|
For more information about this book, check here: More about this Book
NOTE: Most of the photos & maps have been removed from this online version.
This is not an exact copy but contains most of the general text of the full book.
This copy has been converted from it's original format and is probably not 100% accurate.
This copy is not to be reproduced on any other web site and is only reproduced here to give
you a good idea of the text content of the original book for research purposes.
This book is available in 8.5" x 11" paperback with a laminated cover or on CD Rom.
(c)1999 & 2006 Michigan Prime Publications & Kevin Everingham.
Generation 3
The children of James Everingham
And Sarah "Sally" Brooks
The second generation James in this family line, lived in Niagara, New York. In 1806, he
married Sarah, also known as Sally Brooks. Before all of their children were born, James and Sally
had moved to Ontario, Canada. The 1821 History of Niagara County New York lists James Everingham as an early settler living there in 1806. Census data shows that in 1810, the family was living at
Cambria, (Niagara Twp.) NY. In 1820 they lived in Lewiston township, Niagara County. However,
by 1830 they were gone, having probably moved near Haldimand County, and some time later to
Brant County, Ontario. Canada was the home of quite a few Brooks families who, like the Everinghams, were descendants of British Loyalists. It is believed that Sally's family may have been from
New York. This generation are the aunts and uncles of Ira Everingham (b.1849).
- Their oldest boy Adoram was born in 1809. He and wife Amy may have moved around a lot, and
according to the 1852 Dunn Township, Haldimand County, Ontario census, two of Adoram's
daughters were living with his brother James. Adoram's son Lyman was born in New York but
in 1868, married in Huron County, Michigan. He later lived in Wisconsin and California.
- The oldest girl of James and Sally, was Elizabeth "Betsy". Like many of her ancestors and cous-
ins, Betsy married into the DELL family, first in 1829 marrying James "Hunter Jim" Dell. Betsy
& James had four children; James (b.1830), Hiram (b.1831), Burroughs (b.1833), and Adoram
(b.1840). Betsy was widowed in 1850 and married Homer Dell in 1855. They had a son named
Homer Dell Jr.
- They also had a brother named Ira who was born in 1813 in Niagara County, New York. Ira was
a life-long farmer who never married. Ira worked for the David Price Family, and his nephew
Burroughs Dell, son of Betsy, married a sister of Mr. Price. Ira was also a Canadian soldier. Ira
and his brother Henry were found on a pay list of Capt. Joshua Thompson's Dunnville volunteers
February of 1838. This was known as the 1837 Canadian Rebellion.
- George Henry Everingham was the fourth child of James and Sally. George married Eliza in
1843 and by 1872 had twelve children, all raised in Ontario, Canada. George and Eliza's fourth
child was named Joseph Barton Everingham (see generation 1, for the Joseph Barton connection).
- James and Sally had a son named William who was born about 1818. His life was cut short when
he tragically drowned at a young age,
while playing in the Niagara River.
Bothwell Times newspaper in Kent
County, Ontario, December 16 1886,
"The barn and contents of Mr.
George Everingham, was de-
stroyed by fire Saturday night".
|
Photos left
are George & Eliza Everingham
used courtesy of
W. Roger Harris
Page 32
| Charlotte (Lymburner) Everingham photo not included here |
| | Photo Hiram Everingham photo not included here |
| |
Photos - Charlotte (Lymburner) Everingham, Hiram Everingham & Celia C. Farr
* Celia photo courtesy of Tom Farr & Debbie St.Louis. Hiram
& Charlotte photos used with permission of Debbie St. Louis.
- The next child was Henry, born about
1819. Henry married Joanna WALP, a
seamstress, in 1847. She was the daugh
ter of Hiram Walp & Martha Sweet.
Henry & Joanna lived in Dunn Township,
Haldimand County, Ontario. They had
one child named Eva. Henry was a vol
unteer soldier during the 1837 rebellion in
Canada.
- James Everingham married Violet
BURNHAM. (see details & photo in the
upcoming section on James & Violet.)
- Sarah, also noted as "Sally Ann", was
born about 1818 by some accounts, and
1822 by others. She married Charles
Ludwig Cornelius KEELY, and had 10
children. They named their 4th child Jo
seph Barton Keeley.
(see her brother #4 for the Barton link)
- James and Sally had a son named Hiram
who was born in 1826. He married Charlotte LYMBURNER, daughter of Christopher LYMBURNER and Rebecca
MELICK. They had eight children.
Hiram & Charlotte's daughter Celia*
married Harley FARR, the son of Char-
lotte Lymburner's cousin Elizabeth. The Lymburner and Melick names show up again in the
next generation in James & Violet's family.
- Their daughter Anne (b.~1827) married Avery S. FARR, son of Barton FARR & Maria
BURNHAM. Notice the Burnham family name in the next generation, I believe this is a 1/2
sister of Violet Burnham. Anne & Avery had 3 children; Amelia, Adolphus & Eugene Avery
Farr. According to an 1852 Census, Ann's father James Everingham was living with them.
- Catherine Everingham (b.1836) married Henry Powell TWEED in 1850 and had 7 children.
The Curse of Cashmere
After visiting with my family history mentor, Roger Harris, in Stratford, Ontario, I learned
about one of the most interesting family stories that I had heard so far. Cashmere was once the
name of a settlement in Mosa Township, right where four townships and three counties come to-
gether at a bridge on the Thames river..
1 South of the Thames river is Aldborough Township, Elgin County, Ontario.
2 North of the river is Mosa Township, Middlesex County. A county road separates these two
counties East of the road , from Kent County on the West side of the road.
Page 33
3 In Kent county, Orford Township is south of the mostly East & West flowing river.
4 Zone Township is North of the River. Cashmere was on the North side, East of the county
Road, which left it completely in Mosa township.
A settlement which became known as Cashmere, came into being in the mid 1850's
when there was a "Black Gold" oil fever in the area. It was located just west of Wardsville
who's first settler, was George Ward. A dam was built on the Thames river near Cashmere. A
reservation called Moravian Town existed just a short distance down-river in Orford Township.
They had the right to fish the Thames River and did so on the down side of the dam. The non-
Indian residents of Cashmere had no such right, however they fished it anyway. Large quanti-
ties of Salmon made it up the river from Lake Erie, and had no way to pass the dam. The fish
were caught by seine nets and shipped by the barrel in salt, to the markets at New York and De-
troit.
It has been documented that this dam caused untold hardship each spring as the ice
backed up behind it causing severe flooding along the river. Flooding occurred back to Wards-
ville which was a few miles up river. It's interesting to know that several relatives and Evering-
hams also lived in Wardsville. Complaints by local farmers and residents of Wardsville were
ignored by the Federal politicians who were responsible for the navigable waterways. At some
point, a man with political clout moved to Wardsville and experienced first hand, a spring flood
which caused the lose of his barn and livestock. This man knew how to get things done, and
was able to get someone sent to investigate the flooding. Roger's research uncovered this jour-
ney which was well documented. The flooding problem was noted and arrangements made
with a local, to surreptitiously blow up the dam. If these arrangements were the result of diplo-
matically introduced empathy for the flood victims, or financial gain, is not known for sure but
it seems that Adoram Everingham was involved in helping to blow up the dam.
That also brought an end to the fishing industry in Cashmere. Now, the biggest problem
with Adorams involvement was the fact that some of his family made their living from the fish-
ing provided by the dam. Adoram's own daughter Almedia was married to George Uplegger
who made staves that were used to make barrels, for shipping the fish.
For the next few generations, Adoram and his brother's families did not speak, and
separated themselves as family. The population started to move out in droves and left Cash-
mere a ghost town, by the turn of the century. Roger has also found assessment records for that
area around 1855 and on, showing names of families that settled there. He also acquired the
original town plat which outlines the town layout which is probably the only record of this once
promising town. Adoram's brother William Henry and some of Adoram's children moved to
Detroit, Michigan.
There is another very interesting story that comes from the Cashmere history, of a Sal-
vationist Minister who decided that his mission should be the salvation of the souls in this law-
less community. He moved to Cashmere and stayed in some of the 5 hotels, which were heavy
drinking establishments. Cashmere had a large population of Saloon/Hotels for a village of
about 65 families. They were a poor population but tough, with all intent on striking-it-rich, on
the new found wealth that the oil was to bring.
The minister was not only severely rejected along his journey, but it seems he was in-
sulted and even beaten a few times. He finally decided he had absorbed enough abuse from
these wretched souls and that there was no hope for them. He was ready to leave them to their
own future after some ruffians threw him into the icy waters of the Thames river. It is said that
Page 34
he nearly drowned, and was seemingly left to die. He recovered enough to pronounce a
"CURSE" on the community for their un-godliness. He stood in the streets of Cashmere and
stated that "this village will cease to exist, that God's wrath will be poured out upon you, that
you will all lose your homes and future generations will grow crops where you now live."
If you believe this story or not, Today, the only evidence of the place are lush corn
fields, slight remnants of a once commercial venture in the cement parapets of the dam and
memories by very few folks who even know there was once a thriving community full of hopes
and dreams of many impoverished families of Upper Canada, Canada West which eventually
became the Province of Ontario.
Haldimand County, Ontario &
Our Ancestor; Captain John Dockstader
After leaving the Niagara, New York area, some of our family ended up in Haldimand
County, Ontario, Canada. Among the earliest settlers included the Dockstaders, Lymburners,
Farrs, and Peter Melick, who have connections to some of the early Everinghams of that area.
One of the earliest settlers to the area was John Dockstader, sometimes spelled "Dochsteder,"
who received a large tract of land after the Revolutionary War. Dockstader's lease of land cov-
ered much of modern day Canborough township. Most of the Everingham family of Michigan
are descendants of John Dockstader from his grand daughter Violet Burnham who married
James Everingham. James & Violet were the parents of Ira, Alice, Henry and Eugene Evering-
ham who's families immigrated to Michigan in the late 1800s.
One interesting story from the Historical Atlas of Haldimand County tells of a Colonel
Clench of Newark (modern day Niagara). Clench drove a sleigh to visit Captain John Docksta-
der who then lived a few miles up the river from present day Dunnville, Ontario. The Colonel
had a keg of rum as cargo that was intended as a present for Dockstader. On the way through
the woods he met three Indians, who, finding that the Colonel had the keg in his sleigh, stopped
his horses. While one held the horses, and one held the Colonel, the third filled an iron kettle
and drank what liquor he could hold. They took turns until they had what they could hold, and
then made off with their kettle full of rum. Colonel Clench, in a rage, drove on until he came to
the home of John Huff. He borrowed a fowling piece and, after loading it with slugs, walked
back, and finding the Indians seated on a log, drinking his rum, he shot one of them, wounding
him severely. He then made his way to Captain Dockstader's, where he relayed his adventure.
Dockstader, was well knowing of the promptness and certainty of Indian revenge. To avoid
certain retaliation, he immediately sent a swift runner up the river to Joseph Brant for assis-
tance. Brant was a friend of Dockstader, and Chief of the Six Nations (more about Brant and
the Six Nations in the chapter about Brant County).
Brant, on hearing of the occurrence, mustered two hundred Mohawks and hurried to
Dockstader's to save the lives of his friends. He arrived a few minutes after the house had been
surrounded by a strong party of Delaware Braves. They were dispersed before any damage
could be done, and a party of Mohawks escorted Colonel Clench out of the reservation area.
According to the story, the Colonel never returned to the area to press his luck.
The Canborough area of the Historical sketch of Haldimand county tells of Captain
Page 35
Dockstader selling a large portion of his land, and retaining the balance of his land, 1,750 acres,
known as the "Dockstader Tract".
Dockstader had two half-breed Indian daughters, and only one survived into later adult-
hood. We know from other sources, that her name was Catherine Dockstader. Catherine's
mother is noted in one source as the sister of Kaneahintwaghte, of the Onondaga Tribe of Iro-
quois Indians. Catherine married into the Burnham family. From there, the Farr family was
thought to be the last surviving ancestors of Dockstader. However, this was probably written af-
ter grand daughter Violet (Burnham) Everingham died in 1869. At any rate, Dockstader's land
may have never been in Violet's family.
Captain John Dockstader's daughter "Catherine," is our Michigan Everingham ancestor.
We do not have absolute proof if she was Violet Burnham's mother, or possibly Violet's grand-
mother. Everingham family records have identified Violet's mother as Catherine. Those notes
suggest that her parents were Lyman Burnham & Catherine Dockstader. Not even the extensive
research of Michigan Everingham descentant; Erlene Dudley has uncovered an absolute answer
yet. Erlene found out that some Burnham family records identify Violet's parents as Oliver Burn-
ham & Margaret Anger. Oliver was a son of Catherine. If this scenario is true, then Catherine
would have been Violet's grand-mother.
Will of John Dochstader removed due to extensive formatting
issues with the conversion to an HTML file.
see the actual book for full details. |
Page 36
Below, an affidavit of Violet Burnham's mother
after Violet's grandfather Dockstader had died.
Catherine Burnham of the Twp. of Canborough in the
said district, who maketh oath and saith, that at the
demise of her late father Capt. John Dochstader, a Will
was found among his papers written out but not exe-
cuted, in which writing or will, executors were named
and a disposition of his estate proposed and in conse-
quence of the Will not being executed, the executors
therein named, never took upon them to act in the
premises in any way whatsoever, but that the heirs to
the estate came to the conclusion of abiding by the
claiming Violet Burnham's heritage, but no
disposition of the estate as laid down in said writing or
absolute proof has been found to my
Will, as near as they could, and further this dependent
knowledge. Much more research on the
saith that John Burnham who claims part of the estate
Dockstader and Burnham family will need
of the late Capt. John Dochstader is NOT her son but
the son of her late sister Mary Burnham and the only
to be done to know the truth.
surviving heir of the late Mary Burnham.
Shown before me at Dunnville, this 13th day of June 1838
Catherine Burnham
"her mark" |
Alphus S.J. John
Commission in Court K.B.
|
Death Notice in Local paper:
| The Niagara Herald, 1801
"DIED, - At Grand River, on Monday
last, Capt. JOHN DACHSTEDER."
|
More Related families
in Ontario
At about the turn of the century, the Farr family left England and settled in Maine.
From there, Barton Farr moved to the Niagara area and settled along the Grand River, west of
Dunnville, Ontario, where our Everinghams also lived. He married into the Burnham family
and thus connected the Farrs with John Dockstader and the Everinghams, Lymburners and
Burnhams. Barton Farr built a large brick hotel and worked in the lumber industry. By the
time of his death, he had acquired about 1000 acres along the Grand River.
According to the book, History of the Grand River Valley 1867-1967, The Lymburner
family left Scotland in 1767 and settled in Maine and moved to upper Canada (Ontario) in
1794. Some of the farms along the Grand River included the descendants of Barton Farr.
Harley Farr owned one farm, the next was owned by Barton's daughter who married Walter
Lymburner.
One of the Burnhams owned the farm between the Lymburners and John Comfort. An-
other local 100 acre farm was owned by an Everingham, but his exact identity was not given.
This may have been "Hiram Everingham". Whoever it was, this was one of James Evering-
ham's sons or grandsons. Not far from there, a Mr. Ostrander built a hotel on the river bank,
which later washed away by a bad storm. Alexander Lymburner settled on land along the
Grand River in 1811. His settlement later became a Golf Course & Country Club. The first
school in the area was known as the Burnham School. It was made of logs and was built on the
river bank, above Johnson's Creek.
Page 37
Generation 3
The Family of
James Everingham
and Violet Burnham
James was the seventh child of James
and Sally Everingham. This third generation
James Everingham, (photo right) is our main
focus of generation 3.
This treasured photo was found
among the papers of James & Violet's daugh-
ter Sarah "Lucy" Davis. This photo is owned
by Donald Danskin of Saskatchewan, Can-
ada. Donald is a grandson of Sarah "Lucy"
Davis. According to Donald, his great
grand-father James Everingham sometimes
went by the name of "Earl" which could have
been a nick-name or middle name. Earl does
not seem to be a common name in this fam-
ily. All official records & references to
James & Violet Everingham, list him as
"James." If you check back a few pages, in
the James & Sally Brooks section, you can compare this James with photos of two of his broth-
ers, George & Hiram. All three have very similar beards.
James was born about March of 1818 in Cambria, Niagara County, New York, which is
just across the water from Canada, where his grandparents lived before he was born. When
James was a baby, his family moved to Lewiston township, Niagara County. By 1830, his par-
ents had moved to, or near Haldimand County, Ontario, Canada. James was in his mid to late
20's when he married Violet Burnham about 1845, and started his family in Haldimand County,
Ontario. Unfortunately, there are no known photos of Violet. She was this family's connection
to Indian heritage, as outlined in the previous section about John Dockstader, her probable
grandfather. Violet's mother or grand-mother Catherine Dockstader-Burnham, was a half-
breed Iroquois Indian.
James and Violet obviously had a very stable home, and many branches of the family
seemed to count on them, in times of need, as evidence clearly shows. In the 1852 census of
Dunn Township, Haldimand County, James' brother Hiram was living with them. At the same
time, his oldest brother Adorams' daughter's Lucretia, and Selista were also living with James
and Violet. It seems that their extended family counted on them for a place to stay. Later data
shows their granddaughter Cellestia Norris living with them.
Page 38
On December 22, 1869, this strong family unit was broken up when Violet died in
Onondaga Township, Brant County, Ontario. Violet was between 36 & 41 years old when she
died. According to Ontario vital statistics certificate #3885/70, James & Violet's son Ira,
spelled their name "Evryingham". He noted that Violet was only 36 years, 9 months old when
she died of consumption. From the time of Violet's death, her son Ira helped out his father on
the family farm and helped raise his youngest sister Mary.
Violet is noted in most genealogies as being born in 1828, however, when she died in
1869, Ira estimated her date of birth of March, 1833, based on her age given. It is very evident
from known records that Ira filled out, that he was never very accurate with birth dates! If the
widely accepted 1828 birth date is correct, then Violet was 41 years old when she died. Ira
was the informant on a few of his family's death records which most likely indicates that he
could read and write, as he noted in census records. Violet's death record also notes that she
was born in Dunnville, Haldimand County, Ontario. Ira was also the informant when his father
James Everingham died February 2, 1884 at age 65 years, 10 months & 6 days.
Generation 4
James and Violet Everingham had nine children that we know of.
- James Henry was born June 4, 1846 in Dunnville, Haldimand County, Ontario. In 1865,
this 4th generation James Everingham, married Margaret Lymburner, daughter of Jay Lym-
burner and Sarah Melick. James and Margaret had a son named Mahlon (b.1870) and possi-
bly others. Very little is currently known about this 4th generation James and his family.
- James and Violet's second born child was Ira. He is discussed in detail in the following
pages about generation 4. This Ira is the focal point of this publication. The children and
families listed in the section are the brothers and sisters of Ira.
- The third child was Adoram, born about 1851 in Dunnville, Haldimand County, Ontario.
Adoram, who was surely named after his uncle, died of Diphtheria. Certificate #3898/70
shows that Adoram died June 30, 1870. Michigan records also record his death, but note his
name as "Adam Evingham." His father was the informant of Adoram's death in Canadian
records & spelled their name "Everyingham". For more information about the name
Adoram, see the Dell family Revolutionary War information on Pages 17-20.
- The fourth child was Alice. She was born about 1854 in Haldimand County, Ontario. Alice
married Charles Matthews Norris. His sister Louise married Ira, brother of Alice. Charles
and Louise were the children of Robert & Elizabeth Norris. Alice and Charles had a daugh-
ter born in 1870 who they named Cellestia L. Norris. Some descendants of Ira Everingham
of Michigan remember visiting with their Norris cousins prior to the 1950's. At some point,
this family lived in and around Huron county, MI. Other Norris family exist that have not
been found yet. In the late 1890s, two boys were photographed. Charles, son of Ira Ever-
ingham was photographed in Michigan, setting next to Joe Norris. Joe's relationship is not
known at this time but they are thought to be cousins.
Page 39
Photo - The Generation 4
Sarah "Lucy" (Everingham) Davis and
Richard Graham Davis family, circa 1889. |
Photo used courtesy of
Donald Danskin of
Biggar, Saskatchewan
- Sarah Lucinda Elizabeth Everingham, AKA "Lucy" was born in 1856, probably in Dunnville, Haldimand County, Ontario. In her younger years, she went by the name, Lucy or
Eliza. She married Richard Graham Davis November 22, 1880 in Caledonia, Haldimand
County, Ontario, Canada. He was the son of Squire & Janet Davis & was born about 1852
in Uxbridge, Ontario. Lucy & Richard Davis were the witnesses at the 1876 wedding of her
brother Ira Everingham to Louisa Norris. Lucy & Richard Davis had 11 Children. She died
January 21, 1891 in childbirth with her 12th child, who also died.
- William "Henry" was the sixth child of James and Violet. Henry was born about 1858.
Not much is known about Henry and his family but of the records found, Henry married
Annie McIntyre and had a son named Percy. I have a few photos labeled "Uncle Henry
& Ira Everingham." The man in the photo is clearly younger than Ira.
- Eugene Delorne was the seventh child. He was born January 6th of 1860 in Brantford, On-
tario. He moved to the Huron County, Michigan area, where many of his descendants
lived near the cities of Bad Axe, Port Austin, Port Hope, and Kinde. He married Harriet
Frances Getty, January 6, 1881 in Huron County, Michigan. She was the daughter of Henry
Getty and Elizabeth Pulling. Eugene and Harriet's children included: George (b.1881),
Esther Violet (b.1884), Henry James (b.1885), Bertha Marie (b.1887), Frank Stanley
(b.1889), Adelaide Elizabeth (b.1891), & William Ramon (b.1892).
Eugene Delorne Everingham was only 34 years old when he died of Typhoid in Michigan,
in 1894. His descendants from the "thumb area" of Michigan include the surnames; Heuser,
Page 40
Fuller, Oberloier, Dangle, Doyle, Wahl, Kelley, Goldsworthy, Nickle, Brown, Gallagher,
Morgan, Markle, Tamblyn, Ward, Metiva, and others.
- Rosally was the eighth child of James and Violet Everingham. Rosally was born about 1862
in Onondaga township, Brant County, Ontario. Little is known about her, but she did work
as a servant, as the 1881 census indicates. She died March 8, 1935 and is buried at Riverside
Cemetery in Dunnville, Ontario.
- The last child of James and Violet was Mary. She was born in 1864 in Onondaga Township,
Brant County, Ontario. On February 25, 1880, Mary died, at about age 15. Her cause of
death is noted as "consumption," and she had been sick for 6 months. At the time of her
death, Mary was living with her brother Ira & his wife Louisa since she was so young when
her mother died in 1869. The same day that Ira registered his sisters death, he registered the
death of his 1 year old daughter Emma, who had died a few months earlier.
1880
Page 41
Onondaga Township,
Brant County, Ontario, Canada
The first inhabitants in what is now known as Brant County, Ontario, were Indians who
lived in the area, along lakes Erie & Ontario, and in modern day New York for hundreds of
years. Onondaga township took its name from the Onondaga tribe of the Six Nations. The Six
Nations is a name given to a group of Iroquois Indians originally including the Mohawks,
Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas, and Senecas. The sixth nation, the Tuscaroras, migrated into
Iroquois country in the early 18th century. Those first five nations of Indians make up the old-
est known participatory democracy on earth. It is said that the democratic governments of
other countries, drew inspirations from the six nations governing ways.
The Onondaga Tribe
The six nations democratic system known as the
"Iroquois Confederacy" was founded in part, by Native
American spiritual leader Deganawidah of the Mohawks,
and the legendary Chief Hiawatha of the Onondagas.
The Onondagas were known as Haudenosaunee, "people of
the long house". Chief Hiawatha chose the area now
known as Onondaga Lake, New York, as the capital of the
Iroquois Confederacy. The original five nations met there
periodically where roll call of the Chiefs took place in a
long-house, on a hilltop. Of the 50 Chiefs that always par-
ticipated in the democratic meetings, the large Onondaga
tribe had more Chiefs (15) participate in the meetings than
any other tribe. This was probably based on tribal size
much like representatives, senators, & electoral voting in
modern politics. This Confederacy of northern native in-
digenous people must have seemed daunting to explorers.
The Iroquois Confederacy made up the single most
powerful group of Native Americans in recorded history.
It was the brilliant savior of those Native tribes, who had
been formerly at war with each other for as long as they
had known. As legend tells, when Hiawatha's daughter
was killed, he found the words to console others, and drew
great strength as a force for peace, from his grief.
The Mohawk Tribe
Brant county, Ontario in modern day Canada was
named after the most famous of the Revolutionary era Six
Nations, Chief Joseph Brant. He was not only the Chief of
the Mohawks, but served as the leader of the Six Nations.
Page 42
Brant was known by the Mohawks as Thayendanegea, pronounced (Ti-yan-te-na-ga).
He served as the Chief of the Six Nations, a Christian missionary, and a British military officer
during the American Revolutionary War. Brant (b.1742) was an extremely educated man. He
knew Latin and Greek, and helped translate Mark's gospel, and many biblical texts into Mo-
hawk. He may have had a sister who married Capt. John Dockstader. Another sister, Molly
Brant married General Sir William Johnson, who was superintendent for Northern Indian af-
fairs. Joseph followed Sir William into battle at age 13. Later in life, Brant traveled to England
and met with King George III on at least two occasions. He wanted England's help in getting
back the old Mohawk lands.
Brant is quoted as saying to the King; "I bow to no man for I am considered a prince
among my own people. But I will gladly shake your hand."
The importance of Hiawatha & the Iroquois Confederacy
to the Everingham family of Michigan.
It has been a long standing family legend that the Everinghams of Michigan had some
Indian heritage. My particular family said that we had Canadian Indian ancestry, but nobody
seemed to know any details. One thought was that Ira Everingham's mother, Violet (Burnham)
Everingham, was a descendant or relative of Joseph Brant. Violet's parents may have been
Lyman Burnham and Catherine Dochstader from Haldimand County, Ontario. If Violet Burn-
ham was related to Brant, it would have most likely been from her mother's side of the family.
Much research has been done about the descendants of Joseph Brant and many liberties have
been taken in making other family connections. I have found no proof of Violet's connection
to Joseph Brant but we do know that she was a descendant of the Six Nations Iroquois Indians.
Violet Burnham's mother (or grandmother) was Catherine Dockstader, sometimes
spelled Dochstader or Docksteder. Catherine was a half-breed child of Captain John Dochsta-
der and an Iroquois Indian woman. Some amateur genealogy records indicate that Catherine's
mother's name was Sara Brant, a half sister of Joseph
Brant, but those records give no reliable sources.
John Dockstader was a close friend & military peer of
Mohawk Chief Joseph Brant (as the stories tell in a
previous section about Haldimand County, Ontario).
Canadian records are quite clear that Dockstader and
Brant knew each other well, and fought for the same
causes in war. There are also references that Dock-
stader married one of Brant's sisters, although no
proof of this has been found..
With this in mind, it's easy to see how a mix-
up of information about Violet Burnham being re-
lated to Joseph Brant could have happened. Other,
distinct Indian skin tone and facial features
more logical connections have already been made.
Page 43
Violet was in fact, Iroquois Indian. Her original tribe of Iroquois was the Onondaga. One book
titled; The History of the Grand River Valley, states that Chief Joseph Brant granted a large tract
of land to his sister's husband, Captain Dockstader. This was a possible reference to one of
John Dockstader's previous marriages. He was actually married at least 3 times, to 3 different
Indian women. Violet's connection was to Captain John's third wife. The Toronto Genealogi-
cal Society book titled; Understanding Ontario First Nations Genealogical Records, by David
K. Faux, under the section "White men and their Six Nations Wives," lists John Dochstader Sr.
marrying a full blooded Onondaga woman. Further research uncovered that she was the sister
of Kaneahintwaghte, an Onondaga Chief. That piece of data seems to suggest that the mother
or grandmother of Violet Burnham was an Onondaga half-breed. This means that Ira Ever-
ingham and his progeny are descendants of the Onondaga Tribe of Iroquois Indians.
Without Chief Hiawatha and the Iroquois Confederacy, many thousands of Indians
would have died, in the tribal wars alone. The Confederacy would have also been much weaker
as several individual small tribes and may have been wiped out by the Revolutionary War.
Violet Burnham may have never been born, and thus most of the Everinghams of Michigan
may have never existed. Chief Hiawatha is known for the American metaphor; "A stick can be
easily broken by itself, but many tied together cannot." This well known metaphor refers to the
Confederacy, where Hiawatha had each Chief bring an arrow, they were all tied tightly together
and placed by the fire to remind them of the strength of unity.
The Onondaga Township Map
The farm of Robert & Elizabeth Norris and the James & Violet Everingham farm were
located in Onondaga Township, Brant County, Ontario, Canada. (see map, next page) It was
one road over from the palatial home built on the banks of the Grand River by Chief Joseph
Brant. As was common in those days, one family's children dated the neighbor children and
two of the Norris children married two of the Everingham children.
Ira Everingham took care of his family and probably lived at lot #44 with his widower
father James & helped out on the family farm. Violet (Burnham) Everingham had died fairly
young in 1869, and James Everingham died in 1884. Ira was married to Louisa Norris about
1876, and was the informant on his mother & father's death certificates. Charles Matthews
Norris, brother of Louisa, married Ira's sister Alice Everingham and later moved to Huron
County, MI. After James Everingham died, Ira & Louisa moved to Arenac County, MI in 1885.
Another Norris girl named Martha, married William Harrison in 1861. From the map,
you can see the Harrison's land ran along the Norris land. On the lower right area of the map
you can see land owned by James Rowley. Later spellings of that family name show up as
Rouley, rather than Rowley. He married Jane Norris in 1879, daughter of Robert & sister of
Martha & Louisa. Ira Everingham's sister; Sarah Lucinda Eliza married Richard Davis in
1880. Richard's parents; Squire & Janet Davis lived next to the Everinghams in lot #45.
Page 44
Map from the Historical Atlas of Brant County by Belden & Co. 1879
image removed from this copy
Family Migration Map
This image also removed
Page 46
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