• "Letter from Thomas Hitselberger to Avalena (Forsyth) Brown, March 19, 1923".

• Category: Memoir

Original in possession of Rev. Douglas Forsyth Simpson, copy given 2 Sept. 1996 to Jane Fitting. they proofread this together. [comments by Jane Fitting in brackets.] typed copy provided by Jane Fitting on May 5, 2000.

• Text: Miss Avalena Forsyth Brown
  Shepherdsville Bullitt Co, KY March 19th 1923
  R.R. #3,
  
  Dear Cousin,
  
  I was deeply interested in yours of Jan 27th. Excuse my tardyness in answering, the reason is I have been waiting, trying to give you a more authentic report, but up to date I cannot locate the parties I think can tell us something, if any of them are alive: I am now refering to the Rider [Elizabeth & Arthur RIDER] side of the family, as for the Hitselberger [aka HITZELBERGER] side, the old generation are all dead. Charles, Mrs. Myers father [John’s wife Mary 2nd husband Dr. MYERS] was the last, he died Jan 19th 1899; his children can tell us very little of what we wish to know. So what I have found out is very unsatisfactory and does not amount to much. I am satisfied that your Grandfather Isaac [Isaac FORSYTH] and my Grandmother Mary [Mary (FORSYTH) HITSELBERGER] were brothers & sisters this makes us closely connected. You the daughter of Denmark son of Isaac [Isaac FORSYTH] I am the son of John A [John A. HITSELBERGER]; son of Mary. Isaac parents were Alexander Forsyth & Rachel Forsyth nee O’Neil Marys parents were the same. I have a small but a very perfect Daguerrotype of Mary the sister of Isaac, she being one of the daughters of Alexander & Rachel, perhaps you would like to have a copy of it
  
  I also have the picture of her husband John Hitselberger. I consider the pictures of both are handsome in their old age. I am sending you with this (as far as I know) a list of Alexander & Rachel children If you know more I would like to hear. If I am in error please let me know. I am still deeply interested and rightly so proud of being connected in a family whose hereditary is so clean and such wonderful talent on both sides as far as we know and there is lots more for us to find out.
  
  I have visited the cemetarys [Cave Hill Cem.?] trying find some of the connecting links I am sending you a copy of them look them over. I am sorry I cannot put more time on this work. I am so interested in it, my time is occupied strugging for the few dollars I am able to make to keep me in my old age as I have no one to look to but my Brothers and no income so I have to keep digging while I am able and have to use this interesting work as a sideline. I was thinking perhaps an advertisement in the personal colums of the "Balt. Sun" [Baltimore Sun newspaper] might bring result, I made inquiries It would cost in the neighborhood of $6.00 it might bring result. If you think Well of it, write up one and I will have it inserted say about three or four times, as I said before if I could get in touch with any of the Rider side of the family, they might enlighten us. I am in communication with a very brilliant man who is deeply interested in Rev. Father Hitselberger he is writing a history of him and his side of the family it will soon be published, he consideres him a very very brilliant man and thinks the records of such people should never perish. I have given him many facts and he has given me many points which I never knew. I have him interested in Forsyths, he know very little of them except that Mary nee Forsyth [Mary (FORSYTH) HITSELBERGER] and John were the parents of the Rev. Alexander Louis Hitselberger
  
  I have been very near a whole week writing to you, there is so much I can and want to tell you but at our age we cannot always think clearly and we let other things interfere. Let me hear from you soon and I will try to be more punctual in answering I am not so well just now and very nervious as you can tell by my writing. Hope you can read it Well this is all for the presant. Hope you are well Perhaps our cousins you speak of [children of Elijah FORSYTH, II] in Indianpolis would like to have a chart of the Hitzelberger side of the family, Please give me his address I have just run across a daughter of Amelia Lock the wife of Nicholas Hitselberger her son has a family tree which I expect shortly I do not know how far back he can go.
  
  Address Thos. F. Hitselberger
  146 Clyde Ave
  Lonsdowne, Balto Co, MD [Lansdown?]
  Box 155
  
  Explination of the chart
  Alexander Forsythe married Rachel ___ (maiden name not known) [O’NEIL].
  Their Children
  Isaac ________ [Isaac FORSYTH]
  John ___ child Mary. [John FORSYTH, dau. Mary]
  Elijah _____ [Elijah m: Mary Ann ZELL]
  Alexander Jr, married Helty Zell [Henrietta "Helty" ZELL, sis of Mary]
  William _____
  Rachel married Goldsmith. [Rachel FORSYTH m: Joseph GOLDSMITH]
  Jane married Joshua Thompson [Jane FORSYTH m: Josiah THOMPSON] a daughter of their Cecelia [Cecelia THOMPSON, Sister?] became a sister of Charity died in Manhattonville, NY [assumed Manhatton Island, New York?] 1862
  Eliza married Alexander Rider [Eliza FORSYTH m: Arthur RIDER] I have heard of three children Emma Theodore & Quinton [RIDER]
  Mary M. married John Hitzelberger [Mary Magdeline m: John HITZELBERGER] Mary born Nov l7th 1785. Died April 2nd 1853 John Hitzelberger Born Feb 7th 1783 Died April 3rd 1865 age 82
  
  John Hitzelberger Born Feb 7th 1783 Died April 3rd 1865 age 82
  
  Mary & Johns children. [HITSELBERGER]
  Amelia [Amelia HITSELBERGER became Sister Mary Baptista]. Born Died Jan 23rd 1891. Mother Mary Babtista, a nun
  Founded Visitation Academy Richmond, VA. was Mother Superior for a number of years.
  John A. (my father) Born Oct 9th 1812 DiedNov.28 1896 age 79 He married Laura J. (my Mother) daughter of Mary C. Morgan nee [Mary C.] Forsyth (her father?) Laura J. was born 1832 Died Dec 19th 1900 age 68.
  My father & Mother had 5 children
  Mary J. Deceased. one child alive. Married Walz.
  John Louis married Clever. 7 children 5 alive
  Thomas F. (myself) never married
  Edw. married Hale- no children
  Frank married twice 1st Delcher. 2nd Godwin. Three children by first wife one alive name Cleo?
  
  Jane was the 3rd child of John & Mary never married Born--- Died Jun 28 1890
  Rev. Alexander Louis a Jusuit Priest - Died in Boston Mass. Built St. Patricks Church in Norfolk, VA. Born Oct 3rd 1805 Died Jan 8th 1875 age 79
  Elijah Born Oct 20 1807 Died June 21 1808 age 8 months
  Mary Agnes Born Nov 23, 1819 died Sept 1st 1862 age 42 Sister Inez a Sister of Charity
  Theopolis J. Born July 10 1809, Died July 6th 1860 - Died in Nice Was mayor of NC for some time He married but have lost his history.
  Anna - an Invalid, never married Born Nov 2 1815 Died Nov 8th 1866 age 51 years
  Joseph born Feb 23 1827 Died Oct6 1840 age 13 years
  Cecelia married M. J. Kelly He was Publisher, Printer & Bookseller 5 children Cecelia H. Mary Agnes Peter, Theopolis, Joseph all dead but Agnes have not heard from her for years.
  Chas. F. married E. Wagner 7 children Amelia. Chas Theopolis Emily Laurie John married Agnes R. (Agnes R. married Dr. Myers 8 children Francis, Aloysouis, Charles Louis V Mary Thomas Hallie Robert 5 children alive. Agnes R. Myers Liberty town Frederick Co [MD]