Hudson-Mohawk genealogical and family memoirs, Volume II, Part 32

Author: Reynolds, Cuyler, 1866- ed
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 716

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and John," landing after a passage of seven- ty days at Nantasket (Hull), Massachusetts, on Sunday, May 30, same year. They pros- pected for a location several days, finally de- ciding upon a spot he called Dorchester, af- ter the English home of many of the settlers. John Strong was accompanied by his sister Eleanor, who was several years his junior, he being then about twenty-five years old. She married Walter Deane, a tanner, of Taunton, Massachusetts, previously of Taunton, Eng- land, and they are the ancestors of a numer- ous family. In 1635 John Strong left Dor- chester and settled at Hingham and took the freeman's oath at Boston, March 9, 1639. He tarried but a short time at Hingham, for on December 4, 1636, he is found an inhabitant and proprietor of Taunton, Massachusetts, where he was that year made a freeman, and was a deputy to the general court in 1641-43- 44. He removed to Windsor, Connecticut, and in 1659 to Northampton, Massachusetts, of which town he was one of the first and most active founders. Here he lived forty years, becoming a leading man in town and church affairs. He was a prosperous tanner and a large land owner. From the church records of Northampton we quote: "After solemn and extraordinary seeking to God for his direction and blessing, the church chose John Strong ruling elder, and William Holton deacon." He married, in England, a wife (name unknown) who died on the voyage or shortly after landing; she was the mother of two children. He married (second) Abigail Ford, of Dorchester, with whom he lived fif- ty-eight years. She was the mother of six- teen children, and died July 6, 1688, aged eighty years. Elder John Strong died April 14, 1699, aged ninety-four years. At his death he had one hundred and sixty descen- dants-eighteen children, fifteen having fam- ilies ; one hundred and fourteen grandchildren, and thirty-three great-grandchildren.

Thomas Ford, father of Abigail (Ford) Strong, was one of the company who came in the "Mary and John" in 1630. He was an early settler of Windsor, Connecticut, which town he represented in the general court in 1637-38-39-40. Children of Elder John Strong, by first wife: John, of whom further, and an infant who soon died. By second wife: Thomas; Jedediah, died aged ninety-six years; Josiah; Return, died, aged eighty-five years; Elder Ebenezer, died aged eighty-six years; Abigail; Elizabeth, died aged eighty-nine years ; Experience ; Samuel, died aged eighty years; Joseph, twin with Samuel; Mary, died aged eighty-four years; Sarah, died aged seventy-seven years; Han-

nah; Hester; Thankful; Jerijah, died aged eighty-eight years. The oldest and youngest children were thirty-nine years apart in age, the eldest born in England, 1626, and the youngest in Connecticut, 1665. Abigail, wife of Elder Jones, could not have been more than sixteen at the time of her marriage in 1630, at which time the Elder was twenty- five. Two sons and a daughter died young. The daughters all married, one of them twice. The sons all married, and from these fifteen children sprang nearly all the numerous Strong families in the United States.

(III) John (2), eldest child of Elder John (1) Strong, by his first wife, was born in England, in 1626, died in Windsor, Connec- ticut, February 20, 1697-98. When settled in life he was a resident of Windsor, Connecti- cut, where he was a man of consequence. It is believed that he learned and followed the business of his father and owned the tanner- ies. He married, November 26, 1656, Mary Clark, of Windsor, daughter of Joseph Clark ; she died April 28, 1663, aged twenty-five years. He married (second) Elizabeth War- riner, who died June 7, 1684. Children by first wife: Mary and Hannah; by second wife : John, Jacob, Josiah, see forward, Eliza- beth.

(IV) Josiah, son of John (2) and Elizabeth (Warriner) Strong, was born in Windsor, Connecticut, January II, 1678, died at Col- chester, Connecticut, April 5, 1759. He was a farmer at Windsor until 1704-05, when he removed to Colchester. He married, Janu- ary 5, 1698, Joanna Gillett, born October 28, 1680, daughter of Josiah and Joanna (Tain- tor) Gillett, of Simsbury, Connecticut. Chil- dren: Hannah, John, Damaris, Elizabeth, Mary, Josiah, Eunice, Caleb, Rachel, Dorothy, Joshua, Irene and Asahel.

(V) Asahel, thirteenth child of Josiah and Joanna (Gillett) Strong, was born in Colches- ter, Connecticut, June 22, 1725. He was a farmer. He married, June 7, 1744, Betterus Crouch. Children: Irene, Asahel, Adonijah, Ambrose, see forward ; Joanna, Betterus, Asa- hel, Mercy, Polly. On August 22, 1866, at Easthampton, Connecticut, five hundred and thirty-three descendants of Adonijah Strong held a reunion, and the orator of the day said "no member of the family had ever been ar- raigned for any, even petty, crime, and no one of them ever was an inmate of any alms- house or dependent on public or private char- ity for support."

(VI) Ambrose, fourth child of Asahel and Betterus (Crouch) Strong, was born in Col- chester, Connecticut, November 1, 1750. He was a farmer, and the maker and vendor of

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a popular medicine of his day, known as "Strong's Syrup." He married, October 4, 1770, Lydia Holdridge, a widow. Children: Elisha and Elijah, twins; Betterus, Roxana, Charles.

(VII) Elijah, twin son of Ambrose and Lydia (Holdridge) Strong, was born at Col- chester, Connecticut, June 26, 1771, died there April 26, 1860. He was a farmer of Colches- ter. He married (first) Anna Crouch, born September 24, 1773, died April 8, 1813, daughter of Christopher and Rebecca (Buell) Crouch; (second) June, 1814, Lucy Finley, born December 18, 1778, died October 26, 1856, daughter of Solomon Finley, of Marl- boro, Connecticut. Children by first wife: I. Anna Buell, born January 12, 1799; married a kinsman, George Strong. 2. Lydia Cham- berlain, born September 16, 1800, died un- married, April, 1866. 3. Rebecca Crouch, born April 13, 1803; married Hazel Gott, of He- bron, Connecticut. 4. Elijah Frink, born Oc- tober 12, 1804. 5. Charles Davis, born Sep- tember I, 1806. 6. Elizabeth Wright, born December 4, 1808; married Lewis Phelps, of Hebron, Connecticut. 7. William Christopher, born March 12, 18II ; removed to South Ca- rolina, and all trace is lost. 8. George Gris- wold, born November 14, 1812, joined the gold hunters of '49 and went to California; died July 19, 1887, Buena Vista, Iowa, un- married. Children of second wife: 9. Ed- ward Henry, see forward. 10. Lucy Elvira, January 30, 1817, was a school teacher; un- married. II. Walter John Finley, born Sep- tember 17, 1822.

(VIII) Edward Henry, son of Elijah and Lucy (Finley) Strong, was born at Colches- ter, Connecticut, May 14, 1815, died at that place March 15, 1891. He was a farmer, but devoted much of his life to the public service, holding many of the town offices, serving as tax receiver, and three times was elected to the state legislature. During his latter years he was railroad appraiser, adjusting losses for property burned or otherwise destroyed. He was a Puritan in religion, and brought up his family in the strictest observance of all religious forms and worships. He married Eunice Loomis (see Loomis VIII), born in Goshen, Connecticut, May 6, 1818, died at Colchester, June 30, 1902. Children: I. Ed- ward Loomis, born November 4, 1844, died April 1, 1896. 2. Henry A., see forward. 3. Nelson Hooker, born February 27, 1850, in business in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 4. Lucy L., born February 14, 1852, died May 2, 1853. 5. Abbie Utley, born March 23, 1854, died at Colchester, March 2, 1901 ; mar- ried John R. Backus. 6. Sarah Jane, born

November 11, 1856; married Frank W. Bar- bour, who died May 25, 1896, aged thirty- eight years. She survives him and resides in Boston, Massachusetts. 7. Arthur Hotch- kiss, born July 9, 1859, died January 15, 1863. 8. Nora Amelia, born May 26, 1862, died January 16, 1863.

(IX) Henry A., second son of Edward Henry and Eunice (Loomis) Strong, was born in Colchester, Connecticut, September IO, 1846. He received his early education in the public schools and prepared for college at the Academy in Colchester, and at Phil- lips Academy, at Andover and Exeter. He entered Yale College, from which he was graduated A.B., class of 1873. His profes- sional education was obtained at Albany Law School, where he was graduated LL.B., 1874. He began the practice of law in Troy, but in September, 1874, located in Cohoes, where he formed a law partnership with George H. Fitts (in 1905 elected judge of. the supreme court, died December 17, 1909), under the firm name of Fitts & Strong. For about a year he was a partner with Frederick C. Webster, a Yale classmate, the firm being Strong & Webster. Since dissolving the lat- ter partnership he has practiced alone, with one exception, doing a general legal business, but confining his work as far as possible to an office practice in preference to the work of a courtroom. He is well versed in the law and stands high in his profession. He is a Republican and always has taken an active, prominent part in city affairs, and as a dele- gate to county and state conventions has helped to shape the policy of his party. In 1877 he served as city school commissioner ; was city attorney from 1878 to 1885 and from 1896 to 1906; was elected mayor of the city of Cohoes in 1892, and in 1894 was elected to succeed himself. Other city offices of trust have been offered him and declined. He is a member of the Presbyterian church since settling in Cohoes. formerly of the Congregational church. He is a member of Albany County and the New York State Bar associations and Alpha Delta Phi fraternity of Yale. He married, June 5, 1884, Esther Lucretia Hastings, of Schenectady, New York, who died April 22, 1901, daughter of Robert Hastings, born in Scotland, emigrat- ing to the United States when a young man. They have no issue.

(The Loomis Line).

Eunice (Loomis) Strong, wife of Edward Henry Strong, was a descendant in the eighth generation of the Loomis family in America founded by Joseph Loomis, a woolen dealer

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of Braintree, Essex county, England, who sailed from London, April 1I, 1638, in the ship "Susan and Ellen," arriving in Boston harbor July 17, 1638. He settled in Windsor, Connecticut, where the town records state he had a tract of twenty-one acres adjoining the Farmington river, partly obtained by grant and partly by purchase. His house was situ- ated near the mouth of the river, and was called the "Island," from the fact that the spring tides converted it temporarily into an island. He settled at Windsor late in 1639, and brought a wife, five sons and three daugh- ters. He died November 25, 1658.

(II) John, son of Joseph Loomis, was born in England, in 1622, and became a man of prominence in the town of Windsor, Con- necticut. He was deputy to the general court 1666-67, and from 1675 to 1687 inclusive. He signed his name John Loomys on a court document dated 1688. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Scott, of Hartford, Con- necticut. He was known as "Deacon John," and died September 1, 1688.

(III) Thomas, son of Deacon John and Elizabeth (Scott) Loomis, was born in Wind- sor, Connecticut, December 3, 1653, died Au- gust 12, 1688. He married Sarah, daughter of Daniel White; she survived him and mar- ried (second) John Bissel.

(IV) Thomas (2), son of Thomas (I) and Sarah (White) Loomis, was born at Hatfield, Massachusetts, April 20, 1684, died April 30, 1765. Married (first) Elizabeth Fowler, (second) Hannah Hunt.

(V) Thomas (3), son of Thomas (2) and Elizabeth (Fowler) Loomis, was born in Le- banon in 1714, died February 22, 1792. Mar- ried, November 17, 1734. Susanna Clark.

(VI) Isaiah, son of Thomas (3) and Su- sanna (Clark) Loomis, was born at Lebanon, September 11, 1749, died November 20, 1834. He married, December 8, 1774, Abigail Wil- liams, born 1755, died July 12, 1826.

(VII) Veach, son of Isaiah and Abigail (Williams) Loomis, was born at Lebanon, Connecticut, December 16, 1775, died there April 30, 1867. He was a farmer. He mar- ried Lucy Lathrop, who died there February 27, 1855.

(VIII) Eunice, daughter of Veach and Lucy (Lathrop) Loomis, married Edward Henry Strong (see Strong VIII).

BETTS Burwell Betts, grandfather of the present generation of the Troy family under consideration, was the proprietor of a hotel at Brunswick, New York, which was his home until his death. He married, 1809, Martha Terry,

born May 9, 1791, who bore him five chil- dren: Angeline, married Luther D. Eddy ; Charlotte; Nelson Benjamin, see forward; Almira; Nathan B. Burwell Betts died at Brunswick, May 9, 1825, aged forty years, and was there buried, but his remains were afterward removed and buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Troy.

(II) Nelson Benjamin, eldest son of Bur- well and Martha (Terry) Betts, was born in Brunswick, New York, August 8, 1812, died February 10, 1887, at Troy, and is buried in Oakwood Cemetery. He removed to Troy and purchased land near the city, which he cultivated during the remainder of his days. He was a Whig and later a Re- publican in politics, and a member of the Presbyterian church. He married Lucy Ann Brown, the legally adopted daughter of John Thomas, of Brunswick, New York, who died December 17, 1855. Children : Martha, mar- ried Dr. C. H. Burbeck, of Troy, New York ; John Thomas, see forward; Stephen Win- chester, died young.

(III) John Thomas, eldest son of Nelson Benjamin and Lucy A. (Brown) Betts, was born in Troy, New York, December 12, 1844. He was educated in the Troy schools, reared to farm labor, and was his father's assistant until the death of the latter in 1887. He then inherited the farm, which is one of the best cultivated and most beautifully situated of any in the county. It occupies an eminence overlooking the valley of the Hudson river and the cities of Troy, Cohoes and Albany. With well-kept fields and or- chards, comfortable house and tasteful grounds, it is an ideal home. Mr. Betts was formerly a member of the school board, before the section in which he now resides became a part of the city of Troy. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church, and is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to lodge, chapter and commandery of Knights Tem- plar; is also a member of the Shrine. He married, in Coeymans, New York, June 15, 1882, Helen Elizabeth, born in Coeymans, daughter of John Wesley and Catherine (Blaisdell) Cook, of Coeymans, and a grand- daughter of Charles and Abigail Cook, who were the parents of Charles, Ransom, James, George, Alexander, John Wesley, Mary Ann, Elizabeth and Emily Cook. Charles Cook, Sr., was a carriage maker and resided for a time at Westerlo, Albany county, New York. John Wesley Cook, son of Charles and Abi- gail Cook, was born in Westerlo, died in Coeymans, New York, in 1889. His wife, Catherine (Blaisdell) Cook, died at Coeymans in 1907, aged about eighty years. Their chil-

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John T. Betty

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dren were: I. Emma Alida. 2. Archie, of Coeymans. 3. Ransom, of Albany. 4. Mary Alice, married Joshua L. Coonley. 5. Helen Elizabeth, married John Thomas Betts. 6. Francis T., died at Coeymans. 7. Melvin, resides on the old Cook homestead farm at Coeymans. 8. Delia, resides at Coeymans. 9. Byron E., deceased. 10. An infant, de- ceased. II. Orville, of Coeymans. Children of John Thomas and Helen Elizabeth (Cook) Betts: I. Nelson Benjamin, born March 13, 1883, is his father's assistant on the farm. 2. Martha Thomas, born August 24, 1888.

The first settlement within the

BETTS bounds of the present state of Connecticut was made in 1635, at Windsor, Hartford and Wethersfield. The first court was held in Hartford, April 26, 1636, one of the magistrates being Andrew Ward, several of whose descendants inter- married with those of Thomas Betts, Ameri- can ancestor of the Troy family of that name. The lands along the Sound between "Quonek- tacut" and Quinnipac rivers, between Say- brook and New Haven, were unexplored until the Pequot war of 1637, and first became known during the pursuit of the Pequots westward. The first colony formed upon the Sound was at New Haven, 1638, and Guil- ford was the second. With the founding of the latter town commences the history of the Betts family in America.

(I) Thomas Betts, ancestor of the Ameri- can family, was born in England, 1618, died in Norwalk, Connecticut, 1688. He came to America as early as 1639, being then twenty- one years of age, and became one of the founders of Guilford. No record has been found of the ship in which he came to Amer- ica. It is supposed that he came with rela- tives or friends, and being a minor his name may not have been recorded, as was often the case. From his association with Gov- ernor Leete and other Puritan forefathers, it is probable that religious persecution drove him from his native land. He brought with him a Bible dated 1591, which is still in pos- session of the family. Unfortunately, the first leaves, which may have recorded his father's name, are missing. The first record of Thomas Betts is also the earliest of any kind on the town records. In book A, p. I, court records, in Guilford, under date August 14, 1645, it is recorded that "Mr. Samuel Dis- brow, Richard Bristow and Thomas Betts, members of the church, and Theo. French, planter, took their oath." This Samuel "Dis- brow," was a brother of Colonel Disborough, who married a sister of Oliver Cromwell, and

was afterwards a member of parliament, and keeper of the great seal of Scotland. Thomas Betts received several allotments of land, be- ing one of the original forty settlers. His name does not appear among the signers of the "Guilford Plantation Covenant" which was drawn up and signed at sea, June 1, 1639,. and he therefore must have joined the colon- ists from overland. Besides the births of his- children, there is little of him in the Guilford records from 1644 to 1657. On November 17, 1657, he sold his "outlands," and three days later his home lot. He removed to Mil- ford, where he resided until 1660, when he purchased the home lot of Nathaniel Eli and Ralph Keeler, in the town of Norwalk, which was ever afterward his home. The general assembly made him a freeman of the town, October 13, 1664, which made him eligible to. hold office and proves him a member of the church. His taxable estate was valued in 1671 at £146 Ios, and he appears in the cen- sus of 1672 with the largest family in town, consisting of eight children. There are many mentions of him in the records, usually con- veyances of land, etc. He was a man hon- ored and beloved. Two years before his. death, "on December 24, 1686, the town did vote John Gregory Senr., Mr. Thomas Fitch and Thomas Betts Snr. for to be seated in the Round Seat." This was an especial mark of honor and respect, meaning a prominent position in the church, and only bestowed upon those most worthy. There is no record of the date of his marriage to Mary .; she may have come with him from England, but as his first child was born in 1644, and no records were kept in Guilford between 1639; and that date, it is very likely they were mar- ried in Guilford. Children of Thomas and Mary Betts: Thomas, of whom further ; Mary, John, Hannah, Stephen, Daniel, Sam- uel, James and Sarah. Mary, widow of Thomas Betts, survived him at least thirty- five years. She is of frequent mention in Norwalk records, and March 16, 1723-24, that town voted lands to "Mary Betts and Company." No record has been found of her death, and as she must have been at least twenty when her first child was born, in 1644, her age at the date of the last land grant in 1724 was over one hundred years.

(II) Thomas (2), eldest son of Thomas (1) and Mary Betts, was born in Guilford, Connecticut, 1644, died in 1717. He inherited and acquired an estate valued at £661 by appraisement after death. He appears to have been a prominent man both in church and town. He was selectman of Norwalk in 1701-02, and represented Norwalk in the

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general assembly in 1692-94, 1704-05-07. He married, January 13, 1680, Sarah, daughter of Hon. Mathew Marvin (2), who was born in England in 1627, and came to America in the ship "Increase." Mathew (2) was a son of Hon. Mathew Marvin (I), one of the original grantors of Norwalk. Children of Thomas and Sarah (Marvin) Betts: Thomas, of whom further; John, Sarah, Mathew, Mary and Elizabeth.

(III) Thomas (3), eldest son of Thomas (2) and Sarah (Marvin) Betts, was born in Norwalk, January 17, 1681-82, died 1761. The town granted to him and his brother John and others certain privileges, December 15, 1709, on condition of the erection of a grist mill for grinding all the grain in town. His will, dated in February, 1761, proved December 31 following, established the fact of his death that year. He gave to his wife Deborah one-half of his house land in Canaan parish. The records show nothing further of her. Children of Thomas and Deborah Betts: Thomas, of whom further ; Elijah, Isaac, Re- becka, Elizabeth and Sarah.

(IV) Thomas (4), eldest child of Thomas (3) and Deborah Betts, was born in Norwalk, 1717, died 1787. "Thomas Betts Jr. took to wife Betty Benedict, daughter of Captain Thomas Benedict, and was married to her May 22, 1748." She was born March 14, 1721, died May 21, 1782. His will, dated September 7, 1781, names children : Thomas, Hezekiah (see forward), Lydia and Susanna. Daughters Betty and Esther were deceased.

(V) Captain Hezekiah, youngest child of Thomas (4) and Betty (Benedict) Betts, was born in Norwalk, July 31, 1760, died May 31, 1837. He was a captain in the revolutionary army, and served under Major Wyllys and General Webb in the Yorktown campaign. On the night of October 21, 1781, he led one division that attacked and captured the Brit- ish position, and received a wound that ended his military career. He married, October I, 1785, Grace Hanford, born October 5, 1765, died March 27, 1840. Children: I. Rev. Al- fred Hanford, born September 2, 1786, died in Ohio, September, 1860. . 2. Amaryllis, June 28, 1788, died May 23, 1813. 3. Robert Walker, August 23, 1790. 4. Mehitable, No- vember 25, 1792, died December 27, 1843; married Richard Scott, June 2, 1811. 5. Henry, November 26, 1794; see forward. 6. Eliza Susan, July 8, 1797, died September 1, 1849. 7. Rev. Xenophon, September 22, 1799. S. Eulalie, October 13, 1802; married Horace A. Gibbs. 9. Juliette. 10. Harriet. 11. Solomon Egbert, December 23, 1809, died November 11, 1812.

(VI) Henry, fifth child of Captain Heze- kiah and Grace (Hanford) Betts, was born in Norwalk, November 26, 1794, died 1881. He was a noted inventor and chemist. He was credited with inventions that increased the efficiency of the Hoe printing press and made it a wonderful success. He was in- terested in the early manufacture of steel, and invented some of the important and valuable processes now in use. He was interested in railroads and manufacturing. He invented a process for making paper from straw, and brought forth many other inventions now in general use. He married Mary Ketchum, born in Norwalk, died in Troy, New York, I866.

(VII) Edgar Ketchum, only child of Henry and Mary (Ketchum) Betts, was born in Norwalk, June 22, 1842. His education was obtained at his mother's knee and in the public school. He was a slight, delicate child. At an early age he worked for a year in a dry goods store, his compensation being room, board, cloth enough for a suit, and ten dollars in money. This was the beginning of his business career. He located in Troy, New York, 1856, and entered the mercantile house of his uncle, James E. Keeler, later becoming owner of the business, which he conducted until the breaking out of the civil war. He later formed a partnership with a Mr. Med- bury, with whom he continued several years in the dry goods business. He then opened a store in Lansingburg, which he conducted for some years. In 1876 he entered the em- ploy of Earl & Wilson, collar manufacturers, subsequently becoming a member of the firm, and continued in business as senior member of the firm until his death, 1908. He was inventor of some of the best selling specialties of the firm, which was everywhere known as leaders in their lines of manufacture. Mr. Betts was also prominent in banking and commercial life. He was vice-president of the Union National Bank and director of the Security Trust Company. His interest in educational affairs was attested by zealous and intelligent service as president on the Lansingburg board of education, and as a trustee of the Emma Willard School. He was a member of the Sons of the Revolution, the New England Society of New York City, the Troy Club, the Riverside Club of Lan- singburg. In all matters affecting the per- sonal welfare of friends and acquaintances he was always to be relied upon for sympathy and aid. He was a communicant of the Protestant Episcopal church until 1888, when he became interested in Christian Science, embraced that faith with all the earnestness

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Hudson-Mohawk genealogical and family memoirs, Volume II, Part 32

Author: Reynolds, Cuyler, 1866- ed Publication date: 1911 Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company Number of Pages: 716

Author: Reynolds, Cuyler, 1866- ed
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 716