There is so much erroneous and speculative, unsourced information about William Ross floating around the web that I hope this post will help to set the record straight.
The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated ~ a quote attributed to Mark Twain easily echoes what William Ross might have said if he could see what most of his descendants are saying about him. Yes, there were many men named William Ross who lived in Ohio and that makes the task of sorting them out, through the records, very difficult. But, not impossible if the Golden Rule of genealogy is followed:
~~~~~Start with What You Know~~~~~
So, this is what I know at this point. The 1850 census for William states he was born in New Jersey. But where exactly he was born and where exactly he was living prior to moving to Luzerne County, Pennsylvania is only speculation. One always hopes new records will appear and new information learned. But for now, I am quite confident this is an accurate chronology of my William Ross' movements after he and his family left New Jersey:
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Wyoming Valley, Pennsylvania by Jasper Francis Cropsey
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1. 1798 - he is living in Providence, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Also there is a "James Orsborn" occupying land owned by James Abbot. I believe this is the James Osborn who is said to be the father of William Ross' wife, Lydia Betsy.
There was another William Ross in Luzerne County at the same time as mine. Captain (later General) William Ross was a war hero and only a few years older than my William. By looking at the age of his children he can be differentiated from my ancestor. Also, he shows up in Wilkes Barre whereas my William, a farmer, was in the more rural areas of Luzerne.
There was another William Ross in Luzerne County at the same time as mine. Captain (later General) William Ross was a war hero and only a few years older than my William. By looking at the age of his children he can be differentiated from my ancestor. Also, he shows up in Wilkes Barre whereas my William, a farmer, was in the more rural areas of Luzerne.
2. 1800 - in the Federal Census William Ross continues to live in the township of Providence, Luzerne County with his wife and their children.
3. 1810 - the family, still in Luzerne County, is now living in Pittston Township. The borough is on the east side of the Susquehanna river, a short distance below the junction of the Lackawanna with the Susquehanna river. ["Pittston"]
4. 1820 - I cannot, with confidence, place William and Lydia in the census records. Covington Township appears to be where his adult sons are living at that time. .
5. 1830 - William and Lydia are on their own now and living in Falls Township.
6. 1834 - William and Lydia are now living in Delaware County, Ohio.
In the book Life on the Ohio Frontier: A Collection of Letters from Mary Lott to Deacon John Phillips, 1826-1846 by Mary Lott, Gateway Press, 1994 I discovered that my William Ross arrived in Delaware County, Ohio by 2 February 1834: "James Ross' folks are well a few days ago and doing well. They have bought 45 acres of good land with a small improvement, gave [them] their wagon and horses and took a deed. It is thought they made a great bargain."
These three sentences reveal so much about my ancestors. I now know two important facts: William Ross and his wife Lydia (the parents or "folks" of James Ross) were in Delaware County, Ohio by 2 February 1834. And, William Ross was not a widow when he moved from Pennsylvania to Ohio as has been assumed by so many of his descendants. The added bonus is learning about their new land and that they gave up their horses and wagon so they might own this land. No doubt the land was seen to be an investment that would yield a return and allow them to purchase new horses and a wagon.
Mary Lott writes on July 20, 1834 that "Ross' folks are pretty well. She will lay abed in...this month." Unfortunately, the transcriber was not able to discern all the words but I wonder if this is when Lydia became ill and that led to her death? In April of 1836 their son, James and his family returned to Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Perhaps life on the Ohio frontier was too hard and perhaps, also, they missed their friends and family back home. In a letter dated 10 July 1836, I learned that William Ross was living with his son, Samuel Ross, who moved to Delaware County circa July of 1834. It appears from the letter, that Samuel had led an adventurous life in the Rocky Mountains and then in England.
7. In August of 1836, William Ross married again - to a widow with children. Her name was Beulah Odle. Their marriage was recorded in the Delaware County Marriage Records Book 1 1835-45 - Page 52. Joseph Scott J. P. Ret'd & recorded Sept. 21st 1836.
6. The Federal Census of 1840 places William Ross, his new wife and family in the township of East Liberty, Delaware County. The census shows that there was 1 male age under 5; 1 male age 15 thru 19; 1 male age 20 thru 29; 1 male age 60 thru 69 (William Ross); 1 female age 40 thru 49 (Beulah). It also states there was 1 Person in the category of Insane and Idiots at Private Charge. In 1837 (according to one of Mary Lott's letters) William and Beulah had a son they named Nathan. I assume he is the male listed as under the age of 5. The male age 15-19 I think was one of Beulah's sons by her previous marriage - probably the youngest. Because, in the 1850 census, William and Beulah have no son at home named Nathan or of the correct age to be their son perhaps Nathan might have been the "insane or idiot" living with them in 1840 and he passed away before 1850. This is only an assumption based upon the information I have found.
7. The 1850 census, referred to above, lists the following people in the household of William Ross: Wm Ross age 81 born New Jersey; Beauley Ross 59 born in Connecticut; Wm Odle 38 born in Connecticut; James Odle 28 born in Ohio and John Odle 23 born in Ohio. What is of note here is that William and John Odle are the only members of this household who list real estate value. William Ross does not. Perhaps, because of his advanced age, he signed over his land to Beulah's eldest sons.
This is the last record I have for my ancestor William Ross. I know he was alive on the 5th day of October 1850. Now, will I be able to find his parents in New Jersey?
4. 1820 - I cannot, with confidence, place William and Lydia in the census records. Covington Township appears to be where his adult sons are living at that time. .
5. 1830 - William and Lydia are on their own now and living in Falls Township.
6. 1834 - William and Lydia are now living in Delaware County, Ohio.
In the book Life on the Ohio Frontier: A Collection of Letters from Mary Lott to Deacon John Phillips, 1826-1846 by Mary Lott, Gateway Press, 1994 I discovered that my William Ross arrived in Delaware County, Ohio by 2 February 1834: "James Ross' folks are well a few days ago and doing well. They have bought 45 acres of good land with a small improvement, gave [them] their wagon and horses and took a deed. It is thought they made a great bargain."
Mary Lott writes on July 20, 1834 that "Ross' folks are pretty well. She will lay abed in...this month." Unfortunately, the transcriber was not able to discern all the words but I wonder if this is when Lydia became ill and that led to her death? In April of 1836 their son, James and his family returned to Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Perhaps life on the Ohio frontier was too hard and perhaps, also, they missed their friends and family back home. In a letter dated 10 July 1836, I learned that William Ross was living with his son, Samuel Ross, who moved to Delaware County circa July of 1834. It appears from the letter, that Samuel had led an adventurous life in the Rocky Mountains and then in England.
7. In August of 1836, William Ross married again - to a widow with children. Her name was Beulah Odle. Their marriage was recorded in the Delaware County Marriage Records Book 1 1835-45 - Page 52. Joseph Scott J. P. Ret'd & recorded Sept. 21st 1836.
6. The Federal Census of 1840 places William Ross, his new wife and family in the township of East Liberty, Delaware County. The census shows that there was 1 male age under 5; 1 male age 15 thru 19; 1 male age 20 thru 29; 1 male age 60 thru 69 (William Ross); 1 female age 40 thru 49 (Beulah). It also states there was 1 Person in the category of Insane and Idiots at Private Charge. In 1837 (according to one of Mary Lott's letters) William and Beulah had a son they named Nathan. I assume he is the male listed as under the age of 5. The male age 15-19 I think was one of Beulah's sons by her previous marriage - probably the youngest. Because, in the 1850 census, William and Beulah have no son at home named Nathan or of the correct age to be their son perhaps Nathan might have been the "insane or idiot" living with them in 1840 and he passed away before 1850. This is only an assumption based upon the information I have found.
7. The 1850 census, referred to above, lists the following people in the household of William Ross: Wm Ross age 81 born New Jersey; Beauley Ross 59 born in Connecticut; Wm Odle 38 born in Connecticut; James Odle 28 born in Ohio and John Odle 23 born in Ohio. What is of note here is that William and John Odle are the only members of this household who list real estate value. William Ross does not. Perhaps, because of his advanced age, he signed over his land to Beulah's eldest sons.
This is the last record I have for my ancestor William Ross. I know he was alive on the 5th day of October 1850. Now, will I be able to find his parents in New Jersey?
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