THE SOMERVILLE FAMILY HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

This text is from the records of Heber I. Rankin (1898 - 1969), grandson of Sara Jane Summerville Rankin. I received this information from Eric Martin, who obtained it from Janice Yingling, Heber Rankin's neice. I want to personally thank both of them,as well as the entire Rankin family for providing ClanSomerville with this valuable information, which for many years was rumored to have been lost! ......William Somerville

Heber Rankin organized the Summerville reunion in Rimersburg, PA. As early as the seventh century there was situated near the river Aa, about 175 miles north of the present city of Paris, France, a castle called Sithiu. Around this castle Omer, Bishop of Therouanne, erected several churches and the monks of Luxiene established several monasteries. In the ninth century the village thus formed took the name of its founder, who had been canonized as a saint, and became Saint Ormerville. The name of the village was applied to its inhabitants, and in the course of time was abbreviated from Saint Ormerville to Somerville. Sir Gaulter de Somerville was one of the Normans who accompanied William the Conqueror to England and took part in the Battle of Hastings in 1066. For his services in that memorable contest he received grants of the estates of Whichnom, in Staffordshire, and Ashton, in Gloucestershire. William Somerville, a descendant of Sir Gaulter, settled in Scotland where, for services rendered to King David (1136), he received a grant of the estates of Carnwater. ( Black's Surnames of Scotland, p. 737)The Somervilles came from a town near Caen in Normandy, Sumar's or Somer's estate. William de Somerville, first of the Somerville name in Scotland, came in the train of David I, (King) and received lands in Lanarkshire. There were 12 Williams in succession, the last died in 1282. One William Somerville, in the reign of William the Lion (1165-1214) is said to have slain a monstrous animal or serpent which greatly devastated the district of Linton, Roxbughshire, and obtained the lands of Linton as a reward. A rude sculpture on one of the walls of the Church of Ointon represents a horseman in complete armor in the act of driving his lance down the animal's throat. An inscription reads thus: "The Wode Laird of Lariston slew the worm of Wormes glen and won all Lintoun Parochine"A descendant of this William Somerville, of Scotland, settled near Londondarry, Ireland, and representatives of each branch of the family; from England, Scotland, and Ireland; migrated to America. The Irish branch of the family added the "M" (Sommerville).This is a second legend concerning the origin of the Somerville family of Lisburn, County Down, North Ireland: During the French Reformation (1642-1685) three Hugenot Somerville brothers (one a priest, one a doctor, and one a soldier) were exiled from France and settled in Ireland. Later for some reason, perhaps religious, a bitter quarrel separated the brothers, some spelling the name Somerville and others, Summerville. Those using the "U" spelling were Catholic and those using the "O" were Protestant.

GENERATION I: Samuel Simmeral - Samuel Simmeral and his wife immigrated from County Down near Lisburn, North Ireland, to America in 1811 to join their son, James. They settled near Rockville, Armstrong Co., PA. They both died about 1820 and are interred at the Crooked Creek Cemetery (Presbyterian) near Kittanning, Armstrong Co., PA.Thomas Sprott, mentioned in the following letter, lived near Philadelphia, PA. Tombstones in the Magharally cemetery near Banbridge read: "James Sprott of Ednego near Dromore who died Feb. 2, 1814 aged 71 years and his daughter, Eliza, who died May 20, 1810 aged 6 years and his son Henry, who died July 7, 1830 aged 31 years. Jane Sprott died June 1, 1848 aged 72 years and son Thomas Sprott died March 9, 1898 aged 90 years." The Jane in the letter is probably the daughter of the Jane Sprott who died in 1848. Legend tells us Samuel Simerall's wife may have been a Jane Sprott, possibly a relative of this James Sprott. This letter from S. Simmeral to M. Thomas Sprott comes from A Chronological Index of Remarkable Events in the French Revolution:"Sir, After my respects to you - I shall take the freedom to inform you that through the medium of a letter which I lately received from my friends in Ireland - I have been earnestly requested by the family of your late Uncle, James Sprott, to obtain information relating to your father's family (as they have not been heard from for many years) as respects their situation and circumstances. These are the espressions made use of, as I have had no personal information on this head since the fall of 1811, when you will recollect that I passed a night at your house in the November of that year. I have thought proper to intimate the request to you and if you see proper to furnish me with the particular request, although I am but an intermediate correspondent, I shall cheerfully comply with the request. Your Uncle James has been dead since the winter of 1814. He died of a mortification in the hand. He left a wealthy estate and a widow and six children - four sons and two daughters, Sarah and Jane. They have both been married. Jane is dead three or four years ago. His sons are Henry, Thomas, James, and David. Henry learned the trade of Chandler and Soap Boiler and is living in Banbriege, if you were to open a communication with him.Those young men, who are nearly all now I suppose arrived at the years of manhood, I might induce them to turn their attention to a country where they could invest what they possess in more substantial property than what their native country affords. If you see proper to communicate by writing to me, let your address be as follows: Samuel Simmeral, Kittanning, Township Kittanning, Armstrong County.With sentiments of gratitude and esteem I remain your affectionate friend,Samuel Simmeral"

GENERATION II: children of Samuel Simmeral - (1) James (April, 1764 - 8/11/1854) - m. 1796, Sarah Scott (July 31, 1774 - Dec. 6, 1826)James Summerville was born in Co. Tyrone, near Belfast, N. Ireland. He is interred with his wife in the Presbyterian Church cemetery, Cowansville, PA. The cemetery where James and Sarah Scott Simmeral are buried is also called the Montgomery Cemetery or the Rich Hill Church Cemetery. The name is spelled "Summerville" on James' tombstone."James (Simeral - Irish Name) was born near Belfast, Ireland, in County Down, in 1764. James, it is reported got into trouble over poaching rabbits, and to escape he took a ship to America in 1790 when he was 26 yrs. old. He married Sarah Scott at Greensburg, Pa. Sarah was born in 1774 in Westmoreland Co., Pa, and was a daughter of James Scott, who was born in Scotland." History of Clarion County, A. J. Davis, 1887. Shooting rabbits on the King's land was a hanging offense. (HIR)"James Somerville came to Fayette County, Pa., and had nothing but an axe and a dog. He married Sara Scott at Greensburg, Pa. (She was a native of Westmoreland Co., Pa.) when he was 26 years old. They lived two years in Fayette Co. and came to Worthington, Pa. in 1796. Commemorative and Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, J. H. Beers & Co., 1898."James Simmeral came from Ireland when he was 19 years old (that would be in 1783) and settled near Worthington, Pa., where he claimed 400 acres of land. He became lonely and went to Westmoreland Co. where he married Sarah Scott. While he was gone another settler (Hugh Lennington) settled on part of Simeral's original claim, leaving James only 210 acres. James died when 90 years old, which would be in 1854." History of Armstrong County, J. H. Beers & Co., 1914."Adjoining the Linnington-Titus tract on the west and 'Mt. Lorenzo' on the north is a hexagonal tract, 410 acres on the Gapen map, which had been surveyed by Gapen to 'Samuel Parr', on which James Simmeral made an improvement and settlement, March 5, 1796, which was surveyed to him by deputy surveyor Ross, July 6, 1801, which survey was disputed by Hugh Lennington to whom and Archibald McCall it was resurveyed '411 acres 8 perches', March 14, 1805, by virtue of previous improvement and settlement with 200 acres of which and 4 cattle, James Simmeral was assessed in 1805-6 at 82 dollars. Its central part is traversed in a westerly course by Lennington Run. It is not apparent from the records whether Hugh Lennington abandoned or sold his claim. The patent for the entire tract was granted to McCall & Simmeral as tenants in common, Oct. 29, 1829. They made partition and McCall conveyed to Simmeral 212 acres and 25 perches June 26, 1832, on which the latter (Simmeral) and his family resided until his death. By his will dated Sept. 18,1841, and his codicil dated Sept. 9, 1851, and registered Aug. 19, 1854, he directed his executors, John Craig and Thomas McCullough to sell 99 acres of the eastern part of the tract and divide the money equally among six of his sons and two of his daughters, which those executors accordingly conveyed to James, John, Joseph, and Josiah Somerville, May 22, 1856, for $1800. The Testator devised 100 acres 'off the south side of the Mansion tract' to his daughters, Fanny and Hannah.On May 17, 1817, James Summerville bought 99 and three-quarter acres from Isaac Lennington for 455 dollars. This land was east of Simmeral's original tract.McCall sold 100 acres of his land to Ann O'Connor March 14, 1843 for $800 and she sold 26 acres and 133 perches to Azel Summerville on March 31, 1846 for $707. Azel later sold this land to William Younkins on April 9, 1868." History of Armstrong County, Robert W. Smith, 1883, p. 492.

GENERATION III: children of James and Sarah Scott Summerville - (1) Jane (b. 12/26/1797, East Franklin twp., Armstrong Co., PA) - m. David Martin (SUMMERVILLE - 3)(2) William (b. Feb. 28, 1799, East Franklin twp., Armstrong Co., PA)William was a carpenter and went West at an early age. From letters, William was married and living in the state of Illinois at the time of the Civil War. He is supposed to have built the first winding stairway in Chicago, Illinois. Late in life he went to Iowa.(3) John (b. 3/13/1800, East Franklin twp., Armstrong Co., PA)- m. Catherine Ferguson (8/16/1810 - 12/31/1859)John practiced tailoring and farmed, buying land in Brady's Bend twp., May 12, 1820, and East Franklin twp., October 20, 1827. The E. Franklin twp. parcel was named "Strabane" after Strabane, County Tyrone, Ireland. History of Armstrong Co., PA, Robert Smith, 1883. John Summerville was elected "Overseer of Poor" in 1868, E. Franklin twp., Armstrong Co., PA. Genealogical and Personal History of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania, John W. Jordan, 1913.Catherine Ferguson was the daughter of William and Emily Ferguson.THE INDENTURE OF JOHN SUMMERALL"This indenture witnesseth that John Summerall, son of James Summerall late of Buffalo Township, County of Armstrong hath put himself and by these presents doth voluntarily put himself apprenticed to Nichlas Brecar Citizen and Tayler of County and Township aforesaide to learn his art and mystry and after the manner of an apprentice to serve him from the day of the date hereon and during the term of three years next ensuing. During all which time the sade apprentice, his sade master shall faithfully serve, his secrets keep, his lawful commands gladly obey. He shall do no damage to his sade master nor see it to be done by others without letting or giving notice to his master. He shall not waste his sade masters goods nor lend them unlawfully to others. He shall not commit fornication nor contract matrimony within sade term, at cards or dice or any unlawful game he shall not play, whereby his sade master may be damaged. With his own goods or the goods of others within the sade term, without licence of his sade master, he shall neither buy nor sell. He shall not absent himself day or night from his sade masters service without his leave, nor haunt ale houses, but in all things behave himself as a faithful apprentice ought to do during sade term and the sade master shall use the utmost of his endevour to teach and insruct the sade apprentice in the trade and mystry he now professeth, occupeith or followth and procure and provide for him, the sade apprentice sufficient meat, drink, apperial (shirts and trousers excepted) washing and lodging fitting for an apprentice during sade term.And for the true performance of all and every (of) the sade covinant and agreements either of the sade parties bind themselves to the other by these presents in withess where of they have interchangebly put their hands and seals.If any natural sickness comes on the sade apprentice in or doing sade appprenticeship and a fisition be aplied to that, the aforsade master is not to be culpable for any such doctor bill or any charge in such a case and for the true performance of all and every the sade covinents and agreements, either of the parties bind themselves to each other by these presents in hands and seals the 25th of December 1816.

"GENERATION IV: children of John and Catherine Furguson Summerall - (D) John Ferguson (8/11/1836 - 10/4/1868) - m. Margaret Sample(1) Sarah Catherine (11/27/1861 - 11/12/1944)- m. Solomon Isaiah Pontius (10/7/1861 - 11/21/1945)(a) John Wesley (2/15/1883) (d) Clarence Isaiah (12/1/1892)(b) William Charles (3/2/1886) (e) Margaret Clair (12/1/1892)(c) Harry Edgar (10/27/1887)(2) Anna Jane (10/1/1862 - 8/28/1941)- m. Joseph Alexander Swartz (12/11/1854 - 10/9/1934)(a) Robert Philip (9/17/1884) (f) Charles Vinton (10/3/1895)(b) John William (5/5/1886) (g) Frances Ellen (7/3/1898)(c) Clinton Ellsworth (12/29/1887) (h) Florence Mabel (6/5/1902)(d) Margaret Rachel (10/28/1890) (i) Zella Ann (1/9/1904)(e) Jacob Russell (8/8/1893)(3) Mary Zella (1865 - 2/14/1932) - m. Jacob Sylvester Vensel (1856 - 11/11/1941)(a) Joseph Ralph (1/22/1887) (d) Elizabeth (5/30/1902)(b) Bertha M. (5/6/1889) (e) Lottie Beretta (1899 - 1909)(c) Lee Howard (3/18/1891) (f) Elmer Jay (1893 - 1895)

GENERATION V: children of John Furguson and Margaret Sample Somerville - (4) William James (5/27/1866 - 5/10/1911)- m. Catherine Elizabeth Ort (2/4/1862 - 8/30/1947)

GENERATION VI: children of William James and Catherine Ort Somerville - (a) William Howard (4/26/1891)-m. Ida Amelia Lockwood (b) Bertha Viola (3/28/1893) (e) Leona Margaret (10/6/1904)(c) Barbara Edith (2/7/1895) (d) Hilda Mae (2/18/1900) James Summerville Tombstone Sarah "Scott" Summerville Tombstone Cowansville, PA Presbyterian Church Cemetery, aka Montgomery Cem, aka Rich Hill Church Cem.