Master of the House of Correction — Benjamin Carpenter

B. 20 Oct 1663 in Rehoboth, Massachusetts¹
M. 4 Mar 1691 in Northampton, Massachusetts²
Wife: Hannah Strong
D. 18 Apr 1738 in Coventry, Connecticut³

Benjamin Carpenter was a farmer and a house builder, but for a short time in his life, he took care of his town's jail. He was born on October 23, 1663 in Rehoboth, Massachusetts to William Carpenter and Priscilla Bennett,¹ both of whom were born in England. Sadly, his mother died at the time of his birth.⁴ He had two older brothers and an older sister, and when he was two-months-old, his father remarried,⁵ producing nine more children.

By 1691, Benjamin had relocated to Northampton, where on March 4th, he married Hannah Strong,² a native of the community. They would have 12 children together, born between 1692 and 1711. Benjamin’s father died in 1703 and left him some land in Rehoboth,⁶ but he later gave some of the land to his half-brother Nathaniel, and the rest to his brother William.⁷ Perhaps because Benjamin didn't live in Rehoboth he felt they could make better use of it.

In colonial towns, individuals were often assigned to perform duties for the community, and in 1707, Northampton appointed Benjamin to be “Master of the House of Correction.”⁸ The concept of a prison or jail in early 18th century New England was somewhat different than today. Jails weren’t intended for long-term confinement; instead, a prisoner was held until their trial, then after judgment, they’d either be released or punished on the spot. At the time Benjamin was in charge of the jail, it was a newly constructed building of about 24’ by 16’.⁸

In charge of the jail. (AI-generated image)

Benjamin soon gave up his duties as jail keeper because in 1708 he moved to the new settlement of Coventry, Connecticut,⁸ becoming a respected member of the community. He died on April 18, 1738 and is buried in Nathan Hale Cemetery in Coventry.³

Children:
1. Prudence Carpenter — B. 13 Jul 1692, Coventry, Connecticut⁹

2. Freedom Carpenter — B. 13 Jul 1692,Coventry, Connecticut;¹⁰ D. after 13 Jun 1766, (probably) Coventry, Connecticut;¹¹ M. Benoni Bernard (1683-1750), 13 Jun 1712, Coventry, Connecticut¹²

3. Amos Carpenter — B. 6 Nov 1693, Northampton, Massachusetts;¹³ D. before 23 Jul 1792, Coventry, Connecticut;¹⁴ M. Deborah Long (1698-1784), 23 Oct 1718, Coventry, Connecticut¹⁵

4. Benjamin Carpenter — B. 3 Oct 1695; D. 29 May 1785, Coventry, Connecticut;¹⁶ D. 29 May 1785, Danbury, Connecticut;¹⁷ M. Rebecca Smith (1705-1788), 12 Apr 1726¹⁸

5. Jedediah Carpenter — B. 1 Oct 1697, Northampton, Massachusetts;¹⁹ D. 15 Dec 1731, Rehoboth, Massachusetts;²⁰ M. Mercy Brown (1699-1751), 24 May 1725, Rehoboth, Massachusetts²¹

6. Hannah Carpenter — B. 15 Aug 1699, Northampton, Massachusetts²²

7. Eliphalet Carpenter — B. 16 Oct 1701, Northampton, Massachusetts;²³ D. after 25 Aug 1702, (probably) Northampton, Massachusetts²⁴

8. Eliphalet Carpenter — B. 29 Nov 1703, Northampton, Massachusetts;²⁵ D. 22 Feb 1792, Coventry, Connecticut;²⁶ M. (1) Elizabeth Andrews (1706-1773), 1 May 1727, Coventry, Connecticut;²⁷ (2) Abigail Ladd (~1740-?), 26 Oct 1773²⁸

9. Noah Carpenter — B. 4 Dec 1705, Coventry, Connecticut;²⁹ M. Kesiah ________²⁴

10. Elisabeth Carpenter — B. 15 Jul 1707, (probably) Northampton, Massachusetts;³⁰ M. Truman Powell (~1702-1759), 6 Mar 1727, New London, Connecticut³¹

11. Ebenezer Carpenter — B. 9 Nov 1709, Coventry, Connecticut;³² D. 19 Jan 1777, Hartford, Vermont;³³ M. Eunice Thompson (1722-1777), 1739, Coventry, Connecticut³⁴

12. Rebecca Carpenter — B. 23 Nov 1711, Coventry, Connecticut³⁵

Sources:
1    Birth record of Benjamin Carpenter, Massachusetts Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001, FamilySearch.org
2    Marriage record of Benjamin Carpenter and Hannah Strong, M.T.C.V. & T.R.
3    Death record of Benjamin Carpenter, Connecticut Deaths, 1640-1955, FamilySearch.org
4    Death record of Priscilla Carpenter, M.T.C.V. & T.R.
5    Marriage record of William Carpenter and Miriam Searls, M.T.C.V. & T.R.
6    Will and Estate Inventory of William Carpenter, 1702 and 1703
7    Quit claim deed from Benjamin Carpenter, 22 Jun 1708
8    History of Northampton, Massachusetts: From its Settlement in 1654, Vol. 1, James Russell Trumbull and Seth Pomeroy, 1898
9    Birth record of Prudence Carpenter, Connecticut Births and Christenings, 1649-1906, FamilySearch.org
10  Birth record of Freedom Carpenter, C.B. & C.
11  Bill of sale of land from Dan Barnard to “my hon’rd mother Freedom Barnard of Coventry,” dated June 13, 1766
12  Marriage record of Benoni Barnard and Freedom Carpenter, Connecticut Marriages, 1630-1997, FamilySearch.org
13  Birth record of Amos Carpenter, C.B. & C.
14  Connecticut Courant, 23 Jul 1792, “died at Coventry, Mr. Amos Carpenter, aged 99”
15  Marriage record of Amos Carpenter and Deborah Long, C.M.
16  Birth record of Benjamin Carpenter (younger), C.B. & C.
17  Death record of Benjamin Carpenter (younger), C.D.
18  Marriage record of Benjamin Carpenter and Rebecca Smith, C.M.
19  Birth record of Jedediah Carpenter, C.B. & C.
20  Death record of Jedediah Carpenter, M.T.C.V. & T.R.
21  Marriage record of Jedediah Carpenter and Mercy Brown, M.T.C.V. & T.R.
22  Birth record of Hannah Carpenter, M.T.C.V. & T.R.
23  Birth record of Eliphalet Carpenter (older), M.T.C.V. & T.R.
24  A genealogical history of the Rehoboth branch of the Carpenter family in America, Amos B. Carpenter, 1898
25  Birth record of Eliphalet Carpenter (younger), M.T.C.V. & T.R.
26  Death record of Eliphalet Carpenter (younger), C.D.
27  Marriage record of Eliphalet Carpenter and Elizabeth Andrews, C.M.
28  Genealogy of one branch of the Carpenter family, p. 4, Martin Leonard Roberts, 1877
29  Birth record of Noah Carpenter, C.B. & C.
30  Birth record of Elisabeth Carpenter, M.T.C.V. & T.R.
31  Marriage record of Truman Powell and Elisabeth Carpenter, C.M.
32  Birth record of Ebenezer Carpenter, C.B. & C.
33  Death record of Ebenezer Carpenter, C.D.
34  Marriage record of Ebenezer Carpenter and Eunice Thopmson, C.M.
35  Birth record of Rebecca Carpenter, C.B. & C.

One of the Vincennes Patriots — Antoine Bordeleau

B. 24 Apr 1730 in Quebec City, New France¹
M. 29 Jan 1758 in Post Vincennes, New France²
Wife: Marie-Catherine Caron
D. 29 Oct 1793 in Vincennes, Northwest Territory³

When we think of the American Revolution patriots who contributed to the founding of the country, we usually imagine the people who lived in the 13 colonies. But there was a group outside of this region who also made a commitment to the cause of American independence, and Antoine Bordeleau was part of this group.

 

Antoine was a native of Quebec City, born there on April 24, 1730 to Antoine Bordeleau and Marie-Madeleine Savari.¹ He was one of four children, but his father died when he was just 5 years-old.⁴ At some point after Antoine came of age, he left the St. Lawrence River area and ended up in the remote outpost of Vincennes (present-day Indiana). It doesn’t appear any of his family came with him, and there's no record of Antoine in any French settlements in between, like Montreal or Detroit, typical migration points for those who ended up in Vincennes. On January 29, 1758, Antoine married Marie-Catherine Caron,² and between 1759 and 1777, they had nine children, all baptized in the parish of St. Francis Xavier in Vincennes.

During the 1760s, after New France fell to England, British soldiers came to occupy Fort Vincennes. They were still there years later as the American colonies fought for independence in the east, The French people of Vincennes didn’t like being governed by the English, and they feared their religion and culture wouldn’t be protected if that side prevailed in the war. The territory priest who served Vincennes, Father Pierre Gibault, thought it would be wise for the French settlers to show support for the Americans. So on July 20, 1778, he came to town and gathered up all of the men, encouraging them to swear allegiance to the American cause.⁵

Antoine was one of many French men who made their mark on the Oath of Inhabitants of Vincennes, a document that still survives. The oath reads: “I swear that I will not do or cause anything or matter to be done which can be prejudicial to the liberty or independence of the said people, as prescribed by Congress, and that I will inform some one of the judges of the country of the said state of all treasons and conspiracies which shall come to my knowledge against…the United States of America.”⁶

The Oath of Inhabitants of Vincennes and detail showing Antoine's mark. 

The following year, Fort Vincennes was captured by American forces led by George Rogers Clark, and the British were forced to vacate the area. The battle was over in a day, largely because of the cooperation of the French people of Vincennes, some of whom joined in the fighting. The victory for the Americans gave an important foothold in the west, preventing the English from holding a front that may have altered the course of the war.⁷

For Antoine and the other French people of Vincennes, the aftermath of the American Revolution brought changes to their community. After the war, Vincennes had an influx of new settlers from places like Kentucky and Virginia, and they soon came to dominate the region. The French settlers' claims to the land they had owned for decades had not been well-documented. An attempt was made to rectify this; the new U.S. government ruled that each French inhabitant who was the head of a Vincennes household in 1783 was entitled to 400 acres. Antoine was one of the 143 men who received a grant of land.⁸

Nothing in Vincennes was business as usual, and one issue that came up was the right of free trade and duties on merchandise imposed by the local Indians. So in October 1792, Antoine made his mark on a petition to President Washington regarding this. The petition was forwarded to Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson.⁹ This gives a sense that Antoine and Vincennes were truly becoming a part of the American way of doing things.

Antoine died about a year later on October 29, 1793,³ and he appears to have been in some debt at the time of his death. There was a claim that he owed a man named Francis Bizayon $500, a debt that was said to be incurred in May 1792. By the time the case was tried in court, Biyazon had also died, so it was one estate suing another estate.¹⁰ The ruling went against the Bordeleau estate, and Antoine's son Pierre was forced to sell 48 acres of land to pay off the debt.

Children:
1. Catherine Bordeleau – B. 23 Dec 1759, Post Vincennes, New France;² M. Antoine Mallet (~1742-?)¹¹

2. Marie-Madeleine Bordeleau – B. 23 Oct 1761, Post Vincennes, New France;² D. 21 Feb 1819, Vincennes, Indiana;¹² M. Jean-Baptiste Renaud dit Deslauriers (1754-1834), 9 Jul 1779, Vincennes, Northwest Territory²

3. Antoine Bordeleau — B. 22 Sep 1763, Post Vincennes, New France²

4. Michel Bordeleau — B. about Nov 1765, Post Vincennes, Illinois Territory;² M. Ursula Le Cointe, 3 Jul 1786¹³

5. Archange Bordeleau – B. Jun 1767, Post Vincennes, Illinois Territory;¹³ M. Alexander Sanson (~1765-1803), 3 Oct 1785, Vincennes, Virginia Territory¹³

6. Therese Bordeleau — B. 3 Jun 1769, Post Vincennes, Illinois Territory²

7. Jean-Baptiste Bordeleau — B. 30 Apr 1770, Post Vincennes, Illinois Territory²

8. Charles Bordeleau — B. 10 Jun 1772, Post Vincennes, Illinois Territory²

9. Pierre Bordeleau — B. 16 Jul 1774, Post Vincennes, Illinois Territory²

10. Angelique Bordeleau — B. 16 Apr 1777, (probably) Post Vincennes, Illinois Territory¹³

Sources:
1    Baptismal record of Antoine Bordeleau, Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
2    “Records of the Parish of St. Francis Xavier,” Records of the American Catholic Historical Society of Philadelphia, Vol. 12, 1901
3    Find-a-Grave listing of Antoine Bordeleau  
4    Burial record of Antoine Bordeleau (older), Q.C.P.R.
5    Pierre Gibault (Wikipedia article) 
6    “The Oath of Vincennes,” The American Catholic Historical Researches, Vol. 7, No. 4, 1911
7    Siege of Fort Vincennes (Wikipedia article)  
8    “French and British Land Grants in the Post Vincennes (Indiana) District, 1750-1784,” Selections from The American State Papers, No. 1., 2004
9    “To George Washington from the Citizens of Vincennes, 6 October 1792,” National Archives 
10  Ettienne Bizayon (admin) of Francis Bizayon (deceased) vs. Pierre Bordeleau (exec) of Antoine Bordeleau, Wabash Valley Visions & Voices Memory Project  
11  Genealogy of the French Families of the Detroit River Region, 1701-1936, Christian Dennison, 1987
12  A complete survey of cemetery records, Knox County, Indiana, collected and compiled by Mrs. Alta Amsler
13  Roster of Soldiers & Patriots in the American Revolution Buried in Indiana, compiled and edited by Mrs. Roscoe C. O’Byrne, 1938-1966

A Doctor in Early New France — Félix Thunay dit Dufresne

B. about 1633 in Brest, Bretagne, France^1,2
M. 28 Dec 1665 in Cap-de-la-Madeleine, New France¹
Wife: Élisabeth Lefebvre
D. 27 Jul 1683 in Batiscon, New France²

When people fell sick during the 17th century in New France, they had few options to get medical treatment, especially if they lived outside of Quebec City or Montreal. So it was men like Félix Thunay dit Dufresne who served as doctors, doing what they could with the tools and medicines that were available.

Felix was born in about 1633 in Brest, France,^1,2 a town that’s in the westernmost province of the country. He was the son of Marin Thunay and Anne Levanasseur. Nothing more is known of his family, his childhood or his education. He first appeared in records in 1665 in the Trois-Riviéres area of New France.³ That year, Félix was given a chest filled with medicines (ointments and drugs) with the agreement that he would treat the poor people in the community free of charge. It’s not known whether he was already working as a doctor for people who paid him, or if the gift of medicine helped him get started setting up a practice.

Treating a patient. (AI-generated image)

On December 28, 1665, Félix married Élisabeth Lefebvre,¹ the daughter of Pierre-Michel Lefebvre, a major landowner in the area. She was only 14 years old when they were married, and she gave birth to their first child about two years later. The couple would have a total of at least five children, four of them girls.

Because Félix was practicing medicine, he sometimes was involved in court cases. Some of the matters had to do with non-payment for his services. In 1669, he took a man to court for the sum of 12 livres; the record doesn’t indicate if Félix won the case.⁴ Another time, he sued a woman for money that was owed for treatment of her deceased husband. She wanted to pay a smaller amount because Félix had been unable to cure him. The court ruled that she was to give Félix the full amount regardless.⁵

Other court records showed that Félix was sometimes called upon to take the witness stand when a medical issue was involved. In one trial in 1667, Félix gave testimony in a case where one man sued another for beating him with a cane. The injured man claimed he couldn’t use his arm and requested that a doctor look at him to support his claim. After examining him, Félix told the court that the man suffered from a badly bruised shoulder from being hit with the cane, and that it was uncertain if he would fully heal.⁶

Medical evaluation from 1667 trial signed by Félix. (Source: BAnQ)

In July 1668, Félix’s father-in-law’s health started to fail, and he distributed property among his children;⁷ Félix and Élisabeth received some land in Trois-Riviéres. They also bought a house on 2 arpents of land in Cap-de-la-Madeleine on April 15, 1669,³ and they were involved in several other purchases of property over the years.

Félix passed away at the age of 50 on July 27, 1683 in the village of Batiscon.² A few years later, his widow Elisabeth remarried to a man named Jean Collet,⁸ but she died only nine months later in September 1687.⁹

Children:
1. Élisabeth Thunay — B. 1667, Champlain, New France;¹⁰ D. 25 Mar 1734, Yamachiche, St-Maurice, New France;¹¹ M. Julien Rivard (~1657-1708 ), 3 Feb 1683, Champlain, New France¹²

2. Marie-Madeleine Thunay — B. about 1672, Cap-de-la-Madeleine, New France;¹³ D. about Feb 1738, Fort Detroit, New France;¹³ M. (1) François Xavier Pelletier die Antaya, 2 May 1690, Champlain, New France;¹⁴ (2) Pierre Mallet (1676-?), 9 Jan 1697, Montreal, New France¹⁵

3. Marguerite Thunay — B. 21 May 1675, Cap-de-la-Madeleine, New France;¹⁶ M. Toussaint Potier, 1 Dec 1703, Montreal, New France¹⁷

4. Antoine Thunay — B. about 1679, New France;¹⁸ D. 28 Dec 1746, Montreal, New France;¹⁸ M. Marie-Angélique Roy (1694-?), 6 Jun 1713, Montreal, New France¹⁹

5. Catherine Thunay — B. 22 Mar 1682, Champlain, New France;²⁰ D. 22 Oct 1760, Champlain, New France;²¹ M. (1) Jacques Filiatrault (1666-1716), 18 Apr 1700, Lachine, New France;²² (2) Pierre Louis Haudecoeur (1686-1754), Lachine, New France²³

Sources:
1    Marriage record of Félix Thunay dit Dufresne and Élisabeth Lefebvre, Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
2    Burial record of Félix Thunay dit Dufresne, Q.C.P.R.
3    Inventaire des greffes des notaires du Régime Français, Vol. 27, Pierre-Georges Roy, 1970
4    Court record of case involving Louis Robert dit Lafontaine, 16 Feb 1669, BAnQ  
5    Court record of Félix Thunay vs. Jean Jalot, 18 Mar 1675, BAnQ  
6    Court record of case involving Jean Danis, 6 Aug 1667, BAnQ  
7    WikiTree listing of Félix Thunay dit Dufresne  
8    Marriage record of Jean Collet and Élisabeth Lefebvre, Q.C.P.R.
9    Burial record of Élisabeth Lefebvre, Q.C.P.R.
10  WikiTree listing of Élisabeth Thunay  
11  Burial record of Élisabeth Thunay, Q.C.P.R.
12  Marriage record of Julien Rivard and Élisabeth Thunay, Q.C.P.R.
13  WikiTree listing of Marie-Madeleine Thunay  
14  Marriage record of François Xavier Pelletier die Antaya and Marie-Madeleine Thunay, Q.C.P.R.
15  Marriage record of Pierre Mallet and Marie-Madeleine Thunay, Q.C.P.R.
16  Baptismal record of Marguerite Thunay, Q.C.P.R.
17  Marriage record of Toussaint Potier and Marguerite Thunay, Q.C.P.R.
18  Généalogie du Québec et d’ Amérique française listing for Antoine Thunay
19  Marriage record of Antoine Thunay and Marie-Angélique Roy, Q.C.P.R.
20  Baptismal record of Catherine Thunay, Q.C.P.R.
21  Burial record of Catherine Thunay, Q.C.P.R.
22  Marriage record of Jacques Filiatrault and Catherine Thunay, Q.C.P.R.
23  Marriage record of Pierre Louis Haudecoeur and Catherine Thunay, Q.C.P.R.

Mother of a Fugitive Son — Mary Louise Ravellette

B. 3 Oct 1850 in Vincennes, Indiana¹
M. (1) 24 Nov 1868 in Knox County, Indiana²
Husband: William L. Edeline
M. (2) 3 Sep 1880 in Vincennes, Indiana³
Husband: Robert James Wilhite
D. 2 May 1918 in Vincennes, Indiana⁴

Mary Louise Ravellette was the mother of five children, whom she largely raised on her own. But in 1895, her oldest son committed a crime so serious, that he took to the road to escape capture, and this caused a rift she could never mend.

Mary was born on October 3, 1850 in Vincennes, Indiana,¹ a place where she had deep roots. Her parents, François Louis Ravellette and Susanne Gaile, were descended from the French fur traders who founded Vincennes during the 18th century. Some of her father's heritage was also Native American, and she seemed to have inherited a lot of that DNA, as evidenced by her descendants. By the time Mary was born, Vincennes was heavily populated by the children and grandchildren of settlers from Virginia and Kentucky. This made her family part of a Creole minority, who spoke a version of French in their home, and kept traditions different than many of her neighbors.

Mary had eight siblings, including a twin brother named William.⁵The older children couldn’t read or write,⁶ so they probably never attended school, but youngest sister Marguerite appears to have been literate, suggesting that at least she received a little education. Mary's father died when she was 13,⁷ and it seemed to fall upon the older children to help look after the younger ones. When their mother also passed away six years later,⁸ Mary took her 10-year-old brother Andrew into her household for a time.⁹

There are no known photos of Mary, but this is her sister Marguerite, and Mary's twin brother William.

By then, Mary had gotten married. On November 24, 1868, she wed William Edeline,² who was also from Vincennes; he was of French descent on his father's side, and non-French on his mother's. Mary joined William on his 40-acre farm in Knox County. She became pregnant almost immediately, and gave birth to her first child, a son name John, in September 1869.^10,11 This was followed by Robert Edward in 1871,¹² Susan Isabelle in 1873,¹³ and Marguerite Nora in 1876.¹⁴ But later that year, something happened to William, and by October, he had died.¹⁵ He was only 28 years-old and left no will; his probate record shows that the value of his property was $231.

Life must have been difficult for Mary during the years after William died. The 1880 census showed her living with her four young children, and no one in the household appeared to have been a breadwinner.¹⁶ Later that year, Mary married a second husband, a man named Robert James Wilhite, who worked at a stove factory, presumably as a laborer. Their marriage produced a daughter Laura in 1883,¹⁷ but some time after that, they separated. In 1888, Mary was listed in the Vincennes city directory living on her own under the name Edeline.¹⁸ Robert filed for divorce in 1892,¹⁹ which seems to have been granted soon after. He remarried in 1895,²⁰ but Mary remained alone for the rest of her life.

It was in May of 1895 that Mary’s family became associated with a sensational crime in Vincennes. On a Saturday night, her 25-year-old son John, accompanied by some friends, stalked a man named Moses Latta, whom John had a grudge against. He confronted Latta as he emerged from his fiancé's home, pulled out his gun, and shot him point blank. Latta collapsed and died shortly after, but John quickly ran away to Mary’s house. He gave her his gun, told her to hide it, then he left. The police arrested John's accomplices soon after, but he was never caught. Mary and the family never saw him again.²¹

Excerpt from article in Vincennes Commercial, May 21, 1895.

Mary centered the rest of her life around her other children and family members. One-by-one, the children got married, and two gave her grandchildren. Some of the grandchildren later remembered how Mary would speak in French to her daughter Susan whenever she didn’t want the kids to listen in.²² Mary’s son Ed left Indiana for a time, living in Memphis, where she made trips to visit him in 1903 and 1906.²³ There were also frequent visits to the town of St. Francisville, across the Wabash River in Illinois. St. Francisville was a Creole community, and several of Mary’s siblings and cousins lived there.

On May 2, 1918, Mary died at her home in Vincennes.⁴ A granddaughter recalled that she had been emotional over selling her house, and that this may have contributed to her death at age 63.²⁴ Mary received a small obituary in the Vincennes newspaper — the article mentioned all of her children except for John.²⁵ The family had no knowledge of the fact that John had changed his name and moved to Los Angeles, starting his life over and raising a family there. It wouldn’t be until June 2017 that DNA evidence and genealogy research reconnected the family.

Mary's daughter Susan with her husband and children, and John's children — grandchildren that Mary never knew.

Children by William Edeline:
1. John Edeline (AKA James William Elwood) – B. 18 Sep 1869, Vincennes, Indiana;^10,11 D. 5 Nov 1925, Los Angeles, California;¹⁰ M. Eleanor Mabel Hewes (1880-1942), 18 Feb 1898, Los Angeles, California²⁶

2. Robert Edward “Ed” Edeline – B. 10 Oct 1871, Vincennes, Indiana;¹² D. 2 May 1963, Evansville, Indiana;¹² M. Frances Rebecca Shappard (1871-1917), 12 Aug 1902, Knox County, Indiana²⁷

3. Susan Isabelle “Bell” Edeline – B. Dec 1873, Vincennes, Indiana;¹³ D. 14 Apr 1941, Vincennes, Indiana;¹³ M. (1) George W. Hill, 17 Jun 1891, Knox County, Indiana;²⁸ (2) Frank June Payton (1868-1926), 13 Jun 1895, Knox County, Indiana²⁹

4. Marguerite Nora Edeline — B. 20 Mar 1876, St. Francisville, Illinois;¹⁴ D. 19 Jan 1938, Vincennes, Indiana;¹⁴ M. Claude Burton Campbell (1882-1950)³⁰

Child by Robert James Wilhite:
1. Laura Wilhite – B. 7 Sep 1883, Vincennes, Indiana;³¹ D. 21 Jan 1953, Vincennes, Indiana;³¹ M. James Weaver Summers (1881-?)³²

Sources:
1    Birth record of Mary Louise Ravalet, Indiana Births and Christenings, 1773-1933, FamilySearch.org
2    Marriage of William Edeline and Mary Edeline, Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019, FamilySearch.org
3    Marriage of Robert Wilhite and Mary Edeline, I.M.
4    Death record of Mary Wilhite, Indiana Death Index, 1882-1920
5    Death record of Franois Louis Ravalette, I.B. & C.
6    1880 U.S. Census, Vincennes, Indiana
7    Birth record of William Ravalet, I.B. & C.
8    Death record of Susanne (Gaile) Moyes, Illinois Diocese of Belleville, Catholic Parish Records, 1729-1956, FamilySeach.org
9    1870 U.S. Census, Vincennes, Indiana
10  Death record of James Ellwood, California Death Index, 1905-1939, FamilySearch.org
11  1900 U.S. Census, Los Angeles, California
12  Find-a-Grave listing for Robert Edgar Edeline 
13  Find-a-Grave listing for Susan Isabelle (Edeline) Payton  
14  Find-a-Grave listing for Marguerite Nora (Edeline) Campbell  
15  Probate record of William Edeline, Probate records, Circuit Court, Knox County, Indiana, 1817-1921
16  1880 U.S. Census, Vincennes, Indiana
17  Find-a-Grave listing for Laura W. (Wilhite) Summers  
18  1888 Vincennes, Indiana city directory
19  Divorce record of Robert Wilhite vs. Mary Wilhite, Indiana Divorce Records
20  1900 U.S. Census, Vincennes, Indiana
21  “Latta’s Murderer: John Edaline Said to Have Fired the Fatal Shot,” Vincennes Commercial, 21 May 1895
22  Family stories told by Mary’s granddaughter, Marjorie Bartholomai (1917-2016)
23  Articles in Vincennes Commercial, 25 Sep 1903 and 18 May 1906
24  Undated letter written by Mary’s granddaughter Frances Widenor (1900-1984) 
25  Death notice for Mary Louise Edeline, 3 May 1918, Vincennes Morning Commercial
26  Marriage record of James William Elwood and Eleanor Mabel Hewes, California Marriages, 1850-1945, FamilySearch.org
27  Marriage record of Robert Edward Edeline and Frances Rebecca Sheppard, I.M.
28  Marriage record of George W. Hill and Susan Isabelle Edeline, I.M.
29  Marriage record of Frank Payton and Susan I. Hill, I.M.
30  Marriage record of Claude B. Campbell and Nora M. Edeline, I.M.
31  “My Ancestry & their descendants plus misc research,” Denis Paul Edeline, RootsWeb.Ancestry.com
32  Marriage record of Weaver Summers and Laura Wilhite, I.M.

Early Settler of Salem, Massachusetts — William Woodbury

B. about 1589 in (probably) South Petherton, England¹
M. 29 Jan 1617 in South Petherton, England²
Wife: Elizabeth Patch
D. before 26 Apr 1677 in Beverly, Massachusetts³

There are some gaps in the records regarding William Woodbury, but one thing that’s certain is he was definitely an early inhabitant of what is now Beverly, Massachusetts. William was born in about 1589, likely in or near South Petherton in Somerset, England.¹ He married Elizabeth Patch there on January 26, 1617.² It is believed they had 10 children, but the names of three are not known and they may have died young. Baptismal records for three sons were recorded at the parish in South Petherton; two other children were baptized later in Misterton (also in Somerset). Their youngest son, Nathaniel, was born after the family migrated to New England.⁴

William is sometimes credited as having first come to Cape Ann (what is now Salem, Massachusetts) as early as 1628. If this is true, he must have returned to England for the birth of his daughter Hannah in 1629. A man named John Woodbury (also from Somerset) did come to Cape Ann in 1628,⁵ and he is thought to be the brother or close cousin of William. The first record of Willam in America is that he owned 40 acres in Salem in 1637.⁵

As the community of Salem developed, some settlers chose to live across the bay to the north and William was one of them. On October 17, 1638, he was granted 20 acres at Mackerel Cove,⁵ and this is where he made his home. The peninsula where he lived became known as Woodbury Point, and it still is today.⁶ The northern part of Salem was split off and became the town of Beverly in 1668.⁷

William's name on the map.

As with all men in Puritan New England, William was assigned certain duties in his community. On 30 March 1640, William and a man named Lawrence Southwick were put in charge of keeping the livestock under control.⁵ In those days, cattle were herded in common areas and it was important that nobody’s cow or bull roamed free and damaged property. William also served on the Salem grand jury in 1643, 1644 and 1647.⁸ And when a road was needed to connect the ferry to the head of a major creek, William was called upon to help lay it out.⁵

Herding cattle on the commons. (AI-generated image)

In 1667, William was one of the names on the petition to form the first church in Beverly.⁹ Along with his name, are his wife Elizabeth and several of his sons. William died in Beverly before April 26, 1677, when his estate was probated.³ His will written in 1663 bequeathed his property and possessions to his wife and six of his children. William's descendants include First Lady Grace Coolidge, Vice President Charles Dawes, John Kerry and John Langdon, signer of the U.S. Constitution.¹⁰

Children:
1. Nicholas Woodbury — B. before 9 Apr 1618, South Petherton, England;¹¹ D. 19 May 1686, Beverly, Massachusetts;¹² M. Anna Palgrave (~1626-1701), 1651, Charlestown, Massachusetts¹³

2. William Woodbury — B. before 7 May 1620, South Petherton, England;¹⁴ D. before 13 Jan 1668, Beverly, Massachusetts;¹⁵ M. Judith Finne (1629-1672), 17 Apr 1651, Stepney, Middlesex, England¹⁶

3. Andrew Woodbury — B. before 9 Mar 1622, South Petherton, England;¹⁷ D. before 29 Jun 1685, (probably) Beverly, Massachusetts;⁵ M. Mary Cockerel (~1627-1685), 1657, Salem, Massachusetts⁵

4. Hugh Woodbury — B. about 1625, (probably) South Petherton, England;⁵ M. Mary Dixey (~1634-?), Dec 1650, Salem, Massachusetts¹⁸

5.  Hannah Woodbury — B. about Sep 1629, Misterton, England;⁵ D. before May 1701, Essex County, Massachusetts;⁵ M. (1) James Patch (1626-1658), about 1644, (probably) Salem, Massachusetts;⁵ (2) Mark Haskell, about 1660, Salem, Massachusetts¹⁹

6. Isaac Woodbury — B. about 1630, Misterton, England⁵

7. Nathaniel Woodbury — B. before 11 Dec 1639, Salem, Massachusetts;⁴ D. (probably) before 1663⁵

Sources:
1    Estimated year of William’s birth and location of birth based on his marriage vital data
2    Marriage record of Wilhelmus Woodberry and Elizabetha Patch, England, Somerset, Church Records, 1501-1999, FindMyPast.co.uk
3    Probate record of William Woodberry, The Probate Records of Essex County, Massachusetts, Vol. I, pp.140-141
4    Baptismal record of Nathaniel Woodberry, Vital Records of Salem, Essex, Massachusetts
5    “William Woodbury of Salem and Beverly, Massachusetts,” David Curtis Dearborn and John Bradley Arthaud, NEHGR, V.175, 2021
6    Woodbury Point (Wikipedia article)  
7    Beverly, Massachusetts (Wikipedia article) 
8    The Probate Records of Essex County, Massachusetts, 1917
9    Records of the First Church of Beverly, Massachusetts, 1667-1772, William P. Upham, 1905
10  Famous Kin listing of William Woodbury  
11  Baptismal record of Nicholas Woodberry, E.,S.,C.R.
12  Death record of Nicholas Woodbury, Vital Records of Beverly, Massachusetts
13  Marriage of Nicholas Woodbury and Anna Paulsgrave, New England Marriages prior to 1700, Clarence A. Torrey
14  Baptismal record of William Woodberry (younger), E.,S.,C.R.
15  Probate of William Woodbury (younger), P.R.E.C.,M.
16  Marriage record of William Woodbury and Judith Finne, St. Dunstan’s Church Parish Register, FamilySearch.org
17  Baptismal record of Andrew Woodberry, E.,S.,C.R.
18  Marriage record of Hugh Woodbury and Mary Dixey, V.R.S.M.
19  “Children of James and Hannah (Woodbury) Patch,” G. Burton Bird, NEHGR, V.100, 1946

His Religion Beliefs Were His Legacy — Stephen French

B. about 1749 in (probably) Billerica, Massachusetts¹
M. 7 Jan 1773 in Dracut, Massachusetts²
Wife: Dorothy Coburn
D. 16 Nov 1832 in Bedford, New Hampshire³

New England of the late 18th century had a culture with roots in its Puritan beginnings. This gave many individuals a strong sense of their community and their religion. One person who perfectly represented this was Stephen French, who was devoted to his beliefs and passed this on to his children.

Stephen French was born in Billerica, Massachusetts to William French and Tabitha Peirce. His birth is missing from town records, but from other sources the year seems to be about 1749.¹ He was likely named for his grandfather, Stephen Peirce, who died late that year. Stephen was the eighth of twelve children, one of whom died young. When he was about 16-years-old, the family relocated to Monson, New Hampshire,⁴ which became part of the town of Hollis within a few years.

On January 7, 1773, Stephen married Dorothy “Dolly” Coburn in Dracut, Massachusetts,² the town where she was from. Soon after, they moved to Bedford, New Hampshire,⁴ not far from Hollis. They raised a family of 11 children (there were said to be 3 other daughters, but their names aren’t known). 

Stephen was a tanner and ran his business from the property where he lived;⁴ it was the second tannery established in Bedford and would one day become the largest.⁴ In colonial times, every farmer butchered his own animals and had skins they needed to discard. By offering his services as a tanner, Stephen could collect skins from neighboring farms and use them to make a living. In addition to making raw leather, he produced goods such as shoes and “whip lashes,” mostly from ox hides, but also from the skins of woodchucks.⁴ Stephen took his finished products all the way to Boston; it was said that he was the first wagon owner in Bedford, probably for this reason.⁴

The History of Bedford, New Hampshire described Stephen’s tannery like this: “He had a primitive mill to grind his own bark, consisting of a heavy stone wheel about eight inches wide and six feet in diameter. This stone ran in a circular trough, with a solid foundation, into which the bark was put for pulverization. The stone was propelled by horse power.”⁴ Stephen's original millstone was moved from the tannery, and in 1902, covered a well near the site of an old book shop in Bedford.⁴

Example of an 18th-century tannery. 

In May 1775, Stephen joined others in Bedford in an effort to evict their church’s minister Reverend John Houston.⁴ It was during the time after Lexington and Concord. Most people in town supported the Revolution, but Reverend Houston was a Loyalist. The members of the congregation wrote a resolution stating that “the meeting house doors be shut against Mr. John Houston until he comes to his sense of duty and behaves himself to the satisfaction of the town.”⁴ Most of the men in Bedford signed the resolution and Stephen was one of them. In early 1776, Stephen signed the Declaration of the Inhabitants of New Hampshire.⁴ This was a document put forward by the New Hampshire Committee of Safety pledging support to the “United American Colonies” against the “British Fleets and Armies.” All of the men over the age of 21 were directed to sign it, and Stephen did so.

During the years after the war, one interesting town record indicated that Stephen asked for a license to sell liquor. On February 9, 1803, Bedford council approved him to “mix and sell for one year or less.”⁴ This act was repeated in 1804. While he clearly wasn’t running a tavern, he was likely brewing some sort of alcohol and wanted permission to sell it to the public. He wasn’t alone in this: five other men in town also received such licenses at that time.

As with many in the world Stephen occupied, religious played an important part in everyday life. It was reported that “religion as exhibited in his character appeared attractive and engaging,” offering an impression that his beliefs gave him comfort. Stephen suffered from a “protracted and distressing illness,”⁵ and that in his old age, he was “chiefly devoted to prayer and meditation on the rich precious discoveries of the gospel.”⁵

Stephen and his wife Dolly seemed to have spent their final years surrounded by most of their children, who in turn took care of them. At some point, Stephen bought land in Bedford, and built a house large enough for two families, apparently so his married sons Leonard and Daniel could live there.⁴ The 1830 census showed Stephen and Dolly living in the household of “Stephen French,”⁶ although it’s not clear if he or his son was the head of that household was the father or son. There was only one Stephen listed in Bedford that year and many children were in the household, so it’s likely it was the younger man and his family with his elderly parents under their roof.

Stephen passed away on November 16, 1832 at his home in Bedford.³ When he died, he had 91 living descendants.⁵ Dolly lived another three years, passing away on October 13, 1835.⁷ Some of Stephen’s sons and grandsons maintained a tannery in Bedford for more than 75 years.⁴ But also 25 of Stephen’s descendants were engaged in the ministry at the time of his death,⁵ suggesting he had a strong influence on his family.

Stephen's house in about 1890 with some of his descendants.

Children:
1. Ebenezer French — B. 28 Apr 1774, Bedford, New Hampshire;⁸ D. 20 Nov 1846, Bedford, New Hampshire;⁹ M. Rhoda Coburn (1780-1853), 16 Nov 1797, Merrimack, New Hampshire¹⁰

2. Stephen French — B. 7 Nov 1775, Bedford, New Hampshire;¹¹ D. 21 Sep 1850, Bedford, New Hampshire;¹² M. Hannah Swett (1777-?), 1800, Bedford, New Hampshire¹³

3. Dolly French — B. 9 Nov 1778, Bedford, New Hampshire;¹⁴ D. 12 Nov 1858, Bedford, New Hampshire;¹⁵ M. Gawn Riddle (1777-1837), 20 Feb 1800, Merrimack, New Hampshire¹⁶

4. William French — B. 24 Mar 1781, Bedford, New Hampshire;¹⁷ D. 1 Mar 1847, Prospect, Maine;¹⁸ M. Agnes Riddle (1781-1852), 9 Feb 1807, Bedford, New Hampshire¹⁹

5. Sarah French — B. 10 Apr 1782, (probably) Bedford, New Hampshire;²⁰ D. 29 Sep 1823;²⁰ M. William McDole McPherson (1778-1869), 15 Mar 1804, Bedford, New Hampshire²¹

6. Leonard Coburn French — B. 10 Feb 1785, Bedford, New Hampshire;²² D. 23 Feb 1868, Bedford, New Hampshire;²³ M. Nancy Hutchinson (1787-1870), 26 Jan 1808, Bedford, New Hampshire²⁴

7. Elizabeth French — B. 28 Apr 1789, Bedford, New Hampshire;²⁵ D. 2 Apr 1877, Bedford, New Hampshire;²⁵ M. William Bursiel (1780-1857), 12 Feb 1807, Bedford, New Hampshire²⁶

8. Phineas French — B. 14 Dec 1791, Bedford, New Hampshire;⁴ M. (1) Hannah Cutler (1792-1845), Dec 1813;⁴ (2) Mary Patten, 8 Apr 1847²⁷

9. James French — B. 22 Nov 1794, Bedford, New Hampshire;²⁸ D. 3 Mar 1878, Bedford, New Hampshire²⁸

10. Daniel L. French — B. 28 Jan 1796, Bedford, New Hampshire;²⁹ D. 20 Jul 1860, Hudson, New Hampshire;²⁹ M. Polly Riddle (1797-1880), 10 Oct 1820, Bedford, New Hampshire³⁰

11. Robert W. French — B. 31 Oct 1801, Bedford, New Hampshire;⁴ D. Feb 1880, Bedford, New Hampshire;³¹ M. Harriet Parker (1812-?), 24 Apr 1832, Bedford, New Hampshire³²

Sources:
1    Estimated birth of Stephen based on age at marriage and birth dates of known siblings
2    Marriage record of Stephen French and Dolly Coburn, Massachusetts Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001, FamilySearch.org
3    Find-a-Grave listing of Stephen French 
4    The History of Bedford, New Hampshire, from 1737, Rumford Printing Company, 1903
5    Obituary of Stephen French, The Farmers’ Cabinet, 7 Dec 1832
6    1830 U.S. Census, Bedford, New Hampshire
7    Find-a-Grave listing of Dolly (Coburn) French  
8    Birth record of Ebenezer French, New Hampshire Births and Christenings, 1714-1904, FamilySearch.org
9    Find-a-Grave listing of Ebenezer French  
10  Marriage record of Ebenezer French and Rhoda Coburn, New Hampshire Marriages, 1720-1920, FamilySearch.org
11  Birth record of Stephen French (younger), N.H.B. & C.
12  Find-a-Grave listing of Stephen French (younger)  
13  Marriage record of Stephen French and Hannah Swett, N.H.M.
14  Birth record of Dolly French, N.H.B. & C.
15  Death record of Dolly Riddle, New Hampshire Death Records, 1654-1947, FamilySearch.org
16  Marriage record of Gawn Riddle and Dolly French, N.H.M.
17  Birth record of William French, N.H.B. & C.
18  Death record of William French, Maine Deaths and Burials, 1841-1910, FamilySearch.org
19  Marriage record of William French and Agnes Riddle, N.H.M.
20  Find-a-Grave listing of Sarah W. (French) McPherson  
21  Marriage record of William McFerson and Sally French, N.H.M.
22  Birth record of Leonard Coburn French, N.H.B. & C.
23  Death record of Leonard Coburn French, N.H.D. & B.
24  Marriage record of Leonard C. French and Nancy Hutchinson, N.H.M.
25  Find-a-Grave listing of Betsey (French) Bursiel  
26  Marriage record of William Bursiel and Betsey French, N.H.M.
27  Marriage record of Phineas French and Mary Patten, M.T.C.V. & T.C.
28  Find-a-Grave listing of James French   
29  Find-a-Grave listing of Daniel L. French 
30  Marriage record of Daniel L. French and Polly Riddle, N.H.M.
31  Find-a-Grave listing of Robert W. French  
32  Marriage record of Robert French and Harriet Parker, N.H.M.

Ancestor Biography Index

Ancestor Biographies — A to C
Ancestor Biographies — D to J
Ancestor Biographies — K to P
Ancestor Biographies — Q to Z