The Remarkable Life of Phineas Camp

by Janice Moerschel

Phineas Camp, my four-times great-grandfather, lived nearly a century and witnessed early America’s defining events.Born 13 Jan 1744 in Durham, Connecticut, he served in two wars, resettled in central New York, and raised a large family.

Before the Revolution, Phineas served in the French and Indian War, including Connecticut service for the relief of Fort William and Henry in 1757 and a later call-up in 1759.

War reached him again with the American Revolution. Phineas took the oath of fidelity in 1777 and enlisted with the Connecticut Continental Regiment, with records placing him in service through Dec 1779. One later record says that by 1 Jan 1780 he was either “discharged or had deserted.” His oath, documented service, later civic roles, and respectful obituary point more toward discharge, though the record is not conclusive.

Phineas married Martha T. Hall on 8 Jan 1767 in Connecticut, and their first son was born later that year. The family appears in Connecticut in the 1790 U.S. census, then moved about 1793 to Whitesboro, Oneida County, New York. There Phineas bought land, farmed, and held offices including surveyor of highways, constable, grand juror, and inspector of provisions. Federal censuses from 1800 through 1840 place the family in Whitesboro as the Erie Canal was built and opened nearby.

Phineas died on 13 Jul 1843. Portions of his obituary, published in the Albany Evening Journal on 17 Jul 1843 after first appearing in the Utica Gazette, are excerpted below.

“Death of a Revolutionary Soldier

… Mr. Phineas Camp, who died at the home of his son in the village of Whitesboro, on Thursday at 3 o’clock P.M., aged 99 1/2 years.

Mr. Camp came into this county 50 years ago; purchased his farm and continued to cultivate or superintend it until about ten years since. He walked about, smoked his pipe, and read his Bible as usual until within twelve hours before his death. The immediate cause was the prevailing influenza.

He was a man of plain, strong sense, firm determination, and of deep, though not lively, affections.

His long life was owing, as nearly as could be learned, to inherited vigor, temperance in eating and drinking, and almost entire abstinence from medicine.”

“He went to sleep full of years, respected and beloved, surrounded by his children, to whose tender and unremitting attentions he was indebted for many benefits during the last of his life.” — Utica Gazette.

The number of children Phineas and Martha raised is unclear. FamilySearch.org lists 12 offspring, but I have seen numbers ranging from 11 to 17, likely reflecting incomplete records, repeated names, or uncertain links.

Phineas is buried at Grandview Cemetery in Whitestown, Oneida County, New York and is recognized by the Daughters of the American Revolution as a verified patriot ancestor #A214794, leaving a legacy that joins documented public service with the quieter endurance of a large and far-reaching family line.

Headstone photo from FindAGrave.

Dr. Elisha Story: A Revolutionary Cousin with a Boston Tea Party History

by Janice Moerschel

In researching my family history, I often come across names that at first appear only as basic genealogical facts: dates, places, marriages, and family connections. Dr. Elisha Story, my third cousin seven times removed, caught my attention. He is one of those relatives whose record leads well beyond the family tree and into the history of Revolutionary Boston.

Elisha was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on 3 Dec 1743, into the Story family line that traces back to my immigrant ancestor, William Story, who arrived in New England in the seventeenth century. Like my direct Revolutionary ancestor Ebenezer Story (The Story Behind a Story: Ebenezer Story of Revolutionary Connecticut) Elisha belonged to a family whose roots were already deep in colonial Massachusetts by the time resistance to British rule began to intensify.

Massachusetts was one of the centers of colonial frustration, and Elisha came of age in a world charged with the issues surrounding taxation, representation, and rights. He joined the Sons of Liberty, the patriot network that included historical figures like Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and Paul Revere. He was also known as a close friend of Dr. Joseph Warren, one of the most important patriot leaders in Boston before the Revolution.

On 16 Dec 1773, Elisha stepped into one of the defining acts of American resistance to the tax on tea. That night, men disguised themselves as Mohawk Indians and set off from Griffin’s Wharf into the Boston Harbor, where three ships carrying East India Company tea lay in waiting. Elisha was among the participants who boarded the vessels and threw the tea overboard. Some accounts describe him as a leader of the group, but historians do not all agree on the extent of his role. What is clear is that he was not merely sympathetic to the cause – he participated in it.

Elisha’s commitment continued during the Revolutionary War. As a physician and surgeon, he served during the Lexington and Concord alarm and fought briefly at Bunker Hill before tending to wounded soldiers. One especially tangible reminder of his service survives: his medical chest, reportedly used during the war and now preserved as part of Marblehead’s historical memory.

Dr. Story died 27 Aug 1805 at Marblehead, Massachusetts.

Medical chest of Elisha Story. Photo courtesy of the Museum of Marblehead (Mass.)

After the war, Elisha returned to Massachusetts, helped manage a serious smallpox outbreak around Marblehead, and settled there permanently. He had married Ruth Ruddick on 12 May 1767 in Boston, Massachusetts, with whom he had 11 children. After Ruth’s death, his second wife Mehitable Petrick raised those children. One of them was Joseph Story, who would become an influential Supreme Court Justice.

George Washington Really Slept Here

by Janice Moerschel

Jeremiah Jenckes, my four-times great grandfather, was born 22 Nov 1739 in Smithfield, Providence County, Rhode Island.

On 25 Feb 1776, Jeremiah married Lucy Whipple. Soon after, the newlyweds traveled on horseback to Newport, New Hampshire, with Lucy riding on a pillion behind him and carrying her wedding trousseau in the saddlebags. Family legend says that, as they rode through the woods, Jeremiah uprooted a small elm tree and gave it to Lucy for a riding whip. They planted it at their new home, where it flourished for many years.

That same year, Jeremiah signed the Association Test for the colony’s Committee of Safety. On 24 July 1776, he was chosen Lieutenant in the Newport Volunteers, and on 9 June 1777 he left to take part in the capture of Fort Ticonderoga.

While Jeremiah was away, “Madam Jenckes” (as Lucy was called) opened their old colonial home as a wayside tavern for the entertainment of “man and beast.” During the first year of his presidency, George Washington toured New Hampshire and spent a night at the Jenckes’s tavern. In the morning, he commented to her, “Madame, your bread is very beautiful.”

Image generated at Chat GPT of the tavern as it may have looked

Jeremiah was unusually tall for his time – over six feet – as were Lucy, three of their sons, and three of their daughters. Altogether, Jeremiah and Lucy had eight children.

Jeremiah died in Newport, New Hampshire, on 4 Jan 1810. Lucy Whipple Jenckes died on 14 May 1820.

Revolutionary War soldier, Lt. Hugh McManus, was an ancestor of Jan Wells. He served South Carolina. He served for 206 days as Private and 161 days as a Lieutenant in the Militia receiving 81 pounds, 3 shillings and six pence three farthings sterling. For a mare used in 1780 and 1781 for 193 days, he received 69 pounds and 15 shillings sterling on May 19^th, 1785.

He was born in 1747 in Northampton County, South Carolina to Capt. James M. McManus and Mary Frohock Rollins. He married Mary Elizabeth “Betsey” Campbell in 1770 in Chesterfield, SC. She was born in 1752.

Their children were John (married Rebecca Terrell), Nancy (married Henry Yater), Elizabeth, Jane, Robert Thomas (married Mary Polly Cain), Sarah Sally, Rebecca (married Albert Arthur Stacks), Tabitha Floyd (married Joseph York), Pleasant, and Samuel (married Martha A. Evans).

He died in 1831 in Chesterfield, SC and is buried in the Old Mount Olive Cemetery in Chesterfield county, SC.

Hugh’s DAR ancestor number is A078145. He has 12 female descendants who were DAR members.

Jan Wells is a member of the Mason County Genealogical Society

Revolutionary War soldier, William Tatum (Tatom)Sr., served Virginia in the war. He was in the 3^rd regiment of Capt. John Ashby’s company under Commander Col. Marshall and Lieut. John Tibbs. He was on the payroll for July 1777 as a private receiving 6 2/3 dollars for the month for pay. He received Bounty Land Grant No. 1472 for 274 acres in North Carolina on Dec. 17, 1802. His pension number was W2270.

He was born on January 11, 1760, in St. George Parish, Spotsylvania County, Virginia to Stephen Tatum and Mourning Melton. He married first Margaret Wright on December 29, 1781, in Granville, NC, and 2^nd wife was widow Mrs. Mary “Polly” Wright on October 27, 1813, in Dickson Co., TN.

His children were Richard (married Levina Hartley), William (married Elizabeth Rose Richardson), Nancy (married Thomas Griffin Dedmon), John C.(married Delila), Benjamin Marshall (married Sarah Dotson), James (married Ann Baker), Ann Shilby (married James A. Tatom), George William (married Sarah Logan), Genetta (married George L. Smith), and Thomas Richardson (married Martha Jane Hudson and Winnie Fredonia).

He died on September 24, 1847, at age 87 in “Tatom Hollow” in Dickson, Dickson County, TN. He was buried in the Tatum-Coleman Cemetery in Houston County (previously Dickson County), TN.

His DAR number is A208894. He has 4 female descendants who were DAR members.

Jan Wells is member of the Mason County Genealogical Society

Revolutionary War Ancestors – A Small World by Susie Graham

Research of my Revolutionary Ancestors brought to light the close relationships of three of my four Revolutionary War Ancestors. They came from different areas and settled near Plattsburgh, New York after the war. Chance brought them together continued with the grandson of two of my Revolutionary War Ancestors marrying a daughter of another of my Revolutionary War Ancestors.

The son of my Revolutionary War Ancestor 5GGF William Dunham, married the daughter of my Revolutionary War Ancestor 5GGF Henry Ostrander. 4GGF Dan Dunham and 4GGM Mary Ostrander had one child together in 1807, 3rd GGF Leander Dunham. This is where it gets weird. My 3GGF Leander Dunham married my 3GGM Deborah Platt Turner, the daughter of my Rev War Ancestor, 4GGF Lemuel Turner. Small World! See my family pedigree chart below.

Leander Dunham came to Washington State in 1890 with his daughter’s family; Dr HH Rust, my 2GGM Estella Dunham Sheldon Rust, and my GGM Etta Shelton. Etta Sheldon married Arthur E Johnston (Washington State Pioneer) who was the descendent of my Revolutionary War Ancestor, 4GGF Arthur Johnston.

Revolutionary War Ancestry Arthur Johnston – 4th GGF.of Susie Graham

Private Arthur Johnston served in Hardenburgh’s 4th regiment in Ulster, New York and was in Jansen’s Regiment of the New York Militia out of Wallkill, Ulster, NY. In the records on Fold3 for Arthur Johnston, it is noted his cards are filed under Arthur Jonston. Nara Catalog Id 602384 Revolutionary War Rolls, compiled 1894-1913, documenting the period 1775-1783.

Arthur was born around 1750 in Scotland, Ireland or British America. The 1790 USC shows him residing in Wallkill, Ulster NY. His wife is Jennette, possibly Haythorn or Hawthorn, his son, my 3GGF, William Johnston was born in 1778 in Orange County NY, daughter, Elizabeth Johnston married Jason Linderman in 1793 in Shawangunk near Wallkill NY. I have not been able to find the Johnston family in the 1800 USC. They show up in Cayuga County NY in the 1810 USC. Arthur died around 1816 in Genoa, Cayuga, NY as noted on property records that name his heirs: Dower Jennette Johnston and 5 children, Elizabeth Linderman, William, James H, Agnes Edwards, and Jennet Rogers.

I am a descendant of Arthur’s son William. His family moved to Harmony, Chautauqua, NY. William’s son James H moved to Minnesota from where my GGF Arthur E Johnston moved to Gig Harbor, Washington in the Spring of1889 (see Washington Pioneer Records).

Lemuel Turner – 4th GGF of Susie Graham

Mustered Easton MA at age 27 for Plymouth Colony under Muster Master James Hatch. He served under Capt. Burr and Capt. Bradford in Col. Bailey’s 4th Company and regiment with Continental Army pay accounts from 1 Jan 1778 to 31 Dec 1779. He served under Seth Drew, Captain and Commandant; 2d Mass – Continental Army pay accounts from 1 Jan 1780 to 11 Oct 1780. He was in the Battles of White Plains at the taking of Gen. Burgoyne, in the Battle where the Hessians were taken, and at the capture of Lord Cornwallis’ army. He was wounded in the thigh by a musket ball at Stillwater, NY. He had a furlough to go home and was home sick when the war ended. The army designated him as a deserter on 11 Oct 1780, so, he did not file papers for ending his service as he was already home. His widow, Adah Daniels, was later denied a pension.

Lemuel Turner was born 29 Aug 1749 in Bridgewater, Plymouth MA to John Turner and Elizabeth Phillips. He had three marriages; to Mary Fuller (died 1781), Sarah Drake Randal (died 1798) and Adah Gaylord m. 1 Feb 1799. His children by Adah were Enos, Deborah Platt Dunham, Amelia Ann Larabre, and Lucy E Crawford. He died on 6 Mar 1817 in Plattsburgh, Clinton, NY. I am a descendant of Deborah Platt Dunham who married Leander Dunham the grandson of my Revolutionary War Ancestors Henry Ostrander and William Dunham.

Revolutionary War Ancestor -Sgt. William Dunham – 5th GGF of Susie Graham

William Dunham served for Vermont under Captain Hazen’s Company in Wood’s Regiment Vermont Militia He marched to Brookfield in the alarm on June 9, 1781. From Hartford VT April 3,1781 he marched with Lt. Bramble to Dresden in the alarm at Newbury. As a Sergeant, he marched with Captain Bramble’s Company Vermont Militia to Bethell Fort in August 1781.

William Dunham was born 15 March 1749 to Josiah and Mariam Fuller in Attleboro, Bristol, Massachusetts. His wife was Rebecca. Children were Charles, William, Dan, Philena Thurston, Rebekah Chamberlain, Bethiah Badcock, Guy and Josiah. He resided in Hartford, VT during the Revolutionary War and died after 1827 as mentioned in Hartford, VT property records of his son, Guy Dunham of Plattsburgh NY.

I am a descendant of William’s son Dan. Dan married my Revolutionary War Ancestor Henry Ostrander’s daughter, they had one son, Leander Dunham, b.1807 Plattsburg NY. Leander married my Revolutionary War Ancestor Lemuel Turner’s daughter, Deborah Platt Turner. In 1890, Leander moved with his daughter Estella Dunham Sheldon Rust’s family to the new State of Washington where they settle in Artondale then moved to Gig Harbor where Dr HH Rust practiced medicine. Etta Sheldon married Arthur E Johnston (Washington State Pioneer) and descendant of my Revolutionary War Ancestor Arthur Johnston.