Tombstone Tuesday ~ Lydia Hurd Truesdell

Lydia Hurd Truesdell is buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois.

  This tombstone picture was taken by Alva Van Houten and found on Find A Grave at http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=90413567&PIpi=60273659.

Lydia Hurd Truesdell must have been a most fascinating woman! Her obituary is titled Grandmother Truesdell.  I have seen that title for two of my ancestors that passed away when they were very old.  It just makes me think that she was well respected but also loved.

Thanks to Alva Van Houten for posting this on Find-A-Grave with the tombstone picture. 

Lydia was born December 1791 in New York or Massachusetts depending upon which census you want to believe.  Her parents have not yet been found as of yet.

She married Solomon Truesdell on 22 April 1815 in Warsaw, Wyoming County, New York according to the book Elder John Crandall of Rhode Island and his descendants by John Cortland Crandall.  Solomon was born August 1789 in Massachusetts to Gideon Truesdell and Dorcas Crandall.  Solomon passed away 19 August 1850 in Warsaw, Wyoming County, New York.

Lydia and Solomon had eight children.  Erastus born 1817, Diana born 1818, Lucretia born 1820, Myron born 1822, Franklin born 1823, Lavina born 1825, Alvira born 1828 and Allen born 1830 (my ancestor).

In 1854 Lydia is selling 40 acres of land as the "widow of Solomon Truesdale deceased Private in Captain Nobles Company New York Infantry....War of 1812".  By 1860 Lydia and Allen are in Owen, Winnebago County, Illinois.  Lydia is written down as Mary in this census however all other records show her as Lydia or Grandma.  Allen married and Lydia then moves in her with her daughter Diana Truesdell Benson where she will eventually pass away.

So do you have Lydia Hurd Truesdell in your family?  Do you know more about her?  I would love to hear from you so that I have more to remember this part of my family!