I am trying to prove that the Solomon Reece (c1780-1870) who resided in
Washington Twp, Wayne Co, IN was (or was not) the brother of my
ancestor.
A bit of background. My ancestor, Morris Rees, had a brother Solomon.
Morris was the eldest child (born 1757) and I think Solomon was one of
the younger children in the family, and was possibly born as late as
1775 or 1785 when the family resided in Washington county, PA. When the
estate of Morris' and Solomon's father was finally settled in 1820
(Fairfield Co, OH), it listed Solomon as "not of Ohio" and nothing more.
We do know from the deeds out of the estate that Solomon's wife was
named Ann or Anna. The big stumbling block comes in that Morris and
Solomon also had an uncle named Solomon, whose wife was also named Ann.
Solomon and Ann sold property in Fairfield County, OH in 1808 (Solomon
had purchased this in 1802).
The name Solomon is fairly common in the Rees/e family, so I hesitate to
leap to the conclusion that the Solomon of Wayne co, IN is Morris'
brother!
I have put together the following about the Solomon Reece of Wayne Co:
Solomon Reece bc31 Dec 1779 d 3 Mar 1870 ag 90y 3m 2d (tombstone info,
Franklin Cem, Wayne co, IN)
1850 census age 70, born PA, living with William VanBuskirk
family, Washington Twp, Wayne Co
1860 census age 80, born PA, living adjacent to William
VanBuskirk family, WAshington Twp, Wayne Co
Marriage records on Indiana state web page show Mary Reese
married to William Van Buskirk 12 Nov 1828 Wayne Co, IN Book A p 198, so
this Mary VanBuskirk in the census is probably Solomon's daughter. There
are a few other Reece marriages listed there for folks who might also be
Solomon's children. Proof is needed.
Franklin Cemetery info in the Yount book shows Solomon with the death
date and age above as "Solomon Reece" and also listed with the
VanBuskirks, apparently with the surname of "VanBuskirk". This leads me
to suspect that he is in their plot, perhaps even on the same stone, and
the surname is hard to determine??? Same cemetery, from the Yount book,
an apparent spouse of Solomon is "Nancy Reece born c1881 died 3 Aug
1846". Nancy is a common nickname for Ann -- so this fits with the
assumed Solomon. In the same cemetery are David Rees and his wife
Sidney, who do fit into my family somewhere (there is disagreement as to
just where they fit!).
Does anyone have additional information on these folks, or is anyone in
a position to help me learn more about them? Sources that I have in mind
are: obituaries (Solomon, Nancy, the VanBuskirks) might list surviving
siblings or birth places; Wayne Co deeds purchase and sale for Solomon
Reece and William VanBuskirk (according to Young's 1872 county history,
VanBuskirk resided on the former Solomon Reece farm); will and estate
files for Solomon or perhaps for Nancy.
Ellen Copper
State College, PA
fec3(a)psu.edu