Silas Fowler Tompkins

1. SILAS FOWLER TOMPKINS, my great-great-grandfather was born on 24 Feb 1825. He died on 02 Apr 1913.

When he was 21, he married Martha Ann Horton, daughter of Elias Quereau Horton and Mary Lyon on 26 Nov 1846. Martha was born on 26 Dec 1829 in Yorktown, Westchester Co, NY. She died on 06 Sep 1897.

Silas built a desk, which my cousin now has. She refinished it and sent some pictures so I could see it, including the nameplate with Silas' name in his own writing. 

I also found a copy of the Civil War Draft registrations which included Silas F Tompkins. He was 38. I believe the other Tompkins listed on the same page are relatives, but I'm not sure how yet. I have not found any record of Silas actually serving in the civil war.

My great grand aunt, Ruth Townsend Purdy did a lot of research on our family over the years. I have some of her research books and notes.

She had a family bible that had the Tompkins family information in it. I've never actually seen the bible in person, as it was donated to a research place when she passed away.

A distant cousin had pictures of the pages in it as well Aunt Ruth's transcriptions.

  She shared that information with me, and here is the page that had Silas's birth and Death dates on it along with many others.

Silass Birth is listed  in the top left corner and his death in the lower right corner.

Silas Fowler Tompkins and Martha Ann Horton had the following children:

i. MARY ELIZA TOMPKINS was born on 18 Jul 1848 in Westchester Co, NY. She died on 04 Jul 1921 in Westchester Co, NY. She married Reuben R Bunyea on 20 Sep 1871. He was born on 22 Feb 1831. He died on 22 Jan 1929.

ii. SARA JANE TOMPKINS was born on 20 Jan 1851 in Westchester Co, NY. She died on 2 Sep 1852 in Yorktown, Westchester Co, NY.

iii. HENRIETTA TOMPKINS was born on 30 Sep 1853 in Westchester Co, NY. She died on 10 Mar 1906 in Westchester Co, NY. She married Benjamin P Sipp on 20 Mar 1883. He was born on 18 May 1855. He died on 02 Dec 1916.

iv. CORNELIA A. TOMPKINS was born on 21 Feb 1856 in Westchester Co, NY. She died on 19 Sep 1934 in Westchester Co, NY. She married Orlando Lent on 16 May 1876. He was born on 01 Jul 1840. He died on 17 May 1925.

v. GEORGE H TOMPKINS was born on 15 Dec 1858 in Westchester Co, NY. He died on 17 Mar 1886 in Westchester Co, NY.

vi. IDA MAE TOMPKINS was born on 19 Nov 1861 in Westchester Co, NY. She died on 20 Mar 1937 in Westchester Co, NY. She married Jacob Irving Purdy, son of Jacob G. Purdy and Esther S. Sarles on 09 Dec 1891 in Yorktown, Westchester Co, NY. He was born on 17 Jan 1849. He died on 06 Jun 1919 in Granite Springs, Somers, Westchester Co, NY.

vii. ULLYSSES G TOMPKINS was born on 15 Jul 1866 in Westchester Co, NY. He died on 5 Oct 1948. He married Florence Slaving, daughter of Henry Slaving and Catherine Purdy on 05 Jun 1892 in Croton Falls, Westchester Co, NY. She was born on 15 Jun 1875. She died after 1930.

Silas and Martha are buried in the Amawalk cemetery in Yorktown, Westchester county, NY.

Obadiah Chase

I have a couple of ancestors that descend from the first settlers of America. Obadiah Chase is a descendant of one of the passengers on the Mayflower, Stephen Hopkins.

The tree from Stephens Hopkins to Obadiah is:

Stephen's son Gyles Hopkins and wife Catherine Whelen

their son Stephen Hopkins and wife Mary Merrick

their daughter Mary Hopkins and husband John Maker

their daughter Thankful Maker and husband Isaac Chase
their son Obadiah Chase who was born 1743 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Obadiah was the second child of 9 sibilings. When he was about 22 he married Susannah Knapp.

Below you can see how he fits into the family tree.
Obadiah is not only a Mayflower descendant, but also served in the revolutionary war.

 He is listed in the Daughter's of the American Revolution's Patriot Index.  All of us who can document our family line back to him caan become a member of the DAR, or of the Sons of the American Revolution. He is buried in the Old Carmel Church in Putnam County, NY.  He has a couple of gravestones as well as being recognized on a group moument as one of the soldiers in the American War of Independance.

               

Fortunate Family Find

Sometimes digging around in old newspapers doesn't give you a birth announcement, or a wedding description, or even a good obituary. Combing through the newspapers for these things can be fun, sometimes the can be frustrating. But as every genealogist knows, sometimes its what you weren't looking for that makes the best find for your family history.

The Dykeman Farm has been in the family for generations. It seems like it was always Dykeman Land, but it was in the 1940's that Henry Dykeman Senior (son of Peter & Effie Hooker Dykeman) bought the farm. He bought the farm from his mother's family who had owned the land for generations.  The last of the Hooker family to live on the land was her Aunt Cornelia (Aunt Neil) and her Uncle William (Uncle Bill).

I found by accident in the Poughkeepsie paper the ad placed for the auction of the farm, which is below. No, it doesn't give me any dates for the family tree. But it does give me a good idea of the family farm before it became the Dykeman farm. Thats just as important to my family history.

The Will of John Varney

John Varney is my great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather. I have posted a little but about his part of my genealogy in my discussion concerning his first wife at Who Was Kaziah Varney's Mother?  I have yet to solve the mystery of who his first wife was, but I did find his Will which I include below in case someone else is searching for this family.

WILL OF JOHN VARNEY


[Will Book pp. 157-159, Dutchess County, New York]

And thereupon the last Will and Testament of John Varney deceased with the probate thereof were produced and are as follows, to wit –

I John Varney of the town of Dover, County of Dutchess and State of New York being in sound disposing mind and memory do think fit to make a distribution of my estate which shall remain at my decease in manner following, that is to say, First I do order and direct that all my just debts together with my funeral expanses be justly paid and satisfied out of my estate.

Next, I give to my wife Prissilla the one equal undivided half of all my household furniture one equal half of my dwelling house and one equal undivided half of all my remaining real and personal property to her heirs and assigns forever and the use and occupancy of the other half of the house during her life all which above legacies I give to her in sight and lieu of her dower.

Next, I give to my two daughters Sally Higby wife of Flemon Higby and to my daughter Keziah Cutler wife of Calvin Cutler the other equal undivided half of all my real and personal property to be equally divided between them their heirs and assigns forever and after the death of my wife that half of the house given to her during her life I give to my two daughters above named to be divided equally between them their heirs and assigns forever.

Now Therefore in order that this my last Will and Testament may be carried fully into effect I do hereby constitute and appoint my beloved wife Prissilla Varney my Executrix and John Wing and Calvin Cutler my Executors hereby authorizing and empowering them to do with and dispose of my property both real and personal in manner and form as aforesaid directed in this my last Will and Testament.

In Witness Whereof I have hereunto this my last Will and Testament set my hand and seal at Dover this ninth day of the fourth month in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty one hereby revoking all former wills by me made and ratifying this and none other to be my last Will and Testament.

Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said John Varney as for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us whose names are under written who did each of us subscribe our names as witnesses at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other.


John Varney (L.S.)

Asahel H. Haviland. ) Town Dover,
Buel Giddings \ Dutchess County.

State of New York, Dutchess Surrogate Court In the Matter of proving the last Will and Testament of John Varney deceased .

Dutchess County

Family Of Nellie Maria Barrett Tompkins

Solomon Barrett and Sarah Knox Had 12 Children. You’ve read the stories of Jennie Barrett and Lucinda Barrett who both had 8 children. However their sister Nellie had 18 children.


Front Row: Weslie Lester, Joseph Putney, Velma Cornelia (Billie), John Barnes, Ida Mae, Leonard Knox, Floyd Truman(Truie), Back Row: Briggs Carrigan, Samuel Lounsbury, Mabel Jane (Jennie) George Lewis (Lew), Fannie Beyea, Rufus Robin, Luella (Loll). Abt 1934.


Nellie Maria Barrett was born 06 Jul 1867 in Kent Cliffs, Putnam County, NY, and died 18 Jul 1924 in Willimantic, Windham Co, CT. She married Briggs Perry Tompkins 12 Sep 1880 in Kent Cliffs, Putnam County, NY, son of Nathaniel Tompkins and Mary Williams. He was born 10 Jan 1859 in Carmel, Putnam County NY, and died 26 Apr 1925 in Willimantic, Windham County, CT.

Children of Nellie Barrett and Briggs Tompkins are:

i. John Barnes Tompkins, born 24 Jan 1881; died 16 May 1949. He married Sarah A Tompkins 16 Sep 1908;

ii. Robert Solomon Tompkins, born 25 Mar 1883; died 25 Apr 1883.

iii. Ida May Tompkins, born 13 Apr 1884; died 08 Jan 1949 in Windham, CT. She married William E Light 17 Jul 1912.

iv. Floyd Truman Tompkins, born 20 Aug 1885 in Kent Cliffs, Putnam Co, NY; died 21 Nov 1967 in Newark Valley, Tioga Co, NY. He married Gertrude E Tompkins 14 Feb 1911 in Granite Springs, Somers, Westchester Co, NY; born 21 Jun 1889 in Granite Springs, Westchester Co, NY; died 15 Feb 1986 in Athens, Bradford Co, PA.

v. Bessie Elizabeth Tompkins, born 03 Oct 1887 in Somers, Westchester Co, NY; died 12 Feb 1891.

vi. Leonard Knox Tompkins, born 26 Aug 1889 in Shrub Oak, Westchester Co, NY; died 17 Apr 1963 in Windham Center, Windham Co, CT. He married Katherine Ophelia Light 21 May 1909; born 20 May 1891 in West Somers, Westchester Co, NY.

vii. Wesley Lester Tompkins, born 21 Sep 1891 in Somers, Westchester Co, NY; died 18 Dec 1953. He married Josephine Elizabeth Brown.

viii. Briggs Carrigan Tompkins, born 26 Aug 1891 in Baldwin Place, Westchester Co, NY; died 1951. He married Nina Stinard 15 Aug 1911; born 1881; died 25 Jan 1981.

ix. Samuel Lounsbury Tompkins, born 07 May 1895 in Somers, Westchester Co, NY; died 19 Sep 1935. He married Myra Scofield.

x. George Lewis Tompkins, born 20 Apr 1897 in Baldwin Place, Putnam Co, NY; died 05 Dec 1945 in Binghamton, Broome Co, NY. He married Rena Mae Patch 08 Mar 1916; born 13 Apr 1897 in Speedsville, Tompkins Co, NY; died 19 Dec 1955 in Berkshire, Tioga Co, NY.

xi. Rufus Robin Tompkins, born 29 Oct 1899 in Somers, Westchester Co, NY; died 25 Feb 1972 in Ossining, Westchester Co, NY. He married Gladys A Smith; born 09 Jan 1902 in Somers Center, Westchester Co, NY; died 26 Jun 1979.

xii. Joseph Putney Tompkins, born 13 Aug 1901 in Somers, Westchester Co, NY; died 11 Dec 1959. He married Ida May Smith; born 17 Jul 1903; died 12 Apr 1986.

xiii. Raymond Ralph Tompkins, born 22 Sep 1902 in Somers, Westchester Co, NY; died 22 Sep 1902 in Somers, Westchester Co, NY.

xiv. Fannie Beyea Tompkins, born 27 Feb 1904 in Somers, Westchester Co, NY; died 04 Jun 1978 in Middletown, Middlesex Co, CT. She married Mr. Smalley.

xv. Mabel Jane Tompkins, born 22 Jun 1905 in Somers, Westchester Co, NY; died 22 Nov 1980 in Sarasota, Sarasota Co, FL.

xvi. Luella Tompkins, born 22 Aug 1906 in Somers, Westchester Co, NY; died 1971 in Willimantic, Windham Co, CT.

xvii. Velma Cornelia Tompkins, born 24 Oct 1907 in Somers, Westchester Co, NY; died 11 Aug 1992 in Wallingford, New Haven Co, CT. She married Irving Prentice Emlott 16 Nov 1935 in Windham Center, Windham Co, CT; born 08 Aug 1906 in Boston, Suffolk Co, MA.

xviii. Berma Glenn Tompkins, born 17 Dec 1908 in Somers, Westchester Co, NY; died 29 Jan 1914 in Speedsville, Tompkins Co, NY.

Help for Beginners

Some basic rules:

1)Start with yourself and go backwards generation by generation.

2)Find some way to keep track of your info. I use FamilyTreeMaker on the computer now, but started with a plain spiral notebook.

And here's one way to start the process:

First, ask questions of all living relatives. A good time for this is holiday gatherings, as one person might answer and another will add information. They might conflict, but take it all in. You never know when a clue will appear to the truth. Don't believe everything you hear. write it down and confirm it with a records or two.

See what kind of documents the immediate family has. You might see a gold mine appear before your eyes.

Go to the Town records, County Records, State records. Look in the indexs, remeber to find the sibilings of your main search, as they may als have info to help you. Sometimes sibilings will give you enough clues to find out more on your direct line. After the indexes, look at the actual records. Some records are missed when making an index. Some facts on the record are not in the index. Some records are not copied correctly in an index. Be open to the idea the name is spelled differently.

Make a timeline. Even if it is estimated dates, see if you can place your ancestor at specific times in specific places. This can give you clues on where to look next.

Go look at the census. Take the timeline and names of sibilings with you. Look in the census for family members. Don’t be taken in if the name is not spelled exactly right. Often they are misspelled. You may need to look in several neighboring towns to find the people you are looking for. the ages might be off by a yerar or two too.
Look in the land records. You now have family stories, vital records, your timeline, and census items to tell you where your ancestor was when. See if you can find a land record or city directory to tell you what they where doing where wnd when. Land records might describe people in terms of their family.

Look at wills. See if you can find patterns between land exchanges and when people died. Sometimes land is gifted from one genration to another. is this the case with your family? Who else is involved? How are they related?

Start asking new questions of family. Send out inquiries through the internet. Ask for information from others studying the same town/family. Read local histories…county and town. See if the town has a local library. Read the newpaper… do they have archived papers? Where? Can you get to them. Look for obits and wedding announcements.

Go to the cemeteries. Look for the plots. Who is buried around them? What church did they belong to? Are there GAR, DAR, mason, etc markers? What markers are there and what do they mean? Can you find the cemeteries records, which would tell you who paid for the plot… and the heirs if there are open spaces in the gravesite.
Keep a record of where you have looked… and for what.

Keep a record of what was found… and where

When you are stuck, start with the timeline… and look at the resources you’ve used.

Ask. Ask others where to go, what might be found, what do they think?

Good luck… and happy digging!

The Barber Story

Not a story about a barber who cuts hair for a living... but about a family named Barber. Every family has their mysteries... this one is no exception. I'm still looking for answers.

We'll start with Otis A Barber. We do not know what the A. Stands for. According to the 1850, 1870 and 1880 Census, we calculate his birth date to be between 1837 - 1838.  In the 1870 and 1880 census, Otis is listed as married, and his wife is named Caroline according to Census records.

The transcribed Warren County NY Marriages performed by George B Reynolds listed online state that Otis A Barber married Emmiline Crandall  3 March 1861. I believe this to be Caroline Emalene Crandall and she is listed by her middle name. I do believe this to be the same Otis as he is living in the right location to be listed in those records.

 Otis was in the Civil war and appears to have filed for a pension in  April of 1880. According to the transcribed civil war enlistment list online for Bolton, NY, Otis was born in 1837, his father was Ezekiel Barber and his mother was Sarah Simpson. The same information is contained in his Pension papers.

Otis died 9 Dec 1882 according to his tombstone in Federal Hill Cemetery. It states he was 44 years and 8 months old. On Dec 10th, Otis' death made newspapers all over the state. He had drowned in Lake George moving from one boat to another.

Otis appears to be the 13 year old son of Ezekiel and Sarah Barber in the 1850 census. Ezekiel is listed as 63. Otis is still living with them in 1860, listed as 23 years old . This time Ezekiel is listed as 72 yrs born in Connecticut and his wife Sarah is listed as 57, born in NY. I do not find Ezekiel in the 1870 census however  Ezekiel may be the one listed in 1820 and 1830 censuses for Bolton.

Ezekiel is buried in Federal Hill Cemetery, but the stone is broken and what is left showing does not list a birth nor a death date on it. Sarah  (also called Sally Barber) died Mar 24, 1864 at the age of 64. They had three children; Otis A, Leroy, and Henrietta.

The biggest mystery is Ezekiel.  Who his parents are as well as his birth, marriage and death dates are all unknown. We know he lived in Bolton between 1820 and 1870, but very little otherwise. Our Barber quest is to solve this mystery. Do you know anything about Ezekiel?

Who Was Henrietta Hartwell?

Henrietta was my ancestor. My Great-Great-Great Grandmother actually. I know a little bit about her, but not much on her family. Does someone out there know more?

Henrietta was born March 4, 1858 according to her gravestone.  Her death certificate says 1959. I'm really not sure which is correct. The Hartwells of America book states she had half-brothers, Donald (Daniel?), Amos, and John W who was born 1839. Whomever furnished that information to the Hartwell Association also stated Henrietta was called "Aunt Net", which was included in the 1956 Hartwell Genealogy. Unfortunately today, there isn't much more information on her family.

Henrietta was accepted into the Church in Modena, NY Sept 3 1876. She married William Ellis, but I'm not sure when. They had a little boy, Albert, on 14 Sept 1878. No long after that, William posted a note in the local paper (New Paltz Independant):

To whom it may concern:  My wife Henrietta, having left my bed and board without cause or provacation, this is to forbid all persons harboring her or trusting her on my accounts, as I will pay no debts of her contracting after this date.       William Ellis, Jan 24 1879.

I have not found any mention of why she left or when she went back.  However  they must have reconciled, as they went on to have a family of six children total: Albert b.1878, John b.1880, Isaac b.1882, Lillian b.1888, Alida b.1983, and Herbert b.1899.

Henrietta Died 19 May 1919. She had six children. As of today, I have identified 27 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; 21 great-great-grandchildren; 46 great-great-great-grandchildren; and 15 great-great-great-great-grandchildren.

Now if we only knew who her parents were.

Blown up in the schoolhouse...

It caught my eye rather quickly.' Levi Jones, who was blown up in the schoolhouse was the first husband of Elizabeth Cook, daughter of Aaron Cooke and Hannah Wadsworth.'   What? Why did the school house get blown up and why was Levi in it?

Let me backtrack a little before I tell you more about that. Levi Jones is an ancestor of mine through Effie Knickerbocker Hooker who married Peter Dykeman back in 1885. The little chart on the side here give you and idea of how the family goes back to Levi.

Levi Jones is buried in the Ancient Burying Ground in Hartford, Connecticut. The epitaph on his gravestone is: In memory of Mr.Levi Jones, who died May ye 23rd 1766 in ye 50th year of his age. Here from earthly joyes I am fled unto ye Mansions of the Dead Prepare Reder for thou must like me be Buried in ye Dust.

And the story behind being blown up in the schoolhouse? When the news of the repeal of the Stamp Act reached Hartford, a great celebration was planned. Many men of the town were in the schoolhouse, preparing fireworks. Gunpowder for two companies of militia had been delivered to the school house at the rate of one pound per soldier. Some was spilled when the powder was delivered, and a few boys of the town (being in high spirits and meaning no harm) lit the spilled powder on the ground. This powder ignited and led a path to the schoolhouse which then blew up. Levi Jones was one of three who died in the explosion, although many others were injured.

The history leading up to the American War of Independance is something we learn about in school, but this certainly makes the history of the Stamp Act and its repeal stand out in my mind. The fact it was repealed had an immediate impact on my family. In less than 10 years, Levi's son-in-law, William Hooker would fight in the Revolutionary War which was a more general result of the Stamp Act. One just never knows what events will affect the future.

Levi & Elizabeth had the following children that I know of; Hannah Jones, Abigail Jones, Mille Jones, and Julius Jones. Although I do know more about Elizabeth's parents, Levi's parents are a mystery. Some folks seem to think his parents were Benjamin Jones of Enfield, MA (which then became part of CT) and Anna Prior, but I am still looking for proof positive on that.

And that is just one of many interesting stories in the family tree - Levi got blown up in the schoolhouse.