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Theb Tanner and Bynon Family
Tanner and Bynon A Brief History of Two 19th Century Settler Families in Summit Hill --
The Tanners and The Bynons
By: Neil Boyden Tanner
ntanner@comcast.net
(A complete list of surnames included is provided at the end.)
The First Tanner Settlers in Mauch Chunk
One of the earlier settler families in Mauch Chunk Township, Pennsylvania was that of the Tanners. William Tanner was born between 1804 and 1810 in County Derry, Ireland. The Mauch Chunk Presbyterian Church was founded by a group of immigrants from the First Dunboe Parish of Articlave, County Derry, Ireland, and William likely came with this group to America. William petitioned for citizenship on June 4, 1842 but his wife and the rest of his family came later. While still in Ireland, William married Elizabeth McDermott probably around 1830 and likely in Articlave. It is interesting to note that there were (and are to this day) Tanners in that area. In addition, William's wife was a McDermott and not only were there McDermotts in this parish, but in the same part of the parish as the Tanners. Elizabeth was born around 1812 or 1813 in Ireland. She immigrated with their seven Irish-born children on July 30, 1846 on the Ship Susquehanna. In an amazing coincidence, a Philadelphian saw her ship arriving in Philadelphia and recorded it in his diary. On July 29, 1846 Thomas Cope of Philadelphia wrote in his journal, “This morning the Susquehanna from Liverpool is passing up in full view, deeply laden. When the Line was first established we had a +, strongly marked in black, painted on the foresail of each Ship. It was not, as has been supposed, to designate the Catholicism of the owner but a sign, easily seen at a distance, to denote the vessel distinctly from all others - few emblems in any shape displaying more visibly. The private signal at the head of the mainmast bears likewise a black cross on a red ground. These emblems are separate from the Holyhead signals which disclose each Ship of the Line apart from the rest of her consorts.” William Tanner was received by exam into the First Presbyterian Church of Summit Hill, Pennsylvania and the Panther Valley on September 29, 1844, and Elizabeth Tanner was received by Certificate in April 1847. In 1848 they had their first and only US born child, Nathan. By the 1850 census, William is listed as a shoemaker in Mauch Chunk Township. Unfortunately, Elizabeth died between 1860 and 1870. It is presumed that she was buried in the First Presbyterian Church cemetery which unfortunately no longer exists. By 1870, William moved to Bucks County, PA to farm and to be closer to where some of his children had ultimately settled, He died on June 10, 1878 in Nockamixon Township, Bucks County, PA.
The children and grandchildren of Elizabeth and William Tanner were:
i. Robert Tanner was born in 1830/1831 in Ireland. He died after 1880.
Robert was employed as Shoemaker in 1850 in Mauch Chunk Township, PA.
In the November 1837 1st Dunboe Communicants list in the 1st Dunboe Church Records in Articlave, Northern Ireland, there is a name that looks like (hard to read) Robert Tanner. This would be a good match (assuming children made their First Communion back then around the same age they do today).
+ ii. Jane Tanner was born in 1832/1835.
iii. John Tanner was born in 1834/1835 in Ireland. He died in 1859 in Carbon County, PA.
+ iv. William Tanner was born in 1835/1836.
+ v. Mary Ann Tanner was born in 1838/1839. She died about Oct 1878.
vi. Nancy Tanner was born in 1841/1842 in Ireland. She died in 1875 in Summit Hill, PA.
Listed as “removed” from First Presbyterian Church of Summit Hill and the Panther Valley.
+ vii. Joseph Tanner was born in 1842/1844. He died on 20 Apr 1920.
+ viii. Nathan Tanner was born on 6 Jun 1848. He died on 2 Dec 1928.
The Second Generation of Tanners
6. Jane Tanner (William, Nathaniel) was born in 1832/1835 in Ireland.
She may have been married before she married John McLaughlin as there is a reference to a Jane Tanner Smith being accepted by Certificate in April of 1851 into the First Presbyterian Church of Summit Hill and the Panther Valley. In addition, her brother marrried a Smith.
Jane married John McLaughlin on 6 Nov 1854 in First Presbyterian Church, Summit Hill, Carbon Co., PA. John was born in 1832 in Ireland.
They had the following children:
13 F i. Mary McLaughlin was born in 1855 in Mauch Chunk, PA.
14 F ii. Jane McLaughlin was born in 1858 in Mauch Chunk, PA.
15 F iii. Elizabeth McLaughlin was born in 1860 in Mauch Chunk, PA.
8. William Tanner (William, Nathaniel) was born in 1835/1836 in Ireland.
Many members of this family are shown as living together in the 1860 census and it is not entirely clear as to the relationships. I have provided for Elizabeth from the 1860 census as William's wife, and William and John as his children. There is a chance that Elizabeth was married to William's brother Robert and that they were his children. Because Elizabeth was closer in age to William and because his first son was William, I suspect that Elizabeth was married to William.
William married Elizabeth . Elizabeth was born in 1835 in Ireland.
They had the following children:
16 M i. William Tanner was born in 1856 in Pennsylvania.
17 M ii. John Tanner was born in 1859 in Pennsylvania. He died after 1880.
9. Mary Ann Tanner (William, Nathaniel) was born in 1838/1839 in Ireland. She died about Oct 1878 in Nockamixon, Bucks County, PA.
Mary Ann Moore appears to have died around October of 1878. On the 15th of that month, her daughters applied to the Orphan's Court in Carbon County for the appointment of a Guardian. They specifically requested a James Sweeney of Summit Hill and the request was granted. It's unclear why they sought a guardian and where the father was, however, the documents state that their mother died in Nockamixon, Bucks County, PA but that they were then located in Carbon County. Query whether they were visiting family in Carbon County when they received word of the death. By the 1880 census they are living with their father again in Summit Hill, Carbon County, Pennsylvania. There were no further records for them located. Also in November of 1880, their father, together with Nathanial and his wife, sell land to William Tanner. The failure to list Henry's wife in the transfer document would also indicate she had passed away.
Mary married Henry Moore . Henry was born in 1836/1845 in Ireland. He died after 1880.
Henry witnesses a deed for William Tanner to sell property in 1856.
Henry and Mary had the following children:
18 F i. Elizabeth Jane Moore was born in 1861 in PA.
She did not appear under this name on the 1880 census, but she would have been 19 and perhaps married by then.
19 F ii. Mary Ann Moore was born in 1864 in PA. She died before 1880.
20 F iii. Margaret L. Moore was born in 1866 in PA.
21 F iv. Maria Moore was born in 1868/1870 in PA.
11. Joseph Tanner (William, Nathaniel) was born in 1842/1844 in Ireland. He died on 20 Apr 1920 in Woodside, PA. He was buried on 24 Apr 1920 in Newtown Cemetery, Newtown, PA.
Joseph was employed as Postmaster in 1914 in Edgewood, Bucks County, PA. He was employed as Shopkeeper in 1920 in Edgewood, Bucks County, PA.
Edgewood, Bucks County, PA shows a Joseph Tanner serving as Postmaster in 1914. At least 3 daughters are believed to have been living in Bucks County in the 1940s based on the registration of 2 of their births later in life.
“Joseph Tanner, a storekeeper at Edgewood, died Tuesday evening in his 78th year. He had been ailing since last fall, but was confined to his bed only four or five days. For twenty-four years deceased had been engaged in the mercantile business at the place where he died, having come there from Summit Hill, Carbon county. He is survived by his wife, one son, James Tanner, who keeps store at Woodbourne, and five daughters. A brother, Nathan Tanner, of Lansford, also survives. The funeral was held Saturday
at 2 o'clock with interment in Newtown cemetery.” - Bucks County Intelligencer
Joseph married Mary Smith . Mary was born in 1851/1854 in Summit Hill, PA. She died in 1920/1946.
They had the following children:
22 F i. M. Elizabeth Tanner was born in 1877 in Pennsylvania. She died on 17 Jun 1957 in Lower Makefield Township, Bucks County, PA.
There is a Lizzie Tanner listed in the class of 1892 at Summit Hill High School which is likely the same person.
M. Elizabeth Tanner married Clarence H. Harvey in 1903. Clarence was born in 1878 in Pennsylvania. He died on 7 Oct 1946 in Lower Makefield Township, Bucks County, PA.
23 M ii. James S. Tanner was born in 1879 in Pennsylvania. He died between 1930 and 1951.
James was employed as Storekeeper in 1920 in Woodburne, Bucks County, PA.
James married Elizabeth Cummons daughter of Randall I. Cummons. Elizabeth was born in 1883/1888 in Pennsylvania. She died after 1930.
24 F iii. Margaret E. Tanner was born in 1880 in Pennsylvania. She died after Sep 1957.
25 F iv. Nancy R. Tanner was born in 1884 in Pennsylvania. She died between 1920 and1928.
26 F v. Jane Josephine Tanner was born on 19 Aug 1887 in Summit Hill, PA. She died after 1947.
Her “Delayed - Special Registration of Birth” indicates that she was her mother's fifth born child.
27 M vi. Joseph W. Tanner was born in 1891 in Pennsylvania. He died on 7 Jan 1915 in Edgewood, Bucks County, PA. The cause of death was typhoid fever.
28 F vii. Alice Maud Tanner was born on 11 Mar 1893 in Summit Hill, PA. She died on 27 Feb 1981 in Trenton, NJ. She was buried in Newtown Cemetery, Newtown, PA.
12. Nathan Tanner (William, Nathaniel) was born on 6 Jun 1848 in Summit Hill, PA. He was christened in the Methodist Episcopal Church, Lansford, PA. He died on 2 Dec 1928 in Philadelphia, PA. He was buried in the GAR Cemetery in Summit Hill, PA.
Nathan Tanner was born on June 6 in either 1848 or 1846 in Summit Hill, PA (Carbon County). His tombstone and death certificate state 1848 as the year of his birth but census records (which are consistent every 10 years) indicate that he was born in 1846 as does his Civil War record, so the earlier date is probably correct. He spent almost his entire life in Summit Hill and neighboring Lansford, PA. His last days were spent in Philadelphia living with his son where he died on December 2, 1928. He was in Co. M of the 18th Pa Cav during the Civil War which is confirmed by the “History of Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-1865” but did not join until April 7, 1865 when he transferred in from D Co. 3rd Pro Cav Reg. He was the bugler for the unit, which is known from family history, and which is also confirmed by an entry in “History of Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-1865” and from his Registration Card on file with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. According to that card, he was 18 when he enrolled in the Union Army in Pottsville, PA. He was 5 feet 5 inches tall with a “florid” complexion, hazel eyes and brown hair. He listed his occupation as “laborer”. He transferred to Company D of the 3rd Provisional Cavalry on July 14, 1865. After serving, Nathan Tanner was appointed by President Theodore Roosevelt and subsequently by President William Howard Taft to serve as Postmaster General of Lansford. He also went on to become the Commander of the Eli T. Connor G.A.R. Post 177. In that capacity he wrote a strongly worded letter (a copy of which may be seen at the historical society) around 1914 protesting the Civil War monument which now stands in Summit Hill. This monument was originally chosen by the GAR and was to include a list of all the Civil War veterans who lost their lives in the war who were from the area. Due to economic hardships the project was put on hold for years and when it resurfaced, the town decided to scale back the monument and not include any names. As a result, the GAR protested and refused to take part in the dedication ceremony.
Nathan married Eleanor Bynon “Ellen”, daughter of Daniel Bynon and Gwenllian William on 19 Jan 1875 in the 1st Baptist Church, Summit Hill, PA.
More details on this family are available under the “The Second Generation of Bynons” provided below.
The First Bynon Settlers in Mauch Chunk
Another of the early settlers to this township were the family of Daniel Bynon and his wife Gwenllian William Bynon. Daniel was one of at least 8 children born to William Beynon (the name was spelled Beynon in Wales and later Bynon in the United States) and Ann (maiden name unknown). He was born on March 20, between 1825 and 1831 (sources vary as to the year of his birth) in Pentyrch, County Glamorgan, Wales. Gwenllian William was the daughter of Hopkin William and Eleanor (maiden name unknown). She was born on December 30, between 1829 and 1832 (sources vary) in Glyncorrwg, County Glamorgan, Wales. They were likely married around 1851 and went on to have 6 children. The first of their children, William, was born in Wales, but the remaining 5 were all born in the United States. Daniel immigrated on March 10, 1853 through the port at New York and was naturalized on October 5, 1858 in Carbon County, PA. On February 22, 1856 they had their second child (their first child in the United States), Eleanor, in Ashland, PA. By the 1870 census Daniel is listed as being employed as a coal miner Mauch Chunk, PA. Unfortunately it was only a year later when Daniel would pass away on December 26, 1871. He was buried in the GAR cemetery in Summit Hill. Gwenllian remarried to Josiah Williams but she also outlived him and they did not have any children. Gwennlian passed away in her 90s on August 3, 1921 and was buried with Daniel in the GAR Cemtery.
The children and grandchildren of Gwenllian and Daniel Bynon were:
i. William Bynon was born in Mar 1852. He died in 1910.
ii. Eleanor Bynon was born on 22 Feb 1856. She died on 6 Jul 1914.
iii. Morgan L. Bynon was born in Sep 1857. He died on 29 Jul 1906.
iv. Thomas Bynon was born on 11 Jun 1863. He died on 3 Sep 1926.
v. Margaret Ann Bynon was born in 1866. She died after 1921. Margaret is listed as living in Hazleton, PA at the time of her mother's death. She is listed as “Ann” in the 1870 census. Margaret married William H. Davies . William died in Dec 1917.
vi. Mary Bynon was born in Oct 1867. She died on 5 Apr 1902.
It is also interesting to note that Daniel Bynon’s sister Ruth Beynon ended up marrying a T. D. Jones and emmigrating to Summit Hill as well. Ruth was born in 1839 in Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorgan, Wales. T. D. Jones was the son of Daniel Jones and was born on 28 Jan 1842 in South Wales. T. D. Jones immigrated in 1852 to Summit Hill, PA. In 1897 they are described as living in a palatial home at Church and Tamarack Streets in Hazleton, PA. T. D. Jones and Ruth had the following children:
i. (Name Unknown) Jones died before 1897.
ii. (Name Unknown) Jones died before 1897.
iii. J. Elmer Jones .
iv. Gwladys Jones was born in 1889.
The Second Generation of Bynons
12. William Bynon (Daniel Bynon, William) was born in Mar 1852 in Wales. He died in 1910.
William married Margaret (maiden name unknown). Margaret was born in Mar 1852 in PA. She died in 1910/1917.
On the 1880 census, Margaret Beynon [sic] lists her birthplace as PA but her son Morgan lists his mother's birthplace as Wales. According to Jack Sterling who transcribed many of the graves in the GAR Cemetery in Summit Hill, Margaret's grave states that she died in 1910. However, according to the writ of inquest for Daniel Bynon, it states that Margaret died 22 Jan 1917.
William and Margaret had the following children:
22 M i. Daniel Bynon was born in 1873. He died after 1917.
23 M ii. Morgan M. Bynon was born in Feb 1876 in PA. He died about 1917.
24 F iii. Fannie Bynon was born in Jun 1886 in PA. She died about 1917.
Fannie was adopted, probably in Lansford.
25 M iv. William Bynon was born in Sep 1884 in PA. He died in 1910.
Note: I have no evidence that William and Margaret had a son William except that the gravestone with theirs has this William buried with them, and William and Margaret are listed Father and Mother on the stones, respectively.
William married Mary Stickler . Mary was born in 1876. She died in 1929.
13. Eleanor Bynon “Ellen” (Daniel Bynon, William) was born on 22 Feb 1856 in Ashland, PA. She died on 6 Jul 1914 in Lansford, PA. She was buried in Summit Hill, Pa (Gar Cemetary).
Services for her burial were at the English Congregational Church of Lansford.
Eleanor married Nathan Tanner (see the Tanner family discussion for more information).
Nathan and Eleanor had the following children:
26 M i. William Elmer Tanner was born on 29 Nov 1875 in Summit Hill, PA. He died on 1 Apr 1965 in Philadelphia, PA. He was the publisher of the Olney Times newspaper in Philadelphia, PA and had been a music teacher, having graduated from the Boston Conservatory. In his mother’s obituary, he was listed as a “piano man” living in Rochester.
27 ii. Unknown Tanner was born in 1876/1877. Unknown died in 1878/1880.
According to Daniel Bynon Tanner's request for a birth record, his mother had four children, two of whom were living at the time of his birth in 1878. Since no children appear in the 1880 census other than William and Daniel, it is presumed that a child died as an infant.
28 M iii. Daniel Bynon Tanner was born on 15 Apr 1878 in Summit Hill, Pennsylvania. He was christened in the English Congregational Church, Lansford, PA. Daniel moved to Chicago and few records for him have been located but it is known that he died after 12 Sep 1942. He was listed as a civil engineer living in “the west” in his mother's obituary.
Daniel married Marie (surname unknown) in 1910. Marie was born in 1894 in Pennsylvania.
29 F iv. Marion Eleanore Tanner was born on 29 Oct 1886 in Summit Hill, PA. She died after 12 Dec 1953. Marion married Vincent A. Shindel son of Clarence B. Shindel and Katherine Hartwick on 11 Aug 1908 in Rensselaer County, NY. Vincent was born on 5 Feb 1886 in East Mauch Chunk, PA. He died on 11 Dec 1953 in Dallas, PA. He was buried on 14 Dec 1953 in Maple Hill Cemetery, Wilkes-Barre, PA.
He operated V. A. Shindel and Company, an investment broker firm. He also founded Citizens of Parsons and the Dime Bank of Lansford, PA.
14. Morgan L. Bynon (Daniel Bynon, William) was born in Sep 1857 in Mauch Chunk Township, PA. He died on 29 Jul 1906. He was buried in G.A.R. Cemetery, Summit Hill, PA.
Morgan was employed in 1880 as a laborer. He resided in 1915 in Philadelphia, PA.
Morgan Binnon (Bynon) lived next door to “G. Binnon” in 1880 census and was listed as being age 22 and married to Jennette, age 23, with a daughter Maggina, age 3. Also Morgan Bynon lent Hattie money in 1915 to buy property on Bertch Street in Lansford. I have concluded Morgan was Hattie’s uncle and Thomas's brother.
Morgan married Jennette Richards, daughter of William Richards and Margaret Jones, in 1876. Jennette was born on 27 Aug 1856 in Wales. She died on 22 Jan 1917. She was buried in G.A.R. Cemetery, Summit Hill, PA.
They had the following children:
30 F i. Margaret A. Bynon was born on 29 Sep 1877 in Lansford, PA. She died on 14 Sep 1924 in Lansford, PA. She was buried in G.A.R. Cemetery, Summit Hill, PA.
Margaret married George William Kneiss about 1896. George was born on 13 Dec 1874 in Tamaqua, PA. He died on 2 Mar 1941 in Lansford, PA. He was buried in G.A.R. Cemetery, Summit Hill, PA.
31 F ii. Florence L. Bynon was born in Jun 1889 in Pennsylvania. She died after 1930.
Florence married Norman Tracey in 1912. Norman was born in 1891 in Pennsylvania. He died after 1930.
32 F iii. Gwendolin Bynon was born in Apr 1885 in Pennsylvania. She died ?.
Gwendolin married A. F. Michaelis .
15. Thomas Bynon (Daniel Bynon, William) was born on 11 Jun 1863 in Lansford, PA. He died on 3 Sep 1926 in Palmerton Hospital, Palmerton, PA. He was buried on 6 Sep 1926 in GAR Cemetery, Summit Hill, PA.
Thomas lived with his mother at age 17 per 1880 Census. He was employed as a baker in 1880/1900 in Lansford, PA.
While looking for an obituary, a relative came across the following notes in a personal column of “The Evening Courier” of Tamaqua, PA.
Friday, September 3, 1926 edition: “The relatives of Thomas Bynon were called to the Palmerton Hospital yesterday due to his serious illness. He was operated upon last week and for several days was getting along nicely when he made a change for the worst.”
Saturday, September 4, 1926 edition: “The condition of Thomas Bynon remains serious at the Palmerton Hospital. He recently was operated on for Jaundice. On Thursday, all the relatives were called to his bedside.”
“Mr. William McMichael visited Thomas Bynon at the Palmerton Hospital.”
The Monday September 6 edition was not on the microfilm in the Tamaqua, PA library and no obituary was found.
His will was found in the Carbon County Court House, Jim Thorpe, PA. (Microfilm Reel 57R, Code 1741, File 7901, Year 1926) He left his possessions to his wife Emma, and children Emma, Hattie and Daniel.
He owned no real estate.
His bakery and restaurant are mentioned in the Lansford Centennial Book,1976 on Page 52 as being on Ridge Street, Lansford, PA.
Thomas married Emma E. Ackerman about 1883. Emma was born in Nov 1864 in Pennsylvania. She died on 7 Nov 1936 in Coaldale State Hospital, Coaldale, Schuylkill Co, PA. She was buried on 10 Nov 1936 in GAR Cemetery, Summit Hill, PA.
They had the following children:
33 M i. Daniel J. Bynon was born in May 1883 in Pennsylvania. He died in 1956.
Daniel resided in 1936 in Summit Hill, PA.
Daniel married Margaret L. Hughes daughter of James Hughes and Josephine E. Margaret was born in 1884. She died in 1961.
34 F ii. Hattie Bynon was born on 1 Dec 1884 in Lansford, PA. She died in Jun 1963 in Lansford, PA. She was buried in GAR Cemetery, Summit Hill, PA.
Hattie resided in 19 W.Bertsch St., Lansford, PA.
Hattie first married David Jones Richards . David was born on 24 Nov 1881 in Lansford, PA. He died on 26 Aug 1912 in Lansford, PA. He was buried on 30 Aug 1912 in GAR Cemetery, Summit Hill, PA. He was employed as a plumber. Hattie next married Dan Feeley. Dan died in Lansford, PA. He was buried in GAR Cemetary, Summit Hill, PA.
35 F iii. Emma Ella Bynon was born in Oct 1887 in Pennsylvania. She died in 1981. She was buried in GAR Cemetary, Summit Hill, PA.
Emma married William L. McMichael . William was born in 1876. He died in 1937. He was buried in G.A.R. Cemetery, Summit Hill, PA.
17. Mary Bynon (Daniel Bynon, William) was born in Oct 1867 in Pennsylvania. She died on 5 Apr 1902.
Listed on the retrospective members list for First Presbyterian Church of Summit Hill and the Panther Valley. She is also listed in the 1900 census as living next door to her brother Thomas and family.
Mary married Godfrey Richard Leonard . Godfrey was born in Dec 1858 in Pennsylvania. He died on 30 May 1920.
Godfrey and Mary had the following children:
36 M i. Harry B. Leonard was born in Mar 1889 in Pennsylvania. He died after 1917.
37 F ii. Leona Leonard was born in Jan 1891 in Pennsylvania. She died in 1917.
38 F iii. Mary Leonard was born in Nov 1893 in Pennsylvania. She died after 1917.
39 F iv. Dorothy Leonard was born in Jul 1895 in Pennsylvania. She died after 1917.
Dorothy married W. Benjamin Williams . W. Benjamin Williams was born in 1894 in Pennsylvania.
40 F v. Ruth Leonard was born in Mar 1897 in Pennsylvania. She died in 1980.
41 M vi. John Leonard was born in Jun 1899 in Pennsylvania. He died before 1910.
42 M vii. Daniel Leonard was born in 1902 in Pennsylvania. He died after 1917.
Interestingly, Daniel was left money by Nathan Tanner in Nathan’s will.
Daniel married Nellie M. Jones in 1927. Nellie was born in 1906 in Pennsylvania.
Surnames included:
Ackerman
Beynon
Bynon
Cummons
Davies
Feeley
Harvey
Hughes
Jones
Kneiss
Leonard
McDermott
McLaughlin
McMichael
Michaelis
Moore
Richards
Shindel
Smith
Stickler
Tanner
Tracey
William
Williams
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