GENERATION 1
MATTHIAS HATFIELD was born 1640 in Leyden, Holland, and died April 22, 1693 in Elizabeth City, New Jersey.
He married MARIKIN (MARIE) MELYN August 25, 1664 in New Haven, CT, daughter of CORNELIUS MELYN and JANNEKEN ADRIAENS.
The birth date for Matthias Hatfield varies between different researchers. One source has Matthias being
born August 25, 1624 while another has him being born around 1640. Likewise, his place of birth and parentage is also unknown.
Many researchers believe Matthias is a son of Thomas Hatfield, an Englishman who fled to Holland because
of religious persecution. However, Abraham Hatfield in his "Descendents of Matthias Hatfield" bring up some valid points refuting
this thought. Hatfield writes that an excerpt from the Medical Journal of John Winthrop Jr., states that a Matthias Hetfield
was "an high duchman of dantsick now living in Newhaven hath paine in knee & swelled.....". "Dantsick" may refer to Danzig,
Prussia (Germany). If this is a correct interpretation of this journal (the writing is difficult to transcribe), then Matthias
is probably not a son of Thomas.
The exact date of Matthias Hatfield's immigration to America is unknown. Part of the reason researchers
believe there is a connection between Matthias and Thomas is based on the fact that he was acquianted with Cornelius Melyn
(whose daughter Maria he married) and was probably sponsered by Melyn who was the patroon of Staten Island. Melyn was from
Holland and the only Hatfield (or variation of this name) in Holland at that time was Thomas Hatfield.
According to Abraham Hatfield, the earliest reference to Matthias in America is the Oath of Fidelity of
"Matthias Hithfield" in New Haven (Connecticut) May 1, 1660. Later he went to the newly settled plantation of Arthur Kull
Sound called Elizabeth Town, NJ, and there took the Oath of Allegiance with sixty-four others on February 19th, 1665.
Matthias Hatfield and others were the original "associates" that founded Elizabeth Town. He built a house
in Elizabeth Town in 1673 that remained in the family until the 1880's. In 1677, the First Presbyterian Church of Elizabethtown
was erected on some of his land.
Abraham Hatfield writes "he (Matthias) was a boatsman, as well as a weaver, and seems to have been a man
of considerable means".
?
Will of Matthias Hatfield
Mathias Hartfield this nynteenth day of April one thousand six hundred eighty and fower; my will is that
all Just debts and dues be payed and for the rest of my estate I do will that my wife shall have the whole disposing of the
estate during her lyfetyme. My will is also that my children shall be all equall in their parts of the estate, but my will
is further that if my wife doe marry to change her condition again then she to have one third and the other two thirds to
be equally divided to them children as aforesaid. In Witness hereof I sett my hand this nynteenth day of April one thousand
six hundred eighty and fower.
The mark of Matthias Hattfield (MH)
testified by George Ross and Humphrey Spinige
December the thirteenth day 1687
Some interesting facts are documented regarding Maria Melyn Hatfield's father, CORNELIUS MELYN:
Cornelius Melyn was the Patroon of Staten Island and arrived in New Amsterdam on August 1638 on the ship
"Het Wapen van Noorwegian" ("The Arms of Norway"). Cornelius made at least 12 trips across the Atlanctic in order to secure
his patroonship of Staten Island. Cornelius served as Patroon of Staten Island from 1639 until 1659, also residing at times
in New Amsterdam. In 1656, he lived at what is now the corner of Broad and Stone Streets, New York City. In 1646, he cultivated
the site of Trinity Church, Broadway, New York. He moved to New Haven Conn. around 1659.
Cornelius Melyn, Jochim Kuyter and others held the Director of New Amsterdam, Kieft, responsible for the
havoc wrecked upon the settlers by the Indians. When Petrus Stuyvesant replaced Kieft in 1645, Melyn and others expressed
their desire for Kieft to be held responsible and pay for his mishandling of affairs there. In 1647 Melyn and Kuyter, both
leading members of the Council of Eight, petitioned Stuyvesant for an inquiry into Kieft's policy and behavior during the
Indian War, and that testimony be taken for use in a report to be forwarded to the company in Holland; but the new director,
seeing in it a blow at the sacredness of his office, angrily rejected their petition, with the declaration that "it was treason
to complain of one's magistrates, whether there was cause or not". Later, Kieft, bent on revenge, caused the arrest of the
two burghers on a charge of rebellion and sedition, in that they had complained to the company of his conduct, he saw to it
that they were found guilty at the end of a trial which outraged justice, and then fined and banished both men. "If I was
persuaded," said Stuyvesant, as he denied them right of appeal and announced their sentence, "that you would bring this matter
before their High Mightinesses, I would have you hanged on the highest tree in New Netherland". Melyn and Kuyter, held as
prisoners, were sent back to the Netherlands with Kieft and others aboard the ship "Princess". The "Princess", however, wrecked
off the cost of Wales where Melyn and Kuyter escaped and Kieft drowned. Melyn and Kutyer proceeded to Holland and effectively
pleaded their case before the States General. Melyn was sent back to New Netherland with a safe-conduct from their High Mightinesses,
and bearing a writ which cited Stuyvesant to appear at the Hague and explain his harsh treatment of the two burghers.
Children of MATTHIAS HATFIELD and MARIKIN MELYN are:
i. ISAAC B. HATFIELD, b. 1667; d. October 25, 1709, NJ.
ii. CORNELIUS HATFIELD, b. June 09, 1669, New York City, NY; d. May 22, 1718.
iii. ABRAHAM HATFIELD, b. June 08, 1670, York, New York Co., NY; d. July 17, 1706, Elizabethtown, NJ.
iv. RACHEL HATFIELD, b. 1674.
v. MARY HATFIELD, b. 1674; d. December 17, 1740, NJ.
GENERATION 2
My line actually connects to Mathias through two of his children; Abraham and Mary. I have included both
of their lines from this point forward until they converge at Generation 4.
ABRAHAM HATFIELD was born June 08, 1670 in York, New York Co., NY, and died July 17, 1706 in Elizabethtown,
NJ. He married PHOEBE OGDEN 1695 in Essex Co, NJ, daughter of JOHN OGDEN and ELIZABETH WHEELER.
?
In his will, he states that he is of "Elizabeth Town" (NJ) and states his occupation as a cordwainer. He
mentions his wife, Phebe and his sons Abraham (Jr), Matthias, Joseph, and Jacob. He also mentions his brother Cornelius. His
will was proved July 23, 1706.
Children of ABRAHAM HATFIELD and PHOEBE OGDEN are:
i. JACOB HATFIELD, m. (1) MARY ?; m. (2) ESTHER THOMAS.
ii. ELIAS HATFIELD.
iii. ISAAC HATFIELD.
iv. ABRAHAM JR. HATFIELD, b. 1695; d. May 14, 1745, Elizabethtown, NJ.
v. SUSANNAH HATFIELD, b. 1697.
vi. MATTHIAS HATFIELD, b. 1697, Elizabeth, NJ; d. December 10, 1779, Probably NJ.
vii. JOSEPH HATFIELD, b. 1700.
viii. MARY HATFIELD, b. 1705, Rahway, NJ; d. April 13, 1755, Rahway, NJ.
?
MARY HATFIELD was born 1674, and died December 17, 1740 in NJ. She married RICHARD MILLER, son of WILLIAM
MILLER and HANNAH ?. He was born 1678 in East Hampton, Long Island, NY, and died December 1759 in Elizabethtown, NJ.
Children of MARY HATFIELD and RICHARD MILLER are:
i. SARAH (SALLY) MILLER.
ii. PHEBE MILLER.
iii. APPHIA MILLER, m. SAMUEL SCUDDER; b. 1704, Westfield, NJ; d. August 1777, Elizabethtown, NJ.
iv. MATHIAS MILLER.
v. RACHEL MILLER, d. October 04, 1779; m. ISAAC SCHELLINGER, November 05, 1718.
vi. ANDREW MILLER.
vii. JOANNA MILLER.
viii. MARY MILLER, m. JOHN BRIANT.
ix. BENJAMIN MILLER.
x. RICHARD II MILLER, b. 1703; d. January 05, 1730/31; m. SARAH WILLIAMS.
GENERATION 3
MATTHIAS HATFIELD was born 1697 in Elizabeth, NJ, and died December 10, 1779 in Probably NJ. He married
? LITTLE, daughter of ANTHONY LITTLE and MARY LADNER.
Child of MATTHIAS HATFIELD and ? LITTLE is:
i. JOHN HATFIELD, b. 1731, Elizabeth, Essex Co., NJ.
SARAH (SALLY) MILLER a daughter of RICHARD and MARY HATFIELD MILLER (see above) She married THOMAS ROSS,
son of GEORGE ROSS and HANNAH SPINNING. He was born 1700 in Elizabeth, NJ, and died 1766.
Children of SARAH MILLER and THOMAS ROSS are:
i. PHEBE ROSS.
ii. ELIZABETH ROSS, b. 1728; d. January 22, 1759.
iii. DAVID ROSS, b. 1733, Elizabeth, NJ.
GENERATION 4
JOHN HATFIELD was born 1731 in Elizabeth, Essex Co., NJ. He married PHEBE ROSS in Essex Co., NJ, daughter
of THOMAS ROSS and SARAH MILLER.
Children of JOHN HATFIELD and PHEBE ROSS are:
i. HIRAM HATFIELD, b. April 18, 1769, NJ.
ii. JOHN ROSS HATFIELD, b. April 21, 1770, NJ.
iii. GEORGE LEE HATFIELD, b. June 30, 1771, NJ.
iv. SARAH HATFIELD, b. February 14, 1773, NJ.
v. WILLIAM WASHINGTON HATFIELD, b. June 26, 1775, NJ.
vi. ELIZABETH HATFIELD, b. July 27, 1780, NJ; d. April 23, 1849, Greene Co., PA.
vii. MARGARET HATFIELD, b. August 19, 1783, NJ.
viii. JACOB (SR) HATFIELD, b. March 12, 1786, NJ; d. March 31, 1866, Greene Co., PA.
?
GENERATION 5
JACOB (SR) HATFIELD was born March 12, 1786 in NJ, and died March 31, 1866 in Greene Co., PA. He married
(1) REBECCA MUNDELL 1811 in Greene Co., PA, daughter of ABNER MUNDELL and MARY BARNHILL. She was born March 01, 1792 in New
Castle Co., DE, and died June 13, 1847 in Greene County, PA. He married (2) MARY JANE ? 1853 in Greene County, PA. She was
born 1815 in NJ, and died 1903 in Greene Co., PA.
Jacob was an active member in Goshen Baptist Church in Garard's Fort, Greene Co. PA. His wife's family (the
Mundels) were very prominent members. For some unknown reason, Jacob was excommunicated from the church in 1853. The church
was known for making sure her members fulfilled the complete desires of the congregation. Perhaps his marriage to a younger
woman (Mary Jane Stone; a widow) after Rebecca's death was seen as unappropriate by the congregation.
Jacob is buried in Carmichaels, PA along with both his wives, Rebecca and Mary Jane. His will is recorded
below:
?
Will of Jacob Hatfield
No. 2268
I, Jacob Hatfield, of Monongahela township, Green County and State of Pennsylvania, being of sound mind
and disposing memory do make and execute this my last will and testament hereby espressly revoking any other will or wills
heretofore made by me.
Item. To my beloved wife, Mary Jane, I give and bequeath the interest upon the sum of fifteen hundred dollars
during life to commence immediately after my death. The principal of which sum to be invested by my executors in some safe
security and the interest to be paid to her annually during life or oftener if she needs it, I also give to her one horse,
one bed and bedding, one coverlid, ten dollars worth of cupboard ware if she desires it all of her own selection.
Item. Upon the death of my wife Mary Jane I will and direct that the fifteen hundred which I have directed
to be invested for her use be equally divided among my four sons, Abner, George W., Samuel and Hiram share and share alike,
and in case any of them shall then be dead my will is that the share of such shal go to their children in the same proportion.
Item. To my son, Samuel I devise the tract of land upon which he now resides near Jolleytown in this county.
Item. Immediately after my death or as soon as circumstances will permit I direct that all my real and personal
estate not devised as aforesaid be sold by my executors hereinafter named at public out cry and upon such terms as they shall
deem proper. And I expressly authorize and empower said executors to make and deliver a deed or deeds to the purchaser or
purchasers of the real estate as effectually as I could do if living.
Item. Upon the settlement of my estate and after the payment of all my debts funeral expenses and other
charges and the investment of the fifteen hundred dollars for the use of my wife, the balance I will and direct to be distributed
as follows:
1.- To my son, Abner, one hundred dollars
2.- To my son, George W. one hundred dollars
3.- To my son, Hiram one thousand dollars
4.- To my son, Samuel three hundred dollars
5.- To the children of my son, John, dec'd five hundred dollars
6.- To the widow of my son, Cephas one hundred dollars
7.- The balance remaining after the foregoing devises and legacies are paid I will and bequeath to my son,
Jacob.
Item. I direct that my executors contribute a reasonable sum out of my estate towards repairing the grave
yard on the farm of my son, Abner. I hereby nominate- appoint my son Jacob and Dr. John Laidley, of Carmichaels, Pa., executors
of this my last will and testament.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand to one sheet of page the twenty fourth day of May A.D. 1865.
Jacob Hatfield, Senr
Witnesses: C.A. Black and J. Phelan
GREENE COUNTY ) SS:
Before me, P. Brown, Register of said county came J. Phelan and C.A. Black, the witnesses to this will and
being duly sworn say they were present and saw and heard Jacob Hatfield, Sr., sign, seal, publish, and declare the same as,
and for his last will he being of sound mind and memory at the time thereof and that they signed the same as witnesses at
the request of the testator, and in his presence.
C.A. Black
J. Phelan
Junat: April 5, 1866
Coram. P. Brown, Register.
Registered Apr. 5, 1866, the probate being legally stamped. Same day letters Testamentary issued to Jacob
Hatfield and John Laidley, the executor named in the will.
And now, June 26, 1866, paper purporting to be a copy of the original notice to the executors of Jacob Hatfield,
reading as follows:
"To J.B. Laidley and Jacob Hatfield, executors or the last will and testament of Jacob Hatfield, late of
Monongahela township, Greene County, Penna: You are hereby notified that I decline to accept the provision made in my favor
by the will of my late husband Jacob Hatfield, dec'd and prefer to accept the rights belonging to me by the Intestate Laws
of Pennsylvania"
"Very Respectfully"
"Mary J. Hatfield" (signed)
See paper filed under letter "H" of wills
the same being marked "copy"
Settled to Sept. Term, 1866
Children of JACOB HATFIELD and REBECCA MUNDELL are:
i. ABNER HATFIELD, b. August 12, 1811, Greene Co., PA; d. October 09, 1872, Monongahela Twp, Greene Co.,
PA.
ii. JOHN HATFIELD, b. November 30, 1813, Greene Co., PA; d. December 1842, Tyler Co., VA (WV).
iii. GEORGE W. HATFIELD, b. July 30, 1816, Whitley Twp., Greene Co., PA; d. December 23, 1891, Garards
Fort, Greene Co., PA.
iv. JACOB HATFIELD, b. May 13, 1818, Greene County, PA; d. February 09, 1902, Ritchie Co., Wv.
v. MARY HATFIELD, b. November 25, 1820, Greene Co., PA; d. 1900.
vi. HIRAM HATFIELD, b. March 14, 1824, Ryerson Station, Greene Co., PA; d. November 07, 1887.
vii. SAMUEL HATFIELD, b. September 20, 1825, Greene Co., PA; d. December 1884, Wetzel Co., WV.
viii. CEPHAS HATFIELD, b. March 11, 1830, Greene Co., PA; d. May 25, 1862, Carmichaels, Greene Co., PA.
GENERATION 6
JACOB HATFIELD was born May 13, 1818 in Greene County, PA, and died February 09, 1902 in Ritchie Co., Wv.
He married WILHELMENA EBERHART January 02, 1840 in Greene Co., PA, daughter of FREDERICK EBERHART and SOPHIA RABENACH. She
was born October 26, 1820, and died February 17, 1895. The image on this page is a photocopy of an old photograph of Jacob
Hatfield.
Jacob Hatfield immigrated to West Virginia from Greene Co. PA in 1842. He is shown as the head of the household
in Tyler Co. in the 1850 census record. From later census records, Jacob was in Ritchie County from 1860 until his death.
Jacob F. Hatfield (brother to my great-grandfather Harvey Homer Hatfield) wrote the following about Jacob
Hatfield in his memoirs (see notes on Jacob's son, Abner Hatfield):
"....Shortly after marriage (to Wilhelmena Eberhart) they came to West Virginia and settled near Middlebourne
in Tyler County. From there they came to Cairo (Ritchie Co. WV) and settled on a farm one mile south of Cairo on what is known
today (1953) as the Old Hatfield Homestead. Here they lived until death called them away. Both rest in the Egypt Cemetary
near their home.
Grandfather was long prominent in public affairs. He served as Magistrate at the time Magistrates formed
the County Court. He was a member of the body that organized the State of West Virginia. He and John P. Harris were the delegates
from this county. He was threatened if he went to the Convention which met at Wheeling that he would go at the risk of his
life. He armed himself and went to the Convention. He gave the ground for the Union Baptist Church near Cairo and was one
of the chief builders and pillars. He also played a liberal part in the building of the Central Baptist Church near Goffs
post office.
The community in and about Cairo was the source of supplies of grain and food for the men and their animals
who were building the railroad at the time. Hence it got the name Egypt from the Bible story of the Partiarchs going down
to Egypt to buy grain. The railroad later established a station in the community and called it Cairo, and gradually the community
became known as Cairo. At the present there are but few people speak of it as Egypt. However, the old cemetary (where Jacob
is buried) is still known as Egypt Cemetary.
During the Civil War he served as Captain of the Home Guards. When Jones, a Confederate Gerneral, made his
famous raid through this section of the state, destroying bridges, burning tunnels- which at that time were constructed of
arched wood- driving away cattle, taking horses, and food for the Confederate Army, a detachment of this army passed through
Ritchie County and destroyed bridges and burned all the tunnels, took many horses and cattle. Grandfather saved his team by
keeping them hid in the woods but they took a three-year-old colt that belonged to my father (Abner). Grandfather and his
son, Abner, took their guns and went into the woods across the river form his house. While there one day three Confederate
soldiers came to his home and ordered grandmother (Wilhelmena) to get dinner for them. Grandfather could see them from where
he was located in the woods as they prowled around the place looking for firearms or anything that could be of service to
them. One of them took a paper that was behind the clock on the mantel, read it and then asked where Mr. Hatfield was and
said he would like to see him. They thanked grandmother for their dinner and left. That afternoon grandfather and his son,
while still remaining in the woods, went over to where they could see the railroad. There they saw a group of men standing
near each other while one man appeared to be giving orders. They watched them for a while and then grandfather said 'Let's
fire'. They did, and since the Confedertaes could not tell where the firing was coming from they mounted their horses and
got away as quick as they could.
After the close of the war my father married and began to look for a place to establish his home. At that
time young men were being advised to go west and grow up with the country. So he decided he would go west to see the country
with the view of establishing his home there. In company with his father they went to find a place he thought he would like
to establish a home. They passed through Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois and saw many fine farms. They continued on into Missouri
where they saw much fine laying land for sale but they didn't like the drinking water. After travelling about for some time
they came one evening to the town of Sedalia, here they stopped for the night. While there, being weary from their travels
and not too well pleased with the country, a young woman played an organ and sang "Home Sweet Home". She samg it so well it
made my father homesick. The next morning he suggested that they go home. So that morning they started their trek back to
their home land. Perhaps, if that girl had not sung that song that night, I might have grown up on a western ranch instead
of among the hills of West Virginia.
Soon after their return from the west, grandfather bought 400 acres of land in Murphy District for $4,000.00
and divided it into two farms of 200 acres each, and gave one to my father and the other to Uncle Tome Fordham, who was my
mother's brother and whose wife was my father's sister. Here my father established his home."
Children of JACOB HATFIELD and WILHELMENA EBERHART are:
i. JEREMIAH HATFIELD, b. 1842, Tyler Co, VA (WV); d. 1859.
ii. SAMUEL HATFIELD, b. March 06, 1842; d. March 11, 1921, Ritchie County, WV.
iii. ABNER HATFIELD, b. April 11, 1844, Tyler Co. Wv; d. November 25, 1925, Ritchie County, WV.
iv. MARY ANN HATFIELD, b. August 17, 1846, Middlebourne, Tyler Co., VA (WV); d. November 24, 1920, Goffs,
Ritchie Co., Wv.
v. SARAH JANE HATFIELD, b. December 11, 1848; d. March 16, 1928.
vi. LOUISA HATFIELD, b. May 30, 1851, Cairo, Ritchie Co., Wv (va); d. 1925.
vii. FRANKLIN PIERCE (DR) HATFIELD, b. January 02, 1854, Ritchie Co., Wv; d. June 06, 1910; m. AMELIA MCDONALD,
1878.
viii. JACOB HATFIELD, b. February 28, 1856, Cairo, Ritchie Co., Wv; d. March 04, 1933, Cleveland, Ok.
ix. CEPHAS HATFIELD, b. May 19, 1858; d. January 26, 1931.
GENERATION 7
ABNER HATFIELD was born April 11, 1844 in Tyler Co. Wv, and died November 25, 1925 in Ritchie County, WV.
He married ELIZABETH FORDHAM December 16, 1865 in Ritchie County, WV, daughter of HENRY FORDHAM and SARAH MITCHELL. She was
born June 07, 1846 in Leeds, Near Ferrybridge, Yorkshire, England, and died March 23, 1904 in Goffs, Ritchie Co., WV.
Jacob F. Hatfield, a son of Abner Hatfield, compiled "Memoirs of Jacob F. Hatfield" in 1953 when he was
84 years old.
Jacob writes of his father; "My father was a strong muscular man who labored all his life to clear and improve
his farm, and he was a good provider for his family. He took no active part in politics and he never asked or held an elective
office. The only appointive office he ever held were Election Commissioner and a Trustee of the local school in which he was
always interested. He never failed to cast his ballot at an election. In his religious belief he was a Baptist. Since there
was no Baptist Church near his home he had the Baptist minister cone to his home and preach. I can well remember how mother
used to get us children all clean up, the house in order, and everything arranged for the services. All the chaires were brought
into the main room and father would bring in benches and planks to place around the wall to make seats for the audience. Services
were held alternatively at our home at then at Uncle Tom Fordham's. Later on others became interested and they decided to
build a house to be used as a place to hold church services. My father, with a few of the neighbors, went to the woods, cut
logs and hewed them on two sides and assembled them at the location upon to build the Church. The neighbors came in and they
had a house raising such was common in those days. Grandfather Hatfield (Jacob) largely financed the project and was present
at the raising of the house. The seats in the new building were made by using two poles on each side of the center aisles,
in which holes were bored and wooden pins inserted for legs, and then planks were laid form one to the other. This arrangement
served as the seat on which they sat sometimes for an hour listening to the preacher as he gave his sermon. He preached Heaven
with all its beauties and Hell with all the horrors. Here we had Sunday School about three months each summer. Since the church
was in the pasture field, sheep would crawl under it to keep cool. I well remember how they would run from under it, bumping
their heads against the floor, when we would go into the church. In later years the house was weather-boarded and ceiling
was placed on the inside, and new seats provided.
A regular Baptist Church was organized and named Central Baptist Church. During many years that followed
the church had a regular pastor who came once a month and would preach on Saturday afternoon and this was followed by a church
meeting. Then on Sunday morning we would have Sunday School and preaching. Father served as a Deacon and was one of the chief
supporters during his life-time. In this church he saw all his children converted and become members of the church. Since
his decease more than 25 years ago, his children have all established homes of their own and transferred their membership
to other churches. The church has now been inactive for a number of years, but his influence, as well as that of the church,
will still go on. He lived to see his farm become one of the most cherished farms in the community. Since his passing the
farm has been sold and is now owned by the Goff brothers, who have stocked it with fine Hereford cattle."
Elizabeth Fordham's father was HENRY FORDHAM. Elizabeth's brother, THOMAS FORDHAM, married Abner's sister,
MARY ANN HATFIELD.
Much of the life of Henry Fordham and his family is recorded in the following historical compilation recorded
by his son Thomas.
The following is courtesy of:
Ritchie County Historical Society
1982 Newsletter Vol. 10 No. 2
"WONDERING'S OF A LIFETIME"
Copied from the original manuscript written by Thomas Fordham - Age 77
Thomas Fordham was born May 31, 1843, in a small town Cowick, Yorkshire, England, near to the city of Selby,
near which city my mother was raised. Her maiden name was Sarah Mitchell. Her parents, William and Sarah Mitchell lived on
a farm on what was known as Combleworth Common. Besides farming they made brick and tile. The Common, as it was called was
unfenced and had some growth of brush, which made good harbor for rabbits and birds.
My grandmother was a good kind woman and may happist childhood days was when I could be there. They had
four daughters and five sons. My Mother being the oldest girl and died when I was only about six years of age and she about
twenty-six.
My father, Henry Fordham, was a native of Yorkshire, England, and was a watch and clock maker as was his
father, John Brett Fordham of Knottingley. They made the olde English Brass Clocks, but the German wooden clocks which was
made by machinery and could be sold so much cheaper that it ruined their trade, although they still follow the repair business.
My father was married in 1841 to Sarah Mitchell, to this union five children were born. One died in infancy, two about three
years. Thomas being the second and can just remember his mother. Elizabeth was the fourth who grew to womanhood and married
Abner Hatfield and raised a family of eight. After Mother's death we were then living in England and at a place called Ferrybridge.
Father was again married to my Aunt Hannah Mitchell, to them a son was born named Henry, when he was three months Father immigrated
to the United States. And to show how our plans oft go wrong, or so we think, we were to take a ship to New York and from
there go to Cincinnati. When we got to Liverpool the ship had sailed, so we took another ship to Baltimore, Md., about or
near the middle of May, 1851. My eighth birthday was on the Atlantic Ocean. I well remember the first rock of the ship,
how it scared us children. But many a rock we experienced before we got to this side. One storm that tore a sail or two
into strips and broke one yard arm in two and made a job for the ship's carpenter but strange as it may appear it didn't arouse
me from my sleep and I knew nothing of the storm until the next day. Often we experienced head winds causing the ship to
have to tack about or instead of a direct course we had to go in a Northwest or Southwest direction alternately to gain any
headway. Then a gain would experience calms when there would be little or no wind and the water be perfectly smooth. One
incident I remember was a burial at sea. A man had died on the way. He was sewed up in a canvas and it was said a sack of
coal attached and he was placed on a plank ran over the side of the ship and tipped into the ocean. I don't remember about
any service but most likely there was. We saw Icebergs near the banks of Newfoundland and some cold weather. The sailors
fished some on or about the Banks, but only caught one cod fish. I was looking, watching them draw in the line and saw the
fish taken out of the water. The Captain's wife sent us some after it was cooked, to be sure it tasted good. What a grateful
sight it was when we got into the Chesapeak Bay and up the Patapsco River. The scenery was very fine after being nine long
weeks on the water. We landed in Baltimore about the 23rd of July, 1851. the Captain's name was Chase. Name of the ship
was Athens. He and his wife were very kind to us.
After our arrival in Baltimore, father and another Englishman went ashore and during their stroll they run
across some tomatoes and they looked so nice and red they each bought one thinking they must be good, they were not used to
that kind of fruit. Directly they bit into their fruit and made a very wry face. A little darky saw them and he says say
Mister them things is poisen, so they threw them into the street and the little darky picked them up and ate them himself.
The emigrants at that time was mostly from Ireland, there were several hundred on our ship and only a few
English. One particular was so lively and full of jokes. He kept some of the passengers cheered up when they would be inclined
to be discouraged on account of the long voyage. We were in poor circumstances on our arrival in Baltimore. It had cost
more than was expected as it was expected that the trip wouldn't be over six weeks. Father rented some rooms and before he
could find any work he had a serious spell of fever. Ship fever they called it, but it was about the same as Typhoid. Our
old Captain came in about that time and left ten dollars which was a great help at that time and showed a kind heart. After
he recovered but not entirely well he went out in search of work and took a relapse of the fever, he finally recovered and
found employment in a machine shop. After a time he lost his job and found work with a gas meter company making movements
for the meters, it was a good deal like clock work. He worked for them for near seven years, then came the panic of 1857
which caused hard times and no work for many. Father was out of work. I got a job in a warehouse of potters
at $1.50 per week and me about 14 years old, when I ought to have been going to school.
In 1855 Father's second wife died and he married the following year a Miss B. Ellen Gettier of Baltimore
and the next year 1857 was a hard time for so many was out of work that we began to look for some change. So in early spring
of 1858 father fixed himself up a repair clocks and watches, etc. He took a trip to Western Virginia and went to Parkersburg.
Someone we got to talking with told him of a settlement of English and Scotch back in Ritchie County at Cairo, Egipt, but
how it got the name of Egipt is another story. He had some success and returned to Baltimore and made the necessary arrangements
and moved his family to Cairo where we lived in a small house about three miles below Cairo on the North Fork of Hughes River.
Here I received my first lessons in the use of an axe cutting firewood and spent some idle time fishing and driving a cow
to and from pasture. After 18 months at this place we removed to Calhoun County on a tract of land in 1859, owned by a Mr.
Bennett who was a friend of my Father. I had been there cutting down trees in an unbroken forest but making but little progress
clearing the land. It was very rough and of little account for farming. It was a mistake of inexperience, going into that
backwoods country to try to make a living. I could tell a good deal of our experiences in Calhoun County but it would be
of little or no benefit to anyone. We lived or rather existed there about three years.
As the Civil War was going on in 1863 we removed to Illinois to Sandoval at the junction of the Illinois
Central and the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad's, the latter is now a part of the Baltimore and Ohio System. At that time
it had a six foot gage. We had to travel the first forty-five miles by wagon and was the most of two days going that distance.
On arriving at Ravenswood we had to wait for a boat. Father had a young mare and on account of Gurrillas we went round by
Parkersburg and down the river so in a short time we got our good on a boat and we took passage for Cincinnati, intending
going by railroad to Sandoval. But we found the Goverment had the road to ship troops and supplies west, so we had to take
another boat, the Silver Lake to go to St. Louis and then take the other end of the railroad to get back to Sandoval. The
Family all went by rail except my brother, Henry, and I. We had to take charge of the horse and go over land about sixty
miles, which we did in two days and two nights. The first six miles was across the Mississippi bottom then the land gradually
raised toward the middle of the State, mostly with belts of timber along the streams.
After we got settled I worked for a farmer, a Canadian on a 160 acre farm and helped to stack, thrash and
haul wheat. He had some over 600 bushels, so it took some work, besides about 40 acres of corn. I got along very well, this
was my first real experience in farming. I was well pleased with the country until August when chills and fever commenced.
That summer and fall it was a regular epidemic and I was no exception as I had by share of it. I was hauling wheat at this
time and about five miles and at times I would get overheated and first I began to fell chilly when I went in at the end of
my days work and finally I was laid up. Then my view of the nice country took a change. I didn't have a very good health
that winter. About a week after New Year's we had one of the most severe cold spells which lasted near two weeks. In the
Spring of 1864 Father concluded to go back to W. Va. and started me and Brother Henry back--for what I don't know. We were
to go to Calhoun, however Providence directed it otherwise. We traveled all one night on the fast train to Cincinnati arriving
there in the morning and took a boat to Ravenswood, but we heard so much about the Gurillas on the way we concluded to go
to Parkersburg arriving there in the morning too late for the train east and as there was only one train daily I concluded
we could walk the 30 miles to Cairo rather than to stay overnight in Parkersburg. As we knew nothing of the county Roads
we took the railroad and it was hard walking. When we got to Silver Run Tunnel we thought we would take a near cut to Wm.
Wells on whose place we first lived after coming from Baltimore, but we missed the right path and dark coming on, but we found
we were going down hill so after a while we came in sight of a house and inquired who live there. They said it was Richard
Rutherford's place. That was quite a relief as we were about worn out. They took us in and treated us very kindly and let
us stay a few days until we got rested, then we went up the River to Jas. McKinneys. There the Home Guard was out as some
Gurillas had been seen, but they were gone.
I went to Mr. Jacob Hatfields and rented an old house to have some place to stay. We borrowed some bed
clothes and made a bunk to sleep in. I had contracted a cold and it run into Pneumonia. I sent Henry to Mr. Godfreys with
whom father was well acquainted and while he was gone Mr. Hatfield came in and told me I would have to get out of that or
I would die. He told me I could go to his home, but the Godfreys sent for me to go there, and there I had quite a spell of
sickness. They got a Doctor from Harrisville. I had the daughter to write to father, he answered and said they were all
coming back, which they did in a few days arriving at Cairo and went to live in the house I had rented.
After a time I went to work on the he grading of the cold Calico R.R. that was being constructed from Cairo
to the Ritchie Mines. I only worked about twenty days when I enlisted in the United States Service in the war that was drawing
to its close Sept. 16th 1864 and served nearly nine months when our Regiment was ordered to Wheeling to be mustered out June
10th 1865. We had a fine ride to Wheeling, some in box cars and others on flats. At Wheeling our Regiment made quite a show
sixteen companys and but few of them saw any hard service as they was used as RR guards. Our Colonel was a Mexican veteran
and had lost his right arm in that war, and that was the reason he was given that duty. In February 1865 my father enlisted
in the U.S. Service -- this was the last call for troops in the Civil War.
He moved the family to Cornwallis. About the latter part of May we was ordered to Wheeling to be mustered
out. It took about three weeks to get all necessary papers made out. On the tenth of June we was paid off and mustered out.
We was left to get back home the best we could. We came down the Ohio River on a boat to Parkersburg, thece by rail to Cornwallis.
I worked as a track hand about three months with and Irishman as Boss, then in the Tunnells with Bob Johnson when they was
constructed with heavy timbers. This was on repair work. We moved on the Godfrey farm in the latter part of 1865. Mr. Godfrey
having gone west and we raised a crop of
corn and would have had some wheat but it froze out so bad that there was nothing in the spring.
In June, 1865, I was baptized and received into the Harrisville Baptist Church. In 1866 I worked on the
grading of the Calico R.R. a second time and boarded at Mr. Hatfields awhile & was married on Christmas Day to the oldest
daughter, Mary Ann, and then in the spring of 1867 we moved into a log shanty built in about 4 days by four of us and lived
in it about one year. Here our first child was born. In 1867, we then moved over to the Godfrey farm to raise a crop (1868)
and had good success both in raising and selling the crop. We lived in a small shanty on the bank of the river and so well
hid that the assessor didn't find me, but that was made up the next year. In 1867 I worked in the Tunnels again while they
was being arched one summer and winter. The same summer the Rev. P.A. Woods told Mr. Hatfield of a farm over on the south
fork of the Hughes River of about 400 acres known as the Tibbs Farm that was for sale, owned by George Passmore who had bought
it for oil purposes but the excitement went down leaving it on his hands. It was bought for $4,000.00 and divided between
Abner Hatfield and us, myself and Mary Ann. It had a one and one half story frame and a hewed log of one story which fell
to us in which we lived about four years. We then got out a set of hewed logs and had a raising of some sixteen hands and
put it up in about sixteen feet which was in time ceiled & weatherboarded with a frame leanto of twelve by twenty-six feet
and the main building is 18 X 26 divided into eight rooms. I should of said that we moved to the farm in the early spring
of 1869 and lived on the farm for thirty-two years raising crops with more or less success. The first serious setback in
the summer of 1875 when we had a big flood in the South Fork. We had a good deal of bottom land in corn. It was all destroyed.
We had some floods in after years but not much damage done. One summer later I don't remember the year (1899) we had the
most destructive one we ever experienced. it swept away some houses and one Meeting House & piled lumber and all kinds of
rubish on the lower bottoms of Spruce Creek. And one very dry year when corn made very little unless it was on low ground.
In 1899 we made a visit to Marietta to a Brother-in-law, M.A.L. Gracey who had married my sister Emma J. Fordham and had died
leaving an infant daughter, Doris. My stepmother had gone there to care for her Grand-daughter. Norwood addition had been
laid. We concluded to buy a lot but didn't build until the fall of 1901. The house was finished about the middle of January
1902 and moved in vacating a house that Wm. C. had built for himself which we occupied about three months after we had lived
there three and a half year's times got rather close so we went back to the Farm, renting our Norwood house to a Mr. Woods
for $10.00 per month. He died while away form home. It was afterwards rented to a Mr. Dole in 1906. The house was partly
burned so that it cost $555.00 to rebuild. We remained on the farm and although we had house pattern sawed, lack of time
we didn't build. Although we needed another house as Wm. C. had moved in to assist with the work out here. Mr. Eddy who
occupied the Norwood house got behind with his rent and had to move out. I tried to sell but failed so we thought best to
occupy it ourselves and let our son have the house on the farm. The first 6 years went smoothly, then came sickness to my
wife in the fall and winter of 1916, although she was in serious condition for several weeks she finally recovered but was
not able to stand heavy work such as washing as before that sickness. We went over to the farm in the fall of 1917 and again
in 1918 which was the last trip over there the latter part of Sept. She contracted a severe cold which ran into Bronchitis
and had a sever cough. She got better of that but lost flesh until in the summer of 1919 she only weighted 97 pounds. Sometimes
a little better and other times worse
until 1920 when she was of convulsion and gradually declined until Nov. 24th. She died leaving me all alone
except our youngest daughter was and is with me. It was a sad bereavement to me. We had traveled the pathway of life together
for nearly fifty-four years and it was hard for me to realize that I should see her no more in this life, but my hope is in
the "Great Beyond" and we can sing "How joyful is the thought that lingers when loved ones cross the sea. That when our labors
here are ended with the we'll ever be."
Children of ABNER HATFIELD and ELIZABETH FORDHAM are:
i. WILLIAM HENRY HATFIELD, b. November 11, 1866; d. November 13, 1866.
ii. FANNY W. HATFIELD, b. January 14, 1868; d. November 09, 1940, Goffs, Ritchie Co., Wv.
iii. JACOB FRANKLING HATFIELD, b. December 19, 1869, Ritchie Co., Wv; d. June 29, 1963, Harrisville, Ritchie
Co., WV.
iv. CHARLES EDWIN HATFIELD, b. February 16, 1871; d. August 07, 1946.
v. HARVEY HOMER HATFIELD, b. September 18, 1872; d. September 07, 1957, Ritchie Co., WV.
vi. GRACE ELLEN HATFIELD, b. September 19, 1874; d. November 06, 1961.
vii. FREDERICK ABNER HATFIELD, b. April 11, 1876; d. December 12, 1940.
viii. THOMAS SAMUEL HATFIELD, b. July 16, 1876; d. August 06, 1878.
ix. ANDREW POWELL (ANDY) HATFIELD, b. June 26, 1881; d. February 25, 1971.
x. KITTY HANNA HATFIELD, b. November 20, 1884; d. February 20, 1885.
xi. CLARENCE E. HATFIELD, b. May 01, 1888, Ritchie Co., Wv; d. December 28, 1964.
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GENERATION 8
HARVEY HOMER HATFIELD was born September 18, 1872, and died September 07, 1957 in Ritchie Co., WV. He married
MARY CARSON STULL May 04, 1896 in Ritchie Co., Wv, daughter of JAMES STULL and LUCY CHAMBERS. She was born August 21, 1877
in Greene Co., Pa, and died March 19, 1955 in Ritchie Co., WV.
Children of HARVEY HATFIELD and MARY STULL are:
i. RALPH HATFIELD, b. March 02, 1897; d. October 06, 1983; m. OBRIE QUINN.
ii. RUSSELL W. HATFIELD, b. August 25, 1898, Harrisville WV; d. February 02, 1984, Parkersburg, WV.
iii. CLYDE OTIS HATFIELD, b. May 24, 1900; d. October 24, 1975; m. VONDA GASTON.
iv. DOROTHY HATFIELD, b. January 29, 1902; d. June 16, 1991; m. ORVAL BUTCHER.
v. LENA HATFIELD, b. December 20, 1903; d. December 22, 2002.;m. RUHL NESTOR.
vi. VELMA RUTH HATFIELD, b. August 09, 1906; d. August 03, 1977; m. FRANCIS GEHRING.
vii. JOHN WESLEY HATFIELD, b. June 30, 1909; d. July 18, 1994.
viii. LUCY VIRGINIA HATFIELD, b. June 25, 1910; m. VIRGIL WILLIAMSON.
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GENERATION 9
RUSSELL W. HATFIELD was born August 25, 1898 in Harrisville WV, and died February 02, 1984 in Parkersburg,
WV. He married OSIE JANE TURNER September 19, 1925, daughter of VIRGIL TURNER and LIZZIE BORDER. She was born March 29, 1904
in Petroleum, WV, and died November 20, 1994.
Children of RUSSELL HATFIELD and OSIE TURNER are:
i. WAYNE R. HATFIELD.
ii. JAMES HATFIELD.
iii. EUNICE ANN HATFIELD.
iv. HENRY HATFIELD.
v. HAROLD WILTON "BILL" HATFIELD, b. Mellin, Ritchie Co., WV.
GENERATION 10
HAROLD WILTON "BILL" HATFIELD was born in Mellin, Ritchie Co., WV. He married CAROLYN JEAN STURM in Mt.
Zion, Calhoun Co., WV, daughter of OTHO STURM and HETTIE BRANNON. She was born in Millstone, Calhoun Co., WV.
Children of HAROLD HATFIELD and CAROLYN STURM are:
i. JEFFREY WILTON13 HATFIELD, b. Parkersburg, WV.
ii. CARRIE JO HATFIELD, b. New Martinsville, WV.
GENERATION 11
JEFFREY WILTON HATFIELD was born in Parkersburg, WV. He married LISA KAY NOSS May 15, 1999 in Poplar Hill
Mansion, Salisbury, MD, daughter of JAMES NOSS and KAREN JOHNSON. She was born in Cameroun, Africa.
Child of JEFFREY HATFIELD and LISA NOSS is:
i. KAYLIN JEAN HATFIELD, b. November 09, 2001, Lewes, DE.
?
CARRIE JO HATFIELD was born in New Martinsville, WV. She married BRYAN R. MORTON August 1990 in Millsboro,
DE.
Children of CARRIE HATFIELD and BRYAN MORTON are:
i. CASIE JOANNA MORTON, b. May 19, 1993, Fairfax Co. Va.
ii. BRYNNA RENEE MORTON, b. February 08, 1997, Fairfax County, Va.
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