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 III > Part 8
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senting wide stretches of bleak moorland. Here the clan flourished from 1080 to 1330, and then began to decline. According to the Chronicle of Melrose, the first of the name who immigrated permanently was slain with Malcom III., at Alnwick, in 1093, leaving two sons, John and William. From John all the Cumins in Scotland are said to be descended. Sir John, the Red Cumin of Comyn, was the first Lord of Badenoch, and in 1240 was an ambassador from Alexander II. to Louis IX. of France. Ilis son John, called the Black Lord of Badenoch, was not inferior to any subject in Scotland for wealth and power, and was one of those who vowed to support Queen Margaret, daughter of Alexander III. in her title to the crown of Scotland. At her death he became a competitor for the crown of Scotland, "as a son and heir of John who was son and heir of Donald, King of Scot- land." The son of this Lord, called in turn the Red Cumin, was the last Lord of Bade- noch of the surname of Cumin. In 1335 a number of the Cumin clan were slain in the feudal battle of Calbleau, in Glenwick, where a stone now marks the spot. The badge of the clan, in Gaelic, was "Lus Mhic Cuiminn," in English, the Cummin plant.
(I) Deacon Isaac Cummings is supposed to have come from England to America in 1627, and settled in Salem, Massachusetts. He was the first Cummings known to have immigrated to New England. In a deposition made by him in March, 1666, he gave his age as sixty-five years, establishing his birth in 1601. The probate records of Essex county contain a copy of his last will and testament, dated "8th of 3d Mth., 1667." also inventory filed "This 22 Maye 1667," and his will was probated June 14, 1667, thus establishing his death between "8th of 3d MIth. and Maye 22, 1677;" of his wife we know nothing ex- cept that she died before him, no mention being made of her in his will; he left four children. The first mention in Essex county of Isaac Cummings is in the entry made by the town clerk of Watertown, where his name appears in the records of land grants as re- ceiving a grant of thirty-five acres in the car- liest generation land grants in 1636, called the "Great Dividens." Also we find a record made by the town clerk of Ipswich showing that he owned a planting lot near Reedy Marsh in that town previous to July 25, 1638. On the 9th of the second month, 1639. he
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also owned a house lot in Ipswich village, on the street called the eastern end, next to the lot owned by Rev. Nathaniel Rogers. He was a commoner in 1639, and the same year sold land near the highway leading to Jef- frey's Neck. He also possessed in 1639 a farm partly in Ipswich and partly in Tops- field. He was made a freeman, May 18, 1642, and was a proprietor in Watertown the same year, and at Topsfield afterwards where he was one of thirty commoners. . As an Ips- wich commoner, he was one of those "that have right of commonage there last of the last month, 1641." On the first day of the second month, 1652, Isaac Cummings for thirty pounds bought of Samuel Symonds one hundred and fifty acres of land in Topsfield. Other records in Essex county show that he was defendant in the suit brought by John Fuller, March 28, 1654 ; that he was a witness against William Duglas in March, 1656; that he was sued for debt by Jerobabell Phillips. of Ipswich, March, 1657. That he was plain- tiff in the case, December 31, 1656, against John Fuller for damage done in his corn by swine belonging to said Fuller; and that he was grand juryman in 1675, and moderator of the town meeting in 1676. He was deacon of the church in Topsfield for many years. His children were: John, Isaac, Elizabeth, Ann.
(II) John, eldest child of Deacon Isaac Cummings, was born in 1630, died December I, 1700. By the terms of his father's will he received the homestead consisting of forty acres with house, barns, orchards and fences, and in 1680 sold same to Edward Nealand (Kneeland). About 1658 he removed to Box- ford. In 1673 he was made a freeman. He and his wife were members of the church in Topsfield, December 7, 1685, when the church "voted dismission to John Cummings with- out commendation and dismissed his wife with commendation to the church to be shortly gathered at Dunstable." He removed with his family to Dunstable about 1680, where he was one of the first settlers. He was a select- man in 1682, and a member of the church in 1684. He married Sarah, daughter of Ensign Thomas and Alice (French) Howlett, of Ips- wich. She died December 7, 1700, just six days after the death of her husband. Their children were: John, Thomas, Nathaniel, Sarah, Abraham, Isaac, Ebenezer, William, Eleazer, Benjamin, Samuel.
(III) John (2), eldest son of John (I) and Sarah (Howlett) Cummings, was born in Boxford in 1657, and lived in Dunstable. He married, September 15, 1680, Elizabeth Kinsley, born in Braintree, November 22, 1657, daughter of Samuel and Hannah (Bracket ) Kinsley. They settled on the Na- thaniel Cutler place in the south part of Nashua, where the wife was killed by Indi- ans, July 3, 1706, and he was wounded, hav- ing his arm broken, but escaped to a swamp about half a mile south, and near the present state line, where he remained in hiding over night and then made his escape to the "Fare- well block house." His children were: John. Samuel, Elizabeth, Hannah, Ebenezer, Anna, Lydia, William.
(IV) Deacon John (3) Cummings, eldest child of Jolin (2) and Elizabeth (Kinsley) Cummings, was born July 7. 1682, died April 27, 1759. He was an original member of the church in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, and the first deacon, to which office lie was elected December 3, 1727. He was moderator of the first town meeting, was chosen selectman, and was town clerk in 1736. His farm included the land around Westford railroad station, on both sides of the track, and is now partly oc- cupied by one of his descendants. He mar- ried, October 3, 1705, Elizabeth Adams, of Chelmsford, born April 26, 1680, died April 30, 1759. daughter of Peletialı and Rutlı Adams. Their children were: Elizabeth, Mary, John, William, Thomas, Abigail, Sam- uel, Ephraim, Bridget, Ebenezer.
(V) William, second son of Deacon Jolin (3) and Elizabeth (Adams ) Cummings, was born July 29, 1712, in Chelmsford, and lived in the region known as "One pine hill." There was a long dispute between Hollis and Dunstable as to whether the people residing there should belong to one or the other of the towns, and in 1763 it was added to Hollis Seven of William Cummings' children are recorded in Groton. He was in West Dun- stable precinct in 1744, and was chosen dea- con of the church there in 1745. He was ensign in the company commanded by Cap- tain Peter Powers in the war of 1755. Ilis intention of marriage was published July 12, 1734, to Lucy Colburn, of Dunstable. In 1770 Samuel Tarbell was made guardian over Caleb, son of William Cummings, of Dun- stable, then over fourteen years old, from which it would seem that Caleb belongs
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among his children. Others recorded are: Ebenezer. Lucy, Bridget, Philip, Rebecca.
(VI) Philip, second son of William and Lucy (Colburn) Cummings, was born No- vember 26. 1745; recorded in Groton, and died March 29, 1826, in Homer, Cortland county, New York, at the home of his son William, and was buried there, but his body was afterwards removed to Sully. New York. He was in the revolutionary army from Hol- lis in 1775, and resided in Peterborough, New Hampshire, for some time thereafter. About 1805 he removed to Cortland county, New York. He married Mary Carter, born No- vember 15. 1751, died October 2, 1815. Chil- dren : Philip, Thomas, Edward. Caleb. Joshua. Mary. Lucy, Rebecca. Leonard, William, died young : William, Betsy.
(VII) Edward, third son of Philip and Mary (Carter) Cummings, was born Novem- ber 17, 1774, in Hollis, died July 6, 1846, in Preble, New York. He removed to that town in 1804, and settled on lot 59, purchasing one hundred acres in the wilderness. He built a log house with basswood slabs for floor, and the chest in which he brought his goods served as a table. It is said that he had only one plate and knife and fork each for himself, wife and one child. The farm on which he settled is now owned by a grand- son. He married (first ) November 17, 1801. Sally Farr, born October 9, 1784, died Octo- ber 12, 1826. He married (second) August 19. 1829, Abigail Robertson, born December I, 1799, died July 14, 1846. Children : Polly, Silas, Harriet, Sally, Celona, William, Ches- ter, Edward, Harvey, Lucinda, Lucy Ann, John B., James.
(VIII) Silas, eldest son of Edward and Sally (Farr) Cummings, was born August 7. 1804, in Preble, New York. He married (first) January 26. 1830, Jane Duncan, and on November 22. 1831, a daughter Elizabeth Jane was born to them. The mother died June 25. 1832, and Silas Cummings married (second) Amanda Taggart. November 8, 1832. Five more children were born of this union : Samuel Edward. Mary Eliza. Daniel Miller, John Newton, Harlan Page. His second wife died June 5, 1841. On February 23, 1842, he married (third) Emily Hobart. born October 10. 1813. Five more children were born to them: Ann Augusta, Francina Celona. Amelia Homer. Emily Hobart, Jo- seph Hobart. Silas Cummings died Septem-
ber 4, 1875, having spent his entire life as a farmer on the farm next adjoining on the south the original one hundred acres pur- chased by his father when coming into the country to settle.
(IX) Samuel Edward, eldest son of Silas and Amanda (Taggart) Cummings, was born March 22, 1834. Ile married, January 27. 1859. Mary E. Highmoor. Son: Silas Highmoor.
( X) Silas Highmoor, son of Samuel Ed- ward and Mary E. ( Highmoor) Cummings, was born January 30, 1861. He married, De- cember 23. 1885. at Cortland, New York, Mary F. Burst. He is now a resident of Brooklyn, New York.
The surname Roberson is
ROBERSON identical with Robertson. The Westchester county, New York, family of Robertson originally settled in Connecticut. John Roberson was in Greenwich, Connecticut, in 1677. William Robertson. born about 1720, in Fairfield county, Connecticut, it is believed came from Greenville, Connecticut, to Bedford, West- chester county, in 1744, and bought the Daniel Merritt farm in that town. History says that the Robertson family of Bedford were of Scotch origin.
Jabez Robertson, son of William, was born about 1750. By his second wife he had Jabez. born August 22, 1787; Laurence and Henry, twins, born November 30 and De- cember 1, 1791, respectively. Henry married Huldah H. Fanton and was father of Hon. William H. Robertson, for many years the Republican leader of Westchester county.
With the Robertson family the Delavans appear to have intermarried, whence the name Delavan Roberson, mentioned below. We find the Delavan family first at Norwalk, Connecticut. John Delavan married, at Nor- wich, January 5, 1748-49, Mary Hait, and had a son, John, born October 21, 1750. Tin- othy Delavan, doubtless a brother of John. married, February 23, 1737-38, in Norwalk, Hannah Bouton, and had children: Timothy, born May 27. 1738; Abraham. September 8. 1739: Mathew. December 20. 1741 ; John, January 30, 1743-44 ; Nathaniel. September 14, 1746; Samuel, March 23, 1752. The entire family moved to North Salem, New York. the history of which mentions the following children: Timothy, Nathaniel, John, Corne-
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lius. Daniel, Abraham, Stephen and Mathew. Of these, six sons were born at Stamford, and the dates given are from the town records.
In 1790, the first federal census shows that William Robertson was living at Bedford, Westchester county, and had in his family three females; Jabez Robertson had in his family two males over sixteen, one under six- teen and six females. The town and family records are wanting and full details of the early generations have not been found, al- though a careful search has been made. The descendants of William Robertson in West- chester country are unable to give the name of Delavan Roberson's father.
(I) Delavan Roberson, undoubtedly a de- scendant of the Robertson and Delavan fam- ilies of Westchester county, described above. was born July 25. 1792. died January II. 1861. He married Abigail Ferguson, born January 4. 1795, died November 8, 1871. Children: 1. Reuben, born May 25. 1813. died in September, 1881 : married Lodema Prindle and had children : William, Louis. Theron, Mary, George, Jane and Edwin. 2. Samuel, born April 6, 1815, died May 27, 1807: married Margaret Martin, May 25. 1837. and had children: Theodore M., Sam- uel D., William J., Martha A., Fremont D., Mary Jane and Margaret A. 3. William H .. born March 21. 1819, died July 13, 1904: married (first) Martha: (second) Sarah Cleveland, June 17. 1857: (third) Mrs. Louisa Ward, about 1879 : children : William ("., born July 13. 1858: Sarah T., born Octo- ber 2, 1861 : Emma G., born March 12, 1866. 4. Elbert, born March 21, 1823, died March 13. 1895 : married Sarah Maria Requa, born July 23. 1826; had children: Elbert. Ed- mund, Alfonso, Josephine and Francis A. 5. Isaac, born July 19, 1825. died April 5, 1890 ; married Mary Bookstaver, and had a daugh- ter, Kate. 6. John, born May 21. 1827, died June 27. 1895 : married Mary Jane Watts, in April, 1869. and had a daughter, Kitty. 7. Sarah Jane, born June 17, 1829, died March 27. 1901 : married, September 25. 1851, Phil- lip T. Deyo. 8. Alonzo, mentioned below. 9. Lodima, born August 2. 1833, died June 29. 1908: married (first) Peter Ransom: (sec- ond ) Samuel R. Benedict, and had child, Wil- bur R. Benedict, born October 14, 1860.
(II) Alonzo, son of Delavan Roberson. was born October 9, 1831. died June 15, 1899.
He had a common school education, and learned the trade of carpenter. For some years he was employed in the old Marsh & Gilbert planing mill on Chenango street, Binghamton, whither he came in 1853. Af- ter Marsh & Gilbert retired from business, Mr. Roberson bought the property and car- ried on the mill with notable success. In 1892 he built a new and larger mill to accom- modate his business and ceased to operate the old mill. The new plant is on the western border of the city of Binghamton, and is ad- mirably equipped to manufacture sash, doors, blinds and builders' finish. In 1882 his son, Alonzo, Jr., was admitted to partnership, and he has continued the business since the death of his father in the spring of 1899. Mr. Rob- erson took a keen interest in public affairs and was honored with various offices of trust and responsibility. In 1876 he was elected alderman of the city of Binghamton, and he served in 1876-77. In 1884 he was again elected alderman and could have been nomin- ated and elected mayor if he had consented, but he was not ambitious for political honors and he repeatedly declined to become a candi- date for mayor. At the time of his death he was vice-president of the People's Bank. He was one of the most active, progressive and useful citizens, of wide influence, sterling character and absolute integrity in all the re- lations of life. In religion a Methodist, mem- ber of "Centenary Church." and in politics he was a Democrat.
He married (first) February 10, 1853. Ly- dia Titus, born April 23. 1830, daughter of James and Hannah Titus. She died June 26, 1866. He married (second) September 13, 1870, Sarah Eliza Dunk, born June 4, 1845, daughter of Alfred and Mary ( Allen ) ( Bal- lard) Dunk. Children, all by first wife: I. Anna Frances, born November 23, 1853, died January 31, 1854. 2. Alonzo, mentioned be- low. 3. Lydia Rosella, born June 9. 1866, died in infancy.
(III) Alonzo (2), son of Alonzo (1) Rob- erson, was born in Binghamton, New York, November 16, 1861. He attended the public schools of his native city. At the age of six- teen he began to work for his father and was associated in business with him as long as he lived. He became a partner of his father as soon as he was of age under the firm name of A. Roberson & Son. After the senior partner died the business was incorpor-
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ated under the same name with Mr. Roberson as president. He is one of the most substan- tial business men of the city. In religion, a Presbyterian, and in politics a Democrat. He is a member of the Binghamton Club, the Mercantile-Press Club and the Binghamton Country Club, and is vice-president of the Broome County Trust Company. He mar- ried, December 4, 1887, Margaret Hays, born November 25, 1866, daughter of Andrew and Hannah C. (Ring) Hays.
RICHER The Richer and Richter families are identical. The early history of the family in this country dates back to colonial times. It is thought that the original settlers were Nicholas and Michael Richter, who were living in 1790. according to the first federal census. There were just four of this surname in New York state at that time, and it seems probable that if these two were not the only original settlers the family would have been more numerous. Nicholas Richter had two males over sixteen in his family, and five females, and was liv- ing at Duanesburg. Albany county, New York. He was father or brother of Michael Richter. of the same town, who had four males over sixteen, three under that age, and six females in his family. This Michael must have been born about 1730, and if he were the son of Nicholas, the latter would be at least seventy-five years in 1790. But there was another Michael in Rensselaerville, Al- bany county, in 1790, having one son under sixteen and four females in his family. It seems more likely that Nicholas was brother of Michael first mentioned, and Michael had a son of the same name. There was another Nicholas in 1790 in Palatine, Montgomery county. New York, doubtless related and probably son of Nicholas of Albany county.
(I) Nicholas Richer, son of Nicholas or Michael Richter, mentioned above, was born in 1772, probably at Berlin, Rensselaer county. New York, where he lived in his youth. In 1800 he located at Columbus, New York. where he died November 1, 1829, aged fifty- seven years. He married Annie Wilcox, of the old Rhode Island family of that surname. He was a substantial citizen, a farmer during all his active life. Children: Nicholas : John. mentioned below ; Randall, died July 12, 1866. aged sixty-three years : Anson, died January 28, 1855, aged forty-nine years.
(II) John, son of Nicholas Richer, was born in Rensselaer county, New York, Febru- ary 9, 1799, and died at Columbus, New York, June 11, 1881. Ile came when a young chikl to Columbus with his parents, and through a long, active and useful life followed farming in that town. He married, September 17, 1820, Juliana Lottridge, born April 5. 1804. died November 30, 1884. daughter of John and Polly ( Reed ) Lottridge. Children : 1. Adelia, born February 28, 1822; died March 19, 1873; married Israel Schofield. 2. Nicholas, mentioned below. 3. Adeline, born March 2, 1832; married Harlow Lamb. 4. Mary, born April 7. 1834: died March 29, 1888; married Lewis White. 5. John Leland, born March 15. 1847; lives on the homestead at Columbus ; married, August 4, 1881, Liz- zie Heacock, and has son, Linn, born Novem- ber 9. 1882. 6. Juba Adelaide, born January 10, 1849; married Lewis E. Simons; lives in Columbus.
(III) Nicholas (2), son of John Richer, was born at Columbus, April 11, 1827, and received his early education there in the pub- lic schools.
He has followed farming all his ac- tive life and has been also engaged in the manufacture of butter and cheese. In manu- facturing he began in a modest way with a cheese factory in the town of Columbus, and as his business grew he added to his facili- ties by enlarging his original plant and erect- ing new factories in other places, until in the course of time he was the owner of no less than fourteen creameries and cheese factories in Columbus, Brookfield, Edmeston and Bridgewater, New York, and he was also a partner in the ownership of a general store in Columbus. Since 1891 he has made his home in New Berlin, with his son. He in- vested extensively in real estate, and owns six large farms in Chenango county, all in the highest state of cultivation. In all these varied lines of activity he displayed the same activity and sagacity, and took rank among the foremost business men of the community. He was enterprising but not speculative in his business methods. Through- out his life he has enjoyed the fullest measure of confidence and respect from his townsmen. In politics he is a Republican. He married ( first) March 6, 1855, Ann F. Whitmore, of Columbus, New York, daughter of Luther and Elsie (Perkins ) Whitmore. and sister of
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George B. Whitmore ( see Whitmore). They had one son, Irving L .. mentioned below.
(IV) Irving L., son of Nicholas (2) Richer, was born November 21, 1858, in Co- lumbus, New York, and was educated there in the public schools and at New Berlin Academy, and at Eastman Business College. Poughkeepsie. New York, from which he was graduated in 1878. He became immedi- ately afterward a dealer in general merchan- dise at Columbus, where he continued in busi- ness until 1886. Since then he has been a dealer in grain and feed at New Berlin, New York. His business was established by Church, Morgan & Company, and was after- ward conducted by the firm of Morris Brothers & Kimball. Mr. Richer first pur- chased the interests of Morris Brothers, and later bought out the Kimball share. It is the oldest concern in this line of business in the town. He also deals in coal, plaster, ce- ment, etc., and has a cold storage plant. He has been active in public affairs, an l assisted in every project for the welfare of the city. Mainly through his efforts the New Berlin Light & Power Company was organized in 1889, and he has been director and manager from the beginning. He formerly held a quarter interest in the Norwich Produce Company, and he has branch stores in South Edmeston and West Edmeston. dealing in flour. feed and grain. In politics Mr. Richer is a Republican, and he has been a member of the town board four years, one term as town clerk, another as supervisor. He ranks among the foremost men of business in the community. His success has been won by hard work, persistent industry and enterprise. His business methods have been characterized by uprightness and integrity, high purpose. and conscientiousness in all his dealings. He commands the highest respect and esteem of his neighbors not only for his personal quali- ties and manly character, but for a fine public spirit and a willingness to cooperate in ev- ery movement intended to uplift and help the community. In religion he is an Episco- palian.
Ile married. June 21, 1882, Elvira D. Wil- cox, of Columbus, New York, daughter of Lewis and Helen ( Waters) Wilcox. IIer father was a son of Isaiah and Polly Ann ( Lottridge) Wilcox. William Lottridge. father of Polly Ann, was a brother of John Lottridge, and both came from Mbany in
1799, settled at Columbus, and have numer- ous descendants in this vicinity. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Richer: 1. Winifred Lillian, born April, 1883; married Rufus C. Beards- ley. of Cleveland, Ohio, hydraulic and elec- trical engineer : children : Ruthven and Richer, twins, born 1904: John Calhoun, born July, 1909. 2. Marjorie Ann, born 1887; married Charles Mitchell, of New Berlin. 3. John I., born January. 1894.
(The Whitmore Line).
(VHI) Luther, son of Samuel Whitmore ( q. v.), was born in 1792, in Columbus town- ship. He received his education in the dis- trict schools. and at Fairfield Academy, from which he was graduated in 1815. For a while he was clerk in a store near his home, and also a surveyor. He was a finely educated man for the times, and taught in the district schools when a young man. He owned a farm of one hundred and thirty acres next to his father's farm of one hundred acres, and later he owned both farms. He was very success- ful in farming, and became a large property owner. Late in life he retired from active work and lived at Columbus Center, where he died at the age of seventy-six years. In politics he was a Whig and Republican, and was very prominent and active, and during his life there were few years when he did not hold some public office. He married Elsie Perkins, who lived to be eighty-five years of age. She was daughter of Daniel Per- kins, an early settler of Shawler Creek, near the Great Western turnpike. Children: I. Samuel, a farmer of Chenango county. 2. Daniel E., leading citizen of Marathon vil- lage, Cortland county, New York, in the wholesale produce business connected with G. B. Whitmore & Company. 3. Ann F .. married Nicholas Richer ( see Richer). 4. Augustus C., farmer in state of Wisconsin. 5. John L., prominent physician and pharmacist in Minnesota. 6. George B., mentioned be- low. 7. Henry J., teacher in Minnesota and later a merchant. 8. Lee H., in business in Minnesota. 9. Alice, married Andrew Robin- son, a stone mason, of Chenango county.
(VIII) Hon. George B. Whitmore, son of Luther Whitmore, was born in Columbus, Chenango county. New York. June 29. 1834. He was educated in the district schools and in the academy, intending at first to be a teacher. He next learned the carpenter's
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