Sarah Friend, wife of Robert Wilson

[daveseibert]

Dear Pat Thompson, Found on the Latter-Day Saints website and wondered if this might check out, know someone has submitted this info. This is in hopes that it might be a lead to my connection. First part seems correct as far as the dates, location, don't know. Sarah Friend, birth about 1753, of Darlington, Franklin, Pennsylvania and marriage to Robert Wilson in 1784.

Family Group Record:
John Levis Friend------no dates
Wife: Karrenhapuck Hyatt-----no dates
Children: 1. Sarah Friend, birth 1753 Pennsylvania, death Ohio, ( know thats incorrect ).
2. Charles Friend, birth 1761 Sang Run, Garrett, Maryland, death 1834 Missouri.

Hope someone has run across this branch of the family. Many thanks for input and help. Sincerely, Dave Seibert.

[Pat (Friend) Thompson]

Dave,
The Charles Friend 1761-1834 is my 4th great Grandfather. He was the son of John Friend, Sr. of Friendsville (you might heard John referred to as Old John. There were just too many John Friends in MD, thus the affectionate nickname; he was grandfather to many of us from MD).

So, exactly what are you looking at here to make a connection to Sarah or Charles?

Sarah, daughter of John Friend, Sr. and sister to Charles Friend - I have that she was probably born near the Cacapon River, Hampshire Co. (then) VA. m. Henry DeWitt and move to Ohio abt. 1816-1818 (the year without corn).

Tell me more (if you have it) and I will try to help. I have already checked my personal files and I don't have a Sarah Friend m. Robert Wilson but that certainly doesn't mean that they can't be found.

[daveseibert]

Dear Pat Thompson, I'm just trying to locate the parents of Sarah Friend who married Robert Wilson of Franklin Co., Pa. Robert Wilson was born 1738, possibly in Northumberland Co., Pa., because in 1776 that is the county where he mustered into the Company of Hawkins Boone for service in the Rev. War., under Col. William Cook's Pa. Regt. Robert Wilson was discharged from military service in Trenton, N.J. in Jan. 1781. We have that Robert Wilson married Sarah Friend in 1784 in Path Valley, Franklin Co., Pa. They were listed in the 1790 census as residence of Franklin Co., Pa. and in the 1800 census the family was listed in South Beaver Twp., Beaver Co., Pa. Robert and Sarah had eleven children. They were listed in the 1804 tax list for South Beaver Twp., Beaver Co., Pa. as having 300 acres and 1 cow. Children of Robert and Sarah Friend Wilson were, viz: Ann, Elizabeth, Hannah, James, Joseph, Margaret, Nancy, Polly, Samuel, Robert Jr., and Esther. Hope this info might help. Thanks again for your help and interest. Dave Seibert.

[Pat (Friend) Thompson]

Dave, I tried searching for Robert and Sarah Friend Wilson and soon discovered that Wilson in PA, during this time period is like searching for the SMITH name.

Pennyslvania has limited information online and that is my only resource to do any searching in PA.

Do you know if Franklin Co. PA has a Historical Society? If so, do you think they could help you. I imagine you have already gone that route.

It seems possible that whoever posted the incorrect information (in you May 11 post) may have found Sarah since they list her birth date as 1753 in PA. Is there any way for you to contact that person? Of course they went off on the wrong path when they attached her to John Friend, Sr. of Friendsville, MD.

[Pat (Friend) Thompson]

Dave, I am still thinking of possible ways for you to find information for Sarah Friend and Robert Wilson. Do you have information for their children; i.e. spouses, DOB & DOD, where they are buried?

If you can determine that some of the children might have stayed in the area of Beaver Co., PA, I thought you might be able to work through burial sites and then through church records to see if you could locate further information.

It sounds like you have exhausted the search of documents such as tax and census records so I think this might be the only avenue left open to you.

[Pat (Friend) Thompson]

Dave, I found this old post (1997) on Rootsweb.com. This person seems to know your family (hope it isn't old news to you).

Looking for info on this Robert Wilson b. abt 1749 in Northumberland, m.
abt 1790 in Path Valley to Sarah Friend. They moved to Darlington, Beaver
Co. PA about 1795 where they had : James, Margaret, Hannah, Joseph, Nancy,
Polly, Robert, Ann, Samuel b. abt 1803, Elizabeth and Esther, the youngest
b. 1807, all in Darlington.

Sarah Friend Wilson became a pensioner at her husband's death in 1824, and
drew a pension of $8.00 per month until her death in 1839.

My Samuel Wilson was born 20 Nov 1802 in Darlington, Beaver Co. PA. I am
trying to establish if this Robert Wilson and Sarah Friend are his parents.
Is it possible that some out there is researching this family, might have a
WILL of Robert or something to establish him as Sam's father???

Robert served in Northumberland Co. PA in Oct 1776 and served in Capt.
Hawkins Boone's Co. Col. William Cooke's Regt: he was in the battles of
Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth and serveral skirmishes. He was discharge
in January 1781 at Trenton.
Hope to hear from someone!
Gayle
[e-mail]

[daveseibert]

Dear Pat, No, haven't seen the 1997 post on Rootsweb, but am concerned about some of the dates. First let me say that the Will of Robert Wilson only mentions, his wife, Sarah and two sons, Robert and my Samuel. Also in the pension application for Robert Wilson, it only mentions his wife, Sarah. Now it was the pension application of Sarah Friend Wilson that gives the names of their children for a widow's pension. Now for dates of children, am limited, used 1850 census for my Samuel, he is listed as 61 yrs. and used 1860 census for Samuel, he is listed as 72 yrs., making him being born in 1788 or 1789. Samuel Wilson's Will was proven 19 Sept. 1861. Only have dates of birth first for Robert Jr. in 1797 and Esther Wilson born in 1805. Will do as you suggest and try to find out more info on other branches. Many thanks. Dave Seibert

[Pat (Friend) Thompson]

Hi Dave,
Today my cousin stopped by and was showing me items available through her new subscription to Footnotes.com. Because I am not a subscriber I could not save any images on my computer nor could I email you copies, so I did the next best thing available to me; I transcribed some of what I found.


it seems you were preceded in your search for Sarah Friend by Thomas McClelland (below). I did note that he mentions in one letter the possibility of Sarah’s name being FRENN.

I hope there is some new information enclosed that might assist you with your search. It appears there was a Revolutionary pension paid to Sarah ($8.00 per month) and the documents do give Robert’s units but I am not sure if there would be any information in the full records for Robert that would indicate who Sarah’s parents were. It is so difficult to trace the woman’s lineage but I hope you do succeed in finding her family.

Regards,
Patty-Friend-Thompson

Re: Revolutionary War Pensioner
Office of
Thomas S. McClelland
Counsellor at Law
?? Clark Street
Chicago
January 28th 1895

Honorable, The Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D. C.
Sir:
One Robert Wilson, sailer [sic]from Belfast, Ireland, in 1775, and landed at Philadelphia, PA in same year, entered the army (Pennsylvania Line) and served under Washington to close of Revolution 1785. Married Sarah Friend in the Path Valley PA, probably in 1784 or 5 and migrated to Beaver Co, PA and had born to them James, Margaret, Hannah, Joseph, Nancy, Polly, Robert, Ann, Samuel, Elizabeth and Esther, this youngest, who was born in 1807, all born at Darlington, Beaver Co., PA. These are all the present know. details I have identifying Robert Wilson, first above noted. I desire information touching the Military Service & etc. of Robt. Wilson, and am advised that the records of your office may furnish required information, i.e. if this Robert Wilson ever applied for or was granted a pension. The Revolutionary records of the War Dept. do not yet seem to be in such condition as to be available for procuring information.
I will be under obligations for an answer.
Respectfully,
Thomas S. McClelland

[p.a.t. Typed as written with underlines and exclamation marks]
Thomas S. McClelland
Counsellor at Law
161 Randolph Street
Chicago
March 22, 1907

Hon. John C. Black
United States Civil Service Commission
Washington D C
Dear General

I want to find out something about my “grandmother”. She is dead. If she were alive I might go to her and find out all I want, but she is dead, rest her soul!

That good old lady died in 1839. From about 1827, when her husband died, she drew a pension.

Her husband was Robert Wilson, a soldier in the Revolution from in Oct. 1776 to the Spring of 1781 in 3d and 12th Penn. Line. He died in 1824 in Beaver Co. Penn.
His widow-Sarah (Friend) Wilson drew a pension from his death until her own in 1839. She also died in Beaver Co. Penn.

I want such data, copies of papers, etc. as can be found in the Pension Office relating to Sarah (Friend) Wilson, widow of Robert Wilson.

Quite a while ago I wrote the Pension office, Bureau of Revolutionary Pensions, but rec’d no answer. Some years ago Gen’l Rinsworth- I think- sent me data re: Robert Wilson.

I fear I am trespassing upon the Dept. If you should happen in the Office of Revolutionary Pensions, would you oblige me by asking the Chief if the office contains information I want. I’ll appreciate the courtesy. I hope you are well and happy.
Sincerely yours,
Thomas S. McClelland


Thomas S. McClelland
Counsellor at Law
161 Randolph Street
Chicago March 9, 1907
[p.a.t.-note: it appears Thomas wrote this before writing to his friend in D. C. asking for help finding records.]

Commissioner of Pensions
Department of the Interior
Washington, D.C.

Sir:
Robert Wilson, Private in 12th and 3rd Penn. Line from Oct. 1776 to Feby 1781, Capt. Boon, Col. Wm. Cook, died Oct. 2, 1824. Lived at Darlington (Greenburg) Beaver Co. Penn and received a pension & etc. as per data furnished me from your office in Dec. 1904.

I am advised that Robert Wilson’s widow, Sarah (Friend) Wilson or Sarah (Frenn) Wilson, became a pensioner at the death of her husband –Robert Wilson- and continued to draw $8.00 per month until her death in spring of 1839, when she died.

I would appreciate copies of any papers on file on which a Pension to Sarah was based, and any other information contained in your office regarding her or her family, death etc..

Respectfully,
Thomas S. McClelland

Everything I found was in letters from Thomas McClelland - have you connected him to your tree as a relative?