HANNAH

Teresa Martin Klaiber Feb. 2020

Everyone begins their genealogy journey with a simple lined chart.  My journey started, as a child, when mother shared my baby book. The very first page was the chart, which she had filled out, showing three generations.  By the time I was married my chart was a bit longer, filled with names and dates.  Those blank lines can be addicting, like adding puzzle pieces, but something is still missing; the heart of the people, their story.

Blogs, in today’s world, give me a chance to write the stories I learned along my genealogical journey.  After all we are a combination of who came before us. We are honoring their memory.  We should celebrate their accomplishments and learn from their errors.

As I write, today, it is drizzling, similar to the day I visited Hannah Collins Clayton.  We were driving from someplace to someplace when I realized it would be just a short side trip to Smith Cemetery in Wesley Township, Washington County, Ohio.  Hubby nodded and I swear I heard a groan and felt rolling eyes from the backseat gallery of sons, who were forced to visit many cemeteries as they grew up.

The cold granite stone stood tall among many, honoring Hannah and husband Alexander Clayton.  The symbolic drapery is said to be the veil between life and death graces their stone adding elegant dignity.  As I stood in the drizzle, I thought about how they had laughed, made mistakes, lived lives with all its up’s and down’s.  I promised to learn more about Hannah’s story.

Hannah has not been a common given name in our direct family.   Hannah which means favour or grace.  Recently another Hannah graced us with our fifth grandbaby which drew me back to my 3^rd great grandmother.  Hannah born 6 August 1802 in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania who died 17 June 1883 in Bartlett, Wesley township, Washington County, Ohio.

Hannah Collins married Alexander Clayton (s/o John Calvin Clayton). They both grew up in Perry County, Ohio, attending Unity Presbyterian Church.  I located their marriage 3 May 1832.[i]  I was a bit surprised to realize she did not marry until she was 29 years old. 

Hannah’s father died either shortly before their marriage or immediately following.[ii], She appears with her married name on partition records for Benjamin Collins, just four months after her marriage to Alexander.  Maybe she had been his caregiver?

Through the wonderful network of genealogists, a letter copied by B. F. Carroll, surfaced and was shared which sheds some light about Hannah W. Collin’s as both a caregiver and her late marriage to Alexander Clayton.

Elizabeth Carroll Hayden wrote me in February 2002: "I found a 2nd manuscript written by my great grandfather [B. F. Carroll] .... He also copied a letter she had written to family back in Pennsylvania. It was written to her cousin John McAlister[iii]...."

"Respected Friends: - I embrace the present opportunity of informing you that I am in a reasonable state of health at the present, for which I have reason to be thankful. It is a long time since I have heard anything from you or any of our friends in that part of the country and I know but little of the situation of my friends and therefore have but little to write.

My brother and sisters are or have been all married and left me alone with my father and mother, who are now old and frail. Sister Jane is a widow with five sons who live with her and manage the farm. James has three living and two dead. Sally has three living and three dead. Polly had three living and one dead. Remember me to my friends in that county. especially to your son Hugh as I can remember more about him than any of the rest. I wish you would write to us and let us know how you are coming on and our friends generally in that country, and invite Stephen George if you have an opportunity to write us.

No more at present
Your affectionate friend
[signed] Hannah W. Collins

As I continue to write the drizzle has now turned to rain and the story is not the one I had hoped to write.  Hannah has seen much grief with the death of six nephews and nieces and a brother-in-law, along with being left as care giver for her failing parents.

With Hannah’s information, even though the letter was undated, knowing that Jane’s husband, Thomas Beard died circa 1826 we can surmise the approximate time Hannah sat down to write.  Benjamin Collins, Hannah’s father, does not appear on the 1830 census and it is believed he died about 1829-30.  Thus, the letter was written between 1826 and 1829/30. 

The records of Unity Presbyterian Church state Hannah’s mother, Mary Collins, was deceased by 1 April 1835.  She is believed to be the elderly female listed in David Carroll’s household in 1830.  David Carroll had married Hannah’s sister Elizabeth. Another sister had married Thomas Carroll.  Thus, if Hannah acted as a caregiver, by 1830, she had some relief and help.

Meanwhile, Alexander Clayton had purchased 60 acres of land in adjoining Morgan County in 1825 from Moses Goodin,(s/o Moses Goodin, who had married Alexander’s grandmother Mary, after the death of grandfather Thomas Clayton). About the same time, Alexander’s father sold Moses Goodin land in Clayton township. Alexander lost money when he sold the property in Deerfield Township, Morgan County, two years later.   Within three months, January 1828 he partnered with John Huston for a town lot in New Lexington.  He sold his undivided half the next year for $400.00 to Joseph R. Thomas of Putnam, Muskingum County, Ohio.[iv]  He now was doing better and had enough to support Hannah who he married in May 1832.

After their marriage Hannah became pregnant, already 33 years old, and had her first child, Elizabeth 5 June 1835 in Perry County.   Shortly after, the Clayton’s packed up and moved to Washington County, Ohio.

They already had family residing in Washington County.  Alexander’s great uncle Joseph Clayton had died 7 May 1829 and was buried in Smith Cemetery, Wesley Township.  Alexander’s great aunt by marriage would be laid to rest in Smith Cemetery when she died in May 1840.

Alexander and Hannah Collins Clayton resided near Plymouth and Bartlett in Wesley Township where she, as his wife, signed several deed transactions as Hannah W. Clayton.  Alexander farmed, she kept house and gave birth to three more children, all sons: David Elzy Clayton 17 Jul 1837, James Allen Clayton 4 Feb 1840 and Isaac Calvin Clayton 17 April 1843.  Hannah was 41 years old when baby Isaac was born, dubbing him a “late in life” child.

Could Hannah Collins Clayton be gripped with yet more death and sadness?  Yes.  Her brother James Collins died 7 January 1849 in Logan County, Ohio, just 55 years old.  Sister Jane Collins Beard would follow him to the grave 20 July 1850, in Perry County.

Where does a woman find strength, except in God, when it storms around her? The cloak of death would again touch Hannah.  This time with more heartbreak. Daughter, Elizabeth died at the age of 18[v] and was also laid to rest in Smith Cemetery in 1853.   

I am sure she was still mourning when news reached her that sister Mary Collins Pugh had died in Van Buren County, Iowa 14 November 1859 followed by the shock that sister Anne Collins Carroll had died the 28^th of the same month in New Lexington, Ohio.  In fact I wonder if she might not have known about Anne’s death before finding out about Mary.

In her late 50’s, the Civil War would touch their lives. All three of her son’s volunteered to serve the Union cause.  David Elzy saw service in Company G of the 92^nd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry.  James Allen joined Company D of the 148^th as did Isaac Calvin Clayton.  Not all was gloom.   In January 1865 they celebrated the marriage of youngest son, Isaac Calvin Clayton to Anna Jane Graham in Wesley Township. Three months later they travelled to Morgan County 11 April 1865 for the marriage of James Allen Clayton to Sarah J Ellis.  On the road again they travelled to New Lexington for the wedding of David Elzy Clayton to Harriett Griffith 27 February 1866.

Knowing their sons were safe after the war she enjoyed the birth of 16 grandchildren. As a grandmother, myself, I know it is the ultimate joy in life and it comforts me to know Hannah found joy after facing so many deaths in her lifetime.  I wonder if she thought about the footprint she would be leaving for her descendants. Would she leave a little of the fortitude of endurance during the sad occasions that happen in life?   She would have one last death to face before facing her own demise.  Her steadfast, providing, husband, Alexander died 12 April 1879 and was laid to rest in Smith Cemetery.  Hannah’s death would follow four years later on 17 June 1883.

Hannah W. Collins Clayton was the youngest of seven known children of Benjamin Collins and wife Mary McAlister Collins.  Born 6 August 1802 in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania she would also be considered a “late in life” baby.  Her father was an Ensign in the  2^nd Lost Creek regiment of the militia in Mifflin County.[vi]   Hannah was around eight years old when they migrated from Mifflin County to Perry County, Ohio.  I hope that she enjoyed a happy, carefree childhood, as all children should.  The Stephen George[vii] mentioned in her letter, was a teacher, circa 1810, on Lost Creek about 1 ½ miles from McAllisterville.  It is easy to visualize him teaching Hannah her letters.

She was the granddaughter of Hugh McAlister born in Ireland circa 1731 who settled in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and became a prominent pioneer in the Lost Creek Valley of Cumberland County, now Juanita County.  Hugh enlisted in the French & Indian Wars at the age of 22.  He was at Fort Duquesne in 1755, the year after it was built.  Today we know the area as Pittsburgh. 

The next time I visit Hannah Collins Clayton, I will understand that she is at peace among those that went before her.  That above all she honored those she loved.

A Fallen Limb

A limb has fallen from the family tree.
I keep hearing a voice that says,
“Grieve not for me.
Remember the best times,
the laughter, the song.
The good life I lived
while I was strong.
Continue my heritage,
I’m counting on you.
Keep smiling and surely
the sun will shine through.
My mind is at ease,
my soul is at rest.
Remembering all,
how I truly was blessed.
Continue traditions,
no matter how small.
Go on with your life,
don’t worry about falls.
I miss you all dearly,
so keep up your chin.
Until the day comes
we’re together again.”
– Author Unknown

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[i] Ohio, Perry Mbk 1 p 134

[ii] Ohio, Perry dbk E p 224

[iii] John McAllister, John McAlister, William McAllister and Stephen George all appear on the same p. Fermanagh twp., Mifflin County, PA 1820

[iv] Ohio, Perry dbk D 196 & D 199

[v] 7 Jun 1853

[vi] Thomas Lynch Montgomery, Pennsylvania Archives Sixth Series (N.p.: Department of Public Instruction, 1907), Volume V page 400.

[vii] History of that part of Susquehanna & Juaniata Valley…p. 841