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Full text of "Historical : the earliest history and genealogy, covering nearly three hundred years, from about 1600 to 1891, of the Dinsmoor-Dinsmore family of Scotland, Ireland, and America ; with that of many of their descendants, and additional facts relating to the sixteen first settlers and their families of Londonderry, New Hampshire, who emigrated to America in 1719 ; also, statistics concerning the McKean and Bell families; with a poem, "The heroes of the siege of Londonderry, Ireland, 1688-89""

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Apv 


(^  JJin&noot'- 


HISTOEICAL. 


HE  EiiiiEsi  HisioRi  11  mmi 


COVEEING  NEAELY  THREE  HUNDEED  YEAES,  FEOM 
ABOUT  leoO  TO  1891.  OF  THE 


iuuii-ll 


11 


I 


J 


mil 


OF  SCOTLA^^D,  lEELAXD,  l^sd  AMERICA; 


Vv'ITH    THAT    OF    MANY    OF    THEIR    DESCENDANTS,  AND 

ADDITIONAL   FACTS   RELATING    TO    THE    SIXTEEN 

FIRST    SETTLERS    AND    THEIR   FAMILIES   OF 

LONDONDERRY,    NEW     HAMPSHIRE, 

WHO  EMIGRcATED  TO  AMERICA 

IN  1719: 


Also.  Statistics  Conccrnini,^  the  McKean  and  Bell  Families ; 

WITH  A  POEM,  "THE  HEROES  OF  THE  SIEGE  OF 
LONDONDERRY,  IRELAND,  1G88-89." 

By  LEOXAED  ALLISON  MORRISON,  A.  AI., 

OF  WINDHAM,  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 


LOWELL,  MASS. 
Morning  Mail  Print:  No.  147  Central  Street, 

1891. 


!      ' 


% 


THE  DINSMOOR  FAMILY. 


Tins  family  of  historic  fame  is  of  Scotch  blood,  and  in 
the  earliest  account  of  any  of  this  race  their  home  is  found 
upon  Scottish  soil. 

ORIGIX   OF    THE    NAME. 

The  name  Dinsmoor  is  rarely  found  m  Scotland,  al- 
though  D^msmore  is  frequently  seen,  and  Dinsmwn*  and 
Dinsraore  are  occasionally  observed.  In  Ireland,  the 
riatronvniic  is  borne  bv  many  persons  in  the  vicinity  of 
Dallymoney,  County  Antrim,  and  they  are  jresumably 
ilescendants  of  John  Dinsmoor^,  the  emigrant  to  Ulster 
from  Scotland.  Dinsmoor  aj^peai'S  as  the  original  method 
of  si^ellino;,  and  was  crenerally  followed  till  about  1800. 
Since  then  it  became  the  fashion  for  some  to  spell  their 
name  Dinsmore,  and  it  is  frequently  seen  as  Dunsmoor, 
Dunmore,  Dunsmore,  Densmore,  Dcnsmoor,  but  generally 
the  orthography  is  Dinsmoor  and  Dinsmore,  the  latter 
methods  frequently  appearing  in  the  same  family,  and 
x)ft.3n  each  has  been  adopted  by  the  same  individual  at 
difforent  periods  of  life. 

The  family  is  not  an  ancient  one,  nor,  on  the  whole, 
very  numerous  ;  and  upon  the  other  side  of  the  water 
the  name  has  never  been  borne,  to  my  knowledge,  by  the 
gentry  or  nobility.  The  Dinsmoors  were  commoners. 
Rev.  John  W.  Dinsmore,  D.  D.,  of  Bloomington,  111., 
gives  this  as  the  probable  origin  of  this  patronymic  :  — 

"I  have  no  doubt  but  that  the  original  ancestor  wrote, 
if  he  could  write,  Dunsemoor  (dtmse,  a  little  hill,  and 
mooi\  heath).  He  probably  lived  on,  or  by,  a  little  hill 
at  the  ediie  of  the  heath,  or  moor." 


jjiy;<MooJis  OF  scoiland. 


tin:  riLsr  knoavn  dinsmook. 

1.  Laird  DiiiMuoor',  tlic  jtrogciiitnr,  and  earliest 
knoHiJ  ancestor  of  the  J^insmoors,  was  a  Scotchin:\n, 
horn  in  Aiil«l  Scotia  certainly  not  far  from  tlie  ^'var 
1600.  The  fact  that  lie  wa8  called  Laird  would  indi- 
cate that  he  was  a  man  of  some  note  and  consequence  io 
his  locality.  lie  was  a  farmer,  had  tenants  under  him,^ 
and  dwelt  on  the  hank  of  the  flowing  Tweed,  at  a  place 
wliich  traditi<»n  has  variously  called  Achenmead,  Auehin- 
mode,  Aikenn:eail,  and  other  variations  of  the  n.-fue. 
This  spot  lias  not  been  identifie<l  and  located  l)y  his  in- 
quiring and  investigating  descendants.  'J'radition  assrrt» 
that  he  was  a  follower  and  adherent  of  Douglass,  and  a8 
one  of  those  powerful  chiefs  had  his  home  in  a  fortress, 
whose  walls  were  of  wondrous  thickness  and  strength. 
placed  on  a  ]>rojeeting  rock  in  a  fiercely  wind-swept  and 
narrow  defile,  on  the  north  bank  of  the  River  Tweed, 
known  as  Xeidpath  Castle,  near  the  City  of  Peebles,  it  i» 
not  amiss  to  hazard  the  conjecture  that  Laird  ])iiis- 
moor's  home  was  in  the  immediate  vicinity.  Fair  and 
beautiful  is  that  locality,  and  the  river,  as  it  rushes 
through  the  deep  gorge  on  its  way  from  the  highlands 
to  the  sea,  sings  of  Scotland,  and  is  itself  one  of  ibe 
fairest  streams  in  the  home  of  our  forefathers. 

Of  the  mental  characteristics  of  the  Laird  we  know 
but  little.  But  it  is  evident  that  he  w^as  strongly  imbued 
with  the  prevailing  principle  of  his  age,  that  the  eldest 
born  should  receive  undue  homage  and  respect  from  the 
younger, —  a  sentiment  wliich  was  repugnant  to  the 
second  son,  to  his  American  descendants,  and  tv>  all 
Americans.  His  home  being  u|  on  the  bank  of  the 
Tweed,  as  he  was  living  there  some  two  hundred  and 
twenty-five  years  ago,  or  about  1667,  it  is  probable  that 
he  finished  his  days  in  the  land  of  his  birth,  and  that  his- 
dust  mingles  with  the  soil  of  his  native  Scotland. 
"  Requiescat  in  pace." 

CHILDREN'    OF    LAIIID    DIKSMOOR*,   OF    SCOTLAND. 

2.    Dinsmoor*.  whose  Christian  name  is  not  known,  was  bora  in- 

Scotland,  presumably  about  1648.  He  remained  in  Scotland,  and 
being  the  eldest,  inh'erited  his  father's  titles,  dignities,  homage^ 
and  respect. 

3.  John  Dinsmoor',  of  Ballj'wattick,  Ballymcney,  Ireland. 


DINS  MO  OB  S    OF  IB  EL  AND.  5 

John  Dinsraoor2,  b.  in  Scotland,  presumably  about 
1650.  He  was  required,  by  his  father,  it  is  said,  with 
uncovered  head,  to  hold  the  off  stirrup  of  his  elder 
brother's  saddle,  when  he  mounted  his  horse.  He  felt 
humiliated  by  the  requirement,  and  in  his  seventeenth 
year,  or  about  1667,  he  forsook  his  father's  house  and 
early  home,  his  kindred  and  native  land,  and  went  forth, 
bearing  no  property  or  goods  with  him,  save  a  cane  in 
his  hand,  his  wearing  apparel  upon  his  person,  with 
striped  woollen  hose  upon  his  stalwart  feet,  and  a  o^rav 
bonnet  of  huge  extent  which  covered  his  independent 
and  mnnly  head.  Thus  he  left  his  native  land,  and  thus 
he  first  appeared  in  the  Province  of  Ulster,  in  the  Parish 
of  Ballywattick,  one  of  the  town  lands  of  Ballymoney, 
County  of  Antrim,  Ireland.  For,  like  thousands  of  others 
of  the  best  blood  of  the  Lowlands  of  Scotland  at  that 
time,  he  crossed  the  belt  of  sea  dividing  the  two  coun- 
tries, and  helped  to  reclaim  the  cruelly  confiscated  land 
of  the  native  Celts.  There  he  made  his  home,  and 
although  the  young  adventurer  was  in  a  foreign  land,  yet 
he  was  surrounded,  not  by  a  strange  people,  but  by  those 
of  his  own  race  and  nation.  He  was  married,  at  the  asje 
of  twenty,  about  1670,  was  left  a  widower  at  seventy, 
lived  a  widower  for  twentv-nine  vears,  and  was  "o-athered 
to  his  fathers"  at  the  great  age  of  ninety-nine  years.  He 
was  widely  known  for  his  good  sense,  his  moral  worth, 
his  fervent  piety. 

He  established  the  home  in  Ballywattick,  and  for  gen- 
erations his  descendants  have  there  resided,  the  last  of 
them  leaving  the  place  in  1838. 

CHILDREN  OF  JOHN  DINSMOOR",  THE  SCOTCH  EMIGRANT  TO  IRELAND. 

4.  John  Dinsmoor=  (see  No.  8),  b.  as  early  as  1671,  in  Ballywattick,  Bal- 

lymoney, County  Antrim,  Ireland.  Emigrated  to  Londonderry,  X. 
H.,  that  portion  which  is  now  Windham,  N.  H..  as  early  as  1723, 
and  is  the  ancestor  of  most  of  the  Dinsmoors  of  New  Hampshire. 

5.  Robert  Dinsmoor'  (12).  b.  in  Ballywattick,  Ireland,  as  early  as  1673; 

res.  Ballywattick.  Ireland;  living  there  in  1715. 

6.  Adam  Dinsmoor^  (.58). b.  Ballywattick  as  early  as  1675;  of  him  there 

is  extant  no  exact  record,  only  the  general  one,  that  he  lived  at 
Ballywattick.  Ireland,  was  the  ancestor  of  many  Dinsmoors, 
and  has  had  his  name  perpetuated  in  his  descendants  and  distant 
relatives  in  succeeding  generations  to  the  present  time. 

7.  Samuel  Dinsmoor',  b.  Bailywattick,  Ireland,  presumably  as  early  as 

1677;  of  him  there  is  no  definite  record.  But  we  know  that  these 
three  brothers.  Adam^'.  Robert^,  and  Samuel',  were  the  ancestors 
of  most,  if  not  all,  of  the  Dinsmoors  now  in  Ireland,  and  of  those 


6  D2ySMOOU6    OF  -Vf.li'    HAMl':>.llinK. 


«:  -....,.   -   1-  '-•  «  to  ihp  lultrtl  .Slat€«  at  (liffi 

li;  r  \  n  l»in*ni(»or».  their  broilir 

New  Ha  '  '•• 

M.    .lolin  l>ii  {4),.i«>iiii^  Aairr/ I  )iiism()or' . 

trtui  \i.  m  HftllvNK.i".  rk,  Uallymoiioy,  Courity  Aiilrini, 
lind,  a*  early  an  l''Tl  (iir  liis  8<>n  liobcrt  was  1>.  in   ICl 
wan  thr   j>roprnil<>r  of  most  of   tlic  DiiiFnioorB  of   >•    . 
IlamiHihirr.  an«l  came  to  America  as  early  as  1723.      Ii»> 
man   taken   prihoner   l»y  the   Indians,   and,   after  vari   '  > 
»«lvenltireti,  finally  made  his  appearance  in  the  .Scotch 
llcmrnt  of  I>on(londerry.  N.  II.    With  many  of  tlie  pec 
then?  he  was  acqnainted,  having  known  thera  in  Ireh  jkI. 
Ho  made  Ins  home  in  wliat  is  now  Windham,     lieing  ."i 
ma»on,  he  huill   a  stone   liousc,  in  which   he  lived,  rind 
where  he  d.  in  1741.     The  ])lace  is  occnpied,  in  1891.  by 
rh;t ns  I).  Scott.     His  wife  and  children  joined  bin-  in 
Wii,  N.II. 

<  UII  I>RE>',   nOKN    I.V   nALLVWATTK  K.   IKKLANI>. 

,.    p.K.,.  t,'. ,..,.,„«   11).  b.  ifii'i:  res.  Wlndliam,  N.  H. 

10.    }  r*.  m.  J«ihn  Hopkins,  lived  near  lier  father       *, 

I  ii.im.  N.  H..  and  was  tiic  ancestor  of  most  of     •«: 

I.  1  that  section  of  tlie  country. 

I  I ,  Robert  Dinsmoor"*  (9),  previously  mcntioii'Ml, 
m.  Margaret  Orr.  in  Ireland,  and  he  and  his  wife  and 
four  children  came  to  New  IIam]»shire  in  1730.  He  w:  ■ 
prominent  in  the  town,  filled  various  j)ul)]ic  positicns. 
and  his  last  years  were  spent  upon  the  farm  owned  in 
1891  by  Edwin  O.  I)insmoor,  a  descendant,  four  gen(  r. 
lions  removed.  He  d.  Oct.  14,  1751.  His  wife  d.  Jiioe 
»,  I  <  «>> . 

M.'.r.v   of  their  descendants  Iiave  risen  to  distinctioii, 
and  high  honors  have  crowned  the  labors  of  their  livos, 
among    them    Col.    Silas    Dinsmoor^'    (John*,   HoberL*. 
John-"',    John',    Laird  Dinsmoor^),    his    grandson,    ' 
noted    Indian    agent,   a   man  of    versatility  of    gifts,   oi 
marked  ability,  who  was  b.  in  Windham,  X.  H.,  Sev'. 
26,  176G,  and  d.  at  Hellevue,  Ky.,  June  17,  1847.     I    t 
wife   was  Mary   (Gordon,   and  his  son,   Thomas   A. 
Dinsmoor',  lives  at  Kirksville,  Adair  Co.,  Mo.     Rob 
Dinsmoor"    (William*,    Robert*,    John'',    John^,   Xa, 
Dinsmoor'),  his  grandson,  was  well  known  as  the  "R 
tic  Banl,"  a  volume  of  whose  poems,  mostly  written  i 


THE    nHSTOBIAN   OF   THE   BIJSfSMOORS.      7 


the  Scotch,  dialect  was  published.  lie  was  b.  in  Wind- 
ham, Oct.  7,  1757,  and  d.  there  March  1»5,  1836.  A 
brother  of  the  latter  was  G*ov.  Samuel  Dinsmoor®,  b.  in 
Windham,  N.  H.,  July  1,  1766,  a  gi-aduate  of  Dartmouth 
College,  a  member  of  Congress,  and  Governor  of  New 
Hampshire.  He  m.  ^lary  Boyd  Tteid,  daughter  of  Gen- 
eral Reid  of  Revolutionary  fame,  and  d.  March  15,  1835. 
Their  son,  Samuel  Dinsmoor^,  was  also  Governor  of  New 
Hampshire.  They  lived  in  Keene,  N.  H.  Margaret 
Dinsmoor^,  a  sister  of  the  "Rustic  Bard"  and  of  the 
elder  Governor,  was  b.  Oct.  15,  1759;  m.  Dea.  Samuel 
Morison,  and  d.  in  Yv^indhara,  Sept.  18,  1837.  Their 
son,  .Jeremiah  Morrison',  b.  April  20,  1795,  d.  Nov.  '24, 
1862;  m.  Eleanor  Reed  Kimball,  and  were  the  parents  of 
Hon.  Leonard  Allison  Morrison^,  eighth  generation  from 
Laird  Dinsmoori,  of  Scotland.  He  was  b.  in  Wind- 
ham, X.  II.,  Feb.  21,  1843,  resides  there,  has  been  a 
member  of  the  House  and  Senate  of  the  New  Hamp- 
shire Legislature,  and  is  the  author  of  this  book.  Two 
great-grandsons  of  Robert  Dinsmoor*,  (John-'',  John^, 
Xairc?  Dinsmoori),  by  his  son  John-'^  .John'^,  were  James 
Dinsmoor'',  of  Boone  County,  Ky.,  a  man  of  ability,  and 
his  brother,  .John  Bell  Dinsmoor^,  of  Ripley,  N.  Y. 
Rev.  Cadford  M.  Dinsmoor^,  of  Exeter,  N.  H.,  son  of 
John  Taylor  Gilman  Dinsmoor'^  (James  6,  Robert^, 
Robert*,  John^,  John2,  Laird  Dinsmoor^),  a  Metho- 
dist clergyman,  was  b.  in  Windham,  N.  H.,  Aug.  20, 
1826;  graduated  at  Wesleyan  University  in  1851.  Hon. 
James  Dinsmoor',  of  Sterling,  111.  (William^,  AVilliam^, 
Robert*,  John-'',  John^,  Laird  Dinsmoor^,  of  Scotland.) 
He  was  b.  in  Windham,  N.  H  ,  March  3,  1818  ;  graduated 
at  Dartmouth  College  in  1841  ;  is  a  lawyer  of  high  stand- 
ing, resided  in  Lowell.  Mass.,  and  was  a  member  of  the 
Z>Iassachusetts  House  of  Representatives.  Removed  to 
Sterling,  111.,  in  1856,  and  for  four  years  was  a  member 
of  the  Illinois  Legislature.  He  is  the  author  of  the  His- 
tory of  the  Dinsmoor  Family,  75  pp.,  embodied  in  the 
•'History  of  Windham  in  New  Hampshire."  It  is  one  of 
the  most  valuable  family  histories  extant,  and  is  a  monu- 
ment to  the  great  industry  and  love  of  kindred  possessed 
by  its  honored  author.  He  m.  Amanda  A.  Carpenter,  of 
Sharon,    Vt.,   who  d.  Aug.   14,   1886;    in   the  following 


WILLIAM    n.    J)lS:SMni:E. 


I> 


N 
H 


A 


in. 


'      .    i,  I'^^T,  hi-  ni  ,  'J'l,   l»or  HiMtcr,   Mrs.   M:  ;v    M 
T     True.      His  S(»i),  .larvis   I  )insiiu)or',  is   i  law 
:.  III.,  nn<l  lw(»  d.inghUMs  who  gradii:   <m1  at 
'  — Alice  I)in8ni<)or'»,  a  teacher  ;   Flcence- 

noor*.  in.  .Tames   V.  Covey,  res.  St  rlin^', 
lion.  '■   K.   rillsl»ury\  a  hrilliaiit  lawye      aii'l 

•  i    of    the    Slate    of    Massaeljusetts,    is    of 
.1.  as  hi**  niotli  T,   KIi/,al»etli    Dinsino  >r^  is 
ii'.ii.  .Tainrs   1  >iiisnif>or%   lawyer  and   a    'hor. 
,  .   .:  ^..ih  \Vel»l<"r  I'i.lshury,  and  resides  in  M  1, 

H.     The  lifit  of  jiroininent  descen<hint8  of  the   N'  ,v 
nil  fliire   emigrant    woul<l    not   he   comj)lete    without 
»n    l»eing   in.idc   of    William    V>.  Dinsmore',  Esq., 
:it  of  the  Adams  Express  Conij>any,  tlie  la)g- 
.  \  t'otni'iny  in  the  word.     (Tie  was  son  of   'Vill- 

;»',Johij»,  HoIktI*,  John'',  John^,  Xai/-(^   Dinsi  :       ' 
'    *      I   Achrnnuad,   Scotland)     lie   was  b.   in     .  .&.- 
ii,   ..1..-S.  July,   IMd,  and   d.   April    13,   1888;    i 
,,".r,,^i,    .M.   Snow,  of    Brewster,   Mass.     lie    pose 
\n  |»ow«.'rs  for  business,  a  massive  mind  and 
and    an     inexhaustible    fund    of    wit    and    hi     .   r. 
He  re«idcd  at  StaatsT^urg,  \.  ^^,  and  is  succeeded  by  his 
ik4«us   Willi  im  B.  Dinsmore'*,  b.  1845,  and   Clarenc  >'  (t. 
DiuhMiorc*,  b.  184^. 

This  closes  a  Tjrief  notice  of  some   of  the  ]U"om       -m 
''        ndanls  of   llobert    Dinsmoor*,   son   of    John    .      i.s- 

j.. \  the  cajttive  of  the  Indians,  who   was  the   ci     ■  st 

son  of  John  Dinsmour^,  tlie  Scotch  lad  who,  with  iie 
and  broad  l>onnet,  emigrated  from  the  Tweed  to  Bally- 
waltick,  Ireland,  who  was  son  of  Laird  Dinsmoor^  of 
Scotland. 

T^avid  T)insmoor<  (name  of  father  not  known,  b'^t 
gr.andson  of  John  I)insm'oor-,  Laird  Dinsmoor'),  a 
nrphew  of  John  Dinsmoor'',  who  settled  in  Londonderry, 
N.  H.,  was  b.  in  Ireland  in  1714,  emigrated  to  America 
about  1745,  was  in  Lomlonderry,  X.  II.,  in  1747,  m.  Mrs. 
Kennedy,  settled  in  Chester,  N.  11.  His  descendants 
live  in  Chester,  Auburn,  X.  II.,  and  Anson,  Me.  Among 
them  is  liev.  Jolin  Dinsmore.  Some  years  ago  Curran 
Dinsmore,  Lemuel  Dinsmore,  and  James  P.  Dinsuiore, 
brothoi-s,  were  living  in  Xew  York  and  were  his  descen- 
dants. 


ni^'^S MOORS  OF  BALLYWATTICK,  9 

DIXSMOOKS    OF    BALLYWATTICK,    BALLY- 
MONEY,   COUXTY  ANTRI3I,   IRELAND. 

13.  Robert  Dinsmoor^  (5),  Johns,  Laird  Dins- 
moor  i.  Pie  was  b.  in  Bally waitick,  Ballymoney,  County 
Antrim,  Ireland,  presumably  as  early  as  1673,  and  was  a 
brother  of  John  Dinsmoor^,  the  first  emio-rant  of  the  name 
to  New  Hampshire.  He  resided  in  Ballywattick,  and 
was  an  intelligent,  upright,  and  leading  citizen.  From  a 
letter  which  I  received  Feb.  3,  1891,  from  31r.  William 
Hunter,  of  Ballywattick,  I  have  obtained  this  information. 

Rev.  R.  Park  was  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
there  for  over  fifty  years.  On  April  6,  169*2,  the  church 
made  application  to  the  General  Synod  of  Ulster  for  a 
minister,  and  made  a  second  application  in  1694.  Then 
Rev.  Hugh  Kirkpatrick  was  appointed.  He  had  fled  to 
Scotland  at  the  time  of  the  Revolution,  returned  in  1695, 
and  was  installed  over  the  church.  In  1699  he  was  mod- 
erator of  the  Synod,  and  continued  minister  until  his 
death,  in  1712. 

During  his  ministry,  Robert  Dinsmoor^,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  was  a  prominent  member  of  his  congregation, 
and  was  a  member  of  a  deputation*  to  the  S\nod  at  An- 
trim, County  of  Antrim,  Ireland,  in  1715,  on  matters 
relating:  to  the  church  and  cono-reo-ation. 

Details  of  his  life  are  not  knovv'u,  nor  the  names  of  his 
wife  and  children.  From  his  Christian  name,  from  the 
fact  of  his  residence  in  Ballywattick,  his  intelligence  and 
education,  his  age,  and  the  relation  which  his  age  bears 
to  the  subject  of  the  following  notice,  it  seems  fair  to 
infer  that  he  was  the  father  of  the  one  whose  sketch  is 
here  given  (l)ut  there  is  no  absolute  proof),  and  so  in 
that  manner  I  have  arranged  them. 

13.  Robert  Dinsmore*,  Robert^  (?),  John^,  Laird 
Dinsmoor^.  He  was  a  grandson  of  John  Dinsmoor^,  the 
Scotch  emigrant  to  Ballywattick,  Ireland,  and  was  b.  in 
1720;  lived  in  Ballywattick,  Ballymoney,  County  of 
Antrim,  Ireland,  the  place  of  his  birth,  and  was  a  farmer. 


^  The  members  of  tlie  delegation  were  as  follows:  Cornet  Alexander 
McGown,  Mr.  James  Henry,  Allen  Templeton.  Robert  Dinsmore,  John 
Love,  Peter  Gamble,  Thomas  Eeid,  Quinton  Dick,  John  Lawrence. 


10     iwisKiiT  i)issMoin:\  (tr  ihklaxjk 

A  brolhcr  live<i  near  him,  .in«l  ^nvh  lin«]  a  large  f:.mil  v. 
lie  w*  aleft«linj:  man  in  th«*  |arisli,  whr  lidd  i»i  llic 
r«ir-  ".  nn«!  wan  a  rrrp^ylorian  in  his  religious  failh.      j» 

llin  int-  was  of  a  lii;;h  order,  atsd  lo  liim  a  '     '  y^ 

if'  ■      -J  jor  iJ.o  i-rr^ervnlion  of  iho  ^oiioalogy  and   «  :iil; 
hi*:   ry  <»f  llic  family.     Ilf  was  a  man  wlio  onjoyed    \.  i 
in^'.  nn  1  cV  -••   -  his  fife  he  kept  np  a  eorrespondcne*'    '•    '' 
•  J.aird  I '......  Mir,  at  the  old  home  in  Scotland,  an<!   •       i 

\\\n  relntivcJ*  in  Now  namjtahire,  U.  S.  Among  ih  i: 
wiih  wh"m  he  exchanged  letters  were  Jolm  Dinsi.oor'', 
of  Windham.  K.  11..  and  with  his  sons  —  John  Dinsmoor*, 
whf»ti'  wife  wa!<  Snsannali  Hell,  an«l  Col.  Silas  Dinsiioor'', 
the  colehrated  Indian  agent.  Only  one  lias  been  prc- 
►crvcd.  which  wap  addressed  to  John  Dinsmoor*"',  of  Wind- 
h»m.  N.  H.  (a  part  of  tlie  original  Lon(h)ndcrry,  N.  II.), 
and  printed  willi  the  ])0ok  of  jtoems  of  the  "(*n=t:c 
Jl.Trd."  K.tlxTl  T>in<inoor,  and  dated  :  — 

'*  Ballywattick,  Irclind,  Aug.  12,  1      ^ 

'My  Dear  Sir,  —  In  Jnly  last,  I  received  yoiii  aftec- 
tionatc  loiter  of  *2lid  Feb.,  1794,  where  you  liave  given 
me  a  full  and  clear  answer  to  my  letter  of  May  12,  1793. 
which  wns  directed  to  your  honoured  father,  —  but,  alas  I 
no  more.     M:iy  I  not  bi<l  adieu  to  North  America. 

**  Submission  is  a  duty,  therefore  I  shall  only  add — T 
fihall  go  lo  him,  but  he  shall  not  return  to  me.  It  gives 
mo  consolation  that  he  has  left  a  son  and  heir,  blessed 
with  his  principles  and  talents.  I  see  that  you  feel  for 
the  commotion;!  of  Euroj)e,  and  for  the  arbitrary  proceed- 
ings of  our  government  in  } "articular.  You  give  ihem 
hard  names.  Indeed,  so  could  we,  but  dare  not;  we  are 
bro  ight  to  submission  indeed.  While  our  lives  are  pro- 
tected by  the  laws,  we  must  submit  our  property  lo  the 
discretion  of  government  without  a  murmur  or  com}  laiut. 
Provided  our  taxes,  which  are  heavy,  were  dispo.-^d  of 
for  internal  defence  of  our  country  and  encourager  ent  of 
our  trade  and  manufactures,  we  would  pay  more  cheer- 
fully. But  when  we  see  it  levied  to  support  a  i  u.iuous 
war,  that  we  think  Great  Britain  had  nothinn-  to  do  with, 
we  comjdain  the  more.  At  this  moment  the  eyes  of  all  <[ 
Ireland  are  looking  earnestly  for  the  completion  of  ynur 


THE  HISTOBIAN  OF  THE  BINSMORES,     11 

peace  with  Great  Britain,  on  wliich  the  trade  of  Ireland 
much  depends.  AVe  know  you  have  sent  a  late  com- 
missioner from  Congress  to  the  Court  of  Great  Britain,  a 
Mr.  Jay ;  but  as  nothing  has  yet  transpired  in  respect  to 
Ireland,  I  mi^st  be  silent.  I  had  a  long  letter  from  your 
brother  Silas,*  in  May  last,  which  I  answered.  It  raises 
my  pride  to  find  that  there  is  a  Dinsraoor  in  any  part  of 
the  globe  so  capable  of  composition  as  I  sec  the^riter  of 
this  letter  to  be.  The  more  so  when  I  can  truly  call  hira 
friend  and  cousin. 

"As  to  your  request  concerning  the  genealogy  of  our 
family,  you  have  been  pretty  fortunate  indeed  in  calling 
on  me,  as  I  assure  you  there  is  not  a  man  livinf;  within 
my  knowledge  that  cm  go  as  far  up  in  that  description 
as  I  can.  Xevertheless  it  may  be  short  of  what  history 
could  afford.     Please  take  the  following:  — 

"My  grandfather  was  born  on  the  mean  land  of  Scot- 
land, near  the  River  Tweed  —  the  son  of  a  wealthy  farmer, 
as  1  supposed  from  his  style,  being  called  the  Laird  of 
Achenmead.  as  he  had  tenants  under  him.  He  had  two 
sons,  of  which  my  grandfather  was  the  second,  whose 
name  was  John.  He  left  his  father's  house  in  the  seven- 
teenth year  of  his  age.  1  suppose  he  must  have  eloped, 
as  he  brought  no  property  with  him,  as  I  have  often  heard, 
save  a  gray  bonnet  of  great  extent,  with  striped  woollen 
hose,  and  a  small  cane  in  his  hand.  This  is  your  original 
in  Ireland,  and  mine;  and  all  by  the  name  of  Dinsmore, 
here  or  elsewhere,  that  belong  to  that  stock.  Therefore, 
you  will  be  ready  to  say,  we  have  little  to  boast  of.  But 
stay  a  little,  my  dear  friend,  and  let  us  go  a  little  higlier, 
and  return  to  Scotland.  Y'ou  see,  as  above,  we  are 
sprung  from  a  farmer.  Will  this  give  us  any  dignity? 
Yes ;  the  most  ancient,  the  most  honorable  in  civil  life. 
The  second  man  in  creation  was  a  farmer.  Cain  was  a 
tiller  of  the  ground.  What  are  Monarchs?  What  are 
Kings,  Dukes,  Lords,  Earls?  What  was  Alexander,  or 
Philip  of  Macedonia,  but  murdering  vagabonds? 

"  The  character  of  a  farmer  is  far  above  them  all.  Stop 
but  the  farmer  and  his  culture,  and  you  sweep  off  the 


*Col.  Silas  Dinsnioor,  the  Indian  agent,  and  a  brilliant  man. 


12  Tff^  niSTUUK'   LKTTKIi  OF  179^ 

liMPMn  rnor  nt  <.iu'  ^lt•(•l»c.  So  you  8Co  that  the  farnic-V 
§lili  »n  i»  rx.iUe<l  above  all  others.  Therefore,  lu  '  '  i- 
g,,  ,.  i^  1,  ..l,..r  ihaii  any  other  whatever. 

*  I  II.  .        rave  vonr  ]>ntiencc.     Suffer  me,  then,  to 
tuni  to  my  grandfather  an<l  his  ofTsi.rinix,  of  whieh  you  are 

a  »t'i^Q^-  '  '^''^•'*  "^•"'  '•'^'^  ^*''"*  f**^"'**'  John,  Adam  Hobert. 
and  Sanmel.  .lohn  was  the  lirst  that  migrated  lo  Amer- 
ica of  the  name,  and  the  first  that  Ptruck  a  stick  in  Loiv 
<1  '  •  ■,  'I'his  man  was  your  graiidfathcr\s  father  and 
niv  uijc.e.  wiio  surmounted  many  dilhculties  in  providing 
n  '■■-■-r^  and  free  estate  for  his  offsjiring,  and  in  the  attempt 
w  :,;ade  an  Indian  caj>tive.  I'ermit  mc  to  c  -^orve  a 
ci:eumslancc  with  respeet  to  my  grandfatlier's  leaving 
hi«  father's  house  w  ithout  any  property,  whieh  may  eluci- 
date the  hint  before  observed,  res})ecting  it,  which  is  this: 
I  never  heard  this  man  give  any  other  reason  or  cause 
for  his  leaving  hi-i  father's  house,  but  this:  That  his 
father  obliged  liim,  and  that  uncovered,  to  hold  tlie  off 
stirrup  of  his  ehler  brother's  sad<lle  when  he  mounted 
hi-*  h'-»rse.  A  subordination  that  appeared  not  t^.  agree 
with  this  man's  proud  heart. 

"May  it  not  be  an  heir-ship  entailed  on  his  ofir^pring? 
And  if  so,  wliether  virtue  or  vice,  I  leave  with  you  to 
determine,  althoush  I  am  no  advocate  for  virtue  'r  vice 
being  hereditary.  To  conclude,  then,  this  man  lived 
until  he  was  99  (ninety-nine)  years  of  age.  He  was  fifty 
V'  irs  married,  and  twentv-nine  years  a  widower  which 
en  led  h's  life,  much  resi)ected  by  all  who  were  acquainted 
with  him.  for  his  juety,  morals,  and  good  sense.  Now, 
Bir,  I  have  gone  as  far  as  my  memory  could  assisl  me  in 
answering  your  request.  But  there  is  yet  son: etbing 
remains  whicli  may  gratify  your  inquisitive  mind,  in  the 
line  of  lieraldry.  The  Dinsmoor  coat-of-arms  is  ii  farm 
laid  down  on  a  jdate,  of  a  green  color,  with  three  v.heat 
sheaves  set  u]>right  in  the  centre,  of  a  yellow  coior,  all 
emblematical  of  husbandry  and  agriculture. 

"KOBEirr  DINSMOR    . 

The  grandfather  of  the  person  to  whom  the  lette     ''as 
addressed,  Robert  Dinsmoor*,  of  Windham,  N.  H 
an  own  cousin  of  Robert  Dinsmore*,  the  writer. 


THE   DINS M OB E   COAT-OF-ABMS.  1 


o 


Another  description  is :  "The  picture  of  a  man  with 
his  dog  and  gun,  with  a  sheaf  of  v/heat  and  one  of  oats, 
which  crossed  each  other."*  These  are  given  for  wh.-it 
they  are  worth.  They  may  amuse,  but  probably  have  r.o 
historical  value. 

Mr.  Dinsmore  lived  with  his  son,  Samuel^,  the  last  of 
his  life,  and  died  in  Ballywattick,  and  is  buried  by  the 
side  of  his  friends  and  kindred  in  the  cemetery  in  Bally- 
money,  where  there  is  a  stone  erected  to  his  memory. 
lie  was  twice  married.  The  first  family  went  abroad, 
and  one  son  went  with  Capt.  Cook  around  the  world. 
Nothing  more  is  known  of  the  first  family  of  children  or 
their  history. 

CHILDRE>',  BOEX  I>'  BALLYWATTICK,   IRELA^'D. 

Second  Family. 

IJ.  "William  Dinsmore°,  Id.  1755,  d.  1818.  lived  a  long  while  in  Philadelphia, 
Penn.  PiCturned  to  Ballymoney.  Ireland;  m.  Jane  Blair,  and  d. 
there.  No  children.  William  Dinsmore  owned  a  house  and  out- 
buildings on  Main  Street,  Ballymoney.  In  his  barn  Adam  Clark, 
the  commentator,  used  frequently  to  hold  religious  services,  at- 
tended by  many  of  the  people.  Mr.  Dinsmore  was  a  leading  man 
in  the  town,  and  was  greatly  respected.  As  he  had  no  children, 
the  property  which  he  possessed,  which  was  considerable,  went  to 
his  relatives.  The  following  is  upon  his  tombstone  in  Ballymoney  : 
"Consigned  to  the  tomb,  in  the  63d  year  of  his  age.  Here  lies  the 
remains  of  William  Dinsmore,  late  of  Ballywattick,  a  man  distin- 
guished by  purity  of  morals  and  integrity  of  heart.  Impressed 
with  a  due  sense  of  religion,  his  practice  was  regulated  by  its  dic- 
tates; firmly  believing  the  truths  of  the  Gospel  his  whole  life 
evinced  the  genuine  fruit  of  Christianity.  iSiS." 

15.  Samuel  Dinsmore^  (10;,  b.  1761,  lived  in  Ballywattick.  Ballymoney. 

Ireland,  and  d.  Nov.  12,  1829.    The  father  of  John  Dinsmore®,  of 
Bloomington,  Ind. 

16.  Molly  Dinsmore^.  m.  Thomas  Mcllhose,  res.  Derrock,  County  Antrim. 

17.  Margaret  Dinsmore°,  m.  Andrew  Dinsmore  (No.  41),  of  Ballywattick, 

Ireland.    He  was  her  own-cousin. 

18.  Martha  Dinsmore*,  m.  Alexander  Culberson,  and  lived  iu  lower  Bal- 

lywattick, Ireland. 

19o  Samuel  Dinsmore^  (15),  Robert*,  Robert3  (?), 
John^,  LaxnP .  He  was  b.  in  Ballywattick,  Ballymoney, 
CountyAnti'im,  Ireland,  in  1761 ;  m.  in  1783,  Mary,  daugh- 
ter of  Andrew  Brewster,  of  Glenhall,  County  of  London- 
derry, Ireland.  He  was  a  large,  tall,  strong-limbed  farmer, 
and  lived  on  a  portion  of  the  Dinsmore  homestead  in 
Ballywattick,  where  he  d.  Xov.  13,  1829,  and  is  buried  in 
Ballymoney  Cemetery.      Upon  his  tombstone  in  Bally- 


^  From  letter  of  John  Dinsmore^  (grandson  of  foregoing  Robert*),  of 
Bloomington,  Indiana,  dated  Sept.  9, 1887. 


14 


I\   Til  Kin  LAST  bLEEV 


money  is  iIikh  inscription  :  ''  Here  lies  the  bo<ly  ol  •  iatc 
Samuel    l>insniore,   of    nallywnttick,   wlio   depai  this 

life  the   loth  Nov.  1820,  aged   G8  years;    also,  ;:.d 
Kohert,  who  departed  this  life  the  18th  of  Apji!,  Icx.^, 
aped    18    yt'ars."      lie    and    family    were    Presbv '''riaDS. 
His  wid«)W    dietl    in    IJloomington,    Ind,    in    18  i  He 

lived  in  a  comforlahle  stone  house ;  at  the  end  <  it  is 
a  lieM  surrounded  hy  trees,  which  make  the  ]  •  at- 
Ira'tive  and  home-like. 

rniLDRF.X,  BORN  I?f  IIALIAWATTICK,  BALLYMOXEY,  COUNTY    ANTRIM, 

IRELAND. 

20.  William  Pinsmore".  b.  jibout  178."i.  lived  in  I'allywatUck,  i;.<-ii 

to  America.  an<l  d.  at  ri<iua.  Miami  Co..  Ohio. 

21.  Andrew  Dinsmorc".  b.  about  l>77.  res.  at  Charlottesville,  \a  ,  wiiere 

Jio  dic<i  sndtlcniy;  single. 
?2.    Marcarct   Dinsnioie".  b.  about  17S9;  m.  Archibald  IVIcI  ul 

lived  in  P.allywattick.  on  a  farm  occupied  in  IS'.tl  by  \; 

then  removed  to  Tort  Stewart,  County  of  Londonden  '(, 

where  they  died.    Two  daughters  are  still  living:  Ma    ,: 
rcavy,  single,  res.  I'ort  Stewart.  Ireland;  Kachel  Mclii 
Mr.  IJeid.  and  has  a  large  family,  res.  Croninore.  Cot  i 
Ireland.    Daniel  Mclhcavy  wentto  Australia,  and  is  d     . 

23.  l*eJtie  I'lnsmore**.  b.  about  17'.)1.  m.  Charles  Riddle,  and  m 

burg,  I'enn.    The  family  was  there  in  18f>0.     See  Hist  >.  v  ,<;- 

dell.  Kiddle,  Ilidlon.  i;idley.  Family,  p.  UtG.  by  (>.  T.  Ridluu. 

24.  Samuel  Dinsniorc'-.  b.  about  1792,  was  killed  at  Baltimore.  ^^^.  ;•  ^<^i'' 

by  being  blown  up  in  a  i)owder  mill. 

25.  James  Dinsmore*^.  b.  about  1795.  d.  in  Hamilton.  Ohio. 

26.  IJobert  DiDsmore^.b.  about  1797.  d.  in  IJallywatlick,  Ireland,  in  18(K). 

27.  Mar>-  Dinsmore*,  b.  about  1799,  m.  Sanmel  Johnson, a  merchant;  the  . 

lived  and  died  at  lUish  Mills.  Antrim.  Irel.md. 

28.  Jennie  Dinsmore^.  b.  about  1803,  m.  Robert  Small,  and  d   in  1 

burg.  I'enn.      Her   fir.st    husband   was\Mr.  IMcAllister. 
daughter  m.  Mr.  I'inkerton.*  and  t'r.ey  live  in  Philadelph'a. 

29.  Rachel  Dinsmore",  b.  about  1806,  m.  James  McAftee;    she  died  i:, 

Wooster,  Ohio.    His  early  home  was  near  Giant's  Cause^ray. 

30.  Matilda  Dinsmore'^,  b.  aboiit  1808,  m.  Campbell  AlcCurdy;  she  d.  in 

Baltimore.  Md. 

31.  John  Dinsmore^  (32),  b.  in  1810.  res.  1891,  in  Bloomingtou,  led.    See 

following  sketch  of  him  and  his  family, 

32.  John  Dinsmoro^  (31),  Samuel^,  Robert*,  Rob- 
ert3  ?,  John2,  Laird  Dinsmoor^  lie  wa.s  b.  in  Bally- 
wattick.  Ballymoney,  County  Antrim,  Ireland,  in  181*0, 
and  succeeded  his  father,  on  the  home  of  his  for',*fathers, 
in  the  parish  of  his  birth.  There  he  remained  several 
years  after  the  death  of  his  father  and  in  1838,  he,  the 
last  of  the  name  there,  left  his  native  huid,  the  old  home 
of  his  peop-e  for  several  generations,  and  with  his  family 


*Many  Pinkertons  are  natives  of  Bally  waUick,  Socou.  and 
Note.— The  i^arish  of  Mdquoskin,  .sometimes  called  Maco 
Coleraine,  Ireland. 


aear 


THE  OLD  DINSMOBE  HOME  FOliSAKEN.    15 

and  venerable  mother  removed  to  Bloomington,  Ind  , 
where  he  has  ever  since  lived,  and  where  he  resides  in 
April.  1891.  Thus  the  ancestral  home  of  the  Dins- 
mores  on  Irish  soil  passed  into  the  hands  of  others.  It 
is  occupied  in  1891  by  Archibald  Usher.  He  and  his 
family,  his  father  and  his  family,  are,  and  were,  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  In  a  letter  dated  Oct.  1, 
1890,  he  says  :  "I  hope  and  trust,  through  the  interces- 
sion of  the  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  that  our 
names  will  be  enrolled  in  the  Book  of  Life."  He  m.  in 
1832,  .Margaret  Small,  who  died  in  1882,  at  Bloomino-ton, 
Ind. 

CHILDKEN:     THE  THREE  ELDEST  BORN  AT  BALLY WATTICK,  IRELAND; 
THE  OTHERS  AT  BLOOMINGTON,   IND. 

53.  Samuel  Dinsmo^e^  b.  Feb.  8, 1834,  m,  Magdelene  T.  HudsenpeH.  res. 

Burden,  Kan.  Cliildren:  John  Dinsmoie*.  Julia  Dinsraore^,  Mary 
Dinsmore*. 

54.  Joseph  S.  Diusmore^,  b.  Jan.  1,  1830.  m.  Mary  A.  Henderson,  res. 

Bloomington.  Ind.  Children:  Wadsey  Dinsraore^.  William  Dins- 
more*,  Paul  Dinsmore^.  The  two  elder  are  in  college  at  Bloom- 
ington. Ind. 

35.  Mary  Dinsmore",  b.  January,  1838;  d.  Oct.  20, 1853,  at  Bloomington, 

Ind. 

36.  William  J.  Dinsmore',  b.  March  4, 1840,  m.  Mary  Gates,  res.  Earlville. 

HI.    Cliildren:   Theophilus  Dinsmore*.  Annie  Dinsmore*. 

37.  Andrew  Dinsmore^  b.  February.  1842.  d.  ]*.Iay,  1843. 

38.  Jane  Dinsmore",  b.  April  2,  1844.  d.  March.  18G3. 

£9.  Theophilus  V>'.  Dinsmore",  b.  Sept.  27.  184C,  m.  Sarali  Bunger.  He 
d.  April  14,  1871. 

40.  Matilda  H.  Dinsmore'.  b.  Jan.  4, 18.30,  m.  Benjamin  Kirby,  res.  Bloom- 
ington, Ind.    They  have  one  son  and  four  daughters. 

41.     Andrew  Dinsmore^, *,  Robert^  (?),  John^, 

TAiird  Dinsmoor^.  He  lived  in  Ballvwattick,  in  a  stone 
house,  now,  1891,  unoccu])ied,  and  owned  by  Archibald 
Lusher.  He  was  a  shrewd,  sensible  man,  quite  intelligent, 
and  a  man  of  influence  in  his  neifyhborhood.  Pie  was  a 
member,  as  were  all  the  Dinsmores,  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Ballymoney,  which  has  been  in  existence  since 
1700.  He  died  in  the  place  of  his  nativity,  and  is  buried 
with  others  of  his  kindred  and  name  in  the  cemetery  in 

the  village  of  Ballymoney.     He  m.  Ist, . 

who  had  seven  sons  and  one  dauo-hter.  She  died,  and  he 
ni.  2d,  his  own-cousin,  Margaret,  daughter  of  Hobert 
Dinsmore*,  the  letter  icriter.  On  his  tombstone  in  Bally- 
money is:  "Here  rests  the  remains  of  Andrew  Dins- 
more, of  Ballywattick,  who  departed  this  life  13th  July, 


16       AyDUK]V    DiySM(fUE\    OF   inELAND.        \ 

1811,  a^nMl  73  years;    and  aLso  liis  wife,   >rargaret.   who    ,  ' 

«lie(l  4tii  A})ril,  1!?13,  acjcd  C/2  years.    Much  of  the  viriu 
which  ornament  the  Christian  character  were  possesscjl 
by  tViis  \*?.lr.''     Tlu  y  had  seven  <lang}iters  and  on(     - 
The  record  of  all  his  chn«Trefi,-ae-[;;iy^^U  t;:a<]itionally,  i^  us 
follows,  though  some  are  missing. 

.  iiiIDlirv.   noUN   IN  BAT.LVWATTirK.   BALLY ^TtriiKY,  fOUNTY  ANTUJW, 

IKF.LAND. 

42.  John  lMii«:innro".  Piniprated  early  to  A nurlca. ' before  1817,  aii(M\-.f» 
poYoniiin'nt  surveyor  in  one  of  the  S(»titliern  States,  where  !ie 
resi(l»  «i.     He  w.is  in..  l)Ut  is  said  to  have  left  no  childrenv 

♦.3.    Robert  IMnsniorc*.  lived  in  Hallywatiick.  m. .fl^efltili   r 

the  loss  of  his  ^>roperty  with  his  brother-in-law.  Joseph  SmflU't  !. 
ai>oiit  )>^3n.  and  is  buried  in  Hallymoney.  He  had  several  childBeii, 
antont:  tlieni  Kol)ert  I»insni(»re".  who  settled  in  Tennes?(e;  J<;iin 
I>;  •■    ■•       I  l>insniore'.  Klizabeth   Dinsmore',  Margaret 

1)1  ,.';."y  fiilismore".     They  all  came  to  A:ne)'    i 

after  their  father's  dea'th.        -^-  -  •    ...  -> 

44.  .lames  Samuel  Hinsmore",  b.  1771,  d.  in  1846.  m.  Jennit..5?i'l>^.i"t)  :"-d 

lived  near  Havre  de  Grace,  Md.,  where  his  descendants  ?:t  said 
to  l>e  still  living. 

45.  William  l)lnsm<ire«.  called  "  Gentle  Willie."    Hem.  Martha  Henrv.  1 

He  owned  the  farm  and  erected  the  stone  house  owned  by  V'  illiam  ' 

Knox  in  Rally wattiek  in  1891.  He,  "Gentle  V/illie,"  ni  i  v.ith 
flnaiicial   trouble,  euiiprated   to    Maryland,    and   died   with    nis  | 

itrother  James.  He  had  no  children.  His  wife  was  from  upl-'er 
Secon.  close  to  Ballywattick. 

46.  Andrew  Dinsmore".  emigrated  to  America,  before  1817.    T',/o  other 

sons  are  said  to  have  settled,  one  at  Charlottesville,  Va..  and  oue 
farther  South. 

r,y  Second  Marriage  with  Margaret  Dinsmore'. 

47.  Kachel  Dinsmore*  (52  ,  b.  in  1810.  m.  .John  Hunter,  res.  York,  Fcnn. 

48.  .lane   Dinsmore',  m.  Joseph  Small,  lived   in    Ballywattick.  .Mid  in 

Kr.owend,  County  Antrim,  Ireland.  Farmer.  Children:  Alltlivse 
said  to  have  settled  in  Bloomington,  Ind. 

John  Smair. 

Josejih  SmalF. 

Andrew  Smair. 

.lames  Small". 

Rachel  Smalr.  moved  to  Bloomington.  Ind. 

Small,  m.  Tomb,  fo  Dunkendalt,  Ballymoney   Antrim, 

Ireland.    Had  a  family,  and  removed  to  New  England. 

Small,  m.  Francis  McKinley.  of  Strome,  County  Ant     r>   '"  ar 


Derrock.  and  removed  to  Bloomington,  Ind 
Small,  m.  Mr.  Smith,  moved  to  Canada 


Margaret  SmalT.  m.  her  cousin.  John  Dinsmore. removed  to  Bloom* 
ington.  Ind..  in  1838.    See  sketch  No.  32. 

9.  Mary  Dinsmore".  m.  Samuel  Boyd,  of  Culbrom.  County  Antrii  ..  ■where 
they  died.  Child  :  Robert  Boyd,  went  to  United  States  Wus  in 
United  States  Survey  ;  returned  to  County  Down,  and  liv  L  there. 
No  family. 

50.  Susan  (or  Hannah^  Dinsmore",  m,  James  Neill,  of  Dunker  -   '    T5al- 

Ivmoney.  County  Antrim.     He  died,  and  his  family  re  d  to 

Philadelphia.  Penn.    Children  :  James  NeilP,  Ann  Xeil     Kachel 
NeilF.  Margaret  XeilF. 

51.    Dinsmore.  m.  James  Hay,  of  Burnside,  Ballymoue>     /ounty 

Antrim.    Children  are  deceased. 


.»■ 


BACHEL  DINSMOBEe,    OF  TOBK,  PE:NN.    17 

52.  Rachel  Dinsraore^  (47),  Alargaret  (Dinsmore^) 
Dinsraore^,  Kobert*,  Robert 3  (?),  John 2,  Laird  Dins- 
moor  1.  She  was  b.  in  Bally wattiek,  Town  of  Ballymoney, 
County  Antrim.  Ireland,  in  1810:  m.  John  Hunter,  son 
of  John  Hunter,  of  Secou.  He  was  b.  there  1784;  was  a 
weaver  of  fine  linen,  lived  in  Bnllywattick.  and  built  the 
house  occupied  in  1891  by  William  Hunter,  his  nephew. 
Went  to  America  in  1817,  and  d,  in  York,  Penn.,  in 
May,  1823,  where  they  lived.  Rachel  (Dinsmore)  Hun- 
ter m.,  second,  Joseph  McPherson,  in  1829,  and  d.  in 
York,  Penn.,  Feb.  1,  1837.  She  and  Mr.  Hunter  were 
members  of  the  Presbvterian  Church,  and  later  she  was 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church. 

CHILDREN. 

53.  Rev.  William  Hunter^,  b.  in  Ballywattick,  Ireland.  May  26, 1811;  m. 
Jane  ]\IcCarty ;  went  to  America  witli  liis  parents  in  1817.  became  a 
clergyman  in  tlie  Methodist  Episcopal  ChTirch.  and  was  an  editor. 
He  was  a  gifted  man.  and  was  a  po  :  ct  merit.  In  alluding  to 
another,  in  one  of  his  sweet  poems,  he  said:  — 

Away  from  his  home  and  the  friends  of  his  youth, 
He  hasted,  the  herald  of  mercy  and  truth. 
For  the  love  of  his  Lurd.  and  to  seek  for  the  lost. 
Soon,  alas!  was  his  fall,  but  he  died  at  his  post. 

He  asked  not  a  stone  to  be  sculptured  with  verse; 
He  asked  not  that  fame  should  his  merits  rehearse; 
But  he  asked  as  a  boon,  when  he  gave  up  the  ghost. 
That  his  brethren  might  know  that  he  died  at  his  post. 


He  was  author  of  the  hymns, 
and  of. 


The  Great  Physician  now  is  near, 
The  sympathizing  Jesus, 


Joyfully,  joyfully,  onward  we  move, 
Bound  for  the  laiid  of  bright  spirits  above. 

He  d.  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  Oct.  11, 1877.    His  second  wife  was  Ur- 
sula McCarty,  and  he  had  children. 

CHILDREN  OF  REV.   WILLIAM  HUNTER''. 

1.  Eachel  Dinsmore  Hunter^,  d.  in  infancy. 

2.  Wesleyana  Hunter^,  b.  ;  m.  Stephen  Quinon,  and  d.  in  Pitts- 

burg, Penn..  (Jet.  8.  1889.     Children:    Mary  Alice  Quinon^,  b. 
Sept.  4. 1875;  Flora  Hunter  Quinon^.  b. ;  d.  Xov.  30, 1889. 

3.  Daniel  McCarty  Hunter*,  b.  June  2,  1840;  m.  ,  and  res.  Al- 

liance. Ohio.    No  children. 

4.  Elliott  Virginia  Hunter^,  b. ;  m.  Dr.  Volk;  res.  Eiverside,  Cal. 

5.  Leouidas  Hamlin  Hunter^,  b.  .June  18. 1844;  m.  Kate  .    Chil- 

dren:   Flora  Holmes  Hunter^,  b.  May  26,  1874;  Bertha  May 
Hunter^,  b. . 

6.  Flora  Ursula  Hunter^,  b. ;  m.  Prof.  Horace  Bancroft,  who  d. 

She  m..  second.  Stephen  Quinon.  recently,  who  is  on  the  edito- 
rial staff  of  the  Pittsburg  Times.      Children:    Grove  Hunter 


IS      liEV.  WILLIAM  UUyXKin,  THE  I  OUT. 


/ 


Bancroft',  b.  Oct.  29.  1867.  d.   Dec.  14.  18«17;    Leon   T  .     n. 

Haiioroft*.   b.  Oct.   17.  1h<;s.  is  u\i:ht  t'ditor  of    Pitts 

patch.  iN'iin. ;  i:«ln.i  I'ella  Haiicroti''aii(i  .h-iiiiie  Klla  ' 

It.  Sept.  4,  1S70.  .Ifimie  <1    .fan.  4.  l«;;{;  Ida  J'.ancioft 

4,  18TJ.  d.  Jan.  Ij.  1HT:<;  William  Karl  iJaiicntft",  b.  M 

res.  Pittsbur^r.  P -nn. ;    .Mabel  Klizabeiii  Hancroft", 

187.'>.  d.  Julv  12.  1H7G. 

7.  John  An<liew  rtuiitei".b.  Dec.  1.1H47;  m   Rattie .   C  .i;i. 

incmber  of    Kast  Ohio   .Methodist    Episcopal  Confe 
siuikmI,  and  is  now  a  student  of  medicine  at  Colun 
Children:    Andrew  Diiismore  Hunter'',  b.  Jan.  27.  1^7      \ 
Car«y  Hunter*,  b.  Aui^.Jl.  1^71 ;  Frank  Dalles  Huntt  . 
27.  1^76.  d.  Ai'ril  2.  l!*77;  John  Hunter",  b.  Oct.  6,   l-^TT,    ^ruda 
Lena  Hunter",  b  Jan.  1.  188'»;  Hattie  Lillle  Hunter''  b.  Julv  4. 
lewi.  d.  Aug.  23.  18«*2;   Eva  Mabel  Huntei-^,  b.  Sej 
Florence  Lois  Hunter*,  b.  Feb.  12. 18.S5;  Gilbert  Have      i  .iivu.  . 
b.  April  4.  18b7;  Mary  Vaughan  Hunter^,  b.  Nov.  11,    -  8. 

8.  Nathan  GolT  Hunter",  b. ;  d.  in  infancy. 

9.  Jane  .Vnielia  Hunter^,  b.  ;    m.  Mr.  F'ordiug,  a  la    yer;  re*. 

near  Kiverside.  Cal. 

54.  Rev.  Andrew  Hunter^  b.  Ballywattick.  Ireland,  Dec.  26, 18  -  -^r^  to 
America  in  1S17:  m.  Maria  Jones,  of  York.  Penn.     He  .'    i 

powvrful  clergyman  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Chur( 
degree  of  D.  D."  wa^  conferred  upon  him.    His  ministry 
half  a  ceuturv.     He  was  stricken  with  partial  paralysis  <*i  CuUui» 
Plant.  Ark.,  while  preaching,  and  is  now  p.irtially  reco\t.'red.    H.'s 
home  is  near  Bryant,  fourteen  miles  from  Little  Kock,  Ark. 

CHILDREN. 

1.  William  Patterson  Hunter^,  res.  near  Bryant,  Saline  Co  ,  Ark.;  he 

was  b.  Sept.  21  l?4'?. 

2.  Florence  Bertrand  HunterS  b.  Aug.  31, 1855;  res.  Little  Kock.  Ark. 

3.  Andrew  Jones  Hunter",  b.  April  8, 1858:  res.  Little  Ptock,  Arl:. 

56.  John  l^unter^  b.  York.  Penn.,  Oct.  15.  1817;  m.  Harriet  McCarty.  He 
was  a  manufacturer.  He  was  a  strong,  self-reliant  maa  ox  busi- 
ness, was  held  in  the  highest  esteem,  and  was  an  active  niernber 
ot  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church;  d.  1887;  res.  Alliance  0M'> 

CHILDREN. 

1.  .Andrew  Dinsmore  Hunter^:  deceased. 

a.    Elizabeth  Hunter^;  m.  Erban  Weikart,  of  Alliance,  Ohi . 

56.  •  Margaret  Hunter",  was  b.  in  Y^ork.  Penn..  Oct.  31.  1820;  r  .  Aug.  23, 
,.•"  1&42,  Abrara  Weils,  and  res.  in  vVelisville.  Penn.  She  stiii  lives 
there  in  her  pleasant  home,  "  Willowdale,"  with  h^  r  married 
daughters  living  near  her.  She  is  a  lady  of  rare  gifts  and  graces. 
Mr.  Wells  was  a  person  of  great  courage  and  energy,  h  gh-souled, 
a. leader  in  society,  aud  an  example  in  all  good  worki,  and  was 
"^atly  missed  and  mourned  at  his  death. 

CHILDREN. 

Eii.-ia  Hunter  Wells^,  b.  April  2,  1846;  m.  1876,  Fran  ,  )i:7 

Barrett  of  Wooster,  Ohio,  and  has  children:  Willu.  i  .luraer 
Barrett*,  b.  Oct.  28,  1877;  Ruth  Barrett*,  b.  Nov.  8,1879;  and 
Margaret  Barrett*,  b.  Sept.  27. 1881. 

2.  Olive  Malinda  Wells\  b.  March  23.  1848:  m.  Dec.  23.  l-70    Roberi 

John  Belt,  of  Wellsville,  Penn.  Clnldren.  b.  Wells\  '  :  Penn.: 
Abram  Dinsmore  Beli^  and  Margaret  Dinsmore  B  ,  D.  Oct. 
27, 1871;  James  Edward  lielV  and  Miriam  Alice  Be  u**.  j^.  May. 
1881. 

3.  Harriet  Maria  Wells^  b.  April  17,  1851;  m.  Aug  23,  18  ^    T 

Young,   of   New    York,    N.    Y.     Children:     William 


L     X      U    i   A     '. 


BEV.  ANDBEW  HTJ^^TERt,  D.  D.  19 


Yonng^,  b.  July  24.  1873.  and  d.  Feb.  7. 1886,  atFlatbush,  L.  I.: 
Olive  Viola  Yoiing".  b.  Sept.  5, 1877,  at  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ;  Kichara 
Young--,  b.  Sei^t  17. 1886. 

4.  Mary  Dinsniore  Wells*,  b.  Nov.  10.  1854;  m.  June  l.  1876.  Thomas 

Barkdalc  Hoover,  of  Wooster.  Ohio;  reside  in  the  old  home, 
"  Wiiiowdale,"  Wellsville.  Penn.  Their  children  are:  Walter 
"Wells  Hoover^  b.  Oct.  13,  1877,  at  Wooster.  Ohio:  Thomas 
Leonard  Hoover'*,  b.  Dec.  10, 1880.  at  W-ehsville.  Fenn. ;  Donald 
Dinsmore  Hoover-^'  and  Dorothy  Goentner  Hoover^,  b.  Dec.  14, 
\^2A\  and  :Mary  EUloita  Hoover,  b.  Aug.  21.  188.5. 

5.  Margaret   Wells*,  b.  Dec.  23.  l>s56,  at  Wellsville.  Tenn. 

6.  Ellioiia  Wells\  b.  Feb.  14. 1801. 

7.  James  G.  Wells,  of  Wellsville.  Penn.,  is  a  son  of  Abrara  Wells  by 

a  former  marriage. 

8.  Adeline  Emily  Wells,  daughter  of  Abram  Wells  by  a  former  mar- 

riage, and  was  a  most  lovely  woman.    She  m.  Eev.  D.  (".  John, 

a  MetlK'dist  chrgynian:  and  u.  in  Winona.  Minn.,  where  she 

is  buried.  Children:  Anna  IMiriam  John.  m.  Mr.  Armituge,  res. 

Milwaukee,  Wis. ;  James  John;  David  John;  William  Nelson 

John. 

57.    Agnes  Hunter',  the  youngest  child  of  Piachel  Dinsmore*^  and  her 

husband.  John  Hunter  was  b.  in  York,  Penn.,  May  15, 1822,  and  d. 

■    there  iu  1822. 


DIXSMORES    OF   FENNSYLTAXIA. 

58.  Ailam  Diiismoor^  *  (6),  John^,  Laird  Dins- 
m<'ori.  He  was  b.  in  Ballywatlick,  Ballymoney,  County 
Antrim,  Ireland,  presuraabiy  as  early  as  1675,  and  re- 
mained in  Ireland,  in  the  parish  of  his  birth.  He  had 
three  sons  and  perhaps  other  children.  The  sox^s  emi- 
grated to  America  and  settled  in  Eastern  Pennsylvania. 

CHILDREN. 

59.  Kobert  Dinsmore*.   At  about  the  commencement  of  the  Eevolu*!  mary 

W^arhe  removed  to  Western  Pennsylvania,  and  settled  on  viiiler's 
Creek,  twelve  miles  southwest  of  Pittsburg.  Later  he  removed  to 
the  imbroken  wilderness  of  Kentucky,  and  his  after  history  is 
unknown.  In  those  early  days  there  were  no  mails  to  those  ua- 
known  lorders  of  civiiizati(»n.  and  little,  if  any.  word  was  evei- 
received  bv  his  friends  after  his  departure  from  Pennsylvania. 

60.  James  Dinsmore*  '62),  b.  Baliywattick,  Ireland,  April  26,  1742;  d. in 

Pennsvlvania.  in  1817, 

61.  Andrew  Dinsmore*  186  .  b.   Baliywattick,  Ireland,  in  1753;  -vent  ' 

America  and  settled  in  York  Co.,  Penn;  d.  April,  1829. 

62.     James  Dinsmore*  (60),  Adara3(?),  John*,  Z<arf 
Dinsmoori.     He  was  b.  April  26,  1742,  in  Bally  vfat^i'«89 
Ballymoney,  County  Antrim,  Ireland.     He  emigrated,  iu 
1761,  to  York  Co.,  Penn.,  and  remained  several  years. 


*  He  is  supposed  to  be  the  father  or  grandfather  of  Robert*.  James*, 
Andrew  Dinsmore*.  As  my  inforinant,  ±cev.  J^^hu  W.  Dinsmore.  D.  D., 
of  Bloomington.  111.,  thinks  that  Adam^,  or  PiOhert-,  was  their /a^/ier,  I 
have  called  Adam^  their  father,  and  have  so  numbered  the  generation. 


20         JAMES  DJ^^s^[onE^,  of  PEJ^fK. 

About  1774.  he  an<l  Iiis  In-other,  IJobcrl,  who  wi-^  living 
near  him,  removed  to  Miller's  Creek,  twelve  niih  onth- 
west  from  Pittsburg,  where  he  lived  until  1794,  "ti  he 
bought  a  large  tract  called  Huntingdon  Plantation,  in  Can- 
ton To]),  Washington  Co.,  Penn.,  some  six  miles  n  jrthweet 
from  the  town  of  Washington.  It  was,  and  i  .  r<  mag- 
nifu'cnt  tract  of  land,  covered  with  enormous  timber. 
Where  he  hrst  lived  was,  when  he  first  settled  there, 
a  howling  wilderness,  subject  to  frequent  incursions  of 
the  savages.  The  Dinsmoor  family  was  one  of  the 
first  to  invade  the  unbroken  solitude,  which  now  is  one 
of  the  richest  and  finest  parts  of  the  country.  He  was 
of  great  size,  weighing  above  three  hundred  pounds,  and 
a  man  of  profound  and  exalted  piety,  an  elder  in  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  of  great  influence  in  the  entire 
reffion  where  he  lived.  He  d.  on  his  estate  in  1817,  and 
is  buried  in  the  churchyard  at  Up}>er  Buffalo,  six  miles 
west  of  Washington,  Penn.  He  was  twice  m.;  name  of 
first  wife  is  unknown.  He  m.,  second,  at  Miller's  Run, 
Peim.,  Mary  Walker.  He  changed  the  spelling  of  his 
name  to  D'lnsmore. 

THEIR  CHILDREN  WERE:    THOSE  OF  FIRST  M.  BORN  YORK  CO.,  PENN.; 
BY  SECOND  M.  AT  MILLER'S  CREEK,   PENN. 

63.    Jannette  Diusmore'.  b.  Dec.  8, 1770;  m.  Mr.  Lee ;  removed  to  Meudina, 

Ohio,  and  there  died. 
&i.    Elizabeth  Dinsmore'%  b.  Dec.  24, 1772;  m. . 

By  Second  Marriage. 

65.  ]SIary  Dinsmore\  b.  May  29, 1777;  m.  Mr.  Langhan,  or  Langdon. 

66.  John  Dinsniore''  (70).  b.  .July  14, 1779;  m.  Jane  Carr. 

67.  James  Dinsmore-^  (76),  b.  March  4,  1782;  m.  Esther  Hamilton. 

68.  Hannah  Dinsmore'",  b.  Jan.  26, 1784;  m.  Mr.  Saulsbury. 

69.  Sarah  Dinsmore\  b.  March  30,1789;  m.  Thamas  Mason.    They  had 

numerous  and  influential  children,  who  were  born  at  Cross  Creek, 
Washington  Co.,  Penn. 

TO,  John  Dinsmore^  (66),  James*,  Adam^  (?),Johr"-. 
Xair d  Diusmoor^ ^  previously  mentioned,  m.  Jane  Carr. 
in  the  autumn  of  1800.  AlthouQ-h  not  educated  in  th€! 
schools,  he  was  a  man  of  uncommon  intelligence,  of  great 
dignity  of  character,  of  unusual  force  and  energy,  aad  o'^ 
deep  and  fervent  piety.  For  about  fifty  years  he  was  an 
elder  in  the  church,  and  had  widely  extended  influence. 
He  had  a  large  and  valuable  estate,  which  had  betn  his 
father's.     He  completed  a  country  house  in  1810,  of  stone 


DINSMOOR  CHANGED   TO  DIXSMORE.      21 

and  brick,  where  died  his  parents,  and  himself  and  wife; 
but  the  mansion  stands  to-day.  solid  and  impressive,  and 
apparently  will  endure  while  the  world  does,  unless  it  is 
destroyed  by  fire.  Five  generations  of  tlie  family  in  its 
shelter  have  found  a  home.  For  eighty  years  it  has  been 
the  abode  of  respectability  and  comfort,  and  of  a  Large 
and  free  hospitality.     He  d.  July  1:2,  1859. 

HIS  CHILDREN  WERE  BORN  ON  THE  HOMESTEAD. 

71.  William  Dinsraore'=  (80),  b.  Oct.  14, 1801 ;  m.  Kebecca,  daughter  of  Capt. 

James  Anderson,  March  12, 1838. 

72.  James  Dinsraore''.  b.  May  20.  1803;  m.  Margaret  Lyle,  of  Cross  Creek, 

about  1827,  and  d.  in  1873.    He  was  a  man  of   high  character, 
wealth,  and  influence. 

73.  John  Carr  Dinsmore'^.  b.  Dec.  31,  1804;  m.  Lucinda  Clutter,  and  d, 

about  1875. 

74.  Mary  Carr  Dinsmore'^.  b.  March  7, 1807;  m.  Samuel  Cowan.    They  had 

numerous  children,  all  deceased. 

75.  Robert  W.  Diusraore'',  b.  Aug.  1. 1810;  m., first.  Nancy  Perrine;  second, 

Matilda  Clutter.  The  first  wife  of  Kobert  W.  Dinsmore''  d.  in  a  year, 
.  leaving  a  daughter,  now  ^Nlrs.  Nancy  (Dinsmore')  Vance,  of  Wash- 
ington. Penn.  He  had  eight  children  by  his  second  Avife .  all  of  whom 
d.  in  childhood,  save  one.  Mrs.  Ella  (Dinsmore')  PhilUps.  of  2126 
Michigan  Avenue,  Chicago.  111.  She  and  her  widowed  mother  live 
together.  Her  father,  Kobert  Dinsmore*^.  was  accounted  a  wealthy 
man.  and  on  the  night  of  Dec.  6, 1866.  he  was  murdered  by  burglars 
in  his  own  home  and  in  the  presence  of  his  family,  for  which  one 
of  the  murderers  was  hanged.    His  estate  was  near  the  old  home. 

76.  James  Dinsmore^  (67),  b.  March  4,  1782;  lived 
upon  a  portion  of  the  elegant  estate  of  his  father,  on 
Huntingdon  Plantation,  Canton  Top,  Washington  Co., 
Penn.  He  had  a  numerous  family.  His  wife  was  Esther 
Hamilton. 

AMONG  HIS  CHILDREN  ARE  : 

77.  Mrs.  Sarah  (Dinsmore)  Cook's  of  Washington  Penn. 

78.  William  W.  Dinsmore'%  of  West  Middletown,  Penn. 

79.  Alexander  W.  Dinsmore*',  of  Bentonville,  Ark.,  or  Boonesboro,  Ark. 

He  is  the  father  of  Mr.  Dinsmore',  late  U.  S.  Minister  to  Corea. 

80.  William  Dinsmore^  (71),  John^,  James^, 
Adam^  (?),  John 2,  Jjaird  Dinsmoor^,  was  born  on  his 
father's  famous  estate,  Huntingdon  Plantation,  Canton 
Top,  AVashington  Co.,  Penn.,  Oct.  14,  1801,  and  died 
on  the  same  spot,  March  31, 1883.  He  was  amiable  and 
gentle,  industrious  and  thrifty,  of  pure  character,  and 
greatly  beloved.  He  was  generous  and  hospitable,  and 
a  free  giver  to  religious  objects  especially.  He  m.  March 
12,  1838,  Rebecca,  daughter  of  Capt.  James  Anderson,  an 
ofiicer  of  the  Revolution.  She  d.  Sept.  9,  1886,  in  her 
seventy-ninth  year. 


22  BEV.  JOHN  W.  DINSMOin:\  D.  D. 


CHILPKEN,    HORN   OX   TITK   OLD   HOMESTEAD. 

«l.  Rev.  John  Walker  DInsmore".  D.  I>..  b.  Marcli  13.  18;?9.  ITis  advan 
lau'»s  (or  edurriiion  were  tlie  bet^t.  —  aeademy.  eollt-^e,  theological 
.seminary,  and  liy  foreign  travel.  I\ev.  John  \V.  I'in.sniore.  J>.  !>., 
entered  tlie  I'resiiyterian  University ;  ordained  in  1H(;3;  was  pastor 
at  Trairletlu  Sae.  Wis.,  from  lH(i4to  IXTit.  and  at  I'.looniington.  J II., 
since  that  lime,  having  charge  of  a  very  large  cliurcli  of  nearly 
seven  luindred  conimnnicants.  He  ni.  Dec;.  22.  1852,  Adeline 
Vance,  of  the  same  Scolch-Irish  blood  as  liimself.  Kes.  315  East 
Street.  Hlo(«niington.  111.  Children:  Three  are  deceased;  those 
living  are  Willi, im  Vance  Dinsnmrc".  b.  ^Tarch  .30,  18G8.  graduated 
second  in  hi.i  class  of  one  hundred  and  forty-one  njeniliers  at 
I'rincetiin  College.  N.  .1..  1800.  and  he  is  in  tie  engineers'  depart- 
ment of  tlie  liurlington  &  Quincy  K.  K.,  Chicago,  111.;  Dudley 
Fitz-John  !)insnu)re\  b.  May  16,  1873.  was  educated  at  Ivake  For- 
rest .Xcademy.  Ill  .in  business.  Hloomington.  111.;  Paul  Anderson 
Dinsmore\  b.  Aug.  '24.  1877,  member  of  Illinois  Normal  Uuiversiy; 
Mariruerita  Adeline  ])insmore\  b.  Feb.  1(».  1882. 

82.  Jane  Melissa  Dinsmore'.  b.  May  1.  li^l ;  m.  Wibon  McClean,of  Wa.sh- 

ington.  I'enn..  and  has  seven  children. 

83.  Marr"  Virginia  Dinsnuue'.  b.  .May  1.  1841;  m.  J.  H.  McCarrell.    Res. 

Lawrence.  Kan.    No  living  children. 

84.  James  Anderson  Dinsmore".  b.  July  2,  1844;  d.  in  infancy. 

85.  William  .Malcolm  Dinsmore',  b.  Jan.  2.5.  1843;  m   his  second  cousin, 

Margaret,  daughter  of  W.  W.  Dinsmore.  and  they  reside  on  the 
old  homestead  at  Huntingdon  Plantation,  Canton  Top,  Washing- 
ton Co.,  Fenn.    They  have  four  children. 

80.  Andrew  Dinnraore*  (61),  Adatns  (?),  John^, 
Laird  Dinsmoori.  H^.  ^as  5,  ^,t  Bally w-^ttiek,  Bally- 
raoney,  County  of  Antrim,  Ireland,  in  1753,  and  emi- 
grated to  America  when  nineteen  years  of  age,  which 
would  be  in  1771-72,  and  settled  at  Peach  Bottom, 
York  Co.,  Penn.,  where  he  m.  Catherine,  only  daughter 
of  James  Alexander.     They  lived  there  the  remainder  of 


Records  and  history  of  different  branches  of  the  Dinsmoor  family  are 
printed  in  the  following  woiks,  many  of  which  can  be  found  in  the. Library 
of  the  N.  E.  Historic  and  Genealogical  Society,  18  Somerset  Street,  Bos-  i 

ton.  Mass..  and  in  other  antiquarian  libraries:  ! 

Eev.  Warren  R.  Cochrane's  History  of  Antrim.  N.  H. 

Hon.  Leander  W.  Cogswell's  History  of  Henniker,  N.  H. 

Dinsmoie   Genealogy,   published   18G7,   by   Rev.   John  Dinsmore,  of  i 

Winslow.  Me. 

Eaton's  History  of  Thomaston,  Me.  ! 

Genealogical  and  Historical  Register,  VoL  XVII. 

Keyes'  History  of  West  Boylston,  Mass. 

Little  Genealogy. 

Hon.  Leonard  A.  Morrison's  History  of  Windham.  N.  H.  A  full  history 
and  genealogy  of  John  Dinsmoor^,  the  emigrant  to  Londonderry,  N.  H., 
and  his  descendants.  75  pp. ;  prepared  by  Hon.  James  Dinsmoor. 

Page's  History  of  Hardwick.  Mass. 

History  Of  Washington,  N.  H. 

Benjamin  Chase's  History  of  Chester,  N.  H. 

For  Dinsmores  of  Irelaiid,  see  Rambles  "in  Europe,  with  Historical 
Facts  Relating  to  Scotch-American  Families,  by  Hon.  Leonard  A.  Morri- 
son, of  Windham.  N.  H. 

Rev.  Thomas  H  Dinsmore,  D.  D.,  Highland,  Kan.,  is  preparing  a  gen- 
ealogy of  his  branch  of  the  family. 


ANDBEW  DINSMOBE^,  OF  YOBK,  FENN.    23 

their  lives.  He  d.  April.  1829,  asjed  seventy-seven  years 
She  was  b.  February,  1767;  d.  August,  1814,  aged  forty- 
eight  years 

CHILDKEN,  BORN  PEACH  BOTTOM,  YORK  CO.,  PEN2^.,  POST  OFFICE 

SLATE  EIDGE. 

87.  Jenny  Diesmores  (97>,  b.  Aug.  9, 1783 ;  m.  .Tohn  Livingston.    They  lived 

near  Peacli  Bottom,  and  later  removed  to  Ashl.ind  Co.,  oliio. 

88.  Mary  Dinsmore '.  b.  Feb.  9,  1786;  she  m.  .Mr.  Scott.    Children:    Rev. 

John  W.  Scott«.  I).  D.,  LL.  D. ;  was  President  of  Washington  Col- 
lege, Penn.,  and  d.  some  years  ago;  Piev.  James  Scotf^.  They 
were  successful  teachers,  as  well  as  prominent  clergymen  of  the 
Presbyierian  Church. 

88.  James  Alexander  Dinsmore'  (111;,  b.  March  20, 1788;  m.  Grizzel  Col- 
lins; res.  Ashland  Co..  Ohio. 

yo.  Piachel  Dinsmore',  b.  .Jan.  9,  1791;  m.  Mr.  Kerr,  of  York  Co.,  Penn. 
Ciiild:    Kitty  Ann  Kerr^. 

91.  William  Dinsm'ore\  b.  Feb.  15, 1794;  single ;  d.  when  a  voung  man. 

92.  Martha  Dinsmoie' (119^,  b.  Jan.  22,  1797;  m.  David  IMitchell,  of  York 

Co.,  Penn. 

93.  Andrew  Dinsraore^ (124),  b.  June  10,  1799;  physician  and  teacher;  d. 

March  3, 1868. 

94.  Anu'i  Alexander  Dinsmore^  (125).  b.  June  26, 1801 ;  m.  Rev,  Benjamin 

Mitchell,  D.  D.,  of  York  Co.,  Penn.;  d.  Mt.  Pleasant,  Ohio.  June, 
1842. 

95.  Samuel  Dinsmore-^  (132),  b.  April  4.1804;  m.  Cecilia  M.  Williamson, 

of  Peach  Bottom,  York  Co  ,  Penn.;  res.  Slaterville.  York  Co  .  Penn. 

96.  Robert  Caldwell  Dinsmore^  (141),  b.  July  28,  l8o7 ;  ra  Rebecca  Kilgore ; 

res.  Peach  Bottom,  York  Co.,  Penn. 

OT,  Jenny  Dinsmore^  (87),  Andrew*,  Adam'  (?), 
John^,  Laird  Dinsraoor^.  She  was  b.  at  Peach  Bottom, 
York  Co.,  Penn.,  Aug.  9,  1783;  m.  Jolin  Livingston, 
who  resided  near  that  place.  They  removed  to  Ashland 
County,  Ohio,  in  1836,  where  they  died. 

CHILDREN. 

98.  Andrew  Livingston",  was  a  physician. 

99.  Sarali  Jane  Livingston". 

100.  Mary  Livingston^,  m.  Rev.  Jacob  Wolf,  of   Hawpatch,  LaGrange 

Co..  Ind. 

101.  John  Livingston^ 

102.  Hugh  Livingston*^. 

103.  Catherine  Livingston*'. 

104.  William  Living.>-,ton^  d.  when  young. 

105.  Anne  Livingston^. 

106.  James  Livingston^,  d.  when  young. 

107.  Nancy  Livingston''. 

108.  Jlartha  Livingston^,  m.  Rev.  J.  Ross  Ramsey,  of  York  County,  Penn. 

109.  William  S.  Livingston^,  was  a  clergyman. 

110.  James  Robert  Livingston*^. 

111.  James  Alexander  Dinsraore*  (89),  Andrew*, 
Adam'  (?),  John'.  Laird  Dinsmoori.  He  was  b.  at 
Peach  Bottom,  York  Co.,  Penn.,  March  20,  1788.  En- 
listed as  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812-15,  and  with  his 


24  JAMES  ALEXANDER  DINSMOliE^. 

coin]>any  marched  to  the  defence  of  Fort  .Ardlenry,  at 
Baltimore.  In  1H14  he  went  to  Ohio,  and  entered  a  lialf- 
section  of  land  in  Ashland  Co.,  wlien  he  returned  to 
IVnnsylvania,  where  lie  lived  till  1833,  on  a  farm  on 
Muddv  Creek,  nea»'  his  father's,  at  Peach  Bottom,  York 
Co.,  when  he  and  his  family  removed  to  liis  farm  of  three 
hundred  and  twenty  acres,  on  the  ]\[uddy  Fork,  in  Jack- 
son, Ashland  Co.,  Ohio.,  makinc:  the  long  journey  through 
the  then  wilderness  and  over  the  mountains  in  a  wagon, 
his  wife,  with  a  babe  in  her  arms,  riding  most  of  the  way 
on  horseback.  He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the 
Presl>yterian  Church,  and  adorned  their  profession  by 
o-odly'lives,  liviniz  in  peace  with  all  men.  lie  d.  in  Jack- 
son, Ohio,  Jan.  7,  1863,  and  his  wife  Jan.  20,  1888.  Mrs. 
Dinsmore's  maiden  name  was  Grizzell,  a  daughter  of  David 
and  Dorcas  (Xeal)  Collins,  of  Chanceford,  York  Co., 
Penn.,  a  runaway  couple.  Her  father  was  b.  1768;  d. 
March  26.  1828.  Her  mother  was  b.  Jan.  5,  1778;  d. 
March  6,  1874.  She  was  b.  Aug.  23,  1799,  and  ra.  Mr. 
Dinsmore  March  14,  1826. 

children:    the  FOCR  eldest  were   born  in  peach  bottom,  YORK 
CO.,  PENN. ;    THE  REST  IN  JAKCSON,  ASHLAND  CO.,  OHIO. 

112.  Catherine  Ann  Dinsmore" (145),  b.  Feb.  8,  1827;  m.  May  2.  1848,  Au- 

gustus Moore  Hav,  wlio  d.  Nov.  26,  1850,  leaving  one  child.  She 
m.  second,  "Williain  Collins,  who  lived  on  a  farm  near  Xenia,  Green 
Co..  Ohio,  where  their  four  children  were  born. 

113.  Tabitha  Mary  Dinsmore'' f  150).  b.  Oct.  14. 1828;  m.  April  23,  1856,  Hon. 

Thomas  Beer.    Kes.  Bucyrus.  Crawford  Co.,  Ohio. 

114.  David  Collins  Dinsmore^  (160),  b.  Dec.  10,  1830;  m.  April  2,  1863, 

Cvrilla  Andrews. 

115.  Janette  Elizabeth  Dinsmore^  b.  April  16,  1833;   m.  Nov.  1,  1865, 

Joseph  li.  Reed,  of  Adel,  Dallas  Co.,  Iowa.  She  d.  July  27,  1887, 
at  Council  Bluffs.  Iowa.  She  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  of  which  her  husband  was  an  elder,  and  was  faithful  unto 
deatb.  Mr.  Keed  was  elected  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Conuuon 
Pleas  for  two  terms,  then  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and  was 
chosen  to  Congress  in  1888. 

116.  Andrew  Alexander  Dinsmore'^  (171),  b.  Aug.  7. 1835;  m.  Oct.  13,  1864, 

Margaret  A.  Woodburu;  clergy-naan.    Kes.  Alhambra,  Cal. 

117.  Eachei'  Margaret  Dinsmore",  b.  March  20,  1838.    Ptes.  We.st  Salem, 

Wayne  Co.,  Ohio.  She  was  educated  at  Vermillion  Institute, 
Hayesville,  Ashland  Co..  Ohio;  was  then  a  teacher,  then  relin- 
quished her  work,  and  for  twenty  years  cared  for  her  invali.l 
mother. 

118.  James  Robert  Washington  Dinsmore'^  (176),  b.  Dec.  16,  1840;  m.  in 

1890.  Mrs.  Mary  Heacock. 

119.  Martha  Dinsmore^  (92),  Andrew*,  Adarn^  (?), 
John2,  Xat/v/Dinsmoori.  She  was  b.  at  Peach  Bottom, 
York   Co.,    Penn.,    Jan.    22,    1797;    m.    May    17,    1821, 


DB.  AXDREW  DIXSJIOBE^.  25 

David  Mitchell,  b.  at  Peach  Bottom,  Penn.,  Aug.  24, 
1796.  Pie  was  an  eider  in  the  church,  and  d.  April  20, 
1881.     She  d.  M^rch  24,  1862. 

CHILDREN,  ALL  BORN  AT  PEACH  BOTTOM,  PENN. 

120.  Eev.  Andrew  Dinsmore  Mitchell^  b.  Feb.  22, 1824;  was  a  Chaplain  in 

the  re^iUar  army;  d.  at  Fort  Grant.  Ari..  of  apoplexy.  March  26, 
18^2.  He  m  Uct.  15, 18.34.  Mary  Xeisiling.  of  :\Iiddleto\vn.  Daupliine 
Co.,  Penn.,  and  left  a  son.  Prof.  B.  V>^  Mitchell'.  A.  M.,  Ph.  D., 
of  Allegheny  <;Penn.)  Academy.  He  was  b.  Marcli  24,  1861.  He  m. 
Annie  Lee  Edwaids,  of  Cuniberlaud.  Penn.;  res.  at  Zs'o.  18  Arch 
Street.  Allegheny.  Penn. 

121.  Joseph  Rodney  Mitchell-,  b.  Nov.  21. 1825;  m.  Sept.  5.  1870.  Celia  C. 

Grove,  of  St.  Clairsville.  Ohio.  They  have  five  children:  Carrie 
Dinsmore  MitchelP.  b.  Sept.  4.  1873;  Mary  M.  Mitchell',  b.  ^larch  4, 
1876;  Rodney  Mitchell',  b.  June  4,  1878;  Blanche  G.  Mitchell',  b. 
Nov.  30.  18S1 ;  Helen  Cecelia  Mitchell',  b.  Nov.  16, 1884.  Joseph 
Rodney  Mitchell  resides  at  St.  Ciairsville,  Ohio,  where  all  his 
children  were  born. 
121a.  Mary  Catherine  r^Iitchell^.  b.  Feb.  16, 1831 ;  d.  March  8. 1834. 

122.  Martha  Ann  Mitchell^  b.  Oct.  l,  1833;  res.   Woodbine,  York  Co., 

Penn. 

123.  Elizabeth  Susan  Harper  Mitchell^  b.  April  12.  1838;  m.  March  11, 

1880,  James  P.  Mitchell;  res.  Woodbine,  York  Co.,  Penn. 

124.  Andrew  Dinsmore^  (93),  Andrew*,  Adam^  (?), 
John-,  Laird  Dinsraoor^  Born  at  Peach  Bottom.  Yorli 
Co.,  Penn.,  June  10,  1799;  never  married.  Graduated 
at  the  College  at  Schenectady,  N.  Y.,  became  a  physician, 
and  for  many  years  practised  his  profe«sion  in  a  hospital 
at  Baltimore,  Md.  Afterward  he  established  a  school 
for  boys  at  Shrewsbury,  York  Co.,  Penn.,  where  he  was 
a  successful  teacher.     lie  d.  March  8,  1868. 

125.  Anne  Alexander  Dinsmore^  (94),  Andrew*, 
Adam^  (?).  John^,  Xof^WDinsmoori.  She  was  b.  at  Peach 
Bottom,  York  Co.,  Penn.,  June  26.  1801 ;  m.  April  26, 
1826.  Rev.  Benjamin  Mitchell,  D.D.,  b.  Xov.  25,  1800, 
of  York  Co..  Penn.  Thev  removed  to  Mt.  Pleasant, 
Jefferson  Co..  Ohio,  where  he  preached  more  than  fifty 
years  to  one  congregation,  and  died  greatly  beloved  at  an 
advanced  a<j:e.  at  Mt.  Pleasant,  Ohio,  Dec.  26,  1884.  She 
d.  June,  1842. 

CHILDREN. 

126.  Catherine   Mitchell^  m.  Rev.  Joseph  Thoburn.    of  Wheeling,  "W. 

Va.    He  was  Colonel  of  a  regiment,  promoted  to  Brigadier-Gen- 
eral, and  was  killed  while  in  the  United  States  service. 

127.  Marv  R.  Mitchell". 

128.  Addison  Mitchell". 

129.  Andrew  Mitchell^ 

130.  Eliza  Mitchell^ 

131.  Martin  Mitchell^. 


20  SAMUEL   DINSMOIIE^. 

133.  Samuel  Dinsniore*  (95),  Andrew*,  Adam^  (?)>, 
Juliij2,  Zd/rJ  Dinsnioor'.  lie  was  b.  at  Peach  Bottom, 
York  Co.,  IVnn.,  April  4.  1804;  ni.  June  13,  1837,  Ceeili.-^ 
M.,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Elizabeth  (Steele)  VVilliarasoni, 
b.  Sept!  *J1,  1816,  at  Peach  l^ottoin.  Penn.,  and  resided  at 
Peach  Bottom,  York  Co.,  Penn..  where  he  died  April  2P, 
1875.     She  res.  at  l*each  Bottom,  Penn. 

CHILDREN. 

133.  Catherine  Elizabeth  Dinsraore«.  b.  April  17,  1838;  m.  Dec.  12,  186)-, 

Robert  N.  Glasgow;  res.  Teach  Bottom,  Penn,    She  d.  March  li.^ 

1870. 

134.  Rachel  Anna  Dinsmore",  b.  March  11,  1840;  single;  res.  Peach  Bo't- 

toni.  Penn. 

135.  James  Scott  Diusmore",  b.  Feb.  26, 1842;  res.  Peach  Bottom,  Penn.  ; 

m.  June.  1872,  Sarah  Kilgore,  who  died.     He  m.  second,  Sara.h 
Ferguson. 

136.  John  Calvin  Dinsmore",  b.  Sept.  23,  1844;  res.  Delta,  Penn.;  single  ; 

farmer. 

137.  Peter  Andrew  Dinsmore*.  b.  March  10. 1850;  was  a  physician ;  single'- 

He  died  at  Deadwood.  Dak.,  Sept.  23,  1877. 

138.  Margaret  Marcelina  Dinsmore",  b.  Aug.  18,  1852;  m.  June  6,  188:«. 

James  Scarborough  ;  res.  near  Pittsburg,  Penn. ;  farmer. 

139.  William  Samuel  Dinsmore*,  b.  March  6,  1855;  res.  once  at  Delta  • 

Penn.    He  m.  Mary  Cooper,  August,  1882,    Res.  Smithsburg,  Md.  ; 
teacher. 

140.  Thomas  Robert  DinsmoreS  b.  June  29, 1857 ;  d.  Feb.  5, 1858.  , 

141.  Robert  Caldwell  Dinsraore^  (96),  Andrew*, 
Adam3  (?),  John^,  Laird  Dinsmoori.  He  was  b.  ai^ 
Peach  Bottom,  York  Co,,  Penn.,  July  28,  1807;  ffi- 
Rebecca  Kilg(jre.  of  Chanceford,  York  Co.,  Penn. ;  ree>. 
at  Peach  Bottom,  Penn.,  until  their  death.  He  d.  Dec'- 
8,  1863.  She  d.  Dec.  16,  1854.  Three  children  died  iii 
infancy. 

CHILDREN. 

142.  John  Andrew  Dinsmore".  b.  April  17,  1834;  m.  Feb.  1,  1860,  Sara^i 

Elizabeth  Ramsay,  b.  May  10, 1836.  He  d.  in  Aberdeen,  S.  Dak-» 
Sept.  27, 1888, 

CHILDREN.  I 

1.  Rebecca  Margaret  Dinsraore',  b.  Nov,  19,  i860. 

2.  Jennie  Augusta  Dinsmore",  b.  March  12.  1863;  m.  Jan.  15,  1890,  i^ 

Aberdeen,  S.  Dak.,  Edward  E.  McConkey,  of  Peach  Bolton'. 
Penn. 

3.  Carrie  Nelson  Dinsmo^e^  b.  May  22, 1865, 

4.  Annie  Mary  Dinsmore',  b.  Sept.  7,  1867.  '  I 

5.  Ross  Alexander  Dinsmore',  b.  June  23. 1870.  j 

143.  Samuel  Nelson  Dinsmore^,  b.  at  Peach  Bottom,  July  23, 1836;  d.  July' 

9, 1863,  at  Portsmouth.  Va. ;  school  teacher;  single. 

144.  Robert  Alexander  Dinsmore^.  b,  Sept.  14, 1840.  at  Peach  Bottom;  res. 

Delta.  York  Co..  Penn.  He  m.  March  7,  1872,  at  Peach  Bottom, 
Penn.,  Annie  Maria  Watson,  b.  there  Nov.  12,  1850.  She  was  the 
daughter  of  Thomas  Alexander  and  Helen  (Beattie)  Watson,  of 
Peach  Bottom.    Her  father  was  born  in  Wilmington,  Del.,  son  of 


TABITHA  DINSMORE&.  27 


James  and  Margaret  (McAllister)  Watson,  of  Wilmington.  James 
was  son  of  Thomas  Watson,  of  the  North  of  Ireland.  Mr.  Dins- 
more  is  a  farmer  and  resides  at  Peach  Bottom,  Fenn.,  on  the 
homestead  of  his  father,  once  owned  by  Andrew  Dinsmore^,  the 
Emigrant. 

CHILDREN,  BORN  AT  PEACH  BOTTOM,  YORK  CO.,  PENN.,  EXCEPT 

THE  TWO  YOUNGEST. 

1.  Helen  Margaret  Dinsmore',  b.  Dec.  12. 1872. 

2.  Nelson  Caldwell  Dinsmore-.  b.  Sept.  11. 1874. 

3.  James  Watson  Dinsmore'.  b.  Jnlv  19. 1876. 

4.  Walter  Scott  Dinsmore",  b.  Sept.  25.  1878. 

5.  Rebecca  Kilgore  Dinsmore',  b.  April  28,  1880. 

6.  Chester  McAllister  Dinsmore',  b.  May  3.  1882. 

7.  Thomas  Howard  Dinsmore-,  b.  Jan.  15. 1884. 

8.  Marian  Belle  Dinsmore',  b.  Jan.  19,  1887. 

145.  Catherine  Ann  Dinsmore®  (112),  James  Alex- 
ander^, Andrew*,  Adam^  (?),  John 2,  Laird  Dinsmoor^. 
She  was  b.  in  Peach  Bottom,  York  Co.,  Penn.,  Feb.  8, 
1827;  m.  May  2,  1848,  Augustus  Moore  Hay,  who  d. 
Nov.  26,  185U.     fche  m.  second,  April   25,  1861,  William 

Collins,   of  ,   Green   Co.,   Ohio,   who   d.   July   18, 

1887.     Mrs.  Collins  d.  Dec.  28,  1887.     They  were  mem- 
bers of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church. 

CHILDREN. 

146.  Henrietta  Grizzell  Hay^,  b.  Aug.  14, 1850;  m. ;  res.  Springfield 

Ohio. 
146a.  Dinsmore  Smart  Collins^  b.  April  13,  1862. 

147.  Mitchell  Wilberforce  Collins^  b.  Sept.  20, 1863. 

148.  Clarkson  Beer  Col]ins^  b.  July  28, 1867. 

149.  William  Augustine  Collins^  b.  April  16, 1870;  d,  in  infancy. 

150.  Tabitha  Mary  Dinsmore^  (113),  James  Alex- 
ander^,  Andrew*,  Adam^  (?j,  John^,  Laird  Dinsmoori. 
She  was  b.  at  Peach  Bottom,  York  Co.,  Penn.,  Oct.  14, 
1828;  m.  April  23,  1856,  Thomas  Beer,  son  of  Rev. 
Thomas  Beer,  D.  D,,  a  Presbyterian  clergyman ;  res. 
Bucyrus,  Crawford  Co.,  Ohio.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Ohio  Legislature  from  Crawford  County  in  1863,  of  the 
Constitutional  Convention  in  1873,  .Judgre  of  the  Court 
of  Common  Pleas  in  1874  and  subsequent  years,  and 
Judge  of  the  Circuit  Court  in  1884  and  1886  for  full 
term  of  six  years. 

CHILDREN. 

151.  Mary  Margaret  Bee^^  b.  March  26.  1857;  d.  Jan.  12, 1866. 

152.  James  Dinsmore  Beer^  b.  Sept.  15, 1858;  m.  Sept.  2,  1884,  Jean  Lyle 

Thoburn,  of  Mount  Pleasant,  Ohio ;  physician ;  res.  Wooster,  Ohio. 


28  BEV.  AKDJiEW  A.    DlNiSMORE^. 


CniLDUEN. 

1.    Mary  Marparet  Beer*. 
.     2.     I  lioiuas  I'.eer". 

153.  Thomas  Cameron  BeerV  b.  Sept.  14.  1860. 

154.  William  Collins  Heer".  b.  .Ian.  I'S.  186.S:  m.  May  1!>.  1886.  Martha  Alice 

I'.aldwin.  at  Council  Blutts,  Iowa;  is  in  the  Omaha  National  Bank; 
res.  Omaha.  Neb. 

CHILDKEN. 

1.  Alice  B.  Beer", 

2.  Thomas  Beer*. 

I.'i5.  Poroas  <4rizzell  Beer",  b.  Dec.  31. 18C5. 

156.  Katherine  .Janette  Beer',  b.  May  13,  1868. 

157.  Kobert  L.  Beer^  b.  Aug.  9.  1870. 

158.  Infant  dauphter^  b.  August  9,  1870;  <1. 

159.  Mary  Elizabeth  Beer^  b.  Aug.  10, 1875. 

160.  David  Collins  Dinsmores  (114),  Jamo8  Alex- 
ander^,  Andrew*.  Adam^  (?).  J()hn2,  Laird  Dinsmooi-i. 
He  was  b.  at  Peach  Bottom,  York  Co.,  Penn..  Dec.  10, 
1830;  m.  April  2,  1863,  Cyrilla  Andrews.  He  studied 
medicine  in  Cleveland,  Ohio;  was  three  years  in  the  army, 
and  was  Captain  in  an  Iowa  regiment;  is  now  practising 
his  profession,  and  resides  in  Kirkville,  Iowa. 

CHILDREN. 

161.  Infant  son",  b.  and  d.  Dec.  21, 1864. 

162.  James  Andrew  Dinsmore',  b.  May  30, 1866;  d.  April  2, 1868. 

163.  Jessie  Dinsmore",  b.  May  12, 1867. 

164.  Katherine  Louisa  Dinsmore",  b.  July  18, 1868;  d.  Aug.  20, 1868. 
1G5.  Claia  Dinsmore",  b.  July  4, 1869. 

166.  Henry  Dinsmore".  b.  Dec.  17, 1870. 

167.  Mary  Dinsmore',  b.  Aug.  28, 1872;  d.  March  2, 1873. 

168.  Florence  Dinsmore",  b.  Oct.  28,  1873. 

169.  Henrietta  Dinsmore".  b.  Nov.  10,  1874. 

170.  Helen  Dinsmore",  b.  Sept.  20,  1876. 

171.  Rev.  Andrew  Alexander  Dinsmore «  (116), 
James  Alexander^,  Andrew*,  Adam^  (?),  John2,  Laird 
Dinsmoori.  He  was  b.  at  Rowsburg,  Ashland  Co.,  Ohio, 
Aug.  7,  1835 ;  m.  Oct.  13,  1864,  Margaret  Ann  Wood- 
burn,  b.  Aug.  11,  1842,  daughter  of  John  and  Jaoe 
(Hutchinson)  Woodburn,  of  Freeport,  Armstrong  Co., 
Penn.  He  graduated  at  Jefferson  College,  Canonsburg, 
Penn.,  in  ISBO,  and  in  1863  from  the  Western  Theolog- 
ical Seminary,  at  Allegheny,  Penn.,  and  was,  in  1862, 
lic=?nsed  to  preach  by  the  Wooster  Presbytery  of  Ohio. 
During  the  war,  was  twice  at  the  front  in  the  service  of 
the  Christian  Commission  ;  in  Xovember  and  December, 
1863,  at  the  battle  of  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  and  in  April 


JAMES  B.    W.  BINSMOREQ.  29 

and  May,  1865,  at  City  Point,  Ya.  In  1864  was  ordained 
and  installed  over  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Xeenah, 
Wis.  In  November,  1866,  was  called  to  First  Presby- 
terian Church  at  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  where  he  spent  five 
years.  Was  pastor  of  church  in  Milford,  Del.,  in  1873, 
and  in  1876  was  called,  to  Bridesburg,  Philadelphia, 
Penn.,  where  he  remained  about  twelve  vears.  Went  to 
California  in  1887,  and  on  July  17,  1889.  he  took  the 
pastorate  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  in  his  present 
home.     Res.  Alhambra,  Los  Angeles  Co.,  Cal. 

CHILDREN. 

172.  William  Alexander  Pinsmore^,  b.  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  Jan.  5,1867; 

single;  res.  Sioux  City.  Iowa  ;  banker. 

173.  Frank  Woodburn  Dinsnl()^e^  b.  Des  Moines,  Iowa.  Nov.  4, 1S69  ;  res. 

Sioux  City,  Iowa;  merchant. 

174.  Howard  Collins  Dinsmore^  b.  Milford,  Del.,  July  3,  1875;  d.  Phila- 

delphia, Penn.,  Dec.  9, 1876. 

175.  Mabel   Lulu  Dinsmore^,  b.  Philadelphia,  Penn.,  May  10,  1881;  res. 

Alliambra,  Cal. 

176.  James  Robert  Washington  Dinsmore^  (118), 
James  Alexander s,  Andrew*.  Adam^  (?),  John 2,  Laird 
Dinsmoori.  He  was  b.  Jackson,  Ashland  Co.,  Ohio, 
Dec.  16,  1840.  lie  served  three  years  in  the  Union  Array, 
and  was  three  times  wounded.  He  ra.  1890,  Mrs.  Marv 
Heacock.  He  was  educated  at  the  Vermillion  Institute, 
Hayesville,  Ashland  Co.,  Ohio;  res.  on  the  homestead  at 
Jackson,  Ashland  Co.,  Ohio ;  owns  a  portion  of  tlie  farm 
of  his  father,  and  has  one  child. 


DINSMOKES    OF    PENNSYLVANIA. 

177,     Robert  Dinsmore*, Dinsmore^,  John^, 

X«m7  Dinsmoori.  He  was  b.  in  the  North  of  Ireland, 
probably  in  Ballywattick,  Ballymoney,  County  Antrim. 
He  was  of  pure  Scotch  blood,  and,  according  to  tradition, 
was  the  sou  or  grandson  of  Robert  Dinsmoor^  (.5),  Adam 
Dinsmoor^  (6),  or  Samuel  Dinsmoor^  (7),  the  three 
brothers  of  John  Dinsraoor^  (4)  who  emigrated  to  New 
Hampshire  as  early  as  1723.  These  four  brothers,  as  has 
been  stated,  were  sons  of  John  Dinsmoor^,  who  emigrated 
from  Scotland  to  Ireland,  who  was  son  of  Laird  Dins- 
moori,  who  lived  upon  the  River  Tweed. 


30    liOBEliT  VINSM01iE\   THE  EMIGRANT. 

AcconliniT  to  the  information  wliich  we  have,  tiie  afore- 
8fii«1  IJohert'^Dinsmoor^,  Adaiii  Hinstnoor'',  and  Samuel 
Dinsmoor''  wer»',  wit)i  their  cliildren,  and  Koberl  Dins- 
nioor^,  who  emiu'ratecl  to  New  llampsliire  in  1731,  the 
onlv  Dinsmoors  in  that  section  of  country  at  that  period, 
fruin  17--  to  17li6;  so  I  have  called  Robert  Dinsmore*, 
the  sulijeet  of  this  sketch,  of  the  fourth  generation.  By 
tradition  he  was  a  cousin  of  Robert*,  James*,  and 
Andrew  Dinsmoor*,  who  had  preceded  him  a  score  or 
more  of  years  and  settled  in  Pennsylvania.      (See  p.  19.) 

Mr.  Dinsmore*  m.  Nancy,  daughter  of  Moses  Scott, 
also  of  Scotch  blood.  Her  father  lived  in,  or  near,  the 
City  of  Londonderry,  Ireland.  He  and  his  wife  were 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  both  were  dis- 
tinguished for  intelligence,  piety,  and  strict  adherence  to 
the°  church  of  their  forefathers.  After  marriage  they 
lived  in  the  Coiinty  of  Donegal,  on  the  Lough  or  River 
Foyle,  three  miles  below  the  City  of  Londonderry,  Ire- 
land,* where  nine  children  were  born  to  them.  They 
were  lovers  of  liberty  and  haters  of  the  annoyances,  civil, 
religious,  and  political,  incident  to  their  abode  in  Ireland. 
So.  in  1790,  Mr.  Dinsmore  and  his  sons,  John^  and 
Robert^,  sought  and  found  a  home  in  the  new  Republic. 
During  their  absence,  Mrs.  Dinsmore  died,  when  his  eldest 
daughter,  Mary*,  with  the  others,  settled  up  the  business, 
and,  following  the  direction  of  their  father,  these  seven 
children  set  sail  for  the  L^nited  States,  arrived  in  1792, 
and  settled  in  Peach  Bottom,  York  Co.,  Penn.,  about 
1800  or  1801.  He  removed  to  Allegheny  Co.,  and  set- 
tled on  a  farm  on  Turtle  Creek,  about  twelve  miles  east 
of  Pittsburg,  where,  as  a  farmer,  he  spent  the  remainder 
of  his  life.     He  had  been  a  farmer  in  Ireland. 

In  his  eighty-third  year  he  m.  second,  Mrs.  Margaret 
(Acheson)  Stewart,  Xov.  16,  1805,  and  they  had  three 
children.      She  was  a  native   of    the  North  of    Ireland, 


*0n  the  afternoon  of  Wednesday,  March  27,  1884,  I  met,  in  the  City  of 
Londonderry.  Ireland.  James  Dinsmoor  and  his  two  sons  from  Muff,  in 
the  County  of  Donegal,  Ireland,  on  Lough  or  Kiver  Foyle.  and  three  miles 
from  the  City  of  Londonderry.  The  Christian  names  of  James.  John,  an(?. 
Ephraim  frequently  appeared  in  that  branch  of  the  Dinsmoor  family. 
Their  home  was  certainly  not  far  from  the  place  from  which  emigrated 
Robert  Dinsmoor*,  to  Pennsylvania.—  [Leo>'akd  A.  Morkison. 


BOBEBT  DINSM0BE5.  31 

He  was  a  man  of  great  activity,  energy,  and  force;  was 
hale  and  stout  in  his  old  age,  and  carried  forward  success- 
fully the  business  of  his  farm.  lie  was  severely  injured 
by  the  fall  of  his  horse,  and  died  in  1817,  between  ninety 
and  ninety-five  years  of  age.  His  wife  survived  him,  and 
died  April  4.  1842.  His  tomb  is  in  the  cemetery  of  the 
Beulah  Presbyterian  Church,  of  which  he  and  his  wife 
were  members.  The  first  family  of  children  grew  to 
adult  age,  married,  and  had  families,  except  the  eldest 
daughter,  who  died  in  young  womanhood. 

CHILDREN. 

178.  John  Dinsmores,  m.  Martha  Pollock,  soon  after  his  arrival  in  Penn- 

sylvania. 1790.     Be  settled  in  the  country  in  York  Co.,  where  he  d. 
early  in  the  present  century.    He  had  two  sons  and  one  daughter. 

179.  Eobert  Dinsmore",  m.  Feb.  28,  1827,  Margaret  Curry,  and  settled  on  a 

farm  on  Pucketaw  Creek,  Westmoreland  Co.,  Penn.,  where  he  d. 
aged  about  eighty  years. 

CHILDREN. 

1.    Robert  Dinsmore",  m.  Mary  Livingston,  and  left  nine  children, 
eight  of  wbom  arrived  at  maturity,  and  four  became  teachers. 

CHILDREN. 

I.  Margaret  C.  Dinsmore",  m.  A.  M.  Wolff.  Children:  Rev.  Dr.  A. 
F.  Wolffs  pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church;  res. 
Alton,  111.  Robert  Dinsmore  Wolff*,  res.  Greensburg, 
Westmoreland  Co.,  Penn. ;  is  local  editor  of  the  "Greens- 
burg Press."  Elizabeth  Dinsmore  AVolff'^.  is  not  married. 
II.  Robert  Scott  Dinsmore^  b.  July  11,  1829.  in  Plum  Top,  Alle- 
gheny Co.,  Penn. ;  has  been  a  teacher  most  of  bis  life;  now 
a  farmer  and  Justice  of  the  Peace.  He  m.  April  18,  l8fH, 
Isabella  Christy,  daughter  of  David  Christy  of  Plum  Top, 
Penn.,  who  d.  May  9. 1863;  two  sons,  one  deceased.  He  m. 
second.  Sept.  3,  1867,  Sarah  Jane  McKee.  Mr.  Dinsmore, 
his  wife,  daughter,  and  three  eldest  sons,  are  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church.  Children:  John  Hamilton  Dins- 
more«,  b.  Jan.  31,  1862;  m.  Sept.  19,  1888,  Nettie  Wilson, 
of  Minnesota;  farmer;  res.  Maine.  Otter  Tail  Co..  Minn. 
Harry  Homer  Dinsmore^  b.  Sept.  6, 1868;  studentin  Greens- 
burg Seminary,  Penn.  William  IMcKee  Dinsmore^  b. 
March  1.5.  1870;  at  home;  farmer.  Mary  Alice  Dinsmore*, 
b.  April  11, 1872.  Robert  Ross  Dinsmore*,  b.  Sept.  24, 1874. 
Clarence  Carey  Dinsmore*,  b.  May  17.  1877.  Alexander 
Cooke  Dinsmore*,  b.  Nov.  28, 1879.  Benjamin  Scott  Dins- 
more*, b.  Sept.  6.  1882. 

III.  Mattie  Robinson  Dinsmore^,  m.    Alexander   Cooke,    and   d. 

March  7,  1888. 

IV.  Mary  Livingston   Dinsmore'^,  m.    Hugh   Donnell.     Children: 

Robert  Dinsmore  Donnell*,  res.  Richmond,  Ind.    Rebe.  ca 
Dtmneir,  res.  with  her  parents  in  Verona,  Allegheny  Co., 
Penn. 
V.    James  Livingston  Dinsmore%  b.  Feb.  1,  1835;  d.  April  30, 1888; 

single. 
VI.    Sarah  Ross  Dinsmore^,  res.  Shenandoah,  Iowa. 
VII.    Nannie  M.  Dinsmore^,  m.  August,  1881,  Benjamin  Walp.    He 

died.    She  res.  ^hanandoah,  Iowa. 
VIII.    Rebecca  Alter  Dinsmore^,  m,  Eobert  H.  Adams;  res.  Canton, 
Ohio. 


32  MAHGARKT   CUJiBY  DINSMOEEg. 


2.    Marpi'Pt  Cnrrv  Dinsniort-'^,  ni.  TToii.  Josepli  Alter,  of   rarnassus, 
NVtsimoreiaiul  Co..  IV'iin..  and  had 

CHILDREN. 

I.  David  Alter',  b.  Dec.  28.  1829;  in.  Mary  Anderson.  Dec. 31, 186.3, 
He  is  a  successful  I'hysician  and  has  been  in  practice  since 
lRr..">.  Ke  pr.iduateil  at  .Jeflerson  Medical  College,  in  I'liila- 
delphia.  Peiin..  .Marcii  n,  I8t!l.  and  was  surjreon  of  the  20Gth 
Keiiiinent  of  Tennsylvania  ^■oluntters  during  the  war. 
He  res.  I'arnassus.  i'enn  Children:  Alonzo  Anderson 
Alter",  b.  March  10.  186.5;  is  a  member  of  the  class  of  '92, 
at  I'rinceton  College.  N  J.  William  Irvine  Alter\  is  in 
business  at  704  Kii:hth  Avenue.  New  Y'ork  City.  He  was 
manai:er  and  pr(»prietor  of  the  •' Tarnassus  I'ress "  for 
two  ve.trs.  Joseph  AUer\  is  a  member  of  the  class  of  '94, 
at  Westminster  College,  Isew  Wilmington,  Lawrence  Co., 
I'enn. 
II.  Robert  Dinsmore  Alter^  b.  July  18,  18.39;  m.  Elizabeth,  daugh- 
ter of  John  .McKean.  of  Burrell,  Feun.,  and  d.  February, 
1887.  Children:  Maggie  Viola  Alter*;  Randall  Murray 
Alter";  James  Clarence  Alter*.  They  all  live  at  Parnassus, 
Fenn. 

III.  Rev.  Joseph  Alter^  b.  Dec.  18. 1841 ;  was  a  member  of  the  I23d 

Regiment  of  Pennsylvania  Volunteers;  was  wounded  at 
the  battle  of  Fredericksburg;  graduated  at  the  University 
of  Wooster,  Ohio.  June  25,  187.},  and  at  the  U.  P.  Theolog- 
ical Seminary,  at  Allegheny.  Penn. ;  was  licensed  to 
preach  Apriri8.  187G;  ordained  at  Valley  Falls.  Dec.  12, 
1877.  and  was  pastor  there  and  at  Waterville  for  seven 
years ;  was  a  missionary  in  Washington  Territory  until  1891, 
when  he  was  appointed  to  the  Indian  Mission  at  Warm 
Springs.  Crook  Co..  Ore.,  where  he  res.  April,  1891.  Hem. 
Jeanette  Copley,  Nov.  25.  1886.  Children:  Wade  Dinsmore 
Alter*,  b.  March  25,  1888;  Margaret  Truby  Alter*,  b.  Nov. 
11,  1889. 

IV.  Maria  Alter",  m.  Martin  Van  Buren,  a  grandson  of  the  late 

President  Van  Buren.     He  is  a  farmer,  an  elder  in  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  res.  at  Forest,  Hardin  Co.,  Ohio. 
Children:  Robert  Van  Buren*;  Carl  Van  Buren*;  Kent  Van 
Buren";  Ethel  Van  Buren*;  Hattie  Van  Buren*. 
V.    Nancy  Alter^  who  lived  to  adult  age. 
VI.    Margaret  Alter",  who  lived  to  adult  age. 
VII.    Elizabeth  Alter',  who  lived  to  adult  age. 
VIII.    Rebecca  D.  Alter",  who  lived  to  adult  age. 
IX.    Mary  Jane  Alter ^  d.  in  infancy. 
X.    Jane'  Alter^,  d.  in  infancy. 
XI.    Lucinda  Ann  Alter%  d.  in  infancy. 

180.  Mary  Dinsmore^,  d.  unmarried  in  early  woomanhood. 

181.  Jane  Dmsmore^,  m.  James  Garvine;  res.  Ohio  Co.,  ten  miles  south 

of  Wheehng,  W.  Va. 

CHILDREN. 

1.  John  Ganine^,  m.  1834.  Helen  Ritchie ;  lived  in  Guernsey  Co.,  near 

New  Cumberland.  Ohio;  d.  1882.  leaving  eight  children. 

2.  Moses  Dinsmore  Garvine**.  m.  Miss  Phillips.    Child:  William  Gar- 

vine,  who   is   married   and   has  children.     Res.  Cambridge, 
Guernsey  Co.,  Ohio. 

3.  James  Garvine^,  d.  in  Weston,  AIo.,  leaving  two  sons. 

4.  Mary  Garvine**,  m.  Martin  Kellar;  res,  Bridgeport,  Ohio.    She  left 

several  children. 

5.  Rachel  Garvine®,  m. Smith,  M.  D. 

182.  Henry  Dinsmore*,  m.  1806,  Sarah  Ross;  lived  on  a  farm  near  Turtle 

Creek.  Allegiieny  Co.,  Penn.,  where  he  died  about  1846;  ten  chil- 
dren; four  died  in  infancy  and  the  others  arrived  at  maturity. 


THOMAS   DINSMOBE\  33 


CHILDREN. 

^.  Nancy  Scott  Dinsmore^,m.  Marcli  1,1827,  Hamilton  Stewart.    They 
left  eleven  children. 

2.  Margaret  Dinsmore^,  m.  Thomas  P.  Brown,  and  left  four  children. 

3.  Jane  Dinsmore'*,  ra.  William  Fletcher;  no  children. 

4.  Mary  Dinsmore**,  m.  Calhoun  Clargston,  in  1838;  seven  children. 

5.  Thomas  itoss  Dinsmore^.  m.  Sarah  Monroe,  in  1834-35;  two  children. 
C.  Sarah  Dinsmore«,m.  Matthew  Henning,  in  1844;  one  child,  d.  young. 

183.    Elizabeth   Dinsmore'',  m.  William   Willock,  of   Pittsburg,  Penn., 
where  they  lived  and  died,  leaving 

CHILDREX. 

1.  Nancy  AVillock",  m.  Piichard  Hope,  and  left  six  children. 

2.  Mary  Willock";  single;  Alleglieny.  Penn, 

3.  Sarah  Ann  Willock'^,  m.  Net  Metyar,  a  merchant;  res.  Allegheny 

City,  Penn.    No  children. 

4.  W^illiam  Foster  Willock'-;  merchant;  d.  unmarried. 

5.  Jane  Willock'%  m.  Moses  Ward;  six  children;   res.  Allegheny, 

Penn.    His  son,  John  Scott  Ward";  res.  Allegheny,  Penn. 

6.  John  Scott  Willock'^  m.  Miss  Hayes;  res.  Allegheny." Penn.    Chil- 

dren:   James  W^illock',  is  a  banker;  Lillie  Willock-;  William 
Willock',  dec,  was  a  banker;  Frank  Willock'. 

7.  James  Willock'%  d.  in  infancy. 


184. 


Thomas  Dinsmore",  b.  1780,  in  Ireland,  County  Donegal;  m.  1812-13, 
Mary  Gray;  res.  on  a  farm  in  Kich  Hill,  Greene  Co.,  Penn. 


CHILDREN. 

1.  PiObert  Dinsmore^  ra.  Amy  Bane;  several  children;  res.  Crow's 

Mills,  Greene  Co.,  Penn. 

2.  Bjlhinia  Dinsmore",  m.  Philip  Conkle;  no  children;  res.  Crow's 

Mills,  Greene  Co.,  Penn. 

3.  Nancy  Scott  Dinsmore^  m.  .John  Yanatta;  several  children.    She 

m.,  second,  Mr.  Throckmorton;  no  children. 

4.  Mary  Dinsmore'',  m.  Benjamin  Duubin;  four  children. 

5.  Jane  Elizabeth  Dinsmore'',  m.  James  Vanaita;  one  child. 

6.  Anne  Dinsmore",  m.  Milton  Beabort,  and  had  nine  children,  all 

deceased. 

7.  John  Gray  Dinsmore",  m.  Margaret  Harvey;  res.  Crow's  Mills, 

Greene  Co.,  Penn.;  tour  children:  William  Dinsmore',  Mary 
Dinsmore',  Benjamin  Dinsmore',  Margaret  Dinsmore^. 

8.  Thomas   Dinsmore".  m.  Miss  Elliott;   several   children.    He  m. 

a  second  and  a  third  wife;  res.  West  Union.  Ohio  Co.,  W.  Va. 

9.  Henry  uinsmore",  m.  Miss  McKarihan,  daughter  of  Joseph,  and 

left  children. 

185.  Moses  Dinsmore^  (190),  b.  1783;  res.  Pach  Hill.  Greene  Co..  Penn. 

186.  Nancy  Dinsmore"',  m.  1811.  James  Hamilton,  of  Pittsburg.  Penn. 

"He  was  a  whitesmith."  They  left  six  children.  One  was  a 
lawyer,  and  is  deceased. 

Children  of  Robert  Dinsmore* ,  by  Second  Marriage. 

187.  Martha  Pollock  Dinsmore^,  b.  Nov.  16, 1806;  m.  Andrew  Thompson, 

April,  1827.    They  are  deceased;  no  children. 

188.  William  Dinsmore',  b.  Dec.  16, 1807;  m.  Charlotte  Ramsay,  of  Wash- 

ington Co.,  Penn.,  March  10. 1846;  res.  Belmont  Co.,  Ohio;  six  sons 
and  two  daughters. 

189.  Margaret  Padeu   Din3more\  b.  Aug.  3.  1809;    m.  James  Hope  in 

1827,  b.  1802,  d.  July  14,  1880;  ten  children.  Robert  Hope",  res. 
Greensboro,  Westmoreland  Co.,  Penn.  The  others  resside  in 
Eastern  Iowa. 


34  MOSES  nixsMonE^. 

11)0.     ^VIoscs  Dinsmore'"'  (185),  Robert-*,  Dins- 

niore"*,  .Tohii  =  ,  Xa«*;7n)insmoor' .  He  was  b.  in  County 
Doneo-al,  Ireland,  in  1783,  in  the  home  on  the  Foyle 
IJiver,  three  miles  from  the  City  of  Londonderry,  Ireland. 
From  a  child  he  was  studious  and  religiously  inclined, 
and  early  united  with  the  Presbyterian  Church.  In  1812 
ho  ])urchascd  a  tract  of  land  of  two  hundred  acres  in  Rich 
Hill,  Greene  Co.,  Penn.,  and  commenced  his  farm.  He 
m.  June  9,  1814,  Irena?a,  daughter  of  Francis  and  Eliza- 
beth (Martin)  Braddock,  who  was  b.  Sept.  20,  1790,  and 
whose  parents,  about  the  time  of  the  Revolution,  settled 
in  the  forest  of  Western  Pennsylvania.  ISlr.  Dinsmore 
was  an  elder  in  the  church.  His  life  was  one  of  useful- 
ness, and  he  d.  April  3,  1836,  in  his  fifty-third  year. 
Mrs.  Dinsmore  d.  Aug.  20,  1834. 

CHILDREN,  BOKN   ON'  DLN'SMOKE    FARM,   RICH  HELL,, 
GREENE  CO.,   PENN. 

191.  Rev.  Robert  Scott  DinsnioreS  b.  Nov.  li,  1815;  m.  May  4, 1837,  Mar- 

garet Loughbridpe.  %vbo  d.  June  13, 1838;  one  child.  He  m.  second 
in  1849.  Sarah  Wliitham.  He  went  that  year  to  Iowa  as  a  Home 
Missionary,  and  was  pastor  of  the  Fresbyteriau  Church  of  Wasli- 
ington,  Iowa,  from  1849  to  1853 ;  d.  Aug.  27, 1853. 

CHILDREN. 

1  William  Loughbridge  Dinsmore".  b.  on  the  Dinsmore  farm.  Rich 
Hill.  Greene  Co..  Penn..  March  13,1838:  m.  in  1860.  Sarah  C. 
Wirick,  b.  Dec.  24.  1842.  They  res.  Adair.  Adair  Co..  Iowa. 
Children:  Robert  Scott  Dinsmore^  b.  Sept.  1. 1862;  m.  Nov.  27, 
1890,  at  Otfumwa.  Iowa.  Sadie  Ray  Bell.  b.  Sept.  10. 1869.  He  is 
a  carpenter  and  bridge  builder :  res.  Ottumwa,  Iowa.  Margaret 
Elizabeth  Dinsmore\  b.  April  13,  1864:  m.  Dec.  26,  1880.  Elton 
Booth ;  res.  Adair,  Adair  Co. ,  Iowa.  William  Henry  Dinsmore'*, 
b.  Jan.  29,  1871;  teacher;  res.  Adair,  Iowa. 

2.  John  Milton  Dinsmore^  b.  May  5, 1850:  d.  March  13. 1852. 

3.  Elizabeth  DinsmorC,  b.  1852;  res.  Battle  Creek,  Mich. 

192.  Rev.  Francis  Braddock  DinsmorC'.  b.  April  22, 1817;  m.  June  6, 1847, 

Jane  Patterson,  b.  April  10.  1820,  in  Washington  Co.,  Penn.  That 
year  he  went  to  Iowa  as  a  Home  Missionary,  and  was  pastor  of  the 
church  at  Mount  Pleasant,  Iowa.  Two  children,  a  son  and  a 
daughter,  died  in  infancy. 

CHILDREN. 

1.  William  Patterson  Dinsmore',  b.  July  28, 1851;  d.  Aug.  15, 1853. 

2.  Frances  Katherine  Dinsmore',  b.  at  Morning  Sun,  Iowa,  May  3, 

1855;  ra.  Henry  Griflan.  Jan.  25,  1877;  res.  Gavnor  City,  Mo.; 
five  children,  born  at  Nodaway  Co.,  Mo  :  .John  Monroe  Griffln«, 
b.  Dec.  26,  1877.  Ada  Jane  Griffin*,  b.  June  3.  1880.  Charles 
Walter  Griffin%  b.  Oct.  6. 1882.  Lizzie  Myrtle  Griffin^,  b.  April 
24. 1887.    Ora  Gertrude  Griffin^  b.  Nov.  22, 1888;  d.  Oct.  14, 1889. 

3.  John  McCluskey  Dinsmore\  b.  Morning  Sun,  Iowa.  Aug.  3,  1856; 

m.  Cornelia  E.  Bucks.  May  16, 1883 ;  res.  Gaynor  City,  Mo.  Two 
children:  Grover  Cleveland  Dinsmore'S  b.  Dec.  18, 1885.  May 
Mabel  Dinsmore^  b.  July  27, 1887. 


REV.  THOMAS  HUGHES  DINSMOBE,  D.  D.    35 


4.  William  Henry  Dinsmore'',  b.  Morning  Sun,  Iowa,  Nov.  17, 1858;  m. 

in  Maryville,  Mo.,  Frances  T.  Simmons,  Sept.  8,  1886.  Two 
children:  Francis  B.  Dinsmore^  b.  Aug.  18, 1887.  Bessie  Jane 
Dinsmore%  b.  Dec.  3, 1888. 

5.  Thomas  Chalmers  Dinsmore^  b.  Mount  Pleasant,  Iowa,  July  29, 

1861 ;  m.  Mattie  Sylva  Forshee,  Jan.  1,  1891 ;  res.  Gaynor  City, 
Nodaway  Co.,  Mo. 

193.  Kev.  Thomas  Hughes  Dinsmore^  D.  D.,  b.  Aug.  15, 1819;  m.  Sept.  14, 
1847,  Elizabeth  McConaughey,  b.  April  13.  1822,  only  daughter  of 
Robert  and  Mary  (Anderson)  McConaughey,  who  came  from  the 
North  of  Ireland.  Mr.  Dinsmore  was  a  Home  Missionary  in  Iowa. 
Many  years  were  spent  by  him  in  pioneer  educational  work  as  well 
as  in  missionary  labor,  in  Iowa,  Missouri,  and  Kansas.  His  home 
for  many  years  has  been  at  Highland,  Doniphan  Co.,  Kan.,  where 
his  wife  died  July  24, 1 874. 

CHILDEEX. 

1.  Mary  E.  M.  Diusmore^  b.  Sept.  18, 1848;  d.  July  14, 1849. 

2.  Virginia  McCheyne  Dinsmore'',  b.  Nov.  22,  1849;  unmarried;  res. 

Highland,  Kan. 

3.  Archibald  Alexander  Dinsmore^,  b.  Oct.  30,  1851;  m.  1877.  Lizzie 

Dreher,  daughter  of  Hon.  Samuel  Dreher,  of  Stroudsburg, 
Penn.  He  is  an  attorney ;  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1876 ;  res. 
Philadelphia,  Penn.  Children:  Bessie  Dinsmore",  b.  July  1, 
1878;  Francis  William  Dinsmore",  b.  Jan.  29, 1880. 

4.  Ptobert  Scott  Dinsmore',  M.  D..  b.  Dec.  4,  1853;  m.  Nov.  21,1883. 

Esther,  daughter  of  Judge  Wilkinson,  of  Troy,  Kan.,  b.  Jan. 
19, 1864.  Child:  Bertha  Dinsmore^  b.  Sept.  21, 1884;  res.  Troy, 
Doniphan  Co.,  Kan. 

5.  Prof.  Thomas  Hughes  Dinsmore".  Jr.,  Ph.  D.,  b.  May  18,  1855;  is 

professor  of  chemistry  and  physics  in  the  State  Normal  School 
at  Emporia,  Kan.;  res.  Emporia.  Kan.  He  m.  Minnie  Curtiss, 
daughter  of  Rev.  Mr.  Curtiss,  of  Preble,  N.  Y. 

6.  Francis  William  Dinsmore',  b.  April  21, 1857;  merchant;  m.  Emma 

Adelia  Toner,  a  teacher.  June  10.  1886;  res.  Fairbury,  Neb. 
Children:  Archibald  Hughes  Dinsmore**,  b.  July  25,  1887;  Fran- 
cis Elmer  Dinsmore*',  b.  Jan.  10, 1890. 

7.  Mary  Irensea  Dinsmore",  b.  Jan.  23,  1859.    She  was  a  professor  in 

Hastings  College,"Hastings,  Adams  Co.,  Neb.,  from  1883  to  1889. 
She  m.  Aug.  26, 1889,  Daniel  Upton,  Jr.,  b.  Sept.  26, 1853;  book- 
keeper; res.  Muskegon,  Mich.  Child:  Thomas  Dinsmore 
Upton*,  b.  Oct.  18, 1890. 

8.  Elizabeth  McConaughey  Dinsmore',  b.  March  10, 1862;  unmarried; 

res.  Highland,  Kan. 

194.    Rev.  John  Martin  DinsmorC',  b.  May  25,1821;  m.  Martha  Jane  Grey, 
July  19, 1847,  b.  Feb.  19, 1826;  res.  Carthage,  Jasper  Co.,  Mo. 

CHILDREX. 

1.  Mary  Irenaea  Dinsmore",  b.  Sept.  13, 1849;  single;  res.  Carthage, 

Mo. 

2.  John  Grey  Dinsmore',  b.  Oct.  21.  1851;  m.  Nancy  Jane  Moody, 

Sept.  8, 1872. 

CHILDREN. 

I.  Jessie  M.  Diusmore%  b.  July  28, 1873. 

II.  Elmer  G.  Dinsmore\  b.  Dec.  5, 1875. 

III.  Scott  Dinsmore*,  b.  July  6, 1878. 

1 IV.  Roy  Dinsmore^  b.  Nov.  1, 1880. 

'  V.  Kate  M.  Dinsmore  ^  b.  April  14, 1882. 

VI.  John  Dinsmore^,  b.  March  6, 1885. 

VII.  Joe  Dinsmore^,  b.  Aug.  19, 1887. 


3G      BEV.    WILLIAM  HENRY  DINSMORE^. 


3.  Martha  Jane  Dinsmorc',  b.  Nov.  24,  1853;  in.  Burgcn  II.  Brown, 
April  24.  1877;  res.  Cartliape,  Mo.  Children:  Elmer  B.  Firown", 
b.  March  1,  1878;  Clara  E.  Brown",  b.  April  28,  1880;  Berenice 
S.  I'.rown".  b.  .Jan.  5.  18h3;  Martha  J.  Brown",  b.  June  7,  1885; 
Homer  Brown",  b.  March  13.  1887. 
•  4.    William  S.  V.  Dinsmore",  b.  Sept.  9.  1856;  d.  April  9, 1857. 

5.  M.  Josephine  Dinsmore',  b.  March  2,  1858;  m.  Charles  Ransom, 

March  14.  1888. 

6.  riummer  L.  Dinsmore", b.  Ang.  7.  1860;  m.  Esther  Y.  Hood,  Juae 

10,  1885;  he  d.  Sept.  6.  1886.    Child:    Marguerite  H.  Dinsmore^, 
b.  April  27,  1886;  res.  Carthage,  Mo. 

7.  Nannie  A.  Dinsmore'.  b.  Oct.  10, 1863;  single;  res.  Carthage,  Mo. 

8.  Minnie  F.  Dinsmore",  b.  Sent.  30.  1866;  m.  Ambrose  E.  Findley, 

Dec.  4,  1889;  res.  Springfield,  Mo. 

195.  Elizabeth  Jane  Dinsmore*,  b.  June  7. 1824;  d.  Aug.  13, 1834. 

196.  Nancv  Anne  Dinsmore^,  b- July  l,l826:m.  1850.  Hon.   William  H. 

Fitzpatrick.  wlio  d.  Aug.  14,  1890.  He  served  several  terms  in  the 
]>egislatureof  Kansas  as  representative  and  senator;  res.  Topeka, 
Kan.,  where  his  widow  now  resides. 

» 

CHILDREN. 

1.  Thomas  Dinsmore  Fitzpatrick",  res.  Salina,  Kan. 

2.  Margaret  Irenaea  Fitzpatrick',  res.  Topeka,  Kan. 

3.  Kobert  Ford  Fitzpatrick",  res.  Arkansas  City,  Kan. 

4.  William  Fitzpatrick".  res.  New  Mexico. 

5.  John  Scott  Fitzpatrick',  res.  on  the  home  farm,  at  Topeka,  Kan. 

6.  Mary  Fitzpatrick",  res.  Topeka,  Kan. 

197.  Bathsheba  Dinsmore",  b.  April  9, 1828;  teacher;  d.  Sept.  14, 1851. 

198.  Moses  Garvine  Dinsmore'"'.  b.  Feb.  7,  1831.    He  was  a  teacher  and 

student,  and  d.  when  a  young  man,  at  the  home  of  his  brother,  Rev. 
Thomas  Hughes  Dinsmore",  at  Washington,  Iowa,  Aug.  31,  1854. 

199.  Eev.  William  Henry  Dinsmore*',  b.  May  31.  1833;  m.  Lizzie  Crosset, 

who  d.  :May  12, 1865.  He  m.,  second,  Phebe  Harris,  of  Phillips- 
burg.  N.  J.,  on  Sept.  16, 1867.  He  was  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Deerfield,  N.  J.,  and  d.  May  26, 1877.  His  burial  place 
is  at  Fhillipsburg,  N.  J. 

CHILDREN. 

1.  William  Harris  Dinsmore',  b.  May  12, 1868;  res.  Fhillipsburg,  N.  J. 

2.  Benjamin  Braddock  Dinsmore",  res.  Fhillipsburg,  N.  J. 


DINSMORES    OF    MISSISSIPPI. 

200.  Adam  Dinsmooi'i.  He  was  b.  in  Ireland,  and 
bore  the  same  Christian  name  as  one  (No.  6)  of  the  four 
sons  of  John  Dinsmoor^,  the  Scotch  Emigrant  who  set- 
tled in  Ballywattick,  Ballymoney,  County  Antrim,  Ireland. 
By  his  approximate  age,  he  was  probably  a  grandson  of 
one  of  the  three  (Adam^,  Robert^,  Samuel^)  brothers 
who  remained  in  Ireland.     He  m.  Miss  Jackson. 

CHILDBKN. 

201.  David  Dinsmore-. 

202.  Samuel  Dinsmore^. 

203.  James  Dinsmore^  (205),  m.  Miss  McDonald. 

204.  Elizabeth  Dinsmore^,  m.  Archibald  McDonald. 


DINSMOBES   OF  MISSISSIPPI.  37 


205.  James  Dinsmore^  (203),  Adami.  He  came 
from  Ireland ;  m.  Miss  McDonald,  and  he  lived  in  the 
South. 

AMO^■G  HIS  CHILDREN  WERE: 

206.  James  J.  Dinsmore^,  res.  at  or  near  Falkville,  North  Alabama,  and 

has  a  family. 

207.  Nancy  Dinsmore-^,  m.  Mr.  "Wall;  res.  Avoca,  Ala. 

208.  Andrew  McDonald  Dinsmore'  (209),  b.  1808;  res.  Noxubee  Co.,  Miss. 

209.  Andrew  McDonald  Dinsmore^  (208),  James 2, 
Adami.  He  was  b.  April,  1808.  Removed  to  Xoxubee 
Co.,  Miss.,  about  1846,  from  Xorth  Alabama.  He  m. 
Minerva  Barton  Beauchamp,  who  d.  March,  1888,  in  that 
state.  He  is  still  living,  in  vigorous  health,  and  is  an 
officer  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Macon,  Miss. 

CHILD. 

210.  James  Augustus  Dinsmore*,  b.  Jan.  16, 1852;  m. 

CHILDEEN. 

1.  Andrew  McDonald  Dinsmore^ 

2.  Emma  Dinsmore^ 

3.  Gardiner  S.  Dinsmore^ 

4.  J.  A.  Dinsmore^. 

5.  William  Dinsmore^ 

211.  John  Eobert  Dinsmore*  (212),  b.  Jan.  18, 1855;  res.  Macon,  Miss. 

212.  John  Robert  Dinsmore*,  Andrew  McDonald^, 
James^,  Adam^.  He  was  b.  near  Macon,  Miss.,  Jan.  18, 
1855;  graduated  at  Cumberland  University,  Lebanon, 
Tenn.,  in  June,  1876,  completing  his  course  with  honor, 
and  is,  in  1890,  a  successful  lawyer  in  Macon,  Miss.  He 
was  a  candidate  for  nomination  to  the  Mississippi  Leg- 
islature before  he  was  twenty-three  years  of  age,  but  was 
defeated.  He  served  as  Mayor  of  Macon  for  six  sug- 
cessive  years,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  his  brother-in- 
law,  Hon.  A.  T.  Dent.  He  is  j^opular  and  supported 
by  all  classes.  He  takes  an  active  part  in  politics,  and  is 
Chairman  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  Fourth 
Mississippi  Congressional  District.  He  is  conservative 
and  firm  in  his  views,  and  has  the  confidence  of  the  people. 
5[e,is  a  deacon  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  which  his 
father  huo '^^.^'"^  ^^a  eic:c  -fpi:  oy^  fortj^  years.  He  is  six 
feet  and  one'  inch  in  height,  {^  vrpipriis  o-'^r  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  pounds.  He  'td  "  a,  dauguu  -1 . 
William  Dent,  in  Dec.  1884,,  ■ 

^  cb;Q  ;  ^ 

:213.    Mary  With  rspoon  Dinsmore^A  .  jj 


38  AT   THE    OLD   HOME. 

A   VISIT  TO  THE  OLD  DINS3IOKE  HOME  IX 
1KP:LAND,    JULY    9,    1889. 

This  brief  sketch  will  preserve,  it  is  hoped,  for  all  time 
the  place  of  habitation  of  the  Diusmore  family  in  the 
Emerald  Isle,  which  had  not  been  located  and  was  entirely- 
unknown  to  most  of  the  members  of  the  family  in  the 
United  States  until  my  investigations  revealed  and  estab- 
lished it. 

It  had  been  my  great  desire  to  visit  the  old  home  of  the 
early  Dinsmoors,  the  abode  for  many  generations  of  their 
descendants,  whose  history  has  been  here  given.  John 
Dinsmoor^,  the  Scotch  lad  who,  with  cane  and  broad 
bonnet,  '*hied  him"  from  Scotland  to  Ireland  and  founded 
the  family  home  at  Ballywattick,  with  his  son,  John 
Dinsmoor"^,  who  came  to  Xew  Hampshire,  were  my  an- 
cestors. All  the  other  Dinsmoors  there,  in  their  several 
generations,  were,  in  different  degrees  of  consanguinity, 
my  relatives. 

Business  of  another  nature  called  me  to  Ballymoney, 
and  so  I  gladly  embraced  the  opportunity  of  visiting  one 
of  its  town-lands,  Ballyw^attick,  two  miles  away.  With 
Mr.  William  Hunter,  an  occupant  of  part  of  a  Dins- 
moor  homestead,  I  had  enjoyed  a  pleasant  correspond- 
ence for  several  years.  An  Irish  jaunting-car,  on  the 
afternoon  of  the  day  of  my  arrival,  bore  me  rapidly  over 
the  smooth,  hard  road  to  the  home  of  Mr.  Hunter, 
where  he,  his  amiable  wife  and  interesting  family,  gave 
me  the  cheeriest  w^elcome.  There  I  passed  the  night. 
They  live  pleasantly  and  cosily  in  a  well  constructed, 
good-sized  stone  house,  built  upon  a  portion  of  the  home- 
stead of  Robert  Dinsmore*,  the  writer  of  the  historic 
letter  of  1794. 

The  day  was  misty,  rainy,  chilly.  An  open  fire  glowed 
brightly  upon  the  hearthstones.  A  canary  bird,  forget- 
ting its  prison. bars  and  not  to  be  outdone  in  evidences  of 
hospitality,  poured  forth  its  welcome  in  sharp,  sweet  Tiotpq. 
of  song.  Throvigii  the  -^rjn^c-srs  I  W^ked  forth  upon  fields 
£oTT^ii'nr.  fo;  ana  trodden  by,  my  ancestors  two  hundred 
and  more  years  ago,  and  which  had  been  sacred  to  their 
descendants  almost  to  the  present  year.  A  lane,  lined  on 
either  side  with  hedges,  led  us  to  the  former  home  of 


HOME    OF   THE   LETTER    WBITEB.         39 

Robert  Dinsmore*,  the  letter  writer.  It  is  a  stone  house 
of  comfortable  size  and  dimensions,  with  a  roof  of  thatch. 
In  its  day  it  was  one  of  the  most  pretentious  in  the 
neighborhood.  It  is  now  unoccupied.  Here  it  was  that 
Robert  Dinsmore  lived,  at  seventy-four  years  of  age,  in 
1794,  when  he  wrote  his  letter,  since  famous,  and  now 
historic,  to  his  relative,  .John  Dinsmoor,  of  Windham,  N". 
H.  (see  p.  10),  giving  the  genealogy  and  early  history  of 
the  family. 

That  venerable  man  little  knew  the  boon  he  was  con- 
ferring upon  all  of  his  lineage  who  were  to  succeed  him, 
by  the  knowledge  which  he  imparted  in  that  epistle.  He 
never  dreamed  that  his  letter  would  become  historic,  and 
that  he  was  the  earliest  historian  of  his  family,  and  had 
made  possible  the  tracing  of  the  annals  of  his  race  into 
the  dim  past.  He  little  thought  that  a  century  later  dis- 
tant kinsmen  '-from  beyond  seas"  would  seek  out  the  old 
home,  and  his  abode,  as  the  place  where  lived  a  bene- 
factor.    Yet  such  was  to  be  the  case. 

His  house  stands  alone.  The  fires  have  gone  out  upon 
its  ancient  hearthstones.  The  calm  faces  of  parents,  dis- 
ciplined and  strengthened  by  life's  cares,  sufferings,  and 
toils ;  the  joyous  ones  of  children,  with  laughing,  gleeful 
eyes,  which  once  appeared  at  those  windows,  are  no  longer 
there.  All  are  gone,  and  forever !  An  air  of  desolation, 
forsakenness,  and  gloom  prevades  the  ancient  home  and 
its  immediate  surroundings.  The  beating  storms,  the 
buffeting  winds  and  tempests,  shall  assail  no  more  forever 
the  Dinsmores  at  that  old  homestead ! 

Never  again  will  the  old  days  come. 

Memories?    Fold  them  up  — 
Lay  them  sacred  by; 
What  avails  it  to  dream  of  the  past? 

The  home  of  Samuel  Dinsmore ^  (son  of  Robert,  the 
letter  writer)  and  of  his  son,  John  Dinsmore^,  now  of 
Bloomington,  Ind.,  was  only  a  few  rods  away.  William 
Dinsmore,  called  "Gentle  Willie,"  a  relative,  lived  close 
at  hand,  and  his  home  is  occupied  by  William  Knox. 
The  buildings  are  all  of  stone,  very  comfortable,  and  sur- 
rounded by  tall  and  shapely  trees,  which  furnish  abundant 


40      MOTTO    OF   THE  DlNSMOIiE  FAMILY. 

shade.  A  lane,  hedge  lined,  leads  through  pleasant  fields 
from  hijijhway  to  highway.  The  fields  are  well  cultivated, 
the  country  attractive  and  inviting  to  the  view.  A  gen- 
eral look  of  thriftiness  and  good  cheer  prevails.  The 
roads,  like  most  of  those  in  Great  Britain,  are  excellent, 
bard  and  very  smooth.  T  bade  farewell  to  the  first  home 
of  the  Dinsmores  in  Ireland  and  went  to  Ballymoney. 
In  the  cemetery  there  is  their  quiet  place  of  rest.  There 
were  the  graves  of  Robert  Dinsmore*,  the  letter  writer, 
of  SamueT',  his  son,  of  Andrew ^  and  William  Dinsmore^. 
I  took  a  hurried  view  of  the  small,  yet  historic,  town 
where  had  live<l  another  of  my  ancestors.  Justice  James 
McKeeu,  who  emigrated  to  Londonderry,  N.  H.,  in  1719. 
The  emigratini?  sons  and  daughters,  and  their  descend- 
ants, of  the  little  moorland  town  of  Ballymoney  have  had 
a  wide  intluence  in  the  Scotch-American  settlements  in 
the  United  States. 

MOTTO    OF    THE    DINSMORE    FAMILY. 

The  alleged  motto  of  the  Dinsmore  Family  is  expres- 
sive and  suggestive  :  "  Spes  Anchora  Tuta."  A  free  trans- 
lation is :    '''lIoDe  is  a  safe  anchor." 


Facts  relatijig  to  Emigration  to  Londonderry^  JSf.  H.^ 
in  1719,  icherein  Jferition  is  made  of  the  first  Scotch 
Settlers  there  and  some  of  their  Descendants. 

STATE3IEXT  OF  ELIZABETH  DINSMOORe, 

William^,  Robert*,  John^,  John2,  Laird  Dinsmoori. 
She  was  a  sister  of  the  elder  Governor  Samuel  Dins- 
moor  6,  of  Xew  Hampshire.  She  was  b.  in  Windham,  X. 
H.,  December,  1778;  m.  in  1801,  Samuel  Thom,  of 
Windham,  X.  H.;  removed  to  Denmark,  Iowa,  where  she 
d.  Jan.  17,  1868,  aged  ninety  years.  Her  mental  powers 
were  excellent,  and  she  delighted  in  reading  and  writing. 
She  left  numerous  articles  in  manuscript.  Her  grand- 
mother was  Janet  McKeen,  a  daughter  of  Justice  James 
McKeen,  of  Londonderry,  X.  H.,  who  came,  when  young, 


THE   EMIGBATION   OF  1719.  41 


with  her  father's  family  from  Ireland,  married  Emiorant 
John  Cochran,  and  lived  in  Windham,  N.  H.  In  her  old 
age  she  recounted  the  incidents  of  the  emigration  to  her 
granddaughter,  Elizabeth  Dinsmore^,  about  1785,  who 
was  not  then  ten  years  of  age.  It  made  a  vivid  impres- 
sion on  the  mind  of  her  youthful  listener,  who  wrote  out 
the  account,  which  is  preserved  among  her  manuscripts, 
now  in  the  possession  of  her  great-granddaughter,  Mrs. 
Eliza  T.  Fox,  of  Seneca,  Kan.  Thus,  after  one  hundred 
and  seventy-two  years  since  the  emigration,  this  account, 
never  before  in  print,  is  presented  to  the  public. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  (Dinsmore^)  Thorn  says:  "My  grand- 
mother was  nearly  half  a  day  relating  the  circumstances 
of  their  emigration  and  settlement  in  this  country.  I  was 
between  seven  and  eiojht  years  old  at  the  time,  and  lis- 
tened  with  deep  interest  to  her  narrative.  My  grand- 
mother said  she  was  a  native  of  the  North  of  Ireland, 
which  was  settled  from  Scotland.  Her  forefathers  were 
among  the  first  who  renounced  Popery,  and  were  much 
persecuted  by  the  Catholics.  Her  father,  James  McKeen, 
resolved  to  emigrate  to  America,  where  he  could  peace- 
fully enjoy  the  religion  of  his  choice.  Having  disposed 
of  his  property,  he  embarked  with  his  preacher,  Rev. 
James  McGregor,  and  sixteen  others,  who  had  bound 
themselves  to  him  for  a  certain  time  to  pay  for  their 
passage  to  America. 

"It  was  Sunday  when  they  reached  Boston,  and  the 
pious  emigrants  celebrated  the  joyful  occasion  by  singing 
psalms  of  praise  to  that  God  who  had  brought  them  in 
safety  to  the  shores  of  the  Xew  World.  Their  fervent 
piety  secured  them  a  warm  reception  among  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Boston,  but  after  a  brief  stay  at  that  place,  they 
hired  hunters  to  guide  them  through  the  wilderness  to 
Beaver  Pond,  in  Xutfield,  afterward  called  London- 
derry. There  they  pitched  their  tents  and  had  religious 
services.  My  grandmother,  though  only  ten  years  old  at 
that  time,  could  remember  the  text  and  much  of  the  dis- 
course. Her  memory  was  excellent,  and  she  had  the  deep 
religious  feeling  of  the  Puritans  of  those  times." 

The  fact  that  James  McKeen,  who  was  a  man  of  means, 
had  advanced  the  passage  money  for  his  neighbors  and 


42  A    CLOSE   liELATIONSIIir. 

kinsmen  who  were  less  successful  than  liimself,  to  my 
knowledge,  has  never  before  been  promulgated,  and  as  it 
was  his  own  daughter  who  made  the  statement,  herself  an 
emigrant,  and  familiar  with  all  the  circumstances  of  the 
emigration  —  it  is  not  to  be  questioned. 

The  first  sixteen  settlers  (with  their  families)  of  Lon- 
donderry, X.  ir.,  were  all  of  Scotch  blood.  They  were  as 
follows:  James  McKeen,  John  ])arnet,  Archibald  Clen- 
denin,  John  .Mitchell,  James  Starrett,  James  Anderson, 
1  Randall  Alexander,  James  Gregg,  James  Clark,  James 
Nesmith,  Allen  Anderson,  Robert  AVeir,  John  Morison, 
Samuel  Allison,  Thomas  Steele,  John  Stuart.  According 
to  Parker's  History  of  Londonderry,  N.  IL,  "James 
^fcKeen  was  one  of  the  principal  originators  of  the 
enterprise  "  and  was  "  the  patriarch  of  the  colony." 

The  relationship  between  those  early  settlers  was  very 
near,  and  their  intimacy  of  the  closest  kind,  as  will  be  seen 
from  the  following  facts :  Among  them  James  McKeen 
had  one,  and  probably  two  brothers-in-law,  with  their 
families.  His  first  wife  was  Janet  Cochran,  and  his 
daughter,  Janet,  m.  John  Cochran,  of  Windham,  N.  H. 
Another  daughter,  Elizabeth,  m.  James  Nesmith,  in 
Ireland,  who  was  one  of  the  famous  sixteen  settlers. 
Mr.  McKeen  lived  at  one  time  in  Ballymoney,  County 
Antrim,  L-eland,  only  two  miles  from  the  homes  of  the 
Dinsmoors,  with  whom  he  must  have  been  acquainted. 

In  Ireland  Mr.  McKeen  m.  second,  Annis  Cargil. 
Kev.  James  McGregor,  of  Aghadowey,  County  of  Lon- 
donderry, Ireland,  m.  her  sister,  Marion  Cargil,  and  came 
to  Londonderry,  N.  H.,  and  was  the  first  minister  there. 

Capt.  James  Gregg,  one  of  the  sixteen  settlers,  m. 
Janet  Cargil,  probably  a  sister  of  the  others.  Thomas 
Steele  m.  in  Ireland,  Martha  Morison,  a  sister  of  John 
Morison,  which  made  those  two  brothers-in-law.  Samuel 
Allison  m.  in  Ireland,  Katherine  Steele,  a  supposed  sister 
of  Thomas  Steele,  which  linked  them  together.  Two 
others  of  the  sixteen,  Allen  and  James  Anderson,  were 
brothers. 

Rev.  James  McGregor,  and  most,  if  not  all,  of  the  six- 
teen first  emigrants,  were  from  the  parish  of  Aghadowey, 
County  of  Londonderry,  Ireland,  a  description  and  brief 
history  of  which  has  already  been  given.  (See  pp.  25-36.) 


OTHEES   JOIN   THEM.  43 

James  Morison,  a  brother  of  John,  and  my  ancestor; 
Robert  Armstrong,  ancestor  of  the  Armstrongs  of 
Windham,  X.  H,,  and  of  George  W.  Armstrong,  Es  q.. 
a  prominent  business  gentleman  of  Boston,  Mass.;  and 
John  Bell, — quickly  joined  the  colony  mentioned  before. 
According  to  a  family  tradition,  which  is  accepted  as 
truth,  the  earliest  known  ancestor  of  the  Bells  of  New 
Hampshire  was  Matthew  Bell,  who  was  born  at  Kirk 
Connell,  in  Scotland.  (There  are  seven  places  of  this 
name  in  Scotland,  and  no  identification  has  been  made.) 
His  son,  John  Bell,  was  born  in  Ballymoney,  County  of 
Antrim,  Ireland,  in  1678  ;  m.  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John 
and  Rachel  (Nelson)  Todd  ;  came  to  Londonderry,  X. 
H.,  in  1720,  where  he  died  July  8,  1743,  leaving  a  numer- 
ous posterity. 

This  work  will  close  with  a  poem  of  rare  merit,  which 
is  particularly  appropriate,  as  it  relates  to  Scotch,  or 
Scotch-Irish,  achievement,  suffering,  long  endurance  amid 
famine,  pestilence,  and  death,  and  final  glorious  triumph. 
The  ancestors  of  many  who  read  this  volume  were  on  the 
side  of  William,  in  the  famous  struggle  between  James 
the  Second  and  William,  Prince  of  Orange,  for  the  Eng- 
lish throne.  Many  of  them  were  in  the  besieged  City  of 
Londonderry,  Ireland,  endured  the  horrors,  witnessed  and 
were  thrilled  with  the  great  joy  of  final  victory,  all  of 
which  the  great  English  historian,  Macaulay,  describes 
with  graphic  power  in  his  History  of  England.  The 
author  of  this  poem  has,  with  rare  power,  depicted  the 
"City  of  the  Foyle,"  as  it  was  and  as  it  remains  to-day. 
The  main  events  of  the  celebrated  siege,  when  the  gates 
of  the  city  were  closed  in  the  face  of  an  insolent  foe  by  a 
band  of  noble  "  Apprentice  Boys";  the  fierce  attacks  of 
the  enemy,  the  bursting  of  the  boom  which  the  foe 
had  stretched  across  the  Foyle  to  prevent  ships  loaded 
with  provisions  from  succoring  the  starving  city,  are  re- 
hearsed in  an  elevated  and  spirited  manner.  The  writer 
is  a  descendant  of  Capt.  James  Gregg,  who  was  born  in 
Ayrshire,  Scotland,  and,  with  his  parents,  went  to  Ireland 
about  1690,  and  was  one  of  the  first  sixteen  settlers  of 
Londonderry,  X.  H,,  in  1719,  as  previously  stated. 


44  HEROES    OF   THE   SIEOE. 

Althoiiixli  the  author  of  the  poem  never  visited  London- 
derry, Ireland,  never  trod  its  "  steep,  ascending  streets," 
never  saw  its '* sacred  walls,"  worshipped  in  "the  old 
cathedral  on  the  lieights,"  nor  bathed  her  hands  in  the 
flowing  waters  of  the  Foyle,  yet  her  description  of  the 
city  and  all  within  it,  as  well  as  its  surroundings,  are 
wonderfully  accurate,  —  they  are  almost  without  a  flaw. 
The  }>oem  is  inserted  with  the  hope  that  it  may  afford 
my  readers  as  much  pleasure  and  joy  as  it  has  given  me. 


THE  HEROES    OF    THE    SIEGE    OF  LONDON- 
DERRY, IRELAND,  1688-89. 

By  Miss  Lucinda  Jaxe  Gregg,  of  Derry,  N.  H. 

There '«  many  a  prouder  citadel,  there  's  manj'  a  grander  town, 
Among  the  thousand  battle-fields  on  which  the  stars  look  down; 
But  never  place  held  hero  hearts  more  resolute  and  strong 
Than  brave  old  Londonderry,  famed  in  story  and  in  song. 

Hill  of  the  Oaks!  we  see,  unchanged,  thy  sacred  walls  arise: 
Still  up  thy  steep,  ascending  streets  the  ancient  pathway  lies ; 
Still  at  thy  foot  the  river  flows  with  broad,  majestic  sweep, 
And  still  the  grand  cathedral  crowns  thy  narrow  sunmiit  steep. 

No  rock  of  stem  Gibraltar  lifts  its  dark,  defiant  wall; 
No  fortress  rises  from  the  sea  to  shield  thy  towers  tall; 
More  glorious  far  than  rock  or  fort  built  up  by  time  or  toil. 
The  Eock  of  Ages  is  thy  trust,  brave  City  of  the  Foyle! 

Flow  on,  historic  river,  sing  the  story  of  the  free ; 

Eepeat  it  proudly  to  the  sky  —  go  tell  it  to  the  sea! 

Send  far,  O  sea!  the  thrilling  song  across  Atlantic's  wave, 

And  bid  these  echoing  hills  send  back  the  anthem  of  the  brave. 

The  haughty  foe  came  boldly  up  with  weapons  keen  and  bright ; 
"Within  those  narrow  walls  each  face  paled  quickly  at  the  sight; 
One  startHng  cry  rang  wildly  up  from  street  to  palace  dome,— 
"The  gates!  the  gates!  close  fast  the  gates!  For  freedom  and  our 
home!" 

Loud  called  a  band  of  hero  lads,  all  resolute  and  bold, 
"  Quick  to  the  guard  house!  Seize  the  keys  away  from  traitor's  hold! " 
Down  to  the  water  gate  they  rushed  where  rolled  the  river  low, 
And  quickly  drew  the  drawbridge  up  in  face  of  all  the  foe! 


CLOSING    OF   THE    GATES.  45 


The  heavy  gates  swung  grandly  round,  in  triumph,  one  by  one; 
The  great  key  turned  the  massive  holt,— the  glorious  deed  was  done! 
Glad  Freedom  walked  the  hillside  streets  and  saw,  adown  the  land, 
The  army  of  a  king  defied  by  that  heroic  band. 

Courageous  citadel!  thy  fate  is  told  with  faltering  breath ; 

Full  well  those  bold  defenders  knew  't  was  victory  or  death! 

They  looked  their  narrow  fortress  o'er,  reviewed  their  few  strong  men, 

Opened  their  scanty  magazine,  and  pledged  each  other  then. 

One  earnest  prayer  to  Heaven  they  sent,  one  firm  resolve  they  made. 
Then  bound  the  white  badge  on  their  arms  while  burst  the  cannonade ; 
That  sacred  badge  would  lead  them  on  to  conquer  or  to  die. 
For  "  No  surrender  "  thrilled  each  heart  and  flashed  from  every  eye. 

Then  burst  the  dreadful  shot  and  shell,  and  fast  the  fire  came  down ; 
The  roaring  of  the  culverin  resounded  through  the  town; 
The  river  blazed  with  lightning,  and  the  red-hot  cannon  balls 
Thundered  against  the  trembling  gates  and  shook  the  dark  old  walls. 

The  tumult  and  the  terror  of  War's  horrible  alarms 
With  deep  and  dreadful  anguish  filled  that  citadel  in  arms; 
Yet  still  that  glorious  badge  they  wore  through  every  fearful  hour- 
Still  waved  the  crimson  banner  from  the  high  cathedral  tower. 

Upon  that  crowded  garrison  the  summer's  sun  shone  down, 
And  dread  disease  came  through  the  gates  with  fearful,  fatal  frown; 
Then  frightful  famine  leaped  the  walls  and  shook  his  spectral  shield, 
And  deadly  foes  all  joined  to  make  the  faithful  fortress  yield. 

Ah  !  hushed  was  every  hillside  home,  and  stilled  was  every  song, 
As  paled  the  famished  faces  of  that  starving,  suffering  throng; 
Wan  skeletons  with  trembling  steps  the  battered  bulwarks  trod, 
And  thousands,  ere  the  summer  waned,  lay  dead  beneath  the  sod. 

Their  holy  altars  and  their  homes,— for  these  they  perilled  all; 
And  still  the  banner  waved  on  high,  still  stood  the  firm  old  wall ; 
Still  "  No  surrender  "  thrilled  each  heart  and  nerved  each  dying  hand, 
And  every  home  was  hallowed  by  the  heroism  grand! 

The  old  cathedral  on  the  heights  knew  well  their  wants  and  woes ; 
There,  pleading  prayers  ascended  oft,  sweet  sounds  of  peace  arose, 
While  from  the  roof  the  sounds  of  war  went  booming  loud  and  long; 
There  blazed  the  beacon  light  that  told  the  peril  of  the  throng. 

One  startling  sound  was  echoed  from  the  river  to  the  rock! 
*'  The  ships!  the  ships  are  coming!  yes,  the  fleet  is  in  the  Lough! " 
All  eagerly  the  famished  crowd  climbed  up  the  fortress  wall, 
And  saw  upon  the  happy  tide  the  vessels  vise  and  fall. 


40  VICTOIiY  AT  LAST. 


l.iivl  life  was  in  the  swclliiiR  sails  and  in  the  blissful  breeze; 

Too  weak,  too  faint  for  rapturous  cheers,  they  droppeti  upon  their 

knees; 
T«'ars  of  thankspivint:  told  their  joy.  but  never  shout  or  song,— 
Ah!  Clod  had  heard  the  faithful  prayers  of  that  heroic  throng. 

The  bold  besiegers  on  the  shore  their  batteries  opened  wide; 
Apalnst  the  ships  the  blazing  balls  came  thundering  o'er  the  tide; 
The  starving  crowd  upon  the  walls  saw  life's  last  hope  assailed, 
Lut  God  was  with  those  gallant  ships,  and  safely  on  they  sailed. 

Wild  rose  the  joy  — when  suddenly  one  vessel  ran  aground! 

'The  bo«)m!  ihe  boom!"  and  shouting  foes  the  perilled  ship  came 

round; 
"Oh!   now  or  never!"  was  the  cry  that  rose  from  livid  lips 
And  hearts  of  agony  that  watched  the  struggle  of  the  ships. 

All  petrified  with  silent  grief,  amid  the  fearful  strife, 
They  saw  go  down  the  trembling  tide  their  last  dear  hope  of  life; 
But  God  was  with  those  heroes  still  — the  glorious  ship  sent  back 
A  sudden,  fearful,  fiery  charge  across  the  foaming  track. 

One  quick  rebound,  and  she  was  safe!  the  ships  were  seen  to  ride, 
Amid  the  yells  of  furious  foes,  triumphant  o'er  the  tide! 
Kight  onward  toward  the  joyful  town  the  conquering  vessels  passed; 
'T  was  life!  sweet  life!  't  was  home!  dear  home!  't  was  victory  at  last  I 


Index  of  Diiismoors-Dmsmores,  and  Others. 


Alexander,  Eandall,  p.  42. 
Allison,  Samuel,  p.  42. 
Anderson,  James,  p.  42. 
Anderson,  Allen,  p.  42. 
Alter,   Hon.   Joseph,   and  Descen- 
dants, p.  32. 
Armstrong,  George  "W.,  p.  43. 
Armstrong,  Robert,  p.  43. 
Barnet,  John,  p.  42. 
Beer,  Hon.  Thomas,  and  Family,  pp. 

27-28. 
Bell,  John,  p.  43. 
Boyd,  Samuel,  p.  16. 
Cargil,  Annis.  p.  42. 
Clark,  James,  p.  42. 
Clendenin,  Archibald,  p.  42. 
Cochran,  .John.  p.  42. 
Collins,  William,  p.  27. 
Dick,  Quentin,  p.  19. 
Dinsmoor-Dinsmore. 

Adam^  of  Ballywattick,  Ireland, 
pp.  5. 19. 

AdamS  and  Family,  p.  36. 

Alices  p.  8. 

Andrew^,  and  Family,  pp.  22,  23. 

Andrews  and  Family,  pp.  15, 16. 

Andrew-^  p.  25. 

Eev.  Andrew  A.",  and  Family,  pp. 
28,29. 

Andrew  McDonald-^  p.  37. 

Anne  ^^  lexander',  p.  25. 

Archibald  A.',  p.  35. 

Rev.  CadfordM.Sp.  7. 

Catherine  Anne*^,  p.  27. 

Curran,  p.  8. 

David,  p.  8. 

David  Collin s^  p.  28. 

Elizabeth-^  p.  33. 

Elizabeth^  p.  40. 

Elizabeth',  p.  8. 


Dinsmoor-Dinsmore. 

First  Sixteen  Settlers  of  London- 
derry, N.  H.,  p.  42. 

Florence  Amanda'^,  p.  8. 

Eev.  Francis  B.c,  and  Family,  p. 
34. 
j      "  Gentle  Willie^\"  p.  16. 
I      Henry^  and  Family,  pp.  S2,  33. 

James*,  and  Family,  of  Pennsylva- 
nia, pp.  19-20. 

Jarnes'^  p.  21. 

James  P.,  p.  8. 

Hon.  James',  p.  7. 

James',  of  Kentucky,  p.  7. 

James^  p.  37. 

James  A.-',  and  Family,  pp.  23-24. 

James  P.  W.*',  p.  29. 

Jane",  p.  32. 

Jarvis^.  p.  8. 

Jennys  p.  23. 

John-,  the  Scotch  Emigrant,  pp. 
3-4-5. 

John",    the    Emigrant     to    New 
Hampshire,  pp.  5,  6. 

John',  of  Pennsylvania,  pp.  20-21. 

John,  and  Family,  of  Blooming- 
ton,  Ind.,  p.  14. 

John  Bell',  p.  7. 

Piev.  John,  p.  8. 

Eev.  John  W^,3,  22. 

Eev.  John  M.S  and  Family,  pp.  35, 
36. 

Hon.  John  E.*,  p.  37. 

Joseph  S.',  p.  15. 

Laird^,  p.  4. 

Lemuel,  p.  8. 

Margaret',  p.  13. 

Margaret",  p.  14. 

Margaret  Curry",  p.  X. 

Margaret  P.\  p.  33. 


48 


INDEX. 


Dlnsmoor-Dinsmore. 
Martlia\  p.  24. 
Matilda  H..  p.  16- 
Molly\  p.  13. 

Moses',  and  Family,  p.  34. 
Nancy',  p.  33. 
Nancy  Amanda*,  p.  36. 
llacher.  pp.  16. 17. 
Robert',  of  Ballywattick,  Ireland, 

pp.  5-9. 
Kobert*,  of  Kew  Hampshire,  pp. 

6-9. 

Robert*,  of  Pennsylvania,  and  De- 
scendant s,  p.  27. 

Roberts  "Tbe  Letter  ^Vriter," 
pp.  9-13. 

Robert',  •'  Rustic  Bard,"  p.  6. 

Roberts  p.  31. 

Robert  CaldwelP,  and  Family,  p. 
2G. 

Robert  Scott',  p.  31. 

Rev.  Robert  ScottS  p.  34. 

Samuel',  of  Ballywattick,  Ireland, 

p.  5. 

Samuels  p.  13. 

SamueP,  p.  26. 

Gov.  Samuels  P-  7. 

Col.  SilasS  P-  6. 

Tabitha  MaryS  P-  27. 

Theophilus  WS  p.  15. 

ThomasS  and  Family,  p.  33. 

Thomas  A.  W.s  p.  7. 

Rev.  Thomas  H.S  and  Family,p.35. 

Prof.  Thomas  H.S  p.  35. 

Williams    of    Ballywattick,    Ire- 
land, p.  13. 

TVilliamS  of    Pennsylvania,    and 
Family,  pp.  21-22. 

William  B.S  p.  8, 

Rev.  William  H.S  and  Family,  p. 
36. 
Donnell,  Hugh,  and  Family,  p.  31. 
Fitzpatrick,  Hon.  "William  H.,  and 

Family,  p.  36. 
Fox,  Eliza  T.,  p.  41. 
Gamble,  Peter,  p.  9. 
Garvine,  James,  and  Family,  p.  32. 
Gregg,  Capt.  James,  p.  42. 


Gregg.  Lucinda  Jane,  p.  44. 

Hamilton.  James,  p.  33. 

Hay,  Augustus  ISIoore,  p.  27. 

Henry,  James,  p.  9. 

Hope,  James,  p.  33. 

Hunter,  John,  and  Family,  pp.  17-19. 

Rev.  Andrews  p.  18. 

Margarets  P- 18. 

William,  of  Ballywattick,  Ireland, 

p.  .38. 
Rev.  Williams  P- 17. 
Knox.  William,  p.  39. 
Lawrence,  John,  p.  9. 
Livingstone,  John,  and  Family,  p.  23. 
Love,  John,  p.  9. 
McAbee,  James,  p.  14. 
Mc(jOwen,  Alexander,  p.  9. 
McGregor,  Rev.  James,  p.  42. 
Mcllreavy,  Archibald,  and  Family, 

p.  14. 
McKeen,  James,  pp.  40,  42. 
Mitchell,  Benjamin,  and  Family,  p. 
25. 
David,  and  Family,  p.  25. 
John,  p.  42. 
Morrison,  .Jeremiah',  p.  7. 
John,  p.  42. 

Hon.  Leonard  A.,  pp.  7,  SO. 
Nesmith,  James,  p.  42. 
Pillsbury,  Hon.  Albert  E.^,  p.  8. 

Josiah  W.,p.  8. 
Pinkertons,  p.  14. 
Reid,  Thomas,  p.  9. 
Riddle,  Charles,  p.  14. 
Scott,  Moses,  p.  30. 
Small,  Robert,  p.  14. 

The  Family  of,  p.  16. 
Starrett,  James,  p  42. 
Steele,  Thomas,  p.  42. 
Stewart,  Margaret  A.,  p.  30. 
Stuart,  John,  p.  42. 
Templeton,  Allen,  p.  9. 
Thorn,  Samuel  p.  40. 
Todd,  John,  p.  43. 
Weir,  Robert,  p.  42. 
Wells,  Abram,  and  Family,  pp.  18-19. 
Willock,  William,  and  Family,  p.  33. 
Wolff,  Rev.  A.  F.,  p.  31. 


1 


^'.