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John Middleswart (b. 03 Mar 1842, d. 05 Oct 1881)
John Middleswart (son of Moses Middleswart and Elizabeth Linscott) was born 03 Mar 1842 in Ohio, Meigs County, and died 05 Oct 1881 in Metropolis, Massac County, Illinois. He married Rebecca B Harvell on 12 Feb 1867 in Johnson County, Illinois.
Notes for John Middleswart:
(Last edited in the year 2004)
Notes for John Middleswart:
"An Anthology of the John Middleswart Family"
by Harry Middleswart
Part I--Preamble
John Middleswart, was born March 3, 1842 and died October 5, 1881. He became a
central figure to this treatise when research of the family's settlement in America began to
unfold. John's and his descendent's lineage is traced from the original immigrant, Teunis De
Nysen, who arrived in "New Amsterdam" from Holland in 1638.
Customs and social mores of the period soon took over and the name evolved to the
name "Middleswart", with spelling variations from Van Middleswarth to Middlesworth and
Middleswarth becoming the most common.. The family begin to migrate from the early
settlements in and around New York City to New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio and points further
West. This migration started prior to the Revolutionary War so these Ancestors had to contend
with not only the political climate of the War, but with the adversities of pioneering and settling
the frontiers dominated by native Americans.
Abraham Middleswart, the fourth generation of Teunis De Nysen, was born in New
Jersey in 1723 and is the most common ancestor of the Middleswarts in this treatise. He married
Maria Griggs from New York in November 1741. Their children, six boys and one girl, from
known bits and pieces of research, were participants in the settlements of Pennsylvania and
points west. Sons John, Henry, Moses and Jacob are some of the identified early settlers in
Pennsylvania. All had histories of community service and contributions to the development of
the places where they lived. Son John and his descendents settled in the Snyder County area of
Pennsylvania. Henry, Moses and Jacob, all Revolutionary War veterans, moved further west
and were early pioneers of the Pittsburgh area in the years prior to 1800.
Son Moses, born in 1757, and his wife Elizabeth Clark, lived and died in the Pittsburgh
area. The other sons of Abraham, Henry and Jacob moved on to the area of Washington and
Meigs counties in Ohio. Moses and Elizabeth had ten known children, among which was a son
also named Moses born in 1805. Moses, "Jr" apparently moved from the Pittsburgh area after
his father died c.a. 1830-1835. This move was probably motivated by his Uncles, Henry and
Jacob's, earlier move to the Ohio area.
It was here that Moses met and married Elizabeth Linscott on July 14, 1836. Of the
seven children born into this family, only John, born in 1842 and a brother William Henry, born
in 1854 have been currently identified or documented as surviving another generation. John's
father apparently died c.a. 1854-1860 while living in the Meigs County Ohio area. He, his
mother, Elizabeth and brother William Henry continued living in Meigs County Ohio, according
to the 1860 Ohio Meigs County Census record until John enlisted to serve in the Civil War.
(The above story of the family is compiled from various sources, including Census Records,
Marriage and Death Records, Internet Web searches and generous input from other
Middleswart Cousins interested in the Middleswart genealogy)
"An Anthology of the John Middleswart Family"
by Harry Middleswart
Part II--Military Service
John enlisted December 16, 1861 as a Private in Co. G, of the 63rd Regiment, Ohio
Volunteer Infantry at Marietta, Ohio for his Civil War Service, After enlisting, his Mother
Elizabeth and his brother William Henry moved to the southern part of Illinois where Elizabeth
remarried a John Palmer on August 5, 1863, whom she had know in southern Ohio. His brother
apparently lived with or close to this family and later married Margaret J. Alms, July 18, 1878 in
Metropolis, Massac County Illinois.
We now again pick up the story of John's life as constructed from various records and
documents, but primarily from military service records, pension application and affidavits
associated with the pension application filed after John's death by Rebecca B. Middleswart (nee
Harvell) his surviving spouse, for herself and children.
After John enlisted he contracted measles in the camp at Marietta, Ohio. Many other
recruits also suffered from the same malady. The severity of his disease was apparently
disabling to the extent that he never fully recovered his normal health and his lungs were
damaged from the effect of the measles. During his time in the service he had to spend several
occasions in the military hospitals trying to recover his health.
During the summer of 1863, John had a short furlough from his military duties and spent
the time at his step-father's place in Kentucky and was still sickly from the effects of the
measles. His condition did not improve during the final period of his military service, which
ended when he was Mustered out with his Company at Vicksburg, Mississippi on January 17,
1865.
Part III--The Family
Shortly after returning home, he married Rebecca B. Harvell in Johnson County, Illinois
on February 12, 1867 at the home of his step-father, John Palmer and worked for a period of
time with his step-father, as a "cooper", whenever his health would permit.
Children of their 14 year marriage were, Charles Edgar, b. November 29, 1867; William
Henry, b. October 11, 1869, d. July 21, 1946; Mary E, b. March 20, 1872; Martha (Mattie), b.
August 19, 1874; and Anna, b. March 8, 1876, d. July 8, 1884. "Edgar", Willliam and Mary had
known marriages. Martha's status is unknown and Anna died at age eight, as indicated.
John died October 5, 1881 without regaining his health. Rebecca lived 59 years and died
June 26, 1900.
May their souls be in peace!
"An Anthology of the John Middleswart Family"
by Harry Middleswart
Part IV--Epilogue
John's military service records are on file at the National Archives in Washington, D.C..
Pension application, Military Service Records and numerous Affidavits supporting Rebecca's
efforts to secure a Widows Pension are part of the items in his file. An $8.00 per month pension
was granted to Rebecca with a supplement of $2.00 per month for each child until they reached
the age of sixteen.
While all dates and places have not yet been confirmed, most records indicate the family
lived in southern Illinois in Johnson and Massac counties or in Ballard County Kentucky. It is
presupposed the area around the cities of Vienna and Metropolis in Illlinois and Paducah,
Kentucy are the most probable burial locations for the family where actual locations have not
been identified.
The brevity of this treatise should be recognized as only the highlights of what
information has been recorded by the author. Many of the details and nuances of this
genealogical story are too voluminous to be related in this narrative form. Lineage Charts have
additional personages that are part of the "Middleswart" heritage and shed additional wisdom to
what has been accumulated and recorded.
Please recognize the documentation of names, dates, events, relationships continue be
fluid and subject to correction and change as the "truth" becomes known. (Author)
More About John Middleswart:
Census: 1850, Ohio, Meigs County.
Military service 1: 16 Dec 1861, Enlisted Co. G 63rd Ohio Vol. Inf. Reg't, at Marietta, Ohio.
Military service 2: 02 Jan 1863, Discharged to enlist in Co. B. Miss. Marine Brigade.
Military service 3: 03 Jan 1863, Mustered in Co. B. Miss. Marine Brigade.
Military service 4: 17 Jan 1865, Mustered out with Co. at Vicksburg, Miss.
Occupation: Cooper.
More About John Middleswart and Rebecca B Harvell:
Marriage: 12 Feb 1867, Johnson County, Illinois.
Marriage Notes for John Middleswart and Rebecca B Harvell:
Certificate of Record of Marriage attested to by Jas. W. Gore, Clerk of the County Court, Vienna, Johnson County, Illinois on November 7, 1885 showed John MIddleswart and Miss Rebecca B Harvel was married in said County on the 12th day of February 1867 by Jas N Hogg, a M. G. This date is in conflict with the Family Record date of 11 February 1867 that was noted by R. C. Whiteside, a Justice of the Peace for Ballard County, Kentucky who stated "The foregoing is a true copy of the family record of John MIddleswarth (deceased) made by me this July the 8th 1885."
Children of John Middleswart and Rebecca B Harvell are:
- +Charles Edgar Middleswart, b. 29 Nov 1867, Johnson County Illinois, d. date unknown, ?.
- +William H Middleswart, b. 11 Oct 1869, Vienna, Johnson County, Illinois, d. 21 Jul 1946, San Diego, California.
- Mary E Middleswart, b. 20 Mar 1872, Kentucky.
- Martha (Mattie) J Middleswart, b. 19 Aug 1874, Illinois.
- M Anna Middleswart, b. 08 Mar 1876, Illinois, d. 08 Jul 1884, Ballard County, Kentucky.
- +John Logan Harvell, S.S., b. 22 Apr 1862, Illinois, d. 12 Jan 1941, Bandana, Ballard County, Kentucky.

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