Pearl Settlement in the West

I am fortunate to have recently been loaned the Pearl genealogy/history written by Marian Arlene Pearl. It has been generously shared with me by Marion Emmons who is now in possession of this history of our family. In the process of copying this record I have come across many interesting tales, learned more about the history of our family from the time of John the immigrant,and I have been blessed with more insight into the lives and times of our ancestors. One of the insights I have come to appreciate is the story of the journey of Laura Shellenbarger’s family from Connecticut to the wilds of Ohio. This courageous act typifies the determination and toughness of those who choose to undertake such a dangerous journey.

Laura contacted me after discovering our blog. Her family is descended from Capt. Timothy Pearl, a son of Timothy from whom our Hampton Pearls are descended, and a half brother of James Pearl, our direct ancestor.

Linda Shellenbarger’s great-great-great grandpa, Oliver Pearl, born in Willington, CT in 1788, left Connecticut to pursue opportunities in the west. He had married Mary Sexton in 1811. Oliver was a farmer and he and Mary lived in Ellington, CT for 8 years after their marriage before “trading his farm for 100 acres of heavily timbered land in what is now Berlin Township, Erie County, Ohio. He also acquired 40 acres at the mouth of the Cuyahoga River, now a part of Cleveland. With true pioneer courage, this family now consisting of a wife and 4 small children, piled their household furniture and farm equipment into wagons, leaving Connecticut in 1819 for weeks of hazardous traveling. When they reached the pioneer farm at Cuyahoga River, malarial conditions forced them to continue on to their tract of land in Berlin. This was through a wilderness so dense that Mr. Pearl had to cut a road through to enable the teams to haul the wagons. According to history they passed through a Huron Indian village, now the site of the city of Milan, some 8 miles from his homestead. Fortunately, the Indians were friendly at that time to white settlers. Mr. Pearl first erected a cabin of round logs, later replacing it with a more spacious home of hewn logs. This couple was known for their kindness and good works. They helped to organize a Methodist church and were regular in attendance. Ten children were born to this union.”

Some of the information that Marian Arlene Pearl found was in Hewson L. Peeke’s “A Standard History of Erie Co. in 2 vols published in 1916., and The Firelands Historical Soc. Norwalk, Ohio Vol. 111 pg 26 Fireland Pioneers. and Huron Co. D.A.R. records Vol. 2 1812-1939 and Pearl/ History from E. Eldridge, Pearl family Bible.

The Fire Lands resource interested me. In looking up what this referred to, I found the following. The Firelands tract was located at the western end of the Connecticut Western Reserve in what is now the state of Ohio. This land was set aside for people who lived in those Connecticut towns who had lost their homes when the British had burned them during the Revolutionary War. The towns affected were Danbury, Fairfield, Greenwich, Groton, New London, New Haven, Norwalk and Ridgefield. Eventually about 30 towns were established in the Firelands on the southern shore area of Lake Erie. But, apparently not too many people from the above Connecticut towns took advantage of this opportunity, probably because of Indian hostilities around the War of 1812 and the thickly forested land, that was hard to clear for farming. A number of members of Oliver Pearl’s family did move from northeastern Connecticut to this area of Ohio.

Dorothy Vander Meulen, Pearl Family Historian

Marian Arlene Pearl’s papers donated

The following information, regarding the Genealogy of John Pearl and his descendants written by Marian Arlene Pearl, is given to us by Marion Emmons.

The Genealogy of John Pearl and his descendants was compiled and written by Miss Marian Arlene Pearl (known as Arlene) who lived in Augusta, ME. Marion Emmons obtained Arlene Pearls papers after her death 22 Oct. 1968. In 1987 Marion Emmons sent 473 copied pages of Arlene’s document to the Genealogical Library in Salt Lake City, UT and they are preserved on microfilm. Copies of the same 473 pages were sent in 1990 to Maine State Library Reference Dept. in Augusta, ME where they can be viewed by tape or typed sheets by the public.

Jewett-Pearl Reunions 1961 and 1962

Who said our forefathers & foremothers did not have a sense of humor!

Secretary’s notes 1961: “The twenty-third annual Jewett Family Reunion was held at “Our Acre”, Hampton; the home of Jos. and Evelyn Estabrooks on Sunday, August 20th with a picnic dinner served at 1:00 PM.

“A surprise feature after the dinner was a birthday cake provided by Marion Emmons for Jos. Estabrooks, Pearl and Philip Scarpino whose birthdays all occur on August 24th.

“While the children played games in the front yard, our president Viola J. Clapp called the meeting to order. The secretary’s report was read and approved. The treasurer’s report was also read and approved.

“The next item of business was the election of officers for the next two year period. Viola J. Clapp, President and Carl Jewett, Vice President were re-elected. The incumbent Secretary & Treasurer declined the honor, however; so the President requested various members on the distaff side of the family to take the job. It appeared though that all of the girls already had more work than they could handle, so ye scribe volunteered to try it, thus completing the slate of officers.

“Either because your Secretary was new at the job, or because your President was exhausted after trying to pick a new Secretary, there is nothing in the record indicating that any committees were named for the next year. However, the Secretary is of the opinion that it was more or less left to the President to pick committees and a location for the next reunion at a later date.

“The meeting adjourned at approximately 2:15 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Ulmer M. Jewett, Secretary. There were 61 in attendance.”

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Secretary’s notes 1962: “The twenty-fourth annual Jewett Family Reunion was again held at the home of Jos. & Evelyn Estabrooks on Sunday, July 29th at Hampton, Conn. The clan began to gather shortly after 12:00 noon, and before the day was over, some 51 members had put in their appearance.

“The first matter to be taken care of was pictures by a staff photographer, the most publicized being one of Mary Jewett holding Kevin Pearl. This was of the oldest and youngest member in attendance.

“A bounteous collection of food having arrived, a buffet dinner was served at 1:20 P.M., preceded by the saying of Grace by Annie Edmonds.

“Near the end of the dinner period, a large triple decker layer cake appeared from out of the no-where and was placed in front of Madam President. With the arrival of the cake, an original poem written by Evelyn Estabrook s and read by Bertha Greer, indicated that this was the 15th wedding anniversary of the Leon Clapp’s. At about this time, Susan Griggs appeared with a large cake with “Jewett Reunion” spelled out on it. From this point on we became an assembly of cake eaters.

“The meeting was finally called to order and the Secretary’s report was read and approved. The treasurer’s report was next read and approved. While the treasurer was counting the collection and striking a new balance, the President read the minutes of the 1st Jewett Reunion held in 1935. A show of hands indicated that there were 20 present today who had been at the first reunion.

“A rising vote of thanks was given to Evelyn & Jos Estabrooks for having us with them again. It was then suggested that our 25th reunion next year be held at the Elmer C. Jewett homestead at Clarks Corner, where the 1st one was held. The present occupant, Faun Jewett Gordon being agreeable, all present were in favor of this location.

“Members were again requested to report all births, marriages and deaths to our historian, Susan Griggs in Abington.

“The meeting adjourned at approximately 3:30 P.M. and was followed by a social hour and more cake. Respectfully submitted, Ulmer M. Jewett, Secretary”