Living

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Living
2. Living
3. Living
4. Living

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

This reflection was written on March 25, 1995 by Thomas Henry Sparrow's son, Thomas Richard Sparrow.

This is my father's birthday. Had he lived he would have been 87. He was born on March 25, 1908 at Ishpeming, Michigan. His father was Thomas William Sparrow, the chief mechanic for the Cleveland Cliffs Iron Company. His mother was Sophia Tremewan Sparrow. He had an older sister, Marjorie, who was born in 1905.

He graduated from Iron Mountain High School in 1926. His mother wanted him to go to the university so he went to the University of Michigan, graduating from there with a Bachelor's Degree in education in 1930. He told me that he had really wanted to study law but that he couldn't afford that. Using the GI Bill, he earned a Master's Degree in counseling from U of M in 1952.

He was a teacher, counselor, and elementary school principal with the Wyandotte Public Schools in Wyandotte, Michigan. He taught secondary school mathematics (algebra, geometry, general math). Prior to WW II he taught at Labadie Junior High School.

Wyandotte is located on the Detroit River - an international border between the US and Canada. He talked about arriving in Wyandotte and at Labadie during the height of prohibition. The Mafia operated in Wyandotte and gang members would run booze across the river in speedboats. The houses on Antoine Street (Machine Gun Boulevard) were all connected with underground passageways. Someone trying to escape the police could disappear in those tunnels. Dad talked about the kids in his junior high math classes who would be so tired from "rum running" the night before that they would fall asleep in class. There was a "gang war" killing in front of the school one day! The victim was machine-gunned.

The J.B. Ford Elementary School was in that section of town. The principal there was a woman named Marge McCoy. Whenever she had problems with one of the Italian children she would call the neighborhood "Godfather." And, sounding much like Marlon Brando in The Godfather, he would say, "Don't worry 'bout it Miss McCoy. We take care of it for you. Italian boys need to go to school. Dey need to behave." The Godfather would talk to the boy's parents and that would be the end of the problem.

Dad served in the United States Air Force during World War II (1942-1945). He didn't see any overseas service and spent most of time teaching aircraft identification to flying personnel.

I remember going with my dad when he bought his Air Force uniforms. Actually, I believe he was in the Army Air Corps as it didn't become the Air Force until later. I think we went to the J.L. Hudson Company, but it may have been someplace else. The tinted photograph (above) of Dad in his dress uniform was my mother's favorite picture of him.

When dad returned from the service I went with him when he talked with Fred Frostic, the Wyandotte Superintendent of Schools, about returning to teaching. I was particularly impressed with Frostic's office which was paneled in walnut and had big large-leafed plants growing in pots in most of the corners of the room. Frostic told dad that he wanted him to teach math at the high school.

He was also a high school counselor. Sometime in the 1950's - it was while I was stationed in Germany with the Army so it must have been 1956 or 1957 - he was appointed principal of the Labadie Elementary School. It became an elementary school after the Wilson and Lincoln Junior High Schools were built.

He lived in various places in Wyandotte: the Etinger Apartments on Oak Street (a rented apartment); 87 Mulberry (a rented apartment); 3435 Twenty-first Street (a rented house); 2482 Twenty-second Street (a rented house); 603 Highland Street (a rented house); and, 349 Sixth Street (a house he owned).

Most of what I remember about my father are later memories - things I remember from my adult years. I don't remember much about him and my childhood at all. I wonder why? Hilde has said that my mom said I was "hyper" as a kid. If I was, maybe I had some sort of disorder that got in the way of my remembering events. I have almost no recollection of my childhood.

I know dad wasn't a very demonstrative person. I don't ever recall him being angry with me to the point where he raised his voice or hit me. I don't recall him hugging me or kissing me. I don't remember much interaction with him at all. His own father died when dad was 12 years old. Perhaps he never learned how to be a father. And perhaps we create our children in our own image.

I don't remember him being "close" with my mother either. I would see them "kiss," but it never was spontaneously. It was usually during fairly formal times such as photography sessions, and then it was done "kiddingly."

Here are some "flashes" of memory from childhood. I can see my dad ... sitting at the dinning room table after supper correcting a pile of math papers at least a foot high ... working in the garage or with his tools, a cigarette between his lips and the ash growing longer and longer until it curls under its own weight and finally falls to the ground ... making some of his home movies, carefully winding the drive spring on his Kodak 8mm movie camera ... playing solitaire bridge or solitaire poker using a chair as a card table ... dealing hand after hand ... playing bridge with the "guys" and poker with the "poker gang" ... and drinking. In his later years he was an alcoholic. He put away a fifth of whiskey almost every day.

One summer vacation we were at a cottage in Michigan's Upper Pennisula - I think we were on "Big" or "Little" Manistique Lake. The cottage was owned by a man named Doney. I remember that because there was a teacher at the high school named Doney. I don't think there was any electricity because I remember kerosene lanterns. One night dad was outside. Suddenly, he let out a scream and came running back into the cottage saying he had seen a bear. It scared me half to death. He laughed and laughed. It was one of the few times I ever heard him make a practical joke.

He was my geometry teacher in high school. He never called me "Tom." He always called me "Sparrow." I was out of my seat one day and he said, "OK, Sparrow. Your move!" I barely passed. He "gave" me a C.

He was also my counselor for a while. But he thought it wouldn't be a good idea for him to counsel me so he "traded" me to another counselor - "Doc" Lyon - who was his own son's counselor. While he was my counselor he made me take typing because, "You have to learn at least one skill in high school." Although I hated it at the time, I'm forever grateful for him insisting that I learn to type.

I remember how he "puffed himself up" when someone was taking his picture. In many of the photographs I have of dad, he has pulled in his stomach and stuck out his chest.

He was one hell of a bridge player - probably the best I have ever known. He was particulary good at "end play" and he could squeeze the daylights out of a hand. I played with him occasionally when his group needed a fourth. In his later years he suffered from a palsey of some kind and his hands shook. He didn't like people to see that his hands were shaking and he almost stopped playing bridge because of it. Finally, one of his foursome - Marc Betwee - said to him, "Tom. You can't stop playing bridge just because your hands shake. You can hold the cards with your feet if you want to. You must keep playing." He did.

He had fantastic card sense and - when a hand was done - he could repeat it play by play - telling you what everybody had played on each trick. He used that same card sense when he played poker.

And he liked to play poker - penny ante poker and if you lost two or three dollars you could play "poverty" and you were covered on every bet until you won a hand. Art and Elsie Benjiman, Gen and Bill Dawson, and Red and Adeline Hallowell would get together almost every week to play cards. They named the games after the places in which they learned them or after the person who taught them the game. So, we played "Tomah," or "Kleinschmidt Red Dog," or "Chicago," or "Little Joe." I liked to watch the games and every once in a while they let me play.

I remember one night when Marc and Vicki Betwee were playing. Vicki didn't know poker so I was helping her. The game was straight five card draw and she was dealt a royal flush in hearts. I've never seen it since - and I've played a lot of poker.

There was a two-car garage behind our house on Sixth Street. Attached to the garage was an equally big room that dad always called "the shop." He tiled the floor, and paneled the walls, built some cupboards and closets, and that was where they played poker during the warmer months of the year. I suspect he did it because Grandpa and Grandma Blair lived with us and he wanted to be a little nosier than he could be if they played in the dining room. The work he did on "the shop" was quite good.

Dad fancied himself as a fisherman. On those summer vacations he had lots of fishing gear and we would fish for the "big one" in Hubbard Lake - a large lake in lower Michigan near Alpena. One summer, we were fishing and he hooked a really big bass. As he was reeling it in, the reel fell off his pole. He then began drawing the line in by hand. I netted the fish - almost tipping the boat over in the process - and he had a nice trophy fish.

I think it was that same summer that someone - it may have been my mother - caught an even bigger bass fishing off the dock at Uplegger's Resort with a cane pole.

These are funny memories. It is strange thinking about them now.

He liked to play golf. He had a very compact swing, but when he hit the ball it went pretty good. We played together ocassionally, but not often. I always beat him.

There is a funny story about my nephew - his oldest grandchild - John Wareing. John, who was about two, called his pacifier a "do-do." Mom and dad were caring for John and they were going someplace in the car and John threw his pacifier out of the car window. John needed a pacifier, so dad stopped at the next drug store they came to, went in, and asked the clerk if she had a "do-do." He never did tell me what the clerk said.

We were both members of the Wyandotte Kiwanis Club. The club went on a field trip to the Detroit Salt Mines. Dad and I went. The mines are 1200 feet below the city of Detroit. There is only one elevator. Down in the mines - which are in the salt deposits - are huge rooms, "roads," and lots of machinery - trucks, digging machines, crushers, etc. (Incidentally, the machines all had to be disassembled, taken down the elevator, and then reassembled.) The temperature in the mines is a "constant" 68 degrees - or something like that. Anyway, we had been in the mine for about an hour and a half and had just made the turn to head back - which meant another hour and a half - and dad said, "This is interesting, but I didn't want to know this much about salt mines."

We were both elementary principals in Wyandotte for several years before he retired. He was principal at the Labadie Elementary School. I was at the Washington. Both of our secretaries were named Cole. Mine was Margaret Cole. His was Olive Cole. They were married to brothers.

His first teaching contract in Wyandotte had a salary of something like $1,200. The first year I was a principal I made more than he ever made - up until that year. I never thought that was quite right.

After he retired he built Tom and Rick desks. He built Jenny a model of our Vernon Road house in Trenton. He liked to build things and was proud of his handiwork. I know Rick still has his desk. I wonder if Tom has his and if Jenny has her house?

Dad died on October 4, 1976. He died a horrible death. He had cancer of the pancreas and it was not diagnosed correctly. It "ate him alive." He had been a robust, healthy man - weighing over 200 pounds. When he died he weighed less than 80 pounds. He just wasted away.

He was cremated. I spread his ashes around the property at 349 Sixth. Ashes aren't really ashes, you know. They are fragments of bone and they tinkle like little wind chimes when you throw them.

Thomas married Maude Pauline Blair on 25 Jun 1932 in Detroit, MI. Maude (daughter of Frank Lewis Blair and Mable Clair Pickering) was born on 5 Mar 1907 in Boyne City, MI; died on 3 Mar 1989 in Scottsdale, AZ. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

William married Sophia Tremewan on 25 Oct 1904 in Upper Penninsula of Michigan. Sophia (daughter of William Henry Tremewan and Lillian Tremewan) was born on 20 Feb 1879 in Ron's Shaft on Michigan's Keeweenaw Penninusla; died on 7 Dec 1958 in Wyandotte, MI. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She told her father she could get any man he named to marry her. He named Thomas Sparrow. She married him.

Notes:

They were married in Ishpeming. The got their marriage license on October 21, 1904. They were married by Frank P. Cowles, Clergyman. The witnesses were Thomas Moyle and Anna Tremewan. She showed her place of residence as Iron Mountain, Michigan. He showed Ishpeming as his place of residence. He lists Richard Sparrow and Anna Pike as his parents. She lists William Henry Tremewan and Lilly Tremewan.

Frank married Mable Clair Pickering on 15 May 1892 in Boyne City, MI. Mable (daughter of John VanWey Pickering and Carrie Piatt) was born on 29 May 1873 in Corning, NY; died on 16 Feb 1956 in Wyandotte, MI. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

In Marquette, Michigan in 1870, 1880, 1900, and 1910. In the 1900 census in some indexes, his last name is spelled Sparrowe, although to me in the original it looks as though the enumerator spelled it that way but then crossed out the e.

Also listed in Duluth, St. Louis, Minnesota in 1910 with his daughter, Jessie, and her husband, James Prior.

In Duluth, Minnesota in 1920 with his daughter, Florence, and her husband Robert O’Neill.

Richard married Hannah Tonkin Pike on 8 Jun 1851 in Tavistock, Devon Co., England. Hannah (daughter of Samuel Pike and Mary Tonkin) was born before 30 Oct 1830 in England; died on 19 Sep 1902 in Marquette, MI. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

In the 1900 census, Hannah reports having had six children, four of whom are still living.

William married Lillian Tremewan about 1876 in Upper Penninsula of Michigan. Lillian (daughter of George Tremewan and Eliza Jelbert) was born on 11 Mar 1862 in Redruth, Cornwall, England; died about 1937 in Iron Mountain, MI. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Appears in the 1880 census twice. Once with her mother in Ely, Marquette, Michigan. Her mother is listed as Eliza Rule. She also appears in Ishpeming, Marquette, Michigan with her husband, William, and her daughters, Eliza J. (2) and Sophia (1). William is listed as William Trewewan.

Orlando married Lura Ann Washburn on 6 Nov 1867 in ?. Lura (daughter of Charles Washburn and Nancy Leonard) was born on 24 Apr 1848 in Salem, Wayne County, Pennsylvania; died on 21 Mar 1872 in Glencoe, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Letter from Orlando Blair to his sister Emma Blair.
The letter was written and mailed in Glencoe, MN and sent to Putnam, NY in the Spring of 1872.
Spelling, punctuation, and captializations are preserved.

Dear Sister Emma,

Your kind letter was received by us a short time since but Lura was not destined ever to answer it.

she was confined on the 17th and gave birth to a boy babe
on the 24th seven days after died.

The same vitality has prevailed through this section of the country
more than one half of child bed confinements have proven fatal

she seemed doing well until the third day when she took or had a slight chill and from that time grew worse, yet we all had hopes of her recovery until almost her last day

it is something that the Phiscians do not understand the vitality that prevails among the child bed confinements.

Lura had one of the best nurses in the country attending her who had nothing to do but to attend to her

we had a hired girl besides the nurse and also Mary Shear from Michigan was visiting us which was a great source of comfort to me for she has always been like a sister to me when I was in Michigan

her Phiscian visited her almost hourly after she was taken with the chill on the 3 day so she had i am satisfied all the care that a mortal could have had.

but my dear Sister she was to good for this sin sick world and God in his infinit wisdom called her home to be with him on high

she had no fear of death and hoped that all her friends which are many would so live that when God should call them hence they would meet her in heaven.

O! Emma, of all the many greivances that I have had this has been by far the hardest and the heaviest that I ever can have the death of the wife of my youth

But God in his infinite mercies has left me a momento of the lost one that I loved so well

Oh! Emma you have never realized how precious she was to me, nor never can until you have been affected as I have been; but may God spare you from this trial

Lura named the baby Frank Lewis
Lewis in honor of her brother that died

I shall stay here until Fall anyway and get some one to take care of the babe
after that I do not know what I shall do

Mary has not concluded yet weather she will stay here and teach school this summer or not but I hope she will for I would like to have one relative near me

Maggie Lee that married Mr. Bennett about 6 months before I was married died yesterday
she was a niece of Agness Wiley Blair

Mrs. Chubb, Agnes sister is very sick

There has been a lot of sickness here this spring

And now dear sister I will close this sad epistle for I have many more to write yet.

Write me often will you not

Love to all enquiring friends

Your affectionate Brother
Orlando Blair

Don't forget me to Robert

Notes:

Served in the Union Army during the Civil War. He was a Lt. in Company F of the 11th Pennsylvania Veterans Calvary.

Went from Pennsylvania to Hillsdale County, Michigan to work the farm with his sister, Mary Delphine, and his brother-in-law, Cyrus King.

Met Carrie Piatt in Hillsdale. Married her in 1870. They moved to Bay Springs, Michigan in 1887.

John married Carrie Piatt on 27 Dec 1870 in Hillsdale, MI. Carrie (daughter of Anthony Piatt and Dorah Fox) was born on 25 Feb 1852 in Lyons, NY; died on 1 May 1893 in Evangeline, Charlevoix, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

In the 1870 census she is indexed as Carrie Fiet in Hillsdale, Hillsdale, Michigan. She is in the household of Lyman Kenyon and is keeping house.

William married Dinah Sillick on 14 Aug 1825 in Okehampton, Devon, England. Dinah (daughter of William Sillick and Mary Broad) was born before 18 Aug 1804 in Tavistock, Devon, England; died in Oct 1877 in England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The marriage is recorded in the Devon Record Office in Exeter. William Sparrow is listed as a labourer. Dinah is listed as a spinster. Both made marks. The witnesses were Samuel Doney and James Cole.

Samuel married Mary Tonkin on 15 Sep 1819 in Tavistock, Devon Co., England. Mary (daughter of George Tonkin and Hannah Kent) was born before 16 Apr 1798 in St. Agnes, Near Turo, Cornwall, England; died in UNKNOWN in ?. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

George married Sophia Reynolds on 8 Jan 1854 in Redruth, Cornwall, England. Sophia (daughter of John Reynolds and Ann Wilcox) was born about 1823 in England; died in 1889 in Redruth, Cornwall, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

I believe George arrived in this country on 19 March 1864, sailing on The City of Baltimore. The passage took about two weeks.

George married Eliza Jelbert on 30 Jan 1859 in Parish Church, Illogan, Cornwall, England. Eliza (daughter of Richard Jelbert and Maria Hall) was born in May 1838 in Illogan Down, Cornwall, England; died in Apr 1911 in Ishpeming, MI. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Eliza is on the passenger list for the Etna which sailed from Liverpool and arrived in New York on 6 July 1868. With Eliza are her children, Johnny (age 7), Lizzie (age 6), and Lucinda (age 5). I believe "Lizzie" is Lillian. At ancestry.com passenger lists pages she is indexed as Eliza Trenewan.

James married Eliza Cronin on 15 Jul 1823 in ?. Eliza (daughter of James Cronin and Jerusha Miller) was born about Aug 1801 in New York; died on 1 Apr 1860 in Putnam, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

I found this at the Mormon site.

This is to certify that on the twenty eighth day of December 1859, at seven and a half o'clock in the evening at my residence in Anoka County State of Minnesota, I united Charles S. Washburn and Sophia P. Richards (both of Anoka County and State of Minnesota) in the bonds of matrimony and I did previous to such marriage examine the said Charles S Washburn on oath and found no legal impediment to such marriage. There were present at this marriage as witnesses Judson B. Shaw and Joseph F Wheeler besides a number of others.
S M Shaw
Justice of the Peace

Charles married Nancy Leonard on 17 May 1843 in ?. Nancy (daughter of Lewis Leonard and Hannah Blood) was born about 1820 in Maine; died about 1857 in Anoka, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Hiram married Sally VanWey on 7 Apr 1833 in Chemung, NY. Sally (daughter of Henry VanWey and Elizabeth Middaugh) was born on 28 Jul 1812; died on 29 Sep 1894 in Tioga County, PA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Served with Napolean in France.

One of the first settlers in Hillsdale County, Michigan coming there about 1855.

From his obituary: "He was never sick a day in his life and died sitting in his chair like a clock running down. His mind was clear and bright to the last."

From the February 18, 1868 edition of Hillsdale Standard: Notice - Whereas, my wife Dorothy, has left my bed and board without cause or provocation whatever, I forbid any one harboring or trusting her on my account.
Antony Piatt
Hillsdale, Feb. 17, 1868

She is shown as being with him in the census of 1870 and 1880 and she is buried next to him in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Hillsdale.

In Arcadia, Wayne Co., NY in 1850 on page 271. Birthplace is listed as Germany.

Birth:
Census birthdates are 1812, 1813, 1815, and 1804

Anthony married Dorah Fox about 1848 in Lyons, NY. Dorah was born about 1817 in France; died on 1 Jan 1889 in Hillsdale, MI. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
Census birthdates are 1815, 1816, 1819, and 1818

Notes:

Thomas was a Sailor. His son William's baptismal certificate says, "1799 March 26th William son of Thos Sparrow sailor and Ann his wife."
His marriage record says, "1798 December 04 Thomas Sparrow a Marine in the Plymouth division, and Ann Crossman witnesses Joseph Bownsalt, William Roberts."
Much of what I know about Thomas came from an English researcher, Jean Chase. I found Jean on the internet in 1998.

Thomas married Ann Crossman on 4 Dec 1798 in Stoke Damerel, Plymouth, England. Ann (daughter of William Crossman and Ann Rubby) was born about 1771 in Devon, England; died in in England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
Baptized 8 Oct 1771 in Tavistock

William married Mary Broad on 1 Jul 1792 in Tavistock, Devon Co., England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

James married Elizabeth Martin in 1794 in Spreyton, Devon, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

George married Hannah Kent on 31 May 1794 in St. Agnes, Cornwall, England. Hannah (daughter of Simon Kent and Mary) was born before 3 Aug 1774 in Saint Agnes, Near Turo, Cornwall, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

William married Mary Tremewan about 1818 in St. Agnes, Cornwall, England. Mary (daughter of George Tremewan and Mary Clemmo) was born about 1791 in England; died in UNKNOWN. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Ann Wilcox. Ann was born about 1804 in Redruth, Cornwall, England; died about 1870 in Redruth, Cornwall, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Nancy Giles on 28 Apr 1816 in Roche, Cornwall, England. Nancy was born about 1791 in England; died about 1861 in ?. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Information on Richard Jelbert family from a member of the Jelbert Society in England.

Richard married Maria Hall on 22 Aug 1836 in Illogan, Cornwall, England. Maria was born in UNKNOWN in England; died in UNKNOWN in ?. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Jean Rogers on 14 May 1781 in Washington Co., NY. Jean (daughter of James Rogers and Lydia Derry) was born on 4 Jul 1757 in Glen Burnie, Washington Co., NY; died on 15 Jan 1835 in Putnam, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

James married Jerusha Miller in UNKNOWN in ?. Jerusha was born in UNKNOWN in ?; died in UNKNOWN in ?. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Eliphalet married Mary Polly Harris on 4 Mar 1810 in New Gloucester, MA. Mary (daughter of Moses Harris and Betsey Hersey) was born about 1786; died about 1861 in Foxcroft, Maine. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

During his time, maker of the best oars in the world.

I had been trying to figure out my Great-Great Grandfather Charles Washburn's wife's maiden name for about 25 years starting around 1990 or so. Charles was the father of Mary Elura, Lewis Leonard, Lura Ann, and Flora A. Washburn. Lura Ann married my great-grandfather, Orlando Blair, and was the mother of my grandfather, Frank Lewis Blair.

From the 1850 Census, I knew Charles's wife's first name was Nancy. Because Charles and Nancy named their son Lewis Leonard Washburn, I'd always guessed Nancy's last name was Leonard and that her father's name was Lewis, but I couldn't "prove" it. I worked on it during a week in February of 2009 when I was "trapped" in the computer room by the painters who were working in our living room, hallway, and kitchen.

In a book published in 1895 and titled "Portrait and Biographical Record of Rockland and Orange Counties, New York" I found a biographical sketch of Dr. Alfred D. Leonard. Alfred was the son of George W. Leonard who was the son of Lewis Leonard. I believe George was a younger brother of Nancy. An excerpt from the text of the sketch is printed below.

"George W. Leonard the father of the Doctor was born in Sebec, Piscataquis County, Me., (a neighboring town of Foxcroft where Charles was born) and was a son of Lewis and Hannah Leonard, who were the parents of six children: John, NANCY, Ann, George W., Hiram L. and Alvin."

I was convinced that this Nancy was the Nancy who married Charles Washburn. The biographical sketch of Alfred and the information about his father, George, strongly suggested that Nancy's father was Lewis Leonard and, as a real bonus something I didn?t know, that her mother was a woman whose maiden name was Hannah Blood.

In another section of the book, I found a biographical sketch of Hiram Lewis Leonard. I'm guessing that Hiram was another of Nancy's younger brothers.

"Hiram L. Leonard, of Central Valley, Orange County (New York), was born in Piscataquis County, Me, June 23, 1831. The family have long been residents of this country, three brothers coming from England in the "Mayflower," and locating in Massachusetts. To the one who settled in Boston our subject traces his ancestry. Lewis Leonard, the father of Hiram L., was born in Roxbury, a suburb of Boston, Mass., and received his education in a school of the latter place. From Boston he went to Maine, then a new country, to raise sheep. About the close of the War of 1812, the sheep industry became unprofitable, and he began manufacturing oars. In this he became so proficient that his fame spread first throughout this country, and then across the water. He was considered the best oar-maker in the world, and shipped his products to England and many other foreign countries. He first began to manufacture oars at Bangor, but moved about wherever he could find ash, from which the best oars are made. In 1835 he went to Ellenville, Ulster County, N.Y., where he found timber for his product. This he used up in about three years, and then removed to Honesdale, Wayne County, Pa., when he plied his vocation until his death, which occurred shortly afterward. He was married in the town of Knox, Me. to Miss Hannah Blood, who is supposed to have been a native of New Hampshire."

In 1820 and 1830, the Lewis Leonard family was in Sebec, Piscataquis, Maine. They were in Salem, Wayne County, Pennsylvania in 1840. I was convinced Charles Washburn was with them in 1840 as a male in the correct age group had disappeared from Eliphalet Washburn's house since the 1830 census of Foxboro, Maine and there was an extra male in the correct age group in Lewis Leonard's house. (Prior to 1850 only "heads of households" were listed in the census. Then there would be a breakdown of "number of males between 0 and 5, number of males between 5 and 10, etc.)

In 1850 when all household members were named, John Leonard, the eldest child of Lewis and Hannah, had his own house in Wayne County, Pennsylvania. Charles and Nancy, along with their children Mary Elura, Lewis, and Lura, were living right next door to John. Lewis and Hannah, along with their youngest sons, Hiram and Alvin, were living in Cherry Ridge, Wayne, Pennsylvania, a neighboring township of Salem. George Leonard and his family are also in Cherry Ridge right next door to Lewis and Hannah. And Dwight Hawes, a shirt-tale relative of Lewis is in the next house. Dwight is married to Ann Leonard, Lewis and Hannah's youngest daughter. This was obviously a closely knit group and I believe Lewis's oar business was supporting most of them.

Charles and Nancy named their son Lewis Leonard Washburn. Lura and Orlando Blair named my Grandfather Frank Lewis Blair, the Lewis being in honor of Lura's brother who died four years before my Grandfather was born.

By 1860, Nancy's father, Lewis, had died. According to the article cited above, he died after they moved from New York to Pennsylvania. Hannah was living with Alvin. John, George, and Dwight and their families were still in Wayne County. Hiram was off in the woods of Maine. Nancy had died shortly after Charles and his family moved to Minnesota. Charles was in Anoka, Anoka, Minnesota with his four children. He was living with a second wife named Sophia. It would be interesting to know why Charles moved away from the Leonard family. Subsequent research indicated that Sophia's last name was Richards, although I think that was a married name and not her maiden name.

Hiram went on to become "the father of the modern fly rod." His rods sold under the name H.L. Leonard. The old ones are valued collectors' items. Look him up on the web. He was quite a character.

The notations quoted above were the first I'd been able to find that "proved? that Charles' Nancy was Nancy Leonard. And, while "proved" might be a bit strong, a lot of the evidence sure pointed in that direction.

The link for the notations is You may need to be a member at ancestry.com to get to it. If you can get to it, you're in the index. Leonards are in the right hand column. You can change pages with the windows above.

There is also a book with a lot of information about the family. The book is "Casting A Spell: The Bamboo Fly Rod and the American Pursuit of Perfection" by George Black. If you're into fly fishing at all, it's fascinating.

In his book, Black mentions a rod-maker nick-named Streamer. Streamer's real name is Bill Abrams. According to Black, Abrams was supposed to have portraits of Lewis and Hannah Leonard. I contacted Abrams by e-mail and asked him to make some photographs of the portraits. (See another story under Lewis's photo.)

I'm suggesting that Hannah Blood's parents were Solomon Blood and his wife, Hannah (her maiden name was Finney), living in Hancock, Knox, Maine in 1810 with girls in the right age bracket to be Hannah. Back beyond that, I'm guessing and have no proof.

Anyway, I called Charles's Nancy "Nancy Leonard" and her parents Lewis Leonard (the oar-maker) and Hannah Blood (who was supposedly "insane" according to the 1870 census).

Then today, September 8, 2015, I found this book among Google Books: "The History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe Counties, Pennsylvania" by Alfred Mathews published in 1886. On page 782 I found the following paragraphs. My asides are in parens.

"In 1845 the turnpike from Salem to Cherry Ridge (Pennsylvania townships) was completed, reducing the journey to Hinsdale more than one half. The road led through what was at that time almost an unbroken forest, but as it became at once the main highway lands were quickly taken up and cleared, a paying market being found for both bark and lumber at Hinsdale. Lewis Leonard had previously settled at Sand Pond, and it was through him and his son-in-law, Charles Washburn, (finally, anecdotal proof) that the road was so expeditiously opened. He was an oar-maker, who came from the State of Maine, in 1840 and settled on the place commenced by one Moore; and as the forest abounded with the best ash it was but a short time before he had a saw-mill and turning lathe at work."

"George Leonard, a son of Lewis, settled next to his father, and has been one of the most successful and scientific farmers in the township. He is a man of broad technical knowledge and good constructive ability, and has been awarded several patents on water-wheels, ploughs, torpedoes, and other useful inventions." (There's more in the paragraph about George.)

"John Leonard, another son of Lewis, settled on the pike at the place now called "No. 17," and erected first a water-power saw mill, and afterwards applied steam. More about John, then "Charles Washburn, who has already been mentioned, settled near his brother-in-law, along the loaded track of the Pennsylvania Coal Company's road, two or three miles above Middle Valley. He was not very successful as a lumberman, and finally sold out and went to Minnesota, where he died a few years ago."

Further proof. Today, September 24, 2015, on Ancestry.com I found the will of Lewis Leonard. It was probated on July 1, 1859 in Wayne County, Pennsylvania and mentions Hannah, and Lewis's living children, John, Ann, George, Hiram, and Alvin. In part it says, "I give and bequeath to my deceased daughters' children Nancy Washborn the sum of Fifty dollars each as each becomes of age, to be paid by my Executors."

There it is. Nancy Leonard's parents, her younger brother, Hiram, my Great-Great-Great Uncle, "the father of the modern fly rod."

Lewis married Hannah Blood on 24 Sep 1816 in Knox, Waldo, Maine. Hannah (daughter of Solomon Blood and Hannah Kinney) was born on 20 Nov 1795 in Hollis, Hillsboro, New Hampshire; died about 1872 in Wayne Co., PA; was buried about 1872 in Hamlin Cemetery, Wayne County, Pennsylvania. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Benjamin married Mary Coolbaugh on 16 Jun 1799. Mary (daughter of Cornelius Coolbaugh and Sarah Everett) was born on 14 Feb 1783. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

In Delmar, Tioga, PA in 1810 census.

Henry married Elizabeth Middaugh in UNKNOWN in Chemung, NY. Elizabeth (daughter of Elias Middaugh and Sara Van Aken) was born on 28 Feb 1780; died on 12 Mar 1848. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

In Jackson, Tioga County, PA in 1840 indexed under Elizabeth VanWye. She has one male 15-20 and one female 15-20 living with her. She is between 50-60.

William married Ann Rubby. Ann was born about 1749; died about 1826. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Susanna Northcott in 1759 in Spreyton, Devon, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

William married Ann James. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Simon married Mary. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Perran married Mary Harris on 23 May 1786 in Tremoderat, Roche, Cornwall, England. Mary was born in UNKNOWN in England; died about Dec 1829 in Tremoderat, Roche, Cornwall, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

George married Mary Clemmo in 1788 in St. Agnes, Cornwall, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Moved to from Pelham, MA to Cambridge, NY in the 1760s, and resided on Lot 47, which consisted of 180 acres bounded by "Blair's Brook." Member and probably one of the founders of the Coila Presbyterian Church and held many town offices including Selectman. In 1777, he was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel in the 16th Albany County, NY Regiment and served throughout the war and afterward.

Col. John Blair
The following thoughts about Col. Blair were written by his descendant, Thomas R. Sparrow.

My fourth great-grandfather was Col. John Blair. His wife's name was Sarah _______. Many Blair researchers have guessed that her maiden name was Kelso as John and Sarah named their second son Hugh Kelso Blair. But, Sarah's maiden name is not proven.

Family tradition had it that Col. John was an officer in the British Army who came to this country in 1776, switched sides, and fought against the British as an American militia officer. In our family we always assumed this to be true and assumed that his family followed him here from England after the war.

In February of 1998, I was in the Vermont Historical Society library and was using the LDS Ancestral Files. I don't know what caused me to do it (because I wasn't researching Blairs at the time), but I did a search on John Blair. Much to my surprise I found a John Blair in Massachusetts in the 1740s. He was married to Sarah Kelso and Sarah and John had all of the children I knew the family to have had, on all the correct birthdates, and all (save one) born in Pelham, Massachusetts. The LDS records showed the son, John Jr., being born in Donegal Co., Ireland.

The library had a copy of the Vital Records of Pelham, Massachusetts. I went to it and looked up Blair births. I found the right number of Blairs being born to John and Sarah on the right birth dates, but the book said the given names weren't known because the page in the original was torn. Some fragments of names were there. The "m" where "William" was supposed to be. The "beth" where "Elizabeth" was supposed to be. The "na" where "Susanna" was supposed to be, and, the "h" where "Dinah" was supposed to be. The only given name listed was "Kelso" in front the "Blair" for their fifth child and their second son, Hugh Kelso Blair.

The Pelham Town Birth records showed a son being born to Sarah and John on February 25, 1754, the same date the LDS record show John Jr. being born in Donegal.

There are other references to John Blair in Pelham records. He is shown as having held a number of town offices including tithing man in 1745 (in charge of making sure everyone got to church and stayed awake while there), surveyor for the west end in 1757, a member of the committee to provide for a school master in 1757, a fence viewer in 1759, a selectman in 1753 and again in 1756, and constable in 1753.

He was compensated one pound, 18 shillings, and two pence for services in the French and Indian Wars as an enlisted man. He paid three pounds, 14 shillings for Pew Number 13 in the Pelham church.

The marriages of a number of John and Sarah's children are recorded in the Pelham town records.

In 1761 the colony of New York granted 31,500 acres as the Cambridge Patent in Albany County. John Blair was among a number of Pelham citizens to take an interest in the newly developing territory. The family moved from Pelham to the area of Salem/Cambridge, NY. sometime in the 1760s and were probably there by 1763. They show up as founding members of the Presbyterian Church there in 1764.

John was made a Colonel in the Albany County, New York Militia during the Revolutionary War. Col. John is listed in New York State in the Revolution thusly ... page 130 - "Albany Co. Milita, 16th Regiment, Col John Blair, Col. Louis VanWoert."

The original commission of his Colonelcy is in the Fort Ticonderoga Museum in Fort Ticonderoga, New York. It was granted April 4, 1778 and passed the Secretary's office July 4, 1778 signed by then New York Governor, George W. Clinton.

Col. John's sword and a "day book" he is said to have kept are also in the Fort Ticonderoga Museum. The "day book" clearly was an artifact of the Blair family as James Blair (the son of John Jr.) and Orlando Blair (the son of James) have inscribed their names in its pages. A mystery surrounds the account of the passage from Gravesend to Quebec. Who was the author? Could it, as family tradition believed, have been Col. John?

If the Pelham Birth Records are correct, and if that John Blair and Col. Blair are one and the same that would mean that Sarah and John went back and forth between America and England several times. Clearly they were among the first settlers of Pelham in the 1740s. If John Jr. was, in fact, born in Donegal, then they had to go back to England for some reason in the mid-1750s and Sarah had to have given birth to John Jr. while they were there. Where were the other children, who would have been 10, 9, 8, 6, 4, and 2, at the time? Did they go, too?

Then John and Sarah would have had to come back to Pelham and have three more children, then move to Cambridge and have their last two children. And, if the writer of the daybook was Col. John, this means that he went back to England sometime prior to April of 1776 at age 56, that he was somehow commissioned into the British Army, and that he sailed back to Quebec arriving sometime in June of 1776. What happened to him then? And how did he go from the British Army to a Colonelcy in the Albany County, New York Militia?

I don't think the above scenario is very plausible.

I believe it is more likely that John Jr. was born in Pelham. I also think it is likely that someone other than Col. John was the writer of the log. He never would have been elected to the Albany County Committee and to the position of second colonel in May of 1776 if he hadn't been present at the meeting -- and, especially if he was out in the mid-Atlantic at the time with twenty British soliders under his command.

The writer could have been John Jr. who was born in Pelham and who may have been sent to England for a formal education. The writer could also have been a British relative, perhaps a nephew, of Col. John. The book could have belonged to some unrelated British officer and could have somehow fallen into Col. John's hands.

Each time I answer a question I am handed several more. But, the whole experience of genealogy is endlessly fascinating to me.

If only it were possible to travel through time ...

Col. John was obviously into politics as some of the documents presented here indicate. Read, for example, some of the public papers of George Clinton. These hint at Col. Blair's involvement with Ira Allen's effort to get some of the counties in New York to join Vermont. They also suggest that Col. Blair was less than enthusiastic about his military responsibilities.

He died in Cambridge in 1789. It is thought that he is buried in the Turnpike Cemetery south of Cambridge, but no marker remains.







The Day Book
Excerpts from "Col. John Blair's Day Book" which is in the Fort Ticonderoga Museum, Fort Ticonderoga, New York.

An Account of My Passage from Gravesend to Quebec

A portion of the daybook traces the writer's journey from Gravesend, England to Quebec in the year 1776. The writer was an officer in the British Army and had 20 soliders in his command.

The writer left Gravesend on April 30, 1776. The last entry in the log is June 25, 1776 ... almost two months after leaving England. According to the writer, the average speed during the crossing was between two and six knots per hour. However, sometimes they were forced back by the winds. Such was the case on Wednesday, May 29th when he wrote, " ... Since this bad weather we have been put back 70 miles to the east." He also told of fog so thick "we can't see the length of the ship."

Here is the entry from Sunday the 26th. "We had very bad weather last night. It has been so all day today. The wind northwest. The sea runs over the vessel. There have been some terrible squalls attended with heavy showers of rain. We are all in bad spirits as we can't amuse ourselves at cards or reading as the hatches are all shut down and we are quite in darkness."

Tuesday the 28th. "These 24 hours past have been worse than all the rest. We can't get to our victuals as the sea runs into the kitchen. We are all well but very low spirited. There is a brig in sight. Wind as yesterday. The sky is quite cloudy."
Sunday May 19th. "After passing a very bad night and finding myself in a dangerous situation attended with a delirium my good friend Mr. Watson prevailed on me to take a dose of St. James's powder which I consented to do with a great deal of reluctance. It operated from 7 o'clock this morning until 9 o'clock. Then I fell into a prespiration until (illegible) o'clock being no way relieved. Mr. Watson prepared me a blister of mustard which he clapped to the soles of my feet. It brought me into my senses in a short time and rose very well. They tell me that it is a fine day. They gave chase to an American schooner until 1 o'clock and then bore away. There is a ship in sight which they take to be Boush (the name of the captain of another ship which they had previously met). Wind ENE"

In the log the writer describes "islands of ice which were monsterous," tells of seeing the sea "covered for miles and miles with all kinds of birds," and of encountering "an American scow not far from us ... we placed every sailor to his gun and my 20 soliders on deck and got them to load ... and when she perceived that we were well manned and armed she sailed off." The writer also remarked about "some very fine birds called penguins. They are prettier than peacocks."

John Blair, Justice of the Peace

There are several statements by John Blair, Justice of the Peace in the Day Book. One of these is set forth below. This is handwriting that is quite different then the handwriting in the account of the ocean crossing.

"Albany County
"The voluntary examination of Elles Sherman Single woman of the township of Cambridge in the county aforesaid taken on oath before me John Blair one of the justices of the peace for the said county the twenty and second day of October 1779 who said that she is now pregnant with child which child is likely to be born a bastard and chargeable to the District of Cambridge and John Shearman of the said township labour is the father of said child."

Dealing with Indians

There are several pages which appear to be a draft of a letter as portions are scratched out.The handwriting is similar to the handwriting in the account of the ocean voyage.

"I had a meeting with the chiefs yesterday the purport of their Counsel was that they were informed that the general has sent provisions to all the Villagers for the warriors familys during the Campaign there are four from this Village who go down on purpose to know whether it be true or not, they hope they may be treated as well as any other of the Villages, they say that they would go to war with a light heart in case that their families would be supported in their absence as they say it is very distressing to them to have their families in Campaign, that in case the general thinks proper to support their families during the Campaign they should be very glad to have the provisions here before they left the Village to hinder their families from following them"

The Public Letters of George Clinton

The following are letters found inThe Public Papers of George Clinton. Clinton was Governor of New York during the American Revolution.

No. 2873
The Field Officers of Van Woert's Regiment
Submit a Grievance

Cambridge, May 6th 1780

To his Excellency George Clinton Esqr. Gov'r &c. &c.

Sir, It is with the deepest Concern that we find ourselves urged by necessity to Represent to your Excellency upon what a Scene of past misfortunes has made our present Grievance.

Prior to which Grievance we would beg Leave with the most profound respect to Submit to your Excellency's Consideration the following Introductive reasons: Since the time of our return home, after being drove off by the Enemy, we have been under Standing Orders to repair upon the Shortest notice to the frontiers; these Orders we have Punctually Obeyed, Chearfully exerting ourselves upon every appearance of danger; not even upon Such occasions regarding the most pressing calls of necessity to continue at home to provide for our families.

We have likewise borne our proportion in Publick Drafts for Campaine Service, in Detachments, and in Taxation with the other parts of the State. All which assistance we readily afforded, tho distressing in our broken Circumstances. So that the Product of these years past has been nothing less than an unabated Struggle betwixt the Enemy, and Domestick necessity.

In the month of April past we received Orders to List and Equip every thirty-fifth man for the Ensuing Campaine to be posted as frontier Guards, than which nothing could be more to our minds. It was, therefore, Cordially Complied with, and Speedily Executed, hoping by this means to relieve ourselves from the Insupportable burden of Detachments.

But now, Contrary to our Expectation, and what we consider as a Grievance, we are ordered to raise one Eighth part of our Militia, and to provide them with Arms, Ammunition, and Provision; to take post upon the frontiers, and to be continued by Relieving. Now, tho we think it most Necessary that the Frontiers be well guarded, as Some of the Inhabitants are already moving, and we must Soon if not defended, to the now Interior parts of the State will upon a few removes more become the frontier, yet in our present Situation, we are able neither to Raise nor Equip them.
As to Arms they might be provided, but for Amunition it is out of our Power to procure; for tho an Article of the Act for Regulating the Militia Points out how Amunition is to be obtained, yet we are altogether unable to Purchase it.
As to Provision, it is Absolutely out of our Power to to Victual ourselves upon the frontiers, and leave Sufficient to Support our families at home. This Sir is our Grievance for the Consideration and redress of which we most humbly Implore your Excellency.

That your Excellency may long Enjoy the peacable Government of this State, is for what we shall ever pray.

Lewis Van Woert Colonel; John Blair Lt. Colonel; Jam's Ashton Major

No. 3003

Certificates of Good Behavior for
Captain John Mckillop

Cambridge District, March 6th 1780

The Depositions of Leut. Andrew Thomson, James McKillips, and Thomas Stark, relative to a conversation that happen'd about ye beginning of November last between Capt. John McKillips & John Dunlop.

Lieut. Thomson deposeth that he cannot remember to have heard Capt. John McKillips calling John Blair (of the Sixteenth Regiment Albany County Militia) or Major James Ashton, Rogues at the affores'd Conversation.

James McK. Deposeth that heath not heard Capt. John McKillips call Coll. John Blair or Major Ashton afors'd Rogues or any other thing worse than their own names at s'd Conversation.

Thom's Stark Deposeth that at said Conversation he hath not heard, as he remembers, the words rogue or rogues mentioned at all, and said Deponent farth say not.

Duly Sworn before me the Day & year above written.

Edw. Rigg
White Creek June the 21 1780

I Dow hearby Sartify that Capt. John McCallips is a Trow frand [true friend] to the Countrey and to my knowledg has in Defens of Con [country] aver axerted him salf, sins he wos a nofaser [an officer] in the millishay as [ms. obscure] we know; to houm Et may Consarn:
Alex'r Webster, Colo.
Joseph McCraken, Mgr.
George Gillmore, Capt.
William Brown, Capt.
Gershom Woodworth, Left.
Edward Long, Capt.
Andrew Thomson, Liet.
Hugh Thomson, Ensign
John McClung, Lt.

Cambredg 1780 June the 22: to whome it may consern: that Johen Meckcelp has Ben a capten in my Regement from the Beginning of our contest and so on and it has allwase Ben my apenyoun from hes Behavear thet he is a good wege [Whig] and frend of our contere, and am of the same appenyoun still.

Leavis Vanwoert, Colonel

Peter Yates, Coll.

No. 3647

John Younglove's Letter Covering
Proceedings in Vermont

Cambridge, 18 April 1781

Honired Sir, I take the Liberty to enclose you a paper which accidentally fell into my hand yesterday but without the design of some of our people who now take the lead here about matters relitive to s'd paper. Mr. Ira Allen & others has bean taken much pains threw the different destricts around us; the People or many of them are in grate disorder; they have had many meetings on the subject of joining the people of the Grants. A Convention of Committees from different destricts meats here today on the subject. A trustee from hear has just returned home from over the mountain. I have bean at but one of the meetings & then advised the people to be cairful of their conduct. I am told that Mr. Whitesid & Col. Blair are much in favor of the plan & as near as I can find about one hundred more of the others also. You will pleas, sir, not to let this came abroad, for if our people should find that I am buisy agains the plan, it would be high treason & cost me some troble as they are very zealos. A line of direction by the bearer, James Colter, wold much oblige, sire, your very humble servant.

John Younglove
To Robert Yates, Esqr.

No. 3780

John Younglove's Complaint
Regarding Conditions in Vermont

- Governor Clinton Replies

Cambridge, 20th June 1781

May it Pleas Your Excellency, I received your Excelencys Letter on the eavening of the very day the Pretended Convention met. I had just been warning them of their danger & after receiving your Excelencys Letter, Repeated it again. Informing them of the Letter & even went so far as to warn them to disperce & make no father atemts, telling them they Might yet expect Mercy; they still percisted. I also went to the Committee from Vermont had one hour's conference. Desired them to desist & make no more Disturbance, As we had troble anuff; matters still went on; the first convention fel (?) at was the final Abolishment of their alegiance to the State of New York. Then on Articles of Union with Vermont; then sat up advertisements for a day of meating of the people. The gratest part that met voted in favor of the articles; then proceeded to the Election of Members of Assembley to set at Vermont. Mr. Whitesid & one Coldwell Were chosen & have taken their seats. As your Excelency Directed me to make returns of their proceedings as soon as I cold get coppeys of their papers, I proceeded to Poughkipsey & found your Excellency was gone to the Highlands (to my grate sorrow); however, I left My papers with the Atturney General to be forwarded to your Excelency. I have (as well as others) strove to keep the people to their aleagiance but many have swarved. We are now as near as I can gess about half & half almost at swordspoints. Col. Blair promised the Vermonters he would pruve true to them & as yet has bean so; he has not regarded the General orders he has received from time to time this spring; once he called his Captains together & ordered them to Class the Men, in order to Rais the 20th, at the same time told them it was not worth while to Regard the orders, for we were going to join Vermont; however, some of the People Raised the men & he would nither receive or forward them; these things and many more I am Ready to prove. At two different times I have in person called on Major Ashton to act in his office and take the Command as Blair would not. He always said he was willing but he had no people. I told him I was well asured there was two thirds would obey him, Yet he wold never make the attempt. So that we are now in the Greatest confution. those that still adheairs to their alegiance, has resolved never to submit until It is the order of Congress. Their is also grate devision in Vermont so that unless some speady relief is granted, we in all probability shall have mornful times. The Barer, Fenner Palmer, one of the Justices of the District of Hosack, is now wateing to give your Excelency a much more perticular account than what I can do in writing. If you Excelency would favor me with some direction for our future conduct It might be of Enfinate service here. I have the honor to be Your Exelencys humble serv't.
John Younglove
To his Exelency George Clinckton Esq.
N.B. We have In company with this Petitioned the Legislature for Relief.

Governor Clinton's Reply
Sir, I rec'd your Letter of the 20th ulto. previous to which I had the Papers you formerly transmitted me with such others as I had Rec'd respect'g the conduct of the People of the Grants and other misguided subjects of the State in your vicinity, before the Legislature. Their present Session however is so near it experation that having their attention engaged with matters of the greatest public importance I am in Doubt whether they will no do anything conclusive and effectual in this business. If they do I will apprize you of it immediately after rising. If they do not I can only advise you to persevere & encourage a firm and steady alegiance to this State, avoiding altercation whcih might interrupt an exertion agt the Common Enemy, patiently waiting for a Period which I firmly hope is not far distant when we shall be in a situation to extend just authority & Jurisdiction of our State over all its subjects.
Pokeepsie 29 June 1781

John married Sarah Kelso on 12 Nov 1742 in Massachusetts. Sarah (daughter of Hugh Kelso) was born about 1723 in Worcester, MA (???); died on 20 Dec 1807 in Putnam, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

A note in Washington County, New York (974.70 W276hs) says, in part, "He (a James Rogers) was born in Londonderry, New Hampshire, April 21, 1763, son of James and Lydia Rogers; at two years of age went with his parents to Baskingridge, Somerset Co., NJ, and there they lived until he was 12 years of age. Then they (1775) removed to Salem and settled on the farm next east of that long known as the "Deacon Stevenson" place.

James married Lydia Derry in UNKNOWN in Unknown. Lydia was born in UNKNOWN in Unknown; died in UNKNOWN in Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Stephen married Hannah Norris about 1757 in Wareham, Plymouth, MA. Hannah (daughter of Benjamin Norris and Mary Woodin) was born on 21 Aug 1737 in Wareham, Plymouth, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Moses married Betsey Hersey in UNKNOWN. Betsey (daughter of James Hersey and Betty Noyes) was born about 1761 in ?; died on 2 Jan 1845 in Parkman, Piscataquis, ME. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Walley married Anna Richards on 28 Oct 1779 in Sharon, Norfolk, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Solomon married Hannah Kinney on 9 Jun 1794 in Hollis, Hillsborough, New Hampshire. Hannah (daughter of Israel Kinney and Hannah Wilkins) was born on 3 May 1771 in Hollis, Hillsborough, New Hampshire; died on 5 Feb 1849 in Sebec, Piscataquis, Maine. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Rachel Duer on 22 May 1771. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Cornelius married Sarah Everett on 6 Jun 1781. Sarah was born on 30 Apr 1762. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

He was a Revolutionary solider.

Elias married Sara Van Aken on 28 Sep 1777. Sara (daughter of Abraham C. VanAken and Catharina Rozenkranz) was born on 25 Jun 1757 in Menissink, Orange, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Alice Horsham. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

George married Elizabeth Paul. Elizabeth (daughter of Edmond Paul) was born before 12 Oct 1695 in Saint Agnes, Near Turo, Cornwall, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Margaret Bilkey in UNKNOWN in England. Margaret was born in UNKNOWN in England; died in UNKNOWN in England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Richard married Mary Rickard about 1751 in Egloshayle, England. Mary was born about 1727 in ?; died about 1814 in Trevellas, St. Agnes, Cornwall, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

William married Mary Gray. Mary was born about 1695 in Northern Ireland; died on 24 Oct 1762 in Londonderry, New Hampshire. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Ephraim married Mary Pollard on 13 Jan 1724/25 in Plymton, MA. Mary (daughter of John Pollard and Lydia Tilson) was born on 28 Feb 1705/06 in Plymton, MA; died before 9 Sep 1784 in Plymton, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Benjamin married Mary Woodin. Mary was born on 18 Aug 1700; died on 15 Jan 1783 in Plympton, Plymouth, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

William married Mary Bradbury on 19 Nov 1755 in New Gloucester, ME (MA). Mary (daughter of Moses Bradbury and Abigail Fogg) was born on 11 Sep 1738 in North Yarmouth, ME (MA); died in UNKNOWN. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

James married Betty Noyes on 18 Mar 1756 in Abington, Plymouth, MA. Betty (daughter of John Noyes and Elizabeth Poole) was born on 14 Apr 1737 in Abington, Plymouth, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Walley married Meredith Lyon on 22 May 1744 in Stoughton, MA. Meredith was born on 19 May 1724 in Stoughton, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Solomon married Priscilla French on 5 Jan 1769. Priscilla (daughter of Nicholas French and Priscilla Mooar) was born on 2 Oct 1747 in Hollis, Hillsborough, New Hampshire; died on 10 Oct 1841 in Hollis, Hillsborough, New Hampshire. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Israel married Hannah Wilkins on 18 Sep 1764. Hannah was born on 8 Jul 1745. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Hannah Dawes in 1745 in Buck County, PA. Hannah (daughter of Francis Dawes and Margaret Griffith) was born about 1711; died on 14 Dec 1796. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Served as a Private with Capt. Sam'l Growenkyke's Co. (2nd Kingswood) Second Regiment, Hunterdon Co., NJ Militia, Col. Jos. Bevens.

Served as a Private with Capt. Daniel Bray's Co. (6th Kingswood) Second Regiment, Hunterdon Co., NJ Militia, Col. Jos. Bevens.

Served as a Sergeant in the NJ State Troopers during the Revolutionary War.

William Coolbaugh or Coolbrook, said to have been a sea captain, settled in Hunterdon Co. NJ with his wife, Sarah Johnson. Thence he moved to Monroe Co. PA.

William married Sarah Johnson about 1750 in Armwell, Hunterdon Co., NJ. Sarah (daughter of Cornelius Jansen or Johnson and Sarah Manbrut) was born about 1724 in Staten Island, NY; died in in Shawnee, NJ. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Cornelius married Elisabeth VanBunschoten. Elisabeth (daughter of Anthoney VanBunschoten and Marytjen Weis) was born on 7 May 1732 in Kingston, Ulster Co., NY; died on 1 May 1816 in New York. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Abraham married Catharina Rozenkranz on 1 Dec 1748. Catharina (daughter of Herman Rozenkranz and Arriantje Oosterhout) was born on 16 Jun 1728. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]