Hi everyone,
I found this letter online and I hope one of you have tried to put all the pieces
together. I've added my own analysis below. Some of it checks out via census
records. Other info clearly is wrong. I think this may be the family of Susannah Cecil
who married Gilliam Regan, though she is not mentioned in the letter. That makes me
wonder if Allen was her brother after all. Here is the letter - can anyone comment?
"The following is a copy of a hand written letter, from Robert Cecil to my
granduncle Bentley (Benjamin) M. Cecil, dated August 21, 1913. The letter
was mailed from Bellefonte, Arkansas. Bentley (Benjamin) Cecil was the son
of Mitchell Cecil, Mitchell was the son of John Grayson Cecil, 1790 -1861.
"Dear sir: After a long delay I will try to answer your kind letter. I would have
written sooner but I had written back to North Carolina to see if I could find anything in
my fathers old papers that would help us any in
finding out anything about our connection. I have not received my fathers
papers yet but will in a short time. I don't know what information I will
gain from them yet. My grandfathers name was Thomas Cecil. My grandmothers
maiden name I don't remember. My grandfather was born in England, came to
Maryland with Lord Baltimores Colony, settled there, raised his family
there, moved from there to Davidson County, North Carolina. He died there at the age of
(112) years. My great grandfather died in Maryland. I don't know his age. I can't
remember his given name but I would not be surprised if Sir Robert Cecil was not my great
grandfather. One of my great uncles, Thomas K. Cecil used to go back to Maryland to visit
some of the Cecils but I supposed it was my great grandfather. He called him Lord Cecil.
Lord Cecil Calvert was the Second Lord Baltimore, son of George Calvert, First Lord
Baltimore. My grandfather had four brothers. Their names were Phillip, Benjamin, George
and John Phillip was my wife's father. My wife and I were cousins. Her name was
Elizabeth Cecil. My wife had a brother whose name was Samuel Cecil. He lived in Davidson
County in 1848. I don't know where he went from there. I have connections in
Missouri. One of my father's brothers went to Missouri years ago. His name
was Benjamin. It may be that you and I are kin. My father's name was Allen.
He was born in (1781) died in 1878. I am (100 years and five months old) I
would be glad to hear from you again soon. Any information you can give me
in regard to this estate will be gladly received. If I find out anything
that will be of use to you, I will gladly give it to you. I will close.
Respectfully yours,
Robert Cecil""
This is my analysis so far:
2 Mr Cecil b: - d: in Maryland (great grandfather to Robert)
3Thomas Cecil b: - d: age 112 in Davidson Co. (grandfather to Robert) born in
England, came to Maryland with Lord Baltimores Colony , settled there and raised his
family there, moved to Davidson Co. NC where he died. [[Lord Baltimore's Colony
arrived in 1634 - The numbers don't add up. ~D]]
+
4 Allen Cecil b: 1781 - d: 1878
+
5 Robert (from the letter) b: 1813 - 1913 living in Bellefonte, AK
4 Benjamin - went to MO years ago (written in 1913)
3Phillip
+
Elizabeth (married Robert)
Samuel (lived in Davidson Co. in 1848)
3Benjamin
3George
3John
2 Thomas K. Cecil used to go back to Maryland to visit some Cecils there. He supposed
it was his great grandfather. He called him Lord Cecil. Since Robert recalls this it had
to be well after 1813.
John Grayson Cecil, 1790 -1861
+
Mitchell Cecil
+
Bentley (Benjamin) Cecil (recieved letter in 1913)
Hope someone can add more.
Debbie
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