Searching for Susannah Willson: Brick Walls, Yellow Brick Roads, & Rutland Hill Farm

By Simon Stepney

A woman's name.

Not a gravestone. Not a family Bible. Not an old photograph. Just a name-Susannah-echoing down the centuries. The trail led through a maze of Quaker records, land surveys, probate files and family migrations stretching from colonial New Jersey to Ohio, and finally to the hills of north-central Pennsylvania.

What followed was anything but straightforward.

There were exhilarating discoveries that seemed to solve the mystery overnight, only to collapse beneath the weight of a newly discovered deed. There were months of frustration: families with the same names living only a few miles apart, misleading published histories, and countless moments when the trail appeared to end forever. Brick walls became familiar companions, but every now and then a yellow brick road appeared where none had seemed possible.

Part historical detective story, part personal journey, Searching for Susannah Willson takes you behind the scenes of real genealogical research, where you'll experience the setbacks, surprises and breakthroughs of the investigation.

Piece by piece, forgotten deeds, probate files and Quaker records reconstruct the story of Susannah and her five children, uncovering the true history of the pioneer family whose legacy became Rutland Hill Farm.

Whether you are an experienced genealogist, a family historian, or simply enjoy a good historical mystery, this book shows how one woman's name became the key to restoring a forgotten family-and its place in history.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0HBMTWF5G
• ISBN13: 9798188795825
• Release Date: July 2026
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 178 Pages
• Weight: 0.54 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.0" x 9.0"