Isaac Doty’s Story Continues

When last I wrote about 4^th Great Grandfather Isaac Doty, he was a husband, father, farmer and property owner in Minisink, Orange County, New York.

In 1801 Grandfather was a member of the Free & Accepted Masons Farmer’s Lodge No. 14 of Wantage, New Jersey.[1] Wantage, Sussex County, New Jersey was home to Isaac Doty’s parents, Benjamin and Mary Doty. I’m certain Isaac lived in Minisink, New York but kept this Sussex County association. Wantage is near the NY/NJ state line bordering the Town of Minisink.

  

"Landscape with farm" - oil painting on canvas by Théodore Fourmois

Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

In Orange County Isaac and Elizabeth welcomed Isaac Jr. to the family circa 1802.[2]

Isaac’s father, 5^th Great Grandfather Benjamin Doty, died close to November 1802 in Sussex County, New Jersey. Benjamin didn’t prepare a will. Isaac and his mother, Mary Doty, petitioned Surrogate Court to be appointed administrators for his estate. The Sussex County Court granted letters of administration to them Nov. 18, 1802.[3]

In 1803 Great Grandfather was among the charter members of a Free Masons Masonic Lodge in Orange County, New York. The Olive Branch Lodge No. 102 was established in Minisink Dec. 20, 1803 in Brother Israel Lee’s home.  Isaac was a Tyler, an officer of the Lodge.[4] The Tyler guarded the door from ‘unqualified, malicious or simply curious people’. According to Wikipedia, a Tyler is the name of the office of outer guard of a Masonic Lodge. The Olive Branch Lodge later held their meetings in Westtown at the academy building on the upper floor.

I mentioned earlier Isaac and his mother acted as administrators for his father’s estate in Wantage, New Jersey. They needed to file an application to sell Benjamin’s land (August 21, 1804) because Grandfather Benjamin’s personal estate didn’t fully pay his debts and expenses.[5] At a special meeting in Sussex Orphan’s Court Oct. 25, 1804, a decree was granted permitting Isaac and his mother to sell Benjamin’s land in Wantage.[6] The lot contained about seventy or eighty acres and adjoined the lands of James Decker and Jeremy Rogers. Perhaps Sussex County land deeds will offer more details about the property and sale.

Back in Orange County, two daughters joined the family. Betsey was born about 1805 and Huldah made her appearance in 1807.

I have more to share but will save it for another day.

---

[1] The New Jersey Genesis, Volume 13, Number 3, April 1966 Issue, Contributed by Howard E. Case

[2] The Doty-Doten Family in America compiled by Ethan Allen Doty, page 359

[3] New Jersey Abstracts of Wills, Volume 39, page 136

[4] Craft Masonry in Orange and Rockland Counties, New York Compiled by R.’.W.’. Gary L. Heinmiller, Director, Onondaga & Oswego Masonic Districts Historical Societies (OMDHS) September 2010, online http://www.omdhs.syracusemasons.com/sites/default/files/history/Craft%20Masonry%20in%20Orange%20and%20Rockland%20Counties.pdf

[5] Sussex County, New Jersey Minute Book Vol. A-1, page 32

[6] Sussex County, New Jersey Minute Book Vol. A-1, page 45

Isaac Doty’s Story, Minisink, NY

I introduced 4th Great Grandparents Isaac Doty and Elizabeth Paddock in my last post. Today I’d like to continue telling Isaac’s story.

After the American Revolution ended, Isaac married Elizabeth in Orange County, New York circa 1783. Great Grandmother was known as ‘Betsey Paddock’ in Ethan Allen Doty’s book, “The Doty-Doten Family in America”.

Isaac and Elizabeth welcomed their first child, Hannah, about 1785. Jacob came along in 1788 followed by my 3^rd Great Grandfather John in 1790.

I couldn’t locate Isaac and Elizabeth Doty in the 1790 federal census. I searched the Minisink, Orange County, New York enumeration without success.

Perhaps Great Grandfather Isaac wasn’t a ‘head of household’. This might explain why he doesn’t show up in 1790. Maybe the family was in Sussex County, New Jersey where Isaac’s father was living. Unfortunately, the 1790 New Jersey schedules disappeared long ago.

Isaac and Betsey’s family grew; Ruth arrived about 1793, Abner 1796 and Benjamin 1798.

December 14, 1797 Isaac needed money and mortgaged 197 ¾ acres of land to William Wickham from the Town of Goshen (except 3 acres and 23 rods previously sold to John Davis). Grandfather borrowed 600 British Pounds plus interest. Did he owe a debt or want to buy more land? I wish I knew why he needed the money. Does anybody know how much 600 Pounds was in American dollars?

A 200 Pound payment was due May 1, 1778, another due May 1, 1779 and the final 200 Pound payment May 1, 1800. You can see the county clerk’s copy below followed by my transcription of the agreement. Normally when a mortgage had been paid, the clerk wrote in the left margin of the agreement stating the mortgage was fully paid and satisfied. As you can see, the margin is empty indicating Grandfather wasn’t able to pay off the mortgage. It looks like he lost the land to William Wickham.

Mortgage Book D, page 62 

 

Transcript:

   A Mortgage from Isaac Doty of the Town of Minisink in the County of Orange & State of New York To William Wickham of the Town of Goshen in the said County Esquire Dated the fourteenth Day of December one thousand Seven hundred & ninety seven for all Land lots situate in the patent of Wawayanda in the Town of Minisink & is bounded as follows Beginning at the most Westerly Corner of the same at a heap of stones then runing North fifty two Degrees & forty five minutes East thirty seven Chains & seventy seven links to a Birch tree in a swamp then south forty six degrees & thirty minutes East fifty Chains to a heap of stones then south forty three degrees & thirty minutes west thirty seven Chains & twenty links to a heap of stones then north forty six degrees and thirty minutes west fifty six chains & thirty links to the place of Beginning Containing one hundred and ninety seven acres & three quarters Excepting out of the same three acres & twenty three rods which was formerly sold to John Davis__To be Void on the payment of Two hundred pounds on the first Day of May next the further sum of two hundred pounds like money on or before the first Day of May following & the further sum of two hundred pounds on the first Day of May which will be in the year one thousand Eight hundred with Interest on the whole to be paid annually__according to the Condition of a bond bearing even Date herewith__proved by the Oath of George D. Wickham one of the Subscribing witnesses before John Steward one of the Judges of the Court of Common pleas for Orange County the first Day of January one thousand seven hundred & ninety Eight

      A true Record Entered the fourth Day of January

      one thousand Seven hundred and ninety Eight

      Hopkins, Clerk

The 1799 Town of Minisink assessments included Isaac Doty. His real estate was estimated at $600 and his personal estate $507. I don’t know if Grandfather still owned his land but he had something in order for the town to collect a tax. Although he owned property in Orange County, no recorded deeds exist.

A seventh child, Joseph, was born Jan. 19, 1800 in Minisink.

Minisink tax assessments dated 1800 show Isaac’s real estate remained at $600 while his personal estate was less than the previous year--$446. Grandfather’s financial standing improved in 1801. His real estate assessment increased to $930 with his personal property also valued at $930.

There’s more to Isaac’s story. Watch for my next post.

OK DOTY’S—TIME TO TAKE IT BACK ANOTHER GENERATION

I’ve written about my Doty ancestry often. Earlier this month I remembered the anniversary of my Grandfather Frank Leroy Doty’s marriage to Grandma Viola Lillian Wilson. Workday Wednesday, Lewis Penny Doty, Iceman featured Great Grandfather Lewis P. Doty. Albert Doty and the Girl Next Door highlighted 2nd Great Grandfather’s life with Grandmother Fannie Jane Bennett. I introduced 3^rd Great Grandfather in Census Sunday, John Doty, Farmer,Wawayanda, Orange Co., NY.

This brings the Doty pedigree to 4^th Great Grandfather Isaac Doty from Minisink, New York. Isaac married Elizabeth “Betsey” Paddock about 1783 and they became the parents of ten children. Their third child, John Doty, born circa 1790 was my 3^rd great grandfather.

I learned about Isaac from Ethan Allen Doty’s book “The Doty-Doten Family in America, Descendants of Edward Doty, An Emigrant by the Mayflower, 1620”. Following is an excerpt from his work, page 359.

Ethan Allen Doty cited no documentation proving my 3^rd Great Grandfather John Doty was Isaac’s son. How did he know this? I explored the volume looking for an answer.

The author credited his interest in family history to an earlier Doty researcher, Rev. Silas Ketchum of Bristol, New Hampshire. In 1871 Rev. Ketchum sought Mr. Doty’s help to collect family records. The two worked together until Rev. Ketchum’s health failed him. Rev. Ketchum encouraged Ethan A. Doty to continue his work and The Doty-Doten Family in America was published in 1897.

I searched the book for more material about Isaac and Betsey’s children and found information for John and Joseph Doty. John’s entry was brief identifying his wife and children. No documentation to prove Isaac was his father.

Joseph’s write-up was a genealogical sparkler. Ethan A. Doty visited Joseph and his 2^nd wife, Mrs. Phebe Clinton Leonard, in 1878. The author writes about his time with them:

    “They were both living in 1878, when the writer called upon them, at Doty Hill, Ridgebury, [Bradford Co., PA] though the post office address was Wellsborough, Chemung Co., N. Y., to which place they removed, 1835, from Orange County. He was a prosperous farmer, and though seventy-eight years of age was in good health and in possession of all his faculties. Mrs. Doty furnished many particulars, giving addresses and history of many of the now widely separated family.” 

         Source: Doty-Doten Family in America, page 433

This interview cements the connection between Isaac and his children. I’m certain Joseph and Phebe provided the details for his parents and siblings. I’m so glad Ethan Allen Doty called on Uncle Joseph and Aunt Phebe.

Stay tuned for future posts about Isaac Doty and Betsey Paddock.

Aunt Sarah and Uncle Wm. Mackney Leave Orange Co. NY for Troy, PA, Kimber Letter 5

3^rd Great Grand Aunt Sarah (Kimber) and Uncle William Mackney arrived in Troy, Pennsylvania after traveling by train from Orange Co., NY. One autumn Tuesday evening Aunt Sarah wrote to her parents Keziah (Bennett) and Benjamin Kimber along with her sister Abigail to tell them how they were faring. A transcription of her letter follows my post.

They stayed at the Troy House until their belongings arrived from home. Aunt Sarah describes her new home as a pleasant place and thinks they’ll be happy after they get settled.

The Mackney’s brought Mary Holly, a 21-year-old domestic servant, to Troy with them. Mary was well known to the Kimber’s. In 1850 she was living in Jane Eliza (Kimber) and Moses Seely’s home at Wawayanda. (Jane Eliza and Sarah were sisters.)

Aunt Sarah closes her letter hoping her family will come for a visit.

I want to tell you a little about Mary Holly. Aunt Sarah spoke of her warmly in her letter. Mary remained Aunt Sarah’s domestic help in Troy. The 1860 federal census enumerator found Mary in Sarah and William Mackney’s home.

  

 

Image copied from 1860 federal census

Troy Borough, Bradford Co., PA

Enumerated 2^nd day of June 1860

William Mackney household

Page 888, Lines 26-28,

I mentioned in an earlier post Aunt Sarah was dealing with health issues. Ten years after arriving in Troy, she died March 22, 1864 just 39 years of age. A deeper friendship developed between Mary and Uncle William and they married the following year on April 11, 1865.

Letter 5.

Troy, Pa., Tuedsay night Oct. 10, 1854.

Dear Parents and sister,

       I shall embrace this privilage

of writing you a few lines in order to let you

know how we are getting along in this land of

strangers   and you will excuse me if they but a

few at this time for I feel to tired to write

much   In the first place we are all as well as

usual and like the place very well so far   We

havent got settled yet    have to take it slow as

we are young beginners and but little strength

We arrived in Troy the same day we left

Middletown    when we got to Elmira the cars were

just leaving for Troy and so we thought we would

come on and see the worst of it but Mary and I

were so tired that we did not know what to do

with ourselves that night      We came right

through safely without any trouble    We got here

at half past five that evening but our things

did not get here until the next Thursday     they

were a week on the road    We staid at the Troy

House until our things came      I tell you we

fared sumptiously there    we had everything that

heart could wish and they were very kind to us

When we came away they gave us enough bread to

last us two days    Mary thought she would not

like to board there very long for they lived so

high that it made her sick    We have a very

pleasant place and I think we shalI be very

contented when we get settled and get acquainted

       The cars run right back of our house   and we

can see them very plain    We have four trains a

day    two each way    We have a new table, stove

and six chairs and a bed stead but we cant find

a feather in the place    We shall have to send

or go to Elmire I expect to get them    We got a

tub of butter and paid 20 cents for it   it is

very good   we paid at rate of 9 dollars a

barrel and very good flour     10 cents a dozen

for eggs and 4 cents a quart for milk    sugar

for 3/6 seven pounds potatoes are 50 cents a

bushel wheat is worth 13 shillings a bushel

We all went to church last Sunday morning and

Mary went again in the evening     heard a very

good sermon    only it was so long that it tired

us out    They dress very fine here    the silk

has to fly    Mary has got a new shawl and brock

and I dont think she could have bettered herself

in New York for the price     it is very large and

very pretty    she gave 9 dollars for it    has a

new bonnet    also paid $3.50 for it    I tell you

she looks up now when she gets dressed for

church    Mary says she is not ready to come back

yet     she hasent felt home sick at all    They

wanted to know at the Troy House if she was a

dress maker     they said there wasent one in the

place     I should think a dress maker would do

well here    William says to tell you that he has

got his old trick of lying on the carpet in the

evening snoozing    our things all came good

nothing at all broken     I have a bunch to say

but I am so tired a sleepy that you excuse

me until next time    for we feel anxious to hear

from you    Tell Caleb that he must come and see

us    If he comes out this fall when he gets to

Elmira take the Williamsport and Elmire Railroad

and it will bring him right to Troy    it is only

24 miles    I should be very happy to have you

all come and see us and I shall live in hopes

that you will yet    Mary will write some next

time     she said she hadent anything to write

about yet    No more at present but remain yours

in love now and for ever    write without fail.

from Sarah B. Mackney to her parents and sister

SOURCE: Edna Raymond, a past Town of Minisink historian, gave me typed transcripts of the letters exchanged between the Kimber sisters and their parents. This letter is 5 of 31.

It was many years ago when I visited Edna and learned of the letters. Edna has since passed away. I believe Edna told me a couple from Illinois visited the Minisink Town Hall and brought the original Kimber letters. The Kimber descendant allowed Edna to photocopy the letters in his/her presence. Edna worked quickly. In those days copy machines were slow and the quality left much to be desired. Edna spent many hours studying and transcribing the letters as the ‘old time’ handwriting was especially difficult to read.

To read earlier Kimber Letters click on the label 'Kimber Letters' at the bottom of this post.