Jacob Hotsenpillar 1740-1808

5th Great Grandfather - Maternal Side

Jacob was born the 4th child of Stephen and Elizabeth Brumback Hotzenbella around 1740 in Fredrick County, Virginia.

Jacob’s parents gave him 394 acres on the Cape Capon in Frederick Co., VA in June 1761.This tract was bought from the “Tory Fairfax” estate which was originally surveyed by George Washington (See Sources 2 & 4). Note: Hampshire County is part of the state of West Virginia now but in Jacob's time it was Virginia. County lines and names changed often giving the topical appearance that one moved around during their lifetime and in fact stayed in one place. 

Jacob married Elizabeth Huber in 1764. In 1769, he bought an additional 181 acres from the Fairfax estate which joined his land and also that of his brother-in-law, Rudy Bomgardner. Here he opened a grist mill known as "Hotzenbeller's Mill" which continued for some time. 

On April 23, 1773 Jacob Hotzenbehler and wife Elizabeth of Hampshire County was a lease and release to Stephen Hotzenbehler of Frederick County of 100 acres on Cacapoon Creek. This was recorded May 11, 1779. No witnesses were recorded. (See Source 4.) 

May 3, 1779 shows Jacob Hotsenbiller and wife Elizabeth of Frederick County lease and release to Jacob Hoover of Hampshire County 294 acres on Cacapoon River and recorded May 11, 1779. Witnesses are: James Walker, Alex. White, George Rooters, John Magill. (See Source 4) On the same date is filed a Dedimus for taking acknowledgment by the same parties. No witness signed.

August 20, 1788 a receipt was made as follows: Jacob Hotzinpiller to Jacob Hoover - Received of Jacob Hoover full satisfaction of all bonds, notes, debts due and demands from the beginning of the world till this day I say received by Jacob Hotsinpoller. Recorded on April 9, 1794. No witnesses are recorded. (See Source 4)

By 1788, records show him in both Frederick & Greenbriar Co., with his wife and four sons along with his orphaned nieces who had chosen him as their guardian. Apparently his wife, Elizabeth, died before 1793 because he then marries Milly Seigle on September 16th (See Source 3).

In the 1803 Personal Census, Jacob owns 4 horses and is taxed at 48 cents.(See Source 1.) His sons are living close by him and then in 1808 he deeded all of his land to them.

Prior to 1819, his four sons were administering the remnants of Jacob’s estate although there was no will filed. No record of the date of his death or where he and Elizabeth are buried has been located.

Descendants of Jacob and Elizabeth:

      i.   Anthony; b about 1765 married Elizabeth Harpole

     ii.   Benjamin; b about 1768 married Margaret Wax

   iii.   Abraham, Sr.; b about 1772 married Magdalena Wax

  iv.   JOHN; b about 1775 married Rachel Stokesbury

Let me just conclude with this: 
None of the Hutsen genealogy could have been completed without the
unwavering persistence of  Billy Issacs, one of Mom's 2nd cousins. For the 
past couple of years we have been fact checking each other and questioning 
everything we have come across. He is as determined as I am and I admire him
greatly for all he has done in his research. Another thank you goes to Cora 
Standley, my first cousin, without her initial interest I would have never set 
forth on this journey into our past.

Sources:

1. http://www.binnsgenealogy.com/VirginiaTaxListCensuses/Greenbrier/1803PersonalB/09.jpg
2. Dixon, E. C. (1961). Brumback-Hotsinpiller Genealogy. Some of the Descendants of Melchoir Brumback of the 1714 Germmana Colony in Virginia through his daughter Elizabeth who married Stephen Hotsinpiller and Allied Families. Englewood, New Jersey, United States of America.
3. Dodd, Jordan. Virginia, Compiled Marriages, 1660-1800 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1997.
4. Early Records, Hampshire County Virginia, Now West Virginia Compiled by Clara McCormack Sage and Laura Sage Jones, Genealogical Publishing Company, 1969

Fortunatus Dodson circa 1704 - 1737

6th Great Grandfather Paternal Side
I hope this makes it easier to understand whom I am writing about each week and for those following along. I will try to update older posts to reflect this arrangement.

I hope you don't think I am slacking off after the first 3 weeks, this is all that I have on old "Fort" (yes, I just made that up and I am cracking up over it!). I shouldn't joke since it is an old biblical name. Grandfather Fortunatus also could have been named after a favorite poet of Charles, Jr. & Anne Stone Dodson (See Source 1), these are just one of the many mysteries that we may never know.

Fortunatus was of the second generation born in the Virginia Colony. His parents lived on a Richmond, VA plantation previously owned by Col. Rawleigh Travers.(See Source 2). In his father's will, Fortunatus is left "all land below my spring" (See Source 5 & 6). While his exact birth date is not known he did marry Alice Goad on 9 September 1726 in North Farnham Parish, Virginia (See Source 3).

It is speculated that he died on his 11th anniversary though I can find no proof at the time of this writing. He must have died suddenly because no will was written but letters of administration on his estate were granted to Alice Dodson on 1 May 1738 (See Source 4). He was in his 30's which is rather young even although it was the early 1700's.

There were six children born to this union:

1. Samuel Dodson 1727-1788; married Polly King
2. Lucy Dodson 1728-1730
3. James Dodson 1730-1753
4. Ann Dodson 1732-1807, 1st married Moses Cornelius; 2nd married George Phillips (her younger sister's widower)
5. Alice Dodson 1734-1802 married Mr. Dale
6. Hannah Dodson 1737-1805, George Phillips 

Sources:

1. The Dodson (Dotson) Family of North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia: A History and Genealogy of Their Descendants, Volume One. By Mrs. Sherman Williams
2. Richmond Co. Deed Bk 11, page 141
3. Marriages of the Northern Neck of Virginia, 1649-1800, Page 110
4. Richmond County Will Book 6, pages 324-325
5. Richmond County Wills and Inventories, 1709-1717, page 250
6. Virginia Wills and Administrations 1632-1800 by Compiled by Clayton Torrence; Genealogical Publishing Company, 2008

David Calvin Storer 1780-1852

4^th Great Grandfather Maternal Side

David was born August 5, 1780 as the son of Samuel Storer (1757 - ?) in New Jersey. His mother’s name is not known at this time. Family oral history states that he moved from his birth place to Pennsylvania where he lived near his grandfather. He and his first wife Ruth Hutton relocated to Portsmouth, Ohio before the town was founded.  He had a claim 9 miles west of Portsmouth in Nile Township, Scioto County, Ohio probably resulting from his commission as a Lieutenant in the War of 1812 having joined 1^st Regiment (Noel’s) Ohio Militia (See Sources 8-11).

David later bought a farm from John Conn in October 1814 (See Sources 1 & 7). He was also appointed Commissioner for the Ohio River road from Portsmouth down the Ohio River. (See Sources 12 & 13.)  

Throughout his life time, David fathered 12 children. His first marriage was to Ruth (born about 1780) in Pennsylvania. They had 6 children before her death in Ohio about 1819. 

1. Elizabeth Storer 1800-1889, married William Hutton
2. Rachel Nancy Storer 1804-1845, married George Washington McAtee 
3. Sarah Storer 1806-?, married Isaac Bibbey
4. Asher R. Storer 1814-1875, married Margaret Storer
5. Levi Storer 1815-1884, married Viola Woodruff
6. Charles Storer 1817 -1875, married Elizabeth Dilling

David's 2^nd marriage on January 20, 1820 was to Dianna McAtee born February 25, 1795 in Maryland, daughter of Thomas & Rebecca McAtee. (See Sources 2). They had the following children:

1. Mary Ann Storer 1821-1845 married Allied Zorns
2. Rebecca B. Storer 1823-? married John E. Evans
3. David Calvin Storer, II 1825-1910 married 1st Albina J. Mott & 2nd Elizabeth Waldo. He was a carpenter.
4.  Richard Thomas Storer 1832-1878 married Catherine Elizabeth Hamilton Givens. He was a farmer and steamboat captain. 
5. William Storer 1834-1847
6.  Emily Jane Storer 1835 - 1917 married Dr. Cornelius W. Honaker

The 1820 US Census shows “David Storn” in Nile, Ohio with 8 Free White People on his land in Scioto County (See Sources 3). This listed 2 males under 10 (Levi & Charles, 1 male 10-15 (Asher), 1 male 26-44 (David), 1 female under 10 (Sarah), 1 female 10-15 (Nancy), 1 female 16-25 (Elizabeth), and 1 female 26-44 (Diana). I am aware these dates do not line up with the daughters as Elizabeth married in 1818 and should not be listed and Sarah should be listed in the 10-15 age range. Further investigation is needed.

The 1830 Census shows David Storer in Nile, Ohio with 8 Free Whites listed as 1 male under 5 (David, Jr.), 1 male 10-14 (Levi), 1 male 15-19 (Charles), 2 males 50-99 (David, Sr. & possibly his father, brother or an uncle) ; 2 females under 5 (Emily & Rebecca), 1 female 5-9 (Mary Ann). The McAtee, Hutton, and Woodruff families only a few houses away (See Sources 4). A possible explanation for Dianna not being present is that she was off with ill family.

In 1840 he is listed as “David Stoner” in Nile, Ohio with 9 Free Whites listed as 1 male 5-9 (William), 1 male 10-14 (Richard Thomas), 1 male 15-19 (David, Jr.), 1 male 50-59 (David, Sr.), 1 female under 5 (Emily Jane), 1 female 10-14 (Rebecca), 1 female 15-19 (Mary Ann), 1 female 30-39 (possibly Sarah), and 1 female 40-49 (Dianna), (See Sources 5).

By 1850, still in Nile, Ohio he is listed as David Storer age 69 with his wife Dianna age 58 and three of their children Rich age 17, Jane age 15, and William age 12 on a farm with a value of $2,000. Living next door is their daughter and son-in-law Rebecca and John Evans (See Sources 6) one of my 3^rd great grandmothers.

At his death, his oldest son by his second wife was the executor of his estate. Most of the children from his first marriage having moved out of state. Then the heirs apparently could not afford the taxes or did not care as the following delinquent notice appears in the newspaper on January 7, 1865:

David and Dianna McAtee Storer along with other family members are buried in the Storer Family Cemetery located in Scotio County, Ohio.

Sources:

1. The Storer family 1725-1965 by Mahlon A. Storer – 2^nd Edition; Higginson Book Company
2. Scioto County, Ohio, Marriage Records, 1803-1860 – Ancestry.com, 2012 
3. 1820 U S Census; Census Place: Nile, Scioto, Ohio; Page: 126; NARA Roll: M33_95; Image: 142 
4. 1830 US Census; Census Place: Nile, Scioto, Ohio; Page: 106; NARA Series: M19; Roll Number: 140; Family History Film: 0337951
5. Year: 1840; Census Place: Nile, Scioto, Ohio; Roll: 425; Page: 84; Image: 173; Family History Library Film: 0020176 
6. Year: 1850; Census Place: Nile, Scioto, Ohio; Roll: M432_727; Page: 77B; Image: 35 
7.  Residence date: 1810 Residence place: Scioto County, OH, Ancestry.com
8.  Roster of Ohio soldiers in the War of 1812, Ancestry.com 
9. U.S. War Bounty Land Warrants, 1789-1858, Ancestry.com 
10. Original data: National Archives and Records Administration. Index to the Compiled Military Service Records for the Volunteer Soldiers Who Served During the War of 1812. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. M602, 234 rolls 
11. Original data - War of 1812 Pension Applications. Washington D.C.: National Archives. NARA Microfilm Publication M313, 102 rolls. Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Record G 
12. A history of Scioto County, Ohio, together with a pioneer record ... Evans, Nelson W. (Nelson Wiley), 1842-1913.

Joshua Pettit II, 1734-1786

5th Great Grandfather Paternal Side

Talk about non-linear research! Man, this one was/is a real bugger. Any euphemism that could be thought applies to this family. There are at least 3 Joshua Pettits with no middle name given or suffix. I will therefore assign them the suffix of I, II, & III while others may call II Sr. and III Jr. they omitted Joshua II’s parents: Joshua Pettit and Susannah Carpenter, at least this is who I hope they are. Hence the conflicting data has begun.

Joshua II was born in the Passaic Valley of New Jersey on September 20, 1734. He might have been descended from the Huguenot’s of the Pettit family of France (See Source 3) though no direct correlation has been made by me. He moved to South Carolina sometime around 1768 to the 96 District near Cowpens in Spartanburg County. This was considered to be frontier or on the fringe of civilization. Near the beginning of the Revolutionary War in 1775, he was engaged in helping to build Wofford’s Fort on the Pacolet River. It was more of a fortified log house used where the settlers could escape Indian attacks. Militias were formed to fight off the Cherokees and other tribes. During the Revolutionary War Joshua served as a Private in Col. Benjamin Roebuck’s Battalion of the Spartan Regiment of the South Carolina Militia. He did not file for a pension or collect one but his headstone in the Pettit Family Cemetery states his regiment (See Source 1). His DAR Ancestor # is A089896 for anyone wishing to fill out an application or supplement.

Joshua Pettit married Rachel Monroe* (1734-1786) in 1761 in Essex County, New Jersey where the first six of their eight children were born.

1. Henry, Sr. (1763-1838) married Mary Anne Poole
2. Hannah Caroline (1765-1836) married Joel Bird Hembree
3. Mary (1767-1769)
4. Benjamin H. (1769-1831) married Lucinda Pettit
5. Nathan (Nathaniel ?) John (1771-1808) married ?
6. Joshua III (1773-1827) married Judah Poole
7. Abraham (1776-1808) never married since he had mental defect and was cared for by Joshua III.
8. Rachel (1779-1786) married ?? Hembree

It is rumored that Joshua also had a son with a Cherokee woman Nannie Downing, an important woman of the tribe. He spent some time with the Indians before his wife and children moved to South Carolina. This son was named Thomas Pettit, Sr. and married Catherine Hughes. More research is needed to verify.

In 1775, Joshua sold 500 acres on the Saluda River to John and Ann Armstrong being a portion of the 12 mile square tract previously owned by Richard Pearis. (Note: This tract was supposedly an illegal land cession of 150,000 acres from the Cherokee to Richard Pearis, via his Cherokee son George Pearis, on 21 Dec 1773 and witnessed by Joshua.) After Ann’s husband was taken by Indians and “inhumanly butchered” she petitioned the government for relief. (See Source 2.)

Joshua, Rachel and some of their children were buried in the Pettit Family Cemetery located in Spartanburg County, South Carolina.

I will add to this post in the future once I am able to study it more thoroughly. I knew that it would be hard writing about one ancestor per week, and here it is only the 2^nd week and I am already having trouble!! Yikes, this is going to be a long year!

*Rumored to be a cousin of James Monroe – I can neither confirm nor deny at this time, I expect this is wishful thinking. She was born in Ulster County, New York.

Sources:

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=9015886&ref=acom

South Carolina State Archives Series: S165005
Year: 1784
Item: 00006
Page: 000
Date: 2/23/1784
Description: COMMITTEE REPORT AND ATTACHED PETITION CONCERNING ANN ARMSTRONGS REQUEST THAT THE LAND OF HER LATE HUSBAND, WHO WAS KILLED IN THE CHEROKEE WARS, BE VESTED IN HER, FREE FROM OTHER CLAIMS. (2 PAGES) 
Names indexed: ARMSTRONG, ANN; ARMSTRONG, JOHN; PEARIS, RICHARD; PETTIT, JOSHUA
Locations: SALUDA RIVER
Document type: REPORT OF LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE
Topics: CHEROKEE WAR

      Van Wyck, Katherine Louise Wood, 1857-. Genealogy of Pettit Families In America: Descendants of   John Pettit, 1630-1632, First of That Name In America. South Pasadena, Calif., 1936. 

Stephen Hotzenbella, The Immigrant 1710 - 1778

6th Great Grandfather Maternal Side

Stephen came from the Palatine region of Germany aboard the ship Mortonhouse which arrived in Philadelphia in the summer of 1728. Having paid his own way he came as a free man. Stephen signed the Oath of Allegiance with his mark and was noted as Staffen Hattsebeiler one of the many different spellings his last name would later morph into. There were 80 families listed on this ship which made it's way from Rotterdam to America.

Since Stephen was a Blacksmith by trade he found his way to Virginia where Alexander Spottswood had encouraged immigration to work the mines. While there he met and married Elizabeth Brumback between 1732 and 1736. Elizabeth was born at Germanna about 1715 and educated at Germantown. She and Stephen had many children before 1767 when it is believed that she died.

Stephen Hansonbella, recorded a deed on March 20, 1736 in Orange County, Virginia for 450 acres of land near the mouth of the Opequon Creek (Cartmell's History of the Shenandoah Valley, Page 14).  On September 3, 1755 he procured a grant for 400 acres of land on the Capon River in Virginia.

In 1743, Stephen Hansenbella was appointed County Constable in Frederick County. 

After Elizabeth's death Stephen married a second time to a widow, Barbara Renner or Brenner, maiden name unknown, who survived him. He provided well for her in his will (Frederick Co. Will Book 6, pp 628-629) which he made on April 2, 1778 and signed by his mark. This will was probated on May 7, 1778 with his son, Jacob, and his son-in-law, Valentine Switzer as executors. Five pounds each were left to the Lutheran and Calvinist churches or the “Reformed Calvinist ministry from Palatine.”

Stephen lived in America less than 50 years. He embraced the economic, civic, and religious life of his adopted country. He left a comfortable estate but perhaps the greatest contribution of this pioneer was his family of twelve children, seven daughters and five sons:

1. Mary; b about 1737 married Valentine Switzer
2.  George; b about 1738 married Catherine McKeever
3.  John, Sr.; b. about 1739 married Barbara Schurf
4.  JACOB; b. about 1740 married Elizabeth Huber (5th great grandparents)
5.  Agnes; b. about 1741 married Rudolph Bomgardner
6. Catherine; b. about 1742 married Kerns
7.  Elizabeth; b. about 1743 married Jacob Hoover (Huver most likely brother to Elizabeth who married Jacob Hostenpiller)
8.  Peter; b. about 1745 (was not listed in will)
9.  Anna Maria; b. about 1747 married William Stroop, II (Stroup)
10. Sarah; b. about 1749 married Hopliel Coffman
11.  Susannah; b. about 1750 married Siegler
12.  Stephen, Jr.; b. about 1752 (was not listed in will)

Stephen Hotzenbella died on May 7,1776 in Germantown, Virginia. He was most likely buried on his plantation.

Sources:

1.      www.hathitrust.org

Brumback-Hotsinpiller Genealogy. Some of the Descendants of Melchoir Brumback of the 1714 Germmana Colony in Virginia through his daughter Elizabeth who married Stephen Hotsinpiller and Allied Families; Dixon, E. C. (1961). Englewood, New Jersey

Library of Virginia, Online Catalog
Early Records of Hampshire VA by Sage & Jones

A history of Halifax County (Virginia) by Wirt Johnson Carrington, (1924); Appeals press; Richmond, VA

Genealogical Abstracts from 18th-Century Virginia Newspapers by Robert K. Headly, Jr. (1987); Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.; Baltimore, Maryland

U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900, Yates Publishing, Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 2004

Breitbard, Gail. Some Names from Virginia Wills & Administrations. In The Lost Palatine, no. 22 (1985), p. 2.
Pennsylvania German Pioneers by Ralph Beaver Strassburger and William John Hincke, (1934); Pennsylvania Germann Society; Norristown, PA; Vol.1, Page 19

From research of  Nadine Peterson (NPeter2089@aol.com) & Frank Thomas Switzer (Ancestry.com)Contact: Thom Switzer: ranglesmite@hotmail.com