born: 1825-1830 - Pennsylvania
died: about 1882 - Fertigs, Venango County, Pennsylvania
The parents of John Calvin Truby were David L Truby and Mary "Polly" Bortz.
Establishing David's true date of birth is frustrating as no two documents match. One thing to keep in mind is that we don't know who provided the information to the census taker. It could have been the individual named, one of the children in the family, or even a neighbor, so ages and places of birth are not always accurate. The 1850 census was the first to list the names of all members of the household. All prior censuses only listed the name of the head of the household.
1850 census - 23 (1827)
1860 census - 30 (1830)
1870 census - 45 (1825)
1880 census - 54 (1826)
grave marker - 1830
David was born somewhere between 1825 and 1830. I've been unable to find any documentation of David prior to the June 1, 1850 census in Cranberry Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania. David is 23 years old and a farmer. Since no value was given for his property, it can be inferred that he rented his farm. Mary was 18 and had just given birth to John C who was enumerated in the neighboring Brandon-Moorhead household most likely due to complications of her delivery.
Establishing David's true date of birth is frustrating as no two documents match. One thing to keep in mind is that we don't know who provided the information to the census taker. It could have been the individual named, one of the children in the family, or even a neighbor, so ages and places of birth are not always accurate. The 1850 census was the first to list the names of all members of the household. All prior censuses only listed the name of the head of the household.
1850 census - 23 (1827)
1860 census - 30 (1830)
1870 census - 45 (1825)
1880 census - 54 (1826)
grave marker - 1830
David was born somewhere between 1825 and 1830. I've been unable to find any documentation of David prior to the June 1, 1850 census in Cranberry Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania. David is 23 years old and a farmer. Since no value was given for his property, it can be inferred that he rented his farm. Mary was 18 and had just given birth to John C who was enumerated in the neighboring Brandon-Moorhead household most likely due to complications of her delivery.
Interestingly, Cranberry Township was established in 1830 and is Venango County's largest township. The earliest settler was Samuel Lindsay, followed by Andrew Downing, Isaac Smith, John Hays and brothers William and John Brandon. (The same William Brandon whose family John is enumerated with shortly after his birth.) Oil production in Cranberry Twp was second only to Oil Creek Twp. The first wells were in the Pinoak area just south of Oil City.
The census of June 1, 1860 has the family living in Hickory Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania. David is 30 years old and working as a day laborer. He has a personal estate of $100. (This may have consisted of a watch or silver utensils. It may also have been some sort of furniture or tool.) Mary is 26 years old. John and Jane are both 10 years old even though they are not twins. The rest of the family consists of Sarah (7), Ann (4) and Mary E (1).
The census of June 1, 1860 has the family living in Hickory Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania. David is 30 years old and working as a day laborer. He has a personal estate of $100. (This may have consisted of a watch or silver utensils. It may also have been some sort of furniture or tool.) Mary is 26 years old. John and Jane are both 10 years old even though they are not twins. The rest of the family consists of Sarah (7), Ann (4) and Mary E (1).
In 1862, David Truby of Cranberry Twp is assessed taxes on 2 flat boats valued at $230. This amounts to $6.90 in taxes.
However, an 1863 tax assessment of David Truby in Allegheny Twp shows him to be a retail dealer in liquor owing a tax of $8.34. "Allegheny" Twp may have been incorrect as it appears David was in Cranberry Twp during 1862 and 1864 so was most likely still in Cranberry Twp during 1863.
The 1864 tax assessment again shows David to be a retail dealer of liquor in Cranberry Twp owing a tax of $12.50. Business is either booming or the tax rates have been increased.
There are some researchers on ancestry.com who have claimed that our David Truby fought in the Civil War. I have never found any documentation to positively support that theory. To the contrary, I believe that the tax assessments shown above tend to prove that he, in fact, did not fight in the Civil War. Furthermore, I was unable to find an application for a civil war pension filed by either David or Mary. But I did find a Veterans Burial Record showing that David Truby, who fought in the Civil War, is buried in Center Cemetery located in Mineral Twp rather than Fertigs Cemetery in Pinegrove Twp.
The June 1, 1870 census puts David (45) and Mary (38) within the Post Office District of Porterfield, Cranberry Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania. David is now listed as a laborer with a personal estate valued at $1,000 which is a huge increase from 1860. If he was running a tavern and/or providing ferry transport during the war, he must have done a pretty lucrative business.
On June 1, 1880 the family is still in Cranberry Twp, David is 54 years old. He had previously worked as a "laborer" but is shown to be disabled from rheumatism which prevented him from being able to work the entire 12 months from June 1, 1879 to June 1, 1880. This census also shows that David was able to read and write and that both of his parents were born in Pennsylvania. Mary is 46 years old and not able to read or write. John (29) is a laborer who has been out of work for 9 months during the census year. Maria (23) is unable to write. Henrietta (15) not only attended school but also "works out" doing housework for others while Margaret (12) and Clara (8) both attended school.
According to the grave marker at Fertigs Cemetery, David died in 1882. I cannot confirm that as this marker was not erected until some time after Mary's death in 1900 and the dates on it are not necessarily accurate. I do know that the dates given for Laura are not correct as shown (1871-1873) as she is 6 months old on the June 1, 1870 census and therefore would have most likely been born in December, 1869. Consequently if the person who ordered the marker knew she was 2 years old when she died, then she probably died in 1871 rather than 1873.
A history of Mary and the children will be posted later.
According to the grave marker at Fertigs Cemetery, David died in 1882. I cannot confirm that as this marker was not erected until some time after Mary's death in 1900 and the dates on it are not necessarily accurate. I do know that the dates given for Laura are not correct as shown (1871-1873) as she is 6 months old on the June 1, 1870 census and therefore would have most likely been born in December, 1869. Consequently if the person who ordered the marker knew she was 2 years old when she died, then she probably died in 1871 rather than 1873.
Fertigs Cemetery - Fertigs, Venango County A history of Mary and the children will be posted later.
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