Searching for the parents of John Belsey Stage. John Besley was born August 2, 1837 in Wyoming Co., PA. Sometime after the Civil War he changed his name to John Stage, perhaps taking his mother's maiden name. He married Anna P. Carpenter in 1868 in Wysox, PA, and died August 1915 in Waverly, NY, with burial at Tioga Point, PA. His siblings were Luther, Jesse, William, Mary Baldwin, Harriet, Susan, Stephen, George, Mary Jane, Ruben D., Eliza B. and Augustus Besley

Were you ever able to find the answer to your querry about John Besley (aka John Stage)? Please contact me if you have information. Thanks.

The parents of John Besley Stage, as indicated in the Tioga Point Cemetery Records, as compiled by Eloise Frantz Wilson are as follows: Oliver and Florence Stage Besley.

This gives the impression that they were married at some point. There is an Oliver Besley family in the history of Columbia Twp, Bradford County, PA, arriving in 1812, and also a Besley Cemetery. They were part of the founding fathers of that community. I have not made a connection, but have just started searching.

Please contact me if you have found any previous ancestors as I am also researching John Besley Stage

I forgot to mention that Tioga Point Cemetery is located in Athens, Bradford County, PA. Several of John's and Anna's children are also buried there.

In the 1850 Chemung County, NY federal census, there lists what appears to be John's father, Oliver, and his family. John is 13 years old, but the mother is listed as Ellenor. The names of the children match. It looks like John's parents were not married for his birth.

To my knowledge, John Besley (aka Stage) was married to a woman named Anna according to civil war pension records. His father's name was Oliver but not the one in Bradford County. I have census information also with the name of Eleanor was Oliver's wife but I have not been able to find of Oliver's parents....a few guesses but nothing else. Perhaps this is a second wife. There are so many Besleys with the same given name (0liver, James, John, Charles). Seems to be an Oliver around every bush.

Please contact me through my email address if you would like some of the additional information I have on the Besley's of New York, Pennsylvania and points south and west. I will be more than happy to help.

Joyce

John Besley- Stage was my GG Grandfather. The info I have list his parents as Oliver Besley (Born in Lowman NY) and mother as Eleanor Stage. He served in Co B 107th NY Inf. & honorably discharged in 1862. John & Anna's children: Jesse, Silas, Willis, John, Kitty Mae, Mary Anna, Edwin, Katherine (My G Grandmother), George, Clarence,& Stephen.
I have more info if interested. Would love more info on John's parents.

Pam, My husband is descended from John Besley Stage through his son Willis. Do you know why there was the name change? Are Florence Stage and Eleanor Stage the same person? Also, did you know that Jessie's son, Rodney, changed his name to Stedge? Interested in sharing information with you.

Eleanor Stage who married Besley from Lowman was also from the Lowman area. (Actually they were from Baldwin I think. Eleanor I beleive was the daughter of John. Was her Husband not a cripple and left her with many children. And yes They did change from Stage to Stedge as did my line who all descend from the same folks. Contact me at this e-mail or at oldtippecanoe@stny.rr.com and maybe we can sort out some of the real old info as I have a lot of family history on the Stages... Bob

John Besley Stage was my ggrandfather. I am trying to piece together why he changed his name. He was in the civil war twice 1st under Besley and nexy under Stage. The only member of the family that changed to Stedge was Jesse at the request of his wife Was johns' mothers name Florence or Ellenor: Would like to exchange info.
Elva