Nancy Birge was married to Joseph Bilyeu (b. 1765). I'm looking for leads on Nancy's siblings, parents, and further lineage.

Have yoiu found anything yet?

Some say she was born in Vt, others say she was b. in Mass.

It seems to me that she was born in NJ:
In the name of God Amen. I, John Burdge of Howell in the County of Monmouth and the State of New Jersey, being of sound mind and memory revoking all others/ do make and ordain and publish this as my Testament and last will. ***daughters Mary M. Maxson, Phebe Errickson, Lydia Parker, Sarah Dickinson, Nancy Bilyeu, Deborah Lippincott, Hannah Van Note. [Also names wife Mary & sons, Joseph, Jonathan, William, John.]

This is good information for Nancy. I believe the reason for some to think she might be from VT was because there were other Birge's in Bond Co., IL that came from VT.. In the VT family there so far was no indication that there was a Nancy born in that family.

What is the date of the Will?

How do you & others come to the conclusion that her maiden name was BIRGE?

Are there death, bible or other records for that?

Apparently her husband Joseph BILYEU, was born in NJ. Do you know the source for that info?

Is there any local history that talks about the BILYEU family. Certianly Joseph was an early Illinois pioneer. Joseph is in the 1818 census for Washington Co, Ill & 1820 census for Bond Co.

It certianly seems logical since so many BILYEUs were in NJ in the 1700s. Also, their 1st three children were born in NJ, according to 1850 census. This all seems to strongly suggest that Nancy was born in NJ. The will of John BURDGE shows there was a Nancy BILYEU from NJ, fitting the right time frame.

If the tree of the BIRGEs from Vt does not have a Nancy, then the NJ line seems most likely. Wasn't Nancy just as old as the oldest Vt BIRGE that was in early Bond Co? If that is the case, then it seems more likely that she would come to Bond Co with a husband rather than parents or brothers. While the marriage record for Nancy has not yet been found, NJ seems most likely.

What do you think?

Will of "John BURDGE, Sr" dated 9 Jul 1821, Howell Twp, Monmouth Co, NJ, entered for probate on 18 Mar 1830, at Freehold, Monmouth Co NJ. Packet # 9878; NJ Archives - Monmouth Co Wills, Roll# 982

To answer some of your questions:
"How do you & others come to the conclusion that her maiden name was BIRGE? "

I haven't come to that conclusion. Another researcher was tracing her into Illinois so not sure which record had her maiden name as BIRGE. But one must remember that back then they spelled names many ways. So using soundex.. the surname would be spelled Burge, BIRGE, Berge, Burdge, Burdg, Byrge, berg, burgh, and many other variations. Even Burdge was spelled Burge in Monmouth County, NJ.

In my opinion she was of NJ and not VT based on no records so far to say there was a Nancy BIRGE in VT. The BIRGE family that went to VT was David and Abigail Howland BIRGE. David married Abigail in 1778 so after this Nancy was supposedly born by about 1775. At least you have one record to point to a Nancy Bilyeu in that timeframe. So what's the likelyhood that there were two Nancy's that married a Bilyeu?

Your last question is my point exactly. What are the odds that 2 different Nancy's, with similar surnames, one from NJ and one from VT:
- Married a BILYEU in the late 1700s
- and, both of their husbands were born in NJ in the mid-1700s

That is why I would really like to find the source for the report that Nancy (of Bond Co, Illinois) had maiden name of BIRGE. It seems to me that if we can confirm with sources that her maiden name was BIRGE (or similar), then the will of John is strong evidence that it is the same person.

Other help would be evvidence that other NJ families came to Bond Co, Illinois at about the same time with Joseph & Nancy BILYEU. I do not know the source for the story that Joseph & Nancy arrivedearly in Bond Co, were run out by Indians, went to Tn, returned to Illinois a few years later.

Thank you so much for your replies. Due to grad school and other family lines, I have not been able to work on this line of the family since my last posting. I will keep your emails, and feel free to keep mine, and I will contact both of you when I am able to pick up my research again. Thanks!
Erin

In a couple of the Histories of Counties in Ohio, it does mention that many of the frontier families after 1788 Or earlier, had to leave the area and retreat over toKY or back to their home from which they came, NJ or MD or ? One to get more reinforcements to the area, troops, meaning, and then once hostilities were put down, they then returned with their families.

A John MILLS, of Course, John, way too many of them, was also one of those people. He was first settler of Eaton Preble Co. OH. and did go back and forth to IN IL OH several times. Mostly looking for better land, and also being chased out because of the Indians, French or whatever were fighting at the time.

Possibly your stories about such things on the frontier were also documented in some of the Histories of Various counties in Illinois as well as in Indiana.

probably by now, most of these can be found at your local nearest LDS Family History Library center, and rented from microfilm for permanent loan. And or also on the internet, through the US GENWEB sites.

Best always.
Pat
cw

I am very new at family research. I saw your posting. I am oridginally from Monmouth County, NJ - my mother was a Burdge. I think have some information on the Jonathan (John) Burdge that you mention. If you would like to have what I have, let me know.

Thank you.