I am posting each of these stories here in order to demonstrate what can be done, and, to make the information available to interested others. PLEASE NOTE: these have not been edited and updated for new information, so if you read this, take the information WITH THAT IN MIND! Thanks! Enjoy reading this slice of our lives.
Episode 8
Walter Kinnick Siblings
Walter Kinnick Siblings
From Episode 5, The Kinnick Gap:
This is where the gap is. Who is the next ancestor back from Walter W., father of Walter Watson, father of Alonzo? Is that person (her) Joseph, a son of Joseph, or someone else entirely? This is the challenge.
When we were in Princeton, we were shown a box of 3 by 5 note cards in the Genealogy Room of the Public Library. They were put there by people doing work on various Surnames. Under Kinnick, we found one card, "Joseph." The card had the name of a lady in Colorado who was seeking information on Joseph KINNICK/Rachel MERCER (this Joseph is a son of Walter W (the older) and a brother of Walter Watson, therefore, an uncle of our Alonzo). I sent her a letter, including some details we had beyond what it appeared from the card that she had. I heard back from her in about a month. Turns out she was actually looking for a KENIKE family, no relation...but...she enclosed a letter and charts, from a lady in Oregon, dated 1978, that contained the names of the siblings of the older Walter W. KINNICK!!! ...as well as the correct (I need to confirm, but looks realistic) spelling of the maiden name of his wife, Susan SCHWYHART (copy attached). Note there are four sisters of Walter listed as Dorcas, Sarah, Mary, and Catherine. No brothers (a clear reason it has been hard to find information under KINNICK!). Even their spouses are named: DALLAS, TRACY, TRIPLETT, and BUFKIN, respectively, along with a number of their children, including their birthdates. Note that the birthdates are only given as years, or year approximations, but exact dates and places of marriage are listed for all five.
Following receipt of this information, we were able to match the Mary KINNICK (sp. James TRIPLETT) with a list Nancy had gotten from the LDS Family History Center (about a block from our house) listing Mary KENNICK (AFN: KJ8X-57) with spouse James TRIPLETT (provided by a lady in CA, descended from another wife of James). We went over and ran the family group and it all matched!!! Their children, place of birth, marriage dates and places, spouses, more children... confirmed from two independent sources (specific details were different, so seems they came from different searches). Made us feel pretty good. Still need earlier info, of course, but makes it even more encouraging to keep looking. By the way, the current LDS file on James TRIPLETT lists a third wife, in between, of whom the lady from CA was apparently not aware. Interesting! I sent her a copy of this information. Haven't heard back to this date.
Some observations on genealogical research at this point using this experience as a point of reference: First, I used "siblings" in the title of this episode for a reason. I believe it is essential to gather sibling information (that is, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles) to give yourself a reasonable chance to locate information on past generations. [Many people only look at their lineage, the direct descendants only, not siblings]. Our "gap" is information on the parents of Walter W. (the older). Now that we know his siblings, in this case his sisters, we can begin looking at their documents (the sisters' information and records) for evidence of the parents' information. Since they were all females and each married, we now know to look under DALLAS, TRACY, TRIPLETT, and BUFKIN and not KINNICK!!!
Second, it is essential to follow all available leads. It would have been very easy here to have ignored that 3x5 card with the name of Joseph KINNICK on it. I already had extensive information on that family and could not reasonably have expected to get anything new. Yet I sent a simple query... and got an extremely pleasant surprise. Follow all leads!
Finally, gathering and maintaining records for cross-checking information is vital. We had no idea, for instance, that the Mary KENNICK listed on the LDS printout (of about 80 names) would be one we were looking for. We ran the list of all similar names to have ready to check-out as time was available. I had checked off those on the list which were already mentioned in the 1953 Kinnick Genealogy book. The "Mary" entry was one that I had marked to check-out when we had time. It moved to the top of the list with the receipt of the other information.
There were other useful bits of information in the new sheets from Oregon (circa 1978, no longer at that address) via Colorado. There is a mother's name (Mary), speculation on the father's name (William?) and information on Ohio locations not previously known. Let's look at the location information first.
We previously only knew that Walter Watson KINNICK was born 11 Oct 1940 in Belmont County, Ohio. Now we see references to Union Township, Belmont County (two marriages of sisters), and to Beaver Township, Guernsey County (actually Beaver Township is in Noble County after 1860). Dorcas (m. 6 Nov 1823) and Sarah (m. 1 Jan 1828) were married in Union Township, Belmont County. Mary was married 10 Jul 1831 in Guernsey County and Catherine was married 1 Mar 1832 in Belmont County. It appears Walter and Susan were married in Belmont County before 1835, but that is not yet documented. Walter and Susan had children Mary E. (b. abt 1835, per census records), Sarah, John, Joseph, Walter Watson and Catherine born in Ohio. Jacob (b. 4 Jan 1846), Margaret, Susan, Evelina, and Mary S. (b. abt 1856) were born in Illinois. It will be interesting to visit the courthouses, libraries and historical/genealogical societies in these Ohio locations someday.
There is apparently an 1830 Belmont County, Ohio, census record listing a Mary, age 50-60, as mother of the siblings, as well as a death record of the same person after 1830, same location. The speculation of a father named William (death 1823-1830, same location) comes from the name on a bond for the marriage of Dorcas KINNICK. It is suggested the name could refer to a brother, but there is no other such reference. This would, again, suggest that Walter might be a son of "the other" William KINNICK from Maryland in the Revolutionary War:
...shows two William Kinnicks living at the same time and confirms my deduction that there were two William Kinnicks in the Revolutionary War. The names of those serving in the Revolutionary War were taken from the Archives of Md. Vol. 189 Muster Rolls and other records of the Maryland Troops, etc. (p. 6, Kinnick Genealogy book, notes of Robert F. Hayes, Professional Genealogist)
There is much work yet to be done, but there are now more tools with which to dig in and do the work.
This is an addendum to Episode 8, Walter Kinnick Siblings
I am leaving the first part of this as I wrote it, to illustrate the thought processes going on over several weeks, as more information became available.
Addendum added 10-21-95 (not sent out ['til now, of course!]):
An alternative on the parents of Walter W KINNICK: Maryland Records for Anne Arundel County - Marriage Licenses, p. 449, lists John KERRICK m. Mary ISSAC, Jan. 12, 1790.
There is a record of birth on LDS IGI for a Mary KINNICK, 13 Aug 1804, Cecil County, Maryland. This is very close to the birth of Mary KINNICK who later married James TRIPLETT, and sister of Walter W. The father is listed as John KINNICK. No mother's name listed.
There is another interesting fact from the KINNICK Book. Probably not related, but who knows. "Percilla, daughter of John and Mary Kinnick, was baptized by the Rev. Rt. Rev. Thomas John Clagget 19 May 1800. She was born Feb. 1, 1800. (From Trinity Parish Register Charles County, Maryland)."
Sarah (1802), Walter (1809), and Catherine (1815) are all shown on census data to have been born in Maryland. Information to date on Dorcas, listed in my source as oldest, only suggests born between 1800-1810, no place shown (she married in 1823).
Narrative on known information on Walter and four sisters, 10-24-95:
Since Sarah was 71 years old when she died on 1 Jan 1872, her birth was probably late in 1801.
Although Dorcas is listed first, we do not know her year of birth yet. The 1840 census puts her at 30-40, presumably, therefore, born 1800-1810. She married, however, 6 Nov 1823, did she marry late or early? She was the first married, and was in Union Township, Belmont County, Ohio, at the time. ***Need to follow Joseph Dallas family for more details.
Catherine is, presumably, the youngest of the five children. Her birth is listed as 1815, but I do not know the source; probably death record, but I don't have it yet. ***She is shown as born in 1815, in Maryland. Dorcas marriage in Ohio was Nov 1823. The family seems to have moved during these eight years. ***Where were they for 1820 census?
Potential answer to 1820 census question: From Maryland census, in 1820 there is a Mary, as head of household in Charles Co. In 1810, there is a (head of household) HOH of John KENNICK. In 1800, there is also a HOH of John KENNICK, one white male 26-45, 2 w/male under 10, 2 w/female under 10 and 2 w/female 26-45. (One of these young boys could be the William who vouched for Dorcas in 1823! There is also a William getting married back in Maryland, in 1833?!) ***Need to see details of 1810 and 1820 census.
This could be the John and Mary noted above, married in 1790. That would suggest four children, 2 boys and 2 girls, by the 1800 census.
Additions on 10-28-95, Maryland 1810 and 1820 and Ohio 1830 census data all seem to fit into a coherent pattern:
It does appear that John and Mary had 2 boys and 2 girls between 1794 and the 1800 census. They could very well be the John and Mary noted being married in 1790. One of the boys is probably the William we find in Ohio in 1823 and then back in Maryland getting married in 1833. The other boy, an older brother of Walter, is unidentified at this time. One of the girls is likely the Percilla noted in the KG book as the daughter of John and Mary Kinnick, born 1 Feb 1800, baptized 19 May 1800 in Trinity Parish Register Charles County, Maryland. The other would be Dorcas, born late in 1800 or early 1801, before the census was taken.
The 1810 census, then, shows Walter, presumably, less than a year old, and, also, two more daughters who would be Sarah and Mary. These all follow through on the 1820 census in Maryland, Charles County. In addition, there are two more girls under 10. One would be Catherine, presumably born in 1815. The other is unknown. Also, before 1820, John has apparently died, as Mary is listed as head of household. A note on age of John and Mary. John appears to have been born between 1765 and 1774 according to the age categories in the 1800 and 1810 census. There is a second woman in the 1800 and 1810 census, either older or a helper. In 1800, both she and Mary are in the 26 to 45 category. They split to one of them over 45 in 1810. By 1820, Mary is over 45. Also, we know by 1823 there was a marriage in Ohio, so, presumably they moved.
By 1830, only Walter, presumably, is still in the household with Mary, in Ohio. The others have moved on, married, etc. This seems to fit with other known facts. This would explain why Walter does not show up on his own. Walter would be just 20 years old in 1830 at census time, which fits. Catherine and the other younger girl are gone, off to school or assisting in another household, a common practice at the time.
So, the parents of Walter W. appear to be a John and a Mary now identified through census data. We are searching, now, for the death record of John KINNICK in Charles County, Maryland, and for Mary KINNICK, in Belmont County, Ohio, though she might have moved to live with one of her daughters in a neighboring county. The search goes on. We also are seeking to follow William KINNICK back in Maryland after 1833, and, to identify the other older brother, probably, now, staying in Maryland.
Note that none of this new information places the family in Pennsylvania. Also, however, it does put them in Maryland at the same time as the principle families in the KG book. It is still possible that John might be a son of Joseph. We also believe that the references to Joseph, Jesper and Jasper, in the KG book, are probably all one person, not three. We seek to confirm or disconfirm this theory and the possible linkages. The search is now in Maryland, primarily. There was also a brother, Richard KINNICK, about which we know little except he was listed as a son of William and Sarah in the estate of William, and that he served in the Revolutionary War, in Maryland, in 1776. We also know there was a second William KINNICK in the Revolutionary War, in Maryland, who may also be the father of "our" John. "Our" John, of course, is distinct from the John, son of William and Sarah, who is the principle character in the KG book. "Their" John sold his land in Maryland and moved his entire family to North Carolina, where the balance of the KG book, about his descendants, plays out.
Looking at the rest of the "unused" KINNICK men mentioned in the KG book, there is an adult, George KINNICK, who is recorded in commercial tobacco transactions in 1780, 1781, and 1784. Also, a George, paid $1.00 in support of the clergy in 1805. These transactions were in Saint Mary's County, adjoining Charles County.
In the Charles County, 1810 census, there is also a Patrick KENNICK (John is also listed as KENNICK in the index; reading the actual census you really can't tell the difference.), age 26-45, with 2 females 26 to 45, and two boys and two girls all under 10. The children's ages would seem to explain the extra adult female, a child care person! This Patrick would be a contemporary of our John, having been born between 1765 and 1784, probably closer to the latter, making him somewhat younger than John. He is not listed in either 1800 or 1820. Probably not a head of household yet in 1800, moved elsewhere by 1820.
Added 10-29-95:
There is a Walter KERRICK, which I believe to be KINNICK, in Feb 1768, age 16 (therefore, b. 1752), on land leased from the Lord of Baltimore, "State of His Lordships Manor of Zachaiah in Charles County," by William Simms, age 60 (and Sarah Simms, age 30).
He is the correct age to be the father of John KINNICK, born 1765-1774. Let us say, for instance, that Walter married at age 18, in 1770, and John was born in 1771. He was married, we believe, in 1790, age would be 19 at that time. We have John KERRICK marrying Mary ISAAC on 12 Jan 1790, you recall. There was also in that record, a Francis KERRICK marring Mary DOVE on 21 Feb 1797. These could both be sons of Walter.
Report as of 11-18-95: Have this week received substantial more information on KINNICKs! Not the least of this is a six page research report from the Bureau Co, IL, Genealogical Society with another, maybe, twenty pages of supporting information. I sent in a membership in August. Membership includes access to a research report at minimal cost done by volunteers in exchange for a donation to the society. She did a great job!
Included, among other things, is the death and burial place of Walter W. (the older) and Susan, along with a son, John, and a daughter, Mary, which add much to our understanding of the middle years of that family. They were in a small town, Wyanet, between Dover, where they arrived from Ohio, and Buda, where Walter Watson (the younger) and his family lived. By way of an 1869 lawsuit, we have documentation of land owned by the older Walter which he left to some of his children, but it states that he never lived on the land! Actually, the land, 160 acres, now lays right along I-80, west of Princeton. She provided plat maps dated 1867 and 1875 that both show KINNICK on the maps! Two married daughters lived on adjoining land, as is so often the case.
Forest Hill (Wyanet) cemetery inscription information shows Walter W. d. 28 Feb 1853 at age 43y, 17d. Susan is actually Susanna on her grave, d. 27 Sep 1884 at age 75y, 4m, 25d. They are in plot 1 and 2. In plot 3 is "John S. KINNICK, son of W.W. & S. KINNICK, d. Jun 5, 1851, 16y, 9m, 22d (marker broken off, leaning against Large Kinnick Marker). This is especially interesting, because, this is the John KINNICK listed in the Kinnick Genealogy Book, per "family tradition," [as we family historians call it (that means, they said it, but don't necessarily believe it; work from it and prove or disprove it!)], as "killed in action in Civil War; unmarried." He was 16 years old and died in 1851, ten years before the war started!
But on real Civil War veterans, she included even more detail than I already had that shows both Walter Watson and his brother Joseph served as volunteers from Illinois; but, the served in the 7th Kansas Cavalry! Mom went down to our library and found them both listed, along with a five page detailed write-up on the whole 1861 to 1863 action they were in. A lot of the action was around Corinth, Miss, including the battle of Tupelo and crossing the Tallahatchie river several times. [I know Annette and Larry have visited this area, we'll have to compare notes.] We have at least three separate accounts of how Walter's wife, Mary, accompanied him to Corinth and nursed the troops. [I'll put this all in a separate episode.]
The other child buried in Wyanet was a Mary A. HARRISON, d. 12 Apr 1880, age 23y, 5m, 21d. This information, along with several other bits and pieces (I won't bore you with those details, now; part of it comes out of the lawsuit over land info), solved a couple mysteries noted above about three different "children, " shown on the 1850 and 1860 census. Turns out, the Mary E., listed as oldest daughter of Walter W. and Susan on 1850 census, had married a HARRISON, had two daughters, Evelina and Mary, and died before 1860 (she was not on the 1860 census). There were two youngest "children" listed on the 1860 census as Evelina (b. 1854) and Mary (b. 1856). What wasn't on the census, of course, was that they were actually grandchildren of Susan and their last name was actually HARRISON! Mary's age at death in 1880 puts her as born late in 1856. Elsewhere, I have confirmed an Eva HARRISON as a grand-daughter of Susan.
From several letters to several states, I have received much detailed information on Walter's (the older) four sisters, as noted above (Dorcas DALLAS, Sarah TRACY, Mary TRIPLETT, and Catherine BUFKIN). For instance, we have have located Mary TRIPLETT, buried in Monmouth, Warren Co, IL, in 1882. The TRIPLETT family is well documented, it turns out. I am corresponding with several people working on the line. Just today, I got a letter from the State of Indiana Library, locating information supporting a second and third marriage for Catherine BUFKIN REDDING ADAMSON, and her burial as Catherine B. ADAMSON! I have received preliminary information on the estate of Dorcas's husband Joseph DALLAS in Ohio. I'm still expecting some document to give support to identity of parents of the girls or Walter.
I am confident the John and Mary KINNICK from the census information in Maryland and Ohio supports those names. I do expect some further confirmation on the rest of the relationships. I've attached the latest Family Record Group for both John and Mary and for Walter and Susan.
Note: As I was running the Walter and Susan Family Group Record, I discovered a new relationship! With the correct age of John S., from his tombstone, he becomes the oldest child, not third! You recall from the 1830 Ohio census, it appears Walter, age 20, is the only one still at home with his mother, Mary. She seems to have died shortly after the census, and, Walter appears to have married Susan in about 1833. They then name their first son John (after his father) and their first daughter Mary (after his mother), very common practice. This would seem to be an additional confirmation the father and mother were indeed John and Mary!
Families are Forever! ;-)
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