Proving Myself

With the exception of my mother’s more recent German ancestry, most of my lines of descent are rooted in 17th century America. Since my people have been here from the beginning of America as we know it today, I have a decent number of ancestors who fought for our independence in the Revolutionary War. Because of this, I have toyed with the idea of trying to join Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). After all, I don’t get out much, and despite my agoraphobia, I like the idea of being involved in my community.

In the past, I have volunteered with a local food bank, hospice, and Family History Center. I enjoyed my time with all three, and maybe it’s time to get involved in something again. DAR is “dedicated to promoting historic preservation, education, patriotism and honoring the patriots of the Revolutionary War,” which all sounds interesting enough. However, it will be challenging to motivate me to actually move forward with this due to my agoraphobia. There’s also the uphill struggle of proving I belong.

DAR is open to “any woman 18 years or older who can prove lineal, bloodline descent from an ancestor who aided in achieving American independence is eligible to join the DAR. She must provide documentation for each statement of birth, marriage and death, as well as of the Revolutionary War service of her Patriot ancestor.” So far, I can check off one requirement; I am definitely 18 years or older.”

The first thing I’d have to do is figure out which Revolutionary War ancestor I should choose. It has to be someone I can prove that I’m descended from, which is no small feat. DAR’s burden of proof is much more stringent than my own. While I have performed enough research on these men to say, yes, I am most likely related to them, that’s a far cry from finding the specific documentation required to unequivocally prove my lineage. After all, the further back you go, the less likely you are going to find vital records that prove births, marriages, and deaths.

Upon weighing my options, I believe I have identified the best candidate—my fifth great-grandfather, William Abbe. I have checked the DAR database, and it turns out he’s already been proven, which is good news. Now there’s just the small matter of proving my link to him.

I’m going to take the time to go over my “proofs.” I use quotation marks because some of my sources are compiled genealogies, which are secondary sources that may or may not be entirely accurate. However, I do have secondary sources that corroborate other secondary sources, so maybe that counts for something?

Generation Eight

Me: private

Proofs: birth certificate, marriage certificate

Generation Seven

Dad: private

Proofs: death certificate

Generation six

Grandma: private

Proofs: death certificate

generation 5

Pearl Emmert, daughter of Charles Emmert and Ada Call, was born on 1 Apr 1882 in Elba Township, Gratiot, Michigan and died on 22 Feb 1959 in Ovid, Clinton, Michigan.

Proofs: death certificate 

generation four

Ada Call, daughter of William Call and Sarah “Sally” Curtis, was born on 4 Apr 1858 in Gratiot County, Michigan and died on 05 Dec 1926 in Elsie, Clinton, Michigan.

Proofs: 

1. death certificate
2. page 213 of Portrait and biographical album of Clinton and Shiawassee counties, Mich., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, together with portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States, and governors of the state by Chapman Brothers, which is an excerpt from a biography about William Call, which states that:
   • William Call was married to “Sarah A. Curtis” on 10 Jun 1853; and Sarah is the daughter of “Bradley B. Curtis and Lydia (Abba) Curtis”; and
   • William and Sarah had the following children:
     • Ada, b. 4 Apr 1858, who was married to Charles Emmert,
     • Charles H, born 24 Jul 1864,
     • Edward, born 8 Mar 1868,
     • Nettie, born 4 Apr 1872, and
     • Mabel, born 20 Jul 1879

Generation three

Sarah “Sally” Curtis, daughter of Bradley Curtis and Lydia Abbe, was born on 5 May 1835 in Gratiot County, Michigan and died on 7 September 1911 in Fairfield Township, Shiawassee, Michigan. 

Proofs: 

1. Death certificate, which states that Bradley Curtis is Sarah Curtis’ father, and shows that she died near Elsie, Michigan.
2. Page 211 from “Genealogy of the Curtiss-Curtis Family of Stratford, Connecticut: A Supplement to the 1903 Edition (1953)” by Harlow Dunham Curtis, which states that:
   • Bradley Curtis married “Lydia _____”; and
   • together they had a daughter named “Sally” who was born on 5 May 1835; and
   • who married William Call; and
   • that “Sally” and William removed to Elsie, Michigan; and
   • had “three daughters named Addie, Nettie, and Mabel.”
3. An excerpt from pages 79-80 from “Abbe-Abbey Genealogy : In Memory of John Abbe and His Descendants” by Cleveland Abbe and Josephine Genung Nichols that states:
   • William Abbe was born on 14 Apr 1758 in Mansfield, Tolland, Connecticut to Gideon Abbe and Bathsheba Smith, and William died on 6 Aug 1833 in Hall’s Corner (now Navarino), Onondaga, New York; and
   • William married Lydia Hall on 5 Jun 1777 in Mansfield, Tolland, Connecticut; and
   • they had a daughter named Lydia Abbe, who was born circa 1800 and married a “_____ Curtis”;
   • Lydia Abbe and “_____ Curtis” had the following children:
     • Andrew
     • Lydia
     • Amanda
     • Chandler
     • Sally
   • Several census records which show that Sarah Curtis Call used the names “Sarah” and “Sally” interchangeably. [due to the number of records, I have not provided them here.]

generation two

Lydia Abbe, who was the daughter of William Abbe and Lydia Hall, was born on 4 Jun 1801. She died on 12 Jul 1837, at the age of 36 years and 28 days, and is buried at Pine Ridge Cemetery in Navarino, Onondaga County, New York.

Proofs:

1. See proofs for Sarah “Sally” Curtis;
2. Screenshot from “Find a Grave” Memorial ID: 44599877, which shows a picture of Lydia’s tombstone, lists the location of her tombstone (Onondaga County, NY), and states she is the wife of Bradley Curtis.
3. William Abbe’s 1820 Revolutionary War pension application where he mentions providing support for his daughter Lydia, age 20; and,
4. Another document from William’s pension file that refers to his 1820 pension application and his financial support of Lydia, age 20.

generation one

William Abbe, son of Gideon Abbe and Bathsheba Smith, was born on 14 Apr 1758 in Mansfield, Tolland, Connecticut, and died on 6 Aug 1833 in Hall’s Corner (now Navarino), Onondaga, New York. He served in the Revolutionary War.

Proofs: 

1. See “Daughters of the American Revolution” for information on William Abbe, ancestor number A000040

So, this is what I’ve been able to come up with so far. While I’m lacking a lot of primary sources, I believe I have a good circumstantial case. But I doubt some of my “proof” meets the DAR requirements. I must admit that this whole process reminds me of The Golden Girls episode Witness in which Blanche tries to join the Daughters of the Old South, and she discovers that she has an ancestor who was both Jewish and a Yankee. It’s hilarious when she’s reciting her lineage at the ceremony, and the women in attendance freak out. It also makes me feel a bit ridiculous to be doing this, and I’m hoping the members of my local DAR chapter aren’t like the Daughters of the Old South.😬