Allen Family History

Sources of Information: 1. Paul J. Lareau, “Our English Lines - Morse,” Ancestry World Tree (Provo, Utah: MyFamily.com), updated 9 July 2003, accessed at www.ancestry.com http://www.ancestry.com on 1/29/04. Pedigree of Luther Bass, born 15 February 1773 in Ashfield, Franklin, MA, back to John Bass, born 26 March 1675 in Braintree, Norfolk, MA.

Notes:

ROBERT ALLEN RESEARCH REPORT

[bass012904 / 0346] 18 February 2004

The objective of this research project was to identify as many new ancestors as possible of Calista (Bass) Allen. According to previous research she was born 22 May 1812 at Ashford, Windham County, Connecticut to Luther Bass and Charlotte Rawson. She married Ira Allen on 23 November 1834 at Ashford. They had eight children. She died 12 January 1863 at Hyrum, Cache County, Utah. Calista Bass's paternal ancestry was located and copied from the Ancestry World Tree [document #1-18]. This extended the Bass line back six generations from Calista to Thomas Bass, born 1635 in Roxbury, Suffolk, Massachusetts. The Woodward line was extended back nine generations to William Woodward, born 1559 in Ipswich, Suffolk, England. The Meacham line was extended back eight generations to Thomas Meacham, born about 1541. The Brown line was extended back nine generations to Thomas Brown, born about 1550. All of these pedigree extensions should be verified with at least one linking document per generation. Calista Bass's maternal grandfather was Joseph Rawson, born 5 September 1746 at Rehoboth, Massachusetts. Many generations of his ancestry were identified during the previous research project. Calista's maternal grandmother was Rhoda Gough, born about 1754. Several large genealogical databases, namely the Ancestral File, Pedigree Resource File, and Ancestry World Tree, were consulted for any additional information on Rhoda Gough or her ancestors. None of these databases, which combined contain billions of names, listed any further clues. The Family History Library has many publications and manuscripts containing genealogical information about the Gough/Goff lines. The relevant ones were examined for any reference to Joseph and Rhoda (Gough) Rawson. These included: History of 316 Years of the Goffee-Goff-Combs Clan; Out Children's Ancestry, Containing Goff-Kavanagh History; Goffs/Goughs, Their Ancestors & Descendants; Goff Family Notes; and Goff: Ancestry Records. None of these publications contained any information about Joseph and Rhoda. To find documentary evidence linking Calista Bass to her grandmother, Rhoda (Gough) Rawson, and other ancestors from that generation, the Probate Records of the County of Worcester, Massachusetts, from July 12, 1731 to January 1, 1820 and Abstracts of Bristol County, Massachusetts, Probate Records were consulted. The names of Samuel and Hannah (Woodward) Bass, Luther and Charlotte (Rawson) Bass, and Joseph and Rhoda (Gough) Rawson were not listed. The comprehensive and monumental publication The Rawson Family: A Revised Memoir of Edward Rawson, Secretary of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay From 1650 to 1686: With Genealogical Notices of His Descendants, Including Nine Generations by Ellery B. Crane, published in 1875, provided the following abstract about Joseph and Rhoda (Gough) Rawson: Joseph Rawson5 (John4, John3, Grindal2, Edward1), married Rhoda Gough (or Goff). He was a blacksmith by trade; also carried on farming; died at Oxford (South Gore), 29 November 1810. She died about 1815.

This book could be used to complete the Rawson family groups with collateral family members if so desired. Although this publication is not documented, the clues found therein will be useful when searching for original records. Joseph and Rhoda (Gough) Rawson's death records were not found in the Vital Records Of Oxford, Massachusetts, To The End Of The Year 1849, but the marriage entry for their daughter was noted and abstracted as follows [document #19-20]: 25 February 1808: On this date Luther Bass of Ashford, Connecticut, and Charlotte Rauson were married in Oxford, Worcester County, Massachusetts.

This marriage entry corrects the Ancestral File information, which shows they were married at Ashford, Windham County, Connecticut, rather than Oxford, Worcester County, Massachusetts. Several Ancestry.com databases were consulted for any information about Joseph and Rhoda (Gough) Rawson. These included: Worcester, Massachusetts, Burials, 1727-1859, which did not have a listing for either of them; Worcester County, Massachusetts, Probate Index, Vol. 1 & 2 A-Z, July 1731-1881, which listed a will for Joseph, dated 1811, at Oxford; and Rehoboth, Massachusetts, Vital Records, 1642-1896, which contained their 22 November 1769 marriage entry. While searching for Joseph and Rhoda (Gough) Rawson's marriage record, the marriage record of Joseph's parents was also noticed in the Rehoboth vital records and both records were abstracted below [document #21-22]: 2 December 1742: John Rawson, of Bridgewater, and Mary Smith, of Rehoboth, were married by Rev. John Greenwood.

22 November 1769: Joseph Rawson and Rhoda Goff, both of Rehoboth, were married by Thomas Bowen, Esquire.

Joseph Rawson's probate records were located in Worcester County documents and abstracted as follows: 9 May 1805: Joseph Rawson of Oxford South Gore, in the County of Worcester, Commonwealth of Massachusetts recorded his last will and testament. Mentioned were his wife, Rhoda; sons, Joseph and Dexter; daughters, Polly Rawson and Charlotte Rawson; grandsons (sons of Joseph), Jonathan Rawson and Cyrel Rawson; granddaughter, Cinthia Rawson. Joseph and Dexter Rawson were executors. Joseph Rawson signed his name. Witnessed by Edward Goddard, Ebenezer Emerson, and Marvin Brown.

29 November 1810: Joseph Rawson wrote a codicil to his original will and signed with an X. Witnessed by Tim Lamson, Philip Brown, Ephraim Kingsbury. 1 January 1811: Last will and codicil proven [documents #23-26].

10 January 1811: Joseph Rawson, Polly Rawson, Charlotte Bass, and Luther Bass, release their right, title, interest, and benefits in the personal estate of Joseph Rawson to Dexter Rawson. Signed by all the parties. Witnessed by Jesse Davis, Joseph Rockwood, Sally Rawson, Asa Streeter Jr., Wm Walker, Zermiah Bass [document #27].

Joseph Rawson's will combined with the release of right to Dexter Rawson for Joseph Rawson's personal estate by Charlotte and Luther Bass provides adequate evidence for linking Charlotte (Rawson) Bass to her parents, Joseph and Rhoda (Gough) Rawson. In addition, the birth entries for Charlotte and her brother, Dexter, were found in Massachusetts Town Birth Records, which showed the following [document #28]: 30 December 1776: Charlotte Rawson was born in Dudley to Joseph and Rhoda Rawson. 9 May 1779: Dexter Rawson was born in Dudley to Joseph and Rhoda Rawson.

The following Bass births were found in Ashford, Connecticut, Record of Births, Marriage, and Deaths, 1675-1849. Although the document did not copy well, the children's names were legible when viewed with the microfilm reader [document #29]: 6 Oct 1771: Trifowe Bass, daughter to Samuel by Hannah, his wife. 15 Feb 1773: Luther Bass, son to Samuel by Hannah, his wife. 27 Feb 1775: Eunis Bass, daughter to Samuel by Hannah. 29 Mar 1777: Mulicint Bass, daughter to Samuel by Hannah. 9 Apr 1779: Lavel Bass, son to Samuel by Hannah. 29 Mar 1781: Mary Bass, daughter to Samuel by Hannah. 27 Jan 1783: Enoch Bass, son to Samuel by Hannah. 31 Oct 1785: David and Jonathan, sons to Samuel by Hannah. 2 Nov 1787: Samuel Bass, son to Samuel by Hannah. 25 Mar 1800: Saul Bass, son to Samuel, deceased. 11 June 1800: Jemima Bass, daughter to Samuel, deceased

Son Lavel may be the son who died in 1800, more clearly identified as Saul. Daughter Jemima was likely born before 1771 or after 1787. Samuel and Hannah (Woodward) Bass were allegedly married 2 October 1766, yet their first child recorded at Ashford was not born until 1771. Additional research should be conducted into the lives of Samuel and Hannah to determine if they were married in Wenham, Essex County, Massachusetts, where they were both born, and if they had children between 1766 and 1771. The Ashford, Connecticut, Vital Statistics, 1770-1884 revealed the following about the Luther and Charlotte (Rawson) Bass family. Once again, the document did not copy well [document #30]: Luther Bass and Charlotte Rawson, joined in marriage, Feb 25th, 1808. Hannah Woodward, daughter to Luther Bass by Charlotte, his wife, born June 12, 1809. Calista, daughter to Luther Bass by Charlotte his wife, born May 22, 1811. Otis Rawson, son to Luther Bass by Charlotte, his wife, born June 21st, 1814

It is not known why this record implied Luther Bass and Charlotte Rawson were married at Ashford, when their marriage was recorded at Oxford, Worcester County, Massachusetts. Perhaps they had the marriage registered in both places because Luther was from Ashford and Charlotte from Oxford at the time of their marriage. Also, in this record, Calista Bass's birth year clearly showed 1811 rather than 1812. Conclusion The information found during this research project has sufficiently linked Calista Bass to both her paternal and maternal grandparents. In addition, many lines were extended for several generations using secondary sources. The following searches should be conducted during the next research project: The comprehensive and monumental publication The Rawson Family: A Revised Memoir of Edward Rawson, Secretary of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay From 1650 to 1686: With Genealogical Notices of His Descendants, Including Nine Generations by Ellery B. Crane, published in 1875, as well as other books written by Ellery B. Crane, can be used to complete the Rawson family group sheets with collateral family members if so desired. Although this publication is not documented the clues found therein will be useful when searching for original records.

Additional research should be conducted into the lives of Samuel and Hannah (Woodward) Bass to determine if they were married 2 October 1766, in their birthplace of Wenham, Essex County, Massachusetts, and if they had children there between 1766 and 1771.

The vital records of Rehoboth, Bristol County, Massachusetts, contained numerous Goff entries; however, Rhoda was not listed. All the Goff probate records for Bristol County should be examined for clues to the parentage of Rhoda Gough.

Examination of pertinent Connecticut and Massachusetts vital, town, probate, land, and church records should yield sufficient evidence to link additional generations.

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