| Research from the Four County History 1879 - Cemetery Records - Census Records |
Robert McDowell, Of all the early
settlers who made the vale of Ithaca their home, none have through their
decendants become more intimately and continuously identified with its
material and social interests than Robert McDowell, the son of John McDowell,
who with his family emigrated to this country from Scotland. Robert
was born in the year of 1760, and at the early age of nineteen married
Margaret McCormick, who came with her father, John McCormick, from Scotland
to America about the period of the Revolution. Besides the five children
who came in with the family, there were subsequently born at the new home
two others, Robert and Henry. He is also listed in DAR records as
being a Revolutionary War Soldier.
Their children were: Jane, Hannah, Euphius, John,
Daniel, Robert, Henry
(1879) The graves of all the children,
except Euphius and John, are still to be seen in the cemetery at Ithaca,
as are also those of the father and mother. Robert, the father, died
June 1, 1802, at the age of forty-two. His wife, Margaret, survived
him, and passed the last twenty-seven years of her life at the home of
her daughter, Mrs. Nicoll Halsey. She died April 28, 1835, in her
seventy-sixth year.
The headstones found in City Cemetery
are listed under each child. The parents are found in Ithaca City
Cemetery as follows: Margaret, wf of Robert McDowell, d. Apr. 28,
1835 ae 75yr; Robert McDowell, d. June 1, 1802, in his 42nd yr.
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| 1. |
Jane McDowell the oldest, who had come
with her father to aid in putting in the crops, was born Nov. 22, 1780.
She became the wife of Richard W. Pelton, who having entered the service
as a volunteer in the war of 1812, died between Batavia and Buffalo while
yet a soldier. One child by this marriage seems to have died in infancy,
July 1, 1811.
Mrs. Pelton subsequently became the second wife
of Archer Green, a man of much prominence in the local affairs of that
day, who she outlived many years. She died Feb. 26, 1856, in her
seventy-sixth year. |
| 2. |
Hannah McDowell, the second child of
Robert and Margaret McDowell, was born in May of 1782, and died at the
age of ten years old. [ note: City Cemetery has record of Hannah, dau.
of Robert and Margaret McDowell died Sept. 3, 1801 age 10 yrs., 3 mo. (from
a headstone inscription) This would have made her 18 yrs old when
she died. The 10 yrs could be from the an aged headstone and misread. |
| 3. |
Euphius McDowell, the third child,
was born at Kingston, Pa., May 26, 1784. On the tenth day of August,
1806, she married Mr. Nicoll Halsey, then of Ovid, Seneca Co., NY.
With her husband she removed to the town of Ulysses in the year of 1808,
and settled at the place which afterwards took the family name, and where
the whole of a busy and fruitful life was spent.
Mrs. Halsey had ten children, of who eight reached
maturity. Nicholl/Nicoll Halsey was born Mar. 8, 1782 in Southampton,
Long Island, and died Mar. 3, 1865 in Ovid, New York. He was the
son of Silas HALSEY and Hannah Jones HOWELL. Nicholl Halsey
is buried in Trumansburg Grove Cemetery in Lot 31, his age at time of death
was 82 years 11 mos. 25 days. His wife Euphius (McDowell)
is also buried in Lot 31, she died July 7, 1870 ae 86y 1m 11d
Children of Nicoll & Euphius (McDOWELL) HALSEY
: Hannsh, Robert, William, Richard, Emma Jane, Margaret, Emma (2nd), Henry,
Waren, Mortimer.
1. Hannah Howell HALSEY
was born June 4, 1807, and died Jan. 18, 1884. Married Oliver C.
COMSTOCK Jr., on Feb. 4, 1829. (from Landmarks of Tompkins Co., NY:
Dr. O. C. COMSTOCK was in town before 1810, was a prominent early
physician, the first postmaster of the village of Trumansburgh, member
of congress, etc. His son, O. C. COMSTOCK, jr., married a daughter of Nicoll
HALSEY. Also note that buried in the Old Trumansburg Cemtery is the
following children; COMSTOCK, Margaret dau of O.C. and H.H. d.. 3-15-1815
age 1 yr 9 mo; COMSTOCK, Sarah D. dau of O.C. & H.H. d.10-5-1835 age
2y 29dys. These two daughters are also listed in the records of Trumansburg
Grove Cemetery.
2. Robert HALSEY was
born Aug. 7, 1809 in Halseyville, New York. Married Sarah STEWART
on Dec. 31, 1834. He removed from Tompkins Co., and went to New York
City.
3. William HALSEY was
born April 27, 1811 in Ithaca, New York, and died July 9, 1881.
Married Mary E. BUTLER in May 13th 1839. Mary died 1840.
Married 2nd to Eliza GOSMAN on Aug. 22 or 27th, 1844, dau. of Hon.
Jonathan B. GOSMAN an early settler in Danbyand long an honored citizen
and journalist of Ithaca.
4. Richard Pelton HALSEY
was born March 14, 1813, and died Jan. 26 or 27th, 1836 in
New Orleans, La. Richard also has a headstone in Trumansburg Grove
Cemetery.
5. Emma Jane HALSEY
was born Nov. 13, 1815, and died Jan. 26, 1816. She also is
buried in Trumansburg Grove Cemetery, d. Jan. 26, 1816 age 2 mos. 13 days.
It is also possible she was first buried on the family property, and removed
to Grove Cemetery.
6.Margaret HALSEY
was born May 24, 1817, and died May 4, 1880. Married Dr. Madison
MILLS on Dec. 23rd 1840.
Trumansburg Grove Cemetery has the
following record: Mills, Gen. Madison, Lot 799, d. Apr. 28,
1873 ae 63y; Mills, Margaret Halsey, Lot 799, d. May
3, 1880 ae 63y; Mills, George Madison, s/o Madison &
Margaret, Lot 31, d. Oct. 14, 1848 ae 3y 1m 17d
7. Emma HALSEY was
born October 10, 1819. Married Oct. 17th 1839 Dr. Henry SAYLES, who
was an esteemed citizen and physician of Ithaca. They removed to
Elmira, where they lived.
8. Henry HALSEY was
born August 24th 1821 in Ithaca, New York. Henry died August 14th
1887. He married Mary Ann BEATTY/BATTY on July 15th 1844.
9. Warren HALSEY was
born August 22nd 1823 in Halseyville, New York, he died aft. 1888. (Unmarried)
10.Mortimer Nicoll HALSEY
was born Sept. 22nd 1826, he died Feb. 20th 1828. He
is also buried in Trumansburg Grove Cemetery, it is possible that he was
first buried on the farm and later moved to Grove Cemetery.
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| 4. |
John McDowell, the fourth child of
Robert & Margaret McDowell, born April 1786, was killed while in the
service, at the battle of Queentown, in November, 1812. He married
Jane Norton, who, as his widow, drew the pay for his service as a soldier. |
| 5. |
Daniel McDowell, fifth child of Robert
& Margaret McDowell, born May 3, 1788 died March 16, 1799
His headstone in City Cemetery at Ithaca, Tompkins
Co., NY., has the following inscription: Daniel son of Robert & Margaret
McDowell died Mar. 16, 1799 age 10 months. |
| 6. |
Robert McDowell, Sixth child of Robert
& Margaret McDowell, born at Ithaca, March 10, 1790, died 1807.
His headstone in City Cemetery at Ithaca, Tompkins Co., NY., has the following
inscription: Robert Jr., son of Robert & Margaret McDowell, d. Feb.
14, 1807, ae 15 yr. Note: if he died in 1807 his age would be 17
yrs at time of death. |
| 7. |
Henry McDowell, Seventh child of Robert
& Margaret McDowell, born at Ithaca, May 15, 1793, died in August the
same year. In Ithaca City Cemetery there is found a headstone with
the following: Infant, child of Robert & Margaret McDowell - no dates
(probably Henry) |
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Thursday, 04-Jul-2019 13:14:09 PDT