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Submitted by Lyle Rockwell
THOMAS JONES
Thomas was born in New York City on Oct. 2, 1832, shortly after his parents, Thomas and Elizabeth Evans Jones arrived from Cardiganshire, Wales. He was reared in the traditional Welsh ways in the tiny village of Neath, which borders on the Bradford and Susquehanna County lines. He first married Olive Pratt on May 5, 1857. To this union was born Herbert, Almira, Warren, and Bertha. Olive died after giving birth to Bertha. These children were put out for adoption, with Warren adopted by Albert and Joanna Bowen Brainard of West Warren, PA. (Warren Brainard is Lyle Rockwell's great grandfather) Thomas then went to the Civil War as Private with CO. D, 1st Calvary, New York Regiment from Sep. 8, 1864 to June 8, 1865. Thomas was discharged at Camp Piatt, West VA. on June 8, 1865. His personal description was as follows: 5 ft 6 1/2 in., complexion dark, hair grey, eyes blue. His birth date appears on his pension application. Thomas was disabled during the Civil War by rheumatism and disease of stomach, about April, 1865 at Kanawha Valley, West VA. He states on his application for pension, dated August 26, 1889, that he contracted his disease from exposure while on picket duty. He still suffers from being lame in the right shoulder and having disease of the stomach, and is thereby disabled from the performance of manual labor. Thomas returned from the war and married Deborah Ann Brink, a widow whose husband was killed in the Civil War. They appear on the census of Orwell Township 1900 with wife ( Had 4 living children) Census of 1880 of Warren Township lists Tom & Debby as farmers. They are listed as living in the same dwelling as George Fields. Their neighbors were David Jones, A. B. Corbin, & several other "Jones" families in the area. Source: Civil War pension application obtained from National Archives in Washington, D.C. It lists names of children and birth dates. Also lists death of first wife. Another source is Census of Bradford County, Orwell Township, 1900, and Warren Township. census of 1880. Cemetery records of Darling Cemetery show where he is buried. There was no tombstone marking his final resting-place. Another source of death: Bradford County Historical Society, Towanda, Pa., index card files on Jones lists his death recorded in the Bradford Star dated April 16, 1908 as follows: ---> Thomas J. Jones died April 13 at his home in Potterville, aged 75 years. During the Civil War he served as a private in Company D, 1st N.Y. Calvary from September, 1864, until the close of the war. His wife and two stepdaughters survive him. I need to also mention that the 1900 census of Orwell Township lists his father's place of birth as Wales, and his mother's place of birth as Pa. In 1996, Lyle Rockwell of Athens placed a Civil War marker on his final resting-place. It was obtained from the Veterans service in Towanda, PA. On the backside of his memorial is a brass plaque stating the relation between Lyle & Thomas.
PHILIP VERBECK
Philip was born Jan. 17, 1839, a son of Philip & Sara Bidlack Verbeck of North Ghent. He married Harriet Jane Billings on Oct 1, 1861. They had five children, Charles, Joseph, Daniel, Sarah, & Verna. Daniel is buried in the North Ghent Methodist Church Cemetery with wife Harriet and his Father-in-law & Mother-in-law. He fought in the Civil War with Co. D, 162nd Regiment of 17th Pennsylvania Calvary from Oct 15, 1862 - Sep 10, 1863 (Private) Pensioned out with valvular heart trouble. (1890 census tape has this information). In a "Billings" genealogy, it says Phillip is buried in the Gettysburg National Cemetery at Gettysburg, Pa. He was taken prisoner at Occoqnan Creek, Va. He received a pension of $2/month with date of original allowance of April, 1882. Certificate # 207,516 states that he had gun shot wound to left shoulder, and had address of North Rome, in Bradford County, Pa. Phillip was held in Libby Confederate Prison in Richmond, Virginia, while suffering from his gun shot wound. (This pension information is from his National Archives files I obtained from Washington, D.C.). Another source: Bradford County Historical Society, Towanda, Pa., card file on Verbecks as follows: Reporter Journal of Oct 5, 1905 states that Philip Verbeck, age 66, died last Wednesday. He was veteran of Co. D, 17th Pa. Cav. (end) Also the Bradford Star of September 28, 1905 lists Philip Verbeck of North Ghent, died Sep 27, 1905, age 66, survived by wife, 3 sons, and one daughter. Burial in North Ghent. The Bradford County History, by Rev. David Craft, page 483, lists the Civil War veteran's record as follows: Private Philip Verbeck, enlisted Oct 17, 1862, discharged on surgeon's certificate, Sep 10, 1863. He was in the 162 Regt., 17th Cav., Co. D.
(Philip is a great-great-grandfather of Lyle Rockwell, Athens, PA.)
WILLIAM PENN ROCKWELL
William Penn was born in January, 1843, a son of Simeon and Catherine Lent Rockwell of Rome Township, Bradford County, Pa. (William's brothers, Simeon Jr. and Fernando Cortes Rockwell also saw service during the Civil War). William P. was in the Civil War with Co. F, 13th Pa. Militia, enlisting as Private on Sep 12, 1862. He then transferred to Co. I, 3rd N.Y. Calvary on Oct 7, 1864, then to Co. I, 1st NY Mounted Rifles July 21, 1865. The 1900 census lists him as a breeder of Pure Blood Wyandotte Fowls, and dairy farmer, 10 cows, and 176 acres. (Original farm of his father's) William died in 1927, and is interned in the Rome Cemetery. (Written by Lyle Rockwell of Athens, PA.)
FERNANDO ROCKWELL
Fernando was a son of Simeon and Catherine Lent Rockwell of Rome Township, Bradford County, Pa. (Fernando's brothers, Simeon Jr. and William Penn Rockwell also saw service during the Civil War). Fernando was in the Civil War, with Co. I, 141st Pa Vol. On Jan. 01, 1864, he was promoted to Corporal. He was wounded at Chancellorsville & Gettsyburg, then at Spottsylvania Courthouse May 28, 1865. (Received gunshot wound left hand & thigh) (Company I mustered in 21Aug1862-mustered out 28May1865) F. Cortes was with Co. when they mustered out, serving as Sergeant. He worked as a Blacksmith in Rome, Pa., before the war, Then after the war, was blacksmith in Sheshequin area and lived near Greens Landing, Pa. He is buried at Athens-Tioga Point Cemetery (Section V) with wife Margaret and daughter Pauline. His tombstone also lists George L. Fuller and wife. (George had injury to abdomen in Civil War-Pension $4/month dated July 1871) (F. Cortes divorced from 1st wife in 1867) (He received $8/month pension). Ferdinand C. Rockwell's obituary is on file in the Bradford County Historical Society, Towanda, Pa., as reported in the "Soldier's Column" of the Reporter Journal, dated Thursday Oct 1, 1903, as follows: ---> Rockwell. - Ferdinand C. Rockwell died at his home at Greens Landing last Friday morning from the effects of a stroke of paralysis. He was a native of Rome, this county, where he was born Sept 15, 1830. The last 15 years of his life, he spent at Greens Landing following his trade of blacksmithing. He was twice married. In 1850 he married Mary Ennes of Standing Stone, and to them were born five children, James of Smithboro, Arthur of Chemung, Cortes, who lives in Canada, Mrs. Whitaker of New York, and Mrs. Lillie Farnsworth of Sayre. In 1867 he was married the second time, his wife's maiden name being Margaret Weller of Sheshequin, who survives him with three daughters; Mrs. George Crawford of Athens, Mrs. Shores of Sheshequin, and Miss Pauline Rockwell, who lives at home. He enlisted in January, 1864 in Co. I, 141st Pa. Vol., and was mustered out with his Regiment in May, 1865. The funeral was held at the home Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock, Rev. E.W. Dewitt officiating. Interment will be made in Tioga Point Cemetery. (Written by Lyle Rockwell, Athens, Pa.)
