Were both Rebecca McCormick and James Pauley from Centre County, Pennsylvania?

Evidence shown below makes it very likely that James Pauley may have come from Centre County, Pennsylvania.

In 1783, Rebecca McCormick (who married James Pauley) was born in Centre County, Pennsylvania.

In 1801, James Pauley, single man, was on the tax list with Rebecca McCormick's mother, Widow Agnes McCormick. Also listed were Thomas Pauley and another single man, Elisha Pauley. Typically when a person was listed in the Single Men section of the tax list, it meant they were over age 21 but not married. 

See https://archive.org/details/historyofcentrec00linn page 41

By 1819, Rebecca (McCormick) Pauley is on the tax list in Coitsville, Trumbull County, Ohio, with Thomas, Elijah, and John Pauley.

In 1819, Thomas Pauley made application for the marriage license of Rebecca Pauley and Erastus Cowdery.









































In 1820, Thomas Pauley and his wife deed property to Rebecca Cowdery.

Just found Rebecca Cowdrey in 1840 Liberty Twp, Trumbull Co, Ohio U.S. Census. She is listed as Rebecca Coudry and there are several young males in the household. John Brisbine and Calvin Applegate are also listed. Tried to go over 1860 Liberty Twp census but did not locate either Rebecca or Lucinda. Could they have been missed or visiting one of her children?

The Children of James Pawley and Rebecca McCormick

Family #1: James Pawley & Rebecca McCormick

In order to document James Pawley, Rebecca McCormick and their known children, it was necessary to also document Rebecca McCormick Pawley’s second marriage to Erastus Cowdery and their children. As stated in the initial report, Rebecca Pawley and Erastus Cowdery applied for a marriage license in Coitsville, Trumbull, Ohio on 26 August 1819.[1]  Erastus Cowdery and Rebecca McCormick Pawley had two known children:

                                i.            Sarah Jane Cowdery, who married Calvin Applegate[2]

                              ii.            Lucinda Cowdery, who married James R. Russell[3]

A census search performed for Erastus Cowdery in Trumbull County, Ohio indicated he was living in Youngstown, Trumbull, Ohio in 1820 and 1830. Erastus died in 1833 so the remaining census records for Rebecca McCormick Pawley Cowdery are under the name of Rebecca Cowdery.[4]

In the 1850 U.S. Census, Rebecca Cowdery was the head of household and her daughter, Lucinda Cowdery, age 27, was living with her.[5] As of this report, Rebecca Cowdery had not been located in the 1860 U.S. Census; neither has her daughter Lucinda Cowdery who was still single in 1860. Each of Rebecca Cowdery’s other five daughters were located in the 1860 U.S. Census and she was not living in those households. Family tradition states that Rebecca McCormick Pawley Cowdery died 22 March 1862. Find a Grave also indicates she died in 1862 and was buried at Seceder’s Corner Cemetery in Liberty Township, Trumbull, Ohio along with Erastus Cowdery and their two daughters, Lucinda Cowdery Russell and Sarah Cowdery Applegate.[6]

Tables #1 and #2 below show each individual from both families and whether the census records were found in the United States federal censuses for that individual. The research log and attached documents show more specific details for each census record.

Table #1: Census Summary Table for the James Pawley & Rebecca McCormick Family
Name	Birth	Marr	Death	1820	1830	1840	1850	1860	1870	1880
James Pawley	1781	1801	Bef 1812	--	--	--	--	--	--	--
Rebecca McCormick (2nd Marriage to Erastus Cowdery)	1783	1819	1862	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Not found	Not found	--
Mary Ann Pawley	1801	1822	bef 1849	--	Not found	Not found	--	--	--	--
Martha Pawley	1803	1829	1871	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	--
Nancy Pawley	1804	1823	1870	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	--
Rebecca Pawley	1811	1832	Bet 1870 & 1876	--	Not found	Not found	Yes	Yes	Yes	--

Child #1: Mary Ann Pawley Brisbine

The hand-drawn pedigree in the Watt Family Record Book shows that Mary Ann Pawley married a Brisbine, but no indication of his first name was given.[7] Earlier in the diary Gertrude Watt, the daughter of Nancy Pawley Watt, included “A Tribute to the Memory of Lieut J.P Brisbine,” written by Jennie H. of Hubbard Ohio.[8] Several pages later she explained her relationship to J.P. Brisbine: "The preceding notices are those, coppied from the papers, of the deaths of my two Cousins James Brisbine & Joseph Applegate.[9] Gertrude would have been 19 when her cousin, James P. Brisbine was killed in the Civil War.

There are no other known children of Mary Ann Pawley Brisbine, but an excerpt from the tribute indicates that James may have had other siblings. It is also possible this was just a common poem at the time Gertrude included it:

For his sisters sit all silently

With tears they cannot smother

Mourning for their cherished one

Their youngest darling brother

The only known biography of Lieutenant James P. Brisbine, comes from a history of Ohio’s Seventh Regiment during the Civil War. It does not mention any of his siblings but does comment on his uncle: “James P. Brisbine was a native of Trumbull County, Ohio. He was born in 1836. His parents dying while he was quite young, he went to live with an uncle by the name of Applegate.”[10] The 1850 U.S. Census for Liberty, Trumbull, Ohio shows James P. Brisbine living with Calvin and Sarah Applegate.[11] Sarah Cowdery Applegate was Mary Ann Pawley’s half-sister, so Calvin Applegate would be James P. Brisbine’s uncle. This biography and the 1850 U.S. Census record tend to indicate that both Mary Ann Pawley and her husband died before 1850. The biography also verifies that Lieutenant James P. Brisbine was killed during the Battle of Cedar Mountain in Culpepper, Virginia on 9 August 1862.[12]

Other searches in the military records for the Civil War show there were several James Brisbines. Family members have cited the Civil War Draft Registration of a James Brisbine from Ross Creek, Fairfield, Ohio who was born in 1835 in Pennsylvania. But that registration was dated 1 July 1863 and James P. Brisbine was killed in 1862.

Child #2: Martha Pawley Baldwin

            In addition to the 1850 U.S. Census previously located, the 1830, [13] 1840, [14] 1860,[15] and 1870[16] U.S. Censuses were located during this research period for Benjamin and Martha Baldwin. In addition, an entry in “Pennsylvania, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985” for Benjamin Pitney Baldwin and Martha Panley provided the day of their marriage, 5 July 1822.[17] This information corresponds with the marriage license previously found.[18] The “Pennsylvania Church and Town Records” and The History of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley show that Martha Pawley Baldwin died on 2 January 1871 and that Benjamin Baldwin married Mary Louisa Parmelee on 16 February 1873.[19] The 1880 U.S. Census shows Benjamin Baldwin married to Mary; also living with them was a stepson, Hurbert Parmley, age 15.[20] These records each agree with the other information provided.

Child #3: Nancy Pawley Watt

            Because Nancy Pawley Watt is the direct line ancestor, all census records and other documents were obtained prior to the beginning of this research project. They are all available upon request.

Child #4: Rebecca Pawley Duer

            For information on Rebecca Pawley Duer, see Family #2 below.

Family #2: Daniel Duer and Rebecca Pawley

            The four known children of Daniel Duer and Rebecca Pawley           are listed in Table #2 below. The 1850 U.S. Census shows Daniel and Rebecca Duer with Miranda, age 13; George, age 10; and Nancy J., age 3; but it leaves out Jerusha M. who would have been age 7.[21] A search for Jerusha in other 1850 census records does not produce any results that fit her age. There is not an apparent reason as to why she was left off of the household entry. The 1860 U.S. Census shows Jerusha where she is expected to be: Daniel and Rebecca Duer with Jerusha, age 17 and Nancy J., age 12.[22]

Table #2: Census Summary Table for the Daniel Duer & Rebecca Pawley Family
Name	Birth	Marr	Death	1840	1850	1860	1870	1880	1900	1910
Daniel Duer	1812	1832	1890	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	--	--
Rebecca Pawley	1812	1832	Bet 1870 & 1876	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	--	--	--
Miranda Duer Struble	1837	1855	1909	--	Yes	Not found	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
George Duer	1840		1922	--	Yes	Searches not performed yet
Jerusha Duer	1843			--	Not listed with family	Yes	Searches not performed yet
Nancy Jane Duer Rathburn	1848		1890	--	Yes	Yes	Not found	Yes	--		--

The 1880 U.S. Census shows Daniel Duer married to Susan, not Rebecca.[23] This likely means that Rebecca Pawley Duer died and Daniel Duer remarried a Susan. Death records were searched for Rebecca on FamilySearch.org , FindAGrave.com and Ancestry.com, but no records were found. "Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-1994," includes the original marriage license and certificate for Daniel Duer and Susan Ross on 25 October 1876 in Trumbull County, Ohio; both were said to be of Hubbard Township but no marital status or ages were listed.[24] Based on this information, the conclusion is that Rebecca Pawley Duer died sometime after the 1870 U.S. Census and before the 1876 marriage of Daniel Duer to Susan Ross. The death certificate for Daniel Duer states that he died 4 June 1890 in Hubbard, Trumbull, Ohio and lists his birth date as 1811.  

An analysis of the various documents for Daniel Duer and Rebecca Pawley show varying birth years for each of them as shown in Table #3 below. The standard marriage license form for Trumbull County, Ohio did not list the ages of the bride and groom. Instead the form said, “is of the age of ” twenty-one for men and eighteen for women. In other words, the marriage license was to ensure the applicants were of the minimum age. In the case of Daniel Duer, the “twenty-one” was crossed out and “eighteen” was written in. That does not necessarily mean Daniel was eighteen, but just that he was at least eighteen, which only provides a range of possible birth years. For Rebecca Pawley the license shows that she was at least eighteen.

Table #3: Age Comparison
	Marr. License	1850 Census	1860 Census	1870 Census	1880 Census	Death Certificate
Daniel Duer Birth Year	1811 thru 1814	1812	1812	1812	1812	1811
Rebecca Pawley Birth Year	Before 1814	1812	1811	1810	--	--

       Because Daniel Duer’s birth year was consistent throughout the censuses, it is very possible that his birthday was in the latter half of 1811 so during each census enumeration his birthday had not happen yet that year. Rebecca Pawley’s birth year is likely the end of 1811 or the beginning of 1812.

Child #1: Miranda Duer Struble

            According to the 1900 U.S. Census, Miranda Duer was born in December of 1837 and married James C. Struble in 1855.[25] No record has been found yet for James and Miranda Struble in the 1860 U.S. Census. The 1870 U.S. Census lists her birth year as 1838, but the 1880 U.S. Census states she was born in 1835.[26] [27] Cemetery records on Find A Grave gives the following information: “Miranda Struble, Birth: 1837 and Death: 1909.[28] Because the 1900 U.S. Census lists both a month and a year and the record on Find A Grave, it is likely that Miranda Duer was born in December of 1837.  According to his death certificate, James C. Struble was born on 7 January 1835 and died 19 September 1913. This conflicts with the 1900 U.S. Census which lists his birthday as Jun 1835; this is likely due to a copying error in the census.[29]  Because January is spelled out on his death certificate, January is the most likely month of his birthdate.

            In a biography of James C. Struble found in Biographical History of Northeastern Ohio, Embracing the Counties of Ashtabula, Trumbull and Mahoning[J1] , it is stated that, “he is identified with the Democratic party and takes an active interest in the political issues of the day. Both he and his wife are members of the Christian Church, of which he is a liberal supporter.” This biography also lists their two children and the children’s spouses.[30] The next step is to identify and contact this church if it is still in existence. If he was a “liberal supporter,” this family is likely to be in any records that might still exist.

Child #2: George Duer

            There is no marriage information yet for George Duer and no other research was done on him during this project.

Child #3: Jerusha M. Duer

There is no marriage information yet for Jerusha M. Duer and no other research was done on her during this project.

Child #4: Nancy Jane Duer Rathburn

            Most of the information on Lewis Clinton Rathburn and Nancy Jane Duer, including birth, marriage and death dates, came from a message board on Ancestry.com and the information needs further verification.[31] In the 1880 U.S. Census, they were living in Hartford, Trumbull, Ohio and the birth years for both Lewis and Nancy Rathburn agree with the records on the Ancestry message board.[32]

---

[1] "Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-1994," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/X8JJ-QX5 : accessed 30 Jan 2014), Erastus Cowdery and Rebecca Powley, 26 Aug 1819; citing Trumbull, Ohio, United States, reference p107; FHL microfilm 904253.

[2] Butler Joseph Green, History of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley (Chicago: American Historical Society, 1921), Vol 2, p 29-30; digital images, Google.com, (http://books.google.com/books : accessed 26 January 2014.); Watt, Gertrude and John K. Watt,Watt Family Record Book, 1863-1885, M-4241, William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, p 42-45.

[3] Watt, Gertrude and John K. Watt, Watt Family Record Book, 1863-1885, M-4241, William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, p 42-45.

[4] Butler, Joseph Green, History of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley, Ohio: Volume 2. Chicago and New York: American Historical Society, 1921, digital images, (http://books.google.com/books/about/History_of_Youngstown_and_the_Mahoning_V.html?id=iRgVAAAAYAAJ : accessed 29 January 2014), 30.

[5] Ancestry.com, "1850 United States Federal Census," database and images,Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 14 February 2014), Census Place: Liberty Trumbull, Ohio, Roll: M432_733, Page: 132A, and Image: 68 entry for Rebecca Cowdery.

[6] Find A Grave," database and images, , Find A Grave (http://findagrave.com : accessed 14 February 2014), memorial page for Rebecca Pawley Cowdrey (1783-1862), Find A Grave Memorial no. 106805834, citing Seceder's Corners Cemetery, Youngstown, Trumbull, Ohio.

[7] Watt, Gertrude and John K. Watt, Watt Family Record Book, 1863-1885, M-4241, William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, p 42-45.

[8] Watt, Gertrude and John K. Watt, Watt Family Record Book, 1863-1885, M-4241, William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, p 19-21.

[9] Watt, Gertrude and John K. Watt, Watt Family Record Book, 1863-1885, M-4241, William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, p 25.

[10] Major George L. Wood, The Seventh Regiment: A Record (New York: Hames Miller, 1865), 296-299, entry for Lieutenant James P. Brisbine; digital images, Archive.org (www.archive.org : accessed 25 February 2014.

[11] Ancestry.com, "1850 United States Federal Census," database and images,Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 13 February 2014), Census Place: Liberty Trumbull, Ohio, Roll: M432_733, Page: 131B, and Image: 67 entry for James Brisbine.

[12] Major George L. Wood, The Seventh Regiment: A Record (New York: Hames Miller, 1865), 131, entry for Lieutenant James P. Brisbine; digital images, Archive.org (www.archive.org : accessed 25 February 2014.

[13] Ancestry.com, "1830 United States Federal Census," database,Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 14 February 2014), Census Place: Coitsville Trumbull, Ohio, Page: 251, NARA Series: M19, Roll Number: 141, and Family History Film: 0337952 entry for Benjamin Baldwin.

[14] Ancestry.com, "1840 United States Federal Census," database and images,Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 14 February 2014), Census Place: Milton Trumbull Ohio, Roll: 429, Page: 97, Image: 210, and Family History Library Film: 0020178 entry for Benjn P Balding.

[15] "1860 United States Federal Census," database and images, Ancestry.com(www.ancestry.com : accessed 14 February 2014), Census Place: Milton Mahoning, Ohio, Roll: M653_1005, Page: 317, Image: 637, and Family History Library Film: 805005 entry for B P Baldwin.

[16] Ancestry.com, "1870 United States Federal Census," database and images,Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 14 February 2014), Census Place: Jackson Mahoning, Ohio, Roll: M593_1239, Page: 178B, Image: 360, and Family History Library Film: 552738 entry for Pitney Baldwin.

[17] Ancestry.com, "Pennsylvania, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985," database, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 14 February 2014), "Baldwin Genealogy, p 362, entry for Benjamin Pitney Baldwin; Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Historic Pennsylvania Church and Town Records; Reel: 766.

[18] FamilySearch, "Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-1994," index and images, , FamilySearch.org(www.familysearch.org : accessed 25 January 2014), (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-18084-83097-37?cc=1614804&wc=M94Q-2YH:192113180 : accessed 26 Jan 2014), Trumbull > Marriage licenses 1816-1822.; Trumbull, Ohio, United States.

[19] Ancestry.com, "Pennsylvania, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985," database, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 14 February 2014), "Baldwin Genealogy, p 362, entry for Benjamin Pitney Baldwin; Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Historic Pennsylvania Church and Town Records; Reel: 766.; Butler Joseph Green, History of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley (Chicago: American Historical Society, 1921), Vol. 2, p. 92; digital images, Google.com, (http://books.google.com/books : accessed 24 January 2014; entry for Benjamin Pitney Baldwin.

[20] Ancestry.com, "1880 United States Federal Census," database and images,Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 14 February 2014), Census Place: Newton Falls Trumbull, Ohio, Roll: 1070, Family History Film: 1255070, Page: 302B, Enumeration District: 203, and Image: 0611 entry for Pitney Baldwin.

[21] "1850 United States Federal Census," database, Ancestry.com(www.ancestry.com : accessed 14 January 2014), Census Place: Hubbard Trumbull, Ohio, Roll: M432_733, Page: 164B, and Image: 133 entry for Daniel Duer; National Archives Microfilm Publication M432.

[22] "1860 United States Federal Census," database and images, Ancestry.com(www.ancestry.com : accessed 14 January 2014), Census Place: Hubbard Trumbull, Ohio, Roll: M653_1040, Page: 10, Image: 24, and Family History Library Film: 805040 entry for Danl Duer.

[23] Ancestry.com, "1880 United States Federal Census," database and images,Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 25 February 2014), entry for Daniel Duer Census Place: Hubbard, Trumbull, Ohio, Roll: 1070, Family History Film: 1255070, Page: 178B, Enumeration District: 195, and Image: 0360

[24] FamilySearch, "Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-1994," index and images, ,FamilySearch.org (www.familysearch.org : accessed 25 February 2014), License for Daniel Duer and Susan Ross, 25 Oct 1876; citing Trumbull, Ohio, United States, reference p 420; FHL microfilm 905550; Trumbull, Ohio, United States.; Trumbull, Ohio, United States.; FamilySearch, "Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-1994," index and images, , FamilySearch.org (www.familysearch.org : accessed 25 February 2014), Daniel Duer and Susan Ross, 25 Oct 1876; citing Trumbull, Ohio, United States, reference 29; FHL microfilm 904258; Trumbull, Ohio, United States.

[25] 1900 Federal Census, Brookfield,Trumbull, Ohio, population schedule, , enumeration district (ED) ED #0099, 1A, dwelling 3, household 3, James Struble; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 15 February 2014.)

[26] "1870 United States Federal Census," database, Ancestry.com(www.ancestry.com : accessed 14 January 2014), Census Place: Hartford Trumbull, Ohio, Roll: M593_1271, Page: 161A, Image: 328, and Family History Library Film: 552770 entry for Daniel Duer; NARA microfilm publication M593.

[27] Ancestry.com, "1880 United States Federal Census," database and images,Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 20 February 2014), Census Place: Brookfield Trumbull, Ohio, Roll: 1070, Family History Film: 1255070, Page: 73D, Enumeration District: 187, and Image: 0150 entry for James Struble.

[28] "Find A Grave," database and images, , Find A Grave (http://findagrave.com : accessed 20 February 2014), memorial page for Miranda Struble (1837-1909), Find A Grave Memorial no. 86576690.

[29] 1900 Federal Census, Brookfield,Trumbull, Ohio, population schedule, , enumeration district (ED) ED #0099, 1A, dwelling 3, household 3, James Struble; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 15 February 2014.)

[30] Biographical history of Northeastern Ohio, Embracing the Counties of Ashtabula, Trumbull and Mahoning : containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States, with a biography of each, together with portraits and biographies of Joshua R. Gidding, (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1893), 245; digital images, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 20 February 2014); entry for James C. Struble.

[31] Ancestry.com, "Ancestry Message Board," , Ancestry.com(www.ancestry.com : accessed 19 January 2014)

[32] Ancestry.com, "1880 United States Federal Census," database and images,Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 20 February 2014), Census Place: Hartford Trumbull, Ohio, Roll: 1070, Family History Film: 1255070, Page: 139C, Enumeration District: 193, and Image: 0280 entry for Louis Rathburn.