My Grandma Dolly Lucy (Britton) Bavin: A Tribute

I think I have already mentioned elsewhere how in the 1850's Lucius Britton brought his family from Vermont to Michigan, and his youngest, O. Wilber Britton came to run the grist mill near Pittsford, Michigan. In 1875 Wilber married Angela Elizabeth Sloan. It is through Angela we are connected to the New England Sloan and Beal families.

Wilber and Angela had a total of 13 children, of which two would die in infancy, another two sons would die, one at the age of 29 and the other at age 20, while a third son was killed as a soldier fighting in France in World War 1.

Their 8th child was a daughter named Dollie Lucy Britton, born August 15, 1889. Dollie was 28 years old when on June 2, 1917, she married Cecil Charles Bavin. A short nine days later her father Wilber committed suicide. Wilber’s death had implications for the family that have reverberated down through the generations to this very day. To addition to the family tragedy, it was that next year when her brother George was killed in France on October 21, 1918 in the midst of the Muse-Argonne offensive and three weeks to the day before the Armistice ended the war.

My Grandfather Cecil Bavin was four years younger than Grandma, and it was also somewhat unusual at that time for a single woman to marry at what was thought of then as a late age. I do not know anything about how they met or how long their courtship was.

My Aunt Joyce was the first to come along on October 15, 1918; being barely a week old when her Uncle George was killed in France.

My mother, Mildred Marie Bavin was born January 29, 1920. The story has been told that when Mom was born, the Bavin family was living in a log cabin house on Camden Rd, just west of the spot in the road that is called Betzer; the corner of Camden Rd. and Pittsford Rd. in Hillsdale County, Michigan. According to this story there was snow blowing into the house through the chinks in the log walls when Mom was born.

Uncle Bob came along on November 1, 1921; followed by Aunt Gela on June 21, 1923, and Uncle George on January 8, 1926.

My Grandfather was a farmer. In 1927 he was injured in a farm accident when runaway horses pulled a roller over him. This laid him up but he tried to do more than he should have, and a blood clot took his life. He died on June 12, 1927, just before his 34th birthday. My mother was 7 ½ years old when her father died.

Grandma Bavin never remarried, remaining a widow for the rest of her life. And she was to go on to raise her five children through the Great Depression, and as a mother, watch two sons and one daughter serve in the military in World War 2. Mother mentioned to me one time how the family had been supported through those times by public assistance.

Mom also had memories of the family getting on the back of a truck and heading off to Toledo for a Britton family reunion. That probably would have been at her Great-Uncle Quincy Britton’s place in Toledo, Ohio. Mom also had good memories of her Uncle Bill, George William Bavin who was a successful businessman in South Bend, Indiana. Uncle Bill was Grandpa’s younger brother, and Grandpa was in South Bend when he passed away. I infer from that fact that Uncle Bill had helped his older brother’s family through that time.

There was one pain and grief in my Grandma Bavin’s life that I was a personal witness to. Uncle Bob had served in the Army during the war. He never married and lived with and looked after Grandma. He developed health issues and had as I recall some kind of cancer or leukemia. I have a number of memories of Uncle Bob of which I will have to speak another time. My last memory of seeing him alive was when I went with Mom and Dad to visit him while he was in the ward of the Veteran’s hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In September of 1968 he passed away. I still remember going to Grandma Bavin’s house where the family was gathered together. She sat there in her chair, a solemn sober faced lady as the rest of the family made the funeral arrangements. I never saw Grandma cry or heard her complain, but etched into that face was a lifetime of mixed pain and grief and sorrow, not that there had never been any joy or happiness too, but nonetheless a life that knew much of tragedy. She loved all of her fourteen grandchildren and we all loved her.

My Grandma Bavin left this vale of tears on July 24, 1974. Nancy and I lived in Indiana at the time. We made the trip back to Michigan for Grandma Bavin’s funeral. We still miss her. Those fourteen of us who are her grandchildren had our hearts and lives touched by our Grandma Bavin to a degree I don’t think we realize even after a lifetime.

RIP

Our Britton Family Mayflower Connection

In the history of Westmoreland, New Hampshire we find the Latham family becoming part of our particular Britton line of descent. In that account William Britton IV (1733-1778) marries Mary Latham, daughter of James and Abigail (Harvey) Latham.

This Mary Latham is identified in the Mayflower Families as a descendent of James Chilton, the Mayflower passenger who died on board ship in Cape Cod Harbor, now known as Provincetown.

From the Mayflower genealogy as cited below, we can trace the line of descent as follows:

James Chilton (1563-1620) and Susanna Furner (1564-1621) are recorded as having ten children of which the third child and first daughter was Mary Chilton (1607-1678).

Mary Chilton married John Winslow (1597-1674) and they had nine children, of which the oldest was a daughter Susanna (1630-1685).

Susanna Winslow married Robert Latham (Abt. 1623-1688/1689). They had seven children of which the youngest son was Chilton (1671-1751).

Chilton Latham and Susanna Kingman (1679-1776) had eight children of which the fourth was a son named James (1708-1792). It was this James Latham that married Abigail Harvey, and Mary Latham (1744-1827) was the third of their five children.

With the listing of the five children of Chilton and Susanna, the Mayflower Families account ends. It is from the Westmoreland History we learn that Mary Latham married our William Britton IV.

This William Britton served in the Revolutionary War as a soldier in “Capt. John Cole’s Company at Bennington 1777.” He died in 1778 of Smallpox. It was from our descent from this William Britton that my mother established her membership in the Daughter of the American Revolution (DAR).

The next few generations are found in the Westmoreland History. William and Mary had six children of which the second was a son named Benjamin (1769-1857). Benjamin’s wife was Sarah, but we do not know what her maiden name was. Benjamin and Sarah had five children of which the second was a son named Lucius (1807-1883).

This was the Lucius Britton who with his wife Phebe Hart brought their five remaining children from Vermont, and settled in Ransom Township, Hillsdale County, Michigan. The oldest son Louis (1833-1852) had died in Vermont.

After arriving in Michigan, their daughter Louisa (1841-1857) died. That left them with four surviving sons, William Bailey, Christopher H., Quincy M., and my Great Grandfather Orendo Wilber Britton. All of the descendants of these four brothers share that link to William and Mary (Latham) Britton, and thus to the Mayflower.

My own line at this point is:

Orendo Wilber Britton and Angelia Sloan > Dollie Britton and Cecil Bavin > Mildred Bavin and Rex Newcomer > Joy, Carol, John, and myself.

Sources:

Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, Vol. Two (Robert M. Sherman, Editor; General Society of Mayflower Descendants; (1978)), pg. 84.

History of Westmoreland (Great Meadow) New Hampshire, 1741-1970, And Genealogical Data, (Westmoreland History Com., Westmoreland, NH; (1976)), pgs. 348 - 355, 486 - 488; (Cheshire Co., NH)

Mildred Marie (Bavin) Newcomer

Mildred M. Newcomer
January 29, 1920 - December 5, 2012

Mildred M. Newcomer, 92, of Waldron, Michigan passed away, Wednesday, December 5, 2012, at her home. She was born January 29, 1920, in Ransom Township, Michigan the daughter of Cecil and Dollie (Britton) Bavin. She married Rex E. Newcomer on March 20, 1943, in Waldron, Michigan and he survives.

Mildred graduated from Pittsford High School in 1937, attended Wayne State University for three years and graduated from Hillsdale College with a Teaching Certificate. Mildred taught school for 31 years, 29 in the Waldron Area Schools.. Mildred attended the Waldron Church of Christ and her hobbies included painting, gardening, and reading.

Surviving Mildred besides her husband, Rex of Waldron, Michigan is one daughter, Carol M. Newcomer and her husband, Michael Cox of Morenci, Michigan; two sons, John M. (Carol D.) Newcomer of Chantillly, Virginia and James W. "Bill" (Nancy) Newcomer of Ada, Michigan; one sister, Gela Vreeland of Somerset Center, Michigan; one brother, George (Doris) Bavin of Pittsford, Michigan; eight grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren and several step grandchildren and step great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, one daughter, Joy Anne Newcomer, one sister, Joyce Stubli and one brother, Robert Bavin.

Funeral services for Mildred Newcomer will be Saturday, December 8, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. at Waldron Church of Christ with Minister Don Crane officiating. Interment will follow in Waldron Cemetery. Visitation will be at the Waldron Church of Christ on Friday from 4 p.m until 7 p.m.

Those planning an expression of sympathy may make memorial contributions to Waldron District Library or Waldron Church of Christ. Arrangements were entrusted to Eagle Funeral Home in Waldron.

Eagle Funeral Homes

The Last Ride

A little ritual had kind of developed between Dad and I over the last several years before his passing. We would go down to visit Mom and Dad. Sometime during the visit, I would take Dad for a ride. Usually those rides were around the more immediate rural area of the Michigan-Ohio border where they lived. The trips were of varying length, but served several purposes. It was a chance for Dad to get out of the house. It was a chance for us to talk about things; to have a father-son time. It was also an opportunity for me to see what was going on around the stomping grounds of my youth; to see how so many things had changed and how a few things had stayed the same; a way of reconnecting with my roots.

Those rides became more important as Mom's health and mind began to fail. On those rides Dad would tell me how Mom was doing. I could get first hand from him what was going on as the two of them aged and that aging slowly sapped their strength and vitality. We would discuss what some of their options were. It was a chance for me to reinforce some of the concerns and issues my sister had discussed with me regarding Mom and Dad's health and care. Dad needed the time out of and away from the house. He needed the respite from the care and worry over his now invalid wife.

It was this past November (2012) and the Thanksgiving Holiday was coming up. It had been more then a few months since our last visit to Mom and Dad, and I knew we really needed to make that two and half hour trip down to see them. The Friday after Thanksgiving would be the best time to go, and so it was the plans were made. That Friday morning my wife and I made the trip down to see Mom and Dad.

Mom was laying in the hospital bed set up in the living room. She was not able to stand at all. She was at the point where an aid was coming in just about every day , and Hospice was checking in a couple of times a week. She was not fully "there" in her mind though able to carry on limited conversation. She was still at the point where someone would move her to a wheelchair and bring her into the dining room to eat at the table with the rest of us. As it was, we would have to help her eat.

At some point in the afternoon, Dad and I went for our drive. As usual, I would drive and dad would sit there in the front passenger seat. We went to town and drove around the village. Dad had me drive around by the grain elevator so he could see the new office and scales, and the new grain silo bin that had recently been erected. We went through the cemetery by the stone marking my oldest sister's grave, and the stone with Mom and Dad's names on it, but at that time with only the years of birth.

We drove out north of town, swung east a mile then north again to the other near by village in the area that was also part of the local school district. In that small village we passed by the old school building where I had gone to kindergarten. The decrepit condition of that abandoned school building was an indicative statement of how the whole area of that broader rural community had changed. We turned west at the main corner and wandered through the country side until we found ourselves back at Mom and Dad's house.

I played the memory game with Momma. "Do you remember when we would go to the Britton reunions at the old Grange hall?" "Do you remember when we would go up north to the lake for vacation?" Yes, she remembered, and she remembered those things happened a long time ago.

My last meal with my mother was that evening's supper. I sat there and was spoon feeding her, much like she had done to me so many years ago when I was the baby. After supper my wife and I left for the two and half hour trip back to our home. A week and a half later we got the phone call. Momma had died at the age of 92. That Thanksgiving Friday had been my last visit with her.

Two weeks and one day after Momma died, Daddy died at the age of 95. I got to see him two days before he died and that was good. But then he was invalid and there was no thought of going for our ritual ride together. It dawned on me today, some few weeks later, that the Thanksgiving Friday was not only the last time I saw Momma alive, but it was also when Daddy and I went on our last ride together.

RIP Mom and Dad...

(Cross posted to The Billy Goat Blog.)

Hilda Pauline (Raymond) Erbes (1913 - 2006)

Mrs. Hilda P. Erbes, age 92 of Grant, died Thursday, March 23, 2006 at the Fountainview Retirement Village in Grant. She was born Hilda Pauline Raymond in Pittsford, Michigan the daughter of Ivah Leota (Britton) and William Henry Raymond on September 19, 1913. She married Elmer Earl Erbes on June 10, 1936 in Bailey and he preceded her in death on May 13, 1995. She was a Homemaker all her life. She was a member of North Casnovia Baptist Church.

She is survived by her sons Paul & Norma Erbes of Grant, Stephen Erbes of Santa Anna, CA, Daniel Erbes of New Mexico, 12 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, several great-great-grandchildren . She was also preceded in death by son Thomas Erbes, daughter Pauline Erbes, and granddaughter Cynthia Erbes.

Memorial services will be held at 3:00 P. M. from the North Casnovia Baptist Church, Bailey on Sunday, March 26, 2006 with Pastor Kelly Carlson officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to service. For Memorials please consider Hospice of Michigan-Newaygo County, North Casnovia Baptist Church Building Fund, and/or Alzheimer's Disease Association. Please sign the online guest book at www.mckinleyfuneral.com.

McKinley Funeral Home, Grant, 231-834-5613. http:\\mckinleyfuneral.com

Hilda was my mother's 1st cousin. Hilda's mother Ivah (Britton) Raymond was sister to my Grandmother Dolly (Britton) Bavin.

Helen E. (Britton - Moore) Fowler

Eagle Funeral Homes: Obituaries

Helen E. Fowler

Written by eagle on July 31, 2011

August 17, 1922 - July 30, 2011

Location: Eagle Funeral Home in Hudson

Visitation: Tuesday, August 2, 2011, from 6-8 p.m.

Graveside Service: Wednesday, August 3, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. at Leonardson Cemetery

Cemetery: Leonardson Cemetery in Pittsford

Contributions: Hillsdale County Medical Care Facility

---------------------------

Helen E. Fowler, 88, of Hillsdale, Michigan passed away Saturday, July 30, 2011, at Hillsdale County Medical Care Facility. She was born August 17, 1922 in Pittsford Twp., Michigan the daughter of Cleo and Edith (Cousono) Britton. She married Milford Moore September 13, 1941, and he preceded in death in 1974. She then married Orin D. Fowler on July 3, 1976, and he preceded in death in 2003.

Surviving Helen is one son, James I. (Evelyn) Moore of Osseo; one sister, Glenda (Richard) Harvey of Hillsdale; sister in-law, Ruth Britton; three grandchildren, Carolee (Steve) Hartman of Fayette, Ohio, Larry (Marie) Moore of Abilene, Texas and Sandra Brummel of Kyle, Texas; seven great grandchildren, Jessica, Jordon and Jacob Moore, Tyler Brummel, Elisha, Taylor and Zachary Hartman and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, two husbands, one brother, Elihye Britton, a great grandson Joshua Moore and a sister in infancy.

Graveside services for Helen will be Wednesday, August 3, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. at Leonardson Cemetery in Pittsford, Michigan with Dr. Rev. Samuel E. Wickard officiating. Visitation will be Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. at the Eagle Funeral Home in Hudson.

Those planning an expression of sympathy may make memorial contributions to Hillsdale County Medical Care Facility.

---

Helen was my mother's 1st cousin. Her father Cleo Britton was my Grandma Dolly (Britton) Bavin's brother.

RIP

38th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Division US Army - World War I

In my previous post (immediately below this one), I mentioned how I found out my Grandma's brother, George Britton, was in the 38th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Division.  I did a little research on the 38th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Division and found the following:

The 3rd Infantry Division was activated in November 1917 during World War I at Camp Greene, North Carolina. Eight months later, it saw combat for the first time in France. At midnight on 14 July 1918, the Division earned lasting distinction. Engaged in the Aisne-Marne Offensive as a member of the American Expeditionary Force to Europe, the Division was protecting Paris with a position on the banks of the Marne River. The 7th Machine Gun Battalion of the 3rd Division rushed to Château-Thierry amid retreating French troops and held the Germans back at the Marne River. While surrounding units retreated, the 3rd Infantry Division, including the 30th and 38th Infantry Regiments, remained rock solid and earned its reputation as the "Rock of the Marne". The rest of the division was absorbed by the French Command until brought back together under the Command of General Joseph T. Dickman and by 15 July 1918 they took the brunt of what was to be the last German offensive of the war. General "Black Jack" Pershing said the Division's performance was one of the most brilliant of the United States' military history. During the war two members of the division were awarded the Medal of Honor.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3rd_Infantry_Division_(United_States)

3rd Division Campaigns  - World War I, 1918

 http://www.warfoto.com/3rdsociety3.htm

• Aisne; May 27 – June 6
• Champagne-Marne; July 15 – 18. “Rock of the Marne”
• Aisne-Marne; 18 July-6 August
• St. Mihiel; September 12–15,
• Meuse-Argonne; September 26–November 11

We do not know what Uncle George's specific role was as a Private in the 38th Regiment.  We do know the 38th Regt. played a critical role in the first phase of the 2nd battle of the Marne in July 1918.  In what way and how much Uncle George was involved in that action again is not known. 

Here are excerpts from an account of the Champagne- Marne phase of the battle:

At midnight, July 14/15 the artillery crashed and the last German push of the war started. As predicted, it was a drive to get across the Marne [east of] Chateau-Thierry...[From Chateau-Thierry east were] the Third American Division...where they'd been ever since their machine gunners had come charging up the riverbank six weeks before. Then came another French outfit and next the pea-green Pennsylvania National Guard -- The 28th Division -- which had no line time even in a quiet sector. They were fed in by companies to fight with the French. Farther east {of Reims] there was the veteran 42nd Division, the Rainbow...That night and the next day the 38th Infantry Regiment of the 3rd Division, made a stand that deserves to rank with the famous ones, and it won.

The 38th was in line just west of where the Surmelin River flows north into the Marne. The Surmelin runs northwest and down either side of its gentle valley there ran two good roads which went south into the main Paris highway. This was to be the main German track, the route by which guns were to move south and help exploit a breakthrough.

[Westpointer, Colonel Ulysses Grant McAlexander commanded the 38th.] Down by the [Marne] river he put Major Guy Row's 2nd Battalion. The 1st Battalion, only half strength, was farther back in the support, and the 3rd Battalion even deeper in reserve.

Along the river Row's men had three companies in line...from left to right -- each with two platoons dug in down on the riverbank, two more about three hundred and fifty yards back behind the embankment of the east-west Metz-Paris railroad. The railroad was raised up on a constructed embankment about nine feet high and so wide it was very difficult to fight from behind it.

The story continues with a firsthand description of the defense along the River Marne by Captain Jesse Woolridge of Major Rowe's battalion:

"...Newly captured prisoners began to give real information - a grand offensive was to be made [where] the Marne was only about 50 yards wide...We had 600 yards of [this] front all to ourselves...[When it began] it seemed [the Germans] expected their artillery to eliminate all resistance...French Officers attached to our Brigade stated positively there was never a bombardment to equal it at Verdun.

At 3:30am the general fire ceased and their creeping barrage started - behind which at 40 yards only, mind you, they came - with more machine guns than I thought the German Army owned...
The enemy had to battle their way through the first platoon on the river bank - then they took on the second platoon on the forward edge of the railway where we had a thousand times the best of it - but the [Germans] gradually wiped it out. My third platoon [took] their place in desperate hand to hand fighting, in which some got through only to be picked up by the fourth platoon which was deployed simultaneously with the third...By the time they struck the fourth platoon they were all in and easy prey.

It's God's truth that one Company of American soldiers beat and routed a full regiment of picked shock troops of the German Army...At ten o'clock...the Germans were carrying back wounded and dead [from] the river bank and we in our exhaustion let them do it - they carried back all but six hundred which we counted later and fifty-two machine guns...We had started with 251 men and 5 lieutenants...I had left 51 men and 2 second lieutenants..."    Capt. Jesse Woolridge, 38th Inf., 3rd Division.

"SECOND BATTLE OF THE MARNE";  The Story of the American Expeditionary Forces (Doughboy Center; http://www.worldwar1.com/dbc/2marne.htm 

It was this action that earned the 3rd Division the name of  "The Rock of the Marne".  It was 3 months after this action, during the Meuse-Argonne offensive, that Uncle George was killed on October 21, 1918.

The Meuse-Argonne Offensive:

Here are some excerpts regarding the Meuse-Argonne Offensive which started on September 25:

The Meuse-Argonne Offensive was the greatest American battle of the First World War. In six weeks the AEF lost 26,277 killed and 95,786 wounded. It was a very complex operation involving a majority of the AEF ground forces fighting through rough, hilly terrain the German Army had spent four years fortifying. Its objective was the capture of the railroad hub at Sedan which would break the rail net supporting the German Army in France and Flanders and force the enemy's withdrawal from the occupied territories.

3 October 1918 To the west, the Lost Battalion of the 77th Division is surrounded. Things are bogged down along the line. Pershing shuffles his divisions for a renewed assault.   The new order of battle includes [west to east]: I Corps - 77th, 28th & 1st Divisions; V Corps - 32nd & 3rd Divisions: and III Corps - 4th 80th and 33rd Divisions.

22 October 1918 By the 22nd of the month III and V Corps had secured the Bois de Foret and Bois des Rappes and had pushed to the norther and westen limits of the Bois de Bantheville. First Army prepares for final assault on Sedan.

THE BIG SHOW - THE MEUSE-ARGONNE OFFENSIVE: The Story of the American Expeditionary Forces (Doughboy Center; http://www.worldwar1.com/dbc/bigshow.htm )

We learn from the above account that the 3rd Division which included Uncle George's 38th Regiment was part of the V Corp.  It was the V Corp along with III Corp that by October 22 had secured Bois de Foret and Bois des Rappes and had pushed to the norther and westen limits of the Bois de Bantheville.

Pvt. George Britton was killed on October 21.  His death occurred during the operations around Bois de Foret and Bois des Rappes.  Eight days before he was killed, Cunel and Romagne in the central Argonne had been captured. Romagne would become the site of America's largest overseas military cemetery and Pvt.George H. Britton's resting place.

What do we conclude?

Whatever Uncle George did or did not do on the battlefield, we can believe he was a faithful soldier, obeying orders, and doing his duty just like every other soldier who was in the 38th Regt. at that time.  We can surmise that he very probably saw some horrific fighting in those three months from the Marne to the Argonne.   He very probably saw comrades killed or wounded in battle.  And on that day, by bullet, shell, or whatever, he joined those comrades in the Bivouac of the Dead.   RIP

Pvt. George H. Britton

Private George H. Britton, U.S. Army 38th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Division is buried at: Plot G Row 35 Grave 22 in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, Romagne, France.  There is also a memorial stone in the Britton Family Plot in the Leonardson Cemetery, Pittsford Twp, Hillsdale County, Michigan.  A World War I memorial in the Leonardson Cemetery also bears his name along with others from the Pittsford, MI area who were killed in the war. 

That Grave in a Far Off Land

In a previous post, I talked about my Great Uncle, Pvt. George H. Britton who was killed in France three weeks before the Armistice in 1918.

There is a memorial marker for George Britton in the Leonardson Cemetery, Jefferson Twp., Hillsdale Co., Michigan, but Uncle George Britton's buriel was actually in France. Until very recently I did not know where in France he was buried.

A year or so ago I sent off to the National Archives for a copy of his military records. I was disappointed to find out that a great number of WW I military records had been destroyed in a fire, so there was no record of Uncle George.

Late last Saturday night I found out Ancestry.Com had a special going where the public at large could do searches on military records in the Ancestry.Com databases. It was a limited time offer set to expire on Sunday, Nov.14. That left me little time, so I dove in and did a search on Uncle George Britton.

BINGO!

I found a listing of where he was buried in France:

George H. Britton
Private, U.S. Army
38th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Division
Entered the Service from: Michigan
Died: October 21, 1918
Buried at: Plot G Row 35 Grave 22
Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery
Romagne, France

I also found a listing for Uncle George from the Soldiers of the Great War Volume 2 "Soldiers of the Great War Michigan" (WW I Casualty Listings), as well as a copy of the draft registration for George's brother, Cleo Elihue Britton.

That was pretty neat, but it is not the end of the story.

Last night I did a Goggle search on "American Military Cemeteries in France", and came across the The American Battle Monuments Commission. I did a search on their World War I database and found the listing for Pvt. George H. Britton. I realized it was this database from which the Ancestry.Com search had pulled from.

But there was more.

I checked out the "Services Available" at the ABMC page, and found out it is possible to get photographs of Uncle George's headstone in France. I sent off an e-mail to them, and today received a reply. In about 6 weeks, I should be getting those photos.

But there is one more thing before I close.

I went to Goggle Map and zeroed in on Romagne-sous-Montfaucon, France. I then turned on the satellite view and found the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery
.

Honestly, I was in tears thinking about it. Grandma's little brother will not be forgotten.

Someday I want to go to France, and go to the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery. I want to go to Uncle George's grave, put flowers on it, and let the world know he is not forgotten.

RIP

The Family of Orendo Wilber Britton & Angelia Elizabeth Sloan

Orendo Wilber Britton was born October 20, 1852 at Mt. Tabor, Rutland Co., Vermont. His parents were Lucius and Phebe (Hart) Britton. He was the youngest in the family, having four older brothers, and one older sister. One brother had died in Vermont, and his only sister, Louisa, died in Michigan in 1857 at the age of 16. Wilber was only a few years old when the family left Vermont and moved to Hillsdale County, Michigan, settling on a farm in Ransom Township.

Angelia Elizabeth Sloan, daughter of James (II) and Amerilla (Holden) Sloan, was born March 14, 1857, in Hillsdale Co., Michigan. Her father's family roots go back to the early New England Sloan and Beal families.

O. Wilber Britton and Angelia Sloan were married on December 1, 1875, in Hillsdale Co., Michigan. Wilber farmed and also operated the grist mill that was south of the town of Pittsford on Pittsford Rd. in Hillsdale County.

Britton Mill, Pittsford, Michigan

A total of thirteen children would be born to this marriage. Not all survived to adulthood.

• Oma L. Britton: 15 Nov 1876 - 31 Aug 1953
  
• Glenn Abner Britton: 1 Oct 1878 - 23 Jun 1907
  
• Leda Vera Britton: 12 Jun 1880 - 11 Nov 1957
  
• Orlie Ellis Britton: 19 Jan 1883 - 26 Apr 1948
  
• Ora Nellice Britton: 19 Jan 1883 - 1 Jan 1929
  
• Harley Wilber Britton: 21 Feb 1887 - 26 Oct 1907
  
• Nina June Britton: 12 Jun 1888 - 9 Aug 1980
  
• Dollie Lucy Britton (*1): 15 Aug 1889 - 24 Jul 1974
  
• Geneva Britton: 11 Dec 1890 - 21 Sep 1891
  
• George H. Britton(*2): 11 Dec 1890 - 21 Oct 1918
  
• Ivah Leota Britton: 15 Oct 1893 - 12 Jul 1979
  
• Cleo Elihue Britton: 30 Aug 1895 - 26 Jan 1972
  
• Ephraim Britton: 1897 - 1897
  

Orendo Wiber Britton died on June 11, 1917. Six years latter Angelia (Sloan) Britton died Aug 1, 1923. Both were buried in the Leonardson Cemetery just south of Pittsford in Hillsdale Co., Michigan.

(*1) Dolly (Britton) Bavin was my grandmother.

(*2) George Britton was killed in France in the Argonne Forest during WW-I, exactly three weeks before the Armistice of Nov. 11, 1918 brought the war to an end. He was buried in France. A memorial marker was erected in the family plot at the Leonardson Cemetery, Jefferson Twp., Hillsdale Co., Michigan.

Sources:

"Britton Family Records"; Un-published records and notes collected, verified and compiled by Carol M. Newcomer.

I have personally verified the facts mentioned in this post relating to the Lenordson Cemetery in Hillsdale County, Michigan.

Pvt. George Britton

Pvt. George Britton, son of O. Wilber and Angela (Sloan) Britton was killed in the Argonne Forest in France October 21, 1918, exactly 3 weeks before the armistice...

No sons or daughters to morn their dad,
No grandchildren to remember,
In a foreign land he lays
By his comrades in their graves.

Brothers and sisters shed their tears.
A mother's heart was broken.
Of dreams and hopes for one so dear,
Pain and grief is now spoken.

Will we keep his memory?
He paid the ultimate price.
Let us not forget him,
As we live our lives.

(Copyright © August 2009)

There is a memorial marker for George Britton in the Leonardson Cemetery, Jefferson Twp., Hillsdale Co., Michigan. Mildred (Bavin) Newcomer affirms her Uncle George Britton's buriel was actually in France.

My Britton Line of Ancestory

Bill NEWCOMER

Rex NEWCOMER/Mildred BAVIN

Cecil C. BAVIN (1893-1927)/Dollie Lucy BRITTON(1889-1974)

Orendo Wilber BRITTON (1852-1017)/Angelia Elizabeth SLOAN (1857-1923)

Lucius BRITTON (1807-1883)/Phebe HART (1809-1860) *1

Benjamin BRITTON (1769-1857)/Sarah (Maiden name not known.)

William (IV) BRITTON *2 (ABT 1733-1778)/Mary LATHAM (1744-1827)*3

William (III) BRITTON (ABT 1700-1783)/Sarah WOODWARD (????-1795)

William (II) BRITTON (ABT 1671-1725)/Lydia LEONARD (1679-1773)

William (I) BRITTON *4(BEF 1655-????)/Mary PENDLETON(ABT 1652-1732)


*1 Moved from Vermont to Michigan.
*2 William (IV)Britton served in the Revolutionary War
*3 Mary Lathem's family is traced back to the Chilton Mayflower family.
*4 It is the parentage of William (I) BRITTON that was the focus of the "Origins of the New England, Westmoreland, NH, Brittons" discussion posted earlier.

Sources

History of Westmoreland (Great Meadow) New Hampshire, 1741-1970, And Genealogical Data; Westmoreland History Com., Westmoreland, NH; (1976); pgs. 348 - 355, 486 - 488; (Cheshire Co., NH)

Vital Records of Taunton, Massachusetts to the Year 1850, Vol II Marriages; NEGS, Boston Mass; (1928) pg. 69-70

Marriage Record of William Britton & Mary Latham, Aug. 10, 1766, Westmoreland, N.H.

Britton Family Records; Un-published records and notes collected, verified and compiled by Carol M. Newcomer.

Origins of the New England, Westmoreland, NH, Brittons

Compiled and edited by Bill Newcomer, January, 1998.

(Originally published on Rootsweb. In going over this for publication here, I realized this may appear as a somewhat disjointed summery outline to someone not familiar with our Britton genealogy or New England genealogy. I apologize for that, but also believe this discussion illustrates some of the pitfalls of genealogical research.)

The following is a discussion of our Britton origins that took place via e-mail between Valerie Phillips Gildehaus, Donald Britton Miller, and Bill Newcomer. The discussion does not so much decide what our Britton origins are, but looks at three theories and why they are inadequate and we do not accept them. We recognize there are other theories regarding our Britton origins not discussed here.

Preliminary agreement

The parties to this discussion have not raised any question about the relationship of our New England Britton lines to William Britton and his wife, Mary Pendleton, through their son William (II) Britton and his wife, Lydia Leonard. The question and focus of this discussion of our Britton origins is:

"Who was the father of the William Britton who married Mary Pendleton?"

I. Theories of the Family Origins

"Exploratory Material on Britton Origins"; Elsie (Chickering) Brown; August 1976

This material by Elsie Brown does a very good job of setting forth the different theories of the family origins. The relative merits of these theories are discussed below in context of analysis of the sources. The main theories are as follows:

1. The James Britton Origin: The family descends from one of the two James Britton's found in early records of Mass. The most probable candidate is the James Britton of Woburn who married the widow Jane Eggleston. This theory says James and Jane Britton are the parents of the William Britton who married Mary Pendleton, and there was another son named Peter.
   
   
2. The Rhode Island Britton’s: There is record of a William Britton who was governor of the Rhode Island Colony in 1666-1668. This William was Elsie Brown’s favorite candidate for being the father of the William Britton who married Mary Pendleton.
   
   
3. The Maryland William Britton: A William Bretton settled in Maryland in 1637 and had a young son named William. This theory speculates that the son, William was the William Britton that married Mary Pendleton.
   

II. The Sources & Analysis

Genealogical Dictionary: Vol I "A-C"; James Savage; (BFR 1868?) ; page 257

Lists two James Britton's in early 1600's Mass.

1) A James Britton was hanged for adultery on Mar. 21, 1644. (A vivid account of this is cited by Elsie Brown.)

2) The James Britton who died in Woburn May 3, 1655. No mention of wife or children.

"The History of Woburn, Middlesex County, Mass."; Samuel Sewall, Wiggin & Lunt, Boston; 1868

In Appendix No. I, pg 529 is a copy of the Orders for Woburn (1640) with James Britton listed as one of the subscribers. In the Appendix on Genealogical notices he mentions James Britton, the material is an almost exact copy of Savage who Sewall cites as one of his sources. He does mention James Britton's wife married Isaac Cole ABT 1658. No mention of any children.

Sewall must have had access to some of the early work of Savage. Indications are from a catalog listing noted by Donald B. Miller, that Savage's work was done over a time period from about 1860 to 1884.

Bill Newcomer's notes:

"...on page 183 Sewall makes a comment that I believe has direct bearing on our discussion of Britton origins.

He is speaking of a Major Convers and of his work as Town Clerk of Woburn. Here is a summery of what was said about Major Convers' work as Town Clerk.

He noticed his predecessors had recorded births, marriages, and deaths on various loose pages of paper that were in sad shape and about to perish. Convers at his own expense bought a blank folio volume, well bound, and transcribed the records, and doing a valuable service in preserving them for posterity. By this work and that of his successor some 50 years of records were preserved. To give time context, this in the latter part of the 1600's.

If a William or Peter Britton was born in Wolburn, we have some very good expectation that the record of that birth was preserved. It is possible there may have been a fragment Convers was not able to transcribe that may have contained records of James & Jane Britton's children, but I struggle with making any claim on the probability of that."

Valerie Phillips Gildehaus comments (Jan, 10, 1998):

"This is the kind of thing that has always bothered me about the James Britton theory. The Woburn History, written before Edward Britton's book in 1901, makes no mention of sons William and Peter.

The Peter issue has always bothered me, too. If Edward Britton just listed a son William, I would assume he just found a likely Britton of the right age, and declared him to be William's father. The addition of Peter makes me think he had some source for this - but what?? I have never found a Peter Britton in any other records."

Donald Britton Miller notes (January 10, 1998):

"I examined the Microfiche which came today and there is no record of births to a Britton in Woburn! [This is as we suspected from other sources.] There is only one marriage and it is Jane's to Cole."

Lewis Fales Britton Manuscript (1822 - 1902)

His great-grandfather was Ebenezer Britton (1715 - 1788). Lewis says Ebenezer's father's name was William. There is then a somewhat cryptic statement that appears to say that this William's father and grand-father were also named William. Taken at face value this means the father of the William Britton who married Mary Pendleton was also named William and not James.

Valerie Phillips Gildehaus comments:

"This may be confused with his maternal line which included 3 Wm.'s in a row prior to Lewis's gr. grandfather Robert Britton."

Bill Newcomer comments:

"Lewis's father and mother were third cousins; her maiden name also being Britton. The document is suggestive, but not at all conclusive due to the maternal connection as noted by Valerie."

Britton Genealogy as pub. by Edward Earl Britton & Caroline Amelia Parker, Jan. 1 , 1901

This work contains the earliest note of James and Jane (Eggleston) Britton having two sons, William and Peter. The son, William is identified as the William Britton who married Mary Pendleton.

Valerie Phillips Gildehaus said (December, 1987):

"In the section on James Britton, Edward cites two sources -Savage and Charlestown Genealogies. These do list James Britton and a wife, but do not mention any sons." (Our copy of the Savage citation confirms the first part. Moffatt concurs with Valerie regarding the Charlestown Genealogies.)

"Edward Britton was not even able to identify his own gr. grandfather, Luther Britton, correctly. He apparently just found a Luther Britton and assumed that was his Luther. Edward's Luther was not son of Ebenezer, but a son of John and grandson of Pendleton (brother of Ebenezer). Edward Britton's line appears to be correctly given in the Westmoreland History and in the computer printout Don sent."

Donald Britton Miller concurs regarding the Luther Britton error per his comments, citing Edward Britton's notes on Luther Britton:

"From this connection which is in direct conflict with the Westmoreland History & Genealogy [ as it relates to LUTHER, son of Ebenezer], his whole Britton line descends.] He claims that his Luther was the 11th son [I think 12th, D. B. M.] of Ebenezer Britton 1715-1788, my relative.

12/28/96 ...... I have found the source of the problem/conflict which made me think that Edward Earl had created a new wife for Luther to create a genealogical file. There is another Luther, son of John Britton and Phebe Hewitt, son of Pendleton and Hannah Sills. Pendleton was the son of William & Mary Pendleton and this William was the son of James Britton."

New England Families Genealogical, Vol III, (1915)

Page 1373, regurgitates the James & Jane, Peter & William connection, and apparently the Luther Britton error.

Donald Britton Miller's notes regarding the Edward Britton's Luther Britton error:

"I discovered the error in Edward's work and tried to inform people about it. The author of the David Freeman book also discovered the error about Luther's. But errors live on and get copied over and over. I informed NEHGS and put info on line about the error ... but no one cared!"

Lineage of Winchester (IV) Britton; Hereditary Member of the Plantagenet Society (Date not known)

Bill Newcomer's notes:

"This chart repeats the Edward Britton error connecting Sebra Winchester Britton to Luther, son of Ebenezer, instead of to Luther son of John Britton, son of Pendleton.

A preliminary analysis of that part of the chart dealing with generations before 1600 indicates data doesn't fit with data on Paul McBride's WWW pages on the English lines of nobility. The chart lists "Sampson Leonard" where we would expect "Henry Leonard" (See Daniel Britton Ancestry Chart.)

This chart is clearly based on the Edward Britton genealogy. Edward was Winchester Britton (III)'s brother. The chart appears to have been compiled by Edyth Clements (Shiply) Britton, Winchester (III)'s wife. She claims to be a "Magna Charta Dame". This is Moffatt's "Mrs. Winchester Britton" (Moffatt & Gilbert, page 38.)

This chart's intent is to show the Leonard connection to the Britton lines and doesn't have any Britton information earlier then William & Mary (Pendleton) Britton's son William who married Lydia Leonard. I am including the analysis of this chart here because I believe it reflects the somewhat casual attitude of the Winchester Britton family towards genealogical research, and thus reflects the relative lower degree of reliability to be given to Edward Britton's work."

"The Ancestors of Daniel Freeman Britton" by Eva L. Moffatt and Geoffrey Gilbert (1953)

Bill Newcomer's notes:

"Moffatt didn't realize there were two James Britton's in early Mass. Confuses the Woburn James Britton with the "hanged" James Britton.

She apparently did not have time to fully explore the Winchester Britton Chart that is mentioned on page 38. If she had, she would not have thought Mrs. Winchester Britton to be "an alert family historian,.." (See notes on Winchester Britton Chart above.) This false lead came from Mrs. Britton's being born in Baltimore, Maryland, and thus the Winchester Britton Charts being given to the Maryland Historical Society. Moffatt's preliminary thought was that maybe the Winchester Britton material might have information connecting the Westmoreland, NH Britton's to the Maryland James Britton.

Moffatt says regarding James Britton of Woburn (page 37):

"..A careful examination of the wills and deeds of Middlesex and Sussex counties, Mass., has failed to bring to light any son of James and Jane, and there is no record of any sons in the vital statistics of Woburn, Charlestown, or Boston."

Valerie Phillips Gildehaus agrees with Moffatt (December, 1997):

"I have found nothing published or written prior to 1901 that mentions anything about either of the early James Britton's having sons Peter and William. My cousin Linda and I spend quite a bit of time at Newberry Library searching for anything prior to 1901 that documents this. Everything published after 1901 that lists these sons has the same information that Edward Britton gave."

Moffatt says regarding the Maryland William Britton:

"A family record which has come down to Charles Ebenezer Shelley of Albany, N.Y.. states that the father of our William was also William." She then mentions the William Britton of Maryland as a possibility.

Bill Newcomer's notes regarding the Maryland Britton Theory:

"In reviewing the Maryland Historical Magazine, Vol 50, (1955) article on William Bretton of Newtown Neck, I find some of my initial reservations being reinforced.

The clue in this article is the account of William Bretton's devout Catholicism. Thus my reservations follow along two lines:

1. Is it reasonable to expect a son of a wealthy respected man in Maryland to leave the mild climate of Maryland for the harsher climate of New England and with no apparent evidence he took much, if any of his father's wealth with him? I suppose this is possible, but don't believe it probable.

2. Is it reasonable to expect a man brought up in a devoutly Catholic home to leave a place where Catholicism was more then just tolerated, (the Maryland colony was established for Catholics), and go to a Puritan Congregationalist New England that was very "anti-papist"? Possible? Yes. Probable? No. On top of all that is the acknowledged silence about William Bretton's son, William. No more is heard. The most probable conclusion is he died young.

On this basis I would respectfully suggest that, unless other evidence is found, the Maryland-Bretton theory of the origins of our New England Brittons, though possible, is very improbable."

Note from Donald Britton Miller, (January 1998):

"You have done a good job of stating the reasons for rejecting that theory. In talking with Dollarhid [who is the 'expert' on migrations to the Americas, he indicates that many could not stand the closed mindedness and rules of the New England pilgrims. They were evidenced by quickly moving out to new towns. This is what James did and evidence suggests he became a Congregationalist. In the Ebenezer era there is nary a mention of Catholicism."

Valerie Phillips Gildehaus said (January, 1998):

"I, also, agree with Bill's analysis of William Britton of Maryland and his son William. The odds are extremely high that William Jr. died young without issue. William Jr.'s being the originator of our line would be a definite long-shot, however, not impossible. If the son of a prominent Catholic family met and married a Protestant from New England, this would probably be sufficient reason to never mention him again - and to ignore any children of such a union. Not likely, but these things did happen."

"Exploratory Material on Britton Origins"; Elsie (Chickering) Brown; August 1976

Bill Newcomer's notes:

It is in Elsie's materials we find mention of the Rhode Island William Britton. She cites a "..History of Middlesex Co., by Hurd (under Groton) Vol ii.." where the name is spelled "Brenton" . She also notes at the time of her writing (1976), "As yet I have been unable to find out who his descendants were, but he is my favorite candidate as father of our ancestor William Britton."

Valerie Phillips Gildehaus said (January, 1998):

"I have looked up the Rhode Island line (very briefly), and the William Britton families for this time period appear to be accounted for, so this is unlikely to be our line."

"History of Westmoreland (Great Meadow) New Hampshire, 1741-1970, And Genealogical Data"; Westmoreland History Com., Westmoreland, NH; (1976); pgs. 348 - 355, (Cheshire Co., NH)

Corrects the Luther connection error. Keeps James and Jane, citing William and Peter as sons.

Valerie Phillips Gildehaus notes (October, 1997):

"I'm quite sure that the information about James from the 1976 Westmoreland History was taken from the Edward Britton book - it's virtually identical."

"A Short History of the Brittons in America" by Maynard H. Mires, MD, pub in 1976

Source cited by Donald Britton Miller. Mires repeats the James & Jane, William and Peter connection.

III. Conclusion

Valerie Phillips Gildehaus said (December, 1997):

" I always try to get as close to the primary source as possible. It's ideal to find the same information from two independent sources. So far, everything that I have found that says James BRITTON had two sons - Peter and William - was written after the Britton Genealogy by Edward Britton, 1901. The existence of two James BRITTONs in early New England seems to be well established, as does the material on one James's wife; however, I can find nothing written prior to 1901 that lists two sons for James BRITTON. I believe all the listings of the two sons originated with the Edward BRITTON book. The problem is: Where did he get this information??? On page 7 of his book he sites two sources: Savage; and Charlestown Genealogies p.229. These sources do document what Edward BRITTON says about James and wife, but neither mention sons Peter and William. My cousin and I searched at some length to find anything prior to 1901 that mentions any Peter or William BRITTON who could possibly be these sons. When I lived near Chicago, I was able to make frequent trips to Newberry Library where there is an outstanding collection of New England material. We could find nothing to document the existence of these two sons."

Bill Newcomer concludes:

"Serious doubt has been cast on the connection of our New England Britton lines to the James and Jane (Eggleston) Britton. Where we should be able to find evidence of this connection in the early records of New England, specifically the records of Charlestown and Woburn, it is not there. Edward Britton's approach to the early genealogy of the family is suspect.

The Maryland William Bretton theory also has some difficulties not easily cast aside.

The Rhode Island theory has more plausibility but again lacks evidence. Valerie's initial investigations along that line are not encouraging.

One possibility I've not seen seriously discussed is that the William Britton who married Mary Pendleton was himself a immigrant from the British Isles. But again that is only speculation without any evidence."

Donald Britton Miller notes (January., 1998):

"I am beginning to agree with you that we must begin our line with William Britton, Sr. 1650-1680 and recognize that the connection with James is improbable. I shall plan to do that with the inclusion of a discussion of the several theories that go before. I shall sit down with Savage sometime and go through it in detail on the outside chance he says something on a different page that sheds light. I too have been through the History of Woburn and wondered that it says nothing. I have ordered Microfiche on Woburn which should list all births, deaths, and marriages. When it comes it will probably confirm what we already suspect." [As noted above, Don confirms there was no record of William or Peter in the Wolburn microfiche.]

Relationship of the participants:

Donald Britton Miller is a 5th cousin, once removed, to Valerie Phillips Gildehaus through Ebenezer Britton, and a 6th cousin, once removed, to Valerie through William (II) Britton.

Valerie Phillips Gildehaus is a 7th cousin to Bill Newcomer through William (II) Britton, and a 6th cousin, once removed, through William (III) Britton.

Bill Newcomer is a sixth cousin, once removed, to Donald Britton Miller through William (II) Britton.

Our Family Civil War Soldiers

My great-grandfather, George Debolt Newcomer, served in several Ohio Infantry units.

• 85th Ohio Infantry, Co. G: 3 month enlistment, transferred to the 87th. (June, 1862)

  
  

• 87th Ohio Infantry, Co. D: (June, 1862 - October, 1862)
  
  • Battle of Harper's Ferry


• 86th Ohio Infantry, Co. H: 6 month enlistment. (June, 1863 - February, 1864)
  
  • Buffington Island, Ohio - John Morgan's raid
  • Salineville, Ohio - John Morgan's Raid
    
    • A Brief Biography of Brigadier General John Hunt Morgan, C.S.A.
  • Cumberland Gap National Historical Park: Park information only.
    
  
  
• 182nd Ohio Infantry, Co. B: 1 year enlistment. (August, 1864 - July, 1865) George D. Newcomer was promoted to Sergeant, Oct. 27, 1864, and to 1st Sergeant, May 4,1865.
  
  • Battle of Nashville, TN: Sherman called this battle the most decisive in the whole Civil War; the only one where an army was beaten so badly, it ceased to exist as an army.

My great-great-grandfather, Charles Bavin served a 3 month enlistment with the 14th Ohio Infantry,Co. E (April - August, 1861). This unit was in the battle at what is now Philippi, West Virginia. This was the first major land battles of the Civil War. The 14th OVI was involved in other battle including Corricks Ford. After the 3 month enlistment was up, the unit was again organized for a 3 year enlistment, but Charles, along with most of his comrades from the old unit, had enough of the war.

Battle of Corricks Ford, July 13, 1861. (Other sources on this battle call it "Carrick's Ford".) The 14th O.V.I. volleys against the elevated position of the 23rd Virginia while the 7th Indiana conducts a flanking movement. Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper (Image courtesy of 14th OVI Re-enactment Group.)

Uncles and Cousins in The Civil War

• Benson Gray, (Great-Great Uncle on Father's mother's side.)enlisted Dec. 24, 1862 in the 7th Michigan Cavalry; Co. F; (3 year enlistment). This unit was part of the Michigan Brigade that eventually was under the command of George A. Custer. The Michigan 7th Cavalry was involved in the operations around Gettysburg and afterwards. It was at this time, July 1883, that family records say Benson was wounded at the battle of Culpepper, and was discharged Jan. 23, 1864. In October 1864, Benson enlisted in the 18th Michigan V.I. for 1 year, and served until his discharge on June 26, 1865. (See notes below on Benson's brother, Zebulon for information on the 18th MI V.I.) Benson Gray died in Oct. 1920, and his grave is in the Woodland Cemetery in Jackson, Michigan.



• Zebulon Gray, (Great-Great Uncle on Father's mother's side, and brother to Benson.) enlisted August 1884, in the 18th Michigan V.I. and was in Co. G. The Michigan 18th Reg't was recruited primarily from Hillsdale, Lenawee, and Monroe Counties. Family records indicate Zebulon was with that part of the 18th Reg't captured by the Confederates at Athens, Alabama. According to the family story, part of which has been confirmed from National Archive records, Uncle Zeb was detained at Macon, and then at Andersonville until the end of the war. After their release at the end of the war, some of the 18th Reg't POW's were on the Sultana when it blew up near Memphis, TN on April 27, 1865. Don Harvey has identified 60 men from the MI 18th Reg't that were killed in that explosion. Uncle Zebulon was not on the Sultana. He did come home and raised a family. Zebulon Gray died in May, 1927, and his grave is in the Forest Hill Cemetery in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
  
  
• Wesley Lee, (great-great-great uncle on my father's mother's side) Enlisted Aug. 19, 1862 in Co. A of the 102nd Ohio Vol. Infantry. Uncle Wesley was also captured by the Confederates at Athens, Alabama on Sept. 24, 1864. He was held at Andersonville until the end of the war. Wesley was not as fortunate as Uncle Zeb Gray. He was on the Sultana when it blew up on April 27, 1865 just north of Memphis. Uncle Wesley was one of the first surviviors to make it to shore that terible night. His account of that tragic experiance is told in Chester Berry's 1892 book, Loss of the Sultana, and Reminiscenes of Survivors. Wesley Lee finally made it home to Holmes Co., Ohio. He did marry and he and his bride settled in Davisess County, Missouri.




• Christopher Britton and his brother, William B. Britton were my great-great Uncles on my mother's side. Born in Vermont, they came with their family to Michigan in 1855. At the start of the war, both brothers enlisted in the 1st Michigan Light Artillery, Battery G known as "Lamphere's Battery". William was injured by artillery on May 19, 1863, during the operations around Vicksburg, . Christopher was wounded in the thigh during the fighting at Pt. Gibson. Both returned home to Michigan. William settled on the family farm in Ransom Twp., Hillsdale Co., Michigan. He is buried in the Evergreen (Burt) Cemetery in Ransom Twp.
  
  Christopher moved up to Newago Co., Michigan. We think his unmarked grave is in the Whipple Cemetery in Home Twp., Newago Co., and that has been confirmed by the copy we have of his death certificate.



• Christopher & William had a younger brother, Quincy Britton. Quincy, born in 1848, could not have been much more then 13 or 14 when he enlisted in Co. D of the Michigan 11th Cavalry. He apparently lied about his age. After the war, Quincy became a successful businessman in Toledo, Ohio. His grave is in the Maplewood Cemetery in Toledo, Ohio. If you are a descendant of Quincy Britton,we very much would like to hear from you.

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Some WWW Civil War Resources

• Civil War Battles by State (National Park Service)
• Michigan in the Civil War: Don Harvey is doing an outstanding job on these pages. Includes Regimental Rosters!!
• Ohio in the Civil War: Thanks to Larry Stevens for these excellent pages on the Ohio Regiments.

What is This About?

A number of strands have come together that have resulted in creating this blog. This blog will be focusing on family history and geneology. Along with that, to a lesser degree, will be some focus on the local history of the area where I grew up.

The family history and stories will focus on the four families of my own ancestory; Newcomer, Gray, Bavin, and Britton, and also the families of my wife Nancy's ancestory; Williamson, Clarke, Jidov, and Morar.

The local area where I grew up is the part of Hillsdale County, Michigan known as Wright Township which includes the communities of Prattville and Waldron. One of the focal points of that local history is the Michigan 18th Infantry Regiment and that regiments connection to the steamship Sultana which in late April of 1865 exploded and sank in the Mississippi River just north of Memphis, TN.

I will be bringing together in this blog a number of things I have previosly published elsewhere on the WWW. Some of those were on my Geocities pages and with Geocities going defunct, I need a new place for those items, thus the creation of The Neukomment Files.

Neukomment is the English transliteration of the German family name we now carry as Newcomer. And with that introduction, here we go....