| |
Time Line of the
Mossman & Ballard Relations
Compiled
by
Patricia Peters &
Kathleen O'Connell ©2000-2004
|
Part 4
Early Nineteenth Century America
Farming, Blacksmithing & Digging for
California Gold
The Family Scatters From
Coast to Coast
1826 - 1875
|
| |
|
| 1826 |
It is
speculated that John and Aaron Mossman, sons of William
Mossman and Leticia (Lanhorn) are born between 1826 and
1828, possibly in Ohio. |
| 1826 |
Archibald
Mosman sold David Pierce of Wythe County, VA 150 acres on
Poplar Camp Creek for the sum of 100 pounds -Deed
Book 5, p. 18. Note: Although the U.S.
government had issued money in the late 1700's, people
seemed to have reckoned in English money for a good many
years. |
| 1826 |
In March, a
deed from Archibald Mossman to George Mossman was proven
in court by Eli Cook and Andrew Roberson subscribing
witnesses. - Grayson County, VA Court Order book,
p. 99. |
| 1826 |
On April
27th, George Mosman is a buyer at the estate sale of
Thomas Baldwin - Grayson Will Book I, 1796-1839. |
| 1826 |
Chestnut
Monthly Meeting is laid down this year because of the
migration of most of its members to Ohio and other
northwestern states. Some of the original members of the
women's meeting included Mary and Elizabeth Ballard. |
| 1826 |
Henry Clay,
Secretary of State, vs. John Randolph, Senator in a
duel. The first volleys had missed their marks, but
the second struck Randolph's coat. Randolph told
Clay he owed him a coat, the two shook hands and
concluded unharmed. |
| 1827 |
First railway
in the U.S. is constructed in Massachusetts. |
| 1827 |
George
Washington Mossman, son of George and Hannah (Brown) is
born on the 18th of February but dies on the first of
March. |
| 1827 |
In October of
this year, George Mosman had living on his land, these
persons: Ruben Wright of Rockingham Co., NC and
Nancy Rinal from Pittsylvania Co., Va who had been living
on this land from some time. On the first of the
month, George went before the Clerk of the Court and
asked they be issued a license to marry. Right
granted, and the couple was married on the 1st of October
the following year. (Letter dated 8 Jan 1987 to
Dean Mossman from James Stamper of Independence, VA.) |
| 1827 |
Letter from
Grayson County to Christopher "Anthony" &
Eleanor (Mossman) Ballard, Illinois State, Sangamon Post
Office, dated the 20th day of December from George and
Hannah (Brown) Mossman which mentions their two sons
(Alexander & Eli) and one they lost last February
which died at 11 days old - they had named him George
Washington Mossman. The letter discusses the Mossman
estate, and though George indicates he has no desire to
leave Grayson County, he removes not long after to Hardin
County, Iowa. |
| 1828 |
Margaret
Mossman, daughter of George and Hannah (Brown) is born 07
February. She later marries Jacob Spangler in Mercer
County, Illinois. |
| 1828 |
Louisa
Ballard, the daughter of Christopher Anthony Ballard and
Eleanor (Mossman), marries Ezekiel Pilcher (son of
Shadrach Pilcher & Sarah Proctor) on the 8th of May
in Springfield, Sangamon County, IL. |
| 1828 |
Personal
Property Tax list of Grayson County, VA includes George
and Archibald Mossman each having one horse and William
Mossman listed also. [See 1828 Grayson Co., VA Tax List] |
| 1828 |
Archibald
Mossman and Sarah his wife, sells Thomas Smyth 200 acres
on Poplar Creek on 11th of April - Deed book 5, p.310. |
| 1828 |
George
Mossman deeds the 200 acres of land on Laurel Creek his
father Archibald had deeded to him to Abram Odell for
$350 on the 11th of October - Deed Book 6, p.175. |
| 1828 |
Andrew
Jackson is elected President, John Calhoun, Vice
President, on December 3rd, 1828. Family notes indicate
this is the same day that Archibald Mossman died. |
| 1829 |
George and
Hannah Mossman leave Grayson County and relocate to Wayne
County, Indiana where George and Hannah purchase four
separate parcels of land between January and June - these
parcels being located in Centerville, Indiana. |
| 1829 |
Margaret
Ballard, the daughter of Christopher A. Ballard and
Eleanor (Mossman), marries Samuel Meredith of Cincinnati,
OH on the 27th of March in Springfield, Sangamon County,
IL. |
| 1830 |
Sale of the
estate of Sarah Mossman, dec'd dated March 6th. This
reference from 1895 letter of Norfolk, Virginia clerk's
office to John Fenton. |
| 1830 |
The following
familes were enumerated in the 1830 Grayson Co., VA Census: Amos Ballard; William Ballard (3);
William Hill; and John McMullen |
| 1830 |
William
Mossman, the son of of William and Leticia
(Lanhorn) is born about this year in Ohio. He later
marries Amanda Blandin. |
| 1830 |
William and
George Mossman appear in the index as heads of household
in Centerville in the Indiana Census for Wayne
County, Indiana. |
| 1830 |
Isaac V.
Mossman, son of George and Hannah (Brown) is born
in Centerville, Wayne Indiana on August 30th. |
| 1830 |
Caroline
Pilcher, daughter of Louisa (Ballard) and Ezekiel
Pilcher, is born on the 17th of October in Springfield,
Illinois. She later marries James Montgomery Kalb. |
| 1830 |
Letter
written on the 19th of October from Grayson County.
Begins, "Affectionate Sister and Neases; We onse
more had the Pleasure of reciving a letter from you all
though a lamentable one indeed … I feal verry
thankfull to the great god of Mercys that He has been
Pleased to Spare the Life of my Nease and her Dear Littel
Infant …" Signed simply John. (Believe this is
possibly John McMullin/McMullen - husband of Mina
Mossman, daugther of Archibald and Margaret (Young)
Mossman and sister of George Jr., William and Mrs.
Eleanor Ballard. |
| 1831 |
Audit of
Sarah Mossman's estate dated February 28th. This noted in
1895 lettter to John Fenton from the clerk's office of
Norfolk, Virginia. |
| 1831 |
Mina (Mossman) McMillen, writes to her
sister Eleanor (Mossman) Ballard from Grayson Co.,
Virginia on the 26the of October. This letter indicates
she had just had a daughter "Marthy Jane" born
the 17th of July and that they had to put off moving
until early spring. She mentions "As we had a name
for Each of our Mothers and one for my sister two for
Johns sisters I had no perticular name invese and I gave
up for Amanda to name her littel sister so she caled her
Marthey Jane." Believe her other known daughters are
Margaret and Eleanor, and one unknown. She also mentioned
she had had twins, but nothing is known of them. |
| 1831 |
George and
Hannah Mossman sell 1/4 acre of lot 62 in Centerville and
its right of way to George Hendrix. |
| 1832 |
Black Hawk
War takes place when the 1831 treaty has moved the Sac
and Fox Indians West of the Mississippi, but under Chief
Black Hawk, they returned to Illinois where most of the
Indians in the engagement were killed on the Bad Axe
River. |
| 1832 |
Twin sons,
Joseph Warren and Richard Montgomery Pilcher are born on
the 8th of June to Louisa (Ballard) and Ezekiel Pilcher
in Springfield, IL. |
| 1832 |
Mary Jain
Mossman, daughter of William Mossman and Leticia
(Lanhorn) is born about this year, birth place unknown.
She later marries James Kelley but prior to this is
living in Fayette County, Indiana in 1850 with the
Chrisman family, perhaps working as a nanny for a one
year old Eliza Chrisman. |
| 1833 |
Jackson is
re-elected as President - his Vice President is Martin
Van Buren. |
| 1833 |
Aaron
Mossman, son of George and Hannah, is born on the 5th of
January. |
| 1835 |
George and
Hannah Mossman of Grayson County, Virginia have moved
from Centerville, Wayne County, Indiana, and are living
in LaPorte when their son George Mossman, Jr. is born on
the 19th of March. |
| 1835 |
The first
attempted assassination against a U.S. President fails -
a gun misfires, and leaves President Jackson unharmed. |
| 1836 |
After losing
the siege at Bexar, Mexican General Santa Anna, arrives
in San Antonio where the Texans have taken refuge in an
old mission known as the Alamo and all of the Texas
defenders are massacred. |
| 1836 |
Shadrach
Anthony Pilcher, son of Ezekiel and Louisa (Ballard) is
born on the 27th of February. Family letters
indicate he may have gone to Oregon and died there in
about 1866. |
| 1837 |
While Martin
Van Buren has become President with Richard Johnson as
his Vice, an economic panic and depression settles in on
the U.S. |
| 1837 |
Named after
fellow Virginian, Senator Henry Clay, George and Hannah
Mossman have another son born on the 13th of June, Henry
Clay Mossman. It is assumed that they are still
residing in LaPorte at this time, but remove from here to
Mercer County, Illinois by at least the fall of 1841. |
| 1838 |
Archibald
Mossman Pilcher, son of Ezekiel and Louisa (Ballard) is
born on the 8th of January in Springfield, IL. He
later lives in Morgan County and Cook County, Illinois. |
| 1838 |
In July,
Archibald Mossman Ballard marries Matilda True (born in
Fayette, KY) in Springfield, Illinois. They later
remove to Amador County, CA. |
| 1838 |
Christopher
Anthony Ballard marries as his second wife, Louisa S.
possibly in Carthage, Hancock, IL on the 25th of October. |
| 1839 |
Willis E.
Jackson marries Mary E. Rich on 18 April, Washington
Twp., Rush County, Indiana. |
| 1839 |
George and
Hannah Mossman settle near Keithsburg, Mercer Co., IL on
land which may have been bounty land awarded to his
father from the War of 1812. |
| 1839 |
According to
George Mossman's letter (dated 14 March 1852), his son
Aaron dies at the age of six years and seven months on
the fourth of August. |
| 1839 |
Mary Mossman,
daughter of George and Hannah (Brown) is born on the 3rd
of September in Illinois and later marries Henry Shiner. |
| 1840 |
Ellenor
Victoria Ballard, first child of Archibald M. Ballard and
Matilda (True) is born in Springfield, IL on the 22nd of
March. She removes with her family to Amador
County, CA and later marries William Cook. |
| 1840 |
Johnson
County, Indiana Census lists William Mossman's household;
and Mercer County, Illinois is the residence for the
family of George and Hannah Mossman. 1840 Mercer Co., IL Census |
| 1841 |
John Tyler,
Vice President to William Harrison takes over office when
President Harrison dies on the fourth of April of
pneumonia. |
| 1841 |
Born on the
7th of November, Eliza Jane Ballard - daughter of
Archibald and Matilda (True), she removes to California
with her family and later marries Louis McLaine and
resides in San Francisco. |
| 1841 |
Samuel E.
Mossman, son of George and Hannah (Brown) is born in
Mercer County, Illinois on the 15th of November. He
later marries Margaret Hough. |
| 1841 |
On the 24th
of December, Louisa (Ballard) and Ezekiel Pilcher's son
Alexander S. Pilcher is born in Springfield. He
later serves in the Union Army. |
| 1843 |
James W.
Ballard, son of Archibald M. and Matilda (True), is born
in February of this year. He removes to California
and settles in Oakland. |
| 1843 |
Eleanor
Pilcher, twin of Edward and daughter of Louisa (Ballard)
and Ezekiel, is born in Springfield on March 7th.
She later marries John Burden. |
| 1843 |
Edward
McCafferty Pilcher, twin of Eleanor and son of Louisa and
Ezekiel is born on the 7th of March in Springfield,
Illinois. He later marries Mary Jane Dwyer in St.
Louis, MO. |
| 1843 |
On May 22nd,
the first substantial wagon train to Oregon leaves from
Independence, Missouri. |
| 1844 |
Texas is
annexed to the U.S. and James Polk is President with
George Dallas as his Vice President. |
| 1845 |
On the 19th
of April, Matilda (True) Ballard, wife of Archibald,
gives birth to son Archibald Mossman Ballard in
Springfield, IL but the infant son dies the same day. |
| 1845 |
Louisa and
Ezekiel's last child, Clarissa VanBergen Pilcher, is born
on the 7th of October in Springfield, IL. She later
marries Thomas A. Moore who joins the Union Army and also
becomes a homeopathic doctor. |
| 1843 |
Martha
Eleanor Jackson, daughter of Willis and Mary is born on
the 5th of November in Falmouth, Rush County. She
later marries Isaac Mossman in Eugene, Oregon. |
| 1844 |
Archibald,
son of George Mossman and Hannah (Brown), is born on the
23rd of January in Mercer County, IL. He later
marries Julia Simplot. |
| 1844 |
Alexander
Mossman, son of George and Hannah, dies at the age of 21
years, 1 month and 23 days according to a letter written
by George in 1852. |
| 1846 |
Shortly after
Texas is admitted to the Union, the Mexican War begins
and at its end two years later, the Rio Grande was made
the southern boundary of Texas, and California and New
Mexico were ceded to the U.S. - In return, Mexico
was paid $15 million and the U.S. agreed to settle all
claims of U.S. citizens against Mexico. |
| 1846 |
Andrew
Jackson Mossman is born on the 16th of October in
Keithsburg, Mercer Co., IL and is the son of George and
Hannah (Brown) - Apparently named after President Andrew
Jackson who had died in June, the previous year. |
| 1847 |
Frances Ann
Ballard, daughter of Archibald M. and Matilda (True) is
born in Springfield, IL on the 11th of June. She
removes to California with her family and marries J.T.
Bradshaw and resides in Pine Grove in Amador County. |
| 1848 |
During an
excavation for a saw mill on land settled by pioneer John
Sutter, gold is discovered in Sacramento, California. |
| 1849 |
Zachary
Taylor is President, and Millard Fillmore the Vice
President until Taylor dies the following year and
Fillmore takes over the Presidency. |
| 1849 |
On the 8th of
June, Mary Maria Ballard, daughter of Archibald and
Matilda (True) is born in Springfield, IL. She
later removes to California with her family and marries
William F. Spencer and resides in Woodland, John County,
California. |
| 1849 |
About this
time, Leticia (Lanhorn) Mossman, wife of William,
dies. William later remarries, the name of his
second wife possibly Sarah. |
| 1850 |
Margaret
Mossman, daughter of George and Hannah (Brown), marries
Jacob Spangler in Keithsburg, Mercer Co., IL on the 21st
of March. |
| 1850 |
Christopher
Mossman, son of William Mossman and Leticia (Lanhorn),
and husband of Jemima is living in Rochester, Fulton
County, Indiana. |
| 1850 |
The family of
George and Hannah Mossman are residing in New Boston, and
enumerated in the Mercer County, IL census - George and Eli are both listed
as blacksmiths. - The families of Joshua Warrington is
listed in New Boston Twp. as well, and the Jacob Spangler
household is enumerated in Millersburg Twp. |
| 1850 |
Eleanor
Mossman's daughter, Louisa Ballard-Pilcher, is enumerated
with her husband Ezekiel and their ten children (two sets
of twins) in the Sangamon County, IL census. They lived not far from
Abraham Lincoln whom they were acquainted with (Ezekiel a
carpenter, was said to have made furniture for Abe), and
the home of Deputy Marshall Peter Vanbergen and his wife
Clarissa for whom Louisa's youngest child was named. |
| 1850 |
Eleanor
Mossman-Ballard's husband is enumerated in the Goliad County, TX census with his second wife Louisa and a
young son Charley age eight. (It is not known when he and
Eleanor split up). |
| 1850 |
The family of Samuel
Lundy and Polly (Ballard) are residing in Hillsville, Carroll Co., Virginia and incudes six children. Samuel
is listed as a wgon maker. |
| 1852 |
Hannah
(Brown) and George Mossman's last child is born on the
6th of March. A letter from George indicates Hannah had
quite a difficult time, and although baby Eleanor
survived the birth, she apparently died as an infant. |
| 1852 |
On the 14th
of March, son Calaver Ballard is born to Matilda (True)
and Archibald M. Ballard; but dies on the Atlantic Ocean
on the 27th of February the following year. Family
letters state he was buried in Springfield, Illinois. |
| 1852 |
From
Keithsburg, IL George Mossman Jr. writes his niece Louisa
and her husband Ezekiel Pilcher in Springfield, IL on the
14th of March. He states that his wife (Hannah) was
"confined on the 6th of this instance and has a fine
daughter and calls it Elleanor after your mother She had
bin verry weakley for a long time and I was verry fraid I
should lose her but thank the Lord She is now doeing
tolerable well we had that good Doctor our oald friend Thomas Willits, he is one of the best in our
country." (This off site link takes you to Nadine Holder
& Jill Martin's website regarding Mercer Co., IL -
offers ancestry, photo, general info and obituary of Dr.
Thomas Willits.) |
| 1852 |
Eli Cook
Mossman, son of George and Hannah (Brown), marries Louisa
Van Eaton on the 31st of October in Henderson County,
Illinois. |
| 1853 |
About this
year, William Mossman, son of William Mossman and Leticia
(Lanhorn), marries Amanda Blandin-Troutman in Fulton
County, IN. She is the daughter of Jesse Blandin and
widow of John Troutman who died in 1851 the same year
their only son John E. Troutman was born. |
| 1854 |
Lucinda May
Ballard, daughter of Archibald M. and Matilda True, is
born on the 10th of January. She later removes with
her family to California and marries J.W. Powers in
Amador County but later lives in Sacramento. |
| 1854 |
Mary Mossman,
the daughter of William Mossman and Amanda (Blandin) is
born about this time in Fulton County, Indiana. |
| 1856 |
Charles B.
Mossman, the son of William Mossman and Amanda (Blandin)
is born about this time in Fulton County, Indiana. |
| 1857 |
On the 25th
of June, the last child of Archibald Mossman Ballard and
Matilda (True) is born. He is the only child of
their nine children that was born in California. He
was born in Amador County. |
| 1857 |
On the 19th
of December George & Hannah Mossman of Hardin County,
Iowa sell land to William Howell in Section Ten, Township
87, Range 21 for the sum of $950.00. |
| 1859 |
"Madam I have been
for the Last 6 months trying to find some of the heirs of
Archibald Mossman but without success untill the other
day I Happened in Company with John Edwards and he showed
me your Letter of the 5th December Last." Letter of
Abner Thompson, Brown Hill, Wythe Co., VA to Mary Jain
Mossman dated February 18th. |
| 1860 |
William
Mossman, son of William Mossman and Leticia (Lanhorn),
and husband of Amanda Blandin, is living in Fulton
County, Indiana. |
| 1860 |
Mary
Thornburg-Brown, widow of Samuel and mother of Hannah
Mossman, is residing in her son Jeremiah Brown's
residence in Richmond, Wayne Co., Indiana. Listed as age
86. 1860 Wayne Co., IN Census |
| 1860 |
James W. and Oscar Lundy
and their families are lviing in Warren Co., Iowa - sons of Samuel Lundy & Mary
"Polly" Ballard. |
| 1862 |
Christopher
Anthony Ballard, son of William Ballard and Elizabeth
(Anthony) and husband of Eleanor (Mossman); and (2)
Louisa S., dies in Mission, Refugio, TX on the 24th of
October. |
| 1865 |
Eleanor (Mossman) Ballard
writes from Canton, MO on March 29th: "Dchildren I
recieved your kind leter we we ware all glad to hear
thaht yo ware all well and your mother was giting beter
weare all and I am well all but mifet but I am still a
tring every thing that I can git or hear of I wish you
would come and see us Marget Meredeth is coming..." |
| 1865 |
"Letter from Gun
& Co. - American, Colonial and Foreign Agents of
London England dated 6th July to Alex Pilcher in care of
E.Hendry. "We have searched our Registry, and cannot
find that any advertisements relating to either George or
Alexander Mossman have ever appeard. Some 50 or 60 years
ago, a John Mosman and a few years later, his wife Mary
Mosman, died, both intestate, and their next of kin wre
advertised for. Do you think that you are in any way
related to those parties?" |
| 1865 |
On the first of October
Eleanor (Mossman) writes from Canton, MO to her daughter
Louisa: "if you have not sent my brothers leter to
Mr. Merideth and you doe not want to sent it and hve done
with it I wold be glad that you woold let shad fech it to
me but i think that you had beter send it to Mr. Merideth
as he noes nose wheare my oldes bothers chilldren lives
..." |
| 1865 |
"Letter from Gun
& Co. - American, Colonial and Foreign Agents of
London England dated 6th October to Alex Pilcher in care
of E.Hendry. "Since writing to you a few months ago,
we have been informed that there is a considerable amount
of property in this country lying unclaimed in the name
of Mosman and that the persons entitled there to are
supposed to be in America." |
| 1865 |
Mary Jain
Mossman-Kelley, daughter of William Mossman and Leticia
(Lanhorn) writes letters to cousins on the 18th of
October, indicating that she has 6 six children living
and one dead. |
| 1865 |
On the 15th of November
C.F. or O.F. McMillan/McMillen writes "Dear Cousins
...For myself I have not seen a well day since the 25th
of July last. We started home 10 days too soon, as the
“reconstruction” of the Railroad was not
completed; and we had to “tarry” at “Camp
Detention” distant from Atlanta Thirty-Five miles
for ten days , from the “effect of that “Camp
Life” we were all “more or less” sickened
..." |
| 1865 |
Date of Christopher
Mossman's letter unkown, but appears to be 1865: there is
But 4 of us and the rest will do as i do i know there is
3 of us lives here close together and my other sister
lives in Madison Co., ind direct to James Kelley Madison
Co. ind duck creek – an there is old thomes more
lives there that knew father and grand father in virginne
- my Brother William is in the army yet But we are
looking for him home soon ... |
| 1865 |
Letter from Gun & Co.
- American, Colonial and Foreign Agents of London England
dated 16th of Nov to Alex Pilcher in care of E.Hendry.
"Your letter of 29th October is to hand. We cannot
say whether or not the Mosman property to which we had
reference in our letter of 6th Oct., is or is not that in
which you are interested, unless we make an investigation
of matters connected with it ..." |
| 1865 |
Letter from Gun & Co.
- American, Colonial and Foreign Agents of London England
dated Dec 30th to Alex Pilcher in care of E.Hendry.
"Your favor of Nov 28th containing a Draft on London
for Four Pounds Sterling, is to hand. We presumed at
first that the amount sent , was sent to pay for making a
search for the will, and were about commencing it when
your letter of 4th Inst came to hand, by which we
percieve that you wish us to examine ..." |
| 1866 |
Eleanor Mossman writes
from Canton, MO on the 23rd of March to her daughter
Louisa in St. Louis: "...the last leter that I
recieved from you was dated on the 10 of December 1865 i
hapened to go to Juge veases and theare I hapen to hear
that you had sent me word by miss mounday and I went to
seher and she told me that you had had had recieved from
Gglean leters that thear was grat amount gold and a great
a mount of real eastate ..." |
| 1871 |
George
Mossman, son of Archibald Mossman and Margaret (Young),
husband of Hannah Brown, dies in Hardin county, Iowa on
the 23rd of October and is laid to rest at Pt. Pleasant
Cemetery in Pleasant Twp. Hardin Co., IA. |
| 1872 |
Louisa
Ballard, the daughter of Christopher Anthony Ballard and
Eleanor (Mossman) dies in St. Louis, MO on the 22nd day
of December. |
| 1875 |
Eleanor
Mossman, daughter of Archibald Mossman and Margaret
(Young), first wife of Christopher Anthony Ballard, dies
in Canton, Lewis County, MO on the 8th of February. |
|
