What Became of the Widow Ruth Ackley and Henry’s Children?

Henry Ackley died age 34 years old survived by a wife and six children in Chatham, Middlesex County, Connecticut. His widow was born Ruth Purple to Edward Purple and Mary Hodge about 1786. She married Henry in 1801 at Chatham, and they became parents to Lyman in 1802. A daughter, Betsey, followed a few years later in 1805. Two more daughters, Sophia and Caroline, joined the family in 1807 and 1809. Then in 1811 and 1814 two more boys, Hiram and Henry, completed their family.

In July I posted about 4^th Great Grandfather Henry Ackley’s April 24, 1814, passing and the administration of his estate in Chatham, Connecticut. It turned out there wasn’t enough money garnered from the sale of Great Grandfather’s personal estate to pay his creditors. It was necessary to sell some of his lands to pay off his debts.

Acting as Henry’s administrators, Ruth Ackley and brother Nathaniel Ackley sold two pieces of land Dec. 8, 1815. One acre sold to Mary Knowlton for $100. Mary Knowlton was Ruth Ackley’s mother and resold the home lot to Ruth that day.

The second land sale was more substantial. Dudley and Roderick Ackley paid $682.50 for 35 acres known as the Whitmore lot. The land stayed in the family as Dudley and Roderick were the sons of Henry’s brother James Ackley.

I wonder if Ruth was planning her family’s move to Smithville, Chenango County, New York when she mortgaged the remaining land owned by Great Grandfather March 10, 1823, to Nathaniel and Ogden S. Ackley for $1,500. Later deeds for this same property crop up which I’ll address shortly.

Ruth relocated the family to Smithville, New York where she executed a mortgage agreement for $700 with 88 acres as collateral July 8, 1824. Her land consisted of lots numbers thirty-six and thirty-seven of the second Township of the Chenango Triangle. Ruth and Henry’s eldest son, Lyman Ackley, witnessed the agreement.  

A few years after arriving in Chenango County on March 30, 1827, Lyman Ackley sold one undivided sixth part of the land formerly owned by his father to Uncle Nathaniel and cousin Ogden S. Ackley for $250 thereby giving up any legal rights to the properties. The deed covered three pieces of land (48 acres described below) situated in Chatham in the Society of East Hampton that his mother had mortgaged to Nathaniel and Ogden March 10,1823.

   Three pieces of Land lying in Chatham aforesaid East Hampton Society Bounded and described as follows (viz)  

   The first piece known by the name of the home lot, being the late home of Henry Ackley dec’d & Bounded Northerly partly on the land of said Nathaniel & Ogden S. Ackley and partly on land lately owned by Enos Brown dec’d Easterly partly on land of Nathaniel & Ogden S.

and partly on land owned by Martin Kellogg dec’d Southerly & Westerly on highway containing by estimation forty acres, be the same more or less with all the buildings thereon standing. 

   The second piece bounded Westerly on the land of said Nathaniel & Ogden S. Northerly on land owned by Martin Kellogg dec’d Easterly & Southerly on highway containing by estimation five Acres be the same more or less.

   The third piece bounded Northerly on land of George Evans  Easterly Southerly & Westerly by the land of said Nathaniel & Ogden S. containing by estimation three acres more or less

The following month on April 27, 1827, the Widow Ruth quitclaim her rights and those of her heirs to Nathaniel and Ogden S. Ogden for the same three parcels in Chatham described in Lyman Ackley’s recent land sale for $250. Most likely Ruth was quitclaiming her youngest sons’ rights to their father’s lands. Hiram and Henry Ackley were not of legal age to negotiate on their own behalf. The $500 would be split between them--$250 each.

Town of East Hampton, Middlesex Co., Connecticut

Deed Book 18, page 551

Like her brothers, Betsey Ackley, received $250 for her one equal undivided sixth part from her father’s estate Oct. 19, 1827.

Caroline Ackley was the next sibling to sell her undivided sixth part to Nathaniel and Ogden S. Ackley April 27, 1830.

On Jan. 5, 1832, Uncle Nathaniel and Cousin Ogden claimed all rights to Henry Ackley’s 48 acres when Sophia Ackley sold her share from her father’s estate for $250.

Within a few years, the Widow Ruth Ackley died March 14, 1834 (Age 48 years.) By this date all of Henry and Ruth’s children were adults.

Lyman, their oldest born 1802, married his cousin, Lydia Purple, in 1824. He resided in Smithville for some years before moving to McDonough in Chenango County. About 1866 Lyman and Lydia became citizens of Waterloo, Black Hawk County, Iowa. They probably migrated west with their son Charles T. Ackley. Lyman died Sept. 27, 1867, in Waterloo.

Henry and Ruth’s eldest daughter, Betsey, is a bit of a mystery. I suspect she married a man named Taft. I’ve located ‘Betsey Taft’ living in the home of Caroline Ackley and husband Jonas Wight in 1850 and 1855 census records. She’s a good candidate to be Caroline’s sister. Betsey was born 1805 in Connecticut. The 1855 New York State census indicates Betsey was Jonas Wight’s sister-in-law and a five-year resident of McDonough. 1860 found Betsey working next door to Caroline keeping house for the Jefferson Matthewson family.

Only yesterday I found a death notice for Betsey published in the Chenango American, Greene, New York Thursday, August 26, 1875 issue:

  

    “In this town, Aug. 20^th, Mrs. Betsey, widow of the late Stephen Taft, aged 70 years.”

This presents a problem as daughter Sophia Ackley, born in 1807, married Stephen Taft and died in 1844 (according to Gale Ion Harris’ article “The Edward Purple Family of Connecticut and New York, An Overdue Account” published in the New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 137, No. 3, page 216.) It could be Betsey and Stephen Taft married after Sophia’s death. Or there’s two Stephen Taft’s who each married an Ackley sister. That’s a puzzle for another day.

My third great-grandmother Caroline Ackley married Jonas Sweetland Wight December 19, 1830. They lived in Smithville and later McDonough raising six sons. Caroline became a widow in 1878 when Jonas passed. She lived to be 85 years of age dying March 22, 1894.

Although I didn’t locate son Hiram Ackley in Connecticut deeds, I found him with his brother Henry and wife Sally, in Chenango County, New York land records. After Ruth died, the sons and young Henry’s wife sold the 88 acres she acquired in 1824 to David Grant of Smithville. Hiram passed away May 8, 1837, and rests near his mother in the Smithville Flats Cemetery.

The youngest Ackley child, Henry Jr., was born in 1814 and died in Iowa about 1855/6. He married Sarah Hotchkiss January 1834. A couple of years after they had married, Henry and Sally resided in Indiana before moving to Illinois and then Iowa. In 1871 Sally moved to Kansas with her son.

Henry Ackley’s Estate Settled June 10, 1815 Middletown, Connecticut

Some months earlier a probate document dated Feb. 27, 1815, authorized Henry Ackley’s moveable estate be sold to pay his creditors. The definition of moveable estate is personal property which can be carried from one place to another.

Shortly after Henry died, appraisers gave his personal property the value of $755.21. Nathaniel Ackley, an administrator, found an additional $77.26 bringing the moveable estate dollar amount to $832.47.  

Nathaniel also exhibited an additional $84.00 charged against the estate.

The creditors’ notes and debits had been exhibited. The estate owed $3,361.21 to its creditors. Widow Ruth Ackley and Nathaniel Ackley needed to raise $2,612.74 to cover the notes. They already exhausted Henry’s personal estate and would have to start selling his land.

First, Ruth needed to protect her dower rights.

Transcription:

At a Court of Probate held in Middletown, in and for the District of Middletown, on the

10 day of June A. D. 1815

            On Motion made to this Court by the Admrs on the

Estate of Henry Ackley late

of Chatham Deceased, that the Widow of sd Dec’d

might have her Dower set out to her in the Real Estate of said deceased. Where-

upon this Court appoints and fully impowers Messrs. David Clark, Samuel Brown &

Franklin G. Comstock freeholders in said district, to distribute and set off

to said Widow her right of Dower in the Real Estate of said de-

ceased, and then make return to this Court for acceptance.

                                                A true copy of record

                                                   Certified by                          Clerk

Lastly, the Probate Court authorized the sale of Henry Ackley’s real estate.

Transcription:

At a Court of Probate held in Middletown, in and for the District of Middle-

            town, on the 10 day of June A. D. 1815

  The Adm’rs on the estate

of Henry Ackley late of Chatham deceased,

 exhibited in court their Account of Administration on the said estate a-

mounting to the sum of $3445.21

which was accepted and ordered to be kept on file, which Account surmounts

the moveable part of said estate in the sum of $2612.74 and now

move this Court for an order to Sell Real estate

 to discharge the same.

  Whereupon, this court authorizes & fully impowers the said Adm’rs

to sell so much of the real estate

of the said deceased at private sale, for not less than the Inventory price,

 or at public vendue, after advertising the same in a public Newspaper

 printed in Middletown three weeks before said sale to be sold

 at the late Dwelling house of the Dec’d at the

beat of Drum, as will procure the aforesaid sum of $2612.74

 and to pass Deed or Deeds

            accordingly, and then make

return to this court for acceptance.

                                                A true Copy of Record

                                                    Certified by                         Clerk

Source Citation

Probate Files Collection, Early to 1880; Author: Connecticut State Library (Hartford, Connecticut); Probate Place: Hartford, Connecticut

Source Information

Ancestry.com. Connecticut, Wills and Probate Records, 1609-1999 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.

Original data: Connecticut County, District and Probate Courts.

Notes Exhibited against the Estate of Henry Ackley, Deceased

February 27, 1815

Henry Ackley’s creditors provided the administrators Widow Ruth Ackley and Nathaniel Ackley with notes detailing money owed them.

I recognized family members immediately. James Ackley’s $3.24 claim against the estate might have come from Henry’s father or brother (both men named James Ackley). Nathaniel Ackley was owed $112.57 from his brother’s estate.

Deborah Atwood was born Deborah Purple, a sister to Henry’s widow, Ruth (Purple) Ackley. Anne Purple also was a sister to 4^th Great Grandmother Ruth. Deborah’s note was just $2.00 while Anne Purple’s claim amounted to $82.50. Another Purple sister, Statira, submitted a $62.50 note. I don’t know what kind of business arrangement Henry shared with his sister-in-laws but admit I’m intrigued. Deborah Purple’s husband, Captain Atwood, also brought a $30.00 claim against the estate.

I spotted Rodney Ackley and Samuel Ackley among those owed compensation but don’t recognize their relationship to Great Grandfather.

All of the creditor’s bills combined amounted to $2,907.04. The family incurred some expenses and court fees causing the $2,907.04 to become $3,361.21. Ruth and Nathaniel exhibited the account in Middletown, Connecticut Probate Court.

The administrators subsequently sought the Court’s permission to sell Henry Ackley’s moveable estate to satisfy the creditors. The Court agreed as stated in the following record:

At a Court of Probate held in Middletown, in and for the District of Middle-

            town, on the 27 day Feby A. D. 1815

The adm’rs on the Estate of Henry Ackley late

            of Chatham, deceased

exhibited in Court their Account of Administration on s’d Estate, a-

mounting to the sum of $3361.21

which was accepted and ordered to be kept on file, which Account surmounts

the moveable part of said Estate the sum of               and now

they move this Court for an order to sell moveable Estate

of s’d Dec’d

Whereupon, this Court authorizes and fully impowers the said adm’rs

to sell so much of the moveable Real estate of

the said deceased at private sale for not less than the Inventory Price

or at Public Vendue, after advertising the same in the a Middlesex Gazette

printed in Middletown Three Weeks before said sale--to be sold

at the late Dwelling House of s’d Dec’d at the

beat of Drum, as will procure the aforesaid sum

together with the incident charges of sale, and to pass Deed or Deeds

     accordingly, and then make Return to this Court

for acceptance

                        A true Copy of Record

                             Certified by                                       Clerk.

Source Citation

Probate Files Collection, Early to 1880; Author: Connecticut State Library (Hartford, Connecticut); Probate Place: Hartford, Connecticut

Source Information

Ancestry.com. Connecticut, Wills and Probate Records, 1609-1999 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.

Original data: Connecticut County, District and Probate Courts. 

Inventory of the Real and Personal Property of Henry Ackley, Chatham, Connecticut

June 27, 1814

Henry’s inventory was exhibited by his Widow Ruth Ackley and brother Nathaniel Ackley in Middletown, Connecticut Probate Court June 27, 1814. The estate’s total value was deemed to be worth $4,773.21. The three-page inventory listed and assessed his belongings.

As I read through the inventory, I could picture the appraisers David Clark, Samuel Brown and Franklin G. Comstock as they began their task. They started with 4^th Great Grandfather’s wardrobe examining his clothing, bedding and linens. They then entered the kitchen area pricing a kitchen table, ten chairs, various cooking utensils and assorted food preparation items. Perhaps the barn housed a secondhand cart, barrels, numerous tools and farming instruments. The livestock included cows, oxen, sheep, lambs and swine.

Henry Ackley held two notes against Enos Johnson for $100 each. Henry’s earlier dealings with Enos Johnson dated back to December 1811, when he sold him two pieces of land for $650.

Great Grandfather's lands appraised at $4,018.00 accounted for the bulk of his estate. He acquired land in the town of Chatham on nine occasions per the town of East Hampton deeds and later sold four of those parcels keeping 167 acres mentioned in the inventory:

   $ 325.00    Sillamen Lot - 13 acres @ $25.00 p/acre                

        65.00    East Champion Lot - 5 acres @ $13.00 p/acre          

      120.00    Kellogg Lot – 8 acres @ $15.00 p/acre                    

   1,408.00    Whitmore, Smith and Colley lots – 88 acres @ $16.00 p/acre                

   2,100.00    Home Lot with building together with 2/3 of the

           Champion barn said called 53 acres                           

 $4,018.00 

As customary, the Court allowed six months for Henry Ackley’s creditors to submit their claims to the administrators.

I haven’t yet transcribed the inventory but included images and hope you find time to read it.  

Source Citation

Probate Files Collection, Early to 1880; Author: Connecticut State Library (Hartford, Connecticut); Probate Place: Hartford, Connecticut

Source Information

Ancestry.com. Connecticut, Wills and Probate Records, 1609-1999 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.

Original data: Connecticut County, District and Probate Courts.

Henry’s Administrators and Appraisers Appointed in Chatham, CT

Henry Ackley, age 34 years, died unexpectedly April 24, 1814, in the town of Chatham, Middlesex County, Connecticut. A sickness traveled throughout his neighborhood claiming his life after a week’s illness. His wife and children mourned his passing as well as his mother, father and siblings.

4th Great Grandfather Henry had not yet prepared a written will leaving his widow Ruth (Purple) Ackley and brother Nathaniel Ackley to settle his estate.

May 30, 1814

About a month after Henry’s death, Ruth and Nathaniel petitioned the District Probate Court of Middletown, Connecticut to be appointed his administrators.

The bond was dated May 30, 1814 in the penal sum of $5,000. I’ve been told the $5,000 bond value correlated with the estimated value of the estate. The Widow Ackley and Nathaniel were responsible for seeing an inventory be taken and exhibited in Court by the last Monday in July 1814. They also needed to make an account of Henry Ackley’s estate the following year by the last Monday in May 1815.

Ruth Ackley, Nathaniel Ackley, and Sparrow Smith all signed the bond. However, Ruth didn’t appear at the court proceedings. Her signature was witnessed by Eli William and Ogden S. Ackley. (Ogden S. Ackley was Nathaniel’s son and Ruth’s nephew by marriage.)

The Middletown Probate Court also appointed David Clark, Samuel Brown and Franklin G. Comstock to appraise Henry's estate.

The administrators have been appointed and now the appraisers will list and value Henry’s estate.  Google searches for David Clark, Samuel Brown and Franklin G. Comstock reveal all were members of the Chatham community.

Source

Probate Files Collection, Early to 1880; Author: Connecticut State Library (Hartford, Connecticut); Probate Place: Hartford, Connecticut

Source Information

Ancestry.com. Connecticut, Wills and Probate Records, 1609-1999 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.

Original data: Connecticut County, District and Probate Courts.