NORTHERN NEW YORK
Genealogical and family history of northern New York: a record of the achievements of her people
in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a nation.
New York: Lewis Historical Pub. Co. 1910.



SOMERS/SUMMERS



Transcribed by Coralynn Brown



The European origin of this family has not been discovered, but there can be little doubt that it is of English origin. The name is found frequently in English annals, one of its most noted representatives being Sir George Summers, of the English colony of the Bermuda Islands, who was an ancestor of Lady Henry Somerset, universally known on two continents for her philanthropic interest in humanity. The name appears on the records of Stratford, Connecticut, where it is first found in this country as Summers. It has born its proportional part in every worthy endeavor in this country and is now well and favorably known in northern New York.

(I) Henry Summers, born about 1630-40, was in Stratford, Conn. as early as 1666, and bought land there March 27, 1668. He seems to have been in company with his brother-in-law, Samuel Gregory, and settled in Pequonnock, on the west side of Pequonnock river, probably on what is now (1910) Division street, Bridgeport. He was in Milford in 1710, when he deeded land to his son, John, of Stratford. His tombstone is in Bridgeport, and his will, dated Sept. 1, 1713, was filed at New Haven, June 17, 1717.
After the death of his first wife, Sarah, he married (second) Widow Mary Wheeler.
Children:
Samuel (mentioned below), Henry, John, Sarah, Hannah, Mary, Abigail, Patience, Martha and Joseph.
All were born in Stratford except the last, who was born in Milford, thus indicating that Henry Summers lived in the latter town before 1700.

(II) Sergeant Samuel, eldest child of Henry and Sarah Summers, was born 1669 in Stratford, died there May 4, 1728 and was buried in the old Pequonnock burying ground, his tombstone being the oldest there. On this the name is spelled Summers.
He had wife, Abigail, and children:
Samuel and Abigail (twins), born 1700.
David, baptized Feb. 8, 1702.
Nathan, Feb. 14, 1703.
Abigial, Oct. 21, 1704.
Deborah, March 13, 1709.
Sarah, Dec. 23, 1711.
Hannah, June 2, 1717.
Ruth, June 27, 1719.
Jabez.
The first Abigail died in infancy.

(III) Samuel (2), Somers, eldest child of Samuel (1) and Abigail Summers, baptized June 30, 1700, in Stratford, died in Newtown, same colony, where he spent most of his active life. He was commissioned ensign of the second Newtown company of militia in 1742. His wife's baptismal name was Rebecca, and they had children:
Samuel, born Feb. 8, 1724.
Robert, March 10, 1725.
Eleanor, July 22, 1726.
Ebenezer, Aug. 21, 1727.
Henry, mentioned below.
Gershom, Oct. 8, 1730.
Benjamin, Jan. 8, 1734.
Rebecca, Nov. 4, 1735.
Luke, Feb. 1, 1737.
Jerusha, died young.
Jerusha, Feb. 27, 1740.
Mark, Sept. 6, 1741.
John, Sept. 10, 1743.

(IV) Henry, fourth son of Samuel (2) and Rebecca Somers, was born July 5, 1729, in Newtown, and made his home in that town. He married, Nov. 7, 1755, Sarah, daughter of Joseph Booth, of Stratford.
Children:
Rebecca, born Feb. 29, 1757.
Lyman, Jan. 17, 1758.
Isaac, mentioned below.
Mary, Feb. 22, 1765.
Elijah, May 20, 1769.

(V) Isaac, second son of Henry and Sarah (Booth) Somers, was born Dec. 13, 1762, in Newtown, and resided in Fenner, Madison county, New York, where he settled.
He married Ellen Griffin.
Children:
Sarah, Betsey, Samuel (mentioned below), Abby, Isaac, Booth, John and Rebecca.

(VI) Samuel (3), eldest son of Isaac and Ellen (Griffin) Somers, was born Aug. 12, 1787, in Fenner, died April 29, 1860, in Sherburne, N.Y., where he settled and engaged in farming.
He married Betsey A. Beers, born 1795, died 1837, at Sherburne.
Children:
Charles Grandison, born Dec. 2, 1820.
Ellen W., June 5, 1822, died at seventeen.
Elbert M., mentioned below.
John B., April 21, 1832, died Aug. 7, 1905, in Deansboro, N.Y., where he was engaged in farming.

(VII) Elbert Mortimer, second son of Samuel (3) and Betsey A. (Beers) Somers, was born Oct. 22, 1826, in Sherburne, died Nov. 10, 1904, in Deansboro, Oneida county, N.Y., where he was for more than forty years the beloved physician, citizen and friend. He was reared in his native place, and was early accustomed to the labors of the parental farm. His mother died when he was twelve years old, and he was accustomed to take employment with neighbors and grew up among good associations. At the age of eighteen years he began teaching in the common schools, and was later elected superintendent of schools.
About 1850 he began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. E. S. Lyman, of Sherburne, at which time he was assistant postmaster. After attending three courses of lectures at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York City, he was admitted to practice, after graduating with honor, and began practice at Deansville (now Deansboro), where he met with success. "He was known as a skillful and sagacious physician, and was equal to the most delicate and responsible work of the profession," writes one who knew him well. "Modest and retiring, yet few physicians could claim a wider range of information or bring to discussion clearer or sounder discrimination. Also as a speaker and writer, he had gifts of no mean order."
When the One Hundred and Forty-sixth New York Volunteer Regiment of civil war soldiers was formed in Oneida county, Dr. Somers went out on its medical staff, and served in the field until disabled by a fever which cause him nay years of suffering and compelled his retirement from activity some years before his death.
He was early identified with the Congregational church of Sherburne, and was superintendent of its Sunday school. This position he filled with dignity and courtesy, and he was "always and everywhere a model Christian gentleman."
He was an active and influential Republican, and served eight years as postmaster at Deansville. He was a trusted leader in his sphere, and the church, the school and every important interest of the community in which he lived found in him a cordial helper at all times. "His Christian faith never faltered and was equal to all the trials that came upon him. He often quoted the words of his favorite Whittier, 'All that is or is to be is of God, and God is good."
He was a member of Hinckley Post, Grand Army of the Republic, of Clinton, which conducted his funeral.
Dr. Somers married (first) Nov. 22, 1853, Martha A., born Jan. 18, 1829, died July 10, 1873, youngest daughter of Elias Babcock, an early settler of Sherburne. She was an accomplished and loveable young woman, a graduate of Troy Female Seminary and valedictorian of her class, and was the mother of seven children. Dr. Somers married (second) Oct. 5, 1876, Harriet E. Hamlin, who survived him, with their son.
Children:
Elbertine, died one day old.
Margaret Ellen, died in third year.
Harriet Isabella, died at the age of twenty-six years.
Mary Erdman, born Aug. 8, 1862, became the wife of Homer E. Palmer, of St. Regis Falls, N.Y., now (1910) a member of the faculty of St. Lawrence University at Canton, N.Y.
Edward B., died at four years.
Catherine, died in third year.
Elbert Mortimer, mentioned below.
Walter Austin, born Aug. 23, 1884, now (1910) resident of Utica, N.Y.

(VIII) Elbert Mortimer (2), son of Dr. Elbert Mortimer (1) and Martha A. (Babcock) Somers, was born Aug. 21, 1870, in Deansboro. He was educated at Clinton grammar school, from which he graduated in 1888. He was subsequently a student for one year at Hamilton College, from which he received the degree of A.B. in 1905. He pursued the medical course at the New York Medical University and was graduated in 1893. For one year he was house physician at Christ Hospital in Jersey City, and in 1894 was appointed on the staff of the St. Lawrence State Hospital at Ogdensburg. Since that time he has been identified with that institution, and in 1903 was appointed first assistant physician of the hospital, which position he still (1910) holds.
Dr. Somers is a member of the D.K.E. and other fraternities of the Ogdensburg Medical Association, also of the St. Lawrence County Medical Society, a member of the New York State Medical Association and the American Medico-Psychological Association.
He is a member of the Ogdensburg and Century clubs. Since going to Ogdensburg, he has made a study of mental and nervous diseases.
Dr. Somers married, April 12, 1899, Harriet Gilbert, daughter of William and Frances Gualdo (Peters) Greeley, of Marshfield, Missouri.
Children, born in Ogdensburg:
Harriet Ford, Feb. 16, 1900.
Elbert Mortimer, Feb. 26, 1902.
Edward Babcock, Feb. 18, 1907.
[Transcriber's note: this material was published in 1910, and any subsequent children this couple may have had are obviously not on the list.]

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