Unknown - portrait of Isaac A Buckingham

Isaac A Buckingham the attorney

Further below there is much history about the Buckingham family in America and also reference to a court case - People vs McCool.

But first some comments about the miniature portrait itself which is unsigned and the artist unidentified, even though the style seems quite distinctive.

For a period in the mid 19C highly patterned vests were fashionable for men. They are not usually included in miniature portraits because of the additional complication and work for the artist.

However, there are various examples including two in the Cincinnati Art Museum which are illustrated as items 4 and 5 in "A Perfect Likeness".

This fashionable young man sitting on a large brown sofa, seems to have a gold key on a cord hanging down the front of his vest.

This particular example looks like a watch key, but around this time many men had highly decorative stick-pins on their chests. Apart from the later fob chains which held a pocket watch, these stick pins were one of very few forms of jewellery worn by men during the 19C.

Much later they developed into what in the 20C were called tie-pins.

Although it is not 100% certain, the sitter is believed to be Isaac A Buckingham of the Buckingham family who were large landowners in central portion of Symmes Township

The 1847 published atlas map of Hamilton County lists the owner of the property shown below as A. Buckingham. See Historical Sites - The Buckingham House

Acquired with the miniature was a very interesting Memorandum booklet of about 100 pages, although about 40% are blank, inscribed in various places on the outside with the name I A Buckingham.

Isaac A Buckingham (25 Jul 1840-8 Aug 1915) who married Martha Simpkins (16 Sep 1841-1909) on 26 Jul 1862 was a lawyer in Decatur and Macon Co, Il.

The copious entries are in two distinctly different sections, one about a criminal trial at the rear, and the other being the history of the Buckingham family commencing from the front.

For the benefit is any Buckingham researchers, I have transcribed all the family history and shown it below, after the following note about the trial.

The People vs McCool
The second section commences from the rear i.e. with the book upside down and reversed. The appears to relate to a trial involving a shooting: "People vs McCool" which took place around 1910-1915.

It is not clear whether the victim died as a result of the shooting, nor whether Isaac Buckingham was the prosecuting or defending attorney in the case.

The notes refer to evidence to be given by many witnesses at the trial. There are copious notes, but they are quite hard to follow and so I have not tried to reproduce them here.

However, if there is any interest in the trial, I can try and post all the witness references as many of them are named in the notes.

If any visitor knows more about this trial, it would be nice to hear from them.

History of the Buckingham Family
The front section of the notebook about the Buckingham family and other local history is headed Jan 12, 1912 and some appears to have been copied from a local newspaper article, but with extra snippets from other sources, but some sections may be original historical comments.

Some writing is hard to interpret, but it appears to read as below. Although it is quite long, I have transcribed all the information about the Buckingham and other families mentioned, so that it is available to anyone researching the family on the Internet. In odd places the meaning is not clear, perhaps due to errors when it was copied.

An interesting fact from the note book and which I am still working through, is that Enoch Buckingham, the grandfather of Isaac, was fortunate not to be killed and scalped when he was ambushed in 1791.


The Buckinghams - Interesting History of a well known family.
Paper read at a Sunday School Convention by Mrs Dean. The following paper was read before the Symmes Township [in Hamilton, Ohio] Sunday School Convention at Camp Dennison. It is of such general interest that we are glad to give it space. Valley Enterprise, Milford Ohio. ["Valley Enterprise was a weekly, published in Milford between 1886-1920. It was an independent and general type newspaper. The Cincinnati Library and the Clermont County Genealogical Society have the only known copies.]

The name Buckingham according to Camden[?] was derived from Bucen or Becen or Beechin - beech tree and ham a village, from the number and size of beech trees. In later editions the editor makes it mean the home of deer. The crest on the family Coat of Arms is a deer or stags head. It has been a tradition in the family that their ancestor was a Welshman. But the name is evidently an old English name and we should naturally look for it somewhere in or near the County of Buckingham/ In his Anglo-Saxon Dictionary Bosworth has one mode of spelling the name Buckingham and also Buccenheim. Gorton in his Topographical Dictionary says of the name of the county "It is supposed to derive the name from the Saxon word Bucen from the great number of deer which abound in its forests." The name Buckingham as a family name is no doubt derived from the County of Buckingham in England. The Shire town of which is also Buckingham. The Duke of the name derived their title from the county. In the catalogue of Cmbridge University England are found the following names; John Buckingham Jes A M 1669, Dennis Buckingham 1763, Chandos Buckingham L L L 1819.

There seems to be a dispute as to their first arrival [in America]. It is believed by some to be a established fact that they came with the first Puritan settlers on the Mayflower in 1620 and that William Buckingham a native of England arrived in America at that time and settled in Chester, Pennsylvania where he died at an advanced age. His son John Buckingham was born in Chester County PA and removed to Newcastle County Delaware where he married. Knowing nothing do his personal character we have only to add that he died here at the age of 84.

While a book now in the possession of William Buckingham of Washington Heights on the genealogy of the family and which was 20 years being compiled claims that Thomas Buckingham who arrived in Boston June 26, 1687 was the Puritan ancestor of the American Buckinghams and that he was one of the company to which Eaton and Hopkins, two London merchants and two ministers Davenport and Purdy belonged. They sailed in two ships, the Hector, name unknown of the other and on the 30th March following 1638 the company sailed for Quinnepack now New Haven where they arrived in about a fortnight or April 1638. Here we find the name of Thomas Buckingham under the head(ing) of Names of Planters, and Division of Land according to the estate and heads in families from which it appears that he has four persons in the family and an estate of 60 pounds as the interest in the enterprise.

The only other mention of the name found in New Haven records while he remained there is the following for Feb 5, 1639. Mr Wilke is ordered to pay Thomas Buckingham five and one half bushels of Indian corn destroyed by Mr Wilke's hogs.

Thomas Buckingham was married twice. His first wife Hannah in England by whom he had five children. She died in Milford Conn. June 24, 1646. His second wife Ann made her will which was presented for probate bearing date of Milford Mar 18, 1686.

Whether the original ancestors were those of the Mayflower 1620 or the Hector 1637, either date is of sufficient age to place us as lineal descendants of the first Puritan settlers.

Be that as it may, many of the family of the country have filled honourable and important stations. Up to 1872 where this book was (?) eleven had graduated at Yale and several at other college and seminaries of the country and a large number had distinguished themselves in learned professions.

William Buckingham was Governor of Connecticut 1858-1866. A newspaper clipping at the time of his death will give you an idea of the man. He was an ardent and partisan Republican but it is only just to say of him that he strove with more success than most men to be a Christian gentleman. While unobtrusive and destitute of those qualities which are called personal magnetism, he had a reasonableness of demeanour which made him many friends - and few enemies. He had more of the element of command and none of the symptoms of greatness, but he was an honest merchant an efficient Mayor and as Governor and Senator he served those who elected him with fidelity and acceptance. The truth and beauty of these same remarks and especially this, none of the elements of command and none of the symptoms of greatness. It seems to me we can use so applicably in describing the life and character of our dear old Dr Buckingham whose death has so recently touched all of our hearts. He was the most renowned one of the name following the Governor and the only one of the present generation to whom any mark of distinction has even come. William Buckingham father of the Doctor was a veteran of the Indian Wars and fought with Wayne against the Indians at the Battle of Fallen timber. Colonel Buckingham of Wilkes-Barre Pa was the first one to put the flag upon Fort Sumpter after it was restored and a Charles Levi Buckingham was with the 146th New York Volunteers in the Battle of Wilderness as Second Lieutenant and severely wounded. After his recovery promoted to First Lieutenant shot by a rebel sharp shooter three days after joining his regiment on Welden Road Va and died three hours later. The minister spoke of him as follows; "Today we are gathered around the body of a youth who had given himself for a great cause, this is his sufficient eulogy. He took our place as our substitute, fought, and fell, and I trust that we come here today with a feeling of gratitude for what he has done for us. He has won greater fame than he could in civil pursuits for he died for his country".

Enoch Jeffrys Buckingham and his brother Levi emigrated to Ohio in the year 1790 and settled in Hamilton Co on the Little Miami River fifteen miles from Cincinnati in 1795, where they both lived until their death. The Clermont County history states that Encoh and Levi B settled there in 1794. They were both Baptist deacons of a very fervent and ardent nature. [See also Re: Enoch and Levi Buckingham tombstones- OH]

Enoch was a man of small stature, but his sons were stalwart fellows of very large physique. Enoch's children were Levi, William, Greenbrier, Mark, Horatio, John, Maria, and Elizabeth.

Levi's children were Smith Buckingham, father of Mrs John Queal (?) and grandfather of our president S.B. Queal. Maria mother Van Buren Buckingham still living at a respected old age on a portion of the family homestead and Isaac Buckingham a prominent attorney of Decatur Illinois. Two other daughters married brothers of the old pioneer family of Fletcher, several children of which unions still survive them. Another son Isaac died in his youth.

Levi's son Uncle Smith as he was known to all was a fervent Christian worker and for many years a devout member of this church right here in his home place. Levi's oldest son and first born of Enoch Buckingham was the first white child born in Ohio and when he grew to manhood had a small mill on the south side of the river, later his brother John and William bought it and moved it to the north side where they conducted a mill and distillery for a great number of years. After William died John took into partnership his two younger brothers Mark and Horatio. Later on John retired, Mark and Horatio conducted the business. Mark retired and Horatio ended it up.

Enoch Buckingham was an expert with the rifle as was also his son Enoch who was my grandfather. The story goes that on Sunday while great-grandfather was at church, grandfather purloined the coveted rifle from the accustomed place and spent the Sabbath morning shooting fish as they drifted over the ripples. Another devout old pioneer,Uncle Jerry Price(?) saw the boy's wicked conduct and immediately reported to the father who sternly commanded that every fish be thrown again into the river. But great-grandmother stood by the boy and they saved the fish. This same rifle many, many years later burst and almost killed his great-grandson, Robert Thompson who too was loading it on the Sabbath day, but he claims not for use on that day, but for some time the following week.

Another interesting account of no doubt the same rifle is given in the History of Clermont Co in regard to the killing of Covalt [Twenty-one-year-old Abraham Covalt Jr in late January 1791] by the Indians while Buckingham and others were hunting along the Little Miami. Toward noon of the first day which Buckingham, Fletcher, and Covalt started on their hunt, Covalt began to get uneasy and to urge the others to return home saying that there might be Indians about. The two told him there was no danger but this did not satisfy him. The nearer night approached the more importunate he became and the more he urged them to return, the uneasiness in Covalt mind Buckingham always viewed as an even (evil?) omen. His entreaties finally prevailed over the others and they consented to return. So they left the licke(?) in order to reach the station while it was yet daylight. Arriving opposite where Buckingham's mill stood while Covalt and Fletcher were walking close together and Buckingham about there rode behind. Suddenly three guns were fired at about twenty yards distance. Buckingham looked forward and saw Covalt and Fletcher start to run down the Miami and also saw three Indians jump over a log yelling and screaming like demons. As Buckingham started to run up the river he tried to throw off his blanket but it hung over his shoulders like a powder horn as the strap passed over his head when he tired to get it loose, it took his hat with it. He ran but a few poles then look up the hill, the river and the hill being close together. As he went up the hill he looked back several times but saw no one in pursuit. When he arrived on top of the hill he got his gun ready for the emergency, then stopped looked back and behind. While there standing he heard the Indians raise the yell down in the bottom thirty or forty rods distance. Then he knew that the Indians had caught one or both of the others.

When he knew the Indians were that distance from him, he knew he could make tracks as fast as they could follow him, so he steered over the hill and came to the Miami at what is known as Queals railroad bridge crossing. Getting to the station he found Fletcher had got there a few minutes before him. By this time it was night. Fletcher's story of the affair was that he and Covalt ran together some distance when Fletcher's feet became entangled in a grapevine and down he fell where he lay perfectly still until the Indians passed him. One passed close to him, no doubt thinking he had fallen to rise no more and they all kept on in hot pursuit of Covalt. As soon as they got out of sight, Fletcher made his escape down the river. Next morning a party of men left the station to look for Covalt. Arriving at the place they found his body, his scalp, gun, tomahawk, powder horn, blanket, and hat, knife and part fo his clothing gone and an old broken rifle (sic) left near his body. The Indian traces showed that they had crossed and recrossed at Indian Ripple, they were not raced any further.

[There is another account of this incident, with differences of detail, at A Place Called Terrace Park ]

Of all the direct descendants of Levi Buckingham, there are but fifteen grandsons, great-grandsons, and great-great-grandsons left around their old home place.

The past is the mother of the present and all that has gone before is the cause of all that is now, and it is undoubtedly a truth in philosophy that the past is the window of the present, so that it will become us once in a while to look back to the past and gather strength and encouragement for the present and we may add hope and faith for the future.

As early as 1810 John Robinson's was a preaching place and continued such until a church was built in 1817. In 1815 a church was organised at John Robinson's with the following members etc. In 1817 a log church was built on the road leading from Boston to Belfast, near the present residence of Joseph Bidett.

There is a little sketch of the Buckinghams told me by Holly R Buckingham when I visited at his home in Alto Pase, Ill.
1 William Buckingham came over with William Penn, he had a title and settled near Philadelphia.
2 William Buckingham, his son.
3 William Buckingham, his grandson settled in Washington Co Penn. He had three sons Levi, Enoch, and William. Enoch, one son named William.

These three brothers came to Columbia, Ohio. At first they lived in a hollow sycamore so that they could be near Fort Washington. These three went in a canoe up the Little Miami River. They camped near Cedar Banks. Levi shot a turkey and it fell near the camp. This was taken for an omen that that place should be their home and they obtained possession of that part of the Miami valley. The first mill was built in 1814 by Mr Waldron and he sold it to Levi Buckingham, he sold it to his nephews, sons of Enoch; William, John, and Mark Buckingham and afterwards John and Mark built a distillery.

4 William B returned to Penn, his son Levi married Margaret Black. There were two sisters of these three brothers who came from Penn. One married a Bonnell(?) father of Avon(?), George, Henry, and Moses. The other girl married a Mr Mundel(?).

South (North?) Bend on the Ohio River Dunlaps Station or Colerain on the Big Miami and Covalts Station was on the Little Miami. The stations were strong buildings of logs in the fashion of block house. The upper storey projecting over the lower storey and faced(?) with loopholes for riflemen.

On Set 22nd 1788 a large company of Kentuckians with Col. [Robert] Patterson and [John] Filson arrived on the ground and were met by Judge Symmes and Israel Ludlow chief surveyor of the Miami Association who were with Denman, came down from Levi's store. In the latter part of Jan 1789 came the floods.

Maj. Doughty with two companies under Captains Ferguson and Strong and Quartermaster Pratt companies containing a number of artificers and mechanics took possession of the ground on the Ohio immediately east of the lower flat and built Fort Washington on the second and upper bank. It was a substantial fortress of hewn timber about 180ft square with blockhouses at the four angles and two stories high.

On the 29th December Col Harmar occupied the new fort as headquarters with the larger part of his regiment, leaving two companies at Fort Harmar on Jan 2 1790 Governor St Clair (for more about him, see Visitor's Guide to St. Clair County - Illinois' First County) arrived in a tour of the French post at the west and spent three days establishing the county of Hamilton, the name of the village was changed from Losantiville to Cincinnati.

Two further expeditions were made against the Indians on the Scouls(?) in 1786 and 1790. The former by Colonel Todd and the latter by General Scott aided by Col Harmar and a party of regular troops, but without nay material result. Separate expeditions equally unimportant were conducted by General Scott and Colonel Wilkinson against the Wabash Indians in the summer of 1791. These dashes as they were called, served to show what a wild and aimless, but mutually exasperating method of warfare harried the banks of the Ohio for many years. They were not merely inconsequential, but injurious in provoking constant retaliation, inflicting injury without conquest or any actual victory over the Indians. Richard Hall served as a Captain under Colonel Wilkinson.

From Mark Buckingham's bible and copied from his father Enoch's bible is as follows: William Buckingham was born June 2nd 1734. William Buckingham was married to Jane Jones daughter of James Jones born June 28, 1744 married Dec 7, 1762. Their children were;
Enoch Buckingham b Nov 3, 1763
Levi Buckingham b May 14, 1765
Catharine Buckingham b Aug 22, 1767
John Buckingham b Jan 20, 1769
James Buckingham b Nov 16, 1770
Isaac Buckingham b April 15, 1772
Susan Buckingham b Oct 9, 1773
Hannah Buckingham b Nov 7, 1775
Esther Buckingham b Jun 17, 1777
Lydia Buckingham b May 1 1779
William Buckingham b B Feb 19, 1781
Jesse Buckingham b Feb 2, 1783
Jane Buckingham b Nov 15, 1784

From the History of Clermont Co. Ohio published 1895. In September 1800 Captain Richard Hall settled on the farm now owned by John Smith, he was a native of Penn. In 1791 he emigrated to Ohio locating at Columbia. Soon after his arrival he was made Commander of Gerard Station which office he held to the satisfaction of his comrades until after the Treaty of Greenville.

While in command of the blockhouse or station, a party of five Indians were seen prowling around the blockhouse intent on surprising some of the settlers. He took his rifle and stole out, unobserved by them, and afterwards shot one of their number, a chief of more than local reputation. Capt Richard Hall was married to Theodosia Edwards. Their children were Jackson, Richard, Lytle, Eleanor, Ruth, Isabel. It is claimed by some that he was a soldier of the Revolution, but it cannot be positively determined.

The Fletcher brothers, William, David, and Jesse settled in this township about the same time. They were natives of Penn. and came south with Captain Hall to Gerard Station in 1791 where they remained until 1801 when they settled on farms now owned by Henry Balshizer(?) and J W Robinson, of their history we have been unable to obtain any definite information. They at different periods owned and operated several distilleries and were counted good businessmen. More of their descendants are now living in the township.

John Robinson settled on a farm, now owned by Culonen(?), in 1807. He was the son of Thomas Robinson of whom we have been unable to obtain any information, suffice it to say that they were from Pennsylvania near Pittsburg. John had seven brothers and sisters viz; William, Thomas, Jane, Elizabeth, Nancy, Barbara, and Peggy. He was the founder of the Old Robinson Church and was a man noted fro his piety and zeal for the cause of the Christian religion. He was a soldier of the war of 1812 by some legal technicality, never obtained a pension. His family, though large, are nearly all dead.

As early as 1810 John Robinson's was a preaching place and continued as such until a church was built in 1817 witht he following members: John Robinson and wife, Jacob Long and wife, H Campbell, Moses Wood Sr, John Hensel, Nathan Shumard etc. In 1817 a big house was built on the road leading from Boston to Belfast near the present residence of Joseph Budsel(?). It was 20 x 30, the work was all donated, probably costing $50. It went down in 1845 ,it was the strongest church in the county in 1830, but after the churches in Boston and Mt Olive were built it began to decline in membership, a Sunday school was organised in 1825.

Ephraim Simpkins settled on a farm, now owned by his son David, in the year 1805, he is a native of Orange Co NY, he was born Mar 10, 1754. In 1804 he was married to Mary (Rebecca) Chandler who was born Mar 24, 1781. Immediately after their marriage they emigrated to Ohio, stopping for a short time at Gerard Station. Among those who came were Samuel Penn. Ephraim Simkins was the father of four children: John born Sep 29 1806, David born Dec 14 1809 who still lives on the homestead and has been one of the greatest businessmen of the township, besides carrying on various trades, he has buile more miles of turnpike than any other man in the country.

Archie(?), Phoebe, present wife of Ezra Williams of the children, all are now living, but one Archie who died in early manhood.

Ephraim Simkins was a revolutionary soldier and served under Washington at the Battles of Monmouth and Brandywine and several other minor engagements. He took an active part against the horse thieves and counterfeiters that infested Stone Lick(?) Township in 1818. He was a good friend of education and built the first school house in that part of the township.

In person, he was above the average height, well built, muscular, active and courageous, he has all the elements of a good soldier. He died greatly respected by those who knew him for his personal worth.

The Post Office at Belfast was established in 1850. Simkinsville is situated on the Milford and Wardville turnpike and was named in honor of David Simkins. It contains about 20 houses on both sides of the pike besides cooper, carpenter, and blacksmith's shops. In 1827 David Simkins built the first cooper shop and from that time up to 1860 gave employment to twenty hands on an average. He had also a black(smith's?) shop in connection with the cooper and wagon shop. In 1870 David Simkins began the distilling of apple and peach brandy.

Christian Beagle owned land in 1826, Union Township, Clermont Co. paid no personal tax in that township.

In 1832 Campbell Johnston of Scotch/Irish ancestry who had been a merchant in Cincinnati moved to the Mt Carmel neighborhood and engaged in farming, introducing many fine head of cattle. He died in 1843. His eldest son, John was in the Mexican War and is today a successful lawyer in Cincinnati. Robert, the youngest son, also became an attorney in Cincinnati in 1876 and was elected Judge of Common Pleas Court of that city discharging the duties of that office to the great satisfaction of all the bar and the people. Another Jean(?) James, after bring a merchant in the northern part of the county moved to Illinois where he is a large farmer.

William Chandler of London Grove PA, born there Mar 1, 1717, died there Feb 28, 1795 married widow Rebecca (Allen) Mode daughter of John Allen who came from Ireland in 1714 and settled in London Grove. William Chandler had five children viz; Joseph born Oct 12, 1757 died May 1815, Allen born Oct 31, 1759 died Dec 24, 1837, Thomas born Oct 27, 1761 died Jan 18, 1823. William born Dec 25, 1762 died Oct 10, 1839, Rebecca born Nov 9, 1766 died Feb 13, 1856. Phoebe Leever gave the date of Rebecca Chandler born July 30, 1760 She brought the spinning wheel from New York in 1804/05.

(He was) son of William Chandler of London Grove PA born at Greathodge(?) Eng, died in London Grove PA 1747, married on July 10 1712 to Ann Bowater daughter of John and Frances who came from Wiltshire, Eng, came to Chester PA and had more children besides William viz: Jane, Lydia, Samuel, John, Anne, Thomas, Moses, Mary, and Abm. 2nd son of George Chandler born in Wiltshire, Eng died at sea, leaving widow Jane with seven children; Jane, George, Swithin, Thomas, William, Charity, and Ann who arrived in Philadelphia in Dec 1687. They lived in a cave in the Delaware front afterwards built a home in Philadelphia, still standing.

That is the end of the information about the Buckingham family.

Since writing it I have received the following extra information from a visitor:

I found your blog and was pleased to see a cousin in miniature. The notebook is interesting as we have much better info on his ancestors. There is no PROVEN link between the "Pilgrim" Buckinghams and Isaac's family. Isaac's family descends from William Buckingham and John Buckingham. They arrived in 1682 on board the ship "AMITY", part of William Penn's fleet. The later history is more or less accurate, just a bit convoluted.

The Court Case
The book also contains a lot of information about a Court case involving a shooting, apparently the case was titled; "People v Mc Cool". It may have taken place around 1910.

The information runs to about thirty hand written pages and seems to be about the witnesses and their evidence. To date I have found no other reference to the court case. 1334
















Extra Comment
A kind visitor has sent me the three attached photographs, including images of Isaac Buckingham later in life.

Also the following comments. "I stumbled across your blog and saw an entry on a miniature of Isaac Alexander Buckingham, who was my great-great-grandfather's half-brother, Van Buren Buckingham. I thought you might be interested to see him in photographs, of which I have attached three. The earliest dates roughly to 1850 (Isaac and MVB Buckingham), with Isaac on the left. The second is from about 1860 (Isaac Alexander Buckingham) and the last is with his wife Martha and daughters Slonna and Maria. Not sure it will be possible to see the resemblance to the mimiature with all the facial hair!"

Much later:  Another kind visitor advises more information as follows:
I believe some of the information is incorrect.  I sent in a supplemental application to DAR for Ephraim Simpkins.  While DAR approved my linage, we have a disagreement regarding Ephraim’s wife.  This is what I am attempting to straighten out.

I believe that Ephraim married a Hannah Stathem on 4 May 1779 in NJ.  (there is a marriage record.) They have four daughters and possibly a son.  I descend through one of these daughters, Mary.  After a few years of marriage, Hannah deserts Ephraim, and he is left to raise the children.  He and the children leave NJ and travel to upstate NY, as proven by the 1800 US Federal Census for that county.  At this point, daughter Mary meets and marries Samuel Perin.  Again there is a marriage record.  Also, as an aside, the article that you posted incorrectly lists Mary’s husband as Samuel Penn.  I have visited the gravesite of Samuel & Mary, and am 100% sure that it is Perin, not Penn.

But back to Ephraim…  I believe at this point in NY, he meets Mary Chandler who is living with her widowed mother, Rebecca Chandler.  Because Ephraim is still legally married to Hannah, he is not free to marry Mary Chandler (which is why no one can ever locate a marriage record).  When everyone arrives in Clermont County OH in 1805, Ephraim introduces Mary Chandler as his wife, and they proceed to make a home together and have four children.  These are the ones that are listed in your blog.  In 1814 Hannah arrives on the scene, and  Ephraim then files for divorce from her, charging her with desertion and violation of their marriage vows.  She counter-sues him for divorce.  There are documents to support all of this, so I am confident of its accuracy.

I have a copy of Maria Buckingham’s DAR application from 1914.  Back then DAR was still new, and didn’t require anywhere near the documentation that is needed today.  Maria’s sources are not included, so I don’t know where she obtained her information, but it looks quite similar to what is in your blog transcription, which is why I was interested in your source.  I’m thinking that is what she may have used, although she does have some differences.  Maria states that Ephraim Simpkins was married to Rebecca Chandler, and gives Rebecca’s birthdate as 30 July 1760.  This just strains credibility , as Rebecca would be giving birth well into her 50s (daughter Phoebe was born 1814).  I think Mary Chandler is the mother of these children, and Rebecca is the grandmother.