Copyright 1999 Perry Streeter (Content updated 18 February 2001) (c) 1999 Perry Streeter mailto:perry@streeter.com http://www.perry.streeter.com This document is Copyright 1999 by Perry Streeter. It may be freely redistributed in its entirety provided that this copyright notice is not removed. It may not be sold for profit or incorporated in commercial documents without the written permission of the copyright holder. I am seeking all genealogical and biographical details for the family documented below including their ancestors, children, and grandchildren and the spouses thereof, including the full names of those spouses' parents. All additions and corrections within this scope, however speculative, will be greatly appreciated. George Page of Branford, Connecticut The following chapter was compiled from mix of primary and secondary sources. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, your compiler traced his Page ancestry back to Josiah-5 Page using primary records such as census records, wills, etc. In early 1994, a query was posted to a genealogical interest group on the Internet (ROOTS-L@rootsweb.com), seeking to discover the ancestry of Josiah-5 Page. Someone identified Josiah in the appendix of the second book named in the next paragraph and within weeks, more than 150 direct ancestors were added to my family tree. This was my first major success with using the Internet as a tool to network with other amateur genealogists. No other breakthroughs have matched this one to date, in terms of scope. In 2001, the Internet supplied another breakthrough in my Page research. A newspaper article was posted on the Steuben County, New York GenWeb site that revealed the tragic fate of Buel Mariner-6 Page; it was previously presumed that he had died in Yates County, New York in 1865. Two excellent secondary sources for the descent of Josiah-5 Page from George-1 Page are Families of Ancient New Haven (Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1974) by Donald Lines Jacobus and The Descendants of Robart Page of the King's House: The Probable English Origins, Ancestors, and Relatives of George Page of Branford, Connecticut and Thomas Page of Saco in the Province of Maine (Portsmouth, NH: The Center for Graphic Communication, Inc., 1992) by Col. George W. Page (U.S. Army [retired], Route 2, Box 148, Bryans Road, Maryland 20616). Together, these sources cover the generations from George-1 down to Josiah-5; they are cited as DLJ and GWP below where clarification is necessary. I am also indebted to Ms. Fran Dumas, the official Historian of Yates County, New York and Ms. Sherry Conybeare, an unofficial historian of Yates County, for the assistance that they have provided on many occasions. 1. George-1 Page was born in [Shorne, Kent,] England about 1635; he died at Branford, New Haven County, Connecticut on 22 November 1689. He was probably the son of George and Elizabeth (Somers) Page of Shorne, Kent, England. He was married, possibly in New Haven, New Haven County, Connecticut about 1663 to Sarah-2 Linsley (John-1), died 1695, daughter of John-1 and Ellen (Dayton) Linsley. Children, born at Branford, New Haven County, Connecticut: i. John-2, b. 9 May 1663/64; d. 10 April 1712. ii. Sarah, b. 28 May 1666; d. Branford, CT before 1712; m. Francis Tyler, as his second wife. iii. Samuel, b. 1 March 1670/71; m. Mindwell Pond. Children, surname Page: 1. Timothy, b. Branford, CT 7 Sep 1700; m. Branford, CT 27 Nov 1722 Thankful Doolittle, b. Wallingford, CT 8 May 1700, dau. of Theophilus and Thankful (Hall) Doolittle. 2. Deliverance, b. 30 April 1702; m. Branford, CT 23 Sep 1723 Henry Miller, b. [Branford, CT] about 1700. 3. Lydia, b. Branford, CT 16 Jan 1704; m. CT Israel Moulthrop, b. New Haven, CT 7 June 1706, d. East Haven, CT 15 Oct 1788. 4. Samuel Jr., b. Branford, CT 21 Sep 1707; d. Branford, CT 7 Feb 17??; m. Branford, CT 27 Jan 1736 Mary Rose, b. [Branford, CT] about 1710. 5. Sarah, b. Branford, CT 6 Sep 1709; d. young Branford, CT. 6. Patience, b. Branford, CT 2 April 1710; d. before 22 March 1744; m. Branford, CT 27 Aug 1741 John Swaine Jr., b. Branford, CT about 1705. 7. Elizabeth, b. Branford, CT 13 July 1713; m. Branford, CT 22 March 1744 John Swaine Jr. 8. Barsheba, b. Branford, CT 21 Jan 1715; m. Branford, CT 22 Sep 1740 James Plant, b. Branford, CT about 1712. 9. Sarah, b. Branford, CT 16 Feb 1722. 2. iv. George Jr., b. 2 Feb 1672/73; d. Branford, CT 22 Nov 1759; m. Mary Hall. v. Jonathan, b. 15 Sep 1675; d. [Branford, CT] 8 Feb 1706/07. vi. Hannah, b. 17 Dec 1677; d. before 1715; m. Branford, CT 21 April 1703 Ebenezer Frisbie, m. (2) 13 Sep 1715 Jean (Baldwin) Rose, dau. of Samuel Baldwin, m. (1) Samuel Rose. Children, surname Frisbie, b. Branford, CT: 1. Hannah, b. 15 Jan 1704. 2. Ebenezer, b. 4 April 1705; d. Sharon, Litchfield Co., CT 20 Oct 1793. 3. Sarah, b. 27 Jan 1707. 4. Elijah, b. 4 March 1710; d. young. 5. Deborah, b. 15 March 1712. vii. Nathaniel, b. 18 Jan 1678/89; d. Branford, CT 1742; d. Branford, CT 6 or 7 April 1766; m. 29 May 1710 Abigail Wheadon, dau. of Thomas and Ann (Harvey) Wheadon. Children, surname Page, b. Branford, CT: 1. Nathaniel, b. 29 Jan 1711; m. Branford, CT 16 Feb 1736 Zillah Baldwin. 2. John, b. 19 May 1714; d. Branford, CT 24 March 1754; m. Branford, CT 22 Jan 1735 Susanna Lindsley, b. [Branford, CT] about 1715. 3. David, b. 23 March 1716; m. Branford, CT 3 April 1740 Elizabeth (Rogers) Rayner, b. [New Haven, CT] about 1720. 4. Jonathan, b. 13 Oct 1717. 5. Joseph, b. 9 April 1720. 6. Abigail, b. 29 March 1722; m. Wallingford, CT 13 Oct 1741 Jayrus Bunnell. 7. Nathan, b. 8 Jan 1724. viii. Daniel, b. 2 May 1683; m. North Branford, CT 3 Jan 1710 Hannah Johnson, dau. of Nathaniel and Hannah (Hoadley) Johnson; Deacon of North Branford Congregational Church. Children, surname Page, b. Branford, CT: 1. Daniel, b. 30 Nov 1710; d. Branford, CT before 1715. 2. Prudence, b. 7 Sep 1711; m. Branford, CT 28 May 1731 Isaac Wheadon. 3. Hannah, b. 3 July 1713; d. before 1770; m. Abraham Bartholomew, b. Branford, CT 28 June 1708, d. Farmington, CT. 4. Daniel, b. 4 Aug 1715; d. Branford, CT 30 Nov 1716. 5. Abraham, b. 31 Aug 1717; m. Branford, CT 22 Nov 1739 Abigail Pond. 6. Mary, b. 16 Sep 1719. 7. Daniel Jr., b. 17 April 1724; d. 4 July 1779; m. Branford, CT 13 Feb 1749 Dinah Baldwin, b. [Branford, CT] about 1725. 8. Mary, b. 25 July 1727; m. Branford, CT 19 April 1744 Thomas Wheadon, b. CT about 1725. 9. Martha, b. 23 [25?] July 1727; m. [CT] about 1747 Jude Luddington, b. East Haven, CT 223 July 1725. 10. Ephraim, b. 21 July 1730; d. W. Greenville, Greene Co., NY about 1803; m. (1) [Branford, CT] about 1750 Martha _____; m. (2) Branford, CT 28 Oct 1784 Sally Judd. 11. Sarah, b. 20 Dec 1732; m. Guilford, CT 6 May 1756 Philemon Hall, b. CT about 1730, d. [Guilford,] New Haven Co., CT 1800. 2. George-2 Page (George-1) was born at Branford, New Haven County, Connecticut 2 February 1672/73; he died at Branford, Connecticut on 22 November 1759. George was married to Mary-3 Hall (John-2-1), born at Wallingford, New Haven County, Connecticut on 28 June 1675, daughter of John-2 and Mary (Parker) Hall. [George's] will was dated 11 October 1756 and proved at Branford on 11 January 1760. It was signed and sealed with a signet mark on wax. Unfortunately, the crest, or coat-of-arms, is not readable as reproduced (GWP). Children: 3. i. Moses-3, b. Branford, CT 1 March 1704; m. Thankful Graves. ii. Abiel, b. Branford, CT 7 July 1707; m. Branford, CT 22 June 1744 Lydia Rose (Frizzell) Frisbie, b. [CT] 1703. Child, surname Page: 1. Charles, b. Branford, CT 21 April 1745; d. at sea 3 Dec 1769; m. East Haven, CT 31 Oct 1765 Lois Moulthrop, b. New Haven, CT 26 March 1745, dau. of Israel and Lydia-3 (Page) Moulthrop. iii. Mary, b. Branford, CT 8 March 1713. iv. Elizabeth, b. Branford, CT 12 Feb 1715; d. [New Ashford, MA] 1805, m. Branford, CT 17 May 1743 Benjamin Tyler, b. Branford, CT 10 Sep 1721, d. Branford [New Ashford, MA]] 1805. v. Abel, b. Branford, CT 10 Feb 1716; m. Branford, CT 15 Jan 1756 Sarah Towner, b. [Branford, CT] about 1720. Children, surname Page: 1. Daniel, b. Branford, CT 12 Dec 1756; m. about 1775 Caroline Catlin, b. about 1760, d. Litchfield Co., CT 1846. 2. Reuben, b. Branford, CT 15 Feb 1758; m. Branford, CT April 1786 Lydia Harrison, b. Branford, CT 19 July 1762. 3. Abel, c. Branford, CT 7 Aug 1768. 3. Moses-3 Page (George-2-1), born at Branford, New Haven County, Connecticut on 1 March 1704/05; he died at East Haven, New Haven County, Connecticut on 26 January 1788 (Rev. Stephen Dodd, The East Haven Death Register). He was first married on 20 October 1731 by T.R. to Thankful-4 Graves (Joseph-3, John-2, George-1), born Guilford, New Haven County, Connecticut on 18 February 1706, daughter of Joseph-3 and Margaret (Wilcoxon) Graves of Guilford. Moses was married second to Lydia (Fields) Smith, widow of John Smith. Children, by Thankful Graves: i. Moses-4 Jr., b. Branford, CT 1 Sep 1732; m. North Branford, CT 1771 Abiah Butler. 4. ii. Aaron, b. East Haven, New Haven Co., CT 1738; m. Desire Grannis. iii. Sarah. Child, by Lydia (Fields) Smith: iv. Ichabod, b. CT; m. United Church, New Haven, CT 15 Nov 1763 Ruth Hotchkiss, b. New Haven, CT 3 June 1740; d. CT 1835, dau. of Caleb and Ruth (Munson) Hotchkiss. Children, surname Page, c. New Haven, CT: 1. Pamela, c. 5 Dec 1774; m. 17 Dec 1787 Eber Sperry. 2. Sena, c. 5 Dec 1774; m. 26 May 1786 Moses Hawkins Woodward. 3. George W., c. 5 Dec 1774; m. (1) Steuben, Oneida Co., NY Thankful Starr, b. [CT] about 1775; m. (2) [Columbia Co.,] NY 15 Jan 1815 Charlotte Mudge, b. [Chatham, Columbia Co., NY] 12 Nov 1783, d. 30 Nov 1877. 4. Caleb, c. 19 Feb 1775. 5. John Munson, c. 14 June 1778. 4. Aaron-4 Page (Moses-3, George-2-1), son of Moses-3 and Thankful (Graves) Page, was born in East Haven, New Haven County, Connecticut in 1738; he died probably in the town of Benton, Yates County, New York on 20 September 1825 and was buried in the Barden Family Cemetery. Aaron was married at East Haven 22 May 1758 to Desire-4 Grannis (William-3, Joseph-2, Edward-1). Desire was born about 1740; she died at Litchfield, Litchfield County, Connecticut 6 June 1819; she was the daughter of William-3 and Thankful (Alling) Grannis. Aaron was buried in the Barden Family Cemetery, named after the family farm of Otis Barden. All of the other stones in this rural plot have been removed, plowed under, etc. Aaron's broken stone now stands alone in a copse of trees in the middle of a cornfield. This long-forgotten cemetery lies just to the northeast of the intersection of Route 14A and Curtis Road. It was rediscovered in 1995 by Sherry Conybeare. An image of this solitary grave graces the cover on a new series of books devoted to cemetery transcriptions for Yates County; this important project was completed by Sherry and Fran Dumas. Children, probably all born in New Haven County, Connecticut: 5. i. Josiah-5, b. East Haven 1759; m. (1) Mary Downs. ii. Huldah, c. 27 Oct 1771. iii. Thankful, c. 27 Oct 1771. iv. William, c. 27 Oct 1771. v. Desire, c. 27 Oct 1771. vi. Mary, b. East Haven 1774; d. Litchfield, Litchfield Co., CT 15 May 1850; m. Litchfield 27 Nov 1793 William Moulthrop, b. [Litchfield Co.], CT ca. 1770. vii. Aaron Grannis, b. East Haven ca. 1780; d. Prattsburgh, Steuben Co., NY after the 1865 census. Children, surname Page: 1. Charles A., possibly identical with the Charles Page who m. Benton, NY 14 Sep 1841 Margaret A. Ansley (Newspaper). 2. Alfred 3. Grannis, probably identical with the Grannis Page who m. Town of Seneca, NY 31 Jan 1851 Frances Butterfield (Newspaper). 4. Elvira P.; b. Ulster Co., NY ca. 1811; m. H. Denniston, b. Orange Co., NY ca. 1805. 5. Mercy P., m. _____ Ansley. (Will of Aaron Grannis Page; 1865 Census) 5. Josiah-5 Page (Aaron-4, Moses-3, George-2-1), son of Aaron-4 and Desire (Grannis) Page, was born in New Haven, New Haven County, Connecticut in 1759; he died in the Town of Benton, Yates County, New York on 15 June 1832. He was christened in Connecticut on 27 October 1771. Josiah was married first at Woodbury, Litchfield County, Connecticut on 10 January 1780 to Mary Downs (International Genealogical Index, hereinafter IGI). She is probably identical with the Mary Downs born at Woodbury in 1760 to Aaron and Persis (Wildman) Downs (IGI). Mary died 10 March 1813, age 52, at Salisbury, Litchfield County, Connecticut, one of many victims of a two-year epidemic that ravaged the community (History of Litchfield County, Connecticut - Salisbury). She was buried at Town Hill Cemetery (Historical Collections of the Salisbury Association, v. 1, p.113). Josiah married second probably in Litchfield County, Connecticut or Yates County, New York before 1818 Sarah [Jane?] "Sally" Mariner (Ephraim-3, William-2, Joshua-1). Sarah was born in Connecticut about 1780; she died at Torrey, Yates County, New York 22 September 1860. Sarah married second, as his second wife, Russell Brown before 6 May 1850; he was born about 1775 and died in Torrey 29 August 1862. Russell Brown and his first wife, Temperance Chadwick, were Connecticut natives and adherents of the Universal Friend; Temperance died after 1840. Sarah was the daughter of Ephraim-3 and Hannah (Reed) Mariner of Sharon, Litchfield County, Connecticut. In the 1790, 1800, and 1810 federal censuses Josiah was at Salisbury, Litchfield County, Connecticut. One of Josiah's daughters-in-law and three of his granddaughters were also victims of the epidemic that killed Mary (Downs) Page. Again in the years 1812 and 1813, a fever, called, from its general prevalence, The Epidemic, swept over this and some neighboring towns with fearful mortality, uncontrolled by medical skill. During the first of these years there were about eighty deaths, and in the latter nearly seventy, and chiefly from that disease... It was the pneumonia typhoides of the books, or a typhoid pleurisy (History of Litchfield County, Connecticut - Salisbury). These deaths were also chronicled in the Connecticut Courant of 23 March 1813, although Josiah's wife's name appears as Marcy. Perhaps these tragic deaths were factors in the family's relocation to Yates County, New York by 1818. Josiah probably left Connecticut for the Town of Milo, Yates, County, New York in 1819 when he first appears in the tax list; he does not appear on the list for 1818. In 1819 he was taxed $5.41 on real estate valued at $1,709. In 1821, his real estate was valued at $1,744 and taxed $5.42. In the 1820 census of Yates County, Josiah was residing in the Town of Milo; his son Erastus was probably sharing his household. On 7 April 1823, he bought 33 acres of land in part of Lot 29 in the Town of Benton from Aaron and Mariah Saxton for $725.00. This plot bordered that of his brother-in-law, Buel Mariner (v. 33, p. 72). Buel Mariner was baptized at Sharon, Litchfield County, Connecticut on 7 May 1775 as a son of Ephraim and Hannah (Reed) Mariner. Josiah's and Sarah's only son bore the distinctive name of Buel Mariner Page; undoubtedly he was named after his uncle, Buel Mariner. Josiah died in Benton on 15 June 1832. The executors of his will were his "trusty friends," Buel Mariner and Abner Woodworth. Miles Benham of Milo was appointed guardian for the minor children, Buel Mariner and Emily Page, for the proceedings. In 1835, Sarah (Mariner) Page was living as a widow with her two children. She married Russell Brown by 6 May 1850 when they appear together as husband and wife in a deed. However, Russell Brown's wife's name is listed as Jane in 1850 census. The census enumeration never began before June; perhaps Sarah's full name was Sarah Jane; this was a very popular combination in the nineteenth century. A deed was executed in January 1854 between Sarah Brown of Torrey, Buel and Susan Page, and Arnold and Mary Gage of Benton that sold the land bought by Josiah in 1823 (adjacent to Buel Mariner's property). Sarah Brown is referred to as Sarah, known as Sally, wife of Russell Brown in another deed. In 1855, Russell and Sarah indicated that they had been residents of Torrey for three years. It should be noted that Torrey was formed in 1852; they probably resided in the same place prior to that time. There are no records of burial for Russell and Sarah. Children, by Mary Downs: i. [Ira-6], b. Litchfield Co., CT 1781/82; d. Benton, Yates Co., NY 24 Oct 1834 (GWP). The placement of this son is doubtful; he is not named in Josiah's will nor is he listed in the census records of Litchfield Co., CT or Yates Co., NY. ii. Asa, b. CT 1780-1783; d. Yates Co., NY 1830-1835; m. Letta _____, b. about 1785, d. Warren, Warren Co., PA, 5 Oct 1880 age 95. Children (Letta's Obituary): Children, 1. dau.; m. David M. Williams; 2. Jane, m. George W. Graves; resided in Dresden, Yates Co., NY in 1880. 3. Letty; m. William McLean, d. before 1880. 4. Elizabeth, m. _____ Caton; resided in Rochester, Monroe Co., NY in 1880. 5. James, resided in Auburn or Rochester, NY in 1880. [6. Nancy, predeceased her mother.] iii. Cyrus, b. Litchfield Co., CT 1783; d. Dresden, Yates Co., NY 14 March 1833 (age 49 years, 3 months, and 15 days); bur. Hopeton Cemetery; m. Nancy _____. Children, 1. Louiza b. 1808, d. 17 March 1813; buried Town Hill Cemetery, Salisbury, Litchfield Co., CT. 2. Cornelia, b. 1810, d. 6 March 1813; bur. Town Hill Cemetery, Salisbury, CT. 3. Cyrus Killian, b. 1813; d. Torrey, Yates Co., NY 28 Aug 1829; bur. Hopeton Cemetery. 4. Oscar F., b. 1825; d. Torrey, NY 28 May 1826; bur. Hopeton Cemetery. 5. Leonard, b. 1829; d. Torrey, NY 12 Oct 1837; bur. Hopeton Cemetery. iv. Erastus, b. Southbury, Litchfield Co., CT 22 Aug 1787; d. Penn Yan, Yates Co., NY 19 July 1850 (age 63y 10m 27d); bur. Lakeview Cemetery. When of Salisbury, Litchfield Co., CT, he m. (1) Jane Treat of South Britain, New Haven Co., CT 14 Oct 1807 at Roxbury, Litchfield Co., CT (Roxbury v. 3, p. 181), b. Southbury, Litchfield Co., CT 12 March 1788; she died at Salisbury, Litchfield Co., CT 6 March 1813 (age 24); bur. Town Hill Cemetery, Salisbury, CT. Erastus m. (2) Abigail D. Parsons (Erastus Page of Salisbury and wife Abigail baptized 26 Dec 1816 by Rev. Isaac Jones - St. Michael's, Litchfield, v. 2, p. 11), b. Litchfield, Litchfield Co., CT 22 April 1793, d. Yates Co., NY 14 Jan 1831 (age 37) (Yates County Historical Society Collection), bur. Lakeview Cemetery. Erastus m. 12 Sep 1832 (GWP) (3) Adaline Gooding, b. Washington Co., NY 20 Jan 1800, d. Penn Yan, Yates Co., NY Friday 16 Sep 1870, daughter of William C. Gooding. Erastus came to Milo, Yates County, New York about 1819; he probably resided with Josiah in 1820. About 1828 he moved to Penn Yan. Erastus and Adaline "Aunt Addie" owned and operated a boarding house in Penn Yan, the Shearman House Hotel. Children, by Jane Treat: 1. Ann Zennet, b. Salisbury, Litchfield Co., CT 9 Feb 1809. 2. Letty Emeline, b. Litchfield Co. CT 28 July 1811, d. Salisbury, Litchfield Co., CT 9 March 1813; bur. Town Hill Cemetery, Salisbury, Litchfield Co., CT. Children, by Abigail D. Parsons: 3. Adelia Jane, b. Salisbury, Litchfield, CT 10 Dec 1815; probably the Delia Page who m. George Wagener. 4. Lucius Erastus, b. Livonia, Livingston Co., NY 20 May 1818; a cabinet maker; resided in Millport, Chemung County, New York. 5. George Brainard, b. Milo, Yates Co., NY 1 July 1820; d. Rochester, Monroe Co., NY 23 August 1895; bur. Mt. Hope Cemetery, Rochester, NY; m. Geneva, Ontario Co., NY 20 Oct 1846 Mary Ellen Teall, b. Waterloo, Seneca Co., NY 3 Feb 1827, d. Rochester, NY 31 Dec 1893; bur. Mt. Hope Cemetery. 6. Samuel Randal, b. Milo, Yates Co., NY 10 July 1822; d. 24 Sep 1893; bur. Millport, Chemung Co., NY; m. 11 Oct 1848 Sarah N. White, b. 12 Jan 1828; d. 4 Sep 1906, dau. of Colonel L. White of Millport. Learned cabinet- making with his cousin, Henry Page. Resided in Millport, Chemung County, New York and operated a store at the corner of Main and Hill streets on the east side of Main. 7. Abigail Irene, b. Milo, NY 10 April 1830; d. Milo, NY 14 Feb 1832; bur. Lakeview Cemetery. v. Laura, b. Southbury, Litchfield Co., CT about 1789; m. John Wheelock. Children, by Sarah Mariner: vi. Mary Emily, b. Yates Co., NY 1818; m., as his second wife, Arnold C.-7 Gage, b. Yates Co., NY about 1825, son of Jesse-6 T. and Mary (Hazard) Gage, m. (2) Amanda Linkletter. Mary (Hazard) Gage was a dau. of the compiler's direct ancestors, Jonathan J.-6 Jr. and Tacy (Burdick) Hazard; see Thomas Hazard of Rhode Island for more information. Children, surname Gage: 1. Isadore, b. 1850. 2. Byron, b. 1855. 6. vii. Buel Mariner, b. Yates Co., NY 1819; m. Susan Hazard. 6. Buel Mariner-6 Page (Josiah-5, Aaron-4, Moses-3, George-2-1) was born in Yates County, New York in 1819, probably on his father's farm in Benton. Buel died in a tragic fire at the Steuben County Poor House in Bath, Steuben County, New York on 7 April 1878; suffering from blindness and "fits" he was resided in the ward for the insane at the time of his death. Buel was married, probably in Yates County, to Susan-8 Hazard (George V.-7, Jonathan J.-6, Jonathan-5-4, Thomas-3, Robert-2, Thomas-1). Susan was born in Yates County, New York, probably in 1819; she died, probably in Hornell or Canisteo, Steuben County, New York, probably in 1886, but definitely some time after 14 June 1878; she was a daughter of George V.-7 and Mariam (Potter) Hazard. The year of Susan's birth and death are derived from a burial record for Susan J. Page who was buried in Hillside Cemetery, Canisteo. Susan's son, Charles A. Page and his first wife, Sarah (Nicholson) Page, were also buried in Hillside Cemetery. Buel first appears as a head of household in Benton in the 1850 census. In 1855, the 33-acre farm that he had inherited from his father was valued at $1,500; he had one horse and one cow. On 3 December 1856, Buel M. Page and Sarah Brown sold 13 acres of the northwest corner of this plot to Mary Hernson. By 1860, he had 100 swine and one milk cow; his remaining 21 acres of real estate were valued at $1200 and his personal estate at $200. In 1864, he sold the rest of land that his father Josiah had bought in 1823 to William J. Watson for $1,250; it was designated as Lot 29, first range. By that time Homer Mariner, Buel's youngest son, had inherited the neighboring farm. On 24 September 1865, Buel and Susan sold Lot 4, Benton at the southwest corner of the Parsonage of the First Presbyterian Church to Suel E. Huber for $450 (v. 43, p. 322). Susan bought a quarter- acre plot in part of lot #2 in the village of Bellona, Yates County, New York on 20 October 1865 for $250 from Spicer H. and Isabel Devenport; this transaction was recorded 13 April 1870 (v. 47, p. 494). On 8 March 1869; she sold part of lot #2 (township #8, first range) in Benton to Alexander B. Sloan for $350 (v. 50, p. 232). Notice that Susan purchased property without Buel in 1865 and sold it in 1869. It must have been during this time frame that Buel's blindness or mental illness became serious enough to merit his institutionalization. Susan probably left Yates County to reside closer to her only surviving child, Charles A. Page of Canisteo, Steuben County, New York. Buel became a resident of the insane ward at the Steuben County Poor House in Bath, where he was to meet a tragic end. The following newspaper articles from the Allegany County Reporter were transcribed by Judy Allen Cwiklinski for the Steuben County, New York GenWeb site (http:// www.rootsweb.com/~nysteube/this_that/pg12.html). Thurs, Apr. 11, 1878 Below is a VERY horrific tragedy! A Steuben County Horror! Burning of a Portion of the County House. Fifteen Persons Perish in the Flames! Graphic Details of the Horror! [Special to Rochester Democrat] Bath, April 7.--About one o'clock this morning the village watchman discovered a bright light in the nor and after some hesitation he gave the alarm of fire which brought the fire department and a large number of citizens to the streets. By this time the light had become brighter, showing that there was undoubtedly a fire in the vicinity of the county house, and with the liveliest apprehensions a large crowd started for the scene of the conflagration. Arrived at the spot, the worst fears proved only too true, for the building for the insane, connected with the county house, was found to be completely enveloped in flames and the wildest terror prevailing on every side. Hurried inquiry elicited the horrible fact that not all the inmates had been rescued, but it was then too late to extend to them any aid, for every avenue leading to their rooms was barred by fire, which was already darting out of the windows. The scene was awful beyond description. The aged, infirm and insane men and women, who had been saved with the greatest difficulty, huddled about in groups, frantic with fright and those in charge of them hardly less excited. Fourteen persons it is said had been unable to get out of the burning building and the terrible thought that human beings were being suffocated by the flames and smoke almost within a stone's throw, blanched every cheek and sent a tremor through the stoutest heart. Occasionally an affrighted face could be seen at a grated window, but only for a moment, and then the fierce flames would sweep down and it would be seen no more. It was no wonder that women fainted and men turned pale. Every effort was made to subdue the flames, but without avail. After burning for about three hours nothing was left standing save the bare fire-eaten walls enclosing a smoking, undefined mass of ashes, bones, iron bedsteads and cell gratings. The cause of this terrible destruction of life was an inmate of the asylum named L.C. Ford, from Hornellsville. He was subject to severe fits, but had never displayed any dangerous tendencies, and indeed so harmless was he considered that he was employed to do light duties about the building. He was an old man between sixty and seventy years of age, quiet and docile; but some crazy freak must have entered his head, and in a moment of wild insanity he started the fire which resulted so disastrously. As nearly as could be learned, he fired the bed-clothes in his own room, and then terrified by what he had done, pushed his head through the window grating to call for aid. No one heard his voice, however, at that moment, and when he tried to withdraw his head, he found that he could not. In that position he was securely fastened, and in that position, the iron bars holding him fast, he must have remained until the flames mercifully released him from his agony. In this manner the fire had gained uncontrollable headway before it was discovered, and then every effort was put forth by the employees in the building to get the inmates into the open air. The superintendent, Mr. [Eli] Carrington, was absent, but his family worked with a will, and with almost superhuman efforts, forty of the people were taken safely out of the house. But those in the more remote parts of the building it was absolutely impossible to reach, and at last the humane workers were obliged to flee to save their lives. As will be seen from the list of the lost published below, they were nearly all afflicted with some infirmities, and even had the means of escape presented itself, it is much to be doubted if they would have availed themselves to it. What the scene must have been in their rooms is too horrible for the imagination, and one can only hope the end came quickly. There is little hope of recovering the bodies in a recognizable condition, and indeed it is very doubtful if a search reveal anything more than a mass of charred bones. The names and ages of the victims, together with the cause of confinement, so nearly as could be ascertained, are as follows: L.C. Ford, fits, seventy-eight years. David Curtis, cripple, seventy-nine years. John Alvan, cripple, fifty-eight years. John Messenger, old age, eighty-four years Buel M. Page, fits and blind, forty-nine [sic, fifty- nine] years. Betsy Smith, idiot, sixty-three years. Julia Davis, idiot, thirty-eight years. Rosa Welch, idiot, twenty years. Axy Ranger, idiot, twenty-six years Chloe Mudge (colored), idiot, sixty years. Abigail Skeels, old age, sixty-three years. Catharine Sullivan, insane, seventy-one years. Jennie Mills, four years. Mary Hewitt, one year. Many of the inmates had very narrow escapes, and one man was severely injured in jumping from a window. With an unnatural strength he pulled apart the iron grating in one of the narrow windows, and forcing himself through fell helpless to the ground beneath. He was at once taken up and cared for, but his recovery is considered dubious, as he seems to be suffering from internal injuries, and is, withal well advanced in years. One young woman, imprisoned for insanity, with a sudden glimmer of reason, wrapped a petticoat round her head, and rolled down the stairs through the fire and smoke and out of the door unhurt. Others had perilously narrow escapes, and under the circumstances it seems marvelous that no more were destroyed. Forty were saved, and so nearly as could be learned in the excitement, the only ones who perished are given above. The coroner's inquest will probably be held to-day, and perhaps that will develop some additional facts. The building burned was of brick, two stories in height, and used almost exclusively for the aged and insane. It stood in close proximity to the other buildings, but fortunately none of them were destroyed. As can readily be imagined, Bath is in a state of the most intense excitement, and the great accident has been the topic of conversation on the streets and in the houses. Blame is attached to no one; it was simply an unforeseen catastrophe that the wisest could not have been prevented. The man Ford has been in the institution for years and it was thought that he was perfectly trustworthy. The injured ones have all been cared for and the search for the remains of those who were burned will be commenced as soon as the heat subsides. Thurs, Apr. 18, 1878 The Steuben Horror. The number of lives sacrificed at the recent burning of a portion of the Steuben County Poor House buildings was sixteen. The management is heartily condemned by the press of the state through the coroner's jury exonerate the Keeper, Mr. Carrington, from all blame. Still he must have foreseen that in the event of a fire there was needed within the building some person of competent mind and muscle to open a way of escape and intelligently aid it. To quietly lock up fifty or more aged, idiotic, crippled or insane persons in a building night after night, pocket the key, and go off to bed in another building, providing no earthy means of aid in the event of an emergency, would seem to involve the faintest shade of responsibility, before knocking too loudly at the door of the Supervisors and Superintendents of the Poor. Twice before it appears had the building used for the same purpose been burned and in both cases a serious loss of life was entailed. From a very complete report of the fire in the Bath Courier we clip the following relating to the question of blame and previous catastrophes: THE BLAME The blame for the horrible occurrence belongs to the county, and to no one else. The building was nothing but a man trap, as are the other buildings of the County House and it is a disgrace that the people of Steuben should allow them to stand in their present condition. There was no night watchman around the premises, no provision against fire, and but one employed man on the premises besides Mr. Carrington. We shall have more to say on the subject of the County House next week. No blame attaches to Mr. Carrington in any way whatever. He did not allow FORD to have a light or matches at any time when confined in his cell, and on the night of the fire did all that any human being could do to prevent the loss of life. After he had got the women out of the east stairway it was impossible to enter the south door. THE PREVIOUS CATASTROPHES About the year 1840 one of the County House buildings was burned with a loss of 3 or 4 lives. In August, 1859 the insane building was burned with a loss of 7 lives. After this third disaster with a loss of 16 lives it seems as though it was about time that some vigorous measures were taken to prevent a recurrence of the catastrophe. Thurs, Apr. 18, 1878 In the case of the burning of the Insane department of the Steuben county poor-house, the coroner's jury censured the Superintendents of the Poor and the Supervisors, but exonerated the Keeper, Eli Carrington, from all responsibility or blame. As of 14 June 1878, Susan Page was living in Hornell, Steuben County, New York, as indicated in a notice of the proof and probate of the will of her sister, Theoda (Hazard) Van Deventer. Children, born in Benton, Yates County, New York: i. Frank B[uel?].-7, b. 1849; d. Benton, NY 6 Dec 1863 of diphtheria. 7. ii. Charles A., b. 1852; m. (1) Sarah Nicholson. iii. Mariam S., b. 1855; d. Benton before 1860. She was probably named after her maternal grandmother, Mariam (Potter) Hazard. 7. Charles A.-7 Page (Buel Mariner-6, Josiah-5, Aaron-4, Moses-3, George-2-1) was born in Dresden, Yates County, New York in 1852 (Death Certificate); he committed suicide in Canisteo, Steuben County, New York on 21 August 1906 and was buried 23 April 1906 in Hillside Cemetery, Canisteo, New York. Charles was married first in Canisteo to Sarah Nicholson (Perry, Jonathan Loveland, Francis, Ambrose, Henry, [Henry]). Sarah was born in Canisteo in 11 August 1854 (Ambrose Nicholson, Record of the Descendants of Francis and Rachel Nicholson, manuscript [1862-]); she died there on 8 December 1882 "after a protracted and painful illness" (Canisteo Times) and was buried in Hillside Cemetery; she was the eldest child of Perry and Dinah (Coddington) Nicholson. Charles married, second, Mary (_____) Spivy who had three children from a previous marriage. It is unknown when Charles left Yates County; in 1875 he appears as a farm worker in the New York State census of Canisteo, Steuben County, New York. According to his death certificate in 1906; he had been a resident of Canisteo since 1876. In 1891, Charles Page, brakeman, was residing on Second Street in Canisteo (Directory of Steuben County, New York). He later lived on Depot Street; this house is still standing but has been moved across the Canisteo River closer to downtown. He was a brakeman for the Erie railroad; Mary was a seamstress. Mary had three children from a previous marriage: John, born about 1877; Loula, born about 1880; and Grace, born about 1882. In 1905, Charles and Mary's daughter, Jennie, was the only child still at home. Charles committed suicide on 21 August 1906 in Canisteo by drinking carbolic acid. It is unknown what became of Mary and Jennie. Charles Page Suicides Charles Page, a prominent resident of this place and a former employee of the Erie Railroad company committed suicide yesterday afternoon at about five o'clock by taking carbolic acid. He was fifty-eight years old and leaves a family. Worry over continued poor health and inability to work are supposed to have prompted the rash act. The bottle containing the acid bore a local label (The Times Republican, 22 August 1906). Charles had experienced much tragedy in his life; both of his siblings had died in childhood; his first wife died young after a long illness; and his father died in a horrible fire, blind and mentally ill. This unbearable series of events probably contributed to his suicidal mindset. In 1907, the four children of Charles and Sarah were identified in the administration of the estate of their maternal grandfather, Perry Nicholson (Steuben County, New York Probate Records, File A-7908). Children, by Sarah Nicholson, probably all born in Canisteo, Steuben County, New York: i. Margaret B.-8 "Maggie", b. 27 May 1872; d. Canisteo, NY 19 Sep 1919; m. Charles Henry-8 Amidon (Charles R.-7, Shephard-6, Ralph-5, Roger-4-3, Philip-2, Roger-1), b. Purdy Creek, Town of Hartsville, Steuben Co., NY; son of Charles R.-7 and Jane (Webb) Amidon; resided at Canisteo, NY in 1904; resided in Painted Post, Steuben Co., NY in 1907 (Frank E. Best, The Amidon Family: A Record of the Descendants of Roger Amadowne of Rehoboth, Mass.," [1904]) Child, surname Amidon: 1. Roy, b. 1890; m. Laura _____; they had one son, _____ Amidon, who lived on the Hudson River; no issue. ii. George A., b. about 1875; bur. Willard State Hospital, Ovid, NY; m. St. Ann's Roman Catholic Church, Hornell, NY Teresa Frances "Tessie" Allen, witnesses Michael William and Henrietta Dinah "Nettie" (Page) Mahoney; bur. Hornell, NY; no issue; resided in Canisteo and worked as a fireman at the Norton Cream Company. In 1913, George rescued Ellory Burns from drowning: Coming out of the hot boiler room and plunging into the icy water, where he was for twelve minutes was a mighty risky as well as most brave and unselfish act on his part and he well deserves a Carnegie medal for thus risking his own life in order to save another, especially as this is the second life he has saved from drowning in the past few years and being a man of middle age, the act was all the more heroic (Canisteo Times). iii. Mary A. "Matie", b. about 1877; d. 28 Aug 1945; m. Albert "Bert" Bates, served in the Spanish-American War; both bur. Hornell, NY; resided in Painted Post, NY in 1907. Child, surname unknown: 1. Mildred; father unknown; raised by Charles and Mary; d. young. * iv. Henrietta Dinah "Nettie," b. Canisteo, NY 19 April 1880; d. St. James Mercy Hospital, Hornell, NY; m. Michael William-2 Mahoney (Daniel-1, Michael-A), son of Daniel-1 and Mary Catherine (O'Connor) Mahoney; direct ancestors of the compiler, see Daniel Mahoney of Hornell, Steuben County, New York for more information. Child, by Mary (_____) Spivy: v. Jennie, b. probably in Canisteo, NY about 1896.