Dorcus Bradley Hamilton

Dorcus Bradley Hamilton was born in Essex and lived in Essex most of her adult life where she remained close to her sister Sylvia the wife of Samuel Griffin. The marriage of Dorcus Bradley to David Hamilton is found in Volume #1 of the Essex town records. The entry starts, “I herby certify that the following Persons were legally joined in marriage in the year 1807”. On the list we find “September 20 David Hamilton & Dorcus Bradley Essex”. They are buried in the Elmwood Cemetery in Burlington, VT. In the cemetery registry, Dorcus Bradley Hamilton, April 19, 1866 and David Hamilton, January 9, 1864. Within the records of the Congregational Society we find listed under the name David Hamilton a list of the children they had baptized, Emily, Fanny, Phebe, Clarissa, John Emerson, Harmon Meigs and Celestia Adeline. The Hamilton’s made their home in Essex for much of their life moving to Burlington later in life where the history for the marriages and deaths of their children are recorded. We have previously documented the family of Dorcus’ parents Samuel and Abigail Bradley on the Blog. There seems to be no direct evidence for the parents of David Hamilton. For example unusual for the day his parents are not listed on his death record. There is strong evidence of a Hamilton family in the earliest Essex records led by Charles Hamilton. Given the size of Essex in 1786 it is highly unlikely that he is not David’s father. David throughout his adult life was referred to as “Deacon” David Hamilton. He followed Dorcus’ father Samuel Bradley as a Deacon for the Congregational Society in Essex. The Griffin family letters also refer to him as the Deacon. An age of 78 in the cemetery records puts his birth around 1786 according to his marriage record in Essex. ______________________Much of the documentary history for Dorcus and David’s family play’s out in Burlington. We present here a brief history of the children listed in the Congregational records. __________________________Emily Hamilton died August 31, 1892 of “Old Age” in Burlington according to her death record. She is listed as Emily H. (Hamilton) Cook her parents are listed as David Hamilton and Dorcus. An age of 84 places her birth in 1808 her parents having married in 1807. Emily married Anson G. Cook. It was a 2nd marriage for Anson. Emily’s adult life was connected to her sister Celestia. In the 1870 census Emily and Anson are listed as “borders” in the household of Burnam Seaver and her sister Celestia (Lettie). Celestia in her will includes the proviso that her sister, Emily Cook, be allowed to remain in the Seaver home until her death. The 1860 census includes a son Wyllis (Willis) age 7. Anson left his entire estate to Willis before his death July 26, 1882. Emily is buried in the Elmwood Cemetery along with her parents. The cemetery records list her as Emily Hamilton Cook. ____________________________________ According to her death records Fanny was born in Essex August 22, 1811. Her death is noted as March 11, 1883. Her parents are recorded as David Hamilton and “D”. The death record lists her as Fanny Brown. Fanny married Edmund Brown. Fanny and Edmund made their home in Burlington. _____________________________ The death record for Phebe C. Hamilton is dated April 23, 1887 in Burlington at the age of 74. Her parents are listed as David Hamilton and Dorcus. Her place of birth is noted as Essex. Fanny shares a headstone with her husband in the Lakeview Cemetery in Burlington it reads, John Liscum / 1809-1883 / His wife / Phebe C. Hamilton / 1813-1887. Phebe and John raised a large family in Burlington. One of the executors for her will was her sister Celestia’s husband Burnam Seaver. _________________________________ Clarissa Hamilton married Henry Hall Bostwick. The couple made their home in Bridgeport, Fairfield, Connecticut. Her death record contains a lot of details; Aug 10, 1885/ Clarissa H. Bostwick / Maiden name, Hamilton / age 69 yrs 10 mo. / wife of H. H. / born Vermont / Parents, David born Vermont, Dorcus born Vermont. The headstone inscription in the Mt. Grove Cemetery in Bridgeport reads “Bostwick Henry H., died Sept 13, 1890, age 80. Bostwick, Clarissa Hamilton, wife, died Aug 10, 1885, age 66”. Bostwick family tradition places her birth on October 4, 1815. _________________________ There is a detailed biography for John Emerson Hamilton in the alumni records of the University of Vermont. “”Was born in Essex, Vt. 22 December 1817, the son of deacon David and Dorcus Bradley Hamilton. His preparatory training was received at the hands of Aaron G. Pease of the class of 1837. After graduation taught in Wellsboro, Pa. and also in Bath, N. Y. where he was elected superintendent of schools in 1852. So successful was his work in the educational field that in 1854 he was invited to become principal of the Oswego high school, which had been organized one year before. Here his rare ability as organizer and instructor had ample scope. After eighteen years service as principal he established in 1872 a boys’ English and Classical school in the same city, through which for twelve years more he exerted a vigorous formative influence on such youth as were seeking a more complete equipment for their life-work. In 1884 he was chosen superintendent of the city schools and secretary of the local board of education a position which he filed with intelligence and vigor till his death 11 June 1893. Mr. Hamilton enjoyed the confidence of the teachers and people of the city, and the schools were solidly prosperous and progressive during his administration. He was an active and influential member of the Congregational church, and for thiry-five hears the efficient superintendent of its Sunday school. In 1878 he was elected as alderman, and in 1880 filled the office of mayor. In 1870 the University of the state of New York recognized and acknowledged eminence in his profession by conferring on him the degree of Doctor in Philosophy. Mr. Hamilton married 22 May 1843 Adeline H. Parmelee, then of Williston, Vt. And a lady of education and refinement. She died eight years before him. Two sons survive, (Frank/Francis and Willson) one living is Oswego, and one in Los Angeles, Cal., and a daughter (Lottie) who is married to Lieut. Underwood of the U.S. Navy. Mr. Hamilton was characterized by a clear mind, a large amount of executive ability, and a vigorous will. He was one of the teachers who mould character as well as develop the mental powers. While his body waited for burial the flags of the city were at half-mast, and a large part of the population of Oswego seemed to mourn the loss of a personal friend and a public benefactor”. _____________________________ Harmon Meigs Hamilton was born, based on census data, in 1820. The name Meigs comes from his great grandmother Sarah Meigs the wife of Stephen Bradley. The only records we have recovered for Harmon are the census records. In the 1855 New York census he is living in Bath, N.Y. near John Emerson. In the census records he is described as an insurance agent /merchant. The census records document his wife Alice, who also went by Anna, and a son Edward both born in New York. Harmon ended up in Oswego with his brother John. The last record of him is the 1892 New York census in Oswego. _____________________________________ Celestia Adeline Hamilton was born, according to her death record, in about Dec of 1821. The death record lists her place of birth as Essex and her parents as David Hamilton and Dorcus. Her death is listed as October 15, 1891 at the age of 69 yrs. and 10 months. Celestia married Burnam Seaver. There are a number of spellings for Burnam’s name, Burnham, Burnam, Barnam. In his birth record he is identified as Enoch Burnam Seaver born in Williamstown, Vt., November 7th 1819 the son of Cyrus and Lucy Seaver. In his will he signs his name Burnam Seaver. Celestia and Burnam share a headstone in the Elmwood Cemetery in Burlington. Dea. Burnham Seaver / 1819-1888 / His wife / Celestia A. Hamilton / 1821-1891. On another side of the headstone is their son Osman K Seaver 1842-1863. ________________________________________ The Seaver household was to play a prominent role in the lives of the extended Hamilton family. In the cemetery records the lives of Celestia and Burnam are particularly well documented seeming to indicate that they were a prominent couple in Burlington society. He was referred to as Deacon Seaver. References to him in the history of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Burlington would seem to suggest that at some point in time he had left behind his Congregational roots to join with the Methodist. His status within the community is an indication of a large and prosperous household. Within this household the Seavers were to play host to other members of the family. In the 1870 census listed as borders in the Seaver home is Celestia’s sister Emily and her husband Anson Cook. In Celestia’s will is a provision to allow her widowed sister Emily to remain living in the Seaver home until her death. In her will Celestia also mentions her sister Phebe’s daughter Nellie Richardson (Cornelia). Celestia left the bulk of her estate to Emma Griffin and Emma’s son Orlo Burnham Griffin their signitures are found on the documents. The story of Emma is an interesting one. In the 1850 census as part of the Seaver household is the family of Oscar Laden including his daughter Emma age 2 all of them from New York. In the 1870 Census we find as part of the Seaver household Emma Griffin age 22 born in New York and her son Arlo Griffin age 2 born in Vermont. Emma and Orlo B are again part of the Seaver household in 1880 Emma listed as age 32 born in New York. Emma L.’s death record dated May 7, 1895 lists her parents as Burnham and Celestia Seaver. It is my assumption that Emma L. was born Emma Laden and was adopted by the Seavers. Of note for Griffin family history is the fact that Emma married Samuel Griffin the son of Orlo Griffin, namesake for Orlo Burnham, and the grandson of Dorcus’ sister Sylvia Bradley Griffin.