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Note: Save to my tree Elsey's of Franklin County Ohio, circa 1820 The first Federal Census for Ohio was 1800. With the exception of Washington County, both the 1800 and 1810 Censuses were destroyed by fire. 1820 Census records for Ohio are available with the exception of Franklin and Wood Counties. The loss of 1820 Census records for Franklin County Ohio is indeed unfortunate for 21st Century Elsey researchers. The following is an attempt to reconstruct the names of the probable adult Elseys of 1820 Franklin County Ohio. They are: Edward M. Elsey (two): This Edward (born about 1792 in Virginia) married Elizabeth Taylor in Franklin County, Ohio in 1817. The officiating minister was a Rev. Hoge. This Edward doesn't turn up in a Census until 1840. In 1840 and 1850, he is Marion County Indiana. In 1860 in Parke County and finally in 1870 and 1880 Martin County Indiana. It seems probable that he was still in Franklin County in 1820. Edward M. Elsey (one): According to his obituary, Edward M. (One) was born in Hardy County Va on July 5, 1792. The obituary indicates he united with the Presbyterian Church in Columbus, Franklin County Ohio under a Rev. Dr. Hogue about 1816 and that after residing a while in Ohio with his widowed mother, he married Rebecca (aka Rebeckah) M. Taylor in 1823 in Franklin County. Parke County Indiana Land Patents were recorded in 1825 and 1826. Apparently Edward M. (one) was in Franklin County from about 1816 or 1817 to at least 1823. After his purchase of land, Edward M (One) resided in Parke County Indiana for the remainder of his long life and died there in 1888. Note that both Edward M. one and Edward M. two had a connection to a Rev Hoge/Hogue. Margaret Elsey Roby: Margaret Elsey married Josiah Roby in Hardy County (West) Va in 1806. According to a History of Hardin County Ohio, the Roby's moved to Ohio in 1809, first to Coshocton; then to Licking County, and then to Franklin County. They were not enumerated in either Coshocton or Licking County in 1820. It is reasonable to assume that by 1820 they were in Franklin County. They were enumerated in Franklin County in 1830 and according to the History of Hardin made a final move to Hardin County in 1833. John Hanson Elsey: Census records indicate John Hanson Elsey was born about 1799. A biographical sketch of Edward Graham Elsey was included in a book called "Illustrated Album of Biography of Pope and Stevens Counties, Minnesota (see pages 267-268). The sketch identified Edward Graham Elsey's parents as John H. and Susan French Elsey, natives of Virginia and New York. According to the sketch, John Hanson came to an unspecified location in Ohio when 12 years of age (i.e about 1811). Although we don't know the location, we do know that he married Susan French in Franklin County in April 1823. It seems very likely he was one of the young Elsey adult males in Franklin County in 1820. John H and Susan were enumerated in Franklin County in 1830 and like Margaret Elsey Roby and husband Josiah were counted in Hardin County in 1840. NoraKayBrown NoraKayBrown originally shared this 13 Jun 2011 story Public Comments (from all member trees) NoraKayBrown Other "Elseys" in Ohio in 1820: The above story identifies four Elsey's from Virginia that I believe were probably living in Franklin Co. Ohio at the time of the 1820 Census. Unfortunately, 1820 Franklin Co., Ohio records are missing. Six additional "Elsey" heads of household (various spellings) were enumerated in Ohio Counties for which 1820 Census records survive. They include Thomas, George, and Robert "Elsy" of Pickaway County, Nicholas Elsey and William "Elzey" of Ross County, and John Elsey of Muskingum. I believe that Thomas Elsey of Pickaway is kin to the potential Franklin County Elsey's and that John of Muskingum and William of Pickaway are descendants of John Elsey of Frederick County Va. I am not sure about Nicholas of Ross, and Robert and George of Pickaway. I would like very much to identify male Elsey Descendants of these men for DNA testing. Save to my tree The Father of Rebecca May Elsey According to an 1880 History of Franklin and Pickaway Counties Ohio According to an 1880 local History compilation, the father of Rebecca May Taylor, wife of Edward Elsey, was Matthew Taylor. Here's the story of the Matthew Taylor family from "The History of Franklin and Pickaway Conties Ohio with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of the Prominent Pioneers (see pages 441, 442). "Matthew Taylor, and family, emigrated from Nova Scotia in 1800 and settled in Chillicothe, where they remained until 1806, when they removed to this (Franklin) County. Mr. Taylor entered several sections of land and settled near the mouth of Alum Creek, in this township. He erected a grist and saw mill, a short distance above the mouth of the their creek and continued their operation until his death in 1812; this wife died the same year. They were buried on their farm, and were the first persons buried in that vicinity. They had a family of 11 children. John A. married Elizabeth McKnight of Green county, Ohio; afterwards, came to Columbus and was an early surveyor, being with General Foos; eventually he removed to Missouri where he died in 1823; his widow return to Franklin county, and died here. They had three children, the only survivor of whom is Mrs. James Taylor of Truro township. The other children of Matthew Taylor were James, Matthew, Elizabeth (Mrs. Wood), David, William, Robert, Samuel, REBECCA MAY (WIFE OF EDWARD ELSEY), Jeanette (wife of Samuel Crosset) and Isaac. All are now deceased except possibly, Robert who is supposed to be living in Illinois. James was a captain of infantry, and was stationed, with his company at a block house in Delaware (now Marioun) county, shortly after Hull's surrender. Willam and Samuel were ministers, the former a Methodist, and the latter a Presbyterian. Samuel Taylor, a brother of Matthew, removed from Nova Scotia, at the same time and settled on the farm now owned by Z. Vesey. His children were: Rebecca (Long), Matthew, John, David, Samuel, Elizabeth (Faulkner), James, and Eleanor (Griffith)." Editor's note 1: Observe that 7 of the 8 children of Samuel Taylor had the same given names as the children of his brother Matthew. Editor's note 2: The oral tradition is that Rebecca (Rebeckah) May Taylor Elsey was born at sea, presumably as the family emigrated from Nova Scotia. Based on her gravemarker, Rebecca's birth year is thought to be 1798 (died at age 35 in 1833). The Franklin County History indicates the year of emigration was 1800. The discrepancy does not mean that Rebecca was not born at sea--only that either the birth year or the emigration year is off a year or two. Chat Conversation End 1817 July 20 Signed Edward M Elsey and Elizabeth M Taylor James Hoge I really will appreciate any assistance with my people puzzle! J. David Thompson (b. abt 1738) was the son of George Thompson (b. abt 1700) & Catherine Phillips (b. abt 1705). George & Catherine were married on Feb. 21, 1725 at North Farnham Parish, Richmond, VA. George was the son of George Thompson (b. abt 1670) & Rebecca Williams (b. abt 1675) - they were married in 1703. His grandparents were Walter Thompson (b. abt 1650) & Mary (?). I have J. David Thompson's siblings as: William Thompson Elizabeth Thompson Winnefret Thompson Ann Thompson George Thompson John Thompson I know this family was later at Saint Thomas Parish, Culpeper, VA. J. David Thompson was first married to Anna Dabney and my research shows they had three children: Sarah "Sally" Thompson (b. abt 1763 & one of my g-grandmothers), Frances Thompson (female, b. abt 1764 and John Gaskill Thompson (b. abt 1767). J. David Thompson was then married to Elizabeth Brockman and I believe they had the following 5 children: Tabitha Thompson William (The Saddler) Thompson Elizabeth Thompson Reuben Thompson Susanna Thompson The lineage of Sarah "Sally" Thompson has been an enigma for years to me & my relatives. I have worked very hard to find what information I do have. Sally's husband was Edward Elsey, who served in the Revolutionary War & fought at the Battle of Yorktown. Edward was the son of Thomas Elsey of Leigh, Surrey, England & Ann Finch of Betchworth, Surrey, England. They emigrated to America in about 1753 and lived for some time in Frederick County and Fauqier County, VA. They came to America with a very young daughter, Mary. Edward & Sarah "Sally" (Thompson) Elsey lived most of their married life in what was then Hardy County, Virginia (now WV). I believe that most of their children were probably born in that area. Some of their children were: Margaret Elsey (b. abt 1790), who married Josiah Roby Edward M. Elsey (b. abt 1793), who married Rebecca Taylor George Elsey (b. abt 1794), who married 1st Elizabeth (?) & 2nd Nancy Gearhart Thomas Elsey (b. abt. 1795, who married Nancy Ellis Nicholas Elsey (b. abt 1798), who lived most of his adult life in Preston County, VA (now WV) John Hanson Elsey (b. abt 1799-1800) Thompson Elza/Elsey (b. abt 1806). Thompson was my next grandfather in this line. He married Sarah While, daughter of David White & granddaughter of Thomas White. He lived most of his life in Randolph County, VA (now WV). Note: There were other children I have not listed here. Margaret Kerr Beckwith Elkins, West Virginia Name: �Ctab�DEdward Elsey Residence: �Ctab�DWayne, Marion, Indiana Age: �Ctab�D57 years Calculated Birth Year: �Ctab�D1793 Birthplace: �Ctab�DVirginia Gender: �Ctab�DMale Race (original): �Ctab�D Race (expanded): �Ctab�D Death Month: �Ctab�D Death Year: �Ctab�D Film Number: �Ctab�D442937 Digital GS Number: �Ctab�D4192464 Image Number: �Ctab�D00326 Line Number: �Ctab�D11 Dwelling House Number: �Ctab�D78 Family Number: �Ctab�D78 Marital Status: �Ctab�D Free or Slave: �Ctab�D �Ctab�DHousehold�Ctab�DGender�Ctab�DAge �Ctab�DEdward Elsey �Ctab�DM �Ctab�D57y �Ctab�DElizabeth Elsey �Ctab�DF �Ctab�D50y �Ctab�DRebecca Elsey �Ctab�DF �Ctab�D12y �Ctab�DSarah Elsey �Ctab�DF �Ctab�D18y �Ctab�DTho Elsey �Ctab�DM �Ctab�D12y �Ctab�DElizabeth Elsey �Ctab�DF �Ctab�D8y �Ctab�DWm Elsey �Ctab�DM �Ctab�D6y �Ctab�DEdward Elsey �Ctab�DM �Ctab�D1y http://www.ohiogenealogyexpress.com/franklin/franklinco_marr_t.htm This site says that Edward married Elizabeth Taylor, not Rebecca May United States Census, 1850 for Edward Elsey Name: �Ctab�DEdward Elsey Residence: �Ctab�DWayne, Marion, Indiana Age: �Ctab�D57 years Calculated Birth Year: �Ctab�D1793 Birthplace: �Ctab�DVirginia Gender: �Ctab�DMale Race (original): �Ctab�D Race (expanded): �Ctab�D Death Month: �Ctab�D Death Year: �Ctab�D Film Number: �Ctab�D442937 Digital GS Number: �Ctab�D4192464 Image Number: �Ctab�D00326 Line Number: �Ctab�D11 Dwelling House Number: �Ctab�D78 Family Number: �Ctab�D78 Marital Status: �Ctab�D Free or Slave: �Ctab�D �Ctab�DHousehold�Ctab�DGender�Ctab�DAge �Ctab�DEdward Elsey �Ctab�DM �Ctab�D57y �Ctab�DElizabeth Elsey �Ctab�DF �Ctab�D50y �Ctab�DRebecca Elsey �Ctab�DF �Ctab�D12y �Ctab�DSarah Elsey �Ctab�DF �Ctab�D18y �Ctab�DTho Elsey �Ctab�DM �Ctab�D12y �Ctab�DElizabeth Elsey �Ctab�DF �Ctab�D8y �Ctab�DWm Elsey �Ctab�DM �Ctab�D6y �Ctab�DEdward Elsey �Ctab�DM �Ctab�D1y Edward M. living in Adams Twp., Parke County, Indiana in 1860 census name:�Ctab�DEdward M. Elsey residence:�Ctab�DAdams, Parke, Indiana birthdate:�Ctab�D1792 birthplace:�Ctab�DVirginia, United States relationship to head:�Ctab�DSelf spouse's name:�Ctab�DPeggie Elsey spouse's birthplace:�Ctab�DVirginia, United States father's name:�Ctab�D father's birthplace:�Ctab�DVirginia, United States mother's name:�Ctab�D mother's birthplace:�Ctab�DVirginia, United States race or color (expanded):�Ctab�DWhite ethnicity (standardized):�Ctab�DAmerican gender:�Ctab�DMale martial status:�Ctab�DMarried age (expanded):�Ctab�D88 years occupation:�Ctab�DFarmer nara film number:�Ctab�DT9-0303 page:�Ctab�D512 page character:�Ctab�DA entry number:�Ctab�D4070 film number:�Ctab�D1254303 �Ctab�DHousehold�Ctab�DGender�Ctab�DAge �Ctab�D Edward M. Elsey�Ctab�DM�Ctab�D88 spouse�Ctab�DPeggie Elsey�Ctab�DF�Ctab�D68 Save to my tree LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF EDWARD M. ELSEY--May 29, 1875 I Edward M. Elsey of Parke County and State of Indiana being of sound mind and disposing memory and desiring to dispose of such worldly effects as a kind providence has entrusted me with before sickness and disease incapacitated me therefrom do write, ordain, and publish this my last will and testament. Item First. I direct my executor to pay all my just debts out of first money which shall come into his hands from my Estate. Item Second. I direct my executor as soon as practical after my decease to sell all the personal property of which I may possess at public or private sale as to him shall seem best, to collect all outstanding claims due me and convert my personal estate into money and after paying my just debts and funeral expenses and to my beloved wife Margaret Elsey such part of the same as the law allows her to divide the residue equally between my children who may be living at my decease and to the children of such as may be dead share and share alike the children of such who may die before me to take the share of their parents would have taken had they (been) living at my decease. Item Third. I give and devise to my son Isaac W. Elsey the Home farm on which I now reside of one hundred and sixty acres to have and to hold during his natural life reserving however to my beloved wife Margaret Elsey her due third interest during her natural life and after the death of my son Isaac W. Elsey I direct that said home farm be sold and the proceeds be equally divided between his children and my daughters who may be living at my decease, to wit: Nancy T. Lowry, Mary T. Cheadle, Harriet N. Walker, Eleanor J. Harris, and Rebecca M. Warford and if any of said daughters die before I do then in that event her share to go to her children. Item Fourth. I here by nominate and appoint my son Isaac W. Elsey Executor of this my last will and testament until his death and after that event it is my wish that the proper court appoint the proper person to carry out this my last will. Item Fifth. I hereby revoke any previous wills by me at any time heretofore made. In witness whereof I have hereto set my hand and seal this 29th day of May 1875. (Signed) Edward M. Elsey Seal Signed and acknowledged by said Edward M. Elsey as his last will and testament in our presence and in the presence of each other Thomas N. Rice David H. Maxwell PROOF OF WILL State of Indiana, Parke County, June 10, 1884. Thomas N. Rice personally appeared before the Clerk of Parke Circuit Court and being duly sworn says that Edward M. Elsey signed his name in person to the above writing date of 29 day of May 1875 as and for his last will and testament and the same was attested and subscribed by said official and David H. Maxwell as witnesses thereto in the presence of said testator and by his request and that said testator declared the same to be his last will and said testator was not at the time of executing said will (not decipherable) of unsound mind or under coercion. Signed Thomas N. Rice Subscribed and Sworn to before me this 10th day of June 1884 that the hand and seal of office of said clerk on date last aforesaid. Signed David Strouse, Clerk CERTIFICATE OF PROBATE State of Indiana, Parke County I, David Strouse Clerk of the Parke Circuit Court, certify (illegible) within the last will of Edward M. Elsey late of said county deceased has been duly admitted to probate, that its due execution was this day proved by Thomas N. Rice whose proofs together with (illegible) were duly recorded on pages 334 and 5 of Records No. 3 in our office. In witness thereof I have here to set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this 10 day of June 1884. Signed David Strouse, Clerk. Save to my tree Born at Sea--Part 2 Earlier, Elsey Researcher Ron Roby, posted a one line story to the profile of Harriet N. Elsey Walker indicating that, according to Harriet's 1900 Census Record, her mother had been born "at Sea". There appears to be a strong oral tradition in the family of Edward M. Elsey that the mother of several of his children was born on water rather than land. Rebecca May Elsey Warford also reported in the 1900 Census that her mother had been born at sea. The 1880 Census entry for the birthplace of Isaac Elsey appears to be a misspelling of "ocean". I have been unable to find either a 1880 or 1900 Census record for several other childeren of Edward M. Elsey. They include Mary T. Elsey Cheadle who died in 1880; Eleanor Jane Elsey Harris, and Sarah Elsey. The 1880 Census record of Nancy Elsey Lowry indicates her mother was born in Ohio. It is unclear whether all of the children of Edward M Elsey had the same mother. April 23, 2013 update: Eleanor J. (Elsey) Harris also reported in the 1910 Census that her mother was born at sea. That means that four children reported that their mother (Rebecca Taylor was born at sea). They were Harriet Elsey Walker; Rebecca Elsey Warford; Isaac Elsey; and Eleanor Jane Elsey Harris. NoraKayBrown NoraKayBrown originally shared this 18 May 2011 story Public Comments (from all member trees) ronroby Born at Sea -- part 2: Very well stated. And toss into the mix that the 1850 Census states that Edward M. Elsey's wife Jane was born in England, it does make one wonder just how many wives this bloke had prior to the one marriage of his we have actual documentation for, to Margaret "Peggy" Wiseman, after the birth of all his children. 18 May 2011�WFlag�WHide NoraKayBrown Birth Place of Mother of Eleanor Jane Elsey: Note that the 1910 Census record of Eleanor J (Elsey) Harris indicates that she was born in Indiana; her father in Virginia, and her mother "at sea". The "at sea" conforms to the family tradition. 22 Apr 2013�WFlag�WHide Save to my tree Three Elsey Guys From Hardy County Va Plus a Robert Elsey From Anywhere Virginia Part One--The Elsey Guys from Hardy County Va. Introducing the Three Boys from Hardy County Va. The three Hardy County Elseys have at least three things in common. They were born in the last decade of the 1790's; they were born in Hardy County Virginia; and they all went West to become pioneer settlers of the 16th State, Indiana. The three Elseys were: Edward M. Elsey (hereafter referred to as Edward One). This Edward married Rebeckah May Taylor in Franklin County Ohio in 1823. Edward One was born on July 5, 1792 (date and place from his obituary). Edward and bride Rebeckah migrated to Parke County Indiana some time later in the 1820's and were enumerated in Parke County for the first time in 1830. Rebeckah. the mother of Edward One's children, died in 1833. After her death Edward One married Jane Suddeth and Margaret "Peggy" Wiseman. He died In Parke County in June 1884 at the age of 91. Thomas Elsey was born in 1795 or 1797. Hardy County is shown as Thomas' place of birth on the U.S. Army Register of Enlistments. 1798-1914. The 1795 estimated year of birth is also from that source. 1797 is the estimated year of birth in the 1850, 1860, and 1870 Censuses. Thomas married Nancy Ellis in Martin County Indiana in September 1824. The couple remained in Martin County for the remainder of their lives. Thomas died sometime after the 1870 Census and before the 1880 Census. Edward M. Elsey (hereafter referred to as Edward Two) married Elizabeth Taylor of France in July 1817 in Franklin County Ohio. Edward Two was born in about 1798 or 1799 in Hardy County (date and place from the U.S. Army Register of Enlistments.) This Edward spent approximately eight years in Army Service (January 1823 to Dec 1830). After the Army Service, Edward and Elizabeth moved to Indiana and settled first in Marion County; then in Parke County, and finally in Martin County. How The Three Elseys from Hardy Fit on the Family Tree. 1. I believe the three Elsey men from Hardy are closely related to each other. Specifically Thomas and Edward Two are probably brothers or half brothers. I intuit this relationship from the fact that one of Edward Two's young granddaughters, Lucy Harper, resided with two of Thomas and Nancy's adult children, William and Mary Elsey in 1870 and 1880. In the 1880 Census, Lucy was identified as a cousin of Head of Household, William. I believe Edward One and Edward Two are closely related. They were apparently both members of the same church in Franklin County, Ohio. Of course, if Edward Two and Thomas are brothers, and Edward One is kin to Edward Two, everyone is Family. (99% certainty) 2. There were two adult male Elseys on the Hardy County Virginia tithable list in 1799. They were Edward Elsey and John Elsey. Adult Edward is the proven father of Thompson Elsey/Elza who was born in Hardy County circa 1806. Thompson is the prolific progenitor of the Elza's of Randolph County West Virgina. John is probably a brother or half brother of Edward. 3. There is reason to believe that adult Edward may be the father of Edward Two and Thomas Elsey. Thomas also had a son named Thompson. For purposes of research, I have put Edward One on John Elsey's tree. I by no means believe that John is the proven father of One since there may have been one or more additional Elseys in Hardy County at the time of Edward One's birth. What I do believe is that it is very unlikely is that Edward Elsey and probable wife Sally Thompson are One's parents. Edward One's obituary referred to him living in Franklin Ohio with his widowed mother prior to his marriage to RebeckahTaylor. Sally Thompson predeceased Edward Elsey. 4. Based on oral history and DNA I believe that the Elseys associated with Hardy County (West) Virginia, Preston County (West Virginia) and Randolph County (West) Virginia have a common male Elsey ancestor. These Elseys include but are not limited to the descendants of John Hanson Elsey, Margaret Elsey Roby, Rebecca Elsey Shrout, Nicholas Elsey (b 1798 in what is now Preston); Thompson Elza of Hardy/Randolph, etc. Additional DNA anyone? I have not been able to identify any 21st Century living male descendants of Edward One or Thomas Elsey . However, I have recently found a 2009 obit that identifies two male Elsey descendants of Edward Miles Elsey, son of Edward Two and Elizabeth Taylor Elsey. Part 2--Robert Elsey from Anywhere Virginia. The Robert Elsey described in this part of the Elsey Story is the Robert Elsey who was born about 1789 in Virginia and who married Elizabeth Taylor in 1816 in Martin County Indiana. Robert's bride Elizabeth has no known relationship to Edward One's Rebeckah Taylor or Edward Two's Elizabeth Taylor. Robert Elsey of Indiana of Virginia and Indiana is not to be confused with the Robert C. Elsey associated with Pickaway County Ohio. Robert Elsey was in the Vanguard of pioneers of Indiana. His name was on a Knox County Petition in 1808, eight years before Indiana was granted Statehood in 1816. After his marriage to Elizabeth, Robert purchased a lot at public sale in Daviess County in 1817 and patented two land entries in Martin County in July 1819. (Note: Knox, Daviess, and Martin are adjacent to each other.). Robert and Elizabeth were enumerated in Martin County in 1820 and Daviess County in 1830. By 1842 they had moved to Hancock County Illinois. He died there in 1851. The Big Question: Is Robert Elsey of Virginia and Indiana kin to the Hardy County Elsey Families who settled in Indiana? Stella Erma Elsey Mercer, one of the charter members, directors, and leading researchers of the Elsey Association was a descendant of Robert Elsey and wife Elizabeth Taylor. I have maintained a small Stella Erma Elsey Mercer tree on Ancestry in honor of Stella's diligence. In 2012 there are descendants of Robert who are trying to break the proverbial brick wall and push back at least one generation. Bottom line: If you can help answer the big question, comment here. Chat Conversation End Save to my tree THE WIVES OF EDWARD M. ELSEY (one) First it should be noted that there were two men named Edward M. Elsey, both born around 1792 or 1793 in Virginia and both of whom eventually lived in Parke County Indiana. To distinguish the two men, I have called them One and Two. This story is about the probable wives of Edward M. Elsey One--the first of the two men to come to Parke County. The Wife of Edward's Final Years Edward M. Elsey One probably had at least three wives. The last of the women, Margaret "Peggy" Wiseman is "proven." Parke County records indicate that Edward M. Elsey and Margaret Wiseman were united in marriage on August 3, 1859. The groom was about 67. Although two decades younger than the groom, Margaret (about 46) was past child bearing age. There was no issue. The couple was married almost 25 years. Edward died at about age 92 in June 1884. In his last will and testament, Edward asked that his personal property be converted to cash and that his beloved wife Margaret Elsey should receive "such part of the same as the law allows her." As to real property, Edward gave and devised "to my son Isaac W. Elsey, the home farm on which I now reside of one hundred and sixty acres to have and to hold during his natural life reserving however to my beloved wife Margaret Elsey her one third interest in the same." The Wife Who Was the Probable Mother of Edward M. Elsey's Six Children. Edward M. Elsey signed his last will and testament on May 29, 1875. In the will, Edward identified his one son and five married daughters. The son was Isaac W. Elsey. The daughters in order of birth were Nancy T(aylor)Lowry, Mary T. Cheadle, Harriet N. Walker, Eleanor J. Harris, and Rebecca M. Warford. Although there are no birth certificates to prove it, I believe the mother of all six children was Rebeckah May Taylor Elsey. The "proof" for the maiden surname of the mother of Edward M. Elsey's children is the death record of son Isaac W. Elsey. Isaac's death certificate indicated his father's name was E. M. Elsey and his mother's name was "B." Taylor. The evidence for Ms. Taylor's given name is an almost unreadable gravestone inscription. There are two slightly different transcriptions on a Parke County Genealogy website at www.ingenweb.org/inparke/cemeteries. Th first transcription indicates the site of the gravemarker as Sand Creek Cemetery and interprets the inscription as Rebeckah May, wife of E.M., age 35. The second says the marker is at J. W. Campbell Cemetery (probably an alternate name for Sand Creek Cemetery);. The transcriber interpreted the given name as Rebeccah May, wife of E.M. and suggested, probably incorrectly, the age at death was 25 rather than 35 years. Finally a website at earthlink.net called Parke County, Indiana Cemetery Indexes provided the useful information that there are only two readable gravemarkers at Sandcreek Cemetery (Rebeckah May's and one other). The rest are lying on the ground. The transcriber read Rebeckah May Elsey's age at death as 35 years but thought her husband was B.M . rather than E. M. Elsey. All three transcribers read the date of death as June 8, 1833. The Stepmom Who Raised the Children of Edward M. Elsey One after Their Mother's death. Rebeckah May Taylor Elsey apparently left six children when she died in June 1833. The eldest, Nancy was 11; the youngest Rebecca M., was a very young infant. Who reared the children? By the 1840 Census, there was a woman living in the Elsey household, age 40-49. That woman was probably "Jane" who appears in the 1850 Census, estimated year of birth 1795; place of birth, England. There is no evidence that Edward and Jane had children. All six of the children mentioned in Edward's will were born in the 11 years prior to the death of Rebeckah May Taylor Elsey. Jane apparently died sometime between the 1850 Census enumeration and the remarriage of Edward in August 1859. Fact or Fiction? The Mother of the Children of Edward M. Elsey Was Born At Sea? As indicated in an earlier story, there appears to be a strong oral tradition the family of Edward M. Elsey that the mother of several of his children was born on water rather than land. Both Rebecca May Elsey Warford and Harriet N. Elsey Walker reported in the 1900 Census that their mother was "born at sea." The remainder of the children died prior to 1900. The 1880 Census also asked about the mother's birth place. The 1880 Census entry for the birthplace of Isaac Elsey appears to be a misspelling of "ocean." I have been unable to find 1880 records for Mary Elsey Cheadle or Eleanor Jane Elsey Harris. The 1880 Census record of Nancy Elsey Lowry indicates her mother was born in Ohio. A memorial for Rebeckah May Taylor Elsey was recently added to Findagrave.com by a Taylor researcher. Th memorial indicates "Rebeckah May Taylor, was born Oct. 25, 1798 on board ship just outside of Cape May, N. J. while her family was immigrating to Ohio from Nova Scotia." ALERT TO ELSEY RESEARCHERS: This story was written prior to obtaininga copy of the Obituary of Edward M. Elsey (One). The obituary confirmed that Edward did have three wives and they were in fact named Rebecca (Rebeckah) M. Taylor; Jane Suddish, and Margaret "Peggy" Wiseman. Rebecca was the biological mother of all the children. NoraKayBrown NoraKayBrown originally shared this 29 May 2011 story Public Comments (from all member trees) NoraKayBrown Confirmation of Names of Wives of Edward M. Elsey (one): After this story was written, a copy of the Obituary of Edward M. Elsey (One) was obtained. This obituary confirmed the names of the three wives: Rebecca (Rebeckah) M.Taylor; Jane Suddish, and Margaret Peggy Wiseman. Rebecca was the mother of all of Edward's children. 15 Mar 2012�WFlag�WHide raejosephine wives of Edward M Elsey: I am very grateful to Nora K Brown confirming Edward M Elsey's wife Rebecca Taylor was the mother of his children. I was told 67 years ago Harriet N Elsey (my great grandmother) was born at sea. http://www.ingenweb.org/inparke/cemeteries www.ingenweb.org
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