Person Page - 43

     Maj. John Freeman was baptized on 28 January 1626/27 at Billingshurst, Sussex, England. He was the son of Edmund Freeman and Bennett Hodsoll. He married Mercy Prence, daughter of Gov. Thomas Prence and Patience Brewster, on 13 February 1649 at Eastham, MA.. He died on 28 October 1719 at Eastham, MA., at age 92.

     Edmund Freeman was baptized on 25 July 1596 at England. He was the son of Edmund Freeman and Alice Coles. He married Bennett Hodsoll on 16 June 1617. He married Elizabeth (---). He immigrated on ship Abigail on 8 October 1635. He admitted as FreeMan to Plymouth Colony on 2 January 1637. He died on 2 November 1682 at Sandwich, MA., at age 86.

     Elizabeth (---) was born circa 1600 at England. She married Edmund Freeman, son of Edmund Freeman and Alice Coles. She immigrated on ship Abigail in 1635 at Lynn, MA.. She died on 14 February 1676 at MA.

     Edmund Freeman was born at Oxford, Devonshire, England. He married Alice Coles on 1 January 1590/91 at Pulborough, Sussex, England.

     Mercy Prence was born circa 1631 at Plymouth, MA.. She was the daughter of Gov. Thomas Prence and Patience Brewster. She married Maj. John Freeman, son of Edmund Freeman and Bennett Hodsoll, on 13 February 1649 at Eastham, MA.. She died on 28 September 1711 at Eastham, MA..

     Gov. Thomas Prence was born in 1600 at Lechdale, Glouchester, England. He was the son of Thomas Prince. He immigrated on ship Fortune in November 1621. He married Patience Brewster, daughter of William Brewster and Mary (---), on 5 March 1624 at Plymouth, MA.. He married Mary Collier on 1 April 1635. He died on 29 March 1673 at Plymouth, MA..

     Thomas Prince was a carriage maker. He was born in 1570 at Lechlade Co Gloucester, England. He was the son of Thomas Prince. He died in 1630.

     Patience Brewster was born circa 1603 at Scrooby, England. She was the daughter of William Brewster and Mary (---). She immigrated on ship "Anne" in 1623. She married Gov. Thomas Prence, son of Thomas Prince, on 5 March 1624 at Plymouth, MA.. She died in 1634 at Plymouth, MA; of "pestilent feaver."

     James Jackson was born in 1829 at England. He married Margaret (---). He owned land in 1860 at San Juan Twp, Monterey Co, CA.. He was naturialized in Dstrict Court, San Jose CA. on 24 September 1869. He owned a ranch of 400 acres of land, 9 horses, 17 cattle, 1,050 sheep, 29 pigs, and 60 chickens. He gave this to his three sons about 1883. in 1880 at San Ysdro, Gilroy Twp, Santa Clara Co, CA..⁶ He lived in 1885 at Santa Clara Co, CA.. He married Nanetta "Annie" Gassner before 1889. He lived from 1888 to 1890 at San Felipe, San Benito Co, CA.. He died on 14 July 1890 at Gilroy, Santa Clara Co, CA.. He was buried at Gavilan Memorial Park, Gilroy, Santa Clara Co, CA..

     Margaret (---) was born in 1832 at Ireland. She married James Jackson. She died on 3 November 1882 at Santa Clara Co, CA..

     David Robert Allen was born on 7 December 1840 at IN. He was the son of Daniel Avery Allen and Sarah Jane Laymon. He married Harriet "Hattie" Elizabeth Stevenson, daughter of William H. Stevenson and Sarah (---). He died on 17 November 1873 at Hancock Co, IL., at age 32.
(Comment: After David died, his brother, Stephen, became guardian of the three children.)³

     Harriet "Hattie" Elizabeth Stevenson was born on 9 March 1847 at OH. She was the daughter of William H. Stevenson and Sarah (---). She married David Robert Allen, son of Daniel Avery Allen and Sarah Jane Laymon. She died on 2 November 1903 at Woods Co, OK., at age 56. She was buried at Rosedale Cemetery, Alfalfa Co, OK..

     Eliza Ann Culpepper was born on 14 August 1828 at McMinn Co, TN.. She was the daughter of Joel Culpepper and Ann Elizabeth Tyler. She married William Jackson Ash, son of Hugh Brown Ash and Nancy Ann Jones, on 27 February 1849 at Cherokee Co, AL.. She died on 3 April 1920 at Hamilton, Hancock Co, IL., at age 91.

     William Jackson Ash was born on 6 June 1825 at McMinn Co, TN.. He was the son of Hugh Brown Ash and Nancy Ann Jones. He married Eliza Ann Culpepper, daughter of Joel Culpepper and Ann Elizabeth Tyler, on 27 February 1849 at Cherokee Co, AL.. He was a tanner. He was the Township Assessor in 1874 and 1880. He died on 24 January 1913 at Hamilton, Hancock Co, IL., at age 87. He was buried at Oakwood Cemtery, Hamilton, Hancock Co, IL..

The following biography of William Jackson Ash was found in the "Biographical Review of Hancock County, Illinois containing Biographical and Genealogical Sketches of Many of the Prominent Citizens of Today and also of the Past." The article was written in 1906 and the book was published in 1907 by the Hobart Publishing Company.

William Jackson Ash is one of the venerable citizens of Hamilton, receiving the respect and honor which should be accorded to one of his years and whose life has been worthily spent. He is now eighty-one years of age, having been born in McMinn County, TN, on the 6th of June, 1825, his parents being Hugh Brown Ash and Nancy (Jones) Ash, natives of South Carolina and Tennessee respectively. His paternal grandparents were Robert and Esther Ash, the former a native of South Carolina and the latter of Ireland. The maternal grandfather, Thomas Jones, was a native of Tennessee, and in that state married Miss Beckham. Robert Ash, leaving his native country, crossed the Atlantic and became a resident of South Carolina, where he followed the occupation of farming for a number of years then removed to eastern Tennessee, where he and his wife spent their remaining days. It was in that state that Hugh Brown Ash and Nancy Jones were united in marriage and there they lived for a number of years upon a farm. He was injured one day while stacking fodder and soon afterward died. His wife married again none years later, her second union being with Edwin Pedegrew, who at one time owned famous gold mines in Georgia. They were married in Alabama, to which state the mother of our subject removed and about then years later (1849) they went to Dent County, MO, where they spent their remaining days. William Jackson was the eldest of three sons and three daughters, all of whom are now deceased with the exception of one brother who is residing in Carrollton, Carroll County, AR. By the second marriage there were two daughters and two sons, of whom one son is now living in Dent County, MO. William J. Ash was twelve years of age when he went with his mother to Cherokee County, Alabama. She there took up one hundred and sixty acres of land and in 1839 was married a second time. It was then that the subject of this review started out in life to make his own way in the world. He began learning the trade of a tanner and leather finisher. He was also the owner of three colts, two cows and several hogs, which he gave to his mother in exchange for homespun clothing. He continued to work at his trade until 1846, in which year Benjamin White, who ten years before had removed to Adams County, Illinois, returned to Tennessee on a visit and about a month later took three Tennessee lads with him to Adams County. He paid their fare and they worked for him two years for ten dollars a month. Mr. Ash had an uncle living in Adams County and after leaving Mr. White's employ he began operating his uncle's farm on share, being thus engaged for a year. In 1848 he returned to Tennessee and Alabama in company with his uncle, driving across the country with teams. The uncle soon again came to Illinois, but Mr. Ash remained in his native state until after his marriage, which important event in his life was celebrated on the 27th of February, 1849, the lady of his choice being Miss Eliza Ann Culpepper, who was born in McMinn County, TN, August 14, 1828, a daughter of Joel and Ann Elizabeth (Tyler) Culpepper, both of whom were natives of South Carolina. The former was a son of John Culpepper and the latter a daughter of John Tyler. On the 28th of March 1849, Mr. Ash with his bride started by wagon for Adams County, where they arrived on the 22nd of April, after spending almost a month upon the road. They remained in that county for one season and Mr. Ash engaged in the cultivation of a tract of land. He tried to raise a crop of corn but the worms took it and he sowed his land to buckwheat, raising an enormous crop, furnishing large supplies to the city of Quincy of buckwheat flour, which he had ground at Fletcher's Mills in Hancock County. In the fall of 1849 he and his wife removed to Wythe Township, this county, where they lived in a log house with puncheon floor and fireplace with stick and clay chimney. There was but one room in the cabin. The following season he purchased forty acres of prairie about a mile north of where he lived, fenced his land with rails and raised corn, which was planted on the newly broken sod. The following year he broke more land and also purchased forty acres additional. He also cultivated the eighty acres and rented some land adding to his place from time to time until he was the owner of three-hundred and forty acres in Wythe Township, which had been improved as well as any place in the township at that time. As the years passed he added further improvements to his property and made it a splendidly developed farm. He had two large barns, one thirty by eighty feet, which he afterward used for sheltering his cattle. He kept from twenty to thirty cows and conducted a dairy for ten years. Thus year by year he continued active in business, winning success by his close application and strong determination. He was never idle and indolence is utterly foreign to his nature. He has led a busy and useful life as the years have gone by has won the success which always crowns earnest effort. Unto Mr. and Mr. Ash have been born the following named: Sarah Melvina, the wife of William. H. King, who is acting as janitor of the public schools at Hamilton; Mary Adeline, the wife of Frederick Shrifer, a mail-carrier at Hamilton; Joel Brown, of Hamilton; Louisa Ann; Amanda Jane, the wife of J. E. Ernst, who owns the old homestead farm; Alice Alma, the wife of Charles F. Binderwald, of Montrose, Iowa, and Narcissa Elizabeth, the wife of D. William Wolf, a resident of Hamilton. On the 8th of March, 1897, Mr. and Mrs. Ash removed from the home farm to Hamilton, where he purchased a fine residence on Broadway. Since that time he has lived retired. He rented his land for three years and then sold it. He is one of the organizers and stockholders of the Peoples State Bank, of Hamilton, and also of the West Point State Bank, and thus his money has been placed in institutions where it is bringing a good financial return. He has justly earned the rest of which he is now enjoying, for his life has been characterized by unflagging diligence and also by unfaltering honesty in all business transactions. Wherever known he has won high esteem and moreover he is one of the honored pioneer settlers of the county, whose efforts have been a potent element in promoting progress and improvement in this section of the state as the county has emerged from its pioneer conditions.

     Hugh Brown Ash was born from 1800 to 1810 at SC. He was the son of Robert Ash and Esther (---). He married Nancy Ann Jones, daughter of Thomas Jones and (---) Beckham, on 6 May 1824 at McMinn Co, TN..⁴ He was injured while stacking foder and died soon after.⁵ He died circa 1837 at McMinn Co, TN..

     Robert Ash was born in 1779 at York, SC.. He was the son of (---) Ash. He married Esther (---). He died in 1858 at McMinn Co, TN; Will executed Oct 1858.

     (---) Ash was the son of (---) Ash and (---) (---). He died at York Co ?, SC..

     Michael Mccarthy was born in 1833 at Ireland. He married Margaret Fleming on 11 February 1866 at Springfield, MA.. He was a day laborer in 1870 at San Jose, CA.. He became a naturalized citizen on 1 April 1871 at San Jose, CA.. He was a laborer in 1892 at East San Jose, CA..⁷ He lived at Alum Rock Ave/ Monroe, San Jose, CA.. He died on 11 September 1900 at San Jose, CA..