Orphan Train Adoptions

Orphan Train Adoption – Frank _____ and Katie Hart.

Frank ______was born about 1870 in Brookhaven, Suffolk, New York to an unknown man with an unknown last name. Frank’s mother’s name at the time of his admittance to the Suffolk County Alms House in 1875, was Sarah J Ross.

According to documents from the National Orphan Train Complex, Frank’s mother Sarah, had “only been a widow a short time”, before marrying a man by the name Samuel Ross. After Sarah married Samuel, it appears that Frank also took on the last name Ross. DNA matches appear to imply that Ross is NOT Frank’s surname.

What DOES appear, are the following surnames, in cluster groups:

Ayers – Gee – Miller – (167 matches as of 9/2/19)

Conklin (250 matches as of 9/2/19)

Mapes – Hallock – Luce – Reeves – Goldsmith (269 matches as of 9/2/19)

I have been unable to determine through DNA matches where any of these names make sense. 

What I DO know, is that the Mapes – Hallock – Luce – Reeves – Goldsmith matches are from the Suffolk County, New York area. This area coincides with information that was given to the Suffolk County Alms House when Frank and his mother, along with 2 other siblings, were admitted in 1875.

The Ayers – Gee – Miller – Conklin families appear to be coming from Delaware County, New York.

Sometimes, the Conklin appears to overlap with the other families, so that is the surname I have chosen to focus on, as perhaps that surname is the one that brings both sides together.

Frank was adopted by William Miller Shaw and Alinda E Frey of Crawford County, Pennsylvania. After his adoption, he went by the name “Ross Shaw”.

Alinda’s sister, Louisa R. Frey who was married to Smith Vail Line of Crawford County, Pennsylvania, also adopted an Orphan Train Rider, Henry Hart, aka Harry Hart Line.

Nathan Sanborn Linn and his wife, Rachel L Herriott of Crawford County, Pennsylvania, also adopted an Orphan Train Rider, Katie Hart aka Katie Hart Linn.

Henry Hart and Katie Hart were biological siblings. They both rode the Orphan Train to Crawford County, Pennsylvania where they attended church with Frank.

Katie Hart and Frank were married and had 2 children: Bessie and Mabel.

Mable is one of my maternal Great-Grandmother’s.