Zebulon Spalding is listed in the honor rolls of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Exactly how he served during the War is unknown except that we know he served as a private in Colonel John Brown's Regiment from 29 June to 28 July 1777. Zebulon was born 3 Sep 1753 in Dover, Dutchess County, New York, the son of Elijah and Elizabeth Spalding. His brother William was my 5th Great Grandfather and was about 20 years older than Zebulon.
But there are other reasons to honor Zebulon Spalding. Zebulon may have been married to a first wife and may have had a daughter according to the 1790 Census. But we know for sure that he married the widow Rhoda Pope (Dewey). Rhoda had 4 children with another on the way when her husband William died in November 1799. Their son William was born on the 23rd of April, 1800. One year later, on William's first birthday, Rhoda married Zebulon Spalding. Zebulon was not a young man at the age of 47, and neither was Rhoda a young woman at 34. They had 5 children together also.
Zebulon and Rhoda lived in the town of Sheffield, in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, not too far north of where Zebulon was born in Dover, Dutchess County, New York. Rhoda was born and raised in Sheffield and lived there all her life. They raised their children, and made a living until Rhoda passed away in April of 1838 at the age of 71. Zebulon outlived her by 2 years and died at the age of 86 in 1840.
We don't know what Zebulon did for a living, although he was raised by a family of hard working farmers, and he had a large family to help support a farm. There were 4 girls and 6 boys among their chilren, and according to the 1820 Census, the family was engaged in agriculture. In 1810 there were 8 children still living with them, and even in 1830 there were 4 boys and 2 girls still living at home. So it appears that Zebulon lived a quiet existence in Berkshire County, Massachusetts.
Zebulon and Rhoda Spalding lived the American Dream. He served in the Continental Army to free his country from the Tyranny of the English King, he made a living the way he wanted to, and together they raised 10 children on the land that they owned and worked themselves. I am honored to be counted among the relatives of Zebulon and Rhoda. They are a good example of why we are Americans, and why we love our country and our families so much. Because of people like them, we also may be able to live our lives the way we want to, free from Tyranny, and free to raise our children in safety and health.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Cousins to William Penn, the Founder of Pennsylvania
William Penn was 2nd cousin to Christiana Penn, who is a direct ancestor to my mother.
William 'Founder of Pennsylvania' Penn (1644 - 1718)
is your 2nd cousin 10x removed
Father of William 'Founder of Pennsylvania'
Father of Admiral Sir William
Father of Giles
Son of William
Daughter of George
Son of Christiana
Daughter of Benjamin
Daughter of Sarah
Daughter of Judith
Son of Phoebe
Daughter of Reuben
Daughter of Lucy
Son of Eliza 'Lizzie'
Son of Franklin B 'Frank'
Daughter of Charles Ernest
Shown above, my 10th Great-Grandfather, George Penn, was the brother of Giles Penn, who was a British Navy man with his own very interesting history. Giles was the father of Admiral Sir William Penn, who was Vice-Admiral of England, and the father of William Penn, Quaker, founder of Pennsylvania. The father of George and Giles was William Penn, born in 1548. George's grandfather, William Penn of Minety (d.1591), must have been quite an important figure for when he died in 1591 it is believed that he was buried in front of the alter at Saint Leonards Church, Minety. A plaque commemorating his life was erected in the church. All evidence of this was destroyed during repairs and alterations at the turn of the 19/20th centuries. But the records of Grandfather William Penn's life are in many places in English history.
Of course the history of William Penn, the founder is available in many places, so I won't go into that.
Once again, it is interesting to find out who our ancestors were, how they lived their lives, what they accomplished and how they obtained a special place in history. We as their descendants would benefit greatly by contemplating the hardships overcome by those who followed their hearts and did not follow the crowd, when it came time to make a decision that would affect the rest of their lives, and the lives of all who would come after them. We learn the benefits of standing up for our beliefs and standing up to those who would cause us harm.
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