Amy Johnson Crow suggested a weekly blog theme of "52 Ancestors" in her blog post Challenge: 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks on the No Story Too Small blog. I am extending this theme in 2015 to 104 Ancestors in 104 Weeks. Here is my ancestor biography for week #90:
Amos Underhill (1772-1865) is #110 on my Ahnentafel list, my 4th great-grandfather, who married #111 Mary "Polly" Metcalf (1780-1855) in 1801.
I am descended through:
* their daughter, #55 Mary Ann Underhill (1815-1883) who married #54 Samuel Vaux (1816-1880) in 1839.
* their daughter, #27 Abigail A. Vaux (1844-1931), who married #26 Devier James Lamphear Smith (1839-1894) in 1861.* their daughter #13 Abbie Ardell "Della" Smith (1862-1944), who married #12 Henry Austin Carringer (1853-1946), in 1887.
* their son, #6 Lyle Lawrence Carringer (1891-1976), who married #7 Emily Kemp Auble (1899-1977) in 1918.
* their daughter, #3 Betty Virginia Carringer (1919-2002), who married #2 Frederick Walton Seaver (1911-1983) in 1942.
* their son, #1 Randall J. Seaver (1943-....)
=====================================================
1) PERSON (with source citations as indicated in brackets):
* Name: Amos Underhill[1–16]
* Sex: Male
* Father: Sgt. John Underhill (1745-1816)
* Mother: Hannah Colby (1745- )
2) INDIVIDUAL FACTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):
* Birth: 15 April 1772, Chester, Rockingham, New Hampshire, United States[1-2]
* Census: 1 June 1810 (age 38), Piermont, Grafton, New Hampshire, United States[4]
* Military Service: 1813 (about age 41), Warren's Company, 48th Regiment, New York Militia; Aurora, Erie, New York, United States[5]
* Deed: 7 March 1827 (age 54), bought 1 acre and 31 rods of land in Lot 12 in Aurora township; Aurora, Erie, New York, United States[6]
* Census: 1 June 1830 (age 58), Aurora, Erie, New York, United States[7]
* Deed: 18 December 1834 (age 62), Bought 75 acres of land in Aurora town, Erie county in southeast part of Lot Number 21 from Holland Land Company agents; Aurora, Erie, New York, United States[8]
* Deed: 19 February 1836 (age 63), sold 1 acre and 31 rods of land in Lot 12 in Aurora township to Lorin Philips ; Erie, New York, United States[9]
* Census: 1 June 1840 (age 68), Aurora, Erie, New York, United States[10]
* Census: 1 June 1850 (age 78), Aurora, Erie, New York, United States[11]
* Census: 1 June 1855 (age 83), Aurora, Erie, New York, United States[12]
* Deed: 10 April 1856 (age 83), Aurora, Erie, New York, United States[13]
* Deed: 3 April 1860 (age 87), sold 75 acres of land in Aurora town, Erie county in southeast part of Lot Number 21 to Delos Underhill ; Aurora, Erie, New York, United States[14]
* Census: 1 June 1860 (age 88), Aurora, Erie, New York, United States[15]
* Death: 15 October 1865 (age 93), Aurora, Erie, New York, United States[1-2]
* Burial: after 15 October 1865 (after age 93), East Aurora Cemetery (Section 7), East Aurora, Erie, New York, United States[16]
3) SHARED FACTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):
* Spouse 1: Mary "Polly" Metcalf (1780-1855)
* Marriage: 25 March 1801 (age 28), Piermont, Grafton, New Hampshire, United States[1-3]
* Child 1: Cyrus Metcalf Underhill (1804-1841)
* Child 2: Rev. James Pierce Underhill (1809-1884)
* Child 3: Almeda Underhill (1813-1859)
* Child 4: Mary Ann Underhill (1815-1883)
* Child 5: Frederick Underhill (1820-1830)
4) NOTES (with source citations as indicated in brackets):
Two books provided most of the information in this sketch:
W. Bronson Taylor, "Amos Underhill, 1832-1914)," published by the author, Middle Grove, New York in 1968.
Josephine C. Frost, editor, "Underhill Genealogy", Volume IV, published privately by Myron C. Taylor, in the interests of the Underhill Society of America, 1932.
No records of the birth of Amos Underhill on 15 April 1772 in Chester, New Hampshire have been found in New Hampshire or Vermont. The date was obtained from the Underhill surname books[1-2], and may have been quoted from family papers provided to the author of the book.
The 1850, 1855 and 1860 census records have ages that imply a birth year of 1774 or 1775.
At age 7, he was bound out to learn a trade, but ran away. B.H. Underhill of Bellows Falls, Vermont states that a great many families from Candia, Auburn and Chester settled in Piermont, and from there easily located in Vermont[1-2].
He was married to Mary (or Polly) Metcalf in Piermont, Grafton, New Hampshire on 25 March 1801 by Thomas Russell, Jr., Justice of the Peace. The Piermont town record says[3]:
"March 20th, 1801, Mr. Amos Underhill & Polly Medcalf both of Piermont, were joined in Marriage this day by me, Thomas Russell Justice Peace"
In the 1810 United States census, the Amos Underhill household was enumerated in Piermont, Grafton county, New Hampshire[4]. The record includes:
* two males under age 10 (probably sons Cyrus and James)
* one male aged 26 to 45 (certainly Amos)
* one female aged 26 to 45 (certainly wife Polly)
Amos and Polly Underhill had five children in the years between 1804 and 1820, of whom four lived to adulthood, married and had children.
In 1811, the family resided in Haverhill, Grafton County, NH. They left in a sledge or pung drawn by oxen and settled in Aurora, Niagara County, New York in 1811. The homestead was first near the end of present-day Underhill Road, and later was on Underhill Road[1-2].
Amos Underhill served in the War of 1812 as a Private under Captain James J. Stevens in Colonel Warren's Company of the 48th Regiment of the New York Militia[5].
When the British crossed the Niagara River in December 1813, the Militia was called out. Every free man was a member of the Militia, and each took his rifle and powder, horn and bullet pouch, and a blanket if they had one, and rushed to Buffalo[1].
After Amos left, Mary carefully hid her dishes in the well. She checked the load in her own rifle. By nightfall she had the oxen yoked to the long sledge or pung. They were backed into the lean-to on the side of the cabin and tied with feed before them. She filled the box of the sledge with hay and put her sons to sleep in it. Through the long cold night she watched and waited with her rifle within reach. She could hear the roar of the cannon and see the glow of fire against the sky. In the first gray glimmer of dawn, she saw a man coming on the road. He turned out to be a neighbor who told her that the town had been captured and burned, and that her husband had probably been captured or killed. She knew the man was more excitable than reliable, so she waited longer. Soon an Indian appeared, who told her the British had captured the town and burned all but seven houses, but they had retreated beyond the Niagara River. He said her husband would be home before nightfall[1].
During the summer of 1814 the Militia was again called out to repel another invasion. The British were beaten back across the river and Fort Erie was captured by the Americans. Amos was again called into Stevens Company of the 48th Regiment of the New York Militia. While aboard a boat ferrying a barge load of hay to Fort Erie to feed the horses in the fort, the British guns opened up on the barge. The boat began to sink, but the men stuffed hay in the shot holes. The barge drifted ashore on the Canadian side, and the men aboard were all captured, including Amos Underhill. He was soon exchanged and returned home[1].
Amos Underhill bought land from John and Eunice Treat in Aurora township for $312.50. The land was one acre and 31 rods in lot 12. The deed was written on 7 March 1827 and recorded on 13 February 1833[6].
In the 1830 United States census, the Ams Underhill household was enumerated in Aurora, Erie county, New York[7]. The household included:
* two males aged 20 to 30 (probably sons Cyrus and James Underhill)
* one male aged 50 to 60 (certainly Amos Underhill)
* two females aged 15 to 20 (probably Almeda and Mary Ann Underhill)
* one female aged 40 to 50 (certainly wife Polly Underhill)
On 18 December 1834, Amos Underhill bought 75 acres of land in Aurora town, Erie county in southeast part of Lot Number 21 from Holland Land Company agents for $158.75[8].
On 19 February 1836 Amos and Mary Underhill sold 1 acre and 31 rods of land in Lot 12 in Aurora township to Lorin Philips for $450[9].
In the 1840 United States census, the Amos Underhill household was enumerated in Aurora, Erie County, New York[10]. The household included:
* one male aged 20 to 29
* one male aged 60 to 69 (certainly Amos Underhill)
* one female under age 5
* one female aged 10 to 15
* two females aged 20 to 30 (perhaps Almeda and Mary Ann Underhill)
* one female aged 50 to 60 (certainly Polly Underhill)
In the 1850 United States census, the Amos Underhill household was enumerated in Aurora, Erie County, New York[11]. The household included:
* Amos Underhill - age 75, a farmer, real estate valued $1,300, born in Massachusetts
* Mary Underhill- age 69, born in New Hampshire.
* Deloss Underhill - age 17, a farmer, born in New York, attends school
* Don Carlos Underhill - age 14, born in New York, attends school.
Deloss and Don Carlos are sons of Cyrus Metcalf Underhill, who was deceased.
In the 1855 New York State Census, Amos Underhill was enumerated in Aurora, Erie County, New York[12]. The household included:
* Amos Underhill - age 80, male, born in New Hampshire, married, lived in town 43 years, no occupation, a native voter, owns land
* Mary Underhill - age 74, female, wife, born in New Hampshire, married, lived in town 43 years
* Delos Underhill - age 21, male, grandson, born Erie County, married, lived in town 21 years, a native voter
* James Underhill - age 23, male, grandson, born Madison County, married, lived in town 11 years
* Casper Archer - age 16, male, servant, born in Germany, lived in town 6/12 years, a laborer, an alien
On 19 April 1856, Amos Underhill sold land, the east part of Lot 21 in Aurora, Erie County, New York to Deloss Underhill for $500[13].
On 3 April 1860, Amos Underhill sold 65 acres of land in Aurora town, Erie county in the southeast part of Lot Number 21 to Delos Underhill for $700[14].
In the 1860 United States Census, Delos Underhill was head of the household in Aurora, Erie County, New York[15]. The household included:
* Delos Underhill - age 26, male, born in New York
* Laura Underhill - age 23, female, born in New York
* Eva Underhill - age 4, female, born in New York
* Amos Underhill - age 84, male, born in New York.
The Underhill genealogy books provide the death date of Amos Underhill as 15 October 1965[1-2]. This date may have been provided by a family record or correspondence with a family member.
Amos Underhill died 15 October 1865 at age 93 years and six months, and is buried in Section 7 of the East Aurora Cemetery at East Aurora, Erie, New York[16]. The inscription says:
Amos Underhill
Birth: 1774
Death: 1867
Stevens Co. 48th Reg. N.Y.M.
War of 1812
5) SOURCES
1. Josephine C Frost, Underhill Genealogy, Volume 4 (N.p.: Myron C. Taylor, in the interests of the Underhill Society of America, 1932).
2. W. Bronson Taylor, Amos Underhill, 1832-1914 ( Middle Grove, N.Y. : the author, 1968).
3. “New Hampshire Marriage Records, 1637 to 1947,” indexed database, FamilySearch (http://www.FamilySearch.org : 2009), Piermont, Amos Underhill and Polly Medcalf entry; citing “Marriage Records.” New Hampshire Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics, Concord. FHL microfilm.
4. 1810 United States Federal Census, Grafton County, New Hampshire, Piermont Township: Page 366, Amos Underhill household; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com), citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M292, Roll 23.
5. "U.S., War of 1812 Service Records, 1812-1815," indexed database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com), New York Militia, Amos Underhill entry; citing National Archives Micoriflm Publication M602, Roll 213.
6. "New York, Land Records, 1630-1975," Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 31 January 2013), digital image, "Erie County, Deeds, 1832-1833, Vol. 20-21," Volume 20, Page 240, John Treat to Amos Underhill.
7. 1830 United States Federal Census, Population Schedule, Erie County, New York, Aurora Township: Page 171, Amos Underhill household; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com), citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M19, Roll 114.
8. "New York, Land Records, 1630-1975," FamilySearch, Erie County, Volume 19, Page 434, Holland Land Company to Amos Underhill.
9. "New York, Land Records, 1630-1975," FamilySearch, "Erie County, N.Y. Deeds, 1836, Volume 36-37," Volume 36, Page 175 (image 91), Amos Underhill to Loren Phillips, 19 February 1836.
10. 1840 United States Federal Census, Erie County, New York, Aurora Township: Page 243, Amos Underhill household; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com), citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M704, Roll 280.
11. 1850 United States Federal Census, Erie County, New York, Aurora Township: Page 102B (stamped), Dwelling #1581, Family #1587, Amos Underhill household; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com), citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, Roll 498.
12. New York, Erie County Census 1855, 1865, 1875, Aurora town: Page 52 (penned), Amos Underhill household; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com), citing original data at Hamburg [N.Y.] Historical Society.
13. "New York, Land Records, 1630-1975," FamilySearch, "Erie County, Deeds, 1858-1868, Vol. 196-197," Volume 196, Page 459-460, Amos Underhill to Deloss Underhill, images 234/235 of 516.
14. "New York, Land Records, 1630-1975," FamilySearch, "Erie County, N.Y. Deeds, 1857-1864, Volume s 206-207," Volume 207, Page 62 (image 348), Amos Underhill to Delos Underhill, 3 April 1860.
15. 1860 United States Federal Census, Population Schedule, Erie County, New York, Aurora Township: Page 463, Dwelling #636, Family #626, Delos Underhill household; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com), citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M653, Roll 752.
16. Jim Tipton, indexed database, Find A Grave (http://www.findagrave.com), East Aurora Cemetery (Aurora, N.Y.), Amos Underhill memorial # 35882219.
==================================
The URL for this post is: http://www.geneamusings.com/2015/09/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks-week-90-110.html
Copyright (c) 2015, Randall J. Seaver
Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post. Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.