Re: Col. Ralph E. Pearson's (1904-1991) Westlake research
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In reply to:
Re: Col. Ralph E. Pearson's (1904-1991) Westlake research
Mary Pritchard 8/01/05
In regard to Col. Ralph Pearson's work:I have a copy of it. There is much data that he gathered in from probably hundreds of Westlake descendants - where these contributors got their information is any ones guess and a good amount of the information is not backed up by hard fact and record but hearsay.I do want to point out that Col. Pearsonwas not aware of Samuel Westlake (Sr.) of Salem Co. NJ who d.1726, until I located the Probate of Samuel in the N.J. Colonial Documents at the State Archives and was able to share it with some other researchers. In his early work Col. Pearson had Samuel of NJ as a "cousin" or other kin of all Westlakes who settled in New York in 1740's. We know that Samuel Westlake b. about 1692 and from Devon, England, was in NJ Colony in the early 1720's, if not earlier. This was a whole generation earlier. He was the first of his line to America. It's possible that his son's sons settled in areas of New York. Samuel Sr. died in Piles Grove, Salem Co. in 1726 per Colonial Records of NJ. Samuel had two known sons: Samuel Jr. and George. George is said to have settled in New York and the family (Samuel Jr.'s) lost tract of him. Samuel Jr's mother, Ann, remarried - John Burroughs (Burrows) in late 1726 and stayed in NJ. Samuel Jr. married Sarah Welling and had numerous sons and two daughters.
Those sons settled in NJ, NY, VA, probably PA and OH - after the Rev. War in which some of them fought. However, they were raised in NJ Colony (per tax records and other).
Col. Pearson's work did NOT show Samuel b. 1692 d. 1726 of NJ and because of this lack of fact and data, had many inaccuracies in his work. He also mixed up the Westlakes into what seems to be one category (all from the NY branch of Westlake - and off a whole generation.) Further more I have seen family trees and genealogies showing three different fathers for Samuel d. 1726 NJ. Devon, Englandcourt and church parish records have absolutely NO RECORDS of an Albert, George or a Samuel being the father of Samuel Westlake who d. 1726 in NJ. The one that could be his father is Thomas Westlake of Newton Abbot, Devon, England who had a son named Samuel b. 1692. His birth records are in the Parrish of Walborough-Newton Abbot.
I repeat one item: The Devon-Cornwall England parrish records have been gone through with a fine-toothed comb, so to speak, and George, Albert (No Alberts in these English counties at all from 1550-1800) or Samuel was shown to have had a son named Samuel born in the time-frame between 1660-1710 to be the father of Samuel Sr. of NJ. who died in 1726.Thanks for reading and following this exlanation which comes from 30-plus years of research. The Westlake records of the early and mid 1700's need to be corrected where they are shown to be in error. Thanks again.Pat Schlabach Davis.
More Replies:
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Re: Col. Ralph E. Pearson's (1904-1991) Westlake research
Susan Barker 4/20/09
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Re: Col. Ralph E. Pearson's (1904-1991) Westlake research
Patricia Davis 4/20/09
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Re: Col. Ralph E. Pearson's (1904-1991) Westlake research