Friday, March 13, 2015

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 63: #70 Thomas Dill (1755-1836)

Amy Johnson Crow suggested a weekly blog theme of "52 Ancestors" in her blog post Challenge:  52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks on the No Story Too Small blog.  I am extending this theme in 2015 to 104 Ancestors in 104 Weeks. Here is my ancestor biography for week #63:

Thomas Dill (1755-1836) is #70 on my Ahnentafel list, my 4th great-grandfather. He married in 1782 to #71 Hannah Horton (1761-1797).

I am descended through:

*  their daughter #35 Elizabeth Horton Dill (1791-1869), who married 
#34 Alpheus B. Smith (1802-1840)  in 1826.
*  their daughter, #17 Lucretia Townsend Smith (1828-1884), who married #16 Isaac Seaver (1823-1901), in 1852.
*  their son, #8 Frank Walton Seaver (1852-1922), who married #9 Hattie Louise Hildreth (1847-1920) in 1874. 
*  their son, #4 Frederick Walton Seaver (1876-1942), who married Alma Bessie Richmond (1882-1962) in 1900.
* their son, #2 Frederick Walton Seaver (1911-1983), who married #3 Betty Virginia Carringer (1919-2002) in 1942.
*  their son, #1 Randall J. Seaver (1943-....)

 =====================================================

1)  PERSON (with source citations as indicated in brackets):



*  Name:                             Thomas Dill[1–11]
*  Sex:                                 Male   

*  Father: Thomas Dill (1708-1761)   
&  Mother: Mehitable Brown (1714-1758)   
  
2)  INDIVIDUAL EVENTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):
  
*  Birth:                             about 1755, Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States   
*  Military Service:           from 1 January 1776 to August 1777 (from about age 21 to about 22),  Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States[8]   
*  Census:                          1 June 1790 (about age 35),  Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States[3]
*  Census:                          1 June 1800 (about age 45), Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States[5]   
*  Deed:                             12 January 1809 (about age 54), Sold land in Eastham and Wellfleet to Ezekiel and Seth Dill for $300; Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States[6]   
*  Census:                          1 June 1810 (about age 55), Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States[7]   
*  Pension Application:     19 June 1818 (about age 63), Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States[8]   
*  Census: 1 June 1820 (about age 65), Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States[9]   
*  Census:                          1 June 1830 (about age 75), Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States[10]   
*  Death:                            before 1836 (before about age 81), probably Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States   
  
3)  SHARED EVENTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):   

*  Spouse 1:                        Hannah Horton (1761-1797)   
*  Marriage 1:                    18 May 1782 (about age 27), Wellfleet, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States[1–2]   
*  Child 1:                          Ezekiel Dill (1784-    )   
*  Child 2:                          Obediah Dill (1786-    )    
*  Child 3:                         Seth Dill (1787-    )   
*  Child 4:                          Isaiah Dill (1788-    )    
*  Child 5:                          Jabez H. Dill (1789-1872)    
*  Child 6:                         Elizabeth Horton Dill (1791-1869)   
*  Child 7:                         James H. Dill (1792-1862)   
*  Child 8:                          Daniel Dill (1793-    )    
*  Child 9:                         Asa Dill (1795-    )   

*  Spouse 2:                        Ruth Linkhornew (1752-1810)   
*  Marriage 2:                     8 June 1797 (about age 42), Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States[4]
*  Child 10:                        Nancy Dill (1799-    )   

*  Spouse 3:                        Susan Hatch (1754-1816)   
*  Marriage 3:                     January 1813 (about age 58), Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States[11]   
  
4)  NOTES (with source citations as indicated in brackets):   

There are no birth records for Thomas Dill, son of Thomas and Mehitable (Brown) Dill, in the Eastham or Wellfleet town records.  Documents in his Revolutionary War Pension File[8] indicate that he was age 62 in June 1818 and age 64 in August 1820, which would indicate a birth year of 1755 or 1756.  He was age 45 and over in the 1800 U.S. census[5], which would indicate a birth before 1755.  In the 1820 census he was between the ages of 60 and 70[9], and in the 1830 census was between the ages of 70 and 80[10].  Based on this information, he was probably born in the 1754 to 1756 time period. 

Thomas Dill served as a Private from 1 January 1776 to 1 January 1777 under Captain Naylor Hatch and Colonel Bond's regiment in the Massachusetts Line during the Revolutionary War.  In addition, he served from January to August 1777 on the brig Sophia Defiance under Captain Salew.[8]

He married first in 1782 to Hannah Horton, daughter of Nathaniel and Eunice (Snow) Horton of Eastham.[1]  The marriage record in the Eastham town records says:

Thomas Dill of Wellfleete and Hannah Horten of Eastham was published 18 May 1782

The marriage record in the Wellfleet town records says:[2]

May 18^th 1782   Thomas Dill of Wellfleet and
                               Miss Hannah Horton of Eastham

In the 1790 US Census, the family of Thomas Dill resided in Eastham, Barnstable County, Massachusetts with:[3]

*   one male under age 16, 
*  one male over age 16, 
*  five females 

Hannah (Horton) Dill died in about 1796, having had nine children between 1784 and 1795.  

In 1797, Thomas Dill married (2) Ruth Linkhornew.[4]  The marriage record in Eastham records says:

"Thomas Dill and Ruth Linkhornew were married by
Mr. Shaw June ye 8th                          1797"

In the 1800 US census, the Thomas Dill family resided in Eastham, Barnstable County, Massachusetts with:[5]

*   three males under age 10 (James, Daniel and Asa?), 
*  4 males aged 10-16 (Ezekiel, Obediah, Seth and Isaiah?), 
*  one male over age 45 (Thomas), 
*  one female under age 10 (Elizabeth?), 
*  one female over age 45 (Ruth). 

Thomas Dill, yeoman of Eastham, granted all of his homestead, including six parcels of land in Eastham and Wellfleet, to his sons Ezekiel and Seth Dill for $300.[6]  The parcels included:

*  The field where his dwelling house stands
*  a southward field
*  a parcel northward of John Praro's dwelling house
*  a Brush lot in Wellfleet
*  a Salt meadow in Wellfleet
*  Cleared land on a deed signed by Obed Knowles

In the 1810 census, the Thomas Dill household in Eastham had:[7]

*   one male age 10-16 (Asa?), 
*  five males age 16-26 (Daniel, Jabez and three others, Ezekiel had his own census entry), 
*  one male over age 45 (Thomas), 
*  one female age 16-26 (Elizabeth?).  

Ruth had, apparently, died before 1810.  

Thomas Dill married (3) Susan Hatch in Eastham.[11]  The record says:

"Thomas Dill & Susan Hatch  Jany 1813"

Thomas Dill has a Revolutionary War Pension File.[8]  The abstract citation reads:

"THOMAS DILL, S34747, MA Line, applied 19 June 1818 at Boston, MA a resident of Eastham MA in Barnstable Cty MA, in 1820 soldier was aged 64 with no family, soldier's son James H. Dill made inquiry 22 Aug 1836 in NY about BLW."

Thomas Dill's affidavit concerning his service says:

"United States of America
State of Massachusetts, Suffolk Co. Boston Jun 1818
I, Thomas Dill of Eastham, a Citizen of the United States, now resident at said Eastham, in the County of Barnstable in the State aforesaid, do, on oath, ........... declare, that I served, in the War of the Revolution, the full term of time required by a Law of the United States, made and passed in the month of March, A.D. 1818, entitled 'An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War,' as a requisite to entitle me to be placed on the pension list of the said United States, having entered the Land service of the said United States, on the Continental Establishment, and served as a private Soldier against the common enemy, from January 1st A.D. 1776 to January 1st 1777, being twelve months, in the company commanded by Captain Naylor Hatch and Colo. Barns' regiment, Massachusetts Line, and served a considerable part of said term of one year in the Lakes.  My discharge which upon honorable discharge, I have lost. I also served in the United States Brig Sophia Defiance eight months. from the fore part of January 1777 to the latter part of August same year. Said Brig Sophia was under Continental Officers - Her Commander's name was John Salew (I do not know how the name is spelled) and we were employed during said term of eight months in transporting flour from Alexandria ??? Virginia to Boston, for the Continental Service. I am now sixty two years old.

"I also declare that, by reason of my reduced circumstances in life, I need the assistance of my Country for support. -- And I hereby relinquish all claim to every pension heretofore allowed me by the laws of the United States, if any may be, or hath been, so allowed.  Thomas Dill

"BE IT REMEMBERED, That on this 19th day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, pursuant to a law of the United States, entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War," made and passed on the 18th of March, A.D. 1818, before me, personally appeareth Thomas Dill, abovementioned, and after due examination and caution to testify and declare the whole truth, he maketh oath to the declaration aforesaid, and subscribed the same in my presence.
Jn Daesi [difficult to read!]
Dist Judge
Mass Dist

A Property statement was filed in Thomas Dill's Pension File on 9 August 1820.  It says:

"SCHEDULE
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
County of Barnstable SS Thomas Dill of Eastham in the County of Barnstable
On this Ninth day of August 182 0, before the Circuit Court of Common Pleas for the Southern Circuit, proceeding according to the course of the common law with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount, having a power also of fine and imprisonment, and keeping a record of their proceedings, personally appeared in open Court, being a Court of record for the said county Barnstable aged sixty four years, resident in Eastham in said County, who being first sworn, according to law, doth, on his oath, declare that he served in the Revolutionary was as follows, viz: Entered the service of the United States January the first 1776 and was discharged about the twentieth of December following.  I served in the Company commanded by Capt. Naler Hatch & Regiment commanded by Colonel Bond.

"And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States, on the 28th day of March, 1818; and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary war," passed on the 18th day of March, 1818; and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property, or securities, contracts, or debts, due to me; nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed.

"No Real estate or personal estate; nor any family.  I am old and unable to Labour. 
Thomas Dill
Sworn to, and declared, on the ninth day of August, 1820, before said court.  Attest Abner Davis. Clerk

He received a pension of $8 per month.

In the 1820 census, the Thomas Dill household of Eastham had:[9]

*   one male over age 45 (Thomas) 
*  one female over age 45 (his wife).  

In the 1830 US census, the Thomas Dill household in Eastham included:[10]

*  one male aged 70-80 (Thomas) 
*  one male aged 5-10 (a grandson?) 
*  one female aged 50-60 (unknown). 

The only document found noting the death of Thomas Dill is the 20 August 1836 letter that his son, James H. Dill, wrote inquiring if he was eligible to receive his father's Revolutionary War pension.  

There are no probate records for Thomas Dill in the Barnstable County Probate Court, or for any of his wives.

There areno extant cemetery markers in Eastham or Wellfleet to denote the burial of Thomas Dill or any of his wives.

5)  SOURCES 
 
[1] "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1627-2001," digital images, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org), Barnstable > Eastham, Orleans > Marriages 1763-1905 > image 9 of 105, page 12, Thomas Dill and Hannah Horton marriage entry.

[2] "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1627-2001," Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, FamilySearch  (https://familysearch.org), Barnstable > Wellfleet >Births, Marriages, Deaths, 1734-1875 > image 144 of 400, page 320, Thomas Dill and Hannah Horton marriage entry.

[3] 1790 United States Federal Census, Population Schedule, Barnstable County, Massachusetts, Eastham town, Page 212; online database, Ancestry.com (http://www.Ancestry.com); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M637, Roll 4.

[4] "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1627-2001," Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints,  FamilySearch  (http://familysearch.org), Barnstable > Eastham > Births, Marriages, Deaths, Town Records 1708-1915 > image 297 of 399, Thomas Dill and Ruth Linkhornew marriage entry.

[5] 1800 United States Federal Census, Population Schedule, Barnstable County, Massachusetts, Eastham; online database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com); Page 77, citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M32, Roll 13.

[6] "Massachusetts, Land Records, 1620-1986," digital images, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org), Barnstable County, Eastham Town Deeds, Volume 1, Page 488 (image 200 of 205), Deed of Thomas Dill to Ezekiel and Seth Dill, 1809.

[7] 1810 United States Federal Census, Population Schedule, Barnstable County, Massachusetts, Eastham; online database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com); Page 46, citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M292, Roll 17.

[8] "Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files,"  online database with digital images, Fold3.com (http://www.Fold3.com) : 2011), original records in National Archives Publication M804, Penson Application S34747, Massachusetts Line, Thomas Dill of Eastham, Mass., applied 19 June 1818.

[9] 1820 United States Federal Census, Population Schedule, Barnstable County, Massachusetts, Eastham; online database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com), Page 197, citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M33, Roll 17.

[10] 1830 United States Federal Census, Population Schedule, Barnstable County, Massachusetts, Eastham; Page 454;  online database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com), citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M19, Roll 60.

[11] "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1627-2001," Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, FamilySearch  (http://familysearch.org), Barnstable > Eastham > Births, Marriages, Deaths, Town Records 1708-1915 > image 300 of 399, Thomas Dill and Susan Hatch marriage entry.

====================================

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2015/03/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks-week-63-70.html

Copyright (c) 2015, Randall J. Seaver


No comments: