Teachman's: The Early YearsPrior to 1820
Teachman's: The Early Years
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| Andrew Teachman, 1811-1896. Husband of Nancy Warren. Photo contributed by Eldon Hills. |
In the 1970's, Alfred E. Teachman and Colleen Lofrese spent a good deal of time and money researching the Teachman's in America. It should be noted that Alfred placed great importance on gathering information to show that the Teachman's served the colonies during the Revolutionary War. Unfortunately, this was never proven.
In 2001, Deborah Guida, my daughter Kathy and I spent the day at the New Jersey Historical Society in Newark reviewing nine bound volumes of letters and family information that Alfred left to the historical society. It was impossible to gather all the information in such a short period of time. However, I will attempt to develop a time line citing sources when possible. Otherwise the information will state: "From AET".
Subsequent trips have been made to various libraries, historical societies and archives searching for additional information. Teachman's seemed to have owned property in New Jersey in the 1790s, although no deeds have been found. They did, however, pay their taxes.
Throughout the years, the Andrew Teachman family has worked on their family history. Some of the information has been submitted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons). Their resource is: Family Search.
I am calling this page: "The Early Years" and ending it, for the most part, about 1820 to cover the first four generations. This is the time frame that is the most hazy, difficult to research, and many lines can trace back to about 1820 fairly easily.
In the early part of the 1800's a family of Teachman's was known to have lived on Long Pond, now known as Greenwood Lake. The lake straddles the New York (Orange County) - New Jersey (Passaic County) border. In 1850 Henry William Herbert, under the pseudonym of Frank Forester, published a book about a hunting adventure entitled, "The Warwick woodlands; or, Things as they were there twenty years ago." Although the dialogue is fictional, he mentions visiting the Teachmans in the chapter "Day the Fifth". The book is included in the University of Michigan's "Making of America" series of online manuscripts.
Two items of note: First, Andrew Teachman was working on family history at about the same time as Alfred. His papers were left to the Orange County (NY) Genealogical Society, 101 Main Street, Goshen, NY 10924. Second, letters refer to "pseudo" Teachman's. These seem to be families who came over in the late 1800's and Anglicized their last name. While they are not of the same family as the early Teachman's, they are Teachman's nontheless.
There is some speculation as to the nationality of the Teachman's. From AET: "Replies from Embassies establish emphatically that it is their belief that the name Teachman is neither Dutch nor German in origin - they are quite emphatic about that - and both suggest that the name appears to be English in origin. Now up to this time, I don't suppose any of the Teachman historians of the past had ever given a thought to the idea that the name Teachman is composed of two English words and that most names, when names were being chosen in the era of around 1100 A.D., that people took the names Smith and Silverman and Waterman and all those many names that apply to their trade or working function, that the name Teachman would have applied to one who was a teacher..."
Alfred believed there were two Teachman families living in northern New Jersey in the late 1700's - David and James Nicholas. He found no record of David after about 1793. He thought David of the first generation was born in 1726.
During the 2001 visit to the New Jersey State Historical Society these two death notices were found:
From the New Jersey Eagle, Dec. 15, 1820, death notices: "At Long Pond, (N. J.) a few days since, Mr. James Teachman, aged 106 years and 5 months - one of the first settlers of this state."
From the New Jersey Journal, Jan. 9, 1821: "Died - At Long Pond, (N. J.) Mr. Nicholas Teachman aged 100 years and 3 months, one of the first settlers of the State, leaving numerous decendents of the fourth generation."
The Warwick woodlands; or, Things as they were there twenty years ago
Teachman Timeline, the early years.
I am glad to anwer your questions to the best of my knowledge. We are decendants of a family line, we can be very proud to say we belong on the Teachman family tree.
The Teachmans are pure English and were among the "Separatists" who left to go to Holland and finally America. The pilgrims had a very heavy death loss the first winter, so the first Teachmans came over on the second wave to help stabilize the colony. They settled in New Jersey and later moved across the border to New York. My grandfather, Luke Sr. your great, great grandfather was a member of a very large family. He married Margaret Jenkins. Their children included, Hannah, Mary, Leander, Joe, James Henry, (J.H. or Jim my father) Luke, Sam, George.
When the Civil War broke out, Luke Sr., Joe and Leander enlisted. Dad was the older left at home. He said the soldiers didn't get any pay for some time and looking after his mother and family was a tough time. Luke Sr. received a medical discharge. He was with the unit stationed to protect the Capital. He is listed as a musician. Joe & Leander were wounded and died young after the war. Dad had Leander's sword. I think Boy (William Allen Teachman Jr.) has it now. After the war, Joe and Leander came to Nebr. Joe homesteaded near Ceresco. The boys kept urging their folks to come west, so in 1870 Luke Sr., his wife, Dad, Sam, Luke, George came as far as Ashland, the end of the Railroad at that time. Luke Sr. took a homestead not too far from Joe. Mother said they had the lumber hauled out to build and got into such a quarrel they separated. Luke Sr. went to Lincoln and was there until he died. He is buried in the old soldiers ring at Wyuka.
The boys had to take care of their mother. Dad and his mother took homesteads in Rooks County Kansas. I imagine Luke and Sam were with their mother. George died at an early age. When the Cherokee Strip of Oklahoma was opened for land grabbers, Luke started at Honeywell, Kansas and rode a pony into Oklahoma and staked out a farm near Lamont. That's how some of the Teachman's are in Oklahoma. I visited the family with Dad, but the sad part I had to stay with a married daughter, as Luke's house was small, so I missed all the reminiscing of Dad and Luke. They had not seen each other for a number of years, so you know they talked a lot about old times. Sam also settled in Lamont. Luke had six children, two girls and four boys. All musicians and had the boys played for dances. Sam & Luke and Dad were all old time fiddlers.
After Joe died, his wife died first, Dad bought the farm east of Ceresco, still called the Teachman place. All of us were born there and went to Bright Star, a rural school a mile south.
In our family there was Grace, Hazel, Allen, Florence, Mina, Inez, Merle, Willard and Fern. When Allen & Florence and Mina were in high school Ceresco had only 11 grade. Dad always wanted his family to have an education. He wanted one so much but in a new country making a living was first priority. So Dad retired, rented the farm, later sold it, and moved to University Place in 1915. When we moved Grace was married and Hazel working out. She did a lot of nursing before she married. Mother and Dad had each been married before. Grace's mother was a cousin to Mother, so getting into the Biggerstaff story is another interesting history. The Biggerstaffs settled around Ceresco, so we kids grew up in a nest of relations with "roots" from Ohio. Mother had Hazel, Dad had Grace, Mother's Uncle was Dad's father-in-law so it is easy to understand how they meant(sic).
Allen, your grandfather finished H.S. at University Place, had one year at Wesleyan as a pre-med student when the war (WWI) broke out. His basic was at Ft. Robinson, then he was sent to Jacksonville, Fla., where Billie (Elizabeth Mann) was in the service as a nurse. Allen was a wonderful brother and we were all very proud of him. After the war he lost interest in his medical career.
Florence finished University Place H.S. and two years at Wesleyan, then the Teachers College. It is discontinued now.
She was musical, played many instruments but the violin was her speciality. She was very talented in drama. Could make the audience laugh and cry. Very pretty and loving personality. I think it was 1917 she spent a summer on Chautauqua.
Mina also was musical, finished H.S. at University Place and the teachers college at Wesleyan. Mina and Florence at one time put on a full evening entertainment to various places around Lincoln. Mina accompanied Florence on the piano, the girls sang duets, and Florence gave readings, so it was quite a variety program.
Florence was teaching at Sutherland when she meant Dave Wood. They had one boy who lives on the west coast. After only five years of marriage Florence passed away in 1925. She and Dave didn't have a very long marriage but an extremely happy one.
Mina was teaching at Bushnel when she meant Everett Woodhouse and later they were married. They had three children, Ruth Ann, Jean and Bob.
Inez was in the sixth grade when they moved to Lincoln. She finished H.S. in 1921 and later got her degreee from Wesleyan. She taught for four years in rural schools around Lincoln, then changed to High School and meant Ned while teaching at Parks. A happy marriage of 51 years. One son Hal and three grandchildren
Merle was 15 months younger than Inez and there are many happy memories of our childhood. She died in 1921 at the age of 15. I think with todays medicine she might still be alive.
Mother, Dad, Florence and Merle all buried at Havelock Cemetery. So is Allen.
I am sure you remember Willard, another brother I loved very much. Willard and Fern finished high school when the depression of the thirties hit, so they went to work instead of college. Willard died of emphasema and is buried at Pioneer Cemetery in Lincoln.
Fern is living at El Paso. Married her high school sweet heart, Bob Harrison. They have two girls. Diana a registered nurse and Marilyn majored in music.You see music has been a very strong part of the Teachman family life.
I feel my childhood was a very typical family life in a period of history never to be repeated again, with all this modern technology. One of these days I will finish a detail(ed) story, the humor, the experiences, the influence of a period from 1900 to World War I.
Joan, if this all sounds confusing, ask a few more questions and I'll try to answer. I do hope you get Billie to talk, a tape recorder is a good way to get to visiting and have it recorded while talking.
I mentioned Luke Sr. my grandfather was from a big family. I have contacts with a brother's decendant that has gone into the Teachman history very thoroughly. He was in touch with the New York relatives and never heard of us until Boy (William Allen Teachman Jr.) meant a Teachman in Hawaii who made possible the contact.
Today is a cloudy damp gloomy day. I wander what is in store for tomorrow. The stormy weather at Christmas lingers on, still plenty of snow around. I am glad to hear Billie's legs are healing. She has had such a long spell with them. At present we are O.K. Jon in recovering from a severe attack of acute pneumonia, similar to crib syndrome. Ned and a saw got mixed up and he got his hand skinned up. It is nearly well now. I still wear size 10 but feel fine.
With two kiddies the age of yours, I am sure there's never a dull moment. Enjoy each age cycle. It is time for the news and the end of this page, so bye now.
Love, Aunt Inez and Uncle Ned
P.S. A correction, I am not sure about Leander coming to Nebr. but he did come west.
A little incident about Grandma Teachman, she was living with Mother and Dad at a time when they had several children. Dad's sister from New York came to visit. When she realized what a problem Grandma was and Mother with her family to care for, the sister planned to go home and make arrangements to bring Grandma to her home. Grandma got wind of the plan and headed for Uncle Luke in Okla. She was there when she died and is buried at Lamont or near there. Grandma, so I have been told by Hazel, wasn't the easiest person to be around.
..."Something or other - it might with Harry, perhaps, have been a similar train of thought - caused both my comrades to be more taciturn by far than was their wont; and we had rattled over five miles of our route, and scaled the first ridge of the hills, and dived into the wide ravine; midway the depth of this pretty village of Bellevale lies on the brink of the dammed rivulet, which, a few yards below the neat stone bridge, takes a precipitous leap of fifty feet, over a rustic wier, and rushes onward, bounding from ledge to ledge of rifted rocks, chafing and fretting as if it were doing a match against time, and were in danger of losing its race...
..." 'Well! we'll soon see, for here we are,' Harry replied, as after leaving the high-road just at the summit of the Bellvale mountain, he rattled down a very broken rutty bye-road at the rate of at least eight miles an hour, vastly to the discomforture of our fat host, whose fleshy sides were jolted almost out of their skin by the concussion of the wheels against the many stones and jogs which opposed their progress.
"Here we are, or at least soon will be. It is but a short half mile through these woods to Teachman's cottage...
..."With no more of delay, but with lots more of merriment and shouting, on we drove; on in five minutes' space, just as the sun was rising, reached the small rude enclosure around two or three log huts, lying just on the verge of the beautiful clear lake. Two long sharp boats, and a canoe scooped out of a whole tree, were drawn up on the sandy beach; a fishing net of many yards length was drying on the rails; a brace of large strong, black and tan foxhounds were lying on the step before the door; a dozen mongrel geese, with one wing-tipped wild one among them, were sauntering and gabbling about the narrow yard; and a glorious white-headed fishing eagle, with a clipped wing, but otherwise at large, was perched upon the roof hard by the chimney.
"At the rattle of our arrival, out came from the larger of the cottages, three all rough-looking countrymen to greet us, not one of whom stood less than six foot in his stockings, while two were several inches taller.
"Great was their wonder, and loud were their congratulations when they beheld the unexpected prize which we had gained, while on our route;...
..."(servings of dinner) were ready smoking upon a rough wooden board, covered, however by a clean white table cloth, beside a sparkling fire of wood, which our drive through the brisk mountain air had rendered by no means unacceptable...
..." 'Now, then, boys,' he (Tom) exclaimed, 'we'll be a movin. You Joe Teachman, what are you lazin there about, cuss you? You go with Mr. Forester and Garry in the big boat, and pull as fast as you can put your oars to water, till you git opposite the white-stone pint - there lie still as fishes!'...
..."Such was the scene on which I gazed, as on the last day of our sojourn in the Woodlands of fair Orange, I issued from the little cabin, under the roof of which I had slept so dreamlessly and deep, after the fierce excitement of our deer hunt, that while I was yet slumbering, all save myself ad risen, donned their accoutrements, and sallied forth, I knew not whither, leaving me certainly alone, although as certainly not so much to my glory.
"From the other cottage, as I stood up on the threshold, I might hear the voices of the females, busy at their culinary labors, the speedily approaching term of which was obviously denoted by the rich savory steams which tainted - not, I confess, unpleasantly - the fragrant morning air.
"Late was it when reached the Teachmans' hut - and long and deep was the carouse that followed;..."
October 1720 - Nicholas Teachman born. (Death notice)
21 November 1725 - Mary Teachman christened in London at Holy Trinity In The Minories. Father, Henery Teachman. Mother, Francies. (LDS records)
1726 - David Teachman born. (AET)
1745 - Teachman's arrive in the colonies. (AET)
1763 - David Teachman (the second) is born. (AET)
1772 - Abram Teachman is born. (1850 Census)
24 January 1773 - Abraham Teachman born. (AET)
About 1773 - Elizabeth Teachman born in Hardiston, NJ. M. Aaron Morse 19 January 1797. (LDS)
1775 - Andrew Teachman born. M. Eleanor Board. D. 2 November 1851. Buried in Fairview Cemetery, Osceola Twp., Tioga Co., PA. (LDS with information submitted by Robert Rice.)
1777 - Luke Teachman born. (Eldon Hills)
1785 - David Teachman is born. His spouse is Julia A. Forker.(1850 Census)
25 December 1790 - Eleanor Board, spouse of Andrew Teachman was born. D. 10 May 1855. Buried in Fairview Cemetery, Osceola Twp., Tioga Co., PA. (LDS with information submitted by Robert Rice.)
29 July 1792 - Nicholas Beachman (Teachman) and Catea Rainsmith (Charity Rhinesmith) marry. (Elder Benedict's Marriage Records, Warwick from Robert W. Blackman).
27 August 1796 - David Teachman marries Mary Miller in Bergen, New Jersey. (LDS records)
19 January 1797 - Elizabeth Teachman marries Aaron Moss. (LDS records)
8 Dececember 1797 - Margaret Teachman is born. She is the daughter of Nicholas and Charity. (Church Record)
30 December 1799 - Nicholas Teachman is born. He is the son of Nicholas and Charity and marries Johanna Reock. (Church Records and 1850 Census)
November 1800 - Catharine Teachman is born. She is the daughter of Nicholas and Charity. (Church Record)
About 1802 - Abraham Teachman married Sarah Conger. (AET)
December 1802 - Eleanor Teachman is born. She is the daughter of Nicholas and Charity and marries William McMullen. (Church Records)
1 September 1803 (recorded 28 Feb. 1804, Bergen Co. R:368) - Samuel Cobb of the Township of Hanover in the County of Morris, conveyed to Nicholas Teachman of the Township of Pompton, for $37.50, 10 acres strict measure on E side of Long Pond in the Township of Pompton, Eastern Division of New Jersey, beginning at bank of said Pond. Being a tract acquired by said Samuel Cobb by return dated 1 October 1801 and recorded in Surveyor General's office at Perth Amboy (Book S14, p. 97). Signed Samuel Cobb. Witnessed by David J. Bates, John Teisman.
23 September 1803 - Sidney C. Teachman is born. He marries Lucy Stace.(1850 Census and Bible Records)
1805 - David Teachman born in Warwick, Orange, New York. He married Julia.(LDS records)
1805 - Mary Teachman is born. She is the daughter of Abram & Sarah and marries Samuel Lyon. (1850 Census)
23 April 1805 - David N. Teachman is born. He is the son of Nicholas and Charity and marries Julia Decker. (Church and cemetery records)
28 February 1807 - William A. Teachman born in Orange, New Jersey. (AET & Bible Records)
8 June 1808 - Rebeccah Teachman is born. She is the daughter of Andrew and Eleanor Teachman. (AET)
29 December 1809 - William N. Teachman is born. He is a son of Nicholas and Charity and marries Mary Conklin. (AET & 1850 Census)
1809 - Merina Teachman is born. She is the daughter of Abraham & Sarah and marries Sam Ross.(AET)
1809 - Sarah Teachman dies.
12 December 1810 - Abram (Abraham) Teachman born in Orange County, NY. d. 6 May 1896 Farmington Mill, Tioga Co., PA. Burial, Pleasant Valley Cemetery. Parents, Andrew Teachman and Eleanor Board. Spouses, 1. Louisa Brimmer and 2. Jane Palmer. (Sawyer Family Tree) From History of Tioga County, PA, Biographical Appendix, Farmington Township (W.W. Munsell & Co., NY: 1883) pp. 17-21: "Abram Teachman came to this county with his parents in 1835, and has since lived here, now engaged in farming, though a shoemaker by trade. He was born in Bergen County, NJ, in 1810. His first wife was Huldah Van Zite, of Big Flats, New York; and his second Miss Louise Brumner of Woodhull, New York."
7 June 1811 - Margery Forker, wife of Jesse, was born. She was the mother of Julia (d. 1875), who married William Teachman. (American Genealogical & Biographical Index, Vol. 175, NY Public Library*R-APG1993)
1812 (about) - Luke Teachman married Polly Tideback. (AET)
22 June 1812 - Caty Ann Teachman born. Baptized at the Pompton Reformed Church, Pompton Lakes, NJ. Parents, Luke and Polly Teachman. (AET)
1812 - John Teachman is born. He marries Anna Marie Potter. (1850 Census)
1813 - James Teachman is born. He marries Margaret Rese. (1850 Census)
1813 - Luke Teachman is born. (AET)
1814 - Francis Teachman is born. (Real Estate Deed, Bergen County, NJ: D3:567)
25 March 1815 - Jane Teachman born. Baptized at the Pompton Reformed Church, Pompton Lakes, NJ. Parents, Luke and Polly Teachman. (AET)
27 May 1816, Between Elexander Morrison of the Township of Pompton and Andrew Teachman for $60.32, a parcel containing 15 and 77/100 acres. (Deed book R2, p. 563)
1817 - Andrew Teachman born. D. 23 January 1890. His parents were Andrew Teachman and Eleanor Board. (LDS - Family information submitted by Robert Rice.)
19 May 1818 - Eleanor Teachman marries William McMullen in Bergen, New Jersey. (LDS records)
13 July 1818 - David Teachman born. D. 11 March 1869. M. Olive Weeks. (LDS submission by Robert Rice and 1850 Census.)
1818 - James Teachman marries Margaret Rese (AET)
27 January 1819 - Charity Teachman, wife of Nicholas, received as a member of the West Milford Presbyterian Church at a reorganization meeting. She was formerly a member of the church of Mr. Jacob Bostedo of the Morristown Presbytery. (Church records)
27 January 1819 - David Teachman received as a member of the West Milford (NJ) Presbyterian Church at reorganization meeting. He was formerly a member of the church of Mr. Jacob Bostedo of the Morristown Presbytery. (Church records)
27 January 1819 - Mrs. Uremma Teachman was received as a member of the West Milford Presbyterian Church at a reorganization meeting. She was formerly a member of the Church of Jacob Bostedo of Morristown Presbytery. (Church records)
30 January 1819 - Elinor Teachman, wife of Andrew, was received as a member of the West Milford Presbyterian Church. (Church records)
30 January 1819 - Maria Teachman, wife of David, was received as a member of the West Milford Presbyterian Church. (Church records)
2 February 1819 - born in Westport, Mass., Hope G. (Manchester) Teachman. She died in 1900. (AET)
18 April 1819 - Ann Teachman received as a member of West Milford (NJ) Presbyterian Church. (Church records)
1820 - James Teachman born. (AET)
1820 (about) - Luke Nicholas Teachman was born in Orange County, New York. (Joan Shurtliff)
6 May 1820, Andrew Teachman and Eleanor, his wife, of township of Pompton, Bergen County, N.J., for the sum of $64.08, a parcel of land containing 15 and 77/100 acres. (Deed book R-2, p. 564)
10 February 1822 - James Teachman, son of Charity and Nicholas Teachman was baptised at the West Milford Presbyterian Church.(Church records)
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Teachman census records, tax lists, Civil War list and more.
Go to Sawyer Family Home Page with ties to Abram Teachman.
This page was created by Joan Shurtliff on April 7, 2001. It was last updated on 4 July 2004.