USA > New York > Genealogical and family history of central New York : a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the building of a nation, Volume I > Part 76
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(VIII) Howard, senior son of Richard A. and Charlotte (Bailey) Elmer, was born April 2, 1833, in Wawayanda, and died in Waverly, September 9, 1892. He prepared for college at Ridgebury and Goshen academies, but the deli- cate state of his health prohibited his taking up the college course. At the age of seven- teen he went to Waverly, where he soon took a position in the Waverly Bank, and was later connected with the Chemung Canal Bank, El- mira, and the First National Bank of Wa- verly. He was among the founders of the last-mentioned institution, of which he was cashier until 1868, after which time he was president until his death. . \ farsighted busi- ness man, he took a prominent position in the community, and was active in fostering many interests of that section. In association with his brother and others he purchased about one thousand acres of land in the Susquehanna Valley, on which the present city of Sayre, Pennsylvania, is located. The panic of 1873 tended to discourage operations, but he had
abounding faith in the future of the section, which was fully justified by subsequent events. The proprietors secured the location here of the Pennsylvania & New York and Lehigh Valley railroad shops, and also the location of foundries and other industries at Sayre and adjoining village of Athens. Mr. Elmer be- came president and manager of the Sayre Land Company. He was one of the first to conceive the idea of founding a town ; he form- ulated the plans, purchased several farms and platted the village of Sayre, which beautiful and thrifty village owes its birth almost wholly to Howard Elmer. He was also president of the Sayre Water Company and the Cayuta Wheel & Foundry Company. He was also a director of the Pennsylvania & New York, and Geneva, the Ithaca & Sayre Railroad Com- panics, and treasurer of the Buffalo & Geneva Railroad Company. The various industries which he founded brought him ultimately a most satisfactory return, and especially in the development of his landed interests. In 1875- 76 he was receiver of two railroad companies, whose affairs he handled with skill and abil- ity. While Mr. Elmer took the intelligent in- terest which every good citizen feels in the progress of public concerns, he steadfastly r'e- fused to be a candidate for any office. He married, October 10. 1865, Sarah Perry, fourth daughter of George A. and Julia A. (Shepard) Perkins, of Athens, Pennsylvania ( see Perkins ).
(VIII) Richard Allison (2), junior son of Richard Allison (1) and Charlotte (Bailey ) Elmer, was born June 16, 1842, in Wawa- yanda, and died October 1, 1888, in New York City. He was eight years of age when his father removed to Waverly, and his primary education was supplied by the public schools of that town, including the high school. Enter- ing Hamilton College at Clinton, New York, he was graduated in 1864; he subsequently pursued the study of law and was admitted to the bar, but the death of his father changed his plans and he launched into what proved an extraordinarily successful business career. In 1868 he became cashier of the First National Bank of Waverly, succeeding his brother, who at that time became president, and to his far- sighted business capacity must be attributed much of the successful business which that institution handled. Beside being director of the bank, he was interested in many of the in- dustries of Sayre, being a director of the Sayre
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Land Company, the Sayre Water Company and the Cayuta Wheel & Foundry Company. While busily engaged in caring for his exten- sive business interests, he was also active in the social, charitable and political interests of the community, but never himself sought office.
In 1879 he was prominently mentioned as a candidate before the Republican state conven- tion for the nomination for state treasurer, but did not seek or foster this movement. His exceptional executive capacity was, however, known to many people of the state, and upon the accession to the presidency of James A. Garfield, in 1881, many friends of Mr. Elmer suggested to the president his employment in some official capacity. Accordingly he was ap- pointed second assistant postmaster general, and confirmed by the senate May 5, 1881. The star route and steamboat service came under his jurisdiction, and he immediately set about the reformation of many abuses which had grown up in this department of the public service. To the neglect of his own affairs he gave his time, energy and business talent to this work, and after accomplishing the desired end he resigned in February, 1884, in order to give more attention to his own business af- fairs, and retired with the thanks of President Arthur and the postmaster general. During the first year of his service in the postoffice department he accomplished a saving of $1.778,000 to the government, and in each of the succeeding years while he served this re- trenchment exceeded $2,000,000 in amount. As a result of this and other progressive move- ments of the administration, the postoffice de- partment became self-supporting for the first time in thirty years. At the same time, largely through the labors of Mr. Elmer, the rate of postage was reduced from three to two cents. For two years succeeding his resignation Mr. Elmer suffered greatly in health as the result of his close application and tireless labors. About this time he organized the American Surety Company of New York, and became its president, in which capacity he continued to serve until his death. After a rigid examina- tion by the authorities, the plan of this insti- tution was found to be sound and stable, and is has grown to be the leading organization of this class in America and probably in the world. Mr. Elmer became a director of the Wabash, Atlantic & Danville railroad, the Phoenix Insurance Company and various other New York and New England corporations.
He married, June 16, 1870, Sarah Foster France, daughter of J. Foster and Isabella (Sears) France, of Middletown, New York. Children : 1. Robert France, born July 3. 1871 ; married, October 17, 1911, Rachel Rob- inson, of Ferrisburg, Vermont, daughter of Rowland E. and Anna (Stevens) Robinson ; he resides in New York City. 2. Richard Alli- son, born November 10, 1875. 3. Charles Howard, born January 29, 1878; the two last named reside with their mother in New York.
(The Perkins Line).
Peter, being one of the twelve Apostles, his name was a favorite one for centuries among Christians. It assumed the form of Pierre in France, whence it found its way into England and there took the diminutive form of Perkin. This gradually and naturally became Perkins. Many of the name were among the early set- thers of New England, and their descendants have borne honorable part in the development of its modern civilization.
(1) John Perkins was born in Newent, Gloucestershire, England, in 1590. On De- cember 1, 1630, he set sail from Bristol in the "Lyon," William Pierce, master, with his wife (Judith Gater), five children, and about a dozen other companions. They reached Nantasket. February 5. 1631, and settled in Boston. He was the first of that name to come to New England, and was one of the twelve who accompanied John Winthrop Jr. to settle in Ipswich, where he was made free- man May 18, 1631. On April 3, 1632, "it was ordered" by the general court "that noe pson wtsiever shall shoot att fowle upon Pullen Poynte or Noddles Ileland ; but that the sd places shalbe reserved for John Perkins to take fowle with netts." Also, November 7, 1632, John and three others were "appointed by the court to sett downe the bounds betwixte Dorchester and Rocksbury." He at once took a prominent stand among the colonists, and in 1636 and for many years afterward, repre- sented Ipswich in the general high court. In 1645 he was appraiser, and signed the inven tory of the estate of Sarah Dillingham. In 1648-52 he served on the grand jury. In March, 1650, ."being above the age of sixty, he was freed from ordinary training of the court." He made his will ( probate office, Sa- lem, Massachusetts), March 28, 1654, and died a few months later, aged sixty-four. His
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house in Ipswich was near the river, at. the en- trance of Jeffe Neck, on what is now East street. Children : John, born 1614; Thomas, 1616; Elizabeth, 1618; Mary, 1630; Jacob, mentioned below ; Lydia, 1632.
(II) Jacob, third son of John and Judith (Gater) Perkins, was born in England in 1624. He was chosen sergeant of the Ipswich mili- tary company in 1664, and was afterward known as Sergeant Jacob Perkins. By his father's will he came into possession of the homestead and lands upon his mother's death. At this place there is a well still known as "Jacob's Well." He was a farmer, and his name frequently appears in the records of conveyances of farming lands. He died in Ipswich, January 27, 1700, aged seventy-six years. He married (first) Elizabeth (Lovell ?) about 1648, by whom he had nine children. She died February 12, 1685, at about fifty years of age, and Jacob afterward married Damaris Robinson, a widow, who survived him. His house was struck by lightning on a Sunday in 1671, "while many people were gathered there to repeat the sermon, when he and many others were struck down, and had his waistcoat pierced with many small holes, like goose-shot, and was beaten down as if he had been dead for the present." Children : Elizabeth, born April 1, 1649; John, July 3, 1652, died 1718; Judith, July 11, 1655; Mary, May 14, 1658; Jacob, August 3, 1662; Matthew, June 23, 1665; Hannah, October 11, 1670; Joseph, mentioned below ; Jabez, May 15, 1677.
(III) Deacon Joseph Perkins, fourth son of Jacob and Elizabeth Perkins, was born June 21, 1674, in Ipswich, and died September 6, 1726, in Norwich, Connecticut. He removed to Norwich in early life, and with his brother Jabez purchased about one thousand acres of land for seventy pounds. This was in that part of Norwich now the town of Lisbon, and lies in the forks of the Quinebang and She- tucket rivers, and known as "Perkins Crotch." This land continued in the family until about the middle of the nineteenth century. Deacon Perkins was prominent in both town and church affairs and an influential citizen. He married in Norwich, May 22, 1700, Martha Morgan, of Preston, daughter of Joseph and Dorothy Morgan, born 1680, died October, 1754. She married (second), in 1727. Joseph Lathrop. Children of Deacon Joseph Perkins : Elizabeth, born 1701, died 1703; Mary; Dr. Joseph, 1704, died 1794; Martha, 1706: Cap-
tain John, mentioned below; Jerusha, 171I, died 1741; Matthew, August 31, 1713; Deb- orah (twin), 1715; Ann, twin with Deborah, died 1731 ; Hannah, 1717; Simon, 1720, died 1725-26; William, 1722.
(IV) Captain Jolin (2) Perkins, second son of Joseph and Martha ( Morgan) Perkins, was born October 5, 1709, in Norwich, and died there April 16, 1761. On account of his large size he was known as the "Great Perkins." He was possessed of a large property, including 650 acres in the Hanover Society, 347 acres in Windham county, and a partnership inter- est in 358 acres in Canterbury township, be- sides fifteen slaves, blacksmith's and shoe- maker's outfits, and other property. Hle mar- ried ( first ) Elizabeth, daughter of Caleb Bush- nell, of Norwich; (second) Lydia, daughter of Solomon Tracy. Children of first marriage : John, born 1736, and Elizabeth, wife of Jo- seph Woodward. Children of second wife: Lydia, married Nathaniel Bishop; Ruth, un- married : Levi, Civil, Eliphalet, Abijah, a rev- olutionary soldier, died while a prisoner ; Dur- den.
(V) Captain John (3) Perkins, eldest child of Captain John (2) and Elizabeth (Bush- nell) Perkins, was born in 1736, and died in 1800. He was a large landholder, and en- gaged extensively in exporting live stock to the West Indies. A typical Puritan in character, he was very strict in observance of the Sab- bath, and was widely esteemed and respected. He served as a soldier in the revolutionary war and resided in Hanover, Connecticut. He mar- ried, in 1750, Bethia (Baker) Kingsley, a widow, born 1737, died 1820. She was the mother of two Kingsley children, who removed to Ohio. Children by John Perkins: Martha, John (died young), Pollydore, Apollos, John, Elizabeth, Augustus, Anson, Abijah, Philetus, Dyer and two who died in infancy.
(V1) Augustus, son of Captain John (3) and Bethia ( Baker) ( Kingsley ) Perkins, was born in July, 1773, in the present town of Franklin, Connecticut, and died in 1831, at Ithaca, New York. He was extensively engaged in com- merce with the West Indies, and became one of the wealthiest men in Norwich. The war of 1812 damaged his business very greatly, but he continued in it until his death. About 1819 he removed from Norwich to Ithaca, and there continued the remainder of his life. He married (first), September 20, 1795, Lucy, daughter of Felix and Ann ( Perkins) Hunt-
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ington, born February, 1774, in Norwich, died 1822, at Ithaca. He married (second) Re- becca, sister of his first wife, born May 12, 1776, died June 10, 1838, in Ithaca. Children of first wife: John Augustus, George Apollos, Mary Brown, Rebecca Huntington, Isaac Huntington, Edward Henry, Simeon Abijah, Sarah Annc.
(VII) George Apollos, second son of Au- gustus and Lucy (Huntington) Perkins, was born September 18, 1798, in Franklin, and died at Athens, Pennsylvania, July 31, 1884. He was an apothecary in Athens, and was highly esteemed as a man of very fine charac- ter. He married May 1, 1823, Julia Ann Shep- ard, a daughter of John and Ann (Gore) Shepard, the latter a daughter of Judge Oba- dial Gore, who was a soldier in Sullivan's rev- olutionary campaign. Mrs. Julia Ann (Shep- ard) Perkins was author of "Early Times on the Susquehanna," a valuable history of early conditions, and devoted much time to writing for periodicals and magazines, both prose and poetry, all of which show much ability. Children : Lucy Huntington, died aged seven- teen : John Augustus, born February 11, 1826, resided in California : Anna Shepard, Febril- ary 3, 1828, became wife of Dr. E. I. Ford, of Binghamton : George Bushnell, May 26, 1830, lived in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania ; Re- becca Huntington, died aged twenty years ; Isaac Prentice, died in second year: Sarah Perry, mentioned below; Edward Shepard, «lied in his thirty-third year, a soldier in the civil war.
(VIII) Sarah Perry, fourth daughter of George A. and Julia A. (Shepard) Perkins, was born December 6, 1837, in Athens, and married October 10. 1865, Howard Elmer, of Waverly, New York, whom she survives (see Elmer ).
MUNROE The name Munroe is an an- cient clan name, and has been variously spelled Monrow, Munrow, Munroe and Monroe. Donald Mon- roe the founder of the ancient house of Fow- lis, was the son of O'Cathanman, Irish chief, and Prince of Ferranagh. He is supposed to have flourished toward the latter end of the reign of Malcolm II, King of Scots, to whom he rendered material aid in his contests with the Danish invaders. For the service thus rendered Donald received from the hands of his grateful sovereign the lands between Ding-
wall and the river Aneron, or Alnesa water. The lands received the name of Fearann- Damhnuill, anglicized Ferindonaod, that is, "Donald's lands." A portion of them was sub- sequently erected into the barony called the Barony of Fowlis. Donald is supposed to have died about 1053, and to have been succeeded by his son, George Munroe.
(II) George Munroe, son of Donald Mun- roe, or Georgius de Munroe, is said to have assisted Malcom III, "Caann Nor," in his connections with Macbeth for the crown of Scotland, between 1054 and 1057. According to tradition he lived to an advanced age and died about IIOI.
(III) Hugh, son of George Munroe, is the first of the family to be designated Baron of Fowlis. That barony has ever since formed the title and been the chief residence of the head of the house, which for nearly eight hun- dred years has existed in uninterrupted de- scent in the male line, a fact said to be unex- ampled in the annals of Scotland or England, and only paralleled in the succession of the Lords Kingsale, Premier Barons of Ireland. Hugh is said to have increased the family es- tates by the acquisition of the lands of Logie- Wester and Findon, county Ross, of which the Earls of Ross were at that time the superiors. He died about 1126.
(IV) Robert Munroe, Second Baron of Fowlis, was a loyal subject of David I and Malcolm VI., of Scotland. According to family tradition he married Agnes, daughter of Angus Mor Macdonald IV, of the Isles, by a daugh- ter of Sir Colin Campbell, of Glenurchy. This, however, cannot be true, from the fact that Angus Mor, who lived between 1255 and 1300, was not born in Robert's time, or for a cen- tury after, his death having occurred in the latter year. Robert died in 1164, and was in- terred in the Chanonry of Ross, which contin- ted thereafter to be the family burying place for more than four hundred years. He mar- ried and had children.
(V) Donald, son of Robert Munroe, third Baron of the name, is said to have built the old Tower of Fowlis as early as 1154, during the life of his father. He is said to have served under William the Lion, when the lat- ter came to suppress the lawlessness and re- bellion which prevailed in Scotland, in 1179, and to have rendered him material assistance at that time. He married and had children : Robert, his heir and successor; David, from
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whom it is alleged the family of Mackaye, or "Mac Dhaibhidhe," at one time in Tarradale, were descended; Allan, progenitor of the Mac- Allans, of Perindonald. Donald died in 1192, at his Tower of Fowlis, and was buried in the Cathedral church of Chanonry, where the Bishops of Ross had their episcopal seat from prior to 1130 until the Reformation.
(VI) Robert, son of Donald Munroe. fourth Baron of the name, married, between 1194 and 1214, a daughter of Hugh Feeskyn de Moravia. He died in 1239, and was buried in the Chanonry of Ross, leaving among others a son George, who succeeded him. Robert is said to have married a daughter of the Earl of Sutherland.
(VII) George, son of Robert Munroe, was the fifth Baron of the name, and the first of the family of whom there is any authentic historical record. He witnessed a charter by William, Earl of Sutherland, to the Arch- bishop of Moray, dated 1232-7, and had his Rosschiero lands confirmed to him by a char- ter from Alexander II, before 1249 (?). He died about 1269.
(VIII) Robert, son of George Munroe, was the sixth Baron, and was placed under the guardianship of the Baron of Ross and Suth- erland until he attained his majority in 1282. After 1290 Robert joined the party of Bruce, and continued steadfast in his support through- out the varying fortunes of that family. When quite advanced in years he raised his clan and took part in the memorable battle of Ban- nockburn. Here, his eldest and apparently only son, was slain, along with many more of his followers. Robert lived for nine years after his return home, and died in 1323. His son, George, who fell at Bannockburn, had married a year before his death a daughter of the Earl of Sutherland, and had children : George, who succeeded his grandfather ;
John.
(IX) George, grandson of Robert Munroe, and seventh Baron, was a steadfast supporter of the Bruce dynasty, and a firm upholder of the interests of his native country. He was killed at the battle of Halidon Hill, in 1333, while fighting bravely at the head of his clan. He married a daughter of Hugh, Earl of Ross.
(X) Robert, eighth Baron, succeeded his father when he was a mere child. During his minority his estates were carefully managed by his uncle John, who during his guardianship redeemed portions of the ancestral possessions
which had been mortgaged by his ancestors. He is mentioned in various charters, dated 1341, 1362, 1368-72. He married (first) Joan. daughter of Hugh Ross I, of Balnagowan, on record in 1350-66, by his wife Margaret Bar- clay, niece of Queen Euphenia, second wife of Robert II, King of Scotland. By her he had one son, Hugh, his heir and successor. He married (second) Grace, daughter of Sir Adam Forrester, of Corsterphine. Children : Thomas, John, who is mentioned in a charter dated July 22, 1426; John, of whom nothing is known. Robert was killed in a clan fight in 1369, and was succeeded by his eldest son,
(XI) Hugh, son of Robert Munroe, was the ninth Baron. He obtained several charters. dated 1369-70-94. He married (first) Isa- bella, daughter of John Keith, second son of Sir Edward Keith, great marischal of Scot- land by his wife, Marietta, daughter of Sir Reginald Cheyne, of Inverugie. They had one son, George, the heir and successor. He mar- ried ( second) Margaret, daughter of Nicholas ( son of Kenneth, fourth Earl of Sutherland, and brother of William, the fifth Earl) by his wife Mary, daughter of Reginald le Cheyne, and Mary, Lady of Duffus. Children : John, Janet, Elizabeth. Hugh died in 1425, and was succeeded by his eldest son, George.
(XII) George, son of Hugh Munroe, and the tenth Baron, is on record as "George Mun- ro of Fowlis," in charters of the years 1437- 38-39-40-49. He was killed with several mem- bers of his family and many of his followers at the battle of "Beallach-nam-brog," in 1452. He married ( first) Isobel, daughter of Ross of Balnagown, by whom he had a son, George, who was killed with his father at the above- mentioned battle. He married ( second) Christian, daughter of John MacCulloch, of Plaids ; children: John, who succeeded to the estates and chiefship of the clan : Hugh, Wil- liam.
(XIII) Hugh, son of George Munroe, of Fowlis, by his second wife, Christian, was the first of the Munroes of Coul and Balcony. His lands were in the parish of Alness, and he is on record in 1458. He is said to have mar- ried (first) Eva, daughter of Ewen Maclean II. of Urquhart, chief of the "Siel Thear- laich," who subsequently removed to and owned the lands of Dochgarroch. Children : John, his heir and successor ; Hector, Andrew. He married (second) Jane, daughter of Du- gal Cattanach of Craignish. Children: Alex-
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ander, Donald, Robert, George. He married (third) "a daughter of Keith Marschall's," by whom he had one son, John.
(XIV) John, son of the Hugh Munroe des- ignated as "Mr. John Munroe, of Balcony." studied for the church and took his M. A. de- gree at Aberdeen University. In 1492 he was presented to the vicarage of Logie-Urquhard, apparently Logie-Wester and Urquhart, in the Black Isle. In 1551 Queen Mary presented William Munroe, second son of Sir William Munroe, to the chaplainry of Saint Monan, on the lands of Balconie, vacant by the de- cease of "Master John Monro." He married a daughter of Mackenzie Strathconon ; children : John, his heir and successor ; Hugh, William, Andrew, David, Donald.
(XV) John Mor Munroe, son of John Munroe, was the third of Coul and the second of Balconie. He married Katherine, daughter of John Vane, of Lochslinn, by his wife Eliza- beth, daughter of Thomas Urquhart of Cro- marty. Children : John, his heir and successor ; Hugh, Robert, Farquhar, David, Margaret, Catherine. John died about 1660, and was suc- ceeded by his eldest son, John.
(XVI) Farquhar Munroe, son of John Mor Munroe, married Catherine, daughter of Wil- liam MacCulloch of Badcall. Children : John, Robert.
(XVII) Robert. son of Farquhar Munroe, married ; children : Robert, George, William, Sir Benedict, Elizabeth.
(XVIII) William, son of Robert Munroe, was born in 1625, in Scotland, and fought at the battle of Worcester, was taken prisoner and banished by Cromwell from London, No- vember 11, 1651, to Boston, Massachusetts, along with several others. He ultimately set- tled at Lexington, Massachusetts, where he married and became the progenitor of a large family of Munroes. He married (first), about 1665. Martha, daughter of John George, of Charlestown, a prominent Baptist, who was fined, imprisoned and finally ordered out of the town for heresy. Martha died before 1672, and in or about the same year he married (second ) Mary Ball. She died in August, 1603, aged forty-one years, and he married ( third) Elizabeth, widow of Edward Dyer, of Charlestown. She died December 14, 1715, aged seventy-nine years. Children of first wife: John, mentioned below; Martha, born November 3, 1667 ; William, October 10, 1669; George. Children of second wife: Daniel,
August 12, 1673; Hannah, Elizabeth, Mary, June 24, 1678; David, October 6, 1680; Elea- nor, February 24, 1683; Sarah, March 18, 1685; Joseph, August 16, 1687; Benjamin, August 16, 1690.
(XIX) John, son of William Munroe, was born May 10, 1666. He was admitted to the church February 1, 1699. He subscribed to the building fund of the meeting house in 1692, and was on the tax list of 1693. He became a very prominent citizen, serving the town as assessor in 1699, 1714-20; constable in 1700, selectman in 1718-19-26, treasurer 1718-19-20. He held many positions of trust and honor. He was lieutenant of the militia there. He re- ceived a grant of nine hundred acres of land for his services in the battle with the Indians at Lamproy river, June 6, 1690. In addition to his many other offices and duties he was sex- ton of the church and rang the bell for years in the first church in Lexington to call the worshippers to service. His death occurred September 14, 1753. He married Hannah -
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