ANCESTORS OF WILLIAM HEWITT Compiled by Jim Hewitt. Generation No. 1 1. William Hewitt, born 1830 in New Cumberland, Hancock, West Virginia. He was the son of 2. Thomas Jefferson Hewitt and 3. Nancy Brenneman. Generation No. 2 2. Thomas Jefferson Hewitt, born 1797 in Pennsylvannia; died September 23, 1879. He was the son of 4. William Hewitt and 5. Catherine Margaret. He married 3. Nancy Brenneman January 04, 1827 in New Cumberland, Hancock, West Virginia. 3. Nancy Brenneman, born 1806 in New Cumberland, Hancock, West Virginia; died October 25, 1890. She was the daughter of 6. Christian Brenneman and 7. Elizabeth Nessly. Notes for Thomas Jefferson Hewitt: Their daughter, Elizabeth, was married in 1805 to Christian Brenneman, of Lancaster county, Penn., and eight children were born to them: Nancy, Jacob, Judith, Eliza, Julia, Richard, Barbara and Cyrus. Nancy, one of these was married in January, 1827, to Thomas J. Hewitt, by whom she had nine children: Mary Amanda, William, Elizabeth, Harriet, Julia, Thomas Heaton, Joseph Addison, Emmor Weaver, and Cyrus, all of whom are living except Thomas Heaton, who died in 1854. Mary Amanda, who was born in 1827, was married in 1850, to George W. Stewart. Representatives-- The following named gentlemen represented Hancock County in the House of Delegates. They are given in the order in which they were elected. The dates of their elections could not be accurately ascertained, therefore, are omitted: Thomas Bambrick, Thomas J. Hewitt, O. W. Langfitt, George McPorter, W. L. Crawford, B. J. Smith, J. H. Hibbits, Daniel Donehoo, Joseph W. Allison, John A. Campbell, L. A. Stedman, J. H. Quinn. County Surveyors-- Thomas Hewitt, James W. Brown. Children of Thomas Hewitt and Nancy Brenneman are: i. Mary Amanda Hewitt, born November 1827 in New Cumberland, Hancock, West Virginia; married George W. Stewart 1840; born January 19, 1825 in Philadelphia, PA; died August 09, 1882. Notes for George W. Stewart: George W. Stewart. He was born near Philadelphia, January 19, 1825, and was the son of James Stewart, of Scotch descent, who came to Ohio when his son was five years of age. His mother was Olive Martin, of Quaker parentage, whose grandmother was a relative of Bayard Taylor. Mr. Stewart worked upon the farm until he was twenty- one years of age, when he went to Wellsville and was engaged in the wholesale grocery trade for three years. In 1848 he went into the dry goods business at the mouth of Yellow creek, Ohio, where he remained for several years. In the spring of i866 he removed to New Cumberland and continued in the dry goods business with much success. He passed away August 9, 1882. He was one of the most enterprising and valued citizens of the county, and his many worthy characteristics will long be remembered. To Mr. and Mrs. Stewart were born seven children: Edgar, who died in 1852; Edmund D., Charles S., George W., Arthur H., William L., and Mary A. In 1885 the descendants of the Nessly family held a centennial celebration of the settlement in Hancock county, and 500 were in attendance. (Linda Fluharty) 1 ii. Willam Hewitt, born 1830 in New Cumberland, Hancock, West Virginia. iii. Elizabeth Hewitt, born 1832 in New Cumberland, Hancock, West Virginia. iv. Harriet Hewitt, born 1835 in New Cumberland, Hancock, West Virginia. v. Julia Hewitt, born 1838 in New Cumberland, Hancock, West Virginia. vi. Thomas Heaton Hewitt, born 1840 in New Cumberland, Hancock, West Virginia; died 1854. vii. Joseph Addison Hewitt, born March 26, 1843 in New Cumberland, Hancock, West Virginia; died 1928 in Hiawatha, Brown, Kansas; married Hannah Maglin Dunn August 1869 in Hiawatha, Brown, Kansas; born 1848; died 1938. More About Joseph Addison Hewitt: Burial: Hiawatha Cemetery, Brown, Kansas Marriage Notes for Joseph Hewitt and Hannah Dunn: Joseph Addison Hewitt was granted (bought) NW 1/4 Section 32, Township 1, Range 28 from Richard B. Brenneman on November 23, 1869. Richard B. Brenneman had purchased the property from the United States on October 1, 1852. viii. Emmor Weaver Hewitt, born 1845 in New Cumberland, Hancock, West Virginia; died January 04, 1912 in New Cumberland, Hancock, West Virginia; married Mary Alice Brenneman December 23, 1886 in Hancock County, West Virginia; born June 03, 1861. Notes for Mary Alice Brenneman: Mary Alice Brenneman is the wife of Emmor Weaver Hewitt, of Arroyo, Hancock County ix. Christian Cyrus Hewitt, born 1849 in New Cumberland, Hancock, West Virginia. Notes for Christian Cyrus Hewitt: Christain Cyrus Hewitt was a West Point Graduate Generation No. 3 4. William Hewitt, died Abt. 1823. He married 5. Catherine Margaret. 5. Catherine Margaret, died August 31, 1851. Notes for William Hewitt: William Hewitt settled in Brooke County, Virginia (now Hancock County, WV) in 1801. Children of William Hewitt and Catherine are: i. Catherine Hewitt ii. James Hewitt iii. Margaret Hewitt iv. Robert Hewitt v. William Hewitt vi. Eliza Hewitt, born 1791; married James McClure. vii. Nancy Hewitt, born September 18, 1795; died April 28, 1855; married James Downing February 20, 1816; born August 25, 1786; died December 15, 1858. Notes for James Downing: 2 James Downing b. 00-Jul-1750 d. 23-Sep-1822 m. 00-___-1774 Sara Laughlin b. 01-Feb-1753 d. 15-Jan-1829 3 Drusilla Downing b. 21-Sep-1775 d. 30-Dec-1835 m. 0-___-1796 Isaac Miller b. 0-___-179- 3 Margaret Downing b. 11-Mar-1777 d. 00-___-1837 m. 11-Mar-1796 John Benjamin Cuppy b. 0-___-177- 3 Susannah Downing b. 23-Jan-1780 d. 23-Apr-1863 m. 12-Nov-1803 Isaac Van Meter b. 0-___-177- 3 James Downing III b. 25-Aug-1786 d. 15-Dec-1858 m. 20-Feb-1816 Nancy Hewitt b. 18-Sep-1795 d. 28-Apr-1855 3 Hugh Downing b. 30-Mar-1789 d. 17-Mar-1855 m. 13-May-1813 Mary Hibbetts b. 31-May-1793 d. 23-Mar-1881 4 Sarah Downing b. 5-May-1814 m. 8-Jul-1834 Jonathan Mills b. 15-Oct-1813 2 viii. Thomas Jefferson Hewitt, born 1797 in Pennsylvannia; died September 23, 1879; married Nancy Brenneman January 04, 1827 in New Cumberland, Hancock, West Virginia. 6. Christian Brenneman, born October 12, 1778 in Lancaster, PA; died September 16, 1853. He was the son of 12. Jacob Brenneman and 13. Anna Mayer. He married 7. Elizabeth Nessly March 03, 1805. 7. Elizabeth Nessly, born August 1787; died March 05, 1842. She was the daughter of 14. Jacob Nessly and 15. Elizabeth Groff. Notes for Christian Brenneman: Christian Brenneman, his great-grandfather, who became a pioneer settler in what is now Hancock County, served as a soldier in the command of Gen. Andrew Jackson in the War of 1812, and incidentally walked home from New Orleans, where he had been stationed with his command. He married a daughter of Jacob Nessly, who was one of the very early settlers of the present Hancock County and of whom mention is made in other reviews in this history. Christian Brenneman settled in 1806. More About Christian Brenneman: Burial: Nessley Chapel, New Cumberland, Hancock, WV Children of Christian Brenneman and Elizabeth Nessly are: 3 i. Nancy Brenneman, born 1806 in New Cumberland, Hancock, West Virginia; died October 25, 1890; married Thomas Jefferson Hewitt January 04, 1827 in New Cumberland, Hancock, West Virginia. ii. Jacob Nessly Brenneman, born September 19, 1808 in Pennsylvannia; died May 20, 1879; married (1) Sarah Ramsey 1835; born January 14, 1811; died June 24, 1837; married (2) Margaret Madden Brown March 29, 1838; born November 18, 1812. iii. Judith Brenneman, born August 29, 1810 in Wellsburg, Brooke, West Virginia; married Thomas Mahan March 16, 1832 in Hancock County, West Virginia. iv. Eliza A. Brenneman, born November 13, 1813; married Emmor White Weaver September 01, 1836 in Salem, Ohio; born September 21, 1811 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvannia. v. Julia Brenneman, born 1816; married Thomas Heaton Abt. 1838 in Oldham, Covington, Kentucky. vi. Richard Brown Brenneman, born June 09, 1818; died March 05, 1879; married Keziah W. Allison Abt. 1847 in Arroyo, Hancock, West Virginia; born March 01, 1834 in Arroyo, Hancock, West Virginia; died February 08, 1894. vii. Barbara Brenneman, born September 12, 1820 in Hancock County, West Virginia; died May 26, 1888 in Hancock County, West Virginia; married John L. Mahan; born Abt. 1816. viii. Cyrus E. Brenneman, born March 26, 1826; died March 06, 1892; married Martha Ellen Ware. Generation No. 4 12. Jacob Brenneman, born March 16, 1753 in Conestoga Twp, Lancaster, PA; died June 08, 1838 in New Danville, Lancaster, PA. He was the son of 24. Melchior Brenneman and 25. Anna Good. He married 13. Anna Mayer. 13. Anna Mayer, born February 14, 1753; died August 14, 1782 in New Danville, Lancaster, PA. More About Jacob Brenneman: Burial: Conestoga Twp, Lancaster, PA Children of Jacob Brenneman and Anna Mayer are: 6 i. Christian Brenneman, born October 12, 1778 in Lancaster, PA; died September 16, 1853; married Elizabeth Nessly March 03, 1805. ii. Jacob Edmund Brenneman, born February 26, 1780 in Lancaster, PA; died January 02, 1855 in Paxton Twp, PA. iii. Abraham Brenneman, born April 30, 1781; died August 30, 1781. iv. Elizabeth Brenneman, born June 18, 1782. 14. Jacob Nessly, born 1753 in Lancaster, PA; died November 03, 1832 in Port Homer, Jefferson, Ohio. He married 15. Elizabeth Groff 1786. 15. Elizabeth Groff, born Abt. 1750 in Strasberg, Lancaster, Pennsylvannia; died August 06, 1829. Notes for Jacob Nessly: JACOB NESSLEY Jacob Nessley was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. He married Miss Elizabeth Groff, also a native of the same county. They migrated to now Hancock county, West Virginia, in 1785. They reared a family of eight children. His wife paid nearly the entire expense of the stone building known as the Nessley church, which was erected in 1820. His children married as follows: Barbara married Richard Brown, and reared a family of nine children. Jacob married Nancy Myers and reared a family of five children. Judith married John Groff. Alice married Abraham Groff and reared a family of four children. Lucy married Rev. De Selems and reared a family of six children. Elizabeth married Christian Brenneman and reared a family of eight children. John married Elizabeth Fawcet and reared a family of eight children. Nancy died unmarried. Our subject died in the year 1832 - his wife having died a few years previous to this. The stone part of the building was erected in 1821 by Jacob Nessly, who came here as a pioneer of the year 1785 and who here became the owner of 5,000 acres of land, which he obtained by trading a rifle to an Indian. The historic old house faces the Ohio River. The brick addition to the original structure was erected in 1865, and the entire building, of most substantial order, is well preserved. The original tract of land continued along the shore of the Ohio River and extended as far as Georgetown, Pennsylvania, there having been about forty miles of shore line and the tract having been comparatively narrow. By the payment of 100 English pounds sterling Mr. Nessly later extended the width of his holdings by the purchase of an additional tract of 1,500 acres. Nessly came to this section from Eastern Pennsylvania, in accord with the advice of his father- in-law, who was a man of wealth. This young pioneer first erected a log cabin at the month of Yellow Creek, but soon removed two miles further south, to the site of the present house. Mr. Nessly developed a productive farm and continued his general supervision of the same until his death, at an advanced age, the closing years of his life having been passed in the home of one of his daughters, on the opposite side of the river, at Port Homer, Ohio. It is related that on one occasion, when he was on a trip on the Ohio side of the river he was pursued by Indians, but saved his life by taking refuge in a rocky cave, across the river from his own dwelling, he later having chiseled on a rock at this cave his name and the date of this incident. Barbara, daughter of this sterling pioneer, became the wife of Col. Richard Brown, who was of Holland Dutch ancestry and who served as a patriot soldier and officer in a Maryland regiment in the War of the Revolution, his wife having inherited the old homestead and both having there passed the remainder of their lives. Colonel Brown had local renown as a fighter in personal contests, and many tales are told of his prowess along this line. Adam Poe, was at one time a dinner guest at the Nessly home, and the two subsequently diverted themselves by engaging in a spirited fight, the result of which was that Poe had to be put to bed. A brother of Poe later appeared on the scene, while Adam was still at the Nessly home, and when he learned of the recent conflict and its result he boasted of his own ability as a fighter, with the sequel that he endured worse punishment at the hands of the doughty colonel than had his brother, he likewise having been cared for in the Nessly home after having thus failed to best his antagonist. On another occasion Colonel Brown, while on a trip back from Philadelphia, was followed and challenged by a man, and in the ensuing fight the colonel broke this man's neck with a blow. The eldest of the sons of Col. Richard Brown was Jacob Nessly Brown; John, the second son, settled at the mouth of Tomlinson's Run and was a young man at the time of his death; George continued his residence near the old homestead until his death, when past eighty years of age; and James likewise attained to venerable age, he having owned and occupied a part of the ancestral farm estate. Jacob Nessly Brown married Ann Myler, and they resided on the old home farm. He owned and operated a flour mill at Wellsburg, twenty miles distant from his home, and on the farm he operated a distillery, besides developing a clay bed on the place and supplying clay for the manufacturing of jugs at Wellsburg, this having been the initiation of the clay industry and the original jugs having been used for the whiskey containers. On his farm Mr. Brown originated and developed the "Willow Twig" apple, he having planted a large orchard, having main tained his own nursery and being credited with the origina tion of the above mentioned variety of apples, which be came the standard in this section, his orchard having produced an average of 20,000 bushels of apples annually. The old home farm of Mr. Brown now comprises only seventy-two acres. Mr. Brown died in 1879, after having passed the eightieth milestone on the journey of life, his wife having passed away in 1865. Their daughter Barbara became the wife of Archibald Hendrie; Virginia never married, and she had charge of the old home farm for thirty years, she having been seventy-five years of age at death; Richard H. is more Jacob Nessly was a pioneer settler who prospered as a farmer and distiller. He settled on a small farm that would become an 8,000 acre plantation, stretching 5 miles along the Ohio River. In 1826, he built Nessly Chapel, which was once called "the Old Stone Church" as it was made of native stone. Located on Route 2, south of Newell, Nessly Chapel occupies a unique niche in the religious history of Hancock County. The Chapel was built for general worship services and was nondenominational. The first communion cups were made with coin silver that Jacob had donated to a silver smith. After the death of his wife, Elizabeth, Jacob moved to Ohio in 1829 leaving the farm in the hands of Jacob DeSellem, his grandson. Jesse Sisson, a hired farm hand and zealous reformer of the Methodist Church, perwuaded DeSellem to deed the Old Stone Church to the Methodist Protestant group. Signing of the deed was required to take place in the home state of the church. A deed was drawn up, and Sisson and Richard Brown, a VA justice of the peace, traveled to Ohio to obtain the required signature of Jacob Nessly. The two men helped Nessly into a wooden farm sled and drove to the middle of the Ohio River, which was under VA jurisdiction. With the stroke of a pen aboard the sled, Jacob Nessly, farmer, nurseryman, fruit grower and distiller, brought into being the first Methodist Protestant Church in the World. Jacob Nessly died in Port Homer at the age of 80. From "HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY," Vol. I, pages 665-666. Brant & Fuller, 1890. JACOB NESSLY In the year 1785 Jacob Nessly and wife built them a home in what is now Hancock county, W. Va. Their family had been in America fifty years or more. Attempts to trace their ancestry have not proved definitely the time the family came to this country, but the best information seems to make it reasonably certain that the progenitors of the American branch of the family emigrated from the Swiss Lorraine district on the borders of France, about the year 1730. Jacob Nessly had been married about the year 1722, to Elizabeth Graff, he being at that time past twenty-one and she past seventeen years of age. She was a descendant of Hans Graff, who fled from the persecutions of the Mennonites in Switzerland, and settled on Graff's run, in West Earl township, Lancaster Co., Penn., in 1717. He was the first settler of the township, and it was named in his honor, Earl being an English equivalent of Graff. The children of Jacob Nessly and wife were nine in number: Barbara, Daniel, who died in infancy, Jacob, Judith, John, Lucy, Elizabeth, Alice and Nancy, who died in girlhood. The parents died, Mr. Nessly November 3, 1832, and his wife August 6, 1829. Jacob Nessly settled on Tomlinson's Run in 1785, and owned all the land along the Ohio River for a mile back, and extending as far up as opposite Wellsville, a distance of five miles. His first improvement was on the farm now owned by Jacob N. Brown. The fight between Andy Poe and Big Foot was on Nessly's land at the mouth of Tomlinson's Run. Nessly built a blockhouse on his land for protection against the Indians. The government's blockhouse was built on his grounds, which was used as headquarters for the guards and spies who were engaged in watching the movements of the Indians. Isaac Mills, James Downing and George Folks, the latter of whom was captured and held as a captive by the Indians for a number of years and then made his escape, and with the above named two persons acted as spies. When Mr. Nessly made his settlement on the said tract, he improved it as fast as possible, at different places along the river, and planted orchards. A number of the fruit trees then planted by him, bear fruit nearly every season. He erected a distillery on his property in about the year 1803. The stone building used for his malthouse is still standing. More About Jacob Nessly: Burial: Nessly Cemetery, Hancock, West Virginia Children of Jacob Nessly and Elizabeth Groff are: i. Judith Nessly, married John Groff Abt. 1803 in Jefferson, Ohio. ii. John Nessly, married Elizabeth Fausett November 02, 1809 in Jefferson, Ohio. iii. Nancy Nessly iv. Jacob Nessly v. Barbara Nessly, born 1773; died 1849; married Col. Richard Brown, Jr. November 06, 1798 in Brooke County, West Virginia; born Abt. 1762 in Baltimore, Maryland; died 1842. Notes for Col. Richard Brown, Jr.: Richard Brown Jr: son of Col. Richard Brown, was born near Baltimore, Maryland, in 1762. Came with his father west. Followed surveying making many surveys for the government. Was engaged in that business with General Harrison through Illinois and other states. In 1798 he was married to Barbara, daughter of Jacob Nessley, one of the pioneer settlers of the county. Shortly after their marriage they settled on a tract of land in Holliday's Cove, remaining there for several years, and then moved up the river settling near the mouth of Tomlinson's Run, living there until his death, which sad event took place in 1842. His relict died in 1849. In his life time he held the office of high sheriff, justice of the peace, county surveyor, and also held the office of Colonel in the militia for seven years 7 vi. Elizabeth Nessly, born August 1787; died March 05, 1842; married Christian Brenneman March 03, 1805. vii. Lucy Nessly, born October 01, 1787; died August 30, 1849; married Rev. John Little DeSellem January 22, 1810; born March 15, 1777 in Montgomery, Maryland; died in Port Homer, Jefferson, Ohio. viii. Alice Nessly, born July 11, 1791; married Abraham Groff. ix. Daniel Nessly Generation No. 5 24. Melchior Brenneman, born August 1718 in Conestoga Twp, Lancaster, PA; died April 19, 1794 in New Danville, PA. He was the son of 48. Melchior Brenneman and 49. Mrs. Melchior Brenneman. He married 25. Anna Good Abt. 1738 in Lancaster, PA. 25. Anna Good, born September 21, 1722 in Lancaster, PA; died December 31, 1800 in New Danville, PA. More About Melchior Brenneman: Burial: Mennonite Cem, New Danville, Lancaster, PA More About Anna Good: Burial: Mennonite Cem, New Danville, Lancaster, PA Children of Melchior Brenneman and Anna Good are: i. Peter Brenneman, born 1739. ii. Melchior Brenneman, born 1741. iii. Abraham Brenneman, born 1744. iv. Isaac Brenneman, born 1746. v. Margaret Brenneman, born 1747. vi. Rudolph Brenneman, born 1749. 12 vii. Jacob Brenneman, born March 16, 1753 in Conestoga Twp, Lancaster, PA; died June 08, 1838 in New Danville, Lancaster, PA; married Anna Mayer. viii. David Brenneman, born 1754. ix. Ann Brenneman, born April 09, 1755. x. Eve Brenneman, born 1757. xi. Elizabeth Brenneman, born April 05, 1758. xii. John Brenneman, born March 10, 1763. xiii. Henry Brenneman, born 1765. Generation No. 6 48. Melchior Brenneman, born 1665 in Oberdiessbach, Bern, Switzerland; died January 20, 1736/37 in Conestoga Twp, Lancaster County, PA. He married 49. Mrs. Melchior Brenneman. 49. Mrs. Melchior Brenneman, born Abt. 1673 in Oberdiesbach, Bern, Switzerland. Children of Melchior Brenneman and Mrs. Brenneman are: i. Christopher Steven Brenneman, born 1693. ii. Christian Brenneman, born 1695. iii. John Brenneman, born 1697. iv. Adam Brenneman, born 1700. v. Catherine Brenneman, born 1705. 24 vi. Melchior Brenneman, born August 1718 in Conestoga Twp, Lancaster, PA; died April 19, 1794 in New Danville, PA; married Anna Good Abt. 1738 in Lancaster, PA.