Charles Washington Greenman, died Sept. 10, 1840 aged 1 year and 9 mos.
Charles Greenman was one of seven children of James Greenman (1810-1885) and Mary Washington White (1812-1890). James and Mary were married in Rhode Island in 1828 and a few years later they moved to Northampton, NY. The Greenman’s lived here until the late 1870’s, then they headed west for land and perhaps gold. James died in South Dakota in 1885.
Jeremiah Greenman was Charles Greenman’s grandfather. Jeremiah was born in 1758 in Rhode Island. When the Revolutionary War started, Jeremiah enlisted in 1775 at the age of 17. He was wounded three times and was taken prisoner twice. He fought in the Battle of Quebec and the Battle of Monmouth. He wintered in Morristown, NJ with George Washington. After the war Jeremiah became a merchant marine for 20 years. He finally left the sea and moved his family to Ohio. At 71, shortly before his death, he delivered an election speech on behalf of President John Quincy Adams. He died in 1828. His gravestone reads: “Revolutionary Soldier - in memory of Jeremiah Greenman Esq., an active officer in that army which in defiance to Britons power and established the independence of the United States.”
During the Revolutionary War, Jeremiah wrote a diary. It is described as “one of the few eyewitness narratives that covers the Revolutionary War”. The diary was kept in the Greenman family for six generations. The family published an edited version of the diary in 1978. It is still available today.
Charles grave is a small one at the back of the graveyard. At this time it is leaning up against a tree. I call him one of the lost boys as there are several small gravestones back there that fell over and were moved. Using Dave Bixby's research and also the list made during the 1930's, Charles' gravestone will be placed as close to the original location as possible.
Jeremiah Greenman was Charles Greenman’s grandfather. Jeremiah was born in 1758 in Rhode Island. When the Revolutionary War started, Jeremiah enlisted in 1775 at the age of 17. He was wounded three times and was taken prisoner twice. He fought in the Battle of Quebec and the Battle of Monmouth. He wintered in Morristown, NJ with George Washington. After the war Jeremiah became a merchant marine for 20 years. He finally left the sea and moved his family to Ohio. At 71, shortly before his death, he delivered an election speech on behalf of President John Quincy Adams. He died in 1828. His gravestone reads: “Revolutionary Soldier - in memory of Jeremiah Greenman Esq., an active officer in that army which in defiance to Britons power and established the independence of the United States.”
During the Revolutionary War, Jeremiah wrote a diary. It is described as “one of the few eyewitness narratives that covers the Revolutionary War”. The diary was kept in the Greenman family for six generations. The family published an edited version of the diary in 1978. It is still available today.
Charles grave is a small one at the back of the graveyard. At this time it is leaning up against a tree. I call him one of the lost boys as there are several small gravestones back there that fell over and were moved. Using Dave Bixby's research and also the list made during the 1930's, Charles' gravestone will be placed as close to the original location as possible.
John Foster, died Feb. 18, 1845, aged 45 years.
IRISH ASSUMPTIONS
There is a broken gravestone in the little cemetery in Fish House. It is leaning on another gravestone. Can we assume that that means the gravestone belongs in that area of the cemetery? I have looked at older photos of the cemetery and some older research, but I have found no definite evidence on where exactly the gravestone belongs. The name on the gravestone is John Foster, died Feb. 18, 1845, aged 45 years.
John Foster was born in 1800 in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. This information came from other people’s family tree research, but without a verifiable birth certificate, it is an assumption. John met his wife, Agnes Polk and they were married in 1819 in Ireland. Their first child was William, born in 1821 in Ireland, their next child was a daughter, Jane, born in 1823. Their third child, James, was born in 1825 in Salem, New York, Sometime between 1823 and 1825, John and Agnes and their first two children emigrated from Ireland to America. Why did the Foster family risk everything to come to America? John is buried in the small Presbyterian cemetery, so the assumption is that he was a Presbyterian, not a Catholic. He also came from County Antrim which was mostly Protestant and not Catholic. During that time in Northern Ireland, the religious unrest between the Catholics and the Protestants was increasing. From 1814 to 1845, 500,000 Protestants from Ulster (Antrim is a county of Ulster) emigrated to the United States. So the reason for the Foster family to leave Ireland was probably due to religion.
John Foster, more than likely was a farmer. He and his wife, Agnes, lived in the Salem New York region for most of their married life. They had 8 children in 17 years. In 1838, when John was 38, his last child, Maria, was born in Salem, NY. Sometime between 1838 and 1844, John Foster moved his family to Providence, NY. Why, after living in Salem, NY since 1825, would John Foster move? And why to Providence? There were some Fosters in the Adirondacks, perhaps they were distant cousins, an assumption.
At that time, the wool manufacturing business in the United States had started to boom. By 1840, farmers in the Northeast accounted for more than 60 % of this country’s sheep. Between 1840 and 1850, the state of New York had increased its wool production by 70%. Perhaps it was the lure of wool production that brought the Foster family to Providence NY.
Then just 7 years later, at the age of 45, John would die and be buried in the Presbyterian Cemetery of Fish House NY. The 1850 census for Providence, NY shows William (29), the oldest son married to his wife, Laura Billings. His brother, James, age 24, was living next door with his wife, Mary and their one year old son, George. Also living with them was Jame’s siblings, Elizabeth, Mary, Cyrus, and Mariah as well as James’s mother, Agnes. What a major responsibility for the two oldest brothers. Their profession listed on the census was that of wool manufacturing. An assumption could be made here that James took over the family home after his father John died. William, once he married in 1846, moved next door. Both William and James had woolen manufacturing listed in the census as their professions.
In Nathanial Sylvester’s 1878 book, History of Saratoga County, he wrote that a woolen factory was built near Fayville in 1850. It ran for a few years and then became a cider mill. Can we assume that that woolen factory was owned by William and James?
By 1856, James had relocated to the midwest. In the Iowa 1880 census, his profession was wool manufacturing. Why did James leave New York? After the Erie Canal and the expansion of the railroad in the northeast, wool production decreased drastically from 1850 to 1860 due to competition from the midwest. Perhaps this is why James moved west,,,an assumption. In 1860, the youngest child, Maria, married Rodney Lewis, who was from Vermont. Maria and Rodney lived in Wells, Vermont. Agnes went to live with her married daughter in Vermont, where she died in 1874. William also moved to Vermont, in the 1870 census, he is in Wells,Vermont and still doing wool manufacturing.
Doing genealogical research can be quite the challenge. If people had left better paper trails, it would be easy. But they didn’t. It would be wonderful to have birth certificates, ship manifests, deeds and wills, but that is not often possible. So assumptions are made to piece together the fabric of the evolution of a family’s lives and travels. The Foster family left Ireland, probably due to religious unrest. They moved to New York for a better life. For a brief time, they lived in Providence, NY in pursuit of financial stability. The only solid record of their time here is an 1850 census and a broken gravestone leaning up against another gravestone in a small abandoned cemetery in Fish House. America was built on people’s dreams, and the Foster’s were a small part of that.
UPDATE 10/28/2020: After studying a photo of the church and its graveyard circa 1910, I calculated where John Foster's gravestone might have been. I didn't have the help of a foot stone, as Foster's foot stone was found dumped at the back of the graveyard. So now John Foster's gravestone has a permanent home.
There is a broken gravestone in the little cemetery in Fish House. It is leaning on another gravestone. Can we assume that that means the gravestone belongs in that area of the cemetery? I have looked at older photos of the cemetery and some older research, but I have found no definite evidence on where exactly the gravestone belongs. The name on the gravestone is John Foster, died Feb. 18, 1845, aged 45 years.
John Foster was born in 1800 in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. This information came from other people’s family tree research, but without a verifiable birth certificate, it is an assumption. John met his wife, Agnes Polk and they were married in 1819 in Ireland. Their first child was William, born in 1821 in Ireland, their next child was a daughter, Jane, born in 1823. Their third child, James, was born in 1825 in Salem, New York, Sometime between 1823 and 1825, John and Agnes and their first two children emigrated from Ireland to America. Why did the Foster family risk everything to come to America? John is buried in the small Presbyterian cemetery, so the assumption is that he was a Presbyterian, not a Catholic. He also came from County Antrim which was mostly Protestant and not Catholic. During that time in Northern Ireland, the religious unrest between the Catholics and the Protestants was increasing. From 1814 to 1845, 500,000 Protestants from Ulster (Antrim is a county of Ulster) emigrated to the United States. So the reason for the Foster family to leave Ireland was probably due to religion.
John Foster, more than likely was a farmer. He and his wife, Agnes, lived in the Salem New York region for most of their married life. They had 8 children in 17 years. In 1838, when John was 38, his last child, Maria, was born in Salem, NY. Sometime between 1838 and 1844, John Foster moved his family to Providence, NY. Why, after living in Salem, NY since 1825, would John Foster move? And why to Providence? There were some Fosters in the Adirondacks, perhaps they were distant cousins, an assumption.
At that time, the wool manufacturing business in the United States had started to boom. By 1840, farmers in the Northeast accounted for more than 60 % of this country’s sheep. Between 1840 and 1850, the state of New York had increased its wool production by 70%. Perhaps it was the lure of wool production that brought the Foster family to Providence NY.
Then just 7 years later, at the age of 45, John would die and be buried in the Presbyterian Cemetery of Fish House NY. The 1850 census for Providence, NY shows William (29), the oldest son married to his wife, Laura Billings. His brother, James, age 24, was living next door with his wife, Mary and their one year old son, George. Also living with them was Jame’s siblings, Elizabeth, Mary, Cyrus, and Mariah as well as James’s mother, Agnes. What a major responsibility for the two oldest brothers. Their profession listed on the census was that of wool manufacturing. An assumption could be made here that James took over the family home after his father John died. William, once he married in 1846, moved next door. Both William and James had woolen manufacturing listed in the census as their professions.
In Nathanial Sylvester’s 1878 book, History of Saratoga County, he wrote that a woolen factory was built near Fayville in 1850. It ran for a few years and then became a cider mill. Can we assume that that woolen factory was owned by William and James?
By 1856, James had relocated to the midwest. In the Iowa 1880 census, his profession was wool manufacturing. Why did James leave New York? After the Erie Canal and the expansion of the railroad in the northeast, wool production decreased drastically from 1850 to 1860 due to competition from the midwest. Perhaps this is why James moved west,,,an assumption. In 1860, the youngest child, Maria, married Rodney Lewis, who was from Vermont. Maria and Rodney lived in Wells, Vermont. Agnes went to live with her married daughter in Vermont, where she died in 1874. William also moved to Vermont, in the 1870 census, he is in Wells,Vermont and still doing wool manufacturing.
Doing genealogical research can be quite the challenge. If people had left better paper trails, it would be easy. But they didn’t. It would be wonderful to have birth certificates, ship manifests, deeds and wills, but that is not often possible. So assumptions are made to piece together the fabric of the evolution of a family’s lives and travels. The Foster family left Ireland, probably due to religious unrest. They moved to New York for a better life. For a brief time, they lived in Providence, NY in pursuit of financial stability. The only solid record of their time here is an 1850 census and a broken gravestone leaning up against another gravestone in a small abandoned cemetery in Fish House. America was built on people’s dreams, and the Foster’s were a small part of that.
UPDATE 10/28/2020: After studying a photo of the church and its graveyard circa 1910, I calculated where John Foster's gravestone might have been. I didn't have the help of a foot stone, as Foster's foot stone was found dumped at the back of the graveyard. So now John Foster's gravestone has a permanent home.
John Foster's gravestone is missing the top. It has been like that for at least thirty years. One summer I dug several test holes, looking for the top. I was unsuccessful but I haven't given up. I have learned that sometimes the broken stones can be very deep in the ground. So maybe next summer I will dig deeper!
Foster's gravestone is now in the first row. It is in between Lydia Tanner's stone and Romeo Morrison's. In this photo, you can see the smaller stone, behind Foster's gravestone. That is his foot stone.
This past summer, we planted black eyed Susan's in between the foot stones in this first row for two reasons...to add some beauty, and to alert people who just entered the graveyard, that the first row is made up of tiny stones, that can be tripping hazards!
Foster's gravestone is now in the first row. It is in between Lydia Tanner's stone and Romeo Morrison's. In this photo, you can see the smaller stone, behind Foster's gravestone. That is his foot stone.
This past summer, we planted black eyed Susan's in between the foot stones in this first row for two reasons...to add some beauty, and to alert people who just entered the graveyard, that the first row is made up of tiny stones, that can be tripping hazards!
County Antrim in Northern Ireland
|
Early Woolen Mill
|
James Foster, son of John Foster
|
Helen Jackson, died 1833, age 6 years.
Hayne Z. Jackson, died 1840, age 5 years.
This beautiful headstone marks the resting place of Helen Jackson, just six years old when she died. It is located at the Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Fish House, NY.
At first glance, I felt certain that she was from the Jackson family who lived in this area. Stephen and Rhuama Jackson had two boys, Stephen B., born in 1816 and Reuben, born in 1820. So I assumed that Helen was their third child. But this is impossible. You see, Stephen Jackson, died December 17, 1825 and this little child, Helen, was born around March of 1827. So no matter how I stretch the months out, Helen cannot be the daughter of Stephen and Rhuama Jackson. This Jackson family is the only one I can find in the area of Fish House. Many Jacksons are out in Onondaga NY during that time period, but not here.
Nearby is the gravestone of Hayne Z. Jackson, died in 1840, at age 5. I have yet to clean his stone. Due to the proximity of his grave to Helen's, they might be siblings, but I have still not been able to find any family connected to either of them. There was a Zardus and Laura Jackson who lived in Broadalbin about this time. With Huyne having a Z. in his name, there might be a connection.
It is a lovely gravestone. Someone loved her. Someone had a beautiful stone engraved for her. Someone picked out a poem for her. I wish I knew who her parents were.
The stone reads:
In
Memory of
Helen Jackson
Who died
May 15, 1833
Aged 6 years
2 mos. & 18 days.
Below that is a poem. After cleaning the stone I was able to figure out most of the words. Then I looked for a similar poem and found one in a German book by Dr. Eduard Young.
The poem on the grave reads as follows:
Early bright transient
Like the morning dew
She sparkled was ex
Haled & went to Heaven
The original from the book reads:
Early, Bright, Transient
Chaste as Morning Dew
She sparkled, was exhaled,
and went to Heaven
Perhaps someone who reads this post has a Jackson in their family tree? Perhaps someone can shed some light on the family of this little girl? I really hope so.
The photos below show the progression as I cleaned the stone.
UPDATE: This is only conjecture, but with information provided by Pete Shew, this is who I think Helen is. Zardus and Laura Jackson lived in Northampton during the right years for them to be her parents. The headstone, Hayne Z. Jackson is Helen's brother. The Z. must stand for Zardus. In 1838, Zardus, a tailor, transferred ownership to his nephew, Stephen B. Jackson (nephew is still an assumption). Zardus and family moved to nearby Broadalbin. When their daughter, Helen, died, they returned to Northampton to bury her. They did the same for their son, Hayne. All this is conjecture as stated before.
Hayne Z. Jackson, died 1840, age 5 years.
This beautiful headstone marks the resting place of Helen Jackson, just six years old when she died. It is located at the Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Fish House, NY.
At first glance, I felt certain that she was from the Jackson family who lived in this area. Stephen and Rhuama Jackson had two boys, Stephen B., born in 1816 and Reuben, born in 1820. So I assumed that Helen was their third child. But this is impossible. You see, Stephen Jackson, died December 17, 1825 and this little child, Helen, was born around March of 1827. So no matter how I stretch the months out, Helen cannot be the daughter of Stephen and Rhuama Jackson. This Jackson family is the only one I can find in the area of Fish House. Many Jacksons are out in Onondaga NY during that time period, but not here.
Nearby is the gravestone of Hayne Z. Jackson, died in 1840, at age 5. I have yet to clean his stone. Due to the proximity of his grave to Helen's, they might be siblings, but I have still not been able to find any family connected to either of them. There was a Zardus and Laura Jackson who lived in Broadalbin about this time. With Huyne having a Z. in his name, there might be a connection.
It is a lovely gravestone. Someone loved her. Someone had a beautiful stone engraved for her. Someone picked out a poem for her. I wish I knew who her parents were.
The stone reads:
In
Memory of
Helen Jackson
Who died
May 15, 1833
Aged 6 years
2 mos. & 18 days.
Below that is a poem. After cleaning the stone I was able to figure out most of the words. Then I looked for a similar poem and found one in a German book by Dr. Eduard Young.
The poem on the grave reads as follows:
Early bright transient
Like the morning dew
She sparkled was ex
Haled & went to Heaven
The original from the book reads:
Early, Bright, Transient
Chaste as Morning Dew
She sparkled, was exhaled,
and went to Heaven
Perhaps someone who reads this post has a Jackson in their family tree? Perhaps someone can shed some light on the family of this little girl? I really hope so.
The photos below show the progression as I cleaned the stone.
UPDATE: This is only conjecture, but with information provided by Pete Shew, this is who I think Helen is. Zardus and Laura Jackson lived in Northampton during the right years for them to be her parents. The headstone, Hayne Z. Jackson is Helen's brother. The Z. must stand for Zardus. In 1838, Zardus, a tailor, transferred ownership to his nephew, Stephen B. Jackson (nephew is still an assumption). Zardus and family moved to nearby Broadalbin. When their daughter, Helen, died, they returned to Northampton to bury her. They did the same for their son, Hayne. All this is conjecture as stated before.
Two Smiths, but Only One Headstone, until...
Standing near the back of the Presbyterian Church is a headstone that says:
David H. Smith
only
son of
David R. Smith
died June 24,
1844,
aged 1 year &
1 month
According to cemetery records made in the 1930’s , not only was there a headstone for David H. Smith but there was supposed to be a headstone for David R. Smith. I then went to the records made in the 1990’s by Davis Bixby. He did list David R. Smith, but he had no location for him. I love a mystery!
Just to the right of David H. Smith’s headstone, there was an empty space. With my new found knowledge of foot stones, I noticed a small stone back a ways with the initials D.R.S. Bingo! Perhaps David R.’s stone fell over and was covered with sod. So I started digging test holes,,and found nothing. Then I went back to the cemetery and dug deeper, right where I thought the base of the headstone should be located. I met with success! I found a vertical stone, deeply buried in the ground. But where was the rest of the headstone? Which way did it fall? I took a chance and started digging,,,another success! I found the top of the headstone and a triangular piece. And it was inscribed with the name David R. Smith! So I decided to dig out the vertical piece, thinking it was the rest of the headstone,,,it took quite a while,,,but once it was out, there were no inscriptions,,,so this was the base and I have yet to find the rest of the headstone. But I hope to be successful. You can see the pieces in the photos. Now for some background information, if you are not into genealogy, you can stop reading here. 🙂
David R. Smith died in 1842 at the young age of 31. He was married to Sarah Dunnell Pitman and they had one son, called Henry, aka..David H. Smith. After David R. Smith died in 1842, Sarah married Jabez Gibbs. If that name sounds familiar, it is. Mariah Gibbs is also buried in this cemetery, I did a post about her a while back. She was Jabez Gib’s first wife. She died the same year David R. Smith died, 1842. She was also 31 when she died. Sarah and Jabez didn’t waste much time, they got married just a year later. They stayed married until 1857. They had a son, Edward Stanhope Gibbs who died in Louisiana in 1863 during the Civil War. Edward never met David H. Smith, but they were half brothers. Jabez and Edward are buried in Prospect Cemetery in Albany. Sarah married one more time, to William C. Isley. In 1870, they were living in New York City. I have not found out where she is buried or what year she died.
Photo below shows the pieces of the headstone that I have dug up so far for David R. Smith.
Standing near the back of the Presbyterian Church is a headstone that says:
David H. Smith
only
son of
David R. Smith
died June 24,
1844,
aged 1 year &
1 month
According to cemetery records made in the 1930’s , not only was there a headstone for David H. Smith but there was supposed to be a headstone for David R. Smith. I then went to the records made in the 1990’s by Davis Bixby. He did list David R. Smith, but he had no location for him. I love a mystery!
Just to the right of David H. Smith’s headstone, there was an empty space. With my new found knowledge of foot stones, I noticed a small stone back a ways with the initials D.R.S. Bingo! Perhaps David R.’s stone fell over and was covered with sod. So I started digging test holes,,and found nothing. Then I went back to the cemetery and dug deeper, right where I thought the base of the headstone should be located. I met with success! I found a vertical stone, deeply buried in the ground. But where was the rest of the headstone? Which way did it fall? I took a chance and started digging,,,another success! I found the top of the headstone and a triangular piece. And it was inscribed with the name David R. Smith! So I decided to dig out the vertical piece, thinking it was the rest of the headstone,,,it took quite a while,,,but once it was out, there were no inscriptions,,,so this was the base and I have yet to find the rest of the headstone. But I hope to be successful. You can see the pieces in the photos. Now for some background information, if you are not into genealogy, you can stop reading here. 🙂
David R. Smith died in 1842 at the young age of 31. He was married to Sarah Dunnell Pitman and they had one son, called Henry, aka..David H. Smith. After David R. Smith died in 1842, Sarah married Jabez Gibbs. If that name sounds familiar, it is. Mariah Gibbs is also buried in this cemetery, I did a post about her a while back. She was Jabez Gib’s first wife. She died the same year David R. Smith died, 1842. She was also 31 when she died. Sarah and Jabez didn’t waste much time, they got married just a year later. They stayed married until 1857. They had a son, Edward Stanhope Gibbs who died in Louisiana in 1863 during the Civil War. Edward never met David H. Smith, but they were half brothers. Jabez and Edward are buried in Prospect Cemetery in Albany. Sarah married one more time, to William C. Isley. In 1870, they were living in New York City. I have not found out where she is buried or what year she died.
Photo below shows the pieces of the headstone that I have dug up so far for David R. Smith.
|
|
Edwin C. Wood died 1851 before his first birthday
In this little cemetery, there are 6 graves of the children of Dr. Alvah Wood and Maria Fay Wood. The children’s graves are located near the graves of their grandparents, John and Sally Fay. Dr. Alvah Wood was one of the first doctors of Fish House. He and his wife Maria had ten children. Four of their children made it to adulthood, six did not. Those six Wood children are buried in this little cemetery. One made it to her fourth birthday, four did not see their first birthday. Heartbreaking, especially considering that their father was a doctor.
Edwin C. Wood did not see his first birthday, he died November 1st, 1851. He was the last Wood child to be buried in this cemetery. HIs stone was recorded in the 1930’s list of graves. When David Bixby did his extensive research on local cemeteries, he did not find Edwin’s grave, so it is quite possible that Edwin’s gravestone has been buried for more than thirty years.
After I understood the significance of foot stones, I found a foot stone with the initials of E.C.W. It was located in the area where the Wood children were buried. So the other day I started to dig. About six inches down, I found the top of the headstone, lying horizontally. It had Edwin’s name and death date engraved on it. The stone was broken, so I assumed there was more to it. So the next day I dug deeper and found two parts of the headstone about 10 inches down and in a vertical position. There were lots of other smaller pieces in the ground.
I was hoping that I would be able to repair this headstone and place it vertically above ground, but the stone is so soft, perhaps a sandstone, that the smaller pieces crumble in my fingers. I put the three large pieces on a board and tried to find smaller pieces that were engraved,,,I found three. With some help, I was able to determine the poem, see below. Since this stone was so fragile, the only way I could preserve it was to embed it into cement. I plan on covering the top with a protective coating.
Farewell, Darling! Thou hast left us,
For the courts of Heaven above,
And thy loss, it has bereft us
Of thy young and child-like love.
Fare thee well. Yet soon we’ll meet thee,
Darling, more than ever dear!
Ah! We know not till we lost thee
We had had an angel here
In this little cemetery, there are 6 graves of the children of Dr. Alvah Wood and Maria Fay Wood. The children’s graves are located near the graves of their grandparents, John and Sally Fay. Dr. Alvah Wood was one of the first doctors of Fish House. He and his wife Maria had ten children. Four of their children made it to adulthood, six did not. Those six Wood children are buried in this little cemetery. One made it to her fourth birthday, four did not see their first birthday. Heartbreaking, especially considering that their father was a doctor.
Edwin C. Wood did not see his first birthday, he died November 1st, 1851. He was the last Wood child to be buried in this cemetery. HIs stone was recorded in the 1930’s list of graves. When David Bixby did his extensive research on local cemeteries, he did not find Edwin’s grave, so it is quite possible that Edwin’s gravestone has been buried for more than thirty years.
After I understood the significance of foot stones, I found a foot stone with the initials of E.C.W. It was located in the area where the Wood children were buried. So the other day I started to dig. About six inches down, I found the top of the headstone, lying horizontally. It had Edwin’s name and death date engraved on it. The stone was broken, so I assumed there was more to it. So the next day I dug deeper and found two parts of the headstone about 10 inches down and in a vertical position. There were lots of other smaller pieces in the ground.
I was hoping that I would be able to repair this headstone and place it vertically above ground, but the stone is so soft, perhaps a sandstone, that the smaller pieces crumble in my fingers. I put the three large pieces on a board and tried to find smaller pieces that were engraved,,,I found three. With some help, I was able to determine the poem, see below. Since this stone was so fragile, the only way I could preserve it was to embed it into cement. I plan on covering the top with a protective coating.
Farewell, Darling! Thou hast left us,
For the courts of Heaven above,
And thy loss, it has bereft us
Of thy young and child-like love.
Fare thee well. Yet soon we’ll meet thee,
Darling, more than ever dear!
Ah! We know not till we lost thee
We had had an angel here
|
|
Lucius Spalding. 1837 - 1839
Almost half of the gravestones of the old Presbyterian Church Cemetery are for children who died under the age of six. One such gravestone is Lucius Spalding who was born in 1837 and died in 1839. A bio on a two year old is really not possible, so I like to research the family history. Usually I go further back in time but for this “bio” I also went forward . As always, I am amazed at how connected this little hamlet of Fish House is to history.
So I will start before Lucius Spalding was born in 1837. His grandfather, Edmund Spalding was born in Plainfield CT. He married Mary Chandler in 1809. They had three sons, Alva, Andrew and a Lucius. That Lucius died in 1819 at the age of three. Several days later, Edmund’s wife, Mary died. Two months later, Edmund remarried, packed their bags and moved his new wife and his two sons west to Northampton, NY. where he became a farmer. His son, Andrew, at the age of 20, married Emmeline Hamilton in 1834. In 1837, Emmeline gave birth to a son, whom they named Lucius Spalding, after Andrew’s brother who died at the age of three. If one were to believe in bad luck, then they shouldn’t have named him Lucius. This second Lucius Spalding died at the age of two and is buried in the Presbyterian Church Cemetery. Andrew, like his father Edmund after the death of his young son, also packed up their bags and he and his wife, Emmeline, moved west to Buffalo NY. In 1840 Emmeline gave birth to a daughter,Mary Spalding.
In Buffalo, Andrew found work as a harbor dredger. The Erie Canal had been finished in 1825 and the city of Buffalo was very busy in improving its Black Rock Harbor, which meant a lot of dredging. Sometime in that decade, however, Andrew, Emmeline and Mary moved back to this area, to the town of Glen. According to the 1850 and 1860 census Andrew's occupation was listed as a carpenter.
Now, bear with me as I jump to a totally different family line.
In 1833, in Duanesburg, NY a Lewis Jackson Bennett was born to William and Elma Bennett. He was the oldest of several children. He was not physically able to be a farmer, the word “delicate” was used to describe him, so he began his work career as a clerk in a grocery store in Fultonville, New York. Eventually he became a partner in a grocery firm ,but at the age of 33, his health failed him and he had to retire. He decided to travel across the country for several months. He returned to Fultonville and established his own grocery company in 1856. Less than a year later, he married Mary Spalding (the daughter of Andrew and Emmeline and the sister of Lucius). The wedding was in Johnstown, NY. In the 1860 census, Lewis and Mary were living in the town of Glen and Lewis’ occupation was listed as a grocer. In the 1865 census, they are listed as living with Mary’s parents, Andrew and Emmeline Spalding.
In 1866 the whole family, Bennett’s and Spalding’s moved to Buffalo where both Andrew and Lewis were listed as harbor dredgers. In 1868 they start a company called Spalding & Bennett. This company contracted harbor work and also built the first iron bridges for small towns in Erie County. In 1877 Lewis started the Buffalo Cement Company, a major industry at that time. The Spaldings and Bennetts were still living under the same roof up through the 1880 census.
In 1889, Lewis Bennett became interested in real estate. He was responsible for the development of the neighborhood known as Central Park in Buffalo. Big beautiful homes were built there all following the zoning ordinances established by Bennett. His own home was built there at 354 Depew Street (see photo below). It was a 24 room house, not bad for a “delicate” grocery clerk from Duanesburg, NY. Lewis Bennett also donated land for a high school, it still stands today and is called Bennett High School.
So this small gravestone of Lucius Spalding, in a small, almost forgotten cemetery of Fish House, has a connection to the major development of Buffalo, NY
Almost half of the gravestones of the old Presbyterian Church Cemetery are for children who died under the age of six. One such gravestone is Lucius Spalding who was born in 1837 and died in 1839. A bio on a two year old is really not possible, so I like to research the family history. Usually I go further back in time but for this “bio” I also went forward . As always, I am amazed at how connected this little hamlet of Fish House is to history.
So I will start before Lucius Spalding was born in 1837. His grandfather, Edmund Spalding was born in Plainfield CT. He married Mary Chandler in 1809. They had three sons, Alva, Andrew and a Lucius. That Lucius died in 1819 at the age of three. Several days later, Edmund’s wife, Mary died. Two months later, Edmund remarried, packed their bags and moved his new wife and his two sons west to Northampton, NY. where he became a farmer. His son, Andrew, at the age of 20, married Emmeline Hamilton in 1834. In 1837, Emmeline gave birth to a son, whom they named Lucius Spalding, after Andrew’s brother who died at the age of three. If one were to believe in bad luck, then they shouldn’t have named him Lucius. This second Lucius Spalding died at the age of two and is buried in the Presbyterian Church Cemetery. Andrew, like his father Edmund after the death of his young son, also packed up their bags and he and his wife, Emmeline, moved west to Buffalo NY. In 1840 Emmeline gave birth to a daughter,Mary Spalding.
In Buffalo, Andrew found work as a harbor dredger. The Erie Canal had been finished in 1825 and the city of Buffalo was very busy in improving its Black Rock Harbor, which meant a lot of dredging. Sometime in that decade, however, Andrew, Emmeline and Mary moved back to this area, to the town of Glen. According to the 1850 and 1860 census Andrew's occupation was listed as a carpenter.
Now, bear with me as I jump to a totally different family line.
In 1833, in Duanesburg, NY a Lewis Jackson Bennett was born to William and Elma Bennett. He was the oldest of several children. He was not physically able to be a farmer, the word “delicate” was used to describe him, so he began his work career as a clerk in a grocery store in Fultonville, New York. Eventually he became a partner in a grocery firm ,but at the age of 33, his health failed him and he had to retire. He decided to travel across the country for several months. He returned to Fultonville and established his own grocery company in 1856. Less than a year later, he married Mary Spalding (the daughter of Andrew and Emmeline and the sister of Lucius). The wedding was in Johnstown, NY. In the 1860 census, Lewis and Mary were living in the town of Glen and Lewis’ occupation was listed as a grocer. In the 1865 census, they are listed as living with Mary’s parents, Andrew and Emmeline Spalding.
In 1866 the whole family, Bennett’s and Spalding’s moved to Buffalo where both Andrew and Lewis were listed as harbor dredgers. In 1868 they start a company called Spalding & Bennett. This company contracted harbor work and also built the first iron bridges for small towns in Erie County. In 1877 Lewis started the Buffalo Cement Company, a major industry at that time. The Spaldings and Bennetts were still living under the same roof up through the 1880 census.
In 1889, Lewis Bennett became interested in real estate. He was responsible for the development of the neighborhood known as Central Park in Buffalo. Big beautiful homes were built there all following the zoning ordinances established by Bennett. His own home was built there at 354 Depew Street (see photo below). It was a 24 room house, not bad for a “delicate” grocery clerk from Duanesburg, NY. Lewis Bennett also donated land for a high school, it still stands today and is called Bennett High School.
So this small gravestone of Lucius Spalding, in a small, almost forgotten cemetery of Fish House, has a connection to the major development of Buffalo, NY
|
|
|
Reverend Joseph Farrar.
1785-1821
In memory of
Rev. Joseph Farrar
who died Jan. 26,
1821
aged 36 years.
In the 1930’s there were several D.A.R. members who went out and recorded the gravestones in Fulton County. The list for the old Presbyterian Church was the first bit of information that I found. About 10 years ago I went up to that cemetery and with the help of friends, we recorded the names and information on each of the gravestones. When I compared the two lists, there were graves listed on the 1930’s list that I did not find and there were gravestones that we found that were not listed on the 1930’s list. Reverend Joseph Farrar’s gravestone was not on the 1930’s list. His gravestone lies on the ground after falling over a number of years ago. Perhaps it was buried under dirt and grass and the people in the 1930’s did not see it. Whatever the case, his gravestone is one of the largest ones in that small cemetery.
I have tried to learn more about this Reverend. He only lived until the age of 36 so trying to find out anything has been a challenge. I tried ancestry.com but have found no family tree that included him. So I went back to a document written in 1878 by Nathanial Bartlett Sylvester entitled History of Saratoga County, New York. In this document he writes about the Presbyterian Church of Batchellerville. It was the second religious society formed in the town of Edinburgh, the first being a Methodist Episcopal Church. The first meeting was held on September 5, 1808. Twenty one people were there. This church met at school houses and homes until 1814. There was a revival which added large members to the church. Since most of the members lived in Fish House, the decision was made to build a church in 1815. The structure was a wooden one. It was replaced in 1869 by the brick church that still stands today.. The first minister who is recorded for the church was Reverend N.M. Wells in 1814. He was followed, in order, by Rev. Armstrong, Rev. Williams and then Reverend Joseph Farrar! Reverend Farrar was the minister here in Fish House from 1818 to 1821. He also had a church in Galway.
Joseph Farrar’s obituary was found in the Religious Intelligencer of 1938, in a chapter about Revivals of Religion. …here are some clips from the length article:
“ The minister of the Gospel was in the prime of life, and as the height of his usefullness. He had been installed over these congregations a little more than two years and five months, and had the pleasure of seeing a precious revival of religion in his congregation in Galway, which brought in a harvest of about 100 souls into the church. But though it was a most precious season to one of his dear people, and to himself and his brethren in the ministry, it was with great expense to his health and strength. From this seat of this glorious work of God’s grace, his own residence was more than ten miles distant; his constitution was slender and enfeebled by great efforts …. During the revival his labors were incessant-preaching, visiting from house to house, warning sinners, directing enquirers, and animating christians. At length he sunk under the weight of his labors, and they were almost entirely suspended from the last of May til the middle of August….He attempted to preach the next sabbath, but had not proceeded far in his sermon when he was seized with coughing, which was followed immediately with a profuse discharge of blood. From the pulpit he was carried home and attended with the greatest care and tenderness, but he returned to the pulpit no more.”
As a side note: In 1815 there were only about 100 Presbyterian Churches in this area of New York, which was then referred to as Western New York. In the next fifteen years, there were many revivals which resulted in many more Presbyterian Churches.
1785-1821
In memory of
Rev. Joseph Farrar
who died Jan. 26,
1821
aged 36 years.
In the 1930’s there were several D.A.R. members who went out and recorded the gravestones in Fulton County. The list for the old Presbyterian Church was the first bit of information that I found. About 10 years ago I went up to that cemetery and with the help of friends, we recorded the names and information on each of the gravestones. When I compared the two lists, there were graves listed on the 1930’s list that I did not find and there were gravestones that we found that were not listed on the 1930’s list. Reverend Joseph Farrar’s gravestone was not on the 1930’s list. His gravestone lies on the ground after falling over a number of years ago. Perhaps it was buried under dirt and grass and the people in the 1930’s did not see it. Whatever the case, his gravestone is one of the largest ones in that small cemetery.
I have tried to learn more about this Reverend. He only lived until the age of 36 so trying to find out anything has been a challenge. I tried ancestry.com but have found no family tree that included him. So I went back to a document written in 1878 by Nathanial Bartlett Sylvester entitled History of Saratoga County, New York. In this document he writes about the Presbyterian Church of Batchellerville. It was the second religious society formed in the town of Edinburgh, the first being a Methodist Episcopal Church. The first meeting was held on September 5, 1808. Twenty one people were there. This church met at school houses and homes until 1814. There was a revival which added large members to the church. Since most of the members lived in Fish House, the decision was made to build a church in 1815. The structure was a wooden one. It was replaced in 1869 by the brick church that still stands today.. The first minister who is recorded for the church was Reverend N.M. Wells in 1814. He was followed, in order, by Rev. Armstrong, Rev. Williams and then Reverend Joseph Farrar! Reverend Farrar was the minister here in Fish House from 1818 to 1821. He also had a church in Galway.
Joseph Farrar’s obituary was found in the Religious Intelligencer of 1938, in a chapter about Revivals of Religion. …here are some clips from the length article:
“ The minister of the Gospel was in the prime of life, and as the height of his usefullness. He had been installed over these congregations a little more than two years and five months, and had the pleasure of seeing a precious revival of religion in his congregation in Galway, which brought in a harvest of about 100 souls into the church. But though it was a most precious season to one of his dear people, and to himself and his brethren in the ministry, it was with great expense to his health and strength. From this seat of this glorious work of God’s grace, his own residence was more than ten miles distant; his constitution was slender and enfeebled by great efforts …. During the revival his labors were incessant-preaching, visiting from house to house, warning sinners, directing enquirers, and animating christians. At length he sunk under the weight of his labors, and they were almost entirely suspended from the last of May til the middle of August….He attempted to preach the next sabbath, but had not proceeded far in his sermon when he was seized with coughing, which was followed immediately with a profuse discharge of blood. From the pulpit he was carried home and attended with the greatest care and tenderness, but he returned to the pulpit no more.”
As a side note: In 1815 there were only about 100 Presbyterian Churches in this area of New York, which was then referred to as Western New York. In the next fifteen years, there were many revivals which resulted in many more Presbyterian Churches.
Indamorah Damon
In memory of Indamorah, who Died August 25th,
1828: aged 1 year
Daughter of Hannah
& Abraham Damon
Most of the gravestones I have picked so far in my research of the abandoned Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Fish House, NY are those of adults. My thinking behind this is that adults would be easier to research. But this solitary stone of a one year old girl, drew my attention due to her unusual name, Indamorah, I have never seen a name like that. There are Indamora’s, but not Indamorah’s. So my curiosity got the better of me and I started to do research on her. Her parents were Abraham Damon and Hannah Maxwell Damon. I soon came across a huge family tree for the Damon’s, through ancestry.com The owner of this family tree has done extensive research with lots of documentation. It is a wonderful research tool, for which I am very grateful.
Abraham and Hannah Damon were both born in Massachusetts, but by 1817, the year their first son, Harlow Maxwell Damon was born, they were living in Northampton, NY. On September 13, 1823, their second son, LaGrange Damon was born. Their third child, Indamorah, a daughter, was born in 1827. There is no record of her in ancestry.com, but her gravestone says that she died at the age of one, in 1828. I contacted the owner of the extensive Damon family tree, and she had no record of Indamorali, nor did she know where that unique name came from.
In the 1850 and 1855 census’ , Abraham is listed as being a farmer in Northampton. But in the 1860 census, he was living in West Pittston, PA. with his wife, Hannah. Both of their sons, at that time, were living in Pittston, Pennsylvania, so Abraham, in his late 70’s , more than likely was too old to continue to farm and went to live near his sons.
But what led Abraham’s two sons (and the brothers of Indamorah) to move to Pennsylvania? It is listed that Harlow married Elisabeth Day, in Pennsylvania, so that could be the connection. Harlow is listed in the 1850 Pennsylvania census as being a coal agent. He was 33 at the time. LaGrange, also in Pittston, was listed as being a merchant. The two brothers had a cousin, George Damon. George, born in Manlius NY, also moved to Pittston, Pennsylvania around 1850, where he was a canal collector. All three cousins stayed in Pennsylvania for many years. George died in Pittston in 1893 at the age of 71. LaGrange died in Pittston in 1902 at the age of 78. Harlow lived in Pennsylvania into his sixties. He died in 1898 in Manhattan, NY at the age of 81. LaGrange’s son, H. Maxwell Damon, continued to live in Pittston, where he was born, until he died at the age of 80, in 1939. LaGrange Damon and George Damon were buried in the West Pittston cemetery. Abraham and Hannah Damon, the parents of Harlow, LaGrange and Indamorah were also buried there with 6 other Damon relatives.
A military notation: Indamorah’s brother, LaGrange fought in the Civil War, as did her cousin, George Damon. Her great grandfather, Abraham Damon (1759-1845) enlisted at the age of 18 and fought in the Revolutionary War.
Almost all of the above information came from the extensive Damon family tree on ancestry.com. The owner of this tree had even traveled to Manlius and Edinburg, NY searching for records and gravestones. She was surprised when I contacted her about this solitary gravestone of a one year old. Indamorah was the unknown sister of Harlow and LaGrange. LaGrange Damon, who married Mary Brown, had 5 children. One daughter was named, Ida M. Damon. Was this in memory of his sister, Indamorali? We will never know. But at least now, Indamorali has been reconnected to her family.
In memory of Indamorah, who Died August 25th,
1828: aged 1 year
Daughter of Hannah
& Abraham Damon
Most of the gravestones I have picked so far in my research of the abandoned Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Fish House, NY are those of adults. My thinking behind this is that adults would be easier to research. But this solitary stone of a one year old girl, drew my attention due to her unusual name, Indamorah, I have never seen a name like that. There are Indamora’s, but not Indamorah’s. So my curiosity got the better of me and I started to do research on her. Her parents were Abraham Damon and Hannah Maxwell Damon. I soon came across a huge family tree for the Damon’s, through ancestry.com The owner of this family tree has done extensive research with lots of documentation. It is a wonderful research tool, for which I am very grateful.
Abraham and Hannah Damon were both born in Massachusetts, but by 1817, the year their first son, Harlow Maxwell Damon was born, they were living in Northampton, NY. On September 13, 1823, their second son, LaGrange Damon was born. Their third child, Indamorah, a daughter, was born in 1827. There is no record of her in ancestry.com, but her gravestone says that she died at the age of one, in 1828. I contacted the owner of the extensive Damon family tree, and she had no record of Indamorali, nor did she know where that unique name came from.
In the 1850 and 1855 census’ , Abraham is listed as being a farmer in Northampton. But in the 1860 census, he was living in West Pittston, PA. with his wife, Hannah. Both of their sons, at that time, were living in Pittston, Pennsylvania, so Abraham, in his late 70’s , more than likely was too old to continue to farm and went to live near his sons.
But what led Abraham’s two sons (and the brothers of Indamorah) to move to Pennsylvania? It is listed that Harlow married Elisabeth Day, in Pennsylvania, so that could be the connection. Harlow is listed in the 1850 Pennsylvania census as being a coal agent. He was 33 at the time. LaGrange, also in Pittston, was listed as being a merchant. The two brothers had a cousin, George Damon. George, born in Manlius NY, also moved to Pittston, Pennsylvania around 1850, where he was a canal collector. All three cousins stayed in Pennsylvania for many years. George died in Pittston in 1893 at the age of 71. LaGrange died in Pittston in 1902 at the age of 78. Harlow lived in Pennsylvania into his sixties. He died in 1898 in Manhattan, NY at the age of 81. LaGrange’s son, H. Maxwell Damon, continued to live in Pittston, where he was born, until he died at the age of 80, in 1939. LaGrange Damon and George Damon were buried in the West Pittston cemetery. Abraham and Hannah Damon, the parents of Harlow, LaGrange and Indamorah were also buried there with 6 other Damon relatives.
A military notation: Indamorah’s brother, LaGrange fought in the Civil War, as did her cousin, George Damon. Her great grandfather, Abraham Damon (1759-1845) enlisted at the age of 18 and fought in the Revolutionary War.
Almost all of the above information came from the extensive Damon family tree on ancestry.com. The owner of this tree had even traveled to Manlius and Edinburg, NY searching for records and gravestones. She was surprised when I contacted her about this solitary gravestone of a one year old. Indamorah was the unknown sister of Harlow and LaGrange. LaGrange Damon, who married Mary Brown, had 5 children. One daughter was named, Ida M. Damon. Was this in memory of his sister, Indamorali? We will never know. But at least now, Indamorali has been reconnected to her family.
LYDIA.
Wife of
SOLOMON TANNER
DIED
May 18, 1847
Aged 71years
Lydia Frary Tanner. 1776 - 1847
Lydia married Solomon Tanner in 1797 at the age of 21, Solomon was 34. They had their first son, John Hazard Tanner the next year. All together they had 4 sons and 4 daughters within 13 years. The last child was born in 1811. Solomon died the next year, 1812 at the age of 49. He is buried in the Northampton Cemetery. Lydia was left to raise the children by herself. They all lived into their sixties. Most of them stayed in the area, living in Fish House, Osborne Bridge and Providence. Might they be ancestors of Tanner’s Store in Broadalbin?
There is no record that I could find of where Lydia Frary was born. Solomon Tanner was born in Richmond, Rhode Island but by the birth of their first child, they were living in Broadalbin, NY.. Solomon’s father, George, was born and died in Rhode Island. (1723-1791). Solomon’s grandfather, John (1694-1741) lived his whole life in Rhode Island. He fought in the French and Indian War. Solomon’s great grandfather, William, was born in England in 1657 but ended up in Rhode Island. I came across two stories about him. One story said that he was kidnapped as a boy in 1667 while going home from school in England and was made a cabin boy on a ship until 1682, which would explain how he ended up in the USA. Another story said that he was a deported convict from England. At that time, when the Puritans were living in Massachusetts, they did not tolerate people of other faiths. Rhode Island was a place where people of other faiths were tolerated. William Tanner was a baptist. Most of the Tanner family and their descendants stayed in Rhode Island. Why did Solomon Tanner, Lydia’s husband, leave Rhode Island and come to this area?
As is common in my research, I could find very little about the wife. There was no maiden name on the gravestone, of Lydia, wife of Solomon Tanner. I was able to find her maiden name by searching Solomon Tanner on ancestry.com. No one has listed who Lydia’s parent’s were or where they came from. Since the Tanner name is still in this area, perhaps someone knows more about Lydia Frary. Hopefully we will find out more. This strong woman raised 8 children on her own. When Solomon died in 1812, their oldest child, John Hazard Tanner, was only 14 years old and their youngest child, Clark Frary Tanner, was one year old.
Wife of
SOLOMON TANNER
DIED
May 18, 1847
Aged 71years
Lydia Frary Tanner. 1776 - 1847
Lydia married Solomon Tanner in 1797 at the age of 21, Solomon was 34. They had their first son, John Hazard Tanner the next year. All together they had 4 sons and 4 daughters within 13 years. The last child was born in 1811. Solomon died the next year, 1812 at the age of 49. He is buried in the Northampton Cemetery. Lydia was left to raise the children by herself. They all lived into their sixties. Most of them stayed in the area, living in Fish House, Osborne Bridge and Providence. Might they be ancestors of Tanner’s Store in Broadalbin?
There is no record that I could find of where Lydia Frary was born. Solomon Tanner was born in Richmond, Rhode Island but by the birth of their first child, they were living in Broadalbin, NY.. Solomon’s father, George, was born and died in Rhode Island. (1723-1791). Solomon’s grandfather, John (1694-1741) lived his whole life in Rhode Island. He fought in the French and Indian War. Solomon’s great grandfather, William, was born in England in 1657 but ended up in Rhode Island. I came across two stories about him. One story said that he was kidnapped as a boy in 1667 while going home from school in England and was made a cabin boy on a ship until 1682, which would explain how he ended up in the USA. Another story said that he was a deported convict from England. At that time, when the Puritans were living in Massachusetts, they did not tolerate people of other faiths. Rhode Island was a place where people of other faiths were tolerated. William Tanner was a baptist. Most of the Tanner family and their descendants stayed in Rhode Island. Why did Solomon Tanner, Lydia’s husband, leave Rhode Island and come to this area?
As is common in my research, I could find very little about the wife. There was no maiden name on the gravestone, of Lydia, wife of Solomon Tanner. I was able to find her maiden name by searching Solomon Tanner on ancestry.com. No one has listed who Lydia’s parent’s were or where they came from. Since the Tanner name is still in this area, perhaps someone knows more about Lydia Frary. Hopefully we will find out more. This strong woman raised 8 children on her own. When Solomon died in 1812, their oldest child, John Hazard Tanner, was only 14 years old and their youngest child, Clark Frary Tanner, was one year old.
Names, Nicknames and Name Modifications
In Memory of MARY, wife of Titus Andru
died April 22, 1822, age 30 yers 9 mos. and 5 days
There is a small stone in the old Presbyterian Church cemetery for a Mary, wife of Titus Andru. The husband’s name, Titus Andru looked unique so I thought it would be a short research project. But as usual, I was wrong for many reasons. The last name of Titus is Andru, but on census records I found it to be spelled many ways: Andrus, Andruss, Andrews, even Andruus. So that took me a while to figure out. The gravestone for Mary, his wife, did not list her maiden name, a common problem in research. As I searched, I kept coming up with a woman named Polly Westgate, married to a Titus Andrews. I thought maybe there were other Titus Andrews out there,,,but then as I dug deeper, the Titus Andru that was from Providence NY and that lived in the right time frame (1775-1857) kept showing up as married to Polly Westgate. Polly Westgate had the same birth year (1791) and not only the same death year , but the very same death date,April 22, 1822. What are the chances? So I googled nicknames,,,and yes,,,the nickname for Polly can be Mary or visa versa! Thank you Google, I don’t think I would have made that leap from Polly to Mary. Polly Westgate was born July 17, 1791.
So Polly/Mary Westgate married Titus Andru on October 2, 1808, She was only 17 years old. Her first child, a son, named Nelson, was born just 6 months later, hmmm. Her next child, a daughter, Phebe, was born in 1810. Then another son, Nathanial, in 1811, another son, Charles in 1813, and then two years later she had a daughter, Eliza. Two years after that she had another daughter, Mary Ann, then two years later a daughter, Fanny. Then one year later a daughter named Cynthia. Her last child (her ninth in 13 years), was a daughter named Pauline, born April 15th, 1822. Six days later Polly/Mary died.
Titus Andru married Amelia Hayes less than five months later. She was twenty years his junior. Amelia gave birth to a daughter in 1823 and a son in 1825. Her son, Austin Andruss (note the two s’s) is also buried in the old Presbyterian Church cemetery.
Titus was born in Hartford Connecticut. His father was Miles. Titus’s great great great great grandfather was William Andrews, he was born in 1595 in Kent, England. He emigrated in 1633 to Connecticut. His name is on a monument with 24 others as the first settlers of Hartford CT.
The photo in this post is that of the gravestone of Mary Andru. I am looking forward to warmer weather so I can clean the stone. According to records, Austin Andrus’ gravestone is also in this cemetery. When I took photos of all the stones years ago, I did not see Austin Andrus’ stone. There are many stones that have fallen over and have been buried by vegetation and stones that have broken and not in their original location. So finding Austin’s stone is also on my to do list.
In Memory of MARY, wife of Titus Andru
died April 22, 1822, age 30 yers 9 mos. and 5 days
There is a small stone in the old Presbyterian Church cemetery for a Mary, wife of Titus Andru. The husband’s name, Titus Andru looked unique so I thought it would be a short research project. But as usual, I was wrong for many reasons. The last name of Titus is Andru, but on census records I found it to be spelled many ways: Andrus, Andruss, Andrews, even Andruus. So that took me a while to figure out. The gravestone for Mary, his wife, did not list her maiden name, a common problem in research. As I searched, I kept coming up with a woman named Polly Westgate, married to a Titus Andrews. I thought maybe there were other Titus Andrews out there,,,but then as I dug deeper, the Titus Andru that was from Providence NY and that lived in the right time frame (1775-1857) kept showing up as married to Polly Westgate. Polly Westgate had the same birth year (1791) and not only the same death year , but the very same death date,April 22, 1822. What are the chances? So I googled nicknames,,,and yes,,,the nickname for Polly can be Mary or visa versa! Thank you Google, I don’t think I would have made that leap from Polly to Mary. Polly Westgate was born July 17, 1791.
So Polly/Mary Westgate married Titus Andru on October 2, 1808, She was only 17 years old. Her first child, a son, named Nelson, was born just 6 months later, hmmm. Her next child, a daughter, Phebe, was born in 1810. Then another son, Nathanial, in 1811, another son, Charles in 1813, and then two years later she had a daughter, Eliza. Two years after that she had another daughter, Mary Ann, then two years later a daughter, Fanny. Then one year later a daughter named Cynthia. Her last child (her ninth in 13 years), was a daughter named Pauline, born April 15th, 1822. Six days later Polly/Mary died.
Titus Andru married Amelia Hayes less than five months later. She was twenty years his junior. Amelia gave birth to a daughter in 1823 and a son in 1825. Her son, Austin Andruss (note the two s’s) is also buried in the old Presbyterian Church cemetery.
Titus was born in Hartford Connecticut. His father was Miles. Titus’s great great great great grandfather was William Andrews, he was born in 1595 in Kent, England. He emigrated in 1633 to Connecticut. His name is on a monument with 24 others as the first settlers of Hartford CT.
The photo in this post is that of the gravestone of Mary Andru. I am looking forward to warmer weather so I can clean the stone. According to records, Austin Andrus’ gravestone is also in this cemetery. When I took photos of all the stones years ago, I did not see Austin Andrus’ stone. There are many stones that have fallen over and have been buried by vegetation and stones that have broken and not in their original location. So finding Austin’s stone is also on my to do list.
Mariah B., wife of Jabez Gibbs, d. Sept. 6, 1842 in 31st year.
There is only one stone in the old Presbyterian Church graveyard with the last name of Gibbs, so it caught my curiosity. I thought, that by the age of 31, Mariah B. Gibbs might have left some mark on the world that I might be able to trace. I filled up 7 pages in my legal pad and many days, but have very little to show for it. I figured, with a husband’s name of Jabez Gibbs, that finding out information about Mariah would be fairly easy. I was very wrong. Be careful in taking all the information on ancestry.com at face value. Remember, it is other people, just like you, that are searching and wrong information can be easily found there. And the name Jabez Gibbs is not as unique as I thought.
If Mariah died in her 31st year, then her birthday was probably around 1810. I couldn’t find much on Maria, so I started researching Jabez Gibbs. One family tree had Mariah married to a Jabez Gibbs who lived in Broadalbin and died in 1826, but Mariah would have been around 16 years old, so that did not seem feasible. I then found another Jabez Gibbs who lived in Providence who was born in 1808. I never found any proof that this Jabez was related to the Jabez Gibbs who died in 1826, but really, two Jabez Gibbs within miles of each other,,how can they not be related? But with no proof, I cannot jump to that conclusion.
After much digging, this is what I found out. Jabez and Mariah Gibbs had three children, David D. Gibbs born 1831, Sarah M. Gibbs born 1833 and Reuben A. Gibbs born 1835. Mariah died in 1842 when her youngest, Reuben was only 7. Jabez Gibbs then remarried, in 1843, to a Sarah Dunnell Pitman. She was a widow (married to a David Smith). Sarah and Jabez had a son, Edward Stanhope Gibbs, born around 1845. ( That middle name begs me to research him!!) Jabez and Sarah and the four children lived with Sarah’s parents. Jabez lived until1857. Sarah married a third time to another Northampton resident, William Isley. But I digress.
Too often in history, trying to research women is extremely difficult. I believe Mariah’s maiden name is Gifford. I found that information on a family tree , but that tree had several errors, so a second source would be ideal, if I could find one.
So here is this lonely gravestone of a woman named Mariah, who died in her 31st year. The only thing I can find out about her is the name of her three children. Her oldest, David D. Gibbs fought in the Civil War. Her youngest son, Reuben, married a Susan and they had four children, Henry, Emma, Edward and Willie. I was not able to find anything definitive about Mariah’s daughter, Sarah M. Mariah B. Gibbs, wife of Jabez Gibbs, did leave a mark on this world, three children. Perhaps the most important legacy for which one can be known is their children.
There is only one stone in the old Presbyterian Church graveyard with the last name of Gibbs, so it caught my curiosity. I thought, that by the age of 31, Mariah B. Gibbs might have left some mark on the world that I might be able to trace. I filled up 7 pages in my legal pad and many days, but have very little to show for it. I figured, with a husband’s name of Jabez Gibbs, that finding out information about Mariah would be fairly easy. I was very wrong. Be careful in taking all the information on ancestry.com at face value. Remember, it is other people, just like you, that are searching and wrong information can be easily found there. And the name Jabez Gibbs is not as unique as I thought.
If Mariah died in her 31st year, then her birthday was probably around 1810. I couldn’t find much on Maria, so I started researching Jabez Gibbs. One family tree had Mariah married to a Jabez Gibbs who lived in Broadalbin and died in 1826, but Mariah would have been around 16 years old, so that did not seem feasible. I then found another Jabez Gibbs who lived in Providence who was born in 1808. I never found any proof that this Jabez was related to the Jabez Gibbs who died in 1826, but really, two Jabez Gibbs within miles of each other,,how can they not be related? But with no proof, I cannot jump to that conclusion.
After much digging, this is what I found out. Jabez and Mariah Gibbs had three children, David D. Gibbs born 1831, Sarah M. Gibbs born 1833 and Reuben A. Gibbs born 1835. Mariah died in 1842 when her youngest, Reuben was only 7. Jabez Gibbs then remarried, in 1843, to a Sarah Dunnell Pitman. She was a widow (married to a David Smith). Sarah and Jabez had a son, Edward Stanhope Gibbs, born around 1845. ( That middle name begs me to research him!!) Jabez and Sarah and the four children lived with Sarah’s parents. Jabez lived until1857. Sarah married a third time to another Northampton resident, William Isley. But I digress.
Too often in history, trying to research women is extremely difficult. I believe Mariah’s maiden name is Gifford. I found that information on a family tree , but that tree had several errors, so a second source would be ideal, if I could find one.
So here is this lonely gravestone of a woman named Mariah, who died in her 31st year. The only thing I can find out about her is the name of her three children. Her oldest, David D. Gibbs fought in the Civil War. Her youngest son, Reuben, married a Susan and they had four children, Henry, Emma, Edward and Willie. I was not able to find anything definitive about Mariah’s daughter, Sarah M. Mariah B. Gibbs, wife of Jabez Gibbs, did leave a mark on this world, three children. Perhaps the most important legacy for which one can be known is their children.
Lydia Day Fuller Beecher (wife of Deacon Abraham Beecher)
July 9, 1770 - October 11, 1847
Lydia Day Fuller was born in Kent, Connecticut to Jacob Fuller and his wife Elizabeth Paine. She married Abraham Beecher on April 23, 1792 in Kent, Connecticut. Their first born, Leman, was born in Northampton, NY in 1793. They had 11 children, all born in the Northampton, NY area. Of those 11 children, seven lived into their fifties or longer. It is difficult to find too many references to the women of that time, so I decided to trace Lydia’s lineage back through the Fuller family.
Lydia’s great, great, great grandfather was Edward Fuller. He was born in England in 1575. He and his wife and son, Samuel along with Edward’s brother, Dr. Samuel Fuller, were on the Mayflower when they arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620. Edward and his wife did not survive the first winter in Massachusetts, so Samuel, who was twelve at the time, went to live with his uncle, Dr. Samuel Fuller. When his uncle died in 1633, Samuel moved from Plymouth to Scituate, MA where he met Jane Lathrop. He was married on April 8, 1635 to Jane Lathorp by Captain Miles Standish! His father in law, Reverend Lathrop and several parishioners moved from Scituate and founded the town of Barnstable, MA. Samuel Fuller and his family eventually moved there. When he died in Barnstable in 1683, he was the last of the Mayflower survivors.*, **
Samual and Jane Fuller had several children, one of whom was John Fuller, born in 1656. He was Lydia Day Fuller Beecher’s great grandfather. They had a son, named Joseph Fuller in 1699. Joseph would marry a Lydia Day, which explains Lydia Day Fuller Beecher’s name. They would have a son, Jacob Fuller, who was Lydia Day Fuller Beecher’s father.
So once again, delving into the history of the “residents” of the old Presbyterian Church cemetery I am surprised how there are connections to so much of America’s history. Lydia Beecher’s great, great, great grandparents were on the Mayflower, as was her great great grandfather, Samuel. Edward Fuller and Dr. Samuel Fuller signed the Mayflower Compact. They, as well as Edward’s wife, and his son, Samuel, are listed on the monuments for the Mayflower passengers. The other amazing connection, is that Lydia’s great great grandparents were married by Captain Miles Standish.
July 9, 1770 - October 11, 1847
Lydia Day Fuller was born in Kent, Connecticut to Jacob Fuller and his wife Elizabeth Paine. She married Abraham Beecher on April 23, 1792 in Kent, Connecticut. Their first born, Leman, was born in Northampton, NY in 1793. They had 11 children, all born in the Northampton, NY area. Of those 11 children, seven lived into their fifties or longer. It is difficult to find too many references to the women of that time, so I decided to trace Lydia’s lineage back through the Fuller family.
Lydia’s great, great, great grandfather was Edward Fuller. He was born in England in 1575. He and his wife and son, Samuel along with Edward’s brother, Dr. Samuel Fuller, were on the Mayflower when they arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620. Edward and his wife did not survive the first winter in Massachusetts, so Samuel, who was twelve at the time, went to live with his uncle, Dr. Samuel Fuller. When his uncle died in 1633, Samuel moved from Plymouth to Scituate, MA where he met Jane Lathrop. He was married on April 8, 1635 to Jane Lathorp by Captain Miles Standish! His father in law, Reverend Lathrop and several parishioners moved from Scituate and founded the town of Barnstable, MA. Samuel Fuller and his family eventually moved there. When he died in Barnstable in 1683, he was the last of the Mayflower survivors.*, **
Samual and Jane Fuller had several children, one of whom was John Fuller, born in 1656. He was Lydia Day Fuller Beecher’s great grandfather. They had a son, named Joseph Fuller in 1699. Joseph would marry a Lydia Day, which explains Lydia Day Fuller Beecher’s name. They would have a son, Jacob Fuller, who was Lydia Day Fuller Beecher’s father.
So once again, delving into the history of the “residents” of the old Presbyterian Church cemetery I am surprised how there are connections to so much of America’s history. Lydia Beecher’s great, great, great grandparents were on the Mayflower, as was her great great grandfather, Samuel. Edward Fuller and Dr. Samuel Fuller signed the Mayflower Compact. They, as well as Edward’s wife, and his son, Samuel, are listed on the monuments for the Mayflower passengers. The other amazing connection, is that Lydia’s great great grandparents were married by Captain Miles Standish.
- North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000 for Samuel Fuller
- ** Plymouth Colony, Its History & People 1620-1691 by Eugene Aubrey Stratton, Utah, 1986
John Fay
B: February 10, 1773
D: June 21 1855
John Fay was born in Worcester Massachusetts. He attended school for just a short time there. His family moved to Galway, New York sometime in the 1790’s. John Fay married Sarah “Sally” Wescott on January 28, 1798 in Galway. They lived there for a few years, then they moved to Fish House around 1803. Eventually this couple would have ten children. The first seven were daughters and the last three were sons.
John Fay was very influential in the development of the hamlet of Fish House. He built the first store, a brick one in the village square, around 1805. It was the first brick building in Fish House. It was torn down in 1877 and replaced with a wooden hotel run by Hiram Osborn.
John Fay also built a huge house across from the brick store around 1808, to house his large family. That house would eventually become the Fish House Hotel, a very well known establishment. It burned down in 1920. John Fay built a beautiful Victorian house on what is known now as Old Fish House Road. That house was taken down when the lake was built in 1930.
John Fay was many things during his life, a land surveyor, an owner of a woolen mill, a farmer, a politician, a postmaster, a presidential elector. He was a representative in the state assembly in 1808, 1809 and 1812. After President Madison declared war against Great Britain, in 1812, the New York state legislature felt it necessary to deliver muskets and ammunition to the towns “near the unsettled and wilderness country because those settlers were extremely apprehensive during the last season of Indian massacres” * John Fay was listed as one of twelve Fish House residents that secured this delivery by bond. He was in the 16th Congress from 1819-1821.He started a corporation in 1832 with Nathanial Wescott and John J. Shew to build a railroad from Amsterdam to Fish House. That never came to fruition. In 1844 he was a presidential elector for James Polk on the Democratic ticket. John Fay owned a lot of land just across the town line into Providence. The hamlet of Fayville was named after John Fay. Most of Fayville is now gone due to the lake,,,but there is still Fayville Road and Fayville Creek.
John Fay’s wife, Sally Wescott Fay, died in 1826 at the age of 46. Her youngest child, Hiram, was just five at that time. Six of the ten children were under the age of 18. John Fay appears to have cut back on his many activities. His daughter, Sarah Fay Cunningham, widowed at an early age, moved back and lived with her father until his death in 1855.
John Fay lived until the age of 82. He buried four of his seven daughters. In his obituary it states that his “energy, uprightness, and benevolence early distinguished him among his fellows”. But after his beloved wife, Sally, died in 1826, he withdrew from most of his activities and “he had for some thirty years scarce left his home”.**
I am amazed about how influential John Fay was in the formation of this little hamlet called Fish House. He built the first store and the first hotel. He represented his county in government. He defended it during the War of 1812. What would Fish House have been like if it were not for John Fay.
I am in the process of cleaning Sally Fay’s grave, but the cold weather has prevented me from finishing. There are two poems on the bottom. The second poem appears to be a poem from John Fay to his deceased wife, Sally. One word in the third line is difficult to decipher, perhaps this spring I can find out what it says.
While memory bids me weep.
My thoughts nor words are free
The grief is ________ so deep
To mourn I must for thee
B: February 10, 1773
D: June 21 1855
John Fay was born in Worcester Massachusetts. He attended school for just a short time there. His family moved to Galway, New York sometime in the 1790’s. John Fay married Sarah “Sally” Wescott on January 28, 1798 in Galway. They lived there for a few years, then they moved to Fish House around 1803. Eventually this couple would have ten children. The first seven were daughters and the last three were sons.
John Fay was very influential in the development of the hamlet of Fish House. He built the first store, a brick one in the village square, around 1805. It was the first brick building in Fish House. It was torn down in 1877 and replaced with a wooden hotel run by Hiram Osborn.
John Fay also built a huge house across from the brick store around 1808, to house his large family. That house would eventually become the Fish House Hotel, a very well known establishment. It burned down in 1920. John Fay built a beautiful Victorian house on what is known now as Old Fish House Road. That house was taken down when the lake was built in 1930.
John Fay was many things during his life, a land surveyor, an owner of a woolen mill, a farmer, a politician, a postmaster, a presidential elector. He was a representative in the state assembly in 1808, 1809 and 1812. After President Madison declared war against Great Britain, in 1812, the New York state legislature felt it necessary to deliver muskets and ammunition to the towns “near the unsettled and wilderness country because those settlers were extremely apprehensive during the last season of Indian massacres” * John Fay was listed as one of twelve Fish House residents that secured this delivery by bond. He was in the 16th Congress from 1819-1821.He started a corporation in 1832 with Nathanial Wescott and John J. Shew to build a railroad from Amsterdam to Fish House. That never came to fruition. In 1844 he was a presidential elector for James Polk on the Democratic ticket. John Fay owned a lot of land just across the town line into Providence. The hamlet of Fayville was named after John Fay. Most of Fayville is now gone due to the lake,,,but there is still Fayville Road and Fayville Creek.
John Fay’s wife, Sally Wescott Fay, died in 1826 at the age of 46. Her youngest child, Hiram, was just five at that time. Six of the ten children were under the age of 18. John Fay appears to have cut back on his many activities. His daughter, Sarah Fay Cunningham, widowed at an early age, moved back and lived with her father until his death in 1855.
John Fay lived until the age of 82. He buried four of his seven daughters. In his obituary it states that his “energy, uprightness, and benevolence early distinguished him among his fellows”. But after his beloved wife, Sally, died in 1826, he withdrew from most of his activities and “he had for some thirty years scarce left his home”.**
I am amazed about how influential John Fay was in the formation of this little hamlet called Fish House. He built the first store and the first hotel. He represented his county in government. He defended it during the War of 1812. What would Fish House have been like if it were not for John Fay.
I am in the process of cleaning Sally Fay’s grave, but the cold weather has prevented me from finishing. There are two poems on the bottom. The second poem appears to be a poem from John Fay to his deceased wife, Sally. One word in the third line is difficult to decipher, perhaps this spring I can find out what it says.
While memory bids me weep.
My thoughts nor words are free
The grief is ________ so deep
To mourn I must for thee
- State of New York: Messages from the governors, Volume 2, By New York (State). Governor, page 772
Deacon Abraham Beecher Jr.
1771 - 1845
Abraham Beecher Jr. was the oldest child of Abraham and Desire Beecher. He was born in New Haven , Connecticut in 1771. By the year 1793 Abraham Beecher Jr. was living in the town Northampton. His brother Ely started in Fish House (Northampton) and helped John Fay build the first store. Ely then moved to Edinburg and became very successful in several businesses. Beecher Hollow and Beecher’s Creek are named after him. Abraham Jr.’s brother, Isaac, ran a farm in Edinburg for his father, Abraham Beecher Sr. A third brother, Amos, also owned land in the Edinburg area. How did these four brothers, all born in Connecticut, end up in this area?. Perhaps it was a result of their father, Abraham Beecher Sr., receiving a land grant for his service in the Revolutionary War. Perhaps the four brothers just decided to head west, like so many other settlers after the Revolutionary War, looking for land and business opportunities. Records and land grants are difficult to verify during that time. Whatever the reason, the Beecher brothers came and stayed in this area.
Abraham Beecher Jr. married Lydia Day Fuller in Kent, Connecticut in 1792. By 1793 Abraham and Lydia had moved to Northampton (Fish House). Abraham Beecher Jr. owned farmland just over the town border, into Edinburg. He referred to the farm as the Sheffield Farm. Shown below are two maps, one from 1905 and the other, a 1911 survey map. Both show the property as owned by C. Beecher who was C. W. Beecher, grandson of Abraham and Lydia Beecher. That property is now under the Sacandaga Lake.
Abraham and Lydia’s oldest son, Leman, born in 1793, grew up and married Katherine Shew. Abraham and Lydia’s daughter, Laura Fuller, born in 1807, married Dr. Langdon Marvin. So the Beecher’s are connected to two prominent Fish House families.
In 1814, a church revival was held in Fish House, shortly after that, Abraham Beecher Jr. and Isaac Noyes were instrumental in building a wood frame Presbyterian church on the site where the brick church now stands. Abraham became a deacon of this church. He and his wife, Lydia, had eleven children. Abraham Beecher Jr. died in 1845 and is buried in the Presbyterian Church cemetery. His wife, Lydia, died in 1847 and is buried next to him.
|
|
Truman
B. Shew
Died
Aug. 30.1848,
in his 31 year. ***
Truman B. Shew was the son of Elizabeth Beecher and Godfrey I. Shew, a cousin of Godfrey Shew Jr., the first settler of Fish House. Truman was one of six brothers. Two became doctors. Truman and his other three brothers (William, Myron, and Jacob) became photographers. They were trained in 1841 by Samuel T, B. Morse (the telegraph inventor) in the art of daguerrotype. Samuel Morse had been in Paris in 1839 , when Louis Daguerre had demonstrated this process of photography for the first time. It was the first form of photography and it was the primary form from 1839 to 1859.
The four brothers, after being trained, first traveled in upstate New York doing their own daguerrotype photography. Eventually they settled in different east coast cities and ran photography studios for John Plumbe Jr. Truman ran a studio on Chestnut Street in Philadelphia.
“[Daguerreotype] creates a silver image on a silver surface using some of the more dangerous chemicals like mercury and iodide, and that’s why a lot of early photographers, especially daguerreotypists, didn’t lead the longest lives.” – Arthur Kaplan of the Getty Conservation Institute.
Truman Shew became very ill. His brother, Joel, was a doctor in New York City and tried to cure him, but to no avail. Truman died in 1848 at the age of 31. He was buried next to his maternal grandparents in the Fish House cemetery next to the Presbyterian church where his grandfather had been a deacon. Myron and Jacob bought Truman’s Philadelphia studio, but a year after Truman’s death, Jacob joined the gold rush of 1849 and went to California. William and Myron headed to California a short time later. All three brothers continued in the photography business but it was William who became well known. William died in 1903 and unfortunately most of his work was destroyed in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire. Some of his works can still be found in history books and also in the Smithsonian.
*** Below Truman's name and date of death is a long poem. It was difficult to decipher without cleaning the stone several times and taking photos at different angles. Below is the poem, but there are still some words in question. Those words will be in parentheses. At the bottom of the gravestone, there is inscribed B.K. Lee, West Galway, I assume that is the maker of the gravestone.
This stone may mark thy place of rest
Thy name in graven here
But thou shalt have in friendships (blest)
A monument more dear
Peace be upon this quiet spot
Here love may linger round
A heart of many virtues lies
Beneath this grassy mound
And oh that those who visit here
To whom these lines are given
May find like thee a pasport clear
To all the joys of heaven
B. Shew
Died
Aug. 30.1848,
in his 31 year. ***
Truman B. Shew was the son of Elizabeth Beecher and Godfrey I. Shew, a cousin of Godfrey Shew Jr., the first settler of Fish House. Truman was one of six brothers. Two became doctors. Truman and his other three brothers (William, Myron, and Jacob) became photographers. They were trained in 1841 by Samuel T, B. Morse (the telegraph inventor) in the art of daguerrotype. Samuel Morse had been in Paris in 1839 , when Louis Daguerre had demonstrated this process of photography for the first time. It was the first form of photography and it was the primary form from 1839 to 1859.
The four brothers, after being trained, first traveled in upstate New York doing their own daguerrotype photography. Eventually they settled in different east coast cities and ran photography studios for John Plumbe Jr. Truman ran a studio on Chestnut Street in Philadelphia.
“[Daguerreotype] creates a silver image on a silver surface using some of the more dangerous chemicals like mercury and iodide, and that’s why a lot of early photographers, especially daguerreotypists, didn’t lead the longest lives.” – Arthur Kaplan of the Getty Conservation Institute.
Truman Shew became very ill. His brother, Joel, was a doctor in New York City and tried to cure him, but to no avail. Truman died in 1848 at the age of 31. He was buried next to his maternal grandparents in the Fish House cemetery next to the Presbyterian church where his grandfather had been a deacon. Myron and Jacob bought Truman’s Philadelphia studio, but a year after Truman’s death, Jacob joined the gold rush of 1849 and went to California. William and Myron headed to California a short time later. All three brothers continued in the photography business but it was William who became well known. William died in 1903 and unfortunately most of his work was destroyed in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire. Some of his works can still be found in history books and also in the Smithsonian.
*** Below Truman's name and date of death is a long poem. It was difficult to decipher without cleaning the stone several times and taking photos at different angles. Below is the poem, but there are still some words in question. Those words will be in parentheses. At the bottom of the gravestone, there is inscribed B.K. Lee, West Galway, I assume that is the maker of the gravestone.
This stone may mark thy place of rest
Thy name in graven here
But thou shalt have in friendships (blest)
A monument more dear
Peace be upon this quiet spot
Here love may linger round
A heart of many virtues lies
Beneath this grassy mound
And oh that those who visit here
To whom these lines are given
May find like thee a pasport clear
To all the joys of heaven
DAVID MARVIN: Died June 19, 1811 in his 77 year.
DEBORAH: wife of David Marvin. Died Aug. 29, 1849 in her 83 year
David Marvin was born in 1764 in Sharon, Litchfield, CT to John J. Marvin and Katherine St. John. When he was 19, (1782) he served as a Private in the Revolutionary War with the Fitch's Independent Volunteer Company.
He married Deborah Baldwin in 1801. In 1815, they moved to Fish House where David was a blacksmith and a farmer. They had four children, including a son named Langdon Ithiel Marvin who later became a prominent doctor.
David died in 1841. His wife lived until 1849. They share a gravestone.
DEBORAH: wife of David Marvin. Died Aug. 29, 1849 in her 83 year
David Marvin was born in 1764 in Sharon, Litchfield, CT to John J. Marvin and Katherine St. John. When he was 19, (1782) he served as a Private in the Revolutionary War with the Fitch's Independent Volunteer Company.
He married Deborah Baldwin in 1801. In 1815, they moved to Fish House where David was a blacksmith and a farmer. They had four children, including a son named Langdon Ithiel Marvin who later became a prominent doctor.
David died in 1841. His wife lived until 1849. They share a gravestone.
|
GEORGE W. OSBORN:
Died May 21, 1855 aged 38 years George Wolcotte Osborn was born in Connecticut on May 12 in 1817 to David Schellinger Osborn and Lucy Mills. He married Mary Ann Paul (who was born in England in 1820) in Hartford, Connecticut on June 18, 1843. They moved to Northampton, NY and had their first child, Lucy, in 1845. Their second daughter, Mary, was born in 1846. Their only son, Robert, was born in 1851 and their last child, a daughter, Emma, was born in 1854. George died the next year at the age of 38. Mary Ann Paul Osborn continued to live in Northampton until 1860. She was then in Johnstown in 1865. Mary Osborne moved to Nebraska sometime after 1865. It might have been due to the Homestead Act of 1862. Women could apply to own land in Nebraska. Much of Nebraska was settled due to the Homestead Act. Mary Paul Osborne never remarried. She died in 1882 at the age of 62 and is buried in Cairo, Nebraska George Osborn's roots can be traced back to his great great grandfather, Elisha, who was born in 1693 in East Hampton, Suffolk County, NY. George's father moved to Connecticut. Why George moved to Northampton is not yet known. When he died at 38, his wife had four children all under the age of 10. On George's gravestone, his last name was spelled Osborn, with out the e. On Mary's gravestone, Osborne is spelled with an e. Joseph Ranney
In memory of JOSEPH RANNEY who died July 18 1823 aged 25 years, 4 Mo. & 20 day. Joseph Ranney came from a very prominent family in Middletown Connecticut. His father, Hezekiah Ranney Jr. married Mary Richardson in 1797. They had six children. The first two were, Jabez and Roland were born in Connecticut. I am not sure where Joseph was born. His family, by 1801, were living in Edinburg,N.Y., close to Hezekiah Ranney Sr. and his family. Elizabeth (Eliza) was the fourth born, but died at the age of three in 1804. The family eventually moved to Geneseo.
How did Joseph end up buried in the Presbyterian Church cemetery in Fish House? Perhaps he was visiting his grandfather, Hezekiah Ranney Sr., who was still living in Edinburg, N.Y. * Trying to establish the actual birth years of the Ranney children has been challenging. Different sources show different years. But when it is "set in stone" one must believe it, I would think. |
