Hi Sharon and Sussex Researchers, Here is the writeup on the Fowler family from Stickney's "Old Sussex County Families of the Minisink Region" c. 1988 pp 51-3 Representatives of this family resided Islington, England, in 1538. Sir Thomas Fowler, Kt. and Baronet dwelt there in 1630. In 1634, Phillip Fowler settled at Ipswich, Mass., where he was admitted a freeman of that colony. In 1637 William Fowler came to America and settled at New Haven, Conn. It is presumed they were relatives of Sir Thomas but whether sons or not is not known. William was the first magistrate at New Haven. He had a son, William Jr., other children not known, and the son of William was Joseph. The latter settled at Mespat Kills, L. I. in 1686, where he had two sons of which we have this record, John (born at Flushing, L. I. 1686) and Jeremiah. The sons of John were: Samuel, Isaac, John, James, and Nehamiah. Jeremiah settled at Rye, Westchester County, N.Y. and died in 1766. John and his son, Samuel, purchased a share of what was called the Harrison Patent adjoining the City of Newburgh, Like all families, some name takes a preference for generations and this first Samuel has had many descendants named after him. They came to Newburgh and settled upon their land, where John died in 1768. His son, Isaac, also came to Newburgh, and brought properties known later as the property of Henry D. Fowler and M. W. DuBois. He married Margaret Theal, and had one son, Isaac Jr., born April 3, 1746. Isaac Jr., married first Martha Tooker, who died with her only infant in March, 1771; and second, 1773, Glorianna Merritt; and third a widow Owen. He died in 1823. By his second wife he had several children, among them a son, Caleb, born Feb. 8, 1775, who married Catherine Sebring. He died March 8, 1826, leaving among other children, Peter V. B. born Feb. 20, 1800. The latter married Oct. 4, 1826 Eliza, daughter of Garret Dubois and Hannah Cooper. The latter was a sister of Capt. Elias Cooper, of Sussex County, N. J. Many of their descendants and relatives, are prominent citizens of Newburgh. Samuel, first, in the war of the Revolution was not an active patriot for it appears among the minutes of the point committees of safety of Newburgh and New Windsor: "August 18, 1778, Samuel Fowler arrested as a person of equivocal and suspected character, refused the oath of allegiance" and was confined by the committee. He was subsequently released upon his "condition and promise of amendment." April 16, 1770 he was one of the signers, with John Sayre, William Edison, John Ellison and others of a petition for a charter of incorporation of St. George's Church in Newburgh. It was granted. In 1785, it appears by records he was assessed for highway labor, as was also his son, Samuel Fowler, Jr. The latter was Samuel, 2d. This Samuel has a son, Samuel 3rd, born October 30, 1779, and who early exhibited the remarkable talents which afterwards made him noted. He received an Academic education at Montgomery Academy and studied medicine under Dr. David Fowler at Newburgh. He also attended the Penn. Medical Colege at Phila., and was admitted to practice medicine soon after he was twenty-one years of age. He began practice of his profession at Hamburg in 1801. In 1808 he married Ann, the daughter of Col. Mark Thompson, of New Jersey, who became a member of congress under Washington's administration. Their only daughter, Julia, married Hon. Moses Bigelow, of Newark, N.J. Soon after marriage he built a house in Hamburg. His wife dying, he sold property to Martin Ryerson and removed to Franklin. In 1816, he married Rebecca W. P., a daughter of Robert Ogden, 3rd., of Ogdensburg, N.J. He had previously removed to Sparta, N. J. , 1786. Says Haines: "of great versatility of talent, he engaged in many enterprises and was successful in them all. He was one of the most eminent physicians that our County has produced. He was a distinguished naturalist and mineralogist, collecting a most valuable collection of American minerals and corresponded with scientific men at home and abroad. His valuable letters and papers were consumed at the burning of the Fowler homestead at Franklin in 1884." He was one of the founders of the Sussex County Medical Society in 1829. When he removed to Franklin after his first wife's death, he built a dam across the stream that passed east of his house and erected a grist mill, fulling mill, storehouse, blacksmith shop, tannery and several dwellings. He also enlarged and rebuilt his own dwelling. This embryo village he called Franklin. From this the valuable ore mined nearby was named Franklinite, and by way of distinction, the Post Office and Furnace were name Franklin Furnace. After marrying his second wife, he lived for a time at Ogdensburg, and carried on the manufacture of iron at Hamburg and Franklin Furnace forges. Through his business tact he made the forges remunerative, and gave them a prestige unknown before. He attended, during all this time, to the arduous duties of his medical profession. "His practice extended over five Counties in this State and even into New York and Penn. He was constantly visited by patients who came long distances, and was sought by his brethren in consultation on difficult cases." He was a member of many leading scientific societies of this country and Europe. At the centennial meeting of the New Jersey Medical Society held at New Brunswick, N.J. in 1866, Dr. Thomas Ryerson said of him: "The leading mind was Dr. Fowler; he came into the County a few years prior to its division and soon compelled all physicians to take license or retire. Into his hands speedily passed the consultation business, and his opinion may therefore be taken as fair indication of the sceintific status of the professiona at that time." He represented Sussex County in the New Jersey State Senate, and was a member of the 24th and 25th Congress in President Jackson's time. He was a warms supporter of Andrew Jackson's policy. His children by his last wife were: Mary E., Henry O., Robert O., John, Rebecca O., Clarinda and Samuel. He died Feb. 20, 1844 at Franklin, aged 65, and was buried "in the North Church cemetery." Hope this helps, Cathy DiPietro List Admin NJSussex [email protected]