I have written previously about my Archer family many times and I positively love them. I think everyone has certain families in their tree that they are just fascinated with and the Archers are one of those families that I’m especially drawn to. As I was teaching my genealogy class at the Moffat Library yesterday, I was showing them how I was able to use the 1870 census data to confirm the tale of how Jesse Archer met Jacob Wickham and later married Jacob’s sister, Nancy Jane. Everyone especially loved this part of class because it shows you how sometimes you get lucky and can actually confirm those family stories you’ve heard about. The class was recorded so I thought I’d share their cute tale with you. (Warning: I say ‘um’ a bunch and lose my place! Sorry!)
Visiting My DAR Patriot
Aside from the lovely church & cemetery at Archers Ridge that I posted a picture of yesterday, I also went further down the road a bit to Devoll Cemetery, also in Noble County, in search of my DAR patriot, John Wickham. I’d seen the picture & an article about it before but visiting it in person was just important to me. I proudly wear his name on my DAR bar so I felt it was only right to find his resting place to pay proper homage to him.
To recap in case you missed my earlier posts on him and you’re wondering who John Wickham was, he was a soldier in the French & Indian War before being asked to come train militia men during the Revolutionary War. The DAR acknowledges him as a non-commissioned officer. John was 99 years old when he applied for his pension before dying at 100 years old, 8 months. His pension application follows his journey all over New York from Fort Montgomery to the second battle for Saratoga (also known as Bemis Heights) with Generals Gates & Arnold. He was even sent to spy on British ships in the Hudson River near what is now the Tappan Zee Bridge. Somewhere around 1818, John and many of his descendants moved from New York to Ohio.
A Most Lovely Little Country Church
While in Ohio this past week to welcome the birth of my first grand baby, I took a day off to head up to Noble County where a large portion of my maternal line are buried. Archers Ridge Cemetery is adjacent to the Archers Ridge Church, which I discovered is still in use after peeking through the window and seeing the coming day’s date and sermon on the board near the pulpit. Much like it’s simple exterior, the inside appeared to be just as unfussy and simple with white pews and dark hardwood floors. I had to smile thinking about the Archer family of mine buried nearby, who were just modest farmers – they’d be quite a home worshiping here. The day was beautiful with a bright blue cloudless sky and with the slightest breeze blowing, fluttering the American flags on the veteran’s graves in the cemetery. (Don’t you love the orb?)
