Two Croy Daughters and Two Russel Men

After welcoming six boys into their family, Andrew and Susannah (Oswalt) Croy (my 3x great grandparents) finally held a girl child. Mary Croy (named for her grandmother, Mary Huston Croy) was born sometime in 1813 in Carroll County, Ohio.[i] She married Robert Russell of Monroe Township on 20 January 1835.[ii] His father owned a farm near DellRoy, Ohio (spelled variously Del Roy and DelRoy, in records) from about 1812.[iii] Mary joined Robert in Monroe Township and they farmed next door to his brother Matthew until their deaths, Mary on 11 June 1871 and Robert on 29 March 1890.[iv] His obituary appears here.[v]

An April 2 entry in the same paper indicated he died of “La grippe”

Matthew Russell married Mary’s sister Margaret, the only other daughter of Andrew and Susannah. He followed her to White Eyes Township in Coshocton County after Andrew took his family there in 1839. He married her in that county on 18 August 1840.[vi] She returned with him to live next to her sister on Matthew and Robert’s family farm. They lived on the farm until their deaths, she on 29 November 1895[vii] and he on 29 August 1881.[viii] When he died he left a probate record, transcribed in part here.

“I give and bequeath to Margaret Russel my beloved wife all my property personal and Real Estate to have and hold during her natural life time including all notes and claims with privaledge [sic]to sell od said stock and grain from time to time as she may decide best to do and apply the money to pay the Debts as they become due and to keeping the farms in repair paying the taxes that may become due from time to time and all other claims…When my wife Margaret Russel has become deceased Then all of said property Real and personal that Remains to be Sold and divided…sealed this 23^rd day of August A.D. 1884 Matthew [his mark] Russel”

The will detailed how moneys would be divided amongst his children based on moneys already lent. The children listed, all of Dell Roy included Jackson Russell, Mary Dutenhaver, Amanda J Trushel, Susan Allen, John Russell, and William Russell whom he requested continue to live with Margaret to assist in the maintenance of the farm.[ix] Andrew and Susannah turned to these two families in their final years, moving to live with them after 1856.[x]

[i] Russell, Mary, Record of Deaths, Probate Court, in and for Carroll County, State of Ohio, 1872; housed in Carroll County Genealogical Society, PO Box 36, Carrollton, OH, pg 36, #98.7. (Note: the only official document I have found that lists Andrew and Susannah as the parents of any of their children.) and Russell Gravestones, St. Luke Cemetery, Monroe Township, DelRoy, Ohio; Row 4 #27 (Note: Often a gravestone in this cemetery is sited as that of Mary Russel of Matthew Russel. It is not. The gravestone marks an infant death of Mary and Robert’s child.)

[ii] Robert Russell/Mary Croy, Marriage record v 1 July 1833- Aug 1849 LP 343, housed in Carroll County Genealogical Society, PO Box 36, Carrollton, OH pg 38

[iii] Matthew Russell obituary, Carroll Chronicle, 2 September 1881; housed in Carroll County Genealogical Society, PO Box 36, Carrollton, OH, Pg 35.

[iv] See i

[v] Robert Russell obituary, Carroll Chronicle, 9 April 1890; housed in Carroll County Genealogical Society, PO Box 36, Carrollton, OH.

[vi] See iii and “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-22512-84212-63?cc=1614804 : 15 July 2014), Coshocton > Marriage licenses 1837-1854 > image 27 of 71; county courthouses, Ohio.

[vii] Russell Gravestones, St. Luke Cemetery, Monroe Township, DelRoy, Ohio; Row 4 #27

[viii] Ibid and Russell, Matthew, Record of Deaths, Probate Court, in and for Carroll County, State of Ohio, 1872; housed in Carroll County Genealogical Society, PO Box 36, Carrollton, OH, pg 98, #131.

[ix] Matthew Russell, recorded 24 September 1881, Carroll county, Ohio Wills and Estates, Probate Record G pg 120 Packet 3252.

[x] Deed: Andrew Croy to David Reed; Coshocton County Deed Book, V 31, Pg 754; Coshocton County Records Office, Coshocton, OH.