Migration from New Jersey


Submitted by Chuck Carey
Email: http://cwcfamily.org/nj_mig.htm
Anaheim, California



One of the principal points of origin of migration into Miami County, and the adjacent Miami Valley area, of Ohio in the first decade of the 19th Century was the state of New Jersey. Many interrelated family groups made the trek from the areas around Rahway and Elizabeth, NJ, mostly in Essex and Union counties, sometimes via Madison county, KY, and Cincinnati, OH. Most of these early settlers took up farming in Staunton, Springcreek and Lost Creek townships. Here are some of the surnames of which I am aware, simply because they appear in my own genealogy data base:
Carey
Clark
Clawson
Frazee
Marsh
Winans
Woodruff
Many of these settlers were Methodists. Several of my ancestors were said to have been buried in the Raper Methodist Episcopal Chapel's graveyard, which is located on the east bank of the Miami River, along the old Troy-Piqua Pike. When I visited there in 1993, I was unable to distinguish names on most of the old headstones, although I could barely make out "Winans" on a few. The chapel itself is no longer standing, although a marquee-like stone with its name dimly visible, that may once have been attached to the building, was lying on the ground.

One of the Winans settlers was my g-g-g-g-grandfather Samuel Winans (1746-1830) who was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. He is supposed to have offered the toast at the July 4, 1827, Independence Day celebration: "The Star Spangled Banner, Long may it wave, O'er the land of the free and home of the brave." His grave at Rapel Chapel was "marked by Miami Chap. [DAR?] with bronze marker in 1904", although I was unable to locate it when I was there. The Winans line in the U.S.A. can be traced to Jan (John) Winans (1640-1694) who immigrated from the Netherlands and was one of the founders of Elizabeth, NJ.

I would be glad to exchange information with anybody who shares this heritage with me. I would also like to hear from anybody who might have definite information on just who is buried at Raper Chapel, or who might know where such information may be found.