From History of Yates County Vol II page 1067-69 George Kress, a brother of Samuel Kress, Sr., was a very early resident, living on the Judosn Millard place, near Dundee, where he was the original settler. He was some years a Justice of the Peace. John Kress, another bortherr, was an early resident of Barrington. page 919: Samuel Kress was a native of Orange county, born in 1763. He there married Catharine Slaughter, and they moved at an early period to Newton, where he worked at his trade as a miller. In 1804 they took up their residence in what is now Starkey, buying fifty acres on the Potter Location of Philo Ingraham, in 1806, and remaining thereon while they lived. He was a zeleous Methodist and one of the earliest class-leaders inhis vicinity. He was in all respects a good citizen, and accumulated a good estate. His wife died at seventy-two, in 1837 and he in 1845, at eitghty-two. Their children were John S., Samuel,l Mary, Leah, William, Rebecca, Sarah, James and Isaac. Samuel, Sr., married in 1840 a second wife, Mehetabel widow of Deacon La Fever, who is still living. John J. Kress born in 1878, married Margaret Murdough in 1810. She was born in 1789. They resided in Starkey, and she died in 1867, and he in 1869. Their children were Maria, Catharine, Eliza Ann, Semantha, Jane, Margaret H., Joshn S., William, Mary B., Andrew J, Susan A., S. Minerva, Halsey S. and George W. Maria married Isaac Wilkin, and their children were John and Cahtarine. Cahtarine married Elisha Reed, and their children were George, John, Mary and Wallace. Eliza married Shannon McLoud, and their children were Huldah, Montgomery, Emery and Bell. Semantha married Joshua Norris and their children were Nelson, John, Mary,James and Susan. Nelson died at the South of wounds received while in the service of the Union during the Rebellion, and Susan died at the age of seventeen. Jane marriedJohn O'Brien, and their children were Myron, Ann, Horace, Mary and Ida. Margaret H. married William Ketchum and they had a son James L. John S. married Rachel, daughter of Anthony B. Ryal and they had a son, Charles. William married Lucy, daughter of Anthony B. Ryal and their children were Zeruah, Elizabeth, jane, Anthon;y, Margaret and William C. Mary B., married Peter Bunce and their children were Spencer, John, Alida, Charles, George and Melvin. Andrew J. married Adaline Shannon and their children were John, George, and Melissa. Susan A. married J. Weslely Slaughter and their children were Maggie and Ida. S. Minerva died young. Halsey S. married Martha Ayres and their children were Ida and Arthur. George W. married Sarah Raplee, and they have one child Lee Ellsworth. Thirteen of this family grew up to adult age and had families of their own. The parents reared also, two of their grandchildren and lived to see them all married and settled. Samu7el Kress, Jr., born in 1789 married first betsey, sister of John Starkey and had a second wife, Asenath Keyes. He had two children, Catherine and Andrew P. T., by the first marriage and four, Charles, Mary E., Emily and Harriet by the second marriage. He had a third wife, Sarah Hutchins. He lived in Starkey, and died there at the age of sixty three. Mary born in 1791, married Levi Walling of Starkey and had five daughters Rebecca, Alvira, Mary, Susan and Elizabeth. they moved to Rockford, IL where Mrs. Walling lives a widow. Leah born in 1795 married Jacob Walling. Their children were Hannah, Cahtarine, Sarah A., Clinton, Amanda and Samuel. Samuel Walling was Captain of a Company of the 161st NYV in the war of the Rebellion, and died in the service. The mother of this family resides at Nunda, NY. William born in 1798 married Eliza, daughter of Peter Gabriel. Their children were Charles W., Susan, Adelaid, Isaac, Grandison, Scott, Genette and Olivette. Grandison lives at Addison NLY a mechanic. Scott is City Marsall at Elmira. Charles is a joiner, and a local Methodist preacher at Hrnellsvville, NY. Isaac is a carpenter at Hornellsville. Rebecca born in 1800 married Dr. Richard Huson. She now resides at Lawrence, Kansas. Sarah born in 1802, married Orison Seaman. They lived and died at Watkins and their children were James, Clinton, Catharine, Samuel, Eliza and DeZeng. James born in 1806 married Mary Hulse. They reside in Michigan and have six children Thompson, Mary, Garwood, Theodore, Richard and Rachel A. Thompson was a soldier in the Mexican War. Isaac Kress born in 1809 is still a resident of Starkey. He married Joanna, daughter of Wison Ayres. they formerly occupied the homestead of Samuel Kress, Sr. He was sulpervisor of Starkey in 1870. Their surviving children are Elizabeth, Melissa and Samuel H. Elizabeth married James Moore, Melissa married Jephtha F. Randoph, youngest son of Daniel F. Randolph. They have a son Orville Y. Samuel H is a classical student. From Vol I page 755: Milo Center Methodist Church Samuel Kress, Sr., was an early class-leader whose meetings were held at the house of George Fitzwater, Sr., in the school house north and at his own house south of Himrods, in what is now Starkey. Belonging to his class were himself and wife, George Fitzwater, Sr., and wife, and daughters, Sarah and Hannah, Richard Henderson and wife, Malachi Davis, Sr. and wife, and Rachel Davis. Note the next page and 1/2 are about members and the development of the church. page 757: The class leaders at Milo Center have been as follows: Samuel Kress, Sr., etc. I purchased the books through the Historical Sociey at Yates in 1996 or 97. I'm sure you can still get both volumes if you so desired. I know this has to help. Sorry it wasn't included in the first response I sent. This is all I have in my library on Yates County. gloria -----Original Message----- From: Bonnie Bunce [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Saturday, November 16, 2002 12:26 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [NYFL] MURDOCK - Steuben & Yates Co., NY Is anyone researching the MURDOCK surname in Steuben or Yates Co., NY? My g.g.grandmother was Margaret Murdock, b.ca. 1789 in Orange or Ulster Co., NY, m. John Jay Kress about 1810 and died in Starkey, Yates Co., NY in 1867. She was the mother of 14 children, 13 of whom lived to adulthood. I don't have any more information about her. I recently found a record of the death of "Murdock, Mrs. Jonathan" of "Reading, NY" which appeared in a newspaper dated "28 Dec 1814 " according to an entry on the website at http://members.tripod.com/~chickened/Obits18131814.html. Reading was the former name of the towns of Starkey and Barrington, Yates Co., NY prior to 1823, which was the year that Yates Co., NY was erected. Prior to Jan. 1826, in fact, the towns of Starkey and Barrington were still a part of Steuben Co., NY and were ceded to Yates Co., NY on Jan. 1, 1826. Does anyone have information on Jonathan Murdock, and whether he may have had a daughter named Margaret? Thanks in advance. bb