Ruth Jane Turley

RUTH JANE GILES by Mary Ann Clements

Ruth Jane Giles was born 29 June 1812 in Marblehead, Essex County, Massachusetts. No birth records exist for her, though LDS church membership records identify her parents as Samuel and Elizabeth Giles. Based on recent research, Ruth appears to be the youngest child of Samuel Giles (1763-1838) and Elizabeth Reith (1765-1840) of Marblehead, Massachusetts.

At least two other Samuel Giles of the same time period have been mistakenly attached to Ruth Jane Giles in the New Family Search. The first is Samuel Giles (1787-1867) of Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, Canada, who married Elizabeth Otto (abt 1790-). This Samuel Giles lived and died in Nova Scotia and all of his children were born in NovaScotia; he does not appear to be the father of our Ruth Jane Giles.

The second Samuel Giles (1777-) lived in Essex County, Massachusetts. He married Margaret Davis-Norwood (1790-1854) in 1811 in Gloucester and all of their children were born in the towns of Gloucester and Rockport in Essex County. Again, the location (NOT Marblehead) and the wife's name (NOT Elizabeth) does not support the case for Ruth's parentage.

Another incorrect parent is Elizabeth/Betsy Wadleigh who sometimes appears to be the mother of Ruth Jane Giles. Elizabeth/Betsy Wadleigh (1791-1875) of Salisbury, Essex County, Massachusetts, was actually married to Samuel Hoyt (1788-1841) in 1811. All of their children were born in the towns of Salisbury or Amesbury in Essex County, Massachusetts. Many of Samuel Hoyt's records had been mistakenly combined with Samuel Giles in the New Family Search. Given the date of the Wadleigh- Hoyt marriage (1811), it is unlikely that Elizabeth/Betsy Wadleigh is the mother of Ruth Jane Giles (b. 1812).

Samuel Giles (1763-1838) married Elizabeth Reith (1765-1840) on 13 June 1784 in Marblehead, Essex, Massachusetts. According to Marblehead birth records they had at least ten children born there between 1785 and 1807. Samuel Giles appears as head of household in the 1800,1810, 1820, and 1830 censuses in Marblehead. A female under the age of ten is listed in his household in the 1820 census, and this appears to be Ruth (no other known children in that family match the individual).

Joseph Soll Turley (Ruth's grandson) told in his 1971 letter to the descendants of Theodore Turley that Ruth descended from "a long line of ship captains." Ruth's father, Samuel Giles (1763-1838), was described as "one of the many heroic privateers for whom the town of Marblehead was noted in the second great contest between the United States and Great Britain." (History of Essex County, Massachusetts: with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men by Duane Hamilton Hurd; 1888; Vol. 2 Pt. 1, p. 1127).

Another history book tells of Samuel's exploits during the Revolutionary War (The history and traditions of Marblehead by Samuel Roads; 1880; p. 197-198): "SAMUEL GILES sailed in 1778, with Captain Stiles, in the schooner Swan. They went to Baltimore in the State service and carried a load of flour. On their return they were captured by a British vessel on George's, and carried to Halifax.

After his release, he sailed on four cruises in the brig Tiger, during which eighteen prizes were taken. His next cruise was in the ship Jack, of eighteen guns, Captain Brown. After being out a short time they took five prizes. During another cruise with Capt. T. Collyer, in a ship of eighteen guns, a large ship loaded with provisions was captured. Giles subsequently sailed one cruise in the ship-of-war Thorn, during which four prizes were captured.

He was afterwards on board the ship Jason. A short time after sailing, this ship fell in with and captured a British privateer brig of twenty guns, after an action of two hours. The captain, one of the lieutenants, and several sailors of the British brig, were killed. The Jason had seven men killed. The prize was dismantled and sent ashore. They soon after took another prize, which was sent in.

"After this, Mr. Giles sailed in the ship Henry, which, after taking several prizes, was captured by a British ship. The crew were sent to New York and put on board the frigate Balfour, in which they were carried to Jamaica and imprisoned. Giles finally succeeded in escaping, and shipped on board a vessel bound for New York, where he arrived after peace had been declared. He returned to Marblehead about 1783."