Names: Gristy, Richmond

Names: Gristy, Richmond

From: David C Axe [mailto:[email protected]]

Sent: Saturday, July 15, 2006 12:02 AM

Subject: Re: Permanent resident of Brown County

Dear Laurie,

Thank you for the info from and about the Gristy Burial Ground.

That is "our gal." The birth year checks, the marriage record checks, and the previously known connection between the Richmond and Gristy families checks. How sad, she was married for less than six months. And what a life she had led. Born in the Choctaw Nation (West) in Indian Territory, her father dies when she is an infant, her mother and step-father move to IL, then when she is 5 years old they start the long journey around South America to the Oregon Country arriving at Fort Vancouver in 1840. Her family is the first family of American citizens living on Puget Sound. In 1841 she participates as a 7 year old in the first 4th of July celebration held by the U.S. military on the west coast of what later became the United States. The carefully documented event took place in front of her step-father's mission house where sailors and marines from Lt. Wilkes U.S. Exploratory Expedition marched past and her step-father gave the famous speech stating that someday this land would become part of the United States despite British claims to the contrary.

Then in late 1842 Harriet and the rest of the family return to the United States via Honolulu and Tahiti and around Africa across the Atlantic back to North America. At some point she finds her first love, a Mr. Ross from Missouri, but Rev. Richmond says no to Ross's marriage proposal to Harriet.

And finally she marries Joseph Gristy at age 29 only to die at age 30.

Are there extant newspaper copies for Brown County for 1864? Is it possible that there is some notice of her death or an obituary?

Dave

On Fri, 14 Jul 2006 15:56:22 -0400 "Laurie Huffman"

<[email protected]> writes:

> Dear Dave,

> Here is the info on Harriet Gristy. I am going to include the entire

> entry for Gristy Burial Ground, as it pertains to the entire family.

> Cemeteries of Brown County, IL 1825-1972, pp. 285-286.

> Gristy Burial Ground, Pea Ridge Township, SW 1/4 Sec 26

> "Benjamin Gristy and wife Nancy followed their son-in-law, Granville

> Bond to Illinois from Kentucky, arriving in Pea Ridge Township in the

> fall of 1830 in time for the deep snow of December 28, 1830. The

> family came in a Kentucky type wagon drawn by four horses. He entered

> about a section of land where he lived until his death in 1858.

> He 1831 he bought a handmill with small burrs from Abraham Logan on

> Logan Creek for ten dollars. It was a perfect God-send to his

> neighbors as they had access to it free of charge or toll. At times,

> it was used day and night. It was laborious work but it was better

> than cracking the grain in a pestle or grating it with a tin pan

> grater.

> In October 1838, James, a 27 year old son, died, and according to

> Kentucky custom was buried on the homestead, thus establishing the

> Gristy family burial ground.

> The graves have not been cared for nor fence kept up so only a few of

> the stones remain in an open cultivated field."

> BURIALS:

> Benjamin Gristy (20 Dec 1781-28 May 1858)

> James Gristy (5 Mar 1811-7 Oct 1838)

> Harriet, 1st wife of Joseph Gristy (4 Apr 1834-2 Sep 1864)

> A foot marker N. G. probably stands for Nancy Duncan Gristy, wife of

> Benjamin Gristy, who died in 1863.

> Markers M. G. and H. G. are puzzles to the recorder. (Recorder was

> Kenneth Clark; date of recording unknown)

> ===END