This week's blog prompt immediately brought to mind a map I received years ago from the Butler County Historical Society.
In my inquiry to them about the location of Ashbel Waller's grave (Ashbel is my 5th great grandfather), they forwarded this map to me. But what does it mean?
In 1985, there was an encroaching sub-division to this area of town so some studies were performed to learn more about the property. "D.E.M.", a member of the National Genealogical Society, sent a letter to the Butler County Commissioner with the subject "Gravestones with the partial name ELIZABETH WALLE? and the surname CONGER in Knottingwood subdivision, Section 6 of Union Township on Hamilton-Mason Road." D.E.M. explained to me that Union Township is now known as West Chester Township.
There is a lot of information in the letter but the most important when it comes to Ashbel is the first bullet point:
As you knew yesterday, last fall in the 1840 census I noted that ASHABEL WALLER was listed as having performed revolutionary or military services and then an ASHBEL WALLER was shown on the 1830 cadastral map that you copied to have been the owner of about 101 acres in the northeast corner of Section 6 adjoining Liberty Township. Later, I visited the graveyard and believe that its site is at or near the b in the name Ashbel Waller as printed on the map. Today it can be described as about 0.4 miles eastward from Route 747 along Hamilton-Mason Road thence about 0.2 miles southward parallel to the meridional section line.
So in order to understand this better, I zoomed in on the b in the name Ashbel Waller.
Does that mean he is buried on the land he owned in Butler County? Looks like it to me. Interesting to note that Cyrus Osborn was his son-in-law, married to Ashbel's daughter Ruth, and the Executor of Ashbel's will.
I've sent inquiries to other organizations and have been unable to find a definitive grave site or any photos. I need to spend some time learning more about maps so I can understand exactly what this means. One more thing to add to my to-do list.
In other news, stay tuned for more information about Ashbel and his service in the Revolution.
