I’ll post an updated tree graphic the first of every month showing where I’m at with our family tree research. This selection is from January 6, 2017. Click on graphics to make them bigger.
David Miller Leffel is our – 3rd Great Grandfather on Moses J. Pearson’s mothers (Elizabeth Evaline Leffel) of the family. – Jim Pearson
David Miller Leffel is considered a true American Patriot by his descendants. David was one of forty Union sympathizing citizens of North Texas who were charged with disloyalty and treason against the Confederacy by a “Citizens Court” in Gainesville, Cooke County in October 1862 and then hanged in the Great Hanging at Gainesville. At his mockery of a trial by the Citizens Court in Gainesville, David said he swore support of the “old Constitution and Union.” He was hanged for disloyalty and treason to the Confederate cause.
David M. Leffel’s story begins in Virginia, where he was born on 20 Jan 1816, the third child of Anthony Leffel (our 4th Great Grandfather) and Mary Miller Leffel (Our 4th great grandmother). As a three year old toddler, David moved from Virginia to Clark County, Ohio with his family. He spent his growing up years in Clark County near many of his relatives on both the Leffel and Miller sides of the family.
The Leffel family of Clark County was prominent and prosperous. A cousin of David’s, James Leffel, was inventor of the double turbine water wheel and started the James Leffel Company in Springfield, Clark, Ohio. David’s ancestry goes back to his great-grandfather, Baltzer Leffel, who was an immigrant from Germany in 1750. During the Revolution, Baltzar was a Patriot and declared his allegiance to United States. He is listed in the DAR Patriot Index for the American Revolution, and so any descendants of David Miller Leffel qualify for membership into the DAR.
Balzar was the 5th great-grandfather of Moses Jefferson Pearson’s mother, Elizabeth Evaline Leffel – Jim Pearson
Balthsasar Leffel was born 2 February 1721, doubtless in the Palatinate, died 11 July 1796 in Amity township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, and was buried two days later.
He arrived on the ship “Two Brothers,” Thomas Arnot master, from Rotterdam and last from Cowes, and took the usual oaths at the courthouse in Philadelphia, Tuesday, 28 August 1750, in the presence of Thomas Lawrence, Esq., mayor. His name is written by someone other than himself, appears on the list of the male passengers of that vessel; sixteen years of age and older, as Balsazar (O) Loffler.
Since the dominant form of his surname is Leffel, used by himself and his wife in their wills, and by his sons and their descendants, that will be used exclusively in what follows. As his given name was usually recorded as Balzar, that form will be used hereafter. [One English-speaking tax assessor, however, on one occasion, confusing the German “B” with the English “P” actually entered his name as Paul!]
I got the results from my Ancestry DNA test and according to report the largest makeup is 37% of my DNA originates from Scandinavia and 99% from Europe.
Primarily located in: Sweden, Norway, Denmark
Also found in: Great Britain, France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, the Baltic States, Finland
Scandinavia is perched atop northern Europe, its natives referred to throughout history as “North Men.” Separated from the main European continent by the Baltic Sea, the Scandinavians have historically been renowned seafarers. Their adventures brought them into contact with much of the rest of Europe, sometimes as feared raiders and other times as well-traveled merchants and tradesmen.
The people living in the Scandinavia region today are slightly admixed, which means that when creating genetic ethnicity estimates for people native to this area, we see some similarities to DNA profiles from other nearby regions. We’ve found that approximately 84% of the typical native’s DNA comes from this region.
When I get the results for Aunt Jean’s DNA test I’ll share it as well. It should trace grandmother Marie Pearson’s side of things better.
Click on the graphic below and you should be able to view and look over the results more in detail.
Today’s the day! Hope you join us at the reunion! The Kentucky bunch will be heading up in a little over an hour. – In this video aunt Jean discusses the farm getting electricity for the first time.