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Although Orlin has quite a bit of information about Heman Allen, son of Jonas, he has very little about Ethan Allen, Heman's twin brother. Orlin names two wives, Catharine Street and Anna Bartlett. "little seems to be known of him and but few of his children are reported. 16 children." |
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I have not been able to find out a lot more, but I have found out enough to cast serious doubt on the existence of 16 children, and to fill in several gaps and make several connections. |
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While Heman, Ethan's twin, didn't marry until 1812, when he was 33, Ethan seems to have married somewhat earlier; he is married by 1810, when he has set up housekeeping in Charlotte, Chittenden County, Vermont. The census of 1810 shows him and his wife Catharine, and two daughters under 10. Both Ethan and his wife were between 26 and 44; we know Ethan was 30/31. It is a good guess that Catharine was about that. She certainly was born before 1785. |
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In 1820, Ethan and Catharine are still in the same age groups. Ethan is 40/41. There are three girls now. The age groups for the two older allow the conclusion that one of the girls was born by 1805, since she is at least 15 now. The second was born between 1806 and 1810; she is now between 10 and 14. And there is a new daughter, under 10. |
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The family has moved to Ripley, Chautauqua County, New York. |
Then we have a census gap. In 1810, Ethan was in Charlotte, VT; in 1820, he is in Ripley, NY. Where is he in 1830? By 1836, he is in Albany, and has joined the same church to which Heman had belonged, although by this date, Heman has gone elsewhere. The list of the parishioners shows that Catharine was dead by 1836. |
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Members of the Fourth Presbyterian Church in the City of Albany, 1836
FAY, taken from page 13, "F."
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Altha; Mary Eliza (Mrs. Harmon), dismissed; Lydia Mary; Catharine, deceased; Catharine; Heman Allen (dismissed); Ethan Allen; De Witt Clinton; John W.; George B. (dismissed). |
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In 1840, Ethan is married again, and he and his new wife have no children in the household. They are living in Queensbury, Warren County, NY. This was a lucky find, for Ethan is falsely indexed as Catherine. The census taker had made the mistake, but then had corrected it. If you look closely, you can see that the "C" has been changed to "E" and that the "ine" has been crossed out. Notice also that Ethan is living next door to Amasa W. Howard -- the husband of his daughter Catherine.
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Clinton Bartlett Fay, Ethan and Anna's son was born on October 19, 1843. He is with them in 1850. |
By 1860, Anna Bartlett Fay is a widow, living with another widow Ruth Harris. There is no sign of Clinton here. |
Continuations and Mysteries |
I have found no evidence for the birth or death of Theodore, only the one mention by Orlin. IF he was born after Clinton, which is the implication of Orlin's birth order, then he died in childhood, for he is not listed in the census of 1850 or of 1860.
Catharine, the oldest daughter mentioned by Orlin, married Amasa Watson Howard. Orlin says of them "res. Virginia," but they seem to have stayed in New York, and it was possible to follow some of the line further.
Lydia may indeed have gone to China with the Rev. M. Keith; I could not find them. There is a Madison Keith in Vermont at the right time, but his line is known.
As far as the other chidren mentioned by Orlin-- I just don't see them anywhere. One further daughter perhaps; and there IS the sixteen year gap, which is more than enough time for several children. But that question must remain open until Ethan is found in 1830, or I have obtained a copy of the state census records for 1825 and 1835.
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Clinton travelled out to Wisconsin; two short biographies of him have been posted, one written in the bios of Winnebago Co, WI and one in the bios of Kewaunee Co, WI. Using those, and the census documents, we can create the following approximate timeline. |
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He was born in Warren County, New York, 19 October 1843 (according to the biography). The census of 1850 lists his age as 8; which would point to a birthdate in 1842.
1861 -- he enlisted at Saratoga, in Company G, 77th New York Volunteer Infantry, as Sergeant; was in command of his company at Antietam, the other officers being all killed.
1863 -- discharged on account of disability, caused by a wound received in same fight.
1864 -- he came to Wisconsin, located in Pensaukee County, and engaged as bookkeeper for the
Pensaukee Company.
1865 -- to Chicago, then to Little Sturgeon, WI
1868 -- he went into the office of HARRISON, LUDINGTON & Company, in Menominee, Michigan, remained about three years,
1869 -- to Menominee Michigan
1870 (census) -- Menominee, Menominee, MI. C.B., 27, NY, and L.M., 24, WI; engaged in merchant provision. The 1870 census does not indicate relationships; but I think that Clinton was married twice, and that his first wife, L. M., died not long after 1870.
1871 or 1872 -- to Kewaukee County, and engaged in business for himself for about nine years,
milling and merchandising,
1875 -- He was married in Menasha 23 September 1875, to Miss Ida BATES, of Menasha.
1876 -- filed for disability pension
1880 -- settled in Menasha, Winnebago Co
1880 (census) -- Pierce, Kewaunee, WI, Clinton B., age 37, NY, farmer; Ida 27, WI
1881 -- farmer in Kewaunee County.
children born 1871, 1872, 1878 and 1/6/1880
died before 12/1887 when Ida filed for widow's pension
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