Skip to main content

Full text of "Tales of our forefathers and biographical annals of families allied to those of McPike, Guest and Dumont"

See other formats


REYNOLDS  HISTORICAL  i  aon    o 

Q£.NEALOG V  COLLtKmON  !  ^^  ^  •  ^ 


Gc 

M242m 
1149600 


(^ 


\/ 


3  1833  03109  8087 


The  publishers  invite  attention  to  the  works 

named  below,  as  being  of  interest  in  connec- 

tion with  this 

volume: 
GENEALOGIES. 

Family. 

Date.            Pages 

Price. 

Dimond.... 

1891              179 

$3.00 

Lindsay  ... 

i88g             300 

5.00 

Kingston 

N.  Y.— Rachel  Dumont,  a  Brave    | 

Little  Maid 

of   the  Revolution;  a 

True  Tale 

of  the  Burn 

ng  of  Kingston,  by  the  British, 

1777.     By  Mary  Westbrook,  1889, 

96  pages, 

31  lUus.,  uncut,  $1.50. 

JOEL  MUKSELL'S  SONS,     -     -     - 

Publishers, 

Albany,  N,  Y. 

TALES  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS 

AND 

BIOGRAPHICAL  ANNALS  OF  FAMILIES  ALLIED 

TO    THOSE   OF 

McPIKE,  GUEST  AND   DUMONT. 

Compiled  from  Authentic  Sources. 


EDITED   BY 

Eugene  F.  McPike. 


ALBANY,  N.  Y.: 
joBL  munsell's  sons,  publishers. 


CONTENTS. 


27 


Tales  of  our  Forefathers: 

The  Capture  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Sim- 

coe,  Commander  of  the  Queen's  Rangers; 

An  Incident  of  the  American  Revolution, 
Henry    Guest,     American     Patriot,     New 

Brunswick,  N.  J 

Meeting     Between     Henry    Laurens    and 

Captain  Moses  Guest,  Charleston,  South 

Carolina  ....         .         . 

Dr.  Edmund  Halley  .         .         .         .       29 

The  McPike  Family ;  Genealogy       .         .       34 
The  Guest  Family ;  Genealogy  .         .       40 

The  Dumont  Family;  Genealogy      .         .       43 
The  Maternal  Ancestry  of  Peter  Dumont, 

of  Vevay,  Indiana  .         .         .         .       72 

Notes  on  the  Frelinghuysen  and  Vroom 

Families,  of  New  Jersey         ...       78 
Biographical  Annals  of  Families  Allied  : 
Colonel  John    Dumont,   by   Hon.    O.    H. 

Smith      .         • 81 

Mrs.  Julia  L.   Dumont,  by  Rev.  Thomas 

Eddy 82 


Biographical  Annals  of  Families  Allied - 
Continued. 

Mrs.  Julia  L.  Dumont,  as  a  Teacher,  by 
Dr.  Edward  Eggleston 

General  Ebenezer  Dumont 

Captain  Robert  Anderson 

Hon.  W.  T.  Bland     . 

Hon.  A.  C.  Ellis 

Hon.  Wade  H.  Ellis 

Capt.  Moses  Guest    . 

Hon.  John  L.  Ketcham 

Hon.  Robert  N.  Lamb 

Hon.  Henry  Guest  M'Pike 

Judge  John  M'Pike    . 

Samuel  Merrill,  Esq.  (Sr.) 

Colonel  Samuel  Merrill,  M.  . 

Judge  Isaac  Naylor 

Rev.  A.  J.  Reynolds 

Rev.  C.  G.  Reynolds 

Rev.  W.  H.  Reynolds 
Appendices  and  Addenda  : 

Will  of  Dr.  Edmund  Halley 

Dr.  Halley's  Coat  Armorial 

Notes  on  McPike  Family 

Notes  on  Guest  Family 

Notes  on  Dumont  Family 

Dumont  Genealogy ;  continued 

Miscellaneous 

Index 


1149600 

PREFACE. 


This  little  volume  was  designed,  primarily,  for  circula- 
tion among  those  personally  interested  in  its  contents. 
The  critic  who  finds  his  search  for  faults  abundantly 
rewarded,  is  reminded  that,  as  Dr.  Benjamin  Franklin 
once  remarked :  "  We  do  not  dress  for  a  private  company 
as  for  a  public  ball." 

In  preparing  the  "  Tales  "  and  "  Biographical  Annals," 
the  editor  has  endeavored  to  find  the  best  and  most 
reliable  material  available.  Part  of  that  which  is  herein- 
after presented  has  previously  been  printed  elsewhere,  and 
specific  references  to  the  original  publications  are  given 
in  the  proper  places.  For  the  incompleteness  of  the 
several  genealogies  as  regards  later  generations,  the 
editor's  excuse  must  be  that  those  from  whom  he  had 
hoped  to  obtain  information  either  did  not  see  their  way- 
clear  to  furnish  it  or  were  inaccessible  —  letters  sent  to 
their  last  known  addresses  being  returned  or  remaining 
unanswered.  The  compiler  of  any  genealogy  will  appre- 
ciate the  difficulties  usually  met  with  in  this  particular. 

Considerable  correspondence  has  been  necessary,  par- 
ticularly in  connection  with  the  genealogical  items,  and 
this  affords  an  opportunity  to  make  general  acknowledg- 
ment of  indebtedness  to  the  following,  among  others,  who 


8 

have  courteously  rendered  valuable  assistance  in  this 
direction:  J.  B.  Dumont,  Esq.,  Plainfield,  N.  J.;  E.  R. 
Detraz,  Esq.,  Vevay,  Indiana;  Rev.  Andrew  J.  Reynolds, 
Norwood,  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  his  son.  Rev.  Walter  H. 
Reynolds,  Chicago,  111.;  Hon.  Robert  N.  Lamb,  Indian- 
apolis, Ind.;  Mrs.  J.  M.  Moores,  Indianapolis;  Mrs.  V.  L. 
Hay,  Crawfordsville,  Ind.;  Mrs.  E.  S.  L.  Thompson, 
Muncie,  Ind.;  Mrs.  M.  J.  Morerod,  Vevay,  Ind.;  Mrs.  C. 
W.  Moores,  San  Francisco,  California;  Mrs.  A.  C.  Ellis, 
Covington,  Kentucky;  Mrs.  Jennie  Long,  Bunker  Hill, 
Illinois;  Rev.  John  Dumont  Reid,  Greenfield,  Mass.; 
Eugene  A.  Dumont,  Esq.,  Chicago,  111.,  and  C.  W. 
Deshler,  Esq.,  Postmaster,  New  Brunswick,  New  Jersey. 
Without  their  kind  cooperation  this  work  could  hardly 
have  been  issued  in  its  present  form. 

The  editor  will  be  pleased  to  receive  additional  geneal- 
ogical data  pertaining  to  the  Halley,  M'Pike,  Guest  and 
Dumont  families,  with  a  view  to  subsequent  publication. 

The  Editor. 

Chicago,  Illinois,  June,  1898. 


TALES    OF    OUR    FOREFATHERS. 


The   Capture    of    Lieutenant-Colonel    Simcoe,   Com- 
mander of  the  Queen's  Rangers. 

An  Incident  of  the  American  Revolution. 

It  has  been  aptly  said  that  during  the  reign  of  Charies 
II,  of  England,  "  Science  suddenly  became  the  fashion  of 
the  day."  A  future  reviewer  of  our  own  times  will  have 
ample  reason  to  make  the  same  remark  in  regard  to  history. 
The  enthusiasm  incident  to  the  creation  of  the  Royal 
Society  had  undoubtedly  much  to  do  with  the  remarkable 
achievements  of  Newton,  Flamsteed,  Halley  and  their 
contemporaries.  So,  too,  in  this  day,  public  favor  has 
unquestionably  conduced  to  the  publication  of  the  great 
variety  of  historical  material  now  at  our  command.  Shall 
we  not  hope  that  the  analogy  will  eventually  be  carried  a 
step  further,  and  that  the  impetus  which  has  been  given 
will  result  in  the  continuance  of  the  good  work?  History, 
like  science,  is  an  inexhaustible  mine.  This  seems  espe- 
cially true  of  the  annals  of  America.  The  fact  that  the 
majority  of  historical  sketches  recently  published  in  this 
country  relates  almost  exclusively  to  the  civil  war  does 
not  indicate  that  the  material  regarding  the  American 
Revolution  has  either  been  exhausted  or  become  uninter- 
esting. Such  is  not  the  case,  and,  indeed,  the  rapid 
[9] 


growth  of  the  several  patriotic-hereditary  societies  of  the 
War  of  Independence  furnishes  strong  evidence  to  the 
contrary.  In  the  words  of  another,*  which,  although 
written  nearly  four  score  years  ago,  are  still  true  as  when 
first  penned:  "  History  presents  no  struggle  for  liberty 
which  has  in  it  more  of  the  moral  sublime  than  that  of  the 
American  Revolution.  It  has  been,  of  late  years,  too 
much  forgotten  in  the  sharp  contentions  of  party;  and  he 
who  endeavors  to  withdraw  the  public  mind  from  these 
debasing  conflicts,  and  to  fix  it  on  the  grandeur  of  that 
epoch,  which,  magnificent  in  itself,  begins  now  to  wear  the 
solemn  livery  of  antiquity,  as  it  is  viewed  through  the 
deepening  twilight  of  almost  half  a  century,  certainly  per- 
forms a  meritorious  service,  and  can  scarely  need  a  justi- 
fication." One  of  the  most  pleasing  features  of  the  situ- 
ation is  the  demand  for  information  from  original  sources; 
reports  by  eye-witnesses  and  interviews  with  "  survivors  " 
or  their  immediate  descendants.  This  promises  well  for 
the  greater  accuracy  of  future  histories,  if  such  be  possible. 
Among  the  authorities  frequently  cited  by  Irving,  Lossing 
and  others  is  Simcoe's  "  Military  Journal  "  which  was 
originally  published  by  its  author  in  London  in  1787  for 
private  distribution  among  his  friends.  The  work  was 
reprinted  in  New  York  in  1844,  and  to  this  edition  was 
added  a  memoir  of  the  author.  As  the  title-page  informs 
us,  the  book  is  "  A  History  of  the  Operations  of  a  Parti- 
san Corps  called  the  Queen's  Rangers,  Commanded  bv 
Lieut. -Col.  T.  G.  Simcoe.  During  the  War  of  the  American 
Revolution."     The  rapid  movements  and  intrepid  darine 

♦Silliman's  Tour  from  Hartford  to  Quebec,  1820. 


of  the  Rangers  caused  them  to  be  a  source  of  constant 
terror  to  the  patriots  and  the  capture  of  their  leader, 
October  26th,  1779,  by  Captain  Moses  Guest,  of  New 
Brunswick,  Middlesex  county.  New  Jersey,  was  an  event 
of  sufficient  importance  to  be  permanently  recorded  in  the 
annals  of  our  country.  The  incident  has,  however,  been 
almost  entirely  overlooked  by  historians.  The  many  sons 
of  New  Jersey  scattered  throughout  our  land,  not  less  in 
the  west  than  elsewhere,  point  with  (we  will  hope)  excus- 
able pride  to  the  important  part  taken  by  their  ancestors 
in  that  great  contest  from  which  sprung  a  nation  soon 
afterwards  to  become  one  of  the  greatest  powers  on  earth. 
Scarcely  a  place  on  the  route  of  the  British  forces  through 
New  Jersey  can  be  found  that  was  not  the  scene  of  some 
hazardous  exploit  which  has  passed  into  history.  Of  the 
patriotic  citizens  of  the  State,  none  were  more  loyal  to 
Freedom's  cause  than  those  of  Middlesex  county.  A  life- 
long resident  of  the  city  of  New  Brunswick,  in  an  exceed- 
ingly interesting  and  valuable  article  published  some 
twenty-four  years  ago.*  says  that  of  one  thousand  per- 
sons in  New  Jersey  who  were  disaflfected.  made  to  furnish 
bonds  and  take  the  "  oath  of  allegiance  "  to  the  Revolu- 
tionary authorities,  only  twenty-six  were  inhabitants  of 
Middlesex  county,  and  this  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  the 
British  army  was  quartered  there  for  a  period  of  almost 
seven  months.     Although  Simcoe's  Rangers  were  com- 

*This  refers  to  "A  Glimpse  of  '  Seventv-six '"  which  will  be  found  in 
Harper's  Maffazine  for  Jnlv.  1874.  The  author.  Mr.  Chas.  D.  Deshler. 
who  is  now  Postmaster  of  New  Brunswick,  was  born  within  the  first  quarter 
of  this  century,  and  was  personally  acquainted  with  many  of  the  survivors 
of  the  Revolution. 


posed  largely  of  Jersey  "  refugees,"  and  he  kept  a  book 
containing  "  the  names  of  every  soldier  in  his  corps,  the 
counties  in  which  they  were  born  and  where  they  had 
lived,  so  that  he  was  seldom  at  a  loss  for  guides,"  he  was 
obliged  to  say  to  Sir  Henry  Clinton  when  the  latter  was 
about  to  march  through  the  State  of  New  Jersey,  imme- 
diately before  the  battle  of  Monmouth  and  was  in  need  of 
guides,  that  "  he  had  none  who  knew  any  of  the  roads  to 
New  Brunswick  "  showing  conclusively  that  Middlesex 
county  was  not  represented  in  his  corps.  Simcoe,  in  his 
"  Journal  "  (which,  by  the  way,  is  written  in  the  third  per- 
son throughout)  relates  at  some  length  the  details  of  the 
expedition  which  resulted  in  his  capture.  While  copies 
of  his  book  are  scarce,  it  can,  doubtless,  be  found  by  the 
investigating  student  in  the  public  libraries  of  our  larger 
cities.  The  purposes  of  this  sketch  will  be,  perhaps,  best 
fulfilled  by  using  other  authorities.  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Henry  Lee,  "  Lighthorse  Harry,"  in  his  Memoirs  of  the 
War,  etc.,  second  edition,  pages  192-193,  mentions  Sim- 
coe's  incursion  and  says  that  "  General  Washington  ex- 
pecting a  French  fleet  upon  our  coast  in  1779-80.  and 
desirous  of  being  thoroughly  prepared  for  moving  upon 
New  York  in  case  the  combined  forces  should  warrant  it, 
had  made  ready  a  number  of  boats,  which  were  placed  at 
Middlebrook,  a  small  village  up  the  Raritan  river  above 
Brunswick.  Sir  Henrvr  Clinton  being  informed  of  thig 
preparation  determined  to  destroy  the  boats.  The  enter- 
prise was  committed  to  Lt.-Col.  Simcoe.  He  crossed 
from  New  York  to  Elizabethtow'n  Point  with  his  cavalry, 
and,  setting  out  after  night,  he  reached  Middlebrook 


13 

undiscovered  and  unexpected.  Having  executed  his 
object  he  baffled  all  our  efforts  to  intercept  him  on  his 
return  by  taking  a  circuitous  route.  Instead  of  turning 
towards  Perth  Amboy,  which  was  supposed  to  be  the  most 
probable  course,  keeping  the  Raritan  on  his  right,  he 
passed  that  river,  taking  the  direction  towards  Monmouth 
county,  leaving  Brunswick  some  miles  to  his  left.  Here 
was  stationed  a  body  of  militia,  who,  being  apprised  (it 
being  now  day)  of  the  enemy's  proximity,  made  a  daring 
attempt  to  stop  him  but  failed  in  the  attempt.  Simcoe, 
bringing  up  the  rear,*  had  his  horse  killed,  by  which  acci- 
dent he  was  made  prisoner.  *  *  *  This  enterprise 
was  considered,  by  both  armies,  among  the  handsomest 
exploits  of  the  war.  Simcoe  executed  completely  his 
object,  then  deemed  very  important;  *  *  *  What  is 
very  extraordinary,  Lt.-Col.  Simcoe,  being  obliged  to  feed 
once  in  the  course  of  the  night,  stopped  at  a  depot  of 
forage  collected  for  the  Continental  army,  assumed  the 
character  of  Lee's  cavalry,  waked  up  the  commissary  about 
midnight,  drew  the  customary  allowance  of  forage  and 
gave  the  usual  vouchers,  signing  the  name  of  the  legion 
quarter-master,  without  being  discovered  by  the  American 
forage  commissary  or  his  assistants.  The  dress  of  both 
corps  was  the  same,  green  coatees  and  leather  breeches; 
yet  the  success  of  the  strategem  is  astonishing." 

An  account  of  the  affair  which,  although  brief,  is,  from 
an  American  standpoint  at  least,  the  most  nearly  com- 
plete, but  which,  unfortunately,  is  the  most  inaccessible 
by  the  general  public,  is  given  in  Captain  Moses  Guest's 

*  Simcoe  was  in  advance. 


14 

"  Poems  and  Journal,"  two  editions  of  which  were  pub- 
hshed  in  Cincinnati  in  the  years  1823  and  1824,  respec- 
tively. The  '■  Journal  "  commences  under  date  of  March 
lOth,  1784.  On  page  144  Capt.  Guest  relates  that  while 
on  his  way  returning  from  Canada  (wither  he  had  gone  to 
dispose  of  some  hides)  he  reached  Dumont's  Ferry,  De- 
cember nth,  1796.  This  ferry  was,  a  century  ago,  located 
on  the  Hudson  river  about  two  miles  and  one-half  below 
Fort  Miller.  A  toll-bridge  has  since  been  erected  at  that 
point,  and  the  Champlain  canal  also  crosses  the  river  in 
that  immediate  vicinity.  Mr.  Dumont,  the  proprietor, 
was,  in  all  probabiUty,  Peter  Dumont  the  father  of  Lydia 
Dumont,  who  was  the  wife  of  Captain  Guest.  That 
the  latter's  version  of  the  incident  in  question  may  lose 
none  of  its  value  as  historical  evidence,  it  is  here  quoted 
verbatim:  "  Mr.  Dumont  informed  me  that  he  had  lately 
seen  a  Gen.  Whitney,  who  lives  in  New  York,  who  stated 
that  he  had  lately  visited  Governor  Simcoe  in  Upper 
Canada,  and  that,  in  a  conversation  which  he  had  with  him 
concerning  his  being  taken  prisoner  in  New  Jersey,  he 
expressed  a  strong  desire  to  see  the  ofihcer  who  com- 
manded the  party  that  captured  him,  as,  he  said,  by  his 
instrumentality  his  life  was  preserved  after  he  had  sur- 
rendered. I  shall  here  explain  this  affair.  On  the  25th 
day  of  October,  1779,  Simcoe,  who  then  commanded  a 
regiment  of  horse  in  the  British  service,  crossed  over  from 
Staten-Island,  at  the  Blazing  Star  ferry,  to  the  Jersey 
shore  in  the  night  with  75  horsemen.  His  main  object 
was  to  take  Governor  Livingston  prisoner,  which  he  ex- 
pected to  do  by  surprise.     Simcoe  was  not  discovered  to 


IS 

be  an  enemy  until  he  had  got  seven  miles  north  of  N. 
Brunswick,  at  Quibble  town,  from  which  place  an  express 
was  despatched  to  Col.  John  Neilson,  at  N.  Brunswick,  who 
immediately  ordered  out  his  regiment.  We  were  soon 
marched  to  the  bridge  at  Raritan  landing.  From  Quib- 
ble town  Col.  Simcoe  proceeded  rapidly  to  Col.  Van  Home's 
house,  at  Middlebrook.  He  was  much  disappointed  in 
not  finding  the  governor  there.**  He  then  went  on  to 
Van  Vechten's  bridge,  on  the  Raritan  river,  and  set  fire  to 
some  forage  and  fiat-bottom  boats;  from  which  he  went 
to  Millstone,  a  small  town  8  miles  NW.  of  Brunswick;  here 
he  set  fire  to  the  courthouse  and  jail.  While  we  were  at 
the  landing  bridge  we  discovered  the  smoke  of  those  build- 
ings. It  was  then  thought  probable  that  the  enemy  would 
endeavor  to  pass  this  bridge  in  their  retreat.  Col.  Neil- 
son,  therefore,  continued  there,  being  in  hopes  of  cutting 
off  their  retreat,  and  despatched  me  with  thirty-five  men, 
with  orders  to  endeavor  to  fall  in  with  them,  and  to  annoy 
them  as  much  as  possible.  Soon  after  getting  on  the  road 
leading  from  Millstone  village  to  the  bridge,  I  was  informed 
by  an  express,  that  the  enemy  was  within  a  few  hundred 
yards  of  me;  I  had  just  time  to  get  to  an  open  piece  of 
woods  when  they  made  their  appearance.  We  attacked 
them  as  they  came  up;  but  they  came  on  so  rapidly,  that 
we  could  only  give  them  one  discharge.  Col.  Simcoe's 
horse  received  three  balls,  fell  on  him,  and  bruised  him  very 

**In  his  "Journal,"  Simcoe  speaks  of  "  Boundbrook,"  "  from  whence," 
he  says,  "he  intended  to  carry  ofF  Col.  Moyland,  but  he  was  not  at  Mr. 
Van  Horn's,"  (no  reference  being  made  to  Governor  Livingston).  "The 
Governor  was  then  at  New  Brunswick,"  says  Capt.  Guest  in  a  foot-note. 
See  Appendix  No.  3,  page  144. 


i6 


badly;*  there  was  one  man  killed  and  several  wounded. 
I  left  a  physician  with  Simcoe  and  proceeded  on.  We 
soon  found  his  party  had  halted  on  the  heights  west  of 
Brunswick.  They  sent  a  doctor  and  his  servant  to  us, 
bearing  a  flag.  The  doctor  requested  permission  to  at- 
tend Col.  Simcoe  which  was  granted;  but  as  the  enemy 
was  proceeding  on  their  retreat  whilst  the  flag  was  nego- 
tiating, which  is  contrary  to  the  rules  of  war,  the  doctor 
and  his  servant  were  considered  as  prisoners.  After  Sim- 
coe fell.  Major  Stuart  (a  refugee  who  had  piloted  him) 
took  the  command.  Soon  after  we  dismissed  the  doctor, 
we  witnessed  a  scene  that  was  truly  distressing.  We 
found  Captain  Peter  Voorheis  lying  in  the  road,  mortally 
wounded,  and,  to  all  apearance,  nearly  breathing  his  last 
breath.  He  had  just  returned  from  General  Sullivan's 
army,  and,  with  a  few  militia  horsemen,  was  pursuing  so 
close  on  the  enemy's  rear  as  to  cause  a  detachment  to  sally 
out. — They  soon  came  up  with  him  and  cut  him  with  thei*- 
broad  swords  in  a  most  shocking  manner,  which  caused  his 
death  in  a  few  hours.  We  pursued  them  until  we  got  to 
South-river  bridge,  eight  miles  south  of  Brunswick,  at 
which  place  we  received  information  that  500  men  had 
been  landed  at  South  Amboy  to  cover  their  retreat,  and 
that  they  were  embarking  for  Staten  Island." 

"  Many  persons,  I  doubt  not,  think  it  strange  that  Col. 
Simcoe  could  penetrate  so  far  into  so  thick  a  settled 

*  Simcoe's  horse  was  shot  near  De  Mot's  tavern,  about  two  miles  west  of 
New  Brunswick,  and  "both  horse  and  rider  came  to  the  ground."  See 
"  Historical  Collections  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey,"  compiled  b)'  John  W. 
Barber  and  Henry  Howe,  page  455,  (New  York,  1844). 


country  without  receiving  more  injury  than  he  did.  It 
was  not  occasioned  by  the  inactivity  of  the  Jersey  miHtia, 
who  had  greatly  distinguished  themselves  for  their  zeal 
and  activity  during  the  Revolutionary  war  in  defending 
the  liberties  of  their  country,  but  it  was  occasioned  by 
their  getting  a  considerable  distance  in  the  country,  envel- 
oped in  the  shades  of  night ;  by  their  having  the  address  to 
pass  in  many  places  for  the  American  horse,  and  by  the 
rapidity  with  which  they  proceeded.  Simcoe  was,  in  the 
Revolutionary  War,  to  the  northern,  what  Tarlton  was  to 
the  southern  army;  they  were  both  zealous  partizans  and 
capable  of  undertaking  and  executing  any  daring  enter- 
prise." 

The  above  concludes  Capt.  Guest's  account.  It  is  fully 
corroborated,  in  all  essential  particulars,  by  Simcoe's 
"  Journal."  A  few  differences  there  are,  especially  as  to 
the  manner  of  death  of  Capt.  Voorhees,  but  even  in  this 
Capt.  Guest  is  supported  by  other  authorities  which  space 
will  not  permit  fully  referring  to  in  this  place.  Further- 
more, Simcoe's  "  Journal  "  was  first  published  at  a  time 
when  he  seeking  advancement  on  the  strength  of  his  mili- 
tary services,  and  he  naturally  endeavored  to  report  the 
actions  of  his  "  Rangers  "  in  such  a  way  as  to  reflect  no 
discredit  upon  that  corps.  Simcoe  says  that  "  the  enemy 
who  fired  were  not  five  yards  off;  they  consisted  of  thirty 
men  commanded  by  Mariner,  a  refugee  from  New  York, 
and  wellknown  for  his  enterprises  with  whaleboats."  In 
this  Simcoe  was  laboring  under  a  misapprehension.  The 
actual  command  of  the  party  was  vested  in  Capt.  Moses 

2 


Guest.*  It  is  quite  probable,  however,  that  this  "  Mar- 
iner "  was  left  in  charge  of  Simcoe  after  the  latter  was  cap- 
tured, Capt.  Guest  going  in  pursuit  of  the  retreating 
Rangers  as  related  in  his  account.  In  fact,  Simcoe,  in  the 
appendix  to  his  book,  says  that  "  Marrener  prevented  a 
boy  from  bayoneting  him  as  he  lay  senseless  on  the 
ground,  saying  '  let  him  alone  the  rascal  is  dead  enough.'  " 
Marrener  was  subsequently  captured  while  Simcoe  was  at 
Charlestown  and  was,  by  the  latter's  request  to  Sir  Henry 
Clinton,  allowed  to  return  home  on  his  parole. 

The  circumstances  attending  Simcoe's  imprisonment 
and  subsequent  release  on  December  27th,  1779,  will  be 
found  fully  recited  in  the  appendix  to  his  "  Journal,"  pages 
264-286. 

Simcoe  was  appointed  Lieutenant-Governor  of  Upper 
Canada  about  1791.  Captain  Guest  removed  from  New 
Brunswick  to  Cincinnati  in  1817.  It  will  not,  perhaps,  be 
considered  in  bad  taste  to  mention  here  that  one  of  his 
daughters,  Lydia  Jane,  married  John  M'Pike  (the  writer's 
paternal  grandfather).     The  latter  (himself  a  son   of  a 

*See  "Official  Register  of  the  Officers  and  Men  of  New  Jersey,  in  the 
Revolutionary  War,"  compiled  by  order  of  the  Legislature  by  Wm.  S. 
Stryker,  Adjutant  General  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey  (Trenton,  1S72). 
This  work  shows  that  Moses  Guest  was  an  ensign  in  Captain  Voorhees' 
company.  Third  Middlesex  Regiment,  on  Sept.  8,  1777,  and  afterwards  was 
a  captain  in  the  Second  Middlesex  Regiment. 

See  also  the  "History  of  Hunterdon  and  Somerset  Counties,"  New 
Jersey,  edited  by  James  P.  Snell,  published  by  Everts  &  Peck,  Philadel- 
phia, 1881;  pages  75,  76  and  77,  which  gives  quite  a  full  account  of  Simcoe's 
raid,  based  partly  on  Simcoe's  report  and  partly  on  writings  of  Hon.  Ralph 
Voorhees,  a  frequent  writer  of  New  Jersey  Revolutionary  history.  Refer- 
ence is  made,  specifically,  to  the  fact  that  "An  American  party  under  com- 
mind  of  Capt.  C««^  had  formed  an  ambuscade." 


^9 

patriot  soldier  of  the  revolution,  Capt.  James  McPike,  of 
Baltimore,  Maryland)  was  a  member  of  the  Committee  for 
the  Public  Reception  of  General  Lafayette  in  Cincinnati 
when  that  distinguished  "  hero  of  two  continents  "  visited 
America  in  1824-25. 

********* 
There  are  those  for  whom  history  has  no  charms,  but 
they  are  fast  becoming  pleasingly  few  in  number.  Than 
the  records  of  the  past  we  have  no  other  measure  of  rela- 
tive greatness  nor  of  progress.  That  latest  "  fad,"  gene- 
alogy, which  has  been  so  much  encouraged  recently  by  the 
various  patriotic-hereditary  societies,  is  largely  to  be  cred- 
ited with  having  caused  a  revival  of  historical  reading,  and 
for  this  service  all  the  many  charges  against  it,  in  the  Court 
of  Public  Opinion,  should  be  endorsed  on  the  docket, 
"  nolle  prosequi." 

Note. — The  substance  of  the  foregoing  sketch  was  first  printed  in  The 
American  Mait/i/v  Majrazine  (Washington,  D.  C).  December,  18Q7. 

Bibliography.  —Simcoe's  "  Military  Journal,"  (New  York,  1844I;  Lee's 
Memoirs  of  the  War,  etc..  second  edition,  pages  iQ2-igT;  Guest's  "  Poems 
and  Journal,"  (Cincinnati,  1823-24);  "Centennial  History  of  Somerset 
County,"  New  Jersey,  by  Abraham  Messier,  D.  D.,  pages  102-109,  (Somer- 
ville,  1878) ;  "Annals  of  Staten  Island,"  by  J.  J.  Ch.te  (New  York,  1877), 
pages  102-iog;  "Historical  Collections  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey,"  by 
Barber  &  Howe  (New  York,  1844),  page  455,  and  "  History  of  Hunterdon 
and  Somerset  Counties,"  New  Jersey,  bv  Jas.  P.  Snell  'Philadelphia,  18S1). 
It  is  probable  that  the  history  of  Middlesex  county,  New  Jersey,  also  con- 
tains mention  of  the  affair,  though  we  have  not  perused  this  latter  work. 

"A  Cyclopsedia  of  Canadian  Biography"  by  Geo  McLean  Rose  (Toronto, 
1888),  gives  a  brief  sketch  of  the  life  of  Simcoe;  page  181. 


Henry  Guest,  Amepican  Patriot, 

New  Brunswick,  New  Jersey. 

Among  the  American  patriots  residing  in  New  Bruns- 
wick, Middlesex  county,  New  Jersey,  during  the  war  of 
Independence  was  Henry  Guest.  Of  his  life  compara- 
tively little  is  known,  but  we  learn  that  he  was  a  tanner 
from  the  following  amusing  incident  found  in  an  Amer- 
ican magazine:* 

"  Henry  Guest,  of  New  Brunswick,  was  a  tanner,  and 
was  effectually  curried  by  the  enemy.  In  his  inventory  is 
an  item  of  '122  Slaughter  Hides  from  Fort  Lee,'  which 
just  afterwards  capitulated  to  the  British.  This  item  re- 
vives the  recollection  of  an  incident  of  the  Revolution 
which  I  have  heard  related  by  my  grandfather  [the  late 
Jacob  Dunham,  M.  D.,  of  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.].  The 
British  had  erected  a  fort  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Raritan 
opposite  New  Brunswick,  hard  by  the  county  bridge, 
which  overlooked  and  commanded  the  town.  From  this 
fort  they  were  expecting  the  approach  of  a  body  of  Amer- 
ican troops  by  way  of  the  road  from  Trenton  and  Prince- 
ton, and  were  vigilantly  on  the  lookout.  One  night  Mr. 
Guest,  whose  tannery  was  on  the  extreme  westerly  bounds 

*From  Harpei's  Magazine,  copyright,  1874,  by  Harper  &  Brothers,  by 
whose  kind  permission  the  above  reprint  is  presented.  This  was  first 
quoted  by  the  Editor  hereof  in  The  American  Historical  Register  (Boston), 
April,  1897,  page  168.  The  original  article  from  which  it  was  taken  will 
be  found  in  Harpers'  for  July,  1874,  page  238,  under  title  "A  Glimpse  of 
'  Seventy-six;'  "  author,  Charles  D.  Deshler,  Esq.,  of  New  Brunswick,  New 
Jersey.  The  entire  sketch  is  an  exceedingly  interesting  tribute  to  the 
unimpeachable  loyalty  of^Middlesex  county. 


of  the  town,  at  the  intersection  of  what  is  now  Livingston 
avenue  and  New  street,  put  out  a  large  number  of  hides 
to  dry  —  possibly  the  identical  ones  above  named  —  hang- 
ing them  on  his  fences.  When  the  sun  rose  next  morn- 
ing the  British  mistook  these  hides  for  the  long-expected 
'  rebels,'  and  opened  a  brisk  cannonade  across  the  river 
upon  them.  But  the  fire  made  no  impression  on  the  foe. 
who  held  their  position  with  the  greatest  firmness  and 
good  order.  No  British  veterans  were  more  unflinching 
than  they  and  the  matter  began  to  wear  a  serious  aspect. 
It  was  not  until  spy-glasses  were  brought  to  bear  upon 
them  that  it  was  discovered  that  they  had  been  spending 
the  fire  of  their  batteries  for  several  hours  upon  a  lot  of 
'  recreant '  skins.  When  this  was  ascertained  there  was 
a  sudden  cessation  of  hostilities,  and  the  joke  becoming 
widely  known,  caused  great  merriment  at  the  expense  of 
the  '  red-coats  '  among  all  good  patriots  in  the  town." 

As  the  inventory  of  damages  sustained  by  Henry  Guest, 
above  referred  to,  may  be  deemed  of  general  interest  as 
illustrative  of  the  form  of  tliose  documents  which  are  con- 
tained in  a  valuable  relic  known  as  the  "  Record  of  the 
Damages  done  by  the  British  and  their  Adherents  to  the 
Inhabitants  of  Middlesex  County,"  New  Jersey,  preserved 
in  the  State  Library  at  Trenton,  New  Jersey,  the  following 
literal  copy  thereof  is  given.* 

Inventory  of  Sundries  taken,  burned  and  distroyed  by 
the  Enemy  and  their  Adherents,  between  the  ist  Deer. 

I  ,  *  Kindness  of  Charles  D.  Deshler,  Esq.,  New  Brunswick,  New  Jersey. 


1776  and  the  20th  June  1777,  the  property  of  Henry  Guest 
of  New  Brunswick 


from 

Deer.  1776 

to  20th 

June  1777 

£ 

5. 

d. 

To  8  tons  of  Engh  hay  ist  qu  ty 

24 

0 

0 

I  Horse  cost  £12 

12 

0 

0 

122  Slaughter  Hides  had  from  Fort  Lee 

lOI 

13 

4 

damage  done  my  outbuildings  worth  £20 

15 

0 

0 

SCO  feet  of  Bilsted  Boards 

I 

15 

0 

Garden  fence  contain  g  1750  foot  board 

at  SI. 

4 

7 

6 

Posts,  workmen  &  Rails 

3 

0 

0 

I  small  building 

5 

0 

0 

362  pannels  of  goods  post  and  rail 
fence,  4  rails  high 

I  featherbed,  3  pots,  i  table,  12  chairs 
and  a  number  of  small  articles  in 
the  household  way  not  enumerated 

12  pair  of  Shoes  &  i  pr.  of  Boots 

I  Doz.  Calf  Skins 

I  Brass  Blunderbush 

3  Fire  Locks 


6 

16 

0 

6 

0 

0 

3 

15 

0 

ID 

ID 

0 

£235    16    10 


Henry  Guest  being  Sworn  Saith  that  the  above  Inven- 
tory is  just  and  true.     And  that  he  was  knowing  to  the 


23 

British  Troops  taking  all  the  said  Articles.  And  that  he 
has  not  received  any  Satisfaction  for  any  one  thing  Con- 
tained in  this  Inventory. 

Henry  Guest. 
Sworn  before  me 

Jos.  Olden 

We  learn,  also,  that  John  Guest,  probably  a  brother  of 
Henry,  sustained  similar  damages  aggregating  the  sum  of 
fii6,  5.?.,  as  evidenced  by  his  afBdavit  deposited  in  the 
same  place. 

Henry  and  John  Guest  were  both  members  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  of  New  Brunswick,  New  Jersey,  their 
names  appearing  in  the  list  of  1786. 

The  precise  date  of  Henry  Guest's  decease  does  not  ap- 
pear from  any  items  in  our  possession,  but  his  son.  Captain 
Moses  Guest,  in  his  "  Journal,"  second  edition  (Cincinnati, 
1824),  page  118,  refers  to  his  "  aged  father,"  under  date  of 
November  ist,  1785.  He  long  survived  this  date,  how- 
ever, as  is  shown  by  an  interesting  letter  from  that  sturdy 
patriot,  John  Adams,  the  second  President  of  the  United 
States.  The  original  of  this  letter,  clearly  proving  the 
high  esteem  in  which  Henry  Guest  was  held  by  even  his 
noblest  contemporaries,  is  in  the  possession  -  of  Rev. 
Andrew  J.  Reynolds,  of  Norwood,  a  suburb  of  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  to  whose  kindness  we  are  indebted  for  the  privilege 
of  presenting  the  following  copy:* 

*  Originally  contributed  by  the  Editor  to  the  "Spirit  of  Seventy-six" 
(New  York),  January,  1898. 


24 

"  QuiNCY,  February  5,  181 1. 
"  Venerable  Sir, 

"  Thanks  for  your  favor  of  the  28th  of  January.  Im- 
prisoned by  a  tremenduous  Snow  Storm,  which  has  now 
raged  for  Six  days  and  blockaded  all  the  roads  worse  than 
King  George's  Proclamations,  and  Seated  before  a  com- 
fortable Fire  Side,  it  gives  me  pleasure  to  answer  you. 

"  It  is  not  at  all  improbable  that  I  may  get '  the  start  of 
you  to  the  world  of  souls.'  There  we  shall  have  neither 
Snow  storms  nor  political  Earthquakes,  no  Politicians,  no 
Conquerors,  no  Philosophists,  as  I  hope  and  beheve. 

"  Don  Onis's  Motto  for  your  Invention  is  excellent. 
'  Libertad  o'  La  Muerte  '  is  admirable  for  a  War  Flail. 

"  Of  the  war  in  Spain,  or  at  least  of  its  Issue  and  termi- 
nation I  can  form  no  competent  Judgment.  About  an 
hundred  years  ago,  Louis  14th  sett  up  the  Duke  of  Anjon, 
and  the  Roman  Emperor,  The  Queen  of  England  and  the 
States  of  Holland  sett  up  the  Arch  Duke  Charles  of  Aus- 
tria, for  King  of  Spain,  and  after  ravaging  and  desolating 
that  Kingdom  for  many  years,  and  consuming  the  Lives  of 
two  or  three  hundred  Thousand  soldiers,  Louis  carried  his 
Point  at  last. 

"  Is  Napoleon  a  greater  '  Tyrant '  than  Louis,  or  his 
army  more  'rascally '  than  that  of  Germany,  Holland  or 
England? 

"  Fifty  years  ago  I  saw  a  History  of  Mesnager,  an  Emis- 
sary that  Louis  14th  sent  over  to  England,  under  pretence 
of  sounding  the  Disposition  of  the  British  Ministry  to 
make  Peace,  of  his  Intrigues  and  Negotiations  for  that 
purpose  in  pursuance  of  Instructions  from  Louis  himself. 


25 

"  Louis  was  desirous  of  i'cace:  but  if  the  war  must  be 
continued,  he  wished  it  to  be  in  Spain  rather  than  in  Ger- 
many where  Marlborough  and  Eugene  commanded,  and 
where  Enghsh,  Dutch  and  German  armies  were  more 
numerous  and  more  easily  supported  than  in  Spain. 

"  Mesneger  says  that  after  some  secret  conferences  with 
the  secret  agents  of  the  Ministry,  and  finding  that  Terms 
of  Peace  were  not  to  be  had  upon  Louis's  conditions,  he 
had  resort  according  to  his  Instructions  to  his  Ulterior 
Measures.  He  made  Inquiry  after  the  fine  Writers,  of 
whom  Great  Britain  had  good  Store,  and  excellent  in  their 
kind,  and  withal  very  cheap.  Of  these  he  engaged  a 
Number  upon  terms  which  they  thought  generous,  to 
write  for  him.  As  the  Passion  of  the  English  is  for  war, 
he  studied  to  gratify  it,  and  at  the  same  time  to  give  it 
such  a  direction  as  he  and  his  Master  wished. 

"  Immediately  the  Newspapers  appeared  full  of  Para- 
graphs and  Speculations  recommending  a  vigorous  prose- 
cution of  the  War,  especially  in  Spain.  Bulky  Pamphlets 
issued  from  the  press  urging  and  elaborately  proving  the 
Policy  and  Necessity  of  a  vigorous  prosecution  of  the  war, 
and  especially  in  Spain.  The  Conversation  of  the  same 
men  of  Letters  and  all  other  Persons  at  the  Coffee  Houses, 
was,  now  is  the  time  to  humble  the  House  of  Bourbon  by 
a  vigorous  Prosecution  of  the  War  and  especially  in  Spain. 
This  was  followed  by  addresses  in  the  same  strain,  from 
various  other  Cities  and  Corporations  in  all  parts  of  the 
Kingdom. 

"  In  the  due  Course  of  Time,  Paliament  met,  and  was 
opened  by  a  Speech  from  the  Throne  in  which  the  Queen 


26 

recommended  to  her  faithful  Lords  and  Commons,  a  vig- 
orous Prosecution  of  the  war,  especially  in  Spain.  The 
speech  was  answered  by  the  House  of  Lords  and  House  of 
Commons  assuring  her  Majesty  of  the  zealous  support  of 
her  faithful  and  loving  subjects  in  a  vigorous  Prosecution 
of  the  War,  especially  in  Spain. 

"  The  war  was  prosecuted  till  the  Allies  were  exhausted 
and  compelled  to  Consent  to  the  Spanish  succession  in  the 
Treaty  of  Utrecht. 

"  I  fear  Napoleon  is  pursuing  Mesnager's  Policy,  and 
that  he  will  have  Mesnager's  success. 

"  I  am  Sir,  your  good  Friend, 

"  John  Ad.\ms. 

"  I  have  sent  your  Prayer  to  Mr.  Murray. 
"  Henry  Guest  Esqr." 

The  house  in  which  Henry  Guest  lived  during  the  Revo- 
lution, and  in  which  his  son  Captain  Moses  Guest,  and 
other  children  were  probably  bom,  is  still  standing  in  the 
city  of  New  "Brunswick,  New  Jersey,  in  a  state  of  good 
preservation  and  is  one  of  the  oldest  houses  in  the  town. 
The  foundation  is  of  stone,  while  the  superstructure  is 
brick,  painted  to  resemble  the  stone  in  color.*  A  frame 
addition  on  the  rear  is  a  modern  improvement.  Accord- 
ing to  family  tradition,  which  is  not  altogether  clear,  this 

•The  Editor  possesses  a  photograph  of  the  old  "Guest  mansion,"  taken 
some  fifteen  years  ago,  which  was  presented  to  him  by  Charles  D.  Dcshler. 
Esq.,  of  New  Brunswick,  in  1897.  The  Editor's  father  is  the  fortunate 
owner  of  a  family  heirloom,  an  old  "Revolutionary  looking-glass,"  (as  it  is 
called)  which  was  in  the  "  Guest  mansion  "  and  which  was,  undoubtedly, 
used  by  Lafayette  and  other  notables.     It  is  verj'  highly  prized. 


27 

house  was  captured  by  the  British  with  the  intention  of 
using  it  as  their  headquarters,  but  Captain  Moses  Guest, 
it  is  said,  led  a  charge  and  rescued  it.  His  father,  Henry 
Guest,  "  who  was  then  very  old,  unable  to  walk,  wheeled 
in  his  chair,  avenged  the  death  of  Captain  Voorhees,*  and 
saved  the  life,  out  of  mercy,  of  Colonel  Simcoe  of  the  retir- 
ing English  army." 


Meeting-  Between  Henry  Laurens  and  Captain  Moses 
Guest,  at  Charleston,  S.  C. 

The  success  of  the  Airierican  Revolution  is,  of  course, 
largely  to  be  ascribed  to  the  relatively  great  number  of 
American  patriots  of  commanding  personality  then  living. 
Such  men  as  Washington,  John  Adams,  Hamilton  and 
Franklin,  for  example,  each  widely  different  from  the 
others  in  his  particular  talents  and  power,  together  made 
a  force  which  could  hardly  prove  other  than  irresistible. 
A  still  closer  analysis  reveals  an  almost  numberless  assem- 
blage of  men  possessing  the  soundest  sense  and  broadest 
intelligence.  Some,  however,  were  remarkable,  not  only 
for  their  wisdom  and  executive  ability,  but  also  for  the 
faculty  of  attracting  others  by  their  own  affectionate  tem- 
perament. Occupying  a  peculiarly  unique  position  in  the 
history  of  that  period  is  Henry  I.aurens.  Many  of  his 
admirable  traits  of  character  are  explained  by  the  fact  that 
he  had  good,  sturdy,  faithful,  yet  vivacious,  French-Hu- 

*  Captain  Peter  Voorhees'  death  occurred  October  26,  1779,  as  was 
shown  in  the  preceding  sketch.  Some  of  the  minor  details  of  the  tradi- 
tionary account  above  quoted  are  difficult  of  confirmation. 


28 


guenot  blood  in  his  veins.  We  are  told*  that  he  was  born 
at  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  in  1724,  of  Calvinistic 
parents,  who  had  quitted  France  after  the  revocation  of 
the  Edict  of  Nantez,  and  first  settled  at  New  York,  but 
who  subsequently  removed  to  the  capital  of  Carolina.  To 
follow  the  career  of  Henry  Laurens  in  detail,  though  a 
pleasant  task,  would  not  be  wholly  to  our  purpose.  His 
mission  to  Holland,  to  negotiate  a  loan  for  the  United 
States,  his  capture  on  the  high  seas  by  the  British,  the 
consequent  war  between  Great  Britain  and  the  United 
Netherlands,  together  with  his  confinement  in  the  Tower 
of  London,  and  unswerAang  loyalty  to  the  cause  of  his 
country,  are  facts  known  to  all  readers  of  American  his- 
tory. He  finally  retired  to  private  life,  which  he  seemed 
to  most  wish  for,  and  died  in  Charleston,  December  8, 
1792.  A  few  years  before  his  death  he  was  visited  by  Cap- 
tain Moses  Guest,  who  has  left  usf  the  following  brief 
but  touching  account  of  their  meeting: 

"  I  continued  to  follow  the  sea  vmtil  the  20th  of  Feb- 
ruary, I788,§  but  as  no  occurrences  which  were  deemed 
sufificiently  interesting  to  justify  their  publication  took 
place  during  the  prosecution  of  several  voyages  not 
noticed  in  my  journal,  and  as  I  have  given  a  particular 
description  of  all  the  places  to  which  I  sailed,  I  shall  con- 

*  Excellent  biographical  sketches,  of  both  Henry  Laurens  and  his  son, 
Colonel  John  Laurens,  respective!)',  are  contained  in  "  History  of  the 
French  Protestant  Refugees,"  by  Charles  Weiss;  translated  by  Frederick 
Hardman  (Edinburgh  and  London,  1854),  pages  318-328. 

f  Captain  Moses  Guest's  "Poems  and  Journal,"  second  edition  (Cin- 
cinnati, 1824),  page  119. 

§  "  I  then  sold  my  vessel  at  Charleston." 


29 

elude  this  part  of  my  journal  by  observing  that  when  I 
made  my  first  voyage  to  Charleston  in  South  Carolina,  I 
had  letters  of  introduction  from  Judge  Patterson,  of  New 
Brunswick,  to  the  Hon.  Henry  Laurens  and  Doctor  David 
Ramsey.  The  Doctor  treated  me  with  much  civility,  but 
from  Mr.  Laurens  I  experienced  an  affectionate  attach- 
ment such  as  I  had  never  before  met  with  from  any  person 
in  all  my  travels.  He  often  advised  me  to  sell  my  vessel 
and  settle  in  Charleston.  The  day  previous  to  my  sailing 
for  N.  Brunswick  I  dined  with  him,  and,  on  my  rising  to 
take  leave, he  grasped  my  hand  and  expressed  himself  thus: 
'  As  you  are  nov^r  about  to  return  to  Jersey,  and  expect  to 
quit  the  sea,  it  is  not  likely  we  shall  ever  meet  again  in 
this  world;  but  I  hope  and  trust  we  shall  meet  in  a  better. 
I  will  not  say  I  have  a  regard  for  you;  it  is  too  cold  an 
expression;  I  must  say  I  love  you.'  He  then  bade  me  an 
affectionate  farewell." 


Dr.  Edmund  Halley. 

The  discoverers  of  that  which  has  had  the  effect  of  caus- 
ing our  geographical  text-books  and  maps  to  be  amplified 
and  corrected,  are  given  great  praise,  and  rightly  so,  but 
the  "  explorers  of  the  heavens  "  must  also  be  accorded 
their  due  credit  for  having  rendered,  in  many  instances, 
those  very  discoveries  possible.  Without  the  assistance 
which  Astronomy  has  given  Navigation  men  would  not  go 
down  to  the  sea  with  as  free  hearts  as  they  do.  Fame, 
astronomically,  is  no  more  easily  obtained  than  in  other 
departments    of    knowledge.     Patience,    endurance    and 


30 

sound  judgment  are  qualities  as  necessary  in  the  one  as  in 
the  others.  The  searcher  of  the  skies  traverses  the 
ethereal  depths  with  no  compass  but  analogy.  His  goal, 
oft  times,  is  the  invisible. 

Among  the  most  brilliant  names  which  the  science  oi 
the  stars  has  given  to  the  world  is  that  of  Edmund  Halley, 
who  is,  perhaps,  best,  or  most  popularly,  known  as  the  dis- 
coverer of  "  Halley's  comet,"  or  rather  the  first  to  predict 
its  return  (which  event,  by  the  way,  will,  it  is  expected, 
again  occur  about  191 1),  although  that  was  but  one  of  his 
many  and  varied  achievements.  Probably  the  most  nearly 
accessible  extant  life  of  Halley  is  the  brief  sketch  in  the 
Encyclopedia  Britannica ;  further  mention  of  him,  however, 
being  made  in  the  same  work  in  the  articles  Newton  and 
Astronomy  respectively.  The  sketch  by  "  A.  M.  C."  in  the 
twenty-fourth  volume  of  Stephens'  Dictionary  of  National 
Biography  (New  York,  1890),  is  much  fuller,  and  at  the 
conclusion  thereof  is  given  an  invaluable  bibliography  of 
the  subject.*  No  biography  of  Edmund  Halley  has  ever 
been  published,  although  the  prominent  part  taken  by  him 
in  the  affairs  of  the  Royal  Society  and  the  priceless  service 
he  rendered  in  the  first  publication  of  Sir  Isaac  Newton's 
Principia,  as  well  as  his  own  important  discoveries,  com- 
bine to  make  his  life  one  of  great  interest. t     He  was  born 

*  The  careful  reader,  however,  will  do  well  to  peruse  also,  what  Sir 
David  Brewster  has  to  say  about  the  character  of  Dr.  Halley,  in  the  former's 
Life  of  Sir  Isaac  Newton  (1855),  Vol.  II,  pages  164-165,  including  foot-notes. 

f  It  is,  indeed  surprising  that  no  biography  of  Dr.  Halley  has  been 
published.  The  material  is  not  inaccessible.  It  would  seem  that  in  view 
of  the  expected  return  of  "  Halley's  comet,"  and  the  great  public  interest 
which  will  be  thereby  aroused,  such  a  work  could  be  printed  at  a  profit  to  all 
concerned. 


31 

at  Haggerston,  in  the  parish  of  St.  Leonard,  Shoreditch, 
London,  England,  October  29th,  1656  (O.  S.),  in  the  third 
year  of  the  Protectorate  of  Oliver  Cromwell.  Of  his 
ancestry  no  information  appears  to  remain  further  than  the 
statement  that  his  father  (who  was  also  named  Edmund 
Halley  and  was  a  member  of  a  worthy  Derbyshire  family) 
was  a  wealthy  citizen  and  owned  and  operated  a  soap  man- 
ufactory in  Winchester  street,  London.  Halley's  remark- 
able scientific  career  cannot,  in  this  place,  be  detailed  or 
reviewed.  The  investigating  student  has  at  his  command 
ample  means  of  information  on  this  subject.  Lord  Mac- 
auley,  in  his  "  History  of  England."  says  that  "  Edmund 
Halley  investigated  the  properties  of  the  atmosphere,  the 
ebb  and  flow  of  the  sea,  the  laws  of  magnetism  and  the 
course  of  the  comets;  nor  did  he  shrink  from  toil,  peril  and 
exile  in  the  cause  of  science.  While  he,  on  the  rock  of  St. 
Helena,  mapped  the  constellations  of  the  southern  hemis- 
phere, our  National  Observatory  was  rising  at  Green- 
wich." He  was  elected  a  Fellow  of  the  Royal  Society  in 
the  latter  part  of  the  year  1678.  In  1682  he  married  Mary 
Tooke,  a  daughter  of  the  Auditor  of  the  Exchequer,  "  witli 
whom  he  lived  harmoniously  for  fifty-five  years."  After 
his  marriage  he  took  up  his  residence  at  Islington.  It  was 
about  two  years  later  (August,  1684)  when  he  made  the 
well-known  visit  to  Sir  Isaac  Newton  at  Cambridge,  re- 
sulting, ultimately,  in  the  publication  of  the  Principia,  that 
wonderful  work  which  caused  a  revolution  in  the  most 
essential  branches  of  natural  philosophy.  By  a  combina- 
tion of  circumstances,  Dr.  Halley  assumed  not  only  the 
labor  but  the  actual  expense  of  publishing  this  great  work. 


32 

although  at  much  pecuniary  hazard  to  himself,  and  for  this 
he  is  assuredly  entitled  to  the  lasting  gratitude  of  pos- 
terity. To  the  Principia  Halley  prefixed  a  set  of  Latin 
hexameters,  composed  by  himself  and  addressed  to  the 
author,  the  concluding  line  being: 

Nee  fas  est  propius  mortali  attingere  Divos. 

So  near  the  gods  —  man  cannot  nearer  go. 

Dr.  Halley  departed  this  life  January  14th,  1742,  fully 
possessed  of  all  his  faculties,  in  the  eighty-sixth  year  of  his 
age.  English  people,  or  those  of  English  descent,  who 
themselves,  or  whose  ancestors  did,  bear  the  surname 
"  Halley,"  may,  with  justifiable  pride,  point  to  this  "  inde- 
fatigable astronomer,"  if  not  as  an  actual  progenitor,  at 
least  as  an  early  and  highly  honored  representative  of  the 
family.*  Sir  David  Brewster  says  of  him  that  he  "  was 
one  of  the  most  distinguished  and  accomplished  philoso- 
phers of  the  seventeenth  and  eighteenth  centuries,"  and 
adds**  the  following  quotation  from  the  Eloge  of  Halley 
by  M.  Mairan:   "  While  we  thought   the   elogium   of  an 

Note.  —  Upon  the  death  of  the  first  Astronomer-Ro5'al,  John  Flamsteed, 
about  I7tg.  Dr.  Halley  succeeded  him  in  that  office. 

*  Dr.  Halley's  fame,  even  in  his  own  day,  w.is  world-wide.  In  a  sketch 
of  Dr.  Halley,  contributed  by  his  son-in-law,  Mr.  Henry  Price,  to  the  Bio- 
graphia  Britantiiea  (London,  1757),  Vol.  IV,  p.  2494,  it  is  stated  that  when 
Peter  the  Great,  Emperor  of  Russia,  visited  England,  he  called  for  Dr. 
Halley  and  was  so  pleased  with  his  general  character  and  wide  knowledge 
that  he  admitted  him  familiarily  to  his  table. 

**  Memoirs  of  the  Life,  Writings,  and  Discoveries  of  Sir  Isaac  Newton; 
by  Sir  David  Brewster  (Edinburgh  and  London,  1855),  Vol,  II,  pages  196- 
ig7,  foot-note.  This  work  also  contains  unabridged  copies  of  all  letters 
between  Newton  and  Halley  regarding  the  first  publication  of  the  Principia, 
but'the  same  are  more  compactly  presented  in  the  second  edition  (i860). 


33 

astronomer,  a  naturalist,  a  scholar  and  a  philosopher  com- 
prehended our  whole  subject,  we  have  been  insensibly 
surprised  with  the  history  of  an  excellent  mariner,  an 
illustrious  traveler,  an  able  engineer  and  almost  a  states- 
man."* The  writer  has  been  unable  to  locate  any 
genealogical  information  relating  to  the  immediate  de- 
scendants of  Dr.  Halley.t  but  his  granddaughter,  a  Miss 
Halley,§  married  a  "  M'Pike  "  or  "  McPike  "  of  Scotland. 

They  had: 

2    i  James^,  who  came  to  America  in  1772. 

ii  A  daughter,  who  m.  a  "  McDonald  "  of  Ireland. 

*Mem.  Acad.  Par.  1742.  What  is  said  to  be  a  translation  thereof  will 
be  found  in  Gent.  Mag.,  Vol.  XVII,  pages  455-503  (London,  1747).  The 
latter  contains  (page  507)  this  item:  "He  had  ifl'ue,  one  fon  and  two 
daughters;  the  fon  died  long  before  him,  the  daughters  are  yet  living,  one 
unmarried,  the  other  married  to  her  fecond  hufband,  and  both  much 
ef  teemed." 

f  "  He  had  several  children,  both  sons  and  daughters,  some  of  whom  died 
in  infancy.  In  the  history  of  astronomical  discovery,  the  name  of  Halley 
will  stand  not  far  from  that  of  Newton,  with  which  it  is  so  closely  associ- 
ated." {Imperial  Diet,  of  Univ.  Biog.,  published  by  William  Mackenzie, 
London,  Glasgow,  Edinburgh,  date  unknown,  prob.  1860-1870,  Vol.  II, 
p.  788.)  In  the  same  work,  opposite  page  7S7,  will  be  found  an  excellent 
portrait  of  Dr.  Halley,  "  Engraved  by  W.  T.  Fry  from  an  original  Picture 
ascribed  to  Dahl  in  the  possession  of  the  Royal  Society." 

I  See  New  York  Genealogical  and  Biographical  Record,  Vol.  XXIX,  page 
16  (January,  i8g8).  Family  tradition  clearly  refers  to  the  mother  of 
Captain  James  M'Pike,  as  a  "  Miss  Haley  or  Haly,  granddaughter  of  Sir 
Edmund  Haley,  English  Astronomer,"  which,  although  Dr.  Halley  was 
never  knighted,  certainly  means  him. 

Note.  —  In  a  rare  work  entitled  "A  New  and  General  Biog.  Diet." 
(London,  17S4),  Vol.  VI,  p.  423,  will  be  found  the  following  statement 
regarding  the  burial-place  of  Dr.  Halley:  "His  corpfe  was  interred  near 
Greenwich,  in  the  church  3'ard  of  a  fmall  village  called  Lee,  where  was 
erected  over  him  a  handfome  tomb."  Many  of  the  rarer  works  relating  to 
this  general  subject  are  contained  in  the  Newberry  Library,  Chicago. 

The  greater  portion  of  the  preceding  sketch  of  Dr.  Edmund  Halley  was 
printed  in  the  N.   Y.  Gen.  i5r=  Biog.  Recoid,  Vol.  XXIX,  January,  1S98. 

3 


34 


The  M'Pike  Family;  Genealogy. 

According  to  family  tradition,  the  Pike  clan  (or  possibly 
the  McPikes  or  sons  of  Pike)  participated  in  Scotland's 
famous  fight  for  independence,  the  battle  of  Bannockburn. 
It  is  also  said  that  the  McPikes  "  were  related  by  blood  to 
'  the  Bruces,'  "  and,  therefore,  to  Robert  the  Bruce  him- 
self (the  relationship  being  traced,  possibly,  through  5 
daughter  of  the  latter,  though  this  is  not  clear). 

2  JAMES  McPike  (or  M'Pike)*  came  from  Scotland 
to  Baltimore,  Maryland,  in  1772.  He  "served  seven 
years  with  Washington  under  Colonel  Howard  and 
General  Little  of  Baltimore;  also  under  command 
of  General  LaFayette."  As  the  official  records  of 
Maryland,  during  the  Revolution,  have  never  been 
printed,  the  writer  is  unable  to  cite  any  other 
authority  than  family  tradition  for  the  military  service 
just  mentioned.  Capt.  McPike  probably  removed  from 
Maryland  to  Virginia.  He  came  west  to  Maysville,  Ken- 
tucky (or  immediate  vicinity),  about  1795.  The  records 
of  Maysville  do  not  show  his  name,  probably  because  of  the 
non-existence  of  any  "  Land  Ofifice  "  at  that  time.  He 
married  Martha  Mountain. t 

*The  name  is  not  spelled  alike  by  all  members  of  the  family.  The 
writer's  father  invariably  uses  the  apostrophe,  as  did  also  his  father,  John 
M'Pike,  before  him.  This  may  have  been  a  family  custom  in  Scotland. 
The  writer  cannot  say,  nor  has  he  ever  seen  an  autograph  of  Capt.  James  (2) 
McPike.  A  perusal  of  an  old  book  relating  to  Baltimore  during  the  Revo- 
lution reveals  the  fact,  however,  that  the  names  of  persons  bearing  sur- 
names beginning  with  "  Mc"  were  frequently  spelled  with  an  apostrophe, 
and  Capt.  James  (2)  McPike  may  have  adopted  the  custom,  in  America. 

fUnpub.  MS.,  dated  Jan'y  ist,  1888,  shows:  "J.  Mountain  from  New 
Jersey  —  English,   about   1554.      Children   were   Joseph,   John,    Richard, 


1149600 

35 

They  had: 

i  Joseph^,  married  Sarah  Lindsay;  twelve  children; 
eleven  died  infants;  Charlotte  surviving;  mar- 
ried Dr.  Frame,  Rushville,  Indiana. 
ii  Richard^,  was  in  War  of  1812  under  Maj.  Jenkin- 
son,  Cincinnati  (Ohio)  Light  Artillery;  mar- 
ried Miss  M.  L.  Larue;  thirteen  children:  i, 
Alexander;  ii,  James,  married  Ann  Wolford, 
three  or  more  children;  iii,  John;  iv,  George; 
V,  Louise,  married,  ist,  Leo  Adams,  one  child, 
died,  married,  2nd,  late  John  Wilkinson,  Perry 
county,  Missouri;  vi,  Adeline,  m.  Anthony 
Thomason,  four  children,  on  Colorado  river, 
Texas,  Richard.  Louise,  John  and  Amanda; 
vii,  Amanda;  viii,  Cealia;  ix,  Caroline;  x,  Maria, 
married  "  Coleman,"  of  Virginia,  family  in 
in  Texas  or  Arkansas;  xi,  Zebulon,  an  infant, 
iii  Elizabeth^,  married  Jonathan  Smith  and  had  one 
child,  Jennette,  who  married  Christopher 
Blackburn,  of  Charlotte  county,  Virginia;  they 
had  one  child,  surviving:  Catharine,  "  Kate," 
who  married,  ist,  Blair  Patterson  Hereford,  a 
lawyer,  who  died  six  years  later,  leaving  three 
daughters,  Eudora,  Anna  and  Katie;  Mrs. 
Hereford  then  married  Hon.  A.  C.  Ellis,  and 
had  several  children,  one  of  whom  is  Hon. 
Wade  H.  Ellis,  Assistant  Corporation  Counsel 

Martha,  also  half-brother,  George  Grinup.  Joseph  Mountain  married  Miss 
E.  Drake;  one  child,  Joanna.  Martha  Mountain  married  Capt.  James 
M'Pike." 


36 

of  the  city  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  March,  1898; 

Mrs.  A.  C.  Ellis  now  resides  at  No.  21  Martin 

street,  Covington,  Kentucky, 
iv  Nancy^,   married   Richard   Lindsey;   they  had: 

i,  Thomas,  married  a  "  Lindsey  "  in  Hancock 

county,  Ind.;  ii,  Harriet;  iii,  Francis;  iv,  John; 

V,  James;  vi,  Mark;  vii,  William;  viii,  Orelia; 

ix.  Babe. 
V  Sarah',  married  James  Morehouse;  four  children: 

i,   Elizabeth,   married,   unknown;   ii,   Martha, 

married,  unknown;  iii,  Elija;  iv,  an  infant. 
vi  John',  born  about  1793-4,  married  Lydia  Jane 

Guest.     (See  page  41.) 
vii  Haley',  married  a  Miss  Shaw,  think  of  Missouri, 

where  he  lived;  was  in  war  of  181 2  under  Gov. 

Shelby,  Ky.  MiHtia;  two  children:  John,  died 

in   Alton,   111.;   George,   who  married  "  is   in 

Arkansas  "  (?). 
viii  George',  died  single  in  Indiana, 
ix  Martha',  married  James  Dicken;  children,  say 

four. 
X  James',  died  an  infant. 

Note. — The  names  of  children  of  Capt.  James  (2)  McPike  are  here 
given  in  order  as  shown  in  unpub.  MS.  compiled  from  memoranda  emana- 
ting from  the  writer's  grandfather,  John  M'Pike.  This  is  also  the  authority 
for  other  statements  above  given  as  to  later  descendants. 

As  originally  printed  in  the  N.  V.  Gen.  dr'  Biog.  Record.  Vol.  XXIX, 
January,  189S,  this  was  accompanied  by  some  explanatory  foot-notes  which 
it  has  been  deemed  unnecessary  to  repeat  in  this  place. 


37 

Addenda. 

Part  of  the  foregoing  is  confirmed  by  "  The  Lindsays 
of  America,"  by  Margaret  Isabella  Lindsay  (Albany,  N. 
Y.,  1889),  which,  on  page  259,  gives  an  account  of  Thomas 
Lindsey  and  Rebecca  Hanie,  his  wife,  who  together  came 
to  America  in  1789.    Among  other  children  they  had: 

iv  Salhe,  the  second  daughter,  married  Joseph  Mc- 
Pike,  and  left  issue:  Charlotte  McPike,  who 
married,  first.  Doctor  Fronnie,  then  Mr.  Cald- 
well, and  she  left  issue,  two  children, 
vii  Richard,  of  Greenville,  Indiana,  married  Nancy 
McPike  (sister  of  Joseph  McPike),  and  left 
issue:    Thomas,    Harriet,    Frances,    Richard, 
Nannie,  WiUiam,  Joseph,  John,  Amelia,  and 
Eliza  Lindsey. 
The  compiler  mentions  (page  261)  indebtedness  to  Mr. 
Henry  K.  Lindsey,  then  general  agent  of  the  "  Lancashire 
Insurance    Company,"    Cincinnati,    Ohio,    who    resided 
"  across    the   river   at    Covington,    Kentucky,"   and    his 
daughter  Aurelia,  "  who  lives  in  Ashville,  North  Carolina, 
for  this  history  of  the  (Lindsey)  family,  the  latter  having 
taken   much   interest   in,  and  pains   to  collect  as  true  a 
genealogy  of  it  as  possible." 

Peter  William  Alexander  McPike,  a  son  of  Richard 
McPike,  and,  therefore,  a  grandson  of  Captain  James  Mc- 
Pike, was  popularly  known  as  Aleck;  he  married,  first,  a 
Miss  White,  of  Virginia,  about  1855-60;  she  died  eleven 
months  later,  leaving  Eugene  White,  a  son,  who  only  sur- 


38 

vived  a  few  weeks;  married,  second,  Mrs.  Caroline  K. 
Dryden,  May  lo,  1864;  his  wife  died  three  years  later,  and 
his  own  decease  occurred  in  1879,  leaving  issue: 

i  Caroline   Virginia    ("  Jennie "),    born    May  28, 

1865;  married  John  H.  Long,  Nov.  7,  1888, 

and  had:  i,  John  H.,  Jr.;  ii,  Alexander  B. 
ii  Caddie  May,  born  May  11,  1867;  married  Louis 

John  Bartel,  March  14,  1884,  and  had:  i,  Louis 

John,  Jr. 
Other  members  of  this  same  McPike  family,  that  is 
descendants  of  Captain  James  McPike,  reside  in  Perryville, 
Perry  county,  Missouri.  It  is  also  said  that  some  of  an- 
other branch  live  in  Louisiana,  Missouri,  and  that  among 
those  belonging  to  the  latter  is  Henry  C.  McPike,  Esq., 
attorney-at-law,  San  Francisco,  California.  As  to  this 
the  writer  cannot  positively  say,  but  it  is  certain  that  there 
were  several  American  progenitors  bearing  that  surname 
other  than  Captain  James  McPike,  as  we  find  in  Chicago 
a  Mr.  Curtis  McPike,  whose  family  traditions  clearly  point 
to  a  different  ancestry  than  that  of  the  others  hereinbefore 
mentioned. 

John  M'Pike,  son  of  Captain  James  McPike,  married 
Lydia  Jane  Guest,  daughter  of  Captain  Moses  Guest,  and 
they  had:* 

i  Edmund  Haley;  was  in  the  Mexican  war;  now 
Hving  in   Calistoga,   California. 

Note.  —  Mrs.  J.  H.  Long  and  her  sister,  Mrs.  L.  J.  Bartel,  now  reside 
in  Bunker  HiH,  Illinois. 

*The  writer  hereof  does  not  positively  know  that  the  children  of  John 
M'Pike  have  been  here  named  in  correct  order  of  age. 


39 

ii  Henry  Guest  (of  whom  a  sketch  is  given  on  an- 
other page), 
iii  George  D,  died  when  about  19. 
iv  WilHam  C.;  now  of  the  firm  of  Messrs.  McPike 
&  Fox,  wholesale  druggists,  Atchison,  Kan- 
sas, 
v-vi  Two  infants,  died. 

James  Henry  M'Pike,  son  of  Henry  G.,  and  grandson 
of  John,  born  January  9,  1855;  married  Martha  Jane 
Wilkinson,  Thanksgiving  day,  1877;  he  died  in  September, 
1880,  leaving  issue: 

i  Birdie,  born  Nov.  30,  1878. 

ii  Gertrude,  born  Sept.  29,  1880  (both  now  residing 
at  Seventy-six  P.  O.,  Perry  county,  Missouri). 

Jane  M'Pike,  ''  Jennie,"  daughter  of  Henry  G.,  and 
granddaughter  of  John,  born  in  Alton,  111.,  Nov.  21,  1856; 
married  William  Robert  Wilkinson,  brother  of  Martha 
Jane,  Oct.  19,  1877;  now  living  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and  has 
one  son: 

i  John  Henry,  born  March  7,  1879. 

John  Haley  McPike,  son  of  Henry  G.,  and  grandson  of 
John,  born  Oct.  11,  1861;  married  Josephine  Maier,  Nov. 
5,  1884;  issue: 

i  Henry  Guest,  Jr.,  born  June  21,  1885. 
ii  Josephine  Mabel,  born  Aug.  18,  1888. 
iii  Frederick  Earl,  born  July  25,   1891. 

Eugene  F.  McPike,  son  of  Henry  G.,  and  grandson  of 
John,  born  in  Alton,  Illinois,  July  18,  1870;  married  Ada 


40 

Florence  Denton,  September  2,   1895;  now  residing  in 
Chicago,  111.,  and  has  one  child: 

i  Elizabeth,  born  June  11,  1897. 
Moreland  M'Pike,  daughter  of  Henry  G. 

The  Guest  Family;  Genealogy. 

"  The  Guests  were  from  Birmingham,  England."  So 
runs  the  family  tradition.  The  first  definite  record  in 
America,  of  the  branch  to  which  this  sketch  relates  is  of 
Henry  (or  "  Harry  ")  Guest,  who  lived  in  New  Brunswick, 
New  Jersey.  We  have,  in  a  previous  sketch,  given  some 
particulars  regarding  his  life  and  character.  He  is  said  to 
have  married  a  Miss  Foreman;  they  had: 

i  Henry,  who  married  a  Miss  Webster,  and  had 

one  daughter, 
ii  William,  married,  but  name  of  wife  unknown; 
they  had  one  daughter  who  married  a  "  Mc- 
Norton,"    or    "  M'Norton,"    and    had    child, 
Henry  Guest  M'Norton;*  last  heard  from  near 
West  Point,  N.  Y. 
iii  Moses,  married  Lydia  Dumont. 
iv  A  daughter,  name  unknown. 

*  This  surname  may  be  "  McNaughton  "  as  the  Rev.  W.  H.  Reynolds,  of 
Chicago  (a  great-grandson  of  Capt.  Moses  Guest),  possesses  a  letter  from 
Mrs.  Jane  (Guest)  McNaughton,  of  Albany,  N.  Y.  (1835). 

Note. — Several  members  of  the  Guest  family,  who  were  probably  dis- 
tantl)'  related  to  those  above  mentioned,  achieved  considerable  prominence 
in  the  history  of  America.  See  AppUton's  Cyclopaedia  of  American  Biography 
(New  York,  18S7),  article,  "John  Guest,"  who  was  closely  associated  with 
public  affairs  in  Philadelphia,  under  William  Penn.  See,  also,  The  Ameri- 
can Historical  Register  (Boston),  April,  1S97,  page  167. 

The  "Official  Register  of  the  Officers  and  Men  of  New  Jersey,  in  the 
Revolutionary  War,"  compiled  bj'  order  of  the  Legislature  by  Wm.  S. 
Stryker,  Adjutant  General  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey,  and  published  at 
Trenton,  in  1872,  shows  that  Moses  Guest  was  an  Ensign  in  Captain  Voor- 


Moses  Guest  (of  whom  more  will  be  said  in  the  Bio- 
graphical Annals  to  follow)  was  born  in  New  Brunswick, 
New  Jersey,  Nov.  7,  1755;  died  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  March 
22,   1828;  his  marriage  to  Lydia  Dumont,  daughter  of 
Peter  Dumont,  took  place  June  28,  1792,  the  ceremony 
being  performed  by  the  Rev.  Walter  Monteath;  they  had: 
i  Henry  Cornelius*,  born  Jan.  10,  1795;  died  Nov. 
5,  1828,  in  New  York  city;  a  bachelor. 
5      ii  Mary  Ann^,  born  Feb.  i,  1797;  died  Aug.  4,  1855. 
iii  Peter  Dumont^,  born  March  21,  1799;  died  May 

19,  1801. 
iv  Wilham*,  born  Sept.  7,  1801 ;  died  March  7,  1803. 
V  Lydia  Jane*,  born  June  13,  1803;  married  John 
M'Pike.     (See  page  36.) 
vi  Elizabeth*,  born  June  20,  1805;  died  Feb.  7,  1806. 
iii  Elizabeth  (2nd)*,  born  Nov.  11,  1806;  married 
March  9,  1826;  no  issue;  died  July  7,  1826. 
viii  William   Dumont*,  born   Sept.    26,    1808;   died 
Oct.  22,  1809. 
ix  Sarah  Amelia*,  born  Sept.  11,  1810;  married  to 
a  "  White;  "  they  had  one  son  Richard,  last 
heard  from,  St.  Joseph,  Mo. 
X  John  Livingston*,  born  April  9,  1813;  died  Feb. 
26,  1814. 
xi  Sophia  Hay*,  born  Dec.  24,  1814;  died  July  5, 
1888;  unmarried.* 

hees'  company,  Third  Middlesex  Regiment,  on  Sept.  8,  1777,  and  after- 
wards was  a  captain  in  the  Second  Middlesex  Regiment,  while  William 
Guest  (probably  Moses' brother)  was  successively  a  lieutenant,  and  a  captain 
in  the  Middlesex  Militia,  during  the  Revolutionary  War. 

*Miss  Sophia  Hay  Guest  was  a  noble  women,  possessing  a  high  char- 
acter and  marked  intelligence.     Her  grand-nephew,  Rev.  W.  H.  Reynolds, 


42 

5  Mary  Ann'  Guest  (Moses^,  Henry^)  was  married  by 
Rev.  Mr.  Burke  to  Mr.  Sacket  Reynolds,  in  Cincinnati, 
Oct.  21,  1819;  she  died  in  the  same  city  Aug.  4,  1855; 
they  had: 

i  Mary  Bathurst*,  born  April  12,  1821;  died,  1839, 

unmarried. 
ii  Unnamed  infant  daughter  born  June  9,    1823; 

lived  but  one  day. 
iii  Julia*,  born  June  22,  1824;  unmarried;  still  living 

at  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa, 
iv  Unnamed  infant  daughter  born  April  15,  1828. 
V  Caroline*,  born   May   19,   1827;   married   Alex. 

Hays  Lemmon;  still  living, 
vi  Amanda*,  born  April  4,  1829;  died  Aug.,  1838. 
vii  Andrew  Jackson*,  born  July  14,  183 1,  in  Cin- 
cinnati; married  Charity  Peterson  Hunter, 
Dec.  16,  1857.  (Mr.  Reynolds  possesses  large 
portraits  of  his  grandparents,  Capt.  Moses 
Guest  and  Lydia  Dumont-Guest,  which  the 
writer's  father  has  seen,  and  pronounces  the 
latter's  portrait  as  resembling  very  closely 
the  writer's  grandmother,  Lydia  Jane'  Guest- 
McPike.* 

of  Chicago,  possesses  a  little  book  containing  some  of  her  memoranda  and 
writings.  She  was  one  whom  all  the  family  "  loved  with  the  tenderest 
affection." 

*The  children  of  Capt.  Moses  Guest,  and  of  Mary  Ann  Guest-Reynolds, 
are  shown  above  in  order  given  in  memorandum  sent  the  writer  by  Rev.  A. 
J.  Reynolds^,  of  Cincinnati,  who  possesses  the  old  Guest  family  Bible. 
Mr.  Reynolds  also  st.ites  that  "  Moses  Guest  and  his  wife,  Lydia  Dumont 
Guest,  were  buried  in  what  was  then  the  cemetery,  now  Washington  park, 
Cincinnati.     Their  graves  are  near  the  northwest  corner  of  Race  and  I2th 


43 

Rev.  Andrew  Jackson*  Reynolds*  had  issue: 
i  Clarence  Guest',  born  April  i8,  1859. 
ii  Mary    Elizabeth",    born    Oct.  2,  1861;    married 

Rev.  Prof.  John  C.  Sharpe,  Dec.  24,  1885.! 
iii  Walter  Hunter',  born  Nov.  7,   1864. 
iv  Grace  Anna',  born  June  25,  1868. 
v  Caroline  Cornelia',  born   Sept.    10,    1871;  died 
Oct.  5,  1872. 
vi  Andrew  Joseph',  born  Aug.  25,  1874;  died  March 
16,  1875. 


The  Dumont  Family;  Genealogy.§ 

The  Dumont  family  is  of  French-Huguenot  descent.  A 
narrative  of  experiences  such  as  fell  to  the  lot  of  many 
Protestant  families  in  France  is  said  to  be  contained  in 

streets,  Cincinnati,"  where  they  still  lie  in  perpetual  rest.  Lydia  Dumont 
was  born  at  South  Branch  of  Raritan,  Aug.  30,  1773;  died  in  Cincinnati, 
Oct.  29,  1822. 

*  See  Biographical  Annals,  page  136. 

fThe  Rev.  Prof.  John  C.  Sharpe,  is  Professor  of  Mathematics  in  Shady 
Side  Academy,  Pittsburg,  Pa.  He  is  a  Presbyterian  minister,  as  are  also; 
his  father-in-law.  Rev.  Andrew  J.  Reynolds,  and  the  tatter's  two  sons 
living.     See  page  138. 

Note.  —  Henry  Cornelius  Guest,  only  surviving  son  of  Captain  Moses 
Guest,  was  a  merchant  in  New  York  city,  and  bought  heavily  of  certain 
English  firms.  Among  the  papers  preserved  by  his  nephew,  the  Rev. 
A.  J.  Reynolds,  of  Cincinnati,  are  several  letters  which  indicate  the  high 
esteem  in  which  he  was  held.  The  writer  hereof  has  been  told  that  when 
Henry  C.  Guest  died,  one  of  the  English  concerns  with  which  he  had  had 
large  dealings  remitted  quite  a  sum  of  money  to  some  of  the  family  as  a 
mark  of  respect  for  the  deceased. 

?  The  beginning  of  the  "The  Dumont  Family"  genealogy  was  printed 
in  the  M.  Y.  Gen.  6-  Biog.  Record,  Vol.  XXIX,  April,  189S.  See,  also, 
appendix. 


44 

"  The  Story  of  Marie  Dumont,"  a  novel,  by  Lady  Pollock, 
which  the  editor  hereof  has  not  had  the  pleasure  of  perus- 
ing. The  book  was  not  only  printed  in  England,  but  also 
in  New  York  city  (1882).  Careful  search,  however,  has 
failed  to  locate  a  copy  thereof. 

In  a  "  History  of  Kingston,  New  York,"  by  Marius 
Schoonmaker  (New  York,  1888),  page  479,  mention  is 
made  of  certain  traditions  relating  to  the  origin  of  the 
American  branch  of  the  family.  The  name  of  one  "  Du- 
mond  —  Walran  De  La  Trimble  "  is  given.  He  is  said 
to  have  been  a  Huguenot  living  in  Paris,  who  adopted  as 
his  son,  his  nephew,  Walran  Dumont.  They  fled  to  Hol- 
land, where  the  uncle  remained,  the  adopted  son  coming 
to  America  and  settling  in  Kingston.  The  account  re- 
ferred to,  however,  gives  the  year  1685  as  the  date  of  the 
"  adopted  son's  "  emigration  to  America.  This  is  mani- 
festly erroneous,  as  will  be  shown. 

Among  those  who  have  been  interested  in  the  gen- 
ealogy of  this  family  is  J.  B.  Dumont,  Esq.,  of  Plainfield, 
New  Jersey,  who  has  most  generously  transmitted  to  the 
editor  the  results  of  his  long  and  exhaustive  researches 
in  France,  Holland  and  America.  While  he  has  made  per- 
sonal examination  of  the  records  in  Kingston,  New  York, 
among  published  authorities  may  be  cited  the  Kingston 
Church  Records  compiled  by  the  Rev.  R.  R.  Hoes.  The 
editor's  researches,  therefore,  have  been  confined  chiefly 
to  the  immediate  ancestry  and  descendants  of  Peter*  Du- 
mont, or,  as  sometimes  designated,  Peter  H.  Dumont 
(Hendrick^,  Peter^,  Wallerand^). 

Wallerand*  Dumont,  the  first  permanent  settler  bear- 


45 

ing  that  surname,  in  the  colonies,  of  which  any  record  has 
been  found,  was  the  ancestor  of  those  residing  in  Ulster 
county.  New  York,  and  Somerset  county,  New  Jersey, 
before  1700.  He  emigrated  from  Amsterdam,  Holland, 
to  New  Amsterdam,  in  the  year  1657.  He  was  unmarried 
when  he  emigrated,  and  in  the  record  made  at  the  time  of 
his  marriage,  he  gave  his  birthplace  as  Coomen,  Flanders 
(now  Commines,  Department  Nord,  France,  eight  miles 
north  of  Lille).  He  was  a  cadet  ("  adelborst  "),  said  to  be 
similar  to  our  second  lieutenant,  in  a  company  of  soldiers 
sent  by  the  Dutch  West  India  Company  to  Director  Gen- 
eral Stuyvesant.  Other  French  Protestants  of  same  name 
came  from  Caen,  Normandie;  some  of  whom  went  to 
England  and  others  to  Perie.  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  Africa, 
and  descendants  of  the  name  are  now  living  in  both  places. 
It  is  difficult  now,  if  not  impossible,  to  obtain  reliable  in- 
formation of  family  records,  in  consequence  of  the  gen- 
eral destruction,  by  order  of  the  then  existing  govern- 
ment, of  French  Protestant  churches  and  of  many  of  the 
houses  and  private  papers  of  Protestant  families.  A  tra- 
dition that  some  of  Wallerand^  Dumont's  family  re- 
nounced the  Protestant  faith  to  retain  their  property  has 
been  handed  down  to  descendants  in  America,  but  it  has 
never  been  verified.*    The  name  has  been  found  in  many 


*  Historical  accuracy  requires  this  addition  :  Dr.  Messier,  author  of  the 
history  of  Somerset  county.  N.  J.,  stated  to  the  father  of  Mr.  J.  B.-i  Dumont 
that  from  his  (Dr.  Messler's)  investigations  made  personally  in  France,  the 
above  statement  is  true.  Dr.  Messier  baptized  Mr.  J.  B.'  Dumont  and  was 
still  minister  of  First  Dutch  Church  when  he  left  Somerset  county,  but 
Mr.  Dumont  did  not  then  realize  the  importance  of  obtaining  more  detailed 
information. 


46  .• 

parts  of  France.  All  efforts  to  trace  his  family  beyond 
Coomen,  Flanders,  have  been  unsuccessful. 

Wallerand^  Dumont  came  over  either  in  the  shi]) 
"  Draetvat,"  Captain  Beslevoer,  which  sailed  from  Am- 
sterdam April  2,  1657,  or  the  ship  "  Jan  Baptist,"  which 
sailed  from  same  port  December  23,  1657.  The  latter 
belonged  to  Dutch  West  India  Company  and  brought 
over  a  company  of  soldiers  for  Governor  Stuyvesant. 
Two  sisters  of  Wallerand*  Dumont  came  over  about  1663 
in  ship  "Spotted  Cow;"  one  Margaret\  with  her  hus- 
band Pierre  Nouee,  and  ElizabethV  a  single  woman,  who 
afterwards  married  Meynard  Journeay,  and  settled  on 
Staten  Island.  Pierre  Nouee  and  wife  settled  at  Wood- 
bridge,  N.  J.  (opposite  Staten  Island),  and  the  "Noe's  " 
are  probably  their  descendants.  Wallerand^  Dumont  set- 
tled at  Esopus  (now  Kingston),  N.  Y.,  about  1660.  He 
married,  January  13,  1664,  Grietje  (Margaret)  Hendricks, 
widow  of  Jan  Aertson  (who  was  killed  in  second  Esopus 
war,  by  Indians).  She  had  one  daughter  (by  first  hus- 
band), who  aftenvards  married  Hendrick  Kip. 

Wallerand^  Dumont  appears  to  have  been  one  of  the 
influential  and  reliable  inhabitants  in  Kingston;  was  a 
member  of  the  military  council  in  second  Esopus  war; 
served  as  schepen,  or  magistrate,  of  Kingston  from  May, 
1669,  to  May,  1671.  (The  magistrate's  record-book  of  this 
period  is  still  in  existence,  and  from  it  Mr.  J.  B.''  Dumont 
has  obtained  a  copy  of  the  signature  of  Wallerand^  Du- 
mont.*)   He  was  a  deacon  in  Dutch  church  in  1673,  and 

*A  fac-simile  of  this  signature  was  printed  in  the  N.  Y.  Gen.  Biog. 
Record,  Vol.  XXIX,  page  io6,  April,  1898.  "^ 


47 

died  between  June  25,  1713  (date  of  will),  and  Sept.  13, 
1713  (when  will  was  proved).  This  will  is  on  record  in 
Kingston  (in  low  Dutch).  His  widow  was  on  tax  roll 
until  1728,  and  must,  at  that  time,  have  been  nearly 
ninety  years  of  age.  No  record  of  children  of  Wallerand^ 
and  Grietje  Dumont,  other  than  mentioned  in  will,  has 
been  found,  and  if  there  were  any  others,  they  died  without 
issue.     Children  were: 

i  Margaret^,  baptized  Dec.  28.  1664,  at  Kingston, 
N.  Y.;  married  Wm.  Loveredge  before  Oct. 
18,  1682  (date  of  baptism  of  first  child);  they 
settled  in  Perth  Amboy,  N.  J.,  and  their  de- 
scendants are  "  Leveridge's  "  and  "  Lever- 
ich's." 
ii  \Valran^  baptized  Nov.  13,  1667,  at  Kingston, 
N.  Y.;  married,  March  24,  1688,  Catrina  Ter- 
bosch  of  New  York;  they  remained  in  Ulster 
county,  N.  Y. 
iii  Ian  Baptist^,  date  of  baptism  not  found;  married 
before  Nov .  18,  1694  (date  of  baptism  of 
daughter  Sara')  to  Neeltje  Cornelus  Van 
Vegten;  some  of  descendants  moved  to 
Greene  county,  N.  Y..  and  afterwards  to 
western  New  York,  Michigan  and  Wisconsin, 
iv  Jannetje",  date  of  baptism  not  known;  married 
Michel  Van  Vegten  about  1697  and  moved 
to  Somerset  county,  New  Jersey,  before  1700. 
v  Francyntie^,  baptized  July  21,  1674,  Kingston, 
N.  Y.;  married  Fred  Clute  and  settled  in  Sche- 
nectady, N.  Y. 


48 

vi  Peter^,  baptized  April  20,  1679,  Kingston,  N.  Y. ; 
married,  first  Dec.  25,  1700,  Femmetje 
Teunise  Van  Middleswart  (daughter  of  Ian 
Teimissen,  afterwards  added  "  Van  Middle- 
swart," as  he  was  born  at  Midwout,  Wall- 
about,  now  Brooklyn).  They  had:  i,  John^, 
born  August  29,  1704;  married  Annatje 
(probably  Ryerson);  died  1760;  had  sons: 
Peter  Dirck  and  Abraham;  ii,  Abraham^,  born 
April  25,  1706;  married  Mattie  Bergen  Aug. 
10,  1733;  died  Aug.  7,  1787;  and  had  son, 
Peter  A. 

Peter-  Dumont  married,  second,  Feb.  23,  1707,  Cate- 
lyntje,  daughter  of  Jeronimus  Jorise  Rapalie.  and  had  one 
daughter  Catelyntje^,  who  married  Christian  La  Grange. 

Peter^  Dumont  married,  third,  Nov.  16,  171 1,  Jannetje, 
daughter  of  Hendrick  Claesen  Vechten  or  Vechte,  now 
spelled  Veghte;  they  had: 

i  Margaret',  born  Jan.  24,  171 5;  died  Feb.  11, 
1743;  married  George  Bergen,  June  3,  1738. 
ii  Hendrick',  born  March  22,  171 7;  married  twice, 
and  named  in  will,  children  surviving:  Peter*, 
Mary*  and  John*.  (Of  Hendrick'  further 
mention  will  be  made.) 
iii  John  Baptist',  born  April  13,  1719;  died  1776; 
married  Maria  Van  Duyne,  and  she  died  Nov. 
I5>  1763;  they  had  one  son  who  survived, 
Peter  J.  B.*  Dumont,  who  married  Susan  Van 


49 

,  Middleswart  and  had  three  daughters  (besides 

sons  and  daughters  who  died  in  infancy), 
iv  Gerretee    (or    Charity)^,    born  March  23,  1721; 
died  Jan.  25,   1747;  married  George  Vroom, 
and  had  sons,  Peter  D.*  and  Henry*;  Peter  D.* 
Vroom  was  the  Col.  Vroom  of  New  Jersey 
troops  in  the  Revolution,  and  father  of  Gov. 
Vroom. 
V  Jannetje  (or  Jane)^,  born  April  27,  1723;  married 
Peter  Vroom,  and  had  sons,  Peter*,  Henry* 
and  George*, 
vi  Peter^,  born  Nov.  11,  1725;  died  Nov.  21,  1808; 
married  May   19,   1748,  Brachie  Vroom,  and 
had  large  family;  the  only  male  survivor  of 
this  branch  now  found  is  Mr.  John  B.  Du- 
mont,  of  Allegan,  Mich.,  who  has  a  son,  also 
named  John  B.,  who  is  a  messenger  for  the 
Adarris  Express  Company,  and  lives  at  No.  477 
South  Lincoln  street,  Chicago, 
vii  Rynear^,  born  April  3,  1728;  married  Annaetje 
Brouwer,  and  had  one  son  and  one  daughter. 
Peter^  Dumont    (Wallerandi)    settled   in    New   Jersey 
about  1700,  about  the  time  his  father-in-law  (Ian  Teun- 
issen  Van  Middleswart)  and  many  others  from  Long  Is- 
land settled  there.     He  purchased,  June  10,  1702,  a  tract 
of   two   thousand    acres   of   land  for  £380  from  Thomas 
Cooper,  of  London,  one  of  the  West  Jersey  proprietors. 

Note.— Peter 2  Dumont,  Wallerand  '),  had  also  one  son  by  first  wife  and 
one  son  by  third  wife,  who  both  died  in  infancy. 

4 


50  ' 

It  was  located  in  Hillsborough  township,  Somerset 
county,  N.  J.,  on  south  side  of  Raritan  river,  and  about 
two  miles  west  of  present  village  of  Raritan,  and  three 
miles  west  of  Somerville,  the  county  seat  of  Somerset 
county.  A  part  of  this  tract  was  inherited  by  his  son, 
John  Baptist^,  and  through  him  by  Peter  J.  B.*  Dumont, 
who  died  without  male  heirs  and  the  tract  passed  out  of 
the  family  name.  The  eldest  sons  of  Peter^,  that  is  John^ 
and  Abraham^,  had  tracts  of  their  own  before  their  father 
died;  John^  about  five  hundred  acres  near  North  Branch 
village,  on  the  north  branch  of  the  Raritan  river,  and 
Abraham*  about  five  hundred  acres  directly  south  of  the 
river  opposite  Somerville.  In  the  house  built  by  Abraham* 
(or  in  additions  thereto)  were  born  the  following  named 
male  descendants:  his  son,  Peter  A.*;  grandsons,  John  P.", 
Abraham  P.**,  and  Peter  P.';  great-grandsons,  Peter  P.' 
and  John  S.  Vredenburg^;  great-great-grandsons,  John  B.'', 
Henry  D.'',  and  Peter''.  The  eldest  of  the  latest  genera- 
tion mentioned,  John  B.''  Dumont,  Esq.,  has  resided  in 
Plainfield,  N.  J.,  since  1869. 

Peter^  Dumont  (Wallerand^)  was  a  member  of  Eleventh 
assembly  of  New  Jersey,  in  Colonial  Legislature,  and  died 
in  1744.  He  was  also  an  elder  in  First  Dutch  church, 
Raritan. 

3  Hendrick*  Dumont  (Peter^,  Wallerand^)  married, 
first,  Mary  Traverier,  the  younger  (only  child  of  Mary 
Traverier,  the  elder);  number  of  children  born  to  this 
marriage  not  known,  but  it  is  certain  that  only  two 
reached  maturity;  they  were: 


"    51 

4       i  Peter*,  born  on  Staten  Island  in  1744.* 
ii  Mary*,  married  a  "  Staats,"  of  Albany,  N.  Y. 

3  Hendrick^  Dumont  married,  second,  Nov.  29,  1749, 
Catharine  Oothout,  of  New  York,  and  according  to 
Oothout  Family  Bible  they  had:t 

i  Johannes*,  born  Sept.  22,  1750. 
ii  Henry  Hendrick*,  born  Oct.  16,  1751. 
iii  Abraham*,  born  April  27,  1753. 
iv  William*,  born  May  28,  1755. 
V  Jannetje*,  born  Feb.  20,  1757. 
vi  Catelina*,  born  March  7,  1759. 
vii  Hendrick*, 

viii  Catalina*,  (twins)  born  Nov.  26,  1760  (and 
after  decease  of  their  father,  Hend- 
rick^). 

3  Hendrick^  Dumont  (Peter^,  Wallerand')  died  Nov. 
8,  1760.  He  was  a  merchant  in  New  York  city.  In  his 
will  there  recorded  he  left  his  lands  in  Somerset  county, 
N.  J.,  left  to  him  by  his  father,  Peter^  Dumont,  to  be 
rented  until  his  eldest  son  became  of  age,  and  then  to  be 
sold  and  the  proceeds  to  be  divided  equally  among  his 
children,  Peter*,  Mary*  and  John*,  also  house  and  lot 

*  A  brief  but  interestinsr  sketch  of  the  "  Hii^uennts  of  Stafen  Island  " 
will  be  found  in  Contin.  Mo.  Vol.  I.  page  683.  A  daughter  of  Peter"  Du- 
mont (Tane*)  said,  about  i860,  she  had  seen  in  "an  old  Harner"  some 
pictures  of  houses  on  Staten  Island  and  innmedi:itelv  recog-nized  one  among 
them  as  the  old  Dumont  home,  which  had  probably  then  passed  into  other 
hands.     This  picture  the  writer  has  heen  unable  10  locate 

t  .See  published  records  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Thnrch  in  New  York, 
in  The  Genealogical  and  Biographical  Record,  Vol.  XXVIII,  pp.  103-143, 
and  previously.  •'  ' 


52 

called  "  Lottery  House "  at  Piscataway  landing  (near 
New  Brunswick.  N.  J.)  to  Peter*;  one  hundred  pounds 
sterling  to  Mary*,  and  house  and  lot,  Duke  street,  New 
York,*  to  John*,  and  eight  hundred  pounds  sterling  to  his 
wife  Catherine  and  child  that  may  be  born.  Will  dated 
Nov.  4,  1760,  and  names  executors,  his  brother,  Peter*, 
and  friends,  John  Alstine,  Eronimus  Alstine  and  John 
Oothout.  The  above  is  all  taken  (by  J.  B.  Dumont,  Esq.) 
from  will  as  recorded,  but  the  writer  has  received  a  copy 
of  a  copy  of  the  same  will,  from  Mr.  Eugene  R.  Detraz, 
of  Vevay,  Indiana,  a  great-great-grandson  of  Peter*  Du- 
mont (Hendrick^,  Peter',  Wallerand^),  which  fully  con- 
firms all  particulars  herein  given.  It  has  been  considered 
strange  that  the  will  of  Hendrick*  Dumont  should  only 
name  three  children,  Peter*,  Mary*,  and  John*,  as  surviv- 
ing. Five  of  the  children  born  by  second  marriage  are  not 
mentioned  in  will;  two  certainly  had  died,  as  the  twins 
born  after  father's  decease  took  names  of  two  born  before, 
and  besides  these  two,  three  others  seem  to  have  died 
young,  which  is  possible,  but  seems  somewhat  improbable. 
According  to  family  tradition,  Peter*  Dumont  had  a 
(half?)  sister,  Catharine*,  who  married  a  "  Staats."t    They 

*In  "The  Todd  Genealogy"  by  R-  H.  Greene,  A.  M.  (New  York,  1867), 
page  12,  is  given  a  copy  of  a  legal  instrument,  executed  in  November,  1762, 
wherein  reference  is  made  to  some  property  in  New  York  city,  described 
as  "  Lot  No.  18,  in  Montgomery  Ward,  east  side  of  street  or  highway,  from 
Smith's  Fly  to  the  fresh  water,  bounded  northerly  to  the  ground  formerly 
of  Jno.  Oathout,  but  late  of  Hendrick  Domun  ;"  &c.  This  "  Hendrick 
Domun  "  was,  perhaps,  Hendrick  ^  Dumont,  then  (1762)  deceased.  See 
appendix,  page  158. 

f  Those  interested  in  the  "  Staats  "  family  will  find  a  sketch  of  Barent  P. 
Staats,  one-time  mayor  of  Albany,  New  York,  and  a  descendant  of  Dr. 


53 

had  one  child,  Catherine",  who  never  married,  lived  to 
great  age,  was  wealthy,  died  in  Albany,  N.  Y.  This  Cath- 
erine* Dumont  was,  no  doubt,  one  of  the  twins  born  after 
decease  of  Hendrick*  Dumont.  Catelind  became  Cath- 
erine in  many  old  records. 

After  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  Mary  Traverier,  the 
younger,  Hendrick^  Dumont  continued  to  maintain  re- 
spect for  his  mother-in-law,  as  is  evidenced  by  a  letter 
written  to  her  by  him,  shortly  before  his  decease.  The 
original  (yellow  and  time-worn)  is  now  in  the  possession 
of  Mrs.  Julia  Merrill  Moores,  of  Indianapolis,  Indiana,  to 
whom  it  was  presented  about  i860,  by  her  grand  aunt. 
Jane'  (Peter*).  By  the  kindness  of  Mrs.  Moores,  the 
writer  gives  below  a  copy  of  this  letter.     It  is  addressed. 

To 

Mrs.  Marey  Traverier 

Att 
pisfchataway  Landing 
these 
and  reads  as  follows: 

New  York  March  ist  1759 

Honored  Mother  These  shall  sarve  to  aqu't  you  That  whe 
are  all  in  Responsebel  good  health  Thank  God  Exceptmg 
my  wife  has  a  bad  swelling  on  one  of  hir  Eyes  which  quit 
puts  hir  out  of  Orther.  I  hope  you  are  well.  These  shall 
sarve  to  aqu't  you  that  I  ame  abought  selling  your  Land 

Abraham  Staats  who  came  from  Holland  to  Albany,  N.  Y.,  in  1642,  in  the 
American  Biographical  Sketch  Book,  by  William  Hunt  (New  York,  1848), 
page  163.  The  student  of  Staats  family  history  will  need  to  peruse  "The 
Annals  of  Albany"  by  Joel  Munsell,  Vol.  I.  (Albany,  1850),  and  subse- 
quent volumes.     See  Appendix,  page  159. 


54 

and  whether  you  are  willing  that  I  shold  sale  the  same  for 
£400  —  this  money  And  if  you  are  willing  wright  me  wit 
the  first  opertunity  And  let  me  know  Also  let  me  know 
wat  you  have  thought  of  Bording  your  self  till  I  can  git 
a  Room  for  you  heare  Also  let  me  know  wat  you  stand  in 
Need  of  that  I  may  help  you  if  I  can.  I  conclude  wit  my 
kind  Love  to  you  And  am  Your  Dutefull  Son 

Henry  Dumont. 
p.  s.  My  Daughter  Marey  Remembers  hir  love  to  you. 

PETER  J.  B.*  Dumont  (John  Baptist^,  Peter^,  Wal- 
lerand}),  married  Susan  Van  Middleswart  and  had  three 
daughters,  as  follows: 

i  Jane^,  married  Fred.  Frelinghuysen;  they  were 
the  parents  of  Fred.  Frelinghuysen,  U.  S. 
Senator  from  New  Jersey,  and  Secretary  of 
State  under  President  Arthur, 
ii  Maria^,  married  Wm.  Etmendorf. 
iii  Ann^,  married  Peter  Dumont'  Vroom,  who  was 
afterwards  Governor  of  New  Jersey. 

4  PETER*  Dumont  {Hendrick^,  Peter^,  Wallerand^), 
was,  as  previously  stated,  born  on  Stat  en  Island  in  1744. 
He,  however,  removed  to  Hillsboro  township,  Somerset 
county,  New  Jersey,  where  he  resided  during  the  period  of 
the  war  of  the  American  Revolution.  Family  tradition 
recites  that  he  was  (as  indeed  appears  the  inscription 
upon  his  tombstone  in  Vevay,  Indiana)  "  A  soldier  of  the 
Revolution;"  that  his  services  for  the  cause  of  freedom 
were  even  more  outside  the  ranks  than  as  a  soldier,  and 


55 

that  General  Washington  often  consulted  him.  Certain 
accounts  still  in  existence  indicate  that  he  may  have  been 
in  the  commissary  department,  but  it  is,  perhaps,  more 
likely  that  he  was  the  "  Peter  Dumont,  Captain,  Second 
Battalion,  Somerset,"  mentioned  in  Adj.  Gen.  Stryker's 
Official  Register,  page  389.  (See  Appendix,  p.  152.)  It 
is  also  said  that  Peter*  Dumont  "  ran  mills  day  and  night 
to  help  the  soldiers  at  Valley  Forge"  and  that  this  re- 
sulted, ultimately,  in  irretrievable  loss  to  him  financiallv. 
Family  tradition  further  recites  that  at  one  time  "  He  was 
High  Sheriff  of  the  county  in  which  he  lived,"  and,  indeed, 
this  item  might  seem  to  be  confirmed  by  the  "  History  of 
Somerset  County,"  New  Jersey,  by  Dr.  Abraham  Messier, 
where,  in  a  list  of  sheriffs,  page  6  of  Appendix,  we  find 
"  ^777>  '78,  '79.  Peter  Dumont,"  but  certain  indications 
point  to  this  having  been  some  other  than  Peter*  Du- 
mont.* The  latter  moved  to  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.,  as 
will  be  shown  by  the  record  of  births  of  his  children. 
From  thence  he  went  to  Saratoga,  New  York,  and  was 
probably  the  proprietor  of  Dumont's  ferry,  which,  a  cen- 
tury ago,  was  located  on  the  Hudson  river  about  two  miles 
and  one-half  below  Fort  Miller.  A  toll-bridge  has  since 
been  erected  there  and  the  Champlain  canal  crosses  the 
river  in  that  immediate  vicinity.  Captain  Moses  Guest 
(a  son-in-law  of  Peter*  Dumont)  relates  in  his  "  Poems 
and  Journal,"  second  edition  (Cincinnati,  1824),  page  144, 
that  on  December  nth,  1796,  he  was  at  Dumont's  Ferry 
and  had  a  conversation  with  "  Mr.  Dumont."  From  that 
locality  Peter*  Dumont  removed,  about  1814,  with  his  wife 

*  See  Appendix,  p.  149  . 


5^ 

to  Vevay,  Switzerland  county,  Indiana,  where  he  resided 
until  his  decease  in  1821,  aged  yy  years.  He  married 
Mary  Lowe*  (or  Low),  a  daughter  of  Cornelius  Lowe, 
October  25th,  1770.  After  the  death  of  her  husband, 
Peter*  Dumont,  Mrs.  Mary  Lowe-Dumont  went  to  live 
with  her  son,  Abram  B.^  Dumont,  in  Vevay.  The  family 
papers  and  records,  therefore,  very  naturally  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  latter's  children,  and  his  daughter,  Mrs.  M, 
J."^  Morerod  (in  order  to  facilitate  answering  the  writer's 
inquiries)  placed  most  of  them  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  Eugene 
R.  Detraz,  who,  as  before  stated,  is  a  great-great-grandson 
of  Peter*  Dumont,  and  a  French  scholar.  Mr.  Detraz 
advises  that  some  are  in  French  and  others  in  English,  the 
former  mostly  in  the  original,  and  the  latter,  in  some  in- 
stances, copies.  Among  the  papers  are  some  wills,  mar- 
riage contracts,  receipts,  accounts  and  letters,  some  dating 
as  eai-ly  as  1660.  Business  engagements  prevent  Mr. 
Detraz  from  furnishing  copies  of  all  the  documents,  but 
he  has  kindly  enabled  the  writer  to  present  those  appear- 
ing in  subsequent  sketch  entitled  "  The  Maternal  Ancestry 
of  Peter  Dumont,  of  Vevay,  Indiana." 

Peter*  Dumont  was  an  earnest  Presbyterian,  a  strong 
Calvinist,  "  a  fatalist."  He  accumulated  quite  a  library, 
mostly  religious  books,  still  preserved  in  Vevay.  His 
arduous  services  (particularly  night  work)  in  behalf  of  his 
country  during  the  Revolution  conduced  to  the  ultimate 
loss  of  his  eyesight,  and,  during  the  last  twenty-five  years 

*  The  vowel  sound  in  the  name  "  Lowe"  is  not  long  "o"  but  is  pro- 
nounced as  in  the  word  "  allowed."  It  is  said  that  a  large  portrait  of  Maiy 
Lowe-Dumont  is  now  in  Indianapolis,  in  the  possession  of  the  family  of 
the  late  General  Ebenezer  Dumont. 


57 

of  his  life  his  faithful  wife  read  to  him.  Although  sight- 
less, old  and  poor,  he  was  too  proud  to  accept  a  pension. 
It  is  not  surprising  that  he  endeavored,  as  will  be  shown, 
to  secure  the  restoration  of  his  ancestral  estates  in 
France.*  It  is,  of  course,  highly  improbable  that  the 
French  government  would  now  take  any  action  in  that 
direction. 

Peter*  Dumont's  wife,  nee  Mary  Lowe,  was  a  most  es- 
timable woman  in  every  respect.  She  was  fair,  with 
beautiful  blue  eyes.  The  writer  has  been  informedf  that 
Mr.  Bush,  pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  in  In- 
dianapolis, said,  at  one  time,  that  Mrs.  Mary  Lowe- 
Dumont  was,  in  character  and  attainments,  among  the 
most  superior  women  he  had  met  in  the  west;  that  she 
read  the  best  books  and  was  a  particularly  pleasing  reader. 
Her  parents,  Cornelius  and  Catharine  Lowe,  lived  in 
Schamoken,  New  Jersey,  during  the  French  and  Indian 
War  —  were  warned  by  a  friendly  Indian  to  move,  lest 
they  be  massacred.  They  went  to  Genessee,  N.  Y.  Their 
daughter,  Mary,  was  born  in  Schamoken,  N.  J.,  in  1750. 
(For  these  latter  items  relating  to  the  Lowe  family,  the 
writer  is  indebted  to  Mrs.  Julia  Merrill  Moores,  of  Indian- 
apolis, who  adds  that  she  saw  her  great-grandmother, 
Mary  Lowe-Dumont,  just  before  her  death,  and  that  the 
latter  appeared  very  cheerful  and  "  interested  me  much  by 
reciting  poem  after  poem."  Mrs.  Moores'  information 
relating  to  Lowe  family  was  received  by  her -chiefly  from 
her  grandaunt,  Jane'.)     Mrs.  Moores  has  also  kindly  fur- 

*  See  page  72. 

f  Kindness  of  Mrs.  V.  L.  Hay,  Crawfordsville,  Indiana. 


58 

nished  the  following  (which,  by  the  way,  is  fully  confirmed 
by  data  received  by  the  writer  from  Mrs.  M.  J.  Morerod, 
of  Vevay,  Indiana,  where  is  preserved  the  original  Family 
Bible,  Dutch  text,  which  has  never  been  out  of  the  family; 
record  is  in  handwriting  of  Peter*  Dumont) : 

"  A  copy  made  from  the  flyleaf  of  my  great-grandfather 
Dumont's  bible  —  now  in  the  possession  of  his  great- 
grandson,  Dumont  Reid:* 

"  Peter  Dumont,  son  of  Hendrick,  grandson  of  Peter, 
was  born  the  ist  day  of  October  1744.  Mary  Lowe, 
Daughter  of  Cornelius  Lowe  and  grand  daughter  of  Al- 
bert Lowe  was  born  the  3rd  day  of  June  1750.  Peter 
Dumont  and  Mary  Lowe  were  Married  on  Thursday  the 
25th  October  1770  by  Dominie  Van  Haerlengen. 

Thursday  August  15  th  1771,  was  Born  our  first  daugh- 
ter, Mary,  at  7  o'clock  in  the  morning  and  baptized  by 
Domini  Van  Haerlengen. 

Monday  August  30th  1773  was  Born  my  second  daugh- 
ter Lidea  at  8  o'clock  in  the  morning  and  Baptized  by 
Domini  Van  Haerlengen. 

Monday  the  13th  November  1775  was  born  our  third 
daughter  Catharine  at  7  o'clock  in  the  morning  —  and 
Baptized  by  Domini  Van  Haerlengen. 

Monday  January  19th  1778  was  bom  our  first  son  Hen- 
drick at  2  o'clock  in  the  morning  and  Baptized  by  Domini 
Van  Haerlengen. 

Tuesday  June  13th  1780  was  Born  our  Second  son  Peter 

*  This  is  the  Rev.  John  Dumont  Reid,  who  is  at  present  (March,  1898), 
minister  of  All  Souls  Church,  Greenfield,  Mass.  His  father,  the  Rev.  A. 
S.  Reid,  resides  in  Fulton,  Rock  county,  Wisconsin.  The  Rev.  J.  D. 
Reid  vouches  positively  for  correctness  of  copy  in  possession  of  Mrs.  J. 
M.  Moores, 


'  >  59  i 

at  2  o'clock  in  the  morning  and  Baptized  by  Domini  Haer- 
lengen. 

Monday,  June  24th  1782  was  born  our  fourth  daughter 
Jane  at  2  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  and  Baptized  by  Domini 
Van  Haerlengen. 

Monday,  July  5th  1784  New  Brunswick  (West  Jersey) 
was  bom  our  fifth  daughter  Anne  at  half  past  eleven  at 
night  and  Baptized  by  Domini  Van  Bunscholten. 

New  Brunswick  Monday,  January  8th  1787  was  Born 
our  third  son,  at  ten  o'clock  and  was  baptized  by  Domini 
Hardenburg,  and  named  John. 

New  Brunswick  West  Jersey  the  2nd  of  September 
Wednesday  1789  was  bom  at  2  o'clock  in  the  afternoon 
our  fourth  son  Abraham  —  was  baptized  by  Domini  Hard- 
enburgh."* 

Peter*  Dumont  died  in  1821,  in  Vevay,  Indiana,  and 
his  wife  in  January,  1841.  The  latter's  funeral  took  place 
from  the  residence  of  her  son,  A.  B.'  Dumont  (with  whom 
she  had  long  lived),  Monday,  January  25th,  1841.  Long 
may  the  name  of  Peter*  Dumont  be  preserved  as  of  a 
patriot  who  gave  his  all  for  his  country;  long  may  his  wife 
be  remembered  as  typical  of  all  that  is  best  and  noblest  In 
womanhood.  Numerous  descendants  in  the  later  genera- 
tions remain  to  render  homage  to  their  memory. 

MARY"  Dumont  (Peter*),  married  Thomas  Laing,  or 
Long,  of  Fort  Edward,  N.  Y. ;  settled  in  Saratoga,  N.  Y. 

*This  "  Domini  Hardenburgh"  was  the  Dr.  Jacob  R.  Hardenburgh,  of 
Somerset  county,  N.  J.,  between  Gen.  Washington  and  whom  there  was  a 
close  friendship.  See  "  History  of  Somerset  county,"  by  Dr.  Abraham 
Messier,  page  114. 


6o 

LYDIA*  Dumont  (Peter*),  married  Captain  Moses 
Guest,  of  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.,  June  28,  1792.  Guest 
Family  Bible  now  in  possession  of  Rev.  Andrew  J.  Rey- 
nolds (their  grandson),  of  Norwood,  a  suburb  of  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio,  states  that  Lydia^  Dumont  was  born  at  South 
Branch  of  Raritan,  Aug.  30th,  1773,  and  died  in  Cincin- 
nati, Oct.  29th,  1822.  (For  her  descendants,  see  page 
41.)     She  was  the  great-grandmother  of  the  writer. 

Catherine^  (f^/fr*),  married  Captain  Robert  Anderson; 
settled  at  Palantine,  N.  Y.  (She  "  was  one  of  the  thirteen 
girls  who  scattered  flowers  at  Trenton  when  Washington 
went  on  to  his  inaugural.") 

They  had: 

i  Lydia  Jane®  Anderson  (Catherine'^,  Peter*),  mar- 
ried Samuel  Merrill,  of  Indianapolis;  a  promi- 
nent man  in  his  day;  treasurer  of  Indiana;  pres- 
ident of  State  Bank;  trustee  of  Wabash 
College, 
ii  Catharine"  Anderson  (Catherine'^,  Peter*),  mar- 
ried Judge  Isaac  Naylor,  of  Crawfordsville, 
Indiana, 
iii  William  Dumont*  Anderson  (Catherine^,  Peter*), 
was  very  talented,  a  great  wit,  a  fine  physician 
in  Louisiana;  a  rebel,  set  fire  with  his  own 
hands  to  every  building,  etc.,  on  his  cotton 
plantation  when  the  Union  army  was  ap- 
proaching. 

HENRY"  Dumont  (Peter*),  died  early. 


'  6i 

PETER*  Dumont  (Peter*),  a  bachelor;  was  a  surveyor 
(as  were  also  his  brothers,  John'  and  Abram"*);  died  in 
Vevay,  Indiana. 

JANE»  Dumont  (Peter*),  married,  first  (in  New  York), 
William  Wickam,  of  Canada,  a  fur  trader;  (?)  settled  in 
Canada;  had  one  son,  a  printer;  married,  second,  a  "  Steel," 
who  was  a  Methodist  minister,  and  they  had  one  daughter, 
Patience;  married,  third,  a  "  Murphey,"  and  died  in  Vevay, 
Ind.  She  apparently  took  great  interest  in  the  family 
history.  Many  of  the  traditions  and  items  of  interest 
trace  to  her  as  authority. 

ANNE^  or  ANN^  Dumont  (Peter*)  married,  in  ad- 
vanced years,  a  "  Coffinger,"  Saratoga,  N.  Y. 

JOHN'  Dumont  (Peter*),  married  Julia  L.  Corey; 
settled  in  Vevay,  Ind.,  about  1814,  where  Mrs.  Julia  L. 
Corey-Dumont  died  January  2nd,  1857.  Her  husband 
died  early  in  February,  1871. 

John''  and  Julia  L.  Corey-Dumont  had:* 
i  Peter«. 

ii  Ebenezer®,  born  in  Vevay,  Indiana  Territory, 
Nov.  23rd,  18 14;  died  in  IndianapoHs,  April 
i6th,  1871.  He  was  the  late  General  Ebe- 
nezer  Dumont. 

*The  above  list  of  children  of  John  and  Julia  L.  Dumont  is  based  upon 
information  furnished  the  editor  by  Mrs.  Julia  M.  Moores  and  Mr.  Joseph 
Shipp,  of  Indianapolis,  the  latter  having  married  Juliet,  daughter  of  Martha 
Dumont-Campbell.  Advice  from  another  source  mentions,  also,  sons, 
John,  Henry  and  Edgar,  but  they  must  have  died  in  infancy. 


62 


iii  Mary®,  married  a  brother  of  Hon.  Robert  N, 
Lamb. 

iv  Martha®,  married  Wm.  Campbell,  a  lawyer  of 
promise;  died  in  1845,  leaving  children:  i, 
Louise,  married  "  Detraz,"  Vevay,  Ind;  ii, 
Juliet,  married  "  Shipp,"  Indianapolis;  iii, 
Annette  Campbell;  iv,  Mrs.  Lide  M.  Hender- 
son, Mishawaka,  Ind.;  v,  Wm.  L.  Campbell, 
lawyer,  of  California. 

V  Marietta',  married  Hon.  Robert  N.  Lamb,  of 
Indianapolis,  Sept.,  1847,  and  died  in  Indian- 
apolis, May,  1876. 

vi  Julia  L.®,  married  Rev.  Archibald  Reid.  (See 
foot-note,  page  58. 

vii  Aurelius*. 
viii  Cornelius®. 

ABRAHAM",  or  ABRAM»,  Dumont  (Peter*),  married, 
in  December,  1820,  Isabella  R.  Todd,  who  was  a  daughter 
of  Owen  and  Jane  (Paxton)  Todd.  Her  parents  removed 
to  Vevay,  Indiana,  in  1816.  Isabella  R.  Todd  was  born  in 
Lebanon,  Ohio,  Nov.  24,  1804,  and  died  in  Vevay,  Indi- 
ana, February  2nd,  1879.  She  was  a  first  cousin  of  Mrs. 
Abraham  Lincoln  (nee  Mary  Todd).  Their  respective 
fathers,  Owen  and  Robert  S.  Todd  having  been  brothers.* 
The  writer  is  informed  that  family  tradition  relates  that 

*  Very  brief  mention  of  this  hranch  of  the  TodH  familvis  made  in  "The 
Todd  Genealog;!',"  by  Richard  H.  Greene,  A.  M.  (New  York,  i867\  page 
vii.  Several  references  to  the  Todd  family  will,  however,  be  found  in  a 
book  entitled  "Historic  Families  of  Kentucky,"  by  Green,  published  by 
The  Robert  Clarke  Company,  Cincinnati,  some  ten  years  ago. 


63 

Isabella  R.  Todd's  brother  (father?),  Owen  Todd,  at  the 
age  of  fourteen,  acted  as  the  guide  of  General  Washington 
on  his  retreat  from  Valley  Forge.  Mrs.  Jane  (Paxton) 
Todd  died  in  Vevay  in  March,  1835,  ^"d  the  funeral  took 
place  on  the  23rd  of  that  month  "  from  the  residence  of 
her  son,  R.  W.  Todd."  Abram^  Dumont,  as  he  was  gen- 
erally known,  was  a  merchant  in  Vevay,  Indiana,  of  which 
place  he  was  among  the  early  settlers.  He  died  Dec.  12, 
1842,  having  had  issue: 

i  Mary  Jane®,  married  Rudolph  Morerod;  she  is 

now  residing  in  Vevay. 
ii  Ann  M.®,  married  George  R.  Todd, 
iii  Eliza  S.®,  married  David  Armstrong, 
iv  Isabella  R.®,  married  Rudolph  Grisard,  and  now 

residing  in  Vevay. 
v  Julia  L.®,  married  Frank  P.  Dupray. 
vi  Edgar*. 

vii  Smith  B.",  was  in   Mexican  War;  removed  to 
Australia;  married,  and  has  issue,  one  daugh- 
ter, Isabella  R.''  Dumont,  and  others, 
viii  Sidney  Merrill*. 
ix  Eugene  A.*,  dentist;  now  residing  in  Chicago; 
married  and  has  son,  who  is  also  married  and 
has  children. 
X  John". 

The  Rev.  John  Dumont  Reid  (son  of  Julia  and  grandson 
of  Colonel  John  Dumont),  was  born  in  Vevay,  Indiana, 
January  19,  1861;  married  June  30,  1891,  Bessie  Gertrude 
Basye,  at  Fergus  Falls,  Minnesota.     Is  now  (April,  1898) 


-  64  •     .' 

minister  of  All  Souls'  Church  (Unitarian)  at  Greenfield, 
Mass.,  and  has  issue: 

i  Kenneth  Dumont,  born  at  Fergus  Falls,  Minn., 

May  14th,  1892. 
ii  Margaret,  born  at  Great  Falls,  Montana,  May 
19,  1896. 

Judge  Isaac  Naylor,  of  Crawfordsville,  Indiana,  married 
Mary  Catherine  Anderson,  daughter  of  Catherine  Du- 
mont-Anderson,  and  had  eight  children,  all  girls,  as 
follows: 

i  Sarah  Jane,  living  in  Crawfordsville,  Ind. 
ii  Elizabeth,  widow  of  Rev.  William  W.  Brier;  re- 
sides   in    Spokane,    Washington.     The    Rev. 
Brier  was  a  pioneer  Presbyterian  minister  in 
California, 
iii  Mary  Catherine,  died  in  infancy, 
iv  Mary  Dorothy,  married  Rev.  Matthew  White- 
ford.     They  live  in  Sioux  City,  Iowa, 
v  Catherine   Anderson,   married   Prof.    Columbus 
Brier,  of  Oakland,  California.     Address,  No. 
522  Charter  street.     They  had  four  children: 
i,  Martha;  ii.  Rose;  iii,  Charles  Naylor;  iv,  Eliz- 
abeth Naylor. 
vi  Virginia  Lydia,  married  Dr.  Andrew  Jennings 
Hay,  who  had  been  previously  married,  his  first 

Note.  —  Dr.  Andrew  Jennings  Hay  was  a  prominent  man  in  Indiana  ; 
member  of  Legislature,  clerk  of  Circuit  Court,  member  of  State  Central 
Committee,  National  Bank  Examiner,  elder  in  Presbyterian  church;  an 
ardent  Mason  and  Republican.  Master  of  his  lodge  seventeen  years. 
Grand  Master  of  the  state  one  term.  A  gentleman  of  splendid  physique; 
kind  and  courteous  to  all.  He  was  descended  from  the  Bainbridges,  Stites 
and  Gano's  of  New  Jersey.     Died  in  1897. 


6s 

wife  having  been  Rebecca  Garrett,  of  Wash- 
ington, Penn.,  and  had  issue.  Of  the  second 
marriage,  issue  as  follows:  i,  Flora  Naylor;  ii, 
Kate  Merrill,  married  Hon.  Wirt  E.  Humph- 
rey, United  States  Commissioner,  Chicago, 
Illinois. 

vii  Julia  Dumont,  married  Rev.  M.  M.  Whiteford. 
She  died  young,  leaving  two  sons:  i,  Robert 
Naylor,  Ph.  D.,  Professor  of  EngHsh,  Peoria, 
111.,  High  School;  ii,  William  Jackson,  student, 
Wabash  College,  Crawfordsville,  Ind. 

viii  Flora  Merrill,  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen. 

Elizabeth  Naylor,  daughter  of  Judge  Isaac  Naylor,  was 
born  Aug.  20,  1830,  and  married,  Dec.  19,  1849,  Rev.  Wm. 
Wallace  Brier,  who  was  bom  Nov.  6,  1821,  and  who  died 
June  3rd,  1887.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Naylor  Brier  now  lives  in 
Spokane,  Wash. 

Issue: 

i  Lizzie,  born  Sept.  22,  1850;  died  Sept.  19,  1895; 
married,  Feb.  14,  1883,  to  Robert  J.  Trumbull. 
ii  Mary,  born  Nov.  27,  1852;  married,  Dec.  30, 
1880,  to  Charles  W.  Moores,  whose  children 
are:  i.  An  infant  son,  born  Feb.  20,  1882,  died 
same  day;  ii,  Elizabeth  Maria,  born  Nov.  23, 
1883;  iii,  Louise  Trumbull,  born  Oct.  12,  1886, 
died  Aug.  29,  1890;  iv,  Charles  Brier,  born 
Nov.  6th,  1889. 
iii  CaroHne,  born  Sept.  19,  1856;  married,  June  6th, 
1885,  George  Frederick  Schorr,  whose  children 
5 


66 


are:  i,  Margaret  Lizzie,  born  Oct.  26,  1886; 
ii,  Wm.  Brier,  born  Jan.  27,  1889;  iii,  Geo. 
Frederick,  born  Nov.  15th,  1890,  died  Sept. 
20,  1894;  iv,  Berkeley  Kellogg,  born  Nov.  2, 
1892;  V,  Carolyn  Louise,  born  Aug.  27,  1895; 
vi,  Katharine  Naylor,  born  Nov.  18,  1897. 
iv  Wm.  Wallace,  Jr.,  born  Aug.  7,  1858;  married, 
March  27,  1889,  Helen  M.  Blake,  whose  chil- 
dren are:  i,  Wm.  Wallace,  born  Feb.  7,  1890; 
ii,  Edward  Blake,  born  Aug.  29,  1891;  iii, 
Helen  Naylor,  bom  Apr.  i6th,  (?)  1894. 
v  Louise  Brier,  born  Nov.  17,  1862;  married,  July 
29,  1 89 1,  Rev.  Howard  Whittlesey  Stratton, 
who  died  Aug.  23,  1895.  One  child:  i,  Eliza- 
beth Brier,  born  June  2nd,  1892. 

Dr.  Wm.  Dumont  Anderson,  son  of  Capt.  Robert  An- 
derson, was  born  Feb.  9th.  1813,  in  the  State  of  New  York. 
Died  in  Memphis,  Tenn.,  Dec.  19,  1867.  His  wife,  Mary 
Ann  Catlin,  was  born  Dec.  25,  1819,  in  Virginia,  and  died 
in  Covington,  Tenn.,  Nov.  13,  1883. 

They  had: 

i  Theodore  Dumont.  born  in  Louisiana,  June  10, 
1835;  died  in  Los  Angeles,  Cal.,  Jan.  14,  1895; 
married  Josephine  Burdick  Jan.  3,  i860, 
ii  Jane,  born  in  Louisiana,  May  12,  1838,  married 
Wm.  Merrill,  June  4,  1861,  and,  after  Mr.  Mer- 
rill's death,  married  G.  W.  Sargent.  She  is 
now  living  with  her  son,  Wm.  Merrill,  Eddy, 
Texas. 


^7 

iii  Simeon,  born  in  Louisiana,  Sept.  19,  1843,  died 

in  Mississippi,  Jan.  5,  1870. 
iv  Julia  Merrill,  born  in  Louisiana,  Aug.  15,  1846; 

married  W.  T.  Grant,  Nov.  8,  1871;  died  in 

Covington,  Tenn.,  Aug.  16,  1893. 
V  Lizzie  Dumont,  bom  in  Louisiana,  March  20th, 

1861;  married  T.  E.  Ralph,  Oct.  15,  1879;  now 

living  near  Covington,  Tenn. 

A.  B.  Dumont. 

[From  Vevay  Reveille,  Die.  2,  1842.] 
DIED,  on  the  morning  of  the  12th  inst.,  our  respected 
townsman  and  highly  esteemed  friend,  A.  B.  DUMONT, 
Esq.,  merchant  of  this  place,  aged  fifty-three  years. 

Truly  may  it  be  said,  "  that  in  the  midst  of  Hfe  we  are 
in  death ;  "  as  only  a  few  days  previous  to  his  decease,  Mr. 
Dumont  was  attending  to  his  usual  business,  so  that  the 
melancholy  event  was  sudden  and  unexpected,  even  to 
his  family.  Without  any  symptoms  of  a  particular  disease, 
or  any  expressed  sensibility  of  pain,  notwithstanding  the 
best  medical  assistance,  he  sunk  with  accelerated  rapidity 
during  the  three  days  of  his  illness,  when  life  terminated 
without  an  apparent  struggle. 

Mr.  Dumont  was  among  the  early  settlers  of  Vevay, 
and  has  been  constantly  engaged  in  business  since  his 
arrival  in  the  place.  As  a  merchant,  he  was  punctual, 
honest  and  honorable  in  all  his  dealings  —  as  a  citizen,  he 
was  highly  esteemed  for  public  spirit  and  exemplarv 
morals  —  and  as  a  husband  and  father,  those  who  were 
acquainted  with  him  in  his  family  can  alone  appreciate 


68 


his  inestimable  worth.  He  was  a  man  of  extensive  infor- 
mation, derived  from  much  reading  and  serious  reflection, 
which  a  nice  dehcacy  of  feeling  accompanied  with  extreme 
modesty,  in  a  great  measure  concealed.  But  his  great 
object  was  the  happiness  and  moral  elevation  of  his  be- 
loved family;  and  for  this  end  he  used  every  exertion  to 
aiiford  them  the  means  of  mental  improvement  and  of 
acquiring  useful  knowledge.  With  respect  to  religion, 
his  views  were  philanthropic  and  generous,  and  based 
upon  that  sublime  feeling  of  devotion  which  warms  and 
expands  the  heart  and  elevates  the  soul  to  its  maker. 
Whilst  he  firmly  believed  in  the  essential  doctrines  of 
Christianity  and  the  efficacy  of  true  religion  in  promot- 
ing social  order  and  virtue,  he  was  entirely  free  from  that 
gloomy  superstition  and  sectarian  bigotry  which  sours  the 
temper,  damps  the  feelings  and  contracts  the  heart. 
Hence  he  supported  liberally  the  diflferent  churches  in  this 
place  —  treated  with  kindness  and  hospitality  respectable 
clergymen  of  every  denomination,  and  regularly  accom- 
panied his  amiable  family  to  public  worship.  By  his  death 
society  has  been  deprived  of  a  useful  member,  and  his 
family  has  sustained  a  loss  to  them  irreparable.  May  he 
who  tempers  the  winds  to  the  shorn  lamb  —  who  is  the 
widow's  stay  and  the  orphan's  shield  —  support  the  dis- 
consolate widow  in  her  affliction,  and  comfort  the  mourn- 
ing family  under  their  melancholy  bereavement.  M. 


69 

Mrs.  Isabella  Dumont. 

[From  Vevay  Reveille,  Feb.  13,  1879.] 
The  life  of  Mrs.  Isabella  Dumont,  whose  death  we  re- 
corded last  week,  merits  more  than  a  brief  and  passing- 
notice.  It  was  a  life  full  of  suggestions  to  those  who 
look  beneath  the  surface  and  mark  the  workings  of  human 
effort.  It  was  a  hfe  full  of  pain  and  suffering,  but  of  many 
consolations.  If  the  burden  at  times  seemed  overpower- 
ing, in  the  end  the  requisite  strength  was  surely  accorded; 
the  spirit  was  faithful  unto  the  end,  and  fortitude  amid 
suffering  was  the  predominant  characteristic  of  a  life 
whose  piety,  good  deeds  and  Christian  graces  are  monu- 
ments of  everlasting  remembrance. 

Mrs.  Dumont  was  in  the  seventy-fourth  year  of  her  age, 
having  been  born  November  24,  1804.  She  came  to 
Vevay  in  18 17,  and  thereafter  her  long  life  was  spent  amid 
the  quiet  scenes  which  surrounded  her  last  days  of  earth. 
In  1820,  in  her  early  youth,  she  became  the  wife  of  Mr. 
A.  B.  Dumont,  a  gentleman  whose  genial  disposition  and 
many  qualities  of  mind  and  heart  formed  her  complete 
happiness,  and  to  whose  memory  she  devoted  thirty-six 
years  of  widowhood.  They  were  years  trying  to  the  soul. 
The  care  of  her  young  family  was  her  one  solace  and 
whole  duty.  She  brought  to  its  discharge  the  firmness 
of  purpose  and  force  of  character  for  which  she  was  re- 
markable. Two  unfailing  sources  of  courage  and 
strength  she  kept  always  before  her  mental  vision;  the 
one  an  unwavering  trust  in  the  goodness  and  mercy  of 
God,  the  other  an  active,  faithful  and  zealous  member- 
ship in  the  Methodist  Church.     In  the  one  she  sought  the 


rest  and  consolation  promised  to  "  the  weary  and  heavy 
laden,"  while  fighting  the  hard  battle  of  the  world,  and 
seeking  to  direct  the  young  hearts  of  her  children  in  the 
paths  of  rectitude  and  virtue;  in  the  other  a  safe  guidance, 
and  found  the  commission  of  its  membership  a  source  of 
untold  comfort,  and  a  support  to  which  she  clung  with 
increasing  tenacity  as  the  trials  of  life  and  bodily  infirmity 
increased. 

With  each  succeeding  year  of  patient  endurance  her 
devoted  children  and  friends  marked  the  sure  progress 
of  disease,  so  that  while  her  death  was  long  expected,  the 
blow  seemed  but  Httle  modified  in  severity  by  that  fact. 
She  "  fought  the  good  fight  "  with  a  fortitude  and  stead- 
iness, patience  and  courage,  which  testified  to  her  abiding 
faith  and  Christian  strength,  and  will  be  lasting  memories 
in  the  hearts  of  those  blessed  by  her  bright  example. 

Her  life  of  suffering  was  crowned  by  a  death  calm  and 
painless,  a  foreshadowing  of  the  untold  peace  to  come. 

In  the  silent  watches  of  a  Sabbath  evening,  her  children 
all  about  her,  serenely  as  the  day  passed  into  the  night, 
she  walked  through  "  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death," 
laid  the  burden  of  life  at  the  feet  of  her  Saviour,  and  put 
on  immortality. 

"  She  has  carried  her  Cross  with  unfaltering  heart 
Through  this  wearisome  pathway  of  sorrow, 
But  the  shadows  of  nierht-time  have  drifted  apart. 
In  the  dawn  of  a  happier  morrow. 

Or  sadness  or  jov  are  alike  to  her  now 

For  God's  benediction  is  o'er  her, 
And  the  radiant  seal  of  the  saints  on  her  brow  — 

Eternity  lieth  before  her. 


71 


Earth's  tears  and  its  trials,  Death's  terror  and  strife 

Are  memories  misty  and  olden  ; 
She  has  laid  them  aside  with  the  burden  of  life, 

At  the  gates  of  the  paradise  golden. 
In  pastures  where  grief  never  comes,  nor  alarms, 

The  lambs  of  the  shepherd  are  sleeping. 
And  knowing  He  holdeth  her  safe  in  His  arms  — 

O,  how  can  her  children  be  weeping  ?  " 


Among  the  "  Biographical  Annals,"  in  the  second  part 
of  this  book,  we  give  a  sketch  of  the  life  of  the  late  General 
Ebenezer  Dumont,  of  Indiana.  It  is  a  pleasure  to  be  able 
to  present,  in  this  place,  the  following  additional  data: 

When  Fort  Sumter  was  fired  upon,  Ebenezer  Dumont 
commenced  recruiting  for  and  organizing  the  Seventh 
Indiana  Regiment.  When  the  regiment  was  fully  re- 
cruited he  was  appointed  colonel  and  was  immediately 
ordered,  with  his  regiment,  to  western  Virginia,  where,  on 
June  1st,  1861,  they  engaged  and  defeated  the  enemy  at 
Phillipi,  winning  the  first  victory  of  the  Rebellion.  On 
September  3rd,  1861,  President  Lincoln  appointed  Col. 
Dumont  Brigadier-General  of  Volunteers,  and  assigned 
him  to  the  command  of  a  brigade  in  Kentucky,  where  he 
served  in  that  capacity  until  August,  1862,  when  he  was 
assigned  to  the  command  of  a  division  in  the  Army  of  the 
Cumberland,  and  served  until  elected  to  Congress  in  1862. 

General  Ebenezer  Dumont  died  April  i6th,  1871,  and 
left  a  family  consisting  of  a  widow,  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Dumont, 
now  residing  in  Indianapolis,  and  seven  daughters,  as 
follows : 

i  Fannie,  married  David  Braden,  Indianapolis, 
ii  Julia,  widow,  living  in  Washington,  D.  C. 


72 

iii  Martha,  married  H.  E.  Drew,  Indianapolis, 

iv  Emma,  married  M.  D.  Watson,  Chicago. 

V  Isabel,  married  J.  N.  Williams,  Indianapolis, 

vi  Anna,  married  R.  E.  Springsteen,  Indianapolis, 

vii  Jessie,  married  W.  S.  Whitney,  Indianapolis. 


The  Maternal  Ancestpy  of  Peter  Dumont, 

of  Vevay,  Indiana. 

The  editor  takes  pleasure  in  presenting  copies  of  many 
of  the  old  and  interesting  documents,  affidavits,  letters 
and  memoranda  preserved  among  the  family  papers  in 
Vevay,  Indiana,  information  of  which  has  been  furnished 
by  Mr.  Eugene  R.  Detraz,  of  whom  we  have  spoken 
previously.     (See  page  56.) 

Copy  of  a  letter  to  the  Mayor  of  Bordeaux: 

"  To  tJie  Citisen  Mayor  of  the  city  of  Bordeaux: 

I  Peter  Dumont  now  living  in  the  town,  and  county  of 
Saratoga  in  the  state  of  New  York  humbly  petition  before 
the  honerable  members  of  your  city  for  the  recovery  of 
properties  left  by  my  forefathers  in  the  time  of  prosecu- 
tion against  the  Protestants  within  the  Generalite  of  Bor- 
deaux in  the  village  De  La  Tremblade,  some  situated 
in  the  island  of  Ney,  and  some  in  Sintonge  as  you  will  find 
by  the  papers  annexed  to  this  which  will  be  delivered  to 
your  honer  by  the  Consul  of  the  United  States  of  America, 
now  residing  in  Bordeaux. 
Sarxtoga  April  20th,  1797." 


73 

(The  writer  cannot  locate  any  record  or  tradition  of  a 
reply  having  been  received  by  Peter*  Dumont  to  the  above 
letter.) 

Memorandum,  Made  By  Peter  *  Dumont. 

"  Captain  Peter  Traverier  of  Masha  having  married 
Marie  Arnand  the  widow  of  Jean  Parlier  of  La  Tramblade, 
And  this  Peter  Traverrier  had  two  children,  twins  a  son 
and  a  daughter  without  issue.  The  sons  name  was  Peter 
Traverrier  who  married  Mary  Reseau  (the  daughter  of 
Renier  Reseau)  of  the  island  of  Ray  (or  in  French  L'  He 
De  Ray)  and  they  had  an  only  child  a  daughter  called 
Mary  Traverrier  and  this  daughter  was  married  to  Hen- 
rich  Dumont  of  Rariton  Landing  and  this  daughter  she 
had  one  only  son,  that  is  Peter  Dumont  myself." 

Copies  of  Affidavits. 
New  Jersey*  JohnTiaptist  Dumont  aged  fifty-two  years 
personally  appeared  before  me  Johnf  Berrier  one  of  the 
justices  of  the  supreme  cort  of  the  province  of  New  Jersey 
and  being  duly  sworn  maketh  oath  that  to  this  deponent 
has  know  the  family  of  Peter  Traverrier  near  thirty  years 
past.  That  on  his  first  acquaintance  with  them  that  Peter 
Traverier  was  deseased  but  Mary  Traverier  was  commonly 
and  reputed  to  be  the  widow  of  the  same  peter  was  then 
living,  and  that  Mary  Traverier  the  yonger  was  also  com- 
monly deemed  and  reputed  as  the  only  child  and  heir  of 

*  In  these  places  following  "  New  Jersey  "  is  a  written  letter  or  sign 
similar  to  letter  "  Y,"  probably  an  abbreviated  legal  term. 

fin  this  place,  between  "John"  and  "Berrier,"  are  some  marks  or  a 
word  which  Mr.  Detraz  says  he  is  not  certain  about,  probably  the  name 
■  Berrier  "  illegibly  written  and  consequently  erased  and  rewritten 


74 

this  Peter  Traverier,  That  Henrich  Dumont  the  brother 
of  this  deponent  married  this  Mary  Traverrier  junior,  that 
Peter  Dumont  is  the  only  son  and  heir  at  law  of  this  Hend- 
rich  and  Mary  who  are  both  dead. 

John  Baptist  Dumont 
Sworn  before  me  this  7th  September  1771. 
John  Berrier. 

New  Jersey*  Peter  Dumont  the  elder,  aged  forty-six 
years,  also  maketh  oath  that  the  contents  of  the  above 
afifidavit  are  just  and  true,  and  also  that  to  this  deponent 
hath  known  the  family  of  Peter  Traverrier  about  thirty 
years  and  is  brother  to  the  aforesaid  Hendrich  Dumont. 

Peter  Dumont. 

Sworn  this  day  aforesaid  before  me  John  Berrier. 

Contract  of  marriage  of  Pierre  (Peter)  Traverrier  and 
Marie  (Mary)  Arnand  —  translated  from  French: 

To-day  the  4th  day  of  January,  1688,  we,  Pierre  Traver- 
rier, ship  captain,  and  Marie  Arnand,  widow  of  Jean  (John) 
Perlier  promise  to  take  each  other  as  husband  and  wife, 
the  laws  of  our  church  being  previously  observed,  we  agree 
to  live  together  in  common  as  husband  and  wife  the  rest 
of  our  days,  and  in  case  one  of  us  should  die,  the  one  re- 
maining shall  enjoy  in  his  own  right  all  the  wealth  the  two 
parties  may  possess,  to  dispose  of  as  he  may  see  fit,  to  sell, 
assign,  rent,  etc.,  according  as  he  may  judge  proper,  and 
in  case  both  of  us  should  die  without  children  from  this 
marriage  we  declare  the  children  of  the  first  marriage,  who 

*  See  foot-note  on  preceding  page. 


75 

are  Andre  (Andrew)  Perlier,  and  Jean  Perlier,  our  legiti- 
mate heirs.  Furthermore:  I,  Pierre  Traverrier  give  to 
Marie  Arnand  the  enjoyment  of  all  my  property  and  pre- 
tentions in  France,  in  case  the  state  of  affairs  should 
change  and  the  liberty  of  the  protestant  religion  should  be 
re-established,  giving  her  the  usufruct  in  general  of  all  that 
may  belong  to  me.  To  all  of  these  articles  we  have  agreed 
in  the  presence  of  Mr.  Carre,  our  minister  depository  of 
this  document,  and  of  the  witnesses  below  named.  In 
witness  whereof  we  have  all  signed;  done  at  Frenchtown 
in  Narragansett  the  said  day  and  year  above  named. 
Signed.  Pierre  Traverrier,  Marie  Arnand  on  the  one  side, 
and  on  the  other  the  witnesses,  Carre  minister,  Jacques 
Many,  Andre  Arnand,  Abraham  Dumas. 

P.  Bouyot,  copiest  of  the  said  document. 

I,  the  undersigned,  declare  the  present  copy  to  be  faith- 
fully coppied  from  the  original,  in  witness  whereof  I  have 
fixed  my  hand  and  seal;  done  at  Frenchtown  in  Narragan- 
sett the  5th  day  of  January  1688. 

Carre  minister  (seal). 

[Extract  of  the  paper  of  the  consistory  L'Eglise  Fran- 
cise  (French  Church)]. 

April  20th,  1688,  Pierre  Traverrier  and  Marie  Arnand 
received  the  nuptial  benediction  from  Mr.  Carre  our  min- 

NoTE  BY  Mr.  E.  R.  Detraz. — This  affidavit  seems  to  be  written  in  a 
different  hand  and  bears  a  seal  in  red  wax.  The  two  additional  items  given 
below  seem  to  be  written  in  the  same  hand  as  the  first  article  above  given; 
that  is,  in  the  same  hand  as  the  marriage  contract,  but  with  a  different  pen 
and  at  a  different  time,  as  the  date,  January  6th,  1690,  will  show.  All  these 
articles  are  written  in  the  French,  on  one  and  the  same  sheet. 


76 

ister,  the  three  publications  having  been  previously  made 
according  to  the  form  of  our  church;  in  witness  whereof 
we  have  signed.  Carre  minister,  Pierre  Traverrier,  Marie 
Arnand,  Jacques  Many  elder,  Pierre  Bonyot,  elder,  and 
secretary,  Moise  Brun  elder. 

On  the  6th  day  of  January  1689  were  baptized  by  Mr. 
Carre  our  minister,  Pierre  and  Marie  Magdelenne  Traver- 
rier children  of  Pierre  Traverrier  and  Marie  Arnand,  pre- 
sented to  baptism  to  wit,  Pierre  by  Pierre  Traverrier  his 
father  and  Jeanne  Drommeau,  and  Marie  Magdelenne  by 
Jacques  Many  and  Magdelenne  Filleul,  godfathers  and 
godmothers;  who  declare  the  said  children  to  be  born  the 
last  of  the  year  1688. 

Signed  Carre  minister,  Pierre  Traverrier,  P.  Bonyot, 
elder. 

Extracted  by  me  the  5th  of  January,  1690. 

P.  Bonyot,  elder  and  secretary. 

Among  other  papers  are  the  following:  (i)  A  letter  from 
Jonathan  Dumont  of  New  York  to  his  brother,  Peter 
Dumont,  New  Brunswick,  in  which  mention  is  made  of  a 
house  and  mill  at  New  Brunswick  belonging  to  Peter 
Dumont  —  date,  Saturday,  Sept.  5th,  1789.  (2)  A  rough 
sketch  of  John  B.  Dumont's  estate,  no  date.  (3)  Inven- 
tory of  Marie  Traverrier's  goods,  date  February  i8th, 
1765.     (4)  A  receipted  account  for  £6,  los  ^d,  of  Marie 

Note  by  Mr.  E.  R.  Detraz.  —  Am  not  sure  about  this  figure  "6"  in  both 
the  dates,  if  being  made  with  such  a  peculiar  outline.  However  the' month 
and  year  are  plain  enough. 


f  yj  ' 

Traverrier  to  Henry  Dumont,  no  date.  (5)  Copies  of  will 
of  Peter  Traverrier,  June  23,  1743.  (6)  Copy  of  will  of 
Renier  Reseau,  February  18,  17 19,  part  gone.  (7)  Con- 
tract of  Apprenticeship,  Peter  Dumont,  son  of  Hendrick 
Dumont,  to  G.  Rapalye,  to  learn  merchandising,  April  10, 
1 76 1,  part  gone  or  time  worn.  (8)  Contract  of  Appren- 
ticeship, Peter  Traverrier,  son  of  Marie,  widow  of  Peter 
Traverrier  to  Peter  Chaigneau,  cooper,  October  21,  1701. 
The  above-named  papers  are  all  written  in  English. 

Mr.  Detraz  adds  that  there  are  other  French  papers 
which  are  written  in  such  a  peculiar  hand  that  it  is  difficult 
to  decipher  them.  The  name  of  Marie  Arnand  appears  in 
nearly  all  of  them. 

The  Rev.  Andrew  J.  Reynolds,  of  Smith  avenue,  Nor- 
wood, Cincinnati,  Ohio,  possesses  a  French  Testament, 
containing  also  the  Psalms  set  to  music,  Prayers,  Confes- 
sion of  Faith,  etc.  The  book  is  five  and  one-half  inches 
long,  three  inches  wide,  and  an  inch  thick,  bound  in  black 
leather.  The  four  corners  are  protected  by  silver  plates 
and  there  are  two  silver  clasps.  On  one  of  them  are  en- 
graved the  letters  "  M.  R."  On  a  fly-leaf  is  written  "  Hvre 
apartient  a  Marye  Rezeau,"  which  means,  "  this  book  be- 
longs to  Mary  Rezeau."  Below  that  is  written  "  En  tout 
temps  et  en  toute  saison  il  faut  louer  et  reverer  1'  eternel," 
which,  translated,  is,  "  at  all  times  and  in  all  seasons  we 
should  love  and  reverence  the  eternal  God."  Another  in- 
scription is:  "  Mon  Dieu  Mon  Roy,"  that  is,  "  My  God  is 
my  king."  Still  another  reads  as  follows:  "  Dieu  tout 
premier,  puis  pere  et  mere  tou  jour  soit  just,"  etc.,  "  Let 
God  always  occupy  the   first   place,  then   let   father  and 


78 

mother  come  in.  Always  be  just,"  etc.  As  the  Rev. 
Reynolds  writes  in  his  letter  conveying  the  above  infor- 
mation, "  Thestr  inscriptions  are  worthy  of  the  noble 
Huguenots  who  were  the  honor  and  glory  of  France." 


Notes  on  the  Freling-huysen  and  Vroom  Families, 
of  New  Jersey. 

Theodorus  Jacobus  Frelinghuysen  (i  691 -1747)  was  the 
founder  of  the  ilustrious  family  bearing  that  surname,  in 
New  Jersey.  His  second  son,  John  (i 727-1 754),  was  the 
father  of  General  Frederick  Frelinghuysen,  who  was  born 
in  Somerset  county.  New  Jersey,  April  13,  1753,  and  died 
April  13,  1804.  The  general's  third  son,  also  named 
Frederick  Frelinghuysen,  married  Jane,  a  daughter  of 
Peter  J.  B.  Dumont,  and  they  were  the  parents  of  the  late 
Hon.  Frederick  Theodore  Frelinghuysen,  who  was  born 
in  Millstone,  New  Jersey,  August  4,  1817,  and  died  in 
Newark,  N.  J.,  May  20,  1885.  The  latter's  father  having 
died  when  he  was  only  three  years  old,  he  was  adopted 
by  his  uncle,  Theodore  Frelinghuysen.  Both  the  uncle 
and  the  adopted  son  were  gentlemen  of  wide  learning  and 
varied  talents.  For  the  details  of  their  respective  careers 
the  reader  is  referred  to  our  Biographical  Dictionaries,  in 
which  they  justly  occupy  a  prominent  place. 

"  The  name  of  Vroom  is  found  early  on  the  records  of 
the  church.  Court  Vroom  seems  to  have  been  the  first  of 
the  name  residing  on  the  Raritan.  Col,  Peter  D.  Vroom, 
of  Revolutionary  days,  was  a  prominent  citizen  of  Somer- 
set county  in  his  time.    He  was  born  Jan.  27,  1745,  O.  S., 


79 

two  miles  from  Raritan  Landing.  Early  in  life  he  lived 
in  New  York,  whence  he  came  to  reside  on  the  Raritan, 
near  the  junction  of  the  north  and  south  branches.  The 
homestead  is  now  owned  by  Sexton  Wyckofif.  He  mar- 
ried Elsie  Bogart,  and  died  on  this  plantation.  He  was 
one  of  the  few  individuals  who  raised  the  first  military 
company  in  the  beginning  of  the  revolutionary  war,  in 
which  he  served  as  lieutenant  and  captain,  and  was  ap- 
pointed major  of  the  Somerset  battalion  by  joint  meeting 
in  1777;  and  afterwards  a  lieutenant-colonel.  He  Jed  a 
company  at  the  battle  of  Germantown,  and  was  in  the  ser- 
vice during  the  war.  During  his  life  he  occupied  almost 
every  ofifice  of  trust  in  the  county.  At  the  close  of  the 
revolution  he  was  made  high  sheriff,  and  then  clerk  of  the 
pleas,  afterwards  a  justice  of  the  peace,  a  member  of  as- 
sembly in  1791  and  several  succeeding  years,  member  of 
council  for  1799  to  1804,  and  a  long  time  presiding  judge 
of  the  court,  afterwards  an  elder  in  the  church,  and  always 
a  leading  counsellor.  He  enjoyed  an  unblemished  repu- 
tation, and  died  in  November,  183 1,  in  the  87th  year  of 
his  age,  having,  in  his  time,  filled  as  large  a  space  in  public 
life  as  any  of  the  prominent  men  of  his  day  in  Somerset 
county.  He  was  the  father  of  the  late  Gov.  P.  D. 
Vroom."*  (History  of  Somerset  county.  N.  J.,  by  Abra- 
ham Messier,  D.  D.,  page  61.) 

*  Col.  Peter  Dumonf'  Vroom's  mother  was  Gerretie'  Dumont.  daughter 
of  Peter'  Dumont  by  his  third  wife,  Jannetje  Veghte,  and  Col.  P.  D.* 
Vroom's  son,  Governor  Peter  Dumont'  Vroom,  married  Ann',  daughter  cf 
Peter  J.  B.''  Dumont.  Authorities,  Frelinghuysen  and  Vroom  families; 
Appleton's  Cyclopedia  of  American  Biography  (New  Yorli,  1887),  Vol.  II, 
pages  542-545  ;  same.  Vol.  VI,   page   308.     The  National  Cyclopsedia  of 


8o 


"  On  the  south  side  of  the  Raritan,  near  the  junction  of 
the  North  and  South  branches,  is  the  former  residence  of 
Col.  Peter  D.  Vroom,  and  the  birthplace  of  Governor  P. 
D.  Vroom.  The  old  house  remains  just  as  it  was  in  early 
days,  only  an  addition  has  been  annexed  to  it.  It  deserves 
to  be  remembered  among  the  venerated  localities  of  our 
beloved  country."  (History  of  Somerset  county,  N.  J., 
page  139.) 

American  Biography,  published  by  James  T.  White  &  Co.,  New  York, 
1893,  Vol.  IV,  page  248  ;  same,  Vol.  V,  page  205.  The  Political  Register 
and  Congressional  Directory,  by  Ben.  Perley  Poore  (Boston,  1878I.  Lan- 
man's  Dictionary  of  Congress  (Hartford.  1868),  also  Lanman's  "Biograph- 
ical Annals  of  the  Civil  Government,"  &c. 

Note. — The  editor  had  hoped  to  include  a  fairly  creditable  genealogy  of 
these  two  families,  but  failed  to  obtain  the  necessary  data. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ANNALS. 


Col.  John  Dumont. 

[Reprinted  verbatim  from  "  Early  Indiana  Trials  and  Sketches,"  by  Hon. 
O.  H.  Smith,  pp.  131-132,  Cincinnati,  1S5S.] 

Let  me  not  forget  my  valued  friend  Colonel  John 
Dumont,  of  Vevay.  I  became  acquainted  with  the 
Colonel  in  the  Legislature  of  1822-3,  at  Corydon.  He 
was  one  of  the  most  talented  men  of  the  body  —  always 
ready,  but  modest  and  retiring  to  a  fault.  In  personal 
contests  he  had  no  equal  in  the  house.  On  one  occasion 
the  question  was,  "  whether  we  should  elect  a  reviser  of 
the  laws,  or  revise  them  ourselves?  "  In  the  House,  Mr. 
Dumont  and  myself,  with  others,  had  opposed  a  legisla- 
tive revision,  on  the  ground  that  we  were  not  qualified  to 
revise  in  session;  that  the  work  would  be  imperfectly  done. 
Our  views  ultimately  prevailed,  and  Judge  Benjamin 
Parke  was  elected  reviser.  During  the  debate  Dr.  Childs, 
of  Washington  county,  in  reply  to  my  remarks,  insisted 
that  we  were  qualified  to  do  the  work  ourselves.  "  Mr. 
Speaker,  the  wisdom  of  the  State  of  Indiana  is  on  this 

Note. — Col.  John  Dumont  who  was  the  next  to  the  yonngest  son  of 
Peter  Dumont  and  Mar)'  Lowe,  his  wife,  was  born  in  New  Brunswick,  New 
Jersey,  January  8th,  1787.  He  married  Miss  Julia  L.  Corey,  in  August, 
1812,  and  died  early  in  February,  1871. — Ed. 

6  [81] 


floor."  Mr.  Dumont  —  "  The  gentleman  says  the  wis- 
dom of  Indiana  is  on  this  floor.  I  can  hardly  presume 
that  the  wisdom  of  my  country  is  here,  and  I  should  be 
very  sorry,  Mr.  Speaker,  to  think  that  the  wisdom  of 
Washington  county  is  on  this  floor."  Mr.  Dumont  was  a 
good  lawyer  and  an  honest  man.  He  was  a  candidate  for 
Governor  against  Col.  David  Wallace  —  ran  on  the  branch 
of  the  internal  improvement  system  known  as  "  Classifica- 
tion," while  Governor  Wallace  went  for  the  construction 
simultaneously  of  the  whole  works.  Col.  Dumont  was 
clearly  right,  but  the  majority  went  with  Gov.  Wallace. 
The  Colonel  was  the  husband  of  Mrs.  Julia  L.  Dumont,  a 
ladv  of  high  literary  attainments,  and  the  father  of  Col. 
Ebenezer  Dumont,  of  the  late  Mexican  War. 


Mrs.  Julia  L.  Dumont. 
By  Rev.  Thomas  Eddy. 

[Reprinted  verbatim  from   The  Vevay  Indiana  Democrat,  March  4,  1876.] 

JuHa  L.  Dumont,  the  earliest  female  v^Titer  in  the  West, 
whose  poems,  tales  and  sketches  have  been  preserved,  was 
the  daughter  of  Ebenezer  and  Martha  D.  Corey.  Her 
parents  emigrated  from  Rhode  Island  to  Marietta,  Ohio, 
with  the  "  Ohio  Company,"  which  settled  at  that  place. 
She  was  born  at  Waterford,  Washington  county,  Ohio,  on 
the  Muskingum  river,  in  October,  1794.  Her  parents 
returned  to  Rhode  Island  during  her  infancy,  and,  while 
she  was  yet  a  mere  babe,  her  father  died.  Her  mother 
removed  to  Greenfield,  Saratoga  county.  New  York,  and 


83 

married  the  second  time.  They  then  had  their  residence 
on  the  Kayaderosseras  Mountain,  in  Greenfield.  With 
her  mother,  I  had  the  pleasure  of  an  acquaintance  during 
the  closing  year  of  her  life.  From  her,  doubtless,  Mrs. 
Dumont  inherited  her  delicate  organism  and  strong  emo- 
tional nature,  her  large-heartedness,  united  with  shrink- 
ing sensibility.  And  in  that  mountain  home  her  soul 
learned  communion  with  nature  in  its  noble  forms,  learned 
to  love  the  mountain,  with  its  beetling  brow,  and  the 
gentle  hyacinth  which  blossomed  at  its  base. 

She  spent  some  time  in  the  Milton  Academy,  in  Sara- 
toga county,  where  she  gave  unmistakable  evidence  of 
superior  mental  powers.  In  1811,  she  taught  a  school  in 
Greenfield,  and,  in  1812,  in  Cambridge,  Washington 
county.  New  York.  In  August  of  the  last-named  year. 
she  was  married  to  John  Dumont,  and  the  following  Octo- 
ber they  removed  to  Ohio. 

The  village  of  Vevay,  Indiana,  is  on  a  beautiful  site. 
The  river  has  a  majestic  curve,  and  the  level  plateau  on  the 
shore  corresponds  to  its  semi-circular  sweep,  while  around 
its  periphery  stands  like  guardian  sentinels  a  range  of  noble 
hills.  There  settled  a  colony  of  Swiss,  designing  to  en- 
gage in  the  culture  of  the  grape.  To  this  localitv  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Dumont  went  in  1814,  in  the  gloomv  month  of 
March,  and  there  was  her  home  till  death.  There  was  the 
struggle  incident  to  a  new  country.  Her  husband  being  a 
la\vyer,  was,  according  to  the  custom  of  the  times,  much 
from  home  attending  the  courts  of  other  counties.  The 
care  of  the  family  was  upon  her,  and  she  met  it  noblv. 
Schools  were  scarce  and  poor.     Her  own  children  were  to 


84 

be  instructed,  and  she  determined  to  do  the  work  herself. 
She  opened  a  school,  and  thenceforward  much  of  her  life 
was  spent  in  the  schoolroom.  For  this  she  was  peculiarly 
fitted  by  her  sympathy  and  keen  intuition.  Indeed,  we 
may  claim  for  her  a  high  position  among  western  pioneer 
teachers.  She  had  a  lofty  idea  of  the  mission  of  the  in- 
structor, and  if  she  did  not  attain  it,  'twas  because  she 
placed  it  above  what  a  mind  of  more  than  ordinary  abili- 
ties, tireless  effort  and  a  loving  heart  could  reach.  She 
was  successful  in  imparting  what  she  knew.  A  dear  friend 
of  hers,  who  often  saw  her  in  the  schoolroom,  said,  "  How 
faithfully  did  she  obey  the  command,  '  Say  to  them  that 
are  of  faithful  heart  be  strong! '  How  zealously  did  she 
labor  to  confine  the  feeble!  Was  there  one  in  her  school 
particularly  unfortunate,  that  one  was  immediately  taken 
especially  under  her  maternal  care.  She  had  in  her  school 
several  cripple  boys,  some  of  whom  were  poor  and  friend- 
less, and  it  seemed  to  me  no  mother  could  have  surpassed 
her  endeavor  to  fit  them  for  usefulness."  We  claim  special 
honor  for  her  early  and  successful  devotion  to  education  in 
the  west. 

Her  nature  was  so  finely  strung  that  few  were  capable 
of  sympathizing  with  her,  either  in  her  sorrows  or  her  re- 
joicings. She  dwelt  in  some  sense  alone,  and  yet  her  heart 
was  full  of  sympathy.  When  a  grief  was  pressing  upon 
her  soul,  she  was  surrounded  by  a  promiscuous  circle, 
capable  of  interesting  and  rendering  happy  those  with 
whom  she  mingled.  Very  bitter  were  some  of  the  trials 
through  which  she  passed,  and  very  severe  the  discipline 
of  sufifering  which  was  her  lot.     She  saw  three  sons  wither, 


8s 

one  by  one,  away  to  the  cold  grave.  Soon  a  daughter  fol- 
lowed them.  There  was  a  beautiful  boy  whom  she  called 
Edgar,  and  whom  she  loved  intensely.  One  summer 
morning  he  left  her  side  full  of  glee;  in  half  an  hour  he  was 
drowned;  she  bore  him  to  her  house  in  her  arms.  The 
blow  was  terrible.  Her  soul  was  a  long-continued 
struggle.  His  name  she  never  mentioned;  yet,  he  was 
ever  in  her  heart.  I  said  she  did  not  call  his  name,  but  a 
letter  from  her  daughter  says:  "  Among  all  her  papers  was 
never  found  any  allusion  to  his  name,  nor  to  this  bereave- 
ment ;  but  in  a  private  drawer  of  hers  are  to  be  found  sev- 
eral small  packages  marked  thus,  '  Seed  of  the  flowers  he 
planted,'  '  The  shoes  he  wore,'  '  His  little  fish-hooks.'  " 

There  is  scarcely  to  be  found  a  more  touching  fact.  It 
tells  the  deep,  sad  grief  which  preyed  upon  her  soul.  Dur- 
ing all  this  struggle  she  did  not  "  charge  God  foolishly." 
She  strove  to  feel  what  she  believed  to  be  true,  that  God 
was  very  pitiful  and  of  tender  mercy. 

There  were  other  trials.  She  had  another  son  who  had^ 
grown  to  man's  estate,  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  had 
high  hopes  of  eminence  in  his  profession.  He  was 
sprightly  and  full  of  force.  Well  did  I  know  him,  often  I 
spoke  with  him,  united  him  to  his  bride  in  marriage,  and 
stood  by  his  bedside  as  he  was  passing  down  into  the 
swellings  of  Jordan.  In  the  pride  of  his  manhood  he  was 
smitten  and  wasted  to  the  tomb.  Another  shrine  was 
broken. 

Mrs.  Dumont's  health  gave  way,  her  constitution, 
though  elastic,  was  delicate  and  she  bowed  at  length. 
She  went  south,  among  the  orange  groves  and  palmettoes 


m  i  ■ 

she  sought  to  regain  her  former  strength  and  activity. 
It  was  not  to  be  so.  She  was  marked  for  death.  A  year 
or  nearly  so  was  spent  south  and  then  she  returned  home, 
for  Vevay  was  still  the  home  of  the  living  and  the  resting 
place  of  the  dead. 

Amid  the  greetings,  the  experiences,  the  questions 
asked  and  answered,  her  children  discovered  that  she  had 
come  back  to  them  with  a  distressing  cough.  It  never 
left  her,  but  was  developed  into  consumption.  It  only 
needs  the  old  history  to  tell  what  remains,  so  far  as  the 
disease  was  concerned,  the  mocking  promise  of  restored 
health,  then  the  change.  With  the  indomitable  industry 
which  had  ever  marked  her  she  would  not  cease  work,  but, 
in  addition  to  preparing  a  volume  of  sketches  for  the  press, 
also  after  her  return,  superintended  her  school  through 
several  terms.  "  She  trusted  and  was  not  afraid."  Trust 
ripened  into  joy,  and  she  whose  whole  life  had  been  one 
weary  battlefield  at  last  triumphed.  I  cannot  forbear  tran- 
scribing one  other  passage  from  her  daughter's  letter  to 
me,  though  it  was  not  written  for  publication:  "  For  many 
years  she  suffered  with  a  nervous  restlessness  which  pre- 
vented her  sleeping;  but  the  blessed  promise,  '  He  giveth 
His  beloved  sleep '  seemed  graven  on  her  heart.  Again 
and  again  have  I  found  her  with  her  eyes  closed,  hands 
clasped  and  voice  uttering,  as  in  thanksgiving  prayer,  '  So 
He  giveth  His  beloved  sleep.'  " 

Early  in  life  Mrs.  Dumont's  mental  powers  attracted 
attention  and  led  many  to  presage  for  her  a  high  literary 
position.  But  the  cares  of  her  household,  her  feeble 
health  and  a  distrust  of  her  own  abilities,  prevented  her 


87 

from  attempting  more  than  fragmentary  essays,  tales, 
sketches  and  poems.  While  her  productions  were  sought 
after  with  avidity  by  publishers  able  to  pay  for  them,  she 
felt  so  much  desire  to  build  up  and  sustain  the  local  press 
and  home  literature  that  she  more  usually  would  send  her 
best  songs  to  some  new  village  paper  struggling  for  an 
existence,  and,  with  the  communication,  some  words  of 
cheer  to  the  editor,  to  give  him  heart  and  hope.  She  was 
a  frequent  contributor  to  the  Literary  Gazette,  published 
at  Cincinnati.  Several  of  the  best  poems  she  wrote  were 
first  printed  in  the  Gazette,  among  which  are  "  Poverty," 
"  The  Pauper  to  the  Rich  Man,"  and  the  "  Orphan  Emi- 
grant." In  the  years  1834,  '35  and  '36  she  wrote  fre- 
quently for  the  Cincinnati  Mirror,  but  chiefly  in  prose. 
She  was  awarded  three  prizes  by  the  publishers  of  the 
Mirror  for  stories  on  Western  themes.  One  of  these 
stories,  "  Ashton  Grey,"  with  others,  contributed  to  the 
Western  Literary  Journal  and  the  Ladies'  Repository  are 
collected  in  a  volume  entitled  "  Life  Sketches." 

While  examining  the  characteristics  of  Mrs.  Dumont's 
style,  we  are  impressed  with  its  purity.  She  never  wrote 
a  line  calculated  to  lure  one  from  virtue,  to  gild  vice,  or 
bedeck  with  flowers  the  road  to  death.  There  is  virtue  in 
all  that  lives  from  her  pen.  Virtue  the  child  of  Heaven,  the 

Note.— A  selection  of  Mrs.  Julia  L.  Dumont's  writings,  undpr  general 
title  of  "  Life  Sketches  from  Common  Paths."  was  pubiished  bvthe  Apple- 
tons,  New  Yorlc,  1856.  A  brief  biographi'-al  sketch  of  Mrs.  Dumnnt  will 
be  found  in  Appleton's  Cyciopsedia  of  American  Biography,  New  York, 
1S87,  in  which  place  her  maiden  name  erroneously  appears  as  "  Carey  " 
A  review  of  her  literary  work  is  contained  in  "  Beginnings  of  Literary  Cul- 
ture in  Ohio  Valley,"  by  Professor  W.  H.  Venable,  LL.D.  of  Cincinnati.— 
Editor. 


true  guide  lo  success  in  life,  and  time  title  to  fragrant 
memory.  Her  teachings  addressed  to  the  young,  for  to 
them  and  for  them  she  mainly  wrote,  inspire  heroic  virtue, 
a  working  faith,  and  conquering  zeal.  She  had  ever  a 
word  of  hopefulness  for  the  desponding,  of  encouragement 
for  the  toiling. 

Mrs.  Dumont  died  on  the  second  day  of  January,  1857, 
mourned  not  only  by  a  bereaved  family  and  immediate 
neighbors,  but  by  many  far  distant,  to  whom  kind  instruc- 
tions had  closely  endeared  her. 


Mfs.  Julia  L.  Dumont,  as  a  Teacher.* 
By  Dr.  Edward  Eggleston. 

We  had  one  teacher  who  was,  so  far  as  natural  genius 
for  teaching  goes,  the  best  of  all  I  have  ever  known.  *  *  * 
Mrs.  Dumont  occupied  no  mean  place  as  a  writer  of  poetry 
and  prose  tales.  Eminent  litterateurs  of  the  time,  from 
Philadelphia  and  Cincinnati,  used  to  come  to  Vevay  to  see 
her.     *     *     * 

But  as  a  school-mistress,  Mrs.  Dumont  deserves  immor- 
tahty.  She  knew  nothing  of  systems,  but  she  went  un- 
erringly to  the  goal  by  pure  force  of  native  genius.  In  all 
her  early  life  she  taught  because  she  was  poor,  but  after 
her  husband's  increasing  property  relieved  her  from  neces- 
sity, she  still  taught  school  from  love  of  it.  When  she  was 
past  sixty  years  old,  a  school-room  was  built  for  her  along- 

*  By  kind  permission  of  the  author  and  The  Century  Company  ;  being 
extracts  from  "  Some  Western  School-masters,"  in  Scribner's  Monthly,  Vol. 
XVII,  pages  750-753.  March,  1879. 


89  i 

side  her  residence,  which  was  one  of  the  best  in  the  town, 
it  was  here  that  i  first  knew  her,  after  she  iiad  already 
taught  two  generations  in  the  place.  The  "  graded " 
schools  had  been  newly  introduced,  and  no  man  was  found 
who  could,  either  in  acquirements  or  abihty,  take  preced- 
ence of  the  venerable  school-mistress;  so  the  high  school 
was  given  to  her. 

I  can  see  the  wonderful  old  lady  now,  as  she  was  then, 
with  her  cape  pinned  awry,  rocking  her  splint-bottom 
chair  nervously  while  she  talked.  Full  of  all  manner  of 
knowledge,  gifted  with  something  very  like  eloquence  in 
speech,  abounding  in  affection  for  her  pupils  and  enthusi- 
asm in  teaching,  she  moved  us  strangely.  Being  infatu- 
ated with  her,  we  became  fanatic  in  our  pursuit  of  knowl- 
edge, so  that  the  school  hours  were  not  enough,  and  we 
had  a  "  lyceum  "  in  the  evening  for  reading  "  composi- 
tions," and  a  club  for  the  study  of  history.  If  a  recitation 
became  very  interesting,  the  entire  school  would  some- 
times be  drawn  into  the  discussion  of  the  subject;  all  other 
lessons  went  to  the  wall,  books  of  reference  were  brought 
out  of  her  library,  hours  were  consumed,  and  many  a  time 
the  school  session  was  prolonged  until  darkness  forced  us 
reluctantly  to  adjourn. 

Mrs.  Dumont  was  the  ideal  of  a  teacher  because  she  suc- 
ceeded in  forming  character.  She  gave  her  pupils  un- 
stinted praise,  not  hypocritically,  but  because  she  lovingly 
saw  the  best  in  every  one.  We  worked  in  the  sunshine. 
A  dull  but  industrious  pupil  was  praised  for  diligence,  a 
bright  pupil  for  ability,  a  good  one  for  general  excellence. 
The  dullards  got  more  than  their  share,  for  knowing  how 


'  90 

easily  such  an  one  is  disheartened,  Mrs.  Dumont  went  out 
of  her  way  to  praise  the  first  show  of  success  in  a  slow 
scholar.  She  treated  no  two  alike.  She  was  full  of  all 
sorts  of  knack  and  tact,  a  person  of  infinite  resource  for 
calling  out  the  human  spirit.  She  could  be  incredibly 
severe  when  it  was  needful,  and  no  over-grown  boy  whose 
meaness  had  once  been  analyzed  by  Mrs.  Dumont  ever 
forgot  it. 

I  remember  one  boy  with  whom  she  had  taken  some 
pains.  One  day  he  wrote  an  insulting  word  about  one  of 
the  girls  of  the  school  on  the  door  of  a  deserted  house. 
Two  of  us  were  deputized  by  the  other  boys  to  defend  the 
girl  by  complaining  of  him.  Mrs  Dumont  took  her  seat 
and  began  to  talk  to  him  before  the  school.  The  talking 
was  all  there  was  of  it,  but  I  think  I  never  pitied  any 
human  being  more  than  I  did  that  boy  as  she  showed  him 
his  vulgarity  and  his  meanness,  and,  as  at  last  in  the  climax 
of  her  indignation,  she  called  him  "  a  miserable  hawbuck." 
At  another  time  when  she  had  picked  a  piece  of  paper 
from  the  floor  with  a  bit  of  profanity  written  on  it,  she 
talked  about  it  until  the  whole  school  detected  the  author 
by  the  beads  of  perspiration  on  his  forehead. 

When  I  had  written  a  composition  on  "  The  Human 
Mind,"  based  on  Combe's  Phrenology,  and  adorned  with 
quotations  from  Pope's  "  Essay  on  Man,"  she  gave  me  to 
read  the  old  Encyclopedia  Britannica  containing  an  article 
expounding  the  Hartleian  system  of  mental  philosophy, 
and  followed  this  with  Locke  on  the  "  Conduct  of  the 
Understanding."  She  was  the  only  teacher  I  have  known 
who  understood  that  school  studies  were  entirely  second- 


91 

ary  to  general  reading  as  a  source  of  culture,  and  who  put 
the  habit  of  good  reading  first  in  the  list  of  acquirements. 

There  was  a  rack  for  hats  and  cloaks  so  arranged  as  to 
cut  off  a  portion  of  the  school  from  the  teacher's  sight. 
Some  of  the  larger  girls  who  occupied  this  space  took 
advantage  of  their  concealed  position  to  do  a  great  deal  of 
talking  and  tittering,  which  did  not  escape  Mrs.  Dumont's 
watchfulness.     But  in  the  extreme  corner  of  the  room  was 

the  seat  of  the  excellent  Drusilla  H ,  who  had  never 

violated  a  rule  of  the  school.  To  reprimand  the  others, 
while  excepting  her,  would  have  excited  jealousy  and  com- 
plaints. The  girls  who  sat  in  that  part  of  the  room  were 
detained  after  school  and  treated  to  one  of  Mrs.  Dumont's 
tender  but  caustic  lectures  on  the  dishonorableness  of 
secret  ill-doing.  Drusilla  bore  .silently  her  share  of  the 
reproof.     But  at  last  the  school-mistress  said: 

Now,  my  dears,  it  may  be  that  their  is  some  one  among 
you  not  guilty  of  misconduct.  If  there  is  I  know  I  can 
trust  you  to  tell  me  who  is  not  to  blame." 

"  Drusilla  never  talks,"  they  all  said  at  once,  while  Dru- 
silla, girl  like,  fell  to  crying. 

But  the  most  remarkable  illustration  of  Mrs.  Dumont's 
skill  in  matters  of  discipline  was  shown  in  a  case  in  which 
all  the  boys  of  the  school  were  involved,  and  were  for  a 
short  time  thrown  into  antagonism  to  a  teacher  whose 
ascendancy  over  them  had  been  complete. 

We  were  playing  "  town-ball  "  on  the  common  at  a  long 
distance  from  the  schoolroom.  Town-ball  is  one  of  the 
old  games  from  which  the  more  scientific  but  not  half  so 
amusing   "national   game"   of  baseball   has   since   been 


0:2  ,^ 

evolved.  In  that  day  the  national  game  was  not  thought 
of.  Eastern  youth  played  field  base,  and  western  boys 
townball  in  a  free  and  happy  way,  with  soft  balls,  primitive 
bats  and  no  nonsense.  There  were  no  scores,  but  a  catch 
or  crosscut  in  townball  put  the  whole  side  out,  leaving  the 
others  to  take  the  bat  or  "  paddle  "  as  it  was  appropriately 
called.  The  very  looseness  of  the  game  gave  opportunity 
for  many  ludicrous  mischances  and  surprising  turns  which 
made  it  a  most  joyous  play. 

Either  because  the  wind  was  blowing  adversely,  or  be- 
cause the  play  was  more  than  commonly  interesting,  we 
failed  to  hear  the  ringing  of  Mrs.  Dumont's  handbell  at 
one  o'clock.  The  afternoon  wore  on  until  more  than  an 
hour  of  schooltime  had  passed,  when  some  one  suddenly 
bethought  himself.  We  dropped  the  game  and  started 
pell-mell,  full  of  consternation,  for  the  schoolroom.  We 
would  at  that  moment  have  preferred  to  face  an  angry 
schoolmaster  with  his  beechen  rod  than  to  have  ofifended 
one  whom  we  reverenced  so  much.  The  girls  all  sat  in 
their  places;  the  teacher  was  sitting  silent  and  awful  in  her 
rocking-chair;  in  the  hour  and  a  half  no  lessons  had  been 
recited.  We  shufifled  into  our  seats  and  awaited  the 
storm.  It  was  the  high  school,  and  the  boys  were  mostly 
fifteen  or  sixteen  years  of  age,  but  the  school-mistress  had 
never  a  rod  in  the  room.  Such  weapons  are  for  people  of 
fewer  resources  than  she.  Very  quietly  she  talked  to  us, 
but  with  great  emphasis.  She  gave  no  chance  for  explan- 
ation or  apology.  She  was  hopelessly  hurt  and  afifronted. 
We  had  humiliated  her  before  the  whole  town,  she  said. 
She  would  take  away  from  us  the  morning  and  afternoon 


i  93 

recess  for  a  week.     She  would  demand  an  explanation 
from  us  to-morrow. 

It  was  not  possible  that  a  company  of  boys  could  be 
kept  for  half  an  hour  in  such  a  moral  sweatbox  as  that  to 
which  she  treated  us  without  growing  angry.  When 
school  was  dismissed  we  held  a  running  indignation  meet- 
ing as  we  walked  toward  home.  Of  course  we  all  spoke 
at  once.  But  after  a  while  the  more  moderate  saw  that 
the  teacher  had  some  reason.  Nevertheless,  one  boy  was 
appointed  to  draft  a  written  reply  that  should  set  forth 
our  injured  feelings.  I  remember  in  what  perplexity  that 
committee  found  himself.  With  every  hour  he  felt  more 
and  more  that  the  teacher  was  right  and  the  boys  wrong, 
and  that  by  the  next  morning  the  reviving  affection  of  the 
scholars  for  the  beloved  and  venerated  schoolmistress 
would  cause  them  to  appreciate  this.  So  that  the  address 
which  was  presented  for  their  signatures  did  not  breathe 
much  indignation.  I  can  almost  recall  every  word  of  that 
somewhat  pompous  but  very  sincere  petition.  It  was 
about  as  I  give  it  here: 
"  Honored  Madam: 

In  regard  to  our  offense  of  yesterday  we  beg  that  you 
will  do  us  the  justice  to  believe  that  it  was  not  intentional. 
We  do  not  ask  you  to  remit  the  punishment  you  have  in- 
flicted in  taking  away  our  recess,  but  we  do  ask  you  to 
remit  the  heavier  penalty  we  have  incurred,  your  own  dis- 
pleasure." 

The  boys  all  willingly  signed  this  except  one,  who  was, 
perhaps,  the  only  conscious  offender  in  the  party.     He 


94 

confessed  that  he  had  observed  that  the  sun  was  "  getting 
a  Httle  slanting  "  while  we  were  at  play,  but,  as  his  side 
"  had  the  paddles,"  he  did  not  say  anything  until  they  were 
put  out.  The  unwilling  boy  wanted  more  indignation  in 
the  address  and  he  wanted  the  recess  back.  But  when  all 
the  others  had  signed  he  did  not  dare  leave  his  name  off 
but  put  it  at  the  bottom  of  the  list. 

With  trembling  hands  we  gave  the  paper  to  the  school- 
mistress. How  some  teachers  would  have  used  such  a 
paper  as  a  means  of  further  humiliation  to  the  offenders! 
How  few  could  have  used  it  as  she  did!  The  morning 
wore  on  without  recess.  The  lessons  were  heard  as  usual. 
As  the  noon  hour  drew  near,  Mrs.  Dumont  rose  from  her 
chair  and  went  into  the  library.  We  all  felt  that  some- 
thing was  going  to  happen.  She  came  out  with  a  copy  of 
Shakspeare,  which  she  opened  at  the  fourth  scene  of  the 
fourth  act  of  the  second  part  of  King  Henry  IV.  Giving 
the  book  to  my  next  neighbor  and  myself  she  bade  us  read 
the  scene,  alternating  with  the  change  of  speaker.  You 
remember  the  famous  dialogue  in  that  scene  between  the 
dying  king  and  the  prince  who  has  permaturely  taken  the 
crown  from  the  bedside  of  the  sleeping  king.  It  was  all 
wonderfullv  fresh  to  us  and  to  our  school  mates,  whose 
interest  was  divided  between  the  scene  and  a  curiosity  as 
to  the  use  the  teacher  meant  to  make  of  it.  At  length  the 
reader  who  took  the  king's  part  read: 


Heaven  put  if  in  thv  mind  to  take  it  hence. 
That  thou  miphtst  win  the  more  thv  father's  love, 
Pleadinu  so  wisely  in  excuse  of  it." 


'  95  * 

Then  she  took  the  book  and  closed  it.  The  application 
was  evident  to  all,  but  she  made  us  a  touching  little  speech 
full  of  affection,  and  afterward  restored  the  recess.  She 
detained  the  girls  when  we  had  gone  to  read  to  them  the 
address,  that  she  might  "  show  them  what  noble  brothers 
they  had."  Without  doubt  she  made  overmuch  of  our 
nobleness.  But  no  one  knew  better  than  Mrs.  Dumont 
that  the  surest  way  of  evoking  the  best  in  man  or  boy,  is 
to  make  the  most  of  the  earhest  symptoms  of  it.  From 
\hat  hour  our  schoolmistress  had  our  whole  hearts;  we 
loved  her  and  reverenced  her;  we  were  thoughtless 
enough,  but  for  the  most  of  us  her  half-suspected  wish  was 
a  supreme  law.  *  *  *  YLer  life  always  seemed  to  me 
a  poem,  or  something  better  than  a  poem.     *     *     * 


General  Ebenezer  Dumont. 

[Verbatim  extracts  from  rAe  Indianapolis  Journal, yionda.y,  April  17,  1871. 

General  Dumont  was  the  son  of  John  and  Julia  L.  Du- 
mont, of  Vevay,  Switzerland  county,  Indiana,  where  he 
was  born  November  23,  A.  D.  1814.  He  was  conse- 
quently fifty-six  years,  four  months  and  twenty-five  days 
old  when  he  died.*  In  this  brief  period  his  Hfe  is  em- 
braced. 

His  parents  were  both  remarkable  people,  as  well  for 
their  talents  as  their  acquirements,  and  have  left  traces  of 
themselves  in  the  laws  and  literature  of  the  State  which 
will  not  be  forgotten  or  omitted  when  its  history  shall  be 

*  General  Ebenezer  Dumont's  death  occurred  about  4:00  o'clock  A.  M., 
April  16,  1871,  at  his  residence  south  of  Indianapolis. 


96 

adequately  written.  His  father  was  a  good  lawyer  and  an 
upright  politician  and  statesman,  whose  whole  public  life 
will  show  that  the  aim  of  his  political  conduct  was  public 
utility  and  welfare,  rather  than  popular  applause.  In  1837 
he  was  a  candidate  against  Governor  Wallace  for  gover- 
nor of  the  State.  The  latter  was  the  advocate  of  the 
simultaneous  construction  of  the  whole  system  of  internal 
improvements  adopted  in  1836,  maintaining  its  necessity, 
expediency  and  practicability.  The  former  opposed  him. 
urging  that  disaster  must  inevitably  follow  the  policy  of 
his  opponent,  and  in  order  to  prevent  that  disaster,  the 
true  policy  of  the  State  was  to  classify  the  works  included 
in  the  system,  and  having  thus  settled  upon  those  which 
were  most  immediately  necessary  to  the  development  of 
the  State,  and  which  promised,  therefore,  to  be  most  im- 
mediately remunerative,  proceed  first  with  their  con- 
struction; and  so  on,  upon  the  same  principle  until  all 
should  be  completed.  The  people,  however,  were  carried 
away  by  the  eloquence  of  Wallace  and  rage  of  the  hour, 
and  Mr.  Dumont  was  defeated.  No  wonder,  when  such 
men  as  the  late  Judge  Morrison  could  not  close  a  letter 
to  a  friend  without  adding  a  postscript  saying:  "We  all 
are  for  Wallace  and  the  system  here."  The  result  of  that 
election  in  effect  terminated  the  political  career  of  both; 
but  in  different  ways.  Mr.  Dumont  abandoned  politics 
at  once,  and  gave  his  attention  thereafter  entirely  to  the 
law;  while  Governor  Wallace  served  his  term  as  governor, 
was  elected  one  term  to  congress,  and  then  defeated  in 
the  second  race.  The  failure  of  the  system  before  the 
contest  of  1840,  had  rendered  it  unsafe  for  the  Whigs  to 


97 

nominate  him  for  re-election  as  governor.  Had  Mr.  Du- 
mont  been  like  most  politicians  he  might  have  risen,  in 
1840,  with  the  same  platform  which  caused  his  defeat  in 
1837.  He  made  no  effort  to  avail  himself  of  his  own 
superior  sagacity,  or  the  mistakes  and  blunders  of  his  ad- 
versaries. He  was  the  advocate  of  free  schools,  and  did 
more  than  any  Indianian  of  his  time  to  lay  the  founda- 
tion of  a  system  of  free  education.  His  labors  are  vastly 
important  in  regard  to  this  subject.  Nor  was  Mrs.  Du- 
mont  less  conspicuous  for  her  devotion  and  labors  in 
furtherance  of  the  same  great  cause.  She  was  an  admirable 
teacher,  and  some  of  the  best  practical  essays  that  we  have 
ever  read  upon  the  subject  of  popular  education  were  from 
her  pen.  Her  best  title  to  remembrance  as  a  person  of 
superior  mind  rightly  directed,  is  not  her  services  and 
merits  as  a  teacher.  She  was  highly  endowed  with  the 
sacred  gift  of  genius  —  genius  subordinated  and  obedient 
to  all  that  is  highest,  grandest  and  best  in  the  sentiments, 
aspirations  and  love  of  a  noble  and  true  woman's  heart. 
Her  poems,  though  not  numerous,  constitute,  in  our  judg- 
ment, her  best  title  to  literary  remembrance.  These,  we 
beHeve,  will  long  survive,  for  many  of  them  are  full  of  the 
undying  soul  of  song.  We  would  not,  however,  by  saying 
this,  be  understood  to  disparage  her  prose  writing.  On 
the  contrary,  many  times  have  caused  the  most  blessed 
tears  that  ever  moistened  our  eyes  to  flow  down  our 
cheeks  while  reading  in  silence  some  one  of  her  beautiful 
"  Tales  from  Common  Paths." 

Such  in  brief  were  the  parents  of  General  Dumont.     He 
inherited,  in  a  large  degree,  the  mental  and  moral  char- 
7 


98 

acteristics  of  them  both,  having  all  the  intensity  and 
energy  of  genius,  linked,  however,  to  other  qualities 
severely  practical.  The  combination  spoiled  the  poet, 
and  made  the  practical  business  man  a  consuming  fire.  It 
was  not  certainly  the  happiest  combination,  but  could 
scarcely  fail  to  be  effective  in  achievement.  Such  would 
be  our  opinion,  judging  a  priori.  A  brief  survey  of  Gen- 
eral Dumont's  life  will  prove  it  true. 

Accordingly  we  see  him  immediately  after  completing 
his  own  education,  as  the  phrase  goes,  teaching  school  for 
a  livelihood  here  in  Indianapolis  for  a  while.  How  long 
he  followed  this  vocation  we  have  not  been  informed.  He 
next  reads  law,  or,  indeed,  is  perhaps  engaged  in  that 
while  teaching;  for  to  that  profession  he  had  been  dedi- 
cated even  from  his  childhood.  He  is  admitted  to  the 
bar,  but  exactly  when  does  not  appear  from  any  facts  in 
our  possession.  He  then  leaves  home,  settling  in  Dear- 
born county,  for  the  practice  of  his  profession.  Though 
a  beardless  boy,  of  diminutive  size  and  feeble  voice,  he 
soon  began  to  establish  a  reputation  for  industry  and 
abiUty  second  to  no  lawyer  in  the  place.  He  was  ad- 
mitted by  his  seniors  to  be  competent  to  manage  import- 
ant cases  at  an  age  when  most  other  young  lawyers  shrink 
from  embarking  in  them  at  all.  In  1838  or  '39  he  tried 
politics  —  was  elected  a  member  of  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives in  the  General  Assembly.  Here  again  the  boy 
was  felt  as  a  power.  His  tact  and  energy  enabled  him  to 
defeat  measures  which  others  of  more  mature  years  would 
have  had  to  succumb  to.  Next,  he  was  placed,  we  believe 
by  executive  appointment,  in  the  office  of  county  treas- 


99 


urer,  and  in  that  relation  established  his  reputation  as  the 
honest  and  faithful  custodian  of  the  people's  money  — a 
reputation  which  has  grown  with  his  years  and  will  long 
remain  the  enduring  monument  of  his  integrity      After 
retiring  from  the  office  of  county  treasurer  he  followed  his 
profession  with  great  industry,  energy  and  corresponding 
success,  until  the  second  year  of  the  xMexican  War      En- 
tering the  Fourth  Regiment  of  Indiana  Volunteers,  he 
was  commissioned  Lieut.-Colonel,  and  in  that  capacity 
went  to  Mexico  where  he  served  with  distinction  for  one 
year.     He  was  gone  from  home  in  all  one  year  and  three 
months.     He  was  in  the  capture  of  Huamautla,  the  seige 
of  Puebla  and  other  engagements,  in  all  which  he  won  the 
approbation  of  his  superiors  and  the  confidence  of  his  in- 
feriors in  the  service. 

Upon  returning  from  Mexico  he  resumed  the  practice 
of  his  profession,  and  followed  it  with  great  success  until 
i«5i,  vvhen  he  was  again  elected  to  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives. He  was  chosen  speaker  for  the  term,  and 
served  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  the  House.  But  he 
won  his  best  distinction  as  a  business  man  and  debater 
during  the  session,  in  which  he  delivered  several  able 
speeches,  which  were  published,  and  gave  him  a  State 
reputation  as  a  man  of  ability. 

In  1852 -during  the  long  session  of  the  General  As- 
sembly-he was  elected  president  of  the  "  State  Bank  of 
Indiana,  a  position  of  the  very  highest  possible  trust  and 
responsibility.  He  entered  upon  the  duties  of  this  posi- 
tion upon  the  retirement  of  Judge  Morrison  therefrom 
and  continued  to  perform  them  until  the  bank's  charter' 


expired  in  1858  or  '59.  In  connection  with  the  bank 
presidency  he  was  also  president  of  the  board  of  commis- 
sioners of  the  sinkmg  fund.  In  both  relations  he  had 
hrmly  established  himself  in  the  confidence  of  the  public 
as  a  business  man  of  capacity  and  blameless  integrity  be- 
fore the  charter  had  expired,  and,  upon  the  reorganization 
of  the  sinking  fund  board,  during  the  session  of  1859,  he 
was  elected  president  thereof,  and  continued  in  that  office 
until  the  commencement  of  the  War  of  the  Rebelhon. 

He  was  among  the  earliest  of  the  prominent  Democrats 
of  the  State  to  resist  the  heresy  of  secession,  and  the  con- 
sequent right  of  a  State  to  make  war  upon  the  general 
government;  and,  upon  the  breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion 
promptly  tendered  his  services  to  the  governor.  He  was 
sent  by  His  Excellency  to  Washington  to  ascertain  what 
might  be  ascertained  of  the  objects  of  the  government,  and 
also  of  the  means  which  it  would  be  able  to  employ  to  sup- 
press the  Rebellion,  and  how  the  State  might  best  be  able 
to  aid  therein.  Upon  his  return  from  this  mission  he  was 
appointed  Colonel  of  the  7th  regiment  of  Indiana  volun- 
teers. At  the  head  of  this  regiment  he  served  with  dis- 
tinction during  the  three  months  campaign  of  1861,  in 
West  Virginia,  being  prominently  engaged  in  the  surprise 
of  Phillipi,  the  skirmishes  at  Laurel  Hill,  and  the  battle  of 
Carrick's  Ford.  After  the  campaign  he  reorganized  the 
regiment  for  three  years,  and,  at  the  head  of  it,  returned 
to  West  Virginia,  and  while  there  participated  in  the 
battle  of  Greenbrier  under  Gen.  Reynolds.  Soon  after 
this  engagement  he  was  appointed  a  Brigadier-General  by 
the  President,  and  ordered  to  Louisville.     He  passed  the 


lOI 


winter  of  1861  and  1862  at  Bardstown,  Bacon  Creek  and 
other  points  between  Louisville  and  Nashville.  His 
health  was  extremely  bad,  but  he  clung  to  his  command 
and  performed  its  duties  for  months  when  he  ought  to 
have  been  under  treatment.  He  subsequently  was  placed 
in  command  of  Nashville,  Tennessee,  where  his  spirit  and 
earnestness  secured  the  flag  more  kindly  treatment  from 
his  enemies  than  it  would  otherwise  have  received.  While 
here  it  was  that  he  organized  and  led  his  celebrated  pur- 
suit of  John  Morgan,  whom  he  well  nigh  captured  at  Leb- 
anon. His  health,  however,  finally  disqualifying  him  for 
the  field,  he  accepted  the  nomination  for  Congress  on  the 
part  of  the  Union  or  Republican  party  in  1862,  and  was  in 
due  time  elected  a  member.  He  was  re-elected  in  1864, 
and  thus  served  his  country  faithfully  according  to  his  con- 
victions of  duty  for  four  years,  so  far  as  his  very  feeble 
health  would  permit.  His  feelings  during  the  Rebellion 
were  intensely  awakened  and  excited.  He  had  no  tolera- 
tion for  treason  or  traitors,  or  for  those  he  conceived  to 
be  in  sympathy  with  such.  He  was  utterly  relentless 
toward  the  foes  of  the  old  flag. 

Since  he  returned  from  Congress  he  has  held  no  public 
office  until  his  appointment  during  the  past  winter  as  Gov- 
ernor of  Idaho;  but  during  each  political  canvass  he  has 
participated  in  pubHc  speaking  for  his  party  with  zeal  and 
ability.  He  has  spent  the  time  not  thus  employed  in  the 
oversight  of  his  farm  and  business,  until  some  time  during 
the  winter,  when  he  went  to  Washington  in  connection 
with  his  last  appointment.  While  there  he  was  taken 
down  sick  and  came  near  dying.     He  finally  so  far  recov- 


ered,  however,  that  he  was  able  to  return  home.  Upon 
doing  so  he  entered  upon  a  course  of  arranging  his  busi- 
ness with  a  view  to  going  to  Idaho,  but  before  he  had  com- 
pleted it,  was  taken  ill  again  with  fever  and  general  pros- 
tration, from  which  there  was  really  never  much  hope  from 
the  first  that  he  could  recover.  Congestion  of  the  lungs 
supervened  upon  the  progress  of  his  fever;  and  he  finally 
died  as  we  have  already  stated.*  He  retained  his  faculties 
to  the  last,  rising  from  his  bed  to  put  on  his  morning 
wrapper  a  few  minutes  only  before  he  died.  His  death 
was  apparently  not  painful,  and  was  without  a  struggle. 
No  man  ever  maintained  in  death  the  uniform  consistency 
of  character  he  had  borne  through  life  in  all  its  higher  and 
better  traits  [more  strongly]  than  he.  He  was  always  an 
earnest,  upright,  laborious,  systematic  man.  He  loved 
and  hated  in  earnest  —  intensely;  but  beneath  a  some- 
times harsh  and  severe  exterior  he  bore  as  generous  and 
kind  a  heart  as  ever  beat  in  the  breast  of  man.  He  was  no 
deceiver.  He  carried  his  principles  in  his  hand,  alike  for 
inspection  of  friend  and  foe;  and  with  the  faults  common 

*This  sketch,  as  originally  published  in  the  Indianatolis  Journal,  April 
17,  1871,  was  preceded  by  the  following  paragraph;  "General  Ebenezer 
Dumont,  lately  appointed  Governor  of  Idaho,  died  at  his  residence,  south 
of  this  city,  j'esterday  morning,  a  few  minutes  past  four  o'clock.  The 
melancholy  event  was  not  unexpected,  for  his  health  had  been  extremely 
bad  for  a  long  time,  and  for  the  last  ten  days  no  well  grounded  hope  had 
been  entertained  by  his  physicians  or  friends  of  his  recovery.  Nevertheless 
his  known  tenacity  of  purpose,  and  of  life,  alike  induced  them  to  hope 
against  hope  that  he  might  finally  recover,  and  enter  upon  the  new  career 
which  his  appointment  seemed  to  open  before  him.  But  that  career  has 
been  denied  him  by  a  Power  in  the  presence  of  which  all  human  power  is 
but  weakness,  and  all  human  glor>'  but  as  the  dust  and  ashes  under  our 
fm."  "' 


103 

to  mortal  men,  has  left  a  record  of  noble  deeds  to  his  family 
and  countrj'  which  will  long  be  cherished  by  them  as  a 
priceless  inheritance. 

A  meeting  of  the  bar  of  the  city  will  be  held  at  the 
United  States  Court  Room,  at  two  o'clock  this  afternoon, 
to  make  arrangements  to  attend  the  funeral,  which  will 
take  place  from  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  at  half- 
past  two  p.  M.  to-morrow.  In  the  evening  a  meeting  of 
the  soldiers  of  the  city  will  be  held  at  the  same  place,  to 
take  a  similar  action. 


Captain  Robert  Anderson. 

Born  in  Londonderry,  Ireland,  in  1751,  and  coming  to 
America  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  "  to  see  the  new  world," 
almost  on  the  eve  of  the  Revolution,  Captain  Anderson 
quickly  found  opportunity  in  General  Washington's  army 
to  make  manifest  his  bravery  and  adventurous  spirit. 
Among  his  descendants  are  certain  traditions  from  which 
we  gather  the  following  items:  Previous  to  his  departure 
from  his  native  land  his  mother  gave  him  eight  hundred 
guineas  and  a  silver-clasped  Bible,  thus  evincing,  at  once, 
the  financial  and  religious  standing  of  his  family.  He  re- 
mained in  America,  served  through  the  Revolutionary 

Note.  —  Brief  sketches  of  the  life  of  General  Ebenezer  Dumont  will  be 
found  in  Appletons  Cyclopcedia  of  American  Biography  (tievf  York,  1887),  and 
in  Lanman's  "  Dictionary  of  U.  S.  Congress,"  etc.  (Hartford,  1868),  as  well 
as  the  latter's  "  Biog.  Annals  of  the  Civil  Government."  Further  mention 
is  made  in  a  work  entitled  "  Biog.  and  Hist.  Sketches  of  Early  Indiana," 
by  W.  W.  Woollen  (Indianapolis,  1883).  This  last  mentioned  book  also 
contains  several  references  to  Colonel  John  Dumont,  the  father  of  General 
Ebenezer  Dumont. — Editor. 


I04 

War  and  was  at  Valley  Forge.  He  visited  Ireland  twice. 
Met  with  financial  reverses  in  consequence,  it  is  said,  of  his 
signing  a  man's  bail  for  some  thirty  thousand  dollars, 
which  he  had  to  pay.  He  was  a  handsome  man,  beautiful 
complexion  and  of  a  remarkably  amiable  disposition.  His 
brother-in-law,  Colonel  John  Dumont,  once  remarked  of 
him:  "  Captain  Anderson  was  a  perfect  gentleman."  He 
married  Catherine  Dumont,*  and  died  at  Fort  Edward, 
New  York,  in  1816,  where  he  was  buried  with  Masonic 
honors.     His  family  removed  to  Vevay,  Indiana. 


Hon.  W.  T.  Bland. 

William  Thomas  Bland  was  born  in  Weston,  Lewis 
county,  Virginia,  now  West  Virginia,  January  21,  i86r. 
His  father,  Doctor  William  J.  Bland,  was  one  of  the  promi- 
nent physicians  of  that  State.  Doctor  Bland  was  a  sur- 
geon in  the  United  States  army,  and,  subsequent  to  his 
resignation  therefrom,  became  a  member  of  the  Virginia 
legislature.  He  was  opposed  to  the  secession  of  the 
Southern  States,  but,  after  the  war  began,  became  chief 
surgeon  of  William  L.  Jackson's  brigade  in  the  Confeder- 
ate army.  After  the  war  he  was  chosen  medical  superin- 
tendent of  the  West  Virginia  Hospital  for  the  Insane,  at 
Weston,  West  Virginia,  an  institution  which,  while  he  was 
a  member  of  the  Virginia  Assembly,  he  was  instrumental 
in  having  located  and  constructed.  This  last-mentioned 
position  he  retained  for  many  years,  resigning  in  the  year 

|*See'page'6o.'' 


I05 

1892,  on  account  of  advanced  age.  He  died  in  1897,  ^t 
the  age  of  eighty-one. 

The  Bland  family,  of  which  the  subject  of  this  sketch  is 
a  member,  descended  from  Theodoric  Bland,  of  Virginia, 
who  was  an  officer  in  the  Revolutionary  army,  a  close 
friend  of  Washington  and  one  of  his  trusted  officers. 
Theodoric  Bland  was  bom  in  1742,  in  Prince  George 
county,  Virginia.  Through  his  grandmother,  Jane  Rolfe, 
he  was  fourth  in  descent  from  Pocahontas.  He  was  one 
of  a  score  of  gentlemen  who  took  from  the  palace  of  Lord 
Dunsmore  the  arms  and  ammunition  which  had  been  ab- 
stracted by  that  nobleman  from  the  public  arsenal.  Dur- 
ing the  entire  war  of  the  Revolution,  with  the  exception 
of  one  term  in  the  Virginia  Senate,  he  was  in  military  serv- 
ice, and,  after  independence  had  been  acknowledged,  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  General  Congress,  which  then 
met  at  Philadelphia,  and  continued  a  member  thereof  until 
1783.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Convention  of  1783,  called 
to  ratify  the  Federal  Constitution,  and  voted  against  its 
adoption,  but  was  chosen  as  the  first  representative  to 
Congress  under  it.  He  was  the  author  of  the  "  Bland 
papers,"  and  left  many  memorials  of  the  Revolutionary 
period.     (See  American  Encyclopedia.) 

The  Blands  are  of  ancient  English  origin,  the  common 
ancestor  of  Sir  Richard  de  Blount,  or  Blunt.  (See  book 
entitled  "  Bristol  Parish.") 

Many  of  the  Virginia  Blands  are  buried  at  Blandford 
Church,  near  Petersburg,  about  which  ancient  edifice  a 
beautiful  poem  was  written. 

Hon.  Richard  P.  Bland,  member  of  Congress  from  Mis- 


io6 

souri,  and  Judge  C.  C.  Bland,  of  the  St.  Louis  Court  of 
Appeals,  are  descendants  of  the  Virginia  Bland  family. 

The  mother  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  Columbia 
Madison  Bland,  formerly  Jackson.  She  was  born  at 
Clarksburg,  Virginia  (now  West  Virginia),  September  22, 
1823.  Her  father  was  Judge  John  G.  Jackson,  who  was 
born  about  1774,  at  Clarksburg,  Virginia,  and  died  about 
1825.  He  succeeded  his  father.  Judge  George  Jackson,  in 
Congress,  and  while  a  member  thereof,  married  Mary 
Payne,  a  sister  of  the  accomplished  wife  of  President  Mad- 
ison— Dollie  ]\Iadison.  The  marriage  was  the  first  to  occur 
in  the  White  House.  His  second  wife  was  Sophia  Meigs, 
the  only  daughter  of  R.  J.  Meigs,  Governor  of  Ohio  and 
afterwards  postmaster-general.  Of  that  marriage  several 
children  were  born,  including  the  mother  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.  Judge  Jackson  was  appointed  the  first  Fed- 
eral Judge  for  the  Western  District  of  Virginia,  and  this 
office  he  filled  with  distinction  until  his  death.  He  was  a 
learned  lawyer,  a  man  of  indomitable  energy  and  of  great 
enterprise.  (See  Life  of  Stonewall  Jackson,  by  R.  I>. 
Dabney.) 

Judge  Jackson's  brother,  Edward,  was  the  grandfather 
of  General  Stonewall  Jackson.  Ex-Governor  J.  B.  Jackson, 
of  West  Virginia,  Judge  John  J.  Jackson,  of  the  United 
States  District  Court  of  the  District  of  West  Virginia,  who 
was  appointed  by  President  Lincoln,  and  Judge  Monroe 
Jackson,  of  the  State  Circuit  Court  at  Parkesburg,  Wood 
county.  West  Virginia,  are  grandsons  of  Judge  John  G. 
Jackson.  The  Jackson  family  descended  from  John  Jack- 
son, of  Scotch-Irish  origin,  whose  family  moved  from  the 


I07 

north  of  Ireland  to  London.  He  emigrated  from  London 
in  1748,  first  settling  in  Calvert  county,  Maryland,  and 
there  married  Elizabeth  Cummings,  also  from  London. 
They  afterwards  settled  in  the  western  portion  of  Virginia 
(now  West  Virginia)  and  founded  the  Jackson  family, 
which  has  long  been  one  of  the  prominent  families  of  the 
State,  its  members  having  occupied  many  positions  of 
honor  and  trust. 

William  Thomas  Bland  graduated  at  the  University  of 
West  Virginia  in  1883,  and  afterwards  studied  law  at  the 
University  of  Virginia  and  the  University  of  West  Vir- 
ginia, and,  after  graduating  in  law,  practiced  for  three 
years  in  his  native  State,  removing  to  Atchison,  Kansas, 
in  December,  1887,  and  there  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
his  profession.  In  1889  he  was  elected  county  attorney 
of  Atchison  county,  Kansas,  refusing  a  nomination  for  a 
second  term.  In  1893  he  was  elected  Mayor  of  the  City 
of  Atchison,  and,  in  1897,  was  elected  Judge  of  the  Second 
Judicial  Dictrict  of  Kansas.  The  county  of  Atchison,  as 
well  as  the  city,  is  largely  Republican,  and  each  time  Judge 
Bland  was  elected  upon  the  Democratic  ticket. 

In  August,  1891,  he  married  Bertha  H.,  daughter  01 
W.  C.  and  Kate  Avis  McPike,  and  of  that  marriage  one 
child,  William  McPike  Bland,  was  born,  November  2:7, 
1894. 


io8 


Hon.  A.  C.  Ellis. 

Alexander  Campbell  Ellis  was  bom  in  Kenton  county, 
Ky.,  in  1832.  His  father  was  William  Grimsley  Ellis,  born 
in  Fauquier  county,  Virginia,  and  his  mother  was  Susan  G 
Arnold,  whose  ancestors  came  to  Kentucky  from  the  sam< 
old  home  in  Virginia.  The  Ellises  are  of  English  descent 
and  the  Arnolds  of  Scotch-Irish.  Campbell  Ellis  was 
reared  on  a  farm  in  Kenton  county  where  his  father  was 
the  owner  of  one  of  the  largest  estates  in  Northern  Ken- 
tucky. He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and 
studied  law  in  Covington.  Was  a  deputy  clerk  of  the 
Circuit  Court  and  one  of  the  first  Democrats  elected  to 
office  in  Kenton  county  after  the  war.  Was,  for  two 
terms,  clerk  of  the  courts  and  recorder  of  the  county,  and 
subsequently  entered  upon  the  active  practice  of  the  law, 
in  which  he  is  still  engaged.  He  has  been  prominent  at 
the  bar,  frequently  serving  as  special  judge  of  the  Circuit 
Court,  and  for  many  years  was  one  of  the  leaders  in  Demo- 
cratic politics.  Was  married  in  1859  to  Kate  Blackburn 
Hereford,  widow  of  Blair  P.  Hereford  and  daughter  of 
Christopher  Blackburn  and  Jeanetta  Smith,  his  wife.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Ellis  have  four  children  living  —  Hon.  Wade  H. 
Ellis,  of  Cincinnati;  Dr.  Samuel  B.  Ellis,  of  Dayton,  Ohio: 
Chatten  Ellis,  of  Covington,  Ky.,  and  Mrs.  U.  S.  Rotzong, 
of  Kansas  City,  Mo.  Mrs.  Ellis  has  three  daughters  by 
her  first  husband,  viz.:  Eudora  Hereford,  of  Covington, 
Ky.;  Mrs.  J.  W.  Peebles,  of  Milldale,  Ky.,  and  Mrs.  J.  W. 
Meiers,  of  Kansas  City,  Mo. 


109 


Hon.  Wade  H.  Ellis. 


Wade  H.  Ellis,  son  of  Alexander  Campbell  Ellis  and 
Kate  Blackburn  Ellis,  was  born  in  Covington,  Ky.,  Decem- 
ber 31,  1864.  Attended  the  district  and  high  schools  hi 
Covington  and  Cincinnati,  and  Chickering  Institute  iu 
Cincinnati.  Engaged  in  newspaper  work  as  a  young  man, 
and,  at  the  age  of  twenty,  was  city  editor  of  the  Cincin- 
nati Daily  Sun.  Later  went  to  the  Law  School  of  the 
Washington  and  Lee  University,  at  Lexington,  Virginia, 
studying  under  the  late  John  Randolph  Tucker,  and  grad- 
uated with  the  honors  of  his  class  in  1889.  At  Washing- 
ton and  Lee  University  received  the  Debater's  medal  and 
the"  law  scholarship.  Located  in  South  Dakota,  and,  in 
1892,  was  nominated  by  his  party  for  Attorney-General 
of  the  State,  but  withdrew  to  form  a  partnership  for  the 
practice  of  the  law  in  Kansas  City.  Returned  to  Coving- 
ton in  1893  and  formed  a  partnership  with  Ellis  G.  Kin- 
kead  for  the  practice  of  law  in  Cincinnati.  Became  man- 
aging editor  of  the  Cincinnati  Tribune  in  1894,  and  subse- 
quently editor  of  the  Commercial  Tribune,  by  the  consoli- 
dation of  the  Cincinnati  Tribune  and  the  Cincinnati  Com- 
mercial Gazette,  continuing  during  this  period  of  news- 
paper management  his  law  partnership  and  practice.  In 
April,  1897,  Mr.  Ellis'  law  partner,  Mr.  Kinkead,  was 
elected  corporation  counsel,  or  city  solicitor,  of  the  city  of 
Cincinnati,  and  Mr.  Ellis  was  appointed  first  assistant  cor- 
poration counsel,  a  position  which  he  now  holds.  Was 
married  in  1894  to  Dessie  Corwin  Chase,  of  Covington. 
Ky.,  daughter  of-Francis  M.  Chase  and  Mary  D.  Ficklin. 


,  Captain  Moses  Guest.^  s  .    . 

Captain  Moses  Guest  was  born  in  New  Brunswick,  New 
Jersey,  November  7th,  1755.  Of  his  paternal  ancestry  we 
have  already  written.*  He  took  an  active  part  in  the  War 
of  the  American  Revolution,  first  as  an  ensign  in  Captain 
Voorhees'  Company,  Third  Middlesex  Regiment,  and  sub- 
sequently as  a  Captain  in  Second  Middlesex  Regiment. t 
Later  he  became  a  mariner,  and  in  his  "  Journal  "  he  re- 
cites many  interesting  incidents  of  his  travels  and  sea-far- 
ing life.  He  possessed  a  great  measure  of  ingenuity.  On 
one  of  his  voyages  the  supply  of  drinking  water  became 
exhausted,  and  Capt.  Guest,  in  a  little  while,  improvised  a 
still  for  rendering  salt  water  fresh,  thus  probably  saving 
the  lives  of  all  involved,  including  his  own.§  Quitting 
the  sea,  he  appears  to  have  settled  in  his  native  town  and 
taken  an  interest  in,  or  the  management  of,  his  father's 
tannery,  for  we  find  him  going  to  Canada  to  dispose  of 
some  hides.  His  narrative  of  these  trips  furnishes  charm- 
ing, contemporaneous  pictures  of  the  difificulties  then  in- 
volved in  going  comparatively  short  distances.  June  28, 
1792,  he  married  Lydia  Dumont,  daug'hter  of  Peter  Du- 
mont,  the  ceremony  being  performed  by  the  Rev.  Walter 
Monteath.  His  father  having  died,  and  "  The  West  " 
presenting  its  attractions.  Captain  Guest  removed,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1817,  to  Cincinnati,  where  he  lived  until  his  de- 
cease which  occurred  March  22,  1828.     He  and  his  wife, 

*See  pages  20  and  40. 
t  See  foot-note  on  page  40. 

§  See  Guest's  "Poems  and  Journal,"  second  edition  (Cincinnati,  1824), 
page  106. 


Ill 

who  died  in  Cincinnati,  October  29,  1822,  were  buried  in 
what  was  then  the  cemetery,  now  Washington  Park,  near 
the  northwest  corner  of  Race  and  Twelfth  streets.  Cap- 
tain Guest's  place  in  the  history  of  otir  country  is  most 
prominently  marked  by  his  capture  of  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Simcoe,  commander  of  the  Queen's  Rangers,*  but  he, 
like  many  of  his  brave  and  patriotic  contemporaries,  did 
much  service  for  America,  the  details  of  which  have  long 
since  passed  into  oblivion.  Even  his  "  Poems  "  breathe 
forth  a  spirit  of  freedom.  He  appears  to  have  had  a  keen 
sense  of  the  ridiculous  as  well  as  the  pathetic  and  grand; 
nor  did  he  lack  the  enviable  power  of  looking  at  life  philo- 
sophically. His  portrait,  in  the  possession  of  his  grand- 
son, the  Rev.  Andrew  J.  Reynolds,  presents  to  our  view 
"  one  of  nature's  noblemen."  It  is  the  preservation  of  the 
memory  of  such  as  him  which  should  incite  us  to  noble 
deeds  and  contribute  to  our  happiness,  even  though  we 
occupy  an  humble  sphere. 


Hon.  John  L.  Keteham.f 

The  announcement,  this  morning,  that  the  injuries  re- 
ceived by  the  Hon.  John  L.  Ketcham,  in  the  fall  at  the 
store  of  Alford,  Talbott  &  Co.,  yesterday  afternoon,  has 
proven  fatal,  has  thrown  a  saddening  gloom  over  the  city. 
So  sudden  has  been  the  removal  from  the  activity  of  life 
to  the  stillness  of  death,  that  it  seems  hard  to  fully  realize 

*  See  page  9. 

t  Reprinted  from  the  Indianapolis,  Indiana,  Evening  Mirror,  of  April 
21,  1869. 


the  painful  truth.  From  the  full  vigor  of  a  life  unusually 
earnest  and  active  he  has  been  taken  by  one  of  those  ter- 
rible decrees  of  accident  that  are  ever  reminding  man  that 
his  existence  is  brief  and  uncertain  in  its  termination. 

John  L.  Ketcham  was  born  April  3rd,  1810,  in  Shelby 
county,  Kentucky.  His  father.  Colonel  John  Ketcham, 
removed  to  Indiana  when  he  was  an  infant,  but  on  account 
of  Indian  troubles  was  compelled  to  return  to  Kentucky.* 
A  few  years  later  he  again  came  to  Indiana  and  settled  in 
Monroe  county  near  Bloomington.  Colonel  Ketcham 
was  a  man  of  strong  character,  with  marked  energy  and 
resolute  purpose.  An  early  advocate  of  the  free-soil 
movement,  he  continued  in  that  party  throughout  all  its 
obloquy  and  feebleness.  His  wife  was  a  woman  equally 
marked.  She  had  a  quick  perception  into  the  right,  and 
was  ever  ready  to  sacrifice  it.  Her  controlling  spring 
seemed  to  be  duty,  and  she  never  let  pleasure  lead  her 
from  it. 

From  such  parentage  John  L.  Ketcham  came,  and  well 
represented  in  his  life  the  familiar  characteristics  of  each, 
more  especially  being  the  counterpart  of  his  mother.  Col- 
onel Ketcham  died  two  years  since.  His  wife  still  sur- 
vives. Mr.  Ketcham  was  educated  in  the  University  of 
Bloomington,  under  Dr.  Wiley,  to  whom  he  was  much 
attached.  He  was  graduated  in  the  regular  course  when 
quite  young.     In  1833  he  came  to  Indianapolis  and  began 

*To  avoid  misapprehension,  it  should  be  added  that  although  Colonel 
Ketcham  did  take  his  family  back  into  Kentucky,  he,  himself,  returned 
to  Indiana  to  perform  his  part  and  duty  in  renderinjr  it  safe  and  habitable, 
after  which  he  brought  his  family  back  also,  as  stated  above. 


JI3 

the  study  of  law  under  Judge  Blackford.  Soon  after  ad- 
mission to  the  bar  iie  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and 
held  the  ottice  one  term.  This  was  the  only  office  he  was 
ever  a  candidate  for,  his  subsequent  Ufe  being  devoted 
strictly  to  his  pi'ofession.  in  1836  he  married  Jane,  the 
eldest  daughter  of  Samuel  Merrill,  Esq.  He  leaves  his 
wife  and  a  family  of  eight. 

In  his  profession  he  associated  in  partnership  from  time 
to  time  with  Napoleon  B.  Taylor,  Lucian  Barbour,  D.  VV. 
Coffin  and  James  L.  Mitchell,  his  present  partner. 

Such,  in  brief,  is  the  history  of  one  who  yesterday,  in  the 
fullest  vigor,  was  with  us.  There  is,  perhaps,  no  man  in 
the  city  whose  leading  traits  of  character  are  more  marked. 
For  thirty-six  years  he  was  a  citizen  of  Indianapolis,  for  the 
last  twenty  of  which  he  has  Hved  in  the  home  he  has  been 
so  sadly  called  from.  It  is  a  delicate  thing  to  try  to  por- 
tray a  character  so  well  known.  It  lives  so  in  the  memory 
of  all  that  it  is  a  part  of  the  history  of  the  place.  But  we 
can  but  say  briefly  a  httle  of  that  that  comes  quickest  to 
the  hearts  that  are  so  suddenly  called  to  grieve  over  a  loss 
so  irreparable. 

The  hospitality  of  Mr.  Ketcham  is  well  known.  It  was 
a  part  of  the  duty  of  life  that  he  never  forgot,  but  made  it 
most  pleasant  to  all  who  entered  his  family  circle.  The 
nobleness  of  the  man,  indeed,  was  quickest  seen  in  his 
home.  An  exceeding  tenderness  marked  his  whole  inter- 
course with  his  family  and  family  friends.  Regularity  of 
life  was  a  part  of  his  faith.  An  untiring  worker,  he  never 
allowed  one  duty  to  overshadow  another.  His  idea  of  life 
was  to  fulfill  every  duty  as  it  came.     The  boundaries  of 


114 

du^y  were  never  crossed.  All  his  life  a  Christian,  he  let 
his  Christianity  follow  him  wherever  he  went.  It  is  said 
by  those  nearest  him,  that  in  all  his  long  residence  in  the 
city,  he  never  missed  a  religious  meeting  of  the  church  to 
which  he  belonged,  if  in  the  city  or  not  unwell.  A  ready 
speaker  at  all  times,  he  seemed  especially  gifted  in  the 
prayer  meeting,  always  having  something  to  add  which 
was  of  value.  The  main-spring  of  his  life  was  Christian 
duty.  The  influence  he  silently  exerted  in  the  regular 
observance  of  his  daily  devotions  is  past  all  expression. 
Those  hving  near  him  have  often  spoken  with  the  deepest 
feeling  of  the  laborers,  when  passing  his  house  in  the 
morning,  stopping  to  catch  the  hymns  of  praise  that  were 
the  ushering  in  of  the  day  to  him  and  his  family. 

Strong  in  his  friendship,  he  never  forgot  a  friend  or 
failed  him  when  needed.  During  the  war  his  sympathetic 
patriotism  was  most  marked.  Two  of  his  sons  were  in 
the  army,  and  every  battle  was  watched  and  prayed  over 
as  if  they  were  there.  A  man  of  unostentatious  benevo- 
lence, he  literally  did  not  let  his  right  hand  know  what  his 
left  did.  Many  instances  of  his  substantial  kindness  are 
now  known,  that  before  were  buried  in  the  hearts  of  giver 
and  receiver. 

Mr.  Ketcham  was  one  of  thirteen  who  left  the  Old 
School  Church  on  the  division,  and  founded  the  Second 
Presbyterian  Church.     Mr.  Beecher,  the  first  pastor  of 

Note. — Mrs.  Jane  Merrill  Ketcham  is  now  (April,  i8g3)  residing  in  or 
near  the  city  of  Indianapolis,  Indiana,  and  one  of  her  sons,  J.  L.  Ketchan), 
Esq.,  is  a  mennber  of  firm  known  as  Brown-Ketcham  Iron  Works,  of  the 
same  place. 


"5 

that  church,  was  accustomed  to  rely  upon  him  as  confi- 
dently as  he  could  upon  himself.  When  the  Second 
Church  became  too  full  for  usefulness,  Mr.  Ketcham  was 
one  of  the  handful  of  brave  men  who  founded  the  Fourth 
Church.  He  gave  of  his  time  and  means  without  stint  to 
bring  that  church  to  its  present  standing.  An  elder  in  the 
Second  Church,  he  was  soon  made  an  elder  in  the  Fourth, 
in  which  position  he  worked  faithfully  to  the  last. 

John  L.  Ketcham  died  with  his  armor  on.  Working 
nobly  for  God  and  man,  he  was  ready  at  the  call.  No 
preparation  time  was  wanted.  He  stepped  from  life  here 
to  the  Life  beyond.  Vain  are  our  words  to  say  to  his 
family  that  he  has  done  his  work.  Vainly  can  we  tender 
sympathy  —  vainly  speak  to  the  crushed  hearts.  It  is  the 
work  of  the  God  he  gave  his  life-service  to,  and  humbly  we 
look  to  Him  for  comfort  for  them. 

"  Enoch  walked  with  God  and  was  not,  for  God  took  him," 


Hon.  Robert  N.  Lamb. 

Judge  Robert  N.  Lamb  is  strictly  an  Indiana  product. 
His  father,  Solomon  Lamb,  was  one  of  the  famous  expedi- 
tion down  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  rivers  in  the  early 
years  of  this  century,  led  by  Aaron  Burr,  and  which  col- 
lapsed at  Vicksburg  in  1806  on  account  of  the  arrest  of  its 
leader  on  the  charge  of  treason.  After  the  failure  of  the 
enterprise,  the  exact  purpose  of  which  was  never  certainly 
known,  the  members  scattered,  some  returning  north, 
while  others  remained  in  the  west  and  south. 

Mr.  Lamb,  after  drifting  further  south,  returned  north 


ii6 


as  far  as  Kentucky,  where  for  a  short  time  he  taught 
school,  and  where  also  he  married  Elizabeth  Shepherd. 

About  the  year  1812  he  settled  on  a  tract  of  land  in 
Perry  county,  containing  a  hundred  acres,  a  part  of  which 
subsequently  became  a  part  of  the  town  of  Rome.  Here 
Robert  was  born  November  23,  1824. 

As  might  be  readily  inferred  from  the  adventurous  and 
roving  character  of  his  early  life,  the  elder  Lamb  did  not 
readily  take  to  the  hard  work  and  drudgery  of  farm  life. 
He  did  not  have  to.  His  education  was  much  above  the 
average  of  the  neighborhood,  and  he  soon  became  some- 
thing of  an  oracle  among  the  pioneers.  His  library  was 
extensive  for  the  times,  and  well  used,  and  he  was  ready 
to  turn  his  hand  to  almost  anything  except  plowing  and 
wood  chopping.  He  was  the  surveyor,  when  surveying 
was  to  be  done,  and  the  school  teacher  at  times.  His 
personal  popularity  was  shown  by  his  being  elected  clerk 
of  the  court  as  early  as  1816,  and  serving  twenty-one  con- 
secutive years  in  the  office;  his  son  William  succeeding 
him  two  terms  of  seven  years  each.  Living  near  the 
town,  his  house  was  seldom  without  a  visitor  in  the  person 
of  some  poor  lawyer  or  judge,  or  less  distinguished  person, 
and  often  many  at  a  time. 

This  birdseye  view  of  the  elder  Lamb  shows  that  Robert 
had  many  advantages  in  childhood  for  development  which 
did  not  fall  to  the  average  boy  of  that  period.  He  was 
early  put  to  farm  work,  and  he  did  the  work  of  a  man  in 
some  departments  when  quite  young.  He  attended 
school,  sometimes  taught  by  his  father,  but  more  fre- 
quently by  persons  less  qualified,  but  all  did  not  amount 


117 


to  much  more  than  to  create  a  thirst  for  a  better  educa- 
tion than  the  schools  of  that  county  afiforded  at  that  time; 
accordingly  we  find  him  entering-  Hanover  College  when 
about   eighteen  years  of  age  to   take   up   the   common 
branches  of  an  education.     But  he  was  not  permitted  to 
pursue  his  collegiate  course  unmolested.     What  funds  he 
had  were  borrowed,  and,  on  returning  home  at  vacation, 
he  was  not  able  to  obtain  the  necessary  funds  to  continue 
his  studies,  and  was  offered  and  accepted  a  position  as 
deputy  in  the  clerk's  office,  where  he  continued  for  some 
time,  and  was  then  employed  by  his  brother  as  cook,  oars- 
man and  super-cargo  on  a  flat-boat  loaded  with  hogs  and 
other  farm  products  for  the  coasting  trade  down  the  river. 
^  In  the  spring  of  1844  he  again  started  to  college;  this 
time  it  was  to  Asbury  (now  De  Pauw)  University.     Here 
he  entered  upon  his  course  with  great  earnestness;  but 
again  on  borrowed  money.     As  a  matter  of  economy  he 
took  boarding  at  a  farm  house  two  miles  in  the  country 
at  $1.25  per  week.     But  this  proving  too  expensive  for  his 
hmited  means,  he  went  to  "  batching  "  in  a  dingy  room, 
at  a  cost  of  seventy-five  cents  per  week. 

The  students  at  that  institution  had  not  yet  been  regu- 
larly classified,  but  each  one  took  up  studies  according  to 
his  former  attainments,  which,  in  some  departments,  put 
him  ahead,  and  in  others  behind  the  averaee  classes.  So 
intent  was  he  on  catching  up  with  others  in  the  studies  in 
which  he  was  deficient  that  he  not  onlv  devoted  extra 
hours  to  study,  but  he  spent  the  vacation  in  work  upon  his 
Latin,  paymg  the  professor  who  heard  him  recite  privately 
by  hoeing  in  the  garden. 


ii8 


He  went  home  during  the  summer  vacation  of  1845  ^"1^7 
expecting  to  return.  But  he  was  confronted  by  a  tempt- 
ing offer  to  relinquish  his  college  course  and  go  into  busi- 
ness at  once.  Aurelius  Dumont,  a  brilliant  young  lawyer 
of  Vevay,  had  been  elected  Auditor  of  Switzerland  county. 
He  had  made  the  acquaintance  of  young  Lamb  at  Han- 
over College  two  or  three  years  before,  while  himself  a 
student,  and  he  saw  in  him  possibilities  which  he  might 
use  to  advantage;  hence  he  wrote  to  him  tempting  him  to 
abandon  his  educational  plans,  by  offering  him  $35  per 
year  and  boarding,  for  two  years,  to  take  charge  of  the 
Auditor's  office,  offering  at  the  same  time  the  use  of  his 
law  library  for  studying  law. 

This  was  too  flattering  an  offer  for  an  impecunious 
youth,  already  in  debt  nearly  two  hundred  dollars.  He 
accepted  the  offer  and  entered  the  office  as  deputy,  and  as 
law  student  also. 

Two  years  later,  September  22,  1847,  he  married  Mari- 
etta Dumont,  the  sister  of  his  employer  and  daughter  of 
Hon.  John  and  Julia  L.  Dumont. 

At  the  August  election  of  1848  he  was  elected  prose- 
cuting attorney  of  Switzerland  county,  while  yet  engaged 
in  the  auditor's  office,  having  been  admitted  to  the  prac- 
tice of  law.     He  was  not  yet  twenty-four  years  old. 

Mr.  Dumont,  who  had  formed  a  law  partnership  with 
young  Lamb  while  yet  his  deputy  in  the  Auditor's  office, 
dying  in  the  fall  of  1849,  young  Lamb  was  appointed 
Auditor  to  fill  out  the  unexpired  time  of  his  term  of  office. 

At  the  August  election  of  1850  he  was  elected  Auditor 
for  five  years.     At  the  October  election  of  1855  he  was 


119 

again  elected  Auditor,  this  time,  under  the  new  constitu- 
tion, for  four  years,  making,  in  all,  ten  years  Auditor  and 
four  years  as  deputy.  All  this  time  he  kept  open  his  law 
ofifice  and  did  business  in  the  courts  as  attorney. 

After  the  close  of  his  official  term  he  continued  in  the 
practice  of  law  until  June,  1861,  when  he  was  appointed  by 
President  Lincoln  an  Assistant  Quartermaster  in  the 
army.  The  business  and  exposure  of  this  office  preyed 
upon  his  health  and  he  resigned  in  September,  1862. 

Meanwhile  the  Republicans  of  Switzerland  and  Ohio 
counties  had  elected  him  to  represent  their  counties  in  the 
House  of  Representatives  in  the  Indiana  Legislature. 

At  the  October  election  of  1864,  he  was  elected  Judge 
of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  in  the  district  composed  of 
Ohio,  Switzerland,  Jefferson,  Ripley  and  Dearborn 
counties. 

Soon  after  this  election  he  moved  to  Moore's  Hill  in 
Dearborn  county  for  the  educational  advantages  of  that 
town.  A  vacancy  occurring  in  the  office  of  Circuit  Judge 
in  the  circuit  composed  of  Dearborn,  Ohio,  Franklin  and 
Union,  he  was  appointed  by  Governor  Baker,  in  February, 
1869,  to  fill  the  office  until  the  ensuing  election  in  Octo- 
ber. 1870. 

At  the  close  of  this  service,  early  in  November,  1870,  he 
moved  to  Indianapolis,  and  with  Jonathan  W.  Gordon  and 
Thomas  M.  Browne,  formed  the  law  firm  of  Gordon, 
Browne  &  Lamb,  and  at  once  proved  himself  deserving 
a  front  rank  in  the  profession.  He  has  continued  in  the 
practice  of  law  in  Indianapolis  ever  since. 


His  long  practice  in  the  details  of  the  Auditor's  office 
has  suggested  to  the  courts  his  eminent  fitness  for  manag- 
ing large  estates,  hence  he  has  frequently  served  in  that 
capacity,  settHng  the  affairs  of  the  First  National  Bank, 
The  Harrison  Bank  and  the  Central  Bank. 

In  politics,  Judge  Lamb  was  a  Whig  in  the  days  of  that 
party.  When  the  Republican  party  was  organized  he  be- 
came a  Republican.  His  standing  in  that  party  was  seen 
in  1868  when  he  was  nominated  as  its  candidate  for  Con- 
gress by  a  convention  before  which  the  late  Hon.  William 
M'Kee  Dunn  and  Henry  R.  Pritchard,  now  of  this  city, 
competed  with  him  for  the  nomination.  The  district  had 
been  so  gerrymandered  by  the  preceding  legislature  as  to 
be  made  reliably  Democratic,  which  it  has  remained  ever 
since.  Judge  Lamb  made  a  joint  canvass  of  the  entire  dis- 
trict with  his  competitor,  Hon.  William  S.  Holman,  filling 
on  an  average  six  appointments  in  each  of  the  eight  coun- 
ties composing  the  district,  and,  as  the  result,  the  majority 
of  Mr.  Holman  was  cut  down  to  between  700  and  800,  a 
point  much  below  what  it  ever  was  afterwards.  It  was 
conceded  on  all  hands  that  he  conducted  his  part  of  the 
canvass  with  great  ability  and  with  such  fairness  as  to  com- 
mand the  respect  of  his  political  opponents. 

His  first  wife  dying  May  14,  1876,  he  was  married  to 
Catharine  E.  Voris  May  28th,  1878. 

Note. —  The  foregoing  sketch  of  Judge  Lamb  was  written  by  the  Rev. 
S.  A.  Goodwin,  four  or  five  years  ago,  for  an  Indianapolis  paper.  For  a 
copy,  the  Editor  is  indebted  to  Judge  Lamb's  daughter,  Mrs.  E.  S.  L. 
Thompson,  an  accomplished  authoress  and^ecturess.  residing  in  Muncie, 
Indiana. 


121 


Hon.  Henry  Guest  M'Pike.* 

Born  in  Lawrenceburg,  Dearborn  county,  Indiana, 
within  four  miles  of  the  residence  of  General  William 
Henry  Harrison,  the  hero  of  Tippecanoe,  the  writer':: 
father  was  an  early  observer  of  those  sectional  feelings 
which  are  most  quickly  manifested  in  a  place  situated  as 
was  his  native  town  in  the  days  before  the  Mexican  War. 

His  father,  John  M'Pike,  had  been,  as  we  state  else- 
where, the  editor  of  a  Whig  newspaper  and  an  early  advo- 
cate for  the  abolition  of  slavery. 

From  his  grandparents,  Captain  James  M'Pike  and 
Capt.  Moses  Guest,  as  well  as  from  his  great-grandfather, 
Peter  Dumont,  he  inherited  that  patriotic  fervor  and  love 
of  freedom  which  had  always  incited  their  lives.  Descend- 
ing from  so  many  families  who,  in  generations  and  cen- 
turies past,  had  taken  their  stand  for  liberty  in  its  highest 
sense,  it  is  natural  that  we  find  in  him  a  public-spirited 
man  whose  active  business  life  and  fixed  determination 
have  been  large  elements  in  his  success. 

Removing,  at  an  early  age,  to  Wilmington.  Dearborn 
county,  Indiana,  he  there  numbered  among  his  youthful 
associates  the  late  James  Mills,  Esq.  (whose  sister  Sarahf 
married  the  late  Hon.  John  M.Wilson)  and  the  late  Joseph 
Bruce,  Esq.,  of  Memphis,  Tennessee.  Their  mutual  friend- 
ship was  formed  during  a  period  when  public  events  were 
fast  leading  up  to  a  climax.  Many  are  the  interesting  anec- 


"•See,  also,  "History  of  Madison  County,  Illinois"  (Edwardsville.  111., 
1882),  and  the  Alton,  Illinois,  daily  newspapers,  for  the  last  half  century, 
t  Mrs.'John  M.  Wilson  and  daughter  now  (March,  1898)  reside  in  College 
Hill,  a  suburb  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 


122 

dotes  and  exciting  incidents  which  we  have  been  privil- 
eged to  hear  related.  Dearborn  county,  it  will  be  ob- 
served, was  on  the  immediate  border  between  the  north 
and  south.  Fugitive  slaves  were  a  frequent  sight  and  the 
Underground  Railroad  was  in  full  operation.  Hand-bills 
ofifering  large  rewards  for  the  recovery  of  slaves  were  com- 
monly to  be  seen,  and  the  town  of  Wilmington  (then)  was 
not  wholly  devoid  of  a  certain  transient  or  irresponsible 
element,  composed  of  those  who  were  ever  ready  to  derive 
personal  profit  at  the  expense  of  some  unfortunate  crea- 
ture. But  the  seriousness  of  life  was  occasionally  relieved 
by  some  episode  of  an  amusing  character.  His  boyhood 
friends,  then  popularly  known  as  "  Jim  "  Mills  and  "  Joe  " 
Bruce,  together  with  himself,  conceived  the  idea  of  playing 
a  practical  joke,  and  this,  in  short,  was  "  the  way  of  it,"  as 
nearly  as  we  can  now  recall  the  tale: 

They  repaired  to  the  printing  office  of  the  writer's 
grandfather,  John  M'Pike,  where  it  was  but  a  few  minutes' 
work  to  set  up  and  run  ofif  a  number  of  hand-bills,  headed 
somewhat  as  follows: 

$1,000.00  REWARD 

for  the  recovery  of 

TWO  RUNAWAY  NEGRO  GIRLS; 

describing  minutely  the  height  and  size  of  each,  as  well  as 
the  costumes  in  which  they  were  last  seen.  They  took 
the  precaution,  of  course,  to  append  a  name  and  address 
which  could  not  easily  be  discovered  as  fictitious.     These 


123 

were  quickly  but  quietly  distributed  during  the  night. 
The  next  performance  was  for  two  of  the  jokers  to  blacken 
their  faces  and  don  gowns  and  headgear  fitting  the  de- 
scriptions in  the  hand-bills.  Going  out  carefully  through 
alleyways,  showing  themselves  a  moment  at  two  or  three 
prominent  corners,  dodging  and  running,  they  soon  con- 
tributed to  the  excitement  which  was  already  high.  They 
were  then  under  the  necessity  of  getting  back  to  the  house 
without  attracting  attention,  washing  their  faces  and  doflf- 
ing  their  unique  apparel  for  regular  clothes.  In  all  this 
they  were  fortunately  successful.  In  the  meantime  a 
crowd  had  gathered  and  was  rapidly  growing.  Much  dis- 
cussion as  to  how  to  find  the  fugitives  resulted.  Factions 
arose.  Some  were  positive  that  the  negroes  had  taken  a 
northwesterly  direction:  others  were  just  as  certain  thai 
they  had  gone  due  west.  The  jokers  had  by  this  time 
gotten  down  onto  the  streets  again  and  added  to  their 
own  fun  by  talking  as  loudly  and  excitedly  as  any  one,  urg- 
ing on  the  crowd.  "  Jim "  Mills  (as  had  been  pre- 
arranged) was  on  horseback,  and  at  the  opportune 
moment,  with  a  "  Come  on  boys,"  started  at  a  rapid  rate 
out  into  the  country,  across  fields,  etc.  It  is  impossible 
to  relate  here  the  details  of  the  "  search,"  the  many  false 
alarms  and  the  ludicrous  situations  which  frequently 
occurred.  The  sight  of  an  old  cow  near  a  stump,  some 
distance  away,  would  be  sufficient  to  cause  a  detachment 
to  sally  in  that  direction,  and  other  as  nonsensical  "  finds  " 
were  made.  Suffice  it  to  say,  the  TWO  RUNAWAY 
NEGRO  GIRLS  were  not  discovered  and  the  dis- 
appointed    crowd     returned     about      daylight.        The 


124 

worst  of  it  was  that  the  joke  had  assumed  such  unex- 
pected proportions  that  those  who  were  responsible  for  it 
had  to  have  their  fun  very  quietly  to  themselves.  To  have 
made  it  generally  known  that  they  were  the  instigators  of 
it  would  have  resulted  in  severe  treatment  being  visited 
upon  them,  such  was  the  tension  of  the  times. 

The  mention  of  the  late  James  Mills,  Esq.,  in  connection 
with  the  foregoing  incident  brings  to  mind  the  fact  that 
that  estimable  gentleman's  life  was  once  saved  by  the 
writer's  uncle,  George  D.  M'Pike,  though  the  precise  de- 
tails of  the  occurrence  are  not  now  accessible. 

While  a  young  man,  the  writer's  father  was  nominated 
by  the  Hon.  O.  H.  Smith,  of  Indiana  (then  in  Congress), 
for  appointment  as  cadet  at  West  Point,  but  it  being  sub- 
sequently discovered  that  another  district  was  entitled  to 
that  privilege,  the  nomination  was  withdrawn.  Its  con- 
firmation would,  doubtless,  have  changed  the  course  of 
the  prospective  cadet's  entire  life. 

Removing  to  Alton,  Illinois,  in  December,  1847,  he 
settled  in  that  city  and  has  there  resided  for  more  than  fifty 
years,  most  of  that  time  at  Mount  Lookout  Park. 

Appointed  to  act  as  deputy  provost  marshal  of  the 
(then)  twelfth  Congressional  district  at  a  critical  time,  he 
did  good  service  for  the  war  department  and  resigned  his 
office  April  24th,  1865. 

In  November,  i8fio,  he,  in  company  with  the  late  Hon. 
Lyman  Trumbull,  went  from  Alton  to  Springfield  and  they 
were  in  the  telegraph  office  with  Mr.  Lincoln  as  the  re- 
turns came  in  from  the  first  election.  As  the  outcome  began 


"5 

to  hinge  upon  New  York  State,  the  excitement  on  the 
part  of  all  was  high  with  the  exception  of  Mr.  Lincoln, 
who  maintained  an  apparent  calm,  and  he  it  was  who 
seemed  least  affected  by  the  final  announcement  of  the 
result.  Such  a  scene  can  only  be  described  by  an  eye- 
witness.    We  shall  not  attempt  it. 

Early  in  the  "  sixties  "  the  writer's  father,  in  a  private 
capacity  but  nevertheless  in  a  line  of  patriotic  duty,  ac- 
companied a  military  organization  known  as  the  Yagers, 
from  Alton  to  Springfield,  Illinois,  where  he  met  Governor 
Yates  and  Captain  U.  S.  Grant.  Soon  after  came  the  news 
of  the  latter's  promotion  by  the  former. 

Alton  was  not  behind  in  affording  the  Federal  govern- 
ment moral  and  financial  support.  A  branch  of  the 
"  Union  League  of  America,"  known  as  "  AUon  Council 
No.  41,"  was  granted  a  charter  by  the  State  League,  Feb- 
ruary 9th,  1863.  As  the  original  charter  is  in  the  posses- 
sion of  the  writer's  father  (March,  1898)  it  is  possible  that 
he  acted  as  secretary  of  the  local  organization,  of  which  he 
was  a  charter  member. 

After  the  war  came  the  efforts  to  resume  a  normal  com- 
mercial life.  The  local  gazetteer  or  directory  (1866) 
shows  us  the  firm  of  McPike  &  Newman,  real  estate 
agents.  The  former  was  and  has  since  been  a  notary 
public,  and,  for  many  years,  was  agent  of  several  of  the 
"  old  line  "  fire  insurance  companies,  as  well  as  secretary 
of  two  State  corporations,  the  Illinois  Mutual  and  Pacific 
Mutual  Insurance  Companies,  engaged  in  fire  underwrit- 
ing. The  Illinois  Mutual  was  among  the  oldest  com- 
panies of  its  kind  in  the  west  and  had  established  a  high 


126 


reputation  for  conservative  management,  liberal  dividends 
to  its  policy-holders,  and  fair  dealing  generally.  When  it 
ceased  business  nearly  all  others  of  its  class  withdrew  also, 
so  that  to-day  the  number  of  old  mutual  hre  insurance 
companies,  organized  in  the  west,  is  limited. 

In  February,  1882,  he  attended  the  River  and  Harbor 
Convention  which  met  in  Washington,  D.  C,  and  num- 
bered several  hundred  delegates  from  all  sections  of  the 
country.  In  this  convention  the  writer's  father  was  the 
vice-president  from  Illinois.  He  had,  also,  been  connected 
with  previous  conventions  held  in  the  city  ot  St.  Louis, 
Mo.,  Memphis,  Peoria  and  New  OrleEns. 

After  his  return  to  Alton  he  communicated  with  the 
Hon.  John  A.  Logan,  then  United  States  Senator,  and  re- 
ceived from  him  the  following  reply: 

United  States  Senate, 
Washington,  D.  C,  July  10,  '82. 
My  Dear  Mr.  McPike: 

I  am  in  receipt  of  your  favor  of  5th  inst.  In  answer  I 
would  say  that  I  succeeded  in  getting  $35,000  set  apart  for 
the  Alton  harbor.  This  is  the  best  I  could  do.  I  hope 
with  this  and  the  general  appropriation  for  the  river,  you 
will  be  able  to  continue  the  improvements  necessary.  We 
have  had  a  very  hard  contest  over  the  River  and  Harbor 
bill.  The  demands  from  all  over  the  country  for  appropri- 
ations of  this  character  have  been  so  great  that  it  has  been 
almost  impossible  to  secure  anything  special.  I  am  sorry 
not  to  be  able  to  do  more  for  you.  We  will  probably  dis- 
pose of  the  River  and  Harbor  bill  to-morrow  in  the  Senate, 


127 

and  it  will  be  finally  disposed  of  within  a  week.     I  shall  be 
pleased  to  hear  from  you  often.     Sincerely,  your  friend, 

John  A.  Logan. 

A  copy  of  the  above  letter  was  printed  in  the  Alton 
Weekly  Telegraph,  July  13,  1882. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  elected  mayor  of  the  city 
of  Alton,  Illinois,  in  the  spring  of  1887,  and,  at  the  expira- 
tion of  his  term,  became  his  own  successor  for  another  — 
occupying  that  office  four  years  in  all. 

During  the  terrific  floods  of  the  Mississippi  river,  doing 
great  damage  to  the  low  lands  in  Missouri  just  opposite 
Alton  —  the  waters  of  the  two  rivers  intermingling  —  the 
writer's  father  was  made  chairman  of  the  relief  committee, 
and,  as  such,  had  frequent  conferences  with  (then)  Gov- 
ernors Fifer  and  Francis,  of  Illinois  and  Missouri,  re- 
spectively.    This  was  the  year  1892. 

His  interest  in  horticulture  has  always  been  great,  and 
in  the  development  of  the  grape  he  has  met  with  remark- 
able success.  The  mammoth  "  M'Pike  grape  "  has  cap- 
tured the  first  prize  in  many  exhibitions.  Its  public 
reception  cannot,  perhaps,  be  more  briefly  described  than 
by  the  following  quotation  from  the  Chicago  Daily  News, 
November  3,  1897,  at  which  time  the  Chicago  Horse  Show 
and  Horticultural  Exhibition  was  being  held  in  that  city; 

"  H.  G.  M'Pike,  ex-mayor  of  Alton,  111.,  came  to  the 
arena  at  11  o'clock  with  enough  blue  ribbons  on  his  lapel 
to  stock  an  ordinary  show.  The  horsemen  crowded 
around  him  and  learned  that  Mr.  McPike  cared  not  for 
hackney  or  hunter,  that  he  had  taken  the  blue  ribbons  for 


128 

the  best  exhibit  of  grapes  in  the  agricultural  end  of  the 
show.  *  *  *  ]\/[i-.  McPike  winning  out  on  a  black 
grape  as  large  as  a  tennis  ball." 

This  beautiful  grape  is  a  seedHng  of  the  Worden,  having, 
therefore,  the  Concord  for  its  grandparent.  It  is  being 
propagated  by  the  Silas  Wilson  Company,  Atlantic,  Iowa. 

We  will  close  this  sketch  with  the  following  quotation 
from  an  Alton  newspaper,  September,  1897: 

"  Hon.  H.  G.  McPike,  of  this  city,  returned  last  evening 
from  Columbus,  Ohio,  where  he  was  in  attendance  upon 
the  annual  meeting  of  the  National  Pomological  Society, 
where  he  had  on  exhibition  his  celebrated  McPike  grape, 
and  also  at  the  State  fair.  The  Commissioner  of  Agricul- 
ture was  present  from  Washington  and  the  meeting  was 
one  of  the  largest  ever  held.  Mr.  McPike  to-day,  in 
speaking  of  his  trip,  said  there  was  a  large  attendance  of 
professors  and  the  oldest  and  best  informed  pomologists  of 
the  country,  representing  every  State  in  the  Union.  They 
were  welcomed  by  Governor  Bushnell.  His  own  election 
as  vice-president  he  considers  a  compliment  to  this  State 
and  the  Alton  Horticultural  Society,  although  others  will 
be  inclined  to  include  the  individual  whose  abihty  to  im- 
press men  at  a  gathering  of  this  kind  is  well  understood." 

Note.  —  For  the  briefness  of  the  foregoing,  the  editor's  excuse  is  the 
intiination  of  a  hope  that  his  father  may  ultimately  be  induced  to  prepare 
for  publication  some  reminiscences  or  recollections  of  those  prominent 
personages  and  important  public  events  with  which  he  has  been  associated. 


129 

Judge  John  M'Pike. 

John  M'Pike,  a  son  of  Captain  James  M'Pike,  was  bom, 
probably  in  Virginia,  about  1793-4-  Was  about  one  year 
old  when  his  father  removed  to  the  vicinity  of  Maysville, 
Kentucky,  about  1795.  His  father  made  several  "  land 
trades,"  exchanging  "  claims."  When  about  the  age  of 
fifteen,  John  M'Pike  went  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  was 
employed  in  the  printing  office  of  Looker  &  Reynolds. 
The  junior  member  of  this  latter  firm,  Mr.  Sacket  Rey- 
nolds, married  a  daughter  of  Captain  Moses  Guest.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  subsequently  removed  to  Lawrence- 
burg,  Dearborn  county,  Indiana.  Was  a  member  of  the 
committee  for  the  public  reception  of  General  Lafayette  at 
Cincinnati,  acting  in  that  capacity,  probably,  as  a  delegate 
from  Lawrenceburg.*  He  was  commissioned  lieutenant. 
Light  Infantry,  in  the  Fifty-fifth  Regiment  of  the  militia 
of  the  State  of  Indiana,  by  Governor  James  B.  Ray,  July 
24th,  1826;  the  original  commission  being  now  in  the 
possession  of  the  writer's  father.  The  "  hidiana  Specta- 
tor "  (Lawrenceburg)  for  April  2nd,  1825,  contains  notice, 
dated  January  31,  1825,  of  "  Dissolution  of  Partnership  '" 
in  the  printing  business,  between  George  H.  Dunn  and 
John  M'Pike.  The  latter  became  the  editor  of  "  The  In- 
diana Whig,"  a  weekly  newspaper  published  at  Lawrence- 
burg, the  first  number  of  which  appeared  April  18,  1834. 
How  long  this  was  continued  under  the  same  management 

*At  the  writer's  request,  Prof.  W.  H.  Venable,  of  Cincinnati,  very-  kindly 
had  a  careful  search  mode  through  old  files  of  Cincinn^ili  newspapers  for  a 
list  of  names  of  members  of  "  Lafayet'e  Committee,"  but  in  vain.  His 
able  work,  "Beginnings  of  Literary  Culture  in  the  Oliio,Va!ley,"  contains 
several  items  pertaining  to  that  reception. 

9 


130 

is  not  definitely  known,  but  Vol.  I,  No.  35,  Jan'y  25,  1844, 
was  "  Published  by  Benjamin  B.  Root."  John  M'Pike  was 
an  Associate  Judge  of  Dearborn  county,  Indiana,  from 
1830  to  1835,  and  was  elected  Probate  Judge  in  1837.* 
He  removed  to  Wilmington,  Indiana,  and  subsequently 
went  (with  all  his  family  except  one  son,  Edmund  Haley) 
to  New  Orleans,  intending  to  settle  in  Texas,  with  the 
hope  of  finding  there  a  good  business  opening.  This  was 
on  the  eve  of  the  Mexican  War  and  he  found  it  necessary 
to  return  north,  which  he  did,  going  to  Golconda  and  St. 
Louis,  and  finally  to  Greenville,  Illinois.  There  he  pub- 
lished and  edited  "  The  Nezv  Era,"  a  weekly.  The  writer 
has  seen  Vol.  I,  No.  2,  October  16,  1847,  showing  at  the 
head  of  the  editorial  column  the  name  of  Zachary  Taylor 
as  candidate  for  the  presidency.  This,  it  is  said,  was  the 
first  announcement  (in  Illinois,  at  least)  of  General  Tay- 
lor's name  for  that  office.  "  The  New  Era  "  contained 
several  letters,  signed  "  E.  H.,"  giving  items  relating  to 
the  Mexican  War.  These  letters  were  from  the  son,  Ed- 
mund Haley  M'Pike,  above  mentioned.  This  newspaper 
was  not  long  lived.  The  last  number  (No.  9)  appeared 
December  13,  1847;  the  printing  office  was  sold  and  John 
M'Pike  removed  to  Alton,  Madison  county,  Illinois,  where, 
in  January,  1848,  we  find  him  publishing  "  The  Monitor." 
He  was  appointed  a  notary  public  "  in  and  for  the  city  of 
Alton,"  December  7th,  1 861,  by  Richard  Yates,  Governor 
of  the  State  of  Illinois  —  and  he  is  shown  as  still  perform- 
ing the  duties  of  that  office  in  the  year  1866.     (See  "  Gaz- 

*  See  "History  of  Dearborn    and  Ohio    Counties,   Indiana"   (Chicago, 
1885),  pages  180  and  227. 


131 


etteer  of  Madison  County,"  Illinois  [Alton,  111.,  1866], 
page  225.)  Having  rounded  out  a  long,  eventful  and  use- 
ful life,  the  writer's  grandfather  died,  in  February,  1876,  at 
the  residence  of  his  son,  Henry  Guest  M'Pike. 


___  Samuel  Merriil,  Esq.  (1792-1855).* 

Samuel  Merrill  was  born  in  Peacham,  Vt.,  Oct.  29  179-. 
died  in  Indianapolis,  August  24,  1855.  The  circumstances 
of  his  early  life  were  favorable  -  good  parents,  books  in 
the  house;  a  stony,  sterile  farm  cultivated  by  the  father  and 
his  six  sons;  an  industrious,  frugal,  intelligent  community 
an  excellent  school;  an  able  minister,  whose  long  life  was 
spent  in  the  one  parish;  news  once  a  week  from  the  great 
world,  then  on  fire  with  Napoleon's  brilliant  career-  Dart 
mouth  college;  school  teaching  and  the  study  of 'law  in 
York,  Pa.,  with  his  oldest  brother,  Thaddeus  Stevens  and 
John  Blanchard,  all  natives  of  Peacham,  pupils  in  the  same 
school  and  students  in  the  same  college.  Not  the  least 
favorable  was  the  friendship  of  these  young  men,  continu- 
ing, as  it  did,  through  life. 

Coming  to  Indiana  when  he  was  twenty-three  Mr 
Merrill,  after  some  inquiry  as  to  the  prospects  of  the' river 
towns  bought  a  skiff  at  New  Albany  and  rowed  himself 
with  his  trunk,  in  which,  beside  his  clothes,  was  a  small 
stock  of  law-books,  to  Vevay,  where  he  began  the  practice 

*This  sketch  was  written  by  Miss  Katharine  Merrill,  at  the  reau-.t  of 
her  s,s.er  Mrs.  J.  M.  Moores,  Indianapolis.  Miss  Merril  has  been  ife 
long  teacher,  and  her  for.er  pupils  are  a.on,  the  best  citizens  of  Indian 


132 

of  his  profession.  The  next  year  he  married  Lydia  Jane 
Anderson,  daughter  of  Robert  Anderson  and  Catharine 
Dumont. 

Mr.  Merrill  represented  Switzerland  county  two  years 
in  the  State  Legislature.  While  canvassing  for  his  elec- 
tion he  walked  over  the  whole  county,  visiting  every 
house. 

He  removed  to  Corydon  in  1821,  having  been  made 
State  Treasurer. 

The  salaries  of  that  day  were  small;  so  were  lawyers' 
fees.  "  tor  ten  years  of  his  professional  life,  Mr.  Merrill 
did  nothing  more  than  pave  the  way  for  future  operations. 
If  he  had  used  spirits  or  tobacco  it  is  not  unlikely  that  the 
small  sums  required  for  these  indulgences  would  have  in- 
terfered with  his  ultimate  success." 

When  the  seat  of  government  was  transferred  to  Indian- 
apolis, the  treasurer,  with  the  treasury,  removed  to  the 
new  capital,  making  the  journey  in  eleven  days  of  October, 
1824. 

After  twelve  years,  while  still  holding  the  office  of  Treas- 
urer, Mr.  Merrill  was  elected  president  of  the  State  Bank, 
an  office  which  required  great  financial  ability,  close  cler- 
ical work,  and  much  travel.  Once  a  year,  never  once 
omitting  the  duty,  he  gave  every  bank  in  the  State  care- 
ful, personal,  private  examination,  turning  out  for  the  pur- 
pose all  the  officials  and  locking  himself  in  with  accounts 
and  ledgers.  He  usually  made  his  Indiana  journeys  on 
horseback,  often  through  roads  that  were  indescribably 
bad,  so  bad  that  more  than  once  a  horse  was  sacrificed, 
though  Mr.  Merrill  was  remarkably  humane  to  animals  as 


133 

to  every  living  thing.  When  he  went  in  the  stage  it  is 
said  that  his  good  humor,  his  fund  of  anecdote,  the  flow  of 
thought,  playful  or  serious,  furnished  by  his  richly  stored 
mind,  shortened  to  his  fellow-passengers  the  hours  of 
dreary  dragging  through  swampy  woods.  Once  he 
walked  all  night,  carrying  a  lantern,  nineteen  miles  before 
the  coach,  reaching  home  at  daybreak,  mud  from  head  to 
foot,  but  apparently  more  diverted  than  annoyed.  His 
journeys  east  and  south,  if  not  so  laborious,  were  more 
anxious.  Returning  at  one  time  from  New  York  with  a 
number  of  boxes  of  coin,  he  chartered  the  coach,  and  with 
pistols  was  prepared  to  defend  his  charge  in  passes  of  the 
Alleghenies  that  then  were  infested  by  robbers.  He  was 
never  molested,  however,  and  suffered  nothing  worse  than 
a  broken  leg  as  a  consequence  of  being  hurled  from  the  top 
of  the  stage  by  an  upset  occasioned  by  run-away  horses. 

While  he  was  president  of  the  State  Bank,  although  but 
three  other  State  banks  in  the  Union  were  able  to  preserve 
their  integrity,  Indiana  paper  was  always  worth  its  face  — 
everywhere  it  was  as  good  as  gold,  and  no  defalcation  or 
any  kind  of  dishonesty  occurred  in  anv  of  the  branch  banks. 

In  1843  he  was  defeated  in  the  election,  and,  in  the 
period  of  leisure  which  followed,  he  compiled  the  Indiana 
Gazetteer,  a  third  edition  of  ten  thousand  copies  of  which 
was  published  in  1850. 

A  year  later  he  was  chosen  president  of  the  Madison  & 
Indianapolis  Railroad.  He  filled  the  office  four  years. 
In  iSqo  he  bought  out  a  bookstore  and  made  it,  in  addi- 
tion, a  publishing  house. 

Mr.  Merrill  was  a  kind  father  and  a  devoted  husband.  He 


134 

was  a  good  citizen  taking  an  active  part  in  all  efforts  for 
the  public  good.  He  was  an  active  though  modest  worker 
in  the  church.  He  was  honest  in  all  his  dealings,  truth- 
ful in  all  his  words.  One  who  knew  him  well  said:  "  He 
maintained  in  sublime  combination  the  sternest  ideas  of 
justice  with  the  most  beautiful  simplicity  and  childlike 
sweetness  of  manners." 


Colonel  Samuel  Merrill,  M.  A. 

Samuel  Merrill  was  born  in  Indianapolis,  Indiana,  May 
30,  183 1.  He  attended  the  Marion  County  Seminary  for 
seven  years.  For  the  benefit  of  his  health,  when  fourteen 
years  of  age,  he  spent  a  half  year  on  the  plantation  of  his 
mother's  brother.  Dr.  William  Anderson,  in  Louisana,  and, 
two  years  later,  the  same  length  of  time  in  Peacham,  Ver- 
mont, on  the  farm  of  his  father's  brother,  Hazen  Merrill. 
He  entered  the  sophomore  class  in  Wabash  College;  con- 
tended successfully  for  the  first  prizes  in  declamation  and 
essay  writing;  was  graduated  in  1851,  and  took  the 
degree  of  Master  of  Arts  in  1854.  He  engaged  in  the 
publishing  and  book-selling  business  in  Indianapolis; 
visited  Europe  in  1855,  and  was  married,  in  1859,  to 
Emily  F.  White,  daughter  of  Rev.  Charles  White,  D.  D., 
President  of  Wabash  College. 

On  July  14,  1862,  he  was  commissioned  second  lieuten- 
ant by  Governor  O.  P.  Morton  and  served  until  the  war 
closed,  as  captain,  major  and  lieutenant-colonel  of  the 
70th  Indiana  Volunteers,  Infantry,  commanding  that  regi- 


135 

ment  on  Sherman's  march  to  the  sea.  The  war  ended,  he 
returned  to  Indianapolis  and  continued  in  his  former  busi- 
ness until  March  3,  1890,  when  he  was  appointed  by  Presi- 
dent Benjamin  Harrison,  Consul-General  to  Calcutta.  After 
his  return,  in  1894,  he  made  his  home  on  the  slopes  of  the 
Sierra  Madre  range,  twelve  miles  north  of  Los  Angeles, 
California,  with  that  city  and  the  Pacific  ocean  in  full  view, 
where  he  is  now  (March,  1898)  engaged  in  lemon  and 
orange  culture. 

He  was  elder  of  the  Fourth  Presbyterian  Church,  In- 
dianapolis, and  superintendent  of  its  Sunday-school  twenty 
years,  and  is  now  elder  of  the  LaCrescenta  (California) 
Presbyterian  Church  and  superintendent  of  its  Sunday- 
school.  His  parents  were  Samuel  Merrill,  Esq.,  and 
Lydia  Jane  Anderson-Merrill,  the  latter  being  a  grand- 
daughter of  Peter  Dumont.* 


Judg-e  Isaac  Naylop. 

Isaac  Naylor  was  born  in  Rockingham  county,  Virginia, 
in  1790.  When  about  thirty-six  years  of  age  he  married 
Mary  Catherine  Anderson,  a  daughter  of  Captain  Robert 
Anderson  and  his  wife,  Catherine  Dumont-Anderson.  As 
judge  he  traveled  the  circuit  and  held  court  until  he  had 
reached  his  seventy-ninth  year.  He  died  in  Crawfords- 
ville,  Indiana,  in  1873.  Was  a  resident  of  the  town  for 
fifty  years,  a  soldier  of  181 1,  1812,  1813  and  1814,  a  hero 

*  See  page  60. 

Note.  —  For  descendants  of  Judge  Isaac  Naylor, 'see 'page  64. 


136 

of  Tippecanoe,  a  pioneer  of  Indiana,  and  as  long  one  of  the 
judges  as  any  man  who  ever  lived  or  died  in  that  State. 
His  courage,  integrity  and  high  character  will  long  make 
his  name  of  blessed  memory,  not  only  among  his  own  de- 
scendants but  all  who  are  thoughtful  enough  to  realize 
that  much  of  our  present  prosperity  and  happiness  is  but 
a  natural  sequence  to  the  indefatigable  labors  of  those 
who  have  preceded  us. 


A  Family  of  Presbytepian  Ministers.* 

"  We  have  the  pleasure  of  presenting  on  our  title-page 
the  faces  of  a  father  and  his  two  sons,  all  of  whom  are  min- 
isters in  the  Presbyterian  Church,  able  and  cultured,  faith- 
ful and  successful. 

Andrew  J.  Reynolds  was  born  in  Cincinnati,  July  14, 
1 831;  graduated  at  Woodward  College,  Cincinnati,  in 
1851,  and  at  Princeton  Theological  Seminary  in  1855; 
licensed  by  Cincinnati  Presbytery,  June  6,  1855;  ordained 
and  installed  by  the  same  presbytery  pastor  of  Pleasant 
Run  Presbyterian  Church,  May  20,  1856;  was  married  to 
Miss  Charity  P.  Hunter  December  16,  1857,  by  Dr.  Joseph 
G.  Monfort.  He  has  served  the  churches  of  Pleasant  Run, 
Cumminsville,  Lithopolis  and  Eaton,  O.,  and  Decatur  and 
Albion.  Ind.  During  the  war  he  served  as  Christian  Com- 
missioner in  the  Army  of  the  United  States  in  1863-64. 

*From  The  Herald  and  Presbyter,  Cincinnati,  February  20,  1895.  The 
Editor  hereof  has  to  express  his  regret  that  it  is  impossible  to  reproduce 
the  three  portraits  which  accompanied  the  original  publication."! 


137 

For  many  years  he  has  been  a  writer  for  the  religious  jour- 
nals, among  them  the  Herald  and  Presbyter.  He  has 
been  a  member  of  the  General  Assembly  in  1862,  1867, 
1880  and  1886.  He  is  now  living  in  Norwood,  Cincinnati, 
and  is  the  stated  supply  of  Pleasant  Run  Presbyterian 
Church. 

Clarence  Guest  Reynolds  was  born  at  Pleasant  Run,  O., 
April  18,  1859;  graduated  from  Wooster  University  in 
1881,  and  from  Princeton  Seminary  in  1884;  was  ordained 
by  the  Presbytery  of  Wooster,  June  20,  1884;  was  pastor 
in  Winnebago  City,  Minn.,  1884-89,  and  of  Goodrich 
Avenue  Church,  St.  Paul,  Minn.,  since  1889.  He  is  editor 
of  the  St.  Paul  Presbytery  News,  and  writes  for  various 
religious  papers.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Portland  Gen- 
eral Assembly,  and  in  his  presbytery  and  synod  is  recog- 
nized as  a  minister  of  excellent  ability  and  of  sterling 
character. 

Walter  H.  Reynolds  was  born  in  Cincinnati,  November 
7,  1864:  graduated  from  Wooster  University  in  1886,  and 
from  McCormick  Seminary  in  1889;  was  licensed  by 
Wooster  Presbytery,  May  i,  1889.  His  first  preaching 
was  at  Brookline,  and  Fiftv-second  and  Atlantic  streets, 
Chicago,  and  at  Windom,  Minn.  He  was  called  to  the 
pastorate  of  the  River  Forest  Church,  and  was  ordained 
and  installed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Chicago,  June  5,  1890, 

The  Rev.  Clarence  Guest  Reynolds  became  Pastor  of  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church,  in  Joliet.  Illinois,  in  September.  1895.  while  the  Rev. 
Walter  H.  Reynolds  assumed  the  duties  of  Assistant  Pastor  of  the  Third 
Presbyterian  Church,  Chicasro  (the  lareest  congregation  of  that  denomina- 
tion in  that  cityl.  May  i.  i8g6. 


138 

and  is  still  there  in  the  midst  of  a  useful  and  highly  appre- 
ciated pastorate. 

A  fourth  picture  might  have  been  added  to  the  group, 
that  of  Rev.  John  C.  Sharpe,  of  Pittsburg,  whose  wife  is  a 
daughter  of  Rev.  A.  J.  Reynolds." 


APPENDICES    AND    ADDENDA. 


1.  Dr.  Edmund  Halley's  Will.* 

In  the  Bodleian  Library  at  Oxford,  England,  are  de- 
posited many  valuable  manuscripts  relating  to  the  life  of 
Dr.  Halley.  A  letter  of  inquiry  to  that  institution  from 
the  writer  hereof  was  referred  to  Mr.  George  Parker,  of 
Oxford,  who.  on  a  recent  visit  to  London,  went  to  Som- 
erset House  and  made  a  copy  of  Dr.  Halley's  will,  which 
is  reproduced  below  verbatim  —  the  words  within  brack- 
ets being  comments  by  Mr.  Parker: 

"  Will  of  Edmund  Halley, 
dated  1736. 
"  In  the  Name  of  God,  I  Edmond  Halley  Doctor  of 
Laws  and  Astronomer  in  the  royal  Observatory  in  Green- 
wich [so  in  the  Register]  park  being  in  good  health  of 
Body  as  well  as  of  perfect  and  sound  mind  and  memory 
considering  the  certainty  of  Death  and  uncertainty  of  the 
time  of  it  in  order  when  it  shall  happen  to  leave  behind  me 
my  flfamily  in  peace  Do  therefore  make  and  Declare  this 

*It  will  be  observed  that  the  will  was  proved  in  the  year  1871,  although 
the  date  of  Dr.  Halle5''s  decease  is,  in  almost  all  accounts,  given  as  1742. 
This  apparent  discrepancy  is.  doubtless,  due  to  the  difference  between  the 
old  style  and  new  style  calendar.  The  son,  Edmund,  Jr.,  Crown  Surgeon, 
was  probably  the  maternal  grandfather  of  Captain  James  McPike. 
[139] 


140 

my  last  Will  and  Testament  in  manner  and  form  following: 
Imprimis:  I  recommend  my  Soul  to  the  Mercy  of  Al- 
mighty God,  And  as  to  my  Body  my  Will  and  Desire  is 
that  it  may  be  Interred  in  the  same  Grave  with  that  of  my 
Dear  Wife  lately  deceased  in  the  Church  yard  of  Lee  in 
Kent.  Next  since  my  Son  Edmond  is  in  actual  possession 
of  the  best  part  of  the  Real  Estate  of  the  fTamily  and  may 
Inherit  the  rest  after  my  Decease  the  whole  being  of 
greater  Value  than  the  personall  Estate  I  have  to  leave 
my  two  Daughters  Margaret  Halley  and  Katherine  now 
wife  to  Mr.  Henry  Price  And  besides  he  being  retained  in 
the  Service  of  the  Crown  as  a  Surgeon  seems  to  be  suffi- 
ciently provided  for  My  desire  is  that  he  may  therewith  be 
Contented  and  accept  of  Twenty  pounds  for  mourning. 
As  for  my  personal  Estate  consisting  in  the  remainder  of 
a  Lease  of  a  House  in  Cannon  St..  London,  now  in  the 
occupation  of  Mrs.  Mary  Camm  or  her  Assigns,  as  like- 
wise in  Goods  ready  Money  plate  Books  &c.  I  give  them 
to  my  said  two  Daughters  Margaret  and  Katherine  to  be 
equally  divided  between  them  hoping  that  the  Division 
may  be  made  amicably.  Lastly  I  hereby  constitute  and 
appoint  my  said  Two  Daughters  joint  Executrices  of  this 
my  last  Will  and  Testament  which  is  written  with  my  own 
Hand. 

Edmond  Halley." 
"  Signed  Sealed  and 
Declared  this  Eighteenth  Day 
of  June  1736.     In  the 
presence  of        James  Bradley 

Ellener  Simpson. 


141 

"  This  Will  was  proved  at  London  on  the  Ninth  Day  of 
February  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  One  thousand  seven 
hundred  and  forty-one  Before  the  Worshipfull  Robert 
Chapman  Doctor  of  Laws  Surrogate  of  the  Right  Wor- 
shipfull John  Bettesworth  also  Doctor  of  Laws  Master 
Keeper  or  Commissary  of  the  Prerogative  Court  of  Can- 
terbury lawfully  constituted  By  the  Oaths  of  Margaret 
Halley  Spinster  and  Katherine  the  Wife  of  Henry  Price) 
the  Daughters  of  the  said  deceased  and  Executrixes 
named  in  the  said  Will  To  whom  Administration  was 
granted  of  all  and  Singular  the  Goods  Chattels  and  Credits 
of  the  said  deceased  they  being  first  sworn  duly  to  Admin- 
ister the  same.     Ex  d. 

"  [True  copy  from  No.  53  of  Trenley's  register  in  the 
Probate  Court,  Somerset  House,  London.]  " 

Dr.  Edmund  Halley  had  a  "  Coat  Armorial  "  —  author- 
ities given  below:  "  Halley  (London).  Az.  a  chev.  betw. 
three  annulets  or,  over  all  on  a  fesse  of  the  last  as  many 
martlets  gu."  ('  The  General  Armory  '  &c.,  by  Sir  Ber- 
nard Burke,  C.  B.,  LL.  D.,  London,  1878.) 

"  Halley  —  a  boar's  head,  erased  and  erect,  between  two 
ostrich  feathers,  ppr."  Plate  60,  crest  7,  Fairbairn's 
Crests  of  the  Families  of  Great  Britain,  &c.,  Vol.  H. 

2  Supplementary  information  relative  to  the  McPike 
family  is  given  in  a  letter  dated  at  Elvins,  Missouri,  April 
13,  1898,  from  the  editor's  second  cousin,  Mr.  George  T. 
McPike,  of  Fredericktown,  Missouri,  who  is  the  only  liv- 
ing, immediate  issue  of  Richard  McPike.     The  substance 


142 

of  his  letter  follows:     His  grandfather,  Capt.  James  Mc- 
Pike,  was,  he  understands,  a  recruiting  officer,  during  some 
part  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  stationed  at  the  city  of 
Baltimore,  Maryland.     Capt.  James  participated  in  several 
{seven,  if  his  grandson's  memory  is  correct)  engagements 
and  was  wounded  in  one  hand  at  the  storming  of  Stony 
Point,  under  General  Wayne.     His  marriage  in  the  Moun- 
tain family  is  also  confirmed.     Richard  McPike  is  men- 
tioned as  being  two  years  older  than  his  brother  John,  who 
was  the  editor's  grandfather,  and  yet  Richard  is  said  to 
have  been  born  about  1798  and  to  have  died  in  1873,  at 
about  the  age  of  seventy-six  years.     He  married  Marie 
LaRue,  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  date  unknown.     When  the 
War  of  1812  was  declared  he  belonged  to  a  military  com- 
pany, artillery,  in  Cincinnati,  serving  during  that  contest 
probably  under  General  Brown.     Of  Richard's  thirteen 
children,  four,  John,  Richard,  Zebulon  and  Mary,  died  in 
early  childhood,  and  those  who  lived  to  maturity  were: 
James,  served  in  the  Mexican  War  "  under  Col.  Hays, 
Worth's  Division;  was  at  the  storming  of  Monterey;  " 
also  under  the  Union  General  Killian  in  the  late  war. 
Had  eight  children,  of  whom  two  were  boys;  one  of 
latter  now  living  at  Doe  Run,  Missouri. 
Alexander  (P.  W.  A)  of  whom  and  of  whose  descend- 
ants we  have  previously  given  a  brief  account,  took 
an  active  part  in  raising  and  equipping  a  regiment  in 
Missouri  and   "  received  the  appointment   of  Regi- 
mental Commissary."     Spent  in  this  service  (so  he 
told  his  brother  George)  about  $1,000  "  for  which  he 
never  asked  or  received  any  compensation." 


143 

George,  was  born  December  13,  1832,  and  married 
Esther  Gertrude  MoUineaux.  They  have  two  daugh- 
ters, the  elder  aged  15,  the  younger  8  years.  The 
father,  Mr.  George  T.  McPike,  has  not  participated  in 
the  wars,  having  had  the  misfortune  to  carry  a  crip- 
pled right  arm  from  early  childhood.  He,  neverthe- 
less, has  had  some  exciting  experiences  with  both 
Indians  and  rebels. 
Adaline  E.,  died  as  widow  of  Anthony  Thomasson. 
Louise  v.,  died  as  widow  of  John  Wilkinson,  Perry 

county.  Mo. 
Maria  A.,  died  as  wife  of  William  Allen. 
Amanda  M.,  died  as  wife  of  WiUiam  Morse. 
Cecelia,  died  single. 

CaroHne  V.,  had  married  Owen  Webb. 
Supplementary  letter  from  Mr.  George  T.  McPike, 
Elvins,  Mo.,  May  7th,  1898,  contains  the  following:  "  1 
have  no  recollection  of  any  tradition  concerning  '  Ban- 
nockburn  '  or  relationship  with  the  royal  Bruce  —  but 
have  always  been  under  the  impression  that  the  Haley  or 
Halley  family  were  an  eminent  one,  also  that  our  family 
far  back  were  connected  with  the  Royal  Stuarts,  but 
whether  that  was  my  paternal  or  maternal  ancestry  I  can- 
not say."  (This,  nevertheless,  supports  previous  state- 
ments as  to  relationship  with  Robert  the  Bruce,  for  the 
reason  that  the  latter's  daughter  married  a  "  Stuart  "  and 
their  son  was  King  Robert  U,  of  Scotland,  the  founder  of 
the  House  of  Stuart.) 

Mr.  G.  T.  McPike  adds  further,  that  he  recently  re- 
ceived the  old  record  of  births  and  deaths  in  the  family  of 


144 

his  father,  Richard,  in  whose  handwriting  it  is.  Richard 
McPike  was  born  December  6th,  1791,  and  was,  therefore, 
at  the  time  of  his  death,  in  1873,  about  eighty-four  (?) 
years  and  three  months  of  age.  His  marriage  to  Maria 
LaRue,  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  occurred  October  5th,  181 5. 

The  ■'  Records  of  the  Revolutionary  War,"  by  W.  T.  R. 
Safifell  (New  York,  1858),  page  202,  shows  that  one  Rob- 
ert McPike  enHsted  Feb.  5th,  1776,  as  a  private  in  Captain 
James  Taylor's  Company,  of  Col.  Wayne  's  Pennsylvania 
Battalion. 

Mr.  Benjamin  O.  Dicken,  at  Seventy-Six  P.  O.,  Perry 
county,  Missouri,  who  is  a  son  of  Mrs.  Martha  McPike 
Dicken,  possesses  considerable  information  regarding  the 
family,  but,  as  this  volume  is  now  going  to  press,  it  is  too 
late  to  obtain  and  make  use  of  additional  items,  but  the 
editor  will  hope  to  contribute  a  supplementary  sketch  to 
some  Genealogical  Magazine  published  in  New  York  City, 
or  elsewhere,  clearing  up  doubtful  points. 

3  The  capture  of  Governor  Livingston,  of  New  Jersey, 
may  not  have  been  among  the  chief  objects  of  Simcoe's 
incursion,  but  there  was,  at  the  time,  much  reason  to  be- 
lieve that  the  commander  of  the  Queen's  Rangers  had 
hoped  to  achieve  it.  Among  Captain  Moses  Guest's 
poems  is  to  be  found  the  following  verse: 

"  His  object  was  New  Jersey's  favorite  son, 
The  great,  the  patriotic  Livingston; 
Howe  and  his  minions  wished  to  lay  him  low, 
To  stop  the  gall  which  from  his  pen  did  flow: 
But  yet  fair  freedom's  son  in  safely  stands, 
Whilst  Britain's  Champion  now  is  in  our  hands; 
And  in  this  great,  this  daring  enterprise. 
Brave  Simcoe  quickly  fell  a  sacrifice." 


145 

As  Captain  Moses  Gtiest's  "  Poems  and  Journal  "  is  now 
a  rare  book,  in  either  the  first  or  second  edition,  the  editor 
has  thought  it  advisable  to  give  below  a  list  of  those 
known  to  possess  a  copy  thereof: 

Chas.  D.  Deshler,  Esq.,  Postmaster,  New  Brunswick, 
New  Jersey. 

Mr.  A.  V.  D.  R.  Hoagland,  Assessor,  Keokuk,  Iowa. 

Hon.  Henry  G.  M'Pike,  Alton,  Illinois. 

Mrs.  M.  J.  Morerod,  Vevay,  Switzerland  county, 
Indiana. 

Rev.  Andrew  J.  Reynolds,  Smith  avenue,  Norwood, 
Cincinnati,  O. 

Rev.  Walter  H.  Reynolds,  No.  105  Ashland  Blvd.,  Chi- 
cago, 111. 

And  the  Editor. 

4  Some  of  the  descendants  of  Dumonts  who  fled 
to  Holland  and  remained  in  that  country,  changed,  trans- 
lated the  surname  into  "  Van  den  Berg."  See  "  History 
of  the  French  Protestant  Refugees,"  by  Charles  Weiss: 
translated  by  Frederick  Hardman  (Edinburgh  and  Lon- 
don, 1854),  page  469.  Also  "  Historj'  of  the  Huguenots," 
by  Weisse,  Vol.  II,  page  148. 

The  manner  of  writing  the  surname  "  du  Mont  "  is, 
doubtless,  a  Dutch  innovation.  It  so  appears  in  the 
records  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church,  New  York,  in 
the  N.  Y.  Gen.  and  Biog.  Record,  Vol.  XXVIII,  pp.  103- 
143,  and  also  in  the  records  of  Kingston,  N.  Y.,  1664,  at 
the  time  of  the  marriage  of  Wallerand^  dvi  Mont.  The 
name,  according  to  the  French  custom,  is  written  "  Du- 
10 


146 

mont  "  and  that  form,  therefore,  should  be  considered  cor- 
rect. This  surname  may,  of  course,  primarily,  have  been 
developed  from  a  phrase,  "  du  mont,"  meaning  "  of  the 
mountain,"  signifying  that  the  early  progenitors  of  the 
family  lived  on  or  near  the  mountains.  This,  however, 
may  have  been  the  designation  of  many  families  not  re- 
lated to  each  other,  and  the  mutual  possession  of  the  sur- 
name does  not  of  itself  conclusively  prove  relationship 
between  any  two  persons. 

In  the  records  given  in  the  appendix  to  the  "  History  of 
Kingston,  N.  Y."  (New  York,  1888),  referred  to  in  the 
beginning  of  this  article,  the  name  "  Dumont  "  or  "  Du- 
mond  "  is  of  frequent  occurrence,  and  is  spelled  both  ways, 
almost  indiscriminately. 

The  fact  that  there  are  towns  named  "  Dumont  "  in 
Colorado,  Indiana,  Iowa,  Minnesota,  South  Dakota  and 
Texas  (both  in  King  and  Harris  counties),  as  well  as  a 
"  Dumontville  "  in  Ohio,  indicates  that  the  family,  in  its 
later  generations,  has  scattered  over  a  wide  section  of 
country.  ~  ' 

The  writer's  father,  who  is  a  grandson  of  Lydia  Dumont- 
Guest  {Peter*,  Hendrick^),  clearly  remembers  a  family  tra- 
dition reciting  that  the  Huguenot  ancestors  of  Peter* 
(Hendrick^)  lived  in  the  city  of  Paris,  and  made  their  es- 
cape by  a  ruse  —  having  a  banquet  and  grand  illumination 
during  which  they  fled,  having  previously  made  arrange- 
ments therefor  with  shipmaster  —  leaving  all  their  prop- 
erty behind.  This  seems  to  relate  to  both  the  paternal 
and  maternal  ancestry  of  the  said  Peter*.  The  Dumont 
family,    as    shown    in    page    44,     probably     resided     in 


147 

Paris,  but  the  Traverier,  or  Traverrier,  family  seems  to 
have  lived  in  or  near  the  city  of  Bordeaux.  The  tradition 
as  to  manner  of  escape  has  been  related  to  the  writer  by 
several  other  descendants  of  Peter*  Dumont,  some  adding 
that  the  table  was  set  with  the  "  family  plate  "  etc.  —  the 
servants  in  the  midst  of  their  duties,  and  the  family  went 
out  for  a  drive.  It  is  also  said  that  when  they  reached 
America  they  were  almost  penniless,  and  as  "  the  grand- 
mother "*  possessed  a  recipe  for  making  perfumery  that 
was  resorted  to  for  temporary  support.  These  latter 
items  appear  to  relate  to  the  Traverier  or  Rezeau  family. 

Mrs.  Mary  Catherine  Anderson-Naylor,  granddaughter 
of  Peter*  Dumont,  wrote  out  for  a  nephew  an  account  of 
the  escape  which  contains  the  following  additional  state- 
ment: "They  were  put  in  hogsheads  which  had  holes 
bored  in  them.  There  they  staid  until  out  of  reach  of  the 
inspectors.  They  were  with  the  freight."  The  writer 
hereof  does  not  understand  that  this  tradition  relates  to 
the  Dumont  family,  but  rather  to  the  Traverrier  or  Rezeau 
family. 

In  an  "  Historical  Atlas  of  Indiana,"  published  by 
Baskin,  Forster  &  Co.,  Chicago,  about  1876,  it  is  said 
(page  324)  that  the  first  couple  married  in  Switzerland 
county,  Indiana,  after  its  organization,  was  Richard  Du- 
mont and  Matilda  Phillips.  The  license  was  issued  by 
John  Francis  Defour,  in  September,  1814.  A  son  of  this 
couple,  John  J.  Dumont,  lived  in  Indianapolis  up  to  the 
time  of  his  decease  which  occurred  a  few  years  ago.     Rich- 

*  It  is  probable  that  "the  grandmother"  was  Mary  Rezeau-Traverrier, 
the  maternal  grandmother  of  Peter-*  Dumont. 


148 

ard  Dumont  was  popularly  known  as  "  Dick,"  and  (so  the 
writer  has  been  informed)  always  claimed  relationship  with 
the  descendants  of  Peter*  Dumont,  in  Vevay,  Indiana,  and 
vicinity. 

The  "  History  of  Somerset  County,"  N.  J.,  by  Dr.  Abra- 
ham Messier,  contains  many  references  to  folio  wing- 
surnames:  Dumont,  Frelinghuysen,  Staats,  Van  Vegten 
or  Van  Veghten  and  Veghte.  On  page  6  of  the  appendix, 
in  list  of  Common  Pleas  Judges,  appears:  "  1795,  '96,  '97, 
'98,  '99,  Peter  Dumont."  This  was  probably  Peter*  Du- 
mont {Peter^),  as  Peter*  Dumont  was,  as  is  shown,  living 
in  Saratoga  county,  New  York,  in  1796.  Peter*  Dumont, 
it  will  be  further  noticed,  did  not  die  until  Nov.  21,  1808. 
The  same  work,  on  pages  1-2  of  appendix,  presents  an 
unique  copy  of  interesting  resolutions  adopted  at  a  meet- 
ing in  Hillsborough  Township,  showing  the  manner  of 
enrolling  the  militia  in  Somerset  county.  John  Baptist 
Dumont  was  chairman  and  Peter  D.  Vroom,  clerk. 

J.  B.  Dumont,  Esq.,  of  Plainfield,  N.  J.,  who  is  doubtless 
the  most  competent  authority  on  the  Dumont  family, 
states  that  the  fact  that  some  of  the  children  of  Peter* 
Dumont  (Hendrick^)  having  been  baptized  by  Dominie 
Van  Harlingen  (whose  full  name  was  Johannes  Martinus 
Van  Harlingen)  indicates  that  the  said  Peter*  Dumont 
was  connected  with  either  the  Dutch  Church  at  Harlingen 
or  Mechanic,  then  called  "  Church  of  Sourland."  The 
hills  near  there  are  still  called  "  Sourland  Mountains." 
Peter*  Dumont's  wife's  father,  Cornelius  Lowe,  as  well  as 
Albert  Low,  it  appears,  were  also  connected  with  Har- 
lingen church.     If  Peter*  Dumont  (Hcndrick^)  resided  on 


149 

Raritan  river  (where  Saxton  Wycoff  afterwards  lived)  they 
had  a  long  way,  considering  the  condition  of  the  roads 
then,  to  go  to  church,  while  the  Dutch  churches  at  North 
Branch  or  Raritan  were  much  nearer.  However,  the  in- 
fluence of  the  wife  may  have  been  suiificient. 

As  to  Peter*  Dumont  (Hendrick^)  having  been  sheriff  of 
Somerset  county,  N.  J.,  Mr.  J.  B.''  Dumont  thinks  it  prob- 
able that  the  Peter  Dumont  mentioned  in  the  records  as 
holding  that  office  was  another  Peter.  Peter*  {Hendrick^) 
was  then  little  more  than  thirty  years  of  age  and  might 
have  been  considered  young  for  such  an  oflfice.  The 
writer  would  add  that  the  family  tradition  merely  recites 
that  "  He  was  High  Sheriff  of  the  county  in  which  he 
lived."  As  he  subsequently  removed  to  New  Brunswick, 
this  may  refer  to  Middlesex  county,  N.  J.,  although  the 
writer  has  been  informed  that  the  histor\'  of  the  latter 
county  does  not  show  the  name  of  Peter  Dumont.  It  may 
even  refer  to  Saratoga  county,  N.  Y.,  for  while  he  is  said 
to  have  been  blind  for  twenty-five  years  preceding  his  de- 
cease in  1 82 1, -this  would  give  until  about  the  year  1796 
as  the  probable  limit  of  his  physical  ability  to  hold  such  an 
oflfice  as  high  sheriff.  It  is.  perhaps,  probable  that  the 
Peter  Dumont,  Sheriff  of  Somerset  county,  N.  J-.  was 
Peter^  Dumont  (Pcter^.  Wallcrand^').  born  1725.  He  re- 
sided in  Eridgewater  township  where  county  seat,  Somer- 
ville,  is  located,  and  was  Freeholder  from  that  township, 
and  his  name  appears  at  different  times  in  a  public  way 
and  in  view  of  the  fact  that  other  public  records  there  men- 
tion middle  letters  for  all  the  "  Peter's  "  except  this  one, 
he  being  the  senior  Peter,  it  is  concluded  that  he  was  proh- 


15° 

ably  the  sheriff,  although  Mr.  J.  B.'^  Dumont  reports  that 
he  possesses  some  fragments  of  papers  left  by  his  own  an- 
cestor, Peter  A.*  Dumont  (Abraham^),  indicating  that  he 
held  some  public  office  and  had  charge  of  settlement  of 
several  estates,  showing  that  he  was  a  man  much  trusted 
in  the  community.  Mr.  J.  B.'^  Dumont  further  reports 
the  interesting  discovery  among  the  records  he  has,  that 
Peter*  Dumont  (Hendrick^)  was  officially  designated  as 
"  Peter  H.  Dumont  "  in  an  appointment  by  Congress,  as 
one  of  the  committee  for  Hillsborough  township,  Somer- 
set county,  N.  J.  (with  Peter  A.*  Dumont  and  others),  to 
"act  in  behalf  of  the  country  when  necessary"  (1777). 
This,  doubtless,  accounts  for  family  tradition  that  Gen. 
Washington  often  consulted  him,  Peter*  Dumont  (Hen- 
drick^).  Peter  H.  Dumont  was  also  assessor  for  Hills- 
borough township  in  1777  and  1778.  Had  he  been  sheriflf. 
i774-'77,  he  would  have  been  recorded  as  Peter  H.  Du- 
mont. These  middle  initials  were  used  merely  to  distin- 
guish between  the  several  "  Peter's  "  living  contempora- 
neously, and  were  derived,  no  doubt,  from  the  first  initial 
of  the  father's  given  name. 

As  regards  the  Captain  Peter  Dumont,  of  Second  Bat- 
talion, Somerset,  it  would  seem  that  he  was  either  Peter 
H.*  Dumont  (Hendrick^)  or  Peter  A.*  Dumont  (Abra- 
ham^). The  First  Battalion.  Somerset  county,  was  com- 
posed of  residents  north  of  the  Raritan  river,  and  Second 
Battalion  of  those  south  of  said  river.  There  were  then 
living  six  "  Peter's  "  of  sufficient  age  to  perform  military 
service. 


151 

North  of  river: 

Peter^  (Peter^),  born  1725. 

Peter  P.*  (Peter^,  Peter^),  born  1753. 

Peter  J.*  (John^,  Peter^),  born  1734. 
South  of  river: 

Peter  A.*  {Abraham^),  born  1734- 

Peter  H.*  (HendricP),  born  1744. 

Peter  J.  B.*  (John  Baptist^)  born  1760. 
The  latter,  Peter  J.  B.*,  was  in  battle  of  Long  Island, 
and  taken  prisoner.  After  release,  his  father  having  died, 
he  performed  no  further  military  duty  (this  based  on  infor- 
mation given  by  his  grandson,  Dumont  Frelinghuysen, 
Esq.,  noAv  living,  to  Mr.  J.  B.'^  Dumont).  So  that  if  the 
records  of  Second  Battalion  are  correct  in  that  those  com- 
posing same  were  from  south  of  Raritan  river,  it  would,  as 
stated,  seem  that  either  Peter  H.*  or  Peter  A.*  was  the 
Catain  Peter  Dumont.  The  former  is  said  to  have  been 
"  A  soldier  of  the  Revolution  "  and  could  hardly  have  been 
a  private  in  Captain  Ten  Eyck's  Company,  Fi?'st  Battalion 
(composed  of  residents  north  of  river).  On  the  other 
hand,  statement  was  made  to  Mr.  J.  B.'''  Dumont,  and  to 
his  father  before  the  former's  birth,  by  his  grandfather, 
Peter  P.',  that  his  father,  Peter  A.*,  was  at  the  battle  of 
Monmouth,  and  for  many  years  an  officer's  uniform  and 
sword  hung  in  the  garret  of  the  old  homestead  which  be- 
longed to  him.  While  tradition  does  not  say  that  he, 
Peter  A.*,  was  an  officer,  this  evidence  might  be  con- 
sidered conclusive  by  some. 

After  the  greater  portion  of  the  genealogical  contents 
of  this  volume  had  been  prepared  for  the  press,  the  editor 


152 

received  a  letter,  dated  March  7th  1898,  from  Mrs.  E.  S.  L. 
Thompson,  of  Muncie,  Indiana,  from  which  the  following 
interesting  and  valuable  extracts  are  given  verbatim: 

"  My  mother,  now  dead,  was  the  granddaughter  of 
Peter  Dumont,  the  daughter  of  John  Dumont  and  (Julia 
L.  Corey)  Dumont.  She  was  in  the  possession  of  some 
family  history  of  which  she  often  spoke  to  me.  She  had 
in  her  possession  an  old  account-book  —  now  partially  de- 
stroyed by  the  mice  having  eaten  it.  It  was  the  accoun*- 
of  Peter  Dumont  as  Commissary  of  the  Continental  Army. 
On  several  occasions  I  heard  my  mother  state  that  after 
serving  some  time  as  Captain  of  a  Battalion  in  the  field  — 
General  Washington,  on  account  of  Peter  Dumont's  edu- 
cation and  business  ability,  called  him  to  the  charge  of  the 
stores  at  Van  Ness'  Mills.  My  mother  had  pasted  in  this 
book  three  letters  from  Washington.  These  the  mice 
have  destroyed  in  the  last  year.  One,  I  think,  I  can  quote 
word  for  word,  though  I  cannot  name  the  date: 

Headquarters  Continental  Army. 
My  Dear  Dumont: 

I  am  asking  for  more  men  with  which  to  whip  the 
British,  while  you  are  clamoring  for  more  food  for  men  and 
horses.  When  the  sun  rises  over  Van  Ness's  Mills  tomor- 
row morning  supplies  will  be  on  their  way.  A  Friend 
Quaker  has  contributed  a  goodly  sum  to  our  cause.  I 
send  you  a  hostage  (a  pair  of  spectacles  taken  from  a  dead 
British  officer  yesterday).  If  you  do  not  send  them  back 
I  will  take  it  that  the  corn  &c,  reached  you  on  time. 
Yours  for  the  cause, 

George  Washington." 


153 

"  My  mother  had  the  glasses,  they  are  in  my  possession 
now.  As  to  this  letter,  I  heard  my  grandfather,  John 
Dumont,  state  that  he  had  been  offered  large  sums  for  it 
—  but  refused. 

My  mother  guarded  these  papers  very  carefully,  but 
after  her  death  my  youngest  sister,  who  had  charge  of 
them,  died  suddenly;  my  father's  house  was  remodeled 
soon  after  and  the  trunk  containing  these  was  accidentally 
placed  in  the  garret.  Some  servant,  presumably,  moved 
the  "  Commissary's  Report,"  sticking  it  back  under  the, 
eaves.  There  my  sister,  Marietta  Dumont  Lamb,  found 
it  a  short  time  ago.  Many  of  the  pages  are  gone,  yet 
enough  remain  to  show  what  service  Peter  Dumont  was 
rendering  at  that  time.  "  By  Order  of  His  Excellency 
General  Washington,"  heads  several  of  the  pages.  I  re- 
member my  grandfather,  John  Dumont,  well.  He  spoke 
and  read  French,  teaching  me  to  speak  it  when  a  child. 
He  was  a  man  of  great  learning:  fine  oratorical  powers  and 
strict  integrity  of  character.  He  was  a  wit  and  a  most 
delightful  conversationalist  even  in  his  old  age.  His 
brother,  Abram  Dumont,  father  of  Mrs.  Jane  Moroed, 
was  a  fine  man.  General  Ebenezer  Dumont,  his  son,  and 
my  mother's  brother,  stood  high  as  an  army  officer.  "  The 
bravest  man  I  ever  saw,"  say  men  who  fought  under  him  in 
the  army.  He  ranked  high  as  a  lawyer:  as  a  citizen  he  was 
one  of  the  foremost  in  Indianapolis,  where  he  long  resided. 
My  mother  spoke  of  her  grandfather  as  a  French  Hugue- 
not whose  estates  were  taken  by  the  then  reigning  king 
because  he,  Peter  Dumont,  was  of  Protestant  faith.     La- 


154 

fayette  was  a  friend  of  the  family;  at  least  I  have  heard  it 
so  stated. 

The  mother  of  Rev.  John  Dumont  Reid,  my  aunt  Julia 
L.  Dumont-Reid,  had  a  number  of  letters  written  by  La- 
fayette to  Peter  Dumont. 

She  was  the  wife  of  a  minister,  and  I  am  told  these 
letters  were  misplaced  before  her  death.  She  was  an  in- 
valid for  several  years,  and  when  my  mother  asked  for 
them  they  could  not  be  found." 

Immediately  subsequent  to  the  receipt  of  the  above 
communication  from  Mrs.  Thompson,  the  editor  addressed 
letters  of  inquiry  to  the  Rev.  A.  S.  Reid,  Fulton,  Rock 
county,  Wis.,  and  his  son,  the  Rev.  John  Dumont  Reid, 
Greenfield,  Mass.,  but  failed  to  elicit  any  information  upon 
the  particular  points  mentioned.  The  latter  possessed 
the  (detached)  family  bible  record  of  which  a  copy  appears 
on  page  58,  but  cannot  find  it  now. 

In  response  to  a  later  inquiry  from  the  editor  regarding 
Peter  Dumont,  as  high  sheriff,  Mrs.  Thompson  wrote  that 
she  had  no  knowledge  on  that  subject,  further  than  that 
among  the  few  remaining  very  old  people  in  Vevay,  Indi- 
ana, it  is  said  that  Peter  Dumont  knew  a  great  deal  about 
law  and  legal  methods,  and  his  son,  Colonel  John  Dumont, 
stated  frequently  that  his  father  was  a  man  of  legal  knowl- 
edge and  acumen  not  to  be  despised. 

"  The  Genealogy  of  the  Dimond  or  Dimon  Family,  of 
Fairfield,  Conn."  by  Edwin  R.  Dimond,  of  San  Francisco. 
California  (Albany,  N.  Y.,  1891),  pages  156  and  158.  refers 
to  some  members  of  the  Dumont  family.  Possibly,  all 
are  of  one  origin.     As  regards  the  different  spellings  of  the 


155 

surname,  it  may  be  added  that  where  the  French-Hugue- 
nots went,  first,  to  England,  for  instance,  and  afterwards 
(or  in  a  later  generation)  came  to  America,  the  names 
underwent  several  changes;  for  example,  "  Beauchamp  " 
became  "  Fairfield,"  and  other  as  radical  translations. 

"  We  have  said  that  Peter  Dumont  was  living  on  the 
Raritan  in  the  beginning  of  1699.  He  was  a  large  land- 
holder on  the  south  side  of  the  Raritan.  and  the  ancestor 
of  those  who  have  since  borne  that  honorable  name.  He 
was  born  April  i8th,  1679,  ^"d  was  the  son  of  Walran 
Dumont  and  Gertie,  his  wife.  He  married,  first,  Fametis 
Van  Middlesworth,  who  died  December  2Sth,  1706;  sec- 
ond, Catelyntie  Rappleyea,  who  died  January  30th,  1799, 
and  thirdly,  Janetie  Veghte.  Her  son,  John,  born  April 
13th,  1719,  was  the  father  of  Peter  B.  Dumont,  of  our 
times.  The  Dumont  family  are  of  French  extraction. 
Isaac  Dumont,  of  Bostanquet,  held  a  Fief  by  Knight'; 
service  in  the  beautifu)  Pays  de  Caux,  in  Normandy.  A 
branch  emigrated  to  Holland  in  the  days  of  persecution. 
They  were  early  of  Protestant  principles;  and  Isaac  Du- 
mont served  in  the  army  of  William  when  he  came  to  Eng- 
land, as  others  of  the  name  had  done  before  him  in  armies 
of  the  Prince  of  Orange."  (Hist,  of  Somerset  County, 
N.  J.,  by  Abraham  Messier.  D.  D.,  pages  60-61.) 

"  For  a  short  time,  during  the  Revolution,  Queen's  Col- 
lege was  located  at  the  John  Protest  Dumont  house,  near 
the  junction  of  the  branches,  in  1779."     (Ibid.,  page  139.) 

The  "  Official  Register  of  the  Officers  and  Men  of  New 
Jersey  in  the  Revolutionary  War."  compiled,  by  order  of 
the  Legislature,  by  Wm.  S.  StrA^ker,  Adjutant-General  of 


156 

the  State  of  New  Jersey,  and  published  at  Trenton,  1872, 
contains  the  following: 

Pages  580-581  —  Among  members  of  Captain  Jacob 
Ten  Eyck's  Company,  First  BattaHon,  Somerset,  were: 

Albert  Dumont. 

Elbert  Dumont. 

John  Dumont. 

John  B.  Dumont. 

Peter  Dumont. 

(The  name  "  Dumon  "  also  appears,  possibly  of  same 
family,  the  difference  in  spelling  being  accounted  for,  per- 
haps, by  the  French  pronunciation  of  the  name  "  Du- 
mont "  being  more  nearly  represented  by  the  elimination 
of  the  final  letter  "  t.")* 

Peter  J.  B.  Dumont  appears  as  in  Captain  Vroom's 
Company,  Second  Battalion,  Somerset. 

Page  389  —  Peter  Dumont,  Captain,  Second  Battalion, 
Somerset. 

Page  362  —  Peter  D.  Vroom,  Captain,  Second  Bat  • 
talion,  Somerset;  First  Major,  ditto,  June  6th,  1777;  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel, ditto,  September  9th,  1777. 

In  a  book  entitled  "  Ofif-hand  Portraits  of  Prominent 
New  Yorkers,"  by  Stephen  Fiske  (New  York,  1884),  will 
be  found  a  sketch  of  Mr.  Theodore  S.  Dumont  (pages 
102-107),  wherein  mention  is  made  of  the  novel,  entitled, 
"  The  Story  of  Marie  Dumont."  by  Lady  Pollock. 

*Mr.  J.  B.'  Dumont  adds  that  it  is  safe  to  assume  that  all  names  in  Adj.- 
Gen.  Stryker's  Official  Register,  whether  Dumon,  Dumond,  Demon  or 
Dumont  are  one  and  same  family ;  that,  in  fact,  he  has  records  of  name 
spelled  in  all  these  ways  for  one  and  the  same  individual. 


157 

("  Copy  of  a  copy  of  Henry  Dumont's  will,"  furnished 
by  Mr.  Eugene  R.  Detraz,  of  Vevay,  Indiana.  See 
page  52.) 

In  the  name  of  God,  Amen:  I  Henry  Dumont  of  the 
city  of  New  York,  merchant,  being  week  in  body,  but 
through  the  goodness  of  God,  of  sound  mind,  and  perfect 
mind  and  memory  and  knowing  it  is  appointed  for  all  men 
to  die,  do  make  and  ordain  this  my  last  will  and  testament. 
And  first  of  all  I  give  my  sole  to  god  who  gave  it,  not 
doubting  his  graceous  receiving  it,  through  the  merits  of 
the  lord  Jesus  Christ.  Item:  I  give  my  body  to  be  de- 
cently baried  in  the  earth,  not  doubting  its  resurection 
from  thence  at  the  last  day.  The  manner  of  my  burial  I 
leave  to  the  discreation  of  my  executors  hereafter  named. 
And  as  to  my  worldly  estate  I  order  that  all  my  just  debts 
be  paid.  Item:  My  will  is  all  my  land  left  me  by  my  father 
lying  in  the  county  of  Somerset  in  the  province  of  New 
Jersey,  be  rented  out  untill  my  eldest  son  Peter  become  to 
the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  then  to  sell  said  land  and 
equally  divide  the  money  arising  therefrom  among  my 
three  children,  Peter,  Mary  and  John.  Item:  I  will  and 
bequeath  unto  my  said  son  Peter  my  house  and  lot  called 
the  Lottery  House  at  Piscataway  Landing.  Item:  I  give 
and  bequeathe  unto  my  said  daughter  Mary  my  house  and 
lot  at  the  Waterside  at  Piscataway  Landing.  Item:  I  give 
and  bequeath  to  my  said  son  John  my  house  and  lot  in  the 
city  of  New  York  being  in  Duco  street,  Montgomery 
ward.  Item:  My  will  is  my  said  son  Peter  shall  in  three 
years  after  he  comes  of  age  pay  out  of  the  legacies  given 


158 

him  unto  my  daughter  Mary  one  hundred  pounds  New 
York  currency,  and  as  to  my  movable  estate  all  to  be  sold 
by  my  executors,  and  all  my  debts  collected,  except  house- 
hold furniture,  and  the  money  arising  therefrom  after  pay- 
ing all  my  debts,  I  give  as  follows  viz.  I  give  and  bequeath 
to  my  loving  wife,  Catherine  and  the  child  she  is  now  preg- 
nant with  eight  hundred  pounds,  that  is,  four  hundred 
pounds  each  New  York  currency.  The  residue  of  my 
moveable  estate  with  the  yearly  rents  of  the  aforesaid 
lands,  lots  and  buildings,  and  interest  thereof  to  be  used 
for  the  education  of  all  my  children,  and  if  the  inter- 
est be  not  sufficient  for  a  suitable  supply  for  that 
purpose  to  take  so  much  of  the  principal  as  may 
be  thought  needful  by  my  executors,  and  what  may 
remain  when  all  my  children  become  of  age,  one  half 
I  give  and  bequeath  to  the  child  my  wife  is  now  preg- 
nant with,  and  the  other  half  to  be  equally  divided  be- 
tween my  said  wife  and  said  three  children,  and  if  any  of 
my  children  should  die  before  coming  to  age  and  without 
laweful  issue  any  such  child  or  children  so  dying,  that  share 
or  shares  shall  be  equally  divided  among  the  surviving  chil- 
dren, and  my  will  is  each  child  shall  have  his  share  when 
arrives  at  age,  as  a  dividend  may  then  be,  my  son  at  the 
age  of  twenty-one  years,  my  daughter  at  the  age  of 
twenty  years.  Item:  I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  said  wife, 
Catherine  the  aforesaid  household  furniture,  my  will  is  and 
I  hereby  order  if  any  of  my  said  three  children  die  before 
become  of  age  and  without  lawful  issue,  that  the  real  estate 
here  bequeathed  shall  be  sold  by  my  said  executors  and  be 
equally  divided  among  the  surviving  ones,  and  lastly  I  ap- 


159 

point  and  ordain  my  loving  brother,  Peter  Dumont  and 
my  loving  friend  John  Alstine,  Eronimus  Alstine  and  John 
Oothout  my  executors  of  this  my  last  will  and  testament, 
and  I  do  hereby  revoke  all  former  wills  allowing  and  rata- 
fying  this  to  be  my  last  will  and  testament  in  witness 
whereof  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  seal  this  fifth  day  of 
November,  Anno  Domine  one  thousand  seven  hundred 
and  sixty. 

Henry  Dumont. 

Signed,  sealed,  published  and  declared  in  the  presence  of 
us,  Jovis  Brinckenhofif,  John  Pothout  [Oothout?],  Joseph 
Foreman. 

In  a  book  relating  to  New  York  marriage  licenses,  pre- 
vious to  1784,  published  by  order  of  the  Secretary  of  State, 
Albany,  i860,  there  appears,  on  page  119,  a  list  of  "  Du- 
monds  "  and  "  Dumonts,"  among  which  is  one  "  Mary 
Dumond  "  who  married  Henry  Staats,  Nov.  15,  1770  — 
the  authority  being  given  as  "  Marriage  Bonds,  Vol.  XVI, 
page  257."  This  Mary  Dumond  may  have  been  an  own 
sister  of  Peter  Dumont,  and  may  explain  a  previously 
given  family  tradition  regarding  marriage  with  a  "  Staats." 
In  fact,  the  editor  has  just  received  advice  from  J.  B. 
Dumont,  Esq.,  Plainfield,  N.  J.,  to  the  effect  that  in 
reviewing  some  of  his  papers,  he  finds  a  copy  of  the  record 
made  by  the  late  Senator  F.  T.  Frelinghuysen's  mother, 
based  on  information  given  her,  verbally,  by  her  father, 
Peter  B.  Dumont.  This  record  contains  the  following 
item:  "  Hendrick  Dumont  left  children,  Peter,  John,  Mary. 
Peter  and  family  moved  west.  Mary  married  a  Staats  at 
Albany."     See  pages  51  and  52. 


"  American  Ancestry,"  Vol.  VI  (Albany,  N.  Y.,  1891), 
page  12,  gives  lineage  of  one  Cornelius  J.  Dumond,  of 
New  York  City. 

Peter  Dumont  (son  of  Wallerand,  the  first  of  that  sur- 
name in  America)  married,  ist,  Femmetje  Teunise  Van 
Middleswart,  daughter  of  Jan  Teunissen  and  Cataline, 
daughter  of  Teunis  Gysbertse  Bogaert. 

Jan  Teunissen  was  baptised  April  12,  1654,  and  was  son 
of  Teunis  Nyssen,  common  ancestor  of  the  Denyse,  Nyssen 
and  Teunissen  families. 

Teunis  Nyssen  emigrated,  in  1638,  from  Binninck,  or 
Bunnik,  in  the  province  of  Utrecht ;  resided  first  on  Man- 
hattan Island,  afterwards  Brooklyn.  He  married  Phebe 
Felix,  of  England,  known  as  Fammetje  Jans,  widow  of 
Hendrick  the  Boor,  and  daughter  of  Jan  Scales,  of  New 
Amsterdam. 

Jan  Teunissen  was  the  first  elder  of  the  First  Dutch 
Church  of  Raritan,  installed  September  19,  1699,  and  was 
member  of  2nd  and  6th  Colonial  Assembly  of  New  Jersey 
(1704  and  1710).  He  served  in  above  mentioned  as  Jan 
Teunissin  (Teunissen  descendants  now  named  Tunison), 
and  added  Van  Middleswart  about  171 5. 

Brothers  of  Jan  Teunissen  married  into  Polhemus, 
Bogaert  and  Simonsen  families,  and  sisters  in  Bergen, 
Woertman,  Rapalie  and  Snediker  families,  all  of  Brooklyn. 

Peter  Dumont  married,  2nd.  Cataline  or  Catalyntje, 
daughter  of  Jeronimus  Jorise  Rapalie  and  Anna,  daughter 
of  Teunis  Nyssen  (and  a  sister  of  Jan  Teunissen).  No  male 
heirs  by  this  marriage.  (See  Dumont  family  genealogy,  in 
body  of  this  book.) 


i6i 

Peter  Dumont  married,  3rd,  Jannetje,  daughter  of  Hen- 
drich  Claessen  Vechten  (or  Vechte)  and  Gerrtje  Ryniers 
Wizzelhenniiig.  He  emigrated  with  his  father,  Claes 
Arentse  Vechten,  in  1660,  from  Norg,  in  the  province  of 
Drenthe. 

Two  brothers  of  Peter  Dumont's  third  wife,  Rynear  and 
Hendrick  Vechte,  settled  in  Somerset  comity,  New  Jersey, 
from  whom  are  descended  those  of  the  name  of  Veghte. 

List  of  descendants  of  Peter  Dumont  (Wallerand')  by 
his  first  wife,  Femmetje  Teunise  Van  Middleswart : 

1  John,  the  eldest  son,  married  Annatje  (probably  Ryer- 
son),  and,  according  to  his  will,  had  children: 

i  John,  did  not  participate  in  division  of  lands  left 
by  his  father,  and  probably  died  before  division. 
No  record  of  issue, 
ii  Peter,  bap.  Nov.  3rd,  1734  (Readington  church 
records);  married  May  13,  1755,  Arietta 
Stoothofif,  and  had  children: 
i  John,   bom   Apr.    10,    1757,  married   Anathe 

,  having  one  child,  Arrianthe,  bap.  Mch. 

10,  1785  (Readington  church  records).  No 
record  found  of  other  children  or  descend- 
ants, 
ii  Johannah,  born  June  2,  1758. 
iii  Arrietta,  born  May  25,  1759.  (One  of  these 
two  daughters  married  Luke  Voorhees  and 
the  other  a  Williamson,  of  Grigstown,  N.  J.) 

*Z^  ''•7^  incorporated  in  the  "  Appendices  andTddenda  "  some  supple- 
mentary  items  pertainmcf  to  the  Dumont  familv.  but  are  glad  to  be  aMe  to 
append  this  additional  information,  regretting  that  it  was  not  received  in 
time  for  inclusion  in  the  text. 

of   Plainfield,   N.  J.,  for  the 


1 62 


iv  Elbert,  born  May  31,  1761,  married  Nov.  i, 
1780,  Cornelia  Hoagland. 

V  Peter,  born  July  13,  1762,  man-ied  Elizabeth 

Swartout. 
vi  Abraham,  born  Nov.  15,  1763,  died  Oct.  18, 

1838;  married,  Feb.,  1788,  Jane  Van  Cleef. 
vii  George,  born  Nov.  27,  1765. 
viii  William,  born  July  27,  1768,  died  1769. 
ix  WilHam,  born  July  17,  1770,  died  1790. 
X  Isaac,  born  Aug.  2,  1773,  died  1798. 

(No  record  of  descendants  of  last  four.) 
iii  Dirck  (John,  Peter,  Wallerand);  baptised  May 
23,     1736     (Readington     records).      Married 

Rachel  ,  date  unknown.     In  will  of  this 

said    Dirck,    dated    Sept.  18,  1776,  recorded, 

Trenton,  N.  J.,  Jan.  29,  1779,  children  named 

are: 

i  John,  probably  married  Elizabeth  Smalley,  and 

had  one  son,  John  Hardenberk,  bap.  Oct.  21, 

1792  (Readington  records). 

ii  Jane,  married  James  Littell,  of  Green  Brook, 

and  had  two  sons  and  two  daughters, 
iii  Femmetje  (Phebe),  bap.  Nov.   11,  1766  (ist 
Dutch  church,  Raritan),  married  Peter  Van- 
derbeck. 
iv  Sara,  bap.   July   4,    1772    (ist  Dutch  church, 
Raritan). 

V  PhilHp,     bap.    July     16,     1775     (Readington 

records).  Married  Ann  Calshet,  and  had 
one  son,  Dirck,  bap.  Jan.  22,  1797  (Reading- 
ton  records). 


i63 

vi  Margaret. 

(One  of  above  daughters  married  a  "  Still- 
well."     No  other  records  found  of  Dirck's 
descendants.) 
iv  Abraham  (John,  Peter,  Wallerand),  bap.  May  13, 
1739  (ist  Dutch  church,  Raritan).     Married 

Neltje  or  Nauche .     Left  no  children. 

(A  portion  of  land  received  under  his  father's 
will  was  bequeathed  to  Dr.  Peter  Dumont, 
son  of  his  brother,  Peter.  This  Abraham 
was  1st  Lieut,  in  Capt.  Jacob  Ten  Eyck's 
Co.,  1st  Battalion,  Somerset  Co.,  N.  J.) 

V  Femmetje,  married  a  Garretson.     Some  of  the 

lands  of  Abraham,  above  named,  were  be- 
queathed to  John  Garretson,  son  of  his  (Abra- 
ham's) sister,  Femmetje. 

Elbert  Dumont  (Peter,  John,  Peter,  Wallerand)  — 
name  spelled  both  Albert  and  Elbert  in  church  records  — 
married  Cornelia  Hoagland,  and  had  children: 

i  Adreiana,  bap.  Sept.  28,  1783,  married  a  "  Ber- 

rian." 
ii  Maria,  bap.  Apr.  17,  1785,  married  a  "  King." 
iii  John,  bap.  Nov.  19,  1787. 
iv  Andrejon,  bap.  Jan.  13,  1790. 

(Authority  for  these  four  dates  is  Readington 
records.) 

V  John,  bap.  Apr.  28,  1792  (ist  Dutch  church,  Rari- 

tan). 
vi  William,  bap.  July  17,  1795  (ist  Dutch  church, 
Raritan). 


164 

vii  Stoothoff . 

(A  partial  record  of  Elbert's  descendants  ob- 
tained, but  not  sufficiently  complete  to  pre- 
sent here.) 

Peter  (Peter,  John,  Peter,  Wallerand),  married  Eliza- 
beth Swartout,  moved  to  New  York  City,  and  was  known 
as  Dr.  Peter.     Had  children: 

i  Abraham  Henry,  born  Apr.   17,   1800,  married 
Oct.  26,  1826,  Julia  Ann  McKnight,  and  had 
children : 
i  Elizabeth  Swartout,  bom  Feb.  11,  1831. 
ii  John  Ludlow,  born  May  9,  1832,  and  is  now 
(1898)  in  business  in  New  York  City, 
ii  William,    married    Georgiana    De    Peyster;    no 
issue. 

iii  Robert,  married Swords,  and  had  children: 

i  William,  now  (1898)  in  business,  N.  Y.  City, 
ii  Robert,  died, 
iii  Theodore,  died, 
iv  Mary,  died. 

V  Henrietta,  now  living  (1898),  married  Chas.  A. 
Robbins. 
(Dr.  Peter  Dumont  had  other  children,  Peter, 
Elbert,  Ann  and  Catharine;  all  died  without 
issue.) 

Abraham  (Peter,  John,  Peter,  Wallerand),  who  married 
Jane  Van  Cleef,  had  children: 

i  Margaret,  born  Aug.  21,  1791. 
ii  Adriannah,  born  Aug.  21,  1791  (twins). 


i65 

iii  Johannah,  born    Apr.    12,    1794,  married  John 

Little, 
iv  Isaac  Van  Cleef,  born  June  21,  1797,  married  Oct. 
23,  1828,  Maria,  daughter  of  Jacob  Van  Dorn, 
of  Millstone,  N.  J.,  and  had  four  sons  and  four 
daughters.  His  son,  Abraham,  resides  on  a 
portion  of  the  lands  purchased  by  John 
(Peter,  Wallerand)  from  Chas.  Dunstar,  Aug., 
1725. 
V  Peter,  bap.  Jan.  25,  1802. 

(No  additional  record  has  been  made  of 
descendants  of  Abraham,  above  men- 
tioned.) 

Descendants  of  Abraham  Dumont,  second  son  of  Peter 
(Wallerand),  by  the  said  Peter's  first  wife,  Femmetje 
Teunise  Van  Middleswart : 

Abraham,  born  Apr.  2=;,  1706.  married  Mattie  Bergen, 
Aug.  10,  1733,  and  died  Aug.  7,  1787.     Had  children: 

i  Peter  A.,  born  July  it,  1734,  died  June  7,  1818. 
ii  Sitee,    bom    April    2,    1738,    married    Hendrick 
Probasco,  of  Millstone,  N.  J.,  who  was  Cap- 
tain   2nd    Battalion,    Somerset    Co.,    N.    J., 
Revolutionary  War. 
iii  John,  bom  Jan.  10,  1740,  died  May  3,  17=18. 
iv  Phebe,  born  Sept.  13,  1747,  married,  ist,  Fredk. 
Ditmars,  2nd,  Thomas  Drew. 

Peter  A.  Dumont  feldest  son  of  Abraham,  above  men- 
tioned), married,  ist,  Abigail  Tunison,  Dec.  6,  i7'^7,  who 
died  Dec.  21st,  1761.     Children  of  this  marriage,  Mattie 


i66 


and  Abigail,  died  without  issue.  Married,  2nd,  Sarah 
Hegeman,  Feb.  23,  1763,  daughter  of  Adrian  and  Sarah 
Hegeman.     They  had  children: 

i  Sarah,  born  Mch.  9,  1764,  married  Christopher 

Van  Arsdale,  died  1844. 
ii  John,  born  Sept.  5,  1769,  died  July  7,  1822. 
iii  Abraham,  born  June  16,  1778,  died  Nov.  9,  1858. 
iv  Peter,  born  Nov.  7,  1782,  died  Aug.  12,  i860. 
(And  four  other  children,  who  died  young.) 

John  Dumont,  eldest  son  of  Peter  A.,  above  mentioned, 
married  Mary  Perlee,  and  had  children: 

i  John,  moved  to  Warsaw,  New  York;  no  record 

of  descendants, 
ii  Rebecca. 

iii  Abraham,  moved  to  Philadelphia,  and  died 
there.  He  had  one  son,  Samuel  Beekman 
Dumont,  who  moved  to  Iowa;  was  a  State 
Senator,  and  the  town  of  Dumont,  in  that 
State,  was  named  for  him. 
iv  Peter  I.,  died  in  Somerset  Co.,  N.  J.,  without 

issue, 
v  Benjamin,  died  young. 

Abraham  Dumont,  second  surviving  son  of  Peter  A., 
married  June  6,  1799,  Judith  Davis.     They  had: 

i  Sarah,    born    Apr.    5,    1800,    married    Nicholas 

Voorhees,  died  Feb.,  1882. 
ii  Jane,  bom  Sept.  19,  1801,  died  May  17,  1884. 
iii  Mary,  born  Sept.  4,  1803,  married  Peter  Van 
Arsdale,  died  Feb.  12,  1884. 


i67 

iv  Judith,  born  Oct.  7,  1805,  married  John  John- 
son, died  July  15,  1885. 

V  Peter  A.,  born  Sept.  29,   1809,  died  Aug.   14, 

1885. 
vi  Abraham  A.,  born  Oct.  5,  181 1,  died  Mch.  27, 

1883. 
vii  Phebe,  bom  Jan.  16,  1814;  still  living  (1898). 
viii  Theodore  Davis,  born  Aug.  20,  1816,  died  Sept. 

27,  1879. 

Peter  A.  Dumont,  fifth  child  of  Abraham,  above  men- 
tioned, married  Jan.  8,  1834,  Magdalen  Garretson, 
daughter  of  Peter  Garretson  and  Elizabeth  Polhemus. 
They  had: 

i  Martha,  born  Oct.  15,  1834,  married  Abraham 

Whitnack;  still  living  (1898). 
ii  Arabella,    bom    Sept.   14,   1836,  died  Apr.   18, 

1874. 
iii  Sarah  EHzabeth,  born  Dec.  5,  1838,  died  Aug. 

14,  1880. 
iv  Abraham  P..  born  Oct.  18,  1841,  died . 

V  John  Garretson,  born  Sept.  10,  1843;  still  living 

(1898). 

Abraham  A.,  sixth  child  of  Abraham,  above  mentioned, 
and  brother  of  Peter  A.,  above  mentioned,  married 
Cornelia  F.  Hoagland.  Had  children,  five  sons  and  five 
daughters:  several  died  young.  He  moved  to  Kansas, 
and  died  there;  no  record  of  descendants. 

Theodore  Davis   Dumont,   eighth   child   of  Abraham, 


i68 


previously  mentioned,  and,  therefore,  a  brother  of  Peter 
A.  and  Abraham  A.,  above  mentioned;  married  Jannet 
Peck,  and  had  one  son  and  three  daughters.  All  children 
living  (1898). 

Peter  Dumont,  youngest  son  of  Peter  A.  and  Sarah 
Hegeman,  married  Nov.  6,  1805,  Magdalen  Davis,  daugh- 
ter of  Peter  Davis  and  Jane  Ten  Eyck,  and  sister  of  his 
brother  Abraham's  wife,  Judith.  The  children  of  this 
Peter  Dumont  and  Magdalen,  his  wife,  were: 

i  Jane,  born  Nov.   13,  181 1,  died  July  29,   1887; 
married  Bernard  Polhemus,  and  had  one  son, 
Isaac   Luther,   and   one   daughter,  Magdalin, 
both  deceased, 
ii  Peter  P.,  married  May  29,  1838,  Auletta  Maria 
Brokaw,    daughter    of    Henry    Brokaw    and 
Sarah  Vermule.     They  had: 
i  John  Brokaw,  born  Nov.   23,   1842,  married 
Feb.  26,  1867,  Elizabeth  Stewart  Cook,  and 
has  children:    i. Marion  Stewart;  ii,  John  B., 
Jr.;  iii,  Morris  J.  fall  living,  1898). 
ii  Henry  D.,  born  Jan,  5,  1845,  married  May  31. 
1865,   Lucy  A.   Gregg,   and   has   children: 
i,  Chas,  G. ;  ii,  Mabel, 
iii  John  S.  Vredenburg,  bom  Sept,   i,   1823,  died 
Mch.    29,    1867,  married  Margret  Polhemus. 
Had  children: 
i  Magdalen, 
ii  Phebe  Jane, 
ill  Cornelia, 
iv  Peter  (all  living,  1898). 


169 

Of  the  children  and  other  descendants  of  Peter  Dumont 
(son  of  Wallerand)  by  his  third  wife,  Jannetje  Vechte,  we 
have  given  a  partial  account  in  the  body  of  this  volume, 
under  title,  "The  Dumont  Family;  Genealogy,"  but  the 
following  additional  notes  are  of  interest : 

John  Baptist  Dumont  (Peter,  Wallerand),  who  married 
Maria  Van  Duyne,  had  one  son: 

i  Peter  J.  B.  Dumont  (afterwards  known  as  Peter 
B.),  born  about  1760,  and  died  May  19,  1846. 
(No  record  of  other  children.) 

Peter  J.  B.  Dumont,  above  mentioned,  married  Susan 
Van  Middleswart.     They  had: 

i  John  B. 

ii  Tunis. 

iii  Mary,  who  died  young. 

iv  Jane,  married  Fred.  Frelinghuysen,  they  being 
parents  of  the  late  Hon.  Fred.  T.  Freling- 
huysen and  Dumont  Frelinghuysen,  Esq..  the 
latter  now  (1898)  living  in  Somerville,  N.  J. 

V  Maria,  married  Wm.  Elm.endorf. 

vi  Ann.  married  P.  D.  Vroom.  afterwards  Governor 
of  New  Jersey. 

Note. —  Peter  B.  Dumont  inherited  a  portion  of  the  land?  of  his  grnnd- 
father,  Peter  (son  of  WnllerandV  inrhidinp' the  homestend.  nnd  wts  bnried 
in  the  family  plat  on  said  lands,  wheie  also  his  father.  Tohn  Rnntist.  and 
grandfather,'  Peter  Dumont.  were  buried.  A  brirk  wall  surrounds  the 
burials  in  this  plat,  which  includes  families  related  to  Dumonts,  and  being- 
near  the  main  road  it  seems   possible  it  may  be  respected  for  many  vears. 

Peter  B.  was  a  Revolutionary  soldier  and  served  on  Staten  Island  and 
Elizabethtown  (now  Elizabeth,  N,  T-)- but  his  father's  death,  in  1776.  com- 
pelled him  to  leave  the  army  and  look  after  the  large  estate,  but  he  fur- 
nished a  substitute,  until  the  war  closed. 


17C 

Peter  Dumont,  who  married  Bruchie  Vroom,  had  chil- 
dren: 

i  Jannette,  born  Apr.  7,  1749,  died  1752. 

ii  Jacinte,  born  June  18,  1751,  married  Mch.  2, 
1777,  Robert  Roseboom,  and  moved  to  Cherry 
Valley,  N.  Y. 

iii  Peter,  born  Oct.  17,  1753,  died  Mch.,  1807,  mar- 
ried Mary  Roseboom,  sister  of  Robt.,  above 
mentioned,  and  moved  to  Cherry  Valley, 
N.  Y. 

iv  Hendrick,  born  April  13,  1756;  died  Dec.  17, 
1775- 

V  John  Baptist,  born  Oct.  21,  1758;  died  Jan.  12, 
1832;  never  married. 

vi  Jannette,  bom  May  i,  1761;  died  Oct.  25,  1828; 
married  Hendrich  Tenbrook  Vroom. 

vii  Batchie,  born  Feb.  14,  1765;  died  Feb.  i,  1852. 
viii  Margaret,  born  Oct.  5,  1766;  died  Jan.  2,  1844; 
married  a  Tenbroock. 

ix  Mary,  born  Jan..  1770;  died  Dec.  22,  1845. 

Peter  Dumont  (son  of  Peter)  and  Mary  Roseboom  had: 
i  Henry,  born  Jan.  18,  1778;  died  Jan.  18,  1816. 
ii  Garret,  born  May  23,  1786;  died  Jan.  12,  1812. 

iii  Peter,  bom  April  16,  1789;  died  May  16,  1852. 

iv  Gertrude,  born  Sept.  16,  1780. 
v  Brachia,  bom  April  24,  1791. 

Note.  —  No  record  of  descendants  of  Hendrick,  above  mentioned,  and 
from  ag-e  named,  he  probably  died  without  issue.  John  Baptist  nnd  his 
sisters  Batchie  (in  will  called  Bridget),  and  Mary,  lived  and  died  on  lands 
purchased  by  their  grandfather,  Peter,  at  Two-bridges,  on  North  Branch 
River,  near  junction  with  the  Raritan. 


171 

vi  Cynthia,    born    May    lo,    1793;    married    Luke 

French, 
vii  Mary,  born  May  10,  1795. 

Peter,  son  of  above-named  Peter,  and  Mary  Roseboom, 
the  latter's  wife,  married  Sarah  Baskin  and  settled,  first,  at 
Watkins,  N.  Y.,  afterwards  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  where  nearly 
all  his  children  were  born,  and  finally  moved  to  Allegan, 
Mich.,  where  he  died.     Children  were: 

i  Henry,  bom  Watkins,  N.  Y.,  June  5,  1815;  mar- 
ried a  Bingham  and  moved  to  Berrien  Springs, 
Mich.     His  only  son,  Gilbert  P.  Dumont,  died 
without  issue, 
ii  John  Baptist,  born  at  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  3, 

1820;  now  (1898)  living  in  Allegan,  Mich, 
iii  Mary,  bom  Nov.  26,  1822;  died  June  9,  1844. 
iv  Martha,  born  Sept.  22,  1825. 
v  Wm.   P.,   bom   May   5,    1831;   still   living;   un- 
married, 
vi  Robert   Roseboom,   born   Feb.    17,    1834;   died 
Sept.  15,  iSgo.     He  moved  to  Colorado  when 
a  young  man;  was  in  first  wagon  train  to  Pike's 
Peak;  afterwards  located  in  Denver,  Col.,  next 
to  California;  continued  a  rover  for  twenty 
years  in  many  lands,   returning  to  Allegan, 
Mich.,  in  1881 ;  married  and  moved  to  Seattle, 
Wash.,  where  he  died  and  left  no  issue. 
(Other  children  mentioned,  but  died  young.) 

Note.— No  record  of  descendants  of  Henry  and  Garret,  and  it  is  believed 
they  had  no  male  heirs. 


172 

John  Baptist  Dumont  (the  only  descendant  of  Peter, 
son  of  Peter,  son  of  Wallerand,  who  has  a  male  heir)  mar- 
ried, 1st,  Dec.  7,  1852,  Frances  P.  Emerson,  of  HoUis. 
N.  H.,  who  was  born  March  11,  1832;  died  March  16,  1853. 
Married,  2d,  Emma  E.  Smith,  of  Canaan,  Conn.,  born 
Nov.  8,  1829;  died  Jan.  3,  1868.  Married,  3d,  Susan  M. 
Watson,  sister  of  second  wife.  The  only  sunavor  of  his 
children  is  John  Baptist,  Jr.,  by  his  second  wife,  born  Jan. 
3,  1868,  and  is  now  (1898)  located  in  Chicago,  IlHnois. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 
One  important  item  pertaining  to  the  ancestry  of  Peter* 
Dumont  (Hcndrick,  Peter,  Wallerand)  should,  also,  be 
added:  The  Editor  has  been  informed  by  his  father,  Ex- 
Mayor  Henry  Guest  M'Pike,  of  Alton,  Illinois,  that  he  had 
been  told  by  his  father,  the  late  Judge  John  M'Pike,  that 
it  was  said  by  (or  else  heard  it  direct  from)  the  late  Colonel 
John  Dumont,  that  he  (Col.  D.)  personally  possessed  the 
ancient  French  deeds  to  ancestral  estates  in  France,  which 
had  been  confiscated  by  the  government  of  that  country 

Note.  — In  regard  to  descendants  of  other  sons  of  Wallerand  Dumond, 
the  first  of  that  surname  in  America  ;  that  is.  of  Walran,  Jr.,  and  Tohn 
Baptist,  it  should  be  added  that  J.  B.  Dumond.  Esq.,  of  Plainfield,  N.  J-, 
has  made  a  copy,  in  order  of  dates,  of  all  "Duraonts,"  —  marriages  and 
baptisms,  from  records  Dutch  church,  Kingston,  New  York,  to  the  year 
iSio,  and  he  further  undertook  the  grouping  of  families,  considering 
names  of  children  and  sponsors,  but  it  is  exceedingly  difficult  to  make  such 
a  record  entirely  reliable  and  he  found  before  reachinji  the  vear  1700  that 
it  was  not  easy  to  distinguish  the  different  branches.  Aside  from  this,  the 
records  of  marriages  and  baptisms,  towards  1700.  became  less  frequent 
(of  Dumont's  or  Dumond's.  as  descendants  in  Kingston  now  write  the 
name);  this  being  accounted  for  by  scattering  of  descendants  to  other  parts, 
and.  also,  connections  with  other  than  Dutch  church.  Mr.  Dumont,  how- 
ever, has  offered  to  transmit  to  the  editor  a  copy  of  the  above  list,  and  for 
the  benefit  of  those  most  interested,  we  will  state  that  the  list  may  be  pub- 
lished in  a  subsequent  genealogy  of  the  Dumont  family,  or,  more  likely, 
contributed  to  the  columns  of  (he  New  York  Genenlogical  and  Biographical 
Record. 


173 

from  his  (Col.  D.'s)  ancestors  because  of  their  having  been 
Huguenots.  As  Col.  D.  was  a  lawyer  of  high  standing  it 
was  very  natural  that  such  documents  should  have  been 
placed  in  his  care  by  his  father.  The  Editor  has  not  been 
able  to  locate  the  said  French  deeds,  but  has  a  letter,  dated 
June  1 6,  1898,  from  Mrs.  E.  S.  L.  Thompson,  of  Muncie, 
Ind.  (a  granddaughter  of  Col.  D.),  stating  such  deeds  did 
exist,  and  were  kept  in  her  grandfather's  office  in  Vevay, 
Ind.  They  have,  no  doubt,  been  destroyed  by  accident  or 
otherwise.  Mrs.  Thompson  adds  that,  perhaps,  Wm.  L. 
Campbell,  Esq.,  Marysville,  California,  may  know  more 
about  them,  but  as  this  volume  is  now  going  to  press  we 
have  not  sufficient  time  to  investigate  further.  These 
deeds,  no  doubt,  covered  property  belonging  to  maternal 
ancestors  of  Peter*  Dumont. 

Mr.  C.  C.  Saffell,  No.  205  Courtland  street,  Baltimore, 
Maryland,  advises  the  editor  that  he  has  the  record  of  one 
James  Pike,  who  was,  "  no  doubt,"  Captain  James  Mc- 
Pike,  previously  referred  to. 

In  conclusion  we  cannot  omit  to  refer  to  the  fact  that 
among  Dumont  family  descendants  in  military  service 
during  the  present  Spanish-American  war  are  two  grand- 
sons of  the  late  General  Ebenezer  Dumont  —  David  C. 
Braden,  aged  21  years,  who  is  Sergt. -Major,  3rd  Battalion, 
158th  Indiana  Regiment,  and  James  Braden,  aged  19 
years,  Regimental  Bugler,  158th  Indiana  Regiment.  We 
must  also  mention  Frank  P.  Dupray,  of  Vevay,  Indiana, 
who  enlisted  in  Company  "  K,"  U.  S.  Infantry,  Camp 
Merritt,  San  Francisco,  and  is  now  en  route  for  Manila,  as 
well  as  Frederick  Dumont  Grisard,  who  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany "  K,"  First  U.  S.  Infantry,  from  Poughkeepsie,  New 
York,  and  is  on  his  way  to  Manila. 


INDEX  TO  SURNAMES, 

In  alphabetical  order  by  initial  letters  only,  and 
including  only  pages  9-158,  inclusive,  the  subsequent 
pages  having  been  added  after  index  was  prepared. 
The  surnames  shown  on  the  subsequent  pages  have, 
however,  been  incorporated  in  this  index,  and  are 
indicated  by  the  letter  '  S.' 


Adams,  23-26,  27,  35. 

Aertson,  46. 

Alford,  III. 

Allen,  143. 

Alstine,  52,  158,  159. 

Anderson,  60,  64,  66,  103, 

132,  134,  136. 
Arnand,  77,^  74,  75,  77. 
Arnold,  108. 
Armstrong,  63. 
Arthur,  54. 

Barber,  16,  19. 
Brewster,  30,  32. 
Bruce,  34,  121,  143. 
Blackburn,  35,  108. 
Bartel,  38. 
Burke,  42,  141. 
Beslevoer,  46. 
Bergen,  48,  'S.' 
Brouwer,  49. 
Bush,  57. 
Basye,  63. 


Brier,  64,  65. 
Bainbridge,  64. 
Blake,  66. 
Burdick,  66. 
Bradley,  140. 
Braden,  71,  'S.' 
Berrier,  77,,  74. 
Bouyot) 
Bonyot}75.  7&- 

Brun,  76. 
Bogart,  79. 
Bland,  104-107. 
Blunt,  (?)  105. 
Blackford,  1 13. 
Barbour,  113. 
Beecher,    114. 
Brown,  114,  142. 
Burr,  115. 
Baker,   119. 
Browne,  1 19. 
Bushnell,  128. 
Bushnell,  128. 
Blanchard,  131. 


176 


Bettesworth,  141. 
Baskin,  147,  '  S.' 
Beauchamp,  155 
Brinckerhoff,  159. 
Bogeart,  '  S.' 
Berrian,  '  S.' 
Brokaw,  'S.' 
Bingham,  '  S.' 

Clinton,  12.  18. 
Clute,  19,  47. 
Cromwell,  31. 
Coleman,  35. 
Caldwell,  37. 
Cooper,  49. 
Coffinger,  61. 
Corey,  61,  81,  82,  152. 
Campbell,  61,  62,  'S.' 
Clarke,  62. 
Catlin,  66. 
Carre,   75,  76. 
Chaigneau,  ']']. 
Childs,  81. 
Cummings,  107. 
Chase,  109. 
Coffin,  113. 
Camm,  140. 
Chapman,  141. 
Calshet,  'S.' 
Cook,  '  S.' 

Deshler,    11,   20,    21,    26, 

145- 
Dumont,  14,  40-104,110, 
118,  121,  T32,  135,  145- 

159.  'S.' 


DeMot,  16. 
Dunham,  2c. 
Dahl,  II. 
Dicken,  36,  144. 
Dryden,  38. 
Denton,  40. 
DeLaTrimble,  44. 
Detraz,  52,  56,62,  72,  73, 

75.  76,  11^  157- 
Domiin,  52. 
Dupray,  63,  '  S.' 
Drew,  72. 
Dumas,  75. 
Drommeau,  76. 
Dunsmore,  105. 
de  Blount  (?),  105. 
Dunn,  T20,  129. 
Defour,  147. 
Dumon,    )  ^    ,  c  > 

Dumond,i'54'  ^56,    S. 

Denyse,  '  S.' 
De  Peyster,  '  S.' 
Dunstar,  'S.' 
Ditmars,  '  S.' 
Davis,  '  S.' 

Everts,  18. 

Ellis,  35,  36,  108,  109. 
Etmendorf, )         .  e  , 
Elmendorf,  \  54'    ^• 
Eddy,  82. 
Eggleston,  88. 
Emerson,  '  S.' 

Flamsteed,  9,  32. 
Franklin,  27. 


177 


Fry,  33- 

Frame,  35. 

Fronnie,  2iT- 

Fox,  39. 

Foreman,  40,  159. 

Frelinghuysen,     54,     78, 

148,  251,  'S.' 
Filleul,  76. 
Ficklin,  109. 
Fifer,  127. 
Francis,  127. 
Fairbairn,  141. 
Forster,  147. 
Fairfield,  155. 
Fiske,  156. 
Felix,  '  S; 

Guest,  11-19,20-29,  36-38, 
40-43,  55,  60,  no,  121, 
129,  144,  145. 

Grinup,  35. 

Greene,  52,  62. 

Grisard,  63,  'S.' 

Gano,  64. 

Garrett,  65. 

Grant,  67,  125. 

Gordon,  119. 

Goodwin,  120. 

Garretson'  '  S.' 

Gregg,  '  S.' 

Halley,  9,  29-33,  139-  Ho, 

141,  143. 
Howe,  16,  19. 
Hamilton,  27. 


145- 


Hardman,  2S 
Howard,  34. 
Hereford,  35,  108. 
Hanie,  37. 
Hunter,  42,  136. 
Hoes,  44. 
Hendricks,  46. 
Hunt,  53. 
Hay,  57,  64. 
Hardenburg,  59. 
Haerlengen,  59. 
Henderson,  62. 
Humphrey,  65. 
Holman,    120. 
Harrison,  135. 
Hays,  142. 
Hoagland,  145,  'S 
Hegeman,  '  S.' 

Irving,  10. 

Jenkinson,  35. 
Journeay,  46. 
Jackson,   104,  106. 
Jans,  'S.' 
Johnson,  '  S.' 

Kip,  46. 
Kinkead,  109. 
Ketcham,  in. 
Killian,  142. 
King,  '  S.' 

Lossing,  10. 
Lee,  12,  13,  19. 


[78 


Livingston,  14,  15,  144. 
Lafayette,  19,  26,  34,  129. 
Laurens,  27-29. 
Little,  34,  'S; 
Lindsey,  35-37. 

LrRu\|35..4..44. 

Long,  38,  59. 

Lemmon,  42. 

Leveredge,  47. 

Loveridge,  47. 

Leverich,  47. 

LeGrange,  48. 

Low,  56,  148. 

Lowe,  56,  57,  58,  81,  148. 

Laing,  59. 

Lincoln,  62,  71,  106,  119, 

124. 
Lamb,  62,  1 15-120,  153. 
Lanman,  80,  103. 
Logan,  126. 
Looker,  129. 
Little,  'S.' 
Luther,  '  S.' 

Mariner,    )  ,„   ,0 
Marrener, )    ' 
McPike,  )i8,     19,    33-41. 
M'Pike,  (42.     107,     121- 
131,  139,  141-145.  'S.' 
Messier,  9,  45,  55,  59,  79, 

148,  155- 
Mesnagar,  24-26. 
Murray,  26. 
Macauley,  31. 


Mairan,  32. 
McDonald,  33. 
Mackenzie,  33. 
Mountain,  34,  35,  142. 
Morehouse,  36. 
Maier,  39. 
McNorton,  40. 
McNaughton,  40. 
Monteath,  41,  no. 
Moores,    53,   57,    58,   61, 

65.  I3I- 
Munsell,  53. 
Morerod,  56,  58,  63,  145, 

153- 
Merrill,  60,  66,    113,  131- 

135- 
Murphey,  61. 
Many  (?),  75,  76. 
Morrison,  96,  99. 
Morgan,  loi. 
Madison,  106. 
Meiers,   108. 
Meigs,  106. 
Mitchell,  113. 
Mills,  121-124. 
Morton,  134. 
Monfort,  136. 
Mollineaux,  143. 
Morse,  143. 
McKnight,  'S.' 
Newton,  9,  30-33,  125. 
Neilson,  15. 
Nouee,  46. 
Naylor,   60,  64,   65,   135- 

136,  147. 


179 


Nyssen,  '  S.' 

Olden,  23. 

Oothout,  51,  52,  158-159. 

Oathout,  52. 

Peck,  18,  'S.' 
Price,  32,  140,  141. 

Pike,  34, '  s; 

Penn,  40. 
Pollock,  44,  156. 
Paxton,  62,  63. 
Parlier,  n,  74.  75- 
Poore,  80. 
Parke,  81. 
Pocahontas,  105. 
Payne,  106. 
Peebles,  108. 
Pritchard,  120. 
Parker,  139. 
Phillips,  147. 
Probasco,  '  S.' 
Perlee,  '  S.' 
Polhemus,  'S.' 

Rose,  19. 

Reynolds,  23,  40,  41,  42, 

43,  60,  77,100,  III,  129, 

136-138,  145. 
Ramsey,  29. 
Ryerson,  48,  'S.' 
Rapalie,  48,  '  S.' 
Reid,  58,  62,  63,  154. 
Ralph,  67. 
Reseau, ) 
Rezeau    73,  77,  i47- 


Rapalye,  "]"]. 
Rolfe,  105. 
Ray,  129. 
Root,  130. 
Rappleyea,  155. 
Robbins,  '  S.' 
Roseboom,  '  S.' 

Silliman,  10. 

Simcoe,    10-19,     27,    iii, 

144. 
Stuart,  16,  143. 
Sullivan,  16. 
Stryker,   18,  40,  55,    155, 

156. 
Snell,   18,  19. 
Stephen,  30. 
Smith,    35,    52,    81,    108, 

124,  'S.' 
Shaw,  36. 
Shelby,  36. 
Sharpe,  43,  138. 
Schoonmaker,  44. 
Stuyvesant,  45,  46. 
Staats,  52,  53,  148,  '  S.' 
Steel,  61. 
Shipp,  61,  62. 
Stites,  64. 
Schorr,  65. 
Stratton,  66. 
Sargent,  66. 
Springsteen,  72. 
Shepherd,  1 16. 
Stevens,  131. 
Simpson,  140. 
Saffell,  144,  '  S.' 


Scales,  '  S.' 
Snediker,  '  S.' 
Stoothoff, '  S.' 
Swarthout,  '  S.' 
Smalley,  '  S.' 
Stillwell,  'S.' 
Swords,  'S.' 

Tarlton,  17. 
Tooke,  31. 
Thomason,  35,  143. 
Terbosch,  47. 
Teunissen,  48,  '  S.' 
Traverier,   (50,  53,  ^1--]^, 
Traverrier,  j  147. 
Todd,  52,  62,  63. 
Tucker,  109. 
Talbot,  III. 
Taylor,  113,  130,  144. 
Thompson,  120,  152,  154, 

's; 

Trumbull,  124. 
Trenley,  141. 
Ten  Eyck,  151,  '  S.' 
Tunison,  '  S.' 
Tenbroock,  '  S.' 

Van  Home,  15. 
Van  Vechten,  15. 
Voorhees, )  1 6- 1 8,  27,  40, 
Voorheis,  j^'  S.' 
Van  Vegten,  47,  148. 
Van    Middleswart,    )  48, 
Van    Middlesworth,  j  49, 
54-  155.  'S.' 


Vechten,  48,  '  S.' 
Vechte,  48,  'S.' 
Veghte.  48,   79,  148,  155, 

'S.' 
Van  Duyne,  48. 
Vroom,  49,   54,    78,    J  48, 

156.  's; 

Van  Haerlengen,  58,  59, 

148. 
Van  Bunscholten,  59. 
Venable,  87,  129. 
Voris,  120. 
Van  den  Berg,  145. 
Van  Ness,  152. 
Van  Cleff,  '  S.' 
Vanderbeck,  '  S.' 
VanDorn,  '  S.' 
Van  Arsdale,  '  S.' 
Vermule,  '  S.' 
Washington,   12,   27,    55, 

59.  63.  103,  152,  153. 
Whitney,  14,  72. 
Weiss,    )    o 
Weisse,h^'^45. 

Wolford,  35. 
Wilkinson,  35,  39,  143. 
White,  37,  41,  80,  134. 
Webster,  40. 
Wickam,  61. 
Whiteford,  64,  65. 
Watson,  72,  '  S.' 
Williams,  72. 
Wyckoff , ) 
Wycoff,    [79.   149- 
Wallace,  82,  96. 


Woollen,  1 03.  Williamson,  'S.' 

Wayne,  142,  144.  Whitnack,  '  S.' 

Worth,  142.  Wiley,  112. 

Webb,  143.  Wilson,  121,  128. 
Woertman,  '  S.' 

Wizzelhenning,  'S.'  Yates,  125,    130.