Lord and Lady

Called home but missed so much

2011-07-04T22:40:00.000-04:00

I have been at the computer for several weeks and just can not get my mind working-
Marilyn Jean Perkins-Lord, taken by her father in heaven 10.01 in a unfamiliar place while en route to fulfill a dream she had been holding dear to her for over 10 years.
a class 4 Registered Nurse, she had been looking into the availability of a supervisor position in the maternity
department . The on going unsuccessful sale of our home in Florida was holding up the fulfilment of this dream. Almost without notice everything began to come together-a buyer for the home with closing date of Feb 24th. a few days later a e-mail from Albany Medical Center with a notice she was hired to be in Albany on April 7th for interview and test, to start work on the 14th. What a break, were she was working at Health Park in Ft. Myers, Fl. they delivered about 4,000 babies, at Albany they delivered about 3,000 , she would be doing the same work she enjoyed and the work load would be a bit less. It seemed the packing of all of our "stuff" occupied all of our time , but at last everything we had, cloths, furniture, books and stuff was in a moving van and we started for New York. Sometimes Lynn would get these "feelings" that something was going to happen, my being 27 years older we thought it would be me. She got a cell phone for me and equipped my car with voice activated device that we could communicate since we each drove a car. There was no great hurry , she led the way, with the three cats in her car we had to stop every hour or two, and had to quit driving early each day. We had planned to meet our daughter Jenny in Delaware but we arrived several hours earlier, to save her from such a long trip we called to arranged to meet her nearer New York. After driving past Philadelphia we decided to stop at next motel, this was Trenton, N.J. by now Lynn had to use a rest room and get directions, stopping at a 7-11, she was turned down for a rest room, but did get directions, upon leaving she noticed a donut shop across the street , she suggested I feed the cats and she would cross the street and be right back. Almost immediately there was a horrible noise and she was struck down by a small black sports car. this was about 6.32 in the evening, I knelt down on the blood soaked pavement and tried to call out to her, she was not conscious and never was, she finally left this mortal life. 10.01
The bible tells us we will never have to bear a load more than we are capable of. In order for me to understand why her life had to end at this time when it appears she was so happy-the lord must know that she was carrying all she could handle, a daughter who had not spoken to her for 13 years, had written her only a week earlier to tell her what a horrible mother she was, a son who moved away and had not spoken for 7 years and only recently invited her to visit him and yelled and screamed so loud that she had to leave and stay in hotel before returning home, plus a sister who had not spoken to her since Xmas. when she was confronted for using Lynn's name to obtain credit, and a mother who had not spoken to her since Xmas. but she had accepted this, with the belief that coming home would fix everything .

All day long we were talking back and forth kidding and laughing about our fate, homeless, unemployed, only the cloths on our back, and three screaming cats--with a new day coming when all these problems would be taken care of and the family brought back together.
All Lynn ever wanted during the 30 years we were together was to have a close family, she missed the grandchildren-in part she made it up by doing for her patients and nurse companions at Health Park, in Fort Myers, Fl. Since the accident hundreds of cards have been arriving from the mothers she helped during their delivery. We seldom went to a store that someone did not come up to us and thank her for the little extra things she did to make there delivery a happy one.

I miss her so very much, on the morning of March 3, we loaded up the cats and Lynn came back to my car and put her arm around me and said "please stay awake, be careful we are almost home"
Luv you babe The nights are very long its been several months and I am still waking up shortly after midnight
wide awake and my mind racing over all the events, I just do not understand why.
we were so very close,we were both Mormons, and had been sealed together in the Orlando Temple, so we will be together someday.
Without our daughter Jennifer , you know her as "distressingdelilah" I do not know how I could have made it, she was at my side shortly after the accident and has been with me every day since then. Jenny is so much like her mother, she just knows what to say or do and always seems to call or knock on the door when I am feeling bad.
It is still very hard to understand why she was taken--

Sept 11 Another Historic day to remember

2010-07-08T14:30:00.000-04:00

We seldom have two National events 200 years apart on the same day. This Sept 11 1814, while extremely important to our nation has for the most part been tucked away in history.
The war of 1812 was not as spectacular as the Revolution and did not have the complete backing of everyone.
When the federal government issued a embargo on Canada, making it unlawful to trade with them, states like Vermont looked the other way-the British were buying for hard money naval store form Vermont and they were not interested in passing this up. According to my ancestor, Berlin Olyer, his grandfather's Grandfather Henry Scott had served in the Revolutionary war when he lived in Claverack, and moving to Isle la Motte, was one of those trading with the British. He had a son Harry who was born 1763 in Middle Hero, Vt. The two of them owned a boat on Lake Champlain that they used to transport goods to the British in Canada. This was stopped in spring of 1814 when they lost a mast and some Spars they were taking to Ile-aux-Noix, the English ship yard on the Sorel river. were the Frigate "Confiance was being built. Henry and his son Harry were upset due to the loss of there ship but they were more upset with the stories they picked up from the north end of the lake--The British had assembled a force of 11,000 English regulars who were going to march on Plattsburgh shortly. They had seen the British fleet being readied to take on the Americans. When they arrived home a better picture of what was going to happen became clear..General Sir George Prevost , who would command the English land force of 11,000 was pressuring Captain George Downie, who would be the naval officer and captain of the "Confiance" a 1200 ton fifth rate Frigate to get the ship finished. Prevost wanted to start his campaign early, before bad weather set in. Downie had problems, getting material to fit the ship and a crew to man her. His carpenters gave him a completion date of Sept 15, She was launched on Aug. 25. Provost would not wait he gave the order to start the march Aug. 31 he would use the west side of the lake, the Vermont people were still doing business with the Canadians and he did not want to upset that.
Meanwhile the American commander Major General George Izard, was ordered to take 4,000 regulars to Sacketts Harbor to defend the ship yards there. This left Brigadier Alexander Macomb in command at Plattsburgh with a force of 1500 American regulars[most of these were recruits, invalids, and detachments of odds and ends] Macomb ordered up the state militia and appealed to Governor of Vermont for militia. With the breath of the lion in there face feeling changed and over 2000 volunteers mustered including our relatives the father and son Scutt family. Most of the residence of Plattsburgh left the area knowing full well Macomb could not defeat the English with only 3500 troops. The saving face for the American was a Lieutenant Thomas MacDonough, commander of the American Navy on lake Champlain. desperate for supplies and men he was able to put together a navy only after sending his second in command to Washington to plead for financing-April 1814, the "Saratoga" 734 tons 26 gun, Corvette/Frigate was launched, a partially built schooner "Ticonderoga" 350 tons of 14 guns was converted, just a few days before Prevost arrived the 20 gun "Eagle" was finished, this with the existing sloop "Preble" of 80 tons with 7 guns gave the Americans a edge. Macomb set up a field hospital on Crab Island, consisting of several tents, he was unable to get straw for flooring until a day after the battle. He also placed two cannon on the island and the invalid or slightly wounded could man these [they did capture one British ship during the fight] MacDonough, was a brilliant officer, picked the place for the upcoming battle, his ships were anchored in a line from North to south, the crew was trained in the use of spring anchors, which he placed on both the bow and stern which they would use in battle to turn the ships, his flagship "Saratoga was fitted with extra Kedge anchors which would help to spin the ship. All of there cannon were lined to fire broadside , the ship had to be turned to correct firing position The British had to tow the "HMS Confiance" down the river against the tide and wind but eventually they got under way, at about 9 am he rounded the land fall into Plattsburgh bay Downing fired the signal shots for Prevost that he might attack. Downing had no choice but to anchor his fleet in line about 350 to 500 yards from the Americans, his ship was not completely finished and he had no time to train his crew, while doing this the American ships began to fire-the battle was on
The American were fireing broadside after broadside from the "Saratoga" this was 4 24 pounders, 3 42 pound and 6 32 pounders, they were tearing apart the "Confiance" when Downie did finally fire they killed or wounded about 40 men on the "Saratoga" after about a hour, the USS Eagle had the springs from one anchor shot away and was unable to avoid the raking fire from HMS "Linnet" so they cut the remaining anchor and moved to end of line. Both flag ships were badly beaten on the Saratoga the starboard side was nearly out of action the guns were dismantled. On the "Confiance" thing were just as bad and her captain Downie had been killed along with nearly all the officers. Macdonough ordered the bow anchor cut and hauled in the kedge anchors he had laid out before the battle this allowed the "Saratoga" to bring its port side battey into play. The "coinfiance" unable to make this maneuver struck her colors- a bit more correction of the kedge brought her in line on the HMS Linnet, there captain also aware of the damage his ship had and knew another broadside might sink her struck colors. The HMS Finch drifted aground on Crab Island and was captured by the invalids. The HMS Chubb badly damaged drifted to shore by American lines and was taken by the army. the small English gun boats drifted away and were later found deserted.. Prevost made no attempt on Plattsburgh until after the naval battle was nearly over, then he received a message Downie was killed and British lost, he gave the signal to the buglers to announce a withdraw and they went back to Canada.

Lieutenant Macdonough had won the day with 14 ships a crew of 882 men they took on the English of 16 warships and 937 men and won Had they lost our map of America would look much different. the peace treaty of Ghent was being negotiated and the English had the upper hand, this battle gave America all the rights to the great lakes and lake Champlain.
Prevost was relieved of his command, MacDonough was promoted to Commodore, Macomb promoted to Major General, Commander Downie was taken to Crab Island and buried there with both the British and American dead. some 921 men were taken to Crab Island from wounds or sickness and transferred to Burlington, Vt. On duty at Crab Island was one doctor James Mann and one assistant.

Four of the gold medals were struck by congress and presented to Capt Thomas Macdonough, Capt Robert Hensley, Lieutenant Stephen Cassin and Alexander Macomb.
History takes on such a greater significance when we realize that one of our own was there, not just another page in history but an event in our own ancestors lives.

Judge Hugh White pioneer Oneida county

2010-06-27T14:34:00.000-04:00

Some of our ancestors were pretty strong-
The clouds of the American Revolution where just fading away when Hugh White a native of Middletown, Conn. and his neighbors Zepheniah Platt, Ezra L'Hommedieu and Melanethon Smith became joint proprietors of the Sadaquada Patent. A tract of land on the western frontier about were Utica, New York now stands. Life was comfortable their in Middletown but the drive to own land and build wealth was making the frontier a dream. They agreed to meet on the tract of land in the summer of 1784. to survey it and partition it among them.
Hugh White deciding to make this land his new home, gathered his four grown sons, his daughter and daughter-in laws and set out for Albany, from there they crossed to Schenectady were they procured a batteau and ascended the Mohawk river, west to the mouth of the Sauquoit creek arriving late in June. Hugh White selected a spot along the Indian path from Fort Schuyler to Fort Stanwix, were they built a small log cabin to live in during the coming winter. four years later he erected a fine home which he enjoyed until his death. In January of 1785 he went to Middleton and brought his wife back to be with the family.. some years later he would become a judge and preformed that duty for Oneida county. The first two years of residence in the log cabin was really existing- the nearest mill was situated at Palatine, a distance of about 40 miles, the pathway was just that a foot trail not wide enough to accommodate a wagon, Meat being rather scarce, they salted down several barrels of passenger pigeon breast, the birds being very plentiful then.
While living in this remote cabin his daughter was put to a test-I wonder how many girls could endure it today.
during the American Revolution which had just ended four years before Hugh built the cabin, the Oneida Indian were split in there allegiance - some of the tribe sided with the English burning and destroying the Mohawk valley, one of these was a chief named Han Yerry, who now resided a few miles down the path with his family. One day Chief Yerry appeared at the cabin with his wife and a mulatto women who belonged to him-the conversation stated with the chief asking "are you my friend" Yes replied White "Well then, said the Indian, do you believe I am your friend" yes answered white, I believe you are" Well said Han Yerry if you are my friend and you believe I am your friend, I will tell you what I want, and then I shall know whether you speak true words" "and what is it you want" replied Mr White. The old Indian chief pointed to the little grandchild, the daughter one of his sons, about three years old, and said "My squaw wants to take this papoose home with us to stay one night, and bring her home tomorrow, if you are my friend you will now show me".
The room went quiet, Hugh White was being called on to make a difficult decision, the mother stared in silence with the horror and alarm of though of in trusting her darling baby to the rude tenants of the forest. on one hand the necessity of unlimited confidence in the savage and the in trusting the welfare of his beloved grandchild. The chief was a man influence and consequence in his nation, but he had been a known enemy of his country man in the recent war. Judge White told him to take the child.-the mother responded mechanically relinquishing her hold into the hands of the old mans wife. That night was long and silent, as the sun came up the mother began the vigil, from a elevated place on the property she began to watch the trail. as she went about the chores of the day she found herself returning often to this place to stare down the path, but no Indian came into sight. Noon arrived but no sign of anyone on the trail, it became herder to restrain her for by now she feared the worst. Hugh White explained the indignity the Indian would have to endure if she went after him. The after noon was longer than the morning , just as the sun began to settle in the tree tops the shadowy figure of the old Indian with the tiny baby on the shoulders of his squaw. dressed in new complete Indian attire more Oneida Indian than white. This established a firm friendship between the Oneida Indians and judge white. the tiny grandchild was Mrs Eells of Missouri the widow of Nathan Eells of Whitesboro, N. Y.
This is a true story, but it must have been hard turning her 3 year old daughter over to a man who 4 years earlier had been killing there friends and burning there homes-but life was pretty hard when your nearest town was 40 foot miles away

Lest we forget the real heros-Paulding, Williams, Van Wart

2010-06-20T09:31:00.000-04:00

How many of us remember three teen age farmers from Terrytown, John Paulding, David Williams, Isaac Van Wart. I do not recall learning about them in school. Then there is a guy named John Andre, you may remember him, there are about 200 hits on the Internet. Without a doubt every person in America knows the name Benedict Arnold-not for his exploits and bravery in the early years of the American Revolution , no we remember him because he was a traitor. Of These five men are linked together in history is John Paulding a self-sufficient individual

farmer was born in New York
City about 1758, a farmer in Terrytown area,
over 6 ft tall, married three times, father of nineteen children. He died in 1818 at Staatsburgh, Dutchess Co., New York. When the American Revolution broke out he joined the Militia, He was captured three times by the British and was able to escape each time.
Isaac Van Wart born 25 Oct 1762 died 23 May 1828 was also a farmer and militiaman from Duchess co.Born in the farm country of Greensburgh, N.Y. near Elmsford, he married Rachel Storm,
David Williams also a militiaman, born about 1756 of Dutch ancestry.

These three young volunteers were on overnight patrol 22-23 September 1780, there had been a increase in activity of the loyalist driving cattle at night to New York City to aid the British troops posted there. While setting behind some brush taking a break they noticed a young man was fast approaching on a chestnut horse, the three men seized the traveler who they discovered was a British Officer Major John Andre, dressed not in British officers uniform , but in civilian cloths, after searching him and finding a map and classified material hid in his boots, they informed him he was under arrest and they return him to there headquarters. En route he offered these three very poor farm boys 1000 Guineas in cash [about $5,000] for his release. John Paulding having just 3 days earlier escaped from his British captors, declined the bribe and delivered Major Andre to his commander Lt.
Col Jameson.. What a mess, Jameson did not know what to do so he sent a message to his commander at West Point, Benedict Arnold, Bad timing the day Arnold was to hand over west point to the British and it is all falling apart, Arnold was to have dinner that night with George Washington. Another member of Lt Col Jameson staff sent message to Washington about Andre , which Washington received before arriving at West Point. Benedict Arnold wasted no time as soon as he received the note about Andre being captured he left his wife Peggy Shippen and daughter at West Point and he fled to New York City.---

Benedict Arnold was a very successful, well to do merchant. At the outbreak of the
Revolution he volunteered, made a Colonel he raised a regiment and captured Fort Ticonderoga 10 May 1775. After this he joined General George Washington's
Continental Army. Given command of the attack on Quebec, failed but Arnold
and his men managed to sustain the blockade. Arnold was wounded in the knee
during this time. he was promoted to Brigadier General 10 Jan 1776. When he
heard that General Burgoyne was invading New York state, he marched his
forces first to relieve the siege of Fort Stanwick then back to Saratoga, were he made two heroic attacks against the British. which were instrumental in Burgoyne's surrender. He was again wounded in the same leg. Some say his exploits at Saratoga made Gen Gates feel upstaged, Arnold was removed from his command by Gen Gates. This did not set well with Arnold, Gen Washington a true friend of Arnold's placed him in Philadelphia as military Commander in 1778. here he met Peggy Shippen , a loyalist

Had his first wife Margaret Mansfield not died in 1775, and still been with him, history might have played out much differently. Peggy was a very popular girl in Philadelphia, well acquainted with the handsome artistic John Andre. who was taken prisoner at the battle of St Johns 2 Nov 1775 and was living in Philadelphia, prisoner of the American Army and top intelligent officer for British Commander Clinton. very popular in Philadelphia and a very close friend of Peggy Shippen. When he left the City he gave Peggy a lock of his hair in a golden locket. Later at the age of 18, she would meet and marry on April 8 1779 Benedict Arnold, age 38 they moved to new home in Mount Pleasant, on the Schuylkill River. she appears to have stayed with him until his death in 1801 in London. it was her friendship with Major John Andre that Arnold was brought into the plot-Andre a professional intelligent agent who's job it was to extract information from anyone that could help the British cause, latched onto Arnold who was by now unhappy about his being snubbed after the battle of Saratoga, deep in debt, no doubt being reminded by his wife Peggy of his being cast aside, was a easy target. Arnold arranged to get the appointment to West Point, which his good friend Gen George Washington was quick to endorse.
Back to West Point, After the dinner date with Arnold's stranded wife Peggy, Washington met with his staff and gave the order to execute the captured Major John Andre by hanging as a spy. Andre pleaded with him to shoot him as a gentleman but Washington having not yet recovered from the treachery of Arnold made no effort to intervene and Major Andre having been found guilty 29 Sep 1780 at Tappan, New York of being behind American lines "under a feigned name and in a disguised habit" Andre when led to the gallows placed the rope around his own head and was hanged 2 October 1780 as a spy.

The three heroes, who brushed aside the opportunity for gold were recognized by Gen. Washington's request to the Continental Congress to award them each $200.00 annually for life, plus a silver medal struck in fine silver with "Fidelity" on one side and
"Vincit Amor Patriae" with there initials on the other. for there Fidelity
and service they gave our country. passed by congress 3 Nov 1780
and presented by General George Washington 7 Aug 1782, at which
time he also gave each a brace of silver mounted pistols. The County
also gave each man a farm in Westchester valued at about 500 pounds.,
They were allowed to stand in the inner circle when Major Andre was hung. When the state of Ohio was being formed a county was named for each man. While these men were alive they got a lot of publicity, there was also a few followers of Major Andre that tried to slander them-but time took care of that--today of the five, Benedict Arnold is the best known, Major Andre has nearly as many hits on the Internet as Arnold, and alas the three real hero's of this plot have nearly been forgotten.To add insult to injury two of the three medals John Paulding's and David Williams's [the were about of Isaac Van Wart is unknown]were donated to the New York Historical Association and while on display in a locked case in 1976 they disappeared, along with Major Andre's watch.

Today 230 years later the real heroes , willing to give up instant reward to protect our nation and prevent West Point from falling into the hands of the British are nearly forgotten while the spy and traitor are instantly recognized something wrong with this. This was the first time that a common soldier was recognized for doing anything, it was common to strike medals for officers and leaders but never before for a regular rank and file soldier.

my Fathers Grt Grandmother Gertrude ???? Mrs Martin Lord

2010-06-13T07:15:00.000-04:00

My father could not tell me who his grandfather was-- He knew they called him "Barny" and he married a sister of Aunt Hellen Johnson That either of these people had parents-beyond the need to know- so involved we will skip over Barny for now.
If he did not know anything about his grandfather suppose there was no need to think he would know who his grandfather's parents.
We lived most of our lives in Nelliston, New York maybe 12 miles from Johnstown, New York between the two villages is Fort Hunter were my dads father lived, he died in 1935 so I could not question him, there is a possibility he may have known his grandfather who lived in Johnstown but he must not have shared this with my dad.

After several years of research which is a story in itself we found out the man in question was Martin Rooney Lord, lived his adult life in Johnstown, owned a slaughter house on Williams street and a meat market on main Street., he had a son the grandfather of my dad and two daughters , Emma and Jane. one married a Moore and he had a saw and file business in Johnstown and built a big three story brick building on main street.
I can not imagine how they could live so close and my dad not know.
This brings us to our story-- I researched Martin Lord's family for over 60 years, I know when he moved from Gallaway to Johnstown, when he married about 1844 Gertrude, how hard it was when the first child Myndert died 31 July 1853. I even visited the cemetery there in Johnstown and copied all there stones [good thing I did on a recent visit the lot was completely bare of head stones??] Found out they were married in Methodist church which has been torn down --no one knows where the records are.
I am used to working hard to find just the basic clues, after 60 years or plus some knowledge of the hobby has to wear off and you should know how to proceed. I was sure I was doing things right but I just could not find out what Gertudes family name was.When her husband Martin died he was in Henrietta N. Y. his body was brought back to Johnstown and a full page told the story of his life, but nothing about Mrs Martin Lord.. She went to Canada and lived with one daughter, when the daughter died Gerturde went to Henrietta to live with the other daughter.
I became so desperate to find her maiden name I spent several weeks and copied every Gertrude baptized in every church record held at Fonda, History and Archives during the period of 1805 and 1845, figured that one of 67 Gertrudes had to be her [No I never found her baptism]

Little over a 2 years ago I made my last trip from Florida to Johnstown, visited the cemetery only to find they had removed all the stones on Martin Lord Lot, no one could tell me why, caretaker said he remembered some of them??? while on this trip last day I had about a hour to waste so my wife let me out at the Johnstown Library, been there a hundred times or more when I lived in Johnstown. This day I went to second floor they had just rearranged a card file and the custodian suggested that I look at it. The index referred to a Mrs Martin Lord so I pulled the card and there was the clue that I had missed for over 60 years. "attending funeral service from Johnstown, Mrs Martin Lord sister of the deceased Eliza Van Meter w/ of Horrace Wadsworth". I managed to get a little more time from my wife next day and it took less than a hour to locate her family and extend her line back several generations. And to think that clue was right there for years and I just never found it. So if you have a brick wall- go back over your path you may have over
looked the obvious.

Peterloo Massacre of 1819 my Ancestor John Rhodes

2010-05-20T17:59:00.000-04:00

Tw's a fine Sunday day on the 16th of August 1819, the Parliamentary reformers had been planning a rally at St Peters Field for several weeks, Samuel Bamford a native of Middleton had emerged as a natural leader. The event called for the best so Henry Hunt was engaged to be main speaker. B y mid morning it was apparent this would be a record turn out--every one had been instructed to bring no weapons -peace at any price-the common man had had it with the unfair method of electing Parliament, the suffrage ladies were pressing hard for reform, the high cost of the battle of Waterloo was only four years past, and as always the wealthy were getting richer and the poor getting further behind.
the 16,000 Sq foot St Peters Field was bulging with some 60,000 to 70,000 commoners mostly women very well dressed in their Sunday best.
Now St Peters Field has three main arteries and four very narrow lanes., with buildings and walls along it's outer edges.

William Hulton chairman of the magistrates is watching from the house on the edge of St Peters Field, saw the enthusiastic reception that Bamford and Hunt received on there arrival at the assembly, encouraged him to action he issued an arrest warrant for Henry Hunt,and all the rest of the leaders-Chief Constable Andrews asked for military assistance. two notes were handed to two horsemen who were standing by. The
Manchester and Salford Yeomanry were stationed just a short distance away in Portland Street they immediately drew there swords and galloped full tilt toward the Field , one trooper in a frantic attempt to catch up knocked down a lady causing the death of her child two year old William Fields first casualty of the day.
Sixty Cavalrymen of Manchester arrived, the route was narrow and the inexperienced horses were thrust further and further into the crowd they reared and plunged as people tried to get out of there way. As they neared the speakers stand they became stuck in the crowd and in panic started to hack about them with their sabers--the crowd had no weapons their only thought was to get away. The magistrates answer was to form the 15th Hussars into a line stretching across the eastern end of St Peters Field and charge with fixed bayonets into the crowd, at same moment the Cheshire Yeomanary charged from the southern edge. the crowd had some difficulty in dispersing the 88th regiment of foot, standing with fixed bayonets closed the south edge
At the cost of 11 dead and over 600 injured the crowd had melted away, leaving the park scattered with the dead and wounded.
A true count of the dead will never be known our ancestor John Rhodes a woolen merchant was their he received two saber wounds to the head but he lived three days and the office of the magistrate ordered his body examined and determined he died of natural causes.

In the end both Samuel Bamford and Henry Hunt were arrested and jailed for disturbing the peace ????
guess I missed something, The caricature shown appeared at the time the text reads" Down with 'em'! chop em down my brave boys; give them no quarter they want to take our beef & Pudding from us!--remember the more you kill the less poor rates you'll have to pay so go at it Lads show your courage & your loyality"

Ancestor Approved Award

2010-05-20T15:44:00.000-04:00

Thank you Terri Kallio at The Ties That Bind
your thoughtfulness is very much appreciated, for the past couple of years I know many people have read my attempt to tell the family history but only a couple have made comments.
As a recipient of this award, I am to list 10 things I have learned about my ancestors that have surprised, humbled or enlightened me and then pass the award on to 10 other genealogy bloggers who I feel are doing their ancestors proud.

Where do I begin? My genealogy adventure has been so full of surprises that have both enlightened and humbled me. My parents while interested in their ancestors could not help with any factual information, and one grandmother was trying to conceal her families past.

My greatest surprise happened only a few months ago-I was scanning a little Falls, N.Y.newspaper file when I found a court case about a 16yr old Olyer girl who was married and her parents had it annulled. I was a only child my mother was a driving force for me to unravel the family genealogy-I knew she married my dad in Albany when she was 20 yrs old The 16 yr old was her-- a well kept secret.
http://lordorlady.blogspot.com/2009/08/mary-elizabeth-lord-ready-to-ride-on.html

My grandmother Margaret Cummings Olyer would not tell me the truth about her fathers parents, she gave me conflicting information from 1942 until her death in 1965
http://lordorlady.blogspot.com/2008/07/unidentified-messenger-shatters-family.html

Once I knew what the family name was a call to Martin Town, Ontario Provincial Police led me to Alex King who turned out to be my grandmothers older brother-learn as I did why there was a secret--
http://lordorlady.blogspot.com/2008/07/anthoney-moses-genereau-alias-james.html

My grandmother wold tell of the ancestors who came from France and fought the Indians, what a feeling it was to see this in print.
http://lordorlady.blogspot.com/2009/06/francois-dessureau-soldier-carignan.html

Grampa Olyer was a family story teller and as a pre teen the war stories were always exciting but the truth that I uncovered was much more moving--
http://lordorlady.blogspot.com/2008/06/richard-olyer-company-2-nd-pioneer-ww1.html

Having parents and grandparents who were interested in history and genealogy it was indeed a proud moment for me when my son was recognized by our community for his interest--
http://lordorlady.blogspot.com/2009/01/no-one-could-be-more-pround.html

During my high school years had a great friend in Darwin Lasher, my parents and his were also friends and we were often told we were related but no one knew just how-unfortunatly Darwin has passed away and I did not sort it all out until just recently--
http://lordorlady.blogspot.com/2008/04/school-friends-genealogy-proves.html

I had read about the orphan trains but not until if saw the documents about the 4 small children and learned of my aunts having to turn them over to the sponsors of the orphan trains did it really sink in how emotional this must have been--
http://lordorlady.blogspot.com/2008/07/orphan-trains-to-kansas-mabel-olyer.html

bought a old rusty gun turns out to be family heirlom after years of research and some lucky finds--
http://lordorlady.blogspot.com/2008/04/genealogy-of-family-heirloom-flintlock.html

One of my grandfather Olyer stories was about his mothers grandfather-- was his life cut short in a early spring late winter marriage--this is a enlightening story what do you think--
http://lordorlady.blogspot.com/2008/04/did-george-scutt-die-from-poisoned.html

The following Bloggers are doing a great job most of them are far better Bloggers than me so it is a honor for me to pass this award on to them.

http://genwishlist.blogspot.com/   Gen wish list   Tina Lyons

http://destinationaustinfamily.blogspot.com/ Destination Austin Family Thomas MacEntee

http://oldstonesundeciphered.blogspot.com/ Old Stons Undeciphered Lisa Wallen Logsdon

http://benotforgot.blogspot.com/ Benotforgot Vickie Everhart

http://westinnewengland.blogspot.com/   west in new England Bill West

http://wwar1.blogspot.com/   WW! Experiences of an English Soldier William Henry Bonser Lamin

http://sherifenley.blogspot.com/     the educated genealogist   Sheri Fenley

http://ancestories1.blogspot.com/ Miriam Robbins Midkiff

http://ataleoftwoancestors.blogspot.com/   a tale of two ancestors Amanda Acquard

http://rootsdigging.blogspot.com/   roots digging

http://Ancestories1.blogspot.com

Lasher Family of Stone Arabia

2010-05-08T20:31:00.000-04:00

Our Lasher Ancestry begins with the Palatine immigration of 1710 when Sebastion Loescher at the age of 40 years left his homeland in Hochspeyer, Rheinland Pfalz, Germany and embarked on a journey that would take him and his family across thousands of miles of ocean, hundreds of miles of Rivers, forest and mountains to untold joys and hardships in unfamiliar and rugged land, with a language barrier , to forge out a new life in a new untamed world.
The ship "Medford" one of a fleet of 10 to arrive in June 1710, the next three years was a struggle to keep alive, broken promises and dashed dreams found the Lashers on the "Palatine Debtor" list 1718-179 and the Livingston Manor Debt list 1721 - 1726- 26 Aug 1734 Sebastioin and his family was among the few who stayed on the Livingston Manor, were they settled and began to work the land. Three of the sons stayed on the Manor where they built fine stone homes, being thrifty they held joining property and built on the corners that one well could be used by all the families.

Our ancestor John Conrad Loscher built the stone house known as the "Stone Jug" although it has changed hands many times it still stands today. John married at Wattenheim Rhineland-Pfalz, Germany, Angeline Weingar born in Switzerland 14 Sep 1699.
John Conrad's oldest sons Johannes born 17 Aug 1726 and his brother Gerhart born 29 Dec 1732, started out working with their father on the Livingston Manor, when the call to arms was issued by Gen William Johnson in 1755 for the campaign against the French, they volunteered and traveled to Albany for the encampment of men being assembled for the Gov. Shirley and Gen Johnson campaign. They met Andrew Dillenbach from the Palatine area , both Lashers visited the Stone Arabia area and had purchased land near the Dillenbecks, and became friendly with his two sisters on 1 Feb 1763 Gerhart married Catherine Dillenbeck, and by 27 Sep 1763 Johannes married her sister Anna Dillenback These families were very close , the danger of attack by the French and Indian was always a threat 24 May 1763 their company under Soverines Deygert was called up by Sir William Johnson to serve at German Flats
The Lasher brothers and Andreas seemed to be very active in the local militia and when the winds of the revolution began they served in Col Klocks regiment. in fact the three of them were at Oriskany.
In the morning on the march, Andrew was joking with the Lashers and mentioned he would not be taken by any of his tory neighbors this is a quote An eye witness recalls the event "...three of Johnson's Greens attempted to capture Capt. Andrew Dillenbeck. He had said just before, to his friends [possibly Gerhardt, Andrew's father was among them], that he would not be made a prisoner by his old neighbors, and he was not. One of them seized his gun, but he wrenched it from his grasp, clubbed him, and felled him to the ground. The gun was still loaded, and with it he shot the second and thrust the third through with the bayonet; but in the moment of victory, another of the enemy shot him down and he immediately expired... he was a strong and powerful man - rendered such by hardships from childhood. as the reader may well suppose, such men could not be conquered." - Jeptha R. Simms.
The next child that Gerhardt Loescher had was named Andreas. Our ancestor was Gerhardt son Henry Loescher born 11 Aug 1765 , he married Elizabeth Bauder 1789 her father Michael Melchior Bauder was also killed at battle of Oriskany. their son George Lasher married Magdalena Klock, was a farmer living in Stone Arabia, when he sold his farm he moved to Nelliston, N. Y.
were he built a small store in front of his home and made shoes. Georges son was John "Jack" Lasher, Born there in Nelliston, N. Y. member of the 115 N.Y. Vol. Inf. in Civil War taken prisoner in Florida and held at Andersonville. In the 1870's he went west to look for gold, returning to Nelliston he built a brick home for his family, operated his fathers store as a meat market, and built a two story apartment house on Main Street in Nelliston.

His daughter was my Grandmother Anna Lasher Lord
She looks very stern but I remember her as being everything but firm-I of course could do no wrong being the only grandchild for many years, she would tell me about the family and share there triumphs and tragedies. She was always quick to remind me of my Lasher and Klock ancestors and the sacrifices they made, especially when I did not want to eat some horrible vegetable, would hear about the starving Armenians or shortage of food during the war years. Never could figure out how my eating helped them. I still do not eat rudabakers, broccoli, or turnips

Captain William Scott 13th Baron Balweirie

2010-04-18T11:49:00.000-04:00

Our Ancestor Capt. William Scott 13th Baron of Balwearie was the eldest son and heir of Sir James Scott. Scion of an ancient military aristocracy, elected to follow his uncle, Captain Robert Scott, serving in the military, with a Scottish regiment , in Holland, assisting that country in its war with the Spanish. On 23 Oct 1616, William Scott surviving heir of conquest to Andrew Scott, his brother, Dutch records indicate Capt William Scott was killed in action 19 Sep 1622 at the seige of Bergen op Zoom.

During the early modern period, Bergen op Zoom was a very strong fortress and one of the main armories and arsenals of the United Provinces. It had a remarkable natural defensive site, surrounded as it was by marshes and easily-floodable polders. Furthermore, it could receive reinforcements and supplies by sea, if the besieging army did not have a fleet to blockade its port.
Due to these features, the city was one of the strategic points held by the revolting Dutch in the Eighty Years War. It was at that time besieged by Alessandro Farnese first in 1587, and by Don Ambrogio Spinola Doria, 1st Marquis of the Balbases (1569 – September 25, 1630) was an Italian aristocrat, who, as a Spanish general, won a number of important battles. He is often called "Ambrosio", especially in Spanish-speaking countries.
On the outbreak of the Thirty Years' War he made a vigorous campaign in the lower Palatinate which included ,The Siege of Bergen-op-Zoom On 18 July 1622, The Spanish had to lift the siege on 2 October, as a result of recent defensive constructions and intervention by the Dutch Stadtholder Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange. Maurice of Nassau and his army relieved the city on the next day. The siege cost Spinola 5000 troops.
The Dutch had become a powerful naval country, There denomination linked closely to the official states, and adopted as state religion, was the Lower German Dutch Reformed Church, the later Reformed Church of the Netherlands. The public exercise of Catholicism was strictly forbidden. Catholics were viewed by the government with suspicion and supervised;
This time period is known in the Netherlands as the Golden Age. The Dutch dominated world trade in the 17th century, conquering a vast colonial empire and operating the largest fleet of merchantmen of all western nations. The County of Holland was the wealthiest and most urbanized region of Europe. without a army but with the wealth of commerce they hired mercinaries from all over Europe including the Scotish Regiment of my Ancestor. The competitor was Spain another wealthy nation, with a great naval force, upholding the Catholic religion-This opposite polarity between the two powerful nations would end up battle.

Captian William Scott left a wife Elizabeth Graham, and four small children, living on the Isle of Wieringen, Netherlands, among the Scotish military that her husband had served with. The youngerst son Jan Willemse Schutt was born 1621, less than a year old when his father was killed. Young William was a soldier under Kirk Patrick, he married Marijchie Jans in Noord, Netherlands and bore among other children a son William, born at Ehrungen, Husse-Cassel, Germany (Just across the Netherlands border) By the age of 16 he joined a group resettling in New Netherlands, Arriving in America on ship "Eagle" 19 Mar 1663 out of Netherlands. . Son of William of the Netherlands, settled in the Kingston area amoung others from their homeland.
William married Margaret Grietje Jacobs probably in New Utrecht, Long Island, N. Y. , after this we find him in Albany, Marbletown, settling in Shawangunk (Wallkill) where his will writtten in Dutch, was drawn 6 May 1706, Proved 4 Jun 1722 were in he mentions his wife Grietje, who survived him, also mentions his surviving children, all 12 of them.
Our ancestor Patrick Scutt born 1665 New Utrecht, Long Island, N. Y. used the Dutch spelling Scutt and apparently the next six generations continued with this spelling. The name Scutt died out in our family with the marriage of Charlotte Scutt (Who had 27 generations of Scotts back to 1100ad) she married John Vernon Olyer my grt grandfather. The 27 generations of this Scott family are discussed in my latest book "Ancestors of Charlotte Scott" which you can examine by going to my store

FORT PLAIN 3 story block house

2010-04-03T17:37:00.007-04:00

As a child was awed by this fort, when I went to the movies there was a large painting on the wall next to the screen and I used to study this and wish I might some day see it. Later in life I lived on upper Canal Street only a short distance from the site were it once stood.
The year 1960 was one of indecision for your author, a three year position as Curator and Gen Manager of Fort William Henry was coming to a close and something new and challenging had to be found. a 500 acre recreation area and amusement park was going to be sold in our area Pine Lake, owned for many years by Joseph Groshans who had died without a will and would be auctioned off. That sounded good we owned a store just three miles from the park so my parents and my family hired a lawyer to watch it and buy it if the price was right. My wife and I had been interested in a piece of land near Saratoga were Burgoyne had surrendered-that seemed like a possibility. For many years the whole family had been associated with Fort Klock and new that the old fort in Fort Plain was just up on top of the hill behind our house on Canal Street in Fort Plain.
By the end of September,Fort William Henry, was closing, Sir John Johnson and Lady Johnson who had been staying with us was now gone and on his way to England, we finally had time on our hands so we contacted Allan Samuels attorney in Fort Plain and with him formed the Fort Plain Restoration Inc. arranged for a lease with purchase on the old Lipe farm just beyond our house on Canal Street which included that great stone house and the hill behind it.The site of the old blockhouse
What a great fall we would try and get Fort Plain started, the veteran parade was coming up, wife , children and I dressed in colonial cloths and carried big banner "lets put the Fort in Fort Plain" No one realized how placid and peaceful those couple of months were, nothing to do on the fort property until spring---a call from our lawyer was about to complicate things- the auction was on for the Pine Lake property and in a couple of weeks we would be the new owners-Not much could be done until the snow melted in May and then everything had to be done before decoration day and we had not even been in the buildings. but tugging at us was Fort Plain a life long dream to find and reconstruct that famous block house.
Stanly Gifford had been the archaeologist at Fort William Henry and we had developed a close friendship. A call to Stan and I had a right hand which was fortunate as I had no training in this field. Stan came to stay with us and we contacted a old school mate Adilaid Lenneker, her husband was a skilled heavy machine operator and could barrow a earth mover. Our plans were to get on the property on the hill above Lipes house and locate the site of the three story blockhouse that had become the symbol of Fort Plain just as soon as the snow was gone enough to work. This was late March and early April 1961. we estimated the surface had been plowed for nearly 200 years , to a depth of about a foot so the top soil while it might have colonial items they would have been moved in every direction so carefully taking 6 inches on each pass and depositing it in one place would not do to much damage. as the earth mover, moved along Stan and myself followed with a bundle of colored flags to mark any anomaly in the undisturbed soil. The moisture content would be different were the soil had been disturbed so we could see this for about 4 hours, after this we would stop and commence work the following day. time was very important, I only had couple of weeks and would have to leave to open Pine Lake. We were not having very good luck, there was a large deposit of cut stone laid up in circular pattern that suggested a possible well and some lime stone foundations. On the second pass very close to the edge of the hill directly above the stone house we found the first indication of disturbance about 2 foot by 5 foot three of them very close together. now Stanly was a very accomplished archaeologist and had been associated with the museum of American Indians, so he knew at once what we had, He elected to work on this site and let me follow the earth mover and flag the fire pits and other spots were I could do the least damage.
We had started about 6.00 a.m and it was crowding noon when we had to quit the earth moving thing. I had a newspaper bag full of items turned up by the earth mover brass pot, knife blade, pipe stems, etc. but Stanly was in a hole about 2 ft deep with a partially exposed skeleton. The male Indian was in a very unusual position for the period laying on his back with hands at his side, on the right side was the remains of a flint lock musket, the wood was gone but the metal parts were easily identified, on the left side in small pile which probably had been a bag of some sort was 4 flint lock plates complete with frizzen and spring and hammer with flint. lower on this same side at about the knees were three pair of ice skates these had the front and back of the blades turned like a coil with the end of the turn hammered into a ball. across the breast was a beautiful beaded vest unfortunately over the years someone while building a fence drove a fence post just a little to the left of center on the vest and destroyed so much the pattern was hard to determine. The beads were very early trade purple, red and white. the pattern included some sort of bone or porcupine quills about two inches long forming a boarder of beads and spacers around the edge both sides and along the bottom. near the waist area was two knife blades and a iron small axe or hatchet. In the area of the right hand was a brass frog about the size of a golf ball and in the pile of flint lock plates was a brass frog large perhaps the size of a tennis ball. There were several 4 and 6 inch brass kettles. Stan inventoried everything and we did keep a few beads and one of the frogs for the museum. I understand someone broke in the museum and stole it. The rest of the material we left just as it was, we did not open the other two graves. This must have been a very important individual to have so much dutch trade items.

to quot J.R.Simms Fort Plain Block-House.--This was erected in the fall of 1780 and spring of 1781, and was constructed of pine timber 8X14 inches square, dovetailed at the ends, and Thomas Morrel, of Schenectada, father of the late Judge Abram Morrel, of Johnstown, superintended its erection. It was octagonal in form, three stories in height, the second projecting five feet over the first, and the third five feet over the second, with port holes for cannon on the first floor, and for musketry on all its surfaces; with holes in the projecting floor for small arms, so as to fire down upon a closely approaching foe. The first story is said to have been 30 feet in diameter, the second 40 and the third 50, making it look top heavy for a gale of wind. It mounted several cannon for signal guns and defense--one of which was a twelve pounder--on the first floor; where was also an immense oven. . . . It stood upon a gentle elevation of several feet--which at the of an hundred years, the plow and the cultivator have nearly obliterated--and about 20 rods from the palisaded inclosure, which was constructed mainly by the farmers. The block-house was not palisaded, but a ditch or dry moat several feet deep and ten feet wide, extended around it, requiring a draw bridge to gain its entrance.

Two days later we found what we thought was the base of the fort about 30 square foot of disturbance, subsequent archaeology digs proved that this was the base of the block house and it was square, a fact that had been argued for years, some historians claimed it was round, octagon and square.
From the fire pits and post holes found during the earth removal program there apparently was a village on this hill over which the block house and redoubt was built.
only a couple of fire pits were examined and they indicted they were most likely from Indian occupation, the bones found were all broken, there were no cut bones in the fire pits. Since we did not uncover all the area in line with these fire pits Stanly suggested the long house might have been as long as 40 foot or more.

Unfortunately Stanly and I worked only a couple of weeks but it was rainy and cold, Stan developed a real bad cold and did not take care of his self, for many years he had a drinking problem and was very run down, he died a few weeks later. By this time I became involved with opening the Pine Lake park and all the notes that Stan and I had made were with Stan for a paper he was going to write, I have no idea of were they are , thought this might be a record as I recall it, of the finding of Fort Plain block house and the apparent Indian Chief or some one with wealth enough to afford such highly prized trade items. three pair of ice skates and all the flint lock plates It was strange that there were frogs as the known clans in the area were turtle, bear.

As we go through life some decisions are forced upon us other we make without sound advice, 50 years later perhaps my youthful dreams might have worked out better.

Daniel Claus Manuscript Death King Hendrick

2009-12-30T06:56:00.011-05:00

Born 13 Sep 1727 at Bennigham, a town near the Imperial Free City Heilbron the property of Count Wadian of Menz. The son of Adam Frederick a clergy man from Wirtemberg and follower of Luther The persecution and constant wars with the Turks uprooted the family and Claus came to Philadelphia autumn 1749, accidentally meet Col Weiser, Indian agent for Province of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia to the 6 Nations who was going that spring to meet with the 6 nations at Onondaga. Mr Weiser offered to take Claus, readily accepting the two men set out and by May 1750 after visiting several villages arrived at Fort Hunter, were Claus saw 1st real large settlement of Mohawks 250 to 300 warriors, from their they went to large stone house of Colonel William Johnson, from their to Stone Arabia to visits Weiser's relatives and on to Onondaga only to find its inhabitants in mourning. The french priest had visited them a few days earlier and met with the head Sachem Canaghsadigo, after many meetings, presents, and fine speeches their chief remained unmoved with his alliance to Col Johnson and the British. Before leaving with great disappointment the French poisoned the Sachem. Before Weiser could take up his reason for being there they had to participate in the solom rituals. This delay used up there stores , they were now obliged to depend upon an Indian diet of Corn, Squash, Entrils of deer etc. no hardship for Mr Weiser who had lived among them before, but Mr Clau who never saw such eatables used by mankind was pretty well pinched with hunger before he could partake. His three week stay allowed him to pick up a vocabulary of Indian words and the realization he had to become more acquainted with the Indian words and life style. Upon returning to Philadelphia Mr Claus was introduced to the Gov. James Hamilton, taking a like to Mr Claus he had him frequently to his home for dinner, by spring of 1751 prevailed upon Mr Claus to visit the Mohawks at Fort Hunter. He accepted and while there met Col William Johnson who invited him to stay at his home were there was always Indians from whom he could study the customs and language. This created a problem between Johnson and Gov of Pennsylvania so Johnson arranged that Mr Claus could live at King Henry's home, an ideal arrangement King Henry had seen many seasons and enjoyed teaching the young man about the Mohawks, their traditions, Ancestors, Wars, their enemies, he dictated speeches, messages and other forms and customs used by Indians, at councils, and ceremonies.
In spring 1755 war broke out with France. Col William Johnson was ordered to assembly troops and march on Crown Point from Albany, to Fort Lyman [now Ft Edward] then to lake Sacrament and crown point. It was fall before Col Johnson moved out of Albany, with the state militia and King Hendricks Indians. On 4 Sept the small force of about 1200 soldiers and 400 Indians under King Henry arrived at south end of Lake le Sacrament. Everyone was put to work clearing trees and brush from their south and east shore, setting up camp on a high place with a swamp on both sides. They had with them one iron Mortar and two field pieces along with Colonel Eyre 44th rgt foot one of the best engineers and artillery officer that Gen Braddock had.
Among the colonial officers with Gen. Johnson was Col Williams , Gen. Lyman, Cap Eyre 44th Rgt,
On Sunday morning 7th Sept a Mohawk scout "Thick Lawrence" entered the camp and informed Gen Johnson the French were at south bay headed for Fort Lyman marching in 3 columns wide estimates from impression in ground to be 600 and 700.
The battle of Lake George has been written about hundreds of times but this little known event might be interesting. 8 Sept 1755
King Hendrick commanding the Indians, mounted on horseback was leading line of march with Col Ephram Williams following with the British forces on the road to Fort Lyman, when suddenly in the Iroquois tongue a voice called out "who are you" King Henry replied "We are the 6 confederate Indian nation, the heads & Superiors of all Indian nations of the continent of America" whereupon the French Indian answered"we are the 7 confederate Indian nation of Canada & we come in conjunction with our Father the King of France's Troops to fight his Enemies the English without the least intention to quarrel or trespass against any Indian nation. We therefore desire you will keep out of the way lest we transgress & involve ourselves in a war among ourselves.
whereupon King Henry answered "we the 6 Nations, came to assist their brother in the English against the French who are encroaching upon the territories of the English as well as Indians on the Ohio, and it was your place rather to join us, or at least follow our advise & keep out of harms way.One of Henry's young warriors fired upon the french Indian that spoke from the bushes, the ambush was sprung. Henry being on horseback lit off his horse & being heavy old man as Grey headed as Silver was soon left in the rear, attempting to gain the camp on the left where he thought would meet no enemy. unluckily, not far from camp fell in with the french Indians baggage guard of Young lads and women, having no firearms stabbed king Henry in back with spear. some say by a woman as the lads were to young. The manner of the scalp being taken is probably a woman as the scalp was no larger than a English Crown [abt size of silver dollar]
This scalp would not have hung in the tepee of a Iroquois warrior as King Hendrick was revered by all.
This is but one incident that Daniel Claus was witness to, King Henry was like a father to Mr Claus he was also the head of the Mohawk tribe that controlled the Iroquois Confederacy, a very close friend of the British, living among the Dutch settlers in the upper Mohawk valley.

Charlotte Scutt 27 generations of Scotts

2009-11-29T09:01:00.007-05:00

My Gr Grandmother Charlotte Ellinor Scutt, born 16 Feb 1852 near Plattsburgh, New York Charlotte, as a child was born in Saranac Lake area, she lived there with her parents George Scutt and Elizabeth Rhodes. In 1876 she met and married John Vernon Olyer, He worked in the woods, at Spring Cove, N. Y. she kept house and had 10 children, only 8 survived. in 1901 the family moved to 16 High Street, Little Falls, N. Y. Over the past 50 or more years I have worked on her family, its been one of the most rewarding lines I have ever spent time on her scutt (scott) line is unbroken for 27 generations to Uchtred Filius Scott, 1100 Fife, Scotland.
Her grandfather George Scutt lived at Isle La Mott,Vt. married at age of 16 to Mehitable Reynolds age 44, George died age 26 mysteriously (family tradition he was poisoned) his grand father Henry Scutt family came to Vermont from Rhinebeck, N. Y. were the Scutts had lived for several generations . The original immigrant Jan Willems Scutt arrived with his son Willem, in New Amsterdam aboard the "Eagle" 19 May 1663. Jan was born in 1621 at Isle of Wieringen, Noord, Netherlands. His father was William Scott 13th Baron of Balwearie, he was a officer with the Scottish army in Holland and was killed 19 Sep 1622 at the Siege of Bergen, leaving his wife with the one year old son. William the 13th Baron was the son of James Scott 12th Baron Balwearie, one of the wealthiest and best royalty connected man in Scotland at the time. He made some serious mistakes sided with the wrong factions against the crown which cost him much of his holdings, his arrogance was known by all tis said he was standing at the tower gate and his help was throwing spoiled oats into the moat, a beggar ask him if he could fill his bag with some oats and he laughed and said no-the beggar remarked "you will beg for food before you die" a curs or not
in order to bury him the towns people took up a collection he was penniless.
Prior to James the Scotts of Balwearie held important [positions with King James and the monarchs before him. they married into the Lindsay family, becoming allied with the Stewarts ,
Thweng, de Roos . Robert "The Bruse" and the list goes on some 10 Barons that were associated with the Magna Charta were Charlotte's ancestors - Robert de Ros, Gilbert De Clare, William Longespee. Robert Fits Walter, Henry 1V Bohun, William de Warren, Syr de Quincey
The very well know Michael Scott the magician was in her line.
On the maternal lines her mother was Elenor Twigg wife of Isaac Rhodes from Scurff Hall, Yorkshire, this line goes back many generations. Her grandmother and others on this side of the family descend from 10 ancestors that arrived on the Mayflower, and 3 ancestors who were native American Indians.
Charlotte has 6 brothers and sisters, shown below are her living children in 1940

As we research our relatives it is most rewarding-one never knows what the next clue might lead to. Life is what it is. We can not change the past, but in all things we can try and find the good, accepting the bad, understanding there time in history and passing it on to our descendants. At the present time I am trying to put together a book about this family, if you have any stories,photos or information please contact me, we are proof reading the book now and it will be published very shortly

Christophe Crevier,Sieur de la Meslee Seigneurie 9th Grt Grandfather

2009-10-24T10:20:00.009-04:00

Genealogy of my ancestor and 9th great grandfather Christope Crevier, Sieur de la Meslee, Sieur de Bellerive, Christophe Crevier-Grenier, during his lifetime had many titles, he was born 1611 baptized in Saint Cande le Jeune, Rouen, France 17 Feb 1611 the son of Nicolas Crevier, merchant, baker and bourgeois, baptized on April 19,1581, in Sainte Croix Saint Ouen. He married Anne Baziret around 1607, and they made their home in Saint Cande le Vieil Jeune. On November 27,1617, Nicolas bought a parcel of land from Claude Periet in Saint Pierre duPetit Quevilly. This parcel, with house and garden, was later sold by his widow on March 6, 1630 to Abraham Frement, Royal Scribe in Rouen. NicolasCrevier died at the age of 45 and was buried on October 15, 1625. His widow died five years later and was buried on March 12, 1631.
Christophe, spent his youth in Rouen, and twas here he met Jeanne Evard (Enard), his future wife. They were married in St Jean Perrot, LaRochelle, Aunis, France. on 6 Nov 1633, he was Twenty two years old and his bride was fourteen. Since his family had been bakers he no doubt followed this trade in Rouen, were he was swept up with the tales of adventure and fortunes to be made in the new colonies. By 1639 he has traveled with Jeanne and there daughter Marie to Trois-Rivieres, where Christophe earned his living as a baker. Life in the new world was not what they expected and for some reason he and Jeanne with three children returned to La Rochelle, France in 1642, were he became engaged as a trader and merchant, at the same time his family was beginning to grow, another daughter Marguerite was born 1645, our ancestor Nicolas 1646. Christophe and Jeanne witness the signing of a marriage contract 1647 in La Rochelle. the city, was a boiling pot of tales from the colonies with ships arriving from New France regularly, the lure of fast money in the trading business was to great for Christpohe, by
1649 he is back in Quebec Today he would be called a "frequent flyer" for we find 8th July 1651 he and his wife are back in La Rochelle, France paying a debt of 42 "Livres" 13 "Sols" to Marie Capin, widow of Martin Poirter. In the fall of 1651 the Jesuits gave them land at Notre-Dame-Des-Anges, New France. The family returned to Trois-Riveres. where on 28 March 1653 the Iroquois Indian attacked his home and killed their oldest son Francois Crevier dit Lameslee.
Christophe had built a block house on the corner of his property as a refugee when the Iroquois would attack, in June 1658 he was working the fields within a rifle shot of the block house when an attack came before he could reach the block house he and a soldier were captured. They were carried of to the Mohawk valley but set free in September.
He returned home only to witness another brutal attack by the Iroquois who this time captured their son Antoine, most likely in 1661. Francois Hertel, who had been taken prisoner that year and later released wrote of the sufferings and tortures endured by captives. An excerpt reads:
'As for the little Antoine de la Maslee (the name often used by the family), this poor child filled me with compassion, because he had become the servant of these barbarians, and they killed him with knife blows as they hunted him down.'"

In the year 1662 Christophe received a "Seigneurie" unfortunately he could not enjoy this for long as he passed away shortly before 16 May 1663

The more research I do the more amazed I am learning how much our ancestors traveled to go from La Rochelle to new France in the 1660's on a good fast ship was 6 to 8 weeks and could be much longer, we find Christophe and his family commuting many times twice in one year man I get sea sick that must have been quite an experience.

The lives of his sons John and our ancestor Nicolas who married a Marie Louise (fille du Roi) /Leloutre/ are told in the publication Ancestors James Cummings alias Anthony Moses Genereaux, and will appear in future blogs

dedicated love stories of Olyers

2009-09-29T15:54:00.005-04:00

In every family there are some deep complex people who's emotions do not flow with what we think of as normal following are two that I ran across in researching the Olyer family

Uncle Adelbert Robert Olyer, born 18 Sep 1881, at Spring Cove, near Tupper Lake, New York
Delbert worked in the woods as a young man, but around 1905 his parents moved to Little Falls, New York and Delbert came with them taking a job as a Electrical worker with the Railroad. He met Nora Huntington and after a short engagement they planned on getting married setting the date 16 Jan 1911. the wedding would be at his parents home on High Street in Little Falls. As the time approached Delbert's father John Olyer became ill and died Jan 15, 1911 and his body was placed in the Parlor for viewing. On the 16th with his father at rest in the parlor they decided to go ahead with the wedding ceremony being united in marriage in the next room. I do not know if this put a curse on the marriage but the couple were divorced 5 years later and Delbert went on to marry 3 more ladies, Florence Hout on 14 Aug 1917 at Palatine Bridge, N. Y. by 1930 Delbert was trying again with Lula Blair , this was also a doomed affair and late in the 30's Delbert married Gertrude Boyle, who outlived him. With four marriages he was never blessed with children. Just seems a Funeral and wedding in same home same time leaves one a bit uncomfortable.

This leads us to a cousin Mabel Olyer born 1888 at Dannemoria, Clinton Co., N.Y. at age 18 she was married to a Mr Batt and had daughter in 1906 then in 1910 Mabel was living with a sister Emma in Rochester, New York, by 1911 she was back with Mr Batt and had son that year followed by another son in 1917--then I lost track of her until spring of 1922 when she married Paul Revere Ritter in Cleveland, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio. Paul was very much in love with her and with her every moment of the day. She became very sick and died the day before valentines day 13 Feb 1928. the funeral was Feb 16 th now I have two different newspaper accounts one states that Paul was so distraught over her death, he shot himself and fell across the casket in the funeral home. The other account claims he shot himself at the grave site. Either way he could not go on without Mable and ended his life during the funeral service, he was buried on the 18th beside Mabel in the Brooklyn Heights Cemetery, Cleavland, Ohio.

We find many tragic emotional events as we look into the lives of our ancestors, wonder how they would react to some of our strange habits and decisions. suppose a hundred years from now someone will look at my record and wonder how wrong I could have been on some judgments I made.

Now its back to work on family genealogy, past two weeks have been proof reading the Philip Olyer book finally its at the printers and will be available shortly. If you have a Olyer in your ancestry you will no doubt find them in this publication.

"Thomas" Oneida Sachem unknown Hero Fort Schuyler

2009-08-29T08:24:00.010-04:00

Most people that read this probably remember Gen Herkimer when wounded at Oriskany Battle said"let me face the enemy", from this position propped against his saddle he directed the militia to a successful day. did you know the rest of the story--

The campaign of 1777 had long been contemplated by the British ministers, Sir Henry Clinton and Gen Burgoyne, with the southern and northern armies would unit at Albany N. Y. cut off all communication with the eastern provinces. Gen Burgoyne, with 7500 well disciplined troops and a large train of artillery, accompanied with numerous body of Canadian militia and Indians, arrived at Ticonderoga 3rd July 1777. Garrisoned by 3000 continental soldiers and militia under Gen St Clair, finding themselves unable to defend the fortress against such a superior force with drew under the cover of darkness to Fort Edward and joined Gen Schuylers bolstering there combined colonial force to 4000 here we stop for a moment.
Allied with Clinton and Burgoyne was Brig Gen Barry St Ledger famous for offering $20.00 for each scalp the Indians could get, was to join them at Albany by way of the Mohawk Valley further splitting New York..

Meanwhile15 July a unsung hero comes into play. Thomas Spencer a highly respected Oneida sachem had returned from the Indian castle Cassassenny, Canada from a joint meeting of the British and Iroquois nation. Addressing the Committee of safety Thomas remarked:
Col Claus invited the Indians to join his expedition to Fort Schuyler, mentioning that Sir John Johnson now at Oswego with 700 Indians, 400 white men and 600 Tories lying on a island at Oswegatchie Now then is your time, brothers to awake and not sleep longer otherwise Fort Schuyler will go as already Ticonderoga without a shot fired. The Oneidas will remain loyal but if you continue to sleep they will have to join the British and the valley will be reduced to ashes. Pleas brothers show yourselves as men to defend your country and march at once to clear brush at the Fort and fell trees in wood creek to slow there advance. If you show no effort we can stay not much longer on your side. But by alert already Brant and butler are guarding the road from the east to Fort Schyler to stop any reinforcements.
These pleas fell on half closed ears in the spring of 1776 Col Dayton had been order to build a fort at Rome N.Y. to protect the forage place. called Fort Stanwix, the local militia was mustered to help. The fort was renamed Fort Schyler in April of 1777 Col Gansevoort, with 3rd rgt New York line was ordered to Fort Schyler, were he stubbornly defended the position.

A few days before Thomas's communication, the committee of Safety ordered 200 militia to aid Fort Schyler but only a few showed up. on the 17 July Brig Gen Nicholas Herkimer issued a decree all men 16 to 60 should prepare there equipment to be ready a moments notice to assemble and march.

on the 30th July the committee received a message from Thomas dated at Oneida 20 Jul 1777 "at a meeting of the chiefs they tell me there is but 4 days remaining of the time set to take Fort Schyler, and they think it might be sooner. the chiefs desire it not by another Ticonderoga, they hope you will be courageous in defending your homeland. Let all the troops that come to Fort Schyler take care on the march as there is a party of Indians to stop them below the Fort, about 80 or 100 we hear they bring their cannon up fish creek. we hear there will be 1000 men to take the fort. to many for so few to defend Thomas added "it looks to me the troops are near, hope all friends to liberty and that love their families will not be backward, but exert themselves as one resolute blow would secure the friendship of the six nations and nearly free this part of the country from incursions of the enemy"
Already a string of Batteaux, and men were in route, Gen Schuyler upon receiving this ordered out the militia.
4 Aug 1777 Gen Herkimer gave the alarm and 800 men answered the call including several of my direct ancestors,Thomas Lendersen, his father John Lendersen, Micael Bauder. also a Thomas Spencer who urged Herkimer to post advanced scouts and keeping out flanking parties but some of the other officers were making remarks , imputing cowardice and urging Herkimer to advance as rapidly as possible, which he did. this was a 50 to 60 miles march extremely hot day and rough teran on 6th Aug. as the came down a slop to a swampy area know as Oriskany, where the road had been elevated, well into the ravine, the blood curtailing scream of the Iroquois shattered the quiet of the forest and all hell broke out the first volley about 100 men were wounded or killed my ancestor Michael Bauder was killed, 100 hundred of Thomas's Oneida Indians killed, about 30 Seneca Indians, Herkimer was shot in leg and his horse killed. he was moved to a higher spot on the side of the ravine that he might face the enemy. No official record was kept as to the British losses but it must have been nearly the same. Things were going bad every time a militia man shot, a Indian would charge the position and tomahawk the man Herkimer gave the order to place two men at each spot one man could fire while the other waited as a result many Indians were killed. the ambush was mid morning and lasted over 5 hours the militia was nearly our of ammunition when all of a sudden "Johnson Greens" entered the battle, these were the hated Tory friends that had left the area and was now returning to do as much damage as possible. That was all the spent militia needed it was as if they were suddenly infested with magical power, they sprang from there concealed positions and attached these Tories using bayonets, and rifle's as clubs and bare hands, in a matter of 10 to 15 minutes they had bare handed killed 60 or more. at about the same time Gen Willet hearing the musket fire sallied out from the fort with several hundred men to save Herkimer and the supplies, they rapidly carried back to the fort the wounded and as much of the supplies as possible.
The fort was still under siege, Gen Arnold at Schenectady learned of ambush and siege and set out immediately for the scene a few miles from the fort, Thomas Spencer joined him with a suggestion to be sent to St Ledgers command.
St Ledger question Thomas about Arnolds forces and he made the famous statement "I know not how many were with Arnold but they were as thick as the leaves on the trees" on the 22 day of August St Ledger having failed to make the fort Capitulate gave up and left for Canada. Arnold arrived at Fort Schyler on the 24th.
There is much to be written about the vengeance and horror of the Indians torturing and eating of the militia in retaliation for the friends they lost in the battle, but this is about Thomas Spencer Sachem In his quiet way shamed our ancestors into making an effort to stand up and fight, then he faded into history to be overlooked far all he contributed

After his visit with St Ledger there seems to be no other record but I am sure his speeches to the Committee of Safety helped arouse an interest in defending the Mohawk Valley and think history has been very unfair to this Indian ally, certainly 100's could have been saved at Oriskany if Herkimer had paid attention to his words. I have always favored to Oneida nation, it was my honor to have been made a blood brother of the Oneida in 1964 at a very impressive ceremony, The headdress and many gift items are still in my collection, my Oneida name was "Standing Tall Pine".

O

OLYER REUNION 1940

2009-08-21T18:46:00.010-04:00

BROOKWOOD PARK, HERKIMER, NEW YORK

Some of my ancestors and many of my grt Grandfathers descendants

My Father Edwin B Lord the handsome guy on far right and my mom Mary Olyer with her parents Berlin and Margaret Olyer, shown in this group picture at the Olyer Reunion held at Brookwood Park in Herkimer, New York. these are all descendant of John Olyer [1853-1911] and his wife Charlotte Scutt [1852-1923] former residents of High Street, Little Falls, N.Y. shown in the photo are Johns three sons Berlin Olyer and wife Margaret Cummings Olyer, Adelbert Olyer and Riley Olyer.
also the four daughters Florence Olyer Hoffman, Nora Olyer Burney, Mary Olyer Trombley Taylor, and Beatrice Burney.
Also in the photo is Wilbur Olyer and his wife Clara, from Athol, Mass some of you might remember her ladies Hats store on main street Athol, Mass
she is the lady with the large hat and hand bag standing in the front right and Wilbur is the man kneeling in right front row. he was the oldest person there and while not a son of John Olyer was the son of Johns brother Philip.
The family had just started holding reunions this first one had over 60 people in attendance. Another outing was held same place the following year, the attendance was still good over 45 people, the photo at the left is just John and Charlott Olyer's children, guess the group photo was to hard to get everyone to pose for. By the following year,
with the war breaking out some of the younger men answered the call, and the reunions were still held for two more years but with only a very few as some of the original members had passed away or were to old to attend. As I recall the family sort of drifted apart and in few years later by late 40's and early 50's there was no interest.
I was pretty young in 1940 but old enough to remember my grandfather Berlin and his siblings and am sure these outing helped keep the spark and kindle that desire to know more about this family. I have spent the 65 years since the reunion gathering information and some of my early blogs are about the Olyer's and lately the blogs have been about my grandmother Margaret Cummings. Her family history is at the publishers right now and will be available through Amazon Books and directly from me in about a week. The manuscript for the Olyer family is complete and being proof read and this will be available in plenty of time for Xmas. Almost everyone shown in the reunion photo is identified in the book. I was at the reunion but under pressure from my parents and a bribe that I could bring my high school flame, must have been at the punch bowl when the photo was taken. I think Donald Rose, standing on back right side next to my dad is the only person in photo that is still alive--well it was 69 years ago--if we held a reuinion today I am afraid I would not know anyone, it sure would be great to try--

Nothing to do with the reunion but I have to vent someplace
Do you have a pet??got your shots up to date? read the blog my wife just posted at www.SewNanaWhereAreYou.Blogspot.com maybe if you read it you will not have to watch your pet slowly die.

Francois Pelletier dit Antaya my 8th great grandfather

2009-08-17T13:46:00.009-04:00

My 8th great grandfather in James Cummings Ancestral line was
Francois Pelletier-dit-Antaya-Sieur d'Antaya-Sieur d'Orvilliers was born 1 Jan 1635 st St Pierre, Gallardon, Chartres, Beauce, France. his father was Nicolas Pelletier and mother Jeanne de Vouzy [devoissy-Roussy]
Francois arrived in New France probably on one of the three ships that arrived in Quebec 11 Jun 1636 as his father is mentioned at baptism of his sister in the spring of 1637, so Francois was only couple years old. Nicolas Peltier the father a master carpenter was granted a fifty acre concession of land in the Seigneury of Sillery, were the Peltier family settled. In a few years Francois had brothers and sisters for a total of eight children. [ The plaque to the right was placed on the sight of the original land owned by Nicholas]

Francois and his brother Nicolas were in pursuit of a life of adventure , beginning life as fur traders with Noel Jeremie de La Montagne, who married Francois sister Jeanne in 1659. on a voyage to the vast "Domain du Roy", a trade area encompassing the great Saguenay-Lac St-Jean area. Francois goes along and apparently meets a young Indian maiden we are not sure why he went or how long he stayed.
Some time before the autumn of 1659, François has returned to Québec; the Jesuites say that on November 21, François accompanies the Jesuit Albanel to Tadoussac, stating that he is not at their expense, but is under their name. his returns from Tadoussac April 24, however, Francois' reasons for returning to Tadoussac become a little clearer, Albanel has married François to a Dorothee Antaya Christian Amerindienne,16 Apr. 1660, without publication of banns, or permission from his parents, the bishop, or the governor, noting that this has caused quite a controversy.
Albanel was undoubtedly sympathetic to François and Dorothée's situation, or else he certainly would not have taken upon himself to marry them without their having gone through the proper channels and necessary steps.
Their happiness did not endue long as she died in Quebec Hospital 13 Apr.1661 . On the 26 Sep 1661 Francois married Margereta Madeleine Morriseau in Sillery, Quebec. born 1640 at St Pierre de Roy, Somme, Picardie, France, the daughter of Julien Moraisseau and Anne Barclancour. Margurete was a Filles a Marier, contracted for marriage by Francois Pelletier, brother of Jeannie & Marie Pelletier. Francois was so in love with his first wife Dorothee Antaya that upon her death he added the dit name Antaya. He and his children were the only ones using this dit name and eventually future generations dropped the Pelletier surname and used only Antaya.
June of 1666 Captain Pierre de Saurel with a group of 300 French and Huron Indians went to attack and recover a few French soldiers that had been taken prisoners by the Mohawks of the Iroquois nations. They were discovered in route and the Mohawks offered up the prisoners without bloodshed. These men related that some of their group had been tortured one of the Indians wanted a finger bone for a necklace, he took a prisoner and with help from the others, they amputated a finger at the knuckle, with flint knife and when the tenon could not be cut they pulled the partly severed finger off. The hand and arm became so swollen during the following weeks he could not preform any chores so his captive killed and scalped him.

Francoise purchased on 22 Oct 1675 the Seigneurie of Dorvilliers, sieur de Comporte, located with frontage abt 1.5 miles along the St Lawrence River opposite Sorel between Berthier and Autray estates, extending inland abt 3 miles. Francois renames his land "Antaya" , while he no longer uses the title "Dorvilliers" or "Comporte" having been well known it sometimes is called by this name. It was a couple of years before the Pelletioers established their self at Anataya, after Francois sold his 80 Arpent properly in Sorel to Pierre Coutois 17 Sep 1777. With this estate the couple can now use the title "Sieur" and "Seigneuresse"
The name Pelletier dit Antaya, is strictly of French Canadian origin, it was never used in France and in Canada only by children of Francois.
Francois died May 1690 at Dautray, Quebec, he and Marguerite bequeathed one half of their estate to son Lean-Baptisti dit Pierre Pelletier dit Antaya [1675-1757], while dividing the remaining among their other surviving children, Michael, Marguerite, Marie-Angelique, Genevieve, Catherine.

Mary Elizabeth Lord Ready to ride on life's journey

2009-08-08T08:47:00.009-04:00

Just a break in genealogy for a lighter moment
My mom astride this beautiful mount could not have envisioned the events that would shape her life during the coming years.

This photo was taken at High Street in Little Falls New York probably about 1910.

Life started out in Spring Cove, New York later part of April 1904 her mother Margaret Cummings Olyer took the train to tupper lake, and buggy to her mothers home at Sporing Cove. a few days later evening of 4 May 1904 , Jim Cummings father of Margaret raced to Tupper Lake to find the doctor, not good the Doctor was in the booze bottle and came back to the house with Jim but was unable to be of much help.
Mary was born despite the odds. After a few days she returned with her mother to High Street in Little Falls, N. Y. off to a good start. She had two older sisters and soon had 3 brothers and another sister.

At age of about 2 she looked like a doll, her father Berlin A. Olyer was a armature photographer so we are lucky to have a few photos for her.

Being in the middle of the family she had good roe models and learned life in happy environment. Her father worked for the New York Central railroad , while not wealthy, they enough income to live comfortably. Unfortunately her older sisters were married quite young so as she approached her 16th birth day not wanting to be an old maid, marriage seemed important so she ran away from home and married a school mate, this only lasted a few months when her parents found out it was annulled, after a 3 day court trial. while this was going on her parents moved from Little Falls to Nelliston, N.Y. As time does she moved on to age 19 when she met Edwin B. Lord . 6th Oct 1923 they slipped of to Albany, N. Y. and were married at the first Baptist church. From there to Delaware, where Edwin was employed as a Machinist in Circular Knitting mill, 1925 Mary and Edwin returned to Nelliston, N.Y. were a Son Robert Lord was born. The family lived in Nellistron N. Y. until 1960's during these years they ran the Elms Hotel in Nelliston, both worked outside the home Edwin in the Knitting trade and Mary worked in the undergarment factory in Fort Plain, The family was very close, Robert being the only child, lived with them in a duplex home which his father had owned. We got through the depression years and by combining our income, and efforts were able to own and operate the store at Canada Lake, were Mary was the postmaster, and in the 60's the family purchased Pine Lake Park.

Mary's life was taken 16 Jul 1965 due to cancer, I am sure there were bad times but I never knew about them, to my knowledge her marriage to my dad was a good one I never heard them raise ther voices, or use bad language, my dad drank a bit more than he should but this only made him more the life of the party, families seemed much closer, our pleasures seemed to be family outings, picnics, swim trips to Carogs Creek, Camping in tents, short motor trips.
Our family while very close, none of them including cousins and aunts and uncles were also close lipped I thought I new my mom but it was not until last year, while searching court records did I find out about the short marriage she had a 16 do not know if my dad new about it I had questioned him many times about being married in Albany but you know he never did give me a answer--maybe that was the answer, he thought I would never know.

Someone put me on this mighty steed probably in very early 1930's I could not reach the stirups and that is probably why its been such a up and down ride ever since, was hanging on pretty tight then and I still am--guess it a goods thing we do not have a outline about this tour, I like the hat my mom has on not much help in the sun or rain

Sieur Guillaum Couillard de L'Espinay First Slave Holder

2009-08-08T08:36:00.003-04:00

In the Family History and Genealogy of my Great Grandfather Moses Genereaux alias James Cummings, mother Marie Dupuis, was the 5th great grand daughter of Guillaume Couillard dit Dupuis, son of Guillaume Senior and Elisabeth De Vesins, married on August 26, 1621. Guillementte Marie Hebert, Metis dau of Louis Hebert and Marie Rolet. This was the first recorded marriage of a French couple in New France. Guillaume had arrived in Kebec in 1613, employed as a carpenter and caulker by the Compagnie des Marchands de Rouen et de Saint Malo. The ceremony was performed by Recollect Father Georges and witnessed by Champlain himself and his brother-in-law Eustach Bouille (brother of Helene). In all reports sent to France by Champlain, he always spoke very highly of the young man who would play an important role in the settlement of French Quebec.
When Quebec was captured in 1629, by the Kirke Brothers [really privateers sailing for English Crown] nearly all of the French including Champlain were shipped to England and eventually to France. The Couillards became the only complete family to live under English occupation. Champlain entrusted the fort to two young Montagnais girls [Natives], Charite and Esperance, whom he had adopted, and Marie-Guilemette was asked if she would keep an eye out for them. They had already spent a lot of time at her home, as she and her mother instructed them in French customs, so that they might one day marry one of the male colonists.
The Treaty of St German En Laye of March 1632 restored the Kebec and Acadia post to France.

The Couillard family continued to work doggedly for the colony and was always held in high regard. He took part in it’s defense against the Iroquois, frequently piloting boats between Quebec and Tadoussac. He also gave part of his land for the construction of a church and became the warden of the parish.

The Couillards may have been the first French-Canadians to own a black slave. [Slavery in the Americas was very common among the native population, most all of the tribes used captives as slave labor] When the Kirke brothers removed themselves from Quebec, they left behind a little boy that they had captured at Madagascar, so Guillaume purchased him from the bailiff. In July of 1632, they had him baptized under the name Olivier, after son-in-law Olivier Tardiff. Later, a Jesuit priest called him "Paul the Young Person", so the little boy grew up as Olivier Le Jeune.
In one letter, Champlain refers to him as the Couillard's "pet", and on official documents he is listed as a servant.When the new Company of 100 Associates, were in control of New France, Guillemette's husband made lime for the new buildings, while continuing to work his farm and perform other duties as needed.

In December of 1654, the Governor Jean de Lauson, on the authority of the king, presented him with a noble title, "on account of services rendered to the country of Canada", Sieur and Madam de L'Espinay. These honors were later passed down to their sons; Charles and Louis.
Sieur Guillaume Couillard de L'Espinay, died at home on March 4, 1663 and is buried in the chapel of the Hotel Dieu, and three years later Madam Guillimette de L'Espinay sold the house and a portion of his land to Jean Talon and gave the rest to Bishop Laval, for the establishment of the Seminary of Quebec; though later her children would contest the transaction.

A statue of her husband part of the Louis Hebert's monument, beside the city hall of Quebec.
All the while they continued to farm and by 1632, had more than 20 acres cultivated. In 1639, they opened a flour mill and the same year, the governor of Quebec, appointed Guillaume as “clerk responsible for inspecting the sown lands and the food of the settlers of Quebec".

The Manor home of Couillard and Dupuis, while still standing was not built until about 1800 on or near Guillaum's original home.
The bronze statue of Sieur Guillaume Couillarde is part of the Hebert monument, it is interesting to note Guillaume ordered from France a ox and a plow before he died, the ox arrived but not the plow until after his death.

One can not study the ancestry of this united Genereaux and Dupuis family without becoming richly rewarded with history of the founding of New France on the American Continent, the sacrifices, hard work, disappointments, and successes of these early pioneers, carving out a settlement in a hostile environment without much more than there bare hands.

Mohawk Iroquois feared by French Settlers

2009-07-27T17:54:00.005-04:00

In doing research for the Cummings-Genereaux family it was very apparent that all my relatives from early Canada lived in fear of the Iroquois Indians--so different than those relatives on my fathers side who married into the Mohawk tribes in the same time period The Mohawks arrived in what became to be known as the Mohawk Valley around 1575, before the Europeans came here. They consisted of only 5 nations, Senecas, Cayugas, Onondagas, Oneidas and the "ancients" the Mohawks. Almost everyone knows the story of Longfellow's Hiawatha, this was based on the truth. Two Sachem's of the Mohawks met with the other chiefs of all the nations at Oneida Lake and formed the Iroquois Confederacy, which would become the dominate force in North East America. Its main purpose was to stop the tribes from fighting among there self, with a guarantee that they would not kill any one from the other tribe and would assist each other in further expansion They controlled all the land from Canada to Maine, along the Atlantic, through Pennsylvania, Ohio, and the great lakes area. There expansion was driven by the demand for Beaver pelts. The Dutch were in Albany early in the 1600's and became a allies of the Mohawks, trading the older models of fire arms and metal tools. The English who came a bit later took the same attitude toward the Mohawks, traded fair with them, even to help them in conquest they were making against tribes that the English were having trouble with. Even the Swiss were trading with the Delawares. When the French arrived it was a different mix. The Mohawks had for well over a hundred years fought the Algonquin and Huron nation and had been on the verge of driving them out of Canada. Samuel Champlain arrived and completely upset this, wanting to be friend;y with the natives to assure there protection for his trading post joined the Huron's in battle with a group of Mohawks, which took place on the lake that we call Champlain. He got off a lucky shot that killed two Mohawk chiefs -lucky for him but a tragedy for France. The Mohawks fled, but remembered.
They continued there attacks on the Huron and when the French villages were present burned them. then in 1615 Champlain joined a force of Huron's against the Oneida nation keepers of the western gate. this was more fuel to fire the hatred of the Huron and French. Now the Iroquois were more united and France was cut off from the beaver trade coming from the great lakes. So to stop the Iroquois raids on Kebec and Montreal Gov Tracy persuade Louis 14 King of France to send help which he did in the form of 1200 men of the Carignan-Salieres Regiment in the late 1665 period, it was mid winter before they had everyone converted to the Catholic religion, [non Catholic were not allowed to set foot on New France Soil, the officers and many of the men were Huguenots] and despite the weather 300 men of the Regiment with 200 volunteers made a sortie on the Mohawk valley, not equipped for winter weather and guides that got lost, it ended in terrible loss of men and equipment some Jesuit records indicate only 200 men returned, and these were saved by the Dutch who fed and clothed them at Schenectady. The loss of equipment gave the Mohawks access to the best fire arms available, up until this time they only had weapons that the Dutch traded to them. This was like throwing stones at the bee hive, the Mohawk Iroquois while only about 600 strong launched new waves of terror on the French, again in fall of 1666 Tracy led 1200 men with two field cannon, against this powerful Iroquois's nation they attacked and burned 4 Indian Castles, but the 600 or so Mohawks, men women and children, gathered up there possessions and moved into the forest, so no one was harmed, The wood Palisades and bark covered houses were burned. The French returned to Canada victoriously and the Iroquois with the help from the Dutch rebuilt there castles, the main or upper castle was Ti-on-non-to-gen. this was located on North side of the Mohawk river on the site of the present village of Nelliston, New York. Started in 1666 hurriedly finished by 1669 with the help of the Dutch Settlers. This was a very large castle or village , double Palisades enclosing some 30 long house ranging from 20 to 200 ft long. with a total population of about 300 of the "Wolf" clan. They would live here for some 20 years before moving again to Wagner's Hallow. A move they made about every 20 years

A tribe of only about 600 at its strongest point controlled the Iroquois confederation and this group stopped the French expansion and eventually made it to costly to continue their colonization of the new world. The Confederacy was weakened in the American Revolution when the Mohawk remained loyal to England and the Seneca's and Oneida Nations remained with the colonist.

I was very lucky as a young boy , my parents owned a house in Nelliston, New York when my dad would spade the garden in the spring and prepared it for planting I was allowed to pick up and save all the pieces of pottery, pipe stems and broken bone that were in the garden. For years these were in Cigar boxes in the garage, just curious items to a 8 or 9 year old, - oh how I wish I still had them. Apparently our garden was within the old village site of Ti-on-non-to-gen upper village of the Mohawk.
Having been born and lived in the Mohawk Valley I can understand why the Mohawks fought so hard to control it, the river furnished fish, surrounding forest gave then Venison, small game, and Maple sugar, the rich river soil furnished an abundance of the three sisters Corn, Beans, Squash. Of all the tribes the Mohawks were no doubt the best nourished and that might have been key to there physical ability to lead the other tribes.

Anna Martin/Matchonon Huron-Wendat native

2009-07-16T17:08:00.000-04:00

A young girl of the Cord Clan. on Ile de Orleans, the 5th great grandmother of my grt grandfather Anothony Moses Genereaux alias Jim Cummings met and married Abraham Martin dit L'Ecossais, her family would have been living on the Ile de Orleans as members of the Huron-Wendat village which was set up with the help of the Jesuits for converted natives.
she had 3 known children recorded by the Jesuits: Matchonon ("a Savage" according to the Jesuits) b. 1609 (Kebek) baptised 3 Nov 1634 as Joseph Martin; Anne Martin/Matchonon. born 1614 (Kebek) d. 14 Dec 1683 (Kebek) m. Jean Cote'' dit Coste' 1635; Eustache Martin b. 1621 Kebek, only Eustache has a baptized recorded in Notre Dam.
Her mother died when she was just a baby and her widowed father would marry Marguerite Langlois a Metis [having one parent European and the other native Candaian].
Growing up at the small trading post, young Anne would have been exposed to many cultures; though her life was confined to the small frontier. After much upheaval, including a brief stint when Kebec was in the hands of the British, Anne's family made 'New France' their home, and in 1636; she was married to new arrival, Jean Cote, at the home of Robert Giffard, by Jesuit Priest Charles Lalemant.
Jean was one of Giffard's recruits and may have actually been a distant relative, since Anne's grandmother was Isabelle Cote, also from Perche, France. Jean arrived in Quebec on July 20th, 1635 and that fall married Anne. There is not much information about his earlier life Again probably not all that surprising if he was of African-Mi'kmaq (Red-Black) ancestry and most of the evidence points to this, there would have been little or no interest by Europeans in recording it. Anne Martin/Matchonon, however, a half-breed with some European ancestry, was the daughter of Abraham Martin dit l'Ecossais, so this might be why their descendants were recorded. Also they were part of the colony established on the Ile d'Orleans by the Jesuits for their Huron converts. She would have been considered Huron-Wendat by her own people, not half-breed, since the Wyandott are maternal lineal.
In 1636, Governor Montmagny awarded the couple, an arpent of frontage on la Grande-Allee near Quebec; and Giffard gave him land in Beauport . Because of the Iroquois raids, Jean and Anne hesitated settling their concession in Beauport, so Noel Langlois,
brother of Anne's stepmother, rented them a small parcel of land near his house, so they could live close together for mutual defense. Jean built a cabin there and began farming immediately. Eventually they also purchased a house in Upper Town, Quebec. Jean died there on March 28, 1661 and Anne on December 4, 1684. The couple had nine children:
Descendants of Anne Martin/Matchonon[Savage] and Jean/Jehan Cote' dit Coste' were recorded. One of the children (a son b. 1642) was named Mathieu. there was a Mathieu Cote in New France very earl and may prove to be father or uncle to Jean. There also Jean had a child named Jean Cote' dit Lefrise' (a son b. 25 Feb 1644). Le frise' in French means "frizzy-haired person", perhaps this name was given to the child because he was the only one who had "frizzy" (i.e. African) hair, while the other children of Anne and Jean had straight hair like their Indigenous ancestors.
Having one European grandparent (Abraham Martin dit L'Ecossais) of four, (two Indigenous, one African) might have ensured the family was recorded, but their children are never mentioned as being the first Europeans born in New France. Some claim the first European child, Barbe Meusnier, was born in Ville-Marie (Montreal) in 1648.
If this be true then Anne Martin/Matchonon was of the Cord Clan. "In 1656 people of the Bear Clan (Attignaouantan) joined the Mohawk, people of the Rock Clan (Arendahronon) joined the Onondaga, the people of the Cord Clan (Attigneenongnahac) were the only ones who remained at the Ile d'Orleans Huron-Wendat settlement.
Keep in mind there were very few European women in New France before the "Fillis a Marine" arrived 1634 to 1662 very doubtful that a family of three Langlois girls would have been here without a notation in the records-It is my belief all of them were of the Huron-Wendal tribe in Ile de Orleans
As for Anne Martin, she survived him by more than twenty years. The census of 1681 does not mention her but it is likely that she was living with one of her sons. Anne too, was buried at Québec, on December 14, 1683 at about the age of 70 years old.

In some of my earlier post I noted that all of Moses Genereau's ancestors were from France but I have to correct that now some of the females had what appeared to be French names but this was due to there being recorded as daughters of there French fathers, however there mothers were Huron-Wendal women, who were more readily available in the first few years of French colonization. The European women did not come to the colonies much before the Filles a Marier in 1634 to 1662

Abraham Martin bn 1589

2009-07-05T12:26:00.000-04:00

Abraham Martin My 9th Grt Grandfather, ancestor of Anthoney Moses Genereau alias Jim Cummings was one of the first settlers in Arcadia and Kebec, personal friend of Samuel Champlain.
There is a lot of confusion over the origins of Abraham. He was born about 1589, probably at La Rochelle, his father probably was Jean Galleran Martin, known as “The Merchant of Metz”, he could have also been born at Metz, Lorraine, France. His mother was Isabel Cote. Throughout his lifetime, Abraham Martin L'Ecossais [the “Scotsman”], that nickname was often used at that time, as a derogatory term to describe a deserter or member of an illegal organization. It may have also meant that he had made several voyages to Scotland in his youth, or assisted the Scottish settlers who began arriving at Port Royal (then called Port Charles) about 1628, under the direction of Sir William Alexander. It's highly unlikely that he was actually of Scottish descent.
He is often called Abraham Martin a king's pilot, leading to the conclusion that he was the first river pilot of Canada. [French as the Indian tribes had been using the rivers for centuries] Although he was illiterate he associated with Champlain and Pierre Desportes, both literate and well born individuals. His first wife was a Huron-Wendat Indian living on Ile de Orleans, with whom he had three children Matchonon ("a Savage" according to the Jesuits) b. 1609 Kebek, [Quebec ] baptised 3 Nov 1634 as Joseph Martin; Anne Martin/Matchonon Metis b. 1614 (Kebek) d. 14 Dec 1683 (Kebek) m. Jean Cote' dit Coste' 1635; Eustache Martin b. 1621 Kebek
His second wife, a Metisse (half-breed woman) was Marguerite Langlois b. 1611 Kebek, married at Kebec, abt 1621, they had eight children, of which the 7th was Anne Martin Metis, born 23 Mar. 1645 at Kebek, she married Jacques Rate. The descendants of both of these Anne Martin's come down to Dennis Stanislaus Genereaux's father of our ancestor Anthoney Moses Genereaux alias Jim Cummings

There is also evidence that he had at one time been employed by Jean De Biencourt and Du Gua de Monts as navigator on the coast of Acadia, although he would have been very young at that time. Charles La Tour was also on that voyage, and it is clear that these two men remained good friends. When Abraham’s son, Charles-Amador, was born on March 7, 1648, his godfather was none other than Charles de Saint-Étienne de La Tour, who was also the infant’s namesake. This too could explain why Martin was called the “Scotsman”, since La Tour’s father had accepted a Scottish Barony after being captured by the Kirke Brothers in 1629.
When the British took control of Kebec for the first time, everyone was shipped back home, where it is believed that Marguerite's sister, Francoise Langlois, and her husband Pierre, died so Martin's became guardians to little Helene, who was now almost nine. When the family returned after the British left, they brought along Marguerite's brother Noel [another of our ancestors], who would marry Francoise Grenier and have ten children, ensuring that the Langlois name from this branch, would live on.
The Martins would become one of the first three families to be granted land in Quebec City, when they were presented with 12 acres by the Company of New France in 1635. The additional 20 acres were a gift from Sieur Adrien du Chesney, ship's surgeon to Pierre Legardeur. Abraham and Marguerite's descendants later sold this parcel of land to the Ursuline nuns.
Marguerite and her husband played a major role in the development of French Canada, and in a culture that likes it's 'firsts'; a few can be added to their credit. Eustace Martin,(this one is questionable) the first wire of a French, born in News-France. It is the first baptism which is registered at Notre-Dame of Quebec, dated October 21, 1621. His daughter Helene Martin was the god-daughter of Samuel de Champlain. We know Abraham had two other children with first wife, but they were not recorded in church record.
Abraham drew up the first map of Quebec, even though he was illiterate. Champlain's wife Helene Boulle, did not adapt well to frontier living and only spent four years in Québec. She found solace and companionship with Abraham's wife Marguerite and her sister Françoise Langlois who bore the first French child born in New France, When Samuel de Champlain died he left a legacy to Marguerite Martin, another daughter to help her "marry a man of Canada", and he left money to Abraham Martin "to be spent for clearing land".
The ground that Abraham Martin cleared was the summit of the Cape Diamonds, Known now as the “Plains of Abraham”, site of the 1757 battle, between Wolfe and Montcalm, the “Coast of Abraham” was the path used by Martin, to go down to the river Saint-Charles to water his animals.
Today a monument features a column on a square base, topped by a terrestrial sphere supported by four thistles, emblems of Scotland. The base (or lower) relief depicts the French symbol of a fleur de lys (lily flower) emerging from flood waters to represent the pioneering role played by Abraham Martin as a king’s pilot. with a inscription engraved in the granite.
In February 1649 the little Québec colony had quite a shock when it was announced that 60 year old Martin Abraham, friend of Samuel de Champlain and the father of a large and respected family, was accused of having an affair with a 16 year old girl [i.e., “conduite incorrecte envers une jeune fille” in that Abraham had forfeited the honor of a young girl of 16, what today would possibly be statutory rape, although marriages in those days occurred as young as 10]. Certainly it would be said that this "old pig Abraham" had debauched a fine “young thing.” He spent some time in prison beginning on 15 February 1649 as a result of his improper actions. Guess the rich and powerful have not changed in 360 years, its a shock to us when our past Presidents or Governors disregard our moral codes, but its been happening for centuries. These facts appear in court records that have been preserved. Not all of our ancestors were saints.
Abraham Martin died on September 08, 1664 in Quebec city, at the age of 75; and Marguerite the following year on December 17, 1665, at the age of 63. A note made by Father Le Jeune, in 1632. Eustache Martin, Metis, b-1621 the eldest son of Abraham and Marguerite, were baptized in 1621 , were the second and third children of White men born at Quebec, the first having been their cousin Helene Desportes, born in 1620, to the marriage of Pierre Desportes and Francoise Langlois.

Jim Cummings [Moses Genereaux], Genealogy keeps expanding, he can count in his ancestral line many native Canadian Indians as well as the first original French settlers.

Hebert Monument - Quebec City, Canada

2009-06-17T15:11:00.000-04:00

The Monument to the left was erected to honor Louis Hebert first European settler dedicated 1918 on the 300 anniversary of his arrival in Quebec, 1617 four years before the Mayflower landing. It stands behind Notre-Dame de Quebec Basilica, next to Cote de La Montague Street.

Many of us can trace out genealogy to those hardy Puritans that came to America shores in 1623 to establish the first colony. Well Jim Cummings (my great grandfather) can boast that his mother Marie Dupuis 6th and a 7th great grandfather was Louis Hebert, who is considered to be the first European settler in Canada. The honor of being the colony's first seigneur belongs to Louis Hebert, a curious chain of events that brought him to the role of a yeoman in the St Lawrence valley. Hebert has left to posterity little or no information concerning his early life and his experience as a farmer. we must gather what we can from stray allusions to him in the general narratives of early colonial life. Hebert was Canada's first patron of husbandry. The greater portion of his adult years were passed with a spade in his hands. But he embodies a type, and a worthy type it is. Louis Hebert was a native of Paris, born in about 1575. He had an apothecary's shop there, but apparently was not making a very marked success of his business in 1604. he fell in with Biencourt de Poutrincourt, and was enlisted as a member of that voyageur's first expedition to Acadia. It was in these days the custom of ships to carry an apothecary or dispenser of health-giving herbs. His functions ran the whole gamut of medical practice from blood-letting to the dosing of sailors with concoctions of mysterious make to cure about everything. Hebert probably set out with no intention to remain in America; but he found Port Royal to his likeing, and there the historian Lescarbot soon found him not only sowing corn and planting vines, apparently taking great pleasure in the cultivation of the soil. All this in a colony which comprised of five persons, namely, two Jesuit fathers and their servant, Hebert, and one other.

In 1613 with serious dangers all about, and lack of support at home, Port Royal about to be destroyed, Hebert made his way back to France. The apothecary's shop was re-opened, the daily customers were no doubt regaled with stories of life among the wild aborigines of the west. But not for long. There was a trait of restlessness that would not go away, in 1616 the little shop again put up its shutters. Hebert had joined Champlain in the Brouage navigator's first voyage to the St Lawrence. This time the apothecary burned his bridges behind him, Hébert sold his house and its garden in Paris and with Marie his wife and there three children, Anne, Guillemette and Guillaume start out, with them and all his worldly effects.
The trading company which was backing Champlain's enterprise promised that Hebert and his family should be paid a cash bonus and should receive, in addition a tract of land, provisions and stores sufficient for their first two years in the colony. For his part, Hebert agreed to serve without pay as general medical officer of the settlement, to give his other services to the company when needed, and to keep his hands out of the fur trade. Nothing was said about his serving as legal officer of the colony as well; but that task became part of his varied experience. Not long after his arrival at Quebec, Hebert's name appears, with the title of "procureur du Roi", at the foot of a petition sent home by the colonists to the king.

All this looked fair enough, but as matters turned out, Hebert made a poor bargain. The company gave him only half the promised bonus, granted him no title to any land, and for three years insisted upon having all his time for its own service. A man with less determination would have made his way back to France at the earliest opportunity. But Hebert was loyal to Champlain, whom he in no way blamed for his bad treatment. At Champlain's suggestion he took a piece of land above the settlement at Quebec, and without waiting for any formal title-deed began devoting all his spare hours to the task of getting it cleared and cultivated. His small tract comprised only about a dozen arpents on the heights above the village; and as he had no one to help him the work of clearing it moved slowly. Trees had to be felled and cut up, the stumps burned and removed, stones gathered into piles, and every foot of soil upturned by hand with a spade. There were no ploughs in the colony at this time. or Oxen, no horses at Quebec. It was some years later that farm implements were imported.

Nevertheless, Hebert was able by hard work to get the entire twelve arpents into cultivable shape within four or five years. A house had been built chiefly by the labor of himself. It was a stone house, about twenty feet by forty in size, a one-story affair, regarded as one of the most comfortable abodes in the colony. The attractions of this home, and especially the hospitality of Madame Hebert and her daughters, are more than once mentioned in the annals of the settlement. It was the first dwelling to be erected on the plateau above the village.

In 1623 the authorities were moved to grant him the honor of rank as a seigneur, and the first title-deed conveying a grant of land en seigneurie was issued to him on February 4 of that year. The deed bore the signature of the Duc de Montmorenci, titular viceroy of New France. Three years later a further deed, confirming Hebert's rights and title, and conveying to him an additional tract of land on the St Charles river, was issued to him by the succeeding viceroy, Henri de Levy, Duc de Ventadour.
The preamble of this document recounts the services of the new seigneur. "Having left his relatives and friends to help establish a colony of Christian people in lands which are deprived of the knowledge of God, not being enlightened by His holy light," the document proceeds, "he has by his painful labors and industry cleared lands, fenced them, and erected buildings for himself, his family and his cattle. to encourage those who may hereafter desire to inhabit and develop the said country of Canada" the land held by Hebert, together with an additional square league on the shore of the St Charles, is given to him "to have and to hold in fief noble for ever," subject to such charges and conditions as might be later imposed by official decree.

Hebert died in 1627. Little as we know about his life, the clerical chroniclers tell us a good deal about his death, which proves that he must have had all the externals of piety. At the time of Hebert's death Quebec was still a struggling hamlet of sixty-five souls, two-thirds of whom were women and children unable to till the fields. Hebert certainly did his share. His daughters married in the colony and had large families. By these marriages a close alliance was formed with the Couillards and other prominent families of the colony's earliest days.
Attached to this monument is a bronze plaque inscribed "Les Premiers Colons De Quebec" with about 90 names of which are 14 ancestors of Anthony Moses Genereau alias Jim Cummings.
These settlers came to Kebec with Champlain, some were shipped back to France by the Kirk bothers in 1627, others remained under English rule until the treaty March 1632 when Kebec and Arcadia was returned to France. Champlain returned in May 23 1633 with three ships loaded with supplies, and the settlement once again started to grow.
Jim Cummings, is not only full blooded French but could boast that he is a decedent of the very first European to settle in New France, He has many cousins that can do the same but his line is documented.
How I wish I could spend a few moments with my grandmother "Maggie" she was loyal to her fathers wishes to keep secret his change of name due to a unfortunate incident, but a family with this genealogy can not be denied to those coming after us. All of "maggie's" family on her fathers side both Paternal and Maternal have been traced for each generation back to 1600's in France, and in some cases beyond the middle ages.

Sgt. Jean Sicard-de-Carufel, Lord Farguette

2009-06-13T15:14:00.000-04:00

Moses Genereaux alias Jim Cummings- wonder if Jim knew that his mother, Marie Dupuis Genereaux's, 4th great grandfather held all these titles and came from a Nobel family in France.
Jean-Baptiste Sicard de Carufel, was born 1665 at St Jacques, Castres, Languedoc, France the son of Pierre Sicard-de-Carufel and Marie de Farques. [due to the ordinance revising titles of Nobility in France 1664 to 1667, Pierre Sicard appeared before Montpellier tribunal on 5 Sep 1669. He and his descendants were declared Nobles also mentioning the fief of Carufel]
At the age of 19 Jean-Baptiste Sicard de Carufel joined the French Marine troops under the command of Captain [Ecuyer] Francois-Marie-Renaud d'Avesne des Meloizes. The company, recruited by the new Gov. Jacques-Rene Brisay de Denonville, made part of the 500 man detachment from port of LaRochelle , and arrived in Quebec 1 Aug 1685.

Jean was Huguenot, or one of the many Albigeois groups that suffered religious persecution for mention is made in the Notr-Dame de Quebec church dated 20 Jan 1686 in which the young Nobleman renounced his faith according to the "Acte d'Abjuration" Jean Sicard native of parish St Jacques, city of Castres d'Albigeois, in Haut-Languedoc, Sargent in Reg. of Renaud d'Avesnes "recants from the pretended reformed religion", before Bishop of Quebec.
The Catholic religion had tremendous power and would not allow any non catholic to set foot in New France soil.
A marriage contract was prepared and signed 25 Nov 1694 states Jean was sergeant in Michael Leneuf Company, two days later [dispensation of bans granted, due to his military ties permission granted by Governor general] Sergeant Jean Sicard de Carufel, married Genevieve, dau of Jacques Ratte and Anne Martin [grand-daughter of Abraham Martin dit l'Ecossais, a royal pilot[not ww11, pilot of boat]
Jean returned to Nouvelle France and on 18 March 1704 after living 10 years in Saint-Pierre d'Orleans, sold his property to his brother in law Pierre Ratte. on 21 April 1705 Governor, Marquis Phillippe de Rigaud de Vaudreuil, officially granted Lord Jean Sicard the fief de Carufel, in a "Acte de concesson.
France was still supporting the "Seigneurial Regime" so Jean applied for and received a plot of land. Seigneurs were duty-bound to promote and colonize their grant by providing immigrants with favorable conditions for settlement and agriculture development. Jean Sicard de Lord of Carufel began to establish his property. Everything was stacked against him, the timing could not have been worse. Everyone feared the Iroquois Indians, although a peace treaty signed four years earlier in 1701 at Montreal, between the Mohawks and the French, was in effect, the reputation of the Indians made the immigrants fearful of moving far from the St Lawrence river. Jeans, Maskinonge fief was up the Maskinonge river some distance.
In 1720, with his sons he traveled to the site and built a sixteen ft square house on a 3 acre cleared site, enclosed by a sturdy palisades. Still no one was rushing in to take up his offers.
To be successful a Seigneur, had to develop enough sites for 25 to 30 settlers, then provide all the services they needed that he could receive revenue from rent of land and percentage of everything else they produced, plus a return for services of the mills etc that he would provide.
Much like the feudal system of Europe or the mill town in the industrial age.
Since Jeans maintenance cost were surpassing his income he remained active in his military career as Ensign of the troops of the colony.
27 Jan 1737 Jean made his will , died August 1743 at age of 77

Jean bore arms: "de geules, au paon rouant d"or, au chef cousu d'azur charg de trois etoiles d'argent" registered to the St Maurice de Coudols family.

Sgt. Jean Sicard-de-Carufel, Lord Farguette, family genealogy can be traced for many generation to Charlemagne, Kings and leaders of ancient times, these charts are just to large to include in this blog. Jean is not the only Nobel family included in Jims ancestors but he probably is the best recorded one. He put everything on the line to try and develop a title and life style in the wilds of New France but his timing was off.

Christie Taillon Cummings interview 1968

2009-06-12T11:33:00.000-04:00

Christie Taillon, born 8 Nov 1891, Williamstown, Ontario, Canada married 1909 at Cornwall, Ontario, Canada to John Cummings. rather than my trying to tell you about her life, an interview that she gave Jane Benham 26 Sep 1968 might be interesting for you to read. Christie Taillon Cummings lived on St Ann St. in St Regis Falls,N.Y. was a stanch member of the Holiness Church, where she often played the pump organ and piano. John and Christie's children were, Aretta [Brabon],Kenneth, Shirley [Phelps], and Sheldon. plus a son Wessley who had passed away at age 15 , from a infection from a horse bite.

From her interview: Christie Cummings came to St Regis Falls in 1902 with her mother and stepfather Mr Belmore. She was 10 years old at the time. Her family had previously lived in Williamstown, Ontario, about 25 miles below Cornwall. The family lived outside of St Regis Falls in what was later John Dora.s house. Mr Belmore worked in the lumber camps and took what other jobs he could find to support the family. Henry Ashlaw hired her mother to cook in his lumber camp four miles from Santa Clara, from then on, she and the children spent most of their time in the camps. Christie lived in the woods until she was 15. She got up at 3:30 on winter mornings to help her mother by paring potatoes, setting and waiting tables, making beds, and sweeping floors.
Meals in the lumber camp usually consisted of salt pork, baked beans and potatoes. These were often warmed over from one meal to the next. Cisco salt fish were purchased in barrels, and barrels of blackstrap molasses and light Caro syrup were also used. Christie's mother was a good cook, usually made breads, cakes and pies every day.
The men who lived in the camps also got up at 3:30 a.m. to hitch up their horses and sleds to draw logs to the river for the spring drives.
The bunks where the men slept were made of poles placed crosswise and covered with straw. Bedbugs and lice were everywhere. The cook's quarters were separate and were kept in cleaner condition. The only recreation time the men had was the times they went to town and came back drunk.
About the first of March each year the lumbermen broke camp and drove the logs down river to the mills. Christie never saw a river drive but her husband later worked on them.She did remember seeing the logs in the river before the drives began, When camp was broken, Christie and her family went home for a time. She remembered that the horses wallowed in the snow and the wagon almost tipped over, as the road out of the woods was so bumpy. In May they returned to camp and the lumbermen started over again. During the summer, the men cut and peeled pulp and piled it on skid-ways. The skid-way was a pile of logs where two men rolled other logs up. They put oil on their bodies in an attempt to keep the flies and mosquitoes away.
The last camp Christie's mother cooked at was owned by Jack Fraser. Harry Nelson was the foreman. that was 54 years ago [in 1968]. Christie never worked that camp, but said her mother had two chore boys--one inside and one out. The inside boy was Mose Martin from Malone.
She didn't know how many men were in the camp, but her mother used a 25 pound sack of flour a day to cook for them. Christie's husband John was a filer [sharpened axes and saws]. There were two blacksmiths: Dennis Gokey, and her father in law Jim Cummings.
Once Christie and her brother Lewis, who was four years younger went to visit their older sister who was married and still lived in Williamstown. Their mother bought them new cloths and shoes at a store in town. However when they had to walk along the tote road to Santa Clara to catch the morning train to Cornwall, they wore their old shoes and carried the new ones so they wouldn't be ruined. At the bridge in Santa Clara, they changed their shoes and put their old ones under a log. The next week when they returned, they went to the log, changed their shoes again and returned to camp.
When Christie was about 11 years old, she stayed with her sister for about a year, The sister lived on a farm and Christie had a good time, although she worked hard every day with haying and drawing out loads of manure.
There was usually no special celebration on Christmas or Thanksgiving when the family was in the woods, they sometimes didn't come out for almost a year. Special food was prepared for Christmas dinner, but there were no gifts.
The biggest celebration was usually the Fourth of July when a large parade and dinner was held in St Regis Falls. A dance pavilion was set up at the railroad depot where the fire station is now, and there were clowns and other entertainment. Everyone dressed up and enjoyed the good times. A number of businesses existed in the town at that time. A pulp mill up the river ran only during the summer after the soring river drives. The train crossed the river near it at Block bridge where people fished for bull heads. The Brooklyn Cooperage mill was across the river from the depot and was open all year. There was also a chair factory run by Mr Babcock and a mica factory. Hotels were run by Jim Farmer, Sam McLeod, and a Mr Bishop. The Waverly House was build by W.T.O'Neil. Two more hotels were on Tannery street, now river Street.One of these was owned by Mr Campbell. At one time, there was two theaters, run by Bill Deshaw and Fred Aldrich. A drug store was owned by Joe Wardner, Mr Tryon had a grocery store in the building where the present Rockhill store is. This was later taken over by Paul LeMeiux. John Prue ran a store and butcher shop there too. Cal Aldrich's dry good store was located where Larry Rivers appliance store is now. Next door where Sonny Rivers is now, George Butler had a shore repair and harness shop. Oren Wilson owned a grocery store where the laundry mat is and was later taken over by Ernie Tripeny. Clate Southworth owned the other grocery store across the river. Dr Wardner, brother of Joe Wardner, had his office above the Tryon store. Another doctor in town during that time was Dr Moody. A town newspaper, the Adirondack News was published by R. A. Rowell.ea had only a few telephones then, best way to get in touch with anyone any distance away was through the mail, but roads were often closed with snow in the winter, and sometimes the mailman could not get through for days. In 1908, Christie was married to John Cummings. John usually worked in the woods all winter, and Christie stayed home to take care of her family. The Cummings lived in the country until 1922 when they moved to the present home on St Ann Street. The older children started school in a country school on the Port Kent Road.
Although the Cummings were not farmers, they kept a cow, horse, pigs, chickens, and a garden-enough to keep them busy.Christie did her laundry with a scrub board and carried her own wood and water when John wasn't home. She built her own fires in the mornings and heated water in a pan on the stove for dishes. A table held the water pail and wash dish. The floors were made of wide knotty boards, and scrubbing them was a difficult job. Christie said all her neighbors lived and worked in this same rough way. They weren't able to push buttons and pull switches to get their work done. Everything had to be carried in and carried back out when they were done with it. It bothers her now when she hears people complain about the amount of work they have to do, for she doesn't feel they really know what work really is.

I did not change anything, there are facts here that you will not find in any books written about the area.
Christie lived about a year and a half after this interview dying 26 Mar 1970, she had a great memory and certainly lived through a wonderful period when women especially were able to get away from the difficult labor of keeping up a home-how upset we are when the dish washer fails or the TV will not come in. Think about the extra labor you are missing when you buy that individual wrapped boned chicken breast. Christie would have had to kill it, pull the feathers, sing it, boil some water on the wood stove, clean out the inside and then cut it up. So much for the good old days

Marie Bouart Filles du Roi or Kings Daughters

2009-06-05T14:27:00.000-04:00

Marie Bouart, was born Feb 1649 at St-Savien, Poitus, Vienne, France. the daughter of Francois Bouart and Jeanne Billauge. She was my Grt. Grandfather Moses Genereau alias Jim Cummings. 6th Grt Grandmother. Her first husband was Jacques Antrade, whom she married 16 Aug 1668 with whom she had one child, he was born 19 Apr 1643 at St Andre, Nioit, Poitiers, Poitou, France and died 1671.
Then she married "Grampa" Francois, dit Le Bourguigon & Laplante, [contract Mar 3, 1672], he was born abt 1633, at St-Panttaleon, [Saone-et-Loire], Autun, Bourgoene, France. a soldier in "Carignan-Salieres Regiment. with whom she had 9 children, living in St Francois-Xavier, Batiscan, Champlain Co., Quebec. He died 20 Mar. 1688. Then she married third husband Jean Boismene on 6 Feb 1689.

King Louis Xiv was doing his best to make a success of the settlements in New France, he had made it attractive to the soldiers of the Carignan-Salieres Regiment, to stay in this New France by giving them land, live stock and equipment plus a purse if they would stay and develop the area.
He rounded up some 852 eligible females ranging in age from 13 to 40, from various places in France. 238 from Paris, 175 from Bougs, 46 Rouen, 35 LaRochelle, and other small villages, as well as 3 from other countries. 414 of these were from various Orphanages, the rest were mostly farm girls, used to hard work , with a few from better families.
This was not a new idea it had been done by the English in settling Virginia and the Spanish in the Carribian.
the girls arrived in New France in small groups as few as 10 some years and upwards of 170 in other years. The girls were carefully picked by agents of the crown for their good qualities, physical condition [until beast of burden could be raised the wives would have to pull the plow, while the husband pushed with one hand and carried a ready musket in the other] looks and education did not seem to be a factor.
The King bore the cost, amounting to about 100 livres per girl, broken down to ten for personal moving expenses, 30 for clothing and 60 to cover the passage to New France. In addition the girls received a small hope chest, one coiffe [bonnet], taffeta handkerchief, pair stockings, pair gloves, ribbon, four shoelaces, white thread, 100 needles, 1,000 pins, a comb, pair of scissors, two knives, two Livres in cash. upon arrival, each girl was to receive suitable clothing and some provisions.
All the girls arrived in Quebec, were the men had the first choice, then some were sent to Montreal and Trois River. Some of these girls married several times, as the males were often killed in skirmishes with the Mohawk Indians.
Upon marriage the girl received a Dowry from the King 50 Livres if she married a soldier, or "habitant" and 100 Livres if she marries an officer. in addition to start them off each couple was given, pair of chickens and pigs, an Ox, a cow, and two barrels of salted meat. With an incentive to have large families, a pension of 300 Livres was granted to family with 10 children, rising to 400 Livres for 12 children and more for even larger families.
The girls were not enslaved, they had the choice to regect a man if she so desired. Once married divorce was near impossible, unless her husband beat her with a stick larger in diameter than his wrist, in such case she could be granted a divorce.
The plan worked from 1663 to 1673 852 Filles du Roi, arrived in New France and in the year 1671 nearly 700 children were born to these girls. In 1663 about 2,500 colonist lived in New France, Sept 1673 was last shipment and the program ended. The population had increased to 6,700

Maria was not the only "Filles du Roi" that we can trace the ancestry of Jim Cummings to
there are at least 6 more. Today thousands of Canadians and Americans can trace there ancestry to these ladies.
Chemereau, Marguerite m Piet, Jean, dit Trempe, 1669 0or 1670
Herbert, Marie-Madeleine, m Brosseau, Denis, contract Oct 15, 1670
Lecoutre, Louise, m Crevier, Nicolas, abt 1665
Lemaire, Marie, m Ratel, Pierre, Dec 28, 1669
Leroux, Marie, m 1 Enaud, Jacques, dit Canada, bef 1673 m2 Borneuf, Pierre, 1691
Pillat, Catherine, m 1 Charron, Pierre, dit Ducharime, Oct 19,1665
m 2 Brisson, Sebastion, dit Lancoche, Jan 13, 1709

Francois Dessureau Soldier Carignan-Salieres Rgt

2009-06-04T12:18:00.000-04:00

My great grandfather Moses Genereaux alias Jim Cummings, 6th great grandfather was Francois Dessureau dit Le Bourguignon, & Lapante. He was born about 1633 son of Jean Dessureault and Anne Poraux, in Bourgogne, France His destiny laid beyond the ocean in a new continent. he enlisted in the foot soldier Company Poitou, but would be assigned to Monteil Company. He served for a few months when rumors started about being shipped to New France.
Rather mixed emotions it was supposed to be a wild country and months away by ship. With little time to think about it his company was merged in the famous Carignan-Saliers Regiment. Under the command of Lt. General Alexander de Prouvill, Sieur De Tracy.

King Louis the XIV in the hope he could defeat the Mohawks and stabilize the new colonies was sending this crack regiment to New France. Francois, was issued a uniform and loaded on the 800 ton ship Le Breze, out of La Guadeloupe, on 25 Apr 1665, they finally arrived in Quebec, 30 Jun 1665, little over two months. His was the second ship of 7 carrying the regiment of 1000 soldiers, at this time there was only about 2000 inhabitants of New France. When they landed at Quebec, they where temporally quartered in the homes of the families, while they built a series of forts on the Richelieu river. These feared Mohawks in small bands kept them under attack. Col Chazy, nephew of Marques Tracy, was attacked and killed while building the fort on the river we now call Chazy.
Lt. Gen. Sieur De Tracy Commander and chief of the Carignan-Salieres decided that on 9 Jan 1666 In the dead of winter, he would go on the offensive and attack the Mohawks. with 300 veteran and 200 volunteers they set out. each man with his summer uniform, with 35 to 50 pound back pack, with food, leather shoes, they were issued snowshoes which they had never seen before, probably bear paws which are very hard to get used to. It was a Indian summer day when they left, but this turned into sub zero stormy weather.
They had a canoe trip down the Richelieu river to Lake Champlain then a carry to Lake George then a struggle on foot, waist deep snow, food frozen, heavy packs and a group of Indian guides that were lost, with several foot of snow they could not find the trails. An advanced party was attacked by the Mohawks who killed several and wounded many more. The Mohawks went at once to Schenectady stockade and showed the Dutch five French heads they had on spears and told them about the snowshoes coming.
The French followed the Indians tracks and in several hours came stumbling out of the forest at Schenectady on 17 Feb. 1666. thirty nine days after they started They were lucky, had they emerged a few miles to the west, the Mohawks would have no doubt killed them all. Being frozen, starving, many without firearms and equipment. The Dutch took them in there homes, feed them and tended there needs. The year before the English had taken over New York, so they sent for Arent Van Corlear, commander at Albany who came at once with more provisions, and a question for Gov. Courcelles, the officer in charge, why were the French this deep into English territory. The French officer said they were going to punish the Mohawks and would continue on that mission, when they left next day they started in westerly direction toward the Mohawk Castile's but once out of site of the stockade they turned north and went directly to Lake George, and home.
During the next few months the Mohawks continued to harass the outlaying French forts.
July, Captain de Sorel, with party of 200 soldiers and volunteers with 80 Algonquins parlayed with the Mohawks who surrendered several French captives .
In August of 1666 a grand Council was held at Quebec and under flag of truce the Mohawk chieftains attended. During the meeting the Marque De Tracy sponsored a dinner after which bragging began, Ag-Ari-Ata a Mohawk chief stood up raised his right arm and said "this is the hand that split the blond Col Chazy's head. De Tracy had him seized and the next day he hung him in front of the other Mohawk party. Needless to say the peace meeting was over and another blow for the hatred the Mohawks had for the French.
In October 1666, Marques Tracy gave the order for 700 regulars 400 Canadians, 100 Algonquins and Hurons, along with 2 field cannon to embark on a surprise attack on the Mohawk castles along the Mohawk River. They started in canoes down the Richelieu River to Lake Champlain, across the carry to Lake George, from there the Indian trail that came out near the noses in the Mohawk valley. Of course the Mohawks were following them as soon as they left Lake Champlain. As they got nearer the valley the Mohawks gave the alarm and everyone moved there belongings to other castles. These castles were Palisaded enclosure made of 6 inch poles about 10 to 12 ft high enclosing a area were they built, from saplings covered with Elm bark several long houses ranging from 40 to 300 ft in length. Since they were only armed with bow and arrows plus the few muskets they had found during the winter march to Schenectady, Marques Tracy had little use for the cannon and great number of soldiers. They marched to 4 other castles and found no one so they burned everything and returned to Quebec after this very successful campaign.
The Mohawks were busy in the valley, a war with the Mohican's which established the command of the valley for the Mohawks. The 5 Castles were moved westward and rebuilt, with the help from the Dutch and English who furnished grain and food to replace what had been burned. They also furnished metal tools for the Mohawks to rebuild. This left the French alone for 1667. The Cariganan-Salieres Regiment was scheduled to go back to France. King Louis Xiv offered a bonus of Land, cattle and purse for any soldier staying in New France, about 400 including My ancestor Francois stayed, married but that is another story, Marie Bouart, born Feb 1649 in St Savien, Poitus, Vienna, France. They were married 3 Mar 1672. in Batiscan, Champlain Co., Quebec.
The parents of 9 children. Francois, died 20 Mar 1688, in Batiscan, Champlain, Co., Quebec.

Our Ancestor Moses Genereaux alias Jim Cumming , had several other ancestors who came with the "regiment" in 1665 including: Pierre Enrud Dit Canada , Francues Dit Lamantagne Banliac,
Pierre dit Beaulieu Hudon, and no doubt many others.
The photo of the oil painting of Louis the Xiv has hung in my home since the 1970's long before I knew about the French connection.
The French soldiers did there part but one gets the feeling those in command made some rather bad decisions, this has been obvious in many of the wars that would follow.

Albert Cumming update

2009-05-17T17:00:00.000-04:00

Member of the Cummings family we have a update, as you know I have been trying to get photos of all of Jim Cummings sons, this is very difficult all of them have been dead for some years now and it is the children and grandchildren that have been kind enough to contact me and send photos. The latest one is Albert Cummings. on the left. Albert was born 30 Dec 1898
in Spring Cove, New York died in boating accident on little Pond, Saranac Lake, N. Y. 31 May 1969 His wife on the right Cora Stella Mae Antlianette Jarvis Cummings born 7 April 1901, Derrick, Franklin Co., N. Y. died
24 Aug 1999 in New Port Richy, Florida

there is a story about Albert in the archives for 2008 Sep 11, these photos of Albert, his wife Cora were received from Alberts son Vernon and his wife Beverly, the photo below is Albert , Cora,and Margaret along with Alberts children, Chester, Albert,Ivan,Vernon

If anyone out there has or knows were their might be a photo of Jim Cummings other sons pleas contact me: Leonard Cummings living in NYC in 1960's, Dennis Cummings married a DeShano living in Syracuse, N. Y. 1950's, Joseph Cummings married Jessie Kiser, living in Dolgesville, N. Y. 1920 and Syracuse 1957, James Cummings born 10 Jun 1890, Martintown, Ont. married Hazel Morehouse and Elsie Hall living in Ogdensburgh, N. Y. 1957, also would like photo of Martin Cummings, I remember him when I was real young and have posted a story Aug 19 2008 but do not have a photo, last I knew he was living in Rutland, Vermont.
Thank you and hope you continue to follow the Cummings family.

John Lenderson, Ranger, 3rd Rgt. Tryon Co. Militia

2009-05-11T12:33:00.000-04:00

There is a lot to be written about this John Lenderson my 5th grt grandfather born 8 Dec 1727 in Schenectady, N.Y. died in Randal, Montgomery Co., N. Y. married to Ann Stanhouse.
They owned a farm on south side of Mohawk River. his brother Timothy Lenderson and three of his sons were in Col Fisher's Regiment, Tryon County Militia, 3rd Regiment. John as young man served with Sir William Johnson at the Battle of Lake George, and in later campaigns. As the fires of the revolution began to rise the Lenderson family took a stand for freedom, many of there neighbors felt a loyalty to the king and crown. 24 May 1775 first meeting of the committees of Tryon County Committee of Safety. In retaliation Sir John Johnson fortified Johnson Hall and armed the Tory Scotch Highlanders. Jan 18th 1776 at Johnstown, N. Y. Sir John Johnson surrendered Johnson Hall and turned over the military stores , including the arms of the 300 Scotch Highlanders. May of 1776 Col Dayton was sent to capture Sir John and his followers.
Sir John rallied the Tories and in the night set out for Canada, leaving behind there homes and families.

Two of our John Lenderson neighbors Henry Hare who lived only a couple of house west of the Lenderson farm and William Newbury a friend living in Glen, N. Y. just a mile or so south of the Lenderson both went with Johnson to Canada.

Almost immediately the raids on the Mohawk, and Scoharie areas began under the leadership of Joseph Brant and William Butler.

The raids became so destructive, the wheat and crop, loss began to effect the supplies for the Army. Gen Washington sent a directive to General Sullivan and his associate Gen Clinton to strike a blow to the Indians. Sullivan was to proceed to Pennsylvania and accend the Susquahana while, Gen Clinton would go up the Mohawk to Canajoharie thence to Otsego Lake, and the head waters of the Susquehanna , down which he would travel to meet up with Sullivan with a combined force of 4,000 to destroy everything and everyone in route,
then to lay waste to the Indians living in eastern Pennsylvania.
A great plan on paper but it produced devastating punishment when the Indians and Tories sought out revenge on central New York.
We will just discuss a small part John Lenderson played in this drama.
Gen Clinton left Schenectady 12 Jun with 1600 men, about 100 boats another 100 would follow very shortly, he arrived at Canajoharie on the 14th remaining here for couple of weeks while stores and men were gathered. A road had to be built from Canajoharie to Otsego Lake, and the 200 plus boats plus provisions and war materials for a three month engagement had to be moved to the lake.
Since the Lenderson's were living only a few miles down stream from Canajoharie, they visited the camp, and probably took part in the activity.
On the 18th of Jun 1779 John saw Major Newkirk with his old Tory friends Henry Hare and William Newbury, being taken into the stockade, he later learned that on 21 Jun 1778 Col Gansevoort held Court Martial proceedings and learned that Lieut Henry Hare of British Army and Sgt William Newbury had been found lurking around the camp trying to enlist men to defect to Canada, it was also learned Hare had been at Cherry Valley Massacre, when questioned he admitted that he had killed and scalped Caty Steers at Fort Stanwicks previous year. Newbury with another Tory and 63 Indians were torching the Mohawk valley and had been hiding in there own homes until captured. the court decreed they should both be hung until dead.
At the same hearing, Peter Lyman and Bishop Hadley had been discovered sleeping they were to receive 200 lashings, bare back, well applied, at the evening retreat.
Hare's wife and Newbury's wife and family met with Gen Clinton on behalf of there mates life, but they were talking to a deaf ear, the execution was done at 6 a m next morning. On the 23 Jun James Titus 5th N.Y. Reg was caught attempting to desert, it was found he had deserted the English cause two moths earlier.
Gen Clinton statement "Guilty as stated to be shot at head of the Regiment at 6 a.m. 24 Jun 1779
"He is no good to his King or his Country"

My justice was swift and final

Gen Clinton arrived at Otsego Lake 2 July proceeded down lake to outlet Susquahanna river. they remained here until July 3oth when Gen Sullivan sent word from Wyoming that he was on the move. Aug 9th, Clinton with his 200 boats, 1600 men, stores and artillery began there trip down the Susaquahana, to strike a blown to the Indian allies of the British. They were very successful in laying waste to the Indian villages and crops, finally meeting Joseph Brant and Walter Butler at Elmira. N. Y. resulting in a fierce battle, and defeat of the British who retreated back to Canada.
John Lenderson and his three sons would yet see a lot of blood shed before it was all over.

Sorry about the time out Its Gen-Books fault

2009-05-10T07:31:00.000-04:00

Thank all of you that have e-mailed me and left comments about my not posting.,
Last spring I found a Software package I had bought years ago to publish a book it is called GEN-BOOK, you all know how addictive genealogy can be, I showed the first signs of it in the per war period of 1939 to 40. Over the years it just got worse. With a data base of over 77,000 names it is very hard to reach any finished point. This Gen-Book program seems to help. At least you can select one family and develop a hard copy, that you can enjoy reading without resorting to the computer.

So far I have assembled four books Olyer, Lasher, Genereaux, and Lord one of them is a descendants from a Philip Olyer, which I brought down to present time. The other three are Ancestral in nature and I limited them to only 16 generations each.

That is why I have not been posting to the blog, now if I can stay away from this program will get back to the family history, There are still hundreds of stories that I want to share with you-and thank you for taking the time to read about my ancestors, hope some of them are your ancestors also.

If you have a desire to put your work in print and are restricted by the lack of unlimited funds, I recomend this publishing program, it is still available for use on Windows XP, you will need Wordperfect or Microsoft Word. You also have to have your genealogy data base in a ged com formate from Paf 4, or Family Tree maker and others. recomend you visit www.foothills.net/~genbook The man who wrote this program Rex Clement has been very helpful, he has gone out of his way to explain details , and walked me through problems.
Once you have your data in ged com formate you answer a few questions of how you want the book and this program takes your data and puts it in book formate just the way you want it, ready to be printed and bound.
bob lord

My Mom a Mother Day Memory

2009-05-08T17:23:00.000-04:00

Mother Day, while I think about my mom almost every day, this period of time makes it even more important. She left a lot of "stuff" photos, papers, and some items I seldom go through. Last week I opened a small bundle of notes and among them was a folded add from a newspaper or add of some sort. An add for a bedroom suite, I know its about the only new item she ever bought. As a small boy I remember being in her bedroom and seeing this very bedroom set , I especially liked the dressing table with the mirror.
My mom, Mary Elizabeth Olyer, was born in 1904 in a lumber camp at Spring Cove, N. Y. her parents lived in Little Falls, N. Y on High Street, but her mother went home to her parents to have Mary. After her birth she lived in Little Falls until just before her 16th birth day, when she secretly got married, that lasted a few weeks until her parents found out and it was annulled. They packed up the family and moved to Nelliston, N. Y. and in a few moths she met my dad Edwin Lord.
He was working for his father as a mechanics helper in Knitting mill., So they decided to run away and get married abt 1922- off to Albany, N. Y. and from there to Delaware were my dad worked for a few months. His father owned a home at 12 Berthood Street in Nelliston, so he made it over to a duplex and my Mom and dad moved in. Now that seems like a great deal, but it must have been rough on her at times. My father and his mother were extremely close, his father was sick most of his life with T.B. and last three years confined to a bed which kept my dad at his mothers beck and call. While the duplex was great by the standards of the early 30's , nothing much was ever done to it. Mom worked at the Sack factory in Canajoharie 48 hours for a pay check of $6.30 week. It was with this money she was able to buy that bedroom set. She had that set until the 1960 when we bought Pine Lake Park and they bought a new trailer, were they lived until her death.

I wonder how many of us have bought a set of any kind of furniture and lived with it 36 years.
I never heard her complain but I am sure there must have been some depressing moments. We never had a lot but as a family I think we were content with what we had. She kept this add for all of those years, it must have met so much to her.
Guess my grandmother saying held true for all of us "use it up, make it do and you will never want for anything"

CAMPAIGNE OF 1755 to rid Colonies of French & Indians

2009-04-16T21:57:00.000-04:00

At a meeting 14 April 1755 in New York City these three men were selected to rid the Colonies of the French and Indian raids on the English colonies
Maj Gen Edward Braddock, on left was to move against Fort Duquesne with British regulars and about 200 Indians, a very headstrong man would not take advise from the Indians, instead marched with drums, fife, and flags in full formation through the forest. Small party of French set up ambush and annihilated his army killing 65 of 84 officers including Braddock, only the leadership of a young Colonel George Washington Saved the remnants of the army. Unfortunately Braddocks plans and letters fell in the hands of the French. They knew Shirley and Johnson were planning to move against
Fort Niagara and Crown Point.
Gen Shirley was at Oneida, were he picked up some
Indian allies, received the word about Gen Braddock defeat, next day he
reached Oswego were he stopped- had a palisade area built on both sides
of the Mohawk and with his staff made a hastily retreat to Albany, N. Y.

William Johnson at the meeting in New York was made commissioner of Indian Affairs , and a Major General in charge of the Provincial troops. Assigned the task of taking Crown Point He had always had a good relation with the Indians was know to paint his face and body and dance at the councils held at his home in Johnstown N. Y.were he embarked in trade with the Indians, whom he always treated with honesty and justice. He became master of there language, habits, beliefs and customs. The Mohawks adopted him, chose him a Sachem and named him "Wariaghejaghe" meaning "he who has charge of affairs" Gen Johnson
gathered his troops at Albany. some 40 Indian and about 3000 Provincial soldiers, He marched
to Fort Lyman [Fort Edward] were he left some men and went from there to Lake Sacrament arriving August 28th 1755 at south shore of Lake Sacrament. by now another 200 plus Indians joined him bringing his army to about 1500 troops.
But the French commanded by Jean Erdman Dieskau, Baron Major General of French Troops, with Braddocks letters in hand, knowing Braddock was defeated and Shirley had run for cover left only Johnson in the field. Dieskau with 600 savages, 600 Canadians and 200 Regulars headed for Fort Lyman a days march from the fort the Indians determined the fort was reinforced with 1000 troops and they had cannon. They knew that Johnson was at Lake Sacrament and agreed to attack him. Dieskau had no choice, he started for the lake when a scout informed him Johnson was trying to overtake him. On the road to the lake Dieskau set up a ambush with the 600 Indians on the north side, the regulars on the road and the 600 Canadians on the South, Col Williams at the head of some 1000 men was coming into the trap, one of the Indians saw king Hendrick and jumpedto his feet and announced "he would not kill Hendrick" the head of the Iroquois Nation, this sprung the trap and the French fired killing about 300 English including Col Williams. The survivors fell back and for about hour and half, retreated to the Lake were Johnson was quickly constructing a barricade of wagons, barges and trees. When the French came in viewer they fired there four cannons and the Indians took flight, with some of the Canadians, all Dieskau had was the regulars and they were soon over taken . He was wounded and so was Johnson during the battle.

As a result of this William Johnson renamed the lake calling it Lake George, he built a fort on the spot and called it Fort William Henry to honor King George's two sons. Being the only successful engagement the British had he was made a hereditary Baron, he and his direct descendant retain the title and 5,000 pound yearly.

My ancestors were there at the battle of Lake George with Sir William, I also had ancestors that were with Dieskau. The portrait shown of Sir William was mentioned in his papers, J F. Cooper the author bought it in London while researching for last of the Mohican's, at his death Mr Klien of the Amsterdam Dispatch Newspaper bought it and I purchased it from him. notice the lower right corner British officer holding a horse depicted on the easel Sir William at the battle of Lake George had his favorite horse tied at camp and rode another in battle. [the horse he rode was unharmed his favorite was shot and killed]

Sir William Johnson Major General was not a ancestor but his life has influenced my life and many of my ancestors. I lived very near Johnson home in Johnstown, The Portrait has hung in my home since the late 1950's, I had the greatest opportunity of my life to be the Curator and manager of Fort William Henry from the 1957 to 1960 period. In 1960 his direct descendant Sir John and Lady Johnson were house guest for a week at which time I was able to visit all the historic sites that Sir William was a part of in the mid 1700's

In some future post will go into more detail about these Colonial leaders and my Ancestors roll, fighting on both sides.

Ann Stanhouse 1823 letter

2009-02-21T10:12:00.000-05:00

Ann Stanhouse Lenderson, born 5 Oct 1733 died 12 Oct 1837 a 104 years on Colonial America's

frontier. She was the daughter of James Stenhouse and Anna Margaritha Veeder.

Ann at the age of 90 wrote a letter to her grand-daughter, Caty Ann , wife of Hezekiah Lenderson, before her 17th birthday, the said Caty Ann at age 85 stated in a letter to Mrs John Doran that Ann Stanhouse at the "age of 18 {1751} accompanied only by a cow walked from Canada to the Mohawk Valley in a week, then purchased a large farm on the south side of the Mohawk."

She Ann , also stated her father was from {the name was on the fold of paper and some of it was missing} looks like E siden --co There are Stanhouse families in Essendon, Lincoln, Huntingdon, England.

What a wonderful bit of history-at first glance

Lets look at the facts:AnnStanhouse father James Stenhouse resident of Livingston Manor, was married 16 Sep 1732 Albany Dutch Ref Church,Albany, N.Y. see Persons families page 106. He and his two sons were harvesting and selling "Ginseng Root" the Viagra of the 18th century. they 0wned 11,000 acares of land east of Sabbathday Point. The two sons had permission from Sir Wm Johnson the stay in the Indian village in the winter months. the father lived in Livingston Manor.

Ann's mother was Anna Veeder daughter of Corset Veeder and Margriet Barret this Margriet

had a sister Magdalena Barret born 31 Aug 1701 who was the wife of Jan Leendertse, born 11 Aug 1700. She also had brother William Barret born 18 Jan 1699.

Now this William Barret and Jan Leendertse held a land patent on the north side of the Mohawk river across from Randel, N.Y.

Our Ann Stanhouse married John Lenderson the son of Jan Leeendertse and Magdalena Barret, John and Ann Lived on a large farm right there across the river from his father and Ann's Uncle William Barret, so this family owned this land, and were intermarried, the farm Ann lived on was mentioned i n Will of her father in law Jan as passing to her husband and her in 1768

I am sure Ann walked many miles and many days from the settlement in Livingston Manor to the Mohawk Valley, but it would have been extremely hazardous to make a trip from Canada in 1751. The French and wood eater Indians controlled everything from the St Lawrence river south to Crown Point and the English with the Mohawks controlled the land from Albany to Fort Edward. The 60 or so miles between these outpost was sure death to anyone captured by either tribe of Indians.

Ann Stanhouse Lenderson, her husband John Lenderson , along with some of there children and grandchildren are all buried on the old Lenderson farm in a family plot once surrounded with cut lime stone wall and iron fence, containing a dozen or more large marble markers. This site is about 500 feet from the old homestead on a slight knoll. Unfortunately this area has been used as a barn yard and now the wall and stones are knocked over.

Ann and her husband are my 5th great Grandparents, it is very upsetting to see the diregard some peoiple have for our ancestors, in this particulate case the owner of the Lenderson farm in the 70's when I lived in the area was also the leader of the local Morman church. In my 60 or more years of cemetery searching have found a great number of these destroyed family plots,

without a doubt this trend will continue in years to come.

snow couple of the 1940's

2009-01-15T18:54:00.000-05:00

Not exactly a Family History, but a time when life was lived at slower pace.

This photo fell out of my mothers many books and it swiftly took me back in time, I was really just a kid but at the time would not have felt that way. it was the year after I was discharged from service probably 1947-48 I had been married in the service and we had an apartment in Nelliston on West main street, big yard. the time was right after Xmas, we had bought our self a T.V but that will be another post- I will tell you the screen was 5 inches in a metal box about 3 1/2 foot square and we could only watch it a couple of hours each day. So this morning we got up Saturday, it had snowed all night so there was about 10 to 12 inches of new soft snow. By 9 in the morning we were out there in the yard to make a snow man, In the middle of winter ,we worked had enough that I ended up with no coat or hat, well we never did things half way, no carrots and buttons, this was to be the ultimate snow man. by afternoon we were working at it harder than if was a job. No man is complete without a spouse so we made a girl also.

We worked until dark when my Mom came to get us for supper we had to go someplace I forget were now so we changed our cloths and when we came out she had the camera. My wife is on the left side but so dark you can not see her.

thought the dog was interesting addition.

As I recall I woke up Sunday with very bad cold and was laid up several days with pneumonia
but we had a great display, in those days not many people decorated there yard as they do now,
the snow couple only lasted a couple of weeks but it was worth all the effort.

No one Could Be More Pround

2009-01-10T07:03:00.000-05:00

During my 80 plus years I have had many things happen in my life to make me feel proud and to realize the rewards of hard work.
My mother was always there urging me on, one of her interest was history and family, the automobile was a new item so my parents loved to motor to the historical sites. The seed of history was planted in very fertile soil. I married while in the service to my high school girlfriend, a year later a neighbor showed me a pair of cap and ball pistols he wanted $50.00 for them. I was earning about $100 week and when I mentioned it to my wife June, she said" I have put aside a few dollars for a new suit for you, if you want the guns instead of the suit go get them"
Thus was launched a interest and collection that influenced our life forever.
We had two children Lansing a son and Lorraine Charee a daughter. The four of us without realizing it lived history, the gun collection grew to over 1,000 hand guns, we purchased several known book collections including N.Burton Alter, and Lou McWeathy.
I accepted a position as Curator and Gen Manager of Fort William Henry, Lake George, N. Y.
We even had Sir & Lady John Johnson Baronet, Descendant of Sir William Johnson as our house guest while he was visiting the Mohawk Valley for over a week. The children were still young for several years we had been going to Fort Klock to help restore the old stone house, and would dress in costumes every year to commemorate the last battle of the Revolutionary War in the valley and the children would be part of it. As a family we thought Fort Plain should be restored, we persuaded Allen Samuels a local attorney to join with us and form a corporation to purchase the sight of the fort. The children, June and myself dressed in Colonial costumes and took part in the parades with a banner supporting the restoration of Fort Plain, Lansing helped in the site location with the archaeological test holes and Indian burial sites we found.
Although the family operated the store at Canada Lake, and the Amusement Park at Pine Lake we had time to visit The historical sites in the north east and many of the Civil War sites.
I did not realize the influence all of this was having on my son Lansing, until he went to college and graduated with degree in Archeology, I guess playing in Fort William Henry, and being part of that life style influenced his life.

Now I knew that Lansing was interested in history, but a few days ago I received a note from his wife with newspaper article about his appointment as Historian for Town of Johnstown, Fulton Co., N. Y. No one could be more proud of this than me, as my life draws to its end he will be carrying on keeping history alive. Lansings genealogy is firmly rooted in Johnstown his earliest ancestor in Johnstown was Annson Lord [1786-1877], owned and operated the slaughter house on south Williams street, his son Martin Lord,[1817-1892] had the meat market on west Main street, his son Byington Lord,[1844-1931] was a printer lived across from Johnstown hotel. His son Edwin Lord, [1878-1937] lived in Fort Hunter and eventually Nelliston, N. Y. were Edwin Lord Jr. [1904-1983] , Robert Lord [1925] and Lansing Lord [1950] were born
While all these things were happening, Lansing was quietly being influenced in a path of history.
His occupation is in a different field but that is reaching the point of retirement, I hope he can continue on this path , he lives in one of the important areas of our early history, it is with great pride that I boast a little about him, hopefully he will have many years to enjoy the rediscoveries of our colonial past in Fulton county.

Walter Butler Loyalist American Revelution

2008-12-29T15:07:00.000-05:00

Genealogy of the Butler family and a interesting lost heirloom
Walter Butler and Mary Harris, living in New London, Conn. could not have ever realized what the infant son John born 1728 would grow up to be. His parents learned of the land and opportunities in central New York and moved the family to the Mohawk valley around 1742, arriving just a few years after William Johnson, Young John impressed Johnson with the on coming trouble with French and Indians out of Canada, Johnson made a Allie of the family. This was a great opportunity for the Butler family. over the next 3 years they would become the second wealthiest family in upstate New York, second only to William Johnson.
The year 1743 began with the third outbreak of the French and Indian war, Walter Butler began the wood frame building known as Butlersbury, located on a eminence of land overlooking the Mohawk Valley near Canawaugah, and by 177o's commanded 26,000 acers.
In 1755 John was commissioned a Captain in the Indian Department of Col William Johnson's
Militia. During this year Johnson was advanced to Major General of the British American Army and defeated the French at Fort William Henry, in Lake George, N. Y., Capt. Butler was there and the 250 Indians under his command with King Hendrick, and preformed well, Gen. Johnson was made a Baronet and reappointed Indian Superintendent, John Butler was his second, the two of them served during many campaigns and Butler attended the many conferences with Johnson trying to keep the Iroquois on the English side.
John Butler was at Fort Niagara 1759 in command of 700 Iroquois warrior, with Sir William Johnson's militia forcing the surrender of the French. He was a again present with a command of some 1300 Iroquois warriors joining Gen. Amherst army of 10,000. Together they defeated the French ending there power in America for ever.
Capt John spent enough time at Butlersbury to marry in 1752, Catalyntje Bradt and father
6 children, the first being Walter Butler, born 1752 at Butlersbury, Johnstown, New York.
Like his father he was interested in military affairs, he studied law in Albany admitted to the bar
in 1775. He was a Ensign in the Militia 1768. due to the time spent in the Militia, and college he knew most of the young men in the Mohawk Valley.
Unrest was starting in the Colonies, to make thing worse Sir William Johnson died 1774, leaving
his son John in charge. 1775 the the Palatine Committee of Safety was formed at Adam Loucks home and 24 May 1775 first meeting was held at William Sebbers home. A liberty pole was erected at Fort Herkimer and at Fort Johnson-The Loyalist knew the fuse was lit and it was only a matter of time when it would all explode. John Butler with his son Walter left with the other loyalist for Fort Niagara, before leaving he placed two navy flint locks on the shelf behind the fireplace in case his wife needed them, loaded and with extra shot and powder.
By Jan 18 1776 Gen Schuyler and Gen Herkimer with the Militia disarmed the Johnstown loyalist , some 400 in the area. They did not find John Butlers pistols, however they did take his wife and children back to Albany for safe keeping and the pistols were forever forgotten.
John Butler was commissioned a Lieutenant Colonel, was present at ambush of Oriskany, and in June 1788 with 20 of his rangers and 100's of Indians ravaged the Wyoming Valley [now Wilkes-Barre] Penn. burning over 1,000 homes with the victorious Loyalist and Iroquois executing and scalping the remaining prisoners and fleeing Patriots [est 2000]. In August his son Capt. Walter with two companies of Rangers and 300 Iroquois allies burned and massacred Cherry Valley.
Lt Col John Butler died 12 May 1796 a war hero, to the British, life-sized bronze bust erected in 2006 at the National War Memorial Ottawa. The 2000 plus patriots in Wyoming Valley go undisturbed.
Capt Walter Butler, was not so lucky, he with Major Ross, launched a destruction raid on the Mohawk-Schoharie valley in late August and October burning the crops, buildings and scalping the inhabitants. Lt Wormuth, young patriot that Walter had known was put to death by Walter, mid October a running battle started at Johnstown, N. Y. and ended 30 Oct 1781 at West Canada creek when the American forces under Major Willet over took Walter Butler,
Butler was wounded and asked for quarter a Seneca Warrior shouted "I give yu Sherry Valley Quarter" grasped his hair and removed his scalp.
When the news was reported in the Mohawk valley people were so glad they were done with Butler they hardly reacted to Cornwallis's surrender.
Meanwhile Butlersbury is abanded, patriots take everything of value out of the house , no one lives in it for years. Then in the 30's the W.P.A. has a program to restore or preserve the old building of our past, Butlers home was on the list. A man was working on the fireplace when he discovered a chamber holding what was left of a couple of guns. He put everything in a bag and eventually sold it to Jack Markum the gunsmith living at Fort Johnson. The stock on one gun was completely disintegrated, the other about 50% rotted away. the barrels [which were loaded] and the mountings were all brass. the lock plates although they were steel had been protected by oil soaked leather cover. Jake Markum restored the guns and made a case for them. Earnest Spencer local Textile Manufacturer bought he flint lock pistols and in 1945 I married his niece June Vosburgh, Earnest lived with us until his death in the 60's when I came to own them. I passed them on to my son Lancing Lord, who is very interested in History and active in the historical societies in the Johnstown N. Y. area.
Strange how hero's are honored and there deeds no matter how cruel and cunning are forgotten,
today we stand ready to convict a soldier in our ranks for shooting civilians in a war zone, it happens in every war but our reaction is not always the same. I suppose after our present generation has died off new generations will forgive the atrocities of WW11 and the other conflicts.

Cpt. Cyrus Balleu Co. A 115th N. Y. Inf.-Hangman

2008-12-09T09:23:00.000-05:00

The story of my Great Grandfathers brother in law, his part in the family genealogy and events around his life Capt. Cyrus Balleu, born in Montgomery Co. New York about 1826, a house painter at a very early age, a trade that he worked at all of his life. He married Anna Margaret Lasher in 1853, she was sister of John "Jack" Lasher, my great grandfather.
Cyrus and Anna lived in the little house on the left behind the new Court House in Fonda, New York. They were both very devoted to the Canawaga Church, were all of the children were baptized. however they had very bad luck trying to establish a family There was a total of 8 children. Mary A. bn 1854, James bn 1855, each died during the first few months after birth. Then Louisea born 1856 over came the odds and lived for many years. then they had Eliza 1857 she died same year. Followed by Willard C.D. born 1859 died 1861, then they had Cyrus S. born 1861 he drowned in the Mohawk River 1 Mar 1873.

In spring of 1860, Dewitt Lasher and his wife Margaret, brother of Anna, came to live with Cyrus
and they were both engaged in house painting. The civil war began and Cyrus enlisted 18 Aug 1862 with his brother in law John Lasher.

Cyrus was given a clerks position and attained the rank of Sargent. under Captain Van derVree, and Col Sammons in Co. A, 115th New York Infantry called the "Iron Hearted"

The unit did not see much combat until Petersburgh, were they were engaged by now Cyrus was Orderly and has been promoted to Lieutenant. There next engagement was Florida, here things took a turn for the worse. the 115th was fully engaged and lost a lot of men killed and captured. Cyrus was advanced to Captain after both Col. Sammons and Captain Van DerVree were badly wounded. The men fell back to Pilatka below Jacksonville and Cyrus penned this letter:
March 19th 1864

letter from Orderly C. N. Ballon, Capt. Co A 115th Rgt. The regiment is at Pilatke, about 75 miles from here, up river. I was here sick, but am better now and shall join the regiment in a few days.-Stephen Morris and George Bellos are dead. They were brave men. We had but sixty men in the battle of Olustee, thirty two were killed or wounded. thirteen are missing and supposed to be prisoners, all wounded except Elisha Carson. He was tired out by hard marching. Capt Van Dervee was severely wounded in front of his company, before he had got into his position in the line. A Minnie ball passed through his thigh, it bled profusely. I tried to get him to leave the field, but he would not abandon his post. At last he was shot through the breast, and was carried to the rear. The boys stood until they had fired their last cartridge, and then cut the cartridge boxes from their dead and wounded companions. We numbered 670 and held our position for more than two hours under a murderous and steady fire, from the enemy. We stood about fifteen minutes after all our ammunition was exhausted and would not yield an inch of ground till we were ordered back. Lieut Davis was brought 7 miles from the battle field. We left him comfortably and we thought safe, but he fell into the hands of the enemy. There was ten miles of woods before us and I could not get him on to a wagon. The men were all tired out and we could do no better. I am proud of the 115th Regt. from your old friend C.N.Ballou

June 27,1865 Line Officer Capt. Cyrus Ballew was en route to Albany
New York, to be discharged the battle roll for the 115th shows 1,493 names and left on the field 301 pretty high casualties.
Once home life soon became routine another child Gracie joined them in 1869 but her stay was shortened by death in 1872 at which time her brother Cyrus passed away. This left the family with just Cyrus and his wife and daughter Louise who lived until past 1880 census.
In 1872 Cyrus was a Deputy Sheriff in Montgomery Co. and was given the job of building the famous Montgomery County Gallows. When completed Cyrus was put in charge of the execution of one Ecker who had murdered Durdick the School Master. This launched a carrier job for Cyrus he would become famous in the Mohawk valley communities for his exceptional and professional execution of the condemned, a man who the valley sheriffs could real on to preform a safe reliable job. His most Gaulish encounter was Sam Steinburg a colored man This man had been accused by a teen age girl of molestation, the trial was short, while in Montgomery Co. Jail Steinburgh sold his skin to local tanner, to raise money that his daughter might get a education. After his death the tanner finished the leather and made several items, I personally saw a wallet and small lamp shade.[looked like any other leather to me] The sad thing is the teen age girl admitted a few years,later "it never happened".
Cyrus went on to oversee many other executions in the valley. The change to the electric chair ended this career. Cyrus then operated a steam boat excursion on Canada Lake, N. Y. he died at his home in Fonda 24 Jan 1902 A very common man swept up in war to have rank and honor bestowed on him only to,returning to his home town were he served the law as under sheriff and deputy for years.

WW11 Army Nurse and WAC Sheppard Field Texas

2008-11-10T08:47:00.000-05:00

Well late again but was reading "AnceStories", which triggered a memory of two very important young girls in my life. WW11, 1944 I was at Sheppard Air Base in Wichita, Texas. One night while crossing the parade ground I passed out, was taken to base hospital and in few days the commandant of the hospital sent my wife[of one month] a telegram "your husband critical recovery doubtful suggest you come if possible"
Well being new bride she called my parents and for first time in there life they flew in a air plane from Albany, N.Y. heading for Texas. That trip is another story, they eventually got to Texas but by train.
I was in a coma my doctor was Capt Pritchet, he and his nurses a pair of twins Helen and Hazel Albie had just arrived at Sheppard from the south Pacific and thought they new what was wrong and had a program to help me, at the same time my parents arrived, my dad had been in the Albany Medical Center just 4 years before with exactly the same problems. Capt Pritchet and my mom called Albany Medical Center and the Doctors agreed on a course of treatment. Now the real star performer was a young Nurse Hazel Albie, she remained with me for two days until my parents arrived and then was in charge of all my test and medications, it was almost another week before I was awake enough to know everyone. My father, wife and her uncle, went back to New York, but my mom stayed there at the Guest house . The technition or nurse aid was Dorthy Platte, she was in my room anytime Hazel had to leave. These two young girls went way beyond the call of duty to take care of me. Dorthy took my mom under her wing and made sure she was comfortable at the guest house. As I got better Dorothy and Hazel found a uniform that I could get dressed and get out of the hospital. My mom left in November.
I was given a leave and came home for Christmas. Never returned to Sheppard.
Shortly before I left, Capt Pritchet was transferred from Sheppard.

For several years my mother wrote to Dorothy and we know she was married.
If anyone knows either of these girls Hazel Albi or Dorothy Platte
I would love to see them again. Its been 64 years, a long time to remember someone you only knew a few months, may have the spelling wrong, but the names are etched in my memory. It is strange how selective our memory is, there was a Paul Wit that I became friends with he left before me, remember he had somthing to do with the frozen food buisness.

1939 Worlds Fair wow! 70 years ago

2008-11-07T15:33:00.000-05:00

Time out from Genealogy to recall one of the highlights of times gone by.

Creativegene.blogspot.com has been doing a great job with the Carnival and I have visited that site a lot when Jasia noted that October was Polish remembrance I knew that some place we had the Worlds Fair photos and some of them were from the Polish Pavilion. Like everything else in life time has taken it toll. there are only two Photos left, and I am a few days late.

The photo that everyone takes with the sphere and ball in back ground and in the foreground from left to right my aunt Ruth Rose, My Mom Mary Lord, my most favorite aunt Julia Adamskie Olyer and my grandmother Margaret Olyer. I do not know were they put me, was probably being a spoiled brat and they did not want a bawling kid in the picture.

The next photo is in front of the Polish Pavilion, picture is marked 1939 the couple is my Mother and father. I can recall some of the trips we went several times, my dad loved to drive and was always ready to take anyone with us so in order to get everyone to the fair he only had a car full at a time, that way he could make extra trips. We lived about 180 miles from the city.

It must have been difficult for the Polish government to staff and maintain this display, which I think was open a couple of years, If my memory is correct Poland had been overrun by Germany in 1938. The day this photo was taken, in addition to the Polish Pavilion we had to go see the "Rockets" My grandmother had a niece who was a preformer, We never did get to see her, guess we were not a V I P, of course my grandmother picked out one girl who she thought was Lenard Cummings daughter and watched her every move.
My Mom had a couple of photo books full of pictures and cards from the fair but I can not find them, the only other item I have is a miniature "pickle" from the Heinz display, guess everything else got thrown away that stuff wasn't worth saving then. My grandmother was the only immigrant in the family, coming from Canada in 1898 , then Julia married my uncle, Guess that is why we sort of adopted Poland as our place to visit.

Now its back to finishing the Olyer and Cumming genealogy book

WW 11 Proud Moms Katherin Pratt Olyer

2008-11-02T09:56:00.000-05:00

Katherine Pratt interesting genealogy was born 27 Sep 1888 in Ray Brook, Northern New York, probably had no idea of the things life would burden her with. Her childhood has eluded me so far and my earliest record is her marrying Ross Raymond Olyer, in 1906 at Plattsburgh, New York. Ross as you may recall worked for the Delaware and Hudson Railroad, worked his way up to Fireman on Steam engine. They were doing fine, living in North Elba, Essex Co. New York In 1910 Katherine gave birth to a daughter Thelma, it would appear she died shortly after, there was a lot of Influenza during the mid 1900's and she is not listed in 1920 census.other children came along, in 1913 Rolland was born, two years later Stanley, then Carlton in 1918, and the last child Lionell 1920. Things were going well, the family had a above average income and with the Rail Road policy of furnishing free travel to its employees and there dependents, Katherine, with the children getting a little older, was able to travel around the state and visit relatives. The depression did not effect them to much, by the mid to later part of the 30's the boys all had found work locally.Rolland met and married Virginia Brown 10 Feb 1933, Stanley married J. LaBlanc in 1936, Then 1 day in April 1940 without giving it a thought Ross jumped from the cab of the engine to help the crew uncouple a car. The latch was stubborn, Ross a big guy grabbed a crow bar and with his weight pried on the latch-it released throwing him to the ground, landing on his neck and back across a rail. Everyone made a joke of it and went back to work. For the next 5 days Ross was getting worse, he reached the point were he was bed ridden and on the 1st day of May passed away.
The war in Europe was beginning to heat up, Rolland had moved to Vermont, Stanley was struggling with marriage and Carlton enlisted in Army Air Force. Shortly after this Lionel enlisted in the Air Corp. and went to Bradley field, Windsor Lock, Conn.
Katherine was alone, she went to live with her eldest son Rolland in Fair Haven Vermont.By now Stanley also enlisted in the Army Air Force, divorcing his wife enroute.
Now for a strange twist all three boys went into the air force, they all attended food service training and all made rating of Sargent. In the fall of 1942 all three boys on three different air bases were promoted during the same week to Master Sargent status as Mess Sargent's. Lional at Air Squadron, Bradley Field,Windsor Lock, Conn.Carlton Chanualt Field, Campaign, Ill. and Stanley Knob Nostar, Mo. Stanley was in charge of all the mess halls in 2nd Air Command. This required him to visit the other bases to inspect the mess halls, a few days before Xmas his plane crashed with 5 men aboard no one was killed but they were all badly hurt, Stanley was only one able to walk and was able to reach a highway and summons help.
Carlton made the Air Force his career spending years in Alaska, he is buried at Crestview in Florida. Lionel married Beatrice Lewise in 1945 and lived in Solano, California. Stanley tried marriage again with Mildred Smith in 1943, they had on daughter "Kayo" born 1944, Nine years later he is married to Jesse Rankin Finette
and they had two boys Ross Raymond and Gary Duan, Stanley was in the restaurant business with his wife, but died in Wyoming. his children live in Texas.
Rolland stayed in Vermont taking care of his mother until she entered Richards Nursing Home,Fair Haven, Vt. were she died 18 Oct 1948

Wonder as you uncover these bits of history "what if" Ross had remained in the cab
would this family have remained together living out there lives in northern New York, or are we meant to travel to new places starting the family over again-

If you notice a relative in this post please contact me with any information you have
the history of the Olyer family is about ready if you are interested in purchasing a copy let me know, it will have over 360 descendants of Philip Olyer, plus photos and the Ancestry of his wife Phyniath Smith for 10 generations

Compile,Print,Bind your Family Genealogy

2008-11-01T14:22:00.000-04:00

Well it has been a few days since I picked my way across the key board but I have good reason--
Over the years have built up a very large data base and after posting some items about the Olyer family, some members have asked if the information is available well it will be shortly, I am publishing a book Philip Olyer

In my pile of stuff I found a software program I must tell you about it is called Gen-Book most programs this old are ready for disposal but this one still works. If you want to publish your family records and all the extra money went with the stock market. Take a few minutes and read on.
This Gen-Book@foothill.net program is still available it cost about $59.00. Rex Clement the Author is a great guy any questions and he will explain things in detail. I called him several times, it did not seem like the program would work but it was my lack of confidence not the programs ability, but he was really patient with me your only other cost will be some paper and ink I am going to tell you how to do this with the only investment is your time and the $59.
First you have to make a ged com file of your ancestors, descendants or both. then you have to go on line and download a free copy of PAF 4 from the LDS Family Research center. it has to be Paf 4 I told you this gen-Book software is a little old, I do not think it will work on Vista, I used Windows XP 2000

You have the Paf 4 program take your ged com file which has to be made to use with Paf 4. load the ged com file into Paf 4. Now be sure and go through the data base and make any corrections, this is not going to work if you have bunch of errors, it will be a lot easier if your spelling is reasonably correct your can run spell checker afterward but that will be labor intensive.

By now you should have had faith enough in me to buy the old software, you are going to get a couple of disks and a book of about 115 pages explaining in great detail each move to make. When installed Gen-Book will open in windows as you complete each one, another opens you select if its a ancestry or decendant book, then tell program were your Gen-book program is located. then you decide if you want to use Wordperfect or Microsoft Word. both of these programs will work I personally like Wordperfect, the Olyer book is made in two parts you can combine as many lines as you wish. First 8 chapters are decendants 8 generations of one Philip Olyer, the second part is the Ancestors for 15 generations of his wife.
We are talking about 600 plus individuals plus notes. It took me about hour to read the directions and answer the questions, they are pretty simple how do you want Source notes printed what size , numbed , what size for regular notes, how you want children listed, terms you like to use,size of pages, type of index 1 2 or 3 column,the type of generations Sequential or Ahnentafel or many others-do not worry its not complicated the book explains each question and shows you the results
When you click generate in about a minute the book is all finished, then you import it into your word processor in my case WordPerfect and you can go through it correcting the spelling and adding anything, bring in photos or biographies, when done generate your list of contents and index and you are ready to print.you do not have to go into your records and key any names for the index everything is done for you.
Simple send to the printer when you were answering the questions you told them if you wanted printing both sides or not and were to put the page numbers all these things are done for you. You can, if the market picks up, and you have a little extra cash take the disk to Staples or Kinkos and they will print it for about 16 cents per page and bind it for $5.00 or you can print it and staple it. Creative Jeans listed a library in Penn. if you send them your printed manuscript they will copy it and return a bound copy for you. This is a inexpensive way to publish your years of hard work without breaking the bank.

Thomas Fina Fireman grandson Mabel Olyer

2008-10-18T15:51:00.000-04:00

Sometimes when we research families we uncover facts that can move you to the very core.
The genealogy research on Henry Lewis Olyer family led me to Narcotics, Bootlegging,and the Welfare Trains a period when the hearts of America turned a little cold-families were driven by the inability to provide for there children to give them to others who would transport them to other parts of the country were they could be brought up in better surroundings. The idea was sound enough it started with the homeless street kids of Boston and New York City. But the inability for women to compete for decent wages in the pre crash years of 1929 left one of Henry's daughters Mabel Estell Olyer wife of Maricle Furlong, destitute married at age 17. By the age of 23 she found herself in North Carolina, abandoned with four infant children and no income-
The four children were placed on a welfare train to Kansas. One of these girls was Isabel Furlong born 1911, left on the train before 1918, one of the very fortunate children, she was allowed to keep in touch with her biological mother Mabel and when she came of age returned to Saranac Lake, New York were she married Pasquale Fina, they lived in Saranac Lake and had 5 children .
One of these boys Thomas Fina was born 12 Apr 1933, the youngest of the family.
Attended high school in Saranac, and was an outstanding athlete being well known speed skater who in 1951 won championship in the National Intermediate class. He joined the National Guard, and a member of the Saranac Lake Volunteer Fire Department.

Thomas Fina age 21 years, a member of "Saranac Volunteer Fire Department" killed instantly shortly after midnight. Responding to the alarm he "Tom" jumped off the truck and with chemicals put out the fire, Then he turned and saw Floyd Burton holding a sputtering power wire away from the side of the building with the bristels of a broom. the rest of the broom not more tha 14 inches long lay on the ground, being scared for Floyd's being electicuted "Tom grabbed the broom handle and started for the wire, twisting it on the handle- in the excitement he could not hear his companions that were coming with the proper equipment. Suddenly the wire slipped and Tom instinctivly reach to stop it and there was just a gasp and he was dead. He had not taken time to put on his boots, and was standing in water. The wire carried 3800 volts. In his concern for a friend he lost his life. This could have been even more tragic, others in the growing crowd seeing Tom fall started to help him and only the quick reaction on Jim Kilroy and Fletcher Mace held others off.

The Volunteer Fire Department and the National Guard held a full military funeral for Thomas Fina. The great sacrifices made by our fire departments should be remembered by all of us each day, in an instant our lives can be changed and it is comforting to know there are individuals ready to help in our gravest monents

If you have been reading my post about this branch of the Olyer family, you might wonder why some families seem to have a full measure of tragedies.

The genealogy and history of the Olyer family is nearly ready to publish if you have any interesting stories or photos please contact me we will try to include it

John Cumming Blacksmith & Farmer

2008-09-28T19:37:00.000-04:00

The genealogy of John Cummings , born in 1883 in Martintown

Ontario, Canada to Anthoney Moses Genereau and Margaret Jane LaVallee. During his early childhood he lived in Martintown, a real frontier village, most of the male inhabitants worked in the woods in the winter months, and found work in the brick yard or worked small farms. When he was 7 years old his father left the family, Margaret his mother was left with 10 children. Their older ones were given to other families or had small jobs to help out, the rest stayed with her including John. They remained in Martintown until the winter of 1889-1890 when word was received that there father was in Malone, New York. It must have been hard to put aside the hurt and ill feelings and gather the family in the dead of winter and travel by horse and sled across the frozen river to New York. Once united the family name was changed, no longer Genereau, now they would be called Cummings, this was accepted by everyone and there next stop was Spring Cove, New York.

By now John was 13, old enough to begin to help out, his father was the Blacksmith and Sawyer [sharpened saws and axes] for the crew at camp #5, what a great opportunity for John

like his other brothers he would become a blacksmith helper. He worked at this trade for several years, the work at Spring Cove was closing down and John along with some of his brothers went back to farming in the Waverly area. By 1906 he had met Cristy Taillon who was born 8 Nov 1891 in Williamston, Ontario, Canada. They were married in 1909 at Cornwall, Ontario. They lived there only a short time when they walked across the bridge from Canada to the United states and went to St Regis Falls, Franklin Co. N.Y. John went back to work as blacksmith but had a bad accident, while striking a bar of hot iron a chip broke of and struck him in the eye, instantly blinding him and damaging the eye so bad he had to have it removed and replaced with a false one. The family began to grow. the first child Wessley was born about 1910 there would be 6 more children, two of which died as infants. With a growing family and the loss of the eye he went back to farming, Wessley was 15 years old, trying to help in the barn, was bit by a horse, he soon had a infection in just a few days it became so bad he
died June 1925.

The other surviving children, Lorreta, Kenneth,Shirley, and Sheldon were all married and blessed John with 11 grandchildren.

With all the adversity John had in his life, people who knew him,

claims he was a good natured, fun loving guy- like to tease the kids
with the false eye, claiming "Christy" did it, always kidding with
everyone. He became very close to his father, rather strange in a
way, during those important years from age 7 to 13 when he needed
a male model John's dad was not there.

Would like to have known John, he was a good example of the "heavier some loads are, the easier it is to carry if you have a good sense of humor"

John died 17 Apr 1954 and his wife Christy 6 March 1970.

If you are a member of this Cummings family, would love to hear from you, trying to find as much information and photos as possible--hope to have some sort of book or pamphlet out about the family very soon.

Albert Cummings Drowned in Little Green Pond

2008-09-11T06:46:00.000-04:00

Genealogy and family history of

Albert Cummings, the 11 th child of 14 born to Anthony Moses Genereau [alias James Cummings] and Margaret Jane LaVallee. Albert was born 30 Dec 1898, in a logging camp at Spring Cove, New York, not far from present Tupper Lake. His father Jim was the blacksmith and his mother ran the cook house for the crew of about 50 men. The family had just moved to Spring Cove from Canada, His brother Martin was the first child born in this country 1996.
There was not much chance for education, they did attend school but being on the move, no one was concerned when school was missed. At a very early age Albert left home following the urging of the press to "go west young man" he went to the western states and ended up in
Kildare, Louisiana.
In 1919 he came home from Kildare La. to visit his parents and brother Martin. While on this visit he met Cora Stella Mae Antoinette Jarvis, and they were married 3 may 1920 at Piercefield, St Lawrence Co.,New York.
There first child was Margaret Agnes 1921, Albert James 1922, then Chester Clifford 1925,
Ivan Ronald 1929 and Vern Raymond 1931. a son John but I do not know when he was born or if he lived.
In 1930 Albert and Cora made there home in Waverly,Franklin Co. New York. I am not sure but the census and newspaper articles indicate they might have lived in his fathers home as he [James] is living with Albert's family in census age 82. Two years later Jim died, at which time he was living with son Charles. There are a number of newspaper articles about family members visiting Jim at both of these homes.
Albert was a born woodsman, his start in life was the logging work at Spring Cove, he loved to hunt and fish. On 26 Jan 1950 Albert, Martin and Charles went rabbit hunting near St. Regis, they split up and agreed to met and return home-when night fell the two brothers came home but no Albert each thought he was with the other, instead he spent the night with only the rabbit that he shot earlier for food. Two years later just before Xmas he was with a party of four that shot a 475 pound black bear one of the largest ever taken.

His luck ran out June 1969, a beautiful morning Albert and Norman Buniell his brother in law were up early and ready for a full day fishing Little Green Pond. The morning was still very cool so both men had there heavy wool cloths and jackets on, setting in a boat all day, that early in the season could be very cold. The craft was a 12 foot aluminum row boat, loaded with cooler, tackle boxes, fish poles, etc. They rowed out to just the right spot and Albert stood up to lower the anchor and adjust his cloths when suddenly the craft tipped and everyone was in the cold water. Albert was 72 years old, so was Norm, In those few seconds no one knows for sure what happened. Norm had all he could do with the heavy cloths and boots, he was able to grasp the boat but Albert made no effort. the death certificate says he drowned, there was no autopsy, they also said he could not swim, this is not true. Little Green Pond was extremely cold, even in the late summer it remains cold, Some of the family and I agree, in the excitement of plunging into the cold water, he probably had a heat attach and involuntarily drew in water instead of air, the heavy cloths making it impossible to fight back, he went under without a struggle.
The Saranac Lake Rescue Squad, responded to the scene, he was removed to the Saranac Inn Fish hatchery. pronounced dead on arrival.

After leaving the logging trade he worked for International Paper Co. in Mooers. his wife Cora lived until 24 Aug 1999 when she died in New Port Richy, Fla.

I do not have a photo of Albert, if any members of the family that read this, would love to find photos of Albert, Leonard, Dennis, or any of the family, have accumulated so much about this very unusual family, I hope to compile a book that the history will not be lost forever

George Cummings with Heirloom Fiddle

2008-08-28T16:27:00.000-04:00

Genealogy and family of George Cummings was born 7 DEC 1899
Spring Cove, Tupper Lake , New York, the 12 child of 14 born to
James Cummings and Margaret Jane LaVallee. Actually he was the
third child born in the United States, his younger siblings were all
born in Ontario, Canada so his name is not found in the immigration
records.
George was married twice, his first wife was Florence Thomas of
Basher Falls,New York, Daughter of William Thomas, they were married 27 Sep 1920, first child was Bessie, born 1924. An oils stove that Florence was using in the kitchen exploded and she was badly burned, this was about April 1929. The family seemed to gather at his brother Charles's home, several newspaper accounts list, George and his wife, Martin Cummings and daughter Shirley, and Mr & Mrs Berlin Olyer as guest 15 Aug 1931, fairly often in the late 30's
After Dorris was born 1933, and before 1943 the family broke up, they were divorced. Doris went with her mother to Massena N.Y. where we find Florence entertaining guest including my grandmother Margaret Cummings Olyer mentioned in Tupper Lake Free Press 16 Sep 1943.
From the newspaper accounts my grandmother was a frequent visitor to Mrs George Cummings, over several years.
George continued to live in Tupper Lake, N.Y. were he met Leola Borgardus , daughter of Weldon Bogardus, born in 1912, Soon they were married at the home of Mr & Mrs Clarence Hurt at Oxbow Lake, New York. 15th of July 1956. Leola had been divorced from Carl Colton, having had one son by her first husband.
George and Leola owned the Parkside Grociery & Gas station on the old road, in 1944, it was completely destroyed by fire, they were unable to salvage anything. including a most valuable family heirloom, a hand made Fiddle, Margaret Jane LaValle, his mother was a well known Fiddle player, she taught George how to play it and gave it to him. We are lucky to have a photo of George with the fiddle.

On 12 Sep 1968 George was driving for the Gold Medal Bakery, when he discovered a fire,
the recently renovated Skyline Inn, was fully engulfed, he notified the Tupper Lake fire dept,
they were able to salvage the building.

George was very active in his church and in the Masonic lodge in fact he held dual membership,
having been appointed Grand Representative of the Grand Lodge of Alabama, by Lloyd Cochran Grand Master of state New York, he was also Grand Lecture ,Amaranth Court 70 Visitation .
After his death Leola Cummings in a open meeting of lodge #687 presented the lodge with a new Alter given by her in memory of George Cummings.
On the 27 jul 1966 a Surprise Anniversary party was held for George and Leola at their home in Oswegatchie, New York, a newspaper account list all the relatives in attendance.It was shortly after this date that the unknown person left a note at my campsite.
I did not know George, but in researching the family I think he and Leola might have been the couple that wrote the short note on the camp site reservation "if you are looking for Cummings check Genereaux" Without that clue, I would never have been able to unravel this family, I knew there was no Cummings ancestry but had no idea what to look for. Have wished many times that it was just to bad things were so busy on week-ends I just did not have time to meet all the guest, this is one person that I would have loved to questioned about the family.

I have a newspaper account of a three week trip they took and mentioned is a son Robert
Cummings living in Ingelwood, Calif. but I have not been able to confirm that they had any children can you help?

Mother of Margaret Jane LaVallee

2008-08-19T16:52:00.000-04:00

A plea for help

Margaret Jane LaValle first appears in a census record of Hastings Township, Hungerford, Ontario, Canada as a infant age 1, born in CE. in the household of one Michael LaValle farmer age 29 CE Roman Cath. head and Mary , wife fem age 29 living in same houehold is a Martha Ann Murray age 7 servant, Peter Murray, age 4 CW, RC orphan.

This is the quest to find the genealogy and parents of Mary the
mother of Margaret Jane LaValle,Infant.

Since Michel LaVallee was married a second time to Sophia Genereau

9 Aug 1869 in the St Michael the Archangel Catholic church in Bellville, he must have been married to the first wife Mary in a Catholic church someplace, probably Quebec as infant
Margaret Jane was born CE in census. {think this is Quebec}

When the infant Margaret Jane LaVallee (census 1861} was married 13 Jan 1875 to Anthoney Moses Genereau in the same St Michael the Archangel church, her father was given as Michel
Lavel and mother as Maria Travin [crossed out in pencil and written above Heron]. By this time
1875, the father had already married for second time Sophia Genereau, sister to Anthoney Moses Genereau.

In a newspaper file in the Bellville Library, there is several pages covering a trial-it seems Mary LaVallee was 2 months pregnant, taken ill in May, she sent word to Michael a French laboror from the "Grove", who was working in Kingston to return home, he finding her ill, located a "Doctor Waldren" a vendor of quack medicine from London C.W. gave her oils and powders which resulted in her aborting a child. This led to her death a few days later 7 jun 1867. In her deposition, a few days before death, she states she had a miscarriage sometime before, she was the mother of five children, and was her sister Margaret Philips who took care of her while she was ill. There are pages of testimony, Dr Waldren was in jail, but do not know his outcome.

From family records we know that Margaret Jane had 2 sisters and a half brother and sister.

Margaret Jane was born 1859, Mary Agnes born 1860, Louise born 1864. the half brother must have been Peter Murray bn 1852, the half sister Mary Ann Murray 1854, These Murray children must have belonged to Mary Travin. Interesting fact the two sisters married two Kiser brothers, and Peter married a 2nd cousin Samanthia Kiser; Sure makes genealogy simple.

Berlin Olyer-family story teller, claimed that Michael LaVallee's wife had a Indian squaw come to house to visit, she laid baby on the porch and while inside home a farm animal killed the child.
He also claimed Maria, Michaels wife was Indian or part Indian.

So this is all I know about this poor lady , born about 1832 probably married to a Murray had two children, Peter and Mary Ann. Married second Michael abt 1859 and had three more children, died from medical induced abortion in 1867. The name Travin was crossed out on church entry and above "Heron". Who was she, no first marriage or baptism for her first child,
any suggestions??

Her daughter in photo above lived for years in Waverly New York, near the Indian reservation, if you notice she has on moccasins-no one can recall ever seeing her in anything but these. This
Margaret LaValle was musically inclined, she played and passed on to her son George the fiddle or violin which she used to teach him. Unfortunately his home burned and the instrument was destroyed.

William Patrick Murray Killed Store and Home Explosion

2008-08-13T09:49:00.000-04:00

Geneolagy and family History, triumphs and disasters of

Louise Genereaux, alias Cummings, was the 7th child of 14, she

was born 10 Jun 1886 in Meadow Bay, Hastings Co. Ontario,

Canada. Her parents were Anthony Moses Genereau and Margaret

Jane LaVallee. Since her father was a Logger his work required

frequent movement, seldom over a couple of years, then on to

another log camp.

As I have posted before her dad left the family in 1890 and did not

return until 1896. During this period her mother was the sole

support for the family and some of the older children were put out to other families in the Martintown, Hastings Co. Ont. area. When the father returned the family came back together and moved to Spring Cove, New York where he worked as blacksmith and mother cooked and ran the dinning hall for the loggers. Would assume she obtained her immigration papers in 1898 when her sister also became a citizen. the family was now going by the name Cummings. When her sister Margaret was married Berlin Olyer, in 1900 and moved to Little Falls, New York-Louise followed her to Little Falls, were she worked in the mills.

About 1917 she met and married William "bill" Patrick Murray, bn 19 Nov 1880 the 4th

child of 5, who's father was Jerry Murray and his wife Margret, lived at East Main St. in Little Falls, New York, were they operated a small grocery and confection store.

Bill Murray signed up for WW1 draft registration in 1917 and gave his nearest relative as Louise Murray, address as 84 Burell St. Little Falls. the next year a daughter May was born, followed
on, 20 Mar 1920, by Jane and then Adelaide in 1923.

As a child I was close to May and Adelaide, I am ashamed to say I have lost tract of them now, I know both of them married and think they live in the Albany, N.Y. area.

Sometime in the 30's Louise and Bill took over his fathers store at east Main st. and continued to operate it, adding the convenience of gasoline for there customers. Those of you from Little Falls will no doubt remember her-about 4ft 8in. , very heavy, never saw her without a smile. As you come into Little Falls,N.Y. on route 5, first street on right had a small Sunoco Gas Station and store. She could not have made much money, she gave her profit away to all the kids, she was always passing a piece of candy to any child that looked like they had no money.

The family lived in the back and upstairs of the store, Bill had a little problem with Irish Ale, which may have led to the accident.

On 12 April 1941, the gasoline supply company filed the underground gas storage tanks, next morning the gasoline had seeped into the cellar, about 9:15, Bill thought he herd water running, and could smell gasoline, but he was a little hung over and probably not thinking, went to cellar door, opened it, turned on the light switch, the explosion blew the building off the foundation and burst into flame. A power company employee got bill out, started CPR worked on him to try and revive him, Louise and a customer Harry Jackson got out the front, the girls had already left for the day. Bill was rushed to Little Falls hospital. but lived only a few hours. How terribly it must have been for his daughter Jane Murray, a Registered Nurse, in charge at the hospital when they brought him in.

This accident is covered in the Utica Observer Dispatch newspaper 13 April 1941

The home, store and contents were a total loss, home was replaced, Louise, with her daughter Jane the Registered Nurse lived there. Louise died July 1973, and Jane Murray died 2 Jun 2006
Photo was taken in 1943, with all that had happened she still was able to smile, always ready
to help anyone. She looks just like her mother see posting Feb. 27/2008

Edwin Lord "Heirloom Found" Owner Unknown

2008-08-10T13:14:00.000-04:00

Family history and strange heirloom - in the quest of genealogy.
My grandfather Edwin Booth Lord born 4 Dec 1878 in Fort Hunter, New York son of Byington Lord bn 1844 and Josephine Johnson bn 1855- his grand parents Martin Lord bn 1817,Gertrude Van Meter bn 1844 and Elias Johnson 1818, Cathern Leanardson bn 1818.

My grandmother Anna Lee Lasher bn 1877-daughter of John "Jack" Lasher bn 1842 and Mary Sterling 1851- her grandparents George Lasher 1805, Margaret Klock, and Simeon Herrick Sterling 1813, Ada Nancy Bell 1815.

The two children are Edwin Booth Lord bn 11 Jun 1904 and his

sister Lillian Lord 4 jul 1907

Grampa Lord was a master mechanic, working for Baily Knitting

Mills in Fort Plain, N.Y. His Machinist Chest has survived and

ended up with me, I am a little ashamed of its condition so thought

I better clean it up. The drawers are full of stuff that accumulates

over the 75 years since his death.
The drawers are all lined with fabric and most of them are really in good condition except for one that would not lay flat, something was under the cloth made a bump. I carefully loosened the fabric along the sides and lifted it up-and found--

The piece of jewelry is made from solid strip of silver and has the date 1884 with a flower type decoration on each side, excellent engraving. The rings holding the coins are silver. The pin is missing from the back. This was placed in the drawer by my grandfather, he carefully attached the fabric on the sides. But Why. I wonder who it was for, none of the dates match anyone in his family or his wife. The coins definitely do not match places that appear in our genealogy. Its a beautiful pin, cleans up niece but I guess no one will know why it meant so much to him. The coin on right is dated 1746, center coin 1827, on the left 1831. I have photographed it and will place it back in the drawer were he had it, just another of those mysteries.

My mother was a great collector of family "things", sure wish I knew the complete stories of some of them, greatful for the Blog it gives us a chance to present these family items so they will not be lost completely.

Philip Olyer Burned to Death Lumbermill 1920

2008-08-09T07:21:00.000-04:00

A tragic story of the Family life, Genealogy and dangers of the lumbering trade at the end of the nineteenth and beginning of the 20Th century.

The Olyer family settled in the northern part of the Adirondack mountains of New York state to work in the two most dangerous occupation of the time Lumbering and mining.

Our subject Philip Louise Olyer jr., was no exception. born in 1854, at Moores Fork, N.Y. the 5Th son of Philip Olyer and Lucretia Fanny Leach.

When a teenager he worked on a farm for Rollin Brown. As soon

as he was old enough he went to work for the Chateaugay Iron

and mining co. as a coal burner. A terrible job were wood is

burned to make charcoal, or in later years, coal was burned in a

process to make coke both the charcoal and coke gave off more

heat when used in the smelting furnaces. Every minute that you

were there, the air was full of charcoal dust, you are in constant

danger of explosion and fire.

Philip married Henrietta Battman about 1875, she was born in Canada abt 1858, there first child Wilbur F. born 1876, Henry 1878, Carrie 1879, Caroline 1880, Jerry 1882, Emma 1883, Maud 1884, George 1886, and Matie 1888.

About 1900 the work around the charcoal dust and fumes were just to much for Philip and he went back to farm labor, he was approaching 50, the coal burning had taken it toll.

Henrietta passed away 1912, in Rochester, New York ; Philip now in his 60's had brother John Vernon Olyer, who's wife Charlott Scutt, had brother, Leslie Ulysess Scutt, operating a saw mill in Long Pond, Main. Philip is offered a job.
The saw mill was water powered with a line shaft running on the ceiling full length of mill, from this, pulleys and belts, ran all the saws and conveyors. As a log came in on a dolly it passed by a 48 inch saw and a slab was taken off one side, the log was turned to rest on the flat side and by another dolly passed a Gang saw blade that cut it up, into either 1 inch or 2 inch planks. As these fell off they dropped on a conveyor and went to another saw were the edges were sawed off- then out the door to a yard crew that stacked them to air dry. This operation created a lot of waste material -saw dust and slabs with bark edges. Running below the saws was a series of conveyors that carried these waste items to the main belt this went out the side of the building in a 300 ft long conveyor, two ft wide, to a point about 30 ft above the ground. At the top, as the chain went over a pulley, it dropped the load into a huge pit that was kept burning continually, to get rid of the scrap, several foot deep and about 30 ft around of burning wood. The photo is a
modern conveyor, presently the scrap material is not burned.
Philip's job was to watch the dozen or so small conveyors to be
sure the material was not falling off and was dropping on the main
belt. You can imagine the noise inside this building with a dozen
or more saw blades wining through the logs, plus the noise of the
belts and drive lines.
Some how Philips jacket got caught on the main conveyor. His
cries for help could not be heard, he was carried out the door, up
the ramp incline-just before he reached the top, the fire tender saw him coming-his attempt to shut down the chain driven belt was hopeless and Philip was dropped into the burning pit, with saw dust and slab wood. According to newspaper article, by the time they could get him out all of his clothing was burned off, he probably died within seconds, burning sawdust and slabs would ignite immediately when they hit the burning mass.

There are several family stories about this accident but the end result is the same-this was taken from newspaper account in 1920 Oct issue Chateaugay Record.

Today this would not happen, now the sawdust is contained in pipes, the slab wood is ground into chips and all the material is reused to produce other wood products. see photo

This was a very dangerous occupation, So far in my research, I have not found any of the Olyer family members still working in this field.

Anthoney Moses Genereau alias James Cummings.

2008-07-27T12:35:00.000-04:00

This is the story of Mose Genereau, his family history and ancestry.
Born in Thurlow, Hastings,Ont. Canada 13 Sep 1855 to parents Dennis
Genereau, and Clare Dupuis, Christened at St Michael the Archangel
Catholic church of Bellville, Ont. 16 Sep 1855, parents Stanislas Genrio
& Clare Dupuis, witness Robert and Agath DeMereichiel.
When he was 19 years old, he had made friends with his Sister Sophia Genereau's sep daughter , Margaret Jane LaVallee, 16 years old, daughter of Michael LaVallee and Maria Travin [Herin]
They were married at St Michael Catholic church 13 Jan 1875. He was a French Laboror, his parents listed as Dennis Genereaux and Claris Dupree, wit., Thomas Sullivan and Elizabeth Genereau.
His lifetime position, the main requirement being hard work, in the winter he worked in the woods lumbering. In the summer , when the ground was to wet to skid the logs, he worked in the mills or brick yards. A break came along when he got to help a blacksmith, in few years was able to follow this trade becoming one of the best saw and ax sharpeners in the area.
Moses came from large family 14 children and he was the last one. I know two of his sisters one Sophia, bn 1845, married Charles Michael LaVallee, as his second wife.
Another sister was Minerva, born 1 jan 1853, she married Octave
Allaire, this family went west to Addington, ont. The photo is
Minerva and Octave, parents of 10 children.

The father known as Dennis and Stanislas Genereau, came from St. Elizabeth, Joliette, Quebec. This family and his wife C. Dupuis, are both from well established families tracing there roots to France in unbroken lines. a complete genealogy linage is on my data base which you can access by clicking on name Genereau in the list to the right.

Moses, and his family moved a lot, the first five children were born in Bellville, Ontario, the demand for laborers dictated were they would be, John the 6th child was born in Cornwall,1883-
by 1885 when Louise was born they were in Medow Bay, Ont., staying in Medow Bay until

Joseph born 1887. Then they were off to Martintown, Ont. were Moses was spending more time with his working buddies at the local tavern. Margaret Jane was home with 8 children oldest one was Alex age 16, and due to deliver the 9th child James in summer 1890.

Moses, probably under the influence, became possessive of a red head Ann Macarthy-a fight developed and drawing a revolver, Moses shot a colored man. The shot severed a artery in the upper leg and he died in just a few minutes. In a frontier town justice is swift-Moses and the girl are stripped of there cloths and tied to fence rails, someone got a tar bucket and painted them, someone else dragged in a old feather mattress and rolled them in feathers- then they were main attraction in a parade through town, ending at Moses's home on the outskirts. They cut them loose and tossed them in the creek. Old Moses jumped up and yelled "Best Dam Ride I ever Had",

The crowd dispersed Alex, Moses son, helped them into the kitchen. The rest of the night was spent with Razor, Scissors, and lamp oil removing the mess-hair-tar and feathers. Alex made the comment "she was a pretty young thing, dressed in tar and feathers"

Before daylight the two of them left town as ordered and went to Battle Creek, Mich. They both

thought they had what they wanted, the long days in the woods was no picnic for Moses, Ann's only way to keep busy was the tavern, in a few years, Moses tired of this and the urge to be with family became to much, Ann was out of his life,. He can not go to Canada so he selected, Malone, N.Y., lots of work in the woods. From here, contacts his wife Margaret, things are worked out and she crosses the St Lawrence in January 1896 with the family and belongings, they go to Spring Cove, New York, were Margaret is the cook and head of the dinning room for lumber camp, Moses, who calls himself James Cummings, is the blacksmith.

From this point forward he is known as James Cumming, all of his children knew about the name change and all of them except Alex used this as there last name.
The family continued to grow, Martin born 1896 was first child born in U.S. , followed by 4 more for a total of 14 children.

Despite this short vacation in 1890-1896 the family remained very close. James and Margaret both died in 1932 only a few days apart.

Jim had a very bad temper and excellent vocabulary of 5 letter words-one night the horse was making a uproar in the barn, Jim grabbed the whip and with a string of curse words went to the barn to teach the horse a lesson. Sometime later he returned ashen white, claimed he saw the devil- he never exhibited any temper and never again uttered any bad language.

The details of this account were told to me by Alex who was 96 years old, living in the home of Moses or Jim in 1969, when he was introduced to me by Cpl I.A. Miller Provincial Police, Martintown,Ont.Canada.

Secret around this name change was protected by my grandmother for years, the last trip she made just before her death in 1965 was to Martintown,Ont. to see Alex-I feel that Alex might not have betrayed this secret, had I not been presented by the Provincial police and maybe his taking a liking to me helped him unload this well kept story. All of the children that came to this country became citizens as Cummings, they did however avoid the census taker for a few years.
The name James Cummings came from the owner of the brick yard in Martintown.
"Maggie" my grandmother was a proud lady, how sad that she could not enjoy and share the deeds and traditions of the families Genereaux and Duprey.

Oscar Olyer Barn Burner Strikes Altering a Life Forever

2008-07-26T17:24:00.000-04:00

Genealogy and family history of Philip Olyers', grand son, Dean Jesse Olyer born 28 dec 1886 in Chazy, Clinton Co. N.Y. the 7th child of 9 born to Oscar Alexander Olyer and his wife Sarah Lucretia Daniels. Dean married 2 Apr 1906, Harriet M. Smith, of Ellenburgh Center, New York.

Life did not deal, Dean Olyer's family a happy start.

First child George S. was born 5 Apr 1907.

18 Oct 1907 infant twins were born and died at birth, and a son died at birth 1908.
Perry Olyer was born 6 July 1909.

None of my research has turned up why or who it was that was bent on destroying Dean-

Sept 28 1909 Dean lost a horse, died during the night in the barn no apparent reason.

Oct 2 1909 put his horse in barn about six p.m.-dusk-and went into the house, ate his supper and read a little in the paper. He
then went to the barn and saw that his horse was eating grain. Knowing that he had not fed him any, he made an examination and found the grain saturated with paris green [Arsenic] He telephoned to some neighbors, but all efforts at saving the animal's life was unavailing and he died at 11 p.m.. this was the second horse he had lost.
Oct 4 1909 after sunset Mrs Olyer went out to the wood yard with a lantern and observed a man, [Barn burner] near the barn. She returned to the house and told her husband that there was a man out near the barn.
He strapped on his revolver, went out the back door and crept up and saw the man trying to gain entrance to it. He opened fire with the revolver, but all the effect he produced was to
make the man run .
Sunday evening at dusk he went to the barn to do chores, saw the
man again going out the other door, with the hay on fire. He shot twice
at him but did not hit his mark, turned his attention toward trying to
save barn from destruction, his efforts, aided by his neighbors, were
unavailing and by 9 p.m. it was completely destroyed. There efforts
were rewarded by saving the live stock and some of the farm utensils. Sheriff Nash was notified, bloodhounds were unable to establish a trail which had been trampled and obliterated while fighting the fire.

a reward of $100 was offered for capture and detention of guilty party.

They must have been very discouraged, their lively hood had been destroyed and Harriet was
5 months pregnant with Sadie Lucretia, born 5 Mar 1910. A week later Mar 18 1910 Dean Olyer moved his family to Mooers forks, stayed there until April 28 1911 when the family moved to Chateaugay., Work as a farm labor was hard, Two years later Dean went to Beekman to work, to be joined by the family shortly. and by July 1914 they were living in Plattsburgh, N.Y., were Homer Olyer was born 8 Sep 1914.
In 1916, 7th Aug a son Morris was born to them. World war 1 required his registering, this shows he was age 31 ,born 28 dec 1886, white, tall, med built, blue eyes, light hair, farm labor, wife Harriet, living R.D. Plattsburgh, N.Y.
Two years later Pearl Helen, born, 15 Apr. 1918. Sometime around this date , two other daughters, Ruth [Doolittle], and Gertrude [Fitt] joined the family.
5th Aug 1921 twins were born, both died, the girl on the 26th and boy Aug 3oth.
Dean left the farm labor pool and went to work for Irona Creamery, he was injured in May 1924 but the Compensation board, ruled against the Creamery, but made no monetary award, two weeks later the case was adjourned with an award of $121.43, on 12 Jun 1925 the case was closed with an award of $100.95.
Information about the family is vague after this date they are not in the census after 1910. but it appears they moved to Livingston, South Lima, N.Y. area. Harriet Olyer died at home, following illness , 29 Mar 1957, she had moved to South Lima, N.Y. some 12 years ago from Honeoya Falls, N.Y. , she was born in Ellenburg,N.Y., 5 Mar 1884. She left a husband, two daughters Gertrude Fitt, Ruth Doolittle, four sons Perry, George, Morris, Homer. she was interned at Mt Pleasant Cemetery,York.
her husband who survived her, Dean Olyer age 80 , of Livingston, South Lima, N.Y. was injured Thursday in Auto he was driving, collided with another car on route 36, he died the following Sunday. Isn't it strange, his father was killed at age 72, when hit by motorcycle 1915.
How difficult it must have been for this family, just starting out, lost several children-someone took there lively hood away by killing there horses and burning there barn. There marriage seem to survive and they were able to bring up 6 children, wonder how many of us could carry this load.

HOPS All but disapeared today

2008-07-22T13:25:00.000-04:00

An occupation that has disappeared from the towns and villages now, once a family occupation

Hop Pickers Fort Hunter

Before the 1930's and the advent of mobile refrigeration, most beer was produced at home or in local breweries, were it could be made and consumed before it spoiled. There was no way to ship it as they do today.
One of the main ingredients was hops, so this was a item that had to be harvested in the summer months. The photo is of a group from Fort Hunter, New York. No doubt the hops are destined to go to Amsterdam, New York. The only person I know is my grandfather Edwin Booth Lord far upper right with X.

notice the dog looks like he has two heads, guess he just could not set still long enough for photo.
from the size of the straw hats it must have been July or August, the women look like it was very warm and uncomfortable job. They are all dressed much differently than present laborers, who harvest our crops

Unidentified Messenger Shatters Family Secret

2008-07-21T18:13:00.000-04:00

My carnival ride on a 30 year mystery, solved by unidentified messenger, leaving five words, hurriedly scribbled on registration form "looking for Cummings check Genereau"

Berlin Olyer was the family story teller, taking great enjoyment in relating the tales of the Olyer and allied families, whenever there was a gathering, which took place every Sunday that I can recall in the late 1930's until his death in May 1943.
There was one story he never got to finish, a story he started enough
times in the 8 to 10 years, that it stuck in my mind, more than if my grandmother, Margaret Cummings Olyer would have let him tell it.
"One Saturday night Maggis father Jim went to the tavern"--a commanding word from kitchen "Berlin that is enough"
She had made a promise to her father to keep his secret and she never
betrayed that trust.
The photo is "Maggie" and me about 1943.
When my grandfather Berlin died in 1943, my interest turned from the family to other things graduation, military service, marriage--when the dust settled and life followed a pattern, I started to work on genealogy again. Man! no one knew anything about any of there ancestors, but my mom was, "in it with me". Her mother Margaret Cummings would not tell us why she stopped the story about her father.
Of course my mother knew him, in fact the photo to the right is her father, James Cummings holding me, in 1926, according to my grandmother her father was Jim Cummings and her mother, Margaret Jane LaVallee.

She insisted for years that this was the truth, LaVallee was correct.

For some 35 years I researched the Cummings family in Canada, of course there was no Cummings that ever married a LaVallee.
In the 60's "Maggie" would avoid me if I got on the subject of family,
so I knew she was hiding something. I was not working with the truth.

In 1963 she left our house upset after talking about the Cummings family, no one could find her, after a few days we got a call from her in Martintown, Ont., she was sick and had to have her son Vern come and get her.

My mother, was sure there were none of her mother's brothers or sisters living in Martintown, mom thought she knew all of her uncles and aunts. My grandmothers list of relatives had a Alex, but no indication of wife or family.

In 1965 both my mother and my grandmother passed away, just a few days apart, in July, now I would never know, about the family.

In August someone in a small motor home spent the weekend in our campsite, On Sundays in a
amusement park, I was very busy and whoever this person was they left a penciled note on the registration form, "looking for Cummings check Genereau". I did not see this person and my attendant could not remember them, so I have no idea who it was-must have been a "genealogical angel."
As soon as the park was closed in the fall, I analyzed what I knew-My grandfather Berlin, said Jim cummings had done something in a tavern??, the only place I found a Jim Cummings was Martintown, Ont. and that is were "Maggie" went when she was upset with me. Now we know there is a Genereau involved. I called the Provincial Police Dept in Martintown. Ont. talked to a Sgt. I.E.Miller told him what I knew, he knew what I was talking about, said it might be best if I come up and talk to a man named "Alex" who was 96 yrs old. I left then and was in his office next day about noon.

Sgt I.E. Miller, had me follow him to Alex's home, little white house next to small creek on outskirt of Martintown. He went to door with me, I was about to have the experience of a life time. The officer left and I was invited to have a chair and I was so excited, do not remember asking any questions, he just started talking family, first the story of who Jim Cummings was=Moses Genereau, 20yrs older than Alex, Moses had killed a colored man in a bar room fight over a Ann MacCarthy, towns people stripped them naked, tied him and girl to fence rails, poured pine tar over them and rolled them in a feather mattress, then paraded them about town, dropping them off in creek outside the dinning room window. Alex helped them into house spent rest of night in the kitchen, picking tar and feathers of , had to use a razor and lamp oil he remarked "she was quite a eyeful dressed in tar and feathers". in the morning Moses and girl went to grand rapids, 7 years later "Alex" went to work in Spring Cove, N.Y. there was Moses, the blacksmith, but being called Jim Cummings, wife Masrgaret LaVallee and family.

I was so excited did not have composure enough to ask him about his family and what his relationship was- he told me Moses and he worked for Jim Cummings in the brick yard in summer and in woods in winter, that is were the "Jim Cummings" name came from. My mother list of uncles did not include a Alex, he must have been first child and stayed there in Martintown, and is the person my grandmother went to visit, knowing I was getting closer she probably tried to enlist him in protecting the family secret.

Alex knew names of all of Jim's children, who they married and most of there children. He said he lived with "Jim" in his house at Spring Cove, remembered "Maggie" helping her mother in the dinning hall.
I was right in Jim Cummings house and did not know it, Every time I look at this family, there is so much I should have asked, thankful for what I have, but oh how I wish for more.

It was 1890, he was a French man, in a English environment, his crime of killing a colored person did not demand as great a punishment as if it were another French man or Englishman , for which he probably would have been hung,Racial equality was way in the future then.
With the correct information- Baptisms and marriage records were found in, St Michael the Arch Angel Catholic church in Bellville, Ont.

I do not believe in ghost, but how did someone know I was working on the genealogy of this family and had to have the information Cummings was Genereau---

Why would this person leave a note instead of finding me???

Nothing in our records showed who it was or were they came from. ?

Beatrice Olyer-Potter-Berney

2008-07-18T18:15:00.000-04:00

Photo has been taken from the group reunion taken in 1941,
Genealogy and family history of my Aunt Beatrice Olyer , 5th daughter, of 10 children, born to John V. Olyer and Charlott Ellinor Scutt. She was born in the hamlet Chazy, Clinton Co., New York. 13 Aug 1891
the second daughter, oldest girl living at home in the 1900 census. The family moved about 1902 to Little Falls, New York. All of her brothers moved, that they might be closer to there work- the New York Central railroad.

Beatrice married Cerill Leroy Potter, I do not have this marriage date but assume it was
after 1910 when she appears living at home age 19, and 1920 when she is living with her sister Nora and Frederick Berney. listed as Beatrice Olyer,age 28, along with her mother Charlotte age 67. This is no doubt how she met Herb Berney.

Herkimer, New York, 30 June 1923 she married Herbert Berney, born 2 Apr. 1887, brother of Frederick, both boys sons of Martin Buraugh, born in canada 1848.
Must mention "Herb" Burney, who I had opportunity to meet
several times as a young boy. He would set and talk to me , tell me
stories of his being in WW1 . an enlisted man in the United States
Navy Submarine unit. His submarine was the "Dubuque" in 1910
census he is listed, location Dubuque, Bluefields, Nicaragua, Military & Naval Force age 19. When I knew him he was in his 60's and still a robust strong person, his face was continuous smile, looked like he never new how to be anything but happy.
The interior sub photo, was in his collection, pretty close quarters, think I prefer the air force. He was actively engaged in WW1 of coast of Africa. "Herb" was not in the Olyer reunion group photo. Had he been there he would have been near my dad, they were good friends.
Herbert Burney died 9 feb 1959. left wife Beatrice, 2 brothers Fred of Hartford and Ivan T. of Richmand Va. and sister Mrs Eve Cross.
I do not have a record of any children born to Beatrice, in either marriage, and I do not recall there having any family.
In the 1930 census Herb and Beatrice are listed as living in Frankfort, Herkimer Co., N.Y. , he is employed as a private chafer.

Henry Lewis Olyer Early Resident Lyon Mountain

2008-07-17T08:19:00.000-04:00

The last few post have been about this man's family history lets take a look at Henry's genealogy and life in upstate New York.

Henry Olyers father was Philip Olyer bn 1822 Dannamora,Clinton Co. son of Philip Olyer [olier] born in France according to census records. The mother of Henry, was Lucretia Fanny Leach born 1825, Plattsburgh, Clinton Co. her father was Henry L. Leach, born abt 1800 New Hampshire., mother Phyneth Smith, born 1803, Rutland, Vermont. The photo is the Railroad station at Lyon Mountain

Henry's father was a carpenter, his net worth in 1870 was $100, this was pretty good at the time. Wages at the mine was $2.25 a day for a 10 hour shift for foreman, only $1.00 day for drill boys, so the carpenters did pretty well. our Henry was the third son of nine children born to Philip.

Working life of Henry started probably at about age 14, he went to the iron mines as most males did at the time. He lived at home,in the 1880 census he has advanced to being a engineer with the narrow gauge railroad called Chateaugay Ore and Iron Railroad. Most of his time was spent hauling ore from mine to breaker building. As time passed this railroad evolved into the Delaware and Hudson, but Henry became a machinist, working in the

round house [turntable were the engine could be run onto and then the whole unit moved to turn the engine around, to send it back in direction from which it came.
Also buildings were constructed that the engine could be run in under cover to be worked on in bad weather.
The one in the photo is located in Colonie, New York and is

probably were Henry worked. a position that let him live in Dannamora, instead of being on the road.

24 Sept 1881 he married the 17 year old Josephiene Sweeney, daughter of Joseph Sweeney and Lauraette ["Lois"] Kingston, of Canada. The family lived in Dannamora, were they brought up a family of 11 children. Harry 1883, Ross 1884, Ralph 1886, Mabel 1890, Winifred 1892, Richard 1894, Isabel 1897, Roland 1901,[died infant], Bertha 1902, Charles 1904, Gerald 1906

Something happened in this family just before 1920 census.

In this 1920 census Henry is living in Dannamora, Clinton co, with his son Charles S. 16, and son Gerald age 14. but Josephine or "Jossie" can not be found in 1920 census, or 1930.
1923 she is living at 22 Dorsey St., Saranac Lake, New York, from there she has been motoring with Mr & Mrs Joseph Jock, to various places in the area including the County fair.
July of 1929 Josephine Olyer has serious operation at, Elizabethtown Gen Hospital.

In the same period, we find Henry in the 1930 census, living in home with his daughter Bertha Olyer Caswell, and her husband Allen, no mention of Josephine. Instead we find Josephine in the 1930 census living in Franklin Co.,Saranac Lake,N.Y. [looks like Dorsey st.] age 63 Div. Rooming house $5,000 bn NY father Ire., mother Eng.
also having one male boarder

I have not found a Obit for Josephine but she is casually mentioned in newspaper account of Henry's Obit 16 Sep 1938. "Mrs Olyer died 7 yrs ago [1931]"

There was a lot of upheaval in the family from 1919 until 1930 things that would be difficulty for a family to handle, one son went to war and came out with deep emotional scars causing him to take his own life. A daughters failed marriage resulting in grand children being separated from family,sent on the Orphan train to Kansas.

Josephine had some serious medical problems her self, and three of her sons involved with fast money of bootlegging, combined it might have been to much for her to handle. We can only assume this, based on the public information that is available now.

Newspaper account states the Henry was 99 years old and worked 62 years for D & H. I think this is incorrect.

In two census records 1870 and 1880 his parents indicate he was born 1854, in the 1910 ,
1920 census he gave information to census taker and said he was born 1854. sometimes we find errors in the census but this is four consecutive census, were the information is in agreement.

In the 1930 census he is listed as 79 years old making him born 1851. I am inclined to think the four census dates of 1854 are correct and a error was made in the 1930 census. so he would have been 84 years old when he passed away.
I am not sure of the D & H Railroad but the New York Central R.R., had policy of retiring there employees at age 65, if this was their policy Henry would only have been able to work from age 14 until 65, making his record only 51 years.

There is another contemporary Henry Olyer, but he lived in Champlain, N.Y. and perhaps some of his dates are confused with our Henry.
It has been handed down that Henry voted for Lincoln twice, In order for him to have voted in 1859 for Lincoln he would have to have been born 1838 he would have been 32 in 1870- census
but his parents gave his age as 15. The error seems to be, who it was that voted for President Lincoln, off hand would say it was his father Philip, who was born 1822 and was in the 1880 census as being 58 years old, could have been possible for him to vote in 1859 and 1863.
Another story, he was to young for Civil War, that is correct if born 1854, he would not be 18 until war was over-we can not have it both ways, two young to enlist but old enough to vote for President Lincoln.
There is almost always a grain of truth in family legend's but occasionally they need a little adjusting. You do not increase your popularity when you challenge family lore, but I feel it is just as interesting if we can adjust them with proof.

Orphan Trains to Kansas & Mabel Olyer

2008-07-11T11:20:00.000-04:00

The Orphan Train movement began, mid 19th century, estimated that some 30,000 abandoned children were living on the streets of New York. In a 75 year span of the Orphan Train movement
resulted in between 150,000 and 200,000 "Orphan" children were relocated.
Not all the children were without parents. during this period there was two major depressions,
two wars and always their are single parents that just can not logistically provide for large families, especially a mother. Females were never paid enough to be the sole provider of numerous children at home. For a excellent article on the Orphan Train program see http://www.Kancoll.org/articles/ophans/or-hist.htm

This is the Family history and genealogy of, Mabel Esteela Olyer,[Furlong],[Guffoil] born 11 Feb 1890 at Lyon Mountain, Clinton,Co.,New York the first girl, of Henry Lewis Olyer and Josephine Sweeney. She was special, the parents had just lost a set of twins the year before, and now after 3 boys they had a girl.
As time passed she became the leader, among the children, it was Mabel that helped Isabel write the letter to Santa see previous post.
Probably around 1906 she met Marice Furlong who was born in Canada, they married and went to Vaughn, North Carolina, to live. Mabel came home to visit her mother and father July of 1907. When she returned to North Carolina she started a family with 4 daughters: Pearl abt 1907, Josie 1909, Isabel 1911, and Irena 1913.
Things at home turned bad, apparently her husband left her, she is using the maiden name Olyer, there is a death record of Furlong, in Saranac Lake 30 march 1947. Being left alone with 4 small girls she must have been desperate.
Her Aunt Mahala, was Matron at the Plattsburgh, N.Y., home for women and might well have influenced her into turning the girls over to the Orpan train for Kansas. During this period the
trains had excellent press; Children would be bathed, new cloths and hair done, a person would ride on the train with them, when the train stopped in Kansas, would take the four girls along with several others to a church or hall were the potential adopters would met them and decide which ones they wanted, those not taken were put back on train and sent to next stop.
These girls were lucky, all went to great homes, Even though they separated, all were married and we will post information about them later.

In 1920 Mabel is back in Harrietstown twp.,Franklin Co. New York as head of household with one lodger.
1923 she married William Guffoil
1938 she is living in Tupper Lake,New York were she was living when called to arrange for funeral of her brother charles who had passed away at Gen Hospital in Saranac Lake,New York

1940 Jul 5 she was living in Gabriels, New York, when her brother ross died

During her lifetime she was lucky to have the girls contact her and maintained a relationship with them.
Mabel passed away 26 jun 1966 at age of 76, a resident of Highland Nursing home, Massena, New York.

Ralph Philip Olyer Narcotics Agent 1907

2008-07-11T10:06:00.000-04:00

It is just a little over 100 years ago that Narcotics got its boost in popularity from action of the government. March 3 1905 Congress enacted the first federal anti-narcotic law. prior to that drugs could be obtained on the open market, the addiction rate was 0.4% to 1.2% of the adult population, and no drug crimes or incarcerations, associated with use of drugs. Now 100 years of prohibition, the figures are 1 % to 2% of adults, with drug criminals comprise over half of federal prisoners, and nearly one-quarter of state criminal offenders, for grand total of about half million persons in our institutions. This is about equal to the total number of addicted population of 1900. Every year some 20 million Americans commit drug crimes, and nearly half have done so sometime in their lifetime. This has to be the nations number one crime creation program.
Job security for Enforcement, Incarceration, Judicial and Welfare.

This is the family history and brief genealogy of Ralph Philip Olyer, was born 2 Oct 1886, Lyon Mountain,Danamora, Clinton Co. New York the 3rd son of 12 children born to Henry Lewis Olyer and his wife Josephine Sweeney.
There was always lots of siblings to play with, from information I have found they had a great childhood. Early on he was called "Buck", attended school in Danamora, Clinton Co. N.Y.

Jun 7 1907, at age 20 he was accepted in the Narcotics unit, Internal revenue service, Albany New York. A fledgling organization that was set up only two year before. He was assigned
northern New York Area. His unit expanded with the 1914 Harrison Act, and other reforms brought on by the continued pressure of the Evangelical prohibitionist, and reformers. In
1920 census he is living as a single border at, Perinton Twp. Monroe Co. New York.

October 8 1921 he was placed in charge of the Narcotics Unit of Internal Revenue in Franklin County. Right around this time he met and married Estella M. Bagley, she was born in Canada
in 1889. from a previous marriage she had a daughter Daisy, born 1914, and a son, Loren W. born 1917.
Ralph is mention many times in the northern New York newspapers for apprehending and arresting many offenders of the Alcohol, Drug, and tobacco laws.
In the census of 1930 the family was living in East Rochester, Monroe Co. New York
shortly after the census, Ralph retired from the enforcement agency and moved to Rock Forest, Canada, were he died 1 may 1945.

It must have been a strain on his relationship with his three brothers that were breaking the very laws that he was dedicated to enforce. Might mention he had a uncle Miles Owen Olyer, that served as a Immigration Officer, in the Malone area at about the same time period.

Since Ralph moved to Canada, I have not located a lot of material about him, if you knew him or can help fill in please contact me.

100 Year or More of American Independence

2008-07-07T10:30:00.000-04:00

Adah Nancy Bell, born in a independent American nation on 13 Nov 1815, in Mohawk, Montgomery Co. New York , who's grandparents fought in the revolution and grt grandparents served in the Colonial Wars.

She has always been of interest to me, probably due to the fact she was the first
one I really had to engage in old fashioned genealogy research. Once the dusty
records in Montgomery County archives had been searched, a trip into the
field was necessary. Shovel, broom, paper, pencil it was off to the abandoned
home site. Her father Rowland Bell had been a tenant farmer,a indentured land servant, when the son took over the title, rents were raised and nearly all the tenants burned there homes and barns and moved on. It took several trips before the old foundations were found, and with them the family cemetery plot. After rubbing the stones, to bring up the dates and names,
several family members were added that did not get into the archives years ago.

I also found several pieces of broken china, these are the same pattern as a Flo Blue syrup picture and plate that has been handed down for over150 years.

Adah Nancy Bell married Simeon Herrick Sterling, grandson of two Revolutionary War soldiers, 10 Oct 1849, they lived in Sammonsville, New York. Adah and Simeon, were the parents of my great grandmother Mary Sterling, born 26 Jul 1851.

Adah died Christmas day 1908, at the age of 93. She only had the one daughter Mary Sterling, died age 94 in 1941, she married "Jack" Lasher Civil War veteran who's ancestry includes many of the noted patriots of the revolution, loescher, Klock, Nellis, Saltsman, Dillenbeck

I selected Adah, whose ancestry includes the basic individuals, the foot soldiers, who fought and gave there lives for our independence, as all of her descendants have since .

Independence and longevity has blessed this family for generations.

Ross Olyer D & H Steam Railroad Enginier

2008-07-04T17:37:00.000-04:00

The Family History and genealogy of Ross Raymond Olyer first born son of Henry Lewis Olyer and Josephine "Jessie" Sweeney, of Lyon Mountain, New York. The Olyer family started out as lumbermen and miners with this generation all of Phillips grandsons are turning to the railroad.

Ross Olyer was born 9 jun 1884 in the mining community of Lyon Mountain. N.Y.

I have not yet found information about his childhood but he married at Plattsburgh . New York, 1906 Katherine Pratt, born 27 Sep 1888, Ray Brook, New York. Worked for D & H Rail Road as fireman and Engineer for 36 years

We first find mention of the family in 1910 census Essex Co., North Elba, New York, were Ross is listed age 25 ,his wife 21, and there daughter, Thelma four months.

His draft card shows birth date 9 jun 1884 , age 34, med hgt.,blue eyes, light hair, employed by D. & H. Railroad.

The 1920 census has the family living in North Elba, N.Y. and have added Rolland, 7; Stanley 5; and Carlton. 1 yr 3 months. Before 2 jun 1925 they moved to Lake Placid. Ross was still with the Delaware and Hudson R.R.and must have been on the road a lot. There are many trips and family obligations that fell upon Mrs Ross Olyer as reported in the Plattsburgh Sentinel.

[Right roundhouse were engines were turned]

In late June Ross assisted one of the train men in coupling a particular hard lock, as it snapped together he was thrown to the tracks and hit his back and head, other than being real painful and a bit hard to walk, nothing was thought of it. As time went by it became worse and he was unable to work, being confined to bed. He died on 5 July 1940 from the injuries to his spine and head.

He left wife, Katherine, 4 sons, Lional, of Rouses point; Carlton, of Lake Placid; Stanley, of Rouses Point; Roland of Rochester; two brothers Gerald, of Saranac Lake and Ralph, of Rock Forest, Quebec.

Four sisters Mrs Isabella Rice, of Whitehall; Mrs Bertha Caswell, Lyon Mountain; Miss Winfred Olyer, NYC;Mrs Mabel Guilford, Gabriels,N.Y.

Ross like so many of Philip Olyers grand children , turned from lumbering to Rail Roads, Henry's children went with the D. & H. and John's 3 boys joined the NYC .

As a child I would listen for the whistle of the steam engines as they came thru Nelliston, N.Y.,
the steam engine had a distinct sound not at all like the electric diesels, Usually I could get the the hill overlooking the tracks and watch the the gleaming black engines with steam, smoke,
and noise. If the engineer saw me he would wave or sometimes activate the whistle, man how I wished I could run one of those, do not think the modern trains are that alluring. At the time I did not realize I was observing the end of an era.

Harry Olyer "Pocket Bootlegger"

2008-07-04T16:20:00.000-04:00

A brief genealogy and family history of The third Son, of Henry Lewis Olyer and Jessie Sweeney, of Lyon Mountain,New York. born the 22 Oct 1892 . The first public record is his "draft card 1917-1919 from Wilmington Essex Co.,New York. age 26 med. hgt.,med build,black eyes,dark hair- right eye missing, Occupation -Lumberman, notify mother Josephine Olyer, Lyon Mountain, New York."

Henry was not called into service due to the missing eye.

April 6th 1923 Lake Placid newspaper reports Harry crushed his middle finger left hand when a sled ran over it.

Sept 20th 1923 he received an award of 30 weeks compensation at $14.42 week for total of $432.60. Employer Hurley Bros.,Lake Placid.

By 1927 he joined his brothers in the fast money game of bootlegging. the following article from Lake Placid News: Local man held on liquor charge Harry Olyer, taken into Custody Saturday for "Pocket Bootlegging"Harry Olyer, 45, of Dorsey Street,
Lake Placid, was taken into custody last Saturday night by Officer McCann of the
local police force and Corporal Benjamin, Troop B., State Police, charged with
"Pocket Bootlegging" Olyer, it is said, carried his business with him in the form of a portable drinking equipment consisting of some alleged alcohol in a bottle, a glass, and a funnel. He was arraigned and held under bond $2000, for action of Federal court at Binghamton, New York. Unable to post bonds, Olyer was confined in the Malone jail.

a man said to be Charles Olyer, also of Lake Placid, reputed to be brother of Harry's was captured a short time ago with a load of liquor.

If you have been reading these postings about the 3 Olyer boys, Charles, Gerald, and Harry
all arrested for violation of the prohibition law, yes I agree the law is the law, but these three were caught very quickly and the justice seemed rather harsh when you compare it to other violators of the time. They also had a older brother who was a Narcotic Official.

Harry was not married, seemed to be hard worker, living a single life. There are a number of run ins with the local police force.

June 1937 Harry came up missing, no one had seen him at the familiar watering holes, and he did not come home.

On Tuesday evening at about 6:15 he was found floating face down in Mill Pond, apparently he fallen over the guard rail in the dark and stumbled into the pond.

7 Oct 1937 his sister Mabel L.Gulford, as Administratix of Harry Olyer's Estate entered a negligence suit against the village of Lake Placid for the death of Harry for $10,000.

Could find no children or spouse for Harry.

Oscar A. Olyer Killed by Motorcycle 1915

2008-06-29T16:30:00.000-04:00

Typical Rig [Horse and buggy] of the 1915 period

Genealogy, life, times. and family of Oscar Alexander Olyer, farmer, School Trustee, Respected native of Moores, Clinton Co.,New York.
The first son of Philip Olyer and Lucretia Fanny Leach, born 10 March 1843 in Chazy, Clinton Co. N.Y.
Little is known of his childhood, except he was born and lived some time in Chazy, then in the 1870 census is living at home age 21 with his parents and siblings. on 10 Jan 1872 he married at St Albane, Vermont, Sarah Lucretia Daniels. Feb 18 1873 their first child Erwin was born, then a set of twins, 14 April 1876, died young, Ferdinhand William bn., 12 July 1879, Clayton George, 5 Feb 1882, Miles Owen, 25 Sep 1883, Dean Jessie, 28 Dec 1886, May Lillian, 14 July 1889, this agrees with her statement in 1910 census as having 8 birth 6 alive
March 2 1886 Oscar and Sarah bought a 52 1/2 acre section of lot no 152 of 420 acre's in the
Canadian and Novia Scotia Refuge Act, being S.W. corner. later known as O'brien Corners, a
hamlet on the corner of [1910] U.S. route 11 & Irona Road, 6.4 miles WSW Moores,N.Y. ,were
they built a home and barns, taking up farming.
In Mar 4 1892 Oscar was nominated Constable, a republican of Moore's. The Plattsburgh Sentinel Newspaper, has numerous account of this family visiting relatives year after year.
Sept. 9th 1909, their home was partial destroyed by fire on a Friday night, most of the contents were destroyed.
Ionia section of Plattsburgh Sentinel, has the following article: About a dozen ladies met at Mrs J.C.Lamberton to quilt for Mrs O.A. Olyer whose home, with nearly all the contents was destroyed by fire a few months ago. All the men arrived in time to partake of the bounteous supper provided by the ladies. Mrs Olyer heartily thanked her friends for their kindness.
Mr & Mrs Jesse Story, are rejoicing over the arrival of a sweet baby girl [Sadie] born 5 March,
a grandchild to Mr & Mrs O.A.Olyer.
11 May 1915, Oscar A. Olyer, a well known resident of Moores was
struck by a motorcycle while crossing the highway, leading from
Moores to Champlain Saturday May 8th, in afternoon, receiving injuries from which he died Sunday forenoon, without regaining consciousness.
Shown to left is a vintage 1914 motorcycle to give you an idea of what the machine looked like.
Mr Olyer was 72 years of age,was slightly deaf, and his sight was not the best. He was a school trustee in the town of Moores, and Saturday afternoon he went to the home of J.H, O'neill for purpose of conferring with him regarding school matters. After conference
Mr Olyer and his wife started to drive to Champlain, when a short distance from Moores village they met Mr Bates en route to Moores. The rigs [horse drawn carriages] were moving along on opposite sides of highway; [the photo shows typical improved dirt road of the area in 1915, dirt well graded but only wide enough for two Riggs to pass while the auto was coming in, the primary transportation was horse and buggy]
Mr Olyer stopping his horse "tail hi" walked across the road to
speak to Mr Bates, at the end of their short, conversation Mr Olyer turned and crossed the road to where his horse and rig stood. He did not see or hear the approaching motorcycle. upon which a Mr Roberts and his Companion were riding to Moores village, when near the center of the highway he was struck and thrown heavily to the ground, the distance between the two rigs was so close there was no time to either stop or change the coarse of his machine between the time Mr Olyer stepped to the center of the road and the time of the accident. The unfortunate Mr Olyer laid on the road side until 11 o'clock before being taken to his home, at what is known as O.Brien's Corners, where he lingered until 1 o'clock yesterday forenoon when he passed away. Corner, Fisk was notified of the accident and man's death, yesterday they went to Moores and made a thorough investigation of the matter, the physician who was called after the accident and remained with him until his death stated his death was due to shock and internal injuries. The only visible injuries Mr Olyer had at the accident was a broken wrist. Mrs Olyer, who witnessed the accident which resulted in her husbands death was in state of prostration over the sudden taking away of her husband.

1917 May 1st Notice of foreclosure estate of Oscar A. Olyer. Sarah Olyer lot 152 of 420 acre lot
of Canadian and Novia Scotia Refuge Act, being S.W. corner of lot 52 1/2 acre town Champlain to be sold 1 may 1917 on the court house steps.

In the 1930 census Sarah Olyer age 83 is living with her daughter May and her husband Jesse Story.
In a way its sad when you think how hard it must have been to make to payments on the farm and bring up 6 children, only to see it disappear due to accident. The descendants of Oscar will be covered in future post

Sarah Booker Olyer,The Hat Lady,Athol,Mass

2008-06-28T17:36:00.000-04:00

JOHN OLYER-CHARLOTT SCUTT DESCENDANTS

Family REUNION 3 AUG. 1941

OLYER REUNION. Everyone in the photo is a descendant of John Olyer of Lyon mountain, New York, with the exception of two people Wilbur Olyer and his wife Sarah Booker. standing with hat and white purse. kneeling just to the right of her is Wilbur, only man kneeling.

Wilbur's father was Philip Olyer, who married Harriett Battman, brother of our
John Olyer. He was the oldest Olyer at the reunion. Wilbur was born in 1876,
Altmont, Clinton Co. New York. When he was in his early teens went to work for
the Hardwood Mill, in Santa Clare, N.Y. were in a accident he had both legs broken
just below the knees.
He apparently recovered from this and was married to Clara S. Hagar in 1902, this
marriage lasted only a short time when he divorced and married Sarah E. Booker,
living in Athol, Worcester,Mass. with her parents in 1920 census his draft card of which
he had two, show that he worked in the Nitrate factory in 1917-18 and the second card
showed Starret Mfg. Co. in 1918
1930 census he had a net worth of $7500 and was manager, probably of the Hat shop which in the census 1930 his wife is listed a proprietor. The photo was taken in all probability after the Olyer reunion of 1941. Our branch of family did
not know where Wilbur was before the reunion, from the photo of me would guess its about 1942. Knowing it was their my mother would have to make the trip there to see it.
When a hat had been displayed for a period of time rather than reduce the price she destroyed the hat. Her belief was-a customer who bought a hat one day, would be offended to know someone else could come in the shop a few days later and buy the same item at a discount-so everyone knew they were paying the lowest price no matter when they bought a hat from her. It must have worked as she had the shop all during the depression and well into the 40's, a very high end Ladies hat and accessory shop.

This is a break from Henry Olyers family but will be back with more of his children in the next post, eventual we will have the genealogy of all of Philip Olyer's decedents.

This genealogy of the Olyer line ended with Wilbur, as no known children have been found

You Know Nothing About Your Mother's Youth

2008-06-23T08:03:00.000-04:00

A month or so ago "Jasia" at CreativeGene sponsored a carnival about mother. so I did a post. Then I began to think, "you know nothing about
your mother" Oh yes she was born in Spring Cove, New York in 1904 at a
lumber camp. She lived in Little Falls, N.Y., Nelliston, N.Y. and was married
in Albany N.Y. well that covers about 20 years.There certainly must be
more. Luckily about a week after the Carnival, Miriam Midkiff posted a
article about Northern New York Historical Newspapers, listed Tom Tryniski's web site www.Fultonhistory.com. I have been into genealogy since 1940, can boast 5 Mayflower ancestors, linnage to all the Magna Charta signers, kings, horse thieves, witches, Evan a tared and feathered direct ancestor, and on and on. But until I searched those Northern New York
Newspapers I knew little or nothing about the greatest woman who ever
lived my mom.
She was born in Spring Cove, Tupper Lake N.Y. 3 May
1904, at her grandmothers home, a few days later her mother Margaret
Cummings Olyer, returned to Little Falls,N.Y. with Mary, were the family lived, 25 High st., little Falls, N.Y. Mary attended Public School and she grew up, their and fell in love at age 16

The 5th hit I had Fulton History Web site:"Berlin Olyer father of Mary testified that his dau was born March 2 1902 [big error 1904] at tupper Lake, did not have permission to get married" got a chuckel out of this-- another Berlin Olyer ??

7th hit Fulton History Web Site: "Margaret Olyer mother of Mary will annul marriage" This got my attention, I became more serious, in short time I had a marriage date 20 April 1920 and a husband Silas Stever. Herkimer County Court:, two day trial transcript, "Little Mary Olyer" was only 16 when she was married, appeared in court with "short pink dress and matching picture
hat,with long shoulder length curls and dark flashing eyes" as the trial lawyer O'Donnel, said "I tried to examine this precious young lady, she did a better job of examining me". after two days of both families testimony the annulment
was granted and abduction charges against Silas Stever, were dropped.
The Olyer family had moved into Little Falls in 1900, would be my guess my grand mother moved out shortly after, April 2oth 1920 and went to Nelliston,
N.Y.
The trial created bold headlines in several of the area papers. This also explains why ,when my mother married my father in 1923 they went to Albany, New York, and from there to Deleware were he worked. She probably did not want anything to happen to this marriage.
I wish she had told me, but I know she would not have been able to do this. I am sure she knew I would find out, she helped me unravel the genealogy of her mother.
She had to know, I would some day find the record. She left boxes of
newspaper clipping and photos but nothing about this. The above picture
on right was take in 1921, when all of this was going on. The photo on the
left is 1923, just before my mom and my dad were married. After 1925 her
life has been a open book to me. One of my best memories was he giving me
a half dollar to riding my bicycle to "Pete the Greek's" ice cream parlor,
getting a 35 cent container of ice cream and 15 cents worth of hot fudge,
then peddling as fast as I could to get home before it melted, the two of us
would set on the porch and have ice cream sundaes. and talk about the
family history, this was a weekly event. She never mentioned anything about her life in Little Falls, and no one else in the family has ever mentioned it-wonder if posting this will loosen some tounges, resulting in more information. They were perfect parents, passing along to me all the knowledge and virtues one needs to live a good life, they allowed me to make my own mistakes and god knows I made a lot of them, none of them were there fault in any way. I was blessed to know them.