Henrietta Mariah Van Slyke | Orphan

In 1852, Henrietta’s father, Andrew Van Slyke died. In 1857, her mother. Her eldest sister and her husband moved back to Texas to administer the estate and three siblings were sent to lived with three separate guardians. Guardianship was a legal arrangement to manage the property of those considered unable to manage it themselves, eitherContinue reading “Henrietta Mariah Van Slyke | Orphan”

James Brown | First Wife

Who was his wife prior to Rachel Pearse? James Brown died in 1867 while visiting his daughter, Elizabeth Anderson, in Greenwood County, KS. His probate records report that he died intestate with a widow and children living in Fulton County, Illinois. Elizabeth Anderson, his daughter, had married Devine Anderson in Fulton County in 1847 andContinue reading “James Brown | First Wife”

Cader Edwards | Baltimore Beginnings

Cader Edwards (1705-1782) was a Welsh maritime captain who followed the sea for thirty-three years. He claimed his home in Wales for many years as he sailed to “most parts of the known and civilized world”, until in 1750, he switched his home to Baltimore. He had a married sister living there and his parentsContinue reading “Cader Edwards | Baltimore Beginnings”