52 Ancestors, Week 4- Tamar Kirk 1736-1779

~52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks~

~Week 4~

As you're researching your family history, it's always fun to come upon someone who has seen a piece of history. You imagine what their exact experiences were like...how you would have been in that same circumstances...would you be as brave as they had been? 

When British settlers started colonizing New England, Indian attacks were frequent. We were, in fact, invading and taking their land. Why wouldn't they attack? I have a couple of other ancestors who have experienced an Indian attack first-hand... (I wrote about my 7th great-grandfather 4 years ago in my other 52 ancestors blog- you can read about him here.)

(Image taken from Google Images, Powhatan Wars)

The person I'm writing about today is not about my direct linage ancestor, but a cousin. Tamar Mendenhall ('nee Kirk) and her son Caleb Mendenhall.

Tamar Kirk

b. 02 Aug 1736 in East Nantmeal, Pennsylvania 

d. 1779 in Georgia

Tamar was the daughter of William Kirk and Mary Buckingham. She married Phineas Mendenhall (1742-1826) on 15 Jul 1762 in Pennsylvania. Phineas is my 2nd cousin, 9x removed. Tamar and Phineas had 5 children: Mary, Grace, Caleb, Joseph and Tamar.

Yesterday, I was researching more information on Caleb Mendenhall, Tamar's son and discovered an Indian tale that has been documented and published:

Friends and the Indians 1655-1917

by Rayner Wickersham Kelsey, PH.D

Page 73 & 74 from book "Friends and the Indians"

The Quaker Peace

Just prior to the Revolutionary War the Quaker frontier in Georgia began to waver somewhat on account of the Indian troubles and meetings were held irregularly. The climax of the trouble came when Tamar Kirk Mendenhall and the youngest song held in captivity for about two years. It is probable, however, in this case also that these Friends did not uphold the usual Quaker testimony of fearlessness and trust, as they had retreated from their homestead earlier in the year and had returned to gather the ripened grain when the tragedy occurred. It would seem from both of the above accounts that the safety of Friends lay in the consistent attitude of peace that set them apart in the eyes of the savages from all other "white settlers".

The above instances, of five persons killed and members of two families taken captive, all occurred in New England or the southern colonies where Friends had had no controlling voice in shaping the Indian policy. It is probable also that Friends suffered somewhat, at least in property, at the time of King Philip's War in New England. In New Jersey, on the other hand, there never occurred an Indian war, and in Pennsylvania when the Quaker Peace Policy was finally overthrown by the non-Friendly authorities, the preservation of the lives and property of Friends was remarkable. 

This account is somewhat detailed, but one thing that I think was "wrong" was that this states that Tamar and her youngest son was taken...Caleb. From what I know, Caleb was not her youngest. Either way, it is an interesting account. I am slightly disappointed because I haven't been able to find a date to go with this incident. I want to say that they were only held captive for 2 years and then released...as it states. Tamar died in 1779 at the age of 45, her son Caleb died in 1846 at the age of 76. It appears that Tamar died when Caleb was just 10 years old so it had to have been between these first ten years that they were taken. I do have two other children in my tree that Tamar and Phineas had- Joseph (b. 1772) and Tamar (b. 1774)...which if these children were true, then that leaves a 5 year window between 1774 and 1779 that they could have been taken.

Whoever is reading this, do you have anymore information on this abduction? Do you know if Tamar and Phineas had 2 more children after Caleb? Leave me a comment :) 

52 Ancestors, Week 3- Sir John de Mildenhall b. 1270

~52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks~

~Week 3~

Recently, I've started watching the show "The Tutors" on Netflix and am loving it! This got me to thinking of my past relatives who have worked with royalty. 

So, this week, I'm writing about Sir John de Mildenhall, my 23rd great-grandfather and his two sons. 

I know that John was born about 1270 in Wiltshire, England, but other vital statistics are unknown. He was the son of Ralph de Mildenhall (b. 1240) and he had at least 2 sons: 

1. Thomas de Mildenhall, b. 1300

2. Robert de Mildenhall, b. 1302

As far as his work with royalty, I do have some facts, all pertaining to his work with Edward III, King of England:

~ 1313- (age 43)- John and his brother Geoffrey accompanied the King to "For-eign parts beyond the sea".

~ 1326- (age 58)- Letters of protection and attorney were issued to magistrate John de Mildenhall to accompany the king. Sir John traveled as a farrier to King Edward III on his trips to France.

~ 1330- (age 60)- The king confirmed to John de Mildenhall, fifty-eight and a half acres of land in consideration of 19 shillings 6 pence per annum. 

Of John's two sons that I know of, his eldest son was Thomas de Mildenhall, my 22nd great-grandfather. Thomas was born about 1300 in England. but many facts about him are unknown, but Thomas had at least 3 sons: 

1. Edward De Mildenhall b. 1330

2. John Mildenhall b. 1340

3. Robert Mildenale b. 1342

~1339- (age 39)- Thomas received letters of protection to accompany Queen Philippa into France. Queen Philippa was Philippa of Hainault, wife of Edward III, King of England. 

John's second son was Robert de Mildenhall, b. about 1302 in England. Robert was my 23rd great-uncle and had quite an extensive life. I don't think he had a wife or any children.

~1328- (age 26)- Master of Michaelhouse (part of Cambridge University)

~1334- (age 32)- Chancellor of Cambridge University

~1338- (age 36)- Master of Peterhouse (part of Cambridge University)

~1341- (age 39)- Service to the King- Robert was the King's keeper of the Jewels, directed by the king to deliver two chests of ornaments to be taken to Calais for the service of the chapel on the ensuing Feast of Easter.

~1347- (age 45)- Service to the King- The King issued a warrant for the delivery of 200 bows and 400 quivers of arrows to Robert, Chaplain of the King, for the service of the French war.
~1351- age 49)- Service to the King- The King issued a warrant for 440 quivers of arrows for service of the tower. 

(I did a separate blog post on Robert last time I did 52 ancestors- you can read it Here). 

52 Ancestors, Week 2- Jane Lathrop (1828-1905)

~52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks~

~Week 2~

Good Morning! This week I am writing about my 5^th cousin, 6x removed, Jane Elizabeth Lathrop Stanford.

I decided to write about Jane because up until today, I didn’t know I was related to her. This weekend, my friend Krystle and I went on a tour of the Leland Stanford Mansion here in Sacramento, California. The mansion is located at 800 N St.; built in 1857. During the tour, we learned about Leland Stanford and his wife Jane Lathrop. I knew the surname Lathrop sounded very familiar and knew the name was in my tree so this morning, I researched it and found out that I already had Jane’s 3^rd great grandfather in my tree!

Jane Elizabeth Lathrop was born on 28 Aug 1828 in Albany, New York to Dyer Lathrop (1788-1855) and Jane Ann Shields (1803-1882). She married Leland Stanford (1824-1893) on 30 Sep 1850 and they didn’t have their first (and only child) until she was 39 years old. Leland Jr. was born on 18 May 1868. He died at the age of 15 while on a trip to Europe with his parents after catching Typhoid Fever. His parents were devastated and used the money they were going to use to educate him to build something in his memory- Stanford University. According to the Leland Stanford Mansion tour, Jane funded and operated the university (even student’s tuitions) up until her death.

Leland Stanford and Jane on their wedding day- don't they look happy! LOL :) 

 Leland, Jane and Leland Jr. (age 15)

leland Jr. 

Jane died at the age of 76 on Feb 28, 1905. Jane’s death is a mysterious one and is considered a murder case since she was poisoned from Strychnine. Earlier that year, she suspected she was poisoned a different time because her drink tasted odd…she made herself vomit and had the drink analyzed and it had in fact been poisoned with the same ingredient that would later end her life.