CHISNELL Family
Reading Bryan Sikes' book The Seven Daughters of Eve got me thinking about my maternal lineage (mitochondrial DNA) of Rosena (GEARHART) SAWYER, Marguerite (BROKAW) GEARHART, Rosa (BOLLINGER) BROKAW to Leah (CHISNELL) BOLLINGER. I don't currently know who Leah's parents were.
Ir's line is Jantje HOEKSTRA, Janke DILLEMA, Jantje WESTRA, Janke Bouwes DIJKMA ...
My Leah CHISNELL m. Benjamin BOLLINGER (b. 1818 in PA/OH) in OH in 1855. They later moved to IN and later still (1882) to Carson, MI due to a split in the Dunkard Church they were part of. Rosa BOLLINGER b. 25 Jul 1874 in South Akron (Stark Co., next to Summit Co.) to Benjamin and Leah (CHISNELL) BOLLINGER. She m. 1899 Delmer E. Brokaw in Lansing area, MI. Benjamin was born 1818 in PA or OH? Benjamin's father Daniel b. 1780 in PA and d. 1835 in Stark Co., OH (Nimishillen Twp., near Louisville, OH).
After some internet searching, I found 2 interesting sites:
1) An English CHISNELL line at www.? (email genealogy.web080503@4spam.net). These folks were born in the 1700s and 1800s in places like Washbrook, Raydon, Copdock, Hadleigh, which I assume are in England. One of the earliest is John, b. 1707 at Capel St. Mary, Suffolk.
2) There's an Edward George CHISNELL 1879-1960 of PA who m1898 Sarah INKS b1876. Edward was the son of David and Elizabeth CHISNELL. This was found on the MINOR, MINER, MEINERT ... site at www.minerd.com (markminer@mindspring.com). Also asked about Ruth MINOR (b. c1915, d1999? in Scottsdale, AZ, bur. Bentonville, IL or closer in to Chicago area?, need obit), who m. Charles Michael CLEARY.
Also look out for alternate spelling CHESNELL.
on Fri 15 Oct 2004 I sent emails to both of these.
Later I found a CHISNELL (of Stark Co., OH) family info guy at the Stark Co. Rootsweb site. He's at Sseidl@neo.rr.com. I sent an email but no response yet. I also posted queries at both Stark and Summit Co. message boards Nov 04. No response yet (12/14/04).
2010: I was doing some online research on Leah CHISNELL and family. I found an IGI data entry on Rosa BOLLINGER that she was b. 25 Jul 1874 at Summit, OH and d1965. Her father was Benjamin BOLLINGER and her mother Leah CHARLES (!?). I searched 'Leah CHARLES' but found no link to Benjamin BOLLINGER. Another record showed Rosa's mother as Leah CHESNELL b. PA and Rosa b. S. Akron, Summit Co., OH. A rootsweb entry showed a Leah CHESNELL b. 4 Feb 1832 and d. 31 Jan 1890, m. c1857. Then another record shows a Leah CHISNELL b1823/5 in PA i.e. 57yo at 1880 census, a homemaker and 'head of house' (husband?) as Henry CHISNELL, w/both father and mother b. in PA. In 1880 they were living at Franklin Twnshp, Summit Co., OH. Then I found a 'CHISENHALL' webpage showing that a George CHISNELL came from England (Lancashire, where they'd settled in the middle ages) to Allegheny, PA in 1880. The LDS IGI entry showed Henry CHISNELL was b. 1 Aug 1822 in PA and d. 15 Aug 1890, and m. Leah MOIST 26 Mar 1846 at Stark Co., OH. Leah was b. 1825 in PA and d1906. Their kids are shown as:
- Edwin 1847-1914
- Jacob 1853-?
- Matilda 1855-1905
- Emma c1860-?
The LDS database shows Rosa's mom as Anna DISLER (hmmm, that was Ben B's 1st wife, but my records show Rosa's mom was his 2nd wife Leah CHISNELL). At the 1880 census Rosa was 6yo [b1874] and was b. in MI. Her father [Benjamin BOLLINGER] was b. at Boyer [hmmm, I show Lancaster, PA] and her mother at Wurtenburg [PA?]. They were living in 1880 at Castleton, Barry Co., MI. Here again a record showing Rosa's mom as Leah CHARLES!? Anna DISLER was b. c1820 at Lancaster, PA and m. Benjamin BOLLINGER c1839 at either Lancaster, PA or Green Twnshp, Summit Co., OH. Benjamin BOLLINGER was b. 31 Jul 1818 at Lancaster, PA.
A Leah MOIST is shown as a patient at a mental hospital (1880 Census of IL North, Hospital for the Insane, Elgin, Kane Co., IL June 1880) for 'melancholia'. The 'duration of present attack' was 2.5yrs, # of attacks 1, age at 1st attack 53 [so 1878 if b1825]. So apparently at the June 1880 Census she'd been there for 2.5yrs, so had gone into the hospital around Jan 1878 [or Dec 1877] at age 53, so b1825.
28 Aug 2013: I was searching online for Leah CHISNELL (one of my roadblocks) and found a site titled 'Descendants of George LUDWICK Sr' (www.sonic.net/~joanstev/ludwick/ludg06.htm email: joanstev@sonic.net). Most of this family were from the Ionia, MI area (bingo). Mary LUDWICK b1854 in OH and d1936, m1892 Jacob CHISNELL b. Dec 1853 OH and d1920. Jacob was the son of Henry and Leah (MOIST) CHISNELL, both b1823. My Leah (above) m. Benjamin BOLLINGER in 1855 in OH and, since his 1st wife Anna DISLER was b1820, she was likely also born around this time. Is it possible that Leah (MOIST) CHISNELL's 1st husband died and she m2. Benjamin? The dates are about right. Hmmm. Sent email 8/28/13 to ask.
familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/b/o/o/John-M-Bollinger-OH/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0052.html says:
Leah CHESNELL was b. 4 Feb 1832 and d. 31 Jan 1890 and m. Benjamin BOLLINGER. Kids were:
1 Anna b. 26 May 1858 Summit Co., OH d. 18 Dec 1926 68yo
2 Aaron b1859
3 John P. b. 28 Mar 1861 Akron, OH, d. 28 Mar 1936, Carson City, MI 75yo
4 Matilda b. 23 May 1864 d. 11 Jan 1934 69yo
5 Moses b. 14 October 1866 d. 3 Jul 1941 74yo
6 Emma b. 17 Mar 1874 d. 12 Apr 1937 63yo
7 Rosa C. b. 25 Jul 1874 d. 15 Apr 1965 90yo
Hmmm, in her diary entry for 24 Oct 1930 Rosa mentions 'Grandpa STEINCAMP'. Who is that?
On 16 Apr 2005 Donna HAENCHEN (donnahorland@aol.com) posted this msg at the CHISNELL genforum site:
Trying to find information abt James CHISNELL (b. England c1820) who is shown with sons William (b Eng Aug 1849?) and George (b Eng Aug 1853?) on 1870 US census in Hazle Twp, Luzerne Co, PA. George m1873 Isabella MURRAY in PA, but couple may have traveled to England soon thereafter, as some records show that at least one of their children was born in England. Family tradition says that their dau, my gggrandmother, EllaMae/MaryE was b mid 1870's in either Fall River, MA or in ENG. Brothers Wm & George and their families appear to spend their lives in Eastern PA.
Fall River, Mass 1880 Census records include James CHISNELL age 60, wf Sarah 61, dau Isabella 20 & son Thomas 17, all b ENG. Is this the same James I referred to above? The pieces almost fit, but I have no proof. In 1880 Fall River there's also a James age 27, b Eng & his family. In 1870 & 1880 Newburyport, Mass there's a Richard CHISNELL & family (Rich'd was b Eng either ca 1818, or ca 1830), and the family of William CHISNELL age 32 (b Eng). Wm's wf, dau, and son (ages 30, 7 & 1, all b MA), and 3 older nieces and nephews (ages 24,22 & 17, all b Eng) make up the rest of the household. Does anyone know anything about these families that will help me sort them out?
Another poster Elizabeth (no email, but id sseidl_1) says she's just starting out w/CHISNELL genealogy and has an Eliz Ch. who m. David KLINE at Stark Co., OH in 1857. Her parents were George b1790 PA and Mary HUFFMAN b1799. Another guy (Keith oooldman@msn.com) responds that he's seen a grave marker in PA for 'Mary wife of George' who d1867. Hmmm. Need to tie Leah into a CHISNELL tree.
I posted this msg to genforum ... chisnall on 29 Aug 2013 (as a response to Donna's msg above): Since your post seems to be the only CHISNELL one that involves the USA, I'll respond to yours. I have a Leah CHISNELL as the second wife of Benjamin BOLLINGER, who was b. 31 Jul 1818 at Lancaster, PA (see my page for him at techies1.tripod.com/BenB.html) and later moved to near Akron, OH, then to near Lansing, MI (due to a church split in the OH Dunkard church). Sometimes I see her name spelled as CHESNELL. Benjamin died in Carson, MI. Anyone know who Leah's parents were? Its possible that CHISNELL was a married name from a previous marriage (e.g. Henry CHISNELL?) and her maiden name may've been MOIST or CHARLES or ... ?
I obviously need for info on Leah CHISNELL.
Here's a note on Leah's (hometown?) Akron, OH. On Su 4-2-17 I watched a Globetrekker episode in which ? (bubbly girl) visits several 'rustbelt' towns e.g. Buffalo (from French for 'beau fleu' or 'beautiful river'!), Pittsburg, Akron and Detroit, once booming cities but now struggling. She notes that the 1st tire manufacturer there was B F GOODRICH in 1870. But he did so well that others noticed, and Goodyear was est. in 1898, (Harvey) Firestone in 1899. By 1900 tire demand (1st bicycles, then cars) made it a boom town, one of fastest growing in USA (had started, like Buffalo and others, w/grain, then coal? Like other towns it experienced decline beginning in the 1960s? I'd like to know Leah's and her family's experience there in Akron.
At least 2 possible Leah C's (I think 1st more likely)
- 4 Leah CHISNELL b. 4 Feb 1832, d. 31 Jan 1890, nearly 58yo, 2nd wife [m. c1857] of Ben BOLLINGER
- 4 Leah CHISNELL b1823 ('head of house' Henry CHISNELL in 1880 census, living in Franklin Twnshp, Summit Co., OH, both her parents b. PA)