His g grandfather, Amos Marsh
Amos Marsh was born to Thomas Marsh and Eunice Parkhurst.[i] Thomas made his will in March of 1753 when Amos was given all of his father's property in Mansfield with the understanding that Amos would care for his mother.[ii] Thomas died the 19th of March, and his transcribed will can be found in the section for him.
The first deed located for Amos was a grantee deed on the 6 April 1756, when he purchased land belonging to his father's neighbors, Vol. 5 pg. 712. Grantees were Southworth and Mary Constant.[iii] Others deeds for Amos found in the town of Mansfield were:
When the brothers, Jacob and Amos Marsh, first went to Clarendon, they had two nephews with them by the name of Daniel and William Marsh.[xvi] Those two names were used often in this early Marsh family, and sometimes it is hard to decide who is being referred to. Amos' son, Daniel, was not born until about 1766-70, so he is not the early Daniel referred to in the internet histories that was accused of siding for a time with Britain in the Revolution, but was later accepted back as a citizen in Clarendon. That Daniel's history can be found on this same website.
There was some type of document or petition dated 5 Dec 1770 in the New York Library vol. #27, p. 132, having to do with the early town of Socialborough. It recorded how many children were in each family, and Amos Marsh's family had six at that date.[xvii]
Amos was soon drawn into the land disputes in Clarendon as his land was put first into one jurisdiction and then another. Jacob Marsh, Amos' brother, sided with the New Yorkers, which became a focus of conflict with Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys. (See notes for Daniel the nephew on this site.) Amos sided with the New Hampshire Grant, through whom he had purchased his land. The following document is on file with the Vermont Secretary of State, Manuscript Division, and contains Amos' actual signature:
"To the Kings Most Excellent Majesty In Council"
The humble petition of your majesty's loyal, faithful, and obedient subjects whose only hope of relief from immediate distress and ruin with their helpless wives and children depends entirely on your majesty's consent, and paternal interposition, which unless your majesty shall be pleased to vouchsafe, they must suffer an inevitable ruin. Therefore they humbly pray to represent their unhappy state, hoping your majesty will be pleased to lend an ear while they briefly relate some few of the distressful circumstances of their present situation.
That they are inhabitants of your Majesty's land now, by your Majesty's order within the jurisdiction of your Majesty's government of New York, which at the time of the removal of the line of jurisdiction was unanimously esteemed to be in your Majesty's province of New Hampshire, except only by some interested persons in New York who have made large fortunes of those lands, and whose pretenses were totally unknown and which said tract is situate between the western banks of Connecticut River and a north line drawn at twenty miles eastern distance from Hudson's River, till it intersects the wood Creek, Lake Champlain,?. That by virtue of patents filed by Benning Wentworth Esq. late governor of your Majesty's said province of New Hampshire under the seal thereof and granted to your petitioners, whose names are interred on a schedule annexed to each respective grant, in full faith of the said Governors authority to grant the said lands, they have settled, cultivated, inhabited, and improved, and expended their whole fortunes and all their labor to this day on the premises aforesaid.
That it having pleased your majesty to remove the line of jurisdiction between the two provinces aforesaid your petitioners in due rightful obedience to your Majesty's command obeyed although their lying in the province of New York was and is forever will and must be highly detrimental and disagreeable to them both in their property and good government, all of which they judged your Majesty and ministers of state had been egregiously misinformed.
And also that those circumstances had been erroneously represented to your Majesty that since your Majesty's said order to annex the said district to New York, their possessions have been unexceptionably granted to other people under the great seal of New York, that writs of ejectment had been brought, their property wrested from them, their persons imprisoned, and their whole substance wasted in fruitless law suits, merely to the enrichment of a few men in said province of New York, whose great influence is the destruction of our hard, honestly earned property. That we were greatly industriously cultivating the Wilderness, orderly obeying every law, rejoicing in our safety under your Majesty's auspicious government, until by this invitation of our property by many who pretended your Majesty's authority therein, we are thrown into such evident distress, confusion, and dangerous disorder, as would touch your Royal breast with compassion, could our inexplicable misery be truly represented, and as that many of your good petitioners were soldiers in your Majesty's army in the late war in North America and were adding and assisting in the happy sweep thereof, whereby their lands were recovered from the enemy. That they have in all things and at all times been obedient to the laws of your Majesty's dominions, and ever obeyed your Majesty's royal command, that our misfortunes, interest, and lives were wholly directed? to your sacred person. They, therefore, humbly prostrate themselves and pray that your Majesty will be graciously pleased to preserve them from the impending evils by reannexing them to New Hampshire, to which province we are more contiguous for government, at least seventy miles to near four hundred, through three governments, and by confirming to them possessions, as held and enjoyed under the New Hampshire, and by giving such other relief as to your Majesty shall seem adequate and meet whereby your petitioners may again return to their labour the wilderness may be cultivated and your petitioners again rejoice in the serenity of lawful and good governments having exercised among them, under God we rely on your Majesty only for relief. We can have no hope from your Majesty's servants at New York, from whose apparitions our distresses have arisen as your Majesty's servants of New Hampshire having read our petition to them for relief declare their inability to take cognizance thereof, as the premises are by your Majesty's order in council, commanded to be within the province of New York, to your Majesty therefore we humbly look for compensating our distress. As your Majesty's petitioners in duty to loyalty bound shall ever pray - " Benjamin Spaulding, Mathew Herrington, Robert Stevens, Samuel Brown, Durtham Kingbury, Israel Brown, John Carpenter, Samuel Brown Jr., John Cury?, Jonas Richard, Joseph Pratt, Joseph Packhurst, William Hunter, Amos Marsh[xviii]
The first deed located for Amos was a grantee deed on the 6 April 1756, when he purchased land belonging to his father's neighbors, Vol. 5 pg. 712. Grantees were Southworth and Mary Constant.[iii] Others deeds for Amos found in the town of Mansfield were:
- 16 Dec 1757. Amos and his neighbors, Edmond Hovey, Hehemiah Wood, Shubael Dimock, Jonathan Balch, and John Hanks sold land to the town of Mansfield for a road. Vol. 6. Pgs. 93-94.[iv]
- 6 Nov 1760. Amos bought land of Gideon Abbe. Vol. 6 pp. 354, 355.[v]
- 30 Oct 1762. Amos bought land of Shubal Dimock, his father-in-law. Shubael was living in Falmouth, Nova Scotia. The land was called Coney Rock Hill, on the east side of Fenton's River. Vol.6 Pg. 521, 522.[vi]
- 20 Jun 1763. Amos sold to John Hanks some of the land he had purchased of Shubael Dimmock. Vol. 7 pg. 46, 47.[vii]
- 31 Oct 1765. Amos sold land to John Austin. Vol. 7 p. 185, 186.[viii]
- 4 Jan 1768. Amos sold land to John Hanks having to do with Coney Rock Hill. Vol. 7 pp. 302, 303.[ix]
- 30 Aug 1768. Amos sold land to John Hovey having to do with Coney Rock Hill and the land he purchased of "my Father in law Shubael Dimock". Vol. 7 pp. 371,372.[x]
- 29 Feb 1769. Amos purchased the land his sister-in-law, Lydia Fuller Marsh, had received from her grandfather. Jacob and Lydia were living in "Shaftsbury, Albany, New York", and Amos was still in Mansfield. The deed was delivered to Mansfield by a John Macombe, Esquire, one of "His Majesty's Justices of the Peace" for the city and county of Albany. Vol. 7 pp. 408, 409.[xi]
- 15 Sep 1772. Amos sold the land to Abbe Gideon that he purchased from Lydia Fuller Marsh. Bk. 8 pg. 107.[xii] Some of the writing on the deed is interesting for the history it shows, "I, Amos Marsh of Durham in the County of Albany in the Province of New York, gentleman...and is signed by Jacob Marsh, Justice of the Peace for the county of Albany, province of New York.
When the brothers, Jacob and Amos Marsh, first went to Clarendon, they had two nephews with them by the name of Daniel and William Marsh.[xvi] Those two names were used often in this early Marsh family, and sometimes it is hard to decide who is being referred to. Amos' son, Daniel, was not born until about 1766-70, so he is not the early Daniel referred to in the internet histories that was accused of siding for a time with Britain in the Revolution, but was later accepted back as a citizen in Clarendon. That Daniel's history can be found on this same website.
There was some type of document or petition dated 5 Dec 1770 in the New York Library vol. #27, p. 132, having to do with the early town of Socialborough. It recorded how many children were in each family, and Amos Marsh's family had six at that date.[xvii]
Amos was soon drawn into the land disputes in Clarendon as his land was put first into one jurisdiction and then another. Jacob Marsh, Amos' brother, sided with the New Yorkers, which became a focus of conflict with Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys. (See notes for Daniel the nephew on this site.) Amos sided with the New Hampshire Grant, through whom he had purchased his land. The following document is on file with the Vermont Secretary of State, Manuscript Division, and contains Amos' actual signature:
"To the Kings Most Excellent Majesty In Council"
The humble petition of your majesty's loyal, faithful, and obedient subjects whose only hope of relief from immediate distress and ruin with their helpless wives and children depends entirely on your majesty's consent, and paternal interposition, which unless your majesty shall be pleased to vouchsafe, they must suffer an inevitable ruin. Therefore they humbly pray to represent their unhappy state, hoping your majesty will be pleased to lend an ear while they briefly relate some few of the distressful circumstances of their present situation.
That they are inhabitants of your Majesty's land now, by your Majesty's order within the jurisdiction of your Majesty's government of New York, which at the time of the removal of the line of jurisdiction was unanimously esteemed to be in your Majesty's province of New Hampshire, except only by some interested persons in New York who have made large fortunes of those lands, and whose pretenses were totally unknown and which said tract is situate between the western banks of Connecticut River and a north line drawn at twenty miles eastern distance from Hudson's River, till it intersects the wood Creek, Lake Champlain,?. That by virtue of patents filed by Benning Wentworth Esq. late governor of your Majesty's said province of New Hampshire under the seal thereof and granted to your petitioners, whose names are interred on a schedule annexed to each respective grant, in full faith of the said Governors authority to grant the said lands, they have settled, cultivated, inhabited, and improved, and expended their whole fortunes and all their labor to this day on the premises aforesaid.
That it having pleased your majesty to remove the line of jurisdiction between the two provinces aforesaid your petitioners in due rightful obedience to your Majesty's command obeyed although their lying in the province of New York was and is forever will and must be highly detrimental and disagreeable to them both in their property and good government, all of which they judged your Majesty and ministers of state had been egregiously misinformed.
And also that those circumstances had been erroneously represented to your Majesty that since your Majesty's said order to annex the said district to New York, their possessions have been unexceptionably granted to other people under the great seal of New York, that writs of ejectment had been brought, their property wrested from them, their persons imprisoned, and their whole substance wasted in fruitless law suits, merely to the enrichment of a few men in said province of New York, whose great influence is the destruction of our hard, honestly earned property. That we were greatly industriously cultivating the Wilderness, orderly obeying every law, rejoicing in our safety under your Majesty's auspicious government, until by this invitation of our property by many who pretended your Majesty's authority therein, we are thrown into such evident distress, confusion, and dangerous disorder, as would touch your Royal breast with compassion, could our inexplicable misery be truly represented, and as that many of your good petitioners were soldiers in your Majesty's army in the late war in North America and were adding and assisting in the happy sweep thereof, whereby their lands were recovered from the enemy. That they have in all things and at all times been obedient to the laws of your Majesty's dominions, and ever obeyed your Majesty's royal command, that our misfortunes, interest, and lives were wholly directed? to your sacred person. They, therefore, humbly prostrate themselves and pray that your Majesty will be graciously pleased to preserve them from the impending evils by reannexing them to New Hampshire, to which province we are more contiguous for government, at least seventy miles to near four hundred, through three governments, and by confirming to them possessions, as held and enjoyed under the New Hampshire, and by giving such other relief as to your Majesty shall seem adequate and meet whereby your petitioners may again return to their labour the wilderness may be cultivated and your petitioners again rejoice in the serenity of lawful and good governments having exercised among them, under God we rely on your Majesty only for relief. We can have no hope from your Majesty's servants at New York, from whose apparitions our distresses have arisen as your Majesty's servants of New Hampshire having read our petition to them for relief declare their inability to take cognizance thereof, as the premises are by your Majesty's order in council, commanded to be within the province of New York, to your Majesty therefore we humbly look for compensating our distress. As your Majesty's petitioners in duty to loyalty bound shall ever pray - " Benjamin Spaulding, Mathew Herrington, Robert Stevens, Samuel Brown, Durtham Kingbury, Israel Brown, John Carpenter, Samuel Brown Jr., John Cury?, Jonas Richard, Joseph Pratt, Joseph Packhurst, William Hunter, Amos Marsh[xviii]
The Amos Marsh farm in Clarendon looking west towards Otter Creek
Photos special courtesy of Dawn Hance
Photos special courtesy of Dawn Hance
There were also letters written to Amos Marsh and the other citizens of Clarendon from Ethan Allen.[xix] Amos was able to retain his land in Clarendon, while Jacob lost his in the conflict.[xx] But the Revolution turned everyone's attention from the land disputes.
It is unclear as to what happened to Amos in the Revolution. There are sources that say that Amos fought for the American side before July of 1777, but those are for someone signing up in Connecticut or New York. It is a very good possibility that the Amos Marsh on those records was another Amos from the one in Vermont. There would have been no reason for Amos to join prior to July of 1777 and no reason for him to have joined in those places.
But in July of 1777, Amos and his son, Shubel, joined the Queen's Loyalist Rangers along with some of their neighbors in Clarendon.[xxi] It is not known why Amos did this. It may have been that he sided with the British, or it may have been that when he went for protection papers in order to be able to stay on his farm, he was encouraged to join this fighting group. (See history for Daniel, Amos' nephew, on this same website.) Amos lived on the frontier of Vermont, and when General Burgoyne with his 1000's started down through that area, those on the frontier were left with no protection or help from the colonists. It would have been a very difficult decision to know what to do.[xxii]
At this time, there is no evidence that Amos actually fought with the British or the Americans in any of the battles. One book says he fought in the Battle of Bennington, but it also says he was born in 1737, that he was born in Clarendon, Connecticut (where was that?) and he died at Bennington. That was not the Amos spoken of here! Some read the 1780 Queen's Loyalist List to say that Amos and his son were taken prisoner when they were on a scouting party.[xxiii] The prisoner entry may or may not be correct (sometimes officers doctored their records a bit to make their numbers look better than if they said desertion), and if Amos and Shubael were taken prisoners while with the British, they were taken prisoners by the Americans. It is on record that Amos took the Oath of a Freeman in Clarendon, but the occasion was not dated, so this could have been his son, Amos Marsh Jr.[xxiv] Shubel and Amos Sr. may have fought at the Battle of Bennington (for either side), and Shubel may have lost his life there, but no way of knowing has been found.
In the publication "The Life and Work of Jane Marsh Parker" from the Rochester Historical Society, the biography writer, Marcelle LeMenager Lane, opened by saying that Jane's "paternal great grandfather was Amos Marsh who "with his son Shubal" died during the Revolution "in the British quarters at Bennington." A footnote says, "From this entry in the family Bible, it had been assumed by his descendants that he was a Tory, and this supposition was the basis for Mrs. Parker's advocacy of a new type of patriotic-hereditary society to include only those who had ancestors on both sides of the Revolution. An article written in 1895 and a letter to her son, Force, in 1902 indicate, however, discovery by her that there may have been a misinterpretation of this statement and that Amos Marsh and his son may have been Yankee prisoners in the British quarters. With characteristic vigor and devotion to historic fact, Mrs. Parker has attempted to clear up this point in her family record. This writer finds that the National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, has approved claims for membership on the basis of descent from Amos Marsh, indicating that he was a Patriot, not a Tory."
In January of 1778, Amos' oxen were confiscated and sold for whatever part he took with the British.[xxv] This seems more of a hand slapping compared to the punishment for fighting as a Tory. Amos' land could have been confiscated and sold and his family driven out of Clarendon had he been a Tory. But an ox was a valuable animal at the time, so he did pay a price.
It is unclear as to what happened to Amos in the Revolution. There are sources that say that Amos fought for the American side before July of 1777, but those are for someone signing up in Connecticut or New York. It is a very good possibility that the Amos Marsh on those records was another Amos from the one in Vermont. There would have been no reason for Amos to join prior to July of 1777 and no reason for him to have joined in those places.
But in July of 1777, Amos and his son, Shubel, joined the Queen's Loyalist Rangers along with some of their neighbors in Clarendon.[xxi] It is not known why Amos did this. It may have been that he sided with the British, or it may have been that when he went for protection papers in order to be able to stay on his farm, he was encouraged to join this fighting group. (See history for Daniel, Amos' nephew, on this same website.) Amos lived on the frontier of Vermont, and when General Burgoyne with his 1000's started down through that area, those on the frontier were left with no protection or help from the colonists. It would have been a very difficult decision to know what to do.[xxii]
At this time, there is no evidence that Amos actually fought with the British or the Americans in any of the battles. One book says he fought in the Battle of Bennington, but it also says he was born in 1737, that he was born in Clarendon, Connecticut (where was that?) and he died at Bennington. That was not the Amos spoken of here! Some read the 1780 Queen's Loyalist List to say that Amos and his son were taken prisoner when they were on a scouting party.[xxiii] The prisoner entry may or may not be correct (sometimes officers doctored their records a bit to make their numbers look better than if they said desertion), and if Amos and Shubael were taken prisoners while with the British, they were taken prisoners by the Americans. It is on record that Amos took the Oath of a Freeman in Clarendon, but the occasion was not dated, so this could have been his son, Amos Marsh Jr.[xxiv] Shubel and Amos Sr. may have fought at the Battle of Bennington (for either side), and Shubel may have lost his life there, but no way of knowing has been found.
In the publication "The Life and Work of Jane Marsh Parker" from the Rochester Historical Society, the biography writer, Marcelle LeMenager Lane, opened by saying that Jane's "paternal great grandfather was Amos Marsh who "with his son Shubal" died during the Revolution "in the British quarters at Bennington." A footnote says, "From this entry in the family Bible, it had been assumed by his descendants that he was a Tory, and this supposition was the basis for Mrs. Parker's advocacy of a new type of patriotic-hereditary society to include only those who had ancestors on both sides of the Revolution. An article written in 1895 and a letter to her son, Force, in 1902 indicate, however, discovery by her that there may have been a misinterpretation of this statement and that Amos Marsh and his son may have been Yankee prisoners in the British quarters. With characteristic vigor and devotion to historic fact, Mrs. Parker has attempted to clear up this point in her family record. This writer finds that the National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, has approved claims for membership on the basis of descent from Amos Marsh, indicating that he was a Patriot, not a Tory."
In January of 1778, Amos' oxen were confiscated and sold for whatever part he took with the British.[xxv] This seems more of a hand slapping compared to the punishment for fighting as a Tory. Amos' land could have been confiscated and sold and his family driven out of Clarendon had he been a Tory. But an ox was a valuable animal at the time, so he did pay a price.
In April of 1778, Amos was paid for taking care of Tory families.[xxvi] This one document leaves no question that Amos deserted whatever interest or part he had in the British cause and returned to his farm. There is NO way that he would have been paid for this service had he been true to the British. Dawn Hance said that Amos and Samuel Place, whose farm was just north of Amos', were likely caring for the Brayton family, who lived just south of Amos, while Mr. Brayton was off fighting for the British. Samuel Place, who received money for caring for Tory families on the same document that Amos did, also signed up for the Queen's Loyalist Rangers with Amos, and he also did not have his land confiscated. Mr. Brayton did. This same document shows Amos did not die in the Battle of Bennington. He left us his signature to show he was alive and well in April of 1778.
Amos died 15 September, 1778. His probate gave the date. Abigail started probate proceedings in January of 1779.[xxvii] Later that year, the Brayton farm was confiscated and sold, and as part of the deed, Amos' land was described as bounding the Brayton farm. Amos was named as deceased.[xxviii]
Amos bought land from his brother, Jacob, in 1774. For some reason, that deed was never recorded, and in order to settle the estate, the family had to make a trip to Saratoga, New York where Jacob's family was, in order to get a copy of the deed. This trip was mentioned in the probate proceedings, and it was billed as an expense.[xxix]
Amos' wife, Abigail Dimmock Marsh, married Ebenezer Hayward or Howard after Amos' death.[xxx]
On the 10th of May 1790, Amos and Abigail’s children, Lemuel, Lydia, and Israel were still under age with guardians.[xxxi]
Dawn Hance gave this description of Amos' farm in Clarendon. "This farm is located on the Middle Road in Clarendon not far from Rutland line. On the 1869 map, it belongs to J.A. Nelson. Jacob Marsh sold lot number 6 on the Socialborough plan to his brother, Amos Marsh, in 1774. This hundred acre lot, bounded on the west by Otter Creek, was the home farm of Amos Marsh at his death in 1778. His widow, Abigail, married Ebenezer Howard, who sold the premises to Reuben Pitcher (no deed). Reuben Pitcher sold to Ebenezer Pitcher 12 Mar 1786, Bk. 4 pg. 5. In that deed, it says, "...the farm I bought of Ebenezer Howard...","same farm Amos Marsh died seized." In January of 1791, the legislature passed property from Ebenezer and Ebenezer Pitcher Jr. Most of the Marsh heirs and the Pitchers had conveyed their interest to Daniel Marsh by 1798. The land was later owned by Jonathan Parker Jr., and the lot north of it which was lot 7 on the Socialborough plan."[xxxii]
Dawn Hance later found where Daniel Marsh took the Pitchers to court. The case was first heard on the county level, and Daniel won that case in behalf of Lemuel, Lydia, and Israel for whom he served as guardian; however, the Pitchers did not vacate the land according to the court order, and Daniel took the case to the Supreme Court of Vermont where he won also.[xxxiii]
Ebenezer Howard was dead by Feb 1795 when Abigail sold her portion of Amos' estate.[xxxiv] She may have been living in her son's (William’s) home in Shrewsbury in 1800; there was a woman the right age to be her.[xxxv] She did not marry again before William's death in 1813, as his probate showed he owed Abigail Howard about $25.00.[xxxvi] Abigail was found living about seven doors from her son, Amos, in the 1820 census of Weybridge, Addison, Vermont,[xxxvii] and in the 1830 census, there was a woman in Israel's home the right age to be his mother.[xxxviii] Abigail likely died in Addison County, Vermont. Her death was not recorded in the Vermont vitals.
Known information about Amos' children:
Amos died 15 September, 1778. His probate gave the date. Abigail started probate proceedings in January of 1779.[xxvii] Later that year, the Brayton farm was confiscated and sold, and as part of the deed, Amos' land was described as bounding the Brayton farm. Amos was named as deceased.[xxviii]
Amos bought land from his brother, Jacob, in 1774. For some reason, that deed was never recorded, and in order to settle the estate, the family had to make a trip to Saratoga, New York where Jacob's family was, in order to get a copy of the deed. This trip was mentioned in the probate proceedings, and it was billed as an expense.[xxix]
Amos' wife, Abigail Dimmock Marsh, married Ebenezer Hayward or Howard after Amos' death.[xxx]
On the 10th of May 1790, Amos and Abigail’s children, Lemuel, Lydia, and Israel were still under age with guardians.[xxxi]
Dawn Hance gave this description of Amos' farm in Clarendon. "This farm is located on the Middle Road in Clarendon not far from Rutland line. On the 1869 map, it belongs to J.A. Nelson. Jacob Marsh sold lot number 6 on the Socialborough plan to his brother, Amos Marsh, in 1774. This hundred acre lot, bounded on the west by Otter Creek, was the home farm of Amos Marsh at his death in 1778. His widow, Abigail, married Ebenezer Howard, who sold the premises to Reuben Pitcher (no deed). Reuben Pitcher sold to Ebenezer Pitcher 12 Mar 1786, Bk. 4 pg. 5. In that deed, it says, "...the farm I bought of Ebenezer Howard...","same farm Amos Marsh died seized." In January of 1791, the legislature passed property from Ebenezer and Ebenezer Pitcher Jr. Most of the Marsh heirs and the Pitchers had conveyed their interest to Daniel Marsh by 1798. The land was later owned by Jonathan Parker Jr., and the lot north of it which was lot 7 on the Socialborough plan."[xxxii]
Dawn Hance later found where Daniel Marsh took the Pitchers to court. The case was first heard on the county level, and Daniel won that case in behalf of Lemuel, Lydia, and Israel for whom he served as guardian; however, the Pitchers did not vacate the land according to the court order, and Daniel took the case to the Supreme Court of Vermont where he won also.[xxxiii]
Ebenezer Howard was dead by Feb 1795 when Abigail sold her portion of Amos' estate.[xxxiv] She may have been living in her son's (William’s) home in Shrewsbury in 1800; there was a woman the right age to be her.[xxxv] She did not marry again before William's death in 1813, as his probate showed he owed Abigail Howard about $25.00.[xxxvi] Abigail was found living about seven doors from her son, Amos, in the 1820 census of Weybridge, Addison, Vermont,[xxxvii] and in the 1830 census, there was a woman in Israel's home the right age to be his mother.[xxxviii] Abigail likely died in Addison County, Vermont. Her death was not recorded in the Vermont vitals.
Known information about Amos' children:
- Shubael Marsh b. 17 Oct 1760 in Mansfield. He signed on with the Queen's Loyalist Rangers with his father. He was dead before his father's probate.
- Eunice Marsh b. 22 Apr 1762 in Mansfield. She married Moses Powers, whose father was in Clarendon in 1776 overseeing the building of a military road.
- William Marsh b. 17 Apr 1764 in Mansfield. A complete history of him is on this same website.
- Amos Marsh born 2 Aug 1767 in Mansfield. The birth was not recorded in Mansfield but was found in other records. A complete history of him is also on this website.
- Daniel Marsh born at Mansfield. He may have been born before Amos Jr. Daniel's nephew, also named Daniel Marsh, engineer, of Rochester New York, son of Amos Jr., wrote in a letter to Jane Marsh Parker that his Uncle Daniel left home and was never heard from again. Daniel did sell his portion of his father's estate in Clarendon, and exhaustive searches for him in the census records have not turned up anymore. For a while, it was thought that Daniel was in Saratoga, New York, but it was later found that Daniel was born too early to be the one spoken of here.
- Lemuel Marsh born abt. 1770, location unknown. A complete history of him is in this same document. One interesting note, however, is that deeds were found for all the other children selling their portion of their father's estate, but there was no deed found for Lemuel. Whether he gave it to his mother and she sold it or what is not known.
- Lydia Marsh born about 1774 in Clarendon, Vermont. Lydia married Calvin Miller in 1806; she may have met him in Shrewsbury while caring for her brother William's children after the death of his wife. No known children.
- Israel Marsh b. 24 Feb 1777; date is from his Bible. He married 17 Oct 1799 in Addison County Vermont, Phebe Squires. Their children were Abigail, Hiram P., Clarissa, Philomelia, Nathan, Joseph Dimic, an infant daughter, and Alonzo Marsh. Israel died 10 Sep 1856 in Weybridge, Addison, Vermont, and he was buried in West Cemetery, New Haven, Vermont. Phebe died 22 Jan 1857 also in Weybridge, and she was buried in the same cemetery. [xxxix]
Otter Creek looking east to the Amos Marsh, Brayton, and Warner farms.
The east side of the bridge on the far right is the south line of the David Warner farm.
Photos special courtesy of Dawn D. Hance
The east side of the bridge on the far right is the south line of the David Warner farm.
Photos special courtesy of Dawn D. Hance
[i] Connecticut Probate Court (Windham District), Probate records v. 1-2, 1719-1744, pgs. 481-483.
[ii] Ibid.
[iii] Mansfield, Tolland, Connecticut deeds v. 4-5 1741-1756, FHL #4868, v. 5 pg. 712.
[iv] Mansfield, Tolland, Connecticut deeds v. 6-7 1756-1770, FHL #4869, v. 6 pp. 93-94.
[v] Mansfield, Tolland, Connecticut deeds v. 6-7 1756-1770, FHL #4869, v. 6 pp. 354,355.
[vi] Mansfield, Tolland, Connecticut deeds v. 6-7 1756-1770, FHL #4869, v. 6 pg. 521.
[vii] Mansfield, Tolland, Connecticut deeds v. 6-7 1756-1770, FHL #4869, v. 7 pg. 46.
[viii] Mansfield, Tolland, Connecticut deeds v. 6-7 1756-1770, FHL #4869, v. 7 pg. 185,186.
[ix] Mansfield, Tolland, Connecticut deeds v. 6-7 1756-1770, FHL #4869, v. 7 pg. 302,303.
[x] Mansfield, Tolland, Connecticut deeds v. 6-7 1756-1770, FHL #4869, v. 7 pp. 371,372.
[xi] Mansfield, Tolland, Connecticut deeds v. 6-7 1756-1770, FHL #4869, v. 7 pp. 408,409.
[xii] Mansfield, Tolland, Connecticut deeds v. 8-9 1770-1783, FHL #4870, v. 8 pg. 107.
[xiii] Mansfield Connecticut Records, FHL #974.643/M1 V2d, marriages p. 263; record also gives the name of Abigail’s
Father.
[xiv] Mansfield Connecticut Records, FHL #974.643/M1 V2d, births pg. 63.
[xv] Barnett, James H. and Esther D., “On the Trail of a Legend”, Mansfield Historical Society, P.O. Box 145/ Storrs,
Connecticut 06268.
[xvi] Socialborough, http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~vermont/RutlandClarendon.html.
[xvii] Reference from Dawn D. Hance.
[xviii] Vermont Secretary of State, manuscript division, 1078 US Route 2 – Middlesex, Montpelier,
Vermont, 05633- 7701, (802-828-3700) or look up Vermont Office of the Secretary of State, on-line.
[xix] For example, Hall, Henry, Ethan Allen: The Robin Hood of Vermont, (New York, D. Appleton and Company
1895) p. 40, books.google.com
[xx] Socialborough, http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~vermont/RutlandClarendon.html.
[xxi] Info from Dawn D. Hance
[xxii] Ibid.
[xxiii] Amos and Shubel Marsh, MG 13, Great Britain. War Office 28, Headquarters Records, vol. 10 pt.2 pg. 262, 4 Dec
1780. Library and Archives Canada www.collectionscanada.ca/index-e.html. (613) 996-5115 or 1 866 578-7777
(toll free number in Canada and the U.S.)
[xxiv] Dawn D. Hance
[xxv] Dawn D. Hance; also Vermont Secretary of State, manuscript division, 1078 US Route 2 – Middlesex, Montpelier,
Vermont, 05633- 7701, (802-828-3700) or look up Vermont Office of the Secretary of State, on-line.
[xxvi] Ibid.
[xxvii] Amos Marsh probate, #79, Rutland Co. Probate Office, 83 Center Street, Rutland, Vermont, 05701; (802) 775-
0114.
[xxviii] Dawn D. Hance. Document cited in Vermont State Papers book.
[xxix] Ibid.
[xxx] Rutland, Rutland, Vermont land records, v. 5-7, 1795-1810, Bk. 6 pg. 467, FHL #28772. Abigail Howard,“widow
of Ebenezer Howard” sold to Daniel Marsh “claim that I have or ever had to Dower and Power of thirds to the
farm formerly owned by my late husband Amos Marsh late of said Clarendon”.
[xxxi] Amos Marsh probate, #79, Rutland Co. Probate Office, 83 Center Street, Rutland, Vermont, 05701; (802) 775-
0114.
[xxxii] Correspondence with Dawn D. Hance on file with the author.
[xxxiii] Ibid.
[xxxiv] Rutland, Rutland, Vermont land records, v. 5-7, 1795-1810, Bk. 6 pg. 467, FHL #28772. Abigail Howard,“widow
of Ebenezer Howard” sold to Daniel Marsh “claim that I have or ever had to Dower and Power of thirds to the
farm formerly owned by my late husband Amos Marsh late of said Clarendon”.
[xxxv] 1800 U.S. census, Shrewsbury, Rutland, Vermont, William Marsh.
[xxxvi] Info from Dawn D. Hance; see section for William Marsh in this document.
[xxxvii] 1820 U.S. census, Weybridge, Addison, Vermont, Abigail Howard.
[xxxviii] 1830 U.S. census, Weybridge, Addison, Vermont, Israel Marsh.
[xxxix] Amos Marsh probate, #79, Rutland Co. Probate Office, 83 Center Street, Rutland, Vermont, 05701; (802) 775-
0114.
[ii] Ibid.
[iii] Mansfield, Tolland, Connecticut deeds v. 4-5 1741-1756, FHL #4868, v. 5 pg. 712.
[iv] Mansfield, Tolland, Connecticut deeds v. 6-7 1756-1770, FHL #4869, v. 6 pp. 93-94.
[v] Mansfield, Tolland, Connecticut deeds v. 6-7 1756-1770, FHL #4869, v. 6 pp. 354,355.
[vi] Mansfield, Tolland, Connecticut deeds v. 6-7 1756-1770, FHL #4869, v. 6 pg. 521.
[vii] Mansfield, Tolland, Connecticut deeds v. 6-7 1756-1770, FHL #4869, v. 7 pg. 46.
[viii] Mansfield, Tolland, Connecticut deeds v. 6-7 1756-1770, FHL #4869, v. 7 pg. 185,186.
[ix] Mansfield, Tolland, Connecticut deeds v. 6-7 1756-1770, FHL #4869, v. 7 pg. 302,303.
[x] Mansfield, Tolland, Connecticut deeds v. 6-7 1756-1770, FHL #4869, v. 7 pp. 371,372.
[xi] Mansfield, Tolland, Connecticut deeds v. 6-7 1756-1770, FHL #4869, v. 7 pp. 408,409.
[xii] Mansfield, Tolland, Connecticut deeds v. 8-9 1770-1783, FHL #4870, v. 8 pg. 107.
[xiii] Mansfield Connecticut Records, FHL #974.643/M1 V2d, marriages p. 263; record also gives the name of Abigail’s
Father.
[xiv] Mansfield Connecticut Records, FHL #974.643/M1 V2d, births pg. 63.
[xv] Barnett, James H. and Esther D., “On the Trail of a Legend”, Mansfield Historical Society, P.O. Box 145/ Storrs,
Connecticut 06268.
[xvi] Socialborough, http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~vermont/RutlandClarendon.html.
[xvii] Reference from Dawn D. Hance.
[xviii] Vermont Secretary of State, manuscript division, 1078 US Route 2 – Middlesex, Montpelier,
Vermont, 05633- 7701, (802-828-3700) or look up Vermont Office of the Secretary of State, on-line.
[xix] For example, Hall, Henry, Ethan Allen: The Robin Hood of Vermont, (New York, D. Appleton and Company
1895) p. 40, books.google.com
[xx] Socialborough, http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~vermont/RutlandClarendon.html.
[xxi] Info from Dawn D. Hance
[xxii] Ibid.
[xxiii] Amos and Shubel Marsh, MG 13, Great Britain. War Office 28, Headquarters Records, vol. 10 pt.2 pg. 262, 4 Dec
1780. Library and Archives Canada www.collectionscanada.ca/index-e.html. (613) 996-5115 or 1 866 578-7777
(toll free number in Canada and the U.S.)
[xxiv] Dawn D. Hance
[xxv] Dawn D. Hance; also Vermont Secretary of State, manuscript division, 1078 US Route 2 – Middlesex, Montpelier,
Vermont, 05633- 7701, (802-828-3700) or look up Vermont Office of the Secretary of State, on-line.
[xxvi] Ibid.
[xxvii] Amos Marsh probate, #79, Rutland Co. Probate Office, 83 Center Street, Rutland, Vermont, 05701; (802) 775-
0114.
[xxviii] Dawn D. Hance. Document cited in Vermont State Papers book.
[xxix] Ibid.
[xxx] Rutland, Rutland, Vermont land records, v. 5-7, 1795-1810, Bk. 6 pg. 467, FHL #28772. Abigail Howard,“widow
of Ebenezer Howard” sold to Daniel Marsh “claim that I have or ever had to Dower and Power of thirds to the
farm formerly owned by my late husband Amos Marsh late of said Clarendon”.
[xxxi] Amos Marsh probate, #79, Rutland Co. Probate Office, 83 Center Street, Rutland, Vermont, 05701; (802) 775-
0114.
[xxxii] Correspondence with Dawn D. Hance on file with the author.
[xxxiii] Ibid.
[xxxiv] Rutland, Rutland, Vermont land records, v. 5-7, 1795-1810, Bk. 6 pg. 467, FHL #28772. Abigail Howard,“widow
of Ebenezer Howard” sold to Daniel Marsh “claim that I have or ever had to Dower and Power of thirds to the
farm formerly owned by my late husband Amos Marsh late of said Clarendon”.
[xxxv] 1800 U.S. census, Shrewsbury, Rutland, Vermont, William Marsh.
[xxxvi] Info from Dawn D. Hance; see section for William Marsh in this document.
[xxxvii] 1820 U.S. census, Weybridge, Addison, Vermont, Abigail Howard.
[xxxviii] 1830 U.S. census, Weybridge, Addison, Vermont, Israel Marsh.
[xxxix] Amos Marsh probate, #79, Rutland Co. Probate Office, 83 Center Street, Rutland, Vermont, 05701; (802) 775-
0114.