Thatcher Hiatt 1800-After 1840 (110000)

Grayson County, Virginia

Thatcher Hiatt was born about 1800 in Grayson County, Virginia. Thatcher was living next door to William Hiatt in the 1820 Census in Fleming Kentucky, which strongly suggests that this is his father. The fact that Phoebe Thatcher was William's mother, makes this even more likely, since Thatcher was likely named after his grandmother's family.

1820 Census, showing Thatcher next door to his father, William Hiatt.

The Census data (from the 1820 through 1840 census) gives us a narrow range for Thatcher's birth date, 1800-1804. The fact that Thatcher married and had a son in 1821 makes it likely that he was born in the earlier part of this range, making him closer to 20 than to 16 when he had his first child. When we look at his birth family, we can see that he had a brother born in 1798 and a sister born in 1803. This makes it likely that he was born sometime in 1800 or 1801.

Thatcher Hiatt was probably born in
Grayson County, Virginia where his family
lived until about 1808.

Thatcher did not live to be enumerated in the 1850 Federal Census when place of birth were declared for the first time; however, Allen Hiatt (b. abt 1797), Thatcher's brother, states in the 1850 Census that he was born in Virginia. Since their parents were living in Virginia as early as 1797, where they had moved from North Carolina, then it is probable that Thatcher was born in Virginia as well. Another piece of evidence for Thatcher's place of birth was the marriage record of one of Thatcher's daughters by his second wife, Jemima (Johnson) Hiatt. This daughter, Margaret W. Hiatt, married William L. Royse in Mason County KY on 23 Feb 1865, and in their marriage record it says that her father was born in Virginia.

In 1808, Thatcher's family moved from Virginia to Ohio, where they could buy land at a much lower rate. Most of the Quakers in Grayson County, Virginia at this time migrated to Ohio for the inexpensive land available there. By vastly expanding their land holdings, it would enable them to ensure that future generations would be able to stay within the community and still support themselves. The Hiatt family in Virginia were still mostly Quakers in the early 1800s, and they migrated with this large Quaker group into Highland County, Ohio.

Thatcher Hiatt married Esther Hunt Green Markwell
in Fleming County, and can be found there for the
1820 and 1830 Census. They probably lived near
the Licking River on the western border of the county.

Thatcher's family did not stay long with the Ohio group. Within a decade they had moved south into Kentucky. Three of Thatcher's siblings married while they lived in Campbell County, Kentucky, just across the border from Ohio. By 1820, the family had relocated again to Fleming County, Kentucky. This is where Thatcher met his first wife.

Thatcher Hiatt's first wife, Esther Hunt, had been widowed twice before. She had been married to John Green (with whom she had a daughter Amelia), and Landy Markwell (with whom she had son Landy, and a second son who died as a young child) before she married Thatcher. She was at least thirteen years his senior, and had three children, but Thatcher must have looked past all of that. Thatcher and Esther Hunt Green Markwell were married the 11th of August in 1820:

Marriage Records of Fleming County, Kentucky 1798-1851

Name: Thatcher Hiatt

Spouse: Esther Markwell

Marriage Date: 11 Aug 1820

1820 United States Federal Census

Name:	Thatcher Hiatt
Home in 1820 (City, County, State):	Fleming, Kentucky
Enumeration Date:	August 7, 1820
Free White Persons - Males - Under 10:	2
Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25:	1
Free White Persons - Females - Under 10:	1
Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25:	1
Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44:	1
Number of Persons - Engaged in Manufactures:	1
Free White Persons - Under 16:	3
Free White Persons - Over 25:	1
Total Free White Persons:	6
Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other:	6

The children enumerated in Thatcher's household for the 1820 census were the daughter that Esther had by John Green, and two sons that she had with Landy Markwell. Given that their marriage took place four days after this census, Thatcher and Esther must have been living together before the marriage. As is often the case, even in this day when living together before marriage is the accepted norm, this did not bode well for the stability of the marriage. People who are rash at the beginning of a relationship, are generally so throughout the relationship.

Thatcher and Esther had only two children together:

1) William Thatcher Hyatt b. 11 May 1821 Fleming, KY; d. 18 Mar 1885 Rowan, KY; m. Louvina Jane Hedges

2) Josiah A. Hyatt b. 1824 Fleming, KY; m. Charlotte Gregory

They can be found in Fleming County Kentucky for the 1830 Federal Census.

1830 United States Federal Census

Name:	Thatcher Hyatt
Home in 1830 (City, County, State):	Eastern Division, Fleming, Kentucky
Free White Persons - Males - 5 thru 9:	2
Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 14:	2
Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29:	1
Free White Persons - Females - 15 thru 19:	1
Free White Persons - Females - 40 thru 49:	1
Free White Persons - Under 20:	5
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49:	2
Total Free White Persons:	7
Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored):	7

1830 Census showing Thatcher Hyatt living next door to James Hawkins. James' great-granddaughter
would later marry Thatcher's grandson.

Family tradition says that Thatcher Hiatt left Esther and the children behind when he went to Gallia County Ohio on business, but as a farmer it is hard to imagine what business he may have had so far from home. We know that there were some extended Hiatt family in Ohio, that he may have been visiting. We also know that he never returned home.

Thatcher filed for divorced from Esther while living in Ohio sometime between 1830 and 1835. He married Jemima Jonston the 28th day of April 1836, in Gallia County, Ohio.

By the 1840 Federal Census Thatcher can be found in Gallia County OH with his new family.

Thatcher Hiatt in 1840 Census, Gallia County, OH

By the 1850 Federal Census Thatcher was gone. He left behind his second wife, Jemima Johnson Hiatt, and 5 young children. "Gemina Hiatt" (aged 35, born in VA) can be found in that census as head of household, with their children, living in Mason County, Kentucky. Children listed are:

Hester age 14 b. OH

Stephen age 11 B. OH

Elizabeth age 10 B. OH

Margaret age 7 b. OH

Sarah/Sally age 3 b. OH

That they named their first child Hester is suggestive. It was common practice in the 1800s to name a child in honor of a deceased spouse. Hester is a variation of the name Esther. It is likely that Thatcher had told Jemima that his first wife had died, and she suggested honoring this "deceased" wife in the traditional manner. She may have had no way of knowing that Thatcher's first wife was still living at the time, and raising Thatcher's two sons by herself. However, Thatcher would have known the truth.

Thatcher's death date and place of burial are unknown, though it can be assumed that he probably died no earlier than 1846 given that he had a daughter born the following year. The fact that Jemima was living in Mason County, Kentucky in 1850 also suggests that he may have relocated his family shortly after Sally was born about 1847. One can only wonder if Jemima ever discovered the truth about Thatcher's first marriage, and the two sons he had by Esther.

Michael Bock 1757-1838 (1111000)

Patuxent River State Park in Frederick County, Maryland near where Michael Bock was born.

In the year 1833, at seventy six years of age, Michael Bock petitioned for a pension for his service in the Revolutionary War [Pension #S6679]. In his deposition, he says that he was born in the year 1757 near "Frederick Town in the state of Maryland." In 1769, at twelve years of age, "he removed with his father to the Monongalia river in the state of Virginia [now Fayette County, Pennsylvania], where he continued to reside until the close of the Revolutionary War." In a second deposition, he claims that he was "a native of Maryland -- removed to Pennsylvania when 12 years old with his father who settled west of the mountains on Ginger Creek in Fayette Cty [County]. He lived there until within the last 24 yrs."

The "Monongalia" or Monongahela River is a large river that runs from the mountains of West Virginia at its source, traveling northward across the border between West Virginia and Pennsylvania, then flows northward through Pennsylvania until it joins the Ohio River near Pittsburg. The border between West Virginia (which was then still part of Virginia) and Pennsylvania is the famous Mason-Dixon line. John Bock and his family probably lived very near both the Monongahela River and the Mason-Dixon line. We know that they were enumerated in tax and census records in Fayette County, Pennsylvania until about 1805, when they relocated to Harrison County, (West) Virginia. 

Monongahela River in West Virginia near which Michael Bock lived.

The Bock family moved from Fayette County PA
to Harrison County WV about 1805.

MICHAEL BOCK

HARRISON COUNTY

PRIVATE

VIRGINIA CONT'L

$66.66 ANNUAL ALLOWANCE

$199.98 AMOUNT RECEIVED

MAY 22, 1833 PENSION STARTED

AGE 77

Pasted from <http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/pensions/vapen_b.txt>

Michael's pension application was, at first, successful. He was given a pension of $66 per year for two years, but in 1835 the pension was suspended. Included in his pension files is a letter concerning several pensioners in Marion County that says "upon a mature examination of their respective claims, their names have been, by order of the Department, stricken from the rolls as not entitled to pension under the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832." This is followed by a list which includes the name of Michael Bock. There is no further evidence in his file to show why this was the case.

In 1860 Michael's son, John Bock, came forward in the capacity of the administrator of his father's estate, to claim any pension that might be remaining. Included in the file is a letter of administration for John Bock, that shows he was in charge of settling his father's estate. In his deposition, he gives a great deal of information on the family, including the date of his father's death and the names of all John's siblings, including two daughters who had died.

He says, "Michael Bock died on the 25th day of March in the year 1838 in that portion of the county of Harrison now merged within the bounds of the county of Marion, leaving no widow and without making a will, but left the following named children and heirs at law, to wit: this applicant [John Bock], Michael Bock, Nicholas Bock, David Bock, Solomon Bock, Abigail Sharer (Shaver?), Margaret Ensminger, Sarah Bock, Hannah Barker wife of John Barker, Catherine Sharer (Shaver?) who has since died leaving three children, viz: Michael, Sarah and Margaret Sharer (Shaver?), that said Michael Bock also had one other daughter, Elizabeth who intermarried with Jacob Wolf, and died before the said Michael, having the following married children viz: Margaret, Ann, Susanna and Sarah Wolf."

In his deposition, John Bock asks that the file of Michael's revolutionary war service be re-examined. He believed that it should have been reinstated, given that his service had been proven by the "evidence of Peter Haught." It is uncertain exactly how Peter Haught was connected with the family, but we do know that there were two Haughts (John and Jacob) who married two of Michael's sisters-in-law. It therefore seems likely that Michael had served beside Peter Haught in the war. The testimony of Peter Haught is not found in the file as it exist today; however, the pension file for Peter Haught gives many particulars which help to explain why the pension was suspended.

Peter Haught, and others from the county who served together and applied for pension at the same time, were all involved in the suspension of pension payments. There is a letter in the pension file of Peter Haught [Pension #S6981] that explains what happened:

On June 8 1857, J. V. Boughner wrote, "[Peter] Haught, [Zachariah] Piles, and [George] Wade, were pensioned, through an agent named John Brookover, assisted by a Mr Wilson or some other attorney in Morgantown. The parties refused to pay Brookover an exhorbitant fee he demanded. Brookover took offence, visited Clarksburgh and informed W. G. Singleton, Esqr U. S. dist. attorney that the pensions were fraudulently obtained. Brookover was a cunning and unprincipled man, but very ignorant." Singleton then sent the letter to the pension commissioners that caused the pension to be suspended, he also filed a law suit against the men to force them to pay back the money they had received. This law suit was never fully prosecuted, though it was kept as an open case until 1852, when Singleton withdrew his charges.

In another letter from J. V. Boughner, dated 12 July 1858, it said that Peter Haught's heirs had been granted the arrears payment of the pension. Haught, Piles and Wade's heirs were all granted the pension payments, which makes it likely that Michael Bock's heirs were granted his pension as well.

Michael Bock married Margaret Crouser/Crowser before 1781 in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. They had the following children:

1) Michael Bock b. abt 1782 Fayette County, PA

2) Nicholas Bock b. abt. 1790 Fayette County, PA

3) Sarah Bock b. abt 1791 Fayette County, PA

4) David Bock b. abt 1793 Fayette County, PA

5) Hannah Bock b. abt 1799 Fayette County, PA

6) John Bock b. abt 1801 Fayette County, PA

7) Solomon Bock b. abt 1802 Fayette County, PA
8) Margaret Bock b. abt 1815 Harrison County, (W)VA

Michael and his family can be found in Fayette County Pennsylvania for the 1790 and 1800 Census:

1790 Census Springhill Township, Fayette, PA

Michael Pawk 1 m over 16, 2 m under 16, 7 females

There is also a Nicholas Pawk 1 m over 16, 1 female

1800 Census Springhill Township, Fayette, PA

Michael Pock 3 m under 10, 2 m 10-15, 1 m 16-25, 1 m 45 and over, 3 f under 10, 2 f 10-15, 2 f 16-25, 1 f 26-44

Springhill Township in Fayette County, Pennsylvania borders on West Virginia:

PAGenWeb - Fayette County - Township Maps

http://usgwarchives.org/maps/pa/county/fayett/usgs/

Screen clipping taken: 7/25/2012 11:49 AM

They had relocated to Harrison County, Virginia before the 1810 Federal Census, where they can be found through the 1830 Federal Census:

1810 Census Not Stated District, Harrison County, VA p. 47

Michael Pock 1 m under 10, 1 m 10-15, 3 m 16-25, 1 m 26-44, 2 m 45 and over, 1 f 10-15, 3 f 16-25, 1 f 45 and over

1820 Census Not Stated District, Harrison, VA

Michael Pock 1 m under 10, 2 m 10-15, 1 m 16-18, 2 m 16-25, 1 f under 10, 1 f 10-15

There are Nicholas, Michael, George, and David Pock nearby.

1830 Census Western District, Harrison, VA

Bock, Michael Sr. 1 m 10-15, 1 m 70-80, 2 f 30-40

There are Michael Jr., David, Solomon, John and Nicholas nearby.

It is unclear why the family name had undergone a transformation from Bock (while they lived in Maryland, and on the Passenger List from when they immigrated to America), then to Pock (while in PA and for a short while after they relocated to Harrison County), then back to Bock. It is possible that Michael's accent made it sound like Pock, instead of Bock, since this spelling error was made consistently over several decades, and by clerks in different states. Since the entire family made the transition together while they were still living as near neighbors, it is clear that this is the same family.

Michael's death date (25 Mar 1838), as stated before, comes from John Bock's testimony in the pension files. The part of Harrison County in which the family resided became Marion County in 1842. It is uncertain where he is buried.

Jonathan David Fortney 1820-1885 (111000)

Fortney's Mill, Preston County, West Virginia in about 1960.
It was located on Three Fork Creek, near the Tygart River.

Jonathan David Fortney, son of Peter & Doshia (Turner?) Fortney, was born 1 January 1820 near Shinnston, Harrison County, (now West) Virginia. This birth date comes from Family Search, and has yet to be confirmed. We know from census data that he was born about 1820. Since his family lived in Preston County, (West) Virginia, for the 1820 Census, it is likely that this was where he was born.

 

The falls near Fortney's Mill on Three Forks Creek. This
was part of the original Fortney property.

Jonathan married Nancy Jane Menear about 1841 in Preston County, (West) Virginia. No marriage record has been found for the couple, but Jonathan is mentioned in the book A History of Preston County, West Virginia by Oren Frederic Morton (1914) as a son of Peter Jr, and as being married to Nancy Menear, daughter of John Menear and Catherine Fortney. Catherine Fortney was the sister of Peter Fortney Jr., so Jonathan's aunt. This means that Jonathan married his first cousin. There are no marriage records extant for Preston County, where they were living, and undoubtedly where they were married, so such a record will probably never be found.

I have searched the West Virginia Vital Records site for marriage and death records for all of the children, in hopes that one might give the mother's maiden name. For most, I have found marriage records, and for some death records, none of these had the mother's maiden name listed. This makes it difficult to confirm the information given in the Preston County history. Given how early the book was written, it is probable that Morton would have interviewed family members who were still alive at the time the book was written. At least two sons lived until 1920. this makes it likely that the information in the book may be correct, and may be a reliable source of information about the family.

1850 United States Federal Census

Name:	Jonathan W Fortney
Age:	29
Birth Year:	abt 1821
Birthplace:	Virginia
Home in 1850:	District 45, Preston, Virginia
Gender:	Male
Family Number:	458
Household Members:	Name Age Jonathan W Fortney 29 Nancy Fortney 27 Julia Fortney 6 John W Fortney 5 Simon P Fortney 5 Victoria Fortney 4 Lewis Fortney 2

This map shows the general location of Fortney's Mill, on Three Fork Creek in Preston County, West Virginia. The site is  now used as a public park and is a popular place for swimming and picnicking.

In the 1850 Federal Census, Jonathan "W" Fortney is living in District 45, Preston County, West Virginia in household and family number 458. He is 29 years old, with an occupation of Blacksmith. He is listed as born in Virginia. Living with him are his wife Nancy 27, and children--Julia 6, John W. 5, Simon P. 5, Victoria 4, Lewis 2.

Fortney's Mill Park

1860 United States Federal Census

Name:	Jonathan Fortney
Age in 1860:	40
Birth Year:	abt 1820
Birthplace:	Virginia
Home in 1860:	District 7, Preston, Virginia
Gender:	Male
Post Office:	Independence
Household Members:	Name Age Jonathan Fortney 40 Nancy J Fortney 37 Julia Fortney 17 Simon P Fortney 16 John W Fortney 16 Elizabeth V Fortney 13 Elzey L Fortney 12 Phebe Fortney 5 David C Fortney 3 Dona D Fortney 1

In the 1860 Federal Census, Jonathan Fortney is living in District 7, Preston County, West Virginia. The post office is Independence. He is 40 years old, with an occupation of Gunsmith. He has 5,000 dollars worth of real estate, and 200 dollars worth of personal estate.

In the 1850 Census, Jonathan was listed as being a Blacksmith. By the 1860 Census he was listed as a Gunsmith, so he had upgraded his skills in time for the Civil War when business for a gunsmith would have been booming. Gunsmithing was a proud tradition in the Fortney family for at least four generations before Jonathan.

This musket was created by Johan Melchior Fortineaux in about 1750. Note the lovely details in this piece. Gunsmithing skills were taught in the family over at least four generations. Jonathan was keeping with family tradition.

Jonathan served in the Home Guard in Preston County, as Captain:

West Virginia Militia Database Item Details: Record Id: 19488

County: Preston

Unit: Home Guard attchd to 173 Mil

Name: Jonathan Fortney

Rank: Capt.

Company: Wm H Moore Co.

The home guard had the task of patrolling the county borders, and protecting its citizens from encroaching enemy raiders and troops. As a Captain, Jonathan would be responsible for training his men, and setting up a schedule of patrols in the  area which they had been ordered to protect.

In 1866, "J. D. Fortney" appeared in the tax list as living near the city of Independence and working as a "manufacturer." I suspect that he was making guns and tools with his smithing skills.

1870 United States Federal Census

about Jouatha Fortney

Name:	Jouatha Fortney [Jonathan Fortney]
Age in 1870:	50
Birth Year:	abt 1820
Birthplace:	Virginia
Home in 1870:	Lyon, Preston, West Virginia
Race:	White
Gender:	Male
Post Office:	Rowlesburg
Household Members:	Name Age Jonathan Fortney 50 Nancy Fortney 48 Julia Fortney 36 Ellery L Fortney 21 David Fortney 14 Phoebe Fortney 15 Dona Fortney 11 Benjam Fortney 8 Charles Fortney 6

In the 1870 Federal Census, he was living in Lyon, Preston County West Virginia. The post office is given as Rowlesburg, house number 425 and family visited number is the same. Jonathan Fortney is listed as 50 years old, with occupation as Gunsmith & Miller (this last is difficult to read, but can also be seen in listings for his son's occupations). He has 2800 dollars worth of real estate, and 150 dollars worth of personal property.

1880 United States Federal Census

Name:	J. D. Fortney
Age:	59
Birth Year:	abt 1821
Birthplace:	Virginia
Home in 1880:	Lyon, Preston, West Virginia
Race:	White
Gender:	Male
Relation to Head of House:	Self (Head)
Marital Status:	Married
Spouse's Name:	Nancy J. Fortney
Father's Birthplace:	Maryland
Mother's Birthplace:	Maryland
Occupation:	Miller
Household Members:	Name Age J. D. Fortney 59 Nancy J. Fortney 57 David Fortney 22 Benj. Fortney 18 Charles Fortney 14

In the 1880 Federal Census, J. D. Fortney was listed as in the 304 household and 313 family visited. He was living in Lyon, Preston County, West Virginia. He was 59 years old, and had settled into a peaceful full time occupation of "Miller," though he undoubtedly still used his smithing skills as needed. He shares with the enumerator that he was born in Virginia, and both parents were born in Maryland.

The Fortineux Family book has him as number 1-3-7-5-2 Jonathan David, and has his occupation listed as Miller, Gunsmith, Mechanic. The occupations Miller and Gunsmith are given in the census records. The land on which Jonathan lived later became a public park called "Fortney's Mill." The mill was still standing after the property had become a park, but in the 1960s it was deemed a public hazard and so was burned down. This was because the wood in the building was beginning to rot, and visitors might fall through the collapsing edifice, which was already well over a hundred years old.

His parents are named in his death record, which also gives his death date 4 Jul 1885 at age 74 (if this were correct, he would have been born about 1811), and his wife, Nancy, is also named. His death record also says that his occupation was Miller, and he died of an "Abscess in Stomach." Family tradition says that he was struck in the stomach by a plow while working in the field, which may have caused the abscess. It is unknown where he is buried, though it is likely that it was on the family property somewhere.

Fortney-Fortineaux Family Tree

Gilley Family Tree

Sumerow-Summerauer Family Tree

Hyatt-Hiatt Family Tree