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But what of this CAPELS line--my grandfather? Lester Henry CAPELS was born in Syracuse, as were his parents. His mother's parents were from Ireland--or at least Catherine RYAN was; Roger CARROLL's birthplace is not yet known. Lester's father's lineage is traced to Oswego and Herkimer Counties of New York State through the early 1800s. Where from there is not entirely certain. William, and his wife Lucy Jane LOWER, originated in or near the town of Columbia, Herkimer County (though the 1865 census for the Town of Hastings, Oswego County notes that she was born in Madison County, NY). They were married in the Town of Hastings, Oswego County, New York in 1834. It appears they may have traveled back to Herkimer County for a time, as census records show that most of her children were born in Herkimer County. Travel back and forth was quite likely made in boats over the Oswego Canal, which connected to the Erie Canal in downtown Syracuse and contined on to the Mohawk Valley. The Erie Canal opened in 1825, with numerous side canals completed by 1836, and was a driving force in the growth of industry, jobs, and people in the region. They moved to West Monre, Oswego County around 1850, just before, while, or soon after Lucy was pregnant with Lovina. About one year after they moved to Mallory, New York, Lucy's husband, William Caples, abandoned her and their family in 1861. What prompted the moves to Hastings and Mallory from Herkimer County? Work opportunity? Family? The building of the Oswego Canal? William evidently had brothers and other family members still living in Herkimer County, as he was reported to have visited his brother in Columbia after abandoning his family in 1861. He would have been over 50 years old by that time and the Civil War had officially begun in April of that year. Other Caples living in Herkimer County around that time include Isaac Caples, Ira Caples, Anson Caples, and John Caples--not particularly Irish names, again, pointing to Germanic origins. Were these his brothers? Was Anson, who fought in the War of 1812, his father? Circumstantial evidence is suggesting that Anson Caples may have been our William's father, though no evidence has been found yet showing that Anson had a son named William (though a son named Wilhemus is listed among another researcher's findings; is this the same?). Anson and his known relations are included in this report knowing that the link to us is not yet certain, but with the strong suspicion that it is largely correct. The name CAPLES, CAPLE, KAPLE, CABLE, CAPES, CAPEL and other variations show up in various Herkimer County records. It's entirely conceivable that some of these people are, in fact, our relations. Back in Oswego County, the FIDLER family played an integral role in Caples family relations. Other names appear whose relationship are not yet fully understood, such as ALSEVER, RILL, and SMITH. Were the CABLEs of Oswego County affiliated with our CAPLES? It appears that before Roger CARROLL (above) moved to Onondaga County, he and his parents and siblings first settled in West Mallory, where some CARROLLs may still remain. In Herkimer and Montgomery Counties, the names GETMAN and ORENDORF beckon for further investigation. This is where I my research has brought me to date and where my next investigations will be focused. Lester wasn't the first to abandon a wife and children in the Capels/Caples line. As noted above, William Caples (born about 1807) abandoned his wife Lucy Jane and their children in 1861, just before the Civil War broke out. Their youngest son, Leroy, was 8 years old. Their other son, Lester (my ancestor), had already moved way and had a family of his own. Abandonment took a different form for their other son, Loren Caples, who was listed as a deserter from the Civil War, despite having been shot in the leg at the battle of Gettysburg. Hardship can build character or weaken it. But that is not a hard and fast line. A person's character can be strengthened by one form of hardship and diminished in another--and vice versa--and back again. It is safe to say that many in our line were shaped in one way or the other by those experiences. Those that were weakened, such as some that returned from World War I forever changed and unable to find their way, should not be diminished in our memory. I have tried to be diligent in recording the sources of my information so that it can be judged by myself and others as to its reliability. Just because a record exists does not mean it was recorded accurately, whether by the scribe or the original provider. But such records are helpful in providing us with clues that could help verify our assumptions or point us in new directions. This document is only as complete and accurate as the information available up to this moment. No doubt it will continue to evolve over time, as it should. Information to share? Please contact me at [email protected]. WorldConnect Descendant Register Report for Anson Caples Descendant Outline for Anson Caples WorldConnect Data for Roger E. Carroll WorldConnect Descendant Register Report for Roger E. Carroll Descendant Outline for Roger E. Carroll Pedigree Chart for Lester Henry Capels Descendant Outline for Lester Henry Capels Includes notices and articles for CAPELS, CAPLE, CAPLES, CARROLL, REARDON, SCHUH, SMITH, SPIES, STOLUSKY, TREPASSO Pension Records Civil War Pension Record of Herman Caples U.S. Civil War Pension File No. 375 855, Herman Caples, Herkimer County, New York, Company E, 102 New York Volunteers, and Company "L", 2nd N.Y. Calvary/Heavy Artillery. These documents--so far--show that Herman Caples, a Civil War veteran who was wounded at Yorktown, PA, and Petersburg, VA, and his brother, Walter, sought to increase his pension benefits in later life as his disabilities increased. The records document the difficulty he encountered from the fact that, because he could not read nor write, his name was misspelled on various official documents. They also show that, apparently due to his paralysis, deafness, muteness, and post-war "slowness", he was declared to be insane--a label that several disputed on his behalf. He lived out the rest of his life at his brother, Walter's, in Redwood, Jefferson County, New York. This is not a complete representation of all the documents in the file. The records are still being transcribed; more will be posted when the transciption and summations are complete. Civil War Pension Record of Homer Caples U.S. Civil War Pension File No. 1.094.803, Homer Caples, Herkimer County, New York, Company "F", 152nd N.Y. Infantry. The few records in this file document part of 47-year old Homer's failed effort to obtain a pension on account of his dishonorable discharge for desertion from the service less than one month after he enlisted. The file does not contain the records he would have submitted when applying for an honorable discharge, which might have offered some explanation for his absences "sick" from the rolls. Civil War Pension Record of Lomenzo Caples U.S. Civil War Pension File No. 1 159 204 , Lomenzo Caples, Oswego County, New York, Company A, 16th Regiment, New York Heavy Artillery. Though he enlisted while in West Monroe, Oswego County, New York, he lived out the rest of his life in Syracuse, New York. This a near complete transcription of all the documents in this file, which show Lomenzo's efforts to obtain a pension many years after his service and, after his death, his widow Hannah M. Caples' efforts to receive his pension benefits. Other surnames include MARKS, MANWARING, POWERS, and FORT. Civil War Pension Record of Loren Caples U.S. Civil War Pension File, Loren Caples, West Monroe, New York, Company "H", 147th Infantry Regiment N.Y. Volunteers, Dependent Mother's Claim, No. 270,990, for Lucy Jane Caples Carpenter. This is a best-effort transcription of the dozens of documents contained in Pension File 270,990 obtained through the National Archives. It provides a rich glimpse into the life of Loren's mother, Lucy Jane Lower Capels Carpenter, and those around her in the course of her unsuccessful efforts to obtain pension benefits after Loren's death in 1876 at age 36. The records tell parts of a sad story that includes abandonment, poverty, dishonor, awkward family relations, and disputable facts. Other surnames strongly represented include: FIDLER, LOWER, CARPENTER, and OSTRANDER. Revolutionary War Pension Record of John Kaple Revolutionary War Pension File, S-13593, John Kaple, Decatur, New York. This is a work-in-progress posting and transcription of documents contained in Pension File S-13593 obtained through the National Archives. Other surnames represented include: LANSING, LATHROP, LEWIS, CANDLER. Other Pension Records soon to be posted:
This page is a work in progress and brings together a number of census images Onondaga, Oswego, and Herkimer Counties, as well as other places. They are a remarkable resource to glimpse into the households of our ancestors.
New York State Genealogy Resources
Posted May 2003 Updated April 21, 2012 |