Hi Lily, Hope you have better luck getting orphan's court records than I have. They keep making excuses at Monroe County Courthouse. While you are checking the Stunk Everett files, could you keep an eye out for this family? James Countryman >Pension # MirC 133006 >d. 23/24 Nov 1864 Morris Island/Port Royal, S.C. Regt. Hospital of chronic >diarrhea and dropsy >m. Matilda Howey (b. ca 1844) on 4 Jul 1858 Monroe Co., Pa. by Samuel Casebeer >she m. 1 Jun 1867 William Harrison >James was drafted 28 Sep 1863 a Pvt. in Co. A 52nd Pa. Vol. Easton, Pa >Children: > William b. 6 Jun 1859 Smithfield Twp. Monroe Co., Pa. > John b. 12 May 1862 Smithfield Twp. Monroe Co., Pa >James C. Strunk was appointed guardian of children Aug. 1869 >James & Matilda lived in the home of Rachael Everett b. ca 1830 when the >children were born. Charlotte ----- Original Message ----- From: "Flower Child" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, April 27, 2003 1:15 PM Subject: [PAMONROE] Strunk,Ace,Everett : Hi, : I received the pension files for Elijah Strunk. I have been trying to find out the name of his birth parents. : The mystery of Elijah is that he used the surname ACE for 20 years, switching back to Strunk in the 1920's. The reason is he lived with the John Ace family of Middle Smithfield Twp.Pa. John Ace can be found on the census record 1860 John 47, Elizabeth 17, John 5/12, Elijah Strunk 11. Since Elijah did not know his date of birth and the dept of interior decided in 1914 that his date of birth would be 8 Sep. 1845. His birth age in 1860 would be 15, I figured more like 14. When he joined the Civil war he would have been 18. John Ace's wife Elizabeth her age 17 in more like 20. In 1880 Barrett Twp., Monroe co., Pa. we find John Ace 67, Elizabeth 34, John 11, Aura ? 13, Sarah 4, William H. 6, Hannah 3.They lived 1 house over from Elijah & Barbara Strunk. In one of Elijah letter to the war Dept he tells them his father was Benjamin Strunk and his mother Betsy Ace, and when he was about 1 1/2 he lived with John Ace, Later he tells them he was 6 or 8 when he moved in with John Ace. : So, who is the Benjamin Strunk that married the Betsy/Elizabeth Ace ? Elijah insists he was born in Middle Smithfield Twp. Why did Elijah live with John Ace? If Elijah is correct in saying his mother was Betsy Ace, john could have been taking in his sisters child. If Elijah & Elizabeth were sister & brother, and there father died (Benjamin) Elizabeth could have decide to marry John Ace and Elijah came along with the package. Face facts what was a 20 year old female with out parents and a little brother going to in the 1850's ?There was not a large age difference between Elijah and John Ace wife Elizabeth abt 6 years. So I am not considering her as his mother, but I could consider her as his sister. I have to say that would be rather weird John Ace marrying his niece, but not unheard of. She could have been from a different Ace line, or maybe Betsy Ace Strunk was not her mother.Since Elijah was not very educated, he could have confused, John Ace's wf Elizabeth as the wf. of B! : enjamin Strunk. This is probable, because he didn't know who his mother was. It is also possible that John Ace was married before. In 1850 census M. Smithfield Twp. I find a John Ace 36, Margaret 38, Caty Ann 15, Henry Ace 26. Living next to them Joseph 23, Margaret 23, Mary 1. The interesting thing about this is next to the Ace family is Jacob Everet. The reason I think this is the correct John Ace is because Elijah Strunk married Barbara Everett. Jacob Everet is not her father but could be her grand father. Jacob Everet's wf. name was Barbary. : So there you have it folks. I am open for any comments or suggestions. I am looking for any one who has a loose Benjamin Strunk d. abt 1845-1847 ? that is if Elijah is right in that he was about 1 1/2 years of age when he went to live with John Ace. : I am checking the Orphan Ct. Records next. : Thanks Lily Kintner : : : ==== PAMONROE Mailing List ==== : Have you posted the surnames you are researching lately? : Remember there are always new people being added to the list : who may have not seen your queries yet. : :