Sergeant Saga – Sergeant Saga

Seafarers

Farmers

Merchants

Artisans

Educators

Patriots

We are . . .

W E L C O M E T O T H E S E R G E A N T F A M I L Y W E B S I T E

Beginning with our ancestors who settled in colonial America to the present generation, the Sergeant family legacy has been robust. We are seafarers, farmers, merchants, artisans, landowners, educators, musicians, soldiers, and religious leaders. Over time, family history can become elusive memories, fragmented and distorted. The traditions and stories presented on this website serve to preserve those memories for current and future generations.

Our Legacy

Within all of us are two great contrasting drives: (1) to grow and move on to new and unknown territory and (2) to withdraw or stay where life is secure and protection is assured. These two divergent forces influence many of the important decisions in our lives. Our ancestors seem to have been influenced by both of these motivations… The Luman Sergeants probably discussed the pros and cons of migration at some length before they chose to pull up their roots in Taopi, Minnesota, and take their six children into the unknown territory to the West to transplant them in the virgin soil of the prairies. There must have been an uncontrollable urge to seek a higher and better life for themselves and their children. Excerpt from A Sergeant Saga

Our Family Lineage

Howard Lafayette Sergeant and Clara Emma Robertson were married on April 17, 1887, in Juniata, Nebraska. They had ten children in 20 years. Howard died on January 13, 1945, in Juniata, Nebraska, at the age of 79 and was buried at the Juniata Cemetery. Clara died on August 29, 1964, in Juniata, Nebraska, at the age of 95 and was buried at the Juniata Cemetery.

Luman DeWitt Clinton Sergeant and Marie Antoinette Anjer were married on March 10, 1859, probably in Wisconsin. They had ten children in 24 years. Luman died on January 23, 1906, in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 69 and was buried at the Angelus Rosedale Cemetery in Los Angeles, California. Marie died on February 13, 1929, in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 89 and was buried at the Angelus Rosedale Cemetery in Los Angeles, California. Luman and Marie were the parents of Howard Lafayette Sergeant.

William Samuel Sergeant and Sally Lucinda Fish were married on September 19, 1822, in New York. They had eight children in 17 years. Sally died on June 22, 1864, in Wisconsin at the age of 62. Her burial location is unknown. William then married Ruth (Wheelock) Anjer in October 1865 in Wisconsin. Ruth died on September 2, 1873, at the age of 75. Her burial location is unknown. William died on November 3, 1885, in Juniata, Nebraska, at the age of 85 and was buried at the Juniata Cemetery. William and Sally were the parents of Luman DeWitt Clinton Sergeant.

Samuel George Sergeant and Catherine Marvin were married about 1799. They had six children in 13 years. Catherine died on October 3, 1834, at about age 60 and was buried at Riverside Cemetery, South New Berlin, New York. Samuel died on February 23, 1841, at the age of 70 and was buried at Riverside Cemetery, South New Berlin, New York. Samuel and Catherine were the parents of William Samuel Sergeant.

Samuel Sergeant and Bethany Smalledge were married on September 19, 1765, in Boston, Massachusetts. They had three children in four years: Sarah (Sally), Samuel, and Thomas. Some accounts suggest Samuel drowned in Boston Harbor as a young man, but no substantive evidence of that occurrence has been discovered. Bethany was listed on her son Thomas’ baptism record in 1779, but we have not found any documents to show when or where she died. Samuel and Bethany were the parents of Samuel George Sergeant.

Our Research

As we reflected on the information in A Sergeant Saga, published in 1979, it became intriguing to further explore our family’s legacy.

Our quest begins with the generation of the grandchildren of Howard Lafayette Sergeant and Clara Emma Sergeant.

Through our research, new information has been discovered that was unknown or unavailable when A Sergeant Saga was published.

Our Family Tree

In 2019 a Sergeant family tree was created through research by Clarys Ann Sergeant Boyle and Ron Smith, and design by Douglas Leon Boyle, and shared with family members. This endeavor was an important step forward in collecting and organizing our family history as it assembled and presented birth, death and occupation data, both contemporary and historic, for over 400 family members. The information is inclusive to the present generation of Sergeant descendants and is important to include here.

2019 Family Tree

Stephen Sergeant Niles has been researching his family genealogy for 40 plus years. He has created a wonderful resource for his family tree and our Sergeant lineage, including the 11 generations of descendants of Thomas Sergeant (1661-1711). That resource includes details about the descendants of Samuel George Sergeant (1768-1841) and his brother Thomas Sergeant (1771-1835). Stephen’s efforts have been invaluable in our continued research of the Sergeant family history.

Niles Research

Inspired by the 2019 collaboration, the Stephen Niles analysis, and additional research, an updated portrayal of our family history has emerged. Beginning with the grandchildren of Howard and Clara Sergeant, the new tree associates family members with their verifiable history, highlighting biographical details and places they lived. Please click on the image below to explore our family history in digital format.

Our Legacy

Our Family Lineage

Our Research

Our Family Tree

October 2025