Genealogical and Family History of Western New York, Volume I, Part 88

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: New York : Lewis Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 680

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(III) Ebenezer, son of Samuel and Mary (Ensign) Smith, born 1668, at Northampton, Massachusetts, died at Suffield, Connecticut, September 15, 1728. He married, 1693, Sarah, daughter of Thomas Huxley, and widow of James Barlow. He was of Hadley, Massachu- setts, until 1698, then settled in Suffield, Con- necticut. Children: 1. Sarah, born Septem- ber 17, 1694; married John Barker. 2. Doro- thy, born December 21, 1696. 3. Ebenezer, April 12, 1699. 4. Nathaniel, of whom fur- ther. 5. Joanna, born June 8, 1703. 6. Jona- than, August 1, 1705. 7. Dorcas, November 19, 1707. 8. Mary, March 26, 1710, died young. 9. Mary (2), born July 24, 1713, died young.

(IV) Nathaniel, son of Ebenezer and Sarah (Huxley) Smith, was born March 3, 1702, died 1776. He was admitted to the Suffield church February 27, 1725. He married, De- cember 14, 1727, Mercy Smith, of Suffield, Connecticut.

(V) Nathaniel (2), son of Nathaniel (1) and Mercy (Smith ) Smith, was born at Suffield, Connecticut, May 22, 1729; died October 19, 1821, at St. Armand, Canada. He emigrated to Vermont, where he was a resident of the towns of Rupert and Pawlet. He married (first), in

1750, Sarah McCartee; (second), 1779, Sarah, daughter of Dominie or William Douglas, of Shoreham, Vermont, a cadet of the House of Douglas of Lochleven, Scotland (Earls of Morton). ' After the death of his second wife he married a third and fourth time, and was survived by his fourth wife.

(VI) Harvey Douglass, son of Nathaniel and Sarah (Douglas) Smith, was born at Paw- let, Vermont, November 9, 1789; died at Gou- verneur, St. Lawrence county, New York, Sep- tember 28, 1864. He was a merchant, and served several terms in the Vermont legisla- ture. The Smiths were early settlers in Gou- verneur, and of unusual prominence. Harvey D., who came in 1824, was supervisor in 1827- 35-37, member of New York state legislature in 1829, special county judge in 1858, surro- gate of St. Lawrence county 1859. He was town clerk and justice of the peace for thirty- seven years, and a voluminous writer on gene- alogical and historical subjects. He was a man of uncommon force of character, which was duly recognized and honored in the community in which he settled. He married (first), Sep- tember 17, 1812, Harriet, daughter of Rev. James Murdock, of Martinsburg, New York ; (second), January 2, 1822, Mary Haven, daughter of Rev. John B. Preston.

(VII) James Murdock, son of Harvey Douglass and Harriet (Murdock) Smith, was born August 23, 1816, at East Poultney, Rut- land county, Vermont, died November 27, 1899. He was educated in the Gouverneur schools, graduating from the Academy. He began the study of law with Bishop & Thompson, of Granville, Washington county, continuing until 1835, when he went to Albany, New York, and entered the law offices of Edward Living- ston, then district attorney of Albany county. He remained with Mr. Livingston two years as managing clerk, then in 1837 was admitted to the bar as an attorney in the supreme court and solicitor in chancery. In February, 1838, he moved to Buffalo, then a city of small pro- portions, struggling to recover from the great financial distress of 1836, which had fallen with crushing force on the young city. He formed a law partnership with Henry W. Ro- gers and John J. Leonard, which was soon dis- solved by the retirement of Mr. Rogers. Leon- ard and Smith continued a year longer, when Mr. Leonard removed to Detroit. Mr. Smith then associated with James Smith, and so con- tinued until 1840, when the firm dissolved. He

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again entered into partnership with Henry W. of the courts. In all matters of contracts, trusts, of real estate and wills, Mr. Smith was preeminently an authority, and his guiding hand was seen in the disposition of numerous large estates, which from time to time were distributed by generous testators. In 1873, Isaac A. Verplanck, one of the judges of the superior court of Buffalo, died, and Mr. Smith was appointed by the governor and senate to fill the vacancy. In 1874 he was elected his own successor for the full term of fourteen years. Judge Smith ascended the bench with the hearty approval of all classes of citi- zens, even his political opponents congratu- lating themselves that a man so preeminent- ly qualified for judicial position should have been chosen. He brought to the position a vigorous mind, clear perceptions, with a happy faculty of expressing his ideas in strong, terse language, calculated to interest jurors. His large experience and great industry made him an exceptionally strong member of the court, which had in Buffalo a jurisdiction equal to the supreme court of the state. On January Ist, 1887, Judge Smith having reached the constitutional limit of years, was retired from the bench he had adorned, and won the highest encomiums from the bar and litigants. As an evidence of the love and re- spect they bore him, the lawyers of Buffalo in- vited him to a complimentary banquet, at which distinguished men of the city and state ex- pressed their high opinions of him as a man and a jurist. Rogers, who had been for sometime district attorney for Erie county. The firm became noted and prosperous, conducting a very large law business, and one that gave full scope to Mr. Smith's talents and abilities. He was brought prominently before the business men of Buffalo, who soon learned to appreciate his sound legal attainments and his careful, shrewd advice, not only in matters of law but in mat- ters of business and finance. In 1848 the firm again dissolved, Mr. Rogers having been ap- pointed collector of customs for the port of Buffalo. Mr. Smith then associated with Solo- mon G. Haven, who up to that date had been a law partner of Millard Fillmore (later Presi- dent of the United States). The firm of Haven & Smith was a successful one, and had a large and lucrative practice. Mr. Smith made him- self so acceptable to the solid financiers of Buffalo and was so recognized as a man pe- culiarly adapted to banking, and finally became so necessary to certain men of capital, that he was persuaded to give up the law and to take charge of White's bank as its cashier. When a year later the Clinton Bank was started by some of the ablest and soundest men in Buffalo and New York, he became its cashier. The financial disasters of that well-remembered season did not wreck the Clinton Bank as they did many others, but made serious inroads upon its capital, which, however, was made good in the four years following. Then the civil war broke out, financiers were uncertain, money was scarce, and the men who had had Judge Smith was always actively interested in public affairs. Until he went upon the bench he was chairman of the commissioners who built the city hall and county court house, a monument of honest work, and money well and faithfully expended. He was chairman of the citizen's committee for the erection of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, which so beautifully adorns Lafayette Square in Buf- falo. In 1871, as counsel for the executor of the will of Jesse Ketchum he prepared the deed of trust which conveyed to the city of Buffalo the fund of $10,000 designated as the "Jesse Ketchum Memorial Fund," the income being used to provide gold and silver medals to be annually distributed by the trustees of the fund to meritorious scholars of the public schools. Mr. Smith was one of the trustees named in the deed, and for many years was to face the panic of 1857 feared for the future. It was therefore decided to wind up the Clin- ton Bank and pay both depositors and stock- holders in full. This was done, and in 1861 Mr. Smith was again at liberty. John Gan- son who then occupied a very deservedly high position at the bar of New York, and had per- haps the largest practice in Buffalo, sought him as a partner, and on January 1, 1863, the firm of Ganson & Smith was formed. During its existence this firm gained a wide reputation in state and national courts. No lawyers in Buffalo probably ever did a larger or more profitable business, or had a greater success in the management of an exceedingly extended practice. Their advice was sought by individ- uals and corporations, and the calendars of all courts were filled with their cases, while mat- ters of vast importance were conducted to . president of the board. In 1873 Hobart Col- favorable settlement without the intervention

lege conferred upon him the honorary degree

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of Doctor of Laws. Soon after taking up his residence in Buffalo he became a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, and as a vestryman and warden served the church long and well. In 1871 he was appointed chancellor of the Diocese of Western New York, a position he held until his final retirement. He represented the diocese as lay delegate in nearly every triennial general convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church after 1874.

He was a man of marked literary tastes and habits, a warm personal friend of many scholars and men of letters. He was the author of a book of travels published in 1882, entitled "From Buffalo to Vienna," which was well re- ceived. His library of well chosen books was one of his chief sources of delight, and fully bespoke the character of the man. His invest- ments in Buffalo realty brought him handsome returns, which were wisely and liberally used for public purposes, and for the support of charitable, educational and religious objects. No worthy charity was ever refused aid from his purse, while his private pension roll was large and his private charities were numerous. No Buffalonian of his day divided more of his substance with the poor. Genial, kind and aff- able, he won the esteem and hearty good will of his fellow citizens, who sincerely mourned his demise, November 27, 1899.

He married (first), in June, 1840, Martha Washington Bradley, daughter of Elias Brad- ley, of Buffalo. She died in May, 1841, leav- ing a son who survived her but a few months. He married (second), in June, 1845, Margaret Louisa, daughter of John P. Sherwood, of Vernon, Oneida county, New York. Children : I. Margaret L., married Robert P. Wilson, a prominent member of the Erie county bar, who died October 19, 1892, and whom she sur- vives. 2. Philip S., of whom further.

(VIII) Philip Sherwood, only son of Judge James Murdock and Margaret L. (Sherwood) Smith, was born in Buffalo, New York, No- vember 22, 1863. He was educated at the Heathcote School in Buffalo, and after his graduation had prepared to enter Yale College, but was prevented from entering by a serious illness. His studies were completed under private tutors and instruction. He chose the profession of law, and began his legal study with Marshall Clinton and Wilson, his brother- in-law, being one of the members of the firm. He was admitted to the bar in 1887, and continued with his preceptors until the

death of Mr. Wilson, when the firm was dis- solved. He then formed a legal partnership with Charles R. Wilson, and under the firm name of Wilson & Smith, conducted a general law business. Mr. Smith devotes his leisure hours to literary pursuits and pleasures, and has a very large and valuable library, contain- ing many treasures in rare autographs, docu- ments and early printed books. He is a mem- ber of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Buffalo, and takes an active part in church work. He is a member of various scientific and literary societies, and is a fellow of the American Geographical Society, and member of the So- ciety of Colonial Wars.

He married, October 8, 1890, Mary I., daugh- ter of Thomas W. Cushing, a merchant of Buffalo, and his wife, Helen Lydia (Rockwell) Cushing. Children : James Murdock Smith (2), born July 25, 1891; he was educated at the Nichols School, and is now a student at Yale University, class of 1913.

(The Douglas Line).

George, 15th Earl of Morton, born 1662, died 1738, had by his second wife, Frances, daughter of William Adderly, of Halstow, Kent, three sons, of whom the eldest, James, succeeded him as 16th Earl of Morton. This eldest son James was born in 1703, and suc- ceeded his father in the earldom in 1738. From then on the line of Earls of Morton descends from this James, 16th Earl. The second son of George, 15th Earl of Morton, was Robert, who was born about 1708 or 1710, and died in 1745. He died unmarried and without issue. He was a member of Parliament for Orkney, and a colonel in the British army. He was killed at the battle of Fontenoy in 1745. The third son of the 15th Earl of Morton was William, who was born much later than his two brothers, and toward the close of his father's life. This William Douglas was born in 1732; he was brought up on one of his father's large Irish estates, and on the death of his father in 1738, when William was only about six years of age, his older brothers, for some unknown reason, desired to rid them- selves of his presence, and to profit by his ab- sence. It is believed that this desire was very likely due to the wish to deprive him of his share of the inheritance of the Adderly estates in England, which were extensive and rich. His brothers were successful in this, and through the early death of the second brother

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the whole Adderly inheritance came to the eldest brother James.

In 1738, the child William was placed by his brothers on a sailing vessel which journey- ed first to Holland, and afterwards to America, William being taken to Providence, Rhode Island, and placed in school there. An inter- mittent correspondence was kept up for some time with the brothers, and funds were sent to care for William from time to time. A large sum of money in the beginning having been provided for him with the captain of the ship bringing him to America, the balance of which was given to his teachers on arrival here. After some three to five years the funds be- came exhausted and letters from home ceased, also remittances, and the child was obliged to seek employment, first as an apprentice and later on in his own behalf.

He went from Providence to Seekonk, Mas- sachusetts, and from there he moved to New Milford, Connecticut, and afterwards to Shore- ham, Vermont, where he died in 1807. Will- iam Douglas married Mary Warner, born in 1743, died in 1819, daughter of Joseph War- ner, of Boston, Massachusetts. After the death of her first husband, William Douglas, she married one David Cutting. William Douglas and his wife Mary Warner had eleven chil- dren; their oldest child, a daughter, Sarah Douglas, was the second wife of Nathaniel Smith Jr., as stated in the foregoing Smith genealogy, and she became the mother of his youngest son, Harvey Douglas Smith, as stated above, and the grandmother of Hon. James Murdock Smith, the main subject of this sketch.

(The Murdock Line).

John Murdock, of Limerick, Ireland, was a wealthy merchant. He was born about 1620, and lived at or in the neighborhood of Lim- erick. He married Mary Munsen. He was a staunch Jacobite, and became greatly impov- erished by the civil war in Ireland in 1688 to 1690, and lost heavily at the siege and fall of Limerick, after which he was obliged to take refuge in the fortified castle of one of his relatives.

His oldest son, Peter Murdock, was born at Limerick, about 1659. In 1790, after the fall of Limerick and the death of his father, he fled to America and came to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Later he moved to East Hamp- ton, Long Island. Here he married Mary

Fithian, in 1705, and later moved to and died at West Saybrook, Connecticut. He and his wife had several children, of whom the eldest son was John Murdock, born at East Hamp- ton, Long Island, in 1706, and died at West Saybrook, Connecticut, in 1788. This John Murdock, often called Judge Murdock, or Major Murdock, was one of the most promi- nent men in the colony of Connecticut. He was prominent in social, official, church and military circles. He was the wealthiest man in Saybrook. Several times he represented Saybrook in the Connecticut legislature, held prominent positions in the religious organiza- tions of the Congregational church in Con- necticut, and later became judge of the court of common pleas for New London county. He was one of the most eminent lawyers in Connecticut, and during his occupancy of the bench, was possibly the best known jurist in the state. He took a prominent part in mili- tary affairs, was a captain in the Connecticut line in the famous expedition of General Aber- crombie in 1758 against the French under Montcalm, took part in the disastrous cam- paign against Ticonderoga, and for his gallant conduct during the assault on that fortress was promoted to the rank of major. Injuries re- ceived at that time and the effect upon his health prevented a further participation in military affairs after that campaign, and he devoted himself to his legal, religious and other social obligations which were many.

He left a large estate, and died well known, as one of the most prominent men in the then new state of Connecticut. He was twice mar- ried, his first wife being Phebe Sill, of Lyme, Connecticut; she left no surviving children. His second wife was Frances Conklin, of East Hampton, Long Island. They had thirteen children, of whom the youngest son, James Murdock, was born in 1758 and died in 1841. He was a clergyman of the Presbyterian church, and was one of the best known and most respected ministers in Vermont and New York. His principal places of residence and pastorate were at Sandgate, Vermont, and later at Gouverneur, New York. He married Anne Buckingham, daughter of Captain Jo- seph Buckingham, and they had ten children, one of whom, his daughter, Harriet, married as his first wife, Harvey Douglas Smith, above referred to in the Smith genealogy, and became the mother of the Hon. James Murdock Smith, the principal subject of this sketch.

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(The Sherwood Line).

Judge John Parrick Sherwood, father of Mrs. James M. Smith (Margaret Louise Smith), was born in 1789, at Amenia, New York, died at Buffalo, New York, 1872. He was the sec- ond son of Asahel Sherwood, of Amenia, New York, born at Amenia, about 1755, died about 1810. Asahel was the oldest son of John Par- rick Sherwood (commonly known as Parrick Sherwood), who was born in 1730, at New- town, Connecticut, and died at Amenia, New York, about 1785. His wife Abigail died at Amenia in 1790. John Parrick Sherwood, last above named, was the oldest son and sec- ond child of John Sherwood, of Newtown, Connecticut, who was born in 1709, and died in 1783, and. Hanna Parrick, his wife. This last named John Sherwood was a son of Dr. Thomas Sherwood, of Unity, Connecticut, now known as Trumbull, and Abigail Darling, his wife, who was born in 1686, and died in 1727. He was a son of John Sherwood, of Stratford, Connecticut, born about 1650, who died in 1689, which last named John Sherwood was a son of Thomas Sherwood, the first settler of Stratford, Connecticut, who was born in Eng- land in 1610, and died in 1657, in Stratford, where he came about 1639 from Weathersfield, Connecticut.

(The Youngs Line).

Margaret Louise Sherwood, second wife of Judge James M. Smith, was born in 1827, and died in 1887, daughter of Judge John Parrick Sherwood, of Vernon, New York, and his sec- ond wife, Margaret (Youngs) Hopkins, who was born in 1786, and died in 1868, and was the daughter of Calvin Youngs, of Vernon, New York, and widow of Joseph Hopkins.

Calvin Youngs was born in Windsor, Con- necticut, in 1757, and died at Vernon, New York, in 1806. His wife, Eva Vaneps, was born in 1754, and died in 1817. Calvin Youngs, above named, was a son of Seth Youngs, of Torrington, Connecticut, who was born in 1712 and died in 1761, and his wife Hannah, daughter of David Lawrence, of Charlestown, Massachusetts. Seth Youngs was a son of Benjamin Youngs, of Southold, Long Island, who was born in 1679, and died in 1768, which last named Benjamin Youngs was the son of another Benjamin Youngs, of Southold, Long Island, born in 1640, and died in 1697, and this last Benjamin Youngs was a son of Rev. John Youngs, first minister of Southold, Long Is- land, who was born in 1598, in England, and

died in 1672, in Southold. He was the original emigrant ancestor of the family in this coun- try. The Rev. John Youngs, above named, was a son of Rev. Christopher Youngs, of Eng- land, born in 1545, and died in 1626, who was vicar of St. Edmunds, Southold. This last Christopher Youngs, who was a son of Chris- topher Young, vicar of Ashburton, and Erm- yngton, who was born in 1510, and died in 1577. This last named Christopher Young, vicar of Ashburton, was a brother of Thomas Young, Bishop of St. Davids in 1559, and Archbishop of York in 1560, who died in 1568. They were sons of Thomas Young, born in 1475, who was a son of George Young, Ash- burton, Devon, in 1450, who was a son of Johannes Young, of Kenton, Salop, born in 1425, son of Francicus Young, of Kenton, born in 1400, who was a son of Sir William Young, high sheriff of Salop, and died in 1492, son of Philip Young, who was a great grand- son of Galfridus Young, who flourished about I 300.

(The Lawrence Line).

Hannah Lawrence, wife of Seth Youngs, was a daughter of David Lawrence, of Charles- town, Massachusetts, who was born about 1670, and his wife, Sarah Whittemore. David Lawrence was a son of John Lawrence, of Charlestown, born in 1636, and died in 1676, who was a son of John Lawrence, of Norwich, England, born in 1607, died in 1667, and who emigrated in 1635 to Massachusetts.

(The Cushing Line).

Thomas W. Cushing, father of Mrs. Philip S. Smith, of Buffalo, was born in 1837, in East Abington, Massachusetts, now known as Rockland. His wife was Helen Lydia Rock- well. He was a son of Lysander Cushing. born in 1811, at Abington, Massachusetts, and died about 1903 at Hamburg, New York. and his wife Lydia Jenkins Reade. Lysander Cush- ing was a son of John Cushing, of Abington, born 1781, died 1842, who was a son of Ezra Cushing, of Abington, born in 1748, which Ezra Cushing was a son of Josiah Cushing, born in 1715, a grandson of John Cushing, and a great-grandson of another John Cushing. This last John Cushing was born in 1627, and died in 1708. The name of his wife was Sarah Hawks. He was a son of Mathew Cushing, of Hingham, Massachusetts, the emigrant ances- tor of the family in America, who was born about 1595, and emigrated to America in 1638.

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(The Reade Line).

Lydia Jenkins Reade, wife of Lysander Cushing, and paternal grandmother of Mrs. Philip Sherwood Smith, was born in 1814, in Abington, Massachusetts, and was a daughter of Thomas Reade .and Lydia Jenkins. This Thomas Reade was born in Abington in 1786, and was a son of another Thomas Reade, of Abington, born in 1761, and Joanna Shaw, his wife. This Thomas Reade was a son of still another Thomas Reade (three Thomas Reades followed in succession in this line), born in 1732, and Mary Hobart, widow of one White. This last-named Thomas Reade, of Abington, was a son of Daniel Reade, of Abington, who was born in 1704, and Ruth Torrey, his wife. Daniel Reade was a son of Thomas Reade, born in 1671, who was a son of Thomas Reade, of Weymouth, born in 1645, which last-named was a son of William Reade, of Weymouth, the immigrant ancestor of the family in this country, who was born in 1605 in England, and immigrant to America in 1635. He was a son of William Reade and Lucy Henage, a grand- son of Matthew Reade and Alice Ward, and a great-grandson of William Reade and Re- becca Menis; the last-named was a son of Sir William Reade and Ann Menis, which last- named William Reade was a son of William Reade, Doctor of Divinity, born about 1440, who was a son of Edward Reade and Isiod Stanley. Edward Reade was a son of John Reade, mayor of Norwich, about 1388, who was a son of Thomas Reade and Christiana, his wife, daughter of Sir Michael de la Pole, second Earl of Suffolk. This last-named Thomas Reade was a son of Thomas Rede, of Redydale, grandson of Thomas Rede, and great-grandson of Galfrinus Rede, of Redy- dale, who was a great-grandson of Brianus de Rede, of Morpeth, who flourished about 1639.

(The Rockwell Line).

Helen Lydia Rockwell, wife of Thomas W. Cushing, and mother of Mrs. Philip Sherwood Smith, was born in Buffalo, and was a daugh- ter of Simon Denison Rockwell, of Buffalo, born in 1824, who was a son of David Rock- well, of Lebanon, Connecticut, who was born in 1782 and died in 1816. He was a son of Josiah Rockwell, who was born in 1743 and died in 1812. This last was the son of another Josiah Rockwell, born in 1716, died in 1795, who was the son of Daniel Rockwell, of Nor- walk, Connecticut, born in 1689, died in 1746,

who was a son of Samuel Rockwell, and a grandson of William Rockwell, of Dorchester, Massachusetts, born about 1590, in England, and immigrated to America in 1630, where he died in 1640.

The Bensons of Randolph, BENSON New York, are descendants of the Dutch emigrant, Dirck Bensen, whose descendants settled in the val- ley of the Hudson, New York, and in New Jersey, and from there are widely distributed. The spelling has now taken the same form as that of the English family of Benson, but the families are entirely distinct.

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Genealogical and Family History of Western New York, Volume I, Part 88

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918 Publication date: 1912 Publisher: New York : Lewis Historical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 680

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: New York : Lewis Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 680