While trying to determine WHICH George Long was William’s father, I discovered two George Longs in Hancock County, Ohio, of similar ages.

George W. Long, Amanda Township

One George Long used the middle initial W. He lived in Amanda Township with his wife, Elizabeth. He obtained 160 acres on 20 April 1837 through a cash sale.¹ That patent refers to him as of “Franklin County” which is several counties to the south and east of the original cluster of counties from which Carroll County was created. In 1830, one George Long lived in Franklin County, Ohio; there were only girls, presumably daughters, in his household.² Examining the 1840 census, reveals still only one George Long in Franklin County.³ Comparing those two households show that it is likely the same family that shows up in Amanda Township in 1850 with probable wife Elizabeth, and daughters Susanna and Lydia.⁴ George W. Long died on 18 August 1880 and was buried in Salem Cemetery in Houcktown, Jackson Township, Hancock County. This George was reportedly born in Maryland in about 1794. George’s will was entered into probate on 31 August 1880. His children were listed as daughters Mary, Eliza, Mahala, Elizabeth, Susan, and Lydia; no sons were listed.⁵

George Long, Portage Township

George Long purchased 40 acres from William R. Alexander in Portage Township.⁶ In 1850, he was living there with his wife Isabella and four of his children: Susan, Alexander, Ellen, and John.⁷He owned the farm in Portage Township until George’s heirs sold it to Abraham Miller in 1857.⁸ George’s heirs were listed on the deed selling his farm to his neighbor Alexander Miller in 5 March 1857: Alexander Long and Elizabeth, his wife, Isabella Long, Ellen Long, Catharine Franks, and Susan Long.⁹ Missing from the list of heirs was son John (presumed deceased between 1850 and 1857) and William. William, however, sold his “undivided eighth” portion of the same land to Alexander Miller in a separate transaction on 3 April 1858.¹⁰ George died on 8 October 1855 and is buried next to “Isabel” in Thomas Cemetery, just down the road from his farm.¹¹

Maps

This is a good reminder to look at maps when researching your ancestors. It is one thing to say that one George was in Amanda Township and one was in Portage Township. It is another thing to see it on a map.

This close up shows the section of Portage Township where George’s land, that was sold to Alexander Miller, and the Thomas Cemetery, are located.

Based on the land records and the family make-up (i.e. George in Amanda Township did not have any sons), we can determine that the George Long in Portage Township is the father of William Long.

Now, where did the Portage Township George come from? Ten more candidates were found in the right times and places to possibly be the correct George. We won’t belabor all of those that I eliminated, but we will put together the pieces of the correct George and look at how I processed the information and kept it manageable next time.

---

1. George Long (Hancock County), state volume patent (1837), certificate no. 174, Bucyrus, Ohio, Land Office; image, “Land Patent Search,” Bureau of Land Management, General Records Office Records (https://glorecords.blm.gov/details/patent/default.aspx?accession=OH1020__.174&docClass=STA&sid=bbz1fuho.ven). Patent for land in the Northwest 1⁄4 of S33, T1S, R12, 160 acres. ↩︎
2. 1830 U.S. Census, Franklin County, Ohio, population schedule, Madison Twp., p. 88, George Long household; image, “1830 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8058/images/4093939_00192). ↩︎
3. 1840 U.S. Census, Franklin County, Ohio, population schedule, Madison Twp., p. 19, George Long household; image, “1840 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8057/images/4409549_00206). ↩︎
4. 1850 U.S. Census, Hancock County, Ohio, population schedule, Amanda Twp., p. 469 (stamped), dwelling 124, family 124, Geo. Long household; image, “1850 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry  (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8054/images/4204481_00165). ↩︎
5. Hancock County, Ohio, Probate Court, Record of Wills, Vol. 3 (1862–1884), p. 484–485, George Long’s Will, recorded 31 Aug 1880; image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9M2-LP1), IGN 5430906. ↩︎
6. Hancock County, Ohio, Recorder’s Office, Deeds, Vol. 7 (1848–1850), pp. 112, William R. Alexander, deed to George Long, 10 Feb 1848,; FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C37X-QCZZ), IGN 8578921.  ↩︎
7. 1850 U.S. census, Hancock County, Ohio, population schedule, Portage Twp., sheet 45A, dwelling 74, family 74, George Long household; image, “1850 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8054/images/4204481_00312). ↩︎
8. Hancock County, Ohio, Recorder’s Office, Deeds, Vol. 7 (1848–1850), pp. 112, William R. Alexander, deed to George Long, 10 Feb 1848; FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C37X-QCZZ), IGN 8578921.  ↩︎
9. Hancock Co., Ohio, Deeds, 13: 290–292. ↩︎
10. Hancock County, Ohio, Recorder’s Office, Deeds, Vol. 14 (1858–1865), pp. 224, William and Sarah Long, deed to Abraham Miller, 3 Apr 1858; FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C37X-NVXQ), IGN 8578925. ↩︎
11. “George Long (1789–1855),” tombstone photograph, Find a Grave (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/39549214/george_long), memorial 39549214, created by “Calling~All~Angels”; Thomas Cemetery, Portage Twp., Hancock County, Ohio; tombstone photograph uploaded by “Calling~All~Angels,” 17 Jul 2009.  ↩︎