Joshua A Cornell 1849 - 1943

When you're big into Genealogy, you find yourself becoming very familiar with people in your family tree who died long before you were born. So although Joshua Cornell is actually my great-great grandfather I tend to refer to him as "Grandpa Josh"  because its just simplier.  My very tolerant family apparently has gotten used to this because they know exactly who I'm referring to. I've heard some Grandpa Josh stories over the years which I kept in  mind while looking at his genealogy.

Joshua A Cornell was born on June 30, 1849 to Jacob G Cornell and Mary McCord.  He joined at home two brothers, Aaron and Willett, and a sister Sarah. His brother Ezra was born three years later.  There's little known about his mother, Mary McCord, and speculation that she was Jacob's second wife. If so, Joshua was her first child. But thats a whole other story to tell some other time. Joshua's brother Aaron had a blacksmith shop, which was in the exact spot the new Croton Dam was built, which is why many refer to the dam as the Cornell Dam. The family farm and where Joshua was born is now under water, one of many homes flooded when the dam was completed.

Joshua was taught the trade of a wheelwright at first, according to his obituary. However he also is listed in the census throughout the years as a carriage maker, a blacksmith, and a carpenter with his own shop. Joshua married Alice Chase on Oct 22 1871.  Their son Ira J Cornell was born in May of 1874, Wright Benjamin Cornell in November of 1878. It was much later, in November of 1889, Lester Albert Cornell was born.

 Here they  are all together:  Lester being the younger one on the left, behind him is Wright, with Wright's wife Lizzie (Elizabeth Titus) besides Lester. Standing in the back is Grandpa Josh with his wife Alice on the right. Ira is in the right front with his wife Allie (Almira Fisher) just slightly behind and to the left of him. Date of photo unknown, but Wright married in 1903 and Ira died in 1905, which gives us a small window when this photo could have been taken. Lester would marry much later  - in 1923, to Florence Purdy.

One of the stories I've heard told about Grandpa Josh  was that he had a temper and sometimes he & Alice fought. Matter of fact, (they would say) he lived out in the garage for a time. The garage they referred to was once Grandpa Josh's shop. he bought it in 1885 and then began to build their house next to it. I thought this a funny story growing up.

Wright, Joshua and Ira

 Then, as I began to research the family tree an odd thing happened. I found Alice & Lester in the census, but not Grandpa Josh. He was alive, so why wasn't he there? Family reminded me he lived in the garage for a while... apparently not for a night or two, but for a year or more.  Sure enough, looking around the neighborhood in the census, there Grandpa Josh was, living by himself in the Garage.  It wasn't the last Census I found him listed living alone either. no one seems to know how long he lived out there, or if it was an on and off type of thing.









Grandpa Josh, along with his sons Lester and Wright were well known for their carpentry skills. Some of the buildings for Trinity-Pawling, a private boys school in Pawling, NY, were built by the three of them.  The family also hunted. In 1926, at 77, Joshua was mentioned in the paper for getting some squirrel and a pheasant.

Alice Chase Cornell died in July of 1939, after being ill for a few weeks.  Grandpa Josh however lived a long time. When he turned 91 his family threw him a big get-together to celebrate. Joshua was the last of his siblings to pass away, in 1943 at the age of 94.

Lois Albee and Joshua Cornell  April 8,1942 at Grandpa Josh's home

   

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.

               

Revolutionary War Ancestors

Being a Genealogist and a 18th Century Reenactor, my ancestors from the 18th century hold a special interest for me. I have looked in records and pension files and found many ancestors that fought in the Revolutionary War. I suspect there are more, but the below folks all fought in the American War of Independance.

 

Obadiah Chase, born 1743 in Boston, Suffolk Co, MA; died 04 Jul 1799 in Carmel, Putnam Co, NY.  He was the son of Isaac Chase and Thankful Maker.  He married Susannah Knapp Bet. 1765 - 1766.

Joseph Dikeman, born Abt. 1737 in Fairfield Co, CT; died 1822 in Southeast, Putnam Co, NY.  He was the son of Frederick Dyckman and  Ann   He married Eunice Darling 25 May 1757 in Redding, Fairfield Co, CT.

Hezekiah Dykeman, born Abt. 26 Aug 1759 in Redding, Fairfield Co, CT; died 17 Jan 1839.  He was the son of Joseph Dikeman and Eunice Darling.  He married  Constance Doane 12 Oct 1785 in Wilton, Fairfield Co, CT.

Benjamin Dikeman, born Abt. 24 May 1761 in Redding,Fairfield Co, CT; died 18 Apr 1845 in Patterson, Putnam Co, NY.  He was the son of \ Joseph Dikeman and \ Eunice Darling.  He married  Huldah Kelley.

William Hooker, born 15 Sep 1756 in Kensington, Hartford Co, CT; died 04 Feb 1826 in Kensington, Hartford Co, CT.  He was the son of Seth Hooker and Sarah Burnham.  He married  Hannah Jones 03 Feb 1779.

Gershom Hubbell, born 17 Jul 1729; died 14 Apr 1802.  He was the son of  Nathan Hubbell and Martha Finch.  He married  Sarah St John 30 Nov 1769.

Jonathan Silliman, born 31 Aug 1742 in Fairfield Co, CT; died 30 Jun 1777.  He was the son of Ebenezer Silliman and Abigail Selleck.  He married Anna Morehouse 27 Jun 1762

Moody Howes, born 18 Jul 1724 in Dennis, Barnstable Co, MA; died 09 Apr 1806 in Southeast, Putnam Co, NY.  He was the son of  Thomas Howes and Deborah Seares.  He married Sarah Ellis 21 Apr 1759 in Southeast, Putnam Co, NY.

 Jacob Reed, born 01 Apr 1749 in New Canaan, Fairfield Co, CT; died 11 Jun 1812 in Southeast, Putnam Co, NY.  He was the son of William Reed and Rachel Kellogg.  He married  Rhuhamah Benedict 07 Mar 1769.

Henderick Van Blarcom, born Abt. 18 May 1740 in Passic, Bergen Co, NJ.  He was the son of  John Van Blarcom and Vroutje Kip.  He married Annatje Van Winkle 20 Nov 1763 in Passaic, Bergen Co, NJ.

Ezra Merrick, born 26 Aug 1744 in Bradford, Essex Co, MA; died 28 Sep 1777 in Fort Ticonderoga, Essex Co, NY.  He was the son of  Ezra Mireck and. Mehitebel Green.  He married  Sarah Marsh 23 Sep 1776 in Goffstown, Hillsbourgh Co,  NH.

Zenas Warren, born 22 Mar 1758.  He was the son of Benjamin Warren and Jedidah Tupper.  He married  Susannah Unknown

William Rhinevault* born Abt. 1760; died 16 Jun 1840.  He married  Mary Spencer 11 Apr 1782 in Fredericks, Dutchess co, NY.

John Knox, born 01 Oct 1752 in North Salem, Westchester Co, NY; died 22 Aug 1817 in North Salem, Westchester Co, NY.  He was the son of Robert Knox.  He married  Mary Polly Raymond 29 Oct 1775 in Salem, Westchester Co, NY.

Jonathan Reynolds, born Abt. 1757; died 24 Aug 1809 in Southeast, Putnam Co, NY.  He married  Mary Brown 03 Apr 1776 in Greenwich, Fairfield Co, CT.