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.

The Legacy of James P Osborn





James Paulding Osborn

James Paulding Osborn was born on a leap day, Friday, February 29th 1856 in Pawling, NY. He was the first son of George Washington Osborn and Mary Slocum, and their second child.


George and Mary's family expanded to eventually have many children:
Helen A Osborn, Born 24 May 1854 - Died 27 Aug 1942
James himself, Born 29 Feb 1856 - Died 13 April, 1926
George Travis Osborn, Born 17 May, 1858 - Died 18 Oct 1863
John A Osborn, Born 12 Apr 1860 - Died 1944
Edgar B Osborn, Born 16 Dec 1863 - Died 21 Sept 1950
Mary Ida Osborn, Born 15 Apr 1865 - Died 26 Apr 1927
Zadie Osborn, Born 23 Dec 1869 - Died July 1962
Charles H Osborn, Born 2 Aug 1871 - Died 13 June 1959

I have yet to find this family in the 1860 and 1870 census.


On June 25, 1877 when James was 21, he married 15 year old Jennie Barrett, who was born 5 June 1862 , daughter of Sarah Knox and Solomon Barrett. In the 1880 Census, James is listed as a farm laborer for Mr. Newton Cook, in Pawling, Dutchess County, NY. Jennie is listed as married and living next door with her sister Byronette Barrett.


Jennie Barrett Osborn

Jennie and James had 8 children, six of which lived to adulthood:

Edward Francis Osborn, Born 15 Sept 1880 - Died 23 April 1965

Mary Francis Osborn, Born Nov 1882 - Died 12 Dec 1942

George Washington Osborn, Born 27 Jan 1884 - Died 23 Feb 1960

James Franklin Osborn, Born Apr 1885 - Died 5 Jan 1970

Sarah Osborn, Born 27 Aug 1886 - Died 4 Oct 1952

Earl Osborn, Born 29 Jan 1888 - Died 17 Aug 1983

Jennie Bell Osborn, Born about 1890 - Died 5 Feb 1895

Albert Osborn, Born 19 Apr 1891 - Died 1891

Family legend says the family grew so fast, Jennie's sister Lucinda came to live with her to help with the children. As there is no 1890 census, this is hard to prove, however it does seem logical in hindsight. Jennie Barrett Osborn Died 3 Feb 1893 at the age of 30 in Pawling, Dutchess Co, NY.


Lucinda Barrett Osborn

On November  9, 1893, when James was 37 he married 21 year old Lucinda Barrett who was born 21 Oct 1872, daughter of Sarah Knox and Solomon Barrett.

She and James  had 8 children who all lived to adulthood:
Clayton John Osborn, Born 22 Dec 1893 - Died 21 Apr 1975

Elsie Jane Osborn, Born 27 Oct 1894 - Died 2 May 1984
Solomon Barrett Osborn, Born 9 Feb 1896 - Died 27 Jul 1982
Nancy Dean Osborn, Born 27 Apr 1897 - Died 16 Nov 1957
William Dean Osborn, Born 7 May 1898 - Died 15 Nov 1937
Chloe Ann Osborn, Born 24 Jun 1899 - Died 39 Nov 1995
Elizabeth Amelia Osborn, Born 27 Nov 1901 - Died 11 Jul 1966
Isabel Osborn, born 28 Jan 1903 - Died 19 July 1974.


In the 1900 Census, James and his family are living in Somers, Westchester County, New York. The oldest three children of Jennie and James have moved out, leaving 10 children in the house.

In 1909, Elsie Barrett Beach, sister of Jennie and Lucinda dies leaving a baby, Weston Beach only a month old. Weston (later nicknamed Pete) joins the Osborn family and was raised like a brother to the rest of the children. His father Frank would not let him be formally adopted, so his last name remained Beach.

By the 1910 census, all of Jennie's children have moved out of the home and the family has moved back to Pawling, Dutchess County, New York. In 1920, Only the girls and Weston are living with James and Lucinda, still renting in Pawling.

In Dec of 1923, the local paper says the family has moved into one of the two houses James has bought behind the Pawling Central Baptist Church. This puts the family right in the middle of the town.

James Paulding Osborn died of pneumonia on April 13 1926, at the age of 70. He left behind him his wife Lucinda, who lived until Oct 22, 1955 as well as all fourteen of his children, Weston Beach, and at least 30 Grandchildren.

I am still gathering information and pictures of James' descendants. I know I am missing a lot of folks, particularly from Jennie's family, but also some from Lucinda's. Today in 2010, I know of 296 descendants, not counting spouses from James in just 6 generations. That’s quite a legacy to leave behind.

Sources for the above include:
Birth, Marriage, and Death Certificates
Obituaries, Funeral Programs,Tombstones & Cemetery Records
1900, 1910,1920, 1nd 1930 Censuses
WW1 Selective Service Registration records
Social Security and Connecticut Death Indexes
Newspaper articles in Various papers
Records of Lucy Ryea Smith, Donald A Osborne, Elsie Osborn Douglas, Robert H Dykeman, and Louanne Brown Barrett

Edmund Knox & Hannah Henion, Part 2

A reader has asked for a little more info on my fourth great-grandfather's family. So I have included here some information on the ancestors of Edmund Knox and his wife Hannah Henion. Please feel free to add any info you know through the comment link below.

Edmund Knox, born 12 Sep 1808 in Westchester Co, NY; died 25 Nov 1881 in Southeast, Putnam Co, NY. He was the son of Abraham Knox and Sarah Reynolds. He married Hannah Henion 03 Oct 1832 in Putnam Co, NY.  In the 1850 Census Edmund is listed as a Shoemaker.

Hannah Henion, born 17 May 1813 in Kent, Putnam Co, NY; died 25 Jul 1848 in Putnam Co, NY. She was the daughter of John/Johannes Henion and Mercy Smalley.

Abraham Knox, born 13 Aug 1779 in North Salem, Westchester Co, NY; died 19 Jul 1847 in Putnam Co, NY. He was the son of John Knox and Mary Polly Raymond. He married Sarah Reynolds 23 Jan 1806 in Salem, Westchester Co, NY.

Sarah Reynolds, born 09 Aug 1789 in Salem, Washington Co, NY; died 23 Apr 1857 in Brewster, Putnam Co, NY. She was the daughter of Jonathan Reynolds and Mary Brown.

John/Johannes Henion, born Abt. 31 Mar 1776; died 02 Feb 1848 in Boyds Corners, Kent, Putnam Co, NY. He was the son of Johannes Henion and Annatje Levy. He married Mercy Smalley Feb 1803 in Rhinebeck, Dutchess Co, NY.

Mercy Smalley, born Abt. 30 Oct 1782 in Fredericksburgh, Dutchess Co, NY; died 15 Mar 1839 in Putnam Co, NY. She was the daughter of Zachariah Smalley and Mary

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.
     *John was in the Revolutionary War - there is a pension file for him.

Mary “Polly” Raymond, born 05 Nov 1757 in Westchester Co, NY; died 03 Mar 1850 in North 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.
    *Jonathan was in the Revolutionary War - there is a pension file for him.

Mary Brown, born 27 Apr 1758 in Greenwich Ct; died 26 Nov 1840 in Southeast, Putnam Co, NY. She was the daughter of Edmond Brown

Johannes Henion, born 17 Mar 1745 in Rhinebeck, Dutchess Co, NY. He was the son of Elias Henion and Maria Phillips. He married Annatje Levy 02 Nov 1767 in Dutchess Co, NY.

Zachariah Smalley, born 1760; died 1811


Sources for the above include:
1910, 1900, 1880, 1870, 1860, & 1850 United States Federal Census
Christ Church Records
Greenwich, CT Church Records
Westchester Co Archives, Cemetery Records
Town of Carmel, Putnam Co, Vital Records
Putnam Co, NY, Surrogate Court Records
Hasbrouck, Rhinebeck Reformed Dutch church records
National Archives Of America, , Revolutionary War Pension Records
DAR Library, Applications, Bible, Family, and Individuals Records
Thomas A Wright, The Descendants of Elisha Cole, who came from Cape Cod to what is now Putnam Co, NY, about 1745, compiled by Joseph O. Curtis
William S Pelletreau, History of Putnam Co, NY
Barbara Smith Buys, Old Gravestones of Putnam Co, NY
William Applbie Eardsley, MA, Dutchess Co Cemeteries Vol 5 1791-1895
Deuel, Richard and Cindy, Dutchess Co, NY Cemetery Inscriptions
Wheeler, Glendon, Indexed Carmel Newspapers, Putnam Co, NY Marriages and Deaths, 1849-1873
Records of Donald A Osborne, Robert H Dykeman, Ruth Townsend Purdy, & Louanne Brown Barrett