Sunday, December 8, 2019

 John Edward Ryea

  Some three months after the end of the Civil War, John Edward Ryea was born on August 3 1865. His birth record states he was born to Peter Ryeau, A Day Laborer from Canada East and Mary Young, born 21 years ago in Canada East and now living in Fairfield, Franklin County VT.

John is the fourth known child of Peter Ryea and Mary Gero (dit Young), a family that grew to have at least eight Boys - Lewis, Peter, John, Andrew, Etienne (Aiken), Frank, Henry, and Joseph and two Girls Julia and Mathilda. 

His Ryea family is still in Fairfield, Franklin County Vt in the 1870 Census, and he is listed as 5 years old and the second child they have that was born in Vermont. His older siblings, Lewis, Julia and Peter were all born in Canada as were his parents. Peter is listed as 28 and Mary 26. Both parents are marked as cannot read, cannot write.

By 1880, the family is living in Richford, Franklin County, VT.  All the children are living with their folks – Peter is listed as 42, Mary as 30. John is listed as 14, and all but the smallest children are listed as cannot read and cannot write.  Their last name is given as Ryer, but that could be the result of careless writing of the census taker.  Peter the father along with Louis, Peter Jr, and John are all listed as Laborers.

On September 8, 1888, John Royea, a laborer, 22 years old marries Etta Smith, 21 in Berkshire, VT. His given place of birth is St. Albans, VT, son of Mary Geraw and Peter Royea. Etta is 21, born in Barre, Vt and the daughter of William Smith and Marrion Wells.

John and Etta settle in Franklin County, VT and begin their own family. Berney is born in March of 1889 but dies in August of 1890.  Marion is born in October of 1890, Edward in August of 1893 and then Lula on Oct 1895. Lula sadly dies less than a year old.  Lillian is born in January of 1897, and Cyrus in Jun of 1899.  Cyrus also dies before being a year old.

In the 1900 Census, John is listed with his family in Berkshire, Franklin County Vermont in a rented home. His birthday is listed as July of 1865, 34 years old, married 11 years, a Farm Laborer who cannot read or write but he can speak English. His wife Etta is  32, born in September of  1867, with 6 children born but only 3 living  - Marian, Edward and Lillian.  She is also listed as being able to read and wrote and speak English.

Next door on the 1900 census is listed his parents, Peter 64 and Mary 60. No month or year is given for their births, which seems to indicate that they did not know when they were born. They were married for 45 years, and mary had had 12 children but only 10 alive at that time.  Peter is listed as immigrating in 1849, and had naturalized but records confirming these facts have ever been found.  Peter and Mary are listed as not able to read or write, but can speak English. Joseph, Frank and Henry with his family are all living with them.

Later in 1900, Etta and John Have a daughter Lena who lives for 2 years and then dies of Tuberculosis.  John’s Brother Henry also dies in 1902 of the same disease. On the 28th of August in 1904, Etta Smith (37) and John Ryea (40) have a son, Clifford Ray Ryea, their 9th child and my great-grandfather.  Ethel is born in September of 1906 and Frank in June of 1909.

In 1910 on the Bakersfield, Vt Census,  John is 45, married 22 years, Rents a farm, is listed as a famer, cannot read or write. Etta is 42, and has had 11 children, 6 of which are living. She can read and write.  Their daughter Marion and her husband Frank Dunham were living with them as well as Edward, Lillian, Cliffford, Ethel and Frank.

In 1912, Johns father, and then his mother both pass away. They had been living with their daughter Julia, who was married to Andrew Playful, in Franklin, Franklin, County, VT.  In July of 1916, their son Frank dies of Pneumonia. Clifford Ryea was only twelve when this happens, but recalls it with sorrow more than 70 years later when I asked him about his family.

When World War One begins John and Etta’s son Edward enlists in the army and 1917 finds him in Virginia waiting for his transport overseas.  A small item in the Burlington Free Press in 1918 states Edward is injured but gives no real indication how seriously. Edward returns from the war, alive but missing his arm.  In 1920 he marries Bessie Bartlett.

In 1920 John and Mary are still living in Bakersfield, Franklin County Vermont with Edward, Ethel and Clifford  in their home. In 1923 Clifford leaves Vt for NY. In his later years he would say he “left VT to marry a rich girl”.

In 1925 he married Isabel Osborn and in 1926 had a son, also named Clifford and in 1929 they are blessed with a daughter Lucy Etta. They lived in Pawling, NY their entire married life. Clifford married again after Isabel died, living then in Putnam county, NY.

By 1930 John aged 64 and Etta aged 63 are living home alone, still in Bakersfield.  John is listed as unable to read or write, apparently, he never gained those skills throughout his life. In 1940, They are listed as living next to their son Edward, his wife Bessie, and their son Frederick. Etta is listed as completing grade 8, and next to John is says 0, no school attended. However this time, John is shown as owning his home, worth $400.00. He is 74 and she is 72.

When John dies of a heart condition in 1942, his birth is listed as July 3 1965 with Parents Peter Ryea and Mary Geraw.  His wife Etta Smith Ryea lives another 8 years, dying in September of 1950. She was described many years later by her granddaughter Lucy as being a gruff woman who smoked a corncob pipe.  They are buried in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Bakersfield, VT.

Their Children:
Berney Ralph Ryea, 1889-1890
Lula Gene Ryea, 1895-1896
Cyrus R. Ryea, 1899-1900
Lena Ryea, 1900-1902
Frank Marshall Ryea, 1909-1916




Saturday, December 7, 2019






National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, also referred to as Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day or Pearl Harbor Day, is observed annually in the United States on December 7, to remember and honor the 2,403 citizens of the United States who were killed in the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on December 7, 1941 which led to the United States declaring war on Japan the next day and thus entering World War II.


Friday, October 25, 2019


Reverend Judson Dykeman and his desk

This Desk is a family heirloom, now residing in the home of the 3rd Great-granddaughter of Rev Judson Dykeman. According to Family information, this is the desk Rev Judson Dykeman write his sermons at, and it predates 1867. As you can see, one of the legs must have broken over the years and been replaced by a plain leg, unlike the other three. Inside the desk has cubbyholes of ledgers and papers. We don’t know who made the desk,  but we do know more about the life of Judson Dykeman.

Reverend Judson Dykeman was born July 10, 1805 to Peter Dykeman (1769-1840) and his first wife, Ruth Carle (1776-1815)  in the Fredericksburg area of Dutchess County NY (now known as Patterson, Putnam County.) 

He was the third son, and fourth child of Peter and Ruth. In March 1829, he married Corinda  (Or Clorinda) Lee Smith, a widow with six children. (Abby Smith, Eunice Smith, Arvilla Smith, Joseph Smith,  and the twins, Jacob Smith and Isaac Smith.) Judson and Corinda would have four children of their own: Charles Dykeman, Louisa Dykeman, Oscar Augustus Dykeman, and Ruth Ann Dykeman.

On Feb 13 1836, Judson Dykeman joined the Kent – Fishkill Baptist Church by letter. He was listed as living in Kent, Putnam County NY In the 1840 Census. In His home there were 2 males under the age of 9, 1 boy between the age of 10 and 14, and one man aged 30-39. There was one little girl under 5, one teen girl between the ages of 15-19, and one woman between the ages of 30-39.  7 people in all, with 2 of them engaged in the occupation of agriculture.

In 1860  Judson is listed as a Baptist Clergyman in Kent, Putnam County, NY and Clorinda, Ruth, and Joseph Smith are living all in the home. By 1870, Ruth has moved out and just Joseph remains at home with his mother Clorinda and Stepfather Judson Dykeman.

In  October of 1872 Clorinda Lee Smith Dykeman passes away at the age of 73. Her will is a lengthy document, setting aside money especially for Joseph Smith’s care, maintenance and support. From the will it seems he is simple minded, and will need someone to be a guardian for him for the whole of his life.  Clorinda writes of all her children, alive and deceased, and her will is very emotional for a legal document. (Putnam County Wills, 1869-1876 Vol J-K, pg 515; Image 285 of 603 on film 837269 from Familysearch.org)

In 1873, Judson remarries to 45 year old Armilla White, daughter of Leman White.  He passes away at the age of 70 in October 1875. Both Judson and Corinda are buried in the cemetery at the Kent - Baptist Church in Putnam County, NY.

The Children of Judson Dykeman & Clorinda Lee Smith:
Charles Dykeman, 1830-1856.
Louisa Dykeman, 1831-1852.
Oscar Augustus Dykeman, 1834-1932. Married Louisa Denton.
Ruth Ann Dykeman, 1840-1917. Married John H Spencer.

The children of Clorinda Lee and Ray Smith:
Abby Mariah Smith, 1818-1893. Married to Robert Mead, and then Bennet Spencer.
Eunice Minerva Smith, 1820-1853. Married to Putnam Light.
Arvilla C Smith, 1823-1895. Married to Samuel T Barrett.
Joseph L. Smith, B 1825-1895. Married to Johanna Lee.
Isaac Smith, 1828-1853.
Jacob Smith, 1828-1834.

Saturday, October 5, 2019

Descendants of Joseph Ellis of New York


1-Joseph Ellis (8 Jan 1782-8 Apr 1861)
+Permellia Gidney (1788-1852)
. . . . 2-David Ellis (abt 1817-)
. . . . 2-John Ellis (16 Jul 1825-11 Jan 1909)
. . . . +Rachel Tompkins (Jul 1822-)
. . . . +Eliza C. Whittaker (abt 1831-12 Feb 1914)
. . . . +Jane Decker (1823-18 Aug 1863)
. . . . . . . . 3-Hasbrouck Ellis (8 Aug 1843-26 Jan 1920)
. . . . . . . . +Mary J. Terwilliger (13 Apr 1844-3 Nov 1904)
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Minnie Ellis (29 Mar 1875-4 Apr 1875)
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Clemine Ellis (abt 1879-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . +Harry White (abt 1872-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Lillian H ElIis (Apr 1891-)
. . . . . . . . +Hattie A Decker (1876-1950)
. . . . . . . . 3-Charles Ellis (abt 1843-1852)
. . . . . . . . 3-Ennis Ellis (1845-1900)
. . . . . . . . +Helena Elsie Ellis (Jun 1851-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Margaret Ellis (abt 1868-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Martha Ellis (abt 1869-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Clementine Ellis (abt 1875-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-George Ellis (Jun 1879-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Henry Ellis (abt 1879-)
. . . . . . . . 3-James Ellis (1847-)
. . . . . . . . +Melinda W. Relyea (abt 1857-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Delia Ellis (Jan 1879-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Charles H Ellis Sr (17 Sep 1890-21 Jun 1967)
. . . . . . . . . . . . +Addie Mackey Rhodes (abt 1890-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-Lucy A Ellis (Embree) (29 Sep 1917-3 Oct 1998)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-Leora Melinda Ellis (Kelder) (18 Jun 1924-20 Jan 2005)
. . . . . . . . 3-Morris Ellis (abt 1850-)
. . . . . . . . 3-Maria J Ellis (abt 1852-)
. . . . . . . . 3-Wlliam C. Ellis (18 Aug 1858-12 Dec 1935)
. . . . . . . . +Henrietta Hartwell (4 Mar 1858-19 May 1919)
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Albert Vincent Ellis (12 Sep 1878-25 Mar 1955)
. . . . . . . . . . . . +Mary Etta Dutcher (22 Jun 1879-27 Apr 1976)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-Velma Mary Ellis (5 Nov 1903-19 Apr 1992)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-Leroy Herbert Ellis (8 Oct 1907-13 Oct 1959)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-Flossie Belle Ellis (22 Mar 1909-15 Mar 1986)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-William Martin Ellis (25 Oct 1916-4 Nov 1975)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-Charlotte Ellis (13 Jan 1920-19 May 1985)
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-John W. Ellis (Jun 1880-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . +Florence E Rhodes (abt 1888-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-Francis Harrington Ellis (27 Jul 1918-13 Apr 2002)
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Isaac Perry Ellis (7 May 1882-31 Oct 1966)
. . . . . . . . . . . . +Sadie Levina Bird (Feb 1885-1965)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-Raymond P. Ellis (2 Jun 1905-30 Jun 1994)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-Clyde Bird Ellis Sr (18 Oct 1907-3 Jan 1952)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-Mildred Rose Ellis (5 Apr 1910-24 Jun 1997)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-Frederick M. Ellis (30 Sep 1916-16 Dec 1998)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-Grace Minard Ellis (27 May 1920-22 Nov 2011)
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Lillian May Ellis (11 Aug 1888-25 Sep 1975)
. . . . . . . . . . . . +Andrew Mackey Ronk (4 Jun 1882-6 Apr 1946)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-Albert Ellis Ronk (19 Dec 1905-13 Jan 1989)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-Clarence Eber Ronk (7 Feb 1907-25 Jan 1991)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-George Carpenter Ronk (4 Mar 1908-9 Aug 1993)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-Ralph Ronk (23 Sep 1909-31 Jan 1993)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-Nellie Ronk (9 Aug 1913-1 May 1981)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-Herbert A. Ronk (27 Jul 1916-18 Aug 1968)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-Myron F. Ronk (17 Jul 1918-5 Aug 2002)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-Vernon Ronk (24 May 1926-9 Jan 2008)
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Alida Dingee Ellis (14 Nov 1893-13 May 1978)
. . . . . . . . . . . . +Fred Myron Smith (9 Oct 1891-3 Feb 1968)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-John Smith (23 Oct 1917-1 Jan 1918)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-Vernon Robert Smith (6 May 1919-18 Jun 1994)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-Donald James Smith (29 May 1935-30 Jan 2003)
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Herbert J. Ellis (7 Mar 1899-)
. . . . . . . . +Anna Eliza Oliver (Conklin) (abt 1900-13 Jan 1972)
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Marjorie Satie Ellis (abt 1928-15 May 1945)

Sources Include

US Federal Census
NY State Census
Vermont Vital records
New Jersey Archives
NY Birth, Marriage, and Death Indexes
US Dutch reformed Church records 
Clintondale Quaker Records
Baptist Church records
Plattekill Town  and Church records
NY Will and Probate records
Town clerk records of men who served in the Civil war 
Old Gravestones of Ulster county, NY
Early Settlers of NY State Vol II
Hartwells in America
Johannes Dyckman of Fort Orange Vol 1 & 2
Newspapers records from
    Poughkeepsie Eagle
    Poughkeepsie Journal
    Press and Sun Bulletin
    Rhinebeck Journal
    The Register - Herald
    The Sun Herald









Thursday, September 5, 2019

Nathan Hubbell's Descendants

1-Nathan Hubbell (1 Dec 1699-16 Feb 1761)
+Martha Finch (7 Jan 1702-1 Dec 1755)
. . . . 2-Thaddeus Hubbell (17 Mar 1725-8 Apr 1806)
. . . . 2-Gershom Hubbell (17 Jul 1729-11 Apr 1803)
. . . . +Sarah St John (15 Apr 1746-7 Sep 1842)
. . . . . . . . 3-Moses Hubbell (25 Jan 1771-26 Oct 1851)
. . . . . . . . +Anna Nancy Silliman (1 Nov 1772-11 May 1849)
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Susannah Hubbell (1794-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . +Bradley Hull (-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-Bradley Hubbell Hull (-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-Moses Chapman Hull (-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-Legrand Hull (-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-Susan Cornelie Hull (-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Moses Hubbell (1797-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . +Betsey Perry (-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Caroline Hubbell (29 Apr 1803-5 May 1884)
. . . . . . . . . . . . +Daniel Sturges Beattys (18 May 1803-12 Feb 1873)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-Daniel Sillman Beattys (12 Jan 1828-16 Jan 1828)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-George Frederick Beattys (28 Jan 1830-2 Sep 1832)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-Charles Sturges Beattys (15 Dec 1832-21 Oct 1866)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-George Hubbell Beattys (22 Oct 1834-3 Jun 1897)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-Frederick Lacy Beattys (22 Apr 1839-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-Caroline Amelia Beattys (22 Feb 1841-11 Oct 1900)
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Uriah Hubbell (1806-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Harriett Priscilla Hubbell (1809-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Nancy Jane Hubbell (1813-)
. . . . . . . . 3-Priscilla Hubbell (22 Jan 1773-1868)
. . . . . . . . 3-William Hubbell (1 Dec 1775-1805)
. . . . . . . . 3-Uriah Hubbell (3 May 1779-25 Aug 1828)
. . . . . . . . 3-Susannah Hubbell (15 Nov 1780-1783)
. . . . . . . . 3-Gershom Hubbell (13 Jan 1783-3 Feb 1783)
. . . . . . . . 3-Abraham Hubbell (27 Mar 1786-1819)
. . . . +Sarah Wakeman (abt 5 Oct 1731-18 Jan 1769)
. . . . . . . . 3-Mary Hubbell (15 Aug 1757-)
. . . . . . . . 3-Elisabeth Hubbell (10 Mar 1759-)
. . . . . . . . 3-Abijah Hubbell (27 Feb 1761-20 Oct 1843)
. . . . . . . . +Clarissa Fitch (25 Sep 1768-6 Jul 1818)
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Ransom Hubbell (26 Jun 1791-27 Dec 1827)
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Hiram Hubbell (20 Sep 1793-21 May 1874)
. . . . . . . . . . . . +Mary Gilman (-1797)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-Charles Hubbell (19 Nov 1817-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-Wakeman Hubbell (1882-)
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Walter Hubbell (26 Feb 1795-25 Mar 1848)
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Wakeman Hubbell (1805-9 Nov 1818)
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Levi N. Hubbell (15 Apr 1807-8 Dec 1876)
. . . . . . . . 3-Gershom Hubbell (17 Mar 1763-3 Jan 1783)
. . . . . . . . 3-Sarah Hubbell (11 Apr 1764-)
. . . . . . . . 3-Walter Hubbell (18 Aug 1767-)
. . . . +Mary Bradley (21 Jun 1733-23 Feb 1756)
. . . . . . . . 3-Mary Hubbell (10 Jul 1755-27 Dec 1755)
. . . . . . . . 3-Abijah Hubbell (1761-1846)
. . . . 2-Abjah Hubbell (abt 1735-26 Sep 1760)
. . . . 2-Sarah Hubbell (abt 1740-28 May 1759)
. . . . 2-John Hubbell (-10 Mar 1810)
. . . . 2-Martha Hubbell (18 Jun 1730-2 Oct 1816)

Saturday, August 3, 2019

Dykeman - Ellis Marriage

95 years ago today, my Great Grandparents, Velma Ellis and Henry Dykeman got married in Catskill, Greene County, NY.


For descendants:
2 Children
6 Grandchildren
12 Great Grand-Children
21 Great-Great Grand-Children.







Saturday, July 6, 2019

Dykeman - Beattys Marriage

A note or two of interest in the Brewster Standard, July 6 1877:


142 years ago, this was the wedding notice for 
Junia Dykeman 1856-1934 and Helen "Nellie" Beattys  1861-1920. 

And then on Monday a gathering was held:





Wednesday, June 5, 2019

Newspapers

It used to be if you wanted to know something, go read the newspaper.  

Today we go online and google what we're looking for - and sure enough we'll find the information - and a whole lot of it may be questionable. Years ago, most newspapers had the information about what is going on in town. Sure some of it might not have the facts correct, or be an ad disguised as news - but oh the things there are to learn about the family in the newspaper.

Try  looking for those missing facts in the paper of the day.  Most my family tree comes from New York. NY is a state where getting information is difficult at best.  I find much of my information in the local news columns of the past. Most often i use the search for "Firstname Lastname" with the quote marks included.

Free resources online - 

Try http://fultonhistory.com/Fulton.html which  covers all of NY - an a little of other places. Read the FAQs section which is the link down at the bottom in the scrolling messages, it will assist you in the searching.

Or for those of us in the Hudson Valley, there is https://news.hrvh.org/  which is a smaller resource but seems to have different papers.  Putnam County Courier used to be on its own website, but it has been added here and is much more searchable this way.

Any county in New York, can be searched at the  NY Historic Newspapers website,  and you can search one or multiple counties at the same time if you choose.  Open each search result in a new tab here, which makes it easier to go back to your original search.

For a wider network, there is the Chronicling America website Which runs 1789 to 1963 all over the United States in various papers. The advanced search options here will give you better searches.

For other newspaper resources look at Cyndi'sList to see if  there are better newspapers for your area of interest that are free.  Ifyou're ready to pay for your searches, there are many susbscription services as well, like Newspapers.com

Wednesday, May 29, 2019

Santa Clara Tree


The first year Henry and Velma were married, they took a honeymoon trip to California.  After they were gone we found Velma's diary of the trip.  Much later we found pictures. 

On May 29 1925, (94 years ago) they were in the California State Redwood Park near Boulder Creek, CA. Velma writes "we walked down to the Santa Clara Tree which we were told was the only perfect tree in the park, the center not having been burnt.  It was certainly a very perfect redwood tree." 

I don't know what she had for a camera, but  she took a picture that day of her new husband, Henry Dykeman in front of that perfect redwood tree.

Someday I hope to stand at the foot of this very same tree.