REPORT TO Personal Research File

DATE: 25 August 2019

REPORT TO: Personal Research File – James Cubbage and Barbara Black

SUBJECTS: James and Barbara Cubbage and children

BACKGROUND: This report is a section of a larger research project on the ancestry of William Arthur

Cubbage (1912-1996). Additional research and reports identify the siblings and

parents of William Arthur in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. This report will focus

on his paternal grandparents, James Cubbage and Barbara Black of Butler County,

Pennsylvania.

James Cubbage was born in Allegheny County on or about 2 August 1829 to John

Cubbage and Mary Stoup.1 Barbara Black was born in Butler County about May of

1834.2 It is likely that James and Barbara became acquainted in Buffalo Township,

where they were both enumerated a few households apart in 1850.3 Additionally,

James’ brother Jacob Cubbage married Barbara’s sister Jane Black.4

OBJECTIVE: Analysis of the census and land records of James Cubbage (1829-1906) and Barbara

Black (1834-1907) from their marriage in 1852 through their deaths.

LIMITATIONS: Research in 19th century rural Pennsylvania poses several challenges, including the

lack of vital records.5 James and Barbara left very few records during their lifetime.

The distance of Butler County from the researcher restricts access to online records.

The scope of this project is limited to the Cubbage Family in Butler County from

1852-1907.

REPOSITORIES: Butler County Courthouse, Butler, Pennsylvania

Online genealogical services, such as Ancestry, FamilySearch, Fold3.com,

Newspapers.com, Archive.org

1 Pennsylvania Department of Health, death certificate no. 13513 (1906), James Cubbage; Bureau of Vital

Statistics, New Castle. 2 Pennsylvania Department of Health, death certificate no. 11927 (1907), Barbara Cubbage; Bureau of Vital

Statistics, New Castle. 3 1850 U.S. census, Butler County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Buffalo Township, p. 22 (stamped),

dwelling 308, family 310, John Black household; digital image, Ancestry.com (https://ancestry.com : accessed 28

February 2018), citing National Archives microfilm publication M432, roll 760. Also, 1850 U.S. census, Butler

County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Buffalo Township, p. 23 (stamped), dwelling 323, family 325, John

Cubbage household; digital image, Ancestry.com (https://ancestry.com : accessed 28 February 2018), citing National

Archives microfilm publication M432, roll 760. 4 Butler County, Pennsylvania, Probate file B-120, will of John Black (1851); Register of Wills, Butler;

consulted as “Pennsylvania, Probate Records, 1863-1994,” digital images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org :

accessed 22 March 2018), Butler > Probate files B106-B250 > images 904-23 of 2281. 5 Roger D. Joslyn, “Pennsylvania,” in Alice Eichholz, editor, Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County and

Town Sources, 3rd ed. (Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 2004), 566.

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS: James Cubbage and Barbara Black married in October of 1852. Their union

produced nine children, seven of whom lived to adulthood. James and Barbara lived in rural Butler

County, Pennsylvania and spent the majority of their married years in Penn Township. James and his

brother Jacob Cubbage were the only heads of households with the Cubbage surname in Butler County

during this time period. There are some slight discrepancies in James and Barbara’s reported ages, but this

is likely due to memory or errors. James’s death certificate reported him as a carpenter, and he was

enumerated as a farm laborer for most of his life. Barbara was known fondly in their community, which

possibly supported the Cubbage family and their children. They owned a small tract of land and both died

intestate.

RESEARCH NOTES/DETAILED FINDINGS:

CENSUS RECORDS

1860 U.S. Census, Cubbage household, Clinton Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania6

Enumerated as James Cabbage [Cubbage] in Clinton Township, “Ridles Cross Roads” Post Office. The

Cubbage family, all born in Pennsylvania, included:

• James, age 32, farm laborer

• Barbara, age 25

• Sarah, age 5

• George, age 3

See ATTACHMENT A. This is the first census record after the marriage of James and Barbara. According

to the birthdates found in the Cubbage Family Bible, Barbara would have been about eight months

pregnant with son John R., who was born in September 1860. Most of the neighboring households

reported real and personal estate values, yet it was blank for James. This may give an indication of the

financial status of the Cubbage family, as well as indication that they did not own any property at this

time.

1870 U.S. Census, Cubbage household, Penn Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania7

Enumerated as James Copiage [Cubbage] in Penn Township, “Butler Pa” Post Office. The Cubbage

family, all born in Pennsylvania, included:

• James, age 40, laborer, father of foreign birth

• Barbary, age 35, keeping house

• Sarah, age 15, at home, attended school within the year

• George, age 13, attended school within the year

• John, age 10

• Jacob, age 7, attended school within the year

• James, age 5

• Mary, age 2

• William, age 3/12

6 1860 U.S. census, Butler County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Clinton Township, p. 266 (stamped), p.

61 (penned), dwelling 436, family 413, James “Cabbage” [Cubbage]; digital image, Ancestry.com

(https://ancestry.com : accessed 28 February 2018), citing National Archives microfilm publication M653, roll 1086. 7 1870 U.S. census, Butler County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Penn Township, p. 402B (stamped), p. 15

(penned), dwelling 115, family 115, James “Copige” [Cubbage]; digital image, Ancestry.com

(http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 19 March 2018), citing NARA microfilm publication M593, roll 1316.

See ATTACHMENT B. The ages of the children remain consistent with the birthdates found in the Family

Bible. Three of the children attended school. It is unknown why John would not have attended school, or

if it was an error. As in the prior census, James reported no real and personal estate values, and likely

did not own any property.

John Cubbage was enumerated a second time with another family:

• John Cubbage, age 9, in the William Hegenbotham [Higgenbotham] household in Jefferson

Township.8

It is unknown as to why John was enumerated with this family. William Higgenbotham was a farmer with

two young children, and it is possible that John was working as a farmhand or in some other capacity.

Another possibility is that they took him in to help James and Barbara, who had just had their seventh

child.


Enumerated as James Cubbage in Penn Township. The Cubbage family, all born in Pennsylvania and all

able to read and write, included:

• James, age 47, laborer, pain in [unclear], father born in Ireland

• Barbara, age 44, wife, keeping house

• Sarah, age 25, daughter, servant

• George N., age 22, son, carpenter [carpenter], 6 months unemployed

• Jacob E., age 17, son, laborer

• James L., age 14, son, laborer, attended school within the year

• Mary A., age 11, daughter, at home, attended school within the year

• William H., age 9, son, attended school within the year

• Charls, age 6, son, attended school within the year

See ATTACHMENT C. The ages of the children remain consistent with the birthdates found in the Family

Bible. Son John R., about age 20, was not enumerated with the Cubbage Family. This census enumeration

did not record real and personal estate values, providing no information on James’ financial status, nor

noting their land (see LAND RECORDS). James reported some pain and son George was unemployed for

six months. The younger children had still attended school. Township maps show schools houses near the

Cubbage household (see ATTACHMENT D).

Several of the Cubbage children were found enumerated in a second household in 1880:

• Sarah, age 25, servant in the John R. Logan household in Middlesex Township10

8 1870 U.S. census, Butler County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Jefferson Township, p. 294A (stamped),

p. 27 (penned), dwelling 200, family 200, John Cubbage in Wm. “Hegenbotham” [Higgenbotham] household;

digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 19 March 2018), citing NARA microfilm

publication M593, roll 1316. 9 1880 U.S. census, Butler County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Penn Township, Enumeration District

(ED) 52, p. 413B (stamped), p. 10 (penned), dwelling 80, family 84, James Cubbage; digital image, Ancestry.com

(http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 19 March 2018), citing NARA microfilm publication T9, roll 1109. 10 1880 U.S. census, Butler County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Middlesex Township, Enumeration

District (ED) 46, p. 326D (stamped), p. 12 (penned), dwelling 101, family 104, Sarah Cubbage in John R. Logan

household; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 19 March 2018), citing NARA

microfilm publication T9, roll 1109.

• Jacob, age 16, “hired,” laborer in the James Miller household in Middlesex Township11

• Wm age 9, “adopted son” in the John Puff household in Jefferson Township12

John R. Cubbage, who was not enumerated with the Cubbage Family, was also with another

family:

• John Cubbig [Cubbage], age 19, laborer, farmhand in the Erastus Logan household in Penn

Township13

It appears that several of the Cubbage children were working, and possibly living, with neighboring

families in 1880. It is unknown as to why they were enumerated in both households. It seems very possible

that Sarah, John and even Jacob were old enough to be working for other families or farms. William was

only 9 years old and enumerated as an “adopted son” which may suggest that the Puff family was

helping the Cubbage family. The relationship with the Puffs, Millers and Logans is unknown at this time.

Note: the children were in Penn, Middlesex and Jefferson Townships which may appear to be distant, but

Township maps show that these families lived near the border of those municipalities (see ATTACHMENT

D).


Enumerated as James Cubbage in Penn Township. The Cubbage household, all born in Pennsylvania and

all able to read and write, included:

• James, head, age 70, born August 1829, married 48 years, father born in Ireland

• Barbara, wife, age 66, born May 1834, married 48 years, 9 children, 7 living

• Sarah, daughter, age 45, born March 1855,

• James L., son, age 34, born October 1868, carpenter, employed 6 months

The Cubbages lived in a house and not on a farm, which was owned “free” (not mortgaged).

See ATTACHMENT E. No occupations were recorded for James, Barbara and Sarah indicating that James

L. may have been the sole supporter of the family. Sarah had been working as a servant in the Logan

household, but the head, John Logan, died in 1899 and it is unknown if Sarah continued to work for the

family.15 This census provides some additional information about the birth month and year for James and

Barbara. Other details are consistent with those found in family records such as birthdates of Sarah and

James L., and that 7 of the 9 children were living. In addition, James and Barbara’s 48 years of marriage

is consistent with October 1852 marriage date.

11 1880 U.S. census, Butler County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Middlesex Township, Enumeration

District (ED) 46, p. 326C (stamped), p. 11 (penned), dwelling 91, family 94, Jacob Cubbage in James Miller


microfilm publication T9, roll 1109. 12 1880 U.S. census, Butler County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Jefferson Township, Enumeration District

(ED) 44, p. 294B (stamped), p. 6 (penned), dwelling 46, family 46, Wm Cubbage in John Puff household; digital image,

Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 19 March 2018), citing NARA microfilm publication T9, roll 1109. 13 1880 U.S. census, Butler County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Penn Township, Enumeration District

(ED) 52, p. 413A (stamped), p. 9 (penned), dwelling 76, family 80, John “Cubbig” [Cubbage] in Erastus Logan


microfilm publication T9, roll 1109. 14 1900 U.S. census, Butler County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Penn Township, enumeration district (ED)

87, p. 229-A (stamped), sheet 7, dwelling 134, James Cubbage; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com

: accessed 18 March 2018); citing National Archives microfilm publication T623, roll 1387. 15 “Middlesex Twp.,” The Butler Citizen (Butler, Pennsylvania), 6 April 1899, p. 2, col. 3; digital image,

Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 15 August 2019).

LAND RECORDS

1853 Deed, John Black heirs to Thomas Harbison, Buffalo Township16

On 8 March 1853, the heirs of John Black, named Catherine Ann Huey, John Black and wife, Margaret

Peters, Jane Cubbage, Daniel Black, Elizabeth [Black], James Cubbage and Barbara Cubbage, conveyed

to Thomas Harbison 3 acres, 60 perches of land in Buffalo Township for $70.

See ATTACHMENT F. James and Barbara had only been married about five months at this time and were

probably living in Buffalo Township. If the heirs were to split the sale, each would have received $10.

James signed the deed, but Barbara signed with her mark.

1855 Deed, John Black and James Cubbage to Thomas Harbison, Buffalo Township17

On 3 April 1855, John and Mary Black, and James and Barbara Cubbage, both of Buffalo Township,

conveyed to Thomas Harbison 13 acres, 42 perches of land in Buffalo Township for $260. This land had

belonged to John Black [senior].

See ATTACHMENT G. This deed does not specifically note that John Black and Barbara Cubbage were

heirs of deceased landowner John Black. In his will, John Black bequeathed his son John Black thirteen

acres of land, stipulating that if John moved away, daughter Barbaray was to get the land.18 It is

unknown if Barbara split the proceeds of the sale with John or kept the money outright. Barbara Cubbage

did sign this deed.

1873 Deed, James Bartley to Barbara Cubbage, Penn Township19

On 28 April 1873, James Bartley of Penn Township conveyed to Barbara Cubbage, also of Penn

Township, two acres of land for $232. This bordered the lands of James Bartley, William Phillips, and

John Brown, and was part of Bartley’s larger tract in Penn Township.

See ATTACHMENT H This is the only land that James and Barbara owned during their lives as a married

couple. It is unknown as to why Barbara purchased this land in her name and without James. At this time

Barbara would have been about five months pregnant with her ninth child, Charles. A few years earlier in

the 1870 census, the Cubbage family was in Penn Township, just a few households from William Phillips

and may have already been living in the area. Butler County maps illustrate this tract being a small

corner of what was James Bartley’s larger tract. See ATTACHMENT I. No record of James owning land in

Butler County has been located.20

1907 Deeds of Agreement, Barbara Cubbage and James L Cubbage, Penn Township21

On 22 September 1906, Barbara Cubbage and son James L. Cubbage wrote out two agreements. In the

first, Barbara conveyed her two-acre parcel of land, plus all of her personal property to James L. for one

dollar. In the second, James agreed to provide for and support Barbara, pay her legal debts, and provide a

decent burial as well as a residence on the premises as long as she lived. These agreements were recorded

at the courthouse on 16 February 1907.

16 Butler County, Pennsylvania, Deed Book T: 686-7, John Black heirs to Thomas Harbison, 8 March 1853;

Recorder of Deeds, Butler. 17 Butler County, Pennsylvania, Deed Book V: 648-49, John Black and James Cubbage to Thomas Harbison, 3

April 1855. 18 Butler County, Pennsylvania, Probate file B-120, will of John Black (1851). 19 Butler County, Pennsylvania, Deed Book 36: 150-151, James Bartley and wife to Barbara Cubbage, 28 April 1873. 20 Butler County, Pennsylvania, Deed Books, Grantee Indexes, 1800-1925, Vol. C, Given Names A-J, and

Grantor Indexes, 1800-1925, Vol. C, Given Names A-J; Recorder of Deeds, Butler. No deeds for James Cubbage

between 1800 and 1925. 21 Butler County, Pennsylvania, Deed Book 246: 155, Barbara Cubbage to James Cubbage, 16 February 1907.

See ATTACHMENT J. These agreements were made about seven months after James died, but not filed

until about a week after Barbara died. At this time, all of James and Barbara’s daughters had died, and

all of the sons, except for James L., had left Butler County.22 This is consistent with the family tradition

that James and Barbara only had a small piece of land and not enough work for all of their children, and

that only James L. was able to stay on the property while the brothers left to find work as carpenters or in

the steel industry.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH:

As noted in various places above, further research is needed in several areas:

• Butler County Tax Assessment Records – view Clinton, Middlesex, and Penn Townships for the

years 1850-1910 to gather tax information for James and Barbara, and correlate with other

records to estimate when the family moved to each new location.

• FAN Network – research the Logan, Puff, Miller, and Higgenbotham families to determine any

connections between the families that may have led to them taking in the Cubbage children.

• Churches – determine if any records exist regarding baptisms, marriage, deaths, membership, etc.

• School Records – determine if any school records from this time period exist.

• Court Records – although it may not be likely, search Butler County Court indexes for any

proceedings involving the Cubbage family.

LIST OF ATTACHMENTS:

A. 1860 U.S Census

B. 1870 U.S Census

C. 1880 U.S Census

D. 1874 Butler County Township Maps

E. 1900 U.S Census

F. 1853 Deed

G. 1855 Deed

H. 1873 Deed

I. Butler County Map, Lot #270-2F73-43A

J. 1906 Deed Agreement

22 “In Memoriam – Barbara Cubbage,” obituary from unidentified newspaper, ca. 1907. Privately held by the

researcher.

ATTACHMENT A: 1860 CENSUS23

23 1860 U.S. census, Butler County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Clinton Township, p. 266 (stamped), p. 61

(penned), dwelling 436, family 413, James “Cabbage” [Cubbage]; digital image, Ancestry.com (https://ancestry.com

: accessed 28 February 2018), citing National Archives microfilm publication M653, roll 1086.

ATTACHMENT B: 1870 CENSUS24

Cubbage Family

24 1870 U.S. census, Butler County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Penn Township, p. 402B (stamped), p. 15

(penned), dwelling 115, family 115, James “Copige” [Cubbage]; digital image, Ancestry.com

(http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 19 March 2018), citing NARA microfilm publication M593, roll 1316.

ATTACHMENT B: 1870 CENSUS – CONTINUED

Cubbage Family continued

John Cubbage in Higgenbotham household25

25 1870 U.S. census, Butler County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Jefferson Township, p. 294A (stamped), p.

27 (penned), dwelling 200, family 200, John Cubbage in Wm. “Hegenbotham” [Higgenbotham] household; digital

image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 19 March 2018), citing NARA microfilm publication

M593, roll 1316.

ATTACHMENT C: 1880 CENSUS26

26 1880 U.S. census, Butler County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Penn Township, Enumeration District (ED)

52, p. 413B (stamped), p. 10 (penned), dwelling 80, family 84, James Cubbage; digital image, Ancestry.com

(http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 19 March 2018), citing NARA microfilm publication T9, roll 1109.

ATTACHMENT C: 1880 CENSUS – CONTINUED

Sarah Cubbage in Logan household, Middlesex Township27

John Cubbage in Logan household, Penn Township28

William Cubbage in Puff household, Jefferson Township29

Jacob Cubbage in Miller household, Middlesex Township30

27 1880 U.S. census, Butler County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Middlesex Township, Enumeration District

(ED) 46, p. 326D (stamped), p. 12 (penned), dwelling 101, family 104, Sarah Cubbage in John R. Logan household;

digital image, Ancestry.com. 28 1880 U.S. census, Butler County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Penn Township, Enumeration District (ED)

52, p. 413A (stamped), p. 9 (penned), dwelling 76, family 80, John “Cubbig” [Cubbage] in Erastus Logan

household; digital image, Ancestry.com. 29 1880 U.S. census, Butler County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Penn Township, Enumeration District (ED)

44, p. 294B (stamped), p. 6 (penned), dwelling 46, family 46, Wm Cubbage in John Puff household; digital image,

Ancestry.com. 30 1880 U.S. census, Butler County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Middlesex Township, Enumeration District

(ED) 46, p. 326C (stamped), p. 11 (penned), dwelling 91, family 94, Jacob Cubbage in James Miller household;

digital image, Ancestry.com.

ATTACHMENT D: 1874 BUTLER COUNTY TOWNSHIP MAPS31

Neighboring township maps; see next page for close-up of Cubbage neighborhood.

31Atlas of the County of Butler, and the state of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia: G.M Hopkins & Co., 1874); digital

images, Butler County PAGenWeb (https:// https://sites.rootsweb.com/~pabutler/1895/maps1874/1874maps.htm :

accessed 19 August 2019).

ATTACHMENT D: 1874 BUTLER COUNTY TOWNSHIP MAPS – CONTINUED

red = landowners

green = church/cemetery

blue = schools

ATTACHMENT E: 1900 CENSUS32

32 1900 U.S. census, Butler County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Penn Township, enumeration district (ED)

87, p. 229-A (stamped), sheet 7, dwelling 134, James Cubbage; digital image, Ancestry.com

(http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 18 March 2018); citing National Archives microfilm publication T623, roll

1387.

ATTACHMENT F: 1853 DEED, BLACK HEIRS TO HARBISON33

33 Butler County, Pennsylvania, Deed Book T: 686-7, John Black heirs to Thomas Harbison, 8 March 1853;

Recorder of Deeds, Butler.

ATTACHMENT G: 1855 DEED, BLACK AND CUBBAGE TO HARBISON34

34 Butler County, Pennsylvania, Deed Book V: 648-49, John Black and Barbara Cubbage to Thomas Harbison, 3

April 1855.

ATTACHMENT H: 1873 DEED, BARTLEY TO CUBBAGE35

35 Butler County, Pennsylvania, Deed Book 36: 150-151, James Bartley and wife to Barbara Cubbage, 28 April

1873.

ATTACHMENT I: BUTLER COUNTY PARCEL MAP36

Butler County parecel 270-2F73-43A, Penn Township.

36 Pennsylvania, Butler County, Webmap Viewer (https://maps.co.butler.pa.us : accessed 20 August 2019).

ATTACHMENT J: 1907 DEED, CUBBAGE AGREEMENT37

37 Butler County, Pennsylvania, Deed Book 246: 155, Barbara Cubbage to James Cubbage, 16 February 1907.

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