Generation VII-4 Storer - Graves
The information passed on to me by Grandma Lydia about her Storer and Johnson families was enough to pique my interest in our family history. It was in the usual form of old letters, photos, tin types, an ambrotype {a positive on glass} and some pedigree charts that she had made years ago. From the letters it was clear that she had been trying to put it all together, but some things were not connecting. When I was able to start on this genealogical puzzle the references that had been published and widely circulated turned out to be misleadig as well.
What's in a name? Where did it come from? The spelling varied: Story, Storr, Storrar (Scottish), Stores, Storrs (Danish) in Teutonic means great power in the sense of authority and often times from an occupation. This is obvious in this case. Storer (Scottish) an occupational surname signifying the storer of goods, also an official title in the feudal household. In the marriage records of the first Storer in our family the name was spelled Stover, but soon became Storer on numerous land and military records.
Our Storer history, as of now, begins with Joseph Storer who emigrated from Ireland before 1744, came to Falmouth, Cumberland County, Maine; he appears, to have come alone. Other Storers had come to York County, Maine about 1629. However, I haven't found any instance where Joseph had any family connection with them as much as some have attempted to do, Grandma Lydia included. What attracted Joseph to Maine we will most likely never know. It might have been that as the available good land in the colonies had become scarce there wasn't much choise.
In my early search for family information I found a book entitled The Annals of the Storer Family by Malcolm Storer that detailed information about Storers who settled in Maine, but nowhere in this book did I find any mention of Storers living in the Portland (Falmouth), Maine until the last page, where I found the following:
This last paragraph (above) is very misleading regarding the statement about his being from Roxbury, NY. I spent a lot of time checking that out only to learn that there was no such place in 1730, it was wilderness at that time.
What attracted Joseph to Maine we will most likely never know.
It might have been that the available land in the colonies had become so
scarce that there wasn't much choise as the British took possesion of the
Northwest Territories in 1763 and discouraged settlers from coming there.
.
By occupation he was a housewright.
On Falmouth Town records of April 1763 there appears the "intentions to marry, "Stover, Jos. with Joanna Graves (married by Mr. S.) March 15, 1764.
Their children were Joanna, Esther, Elizabeth "Betsy" born in 1765 , Miriam and Joseph born in 1775.
From the Baptisms and Admissions records of The First Church in Falmouth
"April 8, 1765. Voted, 'nenemine contra dicente', to dismiss from our communion, in order to ye imbodying into a fourth Chh. in Falmouth,. . .be also dismissed for the same purpose: . . . Storer, Joseph and Joanna, c. Feb. 17 . "
Joseph appears on the Falmouth Tax list of 1766 "........Storer, Joseph 8d 6s 2d".
Joseph and Joanna bought and sold real estate several times, even though these were unsettling times for the Colonies. Parlianment had imposed duties on imported goods in 1764, passed the Currency Act prohibiting the colonies from issuing paper money. The colonies were going through a severe recession. The Stamp Act of 1765 enraged the colonists to the point that resulted in the famous protest cry of "taxation without representation".
The Quartering Act of 1765 which forced householders to billet royal troops in their homes was an additional hardship to bear. Trial by jury was denied. Civil unrest led to the Boston Tea Party in1773. These measures called the Intolerable Acts by the colonists were meant to restore order, but had the opposite effect. They resulted in the convening of the First Continental Congress. Parliament declared Massachusetts to be in rebellion in 1775. The British navy attacked and burned Falmouth in 1775, the Storers lost their home. Maine at that time was a part of Massachusetts. Organized special militia units called Minute Men were formed. The Declaration of Independence was adopted by Congress on July 4, 1776.
The attempt by Congress to negociate a peaceful settlement with the Crown, giving theColonies dominion status was rejected; Parliament declared Massachusetts to be in rebellion. The British navy attacked and burned coastal towns including Falmouth in 1775, Maine at that time was a part of Massachusetts. Organized special militia units called "Minute Men" were formed. Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence July 4, 1776.
Joseph appears as a patriot in a list of men raised to serve in the Continental Army, Col. Peter Noves' (1st Cumberland Co.) Regiment. Term of enlistment, to serve for three years. In the latter part of 1776 he enlisted as a private in Capt. Nicholas Blaisdell's Co. which joined Col. Wigglesworth's Regement in January 1777.
He next appears with the rank of corporal on Continental Army pay roll accounts of Capt. Smart's Co., Col. Smith's Regt., for service from January 6, 1777 to July 19, 1777. He doubtless took a part in the Northern New York campaign, the scene of Burgoyne's invasion, where Col.. Wigglesworth, who was succeeded by Col. Smith, had been stationed. October 1777. He died of small pox at Fishkill, NY about the time of Burgoyne's surrender, 1787.
Joanna appears on the first Federal Census (1790) with 2 children.
In 1835, when Joanna was about 89 years old , she began the paperwork
to claim land granted to widows of soldiers who died during the Revolutioary
War. Some of the records and correspondence follow.