Seth Perkins Staples - Yale Law School Founder

On the 31 of August 1776 Seth Perkins Staples was born. He was one of 11 children born to John and Susanna Staples. They lived in Canterbury, Windham County, Connecticut. He is my 4th Great Grandfather. 

            Seth Perkins Staples painted by Jared Bradley Flagg

He attended Yale University and while there he was elected into Phi Beta Kappa. He also belonged to the Society of Brothers in Unity and graduated Yale in 1797 with honors. 

He was soon after graduation practicing law in Connecticut. In 1799 he married Catherine Wales and they had seven children. In 1800 Grandfather Seth ordered a very complete and extensive collection of law books. Many young men came to his law firm to learn, study and educate themselves on law using these books. Before he realized it he was teaching law and at the head of a very respectable Law School. 

By the mid 1820s Yale took an interest in the New Haven Law School and became affiliated with the school. In 1843 students of the school graduated with degrees from Yale. The Yale Law School shield is divided into three quadrants. The bottom right being black with silver staples. These are to honor Grandfather Seth Perkins Staples. 

By 1824 he was living in New York with a thriving law practice. He was so accomplished that in 1839 he was chosen as one of the attorneys actively involved in the case of the Amistad representing the defendants. 

On 5 August 1850 Seth's daughter Frances Ann Staples Comstock passed away. On 26 November 1855 her husband David Augustus Comstock passed away. They had 4 small children 3 of them came to live with Grandfather Seth while the youngest Lilian went to live with an Uncle.

On 6 November 1861 grandfather Seth Perkins Staples passed away. 

John Hales Ayres - Guard Duty

On 17 June 1842 Jame Ayres  appeared before a Justice of the Peace to obtain a benefit of a provision Congress set in motion on 4 July 1836. She was entitled to a small pension because her husband, John Hales Ayres had served as a Private in the War of Independence. 

He entered service as a Private in 1781 under Captain Robert Cary. All men in service were called to the courthouse in Buckingham, Virginia by Captain Carey  He was to serve for three months on a march to the "South".

That march led them to Greensboro, Guilford County, North Carolina where he was immersed in the Battle of Guilford Court House on 15 March 1781.

A few months after his return from the "South" he was marched to Eastern Virginia and participated in the Battle at Little York. He was then marched to Winchester Virginia where he had the duty of guarding prisoners that were barracked there. 

John is my 4th Great Grandfather born about 1740 in Buckingham County, Virginia and the son of Matthias and Elizabeth Ayres. He had 4 brothers and a sister.

In 1777 he married Jane Sallee and soon after  each of their 10 children made a random appearance.
Magdalene
Nancy
Edmund
Sarah
Elizabeth
Susannah
Patsy
John
James
Olive

In November of 1828 Great Grandfather John Hales Ayres passed away.

Samuel Bliss - Rum Runner

Samuel Bliss was ordered to pay a fine of 20 shillings to the New London County Treasury. It was March 26 1718 and he was found guilty of selling "strong drink" to the Indians. He was not alone as he stood before the Justice of the Peace. He was accompanied by a host of citizens, men and women all standing for the same crime. 

I would like to proclaim his innocence, I mean he was my Great Grandfather 7 generations ago. We are family, but to be honest he was probably guilty. He is the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Bliss and was one of seven children.  Born 9 December 1657 in Saybrook, Middlesex County, Connecticut. 

On 8 December 1681 he married Ann Elderkin and they had 6 Children.
Thomas
Samuel
Elizabeth
John
Pelatiah
Thankful

In 1701 Samuel had bought property near Lebanon, New London, Connecticut and according to long lost legends he bought the land from Chief Oweneco. He may have never actually lived there and in 1712 he sold the property. He was living in Norwich, New London, Connecticut.

Grandfather Bliss was a wine merchant, and kept accounts with Daniel Johonnot also a wine merchant in Boston. Some of the items listed on an account for Grandfather Bliss are rum, leather gloves, hogs fat and pork. Payment on the account lists pork, beeswax, bailberry wax, beaver, otter, mink and deer skins. He also kept accounts with  Mr. Leaske which include pork, bear, raccoon, mink, fox and beaver skins.

Samuel was a 1/8 owner of a sloop called Love and Ann. Purchased from Thomas Avery and John Richards. He also owned 1/8 of a Brigantine named Success he purchased from John Chandler. 

Brigantines were built in the colonies in North America in the early 1700s. Smaller than a brig but larger than a sloop, they were swift and easy to maneuver thus making them the  favored ships among pirates. They were often employed as landing vessels for larger fleets of ship because of their maneuverability. 

In 1705 the Love and Ann sails to Barbados with Master Richard Caiter and a shipment from Grandfather Bliss of staves, a water hogshead and a horse. 

What has his ships  to do with selling "strong drink?" They sailed regularly to Barbados, and what was a popular product that came out of Barbados? Associated with piracy? Rum.  Rum is considered "strong drink". 

Apeanuchsuck, another "drunk" Indian in 1722 has Grandfather Bliss up in front of a judge again.  Apeanuchsuck must have been having a big time because he was arrested first and said nothing then at his trial ratted out Grandfather Bliss. The original charge says "strong drink" and Apeanuchsuck is to pay 10 shillings or receive 10 lashes on his naked body. In the end Apeanuchsuck pays the 10 shillings and walks away having been served only 2 pots of cider.  Grandfather pays another fine.

Grandfather Bliss dies 30 December 1729.

Samuel Bliss trouble making Run Runner.... my people!

John Eaton and the Furlough

Joseph Kennard Eaton married Mary Patterson and in 1830 while they were living in York,  Pennsylvania their son John was born. Shortly after his birth the family moved to Wayne, Monroe County, Ohio. John Eaton was one of seven children. He worked the family farm along with his father and brothers. He was my Very Great Uncle.

John married Delilla Joy and in 1857 they gave birth to their first child, Mary. John and his new family lived in Washington a small township in Monroe County, Ohio in a home near Delilla's parents. He was a Blacksmith. Martha was born in 1859, and in April of 1861 George W. Eaton was born.

On 1 August 1861 John enlisted in the 7th Regiment, West Virginia Infantry, Company D as a Private. On 18 March 1862 John was given a furlough by Capt J. Fisher, Commander of the Post, Company D. The Regimental Surgeon had recommended he return to Monroe County, Ohio to his home to regain his health.  He was ordered to report back on 7 April 1862 Cherry Run, West Virginia.  John did not regain his health and on 14 April 1862 he passed away. His homecoming must have been warm because in 1863 after his death his daughter Elizabeth was born.

He is buried in Graysville, Monroe County, Ohio.

Medford Hyson Suspender Inventor

Medford Hynson is my 1st cousin 4x removed. 

His mother is my 4th Great Aunt,  Anna Maria Medford and she was born in London England in 1820. 

                                                          Anna Maria Medford

She married Nathaniel Thornton Hynson in 1836. She was his second wife. Medford was born in 1837 and was 1 of 9 children. He also had a step-brother and sister from his father's first marriage. 

When Medford was 5 he had his portrait painted. 

This painting is a gift from Stephen Hynson will be in the Hynson Ringgold House on display.

He was working as a machinist in 1860 and lived in Kent County, Maryland. By 1870 he was in the carriage making  business with his younger brother Nathaniel Thornton Hynson II  living near Still Pond in Kent County. In 1875 he is Baltimore working again as a machinist. He marries Fanny Rigby and in 1878 their daughter Anna is born. 

In 1885 Medford is working as a machinist in the Ordinance Department of the United States Navy at the ship yard in Washington D.C. For the next several years Medford works in the Navy Ship Yard. 

Then on 19 January 1903 Medford and George  F. Nelson apply for a patent for suspenders. He is approved for the patent and by 1904 their suspenders are available for sale through several catalogs that sell products to wholesalers, retailers, manufacturers and tradesmen. 

On 11 February 1914 passes away in the home of his brother. 

Frank Smoot Easley and the Doomed Arcadian

On February 10 1914 my 1st Cousin 3x removed  Frank Smoot Easley and his wife Elizabeth left Bermuda on the SS Arcadian and arrived in New York 2 days later.

The Arcadian was built in 1899 and christened the SS Ortona. She launched July 10 1899 and was built as a passenger liner for travel to Australia. She could carry 620 passengers.

In December of 1902 she was used to carry troops back to England after the Second Boer War. On September 21 1910 after being sold and re-serviced she was renamed the SS Arcadian. She embarked on her first world cruise in January of 1912 as the world’s largest dedicated cruise ship.

In 1915, near the beginning of World War I the SS Arcadian was converted to an armed merchant cruiser by the British Admiralty. As the war continued she was put into service as a troop carrier ship in the Mediterranean. On April 15 1917 with 1335 troops and crew members on board the Arcadian was hit by a torpedo from a German submarine known as SM UC-74. She sank in 6 minutes with a loss of 279 lives. Most were kitchen staff and stokers who were working below decks at the time.

Yes, that actually is her sinking. If you look closely those are men hanging on to ropes and scrambling down her sides.  

 I have included the story of events as told by Trooper Reginald C. Huggins. http://www.firstworldwar.com/diaries/torpedoed.htmhttp://www.firstworldwar.com/diaries/torpedoed.htm

                                          Dining Salon Arcadian 1913

On January 29 1914 Frank had married Elizabeth Tyler. They had gone to Bermuda on their Honeymoon. The Arcadian which was marketed as the most palatial liner ever in the Bermuda service, made this trip along with a sister ship called the Tagus every week.

Frank was born on 3 August 1878 in Pearisburg, Giles County, Virginia. He was the youngest of 11 children born to John White Easley. His mother Minerva Boyd Pack was John's second wife. 

When Frank was 26 the year was 1904 and he was living with his family in Bluefield, Mercer County, West Virginia and working for a company called American Smelting and Refining Company that had offices in New York City. He worked as a fuel agent manager of the steamship line in New York for their Mexico Exports and Imports. 

11 January 1916 near Santa Isabella, Chihuahua, Mexico, men known as Villistas,  who were loyal to Pancho Villa killed and mutilated 18 employees of  the American Smelting and Refining Company who were on a train. Frank was not there.


It is 1912 and Frank works as a shipping agent at the Pocahontas Fuel Company. This company is a branch of Pocahontas Mine no. 1, the  earliest coal mine in the Pocahontas Coalfield or the Flat Top-Pocahontas Coalfield. It is on the National Register of Historic Places. The  Pocahontas Fuel Company, operated mines in West Virginia at Jenkinjones, Bishop, and Itmann , and in Virginia at Boissevain and Amonate.

In early 1915 Frank is working for the Pocahontas Coke Company as a Manager. Later that year Frank becomes the President of the Bluefield Coal and Coke Company and his offices are in the Law & Commerce Building in Bluefield.

In 1919 Frank and his wife move into "The Breezes" a Tudor Revival style home built by Alex B. Mahood. 

                                               The Breezes

Frank applied for and was accepted as a Sons of the American Revolution. Daniel Easley, his 4th Great Grandfather, my 5th Great Grandfather was a private during the Revolutionary War and helped fight for the independence of America. 

Frank passed away 26 May 1952. 

The Library at Bluefield College is named the Easley Library in memory of Frank and his brother David who were both on the Board of Trustees and Founding Fathers. 

In Bluefield is a bridge that spans the Norfolk Southern Corporation railroad tracks on Poplar Street. It is the Frank S. Easley Bridge named in honor of Frank. 

He was a President of the Chamber of Commerce, President of the Rotary Club, President of Wright Milling Company, and Director of First National Bank of Bluefield. 

He was a Past Master at Bluefield Mercer Masonic Lodge #85, a Shriner, Past Eminent Commander of the Knights Templar, member of Royal Arch Chapter, and had completed several steps into Scottish Rites.

Uncle Joseph, Winter is Coming

 My 8th Great Uncle Joseph Elderkin was arrested in 1701 when he was 29 for "selling drink to Indians". He was charged, found guilty and fined. 

  

That was not the end of Joseph's crime spree. Not that I think sharing, selling or buying "strong drink" with your friends is a crime. Maybe these kin of mine are just happy drunks and want to share with everyone. 

Joseph was born 27 December 1672 in Norwich, New London, Connecticut to John and Elizabeth Elderkin. He is the last born of 8 children. His mother was Elizabeth Drake John's second wife. 

On 27 July 1703 Joseph married Deborah Brockway. They have 5 children.
Joseph the 3rd
Benjammin
Elizabeth
Jeptha
Deborah

Joseph is a weaver by trade. 

In September 1712 Joseph is at the Supreme Court on Suspicion of Counterfeit. Yep, he is accused along with two others of having altered Connecticut bills to give them a larger denomination and passing them on. He pleads "not guilty". The other two are acquitted and Joseph is indicted. He is tried, convicted and sentenced to 6 months in prison. His two "alleged" cohorts plea with the court that their court costs be deducted from the reward they are entitled to for informing on Joseph. The court orders Joseph to pay the reward money to his "alleged" friends. 

In October good ol' Uncle Joseph, being the clever sort pleads to the court in petition that he is in failing and very poor health. Winter is coming

and he fears spending time in prison during the harsh winter months might kill him. 

The Superior Court votes in favor of his plea and he is told he has to pay a bail and will have to return to prison when the weather is more favorable to serve out his sentence. He is released to return in the Spring. 

Joseph's son Joseph goes to jail in 1727 for "reviling and profane speaking" telling people while at a friends home that they would go to hell for sinning against light and knowledge. 

In 1759 at the age of 87 Joseph dies.