Electa Williams Oneida County, New York WILL

 

Source Citation 

Will Books, 1798-1900 With Index, 1798-1909; Author: New York. Surrogate's Court (Oneida County); Probate Place: Oneida, New York Image 557 of 597, Ancestry.com accessed 7 April 2021

Who is Electa Williams? A DNA match necessitated the following search. My search began by writing down all I could find on Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org, MyHeritage.com and basic browsers. The name and location of New England states produced too many results. And the name Lecta Williams added even more to the list. In an attempt to narrow the prospects, I resorted to public trees. Many of the public trees offered only one source, the source in the photograph above. This source would be great place to start.

 What did I find; the source is a digital image of an index page. How do I find the original document? I proceeded back to the beginning by checking the genealogy sites. My search was for the will in volume 53 on page 378 of the New York Surrogate Court. During my online search of American Ancestors.org (NEHGS), Melanie and James, live chat volunteers, offered several suggestions. One of their excellent suggestions was to contact the Oneida County Surrogate Court. After the online searches did not provide a digital image, I did call the Oneida County Surrogate Court. Within three business days, the digital image was in my email box.

 The following abstract is from the New York Surrogate Court, volume 53, pages 378 and 379:

In the Name of God, Amen. I Lecta Williams of the town of Trenton, County of Oneida and State of New York,…

First, after all my lawful debts are paid and discharged, I give and bequeath to my sister-in-law Mrs. Caroline Williams of Holland Patent, NY. All of my right, title and interest in and to the house and last owned by said Caroline Williams and myself … All real and personal property were willed to Caroline. And Mrs. Caroline Williams was to be appointed executrix of the estate. The will was signed on 30 December 1901; the witnesses were Philip M Egert and E Willard Jones. The will was probated 7 April 1902.

 Further research revealed:

The 1892 New York state census reads that Electa was living with her brother John and his wife Caroline.

The 1900 federal census reads that Electa, single, lives with Caroline Williams, widow, in Trenton, Oneida County, New York.

A minimal search revealed that John P Williams, 1822-1895, married Caroline Thayer 1825-1902. Electa was John’s younger sister; born July 1823 in Herkimer County, New York. Lecta died in Trenton, Oneida County, New York, in 1902.

Please check out my Roots_Digger (Under Construction, Help!) tree on Ancestory.com to follow my research.

My connection: currently NONE, still searching for our DNA connection!!!

Thank you American Ancestor’s, Melanie and James, live chat volunteers, for your assistance and suggestion to contact the Oneida County Surrogate Court.

Thank You, Colleen A. Wilson, Sr. Court Office Assistant, New York Oneida County Surrogate’s Court for your professionalism on the telephone, your efficient and prompt response in providing the digital images.

Comments, please contact me at sbgenealogy@gmail.com. Thank you!!!

Mrs. Esther Dunham, wife of Lindsey Dunham - who is she?

Mrs. Esther Dunham, wife of Lindsey William Dunham (1820-1899), who is she or who are they? The census records reveal a female named Esther living with the family from 1850 to 1900. As with all research, more questions than answers.

Lindsey William Dunham was born in Vermont and died in Wisconsin. He lived an interesting and exciting life during his 78 year span. Many interesting tales could be written about Lindsey such as his working with Jane A Dunham in Rome, New York, possibly as a tailor. But, this article is about who are the two Esther's?

In 1844, Norman Baldwin and his wife Louisa and Moses Baldwin sold land in Rome, Oneida County, New York to Esther Ann Dunham and her husband, Lindsey. At that time, all the people involved lived in Verona, New York. In 1850, Norman, Esther and Lindsey live in the same house in Manitowoc Rapids, Manitowoc, Wisconsin.  The Manitowoc Herald newspaper provides a notice for non payment of others debts by Lindsey. The paper is dated 1856. The notice states that father-in-law, Norman Baldwin and Esther A, his wife, have left the home. Lindsey files for divorce in 1858. I am unable to find Esther Baldwin in the 1860 census. According to the divorce court records, she went to Iowa with her father. In the 1870 census, Esther Baldwin is living in Honey Creek, Iowa County, Iowa with Moses Baldwin, her brother. Norman, her father, was buried in Koszta, Iowa County, Iowa, in 1859. The Find-A-Grave memorial offers information on the rest of Norman's family. This information includes Esther Ann Baldwin's death in 1878. At this time, I am unable to verify her death or burial.

Who is Esther James? The census offers either New York or Vermont in 1834 as possible birth locations. In 1850, she was living with Samuel and Rebecca James in Port Washington, Washington County, Wisconsin. In 1860, Esther is living with Lindsey and Jay Dunham in Howard, Brown County, Wisconsin. The 1870 census lists Esther Dunham with Lindsey, Jay and Rebecca James. A note on the census page states that Rebecca is living with her daughter. The 1880 census offers only Lindsey and Esther with a wide age difference. In the 1900 census, Esther is living with Jay, listed as his mother. This is where the confusion starts. She is widowed and married 49 years, the calculations would state she was married in 1851. Also, stated that Esther had three children with one living. To me, this sounds like she was previously married. To whom? When? Where? I am not able to find another records on her.

Compare the two Esther's in Lindsey Dunham's life:
Esther Baldwin was born about 1826 in New York to Norman and Louisa Baldwin
Esther James was born in 1834 in either New York or Vermont to Samuel and Rebecca James

Esther Baldwin married Lindsey about 1844 in Verona, New York. Hopefully will find church records to verify this marriage.
Esther James lived in home in 1860. Married about 1860? Unable to find records. Was she previously married?

Esther Baldwin died 1878.
Esther James died 1901.

For more of my research, view my tree, Roots_Digger family tree, on Ancestry.com.

Jane Angeline DUNHAM (1823-1906)

 

Attempting to verify Jane A DUNHAM COUCH birth and parents always brings more questions than answers! 

Name:	Jane Angeline DUNHAM
Sex:	Female
Individual Facts
Birth	26 Nov 1823	Rome, Oneida County, New York, United States
Land	bet 1849 and 1856 (between about age 26 and about 33)	Verona, Oneida County, New York, United States
Census-wife	1850 (about age 27)	Elisha Tomkins COUCH; , Oneida County, New York, United States
Census-wife	1855 (about age 32)	Elisha Tomkins COUCH; Verona, Oneida County, New York, United States
Census-wife	1860 (about age 37)	Elisha Tomkins COUCH; Brookfield Township, Lasalle County, Illinois, United States
Census-wife	1870 (about age 47)	Elisha Tomkins COUCH; Crotty, LaSalle County, Illinois, United States
Census-wife	1880 (about age 57)	Elisha Tomkins COUCH; Crotty, LaSalle County, Illinois, United States
Residence	1896–1899 (about age 73–about 76)	230 Locust, Kankakee, Kankakee County, Illinois, United States
Obituary-wife	1896 (about age 73)	Elisha Tomkins COUCH
Census	1900 (about age 77)	Crotty, LaSalle County, Illinois, United States
Misc	27 May 1905 (age 81)	Eugene's birthday; Seneca, LaSalle County, Illinois, United States
Illness	Apr 1906 (about age 82)	Kankakee, Kankakee County, Illinois, United States
Death	27 Apr 1906 (age 82)	Seneca, LaSalle County, Illinois, United States
Burial	29 Apr 1906 (age 82)	Mt. Hope Cemetery, Seneca, LaSalle County, Illinois, United States
Obituary	4 May 1906 (age 82)
Death-mother	10 Mar 1925 (age 101)	Eugene Deloss COUCH; Cerebral Hemorrhage; home, Seneca, LaSalle County, Illinois, United States
Alt. Name		Jane A. HICKOCK
Alt. Name		Jane Angeline COUCH
Marriages/Children
1. Elisha Tomkins COUCH (1820-1896)
Marriage	24 Dec 1846 (age 23)	, Oneida County, New York, United States
Children	Harriet S. COUCH (1848-1848)
	Lewis Augustus COUCH (1849-1937)
	Eugene Deloss COUCH (1851-1925)
	Charles COUCH (1855-1857)
	Carrie S. COUCH (1856-1927)
	George H. COUCH (1859-1928)