The Ships

Plan of The Lyon

Model of the Mary and John

Shallop the Elizabeth Tilley

The Griffin

(replica of frigate HMS Rose)

The Shallop Elizabeth Tilley was constructed in 1626:

an “ingenious man that was a house carpenter” as described by William Bradford in his history of Plymouth Colony, sawed in half one of the larger shallops. He lengthened the vessel five or six feet, raised the side planking some, and laid a deck on her. In this way the colonists were able to keep goods, and themselves, safe as they transported corn to trade with Native People up the Kennebec River in Maine. Presumably, as an assistant to the governor, John Howland was one of the number involved in these ventures.

The Mary and John sailed from England 1630.

Among the passengers was Henry Way.

The Lyon sailed from England in 1631.

Among the passengers was George Way and Roger Williams.

The Griffin sailed from England in 1634.

Among the passengers were direct ancestors John Lothrop, Joseph Lothrop, Anne Marbury, William Hutchison.

The Genesee Country

Great enthusiam for 'the Genesee' was carried home by troops who had seen it during the Revolutionary War.

Population of the Genesee country:

1790: one thousand

1800: 17 thousand

1810: 50 thousand

Our Champlin and Way ancestors were among those New Englanders who struck out for the New York frontier. They sold their lands and homes to purchase cheap farmland westward on the boundary between civilization and wild lands. They made long difficult journeys on the Genesee trail, and worse roads west, to face the challenges held by an untamed land.

The Holland Purchase

By 1800, parcels of 100-200 acres were being sold to individual settlers in western New York. The Holland Land Company offered choice parcels to those skilled in sawmills, gristmills, blacksmith shops and other amenities of settlement. Some agreed to pay terms for about 8 years, and agreed to build homes and barns and clear land to cultivate crops. In the mid 1820's, many sold their articles of agreement to neighbors or relatives and relocated. In the mid-1830's, Holland Land Company sold the accounts and vacant lands to other companies.

Our Champlins and Ways both lived western New York during this period before migrating to Michigan.

New York to Michigan

Opening of the Erie Canal

Note the serendipitious situation of New York's access to the Midwest via Hudson/Mohawk river route. The steady gaze westward of the dignitaries in this rendering reflect a determination to expand the frontier into untamed lands. The canal provided convenient access for New England migrants who eventually settled in Michigan.

Our ancestors in New York State and other eastern states felt the time was right to seek land in Michigan, and the years 1835-1850 brought almost a flood of new settlers into the southern portions of Michigan.

Census of Michigan est;

1836 population 35,000

1837 population 175,000

Edward Lewis Way was one such who removed from Genesee, NY to Genesee, MI.

Yankee Frontier

1831 map of Michigan

Susan Gray explores community formation among New England migrants to the Upper Midwest in the generation before the Civil War. Focusing on Kalamazoo County in southwestern Michigan, she examines how 'Yankees' moving west reconstructed familiar communal institutions on the frontier while confronting forces of profound socioeconomic change, particularly the rise of the market economy and the commercialization of agriculture. Gray argues that Yankee culture was a type of ethnic identity that was transplanted to the Midwest and reshaped there into a new regional identity. In chapters on settlement patterns, economic exchange, the family, religion, and politics, Gray traces the culture that the migrants established through their institutions as a defense against the uncertainty of the frontier. She demonstrates that although settlers sought rapid economic development, they remained wary of the threat that the resulting spirit of competition posed to their communal ideals. As isolated settlements developed into flourishing communities linked to eastern markets, however, Yankee culture was transformed. What was once a communal culture became a class culture, appropriated by a newly formed rural bourgeoisie to explain their success as the triumphant emergence of the Midwest and to identify their region as true America.

-The Yankee West, community life on the Michigan frontier, Susan E. Gray

The Michigan Territory

1809

With the passing of the fur trade to other and more remote fields, the French voyageur and "wood-ranger" and to a considerable extent the trader also, moved on to the yet unsettled wilderness, especially to Canada where they could continue the old life and enjoy the freedom, abandon, and conviviality of the frontier. The settlement of public lands opens in 1819.

The days from 1835 to 1850 are times of struggle, of trial, of temporary failure, but of ultimate success. The greater part of the state was still a wilderness, well nigh impenetrable. It was a period of strenuous endeavor and of high expectations.

The tide of immigration (principally from New England and New York) was, in 1836, settling into Michigan more strongly than ever before. The very fact that she had so long been kept back in her development by false reports in regard to her lands, resulted in her having more public lands for sale at government price. The consequence was an emmense rush to secure these lands. Speculators and land-grabbers were thronging to Michigan to locate her virgin lands, and returning with such alluring accounts of her beautiful forests, oak openings, and prairies, that they stimulated many more to follow. These early speculators had yet to learn the lesson that many others, both before and since, have been fain to learn through much disappiontment and sorrow, that putting an imaginary price on a thing does not increase its real value.

-Michigan as a Province, Territory, and State, 1906

The settlement of Jefferson Township was typical of those in surrounding areas of Hillsdale County. Geographically, it is the most hilly of any of the townships. In the earliest period there was a two-mile wide strip of land known as “oak openings” which crossed diagonally from northwest to southwest of the township. Its soil was generally poorer in quality than the lands northeast and southwest. A large area of the township was covered by tamarack swamp—giving the name to Tamarack Rd. One homesteader recalled that you could travel a whole day without finding cleared land. However, the wild game was abundant and the many Pottawatomie Indians who roamed the area were friendly.

The earliest settlers were a hardy lot—even so death and illnesses took their toll and few families escaped the loss of a child or a mother or father early in their settling in the new Territory. Numbering among Jefferson Township’s first residents in 1835.

-hillsdalecounty.info

Birthplace of the Republican Party

'Under the Oaks'

"The eloquent and fervid call went out, circulated through the state, and was signed by more than ten thousand names, including a great percentage of the vigorous, active young men of Michigan.

The convention met (6 July 1854) at the day appointed, and as no place of assembly in the town of Jackson could contain the gathering, it adjourned to an oak grove, on 'Morgan's Forty' in the southern edge of the town, and there 'under the oaks' was held that historic convention, which gave a being and a name to the Republican Party.

Winning an overwhelming victory in the elections of 1854, the Republican party went on to dominate national parties throughout the nineteenth century."

-Michigan as a Province, Territory, and State,

John F. H. Claiborne

Jackson in the Civil War

Camp Blair

Jackson, Michigan

During the the Civil War one of Michigan's military headquarters was in Jackson. Over 22,000 Michigan troops returned home via Camp Blair. Erastus Champlin's older sons, William and Lyman may have mustered out here.

"The First Michigan Regiment was one of the first to advance into Virginia, and, on the 24th of May took possession of Alexandria. It participated in the battle of Bull Run. In the first year of the war, Michigan raised and sent 22 regiments to the front. The Michigan Cavalry Brigade under the command of General George A. Custer became the most effective and the most famous cavalry brigade in the service.

Michigan blood marked the trail of the army of the Potomac from Manassas to Gettysburg and from Gettysburg to Appomattox, in the east, and in the armies of the West, from the Ohio river to Savannah and New Orleans. It woud be most unbecoming the historian of Michigan to claim pre-eminence for valor or patriotism for the Michigan troops in the great war, but it is simple truth and justice to say that there were none superior."

-Michigan as a Province, Territory and State

When Pine was King

Waiting for the spring river drive.

"A great industrial interest makes its first appearance in the (1855) stature book in the "act to provide for the formation of companies, for the running, booming and rafting, of logs," and in an a"act to provide for the inspection of lumber: These two acts mark the rise of the great lumber industry, presently to grow to gigantic proportions, and for a time to make Michigan the foremost lumbering state in the Union. It proved so profitable and excited the greed for immediate gain to such an extent, that in a single generation (1860-1880) the magnificent and unrivalled pine forests of the state were swept away, leaving a desolation, where should have been the forest reserve of coming gererations? Now that the mischief is done, and irrevocable and irremediable, the people of the state are just waking to the emormity of the folly that has been committed, and are actively planning a system of reforestation."

-Michigan as a Province, Territory, and State

One Room Schoolhouse

Parma and Sheridan No. 7 School

Parma Township, Jackson County, Michigan

A rebuild after fire destroyed earlier wood building.

michmarkers.com

Belle and Lewis attended schools similar this nearby one-room school.

Lewis Beathel Way

Lewis registered for the WWI draft, and his appearance is described as medium height and build, blue eyes, dk. brown hair. His employment at that time was with Dodge Bros. Motor Car Company as an auto trimmer.

Lewis Way was born 9 Jan 1873 in Jefferson, Hillsdale, Michigan, son of Hiram Way and Mariah Tripp. He married 3 Sep 1896 to Belle Champlin. She was born Feb 1874 in Michigan, daughter of Henry Champlin and Belle Myers. They had 2 children.

On 3 June 1880, Lewis, ae 8, lived on the family farm with his parents at Jefferson, Hillsdale, Michigan. He had 4 brothers, aged 17 to 1 month.

On 3 September 1896, Lewis, ae 23, married in Jackson, Michigan to Belle Champlin, ae 22.

In 1900, Lewis, ae 27, and Belle, ae 26, owned their home, free of mortgage, at 307 Colombus in Jackson. Lewis was employed as a carriage trimmer.

In 1910, Lewis and Belle resided at 307 Colombus N. in Jackson. Lewis was employed at a carriage factory as a trimmer.

By 1918, Lewis and Belle resided at 361 Greenwood in Detroit, Michigan. His employment at that time was with Dodge Bros. Motor Car Company as an auto trimmer.

In 1920, Lewis and Belle resided at 361 Greenwood in Detroit. They owned their home free of mortgage. Lewis was employed as a trimmer at an auto factory.

By 1930, Lewis was widowed and remarried to May, last name unknown. They resided at 4638 Galister Street, Detroit. The monthly rent was $20. Lewis, ae 62, was employed as a trimmer at an auto factory.

For my geneablog on the family history of Belle Champlin, go to www.champlinancestor.blogspot.com

Lewis & Belle

Couple on left: Lewis and Belle Way

Couple on right: George and Ruth Way

An outing, abt. 1905, "probably taken at Put-in-Bay or some such gay place"

During the Edwardian period, lavish brims swept around the face creating an illusion of a hat suspended as if by magic on the head. The hat was often an amorphous mass swathed in tulle and smothered in flora, ribbon rosettes or plumage. By 1902 supports called pompadour frames were easy to buy and these were used as a base for the style and a woman’s own hair was built up and smoothed over the base. The combings were added when extra matching hair was needed to get just the right effect. The volume these contraptions enabled meant that the hats had a great support to rest on and so they gave an impression of often appearing to be hovering when in fact they rest on a substantial and fairly firm structure. Even so hatpins were essential. With the pompadour frame in place hatpins could be threaded through and find a safe anchor.

Leah Way @ Jackson

Leah Way, ae 14

Leah Giralda Way was born 16 Feb 1901 in Michigan, daughter of Lewis Way and Belle Champlin. She  married in 1922 to Francis Earl Wall. He was born 6 Sep 1896 in Michigan, son of Robert Yates Wall and Margret Ross.

In 1910, Leah is listed with her parents, her brother Roy, and her father's sister, Grace Way at 307 Columbus St. North in Jackson City. In 1920, Leah is listed with her parents and brother at 361 Greenwood in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan. In 1930, Leah is listed with her husband, F. Earl Wall, and her children Carol and Roy at 9395 Cascade Ave. in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan.

Leah was a typist for the Red Cross. Known for being in demand at parties to play ragtime piano, and for having an infallible memory.

Mayflower Passengers

John Howland and Elizabeth Tilley. John Tilley and Joan.















Lewis abt. 1940

1. John Howland, Hope Howland, Hope Chipman, Elizabeth Huckins, Edward Lewis, Sarah Lewis, Solomon Way, Edward Way, Hiram Way, Lewis Way

2. John Tilley, Elizabeth Tilley, Hope Howland, Hope Chipman, Elizabeth Huckins, Edward Lewis, Sarah Lewis, Solomon Way, Edward Way, Hiram Way, Lewis Way

3. Joan Hurst, Elizabeth Tilley, Hope Howland, Hope Chipman, Elizabeth Huckins, Edward Lewis, Sarah Lewis, Solomon Way, Edward Way, Hiram Way, Lewis Way

4. Elizabeth Tilley, Hope Howland, Hope Chipman, Elizabeth Huckins, Edward Lewis, Sarah Lewis, Solomon Way, Edward Lewis Way, Hiram Lewis Way, Lewis Way

5-8.  See champlin.blogger.com

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