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Josiah Easton |
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No parents conclusively identified |
Josiah
Easton was
a farmer from Fayette, Seneca County, New York SE3, and may have been a son of Stephen
Easton and a grandson of Richard Easton, but the will of Stephen Easton, written
on December 14, 1777 in Morristown, New Jersey and proved on July 5, 1780 MO9, did not mention Josiah. For informative
purposes, the wills of both Stephen and Richard have been briefly addressed
below, but until evidence proves that Josiah was a son of Stephen, this Easton
line concludes with Josiah.
Josiah
married Elizabeth Catlin, who was listed as a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Romulus, New York in 1816. Elizabeth,
also called Betsey, was named as the mother of Ziba,
Susan, and Elizabeth, but until a birth or death record can be located for
Daniel Easton that named his mother, or perhaps a marriage record for Josiah
Easton and Elizabeth Catlin that predates Daniel’s birth, it cannot be said
with certainty that she was the mother of Daniel. Elizabeth
Easton, who was born about 1770 in New York, died of “old age” at age eighty in
Ypsilanti, Washtenaw County, Michigan in January 1850, according to the US Federal Census
Mortality Schedule for census year 1850 US7.
Josiah was the
father of sons Daniel, Charles, Enos, Malon, and Ziba L. Easton, and daughters Hannah Hord, Rachel Huff,
the wife of Henry Huff, Susanah Clauson, the wife of
Matthias Clauson, Sarah Reynolds, the wife of Phillip Reynolds, and finally
Harriet and Elizabeth Easton,
who were unmarried at the time of the creation of his will SE3. The records of the First Presbyterian
Church of Romulus in New York, which spanned the years 1802 until 1824,
recorded his name and the names of his family members FI4. These were Daniel, Charles, Enos, Mahlon, Sarah, Rachel, Ziba
Ludlow, Susannah, Harriet, and Enoch FI4.
Daniel Easton was probably born between 1791 and 1800 UN9. Charles Easton was probably the Charles Easton who was
enumerated in Fayette, Seneca County, New York in the 1830 US Census UN8, and then enumerated in Varick, Seneca
County, New York in 1840 UN9,
whose birth occurred between 1791 and 1800.
Enos Easton was
born about 1800 in New York UN10, UN11, UN12. He
was enumerated next to Z.L. Easton in Ypsilanti, Washtenaw County, Michigan in
the 1840 US Census. He lived in Manchester, Washtenaw County in 1850 and 1860,
where he was enumerated with Catharine and his children, Sarah Ann, Harriet E.,
Electa, Josiah E., William Harrison, Catharine Maria,
Calista, and Charles H. Easton UN10, UN11. By
1870, he and Catharine had moved to Bushnell, Montcalm County, Michigan UN12. The Antrim County, Michigan death certificates for his sons,
Josiah E. and William H. Easton, stated that their
mother’s name was Catherine Warner MI21.
His death record indicated that he was born about April 19, 1805 in New York,
for he was sixty-seven years, ten months, and twenty-nine days upon his death
on March 18, 1873 in Bushnell, Montcalm County, Michigan MI3, MI23. His death was caused by apoplexy MI3, MI23. His gravestone, located at
Sunny Hill Cemetery in Fenwick, Montcalm County, stated that he died at age
seventy-three on March 3, 1873 (a photo can be found on the Find a Grave website).
Mahlon
Easton was probably the
Malin Easton enumerated in 1850 with Maria, age
nineteen, in Van Buren Township, Wayne County, Michigan UN10, and the Mahlon
Easton who lived in Orleans Township, Ionia County, Michigan in 1860 with Annie
(twenty-nine), John (six), Betsey (five), and Charles (age one) UN11; in both census records, his age
indicated that he was born about 1801 in New York. His wife may have been Anna Botrin/Botrie. An Ionia County,
Michigan death certificate for Bettie Burkett, who was born about 1855 and died
on May 25, 1932, stated that she was the daughter of Mahlon
Easton and Anna Botrin (or Botrie)
MI21.
Sarah Easton married Phillip Reynolds SE3.
She may have been the Sarah Reynolds who lived with Malum P. and Sarah Reynolds
in Romulus, Wayne County, Michigan in 1860 – this Sarah was born about 1802 in
New York UN11. She may have been the Sarah Reynolds
who lived with Horatio and Lovina Suettinton
(Setterington) in Duplain,
Clinton County, Michigan in 1870 who was born about 1806 in New York UN12. If she was the Sarah who lived with the Setterington
family in 1870, then she was probably the Sarah Reynolds who was born to
parents with the surname “Easton” about 1802 in New York, who died of “old age”
at age eighty-five on December 3, 1887 in Duplain,
Clinton County, Michigan MI3.
Ziba L. Easton was
born about 1803 UN11, 1805 UN10, or 1806 UN12 in
New York UN10, UN11. Z.L. Easton was enumerated next to Enos
in Ypsilanti, Washtenaw County, Michigan in the 1840 US Census UN9. In 1850, he lived with Magdalen Easton and his children in Van
Buren Township, Wayne County, Michigan, where he was a miller UN10. By 1860, Z.L. and Magdalene Easton and their children lived in
Canton, Wayne County UN11,
where they remained in 1870 UN12.
The death record for “Zile” L. Easton stated that he
died at age seventy years, five months, and four days on October 26, 1875 in
Canton, Wayne County, Michigan, and that his parents were Josiah and Betsy
Easton MI21. Based on this information, he was probably born on May 22,
1805. Death records for his children, Thomas C. Easton
and Sarah J. Fowler, recorded their parents’ names as Ziba
L. Easton (or Z.L. Easton) and Magdaline Clawson (or
M. Clawson) MI21. The gravestone for Ziba, located at Cherry Hill Cemetery in Canton, Wayne
County, Michigan, states that he was born on May 22, 1805 and died on October
26, 1875 (a photo of which may be found on the Find a Grave website).
Susan Easton was
born about about 1802 UN11, 1808 UN10, or
1813 UN12 in New York UN10, UN11, UN12. She
married Matthias Clauson SE3.
Susan Clawson’s death record stated that she was the daughter of Josiah and
Elizabeth Easton who died at age sixty-five years, eight months, and six days
on December 17, 1873 in Ypsilanti, Washtenaw County, Michigan MI3, MI21. Her birth probably occurred on May 11,
1808 in New York MI3, MI21. Susan
and Matthias Clawson lived in Ypsilanti, Washtenaw County, Michigan in 1850,
1860, and 1870 UN10, UN11, UN12.
William Huff was a member of their household in 1850 UN10, and Alva Reynolds was a household member in 1860 UN11. Her gravestone, which states
that she was born in 1807 and died in 1873, is located at Highland Cemetery in
Ypsilanti, Washtenaw County, Michigan; a photo may be found on the Find a Grave website.
Elizabeth Easton was
born about 1815 in New York UN10, UN11. She
married Calvin W. Woolsey SE4
(his surname was spelled Wolsey UN10 and
Wooolsey UN11, SE4). Elizabeth
and Calvin resided in Superior Township, Washtenaw County, Michigan in 1850 and
1860 UN10, UN11. Elizabeth Walsey
died of cancer at age fifty-four years and eleven days on March 6, 1869 in
Superior, Washtenaw County, Michigan; her parents were listed as Joseph and
Elizabeth Eaton, and her death was due to cancer MI3, MI21. If her age at the time of her death
was documented correctly, then her birth probably occurred on February 23,
1815.
Hannah (Easton) Hord, the wife of Gidean Hord, was the widow
of Peter Dickerson (or Dicherson), with whom she had
children SE3. Elizabeth and Hannah were absent amongst
his family members as written in the First Presbyterian Church record book.
They may have been born after Josiah moved from Cayuga County. Enoch Easton was not mentioned in
Josiah’s will, so it is possible that he died before May 10, 1834, the date of
Josiah’s will SE3. Rachel Easton married Henry Huff SE3, SE4 (who died before March 8, 1845) SE4. She lived in Washtenaw County,
Michigan in 1845 SE4.
Josiah died of
natural causes in Fayette, Seneca County, New York on January 1, 1845,
according to a document signed by William Sweet SE4. His will was proved at the Surrogate’s
Office in Seneca Falls, New York, on March 8, 1845 before John Morgan,
Surrogate SE3. His wife, Elizabeth, who may or may not
have been Daniel’s mother, was also known as Betsey, and died sometime after
1845 SE4. In between the time of the creation of
the will and Josiah’s death, his daughter Elizabeth (also known as Betsey)
married a man named Calvin W. Woolsey. Elizabeth and Calvin Woolsey and Harriet Easton were still living in Fayette at that
time, but Charles had moved to Varick in Seneca County SE4. Daniel, Malon,
Enos, Ziba L., Hannah and Gideon Hord, Sarah and Philip Reynolds (his name was spelled differently
in this particular document), Rachel Huff (who was a widow), and Susanah and Matthias Clauson were all residents of
Washtenaw County, Michigan SE4.
Josiah made his will
on May 10, 1834 at perhaps the age of sixty or older, according to Abram
Sweet’s opinion of how old he appeared to be; the witnesses to this document
were Elisha Hills, Horace McCartry (or possibly McCartey), and Abram Sweet SE3. Josiah Easton’s will, which was copied
by hand into Will Book B at a later date, has been transcribed in its entirety SE3:
In the
name of God Amen. I, Josiah Easton of Fayette in the county of Seneca Farmer,
being in good health of Body, and of sound and disposing mind and memory, Do
make and declare this to be my last will and testament in manner following that
is to say: I order that all my debts, funeral expenses and charges of proving
this my will be in the first place fully paid and satisfied - Second: I will
order and direct that the executors of this my last will and testament hereinafter
named, grant bargain sell & convey all the real estate of which I shall be
seized at the time of my death, as soon after my decease as they be able to
dispose thereof for a valuable consideration, by which I mean the worth of said
real estate. Also I direct that all my personal
property be disposed of at auction as soon as may be after my decease, except
the articles specified in the tenth section of article first title third chapter sixth part second of the revised statutes,
which articles together with necessary cooking utensils I bequeath to my well
beloved wife Elizabeth. I also will order and direct that the one equal third
part of the avails of my real and personal estate after satisfying the debts
& charges above specified, be put out at interest on good freehold
security, during the natural life of my said wife Elizabeth and that the
interest thereof be paid to my said wife Elizabeth annually if she first releases all claims of dower to my said real
estate. Thirdly, I will order and direct, that as my son Daniel Easton has
received from me one hundred and fifty dollars, my son Charles Easton has
received from me one hundred and fifty dollars, and each of my Daughters, to
wit Hannah Hord, wife of Gidean Hord, Rachel Huff,
wife of Henry Huff, Susanah Clauson wife of Matthias
Clauson have received from me the sum of fifty dollars and my daughter Sarah
Reynolds wife of Phillip Reynolds, has received from me the sum of sixty
dollars, (the said several sums so paid to my said children, being in the whole
five hundred & ten dollars. That the said sum of five hundred and ten
dollars be added to the remaining two equal third parts of the avails of my real
and personal estate and that the whole amount thus added be divided into eleven
equal shares, one of which equal eleventh parts, I give and bequeath to the
heirs of the body of my said daughter Hannah Hord to be equally divided among
or betwixt them share & share alike (and if the heirs of my said daughter
Hannah Hord, by Peter Dicherson shall ever recover or
claim anything from my estate, against me as Executor of the said Peter Dicherson for rent of the real estate of which the said
Peter Dicherson died seized while the same was
occupied by Giddean Hord the amount so claimed or
recovered by them is to be deducted from their proportions of said eleventh
part above bequeathed to them) after deducting therefrom the said sum of fifty
dollars which she has received as above specified. Another of which said eleven
equal shares, I give and bequeath to my son Daniel Easton deducting therefrom
the said sum of one hundred and fifty dollars which he has received as above
specified. Also I give and bequeath to my son Daniel
Easton one hundred dollars to be deducted out of the share of my son Charles,
upon condition that Daniel deliver up to Charles and cancel all demands which
he now has against my said son Charles. Another of said eleven equal shares I
give and bequeath to the heirs of the body of my son Charles Easton after
deducting therefrom the said sum of one hundred and fifty dollars which he has
received as above specified, and also the said sum of
one hundred dollars above specified as given to Daniel provided Daniel complys with the conditions above specified. And I hereby
authorize my Executors to expend the Legacy hereby bequeathed to the heirs of
my son Charles in the purchase of Land for them, and that the avails and
profits of the land so purchased may be enjoyed by the said Charles for the
support of his family so long as he shall reside on and improve the same and no
longer. That the avails thereof shall be un__ [this probably read “under” in
the original will, but the copy in the Will Book stated “un__”] the control of my Executors for the support of the family of
said Charles untill they become of age. And the
remaining eight equal eleventh parts, I give and bequeath to my three sons and
five daughters share and share alike, to wit, Enos Easton, Malon
Easton Ziba L. Eaton, Sarah Reynolds wife of Philip
Reynolds, Rachel Huff wife of Henry Huff, Susanah
Clauson wife of Matthias Clauson Harriet Easton and Elizabeth Easton, after
deducting from the shares of Sarah Reynolds sixty dollars which she has
received as above specified and fifty dollars from each of the
shares of Rachel Huff and Susanah Clauson, received
by them as above specified. I further will order and direct, that the remaining
one third of my said estate the incomes of which are hereby bequeathed to my
said wife Elizabeth, shall after her decease be divided between the heirs of my
said daughter Hannah Hord, and the heirs of my son Charles, and the rest of my
sons and daughters above named in the same manner and proportions as the said
two thirds are above directed to be divided, but without any deductions from
either. And I further will that if my daughter Hannah Hord should become in
want of the common necessaries of life, that my executors shall supply her with
necessaries from the incomes and profits of the portion above bequeathed to her
children. Otherwise said incomes to be added to the principle untill said children come of age. And I do hereby
constitute and appoint Benjamine Woodruff, Esqr and William Sweet, of Fayette, Seneca County,
Executors of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all other wills heretofor by me made, and declare this to be my last will
and testament. Witness my hand and seal this Tenth day
of May A.D. 1834.
Signed
sealed published & declared by the said testator Josiah Easton as & for
his last will and testament in the presence of us who in his presence and in
the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto
An inventory of his
estate was conducted on March 24, 1845 SE4,
and has been reproduced here in its entirety, with the spelling, capitalization
(as best as can be determined), and punctuation left intact. The document was
written in a ledger, and occasionally the words were written in miniscule
script to properly fit in the space allotted. Four short notations followed the
inventory; the first note stated, “One Note of hand against Charles Easton
leasing date October 16th 1839
for the amount of thirty dollars we think not collectable” SE4. Another stated, “One Note of hand
against Daniel Easton for the amount of one hundred and fifty dollars without
interest Dated March 1st 1822
Collectable if not outlawed” SE4. This
inventory had a subdivision of items with a heading entitled “Widows
Extension”, which has been transcribed in the first section. The remainder of
the items from Josiah’s inventory follow in the second section SE4:
Widows Extension
one young grey mare… The undivided two
thirds of 2 1/3 [this fractional number, and the word which followed it, was illegible]
wheat… one Bead beadstead & beading… one Beeredy [this word had been written atop of, and was illegible]
old… one Wool carpet… 14 yds Rag carpet old… one flore
cloth [probably “flour cloth”]… one old feather Bead… one dining table… one
Looking Glass… Three mat bottomed chairs… one Rocking chair… one Small table… Six
dining plates… Six breakfast plates… Six tea plates… twelve Sauce plates… one
Milk pot one Slop bowl… one Small Earthen Crock… one sugar dish one [illegible]
pot… one Earthen bowl two plates… one Platter… one soup dish & one stone Jarr… one Small tin pail… one Set old Curtains… two Stone
pots… one stone Jarr… one stone pot… one Pork cask… one
Barrel and Soap… Six Earthen Croks… two tin pans… one
Barrel and Salt… one Firkin and Pickles [a firkin was a type of small wooden
barrel]… Six bushels potatoes… Six tablespoons… one Barrel and Vinegar… one
firkin and Lavel… one small Keg… Four Geese… one Side
Saddle old… four Lambs… Five china teacups &
saucers… Two Bottles… one fancy Rocking Chair… one Lot of Corn in the Crib [a
corncrib, which was a type of granary for drying and storing corn]…
Sixty two bushels Wheat
Two Small Spinning wheels… one large Spinning
wheel… one Family Bible 6 Volume Scots [this was probably Reverend Thomas
Scott’s Six Volume Family Bible set, published by Samuel T. Armstrong]… one
Bible common… History of Newyork by S Eastman [This
book was probably A History of the State of New York, From the First
Discovery of the Country to the Present Time, by Francis Smith Eastman,
published in 1828 and again in 1832]… Ten Sheep… Three yards flannel… one Cow… Two
Swine… Pork in Barrel… one Bead Beadstead &
Bedding… Wearing apparel… one Cooking Stove & furniture… one Table… Six
Chairs… Six Knives & forks… Six plates… Six teacups and saucers… one Sugar
dish… one Milk pot… one tea pot… Six Spoons… one Lumber waggon…
one Buggy Waggon… one light Grey Mare… one Grey Mare…
one Brown Mare… Four & a half tons hay in barn… About ninety bushels oats
in B [barn or bags; the word was unwritten, with just the letter “B”]… Five
Bushels Flax Seed in bags… one old red Cow… one young Red Cow… one Red heifer… one
white heifer… one Brindle Steer… one Black Steer… Five Swine… Nine Sheep &
one lamb… one fanning Mill [this was a machine with sieves, and was used to
separate grain from small pebbles, dirt, and other particles]… Lot of
screenings… Sixteen dung hill fowls [a type of chicken]… Nine Geese… Ten Grain
bags… Four Barrels Cider & bbls [“bbls” was an abbreviation for barrels]….
one Iron bound barrel & vinegar… one brandy cask of Vinegar… one brandy
cask of Cider… one Meat cask… Potatoes in holes… Apples in hole… Turnips in
hole… one Musket & accoutrements… one lot of Onions… one Grain Cradle &
Scythe… one Cider Barrel… one Set double pleasure harness… one Plough and
Clovis… one Harrow… one old Waggon… one double set
plow harness… one Cutter… one pair hains & two pr
traces [Although the letter “c” was not written, this likely meant one pair of
trace chains. Traces are usually leather, and can be affixed to a whiffletree
on one end and chains on the other, for the purpose of pulling a wagon or cart.]… Lot of old harness… one old Saddle… Lot of Flax… Six old
Salt Barrels… Old fanning Mill… Four whiffletrees & tar bucket
[Whiffletrees, also known as whippletrees, were used to equalize and distribute
force, and as such were very helpful to prevent loads or plows from becoming
unbalanced.].… one Riding Bridle… Four Clovices… Two
wooden scoop shovels… one three tined hay fork… one two tined hay fork… one
Manure fork… one Set Whiffletrees… one neck yoke… one old Plow & clovis… one
Slead & Box… one wheelbarrow… one old Plow… one
half bushel measure… one half peck measure… Lot of Buckwheat & barrel… Lot
of peas… one tar Bucket… one Iron bound Barrel… one Keg… one Square Box… three
Matt Bottomed Chairs… three windsor Chairs… one old
Griddle… one flax hatchet… one Cheese hoop… Two pairs hand cards [used to
straighten fibers, to prepare them for spinning]… 2/3
of Nine acres Wheat… one Seive… one 3 gallon Stone
Jug… one bag Seed Onions… Lot of Seed Corn… one log chain… Beats in hole… one
broad hoe… one nail hammer… one Garden Spade… one Glass Lamp… one wooden Clock…
one Iron tea kettle… Two Strings Bells… one horse hopples [hobbles]… one hog
hook… one Inch Augur… one hand Saw old… one Square… one drawing Knife… one
Chopping Knife… one Plow Coulter [this is a blade which
can be attached to the plow, and it cuts the soil vertically, ahead of the plowshare]…
one churn… one Grindstone & fixtures… one water tub… one pair And Irons
[andirons]… one Straw cutting Knife… one Grubbing hoe… one pair Iron Wedges… one
Scythe & Snaith [more commonly spelled “snath”, it is a handle for a scythe]…
one old Scythe… two old And Irons… one Crane… one Cooking Stove & furniture…
three old Beadsteads… one pole Augus
[auger]… one three tined fork… one calfskin… four Beehives… two Iron hay forks
old… one dinner pot… one five pail Iron kettle… one Maul [a heavy hammer often
used for splitting logs]… one Axe… one Barrel… one hand Rake… one Buck Saw… one
Brass Kettle old… one Garden hoe... one Calash frame [for a calash,
a lightweight carriage which could have two or four wheels and had a
collapsible top]… one looking glass… two hay forks… one Brandy Cask &
vinegar
·
1800 US
Census: lived in Romulus, Cayuga County, New York with four boys under the age
of ten and one woman who was between twenty-six and forty-five. This particular census record is in poor condition, and there was
no visible indication of his age range or other people who may have been living
in his household, as it appears as though a portion of the paper may have
ripped and become detached.
·
1810 US
Census: lived in Fayette, Seneca County, New York with two boys and four girls under
the age of ten, three boys between ten and fifteen, and one woman between
twenty-six and forty-four. Coincidentally, the Easton family may or may not
have relocated from Romulus. Although Romulus is just five miles south of
Fayette, and a move would have been fairly simple, it
is possible that they remained in place while their town and county evolved.
This area underwent many revisions at that time, and
new, smaller counties and towns were created out of larger districts. Fayette was
whittled from Romulus but it was first called
“Washington”; it was not until 1808 that it gained its current name HI11.
·
1820 US
Census: lived in Fayette, Seneca County, New York with one girl under ten, one boy
and two girls who were between ten and fifteen, one young man between sixteen
and twenty-five, one young woman age sixteen to
twenty-five, and one woman older than forty-five.
·
1830 US
Census: lived in Fayette, Seneca County, New York with one boy between ten and
fifteen, one young woman between fifteen and nineteen, one man and one woman
between twenty to twenty-nine, and one woman between the ages of fifty and
fifty-nine.
·
1840 US
Census: lived in Fayette, Seneca County, New York with one girl under five, one
boy between the ages of ten and fourteen, one young woman between fifteen and
nineteen, two women between twenty and twenty-nine, and one woman between
seventy and seventy-nine.
The possible father
of Josiah may have been Stephen Easton, who was a yeoman MO9 and who may have served as a sergeant in
the Eastern Battalion for Morris County, New Jersey in the Revolutionary War ST23. Stephen Easton wrote his will on
December 14, 1777, which was proved on July 5, 1780 in Morris County MO9. The executors of Stephen’s will were Abraham Peirson and Isaac
Pearson MO9. He bequeathed money to two named sons, Moses and Samuel, but it was clear from his will that
Stephen had additional children, as he ordered his executors to divide his
estate equally MO9:
Amongst all my Children that Shall live to
be of age that is to Say to be paid to Each of my Surviving Sons that Shall Arive to the Age of Twenty One-Years
& to Each of my Daughters that Shall live to be Eighteen Years of Age to
Each of them & to Each of their Heirs.
Stephen’s father was
Richard Easton, who was also a yeoman of Morristown, New Jersey MO8, who was listed as a resident of
Morristown in a census of Morris County on August 31, 1752 SH5. Richard’s will, created on March 11,
1772 in Morristown, named his sons, “John Stephen and William”, without a comma
between the names John and Stephen; in fact, throughout the document there were
no commas at all between those two names MO8.
He also bequeathed “to my daughter Dorcas Sixty Pounds to my daughters Joanna
Sarah and Elizabeth Ten Pounds apiece and to my Grand
daughter Mary daughter of my son Richard Easton deceased ten shillings” MO8. Richard’s executors were Solomon Munson
and Isaac Pierson MO8.
Richard died on April 15, 1772 at the age of ninety-two FI3, which means he was born circa 1680. His
wife was named Eleanor, and she became a communicant of First Presbyterian
Church in Morristown on August 31, 1744, and died on August 1, 1776, at the age
of seventy-eight FI3, so she was born about 1698.