Stillwell

Genealogy of John and Christian Fretz

Old Fretz Homestead, Bedminster

A brief history of John and Christian Fretz and a complete genealogical family register, is a record of people who crossed an ocean for their beliefs, carved homes out of wilderness, and built churches where they could worship in peace. It’s brings to light the kind of history that’s often overlooked: the slow, steady work of building a life and heritage. In putting this record together, Rev. Fretz gave thousands of descendants a way to connect with their past, and a reason to be proud of it.

Families of Ancient New Haven

Four Corners New Haven Connecticut

The Families of Ancient New Haven compilation includes the families of the ancient town of New Haven, covering the present towns of New Haven, East Haven, North Haven, Hamden, Bethany, Woodbridge and West Haven. These families are brought down to the heads of families in the First Census (1790), and include the generation born about 1790 to 1800. Descendants in the male line who removed from this region are also given, if obtainable, to about 1800, unless they have been adequately set forth in published genealogies.

A Genealogy of the Lake Family

Ancestor Register of Esther Steelman Adams

A genealogy of the Lake family of Great Egg Harbour in Old Gloucester County in New Jersey : descended from John Lade of Gravesend, Long Island; with notes on the Gravesend and Staten Island branches of the family. This volume of nearly 400 pages includes a coat-of-arms in colors, two charts, and nearly fifty full page illustrations – portraits, old homes, samplers, etc. The coat-of-arms shown in the frontspiece is an unusually good example of the heraldic art!

History of the township and village of Mazomanie, Wisconsin

Looking North from Depot, Mazomanie, Wis.

The manuscript, History of the township and village of Mazomanie [Wisconsin] penned by William Kittle and published in 1900 collected information from a wide variety of sources, both documents, and living interviews. This book provides a general history of the township, and then presents a series of brief biographical sketches on the early settlers of Mazomanie. The links below will take you to the start of each historical section as detailed in the contents for the book, and then the specific pages of the book where each biographical sketch is contained. There is no index for the book, nor is there a list of biographical sketches contained within. We have taken the liberty of creating a biographical index for it.

Ancestors of Charles Jarvis Holmes of Marshfield and Rochester MA

Charles Jarvis Holmes

The Holmes family has a storied lineage in both New England and England, dating back to 1066 when John Holmes, a captain in William the Conqueror’s army, was granted land in Yorkshire. The family emigrated to New England, with notable descendants including Charles Jarvis Holmes of Marshfield and Rochester, a distinguished lawyer and public servant. His lineage includes several generations of influential figures, contributing to the legal, financial, and public life of the region, fostering a legacy of honor and service.

Captain Stewart, G. M. D. No. 655, Lagrange District

The document lists numerous individuals associated with Captain Stewart, G. M. D. No. 655 in the Lagrange District, highlighting a roster of names that includes Absalom Adams, James M. Adams, and various members of the Boman and Brooks families, among others. This extensive enumeration features diverse surnames and reflects a significant community involvement, likely in a historical context related to military or civil service in the district.

Abstracts of Wills on File in the City of New York Surrogate’s Office 1660-1680

Sample Last Will and Testament

Abstracts of wills on file in the surrogate’s office city of New York 1660-1680. From May 1787 to the present, county surrogate’s courts have recorded probates. However, the court of probates and court of chancery handled estates of deceased persons who died in one county but who owned property in another. An 1823 law mandated that all probates come under the jurisdiction of the county surrogate’s courts. Each surrogate’s court has a comprehensive index to all probate records, including the unrecorded probate packets. Interestingly enough, there are wills existing and on record at the Surrogate’s Office in New York City for the time-span of 1660-1680. Genealogical extracts of these wills have been provided below.

Will of Nicholas Stillwell – 1671

In his will dated December 22, 1671, Nicholas Stillwell of Staten Island, a husbandman, bequeaths an iron gray mare to his youngest son, Jeremiah. He leaves the entirety of his lands, homes, and estate to his beloved wife, Anne, who he appoints as executor. The will was witnessed by Nicholas De Meyer and Richard Charlton, with letters of administration granted to Anne on June 17, 1672. This document is recorded in LIBER 1-2, page 93.

Biography of Leander Stillwell, Judge

Judge Leander Stillwell, a prominent figure in Erie, served nearly twenty-four years on the district court after establishing himself as a pioneer attorney in 1868. Born in 1843 to a humble family in Illinois, he enlisted in the Union Army during the Civil War. After graduating from Albany Law School in 1867, he began practicing law, later becoming a legislator. A staunch Republican, he left the bench in 1907 to care for his ailing wife. He continued to be active in civic affairs and law until his retirement in 1913.

Stillwell, Ira – Obituary

Ira Stillwell passed away at Ellensburg General Hospital on Thursday after a prolonged illness. Born on May 17, 1887, in Bowen, Illinois, he moved to Ellensburg in 1903 and began working for the Northern Pacific Railroad in 1908, eventually becoming a locomotive engineer in 1918. He is survived by his wife, a 13-year-old daughter, a 15-month-old son, and a sister in Seattle. His attempt at recovery included a blood transfusion, but he could not overcome his illness.

Native Burials in Mendocino County, California

A compiled list of known burials in Mendocino County, California, documents Native American families and descendants interred in local cemeteries, including Hopland, Yokayo, Pinoleville, Laytonville, Redwood Valley, Sherwood, and others. Entries note names, dates, sources such as tombstones, obituaries, and mortuary records, plus family relationships, military service, and research-based details.

Biography of William D. Stillwell

William D. Stillwell, born in Ohio in 1823, migrated with his family to Michigan and then Iowa before embarking on a challenging journey to Oregon in 1843. He faced numerous hardships, including treacherous weather and dwindling supplies. After settling in North Yamhill, he contributed to his community through printing and assisting fellow emigrants in need. A veteran of the Cayuse War, he later turned to mining and horse raising. Stillwell had two marriages, fathering several children, and held various public roles in Tillamook, where he lived until his death.