Friday, June 19, 2015

Running Barefoot–The Mary Ann Coe Story (Part 4)


By Nancy Maliwesky
Retired Director, APHGA 


Map of Huron County, OH 1859. Library of Congress.

Editor's Note: 


Readers of our blog may recall the November 2011 post about Nancy Maliwesky’s research into the elusive story of Mary Ann Coe Pomeroy. You can read (or reread) it here. Nancy completed the draft of a publication prior to her retirement, although there remain unanswered questions about parts of Mary Ann’s life story. Hoping our readers may be able to help fill in some of these gaps, we’re presenting Running Barefoot as a weekly series. We welcome your comments and suggestions! Please feel free to share this blog with others who may be interested. 
     – Susan Hughes, Director, APHGA




Mary Ann and Benjamin Junkins


Benjamin Junkins, believed to be a son of Benjamin Junkins, was born about 1795, possibly in Pennsylvania.  He had at least 3 brothers, Adam, born abt 1790 in PA, and Joseph and Matthew W. Junkins.  A cabinetmaker by trade, Benjamin settled in Norwalk, OH by 15 September 1823, when he purchased the front half of lot 26, from Daniel and Nancy Tilden of Norwalk, for $75.  Witnesses were M. W. Junkins and Samuel Preston[i].  Prior to settling in Norwalk, Benjamin had lived in Cadiz, Harrison County, Ohio, where he had purchased land on lot 142 with his brother Adam from Adam Snider for $600, on 9 Nov 1822[ii].  On 14 May 1823, Benjamin and Adam appear to swap land, Adam buying Benjamin’s share of lot 142 “in the Arnold Addition” for $170[iii], and Benjamin purchasing 50 acres in the northwest quarter of section 11, township 10, range 4, from his brother Adam and his wife Actia for $200[iv].  His brother Adam was also a cabinetmaker.



On 5 Apr 1824, Benjamin appeared in the poll book in Norwalk, as an elector[v].  That same year he made a chest of drawers for Esther (Taylor) Preston, the wife of Samuel Preston[vi], which, according to Henry Timman, was sold at public auction in Norwalk in September 1976.  In 1825 Benjamin sold the 50 acres in the northwest quarter of section 11, township 10, range 4, to his brother Adam for $200, apparently deciding to stay in Norwalk[vii].


In 1826, Benjamin was taxed $4.15 on real estate he owned on the north half of lot 26 in Norwalk, which, with buildings, was valued at $300.  Taxes included state and canal tax, county tax, road tax, and school tax. He was also taxed 54¢, for a horse, considered personal property[viii].  Benjamin appears in the 1827 Census of Ohio in Norwalk[ix] and was taxed $3.75 on the north half of lot 26, still valued at $300.



A notice appeared in the Norwalk Reporter on 21 Apr 1827, of letters remaining in the Post Office of Norwalk, as of the 31st day of March of that year.  This notice includes reference to a “Sally Pomeroy”.  We wonder if this was a letter sent to Mary Ann (Coe) Pomeroy, as we know of no other female Pomeroys in Norwalk at that time.



According to Henry R. Timman, a member of the Firelands Historical Society and expert in early Norwalk, Ohio history, Samuel Preston, a Justice of the Peace in Norwalk, and owner/editor of the Norwalk newspaper The Norwalk Reporter, lived directly across the street from Benjamin Junkins’ home and shop, and just two houses away from the lot that Mary Ann had purchased from Edward Petit and later his estate. 



An account book owned by James Williams of Norwalk, Ohio, held at the Firelands Historical Society, shows that on 2 September 1827, Benjamin Junkins was paid $3.00 by Mr. Williams “on account”[x].  That next month, on the 5th of October, Benjamin placed an ad in the Norwalk Reporter offering his cabinetmaker’s shop and lot for sale:

A BARGAIN.  I WILL SELL ON REASONABLE TERMS.  The house, Cabinet-maker's shop and Lot, one square and a half West of the Court house on main street in the Village of Norwalk.  It is a two story house well finished and painted in side and out, with an excellent [sic] Cellar, also a good well of water.

   Any person wishing to purchase will please call and examine for themselves.

BENJAMIN JUNKINS

N.B. All those indebted to me will please call and adjust their accounts. B.J.

Norwalk Oct 5th    327   27n tf.”[xi]

Trouble in Town

According to the Encyclopedia of Freemasonry, by Albert G. Mackey, M.D. a Masonic crime includes “The first class of crimes which are laid down in the Constitutions, as rendering their perpetrators liable to Masonic jurisdiction, are offences against the moral law.  “Every Mason,” say the old Charges of 1722, “is obliged by his tenure to obey the moral law.”... “Indeed, whatever is a violation of fidelity to solemn engagements, a neglect of prescribed duties, or a transgression of the cardinal principles of friendship, morality, and brotherly love, is a Masonic crime.”  The same book defines Expulsion as: “of all Masonic penalties, the highest that can be inflicted on a member of the Order, and hence it has been often called a Masonic death.  It deprives the expelled of all the rights and privileges that he ever enjoyed, not only as a member of the particular Lodge from which he has been ejected, but also of those which were inherent in him as a member of the Fraternity at large.  He is at once as completely divested of his Masonic character as though he had never been admitted, so far as regards his rights, while his duties and obligations remain as firm as ever, it being impossible for any human power to cancel them.  He can no longer demand the aid of his brethren, nor require from them the performance of any of the duties to which he was formerly entitled, nor visit any Lodge, nor unite in any of the public or private ceremonies of the Order.  He is considered as being without the pale, and it would be criminal in any brother, aware of his expulsion, to hold communication with him on Masonic subjects. 

   “Immoral conduct, such as would subject a candidate for admission to rejection, should be the only offence visited with expulsion.  As the punishment is general, affecting the relation of the one expelled with the whole Fraternity, it should not be lightly imposed for the violation of any Masonic act not general in its character.  The commission of a grossly immoral act is a violation of the contract entered into between each Mason and his Order.  If sanctioned by silence or impunity, it would bring discredit on the Institution, and tend to impair its usefulness.  A Mason who is a bad man is to the Fraternity what a mortified limb is to the body, and should be treated with the same mode of cure, - he should be cut off, lest his example spread, and disease be propagated through the constitution.”

The Mt. Vernon Lodge No. 64, in Norwalk, Ohio, was formed circa 1821, (an act to incorporate the Master and Wardens of the Mount Vernon Lodge, No. 64 is added to a legislative act dated 30 Jan 1823) and became quite popular in the town.  The Firelands Pioneer, 3rd Series, Volume XI, 1993 lists the following members of the Lodge from 1821 to 1828: Henry Adams, John F. Adams, Newell Adams, John Atwater, Noah Baker, Theodore Baker, Timothy Baker, Samuel C. Bangs, Theodore Bangs, Roma Bassett, Moses S. Beach, Perry G. Beckwith, Platt Benedict, H. Blackman, Rouse Bly, Eben Boalt, John Boalt, David Bols, Leverett Bradley, S. Bradley, Rev. C.P. Bronson, Calvin Brown, George T. Buckingham, Henry Buckingham, Cyrus Butler, John L. Butman, David R. Clark, Jabez Clark, Lester Clark, Elihu Clary, Timothy Clock, Asher Cole, Lester Cole, Abijah Comstock, Wyatt Cook, Alexander Dickson, Benjamin F. Drake, Aruanah Eaton, Dr. Lyman Fay, Erastus Finney, Hallett Gallup, William Gallup, William Gardiner, David Gibbs, Enos Gilbert, Amos B. Harris, John Harvey, John Henry, Abel Herrick, Ephraim W. Herrick, H. Hopkins, John D. Hoskins, Benjamin Hoyt, R. Jaques, Benjamin Jenkins [sic Junkins], Obadiah Jenney, Hiram Johnson, Horace G. Johnson, Martin M. Kellogg, Moses Kimball, John C. Kinney, Jephthah Lawrence, Ichabod Marshall, Roswell Marshall, Robert McBeath, Rev. Allen Mead, Cyrus Miller, James Minshell, Harry G. Morse, Ephraim Munger, Roswell Munson, Squire Newton, Alva Palmer, Tru Pattee, Dr. Joseph Pierce, Reuben Pixley, Rev. Adam Poe (Alvin Coe?), Hanson Reed, Rev. John Rigdon, Abijah Rinsdale, Lawrence Robinson, Lowell Robinson, Anson Root, Eben Root, Rev. Shadrach Ruark, Dr. Moses C. Sanders, H.O. Shelden, F.W. Shipperd, Eliphalet B. Simmons, Isaac Slocum, John Smith, Ezra Sprague, E. Stockwell, Daniel Stratton, Mortimer Strong, Thaddeus B. Sturges, Rev. Lot B. Sullivan, B.F. Taylor, Dr. Daniel Tilden, J. Tillson, Joshua Trowbridge, David Underhill, Shuyler Van Rensselaer, David Webb, Harvey Webb, Charles Wheaton, Edward Wheeler, John White, James Williams, J.H. Wolaver, Oliver Woodhouse, Andrew Woods, Amos Woodward, W.C. Wright.



In addition to the above regular members, the following were visitors during this time: Bildad Adams, P. Adams, J. Ashley, Elijah Baker, George Baldwin, Henry Barney, Eben W. Barnum, Eli S. Barnum, Levi Barnum, J. Beatty, Sylvester Blackman, A.D.W. Boadley, Isaac Bowery, S. Brewster, D.P. Brown, John B. Brown, Samuel Brown, Richard Burt, Dr. Samuel B. Carpenter, Halsey Clark, B. Cole, Eleutheros Cooke, Joseph C. Curtiss, Benjamin Drake, Frederick Falley, Lyman Farwell, John Fish, Joshua Fish, Nathan C. Fulsome, William Gamble, Charles Gardiner, Samuel R. Gibbs, C.C. Gilbert, Joel Luther Graves, Solomon Gray, Robert Green, Rev. John Hall, J. Hoadley, William Howard, S. Howe, M. Hoyt, Jonathan Hull, William Hunt, Samuel Husted, Buckley Hutchins, C. Hutchins, Jabez Ivory, Brewster Jennings, Jonathan Jennings, Dr. John B. Johnson, I. Lawrence, Ozias Long, J.P. McArdle, Rev. James McIntyre, Jr., Wm. Miller, B. Mitchels, Rodolphus Morse, Samuel Allen Otis, Ephraim Palmiter, Halsey Petton, Abijah Pixley, Ethan Powers, L.S. Richard, Everett Richman, Leon D. Roath, Abner Root, A. Ruggles, Rev. Roger Searle, S. Sharp, Benjamin Sheeley, Fred A. Sheffield, Martin G. Shelhouse, Abiathar Shirley, Robert S. Southgate, Samuel Spencer, Needham N. Standart, Natham [sic] M. Stewart, Abner Strong, James Strong, Jesse Taintor, Hiram Tanner, J. Taylor, Timothy Taylor, Theodore Tillson, Judge George Tod, Benjamin Warren, W.W. Watross, A. Webb, S. White, Nathan Whitney, Asa Wilson.  Many of these members were neighbors and business acquaintances of Benjamin and Mary Ann.



On 3 December 1827, Benjamin was expelled from the Mount Vernon Lodge, No. 64, and was also expelled from all Masonic communications.  This expulsion notice was published in the Norwalk Register on 22 Dec. 1827.[xii]  According to the minutes of the Mount Vernon Lodge No 64, dated 1 Oct 1827, it was “voted that Lodge disapprove of the conduct of Bro. Benjm. Junkins in living in a state of open Adultery & that he be cited to appear at this Lodge Room at half 7. O.Clock & shew cause if any he have, why he should not be dealt with for the same agreable to the rules of the fraternity... Lodge called for dispensation to Labor for dispatch of business citation in Bro. B. Junkins was served – he did not appear.  Voted That Vro. B. Junkins cause be continued untill our next Reg. Com. and that Bro. G.P. Bronson, Moses Kimball, & I. Marshall be a committee to Labor with Brother Junkins & report at our next Reg. Com.”  Officers present at this meeting were Brothers Platt Benedict, Benjamin Carman, Jabez Clark, Rouse Bly, Hiram Johnson, J.C. Kinney, Obadiah Jenny (secretary), and Oliver Woodhouse.  Rouse Bly was the brother-in-law (and in 1830, second husband), of Sophia Barney, who, in 1827, was married to Luther Coe, Mary Ann’s uncle.  Members present at the meeting were Brothers Roma Bassett, Horace Johnson, R.C. Pixley, E.W. Herrick, Charles C. Gardner, Eber. Root, Lester Clark, Abijah Rundle, Enos Gilbert, Moses Kimball, Theodore Baker, Leverett Bradley, Jonathan Hull, Asher Cole, Ephm. Munger, Rev. C.P. Bronson, John D. Haskins and Daniel L. Clark.  Visitors to the meeting were Halsey Clark and Joseph C. Curtis. [xiii]  R. C. Pixley (Reuben), born abt 1796, lived with his parents in Pompey, NY, where his father, Reuben, had signed a petition to establish the Pompey Academy on 15 Mar 1802, with, among others, Abel Bigelow and Joseph Shattuck[xiv]. Reuben Pixley, Sr. built the first log house in Ridgefield Township, Huron County, Ohio in 1811[xv].  In 1817 he and his son helped Platt Benedict build his log house in Norwalk[xvi].



At the 3 Dec 1827 meeting of the Mount Vernon Lodge No. 64 in Norwalk, “The committee appointed to Labor with Benjamin Junkins Reported that he gave them no satisfaction, but abused them & set the institution at defiance – therefore – voted unanimously that Benjm. Junkins be Expelled from this Lodge & that his expulsion be published in the Norwalk Reporter, requesting printers favorable to the fraternity to publish it throughout the United States.”  Officers present at this meeting were Brothers Theodore Baker, Leverett Bradley, Asher Cole, Henry Addams, J.C. Curtiss, Obadiah Jenny, B. Carmon and O. Woodhouse.  Members present were Brothers Enos Gilbert, Newel Adamms (?), Abel Herrick, C.P. Bronson, Roma Basset, J.F. Adams, Anson Root, Perry G. Beckwith, Ephm. Munger, Platt Benedict, H. Johnson, and E.W. Herrick.  Visiting Brethren were Brothers James McIntyre, John Beatty and Samuel Brown.[xvii]



From the above information, we can only surmise that Benjamin was living with Mary Ann, but whether he was doing so on his property or hers, we do not know.



Benjamin appeared on the Norwalk Poll Book, dated 5 Apr 1827.  Judges for the County were Ebenezer Boalt and Asher Cole, and clerks were John Tice and Abel Tracey.  Matthew W. Junkins, Benjamin’s brother, also appears on the Poll Book, and they are among the 67 voters for the town.  Benjamin and Matthew also appear as male residents of Norwalk (over twenty-one) in the Ohio Census of 1827.[xviii]



On 12 May 1828, Benjamin and his wife Mary Ann, sold part of Benjamin’s property on the front half of lot 26 in Norwalk, to John V. Sharp, also a cabinetmaker, for $175.  This was the property on which the cabinetmakers’ shop stood on, but did not include Benjamin’s house.  The deed was witnessed by John G. Taylor and Samuel Preston (Justice of the Peace).[xix]  John Sharp and his wife Sally, of Norwalk, paid $25 in cash for the property, and took out a mortgage to Benjamin Junkins for $150.  The mortgage was canceled 27 Dec 1842.[xx]



On 4 June 1828, Benjamin settled his wife’s accounts with James Williams of Norwalk, according to his account book[xxi].



While an intriguing mention of a Benjamin Junkin in the Ohio Repository dated 18 July 1828, identified as having a letter remaining in the Canton Post Office as of the 1st of July 1828, an extensive review of the Ohio Repository for the years 1827 through 1828 did not reveal any further mention of this Benjamin.  Is this our Benjamin Junkins?  Canton was 86 miles from Norwalk, OH. 



In 1828, Benjamin was taxed $3.75 for real estate valued at $300 on the north half of lot 26 in Norwalk.  Taxes included State and Canal Tax, County and School Tax, Road Tax and Township Tax[xxii].  On 20 Mar 1829, Benjamin Junkins deeded to John Miller of Norwalk, property on the north half of lot 26 in Norwalk, with the dwelling house on Main St., for $425.  No mention is made in the deed to Benjamin Junkins’ wife, Mary Ann.[xxiii]  That same day, John Miller of Norwalk, mortgaged this same property to Benjamin Junkins for $425.  The mortgage was cancelled 6 Feb 1843.[xxiv]  At this point, it seems likely that Benjamin would have been living on Mary Ann’s property.



On 25 October 1828, a notice from the Norwalk Post Office was placed in the Norwalk Reporter, listing letters remaining in the Post Office as of 1 October 1828, in which Mary Ann Junkins’ name appeared[xxv].  Again, on 4 July 1829, a notice from the Norwalk Post Office was placed in the Norwalk Reporter, listing letters remaining in the Post Office as of 1 Jul 1829, in which Mary Ann Junkens’ name appeared.[xxvi]  Both of these listings seem to indicate that Mary Ann may have been out of town, for why else would these letters have been left in the Post Office for over three months?  Meanwhile, on 6 July 1829, Spencer Pomeroy, of Manlius, NY, signed a quit-claim deed to his son Francis W. Pomroy, stating, in effect, that he, nor his heirs, etc. would not claim any right to property on lot 26 in Norwalk, OH, in consideration for $1.00 paid to him by Francis W. Pomroy[xxvii].  This quit-claim was referring to the land that Mary Ann (Coe) Pomeroy had purchased of Edward Pettit and his estate in 1825 and 1826, and is interesting for the fact that it was given by Spencer to Francis, his son, not Mary Ann, his wife.  Did this mean that Mary Ann still did not have clear title to this property, or would Francis now need to quit-claim the property to Mary Ann in order for her to be able to sell it?  This quit-claim deed also places Francis in Norwalk in 1829.  Further evidence of his residence can be found in the poll book records for Norwalk in 1829, where Francis is listed.  According to records referring to early research, Francis was working as an apprentice at the Huron Reflector, a newspaper founded on 2 Feb 1830 and owned by Samuel Preston, who was also a Justice of the Peace in Norwalk[xxviii].



The below is a list of heads of households in Norwalk, OH according to the 1830 US Federal Census.  It appears that this census was enumerated by residence and based on what we know about sales of Benjamin Junkins property, it would appear that these people were near neighbors to each other:



William Webber

John Miller

Frederick Forsythe

Picket Latimer

D.G. Raitt

Henry Hurlbert

Aurelius Mason

Benjamin Junkins

Jno. V. Sharpe

Leveret Bradley

Nelson Horton

Joseph C. Curtis

Wm. Benton

John Ford

Chloe Morse

Jno. Bryant

Robert Moreton

Miner Vredt

Thomas Adams

Thomas G Bronson

T.B. Sturges

John Wilerr

M.F. Ciser

Samuel Preston



Benjamin was listed as head of household in the US Federal Census of 1830, living in Norwalk, OH.  In the household was one male of 20 through 30, one male of 30 through 40, and one female of 40 through 50.  The D.G. Raitt, Samuel Preston and Jonathan V. Sharp households are listed on the same census page.[xxix]  We assume that the female of forty and under fifty was Mary Ann (Coe) Pomeroy, and the male of twenty and under thirty was Francis W. Pomeroy, Mary Ann’s son.  Benjamin died 23 June 1830 in Norwalk, at the age of 35.[xxx]



The Death of Benjamin Junkins

On 4 September 1830, Mary Ann Junkins was summoned to Huron County Court as a defendant in a claim brought against her by Isaac M. Wilson, plaintiff, for an unpaid debt of $9.50 for painting services.  Isaac filed his lien for $9.53, and Mary Ann did not appear, thus defaulting on the account, which was brought to $9.67 including tax.  Francis W. Pomeroy on that date, acknowledged himself bail for his mother in the sum of $20, which was liened to his “goods and chattels lands and tenements in case the said Mary Ann fails to pay the sum for which Judgment is rendered against her in said suit”.  The money owed was received of Samuel Preston for I.M. Wilson and Joseph H. Wilson on 9 December 1830.[xxxi]



On 25 October, 1830, Mary Ann Junkins, Daniel G. Raitt, Samuel Preston and John G. Taylor for the penal sum of $800 bond, signed a contract which made Mary Ann Junkins and John G. Taylor the administrators of the estate of Benjamin Junkins.  Samuel Preston and Daniel G. Raitt acted as sureties to the bond.  They were given two years to inventory all of Benjamin’s goods, chattels and credits, and return the same, “together with a bill of the sale of the goods and chattels of the said deceased and also a true accurate statement of all the debts due and owing the estate to the clerk’s office” in Huron County, Ohio. 



The inventory and appraisement of Benjamin’s estate is as follows:



viz.  1 Camblet Cloak
$12.00

1 Hat
   0.50
        1 Frock Coat   Broad            Cloth
    8.00

1 Trunk
   1.00
        1 pr. Pantaloons  do     do
    2.50

1 Watch
 10.50
        1 Vest                  do     do
    2.00

1 pr. Boots
   1.00
        4 Factory Shirts
    0.50

1 [Ax]
   1.00
        1 pr. Linen Pantaloons
    1.00

1 Looking Glass
   0.12
        3 pr. Old Pantaloons
    0.38

1 Milch Cow
   9.50
        6 Old Cravats
    0.25

1 Calf
   2.50
        3 Old Vests
    0.38

1 Tea Kettle
   0.87
        1     Coat
    0.75

1 Improved Dictionary
   0.50
        1 pr. Satinett Pantaloons
    0.50

1 Pocket Book
   0.25
        1 Bandanna Handkerchief
    0.06

1 Keg
   0.50
        3 pr. Soxks
    0.75

1 Old Trunk
   0.25
        1 pr. Old English Razors
    1.75

1 [Bedsted] Bedsted
   2.00
        1 Latherbox & Strap
    0.12


 30.49
        1 pr. Suspenders
    0.06


 31.00

  31.00


$61.49

The appraisers were listed as Leverett Bradley, F(rederick) Forsythe, and H(allet) Gallup.



A supplementary schedule of the debts due to the estate is as follows:



“These demands belonged to said Estate and found their way into

the hands of Adam Junkins who refuses to render them to

the Admtr.  towit:



One Note of $100 dated March 20, 1829 due two years after

date on John Miller ___________________________________                   100.00



One do of $125 same date on same person due three years

after date ___________________________________________                  125.00



One of $100 on John V. Sharp due July 1829. about half

paid before Junkins death ______________________________                    50.00



One note of $10 on Doct. Wm W. Nugent about ½ pd                                  5.00



One          $6 on Seth Jennings                                                                    6.00



One          18 on John Miller part pd                                                           18.00



One          4.88 on David Higgins                                                                 4.88                                                       



Also One Judgt on Van Renselears Docket against Asaph Cook, [junr].           16.00

One Note against Jacob Wilson [junr]                                                                       6.50

One Judgt on  Prestons Dockett of _____________________________          6.64



Dated Norwalk March 15, 1831 – “(the 3 [last] items are in our own hands)” and signed by Mary A. Junkins and John G. Taylor, Administrators of the estate.

We asked Henry Timman to look for further court records concerning Benjamin Junkins’ estate.  He wrote on 25 October. 2009: “I found no further Court activity in the Benj. Junkins estate for four years after it was opened.  The Inventory and Appraisal was filed 13 Jan 1831 and the Schedule of Debts was filed 16 March 1831, but neither was ever journalized in the Common Pleas County Journals.  This omission was not common, but the dates were between formal sessions of the Court, and may simply have been overlooked when the Court did sit again...



“Now, I have another theory which might address this question.  In those days if a man died and had a probate estate totaling less than the statutory amount allowed the widow for her year’s support, the appraisers might simply turn over the assets to her and the estate became dormant.  It is not so noted in the Junkins estate, but it may have happened this way.



“Also, I would guess that it was the job of the administrators to sue Adam Junkins to recover the money he was withholding.  If so, they didn’t do it in Huron County.  Do you suppose they did sue in whichever county where Adam Junkins dwelt?”



Based on the above information, we believe that there was a rift or disagreement between Mary Ann (Coe) Pomeroy Junkins and Adam Junkins, Benjamin Junkins’ brother.  Whether this disagreement was caused by the fact that Mary Ann and Benjamin were likely not married to each other, and because of this, Adam did not feel that Mary Ann was entitled to Benjamin’s assets, we do not know.  It appears that Adam was holding the mortgages on Benjamin’s property, among other notes.  How would he have gotten hold of these, unless Benjamin had given them to him?



Of the other notes, we know that Dr. William W. Nugent was licensed a practicing physician and surgeon by the 14th District Medical Society (of Ohio) at a meeting held in Norwalk on 29 May 1827.  Other physicians admitted membership that day were John B. Craighead and Andrew McMillan.  The society consisted of the following officers: Allen G. Miller, President; George G. Baker, Vice President; A.B. Harris, Secretary; Lyman Fay, Treasurer; George C. Baker, William F. Kittredge, Moses C. Sanders, Daniel Tilden and En. Dresback, Censors.  At that meeting Daniel Tilden was chosen as a delegate to the state medical convention.  Other physicians of Huron County, OH were H.M. Clark, Joseph Pearce, Richard P. Christophers, Samuel Stephens, Charles Smith, Samuel B. Carpenter, W. Merriman, Lemuel Powers and A.H. Brown.[xxxii]  William Nugent was listed as a white, male inhabitant of Norwalk, above the age of twenty-one in the Ohio Census of 1827[xxxiii].  In 1830 Dr. Nugent was charged a tax or license as a physician in Huron County, OH[xxxiv].



Seth Jennings was listed in the poll book of Norwalk, OH as an elector on 13 October 1818[xxxv].  His name also appears in the Ohio census of 1827, as a white male of twenty-one years of age, living in Norwalk[xxxvi].  He may have been the first landlord of the Eagle Tavern, in Milan in 1826[xxxvii].



Judge David Higgins, Jr. was born 2 Aug 1789 in Lyme, New London County, Connecticut, to parents Reverend David Higgins and Eunice Gilbert.  He studied at Yale College, was a soldier of the war of 1812 and practiced law in Norwalk, OH by 1828, at which time he was appointed Circuit Judge[xxxviii].  He was elected Clerk of the Congregational (Presbyterian) Church in Norwalk 11 Feb 1830[xxxix], and appears as a head of household in Norwalk in the 1830 U.S. Federal Census[xl].  He was also the first cousin of James Higgins, who was the husband of Spencer Pomeroy’s sister Nancy.



Mary Ann Junkins was taxed 9.8¢ on a cow valued at $8 in 1831 in Norwalk, Ohio[xli].  On 3 October 1831, the Norwalk Reflector ran a notice of letters remaining in the Post Office in Norwalk, as of 1 October.  Francis Pomeroy is listed in the notice[xlii].  We do not find record or him in Norwalk until 16 Dec 1833 when he paid a fine of $1.37.5 for being delinquent in the Ohio Militia[xliii].  Had Francis left town? 



The Death of Spencer Pomeroy

It does not seem that Spencer ever recovered, financially, from his insolvency.  Not much is found regarding his life after the homegrown divorce that he and Mary Ann signed in 1816.  Spencer is listed as head of household in the 1820 U.S. Federal Census in Manlius, NY[xliv].  In his household is one free white male of 26 through 45, one free white female of 26 through 45, and one free white female of 45 and upwards.  We assume that the older female was Spencer’s mother Sarah, as we know that she was one of eight original members of the Trinity Presbyterian Church of Manlius when it was formed on 24 Oct 1815, along with William Gardner, Caleb Remington, Isaac Hall and his wife, Horace Hunt, Rebecca Wood and Mrs. Mary Ann (Elderkin) Jackson[xlv].  We do not know who the free white female between the ages of 26 through 45 is.  It seems unlikely that this is Mary Ann, as her sons are not enumerated in the household with her.  Was this the woman with whom Spencer was in an adulterous affair with, as Mary Ann claimed in her divorce petition of 1827?  Or was it more likely that as permitted reasons for divorce were few at that time, that every person pleading the courts for a divorce claimed that their spouse had been unfaithful?



That same year, on January 20, Spencer won a law suit against Jacob Tiffany in the Justice Court of Onondaga County, amounting to $11.87 including Constable fees.  According to the record, the defendant Jacob Tiffany, was “committed”[xlvi].  According to the book The Tiffanys of America, Jacob was the son of Stephen Tiffany who came with his brother, Colonel Henry Tiffany and settled in Pompey about 1795.  Stephen was a sheriff and involved in local politics.  Jacob, born 21 Aug 1794 in Cambridge, Washington County, New York, married Mercy Mowrey of Pompey in 1812, and the couple had three children, Mowrey, born 1813; Evelyn, born 1816, and Lucien B., born 1820, prior to Jacob’s death in September, 1833[xlvii].



Stephen Tiffany had settled on lot 26 in Pompey, and his land bordered Ithamar Coe’s in 1809, when Ithamar sold that land to his brothers, Chester and Seymour Coe[xlviii].  Stephen is listed as head of household in Pompey, according to the 1810 U.S. Federal Census.  In his household are two free white males under 10, 1 free white male of 10 through 15, 1 free white male of 16 through 25, 2 free white males of 26 through 44, 3 free white females under 10, 1 free white female of 10 through 15, 1 free white female of 16 through 25, 1 free white female of 26 through 44.  It appears that the 1810 U.S. Federal Census of Pompey, NY was enumerated by neighborhood, and the census page in which Stephen is listed tells us a lot about who his neighbors were.  The last nine heads of household on page 8 of the census are as follows: Henry Tiffany, Anson Shaddock, Stephen Tiffany, David Bigelow, Isaac Deming, Richard Hiscock, Solomon Morey, Ithamar Coe and Seymour Coe[xlix]. 



The 1800 U.S. Federal Census of Pompey, NY lists a Jacob Tiffany, head of household, enumerated above the Richard Hisscock household.  This family consists of two free white males less than 10 years of age, one free white male of 26 through 44, two free white females under 10 years of age, and one free white female of 26 through 44[l].  Neither Stephen Tiffany nor Henry Tiffany was enumerated in the Pompey census of 1800.  If the Jacob Tiffany who was sued by Spencer Pomeroy in 1820 was, indeed, the son of Stephen Tiffany, born in 1794, he would not have been old enough to be a head of household in 1800.  According to the book ”The Tiffanys of America”, only one brother of Stephen lived to maturity, and that was Henry.   Was the “Jacob Tiffany” listed in the 1800 U.S. Census in Pompey, an error?  Was this really Stephen Tiffany?



According The Tiffanys of America, Stephen Tiffany died “at Pompey, Onondaga County, N.Y., March 21, 1813”[li], and the database “Abstracts of Wills, Administrations and Guardianships in NY State, 1787-1835, seems to confirm this, as an entry was made under letters of administration as follows: “page 13, adm. of the Estate of Stephen Tiffany of Pompey, co, Onondaga, died intestate.  Granted to Henry Tiffany and Mercy Tiffany of Pompey, afs’d. as Admrs.  Seal 17 May 1813.”[lii]



Jacob is also mentioned in the above database, as follows: “pages 183-186, will (pgs 184-186) Solomon Morey of Town Pompey Co Onondaga, N.Y. – to my wife Jerusha use of one third my tenements & household furniture during her lifetime – to my eldest dau. Abigail present wife of William Powell $10 on 12 Jul 1827 – to my Second dau Nancy present wife of Jacob Rocks $10 – to my dau. Mercy present wife of Jacob Tiffany – to my Dau. Martha – to my youngest dau Elizabeth wh. 18 yrs age – to my Son Solomon Morey half my farm on which I now live in sd Pompey wh. age of 21 yrs on 26 March 1825 – to my son Elijah Morey half my farm – appt Israel Sloan Jur ex (no date) (seal) Solomon Morey (L.S.) wits Dennis T. Sweet Samuel Sloan Levi Pease pved 29 Apr 1816.  adm (pgs 183-184) On Will of Solomon Morey of Town Pompey dec’d Granted to Jerusha Morey of Town of Pompey, Co of Onondaga as Admin.  Seal 30 April 1816.”[liii]  This record identifies Solomon Morey as the father of Mercy, wife of Jacob Tiffany, who was enumerated directly before Ithamar Coe in the 1810 U.S. Federal Census of Pompey, NY.  Alethea Connolly, in her review of the Onondaga County Supervisors records at the Onondaga Historical Society in Syracuse, noted that in 1811 Stephen Tiffany was identified as a Constable for the town of Pompey. 



Jacob Tiffany is identified as head of household in the 1820 U.S. Federal Census of Pompey, NY, taken 7 Aug 1820.  In his household were one free white male under 10, one free white male of 16 through 25, 1 free white female under 10, and one free white female of 16 through 25.  One person in the household was engaged in agriculture, which we assume to be Jacob[liv].  On the same census page, listed directly before Jacob Tiffany, were, in order: Henry Tiffany, Christopher Clive, Richard Hiscock, Widow Jerusha Morey, Joseph Evarts, and Joseph Evarts, Jun. 



Jacob Tiffany is again listed as head of household in the 1830 U.S. Federal Census of Pompey, NY.  Listed in the household were one free white male of 5 through 9, one free white male of 15 through 19, one free white male of 30 through 39, one free white female of 10 through 14, and one free female of 30 through 39[lv].  No occupation on this census.  Listed directly before Jacob Tiffany on the census page, were, in order: Richard Hiscock, Daniel King, and Richard Hiscock Jr.  Listed directly below Jacob on the same page, were, in order: Mercy Olin and Heline W. Tiffany.  According to the book “The Tiffanys of America”, after Stephen Tiffany died, his widow, Mercy (Hodges) Tiffany, married a Mr. Olin[lvi].  Was the Mercy Olin, enumerated below Jacob Tiffany in 1820, Jacob’s mother?



Unfortunately, our research into the Tiffany family has not illuminated us any further regarding the reason that Spencer Pomeroy pursued and won the suit against Jacob Tiffany in 1820.  We also do not know what the term “committed” meant in 1820.  Was Jacob incarcerated?



Spencer’s mother, Sarah L. (Allen) Pomeroy, died in Manlius, NY on 7 March 1823, and was buried in the Christ Church Cemetery in Manlius.  Her granddaughter, Charlotte Sophia Wood (daughter of Ichabod Wood and Clarissa Pomeroy), was buried beside her after she died on 26 Feb 1842.  A white marble stone ornamented with a weeping willow in an urn marked Sarah’s grave when Sarah’s fourth great grandson, Bill Pomeroy, found her grave.  The stone was severely pocked and barely legible, and Bill decided to have it replaced.  Upon removing the original stone, an inscription was found which had been under the surface of the ground. The name “Utica” was carved in an oval, with carved leaves radiating out of it, creating a band across the lower portion of the stone.  A few others stones with this marking have been found in the Sherburne Quarter Cemetery, on Pleasant Valley Rd., in Sherburne, Chenango County, New York.  One stone in that cemetery with the “Utica” symbol is in memory of John Hebbard, who died 17 Oct 1830, aged 70 years.  The other stone is that of Hannah W., wife of Horace B. Knapp, who died 21 Jun 1831, aged 24 years.  Her stone also has a carving of a weeping willow in an urn, like Sarah’s.  Each of these stones in Sherburne contain epitaphs as does Sarah’s, although we have been unable to clearly read the one on Sarah’s stone.  The third stone in the Sherburne Quarter Cemetery that has the “Utica” symbol is that of Lucy, wife of Gardner Babcock, who died 13 Jun 1832 at age 40.  Her stone has a carving of an urn flanked on both sides by weeping willows, but her stone does not have an epitaph.



It seems logical that these gravestones came from Utica, Oneida County, New York, but Utica was some distance from both of the cemeteries where the Utica symbol was found on stones.  Sherburne is 40 miles from Manlius, via NY Rte 12 and 20, and over 36 miles from Utica, NY via NY Rte 12.  Pompey is over 45 miles from Utica via NY I-90.  Research into early Utica businesses has identified the Utica Marble Works, but to our knowledge, this business was not formed until the 1840s, and given the dates of death on the gravestones we’ve found with the Utica symbol, it would appear that these stones were carved before the Utica Marble Works was in business.  It is, of course, possible that the Utica Marble Works was formed from an earlier business with a different name, and again, it is possible that the gravestones were not manufactured in Utica, but had that symbol for another reason.



No will or probate file for Sarah Pomeroy has been found in the Surrogate’s Office of Onondaga County, New York.  It is possible that she did not have a will, or, because she did not own any property, that the will was not recorded, and that her estate, being valued under a certain amount of money, was not probated and handled more informally by her family members.  We wonder who may have purchased her gravestone.  Of her immediate family, her son Spencer was assumed living in Manlius at the time of her death (although no records have been found to prove this).  Her daughter Clarissa, with husband Ichabod Wood, and daughter Charlotte Sophia, were apparently living in Manlius, as Clarissa had joined the Trinity Presbyterian Church in Manlius on 13 Apr 1817, and was not dismissed until 24 May 1830, at which time she was dismissed to a church in Jamesville, NY.[lvii]  Daughter Charlotte and her husband Titus Rust had both died before Sarah, and their children were likely living in Westhampton, MA by that time.  Daughter Nancy and her husband James Higgins and their children appear to have left Pompey in the fall of 1817, as James paid the balance on tuition at the Pompey Academy in October 1817[lviii], and no other record has been found for them.  An obituary was found in the Buffalo newspapers in August 1826, for a wife of James H. Higgins, aged 50, but we do not know whether this was Nancy, although her age is about right[lix].  Of Sarah’s other living children, son Gaius (1760 – 1824), was living in Northampton, MA in 1820[lx], where he died in 24 November 1824[lxi].  Sarah’s daughter Mary Pomeroy, born 3 April 1764 in Northampton, MA[lxii], married Elihu Wright 13 Dec 1781 in Northampton[lxiii].  Elihu Wright was born 10 Sep 1759 in New Marlboro, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, son of Dr. Elihu Wright and Rachel Searle[lxiv].  Elihu was a first cousin of Amasa Wright, who was an administrator of Luther Wright’s estate upon his death, intestate in Pompey, NY in 1808.  An Elihu Wright is identified as a land-owner in Van Buren, Onondaga County, New York in 1825, having settled on lot 1[lxv].  We believe this to be the same Elihu Wright who was listed as head of household in Van Buren in the 1830 U.S. Federal Census.  In his household were 2 free white males under 5, 1 free white male of 15 through 19, one free white male of 40 through 49, and one free white female of 20 through 29, making this Elihu Wright too young to be the husband of Mary Pomeroy[lxvi].  Elihu and Mary (Pomeroy) Wright’s daughter, Polly, married 26 Dec 1803 Henry McGrath in Westfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts[lxvii].  As most marriages of that time took place in the home of the bride, it is likely that Mary and Elihu were living in Westfield in 1803.  This is the last concrete evidence we have found relating to this family.  Was Mary alive when her mother died in Pompey in 1823?  If she was, where was she living?  All of Sarah’s other children had died before Sarah. 



Sarah had at least two siblings that outlived her.  They were Elijah Allen who was born 1 December 1754 in Northampton, MA[lxviii], who died 23 September 1830 in Northampton[lxix]; and Eunice (Allen) Breck, born (or baptized) 5 November 1758 in Northampton, MA, who married Samuel Breck Jr. 23 Oct 1777 and died 13 March 1826 in Northampton, MA[lxx].  The only obituary we have found for Sarah was published in the Pittsfield Sun on 10 April 1823.  It is a simple obituary, common for the day, which read: “Died, at Manlius, N.Y. on the 1st ult. widow Sarah Pomroy, aged 84, relict of the late Mr. Pliny Pomroy”.[lxxi]  We do not know whether the Manlius, or Onondaga County, NY obituaries were regularly picked up and run in the Pittsfield Sun, or whether this obituary was run in the paper because Sarah’s late brother, the Reverend Thomas Allen, was a well-known citizen of Pittsfield, and had descendants living there at the time of Sarah’s death.  Could any of these nieces and nephews have paid for Sarah’s gravestone?



Spencer’s brother, Gaius Pomeroy, died 22 November 1824 in Northampton.  His obituary was also printed in the Pittsfield Sun on 25 November 1824, as follows: “DIED, at Northampton, on the 22 inst. Mr. Gaius Pomeroy, aged 64.”[lxxii]  His wife, Elizabeth “Betsey” (Root) Pomeroy had died in September of that year, and her obituary was also published in the Pittsfield Sun as follows: “DIED, at Northampton, on the 29th ult, Mrs. Elizabeth pomeroy, wife of Mr. Gaius Pomeroy, aged 62.”[lxxiii]



Between the years 1820 and 1830, Spencer’s cousin Reverend Francis Pomeroy, was preaching in Western New York.  In 1820 he was the minister of the First Presbyterian Church of Lyons[lxxiv], and in 1821 purchased property on Village Lot 2, in Lyons, next door to the Church which was on Village Lot 1[lxxv].  Reverend Pomeroy was dismissed from the Church in Lyons on 1 Feb 1825[lxxvi] from whence he went on to organize a Presbyterian Church in Rose, Wayne County, New York with Rev. Benjamin Stockton, and was one of two ministerial commissioners sent by the Presbytery at the organization of the Presbyterian Church in Newark, Wayne County, New York.[lxxvii]  He was pastor of the Presbyterian Church in East Palmyra between 1825 and 1831[lxxviii], and purchased property in Palmyra in 1826[lxxix] and 1828[lxxx]. 



Francis Pomeroy was listed as head of household in the U.S. Federal Census of 1830, in Palmyra, NY.  In his household was one free white male of 5 and under 10, one free white male of 50 and under 60, one free white female of 15 and under 20, one free white female of 50 and under 60, one female of 90 and under 100[lxxxi].  Although Francis would have been 62 in 1830, we believe that he is the free white male, aged between 50 and 60 years.  Francis’ current wife, at the time, was Mary Sayre, born 7 March 1778 in New Jersey, widow of Nathaniel Job Potter[lxxxii].  She married Francis in 1814[lxxxiii], he being widowed probably twice prior to this marriage.  Both Francis and Mary had children from their previous marriages, Francis having adopted two of Mary’s younger daughters, Susan Mary Potter and Elizabeth Ann Potter, as evidenced by their baptism in the First Presbyterian Church of Lyons on 9 June 1816[lxxxiv].  Both of these daughters were married by 1830.  We believe the young woman in the Francis Pomeroy household in 1830 was Phebe Pomeroy, born about 1811 and daughter of Francis and wife Phebe[lxxxv], who had died about Jan 1813 in Brutus, Cayuga County, New York, as evidenced by her obituary which ran in the Western Federalist on 3 Feb 1813: “POMROY, Mrs. Phoebe, w. of Rev. Francis Pomroy, d. in Brutus last week... in epidemic”[lxxxvi],(possibly yellow fever or typhoid).  We believe that the elderly woman in the household was Sarah (Littell) Sayre, Mary’s widowed mother who would have been about 94 years of age at the time that the census was taken[lxxxvii].  We do not know who the young man of 5 through 10 years of age was.



Spencer’s other “local” cousins, Anna (Pomeroy) Clark, Thankful (Pomeroy) Day and Lovisa Pomeroy were all living in Skaneateles between 1820 and 1830, their mother Ann (Ashley) Pomeroy, the widow of Spencer’s uncle Timothy, had also moved to Skaneateles during this time.



On 6 July 1829, Spencer Pomeroy signed a quit-claim to his son Francis W. Pomeroy, regarding Mary Ann (Coe) Pomeroy’s property on inlot 6, in Norwalk, OH as follows:

Know all men by these presents that I Spencer Pomroy of Manlius in the County of Onondaga in the State of New York for and in consideration of the sum of one dollar to me paid by Francis W Pomroy of Norwalk in the County of Huron and State of Ohio the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge have granted bargained sold remised and quit claimed and by these presents do grant bargain sell remise and quit claim unto the said Francis W Pomeroy and to his heirs and assigns forever all the right title interest and claim which I have in and unto a certain lot of land situate in the Village of Norwalk aforesaid in the County and State aforesaid and designated and known as Lot No. 6 in the Town Plat of said Norwalk containing sixty four rods together with all and singular the hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining and the reversions remainders rent issues and profits thereof and all the right estate title interest claim or demand whatsoever of me the said Spencer Pomroy either in law or equity of in and to the above bargained premises  

To have and to hold the same to the said Francis W Pomroy and to his heirs and assigns forever.  The aforesaid premises being the same which Mary Ann Pomroy purchased of Edward Pettit in the year 1825 and 1826 [as] by said Pettits deeds are Recor[ded] in Huron County aforesaid will fully appear.

In witness whereof I the said Spencer Pomroy have hereunto set my hand and seal this 6th day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty nine   Signed

sealed acknowledged & delivered in presence of}                                                           Spencer Pomroy    (seal)

        

State of New York Onondaga County ss  

On this 6th day of July in the year 1829 personally appeared before me Spencer Pomroy to me known to be the person described in and who executed the within indenture and acknowledged that he executed the same for the uses and purposes therein mentioned.                                John Fleming Junr. Justice of the Peace

Received May the 2d and Recorded the 3d 1834 By Ichabod Marshall Recorder. “[lxxxviii]

We have often wondered whether Francis came back to Pompey to get this quitclaim signed, or whether this transaction accomplished through the mails.  We have found no evidence either way.  We also wonder whether it was Francis or Mary Ann that had this quitclaim entered in Huron County Court on 2 May 1834 (nearly five years after it was written), and what would the advantage have been of entering this record, given the fact that Spencer Pomeroy was dead by this date.



The Town of Onondaga Historical Society has a wonderful, and nearly complete, collection of the ledgers of the Onondaga County Poorhouse.  It was in these ledgers that we learned of the sad demise of Spencer Pomeroy.  Spencer entered the Poorhouse for the first time on 2 January 1830, being the only entrant for that day.  The record charges his stay to the town of Manlius.  He resided at the Poorhouse until discharged on 23 April 1831.  The town of Manlius was charged for sixteen weeks board, and 3 yards “sattinet”, 1 yard of shirting and thread on 18 April 1830, and shoes two days later.



Spencer would spend a total of four winters in the Poorhouse.  He was received on 19 Jan 1831 and discharged 14 Apr 1831.  The town of Pompey was charged for twelve weeks and one day’s board and for 3 ½ yards “sattinett”, lining and buttons on 5 April 1831, which may have been used to sew him a coat.  He was received on 17 January 1832 and discharged 7 Apr 1832.  The town of Pompey was again charged for his room and board of eleven weeks and three days, and for one yard of factory “gingum” on 6 Apr, which he received a day before his discharge.   Catherine M. Sayler of Salina was also received January 17th.  She was fifteen years old and was discharged 3 April 1832.



Spencer’s visit to the Poorhouse in the winter of 1833 was his last.  He was received on 21 Jan 1833 and died less than four months later on May 2.  The town of Pompey was charged for fourteen weeks and three days board, transportation to the Poorhouse from Pompey on January 21, and for a coffin, sheet, and shirt on the day of his death.  Spencer was buried on the Poorhouse grounds, most likely either the day of his death or the day after.



Ichabod Wood, his wife Clarissa (Spencer’s sister) and their daughter Charlotte were received in the Poorhouse 12 October 1832. All there were charged to the town of Manlius.  Ichabod was identified as 45 years of age, and “absconded” 13 November 1832.  Clarissa, identified as 45 years of age, was discharged with her daughter Charlotte (identified as 18 years of age) on 7 May 1833, five days after Spencer died.  Ichabod received ½ yard of “Sattinet” on 10 November 1832, Clarissa received 1 pair of shoes and 8 ½ yards plaid, ¾ yard shirting and thread on November 10, 2 yards of shirting, 2 yards or calico and thread on March 27, and 6 yards of shirting and 1 ½ yard of muslin on May 7.  Charlotte received 1 pair of shoes on December 19, 3 yards of shirting on February 16, and 2 ½ yards of “Gingum”, and 5 yards of calico on May 7, her and her mother’s date of discharge. [lxxxix]  We like to think that Clarissa and her daughter Charlotte were caring for Spencer and was with him when he died.  It seems likely.



We know that Charlotte died on 26 February 1842, and was buried next to her grandmother, Sarah (Allen) Pomeroy in the Christ Church Cemetery in Manlius, NY.  We also know that Ichabod Wood died on 2 Mar 1847 in Manlius, and was also buried in the Christ Church Cemetery, although not with his daughter, but in the public section of the cemetery[xc].  We do not know, however, when or where Clarissa (Pomeroy) Wood died; and we have very little information about this family after their tenure at the Poorhouse.  We do know that Ichabod Wood was identified as a head of household in the 1840 U.S. Census of Manlius, NY.  In his household were one free white male of 60 through 70, 1 free white female of 20 through 30, and one free white female of 50 through 60.  One person was employed in manufacture and trade[xci].  We do not know what profession or professions Ichabod followed.  The ages of the women in the household indicate that they were Clarissa and Charlotte, as Clarissa would have been about 55 and Charlotte would have been about 26.  It would seem likely that Ichabod would have served in the New York State Militia, especially during the War of 1812, but we have yet to find proof of this.  We know that Ichabod Wood married Clarissa Pomeroy on 10 October 1808 in Pompey, NY[xcii], but we do not know where or exactly when Ichabod was born, or who his parents were.



Another Ichabod Wood can be found buried in the Christ Church Cemetery in Manlius, NY.  His date of death was 4 October 1817 and his date of birth has been listed as about 1746 in Little Compton, Newbury County, Rhode Island[xciii].  This Ichabod Wood married Elizabeth Brownell 15 March 1769 in Little Compton, RI[xciv]; was a Lieutenant of the Second Company of Little Compton, during the war of the Revolution[xcv], and lived in Little Compton until at least 1800 where he was enumerated as head of household in the 1800 U.S. Federal Census[xcvi].   He is listed as head of household in Scipio, Cayuga County, New York according to the 1810 U.S. Federal Census, on this same page as his son Jedediah.  He was the only member of this household[xcvii].  His wife, Elizabeth outlived him by almost ten years, dying on 27 August 1827 in Manlius[xcviii], so it seems strange that she is not enumerated in his household in 1810.  She too is buried in the Christ Church Cemetery in Manlius.  It is likely that Ichabod and wife Elizabeth came to Manlius because their son, Jedediah, had purchased land there on 15 July 1814.  This property was 350 acres on lot 38, and the purchase price was an astounding $12,250[xcix].  Jedediah became a member and trustee of the Trinity Presbyterian Church of Manlius on 29 August 1815[c].



Another Wood family that was in Onondaga County early on is the Daniel Wood family.  Daniel was born 27 May 1744, the son of Moses and Sarah (Phelps) Wood[ci].  Daniel was found on the tax rolls of Pompey with real property valued at $100 and personal property valued at $42[cii].   He signed a petition to establish Pompey Academy which was recorded 15 March 1802 with Reuben Pixley, Abel Bigelow and Joseph Shattuck[ciii].  He was a lawyer who was an early partner of Victory Birdseye in 1807[civ].  He purchased two acres of land on lot 65 in Pompey on 11 May 1808 that bordered on land owned by Henry Seymour and Oren Stone and Spencer Pomeroy[cv].    His father, Moses Wood, came to Pompey with his wife in 1806[cvi] where he died 18 April1818.  He was buried in the Pompey Hill Cemetery[cvii].


Next Week: Part 5 – Brush with Celebrity 

 





[i] Huron County OH Deed Records, Vol 4; P 90, FHC Film #396.146, Salt Lake City, UT.

[ii] Harrison County, OH Deed Records, Book C, P 173, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, UT

[iii] Harrison County, OH Deed Records, Book C, P 396, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, UT

[iv] Ibid.

[v] W.W. Williams, History of The Fire Lands, Comprising Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio (Cleveland: Leader Printing Company, 1879) 118

[vi] Henry Reiner Timman, Just Like Old Times, Book II 1975-1977, (Norwalk, Firelands Historical Society, 1983) 86

[vii] Harrison County, OH Deed Records, Book C, P 620, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, UT

[viii] Ohio, Huron County Tax Records, 1816-1838, Ohio Historical Society. Columbus.  FHL microfilm, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, UT.

[ix] History of The Fire Lands..., p 119

[x] James Williams Daily Cash Book, 1820s-1830s, Firelands Historical Society, Norwalk, OH, accessed 11 May 2009 by Henry Timman.

[xi] Advertisement, Norwalk Reporter, Norwalk, OH, 27 Oct 1827, P 3

[xii] Expulsion Notice, Norwalk Register, Norwalk, OH, 22 Dec 1827, P 3

[xiii] Archives of the Mount Vernon Lodge No. 64, Norwalk, OH

[xiv] Publication Committee, Re-Union of the Sons and Daughters of the Old Town of Pompey, Held at Pompey Hill, June 29, 1871 (Syracuse: Courier Printing Company, 1875) 160-161

[xv] Ruth, “Scattered Sheaves – No. 4, By Ruth; Maj. Underhill”, The Fire Lands Pioneer, Old Series, Vo. III, Part 3 (Sep 1860); 37-45

[xvi] Ibid, 42

[xvii] Archives of the Mount Vernon Lodge No. 64, Norwalk, OH

[xviii] History of The Fire Lands, Comprising Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio, 118, 119

[xix] Huron County, OH Deed Records, Vol 5; P 360, FHC Film # 396147, Salt Lake City, UT

[xx] Huron County, OH Deed Records, Vol 5; P 358, FHC Film # 396147, Salt Lake City, UT

[xxi] James Williams Daily Cash Book, 1820s-1830s, Firelands Historical Society, (Norwalk, OH), accessed 11 May 2009, Henry Timman

[xxii] Ohio, Huron County Tax Records, 1816-1838.  Ohio Historical Library, Columbus.  FHL microfilm.  Family History Library, Salt Lake City, UT.

[xxiii] Huron County, OH Deed Records, Vol 6; P 106, FHC Film # 396147, Salt Lake City, UT

[xxiv] Huron County, OH Deed Records, Vol 5; P 633, FHC Film # 396147, Salt Lake City, UT

[xxv] List of Letters Remaining at Post Office article, Norwalk Reporter, Norwalk, OH, 25 Oct 1828

[xxvi] List of Letters Remaining at Post Office article, Norwalk Reporter, Norwalk, OH, 4 Jul 1829, P 3, Col. 2

[xxvii] Huron County Deed Records, Vol 8: P 328, Clerk’s Office, City Hall, Norwalk, OH.

[xxviii] C.P. Wickham, “History of the Firelands,” Fire Lands Pioneer, Vol II, No. 4 (Sep 1861); 7-14

[xxix] Benjamin Junkins household, 1830 U.S. Census, Norwalk, Huron County, Ohio, P 328, line 8; National Archives microfilm publication M19_133.

[xxx] Benjamin Junkins obituary, Norwalk Weekly Reflector, Norwalk, OH, 27 Jun 1882, P 1, Col. 4

[xxxi] Samuel Preston Dockets 2 through 8, The Firelands Historical Society, (Norwalk, OH), accessed by Henry Timman 20 Mar 2008

[xxxii] Medical notice, Norwalk Reporter and Huron Advertiser, Norwalk, OH, 23 Jun 1827, P 3, Col. 3.

[xxxiii] History of The Fire Lands, Comprising Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio, (Cleveland: Leader Printing Company, 1879) 119

[xxxiv] Ibid, 46

[xxxv] History of The Fire Lands, Comprising Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio, 118.

[xxxvi] Ibid, 119.

[xxxvii] Henry Reinier Timman, Just Like Old Times, Book V, 1984-1986, (Norwalk: Laser Images, Inc. 1989) 23.

[xxxviii] Mary Higgins Gibbs, “Sketch of the Life of Judge David Higgins,” The Firelands Pioneer, New Series, Vol XVI (1 May 1907); 1416-1417.

[xxxix] Rev. A. Newton, “Extracts from a Discourse,” The Fire Lands Pioneer, Vol 2, No 4 (Sept 1861); 45-48.

[xl] David Higgins household, 1830 U.S. Census, Norwalk, Huron County, Ohio, p 327 (penned), line 11; National Archives microfilm publication.

[xli] Huron County, Ohio, 1831-1832 Tax Records, Books 663-664.  Huron County Auditor, Norwalk, FHL microfilm 416,808.  Family History Library, Salt Lake City, UT.

[xlii] List of Letters Remaining in the Post Office article, Norwalk Reflector, Norwalk, OH, 3 Oct 1831.

[xliii] Samuel Preston Dockets 2 through 8, The Firelands Historical Society, (Norwalk, OH), accessed by Henry Timman 20 Mar 2008.

[xliv] Spencer Pomeroy household, 1820 U.S. Census, Manlius, Onondaga County, New York, p 185, National Archives microfilm publication M33_67

[xlv] Mrs. Charles W. Coleman, Trinity Presbyterian Church Manlius, NY Register of Membership 1815 – 1850, (Manlius: Mrs. Charles W. Coleman, 1939)

[xlvi] Giles and Chauncey Pratt Cornish papers, 1815-1894, Onondaga Historical Association, Syracuse, N.Y., [NIC] NYOD872-610-0034, Accession # OHA 6709, Box 1, 3-B-3.

[xlvii] Nelson Otis Tiffany, editor, The Tiffanys of America, History and Genealogy, (Buffalo: Mathews Northrup Co., 1901) 20

[xlviii] Onondaga County Deed Records, Book M: P 316, Onondaga County Clerk’s Office, Syracuse, NY

[xlix] Stephen Tiffany household, 1810 U.S. Census, Pompey, Onondaga County, New York, P 8, National Archives microfilm publication roll 34

[l] Jacob Tiffany household, 1800 U.S. Census, Pompey, Onondaga County, New York, P 111 (penned), P 136 (stamped), National Archives microfilm publication roll 24.

[li] The Tiffanys of America, 19

[lii] Abstracts of Wills, Administrations and Guardianships in NY State, 1787-1835, (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org; New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2006) Original manuscript of Eardeley Genealogy Collection: New York State Abstracts of Wills, Brooklyn Historical Society.

[liii] Ibid.

[liv] Jacob Tiffany household, 1820 U.S. Census, Pompey, Onondaga County, New York, P 136; National Archives microfilm publication roll M33_67.

[lv] Jacob Tiffany household, 1830 U.S. Census, Pompey, Onondaga County, New York, P 282; National Archives microfilm publication roll M19-100; Family History Film: 0017160.

[lvi] The Tiffanys of America, History and Genealogy, 20

[lvii] Mrs. Charles W. Coleman, Trinity Presbyterian Church, Manlius NY Register of 1815-1850, (Manlius: Manlius Historical Society, 1939) 4

[lviii] Accounts with Pompey Academy, 1824-1836, Pompey Historical Society, Pompey, NY

[lix] Janet Wethy Foley, Early Settlers of New York State 1760-1942, CD 183, (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc., 1934)

[lx] Gaius Pomeroy household, 1820 U.S. Census, Northampton, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, P 103; National Archives microfilm publication M33_50.

[lxi] Gaius Pomeroy Obituary, Pittsfield Sun, Pittsfield, MA, 25 Nov 1824

[lxii] James Russell Trumbull, History of Northampton, Massachusetts: from its settlement in 1654, Vol II, (Northampton: Press of Gazette Printing Co., 1902) 391

[lxiii]Massachusetts Marriages, 1695-1910, digital images, from FamilySearch Internet [www.familysearch.org]

[lxiv] Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915, digital images, from FamilySearch Internet [www.familysearch.org]

[lxv] Dwight H. Bruce, Onondaga’s Centennial, Gleanings of a Century, (Boston: Boston History Company, 1896) 731

[lxvi] Elihu Wright household, 1830 U.S. Census, Van Buren, Onondaga County, New York, P 120; National Archives microfilm publication roll M19-100; Family History Film: 0017160

[lxvii] Massachusetts Marriages 1695-1910,

[lxviii] Church Books of the First Church of Christ of Northampton, 1661-1924 [Northampton, Massachusetts] Family History Library microfilm #186160, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, UT

[lxix] Inscriptions on the Grave Stones in the Grave Yards of Northampton and of Other Towns in the Valley of the Connecticut, as Springfield, Amherst, Hadley, Hatfield, Deerfield, &c. with Brief Annals of Northampton, 41

[lxx] Orrin Peer Allen, Descendants of Samuel Allen of Windsor, CT 1640-1907, Reprint (Salem: Higginson Book Company, 2005) 24

[lxxi] Sarah Pomroy obituary, Pittsfield Sun, Pittsfield, MA, 10 Apr 1823, P 3

[lxxii] Gaius Pomeroy obituary, Pittsfield Sun, Pittsfield, MA, 25 Nov 1824

[lxxiii] Mrs. Elizabeth Pomeroy obituary, Pittsfield Sun, Pittsfield, MA, 9 Sep 1824

[lxxiv] Receipts during the month of May, by the treasurer of the American Bible Society article, The Albany Gazette, Albany, NY, 12 Jun 1820

[lxxv] Ontario County, New York Deed Records, Book 39, P 162, FHL microfilm #479881, Salt Lake City, UT

[lxxvi] Rev. James H. Hotchkin, A History of the Purchase and Settlement of Western New York, and of the Rise, Progress, and Present State of the Presbyterian Church in that Section, (New York: M.W. Dodd, Brick Church Chapel, 1848), 373

[lxxvii] Publishing Committee, First Presbyterian Church of Lyons, NY, One Hundred and Fifty Years of the Presbyterian Church, Lyons, New York 1809-1959, (Lyons: First Prebyterian Church, 1959)

[lxxviii] A History of the Purchase and Settlement of Western New York, and of the Rise, Progress, and Present State of the Presbyterian Church in that Section, 375-376

[lxxix] Wayne County, New York, Deed Records, Book 10, P 531-532, County Clerk’s Office, Lyons, NY

[lxxx] Wayne County, New York, Deed Records, Book 10, P 532-533, County Clerk’s Office, Lyons, NY

[lxxxi] Francis Pomeroy household, 1830 U.S. Census, Palmyra, Wayne County, New York, P 47, Line 10; National Archives microfilm publication roll 17

[lxxxii] Theodore M. Banta, Sayre Family, Lineage of Thomas Sayre a Founder of Southampton, (New York: The De Vinne Press, 1901) 250-252

[lxxxiii] A History of the Purchase and Settlement of Western New York, and the Rise, Progress, and Present State of the Presbyterian Church in that Section, 373

[lxxxiv] Harriet M. Wiles, Records of the First Presbyterian Church of Lyons, (New York: typescript, 1936) 26

[lxxxv] History and Genealogy of the Pomeroy Family, Collateral Lines in Family Groups, 488

[lxxxvi] Mable Crosby and Louise Coulson, compilers, Unpublished Records A Collection of Newspaper Abstracts – Cayuga County, NY, (Scarsdale: Owasco Chapter DAR, 1974), 157

[lxxxvii] Sayre Family, Lineage of Thomas Sayre a Founder of Southampton, 123-4

[lxxxviii] Huron County, Ohio Deed Records, Book 8, P 328, Clerk’s Office, City Hall, Norwalk, OH

[lxxxix] Onondaga County Poorhouse Records, 1827-1836, PH Ledger 1 and 2, Town of Onondaga Historical Society, Onondaga Hill, Syracuse, NY

[xc] Manlius Church Yard Records, Manlius Historical Society, Manlius, NY

[xci] Ichabod Wood household, 1840 U.S. Census, Manlius, Onondaga County, New York, P 159, Line 30; National Archives microfilm publication roll 317.

[xcii] Journal of Rev. Hugh Wallis,

[xciii] Rev W.M. Beauchamp, S.T.D., compiler, Revolutionary Soldiers Resident or Dying in Onondaga County, N.Y. with Supplementary List of Possible Veterans,(Syracuse: The McDonnell Co., 1913) 101

[xciv] Benjamin Franklin Wilbour, compiler, Little Compton Families, Vol II, (Little Compton; Little Compton Historical Society, 1967) 787, 788

[xcv] Revolutionary Soldiers Resident or Dying in Onondaga County, N.Y. with Supplementary List of Possible Veterans

[xcvi] Ichabod Wood household, 1800 U.S. Census, Little Compton, Newport County, Rhode Island, P 172: National Archives microfilm publication roll 46

[xcvii] Ichabod Wood household, 1810 U.S. Census, Scipio, Cayuga County, New York, P 1222; National Archives microfilm publication roll 31

[xcviii] Revolutionary Soldiers Resident or Dying in Onondaga County, N.Y. with Supplementary List of Possible Veterans

[xcix] Onondaga County, New York Deed Records, Book O, P 484-486, Onondaga County Clerk’s Office, Syracuse, NY

[c] Trinity Presbyterian Society Records, 1815-1918, Onondaga Historical Association, Syracuse, NY

[ci] George H. Williams, “Notes and Queries,” The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol XLVII [Jan 1893] 88

[cii] Tax Assessment Rolls of Real and Personal Property, 1799-1804, Film # B0950, Reel 12, New York State Archives, Albany, NY

[ciii]Re-Union of the Sons and Daughters of the Old Town of Pompey, Held at Pompey Hill, June 29, 1871, 160-161

[civ] Victory Birdseye One of the Earliest Settlers of Famou[s] Pompey Hill article, Herald, Syracuse, NY, 1 Sep 1886

[cv] Onondaga County, New York Deed Records, Book I, P 140, Onondaga County Clerk’s Office, Syracuse, NY


[cvi] “Notes and Queries”
[cvii] “Cemetery Inscriptions from Pompey Hill, Onondaga County, N.Y.”

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