Thanks for inviting me! One of the class series I'm teaching this year at BYU-I Education Week is about genealogy, so I'll have to let everyone know about this site!

It's Jim to my friends...

My ancestors only go back as far as my brick wall at 1804 in Barbados, I first found Minifred Lynch baptising herself and her child Peter. I have discovered with some certainty that my "patriarch" was Hamlet Mayers Lynch, of Barbados, who was described as a "Free Mulatto" and was probably the manumitted slave (or fully paid-up indentured servant) of some rich merchant in Bridgetown, Barbados.

Minifred (also recorded as Menifred) was "described" as a "Free Negro Woman".

I should mention that in those days most people could not read read or write, and those who kept the records could write down anything they wanted, in descriptions or names. People were "described", and it was the custom to only "describe" people as white if they were both white and English... everyone else - Irish, Portugese, and probably anyone with an olive skin - was subject to being "described" as anything from negro to mulatto.

I do not say this to shirk the descriptions of my own ancestors... I accept what was. But this is something that must be explained, because until about 1835 there were probably millions of erroneous "descriptions" due solely to English arrogance.

Anyway, according to what I have been able to read, there was an existing Lynch family in Barbados at that time, Christian names Dominick and Anthony, who had a thriving import and plantation supply business, but it appears to have either died out or emigrated to other place - given the migration possibilities of the day that could be anywhere from the north american colonies or to Australasia (or somewhere else).

Some research uncovered a couple of wills in Barbados recently - those of "patriarch" Hamlet and his son John Richard from whom we are all descended - but they do muddy the waters a bit ,more instead of clarifying, because the.persons mentioned in the wills do not exactly match.

I started the Caribbean Surname Index to help others, but also to help myself. If there was indeed a Hamlet Mayers Lynch who was an indentured servant from Ireland there may possiblty be someone looking for him - and my resource would be there waiting.

HTH...

Best,
Jim

Ooh fun! Thanks for the tip! I always appreciate tips, since I'm generally pretty new to groups like this! I'll give it a go! Thanks Candace!

What counties are those? My mother's side came from County Donegal.

My forefathers came to colonies in 1637 from England. By 1800 they migrated south to New York and from there west to Ohio, Michigan and finally to Illinois. From there my great grandfather Married and went west to Kansas then back to Illinois for a few years then back to Kansas. One of his cousins homesteaded next to him in Kansas. After a few years the cousin went north into Nebraska. I was born and raised in Nebraska. The family then moved west into Wyoming and then to the west coast.

I live in Indiana having moved from Nebraska in 1956.

I too spend a fair amount of time on family history. It is fascinating. I have been to the area where my Great Great grandfather lived in Illinois. My Great grandfather Fread was born in Indiana about three hours drive from here. I have not visited the area yet.

Very glad to know you If I can assist yuou in your genealogy please ask.

LeRoy Eaton

Thanks, Candace! I love genealogy & need to get going alot more than I have this year. Had some amazing experiences already. It's addicting when you get into it!

Yes, I would love to go and do the research myself! I wish my husband's job took him that way instead of Okinawa!!

This is great fun. I'll have to do a search when I have lots more time.

Hi Candace,
M y maiden name was Wells. My gg granfather, Andrew Jackson Wells I owned a 6000 acre plantation and when he came home from the wa r, he was forced to sell it all, including all b ut 2 of his 100 slaves. Those two, a man and woman, were married an d took on Andrew's surname. I hav e the info where they are buried in Texas, but not sure if we can do their work with this surname. Do you know?

It is possible that my relatives may have been in the area of Montrose Iowa There were two or three of y great grandfathers brothers who moved to Iowa. I will attach some onformation from my grandfathers estate prpbate. Hope it helps.



Dyer Reference Note: AAAAAJ

LEE COUNTY TIMES
PAW PAW, ILLINOIS FRIDAY FEBRUARY 22, 1895
Rollo
The news came to us, from Iowa Tues. morning of the death of Dyre Eaton, an old resident of this town.
From Mrs. Joan S. Keough


EATON ANCESTRY
DYER EATON was born 29 June 1802 at Richfield, Otsego, NY. He passed away 18 February 1895 near Covington, Iowa, while in visiting his daughter, Cordelia.

Dyer Eaton married Emeline Clark 4 April 1830. Emeline Clark, daughter of L. L. and Rosanna (Rich) Clark, was born 18 September 1812 in New York. She died 21 January 1875 at LaClaire, Illinois, aged 63 years.
Dyer Eaton was a shoemaker and tanner of hide. He told his qranddaughter, Jessie Coffey, it took three years to make good sole leather. In Ohio the Eaton family resided beside a stream of water, possibly the Rocky River, because Dyer Eaton had to have water for his vats in which the hides soaked. According to his granddaughter, he and his brother, Willard would drive to Rockport for a load of white fish for the hogs on their farm. The exact site of the farm may be narrowed to the area between Cleveland and Oberlin, beside a steam, with short access to Rockport which was located on the stream.
About 1849 the Eaton family journeyed further west to Hillsdale County, Michigan, near Allen. Then in 1852 Dyer Eaton and his family accompanied his daughter, Adelaide, and her husband to Illinois, settling near LaClaire, Illinois. Acquiring an 80 acre homestead on 17 May 1952, in Paw Paw Twp., the Eaton's remained there for the duration of their lives.
Dyer Eaton lived to be 91. He was of a short, stocky build and quite spry all his life. During his later years he lived on his farm in Illinois with his son, George. On occasion he would journey to Linn County, Iowa, to visit his daughters, Adelaide, Cordelia, and Rosanna. During one of these visits with Rosanna Lafler, Dyer Eaton lost his eye sight. Hosea Lafler, Rosanna's husband, was building a new barn and in getting timbers to fit had hewed off chips. It was hot and the sun was shining brightly, but Dyer Eaton insisted on picking up the wood chips. Probably his eyes were not too strong anyway and the bright sunlight on the chips was too much for them as he lost his sight that day.
Because he had lost his eyesight, to facilitate outdoor movements, his children established a guide wire system he could follow. While visiting with Delia's family, during a trip to the outdoor closet, he had a stroke which claimed his life. According to his granddaughter, even with his handicap of blindness, she remembered him as always a cheerful person.

Dyer Eaton's estate is recorded in Linn County, Iowa, #2402.

CHILDREN: (all. born near Rockport, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, except last two)

i. Polly Rosanna Eaton, born 28 November 1831, d. in Covington IOWA; married Hosea Lafler, born 28 November 1831, in Ohio; d. 21 December 1895 at Covington IOWA.

ii.Edwin Lewis Eaton, born 4 June 1833, d. 14 August 1834, Rockport OH.

iii. ALBERTINA ADELAIDE EATON, born 19 February 1835. (SEE: Cp. 1)

iv. Cordelia Ann Eaton, born 12 December 1836, d. in 1921, Covington IOWA. Married 3 October 1858 in DeKalb County ILLINOIS, Theodore Spencer, s/o Hiram & Luanda, born 22 July 1835, Orleans County NY, d. in 1902. Moved at an early age with his parents to Cuyohoga County OH, then on to Dekalb County ILLINOIS by age nine. He was a carpenter by trade. He served in the Civil War, enlisting September 1862, DeKalb, County K/W. 75th ILLINOIS Vol. Inf. fought at Perryville KY, near Danville, where he was severely wounded on 8 October 1862. Was discharged because of his disability in December. Moved. to Linn County IOWA the fall of 1863, Lived in Clinton TWP until 1870 when the Spencer's moved to California, only to return to Linn County two years later, settling permanently near Cedar Rapids and was farming an 80 acre place worth $2000 by 1878.

v. Charles Nelson Eaton, born 24 October 1838, d. 22 June 1909, Harris, Linn County IOWA, burried Blairsburg Cemetery; married in 1965, Julia E. Hallock of Lee County IL who was born 27 April 1844, Wyoming, Lee County, IL; died 18 May 1923, Hamilton County IOWA.
Charles was a farmer, stock raiser in Williams Twp, Hamilton County IOWA. Grew to manhood in Paw Paw, DeKalb County IL and was living. there at the outbreak of the Civil War. Enlisted 26 August 1861 in Company D, 34th Illinois. Infantry. Participated in the battles of Munfordville, Shiloh, Corinth, siege and capture of Atlanta, and Sherman's March to the Sea, through the Carolinas, to Washington, D.C. where he was in line at the grand review of the army. He served three years, one month and 22 days and was a brave and gallant soldier. He was discharged at Louisville KY and returned to his home in DeKalb County. Moved to Hamilton County, IOWA in 1875, located on a farm which he improved until the Eaton farm was one of the best in the township. It contained 164 acres of good land, and his building improvements were comfortable and commodious. Moved to Blairsburg in 1895.
In politics, C.N. Eaton was Republican. He represented his TWP and held several public positions. Became a member of the County Board of Supervisors in 1887; charter member of Cassin,s Fairchild Post #431, GAR and Silver Link Lodge #458,.

vi. Orson Mortimer Eaton, born 19 July 1840; married 4 February 1863, Cedar Rapids, IOWA, Jane Spencer, moved. to Alpena, SD 1895.

vii. Oscar Lee Eaton, born 29 March 1842; d. 19 August 1849 at Allen MI.

viii. Clark W. Eaton, born 9 January 1844; moved. to Beatrice NB 1895. CivI War D 53 Illinois. Inf.

ix. Hazard C. Eaton, born 18 December 1846, d. 18 February 1924, apoplexy, at Whittier IOWA, burried Springville, IOWA; married 29 May 1873, Marion IOWA, Emma C. Greeg who was born 26 January 1857, Middle Twp, Herdrick IN, d. 17 December 1893 Linn County IOWA. Civil War Company B &I 4 and I 12 Illinois Cav., Discharged 21 December 1865, NOLA. Returned to DeKalb County for two more years. Then moved to Linn County IOWA for five years, to Hamilton County for 10 years, back to Linn County for 6 years, down to Cherry County NE for a year before returning to Linn County.

x. Fancy Mariley Eaton, born 4 December 1848; married LaVerne Cade, lived at Williams IOWA 1895.

xi. George W. Eaton, born 27 September 1850 at Allen MI; d. 3 July 1894, Paw Paw ILLINOIS; married Francis, born Michigan 1851. RES: on Eaton homestead Farm. Interred at South Paw Paw Cemetery


From Jacks information
Dyer Eaton
Born in Chenango County New York in the city of De Ruyter
Moved to Illinois December 30, 1851, Paw Paw township, City of LaClair
Bought farm in Section 20, Township 37, Range 3 East; P.O. LaClair from Alfred W. Burch on May 17, 1852 for $200.00 the North 1/2 / North East 1/4 of Section 20,37-3-BK11 page 543.

Dyer Eaton sold to George W. Eaton on February 10, 1893 for $4000 dollars. the North 1/2 / North East 1/4 of Section 20,37-3-BK11 page 543.

He was a Republican, a Baptist. Dyer owns 80 acres of land, value $4000; personal property $1000.

Wife was Emeline Clark, born in Wooster, Ohio, September 18, 1812; died January 21, 1875 at aged 63 years and three months; Married April 4, 1832; has twelve children, nine living and three dead; Seven boys and five girls.

Dyer moved to Allen, Hillsdale County Michigan in 1849 lured by the promise of cheap land. The family remained there until 1851 then moved to LaClair, Dekalb County, Illinois. His farm was in what is now Lee County, Wyoming Township near Rollo, Illinois. (added 4/29/99)


From Helen Lindhorst Aug 2002

Yesterday morning the remains of Dyer Eaton, who died at Covington,
were shipped over the Northwestern railway to Paw Paw, Ills., for interment.

I wasn't really looking for the Dyer Eaton item, but happened to notice
the microfilm sent by Iowa covered that period so I thought it wouldn't hurt to look. I checked the Lee County Times, Paw Paw's newspaper, but only found that short comment "The news came to us, from Iowa Tues. morning of the death of Dyre Eaton, an old resident of this town." I thought they might have an obit for Dyer, but couldn't find one in the month after his death. It was just by luck that I noticed the above in the Cedar Rapids paper. I had ordered those microfilm to see if I could find an obit for Hosea Lafler, which I did as you can see above.

I have a lot of fun reading old newspapers and finding these tidbits about our family members; but at the same time can be so frustrating when I can't find anything. By the start of the 20th century, you can usually find a well written obituary of which I have numerous about family members, especially the Burgesses.

I sent off today for the 1875 years for the Lee County News to see if I
can't find something about Emeline (Clark) Eaton's death. I also have a
request in for the DeKalb County News to see if Emeline might be in there.

Another request is for the C.R. Gazette to see if I can't find Theodore
Spencer. Whenever, I have read the C.R. papers of his period, I look in the ads to see if he has one for his photography. I don't know if he worked out of his home or had a studio, but do know he did professional photography because I have some taken when Emma Burgess was back there visiting with her boys.

Dyer Eaton moved from Michigan to Illinois in about 1850. His farm was located near Rollo Illinois and both he and his wife Emoline are interred in the South Paw Paw cemetery. There is a very good possibility of a connection between the families. Some of the sons stayed in the northern tier of states and some went south to Texas. I have been working with a lady in Illinois who is trying to locate her family. Her Eaton's came to Illinois in the early 1800's and located n the Robinson/Palestine area. They migrated south through Missouri to Texas. I have hit a road block on her side at a William b. 1750 in North Carolina.

LeRoy