To The Memory of our Beloved Daughter Ethel G. Doty

Thank you, Brandie Stacey, for sharing Ethel G. Doty’s memorial card with me. When Brandie sent me the card, I didn’t know who Ethel was. The baby only lived six weeks passing May 7, 1898.

I was curious, so I snooped around and located a death notice in a Middletown, New York newspaper. Much to my surprise I found the baby girl was the daughter of my Great Grandparents Lewis Penny Doty and Emily (Wight) Taylor.

Death Notice from

Middletown Daily Argus, Middletown New York

Monday, May 9, 1898

Ethel had died three years before my Grandfather Frank Leroy Doty was born. I recall no one in the family talking about her and imagine this little girl’s loss was too painful for the Great Grandparents to discuss.

When we see the precious blossom,

That we tended with such care,

Rudely taken from our bosom,

How our hearts almost despair!

Round the little grave we linger,

Till the setting sun is low,

Feeling all our hopes have perished,

With the flower we cherished so.

Benjamin Doty’s Inventory and Administration Papers, Wantage, New Jersey, 1802

Good news Doty family and friends. A few days ago I located copies online of 5^th Great Grandfather Benjamin Doty’s inventory and administration papers originally filed at Newton, Sussex County, New Jersey.

Samuel Vanfleet and William Elston prepared an inventory Nov. 15, 1802. Judging from the date they appraised his belongings, Benjamin Doty most likely died in October or November.

Benjamin Doty’s Inventory dated November 15, 1802

Great Grandfather had plenty of hay in the barn and stack to feed his horses, cows, young cattle, hogs and sheep. Wheat, rye, flax, potatoes, corn, buckwheat, beans, oats and flaxseed were grown on the Doty farm. Benjamin’s possessions were deemed to be worth $670.15 by the appraisers.

Benjamin’s widow, Mary, and son, Isaac, accepted the inventory in court a few days later on November 18, 1802. Since Great Grandfather Benjamin hadn’t written a will, the widow and my 4^th Great Grandfather Isaac requested they be appointed Administratrix and Administrator. 4^th Great Grand Uncles John Doty and Nathan Everett vouched for Mary and Isaac’s abilities to manage Benjamin’s estate.

It was a treat to see 4^th Great Grandfather’s Isaac’s signature along with his brother John. Nathan Everett was a brother-in-law, the husband of their sister Mary. 5^th Great Grandmother Mary couldn’t write her name and signed with her mark.

Administration Bond

Benjamin Doty Estate

‘Division of the Real Estate of Benjamin Doty, Deceased, County of Sussex, New Jersey, August 1812’ posted March 24, 2016 discusses what became of Benjamin’s lands in the years after his death

Source:  Ancestry.com, New Jersey Wills & Probate Records, 1739-1991, Record of Wills, 1753-1900; 1s - 5948s; Author: New Jersey. Surrogate's Court (Sussex County); Probate Place: Sussex, New Jersey, File 967S.

Note: The Sussex County, NY Surrogate Court doesn’t have the probate papers for Benjamin Doty. I was told by the staff I would find them at the New Jersey State Archives in Trenton.

Division of the Real Estate of Benjamin Doty, Deceased, County of Sussex, New Jersey, August 1812

Today I’ll tell you about 5^th Great Grandfather Benjamin Doty and his lands in Wantage, Sussex County, New Jersey.

Before I discuss the division, let me give you a little background. Benjamin was born about 1735 in Middlesex County, New Jersey to 6^th Great Grandparents Benjamin and Rachel Doughty. Although 5^th Great Grandfather was born in New Jersey, his parents also lived for a time in Orange County, New York. He married about 1758 to Mary. Some Doty researchers suggest Grandmother’s full name was Mary Bush. That could be true; I haven’t yet found the documents to prove it. I don’t know when 5^th Great Grandfather settled at Wantage but believe the family was Sussex County residents by the 1790’s.

Benjamin Doty died in 1802. His widow and son, Isaac Doty, administered his estate. It turns out there wasn’t enough money in Great Grandfather’s personal estate to pay his debts.

So Great Grandmother Mary and Isaac got permission from the Sussex Orphans Court to sell land to cover the debts. Benjamin had purchased two parcels a few years earlier. James and Mary Rosecrants sold about 88 acres to Benjamin May 6, 1800 which would be bought by Birdseye Watkins in 1806.

A day after Great Grandfather bought the 88 acres from the Rosecrants, he acquired roughly 79 acres from James and Sarah Northrop May 7, 1800. Seventy two acres of the tract remained in the Benjamin Doty estate and this is the property that would be divided among his children.

Timothy Doty presented an application to the Sussex Orphans Court May 26, 1812 requesting a division of his father’s estate among the heirs. The Court approved, and the Division was presented in Court August 18, 1812.

The partitioning identified Benjamin’s thirteen children, both living and dead:

            Benjamin Doty assigned Lot 1 containing 5 acres

            Jacob Doty assigned Lot 2 containing 7 ¼ acres

            Timothy Doty assigned Lot 3 containing 5 acres

            Nathaniel Doty assigned Lot 4 containing 7 ¼ acres

            Archelous Doty assigned Lot 5 containing 3 ½ acres

            Abner Doty assigned Lot 6 containing 7 ¼ acres

            Ephraim Doty assigned Lot 7 containing 6 ½ acres

            John Doty assigned Lot 8 containing 9 ¾ acres

            Willet Doty assigned Lot 9 containing 6 ¾ acres

            Isaac Doty assigned Lot 10 containing 9 ¾ acres

            Sarah (Doty) Patterson assigned Lot 11 containing 2 ½ acres

            Mary (Doty) Everett assigned Lot 12 containing 2 ½ acres

            Phebe (Doty) Hunt assigned Lot 13 containing 2 ½ acres

What prompted a land division ten years after Benjamin Doty passed? When Timothy Doty approached Sussex Orphans Court, his mother and three of his brothers were already deceased. Benjamin and Mary’s son, Abner Doty, died in 1798. Great Grandmother Mary died by October 1811 according to an inventory submitted to Court. My ancestor, Isaac Doty, passed in 1811 and his brother, Willet Doty, died in 1812.

I’m assuming Abner, Isaac and Willet’s families received money for their shares but I couldn’t find deeds to verify it. Ephraim Doty wanted his father’s lands. As early as Feb. 3, 1813 Ephraim bought Lot 12 from Mary (Doty) and Nathan Everett.  In 1814 and 1815 he acquired Nathaniel, Jacob and John’s portions. Timothy, Benjamin, and Archelous sold Ephraim their lots in 1816. [Sussex Co., NJ Deed Book I ², pages 70-77]

I visited the Sussex County Surrogate Court, Newton, NJ and viewed the Estate Division in Divisions Book B, pages 28-32. Ancestry.com and Familysearch.org have digitized copies on their web sites as well. Here are images of pages 28-32 followed by a transcription I prepared.

Sussex County Surrogate Court, Newton, New Jersey, Division Book B, pages 28-32

  

 

Top portion of page 32

Note: Lot No. 6 allotted to Abraham Doty on map;

No doubt this was meant to read Abner Doty

Division of the Real Estate

of Benjamin Doty  deceased

In pursuance of a Decree of the Orphans Court for the county

of Sussex made in the Term of May last past appointing us the

Subscribers Commisioners for dividing the Real Estate of Benjamin

Dotey deceased, in the county of Sussex, between Isaac Dotey

Benjamin Dotey Abner Dotey Nathaniel Dotey Timothy

Doty John Doty Archelous Dotey Ephraim Doty Willet Dotey Jacob Doty

and Sarah Patterson, late Sarah Dotey Mary Everett, late Mary Doty and

Phebe Hunt, late Phebe Dotey his heirs at Law:  We do report to the Judges

of the said Orphans Court that we have made division of the Dec'ds Real Estate

between the said Isaac Dotey, Benjamin Dotey Abner Dotey Nathaniel Dotey

Timothy Dotey John Doty Archelous Dotey, Ephraim Doty Willet Dotey and Sarah

Patterson late Sarah Dotey Mary Everitt late Mary Dotey and Phebe Hunt

late Phebe Dotey, according to the act entitled an act to alter the law

deciding the ______ of Real estates, passed the 24th day of May 1780 and

have ascertained each ones share by metes and bounds as followeth, that  is to

Say

1  We have assigned and set off unto the Said Benjamin Dotey in seve-

rality the lot meadow and numbered in the Maps No. 1 being a part of a tract

of seventy two acres and thirty three hundredths situate on the west side of the

Drowned lands in the township of Wantage and county aforesaid, both sides

of the great road that leads from Abraham Wallings to Bartholfs Mill,

Beginning at a head of stones laying in the South east edge of the

great road aforesaid and in the North east line of the _____ track. Sou

heap of Stones is also the beginning corner of Lot No. 2 Said Lot No. 1 lays

on the North West side of the great road, thence running from said heap of

stones 1. South forty three and a half degrees West three chains and ten

links to a heap of stones in said road, thence 2 North Seventy two and a

half degrees West fifteen chains and ten links to a heap of stones ___

line of the entire tract thence 3. North thirty three and a half degrees east

three chains and thirty links to a heap of stone the fifth corner of the whole

tract thence 4. South Seventy two and a half degrees East fourteen chains

and forty links to the 4th corner of the whole tract, thence 5 South fifty

and forty links to the 4th corner of the who tract, thence 5 South fifty-

four and a half degrees East One chain and sixty links to the beginning

containing five acres be the same more or less.

2.Unto the Said Jacob Dotey we heirs assigned and set off in sever-

alty the lot marked No. 2 Situated on the South East side of the great

road aforeaid. Beginning at a heap of stones on the South east side of the a-

foresaid ___, said heap of stones is also the beginning corner of lot No. 1

thence running by said road. 1. South forty three degrees and a half West

five chains, to a Stone planted in said road, thence 2 South fifty-

four degrees and a half East fifteen chains and eighty links to a

heap of sontes thence 3. North thirty eight Degrees and a half East four

chains and seenty five links to the third corner of the entire tract,

thence 4 North fifty four degrees and a half West fifteen chains and

forty links to the beginning containing Seven acres and a quarter

to be the same more or less

   Unto the Said Timothy Dotey we have assigned and set off in severalty the

lot marked No. 3 Situate on the North west side of said road, Beginning at a

heap of stones in said road being the 2nd corner of lot No. 1. Thence running along said

Lot 1. South forty three Degrees and a half West three chains and sixty links to

a heap of stones, thence 2 North Seventy two Degrees and a half West fourteen

chains and thirty links to the fourth corner of lot No. 5. Thence 3. North thirty seven

Degrees and a half East three chains and forty links to a heap of stones in the third

corner of lot No. 1. Thence 4 Seventy two Degrees and a half East fifteen chains and ten links to the beginning containing five acres be the same more or less.

   Unto the Said Nathaniel Dotey we have assigned and set off in severalty

the lot marked number 4. Situate as the South East side of the great road. Begin-

ning at a heap of stones lying on the South East side of said road being the fourth

corner of lot No. 2. Thence 1. South fifty four degrees and a half East fifteen chains

and eighty links to a heap of stones in the 3rd corner of lot No. 2. Thence 2 South thirty

eight degrees and a half West four chains and fifty links to a heap of stones

Thence 3. North fifty four Degrees and a half West Sixteen chains and twenty

links to the beginning corner of lots No. 6 and 7 Thence 4 North forty three Degrees and

a half East four chains and sixty links to the beginning containing Seven

acres and a quarter be the Same more or less.

   Unto the Said Archelous Dotey we have assigned and set off in Severalty

the lot marked No. 5 Situated on the North West side of said road Excluding

the house. Beginning at the second corner of lot No. 3. being a heap of stones

on the South East side of said road, thence running by said road 1. South fifty three

degrees and a half West two chains and eighty two links to a flat rock and heap

of stones the beginning corner of lots No. 6 and 7 thence 2. North seventy two

degrees and a half West thirteen chains and fifty links to a heap of stones in

the fifth corner of lot No. 7. Thence 3. North thirty degrees and a half East

two chains and sixty links to a heap of stones the 3rd corner of lot No. 3. Thence

4. South Seventy two degrees and a half East fourteen chains and thirty

links to the beginning containing three acres and a half be the same

more or less.

   Unto the Said Abner Dotey we have assigned and set off in

Severalty the lot marked No. 6. Situated on the East side of the road Be-

ginning at a ____ rock and heap of stones being the 4th corner of lot No. 4

the second corner of lot No. 5 and the beginning corner of lot No. 7. Thence

running 1. South fifty four degrees and a half East sixteen chains

and twenty links to a heap of stones the third corner of lot No. 4 Thence 2

South, thirty eight degrees and a half West four chains and forty links

to a heap of Stones thence 3. North fifty four degrees and a half West

sixteen chains and forty links to the beginning corner of lot No. 8 thence 4

North twenty nine degrees and a half East eighty eight links to a ches-

nut tree thence 5 North forty three degrees and a half East three chains

and fifty links to the beginning containing seven and a quarter acres

be the Same more or less.

7.   Unto the said Ephraim Dotey we have assigned and set off in severalty

the lot marked No. 7. Situated on the North west side of the great road be-

ginning at a ____ rock and heap of stones being the beginning corner of Lot No. 6

and the fourth corner of lot No. 4 and the second corner of lot No. 5. Thence 1. South

forty three degrees and a half West three chains and fifty links to a chesnut tree

Thence 2 South twenty second degrees and a half West two chains and eight

links to a Hickory Saplin the beginning corner of lot No. 9 thence 3. North

Seventy two degrees and a half West thirteen chains and ten links to a heap

of stones Thence 4. North thirty degrees and a half East five chains to the third

corner of lot No. 5. Thence 5 South Seventy two degrees and a half East thirteen chains

and fifty links to the beginning containing Six acres and a half be the Same

more or less.

8.  Unto the Said John Dotey we have assigned and set off in Severalty

the lot marked No. 8 Situated on south east side of said road. Be-

ginning at a heap of stones standing on the South east side of said Road

Said heap of stones is also the fourth corner of lot No. 6 thence running

1 South fifty four degrees and a half East sixteen chains and forty links to a

heap of stones the third corner of lot No. 6. Thence 2 South thirty eight and a

half degrees West Six chains and ten links to a heap of stones thence 3.

North fifty four degrees and a half West fifteen chains and forty links to a

heap of stones thence 4. North twenty nine degrees and a half East Six chains

and Seventy links to the beginning, containing nine acres and three quarters be

the Same more or less.

9.  Unto the Said Willet Dotey we have assigned and set off in severalty

the lot marked No. 9 Situated on the North west side of said road. Begin-

ning at a Hickory Sapling marked on four sides with a blaze and two

notches, Standing on the South east side of the road being the third corner of

lot No. 7. Thence 1 South twenty nine degrees and a half West four chains

and five links to a heap of stones thence 2 North Seventy two Degrees and a half

____ thirteen chains and ten links to the fourth corner of lot No. 11 thence 3

North thirty degrees and a half East four chains and forty links to the fourth

corner of lot No. 7. Thence 4 South Seventy two degrees and a half East thirteen

chains and ten links to the beginning, containing six acres and three

quarters be the Same more or less.

10.  Unto the Said Isaac Dotey we have assigned and set off in severalty

the lot marked No. 10 Situated on the South east side of said road begin-

ning at a heap of stones being the fourth corner of lot No. 8 thence running

by the same 1. South fifty four degrees and a half East fifteen chains

and forty links to a stake and stone the third corner of lot No. 8 thence

2 South thirty eight degrees and a half west four chains and seven

links to the Second corner of the entire tract which this is a part of thence

3 North Seventy degrees West fourteen chains and eighty links to a heap

of stones at the road then 4 North twenty nine degrees and a half East Eight

chains and eight links to the beginning containing nine acres and three 

quarters be the Same more or less.

   And unto the said Sarah Patterson, late Sarah Dotey, we have assign-

ed and set off in Severalty the lot marked No. 11 Situated on the North west side of said

road. Beginning at a heap of stones being the second corner of lot No. 9. Thence 1. South twenty nine degrees and a half West two chains and sixty links to the beginning corner of lot No. 12 Then 2. North Sixty seven degrees West thirteen chains to the sixth corner of the whole lot thence 3. North thirty degrees and a half East one chain and forty links to the third corner of lot No. 9. Thence 4. South seventy two degrees and a half East thirteen chains and ten links to the beginning containing two acres and a half be the Same more or less.

   Unto the said Mary Everett, late Mary Dotey we have assigned and set off in Severalty

the lot marked No. 12. Situated on the North west side of said road. Beginning at a heap of stones being the second corner of lot No. 11. Thence 1 South twenty nine and a half degrees West four chains to a heap of stones Thence 2 North forty seven degrees and a half West thirteen chains and thirty links to the sixth corner of the whole tract thence 3 South Sixty Seven degrees East thirteen chains to the beginning containing two acres and a half be the Same more or less

   And unto the Said Phebe Hunt, late Phebe Dotey we have assigned and set

off in severalty the lot marked No. 13. Situated on the North west side of said road beginning at a heap of stones being the second corner of lot No. 12. Thence 1. South twenty nine degrees and a half East two chains and forty five links to a heap of stones the 4^th corner of lot No. 10. thence 2 North Seventy degrees West three chains and fifty links to a heap of stones the beginning corner of the entire tract thence 3. North twenty nine degrees West eleven chains and twenty links to a heap of stones thence 4 South

forty seven and a half degrees East thirteen chains and thirty links to the beginning

containing two acres and a half more or less

   And we do further certify and report that the foregoing are all the land

and Real Estate of the said Benjamin Dotey deceased in the county of Sussex

known unto us whereof we could make division. In witness whereof we have here-

unto set our hands and seals this fourteenth day of August 1812.

                                                            George Backster

                                                            Robert Carr

                                                            Moses Dewitt

   Filed in the Sussex County Surrogates Office August 18. 1812, presented to

the Comrs. approved and ordered to be recorded

        Recorded June 13, 1835

        _______ Surrogate