His Uncle Hollis Marsh
Hollis was born January 3rd, 1808, in St. Albans, Franklin, Vermont.[i]
He was Justice of the Peace in 1836 in Randolph.[ii]
His will from Cattaraugus County was probated 30 January 1838.
"The last Will and Testament of Hollis Marsh of the town of Randolph in the county of Cattaraugus.
“I, Hollis Marsh, aged twenty-nine years and upwards, being desirous to discharge the duty which every man owes to his family by making such provision for the distribution of my property as shall be just and proper, do make, publish, and declare this my last will and testament as follows.
“First, I direct that the expenses of my last sickness and of my funeral shall be paid in preference to any devise or legacy herein contained. Second I give and devise all my property, real and personal, to my wife, Polly, with power to sell, alienate, and convey the whole or any part thereof in any manner she may deem proper, provided, however, that if she should be the mother of a child, a legal heir to my estate, then and in that case, I direct the child shall have its support from my property, and if it outlives the said Polly, that the property or estate remaining at the time of her death shall belong to it, its heirs and assigns forever.
“Third, I direct that if they should both die leaving no legal heirs of mine, then and in that case the property, if any remain, be divided as it would be if this will were not made.
“Lastly, I appoint my wife, Polly, and her father, Joel Scudder, executors of this my last Will and Testament.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this twenty fifth day of April, 1837." Hollis Marsh
The witnesses were Ira Smith, and A.G. Bush of Randolph, the latter being a business partner of Hollis'.[iii]
Hollis died 2 May 1837 and was buried in the Randolph Rural Cemetery.[iv]
“Hollis MARSH, son of Hollis and Polly (SCUDDER) MARSH, was born in Kiantone, NY Aug. 30, 1837. This branch of the MARSH family is of Welsh origin and is descended from three brothers, one of whom settled in Maine, one in NH, and the other, the great-grandfather of Hollis, second, in Vermont. His grandfather, Joseph Marsh, came from Vermont and settled at the forks, the confluence of the Little Conewango with Conewango Creek, about 1830. He was a farmer. Sometime in the forties, he removed to Michigan, where he died. Hollis married Polly Scudder, taught school, and later engaged in merchandising in Randolph in company with A. G. Bush. He died of pneumonia in May 1837. Hollis Marsh, his son, born after his father's death, was a farmer, and in Oct. 1861 enlisted in Co. E, 9th Cav. at Washington he was ill with pneumonia, was in the hospital, and was discharged an invalid. Dec. 15, 1858, he married Ellen M. Coy of Randolph. The last has been secretary and superintendent of Randolph Cemetery. They have a son and a daughter.”[v] Later census records show two sons, Willie and Ward, and their daughter was named Corinth.[vi]
While it is evident that Hollis Jr. knew his Grandfather Marsh and other family members from the following letter, he evidently did not know that his grandfather’s name was Lemuel or the origin of his Marsh ancestors when the history for the book was written. Jane Marsh Parker of Rochester, New York, daughter of Hollis’ brother, Joseph, wrote to Hollis Jr. of Randolph, New York, about genealogy. This is the answer she received.
"So you will see that I ought to know something about it. Unkle Josiah and another unkle died several years previous, I think his name was Joseph, to my father's death. They are all buried side by side in the Cemetery here on a lot which I now own. Granfather, Granmother, Unkle William, Unkle Julius & their families moved from here to Michigan when I was about eight or nine years old. At that time, I lived with my Mother and StepFather acrost the road from them. I have not heard from them since but once, that was about 2 years ago I received a letter from Unkle Julius which I answered, have not heard from them since. Granfather and Granmother were both dead then. Please write to me & let me know which one of my Unkles was your Father, & do you know any thing of the former history of Granfather. Where he moved from when he came here. I have wanted for a long time to learn something of my ancesters. Hoping to hear from you soon I subscribe my name as your Cousin Hollis Marsh, NY."[vii]
Hollis Sr.’s widow, Polly Scudder Marsh, later married Nathan Sears.[viii] Nathan purchased part of lot 33 from Polly's former brother-in-law, William Marsh, in 1843, before William left for Michigan with his father, Lemuel, in his wagon.[ix] The land that was deeded to Hollis Jr. from Hollis Sr. formed the southern boundary of part of lot 33, and it was probably a piece of Lemuel's land originally. The deeded land from the above will is mentioned both in the writing of the deed in 1843, and in a map drawn on the deed. It is also drawn on the sale of the part of lot 33 from William to Nathan. The map was shown on all the paper work because part of the lot was tied up in probate. Nathan sold lot 33 in 1849[x], but he did not sell the land deeded from the will. Nathan and Polly moved on, but Hollis Jr. was left in the care of his maternal grandfather when he was just a boy to inherit the land that was left to him in his father's will. He was living with his grandfather, Joel Scudder, in the 1850 census.[xi]
There is a family Bible for Hollis Marsh Jr. and his wife, Ellen Coy. A woman wrote about the contents over Rootsweb.[xii] There was an article pressed in it about the deaths of Hollis Marsh and Ellen M. Marsh "who were respectively called from this life on May 6th and April 25th, A.D. 1911". There were only two children listed as surviving. As Corinth and William were still living, it must have been Ward that was deceased.
Hollis Jr. and Ellen were buried in the Randolph Rural Cemetery.[xiii]
He was Justice of the Peace in 1836 in Randolph.[ii]
His will from Cattaraugus County was probated 30 January 1838.
"The last Will and Testament of Hollis Marsh of the town of Randolph in the county of Cattaraugus.
“I, Hollis Marsh, aged twenty-nine years and upwards, being desirous to discharge the duty which every man owes to his family by making such provision for the distribution of my property as shall be just and proper, do make, publish, and declare this my last will and testament as follows.
“First, I direct that the expenses of my last sickness and of my funeral shall be paid in preference to any devise or legacy herein contained. Second I give and devise all my property, real and personal, to my wife, Polly, with power to sell, alienate, and convey the whole or any part thereof in any manner she may deem proper, provided, however, that if she should be the mother of a child, a legal heir to my estate, then and in that case, I direct the child shall have its support from my property, and if it outlives the said Polly, that the property or estate remaining at the time of her death shall belong to it, its heirs and assigns forever.
“Third, I direct that if they should both die leaving no legal heirs of mine, then and in that case the property, if any remain, be divided as it would be if this will were not made.
“Lastly, I appoint my wife, Polly, and her father, Joel Scudder, executors of this my last Will and Testament.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this twenty fifth day of April, 1837." Hollis Marsh
The witnesses were Ira Smith, and A.G. Bush of Randolph, the latter being a business partner of Hollis'.[iii]
Hollis died 2 May 1837 and was buried in the Randolph Rural Cemetery.[iv]
“Hollis MARSH, son of Hollis and Polly (SCUDDER) MARSH, was born in Kiantone, NY Aug. 30, 1837. This branch of the MARSH family is of Welsh origin and is descended from three brothers, one of whom settled in Maine, one in NH, and the other, the great-grandfather of Hollis, second, in Vermont. His grandfather, Joseph Marsh, came from Vermont and settled at the forks, the confluence of the Little Conewango with Conewango Creek, about 1830. He was a farmer. Sometime in the forties, he removed to Michigan, where he died. Hollis married Polly Scudder, taught school, and later engaged in merchandising in Randolph in company with A. G. Bush. He died of pneumonia in May 1837. Hollis Marsh, his son, born after his father's death, was a farmer, and in Oct. 1861 enlisted in Co. E, 9th Cav. at Washington he was ill with pneumonia, was in the hospital, and was discharged an invalid. Dec. 15, 1858, he married Ellen M. Coy of Randolph. The last has been secretary and superintendent of Randolph Cemetery. They have a son and a daughter.”[v] Later census records show two sons, Willie and Ward, and their daughter was named Corinth.[vi]
While it is evident that Hollis Jr. knew his Grandfather Marsh and other family members from the following letter, he evidently did not know that his grandfather’s name was Lemuel or the origin of his Marsh ancestors when the history for the book was written. Jane Marsh Parker of Rochester, New York, daughter of Hollis’ brother, Joseph, wrote to Hollis Jr. of Randolph, New York, about genealogy. This is the answer she received.
"So you will see that I ought to know something about it. Unkle Josiah and another unkle died several years previous, I think his name was Joseph, to my father's death. They are all buried side by side in the Cemetery here on a lot which I now own. Granfather, Granmother, Unkle William, Unkle Julius & their families moved from here to Michigan when I was about eight or nine years old. At that time, I lived with my Mother and StepFather acrost the road from them. I have not heard from them since but once, that was about 2 years ago I received a letter from Unkle Julius which I answered, have not heard from them since. Granfather and Granmother were both dead then. Please write to me & let me know which one of my Unkles was your Father, & do you know any thing of the former history of Granfather. Where he moved from when he came here. I have wanted for a long time to learn something of my ancesters. Hoping to hear from you soon I subscribe my name as your Cousin Hollis Marsh, NY."[vii]
Hollis Sr.’s widow, Polly Scudder Marsh, later married Nathan Sears.[viii] Nathan purchased part of lot 33 from Polly's former brother-in-law, William Marsh, in 1843, before William left for Michigan with his father, Lemuel, in his wagon.[ix] The land that was deeded to Hollis Jr. from Hollis Sr. formed the southern boundary of part of lot 33, and it was probably a piece of Lemuel's land originally. The deeded land from the above will is mentioned both in the writing of the deed in 1843, and in a map drawn on the deed. It is also drawn on the sale of the part of lot 33 from William to Nathan. The map was shown on all the paper work because part of the lot was tied up in probate. Nathan sold lot 33 in 1849[x], but he did not sell the land deeded from the will. Nathan and Polly moved on, but Hollis Jr. was left in the care of his maternal grandfather when he was just a boy to inherit the land that was left to him in his father's will. He was living with his grandfather, Joel Scudder, in the 1850 census.[xi]
There is a family Bible for Hollis Marsh Jr. and his wife, Ellen Coy. A woman wrote about the contents over Rootsweb.[xii] There was an article pressed in it about the deaths of Hollis Marsh and Ellen M. Marsh "who were respectively called from this life on May 6th and April 25th, A.D. 1911". There were only two children listed as surviving. As Corinth and William were still living, it must have been Ward that was deceased.
Hollis Jr. and Ellen were buried in the Randolph Rural Cemetery.[xiii]
Photos courtesy of Alex Shipherd
There were Christmas cards in the Bible from a Burt Carpenter, an Elva Carpenter, and a newspaper clipping about a Mabel Carpenter. It appears Hollis and Ellen's daughter, Corinth, married Burt Carpenter. The family was living in Charlotte, Chautauqua, New York in the 1900 census. Elva and Mabel were daughters, and so they were granddaughters to Hollis and Ellen.
Their son, William, was buried in 1916 in the lot previously owned by his father. There is no stone, but the cemetery record said he was 50, cause of death was suicide, and he was survived by his widow, Mrs. Josephine Marsh. The couple was found in the previous census records living in Salamanca, Cattaraugus, New York, and Josephine may or may not have been Josephine Madison, who was living in Salamanca as a child with her family. The 1900 census shows the couple was married for 13 years and had no children. William was a salesman at that time, and in 1910, he was a janitor in the Masonic Temple.
Their son, William, was buried in 1916 in the lot previously owned by his father. There is no stone, but the cemetery record said he was 50, cause of death was suicide, and he was survived by his widow, Mrs. Josephine Marsh. The couple was found in the previous census records living in Salamanca, Cattaraugus, New York, and Josephine may or may not have been Josephine Madison, who was living in Salamanca as a child with her family. The 1900 census shows the couple was married for 13 years and had no children. William was a salesman at that time, and in 1910, he was a janitor in the Masonic Temple.
Scott C. Marsh at the graves of Hollis Sr. and Lemuel Lucius, his 3rd g uncles, and the grave of Josiah Marsh, his 3rd g grandfather. .
With gratitude and love to Scott C. and Mary B. Marsh
for the stones to mark and honor the graves of Hollis, Josiah, and Lemuel
in the Randolph Cemetery.
[i] Correspondence with St. Albans record office, P.O. Box 867, St. Albans, Vermont, 05478- 0867.
[ii] U. S. Genweb, Cattaraugus County, New York, name spelled Hillis Marsh, The History of Cattaraugus County, New
York, Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, (Philadelphia:
L.H. Everts, 1879.
[iii] Cattaraugus County, New York probate records, v. 1-3 1830-1864, v.1, pp. 26, 34 FHL #585,022.
[iv] Randolph Rural Cemetery Records, www.paintedhills.org.
[v] Cattaraugus, New York Genweb, Historical Gazeteer and Biographical Memorial of Cattaraugus County, NY, ed.,
William Adams, (1893) “History of the Town of Randolph – Chapter XLIV (44).
[vi] 1870, 1880 U.S. census records for Hollis’ family, Randolph, Cattaraugus, New York, 1875 New York census, same
place.
[vii] Hollis Marsh Jr. letter to Jane Marsh Parker, on file with the author, courtesy of Sheron Long.
[viii] See FamilySearch.org for the death record of Mrs. Josephine C. Armstrong – parents shown are Nathan L. Sears
and Polly M. Scudder; see also Ruby H. Sears on same site; also shown on the legal documents in this section.
[ix] Cattaraugus County, New York deeds, William Marsh and wife to Nathan and Polly Sears, 1843; deeds 1842-1848
vol. 15-16, FHL #580617 vol 15. pg. 404.
[x] Cattaraugus County, New York deeds, Nathan Sears to George Van Campan, 1849; deeds 1849-1851 vol. 24-25,
FHL #580622, vol. 24 pg. 31.
[xi] 1850 U.S. census, Randolph, Cattaraugus, New York, Joel Scudder or Hollis Marsh Jr.
[xii] Family Bible, Hollis Marsh Jr. and Ellen Coy, Rootsweb description given by Tracy Copper, Chico, California.
[xiii] Randolph Rural Cemetery records, www.paintedhills.org.
[ii] U. S. Genweb, Cattaraugus County, New York, name spelled Hillis Marsh, The History of Cattaraugus County, New
York, Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, (Philadelphia:
L.H. Everts, 1879.
[iii] Cattaraugus County, New York probate records, v. 1-3 1830-1864, v.1, pp. 26, 34 FHL #585,022.
[iv] Randolph Rural Cemetery Records, www.paintedhills.org.
[v] Cattaraugus, New York Genweb, Historical Gazeteer and Biographical Memorial of Cattaraugus County, NY, ed.,
William Adams, (1893) “History of the Town of Randolph – Chapter XLIV (44).
[vi] 1870, 1880 U.S. census records for Hollis’ family, Randolph, Cattaraugus, New York, 1875 New York census, same
place.
[vii] Hollis Marsh Jr. letter to Jane Marsh Parker, on file with the author, courtesy of Sheron Long.
[viii] See FamilySearch.org for the death record of Mrs. Josephine C. Armstrong – parents shown are Nathan L. Sears
and Polly M. Scudder; see also Ruby H. Sears on same site; also shown on the legal documents in this section.
[ix] Cattaraugus County, New York deeds, William Marsh and wife to Nathan and Polly Sears, 1843; deeds 1842-1848
vol. 15-16, FHL #580617 vol 15. pg. 404.
[x] Cattaraugus County, New York deeds, Nathan Sears to George Van Campan, 1849; deeds 1849-1851 vol. 24-25,
FHL #580622, vol. 24 pg. 31.
[xi] 1850 U.S. census, Randolph, Cattaraugus, New York, Joel Scudder or Hollis Marsh Jr.
[xii] Family Bible, Hollis Marsh Jr. and Ellen Coy, Rootsweb description given by Tracy Copper, Chico, California.
[xiii] Randolph Rural Cemetery records, www.paintedhills.org.