USA > New York > Genealogical and family history of western 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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(I) John Lawrence, the immigrant ances- tor, was the son of Henry and Mary Law- rence, born at Wisset, England, and baptized October 8, 1609. He came to New England and settled in Watertown, Massachusetts. He was admitted a freeman, April 17, 1637. when about twenty-eight years old; though it will be seen by the early Massachusetts records that the freeman's oath was given at first to males of only sixteen years. February 28, 1636, he received three acres of land, his share of a grant then made to the townsmen, a hundred and six in number. In 1650 he bought of the town fifteen hundred acres of common land (called King's Common). Though a large landholder for the times, he is said to have carried on the business of a carpenter both in Watertown and Boston. He removed to Groton, as is determined by vari- ous facts and dates, and as one of the original proprietors, he owned "a twenty acre right" :
the sale of his lands and mansion-house in Watertown was made in 1662. In December of the same year, it appears by the records of Groton, "meet men were found amongst the inhabitants." of whom "John Lawrence" was one. "who were chosen selectmen." He was evidently a man of some intelligence and influence, and held a good place in the public esteem.
He died in Groton, July 11, 1667. leaving his sons Nathaniel and Joseph, and his wife Susanna, executors of his will. The will was witnessed by Samuel Willard and William Lakin, called his "loving friends."
John Lawrence married ( first ) Elisabeth -, who died in Groton, August 29, 1663. He married (second) Susanna, daughter of William Batchelder, of Charlestown. Novem- ber 2, 1664; she survived him, dying July 8, 1668, in Charlestown. Children by first wife: I. John, born March 14, 1636. 2. Nathaniel, born October 15, 1639. 3. Joseph, born March, 1642, died May, 1642. 4. Joseph, born May 30. 1643 ; married, probably in 1670-71, Re- becca : had daughter Rebecca, bap- tized in the First Church, Boston, February, 1679-80. He was admitted a freeman, May 15, 1672 ; appointed an executor of his father's estate and held lands in Groton. 5. Jonathan, buried April 6, 1648. 6. Mary, born July 16. 1645. 7. Peleg, mentioned below. 8. Enoch, born March 5, 1648-49. 9. Samuel, married. probably, September 14, 1682, Rebecca Luen, of Charlestown ; removed to Connecticut. 10. Isaac, married, April 19, 1682. Abigail Bel- lows. born in Concord, May 6, 1661, who through her mother, Mary Woods Bellows, became heir with her husband, of an uncle, Deacon Isaac Woods, of Marlborough. Isaac Lawrence lived for a time in Norwich, Con- necticut. II. Elisabeth, born May 9, 1655. in Boston. 12. Jonathan, born in Watertown ; probably married, November 5, 1677, Rebecca Rutter, of Cambridge: died in 1725, leaving no issue. Left by will to the town of Groton, "One hundred pounds towards the purchasing and procuring a good meeting-house bell, and putting it up"; it was voted "that the name of Lieutenant Jonathan Lawrence be set there- on." He also left forty pounds and twenty pounds respectively for silver church vessels for the service, and for minister's salary. 13. Zechariah, born March 9. 1658-59, in Water- town ; he was a mariner and lived probably in Boston. Children by second wife: I. Abi-
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gail, born January 9, 1666, in Groton. 2. Su- sanna, born July 3, 1667, in Groton.
(II) Peleg, son of John Lawrence, was born January 10, 1646-47, lived at Groton, where he died in 1692, aged forty-five years. He married, in 1668, Elizabeth Morse, born September I, 1647. Children, born at Gro- ton: I. Elizabeth, born January 9, 1669. 2. Samuel, born October 16, 1671; supposed to have lived in Sherburne; died March, 1712, in Killingly, Connecticut, leaving Abigail, a widow. 3. Eleazer, mentioned below. 4. Jon- athan, born March 29, 1679; probably married Abigail - -; lived in Sherburne ; had a son, Jonathan, born 1711. 5. Abigail, born Octo- ber 6, 1681. 6. Jeremiah, born January 3, 1686-87, died April 26, 1687. 7. Joseph, born June 12, 1688; went to Connecticut before 1712, and settled in Plainfield. 8. Daniel. 9. Susanna.
(III) Eleazer, son of Peleg Lawrence, was born February 28, 1674. He lived in Groton, where his children were born, also in Little- ton, and a short while in Pepperell, dying March 9, 1754, aged eighty years. He was known as Major Lawrence. He married Mary - born about 1679, died June 29, 1761, in the eighty-second year of her age; children : I. Elizabeth, born February 28, 1699 ; married - - Buttrick ; and died, leav- ing children and heirs. 2. Peleg, mentioned below. 3. Jonathan, born October 4, 1703. 4. David, born December 26, 1705. 5. Mary, married Fletcher. 6. Sarah. 7. Sam- uel, born May 2, 1714. 8. Experience, born June 22, 1719; married Jabez Keep. 9. Pru- dence, born April 7, 1722. 10. Eleazer (may have been fifth child).
(IV) Peleg (2), son of Eleazer Lawrence, was born June 1, 1701. He was dismissed from the Church of Groton, First Parish, and signed the covenant of the church in the West Parish, January, 1746-47; the parish voted him one of a committee of two to con- sider a place for the meeting-house. He was chosen a deacon, August 23, 1754; died July 27, 1757, in his fifty-seventh year. He mar- ried Ruth who died September 4, 1757, aged about fifty-seven years. Children : I. Oliver, born March 18, 1728, in Groton. 2. Ruth, born January 28, 1730. 3. Mary, born March 23, 1733. 4. Ephraim, mentioned be- low. 5. Asa, born June 14, 1737. 6. Sarah, born July 24, 1739, died July 24, 1757, in Pepperell.
(V) Ephraim, son of Peleg (2) Lawrence, was born March 31, 1735, and was known as Dr. Ephraim Lawrence. He married (first) Anna Fisk, March 3, 1768; she died June 12, 1774, aged twenty-seven years. He married (second) Ruth . Children by first wife : I. Ebenezer, born January 9, 1770. 2. Anna, born July 26, 1772. Children by second wife : I. Ruth, born April 8, 1777; married Elijah Smith, of New Ipswich. 2. Sarah, born April 18, 1779, died December 16, same year. 3. George W., born October 1, 1780; married Dorcas True; died in Charlestown, New Hampshire. 4. Sarah, born August 28, 1782, died 1832. 5. Mary Emerson, born November 27, 1784 ; married Luther Lakin ; died in Troy, New York, 1824. 6. Theodosia, born Novem- ber 20, 1788; married, at Livonia, New York, Luther Lakin, in 1825; after his death, July 15, 1864, resided in Jamestown, New York (see Lakin I).
(The Andrews Line).
The progenitors of the Andrews family in America came from Ireland, Richard (1) and Susanna (Kelly) Andrews, the grandparents of Mrs. Luther S. Lakin, coming from that country and settling first at Peterboro, Can- ada, their eldest son, Jeremiah, being then nineteen years of age; later they removed with their children to Jamestown, New York. Richard Andrews was a shoemaker by trade, and later a merchant in his native land; he retired from business upon coming to Amer- ica, and while a resident of Jamestown was a member of the Episcopal church. He and his wife, who lived to a good old age, are buried in Buffalo, New York. They had seven children: Jeremiah, mentioned below ; William, deceased; Eliza, Ellen, Frances, Anna, Richard Jr., died young.
(II) Jeremiah Andrews, M. D., son of Richard and Susanna (Kelly) Andrews, and father of Mrs. Luther S. Lakin, was born near the city of Dublin, in Ireland, in the year ISIO, where he lived until he was nineteen years of age, and acquired the foundation of his education. He then came to America with his father and mother and the remainder of the children, settling with them at Peterboro, Canada, and coming on later to Jamestown, New York. His first work in this country was in the humble capacity of carpenter and joiner ; he then turned his attention to medi- cine, which he read with Dr. Noah Weld,
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afterward attending the Buffalo Medical Col- lege. During the civil war he was appointed surgeon, joining his regiment at Harrisburg, from which place he proceeded by boat to the seat of war. The vessel to which he was as- signed was burned, and he went ashore at Newbern, North Carolina, where he was taken with fever and sent to the hospital. The first practice of his profession was at Panama, New York, later at Sugar Grove, Pennsyl- vania ; in 1863 he located finally in Jamestown, New York, where he continued practice up to the time of his death, becoming a prominent physician, and well known and influential in the community. He became a leading mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church and very active in its affairs ; in politics he was an adherent of the Republican party. He died in Cincinnati, Ohio, March 4, 1877.
Dr. Andrews married (first) Delilah, sister of DeForest Weld, a sketch of the Weld fam- ily appearing elsewhere in this work. There were two children by this union: I. Wesley R., born December 23, 1837, died February 5, 1910 ; was a soldier in the civil war and much interested in affairs in Pennsylvania; was chairman of the Republican central committee of the state and was secretary of the senate committee and on postoffice and post roads ; he was also private secretary of Senator Pen- rose. 2. William H., born in 1839; he first served as clerk in Jamestown, later became a successful merchant and had dry goods stores in Meadville and Titusville, Pennsylvania, Cincinnati, Ohio, and Louisville, Kentucky, and was also an oil producer; was several times a state senator, and later went to New Mexico, where he built a railroad ; was terri- torial congressman, and after working twenty years succeeded in having New Mexico ad- mitted as a state.
Dr. Andrews married (second) Sarah Clark Jackson, born in Evans, Erie county, New York, in 1821, died in May, 1891, daugh- ter of Gilbert Jackson, born in Genesee county, New York, in 1810. died about 1890, at Silver Creek, New York; and granddaughter of Samuel Jackson, born in Onondaga county, New York, in 1774, who later settled in Orange county, New York, where he reared a large family. Gilbert Jackson had four chil- dren : Oscar, Miranda, Caroline, Sarah C., who became the second wife of Dr. Andrews. Dr. Andrews' children by his second. marriage were : I. Ellen Eliza, born May 10, 1853;
wife of Luther S. Lakin, as previously shown. 2. Charles J., born in 1855, died January I, 1908; married Jennie, daughter of Richard Hazeltine. 3. Della M., born March 5, 1858; married E. T. White.
LEET (VIII) Fayette G. Leet, son of Franklin (q. v. ) and Sally (Sum- ner) Leet, was born at Leet's Point, now Point Chautauqua, May 15, 1847. His early life was spent on the old Leet homestead, his education being acquired at the public schools and at Ellington Academy. After his education was completed, he fol- lowed the vocation of farmer, continuing thus until the year 1893. After his marriage in 1869, he removed from the old homestead to Stockton, where he farmed for four years ; after this removed to Ellery, where he re- mained for four years; then to Ellicott, re- maining six years, to Hornell, remaining for one year, then to Cattaraugus county, to Ran- dolph, to Conewango, to Levant, and finally to Jamestown, where in 1893 he embarked in the bakery business. At the present time he is employed in the Salisbury Wheel Works in this city. In politics he is a Republican, and is a member of the Methodist church. Mr. Leet married, June 30, 1869, Helen D., born at Clear Creek, New York, September 30, 1847, daughter of James and Cynthia D. (Jackson) Olds. Their children: I. Martha D., born May 19, 1871, died April 8, 1903; married William D. Blaisdell, and had three children : Helen C., Moneta (married), and Odis L. Blaisdell. 2. Frank F., of whom fur- ther. 3. Merton D., born August 27, 1883, died March 26, 1894.
(IX) Frank F., son of Fayette G. and Helen D. (Olds) Leet, was born in Stockton town- ship, Chautauqua county, New York, Febru- ary 27, 1873. His education was conducted at the country schools, at Ellington Academy, at Chamberlain Institute, Randolph, New York, and finally at the Jamestown Business College. He lived on the farm until he was twenty years of age, at which time he came to Jamestown and became bookkeeper for the firm of F. N. Stearns, where he remained for a year. He then became bookkeeper for the White Sewing Machine Company and was promoted to the post of assistant manager, and later to that of manager, of the Bradford of- fice and territory. He continued with the company in this capacity until they closed
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their small offices throughout the United States ; he, however, remained in Bradford, Pennsylvania, for another year, in the em- ploy of the American Express Company.
After this he came to Jamestown and en- gaged in the bakery business with his father for a period of two years. He then entered the studio of A. N. Camp, one of the leading photographers of Western New York, where he spent six years ; at the expiration of which time he removed to Randolph, New York, where he established a studio on his own ac- count, and conducted a very successful busi- ness for three years and a half. Disposing of his interest in this, he went to New York City and took a special course of instruction in the art of photography ; he then returned to Jamestown and opened a studio in the Fenton Building, on the corner of Main and Second streets, where he has ever since con- ducted one of the largest establishinents of its kind. The work turned out by the studio is of the highest grade and embraces all kinds of photography : individual portraits, groups, views, public gatherings, residences, etc., a specialty being made of flashlight views. The instruments in use are of the most approved and modern type, among which is an appar- atus capable of making panoramic photo- graphs of practically any size. Mr. Leet has on display at his galleries a view which he made on the lake, showing a section of coun- try forty miles in extent and a sky line of one hundred and twenty-five miles. The apparatus by which this was made will also take a view describing a complete circle. Landscapes, ex- pert illustrations of real estate for sale, con- struction work, farm and city property views, exterior and interior views of stores, offices and factories, and photographs of furniture and machinery, are among the many kinds of work upon which Mr. Leet has built his repu- tation which, as an expert professional pho- tographer, is unsurpassed in this section.
In the year 1893, in November, Mr. Leet enlisted in the Thirteenth Company of the Na- tional Guard of New York, at Jamestown, and served as a private for five years. In his political opinions he is an ardent Republican : he is a member of the First Methodist Church of Jamestown and very active in its service. While he was a resident of Randolph he served as steward of the church there, and as superintendent of its Sunday school: the church was burned during his residence in that
town, and he and his wife were largely in- strumental in its rebuilding, doing good work in holding the congregation together until the new structure was erected.
Mr. Leet married, July 31, 1895, Emma A., born in Conewango, Cattaraugus county, New York, July 9. 1871, daughter of William A. and Mary ( Mason) Shannon. They have two sons: I. Arthur F., born at Jamestown, New York, November 4, 1899. 2. Ernest D., born at Jamestown, November 9, 1901. The Leet family reside at No. 525 East Fifth street, Jamestown, and have a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.
(The Olds Family).
The Old family in America trace their an- cestry back to William Old or Wold, of Staunton, England, who in 1522 married Elizabeth Ryton. The name was orginally Wold, then Old, Olde, Ould, or Aulde, indif- ferently. The letter "'s" was added to the sur- name after the immigration to America. The coat-of-arms of the family is: Gules, a lion statant, proper. on a mount, vert.
The Old family in England were mostly yeo- man farmers, living on their own estates. Fol- lowing William Old (Wold), of Staunton, England, 1522, came Richard Old (Wold), of Sherborne, Dorset, England, who married Agnes Courtney, died in 1566; then Bartholo- mew Old ( Wold), of Sherborne, 1594, who married Margaret Churchill, great-aunt of the Duke of Marlborough: then William Old (Ould), of Sherborne, born 1592, who mar- ried Elizabeth Greensmith: then John Old (Olde), born 1615, at Sherborne, died at Hill- field, England, 1682, married Gatherest : he had five children, of whom Andrew Old or Ould emigrated to Ireland and founded the Irish branch of the family, who still spell their name "Ould." Robert Old (Ould), a younger son of Jolin Old, was born in England in 1645. died January 16, 1728, in America. He was the immigrant ancestor of the family in this country, and was known as Dr. Robert Old.
He came over from England in 1669, and settled at Windsor, Connecticut: he was, in 1670, one of the first five proprietors of Suf- field, Connecticut. In the year that he came to America he married, at Windsor, his first wife, Susannah Hanford, or Hosford, who died January 6, 1688. Their children were: I. Robert, born October 9, 1670. 2. Jonathan,
Gur Lillibridge
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born January 4, 1672, died December 19, 1696. 3. Mindwell, born February 4, 1674. 4. Han- ford, born March 24, 1677. 5. William (first) born February 7, 1679, died August 24, 1680. 6. William ( second) born August 28, 168-, died September 21, 1749. 7. Ebenezer, born December 22, 1681, died December 30, 1681. 8. Susannah, born October 21, 1683. On April 1, 1689, Robert Old married his second wife, Dorothy Granger, born February 17, 1665. Their children were: I. John, born January II, 1691. 2. Ebenezer, born January 22, 1693. 3. Josiah, born March 4, 1695. died Decem- ber 28, 1712. 4. Jonathan, born June 8, 1698. 5. Nathan, born March 2, 1702. 6. Joseph, born February 3, 170 -.
From these children of Robert Old the present Olds families are descended, the form of the name changing in the later generations from Old to Olds. Among these descendants was James Olds, son of Jeremiah and Betsey Olds, and the father of Helen D. Olds, who married Fayette G. Leet. James Olds was born in 1811, died in 1886; in his early life he was a hotel keeper at Olds Corners, Cone- wango valley, Chautauqua county, New York, becoming in later years a farmer, his last resi- dence being on a farm near Ellington, New York. In politics he was a Republican. He married Cynthia D. Jackson, born in 1811, died in 1902 at the age of ninety-one years. Their children: 1. Horace P., of Falconer. 2. Sophia K., married Whitcom Mather. 3. Helen D., married Fayette G. Leet (see Leet VIII). 4. Betsey D., married Wales D. Shep- ardson.
The Lillibridge family, LILLIBRIDGE represented in the pres- ent generation by Frank G. Lillibridge, of Jamestown, have been resi- dents of the state of New York for several generations, fulfilling well their part in public and private affairs.
(I) Samuel Lillibridge, the first of the line herein recorded of whom we have informa- tion, was a native of New York state. He was a farmer by occupation, a member of the Baptist church, and a Whig in politics. He married, in the village of Whitehall, New York. Julia Knowles, and among their chil- dren was George, see forward.
(II) George, son of Samuel and Julia (Knowles ) Lillibridge, was born at Whitehall. New York, July 6, 1833, died at Jamestown,
New York, March 8, 1910. At an early date he removed to Pennsylvania with his parents, and was there reared and educated. Upon at- taining young manhood he engaged in mercan- tile pursuits, and in due course of time became one of the successful merchants of the village of Little Cooley, Crawford county, Pennsyl- vania, and was largely instrumental in build- ing up of the vicinity. He erected a substantial brick business block in that town, also two fine houses for dwelling purposes. He was also interested in mercantile business at Union City, Pennsylvania, at one time owning and conducting an extensive store there. Subse- quently he removed to Jamestown, New York, leased property on Second street, which he greatly improved and then disposed of, and then purchased property at the corner of Washington and West Third streets and, al- though he labored under great difficulty, erected the Lillibridge Block, which is an or- nament and credit to the city. He was an industrious and persistent worker, attended strictly to his own affairs, and was devoted to his family. In early life he manifestedl a keen interest in church work, and later be- came a member of the Baptist church, to which he devoted both time and means. He married, at Richmond, Pennsylvania, Polly Melissa, daughter of Asel and Rosina (Cha- pin ) Hamilton. Children: Ella G., married Alfred D. Darling, of Jamestown ( see Darl- ing IV ) : Emma B., a resident of Jamestown ; Arthur, died at the age of twenty-one; Pearl May, died young : Frank G., see forward.
The death of Mr. Lillibridge was mourned by a wide circle of friends. The funeral ser- vices were held in the Masonic rooms in the Prendergast Block, the Rev. James G. Town- send officiating. The services were conducted by Worshipful Master Roland K. Mason, Past Masters John C. Mason and H. R. Wi- ley : and Mount Moriah Lodge, No. 145, Free and Accepted Masons, of which Mr. Lilli- bridge was a member, attended in a body. The pallbearers were members of the lodge.
(III) Frank G .. son of George and Polly Melissa ( Hamilton ) Lillibridge. was born in the village of Little Cooley, Crawford county, Pennsylvania, August 12, 1879. When he was three years of age his parents removed to Jamestown, New York, and he received his education in the public schools of that city. For a number of years he was in his father's employ, and upon attaining the age
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of twenty-two years became an employee of E. H. Warren, proprietor of a laundry, and there acquired a practical knowledge of that line of work, but later resigned in order to devote his entire time and attention to his father's affairs. Since the death of his father he has been engaged in the management of the estate, which consists of property inhab- ited by twenty-six tenants. He is one of the enterprising and influential residents of Jamestown, highly respected and esteemed by all who have the honor of his acquaintance. He is independent in politics, casting his vote for the man best qualified in his estimation for the position to be filled.
DARLING The Darling family, members of which are now living in Chautauqua county and also
other districts in Western New York, trace their lineage back to the state of Massachu- setts.
(I) Amasa Darling was a native of Massa- chusetts, as was also his father, who was a sea captain, commanding a sailing vessel which ran to the West Indies. In early man- hood Amasa Darling removed to the state of New York and settled in Genesee county, near Utica. He followed the occupation of farm- ing. He married and had children: Amasa P., of whom further ; Charles; John, who re- sided near Boston.
(II) Amasa P., son of Amasa Darling, was born in Massachusetts, about 1790, died in 1852. He was a mason by trade, and also followed the occupation of farming. He owned and resided on a farm near Utica, Genesee county, New York. He removed to Cattaraugus county, where he purchased a farm and also worked at his trade. He en- listed from Genesee county in the war of 1812, and carried (riding on horseback) or- ders for General Scott and General Wood. He married Polly Gibbs, a native of Gene- see county, New York, born December 6, 1796, died at the age of eighty-nine years, daughter of Lowell Gibbs, an Englishman by birth, a carpenter by trade, and who in later life returned to his native land. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Darling: Charles, died young ; Hattie, died young : Sarah, William, John. Amasa, Horace. Mary, Louis, Charles H., of whom further.
(III) Charles H., son of Amasa P. Darl- ing, was born in the town of Napoli, Catta-
raugus county, New York, September 10, 1835. He began his active career as a farmer, leaving home at the age of twenty-three. He married and removed to Chautauqua county, New York, locating on a farm in the town of Harmony. He enlisted September 4, 1862 in Company H., One Hundred and Fifty- fourth Regiment, New York Volunteers, as a private, and during his service was stricken with a paralytic stroke and sent home. While thus afflicted the war closed and for that rea- son he did not receive his discharge until the year 1889, when he received an honorable dis- charge. He resumed his farming operations after the war, purchasing a farm consisting of forty-two acres in the town of Carroll. La- ter he moved to Corry, Pennsylvania, where he engaged in contracting and building. From there he returned to Chautauqua county, New York, and has been a resident of Jamestown and vicinity since 1867. and has been engaged in real estate speculations. He was a mem- ber of the Royal Templars for twenty-two years. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and a Republican in poli- tics. He served as clerk of the school board in the town of Carroll for a number of years.
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