On the Needles

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Monday, January 23, 2017

On This Day In History... January 23, 1832

John French CHINN and Lydia Elizabeth BYRNE were married1,2 on this day 185 years ago, in Fauquier County, Virginia, USA.

By their first anniversary they had welcomed their first child, a son. They had 5 more before the 1840 United States Census. A boy, 3 girls, and another boy. Sadly, their second oldest only lived for 26 days3.

John is listed in the 1840 United States Census4 as living in Leeds, Fauquier, Virginia, USA. This census only lists head of households by name. Any other member of the family was tallied by sex and age group. Free persons of colour were tallied in a separate section than free white persons. The 1840 US Census was taken on June 1st, 1840.

John’s household consisted of 1 white male under 5 years, 1 white male between 5 & 10 years, 1 white male between 20 & 30 years, 2 white females under 5 years, 1 white female between 5 & 10 years, and 1 white female between 20 & 30 years. There were no free persons of colour.

John joined the Long Branch Church and was baptized by Elder Barnett Grimsley on June 28th, 1840. A week later, on July 4th, Elizabeth joined the same church and was baptized.

On January 25th, 1843, John was ordained as a Deacon.

On June 27th, 1846, they obtained a letter of Dismission from Long Branch Church to join Carter’s Run Church closer to their new home. That letter was presented to Carter’s Run Church on July 20th, 1846.

Carter’s Run Church is approximately 20 miles southwest of Long Branch Church.
I’m still piecing together where their homes were before and after their shift to Carter’s Run Church. And why they moved but I think it might have to do with an inheritance that Elizabeth may have received from her father or grandfather.

They obtained another letter of Dismission from Carter’s Run Church on August 18, 1848 prior to moving from Virginia to Arkansas. On the same day, John was licensed to preach the Gospel of Christ.

The 1850 United States Census5, taken November 30, 1850, finds them in Ruddell, Independence, Arkansas, USA. They had welcomed 5 more children to the family. 3 daughters and 2 sons. All 10 living children are with them.

John is also listed as owning 4 slaves. A black male 22-years-old, a black female 19-years-old, a black female 4-years-old, and a one-month old black female.

The 1850’s saw John & Elizabeth welcome 5 more children, 4 boys and 1 girl. This included a set of twins, Randolph & Rudolph. Sadly, Rudolph passed away at only 3 days old. Another son left passed away at the age of 9 years, 9 months, and 12 days. Leaving them with 13 living children.

11 of these children were living with them in Ashley Township, Independence County, Arkansas in the 1860 United States Census7. Taken on the 27th day of June. This included a widowed daughter. Her 3 young children were also living with them.

The Slave Schedule for that same Census shows John owning 8 slaves. One 30-year-old black male, a 28-year-old black female, 4 black females ages, 5, 8, 10 & 12 and 2 black males ages 3 months and 3 years.

The 1860’s brought the Civil War and John & Elizabeth said goodbye to 5 more of their children. Two lost in battle fighting for the Confederates in 1862 & 1864. They lost one adult daughter in 1867 and in 1868, their oldest son died, leaving a wife and 3 children.
Before all this they laid to rest their youngest daughter in April 1861. She was 3 years, 4 months, and 15 days old.

The 1870 United States Census8, taken September 28th, shows them still in Ashley Township, Independence County, Arkansas, with a much smaller household. It is them and 3 teenage sons. Their daughters having married (or remarried) and left home. I can confirm this with all but one of their daughters. After the 1860 Census, she disappears. I can not locate a marriage or death record and she doesn’t appear with another family.

Two of the 3 remaining sons married during the 1870’s. Sadly this decade is also the one John leaves this earth. On October 7th, 1875, Elizabeth said goodbye to her husband of 43 years. He was 65 years, 2 months and 10 days old9.

In the 1880 United States Census10Elizabeth is living with her son Randolph and family. Still in Ashley Township. The census was taken on June 8th, 1880.

Five years later, Elizabeth, at the age of 71 years, 4 months, and 19 days passed away11. She was interred next to her husband in the Chinn Cemetery in Independence County.

More details of their children:

1.    Charles Richardson CHINN was born on Jan 16, 1833 in Fauquier Co., Virginia, USA. He died on Jul 20, 1868 in Independence, Arkansas, USA. He married Nancy N MEACHAM on Nov 23, 1852 in Independence, Arkansas, USA.
2.    John Franklin CHINN was born on Jul 30, 1834 in Fauquier Co., Virginia, USA. He died on Aug 25, 1834 in Fauquier Co., Virginia, USA.
3.    Sarah Elizabeth CHINN was born on Jul 04, 1835 in Fauquier Co., Virginia, USA. She died on Mar 10, 1901 in Independence, Arkansas, USA. She married William Riley COMER on May 04, 1854 in Independence, Arkansas, USA.
4.    Penelope Jane CHINN was born on Feb 02, 1837 in Fauquier Co., Virginia, USA. She died on May 01, 1911 in Independence, Arkansas, USA. She married William T SEASAY on Aug 27, 1857 in Independence, Arkansas, USA. She married James Joseph KIMBROUGH on Jan 14, 1866 in Independence, Arkansas, USA.
5.    Pandora CHINN was born on Oct 20, 1838 in Fauquier Co., Virginia, USA. She died on Feb 04, 1897 in Independence, Arkansas, USA. She married John R MEACHAM on Jan 23, 1862 in Independence, Arkansas, USA.
6.    Marcus Luther CHINN was born on Mar 02, 1840 in Fauquier Co., Virginia, USA. He died on Dec 31, 1862 in In Battle near Murfreesboro, Rutherford, Tennessee, USA.
7.    Margaret Rebecca CHINN was born on Apr 10, 1842 in Fauquier Co., Virginia, USA. She died about Abt. 1922 in Ashley, Independence, Arkansas, USA. She married William Eleazer STRICKLAND on Aug 23, 1863 in Independence County, Arkansas, USA.
8.    Frances Grimsley CHINN was born on Jan 20, 1844 in Fauquier Co., Virginia, USA. She died on Mar 31, 1867 in At Father's House. She married G W THURMAN on Apr 28, 1863 in Independence, Arkansas, USA.
9.    Louisa Georgia CHINN was born on Dec 22, 1845 in Fauquier Co., Virginia, USA.
10. John Judson CHINN was born on Sep 02, 1847 in Fauquier Co., Virginia, USA. He died on Oct 25, 1864 in Battlefield near Westport, Missouri, USA.
11. William Edward CHINN was born on Jan 02, 1849 in Independence County, Arkansas, USA. He died on Sep 14, 1858 in Independence, Arkansas, USA.
12. Randolph CHINN was born on Dec 11, 1850 in Independence County, Arkansas, USA. He died on Mar 03, 1938 in Independence, Arkansas, USA. He married Dora C A HENDERSON on Sep 03, 1873 in Independence, Arkansas, USA.
13. Rudolph CHINN was born on Dec 11, 1850 in Independence County, Arkansas, USA. He died on Dec 14, 1850 in Independence County, Arkansas, USA.
14. Arthur CHINN was born on Jul 03, 1853 in Batesville, Independence Co., Arkansas, USA. He died on Nov 16, 1911 in Independence, Arkansas, USA.
15. Asbury Rosal CHINN was born on Jan 16, 1855 in Batesville, Independence Co., Arkansas, USA. He died on Jan 04, 1941 in Independence, Arkansas, USA. He married Fannie WADE on Sep 23, 1894 in Independence, Arkansas, USA. He married Elizabeth M. THOMPSON on Sep 09, 1908 in Independence, Arkansas, USA.
16. Virginia Aurelia CHINN was born on Nov 21, 1857 in Batesville, Independence Co., Arkansas, USA. She died on Apr 05, 1861 in Independence, Arkansas, USA.

I have never looked that closely at the CHINN line before now. Much of the research had already been done by distant cousins. And as a fellow genealogist recently said ‘There is a real thrill in the hunt’ so with nothing to hunt I hadn’t really looked. I’m glad I finally did. Experience has helped me realize how much more to genealogy there is then just names and dates. I would like to learn more about where they lived. Both their private property and the larger communities in Virginia and Arkansas. I’m intrigued by the fact that John was a Deacon in the Baptist Church but at least 2 of his children were married by Methodist Episcopal Church South ministers, 2 by Baptist ministers and several more by Justices of the Peace. My heart aches for them when I think about how many children they buried, 8 (possibly 9), 4 of them as children.

You’ll find John & Elizabeth as #22 & #23 on the Bruce Pedigree.

Note: For the most part the information on their children comes from the Chinn Family Bible. Three of those pages have been uploaded to John’s Find-A-Grave memorial. A big THANK YOU to my 2nd Cousin, June, for sharing them.
I have found more information on most of their children that is not included in those pages but have not include the source citations here to keep them at a minimum. If you are interested in learning more feel free to email me, jodi.familytree@gmail.com, I’m happy to share anything I have.




1 "Virginia, Marriages, 1785-1940," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XR8C-P8Z : accessed 31 Aug 2014), John F. Chinn and Elizabeth Byrne, 23 Jan 1832; citing Fauquier, Virginia, reference r4 p370pr5 p7; FHL microfilm 31634.
2 “Chinn Family Bible, Marriages” image, https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/find-a-grave-prod/photos/2015/252/17123156_1441879111.jpg
3 “Chinn Family Bible, Births & Deaths” image, page 1 of 2, https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/find-a-grave-prod/photos/2015/252/17123156_1441879093.jpg
4 "United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHTK-R19 : 24 August 2015), John Chinn, Leeds, Fauquier, Virginia, United States; citing p. 190, NARA microfilm publication M704, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 558; FHL microfilm 29,686
5 "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M67Z-QDQ : 9 November 2014), John F Chinn, Ruddell, Independence, Arkansas, United States; citing family 1008, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
6 “Chinn Family Bible, Births & Deaths” image, page 2 of 2, https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/find-a-grave-prod/photos/2015/252/17123156_1441879175.jpg
7 "United States Census, 1860," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M8W7-DC3 : accessed 07 Dec 2013), John F Chinn, , Independence, Arkansas; citing "1860 U.S. Federal Census - Population," Fold3.com; p. 88, family 578, NARA microfilm publication M653; FHL microfilm 803043.
8 "United States Census, 1870," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNCQ-5VG : accessed 5 May 2015), John Chinn, Arkansas, United States; citing p. 4, family 28, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 545,554.
9 "Find A Grave Index," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVVJ-797V : accessed 5 May 2015), John French Chinn, 1875; Burial, , Independence, Arkansas, United States of America, Chinn Cemetery; citing record ID 17123156, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.
10 "United States Census, 1880," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNWH-7LJ : accessed 5 May 2015), Elizabeth Chinn in household of Randolph Chinn, Ashley, Independence, Arkansas, United States; citing enumeration district 119, sheet 134B, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0047; FHL microfilm 1,254,047.
11 "Find A Grave Index," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVVJ-7972 : accessed 5 May 2015), Lydia Elizabeth Byrne Chinn, 1885; Burial, , Independence, Arkansas, United States of America, Chinn Cemetery; citing record ID 17123160, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.

Friday, January 20, 2017

On This Day in History... January 20, 1811

James BRICKNELL was baptised[1] in Burmington, Warwickshire, England 206 years ago, today. He was the first child and son of Joseph BRICKNELL and Fanny PANSON. And was my 4th great-grandfather.
His official date of birth is unknown. This isn’t unusual for the time as there were no requirements to record a birth. The closest we can come is the baptism record. If you are lucky the parish priest or clerk would note the date of birth within the baptism record.
Generally, you could assume the baptism took place within a month or two of birth but I have seen some where the child was a few years old at the time of their baptism.
I don’t believe this to be the case with James. In 2 of the 3 Censuses that he is recorded in his age is listed as 40 (1851[2]), and 50 (1861[3]). The third census, 1841[4] list his age as 30. In that census those over 15 had their ages rounded down in multiples of 5. So, he could be as old as 35. However, because the other 2 censuses didn’t do this I can be reasonably certain that he was born either in the later part of 1810 or early part of 1811.
James in No. 26 on the Robertson pedigree chart.

For the most part the Bricknells resided in Bledington, Gloucestershire, England. It is part of the area known as the Cotswolds. Home of the Cotswold Sheep. As a knitter and future sheep owner I am intrigued by the idea that my ancestors may have played a role in the development of this rare breed. And will admit that it has bumped them up the list of possible breeds I would consider owning. 




[1] "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JQZ4-JYS : 30 December 2014), James Bricknell, 20 Jan 1811; citing Worcester, England, reference ; FHL microfilm 328,844.

[2] "England and Wales Census, 1851," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SG27-SVL : 24 July 2016), James Bricknell, Bledington, Gloucestershire, England; citing Bledington, Gloucestershire, England, p. 3, from "1851 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.

[3] "England and Wales Census, 1861," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M7GZ-YKN : 6 April 2016), James Bricknell, Bledington, Gloucestershire, England; from "1861 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 9, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.

[4] "England and Wales Census, 1841," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M7MJ-4PD : 30 October 2015), James Bricknell, Bledington, Gloucestershire, England; from "1841 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.

Thursday, January 05, 2017

On This Day In History...

Since I started researching my family history I've struggled with how to share it with family.
I always figured that one day I would make a book; when my tree is complete. As I've gotten older and my experience with genealogical research has grown I realized that my family tree will never be complete. Even if I limit the number of generations to 10 I would still have more things to learn about each person.
Some day I might still make the book. With slightly lower expectations for its' content. Until then I thought I would share something here on my blog. My post about my great-grandfather was my first attempt and I had hoped the first of many in 2016 but that didn't work out.
For 2017 I have decided to try again. Using my family tree program I have printed out a calendar of births and marriages for my direct ancestors going back to my 4th great-grandparents. I have decided not to do posts on my parents and grandparents for privacy reasons.
I will also be excluding any events that I don't have a reliable source. These are dates that I got from forum posts or another researchers online tree that didn't contain proper citations. I'm going to blame their existence in my tree on my younger, less experienced, but equally excited and eager self. I don't have any reason to think that they are incorrect other then the general concept that we are human and we make mistakes. And if they do turn out to be wrong, I don't want to be one of the people that have perpetuated the error.
I have made up basic pedigree charts for each of my grandparents (with their first names hidden). These charts contain only names with no other information. They are a way for those interested to understand where in my tree these people fit. You can find the pedigree charts here.
I will tag each post with the corresponding surname and include a link to that pedigree.
Some post will have more information. And what is included  might not be everything I have on those individuals.
If you come across one of these posts and think you might be connected to someone mentioned please feel free to email me at jodi.familytree@gmail.com.