Transcription of the letter of Samuel Fathergill Troth to his cousin, Annie E. Mitchell, dated 9 Jul 1873. Contains a LOT of genealogical info on the Troth and Fairbank families.
Philadelphia 7th month 9th 1873
Esteemed Cousin Annie E. Mitchell,
In parting with you after a very pleasant visit this day two weeks ago. Thee suggested the idea of having this old man's photograph and on returning home, found I had one to spare which I herewith enclose. It was taken about 10 years ago, but is still said to be a pretty good likeness about 2 years ago. I set again with the hope of getting a prettier picture but it turned out still uglier and I had to fall back on the original negative. Seeing by thy Family Bible that thee has the same love as I have for having a family record, and supposing that thee would like to trace thy forefathers still further back than thee has them, I herewith send thee a copy from my own record, going back with thy Troth branch to 1688 - 188 years ago when William Troth married Isabella Harrison, these were thy Great Great Great Grandparents.
Their [unreadable] Kienard Jenkins who was born in 1678 we go back 228 years. He was also thy Great Great Great Grandfather. He came over to this country about the year 1669 and settled on the Western Shore of Maryland, where he met with George Fox in 1671 by whom he was convinced of the Friends' principles and became a [unreadable] minister among us and a monthly visiting of Friends was held in his name for [A completely unreadable sentance follows]. . . with account of one of our forefathers might be interesting to thee, and should I be alive when thee visits Philadelphia, I can tell thee more about this good man.
With many good wishes for thy health and happiness and a desire to be kindly remembered to thy Father and Mother in all of [unreadable].
I remain thy cousin,
Samuel Fathergill Troth
Family of the Troths
The family of the Troths can be traced back as far as 1688 about the time that William Troth came from England and purchased a large tract of land on the Choptank, Talbot County, Maryland, where he settled. William Troth and Isabella Harrison were married in Talbot County 2nd month 20th 1688 [20 Feb 1688]. Henry Troth, son of William and Isabella Troth was born about the year 1686.
Richard Jenkins was born in Bristol England in 1645 and married Elizabeth Sparrow 8th month 7th 1616 by whom he had 7 sons and 3 daughters, viz. Abraham, Aquilla, Aquilla, Aquilla, Kienard, Kingsley and Issac, and Priscilla, Margaret and Elizabeth who was born 3rd month 26th 1694.
Richard Jenkins, father of the above named, died 10th month 16th 1717 , aged 72 years. Henry Troth, son of William and Isabella Troth wed Elizabeth, daughter of Kienard and Elizabeth Jenkins were married at Patuxant [unreadable].
Children of Henry [Sr.] and Elizabeth Troth
Elizabeth, 1st daughter was born 6th month 27th 1712 Priscilla, 2nd daughter was born 4th month 25th 1714 & died 2nd month 14th 1722 Rebecca, 3rd daughter was born 2nd month 19th 1716 Margaret, 4th daughter was born 5th month 1718 & died 7th month 16th 1720 Margaret, 5th daughter was born 7th month 19th 1730 & died 5th month 30th 1721 Priscilla, 6th daughter was born 8th month 12th 1722 & died 1st month 30th 1725 William, 1st son was born 7th month 22nd 1726 Henry, 2nd son was born 12th month 22nd 1728
Henry Troth, father of the above named children, departed this life 5th month 30th 1728, aged about 42 years. Elizabeth Troth, widow of the above mentioned Henry Troth (and daughter of Richard Jenkins), died in Philadelphia 12th month 19th 1772, aged 78 years. After the death of Henry Troth, she married John Storing and after his death, removed to Philadelpha. She was a [unreadable] of the Society of Friends for 50 years.
After the death of the last mentioned Henry Troth, who died in 1728, his son Henry removed from Talbot County to Wilmington, Delaware in consequence of his father's land being entailed as was the custom in those days. [2 unreadable lines at the bottom of the page]. In Wilmington, Henry Troth learned the trade of cabinet maker, after which he entered into the mercantile business. He was married to Sarah Pascall of Pike's Lane, Chester County, Pennsylvania. They resided in Wilmington 10 - 12 years, after which they returned to Maryland and resided at Dover Ferry, where he died, but previous to which, he lost his wife and in due time, married a second time to Elizabeth Neal, widow of Francis Neal. Henry Troth departed this life 1st month 31st 1785, aged 57 years.
Thee has in thy Family Bible a list of Henry and Sarah Troth's children, of which thy Grand Mother, Elizabeth Troth, was the first daughter, born 1st month 30th 1761. My father, Samuel Troth, was the second son and was born 9th month 3rd 1755. He departed this life at Easton 4th month 26th 1815 in the 60th year of his age.
My sister Mary, now aged 76, and myself, aged 72 years, are the only ones living of our family of 7 children. We have lived longer than any of our brothers and sisters. My sister's name is Mary Austin. She has 2 children, 1 grandchild, & 1 great-grandchild, while I have 5 children all grown and all daughters, but the youngest [unreadable] years old but none have ever been married.
My oldest son John was married in 1856 but he and his wife died without leaving any children. He in 1860, his widow in 1861.
Respectfully thy cousin,
Samuel F. Troth
Henry Troth [Jr.] and Sarah Pascall were married the 25th of 2nd month 1751
William Troth, first son, was born 26th of 1st month 1754.
Samuel, the second son, was born 3rd of 9th month 1755.
Henry, the third son, was born 20th of 2nd month 1758
Elizabeth, the first daughter, was born 31st of 1st month 1761
John, the fourth son, was born 31st of 8th month 1763
Sarah Pascall, the second daughter, was born 13th of 2nd month 1768
Sarah, the dear and virtous wife of Henry Troth, and mother of the above named children, departed this life in sweet peace the 27th of 2nd month 1768
