More British than a Brit...

The results are in...

I was so excited to find out that Ancestry.com recently updated my DNA results! No real surprises… my DNA is 100% European and almost all of my DNA matches the Great Britain area. In fact I have a higher percentage of DNA traced to Great Britain than the typical person born in Great Britain!  According to the information on Ancestry.com most people native to Great Britain has between 41%-100% of their DNA matching the region. The typical native has about 60%. My DNA, on the other hand, is 86% with a range of 65%-100% of my DNA matching. If you need a refresher, Great Britain is made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

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 Before I go further, let me explain how the DNA results are reached….

Ancestry.com determines what region the DNA matches by comparing the customer’s DNA to the to the ‘AncestryDNA reference panel’. This ‘panel’ consists of 3,000 DNA samples from 26 global regions. Before becoming part of the ‘panel’ the individual’s genealogy was extensively researched and documented to prove that their family is native to the region and has lived there for hundreds of years.  To determine the region matches, a separate analysis is done with 40 randomly selected portions of the DNA. Each of the 40 analyses gives an independent estimate of ethnicity. These 40 results are then averaged. So… for my Great Britain results the 40 estimates ranged from 65%-100% match with the average of the 40 being 89%. Got it? 

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The next highest percentage of DNA match is to European West 

This region is made up mostly of Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Luxemburg and Liechtenstein. But also found in other regions including England. I know I have ancestors from this region so it fits with my research. Both my Westfall and Flesher lines have been traced to this region. Some say James Jarrett was from France and my 6th great grandmother, a Gagnet, was most like from France. By the way, I asked the French teacher at my school about this name…. not pronounced ‘gag-net’ haha. More like ‘gan-yeah’ much nicer, huh?

To round things out I have small amounts of DNA from other regions:

• 2% Ireland (range of 0%-10%)
• 2% Scandinavia (range of 0%-9%)
• <1% Iberian Peninsula (range of 0%-5%) 

Ireland and Scandinavia fit into my research. The Iberian Peninsula, which is primarily found in Spain and Portugal, is a mystery to me. DNA in this area may also be found in France, Morocco, Algeria and Italy. Hmmm. I know that there is a large concentration of Castos in parts of Italy. There is also a legend that the first Castos in this country were from Spain. Other than Casto I have no clue as to where this little bit of DNA came from! Intriguing to say the least!

My family lived at the Lunatic Asylum!

Halloween is just around the corner so what better time to take another look at my Flesher family! What’s the connection you ask? Well, one of the ‘most haunted places in America ‘sits on land that was once owned by my 6^th great-grandfather. The Trans-Alleghany Lunatic Asylum in Weston, WV was built in the early 1860’s on what was once Henry Flesher’s farm. (So, the title was  a bit misleading) The present day Lewis County Courthouse was built on the ‘threshing floor’ of his barn. Henry owned many acres in what is now Lewis County. Henry was one of the first white settlers in the area where he and his wife, Elizabeth Bush, raised 10 children. I descend through his daughter Anna and her 2^nd husband Charles Parsons. I have some ‘dirt’ on Anna but that’s for another post!  

The town of Weston was first named Preston then briefly named ‘Flesherville’ but the family didn’t care for that so the name was changed to Weston. No one really knows where the name Weston came from but it was NOT Henry’s middle name. Prior to being Weston the area was Augusta County, Harrison County and finally Lewis County. Some have said that it would not be incorrect to compare Henry Flesher to Daniel Boone. He was just as tough and rugged as the more well know pioneer. I can’t imagine what West Virginia was like in the 1700’s! History tells us that it was not a safe place that is for sure! Indian attacks were quite common through the 1700’s and Henry Flesher has been credited with the last Indian killing in the area. Henry himself was attacked and almost killed by an Indian while returning to his cabin after working in his fields. The following is from “A History of Lewis County, West Virginia” written by Edward Conrad Smith and published in 1920.

Stone Coal Creek

The first attack following the close of the Revolution took place on the spot destined in later years to be chosen as the seat of government of the county. About the middle of October, 1784, assisted by Paulser Butcher, then a mere youth, but later one of the largest landholders in the county, Henry Flesher had been engaged in hauling logs for a stable to be built near where the Baptist church now stands. Flesher went to his house to get a bell to put on his horse preparing to turn him out to graze in woods. When he reached the ravine which came down the hill about where Bank Street now is he was fired upon by an Indian lying in wait. The ball passed through his arm, and he immediately started to run to his cabin. The savage ran after him and almost succeeded in overtaking him at his own door. In attempting to kill him before he entered the house the Indian, using his gun as a club, brought it down against the logs of the house with such force that the stock was shattered. Mrs. Flesher succeeded in pulling her husband into the house, and then scared the Indian away by calling- upon the other men in the house to fire. The family spent the night in the woods, fearing a renewal of the assault. There is a tradition that Mrs. Flesher carried her husband into a thicket near the house and spent the night under the widespread limbs of a sycamore which stood at the mouth of Stone Coal creek. The next morning she met John Schoolcraft, who summoned help from West's fort. Another account states that a young woman of the family reached Hacker's creek the next morning and that the remainder of the family were guided into West's fort by Edward Hughes. The Flesher family and young Butcher remained at West's fort until the near approach of winter made it unlikely that any savages were in the vicinity, when they returned to their home.

Henry Flesher’s name is found no less than 65 times in the book and anyone interested in reading more can find the book online for free at: 

A History of Lewis County West Virginia

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I also transcribed Henry’s will today 

(I can spell.... just transcribed what I saw!)

Henry Flesher

Will

1802

  In the Name of God amen I Henry Flesher Sen of Harrison County and State of Virginia am of perfect mind and Memory thanks be given unto God Caling to Mind the mortality of my Body and Knowing that it is appointed for all men once to Die Do make & ordain this my Last will and Testament that is to say princepally and first of all I give and recommend my Soul unto the hand of almighty God that it and my body to be buried in a Decent Christian burial and as Souching Such worldly Estate. I give and bequeath to Elizabeth my wife her bed & ___ furniture that belongs to __bed- Andrew [smudge] & [smudge] Peter my three sons the House Each the Share [smudge] My son Henry is to have the Plantation Whereon [smudge] I Now Live Beginning at the upper corner Tree Then [smudge] urning over the river to Peter Flesher cornor then with the Meanders of the river to the mouth of Stone Coal creak then up sd Creek with the Meanders thereof to the upor End of apopla bottom to a small D___ and up the Same to the Line & to my Son John I give the Tract of Land on poke creek Lying between Peter Flesher Line and John P Dwallading thereto Sixty Dollars in Cash out of my movable &to my Son William I give the Land Lying on the Lower Side of Stone Coal Creek ___ the Line runs Joining Land with Charles Parsons ading thereto __him fifty Dollars and the old Sond mares coalts to my Grandson David Sleth I give to Him the Bull Mares Coalt and as for all the remainder of my Estate Shall be Sold at Publick Sale and Eighteen monthly Credit given and then my wife Elizabeth to have her ____ of the money when my Debts is Paid and the Balances to be Divided equal amongst my four Daughters Ann Elizabeth Mary and Susannah but as for my Son Henry Shall pay to John and William Each Eighty Dollars in hand for their part of the old Plantation as Soon as they become the age of twenty one years but as for William he shall be Bound for for traid at the age of the age of Seventeen and I also appoint___ my Sons Adam and Henry Flesher as my Executors & administrators there shall also be no due __ three pounds out of my Daughter Susannahs Share for the Land She now Lives on ___ Creek & I Do hereby utterly revoke and Disannull all and any other fomer will and Testament in any wise before Named ___ Witness whereof I have here unto Left my Hand and Seal this Twenty Sixth Day of November One thousand and eight hundred and two
Signed Sealed & Delivered by the said Henry Flesher Sen S__is his Last Will and Testament
           

The words Henry Flesher is wrote in German (not my comment this is stated in the actual will)

In the presences of

Paul Butcher, John Law

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West Virginia Will Books, 1756-1971, Harrison County Will book, v. 002 1788-1794

Pruning the Pendells!

          It has been a while since I added anything new to my little blog…. But that doesn't necessarily mean that I haven’t been doing a little research! I have been trying to stay focused on one line but that is not easy, not for me! So… I've started to meander off the Carnes line just a bit and found myself somewhere among the Pendell branches! Arthur Carnes married Harriet Pendell… so it was a logical jump over to the Pendell branch! This particular branch I haven’t worked with much and a lot of my information is either not sourced or sourced by someone else’s tree, something that I haven’t done in a very long time. This part of my tree needs pruning and cleaning up and I decided that now’s the time! This part of my tree is embarrassing to say the least! While looking for documentation to prove what I have in my tree I have come across some interesting information that I think is worth posting.

            I’m always looking for more Revolutionary War Patriot ancestors and I think I have found a Pendall. Elisha Pendell is my 5th Great-Grandfather and I believe he was a Patriot. He may not have fought, haven’t found proof of that just yet, but he did declare his loyalty to the United Colonies. Along with Elisha Pendell there are also two men with the last name of Boynton. Elisha’s wife’s maiden name was Boynton so it is quite possible that one of the men may have been her father, brother or both. 

I have only included the section of names from Gilsum, New Hampshire but the book is free on Goggle Books. Google Books is one awesome resource!!!

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Miscellaneous Revolutionary Documents of New Hampshire

~ Page 1 ~

ASSOCIATION TEST

Colony of New Hampshire

IN COMMITTEE OF SAFETY

April 12th, 1776

In Order to carry the underwritten RESOLVE of the Hon’b1e Continental CONGRESS into Execution, You are requested to desire all Males above Twenty One Years of Age (Lunaticks, Idiots, and Negroes excepted) to sign to the DECLARATION on this Paper; and when so done, to make Return hereof, together with the Name or Names of all who shall refuse to sign the same, to the GENERAL-ASSEM BLY, or Committee of Safety of this Colony.

 M. Weare, Chairman.

In CONGRESS, March 14th, 1776

 Resolved, That it be recommended to the several Assemblies, Conventions, and Councils, or Committees of Safety of the United Colonies, immediately to cause all Persons to be disarmed, within their Respective Colonies, who are notoriously disaflected to the Cause of AMERICA, Or who have not associated, and refuse to associate, to defend by ARMS, the United Colonies, against the Hostile Attempts of the British Fleets and Armies.

 (COPY)                                                          

 Extract from the Minutes

Charles Thompson, Sec’ry.

In Consequence of the above Resolution, of the Hon. Continental CONGRESS, and to shew our Determination in joining our American Brethren, in defending the Lives, Liberties, and Properties of the Inhabitants of the UNITED COLONIES

             WE, the Subscribers, do hereby solemnly engage, and promise, that we will, to the utmost of our Power, at the Risque of our Lives and Fortunes, with ARMS, oppose the Hostile Proceedings of the British Fleets, and Armies, against the United American COLONIES.

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GILSUM
Ebenezer Dewey Pelatiah Pease Gershom Crocker Ebenezer Kilbarn Josiah Kilburn Jr Jonathan Adams Henry White Stephen Bond David Bill Elisha Mack Levi Bliss Abner Bliss Jonathan Bliss Jr Joel Kilbourn Ebezer Willcox John Marks James Rowe John Boynton John Dimick Juner Timothy Dimock John Row juner	Justus Hurd Ebenezer Dewey Jr Josiah Kilburn Tho morse Ebenezer Church Ichabod youngs Shubael Hurd Joseph Youngs Stephen Bond Jr Obadiah Smith Jonathan Bliss David Bliss Ebenezar Bill Obadiah Willcox juner John Chapman Stephen Griswold Elisha Pendell John Boynton Jun John Dimeck John Row Obadiah Willcox
This may Certifey that the Names Annexed to this paper are all the inhabitants of the Town of Gilsum that Come within the Limits of this Request Test
Eben’r Dewey Jr                                                                         Pelatiah Pease		Selectmen of Gilsum

               

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                  I also found some info in another book stating that Elisha Pendell was a Selectman. In New England the executive branch of the government is the Board of Selectmen. There were usually 3-5 members and according to these records, Elisha would have been one of the members in Gilsum, NH in 1779.

Provincial Papers Documents & Records Relating to the Province of New Hampshire

                

 Then the above named Capt. John Griggs Elisha Pendel and Ebenezer Church Select men of the town of Gilsum for the year 1779 personally appeared and made Sollum oath that the above account is true and justly charged

                                                                           Before me Isaac Wyman Just peace    
                                                                                                                     pg. 662