Mohawk Valley genealogy and history : [a compilation of clippings, 1945-1946], Part 58

Author:
Publication date: 1942
Publisher: [1942-1949]
Number of Pages: 276

USA > New York > Montgomery County > St Johnsville > Mohawk Valley genealogy and history : [a compilation of clippings, 1945-1946] > Part 58

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).

BILLINGTON-WHELAN

By Mrs. Florence Spencer Whelan da and Genesee counties, N. Y. and Franklin township, Lenawee county, Michigan, with references to their relatives in Ohio and Indiana.

The first four generations of our line of Billingtons in this county are well known and given in the May- flower Descendant and in the May- flower Index . as John BillIngton of Mayflower Company, 1620, No. 3350; John's son Francis, No. 3345; Fran- cis's son Isaac No. 3347 nd Isaac's son, Isaac, Jr. No. 3346.

Jr. and Mary (Dunham) Billington, born at Middleboro, Mass., May 1-, 1735, married at Middleboro, Mass., Dec. 30, 1756 to Deborah Smith. See very near the place on which he was Mayflower Descendant No. 13 page 3 and also No. 24, page 58.

. Sixth generation: John Billington, son of Seth and Deborah, born at Middleboro, Mass., " Nov. 24, 1760, baptized in 1763 ,married at Brook- field, Mass., (intention) March 1, 1784, to Lurania Horton (1st wife), and had John and Seth, baptized July 29, 1792 and Polly baptized Oct. 5, 1794 (See Brookfield, Mass. V. R. to 1850). This Seth moved to near Co- lumbus, Ohio, married Miliy (Amelia) Siack and had a daughter whom he family being killed by lightning in his named Lurania H. Billington. Seth own doorway was told me by my mother-in-law soon after I was mar- ried and is known aiso to Floyd Bil- lington and Zora Billington Case, was killed by lightning in the door- way of his home while his brother the John was visiting him "from east," and John stayed on and mar- ried his brother's widow, had other children, removed to Scipio, La Porte, Co., Indana, where he died in 1857. A great great granddaughter of Seth, through Lurania H. Billington, Mrs. Charies R. Busch of Zanesville, Ohio, has oid letters written by John and other members of the family. John's will is on file at La Porte, Indiana and in it he mentions and leaves legacies to "John and David Billington, heirs of Elam Billington.". Land records show a family named her family and Elam living near some of John's bands' mother. Long and careful children in Indiana. My mother-in- law's father, Elam Nelson Billington, removed his family from Franklin township, Lenawee county, Michigan, where all his children were born, to

La Porte county, Indiana, where they lived for a few years and were still living when Father went down there to marry Mother and brought her | esee Co., New York. I belleve that back to Franklin township, Lenawee

Co., Mich. The family soon followed and Elam Neison Billington and his wife lived the remainder of their lives near where they had lived when they were first married. At this time he had dropped the Elam and was

known as Nelson Billington; land re- cords of Lenawee county, Mich., Li- ber No. 84 ,page 768, "Nelson E. Bil- lington and Julia Billington" bought the "N. 1/2 of S. W. 1% of Sec. 11 of Franklin township, Lenawee Co., Mich., of Harvey Doty and Evaline Doty his wife, all of Franklin town- ship." (Julia and Evaline were own

Fifth generation Seth, son of Isaac, cousins, both Whelans. ) This land is

situated right among the Whelans and is the place on which Nelson E. Billington died in 1874, also it is

living when he is entered in the U. S. Census of 1840 and that was also right among the Whelans. The Whe- ians and the Billingtons lived near each other in Oneida Co., N. Y. and in Genesee Co., N. Y., and assisted each other at various times as is proven by the public records. A daughter-in-law of Nelson E. Billing- ton, living near me, age 88, says that when they went to La Porte Co., Ind. they lived in the farm of "Uncle Lo- renzo." The story of some one in the

grandchildren of Nelson E. Billing- ton, they having heard it from their fathers. There is a great fear of lightning among the other children who are well known to me. It was the story of the lightning victim as toid by Mrs. Charles R. Busch (a per- fect stranger whom I have , never seen) in response, to an answer to her query in the genealogical sec- tion of The Hartford Times for Bil- lington data that gave me an ink- ling of the close connection between that of my hus-

search has convinced me that her great great grandfather Seth Beliing- ton was a haif-brother of our Neison Elam Biliington and that they were sons of John Billington born' Nov. 24, 1760 at Middleburgh, Mass., who died Feb. 20, 1826 at.Clarkson, Gen-

married Seth's widow Amelia, had been married previously and had lost his wife after having had at least one son, named Elam. His will would indicate that, also letters in posses- sion of Mrs. Busch. He left money to "heirs of Elam BillIngton" but did not state the relationship to him; al- so the old letters and the U. S. Cen- sus show that young John and David were watched over by John's child- ren.

(To be continued)

WALLONSACK PATENT .

On February 27, 1792, the Commis- Bioners in Partition in accordance with the 15th Aict of the Legislatuure of the State of New York, met to make partition of the lands of Ed- ward Collins and others, called the. Wallonsack Patent. They divided the land between twelve owners, to wit: Micajah Covell

Waiter Wood Edward Atkins Ebenezer Allen

Abraham Hodges

Abraham Staples Tibbits Soule

Joseph Mosher Alien Mosher Zebulon Cornell

Elisha Southwick John Tobias

Who were these men and where did they come from? In 1790 ali of these men except Micajah Covell were listed in Cambridge, Albany county. Micajah Coveil was listed in Mohawk, Montgomery county. Data especially wanted of Micajah Coveil. Where and when was he born and where and when did he die? He is probably the same Micajah Covell who married Sarah Soule at White Creek, N. Y. Sarah Soule was dis- owned by the Friends in 1767 for her. married "out" to Micajah Covell. Mi- cajah and Sarah had at least the following children: James who mar- ied Merebeh Dillingham; Mary mar- ried John Dillingham; Sarah married John Shepherd; Avis married Joseph Smith,

Data also wanted of John and Beri- beh Dillingham.

Data wanted of Micajah Coveli of Lysander, Onondaga county, with wife Polly, who sold land on June 25th, 1835 to William Thomas of Ly- sander. What relation, if any, was this Micajah to the Micajah above?" Would like to correspond with de- scendants of either of these . Mica- jahs.

Mrs. Theodore L. Chisholm, 990 Post Road,

John Billington, brother of Seth, who Scarsdale, N. Y.

One Branch of the Lewis Family

By C. W. LEWIS, JR. (Continued from last week)

. Sir William the second was very much a Rovalist, and in November of

Captain Samuell Watts, my great- grandfather, was one of three grand- sons of William C. Watts, who came over to this country during the

Scotch-Irish immigration of 1719.

Samuel Watts, the third, was born in October. of 1812 at St. George's near Thomaston, " Maine. Little is known' of his early life. It is to be presumed that a great deal of his time_was spent around boats and

British ship Dawpool in a race from San Francisco to Liverpool. THE END

Genealogical Sources in the Mohawk Valley

AND HISTORY

way of his home while his brother

John was visiting him "from the

east," and John stayed on and mar-

ried his brother's widow, had other ton, they having heard it from their children, removed to Sclpio, La Porte, fathers. There Is a great fear of Co., Indana, where he died in 1857. lightning among the other children who are well known to me. It was the story of the lightning victim as told by Mrs. Charles R. Busch (a per- fect stranger whom I have never seen) in response to an answer to her query In the genealogical sec- tion of The Hartford Times for Bil- lington data that gave me an ink- ling of the close connection between her family and that of my hus-

A great great granddaughter of Seth, through Lurania H. Billington, Mrs. Charles R. Busch of Zanesville, Ohio, has old letters written by John and other members of the family. John's will Is on file at La Porte, Indiana and in it he mentions and leaves legacies to "John and David Billington, heirs of Elam Billington." Land records show a family named Elam living near some of John's children in Indiana. . My mother-in- law's father, Elam Nelson Billington, removed his family from Franklin township, Lenawee county, Michigan, where all his children were born, to

La Porte county, Indiana, where they lived for a few years and were still living when Father went down there to marry Mother and brought her esee Co., New York. I believe that back to Franklin township, Lenawee

John Billington, brother of Seth, who Scarsdale, N. Y.

Where and when was ne voriranuy where and when did he die? He is probably the same Micajah Covell who married Sarah' Soule at White Creek, N. Y. Sarah Soule was dis- owned by the Friends In 1767 for her married "out" to Micajah Covell. Mi- cajah and Sarah had at least the following children: James who mar- led Merebeh Dillingham; Mary mar- ried John Dillingham; Sarah married John Shepherd; Avis married Joseph Smith.

Data also wanted of John and Beri- beh Dillingham.

Data wanted of Micajah Covell of Lysander, Onondaga county, with wife Polly, who sold land on June 25th, 1835 to William Thomas of, Ly- sander. What relation, If any, was this Micajah to the Micajah above ? Would like to correspond with de- scendants of either of these. Mica- jahs.

Mrs. Theodore L. Chisholm,

990 Post Road,

One Branch of the Lewis Family

By O. W. LEWIS, JR. (Continued from last week)

Sir William the second was very much a Royalist, and in November of 1774 the people of his county, York, passed a resolution. That since Sir William II was trying to enslave free people by carrying out Acts of the British Parliament, and since he held a seat in the Pretended board of Councillors, it was resolved that William had thus forfelted the con- fidences and friendships of all , true friends of American Liberty, and lik'e all other Pretended Councillors should be detested by all good men.

It was also recommended that as soon as Leases made to the good peo- ple by Sir William should expire, the people were to withdraw ali connec- tions, commerce, and dealings from him. Also that' the good people take no further leases or conveyance of his farms and mills until he should resign the pretendediy occupied seat of the Mandamus.

Not long after this denunciation, the Baronet moved to Boston, thence sailed for England In 1775. In 1778, having been proscribed and banished from New England, he was included in the Conspiracy Act.

Thus, the princely fortune of the Pepperrells that had required a cen- tury to construct, from the founda- tions laid by John Bray, the ship- wright, to the massive structure rais- ed by the Fisherman William Pep- perreil, and completed by Sir Wil- liam Pepperreli, his named son, frust- ened and secured though It was by every instrument that his own skil! and legai council could devise to give stability and perpetuity, was in a brief hour overthrown, demolished, and scattered to the four winds by the Confiscation Act of 1778.

The last connection in the Lewis family about which I am going to tell, while not as famous as Sir Wil- liam Pepperrell, is, on the other hand. more interesting to me because of my love of the sea.

Captain Samuell Watts, my great- grandfather, was one of three grand- sons of William C. Watts, who came over to this country during the Scotch-Irish immigration of 1719.

Samuel Watts, the third, was born in October, of 1812 at St. George's near Thomaston, Maine."Little is known' of his early life. It is to be presumed that a great deal of his time was spent around boats and yards along the Georges River.

Captain Watts married Clarissa Mills, the daughter of Captain Har- vey Mills of St. George. He lived in Thomston, Maine, a seaport town noted for its 100 sea captains, among these were 25 members of the Watts family.

Captain Watts was a sea captain, ship builder and merchant. For a time he was with the firm of Watts and O'Brien, and later was in busi- ness for himself.

The type of square riggers built were mainly for the California grain trade. However it was not uncom- mon for them to carry cargo and passengers to all corners of the world. Between the fifties and the nineties there were many races around the Horn and from New oYrk to San Francisco and to Liverpool.

My great grandfather built many ships, among the better known boats were the Lorretto Fish, the Aifred D. Snow, the Levi Burgess, the Snow and Burgess, the Joseph Thomas, the Cyrus D. Wakefield and his last the R. D. Rice.

The R. D. Rice was the last but not the least, for she was the biggest vessel launched at Thomaston, Maine and also the fastest. In 1891 she beat the famous Henry B. Hyde and the

finer

flavor

Ultica Lub xxx Cream ALE Pilsner LAGER

THE WEST END BREWING CO. UTICA

British ship Dawpool in a race from San Francisco to Liverpool. ! THE END

Genealogical Sources in the Mohawk Valley

AND NEARBY

BIRTH, DEATH AND MARRIAGE RECORDS

(Continued from last week) CHENANGO COUNTY

Guilford

1898. Register 2 vols. Arr. chron. Indexed alph. by children. Custodian Mrs. Myrtle T. Wilson town clerk Guilford, N. Y. Lincklaen

1884. Record, 3 vols. Arr. chron. Indexed alph. by children. Includes. marriages 1884-1914 and deaths, 1884. Custodian, Everett Gates, town clerk, De, Ruyter, N. Y.

McDonough

1882. Record, 3 vols. Arr. chron. Indexed alph. by children. Custodian, E. A. Lamb, registrar of vital sta- tistics, McDonough, N. Y. New Berlin

1884. Record, 4 vols. Arr. chron. Indexed alph. by children. ' Includes records for village of New Berlin, 1884-1914. Custodian C. I. Matteson, town cierk, New Berlin, N. Y North Norwich

1847-50, 1883. Record, 6 vols. Arr. chron. No index. Includes marriages and deaths 1847-50. Custodian Lella Lindsay town clerk, North (Nor- wich, N. Y.

Norwich

1914. Register, 39 vols. Includes deaths. Arr. num. Indexed alph. by children. Custodian, Albert Schraft, town clerk, RD 1 Norwich, N. Y. Otselic

1882. Record, 3 vols., Arr. chron. 1882-1917, no index; 1918, indexed aiph, by children. Includes deaths. Custodian Mrs. Florence A. Woodley, 1 town clerk, South Otselic, N. Y. Oxford ..

1885. Record, 6 vos. Arr. chron. No index. Includes marriages and deaths. Custodian, C. C. Mayo, town

------

ried and is known also to Floyd Bil-

lington and Zora Billington Case, grandchildren of Nelson E. Billing-

bands' mother. Long and careful

search has convinced me that her great great grandfather Seth Belling- ton was a half-brother of our Nelson Elam Billington and that they were sons of John Billington born' Nov. 24, 1760 at Middleburgh, Mass., who died Feb. 20, 1826 at .Clarkson, Gen-

Oct. 3 1946

"LOCAL HISTORY"

'k. Oxford, N. Y.

Pharsalia + " A

1849. 3 vois. Arr. chron. 1849-98, no index: 1898, indexed alph. by children. Includes marriages and deaths, 1849-98. Many of the ecords are incomplete. Custodian, Delmar Law, town clerk, North Pharsalia, N. Y.

Pitcher

1887. Record, 3 vois. Arr. chron. No index. Includes marriages 1887- in the senior class made twenty-four 1907 and deaths 1887. Custodian Ed- pen and ink ' sketches from photo- ward Holen, town clerk, Pitcher, N. graphs representing buildings no Y

Plymouth

1847. Record, 4 vois. Arr. chron. Indexed alph. by children. Includes marriages 1847-1915 and deaths, 1847. Many of the records are incom- pete. Custodian Mrs. G. M. , Sabin, town clerk, Plymouth, N. Y. Preston

1847-50. Reports, i f b. Arr. chron. No index. Includes marriages and deaths. Custodian, Leroy Frankiin, town Clerk, Oxford, N. Y.

House Family of the Mohawk

By Melvin Rhodes Shaver Ransomville, N. Y. Descendants of Christian Hauss

.(Continued from last week)

Our writing now takes up some of the tradition and stories as have come down through the years.

In the Enterprise and News under date of Feb. 25, 1931, titled "Women in the Revolution," is the following Walrath incident as narrated by Elizabeth Scriber House concerning her grandmother, Elizabeth Bowman, wife of Henry Walrod, who lived near Fort Plain and there operated a fer- ry across the Mohawk. We will use her words as she toid it to her son Addison S. House and to her grand- daughter, L. Josephine Shaver: We quote:

"Grandmother and her family lived near Fort Plain, I think about two miles away and near the Mohawk River. There were several other fam- ilies living near them, as it seems to have been a little settlement of itself. This little settlement had always been on quite friendly terms with the Indians and many times they had stopped at Grandmother Walrods' door for food and were never refus- ed.

Quite often the women and child- ren of the settlement were left at home alone when the men were busy with the duties of the farm or were under arms fighting for the inde- pendence of the colonies.

One day an Indian, whom Grand- mother had befriended many times, stopped at the house and sat down on the doorstep. He was very silent and Grandmother asked the cause, as she could see that his mind was troubled. At last he spoke, first ex- acting her promise never to reveal what he was about to tell her as hav- ing come from him. This she readily agreed to and he told her that the Indians were already on the warpath and were about to raid the settie- ment and for her to fiee while there was yet time. Again imploring se- crecy as to his, part in her; escape, as his life would be forfeited if his tribe

BY DONALD D. PARKER Brookings, South Dakota 1 "LOCAL HISTORY"-HOW TO GATHER IT, WRITE IT, AND PUBLISH IT

(Continued from last week) To illustrate the book, two pupils

longer standing but once important in the life of the town.

in the life of the town.

Wadsworth, Center to ,City con- tained sixteen chapters dealing with the pioneers, town government, churches, education, industry, racial groups, cemetery, old houses, mili- tary affairs, and sketches of profes- sional men. It included also a bibliog- raphy, a list of contributors of infor- mation and a foreword. This volume of two hundred and seven pages had been seventeen weeks in preparation, from the time the first systematic collection of historical data was be- gun in February until the book was printed and ready for the subscribers late in May. The students disposed of around nine hundred copies, re- ceiving enough to pay the printer's bill and leave a small surplus. Since the town of six thousand was then undergoing the financial difficulties of the late thirties, such'a showing may be called most satisfactory.

The Wadsworth town history is not an isolated instance of a local history gathered, written, and pub- lished by a group of students. Marion County in the Making was produced in much the same way by the J. O. Watson Class of Fairmont High School of West Virginia, in 1917. It is an excellent example of a school- sponsored local history, produced un- der the direction of the head of the history department of the school. It is printed in excellent style and is weil illustrated with household and farm implements, utensiis, tools, and relics of the past, the drawings having been made by members of the class.

On a much less pretentious scale, a smali high school in Kansas gather- ed, wrote and published in mimeo- graphed form the local history of the county. The project was financed by selling advertising space to the local merchants.

There may be some who are in- ciined to doubt the. ability of high school students to gather and write local history, but littie doubt exists in the minds of teachers who have directed activities along this line. It must always be remembered that an adult with a good education,~well- trained in historical methods, is es- sential as the directing mind behind the students' efforts. To gather stor- les from oid residents may be rela- tively easy; to obtain authentic and connected historical data from local archives is admittedly much more

difficult ;. yet this, too, can be done. under proper supervision and guid. ance.

In this connection it is worth, not- ing that the Board of Education of Great Britain has printed a pamphlet entitled "Village Survey-making, an. Oxfordshire Experiment" which aims to provide elementary school students with proper guidance in making.com- munity surveys. In the United States courses in state and local history have been introduced into many high schools and have resulted in a more pronounced interest in local history. Several states have' published pam- phlets, directing the students' activ- ities in assembling historical data . and objects. Several state historical societies have offered prizes to the counties for the best high school stu- dent's essay on the history of his: community. - 1

Occasional articles which have ap- peared from time to time tell how interest in local history has been aroused among high school students. In conclusion, it is worth, nothing that when the town of New Rochelle, New York, desired a local history, which could be used in its publio schools as a text book, it turned over the assignment to the faculty of the high school and in 1938 there was published a beautifully printed and profusely illustrated local history de- signed for classroom use just in time for the celebration of the town's two hundred and fiftieth anniversary.

Library .Sponsored Cooperation In some localities the library has become the logical depository for lo- cal historical documents and: relics. Many libraries have a nucleus collec- tion of historical objects such as old pictures, maps, letters, pamphlets, and relics, and these have a tendency to attract others. Some libraries keep, a scrap book containing clippings which refer to the local history. Oth- er libraries make an effort to secure- a copy by gift or purchase of. every; book referring to the community his- tory. When a book cannot be obtain- ed,a bibliographical note is general- ly kept, so that there is at least a record of all works referring to the community. The library may, also compile an inventory of old local manscripts, letters, diaries, account: books and the like. If the owners of these are unwilling to deposit them in the library, at least the library can direct interested persons where to go to consuit them. The same treatment may be accorded historical! relics. A list compiled giving the In- cation and nature of each such obe ject will be useful and, where no lo~ cal museum cxists, a photograph may. be taken and kept in the library. Such a centralized storehouse can lead to later coordination either by members of the library staff them- seives or by an interested outside group cooperating with the library. (To be continued) . .

Suggestions on Collecting Data

Suggestions to Local Historians on Collecting Family Data

BY HENRY C. RITCHIE, "Box 97, RD 2; . Scotia, N. Y. :. Under the heading "The Local Gen-

end of the line will indicate that: more information will be found on the back of the sheet. Additional: sheets are sometimes required when : the data is lengthy.

Column Headings

Given name. We put ali informa .... tion down which is available at the time .of"first entry and add to. this as more is received. "Initials are het ;- ter than nothing, ' but .. full given

high

and farm implements, utensuis, tools, ja copy by gilt of purchase or, every. and relics of the past, the drawings having been made by members of the class. book referring to the community. his- tory. When a book cannot be obtain- ed,a bibliographical note is general- On a much less pretentious scale, a small high school in Kansas gather- ed, wrote and published in mimeo- graphed form the local history of the county. The project was financed by selling advertising space to the local merchants. ly kept, so that there is at least a record of all works referring to the community. The library may, also compile an inventory of old. local inanscripts, letters, diaries, account: books and the like. If the owners of'. these are unwilling to deposit them There may be some who are in- clined to doubt the ability of high school students to gather and write to go to consult local history, but little doubt exists in the minds of teachers who have directed activities along this line. It must always be remembered that an adult with a good education,-well trained in historical methods, is es- sential as the directing mind behind the students' efforts. To gather stor- ies from old residents may be rela- tively easy; to obtain authentic and connected historical data from local archives is admittedly much more in the library, at least the library can direct interested persons where them. The same: treatment may be accorded historical! relics. A list compiled giving the 1b> cation and nature of each such obe ject will be useful and, where no lo- cal museum exists, a photograph may be taken and kept in the library. Such a centralized storehouse can iead to later coordination either by members of the library staff them- selves or by an interested outside group cooperating with the library. (To be continued) . .

Suggestions on Collecting Data

Suggestions to Local Historians on Collecting Family Data

BY HENRY C. RITCHIE,

Box97 ;= RD-2)Scotia; Ni Vet

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Mohawk Valley genealogy and history : [a compilation of clippings, 1945-1946], Part 58

Author: Publication date: 1942 Publisher: [1942-1949] Number of Pages: 276

Author:
Publication date: 1942
Publisher: [1942-1949]
Number of Pages: 276