Tombstone Tuesday: James Pitman (abt 1834-1881)

James Pitman is my 2nd great-uncle. He is the younger brother of my great-great-grandmother, Rhoda Pitman Eddington.

James Pitman was born in England about 1834, the son of Charles Pitman. While in England, he married Mary Ann (surname unknown) and they had two daughters: Jennie (born about 1856) and Lena (born about 1863), both in England. Around 1871, the family moved to the United States.

In 1876, James' oldest daughter, Jennie, married George Meade in Springfield, IL. In the 1880 U.S. Federal Census, James and his family lived in Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois. James worked as a gardener. An obituary has not been found at this point for James; however, his death record has. He died in Springfield, Illinois on 26 January 1881.

He is buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Section B-3, Range 1, Grave 24. In 1904, James' sister, Jemima Pitman Knight, was buried in the same plot with him, but the marker does not indicate a second burial.

SURNAME SATURDAY: BOHN, Jung Bohn

OK, so she probably wasn't the 007 of Germany AND her full name was Jung Ing BOHN. She was my 4th great-grandmother on my father's side. (All of the information above was provided by Marret Kauffner via email dated 1/29/2001 and confirmed by Jens Uwe Nissen via email dated 3/11/2001 with exceptions noted.)


Jung Ing Bohn was born October 13, 1777, the daughter of Boh Hayen and Marret Peters. (Curious since her husband was supposedly born in 1800 and she outlived him by almost 20 years.) She married Jeppe Juergensen on November 5, 1819.

They had the following children together: Margaretha Dorthea, b. December 28, 1819, married Matz Hansen in 1839· Josina Brogitta, b. April 25, 1822, m. Martin Neilsen in Oevenum in 1847. Josina and Martin had 9 children. Martin was killed in 1864 by a bull.

Jung Ing Bohn died February 12, 1862 in Oevenum. By the time of Martin's death, only 6 of their children were surviving: Ida Josina, Jürgen, Anton Christian, Nickels, Jens and Maria Volena Nielsen. In 1880, the children migrated to America.