On June 18, 1828, Silas Moor Garland was granted his request to officially change his name to Silas Moor. His wife, Hannah Moor Garland, Jeremiah Garland, and Martha Garland, also had their petition to change their surnames to Moor granted. There is no recorded reason as to why the Garland family of Windham had requested to change their surname to that of the family matriarch, Hannah. Hannah Moor, or Moore, was born on November 30, 1767 and died on October 10, 1832 at the age of 65. Not much is recorded about the details of Hannah's life. It is unknown when she married Silas Garland, or where he resided prior to the time he moved to Windham. It is possible that he had assumed the surname of his wife as part of his name after their marriage. He was a yeoman, working his farm to feed and support himself and his family; not unlike many of Windham's early settlers.
When Garland purchased land from Jesse Crowell in 1814, he is recorded as being a resident of Windham. It is likely that he had been living on the property of the Moor's prior to that. The land he purchased was abutted by land owned by the Moor family. In 1816 Garland purchased land formerly owned by Samuel Cochran. He evidently was a modestly successful farmer because he expanded his property on several more occasions, just a couple years prior to his name change. His last purchase of land in Windham was registered in 1826, and there is no record of him ever selling the land, so it likely remained in the family. It is unknown if he remained in Windham following his name change.
Together the Garlands had at least one child, Deacon Silas Moore. Deacon Moore was an elder of the Presbyterian Church, and was well respected in the community. Martha and Jeremiah Garland, were most likely also children of the Garlands. Morrison neglects to mention either of them, or even the elder Silas, in his book. The mystery surrounding the family's change of name will likely never be solved.
When Garland purchased land from Jesse Crowell in 1814, he is recorded as being a resident of Windham. It is likely that he had been living on the property of the Moor's prior to that. The land he purchased was abutted by land owned by the Moor family. In 1816 Garland purchased land formerly owned by Samuel Cochran. He evidently was a modestly successful farmer because he expanded his property on several more occasions, just a couple years prior to his name change. His last purchase of land in Windham was registered in 1826, and there is no record of him ever selling the land, so it likely remained in the family. It is unknown if he remained in Windham following his name change.
Together the Garlands had at least one child, Deacon Silas Moore. Deacon Moore was an elder of the Presbyterian Church, and was well respected in the community. Martha and Jeremiah Garland, were most likely also children of the Garlands. Morrison neglects to mention either of them, or even the elder Silas, in his book. The mystery surrounding the family's change of name will likely never be solved.
1812 note signed by Silas Moor Garlin (note the phonetic spelling of Garland)