For those researching the William Backus, Sr. b abt. 1750 and d in Harrison County abt 1814, m Mary ? I have found information that shows his parents as Peter Baccus/Backus and Sarah ? William, John and Father Peter all served in the American Revolution. I am willing to exchange information. Arden. "Our Roots Grow Deep and Our Tree Stands Tall"

Hi Ethel, Am very interested in your new information. William Backus, SR b 28 Aug 1758 probably in West Moreland Co, PA, is my 4th great grandfather, through his daughter Nancy who married Jacob Swiger. I do not have his parents and am very interested. I have the following information on a William Backus that I think might be the ancestor of our William but have not been able to make the connection: William Backus I information on this family obtained from http://members.tripod.com/ntgen/bw/bkus_index.html June 2000 Origins Everett F. Bingham, in NEHGR 142:253-254, says: "William Backhouse (sic) was listed as an apprentice to William Nutt of Grimesthorpe, near Sheffield, [Yorkshire] had been given his freedom in 1627, and in 1631 was admitted to membership in the Sheffield Culters Company. This placed him as a member of that company at the same time as Thomas Bingham, Sr., husband of Anna (Fenton), and father of Thomas Bingham, Jr. (the immigrant ancestor of Binghams in America.)" Births for the five children of William Backus who immigrated to America are listed in the Sheffield, Yorkshire parish registers, burials of two more children who died young in England, and the burial of his wife, Elizabeth (last name unknown) in 1643. There can be little doubt this William Backhouse is the William Backus of Saybrook, Conn because he used a unique "trademark" for his signature, which was a W directly over a B, likely used to "sign" his cutlery products. This same mark is found on papers he signed in England as well as on his will, in Connecticut. Additionally, the names of the children recorded in the parish register match the names of the children of the American William Backus. These facts, coupled with the man in Norwich referred to his cutlery tools in his will leaves no doubt that the person referred to in the three locations and records are the same man. The Immigrant William Backus, English immigrant was a cutler. He settled in Saybrook, Conn, as a widower with grown children, by 1659. He was on the list of the original 35 settlers who paid Uncas, the Mohegan chief, 70 pounds, for the nine square mile parcel of ground to become Norwich, Connecticut. Born: "Probably about 1606" (NEHGR 142:254, 1988), Note that 18 years before youngest child's birth would be 1610. Immigrated: By 1659, ship unknown (The William Backhouse immigrant of 1637 either died soon after arrival, or if that immigrant was William, returned to England soon after. The 1637 immigrant was likely a different man. There is no record in America after 1637 of a William Backus until the reference to our William Backus in Saybrook in 1659 (Bingham genealogy say 1657.). The later kids of our William Backus were born in England after 1637.) Arrived as a widower, kids in 1659 would have been 19-31 years of age. Spouses: 1) Elizabeth (last name unknown), md by 1628, she was born by 1610, buried at Sheffield, Yorkshire, England February 9, 1643, age about 33. Seven children, two died young. 2) Mary (Fenton) Bingham, widow of Thomas Bingham, Sr. and mother of Thomas Binghams, Jr, American immigrant in 1659 in Saybrook, Conn.Late-life marriage, he was probably in his mid-fifties. No children. She died May, 1670, in Norwich. Occupation: Cutler, worker with steel, probably especially knives. Work records for the Sheffield Company have been found in England, and he referred to his cutlery tools in his will. Founder of Norwich, Conn: The Backuses were founders of Norwich. William, Jr., Stephen and step-son Thomas Bingham are all listed as founders of Norwich in most lists that are made of that prestigious group. William, Sr acceded the "official honors", of being a first time land owner to his younger son Stephen. Died: Probably shortly before June, 1664, when the inventory of his estate was taken, at Norwich, Conn, age about 60. Estate: He left a will, dated Jun 12, 1661, inventory taken June 7, 1664. (New London Probate, 1646-1666, 143-4). All of his children are! named, corresponding with the baptism records in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England, some 30 years earlier.First Settler of Connecticut, CT in 1660: NEHGR, Vol. 1, 1847, Pg. 314-317, Article by .. author of article not shown. The names of both Stephen Backus and William Backus appears on list of the first 35 settlers. The name, William Backus, also appears in a partial list in the land patent from the Colony of Connecticut. The list appearing in the NEGHR shows that William was still living at 1700 and Stephen was not. This probably means the name in the list in the patent is the dad, and the names in the list of early settlers are of his two sons, William, Jr. and Stephen, who came to Norwich with him. What do you think? Charlotte ----- Original Message ----- From: Ethel Swiger To: HCGS-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Saturday, February 23, 2002 2:57 PM Subject: [HCGS] WILLIAM BACKUS For those researching the William Backus, Sr. b abt. 1750 and d in Harrison County abt 1814, m Mary ? I have found information that shows his parents as Peter Baccus/Backus and Sarah ? William, John and Father Peter all served in the American Revolution. I am willing to exchange information. Arden. "Our Roots Grow Deep and Our Tree Stands Tall" ============================== To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237