DESCENDANTS OF THOMAS & MERCY (HOLBRIDGE) DISBROW, PART ONE © 1992 by Michael S. Disbrow ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- Page 156 (5-7-5) PLATT-5 DISBROW, son of Asa-4 & Charity (Platt) b. 8 Oct. 1782 poss. New Fairfield, Fairfield Co., CT d. 3 Sep. 1851 bur. Hillsdale Village cem., Columbia Co., NY m. 1804 LOIS PEPPER b. 3 June 1780 Sherman, Fairfield Co., CT d. 23 Jan. 1848 Sherman, Fairfield Co., CT bur. Sherman "The Somonauk Book" identifies him as the sixth child of Asa and Charity Disbrow. Platt was not listed among the ch. of Asa in "Fams. of Fairfield", possibly because he may have been born after his parents had moved to the New Fairfield/Sherman area. In 1810 through 1840 Platt was listed in the censuses of Sherman, Fairfield Co., CT. I have not located him in the 1850 census, either in Fairfield Co., or in Hillsdale, Columbia Co., NY, where his two sons, Stephen P. and Willis were living at that time. [see ADDENDA, page 323] Children: (prob. all b. Sherman) +(5-7-5-1) Willis b. June 1807 +(5-7-5-2) Joseph b. 5 Aug. 1809 +(5-7-5-3) Davis b. 20 Feb. 1813 +(5-7-5-4) Dimon b. 11 Oct. 1815 +(5-7-5-5) Stephen Pepper b. Mar. 1818 +(5-7-5-6) Flora L. b. 29 Aug. 1820 +(5-7-5-7) Levi b. 4 Oct. 1823 +(5-7-5-8) Elizabeth A. b. 24 Aug. 1826 References: Patten, Jennie M., et al, The Somonauk Book, A Hist. of Somonauk United Presbyterian Church nr. Sandwich, DeKalb Co., IL, with Ancestral Lines of Early Members, (1928), p. 93 [Jean B. Newhall]; fam. data of Jean (Beveridge) Newhall, 1989; Barber, Gertrude A., Graveyard Inscriptions - New York, (1938), Vols. 7 & 8 (Columbia Co.), pp. 48-9; headstone inscrip. (Sherman, CT), Charles Hale Coll.; Census -1810 through 1840 Sherman, Fairfield Co., CT ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- Page 157 (5-8-1) JAMES-5 DISBROW, son of Henry-4 & Rebecca (Barnum) b. 7 June 1784 Fairfield, Fairfield Co., CT d. 7 Feb. 1859 Lagrange, Lorain Co., OH bur. Penfield Twp., Lorain Co. m. (1st) c1809 Delaware Co., NY POLLY KNAPP, dau. of Samuel & Mary (Lindsley) b. 4 Mar. 1787 Danbury, Fairfield Co., CT d. 26 June 1850 Lagrange, Lorain Co., OH bur. Penfield Twp., Lorain Co, m. (2nd) 10 Dec. 1850 Lagrange, Lorain Co., OH LUCY KNAPP, dau. of John & Lucy (Merwin) b. 4 May 1815 d. 23 Nov. 1887 bur. Jordan cem., Royalton Twp., Fulton Co., OH She m. (1st) Stephen Gates, and had ch.: Levi, Sarah M., Mary, Hiram L. and John. Mr. Gates died in Huntsburgh, OH, of cancer. By 1800 James, with his parents, had moved from CT, and soon settled at Jefferson, Schoharie Co., NY. There he married and had a family of six children. He served in the militia during the War of 1812, and later drew a pension for his service. One of his grandsons, Hiram Alonzo Disbrow (son of Oliver Perry), later wrote about his grandfather for the 1884 "Hist. of Cass Co., IA": "Grandfather Disbrow moved his family with an ox team to Lorain county, Ohio, in the summer of 1825... Then, that part of the county was a dense forest of timber. The mill and market place was Cleveland, about thirty miles away and grandfather Disbrow used to make the trip to mill with his oxen, leaving two weeks provisions at home, allowing himself that time in which to make the trip. They had the usual experience of early settlers in those days who opened the way for a more enlightened civilization. On one occasion my grandfather encountered and wrestled with a black bear and came near being disemboweled but was saved by the timely appearance of his large black mastiff. On another occasion he and grandmother started on foot to church, some two and a half or three miles distant, through the forest. A large tree had fallen across their path; they separated, one went on one side of the tree, and the other on the other side, neither spoke but each went his own way, getting lost but not knowing it until suddenly they came upon their own house." In the census of 1850 we find James Disbro, age 66, a Farmer, and Polly, age 63, living in Lagrange Twp., Lorain Co. The census was taken on 3 Oct., and Polly had died the 26th of June of that year. But this is probably explained by the census taker's dictate to list everyone who had been living in the household as of 1 June. James' wives, Polly and Lucy Knapp, were reportedly cousins [to each other]. After James died his widow Lucy lived (in the 1860 census) in Kirtland Twp., Lake Co., OH. She was age 45, a Farmer, b. NY, with her son Hiram Gates, age 16, a Laborer, and her children Lewis and "Polly" Disbrow, ages 7 and 2, respectively. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- Page 158 (5-8-1) JAMES-5 DISBROW, cont'd Children, by 1st wife: (prob. all b. Jefferson, Schoharie Co., NY) +(5-8-1-1) Orville b. 24 Mar. 1810 +(5-8-1-2) Oliver Perry b. 13 July 1814 +(5-8-1-3) James Jr. b. 5 Dec. 1816 (5-8-1-4) Rachel b. 1818; d. 6 Aug. 1854; m. 16 Nov. 1849 Lorain Co., OH, Nelson Richardson; had a dau. Elizabeth Richardson +(5-8-1-5) Samuel b. 21 June 1822 (5-8-1-6) Polly Children, by 2nd wife: (prob. b. Lorain Co., OH) +(5-8-1-7) Lewis Kossuth b. 2 July 1852 (5-8-1-8) Horace Elbert b. 1853; d. 1854 (5-8-1-9) Mary E. "Polly" b. 1855 (?-age 2, 1850 census); d. 1888; m. 1876 Morenci, Lenawee Co., MI, Wellington Atwood; had a dau. (name?) b. 1878 References: fam. data of Cassius L. "Cash" Disbrow, 1985; headstone inscrip., per Cemetery Inscrips. of Lorain Co., OH [Lorraine Whiting]; Cleveland, Horace G., A Genealogy of Benjamin Cleveland, (1879), pp. 229, 232; Hist. of Cass Co., IA, (1884), p.291 [Arlynn Gantz]; headstone inscrips., Jordan cem., Fulton Co. copied 1988 by Arlynn Gantz; Index of Awards - Soldiers of the War of 1812, (1860), p. 145; Census - 1810 '20 Jefferson, Schoharie Co., NY, 1830 '50 La grange Twp., Lorain Co., OH, 1860 Kirtland Twp., Lake Co., OH; Lorain Co. marriages [A. Gantz] (5-8-3) CALEB-5 DISBROW, son of Henry-4 & Rebecca (Barnum) b. c1788 prob. Fairfield Co., CT d. m. POLLY DRAKE, dau. of Alexander b. c1800 VT d. She was a sister of Sally Drake who m. (5-8-6) Smith Disbrow. We suppose that Caleb died fairly young. I have found no census records pertaining to him in Schoharie Co., NY, or elsewhere. He and Polly reportedly had three children, but only Diantha has been discovered. Polly subsequently married Avery H. Allen, and was listed with him in the 1860 census of Jefferson, Schoharie Co., NY, age 59, b. CT, with ch. Almen age 29, Adaline 28, Mary D. 23, Avery 17 and Diantha Disbrow 36. Child: (5-8-3-1) Diantha b. c1823 NY; poss. the Diantha Greene mentioned in Smith Disbrow's will, 6 Sep. 1877. References: fam. data of Cash Disbrow; "Sketch of the Disbrow Fam." by unknown desc. of Orville Disbrow [Cash Disbrow]; Census - (Diantha) 1850 '60 Jefferson, Schoharie Co., NY ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- Page 159 (5-8-4) RACHEL-5 DISBROW, dau. of Henry-4 & Rebecca (Barnum) b. c1790 prob. Fairfield Co., CT d. 1820 Jefferson, Schoharie Co., NY Rachel apparently never married. Her will, dated 10 Dec. 1819, proved 21 Mar. 1820, gives to her "second brother Smith Disbrow" land adjoining James Disbrow's and Henry Disbrow's in Jefferson, "being now in possession of said Smith Disbrow with his paying his three brothers, James Disbrow, Caleb Disbrow and Beardsley B. Disbrow their equal shares..." Also bed and bedding to Smith Disbrow, calico gown to her "eldest sister Sarah Hamilton", gown and handkerchief to her "second sister Amy Nichols", gown and handkerchief to her "youngest sister Rebecca Disbrow", and remaining household furniture to the three sisters. Smith Disbrow appointed executor. Witnessed by Silas Washborn, Deborah Washborn and Semanthy Hoyt. [Schoharie Co. Surrogate, Will Book, pp. 310-11] References: fam. data of Cash Disbrow; will, per Disbrow Fam. Newsletter #19-139 [Cash Disbrow] (5-8-5) AMY-5 DISBROW, dau. of Henry-4 & Rebecca (Barnum) b. c1792 d. prob. by 1835 m. DANIEL NICHOLS, son of Ezra & Elizabeth (Knapp) b. d. Henry Disbrow listed his living children in his pension file in 1835, but Amy was not on the list. Daniel Nichols was a cousin of Polly Knapp and Lucy Knapp, both of whom married (5-8-1) James Disbrow. Children: (5-8-5-1) Lura NICHOLS (5-8-5-2) Fanny NICHOLS (5-8-5-3) Sally NICHOLS (5-8-5-4) Spicer NICHOLS References: fam. data of Cash Disbrow; Cleveland, Horace G., A Genealogy of Benjamin Cleveland, p. 230; unknown author, "Sketch of the Disbrow Fam." [Cash Disbrow] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- Page 160 (5-8-6) SMITH-5 DISBROW, son of Henry-4 & Rebecca (Barnum) b. 9 Aug. 1793 prob. Fairfield Co., CT d. 14 Oct. 1881 Jefferson, Schoharie Co., NY m. 15 Dec. 1821 Jefferson, Schoharie Co., NY SALLY DRAKE, dau. of Alexander b. 17 Dec. 1798 VT d. 29 Dec. 1880 In the War of 1812 Smith Disbrow served as a private in John Prior's Regiment of NY militia. He enlisted 12 Sep, 1814 at Jefferson, Schoharie Co., NY, in Capt. Peter Dies' Company, and was discharged 11 Dec. 1814 at Plattsburgh, NY. He applied for bounty land 22 Nov. 1850, a res. of Schoharie Co., age 57, and received a warrant for forty acres. On 23 June 1855 he applied for additional bounty land and received a warrant for one hundred twenty acres. He applied for a pension 21 Mar. 1871, age 77, a res. of Jefferson, Schoharie Co., NY, and was granted a pension of $8 per month, certificate no. 5956. His will, dated 6 Sep. 1877, gives to wife Sally Disbrow all property, real and personal, to use during her natural life; to Lydia Disbrow "the use of one half of the upright part of the house"; to Jacob Van Buren ten acres of land adjoining Joseph Barnum, after Sally Disbrow's death; to Jacob Van Buren or his heirs, the use of the homestead, "except the part of the house given to Lydia Disbrow [or] if she should not want to occupy it, then Maria Patchin, wife of Benjamin Patchin, during her natural life"; of the personal property remaining after Sally Disbrow's death, $200 to Smith D. Buck, $200 to Charles Buck, $50 to Diantha Greene, and anything remaining to be divided equally between Ellen Denyman [Dingman] and Addie Buck. Joseph Barnum, executor. George W. Houghtaling and Naomi A. Barnum, both of Jefferson, witnesses. [Schoharie Co. Surrogate, Will Book, pp. 506-7] Sally Drake was a sister of Polly Drake who m. (5-8-3) Caleb Disbrow. According to Cash Disbrow, Samantha was Smith and Sally's only natural child, and the others were adopted by them. Children: +(5-8-6-1) Samantha b. 24 July 1824 (5-8-6-2) Maria b. c1837 NY; m. Benjamin Patchin (5-8-6-3) Lydia M. b. c1843 NY (5-8-6-4) Thomas no record (5-8-6-5) Frederick b. c1850 PA References: fam. data of Cash Disbrow; will, per Disbrow Fam. Newsletter #19-139 [Cash Disbrow]; pension file, National Archives [Cash Disbrow]; Census - 1830 '40 '50 '60 '70 Jefferson, Schoharie Co., NY; pension file of (5-8) Henry Disbrow; Leggett, Grace P., Hist. & Gen. of the Patchin Fam., p. 668 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- Page 161 (5-8-7) BEARDSLEY B.-5 DISBROW, son of Henry-4 & Rebecca (Barnum) b. 30 Nov. 1798 poss. Delaware Co., NY d. 20 Oct. 1879 Jefferson, Schoharie Co., NY m. (1st) LOIS P. ( ) b. d. m. (2nd) JULIA M. TOLES or TOLLES b. c1805 NY d. 1 Apr. 1886 In the 1850 census of Jefferson, Schoharie Co., NY, we find Beardsley Disbrow, age 51, Farmer, with Julia 45, Aldin 12, Julian [sic] 7 and Charles 1, listed three households away from his brother Smith Disbrow. In 1860, same place, Beardsley Disbrow age 61, Farmer, Julia 55, Alden 22, Julia A. 17, Charles 11. And in an adjacent household were Julina Beardsley age 48 and Sally A. Beardsley 24. Child, poss. by 1st wife: +(5-8-7-1) Horace S. or L. b. c1823 NY Children, by 2nd wife: +(5-8-7-2) Alden b. c1838 poss. Delaware Co., NY (5-8-7-3) Julia A. b. c1843 NY (5-8-7-4) Charles b. c1849 NY References: fam. data of Cash Disbrow; Census - 1840 Harpersfield, Delaware Co., NY, 1850 '60 Jefferson, Schoharie Co., NY ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- Page 162 (5-8-8) REBECCA-5 DISBROW, dau. of Henry-4 & Rebecca (Barnum) b. c1803/4 Jefferson, Schoharie Co., NY d. poss. Wood Co., OH m. 12 July 1829 Lagrange, Lorain Co., OH ALBERT FORD, son of John & Fanny (Christopher) b. 12 Feb. 1805 Dutchess Co., NY d. 7 Jan. 1874 Wood Co., OH bur. Ferry Twp. cem., Wood Co. A document in her father, Henry Disbrow's pension file, dated 11 Apr. 1836, states: "Rebecca Ford declares that her father is Henry Disbrow, her brother, Smith Disbrow..." And another, dated 17 Apr. 1855: "Albert Ford and Rebecca Ford, residents of Wood Co., OH..." Joan E. Ford, a descendant, states: "On 17 Oct. 1835 Rebecca Ford bought 50 acres in Medina Twp., Medina Co., Ohio, from John F. Schroder of New York for $289.64. Deed recorded in Litchfield Co., Conn. ... 21 June 1848 the couple added to their land holdings in Medina... 9 May 1854 Albert & Rebecca sold the land in Medina to Gardner Williams for $1600. They probably then moved to Wood Co." Joan, who has been doing a considerable amount of research on this family, also writes: "I would guess that Rebecca is buried in the same cem. as Albert, but the Wood County Genealogical Soc. did not mention a listing for her in their cem. lists when they sent me Albert's. It is possible that she outlived Albert and may have been living after [his] death with one of her children somewhere in or around Wood County." She informs me that Albert & Rebbeca Ford were listed in the 1830 census of Canaan Twp., Wayne Co., OH, in 1840 and 1850 in Medina Twp., Medina Co., OH, and in 1860 in Ferry Twp., Wood Co., OH. [see ADDENDA, page 323] Children: (5-8-8-1) John W. FORD b. c1831 prob. Wayne Co., OH; m. Jennette ( ); 3 ch. listed 1860 census, Wood Co., OH (5-8-8-2) Sarah A. FORD b. c1834 prob. Wayne Co., OH (5-8-8-3) Albert B. FORD b. 14 Apr. 1836 Medina Co., OH; d. 30 July 1921 Charlotte, Eaton Co., MI; m. 15 Nov. 1860 Ferry Twp., Wood Co., OH, Martha E. (McCrory) Shafer. He served in Co. E, 144 OH Nat'l Guard in the Civil War. (5-8-8-4) Anson W. FORD b. c1838 Medina Co., OH +(5-8-8-5) William W. FORD b. c1842 Medina Co., OH (5-8-8-6) Mary R. FORD b. c1846 Medina Co., OH; d. 20 June 1878, bur. W. Millgrove, Wood Co.; m. 11 Oct. 1865 Ferry Twp., Wood Co., Lewis Whitman References: fam. data & research notes of Joan E. Ford, 1990-91; fam. data of Cash Disbrow; Lorain County, OH, marriages [Arlynn Gantz]; pension file of (5-8) Henry Disbrow ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- Page 163 (5-9-1) BANKS DAVIS-5 DISBROW, son of Levi-4 b. c1783 Fairfield Co., CT bapt. 30 Oct. 1791 Greens Farms, Fairfield Co., CT d. 1851 Chester Twp., Clinton Co., OH m. HANNAH ( ) b. c1784 CT d. after 1850 "Banks Davies" was offered for baptism at the Greens Farms Church, by Levi Disbrow. In his book "Families of Fairfield", Jacobus placed this entry in the section on the Davis family, apparently thinking Davis was this child's surname. But he shows up in later census records as "Banks D." and sometimes as "Davis" Disbrow, and so we have to assume he was a son of Levi. [Later disproved - see ADDENDA, p. 324] In 1810 "Davis Disbrow" was in Sherman, Fairfield Co., CT, with a family consisting of 1 male and 4 female children, all under 10. The other Disbrows in Sherman at that time were his uncle (5-7) Asa, and Asa's sons Platt and Jesse. Asa Disbrow moved to Ohio in 1819, and it looks as if Banks moved his family there at about the same time, all then settling in Chester Twp., Clinton Co. There Banks was listed in the censuses from 1820 through 1850. In 1850 we find Banks D. Disbrow, age 67, a Carpenter, and Hannah, age 66, both born in CT, In the next household, Willis Disbrow, age 24, with his wife Priscilla and dau. Olive J. Banks' will, dated 5 Oct. 1850, proved 5 Apr. 1851, mentions his wife Hannah, sons Gideon and Willis B., and daughters Charity Mershon, Eliza Dakin and Ann Gaddis. Willis B. Disbrow and Daniel Collett Jr. appointed executors. Witnessed by Mitchell W. Shidaker and Shubald R. Hazard. His house and lot, containing of about one and three quarters acres, situated in the town of Oakland, Clinton Co., OH, he left to Hannah and his son Willis. [Clinton Co., Will Book "C", p. 176] [see ADDENDA, page 324] Children: (not in birth order) +(5-9-1-1) Gideon b. June 1806 (5-9-1-2) Charity Ann m. 2 Feb. 1838 Clinton Co., OH, John Mershon (5-9-1-3) Eliza m. 21 Feb. 1822 Clinton Co., OH, Lewis Dakin (5-9-1-4) Ann/Anna m. 14 Apr. 1825 Clinton Co., OH, Jonathan Gaddis +(5-9-1-5) Willis B. b. Jan. 1826 +(5-9-1-6) Hester/Esther b. 22 June 1805 (5-9-1-7) Arzilla b. 23 Nov. 1809; d. 13 June 1846 (age 36-6-21), bur. Sharon Meth. Ch. cem., Clinton Co.; m. 25 Mar. 1828 Clinton Co., OH, Alanson Jones (5-9-1-8) Levi L. d. poss. by 1850; m. 28 Mar. 1846 Clinton Co., OH, Alice Jane Madden, who was living 1850 in Warren Co., OH, and remarried 10 Dec. 1850 Clinton Co., to James E. 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