When In The Course of Human Events…

Tracing Dad’s (and Mom’s) family I keep learning how frequently I crossed the paths of my ancestors while criss-crossing the country.

Today while searching, I found myself remembering the cold winter nights we spent a few miles from Valley Forge. Even with the warmth of the semi’s heater, the cold snuck into the sleeper.

Dad knew his ancestor John Frink (1732 – 1821) served during The War for Independence. Both Laura Jane McKinstry White and Peggy Frink Humphreys record this fact. And Dad proudly shared the information with his daughters and grandchildren.

In “The Frink Family In America”, second edition, Peggy Humphreys writes:
“John was a Private, Mass. Militia, Capt. Robert Oliver’s Co., Col. John Greaton’s Regt, in the Revolution. He served from February 14, 1777 – February 14, 1780, “

Laura Jane cited “Mass. Soldiers and Sailors of Revolutionary War”, Vol. VI. Pages 101 – 102 in her Frink manuscript:
Frink, John, Springfield. List of men raised to serve in the Continental Army from
1st, 2d, 3d, and 8th, cos., 1st Hampshire Co. regt., as returned by Capt. Walter
Pynchon and Capt. David Burt, sworn to in Hampshire Co., April 6, 1779; resi-
dence, Springfield ; engaged for town of Springfield ; joined Capt. Oliver’s co..
Col. Greaton’s regt. ; terra, 3 years, to expire Jan. -, 1780 ; reported as belonging
to 8th CO. ; also. Private, Capt. Robert Oliver’s co., Col. Johij Greaton’s (2d) regt. ;
Continental Army pay accounts for service from Feb. 17, 1777, to Dec. 31, 1779;
also, same co. and regt. ; return [year not given] ; mustered by County Muster
Master Woodbridge; also, Capt. Edward Cumston’s co.. Col. John Greaton’s
regt.; return of men in camp on or before Aug. 15, 1777; also. Major’s co., Col.
Greaton’s regt. ; Continental Army paj’ accounts for service from Jan. 1, 1780, to
Feb. 14, 1780.
Her account matched the record from archive.org “Massachusetts soldiers and sailors of the revolutionary war. Vol. 6.

Laura Jane related family tradition that John Frink “fought the of Monmouth and Saratoga and that they at Fort Green L. II, when Washington had to retreat with his forces across New Jersey and the Delaware River, and marched to Valley Forge, where they spent that memorable winter of the revolution, and where their names are recorded on the roll of the Massachusetts soldiers of the Revolution; and if any part of the tradition in Massachusetts reports, it will have to rest under the Scotch verdict, “NOT PROVEN”.

With the aid of the internet I found some proof to the family tradition.

The Worcester Polytechnic Institute website has the following information concerning the 1st and 2nd Battles of Saratoga from the Department of Military Science:
1st Battle September 19, 1777
Gates’ Bemis Heights forces that the Right Wing under the command of Major General Horatio Gates included Colonel Greaton and the 3rd Massachusetts Continental Regiment.
2nd Battle October 7, 1777
Gates’ Reorganized Bemis Heights forces that the Right Wing, under the command of Major General Benjamin Lincoln included Colonel Greaton and the 3rd Massachusetts Continental Regiment

Greaton’s regiment was also at The Battle of Monmouth (June 28, 1778).

From Wikipedia is the following information concerning Colonel John Greaton’s regiment:
“The regiment served in the Saratoga campaign, then marched south to join Washington in the Middle Department. It served in the Philadelphia campaign and wintered at Valley Forge. In 1778 it served in the Monmouth campaign, then at Rhode Island.”

Unfortunately I do not have records of John Frink’s actual service, i.e. pension records, pay records, etc. So, I cannot be certain he was actually at the Battles of Saratoga and Monmouth, or the winter at Valley Forge. But, it is a beginning with my search for proof.

While in the mood for searching I found a few more ancestors who took part in the American Revolution on Dad’s Mother’s side:
Calvin Torrey b. March 20, 1758 d. December 2, 1820. Son of Joseph Torrey (1722 – 1795) and Silence French (1733 – 1811). Husband of Mary Carrier (1763 – 1815)
According to the Center Cemetery, Southampton, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, he was a private Continental Line and the 1st Revolutionary soldier buried there.
His daughter Sabora Torrey (1808 – 1832) married Theodore Morgan Frink (1804 – 1891), grandson of John Frink ((1732 – 1821) by his son Luther Frink (1770 – 1853). Sabora Torrey’s name is also spelled Sabra, Sarah, and Sabrina.

The Isaac Van Valkenburgs (a father and son) served on opposing sides during the struggle for our independence.
Father Isaac VanValkenburg (christened 1712 – died between 1789/96) served on the American side.
His son Isaac (christened 1732 – ) was a Loyalist and served with Butler’s Rangers after fleeing to Canada. He had been imprisoned several times by the Americans. When Father Isaac was captured by the British, he was taken to Canada because of his son. The younger Isaac was also known by the name Vollick. His mother was Maria Bradt (also spelled Bradden and Brat), (christened 1713), she was the daughter of Storm (Strum) Brat and Sophia Uzielle.
Isaac Van Valkenburg Vollick married Anna Marie Warner. She was forced from her home after he fled because she continued to support the British. She and their ten children made their way to Canada. Their son Matthes (Matthias) Van Valkenburg (christened 1759 – ) married Bertha (Baertie) Bradt (christened 1758 – ) Matthes and Bertha’s daughter Sarah Van Valkenburg Vollick (1798 – 1880) married John Ostrom (1773 – 1836)

Lucas Morgan (1742 – 1817)
“The Miles Morgan Family of Springfield Massachusetts” by Titus Morgan 1904:
Page 36
“Captain Joseph Morgan marched with ten men from his company in the 3rd regiment by Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Robinson of Granville which went from West Springfield to Ticonderoga to reinforce the Northern army. He was in service 28 days from October 21 to November 17, 1776.
His brother Lucas Morgan served in this company for the same length of time.
Captain Joseph Morgan with his company in the regiment commanded by Colonel John Moseley served from September 21 to October 17, 1777 on an expedition in the Northern department.
Lucas and Jesse Morgan also served in this company for the same period.”
His daughter Phoebe married Luther Frink in 1794. A descendant of Phoebe and Luther donated a handkerchief Phoebe spun and wove in about 1790 to the DAR Museum in 1921.

Oh, Mom, I didn’t forget to search for your family.
According to a Rossman researcher I was in contact with:
Gramy’s great grandfather and great grandmother were Elias Rossman (1764 – ) and Elizabeth Dipple .

“Elias Rossman, born 03 Feb 1764 in Livingston, New York; died Aft. 1850 in Livingston, New York. He was the son of .Johannes Rossman and Magdalena Shufelt. He married. Elizabeth Dippel 11 Nov 1798 in Livingston, New York (Source: Kelly, Arthur C.M., Marriages: Linlithgo Reformed Church, Livingston, New York – 1723 – 1899, (Kinship, Rhinebeck New York – 1970), Item #368.).
Notes for Elias Rossman:
Information on Elias and his descendants has come from DAR #447983 – submission of Pearl Liberty Lewis.”

I have not been able to locate this record.

But finally, today July 4th 2013 found this record:
John Rossman m. 1764 – Shufelt (d. 1830);
Also No. 25788
John Rossman (1739-1836) was ensign in Captain Blatner’s company, 10th
regiment, Albany County, New York militia. He was born in Albany County;
died in Columbia County, N. Y.

The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution Volume 92
Mrs. Francis Allen Arnold.
DAR ID Number: 91001

More paths to trace or retrace to find the paths they traveled.

Lying About The Lyon

      Since John Frink of Ipswich is not an ancestor, these are the current ancestors who have been claimed to arrive in 1631 on the Lyon (lLion).

 

Frink Line

John Frink (1633 – 1717)

Valentine Prentice (1598/9 – 1633), wife Alice Bredda Prentice, son John Prentice (1628- 1691)

 

Medbury – Medberry – Medbery Line

1631 with Roger Williams

William Denison (1571 – 1653/4), wife Margaret Chandler (1577 – 1645/6), son George Denison (1618 – 1694)

  

From A Genealogical Dictionary of The First Settlers of New England, Showing Three Generations Of  Those Who Came Before May, 1692, On The Basis Of Farmer’s Register.

By James Savage

John Frink no mention of when he emigrated from the Old World.

Valentine Prentice “came in 1631, prob. With Eliot in the Lion”

William Denison and family “was perhaps in the Lion.”

 

From the New England Historical Genealogical Society

John Frink – no Bio

Valentine Prentice was “almost certainly a passenger on the Lyon on its second voyage 1631”

William Denison does not include which ship he arrived on.

 

From the Winthrop Society Web Site

John Frink – not listed

Valentine Prentice “came to New England 1631”.  Also “First spouse Alice (d 1634) and “Children John”.

William Dennison “came to New England in 1631” Also “First Spouse Margaret Chandler (widow Monk)” and “Children John, William, George, Daniel, Sarah, Edward, George.”

 

Missed Opportunities

During the US Bicentennial summer Mom and Dad took us on a trip to New England. We visited a few of the places they had been to on their honeymoon, a few new sights, plus a daughter and son-in-law living in Connecticut at the time.

We did touristy things. Took the ferry to Liberty Island. Spiraled our way to the crown. Stood in Paul Revere’s home. Peered through canon ports aboard the USS Constitution. Rode on Boston Common swan boats. Posed on Concord’s North Bridge with the Minuteman. Peeked through windows of “The Manse, home of Ralph Wlado Emerson and rented home of Nathaniel Hawthorne. Visited Sturbridge Village, Picnicked in The Hanging Hills. Meandered through Mystic.

Years later Dad learned some of his family had a connection with Mystic. He would have loved to have explored the area looking for traces of his Frink family.

Years later, during the semi years, I had a chance to spend a few short hours near Mystic. The only bit of touristy stuff was buying local post cards.

Just around sunrise we left Mystic Harbor heading towards Springfield.

Laura Jane McKinstry White relates:

“British restriction and aggression on shipping and commerce finally drove the country into revolution, and ruined nearly everyone engaged in foreign shipping and commerce…”

“….the Frinks to enable some of their friends and relatives among the shippers and exporters to weather this crisis thus caused, became heavy indorsers for them expecting that a favorable change in commercial matters would set all right again. But instead of a favorable change came a change for the worse, which resulted in absorbing all the property real and personal of the Frinks, to liquidate the claims against their endorsements.”

“Anna Pendleton (1731/32 – 1812) used to tell her grandchildren how she stood, with tears rolling down her checks, and saw great herds of their cattle being driven away to be sold under execution, to satisfy claims against their endorsements.”

“This misfortune left John Frink (1732 – 1821) and his family perfectly destitute, and they left Stonington, and made their way as best they could to the ‘Big River’ above Springfield, where they settled. After moving to the ‘Big River’, John Frink and his three sons joined the Army. They enlisted in 1777 for three years, and receiving their discharge before their terms of enlistment expired.”

Columbine

Yesterday one of my sisters gave me a cd full of images her husband had scanned in from Dad’s Heirloom Album. (Hopefully he makes one from Mom’s Heirloom Album).

This evening has been spent studying familiar old photos.

I noticed, perhaps not for the first time, the poem on my Grandmother’s funeral card was written by A L Frink.

Amelia Louisa Corey Frink (1863 – 1903) was the wife of William Mitchell Frink (1832 – 1927). He is a distant Frink relative to Wilma.

I do not know if Dad knew of a connection to the author.

At Dad’s funeral his nephew Lawrence shared this poem written by Larry (Dad’s brother).

Columbine

Rare delicacy
contrasts with the stark beauty
of the mountains
Hardy
not frail
survives
bears young
passes on

Columbine they named her
as she shared beauty
survived
bore young
passed on

The legacy she passed on
continues to endure

Larry Hoppis 12/22/08

Cousin Lawrence explained Columbine was the nickname William Henry Columber (1861 – 1944) gave his daughter Wilma Hazel.

Whenever I have raised a garden a few Columbines found their way in. I never knew they were a reminder of love from a father to his daughter.

Tuesday September 16

Christmas of 1999 Dad shared one of his most treasured possessions with his daughters and grandchildren. He gifted each with a booklet containing transcripts of letters sent from Lewis Colombur to his wife Mary Elvira Frink. Also a few other letters Mary received between August 26, 1862 through May 11, 1864.

Comparing my records today, I discovered Dad mis-dated the Tuesday, September 16 letter. He placed it as 1863. Tuesday the 16th of September was 1862. In my records I had misread the day of the week as Friday.
To Mrs. M. E. Columber
Kansas Village, Seneca County, Ohio
From Camp Stern Kentucky

Tuesday September 16th

Dear and Affectionate Wife
It is with no little pleasure that I write you A letter altho I have not received A scribble of A pen or pensil from you or eny of my friends I would be happy if I could hear from you and Mother and that gratious boy the Nearest and dearest the Ider of my thoughts we can not hear from one an other that often or at least I can not write that often I will write as often as posable I have tried to get to get my likness taken but I have not suceded in getting it taken yet we are keped close becaus we do not know when we will march I would like to have you send me your liknises as soon as posable write me Wm
Address write me the particulars of the naborhood when you write to Henry Pepper and Wife write my best respects Give my best respects to all my inquiring friends but reserve A large share for yourself Mikel Shumaker is sick write soon
O.V.I. Cincinnati
Co. K in care
Of Captin Noble

Lewis eventually got his likeness taken. Dad used a copy from the tintype for the cover of his booklet.

Tangled Threads

Memories are elusive, tangled threads of thoughts, changing as replayed through the years.

Through imaging technology scientists have shown that when a memory is retold the brain makes a new memory track. The more the memory is related the more memories of the memory the brain contains.

Add to the tangle the shared family memory of a grandmother’s story to a grandchild who then shares the oral traditions to his grandchildren. Slowly details have changed.

Laura Jane McKinstry White started her Frink Family with John and Mary Frink, his wife, and a son who came from county Kent, England. They sailed on the ship “Lion”, settling in Ipswich, Massachusetts in 1631.

When Dad learned Peggy Frink Humphreys was working on a new Frink Family in America he contacted her to try and learn if the genealogy he had from Laura Jane McKinstry White was correct. Neither he nor I had been able to locate a copy of her 1971 Frink Family In America.

White’s genealogy matched in most points. The most notable difference being John and Mary Frink who settled in Ipswich are not in our family line. In Appendix I of her second edition, the author untangles John Frink of Ipswich (1642 – 1675) from John Frink of Stonington (1633 -1717).

While checking my ancestral ships files I find several other families had claimed to arrive on the Lion (Lyon) that do not appear among the most accepted passenger list of 26 immigrants. Like my yarn stash, this file needs a bit of untangling.

Golden Moments

       Photographers anticipate the golden hour.  A time when sun and earth align and illumination magic happens. They plan where they will be during this time to catch their subjects in the best natural lighting condition possible.

      On an early autumn or late summer upstate New York day, two golden moment discoveries happened during the magical hour.  One I recognized instantly.  One was revealed several years later.

      At the start of this leg of the trip I had not looked over a road map to see what genealogical or historical points of interest might lay ahead on our route.  Often I would trace out our selected route or possible routes during the years I was a passenger in the semi driving by my husband throughout the 48 states.  My husband decided to travel this secondary route and leave the New York State Thruway just to see what we might see.

      Through tree dabbled sunlight we looked over the scenery we passed through.  There was either a stream or river near the road. But as we journeyed west it looked more like a canal to me. Suddenly a road sign flashed past. We were following The Erie Canal!

      My excitement level jumped.

       Husband’s bewilderment level jumped.

      “It’s The Erie Canal. I have wanted to see this since Elementary School. I never thought I would get to see it.” I exclaimed.

      I believe his reply was something to the effect of “What?”

     As a child I loved stories about the making of this marvelous canal. I had dreamt about the barges, mules, horses, people who traveled this man made waterway so far from my Colorado home.

      While the Golden Hour slowly dissolved into twilight, I savored the thrill of actually following The Erie Canal.

      Some years later when we made a brief stop at Aurora, Colorado to visit Mom and Dad. Dad excitedly showed off his recently arrived copy of “The Frink Family In America, Second Edition” by Peggy Frink Humphreys, signed and mailed by the author.

      Looking at her information for Theodore Morgan Frink, Dad’s 2^nd Great Grandfather, suddenly my afternoon and evening on The Erie Canal reappeared. According to Peggy Frink Humphreys, Theodore and his wife Sabra Torrey travelled to Ohio in the spring of 1837 by oxcart on The Erie Canal.

 

Luther, a sack, and an old horse

Story from Laura Jane McKinstry White manuscript

  The photo above shows one family story from the Revolutionary War from Laura Jane McKinsrty White’s “The Frink Family Genealogy, Events, Incidents And Traditions.

      In May 2004 Dad put together a booklet from the typewritten manuscript  Dad’s Aunt Elizabeth (Colombur) Head gave it to her daughter Betty. Olivene (Kibble) Baker, daughter of Mary Elvira (Colombur) Kibble made a photocopy for Dad, son of Wilma Hazel (Colombur) Hoppis. Thanks to children and grandchildren of William Henry Colombur and Anna Ostrom we have this record of their family history.

      Cousin Olivene used the information to aid her in becoming a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She proudly showed her pin to me on the last visit we had together.

      Laura Jane was a member of The National Society of Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America.  The lineage book listing is stark. Citing in brief details that John Frink was a private and served with his sons John and Thomas in the Massachusetts Militia under Col. John Greaton.

Laura Jane McKinstry White 1837 – 1920 was the daughter of Mary Theodosia Frink b. 1813 – 1892 and William McKinstry 1809 – 1845.
Mary Theodosia was the daughter of Luther Frink 1770 – 1853 and Phoebe Morgan 1772 – 1825

William Henry Colombur 1861 – 1944 was the son of Mary Elvira Frink 1840 – 1910 and Lewis Colombur 1839 – 1863
Mary Elvira Frink was the daughter of Theodore Morgan Frink 1804 – 1891 and Sabora Torey 1808 – 1855
Theodore Morgan Frink was the son of Luther Frink 1770 – 1853 and Phoebe Morgan 1772 – 1825

Colombur is also spelled: Columber by Laura Jane McKinstry White in her manuscript on the Frink Family Columbur by Peggy Frink Humphreys in her book The Frink Family In America second edition 2005 Also Collombur, Collumber, Cullumbur….

This Blog begins with an ending after a few years pause.

      Last week I started going through some boxes of my Dad’s genealogy research. It had been in my parents store room for the few years following his death.  Then my box of research joined it about a year later, while I went through a transitional period. Two weeks ago Mom needed their space, I finally have space to take custody of the records. Perhaps my dear hubby would rather not have them setting in the tiny kitchen, but they are only waiting for a more permanent place in our apartment.

      Dad had a dominant genealogy gene which he passed down to me.  Mom’s only sibling also had the gene. So she must have passed her recessive genealogy gene on to me as well.

      Nestled in the box was my 2004 Christmas present to Dad –  a  CD with my searching for the wives of his Frink family line. Many years earlier he shared a typed copy of a genealogy written by Laura Jane McKinstry White.  It had the male line, some of the wives’ fathers, and fascinating stories told by children and grandchildren about earlier generations.

       Oh, it hooked me.

       I was the child who spent hours digging through the boxes of family photos stashed in the basement.  Mom would be beset with questions about who, what, where, when, why, and how all day long. Then Dad would be my victim when he came home from work .

      Here were words that went back before the 2 to 3 generations of photos that gave glimpses of family.

      So from this ending, followed by a pause, I’ll share the beginning of my search for the Frink wives.

Grace Stevens who married John Frink

Hannah Prentice who married John Frink, son of John and Grace Frink

Tracy Burdick who married Benjamin Frink, son of John and Hannah Frink

Anna Pendleton who married John Frink, son of Benjamin and Tacy Fink

Pheobe Morgan who married Luther Frink, son of John and Anna Frink

Saborra Torrey who married Theodore Morgan Frink, son of Luther and Phoebe Frink

      December 2004 Christmas letter to my Dad

   Sometimes glimpses into the past pique the curiosity. Long sent letters of a soldier to his family, wishing to be home but knowing he must be where he is for his country, hold hints of what life promised. Photographs of a young woman fresh to the Midwest from Denmark, more photographs of this same woman now widowed, a homesteader of the wide high plains of Colorado. The copy of a family history from one part of my father’s family following their path across the country from 1631 on the Eastern shore to the present. Each of these demanding more information than is present in the document. This is enough to begin the questioning.

   Who were their parents, siblings, spouses, children.

   What other records might exist to show their path through life – letters, books, wills tombstones, monuments.

   Where did their migrations begin, pause and end.

   When did the first of each name arrive on this soil – with the first few Dutch and English boats from the 1620’s through the early 1700’s, the wave of the Palatines in the 1700’s, or with the floods of the 1800’s.

   Why leave home to travel over unknown distances to pursue their life. Was the tide that swept them religion, war, poverty, adventure, family…

   How did they fare on their journey through life, was it long, short, calm, tumultuous. How well could history have recorded some of their lives or are there only a few ripples still to be found by the wake of their passage.

   To begin the searching seemed an obvious choice, start with the copy of the Frink Family History you gave me a copy of a copy from Laura Jane McKinstry White who was born December 15, 1856.

Grace Stevens of Taunton, Massachusetts should be an easy beginning since her husband arrived in 1631 and they were married in 1657, she was here by then and probably arrived after the Mayflower since she is not on their list, unless she was born in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. James Savage lists John Frink and wife Grace but no last name, they were at Stonington by 1666 and she died in 1717. He does not include her in his listings under Stevens. Next a faulty family tree establishing her as the daughter of Henry Stevens (who I believe is more likely her brother if they are related at all) led me into a long confusing tangle. The Stephens family web site confirmed this feeling, Larry Stephens, has addressed this problem. I have kept the wrong tree in this folder to help know at a glance that her mother is not the one shown.

   Searching for Hannah Prentice met with more success. Mr. Savage mentions her, her father, John Prentice and grandfather, Valentine Prentice and her marriage to John Frink. Hannah’s grandfather Valentine Prentice also appears in the records of the New England Historical Genealogical Society (NEHGS), which gives her mother as Hester Nichols. The Winthrop Society also has a listing for Valentine Prentice.

   Looking for Tacy Burdick, wife of Benjamin Frink, provided several more documentary sources. There is even a bible once owned by her 6^th generation back grandfather at a museum in Wisconsin, I have been in Janesville on many occasions and could have seen it if I had only known.

   Anna Pendleton, wife of John Frink (son of Benjamin and Tacy), also was a success, her ancestors names appear on ships’ passenger lists, there are several NEHGS biographies for them, as well as listings in Mr. Savage’s Genealogical Dictionary, among other sources.

    With the search for the family of Pheobe Morgan, wife of Luther Frink (son of John and Anna Frink) I decided to trace from her father Lucas Morgan and her mother Tryphene Smith treating them as two separate lines because of the number of names involved. 

      I have only started on the Morgan half since December, but am including it in this updated last (2004) Christmas present since it has not been delivered yet. The Smith line is currently lob-sided, having chosen to focus on the maternal line from the Chapin family. As to the paternal Smith line it has so far been left unpursued as I fear it could prove as much a maze as Grace Stevens has been. The Frink Family History mentions Joseph and Lucas marry two daughters of Henry Smith – Joseph and his wife are ancestors of the famous J. P. Morgan and their researchers have not listed the Smith line merely referencing David Smith as Joseph’s father-in-law. So the search commences with the tangle of “is he David Henry Smith, Henry David Smith, or one or neither of the names is correct“, I believe it’s best to just wait for my head to clear a little before attempting to follow this trail,

  Saborra Torrey completes this installment of the search and I have not done as much research into this family group as most of the others, but will be continuing and add to the record. Also I did not intentionally end this collection with one of the more historically dark periods of our countries history, since on the whole your family has received much better treatment since their arrival in this promising new land.

   Fortunately the search for the Frink wives was fruitful, I had originally intended on including something about the Colombur line. However they seem to have left very few records or I have failed to find the secret spelling of their surname that will unlock the floodgates of information.

   Hopefully these glimpses of the past may pique your interest.