In the 1850 New Haven, Oswego
Co., NY census Jeremiah Legg, age 64, born in MA, a farmer worth $1,000,
can be found listed with his wife Chloe, age 70, born in CT. Also
included was Henry M. Legg, age 21, a cooper, born NY. Checking this
family in the IGI at Salt Lake, Jeremiah was described as born ca. 1786
at New Haven. His wife, Chloe was said to be born 17 January 1780
in Killingworth, CT, who died in April 1861. She was the daughter
of John Buell and Ruth Wellman.
The IGI recorded four children
for Jeremiah and Chloe: Lyman Buell Legg, born18 November 1816; Chloe Ursula
Legg, born 16 May 1819; Ruth Jennett Legg, born 4 April 1822 and Henry
Martin Legg, born 19 May 1829. Both the IGI and this New Haven census
contained a number of errors, yet both records are useful in part.
Reliable documentation established
that none of this family were born in New Haven. The 1820 and 1830
Ostwegatchee, St. Lawrence Co., NY census enumerated Jeremiah Legg and
his family of 5 males and 3 females.
Other records like the War
of 1812 Service Records from the National Archives reveal a Jeremiah Legg
who served in the Benedict’s Regiment of the NY Militia. Benedict’s
men were nearly all from St. Lawrence County, putting Jeremiah into New
York State early in the 19th century. Historian Crisfield Johnson
said Jeremiah moved to New Haven, NY in 1833 followed by his son Lyman
B. in 1834 to Scriba, NY. In the Index of Awards on Claims of the
Soldiers of the War of 1812 Jeremiah received $33.00 from the State of
New York after he moved into New Haven.
St. Lawrence County records
reveal other Legg references. War of 1812 Service Records note that
a John Legg served as a Sgt. In Benedict’s Regt. of NY Militia. His
specific residence was not noted as the 1819 St. Lawrence Co. census was
not sub-divided into townships. This John Legg was a pensioner of
the Revolutionary War where he served as a private. In the 1835 pension
list there were two mentions of him. He first received a pension
16 July 1818 for service in the Massachusetts line. His age was given
as 71. If the age was correctly noted, he probably did not serve
in the War of 1812. Rather his son John Legg, [Jr.] might have.
But the age may not be wholly accurate as the next mentioned date of 4
June 1823 still gave his age as 71. Finally his death was recorded
as 10 January 1826. Could this date be when he was 71?
These records failed to be specific.
There were several John Legg’s
who served in the Massachusetts line. He was likely to be from Worcester
County, the residence of much of the Legg family during Revolutionary days.
The 1800 Worcester Co., MA
census listed a John Legg, but many facts remain missing. It is not
possible with the data at hand to declare this John Legg of Worcester Co.
or St. Lawrence Co. to be the certain father of Jeremiah, yet no other
name presents itself.
While Jeremiah’s antecedents
stay cloudy, two sons of his removed to Oswego County with him. Henry
still lived at home. Son Lyman B. and his family were enumerated
in the 1850 Scriba, NY census:
Legg, Lyman B. 33
farmer $2000 NY
Julia
30
“
Henryetta M.
1
“
Enos, Nancy
35 servant? CT
By the 1870 Scriba census
the household was enlarged:
Legg, Lyman
55 farmer NY
Julia
50
“
Etta
21
“
Jeremiah
84 carpenter “
Enos, Nancy 55 tailoress
CT
Legg, Wm. B. 7
NY
Jeremiah now said he was
born in NY not MA. His wife Chloe died April 1861. The location
of Henry M. Legg was not found.
Changes were found in the
1880 Scriba census also:
Legg, Lyman
63 farmer NY
Nancy
64 wife CT
Ettie
31 daughter NY
Willie
17 son “
Julia Legg died and Lyman
remarried Nancy Enos apparently. Jeremiah also died. Lyman
continued to reside in Scriba until after 1893.
By the 1920 Scriba census William
B. Legg, age 57, a single man was boarding with another family. In
the 1930 Scriba census William B. at age 67 was still farming. He
declared that he had been married 26 years. Going back to the 1910
Scriba census, the record for William B. showed he was divorced by his
own statement. He then was living with his sister Etta M., age 57,
and her husband William B. Wallace, age 57, who had been married for 25
years. Etta M. (Legg) Wallace stated she never had a child.
William B. Legg’s divorced
wife was apparently Adah B. Marvin, born in Scriba. They had at least
two children: Eva Mae and Harold L. Legg. Eva Mae wed Maurice C.
Ballau.
In the 1930 census for Irondequoit,
Monroe Co., NY Harold and Eva lived together with Eva’s family at 57 Thomas
Ave. Maurice C. Ballau, 42, was the head of household. Eva
M. was 42. Their children were enumerated as Barbara S. Ballau, 12;
Janice Ballau, 11; and Jeanne Ballau, 11. Harold L. Legg, 40, born in 1889,
resided with them as the brother-in-law.
SOURCES:
E-mail from [email protected]
dated 30 November 2003.
International Genealogical Index.
Available [online] http://familysearch.org
[12 July 2003]
Johnson, Crisfield.
History of Oswego County, New York. Philadelphia: Evert, 1877.
N.Y. Adjutant General’s Office.
Index of Awards on Claims of the Soldiers of the War of 1812.
Albany: 1860.
U.S. Census, Worcester Co.,
MA 1800.
U.S. Census, Irondequoit,
Monroe Co., NY 1930.
U.S. Census, New Haven, Oswego
Co., NY 1850 & 1860.
U.S. Census, Scriba, Oswego
Co., NY 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1910, 1920 & 1930.
U.S. Census, Ostwegatchee,
St. Lawrence Co., NY 1820 & 1830.
U.S. Senate. Report
from the Secretary of War. Washington: Green, 1835.
War of 1812 Service Records.
Available [online] http://ancestry.com
[12 July 2003]
8/14/2004 Obituary
contributed by Dennis McLaughlin:
Hi,
I came across you entry at https://sites.rootsweb.com/~nyoswego/..
I read the Legg family history with great interest. I also claim
the Legg family as an ancestor. Ursula was my great-great-grandmother.
Jeremiah and Chloe Legg's daughter
Ursula married Charles S. Cheever. Most of what I had on the Legg family
came from the obituary of Ursula. If you're interested, here is part of
the obituary that was in the
Oswego Palladium and the Mexico
Independent:
Obituary:
Mrs. Charles S Cheever died
this morning at one o’clock at the age of 70 years. She had been sick for
a long time and had fought desperately against disease, but the ‘grim monster’
has at last conquered and she has left this world for a better. They were
old residents in the west past of New Haven and had lived in that neighborhood
almost all their lives.
Mrs C.S. Cheever died at this place
on Tuesday morning, April 30th, after a protracted illness at the age of
almost 70 years. the subject of this sketch, Ursula Legg was born in Oswegatchie,
St. Lawrence Co., May 6,1819, and at the age of 14 came with her father,
Jeremiah Legg, and settled in the western part of New Haven.
On Dec 25,1843, she was united in
marraige to the late Chas. S, Cheever (Mr. Cheever died Feb 15, 1881, at
nearly 66 years.) of the same town, by whom she raised three children,
to wit: William M., Mrs. Lottie Larkin of Scriba and Mrs. Derosia. Deceased
had been a resident of this town 55 years and in the house where she died
over 45 years. Mrs. Cheever had been a hard worker during her life, and
we trust that while her labors have been for a home here, she at the same
time sought to “lay up treasures in heaven.” During her long residence
in New Havem she had endeared herslef to the community in which she lived.
Deceased will be greatly missed by her old neighbors of long standing,
by the people of Dempster, by her daughters, but most of all by her son
Malcolm. He had been her companion since a child, and of late years a comfort
in her decline. He indeed will miss his dear mother. Mrs. Cheever was a
worthy member of New Haven Grange, and had often held leading offices in
the order. Deceased was one of the charter members at the Organization
of the Grange, No. 52, on Jan 16,1874 and had since that time been one
of the interested ones. Her absence from our meetings and at our councils
will be sadly noticed.
Here's a lengthy portion that
described her funeral, apparently organized by the Grange.
The funeral of Mrs. Cheever was held
at her late residence on Thursday, May 2d at 2 o’clock p.m., Rev. Holbrook
officiating. an excellant discourse was given, the text Joshua 1-2, first
part.
Vote was taken at a special meeting
of New Haven Grange to drape the hall in mourning, to conduct services
at the cemetery, and that each member wear a badge and carry a bouquet
of flowers, the former made of black and white ribbon to be worn on the
left arm. In addition to the above, the 6 pall bearers had white sashes
put over the right shoulder and fastened near the hip on the left side.
Thus prepared 60 members of the Grange marched from the hall to the house,
two abreast, the gentlemen in advance. At the cemetary gate the members
of the grange formed in line two abreast, the sisters in open ranks. The
hearse and mourners passed through and followed the brothers to within
a few rods of the grave, the sisters closing ranks and following in procession.
At a certain point the advance opened ranks, when the hearse, mourners
and sisters passed through to the grave, the latter making a circle around
it. The gentlemen, or brothers Grangers, then passed around in the same
manner, forming the outside circle. The worthy master and chaplin, standing
at the head of the grave, got on with the ceremony as laid down in the
ritual, which was very solemn and impressive. the Grange choir gave some
excellent music, at the same time the brothers pass around the grave, each
one scattering flowers. After the coffin which was beautifully decorated,
was lowered, the sisters passed around in like manner, dropping their bouquets
upon it. Worthy Master F. W. Robinson, and Chaplin, Sister W. W. Squires,
read their parts splendidly. New Haven grange did itself credit in conducting
its first funeral service. It was probably the first in the county.
I have more information about her
if you are interested. Dennis McLaughlin at: <[email protected]>
8/14/2004
Obituary
contributed by Dennis McLaughlin