Notes:

Susan Briggs married Mr. Moore.

Birth:
Alt DOB: 30 Aug 1822.

Died:
Aged 88y 5m 7d. =30 Aug 1822. COD: Senile decay. & heart failure.

Family/Spouse: Mr. (Susan) MOORE. Mr. was born about 1822. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Robert is the son of Abigail Ryder & Caleb Briggs Sr., [b1749.6.19, East Greenwich, Rhode Island - 1828.11.14 Stanford, Dutchess, NY [i.e. part of Nine Partners.]

Robert also had 2 sons, Caleb, & Jonathan when he meet & married Anne Willson.

> David Graham wrote: Briggs on one occasion killed a bear & my father [Jeremiah] & my uncle John Willson palmed it off upon their wives for beef & then laughed at them for eating it.
Ref: Story by David Graham.

. UCLPetition 52, B Bundle 7, C1621, p813
Petition of Robert Briggs, Adolphustown Twp., Yeoman
Your petitioner has been near 2 years in the Province [1803 ], taken & subscribed the Oak of allegiance. He is of sufficient ability to cultivate lands & is delirious
to occupy & improve a vacant lot of land. He is prepared to undertake to pay within 3 days the whole of the Fees to be changed on the Patent that is to issued. Wherefore he prays please to grant him 200 acres.
Signed, Robert Briggs, York, 12 March 1805.
. Receipt 43, Robt. Briggs paid into this office £5 sterling on a Patent fees for 200 Acres.Signed Peter Russell, Registered General Office.
> David Graham wrote: Briggs on one occasion killed a bear & my father [Jeremiah] & my uncle John Willson palmed it off upon their wives for beef & then laughed at them for eating it.
. Envelope., Received from himself 1805.3.5
Recommend for 200 Acres. Warrant 43, issued 1805 Mar 13.

. Monument Inscription:
ROBERT BRIGGS
DIED Jan. 15, 1834:
Aged 55 y's 1 mo. & 29 d's.

With anxious care I did preserve
The cares and toils of my life
My grief and pain were known to few
I early lost a loving wife.
My helpless children around me stood
Mine eyes beheld a lonesome home
My feeble hands did all they could
Till Jesus brought me to the tomb.

. Father of Robt.: Caleb Briggs [ 1749 Jun 19, E Greenwich, Kent Co., Rhode Island - 1828 Nov 14, Stanford, Dutchess, NY.]:

. 1804 May 19 - $25 Reward, Stolen out of the pasture, on the 19th inst. a pair of Oxen, about 9 years old, one large red ox a white face & round hole cut in one of his ears, the other a very black stag, with very short straight legs. Whoever will return the said oxen & thief, shall be entitled to $25, & whoever will return the said oxen to the subscriber shall be entitled to the above reward.
Signed, Caleb Briggs. Stanford, Great Nine Partners, near the Coldspring,
Ref: Poughkeepsie Journal Newspaper, NY, pub. 1804 Jun 5 to July 3rd.

Research & transcriptions by PJ Ahlberg. Thank you. - - -

Died:
Aged 55y 1m 29d.

Buried:
Sharon / Children of Peace Burying Grounds.

Robert married Anna Maria ANNIE WILLSON. Anna (daughter of John WILLSON, .1 and Catherine B KUHN) was born in Aug 1786 in Clinton Twp., Dutchess Co., New York; died on 24 Dec 1824 in Sharon, E. Gwillimbury, York Co., Ontario; was buried in Sharon Burial Grounds. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Anne was a widow with two sons, Hugh, & James when she meet & married Robert C. Briggs.

. Monument Inscription:
ANNA wife of ROBERT BRIGGS
DIED Dec. 24, 1824:
Aged 38 y's.

Beloved by all that knew my name.
A tender mother to my home.
I left my bed of grief and pain
To lie and sleep beneath this stone
My children lost their dearest friend
A loving mother's tender care
In childbed my young life did end
I left my home and orphan there.

& their son's monument:
DAVID WILLSON
SON OF CALEB & MARY BRIGGS:
Died Feb. 12, 1847
Aged 1 y’r 7 m’s. & 21 days.
Here lies the child that caused a tear
Mid many a mournful sigh,
Now parted from his mother dear
In this cold grave to lie.
white rectangular marble stone, headed by an inscribed square enclosing a single rose, 12” wide, 19.5” high, 2” thick. - - -

Died:
Aged 38ys.

Notes:

. John is the son of Jane Ramsay & Hugh Willson, born 1700 Ireland.
John's first wife died 1768 in Ireland. He then married Catherine Kuhn in New York.
> NOTE: This first husband of Catharine Kuhn is unrelated to the John Willson, Esq., 2nd husband of Catherine B Kuhn. - PJA

* John Willson, b. 1745, d. before 1791 Feb 12 Clinton.
Note: date wife was appointed administratrix. - PJA]

. He fled Ireland ahead of the authorities as he was outspoken against injustices & rigged trials leaving his pregnant wife in his parents' care. The newspapers carried account of their flight.
Hugh L. Willson was born in County Down while the family had been living in Carrickfergus County Antrim leads me to think that John's FIRST wife was living on her brother-in-law's farm at the time of Hugh L Willson's birth.
He met & married Catherine in New York & they had a rented farm 12 miles east of Poughkeepsie near the Connecticut border.
John had little sympathy for the xx & that before & after the actual declaration of war, he had been arrested several times, bound over to keep the peace, fined & even served a term of imprisonment for defending sometimes with his fists, his right to reject the excesses of the most militant of the colonists.

. 1790 Clinton, Duchess, New York Census
Augustine Titus, Males 3, Boys under 16Y 2, Females 5 [Total 10 Persons], (& next person is )
John Willson, Males 3, boys under 16Y - 2, Females 6 [Total 11 Persons].

. Clinton, Dutchess Co., NY
Clinton was first settled around 1755. The town was part of the Great Nine Partners Patent of 1697. The town was established in 1786 from territory from the Towns of "Charlotte" & Rinebeck.

Prior to the War of the Revolution Presbyterians at Poughkeepsie held services with more or less regularity. They shared the ministrations of a pastor now with the Rombout Church at Brinckerhoff & now with the Pleasant Valley Church. During the war the congregation at Poughkeepsie lapsed out of existence. In 1817 the congregation was revived & in 1826 it was formally organized. This lot of land was given to the church in 1821 for burial purposes. Since 1911 the lot has been sold by the church & a garage built upon it but legal difficulties have been encountered, in connection with passing the title, affording a specific instance of the fact that ground originally set aside for burial purposes can rarely be transferred with clear title.
Ref: Old Gravestones of Dutchess Co. NY, JW Poucher, 1924.

. The GREAT Nine Partners:
Located in the present Poughkeepsie Precinct (i.e. similar to a county).
Dutchess then comprised the following towns: Amenia, Beekman, Clinton (formed March 13, 1786, from portions of Charlotte & Rhinebeck Precincts), Fishkill, North East, Pawling, Poughkeepsie, Rhinebeck & Washington. A Presbyterian church was organized in Poughkeepsie as early as 1749, but failed to maintain itself or erect a building. - - -

Died:
(Nine Partners is near Poughkeepsie, NY & also borders on Connecticut.)

John married Catherine B KUHN in 1770 in New York State. Catherine was born on 10 Feb 1754 in Dutchess County, New York; died on 10 Feb 1840 in Sharon, E. Gwillimbury, York Co., Ontario; was buried in Sharon Burial Grounds. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

(Catherine's middle name of Barbara is unproven & subject to verification. -PJA)

. KUHN SURNAME:
KUHN is a German surname. Some biographers give Catherine's PARENTS being born in Scotland. In all certainty this is a misunderstanding of the surname Kuhn, perhaps thinking it was derived from the Scottish Colquhoun, which is pronounced Coon ! (Likewise, her mother's name & nationality is also unknown at this time.) - PJ Ahlberg, 2018.

Catherine B Kuhn's first husband was also named John Willson. He was born in 1745 Carrickfergus Ireland & died bef. 1791 Poughkeepsie, NJ. The widow Willson accompanied her son Hugh L Willson to Sharon, Ontario. Children of Catherine B Kuhn & her first husband John Willson of Nine Partners, Duchess Co., NY., were David, John J, Ann & Mary Willson. Her son is David Wilson of Children of Peace, Sharon, Ontario.

* 1791 Feb 112. ADMINISTRATRIX
The People of the State of NY, by the Grace of God, Free & Independent.
To Catherine Willson, widow of John Willson, late of Clinton Town in Duchess County, farmer, dereased,
Whereas the said John Willson, installer, having whilst living & at the time of his death, goods, chattels or credits within this State by mans whereof, the ordering & granting Administration of all & singular said goods & also the auditing allowing & final discharging the account there of doth appertain unto us, & we being desirous that the goods of the said diseased my be well & faithful administered, applied & disposed of do grant unto you the said Catharine Willson full power to the presents to administer & faithful dispose of all the singular said goods & receive debs at the time of his death…to cause to be exhibited into the Office of the Surrogate of Dutchess County before the expiration of 6 calendar months from the date here of, & also render a just & true account of administration & appoint you the said Catharine Willson, Administratrix of all goods, chattels & credits of the said John Willson.
In witness, signed, Gilbert Livingston, Esq., Surrogate of said County, Poughkeepsie, 12 February, 1791.
Ref: NY Wills & Probate, Dutchess, Letters Testamentary and of Administration, Vol A-B, P.72 (83).

. 1928 Kate Koon Bovey visited Bischmisheim, Germany (near Saarbrucken) & saw the Luthern Baptism records for Matthias Kuntz (born bet. 1660-67) s/o Matthias Kuntz married1, Anna Margaretha Margaret, d. 2.2.1704 & married2, on 10.1. 1704 to Anna Margaretha Spitz of Frankfurt.
She also visited where Mathias lived in Clove*, near the towns of Poughquag & Beekman in the Poughkeepsie Valley, NY. Later they lived in Germantown which is also on the Hudson River. Nicholas's wife was Philetta. Matthias Kuntz left for America in 1790, via Holland & England & landed 1710 Germantown, NY. 13 children by 2 marriages.
Ref: Koon & Coons families of eastern NY, Kate Koon Bovey, 1841-1912 of Minneapolis, Minn., published 1937.

. The children of Catherine B Kuhn & her first husband, John Willson, were:
David Willson; Ann Willson b 1786, Dutchess Co. NY; Mary Wilson b. 1792.

Catherine's son David Willson was the founder of the Children of Peace, in Sharon, Ontario. A favourite topic of Willson's was "Public Affairs, their Total Depravity," coupled with denunciations of the so-called Family Compact," of the ruling rich families. Catherine's 2nd husband, John Willson, UE., would no doubt have been sympathetic to this point of view. Gov. John Graves Simcoe in first appointments made John Willson a Magistrate in the new Upper Canada & Willson was soon sidelined by the Family Compact. - PJ Ahlberg 2012.

Hugh L. Willson who returned there from the York Mills area in 1819. John Sr. died 8 July 1829, aged 90, & his funeral was conducted by the Rev. Strachan in the meeting house of the Children of Peace. This is highly ironic as the Rev. Strachan preached in the same little chapel at York Mills as did David Willson much to the annoyance of the inhabitants. Soon after the death of John Willson Sr., the Rev. Strachan took control of this chapel without the consent of many of those who had contributed to its building, & banned David Willson from using it. Catherine Willson died 10 Feb. 1840, aged 86. Both John & Catherine are buried in the Children of Peace cemetery.

John Willson, Esq. 's first wife Rebecca Thickson died 6 June 1804 in Markham, Ontario.
. 1805 Sep 18, Catherine & John Willson Sr. were married by the Rev. John Strachan in St. James Cathedral, Town of York.
Perhaps John Willson & Mrs. Catherine Kuhn Willson first met at York Mills (Wilson Avenue) where for some time son John Willson, Jr. operated a mill. John Willson, Jr. was also the trustee for a small chapel at York Mills which the David Willson & his Children of Peace used to hold services, much to the annoyances of Rev. Strachan. 15 years after they married, John & Katherine were living on Yonge Street in Markham where, on 15 June, 1820, John Willson filed a claim for this War of 1812 service. - PJ Ahlberg, 2012

> In your letter of the 24th ult., 1829 you asked about one John Willson who died at Hope (Sharon, ON) about this old man was called Squire Willson. He was David Willson's stepfather, my father's stepmother's second husband (Katherine Kuhn). Her first husband, also called John Willson, died about 1788 in Duchess County, New York). She soon after married Squire Willson who was a man highly respected. He came, I believe from NS in Gov. Simcoe's time & was by the Governor much thought of. He had a large family by a former wife, but none by this one. There are a number of great grandchildren, living in the Twps. of York & Scarborough. There was a grandson of his, John Willson by name, in the service of the Canada Company at the time of the settling of Goderich & neighborhood.
When these old people became helpless, David Willson took them home & kept them until they died. They died poor but honest. They once had property which his children spent for them.
Ref: Extracted from a letter of 5 December, 1869, Holland Landing Richard Titus Willson.

. Red Hook, Dutchess Co.
Ncholas Bonesteel & Anna Margretha Kuhn, his wife, with some of their children, were among the early settlers. A portion of the village of Red Hook is now on the easterly part of their farm. Of their descendants, Philip N. Bonesteel was a merchant, magistrate & post-master in Red Hook for many years. His son, Virgil D., was Surrogate of Dutchess county in 1844.
John, James, Daniel & Robert Wilson, four brothers, settled in the vicinity of Upper Red Hook before 1770, & engaged in farming. The 2 eldest married the Kuhn sisters, daughters of Simon Kuhn.
Ref: Dutchess Co. Genealogy & History.

. Story of Sharon, by Ethel Willson Trewhella, The Story of Sharon
Wild turkeys & wild pigeons were one of the worst pests as well as a ready supply of food. When they settled on the ground one old timer has described the scene as a heaving sea of blue, They ate the crops, stripped the wild fruit trees. The pigeons roosted in trees in such numbers that branches broke from the weight & many birds fell to the ground. At these times which came to be anticipated, women & children the settlement went with baskets & scooped up these disabled bits. they were acted & put away for the coming winter. As late as June 12 18757 a Newmarket Era story speaks of wild pigeons have been very plentiful in this section during the past 10 days. The are very wild & difficult to kill. In 1865 5h same aper remarked they were much diminished in numbers. A few years later notice of the Pigeon Shoots in Sharon but few pigeons appeared because of uncontrolled ruthless slaughter.
Black Frost of 1816. in the summer of 1816 the black first again swept the clearings & reduced the inhabitants to starvation. Nothing was saved, herbage was blackened, the wheat was unfit fo sale & unfit for read. It began to snow in June & continued intermittently until the next spring.
Ref: Newmarket Era & Express, published 1951.6.28, p3.

Transcriptions by PJ Ahlberg. Thank you. - - -

RESEARCH FOR CATHERINE B KHUN'S PARENTS & HISTORY:

History & Roster of Peter Khun Family in the USA.1932

Red Hook, Duchess, NJ
. Nicholas Bonesteel & Anna Margretha Kuhn, his wife, with some of their children, were among the early settlers. A portion of the village of Red Hook is now on the easterly part of their farm. Of their descendants, Philip N. Bonesteel was a merchant, magistrate & post-master in Red Hook for many years. His son, Virgil D., was Surrogate of Dutchess county in 1844.
. John, James, Daniel & Robert Wilson, 4 brothers, settled in the vicinity of Upper Red Hook before 1770, & engaged in farming. The 2 eldest married the Kuhn sisters, daughters of Simon Kuhn.
Refs: Historical & Genealogical Record Dutchess & Putnam Counties.

* 1782 Mar 3, Reyn Beeck Dutch Reformed Church (now Redhood, NY)
Baptism: Child, John, Parents John Wilson & Elisabeth Kuhn
Witnesses: John Felder, Catharina Kuhn.
Note: this raises interesting possibilities, Catharina Kuhn would be Catherine Willson, not Kuhn at this date., or is this senior Catharine Kuhn?
Ref: Dutch Reformed Church, Reyn Beeck Book 40,( Red Hook, Duchess Co., NY)
. Rhinebeck Cemetery, Duchess Co., NY: John Wilson, born/baptized Mar 3, 1782 - died Jul 11, 1815, aged 33y 4m 8d.

. Anna Margaretha Kuhn, c172- died before 1744 other spellings: Coens, Coons .
d/o Elisabetha Kilmer c 1697 & Johann Wiliem Kuhn 1695 Germany Landed 1710 (some of 6 children born Camp east bank, Columbia Co. NY) see #8.

. KUHN - 10/29/00 - looking for information on the Kuhn dairy farm in Pine Bush NY around the late 1800's to about 1910 any info. wiill help E-Mail nil add

. PITCHER - 1/07/05 - Heinrich Pitcher born 1762 around Rhinebeck, N.Y. -11.4.1800, Clermont, Columbia, NY. He was married 4.30.1786, NY to Catharine Kuhn born 1762 Germantown, NY-11.4.1800 Clermont, Columbia, NY,
& had a daughter, Polly Pitcher on Feb. 24, 1794. I'm looking for parents of Heinrich & Catharine. Polly married Peter Van Etten in 1813. They lived in Sodus Twnshp. Wayne Co., N.Y. & both died there. [email protected]

. My Ed Kuhn & brother John Kuhn lived in Pine Bush New York they had a farm there. John married Grace DeWitt & Fred lived in Middle town N.Y
7. Smith (1881) has the following: "John Wilson & Elizabeth Kuhn had children as follows: Catharine, baptized March 27, 1774, married Col. Philip Pitcher, of Upper Red Hook; " (p. 204).

. ANNA ELISABETHA KILMER (GEORG KILLMER, GEORG was born August 14, 1698 in Altengronau, Hessen, Germany, & died Unknown in Red Hook, Dutchess County, New York, USA. She married JOHANNAS WILHELM KUHN 1719 in Red Hook, Dutchess Co., New York, USA. He was born Bet. 1697 - 1699 in Germany, & died Unknown in Red Hook, Dutchess County, New York, USA.

. Working research: Looking for family:
Poughkeepsie is 22 miles from Red Hook., Dutchess Co., NY
Titusville is six miles from Nine Partners.
Nine Partners & Poughkeepsie are about 12 miles away.

. Catharina Kuhn, c 1745, d/o Anna Gertrud Falckerberg 1711, West Camp, Ulster, NY, married 1734 to Henry Kuhn, 17k08, Columbia & died Clermont, Columbia NY
Red Hook, NY: Nicholas Bonesteel married Anna Margretha Kuhn.

. John, James, Daniel & Robert Wilson, four brothers, settled in the vicinity of Upper Red Hook before 1770, & engaged in farming. The two eldest married the Kuhn sisters, daughters of Simon Kuhn. *
Ref: Historical & Genealogical Record, Dutchess & Putum Co., 1912, pg. 45.

*1751, Jul 11. Advertisement: Lottery in the Borough of Lancaster for purchasing a fire engine & other public uses. The following persons are appointed managers of the lottery:...Simon Kuhn.
. 1751 Aug 19, Lancaster Lottery Tickets to dispose of Adam Simon Kuhn.
. 1772 Mar 26 - Phila. General Assembly the following laws were passed: An Act for confirming the estate of Adam Simon Khun, in & to a certain lot of ground borough of Lancaster, one of the title deeds where of is lost.
. 1786 Jan 12 & 1791 Phila. Meeting of American Philosophical Society, Fri. Last, elected the following: Dr. Benjamin Franklin, Esq. President. Dr. Adam Kuhn, Counsellor.
Ref: Pennsylvania Gazette, Philadelphia, PA . - - -

Birth:
Verify exact location. NOTE: Kuhn is German & NOT that she was Scotch, but that 'Her parents were Scotch.' Mistaken for Colquhoun, pronounced Coon!

Died:
Granite monument with three rounded peaks, 15.5" -wide, 32” high, 3.5” thick.

Buried:
Children of Peace. Monument erected by D.W.

Notes:

. Hugh had been destined for the Presbyterian ministry, but the economic disruption of the Seven Years' War (1756-1763) had led to a downturn in the family fortunes & put an end to Hugh's schooling.

. 1775, Hugh followed his Brother John Willson to America, bringing with him John's son, Hugh L., who went to live with his father & stepmother. Two sons Hugh & John Willson came to American 1770, sail up the Hudson River to Dutchess County NY.

Hugh made a fortune in shipbuilding. Three or four of his grandsons built mansions in Ireland while the oldest continued living in Daramona House. George built Dunardagh, Robert built Coolcarrigan & James built Currygrane. - - -

Died:
ie. near Poughkeepsie, NY

Hugh married Sarah SAVAGE. Sarah was born in 1745 in County Down, Ireland; died on 4 Jun 1827 in Wentworth Co., Ontario; was buried in Sharon Burial Grounds. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
Verify age, too young?

Buried:
West Gwillimbury Twp., ON