Glad to see recent activity on this list. And I wish that more folks participated,
because I have a real dead end in Ripley and maybe someone out there knows something that
might help. My second-toughest brick wall met her maker in Ripley County around 1840-50.
Her married name was Tirzah Williams, wife of Simeon Williams. Tirzah was spelled several
different ways, which has made searching for her tons of fun.
She was last seen in the 1840 census in Otter Creek, Ripley County:
1840 Otter Creek, Ripley IN census Terzah/Terzah Williams next to Charles Knapp (her
son-in-law) and near Adin Williams (her youngest son.)
In the 1840 census, Charles and Susan (Williams) Knapp live next door to Tirzah Williams,
a head of household with members: one female 70-80, one female 50-60, two males 40-50 and
60-70, both engaged in farming. If one of them were her husband, she probably would not
have been the head of household. If Simeon were alive, he would be 77. Perhaps he was
dead and the 70-80 woman is the mother but not named Tirzah. Could the head of household
be a daughter in law? Adin Williams was a head of household in 1840 living near them. In
January 1836 he bought land in section 12, twn 8, north range 10 east. James Williams
(perhaps no relation?) bought land in same area in June 1836.
According to an 1896 family letter, she died about 1853, her maiden name may have been
Knight (although the letter could have been transcribed incorrectly.) She was born about
1765, in Massachusetts according to the later census data of her children. I have tried
to obtain death certificates for all of her children, but only one, my gg-grandmother,
lived long enough to have a death certificate in her jurisdiction (Rush County IN) and for
some reason, the mother's name was left blank on that, although I did obtain the
father's name, Simeon Williams, from that.
The children of Simeon and Tirzah:
John S. born 1786 VT, died after 1860 Middleport NY, married Polly Haven, no children
Dyer b. 27 May 1790 in VT, died 15 Mar 1876 Muscatine Iowa, married Orenda Burr
Dudley b. 1792 NY died 1850-1860 Ripley IN, never married
Lois b. 1794 NY, died Dearborn, IN, married 1st Ezekiel Nelson, 2nd James Cameron, 3rd
Gideon Cummins, 4th ? Ross
Susan b. 1795/ 1788 VT, died 1850, Ripley, IN, married Charles Knapp
Fannie b. 1796 NY, died in 1845 in Michigan, married Ezekiel Strong
Henry C. b. 1806 NY, died in Niagara NY, never married
Sarah H. b. 1806 NY, died 26 Jan 1889 Rush County IN
Adin b. 1810 NY, d. in CA after 1880 census, on CA voter rolls in 1888, married Mary
McLean
The family letter gave some clues about her family (ties to the judiciary in the
Connecticut River Valley) but I have not been able to find a Knight family with a daughter
named Tirzah. Always hoping that something will turn up on her and maybe it will come
from Ripley.
Kate