52 Ancestors - Clarissa Fuller (Knox) - Pioneer Woman

Amy Johnson Crow of No Story Too Small issued the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge.  Each week focus on one ancestor and post something about him or her.

Me-My Mom-Ruby Alberta Belknap-Bessie Beatrice Landers-Angleine Henrietta Littrell-Letis Ellen Knox-Clarissa S. Fuller

My 4th great grandmother, Clarissa Fuller, is another woman in my direct maternal line and another resilient pioneer. She lived to the old age of 81.  She was born about 1809 in Jay, Franklin, Maine, U.S.A. to Erza Fuller and Avis Briggs. She was only 5 years old when her mother passed away leaving a home full of children. Clarissa's father remarries the widow Sarah Morse Stubbs (also known as Sally). She probably helped him raise the younger children. 

Clarissa grows up in her hometown and marries George W. Knox in September of 1827. Shortly after her father dies in October of 1842, Clarissa and her family join a wagon train going west to Mercer County, Illinois. Many of Clarissa's and George's relatives and friends are on the journey. Clarissa is now the mother of three children. Her oldest daughter, Letis Ellen, would have been about twelve year old. 

In Mercer county, Illinois, the family settles on a farm and three more children are born. But their lives about to change, as the civil war is coming. Like so many families during that time period, Clarissa watches as her oldest son (George E. Knox) enlist in the Union army. Their family is one of the lucky ones, as George makes it home.

Clarissa losses her husband sometime between 1860 and 1880. See my post about George W. Knox. In the 1880 census, Clarissa is living with her children, Lydia and Joseph in Abington, Mercer, Illinois. According to Clarissa's obituary, when she died on February 24, 1891, she is living with her son-in-law, Issac Downs. Isaac was the husband of her daughter, Samantha. The obituary lists her children and where they where living in 1891. George E., Letits Ellen, who resides in Nebraska, , Lydia, living near Keithsburg, Sarah Sullivan, of Millersburg, Mrs. Isaac Downs and Joseph B Knox of Joy.

Sources:

"Maine, Births and Christenings, 1739-1900," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F44Q-SZY : accessed 05 May 2014), Ezra Fuller in entry for Claracy Fuller, 1809; citing JAY,FRANKLIN,MAINE; FHL microfilm 11037. 

"Maine, Marriages, 1771-1907," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F4FD-YZD : accessed 05 May 2014), George W. Knox and Clarissa S. Fuller, 09 Sep 1827; citing Jay,Franklin,Maine, reference ; FHL microfilm 11037. 

1880 U.S. Census, Mercer County, Illinois, population schedule, Abington, enumeration district (ED) 172, Sheet 263A (stamped), dwelling 153, family 155, Clarrissa Knox; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 7 April 2014); NARA microfilm publication T9.

Volume, VII, #34, The Times Record, Aledo, IL, 26 February 1891. obituary for Clarissa Fuller Knox.

52 Ancestors - George W Knox

Amy Johnson Crow of No Story Too Small issued the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge.  Each week focus on one ancestor and post something about him or her.

George W Knox is my 4th great grandfather on my mother's side.

Me-My Mom-Ruby Alberta Belknap-Bessie Beatrice Landers-Angeline Henrietta Littrell-Letis Ellen Knox-George W Knox.

Although I've found quite a few records and information on George, I ran into a brick wall when trying to find anything on him after the 1860 census. Some of the things I discovered about George W Knox:

• George was the son of Moses Knox and Susannah Perkins born in Maine, United States about 1807.
• George marries Clarissa Fuller (daughter of Ezra Fuller and Avis Briggs) September 9, 1827 in Jay, Franklin, Maine.
• George is found in 1830 census living next to his father-in-law Ezra Fuller in Jay with a total of 3 persons - two being himself and Clarissa, and one female being under 5. I think this may have been their oldest daughter, Letis Ellen, born in 1830. 
• George is still in Jay, Maine in the 1840 census. He now has one male under 5 (probably George E), one female between 5-9 (probably Lydia), one female between 10-14 (probably Letis Ellen), and himself and Clarissa. 
• In the 1850, George and his family are living in Mercer County, Illinois at Township 14 N R 4 W. They now have two more children, Sarah and Samantha. According to his daughter's (Letis Ellen) obituary the family came to Mercer County in 1842 by wagon. They are not the only family from Jay, Maine who made the journey to Mercer County, Illinois. George's father and some of his brother's and sister's are part of the group migration, as well as some from Clarissa family. 
• In the 1860 census, George and his family are still in Mercer County, Illinois, with one more child (Joseph Benjamin). 

I've not been able to find George nor Clarissa in the 1870 census, they don't seem to be in Mercer County. But in the 1880 census, his wife (Clarissa) is listed as a widow living  with their children Lydia and Joseph in Abington, Mercer, Illinois. So what happened between 1860 and 1880? 

I've looked for George in other records and have not found much. No gravestone on Find-A-Grave, that I could find. I've looked on Ancestry and Family Search. I posted a query on a message board on Ancestry, and I've even e-mailed the Mercer County Historical Society. They were very helpful in death dates for George's wife and a daughter but nothing on George's death. They even gave me the e-mail of a cousin who has been most helpful.

 If you have any information on George W Knox, please e-mail or leave a comment. Thanks
.

More posts about George's family:

Sunday's Obituary - Clarissa Fuller Knox (George's wife obituary)

Fearless Females - Mini Profile (George's daughter, Letis Ellen Knox (Littrell))

Sources: 

"Maine, Marriages, 1771-1907," index, Family Search (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F4FD-YZD: accessed 26 February 2013), George W. Knox and Clarissa S. Fuller; citing Jay,Franklin,Maine, reference ; FHL microfilm 11037.

1830 U.S. Census, Oxford County, Maine, population schedule, Jay, p. 177, line 11, George Knox; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : accessed 7 April 2014); NARA Series: M19; Roll Number: 50; Family History Film: 0497946.

1840 U.S. Census, Franklin County, Maine, population schedule, Jay, p 105., line 9, George Knox; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : accessed 7 April 2014); NARA microfilm publication M704, roll 140, FHL microfilm 0009703.

 1850 U.S. Census, Mercer County, Illinois, population schedule, Township 14 N R 4 W, p. 377A, dwelling 462, family 462, George Knox; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : accessed 7 April 2014); NARA microfilm publication M432.

1860 U.S. Census, Mercer County, Illinois, population schedule, Township 14 N 4 W, Mercer, p. 222, dwelling 1519, family 1519, George W Knox; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : accessed 7 April 2014); NARA microfilm publication M653; FHL microfilm 803211.

Keithsburg Happenings, The Times Record, Aledo, IL, 23 November 1916, Vol XXXIII, #23, Part 2, p. 12. Obituary of Littis Ellen Littrell.

Sunday's Obituary - Clarissa Fuller Knox

I've been very fortunate to have found some wonderful cousins along my genealogical journey. Thanks so much to Jo for finding this obituary for one of our great grandmothers.

Mrs. Clarissa Fuller Knox died at the
residence of her son-in-law, Issac
Downs, in this place February 24, 1891.
Mrs. Knox was born in Maine in 1816,
and moved with her husband to Illinois
at an early day and made Mercer county
her home ever since. There were six
children born to them, George E., Let-
tis Ellen, who resides in Nebraska,
Lydia, living near Keithsburg, Sarah
Sullivan, of Millersburg, Mrs. Isaac
Downs and Joseph B Knox of Joy. Ser-
vices were held in the M.E. church,
Rev. Brink officiating. The remains
were laid to rest in the Brick Yard cem-
etery.

The Times
Aledo, IL
Vol. VII #34, Thursday 26 February 1891 

My Mayflower Quest

This past year, I’ve been working on proving my line back to the Mayflower passenger Samuel Fuller.  The line I’m trying to prove is: Samuel Fuller-Samuel Fuller- Samuel Fuller-John Fuller-Consider Fuller-Ezra Fuller-Clarissa Fuller-Letis Ellen Knox-Angeline Littrell-Bessie Landers-Ruby Belknap-My Mom-Myself .  I’ve been in contact with a few cousins who have been most helpful, and have proved the line up to Ezra Fuller and Avis Briggs. So, I just need to work from them to myself.  Not always as easy as it sounds.  But I have been assured by my cousins that it is worth the effort. This has been like a great treasure hunt, trying to find the records.  It has, also, been a wonderful learning experience.  Important lesson, that not all records you need are the internet. You will be required to write to county courthouses or archives. Some records can be obtained through writing to the state archive and other through the county courthouse. I have found if you have a choice; choose the courthouse as it seems like a faster response time.  Almost, but not all, will required some sort of fee for their effort in finding your record.  I found it very important to do your homework. Find out what records may be available for each county you need records for. Google each state or county you need records from to see what their policies are for getting records.  There are some states that have forms, you need to fill out and require ID in order to get the records.  The hardest part is waiting.  Each record that I’ve received is my treasure.  Some of them have been more valuable than others.  There has been some more difficult to find, and I’ve hit a couple of brick walls.  I’ve been unable to discover the death date and place for George W Knox, his wife Clarissa Fuller (nee Knox), and their daughter Letis Ellen Littrell or Pate (nee Knox). But I’m hoping that in the New Year, I’ll break down these walls.