Re: Multiracial Bilyeus in NJ?
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In reply to:
Multiracial Bilyeus in NJ?
12/02/00
What I have is only a hunch, no direct proof.I think we should be looking for Indian blood in the Bilyeu lines. Bilyeus settled in New Amsterdam (NY) as early as 1661, and were in NJ by the early 1700s.see http://www.sheltons.net/genes/22.htmlhttp://www.sheltons.net/genes/22.html
My Bilyeu line also comes from Somerset Co. NJ:Joseph Bilyeu b. NJ 1760-1770 m. Nancy Birge (b. Poultney VT) and had 3 ch in NJ, Sarah b. bef 1799, twins Isaac Smith Bilyeu and John Birge Bilyeu b. 11 Dec 1801, Somerset, Somerset Co., NJ.
The parents were later in KY, TN, and settled in Bond Co. IL by 1816.They had come to IL earlier, but went back to KY or TN because of Indian attacks.
John Birge Bilyeu b. 1801 m. Martha Houston Powers, dau of Rev. John Powers (Methodist).
John Powers had come to White's Fort IL in 1816 (2 yrs before statehood)with his family including son in law Rev. Wm. Hunter.
Whether the Bilyeus were Methodists in NJ, I do not know.What I have learned is that Methodist ministers followed George Washington and earlier leaders' desire to civilize the Indians by having Methodist clergy go to the frontier and urge intermarriage and conversion from nomadic life to farming.
With the Bilyeus going back to the mid-1600s in North America (French Wallons, some say), it is not difficult to believe there was native blood somewhere in the lines.
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Re: Multiracial Bilyeus in NJ?
Michael Burdge 10/11/02