Extracted From
Middletown Upper Houses
a history of the north society of Middletown, Ct.
from 1650 to 1800
with genealogical and biographical chapters
on early families.
Charles Collard Adams
New York: Grafton Press, 1908.
[transcribed by Liz Matthews]
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70 Stephen5 Ranney (Stephen4. Richard3, John2, Thomas1), bapt. Dec. 4, 1763, East Middletown; m. Jan. 15, 1789, Persis Crossley who d. Jan. 25, 1854, aged 85. He was a blacksmith. House in Portland. is in good condition. Died June 7, 1840. Children:
John, b. Apr. 13, 1792; d. Feb. 23, 1814. Persis, b. June 4, 1795; m. Mar. 21, 1813, Joseph Cole. She d. Nov. 23, 1862. He d. Dec. 18, 1867. Prudence, b. Nov. 27, 1797; m. Jan. 23, 1821, Gustave Field. of Southold N.J. She d. Mar. 27, 1877, in Portland, Conn. Stephen, b. Sept. 2, 1800; d. Sept. 5, 1814. William Crossley, b. June 27, 1803; m. Vienna Ames. He d. Apr. 14, 1879. She d. Apr. 27, 1891. Son William b. 1846; d. Dec. 2, 1871, unm. Mary, b. Jan. 19, 1806; m. Mar. 3, 1828, Wm. C. Lewis. She d. Jan. 23, 1876. He d. Sept. 25, 1875. Emily Stocking, b. Feb. 14, 1809; m. Nov. 26, 1830, Alanson Strickland. She d. Feb. 10, 1894. He d. July 31, 1888. Elizabeth Ann, b. Jan. 15, 1812; m. Oct. 23, 1832, Geo. Strickland. She d. Jan. 24, 1871. He d. Aug. 11, 1878. ___________________ 71 Joel5 Ranney (Stephen4, Richard3, John2, Thomas1), bapt. Oct. 29, 1775, Chatham, Ct.; m. Polly Buck, bapt. Mar. 17, 1778, Glastonbury, Ct., dau. of Samuel Buck and Hannah Wright. The land records name his purchases and sales of real estate. In 1818 he and his son Joel were recorded as members of the Episcopal Society of Chatham, now Portland, Ct. In 1817 he went to Plain Township, Franklin Co., 0. (See Appendix.) Child:
___________________ 72 Hannah5 Ranney (Abner4, Richard3, John2, Thomas1), b. Apr. 9, 1779, Blandford, Mass.; d. Oct. 11, 1860, Vernon, N.Y.; m. (1) July 1, 1800, Henry Knox, b. Feb. 19, 1775; d. July 4, 1820, Augusta, N.Y.; m. (2) Joel Baker. Children:
Henry, b. June 21, 1802; d. Oct. 22, 1883; m. Jane Davis. 162 Alanson Ranney, b. Aug. 7, 1804. Marshall, b. Apr. 9, 1806; d. June 9, 1888; m. Eliza Percival. Lovisa, b. Oct. 27, 1808. Rachel Melissa, b. June 21, 1811; d. Apr. 3, 1872; m. (1) Jacob Becker; (2) John Lyman Jacobs. Sarah A., b. May 14, 1816. Nancy Emeline, b. Apr. 10, 1819; d. Mar. 8, 1849; m. Dec., 1838, Samuel Coe Ellingwood. ___________________ 73 Lovisa5 Ranney (Abner4, Richard3, John2, Thomas1), b. Nov. 18, 1780, Blandford, Mass.; m. abt. 1802, Samuel Allen, b. May 20, 1776; d. Aug. 2, 1847, Augusta, N.Y. She d. June 7, 1870, Augusta, N.Y. Child:
Ira L. Lorenzo H. Emeline A. Mary Eliza. 371a Fayette Almeron. Samuel R. Alida F. Cordelia A. ___________________ 74 Abner5 Ranney (Abner4, Richard3, John2, Thomas1), b. Jan. 14, 1782, Blandford, Mass; m. Armyra Powell, b. Aug. 27, 1792, who d. Jan. 5, 1860, Forestville, N.Y. Bapt.; Rep. He d. June 1, 1863, Sheridan, N.Y. Children:
Ephraim, b.- -, -; d. Feb. 20, 1868, unm. Loran, b.- -, -; d. -, -, unm. Harriet, b.- -, -; m. Orrin Moore. 163 Mary Ann, b. Aug. 10, 1815; m. James Sheldon Cook. Hiram, b.- -, -. Clark, b.- -, -. 164 Lyman Wells, b. Oct. 30, 1820. Jane, b.- -, -; m. John Pratt. 165 Harmon, b. Oct. 12, 1823. Abner, b.- -, -; d. 1878, unm. ___________________ 75 Joel5 Ranney (Abner4, Richard3, John2, Thomas1), b. Oct. 28, 1783, Blandford, Mass.; d. 1870, Griffin's Mills, N.Y.; in. Julia Letson. Children:
Leonard, b.- -, -; d. young. 167 Caroline Amelia, b. Feb. 16, 1824; m. C. M. Whitney. Adaline, b.- -, -; m. Gray. Mary, b.- -, -; m. Starring. William, b.- -, -; m. -. No children. 168 Lydia Jane, b. Apr. 17, 1835; m. T. W. Parker. Charlotte A., b.- -, -; m. Jas. W. Crabbe. 169 John Sheldon, b. Oct. 22, 1838. 170 Rowland Robinson, b. May -, 1840. 171 Lafayette, b.- -, -. ___________________ 76 Oliver5 Ranney (Abner4, Richard3, John2, Thomas1), b. Dec. 6, 1785, Blandford, Mass.; m. Feb. 26, 1811, Sally Reynolds, b. Jan. 18, 1787; d. Apr. 11, 1842, Knoxboro, N.Y., dau. of Jeremiah Reynolds (Benj. of Windham, Conn.), and Roby Pye. Private 20th Reg. N.Y. Militia, 1814, in Capt. Isaac Benedict's Co. of Riflemen; marched to Sackett's Harbor under Lieut. Orange Foot. Had paid a substitute from 1812 to 1814. Farmer; Rep. Died July 29, 1875, Augusta, N.Y. Children:
Martha, b. Feb. 1, 1812; d. Feb. 2, 1812. 172 Oliver Franklin, b. Apr. 1, 1813. Sarah Ette, b. July 1, 1815; m. Ezra W. Symonds. Chauncey, b. Oct. 6, 1817; d. July 2, 1847; m. Fidelia Shepard. Children: Emily and Edwin. 173 Daniel Wells, b. Oct. 4, 1819. 174 Hiram Mason, b. Jan. 6, 1822. Adolphus, b. May 15, 1824; d. Apr. 16, 1874; m. Susan Reynolds of N.Y. City. Had a son Wm. Adolphus. Ellen, b. Apr. 8, 1827; d. Dec. 14, 1869; m. Feb. 1, 1853, N. W. Hurlbut of Binghamton, N.Y. ___________________ 77 Wells5 Ranney (Abner4, Richard3, John2, Thomas1), b Sept. 7, 1794, Blandford, Mass.; m. (1) Priscilla Loveland; m. (2) Julia Sperry; m. (3) Almira Bartholomew, b. July 30, 1800, Augusta, N.Y., dau. of Josiah Bartholomew and Myra Wadhams Hyde. Rep.; Meth.; Farmer. d. Oct. 14, 1872, Royalton, N.Y. Children by 1st marriage:
175 Harvey Henderson, b. 1815 Marvin, b.-; killed by falling from a tree.
175b Franklin, b. - Maryette, b. -
Alminia, b. 1843; d. Oct. 14, 1872. George Wells, b. 1846; m. Edna Dysinger. Res. Buffalo, N.Y.; child, Howard, b.-. Res. Buffalo, N.Y. ___________________ 78 Lyman5 Ranney (Abner4, Richard3, John2, Thomas1), b. Dec. 13, 1793, Blandford, Mass.; d. Feb. 11, 1879, Perrysburg, N.Y.; m. (1) -, Sophronia Soper; m. (2) Louisa Toles; m. (3) Maria Clark, b. Oct. 23, 1810, Shelburne, Mass., d. Mar. 16, 1895, Perrysburg, dau. of Amasa Clark and Eunice Warren, who was b. Feb. 8, 1780, d. Aug. 23, 1880, being a centenarian. He was a farmer, a private in Capt. Orrin Gridley's Co. in war of 1812 and was a pensioner; Dem.; Meth. Children by 1st marriage:
178 Eliza, b. Apr. 12, 1821; m. Moses Wood. 179 Sophronia, h. Oct. 16, 1822; d. Jan. 7, 1905; m. L. Vaughan. Sheldon, -; d. St. Charles, Ill., young. 180 Edward Allen, b. Sept. 7, 1825.
Franklin, b.- 182 Warren Ezrum, b. Mar. 14, 1838. 183 DeWitt Clinton, b. - -, 1840.
Ransom, b. Dec. 10, 1843; d. Jan. 11, 1845. Morrell, b. May 31, 1845; d. June 6, 1850. Emily Maria, b. July 12, 1849; m. Dec. 7, 1886, Perrysburg, Wallace Cadwell, b. Apr. 16, 1847, farmer. No children; res. Perrysburg, N.Y. Oliver Lyman, b. May 25, 1854, unm. Res. Perrysburg, N.Y. ___________________ 79 Eli5 Ranney, (Abner4, Richard3, John2, Thomas1), b: June 27, 1796, Blandford, Mass.; m. (1) Dec. 27, 1818, Evaline Parmalee, b. Oct. 9, 1797, who d. Apr. 25, 1834, Knoxboro, N.Y.; m. (2) Lois Wetmore, b. Mar. 10, 1811, d. Sept. 26, 1879; farmer in Augusta, N.Y.; rem., 1844, to Perrysburg, N.Y.; and from thence to Spring Hill, Ia., farmer; Meth. Died Dec. 2, 1873, Spring Hill, Ia. Children by 1st marriage:
186 Harmon, b. June 27, 1823. 187 Nancy Jane, b. Nov. 12, 1826; m. N. H. Miner. 188 Julius Caesar, b. Feb. 20, 1829. 189 Lovisa, b. Aug. 21, 1831; m. D. C. Brand.
191 Elizabeth Evelyn, b. July 9, 1840; m. Alfred Francis. Orzelia, b. Dec. 23, 1845; d. Dec. 9, 1873. 192 Helen Amelia, b.- 1847; m. Lewis S. Kennedy. Mary, b. Mar. 24, 1850; m. Harvey Handy, b. 1844. Children:
Frank, b. June, 1876; res. Nesho, Missouri. Minnie, b.-; res. Nesho, Missouri. ___________________ 80 Joseph5 Ranney (Fletcher4, Joseph3, Joseph2, Thomas1), b. Aug. 6, 1751, Upper Houses; m. (1) June 29, 1778, Upper Houses, Ruth6 White, b. 1754, Upper Houses, (Moses5, Isaac4, Daniel3, Nathaniel2, John1); d. Jan. 20, 1824; m. (2) Dec. 25, 1824, Lucy Edwards, dau. of Churchill Edwards, who d. Mar. 29, 1861, aged 89 years. He died Jan. 30, 1835. By his will he remembered his widow of course; Polinda, Eliza and Jane Wilcox, children of his deceased son Norman; Ruth, Augusta, and Emeline, children of his only living child, Rebecca; Henry Joseph, Moses and Mary, children of his deceased son, Moses; Asa Sage Ranney, child of his deceased son, Calvin; Mary Ann Warburton, child of his deceased daughter, Mary. His home from birth to death was the Fletcher Ranney house. Children:
193 Rebecca, b. Sept. 24, 1780; m. (1) Nov. 1801, John Edwards; (2) May 15, 1810, Thomas White. (See the White Family.) Mary, b. Apr. 3, 1783; m. Luther6 Smith (John5, Joseph4, Rev. Joseph3). Child: Mary, b. -; m. John Warburton, the millionaire of Hartford. She built Warburton chapel and was a philanthropist. 194 Moses, b. Dec. 22, 1785. Joseph, b. Nov. 27, 1788; d. Feb. 14, 1806. 195 Calvin, b. Apr. 15, 1791. 196 Norman, b. Apr. 22, 1793. Harvey, b. Apr. 14, 1795; d. Aug. 23, 1819. Charleston, S.C. Served in War of 1812, Aug. 18, 1814-Oct. 25, 1814, under Capt. Isaac Webber. ___________________ 81 Simeon5 Ranney (Fletcher4, Joseph3, Joseph2, Thomas1), b. Nov. 25, 1759, Upper Houses; m. Aug. 21, 1785, Mary5 Savage, b. 1764, dau. of Dr. Solomon4 Savage (Dea. William3, Serg. William2, John1), and Sarah Selden, b. Aug. 30, 1743, dau. of Capt. Thomas Selden of Haddam Neck. He served in the Rev. Army. Both owned the church covenant, June 19, 1788. He d. the next day. She d. -. Children:
Selden, bapt. June 19, 1788; d. Oct. 19, 1822. 197 Martin, bapt. June 19, 1788. ___________________ 82 William5 Ranney (Fletcher4, Joseph3, Joseph2, Thomas1), b. Nov. 14, 1763, Upper Rouses; m. (1) June 20, 1790, Olive5 Hamlin, bapt. Sept. 4, 1768, Middletown, (William4, Nathaniel3, William2, Giles1), d. Nov. 23, 1822; m. (2) Oct. 25, 1826, Sarah Clark of Westfield Society, Middletown. He purchased the Major Edward Eells place and kept a tannery. He was an original member, 1802, of the Baptist Church and deacon for many years, and his home was known as "The Ministers' Tavern." He d. Sept. 29, 1829. She was widow Clark and d. Sept. 11, 1843, aged 66. Children:
199 William, bapt. June 9, 1793. 200 George, bapt. July 26, 1795. 201 Sarah, bapt. Apr. 10, 1797. Timothy, bapt. June 23, 1799; d. Sept. 5, 1821. Olive, -1801; d. Oct. 3, 1826. 202 Henry, b. May 5, 1804. Mary, b. Aug. 20, 1805; d. Mar. 20, 1832. 203 Joseph, b. Aug. 20, 1807; m. Jan. 1, 1834, Cleveland, 0., Lucenia Fox, b. Sept. 24, 1807, Leroy N.Y.; d. 1885. Shoe merchant; d. Aug. 4, 1873. Child: Sarah Kinney, b. Dec. 14, 1847, unm. Res. Cleveland, 0. ___________________ 83 Stephen5 Ranney (Stephen4, Joseph3, Joseph2, Thomas1), b. Oct. 14, 1753, Upper Houses; m. Aug. 28, 1783, Esther Sage, b. Oct. 11, 1753, dau. of Gen. Comfort Sage and Sarah Hamlin; raised, Feb. 6, 1782 in St. John's Lodge F.A.M.; prominent official in Episcopal Church. Owned one of the fine old mansions on Elm Street, Middletown. His second application for a pension dated June 22, 1820, reads: "A volunteer at Roxbury in Feb. and March, 1776. He then enlisted in Col. Samuel Wylly's Regt.;-from New York was detached with Col. Tupper on board sloop Hester; -on the arrival of the British army the detachment was forced to return to New York-the 20th of June, 1776, received. a warrant as Surgeon's Mate in the 3d Regt., raised out of the militia of the Colony of Connecticut, -was on Governor's Island when it was evacuated, and in the retreat from New York to Harlem Heights passed over from this place with the sick of the Regt. to Hackensack and Paramuss -joined the Regt. soon after at North Castle-where the Regt. was disbanded the last of Decr, 1776, -Feb., 1777, entered as mate in the General Hosp1 at Morristown-in June was appointed second Surgeon in the Hospital, -(the Commission was forwarded to the Department of War, on his application for a Pension, April, 1818)-was in the Hospitals in the vicinity of Morristown till late in the fall-was then ordered to Princeton; sometime in the winter was sent to East Town with the Hessian Prisrs wounded at Red Bank Fort-was then ordered to Yellow Spring Hospital, in which I did duty till taken sick, on my recovery was ordered to join Col. Nevils Regt. Genl Scotts' Brige at Valley Forge when the army took the field, removed the sick of the Brige back into the County, the Hospitals being broke up, went to Philadelphia, was then ordered to Fish Kill Hospital under the direction of Doc. McKnight, Surgn Gen1, of the Middle Department, remained at Fish Kill and the neighborhood, according to the best of my remembrance till Octr 1780, ----- a new arrangement was made in the Hospital, resigned and spent the remainder of the war in armed vessels-----that he has received a pension the certificate of which bears the number 1719." He had taken a fancy to writing his name Rainey, and it made him much trouble in trying to get a pension. In a letter he states: "I regret that it did not occur at the time I made out my declaration to spell my name as I did when in the service. If occurred when I received your letter, that that was the difficulty in my identity. Mr. Dane proposed the remedy that difficulty, if any, as you find in the enclosed papers. If Dr. Townsend was at West Point, he can testify to my declaration. I remember no one at that station but Eustace, Warren and Gordon-----nearly half a century has elapsed, which makes havoc on the frame and memory. I have found the warrant alluded to in my declaration which I enclose for the novelty of the composition, the Governor of an English colony authorizing me to act against the King." From a letter dated May 31, 1828, it appears that he was seeking to avail himself of the benefit of the Act providing for the surviving officers of the Revolutionary Army and he wrote a long letter to a friend in which he detailed his army experience. "In Feb., 1776, the British Army was besieged in Boston. I walked to Roxbury and entered a volunteer in Col. G. Wyllys's Regiment. . . . 1780. At this period a new arrangement was made in the General Hospital, the second surgeon was struck out; I having served my country almost five years with my best abilities, having never been absent by furlough six weeks in the time, and if continued must accept a less station and pay; as there were enough older surgeons to fill the office of Surgeon, I left the Hospital and returned home still desirous to assist in gaining that Independence which my youthful ardor had led me to suffer so many hardships. And I have never received land or commutation and received a pension till the law voted it to damn paupers. "I had three severe fits of sickness, and very much impaired my constitution, expended my property, as the pay although ample, which was $60 per month and four rations, yet the depreciation was so great that it would not furnish decent clothing. I am often led to reflect on the subject and wonder what kept us together. I must say I enjoyed myself very much, and when our troubles were the greatest, our pleasures seemed to produce the greatest hilarity; I believe that we were never at a greater ebb than at Valley Forge." The following letters show how he wrote his name to his parents: AMBOY ON BOARD SLOOP HESTER, June 3, 1776. DEAR FATHER: -- I suppose you heard by Lieutenant Warner's letters that I have undertaken on board the privateer. I think I have much greater advantages here than in the Army, as I have the advantage of employing my time in physick. I act as Commodore's Clerk and Physician's mate. The Commodore is a gentleman of honour and courage, as you may see by last Summer's papers. I will first let you know what fleet this is, as I suppose you know nothing about it there. It is composed of the Commadere of 10 guns, 10 swivels and every other instrument of War; the Sloop Schuyler of 6 Guns, 8 or 10 swivels; the Schooner Mifflin, mounting swivels, Blunderbusses, wall pieces, etc. etc. She's much like a hornet's nest, full of men; Their hatches are made quite to the Cabin door, and they stand below Decks to fight; that the sides make a considerable breastwork; she swims not more than three feet clear of the water; that it must be a good shot to hit her. Captain Clap with seven Whail Boats and 29 men, with firearms, plum-pudding hand grenade wall pieces, etc, etc. Captain Stanwood with the same number and strength. Lieutenant Toogood with 6 do. and 22 men equipped in the same manner; they are cruising off and are stationed out, the Sloop and the Schooner, the whail boats send up intelligence every other day; we are stationed at present at Amboy, tho' I hope we shall soon be relived by some land force, which it is expected will be sent down to fortify; a small fort is begun but no guns mounted, nor is there at present any Troops here, only a Company of the train, besides us; we have just received intelligence that two more Ships have come in; their fleet is now augmented to 10 sail including Men of War, beside a Topsail Schooner, Sloop and two or three small fly boats; we have an Express gone down to Middleton to fetch up three Men that have deserted from the Men of War, we are informed that they bring News that they are in great want of provisions on board the Fleet, but further particulars I hope to be able to write before Night. I am much indebted to Captain Sumner for his great kindness in assisting me, he has always showed me the greatest marks of freedom and friendship, also Lieutenant Warner who I esteem with the most tender regard of Friendship; the Officers that I am now embarked with are very free and Sociable that I live with the content and ease Immaginable. I go on Shore when I please, and come off when I please, and a more mild crew I judge never manned a Vessel of War, no man drops an oath without a Cobing, which is executed by the man that was punished before, that it makes a diversion for all and has entirely brook them that it is rare to hear an oath. Jere Norton is on board, no others belonging to Middletown. I have not yet been to see my aunt, but shall go I believe tomorrow. I have got Verry portly since I came on board and free from my cold. My kind love to Mama, Grandmama and Brothers and Sisters and all enquiring Friends and Relations. N.B. I wish you would send down my Coat and Jacket and Summer Jackets and Shirts, for my Shirts are most gone. Dear Father I am your dutiful Son till Death, STEPHEN RANNY Direct your letters and Cloathes to Lieutenant Warner in Colonel Wyllys's Regiment. Remember me to Mrs. Warner. [This was later Capt. And Major Robert Warner, C. C. A.] MENDHEM, September 17, 1777. DEAR PARENTS: - I enjoy this opportunity of writing by Captain Warner and am very sorry to inform you that I have not received a letter from you since April. I wrote you in my last very fully of my situation which is as before, only in hourly expectation of Orders to move. We have at present only Ninety in Hospital and most of them in a recovering state. Our Army in Pennsylvania have had a very smart engagement, which by the best account, is very much in our favour, for tho' they caused us to retreat, yet their loss was more than three to one, and upon them conditions we can afford to retreat every Day. The Enemy crossed last week about 1000 strong at Elizabethtown point, and marched to New Ark and up Pasaick River, in Consiquence of which mineuver, I was sent to attend the wounded, which amounted to only Six and four or five Killed, they made a point of driving off all the Cattle they could get in their way - tho' they were very remarkably favorable on account of Plundering the Inhabitants which is a loss but too small to cover the Hook, for the Militia turn out very fully; we had the next upwards of 1200 Men in the field in high spirits, and we have a report that General McDougal is on his march with 2500 Men on their back, that I hope in a few days we shall be able to tell their Numbers with more Certainty. I am highly pleased to hear that General Stark with the New England Troops has behaved so well at Bennington, for they have become a proverb in the Land. I am often put to the blush to hear the execrations that are constantly threw out against Connecticut in particular, that I am almost determined sometime to deny my native place. I am in a hurry as the man is waiting, you must excuse my not writing oftener, as it is very difficult sending being out of the post Road. If you have an opportunity of Sending to Morristown, desire them to leave it at the Doctor's Quarters, and they will send it to me Immediately. My Compliments to all enquiring-my love to all-Brothers and Sisters, etc. I remain with the sincerity Your Dutiful Son, Stephen Ranney (Signature) N.B. I send this letter enclosed to Captain Warner, who I hope will forward it. In accordance with the rules of the pension office he filed an inventory which included six silver tablespoons bearing the date "1726" valued at $3.00. He had evidently bought them at the sale of his father's effects, and the date indicates that they belonged to his grandfather, Joseph Ranney, who was married July 21, 1725. For 30 years, 1790-1820, he had been employed in the Middletown Customs office. His death occurred May 18, 1837; buried May 30, (Epis. Ch. Record). He is probably buried in the Gen. Comfort Sage tomb, Mortimer Cemetery, where his infant children are buried. His parents, brother and one sister have headstones in Mortimer Cemetery. The widow rem. to New London, Ct., to reside, and died there May 3, 1857. The daughters married into prominent families. The Family Bible is in the Jackson family of Middletown. Children:
Esther, b. Mar. 31, 1786; d. 1892; m. John Vibbard of Waterford, N. Y. (Vibbert.) Comfort Sage, b. Jan. 19, 1788, raised in St. John's Lodge, June 21, 1809; d. Aug. 1813, lost at sea returning from Bermuda. Mary, b. Dec. 13, 1789; m. Dec. 21, 1832, Edward Hallam of New London, Ct. Daniel Stephen, b. Feb. 18, 1792; d. Sept. 10, 1793. Sarah Sage, b. Jan. 29, 1795; d. Dec. 13, 1795. Sarah Sage, b. Nov. 13, 1796; d. Jan. 21, 1887; m. Nov. 1, 1841, Rev. Daniel Huntington of New Long. Stephen Augustus, b. Aug. 25, 1798; d. unm. Aug. 4, 1840 in Cuba. Catherine Elizabeth, b. June 20, 1803; d. unm. Dec. 9, 1891, New London, Ct. Left a large property and many valuable papers of her father's, including his commission. ___________________ 83a Samuel Ward5 Ranney (Stephen4, Joseph3, Joseph2, Thomas1), b. May 13, 1758, Upper Houses, m. Jan. 15, 1784, Middletown, Ann Newell, b. Mar. 16, 1759, widow of Nathaniel Newell and dau. of Robert Gilchrist and Elizabeth Jackson; confirmed, 1786, by Bishop Seabury. Drowned June 17, 1832. Widow d. Apr. 6, 1833. Gravestones in Mortimer Cemetery. Robert Gilchrist and widow have gravestones in Riverside Cemetery. Children:
Elizabeth Gilchrist, bapt. Sept. 24, 1786; m. Moses Ranney, which see. James Dick, bapt. Sept. 7, 1788; d. South. Martha, bapt. Apr. 3, 1791. ___________________ 84 Capt. Chalres5 Ranney (Hezekiah4, Joseph3, Joseph2, Thomas1); b. Oct. 4, 1771, Upper Houses; m. May 5, 1791, Middletown Cong. Ch. Mabel7 Stow, b. -----, dau. of Peter6 Stow (Serg. Nathaniel5, Nathaniel4, John3, Thomas2, John1). He purchased the house in Middletown which stood till a few years ago where the Catholic school stands; was a hatter; became sea captain, lost his vessel in an uprising in Hayti, but saved his life by giving the Masonic sign of distress, the leader of the Negroes being a Mason. He ret. to his home, and soon rem. to region of Lansingburg, N. Y. where his father and brothers had gone. His Masonic lambskin apron, hand painted. owned by his grand-daughter, Miss M. S. Ranney, of Austin, Minn., was on exhibition in 1904 at the reunion of the Society of Middletown Upper Houses. The widow went to Kentucky with her children and died in Livermore, Ky., Dec. 6, 1867. She was known as "Mehitable" Ranney, and in deeds had signed her name as Mehitable Ranney. Children:
Lucretia, bapt. Nov. 19, 1801; m. Pearly Sharp. Children: William, Mary, Emma, m. Schenck; res. Maywood, Ill. Charles, bapt. Nov. 19, 1801; d. Dec. 19, 1801. Joseph, bapt. Nov. 19, 1801; d. Dec. 5, 1801. William, bapt. Nov. 19, 1801; d. same day. Charles, b. -----; d. unm. 1836, Newburyport, Mass. 204 William W. b. Sept. 5, 1805. Clarissa, b. -----; m. Joseph Peters. Children: William, Joseph, John, Jane, Mary. 205 Abigail, b. June 15, 1810; m. Lysander Button. Mary, b. -----; m. Edwin Lawrence of Newburyport, Mass. Children: Charles, Mary, Albert. 206 James Stow, b. July 15, 1812. ___________________ 85 Hezekiah5 Ranney (Hezekiah4, Joseph3, Joseph2, Thomas1), b. Jan. 17, 1774, Upper Houses; m. Mary Richardson, b. May 30, 1797, Middletown, dau. of Roland Richardson and Elizabeth Pierpont. They were members of the Methodist Church. He was a tanner and shoemaker, a natural combination for those times. He rem. to Edinburgh, N. Y. later to Rochester, and then to Geneseo, becoming a merchant. Died there Aug. 4, 1857. Children:
Roland, b. -----; d. at sea, 1856. George, b. ----; d. Apr. 8, 1828. Joseph, b. -----; d. July 18, 1823. Eliza, b. -----; d. Dec. 30, 1809. 208 Maria, b. -----; m. Joseph Dewey. Harriet, b. -----; m. Isaac Newton. ___________________ 86 Roderick5 Ranney (Hezekiah4, Joseph3, Joseph2, Thomas1), b. Mar. 24, 1780, Upper Houses; m. (1) July 1, 1802, Sally7 Danforth, b. July 1, 1785, Middletown, d. July 17, 1815, Kingsbury, N. Y., dau. of Joseph6 Danforth (Thomas5, Thomas4, Samuel3, Samuel2, Nicholas1) and Sarah King; m. (2) Mar. 11, 1816, Elizabeth Bylan. He rem. to Lansingburg, N. Y. and to Stafford near Batavia, settling on the Holland Purchase when the country was new and d. there Jan. 9, 1857. The four children were baptized Sept. 10, 1809, by the Epis. rector of Middletown, "while on a visit from New York." Children:
210 Jacob Lansing, b. Apr. 26, 1807. Sally, b. -----; d. at 16 years. Martha Danforth, b. -----; m. David B. Smalley. ___________________ 87 David Stocking5 Ranney (Hezekiah4, Joseph3, Joseph2, Thomas1), b. Apr. 22, 1787, Upper Houses; m. Sept. 12, 1812, Ann K. Gardner, b. May 15, 1789, Boston, Mass.; d. Aug. 26, 1877, Boston. He rem. with his father to Edinburg, N. Y.; Rem. to Boston where he m. Took part in the defence of Boston in War of 1812. Unitarian. Was a furniture merchant many years; d. Oct. 23, 1864, Chelsea, Mass., buried in Mt. Auburn Cem., Cambridge, Mass. Children:
214 David Gardner, b. Feb. 2, 1816. Ann, b. May 28, 1818; d. Mar. 7, 1819. Franklin Gardner, b. Dec. 4, 1820; d. unm. June 4, 1870, Boston. William Henry, b. Apr. 5, 1823. ___________________ 88 Horatio Gates5 Ranney (Hezekiah4, Joseph3, Joseph2, Thomas1), b. Dec. 25, 1799; m. Minerva S. Coon, dau. of Albasinda Coon. Merchant in Cleveland, O. Children:
George W., b. Jan. 2, 1872; d. Apr. 30, 1872. George C., b. Jan. 29, 1874; d. Mar. 10, 1877. John G., b. Sept. 23, 1875; d. September 28, 1875. Infant, b. Apr. 8, 1880; still born. Julia, b. 1840; m. A. J. Stevens. Res. -----. John C., b. 1844; d. 1863. ___________________ 88a Sylvester5 Ranney (Hezekiah4, Joseph3, Joseph2, Thomas1), b. Aug. 2, 1802, Saratoga Co., N. Y.; m. ----- 1834, Rochester, N. Y., Ann Stillwell, b. June 4, 1811, New Jersey; d. 1902, Cleveland, O., dau. of William Stillwell and Elizabeth Bachelder. He engaged with his brother, Horatio, and stepbrother, Orrin Sage, in the shoe business at Ballston, and then at Rochester, N. Y. Rem. with Horatio to Cleveland where they conducted a shoe business. Rep. Baptist; d. Apr. 15, 1879, Cleveland. Children:
Helen, b. Jan. 29, 1839; m. Fitch Adams. ___________________ 89 Ensign Daniel Ranney5 Hamlin (Lucretia4 Ranney, Capt. Daniel3, Joseph2, Thomas1), b. July 23, 1755, Middletown; m. Aug. 1, 1779, Ruth Ward (from Ensign William1 Ward). Served in 8th Co., Col. Comfort Sage's 3d Battalion, Brig. Gen. Wadsworth's Brigade, 1776; in Col. Samuel Webb's Regt. serg. May 24, 1777; ensign May 16, 1778-1779; rem. to New Hartford, N. Y., where he died 1809. His youngest child was Daniel Ranney6 Hamlin, b. Aug. 30, 1800, New Hartford, N. Y. He rem. to Buffalo where he assisted in the ceremonies incident to the reception of Gen. Lafayette; d. July 23, 1881. His fourth child, Harriet Cornelia7 Hamlin, b. Aug. 24, 1842, Buffalo, N. Y.; m. there, June 13, 1876, Dr. Dugald Macniel, b. 1845, Argyleshire, Scotland. Rep., Freemason, A. O. U. W., Buffalo Med. Club; she grad. of Buffalo Seminary; Presby.; D. A. R. He died Mar. --, 1884. Widow resides in Buffalo, N. Y. Children:
Elizabeth Hamlin, b. June 18, 1881; m. Aug. 26, 1903, Charles Morgan Olmstead, Ph.D., b. Jan. 19, 1881, LeRoy, N. Y., son of John Bryant Olmstead. Grad. 1903, Harvard. Scientific astronomer at the Carnegie Observatory, Mt. Wilson, Cal. She grad. Smith Coll. Children: Dugald Macniel, b. Mar. 21, 1904. Germany. John Barton, b. July 5, 1905, Germany. ___________________ 90 Esther5 Hamlin (Lucretia4 Ranney, Daniel3, Joseph2, Thomas1), b. July 10, 1759, Middletown; m. Oct. 7, 1784, Abner Hubbard, b. Mar. 10, 1750, son of George and Mary Hubbard. Serg. Maj. In Capt. Warner's Co., Col. John Durkee's 1st Regt., Conn Line, Oct. 1, 1780-Dec. 31, 1781. Pension, June 21, 1821, signed by John C. Calhoun, Sec'y of War. Rem. to Norwich, Vt., where he d. Mar. 13, 1834; she d. July 23, 1836. Of their children:
___________________ 91 Mary5 Hamlin (Lucretia4 Ranney, Daniel3, Joseph2, Thomas1), b. 1760, Middletown; m. Dec. 16, 1784, Benj. Gilbert, b. July 29, 1760, private 8th Co., 3d Batt. Wadsworth's Brigade, pensioned. She d. June 23, 1826; he d. May 11, 1846, of their Children:
[* Daniel Hall Hart, b. June 19, 1815. d. Oct. 2, 1891, was the son of Samuel Ives Hart and Abigail Hall. Samuel Ives Hart, b. Nov. 22, 1792, d. Sept. 10, 1870, the son of Benjamin Hart, a Rev. soldier, and Jerusha Rich, was an industrious farmer, a deacon of the First Baptist church of Meriden, of which his wife was a member. Abigail Hall, b. Aug. 25, 1793, d. Dec. 12, 1875, was the daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth Hall and the great-granddaughter of Dr. Isaac Hall, one of Meriden's earliest physicians. Isaac Hall, her grandfather, served in the Rev. Army, was one of the 13 original members, and the first clerk of the First Baptist church of Meriden. These Halls descended from John1 Hall of Hartford, New Haven, and Wallingford, and is not to be confounded with John1 Hall, Senior, of Hartford and Middletown.] Children:
Edmund Benjamin, b. Dec. 31, 1845; d. Jan 26, 1905; m. Sept. 23, 1878, Harriet Beecher Denison, b. Dec. 24, 1853, d. Jan. 26, 1889. Children:
Harriet Edith, b. July 16, 1883; m. Oct. 19, 1904, Arthur O. Lamb. Res. Geenfield, Mass. Anna Eliza, b. Jan. 20, 1889; d. Apr. 9, 1889. Albert Denison, b. Jan. 20, 1889.
92 William5 Ranney (Jonathan4, Jonathan3, Joseph2, Thomas1), b. Nov., 30, 1783, Middletown, Ct.; m. Nov. 16, 1808, Clarissa Gaylord, b. Jan. 22, 1789, Upper Houses, dau. of Samuel Gaylord, a Rev. patriot and Azubah Atkins. He was a sea captain and was lost at sea Feb., 1829. She was adm. Dec. 7, 1827, to the South Cong. Ch. Of Middletown and d. Dec. 16, 1863. Children:
Richard Atkins, b. Aug. 29, 1815; d. unm. Jan. 13, 1859. Elizabeth Nott, b. July 27, 1822; d. June 29, 1874; m. Mar. 21, 1868, John Drake of Middletown. ___________________ 93 Margaret5 Ranney (Ebenezer4, Ebenezer3, Ebenezer2, Thomas1), b. Dec. 23, 1774, Upper Houses, bapt. Jan. 1, 1775; m. Aug. 24, 1801, Capt. John Keith, b. Dec. 4, 1775, d. at sea 1803, eldest son of William Keith and Polly Lions Callahan, b. in Cork, Ireland. In 1799 Capt. Keith purchased the 1761 house built by John3 Sage. It became his home at marriage in 1801. Since then it has been the Ranney-Adams homestead, having descended in the female line to the present occupants. Nov. 6, 1805, the widow m. Capt. John Collins who was lost at sea in 1813. In that year her young nephew, James Ranney, became her child as if by adoption and they were not separated till her death on Thanksgiving Day, 1869, falling that year on Nov. 19, almost 95 years of age. She was in her early widowhood noted for her care of the neighboring sick. For over 30 years she sat in winter by the fire without a care and without a frown, beloved by the grandchildren of her protégé. After the age of 80 she had no need to call a physician. On the day of her death she ate breakfast with the family and spoke of the home coming of the Adams children to the feast. Then she laid herself down to rest and gently breathed her last. As they approached the house the crape on the door startled the children, not knowing what it betokened. As she lay in her coffin there was not a wrinkle on her placid face. Her only child, Margaret Collins, b. Dec. 6, 1810, d. Nov. 20, 1895, unm., having lived from birth to death under the one roof. ___________________ 94 James5 Ranney (Ebenezer4, Ebenezer3, Ebenezer2, Thomas1), bapt. Nov. 10, 1782, Upper Houses; m. May 13, 1802, Epis. Ch. Middletown, Elizabeth Collins Keith, b. May 22, 1782, Middletown, dau. of William Keith and Polly Lions Callahan. His father built for him the "Bugbee" house on the north quarter of the original Ranney homestead. He was a sea captain and died on his ship, Jan. 23, 1805 "in Carolina." The widow d. of consumption Sept. 11, 1813. She gave her on James to his aunt Margaret Ranney Collins, and her son William to his grandfather. Children:
215 James, b. Feb. 17, 1805. |