Freelove Groger

This narrative is most likely written by Freelove GROGER Nye Stanton. April 14, 1835 Hannah BRAND was born March 10, 1775, in the town of Westerly, RI, five miles from the ocean. Her father's name was John BRAND. He lived in Westerly. Her mother's maiden name was Isabella LEAVITT, born in Charleston, RI. October 19, 1748, died in Orangeville, Genesee County, NY, November 6, 1821. She had three children by her first husband, Fanna, Hannah and Stephen. Her first husband had two wives previous to marrying her. He courted her after losing his first wife, and her mother broke up the match. He married a second wife, lost her, and then married grandmother. She lived with him some years. He went into the war, fought for his country and went privateering. Was taken by the British and died with the small pox. Stephen, the youngest, born December 27, 1779, was three weeks old when grandfather left home in 1780. They then lived in Westerly. He had two brothers, Robert and Simeon. His mother died; his father married again and had two daughters, Sarah and Jane. His first wife's name was Mary BUNDY, Deziah BROWN, third wife Isabella LEAVITT. Joseph LEAVITT was born in Boston, Massachusetts. His father came from England, was a wholesale merchant in Boston. Joseph LEAVITT courted a daughter of one of his father's tenants. His father caused her to be carried off but love prompted by ambition caused him to follow her. She drowned herself the day before he got there. He then went home, told his father he never should see his face again, so he took to travelling for life. In the course of his travels he came to Rhode Island. He put up for the night in Charleston, Austin's Hotel. Austin had three sons and three daughters, Elizabeth, Thankful, Hannah, Edward, Thomas and Jedadah4. Joseph LEAVITT was a great singer. Mr. Austin invited him to sing for his daughters. He did so and fell in love with the youngest. Next morning he asked her in marriage of the father. The old man made the excuses usual on such occasions but he was not easily daunted. He finally set a time to come again. He accordingly came at the appointed time and married her. They never kept house. When she was able they travelled together; when not he went alone. One time when travelling they were followed by three men for three days. On the third night they put up for the night in Boston. They were there attacked by the three men. They nearly killed grandmother. They said she would never go with him again. They had four children. Hanna, Isabella, Joseph and Fanna. Fanna died when 14 years of age. Grandfather LEAVITT was poisoned to death. After he died, grandmother married a man named HALL, in Charleston, a farmer. Had four children by him, Mercy, Stephen, Freelove and Sylvia. Mercy died. Sylvia married Clark. Freelove lived an old maid. Her father died and she lived with her mother. The old lady died in April, 1812 in Rhode Island. But to return to my subject after much digression: Isabella LEAVITT Brand lived a widow 14 years. Her son married Mercy CLARK. Grandmother moved into the country with him to Tyringham; from there to New Lebanon, NY. Mother went with a cousin of hers. They went twenty miles and settled, mother with them. She finally went to live in Babcock. She lived there until she was eighteen. She was fourteen when she went there. Grandmother went to see her a year and a half after they left Rhode Island. While there in Babcock she (Hannah BRAND) was courted by a Mr. Eagleston. He wanted to marry her. He was a merchant in Charleston. She would not marry him, although she agreed to. Fanna, mother's sister, married Joshua WELLS. His father was a Baptist minister, as also himself. From Babcock mother went and lived with her sister Fanna. Uncle used to go a coasting to Nova Scotia. There he found a young man by the name of Richard GROGER from the city of Dublin. Uncle invited him home with him. He accordingly went and married Hannah BRAND1 July 4, 1795, Hopkinton, Rhode Island, Elder Burdick, Sabbatorian2. They then moved to Pawcatuck Bridge. Richard GROGER was born May 12, 1796 From there they moved to Stonington, CT. Steven GROGER was born Sept. 30, 1797 William GROGER was born March 26, 1799 Freelove GROGER was born Nov. 26, 1800 Moved from there to New Lebanon, 25 miles from Albany John GROGER From there moved to Verona, Oneida County,NY David Levitt GROGER Moved from there to Otsego county Hannah Isabella Moved back to Verona Mary From there we moved to Westmorland. Ann Father was born March 17, 1773, died March 28, 1813 of marsh epidemic fever. We lived in Westmorland four years wanting five days. The boys came into this country and took land. Stephen came back after the family. We moved to this country one year from the March following. Grandsir and Grandmother came with us into this country. Mother lived a widow two years, then married Joseph Warren, a Revolutionary soldier, and still lives (in 1835). But to return to my father, Richard GROGER was born near Dublin City. His father was a farmer. His mother (who was an English woman) died when he was three weeks old. He had two brothers, Joseph and William, and three sisters. William was deaf and dumb and died young. Joseph was thrown from a horse, which made him a cripple. He was hunting in the King's Park, which he used frequently to do. He finally after that kept a hotel near Dublin. His sister's names were Mary, Jane and Elsa. Mary was kicked on the head by a horse. She was trepaned3. All were Protestants, belonged to the Church of England. This is the most I can gather respecting our lineage. Mother's brother, Ben is an open-communion Baptist minister. He married Mercy Clark for his first wife. They had three children, Hannah, Mary and Clark. He married again Phoebe WELLS. By her he had one child, Joseph. Grandmother took Clark and took care of him until quite a lad. Uncle then moved into the State of Indiana, where he lives in wealth. He has six of his grandchildren to take care of (orphans) in his old age. Hannah married a SMITH for her first husband. He died, left her with one child which grandmother brought up. She then married WRIGHT, by whom she had one child, and he died. She then married SIMMONS, a noted school teacher. He is now dead and she is married again. Mary and her husband are both dead. Clark is dead, left a wife and two children. Married JOSEPHS5. To return to our family there are ten children, five sons and five daughters. Richard married Cynthia PERRY. There were eight children. Stephen married Mahala JOSLIN. Freelove married David NYE with whom she lived six years, when he died leaving her four children, three boys and one girl. John married Clavissa DUDLEY. David married Marlow JOHNSON for first wife. She lived two years and a half; died when her first child was born. He then married Sylvia PETTENGILL. Hannah married A.Y. BRECK. Mary married David J. MAPLES. Ann married Eugene Z. STOW. William married Philantha BARNS. 1 Hannah BRAND is Freelove's mother. 2 Sabbatorian is 7th Day Baptist, they hold services on Saturday, considering Sunday to be the first day of the week. 3 Trepaned is like a lobotomy 4 This is probably Jedadiah 5 This must be Clark's wife who remarried In another document, there is correspondence from Howard MAPLES, who had resided in Buffalo, NY, stating that he remembers his grandmother Freelove and the family bible that she had. So, I am assuming that Freelove didn't have to rely on memory for all of her information Mother: Hannah BRAND Marriage 1 Peter STANTON b: in England Children Ruth Rose STANTON b: 1835 Hannah J. STANTON b: 21 DEC 1836 in Seville, Ohio Anna STANTON b: 1839 Esther STANTON b: 1840 William STANTON b: 1846 Marriage 2 C. David NYE Children Mary NYE source: Donna (Bennett) Whinnery (descendant of Stanton's)