Hudson-Mohawk genealogical and family memoirs, Volume I, Part 18

Author: Reynolds, Cuyler, 1866-1934, ed
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 656

USA > New York > Hudson-Mohawk genealogical and family memoirs, Volume I > Part 18

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

(\) David, son of Anthony and Sarah (Paine) Snow, born July 17, 1732, died May 25. 1792. He lived in Truro, on Cape Cod. He was a soldier of the revolution, a private in Captain Mathias Tobey's company. He and his son David were in the same company and marched to Crown Point, in January, 1777. He was afterwards commissioned, Sep- tember 16, 1777, as first lieutenant of the Barnstable Company, Massachusetts Regi- ment. During the year 1775 David Snow was living with his large family in the broad, flat house originally belonging to John Snow. Mr. Snow, accompanied by his son David, a lad of fifteen years, while fishing in a boat in Cape Cod bay were captured by English privateers and taken to Halifax. Later they were transferred to "Old Mill" prison, Eng- land. A thorough search was made for them on the coast, but they were given up as dead by family and friends. They, with thirty- four others, managed to file the bars and es- caped to Plymouth harbor, fifteen miles from the prison, where they secured a large scow and were soon afloat on the English chan- nel. They boarded a small vessel and under threat of surrender or death, took command of the vessel and sailed for the coast of France, where they sold their prize, each hav- ing a share of the money. They gave them- selves up to the French government and were placed on a vessel and sent to America, land- ing on the coast of the Carolinas. As the war was still going on, and the coast guarded, Mr. Snow and his son made their way home by land. Friends and neighbors escorted then to their home, all rejoicing in their re- turn. David Snow was a man of influence

HUDSON AND MOHAWK VALLEYS

on the Cape. He was for years a justice of the peace, an important office at that time. He was always called Squire Snow. He mar- ried Hannah Collins, July 7, 1758. They had eight sons and two daughters. All the sons became masters of vessels, some were lost at sea while still young. Children : Stephen, born August 14, 1759; David, November 23, 1760; Sarah, March 27, 1763: John, July 28, 1765; Daniel, September 6, 1767; Richard, December 21, 1771 ; Hannah, February 27, 1774; Benjamin, November 19, 1775; Eph- raim, March 15, 1778; Henry, 1781.

(VI) Henry, son of David and Hannah (Collins) Snow, was born in Truro, Octo- ber 4, 1781, died in Cohasset, February 5, 1860. When only eight years of age, he went on a fishing cruise of five months to the Great Banks. At the age of eighteen he moved to Cohasset, Massachusetts, where he was mas- ter of a coasting vessel. In 1812 he was inaster of the schooner "Random" which leaked like a sieve, but could sail like the wind. On two occasions during the war of 1812. while sailing the "Random," he was · chased by the British, but escaped. He sailed the "Ann," a full rigged brig, for seventeen years. While in Antwerp, Belgium, he had his portrait painted by a celebrated artist ; it is now in the possession of his granddaugh- ter. He married June 1, 1803, Deliverance Dyer, of Truro, born November 12, 1781, · died in Cohasset, November 9, 1859. Chil- dren: Henry, born January II, 1804, died March 5, 1808; Benjamin, August 23, 1806, died March 5, 1829; Paulina, December 14. 1807; Henry, September 18, 1810, died April 4, 1904; Ruth, April 16, 1813; Elijah, Sep- :tember 27, 1815, died March 6, 1816.

(VII) Captain Henry (2), son of Henry (1) and Deliverance (Dyer) Snow, was born in Cohasset, September 10, 1810, died April 4. 1904. He followed the sea from an early age. While quite a young man he became master and part owner of the "Myra." Later he owned and sailed the "Eldridge" and "Star of Hope." The last named vessel was wrecked in a storm on Brendante Reef, New- port Harbor. in the spring of 1871. Captain Snow then retired from the sea. He lived to an advanced age, was hale and hearty, tak- ing a great interest in all events both local and foreign. He married, December 13, 1840, Susanna Stoddard Lincoln, born August 21, 1822, in Cohasset, Massachusetts, died Sep- tember 13, 1880, (see Stoddard VIII). Chil- dren: James Henry Snow, born June 30, 1842; Anna Frances, August 25, 1844. died July 5, 1869: Susan Elizabeth, October 21, 1847; Ruth Nichols, June 29, 1848; Char-

lotte Otis, November 8, 1850; Benjamin Lin- coln, August 2, 1852, died January 23, 1859.

(VIH) Susan Elizabeth, daughter of Cap- tain Henry (2) and Susanna Stoddard (Lin- coln) Snow, was born in Cohasset, October 21, 1847, died April 25, 1872. HIer early life was spent at the homestead. South End, Cohasset. Here she first met her future hus- band, who spent the summer of 1857 on the sea with her father. He returned to Cohas- set succeeding summers, and she married Leonard House Giles, January 20, 1869. She was a beautiful girl, loved by all, but spared only about three years after her marriage. She died in Troy, New York. Children : Anna Louisa Giles, born February 4, 1870; Henry Snow Giles, April 22, 1872 (see Giles III).

(The Stoddard Line).

Coat-of-Arms, Sa. three estoiles and a bor- dure gules, crest on a ducal coronet, a demi horse, salient erm. Motto: Festina Seute : "Be in haste, but not in a hurry." The name Stoddard is derived from the office of stand- ard bearer, and was anciently written De La Standard. William Stoddard, a knight, came from Normandy to England, in 1066, with William the Conquerer, who was his cousin. Of his descendants we find record of Rickard Stoddard, of Nottingham, Kent, near Elthen, about seven miles from London bridge, where was located the family estate of about four hundred acres which was in the possession of the family in 1490 and so continued until the death of Nicolas Stoddard, 1765.

(1) John Stoddard died in 1661. He came to Hingham, Massachusetts, before 1638, as he received at that time a grant of land. His wife was Anna.

(II) Samuel, son of John and Anna Stod- dard, born 1640, died 1731. He married Eliz- abeth, born 1647, died 1693. daughter of Thomas and Hannah (Otis) Gill.

(III) Jeremiah, son of Samuel and Eliza- beth (Gill) Stoddard, born in Hingham, 1683, died 1763. He married Elizabeth

who died in 1775, aged eighty-eight.

(IV) Jeremiah (2), son of Jeremiah (1) and Elizabeth Stoddard, was born in Hing- ham, 1709, died in 1790. He married, in 1729. Sarah McVaile, born 1710, died 1775.

(V) James, son of Jeremiah (2) and Sarah (McVaile) Stoddard, was born in Hing- ham, in 1733. He married, 1755, Susanna, born in 1736, daughter of William and Su- sanna (Beal) Humphrey.

(VI) James (2), son of James (1) and Susanna (Humphrey) Stoddard, was born September 24, 1756, died in Cohasset, March II, 1833. He was apprenticed when a boy to

HUDSON AND MOHAWK VALLEYS

a shipwright, in Boston; this occupation he afterward followed. A picture in oils in pos- session of Mr. Stoddard, of Quincy, Massa- chusetts, shows him at the age of seventeen, with straight dark brown hair done in a cue, large, dark brown eyes, and a dark complex- ion. Mr. Stoddard also has his sword and other revolutionary relics. In the early days of the controversy, Cohasset was represented in the Boston Tea Party by Major James Stoddard. Tradition also tells of an Eng- lish brig, bound for Boston with supplies for the British army, becalmed off the shore and taken by Cohasset men. Major Stoddard was the leading spirit on this occasion and when one of the boat's crew pointed to the brig's artillery, and proposed to return, the major declared there should be no going back. The defense of the brig proved to be "Quak- er guns," and she became an easy prize. On the muster roll of Captain John Cushing's company in the Thirty-sixth Regiment of In- fantry, continental army, encamped October 5, 1775, is James Stoddard, engaged May 17. He marched to Fort Ticonderoga, and is said to have been under General Washington dur- ing that dreadful winter in Valley Forge. He married Susanna Lincoln, born 1756, died September 25, 1819. The inscription on his tombstone reads : "Major Stoddard, March II, 1833, aged seventy-six years."

(VII) Elizabeth, daughter of James (2) and Susanna (Lincoln) Stoddard, was born in the old homestead at Cohasset, December 13, 1784. A descendant of the Stoddard family, Herbert Towle, occupied the home- stead in 1897. She married, February 17, 1819. Captain John Lincoln, of Cohasset, she died January 9, 1848. She was always called Betsey.

(VIII) Susanna, daughter of Captain John and Elizabeth (Stoddard) Lincoln, was born in Cohasset, August 21, 1822, died there Sep- tember 13, 1880. Her father being a sea captain who sailed to foreign parts, Susanna had seven silk dresses when she was mar- ried, besides other valuable articles of use and adornment. She married Captain Henry Snow, of Cohasset, December 13, 1840, (see Snow VII).

(The Murdock Line).

Colonial series. Report of State Historian, 1896. Muster Roll of ye Suffolk Regiment, A.D., 1715, Henry Smith, Colonel, Second Company, Hampton Fort. Private Peter Murdock, First Company, Private David Fithian.

(I) John Murdock was a wool comber and had a wool factory and store in Limer- ick, Ireland. He carried on a large business

and became wealthy. Being of English de- scent and a Protestant, he was dispossessed of his property during the Irish wars, 1688 to 1690, between James II and William of Or- ange. After losing everything he owned in Limerick, he took shelter with an aunt whose house was fortified. He married Mary Mun- SO11. He died in Ireland about 1690.

(II) Peter, son of John and Mary (Mun- son) Murdock, was born in Ireland, May 6, 1679. In 1696 he emigrated to America and landed in Philadelphia without funds or friends. He went about seeking employment but with little success. At length a Quaker employed him to thrash for his board. He soon began to earn money and was very saving and prudent. He combined day labor with a small trade in scissors, pen knives, needles, etc. (From Saybrook Records). "The Murdocks, though not among the first settlers here, were for more than a quarter of a century the most wealthy and influential families in the parish. Peter Murdock, the progenitor of the family, first appeared in this part as a peddler of scissors, pen knives, needles, etc. In the latter part of the seven- teenth century, he married Mary Fithian of East Hampton, Long Island, about 1705, and set up a small store in that town; next run- ning a small trading sloop on the coast of Long Island Sound, leaving his wife to at- tend the store. In this business he went on . to Westbrook or West Saybrook, as it was sometimes called, where he purchased between eight and nine hundred acres of land, bor- dering on Pachong river, about one-half mile 011 its west side. About six years later, he built a dwelling on the bank of the river to which he moved his family and store. There he carried on the mercantile business with the limited stock necessary to the merchant of the olden time when each family produced its own prime necessities. This was the first store in town and its inventory must have been a simple affair. he probably imported his stock from the West Indies." Peter died November 6, 1753. leaving his entire estate to his son John. His wife, born 1689, died in 1753.

(III) John (2), only child of Peter and Mary (Fithian) Murdock, was born in East Hampton. Long Island, in 1708, died January, 1778. He inherited his father's property and his native sagacity, to which was added a superior intelligence, culture and moral char- acter that made him conspicuous among the distinguished men of the colony. He first car- ried on the business of farming his planta- tion with the aid of his slaves, who have left monuments of their labor in enormous stone ·

HUDSON AND MOHAWK VALLEYS

walls surrounding it. His thrift and sagacity brought a large fortune for the times, and made him a power in the community. He was a deacon in the Congregational church; judge of the court of common pleas, a rep- resentative in the general assembly for a num- ber of years, was captain of the Tenth Com- pany, Seventh Regiment Connecticut Militia, and served under Abercrombie in Fort Ti- conderoga in 1750, during the French and In- dian war. May 13, 1766, he was appointed by the general assembly major of the Sev- enth Regiment Connecticut Militia. At the time of his marriage, about 1730, his father settled upon him one-half of his estate and built him a dwelling where he spent his re- maining days. He carried on the farming business extensively for half a century. He was small of stature and of a very fair com- plexion, with keen, black eyes. His first wife, Phoebe Sill, of Lynn, and her infant died ten months after their marriage. April II, 1732, he married (second) Frances Conklin, of East Hampton, Long Island. They had thirteen children, seven of whom were boys and six girls. Three boys, Peter, Jonathan and James, graduated from Yale College, and the other four attended the cultivation of the original estate. Major Murdock died at his homestead on the hill. Frances, his wife, died January 10, 1799, aged eighty-six years.

(IV) Rev. James, youngest child of Ma- jor John (2) and Frances (Conklin) Mur- dock, was born in Saybrooktown, February 18, 1755, died January 14, 1841, aged eighty- six years. He graduated from Yale in 1774, and was settled as a Congregational minis- ter at Sandgate, Vermont, in 1780. He moved to Lewis county, New York, 1805. In Janu- ary, 1811, he was settled as pastor of the church at Martinsburg, New York ; resigned in 1820 and removed to Gouverneur, New York, where he labored until 1825. He was then seventy years old, but preached occasion- ally after this for several years. He resided mostly at Houseville, Lewis county, where his wife died November 11, 1838. In 1839 he made a journey to Vermont, to New York City, and to his native place, where he preached in the same pulpit in which he had officiated at the outset of his ministry, fifty years before. In 1839 he went to reside with his son Samuel at Crown Point, New York, at whose home he died. He married Ann Buckingham, September 30, 1779. (See Buckingham V). They had ten children, three sons and seven daughters.

(V) Louisa, fifth child of Rev. James and Ann (Buckingham) Murdock, was born at Sandgate, Vermont, January 12, 1788, died in

Houseville, July 6, 1870. She married Leon- ard House (see House II), of Houseville, New York, December 28, 1809.

(The Buckingham Line).

Thomas Buckingham, the Puritan settler, arrived in Boston, from London, June 26, 1637, in the ship "Hector." The company sailed for Quinnipiack, near New Haven, March 30, 1638. His home in New Haven probably stood on or near what is now the corner of College and George streets. He removed to Milford, Connecticut, in the aut- umn of 1639, and was one of the company (of which Mr. Peter Prudden was the pas- tor) who first settled in that town. The church was organized at New Haven, Au- gust 22, 1639, and Thomas Buckingham was. one of the seven pillars of which it was com- posed. He was a deputy to the general court, February 24, 1657. He died in Boston (in the fall of 1657) where he had gone to seek a pastor for the church. He married (first) Hannah in England, by whom he had five children. She died June 28, 1648, in Milford. Married (second) Ann -

(II) Thomas (2), son of Thomas (I) Buckingham, was baptized in Milford, No- vember 8. 1646, died April 1, 1709. He preached in Wethersfield, when only eight- een years of age, and commenced preaching in Saybrook in 1665; ordained pastor of the church of Saybrook, in 1670. He was one of the founders and fellows of Yale College, his connection continuing from 1700 until his death. He evidently held high rank among the clergymen of that time for he was one of the moderators of the famous synod which convened at Saybrook, in 1708, and formed a platform for the government of the churches. His monument is still standing in the old burying ground at Saybrook, where his wife, who died June 3, 1702, is also bur- ied. They had nine children, six boys and three girls.

(II) Thomas (3), eldest son of Thomas (2) Buckingham, born in Saybrook, Septem- ber 29, 1670, died September 12, 1739. He was a prominent man in town affairs, being appointed to many important offices of trust. He was an influential member of the church and a land holder in Lebanon. He married, December 16, 1691, Margaret, daughter of Francis Griswold. They had four sons and four daughters.

(IV) Joseph, son of Thomas (3) Bucking- ham, was born June 20, 1707. He married September 24, 1741, Sarah, daughter of Wil- liam and Abigail (Maverick) Tully, of Say -. brook. They had six daughters.

HUDSON AND MOHAWK VALLEYS

(V.) Ann, youngest daughter of Captain Joseph Buckingham, born August 4, 1753, in Saybrook, Connecticut, married Rev. James Murdock, of Saybrook, September 30, 1779. She died at Houseville, Lewis county, New York, November 11, 1838 (see Murdock IV).

(The Moseley Line).

The family is of English origin and it has been ascertained that the name was on record as early as 1081.

(I) John Mawdesley or Moseley was among the first settlers of Dorchester, Mas- sachusetts, and was a freeman March 14, 1639. He married twice, His first wife, Eliz- abeth, had three sons, Thomas, Joseph and John, and a daughter, Elizabeth. At his death, 1661, his second wife Sicily was ap- pointed administratrix. It is supposed he lived near what is now Crescent avenue, bor- dering the salt marsh and eastward of Hum- phrey Atherton's old homestead. Mr. Mose- ley's descendants have some of them lived at this place and an avenue is named for them. An impressive monument of brown freestone on a brick foundation in the Dorchester bury- ing ground marks his grave.

(11) John (2), youngest son of John (1) and Elizabeth Moseley, was born in Dorches- ter, in 1640, died in Windsor in 1690. Soon after the death of his parents, he removed to Windsor, where in 1667 he married Mary, daughter of Benjamin Newbury. Captain Benjamin Newbury was deputy twenty-two sessions, a member of the council of war, and a captain in King Philip's war. In 1677 Mr. Moseley removed to Westfield, where he became a large land owner. His home was built of very heavy logs and provided with loops for protection from Indians. He was a lieutenant of a Westfield company, and took part in King Philip's war. He removed to Windsor some time before his death, which occurred there in 1690. He had ten chil- dren, three sons and seven daughters.

(III) Joseph, second son of Lieutenant John (2) and Mary (Newbury) Moseley, was born in Windsor, Connecticut, December 20, 1670, died in Glastonbury, Connecticut, in 1719. Ile married Abigail Root, of West- field, Massachusetts, in 1695. They removed to Glastonbury, Connecticut, in 1715. They had nine children, four sons and three daugh- ters.

(IV) Abner, oldest son of Joseph and Abi- gail (Root) Moseley, was born in Westfield, Massachusetts, 1699. He was a colonel in the Connecticut militia. As executor of his fath- er's estate, he gave a tract of land to the town of Westfield, in 1722. The farm pur-

chased by his father in Glastonbury, Connec- ticut, and equally divided between his sons, Abner and Isaac, is recorded as bounded west by the Connecticut river, running three miles and ninety-three rods in width north and south. Abner remained at the homestead. He married Elizabeth Lyman, of West Hampton, Massachusetts, 1722. Children, five sons and six daughters.

(V) Joseph (2), son of Abner and Eliz- abeth (Lyman) Moseley, was born at Glas- tonbury, Connecticut, August 13, 1735, died October 25. 1806. He was a prominent mem- ber and for many years a deacon in the Congregational church. He represented the town twelve times in the legislature, was captain of the Seventh Company, in Colonel Fisher Gray's battalion, of General Wads- worth's brigade, which served in the battle of Long Island and White Plains. Later, be- sides caring for a large farm, he kept a hotel. He married, September 10, 1761, Hopeful Robbins, of Wethersfield, born August 3, 1735. They had eight children, three girls and five boys.

(VI) Abigail, eldest child of Joseph (2) and Hopeful (Robbins) Moseley, was born in Glastonbury, Connecticut, January 7. 1763. She married, December 25. 1782, Eleazer House, of Glastonbury (see House I). They removed to Turin, New York, in 1800. She died at Houseville, Lewis county, New York, March 18, 1833.

BLESSING Of that type of man which makes the esteemed citizen was Albany's mayor. Hon. James H. Blessing. In him were well com- bined certain opposing traits which gave a pe- culiar and a pleasing balance. He was a fighter of the war of the rebellion, an active participant therein, yet his disposition was de- cidedly humane; although he rose to the greatest height of honor his city could pos- sibly bestow, its mayor, yet never was he in the least degree vaunted; by nature he was retiring, and while skilled as a scientist and an inventor of repute, he was also able to turn his ideas into practical service, and un- like many of this sort was highly successful in his business. For either one or all of these qualities, he was both respected and admired by those within the wide circle of his ac- quaintance. Even his severest political crit- ics and enemies never thought to breathe the least suspicion touching his character, or thought to assail his honesty, for they well knew that such an intended wrong could not have injured him, and having the fullest con- fidence of the people such a reprehensible act

HUDSON AND MOHAWK VALLEYS

would simply and surely hurt their own cause.

For fully fifty years he was actively en- gaged in business in Albany, although not born there, and he was known more or less intimately by business men and others from the South End, where his plant had been and thrived for a great many years, to the North End, where later was his establishment with office, and from the river to the Pine Hills section, for his political life had brought him into contact with people outside the business centers of the city. To all of these people he was much more than a common friend, for they regarded him as a man of sterling integrity and business principles, as one pos- sessing uprightness of character and actuated by the noblest purposes. Frequently they sought him for his sound advice, often for genial and generous encouragement, and at times for charitable help. They never went to him in vain. It was not uncommon for him to offer.

James Henry Blessing was born at French's Mills, near Sloan's, in Albany coun- ty, September 14, 1837. His father was Fred- erick I. Blessing, and his mother was Lu- cinda (Smith) Blessing. When he was about five years of age his parents moved into Al- bany, and he was able thus to attend the city's schools near where they lived. At the age of twelve he secured a position as a clerk in a grocery store, but this did not prove to his liking. It was so uncongenial that he cast about for something else to do, in which, with his heart in his work, he might the better count upon success to reward patient effort. He abandoned the position in 1853 and be- came an apprentice in the machinist trade, which evidently well suited his natural inclin- ation and accounts for his success all through life. The new position was with the large and well-known firm of F. &. T. Townsend, and there he completed his term of instruc- tion in 1857, but remained with this firm until 1861. This was at the time when Albany was cast into excitement over the outbreak of the civil war. It was a place where recruiting was going on beneath tents erected in the broad streets, and a drummer upon the out- side kept people's patriotism at a glow. With the late General Frederick Townsend, he worked hard over the invention of a novel form of a breech-loading rifle which they intended for army use. From its improvement over older mechanical devices, they contemplated great re- sults, and their endeavors were induced large- ly through patriotic motives, for General Townsend shortly recruited a regiment in Al-

bany with which he departed for the front, while Mr. Blessing likewise entered the ser- vice in defense of the Union, but applying his ability in his individual field.

Mr. Blessing entered the United States serv- ice in the navy as an acting assistant engi- neer. He was very acceptable, for he was an expert and thoroughly interested in his line. He participated in both battles of Fort Fish- er. His enlistment dated under Commodore Porter, March 29, 1864, and he served con- tinuously, receiving promotions. From 1862 to 1864, he was connected with the construction department of the New York Navy Yard at Brooklyn. No matter what honors came to him afterward, he cited that period of his life with greatest pride, for its scope was the na- tion's existence, the later honor a city's ad- vancement. Following the close of the war, . he was engineer in charge of the steam ma- chinery of the Brooklyn City Railroad Com- pany.

He returned to Albany, in 1866, to accept the position of superintendent of the exten- sive foundry and machine works of Town- send & Jackson, located in the southern part of the city and upon the Hudson river front. It was in its day the most important works of this character for many miles around, liav- ing succeeded to the firm with which he had served his apprenticeship, and the manage- ment had fullest confidence in his ability. In the year 1870 Mr. Blessing invented the "re- turn steam trap," which has become well known and is used generally in nearly all parts of the globe. It was regarded as a great step in advance, and his friends, per- ceiving this, were willing to back him finan- cially. Leaving the Townsend & Jackson firm in 1872, he, with General Frederick Townsend, engaged in the business of manu- facturing and selling steam traps under the firm name of Townsend & Blessing. The business proved a success, and in 1875 the Albany Steam Trap Company was formed, with three stockholders, General Townsend, the late Henry H. Martin and Mr. Blessing.

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Hudson-Mohawk genealogical and family memoirs, Volume I, Part 18

Author: Reynolds, Cuyler, 1866-1934, ed Publication date: 1911 Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company Number of Pages: 656

Author: Reynolds, Cuyler, 1866-1934, ed
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 656