Somehow, much of my grandmother's hand written and (badly) typed notes and research wound up in my possession. Traveling from Chicago to Los Angeles and back to Chicago again. It sat, in the dark of my mother's closet, until my dad passed and my mom decided to begin her great purge. Knowing I had picked up the torch, the next generation to pursue the Greatest Hobby on Earth, the papers came to live with me. Unsure for many years on just what to do with them, I have decided to bring them out and share them with you - transcribed, of course - no one can read my grandmother's handwriting! But in her own words; mistakes, rambling sentences, and all. I think she will be pleased her work and her writing are once again out in the light.
Rowley Family Story
~ the missing generations ~
I don't quite know what happened. My grandmother had all the key players to put this family together. She had the first immigrants and their descendants. She followed the correct sons (for our lineage) for two generations. Then she missed the connection. The link was broken. She picked up three generations later and was able to qualify for the DAR. With the wrong Patriot mind you, but it's not entirely her fault. The family was/is confusing, what with all the Moseses and Josephs and all. Let's see if I can set it straight this week so we can get back to her story next week.
She stopped with Moses, son of Moses who was son of Henry, the original immigrant. (See, too many Moseses). Moses II (b. 1654) married Mary (LNU) he may have married more than one Mary. There are three surnames floating around Fletcher, Throop and Crippen. I can't say for certain if any of them are correct. The birth dates of the children (if accurate) might hint at more than one wife. Moses and his family removed to Connecticut from Massachusetts around 1700. The children are as follows: (all born at Barnstable MA except Jonathan born at East Haddam CT)
- Mary b. 1677 d. 1755 m. Samuell Olmstead
- Moses III b. 1679 d. 1735 m. Martha Porter
- Ebeneezer b. UNK d. UNK (mentioned in father's will)
- Naomi b. 1685 d. 1764 m. Samuel Fuller
- Hannah b. UNK d. UNK (mentioned in father's will)
- Samuel b. 1688 d. 1767 m. Elizabeth Fuller
- John b. 1690 d. 1690 d. 1762 m. Deborah Fuller
- Mehitabel b. 1697 d. 1775 m. Henry Champion
- Jonathan b. 1704 d. 1772 m. Anne Fuller
Seems lots of Rowleys (or Rowlee) married Fullers - just to confuse us more! And perhaps my grandmother got confused at this point. Her original Patriot, Joseph Langrill Rowley (not our ancestor) descended from Moses III and Martha, there is a lot of genealogy with this (incorrect) downline. She should have followed John and Deborah - that leads to Joseph (no middle name) Rowley, our ancestor.
John Rowley (born at Barnstable MA) married Deborah Fuller, daughter of John Fuller and Mehitabel Rowley (see there's that Rowley/Fuller thing again!) in Colchester CT and had the following children: (all born Colchester CT)
- Patience b. 1717 d. UNK m. Richard Skinner
- Content b. 1718 d. UNK m. Isaac Kneeland
- Mindwell b. 1720 d. UNK m. Samuel Adams
- Joseph b. 1722 d. UNK m. Susannah LNU
- Sarah b. 1723 d. UNK m. Ebenezer Kneeland
- Deborah b. 1725 d. UNK m. Daniel Adams
- John Jr b. 1727 d. UNK m. Rebecca (Hurd) Brainard
- Seth b. 1730 d. 1751
John Rowley Jr, son of John Rowley and Deborah Fuller, married the widow Rebecca Brainard (maiden name Hurd) on September 4th 1752, in Colchester CT. According to the book "The genealogy of the Brainerd-Brainard family in America : 1649-1908" Rebecca had three children with her first husband; Abigail, James, and Ichabod Brainard, all born Connecticut. John and Rebecca had four children together, according to the above referenced book, also born in Connecticut. They are:
- Joseph b.1753 d. 1835
- Mindwell b. 1755 d. UNK
- Mary b. 1757 d. UNK m. Amos Miner
- Seth b. 1759 d. UNK
Joseph Rowley born 15 June 1753, married first Sibbie Fox in Berkshire MA and had at least the following children - born Massachusetts (family trees show up to 12 children for this couple - I have not found solid proof and as it was not my direct line I put it on the back burner, for now):
- Deborah b. 1774 d. 1860 m. Joseph Perkins
- Jirah b. 1775 d.1844 m. (1)Elizabeth Brace (2)Mary Olmstead Gray - widow
He married second Hannah Loveland (THIS is where my grandmother's research resumes) February 1784/5 in Ontario NY, and had at least the following children: (all born Ontario NY)
- Joseph Jr b. 1788 d. 1853 m. Anna Beach
- Lucy b. 1791 d. 1878 m. John Pullen
- Sylvia b. 1805 d. UNK m. Frederick A Hart
From a letter written to the Pension Office in 1903 from a descendant of Joseph's "Born in Colchester Conn 1752. Enlisted Oct 1775 in Revolutionary War and was in Col Simonds regiment with which he marched to Lake George thence to Ticonderoga. In 1776 he was in the same service under Col Ashley. During '78, '79 & '80 he frequently volunteered to go out on scouting service after Indians and Tories. Was injured in an accident. Died at Victor NY Dec 23 1835"
This family is particularly hard to sort out. I kept to my direct line with this post. There are children, I am sure, that aren't accounted for here. The Rowleys are a study unto themselves! As a matter of fact, I found this website as I was fact-checking. Bookmarked it for another day!
Next week we resume with my grandmother's research and notes.
........ to be continued ........
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©1980-82 Elizabeth Twining Potwin Thomas - private collection
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