Descendants of Joseph Hale

Generation No. 1

1. JOSEPH1 HALE was born 5 May 1776 perhaps at or near Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, probably the son of Joseph Hale (mother unknown)., and died 4 March 1841, age almost 65, of unknown cause, at Philadelphia. He married RUTH ROBINSON before 1803 perhaps at Philadelphia.. She was born 2 November 1785 perhaps at or near Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Samuel Robinson (mother unknown), and died 4 August 1867, age almost 82, perhaps near Wagontown, Chester County, Pennsylvania.

Joseph's surname spelled HALE or HAIL.

Joseph Hale was buried at Ronaldson's Cemetery at Ninth and Bainbridge Streets, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. However, the bodies in that cemetery were disinterred in 1950 and moved to Forest Hills Cemetery at Byberry and Philmont Avenues in lower Moreland Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

The dates of birth and death cited for Joseph Hale (1776 - 1841) and Ruth (Robinson) Hale (1785 - 1867) were recorded in a Bible once owned by Ruth Robinson Hale, but now in the possession of her great-great granddaughter, Miss Maude E. Littlefield. J. William Diederich, a great-great-great grandson, has photocopies of the family record pages. [b.]

The Bible is a Kimber and Sharpless' stereotype edition. The edition is not dated, but it was apparently published in 1820 since a chronological index on page 760 contains this quotation: "Then the whole sum and number of years, from the beginning of the world unto this present year of our Lord God 1820, are 5,794 years, six months, and the said odd ten days." According to the flyleaf, the Bible was published and sold by Kimber and Sharpless at their bookstore, No. 8 South 4th Street, Philadelphia. The inside front cover contains these inscriptions, in various handwritings:

Ruth Hail March 11th, 1834
Then next to her Daughter Martha Ayers
Then Presented to her Daughter Ella Wynn
Then presented to Blanche Wynn Littlefield
Then presented to her daughter Maude E. Littlefield

The flyleaf entry, "Ruth Hail March 11th 1834," is in the same handwriting as the entries relating to the births of Joseph Hail, his wife Ruth, and their nine children and were probably made by Ruth Robinson Hail. In this Bible, the name HALE is consistently spelled HAIL. ROBINSON is sometimes spelled ROBISON.

The birth and death entries cited above are written as follows:

Joseph Hail Was
Born May 5th in
The year of our Lord
1776

Ruth Robison she
Was Born November
The 2 in the year of our Lord
1785

Joseph Hail Died in
March 4th in the year 1841
(A 5 has been crossed out and 4 written in.)

Ruth Hail died in August the 4th 1867.

Although the names of Joseph Hale's parents are not yet known, we believe his father's name was "Joseph". the task of tracing them should not be insurmountable since only 11 families with the surname of "Hale" or "Hail" were enumerated during the 1790 Census of heads of families in Pennsylvania. When this first United States Census was conducted, Joseph Hale was only 14 years old so he is not listed among the Pennsylvania heads of families, but the odds are that his father is.

The table below, taken from the 1790 census of Pennsylvania, shows, for each of the Hale families, the number of inhabitants and place of residence:

Page, Household head, Males over Age 16, Males under Age 16, Females, Residence:

53      Joseph Hale     1     1     4     Bucks County

53      Joseph Hale     1     5     5     Bucks County

83     George Hail     1     1     5     Cumberland County

136     Mathew Hale     1     2     1     Lancaster County

202     John Hale     1     1     2     Philadelphia County

234     Warwick Hale     0     0     0     Philadelphia City

235     Warick Hale     3     3     4     Philadelphia City

244     Alexander Hale     2     2     2     Philadelphia City

244     Thomas Hale     2     3     6     Philadelphia City

248     William Hale     3     1     3     Washington County

256     John Hail     1     3     1     Washington County

286     William Hale     1     0     3     York County

[Denise Note:  to avoid confusion,  I have changed "-" dash marks to a "0" zero in the tables.]

Hopefully, some specific proof of Joseph Hale's parentage can be found, such as a baptism record or a will. Otherwise his parentage may have to be deduced through the process of elimination.

For example, census records and city directories indicate that Joseph Hale lived in Philadelphia from 1810 to at least 1818 and from 1837 until his death in 1841. In the 1820 and 1830 censuses, he was recorded as living in Penn Township of Philadelphia County. This township became part of the city when the city and county were consolidated in 1854. On the basis of this, one can assume he probably was born in the City of Philadelphia, in Philadelphia County, or in a nearby county in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or Delaware. On the basis of a family tradition that "he was born in Philadelphia," we assume he was at least born in Pennsylvania although further research may show that assumption is incorrect.

Because they resided in counties well to the west of Philadelphia, the following five Hale families can probably be excluded from consideration: George Hail of Cumberland County, Mathew Hale of Lancaster County, William Hale of York County, and John Hail and William Hale of Washington County. Moreover, according to the census record, William Hale of York County did not have any sons in his household in 1790 so he can be excluded for this reason also.

Thus the list of probable parents can tentatively be narrowed to six. Of these, three resided in the City of Philadelphia in 1790: Alexander Hale, a house carpenter, resided on Fifth Street, between Walnut and Spruce. He married Frances Yourkson 14 July 1768 at Christ Church, Philadelphia. See Pennsylvania Archives, second series, v VIII, p 110. According to the 1790 Census, two males under age 16 resided in his household. He died intestate in 1796. See Philadelphia Administrations 1796, no. 25.

Thomas Hale may have been closely related to Alexander Hale. Thomas, who also was a carpenter, lived around the corner from Alexander on Walnut Street, between Fifth and Sixth. This was less than a block south of Independence Hall. According to the 1790 Census, three males under age 16 resided in Thomas' household. He died intestate in 1793. See Philadelphia Administrations, 1793, no. 219. It is conceivable that Joseph was the son of Thomas Hale since Joseph and Ruth Robinson Hale named their first born son "Thomas". However, this may be only a coincidence since Ruth Robinson was the daughter of Samuel Robinson, but none of their children was named Samuel.

Warwick Hale, a boat builder, resided on the west side of Little, or New Water Street. He is listed twice in the 1790 Census, apparently because he owned property on the east side of the same street. He married Mary Crispin 31 December 1769 at First Baptist Church, Philadelphia. See Pennsylvania Archives, second series, v VIII, p 750. According to the 1790 Census, three males under age 16 resided in his household. He died intestate in 1792. See Philadelphia Administrations, 1792, no. 43.

There was only one Hale family in Philadelphia County: John Hale who resided in Northern Liberties Township. According to the 1790 Census, one male under age 16 resided in his household.

In 1790, there were two Hale families in Bucks County, both headed by men named "Joseph". One of these had one male under age 16 in his household, and the other had five. We believe one of these Joseph Hales was the father of our Joseph Hale. The other may have been his grandfather.

When the 1800 Census was taken, Joseph Hale would have been 24 years old. But if he was single, he probably would not have been listed. The only Joseph Hale enumerated in the 1800 Census of Pennsylvania resided in the Out Part of East Northern Liberties Township of Philadelphia County, but he was more than 45 years of age. However, he had two males in his household who were between 16 and 25 years of age, and thus, our Joseph Hale could have been one of these. There were no Hale families recorded in the 1800 Census of Bucks County so we assume that one of the Joseph Hales moved to Philadelphia County, and the other died or migrated from the state between 1790 and 1800. Neither of the two Hale families residing in the City of Philadelphia in 1800 had males in this age bracket. All other Hale families recorded in the 1800 Census of Pennsylvania resided in counties quite far to the west of Philadelphia. This circumstantial evidence is the principal reason we believe our Joseph Hale's father was also named "Joseph Hale".

There is an additional factor - though it may only be coincidence. The tendency to twins in a family is an inherited trait, though it is believed to come down on the female line rather than the male. Joseph and Ruth Robinson Hale had twin daughters in 1821. One of the Joseph Hales in Bucks County had twin daughters in 1772. According to an entry in the diary of John Dyer of Plumstead, Bucks County, dated 27 September 1772, "Jo Hails wife had 2 Daughters born last night." See Publications of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, v 3, p 42.

There is, of course, a possibility that Joseph Hale was not born in Pennsylvania but migrated to the state after 1800. One of the interesting family legends is that Joseph Hale was related to Nathan Hale, the Revolutionary War spy hanged by the British, whose last words were, "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country."

The link, if there is one, has not been established. In my opinion, the idea originated with Joseph Hale's daughter, Martha, who may have naively assumed that all the Hales in colonial America were closely related. Her children firmly believed the story. In August 1909, when Martha's daughter, Julia Ann, and William Yost celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, a Philadelphia newspaper, The North American, published a story about them in which it reported that "Mrs. Yost's grandfather was a nephew of Nathan Hale, the Revolutionary martyr, and her great-grandfather, Samuel Robinson, built the first bridge across the Schuylkill River at Market street, which was opened to the public in 1801." Ten years later, when they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary, the same newspaper reported: "Mrs. Yost's grandfather was a nephew of Nathan Hale, the revolutionary martyr, and her grandfather, Samuel Robinson, built the first Market street bridge across the Schuylkill, opened for traffic in 1801." In August 1924, when the Yosts celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary, a Lancaster newspaper published a story about them in which it reported that "She is a direct descendant of Revolutionary stock, her grandfather being a nephew of Nathan Hale."

I have examined two genealogies of Nathan Hale's family, one prepared by Edward Everett Hale and published in 1856, the other prepared by Donald Lines Jacobus and published in 1952. According to both of these sources, Nathan Hale had eight brothers: Samuel, John, Joseph, Enoch, Richard, Billy, David, and Jonathan. None of them had sons named "Joseph". Samuel never married. John had no children. Joseph had five daughters but no sons. Enoch had three sons: Nathan, Enoch, and Richard. Richard had three daughters but no sons. Billy had one son named "Billy". David had one son named "David". Jonathan died when less than a week old. Of the five nephews of Nathan Hale (Nathan, Enoch, Richard, Billy, and David), none had sons named "Joseph". See the "Genealogy of the Family of Capt. Nathan Hale," by Edward Everett Hale, published in "Life of Captain Nathan Hale," by I. W. Stuart, Hartford: F. A. Brown, Second Edition, 1856; and "Hale, House and Related Families," by Donald Lines Jacobus, Hartford: The Connecticut Historical Society, 1952.

Incidentally, in an old book concerning the history of Philadelphia, there is an article about the construction of the first bridge across the Schuylkill River at Market Street. The principal people involved in its construction are named, but Samuel Robinson is not one of them. Perhaps he was one of the workmen and a comment that he helped build the bridge spawned the belief that he was the builder.

When the 1810 Census was taken, the only "Joseph Hale" in Pennsylvania was reported as a resident of Cedar Ward in the City of Philadelphia. He had the following persons in his household as of the first Monday in August 1810:

Males Females

Age over 45        0     0
Age 26 to 45        1     1
Age 16 to 26        0     0
Age 10 to 16        0     0
Age under 10        2     1

See National Archives microcopy 252, roll 55, p 635. The number of persons and their ages reported in this census record are reasonably consistent with the Bible record of Joseph Hale's family:

Joseph Hale, born 5 MAY 1776, age 34
Ruth Robinson Hale, born 2 NOV 1785, age 24
Harriet Hale, born 30 SEP 1803, age 6
Thomas Hale, born 30 SEP 1807, age 2
Joseph Hale, Jr., born 14 JAN 1810, age 6 months

The Free Public Library at Philadelphia has a large collection of old city directories dating from 1785. We examined those for the years 1800-1851. Joseph Hale is listed for the first time in 1811. His name appears consistently until 1818. He is listed again in 1821, and either he or another Joseph Hale is listed in 1824. Then there is a gap until 1837. After 1841, his widow, Ruth's, name appears through 1850.

In these directories, Joseph Hale's occupation is variously listed as carter or laborer. He apparently moved from time to time and, based on the 1820 and 1830 Census records, was residing in Penn Township of Philadelphia County during those years. The table below shows, for each available year, the information given, including occupation and address:

Year     Directory Publisher        Listing
1808     James Robinson        No listing for Joseph Hale
1809     James Robinson        No listing for Joseph Hale
1810     James Robinson        No listing for Joseph Hale
1811     James Robinson        Joseph Hail, carter, George near Twelfth
1812     None available
1813     John A. Paxton        Joseph Hail, labourer, George above Twelfth
1814     B. & T. Kite               Joseph Hale, carter, George above Twelfth
1815     None available
1816     James Robinson         Joseph Hale, carter, George above Twelfth
1817     James Robinson         Joseph Hale, carter, George above Twelfth
1818     John Adams Paxton   Joseph Hail, carter, back 399 Race
1819     None available
1820     None available

According to the 1820 Census of Pennsylvania, there were only two Hale house holds headed by men named "Joseph". One of these was a Joseph Hale who resided in Catawissa Township of Columbia County. The other Joseph Hale resided in Penn Township of Philadelphia County, with the following persons in his household as of the first Monday in August 1820:

Age     Males      Females

Age over 45      1     0
Age 26 to 45     0     1
Age 16 to 26     0     0
Age 10 to 16     0     1
Age under 10     2     2

See National Archives microcopy 33, roll 109, p 33. The number of persons and their ages is reasonably consistent with the Bible record of Joseph Hale's family:

Name     Born     Age
Joseph Hale, 5 MAY 1776, age 44
Ruth Robinson Hale, 2 NOV 1785, age 34
Harriet Hale, 30 SEP 1803, age 16
Thomas Hale, 30 SEP 1807, age 12
Joseph Hale, Jr., 14 JAN 1810, age 10
Rebecca Hale, 18 MAR 1813, age 7
David Hale, 14 OCT 1816, age 3,
Hannah Hale, 10 JAN 1819, age 1

The only significant discrepancy is that the census record does not account for Thomas Hale, who would have been 12 years old. Perhaps he died between 1810 and 1820 or was living in someone else's household.

The Philadelphia City Directory, published by McCarthy & Davis in 1821, lists Joseph Hail, carter, residing on "Arch west of Schuylkill Third." This record would seem to indicate that Joseph Hale was back in the city in 1821. Perhaps. However, it is more probable that this address was based on information collected more than a year before the directory was published and before Joseph Hale moved to Penn Township of Philadelphia County.

Between 1823 and 1837, there is only one listing for a Joseph Hale - in 1824. Is this our Joseph Hale or another person? We do not know.

Year     Directory Publisher     Listing
1822     None available
1823     DeSilver        None for Joseph Hale
1824     ?                      Joseph Hail, milkman, Abbot's Garden Gray's Ferry Road
1825     Wilson           None for Joseph Hale
1826     None available
1827     None available
1828     DeSilver      None for Joseph Hale
1829     DeSilver      None for Joseph Hale
1830     DeSilver       None for Joseph Hale

According to the 1830 Census of Pennsylvania, there were three Hale households headed by men named "Joseph". One of these was the Joseph Hale who resided in Catawissa Township of Columbia County. Another was a Joseph Hale (perhaps Joseph Hale, Jr.) who resided in Union Township of Berks County. The other Joseph Hale resided in Penn Township of Philadelphia County, with the following persons in his household as of June 1, 1830:

Age     Males     Females
Age 60 and over     0     0
50 to 60     1     0
40 to 50     0     1
30 to 40     0     0
20 to 30     0     0
15 to 20     0     1
10 to 15     0     1
5 to 10       1      2
0 to 5          0     0

See National Archives microcopy FM 19, roll ___, p 182. The number of persons and their ages is reasonably consistent with the Bible record of Joseph Hale's family assuming that the older children not accounted for were no longer living in Joseph's household:

Name, Birthdate, Age, Not accounted for *
Joseph Hale, 5 MAY 1776, age 54
Ruth Robinson Hale, 2 NOV 1785, age 44
Harriet Hale, 30 SEP 1803, age 26,  *
Thomas Hale, 30 SEP1807, age 22,  *
Joseph Hale, Jr., 14 JAN 1810, age 20,  *
Rebecca Hale, 18 MAR 1813, age 17
David Hale, 14 OCT 1816, age 13,  *
Hannah Hale, 10 JAN 1819, age  11
Mary Hale, 19 JAN 1821, age 9
Martha Hale, 19 JAN 1821, age 9
Isaac Hale, 28 MAR 1823, age 7

Joseph Hale is not listed in any of the Philadelphia city directories until 1837 when two Joseph Hales are listed.

Year     Directory Publisher     Listing
1831      DeSilver         None for Joseph Hale
1832      None Available
1833      DeSilver           None for Joseph Hale
1834      None Available
1835-6   DeSilver           None for Joseph Hale
1837     DeSilver        Joseph Hale, lab., South by Gray's Ferry Road
                                      Joseph Hale, lab., St. John Ab. Beaver
1838     None Available
1839     A. M'Elroy       Joseph Hale, Cedar op Sch. Beach
1840     A. M'Elroy       Ruth Hale, dealer, 111 South Front

Since no index of the 1840 Census of Pennsylvania has yet been published, we will have to search the entire microfilm of the Philadelphia Census to locate his record. We have not yet had time to do this. However, we have searched the microfilm of Penn Township of Philadelphia County. He is not recorded in this township in 1840.

Joseph Hale died 4 March 1841. Thereafter, there is no directory listing of a Joseph Hale until 1847. The Ruth Hale who is listed in the directory is believed to be Joseph's widow.

Year     Directory Publisher     Listing
1841     A. M'Elroy      Joseph Hale, lab., Rear 4th N. Creek
1842     A. M'Elroy      Ruth Hale, Cedar N. Sch. Beach
1843     None Available
1844     A. M'Elroy      Mrs. Ruth Hale, Cedar n. G. Ferry Road
1845     A. M'Elroy      Mrs. Ruth Hale, Cedar n. G. Ferry Road
                                        Ruth Hale, 36 Coates al.
1846                               Ruth Hale, 36 Cedar ab. Ashton
1847     A. M'Elroy      Joseph Hale, lab., Alden ab. Poplar
                                        Ruth Hale, 36 Coates Al.
1848     A. M'Elroy      Ruth Hale, Nichols Av.
1849     A. M'Elroy      Ruth Hale, 6 Courtlin Pl.
1850     A. McElroy     Ruth Hale, 6 Courtlin Pl.
1851     ?                        Joseph Hale, boatman, Alder ab. Girard Av.

Ruth Hale's name does not appear in the index to household heads in the 1850 Census. However, a "Ruth Haile", age 55, was recorded in the household of John Hasson of Cedar Ward. Since our Ruth Hale would have been 64 when the 1850 Census was conducted, we do not know if this was our Ruth Hale. See Nathioanl Archives microcopy 432, roll 812, p 88.

When the 1860 Census was taken, Ruth Robinson Hale was living with her daughter, Martha - who by then was married to her second husband, Jacob F. Ayres - at East Earl Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. They probably resided at the small community of Spring Grove where a forge was located. The household consisted of:

Name, Age, Occupation
Jacob Ayers, age 65, Forgeman
Martha, age 35
John S., age 21, Forgeman
Rebecca A., age 4
Harriett M., age 2
Martha E. age 7/12 [seven months]
Ruth Hale, age 75

Since Martha was born in 1821, her age was actually 39 rather than 35, but the other ages jibe with Bible records. John S. was John Sharp, Martha's son by her earlier marriage, who was born 10 MAY 1838. The three younger children were daughters of Jacob and Martha. According to the census record, all these persons were born in Pennsylvania. Jacob Ayres owned no real estate, but his personal estate was valued at $120. Moreover, according to the census, he could neither read nor write. See National Archives original, v 35, p 5.

We are not certain where Ruth Robinson Hale is buried. Gravestones of Joseph Hale who died in 1841, his wife, Ruth, who died in 1867, their daughter, Martha, who died in 1897, and her second husband, Jacob Ayres, who died in 1881, are arranged side-by-side in the churchyard of Hibernia Methodist Church, West Brandywine Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania. The old church was built about 1840 or 1841, approximately two miles north of Wagontown, probably to serve the families of the men who worked at Hibernia Iron Works. This iron works or furnace was erected in 1785 and abandoned in 1880. The site of the iron works, including the old Methodist church and its graveyard, are now part of Chester County's 721-acre Hibernia Park.

If Joseph Hale and his wife, Ruth, are actually buried beside Jacob and Martha Ayres, it is remarkable considering the span of time involved. The four markers are of the same size, design, and stone and the characters were apparently engraved by the same stonecutter. Mrs. William B. (Rhoda Yost) Russell recalls that her grandmother, Mrs. William (Julia Ann Sharp) Yost, told her she had replaced the original stones. Perhaps she did. On the other hand, perhaps the stones for Joseph and Ruth Hale represent memorials rather than grave markers. The Hale gravestones at Hibernia read:

Joseph Hale
1776 - 1841

Ruth R. Hale
1785 - 1867

However, the record book of Ronaldson's Cemetery, a photostat copy of which is held by the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, contains an entry for Joseph Hale, who died 4 March 1841, age 73, of bronchitis. (See p. 164.) Between 1803 and 1854, the sextons of Philadelphia cemeteries filed reports with the Health Office listing decedent's name, date, and cause of death, age, attending physician and place of burial. These returns, now held by the Philadelphia Department of Records, included a report from the sexton of Ronaldson's Cemetery for Joseph Hale, who died 4 March 1841, age 55, of bronchitis. Attending physician was Dr. D. Harlan. While these two cemetery records and the Bible record differ as to age at death, they are almost certainly for the same person since it would seem too much a coincidence that more than one Joseph Hale died in Pennsylvania on the same date.

With respect to Ruth Robinson Hale, we have found no such conflicting records. However, we have not yet determined where she was residing in 1867. If Jacob Ayres had moved to Hibernia Iron Works from the forge at Spring Grove by 1867, it is probable that she was buried in Hibernia Methodist churchyard. If not, she probably is not buried there.

SOURCES:

[a.] The genealogy of Joseph Hale (1776 - 1841) and his descendants was researched and written by John William Diederich (1929 - 2006). [The genealogy was transcribed in 2011 by Denise Diederich.]

[b.] The Hale family bible is referenced throughout this Hale family history as the Hale family bible, the Family bible, or the Ayers-Wynn-Littlefield Bible.

[c.] TRANSCRIPTION of a copy of a letter from Florence Whiteman to Mr. and Mrs. William G. Andes, dated 9 DEC 1951.
[Transcription August 2011 typed by Denise Diederich from typed copy of letter found in J. W. Diederich's genealogical notes.]
"Coatesville, Pa.
Sunday, Dec. 9th, 1951
Dear Bill & Elsie
We were very glad to hear from you folks. And I want to say how thrilled we were to see you'ens last year at the shore.
We appreciated your staying over that week end to spend it with us at Florence & Oscars cottage.
Well, between Ed & I we have gathered together some information enough maybe to let you know where we Haled from.
Nathan Hale came from England, we do not know when nor how old he was when he came to this country. But they say he left a fortune behind him. Great grand mother, I have heard, used to tell grandmother Ayers about it. She rec'd papers from England about it but there were not money enough in the family nor knowledge to make an investigation about it.
However, in 1776, Nathan Hale enlisted in G. Washington's army, was captured and executed as a spy.
When the British occupied Manhattan, Washington continually needed knowledge of Howes plans. He called for volunteers, so Nathan volunteered to get the information, was captured and hanged as a spy.
His last words were: I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country. You have as I studyed that in our history lessons and our chests swelled with pride for his heroism.
He had a son -- Joseph. He was born 1776 & died May 4th, 1941. We don't know where born, nor where he lived.
His wife's name was Ruth born Nov. 2, 1785 died Aug. 4th 1867.
They both are buried in Hibernia cemetery.
Born to them were two girls, Mary & Martha. Mary married John Layard. And born to them were two girls, Rebecca & Martha. Rebecca married Henry Nuse, and Martha married a man by the name of Sharp. (She being your grandmother). Born to them were Joseph, Julia, John, Lincoln, Harriet, and one other child who with Lincoln & Harriet died with diptheria when young.
I do not know what happened to Martha Sharp's husband, but she remarried, this time to Jacob Ayers. They had two girls, Rebecca (my mother) and Ellen. Rebecca as you know married Reuben Whiteman. And Ellen married Harry Wynn.
Uncle Joseph Sharp & Uncle John both fought in the civil war.
John in civilian life was an engineer on the railroad, and was killed at his work. Uncle Joe turned to steel mill work. So there you have it as much as we know.
Let's be seening [sic] you sometime. Love to both from both of us -- Florence.
[Transcript of a copy of an additional sheet with the foregoing letter from Florence and it is in the same handwriting as the letter]
Joseph Hale: Born May 5, 1776 - Died May 4, 1841
Ruth Robinson Hale: Born November 2, 1785 - Died Aug. 4, 1867.
Jacob Ayers: Born April 10, 1794 - Died October 15, 1881
Martha Sharp Ayers: Born January 19, 1821 - Died March 29, 1897
ALL BURIED IN HIBERNIA CEMETERY
______
Reuben Whiteman: Born Jan 30, 1848 - Died Sept 10, 1921
Rebecca Whiteman: Born August 12, 1840 - Died October 16, 1938
ELVERSON CEMETERY
_______
Joseph Sharp: Born Nov. 5, 1847 - Died April 14, 1928
Fairview cemetery I presume Coatesville
______
Julia Sharp Yost: Born September 8, 1841 - Died March 19, 1929
Buried Parkesburg
______
Ellen (Ayers) Wynn and Harry Wynn buried at Nantmeal"
END OF TRANSCRIPTION.

RUTH ROBINSON name spelling variations include ROBINSON or ROBISON.
Ruth Robinson was the daughter of Samuel Robinson.

Children of JOSEPH and RUTH (ROBINSON) HALE are:

i. HARRIET2 HALE was born. 30 September 1803, at, probably, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.  According to the Family Bible record, "Harriet Hail Was Born September 30th in The Year of our Lord 1803".

ii. THOMAS HALE was born 30 September 1807, at, probably, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.  According to the Family Bible record, "Thomas Hail Was Born September 30th in the year of our Lord 1807".

2. iii. JOSEPH HALE was born 14 January 1810, at, probably, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.

iv. REBECCA HALE was born 18 March 1813, at, probably, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.  According to the Family Bible record, "Rebecca Hail Was Born March 18th in the Year of our Lord 1813."

v. DAVID HALE was born 14 October 1816, at, probably, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.  According to the family Bible record, "David Hail Was Born October 14th in The year of our Lord 1816."

vi. HANNAH HALE was born 10 January 1819, at, probably, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.  According to the family Bible record, "Hannah Hail Was Born January 10th in the year of our Lord 1819."

3. vii. MARY HALE was born 19 January 1821, at, probably, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. She was the Twin of Martha Hale.; d. 31 March 1893, age 72.

4. viii. MARTHA HALE was born 19 January 1821, at, probably, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. She was the Twin of Mary Hale.; d. 29 March 1897, age 76, at Parkesburg, Chester County, Pennsylvania..

ix. ISAAC HALE was born 28 March 1823, at, probably, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.  According to the family Bible record, "Isaac Hail Was Born March 28th in the year of our Lord 1823."

 

Generation No. 2

2. JOSEPH2 HALE (JOSEPH1) was born 14 January 1810 at, probably, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. According to the family Bible record, "Joseph Hail Junr Was Born January 14th in the year of our Lord 1810."  He married ELIZABETH [possibly OLDFIELD, see 1850 Census of Penn District, Philadelphia County.]

In the 1850 Census of Penn District of Philadelphia County, Joseph Hale's family is recorded, as follows:

Name      Age  Sex     Occupation     Birthplace
Joseph Hale    40 M      Laborer     Pennsylvania
Elizabeth        40 F                           Pennsylvania
Sarah Ann      18 F                           Pennsylvania
Ann                   16 F                          Pennsylvania
Joseph             13 M                          Pennsylvania
Franklin          9 M                            Pennsylvania
Elmira              5 F                            Pennsylvania
Sarah Ann Oldfield    60 F             Pennsylvania

Children of JOSEPH and ELIZABETH HALE are:

i. SARAH ANN3 HALE.
ii. ANN HALE.
iii. JOSEPH HALE.
iv. FRANKLIN HALE.
v. ELMIRA HALE.

3. MARY2 HALE (JOSEPH1) was born 19 January 1821 at, probably, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. She was the Twin of Martha Hale.  She died 31 March 1893, age 72 years. She married JOHN LAIRD on August 1846 at, probably, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.

Sources:

[a.]  Maude E. Littlefield, 435 North New Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania, great-great granddaughter of Ruth (Robinson) Hale who was mother of Mary Hale, possesses a bible with the following inscription on the frontispiece:

"Ruth Hail March 11, 1834
To her daughter Martha Ayears
Presented to her daughter Ella Wynn
Presented to Blanche Wynn Littlefield
Presented to her daughter Maude Littlefield"

The bible contains the names of those persons and dates for which it is cited as a reference.

In this bible, the name HALE is consistently spelled HAIL. The name LAIRD or LAYARD is consistently spelled LARE.

[b.]  Hibernia Methodist Church is located on a county road in West Brandywine Township, approximately two miles north of Wagontown.
J. W. Diederich visited the cemetery located in the churchyard on June 9, 1963. There are four small gravestones in the Ayres Plot, inscribed:

Joseph Hale
1776 - 1841

Ruth R. Hale
1785 - 1867

Martha H. Ayres
1821 - 1897

Jacob Ayres
1794 - 1881

The markers are of the same size, design, and stone, and the characters were apparently cut by the same stonecutter. Since they do not appear weathered, they are obviously not the original markers. Mrs. William B. Russell recalls that her grandmother, Mrs. William Yost, told her she replaced the original gravestones.

Ann Rebecca Laird is buried next to her husband, Henry Nuse, in the Nuse plot in the churchyard of Hibernia Methodist Church. Her gravestone is inscribed:

Ann R. Laird
1847 - 1892

The spelling on this gravestone differs from the spelling in the bible referred to above.

[c.]  Newspaper clipping dated August 1925, from the Lancaster (Pa.) ___.

[d.]  LAIRD is spelled as LAYARD in a letter from Florence Whiteman, [great-granddaughter of Ruth (Robinson) Hale whose mother, Rebecca Ann Ayres, was a first cousin of Ann Rebecca Laird], to Mr. and Mrs. William G. Andes. The letter is dated Sunday December 9, 1951, at Coatesville, Pennsylvania.

[e.]  1860 Census of Pennsylvania, Vol. 35, Pg. 5 (161).

[f.]  Mary's birth, marriage and death are recorded in her mother's Bible:

"Mary an(d) Marther Hail Was Born January 19th in the year of our Lord 1821."

"This Is To Certify That John Lare of Philadelphia and in the State of Pennsylvia and Mary Hale of the Same Place Was Maried on the Sixth (might read Eighth - the ink was poorly blotted) day of Augest 1846."

"Mary Lare Died March 31 1893."

John and Mary (Hale) Laird had at least one child, Ann Rebecca, whose birth is recorded in the Bible:

"Ann Rebeca lare Was Born May the 7 In the year of your lord 1847."

She married Henry Nuse and is buried beside him in the Hibernia Methodist churchyard. A large stone marked NUSE contains these inscriptions:

Henry
1825 - 1908

Ann R. Laird
1847-1892

Sara Ann
1852 - 1894

Marshall H.
1877 - 1961

Child of JOHN and MARY (HALE) LAIRD is:

i. ANN REBECCA3 LAIRD, b. 7 May 1847, Pennsylvania; d. 1892, age 45, probably near Wagontown, Chester County, Pennsylvania; m. HENRY NUSE; b. 1825; d. 1908, age 83, probably near Wagontown, Pennsylvania.
ANN REBECCA LAIRD spelling variations include LARE or LAYARD.

Sources:

[a.]   Letter from Florence Whiteman, whose mother, Rebecca Ann Ayres, was a first cousin of Ann Rebecca Laird, to Mr. and Mrs. William G. Andes. The letter is dated Sunday December 9, 1951, at Coatesville, Pennsylvania. In this letter, "Laird" is spelled "Layard".

[b.]   J. W. Diederich visited Hibernia Methodist Church, which is located on a county road in West Brandywine Township, approximately two miles north of Wagontown, on June 9, 1963. There were four graves in the Nuse plot, inscribed:

NUSE
Henry
1825 - 1908

Ann R. Laird
1847 - 1892

Sara Ann
1852 - 1894

Marshall H.
1877 - 1961

[c.]  Bible record from bible owned by Maude E. Littlefield.

4. MARTHA2 HALE (JOSEPH1) was born 19 January 1821 in probably, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. She was the Twin of Mary Hale, and died 29 March 1897, age 76 years, at Parkesburg, Chester County, Pennsylvania. She was buried 2 APR 1897 at Hibernia Methodist Church graveyard at West Brandywine Township, near Wagontown, Chester County, Pennsylvania.  She married (1) JOHN SHARP about 1837 in probably Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. He died between 1847 and 1855. She married (2) JACOB F. AYRES, a widower, about 1855 in Pennsylvania. He was born 10 April 1794 in Pennsylvania, and died 15 October 1881, age 87 years, probably near Wagontown, Chester County, Pennsylvania, and he was buried at Hibernia Methodist churchyard at Chester County, Pennsylvania.

John Sharp also recorded as Captain(?) John Sharp.

[Denise Note: Transcription of bible record by Maude E. Littlefield and by J. W. Diederich list Jacob F. Ayres died Oct. 15, 1880.]

In the 1860 Census of Pennsylvania, Jacob Ayers (sic) is listed in East Earl Township, Lancaster County, with the following persons in his household:

Name, Age, Occupation, Birthplace:
Jacob Ayers, age 65, Forgeman, Pennsylvania
Martha, age 35, Pennsylvania
John S., age 21, Forgeman, Pennsylvania
Rebecca A., age 4, Pennsylvania
Harriett M., age 2, Pennsylvania
Martha E., age 7/12 [seven months], Pennsylvania
Ruth Hale, age 75, Pennsylvania

They probably lived at Spring Grove, site of an iron forge. Note that Martha understated her age by four years. "John S." is John Sharp, born 10 MAY 1838. According to the census taker, Jacob Ayers owned no real estate but possessed $120 worth of personal property. The census taker also noted that Jacob Ayers could neither read nor write. See National Archives Original, v 35, p 5.

The Sharps had at least four children:
John Sharp
Julia Ann Sharp = William Yost
Joseph Sharp = Lizzie ____
Mary Elizabeth Sharp

The Ayres had at least four children:
Rebecca Ann Ayres = Reuben Whiteman
Harriet Matilda Ayres
Martha Ellen Ayres = Henry Harrison Wynn
Jacob A. (Abraham?) Lincoln Ayres

Sources:

TRANSCRIPTION of a death notice which appears to have been cut from a newspaper, source and date published not recorded, the death notice was placed inside the Hale family bible.  The notice listed her son-in-law as William Most, his correct name was William Yost.  [Transcribed August 2011 by Denise Diederich from xerox copy of bible page.]
"Died.
AYERS - In Parkesburg, on March 29, 1897, Martha Ayers, in her 77th year.
Funeral from the residence of her son-in-law, William Most, Highland Avenue, on Friday, April 2d. Meet at the house at 10 a. m. Interment at Hibernia."
END OF TRANSCRIPTION.

Children of MARTHA HALE and JOHN SHARP are:

i. JOHN3 SHARP, b. 10 May 1838, probably, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; d. 9 October 1865, age 27, perhaps as the result of a railroad accident at Pennsylvania.  It is unknown if he married.  According to family tradition, he was a veteran of the civil war and died in a railroad accident after the war.

5. ii. JULIA ANN SHARP, b. 30 July 1844, or 1843 or 1842 at Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; d. 19 March 1929, age 87 years, at Parkesburg, Chester County, Pennsylvania..

iii. JOSEPH SHARP, b. 21 November 1847, probably, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; d. 14 April 1928, age 81, at Caernarvon Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania.; m. LIZZIE.  He was a Civil War veteran and an iron forge worker.  Joseph Sharp was buried at Fairview Cemetery, Coatesville, Chester County, Pennsylvania.

iv. MARY ELIZABETH SHARP, b. 11 July 1850.

 

Children of MARTHA HALE and JACOB AYRES are:

6. v. REBECCA ANN3 AYRES, b. 12 August 1856, probably at Spring Grove, East Earl Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; d. 5 October 1938, age 82, at Caernarvon Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania.

vi. HARRIET MATILDA AYRES, b. 20 April 1858, probably at Spring Grove, East Earl Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; d. 27 October 1865, age 7, of diphtheria, at Pennsylvania.  Harriet Ayres never married.

7. vii. MARTHA ELLEN AYRES, b. 26 September 1859, probably at Spring Grove, East Earl Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; d. 5 September 1915, age 56Y, at Pennsylvania.

viii. JACOB A. LINCOLN AYRES, b. 5 April 1861, probably at Spring Grove, East Earl Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; d. 5 November 1865, age 4, of diphtheria, at Pennsylvania.  Jacob A. Lincoln Ayres' middle name was possibly Abraham.  AYRES also spelled AYERS.  He never married.
Sources:
[a.]  Ayres-Wynn-Littlefield Family Bible owned by Miss Maude E. Littlefield, 435 North New Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania.
[b.]  Letter from Florence Whiteman dated 9 December 1951.

Martha (Hale) Sharp Ayers.
Portrait taken at Parkesburg, Pennsylvania, it is undated but was taken before her death at age 76 in March 1897.

 

Generation No. 3

5. JULIA ANN3 SHARP (MARTHA2 HALE, JOSEPH1) was born 30 July 1844 [or 1843 or 1842] at Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, and died 19 March 1929, age 87 years, at Parkesburg, Chester County, Pennsylvania.  She was buried at Upper Octorara Cemetery in Sadsbury, Chester County, Pennsylvania, near Parkesburg.She married WILLIAM YOST 13 August 1859 in Spring Grove, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Reverend Christian Gingride (or Gingrich?) officiated.  WILLIAM YOST was born 20 March 1839 at Windsor, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the son of Clifford and Elizabeth (Silknitter) Yost.  He died 11 March 1926, age 87 years, at Parkesburg, Chester County, Pennsylvania.  He was buried at Upper Octorara Cemetery in Sadsbury, Chester County, Pennsylvania, near Parkesburg.
More information about the marriage of William Yost and Julia Ann Sharp on 13 August 1859:
The iron master of the forge (probably Cyrus Jacobs) where William Yost worked provided the wedding feast. At the time of their marriage William Yost was 20 and his bride was 16.

Sources:

[a.] TRANSCRIPTION of newspaper article titled CHILDREN TO GATHER AT GOLDEN WEDDING
[Transcribed August 2011 by Denise Diederich, a xerox copy of newspaper article found in black binder labeled "Hale - Sharp Family History". The copy of the article does not include source or date of publication, however, the originial article might be found in the genealogy files of J. W. Diederich. Information in the article indicates it was probably published in 1909. Above the article is a photograph of Mrs. Yost with two children, and an inset photograph of Mr. William Yost.]
"MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM YOST, WHO WILL OBSERVE ANNIVERSARY.
CHILDREN TO GATHER AT GOLDEN WEDDING
Parkesburg Pair Celebrate Fiftieth Anniversary as Man and Wife Next Friday
WILL BE REMARRIED
Seven children and eighteen grandchildren are expected to congratulate Mr. and Mrs. William Yost, of 436 Strawsburg avenue, Parkesburg, Friday night, August 11, when they celebrate their fiftieth wedding anniversary with a reception and remarriage.
Mr. and Mrs. Yost were married in Spring Grove, Lancaster county, August 13, 1859, and for many years have lived in Parkesburg, where they are well known. Mr. Yost, who is 70 years old, recently retired because of his failing sight. Mrs. Yost is 66 years old. Seven of their eight children are living, and are as follows: John E. Yost, of Parkesburg; Mrs. Lizzie Andes, of Philadelphia; Mrs. Emma Shellender, of Parkesburg; William C. Yost, of Stuart, Iowa; Mrs. Clara McGuigan, of Parkesburg; S. S. Howard Yost, of St. Ignatius, Mont., and Mrs. S. F. Abbott, of Parkesburg.
Mrs. Yost's grandfather was a nephew of Nathan Hale, the Revolutionary martyr, and her great-grandfather, Samuel Robinson, built the first bridge across the Schuylkill river at Market street, which was opened to the public in 1801.
The reception will be held from 6 to 9 o'clock, and several hundred persons will attend. The Rev. A. S. Wilson, rector of the Episcopal church at Parkesburg, will marry the pair for the second time."
END OF TRANSCRIPTION.

[b.]  TRANSCRIPTION of newspaper article titled PARKESBURG COUPLE MARRIED SIXTY YEARS, published in THE NORTH AMERICAN newspaper, [probably The North American: (Philadelphia, Pa.) published from 1876 - 1925 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania], date of article 10 August 1919. A photo of Mr. and Mrs. William Yost was published above the article and captioned "Married Sixty Years" in all capitals.
[Transcribed August 2011 by Denise Diederich, xerox copy of newspaper article found in J. W. Diederich's genealogical research in black binder labeled "Hale - Sharp Family History". A separate PDF file copy of the original article dates it 10 August 1919.]
"PARKESBURG COUPLE MARRIED SIXTY YEARS
Mr. and Mrs. William Yost to Observe Anniversary With Children
Mr. and Mrs. William Yost, 436 Strawsburg avenue, Parkesburg, will observe their sixtieth wedding anniversary next Wednesday with an all-day celebration. They will entertain their seven children, twenty-one grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
In the evening a reception for the couple will be held at the home of their daughter, Mrs. S. F. Abbott, 806 Second avenue, Parkesburg. Mr. Yost is 80 years old and Mrs. Yost, 76. They have lived in Parkesburg for many years.
Mr. and Mrs. Yost were married in Spring Grove, Lancaster county, August 13, 1859. Seven of their eight children are living. They are Mrs. Elizabeth Andes Beck, of this city; Mrs. Emma Shellender, Wilmington; William C. Yost, Stuart, Iowa, and Mrs. Clara McGuigan, S. S. Howard Yost, John E. Yost and Mrs. S. F. Abbott, Parkesburg.
Mrs. Yost's grandfather was a nephew of Nathan Hale, the revolutionary martyr, and her grandfather, Samuel Robinson, built the first Market street bridge across the Schuylkill, opened for traffic in 1801."
END OF TRANSCRIPTION.

[Denise Note: These articles which include the family legend that Mrs. Julia Ann (Sharp) Yost was a descendant of Nathan Hale, are referenced in the history of her ancestor, Joseph Hale. J. W. Diederich researched the genealogy of Nathan Hale and disproved the idea that this family is descended from Nathan Hale.]

Children of JULIA SHARP and WILLIAM YOST are:

8. i. JOHN ELLSWORTH4 YOST, born 3 July 1862, Spring Grove, East Earl Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; died 17 June 1944, age less than a month before his 82nd birthday, at Parkesburg, Chester County, Pennsylvania.

9. ii. MARTHA ELIZABETH YOST, born 2 April 1865, or 1864 at Spring Grove, East Earl Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; died 4 January 1924, age 59 years, at Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.

iii. EDWARD WINFIELD YOST, born 21 March 1866, Spring Grove, East Earl Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; died 13 February 1867, age about 11 months, at Pennsylvania.  He was buried at (Welsh Episcopalian) church cemetery at Churchtown, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania  Edward Winfield Yost did not marry.  

iv. MARY EMMA YOST, born 22 April 1868, Pennsylvania; died 1 March 1959, about two months before her 91st birthday.  She was buried at Upper Octorara Cemetery in Sadsbury, Chester County, Pennsylvania, near Parkesburg.  She married CALVIN SHELLANDER.  Calvin and Mary Emma (Yost) Shellender had no children.

10. v. WILLIAM CLIFFORD YOST, born 28 July 1869, probably at Spring Grove, East Earl Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; died 28 July 1938, on his birth day, age 69 years, of lung cancer, at Valley Junction (now West Des Moines), Polk County, Iowa..

11. vi. CLARA MATILDA YOST, born 4 January 1874, Pennsylvania; died 29 May 1961, age 87 years.

12. vii. SAMUEL HOWARD YOST, born 22 October 1875, Pennsylvania; died 15 September 1937, about a month before his 62nd birthday.

13. viii. SUSAN FLORENCE YOST, born 5 August 1877, Pennsylvania; died 4 June 1972, age 95 years, at Orlando, Orange County, Florida..

 

6. REBECCA ANN3 AYRES (MARTHA2 HALE, JOSEPH1) was born 12 August 1856, probably at Spring Grove, East Earl Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and died 5 October 1938, age 82 years, at Caernarvon Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania.  She was buried at Methodist Episcopal Cemetery at Elverson, Chester County, Pennsylvania.  She married REUBEN L. WHITEMAN. He was born 12 August 1848, and died 10 September 1921, age 72Y 11M 2D, probably at Elverson, Chester County, Pennsylvania.

[Note: Information in letter from Florence Whiteman to Mr. & Mrs. William G. Andes lists her parents' dates as:
"Reuben Whiteman: Born Jan 30, 1848 - Died Sept 10, 1921
Rebecca Whiteman: Born August 12, 1840 - Died October 16, 1938
ELVERSON CEMETERY"]

J. W. Diederich lists dates as:
"Reuben Whiteman: born 12 August 1848 - died 10 September 1921
Rebecca Ann Ayres: born 12 August 1856 - died 5 October 1938"

[Denise Note: Rebecca Whiteman's death date of October 16, 1938 was recorded in J. W. Diederich's 1963 version of this family's genealogy. However, this date was changed to October 5, 1938 in J. W. Diederich's 1991 version.]

[Denise Note: The birth dates in Florence Whiteman's letter are different than what J. W. Diederich lists in the genealogy. Reuben Whiteman's birth date may not be correct in the genealogy. I calculated from his death date on 10 September 1921, age 72Y 11M 2D, that his birth date was 8 October 1848.]

AYRES also spelled AYERS.

The Whitemans probably had several children, however there is only one known child.

REUBEN and REBECCA (AYRES) WHITEMAN had one known child:

i. FLORENCE4 WHITEMAN.  She married ASHTON RAY.

 

7. MARTHA ELLEN3 AYRES (MARTHA2 HALE, JOSEPH1) was born 26 September 1859, probably at Spring Grove, East Earl Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and died 5 September 1915, age 56 years, at Pennsylvania.  She was buried at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church Cemetery at Nantmeal Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania.  She married HENRY HARRISON WYNN. He was born 28 March 1854 in Pennsylvania, the fifth known child of William and Hannah Wynn.  He died 14 October 1931, age 77Y 6M 6D, at Pennsylvania.  He was buried at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church Cemetery at Nantmeal Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania.

MARTHA ELLEN AYERS also known as MARTHA ELLA.

Sources:

[a.]  Ayres-Wynn-Littlefield Family Bible owned by Miss Maude E. Littlefield, 435 North New Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania.

[b.]  Letter from Florence Whiteman dated 9 December 1951.

Children of MARTHA AYRES and HENRY WYNN are:

i. BROOK4 WYNN, born 18 June 1880 at East Nantmeal Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania; died 9 December 1947, age 67 years.
Sources:
[a.]  Hale Family Bible owned by Miss Maude E. Littlefield, 435 North New Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania.
BROOK spelled BROOKE in Bible.
[b.] Letter from Florence Whiteman dated December 9, 1951.

14. ii. MARTHA BLANCHE WYNN, born 2 August 1881 at East Nantmeal Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania; died 18 February 1956, age 75 years, after an illness of fourteen months, at home at 435 North New Street, West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania.

 

 

Generation No. 4

 

8. JOHN ELLSWORTH4 YOST (JULIA ANN3 SHARP, MARTHA2 HALE, JOSEPH1) was born 3 July 1862 in Spring Grove, East Earl Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  He died 17 June 1944, age less than a month before his 82nd birthday, at Parkesburg, Chester County, Pennsylvania.  He was buried at Methodist Cemetery at Atglen, Chester County, Pennsylvania.  He married HANNAH ELIZABETH TOWNSLEY on 3 July 1884 in Coatesville Methodist Church at Coatesville, Chester County, Pennsylvania.  She was born 5 February 1866 in Hibernia, Chester County, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Reuben and Sara (Gillespie) Townsley.  She died 9 August 1950, age 84 years, at Parkesburg, Chester County, Pennsylvania.  She was buried at Methodist Cemetery at Atglen, Chester County, Pennsylvania.

HANNAH ELIZABETH TOWNSLEY also known as LIZZIE.

John Ellsworth Yost was a forgeman and a nurseryman at Parkesburg. He was prominently connected with the Methodist church at Parkesburg and was a member of the official board.

Source:

[a.]  Information about the family of John Ellsworth and Hannah Elizabeth (Townsley) Yost was provided by their daughter, Rhoda Elizabeth (Yost) Russell.

JOHN ELLSWORTH and HANNAH (TOWNSLEY) YOST had three children:

i. RALPH HERBERT5 YOST, born 23 May 1885 at Springton Forge, Pennsylvania; died 30 September 1894, age 9 years, at Elwyn, Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

ii. BLANCHE ETHEL YOST, born 29 August 1887 at Parkesburg, Chester County, Pennsylvania; died 4 November 1979, age 92 years, at Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; married HARVEY MAHLON RESSLER on 26 November 1909 at Parkesburg, Chester County, Pennsylvania.  Blanche Ethel (Yost) Ressler resided (before her death) at 503 Rosemont Avenue, Parkesburg, Chester County, Pennsylvania.

iii. RHODA ELIZABETH YOST, born 11 January 1902 at Parkesburg, Chester County, Pennsylvania; married WILLIAM BUFFINGTON RUSSELL on 4 October 1961 at Atglen, Chester County, Pennsylvania.  Rhoda Elizabeth (Yost) Russell resided (before her death) at 502 Rosemont Avenue, Parkesburg, Chester County, Pennsylvania. [Info dated 1975.]

 

9. MARTHA ELIZABETH4 YOST (JULIA ANN3 SHARP, MARTHA2 HALE, JOSEPH1) was born 2 April 1865 (or 1864) at Spring Grove, East Earl Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and died 4 January 1924, age 59 years, at Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. She was buried at Camden, Camden County, New Jersey.  She married, first, JOHN HOWARD ANDES on 15 August 1888, possibly at Parkesburg, Chester County, Pennsylvania. He was born February 1866, the son of David Gardner (?) and ____ (Lovett?) Andes.  He died 30 September 1950, age 84 years, at Beatty, Nye County, Nevada.  The marriage of Martha Elizabeth Yost and John Howard Andes ended in divorce.  She married, second, M. L. ANDREW BECK.
MARTHA ELIZABETH YOST also known as LIZZIE.
The Andes had two children.
The Becks had no children.

[Denise Note: as of 5/10/10 John Howard Andes is not listed in the Desert Hills Cemetery online, this is the only known cemetery in Beatty, Nevada.)  He probably died at Beatty, Nevada, and was buried elsewhere.]

JOHN HOWARD and MARTHA ELIZABETH (YOST) JOHN ANDES had two children:

i. WILLIAM GARDNER5 ANDES was born 20 August 1889 at Devon, Chester County, Pennsylvania.  He married ELSIE SERENE METZGER on 7 September 1909 at Sarah D. Cooper Methodist Church, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.  She was born 22 November 1889 at Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.
Source:
TRANSCRIPTION of page titled "COPY labeled "Hale Diary" in J. W. Diederich genealogy research black binder labeled "Hale - Sharp Family History" [Original might be found elsewhere in file notes.]  [Transcribed August 2011 by Denise Diederich.]
"COPY labeled 'Hale Diary'
WILLIAM G. ANDES, son of Martha Elizabeth Yost Andes
1. I am the son of John Howard Andes, [who was] born on February 1866 at _______
died on September 30, 1950, at Beatty, Nevada,
and married August 15, 1888, to
his first wife Martha Elizabeth Yost, born on April 2, 1865 at Spring Grove, Pa
died on January 4, 1924, at Philadelphia
2. The said Martha Elizabeth Yost was the child of William Yost, born March 20, 1839,
at Windsor, Penna, died on March 11, 1926, at Parkesburg, Pa. and
his wife Julia Sharp born September 8, 1843, at Philadelphia, Pa; died on
March 19, 1929, at Parkesburg, Pa. This couple married Aug. 13, 1859, Spring Grove
3. The said Julia Sharp was the child of John Sharp born __ at ___
died on ___ at ___ and
Martha Hale born on January 18, 1821, at ___
died on March 29, 1897, at ____
4. The said Martha Hale was the child of Joseph Hale born on May 5, 1776,
at ___; died on May 4, 1841, at ____ and
Ruth Robinson, born on November 2, 1785, at __; died August 4, 1867, at ___
_________________
A slip of paper enclosed has the following notations (origin I know not)
John Sharp, captain of ship - father of Julia; married Martha who had a twin Mary Hale
Children: John (?? shouldn't this have been Joseph)
Julia Ann
Jacob Ayers' children by first wife: Mary (Webb) and Agnes (Sloan ) (no mention of John)
Martha Hale Sharp married Jacob Ayers and her children by Ayers were:
Rebecca
Ellen"
END OF TRANSCRIPTION.
William Gardner Andes was an accountant and attorney.  He and his wife moved from Philadelphia in June 1952 to Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California.
Elsie Serene Metzger is a descendant of Captain Jacob Metzger of Conestoga, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

ii. CHARLES LOVETT ANDES was born 1 September 1890 at Pennsylvania.  He died 13 March 1958, age 67 years.

 

10. WILLIAM CLIFFORD4 YOST (JULIA ANN3 SHARP, MARTHA2 HALE, JOSEPH1) was born 28 July 1869 probably at Spring Grove, East Earl Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  He died 28 July 1938 on his birth day, age 69 years, of lung cancer, at Valley Junction (now West Des Moines), Polk County, Iowa.  He was buried at Resthaven Cemetery at West Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa.  He married HANNAH ELIZABETH RUSSELL on June 1895 (or July 1895) at the parsonage of All Saints Roman Catholic church at Stuart, Guthrie County, Iowa. Reverend Foley officiated.   She was born 12 September 1876 in Stuart, Guthrie County, Iowa, the daughter of Abraham and Mary (Kennefic) Russell.  She died 22 March 1940, age 63 years, of a heart attack, at West Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa.  She was buried at Resthaven Cemetery at West Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa.

After their marriage, Will Yost continued to work in Stuart, Iowa, for several years and their first two children, Charles Clifford and Alice Florence, were born there.

About 1902, Will returned to Pennsylvania and probably settled initially at Parkesburg, Chester County, where his parents were living. His grandson, J. William Diederich, has a leather-bound notebook inscribed "W. C. Yost, Parkesburg, Penna. 1902." He apparently began working at an iron forge at Crum Lynne, Delaware County, by March 1902 as this notebook contains a record of the number of blooms and weight of the iron made each day from 24 March through 14 October 1902. Following this record is the notation, "Wages made at Crum Lynne from March 24th until October 14, 1902. $563.57. Number of Blooms made at Crum Lynne: 1394." Their son, William Abraham, was born at Crum Lynne.

We don't know where he went from there but in late 1903 he began working in a meat market at Spring City, Chester County. The next entry in his notebook is "Spring City 12/28/03" and reflects the number of hogs bought, their weight and price paid during the period from 28 December 1903 through 30 January 1904. Their daughter Martha Elizabeth was born at Spring City in October 1904. Except for a few addresses, the remaining pages of the notebook are blank.

In 1905, Will Yost brought his family back to Stuart where he went to work for the Rock Island railroad and eventually became a conductor on a branch freight run. In 1909, he was transferred to Valley Junction (now West Des Moines), a Rock Island division point. From then until his retirement in 1937, he was conductor on the Rock Island freight service from Valley Junction to Council Bluffs, Iowa, which was the length of the division run.

In 1920, he decided he would like to become a dairy farmer. He sold their nine room modern home at Valley Junction for $4,500 and put $4,000 down on a 80-acre farm near Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wisconsin. He moved his wife and five youngest children from Valley Junction to the farm where he planted a garden and bought a horse, cow and some chickens. He also bought a Model T Ford so that his oldest son could drive the children to Ladysmith to attend the parochial school operated by the Servite fathers.

However, except for a 90-day leave of absence from the Rock Island railroad in the summer of 1921, he remained in Iowa. His job as conductor on the Rock Island paid well considering that wages were greatly reduced throughout the country because of a severe recession. The wages of trainmen and engineers remained stable because of the strength of their labor union and the job of conductor was an important one. His responsibility was analogous to that of a ship's captain -- he was in charge of his train.

In October 1924, he was seriously injured in a train wreck and while recuperating began to plan the construction of a new home on 12th Street in Valley Junction where he had purchased five city lots. With his good income and the wages contributed for a year and a half by his daughter Alice, he obtained a loan from a local savings and loan company to build a house on the center lot of the five lots.

Of dutch colonial style, the house had a large reception hall with open staircase, a 28-foot living room with fireplace and book shelves, formal dining room, kitchen and four bedrooms. It originally cost $6,500 but by 1929 he had increased his investment in the property to $10,000 and paid off the debt. He landscaped the adjoining lots and planted many different decorative trees and shrubs, three different species of grapes and many fruit trees. At long last, he realized his ambition to be an amateur horticulturist. The home place became his entire life and he looked forward to retirement when he could just enjoy it entirely from morning till night. Normally, he would have retired at age 70 but he became ill in 1937 and retired then. Thus he had only one short year to enjoy the fruits of his labor, and was sick most of that year.

Source:

[a.]  Biographical information about the family of William Clifford and Elizabeth Hannah (Russell) Yost supplied by their daughter, Alice Florence (Yost) Diederich.

[b.]  Notebook of William Clifford Yost.

WILLIAM CLIFFORD and HANNAH ELIZABETH (RUSSELL) YOST had seven children:

i. CHARLES CLIFFORD5 YOST was born 13 March 1896 at Stuart, Guthrie County, Iowa.  He died 21 December 1967, age 71 years, at West Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa.  He was buried at Resthaven Cemetery at West Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa.  He married MARGARET EIDEN on 9 June 1920 at Chicago, Cook County, Illinois.

ii. ALICE FLORENCE YOST was born 17 June 1900 at Stuart, Guthrie County, Iowa.  She died 7 December 1985, age 85 years, at Wisconsin.  She married JOSEPH CHARLES DIEDERICH on 5 September 1928 at Valley Junction (now West Des Moines), Polk County, Iowa.  He was born 29 June 1895 at Wisconsin.  He died 17 August 1993, age 98 years, at Wisconsin.
Before Alice's death, she and Joseph Charles "Charlie" Diederich resided at 43 East Elm Street, Chippewa Falls, Chippewa County, Wisconsin 54729.
Joseph Charles and Alice Florence (Yost) Diederich had six children, all born in Wisconsin.

iii. WILLIAM ABRAHAM YOST was born 21 September 1902 at Crum Lynne, Delaware County, Pennsylvania.  He died 13 December 1967, age 65 years, at Brooklyn, Poweshiek County, Iowa.  He was buried at Calvary Catholic cemetery at Brooklyn, Poweshiek County, Iowa.  He married MARYA WUNNICKE.

iv. MARTHA ELIZABETH YOST was born14 October 1904 at Spring City, Chester County, Pennsylvania.  She died 27 May 1974, age 70Y, at Visalia, Tulare County, California.  She married GENE C. GRAY on 14 April 1928 at Valley Junction (now West Des Moines), Polk County, Iowa.  GENE also known as EUGENE.

v. MARY LORETTA YOST was born 12 May 1907 at Stuart, Guthrie County, Iowa.  She married VINCENT EARL WILLIAMS on 10 April 1926 at Valley Junction (now West Des Moines), Polk County, Iowa.
Mary Loretta (Yost) Williams was last known to reside at 928 12th Street, West Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa 50265. [Dated 1991.]

vi. GEORGE RUSSELL YOST was born 8 July 1909 at Stuart, Guthrie County, Iowa.  He died 7 August 1963 at Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa.  He was buried at Glendale Cemetery at Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa.  He married MARY HUNNELL on 27 October 1930 at Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa.

vii. LAWRENCE EDWARD YOST was born 5 September 1911 at Valley Junction (now West Des Moines), Polk County, Iowa.  He married, first, UNKNOWN.  He married, second, FLORENCE EDITH GOODMAN on 15 August 1952 (or 1953) at Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa.
Resided at 1112 Drouchas Court, East 12th Street, Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa. [Information dated 4 May 1991.]

 

11. CLARA MATILDA4 YOST (JULIA ANN3 SHARP, MARTHA2 HALE, JOSEPH1) was born 4 January 1874 in Pennsylvania, and died 29 May 1961, age 87 years.  She married WILLIAM MCGUIGAN.

She lived at Parkesburg, Chester County, Pennsylvania but later moved to Swedesboro, Gloucester County, New Jersey where her husband was in charge of the municipal water plant.

WILLIAM and CLARA MATILDA (YOST) MCGUIGAN had five children:

i. EDNA5 MCGUIGAN.

ii. AGNES MCGUIGAN.

iii. FLORENCE MCGUIGAN.  Resided at Hillside Farms, Swedesboro, Gloucester County, New Jersey. [Information dated 1964.]

iv. WILLIAM HAROLD MCGUIGAN was born 9 February 1901.  He married NELLIE.
WILLIAM HAROLD MCGUIGAN also known as BUD.
Resided at 120 Hessian Avenue, Woodbury, Gloucester County, New Jersey. [Information dated 1991.]

v. LESTER CALVIN MCGUIGAN was born 24 November 1904.

 

12. SAMUEL HOWARD4 YOST (JULIA ANN3 SHARP, MARTHA2 HALE, JOSEPH1) was born 22 October 1875 in Pennsylvania, and died 15 September 1937, about a month before his 62nd birthday. He married LUCY KOHR.

They lived alternately at St. Ignatius, Lake County, Montana; at 436 Strasburg Avenue, Parkesburg, Chester County, Pennsylvania; and at Elk, Spokane County, Washington.

Lucy Kohr was a full-blooded American Indian.  Samuel Howard and Lucy (Kohr) Yost, through adoption, had one child.

SAMUEL HOWARD and LUCY (KOHR) YOST had one child:

i. LEOTA5 YOST.  Marriages of Leota Yost are unknown, however, she did marry and had at least one daughter named Zoe.

 

13. SUSAN FLORENCE4 YOST (JULIA ANN3 SHARP, MARTHA2 HALE, JOSEPH1) was born 5 August 1877 in Pennsylvania.  She died 4 June 1972, age 95 years, at Orlando, Orange County, Florida.  She was buried at Upper Octorara Cemetery in Sadsbury, Chester County, Pennsylvania, near Parkesburg.  She married HENRY A. ABBOTT.  HENRY A. ABBOTT, also known as HARRY, was born 8 March 1881 in Jersey City, New Jersey, the son of James and Charlotte (McCaskey) Abbott.  He died 14 August 1945, age 64Y 5M 6D, of carcinoma of bladder due to cancer of prostate gland, at 5:35 a.m. at home at 800 Wheeling Avenue, Glen Dale, Marshall County, West Virginia.  He was buried at Parkesburg Cemetery at Parkesburg, Chester County, Pennsylvania.
SUSAN FLORENCE YOST also known as SUE or SUSIE F. ABBOTT.
She was residing at The Penthouse, Chafin Building, Huntington, Cabell County, West Virginia in 1963.

Sources:

[a.]  Information provided by James Henry Abbott, son of Henry A. and Susan Florence (Yost) Abbott.

[b.]  Marshall County, West Virginia Certificate of Death, no. 9255, Dist. No. 260, Serial No. 182, Image 0000261, and Indexed Register of Deaths - Marshall County, W. Va., page 1, Image 00005, issued for HARRY ABBOTT. The death certificate lists his wife as Susie F. Abbott. He worked for Wheeling Steel Corp.

HENRY A. and SUSAN FLORENCE (YOST) ABBOTT had four known children:

i. JAMES HENRY5 ABBOTT was born 8 August 1904 at Parkesburg, Chester County, Pennsylvania.  He married SYRELINE JEANNETTE PRICE on 3 May 1928 at Monticello, Drew County, Arkansas.
Resided at 801 Pine Street, Crossett, Ashley County, Arkansas 71635. [Information dated 1975.]

ii. JULIA RUTH ABBOTT was born 13 February 1906 at Parkesburg, Chester County, Pennsylvania.  She died 21 February 1973, age 67 years, at De Land, Volusia County, Florida.  She married FRANK SCHUYLER RUSH on 25 November 1926 at Coatesville, Chester County, Pennsylvania.

iii. GEORGE MILLICK ABBOTT was born 20 February 1908 at Parkesburg, Chester County, Pennsylvania.  He married, first, GLADENE PARR.  He married, second, UNKNOWN.
Resided at 197 Crescent Avenue, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky. [Information dated 1975.]

iv. ROBERT HOLLINGER ABBOTT was born 1 December 1916 at Parkesburg, Chester County, Pennsylvania.  He married MARTHA JANE KENDT.
Resided at The Penthouse, Chafin Building, Huntington, Cabell County, West Virginia. [Information probably dated 1963.]

 

14. MARTHA BLANCHE4 WYNN (MARTHA ELLEN3 AYRES, MARTHA2 HALE, JOSEPH1) was born 2 August 1881 in East Nantmeal Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania.  She died 18 February 1956, age 75 years, after an illness of fourteen months, at home at 435 North New Street, West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania.  She was buried at St. Andrew's Episcopal Cemetery.  She married FRANKLIN P. LITTLEFIELD about 1905.  He was born 4 December 1879 in Birchrunville, West Vincent Township, Chester County, Pennyslvania, the son of Franklin and Elizabeth (Keffer) Littlefield.  He died 9 August 1961, age 82 years, at Memorial Hospital at West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania.  He was buried at St. Andrew's Episcopal Cemetery.

Sources:

[a.]  Ayers-Wynn-Littlefield Family Bible owned by Miss Maude E. Littlefield, 435 North New Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania.

[b.]  Letter from Florence Whiteman dated December 9, 1951.

[c.]  Obituaries and funeral notices from Bible, transcribed as follows:

[Transcribed August 2011 by Denise Diederich, from a xeroxed copy page of the death notices, source of notices not recorded. All of the notices appear to be cut from a newspaper. The notices do not always include date or source of news.]

TRANSCRIPTION of Obituary for Mrs. Blanche (Wynn) Littlefield:
Written by hand above the obituary:
"Died - 2/18/56
Burial - 2/21/56"
Newspaper article:
"Obituaries
Mrs. Frank P. Littlefield
M. Blanche Littlefield, wife of Frank P. Littlefield, died this morning at her residence, 435 N. New st., after an illness of some 14 months. She was in her 75th year.
A resident of West Chester since 1910, Mrs. Littlefield was born in East Nantmeal township, daughter of the late Harry and Ella Ayers Wynn. Prior to moving here, much of her life was spent in West Vincent township.
She was a member of the Baptist Church, the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Fame Fire Co. and the Dames of Malta, Coatesville. Mrs. Littlefield and her husband, who survives her, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last November.
Two daughters, Misses Maude and Mabel Littlefield, both at home, survive."
END OF TRANSCRIPTION.

TRANSCRIPTION of Funeral notice cut from newspaper:
"LITTLEFIELD - On February 18,1956, M. Blanche, wife of Frank P. Littlefield, in her 73th year.
Relatives and friends of the family, also Ladies Auxilary of the Fame Fire Co., and Dames of Malta, Coastesville, Pa. are invited to attend the funeral at the Harold A. Famous Funeral Home, 101 S. Church St., West Chester, Pa. on Tuesday, February 21st at 2 P.M. Internment St. Andrew's Cemetery.
Friends may call Monday evening."
END OF TRANSCRIPTION.

TRANSCRIPTION of Funeral notice cut from newspaper:
Handwriting at top: "Died Feb 18 1956"
"Funerals
MRS. FRANK P. LITTLEFIELD
Funeral services for M. Blanche Littlefield, wife of Frank P. Littlefield, of 435 N. New st., took place yesterday at 2:00 p.m. from the Harold A. Famous funeral home, 101 S. Church st., with Rev. Malcolm J. MacQueen, pastor of the Baptist Church, in charge.
Internment was in St. Andrew's Episcopal Cemetery where pallbearers included Harry Riehl, Hugh Nolan, John B. R. Heed, Clarence Trythall, Thomas Stauffer and William B. Haines, Sr.
In addition to many friends, the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Fame Fire Company and the Dames of Malta, of Coatesville, called at the funeral home on Monday evening. The organizations also held services.
There were many beautiful flowers evidenced and the funeral was largely attended."
END OF TRANSCRIPTION.

TRANSCRIPTION of Obituary for Franklin P. Littlefield, originally published in the DAILY LOCAL NEWS at West Chester, Pennyslvania, Thur., Aug. 10, 1961:
"Franklin P. Littlefield, 81, 435 N. New st., West Chester, husband of the late Blanche Wynn Littlefield, died late yesterday afternoon at the Memorial Hospital, West Chester.
Born at Birchrunville, Dec. 4, 1879, he was a son of the late Franklin P. and Elizabeth Keffer Littlefield.
Mr. Littlefield was in the painting trade 48 years. Upon coming to West Chester in 1910, he was associated with John Hetherington, painting contractor, for a number of years.
He started his own contracting business after leaving Mr. Hetherington, and was forced to retire 18 years ago because of illness.
Mr. Littlefield was a Baptist. He was a member of the Fame Fire Co., Eden Commandery No. 321, Knights of Malta; Mohican Tribe No. 1, Improved Order of Red Men; the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge No. 908, all of West Chester.
He is survived by a daughter, Miss Maude Littlefield, with whom he resided."
END OF TRANSCRIPTION.

TRANSCRIPTION of Funeral Notice for Franklin P. Littlefield, original source unknown, probably the DAILY LOCAL NEWS at West Chester, Pennyslvania. Note the change in age from 81Y in the obituary to 82Y in the funeral notice, it was probably a miscalculation or transcription error, based on the obituary information, he was calculated age 81Y 8M 5D at the time he died:
"LITTLEFIELD - On Wednesday, August 9, 1961, Franklin P., husband of the late M. Blanche Wynn Littlefied, in his 82nd year.
Relatives and friends of the family and all organizations of which he was a member are invited to attend the funeral from the Harold A. Famous Funeral Home, 101 S. Church St., West Chester, Pa., on Monday, August 14, at 2 P.M. Interment St. Andrew's Episcopal Cemetery. Friends may call Sunday evening."
END OF TRANSCRIPTION.

[Denise Note: St. Andrew's Episcopal Church at Ludwig's Corner is located at 7 Saint Andrew's Lane, Glenmoore, Pennyslvania 19343, in Chester County. Presumably this is the location of St. Andrew's Episcopal Cemetery, but I have not visited there.]

FRANKLIN P. and MARTHA BLANCHE (WYNN) LITTLEFIELD had two daughters who were twins:

i. MAUDE E.5 LITTLEFIELD was born 18 April 1905, the daughter of Franklin P. and Martha Blanche (Wynn) Littlefield.  She was the twin of Mabel.  She never married.  She died 1978, probably at West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania.  [Maude E. Littlefield died 1978, about age 73Y, and she was buried at Saint Andrews Cemetery, West Vincent, Chester County, Pennsylvania. See Memorial # 32709636 at Findagrave.com, created by Gina Gaddis, which does not include source of information.]

Sources:

TRANSCRIPTION of an original typed letter, in its entirety, from Maude E. Littlefield to Alice (Yost) Diederich, dated 8 MAR 1963.  
[Transcription typed by Denise Diederich August 2011 of letter filed by J. W. Diederich in black binder labeled 'Hale - Sharp Family History'.]
[Written in pencil on top margin of the letter: "Bill - This is a grand dtr of Ella Ayers Wynn"]
[DENISE NOTE: Bill was J. W. Diederich; the notation written by his mother, Alice (Yost) Diederich, who gave him the originial letter from Maude E. Littlefield, whom Alice is referring to as a grand dtr of Ella Ayers Wynn.]
"435 N. New St.,
West Chester, Pa.
Fri. eve. Mar. 8, 1963
Dear Alice: -
It was a great surprise, but a real pleasure to get a letter from you, but I may say I do not know you. I am really poor when it comes to relationship. Sometimes I don't know who I am myself, can get so confused.
I too must ask you pardon my delay. But a neighbor on the corner quite elderly, in the upper eighties, lost her husband, and she asked me to take charge of the funeral, with what little she could see and do. Her hearing very bad, and the eyes getting to same stage, everybody around quite concerned about her there herself. Has a son, but where is unknown. So I have been for quite sometime been running in most every day, to check on her, and bring things from the store for her. But when she asked me to help with the funeral, hated to refuse, but it gave quite a shake up, as I had not been to any funeral since father has gone. He was quite an intimate friend of our family, and he and daddy would take walks together both with their canes, so this brought back very close memories.
I had gotten a letter from Ruth Abbott Rush only a couple days before yours arrived, so I have gotten the real old family Bible out and will make a copy of everything in it I can find, and at the same time make a carbon copy, so you may both have exactly the same. I am afraid I won't have all you want, but give you what I have. Seems once up to second cousin, I am lost, so I don't know what you would be to me.
I was quite anxious to open your letter, as I did [sic] think I knew anyone in your town, just who! is this from.
When Sue Abbott was in the Cotter Home had made a few visits, and when she mentioned Ruth, I had to ask her name, otherwise would not have known her either, just a faint recollection of her name but would not know her to see on the street or at my door. Bob had grown, did not know him, only one Sat taried to see him, as Sue had asked me to do. Neither one of us knew each other until she straightened us both out. I can only remember him hardly able to reach up and hang on side of car door. Sure has reached up high now.
I am completely alone here, Mother gone, sister 11 months later, and a year last August father taken away. I can't get adjusted at all, have some very long, days and nights to get thru. As you know it was always I and my sister doing and going places together. Never had out-side close friends, if you understand what I mean. We were always kept together, in everything we did.
Sure having a miserable wet week this week, Mon Tues & Wed. but yet I guess we are much better than some of the other people, when we read about their troubles. While we have not had too much snow at a time, but often, we have had an unusual cold winter, I mean cold lasting periods, on top of that so much virus, some the real old fashion grip.
I only had a pretty bad cold week before Xmas, but wander [sic] how I escape worse, when so many at the office are out and especially in the factory section. Have not gone to church a couple of times, to avoid being in a crowd, which is one place I think you can get the sickness, in any crowd.
I am afraid Ruth Robinson I cannot give you too much information on, as I only find her name and birth and death dates. But never the less you are getting what I have, and able to find out. Some names in the Bible I never heard of. The name Hale as you spell it, has the spelling of Hail.
I am writing this at the office during noon hour, as it is pouring down rain, I mostly go out at the noon hour, but seems senseless to go out a day like this. So may have to add more at home from time to time.
It seems since I sat down to get this information all summed up, time has gotten by considerable. I am sure I do not have all you want, in fact looks incomplete. Mostly births and deaths.
I may have it down a little confusing, but you maybe able to figure it out, once you get the information from the other folks.
Some of the names you mention I can only find birth and dates, no connections of mariages. Only the one marriage is shown.
Very sincerely,
Maude E. Littlefield" [signed in pen]
END OF LETTER

TRANSCRIPTION of typed page created by Maude E. Littlefield and was enclosed with the letter dated 8 MAR 1963.
[Maude created columns which probably reflect how the information was recorded in her Family Bible, but I am not going to use columns in this transcription. Otherwise all the information is exactly as she gave it, to the best of my ability. Transcription by Denise Diederich in August 2011.]
"I will start with myself or my own family.
Maude E. Littlefield and Mabel E. Littlefield, we are twin sisters, and daughters
of Franklin P. and Martha Blanche Wynn Littlefield.
Martha Blanche Wynn Littlefield was daughter of Henry Harrison Wynn, son of William & Hannah Wynn. He died Oct. 14, 1931, age 77 yrs, 6 mos. 6 days.
Henry Harrison Wynn had sisters and brothers.
William Wynn died Feb. 25th. 1875, age 57 yrs, 6 mos. 13 days
Hannah Wynn wife of William Wynn died Mar. 26, 1886, age 72 yrs
Warren L. [or T., was typed with overstrike.] Wynn son of Wm. & Hannah Wynn died July 29, 1903, age 47 yrs 11 mo. 17 days
Aletta L. Rex daughter of Wm. & Hannah Wynn, died Oct. 16, 1909, age 64 yrs. 5 Mo. 29 day[s]
Mary A. Whiteside, daughter of Wm. & Hannah Wynn, died Feb. 15th. 1910, age 66 yrs. 22 day[s]
Margaret Rettew daughter of  [originally quotation marks, meaning Wm. & Hannah Wynn], Mar. 3, 1914, age 67 yrs 10 Mo. 25 d[ays]
Mary Ann Wynn daughter of Wm. & Hannah Wynn, born Jan. 19, 1844
Aletta Wynn " " " " Apr. 17, 1845
Margaret Wynn " " " " May 6, 1847
Wm. Henry Harrison Wynn son of Wm. & Hannah Wynn born Mar. 28 , 1854
Warren Thurston Wynn born Aug 12, 1855 (//////) this clear, I (found it rewritten)
James Wynn son of Wm. & Hannah Wynn born Dec. 1849
Now turning to another page -
Joseph Hail died Mar. 5, 1841
Albeart Ford died July 5, 1854
Harriet Jane Ford; died Aug. 28, 1854
Mary Ehebeart Ford died Sept. 10, 1854
John Sharp died Oct. 9, 1865
Harriet Matilda Ayers died Oct. 27 1865
Jacob A Lincoln Ayres, died Nov. 5, 1865
Mary Lare died Mar. 31, 1893, (Looks like this name)
Martha Ella Ayres died Sept. 5, 1915, 56 yrs of age (My grandmother)
Mrs. Hannah Wynn died Mar. 26, 1887, 72 yrs.
Ruth Hail died Aug. 4, 1867
Jacob F. Ayres died Oct. 15, 1880
Brooke Wynn born June 18, 1880 (This was brother to mother)
died Dec. 4, 
Martha Blanche Wynn born Aug. 2, 1881 (my mother)
died Feb. 18, 1956
Martha Ayers died Mar. 29, 1897
buried from son in law Wm. Yost Apr. 2
Samuel Wynn funeral was July 30, 1897

John Sharp born May 10, 1838
William Henry Thompson born May 28, 1841
Juley Ann Sharp born July 30, 1844
Ann Bebea Lare born May 7, 1847 (Don't know & [middle name] not clear)
Joseph Sharp born Nov. 21, 1868
Rebecca Ann Ayres born Aug. 12, 1856
Harriet M. Ayres born Apr. 20, 1858
Martha Ellen Ayres born Sept. 26, 1859
Jacob A. Ayres born Apr. 5, 1861

Joseph Hail born May 5, 1776
Ruth Robinson born Nov. 2, 1785
Thomas Hail born Sept. 30, 1807
Harriet Hail born Sept. 30, 1803
Joseph Hail born June Jan. 14, 1810
Rebecca Hail born Mar. 18, 1813
David Hail born Oct. 14, 1810
Hannah Hail born Jan. 10, 1819
Mary and Martha Hail born Jan. 19, 1821
Isaac Hail born Mar. 28, 1823

Under Mariages : - 
John Lare of Phila. & Mary Hale of
of same place were maried Aug. 6, 1846
(This date hardly legible), I may be wrong)
(No other mariages are recorded)
I only remember uncle William Yost and aunt Julia, also Johnny Yost, altho not so well
I somehow or other remember uncle Wm. & Aunt Julia much better.
I don't know any farther than them, but of course Rhoda & Blanche

The Bible is noted in front  Ruth Hail Mar. 11, 1834
then next to her daughter Martha Ayers
then presented to her daughter Ella Wynn
then presented to Blanche Wynn Littlefield
then presented to her daughter Maude Littlefield

My grandfather was Henry Harrison Wynn and married Martha Ella Ayres

[End of TRANSCRIPTION]

NOTES added by Denise Diederich:

[1.]  Maude E. Littlefield was included in a photo of employees in a printed program of Denney-Reyburn Co. Retirees Luncheon at the Treadway Inn on May 17, 1977. See Peirce collection notes on the Denney Tag Company 1884-1991 of Riggtown, West Chester, Pennsylvania, compiled by Jim Jones and published at courses.wcupa.edu/jones/his480/notes/dennotes.htm

[2.]  Maude E. Littlefield died 1978. about age 73Y, and she was buried at Saint Andrews Cemetery, West Vincent, Chester County, Pennsylvania. See Memorial # 32709636 at Findagrave.com, created by Gina Gaddis, which does not include source of information, probably a gravestone transcription.

ii. MABEL E. LITTLEFIELD was born 18 April 1905 at West Vincent Township, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Franklin P. and Martha Blanche (Wynn) Littlefield.  She was the twin of Maude E. Littlefield.  She never married.  She died 24 January 1957 at 8:00 a.m. after a two week illness, age 51Y, at her home at 435 N. New Street, West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania.

Sources:

TRANSCRIPTION of Obituary published Chester, Pa., Thurs., Jan 24, 1957:
"Obituaries
Miss Mabel E. Littlefield
Miss Mabel E. Littlefield, a resident of this community since 1910, died at 8 a.m. today at her home, 435 N. New st. She was a daughter of Frank P. Littlefield, who survives her, and the late Blanche Wynn Littlefield. She had been ill two weeks and was 51 years of age.
Since graduation from high school, Miss Littlefield was employed in the office of McFarland and Haines, this place, until her death. She was born in W. Vincent twp.
Her memberships were Baptist Church, Dames of Malta, Coatesville; Fame Fire Co. Auxiliary. She was a county committee-woman of the ninth precinct for the Republican Club. Survivors are her father and a twin sister, Maude, at home."
END OF TRANSCRIPTION.

TRANSCRIPTION of Funeral Notice:
"Funeral Notices"
"Littlefield - On Jan. 24, 1957, Mabel E., daughter of Frank P. and the late Blanche W. Littlefield in her 52nd year.
Relatives and friends of the family, also Dames of Malta, Coatesville and Fame Fire Co. Auxiliary are invited to attend the funeral from Harold A. Famous Funeral Home, 101 S. Church St. on Monday, Jan 28, 1957 at 2 P.M.
Internment St. Andrews Cemetery.
Friends may call Sunday evening."
END OF TRANSCRIPTION.

TRANSCRIPTION OF Funeral listing, dated Tues., Jan. 29, 1957:
"Funerals"
MISS MABEL E. LITTLEFIELD
Services for Mabel E. Littlefield took place from the Famous funeral home at 2 p.m. yesterday. The Rev. Robert Gordon, pastor of the Baptist Church of West Chester, was in charge.
Pallbearers were: William B. Haines Sr., John B. R. Heed, Tho-...
...Harry Baumann and Hugh Nolan.
The services were largely attended and there were many floral offerings. Interment was in St. Andrew's Cemetery at Ludwig's Corner.
Numerous friends called Sunday evening when the Fame Fire Co. auxilliary and the Dames of Malta conducted special services."
END OF TRANSCRIPTION.

SOURCES:

Hail-Sharp-Ayers-Wynn Bible Record

The bible [was] in the possession of Ruth Robinson Hail's great-great granddaughter, Miss Maude E. Littlefield, 435 North New Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania.  This transcription was made by J. William Diederich, a great-great-great grandson of Ruth Robinson Hail on 6 July 1969.

[J. W. Diederich's daughter Denise Diederich transcribed his typed transcription in 2011.  No corrections to captialization or spelling was made, assuming that the way it was typed was the way it was recorded in the bible.]

Kimber and Sharpless' stereotype edition.  The Holy Bible, containing the Old and New Testaments, translated out of the original tongues, and with the former translations diligently compared and revised.  With Kanne's marginal notes and references.  To which are added, an index; an alphabetical table of all the names in the Old and New Testaments with their significations, tables of scripture weights, measures, and coins & c.   Stereotype by E. White, New York.  Philadelphia:  Published and sold by Kimber and Sharpless, at their bookstore, No. 8 South 4th-Street.

This edition is not dated but a chronological index on page 760 contains this quotation, "Then the whole sum and number of years, from the beginning of the world unto this present year of our Lord God 1820, are 5794 years, six months, and the said odd ten days."

The inside cover contains these inscriptions (in various handwritings):
"Ruth Hail March 11th 1834
Then next her Daughter Martha Ayers
Then Presented to her Daughter Ella Wynn
Then presented to Blanche Wynn Littlefield
Then presented to her daughter Maude E. Littlefield"

In this bible, the name Hale is consistently spelled, Hail.  The named Laird (or Layard) is consistently spelled, Lare.  The name Ayres is spelled sometimes as Ayres and at other times as Ayers.  Robinson is sometimes spelled Robison.

Births

Joseph Hail Was Born May 5th in The year of our Lord 1776
Ruth Robison she Was Born November The 2 in the year of our Lord 1785
Thomas Hail Was Born September 30th in the year of our Lord 1807
Harriet Hail Was Born September 30th in the year of our Lord 1803
Joseph Hail Junr Was Born January 14th in the year of our Lord 1810
Rebecca Hail Was Born March 18th in the year of our Lord 1813
David Hail Was Born october 14th in The year of our Lord 1816
Hannah Hail Was Born January 10th in the year of our Lord 1819
Mary an(d) Marther Hail Was Born January 19th in the year of our Lord 1821
Isaac Hail Was Born March 28th in the year of our Lord 1823
John Sharp was [born] May 10 in the year 1838
William Henry Thompson was [born] on 28th Day of May 1841
Juley Ann Sharp Was Born July 30 In the year of your Lord 1844
Ann Rebeca Lare Was Born May the 7 In the year of your lord 1847
Joseph Sharp Was Born in November 21 1848
Mary Elizabeth Sharp Was Born in July 11 1850 (This entry was later crossed through)
Albeart and Harreit Jane Ford Born in April 18th 1854 (This entry was later crossed through)
Rebeca ann Ayres was born august the 12th 1856
Harriet M. Ayres Was born April the 26 1858
Martha ellen Ayres was born september the 26 1859
Jacob A L Ayres was born April the 5 1861

Marriages

This Is To Certify That John Lare of Philadelphia and in the State of Pennsylvia and Mary Hale of the Same place Was Maried on the Sixth (might read Eighth - the ink was poorly blotted) day of Augest 1846

Deaths

Joseph Hail Died in March 5th in year 1841 (The day 5 has been crossed out and a 4 written in)
Albeart Ford Died in July 5 1854 (The date August 28 was first written in, then crossed out)
Harret Jane Ford Died in August 28 1854
Marey Elibeart Ford Died in September the 10 1854
John Sharp, Departed this life, October 9th in the [year] of our Lord, 1865.
Harriet Matilda Ayres Died on the 27th day of October, 1865.
Jacob A. Lincoln Ayres Died on the 5th November 1865.
Ruth Hail died in August the 4th 1867
Jacob F. Ayres died Oct the 15 in the year 1880
Brooke Wynn was Born June 18 1880 (the notation died Dec 9, 1947 was written in in another hand)
Martha Blanch Wynn was Born August 2, 1881
Martha Ayers Died March 29 1897 (The month April was first written in, then crossed out)
Mary Lare Died March 31 1893
Martha Ella Wynn died Sept 5 1915 age 56 yrs
Mrs. Hannah Wynn Died March 26, 1886 Aged 72 years

END OF TRANSCRIPTION

TRANSCRIPTION
[Other births and deaths not recorded by J. W. Diederich but recorded in Bible and transcribed by Denise Diederich in October 2011]

Mary Ann Wynn Daughter of Wm and Hannah Wynn was born January 19th 1844.
Aletta Wynn Daughter of Wm and Hannah Wynn was born April 17th 1845(?)
Margaret Wynn Daughter of Wm and Hannah Wynn was born May 6th 1847
Wm Henry Harrison Wynn Son of Wm and Hannah Wynn was born March 28th AD 1854
Warren Thurston Wynn was born August 12th A.D. 1855
James Wynn was born Dec 1849

Obituary notice probably cut from newspaper:
"Died.  AYERS.- In Parkesburg, on March 29, 1897, Martha Ayers, in her 77th year.  Funeral from the residence of her son-in-law, William Most, Highland avenue, on Friday, April 2d.  Meet at the house at 10 a.m.  Interment at Hibernia."

Brooke Wynn son of Harry and Ella Wynn was born June 18th 1880
Blanch Wynn daughter of Harry and Ella Wynn was born Aug. 2th 1881.

From a loose page inserted into the Hail bible (it has the same printing and border as the other pages, so is probably from this bible:
William Wynn Died Feb. 28th 1875 Aged 58 yrs 6 mo. 13 da.
Hannah Wynn wife of William Wynn Died March 26th 1886  Aged 72 yrs.
Warren S. Wynn son of William and Hannah Wynn Died July 29th 1903 Aged 47 yrs. 11 mo. 17 das.
Aletta S. Rex Daughter of William and Hannah Wynn Died Oct. 16th 1909 Aged 64 yrs. 5 mo. 29 das.
Mary A. Whiteside Daughter of William and Hannah Wynn Died Feb 16th 1910 Aged 66 yrs 22 das.
Margaret Retten Daughter of William and Hannah Wynn Died March 3rd 1914 Aged 67 yrs. 10 mo. 25 Days.
Henry Harrison Wynn son of William and Hannah Wynn Died Oct 14 1931.  Age 77 yrs 6 mo 6 days

Notice:
"Yourself and family are respectfully invited to attend the funeral of Samuel Wynn from his residence in East Nantmeal Township on Friday July 30, 1897 at 10.30 o'clock.  Services at St Andrews Interment, at St Andrews Cemetery"

Maude E. and Mabel E. Littlefield Daughters of Frank & Blanche Littlefield Was born April 18 1905.

END OF TRANSCRIPTION.

Extra Notes:
[Denise Note:  The following is genealogical information that was recorded by J. W. Diederich, but was not included in the Joseph Hale genealogy.  T: 8-31-64 refers to the date the information was originally Typed.  I transcribed this information in October 2011.]
TRANSCRIPTION:

T: 8-31-64
CHURCH RECORDS:
Christ Church
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
1709 - 1806
MARRIAGES:
August 17, 1734    Samuel Hale and Sarah Siddels
November 23, 1738  James Hale and Eleanor Fryers
November 17, 1743  Joseph Hale and Ruth Stephens (Stevens?)
July 14, 1768  Alexander Hale and Frances Yorkson
September 29, 1773  Ruth Haild and Allen Langley
August 31, 1782  Jane Hale and Thomas Thomas
May 14, 1795  Barbara Hales and Philip Hockburn
March 24, 1798  Susanna Hales and John Siddons
May 3, 1800  Thomas Hale and Mary Myers
SOURCE:
a.  LINN, John Blair and William H. Egle, M.D.  "Pennsylvania Archives, Lane S. Hart, Harrisburg, Pa., 1878.  Second Series, v VIII, p 110.

T:  8-31-64
CHURCH RECORDS:
First Baptist Church
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
MARRIAGES:
December 31, 1769  Warwick Hale and Mary Crispin
SOURCE:
a.  LINN, John Blair and William H. Egle, M.D.  "Pennsylvania Archives"  Lane S. Hart, Harrisburg, Pa., 1878.  Second Series, v VIII, p 750.

T:  10-28-64
CEMETERY RECORD
Saint Paul's
Philadelphia
Philadelphia County, Pa.
p. 329  G-16  In / memory of / Rebecca Robinson / (another stone against this.)
p.  332  H-18  Robinson (illegible).
              H-19  Mary Robinson.
              H-20  In / memory  of  / Rebecca Connelly / wife of ______ Connelly / formerly widow of Henry Robinson / She departed this life / 20 day of February 1785 / aged 39 years.
             H-21  Henry Robinson.
             H-22  Benj. Robinson.
             H-23  In memory / of / Samuel Robinson / who departed this life / the 20th of January 1824 / in the 56th year of his age / And / Judith (a stone against this, inscription unreadable).
p. 333  H-24  In Memory of / Henry Robinson / who departed this Life / April 18th 1776 / Aged ___ Years.
             H-25  In Memory of / Joseph Son of Samuel and / Ruth Robinson / who departed this / life Aug 17__ / Aged __ Months /  Weeks.
SOURCE:
a.  Anon, "Publications."  Philadelphia, Pa.:  Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania.  Vol. 2, 1902, pp. 329-333.
END OF TRANSCRIPTION

Hale Family Bible scan of copy of bible pages.
[Denise Note:  I scanned the copy of bible pages in October 2011 to a PDF file.  The bible pages were copied by Maude E. Littlefield, probably in 1963, when the copy technology was new, and the copies are not very good.  In order to get a good scan, the pages were scanned as images, and therefore this PDF file is very large, over 5000k, and may take some time to download.]

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