Person Page

     Orrin Town was born on 20 April 1787 in Thompson, Windham Co., Connecticut.^2,4 He married Lydia Ann Ford, daughter of Isaac Ford and Martha Earl, on 25 February 1809 in Schuyler, Herkimer Co., New York.^5,3,4 He died on 2 October 1842 in Spafford, Onondaga Co., New York, at age 55.^6,4 He was buried at Cold Brook Valley Cemetery in Onondaga Co.^4,7
     He and his wife Lydia settled in Onondaga Co., New York, after their marriage. On 11 August 1810 he bought a half-acre plot of land in Pompey, Onondaga Co., from Nathaniel Baker for $200, with a mortgage specifying payments of $50/year, plus interest.⁸ He is listed in Pompey in the 1810 census, with one male (himself) and one female (Lydia, no doubt), both 16-25.⁹
     He served during the War of 1812 as a private in Capt. Terry's Co., New York Militia, enlisting on 1 January 1813, and being discharged on 22 May 1813.¹⁰ A little over a year later, on 1 July 1814, he was drafted into the militia at Morovia, Cayuga Co., New York, and served as a private, stationed at Greenbush, Rensselaer Co., New York. He was discharged there on 27 September 1814.⁶
     In his father's will, dated 12 December 1818 and proved on 4 February 1819, he was left $100. After the death of his mother Judith, and some additional bequests to his four sisters, he and his siblings were also to receive what remained of the estate.¹
     He and Lydia moved to Spafford, Onondaga Co., possibly about 1816 when on 8 January he bought 56 acres of land there from Jonathan Ellis for $350.¹¹ He is listed in Spafford in the censuses from 1820 to 1840 with (presumably) his wife Lydia, and several children. In 1820 his mother Judith and brother Clark are listed on the following two lines.^12,13,14
     On 7 May 1819 he sold a one-acre plot in Marcellus, Onondaga Co., to Jonathan Berry for $150.¹⁵ He bought two tracts in Spafford on 7 May 1827 from William Millard, one of 25 acres and the other of 2.5 acres, for $275.¹⁶ And on 23 November 1829 he sold just over 14 acres in Spafford to Richard English for $149.50.¹⁷

     (?) Town was born in June 1788.¹ He died the day after birth.¹

     (?) Town was born in June 1788.¹ He died two days after birth.¹

     (?) Town was born in June 1788.¹ He died three days after birth.¹

     Lyman Town was born on 14 August 1790.¹ He died on 4 August 1793 at age 2.¹

     Clark Town was born on 3 May 1792.^3,2 He married Electa Churchill, daughter of John Churchill and Martha Baldwin, on 27 October 1813.^2,4 He died on 24 August 1877 (the Charles A. Towne microfilm says 21 August) at age 85.^5,2 He was buried at the Lower/Old Cemetery (Section I, Lot 65) in Parkman, Geauga Co., Ohio.^5,6
     He served in the New York Militia during the War of 1812, as a private in Capt. Asahel Roundy's Co., Col. Clark's Reg. He was ordered out (i.e., drafted) on 1 September 1814 at Spafford, Onondaga Co., New York, and served 2 1/2 months before being honorably discharged. He later received Land Warrant No. 10445, 160 acres, for his service.⁷
     On 27 July 1858 he filed a claim with the state of New York for $12.50 he was due in additional pay for his service during the war, plus $111 for clothing, equipment, and expenses furnished by him during his service, including $20 for transportation to Sacketts Harbor and back.⁷
     He and his mother Judith were named co-executors of his father Isaac's will, dated 12 December 1818 and proved on 4 February 1819, and he was left $100. After his mother's death, and some additional bequests to his four sisters, he and his siblings were also to receive what remained of the estate.¹
     He and his wife Electa settled in Onondaga Co., New York,² and he is listed there in Spafford in the 1820 and 1830 censuses.^8,9 They moved to Huron Co., Ohio, in 1836, and soon afterward to Parkman Twp., Geauga Co., Ohio,¹⁰ where he is listed in the 1840 census.¹¹
     On 19 October 1840 he bought 62 acres of land in Batavia Twp. (now Middlefield Twp.), Geauga Co., from the estate of Asael Adams for $217.¹² A little over a year later, on 25 December 1841, he sold this land to Hiram Pickett for $846, and he was then described as being "of Middlefield Twp."¹³ Pickett later sold the land to Harris Goold.¹⁴ On 10 April 1845 Clark Town re-acquired the land from Goold for $700, and was then described as being "of Parkman Twp."¹⁵
     His son Ira and Ira's wife Irene both died before their daughter Eugenia was two years old, and Ira's will, dated 4 April 1845 and proved on 10 June 1845, named his father Clark executor of his estate, and also Eugenia's guardian until she reached age 14. The will asked that he give her "a good English education, and ... rear her in the habits of industry."¹⁶ On 21 December 1857, after Eugenia turned 14, he filed his final executor's account. His daughter Polly was then appointed Eugenia's guardian until she reached full age, and $2000 was transferred to Polly from the estate.¹⁷
     On 28 June 1845 he bought 51.3 acres in Richmond Twp., Huron Co., Ohio, from John Loomis for $500.¹⁸ Four years later, on 21 April 1849, he sold this land to Samuel Miller for perhaps $700 (the value is hard to read).¹⁹
     From 1846 to 1850 he bought several tracts of land in Parkman Twp. On 28 August 1846 he bought 31.58 acres from Harry Norton and his wife Mary for $266.²⁰ On 5 December 1848 he bought one acre from his sister Sophia and her husband Warren Ford for $225.²¹ On 11 December 1848 he bought 103.57 acres, that he (Clark) was then occupying, from Jacob Perkins for $869.63²², and that same day he bought 59 acres from Joseph Perkins and his wife Martha for $434.15.²³ On 12 December 1850 he bought 50.8 acres from Lauren Norton and his wife Maria for perhaps $1000 (the price is difficult to read, but appears to say "Ten hundred dollars").²⁴
     On 6 November 1858 he bought a 77.72-acre tract in Middlefield Twp. from Joseph Perkins and his wife Martha for $300²⁵, then sold it about a year later, on 25 October 1859, to John Bartholomew and James Norton for $1162.50.²⁶
     On 14 February 1860 he sold the 59-acre tract in Parkman Twp., that he had purchased from Joseph Perkins in 1848, to his nephew and son-in-law Alfred C. Town, son of his brother Lyman and husband of his daughter Diana, for $1770.²⁷
     On 17 September 1861 he sold two tracts of land to his granddaughter Eugenia and her husband Leroy Simmons, one in Parkman Twp. for $1000, and the other in Middlefield Twp. for $1700. The first was the 50.8-acre tract that he had purchased from Lauren Norton in 1850, and the second was the 62-acre tract that he had originally purchased from the Asael Adams estate in 1840, then re-acquired from Harris Goold in 1845.^28,29
     On 22 April 1863 he sold 32.43 acres in Parkman Twp. to Daniel Owen for $100.³⁰
     He and his wife Electa are listed in Parkman Twp. in the 1850 and 1860 censuses. In 1850 their children Lovel, Polly, Diana, and Marcia are listed with them, along with their granddaughter Eugenia, and Clark's brother Lyman is listed next door.³¹ Lovel, Polly, and Eugenia were still with them in 1860, and their daughter Diana and her husband Alfred are listed next door. Lovel is listed as insane, and Polly had by then taken over as Eugenia's guardian until she reached full age.^32,33
     In 1870, after his wife's death, Clark is listed in Parkman Twp. with his daughter Polly. Living with them was O. D. Cleveland, age 65.³⁴

     Sarah Town was born on 29 March 1794.¹ She died on 12 April 1799 at age 5.¹

     Prudence Town was born on 24 December 1796 (based on her age at death of 51 years, 5 months, 21 days, inscribed on her cemetery marker; however the Charles A. Towne microfilm says 22 December 1797) in Spafford, Onondaga Co., New York.^3,2 She married Lauren Norton, son of David Norton and Dinah Wilton, on 12 June 1817.^2,3,4 She died on 14 June 1848 at age 51.^3,2 She was buried at the Lower/Old Cemetery (Section I, Lot 70) in Parkman, Geauga Co., Ohio.^3,5
     She was left $50 in her father's will, dated 12 December 1818 and proved on 4 February 1819. She was to receive an additional $50 after the death of her mother Judith, and she and her siblings were to divide equally what then remained of the estate.¹
     She and her husband Lauren and their family were living in Spafford, Onondaga Co., New York, in September 1830⁶, and moved to Parkman Twp., Geauga Co., Ohio, sometime between 1835, when their infant daughter Martha was buried in Onondaga Co., New York, and 1840, when their household was listed in Geauga Co. in the census.^7,8

     Sophia Town was born on 8 September 1799 (the Charles A. Towne microfilm collection says 1 September).^3,2 She married Warren Ford, son of John Ford and Chloe Merry, on 11 February 1819.³ (The Ford genealogy says they were married in Blairsburg, Iowa (although Blairsburg was then in Howard Co., Missouri Territory).³ It seems more likely that they were married in Onondaga Co., New York. Warren and Sophia were then just 20 and 19 years old, respectively; Sophia's parents died in Onondaga Co. in 1819 and 1821^4,2; and Sophia's widowed mother Judith and Warren's father John are both listed in Spafford, Onondaga Co., in the 1820 census, just three lines apart.)^5,6 She died on 5 March 1885 at the home of her daughter Altheda in Blairsburg, Hamilton Co., Iowa, at age 85.³ She was buried at Blairsburg Cemetery in Blairsburg.⁷
     She was left $50 in her father's will, dated 12 December 1818 and proved on 4 February 1819. She was to receive an additional $50 after the death of her mother Judith, and she and her siblings were to divide equally what then remained of the estate.¹
     She and her husband Warren apparently moved from Munson Twp., Geauga Co., Ohio, to Burton Twp., Geauga Co., probably in late 1835. On 3 September 1835 Warren Ford "of the town of Munson" bought 5.74 acres in Burton Twp. from Harris Goold for $100.⁸ On 4 December 1837 she and Warren "of Burton" sold this land to James Gilmore for the same price.⁹
     Her family is listed in Parkman Twp., Geauga Co., in the 1840 census.¹⁰ The Ford genealogy says Warren bought land in Hamlin Twp., Eaton Co., Michigan, on 30 April 1846.³ However, on 5 October 1847 Warren bought an acre of land in Parkman Twp. from Archy Loveland for $225.¹¹ They sold it a little over a year later, on 5 December 1848, to Sophia's brother Clark Town for the same price, and they were then described as being of Parkman Twp.¹²
     She and her family are listed in Eaton Rapids, Eaton Co., Michigan, in the 1850 and 1860 censuses. Her husband's father John, age 86, was living with them in 1860.^13,14
     On 30 September 1862 Warren bought 20 acres in Albion, Calhoun Co., Michigan, from Micajah Aldrich and Laura Aldrich for $550.¹⁵ They sold this land a year later, on 1 September 1863, to Charles Squiers for $600.¹⁶ In both transactions they were described as being of Eaton Rapids.
     In 1870 she and Warren were living with their daughter Altheda's family in Willow Creek Twp., Lee Co., Illinois,¹⁷ and later moved with Altheda's family to Blairsburg, Hamilton Co., Iowa, where Warren died in 1877¹⁸, and where Sophia is listed with them in the 1880 census.¹⁹

     Lyman Town was born on 13 July 1801 in Cherry Valley, Otsego Co., New York.^2,3 He married Betsey Porter, daughter of John Porter and Deborah (?), on 6 March 1825.² He died on 15 February 1880 in Burton, Geauga Co., Ohio, at age 78 from valvular disease.^4,2,5 He was buried at Middlefield Cemetery (west row 38, lot H, grave 4) in Middlefield, Geauga Co.⁶
     In his father's will, dated 12 December 1818 and proved on 4 February 1819, he was left $100. After the death of his mother Judith, and some additional bequests to his four sisters, he and his siblings were also to receive what remained of the estate.¹
     After their marriage he and his wife Betsey settled in Cherry Creek, Chautauqua Co., New York, where he bought land in October 1828⁷, and where he is listed in the 1830 and 1840 censuses.^8,9 In 1828 he was one of nine charter members of the First Freewill Baptist Church in Villenova, Chautauqua Co., just north of Cherry Creek.¹⁰
     On 23 January 1834 he bought 60 acres of land in Cherry Creek from Wilhem Willink and six others, all from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, through their attorney David Evans for $118.63.¹¹ He and his wife Betsey sold this land about two years later, on 26 December 1835, to Lorenzo Davis for $125.¹² A few weeks after that, on 13 February 1836, he bought 50 acres in Cherry Creek from Peter Decker for $254.¹³ He and Betsey sold this land to Hiram Dickinson for $370 on 12 April 1844, not long before moving to Ohio.¹⁴
     About 1846 he and Betsey moved to Geauga Co., Ohio.¹⁵ They are listed there in Parkman Twp. in the 1850 census adjacent to Lyman's brother Clark, who had moved there about 10 years earlier.^16,2 They are listed in Middlefield Twp., Geauga Co., in the 1860 and 1870 censuses.^17,18
     He and Betsey sold 2 acres of land in Middlefield Twp. to their son Isaac and his wife Cordelia on 17 April 1855 for $25¹⁹, and 27 acres in Middlefield Twp. to their son Francis and his wife Mary on 22 March 1864 for $589.40.²⁰ On 20 October 1865 they sold 82.15 acres in Middlefield to Augustus Moffett for $3000.²¹
     On 23 February 1866 he bought 83 acres in Middlefield Twp. from William Gates for $2739. At the time the land was subject to two mortgages, one held by heirs of Richard Beach for $899, and one held by Ira Bowyer for $227.²² He and Betsey sold this land six years later, on 4 March 1872, to Levi Morse for $3652.²³
     His will was dated 12 September 1874. In it he left $100 each to his daughters Mary A. White and Alvira O. Town, and to his sons Isaac J., A. C., Ira P., Orin E., and Francis H. He left $25 each to Cara and Earnest Fisher, children of his deceased daughter Roxanna, to be held by his wife Betsey until they reach the age of majority. The remainder of his estate was left to his wife Betsey, and he asked that the estate not be inventoried or appraised.
     The will was presented in court on 15 December 1880, and his son Isaac and son-in-law E. A. Beardsley were named as administrators. The final account showed an estate value of $3502.90. After deducting the specific legacies to his children and expenses, etc., $1683.22 was left for his widow Betsey.²⁴

     Matilda Town was born on 10 September 1803.² She married James Grant on 27 February 1833 in Ontario, Wayne Co., New York.³ She died on 14 January 1888 at age 84.⁴ She was buried at Sand Hill Cemetery in Butler, Wayne Co.⁴
     She was left $50 in her father's will, dated 12 December 1818 and proved on 4 February 1819. She was to receive an additional $50 after the death of her mother Judith, and she and her siblings were to divide equally what then remained of the estate.¹
     Her family is listed in Butler, Wayne Co., New York, in the 1840 census.⁵ She and her husband James are again listed in Butler in the 1850 and 1860 censuses. In 1850 James's son Willis from his first marriage, age 20, was living with them.^6,7 They are listed in Wolcott, Wayne Co., in the 1870 census.⁸
     She and James may have lived in Savannah, Wayne Co., for a short time. On 8 April 1835 James bought 50 acres of land there from Seth Robinson for $850.⁹ They sold it on 15 September 1837 to Peter Winne for $1300, and were then described as being "of Savannah."¹⁰
     On 7 July 1875, for $1.00 "and other good and valuable considerations," her daughter Sylvia and her husband Elvin Soper deeded 6.5 acres of land in Rose, Wayne Co., to her and her husband James "for and during the term of their natural lives or the life of the survivor of them."¹¹ Matilda deeded the land back to them on 3 April 1882 for $100.¹² She is listed in Rose in the 1880 census living with her daughter Sylvia's family.¹³
     On 5 April 1878 she applied for a widow's pension based on her husband's service during the War of 1812, and received $8/month.¹⁴

     Sylvia Town was born on 10 September 1803 in New York.^2,4,5 She married Stephen Gates, son of Isaac Gates and Prudence French, about 1827.^3,4,6 (The date is based on the birth date of 13 June 1826 for Lucinda Gates, Stephen's daughter from his first marriage, and 13 January 1828 for Prudence Gates, Stephen and Sylvia's daughter.)^7,8 She died on 30 September 1894 at age 91.⁹ She was buried at Gates Cemetery (also known as Young Cemetery) in Middlefield, Geauga Co., Ohio.⁴
     She was left $50 in her father's will, dated 12 December 1818 and proved on 4 February 1819. She was to receive an additional $50 after the death of her mother Judith, and she and her siblings were to divide equally what then remained of the estate.¹
     Her family is listed in Ontario, Wayne Co., New York, in the 1830 census.¹⁰ Soon after that they moved to Ohio, where their daughter Louisa was born about 1831.⁵
     On 30 August 1836 she and her husband Stephen exchanged property in Geauga Co. with Thomas Young and his wife Tryphena. She and Stephen, then described as being "of Batavia," sold their 78 acres in Parkman to the Youngs for $200¹¹, and bought 39.86 acres in Batavia from them for the same price.¹² Stephen bought an additional 61.25 acres in Batavia Twp. on 17 December 1839 from John A. Rockwell and his wife Mary for $205.¹³
     Her family is listed in Batavia Twp. (now Middlefield Twp.) in the 1840 census.¹⁴ She and Stephen and their children are listed in Middlefield Twp. in the 1850 and 1860 censuses.^5,15
     She and Stephen sold 40 acres in Middlefield Twp. to Jacob Gates for $400 on 15 February 1844.¹⁶ On 10 December 1855 Stephen bought 4.77 acres in Middlefield Twp., Geauga Co., Ohio, from Joseph Gates and his wife Orella for $130.¹⁷
     On 6 March 1866 she and her husband Stephen sold 78.22 acres in Middlefield Twp. (probably their homestead) to their son Lorenzo for $1950.¹⁸ In 1870, after her husband's death, she was living with the family of Martin Rice in Parkman Twp., Geauga Co.¹⁹ On 11 November 1871, in return for $500, she quitclaimed to her son Lorenzo any rights she had to the property she and her husband had sold to him in 1866²⁰, and she is listed in the 1880 census living there with Lorenzo and his wife.²¹
     She died intestate, and on 18 December 1894 John A. Pierce was appointed administrator of her estate. She was found to have left no property, other than a life lease given her by her son Lorenzo.⁹

     (?) Town was born on 19 March 1793.¹ She died on 19 March 1793.¹

     Lydia Ann Ford was born on 15 March 1789 in Chatham, Columbia Co., New York.^2,1 (Her entry in the 1875 state census says she was born in Schoharie Co., New York.)³ She married Orrin Town, son of Isaac Town and Judith Hutchins, on 25 February 1809 in Schuyler, Herkimer Co., New York.^4,5,6 She died on 14 November 1876 in Peruville, Tompkins Co., New York, at age 87.^2,6 She was buried at Cold Brook Valley Cemetery in Onondaga Co., New York.^6,7
     Collins's Mortuary Records with Genealogical Notes ... names her parents as John and Chloe Ford, apparently an error.⁶
     She and her husband Orrin settled in Onondaga Co., New York, after their marriage. Orrin is listed there in Pompey in the 1810 census, with one male (himself) and one female (Lydia, no doubt), both 16-25.⁸ They later moved to Spafford, Onondaga Co., where Orrin is listed in the censuses from 1820 to 1840 with (presumably) his wife Lydia, and several children. In 1820 his mother Judith and brother Clark are listed on the following two lines.^9,10,11
     In 1855, after her husband's death, she was living with her son Alonzo in Scott, Cortland Co., New York.¹² She may be the Lydia Town, age 81, listed in the 1870 census living with Joseph and Elizabeth Cropsy in Locke, Cayuga Co., New York.¹³ In late 1872 she moved in with her brother Major's family in Peruville, a neighborhood in Groton, Tompkins Co., New York,⁵ and is listed with them there in the 1875 state census.³
     On 18 May 1871 she applied for a widow's pension for her husband's service during the War of 1812, and was awarded $8/month, retroactive to 14 February 1870.¹⁴

     Mariah Juliet Town was born on 17 February 1810.¹ She married (?) Eldridge.² She died on 17 January 1856 at age 45.¹

     Isaac Earl Town was born on 16 January 1812 in New York.^1,2 He married Hannah Furniss, daughter of William Furniss, on 3 September 1835.² He died on 3 June 1906 at age 94.² He was buried at Bronson-Olena Cemetery in Bronson Twp., Huron Co., Ohio.²
     According to the July, 1888, "Firelands Pioneer", Isaac Earl Town, with his wife Hannah and infant daughter Martha, and his wife's father Wm. Furace, moved from Pompey, Onondaga Co., New York, to Huron Co., Ohio, in the fall of 1836. Their route was through the Erie Canal to Buffalo, New York, then via Lake Erie to Huron, Ohio, and finally by a horse team to their farm, six miles southeast of Norwalk. They "commenced housekeeping" on 9 December 1836. Another source, History of Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio, says they moved in November 1837.² As quoted by Arthur Towne, this latter source says:

     William Cornell Town was born on 3 June 1816.²

     Emeline Jane Town was born on 7 October 1813 or 1814.¹ She married first John Grout Clark.² She married second Lorin French.²

     Alfred Clark Town was born on 29 April 1818.² He married Hannah Dalton on 3 July 1851.² He died on 20 September 1859 at age 41.^2,3 He was buried at Cold Brook Valley Cemetery in Onondaga Co., New York.³

     Oren Lorenzo Town was born on 4 May 1822.¹ He married, but died as a young man on 7 September 1842, at age 20.^1,2

     Daniel Alonzo Town was born on 30 August 1820 (the Charles A. Towne microfilm collection says 29 October 1819).^1,2
     He lived in Ohio.¹

     Susan Caroline Town was born on 29 August 1827.¹ She died on 15 December 1854 at age 27.¹

     Betsey Matilda Town was born on 6 July 1826.¹ She died on 23 September 1834 at age 8.¹

     Elias Haight Town was born on 24 November 1824 (or possibly 25 April 1824).¹ He died on 14 December 1842 at age 18.¹

     Electa Churchill was born on 12 December 1792 (based on her age at death of 72 years, 8 months, 18 days, inscribed on her cemetery marker; however the Charles A. Towne microfilm and MacKenzie's Colonial Families of the United States of America say 19 December) in Hubbardton, Rutland Co., Vermont.^4,3,1 She married Clark Town, son of Isaac Town and Judith Hutchins, on 27 October 1813.^3,1 She died on 30 August 1865 at age 72.⁴ She was buried at the Lower/Old Cemetery (Section I, Lot 65) in Parkman, Geauga Co., Ohio.^4,5
     She and her husband Clark settled in Onondaga Co., New York,³ and Clark is listed there in Spafford in the 1820 and 1830 censuses.^6,7 They moved to Huron Co., Ohio, in 1836, and soon afterward to Parkman Twp., Geauga Co., Ohio,⁸ where Clark is listed in the 1840 census.⁹
     She and Clark are listed in Parkman Twp. in the 1850 and 1860 censuses. In 1850 their children Lovel, Polly, Diana, and Marcia are listed with them, along with their granddaughter Eugenia, and Clark's brother Lyman is listed next door.¹⁰ Lovel, Polly, and Eugenia were still with them in 1860, and their daughter Diana and her husband Alfred are listed next door. Lovel is listed as insane, and Polly had by then taken over as Eugenia's guardian until she reached full age.^11,12

     Ira C. Town was born in August 1814 in New York.^2,3,4 He married Irene I. Scripture on 20 June 1842 in Huron Co., Ohio.⁵ He died on 13 May 1845 at age 30.³ He was buried at the Lower/Old Cemetery (Section I, Lot 65) in Parkman, Geauga Co., Ohio.³
     His will was dated 4 April 1845, about a year after the death of his wife Irene, and proved on 10 June 1845. He left everything to their daughter Eugenia, who was then not quite two years old, and made his father Clark executor of his estate. He also named him as Eugenia's guardian until she reached age 14, and asked that he provide her "a good English education, and ... rear her in the habits of industry."⁶

     Harriet Town was born on 17 September 1815 (Collins' book indicates 17 August 1815) in New York.^1,2,3 She died on 31 July 1836 at age 20.^1,2 She was buried at Cold Brook Valley Cemetery in Onondaga Co., New York.²

     Anna Town was born on 16 July 1817 in New York.^1,2 She married Israel Barnes Pitkin on 17 March 1839 in Geauga Co., Ohio.² She died on 2 July 1848 at age 30.² She was buried at the Lower/Old Cemetery in Parkman, Geauga Co., Ohio.^3,2
     She and Israel had one known child, Ithiel I. (b abt 1843, d 1 June 1849).²

     Cynthia Town was born on 7 October 1819 in New York.^1,2 She died young.¹