William Addy and Eleanor Clark

CHAPTER SIX

THE ADDY FAMILY

The ancestral home of the Addy family was the moors of the Scottish and English borderlands in Great Britain. Researchers found the first record of the name Addy appearing in the county of Berwickshire, Scotland, where it had been seated since before the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name Addy occurred in many forms and from time to time, the surname was spelled Ade, Addie, Addy, Addey, Eadie, Eddie, Edie, Edey, Aidie, Aidy, Aiddye, Adie, Adey, Addis and these changes in spelling frequently occurred within the family members. Scribes and church officials spelled the names as it sounded, and frequently the spelling changed even during the person's own lifetime as in the case of William Addy who was often referred to as William Eddy.

The family name Addy is believed to be descended originally from the Boernicians. This ancient, founding tribe of the northern British Isles was a mixture of Scottish Picts, Vikings, and Angles, a folk dating from about the year 400 A.D. By 1000 the surname Addy was found in Berwickshire, and after the Norman Conquest, they moved south to Northumberland, Westmoreland, Lancashire and Yorkshire. The Clans or families to the northern borderlands became Scottish after about the year 1000, and in the south they become English.

Clan feuds became so intense that in 1246, six Chiefs from the Scottish side and six from the English side met at Carlisle Castle, Scotland and created a set of laws for all the border territory. These were unlike any laws prevailing in England or Scotland. For refusal of assistance when called, a person could be hanged on the instant, without a trial. William Ade, Chief of the Addy Clan rendered homage to King Edward I of England in 1296. This William Ade held estates at Inverkeithing.

In 1603, the crowns of Scotland and England unified under James VI of Scotland who found it expedient to disperse the 'unruly border clans' to England, northern Scotland and to Ireland. Some were banished directly to the American Colonies. Under Oliver Cromwell's Protectorate, in the 1650’s many Scots were granted lands in Ireland previously held by the Catholic Irish.

The Addys were Presbyterians who had been transplanted to Ireland during Cromwell’s rule after the English Civil War. He wanted as many Protestant settlers in Ireland to counteract the native Irish Catholics. In Ireland the Addy family became known as Aidy, Eadie, Addis and Addy, and settled mainly in county Down in north east Ulster Province.

Famine hit Ireland in the 1740s and thousands of Presbyterian Scotch-Irish immigrated to the New World including a James Addy who in 1753 immigrated to Philadelphia. He was probably a kinsman of William Addy.

The New World beckoned many Presbyterians who became disenchanted with religious oppression by the Anglican Church and other hardships in Northern Ireland. One hundred thousand Presbyterians of Northern Ireland immigrated to the American Colonies between 1700 and 1780. The majority of them came to the port city of New Castle on the Delaware River where entrance in the colony was unrestricted before making their way into Pennsylvania and the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.

The reason for this mass migration was mainly because English landlords had raised rents and if tenants were unable to pay the fines, they were evicted. Also the Anglican Church had put pressure on the Presbyterians to pay tithes to support the Church of England’s ministry, and of course the 1740 famine.

In 1760 English oppression in Ulster caused young men to form secret societies to resist the payment of tithes and exorbitant rental fees to the English authorities. The two most active secret societies were the Oak Boys and the Steel Boys who exhibited a certain amount of “republican spirit” or self rule idealism. The societies committed many outrages especially the Steel Boys and an ordinance was passed that they were to be hanged without the common formalities of a trial. This law was repealed later but others were put in place called for imprisonment or deportation.

The Oak Boys and Steel Boys did not last long when put down and did not revive because of a general exodus to America rather face imprisonment in Ireland. Family tradition states that in 1760 William Addy was said to have “chosen to be transported rather than prison”, and was sent to the American Colonies. If this is true then most likely he was a member of one of these secret societies. This also indicates that William Addy was not a child in 1760 but at the very least a youth or a young man.

The birth and death dates for William Addy emigrant is based probably on a misreading of a statement found on page 17 of volume one of "Cemeteries of Guernsey County, Ohio" by the Ohio Genealogical Society, Guernsey County Chapter. In a passage regarding the Hopewell Cemetery in Guernsey, it says "Earliest birth date we found in this cemetery was that of William Addy, 1750. Earliest death date was also that of William Addy, 1827." Because of these dates it’s been assume the passage referred to William Addy the emigrant and not to his son William Addy. There is no tombstone within this cemetery for William Addy the immigrant to Delaware. If he is buried there which is unlikely because there is no evidence that William Addy ever lived in Guernsey County, he is in an unmarked grave.

Coshocton County is a more logical location for the resting place of William and Eleanor Addy. While there are no gravestones for William or his wife Eleanor, there are ones for his son William Addy and his wife Wealtha Ann Jones Addy. William Addy the son also known as Senior was born 2 August 1780 in Virginia and died 21 November 1857 Guernsey County Ohio.

Hopewell Cemetery is located on State Route 658 and near the small village of Indian Camp, Guernsey County, Ohio. Some Addy researchers believe that this passage by the Genealogical Society of Ohio is simple an error and William Addy is not be buried at Hopewell at all. Some believe the dates 1750-1827 are from the misreading of son William Addy II dates 1780 and 1857 as 1750 and 1827 and were mistakenly copied down for the father William Addy.

Chronologically it does not seem probable for William Addy to have been born in 1750, come to America in 1760 and marry the heiress daughter of a land owner named Hugh Clark in 1768. While it is possible for an 18 year old to marry without property or family connections it is doesn’t seem plausible. Also if he arrived in 1760, according to his tombstone he would have only been 10 years old crossing the Atlantic without family. While many children came across alone, they were usually indentured servants and this does not seem to be the case with William. Also there are no records for William Addy in Coshocton County past 1820 which suggests he died years before 1827.

The same year as William Addy supposedly came to the Delaware River region in 1760 records show that a James Dodd (1734-1808) also came from county Down, Ulster, Ireland to America. He had been married to a Jane Addy who had died when her son, also named William was three weeks old. The baby was taken from James Dodd to be reared by Jane Addy Dodd’s people. James Dodd and his second wife, with his two brothers, immigrated to America in 1760 and settled in western Pennsylvania. What relationship he had to William Addy if any is unknown.

Trade between the British Isles and the American colonies in the 18th Century was largely located at the Delaware River and Chesapeake Bay regions of Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Tobacco-laden ships sailed for Dublin, Liverpool, Belfast or Glasgow, returning to America with cargoes of dress-goods, farm tools, manufactured goods, along with settlers.

Scot Irish emigrants generally did not follow ministers to America but traveled as individuals or with clan members. Debarking at New Castle, most pushed up through Newcastle County to cross over the Pennsylvania line and later settled in the Shenandoah Valley of western Virginia. Most avoided the colony of Maryland where they were required to pay tithes to the Anglican Church. But many others settled along the banks of Christiana Creek, in Delaware Colony as did William Addy.

Only few miles south of Philadelphia, the largest city in the American colonies, was New Castle County Delaware which became the Mecca for Scotch emigrants from Northern Ireland in the 18th Century and thus became a stronghold of Presbyterianism. Wilmington was New Castle County’s chief city, at the mouth of Christiana Creek which was a tributary of the Delaware River. The town of New Castle however was the seat of government.

Hugh Clark, William Addy’s future father in law was a Presbyterian Scot living in Mill Creek Hundred in New Castle County in the early part of the 18th Century. He had enough prosperity and influence to be made a trustee of the White Clay Creek Presbyterian Church, that was established in 1721. Being a trustee meant that Clark was married and probably over 30 years old at the time.

On 4 February 1720 [1721] Hugh Clark and William McDonnell bought from Christopher Sheagle [Shegle} a tract of land in White Clay Creek Hundred that later became a part of Mill Creek Hundred. Generally people who bought land together were kinsmen but the relationship is unknown. This land was part of a larger 1000 acre grant dating back to 1689. The portion of the tract sold to McDowell and Clark was called Rosedale.

A Presbyterian community in White Clay Creek Hundred was formed around the church meeting house, first mention in the minutes of the Presbytery for 5 June 1723. The following year a prominent Presbyterian preacher named Rev. Thomas Craighead was installed as minister of the church which attracted more Scots to the area. There Mr. Craighead “preached eloquently for seven years, enjoying frequent revivals and building new churches through his zeal.” In 1727 Thomas Craighead sold one acre of land to the church’s trustees, of which Hugh Clark was one, upon which a church building and cemetery was to be established. The land was granted for the consideration of "one peppercorn yearly if demanded,” and “for the use of the people called Presbyterians, belonging to the Presbytery meeting at White Clay Creek.”

In 1731 Rev. Craighead moved away from White Clay Creek Hundred but his son Thomas remained here and became a neighboring farmer to Hugh Clark who was joint owner of Rosedale with William McDowell. On 20 February 1737 [1738] Hugh Clark acquired this estate in its entirety from William McDowell and his wife Mary of Mill Creek Hundred. The McDowells sold to Clark for 110 £ “lawful money of Pennsylvania” the 200 acres of land “formerly [in] White Clay Creek Hundred”. The deed was witnessed by John Champion, Edward Green, and John Reese. This land was the tract of land that was jointly owned by William McDowell and Hugh Clark in 1721.

The year Hugh Clark acquired Rosedale, the next minister of the White Clay Creek Church was installed. His name was William Tennent Jr and he was partially instrumental for bringing possibly the largest single gathering of people in White Clay Creek Hundred at the time.

Tennent was an acquaintance of the famous Rev. George Whitfield perhaps the most famous Evangelist in America of that period. Where ever he went, it was quite an event as thousands would gather to hear him preach. On 13 May 1739, George Whitfield had preached at Wilmington, Delaware to a crowd of about five thousand people. From there he made a ten-mile horseback ride from Wilmington down to Newark in White Clay Creek Hundred, not too far from where the current University of Delaware is located, to meet with Rev. Tennent “whom Whitefield greatly appreciated.” While at the White Clay Creek Presbyterian Church Whitfield held another revival attended by up to three thousand people, “a staggering number for the area at the time”. There is no doubt that Hugh Clark, as a trustee, was there to hear the celebrity preacher George Whitfield. Perhaps many of Enoch Jones relatives living in the area at the time were there as well.

Whitefield wrote of this event in his journal: “A great presence of God was in both places, especially at White Clay Creek, placed under the care of Mr. William Tennent. The word, I believe, was both like a fire and a hammer, for many were exceedingly melted and one cried out most bitterly as in great agonies of soul. At both places we collected about 24 £ for the orphan house and the people were very solicitous for me to bring our sloop up their creek the next time I came, that they might put in provisions. Never did I see a more plentiful country than in White Clay Creek.”

Hugh Clark died in 1755 never knowing his future son in law, William Addy. Clark made out his Last Will and Testament dated 18 November 1755 in which he said he was very sick in body and he must have been for the will was probated a month later 23 December 1755. In his will he stated that he was “of Mill Creek Hundred” and was a “yeoman” which is a farmer who owned his land. He mentions his “dear loving wife Martha”, his daughter “Elinor”, his son Hugh, and brothers James and William Clark. His will was very simple in which he wanted Martha to have all his personal estate and “reasonable” use of his real estate and during that time to raise his two children as Christians and give them “schooling.”

After 12 years from the time of his death [1767] he wanted his estate to be divided into thirds between his wife and two children. Then when his son Hugh had reached the age of 21 he was to have the entire estate and pay his sister “Elinor” 40 £. He also said that if a sibling died before the other the whole of the estate should go the surviving sibling. If they both died before reaching majority [legal age], the estate was to pass to his brother James and if he was dead then to his brother William Clark. He appointed his wife Martha executive of his last will and Testament. Witnesses to the will were Hugh Clark’s neighbors Evan Keene, Samuel Fulton, and Evan Rice.

An Inventory of Hugh Clark’s personal estate showed that he was a man of modest means with typical bedroom furnishings, kitchen and dining room cooking and serving items. He did not have anything beyond a few farming equipment. Even his livestock was meager, 1 mare and colt, 1 cow with cow bell and collar, 5 geese, and a few hogs. His total estate was valued at 38£ 18 shillings and 5 pence.

However within his household he owned a watch, a Bible, and 1 other book which may have been “A Pilgrim Progress” the most popular book in the colonies after the Bible. The fact that he owned these books show that he was literate, could tell time and wanted his children to be educated.

If Hugh Clark was in his 30’s in the 1720’s, then it can speculated that he was in his 60’s when he died. His “dear wife Martha” was the daughter of James Jordan [Jordaine] and Hannah Bracken who were Anglicans, married in the Old Swede Church in Wilmington on 2 February 1722 [1723] . The birth of a daughter Elizabeth Jordan was recorded there on 8 February 1727 [1728]. Martha Jordan’s birth date is unknown and could have been before or after her sister. She was evidently a young bride when he married Hugh Clark circa 1750 when Hugh was between 50 and 60 years old. As Hugh’s widow Martha was the executor of the estate of her husband and in a deed dated 1773 her son in law William Addy said Martha as the executor of Hugh Clark’s estate was deceased.

Martha Jordan Clark bore her husband only two known children, “Elinor and Hugh”. Eleanor Clark was born circa 1750 in Mill Creek Hundred, New Castle, Delaware, married William Addy in 1768, and died circa 1820 in Linton Township, Coshocton, Ohio.

Circumstances evidence and family stories indicate that William Addy the Scotsman was born in Ulster Ireland probably in 1740 and coming to Delaware Colony as a young man about 1760 to escape imprisonment in Ireland. Some researchers claim that he was the son of a John Addy but without offering any proof. If born circa 1740 he would have been about the same age as Enoch Jones Senior, the father of his future sons in law Malachi and Enoch.

At the more likely age of 28 years than 18 year old, William Addy married the 18 year old Eleanor Clarke, daughter of Hugh Clarke and Martha Jordan. If he came to America in 1760 this gave him eight years to acquire property and status to be able to married on 22 December 1768. William Addy and Eleanor Clark were wed in the New Swede Church now known as the Holy Trinity Episcopalian Church at Wilmington, Delaware. The couple was said to have had fifteen children, 10 children living to maturity.

After William Addy’s marriage to Eleanor Clark, deed records of New Castle County show that he lived in Mill Creek Hundred just about ten miles from Enoch Senior. These records spell the surname Addy mostly as Eddy. Mill Creek Hundred lay between the boundary of Chester County, Pennsylvania and White Clay Creek Hundred in Newcastle County where both Enoch Senior and his father James Jones owned property.

White Clay Creek Hundred is in between Mill Creek Hundred and Pencadar Hundred where the Welsh Tract Baptist Church is located. This is very small geographic area 15 miles by 10 miles. The towns of Newark and Wilmington are only 15 miles apart and the Welsh Tract Baptist Church was less than 3 miles south of Newark near the White Clay Creek Presbyterian Church. So few people were living in this vicinity it is inconceivable that Jones family would have been unaware of the Addy family.

Both Enoch Jones Senior and William Addy were in their twenties during the 1760’s and as that William Addy married in 1768 certainly it is possible that Enoch married within the same decade and probably earlier as Enoch had property and a wealthy father. It appears that Addy was a Presbyterian and a member of the White Clay Creek Presbyterian Church, the same as his father in law while Enoch’s family was associated with the Welsh Tract Baptists.

Prior to the Revolutionary War Enoch Jones Sr is believed to have had at least two sons while William and Eleanor Addy had three children born to them. Their oldest child was Robert Anthony Addy born 1770 in Mill Creek Hundred, New Castle County, Delaware. His mother Eleanor Clark Addy was nearly 20 years old when he was born. He died on 30 January 1846 nearly 76 old in Coshocton County, Ohio. First born children are usually named for male relatives, so as to why this child was named Robert Anthony is unknown but might be a clue to William’s parentage.

The eldest daughter of William and Eleanor Addy, Martha, most likely was named for her grandmother Martha Jordan Clark. She was born circa 1772 in Mill Creek Hundred, New Castle County, Delaware. Her mother Eleanor Clark Addy was nearly 22 years old when she was born. Martha married Malachi Jones and died October 1839 nearly 67 years old in Linton township, Coshocton County, Ohio.

The second daughter of William and Eleanor was named Nancy. Nancy is a derivative of the name Ann and is interchangeable with Nannie. In the 18th Century rhyming nicknames were popular for the more formal names. William could be Willy, Wylie or Billy. Mary became Molly and Polly. Martha becomes Mattie, Patty and Patsy. Margaret became Meg and Peggy. Sarah became Sally and Sadie. Elizabeth has too many derivatives to name but the most common in the 18th Century was Betsy and in the 19^th Century Eliza.

Nancy Addy was born circa 1774 in Mill Creek Hundred, New Castle County, Delaware and her mother was nearly 24 years old when she was born. Nancy married Enoch Jones [Jr] and died after 1836 and before 1840 when she was between 62 years old and 66 years old. She died before the 1840 census was taken and probably in Fayette [Hollis] Township, Peoria County, Illinois.

William Addy [Eddy of Mill Creek Hundred], was called a “Yeoman”, a term for a land owning farmer who by his marriage to Eleanor owned a 200 acre farm called Rosedale. There are several transactions for this property starting in 1774 through 1793 that are hard to understand. The legal descriptions are confusing and it is not clear whether he is selling this property or mortgaging it.

In a deed dated 13 August 1774 it seems as he had sold the property located in Mill Creek Hundred to Charles Williams, “blacksmith” for £ 65. Evidently this was property of his deceased father in law Hugh Clark as that “45 acres” was excluded from the acreage because it was “formerly sold by executor of Hugh Clark deceased.”

Martha Clark had been the executive so she had sold a portion of the estate before her death. Evidently Eleanor’s brother Hugh had died before he could inherit all of his father’s estate for William Addy to have acquired it as husband of Eleanor. This property was bounded by neighbors William Bracken, Joseph Ball, John Reece Senior, and Evan Rice deceased by 1774. Eleanor’s grandmother Hannah was a Bracken before her marriage to Eleanor’s grandfather.

At the outbreak of the American Revolution Addy was about 36 years old and in 1777 was living in Mill Creek Hundred which was then occupied by the British Army that September. There is no evidence that William Addy ever served in the American militia or was he an active Loyalist. There's no evidence that he had taken a loyalty oath to the United States either.

During the six year war for Independence, many Americans remained neutral while a third of the colonists were Tories and Loyalists. It is certain he was not a Loyalist or he would have been driven out of the area after the British abandoned Philadelphia. Addy very well had been neutral as that he was a fairly recent arrival and was perhaps worried about taking sides and losing his identity as a British Subject. Although records found in Pennsylvania reveal there were two men by the name of William Eddy and John Eddy listed on Lee’s Depreciation List they are likely members of the Eddy family of New Jersey.

During these early war years William and Eleanor Addy had a son Hugh Clark Addy named for his grandfather. He was born 1777 in Mill Creek Hundred, New Castle County, Delaware, when his mother was nearly 27 years old. This would have been an extremely difficult time as the British occupied New Castle County and was feeding the army station there from foraging from the local farmers. Hugh Addy died in April 1828 about 51 years old in Linton Twp, Coshocton County, Ohio.

Another son named for his father, William Addy was born 3 December 1780 in Mill Creek Hundred, New Castle County, Delaware. His mother was nearly 30 years old when he was born and William Addy died 76 years old on 21 November 1857 in Knox, Guernsey County, Ohio.

Just before the British occupied New Castle County, William “Eddy” a “yeoman’ of Mill Creek Hundred filed a deed dated 6 June 1777 “2nd Year of American States Independence”. As this phrase was included in the deed it may indicate where his loyalties were. He and his wife Eleanor acquired a mortgage for a parcel of land contacting 200 acres situated in Mill Creek Hundred –“only excepted 40 acres sold by executor of Hugh Clarke yeoman deceased.”

This appears to be the same property sold to Charles Black in 1774. This land was also bounded by ‘Late John Reece and late Evan Rice deceased”. Evidently they were mortgaging this farm from James Latimer for the sum of “600 £ with 300 £ with interest due by 6 June next.”  

The following year on 17 October 1778 William Eddy [Addy] of Mill Creek Hundred sold this mortgage grant to Thomas Wallace, “merchant”, a plantation of 200 acres called Rosedale for 1000 £ , 500 £ due by 17 October next. The property was listed as bounded by Evan Rice and John Reece. The deed was recorded 29 May 1779

The American Revolution for all intent and purpose ended in 1781 when General Cornwallis surrendered to General Washington at Yorktown, Virginia. At the age of about 41 William Addy became an American citizen of the United States. He had a farm, a wife and five children all under the age of 10 years. Land records show that William Addy and wife Eleanor continued to hold property in Mill Creek Hundred in 1784 as they named in deeds as neighbors of lands belonging to John Reece deceased.

They added to their young family in 1785 when John Addy was born in Mill Creek Hundred. Eleanor Clark Addy was nearly 35 years old. There may have been a miscarriages or infant death between 1780 and 1785 as that is a generally long period between births for this family. This John Addy may have been named for his grandfather. He left Ohio after losing a lawsuit and moved to Arkansas Territory where he died.

A daughter named Mary Addy was born 14 October 1789 in Mill Creek Hundred when Eleanor Clark Addy was nearly 39 years old. She died at the age of 87 on 31 December 1876, in Coshocton County, Ohio.

There is a 4 year gap between William Addy born in 1780 and John Addy born in 1785. Between John Addy and his sister Mary there is another four year gap. James Addy said his parents had 15 children although only 10 are accounted for which suggests at least a couple of pregnancies could have occurred during this period between 1780 and 1789. There is always the possibility of miscarriages, still born children or children who died in infancy when there are large gaps between the known births of children. An absent father is often an explanation but this does not seem to apply to William as he was in New Castle County between the births of these children.

On 8 June 1786 William Addy of Mill Creek Hundred, signed a mortgage to Charles Williams to whom he had sold Hugh Clark’s farm in 1774. It appears that Addy had an obligation to Williams for 280 £. It appears that William Addy’s financial situation was difficult about this time.

At this same time the United States began to send government surveyors over the Appalachian Mountain range to map lands that the British had ceded to the US as part of the terms of the 1783 peace treaty. Fort Steuben near the Ohio River in the Northwest Territory was built to protect the government surveyors who were developing ranges and townships the Addy and Jones families would eventually settle in the 19th Century.

In 1789 William Addy’s eldest daughter married Malachi Jones on 25 August 1789 in the Holy Trinty Church in Wilmington also known as the Old Swedes Church. The parentage of Malachi Jones is not documented by a paper trail although he had a brother Enoch Jones who also married a daughter of William Addy. These brothers were thought to be the sons of Enoch Jones who died intestate in 1787 in neighboring Pencadar Hundred. Certainly William Addy was well acquainted with the Jones brothers for them to marry his eldest daughters.

The first federal census was taken in 1790 to determine the distribution of the number of delegates to the House of Representative based on the population of each state. Unfortunately Delaware’s 1790 census was destroyed by the British during the War of 1812 and therefore an examination of New Castle County is impossible. William Addy certainly would have been included in the census as well as Malachi Jones as that he was recently married but then he also may have just been simply included in the household of Addy.

When William Addy was 51 years old in 1791, Congress established the federal capital in swamplands on the Potomac River between Virginia and Maryland about 100 miles from Mill Creek Hundred in Delaware. The same year The Bill of Rights went into effect.

William Addy’s first grandchild James Jones the son of Malachi and Martha Addy Jones was born 31 October 1791 in Mill Creek Hundred. James Jones may have been named after Malachi’s grandfather James Jones. He married Barbara Walters in 1815 in Coshocton County, Ohio and had a large family before he died 19 February 1862 at the age of 70 in Shellsburg, Linn County, Iowa.

A baby uncle to James Jones was born in 1792, named Thomas Addy when his mother Eleanor Clark Addy was nearly 42 years old. Thomas Addy, the son of William Addy was most likely born in Mill Creek Hundred and surely was more like a brother to James Jones than an uncle. Thomas Addy died in 1842 about 50 years old near Little Rock in Pulaski County, Arkansas.

On 1 March 1793 William Addy sold his farm to a man named John Hanna. This 242 acre farm in Mill Creek Hundred, New Castle, Delaware was bounded by Thomas Reece, John Reece, Evan Rice long time neighbors in the area. The money from this sale helped finance his move west when he was 53 years old.

The itch to move west was a strong motivator for small farmers like William Addy who sought better prospects for his children where land could be had at a reasonable price. Land was plentiful and cheap in western Virginia and western Pennsylvania and the threat of Indian reprisals were minimal. While the prospects for his sons and sons-in in Delaware were not as good as land became expensive and the land itself was pretty much played out. It produced less of a yield as little was known about fertilizing, leaving the ground fallow and crop rotation.

Great Britain and France were at war again in 1793 and while the United States remained neutral, the disruption of trade was economically hurtful. Another factor may have been as new immigrants poured in the Philadelphia wages were kept low and prices high.

William Addy’s daughter Nancy married Enoch Jones the brother of Malachi more than likely in New Castle County, Delaware before the departure of the Addy family in 1793. One reason the marriage might not be recorded was the couple may have married without a bann due to financial reasons. Banns had to be secured that required a substancial amount of money to insure that the marriage would take place. Many people began to forego posting banns and married within their congregations by ministers of the Gospel. These marriages were rarely recorded officially with marriage licenses.

At the time of departure in 1793 William Addy’s family consisted of his 43 year old wife Eleanor, his 23 year old son Robert, his married 21 year old daughter Martha, his 28 year old son in law Malachi Jones and their 18 month old grandbaby James Jones, his married 19 year old daughter Nancy, his 29 year old son in law Enoch Jones, his 16 year old son Hugh Addy, his 13 year old son William, his 8 year old son John, his 4 year old daughter Mary, and his 1 year old son Thomas. His daughter Martha Addy Jones was pregnant when they left Delaware as she gave birth to daughter Elizabeth Jones in 1793 while traveling through Pennsylvania.

In his preparation to move west, William Addy would have used a heavy covered wagon known as the Conestoga that was used extensively during the late eighteenth century and the nineteenth century. The origins of the distinctive freight wagon can be traced to the Conestoga River region of Pennsylvania’s Lancaster County. Conestoga wagons, with their distinctive curved floors and canvas covers arched over wooden hoops, became a common sight over the next century, as they carried up to 6 tons household and farm implements.

The Addys and Joneses probably brought two wagons, which were most likely drawn by teams of oxen as they could be used later as draft animals once the family had settled again. The Addy and Jones family would have also brought with them at least one milk cow, chickens and geese caged in a coop on the side of the wagon, their horses, and what dogs and cats they may have had. As they were traveling through already settled farm country they would not have needed to carry much food, mostly household goods and furniture.

Robert Addy and the Jones sons in law would have been the teamsters, while William Addy rode a horse. The wagons would have carried Eleanor Addy, her pregnant daughter Martha, possibly Nancy for company and the smallest children. Older children would have walked the 10 or 15 miles a day that the teams could only pull the heavy wagons.

The family thus left Delaware in 1793 heading towards cheap or even free land in western Pennsylvania and western Virginia. Why the family chose Virginia over Pennsylvania is unknown. The family would have crossed into Pennsylvania from Delaware, following toll roads before crossing through Maryland and settling near Harper’s Ferry in Berkeley County Virginia on the Potomac River.

The Village of Harper’s Ferry was established at the convergence of the Shenandoah River as it entered into the Potomac. The area was booming because the federal government established a federal armory at Harper’s Ferry and may have been a reason to settle there. The portion of Berkeley County in which the families first settled later became Jefferson County in 1801 and even later was included in West Virginia when it became the 35th state during the American Civil War.

William Addy’s youngest daughter Joanna was born in 1794 in Berkeley County, Virginia when Eleanor was nearly 44 years old at the time of the birth.  Joanna Addy died circa 1839 in Coshocton County, Ohio at the age of 45 years.

Almost as soon as the Addys and Joneses settled on a farm located on the road between Harper’s Ferry and Shepardtown, a farmer’s insurrection in western Pennsylvania broke out against the federal government known as the Whiskey Rebellion. While the rebellion may not had affected the recently arrived Addy and Jones family, they certainly would have been aware of the anger over the federal government and possibly William Addy’s eldest son Robert and his sons in law could have been affected by a draft of militia men to put down the rebellion.

William and Eleanor’s youngest child James Addy was born 3 May 1796 in Berkeley County, Virginia. Eleanor Clark Addy was nearly 46 years old. James Addy was born between the birth’s of his nephews Jesse Jones in 1795 and Jehu Jones in 1797 and evidently they were childhood friends. Jehu Jones was just six months younger than his uncle. James Addy’s next older brother, Thomas Addy, was four years older than him and the others were grown or nearly grown men. James died 9 March 1881 at the age of 84 in Ross County, Ohio the last of the family. In 1875 he gave an interview to a newspaper about his pioneering days and other adventures. He gave a brief history of his family and where they settled in this interview also.

James Addy :“I have not a very long yarn to tell. I was 79 years old on the 3rd day of last May, consequently was born in 1796. Old Virginia is my native state. I was born in Jefferson County, [Berkeley in 1796] within three miles of Harper’s Ferry, on the Shepardstown Road, and lived there till I was twelve years old, [1808] when my father came to Ohio and settled in Coshocton County, on Wills’ Creek near a village now known as Jacobsport. My father’s given name was William. He was a native of Ireland. Mother’s maiden name was Ellen [Eleanor] Clark. I know nothing of my progenitors beyond my own parents. I am the youngest of fifteen children. [Only 10 known children; Robert, Martha, Nancy, Hugh, William, John, Mary, Thomas, James and Eleanor] Only two of us are alive. My sister Mary married Reason Baker. They reside in Coshocton County.”

James probably meant his sister Mary’s family not her husband when he said they because Reason Baker died in 1841. Mary Addy Baker died in 1876. James Addy also was born in Berkeley County as Jefferson County was not formed until 1801 when he was four years old. He however did grow up in Jefferson County and if his recollections are right his family moved to Ohio in 1808. Although another sources states in was in late 1806.

On 14 April 1798, Robert Anthony Addy, William and Eleanor Addy’s eldest son, now age 28 married Elizabeth Hughes in Berkeley County, Virginia. His sister Martha Addy Jones had a baby named William Jones that same year.

There is a gap of seven years between the birth of Martha Jones’ son James Jones born in 1791 and this son William Jones, who was supposedly born in 1798. Either the date for the birth of William Jones is off by a few years or there are some missing children, more likely the latter. William Jones was surely named after his grandfather William Addy and was born near Harper’s Ferry in Berkeley County, Virginia. He died Feb 1861, Peoria County, Illinois at the age of 62 years.

The William Addy and his sons in law attended the Tonoloway Baptist Church which would have been an obvious way the families of Coshocton County Ohio would have intertwined for generations. Other known members of the Tonoloway Baptist Church were the Maple, Fuller, and the Miskimen families all whom moved to Ohio at the same time and settled near each other. Although the Jones and Addys lived in Jefferson County, Virginia during this period, two states away from the Tonoloway Baptist Church in Pennsylvania, the distance was less than 3 miles away.

The 1800 Census for Virginia was destroyed when Washingon City was burned. However at the turn of the 19^th century Enoch Jones’ father in law William Addy would have been sixty years old and probably still the head of household in Berkeley County, Virginia. His wife Eleanor Clarke Addy was nearly 50 years old. Within his household were his sons, Hugh Addy age 23, William Addy age 20, John Addy age 15, Thomas Addy age 8, and James Addy age 4. His unmarried daughters were Mary age 11 years, and Joanna age 6. His eldest son Robert Addy would have been about age 30 and head of household of his wife Elizabeth age 20 and a daughter Eleanor born in 1800.

James Addy, stated for a newspaper interview in his old age that he had attended school in Virginia and there is no reason to not to believe that the Jones children also received some rudimentary education there before moving to Ohio.

William Addy’s sons Robert and Hugh Addy came to Tuscarawas County, Ohio in 1806 when the state was still considered a backwoods frontier. Hugh Addy may have moved to Ohio running away from fathering a son out of wedlock in Washington County Maryland. Although he never married the mother in his will he left a legacy to this illegitimate child who was of age when his father died in 1828.

Coshocton County, Ohio where most of the Addy families lived was formed from parts of Tuscarawas County and Muskingum Counties on 15 February 1808. Probably in the summer of that year, after the rains were over and the rivers low, the family of William Addy headed towards Tuscarawas County where his eldest sons Robert Addy and Hugh Addy had already located about 16 miles from each other.

The History of Coshocton had this to say about the Addy and Jones families. William Addy “was from near Harper's Ferry, Virginia and brought with him five sons and four daughters. Malachi and Enoch Jones, two brothers, came about the same time from Virginia. They married two of the Addy girls and lived on their father-in-law's place.”

In 1808 William Addy’s children who were still at home were John Addy age 23, Mary Addy age 19  Thomas Addy age 16, Joanna age 14 and James Addy age 12. His eldest sons were already in Ohio and his son William Addy remained in Virginia with sons in law Enoch and Malachi Jones.

James Addy stated, “I well remember the journey from Virginia to Coshocton County. We came in a wagon, to which five horses were attached. We brought out seven horses and several cows. Two of my sisters, Martha and Nancy, were already married, and they remained behind, but afterwards came to Ohio. Brother Robert was also married, and had also come out to Tuscarawas County.” James Addy’s also said “When we arrived in Tuscarawas county, we remained with brother Robert. There were no whites within 6 miles, but many indians. We cleared land, erected a cabin, and moved in. We cleared the forest for land to farm.”  He added “Some of the children had died in Virginia. Nine came out at once, viz: Father and Mother, sisters Mary and Joanna, and William, Hugh, John, Thomas, and myself. As it was in 1808 when we journeyed, we did not meet with any great difficulty in getting along. One incident impressed me deeply. When we were on top of the Allegheny Mountains we came across two parties who had met, strangers to us, but evidently relatives or old acquaintances. They were crying bitterly. They were on pack horses. It seems that one family had started for the west; the other was returning from the west to Virginia. I supposed the returning party gave a most lugubrious account of affairs in the west, and with such effect as to cause the emigrating party to turn back.”

William Addy’s family was part of the great American westward movement and settled in the areas of Ohio that John Chapman [Johnny Appleseed] had spent a life time growing apple trees for the pioneers who followed.

This area of southwestern Ohio where William Addy settled was part of the Military District of government lands which was just being opened up for farmers to purchase. William Addy’s sons Robert and Hugh Addy left Virginia for lands in Ohio in 1806. This must have been a sad occasion for the family as communication from the frontier on the otherside of the Alleghany Mountains was nearly impossible.

Once in Ohio the Addy sons settled in what would become Coshocton County. The area that became Coshocton and Guernsey Counties was hilly and forested, being on the western slope of the Appalachia Mountains. Only small plots of land in the creek bottoms were suitable for farming and much of a farmer’s income came from logging timber rather than from raising crops. Much of the land was also not suited for raising livestock and most farmers like William Addy had only a few horses and cows for their own personal use. All farmers kept hogs and sheep for wool as most clothing was still homespun. The family would have had dogs also not so much as pets as to help with hunting game which was plentiful in those early days.

The Linton township in Coshocton County, in which most of the Addys settled abutted the Knox township of where William Addy’s son in law Enoch Jones lived in Guernsey County. Although they were in separate counties they all lived within 5 miles of each other.

The Addys were among the earliest and best-known settlers on Will’s Creek in what became Linton Township. Among the early settlers were the following pioneers: the Bakers, the McCunes, the Meskimens, the Heslips, the Johnsons, the Magnesses, the McLains, the Fowlers, the Stackhouses and the Smiths. Many of these families who settled in this part of the Military District Tract were Baptists and emigrated as a group from the Tri-state area of western Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania.

A family that intermarried with the Addy family was that of Rezin [Reason] Baker. The Bakers were from Pennsylvania and came into the Will’s Creek area as early as 1802. Rezin Baker lived on a farm in what is now known as the north bend of Will's creek, of which tract he took possession in 1808. He married Mary the the daughter of William Addy. Rezin Baker remained in Coshocton County until his death at the age of 62 in 1842  “in his sixty-second year”.

Another family which intermarried with the Addy and Jones families was that of Scot-Irish James Meskimen. His family were Baptists from Jefferson County, Virginia and attended church with the Fullers and Maples in Maryland. The Meskimen were originally quite large landholders in Coshocton County and the patriarch “James Meskimen” was said to have been “a man of more than ordinary force”. He was also on the first board of county commissioners.

The 1810 Census of Ohio was lost however William Addy in 1810 would have been 70 years old and probably still head of a household in Coshocton County, Ohio. His wife Eleanor Clarke Addy was nearly 60 years old. Others also in Coshocton County who may or might not been included in his household were children his sons, Robert Addy age 40, Hugh Addy age 33, John Addy age 25, Mary Addy age 21 years, Thomas Addy age 18, Joanna age 16 and James Addy age 14.

Coshocton County, Ohio had been organized on 31 January 1810 from portions of Muskingum and Tuscarawas Counties. Its name comes from the Delaware Indian language and has been translated as "black bear crossing". To the south east of Coshocton was Guernsey County, organized 10 March 1810 from portions of Muskingum and Belmont counties.

Linton Township in Coshocton County, home of most of the Addy Families and of Malachi Jones, adjoined Knox Township in Guernsey County on the northwest. The Addy and Jones families owned land in both the adjoining townships of Linton in Coshocton and Knox in Guernsey. Both counties are located in the Appalachian foothills covered with forests and not suited for large scale farming. Wells Creek flowed through both townships and was main source of transportation.

James Addy related a story that would date from 1811. “When about fifteen years of age, I imagined I was not so well treated as I ought to be, but for so thinking, I have since become fully persuaded, I was a very foolish youngster. I was jealous of my older brothers, and thought I was neglected because they were getting what befitted their age, and which I was eventually allowed in due course of time. So I, like many other foolish and undutiful sons, resolved to run away.

So I “lit out” between two days, and clandestinely left kind parents and loving brothers and sisters to be pained at my conduct and apprehensive for my comfort and even safety. I went to Dillon’s Furnace, near Zanesville, and hired out as a chopper [wood chopper]. In the course of three or four months my brothers Hugh [age 34], William [age 31], and John [26] came down Wills’ Creek and the Muskingum River with a raft of timber, and learning my whereabouts, came to see me and persuaded me to return home, where I remained awhile, till another runaway fit seized me, and I went away again, this time “toling” away a nephew, my sister’s child. [Jehu Jones age 14]. We were overtaken, when some miles away, by my companion’s father, Enoch Jones [age 47], who took his son back with him, and said to me that my brothers would soon overtake and carry me back. We [ James and Jehu] had agreed to go to Virginia, but on being left alone I changed my course and went to Cambridge, [Guernsey County] and from thence struck out to Zanesville again.”

This passage reveals that James’ parents William and Eleanor Addy were alive in 1811 but would have been quite elderly and it must have been difficult raising a willful teenage boy. It also speaks to an adventuresome streak in Jehu Jones. While James and Jehu were uncle and nephew in reality there were two teenage boys nearly the same age living on the frontier and looking for adventure not to be found on the family farm.

On 18 June 1812 the United States declared war on Great Britain for attacking U.S. vessels headed to France. Although Guernsey County was sparsely settled during the second war with Great Britain, numerous soldiers volunteered from Coshocton and Guernsey Counties for what became known as the War of 1812. At least two of William Addy’s sons Hugh Addy (age 35) and Robert Addy (age 42) served as privates in the 2nd Regiment (Williams’) Ohio Volunteers.  

A man named Thomas Addy served in the 1st Regiment (Delong’s) Ohio Militia as a Sergeant but whether this was the 20 year old son of William Addy is unknown. Enoch Jones and Malachi who were 48 and 46 years old at the time and probably never served.

James Addy stated that “In the spring of 1813, [age 17] I went to Pittsburgh. But my badness had not been fully “sweated” out of me, for I again “toled” away my nephew [Jehu Jones age 16]. We reached Pittsburgh. I was employed to go on a boat up the Allegheny. I afterwards followed boating several years, to some advantage, financially.” The slang “toled” came from the word stole meaning took away. As that Jehu Jones would take off again with his teenage uncle showed that these youth had an adventurous bond between the two of them.

As that so few people lived in Linton and Knox Townships, those familes with eligible daughters and sons of marrying age intermarried with each other especially within the same church community. Two Ohio pioneer families that the Joneses and Addys married into were the Baptist Marlatts and Maples families. William Addy’s grandson Jesse Jones son of Enoch Jones married into the Marlett family.  He married Elizabeth Marlett the younger sister of Nelly Marlett who married William Addy’s son Thomas Addy.  

John Addy at the age of 33 married Nancy Malone on 8 June 1818 in Coshocton County, Ohio. Eleanor Addy, the 18 year old daughter of Robert Addy married on 3 September 1818 John Baker in Coshocton County, Ohio. John Baker was the brother of Rezin Baker who had married Mary Addy. Joanna Addy, age 24 married 18 October 1818 David Maple in Coshocton County, Ohio. David Maple was the son of David Maple and Mary Elizabeth Moody. He was born circa 1794 in Pennsylvania. Robert Anthony Addy who was a widower in 1820 and married Anne Norris in Coshocton County, Ohio.

Ohio was still a wilderness in 1820. Only a few towns were of respectable size, and nearly all of them along the Ohio River.  The 1820 Census of Linton Township Coshocton County, Ohio lists 92 heads of households living in the county as of 9 August. The main families with 5 to 4 households with the same surname were the Maples, Bakers, and Williamses which made up 15 percent of the population. The nine families of 3 heads of households with the same name were the Joneses, Miskimens, Wills, McClanes, McClarys, Smiths, Wiggins, Jefferieses, and Johnstons who made up 29 percent of the households. There were also nine families with two households of the same name. They were the Fullers, Elsons, Merritts, Brownfields, McLains, Loves, Platts, Clarks, and Rodricks and they made up 20 per cent of the township. Thirty Four families consisting of a single head of household and were 36 percent of the population and within this group was a lone William Addy.

The 1820 Census of Ohio is the first census in which the children and sons in law of William Addy appear. William Addy would have been 80 years old and his wife Eleanor Clarke Addy nearly 70 years old in 1820.  However as that the census does not list William Addy in either Coshocton County nor Guernsey County nor does any of his children contains a man born before 1775 it can be reasonable to assume that both he and his wife had died by then and probably buried on their property in Linton Township.

The only Addys enumerated in either county were William Addy’s sons William Addy age 40 married to Weltha Ann Jones, John Addy age 35 married to Nancy Malone, and Thomas age 28 married to Nelly Marlatt.

His sons Robert Addy age 50, Hugh Addy age 43, and James age 24 are not enumerated in the 1820 although they are known to be alive at this date. Robert Anthony Addy was a widower who married 15 August 1820 Anne Norris in Coshocton County, Ohio. James Addy was married to Rebecca Warden probably daughter of Isaac Jefferson Warden. Hugh Clark Addy never married but fathered a child.

Enumerated next to the household of Enoch Jones of Guernsey County were his brothers in law Thomas and John Addy listed as “Ady”. Perhaps they lived close to Enoch as that their father William Addy had died and Enoch being 20 to 30 years older was like a father figure or patriarch.

William Addy’s son in law Malachi Jones was listed in Linton Township, Coshocton County, Ohio also dated 7 August 1820.  

William Addy’s grandson Jehu Jones was also listed in the township of Linton, in Coshocton County, Ohio in 1820, next to the household of their uncle William Addy.

In 1828 there were only 24 property owners paying taxes in Guernsey County, Ohio and among them were Enoch Jones, his son Jesse Jones, and his brothers in law William Addy, and James Addy with only Enoch Jones, William Addy and James Addy owning real estate.

The 1830 Census of Ohio showed that much of the Addy Family were still living in Guernsey and Coshocton Counties. Enoch Jones and his two eldest sons are living in Knox Township in Guernsey while the Widow of Malachi Jones and her sons are in neighboring Coshocton County.

Children of William and Eleanor Clark Addy

1. Robert Anthony Addy

Birth 1770 • Wilmington, New Castle, Delaware, United States

Probate 30 June 1846 • Coshocton, Coshocton, Ohio, United States

Married Elizabeth Hughes

2. Martha Addy

Birth 1771 • Mill Creek Hundred, New Castle, Delaware, United States

Death AFTER 1830 • Linton, Coshocton, Ohio, United States

Married Malachi Jones

3. Nancy Addy

Birth 1773 • Mill Creek Hundred, New Castle, Delaware, USA

Death BEFORE 1840 • Fayette Township, Peoria, Peoria, Illinois, USA

Married Enoch Jones

4. Hugh Clark Addy

Birth 1777 • Mill Creek Hundred, New Castle, Delaware, United States

Died April 1828 Linton, Coshocton, Ohio, United States

Probate 28 JUL 1828 • Linton, Coshocton, Ohio, United States

Hugh Clark Addy lived with his parents in Jefferson County, Virginia, and emigrated to Ohio in 1806. He purchased 135 acres of land in Linton Township, Coshocton County when the Zanesville Land Office opened Military Lands to the general public in 1812. Hugh Addy is listed in the War of 1812 as being a member of Colonel Charles Williams' company.  Hugh Clark Addy died in Linton Township, Coshocton County, Ohio in 1828 sometime between writing his will on 8 April and the day it was entered for probate on 28 July. Hugh signed his will with an "X," as did many of that time. This could mean either that he was too weak to sign, or that he was unable to write his name. His will requested that he be buried in the same cemetery as his father and mother which proves they were deceased by 1828.   Hugh named as his heirs Selame Baker, daughter of Resen (Rezin) Baker and Hugh's sister Mary, and Sally Addy (Sarah), daughter of his brother William Addy, plus Hugh's illegitimate child John Addy living in Washington County, Maryland, with his mother Cleo Ingrum. Washington County is just across the Potomac River from Berkeley and Jefferson Counties, West Virginia. Hugh left all his 135 acres of land to his son who was referred to as "child" in the will. The will was witnessed by Resen Baker, who also signed with an "X," and Eli Sparks. Hugh owned enough personal property in the form of livestock and equipment to pay off his debts, so the land was free of any encumbrance. We do not know if this child, John Addy, ever removed to Coshocton County to live. John Addy brought a lawsuit against his uncle Thomas Addy who sold his inheritance without his permission.

5. William Addy

Birth 3 December 1780 • Mill Creek Hundred, New Castle, Delaware, United States

Death 21 NOV 1857 • Knox, Guernsey County, Ohio

Married Wealtha Ann Jones

6. John Addy

Birth 1782 • Mill Creek Hundred, New Castle, Delaware, United States

Death AFTER 1830 • Arkansas City, Arkansas, Arkansas, United States

Married Nancy Malone

7. Mary Addy

Birth 14 OCT 1789 • Mill Creek Hundred, New Castle, De

Death 31 DEC 1876 • Coshocton, Coshocton, Ohio, USA

Married Rezin Baker

8. Thomas Addy

Birth 1792 • Berkeley County, West Virginia, USA

Death 1842 • Pulaski, Arkansas

Married Nelly [Elenore] Marlett

Thomas Addy, Senior, son of William and Eleanor Clark Addy, was born about 1792, according to ages given in various census records. This puts his birth in Berkeley County, Virginia, which later was a part of Jefferson County, West Virginia. Thomas removed to Ohio with his parents in 1808 and married there to Nelly Marlatt in Coshocton County on 25 March 1816, and after her death, to Mary Shafer on 26 July 1824, also in Coshocton County. Even so, he is in the 1820 Guernsey County Knox Township Census, then in the Coshocton County 1830 Census, and in Pulaski County, Arkansas in 1840, with no wife. One record gives his death as 1842; another states it was 1844.  

The 1820 Census shows Thomas with 2 sons and one daughter less than 10 years; he is 26/45 and Nelly is 16/26. In the 1830 Census he has one son under 5 years, 2 aged 5/10/ 1 aged 10/15; he is 30/40. One daughter is under 5, one is 10/15 and Mary is 20/30. 

Thomas had purchased Knox Township land on 26 July 1825 from the U S Land Office in Zanesville, receiving Patent for land as the original purchaser. The usual precedure, upon moving onto Miliary Land, was to decide on a tract of land, put up a log cabin and move in. When the Land Office openend the unappropriated lands to the public, be sure to get there early and buy the land you had built upon. The Land Office in Zanesville had opened these unappropriated lands in 1812, and it may be assumed that Knox Township, being rather hilly and rocky, was not immediately sold out.

On 1 December 1826, Thomas and brother William exchanged lands. Thomas returned to Coshocton County and William moved to Guernsey County, which adjoined each other.

Thomas Addy had a lawsuit filed in Chancery Court against him by his nephew John Addy the heir of his brother Hugh Addy.

9. Joanna Addy, born about 1790-1794 in Virginia (now West Virginia) married David Maple in Coshocton County, Ohio 15 October 1818. Little is known about this family except that tragedy struck early in their lives. Prior to her marriage, Joanna is shown in William Addy's account with James Miskimen as Annah or Anny. She did spinning to apply against her father's account, and also picked up items for him at the post. David served on the Mansfield Frontier in 1812-1814. Joanna and David Maple are in the 1820 census, Linton Township, with one male 26/45 and one female 26/45. In the 1830 census, both Linton and Perry township names appear at the top of the pages; David is shown with one male uner 5, one 5/10, one female under 5; he is 20/30 and Joanna is 30/40. David was born about 1795 and died 14 October 1838 without a will; his brother William B Maple was appointed Administrator of the estate, which was not settled until October term 1848. Named as heirs were Elizabeth, Thomas, and John Maple, said to be "living out of state," no mention of just where or with whom. Joanna was not mentioned, and it is assumed that she had died either before David, or before the 1840 census, as that family does not appear in the Coshocton County census. There is no guardianship case for the children, and they were probably just sent to live with relatives; but with whom or where is unknown. Perhaps they were in Peoria County, Illinois where several Maple/Addy families had settled, but no concrete evidence of this has been found. David was a cousin of Abraham Maple who also married into the Addy family. Abraham married first Charlotte Jones, daughter of Enoch Jones and Nancy Addy. After her early death, he married Ruhama Addy, daughter of William Addy Junior and Wealtha Ann Jones. Ruhama and Abraham gave the land for LaMarsh Baptist Church in Mapleton, Peoria County, Illinois. The cemetery, now named Maple Ridge, is the burying ground for many of the Addys and related families. After Ruhama's death, Abraham married Mary Goodwin, widow of Charlotte's brother John Jones.

10. James Addy

Birth 3 MAY 1796 • Harpers Ferry Berkeley County, (West) Virginia, USA

Death 9 MAR 1881 • Twin Township Ross County, Ohio,

In the Waverly, Ohio Newspaper, on 29 January 1975, the "Old Folks Interview" was published. It originally appeared in the 1 July 1875 issue of the Pike County Republican. James Addy Interview No. XLVIIII

"I have not a very long yarn to tell. I was 79 years old on the 3rd day of last May, consequently was born in 1795. Old Virginia is my native state. I was born in Jefferson County, within three miles of Harpers Ferry, on the Shepardstown Road, and lived there till I was twelve years old, when my father came to Ohio, and settled in Coshocton County, on Wills Creek near a village now known as Jacobsport.

My father’s given name was William. He was a native of Ireland. Mother’s maiden name was Ellen Clark. I know nothing of my progenitors beyond my own parents. I am the youngest of 15 children. Only two of us are alive. My sister Mary married Reason Baker. They reside in Coshocton County.

I well remember the journey from Virginia to Coshocton County. We came in a wagon to which five horses were attached; we brought out seven horses and several cows. Two of my sisters, Martha and Nancy, were already married, and they remained behind, but afterward came to Ohio. Brother Robert was also married, and had also come out to Tuscarawas County, and we settled near him. Some of the children had died in Virginia. Nine came out at once, viz: Father and Mother, sisters Mary and Joanna, William, Hugh, John, Thomas and myself. As it was in 1808 when we journeyed, we did not meet with any great difficulty in getting along.

One incident impressed me deeply where we were on top of the Allegheny mountains we came across two parties who had met, strangers to us, but, evidently relatives or old acquaintances. They were crying bitterly. They were on pack horses. It seems that one family had started for the west; the other was returning from the west to Virginia. I suppose the returning party gave the most languorous account of affairs in the west, and with such effect as to cause the migrating party to turn back. When we arrived in Tuscarawas County we remained with brother Robert. There was no other whites within six miles of us, but plenty of Indians.

Father and the boys proceeded to make a small clearing, erect a cabin and we moved in, when clearing out the forest for a farm was at once commenced. We arrived in the fall. That fall we sowed some wheat and then planted corn. The corn was healthy and good, but the wheat was sickly, and though it apparently made good flour and light, nice bread, it made us sick to eat it. A part of the grains had a red end, and it was those grains which contained the poison. Even the cattle and hogs were made sick by eating it. But the crop of wheat grown on the same land the second year was good.

When about 15 years of age, I imagined I was not so well treated as I was a very foolish youngster, and thought I was neglected because my brothers were getting what was befitted their age, and which I was eventually allowed in due course of time. So I, like many other foolish and undutiful sons, resolved to run away. So I "lit out" between two days and clandestinely left kind parents and loving brothers and sisters to be pained at my conduct and apprehensive for my comfort and even safety.

I went to Dillon’s furnace, near Zanesville, and hired out as a chopper. In the course of three or four months my brothers Hugh, William and John came down Will’s Creek and the Muskingum river with a raft of timber and learning my whereabouts, came to see me and persuaded me to return home, where I remained a while, till another runaway fit seized me, and I went with a nephew, my sister’s child.

We were overtaken when some miles away by my companion’s father, "Knoch" (Enoch) Jones, who took his son back with him and said to me that my brothers would soon overtake and carry me back. We had agreed to go to Virginia, but on being left alone I changed my course and went to Cambridge, and from thence struck out to Zanesville again.

On reaching that place I found a man going down the Muskingum and Ohio rivers to Cincinnati with a boatload of produce, who hired me as a hand. Proceeding to that city, where I hired out to work for ten dollars a month. This was in 1812. After awhile I became acquainted with James Guthrie, an army contractor. He offered me $20 a month to team with him. I engaged and he sent me up to St. Mary’s, Auglaize County with a four horse team.

Loaded with army supplies I was gone more than two weeks, and owing to the desperate condition of the roads, and the cold winter, I suffered terribly. I could not be induced to try another trip at teaming. I was gone from home a year or more before I returned.

When I did so, I found the latch string out, and my family were as glad to see me as though I had not been a very undutiful son. In the spring of 1813, I went to Pittsburgh, but my "badness" had not been fully "sweated" out of me, for I again "toled" away with my nephew. We reached Pittsburgh. I was employed to go on a boat trip up the Allegheny. I afterwards followed boating several years, to some advantage, financially.

In 1818 when 22 years of age, I purchased and paid for 160 acres of land in Guernsey County, owned a horse, cow and some property. On the 10th day of November, I married Rebecca Warden, and we had 12 children, viz: John, Hugh Clark, Jane, Ellen, Elizabeth, Isaac, Mary, Nancy and William, twins, Mahala, Susannah, and George. All grew up to maturity but Mahala and the others married except Elizabeth and Jane who died when young women.

I cleared a part of my original purchase, lived on it some years, sold out, moved to Sandusky, Ohio where Jane died. Then came to Highland County, and to Pike, thence to Purgetts’ farm in Ross County, where I resided 6 years. Then I bought 107-1/2 acres in Twin Township, Ross County, where I now reside. My wife and I still reside on half of it and our son John on the other half.

In 1836 my wandering propensities returned and I was induced to visit the Indians tribes on the Red River and west and northwest as far as Oregon. I was among them in the company with a few other whites, more than five months. The best land I found was in Texas, though I passed over much that tempted me to desire to own, I like Oregon very much.

I possess some peculiarities of character. I never called a physician to administer medicine to myself. I never had a lawsuit nor do I want one. Never had any business in a court higher than a justice’s and then only as a witness or a juror. Have always belonged to the Democratic party. The first presidential candidate I voted for was Andrew Jackson. Have voted at each presidential election since, except for Martin Van Buren, and did not vote for him because I was among the Indians and could not.

I attended school in Virginia, pretty constantly, for years and got a good start educationally speaking. I now enjoy reading and like to pursue your "Old Folks Interviewed", but I never expected to be a subject of one till you came along today (12 June 1875). I have never seen my name in print, nor do I know how I shall feel when I do. And I ‘spect my companion who has traveled down the tide of time with me nearly 57 years, will feel as queer as I will, when she learns that I have gone and put my name in the newspaper."