This week we take a look at the lineage of the Green surname as it pertains to my husband’s family history.  The Green name belongs to that of my husband, which I proudly accepted upon our marriage in 2002.  I have been researching his family line along with my own for the past decade. It has been a very strong focus of my research.

The Green family lineage is controversial amongst the many genealogists currently researching it.  I offer the following information as a loose translation to a puzzle that is still being actively researched and debated.

Earliest Known Ancestor

Nahum Green, my husband’s 5th great grandfather, was born 10 Apr 1729 in Leicester, Worcester, Massachusetts.  His wife was Dorcus Sanger, born 01 May 1732 in Woodstock, Windham, Connecticut. The couple had eight children: Pamela Green, Zariah Green, Zevirah Green, Jeraiah Green, Amasa Green, Jared Green, Nahum Green and my husband’s 4th great-grandfather Cyril Green.  Nahum died on 29 Jul 1775 in Royalston, Worcester, Massachusetts.  His wife Dorcus died in 1773 in Royalston, Worcester, Massachusetts.

Green Family Lineage

Lineage

Andrew Arthur Green > Jerald Max Green > Max Earl Green (1919 – 2001) > Fred Ozro Green (1882 – 1961) > Abner Oakes Green (1832 – 1907) > Parley Green (1800 – 1855) > Cyril Green (1773 – 1808) > Nahum Green (1729 – 1775)

Items of Interest

A majority of my research on the Green family lineage has focused on my husband’s third great-grandfather, Abner Oakes Green.  Abner was born 08 Feb 1832 in Mumford, Monroe County, New York.  He served as a Union soldier in the Civil War, and I am incredibly proud of his service to our country.

Abner Oakes Green was born in Mumford, Monroe Co. N.Y. and was one of a family of eight children. 

The following information was from records of Frances Green Fenner.  “Abner Oakes Green was the son of Parley Green(e) and Maria Oaks or Oakes.  He was French Yankee.  His brothers and sisters were: Matilda Green, Rufus Green, Ruben Green, Jane Green, Sarah Green, Submit Green and Hiram Green.”

Abner’s father was Parley Green, who was born in 1800 in Shaftsbury, Bennington Co, Vermont or Washington Co, New York.  The two county lines were blurred during this time, and no true record exists for his birth.  Parley died in 1855 in Monroe County, New York. Abner’s mother was Maria Oakes, whose maiden name he was given as his middle name.  Maria was born 09 Jun 1802 in Bradford, Orange, Vermont.  I’m not sure when and where she died.

Had many disadvantages as a child, receiving only a common school education. When young he served a three year apprenticement, learning the wagon makers trade and also worked in a machine shop. He helped to build one of the first wheat separators put out by Mr. David Nichols (later of the firm of Nichols and Shepherd).

Abner Oakes Green, private, Co. C 4th New York Heavy Artillery, Union Soldier, Civil War

When Uncle Sam called for volunteers he was one of the first in his town to offer his services and enlisted as a private in Co. C fourth N.Y. Heavy Artillery in September 1861 and served till the close of the war. He was married to Augusta Smith 26 December 1866 and to this union was born three children: Julia Green (1867 – ?), Milton A. Green (1869 – 1936) and Charles R. Green (1871-1888). Augusta was born in 1838 in New York and died June 22, 1876.

After his first wife Augusta died, Abner married Marion Dearborn Root in Paw Paw, Van Buren, Michigan on 07 November 1880.  Marion Dearborn Root was born 28 Jan 1861 in Oshtemo, Kalamazoo, Michigan.  To this union was born six more children: my husband’s 3rd great-grandfather Fred Ozro Green (1882 – 1961), Stephen Zit Green (1885 – 1970), Joe Green (1887 – 1887), Rachel Nell Green (1888 – 1973), Frances May Green (1891 – 1958), John Louis Green (1893 – 1972).

Death separated the two when Abner Oakes Green passed away on 31 May 1907 in Kendall, Pine Grove Township, Van Buren County, Michigan.  He is buried in the Kendall Cemetery with a military headstone indicating his service in the Civil War.

Marion later remarried to John Caleb Forbes on 23 December 1913.  Marion Forbes died on 06 Aug 1941 in Kalamazoo, Michigan.  She is also buried in Kendall Cemetery, Pine Grove Township, Section A, Row 3, Lot 12.

Family Notes

• I have a few hundred pages of pension and medical documents from Abner’s service in the Civil War.  Some day I would like to digitize them and post them for others to see.
• I would like to research the family of Nahum and Dorcus more thoroughly.
• I need to find out when and where Maria Oakes Green died.

Additional Information

Check out my Ancestry Family Tree for Abner Oakes Green.

I manage a public Google Doc on the Green Family Parentage.  There are dozens of source references and debated facts listed, along with the thought process behind the current research.

See the Find A Grave Memorial for Abner Oakes Green, and link to graves of his family members.