Johann Gottfried Hauer (John Godfrey Howard) Family Line
Coming to Middlebury, Pulling Up Roots
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by Carolyn Ann Howard
This post was updated 21 May 2022 with new information
When doing genealogy in the early years of the United States, one has to be mindful of county histories. On this posting, I'll be talking about two different places in New York, so let's sort that out first. Admittedly, I'm easily confused and bored when it comes to lots of words on a page that don't seem to be coming quickly to a point. That might be why it's my goal to explain things thoroughly and hopefully not in a boring way! But, as one of my cousins recently pointed out, it's so important to get it ferreted out, so let's look at it.
1. Grafton, Rensselaer County, New York. According to Wikipedia, Rensselaer County was carved out from Albany County in 1791. [1] The town of Grafton was formed March 20, 1807. [2] This means if you're documenting an ancestor prior to 1807, that ancestor didn't live in Grafton. And if before 1791, he/she didn't live in Rensselaer County but in Albany County. Hope this isn't confusing, because it certainly makes my head spin.
2. Dale, Wyoming County, New York. Wyoming County was carved out from 3 different counties: Genesee, Allegany, and Cattaraugus Counties in 1841. [3] What that means is that my forebear who died in 1834 in what is now Wyoming County actually died in Genesee County.
Does this sound too painstaking? Too picky? Genealogists have a sacred trust to make sure all their facts are absolutely correct to the best of their ability. Genealogists are the holders of their family's trees, and as such, it is our job and duty to be accurate.
1. Grafton, Rensselaer County, New York. According to Wikipedia, Rensselaer County was carved out from Albany County in 1791. [1] The town of Grafton was formed March 20, 1807. [2] This means if you're documenting an ancestor prior to 1807, that ancestor didn't live in Grafton. And if before 1791, he/she didn't live in Rensselaer County but in Albany County. Hope this isn't confusing, because it certainly makes my head spin.
2. Dale, Wyoming County, New York. Wyoming County was carved out from 3 different counties: Genesee, Allegany, and Cattaraugus Counties in 1841. [3] What that means is that my forebear who died in 1834 in what is now Wyoming County actually died in Genesee County.
Does this sound too painstaking? Too picky? Genealogists have a sacred trust to make sure all their facts are absolutely correct to the best of their ability. Genealogists are the holders of their family's trees, and as such, it is our job and duty to be accurate.
Several members of the Howard family made their was from Grafton, New York to Middlebury, New York in or around 1833. Middlebury would have been a bountiful area in which to settle.
Firstly, let me correct a misunderstanding. My dad always said Dale/Middlbury when he spoke of Godfrey Howard. Godfrey lived in Middlebury. Godfrey's son, Elias, and his family went to church in Dale and was quite involved in that church. The towns are only eight miles apart. Godfrey and his son, Elias, are both buried in Dale. Abraham settled in nearby Attica, New York, later making his way to Indiana.
Let's look at the patriarch and matriarch, Godfrey and Susannah's children. This is what I have so far:
1. David - no known information at this time.
2. Katrina - crickets.
Firstly, let me correct a misunderstanding. My dad always said Dale/Middlbury when he spoke of Godfrey Howard. Godfrey lived in Middlebury. Godfrey's son, Elias, and his family went to church in Dale and was quite involved in that church. The towns are only eight miles apart. Godfrey and his son, Elias, are both buried in Dale. Abraham settled in nearby Attica, New York, later making his way to Indiana.
Let's look at the patriarch and matriarch, Godfrey and Susannah's children. This is what I have so far:
1. David - no known information at this time.
2. Katrina - crickets.
3. Catherine - she married Peter Vader of Genesee County, so she made the trek with the family.
4. John - his death place is Grafton.
5. Jacob - 1860 census shows Jacob in Middlebury.
6. Peter - his death place is Brunswick, 11 miles from Grafton.
7. Betsie - Her son was born in Genesee County, so she went to Middlebury.
8. Elias - He died in Middlebury
9. Abraham - definitely came with the fam to Middlebury, although continued on to nearby Attica, later taking his family to Indiana.
So, here it is one more time, those who came from Grafton to Middlebury:
Godfrey Howard and his wife, Susannah; sons Jacob, Elias, and Abraham, along with their children, and daughters Catherine and Betsie. Click on photos to enlarge
Why did they travel to Middlebury? I have been in the dark on this since the beginning of time. Something that amazes me about genealogy is how questions that have gone unanswered for years and then finally are answered SIMPLY. I was recently reminded of how Grafton residents, at that time, were under the rule of Stephen Van Rensselaer, renting their land from him. Simply put, this so-called manor arrangement was starting to cause unrest among the tenants. By leaving when they did, the Howard family missed the Anti-Rent War. This same person also told me that Middlebury is charming. I bet it is. Hopefully one day, I'll get to visit.
So, here it is one more time, those who came from Grafton to Middlebury:
Godfrey Howard and his wife, Susannah; sons Jacob, Elias, and Abraham, along with their children, and daughters Catherine and Betsie. Click on photos to enlarge
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Why did they travel to Middlebury? I have been in the dark on this since the beginning of time. Something that amazes me about genealogy is how questions that have gone unanswered for years and then finally are answered SIMPLY. I was recently reminded of how Grafton residents, at that time, were under the rule of Stephen Van Rensselaer, renting their land from him. Simply put, this so-called manor arrangement was starting to cause unrest among the tenants. By leaving when they did, the Howard family missed the Anti-Rent War. This same person also told me that Middlebury is charming. I bet it is. Hopefully one day, I'll get to visit.
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[1] “Rensselaer County, New York.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 24 Oct. 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rensselaer_County,_New_York.
[2] Anderson, George Baker. “CHAPTER XXXIII. TOWN OF GRAFTON.” History of Grafton, New York, history.rays-place.com/ny/ren-grafton-ny.htm.
[3] “Wyoming County, New York.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 6 Nov. 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wyoming_County,_New_York#History.
[1] “Rensselaer County, New York.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 24 Oct. 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rensselaer_County,_New_York.
[2] Anderson, George Baker. “CHAPTER XXXIII. TOWN OF GRAFTON.” History of Grafton, New York, history.rays-place.com/ny/ren-grafton-ny.htm.
[3] “Wyoming County, New York.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 6 Nov. 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wyoming_County,_New_York#History.
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