) Bonnington was born in:

• Ireland^[3]
• Shotts, Lanark, Scotland^[21]
• Neilston, Renfrew, Scotland^[22]
• Chapelhall, Lanark, Scotland^[23]
• Chapelhall, Lanark, Scotland^[24]
• Monkland, Lanark, Scotland^[25]

Most of the enumerations place her birthplace in the same general area between Glasgow and Edinburgh. The odd ball locations are Neilston, Renfrewshire (1871) and Ireland (1851). But even these locations provide clues to Elizabeth’s relatives—Neilston to Alexander Buchanan, and Ireland to her parents, sister and presumed uncle Alexander and his wife Elizabeth Kelly.

I also had Isabella’s parent’s names—William Aitken and Marion Brown^[2]—from her 1856 death certificate, but hadn’t been able to locate a birth record or any proof of her parentage. Her brother-in-law William Smith was the informant on her death certificate and I can’t be sure how much he actually knew about her ancestry.

A new search through the records on ScotlandsPeople.gov.uk netted me, not only James and Isabella in the 1841 census, but also her parents and two siblings!

William Aitken household, 1841 Census

The James and Isabella (Aitken) Smith were living with her parents, William and Marion (Brown) Aitken in Auchengray, Carnwath Parish, Lanarkshire in 1841. The household included:

• William Aitken, 60, Wright, born in Lanark
• Marion Aitken, 60, born in Lanark
• John [Aitken], 25, Wright, born in Lanark
• George Tweedie, 25, Laborer, born in Lanark
• Helen Aitken, 20, born in Lanark
• William Tweedie, 2, born in Lanark
• James Smith, 25, Ironstone M., not born in Lanark
• Isabella Smith, 22, born in Lanark

This information allowed me to also find a birth record for Isabella by both widening the search—searching by surname only—and narrowing the search to only Carnwath parish. That got me one result: Isobel Aitken.

Isobel Aitken, 1816 birth record

Isabella was born 27 Feb 1816 and baptized 24 Mar 1816 in Carnwath, Lanarkshire, Scotland. So, her age in 1841 was 25, not the 22 as recorded, but age discrepancies like this are quite common in census records. John and Helen Aitken’s ages are incorrect, too. Records found on FamilySearch.org put John’s birth as 11 Mar 1814 and Helen’s baptism on 19 Aug 1819.

So, with some diligence and a little luck, I was finally able to document my difficult Smith line back one more generation in Scotland! Now to try my luck with Thomas Smith & Agnes Nimmo, James’ parents.

Today, I decided to poke around and see if I could discover more about the Liebrich family. I got lucky and found a site put together by David Hartzell Leebrick. From it I learned that Nicholas Liebrich, Andrew Hoover, and Philip Brown purchased land from John Hans in 1784, adjoining property of Christian Frederick, Ulrich Gingrich, Matthias Hoffart, Jacob Hoober, John Painter, and Andrew Hype.^[2] I also discovered that my speculation regarding Catharine Liebrich being the mother or mother-in-law of Andrew Hoover was NOT true. Both Nicholas and Catharina were contemporaries of Andrew and the marriages of all their daughters have been accounted for. So, if she wasn’t his mother remarried or his mother-in-law, who was she? Why did Andrew Hoover from Wharton Township, Fayette County purchase land with Nicholas Liebrich of Manheim Township, Lancaster County and Philip Brown? The mystery deepened.

Although the Liebrich site included source data for the birth dates of the Liebrich children—John, Philip, Daniel, George, Elizabeth, Catharine, Mary, and Salome (also called Sarah)—I decided to check John Humphrey’s “Pennsylvania Births: Lancaster County 1723-1777″ and “Pennsylvania Births: Lancaster County 1778-1800″ for their birth/baptism information. Instead I found Catharine’s maiden name. The listing for Nicholas and Catharine’s daughter Maria includes the names of her parents as “Nichol. Liebrich and Catharina Hansin,” the “in” being a suffix indicative of a female.^[3]

Thinking that John Hans was perhaps, then, Catharina’s father, I searched for additional deeds for John Hans, hoping he died intestate and thus deeds might reflect the settling of his estate and name his heirs. Instead, I found a deed from John Hans in which he sold land that he had inherited from his father Henry Hans, that by its boundary definition, looked to be the exact piece of land that was sold to Nicholas Liebrich, Andrew Hoover and Philip Brown in 1784.^[4]

So, I went looking for deeds granted by Henry Hans and got lucky. I found a deed from Henry Hans’ heirs to John Hans in which “Catharine Hans wife of Nicholas Liebrich of the Town of Manheim and the County of Lancaster, Maria Hans wife of Andrew Hoover in Fayat [sic] County, Mansion [sic] Township, Barbara Hans wife of Philip Brown in Paxton Township, Elizabeth daughters and Sons in Laws all of the deceased Henry Hans and Province of Pennsylvania” released their rights in the property to John Hans the “son of the deceased Henry Hans.”^[5] Additionally, there was another quitclaim for this property from Maria Huber to John Hans dated 1788, because although Andrew and Maria were included in the prior deed and Andrew signed it, “yet by Neglect or otherwise she [Maria] did not sign and execute the same.” ^[6] This quitclaim was witnessed by Alexander McClean and Silvester Gruber. McClean was a neighbor of the Hoovers in Fayette County.

Thus, after some sleuthing for the Liebrich and Hans families in Lancaster County, I now know that Andrew Hoover Jr. (Andrew¹) of Fayette County married Maria Hans, daughter of Henry Hans of Warwick Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Next Steps? Andrew Hoover Jr. was allegedly in Fayette County, Pennsylvania by 1770 when his brother Jacob Hoover settled on land in Monongalia County, Virginia (now part of Greene County, Pennsylvania). He purchased land in Westmoreland County in 1775 with his brother-in-law John Hunsaker from John Waller. However, an estimated birth date for Andrew’s son George of 1775-1778 means that Andrew married about 1774. So, when and where did Andrew meet Maria Hans of Warwick Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania?

As far as I know, Andreas Huber Sr. and family never lived in Lancaster County. Did he perhaps move his family there between his sale of his old Frederic County, Maryland property in 1763 and his purchase of other property in 1772? ^[7] If, as I postulate in “Andreas Huber Origins: Trippstadt, Ellerstadt, or Ittlingen?,” Andreas’ brother was Johannes Huber of Manheim Township, did Andreas’ family, perhaps, spend time with him in Lancaster County? What other connections exist between the Fayette County Hoovers and the Lancaster County Hoovers?

All good questions for which I need to find answers. What answers, I wonder, can be found in documents I have yet to find?

John Hoover, a.k.a Johan George Huber, of Licking County, Ohio was born possibly in 1752 in Germany. He claimed in his pension deposition on 28 Apr 1834 that he emigrated from Germany, arriving in Philadelphia in 1775 (he thinks) and was for a short time indentured to Jacob Huber of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in order to pay off his travel expenses. In the fall of 1775 or 1776, he enlisted in the army at Lancaster. He did not speak English and could not—at the time of his deposition—clearly remember the details of his service or his command, except that he was in the battles of Germantown, White Plains in New Jersey, Brandywine, Princeton and Monmouth. He claimed that he was injured by a musketball in the neck, lost one of his eyes, and was taken prisoner in Philadelphia then transported to New York where he spent the rest of the war.  ^[1]

Barbara Hoover’s deposition for his pension in 1838 states that they were married about 1784 in Chester County, Pennsylvania about 29 miles west of Philadelphia near the Red Lion. She states that her marriage information was written down in a Bible her husband owned—alongside the ages of his brothers and sisters, but that it was destroyed by “a little puppy dog when she was out of the house having given it to one of her children to keep it quiet while she was out.” ^[2] John Hoover died in Newark Township on 8 Oct 1834. John and Barbara had fourteen children, the eldest of whom was “fifty-three years of age on the 27th of March [1838].”^[3]

Charles Hoover also appeared and made a deposition. He states that John and Barbara Hoover were husband and wife, and also his father and mother. He also states that he has one older brother and sister, and eleven other brothers and sisters.^[4]

Footnotes:

Looking at the early census records (1820-1850), I put together the following table to help track the individuals/families through the years. I use it to help postulate relationships between people and “movements” around the county.

Franklin/Newark Townships

Looking at Franklin and Newark Townships, it’s possible to theorize that the John Hoover and Charles Hoover in Franklin Township in 1820 are the same men as the John and Charles in Newark Township in 1830, etc. The ages in subsequent cencus records match up nicely. Also, you could also hypothesize that Barbara Hoover (1840, 1850) is the widow of John Hoover, and possibly the mother or stepmother of Charles Hoover—especially as she is a member of his household in 1850. There is a female 45+ (1820) and 70-80 (1830) in John’s household, quite likely this Barbara. The Jesse Hoover is possibly a son of Charles Hoover. Although Charles doesn’t have any young males in his household in 1830, John does have a male 10-15 (Jesse would be 13). John and his wife, I would presume, were too old have had a child that age, so it is quite likely that it’s a younger family member—such as a grandson, living with them and helping them out.

It’s also possible to postulate that John Hoover of Franklin and Newark townships was the son of Andrew Hoover of Fayette County. John² Hoover (Andrew¹) was born circa 1744 in Germany, making him 76 in 1820 and 86 in 1830, matching the census ages of John from Franklin and Newark townships. He most likely died prior to 1840. There is a John George Hoover of Licking county who died in 1834, buried in the 6th Street Cemetery. However, he’s listed as a veteran of the Revolutionary War.[3] Our Hoover did not fight in the war.[4] So, it’s quite possible I’m completely out in left field about this John Hoover! That, of course, is the problem with theories. They may help create avenues of new research, but they’re also sometimes simply wrong.

There was a John H. Hoover, a miller, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1814 and came to Newark with his grandfather “when quite young.”[5] His wife Sarah was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1814 and came to Newark in 1829. Her cousin was the wife of Charles Hoover—perhaps the Charles Hoover in the census records? This John would have been the correct age to be the male <10 in 1820 and 10-15 in 1830 in the household of John Hoover. Perhaps John H. Hoover’s father died in Pennsylvania and he went to live with his grandparents who went to Licking County before 1820?

Monroe Township

It’s a bit easier in Monroe Township. Henry Hoover (45+, 1820) is the son of Andrew Hoover of Fayette County, Pennsylvania. He died in Johnstown, Monroe Township on 23 Sep 1823. Emanuel Hoover is his son and Mahlon and James Hoover are his grandsons. Mary Hoover is Emanuel’s widow. This family is well documented. That leaves George Hoover (45+, 1820), Samuel Hoover, Anna Hoover, Saphrona Hoover, and Elizabeth Hoover to ponder.

George Hoover is of the correct age to have been the eldest son of Henry² Hoover, born in Maryland in 1771—age 49 in 1820 and 59 in 1830. He, perhaps, died prior to 1840, leaving a widow—Elizabeth? Elizabeth Hoover was living in the household of Eli Pratt in 1850.[6] According to that record she was 86 years old, born in Maryland. A female 70-80 is in Eli Pratt’s household in 1840, quite likely the same Elizabeth Hoover.[7]

So, who was Samuel Hoover?  Possibly a son of George Hoover? The 1800 Wharton township census records of George Hoover include 3 males age <10 (born 17900-1800). Samuel would fit right into the family. So, this is one possibility. It needs much more research to prove, however. Anna Hoover could possibly be Samuel’s widow. The 1850 census record for Anna states that she was born in Maryland.

Hartford Township

In Hartford Township, the senior most Hoover is John Hoover (45+, 1820). Lois Hoover is his wife—they’re listed together in the 1850 U.S. census.[8] John is of the correct age to be a son of John² Hoover (Andrew¹). However, at this point there is no proof of any relationship. Unfortunately, people of the same surname in the same location are not always related.

Samuel, John and William are quite possibly sons of John of Hartford Township, while Harmon and Zenas may be grandsons. I saw a post on a message board that stated Samuel Hoover and his wife Phebe sold their farm in Hartford Township in 1839—moving out of the county prior to 1840?[9]

Conclusions

Census records alone don’t prove much of anything—especially since the pre-1850 records only provide the name of the head of household, not the household’s members. So, I can only speculate that the members of those households are, in fact, Hoovers, are related to the head of the household, and that there is some relationship between households of the same name within the same jurisdiction.

That said, there is sufficient evidence to convince me that it would be worthwhile to dig for more records. I could possibly learn more about John² Hoover (Andrew¹) and George³ Hoover (Henry², Andrew¹). Considering how little I currently I know about these family members, I believe follow-up is definitely warranted.

Do you have information on these Licking County Hoovers? Are you looking for information on these families? Drop me a line and let me know. I’d love to collaborate.

Footnotes:

1. Henry Hoover household, 1810 United States Census, Greene County, Pennsylvania (Greene Township), Page 47; National Archives micropublication M252, roll 49.
2. Graham, Albert Adam, History of Licking County, Ohio, Its Past and Present (Newark, OH: A.A. Graham & Co., Publishers, 1881), page 518
3. Licking County Genealogical Society, Revolutionary War Veterans of Licking County, Ohio (http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ohlcgs2/revwar.htm); “This list is compiled from several lists in the L.C.G.S. Library. Some of these lists have little or no documentation so the following should not be taken as proof of service, nor as a true statement of fact. Most of these Revolutionary War Soldiers are buried in Licking County. Some of the gravestones still exist and some are no longer identifiable.”
4. Maryland Historical Magazine (Baltimore, Maryland: Maryland Historical Society, unknown), Vol. 12, Page 262
5. Hill, N.N. Jr., History of Licking County, O., Its Past and Present (Newark, Ohio: A.A. Graham & Co., Publishers, 1881), Page 693
6. Eli Pratt household, 1850 United States Census, Licking County, Ohio (Monroe Township), Page 205, Dwelling 538, Family 543, Line 6; National Archives micropublication M432, roll 702
7. Eli Pratt household, 1840 United States Census, Licking County, Ohio (Monroe Township), Page 375; National Archives micropublication M704, roll408
8. John Hoover household, 1850 United States Census, Licking County Ohio (Hartford Township), Page 238, Dwelling 987, Family 999, Line 2-3; National Archives micropublication M432, roll 702.
9. Hoover Family Genealogy Forum, Samuel Hoover in Licking County : 1820 (http://genforum.genealogy.com/hoover/messages/3494.html)

U.S. Federal Census Records

• Charles Hoover and John Hoover households, 1820 United States Census, Licking County, Ohio (Franklin Township), Page 33; National Archives micropublication M33, roll 93
• Emanuel Hoover and George Hoover households, 1820 United States Census, Licking County, Ohio (Monroe Township), Page 48; National Archives micropublication M33, roll 94
• Samuel Hoover household, 1820 United States Census, Licking County, Ohio (Monroe Township), Page 47; National Archives micropublication M33, roll 94
• Henry Hoover household, 1820 United States Census, Licking County, Ohio (Johnstown, Monroe Township), Page 47; National Archives micropublication M33, roll 94
• Isaac Hoover household, 1820 United States Census, Licking County, Ohio (Bowling Green Township), Page 40; National Archives micropublication M33, roll 94
• John Hoover and Samuel Hoover households, 1820 United States Census, Licking County, Ohio (Hartford Township), Page 55; National Archives micropublication M33, roll 94
• MM Hoover and Mary Hoover households, 1830 United States Census, Licking County, Ohio (Monroe Township), Page 457; National Archives micropublication M19, roll 134
• Samuel Hoover and George Hoover households, 1830 United States Census, Licking County, Ohio (Monroe Township), Page 457; National Archives micropublication M19, roll 134
• Charles Hoover household, 1830 United States Census, Licking County, Ohio (Newark Township), Page 393; National Archives micropublication M19, roll 134
• John Hoover household, 1830 United States Census, Licking County, Ohio (Newark Township), Page 403; National Archives micropublication M19, roll 134
• John Hoover, John Hoover, and William Hoover households, 1830 United States Census, Licking County, Ohio (Hartford Township), Page 483; National Archives micropublication M19, roll 134
• Samuel Hoover household, 1830 United States Census, Licking County, Ohio (Hartford Township), Page 482; National Archives micropublication M19, roll 134
• Barbara Hoover household, 1840 United States Census, Licking County, Ohio (Newark Township), Page 158; National Archives micropublication M704, roll 408
• Charles Hoover household, 1840 United States Census, Licking County, Ohio (Newark Township), Page 198; National Archives micropublication M704, roll 408
• Jesse Hoover household, 1840 United States Census, Licking County, Ohio (Newark Township), Page 194; National Archives micropublication M704, roll 408
• MM Hoover and James Hoover households, 1840 United States Census, Licking County, Ohio (Monroe Township), Page 370; National Archives micropublication M704, roll 408
• Samuel Hoover household, 1840 United States Census, Licking County, Ohio (Monroe Township), Page 372; National Archives micropublication M704, roll 408
• Saphrona Hoover household, 1840 United States Census, Licking County, Ohio (Johnstown, Monroe Township), Page 377; National Archives micropublication M704, roll 408
• John Hoover and Harmon Hoover households, 1840 United States Census, Licking County, Ohio (Hartford Township), Page 367; National Archives micropublication M704, roll 408
• John Hoover Jr. household, 1840 United States Census, Licking County, Ohio (Hartford Township), Page 364; National Archives micropublication M704, roll 408
• Isaac Hoover household, 1840 United States Census, Licking County, Ohio (Grand Township), Page 288; National Archives micropublication M704, roll 408
• Isaac Hoover household, 1840 United States Census, Licking County, Ohio (St Albans Township), Page 340; National Archives micropublication M704, roll 408
• John Hoover household, 1840 United States Census, Licking County, Ohio (Madison Township), Page 188; National Archives micropublication M704, roll 408
• John Hoover household, 1850 United States Census, Licking County Ohio (Hartford Township), Page 238, Dwelling 987, Family 999, Line 2-3; National Archives micropublication M432, roll 702.
• John Hoover Jr. household, 1850 United States Census, Licking County Ohio (Hartford Township), Page 233, Dwelling 924, Family 936, Line 18-19; National Archives micropublication M432, roll 702.
• Zenas Hoover household, 1850 United States Census, Licking County Ohio (Hartford Township), Page 233, Dwelling 925, Family 937, Line 20-25; National Archives micropublication M432, roll 702.
• Eli Pratt household, 1850 United States Census, Licking County, Ohio (Monroe Township), Page 205, Dwelling 538, Family 543, Line 6; National Archives micropublication M432, roll 702
• Mahlon Hoover household, 1850 United States Census, Licking County, Ohio (Monroe Township), Page 204, Dwelling 519, Family 525, Line 12-21; National Archives micropublication M432, roll 702
• James Hoover household, 1850 United States Census, Licking County, Ohio (Monroe Township), Page 204, Dwelling 519, Family 525, Line 22-32; National Archives micropublication M432, roll 702
• Anna Hoover household, 1850 United States Census, Licking County, Ohio (Monroe Township), Page 195, Dwelling 387, Family 392, Line 7-10; National Archives micropublication M432, roll 702
• Charles Hoover household, 1850 United States Census, Licking County, Ohio (Newark Township), Page 7, Dwelling 90, Family 99, Line 24-29; National Archives micropublication M432, roll 702; household includes Barbara Hoover, age 97
• Jesse Hoover household, 1850 United States Census, Licking County, Ohio (Newark Township), Page 4, Dwelling 54, Family 59, Line 36-40; National Archives micropublication M432, roll 702
• L.J. Dunning household, 1850 United States Census, Licking County, Ohio (Etna Township), Page 314, Dwelling 2049, Family 2087, Line 23; National Archives micropublication M432, roll 703

1. Christian was one of seven brothers who immigrated to this country from Germany, through Holland, in 1817 and settled in York County.
2. The HOOVER family came from southern Pennsylvania and moved northward.
3. Christian was born in 1826.
4. Christian was the son of one of the seven brothers.
5. Christian cleared his land of trees and built a log house and barn along the road from Karthaus to Driftwood.
6. Christian was a self-taught veterinarian, horse breeder, and trader.
7. Christian and his first wife, Caroline Kinnard, had 4 sons: Reuben, Samuel, Simon, and George.
8. Christian and his second wife, Mary Conaway, had 1 daughter: Edith.

I was able to verify points #7 and #8 through my research in census reports, vital records and the estate records of both Caroline (KINNARD) Hoover and Christian HOOVER.

I have a picture of a house that I’m told belonged to Christian Hoover and deeds of sale for property in Covington township, Clearfield county, Pennsylvania after Christian’s death in 1888. The property is referred to as the “Dodge lands” from warrant 5404, but that’s the best I can identify/locate the property.

The closest I’ve come to locating parents for Christian was when I found a census record for 1850 for the Philip HOOVER household in Plum Creek township, Armstrong county, Pennsylvania.[1] The family is listed as follows:

• Philip Hoover, 48, M, Farmer, 1500
• Hannah, 48, F
• Christopher, 25, M, Farmer
• Mary Anne, 23, F
• John T, 21, M, Farmer
• Margaret, 19, F
• Barbara, 17, F
• Wm, 15, M, Farmer
• Jacob, 13, M
• Ralston, 11, M
• Sarah, 8, F
• Samuel M., 5, M

Philip’s son Christopher is the correct age to be my Christian. The death certificate of Simon Hoover, son of my Christian Hoover, lists Christian’s birth place as Armstrong county. Additionally, Christian’s wife Caroline (Kinnard) Hoover was the daughter of Thomas and Maria (Fisher) Kinnard of Armstrong county.[2]  So, I have circumstantial evidence that Christian is the son of Philip and Hannah, but no real proof—no baptism or marriage record, no mention of siblings or parents in any of the information on Christian.

To further frustrate me, in the late 1870s Philip sold his property in Armstrong county and moved west with his son Jacob to Kansas where he died and was buried in 1882. The likelihood of his having left estate papers naming Pennsylvania heirs is slim. Jacob, meanwhile, continued his westward migration until the family finally settled in Aberdeen, Grays Harbor, Washington. Jacob married Julia Ann Rupert, I believe daughter of Isaac/Israel Rupert and Christina (___).

I know little on the other children of Philip and Hannah (Thomas) Hoover. Mary Ann may have married a Fisher and died in Kansas. William may have been in the 62nd Regiment, Company C during the Civil War with his brother Ralston, who died on 18 Jun 1862 at the Baltimore Cross Road s in Virginia.[3]

However, if Christian is the son of Philip and Hannah (Thomas) Hoover, then points #1, #2, and #4 are not quite correct. I was far luckier in researching Philip than I have been with Christian. There is a manuscript at the Pennsylvania State Library by Luella Schaumberg Hoover entitled “Some Descendants of Andrew Hoover.” Her research was invaluable to fleshing out Philip’s ancestry.

Philip’s grandfather (George) and great-grandfather (Andrew) immigrated to the United States in 1754 along with the rest of the Andrew’s family. They first settled near Leitersburg, Frederick county (now Washington county), Maryland. Then about 1769 moved to Fayette county, Pennsylvania.[4]

So, yes they came to Clearfield county from the south, but not from York county.[5] They came to this country some 63 years before the family’s estimate and Christian was most likely not the son, but the great-grandson and great-great-grandson of the immigrants.

Footnotes:

1. Philip Hoover household, 1850 U.S. census, Plum Creek township, Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, Family 107; National Archives administration micropublication M432, Roll 749.
2. Letters of Administration – Caroline Hoover Estate, Will Book, Clearfield county, Pennsylvania, Volume C, Page 123, George M. Ferguson, Pennsylvania State Archives, Microfilm Roll 7352.
3. Smith, Robert Walker, History of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: Waterman, Watkins & Co., 1883), page 69.
4. Hoover, Luella Schuamberg, “Some Descendants of Andrew Hoover,” unpublished manuscript, Pennsylvania State Library, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
5. It is possible that there is confusion with the ancestors of President Hoover who are associated with Lancaster and York counties in Pennsylvania and Frederic county, Maryland. I’ll be writing more about this as there were TWO Andrew Hoovers of about the same age in Frederic county at approximately the same time. There is a great deal of confusion between the two! In fact, their origins in Germany have even been mixed up.

I was going through some papers—looking for something completely unrelated, of course—and came across some letters from my great-aunt Bonnie (Isabella Bonnington Hocker Ruder) to my grandfather and grandmother. In the letters she refers to our Smith relations and some of the problems we’ve had trying to figure out what happened to them. I thought I’d share the contents of some of them and what I’ve learned about my Smiths.

October 29th

Dear Bill and Ruth,

Searched for this all day yesterday, Aunt Bess [Elizabeth Marion (Smith) Lutz] had just a few papers, and I have just a few. Grandma Cochran’s [Elizabeth "Eliza" Craig (Bonnington) Smith Cochran] wedding license, a letter to uncle Lew asking the whereabouts of Willies [William "Willie" Smith Jr.] family, good thing you said you thought it was silver paper, address in mother’s writing no date for Willie:

Mr. John Norwood

70 Rue Massacre

Méaulte, Somme, France

Went under name of John Norwood since 1915. Spoils your dog tag theory. Also found a grave receipt for Paxtang Cemetery #23 in Range A in Hillside Lawn dated Feb. 26th 1905. Back marked Wm. Smith lot and receipt in Grandma’s name.

I had always been told he was buried in a lot given by someone. Now I’m wondering if Jim could have been buried in Paxtang. I always thought it was funny they would have to have a lot given to them, they weren’t poor.

I know Aunt Bess tore up a lot of papers. I’m sorry I couldn’t stop her.

Peter Bonnington

6 Belfield Ave.

Musselburgh

Scotland

Last address 1940, Grandma’s brother [Peter Bonnington Jr.]. Just found a picture of French children on name Jacqueline other name cut off.

Hope this is what you are looking for.

Love,

Bonnie

The story I always heard was that William “Willie” Smith Jr., born 28 Mar 1892,  enlisted in the army during World War I under the assumed name of John Norwood. He allegedly left a wife and child at home in Pennsylvania, but married a French woman after the war and remained in France. Nothing was said about a divorce prior to his second marriage, but it might just have been one of those things that was not discussed.

This next letter discusses Willie’s brother James (Jim):

Dear Bill and Ruth,

Decided to take a day off from fixing up and got Grandma’s papers out. Sending a copy of cemetery deed for one grave lot. Now maybe Jim’s lot is the one next because A. Bess always said someone gave them a lot, but Grandma must have paid for this one.

As for Jim, Rev. Roddy, Olivet minister [?] him, in fact he always went after him when he went off. He married a girl, had a son James, never lived with her. Amelia was her name. He claimed the child wasn’t his but A. Bess said it was the spitting image. So some where we have a Smith cousin in U.S.A and at least 2 in France. Great world.

Bonnie

So, apparently these Smith relatives were nothing to write home about, but I’d like to find out more information about them if possible. Here’s what I know:

WILLIAM¹ SMITH Sr. was born 25 Sep 1851 in Greenburn, Whitburn district, Linlithgowshire, Scotland, son of James Smith and Isabella Aitken[1,2]. He died 23 Feb 1905 of pneumonia at his home on 1314 Howard Street, Harrisburg, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania.[3] He was buried 26 Feb 1905 in Harrisburg cemetery, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania according to his death certificate, but in Paxtang cemetery according to family. The mystery surrounding the grave site concerns William. To this date we’re not sure where he’s buried; family word-of-mouth says it’s at Paxtang cemetery, but not with the rest of the family because a cemetery lot had to be given to the family by a family friend when he died.

William was a ship’s engineer on the English ship Lady if Khirs. He was discharged from his ship on the 22nd of January 1882 after a voyage to Calcutta. He filed a declaration of intent to become a U.S. citizen in Berks county on 20 Sep 1886. He became a U.S. citizen on 12 Jan 1893 in Harrisburg, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania.[4] He owned and operated a ice factory on Howard street. The family lived at 1347 Zarker Street in 1910, likely behind the icehouse.

He married Elizabeth “Eliza” Craig Bonnington on 12 Dec 1882 in The Manse, Uphall Parish, Linlithgowshire, Scotland.[5] Elizabeth was born 2 Oct 1866 in Colinton, Edinburgh, Scotland, daughter of Peter Purvis Bonnington and Elizabeth Buchanan.[6] She died 18 Oct 1946 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and was buried after 19 Oct 1946 in Paxtang cemetery.[7]

William and Elizabeth had the following children in Scotland and the U.S.:

1. ELIZABETH² “LIZZIE” SMITH was born 17 Jun 1884 and died  17 Jun 1884, age 8 hours, of Atalectasis Pulmonium in Straiton, Liberton Parish, Lasswade, Edinburgh, Scotland.[8]
2. JAMES SMITH was born 22 Jun 1785 in Straiton, Liberton Parish, Edinburgh, Scotland.[9] He may have died in 1905 and been buried in Paxtang Cemetery, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. James allegedly married a woman named Amelia (___) and fathered her son James, but he never lived with them.
3. ELIZABETH MARIAN SMITH was born 31 Oct 1887 at No. 3, Straiton, Liberton Parish, Edinburgh, Scotland.[10] She died 3 Jan 1973 in Willow Grove, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. She married FRANK LUTZ 7 May 1917 in Elkton, Maryland.
4. WILLIAM M. SMITH Jr. was born 4:45 p.m. 28 Mar 1892 in Harrisburg, Dauphin county Pennsylvania.[11] He allegedly married twice, once in Pennsylvania, fathering at least one child, then again under the name John Norwood in France, possibly fathering a daughter named Jacqueline and additional children. He most likely died in France.
5. ISABELLA AIKEN SMITH was born 11 p.m. 4 Apr 1893 in Harrisburg, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania.[12] She died 21 Jul 1962 in Harrisburg.[13] She married William Howard Hocker 13 Oct 1914 in Harrisburg.[14]
6. ROBERT THOMAS ALEXANDER SMITH was born 7:20 p.m. on 7 Apr 1899 at Harrisburg.[15] He died 12 Nov 1970 in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania and was buried in Paxtang Cemetery in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.[16]

Footnotes:

1. William H. Hocker and Isabella A. Smith, Application for Marriage, Dauphin County Marriage Book F: Page 153, Dauphin County Clerk of the Orphans Court, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
2. William Smith and Elizabeth Bonnington marriage extract, Register of Marriages, Parish of Uphall, County of Linlithgow; General Register Office, New Register House, Edinburgh, 28 Aug 2001.
3. “Registration of Death – William Smith,” 22 May 1905, Harrisburg, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, Book H, Number 790, Collection of Kristen Hocker.
4. William Smith entry, Dauphin County Citizens Register Book, 1891-96, Volume 7: Page 202.
5. William Smith and Elizabeth Bonnington marriage extract, Register of Marriages.
6. Eliza Craig Bonnington, birth certificate no. 81 (1866), General Records Office, New Register House, Edinburgh, Scotland; extracted 28 Aug 2001, extract no. 236828.
7. Elizabeth Cochrane, death certificate, no. 90063 (1946), Pennsylvania Department of Health, Vital Statistics, New Castle.
8. Elizabeth Smith, death certificate no. 48 (1884) General Records Office, New Register House, Edinburgh, Scotland, extracted 6 Sep 2001, estract no. 62233.
9. James Smith, birth registration, no. 89 (1885), General Records Office, New Register House, Edinburgh, Scotland, extract no. 259559.
10. Elizabeth Marian Smith, birth registration, no. 195 (1887), General Records Office, New Register House, Edinburgh, Scotland, extracted 9 Aug 2002, extract no.259560.
11. Smith family bible record.
12. Smith family bible record.
13. Isabella A. Hocker, Death Certicifate File number 065720-62 (1962), Pennsylvania Department of Health, Vital Statistics, New Castle.
14. William H. Hocker and Isabella A. Smith, Application for Marriage, Dauphin County Marriage Book F: Page 153, Dauphin County Clerk of the Orphans Court, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
15. Smith family bible record.
16. Robert T. Smith, obituary, The Philadelphia Inquirer, 14 Nov 1970, page 12.