Person of Interest ~ Anna Van Kleef

Portrait by Hans Holbein the Younger

Let's talk about Anna Van Kleef. Now the Royal Family is a subject in which I have very little interest.  Yet, Anna here is another story. Obviously I'm singling her out because of the VanCleave name connection, but she was the 4th wife of the notorious Henry VIII.

So given my very little knowledge about Anna, I'll share what I know, some of it could be fictional, since it appears historical fiction is a trend now. Browse Amazon and you'll find a few such novels about Anna herself. If I got something wrong, please politely let me know.

Anna Van Kleef, also known as Anne of Cleves, was the 4th bride of Henry the 8th. Before courting her King Henry sent the artist Hans Holbein the Younger to Germany to paint modest portraits of Anna and her sister Amalia. Based off of the portraits, Henry intended to make a decision about with sister to marry. Supposedly, Hans had an affinity for Anna and that fondness influenced the portrait. Naturally when Henry saw a magnificent portrait of Anna he selected her to be his new bride.

Unfortunately, once Henry laid eyes on Anna he lost interest. Some say he secretly spied on her and she didn't curtsy when he approached her while disguised. Henry went through with the wedding. Clearly because of political pressure between the kingdoms and the conflicted Protestant and Catholic churches. After a short time later the marriage of Anna and Henry was annulled. King Henry famously remarried of course. In fact his next wife was Anna's lady in waiting. Anna was now considered the King's Beloved Sister and lived the life of a princess. Anna outlived the other five wives of King Henry VIII.

Surnames ~ VanCleave

City and Port of Kleve, Germany circa 1895, public domain

The name VanCleave (or Van Cleave) is an Americanized version of the Dutch name Van Cleve. Other ways to spell the name include Cleve, VanCleve, Van Cleef, or Van Kleef. The name is a reference to a person from the city of Cleves (Kleve in German) located in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located just on the border between Germany and the Netherlands. The city Cleves is the capitol to the district of Cleves. The origin of the name is likely from the Middle Dutch word clef, or cliff in modern English.

Oddly enough the dialect of Dutch spoken in that region is called Cleverlander, which sounds awfully close to the U.S. city of Cleveland. Apparently, the city of Cleveland was named after some fella named Moses Cleaveland. I'm sure there's still a tiny connection there, right?

Notable VanCleave related names include...

• Aaron Van Cleave (born 1987) U.S./Canadian pair skater
• Anna Van Kleef (1515-1557) Queen of England
• Astrid Cleve (1875–1968), Swedish biologist, geologist, chemist and researcher, first woman in Sweden to obtain a doctorate in science
• Bastian Clevé (born 1950), German film director
• Benjamin Van Cleve (1773–1821), a pioneer settler of Dayton, Ohio
• Cornelius van Cleve (1520–1567), painter
• Halfdan Cleve (1879–1951), Norwegian composer
• Hendrick van Cleve III (died 1589), painter and engraver born in Antwerp
• Horatio P. Van Cleve (1809–1891), Union general in the U. S. Civil War
• Jim Van Cleve (born 1978), American musician, songwriter and producer
• John Cleve, a pseudonym of Andrew J. Offutt (born 1934), American science fiction writer
• Joos van Cleve (c. 1485–1540/41), Flemish painter, father of Cornelius
• Lee Van Cleef (1925-1989), American film Western genre actor
• Martin Van Cleve (1520–1570), Flemish painter, brother of Hendrick
• Nathan Van Cleave (1910-1970), American composer and orchestrator
• Nathan van Cleef, one of the villains of Shanghai Noon (modeled after Lee Van Cleef)
• Per Teodor Cleve (1840–1905), Swedish chemist and geologist
• Richard Cleve, Canadian computer scientist
• Rudolf Cleve (1919–1997), Luftwaffe officer of World War II
• William Van Cleave advisor to Ronald Reagan  

Kleve Germany Wikipedia Page

Van Cleef Family History Information - Geni

Maiden Name ~ Elizabeth Elrod

4GG - Elizabeth (VanCleave) Elrod 1825 to 1908

Goal: Verifying the maiden name of Elizabeth Elrod

I've also found the mother and father of Sarah (Elrod) Johnston to be a confusing bunch. Benjamin Harden Elrod and Elizabeth (VanCleave) Elrod, not only had the typical genealogical hurdles to get through, like being born prior to the more descriptive 1850's census, but they each had prior marriages and children creating many uncertainties as I tried to understand their version of the Brady Bunch.

The breakthrough for me feeling more certain about Elizabeth's maiden name was right in front of me the entire time. This news snippet from the Emporia Gazette hinted at one important fact, Elizabeth was once married to Benjamin McMullen...

"Mrs. Elizabeth Elrod died March 15, at 10 o'clock, at her home in Allen (Kansas). She was born in Kentucky in 1825. She united with the United Brethren church when a girl, and lived a faithful Christian life. She was married at the age of twenty-one to Benjamin McMullen (in Montgomery County IN). To this union five children were born, three of whom survive their mother. They are Mrs. Annetta Keller, Joseph McMullen and Martha Lewis. Her husband died years ago, leaving her with a baby six days old. Five years later Mrs. McMullen married to Benjamin H. Elrod (in Montgomery County IN). To them four children were born, all of whom survive. She leaves seven children and one sister and many grandchildren and friends. Three of her children were with her when she died, Frank Elrod and family, Samuel Elrod and Susan Bible. The other daughter, Mrs. Emma Johnston and Jeremiah Elrod and little daughter arrived for the funeral.

Source: Emporia (Kansas) Gazette, March 23, 1908, p. 6"

As I looked through Elrod's records there were many things to consider, such as Elizabeth's marriage to another man, named Benjamin, while Benjamin Elrod's name and age changed on a few censuses, and he was supposedly married to some lady named Jane Douglas. While I could not find a proper marriage record for the Elrods. So I didn't really know which one to believe. Thankfully one of the sources of my confusion was key in verifying Elizabeth's maiden name.

According to a few records Elizabeth VanCleave married Benjamin McMullen on the 10th of September, 1846 in Montgomery, Indiana. One source can be found at Family History Library, Salt Lake City, UT, microfilm 0877709.

One other hint that solidified the connection was the children from Elizabeth's union with Mr. McMullen seemed to be adopted as Elrods. One the 1850 US Census we can see the first few McMullen children: 3 y/o Ann E, 2 y/o Joseph L., and 0 y/o Morton (or Martin). On the 1860 US Census we can already see the McMullen children added to the Elrod clan. Ann (now called Anneta) is 13 y/o, Joseph is 11 y/o and Martin is now 10 y/o.

Elizabeth (VanCleave) Elrod Findagrave Memorial

Anetta (McMullen) Keller Findagrave Memorial

4GG ~ Bartlett Jefferson Wilson

4GG Bartlett Jefferson Wilson 1808 - 1867

The official first name to be added to my list of 64. Bartlett was born in 1808 in Buncombe, North Carolina to Joshua Wilson. I'm still questioning the name of the mother. Frances Garetta is a name commonly used as his mother, but the details of her marriage to a Joel Hickman leaves me with some serious doubts. Bartlett passed away January 16, 1876 in Marion, Ozark County, Missouri.

The marriage of Elizabeth Williams and Bartlett Jefferson Wilson happened on 28 Dec 1837 in Marion County, Tennessee according to U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900. Their son, John Wilson is commonly nicknamed John "Polecat" Wilson.

There is an excellent summary of Bartlett Jefferson's life written by his great-grandson William Yates on Findagrave. Which I will share with permission...

Bartlett Wilson was born in North Carolina, but by 1837 was living in Marion Co., Tenn. He married Elizabeth Williams at the home of her father, John Williams. They were married by Rev. George Walker, and two witnesses to the wedding were Franklin Drakins and Isaac Williams. Only one child, John Wilson, was born to this union. About 1858 the family moved to Missouri and settled in Marion Township in Ozark County. 

Both Bartlett Wilson and his son John served in the Civil War for the Union. On 18 October 1861 they enlisted in Company F of Phelps Missouri Infantry. While in the service, Bartlett suffered from heart disease, from which he later died. He was discharged on 12 May 1862 and returned to farming. A neighbor, James Turner, later stated that "said Wilson had a severe spell of Fever while he was in the Army, and complained a great deal from that time on til he died of smothering, and heart trouble". His widow, Elizabeth, later applied for a pension and declared that "Bartlett J. Wilson died at his home in Ozark County on January 16, 1867 of Heart and Lung disease the result of Typhoid and Pneumonia contracted in the line of duty". [Civil War Pension Application, National Archives, Washington, D.C., #WO 427331].

Bartlett Wilson appears on the census of Marion Co., Tenn. in 1840. It appears that some of his wife's family were living in his household, including her widowed mother. [p. 4] When the 1850 census was taken, the Wilson family was still residing in Marion County, and Bartlett was a farmer. [Family #923] By the time of the 1860 census, the family was settled in Ozark Co., Mo. Their post office address was "Falling Springs". [p. 61, family #402]

A little over a year after his marriage, Bartlett Wilson purchased a 50 acre farm in Marion Co., Tenn. on Sequachee Creek. He paid William Rankin $100 for the land, which was located next to his father-in-law, John Williams. [Deed Book D, p. 152]. Before his move to Missouri, Bartlett sold the land to George W. Cain for $250. The deed was made on 8 Sept 1852. [Deed Book F, p. 450]

After the move to Missouri, Bartlett Wilson obtained land in Ozark County, which in 1860 was valued at $400. In 1870 the widow, Elizabeth Wilson, was living on the farm, which was valued at $800. [1860 and 1870 Census].

According to Della Turner, Bartlett Wilson was buried in a small family graveyard on the farm in Ozark County. Two of the children of John Wilson who died young were also buried there. Aunt Della took this writer to the farm in Ozark County where the Wilsons are buried, and we visited the graves. There were no markers.

Bartlett Jefferson Wilson Findagrave Memorial

Elizabeth (Williams) Wilson Findagrave Memorial

John Wilson Findagrave Memorial

Web Curiosity ~ Van Kouwenhoven Part 1

*Warning Unchecked Online Data ~ Possible Errors

12GG*  Wolphert Gerretse Van Kouwenhoven b. abt 1584, d. 1662

Okay... I have to admit... I love all these online genealogies, but I really don't trust them. I recently posted about my uncertainty about Elizabeth Elrod's maiden name being VanCleave. Not because I have any evidence disputing that claim, I just haven't done the research. So yeah... I'm a skeptic, but I love reviewing possible connections.

Obviously, I'm sidetracking a bit since Elizabeth "VanCleave" Elrod would be a 4GG, but I can't pass up a chance to look at her great-grandparents and some bits of history associated with it.

So let's explore...

4GG Elizabeth Van Cleave - b. 17 Mar 1825, married Benjamin McMullen and later Benjamin Harden Elrod, d.  15 Mar 1908 Emporia, Lyon County, Kansas

5GG* Samuel Van Cleave - b. 18 Mar 1792 Shelbyville, Shelby County Kentucky, m. 31 Jan 1816 to Rachel Catherine Van Cleave, d. Oct 1843.

6GG* Aaron Van Cleave - b. Mar 1769 Rowan, North Carolina, m. 2 Jun 1791 to Elizabeth Griffin, d. 24 Feb 1846 at Browns Valley, Montgomery County, Indiana

7GG* John Van Cleave Sr. - b. 1739 Monmouth County, New Jersey, m. 1761 to Mary Shepherd, d. 28 May 1812 at Jefferson County, Indiana

8GG* Rachel Schenck - b. 19 Feb about 1708, m. Sep 1734 to Capt Aaron Van Cleave, d. abt 1780 at Salisbury, Rowan County, North Carolina

9GG* Jan Roelofse Schenck - b. 1 Mar 1670 Flatlands, Kings County, New York, m. 1691 to Sara Willemse Van Kouwenhoven, d. 30 Jan 1753 at Pleasant Valley, Monmouth County, New Jersey

10GG* Neeltje Gerretse Van Kouwenhoven - b.  20 Sep 1641 Flatlands, King County, New York, m. 1660 to Roelof Martense Schenck, d. abt 1672

11GG* Gerret Wolfersen Van Kouwenhoven - b. abt 1610 at Amersfoort, Utrecht, Netherlands,  m.  abt 1635 to Aeltje Cornelis Cool in Flatlands, Kings County, New York, d. abt 1648

12GG* Wolphert Gerrest Van Kouwenhoven - b. abt 1584 in Amersfoort in the Netherlands. Wolphert married Neeltgen Jacobsdochter. They immigrated to New Amsterdam in the summer of 1625. Wolphert setteled in an area of New York they called New Amersfoort, but the land would later be called Flatlands, New York. Wolphert passed in 1662.

13GG* Gerritt Jansz Couwenhoven - Father of Wolphert

Okay... I have to admit that was dense and hard to get through, but it is definitely something to thoroughly check out once I establish my goal of 64. One thing to note of this lineage there appears to be some intermarrying. First with the Van Cleaves and later with the Van Kouwenhoven and Schenck families.

 

Descendants of Wolphert Gerretse Van Kouwenhoven

Web Treasure ~ Aaltje Soelle Memoir

7GG Aaltje (Soelle) Elrod  b. 20 Oct 1724  d. 17 Sept 1804

There is a memoir of Aaltje Soelle that was transcribed by Charlotte Curlee Ramsey. It shares insight to Aaljte's Mennonite upbringing and her eventual conversion to the Lutheran Church. Among many other interesting tidbits. Highly recommended.

Aaltje Soelle Memoir

Aaltje Soelle Findagrave Memorial

Maiden Name ~ Sarah E Johnston

3GG - Sarah E (Elrod) Johnston 1861 to 1939

Goal: Verifying the maiden name of Sarah E Johnston

I have a general idea of Sarah E Johnston’s family origin. The general consensus on the internet believes she is from the Elrod family. Which I’m inclined to believe.

We do know she married Samuel N Johnston. There is a marriage index compiled by the Flint Hills Genealogical Society that lists the marriage of Sarah E. Elrod and Samuel Johnston on November 23rd 1881 in Lyon County, Kansas.

Their firstborn child would be Harvey Lloyd (or Loid) Johnston born on 28 August of 1882 in Kansas, so this marriage date seems appropriate chronologically.

In the 1880 US Federal Census we can find a 19 year old Sarah E Elrod living in Lyon County, Kansas.  Her father is listed as Benjamin H Elrod a 59 year old farmer from Indiana. He has a listed sickness which could be a tumor or possibly a tremor, I can’t make out the handwriting.

The mother of the household appears to be Elizabeth a 55 year old from Kentucky. Her parents were also from Kentucky. From what I’ve read so far online, most people believe Elizabeth’s surname is VanCleave. I have not verified this yet.

The siblings of this household are 22 y/o son Jeremiah b. Iowa, 17 y/o son Samuel L. b. Iowa, 15 y/o daughter Marjory S. b. Indiana, 12 y/o son Benjamin F. b. Iowa. The boys help on the farm according to the Occupation column.

Many of these siblings are in a similar 1870 US Federal Census including their ages and birthplaces, but the father’s name Benjamin H Elrod gets changed to David H Elrod. Which I find confusing.

Another thing I would like to verify is Sarah’s middle name. Many seem to believe it is Emma, but I can’t find any proof.

I plan on ordering a copy of the marriage certificate from Flint Hills Genealogical Society.

Update...

While reviewing the Findagrave Memorials for the family members I noticed a news snippet on Elizabeth Elrod's memorial that helps confirm Sarah's maiden name and middle name. It appears that Sarah and Majory went by their middle names.

"Mrs. Elizabeth Elrod died March 15, at 10 o'clock, at her home in Allen (Kansas). She was born in Kentucky in 1825. She united with the United Brethren church when a girl, and lived a faithful Christian life. She was married at the age of twenty-one to Benjamin McMullen (in Montgomery County IN). To this union five children were born, three of whom survive their mother. They are Mrs. Annetta Keller, Joseph McMullen and Martha Lewis. Her husband died years ago, leaving her with a baby six days old. Five years later Mrs. McMullen married to Benjamin H. Elrod (in Montgomery County IN). To them four children were born, all of whom survive. She leaves seven children and one sister and many grandchildren and friends. Three of her children were with her when she died, Frank Elrod and family, Samuel Elrod and Susan Bible. The other daughter, Mrs. Emma Johnston and Jeremiah Elrod and little daughter arrived for the funeral.

Source: Emporia (Kansas) Gazette, March 23, 1908, p. 6"

Sarah Johnston Findagrave Memorial

Samuel Nelson Johnston Findagrave Memorial

Benjamin Harden Elrod Findagrave Memorial

Elizabeth Vancleave Elrod Findagrave Memorial

Jeremiah Elrod Findagrave Memorial

Samuel Luther Elrod Findagrave Memorial

Benjamin Franklin Elrod Findagrave Memorial

Harvey L Johnston Findagrave Memorial

Flint Hills Genealogical Society