Elizabeth Vrooman
ID # 2093, (1815-1886)
| Father | Adam Vrooman (1786-1854) |
| Mother | Elizabeth McCowan (1790-1869) |
| Baptism | Elizabeth Vrooman was baptized in 1815 at Wainfleet Twp., Niagara District. |
| Marriage | She married Jonathan Pursel in 1842. The year of 1842 as shown for the marriage of Elizabeth Vrooman and Jonathan Pursel is approximate and is based on an approximate birth year of 1843 for daughter Phoebe for whom such evidence as we have supports her parents as being Jonathan Pursel and Elizabeth Vrooman. The marriage was probably performed in Upper Canada.There are some serious conflicts in the records. According to the 1851 and 1861 censuses, Phoebe's birth predates the 1851 census by some years yet her gravestone dates her year of birth to 1858. Further research is needed. |
| Marriage | She married David B. Weaver on 26 April 1870 at Windham Twp., Norfolk Co.. Mrge reg Norfolk County David B. Weaver, 58, farmer, widower, born New York, residing Windham. Methodist. Parents Francis and Ellen. Elizabeth J. Pursel, 52, widower, born Wainfleet U.S. (the 'U.S. designation somewhat illegible), residing Windham. Baptist. Parents Adam and Elizabeth (last name illeg). Witnesses John Weaver and D.E. McIntosh. At Windham on 26 April, 1870. By D.V. Lucas. |
| Death | She died on 6 October 1886 at Windham Twp. |
| Burial | She was buried at Old Windham Pioneer Cemetery. |
| Note | The 1889 Chapman Brothers' Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa, that has a biography of the Haners, provides us with the name Elizabeth, deceased, as a sister of Charlotte Vrooman Haner. With this and the availability of marriage and death registrations, it is possible to put together the following information: Elizabeth Vrooman married twice, both times to a widower. Her first husband was Jonathan Pursel. He settled and farmed in Windham Township in Norfolk County and appears in the 1851 and 1861 censuses. In 1851, Jonathan is shown as a farmer, aged 57 and born in the United States. Elizabeth is shown as being born in Upper Canada and is aged 39. Her age in this census is probably not accurate. With them are Jonathan's son David N.S. 'Purcell', age 17, and daughter Mary E. Purcell. David is shown as born in the United States and Mary as born in Upper Canada. Also present are Phebe, age 9, and Cornelia , age 1. Mary Purcell's marriage in 1866 to Hilton Havens indicates that her mother's name was Catherine, and so we must believe that Catherine was the first wife of Jonathan Pursell. Phoebe's marriage registration in Waterford, Norfolk County, shows her parents as John and Elizabeth Pearsall, and so we must believe that she is Elizabeth's daughter. A death registration for Phoebe has not been found. By the time of the 1861 census at Windham, we may add daughter Hetty M. (or Hester Maria) to our list. She appears with the family, age 5. A death registration for Jonathan Pursel has not been found, nor a place of burial. The next document of some assistance is Elizabeth's marriage registration. It documents her marriage to David B. Weaver, age 58, farmer. She is shown as Elizabeth J. Pursel, age 52, born Wainfleet, U.S. (The 'U.S.' is poorly written. It is possible that U.C for Upper Canada was intended. This is a guess.) Both David and Elizabeth are shown as widowed. Her parents are shown as Adam and Elizabeth. After the names Adam and Elizabeth a surname appears which certainly isn't Vrooman, but which is undecipherable. It's entirely possible that the township clerk was unable to read the handwriting of the recording clergyman. Later information does appear to confirm the Vrooman connection so we must consider this to be an unexplained inconsistency. Death reg. 012035-86 Windham Twp., Norfolk County Elizabeth Weaver, age 71, died 6 October, 1886. Farmer's wife. Born Canada. Informant D.N.S. Pursell. Baptist. It appears that Elizabeth is buried by herself in Old Windham Pioneer Cemetery in Windham Township. A transcription of her gravestone is provided by the Norfolk County Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society and it reads: Elizabeth J. Vrooman/Wife of/Jonathan Pursel/Died Oct. 6, 1886/Aged 71 yrs. 10 dys. |
| Last Edited | 4 Jul 2016 |