The earliest known Caswell in my direct line that is documented is Gilbert Caswell. Following is a letter I received from Eva Bachman, a descendant of Francis Marion Caswell who was the brother to my great grandfather, John Lorenzo Caswell.
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"According to research done by Noreen Haler, who is VERRRY thorough. Her answer to a query on Gilbert and Polly brought this answer. With what we know from your research THIS HAS GOT TO BE HIM--Gilbert's father that is. |
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| Following is the text from the DAR: (Daughters of the American Revolution) |
Miss Anna J. Berry. DAR ID Number: 54457 Born in Volney, N. Y. Descendant of Sergt. Gilbert Caswell, of New York. Daughter of John Berry and Louisa Sherman, his 2nd wife. Granddaughter of Jonathan Sherman and Anna Caswell, his wife. Gr-granddaughter of Gilbert Caswell and Hannah Foster, his 2nd wife. Gilbert Caswell (1755-1812) enlisted, 1775, as a private in Capt. John Marcy's company, Col. James Reed's regiment, and, 1781, as sergeant in the 8th company, 1st regiment under Col. Joseph Cilley. He was born and died in New York. |
| Miss Emma E. Crook. DAR ID Number: 59500 Born in Wayne, Pa. Descendant of Sergt. Gilbert Caswell, of New York. Daughter of John Crook and Clarissa Caswell, his wife. Granddaughter of Gilbert Caswell and Hannah Foster, his 2nd wife. Gilbert Caswell (1755-1812) enlisted, 1775, as a private in Capt. John Marcy's company, Col. James Reed's regiment, and, 1781, as sergeant in the 8th company, 1st regiment, under Col. Joseph Cilley. He was born and died in New York. |
| Mrs. Lizzie E. Berry Fish. DAR ID Number: 84301 Born in Mexico, N. Y. Wife of Harold Fish. Descendant of Sergt. Gilbert Caswell, as follows: 1. Elmer Berry (b. 1863), m. 1884, Clara Harrington (1864-98). 2. John Berry (b. 1839), m. 1862, Jane Sherman (b. 1846). 3. William Sherman (b. 1823), m. 1844, Harriet Thurlow. 4. Jonathan Sherman (1792-1863), m. 1819, Anna Caswell (1803-82). 5. Gilbert Caswell, m., 2nd, Hannah Foster (1776-1848). Gilbert Caswell (1755-1812) enlisted, 1775, as private in Capt. John Marcy's company, Col. James Reed's regiment, 1781, as sergeant in the 8th company, 1st regiment under Col. Joseph Cilley. He was born and died in New York. |
| This information comes from WFT disk #9, tree 2841. |
| Gilbert Caswell b. 1753 d. 1812 Hannah Foster b. 1776 d. 1848 Child: Anna Caswell b. January 24, 1803 m. November, 1819 to Jonathon Sherman d. October 30, 1882 Gilbert was in the Revolutionary War. He enlisted May 8, 1775 and was discharged August of 1775. Was also in war later, no details. Was in Col. Benjamin Bellows return of men -- 1777.
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I have seen all these children which are listed in Noreen Haler's work in other researcher's family trees, and I have seen the direct line from Thomas Caswell of Taunton, MA. to a Gilbert Caswell and Hannah Foster. I also have Gilbert Caswell and Polly Eggleston's family Bible and it lists Gilbert's mother as Hannah Foster but doesn't mention Gilbert as his father. The name Gilbert is carried on down through generations from Gilbert and Polly's children. Therefore, it is a good assumption that Gilbert's father was named Gilbert. Also, the two daughters of Gilbert listed in the DAR, Clarissa and Anna Caswell, are listed in the family Bible as the daughters of Hannah Foster. Having said this and giving my reasons for the oldest Caswell in my family
tree, I will continue on down my line with Gilbert Caswell and Polly Eggleston. |
Gilbert Caswell
and Polly Eggleston
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Gilbert was born on April 17, 1799 in New York. We don't know when or where he died, but there is record of him in Ionia County, MI. in the 1830's via land deeds, census, and political offices he held. His mother's name was Hannah Foster born February 29, 1776, and died in 1848. His father was Gilbert Caswell born Feb. 9, 1753 and died Nov. 10, 1812. Polly was born on October 27, 1800 in New York. She is buried in Munsell Cemetery in Livingston County, MI., next to her son, Hiram and grand-daughter, Carrie. The date of death according to the tombstone, is 1882. We don't know at this time where Gilbert was buried. |
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Together they had eleven children:
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My family line came through Asa Caswell and his wife, Mary Jane Buckley.
Back: Benjamin, Ann, Gilbert Jr
Hiram
Front: Julia and Eliza
Julia Caswell Merrell 88 yrs. old
Picture taken in Fowlerville, MI in 1923
by Fern Caswell Lincoln
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Mary Jane Buckley was born in 1841. She died on January 25, 1884 in Greenville, Montcalm Co., MI. On July 12, 1854, she married Asa Caswell, the son of Gilbert and Polly, in Otisco, Ionia Co., MI. I have no picture of Asa. Mary and Asa were my great, great grandparents. Mary's brother Lorenzo Buckley married Asa's sister, Ann Caswell, and so brothers married sisters. Lorenzo died in Keokuk, IL. from smallpox while serving in the Civil War. Asa and Mary had nine children:
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Francis Marion Caswell Clara Belle Caswell
Emma Caswell Nettie Caswell
Esther, adopted Mabel, and George Stevens
Frederick L Caswell Frederick L Caswell - child unknown
Gertrude Berry Caswell (Frederick's wife)
John Lorenzo Caswell and
Nellie Minerva Bennett
John Lorenzo and Nellie Minerva
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John was born on July 27, 1859 in Lowell, MI. to Asa Caswell and Mary Jane Buckley Caswell, and he died on July 26, 1948 in Benzie County, MI. He married Nellie Bennett on November 20, 1884 in Ovid, MI , a little town south of Elsie, MI. Nellie was born November 2, 1862 and died on November 4, 1923 in Benzie County, MI. (Nellie's Obit) John and Nellie were my great grandparents. John and Nellie had three children:
For more information on Nellie's family, go to the Sexton Family Page. |
| The picture above is the family of John Lorenzo Caswell. Left to Right: Fern, Nellie, Ina, John, and Len. Ina died from complications in child birth. |
Fern Caswell Lincoln
Ina Caswell
Len
and Alice Caswell with twins, Earl and Edwin on the right
abt 1916
Len Bennett Caswell
and Cora Alice Green
Len and Alice
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Len, sometimes Lenn or Leonard, was born on May 15, 1890 in Elsie, MI. to John and Nellie Caswell. He died on July 17, 1955 in Beulah, MI. Cora Alice Green was born on April 12, 1882 in Indiana and died January 5, 1957 in Beulah. They were married on November 12, 1913 in Benzie Co. MI. Len and Alice were my grandparents. They had four children:
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Twins: Earl and Edwin Caswell |
Arden, Mary, Edwin, Earl |
Edwin L Caswell and
Elberta Abegail
Rose Caswell
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Edwin L Caswell was the son of Len Bennett Caswell and Cora Alice Green. Edwin was born on August 13, 1914 in Benzie County, MI., died on September 28, 1990 in Beulah, MI.. Edwin and Elberta Abegail Rose were married on March 18, 1936 in Benzie County, MI.. Elberta was born on May 21, 1913 in Thompsonville, MI to Milton Rose and Emily (aka: Mildred) Clemann. They spent most of their lives living in Warren, MI where Edwin worked as a carpenter. Elberta died on December 4, of 1987 in Warren, MI. Edwin moved back to Beulah, MI where he spent the last two years of his life. Elberta had a half brother who lived in California. She only saw him one time. Edwin and Elberta are my parents. |
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Edwin and Elberta had seven children:
View
Edwin's grave site.
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