Weston Wagons West: Md to Iowa Kinnick Migration, J1-20 (1640-1919)

By Dr. Bill Smith

This eBook compiles the Jx series of Weston Wagons West series of fictional stories about the James Weston family that parallels and chronicles the Kinnick and related Triplett, Brightwell and other families in their westward migration from Maryland, to Ohio, to Illinois, and some of them end up in Iowa. The Kinnick family are a maternal ancestral line of the author of these stories. Actual family history research is the basis of the ancestral stories used here fictitiously. Historical events are recorded as nearly as possible to known historical documentation available to the author at the time of the writing. Events include service in the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and service in the Civil War, among others.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jun 29, 2015
• ISBN: 9781329290778

Book preview

Weston Wagons West: Md to Iowa Kinnick Migration, J1-20 (1640-1919)

Weston Wagons West: Md to Iowa Kinnick Migration, J1-20 (1640-1919)

William Leverne Smith aka Dr. Bill

Weston Wagons West: Md to Iowa Kinnick Migration, J1-20 (1640-1919)

Copyright 2015 William Leverne Smith aka Dr. Bill

ISBN #: 978-1-329-29077-8

The cover image is in the Public Domain.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:St_Marys_City_Historic_District_Dove_Jul_09.JPG

Preface

This ebook is a compilation of the first 20 episodes of the James Weston stories (Episodes J1-20) of the Weston Wagons West series first published at:

http://drbill-wml-smith.hubpages.com/

These stories also follow the Kinnick family from Maryland to Ohio to Illinois and subsequently to Iowa.

James Weston was one of the three original fictional brothers to migrate from England to the new world. James sailed to Maryland in 1640. There he became acquainted with Richard Brightwell, an ancestor of the author, used fictitiously in these stories. Each ancestor, or related historical figure, in these stories is portrayed as accurately as possible based on the family history research available at the time of writing.

Each episode (or chapter) in this series is about 1,200 words so that they may be read with only a short time commitment, but, we hope, will allow you to learn about the characters and learn to love them. We hope you will want to read more about them and the neighbors with whom they interact.

Each member of the Weston family, including marriage partners and children, are fictional. All other named persons are actual historical figures used here fictitiously but based on all known historical facts found in the records to the date of first writing.

Stop by the HubPages site for the latest episodes: http://drbill-wml-smith.hubpages.com/

Your comments and suggestions are always appreciated.

You can also visit William Leverne Smith on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/William-Leverne-Smith/100836503289407

For the author’s current and ongoing comments on his ancestors see: http://drbilltellsancestorstories.blogspot.com/

Episode J1 - James Weston sailed for Maryland to seek his fortune

James in England

James was the third son of the English Weston family, noted for manufacture of wagons and raising and breeding horses that pulled them. James was trained as a farrier, but worked for a couple of years in the family business before making the decision to seek his fortune in the New World in the Maryland colony of Lord Baltimore. James realized that as a third son, he had no opportunity of advancement in the family business in England, but believed the American colonies offered at least a chance in that direction. As third son, James had been named for his father, and held a special place in the heart of the older man. James, the elder, appreciated the spirit his third son demonstrated and agreed to support the passage to America of both his son and his party as a gift.

So, at age 24, in the spring of 1640, young James Weston boarded the ship, Ark II, bound for the Maryland colony. Since he had, under the law, paid his own passage, on arrival, he would be entitled to 100 acres of land. Also fully paid, making him eligible for 200 additional acres, as part of his party, were apprentice wheelwright Bruce Bourne and his wife, Jane, as indentured servants. The couple would serve James for seven years and then earn their freedom and 50 acres of their own. The adults were each required to take with them the supplies, tools, and provisions for their first year in the colony.

Each male passenger was allowed to take two horses. Since Bruce Bourne had no horses and James had several, James chose to take one stallion he had recently purchased and three brood mares from his herd. The rest of his herd he left with his sister and her husband, who were considering a trip to Maryland in the future, as well. Weston family tradition was that each son, on reaching the age of 14, and being in good stead with his father, was given 2 horses. They came as both an asset from the family and a large responsibility for the young man. Assuming he continued to meet all of his personal and family responsibilities, the son also received 2 additional horses when he turned 16. He was expected to care for, train, and breed the horses so as to build a herd for his adult life. James had been successful in that pursuit.

Passage across the Atlantic

The average passage time to America was about four months, depending largely on the weather, of course. James could have spent much of his travel time on the upper deck socializing, but his singular focus was on arriving in the colony with his horses intact. And, in spending time with his horses, he met and spent time with the others on the ship who were also transporting horses. He offered to use his farrier skills to care for the horses of others, when conditions allowed.

While James had initially apprenticed as a blacksmith, as a youth, he soon realized that the relationship with horses was his true calling. Becoming a farrier, he maintained his blacksmithing skills, but added general care of horses including medicine and related techniques.

James had taken two years to become familiar with the family wagon business. Could that really have been five years ago now, he wondered. During that time, he realized that was not for him, but he used the time to learn as much about the business as possible. While there, he also met, and befriended the young Bruce Bourne. Their difference in social class should have kept them apart, but their adventurous individual personalities drew them together. It was from this interaction that the concept of going to America together took root and blossomed into reality. James had planned and plotted carefully to achieve this outcome. Now, he had the obligation to give all he had to make it work.

Bruce and Jane had wed with the new year, a few months earlier. Even with the conditions on the servant deck, they were enjoying spending this time together. Bruce and James had agreed that Bruce would use some of his time to meet as many different people around him as he and Jane comfortably could. They realized that, with still relatively few people in the colony, some of these folks, even in the servant class, in the future, would be neighbors, and some could become leaders. Knowing people and having positive relations with them, would be good for business, and, would be good for social relationships as the new colony grew, as well.

Arrival at St. Mary's City

With no serious incidents at sea on this voyage, the Ark II sailed into Chesapeake Bay and headed for the St. Mary's River, off the Potomac, to make landfall at St. Mary's City. St. Mary's City was the first in the Maryland colony, settled in 1834, under the 2nd Lord Baltimore, Ceciius Calvert, 1st Proprietor of the Maryland colony. The Ark II was the fourth vessel to arrive in this season,