Re: Anna Margaret Cook in Southwestern Pennsylvania
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In reply to:
Re: Anna Margaret Cook in Southwestern Pennsylvania
Rae Bessant 3/20/07
Hi Rae--that's my middle name!
First of all your Alice Secrist/Secrest must be part of my family.I have a cousin who lives in Smock at this time--been there for many years and she is a Secrest descendant.
The name was originally Siegrist when they came from Switzerland back in April 1765, but thru the years the older children's names became Secrest while the younger ones became Sechrist.Both have been misspelled Secrist.I have thousands of names of descendants from Valentine and Susannah who were the first couple in my line to come to America, and I had about 10,000 of them in my old computer (DOS) with backup disks (old 5" disks) and when my SIL attempted to transfer my files into my new Windows computer, two-thirds of them would not transfer.I spent several years putting those files together and just don't have the time or energy to do it again so I can't find her the quick and easy way (I did look). There is Alice Rose Secrest born in 1918 married Frank Hangerman, but too young to be your gr-gr-grandmother...well, maybe not--depending on how old you are.
I have my original files in a 3" binder and some in folders in boxes, etc. just overwhelming and new babies being born every year!!!My 13th grandchild is due in October.
As far as my gr-gr-gr-grandmother, Anna Margaret Cook, is concerned, I have exhausted every clue I found on Cooks who lived in the Fay-West area back during her lifetime and came up with nothing.She was born in 1781 and died in 1861 and is buried (beside her husband, David Sechrist) at the Hoffman's (Old Brick/Hope Luthern) Cemetery in South Huntingdon Twp, of Westmoreland County although they resided just across Jacob's Creek in Perry Twp. of Fayette County.I grew up right there along that creek which has a beautiful waterfall near where the original Siegrist homestead was built.I swam beneath that waterfall as a child. (If you go to www.google.com and put in "Jacob's Creek Falls" you will get a beautiful picture of it.)
In the 1790 Census there is a Jeremiah Cook with three males over 16; one male under 16 and three females.Could not find anyone researching this family to get any help on who those three females were.
I did find a descendant of Col. Edward Cook (1738-1808) who was a prominent citizen of Fayette County.She only had one granddaughter, Martha, recorded for that generation of the family and she married a Paul Hough who later lived in West Newton, Westmoreland County, PA.Col. Edward Cook was the youngest son of James and Elizabeth of Lancaster County.His brothers were:Thomas, David, James, Joseph and John, but none of their children were on the list given to me.The family attended the Donegal Presbyerian Church at Mt. Joy, PA.
There was also a circuit preacher named Valentine Cook who traveled from Virginia to New York with Westmoreland County on his route, but I have found no mention of his family.
Our family lengends say that Anna Margaret was part Indian, but can't find a source for that info either.
There are two Cook women who married into my Sechrist Family who are probably living today:Sharon Cook b. 1957 married Mark Bilohlavekborn 1955.His mother was a Sechrist. Mark's first cousin, Charles R. Sechrist married Marian Cook.I don't have any years for them, but they are in the same generation as Mark and Sharon.
If you find any info on my Anna Margaret Cook, I would appreciate having it.Good luck!!!
More Replies:
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Re: Anna Margaret Cook in Southwestern Pennsylvania
Rae Bessant 4/27/07
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Re: Anna Margaret Cook in Southwestern Pennsylvania
LaVonne R. Hanlon 4/28/07
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Re: Anna Margaret Cook in Southwestern Pennsylvania
Rae Bessant 4/29/07
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Re: Anna Margaret Cook in Southwestern Pennsylvania
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Re: Anna Margaret Cook in Southwestern Pennsylvania