Abner and Desire had nine known children. It was interesting to find that four of these adults never married. One religious sect that practiced celibacy was the Shakers. Their first settlement in America was established in Watervliet, New York.

Abner Adams

Born: 1 JUL 1773 in Pomfret, Windham County, Connecticut, USA

Father: Abner Adams (1735 to 1825)
Mother: Abigail Hubbard (1733 to 1816)

Spouse: Desire Ashcraft (1770 to 1844)

Married: 25 SEP 1794 in Brooklyn, Windham County, Connecticut, USA

Children:

Lucy Adams (1797 to 23 APR 1879)
Catherine Adams (16 JAN 1801 to 1868)
Albigence Adams (1802 to 1 JUL 1867)
Betsey Adams (1803 to 5 SEP 1862)
Lucretia Adams (1806 to 20 NOV 1880)
Elijah C Adams (1807 to Unknown)
Sylvia Adams (1810 to 3 JUN 1868)
Henry Adams (1812 to 25 MAR 1890)
Chester Adams (1816 to 10 OCT 1890)

Died: 27 MAR 1857 in Hartwick, Otsego County, New York, USA

Burial: Abner Adams Cemetery

Timeline:

1794 Marriage to Desire
1797 Birth of daughter, Lucy
1800 Otsego, Otsego County, New York, USA
1801 Birth of daughter, Catherine
1802 Birth of son, Albigence
1803 Birth of daughter, Betsey
1806 Birth of daughter, Lucretia
1807 Birth of son, Elijah
1810 Hartwick, Otsego County, New York, USA
1810 Birth of daughter, Sylvia
1812 Birth of son, Henry
1816 Death of mother, Abigail
1816 Birth of son, Chester
1820 Hartwick, Otsego County, New York, USA
1825 Death of father, Abner
1830 Hartwick, Otsego County, New York, USA
1835 Death of brother, Ebenezer
1837 Death of sister, Eleanor
1840 Hartwick, Otsego County, New York, USA
1844 Death of wife, Desire
1850 Hartwick, Otsego County, New York, USA
1855 Hartwick, Otsego County, New York, USA
1857 Death and Burial

Occupation: tanner (1850)

Records:

1800 to 1850 United States Federal Census Records
1855 New York State Census Record
Connecticut Town Birth Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection)
North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000
Early Connecticut Marriages
The U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current

Variations of Surname: none

Spouse:

Desire Ashcraft:

Desire was born on 7 MAR 1770 in Brooklyn, Windham County, Connecticut, USA. She died in 1844 in Hartwick, Otsego County, New York, USA.

Desire’s father was Jedediah Ashcraft. He was born on 15 JUN 1746 in Canterbury, Windham County, Connecticut, USA. He died on 6 JUL 1816 in Hartwick, Otsego County, New York, USA.

Desire’s mother was Margaret Adams. She was born on 6 JAN 1750 in Canterbury, Windham County, Connecticut, USA. She died on 27 AUG 1827 in Hartwick, Otsego County, New York, USA.

Desire had eight brothers and sisters:

Jonathan Ashcraft (1772)
Joseph Ashcraft (1774)
Polly Ashcraft (1778)
Betsey Ashcraft (1780)
Sally Ashcraft (1780)
James Ashcraft (1785)
Jared Ashcraft (1785)
Asenath Ashcraft (1790)

Did You Notice?

Margaret gave birth to two sets of twins. I discovered the following document on Ancestry.com’s Connecticut, U.S., Town Birth Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection).

It must have been very difficult to give birth to twins in the 18th Century. Without the benefit of modern medicine, any complications would have been twice as dangerous for both the mother and infants. The fact that all four children survived must have been a miracle.

Four of Abner and Desire’s Children:

As I was building this family’s profiles, I discovered that four of Abner and Desire’s adult children never got married. They were Betsey, Sylvia, Henry, and Chester.

The 1850 US census shows that all four adults were living with their widowed father, Abner Adams.

The 1860 US census shows that all four adults were living together in Hartwick, Otsego County, New York, USA.

The 1870 and 1880 US censuses show that Henry, Chester, and Lucretia were still living in Hartwick.

 

I do not know why these four individuals did not marry and have children. My first guess was that they were devout Christians and had taken oaths of celibacy.

One religious group that practices celibacy is known as the Shakers. They immigrated from England in the early 18th century. In 1774, an initial settlement was established in Watervliet, New York, USA.

Abner, Desire, and most of their adult children lived and died in Hartwick, New York, USA. This town is 86 miles west of Watervliet.

Betsey, Sylvia, Henry, and Chester may have converted to Shakerism. That would explain why they never got married.

Abner and Desire’s Daughters:

Lucy Adams:

Lucy was born in 1797 in Hartwick, Otsego County, New York, USA. She died on 23 APR 1879 in Hartwick, Otsego County, New York, USA. Lucy was buried in the Abner Adams Cemetery.

Lucy married Sylvanus Upham in 1818 in Hartwick, Otsego County, New York, USA. Three known children were born to this marriage:

Diana Upham (1820)
Alba E Upham (1822)
James Austin Upham (1823)

Sylvanus Upham was born in 1796 in Milford, Otsego County, New York, USA. He died in 1873 in Erwin, Steuben County, New York, USA. Sylvanus was buried in the Townsend Erwin Cemetery.

Sorting It All Out:

The marriage date for Lucy and Sylvanus came from a DAR chart in Ancestry.com’s North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000.

I found another document on this database entitled Upham Genealogy. The following two pages supplied me with information on Sylvanus, his wives, and his children.

 

This document shows that Sylvanus’ second marriage was to a woman named Betsey Hill. It does not include a marriage date.

I could not find Sylvanus in the 1840 or 1850 US Censuses.

The 1850 US Census shows that Lucy and her two sons were living in Brooklin, Marquette County, Wisconsin, USA. This census did not include the marital status of the individuals.

The 1860 US Census shows that Lucy was married to William Luther. They were living in Fairview, Erie County, Pennsylvania, USA. Included in this listing were four of William’s children with his first wife, Catherine Stuntz.

The 1860 US Census shows that Sylvanus was married to Elizabeth Hill. They were living in Elmira, Chemung County, New York, USA. Included in the listing was their child, Ella. She was born in 1854 in Pennsylvania.

The 1865 New York Census shows Sylvanus and Elizabeth were living in Lindsey, Steuben County, New York, USA.

The document included three points of interest under the following columns:

“In What County or State Born?”:

Elizabeth’s birthplace was listed as Rolland, Vermont, USA.

“How Many Times Married?”:

This was Sylvanus and Elizabeth’s second marriage.

“How Many Children Born to Parent?”:

The column for Sylvanus shows one child.
The column for Elizabeth shows that she gave birth to nine children.

The DAR document listed Elizabeth’s surname as Hill. I do not know if this was her maiden name or her married name. There are several women named Elizabeth or Betsey Hill on the 1850 US Census who were born in Vermont.

The 1870 US Census shows that Lucy was living with her married daughter, Diana Augur. They were living in Hartwick, Otsego County, New York, USA. The document did not include marital statuses.

The 1870 US Census shows that Sylvanus, Elizabeth, and Ella were living in Lindley, Steuben County, New York, USA.

What Does This Mean?

Lucy and Sylvanus must have separated sometime between 1823 and 1850. This would be the time period between when her youngest son was born and the enumeration of the 1850 US Census.

Lucy married William Luther before the 1860 US Census was enumerated.

I have not found marriage records for either of these second marriages. It could be that they were not officially married. I was informed by the local historian of Hartwick that many records for this time period were not kept or preserved. I will update this post if I find any new information.

William Luther was born in 1785 in Rhode Island, USA. He died in 1868 in Fairview, Erie County, Pennsylvania, USA. He was buried in the Fairview Cemetery.

William had previously married Catherine Stuntz. I could not find a marriage record. Seven known children were born to this marriage:

Catherine Luther (1833)
Stephen Luther (1834)
Lucinda Luther (1836)
Asahel Luther (1837)
Genett Luther (1839)
William Luther (1842)
Lavilla Luther (1843)

Catherine Stuntz was born in 1803 in Pennsylvania, USA. She died in 1851 in Fairview, Erie County, Pennsylvania, USA. Catherine was buried in the Fairview Cemetery.

Catherine Adams:

Catherine was born on 16 JAN 1801 in Hartwick, Otsego County, New York, USA. She died on 16 MAR 1868 in Fairview, Erie County, Pennsylvania, USA. She was buried in the Fairview Cemetery.

Catherine married Jabez Luther on 19 OCT 1820 in Rhode Island, USA. Seven known children were born to this marriage:

William T Luther (1821)
George Henry Luther (1823)
James Orson Luther (1825)
Abner A Luther (1828)
Nancy Desiree Luther (1830)
Lydia A Luther (1832)
Samuel H Luther (1835)

Jabez Luther was born on 9 JAN 1801 in South Kingstown, Washington County, Rhode Island, USA. He died in 1888 in Fairview, Erie County, Pennsylvania, USA. He was buried in the Fairview Cemetery.

The Luther Connection:

When I discovered that Catherine married Jabez Luther, I knew there must be a connection to Lucy’s second husband. From information on other family trees, I found that William was Jabez’s older brother.

There is an online book entitled “History of Erie County, Pennsylvania: containing a history of the county, its townships, towns, villages…” by Samuel P. Bates. You can read this publication on Internet Archive.

The article gives detailed information on this family. On 8 FEB 1827, Jabez and Lydia Luther moved to Erie County, Pennsylvania. This is probably how Lucy and Catherine met the Luther brothers.

Betsey Adams:

Betsey was born in 1803 in Hartwick, Otsego County, New York, USA. She died on 5 SEP 1862 in Hartwick, Otsego County, New York, USA. Betsey was buried in the Abner Adams Cemetery.

Betsey never married or gave birth to any known children.

Lucretia Adams:

Lucretia was born in 1806 in Hartwick, Otsego County, New York, USA. She died on 20 NOV 1880 in Hartwick, Otsego County, New York, USA. Lucretia was buried in the Hartwick Center Union Cemetery.

Lucretia married Willard Lee. I could find no marriage record for the state of New York.

I do not know if Lucretia and Willard had any children.

Willard Lee was born on 11 FEB 1800 in Milford, Otsego County, New York, USA. He died on 1 NOV 1865 in Laurens, Otsego County, New York, USA. Willard was buried in the Old Mount Vision Cemetery.

Willard had previously married Betsey Lane. I could find no marriage record for the state of New York.

Two known children were born to this marriage:

Morrell Lee (1828)
John Lee (1829)

Betsey Lane was born on 15 NOV 1801 in New York, USA. She died on 21 JAN 1845 in Hartwick, Otsego County, New York, USA. Betsey was also buried in the Old Mount Vision Cemetery.

Who is Ann Lee?

The 1850 US Census shows that Willard and Lucretia were living in Hartwick, Otsego County, New York, USA. Included in this entry were Willard’s two sons and a child named Ann Jaenette Lee. This document listed Ann’s age as nine years old. That would mean she was born in 1841.

The 1855 New York Census listed the child’s name as Ann J Lee.

The 1860 US Census shows that Willard and Lucretia were living in Laurens, Otsego County, New York, USA. This record listed the child’s name as Antoinette Lee.

As Betsey died in 1845, I have to assume that Ann was her child. I could find no birth record to confirm this statement.

There is an eleven-year gap in ages between John Lee and Ann Lee. It is not unheard of for a woman to give birth to a child later in life.

For now, I have listed her name as Ann J Lee. If you are a descendant of this family and know the answer to this question, please contact me. My email is dlwakenight@yahoo.com. You can also leave a message in the Comments Section of this post.

Sylvia Adams:

Sylvia was born in 1810 in Hartwick, Otsego County, New York, USA. She died on 3 JUN 1868 in Hartwick, Otsego County, New York, USA. Sylvia was buried in the Hartwick Union Center Cemetery.

Sylvia never married or gave birth to any known children.

Notes:

John Adams (1595 to 1633) was the first person with that English surname to immigrate to North America from England. In 1621, John boarded the Fortune. This was the second ship, after the Mayflower, to bring puritans to North America. In late November of that year, the Fortune arrived at Plymouth Colony. John was the progenitor of all the Adams descendants listed in these posts.

Creating Your Family Tree

Interested in building a great family tree? Remember these important steps:

Look in your photo albums. You may have old pictures that your parents or grandparents gave you. Or, ask them for copies of photos that they have in their possession. Many people will write names and dates on the backs of photographs. Letters, diaries, and family bibles are also excellent sources for births, marriages, and deaths.

Talk to your older relatives to find out about your ancestry. They may relate stories about an ancestor that you can add to your family tree. Family history is usually not found in newspapers. It is more of a verbal memory that is passed down from generation to generation.

Find the right family tree builder that suits your needs. You can choose one that has a paid subscription like Ancestry.com. There are also free sites like FamilySearch.org.

When you start building your family tree, add documentation to your ancestor’s profile. The records can include birth, marriage, death, census, military, city, and county directory listings. Any information that you can find will help create a life story about your ancestor.

If you have a unique surname, like Wakenight, you may find databases on the internet that are useful in your search. I use SurnameDB.com for my English surnames. There are many others on the internet for other countries like Ireland, Italy, and Germany.

Genealogy is the study of a person’s “line of descent.” As you create your family tree, you would typically start with one individual and go “back into time.” You would add their parents, grandparents, and so on.  There are also family trees that go “forward into time.”  Many of these family trees start with a famous person, such as a president or royalty, and move forward into the present time.  The purpose of this type of pedigree is to establish a person’s bloodline with that famous person.

There is no limit on how big your family tree can grow. The blank canvas is there for you to use. Cherish your family history, and it will be there for generations to come!