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The Washburns of Brown Co, Ohio

While researching my own Henry Washburn, who spent time in Brown Co, Ohio, I ran across this interesting family

Isaac Washburn and Rachel Laycock

From the Brown Co Will Abstracts:

WASHBURN, Isaac - WRITTEN: (No date given) PROBATED: 1 Sep 1820 WITNESSES: Stephen Parker, William Grant and George Washburn NAMES: wife, Rachael; sons, Nicholas, George, "three other sons" (not named); daughters, Phebe Washburn, Elizabeth Ann Washburn and Zeube Washburn EXECUTORS: No Executor Name, Rachael Washburn appointed administrator

Isaac served in the War of 1812

Joseph Washburn and his family

From the History of Jefferson Township by H.P. Williams

Joseph Washburn was born in Pennsylvania, and came to this township about 1800, settling near the western border, on the farm now owned by William Williamson. His wife was Elizabeth Mann, who bore him four children--Cornelius, Mary, William and Elizabeth. After a period of about thirty-five years, Mr. Washburn removed to Indiana.

Levi Laycock was born in Virginia in 1793, and, in 1800, came with his father to Union Township. He was one of the soldiers in 1812 whom Gen. Hull surrendered to the British. In 1816, he married Mary Washburn, and has since resided in this township. He was twice married. His children were Joseph, Ann, Jeremiah, Nicholas, John, Elizabeth, Moses and Zeruah.


Cornelius Washburn

Click here to read about Cornelius Washburn in Perry Township

In 1793, Cornelius crossed the river from Kentucky and was one of the first people to build a cabin at Eagle Creek (about one mile from the river).

WOODS, James of Pleasant Twp., indicted for assaulting CORNELIUS WASHBURN on 6 Sep 1819.

George Washburn

One of the first residents of Clark township who became treasurer, along with Thomas Liming, during the first election held in Clark on 8 Nov 1808. By 1825 he owned a home in Washington Township. George is listed on the Patriot's Index pg 719. George was the father of the afore mentioned Isaac Washburn and Cornelius Washburn.

From the Gedcom of Lou Ann Winterrowd:

George Washburn was in Revolutionay Was as a defender of Bryan's Station and he was in Crawford's campaign.

He is buried in Round Hill Cemetery, Montgomery Co. IN. I have seen researchers on the internet giving George Washburn the middle initial W. and they have it standing for Washington. George Washburn was born in 1757, so if the researchers think that he was named after George Washington, it would have to have been because of some personal relationship with George Washington which I know nothing about as Washington was not president until after the Revolutionary War and was probably not well known before that.

In her interview with Mr. Lyman Draper in 1863, Phebe Grant states, "George Washburn was to say he was ten years older than his brother Nicholas and eight years older than Cornelius. George Washburn died in March 1851, nearly 94 years old on Coal Creek (Fountain County) Indiana some 25 or 30 miles below Lafayette--hence was born in 1757, Cornelius in 1765 and Nicholas in 1767. (George Washburn's tombstone has his death date as Mar. 9, 1850--I am not sure which date is correct)

Now many researchers have taken the story that Jemima Hankins tells Mr. Draper about the family going west in 1774 and that has Cornelius being born then as showing when Cornelius was born. I think that Mr. Draper was confused by what Jemima told him and wrote these facts down incorrectly. As far as I know this is the only place in the Draper MS that has Cornelius Washburn born in 1774. Later in the MS, Jemima says that Cornelius was 68 years old when he went west to the Yellowstone Country in 1832. This would make his date of birth 1764. What Jemima Hankins actually said to Mr. Draper and why he wrote that information down incorrectly, we will never know, but that statement has mislead many researchers over the years. Hopefully, the following will help correct this mistake.

After more study of the Draper MS and other sources, I believe that the 1765 date of birth is correct for Cornelius Washburn, though no one seems to know exactly when he was born and different dates are given by different people.

I am basing my belief that Cornelius Washburn was born in 1765 on the above statement of Phebe (Washburn) Grant, dau. of George Washburn plus the following:

We have documented proof of the date of birth of Nicholas Washburn--April 19, 1767
1. Tombstone of Nicholas Washbrun, Washburn Cemetery Cain Twp. Fountain Co. IN--died Nov. 5, 1851, 84y 6m 18d
2. 1850 Census Cain Twp. Fontain Co. IN--Nicholas Washburn age 83, male, gunsmith, born NJ
3. In the will of Jeremiah Washburn, he states George is his eldest son, Joseph, his second son, Cornelius his third son and Nicholas, his fourth son. If Nicholas was his fourth son and born after Cornelius, his third son, and Nicholas was born in 1767, Cornelius would have to have born before Nicholas and therefore Cornelius could not have been born in 1774.
4. Also from the Draper MS--MS3BB page 52 "State of Indiana, Rush County" On this 23d day of November, A.D. 1850, personally appeared before me, a Justice of the Peace, within and for the County & State aforesaid, Nicholas Washburn aged eighty three years, a resident of Fountain County & State of Indiana, who being duly sworn according to law, declared that he is the identical Nicholas Washburn who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Simon Kenton in the Indian war of 1786"
5. Draper MS 3BB page 53--from letter dated Feb. 27, 1747 from David G. Devore, "I think however that Nicholas his brother can do more than any one else--He is about eighty years old, but is a man of strong mind & I consider fully able to give a clear & sensible account of the doings (?) of his brother.
6. Draper MS 3BB page 39--I do not know who the writter of this letter is but he states, " In May 1843 he (referring to Nicholas Washburn) was residing in Walker, Rush County Ind-aged 76 yrars,..."
7. Phebe Parker Laycock, second wife of Nicholas Washburn was born in 1766, so this closely matches 1767 for birth of Nicholas.
8. If Cornelius was born in 1774, he would have only been 17 years old when he married for the first time July 1, 1791 which is not impossibe, but unlikely.
9. Considering that Nicholas was born in 1767 and Cornelius was 2 years older than Nicholas, his date of birth should have been 1765 and if George was 8 years older than Cornelius and 10 years older than Nicholas, his date of birth should have been 1757.

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