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Polly Sleesman married Robert Swift

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Polly Sleesman married Robert Swift

Posted: 16 Oct 2010 11:04AM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Sleesman Swift
A land transaction between George Swift with his wife Mahala and Peter Sleesman dated 26 December 1854 recorded, book 10, page 116, 30 march 1857, deed books, Uniontown, Fayette Co. PA.> gives us the evidence needed to show that George Swift is a heir at law of George Sleesman Sr..They are selling land to Peter Sleesman this would be George Swifts, Uncle Peter.

George Sleesman died about 1812. The orphan court records shows that he had five children who were minors. They are (in order in the record) Polly, Catharine, Lavinia, Peter and George.
These children guardians are listed as John Grindle and Ludwick Miller. April 1815 page 160.

Other land records show a Christopher Sleesman as a “heir at law of George Sleesman”. Deed book 10 page 116 (right above the record of George and Mahala Swift) selling land to his brother Peter Sleesman 2 march 1857, recorded 30 march 1857.

Another record shows Adam Ridenour and wife Hannah “heirs at law of George Sleesman” selling land to Christopher Sleesman, book Y page 4021/2 sold 12 November 1840 recorded 6 September 1841.

This gives a total of seven children for George Sleesman Sr. who died abt 1812 Fayette Co. PA..
Hannah
Christopher
Polly
Catharine
Lavinia
Peter
George


1810 Saltlick Twp, Fayette Co, PA George Sleesman
shows 6 children, 4 girls and 2 boys. George Jr. being the last one listed in the orphan court records must have been born after 1810.

Census records shows what happened to the boys.

1840 PA Census Fayette Co., Saltlick
George Sleesman
Male under 5 - 1 (Jacob)
Male 20-30 - 1 (George)
Females under 5 - 3 (Susan, Demaris, Lucy)
Female 20-30 - 1 (Priscilla)

1850 PA Census Fayette Co., Saltlick,
George Sleesman, 40, laborer, PA
Priscilla, 33, PA
Susan 14 PA
Demaris 12 PA
Lucy 11 PA
Jacob 10 PA
Isaac 9 PA
John 7 PA
Priscilla 5 PA
Catharine 3 PA
George 1 PA

1870 OH Census Defiance Co., Milford Twp., Visit 170
George Sleesman, 54, Real Estate $240, Personal Estate $500, farming, PA
Priscilla 53 PA
Simon P., 19, farm labor, OH
Wesley M. 15 OH
Mary 12 OH
Hannah E. 10 OH



Peter Sleasman
Census: 1840 Saltlick Twp, Fayette Co, PA
Census: 1850 Fayette Co, PA Living with Peter SLEESMAN in 1850 is a widow, age 73, listed as Demaris SLEESMAN.
Census: 1860 Fayette Co, PA
Census: 1880 Salt Lick Twp, Fayette Co, PA





1840 PA Census Fayette Co., Bullskin
Christopher Sleesman
Male Under 5 - 1
Males 5-10 - 2 (Joseph)
Male 10-15 - 1
Male 15-20 - 1 (Emanuel)
Male 40-50 - 1
Female 5-10 - 1
Female 10-15 - 1
Female 40-50 - 1 (Mary)

1850 PA Census Fayette Co., Bullskin, Visit 75
Christopher Sleesman, 49, farmer, Real Estate Val. $5,000, NJ
Mary, 51, NJ
Emanuel, 27, laborer, PA
Joseph, 15, PA

1860 Pa Census Fayette Co. Bullskin, page 208.


Christopher Sleesman WILL recorded April 19,1864 book 4 pages 65-67.


That brings us to the girls:

Hannah Sleesman is well documented on rootsweb and we have the land transaction to show what happened to her. Hannah Sleesman married Adam Ridenour.

Also on rootsweb you can find:

Lavinia married to a Jacob Kern
the people listing this information give no documentation

Catherine married to a John H. Miller
http:/cagleonline.com
I have not gone to this website and looked at the information

This only leaves Polly Sleesman.
I have no prove that Polly married Robert Swift other than the land record showing George and Mahala Swift selling land to Peter Sleesman as list above.

Through the process of elimination is the only way I came up with Polly being the mother of George Swift.
1. Georges’ name, I believe that he is named after his Grandfather George Sleesman Sr.

2. Mahalas’ maiden name is Ritenour and her father was Jacob Ritenour son of Adam Ridenour and his first wife. No, I do not believe it was through Mahala that they inherited the land. Reasons being is that none of Mahalas’ siblings inherited any land, or are listed as selling land as “heirs in law of George Sleesman deceased”. I do have land records showing Mahala and three of her siblings selling land they inherited from their father to their fourth sibling. Deed book 116 page 94-97, 20 Sept 1882 recorded 21 Sept 1892. Also Mahalas’ parents are still alive and listed in the 1870 census: 5 Aug 1870 PA. Fayette Co., Springfield twp. Jacob age 62 and Mary age 66.

3. Georges’ father is listed in the 1850 census then disappears, this leaves George open to inherit the land that was his mothers through her father George Sleesman Sr, remember George and Mahala sold the land in 1854.

4. Robert Swift appears to have married a second time and to have three daughters: Margaret born 1838, Hannah born 1840, and Mary born 1844.
Because George was born between 1821-1826 ( his headstone reads 1819)
I believe that these are half-sisters. I can not find records for these girls, I do not know who they married or what happened to them.
1840 PA. Fayette Co. Connellsville one male 40-50, Robert Swift age 46, one female under 5, Margaret age 2, one female 20-30, Mary age 29. 1850 PA. Fayette Co.Connellsville, Robert Swift age 56, Mary age 39, Margaret age 12, Hannah age 10, Mary age 6.
This would mean that Polly died between 1821-1837.

If anyone has anything to add please use this website so that everyone can see the discussion and join in the fun. If you would like me to email documents please ask on this website.

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