Professional Documents
Culture Documents
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GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY
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Foreword
Seldom do family groups gather for reunions or visitation with-
out questions arising pertaining to family background or references
made to ancestral anecdotes. Sometimes friendly arguments develop
as to origins; while these may be entertaining they are not particularly
enlightening. For some time the writer has felt that a study ought
to be made that would gather all possible information relative to the
family background, and present it in an historical setting. The idea
of accumulating current information was a natural sequence. Every
reasonable effort has been made to obtain information relative to each
phase of the problem. It is obvious that when pertinent information
is not forthcoming, it cannot be presented; hence, the current history
is at times impaired.
*
ft
Acknowledgments
Certainly the first expression of thanks must be made to the
many persons who have sent the many letters containing information
ft of the several branches of the family, without which Part Two could
not have been written*
Thanks .are expressed to all other persons who have given advice,
and have constructively criticized the manuscript.
ft
Last, but not least, thanks are extended to the typist who has
transcribed the sheets of longhand into typewritten form.
Pa&t&u
i
for the full amount of fifty dollars each:
Vll
Benjamin J r .
b 1725
eight other
Benjamin children
b 1700 d 1755
(David Tidd d 1756
b o m about
1675
Martin Tidd I
(
b 1789
M d 1820'a
W. Savell
Samuel John John moved
b 1708 t o Ohio
H d 1756 b 1740
Elizabeth H Olive
Olive Martin h 1742
M
T h . Puller
Mary William C o i p l )
John Tidd
{
M (Rev. Army)
b. 1600
F . Kendall b 1740
or William Hia eon
<L 1650 John William. J r .
Hertford M moved t o Ohio
England R. Wood
M.lat Peter
Joeeph
Margaret Bobert
*L 1651 James
barn
m {
M.2nd
Alice U
Henry Charles
b 1740 {
Elizabeth
•
b 1765
b 1742 .
ft
ft
Vlll
m John W-
J o h n Tidd
b 1772
d 1804
Never married
Martin
James
Nancy
Sarah
Sarah Tidd Rosanna
b 1774 John
d 1851 Samue!
m J a m e s Hill Mary
Margaret
Mary
Elizabeth
Samuel Sally
Martin Tidd I b 1779
b 1739 d 1851 Martin
d 1820V m. Rebecca Nancy
Born in Hill Charles
Penna, Jane
Died in
Kinsman Ohio
Tn Betsy
i
Marvin i children
Charles Tidd
b 1782
Charles
Martin
4
m Rachel
James
David
Betsy Tidd Samuel
b 1785 Martin
m Robert Sally
Susan
Martin Tidd II
b 1789
•
d 1837
m Deborah
Blackburn
(See next
page)
•
ft
IX
J a m e s M*
John W.
Ebenezer
Charles L*
Martin Tidd H I H a r m o n C.
b 1818 E z r a L.
d 1897 Alvin A*
Olive M.
ft Albert A*
Lucy
Maude
John Harmon
b 1819 John
Lester
Peter
Abigail
)
ft Mary aAlvm
b 1821
i .Loan da
Jane
Sherman
Charles
b 1823
d 1852
C. Wayland
Carleton
Leonard Homer
b 1825 Llewellyn
d 1893 BUss
Martin Tidd I I Leonard
<
b 1789
d 1837
•
m Deborah
Blackburn
b 1800 John
d 1860 Zina
Orin
C Willard
Nancy Alvin
b 1827
1 d 1906 Alice
Ella
Ulysses
Avery
Albert Sarah E.
•!
Alvin
Annetta
EUet E
J, Lyman Huber
b 1832 Lucy
d 1918 Bede
Olive
b 1836
d 1851
I
ft
f Sarah Tidd
b 1822
m Carleton •
Sarah Allen
of Henry Tidd
Pennsylvania Marvin Tidd
J, Mervin Tidd Eugene Tidd
b 1827 W m , Tidd
m Lucy Twins
Swagger Cornelius Tidd
George Tidd Hi
{ Hillman Tidd
b i
Charles Tidd
Frank Tidd
J e s s e Tidd
J a m e s Hillman Josephine
Tidd
Tidd Nettie Tidd
b 1831
d 1914 Edith Tidd
Ella Tidd
m Elizabeth
Hammil
b 1835
d 1927 George Tidd
Addie Tidd
.Artemus A- Ransom Tidd
Tidd Ruby Tidd
b 1834 Florence Tidd *
d 1917
m Syrenna
L Wilmont
Polly Tidd
b 1799
Married •
J u n e 16. 1817
^ John Draper
•
ft Bibliography
General and State Historical Material
A History of Great Britain, By H. Robinson; Historical Collections
• of Pennsylvania, By Sherman Day; The Making of Pennsylvania, By
Sydney G* Fisher; Frontier Forts of Pennsylvania 2 Vols., By Thomaa
Montgomery; Smith's History of New Jersey, By Samuel Smith; Colonial
History of New Jersey, By Donald Kemmerer.
Regional Histories
• The Valley of The Delaware, By John Garber; History of the
Lackawanna Valley, By H. Hollister; History of Wyoming, By Will-
iam L. Stone; History of the Wyoming Valley, By Isaac Chapman;
A History of Wilkes-Barre and The Wyoming Valley, By Oscar Harvey;
"The Olden Time, Information Relative to the Early Settlements
around the Head of the Ohio. 2 Vols., By Neville B. Craig; Ohio And
Her Western Reserve, By Alfred Mathews; Historical Collections of
the Mahoning Valley, pub. by Mahoning Valley Historical Society;
Early History of Cleveland, including original papers relating to the
Adjacent Country, By Col. Charles Whittlesy; History of Youngstown
and the Mahoning Valley, By Joseph G. Butler Jr.
County and Local Histories
History of the County of Westmoreland, Pa., By Albert; History
of Trumbull and Mahoning Counties 2 Vols., By H. Z. Williams; Hist-
ory of Trumbull County, Ohio 2" Vols., By H. T, Upton; The History
• of Champaign and Logan Counties, By Joshua Antrim; The History
of Hardin County, By Beers; A farm House and Those Who Lived in
It. Vol 2, John Christy, By Bayard Henderson Christy; "Old Dans-
bury and The Moravian Mission", By R. R. Hillman.
Journals and Diaries
Journal of Dr. Peter Allen, Kinsman, Ohio; Narratives of The
Early Delaware Valley, By Albert Myers; Journal, Kept by Capt.
Van Etten in Command of Ft. Hamilton and Ft, Hyndshaw on the
Delaware; Fragments of the Haskin Diary, Episodes of Frontier Life
on the Delaware River.
Official Publications including Court Records, Census
reports. Rosters.
U. S. Census Records 1790-1830 for states, Mass., Conn., New
York, Pa., New Jersey, Maryland, and Ohio; Official Roster of Officers
and Men of New Jersey in the Rev. War; Roster of Revolutionary War
Veterans who lived in Ohio; Roster of Revolutionary War Veterans
Buried in Ohio; New Jersey Archives, Series 1-3; Pennsylvania
Archives, Series 1-5; Vital Records of New Jersey 3 Vols.; The Sus-
quehannah Company Papers 4 Vols., Ed. By Julian P. Boyd; Ashtabula
County Probate Court Records, Jefferson, Ohio; Trumbull County
Court Records, Warren, Ohio; Mahoning County Probate Court
Records, Youngstown, Ohio; Vital Statistics Records of Trumbull
County, Ohio.
•
Genealogies and Genealogical Histories
History of Lexington, Mass., with Genealogies 2 Vols.; The Bas-
sett-Prescott -Ancestry, By B. Preston; History of Cambridge, Mass.,
with Genealogical Register, By Lucius R. Paige; History of the Town
of Lexington, Mass., with Genealogies 2 Vols., By Charles Hudson;
ft
xu
ft
ft
ft
• aa
Xlll
Parti
Historically
Part H
Currently
•
ft
l
Parti
Undaunted by the stories of hardship and suffering en-
dured by the men and women who had chosen to go to the
colonies in the "New World", there continued to be an
ever-increasing number eager to make the change from
• what might be considered the safety of known ways of life
to the known perils which surely awaited them, once the
transition had been made. It was no secret that a large
^ portion of the settlers in Jamestown, Virginia had fallen
victims to the "starving time"; while the only attempt made
by the Plymouth Company to colonize had met with miser-
able failure in 1607 on the Kennebec River. A single winter
of disease and starvation was enough to reduce the colony
t by half and send the survivors back to England with "their
former hopes frozen to death." "What, then, could have
been the motivations responsible for the "ever-increasing
number" to risk their lives in this determined effort to
seek new homes across the sea ? Whatever the motives, we
• can recognize that they were fundamental, and positive,
and powerful. Among the problems faced by the people of
that day, that of making a living was becoming more dif-
ficult.
• The farmers were in distress because of higher rents
and taxes. Due to the Enclosure Acts large tracts of land
were being converted into sheep pastures. One result of the
rapid expansion of weaving in Flanders was the unusual
demand for English wool. A small number of men could
•
care for a large acreage of pasture and flocks of sheep;
thus, many families were evicted from the land which had
formerly furnished them employment. We read in Queen
Elizabeth's day of the great "increase in idle rogues and
« beggars", and of the attempt to relieve them by the so-
called "poor laws". The people resented being treated as
objects of charity. If the Lords of Wool were to be allowed
to monopolize the acres of England, there were broader
lands beckoning from beyond the Atlantic. The plight of
• the townspeople was no less miserable. Higher taxes and
higher prices, with fewer jobs because of the competition
of the people from the rural sections, made the outlook
dark indeed; they, too, turned to the opportunities promised
•• by colonization.
In addition to the economic reasons for unrest, many
people were beginning to feel the harsh effects of a Relig-
ious persecution entirely new in England. There was wide-
spread acceptance among the middle-class people of the
Protestant doctrine of the individual's responsibility to God <
alone for his religion. Determined resistance to any form of
coersion within this religious province was increasingly
demonstrated by many persons.
We find that the religious life of England at that time i
was dominated by the Anglican Church, which was the
State Church established by law. This was, and had been
for nearly a century, Protestant in philosophy and concept.
However, there had been developing for some time within
the English Church certain groups at variance with accept- ft
ed procedures; and disagreeing wih certain forms and
ceremonies as being to "popish". One group, quite moderate
in their protests, were known as Puritans. They had no
desire to leave the Established Church, but did object to the '
wearing of vestments, such as the surplice and the cope,
and to the idea that the clergy have distinctive dress when
outside of church. The Puritans merely wished to "purify**
the church of its "Romish leanings". Continued agitation
pertaining to these objections finally led to the passage of •
the "Act of Uniformity" which laid a fine on anyone refus-
ing to attend church; and ministers found in agreement
with these Puritan ideas were punished. Puritans willing
to obey the Act were called "Conformists"; those refusing g
to obey became '^Non-Conformists", and upon these the ire
of the King later descended.
A group of intellectual men, who actually did not want
to conform but wished to work out a peaceful solution, met
the new king, James I with what was called the Millenary
Petition, so-called because it was claimed to have been
signed by one thousand ministers of the Church. This oc-
cured in 1603. During the following year the King called
into session the Hampton Court Conference for the sole f
purpose of considering the Petition. Under the influence of
the Bishops, and fearful of admitting a wedge into the
Established Church that might smack of Presbyterianism,
he refused to grant the tenets of this Petition and openly
declared, "I will make them confonn, or else I will harry •
ft
to the acceptance that John Tidd was established as a
worthwhile and dependable citizen, because church mem-
bership was not extended to persons until a reasonable
period of "testing" had proved the applicant's qualifica-
tions conformed to the rigid church requirements. An in-
teresting point shows up here in the record—Joshua Tidd,
a presumed brother of John Tidd was also admitted to
church membership on March 10, 1639.
On April 23, 1638, the Charlestown Proprietors had
land laid out to them "on Mystic side" toward what later
became Maiden, and at that time John Tidd received lot
No. 86 on the basis of a taxable estate of £10/20s, while
Joshua Tidd received lot No. 74 on the basis of a taxable
estate of £5/15s. Neither one removed to that locality.
A few words will suffice relative to Joshua Tidd, for,
according to all geneologies, he did not figure prominently
in establishing a direct perpetuating line. His wife, Sarah,
died in 1677, He soon married a woman named Rhoda;
ft however, this marriage did not last long for he died in 1678
at the age of 71, Thus his date of birth stands as 1607,
which fits nicely into the picture as being a brother of
John Tidd, Joshua became quite prosperous; the record
shows that he owned a small vessel for the purpose of fur
#
trading, several pieces of land, and a salt-house for the
curing of fish.
As time went on, John acquired eight pieces of land
in Charlestown, as well as one and % "cow commons",
• having purchased the % portion. The pieces of land varied
in size from one acre to several acres. He must have be-
come fairly prosperous for, when Thomas Moulton was re-
moving to "mystic side", John was able to purchase the
i Moulton home in Charlestown.
In May, 1640, Charlestown petitioned the General
Court for additional land which was granted, and in Decem-
ber, 1640, thirty two men who planned to settle on it,
signed the "Town Orders" as original proprietors of what
• in 1642 was named Wobum. John Tidd and Francis Kendall
were among the signers and they soon removed to the new
location where land must be cleared, houses built, and the
whole process of pioneering gone through with once more.
t John Tidd lived in this place the remainder of his life.
He was made sergeant of the training band in Wobura in
1643 and again in 1646, becoming the "first citizen of
Woburn named by a military title in the records". The
earliest extant tax list shows that he was taxed for the
* "country rate" (colony tax) in 1645. He was, in the same
year, chosen "surveyor of fences", an important position in
a pioneer locality. In 1646 he had the task of "ringing the
bell for church and town meetings", for which service the
A
town "owed" him £l/10s. In 1647 he helped collect the
local taxes, and later served as "Commissioner for the
Country Rate". All information points to the conclusion that
John Tidd was a prominent and respected citizen of Wo-
burn ; and that he was fairly prosperous is evidenced by the
fact that at his death in 1656 his net worth was appraised
at £163, no mean sum for that early period.
One item of considerable interest portraying his mettle
and courage appears in 1653, when, with others, he signed
a petition to the General Court which dared to express an
opinion entirely divergent from a ruling of that body. That
petition has throughout the years been called the "Wobura
Memorial for Christian Liberty", and they who signed it
were dubbed "the bold petitioners".
John Tidd was born in or before 1600, His children
were all bora before his coming to the colony of Massachus-
etts. His wife was named Margaret, and the following were
their children, although possibly not listed in the proper
chronological order: Hannah, Samuel, Elizabeth, Mary,
John, Joseph, and James.
John Tidd's wife, Margaret, died in Woburn in 1651;
later he married Alice, who out-lived him and was men-
tioned in his will. His daughter Hannah, married William
Savell in 1641; to this union were born four children: John,
Samuel, Benjamin, and Hannah. His daughter Mary,
married Francis Kendall in 1644; to them at least one child
was born, named John Kendall, His daughter Elizabeth,
married Thomas Fuller in 1643; to them at least one child f
was born, named Thomas Fuller. John Tidd's son, Samuel,
married and to them was born a daughter. John Tidd's
son, John, was bora in England in 1625, and in 1650 he
married Rebecca Wood in Woburn, where he resided for
several years. Later he removed to Lexington, known early
as "Cambridge Farms*'. To John and Rebecca were born
eight children: Hannah, John, Mary, Samuel, James,
Joseph, Rebecca, and Daniel. As to John Tidd's son Joseph,
and son James, there is no further genealogical record.
Neither son was mentioned in the father's will. It is
thought possible that each son might have been given a
portion directly by the father before his death; or that
distance or other causes had so separated them that their
whereabouts was unknown. There is no record that either
son ever lived in Wobura again.
On April 9, 1656 John Tidd made his will, and on
April 24 of the same year, he died. The will was proved on
November 10, 1656, by Thomas Danforth, Recorder. (Only
the pertinent items will be reconstructed).
"I, John Tidd, senior, of Wobura Town, in the County
of Middlesex, Tailor, being in good and perfect memory—
bequeath to my beloved wife Alice the house wherein I
now dwell together with the orchard and land thereunto
belonging—until the day of her death or six years after
her next marriage, providing it be kept in good repair, and
ft
then to come and remain to my three grandchildren Ben-
jamin Savell, Hannah Savell, and my son Samuel's daughter,
equal between them.
Item - I give to my (other) two grandchildren, John
Savell, and Samuel Savell, twenty shillings to either of
them.
Item - 1 , John, do give to my son John the value of £5
to be paid within two years of my decease—It is further
my will that my son (in-law) Savell shall keep the portions
bequeathed to my grandchildren till they become of age
as well as my son Samuel's daughter, as his own.
Item - I give to my two grandchildren, Thomas Fuller
and John Kendall, sixteen acres of land lately purchased
of Thomas Chamberlain equally to be divided between
them, and one parcel of meadow lying in Step Rock to be
divided between them also".
Attached was a copy of appraisment made in July,
1656. "An Investory of the lands, goods, chattels late
belonging to "Sargeant" John Tidd of Wobura. Total
•
value £163. duly signed - Edward John, John Monsall,
Samuel Walker, duly recorded - Thomas Danforth, Record-
er".
It is apparent from the foregoing will that Samuel
• Tidd had died prior to the death of John Tidd. A search of
records has revealed two very important pieces of informa-
tion. (1) That under date of August 26, 1650, a grant of
land was made to Samuel Tidd. (2) The following "testa-
• mentary paper" probably written by his wife, but was en-
dorsed by the Court as "Samuel Tidd's Will, 1651". "Samuel
Tidd upon his death bed did wish and desire me to give
unto his three brethern, to each of them, one of his suights
(suits) and the rest of his estate I to have to myself. Thiis
• my husband spoke the day of his death being in perfect
memory and understanding. The mark of Samuel Tidd
Accepted by the Court".
The great importance of this "testamentary paper"
» is as follows: (1) If John Tidd gave to son Samuel a grant
of land six years before his death, it is reasonable to sup-
pose that he, John, might have settled some portion of his
belongings on his other sons, Joseph and James; hence
it would not have been necessary to have named them in
his will. In other words, the fact that Joseph and James
were not mentioned in the will does not in any way prove
that they did not exist. (2) If further evidence is necessary
to prove the existence of Joseph and James as sons of John
ft
A
Tidd, let us again look to the "testamentary paper" which
was accepted by the Court as "Samuel Tidd's Will, 1651".
In it we read "Samuel Tidd upon his death bed did wish
and desire me to give unto his three brethern, to each of
them, one of his suights (suits)". Turning to the list of
children of John Tidd we find the following names: John,
Samuel, Joseph, and James. Taking into consideration the
fact that we are critically appraising the will of Samuel
Tidd, it becomes very obvious that his intenton was to give
to John, to Joseph, and to James, each, one of his suits.
A cursory reading of the geneologies dealing with the
early Tidds could easily lead to confusion and misunder-
standing as it has so obviously done in the past. Historians,
hunting for the beginnings of the early familes of New
England, and elsewhere, often jump to conelusons without
having made a thorough and critical examination of the
material and information available. Sometimes the infor-
mation is so confusing and meager that the most astute
searcher becomes guilty of precipitance. When others try
to build upon their faulty premise, the result is often a com-
plete distortion of the facts. This has been the case whereby
certain conclusions drawn and perpetuated by careless or
incompetent persons has caused considerable misunder- L
•
Henry Hudson, an experienced English navigator in
the service of the Dutch East India Company, in 1609 sail-
ed up the river that bears his name. Just prior to his dis-
covery of the Hudson River, he had sailed into and explored
the lower reaches of the Delaware River. The claim of
the Dutch on this area was further strengthened when Cap-
tain Jacob Mey of Holland, in 1613, landed and built a fort
on what is now Gloucester Point, New Jersey. Later, in 1631,
Fort Oplandt was built and a settlement was established.
This settlement was well supplied with cattle, seed, agri-
cultural implements, and household furnishings. Consider-
able progress was made by this group until the leadership
passed into the hands of Giles Osset, who soon aroused the
enmity of the Indians. Things went from bad to worse, with
the result that the Indians massacred most of the inhabit-
ants and burned all of the buildings. The place was entire-
ly rebuilt by the Dutch, only to be destroyed by the English
in 1664. Peter Minuit, in 1638, established a settlement at
what is now Wilmington; this too, was captured by the
English at the time when the Dutch power in the New World
was broken. A few minor settlements were made by the
Dutch only to be taken over by the Swedes, who were their
early colonial rivals in this area, although this enmity did
not involve the mother countries, who were allies, at least
on the surface.
Queen Christina, of Sweden, afflicted with a mild case
of "colonizing fever", desired to establish some Swedish
colonies; therefore, she was instrumental in equipping an
expedition under Captain Printz, who, in 1643, built a fort
and established a settlement farther up the Delaware
River on Tinieum Island. Despite the fact that this fort
changed hands several times, the building itself stood until
the year 1800. The Swedes were very successful with their
settlements, partly due to their industrious work habits, and
partly to realizing that farming must be the fundamental
enterprise within a new colony. Soon prosperous Swedish
settlements dotted both sides of the Delaware, Governor
Printz built the first grist mill on Cobbs Creek, a tributary
of the Schuylkill River. His daughter received land and built
a very fine house at Parintz Village, near what is now
•
Chester, Pennsylvania. Incidentally, this house was slept
in by William Penn on the first night of his arrival in
America. Successful tobacco culture, the growing of grain,
and the production of cattle-horses-and hogs, added to the
reputation of Printz as a colonizer. He soon built a fort at
the mouth of Salem Creek to challenge all intruders.
Fort Casimir, built by the Dutch, was surrendered to
the Swedes and renamed Fort Trinity. The Dutch planned
and executed a sweeping victory on the Delaware in 1655
which ended for all time any colonial claims of Sweden.
Their victory was short lived however, for the English
had for some time been resentful of the Dutch control of
the Hudson River and the splendid harbor at its mouth.
ft Therefore in 1664, Charles II of England granted to his
brother, the Duke of York, all lands between the Con-
necticut and Delaware rivers. The first knowledge of this
act came to the Dutch when the English fleet entered the
harbor and demanded the surrender of all of Holland's
possesions in the New World, With no chance of resistance,
New Netherland fell without a blow. In a short time, both
the former Swedish possessions, as well as the Dutch pos-
sessions on the Delaware, were in the control of the Eng-
lish.
The Duke of York leased all of the territory between the
Atlantic Ocean and the Delaware River below New York
to two of his friends, Lord Berkeley and Sir George Carteret,
ft
12
iron.
Eastern Pennsylvania and northern New Jersey from
the very beginning excelled in iron and steel products. This
region enjoyed the favor of iron ore, coal, and limestone. •
The opportunities presented by this unusual combination
of ingredients in close proximity were attracting an in-
creasing number of skilled workmen. Thomas Rutter, a
blacksmith (one of the first to establish iron works in the i
Delaware Valley) was by 1717 "making iron of a quality
that the best of the Swedes' iron doth not exceed." The
Durham Furnace of Hunterdon County, New Jersey, early
became famous for its high-grade iron products. The fol-
lowing note, although somewhat premature, shows the I
important trend and is given for that purpose: "Official
records pertaining to the Revolutionary War, show that the
Delaware Valley with the nearby Susquehanna Valley
furnished more rifles, cannon, cannon ball, and powder for m
Washington's army than any other region of the colonies."
Rather early in the history of New Jersey pottery
works were established and glass making soon exceeded
that of any other colony. "The clean sharp sands of the f
Delaware were found to be well adapted to glass making
and were being used in quantity as early as 1683,"
While early in the colonial period England had wel-
comed the production of pig iron, it was with the idea in
ft
13
mind that this pig iron would become a raw material product
and would be shipped to the home country for manufactur-
ing purposes. However, it did not work out as planned; the
colonial production of metal goods aroused the resentment
of English foundrymen, and immediate steps were taken to
• control iron and steel manufacturing by stringent laws.
After 1700 the English laws tightened drastically on metal
working of any kind in the colonies.
There was but one bright light in this otherwise gloomy
picture—the mines and foundries were, for the most part,
situated in remote and inaccessable places. Ocean going
ships, that might carry officers of inspection and enforce-
ment, could not ascend the Delaware River above the Falls
•
which are located at the present city of Trenton. Also these
same officers had no liking for a long and arduous trip
into the back-country. Therefore, in spite of the English
laws to the contrary, mining with its allied occupations
continued. These occupations were calling skilled workmen
long distances and from far away places. When the "bog
ores" of Massachusetts and Connecticut became exhausted
the blacksmiths turned to the mining areas of northern
New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania.
Years earlier in England, when the Puritans were being
•
persecuted, many sought refuge with the Ulster Scotch;
now that the tables were turned, the Ulster Scotch thought
that the Puritans of Massachusetts would be friendly. Thus
many of the Ulster Scotch landed in Boston and went on to
Worcester and Springfield. Failing to find hospitality ex-
tended as they expected, they left these places, crossing
the Hudson River into the Kingston area of New York
State. "Their restless overflow met and joined the natural
overflow from Massachusetts into northern New Jersey
and from there many crossed into eastern Pennsylvania
by way of the forks of the Delaware at Easton." Settle-
ments were scattered thinly from New York State into
upper New Jersey and the Delaware Valley, Two groups
in particular established settlements in which Presbyterian
churches were founded as early as 1738. These were located
in what became Northampton County, Pennsylvania. One
at East Allen and the other at Mt. Bethel, a little more
ft than half way between Easton and present Stroudsburg.
These groups containing Ulster Scotch, pioneering people
from Massachusetts and New York State, and others, form-
ed the northern frontier of Pennsylvania and the western
ft
frontier of New Jersey and bore the brunt of the many
Indian raids that came later. These people were "noted
for their several abilities including agricultural and indus-
tral skills; some were well educated and many were skilled
artisans.»*
14
ft
they ever left his table hungry, or that he watered his rum
more than the next one.
The tavern itself was merely a double log cabin, double
in length but regular in width, with a lean-to on the back
side which accomodated the kitchen and storeroom. The
east half of the building was used for the inn proper, while •
the west end served as the private quarters for the Van
Paulluns. The entrance to the inn was a door on the south
side and at the right hand corner. The young traveler walk-
ed through this doorway into a room about twenty feet
wide and thirty feet long. Immediately in front of the en- *
trance and against the east end of the room was the bar.
At the opposite side of the room from the entrance was
a door leading into the kitchen. In front of the bar and 4
occupying a portion of the middle area was a long table
that could seat ten or twelve persons. Near the long table,
but on the farther side of the room, stood a table, that
would seat no more than four persons. On the west side of
the room was the huge fireplace with both front and back . f
sides open, showing that it was used for heating both the
bar-room and the private quarters for the family. Next
to the fireplace and in the same wall was a door leading
to the private room of the owners. One large window -
occupied part of the south or front side of the room, and '
between the window and the entrance stood a small table
large enough for not more than two.
Six or seven men were seated at the long table, and
two were eating at the smaller table on the farther side of *
the room; consequently, the young man took a chair at the
table by the entrance, with his back to the wall. This placed
the entire room with its occupants in front of him. Van
Paulluns, short and fat, was standing behind the bar; and, §
as the latest arrival took his seat, Van gave him a nod of
welcome and at the same time tapped a small bell, as much
as to say to the people in the kitchen, "Another plate." A
girl, obviously the waitress, walked from the kitchen to
his table and said, "It's stew today." "Good enough," he
answered, "one plate and a small mug of rum."
He had not long to wait as the other men had already
been served. The girl soon appeared bringing two plates,
one filled with stew and on the other a large slice of corn- *
bread had been placed, with a knife, fork, and spoon. As
she placed these on the table she said, "I'll get the rum."
Returning from the bar with the drink she asked, "Why
a small mug of rum when a large mug goes with the meal?"
"Well, gal, it's like this, I don't rightly favor the stuff,
but sometimes it's needed as a wash. When I'm at home,
and it's handy, I drink milk, but I don't figure to rob the
kids. They need it mor'n me." And with this speech he
1
17
raised his eyes and really looked at her for the first time.
• He looked into a pair of cool grey eyes that were neither
bold nor afraid; their coolness and sincerity was refreshing.
Her light brown hair was combed back and tied or pinned
in a knot at the back of her head. Her features were regu
• lar. Although she was somewhat reserved in manner, her
facial expression was one of friendliness on guard. Her
height was not above average; her general appearance was
one of neatness. Her dress was of the greyish-brown mater-
ial known as linsey-woolsey. She wore elbow length sleeves
• which exposed a pair of smooth round arms that denoted
strength. The hands, fairly small, showed evidence of hard
work. A short apron, and a pair of moccasins completed her
m attire. Her movements were graceful and unhurried. When
not actually serving she remained within the kitchen yet
seemed to know when service was needed.
The food was very acceptable and appeared to be well
prepared. The chunks of beef in the stew were well done
m but not tough; the vegetables, mostly potatoes and cabbage
with a few turnips, were good. The cornbread, covered with
a liberal amount of wild honey, was excellent. The rum,
neither better nor poorer than any other, was still rum
and served as a poor drink following the fine flavor of
• cornbread and honey.
The men at the long table seemed intent on satisfying
their hunger; hence little conversation was allowed to in-
terfere with the main occupation of eating. Not so, however,
ft at the table of the two men. One appeared to be about
forty years of age, while the other was hardly thirty. The
latter had had his rum mug filled three times, and the ef-
fects were plainly in evidence. His face was becoming
quite flushed and his talk rather loud. With the third fill-
• ing of his mug, he had made some remark to the waitress
which had caused her to say, "Better mind your manners
if you have any." This reprimand went unheeded. The older
man seemed to be trying to restrain his companion, but
with little success. The young man by the window had tak-
en notice of the situation, and heard Van Paulluns mutter
to himself, "Must be a total stranger," which meant little
at the time. Soon a call came from the thirsty one for an-
other mug of rum. He was sitting with his back to the fire-
place and his companion was sitting at the opposite side
of the table. The girl walked to the table and placed the
mug in front of the fellow. As she did so he laid his hand on
her arm. She quickly moved her arm to avoid his hand.
He became angry and grabbed her arm and said some-
thing to the effect, "He'd show her a thing or two," and
at the same time started to rise from his chair while still
holding the girl's arm. The young man by the window had
"W
18
noticed that she set the mug of rum on the table with her
left hand, and that the right hand was in the side pocket
of her dress. The next action was so rapid that the eye
could hardly follow. There was a sweeping flash of a white
arm, a straight over-hand blow and as it descended, the
girl seemed to rise to her tip-toes, and as her fist struck,
every ounce of her weight and energy were concentrated
in the blow. Her fist landed flush on his mouth. There was
a roar of rage and pain, blood spurted from his mouth, a
front tooth dropped to the floor; he turned to spit into the
fireplace and another tooth klinked on the iron grate. He
put his fingers to his mouth and out came a third tooth.
ii
Damn! what a blow," thought the man by the window.
u
A total stranger," muttered old Van Paulluns. The girl
moved back a step or two and waited, her left hand quiet-
ly at her side, the right hand in the side pocket of her dress.
Her eyes, no longer cool and grey, burned with an intensity
that boded ill to any further insult. The whiteness of her
face and her rapid breathing were the only other evidences
of emotion. Apparently no further demonstrations on the
part of the drunk were contemplated. His companion
hustled him out of the room and to the pail of water out-
side on the washing block where he rinsed the blood from
his mouth. The men at the long table, having finished eat- «
ing, paid for their meals at the bar and left. Old Van
went outside to collect for the other two meals, some argu-
ment ensued as to whether or not the bill would be paid.
The older man said that his "companion had been mis-
treated." This drew such a laugh from the other men that
he finally paid. After the coins were safe in Van's pocket
he remarked, 'T knowed he was a total stranger, but they
sometimes hafta leam the hard way."
The young man had not yet left the table when the
girl came to get the dishes, He said, "Gal, a while back you
asked me a question about why didn't I get more rum; now,
can I ask you one?" With the faintest of smiles at the com-
ers of her mouth, she replied, "I guess it's your turn."
"Can I see your right hand?" he asked.
It
That's not a question," came the answer.
Gal, that's the biggest question that ever got stuck
in my mind. Please, can I see your hand?" Slowly she laid
her right hand on the table, palm down. He looked, and
then he stared. The skin over the knuckles was somewhat
reddened, but that was all; no bones broken—the skin
not even bruised. Then he looked at her, amazement, un-
belief, incredulity written on his face.
She smiled, "What did you expect?"
He merely shook his head, then said, "You are the only
girl I ever told that I would favor getting acquainted with.
19
"th© tsv©m.
"Well, I'll be damned," muttered John, "Ollie, the
Wildcat." The recent encounter with the drunk in the
tavern could in no sense be considered comparable to the
biting, scratching attack of a wildcat except for ferocity
and singleness of purpose. Well, time would tell. Did he
expect to stay for the evening? He had not even thought
to ask himself the question. He knew that he would be stay-
ing.
The rest of the afternoon was spent in taking a walk
through the nearby woods. Upon hearing a gobble in a
thicket of wild grape vine?, he cautiously approached until,
through an opening, there could be seen a big turkey
standing guard while a half dozen others were feeding.
The opportunity was too good to pass, so he quickly check-
ed the pan of his rifle for sufficient powder. Taking deliber-
ate aim he brought the bird down with one well placed
bullet. Carrying the heavy turkey, he went to the tavern,
and seeing Van Paulluns in the yard, he offered him the
bird. "For this, you shall receive a free supper, and bed,
if you stay for the night," exclaimed Van. "You think you
stay ? "
"Yes, I think I'll stay," replied John. •
With supper finished, John returned to the river to
wait. He had waited many times before and in many dif-
ferent situations; but this was the first time he had ever
waited for a girl, a girl with whom he was to again stroll
by the river side. The full moon of Indian Summer had
already arisen and begun its short journey across the
southern sky. It hung full and red in the hazy atmosphere
so characteristic of the season. The air was mild now but
there would be frost again by moming as there had been
this morning. Was it only this morning that he had left his
uncle's house twenty miles away? It seemed much longer,
perhaps a week. Things were happening to John Tidd con-
cerning which he was unaware. A door opened at the inn,
and against the light of the candles she stood for a moment
a silhouette, the door closed and she was lost to view;
however, her quick step on the path soon told of her ap-
proach. He stood to meet her. "Welcome to the peace and
quiet of the river," he said.
"Yes, I come here often to rest in the evening, especial-
ly in the summer time."
"Tell me," he questioned," how did you get your
nickname of Ollie the Wildcat?"
"You should not have been surprised by that name *
23
name?* " She was silent for a few steps, "My name is Olive
Martin, my father was Timothy Martin. In the conversa-
tion already mentioned, the man gave my name as 'Ollie
Martin'; the other man said, 'Hell no, she's no marten, she's
a wildcat', and the name stuck. It's not my fault that I
have no father or brother to defend me against the vile
insults of low-down drunkards. As you saw today, I al-
ways aim for the mouth. I have a book in which I read,
'Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh.'
Some of these men must have mighty black hearts." They
walked a little while in silence. What comment could be
made to this assertion, coming from a girl, who, by neces-
sity, had to fight her own battles. She continued, "Some
years ago my younger brother and I, with father and
mother were living on a creek which flows into the west
side of the Delaware River. This creek was known as
'Martin's Creek' because of our living there. One day my
mother became nervous, said she had heard a turkey
ft gobble where she had never heard one before. So, she
sent me and my brother to tell father to come home, and
cautioned us to be careful, as she always did. She had
been brought up in the settlements and always was afraid
9 of the wilderness. Not knowing exactly where father was,
my brother and I separated, he went downstream while
I went upstream. Not far from the path my brother and I
had, some time before, found a large soft-maple tree that
m was hollow. We had cut notches on the inside to a height
of about twenty feet. We had then cut a small hole on
each side of the tree trunk which enabled us to see the
house, and in the other direction we could see quite a dis-
tance upstream. I decided to slip up our 'inside ladder* as
# we called it to see if I could see father or get an idea of
his whereabouts. Almost as soon as I looked out, I saw
father approaching, and as he came through a thicket I
saw four Indians jump from hiding. Two of them raised
#
their guns and fired from close range. Father was hurt
bad, but attempted to fight back. It was hopeless, for with-
in a minute they had killed and scalped him. At almost the
same time three Indians attacked mother in front of our
cabin, killing her on the spot and scalping her. These
ft savages took what they pleased from the cabin and then
set fire to it. Nothing except the fact that I had climbed
up inside our tree had saved my life. I dared not come
down before dark. During the night I started to run to the
# nearest neighbor who lived five miles down the river; it
was nearly noon the next day before I reached there. The
following day a small party went back to our home; they
found and buried father and mother. No trace of my
m brother was ever found. It was generally thought that the
t
24
so new. As she had neared the end of her story they had
stopped at the bank of the river where a tall pine tree cast
its shadow. He turned to her, and said, "I am sorry your
life has held so much sadness." He placed his hand upon
her shoulder, and added, "You poor girl." It could not have
been the words alone, it might have been the hand upon
the shoulder, it probably was that something that defies
explanation; for in the next instant he had taken her with-
in his arms. After one full embrace he said, "We will wed
tomorrow." It was not a question; however, he became
very happy as she slowly but surely nodded her head and
whispered "Yes/*
When they resumed their walk toward the inn she
inquired, "But how? There's not a churchman within days
of travel/'
"Yes, there is," he replied. "No more than a full day
will allow us to reach a new place called Mt. Bethel, not
far from the Delaware Water Gap. A church has been
established this past summer, and only last week I was
within a few miles of the place. A preacher was there
then." They entered the tavern, and finding it empty,
went on into Van Paulluns' private living room. The girl's
presence occasioned no surprise, but Mrs. Van Paulluns
was quite surprised to see this man, who to her, was a
complete stranger. Olive turned to Van and said, "This
25
He and his wife and three children lived in a new log cabin,
near the church. It was decided to have the ceremony per-
formed in the minister's own dwelling due to the fact that
no candles were available to give light in the church,
while in the home, the service could be performed by the
light of the fireplace. Two neighbor women had been in- ft
formed, and preparations were underway to have some-
thing extra for the supper to follow. Soon all was in readi-
ness, a solemn hush fell on the group as the service was
read and Olive Martin became the wife of John Tidd in
November, 1738. Hearty congratulations were expressed ft
by the simple people of Mt. Bethel, and a few presents
were given to the bride. After supper it was learned that
they had no place to go for the night and, the hour being
far too late to prepare a camp in the woods, the minister's •
wife strongly insisted that the couple remain for the night.
Her husband supported her in this invitation by saying,
"John and I will take to the loft and you and Olive and
the children can have the bed." The amusing part of it
was that there was no loft; nothing except a partial plat- *
form at the end of the cabin under the eaves. Olive saw the
situation in its humorous light and quickly accepted the
hospitality offered by her new friend, the minister's wife.
During the evening the minister told of their difficul- $
ties in traveling through Massachusetts and failing to find
the hospitality extended that they had expected; and how
they had gone into New York State along the Hudson
River, finally to go into northern New Jersey and to their #
present location on the Delaware.
The plans of John were that they would go on to the
trading post at Old Fort Penn. This was the northernmost
of the chain of forts stretching from the upper Delaware
to Chesapeake Bay. This particular location was built upon
by Col. Stroud, and although the fort itself had ceased to
be used, the place was known as Old Fort Penn until finally,
although much later became known as Stroudsburg.
With the blessings and best wishes of the few people
living at Mt. Bethel, the Tidds resumed their journey the
next morning, with the expectation of reaching the post
before mid-day. A second paddle had been secured, due to
the insistance of Olive, which aided materially to their
progress up the Delaware River. Not long after their de-
parture, Olive turned her head and said to John, "I am
now married. You are my protector. I have no further
need for this." As she spoke, she took from her pocket
something wrapped in a small piece of cloth, and holding
her hand out over the water, she dropped the object into
the river. The rapidity with which it sank proved that it
was metal of some kind.
27
if
fil
What was that?" asked John.
That," came the reply, "was my 'friend'. If you re-
member, the other evening you told of sometimes needing
the help of your friend 'Betty'. Well, I never gave my
'friend* a name; nevertheless, on occasion, it was my
'friend*. The rest of the secret is mine." She resumed her
paddling. Soon John veered the canoe into the mouth of a
stream called Analomink Creek, this stream received the
waters of Pocono Creek just above Fort Penn. After a few
miles they landed at the trading post. John had met the
man in charge of the store on several previous occasions.
Added to the list of staple food items there must be ample
suppUes of lead, powder, flints, and steels. At least two
extra blankets and additional clothing must be gotten. A
•
large supply of wool yam and knitting needles were added.
Then came the task of buying a new rifle. The supply offer-
ed included the regular size bore. Finally the proprietor
brought out a beautifully finished rifle of the size desired.
II
What is the price of this gun?" John asked.
£ 5," was the answer.
I am not an Indian," stated John. "The price should
be £ 3 ^ . "
"What it should be and what it is might be different,"
# replied the trader.
"Do you have any bullets molded?" asked John, For
answer the man untied a small bag, took out some flints,
a bullet mold, and several bullets. John took the rifle,
# bullets, a flint, and powder and walked out. Soon a shot
was heard and later another sounded. John returned, laid
the rifle on the table and said, £ 4, and not another pence."
it
£ 5," was the answer.
Do you remember two years ago the Shawanese
Indian that I warned you about, and later you said that
had it not been for the warning you probably would have
been burned out?"
The trader thought a moment; laid beside the rifle,
# the bullet mold, several flints and steels, a two pound bag
of powder, and a very nice powder hora. Turning to John,
he said "You win, £ 4."
Soon all was in readiness. "We travel about five miles
by water, then we take to the trail for over twenty miles,"
# remarked John.
"Good luck, see you next spring," said the trader, as
he carried part of the supplies to the canoe. The current
of the creek proved more difficult as they advanced. Be-
# fore the five miles were covered, it became plain that camp
must be made for the night. They landed in a small grove of
pines. Several small saplings were bent and tied together
at the top and covered with large pine boughs thus provid-
ing a good shelter. Arm loads of smaller boughs with the
blankets spread over them made a good bed. Soon a fire was •
burning and supper was in preparation which was to con-
sist of boiled beef, and commeal mush sweetened with
small pieces of maple sugar. After supper, while sitting
by the fire, John turned to his bride and asked, "Are you i
happy?"
She laid her hand on his arm and replied, "John, I am
happy, and I am going to be happy. I am now free—for
the first time in my life I ara free. You, who have always
been free, cannot understand the meaning of freedom. ft
This new feeling which has just come to me called love, I
do not understand yet, but I will."
John stood up and placed his hand on her head for
a moment, then he stepped into the shelter and came out •
with the new rifle which was a thing of beauty. He said,
"Olive, I, too, am happy and I am going to be happy with
you. This rifle I give to you as a wedding present. It is the
most accurate rifle that ever I saw put to a shoulder."
John Tidd and his wife Olive went on to their trapping •
grounds. John ran his trap lines and was away every other
night at the far end of the line. Each cautioned the other
to extreme vigilance. No unusual incident happened to mar
their daily living. The Indian resentment occasioned by the %
infamous "Walking Purchase of 1737" had not yet been
whipped up to its later fury. John often talked to Olive
of this outrage and how the Whites had tricked the friend-
ly Indians in making a treaty for certain lands. The extent #
of the lands to be determined by the distance that a person
could travel in one and one half days from a certain point,
the understanding was that the person was to walk, and
follow the course of the river; however, the white man
doing the measuring started at the given point, but went •
at right angles to the river, and instead of walking he ran
most of the time. Thus a very large tract of land was claim-
ed and held by the Whites. One prominent historian of the
period writes, "The alienation of the Delaware Indians #
was the cause that led directly to the fearful years of
bloodshed and strife. With the Delawares went also the
Shawanese and Senecas of the West. This alienation start-
ed with the nefarious Walking Purchase of 1737, by which
the peaceful Delawares lost their most prized lands." John •
said more than once that "for every acre of land obtained
in this fraud, an extra white scalp would hang from a
warrior's belt."
The trapping season had been good. As the pack of •
furs grew, their plans kept pace. His desire now was to
establish a home for his wife and promised family. April
found them ready to break camp and begin the trip out
ft
29
of the Pocono mountains. They stopped at the trading post
and stayed over night. While visiting during the evening
the trader remarked, "Looks like I am going to have com-
petition soon."
"How is that?" asked John.
* "A fellow by the name of Brodhead, who claims to
have a trading permit from old William Johnson himself,
is moving in a little ways down the creek. Also claims he
bought several thousand acres on both sides of the Anolo-
mink and reaching almost to Du Puys."
• "Well, that's news," said John. "Started work yet?"
"Yes, just begun a clearing opposite where Cessnick
Creek flows in. Has a few men helping him. You interest-
ed?"
"Could be."
The next morning, soon after leaving the trading post,
John and his wife saw several men working on the left
bank of the Anolomink. Two log cabins were being built
and land was being cleared. They landed and walked to-
ft
ward the group. A large man somewhat past forty years
of age, stepped out to meet them.
''Welcome, strangers," he said as he extended his
hand. "My name is Daniel Brodhead. I am preparing to
# establish a settlement here, and am on the lookout for
people that might want to move in. What do you do besides
trapping?"
"Glad to meet you. How did you know that I am a
* trapper?"
"The trader said last week that a young trapper
would soon be coming through," and he nodded his head
in the direction of the post. "What else can you do, young
man ? "
• "I am a blacksmith. I make harth-irons, hinges, bake
ovens, and most anything else needed."
"Good," said Brodhead, "I'd like mightly well to have
you join us in this settlement."
ft
"Do you own here?" asked John.
To this question Brodhead made careful reply,
"I am a trader holding license issued by Sir William
Johnson, the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. I have leased
a considerable area here, with right of purchase, from the
• Penn family. This lease includes the right to sub-lease or
sell portions of this area as soon as the surveys are com-
pleted. The area covered by this lease lies on both sides of
the Anolomink Greek back about five miles, and on the
• east, extends to Du Puys."
"Does any of this lease fall within the Walking Pur-
chase?"
"I don't really know, mister," answered Brodhead.
«
30
33
42
triumph his scalp was ripped from his head. Martin realized
instantly that nothing except quick flight could possibly
save himself, he could give his father no help now. He
slipped back to where he had been working and picked up
the axe and his rifle-his mother's gift- and ran lightly and
quietly to the eastward. Apparently a stray war party,
passing near, had heard John as he worked, and had silent-
ly crept up to a close distance before their presence was
known. From that second on John had not a chance.
Martin's little nap had saved him. No sounds of his axe
had told of his whereabouts. Just before dark he arrived
at Fort Hamilton and told his story. Captain Van Ettan's
report reads' "Upon receiving news of an Indian raid, he,
the next morning, took six men and went out. They found i
John Tidd killed and scalped. They gave burial and re-
turned to the Fort." Martin returned the next day with the
troops. The Indians had disappeared. Nothing was left to
be done except the burial of the body. A grave was dug
beside the little mound at the edge of the clearing. John •
was laid to rest beside the woman whom he had loved so
deeply. This scene brought back to Martin memories of the
other time, when the smell of the freshly opened earth
mingled with the perfume of the few wild flowers gather- f
ed by his own hands. In that other day his father had stood
by the grave and said, "In God's care." In respect for his
mother's faith and his father's acceptance of that faith,
Martin silently repeated those words. A responsibility was ft
setting upon his young shoulders. He had a younger brother
and sister that now claimed the fulfillment of the promise
made to his father for their care. The few tools and John's
rifle were taken back to the fort, at which place Martin
spent the night. The following morning the journey was t
begun which would take Martin back to the difficult task
of telling his brother and sister of the sad experience
through which he had just passed. It was with sorrow that
the story was told and received.
Young John had taken a lot of interest in the pottery *
work along wih his uncle and cousins. Martin had been
taught much of the work of a blacksmith by his father,
and had a fair assortment of tools. He went to work in a
nearby shop and completed the learning of the trade as «
well as earning some money. Olive helped the aunt in the
many tasks of housework. Slowly the wounds of sorrow
healed, but often Martin would stand on a high hill and
look toward the west, a land and region that beckoned •
to him. When possible he and his brother spent many hours
in the woods hunting. The older brother sometimes said
that maybe he would become a trapper.
43
at a time when there had not been enough fun in the lives
of manly people. As they broke up to go home, someone
said, "We have had such a nice time tonight, let's hope
that soon there'll be another cabin built." Just by chance,
Martin happened to catch a look in the eye of James Hill-
man, and turning his head to follow the direction of the
look, he saw Olive's face color just a bit and he knew that
she had seen the look; probably understood its meaning
better than he did. That night as he lay on his tightly
stretched deerskin bed, he was disturbed and worried i
about little Olive, his little sister whom he had promised
to protect. But there was no need for worry. The forces
that were at work, and the wheels that were turning, would
work and they would turn, and nothing would stop them.
After all, James was not so bad, he was honest, a good
worker and, he supposed, good to look upon. But Olive was
his little sister. Yes, his little sister, but she was eighteen
years old and girls of eighteen are no longer little sisters.
Well, he would think it through tomorrow. f
"Who is this Dave Randall?" he asked a neighbor the
next day.
"Dave," answered the man, "is a boy whose father was
killed a few years ago in the Indian raids. His mother went •
to Philadelphia and married again. Dave and his step-daddy
didn't hitch, so he cleared out. All he had was that fiddle
and his father's rifle. He kin handle one about as well as
the other. Takes a good eye and maybe a little luck to beat
him. .Everybody likes Dave. He lives with a family up
creek."
At a "bam raising" a few days later Martin had a
chance to see Dave again. As was sometimes the custom
at a "raising" the owner, to make things more interesting
for the help, would put up a prize in some manner. Some-
times it would be in the fonn of a guessing match in which
the women could participate. Today the owner had made
ten targets, and ten men could have a shot apiece for the
prize. This was not a shooting match, just a little fun after #
48
•
ft
49
50
GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY
OF THi CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST
OF U i m p A ^ I N T S
ing its conditions we find the following, " the land that
was left was mountainous, full of rocks and swamps; that
most of it fit for planting had already been taken and that
what remained must be subdued as it were by hard blows
and for small recompense." In the light of this situation,
and with reports that had come in of large acreages of rich
land to the westward, well within their territorial bound-
aries, it is little wonder that expansion was planned.
In July 1753, in Windram, Connecticut, a group of men
formed the Susquehanna Company for the purpose of
"Westward Settlement on the Susquehanna River." Little
thought was given to the fact that this region was well
within the charter boundaries of the neighboring colony
of Pennsylvania. The following year found this Susque-
hanna Company sending agents to negotiate with the In-
dian chiefs of the Six Nations assembled in Council at
Albany. Treaty terms were made at this council which
included a purchase price of £ 2000. When news of this
treaty became known, the Delaware Indians remonstrated,
saying the lands in question did not belong to the Six
Nations but to themselves, the Delawares; therefore, they
claimed no legitimate sale had been made. The governor
of Pennsylvania wrote to Sir William Johnson, Commission-
er of Indian Affairs asking for his help in nullifying the
sale made by the Six Nations. In turn Sir Willam Johnson
wrote to the governor of Connecticut, remarking "of the
dangers of settlement until the title of said lands should
be adequately cleared."
In 1755 the Susquehanna Company secured from the
Colony of Connecticut permission to begin settlement. A
small group, including surveyors, went to the region in
question for further information as to the best locations.
Braddock's defeat and the ensuing French and Indian War
intercepted further efforts of settlement for the time being.
In the summer of 1762, a group of one hundred and
twenty men went to the Wyoming Valley and settled at the
mouth of Mill Creek. The term "Wyoming Valley" refers to
a stretch of the Susquehanna River valley in upper Penn-
sylvania about twenty-one miles in length and three to four
miles in width. It is a beautiful valley of fertile land and en-
closed by lowlying mountains. It extends from just below
present Wilkes-Barre up to and including Pittston. This in-
itial group of men built several cabins, planted a few acres
to wheat and did considerable fencing. They returned to
Connecticut late in the fall with the expectation of going
back the next spring. The Delaware Indians protested to
the governor of Pennsylvania asking that the intruders be
driven out; the request was ignored.
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QA
54
some help from John and David, had begun work on their
own house. Martin said he wanted it large enough for four
families.
"Expecting a siege?" asked James.
"You never can tell. It may pay to be prepared," was
the answer. Martin and James had answered the call of
Ogden to aid in the capture of Fort Durkee.
By now, Ogden had twenty-eight men on his payroll.
These divided themselves into two groups, taking turns
in garrisoning the fort. John and Martin, during their month
off duty, went back home to Stroudsburg.
When it was time to return to the Wyoming valley,
Betsy asked, "Is there much danger, Martin?"
Martin laughed as he shook his head. "Lots of fighting
but no blood spilled and nobody getting hurt."
It happened while Martin and John were serving
their turn in the fort. A Lazarus Stewart from Connecticut ft
raised a motley group of armed men and surprised the
handful in the fort.
"Now we'll see who goes to jail," shouted the Yankees.
Martin and John soon found themselves in the new
jail. "Well, we don't have to walk to Easton," said John.
Jail life irked the freedom—loving brothers. From time
to time Dave or James were allowed to visit through the
55
bars. They told how the Yankees had broken open Ogden's
house and removed the two cannon. Also, that quite a settle-
ment was developing nearby and had been named Wilkes-
Barre.
Early in the summer of 1770, while Martin was still in
jail, an Irish bully with quite a reputation for fighting
appeared in Wilkes-Barre. Stimulated by a few drinks of
rum he began his usual campaign of trying to find a per-
son who would fight with him. He swaggered up and down
the main part of the town having a good time.
"Isn't there anyone in this town with guts enough
to fight?" he would ask. Finally on the second day of this
tirade, Benjamin Hillman said that there was one man in
the area that could whip him,
"Well, where the hell has he been hiding?" asked the
bully, "Bring him on." A group appealed to Lazarus
Stewart to give freedom to Martin Tidd if he would fight
the bully, Stewart agreed to this. The group went to the
jail and told Martin the circumsances.
"No. He wouldn't fight. He didn't know the man, had
nothing against him, and would not fight." Crestfallen, the
group returned to town and reported. The insulting lan-
guage and ragings of the bully increased to the point where
they could be no longer endured. The group went back to
the jail and told of the additional insults. Still Martin
would not fight. Finally Hillman said, "Martin, this bully
says you are a damn cowardly Englishman, and that you
are the son of a coward, and that your whole damn family
were cowards."
"Open up this door, jailer," demanded Martin. The
door was unlocked and John was permitted to leave with
Martin. The group returned to the town.
"Haw, Haw-here's my meat," mocked the bully. The
odds were strikingly in favor of the braggart; he was at
least six feet tall and weighed all of two hundred pounds.
Martin Tidd measured less than five feet, nine inches, and
weighed about one hundred seventy pounds.
It was common practice for fights of this kind to be
fought across a tight rope. Soon a rope was stretched tight-
ly across an open space and the opponents took their
places. The only rale governing this kind of a fight was
that there could be no kicking under the rope. A consider-
able crowd had gathered to watch the fight. A shot was
fired and the fight was on. The bully charged like a roaring
bull. One of his sledge-hammer blows reached home. Tidd
was knocked down. A groan of disappointment came from
the crowd. Was their only hope to be so easily overcome?
Martin got up. He had been floored by the power of the
ft
•
56
"we are protected by the river on one full side, and by cut-
ting a few more loopholes in the other side, and with plenty
of guns we could give a pretty good account of ourselves."
Several seemed to agree.
"If that's your final opinion, men, then we better get
busy, there is no time to loose. If a couple more men can
be found worth their salt bring them in; but above all, get
rifles. We need forty rifles. Dave, that will be your job.
You buy, borrow, or beg if you must, as many good rifles
as you can find, but do it quietly, we want no excitement.
James, you cut several more loopholes where needed. The
59
rest of you men get a lot of barrels and casks to hold water,
and have as much food as possible ready to bring in here.
We might be shut in here quite a while."
Each man went about his task. When Martin saw Dave
again he said, "Be sure to get the bullet molds for any odd
size rifles you may pick up." Martin made purchases of
extra powder and lead, and suggested that others do like-
wise. He moved all the shop equipment into the big house
and stored it out of the way. News came that the forces
at Tioga were on the move and headed down river. Martin
sent word to his group to get ready for any emergency.
Scouts brought to Butler the word that the horde of Indians
and Tories and English troops were within twenty miles.
Now Martin gave the word to move in with all the food
that could be gotten. The water barrels were filled. Dave
had done his part well; he had gotten over twenty rifles.
"Didn't have to steal a one," he said. Supplies of bullets
had been made, and extra flints were on hand.
On the evening of July 2, 1778, Benjamin Hillman
visited the Fort for the latest news. After dark he return-
ed to the big house with haste, and said, "Butler and the
officers have just had a conference. They have decided
to leave the Fort and give battle up the river about two
•
miles."
a Of all the damn fools," someone cried.
a.Gentlemen," said Martin, "The valley is lost. There
won't be enough people left to bury the dead."
The next morning Martin's cattle were shut in the
small building used for the shop. Last minute preparations
were completed. By noon a group of terror stricken women
and children appealed to Martin for safety. He refused
ft none, told them that when the fighting began they would
have to stay in the loft out of the way. Scouts brought
the last word, the enemy forces were within five miles.
Butler, guilty of a tactical error, led his troops out of the
Fort and up the river to give battle. By mid-afternoon
Martin and his little group could hear the rapid firing of
guns. Butler was now in battle. For an hour the firing con-
tinued, then slackened and finally stopped except for
isolated shots. Martin and his group stood on a high point
which enabled him to see the Fort. Soon a few of the troops
were seen running wildly to the Fort. "The slaughter is
on up river," someone said. Women and children were
running to the woods from the settlement. Soon, small
parties of frenzied Indians were seen in the distance search-
ing for the fleeing women and children. Death and destruc-
tion were settling down over the valley. Martin stood for
a while on the bank of the river. Quite often bodies of men,
ft
•
60
The savages were loaded with scalps and loot of all kinds.
Such a scene of desolation and death had never before been
witnessed on this continent. Over three hundred persons
had been killed within twelve hours. Many expressions of
thanks and gratefulness were made to Martin Tidd and his
group by the many who had sought refuge in his block-
house. No person was more thankful than Martin himself
•
61
ft
ft
62
Jacob Tidd with whom his father. Uncle Martin, and Aunt
Olive lived following the Indian massacres at Brodhead's.
He found his cousin John living in the northern part
of Hunterdon county. This cousin had served twice in the
armed forces; once in the Second Regiment from Essex
county, and also in Capt., Craig's company of State Troops.
He became a corporal and is listed in the New Jersey
records. This cousin had a boy of five years of age by the
name of James Tidd. He also met another cousin, Jacob,
who had a daughter by the name of Elizabeth, about fifteen
years old. All during his absence, William, who had in- •
herited his dark hair and dark eyes from his mother Sus-
anna, could not entirely forget the blue-eyed, fun loving
cousin back in the Wyoming valley. He often wondered
why the picture of this girl remained so constantly with
Mm.
The ending of the war brought happiness to the Tidd
family of Wyoming. William was home from New Jersey,
Martin had been home for a year; John was home. Young
James Hillman was safe and would be home soon. Another
son, named Charles, was born to Martin and Betsy in 1782.
The last act of the tragic warfare between the Yankees
and the Pennsylvanians to involve the Tidd and Hillman •
families was shaping up. Patterson, in trying to enforce the
offer made by the Pennsylvania Assembly, to the Yankees,
had driven many from their homes. Under the leadership
of John Franklin, the Yankees turned suddenly and des-
cended on the valley like a scourge. They recaptured the
Fort, and threw many peaceful settlers into jail. James
Hillman, husband of Olive, was walking home from Wilkes-
Barre when a group of these irate Yankees seized him and,
regardless of his claim that he had never taken up arms ft
against them, threw him into jail. To make matters worse
this was the week that his son James returned. It was with
anger and a readiness to fight, that the son visited his father
in jail. The father cautioned him against any rash act,
"James, you can't lick a dozen Yankees all at once, so just
sit tight. I'll be out soon." He was correct. Within the week
the father was home,
"I'll tell you what let's do," said the son, "I have signed
up to serve for a year under Gen. Harmar to fight the
Indians beyond Pittsburgh. That is going to become a great
country. Why not let these Yankees and their claims go to
hell. You and mother go out to the Ohio country and I'll
meet you there in a year." w
the same myself, later." The die was cast. Within the year
• James and his wife Olive left for the Ohio country. As
Martin and Betsy said goodbye, Martin added, "Let me
know how things are."
John had heard that some distance down the river
• some clay pits were being opened. When he asked his son
William if he thought he would like to go down, William
answered, "I think I'll be a farmer. I have my eye on a nice
piece of land which I may try to buy," Actually he had his
eye on more than a piece of land.He had not been able to
• get that picture of a blue-eyed girl out of his mind, and
now, with the girl to be seen every day the mental picture
had become an obsession. Little did he know that a recipro-
cal feeling throbbed in the young heart of his cousin Ann.
Leaving his daughter Nancy with her Aunt Betsy,
John went to the clay pits. He found that some years be-
fore, a man by the name of Bristol had found some clay
and was in the process of opening a pit and building a kiln
• when he was killed by some lurking Indians. His wife and
little boy had found safety in a nearby settlement. After
the war had ended a brother of Bristol, who was also a
potter, planned to re-open the pit. John offered to help
build the kiln. This offer was gladly accepted. As John ate
• his meals at the Bristol cabin he was daily in the company
of Mrs. Bristol, the widow. Mutual feelings of sympathy
for the sorrow that had visited each soon became mutual
feelings for companionship that opened the way to mar-
• riage. Therefore, John continued with the establishment of
a pottery partly his own.
Martin Tidd finally secured the deed to the one hun-
dred acres of land which he had selected years before. In
addition, he had made application to buy an adjoining
tract of three hundred acres. This application was accepted
and completed. The records of "Warranties and Convey-
ances*' of land in the County of Northumberland, Penn-
sylvania shows that on July 1, 1784 a deed for three hun-
dred acres of land to Mjirtin Tidd was recorded.
In 1785 a daughter was bom to Martin and Betsy, the
father insisted that this girl be named Betsy. The mother
said, "Must be getting near the end, if the name Betsy
must be used."
Martin replied, "Not the reason at all, dear, not at all."
Time passed. Their last baby was bom in 1789. Betsy
said it was her turn to name this one, "His name is Martin.'*
"Why, Betsy," said the father, "I had planned on
naming him Hillman if it was a boy."
"If Hillman must be in it, then it will be in second
place. His first name is Martin." Therefore the name stood
«
64
it's almost time." As they ate dinner and visited for awhile
afterward, it appeared that Robert was in the lumber
business and had been wanting to establish a branch of his
business in the Wilkes-Barre region. His father James was
dead. His Uncle Peter was living in York county. Of course
old David was dead, but he had lived until he finally got
a deed to his hundred acres in 1747. Yes, he had a young
son named William. No, he didn't know too much about
the Jersey Tidds, but had noticed in a New Jersey paper
that just a few years before (1784) Elizabeth Tidd, daugh-
ter of Jacob Tidd, had inherited £ 100 from her grand-
father, Henry Dilts, of Hunterdon county.
"If you finally decide to invest in this region," said
Martin, "I know where a mighty fine piece of property of
four hundred acres, well timbered might be bought.*'
Robert thanked him. They shook hands again and he left.
65
Not long after this visit a letter was received from Olive
Hillman, telling of the wonders of the Ohio river valley.
James had settled just below Pittsburgh. The region was
filling up rapidly. Plenty of work for all who wanted to
work. James was busy building houses in Pittsburgh and
liked it because nothing but sawed lumber was being used;
no more log houses in that town. She went on to say that
their son James was married and doing well. The letter
ended with a suggestion from her husband that Martin
"come to the Ohio river country."
John, Martin's oldest son, now past twenty years of
age, had learned his father's trade and stood at his own
anvil and forge. The next son, Samuel was also learning the
same trade. Sally was a young woman. The younger child-
ren were growing rapidly. Martin and Betsy were proud
of their family.
In the autumn of 1793, Robert Tidd again paid a visit
to Martin. .After the usual greetings, he said, "I am now
ready to establish a branch of my business in the Wilkes-
Barre region. I remember that you said you knew of a likely
site of timbered land."
"It all depends," replied Martin, "on what you call
a likely site. What do you have in mind?"
"Well, I need, to start with, a location on the river.
Also there must be a stream of water and a site suitable
for a dam to furnish power for a saw mill. The towns down
below," and Robert waved his hand toward the west and
south, "are demanding sawed lumber for building; no
more log cabins—and it's my business to supply their needs.
I raft the lumber down river. Harrisburg, right now, is a
good market. There should also be timbered land available
•
for later needs."
"It could be that I have just what you want," answer-
ed Martin. "I have a good front on the river. I have four
hundred acres of land, most of which is in woods, and if
you was to buy the adjoining tract you could have a fine
dam for waterpower."
"Let's look it over," said Robert.
They spent the next day in going over both tracts of
land which totaled nearly a thousand acres. The timber
• pleased Robert very much. The creek and site for the dam
looked good to him, although he said he would need to
have his mill-man look into that part. The river frontage
would provide adequate facilities for building the lumber
rafts. The question now was, "can the adjoining tract be
ased ? "
"Let me handle the finding of that answer," Martin
replied.
66
67
70
ft
72
with his Aunt Olive. At the last minute James Hill and ft
Sally decided to go to Ohio with them. There were two
reasons for this decision. The first was to fulfill an old
desire to settle in the "Ohio country." Secondly, Mrs. Law-
ton had said that she was getting married that summer;
thus James felt that no further obligation of support was
required from him. Mrs. Lawton had suggested that Re-
becca remain with her, at least, until James had establish-
ed a home in the new country. This suggestion was gladly
accepted by James,
Martin had sold his house and shop to a young man
who had a wife and three small children. When the young
man saw that the amount of business would be beyond his
ability to meet, he offered to hire either John or Samuel
to remain and help him. Martin felt that he needed John
in moving and building in the new settlement, but would
permit Samuel to stay if he cared to, Samuel said that he
would stay. Betsy slowly nodded her head when she heard
of it, for she had noticed that he had been spending more
time than usual at the Hill-Lawton home. Martin said they
would take only one wagon, and that after a house was
built John could come back and get the other load and
young Martin. Only two things pleased Betsy, the distance
to Youngstown was not as formidable as the trip from the
Wyoming Valley; and there were no mountains that must
be crossed.
In June of 1798, Martin Tidd and his group became
the fourth family to settle in Youngstown. He was the first
man to drive an ox wagon into this new town, and the first
to set up a blacksmith shop. Hillman had chosen a site for
him near the river. Some of his land was thickly covered
with high grass, and Martin put up two stacks of hay for
winter feeding for the cattle. With many hands to work,
the building of a double cabin progressed rapidly. By Octo-
ber John and Charles were free to return for the rest of
their goods and equipment. They brought back, among
other things, plenty of iron to pound and enough leather
to keep Hill busy.
t
73
81
him James.
Considerable sickness was suffered during 1805. The
people from Vernon and Hartford made complaints to John
Kinsman that the dam and backwater on the Pymatuning
creek caused the sickness. Two attempts to cut the dam
were thwarted. After one of these deeds had been commit-
ted, John Kinsman saw a man standing on the south side
of the creek, so he rode over and invited the man to come
to his store. After satisfying himself that this was the per-
son who had cut the dam, Mr. Kinsman gave him a sound
flogging. Realizing that he had done wrong, he offered to
make amends by giving the man some goods from the store.
An amount of three dollars worth of goods was given and •
87
December 6, 1824, both being from Weathersfield town-
ship. One more interesting record is disclosed. On April 15,
1830, the marriage of Nancy Tidd and Thomas Bistol was
solemnized by Rev. Adam Bently, Church of Christ of
Warren, Ohio.
As has been pointed out, the Tidds of Weathersfield
had all moved from that region by 1830. The assumption,
that being potters by trade and inclination they followed
the pottery business into southeastern Ohio, is logical. How-
ever, this does not apply to James Tidd, the son of James
who married Sarah Allen in 1796, and moved to Weathers-
field in 1802. This James grew up and about 1820 married
a girl named Sarah. This young couple moved to and estab-
lished their home in Deerfield township, some twenty miles
west of Youngstown. He engaged in the charcoal business,
supplying this necessary product to the growing iron and
steel mills of Youngstown and Poland. To James and Sarah
a daughter was born in 1822 and was named Sarah. Another
daughter, bora in 1825, was named Mary Ann. In 1827
a son named Jeremiah Mervin was born, and two years
later son George was added to the family. An interesting
incident is connected with the naming of the next baby.
James Tidd had formed an acquaintance with James Hill-
man of Youngstown, and living near this city, visits were
exchanged and contracts made more often than with any
other relative. Not too long before the next baby was born
to Sarah, James Hillman and wife visited the Tidds of
Deerfield. As they were leaving, Hillman remarked, "If
the next baby is a boy and you name him after me, I'll re-
member him in my will." A laugh was enjoyed by all*
Nevertheless, the baby that soon arrived was a boy and
he was named James Hillman Tidd; he was born in 1831.
The boy grew up, and with few exceptions his name was
known as Hillman Tidd, and to his many nephews and
nieces, he was always known as Uncle Hillman. (The
writer has contacted many persons that never knew his first
name was James.) The conclusion of this story is that in
the will of James Hillman of Youngstown, probated in the
year 1849, appears the following item: "—Also, under
the same conditions I give to James Hillman Tidd, son of
James Tidd, one acre of land on the south side of the road
•
opposite my present house." The last child bom to James
and Sarah in 1834, was named Artemus Tidd. Shortly after
this James moved to Howland township, just east of War-
ren, Ohio, and built a log house on what is now the south-
west corner of the intersection of routes 46 and 82. The
log house was later replaced by a frame house built by his
son Mervin.
•
88
ft Schooler in the War of 1812. Logan county had not yet been
formed, therefore the names appear in the lists of Cham-
paign county troops. Their first stop seems to have been
at Zanestown which was inhabited as early as 1803. By
1811, Samuel had established a blacksmith shop near "Mc-
pherson's Blockhouse" which appears to have been just a
few miles from the present site of Bellefontaine. By 1817
he moved into what became Richland township.
In 1821, Samuel Tidd's last son, named Charles S.
Tidd was bora. In 1822 Samuel Tidd and family moved
from the Mad River region northward and became the
first settler in what became Roundhead township. Indians
in considerable numbers still lived in this area. In fact, the
name of the township came from them. An Indian chief had
a name which translated into English meant "roundhead,"
and by this name he was known. Samuel was a blacksmith,
and while the Indians were still in the area he enjoyed
their friendliness and trade. They were fond of having bells
on their horses, and Samuel was highly skilled in making
bells, as was his father Martin. Charles, the boy, told many
years later of practically growing up with Indian boys with
whom he played, hunted, and wrestled. During the year
following Samuel's arrival in Roundhead his last child was
born and was named Jane. She was the first white girl baby
bora in Hardin county. The name of Samuel's child, who
died of bums in Kinsman is not included in the list of names
appearing in Roundhead.
James Hill and wife Sally and at least some of their
children moved from the Mad River region into Roundhead
in 1825, He settled on a farm and remained there until
his death. He and Sally were the parents of eight children.
We have already seen that Martin Hill and James Hill were
born in Kinsman in the years 1803 and 1805. He was one
of the organizers of the Bowdle Methodist Church. The
fourth and youngest son, named Samuel, was bora in Logan
county. He bought land adjoining his father's farm. The
two worked together until the father's death in 1862 at
the age of ninety-nine. It is said that his health throughout
his life had been excellent, that he had never needed the
care of a doctor. Sally his wife died in 1851 at the age of
seventy-seven.
ft
he was determined to find out. This he did and was
somewhat surprised as well as greatly pleased to find that
she held him in high regard. She was seventeen years of
age on April 10, 1817. Leonard Blackburn gave his con-
sent to the marriage, but because of her youth, he had to
go to Warren to sign the license. Kinsman, Gustavus, and
Greene townships were considered at that time, as one,
from a civil administrative standpoint. Therefore, the li-
cense was signed and the address was given as of Greene.
In September of 1817 Martin H. Tidd married Deborah
Blackburn. The ceremony was solemnized by Rev. Coe.
Several items of household equipment were given to the
young couple. They began their happy married life on
his land in Williamsfield township at which place they
lived throughout their lives. The log house stood on the
west side of the center road, less than a half mile north of
the Kinsman-Williamsfield line. Their land lay on both
sides of the road and was sometimes referred to as the
"first farm in Williamsfield", which simply meant that a
person travelling north on the center road came to their
place first. Nevertheless, it is true that when the log cabin
was built it was one of the very first in the township,
Martin realized that the house was inadequate, and plans
were soon laid for the building of a new house the fol-
lowing year.
It was with great happiness that these young people
welcomed the birth of a baby boy on June 9, 1818. The
parents named the boy Martin. His grandfather, Martin
Tidd, was so pleased with the baby boy and his name that
he promptly gave the father a good cow with the sugges-
tion that in case of necessity "that's to help keep the boy
well fed." Martin and Deborah, by dint of hard work
and sacrifice slowly got ahead. The debt was paid off
and they were happy.
Sorrow came to Deborah in 1819 for that was the year
that her father, Leonard Blackburn died. The mother
92
A
94
•
95
As .John's leg has not got sufficiently strong for him to walk about
on it, and from the present appearance he thinks it will not be very
soon so he concludes that if the folks will send for him, he will leave
college and come home, and leave me to my own distraction. The proba-
bility is that old Prex will be sticking somebody in the room with me,
and as all kinds of company does not suit me, I may have some
ft choice in whom my room mate shall be* If you will be pleased to
comply, with the wish, I will make a choice of your honor sir. If
John leaves and you do not comply with my wish, I shall be under
the necessity of putting up with old Prex's selection.
96
Please be informed that you can school yourself nearly as cheap
here as at a district school. The studies which you will want to pursue
are taught here this term. There is Arithmetic, Geography, E.
Grammar. The arithmetic class has just commenced. The professor
who teaches arithmetic was off on a journey and did not get back
till the first of the month, so you have nothing to fear from that class,
and I think you will be fully able to cope with the other classes. Now
do not make an excuse because you have not aplenty of funds, for
we shall not want to buy very much, for we fetched out the flour of
4% bushels of wheat with us, and if you should want some more
money probably Albert or Lyman can let you have some, so I see no
excuse whatsoever. (Come along , why delay. )
If Mr. Morses send for John you can fetch out the horse and buggy
for them and fetch your trunk and what other things you may wish
to bring, but if you should not be quite ready to come yourself send
your trunk by whoever may come for John and come yourself as soon
as you can. (I have a Geography and Atlas and English Grammer ft
which you shall be welcome to use.)
(TeU Mother that butter is worth 10 cents per pound and if she or
somebody else that makes good butter wiU send me 5 or 6 pounds,
I will send tbem the pay by John.)
I am well at present. There has been no Collery out here except
old General Zack Taylor. He was marched through here a short time
since and took the auspicious gaze of all mead. But another wonder !
Mr. Tom Thumb, his coach, horses and coachmen made their appearance
a few days since. Nothing of very great importance escapes this place,
all sizes and colors make their appearance In this great place! But •
enough, give my well wishes to all the folks and especially the girls
and tell them that they are not forgotten.
Now sir if you cannot come out and attend College write occassion-
ally and let me know how all the folks are and what is going on. But
if possible come along without delay.
—C. H. Tidd
We have just received a letter from Nancy .Ann stating that "Mar-
tin was very sick and they did not know whether he would live or
not. Write and let me know how he is, whether he is any better
or not and whether they think he will live or not."
From time to time while the research for this work was
being carried on, inquiries and references were made re-
lating to a large electric generating installation on the
Ohio river in southeastern Ohio, known as the "Tidd
Plant**. Therefore information w.as sought. Situated in
Brilliant, Ohio, ten miles below Steubenville, on Ohio route
7, stands a large new generating plant, the name "Tidd
Plant" plainly visible from the highway. After several
letters of inquiry the following story evolved, and, due to
the fact that the evidence points to a direct relationship
to the Tidd family of this book, it was felt that this
story should be included in this history.
Cornelius Ostrander and wife Maria, living in or near
Kingston, New York, had a baby daughter bora in the
early 1780's to whom the name Maria was given. About
1805 Maria married a Silas Tidd. About 1807 a boy was
born and named Nathan. We are very interested in this
A
102
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105
Part
NOTE
In the following genealogical material Martin Tidd,
bom in 1739, will be considered the first generation; for
he was the first Tidd to come to Ohio. All other Tidds
of this particular family were his descendants with the
exception of his brother John, and John's two children:
ft John William and Nancy.
I Likewise, James Tidd, born in 1775, will be considered
as the first generation of his family. The number at the
upper right hand corner of each name will identify the
generation within
1
its own genealogical
2
family.
3
Example:
Martin Tidd - Samuel Tidd - Hugh Tidd - Alexander
Tidd4 - Hollister Tidd5 - Paul Tidd6.
1
* Martin Tidd , son of John and Olive, was bora in 1739
in Pennsylvania, some distance below the present site of
Easton. He went through the Brodhead massacre and wit-
nessed the killing of his father in 1756. He served in
* the armed forces in the Revolutionary War as a private
in "Robinson's Rangers". He moved to a place directly
below Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and from there he moved
to the new settlement of Young's, on the banks of the Ma-
honing river in 1798. In 1802 he became the first settler
* in Kinsman, Ohio, where he remained until his death
sometime in the 1820's. In 1764 he married Betsy Marvin
of near Stroudsburg,
2
Pennsylvania.
2
To
2
this union 2
were
bora: (1)2
Ann , (2)
2
John , (3) Sarah
2
, (4) Samuel , (5)
* Charles , (6)2
Betsy , (7) Martin H.
(1) Ann , bom 1765, married John 1
William Tidd, son
of John who was brother of Martin 3
. To this union w-as
bom a son named John David who later 2
married Eleanor
Lennox of Weathersfield, Ohio. Ann and her husband
and child moved from the Wilkes-Barre region of Penn-
sylvania to Kinsman, Ohio in 1803; later they moved to
Weathersfield, Ohio, and there is evidence that they lived
*
for a2 time in Roundhead township in Hardin county, Ohio.
Ann was buried in the Union cemetery at Niles, Ohio, in
1849. It is presumed that her husband John William
Tidd was also buried there.
2
(2) John Tidd , bora in 1772 never married. He lived
106
with his father and mother, and settled with them in Kins-
man in 1802, He died in April 1804, the first death in
the new settlement2 of Kinsman, Ohio.
(3) Sarah Tidd , born in 1774, in Pennsylvania, married
James Hill of Maryland in 1797, just before moving to ft
the new settlement of Youngstown in 1798 with her family
group. James Hill was a shoemaker by trade. Sarah,
better known as Sally, with her husband moved to Kins-
man, Ohio, in 1802. In 1810 the Hills with their children
moved to western Ohio into the Mad River region of what
became Logan county. James Hill served with the armed
forces of the U. S. during the War of 1812. While her
husband was in the war, Sally was forced to seek refuge
in a nearby blockhouse in fear of the savage Indians of
that area. In 1825 the Hill family moved into Roundhead
township, Hardin county, and became farmers; they re-
mained there the rest of their lives. James Hill's father
had died as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. James
Hill helped organize the Methodist "Bowdle Church", and, ft
until a building could be erected, services were held in
his home. Sally Hill died in 1851 at the age of seventy-
seven. James died in 1862, at the age of ninety-nine 3
years. To3 them were born 3
eight children:
3
(1) Martin
3
, •
(2) James
3
, (3) Nancy
3
, (4) John
3
, (5) Samuel , (6)
Sarah , (7) Rosanna , (8) Mary .
(4) Samuel Tidd2 bora in 1779, became a blacksmith,
which trade he followed throughout his life. He married
Rebecca Hill of Maryland, and moved from the Pitts-
burgh area to Kinsman, Ohio, by 1805. In that year their
small boy of five years of age died from burns. In 1810"
they moved to the Mad River region of Western Ohio, He
established a blacksmith shop near "McPherson's Block-
house". Indications are that it was near the present site
of Bellefontaine, Ohio. Samuel and his family moved
from Logan county northward and became the first settler
of Roundhead, Hardin county. This move was made in #
1822. The following year his last child was bora and
named Jane. She was the first white girl baby born in
Hardin county. Samuel served in the War of 1812 from
Champaign county. He died in 1851 at the age of seventy-
two. Rebecca died in 1846 at the age of sixty-one. To
them were bora the following: (1) 3
The son 3 that died in 3
Kinsman of3 bums, (2) Elizabeth
3
, (3) Mary3
, (4) Sally 3
,
(5) Hugh , (6) Margaret
3
, 3
(7) Martin and Nancy ,
(twins, (8) Charles 2, (9) Jane ,
(5) Charles Tidd born in 1782, made the moves with
his father to Pittsburgh, Youngstown, and Kinsman, He
served in the War of 1812 with the troops from Trumbull
107
108
who is now in his last year in the Kenton High School. The
James Wilbur Hill address is E. Franklin Street, Kenton,
Ohio.
109
6
ft (2) Bruce Reed Riley , bom in Harrod, Ohio, 1919, en-
tered the Air Force in 1942 and became a pilot, flying in
many engagements. He is now a Major in the Air Corps,
and is studying Electrical Engineering in the University of
• Michigan, at Ann Arbor, Michigan. He married in 1944.
6
(3) Roger Don Riley bora in 1922, in Harrod, Ohio. Was
in service overseas in World War H. He was graduated
from Ohio Northern U., Ada, Ohio, in 1954, and is presently
a Methodist minister at Jefferson, New York. In addition
• to his work there, he is attending the Drew Theological
Seminary at Madison, New Jersey. He married Adelia
Lotz of Jackson Center, Ohio in 1944, and to them were
7 7 7
bora:7 (1) Lois , (2) Evelyn , (3) Linda Jean , (4) James
• Alan .
(1) Marian Maxine Hill6 born 1920, near Roundhead,
married Leroy Butler of Lima, Ohio, whose occupation is
automobile mechanic in Lima, To them were born: (1)
John 7 b. 1946, (2) Bruce7 b. 1950, (3) Shirley Beth7 b.
• 1952, (4) Dean7 b. 1954. Mr. and Mrs. Butler's address
is Lima, Ohio.
6
(2) John Hill Jr. bora in 1921, near Roundhead, whose
occupation is farmer, married Mildred James of Belle Cen-
• ter, Ohio. To them were born: (1) Donald John 7 b. 1943,
7 7
(2) James Alan b. 1945, (3) Nancy Kay b. 1947. Ad-
dress is Belle Center, Ohio.
(3) Garnet Beryl Hill6 born in 1923, near Roundhead,
ft married Kenneth Rodeheffer of New Knoxville, Ohio. He
graduated from the Northwest School of Commerce of Lima,
Ohio, and worked for some time in the advertising depart-
ment of the "Lima News". Presently is engaged in farm-
ing. Address, New Knoxville, Ohio. Their issue: (1)
1
Kathlyn Ruth 7 b, 1944, (2) Patricia Ann7 b. 1946 (3)
7
Kendra Kay b. 1948.
(4) Stanley Wyman Hill6 bora in 1931, near Roundhead,
is engaged in telephone maintenance work. Address, Marys-
ft ville, Washington, R. D| 2. He married Doris Stalter from
lima, Ohio. Their issue (1) Gary Lee7 b. 1955.
Concerning the descendants of Samuel Tidd2, the infor-
3
mation is very meager except for (5) Hugh , and (8)
t Charles 3 , and (9) Jane 3 .
(5) Hugh Tidd 3 was born in Logan county in 1816, and
moved to Roundhead with hh father Samuel in 1822. He
inherited 100 acres of land from his father and bought an
additional 153 acres. He built a fine brick house. He
helped organize the Pleasant Hill church. He married
first, Mary Given of McDonald township. She died in
4
1862. To them were born: (1) Alexander G. , (2) Samuel
4 4 4
Perry , (3) Nathaniel Newton , (4) Albert M. , (5) Zach-
•
110
4
ariah L. . He married second, Sarah Caseman of Allen 4
^
county. She died 1878. To them were born: (1) Calvin ,
(2) Henry4, (3) Wesley 3
4
, (4) Cynthia 4
, (5) Amy 4
.
(8) Charles S. Tidd born in Logan county in 1821. He
married Margaret McKinnon and lived on the original Tidd
acreage iu Roundhead township. Their children were: (1)
Uriah4, (2)4 Martin G.4, (3) George4, (4) Emma4, (5)
Charles Jr.
(9) Jane Tidd3 was the first white girl baby born in
Hardin county, which was in 1823. She married Lewis #
Rutledge of Roundhead and spent her entire life in Hardin
county. Jane died in 1873 and her husband died in 1875.
To them were born six 4
children, four dying in infancy.
4
(1)
George W. Rutledge , (2) Charles H. Rutledge . *
(1) Alexander G. Tidd4 was born in 1838 in Roundhead-
After living on other farms, he bought and lived upon the
253 acre farm formerly owned by his father Hugh. He
served in the Union Army in Company A, 183 Reg, 0,V.L,
during 1864-65. He married Margaret McElhaney of Mar- «
5
ion and to them were born: (1) Arilla who died at the age
of 13 years, (2) Frank 5 , 4(3) Albert5, (4) Hollister5.
(2) Samuel Perry Tidd born in Roundhead in 1840' on
the anniversary of Perry's victory on Lake Erie, hence the f
middle name Perry. He served with his brother Alexander
in Company A, 183 Reg. O.V.I. He married first, Saman-
tha Carter and moved to St. 5
Louis, Missouri.
5
To them were5
bom (IA) 5 twins, Calvin , (IB) Alvin , (2) William C. ,
(3) Fannie , (4) Lydia5. He married 5
second, Amanda
5
Jane
Richards, their issue (1) Frank , (2) Marion . Several
other children were born to Samuel P. Tidd for whom
there is no information. Samuel died 1921.
(3) Nathaniel Newton Tidd4 was born in Roundhead in
1843. He served in the Union Army in Company G. U.S.A.
troops from 1861 to 1864. He became a minister of the
Gospel and moved to Battle Creek, Michigan. He married
5 5
and had issue: (1) George4 , (2) Merritt . ^
(4) Zachariah L. Tidd was born in Roundhead. He
later moved to Missouri.
(5) Albert M. Tidd4 was bora in Roundhead. He attend-
ed school at Ada, Ohio, and graduated from the National
Normal School of Lebanon, Ohio, and became a teacher. I
While teaching he took up the study of law. Was admitted
to the Ohio Bar in 1876. He established a law practice in
Marion, Ohio. He married 5
Virginia Nagle,
5
To them were
born: (1) Clifton H. , (2) Kenneth N. •
(1) Calvin4, (2) Henry4, (3) Wesley4, (4) Cynthia4, (5)
4
Amy . For these, there is no information.
4
(1) Uriah Tidd was born in Roundhead. He served in
ft
ft1
111