The Hissem-Montague Family

This is the family of John Hissom, Thomas Hesom's eldest son. After much research I think I've nailed down the story of his life, if not precisely that of his children. While he moved west with his brothers, Thomas and David, at least one of his children remained in eastern Pennsylvania and established the branch of the family today residing in the upper Delaware river valley.

John probably goes under more names than any one else in the American family. Also as Hisson, Hissam, Hissem, Hissim, Hessam, Hessem, Hessom, Hessum, Hesson, Hasam, Hasom, Hesom, Hesum, Hysam, Hysham, Heysham, Heisam, Heisom, and Heisham.

The eldest son of Thomas Hesom. In a declaration made toward the end of his life, John said that he was born on 20 August 1747 in Smithfield township, Northampton county, Pennsylvania. The Hesom homestead was on the banks of Brodhead creek, left, just above the Delaware Water Gap.

John, the son of Thomas Hisson and Catherina Kleyn, was christened on 14 September 1746 by the Reverend Fryenmouth in the Dutch Reformed Church, Walpack township, Sussex county, New Jersey. Witnesses were Thomas Brinck and Antje Kleyn syn Huys vr. [the wife of] - from "The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record." The difference between when John said he was born and when the church register recorded it is probably due to the change from the Julian to Gregorian caldendars in 1752. Walpack township is just across the Delaware river from Lower Smithfield and was a predominantly Dutch community. There was a Walpack ferry on the Delaware to serve the cross-river travelors.

Note that the records of this birth were in the Dutch language, as I suspect was the ceremony itself. Antje, or Anne, Kleyn was John's aunt, the sister of Catherina Kleyn. The families were close; Thomas Hesom had been a witness to Thomas Brinck's will and inventoried the man's estate when he died. Thomas Brink was an uncle of Elizabeth Brink, who would be the second wife of John's younger brother, David.

John's brother, William, was also christened in the Walpack church under the name Hisson, while his sister, Anne, was baptized under the name Hesson. All were, however, listed as the children of Thomas Hisson/Hesson and Catherine Kleyn. I have yet to discover the baptismal records of John's other siblings. They were either baptized at another church in the Minisink for which the records are now lost, or their baptisms were skipped because of the lack of a minister, a continual problem in this frontier community.

Walpack Church The site of the first church of the Walpack congregation was within the Walpack Bend of the Delaware river, about a mile west of the present-day village of Flatbrookville, in the township of Walpack, Sussex county, New Jersey, near the fork of the road leading down to Rosencrantz ferry. On the other side of the river, in Northampton county, is the Walpack ferry. This site was upon the Old Mine Road which connected the original copper/zinc mines in the Minisinck with New Amsterdam. The original deed for the ground, containing four acres, upon which the church was erected was made by Thomas Brink and Nicholas Schoonhovan, in the tenth year of His Majesty, King George, 1 February 1737.

Nothing is known of John's early life, but it would have been much the same as any backwoods boy. For my previous attempts at describing such a life, see the story of John's little brother on the David Heysham page.

John, and his young brother Thomas, were illiterate and could only make their mark, an X, on official documents. However, their little brother, David, could sign his name. My guess is that the difference lay with Thomas Sr.'s second wife, Elizabeth Brink, whom he married around 1765. At that time John was 19 and Thomas 15, thus both were "out of the house" in the sense that they spent most of their time in the field or forest. David, however, was only 3 and a perfect candidate for a little tutorial at the hearth. This would assume that Elizabeth was literate and Thomas Sr.'s first wife, Catherina Kleyn, was not. All of the boys probably learned Dutch, or German, from their mother or step-mother.

John married circa 1770, when he was about 24 years old. I base this on the birth of his purported son, William, between 1770 and 1773. Note that John's younger brother, Thomas, married in 1772. While the boys wouldn't have to marry in accordance with their birth order, I expect they did. John's wife at the time of his pension application in 1818 was Mary, who was born in about 1759. That looks like a second wife to me.

The Revolutionary War began in earnest in 1775. John later recalled that in 1775 he joined a Ranger company under the command of Captain Isaac Belknap in "Fish Kill," New York. It sounds odd that our John would have been a member of a New York unit while coming from Pennsylvania, but New York does lie close by, at the other end of the Minisink valley, and there were many social and cultural links with the Dutch of Ulster and Dutchess counties.

John's recollections seem to be uniformly one year previous to the actual date (Julian vs. Gregorian dating), so he may have meant 1776. He served with the Rangers for eight months, probably first enlisting in about August 1776. Fishkill is in Dutchess county, between West Point, to the south, and Poughkeepsie, to the north, on the east side of the Hudson river. Newburgh, where John mustered out of the service at the end of the war, lies on the other side of the river.

John's father, Thomas Hesom, was known as a "violent Whig," committed to the revolutionary cause and all of the Hissom boys served in the war. Thomas Hissom, enlisted in the Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment in March 1776, while Abner and William Hissom enlisted in the Flying Camp in July 1776. Little David joined the militia a few years later, as soon as he reached the age of 16.

Captain Belknap had trouble keeping his Ranger unit up to strength, in March 1777 there were only 23 men and officers in his unit, and it was stood-down in May 1777. John had already moved on by then, enlisting, on 5 March 1777, in the Fourth Regiment, Seventh Company of the New York Line, as a Private.

"The New York Line . . . Fourth Regiment . . . Seventh Company . . . Privates . . . Hissam, Jno., Mar 5, '77 [enlisted]; war [duration of service], des'd [deserted] Apr 1, '77. M R . . ." - from "New York in the Revolution"

Undated, Jno Hissam Private, Smith's Co. [Captain Israel Smith], 4th New York Regiment, date of enlistment: 5 March 1777, Period enlisted for: W [war], Occurrences: Desrd [deserted] 1 Apl '77
5 September 1777, John Hissam Private, Company near Loudons ferry [on the Mohawk river, five miles above the Hudson, near Albany], Enlisted: March 5, 17__, mustered "for the month of Nov 21/ [sic] to Sept 5, 1777," Remarks: desererted [sic] April 1

A Muster Roll of Capt Israel Smith's Company in the Fourth Battalion [sic] of New York Forces in the Service of the
United States Commanded by Col Henry B Livingston
. . .
Appointed: March 5 Privates: John Hissam For What Time: during war Remarks: desert April 1

The Line Regiment The Line Regiment was at the heart of any European army of the eighteenth century. It was an infantry unit that in battle was deployed in a long line, hence the name, shoulder-to-shoulder, and from two to four ranks deep, directly opposite an enemy who was aligned in the same fashion. These units operated in clock-work fashion, advancing, wheeling, firing and reloading in unison. Our modern manual of arms and parade ground drill both derive from this period. The Line Regiment employed the muzzle loading flintlock musket, known in British and American armies as the 'Brown Bess.' It was a smooth-bore weapon and used an under-sized round to make ramming home easier & faster during reload. However, as a consequence the round 'rattled' down the barrel after firing, exiting the muzzle in an unpredictable fashion. Officers tried to maneuever their men inside 100 yards of the enemy before firing to compensate for this weapon's notorious inaccuracy. However, a well drilled soldier, which the British were, could fire three rounds a minute while standing up against a withering counter-fire. It was armies such of these that created an empire, forcing the French out of their colonies during the Seven Years War and seizing India against armies ten times their size. When undrilled American armies met the British on their terms, as at Long Island, the results could be catastrophic. Importantly, the musket, unlike the rifle, employed a bayonet for the final charge. Many American armies composed of otherwise brave men, collapsed when confronted by hard steel. This was a method of warfare well suited to the European terrain of open plains, denuded of forests over the centuries. It was also well suited to European soldiery. The Duke of Wellington famously said of his own men that they were 'scum,' and he was correct. Only men from the lowest rungs of society, lacking any other means of employment and often recruited from the prisons, would put up with the hellish conditions of armies of that period.

In his pension request John Hissam related that in April 1777 he was recruited by a Lieutenant Lawrence for duty in the 5th Company of the 5th Regiment of the New York Line. A Lieutenant Daniel Lawrence had been an officer in the 4th Regiment, circa February 1776, before moving to the 5th. I suspect that it was he that brought John into the 5th with him.

No records of John's service in the 5th Regiment survive prior to July 1777, but those show that John enlisted in the Regiment on 1 April 1777. He probably served in the Hudson river valley, north of New York City; the regiment keeping a watch on British movements and protecting the inhabitants from Indian attacks. The following are the surviving muster and pay rolls for John Hissam in Captain Hamtramck's Company of the 5th Regiment:

10 July 1777, John Hessam Private, Capt. John F. Hamtramck's Co. of the 5th New York Reg't of Foot, commanded by Col. Lewis Duboys, mustered through July 1777, Enlisted: April 1 17__, Term of enlistement: D War

A Muster Roll of Capt John Hamtramcks Company of the Regmt of Foot in the service of
The United States Commanded by Coll Lewis Dubois ___ 1777
. . .
Privates
. . .
John Hessam April 1st [appointment] . . . During war [duration of service]

1 August 1777, John Hessam Private, Apppointed: April 1 17__, Term of enlistment: D War
2 September 1777, John Hasam Private

In his pension request of 1818 John recalled that he served with Colonel Dubois' 5th regiment in Captain Hamtranck's company at the Battle of Fort Montgomery. The fort was lost and John claimed that the regiment's company books, including enlistment records, were destroyed while Fort Montgomery was in British hands. According to John's later recollections he and many of his compatriots were taken captive. Colonel Dubois was taken prisoner as well, on 6 October 1777 - from "Historical Register of Officers of the Continental Army" by Francis Bernard Heitman. They were all soon released. Apparently the attack had been simply a demonstration of the British army's ability to defeat the Americans whenever they chose.

The Battle of Fort Montgomery The Hudson river, three miles above Peekskill, was blockaded by the Americans who had strung, across the river, an iron chain and boom. The boom was protected by four war-ships and two fortifications named Fort Montgomery and Fort Clinton on the western bank of the river. The attack on Fort Montgomery and Fort Clinton, which was on the opposite shore, was led by Sir Henry Clinton on October 6, 1777. About six hundred Americans defended the forts but they were vastly outnumbered by British and German forces: General Henry, with Hessian troops commanded by Emmerich Chasseur, American Loyalist troops commanded by Captain George Turnbull, and Lieutenant-Colonel Mungo Campbell with the 57th and 52nd Regiments, were engaged at the Fort Montgomery attack. The attack of Fort Clinton included the 26th, Fraser's Highlanders, one company of German Chasseurs, and the 63rd Regiment. The Americans refused British offers to surrender and repelled the British until nighttime when the British overran the fort. Both British and American armies suffered many casualties. See The Battle of Fort's Montgomery and Clinton for more information.

The following are more muster and pay rolls from the 5th Regiment:

1 November 1777, John Hessam Private, mustered for Sept-Nov 1777, Enlisted: 15 April 1777
12 December 1777, John Hesson Private, Enlisted: Ap'l 15 17__, Term of enlistment: D War

Muster Roll of Capt John Hamtramcks Company of Foot in the
Service of the United States of America in the Regiment
Commanded by Col Lewis Dubois taken from y. 1. of Febr. to y. 1. of March 1778
. . .
Privates
. . .
John Hessam 15 April [appointment] . . . war [duration of service]

7 January 1778, John Hesson Private, mustered through 1 Jan'y 1778
8 February 1778, John Hessom Private, on Command
12 March 1778, John Hessam Private, mustered for Feb 1778, Enlisted: April 15 17__, Term of enlistment: D War
6 April 1778, John Hessam Private, mustered for March 1778, Remarks: On Command
12 May 1778, John Hasam Private, Enlisted: 31 March
23 June 1778, John Hessom Private, Peckskill, mustered for May-June 1778

John is mentioned in another document, "Records of the Revolutionary War," by William Thomas Roberts Saffell, George Washington, and Charles Lee.

"The Seventh Company
John F. Hamtramck, Captain . . .
. . .
Privates for Nine Months from June 14, 1778.
. . .
John Hasom"

22 July 1778, John Hasam Private, White Plains
1 August 1778, John Hessam Private, Pay per month 6 2/3 Doll., Amount L2, 13s, 4d.
6 August 1778, John Hasam Private, White Plains, mustered for Juyly-Aug 1778
4 September 1778, John Hessam Private, White Plains, Remarks: On Command, Wagoner

More muster rolls for Captain Hamtramck's company:

Roll of Captain John F Hamtramcks Company Colo. Lewis DuBois Regiment New York Forces__
In the Field, on Command, and Sick in Hospital. Camp White Plains 12th Sept. 1778
. . .
In the Field
. . .
Privates
. . .
John Hessam war [duration of service]

12 September 1778, John Hessam Private, Camp White Plains, In the Field
7 October 1778, John Hasam Private, Camp, mustered for Sept 1778

The regiment then moved north to Camp Continental village, which was at the Army headquarters at West Point.

1 November 1778, John Hasam Private, Continental Village, Remarks: Wagenner

"In February, 1779, Gen. Clinton, having learned the Intentions of the Enemy in invading the Mohawk Settlements, marched from Albany to Schenectady, with Col. Van Schaick's Regiment (the Fifth New York Line), and ordered the Latter up to Caughnawaga. The threatened inroad was averted, but the Duplicity of the Onondaga seemed to require a summary Course by way of Punishment and Example. And in April, a Party of five hundred Men, detailed from the Regiments of Cols. Van Schaick and Gansevoort, was sent under the former to surprise the Onondaga Settlements [on Lake Ontario], and utterly destroy their Villages and Property." - from "The Order Book of Capt. Leonard Bleeker," edited by Franklin Benjamin Hough.

Muster Rolls of Capt John F Hamtramcks Company in the (5) Battalion of New York Troops in__
The service of the United States of America Commanded by Col Lew Dubois for the Months Jany. - Febr. 1779
. . .
Privates
. . .
John Hesom . . . On Comd. Jacobus Kill

10 January 1779, John Hasom Private, Schohary, mustered for Nov-Dec 1778

11 March 1779, John Hesom Private, Schohary, mustered for Jan-Feb 1779, Remarks: on Com'd Jacobus Kill
6 May 1779, John Hasam Private, Johnstown [just north of Jacobus Kill, in Fulton county], mustered for Mar-April 1779

After this John's unit became involved in the Sullivan campaign to revenge the Wyoming massacre and suppress the Iroquois Confederacy, allies of the British.

Both John Hasam and Jno. Hissam were on a list of those who participated in the Sullivan-Clinton Campaign, as a Corporal. I have recently found a complete version of the reference below.

"Fifth New York Regiment
. . .
The May 1779 has this officer roll:
Lewis Dubois Colonel
. . .
Eighth Company

John F. Hamtranck Captain
Benjamin Lawrence Sergeant
Alexander Humphrey Sergeant
Wm. Barkens (Barker) Sergeant May 1, 1779
Moses Gee Corporal May 1, 1779
John Hasam Corporal May 1 1779
John Wandle Corporal
John Ross Drummer
Thomas Russell Fifer
. . ." - from "The Sullivan Expedition of 1779: The Regimental Rosters of Men" by Albert Hazen Wright, page 131

"(Jno. Hissam) Corporal (see Capt. I[srael] Smith's Co.)
Wm. Whitehead Drummer
Wm. Cooke Fifer

. . ." - from "The Sullivan Expedition of 1779: The Regimental Rosters of Men" by Albert Hazen Wright, page 131

Early in June Clinton's Brigade left their Schoharie county camp and moved up the Mohawk river in batteux. "Boats were provided at Schenectady which ascended the Mohawk to Canajoharie." - from the "History of Sullivan's Campaign Against the Iroquois" by A. Tiffany Norton. Clinton's army were in Canajoharie, by 14 June. Some source claim Clinton stopped at Fort Plain, a town and fort on the border of Canjoharie. The General may have stayed inside the fort while his troops encamped in the nearby village.

On 19 June a detachment of the brigade began to clear a road to Lake Otsego, 20 miles away. John's regiment took a muster:

23 June 1779, John Hasam Private, Cassogohary, Remarks: promoted to Corpl the first of May
23 June 1779, John Hasam Corporal, Cassogohary

The army moved out of the Cannojohary camp by regiment. John's company left on 25 June. From the Order Book:

"Colonel Dubois' Regiment will march this Morning on their Way to Lake Otsego, as soon as thery are ready, together with the Train of Artillery, Military Stores, and Baggage. The Light Infantry Company of Col. Dubois's Regiment, will march in the Front of the Column, followed by the Train of Artillery, after which will march the Military Stores and Baggage, and the Battalion and the Rear of the Whole." - from "The Order Book of Capt. Leonard Bleeker," edited by Franklin Benjamin Hough

"On July 4th the third anniversary of Independence was celebrated, the General "being pleased to order that all troops under his command should draw a gill of rum per man, extraordinary, in memory of that happy event." - from "The Old New York Frontier" by Francis Whiting Halsey

Clinton's brigade encamped at Lake Otsego for over a month.

"The long Delay of the Expedition at Otsego Lake, proved very burdensome to the Army, and both Officers and Privates began to fear that the Campaign would fail in accomplishing any Results. It appears that the Cause of the Delay, was a Series of Embarassments attending the Collection of Supplies at Wyoming . . ." - from "The Order Book of Capt. Leonard Bleeker," edited by Frankling Benjamin Hough

Sullivan sent Hand's Brigade, some nine hundred men to link up with Clinton's Column. The two columns moved towards each other burning villages between them, meeting on 19 August. Clinton's fifteen hundred men would a boost to Sullivan's army to a total force to its full strength of nearly forty-five hundred men.

The expanded army left Tioga on 26 August. Hand's riflemen led the way, again screening the main body, while Clinton's New Yorkers took the rear, and the other two brigades took either flank, quarding the baggage train in-between. Quick word was sent back to the British at Fort Niagara that this was no militia force, but well-trained regulars led by an energetic general.

The American's still faced many difficulties. The going was difficult, and the wagons and artillery often bogged down or overturned. However, by the 28th the column had reached Chemung, the troops fanning out to harvest the crops the Indians had abandoned.

The Iroquois and their British allies decided to ambush the Americans near the village of Newtown, resulting in the only decisive battle of the campaign. The ambush failed when an alert scouting force detected the trap. Hand's riflemen held down the supposed ambushers while Poor's and Clinton's brigades outflanked the Indian's left, coming up on their rear. The Iroquois and Tory force was heavily defeated.

Sullivan's army then carried out a scorched earth campaign, methodically destroying at least forty Iroquois villages throughout what is now upstate New York, in retaliation for Iroquois and Tory attacks against American settlements earlier in the war. The devastation created great hardships for the thousands of Iroquois refugees outside Fort Niagara that winter, and many starved or froze to death. The survivors fled to British regions in Canada and the Niagara Falls and Buffalo areas.

After the successful completion of Sullivan's campaign against the Iroquois the regiment took another muster.

Muster Roll of Capt John F Hamtramck Comp in the Battalion of New York Forces
In the service of the United States of America Commanded by Coll Lew Dubois for the Months of
June July August & September 1779
. . .
Corporals
. . .
John Hessam . . .

17 October 1779, John Hessam Corporal, mustered for June-Sept 1779

12 December 1779, John Hasam Corporal, Camp Wich Farm [Wicks Farm at Morristown], mustered for Oct-Nov 1779
27 January 1780, John Hasam Corporal, Camp Morristown [New Jersey], Remarks: on duty
3 March 1780, John Hasam Corporal, Camp near Morristown, mustered for Jan-Feb 1780, Remarks: on furlough by Capt. Hamtramck Smith [sic] from the 14 of Feby tel 26 of February
4 May 1780, John Hasam Corporal, Camp near Morristown, mustered for Mar-April 1780

5 July 1780, John Hasam Corporal, Camp West Point, mustered for May-June 1780, under Captain John F. Hamtramck, 5th Regiment, Colonel Lewis Duboys, New York Line, Brigidier General James Clinton, for May & June 1780
1 September 1780, John Hessom Corporal, Pay per month: 7 30/90 Dolls

"New York Line--5th Regiment
Captain John F. Hamtamck's Company, May and June 1780
Muster Roll of Capt John F. Hamtamck's Company in the 5th New York Regiment in the Service of the United States of
America Lately Commanded by Colle Lewis Duboys for May & June 1780.
. . .
Corporals
Moses Gee
John Hasam
John Wandell
. . .
Camp West Point July the 5th 1780. Mustered then Capt John F. Hamtramck's Company as Specified in the above Roll
Nicho Fise, Inspector" - from "Muster and Pay Rolls of the War of the Revolution, 1775-1783"

6 September 1780, John Hasam Corporal, Camp Stone Rabia [Stone Arabia, in the Mohawk valley], under Captain John F. Hamtramck, 5th Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Marinus Willet, Esq., for July & August 1780
31 December 1780, John Hasam Corporal, Schenectady, mustered for Sept-Dec 1780

From the records of the 5th New York Regiment, under Colonel Lewis Dubois, the Fourth Company of Captain Philip De Bevier:

"Hissam, Jno., Corpl,, Apr 1, '77; war, Corpl. May, '79, m. [mustered] to Jan'y, '82. M R [Military Register]" - from "Documents Relating to The Colonial History of the State of New York" edited by Berthold Fernow.

John must have transferred out of Captain Hamtranck's company near the end of his term in the 5th Regiment.

When the 4th and 5th Regiments were consolidated with the 2nd Regiment in January 1781 John went with them. John Hessum, an enlisted man, was a member of the Second Regiment of the New York Line under Colonel Philip Van Cortlandt - from "New York in the Revolution as Colony and State" by James Arthur Roberts. Cortlandt had been a Colonel in the 4th Regiment. I have a muster card for the 2nd New York Line, similar to the one for the 5th, above, that lists a John Hessum, Corporal. John appears in musters of these New York regiments from 1777 to 1783 as John Hessom, Hessam or Hesom - from www.footnote.com.

The 2nd Regiment, now consolidated with the 4th and 5th, was assigned to the New York Brigade of the Northern Deparment. Here is a sampling of musters/pay rolls for John Hessom in Captain Henry Vanderburgh's Eighth company of the 2nd Regiment, presumably located in New York state at this time:

Pay Roll of Captain Henry Vanderburgh Company in the 2nd New York Reg
Commanded by Colo Philip Cortland for__Jan Feb March May and June 1781
. . .
John Hessem Corp . . . 44 [Dollars]

1 July 1781, John Hessom Corporal, muster for Jan-June 1781,
8 July 1781, term of enlistment: war

". . . you are to proceed (Sir in the order they are mentioned) to Springfield by the way of Sufferan [Suffern], Pompton, the Two Bridges, and Chatham . . . Given at King's Bridge this 25th day of August, 1781. Geo Washington." - from "A History of the County of Westchester."

Several anecdotes survive from Cortlandt's regiment on the march south. The stories themselves aren't very interesting, but the following does show how hard discipline was in the army of that day. Colonel Cortlandt was concerned that his soldiers were stealing from each other. In order to stop the habit he gave orders that the next man found guilty would receive fifty lashes for every shilling stolen. A man named Gregg who stole a shirt whose owner valued it at two dollars was "literally flayed." Other anecdotes reveal that the beatings did not stop the thefts.

By the second week in September Washington's army had reached Baltimore, Maryland.

15 September 1781, Jno Hessom Corporal, Baltimore, Mo pay 7 1/3 Dols [he put his mark, that is he could not write]

The Battle of Yorktown The Southern Campaign of British General Cornwallis had not be successful and in the summer of 1781 he moved north and encamped his army on a penisula at Yorktown, Virginia. Seeing a chance to trap their enemy, Generals Washington and Rochambeau began to move their armies south, out of New York, on 21 August 1781. Before Washington arrived French Admiral De Grasse was able to defeat a British fleet under Admiral Thomas Graves at the Battle of the Capes of Virginia. This ensured control of the sea for the period of the land battle to come, and cut-off Cornwallis' only line of supply or retreat. The battle itself was a siege, from 28 September to 19 October, and played to Washington's greatest asset, meticulous planning, and avoided his greatest weakness, the inability to respond quickly to rapid changes on a more fluid battlefield.

On 28 September the battle began with a great overnight entrenchment by the American and French forces. Duty in the trenches was taken in turn by the three divisions, Lincoln's entering on the 9th. The 2nd New York regiment served piquet guard at Yorktown. The piquet, or "picket," is an advance unit acting as a trip wire and ready force in case of a sudden attack by night. This may mean they had little part in building the trenches, redoubts and batteries, much of which occurred in the dark. The lack of muster reports by the regiment for this period may be due to the pace of the events.

On the 9th, the same day Lincoln's division entered the trenches, the great bombardment of Yorktown began. By the night of the 11th, having silenced many of the British guns, a second trench line was constructed within storming distance of the British lines. The British made an assault on this line, but it failed.

"The Dutchess Regiment (now the 2d New York under Colonel Philip Van Cortlandt) mounted the Yorktown trenches on October 12, "Completing our second parallel." This was only two hundred yards from the enemy's guns.

Relieved on the 13th, the regiment returned the 15th, and participated in the repulse of the English counterattack, which ended the . . ." - from "Old Dutchess Forever!" by Henry Noble MacCracken

After the battle the 2nd regiment was given 700 British and Hessian prisoners of war to conduct to Fredicksburg, Virginia. They then went into winter quarters in New Jersey, at Pompton. At this point the Revolution was won, peace only waited on the British Government to come to terms with Cornwallis' surrender.

22 January 1782, Jno Hessom Corporal, Hutts near Pumpton [Pompton, New Jersey], mustered for July-Dec 1781
31 January 1782, Jno Hessom Corporal, Pumpton
28 February 1782, John Hessom Corporal, Pay per month: 7 30/90 Dollars
28 February 1782, John Hessam Corporal, Pompton
5 April 1782, John Hessom Corporal, Furlow'd to the 10th Aprl
12 May 1782, John Hessom Corporal
10 July 1782, John Hessom Corporal

"During the spring of 1782 his camp [Col Cortlandt's] on the Flat Fields [probably Pompton Plains] was visited by General and Lady Washington." - from "A History of the County of Westchester."

8 September 1782, John Hessom Corporal
16 October 1782, John Hessom Corporal, Reduced 11th Sept [to Private, no reason given]
6 November 1782, John Hessom Private, term of enlistment: duration

Roll and Muster of the Eighth Company 2nd New York Regiment for the Month of December 1782
Capt Henry Vanderburgh
. . .
Privates
. . .
John Hessom Corp

1 December 1782, John Hessom Private, mustered for Nov 1782
19 January 1783, John Hessom Private, mustered for Dec 1782
20 February 1783, John Hessom Private, mustered for Jan'y 1783

Roll and Muster of Seventh Company 2nd New York Regiment for the Month of March 1783 [Vanberburgh's company now called the 7th]
. . .
Stephen Nicholls Corp
. . .
John Hessom Private

22 April 1783, John Hessom Private, mustered for March 1783
21 May 1783, John Hessom Private, mustered for April 1783

Muster Roll of Capt Henry V Derburgh Company in the 2nd N. York Reg. in the Service of the United States
of America Commanded by Col. Philip Cortlandt for the Months of Jan'ry Feb'ry March April May & June 1783
. . .
Corporals
. . .
John Hessum

The reference below is to the register of certificates issues by John Pierce, Paymaster General and Commissioner of Army Accounts for the United States, to Officers and Soldiers of the Continental Army Under Act of July 4, 1783. This act attempted to make good shortfalls in pay experienced during the revolutionary war years. There appear to be three certificates issued to John. A note in the explanatory text says, "Apparently it was not practicable to consolidate into one certificate all the amounts due each particular soldier, and several certificates on account of separate items of indebtedness, in some cases for as small a sum as $1, were issued to the same man."

No. of Certificate - To whom issued - Amount
57308 - Hessom, John - 30.08
56734 - Hesson, John - 78.22
58348 - Hesum, John - 80.00
- from Report of Daughters of the American Revolution in "Pierce's Register" by the United States Pay Department

On 26 May 1784 [this again may be off by a year] John Hysham was mustered in the Fifth Battalion, Northampton militia, serving under Lieutenant Colonel Jacob Strowd [sic], Captain Benjamin Scoonhover, Lieutenant John Fish, Ensign Richard Tillberry, and Sergeant John Delong. David and Thomas Jr., his younger brothers, were mustered in the same unit. This muster roll shows David as being in the 2nd class, John in the 6th, and Thomas Junr in the 7th. This makes sense, since it would mean the boys would be called up separately, allowing someone to remain back on the farm.

In 1784 John's son, William, would have been 11 to 14 years old, and grown up more under the guidance of his grandfather and uncles than his father. John married Mary, probably upon his return from the war in 1784, that is, when she was about 25 years old. I think John had one child, William, with his first wife, before the war, and three children with Mary.

Having been in the service of New York John would have received a land warrant from the state he served. New York set aside a large acreage in the western part of the state in the Finger Lakes district for their veterans. This included 28 townships in the present counties of Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, Cortland, Oswego, Wayne, Schuyler, and Tompkins. However, as more fully discussed in 'Bounty Land Warrants,' most men sold their grants to speculators and never settled the regions set aside for that purpose. There were two land records recorded for John in New York around 1790:

"Hesum, John. N.Y. Private. 8 Jul. 1790. 600 acres." - from the "Revolutionary War Bounty Land Grants" by Lloyed DeWit Bockstruck

"Name: Hesum, John Grade: Private Line: New York
Warrant Number: 7236 Acreage: 100 Issued: Jan. 6, 1791 [underwritten] to ____ not shown ____" - from the "Calendar of the N.Y. Colonial Manuscripts Indorsed Land Papers, Extracts."

"Hesum, John, N. Y., BLWt. 7236-100-Pvt. Issued 1/6/1791. No Papers" - from the "National Genealogical Society Quarterly"

There was no listing for John in the Federal Tax lists of 1785, 1786 or 1788. However in 1786 we have

"Heysham, John, 400 acres, surveyed Nov. 20, 1786" - from "Land Warrants for Northampton county, Pennsylvania 1752 - 1886"

In the 1790 census of Lower Smithfield, Northampton county, Pennsylvania as John Hysham. In the household was one woman and and a boy less than 16 years old [c1774-1776]; William should have been 17 to 20. His father, Thomas, and brothers, Thomas Jr. and David, were also living in Lower Smithfield at this time.

John's 400 acres were again surveyed on 26 February 1793. This is corraborated in the Pennsylvania Archives, Third Series, Vol.26 (Northampton County).

In about 1793 I believe John's father, Thomas Hesom, died. John subsequently moved to western Pennsylvania with his brother, Thomas Jr., and step-brother, Levi Swartwout. However, I think he left his eldest child, William, behind, probably living across the river in New Jersey with his new wife.

I note that John's nephew, Thomas' son Abner, appeared in a petition of 1796 by the inhabitants of Luzerne county, in the Wyoming valley northwest of Northampton county. The document's signers were unhappy with the administration of Pennsylvania and were trying to convince Connecticut that it should try to regain sovereignty of the region. This implies that Thomas and his family, including Abner, stopped in Luzerne county enroute to the far western Westmoreland county. Note that Thomas' little brother, David, by his own account, lived in Luzerne county from about 1795 to 1798. I think it probable that all of the brothers moved to Luzerne county at the same time, and that Thomas and John moved on to Westmoreland at about the same time that David moved back to Northampton, for his short stay there.

By the time of the Federal census of 1800, only John’s youngest brother, David, was still shown as living in Lower Smithfield.

In the 1800 census of Mount Pleasant township, Westomoreland county, Pennsylvania as John Hissim. Note the use of the Hissim spelling in his son's family, below. The household included one man over 45, that is born no later than 1755, one girl 10 to 15 years old [she must have been born circa 1790 since she was absent in the 1790 census], and a woman, presumably his wife, aged 26 to 44 years old. If this was our John Hissom, he would have been 54 years old in 1800. John's wife looks to be Mary, his wife at the time of his pension application in 1818, who was born in about 1759, being about 41 years old in 1800. Strangely John didn't settle that close to his brother, Thomas Hissem, who was living in Unity township, Westmoreland county at the time. John's other surviving brother, David, was still in Lower Smithfield at this time.

In the 1810 census of Pitt township, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania as John Hissem. Pitt township is the proto-city of Pittsburgh, just down the Monongahela river from Westmoreland county. In the household was a boy under 10, David, and a man 45 and over; that is, he must have been born before 1766. Our John would have been 64 at the time. Women included a girl under 10, Else, another 10 to 15, and a woman 26 to 44 years old, John's wife, Mary. John's brother, Thomas, had moved to Hempfiled township in Westmoreland county at this time while David had finally come out west, to East Huntingdon township, Westmoreland county.

In about April 1812 John's house burned down, destroying among other things his discharge papers. John's little brother, David, fought in the War of 1812, serving at Fort Norfolk, in eastern Virginia.

In 1818 a pension act for veterans of the Revolutionary War was passed by Congress. At this time John was living in the village of Lawrenceville, near Pittsburgh. He may have been drawn there by the new federal arsenal which was the chief employer in the town.

Amongst a plethora of pension documents for John were,

Commonwealth of Penna Allegheny County

The Declaration made under Oath this Sixth day of May in the Year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and Eighteen of John Heisam a Soldier of the late revolutionary army, a resident citizen of the United States of America now abiding in the Village of Lawrenceville in the Township of Pitt County of Allegheny Penna and an applicant for a Pension from the United States.

Represents. That he was born on the 20th August A.D. 1747 in the Township of Smithfield County of Northampton Penna. That he is now in reduced circumstances in life from Old age disability and Losses by fire and other Misfortunes and that he is in need of assistance from his Country for Support that he has heretofore received no pension or aid whatever from the United States and if any has been allowed to him he hereby relinquishes the Same except that allowed him by the Act of Congress of the 18th March 1818.

That he was enlisted by Lieut Lawrence in the 5th Company of the 5 Regt of the New York line on Continental establishment in the Month of April A.D. 1776 for the period of three years but that at the Storming of Fort Montgomery in the Highlands on Hudson River in the State of New York the Enlistments and other papers with the Company Books of his Regiment were lost the Enemy having possessed themselves of the Same and all the Survivors of the Regiment were returned for during the War [i.e. prisoners were exchanged]. At the Storming of Fort Montgomery the Company in which the deponent Served was commanded by Captain John Hamtramkc [sic] A Canadian Frenchman. The Regt was commanded by Col Lewis Dubois. That there were five Regiments raised in New York in the Early part of the War when that State made up its Quota of Troops but through losses sustained they were afterward consolidated into the 1st and 2nd Regts when he was attached to the 2nd Regt Commanded by Col Philip Van Courtland and Served in the 5th Company [sic] Commanded by Capt Henry Vanderburgh. That his Discharge and other papers were destroyed in the Destruction of his House by fire Six Years ago last April. That he Served through the War to the taking of Cornwallis and was discharged at Newburgh on the 7th April 1783.

Pennsylvania Allegheny Co.

John Heisam X His mark

County of Westmoreland of
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Thomas Hissim personally appeared before me one of the Commonwealth Justice of the peace in and for said County who being sworn as the law directs who disposeth and sayeth that John Hissim was a inlisted [sic] soldier in the Company Commanded by John Hamtrainck in the year seventeen hundred and seventy seven. I was with him in the army and seen him on the [Cuntary] on Furlow and [garbled] sayeth that I seen him after the peace was Confirmed and had a discharge from the Redgment [sic] or Company to wich he did belong.

Thomas Hissim X His mark

Sworn and subscribed before me this 21 day of October AD 1818
Wm Hunter

Service: New York
Name: Heisam, John
Claim: S39672

Pennsylvania
4337
John Heisam
Colo Dubois 7 [garbled]
New York Line 1776 War
the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War
Described on the Roll of Pennsylvania in the rate of 8 dollars per month, to commence on the 6 of May 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 11 of Nov 1818 and sent Major A. R. Wooley
Pittsburgh Penna
Arrears to 4th of Sep 1818 [some math follows] 31.76
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 22 Mar 1819 - 48.
$79.76
Revolutionary claim, Act 18th March, 1818
Pittsburgh Allegheny Co

The records even include the envelope in which John's petition for a pension was enclosed, addressed to J. C. Calhoun, in Washington D.C. In 1820 a new law required every pension recipient to submit a certified schedule of his estate and income. The following was that for John. It included a list of personal property and an affirmation that no property, securities, contracts, etc were due to him.

United States
Western District of Pennsylvania

On the 26th day of June 1820 pesonally appeared in open court being a court of record in and for said District John Heisam said about seventy five years [1745] resident of said District [garbled] being first duly sworn according to law [garbled] on his oath declare that he served in the revolutionary war as follows, to wit that in the year 1775 I enlisted at Fish Kill in the state of New York in Capt Isaac Belknap's Ranger's company. I served eight months therein, in 1776 I enlisted in Capt John Hamtramack's company in the 5th New York regiment commanded by Col Lewis Dubois and that after various services I was discharged at [Schenectady?, garbled] in said State [garbled] 1783 [garbled] being in Capt Henry Vanderburgh's company in the 2nd regiment of the New York line commanded by Col Philip Courtland. That I secured a pension on certificate No. 4337. And solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818 and that I have [very garbled, but very obsequious] . . . on the 18th day of March 1818. That I have not nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities contracts or debts due to me nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule [garbled] annexed & by me subscribed viz 3 chairs 1 table 2 bucketts 3 crocks 3 [garbled] 1 Kettle and 1 [garbled] Kettle 1 coffee mill 4 cups & 4 saucers 4 delf plates 6 [garbled] 1 sugar bowl 1 tin coffee pot 1 spinning wheel 1 small trunk 1 milch cow all worth perhaps twenty two dollars twelve & a hlf cents.

I also do declare that my occupation is a laborer, but owing to age, infirmity etc I am unable to pursue it. [Garbled] wife living with me whose name is Mary aged about fifty nine years [1759] who is likewise weak & infirm. Also a son David aged Eleven years & a Daughter Else aged thirteen years & no other family residing with me. And further deponent doth declare [garbled] he is in [garbled] indigient circumstances as to be unable to support myself without the assistance of my [struck out] his country.

John Heisam X His mark

PA Residents who were Federal Pensioners in 1820

"A list of Persons residing in the State of Pennsylvania who have been placed on the Pension Roll of the United States under the Act of Congress of the 18th day of March 1818; showing the rank or capacity in which each served, and made in compliance with a request of the Senate of Pennsylvania."

[Privates unless otherwise specified - highlighted persons are on Federal Pension Schedules for Luzerne County in the 1840 Census]
. . .
John Heisam [not highlighted]"

"Heisam, John" - from Alphabetical List of Revolutionary Soldiers in "Pennsylvania in the War of the Revolution"

There was a "John Heisham, Private" in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Agency's lists of U.S. Pensioners, of 1818-1832 and 1833-1849. His pension began on 6 May 1818.

In the 1820 census of Pitt township, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania as John Hissem. In his household was a boy under 10, another 16 to 26, [David would have been 13], and a man 45 and over. Our John would have been 74 at this time. Women in the household included a woman 45 and over. John's brother, David, had moved to Tyler county, Virginia by this time. His other brother, Thomas, may have gone as well, though the records are less clear. Thomas was in Virginia by 1830 however.

"NY/PA John Heisam b 20 Aug 1747, Smithfield Twp., Northampton Co., PA.
In 1820 sol, aged c75, res Allegheny Co., PA. S-39672."
- from "Revolutionary War Period: Bible, Family & Marriage Records" by Helen M. Lu and Gwen B. Neumann.

In 1820 the population of Pittsburgh was over 7,000.

John may have followed his brothers in their earlier move down the Ohio river. In the Tyler county Personal Property Tax List of 1825 were listed,

Hissam? Thomas (the 2nd)
Hissam John
Hewit Daniel
Hughes Jackson
Hanes Nathan
Hains Robert (Exempt)
Hissam David
Hissam Jesse
Hissam Levi
Howel Daniel
Hains William
Hains Benjamin
Hanes John
Hissam Thomas (the 3rd)

In the 1830 census . . . I don't see John in Pitt township, Pennsylvania, nor in Tyler county, Virginia, though his brothers, Thomas Hisam Sr. and David Hisam, were.

John Heisham "died 3d March 1834. Paid 1st Q'r 1834." according to the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Agency's lists of U.S. Pensioners, of 1833-1849. John would have been 88 years old. Interestingly, John's little brother, David, died the same year, on 6 September. Another source has more information.

"Heisam, John [or Heissam, Heisham, Hessom] 1818

"Pittsburgh, 10 Mar 1834, former pensioner John Hessom died 3 March 1834, widow Mary [x her mark] collected $47.37, children Ellen [sic] and David." - from "Selected Final Pension Payment Vouchers 1818-1864, Volume 1" by Kathryn McPherson Gunning

"Obituary.
Another Revolutionary Soldier has fallen!!

Whilst the nation is mourning the loss of her great Statesmen, and illustrious Patriots, who have filled the measure of their country's glory, permit me to announce, through your columns, the departure of a soldier of the revolutionary war--one who, although occupying but an humble place in the history of the republic, yet will ever be remembered by those who were the listeners of those noble actions which ended in forming this great nation--Corporatl David Hessom is no more!--This old warrior of 76, left his scene of action on the 3d inst., in the town of Lawrenceville, at the [garbled] age of 95 [1739], admidst innumberable generations, with scarcely a companion of former times. In writing the obituary of this valiant non commissioned officer, it is [pleasing?] to state, that after fighting the battles of his country, and witnessing [garbled] those eventful days, which tried [garbled] died, in the possession of the [garbled] soldier." - from the Pittsburgh Gazette of 3 March 1834

If this truly was a David Hessom, how does that fit into either the Hissom story that I have told, or the Hessom family story you can see below under Isaac Hessom?

The following were the children of John Hissom (1746). Of young William I am uncertain. He could also be the son of John's next younger brother, Thomas, who married in 1772, if we assume William's date of birth was circa 1773. There were three boys, all under 16, living with Thomas at the time of the 1790 census. Two of them were Abner (1774 or 1776) and Thomas (1778). The third I haven't identified. I don't think young William could have been the son of John's other brothers, William, Abner, or David Hissom; Abner was only 18 in 1770, William 16 and David 8. Such an early marriage for William was conceivable, pun intended, but highly unlikely from the evidence of all of the records I've seen.

No matter whose son William was, either John or Thomas, when they went west, circa 1800, they did not take the already adult William with them.
(22) William Hissam (1771)
(22) Unknown Female Hissam (c1790)
(22) Isaac Hessom (c1790)
(22) Jesse Heysham (c1800)
(22) Levi Hissem (c1800)
(22) Else Heisam (1807)
(22) David Heisam (1809)

William was born, depending on your source, in New Jersey or Pennsylvania, and between 1770 and 1773. In a deposition of 1847 William was described as a 78 year old man, that is born circa 1769, and he referred to the years 1788 to 1794 as ones in which he might still have been considered a minor, or less than 21 years old. That would give him a birth year from 1767 to as late as 1773.

I don't know who William's father was, but John Hissom, as Thomas Hesom's eldest son, is the most likely candidate. John's younger brother, Thomas Jr., could also be William's father. Thomas married Mary Parker in 1772 and their eldest known son, Abner, was born in 1774 leaving room in the birth order for William.

In a deposition of 1853 William claimed that he saw service in the revolutionary war, in Colonel Stroud's Battalion, at West Point, in the New York Highlands. He would have been, at most, 13 years old at that time or, if the birth year of 1773 was correct, just 10. Was he a drummer boy or did he just have an active imagination?

In William's defense remember that his father, John Hissom, was encamped with the 2nd Regiment at West Point, and later Newburgh, in the last year of the war. John might have brought his son with him on his return from a furlough home. William's uncles, Thomas Jr. and David, mustered in the Stroud battalion several times during the war and they too may have hosted the boy. There was little danger for William; after Yorktown the military situation in New York was quiet. I haven't been able to find William in Colonel Stroud's battalion, but those records are incomplete. I also haven't been able to verify when Stroud was at West Point, Windsor or Newburgh.

At the time of the 1790 census of Lower Smithfield, Northampton county, Pennsylvania William was probably still living with his father, John Hysham. There was one boy, less than 16 years old [born c1774], in John's household. This could be stretched to cover our William, who would have been 17 to 20 years old at the time. Perhaps his 17th birthday occurred just after the census was taken? Note however that John Hysham's brother, Thomas Jr., had three boys under the age of 16 in his household in the 1790 census, only two of whom are known, Abner (1774) and Thomas (1778).

William later recounted that sometime between 1788 or 1794, when he was still a minor [a birth year betwwen 1767 and 1773], that he worked for Jacob Stroud of Lower Smithfield, in Northampton county. Amongst his jobs was pruning Jacob's apple trees. Stroud was a big man in the county; Colonel of the militia, member of the state assembly and sometimes referrred to as "lord of the manor."

If Mary Hissum, below, was his daugther, then William must have married Catherine, his wife, circa 1795, when he was 22 to 25 years old. In reference to William's wife, Paula Prindle wrote,

"One of my main efforts for many years has been to find out the mother of William Hissim Jr, born 1815 [(22) William Hissam (1771) youngest son]. I have never found it and she could possibly be the Indian from whom the Indian strain supposedly came in. I know that Jacob S [William Hissam Jr.'s son] was often referred to as the "half breed" in The Warren Co NJ area where he lived. I have a picture of his niece, Aunt Lizzie [daughter of Jacob's brother Henry Moses] and she shows many characteristics of the Native Americans here in the east..I remember her quite well although I think I must have seen her last when I was 12 or 14. Her step-grandchildren also mentioned her Indian heritage. It is possible that Wm's mother or even maternal grandmother was of Indian blood. Many of them were Christianised and took English or Dutch names. The Delawares [Lenni Lenapes] were pretty well out of here well before the Revolution, but the Shawnees and some of the other tribes did come out into the area..the Minisees and Munsees were down in that area as well. One old family tale says he [Jacom Samuel] went down to Oklahoma from NJ because he had family on the Cherokee reservation. I looked through all the rolls and never found anything useful...why he ended up in Montana, we will never know!."

At about this time William's father, John, and Uncle Thomas moved to Westmoreland county, in western Pennsylvania. His Uncle David remained in eastern Pennslyvania until about 1803, then also went west, leaving William as the senior representative of the family in the Delaware valley. There are two rationales that pop to mind to explain why William stayed behind. One was the influence of his wife; Catherine may not have wanted to leave the place where her parents lived. Another was William's stepmother; it would not be unprecedented for a second wife to influence her husband to favor his second family over his first. William may not have felt welcome in his step-mother's house.

I haven't found William in the 1800 census. I suspect he was living across the Delaware river, in New Jersey, where his wife, Catherine, was born. Census records for New Jersey are incomplete for 1790-1820. In 1800 only Cumberland county is available.

In the 1810 census of Upper Nazareth, Northampton county, Pennsylvania there was a William Hessham [Wm Hepler in Ancestry.com]. In the household was 1 man 26 to 45 years [our William would have been about 39] and 1 woman 45 or over. Unfortunately I see no children listed. I've stared hard and long at this name in the original document and the surname almost looks like Heysham. The 'He' is very clear, but the next two letters look like either 'p' or, as I think, 'fs', which was how the double-s was drawn in those days. The next letter could be either 'h' or 'l', followed by 'a' or 'e'. The last letter is 'm' or 'n', not 'r'. Nazareth is south of Stroudsburg, and just northwest of Easton. There was no William Hepler, or any surname like it, in the 1820 census for Northampton or Pike county. The Hessham spelling has been used for the village of Heysham, in England. It was also used in 1765 in the marriage announcement of the daughter of Giles Thornton Heysham and in 1861 for George Heysham of Tioga county, Pennsylvania.

By 1820 a new county, Pike, had been carved out of Northampton county. A William Hisham & family were listed in the 1820 census of Middle Smithfield, Delaware, Palmyra, Upper Smithfield, and Lackawaxen townships, in Pike county, Pennsylvania. He had a wife, two sons, David and William J., and two daughters, Mary and Margaret, perhaps. Unfortunately I haven't been able to get back into see this file to check if William's age is correct or if he had a five year old son [there's an error on Ancestry.com that they have been slow to fix]. Note that William's grandfather, Thomas Sr., and uncle, Thomas Jr., both used the Hisham spelling in the Tax Lists of 1786.

The 1830 census for Pike county, Pennsylvania lists a William Hissam. The household contained one boy 10-15 years old, William J., and a man 70 to 80 years old. We know that Mary had married by this time and Margaret married in July 1829. Our William should have been 59-60, but this may be either age inflation or the census taker's error (or my reading comprehension). There was also a woman in the house, 40 to 50 years old. This was a little young for Catherine. William's son, David, is on the next page of the census, the head of his own household.

In the 1840 census of Lehman township, Pike county, Pennsylvania as Wm Hyssam [sic]. Living in the household were one man, between 60 and 70 years old, William, and one woman, between 70 and 80. The latter looks more like the wife of the 1810 census.

In 1847 William attested to Elias Utt's service in the revolution as part of the latter's pension application. William also described his own employment with Colonel Stroud in the post-revolutionary period, his father's war service, and his origins in Lower Smithfield township.

"State of Pennsylvania
Pike County

Before me Moses Vangorden a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Pike aforesaid on the 5th day of June 1847, Personally appeared William Hisam of said County who being by me duly sworn according to the Law did depose and say That he is now near 78 years of age [c1769]. That in or about the year 1788 or so and most certainly prior to 1794 - as he was then a minor in the employ of Col Jacob Stroud of lower Smithfield township then Northampton county now Monroe County, he was well acquainted with one Elias Utt and Lucretia his wife of the same place - having frequently been at this House about four miles distant from Col Strouds, that they were then living and cohabiting together as Man and Wife - and that the s: Elias Utt had a bullet wound on his breast, and that the deponent has frequently been shown the scar. One occassion he distinctly remembered as they, this deponent and Utt, were pruning Apple trees of Col. Strouds when Elias Utt fell from one of the trees - and complained that he had hurt his sore breast - and that he had frequently heard his Father and other old Soldiers, who are now all dead, say that Elias Utt was wounded whilst in the War in the breast by a Bullet - and that the General reputation [?] and belief in the neighborhood was that Elias Utt had been a soldier of the Revolution and that he had been wounded . . ."

William Hisam X His mark

In the 1850 census of Delaware township, Pike county, Pennsylvania as Wm. Hissam, a 79 year old shoemaker, born in New Jersey. Living with him was his wife, Catherine, 78, also born in New Jersey. Note that William's son, William Hisum Jr., was also a shoemaker.

In 1853 William Hissom attested for the military service of John Fish, whose son was an applicant for a pension under the Act of 7 June 1832. Here, however, William also claimed his own service during the war. Was this at all possible or was it the wishful rememberance of an old man? In the last year of the war William could have been only 10 to 13 years old. However, I have to assume that the justice of the peace that took William's deposition must have been able to do the math as well and he raised no objections.

State of Pennsylvania
County of Monroe

On this twenty third day of December 1853 before the Subscribed, one of the Justices of the peace in and for the county and State aforesaid personally appeared William Hissom aged Eighty three years [c1770] who being first dully sworn according to the law, deposes and Says that he was well acquainted with John Fish Senior and John Fish Jr. This deponent Saith that him Self and John Fish Senior was in the army of the Revolution and lay at West Point together and Remained there Some time, and from there we moved to New Winsor and there we was discharged. I do not know or Recollect what years this was in -- and further this deponent Saith that him Self and John Fish Senior did not belong to one company but they both belonged to one Regiment. This deponent Saith that [garbled] him Self and John Fish Senior Returned from the army and lived in the Same neighborhood with John Fish Senior till his decease . . . I think that John Fish Senior was a Lieutenant in the army -- and this deponent further Saith not.

William Hissam X His mark

In the 1860 census Mortality Schedules of Lehman township, Pike county, Pennsylvania as William Hyssum, a 90 year old shoemaker. He died in February 1860 of comsumption after an illness of 64 days.

William had two sons and two daughters per the 1820 census, though only one son was living with him in the 1830 census. Mary had left home by 1820.
(23) Mary Hissum (c1795)
(23) David Hissam (1798)
(23) John Hessam/Hessum (1800)
(23) Margaret Hessom (c1804)
(23) Unknown Daughter of 1820 census
(23) William J. Hissam (1815)

She was probably the daughter of William, the only male adult of the family I know that remained in the Delaware valley after 1803. Mary was born in New Jersey circa 1796. However, she was not in the 1810 census with Wm Hessham [Hepler].

Mary "Polly" Hissum married Ludwig La Bar in about 1815 in Mt. Bethal, Northampton county, Pennsylvania - from Church Records of the Evangelical Lutheran and Reformed Congregation, Mt. Bethel, Northampton county, Pennsylvania. Ludwig was born on 18 August 1790, the son of Peter La Bar [LaBar, LeBar] and Anna Maria Hewrick [Herrick, Heinrich], of Mt. Bethel.

In the 1820 census of Middle Smithfield, Delaware, Palmyra, & Upper Smithfield townships, Pike county, Pennsylvania as Ludwic Labar [Ludwie in Ancestry.com]. Unfortunately I can not open this file due to errors on the web site.

In the 1830 census . . .

In the 1840 census of Walpack, Sussex county, New Jersey as Lodowick Labar. In the house were two boys 15 to 20 years old, two men 20 to 30, and one man 40 to 50 years old - Ludwig would have been about 50. There was also a 10 to 15 year old girl and a woman 40 to 50 years old. Mary would have about 45.

In the 1850 census of Walpack, Sussex county, New Jersey as Ludiwick Labar [Ludwick in Ancestry.com], a 64 [sic] year old farmer, of Pennsylvania. Living with him was his wife, Mary, 54, of New York[?]. Neither could read or write.

A Ludwig Labar, a 70 year old day laborer, of Walpack, Sussex county, New Jersey died in July 1860 of consumption, which he had been suffering from for the past 2 years. He was born in New Jersey. Mary does not show up in the 1860 census for New Jersey or Pennsylvania.

Ludwig and Mary's son, Jacob, was born on 2 May 1816. He married Hannah Sickafoose [Sigafoos] in Walpack. Jacob died on 19 June 1894. He and Hannah were buried in the Walpack Methodist cemetary. According to his gravestone, he was a Private in Company C, 26th New Jersey Infantry. He would have been 46 years old when that unit mustered in 1862. The unit was part of the Army of the Potomac.

David Hissam was born between 1797 and 1805. The LDS database shows both 1797, in Delaware, and 1805, in Pennsylvania. I think the former refers to Delaware township, in Pike county, Pennsylvania. It is on the Delaware river and is the site of Dingman's Ferry, which used to transport people across the Delaware river to New Jersey. The census of 1850 gives David a birth year of 1802 and that for 1860 of 1798. There is another David Hissam born in about 1814 in Pennsylvania per the LDS database (IGI) that I can't place. Unfortunately that database has a lot of bad data which is difficult to sift out.

In the 1820 census of Middle Smithfield, Delaware, Palmyra, Upper Smithfield, and Lackawaxen townships, Pike county, Pennsylvania as possibly one of the two sons of William Hisham.

David married Elizabeth in about 1829, per the LDS database (IGI). I suspect she was a Coolbaugh based on the middle name of her son, John Coolbaugh Hissam.

In the 1830 census of Pike county, Pennsylvania as David Hissam, 20-30 years old. Living with him was a wife of the same age and a son less than 5 years old, name unknown. His father, William, was on the next page of the census, the head of his own household.

David's wife, Elizabeth, may have died because a David Hissam, of Milford, Pennsylvania, married Elizabeth Decker of Milford, Pike county, Pennsylvania in about 1839, per the LDS database (IGI). This database has the same marriage listed with two different marriage dates - dates which are suspect because they are exactly 10 years apart. This Elizabeth was born in 1806 in Lehman township, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania. If true, this would mean that David's first three children were from his first marriage.

In the 1840 census of Westfall township, Pike county as David Heysham [Hysham in Ancesry.com]. The census shows two boys under 5, John Coolbaugh and Michael, one man 30 to 40 years old, David [who would have been 42], one girl under 5, Hannah, one girl who was 10 to 15, Cornelia, and a woman who was 20 to 30 years old, Elizabeth Decker. The son of the 1830 census must have died.

In the 1850 census of Milford township, Pike county as David Hissam [Hepam in Ancestry.com], a 48 year old laborer [1802]. Living with him were his wife, Elizabeth, 35, and children, Hannah, 13, Michael, 10, Franklin, 5, Harriet, 8, and Thomas, 2. His children, Cornelia and John, were living in Westfall on adjacent farms as laborers.

In the 1860 census of Milford as David Hissam, a 62 year old farm laborer [1798], born in Pennsylvania around 1797. Living with him were his wife, Elizabeth, 62, and children, Thomas, 9, Frank, 14, and Miranda, 8. On the farm next to David's was his son, Michael Hissam, a 20 year old farm laborer, born in Pennsylvania. He was living and working on the farm of Albert B. Sherman.

David Hissam, the husband of Elizabeth Decker Hissam, died on 30 October 1870 per the LDS database (IGI). He was buried in the Milford cemetary.

In the 1870 census of Port Jervis, Deer Park, Orange county, New York as Elizabeth Hyeson, 70. Living with her were her children, Thomas, a 21 year old day laborer, and Maranda [sic], 19. All were of Pennsylvania. Cornelia was living with her husband, Thomas Truex, in the same township, just two pages up in the census. Note that there is a tendency in this line of the family to use the surname of Hysam, a throwback to the Revolutionary era surname of his grandfather, John Hissom/Hysam.

In the 1880 census of Deer Park, Orange county, New York, which is near Port Jervis in the Minisinck Valley, lists an Elisabeth Hissam, 72 years old. She was living with a Thomas L. Truex and family and listed as 'mother-in-law.' Elizabeth's daughter, Cornelia, was Thomas' wife, aged 45. This is interesting because I believe that Cornelia was the daughter of David's first wife. In that case it would make more sense for Elizabeth to have lived with one of her own daughters, assuming they could take her. One possibility is that the 1839 date of David's marriage to Elizabeth Decker is a misprint for 1829, and that David really had only one wife. So, if David had only one wife, Elizabeth Decker, and David's mother was Elizabeth Mary Johnston, where did the John Coolbaugh name come from? See below for a possible explanation. I think this census is suitable proof that Cornelia and her brother John Coolbaugh were the children of David and Elizabeth Hissam.

Elizabeth Decker Hissam died on 11 October 1882. Don Martin, a descendent, says this was 1 September 1884. Elizabeth was buried in the Milford cemetary.

David and Unknown [Elizabeth Coolbaugh?] had the following children,
(24) Unknown Son (c1830)
(24) Cornelia Hissam (1831/4), maybe
(24) John Coolbaugh Hissam (1832)
(24) Hannah Hissam (1837)

David and Elizabeth Decker had the following children,
(24) Michael Hissam (1840)
(24) Harriet Hissam (1842)
(24) Franklin Hissam (1846)
(24) Thomas Hissam (1850)
(24) Miranda Hissam (1852)

The daughter of David and Elizabeth Hissam, per the LDS database. In the 1850 census of Westfall, Pike county, Pennsylvania as Cornelia [Camlia in Ancestry.com] Hissam, a 19 year old laborer, living in the household of A. H. Brodhead. Note, the Brodhead's had been an influential family in the Smithfield district since Colonial times.

In the 1860 census of Milford, Pike county as Cornelia Hissam, a 26 year old domestic. She was living on the farm of George Keller, a carriage maker. Also living there was a John Hissam, a 24 year old farm laborer, born in Pennsylvania. I presume this means they were brother and sister. They were near-neighbors of David Hissam, their father.

Cornelia married Thomas L. Truex sometime before 1870. He was born in about 1823 in New Jersey. His parents also came from New Jersey. This was Thomas' second marriage. His first marraige was to a Sarah Wilson in 1849. Cornelia and Thomas appear to have had no children of their own.

In the 1870 census of Port Jervis, Deer Park township, Orange county, New York as Cornelia Truex, 37. Living with her was her husband, Thomas, a railroad oil man - that is, he was the man that oiled the wheels of the train. The children living in the house were those of Thomas' first wife, Sarah Wilson. Deer Park is in the northern end of the Minisinck valley. Cornelia was living just "two pages" up from her widowed [step?] mother, Elizabeth, 70, and siblings, Thomas and Miranda.

In the 1880 census of Deer Park as Cornelia Truex, 45 years old. Elisabeth Hissam, 72, was living with her and Thomas.

He was born on 31 August 1832 in Pennsylvannia. In the 1850 census of Westfall, Pike county, Pennsylvania as Jno Hissam, a 17 year old farmer. He was living in the household of Mr. Bull. His sister, Cornelia, 19, lived nearby on another farm.

In the 1860 census of Milford, Pike county, Pennsylvania as John Hissam, a 24 year old farm laborer, born in Pennsylvania. He was living on the farm of George Keller, a carriage maker. Also living there was his sister, Cornelia, a 26 year old domestic. He was a near-neighbor of David Hissam, his father.

John married Margaret VanAuken, the daughter of James Jeremiah VanAuken (1797-1881) and Melinda Barnhardt. She was born on 15 April 1839 in New York.

"Pictured is the present home of Scott and Karen Cowern located at 800 Broad Street. This 1863 picture shows homeowner John Hissam and his . . ." - from "Matamoroas to Sholhola" by Matthew M. Osterbert.

In the 1870 census of Milford as John Hysam [Hysaw in Ancestry.com], a 36 year old who worked in a livery stable. Living with him were his wife, Marjary, 31, and children, Gracie, 9, Lizie, 7, Kate, 5, and Lucian B., 1/12. They were all born in Pennsylvania. Also living with John was Ann Mennington, 21, of England. Normally I would say she was a servant, but John did not look prosperous enough to pay for that.

In the 1880 census of Milford as John C. Hissam, a 46 year old Jobber. Living with him were his wife, Margery, 41, and children, Lizzie, 16, Kate W., 14, Lucien B., 9, Asa W., 7, Warren R., 4, and John C. Jr., 1/12.

John Hissam died on 3 May 1900, at the age of 67. In the 1900 census of Milford as Margaret V. [Vanauken?] Hissam, a 61 year old widow [April 1839]. She was living with her daugher, Kate, and her husband, William McGowen. She had 7 children, of whom 5 were still living in 1900. Margaret died on 24 November 1900.

John's children were,
(25) Grace Hissam (1861)
(25) Elizabeth 'Lizzie' C. Hissam (1864)
(25) Katherine W. Hissam (1866)
(25) Lucian Barnes Hissam (1871)
(25) Asa W. Hissam (1873)
(25) Warren R. Hissam (1876), who died young
(25) John Coolbaugh Hissam Jr. (1880), who died young

She was born in about 1861, probably in Milford, Pennsylvania. In the 1870 census of Milford as Grace Hysam [Hysaw in Ancestry.com], 9. Not in the 1880 census with her parents, which may mean that she married, or died.

Lizzie was born in about 1864, probably in Milford, Pennsylvania. In the 1880 census of Milford, Pike county, Pennsylvania as Lizzie Hissam, 16. She was living with her father, John C. Hissam, and mother, Margery, 41.

She married Lafayette Lattimore.

In the 1900 census of Milford, Pike county, Pennsylvania as Lizzie and Lafayette Lattimore. They had a son, George D., born circa 1887.

In the 1910 census of Milford, Pike county, Pennsylvania as Elizabeth Lattimore, a 44 year old widow living alone. Her occupation was listed as laundress, with a home shop. She had one child, still living.

In the 1920 census of Milford, Pike county, Pennsylvania as Elizabeth C. Lattimore, a 50 year old widow, with one son. Mamie E. Hissam, her 30 year old niece, born in New York, was living with her. I would guess that Mamie was Lucien B.'s daughter. By 1930 Elizabeth was again living alone in Milford, a 63 year old widow, the proprieter of a lodging house. I don't have confirmation of the date of her death.

Katherine was born in about 1866, probably in Milford, Pennsylvania. In the 1880 census of Milford, Pike county, Pennsylvania as Kate W. Hissam, 14. She was living at home with her father, John C. Hissam, and mother, Margery, 41.

She married William McGowen [McCown], a teamster. In the 1900 census of Milford, Pike county, Pennsylvania as William and Kate McGown [sic]. Kate's mother, Margaret V. Hissam, was living with them. At this point they had no children.

In the 1910 census of Milford, Pike county, Pennsylvania as William and Katherine McCown. They still had no children. William was a driver at a livery stable and Katherine was a laundress.

In the 1920 census of Milford, Pike county, Pennsylvania as William N. and Kate W. McCown. Still no children. William, 57, had no occupation and Kate, 54, was still doing the laundry.

In the 1930 census . . .

Sometimes called Lucien Barns, he was born in about 1871, probably in Milford, Pennsylvania. In the 1880 census of Milford, Pike county, Pennsylvania as Lucien B. Hissam, 9. He was living at home with his father, John C. Hissam, and mother, Margery, 41.

Lucian married Sarah Titman in about 1891. She was born in 1871.

In the 1900 census of Milford as Lucian Hissam, a 29 year old blacksmith. Living with him were his wife, Sarah, 29, and children, Warren [Marrie in Ancestry.com], 8 [March 1892], Benjamin [Bertha in Ancestry.com], 5 [November 1896], Maude [Mary in Ancestry.com], 3 [December 1896], and Mildred [Milton in Ancestry.com], 1 [April 1899]. Lucian and Sarah had been married for 9 years. Sarah had 4 children, all still living.

In the 1910 census of Milford as Lucian B. Hissam, a 39 year old "keeper" at the county jail. Living with him were his wife, Sarah, 39, and children, Benjamin, a 16 year old blacksmith, Maud, 13, Mildred, 11, Elizabeth, 9, and Lucian B. Jr., 2.

In the 1920 census of Milford, Pike county, Pennsylvania as Lucian B. Hissam Sr., 49 years old and not employed. Living with him were his wife, Sarah H., 48, and children, Benjamin V., a 26 year old blacksmith, Mildred M., 19, a waitress in a boarding house, Elizabeth A., an 18 year old Inter State Mail Carrier [!], Lucian B. Jr., 12, and Warren W., a 29 year old farm laborer. Lucian was a jailer and a blacksmith.

Lucian died in 1920, at the age of 49. In the 1930 census of Milford as Sarah H. Hissam, 59, living with her daughter, Maud Hinkel, 33. They had the following children,
(26) Warren W. Hissam (1892)
(26) Benjamin Vanoy Hissam (1894)
(26) Maude Hissam (1896)
(26) Mildred M. Hissam (1899)
(26) Elizabeth (Libby) A. Hissam (1901)
(26) Lucian Barns Hissam Jr. (1907)

He was born on 14 March 1892 n Milford, Pennsylvaia. In the 1900 census of Milford as Warren [Marrie in Ancestry.com] Hissam, 8 years old [March 1892], living with his father, Lucian Hissam, a 29 year old blacksmith, and his mother, Sarah, 29. Perhaps named for his father's younger brother, (25) Warren R. Hissam (1876), who died young.

Warren joined the Navy. In the 1910 cenus of the USS MISSISSIPPI [in the Philippines according to Ancestry.com] as Warren W. Hissam, a 19 year old sailor, C.P. The members of the crew of the MISSISSIPPI just above Warren on the census were annotated as firemen, that is, they worked in the boiler room, stoking the fires. C.P. meant Coal Passer.

"Many young men chose to enlist as coal passers rather than serve in the deck crew because the pay was significantly higher - $22 per month for a newly-enlisted coal passer versus $16 for a newly-enlisted landsman. The extra pay was well-earned since the work of a coal passer was among the most difficult, dirty, and dangerous duties in the U.S. Navy.

Frederick Wilson, a water tender in the U.S. Navy recorded the work of the coal passer as follows:

'When on watch, his duties consist of getting out, or passing, coal to his firemen, and in some ships it is no snap to handle 40 or 45 buckets of coal, each weighing 145 or 150 pounds, in a temperature of perhaps 150 [degrees] to 175 [degrees]… & has to haul the ashes from the ash pans and load and send up buckets of ashes. He is put to work also at cleaning bilge strainers when they become clogged up with coal dirt and ashes. At times he has to put on the fires when a fireman plays out. He has to stow coal in the bunkers when they coal ship. Has to go in the boilers and knock off scale and scrape out mud, and scale and clean out bilges in port…scrub paintwork and paint, clean off pumps, polish bright work, and do any work he may be put at…goes in the back connections of the boilers and cleans out the soot and ashes from there and also in the smoke pipe…any old place that is hard to get at and dirty. It is hard an awfully dirty work and it is work that is never done. If he has any time off, he is at drill…'

In addition, coal passers were the first line action against bunker fires, wherein they had to dig into the pile of coal, expose the burning embers, and either shovel the coal to the boiler furnaces or douse the fire with water, while living is a mass of super-heated air, with smoke and other noxious gases. Also, in action, a coal passer was in a bad position. Should the ship founder, his chances of escape were not good, and in many cases, if working close to the active boilers, a hit to the boilers and the tons of boiling water they held meant a horrible death.

Lastly, a coal passer, living among the coal bunkers and the heat, could seldom ever get fully clean. ” - from Spanish American War.com

The problem with this census record is that the MISSISSIPPI never went to the Philippines. I think the error is on Ancestry.com's part. The census as I view it does not say anything about the Phillippines. The Captain of the MISSISSIPPI was William F. Fullam. He had been promoted to Captain in 1909 and given command of the MISSISSIPPI. He was later to be a Rear Admiral and Superintendant of the Naval Academy.

Warren left the Navy after a 2 1/2 year tour. He married Mary E. in about 1913.

Warren William Hissam, born on 14 March 1892, aged 25, a natural born citizen of Milford, Pennsylvania registered for the draft on 5 June 1917. He was a laborer, employed by August Kiel Jr., and gave his wife, who was not named, as a reason for deferment. He noted his prior service in the Navy of 2 years and 8 months as a Coal Passer. He was of medium height and build, with blue eyes and brown hair.

William served in World War I, though I don't know in which service. This might be a confusion with his pre-war service.

In the 1920 census of Milford, Pike township, Pennsylvania as Warren W. Hissam, a 29 year old farm laborer. He was living at home with his parents, Lucian B. and Sarah H. Where was his wife?

In the 1930 census of Milford, Pike township, Pennsylvania as Warren Hissam, a 38 year old disabled man without an occupation. He was a veteran of the World War, so that might explain his disability. He was probably living on a pension. Nearby were his sister, Maud Hinkel, and brother Lucian Jr. Living with him were his wife, Mary E., 40. He owned his own home. The couple had no children.

He was born on 30 November 1894 in Milford, Pennsylvania. I don't know where the middle name Vanoy comes from, perhaps a contraction of his grandmother's maiden name, VanAuken. In the 1900 census of Milford as Benjamin Hissam [Bertha in Ancestry.com], 5 [November 1896]. In the 1910 census of Milford as Benjamin Hissam, a 16 year old blacksmith.

Benjamin Van Noy Hissam, born on 30 November 1894, registered for the draft. Unfortunately I can not get into the right file to read his registration card. He was a veteran of World War I. Benjamin was mentioned as the County Council Adjutant in "Proceedings of the . . . Annual Encampment" of the VFW, published in 1927 so I assume he served during the war.

In the 1920 census of Milford as Benjamin V. Hissam, a 26 year old blacksmith, still living at home with his parents.

He married Helen VanVorst, of New Jersey, in about 1925. She was born on 15 June 1903. Apparently they lived in Maryland for a short time thereafter.

In the 1930 census of Milford, Pennsylvania as Benjamin V. Hissam, a 36 year old superintendent of the cemetary. Living with him were his wife, Helen C., 26, and children, William V.V., 4 7/12, who was born in Maryland, and Benjamin P., 3 6/12, Helen-Ruth, 2 8/12, and David C., 11/12, who were born in Pennsylvania.

Benjamin Vanoy Hissam, 48, of Pike county, Pennsylvania registered for the draft on 27 April 1942. He was still working at the Milford cemetary. He was 5' 11'' and weighed 178 pounds, had blue eyes and grey hair, and a ruddy complexion.

There was a parade in Milford as part of the Pike county celebration of Pennsylvania Week. "The parade will be formed in three divisions. The first section will be under the direction of Calvin Rosencrance and Benjamin V. Hissam as assistant parade marshalls . . ." - from the Stroudsburg "Daily Record" of 20 October 1950.

Benjamin died before August 1951. Helen died in October 1982. Their children were,
(27) William V. V. Hissam (1925)
(27) Benjamin Parks V. Hissam (1926)
(27) Elizabeth (Bitsy) Hissam, maybe
(27) Helen Ruth Hissam (1927)
(27) David C. Hissam (1929)
(27) Charlotte Hissam, sister of Helen Ruth Hissam, maid of honor at her wedding

He was born on 9 May 1925 in Maryland. "V.V." may stand for "Vanauken Vanvorst," his great-grandmother's and mother's maiden names, or just Van Vorst. In the 1930 census of Milford as William V.V. Hissam, 4 7/12. He was living at home with his father, Benjamin V. Hissam, a 36 year old superintendent of the cemetary, and his mother, Helen C. Vanvorst Hissam, 26.

"Milford-- . . . William Hissam, U.S. Navy, gave his sister [Helen Ruth Hissam] away in marriage . . ." - from the Stroudsburg "Daily Record" of 30 August 1951.

William married Barbara Ebner. She was born on 2 February 1935.

1965. "William V. Hissam of 710 Highland Avenue in Bethlehem, will receive the Master of Education degree in science during commencement exercises to be held at East Stroudsburg State College . . . A graduate of Kutztown State College, Hissam was a teacher of science in Bethlehem School District for seven years. Active in professional association, Hissam has served in official positions in addition to holding memberships in science and education organizations." - from the Pocono Record of 27 May 1965.

"Hissam, William V., 710 Highland Ave., Bethlehem, Pa." - from "Proceedings of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science" of 1966. I can't tell what this refers to. It is a list of names, arranged alphabetically.

William died on 3 January 1986 at the age of 60. Barbara E. Hissam died on 24 December 2002 at the age of 73, in Bethlehem, Northampton county, Pennsylvania. They had the following children,
(28) William Hissam (c1955)
(28) Mark Hissam (c1955)

There is a Bill Hissam who is president of the Carson City Gaming Association and general manager of Cactus Jack’s Casino. He lives in Gardnerville, Nevada and is married to Chrystal. Is he William's son? I don't really know. There's another William Hissam, below, living in Greeley, Pennsylvania.

Mark Hissam, of the Department of Chemical Engineering, West Virginia Universtiy, Morgantown, West Virginia. Could this be the right man? I'm inclined to think not since there are already so many Hissam's of the David/Thomas Hissom lines here.

Could this be Marc Hissam, of Allentown, Pennsylvania? He is a former Marine, and special education school teacher. "Marc is an emotional support teacher [?] for Carbon Lehigh IU #21, a scuba diver instructor and an avid equestrian." In two articles about a fight in an Allentown school he was referred to as both Mark and Marc.

He was born on 27 September 1926. In the 1930 census of Milford as Benjamin P. Hissam, 3 6/12. He was living at home with his father, Benjamin V. Hissam, a 36 year old superintendent of the cemetary, and his mother, Helen C., 26.

Benjamin P. Hissam, born in 1926, enlisted in the Army as a Private on 24 November 1944 in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania. He had 4 years of high school, and was single, with no dependents.

He married Catherine Ervey. Catherine was born on 18 July 1929 in Portland, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Frank Ervey and Florence Linaberry. She was a school teacher for the Port Jervis School District and a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Milford.

Benjamin Hissam was a member of Mountain Laurel VFW, receiving a 20-year pin on 16 June 1967.

Benjamin died on 6 February 1998 at Milford, Pike county, Pennsylvania at the age of 71, and buried in the Milford cemetary where his father used to work. If his obituary is to be believed, his full name was Benjamin P. VanVorst Hissam. His obituary, which I haven't seen, is in the Times Herald-Record Obituary Index, February 1998. This is maintained by the Orange county, New York GenWeb site. Orange county is in southeastern New York, just north of the Minisinck valley and Pike county, Pennsylvania. Catherine died on 17 February 2003 at home in Milford, Pennsylvania

His children were,
(28) Benjamin P. Hissam Jr. (c1956)

Of West Chester, Ohio. He graduated from Delaware Valley High School in 1975. He is in the Environmental, Health and Safety field. He may now be living in Milford, Pennsylvania again (or vice versa). His children were,
(29) Corey Hissam (c1986)
(29) Jason Hissam (c1986)

Grandson of Catherine E. Hissam of Milford, Pennsylvania.

Grandson of Catherine E. Hissam of Milford, Pennsylvania. A Jason Hissam received an anonymous scholarship to West Virginia University College of Engineering and Mineral Resources for the 2003 academic year. He is studying Chemical Engineering and lives in Morgantown, West Virginia. Note that (28) Mark Hissam (c1955) teaches Chemical Engineering at this school.

Not in the the 1930 census of Milford. She married Fred Kopfinger.

In the 1930 census of Milford as Helen-Ruth Hissam, 2 8/12. She was living at home with her father, Benjamin V. Hissam, a 36 year old superintendent of the cemetary, and her mother, Helen C., 26. She married a Lindsey.

"Milford--Miss Helen Ruth Hissam, daughter of Helen Hissam and the late Benjamin V. Hissam, this place, became the bride of Merrill Lindsey, son of the Mrs. Frank Lindsey, of Buchanan, N. Y. at the Presbyterian church here Saturday afternoon." - from the Stroudsburg "Daily Record" of 30 August 1951.

He was born on 30 April 1929. In the 1930 census of Milford as David C. Hissam, 11/12. He was living at home with his father, Benjamin V. Hissam, and mother, Helen C., 26. He died in January 1985 at the age of 55 while living in Shohola, Pike county, Pennsylvania.

I recently received a series of emails from a woman, Joann, who is living in the house in which David Hissim [sic?] used to live.

In the 1900 census of Milford as Maude Hissam [Mary in Ancestry.com], 3 [December 1896]. In the 1910 census of Milford as Maud Hissam, 13, living at home with her parents.

She married Warren F. Hinkle. In the 1930 census of Milford, Pike county, Pennsylvania as Maud Hinkel, 33. Her mother, Sarah H. Hissam, 59, was living with them.

One of her sons was Warren W. Hissam Hinkel. He was born on 5 March 1925 in Milford, Pennsylvania and died on 25 August 1998. His obituary, which I haven't seen, is in the Times Herald-Record Obituary Index, August 1998. This is maintained by the Orange county, New York GenWeb site. Orange county is in southeastern New York, just north of the Minisinck valley and Pike county, Pennsylvania. I assume he was named for his uncle, Warren William Hissam, the sailor.

She was born in 1899. In the 1900 census of Milford as Mildred Hissam [Milton in Ancestry.com], 1 [April 1899]. In the 1910 census of Milford as Mildred Hissam, 11. In the 1920 census of Milford Mildred M. Hissam, 19.

She married Phil Grinzi.

She was born in 1901. In the 1910 census of Milford as Elizabeth Hissam, 9. In the 1920 census of Milford Elizabeth A. Hissam, 18.

She married Robert B. Drake in about 1928. In the 1930 census of Milford as Elizabeth A. Drake, 29. She was living with her husband, Robert B. Drake, 45. He was the proprietor of a garage. They had no children at this time.

Lucian was born on 20 September 1907 in Pennsylvania. In the 1910 census of Milford as Lucian B. Hissam Jr., 2. In the 1920 census of Milford as Lucian B. Hissam Jr., 12.

He married Hazel M. Major in about 1927. She was born on 17 March 1909 in New Jersey, the daughter of Ross Major and Fannie Skinner Snyder.

In the 1930 census of Milford as Lucian B. Hissam, a 22 year old chauffeur for a private family. He was living near his sister, Maud Hissam Hinkle. Living with him were his wife, Hazel M., 21, and children, Robert L., 2 5/12, who was born in New Jersey, and Marjorie E., 1 [?], who was born in Pennsylvania.

Lucian B. Hissam, born in 1907, enlisted in the Army as a Private on 25 April 1945 in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania. He was married with one year of high school education.

Lucian died in May 1977 at the age of 69 while living in Matamoras, Pike county, Pennsylvania. He was buried in Milford, Pennsylvania. Hazel died on 22 August 1992 while living in Matamoras, Pike county, Pennsylvania. Their children were,
(27) Robert Leon Hissam (1927)
(27) Marjorie E. Hissam (1929)
(27) Peggy (Margaret) Hissam
(27) William Lucian Hissam (1925)
(27) Myra A. Hissam (1943)

Of Matamoros. He was born in Milford, Pennsylvania in October 1927. In the 1930 census of Milford as Robert F., 2 5/12, but shown as born in New Jersey. He was living with his father, Lucian B. Hissam, a 22 year old chauffeur for a private family, and his mother, Hazel M., 21.

“Originally from around Port Jervis, New York.” He married Catherine Sopie Ogrodnick from Port Jervis. She was born on 14 May 1925. Her parents were Joseph Ogrodnick and Sophia Babey. She was a bookeeper. Sophie died on 15 November 1994 in Port Jervis. Robert is currently retired.

His children were,
(28) Robert Leon Hissam Jr. (1951)
(28) Joseph Ross Hissam (1954)
(28) Carol Jane Hissam (1957)

He was born on 27 June 1951 in Port Jervis, New York, though he grew up in Matamoros, Pennsylvania. A medical laboratory technician and a Catholic by religion. He married Eileen Ambler on 3 June 1973. She was born on 3 August 1952 in Port Jervis. Her parents were Joseph Ambler and Catherine Scher. He retired from the Air Force in 1991. Now living in Ohio.

His children were,
(29) Katrina Marie Hissam (1974)
(29) Keriann Hissam (1983)
(29) Kevin Robert Hissam (1987)

She was born on 28 November 1974 in Little Rock, Arkansas. I assume her father had been stationed at Little Rock Air Force Base. She has a B.S. in Pre-Vet/Biology from Findly University and was a student at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, class of 2007. Currently a DVM at the Tri-State Veterinary Medical Group in Port Jervis, New York.

She was born on 18 November 1983 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, near Dayton, Ohio. She attended school at Sinclair Community College. She is a Project Manager in the Consumer Electronics industry in the New London, Connecticut region.

He was born on 27 March 1987 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. From the Wittenberg University High School Invitationals, Ohio USATF Championship Meet of 12 April 2003, Boys 110 Meter High Hurdles, Finals: 5. Hissam, Kevin, Freshman, Carroll High School, 19.72 He attended Glenville State College in West Virginia. He is apparently now married and has at least one child.

He was born in August 1954 in Port Jervis, New York. He is now living in Milford, Pennsylvania. A construction worker. He married Joellyn Myers. Joseph later married Amy Tschopp, the daughter of Warner L. Tschopp. He appears to be a member of the Pocono Builders Association of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. He worked for the Rowley Building Products Corporation of Port Jervis, New York. His children were,
(29) Khristopher Hissam (c1985)
(29) Matthew Hissam (c1985)

He is in the Navy.

She was born on 15 February 1957. A Registered Nurse living in Stone Ridge, New York. She married Thomas Redmond.

She was born in Pennsylvania. In the 1930 census of Milford as Marjorie E. Hissam, 1. She was living with her father, Lucian B. Hissam, and her mother Hazel M., 21. She married Ferris John "Jack" Cokelette Jr. John died on 9 March 1991. Marjorie's son, Lee Cokelette, provided the following information,

"Together they had 3 children John Ross, who was born Dec. 10th 1949- Died October 9th 2004, Nanette Lynn who was born Feb. 19th, 1954, and Leland Ennes who was born Sept. 16, 1956. All three of us children had 3 children, John- Michelle, Benedict, William, Nanette- Walter Jr., Heather, Ferris, Leland- Melissa, Amanda, Leland Jr.. Some of these family members are since married and have children of their own . . . My parents lived in Matamoras, Pa., my Father was a carpenter all his life, my mother was a hotel cleaning specialist for approximately 30 years in Sparrowbush, NY. My mother married a Konkol after my father's passing, they lived in Matamoras many years and now reside in Lake Wallenpaupack, Pa."

She married Joseph Lemke. Of Matamoros. She died in May 2006.

Of Matamoras, Pennsylvania. The daughter of the Lucian B. and Hazel M. Major Hissam, she was born on 29 September 1943 in Milford, Pennsylvania. She married Howard R. Stone.

She was the head housekeeper at Eddy Farm Hotel, a former member of the Matamoras and Westfall Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary, a Matamoras Recreation Department volunteer and an EMT on the Port Jervis Volunteer Ambulance. After retiring from Eddy Farm, she worked as a cashier at Jamesway and K-Mart. She died on 15 February 2005 at the age of 61.

"She is survived by her husband, Howard R. Stone, Sr., at home; her son, Howard R. Stone, Jr. and his wife Monica of Dingman’s Ferry; two daughters, Joanna Stone and Lynette Davis both of Matamoras; two brothers, Robert Hissam of Matamoras and William Hissam of Greeley; two sisters, Marjorie Konkol of Greeley and Margaret Lemke of Matamoras; eight grandchildren, Ashley, Christopher, Shayne, Sherelyn, Valerie, Howard III, Harley and Sylvia. She is also survived by aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews and nieces. She was predeceased by a nephew, John Cokelette, and a grandson, Baby Boy Stone."

He was born in Pennsylvania on 26 Febraury 1872. In the 1880 census for Milford, Pike county, Pennsylvania, as Asa W. Hissam, aged 7. He was living at home with his father, John C. Hissam, and mother, Margery, 41. He died on 25 December 1896, at the age of 24.

He was born in 1876 in Pennsylvania. In the 1880 census for Milford, Pike county, Pennsylvania, as Warren R. Hissam, aged 4. He was living at home with his father, John C. Hissam, and mother, Margery, 41. I don't see him in later census' indicating that he may have died before 1900. I suspect this was why his nephew, Warren W., above, got his name.

He was born in May 1880 in Pennsylvania. In the 1880 census for Milford, Pike county, Pennsylvania, as John C. Hissam Jr., aged 1/12. He was living at home with his father, John C. Hissam, and mother, 41. In the 1900 census of Milford as John C. Hissam, a 20 year old servant [May 1880]. I lose track of John after this.

In the 1850 census of Milford township, Pike county as Hannah Hissam [Hepam in Ancestry.com], 13.

He was born on 13 January 1840 [14 January per Don Martin] in Milford, Pike county, Pennsylvania. In the 1850 census of Milford township, Pike county as Michael Hissam [Hepam in Ancestry.com], 10. In the 1860 census of Milford, Pike county, Pennsylvania as Michael Hissam, a 20 year old farm laborer, born in Pennsylvania. He was living and working on the farm of Albert B. Sherman. On the farm next-door was his father, David Hissam.

Michael served in the Civil War in Company B of the 151st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment. From the Pennsylvania Archives, Civil War Veteran's Card File, 1861-1866:

Michael Hissam
Enlisted on 15 September 1862 at Milford, Pennsylvania.
Age at enrollment: 22.
Occupation: Laborer.
Residence: Pike county, Pennsylvania.
M/I [mustered in]: 18 October 1862.
M/O [mustered out]: 27 July 1863, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Wounded on 3 May 1863.
In hospital.

Michael probably spent the spring of 1863 in the hospital recovering from his wounds and then, with his Regiment disbanded, was sent home.

Michael married Belinda Jennings Heater [Hoater] in about 1864 in Matamoras township, Pennsylvania. She was born on 9 February 1844 [1843 per Don Martin] in Matamoras. Her parents were Joseph Heater, born in 1818, and Katie Jennings.

In the 1870 census of Westfall township, Pike county, Pennsylvania as Mike Hyssam [sic], a 30 year old E.R.R. Blacksmith. This probably refers to the Erie Rail Road. Living with him were his wife, Belinda, 27, and children, Josephine, 4, and Mary C., 1. All were born in Pennsylvania.

In the 1880 census of Westfall township, Pike county, Pennsylvania as Michael Hissim, a 39 year old laborer. I think it shows his parents were born in Pennsylvania, but the writing is very dim. Living with him were his wife, Bealinda, 37, and his daughters, Mary 11, Helen, 9, Elizabeth, 6, and Blanche, 4.

In the 1890 Veteran's Schedules for Westfall as Michael Hissam, a Private in Company B, 151st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry.

In the 1900 census of Westfall as Michael Hissam, a 60 year old well diger [digger]. Living with him were his wife, Belinda, 46 [February 1844], and children, Nettie, 15 [March 1885], and Helen H., 29 [March 1871]. Helen had been married for a year and her husband, Frank H. Lourch, a 35 year old [December 1864] school teacher, was living with her parents. Frank had emigrated from Germany in 1884.

In the 1910 census of Milford as Michael Hissam, a 69 year old laborer in a glass factory. Living with him was his wife, Bealinda, 67. She had 6 children of which 4 were still living in 1910.

Michael's wife, Belinda, died on 2 August 1914 in Matamoras.

In the 1920 census of Westfall, Pike county, Pennsylvania as Michael Hissam, 79. He was living with his daughter, Helen, 49, and his son-in-law, Frederick Krause, 49.

In the 1930 census of Port Jervis, Deerpark township, Orange county, New York as Michael Hissiam, a 90 year old widower. He was living with his grand-daugther, Grace Howlett Landen, 27. She was the wife of James Landen, 30. I assume her maiden name was Howlett because an Arthur Howlett was also living with them, and he was called a brother-in-law.

Michael died on 19 December 1930 [18 December per Don Martin] in Port Jervis at the age of 90. He was buried in Matamoras. His children were,
(25) Josephine Hissam (1865)
(25) Mary C. Hissam (1869)
(25) Helen H. Hissam (1871)
(25) Elizabeth Hissam (1874)
(25) Blanche Hissam (1876)
(25) Nettie Hissam (1885)

She was born on 2 October 1865 [21 October per Don Martin. Other researchers claim the year was 1862] in Matamoras township, Pike county, Pennsylvania. In the 1870 census of Westfall township, Pike county, Pennsylvania as Josephine Hyssam [sic], 4. She was not living with her father at the time of the 1880 census. She married Joseph Martin and moved to Shaytown (Layton?), Sussex county, New Jersey in about 1883.

Donald R. Martin of Wysox, Pennsylvania writes,

"Michael Hissam was my great great grandfather. His daughter Josephine was married to Joseph Martin. Their son was Asa B. Martin, my faternal grandfather. Asa B. Martin was county commissioner of Pike County for nearly 30 years, and ran the Farmers Hotel in Milford. It has been my belief that Michael Hissam and John Coulbaugh Hissam were brothers and the sons of David Hissam and Elizabeth Decker along with sons Frank, Thomas and daughter Miranda. I spoke some years ago to a Robert Hissam out in Dayton Ohio and more recently to Mark Hissam in White Haven, PA."

She was born in about 1869 in Pike county, Pennsylvania. In the 1870 census of Westfall township, Pike county, Pennsylvania as Mary C. Hyssam [sic], 1. In the 1880 census of Westfall township, Pike county, Pennsylvania as Mary Hissim, 11. She married Mark Ryder or Frank Krause. Could this be a brother of Helen's second husband, Frederick Krause, or a confusion with him?

She was born in March 1871 in Pike county, Pennsylvania. In the 1880 census of Westfall township, Pike county, Pennsylvania as Helen Hissim, 9. In the 1900 census of Westfall as Helen H. Hissam, 29 [March 1871]. Helen had been married for a year and her husband, Frank H. Lourch, a 35 year old [December 1864] school teacher, was living with her parents. Frank had emigrated from Germany in 1884.

Frank Lourch apparently died and in about 1906 Helen married Frederick C. Krause, who was probably the brother of Mary's husband, Frank Krause, above.

In the 1910 census of Milford, Pike county, Pennsylvania as Frederick C. and Helen Krause. He was a blacksmith. They had been married for 4 years. There was a son, Louis E., 12, from Frederick's first marriage. While this was Helen's second marriage, the census showed she had not children, living or dead.

In the 1920 census of Westfall, Pike county, Pennsylvania as Helen Krause, 49. She was living with her husband, Frederick Krause, a 49 year old blacksmith, and her father, Michael Hissam, 79. Frederick had emigrated from Saxony, Germany in 1885. While Louis still lived with them, Helen had no children of her own.

I suspect Helen died at this point. I don't see her in the 1930 census, but there was a Frederick C. Krause, a 60 year old blacksmith, from Germany, living in Matamoras, Pike county, Pennsylvania. He was living with his wife, Barbara, and his mother-in-law, Pauline Dilger.

She was born in about 1874 in Matamoras township, Pike county, Pennsylvania. In the 1880 census of Westfall township, Pike county, Pennsylvania as Elizabeth Hissim, 6. She married John Burns of Port Jervis, Orange county, New York in about 1894. Port Jervis is just up the Delaware river on the border with Pennsylvania.

She was born in about 1876 in Pike, Pennsylvania. In the 1880 census of Westfall township, Pike county, Pennsylvania as Blanche Hissim, 4.

She was born in March 1885 in Pike, Pennsylvania. Nettie’s husband may be either Mark Ryder or Frank Krause [see her sister, above]. Could this be a brother of Helen's second husband, Frederick Krause? In the 1900 census of Westfall as Nettie Hissam, 15 [March 1885].

In the 1850 census of Milford township, Pike county as Harriet Hissam [Hepam in Ancestry.com], 8.

He was born in about 1846, probably in Milford. In the 1850 census of Milford township, Pike county as Franklin Hissam [Hepam in Ancestry.com], 5. In the 1860 census of Milford as Frank Hissam, 14. He was living at home with his father, David Hissam, a 62 year old farmer laborer, and his mother, Elizabeth, 62.

In the 1870 census of Deerpark, Orange county, New York as Frank Hissam [Hisson in Ancestry.com], a 21 year old Hostler, born in Pennsylvania. He was single and living in the house of Martin Graham, a merchant. Frank's widowed mother, Elizabeth, was living in Port Jervis, Deer Park, Orange county, New York with two of her other children, Thomas and Miranda.

Franklin married Helen in about 1876. The Orange county Directory of 1878-1879 for Port Jervis lists a Thomas Hysam [Frank's brother], brakeman, residence 66 Fowler street. Living with him were Mrs. Lizzie Hysam [Frank's mother], widow, and Frank Hysam, driver, F.R. Broadhead. The latter means, I assume that Frank was a driver for F.R. Broadhead. Franklin R. Broadhead was a state assemblyman, dealer in lumber and coal, and an Officer of the Monticello and Port Jervis Railroad company.

In the 1880 census of Port Jervis, Orange county, New York as Franklin Hissam, a 33 year old 'driving a team.' He was born in Pennsylvania as were his parents. Living with him were his wife, Helen, 30, and a son, William, aged 3.

Helen died, probably not long after 1880 since Franklin had no more children. In the 1900 census of Deerpark as Franklin Hissam, a 47 year old car repairer in a railroad shop. He was a widower. Living with him were his son, William B., 23 [August 1876], and daughter-in-law, Mary, 21 [January 1879].

In the 1910 census of Jersey City, Hudson county, New Jersey as Frank Hissam [Hisson in Ancestry.com], a 60 year old shop foreman. He was living with his son, William, 34, and his wife, Mary.

In the 1920 census of Jersey City, New Jersey as Frank Hissam, a widower, living with his son, William. He was 69 years old and a clerk with the railroad. Frank died before the 1930 census.

His children were,
(25) William B. Hissam (1877)

He was born on 6 August 1876, probably in Port Jervis, New York. He was three years old at the time of the 1880 census of Port Jervis, Orange county, New York. The Broadhead name apparently was in honor of Franklin's boss, F.R. Broadhead, for whom he was a driver - probably driving a wagon in Broadhead's lumber business.

William married Mary, of New Jersey, in about 1900. In the 1900 census of Deerpark, Orange county, New York as William B. Hissam, a 23 year old [August 1876] locomotive fireman. He was living with his father, Franklin, as was his wife, Mary, 21 [January 1879]. This was probably the Bill Hissim, Engineer, of Jersey City, New Jersey who was mentioned at being at the BLE picnic in the Erie Railroad employee magazine of 1909-8, pg 343.

In the 1910 census of Jersey City, Hudson county, New Jersey as William Hisson, a 34 year old railroad engineer. Living with him were his wife, Mary, 30, his daughter, Helen, 8, and his father, Frank, 60. Mary had two children of whom both were living in 1910. So where was William R. Hissam, the son born in 1901?

William Broadhead Hissam, of 280 Ninth Street, Jersey City, born on 6 August 1876, registered for the draft on 12 September 1918 in Jersey City, Hudson county, New Jersey. He was 42 years old at the time, and engineer with the Erie railroad. His wife was Mary. He was described at tall and of medium build, with blue eyes and brown hair.

In the 1920 census of Jersey City, Hudson county, New Jersey as William Hissam, a 43 year old railroad engineer, born in New York. Living with him were his wife, Mary, 40, and children, William Jr., 18, Helen, 17, and his father, Frank, 69.

In the 1930 census of Jersey City as William Hissam [Hisaw in Ancestry.com], a 53 year old steam railroad engineer. Living with him was his wife, Mary, 50.

His children were,
(26) William R. Hissam (1901)
(26) Helen Hissam (1903)

He was born on 20 June 1901 in New York state. I haven't found him in the 1910 census; he wasn't living with his parents. In 1920 William Jr., 18, was living at home with his father in Jersey City, Hudson county, New Jersey. He was an oiler on a tug boat at the time.

William married Florence in about 1927. In the 1930 census of West New York, Hudson county, New York, as William R. Hissam, a 29 year old oiler at a railroad station. Living with him was his wife, Florence, a 29 year old typist at a Bakery. She was born on 4 July 1900. The had no children at the time. This was probably the same man as the Bill Hisson, Yard Engineer, of Patterson, New Jersey who was menioned in the Erie Railroad employee magazine of 1938-1.

William died in October 1969 at the age of 68 while living in Jersey City, Hudson county, New Jersey. Florence died on 4 December 1988 while living in Jersey City.

I have a Wm. Hissim who was mentioned in "The Locomotive Engineer" of 1986 as a member of the Floor Committee, which I suppose was part of an engineer's convention.

She was born on 15 June 1903 in New York. In the 1910 census of Jersey City, Hudson county, New Jersey as Helen Hisson, 8. In 1920 Helen, 17, was living at home with her father, in Jersey City. In the 1930 census . . .

She died in October 1982 in Milford, Pike county, Pennsylvania. Apparently she never married.

He was born in Pennsylvania in April 1850, probably in Milford. In the 1850 census of Milford township, Pike county as Thomas Hissam [Hepam in Ancestry.com], 2. In the 1860 census of Milford as Thomas Hissam, 9, living at home with his parents. In the 1870 census of Port Jervis, Deer Park, Orange county, New York as Thomas Hyeson [sic], a 21 year old day laborer. He was living with his widowed mother, Elizabeth, and his sister, Miranda. All were born in Pennsylvania. This was a unique spelling of the surname.

The Orange county Directory of 1878-1879 for Port Jervis list a Thomas Hysam, brakeman, res 66 Fowler. Living with him were Mrs. Lizzie Hysam, widow, and Frank Hysam, driver.

Thomas married Hannah, of New Jersey, in about 1875. In the 1880 census of Port Jervis, Orange county, New York as Thomas Hissam, a 31 year old railroad man. He was living nearby his brother, Franklin, who was also a railroad man. Living with him were his wife, Hannah, 30, and his son, Charles E., 4. Charles was born in New Jersey.

In the 1900 census of Union Ward, Hudson county, New Jersey as Thomas Hysam [Hysaw in Ancestry.com], a 50 year old flagman [with the railroad I assume]. Living with him were his wife, Hannah, 46 [May 1854], and children, Charles, a 25 year old [October 1874] clerk, and Charles' wife, May, 20 [May 1879].

In the 1910 census of Union City, Hudson county, New Jersey as Thomas Heysan [Hysan in Ancestry.com], a 61 year old railroad flagman. Living with him were his wife, Hannah, 60, and son, Charles, a 35 year old railroad foreman. Hannah had only the one child. Living with Charles were his wife, May, 30, and children, Floyd, 9, and Harold, 1. Charles and May had been married for 10 years and had two children.

In the 1920 census as Hannah Hysaw, an 69 year old widow. She was living with her son Charles.

His children were,
(25) Charles E. Hissam (1876)

He was born in New Jersey on 27 October 1875. In the 1880 census of Port Jervis, Orange county, New York as Charles E. Hissam, 4, born in New Jersey.

He married May, of New York, in about 1900. In the 1900 census of Union Ward, Hudson county, New Jersey as Charles Hysam [Hysaw in Ancestry.com], a 25 year old [October 1874 [sic]] clerk, living at home with his parents.

In the 1910 census of Union City, Hudson county, New Jersey as Charles Heysam [Hysan in Ancestry.com], a 35 year old railroad foreman. He was living with his parents. Also living there were his wife, May, 30, and children, Floyd, 9, and Harold, 1. Charles and May had been married for 10 years and had two children. The boys had been born in New Jersey.

Charles Eugene Hysam of Philadelphia, born on 27 October 1875, registered for the draft on 12 September 1918. He was a 42 year old general foreman at the American International Shipbuilding Company. His nearest relative was May E. Hysam. He was of medium height and build, with gray eyes and light brown hair.

In the 1920 census of West New York Ward 1, Hudson county, New Jersey as Charles Hysam [Hysaw in Ancestry.com], a 43 year old metal worker with the W.S. Railroad. Living with him were his wife, May, 40, and children, Floyd, a 19 year old Boiler Maker with the W.S. Railroad, Floyd's wife, Elsie [Mosie in Ancestry.com], 19, May, 6, and mother, Hannah, a 69 year old widow.

In the 1930 census of North Bergen, Hudson county, New Jersey as Charles Hysam [Hysom in Ancestry.com], a 53 year old railroad foreman. Living with him were his wife, May, 51, and daughter, May, 16. Living next-door was his son, Floyd.

His children were,
(26) Floyd Hysam (1900)
(26) Harold Hysam (1909)
(26) May Hysam (1914)

He was born on 9 December 1900 in New Jersey. In the 1910 census of Union City, Hudson county, New Jersey as Floyd Heysan [Hysan in Ancestry.com], 9.

Floyd married Elsie in about 1920. She was born on 7 February 1901.

In the 1920 census of West New York Ward 1, Hudson county, New Jersey as Floyd Hysam [Hysaw in Ancestry.com], a 19 year old Boiler Maker with the W.S. Railroad. He and his wife, Elsie [Mosie in Ancestry.com], 19, were living with his father, Charles Hysam, and grandmother, Hannah.

In the 1930 census of North Bergen, Hudson county, New Jersey as Floyd Hysam [Hysom in Ancestry.com], a 29 year old locomotive machinist. He was living next door to his father, Charles. Living with him were his wife, Elsie, 29, and daughter, Norma [looks like Norman], 6.

Floyd received a pension from the Railroad Board. Floyd Hysam died in July 1984 in Toms River, Ocean county, New Jersey. Elsie died in August 1984 in Bloomfield, Essex county, New Jersey. His children were,
(27) Norma Hysam (1924)

In the 1930 census of North Bergen, Hudson county, New Jersey as Norma [looks like Norman] Hysam [Hysom in Ancestry.com], 6.

In the 1910 census of Union City, Hudson county, New Jersey as Harold Heysan [Hysan in Ancestry.com], 1. He may have died young because I've been unable to find him in later censuses.

In the 1920 census of West New York Ward 1, Hudson county, New Jersey as May Hysam [Hysaw in Ancestry.com], 6. He was living at home with her parents, Charles and May Hysam, and her grandmother, Hannah.

In the 1930 census of North Bergen, Hudson county, New Jersey as May Hysam [Hysom in Ancestry.com], 16.

She was born in about 1852. In the 1860 census of Milford, Pike county, Pennsylvania as Miranda Hissam, aged 8. She was living with her father, David Hissam, and her mother, Elizabeth. In the 1870 census of Port Jervis, Deer Park, Orange county, New York as Maranda [sic] Hyeson, 19. She was living with her mother, Elizabeth Hyeson, 70, and her brother, Thomas, 21. All were born in Pennsylvania.

This was probably the daughter of William; she was in the right place after all. Note also that William was known by the Hessom spelling in muster reports from 1778 to 1783. Margaret was perhaps one of the two daughters living with William per the 1820 census. She married Peter Benson on 1 or 3 July 1829 in Pike county, Pennsylvania.

"Benson, Artemas, Harriet (Vary) . . .
. . .srv Capt P. Draper's Co NY Mil
Peter, Margaret (Hessom) WC-30394, Old War IF-#2992, m [married] 1 or 3 Jul 1829 Pike Cty PA, sd [soldier died] 1 Apr 1864 Bushkill PA, wd [widow died] 1 May 1884, srv Bird's, Stribling's & Brooks's Co's Dragoons in 15th Inf & arty US Army, lived Morris Cty NJ & Pike Cty PA
Richard A, Nancy J., WO-25284, srv Capt Mills' Co NY Mil . . ." - from "Index to War of 1812 Pension Files," page 152, by Virgil D. white

"Pike County
Peter Benson . . . pr. Scott's Co., 15th Inf, - April 15, 1832 - M.E." - from "The Pennsylvania Traveler" by Richard T. Williams and Mildred C. Williams

Peter and Margaret lived their entire lives in Pike county, Pennsylvania. In the 1830 census of Pike county, Pennsylvania as Peter Benson. In the household were one man, 30 to 40 years old, and one woman, 20 to 30.

In the 1840 census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services as Peter Benson of Lehman township, Pike county, Pennsylvania, aged 45. He resided in the home of Chalin Chamberlain. In the regular census of Lehman township, Pike county, Pennsylvania as Peter Benson. In the household was a boy under 5, 2 boys 10-15 years old, a man 40 to 50, a girl under 5, another who was 5 to 10, but I don't see any older women. What happened to Margaret and what of Chalin Chamberlain?

Note that Margaret's father, William, lived in Lehman township from 1840 to 1860, though none of the rest of the Hissom family did.

In the 1850 census of Lehman township, Pike county, Pennsylvania as Peter S. Benson, 60, of Pennsylvania, with no occupation. Living with him was his wife, Margaret, 46, and children George, a 25 year old laborer, James, a 23 year old laborer, Catherine, 20, Peter 14, Mary, 10 [?], and Daniel, a 20 year old laborer. The last may not be a member of the family. All were of Pennsylvania.

In the 1860 census of Lehman township, Pike county, Pennsylvania as Peter Benson, a 65 year old laborer, but now said to be of Ireland. Living with him was his daughter, Mary, 21. Peter's wife, Margaret, 60, was living "next-door" in the house of George N. Benson, her eldest son. Another son, Peter Benson, was a 22 year old laborer living in the home of Moses Depue, on the other side of Peter Benson Sr.

Peter died on 1 April 1864 in Bushkill, Pennsylvania. In the 1870 census of Lehman township, Pike county, Pennsylvania [Bushkill post office] as Margaret Benson, 70. She was living in the home of Albert Walker and his wife, Mary L., who was, I suppose, Margaret's daughter.

In the 1880 census of Lehman township, Pike county, Pennsylvania as Margaret Benson, 78. She was living in the house of Peter N. Benson, 40, her son. He was still single. His father was noted as being of Ireland, confirming the 1860 census.

Margaret died on 1 May 1884.

This line of the family eventually began to use the unique "Hissim" spelling of the name. It is also the most problematic with many gaps in its record.

A late child, and conceivably of an otherwise unknown second wife. William was born in February 1815 in Pennsylvania. I think his middle name may have been Jacob, in honor of Jacob Stroud for whom his father served. I haven't been able to get into the 1820 census to see if William Hisham of Pike county, Pennsylvania had a 5 year old son. The 1830 census for Pike county has a William Hissam with a boy aged 10-15 years old. This was probably our William, his older brother, David, having moved out on his own by the time.

In 1840 Wm Hyssam [Sr., above] of Pike county, Pennsylvania was living alone with his wife. His son, David Hysham, was also living in Pike county. William's younger son, William J., was probably still living in Pennsylvania, but I have not yet found him in the census - and I've checked every William in Pike, Northampton and Monroe counties without success.

William married Lovina [Levina] Spinner [Skinner]. Levina had been born in Pennsylvania. There were a number of Spinner's living in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania circa 1840. William and Levina's first three children were born, between 1844 and 1848, in Pennsylvania. They then moved to Warren county, New Jersey where their son, Henry, was born in 1850, after that year's census was taken.

In the 1850 census of Pahaquarry township, Warren county, New Jersey as William Hisum Jr., a 35 year old shoemaker. The use of Jr. clearly shows that his father was William, and still living. William Jr's occupation as a shoemaker ties him still closer to Wm Hissam, the 79 year old shoemaker who was living across the river in Pike county, Pennsylvania at this time. Living with William Jr. were his wife, Levina, 25, and children, James P., 6, Mary Elizabeth, 2, and Percilla [Cecilia] Catherine, 8/12, all born in Pennsylvania.

In the 1860 Federal census of Pahaquarry township as William Hissam [Hessam in Ancestry.com], a 40 year old farm laborer. Living with him were his wife, Lavina, 38, and children, James, 16, Mary E., 14, Cecilia, 12, Henry M., 10, William J., 8, Isaac E., 6, and John S. [W?], 2. William, Lavinia, and his first two children were born in Pennsylvania. All the rest were born in New Jersey. Cecilia may have been born in Pennsylvania or New Jersey, depending on which census you believe.

In the 1870 census of Pahaquarry township as William Hissam, a 55 year old laborer, born in Pennsylvania. Living with him were his wife, Levina, 48, also born in Pennsylvania, and children, Isaac, 15, who worked on the farm, Jacob, 8, and George, 3. The children were all born in New Jersey.

In the 1880 census of Hardwick township, Warren county, New Jersey as William Hissem, a 63 year old laborer. Living with him were his wife, Lavina, 56, and children, Isaac, 17 [sic, this should be 27], a laborer, Jacob 23, a laborer, and George B. [R?], 13, a laborer.

William died on 8 April 1894 at the age of 79, probably in New Jersey.

In the 1895 census of Hardwick, Warren county, New Jersey as Lavinia Hisam [Lavina Hissam in Ancestry.com], living with the J. Clark & Mary A. Bird family. Could this be her daughter, Mary E? Her eldest son, James, was listed just before the Birds on the same census. In the 1900 census of Walpack township, Sussex county, New Jersey as Lavina Hissim, a 74 year old [October 1825], widow, boarding with Benjamin Hull. William's children were,
(24) James P. Hissam (1844)
(24) Mary E. Hissam (1846)
(24) Cecilia Catherine Hissam (1848)
(24) Henry M. Hissam (1850)
(24) William J. [R?] Hissam (1852)
(24) Isaac E. Hissam (1854)
(24) John A. Hissam (1857)
(24) Jacob Samuel Hissam (1863)
(24) George C. Hissam (1867)

Could she be William's daughter? In the 1860 census she was a 16 year old farm worker on the farm of William Jager. She was born in New Jersey but was residing across the river in Stroud township, Monroe county, Pennsylvania.

I don't show that any of his sons had children. He was born in Pennsylvania. In the 1850 census of Pahaquarry township, Warren county, New Jersey as James P. Hisum, 6, born in Pennsylvania. In the 1860 Federal census of Pahaquarry township as James Hissam [Hessam in Ancestry.com], 16.

In the 1870 census . . . James married Sarah, of Pennsylvania, in about 1870. He was apparently living in Pennsylvania, where his son, Harvey, was born.

In the 1880 census of Pahaquarry township, Warren county, New Jersey as James Hissiam, a 36 year old laborer, of Pennsylvania. He had been unemployed three months during that year. Living with him were his wife, Sarah, 35, and children, Harvey, 10, born in Pennsylvania, William H., 8, Anna M., 5, George F., 2, and Lavina, 1/12 [April 1880], born in New Jersey.

I think James and Sarah had one more child after this, James Jr., who was born in about 1883. Then, Sarah died.

In the 1895 state census of Hardwick, Warren county, New Jersey as James and Sarah Hisam.

James married Mary L. in about 1889 [sic]. She was born in September 1859, in New Jersey. This was apparently her third marriage.

In the 1900 census of Walpack township, Sussex county, New Jersey as James Hissim, a 56 year old farm laborer. He was shown as born in February 1844, which fits, but in New Jersey, which is an understandable mistake since he spent his youth in New Jersey. Living with him was his wife, Mary L., 40 [September 1859]. They had been married 10 years and Mary had one child, still living, but not then in the house. However, living next door was the family of Samuel and Vincetta Cole. Boarding with them was a 5 year old Mary Hissim [March 1895]. She was born in New Jersey as were her parents.

In the 1910 census of Pahaquarry township, Warren county, New Jersey as James K. Hissam [Hisam in Ancestry.com], a 67 year old doing odd jobs. His middle initial is anomolous, and very clearly a K. He was of New Jersey and his parents were from Pennsylvania. Living with him was his wife, Mary, 51. They had been married 21 years. It was his second marriage and her third. Also living with him was his niece, Mary Hissam, 16. Unfortunately I don't currently have a Mary in generation (25). I do, however, have a (25) Mable B. Hissam (1894), the daughter of James' young brother, John. She was living in Warren county with her parents in 1910. Are Mary and Mable equivalent and, if so, was she counted twice?

In the 1920 census of Alamuchy township, Warren county, New Jersey as James Hissim, a 74 year old hired man doing general farming. He was living in the house of Harry E. Freiburg [?]. He was a widower, of Pennsylvania. His parents were both from Pennsylvania.

James' children were,
(25) Harvey Hissam (1870)
(25) William H. Hissam (1872)
(25) Anna M. Hissam (1875)
(25) George Frank Hissam (1878)
(25) Lavina Hissam (1880)
(25) Sarah Hissim (1880)
(25) James Hissim Jr. (1883)
(25) Mary Hissim (1895)

In the 1880 census of Pahaquarry township as Harvey Hissiam, 10, born in Pennsylvania. I cannot find him in later censuses.

Named for his grandfather. In the 1880 census of Pahaquarry township, Warren county, New Jersey as William H. Hissiam, 8, born in New Jersey.

In the 1900 census . . .

William married Eva M. Riker in about 1901. She was born in 1876 in Allamuchy township, Warren county, New Jersey, the daughter of Lewis and Elizabeth Doughtery Riker. In the 1910 census of Frelinghuysen township, Warren county, New Jersey as William H. Hissim, a 37 year old laborer at odd jobs. Living with him was his wife, Eva, 34. They had been married 9 years but had no children.

William Henry Hissim, of 189 Main street, Franklin, Sussex county, New Jersey registered for the draft on 12 September 1918. He was born on 6 June 1873 and was 45 years old at the time. He was a plumber for the New Jersey Line company of Franklin. His wife was Eva M. Hissim. He was noted to have lost the thumb of his left hand. He was described as of medium height and slender build, with gray eyes and hair.

In the 1920 census of Franklin township, Sussex county, New Jersey as William H. Hissem, a 46 year old plumber in a mill. Living with him was his wife, Eva M., 43. William was of New Jersey and both of his parents were of Pennsylvania. Eva and her parents were from New Jersey.

In the 1930 census of Allamuchy township, Warren county, New Jersey as Wm. Hissiam, a 56 year old farm laborer. Living with him was his wife, Eva M., 53.

William died in 1933. Both were buried in the Tranquility cemetary, Sussex county, New Jersey. I have no evidence of children.

In the 1880 census of Pahaquarry township as Anna M. Hissiam, 5, born in New Jersey. I lose track of her after this.

He may have been two years older than shown, or he later remembered being older. In the 1880 census of Pahaquarry township as George F. Hissiam, 2, born in New Jersey. In the 1895 census of Frelinghuysen township, Warren county, New Jersey there was a George Hissom, aged 5 to 20 years old, living in the house of George C. Ball. George's father, James, had remarried in 1889. Did the new Mrs. Hissam push her step-children out of the house?

In the 1900 census of Allamuchy, Warren county, New Jersey as George F. Hissim, a 24 year old [May 1876] farm laborer, a servant in the household of Ira Reader.

In the 1910 census . . . George married in 1910, at the age of 32.

George Frank Hissim, of Branian [?], Warren county, New Jersey registered for the draft on 12 September 1918. He was born on 4 May 1876 and was 42 years old at the time. He was a shovel [garbled] at a cement [?] quarry of the Alpha Portland Cement company of Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania. His nearest relative was Emma Hissim. If that was his wife, then he soon remarried. He was described as tall and slender, with dark brown eyes and black hair.

In the 1920 census of Allamuchy, Warren county, New Jersey as George F. Hissem, a 39 year old dairyman on a dairy farm [he should be 42], born in New Jersey. Living with him was his wife, Emma A., 28. She had emigrated from Bohemia in 1892. They had no children.

In the 1930 census of Hackettstown, Warren county, New Jersey as George Hissem [Hessen in Ancestry.com], a 52 year old truck driver for a fish hatchery, of New Jersey, a boarder in the house of Mary Matthews. He was listed as married, but his wife was not shown. His father was from New Jersey and his mother was from Pennsylvania.

Named for her grandmother. In the 1880 census of Pahaquarry township as Lavina Hissiam, 1/12 [April 1880], born in New Jersey.

She was born in about 1880.

I don't know if this fits here, but either Lavina was known alternately as Sarah or she had a sister of that name. Sarah Hissim married Vernon Robins circa 1896. James Hissim, below, was in the 1910 census of Walpack township, Sussex county, New Jersey, as brother-in-law of "Veranus" Robins and his wife, Sarah, 30. Vernon and Sarah had been married for 14 years. Sarah's parents were both from New Jersey. Note that in 1900 that (23) William J. Hissam and (24) James P Hissam were both living in Walpack township. Either of them could have been Sarah's father.

In the 1920 census . . .

In the 1930 census . . .

Of New Jersey. I don't really know where James belongs and I've found him in only one reference. In the 1900 census . . . His supposed father, James P. Hissam, was living in Walpack in 1900, but young James was not living with him.

In the 1910 census of Walpack township, Sussex county, New Jersey as James Hissim, a 26 year old [1883] farmer "working out," that is, working someone else's land. He had been out of work 8 months that year. He was born in New Jersey, as were his parents. He was living with his sister, Sarah, 30, and her husband, "Veroness" Robins. In 1910 the only other Hissam/Hissem/Hissim's living in New Jersey were Isaac A. and John A., James' uncles, Clarence C. and Nora, his cousins, and William H., his brother [?]. I think the chances are good that James belongs here.

In the 1920 census of . . .

In the 1930 census . . .

I have an Alvin J. [James?] Hissim, 59, of Stroudsburg, Monroe county, Pennsylvania who registered for the draft on 27 April 1942. He was born in Shawnee, Pennsylvania on 21 April 1883. He worked for Line Material of East Stroudsburg. He named Frances Edwards as a person who would always know his address. He was 5' 9'', 150 pounds. with blue eyes and brown hair.

She was born in March 1895, the daughter of James' second wife. In the 1900 census of Walpack township, Sussex county, New Jersey James Hissim and Mary, his wife, were living alone. They had been married for 10 years and Mary was shown as having one child, still living, but that child was not in the house. However, living next door was the family of Samuel and Vincetta Cole. Boarding with them was a 5 year old Mary Hissim [March 1895]. She was born in New Jersey as were her parents.

She was born in Pennsylvania. In the 1850 census of Pahaquarry township, Warren county, New Jersey as Mary Elizabeth Hisum, 2, and born in Pennsylvania. In the 1860 Federal census of Pahaquarry township as Mary E. Hissam [Hessam in Ancestry.com], 14.

She was born in Pennsylvania. In the 1850 census of Pahaquarry township, Warren county, New Jersey as Percilla [Cecilia] Catherine Hisum, 8/12, and born in Pennsylvania. In the 1860 Federal census of Pahaquarry township as Cecilia Hissam [Hessam in Ancestry.com], 12.

Sussex County, NJ - 1870 Census Index - Hissim, Druzilla 248A WAL. Could this be a transcription error for Cecilia?

He was born in New Jersey in October 1850. His middle name was probably Moses. In the 1860 Federal census of Pahaquarry township, Warren county, New Jersey as Henry M. Hissam [Hessam in Ancestry.com], 10, born in New Jersey.

In the 1870 census . . .

In the 1880 census of Knowlton, Warren county, New Jersey as Moses Hissom, a 29 year old laborer, of New Jersey. Living with him were his wife, Sarah C., 25, and children, James, 5, Lizzie Ann, 2, and Louisa M., 4/12 [December], all of New Jersey.

I have a "Hissam, Moses, laborer, Bridgeville" in the Oxford township directory in the "Warren County History and Directory" of 1886. There were no other members of the family, by any spelling, in the book.

Neither a Henry nor a Moses Hissam are in the 1895 census of Warren county.

In the 1900 census of Brooklyn, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania as Henry Hissom, a 50 year old [October 1850] farm laborer, of Pennsylvania (yet his children's father is shown to be of New Jersey). His parents were also from Pennsylvania. Living with him were his wife, Sarah C., 49 [May 1851], and children, Mary M., 15 [May 1885], Martha, 8 [July 1891], all from New Jersey. Sarah had 5 children, all still living.

In the 1910 census . . .

The following were the children of Henry Moses and Sarah C. Hissim.
(25) James Hissim (1875)
(25) Elizabeth Ann Hissim (1877)
(25) Louise Mae Hissim (1879)
(25) Mary M. Hissom (1885)
(25) Martha Hissom (1891)

An unsourced family tree says that Jacob was the son of Moses and Sarah C. Hissim. He was born sometime between 1878 and 1883, according to two later censuses. He would have been named after his uncle, (24) Jacob Samuel Hissam (1863), below. The family lived along the PA/NJ border and some of them lived in Hackettstown, in the Blairstown area. In the 1880 census of Knowlton, Warren county, New Jersey as [perhaps] James Hissom [Jacob James?], 5, of New Jersey, the son of Moses and Sarah C. Hissom.

In the 1900 census . . .

Jacob married Alice, of New Jersey, in about 1904. In the 1910 census of Hallstead borough, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania as Jacob Hissom, a 27 year old railroad laborer, of New Jersey. Living with him were his wife, Alice, 21, and children, Sara [?], 4, and Bessie, 2, both born in Pennsylvania. Alice had 4 children, 2 of whom were living.

In the 1920 Federal census of Lathrop township, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania as Jacob J. Hissim, a 48 year old laborer on a dairy farm, born in New Jersey. Living with him were his daughter, Bessie, 11, and son, James, 9. By this date his wife had died.

In the 1930 census . . .

He died on 4 June 1951 in Montrose, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania of metastatic carcinoma. He was 78 yrs old. He was buried in the Maplewood Cemetary of Kingsley, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania.

His children were,
(26) Sara Hissim (1906)
(26) Bessie Hissim (1908)
(26) James Hissim (1910)
(26) Dorothy Louise Hissim (1912)

Sarah Elnora Hissim was born on 29 March 1906 in Nicholson, Pennsylvania. In the 1910 census of Hallstead borough, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania as Sara Hissom [?], 4, born in Pennsylvania. However, Debra Smith, a relative, says she died on 13 November 1906 in Kingsley, Pennsylvania.

She was born on 15 April 1908. In the 1910 census of Hallstead borough, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania as Bessie Hissom, 2, born in Pennsylvania. In the 1920 Federal census of Lathrop township, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania as Bessie Hissim, 11. She married a Doyle. She died in May 1979 in Binghamton, New York.

The Social Security Death Index shows a date of birth of 28 June 1910. In the 1920 Federal census of Lathrop township, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania as James Hissim, 9, born in Pennsylvania.

In the 1930 census of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as James Hissim [or Hissin], 19, of Pennsylvania, a prisoner in the Eastern State prison. The age is right, but this shows his folks were also born in Pennsylvania. He was a laborer in the rag shop, but his crime was not shown.

A James D. Hissin, of New York, enlisted in the Army on 30 December 1942 in Binghamton. He had one year of high school. He was separated with dependents. He was 67" tall and weighed 160 pounds. The Binghamton, New York Directory of 1939 has a "Hissin Jas D (Muriel) chfr h99 Eldredge." He may have been a chaffuer.

The Social Security Death Index shows a date of death in November 1980 in Port Crane, New York for James Hissin.

The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob J. Hissim, she died of measles and bronchitis on 10 October 1914 at the age of 1 yr 11 months and 27 days. She was buried in Maplewood Cemetery, Kingsley, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, Lot No. 20, Division B.

She was born on 7 August 1877 in Warren county, New Jersey. She married Charles E. Smith on 24 December 1892 in Montrose, Pennsylvania. She died on 28 December 1946 in Scranton, Pennsylvania. She was buried in the Maplewood cemetary. She may have been known as Priscilla.

(25) Louise Mae Hissim (1879), born December 1879 in Bridgeville, New Jersey, married John Harmon Griswold on 25 December 1894 in South Montrose, Pennsylvania, died on 24 April 1960 in Montrose, Pennsylvania.

He was born in about 1852 in New Jersey. In the 1860 Federal census of Pahaquarry township, Warren county, New Jersey as William J. Hissam [Hessam in Ancestry.com], 8, born in New Jersey.

In the 1870 census . . .

In the 1880 census . . .

William R. Hissim, the son of William and Lavina Hissim, died on 5 April 1883, at the age of 28 yrs. 5 mo. & 7 dys [1855].

Let our sorrow cease to flow
God has recalled his own;
But let our hearts in every woe
Still say, "Thy will be done".

He was born in about 1854 in New Jersey. In the 1860 Federal census of Pahaquarry township as Isaac E. Hissam [Hessam in Ancestry.com], 6, born in New Jersey. In the 1870 census of Pahaquarry township as Isaac Hissam, 15, who worked on the farm. In the 1880 census of Hardwick township, Warren county, New Jersey as Isaac Hissem, 17 [sic, this should be 27, his younger brother's age is also messed up], a laborer. He was still living at home with his parents at this time.

Isaac married Carrie in about 1890. In the 1900 census of West Milford, Passaic county, New Jersey as Isaac Hissem, a 38 year old [April 1862] brakeman on the railroad. His date of birth is clearly off compared with the above, and further below. Living with him were his wife, Carrie M., 27 [May 1873], and children, Bessie L., 9 [May 1891], Herbert, 7 [March 1893], May C., 2 [March 1898], R. William, 4 [January 1896], and Helen M., 11/12 [June 1890].

In the 1910 census of West Milford township, Passaic county, New Jersey as Isaac A. Hissim, a 52 year old brakeman on a steam railroad [growing older]. He was born in New Jersey. Living with him were his wife, Carrie M., 57, and children, Herbert L., a 17 year old telegrah operator, William R., 14, Carrie M., 12, Helen M., 11, Charles W., 8, and Henrietta D., 1 6/12.

In the 1920 census of Bloomingdale, Passaic county, New Jersey as Isaac Hissem, 63, but born in Pennsylvania [getting closer on the age]. Living with him were his wife, Carrie M., 64, and children, William, 23, Carrie M., 21, Helen M., 20, Charles W., 17, Hennrietta D., 11, and Henry F., 8, all born in New Jersey.

Isaac died between 1920 and 1930. In the 1930 census of Bloomingdale, Passaic county, New Jersey as Carrie M. Hissem, 55, of New Jersey. Living with her were her children, William R., 34, Henrietta, 21, and and Harry F., 19. Her daughter, Helen, 30, was also living with her under the surname of Morrell. Helen's two children were Robert and Geraldine.

Isaac's children were,
(25) Bessie L. Hissem (1891)
(25) Herbert Lewis Hissem (1893)
(25) William R. Hissem (1896)
(25) May C. Hissem (1898)
(25) Helen M. Hissem (1900)
(25) Charles W. Hissem (1902)
(25) Henrietta D. Hissem (1908)
(25) Henry F. Hissem (1912)

In the 1900 census of West Milford, Passaic county, New Jersey as Bessie L. Hissem, 9 [May 1891].

He was born on 25 March 1893. In the 1900 census of West Milford, Passaic county, New Jersey as Herbert Hissem, 7 [March 1893]. In the 1910 census of West Milford township, Passaic county, New Jersey as Herbert L. Hissim, a 17 year old telegraph operator. He was living with his father, Isaac A. Hissim, and mother, Carrie M., 57.

Herbert married Louise in about 1914.

Herbert Lewis Hissem registered for the draft on 5 June 1917. He was born on 25 March 1893 in Newfoundland, New Jersey. He was 24 years old at the time, a machinist/inspector for the Sfrirer [?] Manufacturing company of South Plainsfield. He was living on 74 Franklin Avenue, South Plainsfield, New Jersey. He was described as of medium height and slender build, with brown eyes and dark brown hair. He requested a deferment based on his wife and child.

In the 1920 census of Newark, Essex county, New Jersey as Herbert L. Hissem, a 26 year old chauffer of a jitney bus. Living with him were his wife, Louise, 28, and son, Herbert L. Jr., 5.

In the 1930 census of Scotch Plains, Union county, New Jersey as Herbert Hissem, a 37 year old real estate agent. Living with him were his wife, Louise, 30, and children, Herbert Jr., 15, and Bertha, 8.

Herbert died in May 1971 in Newark, New Jersey. His children were,
(26) Herbert Lewis Hissem Jr. (1915)
(26) Bertha Hissem (1922)

The son of Herbert Lewis Hissem. He was born in New Jersey in 1915. In the 1920 census of Newark, Essex county, New Jersey as Herbert L. Hissem Jr., 5. In the 1930 census of Scotch Plains, Union county, New Jersey as Herbert Hissem Jr., 15.

Herbert L. Hissem Jr. was inducted into the US Naval Reserve as a Private First Class [sic]. This probably occurred right after Pearl Harbor. He was assigned aboard the USS JUNEAU, a light cruiser, CL-52. He was a FC3, or Fire Controllman, Third Class, at the time. Fire Control is the centralized system of aiming the fire of the ship's guns. He was listed as missing in action, presumed dead, on 10 November 1942 in the naval Battle of Guadalcanal. There is a monument [tombstone] for him at Fort William McKinley, Manila, the Philippines. He was awarded the Purple Heart medal.

The daughter of Herbert Lewis Hissem. She was born in New Jersey in 1922. In the 1930 census of Scotch Plains, Union county, New Jersey as Bertha Hissem, 8.

He was born on 29 January 1895. In the 1900 census of West Milford, Passaic county, New Jersey as R. William Hissem, 4 [January 1896]. In the 1910 census of West Milford township, Passaic county, New Jersey as William R. Hissim, 14.

William Robert Hissem registered for the draft on 5 June 1917. He was born on 29 January 1895 in Newfoundland, New Jersey. He was 22 years old at the time, a single rubber worker in the American Hard Rubber company of Butler, New Jersey. He was living in Bloomingdale, New Jersey. He was described as tall and stout, with brown eyes and dark hair.

I have a William Hissim, from Butler or Bloomingdale, New Jersey, that served in WWI as a non-commisioned officer or private.

In the 1920 census of Bloomingdale, Passaic county, New Jersey as William Hissem, 23, born in New Jersey. In the 1930 census of Bloomingdale was William R. Hissem, 34, living at home with his widowed mother. He was a mason working in the building trade.

Also known as Carrie May. In the 1900 census of West Milford, Passaic county, New Jersey as May C. Hissem, 2 [March 1898]. In the 1910 census of West Milford township, Passaic county, New Jersey as Carrie M. Hissim, 12. In the 1920 census of Bloomingdale, Passaic county, New Jersey as Carrie M. Hissem, 21, born in New Jersey, living at home with her parents.

She was born on 2 June 1900 [or 1899]. In the 1900 census of West Milford, Passaic county, New Jersey as Helen M. Hissem, 11/12 [June 1900]. In the 1910 census of West Milford township, Passaic county, New Jersey as Helen M. Hissim, 11. In the 1920 census of Bloomingdale, Passaic county, New Jersey as Helen M. Hissem, 20, born in New Jersey. In the 1930 census of Bloomingdale as Helen Morrell, 30, living with her widowed mother. Her two children were Robert and Geraldine Morrell. She was working as an operator in an overall factory.

Helen died on 24 February 1988 in Pompton Lakes, Passaic county, New Jersey.

In the 1910 census of West Milford township, Passaic county, New Jersey as Charles W. Hissim, 8. In the 1920 census of Bloomingdale, Passaic county, New Jersey as Charles W. Hissem, 17, born in New Jersey. In the 1930 census of District 189, Pompton Lakes, Passaic county, New Jersey as Chas W. Hissem, a 27 year old butcher in the meat market. Living with him were his wife, Clara M., 27. Clara was born on 28 August 1903 and died on 23 May 2000 while living in Pompton Lakes, Passaic county, New Jersey.

In the 1910 census of West Milford township, Passaic county, New Jersey as Henrietta D. Hissim, 1 6/12. In the 1920 census of Bloomingdale, Passaic county, New Jersey as Hennrietta D. Hissem, 11. In the 1930 census of Bloomingdale as Henrietta Hissem, 21. She was working as an operator in an overall factory.

In the 1920 census of Bloomingdale, Passaic county, New Jersey as Henry F. Hissem, 8, born in New Jersey. In the 1930 census of Bloomingdale as Harry F. Hissem, 19, living at home. A laborer in the building trade.

Or Hissem/Hissim. He was born in New Jersey. In the 1860 Federal census of Pahaquarry township as John S. [W?] Hissam [Hessam in Ancestry.com], 2, born in New Jersey. Not in the 1870 census with his father. If he was farmed out to live with a relative, he might be hard to find.

In the 1880 census of Blairstown, Warren county, New Jersey as John A. Hissom, a 21 year old laborer, of New Jersey, working on the farm of Thomas Morgan.

John married Susana in about 1884.

In the 1895 census of Hardwick, Warren county, New Jersey as John Hisam. Living with him were his wife, Susan, and children, Nora, John Jr., Grace, Cora, Arthur, and Mabel. John was living next door to the James L. Lanterman family. John's brother, George, had a son, Edward Lanterman Hissim.

In the 1900 census of Hardwick township, Warren county, New Jersey as John Hissam, a 42 year old [November 1858] farmer, of New Jersey. Living with him were his wife, Susana B., 34 [1866], of Pennsylvania, and children, Nora M., 14 [September 1885], of Pennsylvania, and John A. Jr., 13 [April 1887], Grace B., 11 [July 1888], Cora M., 10 [April 1890], Arthur, 8 [March 1892], and Mable B., 6 [April 1894], of New Jersey.

In the 1910 census of Hope township, Warren county, New Jersey as John Hissem, a 51 year old laborer at odd jobs. Living with him were his wife, Susie M., 42, and children, Arthur D., an 18 year old farm laborer "working out," i.e. for someone else, and Mabel, 16. Susie had 6 children, of whom 5 were still living.

In the 1920 census for Hope township, Warren county, New Jersey, as a 62 year old [1857] farmer. Living with him was his wife, Susie, 54. No children are listed. His parents were born in New Jersey.

In the 1930 census of Hope township, Warren county, New Jersey as John A. Hissem, a 72 year old "dynamite expert!" Living with him were his wife, Susan M., 63, and his grandson, Vernon F. Pennell, 11. In this listing his folks were shown as born in Pennsylvania.

His children were,
(25) Nora M. Hissam (1885)
(25) John A. Hissam Jr. (1887)
(25) Grace B. Hissam (1888)
(25) Cora M. Hissam (1890)
(25) Arthur Decker Hissam (1892)
(25) Mable B. Hissam (1894)

In the 1900 census of Hardwick township, Warren county, New Jersey as Nora M. Hissam, 14 [September 1885], of Pennsylvania. In the 1910 census of Blairstown township, Warren county, New Jersey as Nora [Nova in Ancestry.com] Hissim, a 24 year old hired girl at the Blair Academy. She worked in the dining room.

In the 1900 census of Hardwick township, Warren county, New Jersey as John A. Hissam Jr., 13 [April 1887], of New Jersey. I lose track of him after this.

In the 1900 census of Hardwick township, Warren county, New Jersey as Grace B. Hissam, 11 [July 1888], of New Jersey.

In the 1900 census of Hardwick township, Warren county, New Jersey as Cora M. Hissam, 10 [April 1890], of New Jersey.

He was born on 11 October 1892 [?]. In the 1900 census of Hardwick township, Warren county, New Jersey as Arthur Hissam, 8 [March 1892], of New Jersey. In the 1910 census of Hope township, Warren county, New Jersey as Arthur D. Hissem, an 18 year old farm laborer "working out," i.e. for someone else.

Arthur married Ada Paugh in about 1914.

Arthur Decker Hissem registered for the draft on 5 June 1917. He was born on 9 March 1892 in Sparta, New Jersey. He was 25 years old at the time, a laborer with the DL&W railroad compandy of Andover. He was a married man living in Andover, New Jersey. He was described as of medium height and build, with brown eyes and dark hair.

In the 1920 census . . .

In the 1930 census of Andover, Sussex county, New Jersey as Arthur Hissam, a 38 year old nurseyman. He was not a veteran. Living with him was his wife, Ada A., 34. They had no children. Also living with him was his mother-in-law, Phoebe A. Paugh, 63, of New Jersey.

In the 1900 census of Hardwick township, Warren county, New Jersey as Mable B. Hissam, 6 [April 1894], of New Jersey. In the 1910 census of Hope township, Warren county, New Jersey as Mabel Hissem, 16.

Or Hissem/Hissim. He was born as Jacob Samuel Hyssom on 18 January 1863 in Walpack township, Sussex county, New Jersey, the son of William and Lavina Hyssom - from the IGI. In the 1870 census of Pahaquarry township as Jacob Hissam, 8, born in New Jersey and living with his parents, William and Levina Hissam. In the 1880 census of Hardwick township, Warren county, New Jersey as Jacob Hissem, 23 [this should be 18, but his brother had his birthdate messed up as well], a laborer. He was still living at home with his parents, William and Lavina, at this time.

The following information is from Paula Prindle.

Jacob married Amy Anna Smith. "Jacob and Amy had a daughter, Eva, in 1882. She died at about the age of 5 from diptheria and the next year or so, my grandfather, Benjamin Russell, was born. I think that was 1889 when Jacob J [above] would have been 15 years old!!! After grandpa was a few years old, Gr Annie left Jacob S [Samuel] and brought Grandpa [Benjamin Russell] to NE PA and Binghamton NY area. She remarried when Russell, as he was always called, was just a small boy, and he took his stepfather's name of Walker. I think Jacob S. was dead before 1939 or 1940, probably earlier."

"The Hissam/Hissim family in Pennsylvania around Kingsley and Hop Bottom were my grandfather Russell's cousins. Lizzie Hissom married Grandma Annie's brother Charlie Smith and they adopted a boy in the early 1900's whom they called Floyd Smith, but he may have been a Hissim by birth. Aunt Lizzie was one of Moses children ... he was a brother to either Wm Jr or Jacob S."

"I am still working on this Hissim line. I have decided to obtain a death certificate for the Jacob S Hissom/Hisson who died in Montana in 1953 ... his age of 89 makes his birthdate of ca 1862/63 a good possibility that he is the one I have been searching for all of these years. He was the son of William and Levina and mentioned in the will of his older brother who died quite young. The Moses might likely be Henry M, who was a son of William and Levina ... there seems to be no mention of his death, but he cannot be found as an adult in any census, and all of a sudden Moses pops up as one of William's children and the father of Jacob J., Lizzie and Louisa Hissom in Hop Bottom Pa. I am now in touch with the family of Floyd Smith who was adopted by Charles Smith and his wife, Lizzie Hisom, the child was not a Hissim, he was orphaned when his mother died and adopted by the Smiths who were unable to have children."

"I did find that the Jacob S Hissim who died in Montana in feb of 1952 was in fact my gr-grandfather .. he was also the Jacob S Hissam in the 1895 census who had a wife, Mary and a daughter Arieta. I found some records earlier this year naming his wife and daughter, still in NJ but no Jacob. He may have left them as I never found him again until the Montana death Index. My gr grandmother, Amy Anna Smith died just 13 months later, she was his first wife.

I was under the impression that he had died as he was always spoken of in "hushed tones" if he was mentioned at all, but my sister told me that when she was staying with Grandma Annie one summer, Grandma told her that Jacob had remarried and had more children .. Arieta must have been one of them .. or maybe the only one.

That appears to solve that mystery .. I have looked in vain for Arieta in later censuses but so far nothing.

I especially have enjoyed you Revolutionary War research on John Hissam .. wonder if anyone has joined the DAR on his records?

Your pages make for great reading foe anyone who loves early American history...and of course it is even more fun if we are descended from some of them. i check in every once in awhile for a good read!"

In the 1895 census of Hardwick, Warren county, New Jersey as Jacob Hisam. Living with him were his wife, Mary, and children, Ariela, a daughter.

According to Paula Prindle, Jacob may have had Indian ancestry, perhaps through his grandmother. "I know that Jacob S was often referred to as the "half breed" in The Warren Co NJ area where he lived . . . One old family tale says he went down to Oklahoma from NJ because he had family on the Cherokee reservation."

In the 1900 census . . .

I have a Jacob S. Hissim, born in about 1863 who died in Montana on 10 February 1952 at the age of 89.

She died at about the age of 5 from diptheria.

After his mother left Jacob and remarried, Benjamin Russell took the name Walker. They lived in northeast Pennsylvania and Binghamton New York area. His grand-daughter was Paula Prindle, who wrote, "My grandfather did not know his father, Jacob S as the parents separated when he was a baby and divorced soon after."

A child of Jacob and Mary, in the 1895 census of Hardwick, Warren county, New Jersey.

Also called George Hissim. His middle initial may be B. He was born on 18 January 1867 in New Jersey. In the 1870 census of Pahaquarry township, Warren county, New Jersey as George Hissam, 3, born in New Jersey. In the 1880 census of Hardwick township, Warren county, New Jersey as George B. [R?] Hissem, 13, a laborer.

He married Julia Eva Fuller, of New Jersey, in about 1888. She was born on 23 March 1867. It was her second marriage. Her first marriage had been to a man named Probasco/Perbasco and she had a son, Clarence. Clarence was born in Harmony township, New Jersey on 1 April 1886. I'm told he used the Hissim name throughout his life and only found out his real name when he applied for Social Security - per Amy Christman, 31 December 2004, Ancestry.com message board.

In the 1895 census of Blairstown, Warren county, New Jersey as George C. Hissum. Living with him were Eva F., Clarence, Edward G., and Raymond.

In the 1900 census of Blairstown, Warren county, New Jersey as George C. Hissim [George G. in Ancestry.com], a 33 year old [June 1867] farm laborer. He had been unemployed 4 months of that year. Living with him were his wife, Eva F., 33 [March 1867], and children, Edward G., 10 [March 1890], and Raymond, 8 [January 1892], both born in New Jersey. George and Eva had been married for 12 years. She had 5 children, 4 of whom were still living.

In the 1910 census of Blairstown township, Warren county, New Jersey as George C. Hissim [Geo C. Hessun in Ancestry.com], a 43 year old laborer at odd jobs. Living with him were his wife, Eva, 43, and children Ebe [garbled, Eddie, i.e. Edward G?], 20, Raymond, 17, Edith May, 10, Andrew A., 6, John A., 6, and Harry S., 2. All the children were born in New Jersey. Eva had 8 children of whom 7 were living. Clarence was the seventh child.

George moved to Pennsylvania after 1910. In the 1920 census of Delaware Water Gap, Monroe county, Pennsylania as George Hissem, a 53 year old laborer in the lumber yard, born in New Jersey. Living with him were his wife, Eva, 53, and sons, Andrew, 17, John, 17, and Harry, 12. All were born in New Jersey, as were George's parents. His son, Raymond was living next-door, as was Clarence Hissim. They were all born in New Jersey.

Eva died in 1928. In the 1930 census . . .

George died in 1945. His children were,
(25) Clarence C. Hissim/Probasco (1886)
(25) Edward Lanterman Hissim (1890)
(25) Raymond F. Hissim (1892)
(25) Edith May Hissim (1900)
(25) Andrew Hissim (1903)
(25) John Hissim (1903)
(25) Harry S. Hissim (1908)

Actually a Probasco. He was born on 1 April 1886 [1885] in New Jersey. I'm told by another researcher that he spoke German at home, giving rise to the assumption that his parents were from Germany. He lived in Blairstown, New Jersey for part of his life.

In the 1895 census of Blairstown, Warren county, New Jersey as Clarence Hissum, living with his parents, George C. and Eva F. Hissum.

In the 1900 census of Hardwick, Warren county, New Jersey as Clarence Hissam, a 14 year old [___ 1886] servant, a farm laborer, in the house of Isaac Shuster. Clarence was born in New Jersey, as were his parents. He had been employed for 6 months that year. My guess is that his father, John, had sent the boy to live with the Shusters to help earn some money to support the family and to make room in a crowded house - there were six other children in John's house in 1900.

Clarence married Mary Elizabeth Rowe, of Pennsylvania, in about 1903. She was born on 6 March 1887. Her parents were Matthias Rowe and Annie Smoke. Note that Clarence was only 17 and Mary only 16.

In the 1910 census of Knowlton township, Warren county, New Jersey as Clarence C. Hissum, a 24 year old laborer in the lumber woods [?], of Pennsylvania. Living with him were his wife, Mary E., 23, and children, Herman H., 5, Eva E., 4, and Ada A., 2, all born in New Jersey. Mary had 4 children of whom 3 were living.

Clarence Hissim, of Alpha, Warren county, New Jersey registered for the draft on 12 September 1918. He was born on 1 April 1885 [sic] and was 33 years old at the time. He was a laborer on the Lehigh Valley railroad in Easton, Northampton county, Pennsylvania. His nearest relative was his wife, Lizzie Hissem [Mary Elizabeth?]. He was described as tall and slender, with gray eyes and black hair.

In the 1920 census of Delaware Water Gap, Monroe cuonty, Pennsylania as Clarence Hissim, a 34 year old laborer in the lumber yard. Living with him were his wife, Mary, 33, and children, Herman H., 15, Eva, 14, Ada A., 13, Rudolph, 9, Mary, 6, Edith, 3 7/12, and Clarence Jr., 1 2/12. He was living next door to his uncle, George Hissim, and his cousin, Raymond Hissim. His first five children were born in New Jersey, Edith was born in Pennsylvania, and Clarence was born in New Jersey.

In the 1930 census of Allen township, Northampton county, Pennsylvania as Clarence Hissem, a 44 year old farm laborer, born in New Jersey. Living with him were his wife, Mary E., 43, and children, Rudloph F., a 19 year old farm laborer, and Clarence Jr., 11, born in New Jersey, and Sadie R., 10, and Thomas B., 1, born in Pennsylvania.

Mary died on 16 September 1963. Clarence died in December 1970 while living in Nazareth, Northampton county, Pennsylvania. His children were,
(26) Herman H. Hissim (1905)
(26) Eva Edith Hissim (1906)
(26) Ada A. Hissim (1907)
(26) Rudolph F. Hissim (1911)
(26) Mary Hissim (1914)
(26) Edith Hissim (1916)
(26) Clarence Charles Hissim Jr. (1918)
(26) Sadie R. Hissim (1920)
(26) Thomas B. Hissim (1929)

He was born on 29 January 1905 in New Jersey. In the 1910 census of Knowlton township, Warren county, New Jersey as Herman H. Hissim, 5, born in New Jersey. In the 1920 census of Delaware Water Gap, Monroe county, Pennsylania as Herman H. Hissem, 15.

Herman married Mary E. Morris, of Pennsylvania, in about 1922. In the 1930 census of Palmer township, Northampton county, Pennsylvania as Herman Hissin [sic], a 25 year old farm laborer. Living with him was his wife, Mary E., 25. Also living in the house was his brother-in-law, Charles A. Morris, and his family.

Herman died on 1 August 1999 while living in Effort, Monroe county, Pennsylvania. He had been employed as a foreman and truck driver for the former N.L. Morrell Co. in Hellertown for 25 years, retiring in 1967. He was a life member of the Raccoon Club of Northampton. He was survived by three daughters, Ruby J. Kocher of Effort, Joyce M. Neice of Port Allegany, and Ellen F. Seese of West Easton; two sons, Herman S.C. Jr. of Ferndale and Dale A. of Pocono Lake; two sisters; two brothers; 13 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.

His children were,
(27) Ruby J. Hissim
(27) Joyce M. Hissim
(27) Ellen F. Hissim
(27) Herman S. C. Hissim
(27) Dale A. Hissim

She married a Kocher.

She married a Neice.

She married a Seese.

Of Ferndale. He moved to Nockamixon in 1959. Sometimes known as S.C. He married Mary Morris according to a Morris family researcher. In 1971 Herman Hissim was named [garbled] inspector of the Nockamixon [near Ferndale], Pennsylvania Police Department. Herman was defeated in the 1977 Republican primary for the Board of Superviors by Christian Vogt.

Probably the son of Herman Hissim. Glenn Altissim Hissim was born in February 1966. Glenn lived in Ferndale, Pennsylvania in 1995. He owns Glenn A. Hissim Woodworking, 2117 Easton Road, Kintnersville, Bucks county, Pennsylvania. His wife is Leann A. Hissem (c1966). She was, at one time, the Vice President of the Durham Nockamixon Elementary School Parent-Teacher Association 41 Short Drive, Kintnersville, Pennsylvania. She has a son, Cordell, born in about 1996.

"Resident Glenn Hissim, Deputy Fire Chief, presented the commission with his plan to purchase the Al Harlow properties located at 4771 State Route 212, which are presently an approved non-conforming use operating as a construction company since a 1998 Zoning Hearing Board. The properties fall within the VC (Village Center) zoning on the north side and RP (Resource Protection) on the south side. He (Hissim) plans to operate his family owned cabinet fabrication business (G-7 Crafts Use) at this location(s) pending township approval of zoning matters via a Zoning Hearing Board. Mr. Hissim is requesting the commissions input and guidance on the plan. Mr. Hissim advised the commission that he plans to employ @ 8 to 10 employees with a maximum of three (3) truck deliveries (1 tractor-trailer; 2 box trucks) a week and very few customer visits. The present owner, Al Harlow, will be renting one of the buildings for storage for approximately one (1) year. No outside storage of items is anticipated at this time. It was noted that an existing concrete retaining wall on the east side encroaches on the neighboring (Skoriak) property. Cindy Skoriak was aware of the encroachment and was not overly concerned . . . Tom Harbin questioned the exact nature of the product Mr. Hissim will manufacture and what interior changes will be required. Glenn Hissim responded, basically a through cleaning and painting of both the interior and exterior, along with some minor interior wall construction. He noted a large portion of his current business is the fabrication of custom interiors for residential elevators. Township Engineer Scott Mease questioned the septic system status and if there presently exists a system for each side of the road. Glenn Hissim responded that there are two systems and the Bucks County Board of Health will be out to inspect them shortly. The commission thanked Mr. Hissim for approaching the board and agreed unanimously to approve of the proposed use. There were no further comments or questions."

Also for Durham township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania we have,
- Lebanon Township Elementary PTA (Lebanon Township (northern most township in county, on the river)/ Hunterdon County (between Mercer & Morris counties on the Delaware river) / New Jersey): Pat Hissim, 1st Vice President

Kimberly A. (Wambold) Hissim of Upper Black Eddy, Bucks County. Husband unknown.

The son of Glenn and Leann Hissim.

Of Pocono Lake.

She was born in 1906 in New Jersey. A relative claims the date of birth was 11 January 1913, in Stillwater, New Jersey, however, in the 1910 census of Knowlton township, Warren county, New Jersey as Eva E. Hissum, 4, born in New Jersey. In the 1920 census of Delaware Water Gap, Monroe county, Pennsylania as Eva Hissem, 14.

According to her grand daughter, Amy Do, she “didn't marry my grandmother's father." Eva married a Heiny. She died on 9 June 1995 in Fountain Hill, Lehigh county, Pennsylvania. Her obituary:

"Eva Edith Heiney, 89, of Redington Road, Hellertown, died Friday in St. Luke's Hospital. She was the wife of the late John Heiney. Born in Stillwater, N.J., she was a daughter of the late Clarence Sr. and Mary Lizzie (Rowe) Hissam. She was a member of Christ Lutheran Church of Lower Saucon. Survivors: Son, John of Allentown; daughters, Marion Zebrosky of Bethlehem and Anna Mae Wukich, with whom she resided; brothers, Herman of Blakeslee, Clarence Jr. of Hampton, N.J., and Thomas of Allentown; sister, Sadie Guldner of Hampton; 26 grandchildren, 54 great-grandchildren and 20 great-great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by daughters, Catherine Klepper and Helen Opp. Services: 10 a.m. Monday, Falk Funeral Home, 1418 Main St., Hellertown. Call 7-9 p.m. Sunday." - from Morning Call," Allentown, PA, 10 June 1995, pg. B-36

In the 1910 census of Knowlton township, Warren county, New Jersey as Ada A. Hissum, 2, born in New Jersey. In the 1920 census of Delaware Water Gap, Monroe county, Pennsylania as Ada A. Hissem, 13. She married a Passori.

Known as Rudy. He was born in New Jersey. In the 1920 census of Delaware Water Gap, Monroe county, Pennsylania as Rudolph Hissem, 9, born in New Jersey. In the 1930 census of Allen township, Northampton county, Pennsylvania as Rudloph [sic] F. Hissem, a 19 year old farm laborer.

Rudolph F. Hissim, of New Jersey, enlisted in the Army as a Private on 17 September 1942 in Philadelphia. He had a grammar school education. He was married.

In the 1920 census of Delaware Water Gap, Monroe county, Pennsylania as Mary Hissem, 6, born in New Jersey. In the 1930 census East Allen township, Northampton county, Pennsylvania as Mary Hissim, a 17 year old housekeeper in the house of Charles Leibenguth. She married an Oswald.

In the 1920 census of Delaware Water Gap, Monroe county, Pennsylania as Edith Hissem, 3 7/12, born in Pennsylvania. She married a Battone.

Known as Clarence Jr., he was the son of Clarence and Mary Rowe Hissim. He was born on 9 November 1918 in Alpha, New Jersey. In the 1920 census of Delaware Water Gap, Monroe county, Pennsylania as Clarence Hissem Jr., 1 2/12, born in New Jersey. In the 1930 census of Allen township, Northampton county, Pennsylvania as Clarence Hissem Jr., 11, born in New Jersey.

He married Eleanor Keller. He died on 4 April 2004 at the age of 85. At the time of his death he was in the Warren Haven Nursing Home of Oxford, New Jersey. His obituary:

"HAMPTON -- Clarence Charles Hissim Jr. died April 4, 2004,at Warren Haven Nursing Home in Oxford Township. He was 85. Born in Alpha, he was the son of Clarence and Mary Rowe Hissim. He retired from Roffman Associates in Allentown, Pa. as a shipping foreman in the furniture industry. Mr. Hissim was a member of the Warren County Chapter of Deborah. He loved woodworking, needlepoint, crafts and reading Western novels. He was predeceased by a son, Roger; two brothers, Herman and Rudy, and four sisters, Grace Hissim, Eva Heiny, Ada Passori and Mary Oswald. Surviving are his wife of 68 years, Eleanor Keller Hissim; a daughter, Nancy Lee Nevins of Lacey Springs, Ala.; a brother, Thomas of Allentown, Pa.; two sisters, Edith Battone and Sadie Guldnerm, both of Hampton; four grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter. A memorial service will be held at a later date under the direction of DeVoe Funeral Service in Washington."

His children were,
(27) Roger Hissim
(27) Nancy Lee Hissim

He predeceased his father.

She married a Nevins. Of Lacey Springs, Alabama.

She was born in Pennsylvania. In the 1930 census of Allen township, Northampton county, Pennsylvania as Sadie R. Hissem, 10, born in Pennsylvania. She married a Guldnerm. Of Hampton, New Jersey.

He was born in Pennsylvania. Of Allentown, Pennsylvania. In the 1930 census of Allen township, Northampton county, Pennsylvania as Thomas B. Hissem, 1, born in Pennsylvania. There is a Thomas Hissim living today in the Charlotte, North Carolina area.

I have a Robert Hissim, resident Allentown, Pa.

I have a Zachary Hissim, aged 16-24, of Allentown, Pennsylvania competing in a dirt bike race in 2007.

He was born on 4 March 1890 in Vails, New Jersey. His middle name probably commemorates a grandfather; there was a Lanterman family living near his uncle. In the 1900 census of Blairstown, Warren county, New Jersey as Edward G. [sic] Hissim, 10 [March 1890], born in New Jersey. In the 1910 census of Blairstown township, Warren county, New Jersey as Ebe [or Edie?] Hissim, 20.

Edward married Emma Mabel Doctorman in about 1910. She was probably born on 1 September 1895.

Edward Lanterman Hissim, of 164 South Barlinton, Gloucester City, New Jersey registered for the draft on 5 June 1917. He was born on 4 March 1890 in Blairstown, New Jersey and was 27 years old at the time. He was a fireman in the Welsback [?] Compandy of Gloucester City. He had a wife and two children. He was described as tall and of medium build, with gray eyes and light brown hair.

In the 1920 census of Center township, Camden county, New Jersey as Edward Hissem [or Hissim], a 29 year old firemen with the ferry company. I assume this means he worked on the ferry's engines. Living with him were his wife, Emma M., 24, of Pennsylvania [probably Philadelphia], and children, Blanche, 6 10/12, Florence, 5 10/12, Mable, 9/12, all born in New Jersey.

In the 1930 census of Newton township, Sussex county, New Jersey as Edward Hissim [Hissam in Ancestry.com], a 40 year old mason/contractor. Living with him were his wife, Emma M., 34, and children, Blanche E., a 17 year old sales lady for an ice cream store, Florence E., 16, E. Mabel, 11, and Edwina M., 3 4/12.

Edward died in April 1956. Emma died in February 1973 in woodbury, Gloucester county, New Jersey. Edward's children were,
(26) Unknown Hissim (c1910), who died
(26) Blanche Hissim (1913)
(26) Florence Hissim (1914)
(26) Emma Mable Hissim (1919)
(26) Edwina M. Hissim (1927)
(26) Joan Hissim (c1930)
(26) Sylvia Maria Hissim (1937)

In the 1920 census of Center township, Camden county, New Jersey as Blanche Hissem, 6 10/12, born in New Jersey. In the 1930 census of Newton township, Sussex county, New Jersey as Blanche E. Hissim [Hissam in Ancestry.com], a 17 year old sales lady for an ice cream store.

In the 1920 census of Center township, Camden county, New Jersey as Florence Hissem, 5 10/12, born in New Jersey. In the 1930 census of Newton township, Sussex county, New Jersey as Florence E. Hissim [Hissam in Ancestry.com], 16.

Emma Mable Hissim was born on 2 April 1919. In at least one document she was referred to as Emma Maxell "Mable" Hissim. In the 1920 census of Center township, Camden county, New Jersey as Mable Hissem, 9/12, born in New Jersey. In the 1930 census of Newton township, Sussex county, New Jersey as E. Mabel Hissim [Hissam in Ancestry.com], 11.

Emma married Cashe Smith Boggs on 8 January 1946. He was born on 6 November 1912 in Orange county, North Carolina, the son of Cashe Albright Boggs and Lillie Lorena Smith.

Cashe died on 29 March 1991. Emma followed him on 12 February 1993 and was buried at Mars Hill Baptist Chapel cemetery in Hillsborough, North Carolina.

In the 1930 census of Newton township, Sussex county, New Jersey as Edwina M. Hissim [Hissam in Ancestry.com], 3 4/12.

joanfuller2@yahoo.com: edward, mabel hissim were my parents. edward brother of andrew, raymond, edith, clarence [!] hissim. Bruce Hemmer writers, "Joan, who is my grandmother, died on Dec. 5,2005." She apparently married twice. Bruce notes her name as Jaon Hissem Downs Fuller.

She was born in Laketract, New Jersey in 1937, the youngest of the Edward G. Hissim girls. She married a Wallace. She currently lives in Queen Creek, Arizona, just south of Mesa.

Contrarily, I see in RootsWeb that Sylvia married Allan Theodore Bergman and had 4 children, still living. Allan was the son of Louis and Shirley Bergman. Sylvia and Allan were divorced. Perhaps she married the Wallace afterwards. Allan second married Rosalie Oliver.

He was born on 5 January 1892. In the 1900 census of Blairstown, Warren county, New Jersey as Raymond Hissim, 8 [January 1892], born in New Jersey. In the 1910 census of Blairstown township, Warren county, New Jersey as Raymond Hissim, 17.

Raymond married Viola in about 1913. She was born on 10 April 1890.

Raymond Frank Hissim, of Columbia, New Jersey registered for the draft on 5 January 1917. He was born on 5 January 1890 [sic] in Blairstown, New Jersey and was 27 years old at the time. He was a track laborer with the S. W. G. & P. Trolley company of Portland, Pennsylvania. He was married. He was described as tall, with a medium build, with dark brown eyes and hair. Portland is just south of Stroudsburg.

In the 1920 census of Delaware Water Gap, Monroe county, Pennsylania as Raymond Hissim, a 27 year old laborer in the lumber yard. Living with him was his wife, Viola, 27, of Pennsylvania. His father, George, was living next-door.

In the 1930 census of Stroud, Monroe county, Pennsylvania as Raymond F. Hissem, a 38 year old home contractor. Living with him were his wife, Viola M., 39, and an adopted daughter, Ruth R., 8.

Viola died in January 1963. Raymond died in December 1968 in East Stroudsburg, Monroe county, Pennsylvania. He had no children.

An adopted daughter.

In the 1910 census of Blairstown township, Warren county, New Jersey as Edith May Hissim, 10.

He was born on 2 December 1903 in New Jersey, a twin of John A. Hissim, below. In the 1910 census of Blairstown township, Warren county, New Jersey as Andrew A. Hissim, 6, born in New Jersey. In the 1920 census of Delaware Water Gap, Monroe county, Pennsylania as Andrew Hissem, a 17 year old laborer in the lumber yard, living at home.

He married Vera Schamer. She was born on 13 April 1908. In the 1930 census . . . ?

Andrew Hissim died in October 1970 in Oxford, Warren county, New Jersey. Vera Hissim died in December 1979 while living in Oxford, Warren county, New Jersey. Their children were,
(26) Marlin A. Hissim (1926)
(26) Harvey E. Hissim (c1931), perhaps

He was born in 1926. In the 1930 census . . . He married Fay Buzzell who was born in 1925. Marlyn A. Hissim, of Warren county, New Jersey enlisted in the Army as a Private on 21 April 1944 at Fort Dix, New Jersey. He had four years of High School and was classified as a machine operator. In the photo to the right, Marlyn is the man on the left - from the family photos at www.ashcraft.org. Marlyn was single.

He lived in Los Gatos, California in 1972 - note that I have a David Hissim who went to Los Gatos High School, class of 1969. Marlin lived in Gilroy from 1993 to 1997, and in Watsonville, Santa Cruz county, California to 2002. "A" for Andrew? His nickname is "Duke." He is part of the Oxford, New Jersey family. He did a family tree that showed the relations in Philadelphia and the Shawnee area (Lower Smithfield).

His wife may be Fay M. Hissim (c1925) and apparently they lived in Boise, Idaho for a time.

I suspect the following are the descendents of Andrew Hissim of Oxford, New Jersey.

Of 132 Axford Avenue, Oxford township, New Jersey. He married Dolores M. Collins. Harvey saw combat with the Army National Guard during the Korean War.

"Hissim, Harvey HQ 25th Div Arty. 51-52, Oxford, NJ" - from the "Twenty-Fifth Infantry Division: Tropic Lightning, Korea, 1950-1954," page 199

The following, from the Oxford, New Jersey Volunteer Fire Department Roster, are probably wife and children of Harvey:
Active Members: Peggy Hissim
Life Members: John Hissim
Honorary Members: Clayton Hissim, Richard Hissim, Harvey Hissim
Ladies Auxilary: Peggy Hissim, Rose Marie Hissim

Harvey and Dolores had eight children, of whom I know, or guess, the following,
(27) Richard Hissim (c1957)
(27) John A. Hissim (1958)
(27) Michael L. Hissim (c1960)
(27) Timothy G. Hissim (1962)
(27) Joseph Edward Hissim (c1970)

I have a Richard Hissim, of Allentown. He was a patient in a home for retarded children. He died in June 1972, at the age of 15, when he was crushed after crawling into a trash compactor.

Of Oxford, Warren county, New Jersey. He was born in September 1958.

The brother of Timothy. Of Washington, Warren county, New Jersey.

The daughter of Michael Hissim.

I have a Catherine Hissim who graduated from Oxford Central Elementary School of Oxford, New Jersey, in 1995, and from Warren Hills Regional High School, of Washington, New Jersey. I don't know whose daughter she is, though it must be one of Harvey's older sons.

He was born in 1962 and died in 2000. Possibly of Oxford, New Jersey. Heather Wiseburn writes,

"I recently went to a funeral of my mom's cousin, and my godfather, Timothy G. Hissim. This would be my grandmothers' side of the family. Even though it is not my father's side, I am doing a family tree on it. If you were related in some way to the recently deceased Timmy Hissim (1962-2000) please let me know how. His father's name was Harvey Hissim, and his mother's name was Delores. I would much appreciate any info. Thanks."

"Rosemarie Hissim was hired for the position of Welfare Director effective June 2, 2005" for the town of Oxford.

Joseph was born on 9 February c1970. The seventh child. Also known as Jody. He graduated from Warren Hills Regional High School, in Washington, New Jersey, in 1988. He enlisted in the Air Force shortly after high school and served for four years. He then joined the Army National Guard's ROTC program, which enabled him to obtain a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Rutgers University, where he received the George C. Marshall Award for Excellence. Having now served for 13 years, Captain Joseph Hissim is now a commander of the Army's 3rd Infantry Division, 3rd Military Police Company. Joseph Hissim was deployed to Kuwait on Jan. 11 and sent to Iraq shortly after.

"FALLUJAH, Iraq, June 30, 2003 — In a continuing effort to rid Fallujah’s streets of crime and abolish the remnants of the Baath Party’s rule in Iraq, the U.S. Army's 3rd Military Police Company gave Fallujah’s law enforcers a much-needed facelift by issuing new uniforms and pistols to officers at the main precinct. “With these gestures, we hope to forge a relationship between the U.S. and Iraq that will last for years to come,” said Company Commander Cpt. Joseph Hissim during his remarks at the presentation ceremony."

Currently living in Waynesville, Missouri. I have, however, a Joseph Hissim of Savannah, Georgia, aged 33 on 6 December 2003, who ran a 10K race in 47:08. There are several other race times listed for him, in one of which he is identified as of Oxford, New Jersey.

Named after her aunt, above?

Of Oxford and Washington, New Jersey from 1994 to 2002. I have a Wayne Hissim of Oxford in the Annual Report of the New Jersey Division of Taxation. His wife was Jenny M. Hissim (c1937).

Of Oxford, New Jersey. His wife appears to be Cindy Lee Hissim (c1958). His daughter was Cindy Hissim (c1975). Washington township, Warren county, New Jersey:

"PUBLIC COMMENTS: Ms. Cindy Hissim of 334 Washburn Avenue. Attorney S. Gruenberg swore in Ms. Hissim. Ms. Hissim stated her property borders the Colemans, there are trees there now but they are not high enough. Ms. Hissim stated she had concerns regarding privacy and people coming and going. Exhibit A-10 was reviewed showing the Hissim’s pool and deck."

He was born in New Jersey, a twin of Andrew. In the 1910 census of Blairstown township, Warren county, New Jersey as John A. Hissim, 6, born in New Jersey. In the 1920 census of Delaware Water Gap, Monroe county, Pennsylania as John Hissem, a 17 year old teamster in the lumber yard.

In the 1930 census . . .

Or Hissam. He was born on 4 July 1908 in New Jersey. In the 1910 census of Blairstown township, Warren county, New Jersey as Harry S. Hissim, 2, born in New Jersey. In the 1920 census of Delaware Water Gap, Monroe county, Pennsylania as Harry Hissem, 12.

Harry married Myrtle, of New Jersey, in about 1927. She was born on 16 May 1903. In the 1930 census of Stroud, Monroe county, Pennsylvania as Harry S. Hissim [Hissem in Ancestry.com], a 24 year old care taker at a club house, of New Jersey. Living with him was his wife, Myrtle M., 23, also of New Jersey. Their parents were also from New Jersey.

There was an advertisement in the Daily Record of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania of 6 March 1954 for "Experienced Mechanics: Harry Hissam Robert Kindrew" at the Diamond T Sales and Service. In 1959 the same newspaper reported that a fire caused by lightning did slight damage to the trailer home of Harry Hissam on Franklin Hill.

Harry Hissam died in August 1980 in Bridgeville, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. Myrtle M. Hissim died on 12 October 1996 in Stroudsburg.

The following two men must be the sons of John, Thomas or David Hissem. The sons of John and Thomas, who might have been old enough to be the fathers of Jesse or Levi, did not move to Tyler county, Virginia.

Perhaps the son of John. In 1834 there was a report of Jesse's death.

"Jesse Heysham dec'd - personal estate of (26th day of Ap 1834) - during the Tyler County Court June Term 1834
Sale bill of the personal property of Jesse Heysham on 10 May 1834 - from the Tyler County Will Book, 1A, pages 274-275

As Hissem or Heysham. A Justice of the Peace for Tyler county. Perhaps the son of John. He doesn't appear to fit well anywhere. In 1855 Elizabeth Heysham, the widow of David Heysham, appeared before Levi Hissem, a Justice of the Peace for Tyler county, Virginia, applying for bounty land based on David's revolutionary era service. I would suspect a JP would be a mature man, say in his 40's, if not older.

David and Elizabeth Heysham had a son, Levi, but I cannot imagine that Elizabeth would be allowed to conduct legal business in the court of her own son. Also in the court document Levi said that he had no interest in the claim. How could that be if he were her son? So Levi is ruled out as a son of David Heysham.

This also couldn't be the son of David's elder brother, Thomas, because, while he also had a son named Levi, that man was living in Shannon county, Missouri by this time.

Another Levi, the son of David's boy, Thomas Heysham Jr., would only have been 22 years old in 1855, a little young to be a JP.

Another son of David, Jesse Hissam, had a son, Levi, who would have been 39, so it could be him, but again, as a grandson of Elizabeth, hardly disinterested. I also think this man may have moved to Kentucky by this time.

The following also looks like the duty for a JP:

"1863.
Schedule.
Superintendents of the Election for the County of . . .
Tyler.--Z Peirpoint, Levi Heysham, and Robert Strathers." - from "Acts of of the Legislature of West Virginia."

In 1864 Levi Hissem of Tyler county was taxed on his business, Watter Craft?, valued at $2000 and tax due of $60. - from Ancestry.com

1875. "In 1860 Lewis S. Brown conveyed to William Stealey an adjoining tract of 125 acres and 115 poles and in 1875, Levi Hissem conveyed to him 187 acres nearby. This land was later owned by John Seckman of Middle Island. " - from "The Conaways of Marion and Tyler Counties, West Virginia" by Orrin Bryte Conaway.

"Suit in equity brought in October, 1882, in the Circuit Court of Tyler county by Levi Hissem, and others against D.D. Johnson and M.M. Johnson, his wife and others. The plaintiffs are judgement creditors of the defendent D.D. Johnson, and the object of the suit is to subject a tract of about seventy-one acres of land in said county to the payment of the plaintiff's judgements." - from "The American Reports" by Isaac Grant Thompson and Irving Browne

In 1820, while living in Pitt township, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, John Heisam wrote:

"I also do declare that my occupation is a laborer, but owing to age, infirmity etc I am unable to pursue it. [Garbled] wife living with me whose name is Mary aged about fifty nine years [1759] who is likewise weak & infirm. Also a son David aged Eleven years & a Daughter Else aged thirteen years & no other family residing with me. And further deponent doth declare [garbled] he is in [garbled] indigient circumstances as to be unable to support myself without the assistance of my [struck out] his country.

John Heisam X His mark"

Or Hesham, Hissom, Hessom, Heysham. David was born in about 1809, in either Mount Pleasant township, Westmoreland county, where his father lived in 1800, or in Pitt township, Allegheny county, where his father lived in 1810. His mother would have been Mary.

In 1818 David's father, John, lived in the village of Lawrenceville, in Pitt township, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. In 1820, while living in Pitt township, John Heisam wrote:

"I also do declare that my occupation is a laborer, but owing to age, infirmity etc I am unable to pursue it. [Garbled] wife living with me whose name is Mary aged about fifty nine years [1759] who is likewise weak & infirm. Also a son David aged Eleven years & a Daughter Else aged thirteen years & no other family residing with me. And further deponent doth declare [garbled] he is in [garbled] indigient circumstances as to be unable to support myself without the assistance of my [struck out] his country.

John Heisam X His mark"

Could the following Hessom family be the desendents of John Hissom? The Hessom spelling is common in northern England and is an obvious variant of the Hesom/Hissom name of John's father. It is difficult to imagine that Hessom did not equal Hissom, especially since John, who mustered in the Army under the name Hessom 22 times during the war, lived in Lawrenceville where David Hessom was also said to have lived.

The researcher at Fair Kingdom says that Isaac came to Allegheny county in about 1815, probably from Germany, and settled in Moon township, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. Apparently he bought land there in 1816. Evidence of Isaac includes the deed and a will. Moon township is about 10 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, up the Ohio river and on its southern bank.

Could Isaac Hessom have been a son of John Hessom/Hissom? In this scenario David Hessom, below, could have been John's son or Isaac's, or they both may have had sons by that name. Note that (21) John Hissom was living in Allegheny county by the time of the 1810 census. If Isaac first came to public notice through an Alleghency county land sale in 1816, then this may signal his move out of his father's home at that time. Significantly, that would explain why John's 1818 pension application did not mention Isaac as a member of his household. If so, then Isaac was perhaps in his mid-20's to early 30's in 1816, or born in about 1785-1790.

"Isaac shows up in the 1820, 1830 and 1840 census in Moon Township, Allegheny Co, PA. " - per Kathleen Doutt Ward. In Ancestry.com, there is an Isaac Hesson in the 1840 census for Allegheny county. She also writes, "I have information on Isaac Hessom's sons David, James and Henry. Have little or no info on Elisabeth and John. Have A lot on David's Sons and on Benjamin Franklin Hessom's Family."

Isaac's children would have been,
(23) Elizabeth Hessom (c1810)
(23) David Hessom (c1807)
(23) John Hessom
(23) Mary Hessom (c1814), in the 1860 census of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, born circa 1814
(23) Henry Hessom (c1818), born in Moon township, he married Christiana
(23) James Hessom (c1821), born in Moon township, he married Sara Ann. There's a James Hesen, born circa 1821, in the 1850 cenus of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. A little further afield, there's a James Hissom, born circa 1820 in Pennsylvania, in the 1880 census of Henrietta, Lorain county, Ohio.

She married John Miller. This could also be (22) Else Heisam (1807), the daughter of John Hissom, above.

Also as Hissam or Hissom. David could also be (22) David Heisam (1809), the son of John Hissom, above. The International Genealogical Index gives his birth as "about 1807, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania." This was in relation to his marriage to Elizabeth Hartman in about 1832.

"David Hessom was born in Germany and came to Pennsylvania with his parents in about 1815. There is no indication that he became a citizen. He settled in Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania and he ran a grocery store and bakery for a while. He disappears from the records after 1850, before the census is taken and there is no indication of where he went." - from a post at Fair Kingdom

"According to my records, Elizabeth Hartman (there were a lot of Elizabeth Hartmans - a common German name) married a soldier John Baker 29 July 1824. He died and she married another soldier (both men stationed at the garrison in Pittsburgh, PA) David Hessom about a year later. She had 5 children that I know of: Ann Eliza (my ancestor) and her twin George who died at age 18; Benjamin, Charles and Harriet. Elizabeth was proficient at the shoe making trade and came to America with her brother Charles who died on the trip to America. I have all Ann Eliza's info and her descendants, but only birthdates for her siblings. There was always talk in the family that they became big landowners - not in Moon Twp. but in the Highland Park (Pittsburgh, PA) area (what is now Highland Park Zoo etc.) I would love to hear from anyone having more info on the Hessom-Hartman family." - from a post by Martha Neal

Ann Eliza also said that "she and her brother were "born inside the Garrison walls, close by the block house, near old Fort Pitt." Note that David Hesham was buried at a cemetary created for the soldiers at the Allegheny Arsenal and David Hessom had been described as a soldier at the fort in Pittsburgh. Could David been using his baking skills within the fort?

Fort Pitt The star-shape fort was built in 1758 during the French and Indian War, next to the site of Fort Duquesne, which the French had erected in 1754. It was located at the point where the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers join to form the Ohio river. The old blockhouse, erected in 1764, still remains, the oldest building in Pittsburgh. The town of Pittsburgh soon grew up around the fort. Below is a map of the city in 1795. The official population at that time was 1,300. The village of Lawrenceville was just northeast of the city, lying on the Allegheny river. The Allegheny Arsenal The arsenal was established in 1814. It was situated on 30 acres of land bordering the Allegheny river in the community of Lawrenceville.

"David [Hessom] was married in PA, although I have no idea where or when, I can find no church in the area that has records for the Hessom family, can find no record of burials for the early Hessom family. I spent 2 days in Moon Twp, going through records for churches and Twp and had several people there helping me and found only one reference to the Hessom Estate (the Hessom property) in a Moon Twp History book. Elizabeth Heartman was also listed on BF Hessom's Death Certificate as being born in Germany, but I could find no trace of her or her family in Pittsburgh. Of course there must be dozens of Heartmans in the 1850, 1840, and 1830 census, and finding one for her family was an impossible task. She apparently died before 1850 as she is not mentioned in the settlement of Isaac's estate and all the other spouses are mentioned by name." - from a post by Kathleen Doutt Ward.

"1840 Census, yes he [David Hessom] is listed, as David Hissam (I think that is the spelling) in Lawrenceville. He is also listed in the Lawrenceville city directory. He is no where to be found in the 1850 census. I've tried every directory and search available. I've looked for his sons in every possible way also but could not find them. The only mention of him is in the closure of his father's estate in 1850. One of his son's is buried in Allegheny Cemetery in 1852 [George W. Hessom?], so at least part of the family is still around then, but there is no record of them anywhere." - per Kathleen Doutt Ward.

In the 1840 census of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania as David Hisom. I no longer have access to Ancestry.com, but could this be the same man mentioned above?

"There is a listing in an Old Directory that lists my GGG Grandfather, David Hessom (they spelled it David Hissom). He had a grocery store on the old "Turnpike". This was 1850....no mention after that other than he is on my GG Grandfather's death certificate. I've worked on this (on and off) for about twenty years." - per Joe Hessom.

"According to my records, Elizabeth Hartman (there were a lot of Elizabeth Hartmans - a common German name) married a soldier John Baker 29 July 1824. He died and she married another soldier (both men stationed at the garrison in Pittsburgh, PA) David Hessom about a year later. She had 5 children that I know of: Ann Eliza (my ancestor) and her twin George who died at age 18; Benjamin, Charles and Harriet. Elizabeth was proficient at the shoe making trade and came to America with her brother Charles who died on the trip to America. I have all Ann Eliza's info and her descendants, but only birthdates for her siblings. There was always talk in the family that they became big landowners - not in Moon Twp. but in the Highland Park area (what is now Highland Park Zoo etc.) I would love to hear from anyone having more info on the Hessom-Hartman family." - per Martha Ashcraft Neal

David was buried in Lawrenceville. From an excerpt of a letter of James Wudarczyk to Norm Meinert, July 7, 2000, referring to the Lawrenceville Burial Grounds:

“...Some of the names of those buried there are:
John Perry
Elizabeth Moore
Mary Moore
Sargeant Brigham*
Virgil David*
Robert Cinnamon*
James Anderson*
Sargeant McCullough*
Private John McCullough*
Private Allen Boyle*
Private Winterbottom*
Private Miller*
William Jeffrey
Nathan McDowell
Kennedy Moorhead
J. B. Wincombe
Callendar Jeffrey
David Hesham
John Jeffrey
Elizabeth Jeffrey
William Jeffrey
William D. Moore, Sr.
*soldiers”

David Hessom's children were,
(24) Ann Eliza Hessom (1833)
(24) George W. Hessom (1833)
(24) Benjamin Franklin Hessom (1836)
(24) Charles H. Hessom (1840)
(24) Harriet Hessom (c1841)

She was born on 9 October 1833 [or 4 November 1833] inside the garrison walls at Fort Pitt, Pennsylvania. The twin of George Hessom. She married Jacob Rabe Sickels [Sickles] on 5 December 1852 in West Columbia, Washington county, Pennsylvania.

"Ann Eliza Hessom was born on Oct 9 1833 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny Co., PA. Ann and her twin brother, George, were born inside the Garrison walls, close by the block house, near old Fort Pitt, later to become Pittsburgh, Pa. She died on Nov 22 1927 in Donora, Washington Co., PA. She was buried in Gilmore Cem. Donora, Washington Co., PA. Ann Eliza was 37 yrs old at 1870 census and mother of eight children. One of her children, Effa Ophrelia, is the mother of Ella Johnston Thomas. Eliza is of German/Dutch descent having settled in Allegaheny Co. with her parents. She spoke English but her parents spoke only German/Dutch. At about 16 yrs of age Ann came up the valley and worked for the Heslop family, where she would meet Jacob. In her later years she would often walk to her church, Emanuel Baptist Church, indigantly refusing any ride that might be offered by a gentleman, even including the new minister of the church who had offered a ride to church in his automobile. She declared that such an act would create gossip, and "What would people think?" (from Mamie Horn (Sep 17 1992).

Anna died on 22 November 1927.

He was born on 9 October 1833, or 4 November 1833, or January 1834 per "The Fair Kingdom," inside the garrison walls at Fort Pitt, Pennsylvania or in Lawrenceville, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. The twin of Ann Eliza Hessom. He died in 1870, per an unnamed source in the IGI, but on 22 July 1853, at the age of 18, per "The Fair Kingdom."

He was born in Pittsburgh on 9 February 1836, the son of David Hessom and Elizabeth Hartman. Not much was known about Ben's early life, though "The Fair Kingdom" says he lived in Lawrenceville.

He married Martha E. Norman in about 1856.

At the age of 25 he was a teamster, that is he drove a team of horses or mules pulling a wagon.

"Hessom F. Benjamin, teamster" - from " Directory of Pittsburg and Allegheny Cities, and the Adjoining Boroughs" 1861

"Hessom Benjamin F, lab, " - from " Directory of Pittsburg and Allegheny Cities, the Adjacent Boroughs, . . ."

Martha died in 1874 and, on 26 January 1880, Benjamin next married Anna Marie Mahaffey.

Though he had practiced for many years, Benjamin received a vet's license from Allegheny county, #13, in 1889.

After retiring from the Oil Company in the early 1890's, Benjamin and Anna moved to Bouquet, Pennsylvania. Boquet is in Westmoreland county, due east of Pittsburgh. David McKelvey was a pioneer in the oil business. There is a McKelvey Oil Company today in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, not that far from Boquet. The Atlantic Refining Company was founded in 1866 and was purchased by John D. Rockefeller in 1874 as part of the Standard Oil Trust.

In the 1900 census of ___ as Benjamin Hessom. Living with him was his second wife, Anna M. She was born in 1846, 10 years his junior. They had a large home, perhaps a mansion, on top of Bouquet Hill. The house was destroyed in a fire in 1968.

Ben died at home on 2 August 1909, in Bouquet, of cancer. Researcher Bob Watson says the date of death was 24 July 1909, per Ben's tombstone. However, I show that the inscription reads as follows:

Benjamin F. HESSOM Feb 8, 1836 - Aug 2, 1909

Ben had a will dated 24 June 1909. A descendent writes of Benjamin's family:

I have A copy of Benjamin Franklin Hessom's Death Certificate from Alleghney Co, PA. There it states that his father was David Hessom and that David was born in Germany. David's father was Isaac Hessom who appeared in Alleghney Co, PA in a land Transaction in 1816. I can find no trace of him before that. My mother always told me that her mother said they family spoke German, but it was not the same German that was spoken in Germany. So take it for what it is worth. My Nephew was is Germany visiting and could find no trace of the Hessom name either. Could they have been running away from something and changed their name? That happened in another branch of my family. - from Kathleen Doutt Ward

"Dr. Benjamin F. Hessom, Sr. age 73, a veterinary surgeon of Boquet, PA died at his home yesterday morning after an illness of over a year. Dr. Hessom was born in Pittsburgh, was educated as a veterinary surgeon, but became a pioneer in the oil refining business starting with McKelvey and McMahon on 44th Street in 1867. He later became identified with the Atlantic Refining Company, remaining with it until 1894, when he resumed the practice of his profession at Boquet. Dr. Hessom was married to Martha E. Norman of Pittsburg, who died February 4, 1874. He was married a second time in 1880 to Miss Anna Mahaffey of Mansfield, PA who survives, with five sons and five daughters, B. F. Hessom, Jr., of the Allegheny County Light Company, W. B. Hessom [John Wesely Baker Hessom], Saginaw, Mich, William Hessom, Allegheny Plate Glass Company, W. Allen Hessom, a retail oil dealer, Homer Hessom, Mrs. Elizabeth Thompson of Hite, PA, Mrs. Daniel Corbett of Pittsburg, Mrs. Margaret Anthony of New Kensington, Mrs. Ella Orris of Hite, PA, and Miss Anna Hessom at home. Dr. Hessom was for many years a member of the Union Centenary Methodist Episcopal Church od Sharpsburg, PA. He will be buried at Tarentum tomorrow." - from a post by Joseph W. Koester

Anna M. Hessom died in 1915. The inscription on her tombstone reads, "Anna M. HESSOM Oct 17, 1846 - Apr 3, 1915." She was buried alongside Benjamin in plot F4 of the Prospect Cemetery. I also have a

There was a Thresa [Theresa] Hessom, born in about 1848, in the 1910 census of Tarentum, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. Perhaps a wife of one of the boys below.

Ben's children were,
(25) Mary Frances Hessom (1859)
(25) Benjamin Franklin Hessom Jr. (c1865)
(25) John Wesley Baker Hessom (1867)
(25) William McKelvry Hessom (1881)
(25) Homer Hessom (1884)
(25) Walter Allen Hessom (1886)
(25) Mrs. Elizabeth Thompson of Hite, PA
(25) Mrs. Margaret Anthony of New Kensington
(25) Mrs. Ella Orris of Hite, PA, Martha E. Hessom married Edward S. Orris on 23 June 1892 in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, and
(25) Anna May Hessom (1889), married Edward Webster Pugsley on 23 April 1911, died 13 June 1945.

She was born on 12 September 1859 in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. She married Daniel Robert Corbett in August 1833 in Pittsburgh and had a large family. She died on 20 June 1930.

"If anyone is having troubles tracing the Hessom name becareful. Benjamin F. Hessom Sr.and Martha Norman had a daughter named Mary Frances Hessom (b. Sept 1859) in the Pittsburgh area. She married a Daniel Robert Corbett b. 1861. His son Robert Daniel Corbett b. 1902 changed his name to Hessom after leaving my dads family abt 1930. Married again in abt 1933 keeping the Hessom name until he passed in 1959." - a post by Craig Corbett

Here is the family of confusion, noted above. They are actually Corbetts.

There was a Robert Daniel Hessom Jr., born on 23 January 1900, in Pittsburgh, the son of Daniel Robert Hessom and Mary Frances Corbett - as noted above, those surnames should be reversed. The IGI shows his birth as 23 January 1902. Robert Jr. married Leoloa Mae Looney on 3 May 1933. He died on 5 February 1959 at the Mt. Alto VA hospital in Washington, D.C. Leoloa died on 26 July 2001 in Aurora, Colorado.

"Leola Mae Looney Hessom
Services for Leola Mae Looney Hessom, 91, of Denver will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 29, 2001 at Moss Service Funeral Home Chapel, with burial in Friendship Baptist Cemetery in Winston County near Addison. Moss Service Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Mrs. Hessom died Thursday, July 26 at the Medical Center of Aurora in Colorado. She was born Dec. 15, 1909 in Winston County. She worked for 30 years for the Justice Department and Civil Rights. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Daniel Hessom. Survivors include a daughter, Patricia Quinlan of Denver; a son, James L. Hessom of Sterling, Va.; two sisters, Lois Dollar and Clovice Callahan, both of Cullman; a brother, Edgar Looney of Decatur; five grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. Visitation is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday."

Of the Allegheny County Light Company, an electric company. He married Lizzie M. Blasdell on 21 April 1892 in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania.

In the 1910 census of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania as Benjamin F. [S in Ancestry.com] Hessom.

"Hessom, B.F., Jr." of Aspinwall, Pennsylvania was a member of the American Electromechanical Society, in 1921.

"Hessom, B.F. Jr. (May 26, '10) General Inspector, Duquesne Light Co., 435 6th Ave., Pittsburg, Pa.; mailing address, 136 5th St., Aspinwall, Pa." - from "Transactions of the American Electromechanical Society"

At this point I haven't identified any children for Benjamin Jr.

Of Saginaw, Mich. John Wesely Baker Hessom was born 20 September 1867 in the 9th ward of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I recently received the following information from Joseph Hessom, a descendent.

". . . W.B. Hessom is John Wesley Baker Hessom. He was a Glass Cutter and from time to time moved throughout the country to various glass plants. My Grandfather was a glasscutter as was my father. Together they also owned a restaurant. My younger brother is one of the few in our generation that is a very good glass cutter using a diamond roller. My brother Jason owns Valley Glass and beveling . . . when I was Constable a 90 year old lady at an election polling place came up to me and told me how she and her friends would stop at my GG Grandfathers store after school to buy candy and warm up . . .

A glasscutter and restaurant owner.

Hessom, Joseph b: ABT 1915. Married Ernestine. He died in an aircraft accident in Tunisia in 1953.

"Date . Aircraft Type . Serial Number . Sqdn . Group . Home Base . AF . Action . D. Pilot . Country . US State . Location 530606 . SA-16A . 51-7146 . 58ARS . 7ARG . Wheelus Fld, Libya . ARS . KCRLEF . 4 . Hessom, Joseph E. Jr. . TUN . __ . 4mi SSE of Nebeul, Tunisia"
- from AviationArchaelogy.com 1953

"Saw Comrade Killed in Rescue Mission
Wheelus plane down in Tunisian mountains

Disaster came last Saturday to a rescue amphibian plane of the famous United States Air Force 7th Air Rescue Group from Wheelus Field near Tripoli when it crashed in the foothills of the Tunisian gebel while making a search for three carrier-borne aircraft missing over Tunisia.

Pilot Joseph Hesson [sic], USAF, was killed, five of his crew seriously injured and two men scrambled unhurt out of the wrecked plane which came down in deserted country some thirty miles from Tunis. When spotted from the air by other rescue craft the two unhurt men were seen to be giving first aid treatment to the survivors.

The Wheelus 58th Air Rescue Squadron was put into the air last Saturday afternoon when radio messages from the United States Aircraft Carrier Coral Sea, standing off Tunisia reported that three of her jet aircraft were believed crashed somewhere over the coast. Within five minutes Lieut. Hesson and his crew had their amphibian in the air to be followed almost immediately by a second SA-16.

. . . There was much low cloud at the time they were lost, ceiling being estimated at only 200 feet . . . a sudden radio message from this plane [Hessom's] told that an engine had failed and that an emergency landing in the hills was being attempted . . . the dead pilot had served almost three years in Libya and was due to return to the United States almost immediately on "rotation."

- from the Sunday Ghibli of 4 June 1953

A glasscutter and restaurant owner, with his father, Joseph.

"When my grandmother was in St. Francis Hospital, located in Lawrencville (now Pittsburgh), when I was young, (my grandfather BF Hessom's Grandson) looked out my grandmother's room's window in the and pointed at Allegheny Cemetary and told me he had many relatives buried there and that at one time there were numerous Hessom's living in Lawrencville. He sad when he was young he used to take a trolley to visit his uncle Ben. Any information, especially documentation would be greatly apprecated." - from Joe Hessom, Allegheny Township, Westmoreland County, PA.

Of the Allegheny Plate Glass Company. He was born on 4 February 1881 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. His middle name honors his father's employer.

William married Laura May Wolf. She died in 1918. Her tombstone inscription reads: "Laura M. HESSOM 1883 - 1918." William then married Mary.

In the 1920 census of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania as William Mck Hessom. Living with him was his wife, Mary. She was about 10 years his junior.

William died in 1948. His tombstone inscription reads: "William M. HESSOM 1881 - 1948." He was buried along with his first wife in plot F4 of the Prospect Cemetery, Brackenridge, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, next to William's father, Benjamin F. Hessom. What happened to Mary?

I believe their children were,
(26) William Hessom (c1903)
(26) Myrtle Hessom (c1904)
(26) Valjean Hessom (c1909)
(26) Clare Hessom (c1911)
(26) Madeline Hessom (c1913)

He opened Hessoms Restaurant on Bouquet Hill in the old house [referred to in one citation as a mansion] of Benjamin F. Hessom. He was bron on 31 July 1884 in East Deer township, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. He died in about 1935 in Lower Burrell, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. His wife was Adella Day. His children were,
(26) Homer Hessom Jr. (c1918)
(26) Clyde Noah Hessom (1921)
(26) Ruth Hessom (c1922)

He married Blanche Loretta Clover. After Homer's death, Blanche married Howard M. Beck.

"Blanche L. Beck, 87, of Allegheny Township, died February 14, 2005, in Alle-Kiski Medical Center, Harrison Township. Born February 7, 1918, in Arnold, she was a 1936 graduate of New Kensington High School (Ken-Hi), and was an Allegheny Township resident since 1960. Mrs. Beck was a member of the Arnold United Methodist Church, Order of the Eastern Star #158, Alle-Kiski Senior Citizens and SAGA Golden Agers of the Salvation Army, all of New Kensington, and the former Macedonia Shrine #31 Order of the White Shrine of Jerusalem, and the Lucy Jones Amaranth #78 of Penn Hills. Survivors include her husband of 45 years, Howard M. “Pete” Beck; a son Harry Hessom of Allegheny Township; daughter Betty (Joseph) Fratangeli of Arnold; eight grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and her caretaker Ruth “Rusty” Greenwald of Lower Burrell. Preceding her in death were her first husband Homer Hessom; parents Thomas Austin & Mary Elizabeth Stewart Clover; and her brother Howard Clover who died in 1950."

Of Allegheny township. He married Gloria Jean, the daughter of Theodore Andrew Petrosky and Helen Zarisky. She was born on 26 March 1941. She died on 29 October 2003 in Allegheny township. Her obituary:

Gloria Jean Petrosky Hessom, 62, of Allegheny Township, died Wednesday (Oct. 29, 2003) in Allegheny Valley Hospital, Harrison. Born March 26, 1941, in New Kensington, she lived there from 1962 until moving to Allegheny Township in 1980. She was a 1959 graduate of Plum High School. Mrs. Hessom had been a school bus driver for the W. L. Roenigk Transportation Company, Allegheny Township, since 1989. She volunteered in various capacities with the Top Hats Marching Band and Kiski Band Boosters.

Survivors include her husband of 43 years, Harry C. Hessom; two sons, Harry R. Hessom of Washington Township and Patrick L. Hessom of New Kensington; two daughters, Mrs. Jennifer L. (Jeremy) Varhola and Kristine M. Hessom, both of Allegheny Township; her father, Theodore Petrosky of Plum; two brothers, Theodore (Dorothy) Petrosky of Plum and Michael Petrosky of Schenley; and a sister, Audrey Neff of Plum. She also is survived by four grandchildren, Michael and Adrianna Hessom and Justine and Janelle Varhola.

"Harry Hessom, 62, of Allegheny Township" was charged with soliciting prostitution 22 April 2003."

Their children were,
(28) Harry Richard Hessom (c1962). Harry Hessom, Valley High School, New Kensington, Pennsylvania, 1976-1980. - his children were,
-- (29) Michael Hessom
-- (29) Adrianna Hessom
(28)Patrick L. Hessom
(28) Jennifer Hessom. She married Jeremy Varhola
(28) Kristine M. Hessom

The following is another Hessom of Burrell.

Of Penn Hills. He married Angela, the daughter of Anthony Genovese and Madeline Labriola, in about 1992. She was born on 10 March 1963 in Pittsburgh. Her obituary:

Angela S. Hessom, 44, of Penn Hills, died Friday, Aug. 3, 2007, in Magee-Womens Hospital, Oakland, after a lengthy and courageous battle with her illness. She was born March 10, 1963, in Pittsburgh, daughter of the late Anthony and Madeline (Labriola) Genovese, and had lived in Penn Hills all of her life. She was employed by Glarner Associates in New Kensington. She graduated from St. Bartholomew High School, Penn Hills, and Duquesne University. She was a member of Church of God, Brackenridge. Her hobby was raising Boston Terriers. She also enjoyed fishing. She is survived by her husband of 15 years, Jason Hessom; a daughter, Jessica, and two sons, Jason Jr. and Justin Hessom, all at home; 12 cousins; three uncles; and two aunts. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday in the FRANK F. GIGLER FUNERAL HOME, 2877 Leechburg Road, Lower Burrell. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday in the chapel at Greenwood Memorial Park, Lower Burrell, with Pastor Hans Murdock and Pastor Rick Gamble co-officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Park, Lower Burrell." - from "The Valley News Dispatch," of Tarentum, Pennsylvania

Their children were,
(29) Jessica Hessom
(29) Jason Hessom Jr.
(29) Justin Hessom

There is a John Hessom in "Polk's New Kensington Directory" of 1927. I cannot, however, get in to see it.

Of New Kensington, Pennsylvania. He married Jane Farmery. He had a son and daughter. This could be C. Hessom who was born on 22 May 1921 in Pennsylvania and died in March 1989.

"Hello, My name is M. Roxanne Hessom, I believe my fathers father was Homer Hessom. My father was Clyde Noah Hessom, he had a brother named Homer, a sister named Ruth (Hessom) Large. He was from New Kensington Pa. My father C.N. Hessom had four children we were all born in California. Could this be my relations? Thank You for any help.
M.Roxanne Hessom e-mail roxiehessom@aol.com"

I can't quite make out what the labor dispute, below, was about, but it is clear that Clyde worked for the railroard from 28 March 1947 to 10 July 1970, a period of 23 years.

"National Railroad Adjustment Board
PARTIES TO DISPUTE:
CLYDE NOAH HESSOM, Petitioner
THE ATCHISON, TOPEKA & SANTA FE RAILWAY COMPANY (Coast Lines)
DISPUTE: CLAIM OF EMPLOYES: The question upon which the award is desired against the AT&SF Railroad is, . . ." - page 6239

"Position of Carrier: It is initially the carrier's position that this claim has no standing since it was not properly handled through the established order of appeal on the property and is, therefore, outlawed under the tune limit rule in effect on this property. . . . " - page 6241

"Carrier's Statement of Facts: Machinists on this property are represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aeropace Workers. So far as the Carrier is aware, CN Hessom has no official capacity with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, but is before the Board as an individual." - page 6241

"Claimant Hessom entered the service of this Company March 28, 1947 as a Machinist at Barstow and established seniority on that date. On July 8, 1970, Mr. Hessom submitted his written resignation to Superintendent White of Barstow shops, to be effective July 10, 1970. Carrier has had no dealings with Mr. Hessom since the date of his resignation." - page 6241

". . . carriers Assistant to Vice President-Personnel, who is the carrier's highest officer of appeal, within 60 days following the decision of the General Manager. As shown in Carrier's Statement of Facts, the carrier has had no dealings with Claimant Hessom since he submitted his resignation on July 8, 1970 . . . " - page 6242

It is abundantly clear that Mr. Hessom's statement to the Board, which is quoted above, is entirely incorrect. For the reasons stated herein, the Carrier respectfully submits that the claim should be either . . ." - page 6244
- from "Awards of the Second Division, National Railroad Adjustment Board"

His children were,
(27) John Edward Hessom (1944)
(27) William G. Hessom (c1945)
(27) Clyde D. Hessom, perhaps of Spokane, Washington. If so, he married Mary Phillips.
(27) Jennifer D. Hessom
(27) Margaret Roxanne Hessom (c1954)

Of New Kensington. He was born on 12 May 1944, the son of Clyde, in New Kensington, Pennsylvania [or California, per Roxanne Heesom]. He married Helen Ruth Freeman on 30 March 1996 in Nederland, Jefferson county, Texas. Helen was born on 4 June 1936, the daughter of William Roy Freeman, in Wirt, Carter county, Oklahoma. This was her second marriage.

John owned E Z N Ramps in Nederland, Texas, a retail home furnishing company. John and Helen appear to have been members of the Gold Wing Road Riders Association, a motorcycle club.

"John E. Hessom, 64, of Port Neches died Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009." His obituary:

"John, of Nederland, Texas formerly of New Kingston, Pennsylvania passed away surrounded by his family. He was a member of Seventh Street Baptist Church in Nederland, the Christian Motorcycle Association, Gold Wing Club, and Bill Glass Prison Ministry. He served in the Vietnam War as a core man in the Navy and Marines. He worked for Seimans-Westinghouse for 30 years as a quality engineer. He was the husband of Helen Hessom; father of Shari Roman and husband Chuck; step-father of Marcia Solis and husband Robert, Pam Haley, Donna Sullivan and husband Stephen and Rhonda Melancon and husband Zayne; grandfather of Nichlos, Lindsey, and Anthony Roman; step-grandfather of Bobby Solis, Kim Heinz and husband Josh, Jesse Askew, Brooke Gresham and husband Josh, Michael and Spencer Haley and Sonnie and Macey Sullivan; step-great-grandfather of Madisyn and Allisyn Gresham. He was the brother of Jimmy Culp and wife Carrie, Timmy Culp, and Billy Culp; and brother of Gladie Bash and husband Mike."

Their daughter was Shari.

He married Lelia Jane Pool, the daughter of Robert Pool and Helen Sholar. They had two children, including a son, Tony. - from "Dawsons in the Revolution (and Their Descendents)" by Carol Ruth Anderson Dawson.

"William G. Hessom, carman apprentice, transferred from Barstow to San Bernardino shop." - from "The Santa Fe Magazine"

Of Poway. Sales manager, Linc Lighting & Electrical of San Diego, California. May be part of JG Electric of Poway now. A grandson of James R. Poole. Julie may be his wife or daughter; a thespian. Derek Hessom, a wrestler, may be a son.

She attended Barstow High School from 1968 to 1972.

She married a man named Large.

He was born on 23 August 1886 in East Deer township, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. He was a retail oil dealer, probably working with his father "The Fair Kingdom" says his wife was Marie T.

In the 1920 census of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania as Walter Hessom. Living with him was his wife, Rose. I believe his children were,
(26) William T. Hessom (c1901)
(26) Florence W. Hessom (c1903)
(26) Norma M. Hessom (c1909)
(26) Dorothy R. Hessom (c1911)
(26) Helena M. Hessom (c1915)

Or Robert Charles. He was born on 2 November 1925, perhaps in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. He joined the Navy in about 1944. He became a Navy pilot and fought in Korea and Vietnam.

During the Korean War, Lieutenant Junior Grade Charles Robert "Bob" Hessom flew an AD-4NL Skyraider with Carrier Air Group Five aboard USS ESSEX as a member of detachment 8 (VAN 8) of Composite Squadron 35 (VC-35), nicknamed the Night Hecklers. They were based at Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, California.

"Lt. (jg) RC Hessom of the Essex's VAN Team 8 believed that the enemy had been slowed down a little because of night operations against their supply system, but that the night operations were too limited to affect the supply system sufficiently to make daylight transport necessary." - from "Dark Sky, Black Sea" by Charles H. Brown

An extensive article about Bob, written by his navigator/radar operator from the Korean War, is well worth your time, at "Skyraider: The able dog in Korea" by Thomas L. Thomson. To the right is Tommy Thomson standing next to his AD-4NL.

"On his [Thomson's] tenth mission, flying with LTJG Hessom, their AD-4NL took a hit from an enemy 37 mm round over Wonson Harbor. The round missed a main spar, fuel tank, a napalm bomb and Thomson by inches. Thomas again escaped death on his last mission over Majon Ni, when they flew "into a night filled with enough antiaircraft fire to sink the Queen Elizabeth II." - from Thomson's Induction into VC-35's Enlisted Combat Aircrewman Roll of Honor

His wife was Charlotte L. of Alameda, California.

At the time of the Vietnam War Bob was apparently living in the Bay area, at 424 Fairhaven road, in Alameda, California. His wife was Charlotte L. Hessom, maiden name unknown.

During the Vietnam War Commander Charles Robert Hessom, USN, was in Navy Attack Squadron VA-215 onboard the USS HANCOCK (CVA-19). He was killed on 5 March 1966 [?] when his A-1 Skyraider was hit by flak while in a bombing run. He was of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. This, however, is in east central Pennsylvania, southwest of Wilkes Barre along the Susquehanna River.

"HESSOM ROBERT CHARLES, CDR, NAVY, BLOOMSBURG, PA, 05MAR66, N.VIETNAM, 02NOV25, HOSTILE, KILLED"

"The remains of Cmdr. Robert Hessom, a Navy pilot from Bloomsburg, Pa., were found earlier this year. The Air Force said Hessom was flying his A-1H aircraft over the Ha Tinh Province in March 1966 when he was shot down by ground fire.

Hessom's wingman witnessed the crash and reported there was no sign of a parachute. However, because of heavy ground fighting in the area, Hessom's remains were not immediately recovered."

Bob may have had a son, Robert C. Hessom Jr., probably born in California in 1949. I also have a "Robert C. Hessom Jr. aka Bob Landree" - possibly his stepfather's surname - who may have copyrighted some song lyrics in 1978. This may be the Memphis DJ who "came from San Diego to do afternoons." He had a program in Livermore, California in 1974.

The following are possible sons and grandson of Charles Robert Hessom. Most are living in California, some near where I live, in San Diego. I don't know who they descended from.
Charles Hessom (c1955) of Redwood Valley, Sonoma county, California. An actor and home brewer.
Michael Hessom (c1956) of Diamond Bar, California. A high school chemistry teacher at Bonita HS, La Verne, California. This is near Pomona.
Eric Hessom (c1977) of Victorville, California. Perhaps also an actor.
Jason Hessom (c1980) of San Diego, California. A safety industry professional [?]. A graduate of San Diego State University, 1994-1996.
William Hessom (c1980/2) of Temecula, Californika
and
Rick Hessom of Cortez, Colorado

The following are more strays:

I also have a Joseph D. Hessom, of New Kensington, Pennsylvania. He is certified to remove asbestos. "His father was a contractor and Joe worked for him during the summer from the time he was twelve and into his college years." His education includes an MS in Safety from Indiana University of PA. He currently holds the CSP and OHST certifications.He is also a member of the American Society of Safety Engineers.

There was also a Zeno Hessom in the 1880 census. Is he an anomoly? His wife was Magaret (c1847). His children were David W. Hessom (c1878). They lived in Stanton, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania.

Another stray is Peter Heesem, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. From a List of Street Railway Patents, Peter had a patent issued, No. 616,102, for a [Railway] Car Fender in December 1898. - from the "Transit Journal" of 1899.

I have a J.M. Heesem "elected Associate Member, 1916, 576." - from "Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers" of . This appears to have been Joseph Martin Heesem, of London. He was, at one point, a Lieutenant. I've found a Willen Heesem of Leerdam, the Netherlands.

I have a separate Richard Hessom, born 17 August 1953, died November 1979. Of Pennsylvania.

Or Hessom. Per the LDS database he was born on 4 February 1840 in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, the son of David Hessom and Elizabeth Hartman. Interestingly, (22) John Hissem (1804), a son of Thomas Hissom, married Elizabeth Welker, the daughter of Jacob Welker and Rosana Hartman, of Westmoreland county. They became the Hysham family.

"Expenditures of the Commonwealth . . . Military Claims . . . "Charles H. Hissom, for services as private, company E, Eighth regiment Pennsylvania Reserve volunteers . . . $9 16" - from the "Report of the Auditor General on the Finances of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania" 1893

"name: Charles H. Hessom, rank: Private, date of muster into service: April 24, 1861, term: 3 years, remarks: Transferred to 6th U.S. Cavalary, October 29, 1862" - from www.Pa-Roots.com

Charles transferred to the 6th U.S. Cavalary on 29 October 1862. He was probably tired of walking by that time. They fought in the Penisula campaign all the way to Appomatax.

He married Harriet Ann Evans/Williams.

Charles H. Hessom was buried in Allegheny cemetary, Sec 33 GAR, on 5 June 1891 with his Civil War service noted.

The following may have come from Germany in the late 19th century.

In the Arkansas Gazette of 1824 and 1825. I'm not at all sure this reference means anything at all in relation to the people below. I cannot get into the document.

There was a John Hessom, born 9 June 1881, whose Social Security card was issued in Arkansas, like Irving's, below.

John Hessom. Birth 9 Jun 1881. Where Issued: Arkansas. Death Mar 1970.

He also had an Arkansas Social Security card.

Edward Hessom. Birth 12 Mar 1917. Where Issued: Arkansas. Death 31 Jul 1999.

He was born on 1 January 1914. Known as "Skip." "I remember him telling me once that his fathers family was originally from Pa. and had migrated from Germany." - Polly Roach Hessom.

His Social Security card was issued in Arkansas.

Irving Hessom. Birth 1 Jan 1914. Where Issued: Arkansas. Death 12 Apr 1990.

Skip died on 12 April 1990 in Oklahoma. "Skip was what he went by. He was survived by his wife Imo Hessom, 1 grandaughter, 2 grandsons. He has 2 great grandchildren now by his grandaughter." - Holly Hessom Roach. He was buried in the Okmulgee Cemetery, Okmulgee, Oklahoma.

His children were,
The same tombstone includes : Richard Howard Hessom 15 May 1944 - 2 February 1972, "Beloved Son"

Know as "Rusty." He was born on 29 September 1936 in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. His Social Security card was issued in California.

Irving Hessom. Birth 29 Sep 1936. Where Issued: California. Death 29 Sep 2001.

Irving Howard "Rusty" Hessom, 65, of Okmulgee died at his home in Grapevine, Texas. He was self-employed in construction work. Survivors include two sons, Dusty Hessom of Morris and Kirk Hessom; a daughter, Holly Roach and husband Roy of Texas; two grandchildren and his step-mother, Imo Hessom. Graveside services will be at 1 p.m., Thursday at the Okmulgee Cemetery with Scott Fetgatter officiating. Arrangements are under direction of the Martin-Thompson Funeral Home of Grapevine, Texas.

His children were,
Dusty Hessom (c1970)
Kirk Hessom (c1971)
Holly Hessom Roach (c1977), of Houston, Texas. 1991-1995 Grapevine High School, Grapevine, Texas.

Could Dusty be Joseph D? I have a Joseph D. Hessom, of New Kensington, Pennsylvania. He is certified to remove asbestos. "His father was a contractor and Joe worked for him during the summer from the time he was twelve and into his college years." His education includes an MS in Safety from Indiana University of PA. He currently holds the CSP and OHST certifications.He is also a member of the American Society of Safety Engineers.

Kirk Hessom 1989 graduating class of Charles Page High School in Sand Springs, Oklahoma (1985-1989). Perhaps now of Houston, Texas.

Could they be related to the Hessom's of Pittsburgh and New Kensington?

"Heesom, Charles, clk, 1600 Sarah
Heesom, Henry H., clk, 125 7th, h 2700 Oakley ay
Heesom, Peter, 2706 Quincy
Heesom, Walter D, clk, 125 7th, h 2706 Quincy
Heesom, Peter, 2706 Quincy" - from the "Pittsburgh Directory" of 1900

Of San Francisco or Washington state. From the Tacoma, Washington Public Library Ships and Shipping Database.

The Wreck of the NORTHERNER "The year 1860 opened with another terrible wreck on the route between San Francisco and the Northwest, the antiquated NORTHERNER going to pieces near Cape Mendocino, sacrificing nearly forty lives . . . The old steamship NORTHERNER had been running on the northern route at irregular intervals for several years . . . She left San Francisco on her last trip January 4th at 4:30 P.M., bound for the Columbia River and Puget Sound ports. The next day at four o'clock in the afternoon, when about two miles off shore, she struck on Blunt's Reef near Cape Mendocino. At the time she struck the steamer was running twelve knots an hour before a good breeze with all sails set, but the shock seemed too light to be very serious and Captain Dall sent First Officer French below to see if she was leaking, and directed Capt. Thomas Gladwell, the well known steamboatman, who was Columbia River pilot for the steamer, to take the bearings of the rock, as he had passed there many times before and had never discovered it. Soon after the ship swung off she began making water rapidly, and the pumps, which were throwing twelve thousand gallons per minute, could not keep it down so that it would gain less than an inch a minute. When three and a half miles north of Cape Fortunas the engineer sent word that the fires would be extinguished in five minutes, and, as it would be impossible to reach Humboldt bar, Captain Dall determined to beach the ship. The vessel was headed for shore, the engines making about twenty revolutions after she grounded. Heavy seas were breaking over her, so that it was impossible to cut away the masts. A boat was lowered, and First Officer French succeeded in reaching land in safety with all of the women and children except two, one lady refusing to leave the vessel because her brother could not accompany her. Second Officer Birch then started with the old men and one woman, but his boat capsized, and all perished except the latter, Birch and a sailor. The third boat was in charge of Captain Gladwell, but it was soon overturned and nearly all of its occupants were lost. French in the meantime returned to the rescue, but owing to the carelessness of the crew his boat was drawn under the quarter and he was drowned. After a terrific struggle, Engineer O'Neil succeeded in reaching shore with a line, which was the means of saving the lives of several persons. At 1:30 A.M. Captain Dall, Pilot Rogers and Purser Breck started ashore in this manner, after doing all in their power to induce the remaining passengers to follow their example. Mr. Berry, Wells, Fargo's agent, was swept from the line and drowned, and those who clung to the wreck drifted ashore soon afterward on a piece of the deck which detached itself from the steamer. Altogether thirty-eight people perished. The action of the first officer in returning to almost certain death after making his escape was an example of heroism such as is seldom witnessed. He was entreated to remain in safety, but replied that it was his duty to make the venture, and, after leaving his watch and a message for his wife, went to his fate. The passengers presented Captain Dall with a testimonial for the care which they received after the accident. The following is a complete list of the lost-- [including] Passengers: Mr. Hissim"

Michael Hissem, of Hudson, New Jersey, enlisted in the Army as a Private on 6 May 1941 in Newark, New Jersey. Oops, wrong family. This guy was born in Czechoslovakia in 1909.

Most of the members of the Czech Hissem family moved to Canada.

Steve Hissem
San Diego, California