USA > Ohio > Ohio early state and local history > Part 18
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When Daniel Howse enlisted as a Revolutionary soldier, he left an aged father at home in Southeastern New York. This home was one of the best in that locality and grandfather Howes was considered well-to-do. He possessed two large kettles of coin; one of gold, the other of silver. He was a staunch Whig, and the Tories were very annoying in that section. He himself took the two large kettles and buried them, telling no one lest the secret be disclosed and the Tories gain possession of the wealth. A negress was hired as a ser- vant, supposedly a Whig. One day the family all went away leaving the old gentleman and the servant alone. When they returned, the negress had fled and the aged man was lying unconscious in the huge fire place. He died without regaining consciousness and the wealth was never found. The negress had evidently been in the employ of the Tories and had tor- tured Mr. Howse thus that he might tell her the secret hiding- place. How well she succeeded, no one ever knew.
There was born in old Manhattan in the latter part of the Seventeenth century, or to be more definite, in 1684, one Jacob Brower, who married in 1709, Petronella de la Montague, the daughter of French Huguenots, who had emigrated to New York.
Their son Cornelius Brower, served in the Revolution under Colonel Frederick Weissenfels, Major Thomas De Witt; also under Captain Brower, in Colonel Brinkerhoff's Regiment of New York.
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Another young patriot, was Tilton Eastman, who was born in New Fairfield, Connecticut, and enlisted in Captain Bogar- dus' Company of Queens county, New York Militia, at the age of nineteen. He was also enrolled in the Ulster county, New York Militia, in Colonel James McClaghry's Command.
The progenitor of Tilton Eastman-Roger Eastman, was born in Wales. He was a Puritan and under the tyranny of the Tudors and Stuarts, left his native land to enjoy civil and religious liberty in the Colonies. He sailed from Southampton on the ship Confidence, in April, 1638, bound for Massachu- setts Bay Colony.
John Wisner, Sr., who died in 1778, was a Captain in the French and Indian War. In 1776, he was Captain of Florida and Warwick Company of Orange County, New York Militia, in Colonel Isaac Nichols' Regiment.
John Wisner, Jr., born in 1741, and who died in 1811, was Captain of Pushing Brook, Orange county, Militia, in the same Regiment as his father.
The father of John Wisner, Sr., was a Lieutenant in the Swiss Army, having served in Queen Anne's wars under William, Prince of Orange, and the renowned Duke of Marlborough. He, with his wife Elizabeth, and their son, emigrated to America and settled on Long Island in 1713, one year later moving to Goshen, Orange county, New York.
Nehemiah Gregory, born in Scotland in 1720, emigrated to to this country and served in the Colonial Wars. He was a private in New York State Militia in 1776. His son Jehial, served as a private in the Fourth Regiment, New York Line, under Captain Joseph Benedict, Lieutenant Colonel Weissenfels, and Colonels James Holmes and Henry B. Livingstone. He also served as a private in the Second Regiment, Westchester County Militia under Captain Benjamin Chapman, Colonel Thomas Thomas.
Jchial Gregory moved to Ohio about 1801, and in 1811 or 1812 represented Washington county and Athens county in the Ohio House of Representatives, and in 1814 at the sessions held in Zanesville. He was born at Gregory Point, New York, in 1756, and died in Fayette county, Ohio, in 1818.
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Judge Samuel Baker, whose descendants in Seneca county are numerous and ought to form a strong contingency in our Chapter, though we now have but four members on his line, was a man of more than usual prominence in Pleasant Valley, town of Urbana, Steuben County, New York, where he lived from 1793 until his death in 1842.
He served his country as a private in Captain Peter Van Renssalaer's Company of New York Militia, in the Regiment of which Marinns Willett was Colonel. He was in the campaign of 1781 in the Mohawk Valley and took part in the Battles of Johnstown and West Canada Creek, October 24th to 26th, 1781.
About 1769 or 1770, Jonathan, the father of Judge Baker, moved to White Creek in what is now Washington county, New York. While here he was captured by the Indians and taken to Burgoyne's camp, where he was sold to a Staff officer.
There is a great deal of interest in connection with the Baker Family History, and it is with regret that we mention so briefly a few of the points.
The Bakers were among the first settlers of East Hampton, Long Island, having come there in 1650 from Milford, Con- necticut. Thomas Baker, born in England in 1618, married Alice, daughter of Ralph Dayton, of New Haven. She is buried at Amagansett, Long Island, and on her tombstone is this inscription:
"Here lieth ye body of Alice Baker, formerli ye wife of Thomas Baker, who died February ye 4-1708, in ye 88 year of her age."
Thomas Baker was a Puritan, and like so many of this sect, a trustworthy and able man, as is shown by the many offices he held. His descendants still live at East Hampton and Am- agansett.
One Roxiana Baker, was, it is said, a sweetheart of John Howard Payne, the author of "Home Sweet Home" who also was a citizen of East Hampton.
Thomas Baker, the son, married in 1686, Ann, daughter of Captain Thomas Topping, of South Hampton. The paternal
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grandfather of Ann Topping Baker, also named Thomas, was first at Weathersfield, then in 1639 at Milford, Connecticut, coming to Long Island in 1650.
Thomas Topping was a patentee in the Great Connecticut Charter of 1662, granted by Charles II, to Governor Winthrop, and he was named in that Charter as one of the assistants to the Governor. This Charter of 1662 is the famous one that was hidden in the tree known as the "Charter Oak" in 1687, when its surrender was demanded by Governor Andros.
The wife of Jonathan Baker was Mary Pappillion Baker, the daughter of Deacon Edward Baker and Hannah Baldwin. Through Hannah Baldwin the Bakers descend from a long line of English and French ancestry, among whom was John Bruen of Stapleford, Chesire, England, a man of great wealth, who was a personal friend of Oliver Cromwell.
To Hannah Baldwin Baker, there was sent by her husband's grandmother, Joan, wife of Peter Pappillion, two finely em- broidered christening robes, one to descend to the eldest son and one to the eldest daughter. During the Revolutionary War, one of these priceless heir looms-the boy's robe, was cut up to make a jacket. Fortunately, the girl's robe was preserved and handed down through succeeding generations.
Captain Benjamin Randall, Jr., was another brave soldier in the cause of liberty, serving from 1779 to 1784. He was a Captain of a Company of the Albany county, New York, Militia, in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Stephen John Schuyler, which was commonly known as Lieutenant Colonel Henry K. Van Rensselaer's Regiment.
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New York Honor Roll and Descendant Chapter Members.
BAKER, JUDGE SAMUEL: Baker, Eliza Ogden (Miss); Gray, Letha Louise (Miss); Ink, Sibyl, (Miss); Sheldon, Florence Baker (Mrs. Henry E.).
BENNETT, EPHRIAM: Rule, Pearl Bennett (Mrs. Daniel C. Jr.).
BROWER, CORNELIUS:
Totten, Fannie Van Sicklen (Mrs. W. J.).
DENTON, CAPTAIN JAMES, SR .; Mott, Ellita (Miss).
EASTMAN, TILTON: Ash, Jeanette Cory (Mrs. Charles); Ink, Sibyl (Miss).
GREGORY, NEHEMIAH: GREGORY, JEHIAL: Gibson, Lucy McNeal (Mrs. Don R.).
HOUSE (HOWSE) DANIEL: Abritain, Olive Myrtle Hartman (Mrs. Frank).
MOTT, CAPTAIN JAMES: Mott, Ellita (Miss).
RANDALL, CAPTAIN BENJAMIN, JR .: Webster, Cordelia Summers (Mrs. Louis H.).
WISNER, JOHN, SR .: WISNER, JOHN, JR .: Ink, Sibyl (Miss).
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NEW JERSEY.
The early history of this Colony is so closely allied to that of Pennsylvania and New York, that its Revolutionary annals are but a continuation of the struggles and hardships of those Colonies.
Many battles were fought in her territory-Monmouth, Trenton, Princeton, and others equally as well known.
During that dreadfully depressing winter of 1776 and 1777 General Washington had his headquarters at Morristown. The kindness and loyalty of the people of the surrounding country did much to encourage the disheartened chief; and the splendid victory at Trenton put new hope in the flagging spirits of officers and men.
Our Chapter enjoys the distinction of having upon its Honor Roll the name of one of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, and it was with keen regret that we accepted the resignation of his descendant, Miss Florence Brewer, a few years ago.
John Hart was born in Hopewell, New Jersey, in 1715, and died there before the close of the Revolution in 1779 or 1780. A family Bible of his, containing his own handwriting, is still in existence.
Among New Jersey men who signed the Declaration of Independence was John Hart of Hopewell, who had led a most quiet and unobtrusive life up to the time when duty to his fellow men required him to sacrifice his personal interests to the public good. He was a farmer, little interested in political events, being however, a man of sound sense and good judgment, and called by his neighbors and friends "Honest John Hart."
With that diadem he went into the First Continental Con- gress in 1774, as a delegate, and continued to represent New Jersey until 1777, signing the document which prophesied of a struggle in which his fortune and his life might perish. He pledged both to the cause and suffered much. He became an object of vengence to the adherents of the Crown, and was hunted in the forests like a wild beast; and for awhile he and his family took shelter in a log hut not far from his own com- fortable dwelling.
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A monument of Quincy granite marks his burial place, erected by the State of New Jersey, as a token of public grati- tude, and dedicated July 4, 1865-Governor Parker making the address.
Colonel John Stark, of New Jersey, should be distinguished from General John Stark, of New Hampshire, that gallant leader of the "Green Mountain Boys;" also from Captain John Stark of Vermont, who participated in the Battle of Benning- ton.
Colonel Stark's father, Aaron, had moved to New Jersey from Connecticut, where three generations had lived, the emi- grant ancestor having settled at New London. Aaron bought a large tract of land in Morris county, and founded the home where his son John was born in 1730.
May 15, 1777, John Stark was commissioned Second Major, Western Battalion, Morris county Militia, and on October 7, 1778, he was promoted, being given a Lieutenant Colonel's commission. Colonel Stark died in 1825.
Among those who accompanied the First Battalion of the New Jersey Continental Line in its expedition into Canada, was William Hoffman, who resided at Amwell, Hunterdon county, New Jersey, at the time of his enlistment, January 22, 1776.
He took part in the attack on Quebec, and was also in the Battle of Three Rivers. He served until the close of the War. After his death, which occurred in Middlesex county, in 1826, his widow drew a pension.
Robert Huston was a soldier in the cause of liberty, of whom we have been able to learn only that he was born at Trenton, New Jersey, and served as a private in the War for Independ- ence.
The pioneer ancestor of the Campbells in America, was Alexander who, with his wife Mary MacDonald, fled from Scotland for fear of being beheaded. They both belonged to noted families, he being of the Campbell Clan claiming descent from the Duke of Argyle, and his wife Mary, being related to the Stuarts. They settled in Woodbridge, Middlesex county, New Jersey, where their son Robert was born.
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Robert Campbell enlisted as a private in Captain James Morgan's Company, Second Regiment, New Jersey Militia, which regiment was active in the defense of New Jersey Fron- tiers during the Revolution, being stationed at Cheesequakes and at South Amboy.
Robert Campbell had four sons who fought in the War, the youngest of whom is on our Honor Roll.
Alexander was born at Woodbridge, November 14, 1764, and enlisted with his brothers from Somerset county, in Cap- tain Jacob Ten Eyck's Company, First Battalion of Somerset county Militia, and also in the Continental Line. After the close of the War he married in 1785, Charity Simcox, whose people were Quakers and members of that church, at Dover, New Jersey. The little Quaker Church where her people worshipped is still standing. Nathan Simcox, her father, who came from England, was a very learned man for that day. His wife was Charity Van Dyne, of Holland descent. They are all buried in the cemetery at Dover.
At the time of the War of 1812, Alexander Campbell and his family were living at Danville, Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the 81st Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, in the Company known as the "Danville Blues," under Captain Isaac Blue, Colonel Reiker. His son Obadiah was also in the same Company.
Alexander Campbell was taken prisoner, but being paroled, was on his way home; when he reached Black Rock, New York, he was attacked by a fever called the Black Rock fever, of which he died January 1, 1813. He is buried on the bank of the Niagara River, but the location of his grave is unknown.
One of the very interesting sketches of New Jersey families is that of the Osborns, which, with others, has been furnished by Mrs. Stanley, our able Chapter Registrar.
The Osborns were seated in the parish of Hartlips, county of Kent, England, in the early part of the Fourteenth century. John Osborn, Esq., of Hartlips Place, born in 1614, succeeded his father in 1645, and built for his residence a mansion near Hartlips, called "Wane House," but removed thence to Ward- stone, because of a daring robbery committed upon him.
Thomas Osborn, the ancestor of the New Jersey families of that name, sailed with his brother Richard, from London,
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February 17, 1634. They were both in Hingham, Massa- chusetts, in 1635, Richard going with the first Connecticut Colony, which settled in Windsor. For his services in the Pequot War, he had land granted him in Fairfield, Connecticut, to which he moved in 1653.
Thomas Osborn also served in the Pequot War, and was with the Company which landed in New Haven in 1638. This Company was under the leadership of Mr. Theophilus Eaton, and on the first Lord's day after their arrival, they held public worship under a large spreading oak, the Rev. Davenport preaching on the "Temptations of the Wilderness."
In November they entered into an agreement with Mona- grun (Indian chief) and his councillors for the purchase of land, this being the foundation of the New Haven Colony. On June 4, 1639, they met together in Newman's barn and after solemn religious services, drew up what they called "A Fundamental Agreement" for the regulation of the civil and religious affairs of the Colony.
They resolved to adopt the law of God until they should have time to make a better one. Sixty-three persons signed this agreement, among them Thomas Osborn. The first church was gathered in New Haven in 1639, and consisted of seven members. These were chosen by the settlers after Rev. Davenport had preached from the words of Solomon "Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewed out seven pillars." These chosen men represented the pillars and others were added as they became qualified. They were also the Court to try all civil actions.
In 1650 Thomas Osborn, with his family, removed to East Hampton, Long Island, and later to New Jersey, where he finally settled at a place called "Connecticut Farms," which had been occupied by farmers from that Colony. The old Osborn homestead is still standing. It was built many years before the Revolutionary War, and is credited with being the birth- place of five generations. A direct descendant of the Osborns resides there at the present time, and owns the property.
The son of Thomas, Elias Osborn, Sr., enlisted in the New Jersey Militia and was wounded in the battle of Connecticut
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Farms, which was fought on his farm. He was carried in and laid on the front room floor, as is told to every visitor to this historic spot.
Still another anecdote: There is a little hill back of the old house and while the family was boiling apple-butter one day at the foot of the hill, the Hessians came and stole the apple-butter, with all the cooking utensils.
Elias Osborn, Jr., was born at the home place in July, 1754. He served as a private in the Essex county Militia and was engaged in a number of battles, among them Trenton, and Connecticut Farms. The battle at Springfield, in which he took part, was fought about two miles from the old homestead, and a half mile from the house where his Aunt Dorcas and his brother Jonathan watched the battle and saw the British re- treat from Springfield to Elizabethtown. While the British were marching, a skirmish took place about one mile to the west of the home. During this skirmish, the Americans chased a British soldier into the hollow, captured and brought him to the house.
About fifty Americans camped, one winter, in the same hollow and Aunt Dorcas told many stories and incidents of how they tormented her by using articles from the house. By the old well there is still a stone dish that Elias Osborn, Sr., dug out to set the bucket in, and the chickens gather around and drink from it in total ignorance of its antiquity.
The cannon which was used in the battle between the Con- tinentals and the Hessians is resting on a pile of stone near the public school, but it is to be removed to the historic battle-field near Springfield.
Shortly after the war, Elias Osborn Jr., married Hannah, daughter of Thomas Hayes, of Camptown (now Irvington, New Jersey), who also served in the War of '76, as a Lieutenant, both in the New Jersey Militia and the Continental Army. He died while in service, his will being proven in 1777.
The Hayes family was among the early settlers of Con- necticut, and were people of wealth. Sergeant Thomas Hayes moved from Milford, Connecticut, to Newark, New Jersey, in 1692, and his grandson, Thomas, was born at Camptown, in 1734.
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In the summer of 1778 and during 1779, when New Jersey ground was the field of battle, the residents of that Colony suffered great financial loss. A patriot who lost largely was Samuel Breese, of Shrewsbury.
When the battle of Monmouth was fought-that battle which in anticipation was to be such a glorious victory and which by the treachery of Lee, came near being a dismal fail- ure-the home of Colonel Breese lay between the two armies, and his losses were unusually heavy. He had early been very active in the cause of the Colonies and on May 27, 1775, was chosen as a member of the Committee of Observation, and also a member of a sub-committee to instruct Deputies attending the State Congress at Trenton. He was Colonel of the Third Regiment of Monmouth county Militia. In 1776 he resigned his commission, it is said, because of the backwardness of the people in espousing the cause.
Colonel Breese was the only living child of Sidney and Eliza- beth (Pinkerman) Breese, of New York City.
Sidney Breese, who was born in England, had been an ardent sympathizer of the Stuart dynasty, and was about to mount his horse to join the army of the young Pretender, when word arrived that Charles Edward had been defeated by the Royal forces.
Mr. Breese was afterward an officer in the English Navy, but his heart not being in the service, he emigrated to America about 1733 and a year later married a New York woman.
He engaged in the mercantile business, in which he was emi- nently successful. He died in New York in 1767, and is buried in Old Trinity Churchyard.
As the story goes, he was an eccentric character, probably given foundation by the following inscription on his tombstone:
SIDNEY BREESE June 9, 1767 Made by himself Ha! Sidney, Sidney, lyest thou here? I here lie Till time has flown To its eternity."
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He invested in tracts of land in Herkimer county, New York, and also in New Jersey. His son Samuel, finally settled on the latter, naming the place Shrewsbury, for his father's old home in England.
Samuel Breese married for his first wife, Rebecca, daughter of the Rev. Samuel Finley, D. D., President of the College of New Jersey, as Princeton University was then called. One daughter, Elizabeth Ann, was born to this union, the wife dying soon after at the early age of eighteen. This daughter married Jedediah Morse, the author of the early school geogra- phies, and was the mother of Samuel Finley Breese Morse, the inventor of telegraphy. In the "Belknap Papers," there is an interesting correspondence between Samuel Belknap, Ebenezer Hazard, and Samuel Breese concerning the birth of this first grand child of the latter.
Samuel Breese married a second time Elizabeth Anderson, whose parents both died when she was but a baby. She was the grand-daughter of Rev. James Anderson, a Presbyterian clergyman, who came from Scotland to Virginia in 1709, and was the first minister in the Presbytery of Newcastle. She was, however, brought up in the family of her great grand- father, Peter Chevalier, of Philadelphia. It is recorded of her that she was a woman of great excellence. Colonel Breese died at Shrewsbury in 1800, and his burial place there is well marked, having been kept in good repair by his descendants.
John Simpson, was born in Elizabethtown, New Jersey, in 1726, and died there May 9, 1786. He served with some dis- tinction in the French and Indian War, taking part in the ex- pedition to Crown Point under General Johnston in 1755, and later in 1757. He was captured, but escaped the massacre at Fort William Henry. He also served in the Revolution, being one of Morgan's Riflemen, and was in the Battles of Monmouth, Trenton, Germantown, and Brandywine, where he was badly wounded in the leg.
Alexander, the son of John Simpson, served in General Maxwell's Jersey Brigade, of Continental Troops as a drummer boy, when only thirteen years old. Being a large boy he was soon able to carry a musket and then enlisted as a soldier, being
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in skirmishes at Springfield and Elizabethtown. The follow- ing anecdote is told of him:
He was on guard at Washington's tent one night, when an officer approached and desired admission, but the young guard would not allow him to enter the tent without first giving the countersign, which for some reason the officer declined to do. Washington, hearing the controversy, came to the door and laughing, commended the guard and admitted the officer.
Alexander Simpson married Elizabeth Caldwell, and their daughter Electa, married David Stout.
There has been handed me an interesting account of the perilous adventure of the wife of Richard Stout, who left his home in England on account of a difference of opinion with his father. He first went to Long Island, becoming an adherent of Lady Deborah Moody, who came to this country for religious freedom.
"A ship came from Holland with a company of immigrants bound for New Amsterdam, but being caught in a storm, was wrecked on the Jersey coast.
"Among the passengers was a man and his wife. The man was too ill to travel with the Company to New Amsterdam, so he with his faithful wife, who would not desert him, remained behind while the others fearing the Indians, hastened away, promising to send relief.
"It was not long before a party of savages appeared, and discovering the couple, they killed the man and, as they thought, the woman also. She however, was not dead, and, regaining consciousness, crawled into a hollow tree, where she subsisted on the excrescences for several days. Finally, not being able to go longer without water, she determined to have a drink though she died for it. Leaving her place of concealment, she had gone but a short distance when two Indians, a young and an old man, appeared. The young brave wished to kill her immediately, but the old savage was merciful and would not allow it. He took the woman, whose name was Penelope, to his wigwam, and cared for her until she recovered her health.
"After some time had elapsed, a searching party was sent out from New Amsterdam, and when they found her, the old Indian gave her the chance of going or staying, though he was
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very anxious for her to remain with his people. He and Pene- lope were always good friends, and many times he gave her warning of approaching danger.
"After arriving at New Amsterdam, she met and married Richard Stout, and was the great great grand-mother of David Stout, who married Electa Simpson."
New Jersey Honor Roll and Descendant Chapter Members.
BREESE, COLONEL SAMUEL:
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