John and Marretje (Burhans) Sperling of Kingston

I have no indication that John Sperling who married Marretje Burhans is related to the Sparlings of NY/NJ whom I have been researching, but I have no indication that he is not either. Nevertheless, I've collected records from this marriage and thought they might be useful to someone.

1. Kingston Dutch Reformed Church, list of marriages from 1660-1809.
1777 07 Sep; John SPERLING, jm, born N.J.; Marretje Burhans, jd, both liv Kingston.

2. Catskill Reformed Dutch Church, Greene Co., NY, Baptisms 1732-1833.
1793 Feb 10; parents: Jan SPERLINGH, Marritje SPERLINGH; child: Wiljem

3. New York City Wills, 1777-1783, p167.

"In the name of God, Amen. I, Wilhelmus Burhans, of Saugerties, Ulster County, carpenter. I leave to my eldest son, Barnet, all my carpenter tools. I leave to my three sons, Barnet, Jerrick, and John, each 20. And whereas my real estate is part of the estate of my father, Barnet Burhans, late of Saugerties, and also part of the other estate of my said father situate at Braband [Kingston], and being yet undivided. I give all my part of the same to my said three sons and my daughters, Margaret Brink and Maretie SPERLING. And I order them to have the said estate divided as soon as possible. And my said children shall, immediately after the division, pay to my loving wife, their mother, Hilletie, 50 per annum, each of them, during her life. But if she marries, the payment is to cease. I leave to my daughter, Margaretta Brink, my Great Bible. To my daughter, Maretta SPERLING, my Psalm Book. I make Henry Schoonmaker, John Brink, and Christopher Kierstede, executors, all of Saugerties." April 28, 1778, proved June 7, 1780

4. Burhans Genealogy by Samuel Burhans p30.

Maritje, bp 5 Jul 1755, m 7 Sep 1777 at Kingston, John SPARLING. Maritje Burhans joined Catskill church 13 Nov 1807 as widow of late John SPERLING on Confession of Faith.

5. Burhans Genealogy by Samuel Burhans p31.

children of Maritje Burhans and John SPARLING:
.Janneke bp Saugerties 6 Nov 1777 d. unmarried
.Saartje bp 18 Feb 1781 m 9 Sep 1799 Catskill, William Osborn. She afterwards married John Rightmeyer and moved to Leeds. Is said to have several children by second husband.
.Mary bp Saugerties 12 Jan 1783
.Maria bp Saugerties 3 May 1784
.Andrew bp 24 Oct 1786
.John b. 1782 d. 1876 m. Ann Terwilliger
.Elizabeth (Betsy) b. at Leeds 7 Feb 1794 m. 4 Jan 1816 at Catskill, Aaron Henry Vedder...
.William bp 10 Feb 1793
.Gitty b. unk m. Jacob Souser, son of Petrus Souser and Maria bp 2 June 1782?

Afterthoughts about the Six Mile Run Baptismal Record of 1750

I really shouldn't try to analyze these records when I'm lacking sleep. Taking a look at what I wrote in my last post, none of it seems plausible. The easier solution is that the baptismal record for Six Mile Run refers to Jan Sperling, a son of Jan Michiel Sperlingh, perhaps even a junior, and his wife, a Geertje, to be sure, but not Geertje Pieters (Pouluse).

Records indicate there was, indeed, a Jan Sperling in the area at the appropriate time. I posted some of those earlier, here and here. One piece of evidence I haven't presented is the quasi-census of Sparling head of households represented by the Middlesex County tax records. What is interesting about these is that one John is named as John, Jr, clearly implicating a John, Sr.

In addition to John, Jr., the tax lists name Daniel, Joseph, Charity, John, Peter, Abraham, Abraham Isaac and Jacob Sparling. I believe all these individuals are related, although not all siblings. Currently, I propose that Jan Michiel Sperlingh, the elder, had at least three sons, Daniel, Peter and John, Jr. As I proceed, I'll compare the records to that hypothesis and either preserve or reject it.

Sperling Baptism, Six Mile Run DRC, New Jersey, 1750

Much discussion surrounds the individual "Geertje," who married Jan Michiel Sperlingh, Dec 10, 1709 in Hackensack, NJ. The issue is her surname and/or patronymic. Suffice it to say, she is known by a variety of name forms, Geertje Pieters, as on her marriage record, or Geertje Pauluse Jacobs or she may be the individual, Geertje Pieters Hartje. It's a matter of not knowing which name her father signed on any particular record at the time Dutch names were in flux in the colonies in conjunction with uncertainty concerning Geertje's preference or need when identifying herself.

We do know, however, this individual when she is mentioned along with Jan Michiel Sperlingh as in this baptismal record I found a few days ago. What is interesting about this latest bit of information is that the suffix of the child's name suggests it was a girl, whereas, I previously only had records indicating the couple's two sons, Daniel and Peter.

This record is from the Somerset County Historical Quarterly, by Somerset Co. Historical Society (N.J.) Somerset Co, ed. Honeyman, A. Van Doren, Plainfield, NJ, 1919. It's taken from the list of baptisms for the Six Mile Run Church from 1743-1805, p.125.

1750, July 1, parents: Sperling, Jan and Geertje; child: ----rtje (?)

The only disturbing aspect of this record is the late date. If this is the same Geertje identified as the daughter of Pieter Pouluse and Treyntje Hans Jacobs, her baptismal is dated 1691 at Bergen, NJ, and that makes her age 59 at this child's baptism. Alternately, if we make a guess that she was between 15 and 18 (a typical marriage age for girls) when she married Jan Sperling in 1709, then she is again between age 56 and 59. It's also possible the child baptized in 1750 is not an infant.

This record is also helpful in verifying the identity of Jan Sperling as he was listed as a member of the Six Mile Run church during the time of John Frelinghuysen. Those lists and their source are provided in my post Forty Years at Raritan.

Forty Years at Raritan

In my post John Michael Sparling in NJ, I provided the following information,

"between 1720-1748. Head of family, Jan Sperling, joins the Reformed Dutch Church. Location: Six Mile Run, Somerset, NJ,"

then I promptly lost my citation and couldn't find the lists from which I took it. Two days and many hours later, I've identified the source. The lists are from a book: "Forty years at Raritan: eight memorial sermons with notes for a history of the Reformed Dutch Church in Somerset Co., NJ. By Abraham Messler, D.D., pastor of the Church of Raritan. New York, 1873."

The lists are a bit long, but invaluable, so I'll reproduce them here as I was only able to access this book through a subscription, although the book is long out of copyright.

"The following names embrace the heads of families in Six-Mile Run during the time of T.J. Frelinghuysen:
Koert Van Voorhees
Isaac Haenrooncot
J. Perrine
Cornelis Cornel
R. Merril
Peter Schenck
Gerret Veghten
Isaac Symonse
Hendrik Van Dyke
Jakobus Van Voorhees
Tobias Nevius
Aric Van Arsdalen
Jakobus Strycker
Cornelis Van Arsdalen
Abram Van Arsdalen
Jeremias Douty
Theodorus Montfort
Fredrik Van Lieuw
Jan Pijet
Jesse Van Arsdalen
Jochem Gulick
Elbert Stothoff
Cornelis Tunise
Johannes Stryker
Fredrik Ferdon
Jacobus Wyckoff
Abraham Vandoren
Benjamin Tailor
Christofel Van Arsdalen
Martynus Voorhees
Jan Van Voorhees
Nichlos Veghten
Daniel Van Vleet
Samuel Polen
Albert Schenk
Lucus Van Voorhees
Marten Polen
Johannis Vonk
John Van Arsdalen
Christ. Davidts
Nys Hagaman
Jan Fyne
Cor. Stothoff
E. Suydam
Johannes Bennet
Cornelis Wyckoff
Alexander Beert
Dirck Williamse
Jan Sutphin
Hendrik Schenk."

...

"In John Frelinghuysen's time the following additional names of families occur:
Joseph Folkerse
Benjamin Emans
Johannes Wytneght
Nicholas Boerum
Nicklas Willemse
Lamert Dorlandt
Johannes Pouelse
Gerret Veghten
Nicolas Jonsen
Peter Van Zandt
James Pruyn
Abraham Lott
Johannes Vonk
Bergun Broka
Martyies Hooglandt
Cornelius Van Houten
Peter Van Nest
Leffert Waldron
Johannes Van Pelt
Jan Sperling
Rem Gerretse
Jonitan Stout
Jan Vanderveer
Abraham Riemer
Jacobus Leek
Isaac Snediker
Hendrik Cortelyou
Peter Berrien
Peter Pomyea
Jan Harrison
William Van Tilburgh
Petrus Nevius
Jost Duryea
Jurias Van Cleef
Michal Van Buren
Alexander Beert
Abram Simonson
Jan Terhunen
Corns. De Hart
William Dannelsen
Abram Van Doren
Jacobus Vandervoort
Syme Kinne
Jokem Gulick
Corns. Van Hangelen
Joseph Brouwer
Isaac Snediker
Jonathan Provost
Peter Juricks
Ferdinandus Schureman
Johannes Groenendyke
Johannes Coevert.*"

...

"* We owe these lists to Ralph Voorhees, Esq., of Middlebush, whose extensive researches have brought olden things to light in various ways."

Anyone doing research in Somerset Co, or even anyone with ancestors during the colonial period of New York and New Jersey will recognize more than a couple of the surnames on this list. More than one, indeed, appears in conjunction with the name of Jan Sperling in the few documents I've already listed in my two NJ posts, specifically, Vleet, Hoogland, Stryker, Van Voorhees, Cornel, Lott, Gulick and De Hart.

Questions I'm currently addressing are these:

Of the generations of Jochem GULICKs, four that I know with respective birthdates of 1649, 1686, 1712 and 1757, which is assuredly the gentleman who served in the Revolutionary War?

One researcher designates that honor to Jochem GULICK, b. 1712, who married Carnelia VANDENBERG. Another researcher identifies a 5th Jochem GULICK, b. 1727; father, Johannes GULICK; mother, Rensie Van SICKLEN, as serving in the Rev. War. This Jochem married Rebecca EMANS, but of the two, appropriate Rebecca EMANS (one born 1710, the other 1729) that I found, neither married a Jochem GULICK.

If Jochem-1712 served, then he was rather elderly, at least in his 60s during the war. A date of birth, 1727, is more reasonable.

A related problem is to identify which of these Jochem GULICKs was served in New Brunswick with debtor's papers along with John SPARLING, Sep 14, 1773. What makes this a fairly interesting problem is that there are conflicting reports as to who married Catherine VAN CLEEF. One researcher states it was Jochem GULICK, another reports that it was John SPARLING, and they may both be right, depending on which generations are involved. Only accurate family group sheets of the three individuals will answer the question.

Perhaps you already know the answer or are fairly certain. If so, please leave me a comment or send me an email. Help is always warmly appreciated.

Surname: Roop

Variants are numerous: Roope, Rupp, Rupe, Ruppe, Roupe, Roup, Roper and others.

The name Roper is examined here - click link. The English version of Roper may be Norman, derived from Rupierre in Caen, Normandy or an occupational name, the man who made your ropes.

The Germanic forms (Dutch, if you prefer) may be derived from the personal name Ruprecht, famed/bright one--take your pick of glorious adjectives. Robert is the English version. I also found evidence that Rupp and variants may be a form of German Krupp and variants, where the K or C has been dropped.

The form Roop shows up in the Ancestry.com immigration records 24 times. Nineteen people named Roop had Germanic origins. Only two were English. In the 1920 census (also from Ancestry.com) the form Roop was best represented in the states of PA (12% of Roops), OH (12%), IN (6%) and VA (12%).

My own Roop ancestor, Jonathan, was born in Pennsylvania in 1819 and migrated to Missouri between 1856 and 1863. Playing odds with immigration and settlement patterns, my guess is that Jonathan Roop was of Germanic and not English descent. If I knew his wife's maiden name, it would help me identify an ethnic community, but I don't. All I have is Sarah.

That 1920 number of 12% of Roops in Virginia is not insignificant. While searching for information about Jonathan's past, I've run into a lot of records for Virginia Roops, although I don't believe at this time that there's any connection of my family with the Virginia branch (if a branch it even is).

As long as I'm discussing the Roops, let me put my information out there and see if anyone can help me. All I really have are two census records.

In 1870, Jno Roop is the head of household in Clay, Clark, Missouri.

Jno Roop b.1819, PA
Sarah Roop b.1820, PA
Phebe Roop b1849, PA
Sarah J Roop b1850, PA
Adam Roop b1852, PA
Jno Roop b1854, PA
William Roop b1856, PA
David A Roop b1863, MO
Owen Brown (laborer)

In 1880, Jno Roop is the head of household in Clay, Monroe, Missouri.

Jno Roop, head, b1819, PA
Sarah Roop, wife, b1821, PA
David A. Roop, son, b1865, MO
Jno. Shaw, grandson, b1867, MO
Mary E. Shaw, granddaughter, b1868, MO
Wm. F. Shaw*, son, paralyzed, b1857, PA
Adam Roop, son, b1853, PA
Jno Roop, son, b1854, PA

*Note:I can't explain why the son William takes the name of Shaw in the second census.

I've provided information on this family before in my post, Which Sarah Jane?, and I haven't made any progress since that time. I notice, sadly, that the dates aren't quite right for the Roop men to have participated in the Civil War, nor have I found where any of the younger ones registered for the WWI draft. That rules out a military lead. Neither can I find this Roop family in earlier census records (1850 or 1860) in Pennsylvania. I can find Roops there, specifically on wills, but with no evidence that I'm looking at the correct family. I've tried finding the sons as adults in Missouri; again no luck.

Lacking specific records, I've resorted to general patterns, like surname origin, which isn't yielding much either. :(

Additional Records; Sparling; NJ

Again, I've omitted most sources in an attempt to keep to a tidy list. My objective here is to try to discover the overall picture. Sources are available on request.

1715-1726. "List of county clerks before the Revolution": John M. Sperling. Location: probably Flatbush

1719. J.M. Sperling witnessed the legal papers of Phebe? Schelling? of East Hampton, Suffolk Co. Location: ? (This reference needs more research.)

Apr 19, 1737. John Michael Sparling and Peter Sparling witness a deed transfer between Richard Lvanne[?] and Henry Hoogland. Location: Middlesex...county of Somerset.

Feb 28, 1787. "Daniel Sparling appeared before Jeremiah Manning and testified that he was familiar with the handwriting of the two witnesses and that 'one was his Father and the other was his brother,'" recorded -5 March 1787"

Feb 4, 1741. Inventory by William Walling and Jen. Sperling in regards to the will of Daniel Androvet of New Brunswick, Middlesex Co.

Nov 23, 1741. Witnesses to the will of Jan (John) Stryker of Six-Mile Run, Somerset Co.; Waiter Burnet, Pitue Poumil, John Michael Sperling. Proved 6 Aug, 1747.

Jan 22, 1750. Witness to the will of Albert Van Voorhees of New Brunswick, Middlesex Co.; Cornelius Cornel, Petrus Sperling, J.N. Sperling. Proved Dec. 2, 1734.

July 6, 1765. Extract from a List of Letters remaining in the General Post-Office, "Pursuant to orders from ....two of the judges of the court of common pleas for the county of Middlesex, made on the 18th day of July instant, John Sperling, John Lot., ...et al...all insolvent debtors, now confined in the gaol of Perth-Amboy, do hereby give notice to all their creditors, that they shew cause, if any they have, on the 10th day of August next, at Perth-Amboy, why...."

May 12, 1766. Extract from American Newspapers, Relating to New Jersey (Middlesex County); "Pursuant to an order of....two of his Majesty's Judges of the course of Common Pleas, for the county of Middlesex, upon the Petitions of Justus Walker and John Sparling, insolvent Debtors, and the Majority of the Creditors in Value: Notice is hereby...."

Sep 14, 1773. Warrant for the confiscation of goods of John Sparling or, in lieu of those goods, for his arrest for his debt to John Stoniker; receipted by John Sparling and Joacham Gulick. Location: New Brunswick.

Apr 22, 1796. Sperling, Daniel, of the Northward of New Brunswick, Middlesex Co.; will of. Wife, Jane, use of house with lot of land about house from ditch to Isaac Cheesman's lot and 1/2 profits of orchard, during her life. Son, James, use of remainder of land until wife's decease when estate is to be sold. Children, Andrea, James, Leah Gillaland, George and John, each one an equal share of estate after wife's decease. Executors--son, James, and Johnathan Combs, Jr. Witnesses--Johnathan Combs, Jr., Jane Combs and Winant Dehart. Proved Oct. 19, 1796.
1796, Sep 30. Inventory...made by Edmund Davis and Jonathan Combs.

This last, Daniel Sperling's will, I copied nearly in full because of its relevant importance to the questions I am asking. Also very useful is the record of 1787 in which Daniel Sparling identifies the signatures of his father and brother. Using family records of the Gilliland's and others in conjunction with the source records of various families, such as the DeHart's (records not presented), it has become possible to make educated guesses about the Sparling family line.

A few conclusions:
1. The first and most obvious conclusion is that Isaac Sperling was not the brother of Leah (Sperling) Gilliland as I suggested in my post, Issac and Leah Sperling. Yet, it's unlikely they were unrelated. Perhaps cousins.

2. The second, important piece of information is the identity of Daniel Sparling's father. Although it's not explicit, the dates for John Michael Sparling make him the better candidate. Therefore, Daniel's brother is Peter Sparling. (see the 1737 record and the record of 1787 associated with it.)

3. The dates of debtor's trouble ('65-'73) for John Sparling suggest he was the son John of Daniel or a cousin, rather than John Michael Sparling, the elder. It is, furthermore, out of character for a clerk and a man who regularly serves as witness to legal matters to be caught up in gaol.

4. At least one published family tree lists a son of Daniel Sparling as Andrew. I'm inclined to believe it was a daughter, Andrea, as listed in Daniel's will. If Andrea was a son, Andrew, then he was the oldest and would have most likely been granted primary use of the land as well as Executor. Instead, those honors went to James, probably the eldest son.

5. The George Sparling whose parents I have been attempting to identify might very well be Daniel's fourth child. Nothing yet suggests he is not; nothing verifies it either.

Much, much more family information can be pulled from these records in addition to records of associated families and from New Jersey tax lists, too numerous for this particular post. If you can add to these records or to my guesses or steer me in a different direction entirely, please feel free to make contact.

John Michael Sparling in NJ

I've culled the internet for references to Jan Michiel Sperling, hoping to verify any connection between him and Daniel, Isaac, Leah or George Sparling (Sperling). I haven't...yet. What I have found is a community of Dutch immigrants who gather in their churches, where the young folk meet, mingle and eventually marry and build families of their own. In the meanwhile, they brew ale, mend shoes and pots and are farmers and, when they have to be, soldiers.

Below is my attempt to organize (what I hope are) relevant bits of information.

New Jersey-only references to John (Jan, Johannes) Michael (Michiel) Sparling (Sperling) arranged by date

.

Dec 10, 1709. A marriage recorded in the Dutch Reformed Church between Jan Michiel Sperling and Geertie Pieters. Location: Hackensack, Bergen, NJ (Residence: Acquiggenock [Passaic])

between 1720-1748. Head of family, Jan Sperling, joins the Reformed Dutch Church. Location: Six Mile Run, Somerset, NJ

1730. John Michael Sperling serves as the appraiser for the will of Charles Androvet. Location: Six Mile Run, Somerset, NJ

Jun 18, 1752. John Michael Sperling serves as witness of the will of John Vleet. Location: Six Mile Run, Somerset, NJ

1752. Daniel Sperling and Johannes Sperling appear on a list of freeholders in the source, "First Settlers of Piscataway and Woodbridge," p551, O.E. Monette. Location: New Brunswick, Somerset, NJ

1752-1772. Two, individual John Sparlings appear on John Piatt's "Cobbler Census." Location: Somerset, NJ

NJ militia. George, Abram, Isaac, James, Joseph, Peter and John Sparling appear on the Revolutionary War Rolls.

Sarah 1793-1867. The inscription on the gravestone of Sarah Van Pelt reads, "wife of John Sparling." Location: Dayton, Middlesex, NJ

1813. John Michael Sperling serves as a witness to the will of Abraham Sperling. John Gilliland Sperling is Abraham's son mentioned in the will. Location: North Brunswick, Middlesex, NJ

If you can add to this list, amend, correct or help me make any connections, the help is warmly appreciated. In the interest of clarity, I omitted my sources, but can provide them on request. In addition to the names above, there is a host of associated Van Pelts, Van Cleefs (Van Cleaves), Gillilands, Vliets (Vleets, Fleets), Vunks (Vonks), Piatts and others who may have known or married Sperlings over the course of the 18th century in New Jersey. I have more information to offer anyone who is interested.

Isaac and Leah Sperling

Following a different tack to discover the name of George Sparling's (b.1750) father. In one family tree (among many that don't), he has a brother listed as Isaac Sperling. I thought that if I could find Isaac's father, then I'd have my answer.

Isaac Sperling, it turns out, is a good candidate for George's brother. He was born 1758, and he also served in the Revolutionary War as a patriot in NJ.

A little research makes Isaac even more interesting. Apparently, he married a woman named Elizabeth Gilliland of Cranbury, Middlesex, NJ. This woman had several brothers and sisters, but one of the most interesting was a John Gilliland, who married a woman named Leah Sperling! Could it be that Leah and Isaac were siblings, that they knew the Gilliland family and each married within it?

Furthermore, John Gilliland served as a patriot in the NJ militia during the Revolutionary War, specifically under Captain Piatt, the same captain recorded by the DAR as George Sparling's commander. The record from Roster of Soldiers and Patriots of the American Revolution Buried in Indiana (p.340) for George Sparling reads, "Served 1 yr in 1st Regt., N.J., commanded by Capt. Daniel Piatt, 3 yrs. Capt. Longstreet. In battles of Brandywine and Monmouth."

This patriot connection suggests that Leah and Isaac may have had another sibling, George Sparling, but this is all conjecture at this point. Also, none of it adds up to a name for a common father. It suggests, though, that my guess that not all the New Jersey Sparlings headed to Canada or were Loyalists might be leading somewhere.

Lots, lots more to unravel. For example, one public family tree claims that Isaac Sperling is the son of Jan Michiel Sperling, elsewhere reported to be George Sparling's grandfather (see my recent post, Loyalists and Revolutionaries). If you can help put together all these tantalizing hints, please send me an email or leave a comment. I'm more than happy to provide any data I have.

Loyalists and Revolutionaries

My Sparling lineage seems to have come through New Jersey, as does that of the Palatinate line, many of whom traveled north to Canada. My reading leads me to believe that the Palatinate Sparlings went north due to Loyalist sympathies. However, records show that George Sparling, my ancestor, born 1750, fought in the Revolutionary War in the service of the 1st regiment, New Jersey militia. His alliance with the revolutionaries is some evidence (though by no means conclusive) that George (b.1750) was not directly connected to the Canadian line.

Another Sparling, John, also served in the Revolutionary War and is listed along with George. He may have been a relative. If these two men weren't related to the Canadian family, then they might not have come to America via Ireland, as those Palatinate families did who traveled on. That's why I'm still looking askew at that Daniel Sparling, b. Limerick, Ireland, who is listed as George's father.

I'm having a heck of a time finding any Daniel Sparlings at all during that time. There is a reference to a Daniel and Johannes Sparling in a book, "First Settlers of Piscataway and Woodbridge," by O.E. Monette, and I'm trying to get a look-up of these "freeholders in 1752", but without success so far.

Jan Michiel Sperling is listed as Daniel's father, and of the father I find some evidence. His marriage to Geertie Pieters was recorded in the Reformed Dutch Church of Hackensack, NJ, as Dec. 10, 1709. A marriage in Hackensack throws suspicion on a Irish birth for a subsequent son, Daniel. I also find "John Michael" Sperling as an appraiser on a 1730, Somerset Co, NJ will.

Any help in this area is warmly appreciated. I am, as always, happy to share all the information I have.

Correction: Claude, not Claudia

In my post, Puzzle Pieces, I incorrectly identified the first child of William Bazel and Bertha A. Sparlin as a daughter. "8. Not long afterward, William married his third wife, Bertha A., and set up a household in Barry, MO, where they had a daughter, Claudia."

Although the name is transcribed as Claudia from the census, their first born was actually a son, Claude Lester Sparlin. This information is obtained from his WWI draft registration card.

George Sparling b. 1750/52, Rev. War Veteran

The toughest area of research I've worked so far has to be the generations surrounding George Sparling, b. 1750/52, not surprising since that was a time of rapid immigration, first from Europe, then after the Revolution, into the interior, especially by families of soldiers with bounty land to claim. It doesn't help the matter that there was a George Sparling, veteran of the Revolutionary War, AND a George Sparling, veteran of the War of 1812. These two individuals are repeatedly confused in public family trees.

I'm at the stage where I no longer trust any reported family tree, and I'm searching for individual records. It's surprising how many Sperlings/Sparlings there were in New Brunswick, Middlesex Co., New Jersey!!!!

Coming Soon: Updated Jan Michiel Sperling Ahnentafel

I'm working on a new, improved ahnentafel for Jan Michiel Sperling(h). Here's a taste of some of the corrections:


Old Version

4 Edward (Ned) Sparling
.....+Mary Curtsinger
.....5 Michael Sparlin
.....+Sarah Jane Mullins
....*2nd wife of Edward (Ned) Sparling
.....+Mary (Polly) Kretsinger
.....5 David Sparling
.....and so on


New Version

4 Edward (Ned) Sparling
.....+Catherine Elizabeth Curtsinger
.....5 David Sparlin
....*2nd wife of Edward (Ned) Sparling
.....+Mary (Polly) Curtsinger (sister of Catherine Elizabeth above)
.....5 Elizabeth Sparling
.....and so on

When the dates are added, it will be clear why I made the above changes. Coming soon!

Henry Linguen Ditzenberger

Henry Linguen Ditzenberger was born on Sep. 2, 1842 in Eaton, Preble, OH and died on Feb. 3, 1922 in Eagle, Boone, IN. He married Elizabeth Davis on Oct. 12, 1865 in Boone, IN. Elizabeth, daughter of William Davis and Catherine Clodfelter, was born on Jan. 18, 1847 in Russelville, Putnam, IN and died on Jul. 18, 1926 in Lebanon, Boone, IN.

Other events in the life of Henry Linguen Ditzenberger
Census 1850 District 7, Boone, IN
Census 1860 Eagle, Boone, IN
Census 1870 Eagle, Boone, IN
Census 1880 Fogleman, Crittenden, AR
Census 1900 Zionsville, Boone, IN
Census 1910 Eagle, Boone, IN
Census 1920 Eagle, Boone, IN
Burial: Lutheran Cemetery, Whitestown, IN

Other events in the life of Elizabeth Davis
Census 1860 Worth, Boone, IN
Census 1870 Eagle, Boone, IN
Census 1880 Eagle, Boone, IN
Census 1900 Zionsville, Boone, IN
Census 1910 Eagle, Boone, IN
Census 1920 Eagle, Boone, IN
Burial: Lutheran Cemetery, Whitestown, IN


Children of Henry Linguen Ditzenberger and Elizabeth Davis
i. 16. Wesley Jacob Ditzenberger was born on Jul. 14, 1879 in Eagle, Boone, IN and died in 1909 in Alva, Woods, OK.
ii. 17. Perry W. Ditzenberger was born on Apr. 30, 1867 in Boone, IN and died on Jun. 10, 1938.
iii. 18. Leanken Ditzenberger was born in Nov. 1869 in Boone, IN and died in 1885.
iv. 19. Mary E. Ditzenberger was born on Sep. 9, 1865 in Boone, IN and died on Sep. 24, 1904 in Boone, IN.
v. 20. Sidella Ditzenberger was born in 1872 in Boone, IN and died in 1931.
vi. 21. Berton Clarence Ditzenberger was born on May 15, 1881 in Boone, IN and died on Dec. 31, 1951.
vii. 22. John Franklin Ditzenberger was born on May 15, 1881 in Zionsville, Boone, IN and died on Mar. 8, 1973 in Greenville, Darke, OH.
viii. 23. George Henry Ditzenberger was born on Apr. 17, 1885 in Whitestown, Boone, IN and died on Mar. 13, 1963.

Notice that in 1880 Henry appears in AR on the census while his wife remains in IN. Perry, their second child, oldest son, is also in AR with his father. I've been curious to know the cirumstances. Any Ditzenberger researchers out there who know the reason?

“Then next came ‘Wesley’ [Jacob Wesley] and all I know about him (don’t remember ever seeing him) is that my Dad said He and Grandpa D. [Henry Linguen] never got along too well, they both had ‘Ditzenberger tempers’ and often had regular ‘fist fights’, so when he got old enough he left home and eventually settled in Oklahoma and there he married a ‘part-Indian’ girl by the name of ‘Captolia’ and they had one daughter named ‘Myrtle’, who used to visit Grandpa & Grandma Ditzenberger every few years—she was a ‘pretty blonde’ with real curly hair, so she must have ‘taken after Uncle John [John Franklin], my grandfather and Uncle Bert’ [Berton Clarence] as far as her curly hair was concerned but she was ‘wild as an Indian’ and Grandma couldn’t handle her and I think she sent her home to her mother one time after a ‘short stay’. As I recall what Dad said, ‘Uncle Wesley’ had died and her Mother ‘Captolia’ didn’t have much control over her...." -Pearl Stonebreaker Ditzenberger [Pearl was the daughter of Perry W.]

My grandmother, Myrtle did, indeed, have very curly hair, and it was thick, too. Like the German daughter she was, she wore it in long braids coiled and pinned to her head.

Look here for more on this family.

Ditzenbergers

Surnames: Ditzenberger, 1920

back row (l to r): Uncle Augusta, Grandpa S. Sev (n?)ery, Uncle John Sr., Aunt Kate, Aunt Mary Squire? Ditzenberger
front row (l to r): Uncle Alex?, Uncle Luallen, Uncle Johnathan

Folks in the picture above are (except for Grandpa Severy) the children of Jacob Wesley Ditzenberger, born on Feb. 6, 1809 in Germany, died on Feb. 20, 1891 in Boone, IN. He married Mary Elizabeth Moore on Jun. 2, 1836 in Winchester, Randolph, IN. Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob Moore and Mary Frances Minnich, was born on Dec. 21, 1817 in OH and died on Dec. 24, 1880 in Boone, IN.

With the exception of Henry Linguen, all the living Ditzenberger children are pictured here.

Children of Jacob Wesley Ditzenberger and Mary Elizabeth Moore
i. 3. Henry Linguen Ditzenberger was born on Sep. 2, 1842 in Eaton, Preble, OH and died on Feb. 3, 1922 in Eagle, Boone, IN.
ii. 4. Charles Augustus Ditzenberger was born on Aug. 15, 1837 in Preble, OH and died on Jul. 13, 1933 in Marshall, Clark, IL. [Uncle Augusta]
iii. 5. Jacob Ditzenberger was born on May 4, 1839 in Preble, OH and died on Jun. 23, 1871 in IN.
iv. 6. Samuel Ditzenberger was born on Oct. 25, 1840 in OH and died in 1860.
v. 7. John F. Ditzenberger was born on Jun. 27, 1844 in Preble, OH and died on Nov. 8, 1927 in Boone, IN. [Uncle John, Sr.]
vi. 8. David Ditzenberger was born on May 2, 1846 in Boone, IN and died on Dec. 29, 1862 in Boone, IN.
vii. 9. Catherine Ditzenberger was born on Jun. 19, 1848 in Boone, IN and died in Dayton, Greene, OH. [Aunt Kate]
viii. 10. Margaretha Ditzenberger was born on Jan. 26, 1850 in Boone, IN and died on Feb. 19, 1855 in Boone, IN.
ix. 11. Conrad Ditzenberger was born on Apr. 14, 1851 in Boone, IN and died on Apr. 12, 1863 in Boone, IN.
x. 12. William Nelson Ditzenberger was born on Aug. 4, 1853 in Oct 25 1840 and died on Oct. 6, 1918 in Anderson, Shasta, CA.
xi. 13. Alexander Ditzenberger was born on Apr. 11, 1855 in Boone, IN and died on Oct. 27, 1931 in IN. [Uncle Alex]
xii. 14. Lewellen Ditzenberger was born on Jun. 21, 1857 in Boone, IN and died on Sep. 4, 1947. [Uncle Luallen]
xiii. 15. Mary Ditzenberger was born on Apr. 19, 1859 in Boone, IN and died on Aug. 16, 1942 in Boone, IN. [Aunt Mary Squire]
xiv. 16. Jonathan G. Ditzenberger was born on Jul. 8, 1862 in Boone, IN and died on an unknown date (after 1920). [Uncle Johnathan]

*I'm still looking for an ID for Grandpa S. Severy. The surnames of the 4 grandparents were Ditzenberger, Moore, Roderin and Minnich; no Severy. If anyone has information on this family, dates, anecdotes, etc., I'd be pleased to receive it. As always, I'm happy to provide information I have, as well.