As American as French Apple Pie

 

After researching my mother’s family history for more than 25 years I’ve discovered I’m as American as Apple Pie… ‘French Apple Pie’ that is.

Mom’s ancestors include more than 176 American Colonial immigrants who arrived in the colonies prior to our nations’ independence. They were mostly English, Scotch, Irish, Welsh, German and Dutch. 

Those Early American ancestors were predominantly puritans that came over during the Great Puritan Migration, (1620 - 1640), but some others were New Netherlands settlers who arrived before 1660, and still more were Quakers who arrived with William Penn about 1682 - 1684.

However, equally as important, and maybe even more interesting, are mom’s 80 immigrant ancestors who arrived in New France, also sometimes known as the French North American Empire, between the 1630s and 1700. 

Hence my title, “As American as French Apple Pie.”

Genealogy, or the study of family history, is a lot more than just collecting the names of dead people you are descended from. For me it’s also an opportunity to study our nations history (in my case the United States and Canada) and to learn just how my ancestors fit in or contributed to it.

As for my New France ancestry, and their contribution to the ‘North American Fur Trade’ I’ve devoted thousands of hours posting their history on my blog at http://laprairie-voyageur-canoes.blogspot.com/2017/10/ripples-from-la-prairie-voyageur-canoes.html

SO, THE BALANCE OF THIS POST IS DEVOTED TO MY AMERICAN ANCESTORS…

PURITAN LEADER

JOHN WINTHROP (1588-1649), GOVERNOR OF THE MASSACHUSETTS BAY COLONY 1588-1649, 11TH GREAT-UNCLE

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Winthrop

FOUNDING FATHERS

ROGER SHERMAN (1721-1793), AMERICAN FOUNDING FATHER (HE IS THE ONLY PERSON TO HAVE SIGNED ALL FOUR GREAT STATE PAPERS OF THE UNITED STATES: THE CONTINENTAL ASSOCIATION, THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION, AND THE CONSTITUTION), 4TH COUSIN 7X REMOVED

https://www.ushistory.org/declaration/signers/sherman.html

GEORGE MASON (1725-1792), WAS INFLUENTIAL IN PENNING THE BILL OF RIGHTS, 2ND COUSIN 8X REMOVED

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Mason

OLIVER ELLSWORTH (1745-1807), CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE UNITED STATES, 2ND COUSIN 8X REMOVED

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Ellsworth

PRESIDENT COUSINS

GEORGE WASHINGTON ( 1732-1799), 1ST U.S. PRESIDENT (1789 to 1797), 9TH COUSIN 9X REMOVED

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Washington

JOHN ADAMS (1735–1826), 2ND U.S. PRESIDENT (1797-1801), 4TH COUSIN 7X REMOVED

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Adams

THOMAS JEFFERSON (1743-1826), 3RD U.S. PRESIDENT (1743-1826), 15TH COUSIN 8X REMOVED

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Jefferson

JAMES MADISON (1751-1836), 4TH U.S. PRESIDENT, 16TH COUSIN 10X REMOVED
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Madison

JOHN QUINCY ADAMS (1767-1848), 6TH U.S. PRESIDENT (1825 to 1829), 5TH COUSIN 6X REMOVED

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Quincy_Adams

MARTIN VAN BUREN (1782–1862), 8TH U.S. PRESIDENT (1837-1841), 3RD COUSIN 6X REMOVED

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Van_Buren

FRANKLIN PIERCE (14th POTUS, US Rep, US Senator, Brigadier General) 1804-1869, 4TH COUSIN 7X REMOVED

https://a-drifting-cowboy.blogspot.com/2023/11/dna-connection-mexican-american-war-and.html

THEODORE ROOSEVELT (1858–1919), 26TH U.S. PRESIDENT (1901-1909), 5TH COUSIN 4X REMOVED

https://a-drifting-cowboy.blogspot.com/2012/02/cowboy-legacy-peaceable-folks-and-rough.html

WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT (1857–1930) 27TH U.S. PRESIDENT (1909-1913) AND TENTH CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE UNITED STATES (1921-1930), 8TH COUSIN 3X REMOVED

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Howard_Taft

PATRIOT SOLDIERS -- ROLL CALL OF HONOR 

FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR & REVOLUTIONARY WAR

JOHN PLYMPTON (SERGEANT) (9TH GREAT-GRANDFATHER)(added Dec 13, 2019)

Born 1620 in Luddington, Lincolnshire, England

Served in the King Philip War. He appointed as Sergeant and named the chief military officer of Deerfield.

Died 1677 in Chamblee, Canada - Burned at the stake by Indians

PETER (PIETER) MONFOORT (CORPORAL) (8TH GREAT-GRANDFATHER)(added Nov 2019)
Born 1689 in New York
Served in New York Regiment of Militia 1779-1780
Died MAY 1780 in Reading, Hunterdon, New Jersey

JOSHUA WINGATE (COLONEL) 8TH GREAT-GRANDFATHER)(added May 2020)

Born 02 FEB 1679 • Hampton, Rockingham, New Hampshire

Served as  Lt. in Captain Gerrish’s company, in Col. Gilman’s Regiment at the siege of Louisburg, 1755

Died 29 JAN 1769 • Hampton, Rockingham, New Hampshire

DANIEL SMITH (CORPORAL) (7TH GREAT-GRANDFATHER)(added Nov 2019)
Born 2 Sep 1716 in Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut
Served in the French and Indian War 1755-1762 and the Revolutionary War with the Connecticut Militia 1775-1781
Died 29 Jul 1793 in Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut

WILLIAM SCOVILLE (PRIVATE) (7TH GREAT-GRANDFATHER)(added Nov 2019)
Born 1706 in Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut
Served in Webb's Regiment, Connecticut Line 1779
Died 27 NOV 1788 • Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut

HEBER BRAINERD (PRIVATE) (7TH GREAT-GRANDFATHER)(added Nov 2019)
Born 18 APR 1725 in Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut
He served on the Connecticut line in the Revolutionary War
Died 05 FEB 1803 in Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut

WILLIAM MCDONALD (COLONEL) 7TH GREAT-GRANDFATHER
Born Abt. 1705, in Scotland
Served in the Revolutionary War at Pluckemin Continental Artillery Cantonment Site in Pluckemin, New Jersey, 1778–79
Died FEBRUARY 1799 in Bound Brook, New Jersey

OLIVER BAILEY (PRIVATE) (6TH GREAT GRANDFATHER)
Born Born 25 Jun 1738 in Haddam, Middletown, Connecticut
Served in captain Cornelius Higgins' 8th Company, 5th Battalion, General Wadsworth's brigade in 1776.
Died 14 Oct 1822 in Granville Township, Pennsylvania

https://a-drifting-cowboy.blogspot.com/2019/07/oliver-bailey-1738-1822-hero-of-two-wars.html

WILLIAM SMITH (LIEUTENANT) (6TH GREAT-GRANDFATHER)(added Nov 2019)
Born 14 OCT 1748 in Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut
Served in the 6th Connecticut Regiment May 1777 until 1 January 1781.
Died 20 MAY 1824 in Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut

WILLIAM BOYD (CAPTAIN) (6TH GREAT-GRANDFATHER)(added Nov 2019)
Born ABT 1720 in Bedford, Bedford, Virginia
Served with the Continental Troops in Pennsylvania 1775-1783
Died 27 JAN 1794 in Bedford, Bedford, Virginia

MOSES GROOM (PRIVATE) (6TH GREAT-GRANDFATHER)(added Nov 2019)
Born 1746 in Windsor, Middlesex, New Jersey
Served in Lt. Bergen's Company, Somerset, New Jersey 1777-1781
Died 1799 • Hampshire, West Virginia

ICHABOD HAWES (PRIVATE) (6TH GREAT GRANDFATHER)
Born 18 Sep 1720 in Wrentham, Suffolk, Massachusetts
He served in the French and Indian War, and he and his three sons served in the Revolution (From The military history of Medway, Mass. 1745-1885 By Ephraim Orcutt Jameson)
Died 18 Dec 1778 in Medway, Norfolk, Massachusetts

ETHAN ALLEN (1737-1789), AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR PATRIOT, (3RD COUSIN 8X REMOVED)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethan_Allen

JOB PLIMPTON (CAPTAIN) (6TH GREAT GRANDFATHER)
Born 1 May 1718 in Medfield, Norfolk, Massachusetts
Served in Josiah Fuller's company; Colonel Wheelock's regt.; company marched from Medway to Warwick, R. I., on the alarm of Dec. 8, 1776.
Died 18 Mar 1797 in Medway, Norfolk, Massachusetts

http://a-drifting-cowboy.blogspot.com/2020/08/job-plimpton-6th-great-grandfather-and.html

JOHN ANDREW GIBSON (ENSIGN) (6TH GREAT-GRANDFATHER)(added nov 2019)
Born 1725 in Hanover Co, Virginia
Served in the 7th Regiment of the Virginia Militia
Died 29 SEP 1778 in Caswell, North Carolina, United States

ISAAC ROOD (PRIVATE) (6TH GREAT GRANDFATHER)
Born 23 MAR 1726, Stafford Twp., Tolland, Connecticut
enlisted as a private for the State of Connecticut, 1775-1783
Died 4 MAR 1792, Sturbridge, Massachusetts

RICHARD MCDONALD (MAJOR) (6TH GREAT GRANDFATHER)
Born 29 MAY 1731 in Scotland
Served a Captain, then Second Major in the First Battalion of the Somerset, NJ Militia, 1775-1783
Died 05 AUG 1820 • Somerville, New Jersey

CALEB HALL (CAPTAIN) (6TH GREAT-GRANDFATHER)(added Nov 2019)
Born 15 JUL 1738 in RI West Greenwich, Kent Co. Rhode Island
Served in the Rhode Island Militia, Baldwin's Regiment, 1777; Crarys Regiment, 1777-1779
Died 13 OCT 1801 in West Greenwich, RI

CALEB G SWEET (SURGEON)(1732-1831)(5TH GREAT-GRANDFATHER), honored by George Washington and invited into the "order of cincinnati," 1783. He served throughout the revolutionary war.

https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/george-washington-could-have-been-an-emperor/article_e2268150-4aef-53fe-b09c-a6a726a04588.html

ZEPHENIAH ROGERS (PRIVATE) (5TH GREAT GRANDFATHER)
Born 7 Mar 1747 in Mendon, Worcester, Massachusetts
Served in Capt. Satterlee's Company in Colonel Elmore's Regiment of Connecticut, 1776
Died 7 Oct 1823 in Franklin County, Ohio

https://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/rogers/9569/

JOHN GARDNER (SERGEANT) (5TH GREAT-GRANDFATHER)(added Nov 2019)
BIRTH 7 APR 1753 • Exeter, Washington County, Rhode Island
Served in the Rhode Island Militia from 1776 to 1778. Captain John Hoxie's Co 1776; Daniel Harrington's Co 1777; Jonathan Bates' Co. 1778
DEATH 17 MAR 1837 • Exeter, Washington County, Rhode Island

JACOB WEEKS (PRIVATE) (5TH GREAT-GRANDFATHER)(added Nov 2019)
Born ABT. 1735 • Oyster Bay, Nassau, New York
Served in New York Militia 1776-1783
Died Aft. 1791 New York

PETER (PIETER) WYNGAART (WYNGART) (WINEGARD) (PRIVATE) (5TH GREAT-GRANDFATHER)(added Nov 2019)
Born AUG 1741 in Albany, Albany, New York
Served in the Fourth Regiment, New York Militia 1776-1781
Died Aft. 1790

JOB JR, PLIMPTON (CORPORAL) (5TH GREAT GRANDFATHER)
Born 12 Aug 1746 in Medway, Norfolk, Massachusetts
On Medway list of men returned by a committee of the town of Medway April 13, 1778, as having rendered service at various times subsequent to April 19, 1775; also served with Captain Moses Adams's company, 4th Suffolk County. regiment commanded by Major Seth Bullard; marched to Tiverton, R. I., on the alarm of July 28, 1780.
Died 1814 in Medway, Norfolk, Massachusetts

ELIJAH TOWNSEND (CAPTAIN) (5TH GREAT GRANDFATHER)
Born 24 Nov 1745 in Susquehanna, Pennsylvania
Served as Adjutant of Col. Ludington's Duchess county 7th militia in the Revolutionary War.
Died 1821 in Yates County, New York

WILLIAM BRAMAN (PRIVATE) (5TH GREAT GRANDFATHER)
Born 1 Feb 1753 • Exeter, Washington, Rhode Island
enlisted as a private for the State of Rhode Island, 1776-1777
Died 9 Apr 1804 • Richmond, Washington, Rhode Island

JAMES BOYD (PRIVATE) (5TH GREAT GRANDFATHER)
Born 1757 in Bedford County, Virginia
Served as a private for the State of Virginia, 1775-1777
Died 1791 in Floyd, Kentucky

SOLOMON BROWN (DRUMMER BOY) (4TH GREAT GRANDFATHER)
Born about 1765 in Rhode Island
Served in Fish´s Regiment of Militia, 1777, appears in the Abstract of Graves of Revolutionary Patriots, Vol.1
Died 16 Sep 1839 in Galway, Saratoga, New York

ROLL CALL OF HONOR — WAR OF 1812

THOMAS BAILEY (SERGEANT) (5TH GREAT GRANDFATHER)
Born, 11 Feb 1765 in Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut
Served in Reed's Batt'n, Art'y, Massachusetts Mil., War of 1812
Died, 1854 in Canton, Bradford, Pennsylvania

JOSEPH HALLOWELL (SERGEANT) (4TH GREAT-GRANDFATHER)
BIRTH 13 OCT 1785 • New London, Chester, Pennsylvania, United States
DEATH 3 JUN 1872 • Oxford Village, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA
Served under Captain David Altemus' company of light infantry of the Second brigade, First division, Pennsylvania Militia, late in the service of the United States, under the command of Brigadier General Thomas Snyder. War of 1812

JOB GROOM (PRIVATE) (4TH GREAT GRANDFATHER)
Born 1795, Monmouth, New Jersey
Served Capt. Geo. Gibson's Co., State of Ohio, War of 1812
Died 17 DEC 1823 • Washington, Franklin, Ohio, United States

JAMES BOYD (LIEUTENANT) (4TH GREAT GRANDFATHER)
Born, 10 AUG 1783, Virginia
enlisted Col. Booth's 5 Reg't East Tennessee Militia, War of 1812
Died, 20 NOV 1854, Mahaska, Iowa

SIMON WEEKS (PRIVATE) (4TH GREAT GRANDFATHER)
Born, 1768, Long Island, New York
Served Col. Daniel Bedell's Reg't New York, War of 1812
Died, 21 MAR 1840, Antwerp, Jefferson Co., New York

SMITH BAILEY (PRIVATE) (4TH GREAT-GRANDFATHER)(ADDED NOV 2019)
Born 3 NOV 1789 in Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut
Served in the War of 1812 in HALL'S 17 Regiment, CHRISTY'S 135 Regiment of the PENNSYLVANIA MILITIA.
Died 7 JUN 1862 • Marion, Davis, Iowa

SAMUEL R BROWN (PRIVATE) (3RD GREAT GRANDFATHER)

Born, 7 AUG 1798 • Ballston Spa, Saratoga County, New York

Served in Lt. Col. Ball's Squadron Light Dragoons (Cavalry) New York, War of 1812

Died 12 JUNE 1877 • Philadelphia, Jefferson, New York

ROLL CALL OF HONOR — CIVIL WAR (UNION)

DAVID SOLOMON BAILEY (PRIVATE) (2ND GREAT GRANDFATHER)

Born 8 Dec 1837 in Columbus, Franklin Co., Ohio

Enlisted 18 February 1864 in Company G, 3rd Cavalry Regiment Iowa (Union).

He was discharged for wounds on 11 Sep 1865.

HE LOST HIS LEG--HIT BY A SHELL--IN THE BATTLE OF BRICE'S CROSSROADS 10 JUN 1864.

Died 19 Jul 1915 in Spring Grove, Douglas Co., Nebraska

RIFFORD RANDOLPH HALLOWELL (2ND LIEUTENANT) (3RD GREAT GRANDFATHER)

Born 17 Dec 1816 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Enlisted 20 Jul 1861 in Company K, 28th Regiment Pennsylvania Vol. (Union).

He fought at Gettysburg in July 1863.  HE BECAME SICK OR WOUNDED BECAUSE HE RESIGNED 13 SEP 1863, 

AND DIED A FEW MONTHS LATER ON 10 JAN 1864 in Frankford, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

MARCUS MORTON PIERCE (PRIVATE) (2ND GREAT GRANDFATHER)

Born 19 Sep 1842 in Woonsocket, Providence Co., Rhode Island

Enlisted 09 Aug 1862 in Company E, New York 109th Infantry Regiment (Union).

He fought at Gettysburg, in the battle of the Wilderness, the assault on 

Petersburg, and at Cold Harbor Virginia.

He mustered out on 04 Jun 1865 at Delaney House, Washington, DC.

DIED (YOUNG) 6 DEC 1882 IN WOODS PARK, VALLEY, NEBRASKA

CHARLES HENRY PLYMPTON (PRIVATE) (2ND GREAT GRANDFATHER)

Born 18 Nov 1845 in Seneca, Ontario, New York 

He enlisted 12 August 1862 in Company K, 97th Infantry Regiment Ohio (Union).

He fought in battles at Perryville, Missionary ridge, and the Atlanta campaign.

He mustered out on 10 Jun 1865 at Nashville, Tennessee.

Died 23 Sep 1925 in Marshalltown, Marshall, Iowa 

ADVENTURERS

PETER POND (1739-1807), NWCo FOUNDER, CARTOGRAPHER & FUR TRADER, 4TH COUSIN 7X REMOVED

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Pond

FRANÇOIS RIVET (1754-1852), VOYAGEUR WITH LEWIS AND CLARK, 2ND COUSIN 7X REMOVED

http://a-drifting-cowboy.blogspot.com/2016/08/cousin-francois-rivet-mountain-man.html

LOUIS C. ROUBIDEAU SIOUX INTERPRETER (1846-1913) THE INTERPRETER MAY 4TH, 1889 DURING THE CROOK COMMISSION HELD A COUNCIL AT THE ROSEBUD AGENCY, 6TH COUSIN 4X REMOVED

https://laprairie-voyageur-canoes.blogspot.com/2020/07/robidoux-family-beaver-pelts-to-buffalo.html

CHARLES ROBIDOUX (ROUBIDEAUX) 1855-1931, US INDIAN SCOUT PRESENT AT THE DEATH OF CRAZY HORSE, 6TH COUSIN 4X REMOVED

https://laprairie-voyageur-canoes.blogspot.com/2019/12/eyewitness-to-death-of-crazy-horse.html

UPDATE NOV. 2023 — NEW FOUND PRESIDENT COUSIN

FRANKLIN PIERCE (14th POTUS, US Rep, US Senator, Brigadier General) 1804-1869

4TH COUSIN 7X REMOVED

SEE: DNA CONNECTION, THE MEXICAN-AMERICAN WAR AND PRESIDENT FRANKLIN PEIRCE

https://a-drifting-cowboy.blogspot.com/2023/11/dna-connection-mexican-american-war-and.html

SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? 

START YOUR FAMILY HISTORY STUDY TODAY AND DISCOVER WHAT PART IN AMERICA’S HISTORY YOUR ANCESTORS PLAYED.

Great-grandfather Caleb Sweet was awarded "The Order of Cincinnati” medal by General George Washington

 

Portrait of Lieutenant General George Washington, President General of the Society of the Cincinnati, by Edward Savage, 1790.

Savage’s painting (above) has Washington wearing "The Order of Cincinnati” medal on his lapel.

The Society of the Cincinnati is the nation's oldest patriotic organization, founded in 1783 by officers of the Continental Army and their French counterparts who served together in the American Revolution. 

Its mission is to promote knowledge and appreciation of the achievement of American independence and to foster fellowship among its members.

The concept of the Society of the Cincinnati was that of Major General Henry Knox. The first meeting of the Society was held in May 1783 at a dinner at Mount Gulian (Verplanck House) in Fishkill, New York, before the British evacuation from New York City. 

The meeting was chaired by Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Hamilton, and the participants agreed to stay in contact with each other after the war.

The Society is named after Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus, an ancient Roman hero, who left his farm to accept a term as Roman Consul and served as Magister Populi. He assumed lawful dictatorial control of Rome to meet a war emergency. When the battle was won, he returned power to the Senate and went back to plowing his fields. 

The Society's motto reflects that ethic of selfless service: Omnia reliquit servare rempublicam ("He relinquished everything to save the Republic").

The Society has had three goals: "To preserve the rights so dearly won; to promote the continuing union of the states; and to assist members in need, their widows, and their orphans."

The order adopted the motto "Omnia relinquit servare Republicam" - "He gave up everything to preserve the Republic." The badge is in the shape of an eagle with the image of Cincinnatus on its breast.

Sources

Article by John Wolf NY Times columnist Jun 30, 2003 

https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/george-washington-could-have-been-an-emperor/article_e2268150-4aef-53fe-b09c-a6a726a04588.html

List of original members of the Society of the Cincinnati

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_original_members_of_the_Society_of_the_Cincinnati?fbclid=IwAR00mF4WLCXKL47zaSkQdF82i_21kk5dMvTzrhTlM2mq-f4XCBKO24Qo5lE

SOCIETY OF THE CINCINNATI

https://www.societyofthecincinnati.org/#:~:text=The%20Society%20of%20the%20Cincinnati%20is%20the%20nation's%20oldest%20patriotic,together%20in%20the%20American%20Revolution.

THE SOCIETY OF THE CINCINNATI

http://genealogytrails.com/main/societyofthecincinnati.html?fbclid=IwAR00mF4WLCXKL47zaSkQdF82i_21kk5dMvTzrhTlM2mq-f4XCBKO24Qo5lE

New York in the Revolution as colony and state : New York, Sep 6, 2006 — Vol. 1.

5th great-grandfather Caleb G Sweet (Surgeon) (1732–1831)

"The Order of Cincinnati” was awarded to "Caleb Sweet Esquire, MD, Surgeon of the late 1st New York Regiment on the 4th December, 1785, by George Washington, President.

Caleb G Sweet (Surgeon) (1732–1831) our 5th great-grandfather

BIRTH 12 OCT 1732 • Kingston, Washington County, Rhode Island

DEATH 12 DEC 1831 • Galway, Saratoga, New York

Marriage to Isabell Sherman (Babcock) (1727–1813) on 1751 • Rhode Island

U.S., Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783 for Caleb Sweet New York 1st Regiment.

The 1st New York Regiment

The 1st New York Regiment was authorized on 25 May 1775 and organized at New York City from 28 June to 4 August, for service with the Continental Army.

The enlistments of the first establishment ended on 31 December 1775.

The second establishment of the regiment was authorized on 19 January 1776.

The regiment was involved in the Invasion of Canada, the Battle of Valcour Island, the Battle of Saratoga, the Battle of Monmouth, the Sullivan Expedition, and the Battle of Yorktown. The regiment was furloughed 2 June 1783 at Newburgh, New York and disbanded 15 November 1783.