The Revolutionary War

I haven't opened Anna's diary in a while. My weekends have been a bit busier but I've also been looking up more information for my PA to CA to IA project. It's becoming a pretty interesting story and even with the diary, Anna's part of the tale remains a bit shrouded. I've found some interesting information about her Grandfather-in law, (Adam) Michael Teeter.

I have seen many references that pointed to Michael fighting in the war. After not finding any official records through my usual channels, I finally decided to sign up for Fold3, a website with historical military records. These records provided many of the specifics mentioned above as well as many of the locations he traveled to and camped at during his service. All of the references I had seen previously matched up with the copies of the records but there were two pieces of information that really stood out. 1) Michael was at the Valley Forge encampment in the late winter and early spring of 1778. We know that he joined the army in July of 1777 so it was likely he was encamped there for the entire winter, but there are few records stating his whereabouts in 1777. 2) Due to exposure (winter of 78/79) he lost both of his feet. From the records, it is clear that he was "Sick (at) Lancaster" for nearly the entire year of 1779.

The map below shows his journey during the war.  For more details see the PA to CA to IA page.


View DAC - Discovery Tour in a larger map

A New page...

First, I'd like to announce that a new page has been added to this blog: The Teeters: PA to CA to IA. On this page I will be exploring the story of the family as they moved from Pennsylvania to Canada and finally, to Iowa. Until today, clues about the last leg of that journey have eluded me. A further exploration of a book entitled A genealogical sketch of the descendants of Andrew and Anna Christina (Palmer) Cook, 1769-1970 has helped me to crack the case! This book contains the will of Jacob Cook, Anna Christina's father, which clearly states that he owned property in Iowa and had left some to his daughter. I am not yet sure why he owned property in Iowa, but having this piece of the puzzle in place is a relief.

Also, to my great and emotional surprise, this book contains photos of Jacob Cook (which I had already encountered) as well as his daughter, Anna Christina, and her son (my 4x great grandfather), Jacob Clarke Teeter. I can see a family resemblance in Jacob...

Diary for October 31st, 1871

We washed two weeks washing to day. Minnie washes all forenoon, then cleans & mops all up stairs. Afternoon a pedler Mr Riley comes is here to Tea. We Buy 3 muslin Skirts, 2 Table Cloths, White damask, &9 pocket handkerchiefs, 10 yds Insertion & a whole piece of Lace for pillow Cases for 10 dollars & his Bill over night. Minnie is taken Sick at 9Ocl to night. Berty gets ready after 10 Ocl to go for the Doctor But is called Back up stairs. Minnie is better has had miscarriage. This is the 3rd time. She seems quite comfortable now. after 12 Berty goes to bed. I lie down after 2, up and down 5 times before day light. Minnie Still Resting.

An interesting account of my 5x great grandparents and my 4x great grandparents dealing, at home, with a miscarriage.  Anna's words are so calm, so matter of fact or what must have been a very stressful and emotional event.

Reflections March 2012

I'd like to take some time to reflect on this experience so far. It's been interesting and surprising in ways that I did not expect. Which, in a way, I DID expect. Or perhaps just hoped. In terms of the timeline of the diary, I have only read entries for a few days but because I am reading it slowly, feel like the story of it is a constant in my life. The decision to take my time was, I think, a good one. At some point early on in the process, I decided to seek information about Anna Christina's immediate family and it is here that the results have been particularly interesting. Both in what I've found and also what remains elusive.

It is because of my initial research through Ancestry.com that the diary even came to me. But it wasn't until I had the book in my hands that I decided to look in earnest at other resources on the internet. It is through various genealogy websites and a few homemade ones, that I encountered researchers and living, distant relatives connected (mostly) to Moses Spafford Teeter Sr. and his father Adam Michael (aka Michael) Teeter. No doubt because these individuals were involved in the War of Independence (Michael), the War of 1812 and the settlement of a Toronto area township (Moses Sr.) there is more information available and I've learned the most about these individuals over the last three months.

People have also been very generous. I've received maps, pictures, stories and documents that have helped to flesh out the story of these men. Once I discovered that Moses Sr. was an early settler of Toronto Township (now Mississauga, ON) I decided I needed to focus my efforts and attempt to answer some specific questions:

1. Why did the family leave Pennsylvania for Canada?
2. Why did the family (Anna Christina and Moses Teeter Jr.) leave Canada for Iowa?

With the help of some resources and one of my distant relatives in Canada, I think I've found the answer to the first question - or at least a very plausible hypothesis! Question two is yet to be answered.  I have other questions too. But I'll leave those for another post.

I intend to add a separate page to this blog titled: The Teeters: PA to CA to IA. I hope to be able to follow the story from Adam to Anna. Stay tuned!

Diary for October 30th 1871

1) Berty & Minnie went to church here last Eve heard Mr. Hazeltine Preach. Minnie & Netty both have their heads tied up with head ache. We take Breakfast again at home 11Ocl. Mr Simkins comes to Dinner. he is going to *Grand Meadow.

2) I go this Eve to see Mrs. G OThout. find her much better.  Mrs Billcock is washing there. I go to Mr. Ramshaven store & get Clothes for *Rapper are $3-5. It is 9 yds *Reps at 30 per yard $2.70 (4 Spools thread) 35cts also 9 yds Calico for lining at 12 1/2 per yard. $1.18. Coming home I go round to Mrs Ramshaven. Pa comes over after I get there Borrows 2 woolen Blankets for a fewe days until Mr R gets Some in his Store. three Boys help Berty husk corn today.

"Rapper" in middle of the image near the far right margin

 I sit outside today and read the Diary. Good lighting is key to transcription. Normally the indoor light is sufficient but as you can see above there are a number of new words and names to figure out. I am guessing that "Rapper" is probably Ralph or Ralphie but the letters are not clear. It could be a last name, or two words instead of one (I am pretty sure I see an arrow pointing to the cost of the cloth). And, because of the as yet undetermined decision-making process for Capitalization, I am not 100% sure it is, in fact, a name. It may be an archaic term. "Rapper" may also be some sort of event or type of garment. But I am just making wild guesses here at this point. Any and all ideas are welcome.

*Reps or Rep is a fine cloth made from wool, cotton or silk and used in the making of dresses
*Grand Meadow was a township in Iowa

Victorian Dress for Housework

*Update: Two friends have contributed some suggestions. One said that this was likely a "wrapper" which was a type of semi-fitted dress. Women would wear them in the mornings or evenings over their nightclothes or over their underpinnings. I consulted another friend who is a seamstress and has a particular interest in 19th century dress who said "If it’s 9 yards for the ‘Clothes’ or cloth, then it is probably an overdress, especially if it’s to be made from wool and lined with calico.  Your friend probably has the right of it."

Well! There you go!

Diary for October 28th & 29th 1871

10/28
2 Boys work all day husking corn. Pa & I get ready to go to Mc. Gr. this eve with Cars. We take Chickens, Cream & Pumpkin Pies. We hear to day that Mr. Katen's house is bought for the Parsonage.

10/29
Pa and I in Mc. Gr. S & Mitty & children quite well for them. Baby Arthur 9 months old just Weaned. don't rest well at night yet. Pa went to Church 10 Ocl N. Mc. Gr. heard old uncle Elish Preach. Text 16 Psalm 11th verse Thou wilt show Me the Path of Life.

I am not certain where I read it but I did find some information online about a general store called McGregor's that was in the town at the time. Throughout the diary, Anna refers to this as Mc. Gr.

Diary for Friday, October 27th 1871

Breakfast this morn at 7. Very cold frozen water Barrels last night. Ed & Joe comes to breakfast. husk corn all day. Pat & Berty goes to the church & brings the Organ home. they wont Buy it for the church. there is too much Jealousy & strife here.

it will be 3 weeks next Sunday since Pa. Berty & Bronson took the Organ to the church to have it proved* there &yet they don't choose to buy it. To day I get ready to go to Mc. Gr.  Pa says that if I wait until tomorrow Eve he will go with me if he can get away. We Bake Pumpkin pies to take to Mitty. Dicky not well. We expect Minister & Wife. they don't come to day yet. now 5 Ocl. I go over to see Mrs. G. Othout find her better. Meet her Mother the first time. I send Miss Wholey over home for new milk. when She brings it in Lo & behold it is to make Egg Nog. Brandy, Sugar, Milk & Eggs. All for Mrs. Othout.

*proved - not sure if this is what is written.

I usually only read one day's entry each time I open the journal. I felt compelled to read two days this time partially because the entry for 10/26/1871 was rather short but when my glance wandered over to the other page I keep seeing glimpses of something a little more interesting. Jealousy? Strife? Pumpkin pies and eggnog. Interesting. And why does the new Minister keep not coming over for Tea?

I also took out one of the letters that was sent to me along with the journal remembering that there were some names and just as I had hoped, it also provided nicknames.

Gertie - Minerva Caroline, Anna Christina's daughter(married to Alex Henderson)
Kitty - Hannah Melissa, Anna Christina's daughter (married to DeWitt Hunt)
Berty - Jacob Clarke, Anna Christina's son and my 4x Great Grandfather
Minnie - Minerva Wiltse, Jacob Clarke's wife
Dickie - Richard Jacob, my 3x Great Grandfather who was 3 years old at the time of the entry above.

Diary for Thursday October 26th, 1871

Rains this morn. cant husk corn . Boys go home. H. Clark cant go home. Keeps his horse here all day & all last night. We put up Sitting room Stove to day - quit raining & very cold. We expect the minister & Wife. But they do not come at 4 6 i.* 4 Ocl. H. C. comes takes his horse from here & starts home. Pa gone to prayer meeting. I wait for him, he comes at 10 all in bed.

* 4 6 i? obviously this is not what Anna Christina has written. I am sure it is referencing a time of day - possibly 4 o'clock which she usually abbreviates as "Ocl" But she does tend to write well into the margins and her writing gets smaller and harder to read at the edge of the page. She also has a tendency to add words above a sentence with a little arrow pointing up at them. For example in one of the sentences she originally wrote "all day & night" and felt compelled to add in "> all last night". I wonder what difference she thought it would make. Anyhow, I find this practice rather endearing.