John Tweedy War of 1812

Another update on the early Union County, Illinois, Tweedys.  First, a note for all Union County and Arkansas, Tweedy researchers.  There are errors in the online posted genealogies in the early Tweedys.  The genealogies I have seen online are cross threaded, so have a care when using this data.  All the data is accurate, but the lines are crossed. 

The main error is in confusion between Robert Tweedy (born 1765) and his son John Tweedy (born 1791 and their sons named Robert.  The son named Robert D Tweedy who married Mary Holyfield and is the son of Robert Tweedy (1765).  The son Robert Craft Tweedy (born 1819) and is the son of  John Tweedy (1791) married Mary Craft.  

Robert D Tweedy (born 18 Nov 1811) and Robert C Tweedy (born 1819) both migrated to Arkansas.  The family of Robert D Tweedy, later migrated to California.  

re-enactors in western frontier Ranger attire 1812, very typical of this time period

John Tweedy born 1791, was a veteran of the War of 1812; he was in Captain Owen Evans' company of Illinois Mounted Rangers, rank of private.  John Tweedy was born in 1791 and was circa age 21 year old when he enlisted in the Rangers and served, we assume, at least until 1815 or so, perhaps longer.  His father was the first Constable for Union County in 1818.

There were frequent Indian raids during this time (1812 and onward).  These raids were destructive and violent.  The British did their best to equip the Indians with whiskey, guns, ammunition, and equipment, with orders to destroy and steal from the settlers in Illinois, and to kill those they could corner.  The animosity created by the British and their Indian allies did much to pressure officials later to encourage Indian removal.  Too many raids, too many killings and too much destruction had taken place.  History is a messy business. 

© 2018 Barry R McCain


 

McCain's Corner: Maps and Trails

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Arkansas Tweedys II

Coway County Arkansas in the Ozarks

I am posting updates for any and all Tweedy researchers.  I had a little time, so I read through some primary sources and analysed my findings.  As suspected, there are two Arkansas Tweedy families that have cross threaded genealogies.  I, believe, I have them sorted out now, and additionally, I have located a third Tweedy family which is not connected to the Laurens SC, southern Illinois, group.  The third Tweedy family is from Virginia, to Tennessee, to Randolph County Arkansas.

The two men in question are Robert D Tweedy (1811-1899) and Robert C Tweedy (1819-unknown).  Both men are listed as Robert Tweedy born to John Tweedy and Temperance Goodwin, in Union County, Illinois.  That is the conundrum.  But, we do have a winner:  Robert C (Craft) Tweedy is the son of John Tweedy and Temperance Goodwin.

The primary sources tell us that there was an adult Robert Tweedy living in Union County, Illinois, in 1818.  There was a census done that year as part of the governmental duties leading up to Illinois statehood.   This Robert Tweedy's house had 1 Male over 21 and 8 other people in the house.

This means Robert Tweedy is the born in 1765 one and died in 1832.  This explains his large family, nine people including himself in 1818.  This means he is buried in Union County, and his wife, Temperance (Tempy) passed away in 1833.   His son then is the Robert D Tweedy born in 1811 and later located with his family to Conway County, Arkansas.  Robert D Tweedy married Mary Holyfield... and their children are:

John T Tweedy (born 1842 Conway Co Arkansas)
James Jackson Tweedy (born 1843 Conway Co Arkansas)
George Washington Tweedy (born 13 January 1842 Conway Co Arkansas)
Lorenzo Dow Tweedy (born 2 October 1849 Conway Co Arkansas)
Thomas Alexander Tweedy (born 1854 Los Angeles California)
William Tweedy (born 21 November 1856 El Monte, Los Angeles California)
Robert D Tweedy Jr (born 3 July 1858 El Monte Los Angeles California)
Mary Elizabeth Tweedy (born 12 March 1866 San Antonio Los Angeles California)

Now we come to #2 Robert, i.e. Robert Craft Tweedy (born 1819, who is the son of John Tweedy (1791-13 April 1840) and Mary Craft (1794-1850).   Robert C Tweedy married Eveline Steerman (born circa 1824, also written Steersman).   They crossed the Mississippi and settled in Franklin County, Arkansas, which was not far from the other Robert's family in Conway County Arkansas.  Their children are:

Mary (born circa 1843, Franklin Co Arkansas)
James (born circa 1842 Franklin Co Arkansas)
Margaret C (born circa 1847 Franklin Co Arkansas)
Emily (born 1849 Franklin Co Arkansas)
(note there are probably several more children in this family, I will post as I discover them)

Some notes:  there are cousins of these two Tweedy families in Missouri.  I have not explored them yet.

Next, there is another totally different Tweedy family that came from Virginia, to Tennessee, then to Randolph County Arkansas.  I do not know if the Virginia origin Tweedys are kin to the Laurens South Carolina Tweedys.  In time, DNA testing will sort that out for us.

Next on the agenda, is sorting out the military experiences of these two Tweedy families.  This will be interesting as the preliminary research is very interesting.

If the reader enjoys this research and finds it of service, please consider making a small donation to cover expenses, it greatly appreciated.   Donation link on right side of page.

 © 2018 Barry R McCain

California Tweedys, South Gate

(source City of South Gate Website)

South Gate -The Early Years

In the summer of 1769, a group of Spanish explorers set out from the coast of San Diego to explore the uncharted territory between San Diego and the Bay of Monterey. With them was Father Juan Crespi, considered by historians to be one of the great diarists of the new world explorations. His daily entries were remarkably revealing of the country through which the caravan passed. They proceeded in the general direction of the San Gabriel Valley, across the Los Angeles River, which Crespi named "Porciuncula" on August 2, 1769.

There would be no history of South Gate without including the story of the Lugo Spanish Land Grant. That grant encompassed a great part of what is now the City of South Gate and is a vital and colorful part of this area's history.

Francisco Lugo was a cavalry corporal for the King of Spain and an important figure among the early Spanish settlers of the region. In 1810 the King of Spain granted eleven square leagues to Francisco's son, Don Antonio Maria Lugo, in appreciation for his father's service to the crown. This vast estate was known as the Rancho San Antonio land grant. It extended from the low range of hills which separated it from the San Gabriel Valley to the old Dominguez Ranch at its south, and from the eastern boundary of the pueblo of Los Angeles to the San Gabriel River.

A little more than 100 years after the establishment of the Lugo Land Grant, the area at the south gate of the ranch became the City of South Gate. As Don Lugo's family grew, he obtained San Bernardino Rancho and other grants in his children's names.

At various times, Don Antonio Maria Lugo was the Alcalde (Mayor) of Los Angeles, Juex del Campo (Judge of the Plains) and a member of the Pueblo Council. In 1846, at the age of 71, he rode 400 miles on horseback from his ranch to Monterey.

The future South Gate site and adjacent mesas presented a colorful spectacle when countless heads of cattle and horses were herded from all directions to a common point for the annual great spring rodeo. Lugo would direct the proceedings and settle disputes regarding ownership of contested animals as well as adjudicate agricultural disputes. In his saddle, he was the court and the plains his courtroom.

The Land Grant was handed down from generation to generation, dividing among offspring and eventually parceled and sold to people outside the Lugo family.

Don Antonio's son Vincente (1820-1889) built his adobe dwelling in the 1850's on five and one half acres. It is known as Lugo Ranch, and is situated on modern day Gage Avenue in the City of Bell Gardens.

Before the end of the 1870's, much of the original land grant had been replaced by 40 acre tracts. By 1880, cattle raising had been replaced by agriculture as the most important local industry. During the years between 1910 and 1940, most of the agricultural land was replaced by homes and factories. Today, with the land divided by freeways, it is not easy to imagine it as a vast plain stretching from the mountains to the sea as it was in those early years.

The Tweedy family, headed by R.D. Tweedy, has played an important part in South Gate's history. Mr. Tweedy was born in 1812 in Illinois, and came to California by ox-drawn cart in 1852. Mrs. Tweedy rode across the prairies perched on her rocking chair in the ox cart. The family was large, and several generations have lived in this city. The family members bought some 2,000 acres of the land on which much of South Gate was built. The "downtown business district" in South Gate was named after the family and is known as the Tweedy Mile.

The Case of Two Robert Tweedys

There is good news and some not so good news.  First, we have located primary source data on the early Tweedys in Union County, southern Illinois.  The not so good part is, while we know a lot of closely related Tweedys were active early 1800s in Union County, Illinois, it is not clear as to their exact relationship.

I noticed a case of cross threading of two early Tweedy genealogies.  There are two Robert Tweedys in Union County, Illinois circa 1810s of interest.  One was born in 1811 and the other circa 1819/20.  Both lines can be followed, and both lines moved to Arkansas very early.

Here is the rub, both family claim the same father and mother, i.e. John Tweedy (1791-1840) and Mary Craft (1794-1850s).   Now, obviously, there is an error.

We are dealing with the family of Robert Tweedy (1765-1832) who married Temperance Goodwin (called Tempy) (1765-1833), from Laurens County, South Carolina.  They both moved to Union County Illinois and are buried there.

Now the issue is almost certainly that there were several sons of Robert and Tempy Tweedy that moved to Union County Illinois.

We have their son John Tweedy who married Mary Craft and their children were:
Robert C Tweedy
William George Tweedy
James Monroe Tweedy
Single Perry Tweedy
Lucinda Tweedy née Craig

This Robert C Tweedy married Eveline Steersman, moved to Arkansas, Independence County.

Now the other Robert Tweedy (18 November 1811 - 17 September 1899)  also moved to Arkansas to Conway.  He married Mary Holyfield.  This family had children, served in the Mexican War 1846-48) and then left Arkansas, travelled on the Santa Fe Trail in 1854, on to California and settled in the (now) Los Angeles area.  This family is well researched.

Mary Tweedy née Holyfield (1819-1910)

We know they are close kin to Union County Tweedys, but we do not know the name of the father of Robert Tweedy (1811).

The father of Robert Tweedy (1819/20) is John Tweedy (1791).

The two Roberts are very likely First Cousins.

Now, the above scenario is my best analysis to this point and is subject to new data and correction.  What would be very nice is to confirm the father of Robert Tweedy (1811).  We assume the man will be a brother of John Tweedy (1791).

Thoughts and comments welcomed.

Irish & Scottish Tweedys Needed!!!

Tweedy origin and the god of the Tweed River

The Tweedy DNA Project needs Tweedy and Tweedie men to participate in the Tweedy DNA Project. The project uses Y chromosome DNA to trace the paternal lines of Tweedy and Tweedie families in Ireland, Scotland, and throughout the Diaspora.  The Tweedy DNA Project is run through the Family Tree DNA Ltd, in Houston, TX.

Link: Tweedy DNA Project

Follow the link.  We use the Y-DNA test.  We prefer the 67 or 111 level test, but the 37 is sufficient to confirm a DNA match.  The Y chromosome test will follow a Tweedy match from the present to the distant past, even to the pre surname times.  Y-chromosme test are needed in a surname project.

For ladies, and men with a non paternal Tweedy line, we suggest the Family Tree Family Finder test which uses Autosomal DNA (atDNA).  It will follow a Tweedy line for about five or six generations.  So it is not as useful as the Y chromosome test.  Ladies, and men with a non paternal Tweedy link, can use an autosomal DNA test to locate a male Tweedy from your line and have him Y chromosome test for you.  This is called a proxy test.

So... Please participate in the Tweedy DNA Project.  We have 12 participants already, with 10 Y chromosome samples and 2 atDNA samples.  We want our families to reconnect with our cousins in Ireland and Scotland.