Harriet York was born on 7 November 1809. While her birth is recorded in the Belfast records it is likely that the family was actually living in either Brentwood, N.H. or Camden, Maine at the time, based on census records.1
Erastus was a farmer in the 1850 census of Swanville. In 1860 they were in Waldo, Maine and he was a lumberman.
Citations
Alfred Johnson, editor, Vital Records of Belfast Maine To the Year 1892 (Portland: Maine Historical Society, 1917), 1:212. Hereinafter cited as Vital Records of Belfast.
Alfred Johnson, editor, Vital Records of Belfast Maine To the Year 1892 (Portland: Maine Historical Society, 1917), 2:481. Hereinafter cited as Vital Records of Belfast.
Henry York was born on 16 May 1813 in MaineG. While his birth is recorded in the Belfast records it is likely that the family was actually living in Camden, Maine at the time, based on census records.1,2
While it is unproven that he married both Eunice and Nancy it seems reasonable. The marriage to Nancy Post seems certain based on her appearance in other records with Henry in the correct locations. As for the first marriage to Eunice Davis, there is no other currently known Henry of the correct age. Also, a Henry York appears in the 1840 census of Swanville, Maine where his sister Harriet and husband Erastus Hartshorn also appear. In Henry's family is a woman of about the same age as him, as well as two older adults who are likely his parents, as they don't show up anywhere under the name of Daniel in the 1840 census. Also in that census is a young boy aged under 5, so presumably a son.
In 1850 Henry and Nancy were living in Rockland, Maine with no children and the record said they had been married within the year. Henry worked as a stage driver. If the 1840 record in Swanville was indeed the same Henry with an earlier wife who died, the young male of that census was no longer with them.
In 1860 Henry and Nancy were still living in Rockland with their two daughters Ann and Helen. Henry owned real property worth $600 and personal property worth $100. His occupation appears to read "Beer shop." Next door to them was the family of a 27-year-old William Post who is likely a relative of Nancy.
They were still in Rockland in 1870 and this time only their daughter Helen was living with them. Henry worked as a laborer and owned $600 in real estate.
Alfred Johnson, editor, Vital Records of Belfast Maine To the Year 1892 (Portland: Maine Historical Society, 1917), 1:212. Hereinafter cited as Vital Records of Belfast.
His age at death of 64-11-13 calculates exactly to 16 May 1813 matching the Belfast birth record.
FamilySearch, www.familysearch.org, (Maine Marriages, 1771-1907, <https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F4FK-4YD>. Note that there is another marriage record dated 14 Jan 1838 here <https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F4FK-4YZ>. That is probably their marriage intention but until the original record is checked that is unknown. Links to original records are there but not to the actual page so much searching will be needed.).
George Chandler, The Chandler Family: The Descendants of William and Annis Chandler Who Settled in Roxbury, Mass. 1637 (Worcester, MA: Press of Charles Hamilton, 1883), p.1064.
John Chandler
M, d. 1881
This research is a work in progress, taken from sources of varying reliability. The information should be verified before being relied upon.
Her record of death only states that she was a child of Daniel York, aged 2 years. Her gender comes from the 1800 census of Brentwood.
Citations
Her father's 1800 Brentwood census entry says he has a young daughter, and as her parents were married in Sep 1799 she was likely born in 1800. She was two years old when she died in Aug 1802.
William Plumer, List of deaths in Epping, 1768 - 1842, NH Historical Society. P.80.
Erastus Hartshorn
M, b. circa 1810, d. 12 June 1876
This research is a work in progress, taken from sources of varying reliability. The information should be verified before being relied upon.
His gravestone said he was age 66 when he died on 12 Jun 1876. 1850 census says b. Maine.
Alfred Johnson, editor, Vital Records of Belfast Maine To the Year 1892 (Portland: Maine Historical Society, 1917), 2:481. Hereinafter cited as Vital Records of Belfast.
His gravestone said he was 87 years old when he died on 26 Dec 1883.
Alfred Johnson, editor, Vital Records of Belfast Maine To the Year 1892 (Portland: Maine Historical Society, 1917), 2:481. Hereinafter cited as Vital Records of Belfast.
FamilySearch Family Tree page: https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/K8FT-QDR.
When James enlisted in the Civil War on 13 Aug 1862 he gave his occupation as shoemaker and he was described as being 5' 10" tall with grey eyes, dark hair and a dark complexion. He was from Alton, NH at the time and became a Lieutenant in the Twelth Regiment NH Volunteers. Another military document gave his occupation as cordwainer.6,7,8
His obituary appeared in the 15 February 1895 Farmington News and read as follows:
The friends of James M. York of Lowell, a native of this town and a former resident, were shocked to learn of his sudden death at his home, 176 School street in that city, Monday morning. He retired in his usual good spirits Sunday evening, and failing to put in appearance Monday morning his relatives went to his room to learn the cause and found him lying dead in bed. He is survived by his sons Dr. A. D. York of Lowell, and R. B. York of Boston, who is also a physician. He was a veteran of the Civil War, and a member of the Knights of Pythias. Funeral services were held in Lowell at the home of his son, and his remains will be brought to Farmington for burial Friday. His wife's death preceded his by some years. He was tax collector for Farmington in 1882. He made many and pleasant friendships, and everybody who knew him liked him because of his genial and hearty manner. His age was 76 years.9
FamilySearch, www.familysearch.org, (Dover, Strafford, New Hampshire, United States records, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L99K-D7P7>, scan of original record citing their marriage intentiona and certification, but not the actual marriage date).
There is no proof that this is the same Charlotte York who married Abraham Gordon but no record of any other Charlotte in the area has been located so it seems highly probable. They moved to New Sharon and Mount Vernon, Maine and had at least three daughters according to the 1800 census of Mt. Vernon, although the Gordon genealogy can only put a name to one of them.
Abraham might have been deceased by June 1802 as the Kennebec County Supreme Judicial Court has a record of that date of a coroner's report on Abraham Gordon of Mt. Vernon. This is indexed on ancestry.com in their Maine Court Records, 1696-1854 database but the actual record has not been seen yet. What became of Charlotte after her husband died young is unknown. A quick search through ancestry.com for records relating to a Charlotte Gordon after this point turned up nothing.
Citations
Epping, N.H., First Congregational Church Records, 1748-1922, p.72.
New Hampshire Genealogical Record, (Dover, NH: Charles W. Tibbetts, 1903-1910 ; NH Soc. of Genealogists, 1990-), v.3, no.3, Jan 1906, Kingston First Church Records, p.133.
Marian Otis, Alexander Gordon and His Descendants: A Genealogy of the Gordon Family (Penobscot Press, 1999), p.58.
Abraham Gordon
M, b. 22 November 1764, d. by June 1802
This research is a work in progress, taken from sources of varying reliability. The information should be verified before being relied upon.
Marian Otis, Alexander Gordon and His Descendants: A Genealogy of the Gordon Family (Penobscot Press, 1999), p.26, 58.
New Hampshire Genealogical Record, (Dover, NH: Charles W. Tibbetts, 1903-1910 ; NH Soc. of Genealogists, 1990-), v.3, no.3, Jan 1906, Kingston First Church Records, p.133.
Marian Otis, Alexander Gordon and His Descendants: A Genealogy of the Gordon Family (Penobscot Press, 1999), p.58.
There do not seem to be any records of Yorks in Meredith in those times during and right after the Revolutionary War, so how did Miriam end up there? It would be highly unlikely that she would have moved there by herself, so who did she go with? Her mother's brother John Folsom moved up to Meredith with many of his own children. John Folsom even witnessed a 1780 deed in Meredith involving Hezekiah Swain, Miriam's future husband. [Strafford Co. Deeds, 32:422] And the minister who performed their 1782 wedding was her uncle Nicholas Folsom. So Miriam likely travelled there with her mother's family.
Citations
Epping, N.H., First Congregational Church Records, 1748-1922, p.56.
She deposed in 1843 in the case of her husband's Revolutionary War pension records that she was 81 years of age.
Ancestry, www.ancestry.com, (U.S., Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files for Hezekiah Swain, <https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1995/images/MIUSA1775D_136957-00430>. Included in the pension file is an original slip of paper referencing their 2 Nov 1782 intention of marriage belonging to Rev. Nicholas Folsom of Merdith who married them in Meredith, signed by Ebenezer Smith, Meredith Town Clerk, as well as an affidavit from the Reverend's son Nicholas Folsom attesting to the actual date of marriage which was in his father's papers.).
Ancestry, www.ancestry.com, (U.S., Revolutionary War Pensioners, 1801-1815, 1818-1872, Widow Pensions, 1843-1862, <https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1116/images/T718_16-0064>. Her date of death is included on the chart outlining her pension payments that began 4 Mar 1836 and continued until her death on that date).
Hezekiah Swain
M, b. circa 1757, d. 9 April 1812
This research is a work in progress, taken from sources of varying reliability. The information should be verified before being relied upon.
He was a soldier in the Revolution whose name appears on many military rolls available on ancestry.com, and details of his service are described in his widow's pension papers, also on ancestry. He enlisted in the Spring of 1777 from Meredith, N.H. and served as a private under Lt. Nathan Hoit. He was in the battles of Hubbardston and Stillwater and in General Sullivan's Indian Expedition, length of service three years.
Citations
Date and place of birth and parentage from ancestry family trees.
Ancestry, www.ancestry.com, (U.S., Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files for Hezekiah Swain, <https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1995/images/MIUSA1775D_136957-00430>. Included in the pension file is an original slip of paper referencing their 2 Nov 1782 intention of marriage belonging to Rev. Nicholas Folsom of Merdith who married them in Meredith, signed by Ebenezer Smith, Meredith Town Clerk, as well as an affidavit from the Reverend's son Nicholas Folsom attesting to the actual date of marriage which was in his father's papers.).
During the Revolutionary War Benjamin served as a mariner on board the U.S. Ship Ranger under Captain Simpson for 3 months. The Ranger had been operating successfully in English waters under the command of John Paul Jones before Benjamin joined the crew. Captain Jones was detached to command Bonhomme Richard, leaving Lieutenant Simpson, his first officer, in command. Ranger departed Brest, France 21 Aug 1778, reaching Portsmouth, New Hampshire on 15 Oct. Benjamin entered service in Jan 1779 and was assigned to Ranger, which departed Portsmouth on 24 Feb 1779 joining with the Continental Navy ships Queen of France and Warren in preying on British shipping in the North Atlantic. Seven prizes were captured early in April, and brought safely into port for sale. Benjamin deposed later that there were nine prizes but the historical record seems to disagree. He was verbally discharged when they returned to Portsmouth in April. [Benjamin York pension papers on ancestry.com]
In his pension papers is a deposition by his brother Joseph describing some of this war service: "I Joseph York of lawful age and sound mind do testify and say That in the Month of April Anno Domini 1779 I was at Portsmouth Newhampshire. In the latter part of said month the Ship of War Ranger of 18 Guns arrived then from a Cruise (in the American Revolutionary Service) of three months. That my Brother Benjamin York was on Board said Ship in the service & Cruise aforesaid - at which time the said Benjamin York was discharged from the said ship. And your Deponent further saieth that about the last of June following the aforesaid Benjamin York & myself enlisted into the American Revolutionary Service into a Regiment of infantry Commanded by Col. Archelaus Mooney for six months which term of Service expired when we were in Providence, Rhode Island - the Company to which we belonged was Commanded by Capt. Saml Runnells - And your Deponent further saieth that the said Benjamin York in the beginning of June 1780 or thereabout [illeg. word] into the Service aforesd at Dover Newhampshire for the Term of six months. And further saieth not. [Signed] Joseph York."
The six month Rhode Island service in the latter half of 1779 in which Joseph participated was commanded by Col. Hercules (not Archelaus) Mooney, and they were sent to Rhode Island to help keep watch on the British who were occupying Newport. They first occupied the city in Dec 1776, and despite the Battle of Rhode Island taking place in the summer of 1778 they held onto it until abandoning it in Oct 1779, at which time Joseph and Benjmain York were apparently nearby. History records no battles being fought there at the time.
On 13 Jul 1779 Benjamin York and Joseph York were two of the five signers of a receipt to the Selectmen of Dover for payment of 11 pounds 13 shillings each for travel to Providence, RI at two shillings per mile. [NH Provincial and State Papers, 11:542]
In June 1780 he enlisted again as a Private for six months in Capt. Carr's Company of Col George Read's Regiment. He served in New York and was at West Point Benedict Arnold fled there after his treason was discovered. Benjamin was discharged in December while stationed at the Soldier's Fortune encampment which is in modern day Philipstown, N.Y. on the east bank of the Hudson River not far out of New York City. Pension papers state that he served during this final enlistment for 5 months and 14 days.
They might have been living in Jay, Maine in 1799 as their son Gideon's death record states that he was born in "Jane," Maine. But since the family was living there in 1818 it's also possible that the information on Gideon's death record was stating a prior residence when he was a child, and not the actual place of birth.
At some point Benjamin and family were apparently living in Livermore, Maine as the births of all five of their children were recorded there in a family group. Since the last child was born in 1808 it was probably around then that they lived there. By 1818 they were in Jay, Maine, as on 27 Apr 1818 he deposed about his Revolutionary War service, giving his age as 57, born in Brentwood, now living in Jay. He signed his pension depositions with a signature not a mark. Edward Ellis of Dearborn, Maine deposed in May 1818 to Benjamin's service and concluded "From his reduced circumstances in life he is in need of assistance from his country for support. He sustains the character of a man of truth."
He moved to Mexico, Maine around 1821 and was enumerated there in the 1830 census. On 14 Aug 1832 he was 71 years old and living in Mexico, Maine when he deposed about his Revolutionary War service. He also stated that he was born in Brentwood in 1761 and that he lived in Dover, N.H. during his Revolutionary Service. After that he lived "in Maine, in Readfield, Fayette & other places" ending up in Mexico where he had been living for about eleven years.
Around 1833 or later he was living in Kennebec County, Maine when a pension form was filled out for him mentioning his service during the Revolutiionary War. He went on the pension roll in Mar of 1831. [Military service details mostly come from his pension records found on Ancestry.com beginning here: ]
He was still living in Mexico, Maine when the 1840 census was taken. He was living alone but next to him was a Shadrach York who with his inferred wife were both in their 30s with six young children. The census notes Benjamin a 79 year old Revolutionary War veteran, and includes a middle initial that appears to be R.
A pension list from Maine includes a Benjamin York and shows him receiving a pension from Mar of 1831 to Sep of 1849, which is when this particular file stops recording payments. [Ancestry.com, U.S., Revolutionary War Pensioners, 1801-1815, 1818-1872, T718: 1818 - 1872, 08: Revolutionary War, 1831-1848, ] Another from Maine shows payments after that, ending with a notation of his death on 20 Jul 1852. [Ancestry.com, U.S., Revolutionary War Pensioners, 1801-1815, 1818-1872, T718: 1818 - 1872, 09: Revolutionary War, 1849-1864, ]
Benjamin was living in Peru, Maine when he married second, on 6 Nov 1845, when he was 84 years old, the 83-year-old widow Mrs. Eunice (Knight) Barton. Her first husband was Daniel Barton (c1760-1838). One of their children was James Barton, b. 1806, who in 1850 was living in Peru, Maine with his (presumed) wife Abigail and mother Eunice York, age given as 80. Benjamin is not living with them but is instead enumerated a few towns away back in Mexico as an 88 year old farmer. Living in the same household were 17 year old Hannah G. Walker, born in Maine, and 58 year old Nancy Walker, born in Mass. The relationship of these Walkers is unknown but his second wife Eunice did have Knight relatives through her sister Martha.
The FamilySearch tree adds a son Jonathan P. York to his family, but that person was apparently born in Nottingham, NH and was married in Vermont as early as 1829, so it seems unlikely that he would be a member of this family. He is likely son of a different Benjamin York. The births of all five of Benjamin's children were recorded in the Livermore, Maine town records as a family group, but they didn't necessarily all take place there. Perhaps the last one or two did.
His year and place of birth, as well as his father's name, come from his own personal depositions he made for his Revolutionary War pension.
FamilySearch, www.familysearch.org, (Peru, Maine, Town and vital records, 1812-1892, Volume titled "Record of Births and Deaths, Marriage Certificates, Sheep Marks, &c," p.197 <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9BJ-X3PZ-J>. Marriage record gives their ages, since they were both in their eighties and that was probably pretty unusual.).
Hollis Turner, The history of Peru in the County of Oxford and State of Maine, from 1789 to 1911. Residents and genealogies of their families (Augusta, Me.: Maine Farmer Pub. Co., 1911), p.187.. Hereinafter cited as Peru, Maine History.
On 31 Mar 1760 guardianship of John Wadleigh, a minor aged more than 14 years, son of Jonathan Wadleigh of Brentwood, yeoman, was granted to Joseph Wadleigh of Brentwood. He was referred to as John Wadleigh "of Exeter" when Joseph Wadleigh gave bond for the guardianship that same day. [NH State Papers, Probate Records, 5:293] Joseph Wadleigh was the executor of John's father's estate, and he was either a son or brother of John's father.
Citations
In Mar 1760 he was a minor aged more than 14 years.
