THIS IS THE MOMENT…

I’ve shared this document before, but it never fails to send chills down my back when I look at it again. The document comes from my 5th great grandfather, Benjamin Clanin’s [Clannin] probate file. It appoints Joseph Huse, Esq, and Messrs. David Moody and Abner Greenleaf of Newburyport, Massachusetts to divide and set off the Dower’s Right of his estate for his second wife, Deborah Sandin Sinecross Clanin [later to become Mrs. Jonathan Whitmore].

There are some incredible things about this document:

• This document is from 28 April 1783! Benjamin is believed to have died aboard the infamous HMS Jersey in Wallabout Harbor, NY. Deborah would go to court in the February 1783 session to settle his estate.
• This printed document at the top left says, “Province of the Massachusetts-Bay” as the Colony was originally known. The words have been crossed out to now state, “Commonwealth of Massachusetts”.
• At the bottom right, it used to read “Year of the King’s Reign” after the date of the document indicating the reign of King George III. It has been struck out as well.
• Again, this document is dated 1783, for all intents and purposes, after the end of the Revolutionary War.

This is the moment when my family went from being subjects to King George III to being American citizens. It is not often we can point to an exact time when we changed our status: a naturalization ceremony, a marriage license, or a death certificate. This document reminds me of the importance of the struggle of an Irish immigrant to Massachusetts, a cooper by trade, and the father of four.

Benjamin would not live to see his children grow. The children’s mother, Mary Harris Clanin, had died three years earlier in 1779. These four children: Benjamin Clanin II, Mary Clanin , Sarah “Sally” Clanin, and my ancestor, Samuel Harris Clanin, were put under the guardianship of Mary Harris Clanin’s brother, Edward Harris Sr. Edward and his wife, Abigail, already had eight children of their own!

Because of the excellent recordkeeping on Edward’s part, we have copies of the guardianship papers and the costs associated with taking care of the children. We know the children were given a Bible, spelling books, two linen jackets, and two pair of “trowsers” for the boys made of lambskin. The cost of all the children’s needs are stated in Pounds, Pence, and Shillings. [The American dollars and cents system to come later.]

Read your family’s documents carefully. What do they tell you that isn’t obvious? This document to me reminds me of the sacrifices of my family to become Americans.

52 ANCESTORS CHALLENGE – CHALLENGING

This week’s topic is “Challenging” and it is challenging, so to speak.  I have certain ancestors I don’t know much about and haven’t had much luck in the research of them.  I haven’t delved deep enough, so to speak, into their past.  I’m certain there are most likely documents to help me should I be patient enough to take the time to research further.

Mariah Sherman Clanin was my 3rd great grandmother.  She was born in Ohio in 1813 to Thomas R. Sherman (1792-1847) and Lavinia Barr (1791-1817).  I have always been a great lover of history and especially the American Civil War.  Obviously, my mind first went to the fact General William Tecumseh Sherman was born in Ohio in 1820 and I’ve wondered ever since if we weren’t somehow related.  I’m still wondering and searching.  Mariah married Edwad Clanin while living in Ohio and they later moved to Fulton County, Illinois.

William Tecumseh Sherman was born in February of 1820 in Ohio to the Hon. Charles Robert Sherman (1788-1829) and Mary Hoyt (1787-1852).  “Cump” Sherman as he was affectionately known to family members had several siblings: Hon. Charles T. Sherman, Mary Elizabeth Reese, James Sherman, Amelia McComb, Julia Ann Willock, Lampson Parker Sherman, John “The Ohio Icicle” Sherman – U.S. Senator and U. S. Secretary of Treasury & State, Susan Denman Sherman, Hoyt Sherman and Frances Beecher Moulton.

My great grandmother also had many siblings and half-siblings: John C. Sherman, Sarah Sherman, Lavinia Sherman, Margaret N. Sherman, Amanda Sherman, Andrew Sherman, Nancy Sherman, and James Sherman.  None seem to match up with any of “Cump” Sherman’s.

Several of the given names are similar between families, but they also are not that unique to be a factor in connecting the two families.

Edw and Mariah Sherman Clanin

Mariah died in 1890, four years prior to Edward’s death.  She was 77 years old at her death.  I believe this photo was probably taken not too long prior to 1890.  She seems to be holding spectacles in her right hand.  Edward is holding some sort of paper.  It is known that he served in the Army during some war with Indians as a family member has a buffalo coat he gained during that war.  Perhaps he had difficulties with his hands due to age.

Mariah is pretty challenging.  I intend to keep working on her to match her up, hopefully, with William Tecumseh Sherman, but if I don’t find a connection, it certainly won’t change my interest in General Sherman.  Who knows…if I got back far enough, I might find the connection!