_____________________
|
_William BROWN Jr____|
| (1823 - 1856) |
| |_____________________
|
|
|--Isaac BROWN
| (1849 - ....)
| _John Harris WHITE __+
| | (.... - 1856) m 1809
|_Sarah WHITE ________|
(.... - 1856) |
|_Hannah MOUNCEY _____+
(.... - 1829) m 1809
[4098]
The Thomas William Condon Story
1757 – 1839
February 11, 2004
Dear Sarah, Hannah, Timmy, and Becky,
Tonight I'm going to tell you about one of our ancestors who fought on THE OTHER SIDE during the American Revolution. He was a Loyalist. His name was Thomas Condon. We think Thomas was born about 1757 but we only know that because his age at death was written on his tombstone. We don't know if he was born in the colonies or in Ireland. But we think that if he was born in America then either his parents or grandparents came from Ireland.
There was a very famous battle over in Britain called the Battle of Boyne caused by two people who thought they should be king of England. James II had been king and William of Orange wanted to be king. The Royal Regiment of Ireland was fighting for James. So when James lost almost everyone of this Royal Regiment came to America and they liked it here. They were very aware that America was a land of opportunity for social advancement that just didn't exist in Britain. To many of these Irish people life was so much better in the colonies than it had been in Ireland, it was worth fighting to keep it just the way it was - colonies. Perhaps Thomas's people had come with the Royal Regiment, or perhaps later. We don't know yet.
We first hear of him in the colonies fighting with the Pennsylvania Loyalists and later, he became a member of the King's American Dragoons, an elite cavalry unit. He was a valued soldier in Captain William Stewart's troop. Some of the battles he fought in were Staten Island in February of 1782, Foster's Meadow in May of 1782, Camp Ireland Heights in September of 1782, Huntington in Nov of 1782 and February of 1783, Springfield in April 1783, and Jamaica in June of 1783. By the end of June 1783 Thomas was very ill and was sent to New York to get well.
Although the Dragoons were a cavalry unit, they saw very little action on horseback. They did most of their fighting from whaleboats using cannons. By 1782 and 1783 rather than fighting the “rebels”, they were mainly protecting Loyalist families from the “rebels.” As it became more and more obvious that the British would lose, many Loyalists felt they would be safer if they left the colonies.
England gave grants of land in New Brunswick, Canada, to soldiers who had been loyal to her. In June of 1783 a fleet of 32 ships full of Loyalists left New York to go to the wilderness of Canada but Thomas was not able to go with them. He probably went with the fall fleet that sailed in September of 1783. First they were given land grants on the harbor of St. John's River, but other people were already living there and didn't want them. So then King George moved them up the river to the township of Prince William and the King's American Dragoons were the first settler's there. Each family was given 200 acres of land along the river. Thomas had lot #227.
At this point our Thomas was still a bachelor. But he soon married Ruth Stewart, a widow with a child, John Fitz Stewart. Ruth had been married to one of the Stewart brothers that Thomas had served with through the war. Those brothers, William, Alexander, and Brian Lafferty Stewart were the sons of William Stewart and Priscilla Lafferty from Somerset County, New Jersey. Thomas served with them and went to Prince William with them in 1785. There is a little puzzle here. Who is the Ruth Stewart that Thomas married?
Priscilla Lafferty Stewart died in 1785 leaving a will in which she named her three sons and a girl, Ruth Leonard. Some people think Ruth Leonard was engaged to marry one of the 3 sons and this may be the Ruth Stewart that Thomas married. Others think Ruth was a Lafferty, perhaps a cousin of the three Stewart brothers. In those days people did sometimes marry their cousins. The main reason they think she was a Lafferty is, listen to this, the names she and Thomas gave to three of their sons, Thomas Lafferty Condon, Bryan Lafferty Condon, Johnson Lafferty Condon. Perhaps someone will one day find a document that will clear up this history mystery. I hope I live to see it. Ruth's son John Fitz Stewart was born in 1787. Her son Thomas Lafferty Condon was born in 1789 so Thomas and Ruth were married between there sometime. Their other children were Bryan Lafferty Condon born in 1790, Mary Stewart Condon 1795, Johnson Lafferty Condon 1800, and Nathaniel Bloodsworth Condon in 1803. Three sons with the middle name Lafferty seems almost certainly because of an ancestor named Lafferty. Nathaniel and Elizabeth Bloodsworth were neighbors and fellow Loyalists who lived on the other side of the river. Nathaniel Bloodsworth Condon was undoubtedly named for him but we don't know why. Both families were also members of the Baptist Church.
Thomas and Ruth received land grants in 1790, 1792, and 1795, one being on an island in the St. John's River. Then in 1802 they received 500 acres on the Pokiok River. In 1808 they sold all their property and the following spring of 1809, 25 years after Thomas had first come to Prince William, the family moved to the new frontier in Ontario or Upper Canada as it was then called. They travelled by boat; 225 miles up the rivers of New Brunswick, 330 miles up the St Lawrence, then 225 miles across Lake Ontario to Wentworth County. They took land on a high plateau in Binbrook Township. Thomas was granted 300 acres with 500 more in reserve for his sons and step-son. They were the very first settlers in Binbrook. It was the wild frontier where wolves howled at night. The small children had to have home-school because the only school was much too far.
Ruth died in 1830 and Thomas in 1835. They are both buried in the Tapleytown Cemetery in Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada.
In the family records, Thomas has the letters U.E.L. after his name. That stands for United Empire Loyalists. In Canada it is considered an honor to be descended from a U.E.L. The loyalists were the early settlers that made Canada British. They are given credit for bringing orderly government, good schools, and high moral standards. But Thomas's children didn't all stay in Canada.
Our ancestor Thomas William Condon was a man of Irish descent. He appreciated America so much he wanted to keep it just the way it was – English. He joined the English side in the fight against the colonial Patriots and is honored today in his adopted country of Canada as a United Empire Loyalist.
Here is how we are related to Thomas: Thomas and Ruth were the parents of Mary Stewart Condon who married John Boslow. They had Harriet Boslow and came to live in Green County, Wisconsin. Harriet married Franklin H. Derrick and they had Mary Lorinda Derrick. Do you remember her? (You're supposed to ALWAYS remember Mary Lorinda Derrick.) She married John Balis and had Flora Balis. Flora married Edmund Stevens and had Harold Stevens. He was Grandpa's dad. Harold married Helen White and had Paul Stevens. Paul married me, Dianne Irene Zimmerman, and had your mom, Dawne Irene Stevens. Your mom married Jason Pamplin and had - you four wonderful children, Sarah, Hannah, Timothy, and Rebecca! And now you know how you were part of the American Revolution.
So Hooray for Thomas William Condon!
Love,
Granny
Line 51 dwelling 15 Family 16
Sherard, Claude M Head Own radio Y Farm N age 27 m age 20 SD SD SD
Lucille A. wife 30 23 SD Den Den
Henriett L. dau 5 SD SD SD
__
|
_Paul MYLCHREEST ______|
| m 1870 |
| |__
|
|
|--Annie Elizabeth MYLCHREEST
| (1875 - ....)
| __
| |
|_Ann Elizabeth QUAYLE _|
m 1870 |
|__
_Daniel PIERCE ______+
| (1768 - 1839)
_Warren PIERCE ______|
| (1789 - 1847) m 1810|
| |_Abigail GILSON _____+
| (1766 - 1847)
|
|--Warren E. PIERCE
| (1821 - 1869)
| _Patrick MCMANUS ____
| |
|_Sally MCMANUS ______|
(1788 - 1839) m 1810|
|_Grace ______________
[2342]
1860 Census-daughter Ann, 16, born in NY - daughter Phebee W. , 9, born in Wisc. Indicates Warren Pierce came to Wisconsin after 1844 and before 1851. But he didn't marry Jane til 1849. Ann must be his daughter from a previous marriage (to Lucy M. Streeter in 1844.)
1860 Census says very clearly that Warren was born in Vermont.
Occupation - "Farmer" - value of Real estate - $300.00. Value of personal Estate - $200.00.
Also listed in the Warren Pierce household on the 1860 Census is Sarah Willard, age 13, born in NY.
We have determined this is the niece of his wife, Jane.
1850 Census - Waterloo, WI - two of Warren's brothers, George and Abel are listed.
It appears the sister of Abel's wife, Harriet Vanderpool, married Charles Streeter, a probable brother to Warren's 1st wife, Lucy Streeter.
1850Census - Warren is listed in Dane Co, York twsp.
His name is misspelled "Orrin Peirce"
but family gives him away and living next door is Eliza, Jane's sister!
1855 Wi State Census - Jefferson Co., Waterloo, p. 10
According to "A History of Portland" Warren Pierce manufactured pumps.
1 SEP 1857 There is a record of Warren purchasing 40 acres of land in Adams County. I found it on Cyndi's List.com
A Warren Pierce, laborer, born abt 1822 in Vermont, is on the 1880 census index for Lyndon, Caledonia Co., VT. His wife is Sarah M. Pierce.
Name Relation Marital Status Gender Race Age Birthplace Occupation Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace
Warren PIERCE Self M Male W 58 VT Laborer VT VT
Sarah M. PIERCE Wife M Female W 53 VT VT VT
Line 1 Family # 350
Pierce, Warren age 38 Farmer Real Estate: $800 Personal: 200 born: Vermont
Jane S. 44 NY
Ann 16 NY
Phebie W. (M)9 WI
J.W.8 WI
Frank O.5 WI
Sabrina3 WI
Willard, Sarah 13 NY
Warren Pierce manufactured pumps which he supplied to the surrounding country until 1868 when he
removed to Greenwood , Wis.
[2348] Family tree of R L Pierce - source #1 for Warren E. Pierce
1855 Wisconsin Census
Name: Warren Pierce
State: WI County: Jefferson County Township: Waterloo
Page: 010 Database: WI 1855 State Census Index
U.S. General Land Office Records, 1796-1907
Name: Warren Pierce “of Adams County” Issue Date: 1 Sep 1857
State of Record: Wisconsin Acres: 40
Accession Number: WI3370__.357 Metes and Bounds: No
Land Office: Stevens Point Canceled: No US Reservations: No
Mineral Reservations: No Authority: April 24, 1820: Sale-Cash Entry (3 Stat. 566)
NE ¼ of NE ¼ Sec 32 Twp 18 N R 5 E --- 40 acres
Document Number: 8845 Legal Land Description:
Section Twp Range Meridian Counties
32 18-N 5-E 4th PM - 1831 MN/WI Adams
[2351]
Same property - Wisconsin Land Records
Name: Warren Pierce Land Office: STEVENS POINT Issue Date: 1 Sep 1857
Sequence #: 1 Document Number: 8845 Total Acres: 40 Signature: Yes
Canceled Document: No Mineral Rights Reserved: No Metes and Bounds: No
Statutory Reference: 3 Stat. 566 Multiple Warantee Names: No
Act or Treaty: April 24, 1820 Multiple Patentee Names: No
Entry Classification: Sale-Cash Entries Land Description:
1 NENE 4TH PM - 1831 MINNESOTA/WISCONSIN No 18 N 5 E 32
Res. Westmore, Vt.
Name: Warren Pierce
Age in 1870: 48
Birth Year: abt 1822
Birthplace: Vermont
Home in 1870: Warren, Jo Daviess, Illinois
Race: White
Gender: Male
Post Office: Warren
Value of real estate: View image
Household Members:
Name Age
Warren Pierce 48
Gilley Pierce 35
Thomas Pierce 13
Charles Pierce 12
Alice Pierce 11
Edith Pierce 9
The children on the 1870 census were his wife's children by her first marriage to William Bundy. Either the census taker mistakenly assumed that they were Warren Pierce's children or the couple misrepresented them as his children.
Gilla was divorced from William Bundy in 1863. I found the divorce record in the Vernon County Circuit Court April Term 1863, to wit May 2d 1863 - 6th day of term. The original court record book is at the Wisconsin Regional Archives in the library at the University of Wisconsin - LaCrosse. Most Mason researchers assumed that she died before 1880 since William Bundy had a different wife by that time. Gilla actually died in 1898 in Marshall County, Iowa.
I found the record of Warren Pierce's marriage to Gilla Bundy on the following microfilm:
Lafayette County (Wis.) registration of marriages,1854-1881(Names arranged by first letter of husband's surname, then by date.), FHL microfilm 1276064.
He apparently abandoned Gilla, too. I did not know what became of him after the 1870 census
Name: Warren Pierce
[Wm A Pierce]
Age: 58
Birth Year: abt 1822
Birthplace: Vermont
Home in 1880: Lyndon, Caledonia, Vermont
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Self (Head)
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Sarah M. Pierce
Father's Birthplace: Vermont
Mother's Birthplace: Vermont
Neighbors: View others on page
Occupation: Laborer
Household Members:
Name Age
Warren Pierce 58
Sarah M. Pierce 53
__
|
_William SHANNON ____|
| |
| |__
|
|
|--Willoughby SHANNON
|
| __
| |
|_Jane WILSON ________|
(1814 - ....) |
|__
_____________________
|
_August Gotlieb WERK _|
| (1858 - 1939) m 1895 |
| |_____________________
|
|
|--Ruth Elsie WERK
| (1904 - 1998)
| _John NICKLAS _______+
| | (1839 - 1914) m 1870
|_Wilhelmina NICKLAS __|
(1871 - 1943) m 1895 |
|_Amelia KREUTZ ______
(1843 - 1899) m 1870
[9905] Ruth was a high school teacher.
_____________________
|
_Francis WHITMORE (Wetmore)_|
| (1625 - 1685) m 1648 |
| |_____________________
|
|
|--Samuel WHITMORE
| (1658 - ....)
| _Richard PARK Parke__
| | (1609 - 1664) m 1628
|_Isabel PARK _______________|
(1628 - 1665) m 1648 |
|_Margery CRANE ______
(1595 - 1656) m 1628
_John Jacob WINTERMANTEL _+
| (1799 - 1879) m 1822
_John Jacob WINTERMANTEL _|
| (1825 - 1894) |
| |_Salome WALTER ___________
| (1800 - 1883) m 1822
|
|--Katherine Ethel WINTERMANTEL
| (1875 - 1951)
| __________________________
| |
|_Eliza A. JAQUISS ________|
(1838 - 1906) |
|__________________________