Tag Archives: Abraham Brink

Dorcas Middaugh Brink, 12 Children, 6 Living

 

DORCAS MIDDAUGH (1826-1904)

HERstory

EDITED September, 2024, with additional family information.

It would be great to be able to tell some new stories about Dorcas Middaugh Brink, my great-great grandmother. However, I already told you the major stories of that family when I wrote about Abraham Brink (1828).

That’s the story of women in history isn’t it?  I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry when I saw a major newspaper’s coverage of the historic event that took place in Philadelphia yesterday (August, 2016).  The headline read “With Nomination, Clinton Makes History“. Under the headline they published a huge photo of former President Bill Clinton.  So the historic even was the nomination of a former president?  Nah, it was that other Clinton–the WOMAN, Hillary Clinton.  Oh, yeah, women make history, too.

Sorry Dorcas. My bad, as they say in the 21st century.  I should have told the story of the birth of twelve children and the loss of six children, the growth of an Ohio farm and the perspective of my great-grandmother’s family from your viewpoint instead of from that of your husband, Abraham. But things being what they are, I have more information on him.  So here’s what I know about you grandma.

A Woman’s Life

Dorcas Middaugh was born to Jedidiah Middaugh and Ann Coddington Middaugh in Danby Township, Tompkins County, New York on May 2, 1826. Danby was and is a small town south of Ithaca New York, not far north of the Pennsylvania border.  Her father had been born in New Jersey, but her parents settled in New York when they married.  Her family had Dutch roots on both sides, and it must have been a big change to leave the close Dutch community of what had been New Amsterdam for life in Ohio.

Dorcas had an older brother, and as she was growing up, at least two more brothers were added to the family. Sometime after 1840, the family moved to Holmes County, Ohio, where she met and married Abraham Brink. She was 18 years old when they married.

Her mother- and father-in-law, as well as her own father and mother lived nearby when she was a young bride, and as her children grew up, the families remained close.

1846. Her first child, Jedidiah, named for her father, was born before she was twenty.

1847. Elias, the 2nd child, died as an infant. Dorcas was still young, and although infant deaths were not uncommon, that loss had to be difficult. But she had a toddler to tend to, and soon was pregnant again.

1849. The first girl in the family got the pretty name Celestia.

1850. Another daughter,Sarah, joined the first two.

1852. Although records are contradictory about Katherine’s birth year, I believe 1852 is the actual date, since other dates conflict with birth dates of siblings. In 1860, her parents said she was 6 years old, and it is highly likely that they would mistake the age of a child under ten.

1854. The pattern of a girl every two years continued with the birth of Selestra .

1856. My great-grandmother Mary Viola Brink added to this household of mostly little girls. So many heads of hair to brush! How many braids to twist!  How many ribbons! Seven year old Celestia and six-year-old Sarah were old enough to start helping with cooking and chores, and Jedidiah no doubt helped his father, but five small children were still a handful, creating laundry, a need for sewing and cooking more each year.

1860. Abe probably was relieved to see another boy born—another potential farm hand.

1862. The family greeted another boy, Jacob.

1864. In July a little girl was born and lived just long enough to get the name Alice. Dorcas was 38 years old, and had given birth to twelve children, and two of them had died in infancy.

1865.  But the year of 1865 was to bring the kind of grief that a woman cannot imagine surviving. Beginning in March, some disease swept through the family and took the lives of 3- year-old- Jacob, 6-year-old Celestra, and 11-year-old Selestia. When those small bodies had been buried in the Wolf Creek Cemetery, and Abe and Dorcas perhaps thought the worst was over, teenager Moses, 15, died in May.  Dorcas had lost half of the children she had delivered, most of them in the terrible Spring of 1865.

(I have been unable to find information about what specific epidemic or illness might have affected the Brink family.)

She had thirty-three years ahead of her of housekeeping as children grew, married, moved out, brought home grandchildren. Thirty-three more years with husband Abe before he died in 1898. A 54-year marriage was quite an accomplishment.

To fill in more details of Dorcas’ life —marriages of the oldest, and the birth of grandchildren–please read Abraham Brink Takes Root in Ohio.

After Abraham

When Abraham died in 1898, Dorcas went to live with her daughter Mary V. Brink, the widow of Joseph Anderson, in a nearby township in Holmes County, Ohio. My grandfather Guy Anderson and his bride Lillis shared the farmhouse with his mother, Mary. Since I knew my grandfather Guy (whose 2nd wife was my grandmother) and he lived for a couple of years in the same house with HIS grandmother, Dorcas, I feel a connection to Dorcas Middaugh Brink.

In 1900, when the census report was filed, Dorcas reported that she was a widow, had 12 children, but only six were living.

Lillis and Dorcas’ grandson, Leonard Guy Anderson (my maternal grandfather) had a daughter in 1901 (My aunt Rhema Anderson Fair) and a son in 1903.  Lillis died of complications from childbirth in 1903.

In March of 1904, when she was 78 years old,  Dorcas died and was buried in Wolf Creek Cemetery in Holmes County, near her husband Abe, and the six children she had laid to rest. Continue reading

Abraham Brink, the Elder. The Research Path

CAUTION: Nerdiness to follow. If you want to read the simple story of Abraham Brink 1780, go here. What follows is a more detailed description of the research, meant just for those who like to follow along as I solve puzzles. If you are principally interested in the research, you also need to read the story in order for this to make sense.

Abraham/Abram, Brink 1780-1853

When I started looking at the Grandfather of my great-grandmother Mary Brink Anderson (Kline), I found myself questioning just about everything that I read on other trees, even those of people who seem to be careful and thorough researchers.

The fact that Mary Brink’s father’s name was Abraham W. Brink, apparently named for his father, did not help. There are an amazing number of Abraham Brinks in 18th and 19th century Pennsylvania and Ohio. To further confuse the issue, the name Abraham is sometimes shortened to “Abram” and some modern day family historians think that Abram and Abraham are different people.

Many family trees refer to Abraham W.’s father as Abraham B. Brink.  I have yet to see a record that uses that middle initial, although I am now satisfied that Abraham W. was named for his father, another Abraham. Until I have some proof of a different name, I’m calling him Abraham the Elder.

That relationship stuff may be confusing, so let’s look at the lineage right now instead of waiting until the bottom of the page.

  • Vera Marie Kaser Badertscher (me) is the daughter of
  • Harriette Anderson (Kaser), who is the daughter of
  • Leonard Guy Anderson, who is the son of
  • Mary Brink (Anderson), who is the daughter of
  • Abraham W. Brink, who is the son of
  • Abraham Brink (the Elder).

In What State was Abraham Brink, the Elder born?

Some say Pennsylvania and some say New Jersey.  That confused me until I looked at a county history and a map. Looking at the Pennsylvania Formation maps, it is obvious that our country, even as far east as eastern Pennsylvania had not yet been fully organized into states and counties when Abraham the Elder was born in 1780. After all, we were not officially a country. The American Constitution was not finalized until 1787.

The most frequently mentioned place of birth is Bushkill in what is now Pike County, Pennsylvania. Some people list his birthplace as Wayne County Pennsylvania.  I learned that Pike County was founded in 1814, from Wayne County. However, Wayne County also did not exist in 1780, when it is believed that Abraham the Elder was born. The far northeastern corner of Pennsylvania had been ceded by Virginia, and the county of Northampton was to occupy part of that area, but even that was not yet official in 1780 because surveys were not yet complete.

1779 PA Counties

Pennsylvania Counties in 1779.

Pennsylvania Formation Maps 1814

Pennsylvania Counties in 1814 (colored areas do not concern us). Butler is the county where Abraham W., son of Abraham was supposedly born, but the census report contradicts that.

So if Bushkill was the correct town, he was born in Pennsylvania, but why did people say New Jersey? The unincorporated borough of Bushkill is located in Pennsylvania, but on the line between Pennsylvania and New Jersey, which forms the eastern boundary of the county. Bushkill is a mere hamlet, perhaps Abraham was born in a rural area juts east of Bushkill, over the line in New Jersey, and his birth was officially recorded in the nearest town, which happened to be in Pennsylvania?

In the 1850 census in Holmes County, Ohio, Abraham Brink is listed as born in New Jersey, but when his children filled out census reports, they listed him as born in Pennsylvania. His children were born in  Pennsylvania, which might have led them to assume he was also. Without a church record or birth record I cannot say for sure, but we do know something about the area where he was born.

The Area where Abraham the Elder was Born

This patch of land overlapping southern New York state,northwestern New Jersey and north eastern Pennsylvania, was Dutch. A book about the earliest Brinks in North America shows the map of the area, including he Catskill Mountains area made famous by Washington Irving in his tales from he Dutch legends. The settlements, a caption said, extended into Bradford and Pike County in Pennsylvania. (Using the final county names rather than the earliest names.)

That hints that Abraham the elder was born of one of the oldest Dutch families to settle in North America and traced back to their arrival in New  Amsterdam (now New York).  Unfortunately, I am not satisfied with proof of who Abraham the Elder’s father was, and am not ready to make that leap back to the distinguished Dutch Burghers who came to this continent shortly after the Pilgrims arrived in New England.

Two Very Good Clues and More Evidence

The Census

The first clue to Abraham the Elder’s existence is found in the 1850 census of Killbuck Township, Holmes County, Ohio.  Since that is where Abraham W. Brink was born, it seemed likely this Abraham is Abe W.’s father.  The 1850 census, we have Abram Brink, 70, living with John Brink, 25 and Julian Brink, 17 and an infant.  Tracking John in other census reports quickly shows that ‘Julian’ is really Julianne or Julie Ann, John Brink’s wife. Although this census does not show relationships, it seems likely that we have a retired father living with his son.

There are three earlier census reports for Abraham Brink that might match, but in 1820, 1830 and 1840, there is no solid information, just the name of the head of household and what I call “chicken scratches”–tick marks under an age range.  We need more information before accepting that Abraham the Elder was the man named in those “chicken scratch” census reports.

Although these census reports seem conclusive, family trees report unsubstantiated birthplaces for the children of Abraham and Lucinda. Some are not logical, as they would have one child being born in western Pennsylvania and the following year one in far Eastern Pennsylvania, and the following year another in western Pennsylvania. Additionally, those birthplaces do not reflect the census evidence that the family lived in Wayne County, Pennsylvania. Until someone comes up with better proof of place of birth of the children, I will assume we do not know where they were born, other than that they were all born in Pennsylvania. (All their adult census reports confirm that.)

The WILL

Confirming that Abraham the Elder had a son John was the next step, accomplished when I found on line the will of Abraham Brink. This was a challenge also, as only the index appears on Ancestry.com.  I took the information about what volume and page the will appeared in and went to Family Search.org where I found an image of the will.

It is a simple will, but it confirms that he died in 1853 and lists his children. In the list below, I include the birth and death dates of those for whom I can confirm that information.

  • Jesse R. (Runnels) Brink (B. About 1797. Died after 1853)
  • Martha (will specifies she is oldest daughter, and says “or heirs” Born about 1800. Died after 1853) No last name is given. Perhaps not married in 1853.
  • Mordecai Brink (1809-1863) There are many records confirming Mordecai’s information).
  • Abraham Brink (1820-1892)–This is Abraham W., my great-great-great grandfather. Many records.
  • George B. Brink (B. 1802-died after 1853)–Many records available.
  • Sarah (Brink) Shanyan(?) (died after 1853)
  • Lucy (Brink) Nagley (B. 1803, died after 1853)
  • Polly (Brink) Given Will specifies “heirs” (1805-1850)
  • Lucretia (Brink) Riplogle (B. 1814- 1891) Many records available. Lived in Michigan.
  • Roxy (Brink) Chapman (B. 1819–1898) Many records.
  • John E. Brink (1824-) Will specifies, “youngest son.” Many records.Lived in Michigan after father’s death.
  • There may be other children who died in infancy or childhood.

We know from the will that there were five sons and five daughters living when Abraham the Elder died and one additional daughter who died as an adult. Unfortunately, I have not yet been able to locate information on some of the married daughters and the oldest son.

The will leaves the farm and most possessions to John Brink, the youngest son, with whom Abraham had been living.  The other children (and Polly’s heirs) each receive $5, except for George and Sarah, who each get $20. Following George’s life through available documents, it looks as though he may have struggled financially and his father thought he needed the extra money.

No wife is mentioned in the will.  In the Wolf Creek cemetery in Holmes County, there is a stone for Lucinda Brink, wife of Abram Brink. The stone says she died January 19, 1846 at age 66 (so born in 1780). Lucinda, this lady about whom we know so little, must have been my 3x great grandmother. Since their eldest child, Jesse has the unusual middle name of Runnels, I intend to follow up and see if that might be her maiden name.

Back to the Census Records

Knowing the ages of his children (except for Jesse, Martha, Sarah, and Polly) helps determine if the 1820 through 1840 census reports for Abraham Brink belong to this Abraham.

The 1820 and 1830 census reports are from Dyberry, Wayne County, Pennsylvania, not far north of Abraham the Elder’s birthplace.  The 1840 census is from Killbuck Township, Holmes County, Ohio.  Given the fact that there is a land purchase record of Abraham Brink, in 1835, that indicates that we’re looking at the same person. Additionally, the children for whom we have records were all born in Pennsylvania.

According to census reports, he lived in Dyberry, the county seat of Wayne County  at least between 1820 and 1830, despite reports on family trees that some of his children were born in other counties. Contrary to logic, children are reported to be born in 1812 in Somerset County, the opposite corner from Wayne; in 1814 in Wayne; in 1819 in Somerset again; and in 1820, Abraham W. is said to be born in Butler County which is located in the east of Pennsylvania.

It took several hours of comparing the marks on the three census reports with the birth years of the known children, but I am convinced that all three census reports belong to Abraham Brink the Elder and his family. (I won’t bore you with the details, but if you want to know more, please do e-mail me and I’ll be glad to share specifics.)

The Land Records

For a primer on how public lands in Ohio were distributed and sold, see this book.

As with the earlier census reports, because of scanty information, I hesitated to assume that land records showing an Abraham Brink buying land in Killbuck Township, Holmes County from the federal government was the Abraham I was looking for. However, the pieces of the puzzle came together as I looked at a Bureau of Land Management map of locations of section, township and range and matched it up with the grants purchased by Abraham, and by his older son, Mordecai.  Jesse Brink, the oldest son, initially moved into an adjoining township, according to the 1840 census, but later purchased land near but not adjacent to his father and Mordecai.

Land Office Record

Abraham Brink U.S. General Land Office Records Sept 14 1835. One of several land records. This one signed by a secretary of President Andrew Jackson.

  • September 14, 1835, Abraham Brink purchased 40 acres in Section 13 of Killbuck Township.(SE 1/4 of SW 1/4.
  • November 7, 1835, Mordecai Brink purchased 40 acres in Section 13. SW 1/4 of NW 1/4.
  • September 30, 1837, Mordecai Brink purchased 40 acres in Section 13. NW 1/4 of NW 1/4
  • November 7, 1837, Abraham Brink purchased 40 acres of Section 18 for Willis Hawes. (I have not figured that out yet. Was he actually purchasing it THROUGH Hawes for himself? Did Hawes not qualify in some way?) NE 1/4 of SW 1/4 (It fits in the block of land he was purchasing).
  • Sept 30, 1837, Mordecai Brink purchased 40 acres in Section 13
  • September 1, 1838, Abraham Brink purchased 80 acres of Section 13, making an L-shaped property with his original purchase, or a solid block, if you include the Hawes land. West half of the SE 1/4.
  • July 10, 1844, Jesse Brink purchased 40 acres of Section 17. (Note this is a different section, but it i still in the same township and range, so Killbuck Township, Holmes County.)

Sometimes tracing the life of an ancestor is like putting together a jigsaw puzzle.  Each piece depends on the pieces around it.

An Unfinished Puzzle

This jigsaw puzzle, Abraham Brink (the Elder) still has some gaping holes, but it has been a rewarding challenge putting together the pieces that I have found so far.

Some Research Notes

United States Federal Census 1820 1830, (Dyberry, Wayne County, Pennsylvania); 1840; 1850, 1860 (Killbuck Township, Holmes County, Ohio); 1840 (Richland Township, Holmes County Ohio); 1850 (Hardy, Holmes, Ohio and Tiverton, Coshocton, Ohio); 1860 (Tiverton, Coshocton, Ohio and Hope, Barry, Michigan ); 1870 (Killbuck, Holmes, Ohio; Monroe, Holmes, Ohio; Richland, Holmes, Ohio and Hope Barry, Michigan); 1880( Killbuck, Holmes, Ohio and Hope, Barry, Michigan)

United States Federal Census – Non-Population Schedule: 1850, Killbuck, Holmes, Ohio- Abraham Brink 121 acres; A.W. Brink 80 acres;1860, Killbuck, Holmes, Ohio -Mordecai Brink 75 acres; Abraham (W.) Brink 165 acres, John E. 75 acres; Jesse 120 acres; 1870, Killbuck, Holmes, Ohio, Abraham (W.) Brink 155 acres, john (E.) 110 acres; 1880, Killbuck, Holmes, Ohio – Abraham (W.) Brink 164 acres

Ohio, Homestead and Cash Entry Patents, Pre-1908, United States, Bureau of Land Management, Dates and names designated in list above. On line at Ancestry.com

Ohio Find a Grave, Mordecai Brink, “Roxa” Brink Chapman, Jeddiah Brink

Michigan Death Records 1867-1950, Michigan Department of Community Health, Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics, Lansing, Michigan. On line at Ancestry.com

A Brink book : some descendants of Lambert Huybertse and his wife Hendrikje Cornelisse (the American progenitors of the early Brink family) from Wageningen, Gelderland, Holland in 1660 to New Amsterdam on “The Faith”, 1996, by Laurel Shanafelt Powell. On Line at the Family Search Catalog.

Ohio Probate Records 1789-1996, Holmes County Wills 1825-1869, Vol. A. Abraham Brink Will, submitted August, 1853, probate September 15, 1853. Available on line at Family Search.org.

Wolf Creek Cemetery photographs by James Brink and Susan Brink.

Abraham Brink (1780)–The Story

NOTE:  Some readers of Ancestors in Aprons just want to hear the story. That is what you will find here. Some like to hear about the research. That is covered in a separate post.  If you want the details, read this.

Abraham/Abram, Brink 1780-1853

When Abraham Brink (1780) and his adult children decided to relocate to Ohio in the mid 1830s, they were part of an enormous wave of people heading westward.  Ohio’s population tripled between 1820 and 1840. By contrast, it only increased by about 50 percent from 1840 to 1860. This huge influx was due to several factors.  The Indian wars had ended, the federal government was selling military reserve land, and roads, canals and railroads were entering the new state.

Born in Dutch Country

Abraham Brink (1780) was born around Bushkill, Pennsylvania.  He was born after the Revolutionary War, but before the United States Constitution was adopted in 1787, so county lines, and even state lines, were in flux.  His part of Pennsylvania, divided from New Jersey by the Delaware River, had been part of the colony of Virginia, and as his family went about their daily business, their land changed to Pennsylvania and their county, first Northampton and then Wayne, later became Pike.

Abraham, in later years, said he was born in New Jersey, but because his children were all born in Pennsylvania, they reported that he was born in that state, too.  All in all, a confusion of place dominates the Brink family story.

The area where he lived– from southern New York along the Catskill Mountains, northwestern New Jersey and northeastern Pennsylvania– had been settled mainly by Dutch families spreading out from New Amsterdam (New York).

Moving West

Like so many early American families, the Brinks felt hemmed in by too many neighbors. After marrying, Abraham moved slightly north to Dyberry, the county seat of Wayne County, Pennsylvania.  This article points out the pleasures of that corner of Pennsylvania today, and a bit of its history when its economy was fueled by coal and a canal.

When they were in their late teens (16-18 years old) Abraham married a woman named Lucinda and they had at least eleven children between 1800 and 1824.

  • Jesse R. (Runnels) Brink (B. About 1797. Died after 1853)
  • Martha (will specifies she is oldest daughter, and says “or heirs” Born about 1800. Died after 1853) No last name is given. Perhaps not married in 1853.
  • Mordecai Brink (1809-1863) There are many records confirming Mordecai’s information).
  • Abraham Brink (1820-1892)–This is Abraham W., my great-great-great grandfather. Many records.
  • George B. Brink (B. 1802-died after 1853)–Many records available.
  • Sarah (Brink) Shanyan(?) (died after 1853)
  • Lucy (Brink) Nagley (B. 1803, died after 1853)
  • Polly (Brink) Given Will specifies “heirs” (1805-1850)
  • Lucretia (Brink) Riplogle (B. 1814- 1891) Many records available. Lived in Michigan.
  • Roxy (Brink) Chapman (B. 1819–1898) Many records.
  • John E. Brink (1824-) Will specifies, “youngest son.” Many records.Lived in Michigan after father’s death.
  • There may be other children who died in infancy or childhood.

 

The family lived in Dyberry through at least 1830, despite reports on family trees that some of his children were born in other counties. In that decade, Abraham developed an itch to move further west. The new state of Ohio was calling.

Buying Land

After the Revolutionary War, the government set aside land in Ohio Territory to give to men who had fought in the army.  Those lands that were not used for that purpose, a Military District, were sold to settlers moving west into Ohio.

Abraham had apparently saved up money or was able to sell valuable land, because he bought four 40-acre parcels of land in Holmes County, Ohio, for which he would have paid $1.25 per acre.  Another two parcels were bought in the name of his son Mordecai, who would have been about 26 at the time.  All purchases were in the same section of land.

These purchases took place between 1835 and 1838 and by 1840, the family was settled in Killbuck Township, Holmes County, Ohio, with son Mordecai’s family living on an adjoining farm. Abraham’s wife Lucinda does not show up on the 1840 census, probably only Abraham W. and John, the youngest, are still at home. His oldest son, Jesse, originally settled in Richland Township, a neighboring area, but by 1850, he also was living near the other Brinks.

The daughters would have been old enough to be married by 1840. The 1840 census also shows two children between 10 and 14 that could be children who later died, or children of his older daughters who were living with their grandfather.

Deaths in the Family and Abraham’s Will

Tombstone of Lucinda Brink

Lucinda wife of Abram Brink

After Lucinda’s death ( in 1846 according to her tombstone at the Wolf Creek Cemetery in Holmes County) Abraham continued to live with his younger son John, even after John married in 1848.

Abraham Brink Will

Abraham Brink the elder Will.

When Abraham Brink (1780) drafted his will in August 1853, it shows a man who had a substantial farm, and had plowed most of his money back into the land.  The property was all left to his son John who had cared for him in his later years, and the children received $5 each, except for two George Brink and Sarah S____ who received $20 each. It is an intriguing discrepancy that I may never be able to explain. I do know that George, unlike most of the family, was not a farmer. He was a shoemaker, who lives in a different county in each census year.

Abraham died in the month after he wrote his will and was buried at Wolf Creek Cemetery near his wife Lucinda.

The Wanderlust Continues

While many of the family members continued to live close together in Killbuck Township, others migrated further west to Iowa and Michigan.  Even John Elisha Brink, who inherited the farm, moved to Michigan, apparently to be with a son who died at the young age of 39 of “dropsey.” (Accumulated fluid in tissues–perhaps congestive heart disease).

Puzzle Pieces Still Missing

The story of Abraham Brink is not complete with his death. I am still missing a few important details.

  • Most important,  I have not yet been able to prove for sure how many generations of Brinks he represents in North America.  Perhaps he belongs to the line of Brinks that stretch back to a couple years after the Pilgrims arrived at Plymouth. If so, move over PiIgrim father William Bassett, my family has another early pioneer.
  • Although there are numerous pay stubs for a soldier in the War of 1812 named Abraham Brink, enlisted in New York, I do not know if that is THIS Abraham.
  • And who was Lucinda, my 3rd great grandmother, and where did she come from?
  • Most important of all, Abraham–Who was your Daddy??

If you want to know more details about the research behind this story, you can read the separate post dedicated to that research. (The usual notes on research can be found there, too.)

How I am Related

  • Vera Marie Kaser Badertscher is the daughter of
  • Harriette Anderson (Kaser), who is the daughter of
  • Leonard Guy Anderson, who is the son of
  • Mary Brink (Anderson), who is the daughter of
  • Abraham W. Brink, who is the son of
  • Abraham Brink (the Elder).