The Bolton Brothers and McNitt Sisters of Washington and Cayuga Counties in New York

By William H. McNitt

The 1800 census of Cayuga County (in the Finger Lakes region of central New York) shows Alexander Bolton living in Scipio and his brother James in Aurelius. Their surnames are spelled Boulton in the census, but appear as Bolton in most other records.  We know that Alexander settled in Cayuga County in 1799, but do not know exactly when James arrived.  Assuming that all of the younger individuals included in James' household in 1800 were his children, his entire family seems to be accounted for in the census.  Alexander, however, is shown with only a 16-25 year old female in his household.  Perhaps his wife and children had remained back east until his farm was better estaslished (his wife Sarah gave birth to a new baby in September 1799 in addition to their five older children ages 2 to 12).  Later censuses show his entire family in Cayuga County.

Normally it would be difficult to find genealogical information about such family living on what was then the American frontier.  Unlike many of the towns of New England, most New York communities did not compile records of births, narriages, and deaths.  Even in Massachusetts such records were less likely to be recorded in rural Scotch-Irish communities than they were in those near the eastern seaboard settled primarily by English families.  Therefore the history of the Boltons, who were Scotch-Irish, is generally hard to piece together. 

The Bolton brothers I am writing about both served in the Revolutionary War, however, thereby creating records of military service that have been preserved in state archives and the National Archives.  More importantly for genealogical purposes, Alexander Bolton lived long enough to benefit from legislation giving pensions to all who could prove significant service in the Amcerican Revolution (earlier laws had limited pensions to those who were crippled by injuries or the heirs of those who were killed while serving). After Alexander's death, his wife Sarah applied for a widow's pension.  James Bolton died long before the pension laws were liberalized, but his widow Margaret also applied for a widow's pension.

These pension files (96 pages for James and 43 pages for Alexander) are preserved at the National Archives and digital copies of both are available on the Ancestry.com website.  They are a treasure trove of family information because neither family had doumentary proof of military service or family relationships. Instead they collected affidavits from individuals who knew the facts.  Among those providing affidavits were soldiers who had served with the Boltons, people present for their marriage or other important occasions, and family members (including their sister Rachel Bolton Tyrrell - whose husband had served in the American Revolution with the Bolton brothers, their widows, their children, and even one grandchild).  These documents provide details about their lives and family relationships that are not available in any other sources.  For instance, Alexader Bolton's file includes a record in his own handwriting giving his date and place of birth and marriage and listing the births of each of his eleven children (see below). In addition, affidavits in James Bolton's file give the only known information about the life and family of his oldest daughter Isabel and give various clues that facilitate finding information about his other children.

Information about the birth of Alexander Bolton  Information about the marraige of Alexander Bolton and Sarah McNitt Bolton  Birthdates of the children of Alxander Bolton and Sarah McNitt Bolton

Who were the Bolton brothers and where did they come from?  An affidavit in James's file makes clear that his father was also named James Bolton and another establishes the fact that he and Alexander were brothers.  Alexander states that he was born in Glasgow, Massachusetts and that his father was born in 1720.  Although many Scottish and Scotch-Irish families wanted the town where Alexander was born to be named Glasgow, the leaders of Massachusetts Bay Colony instead gave it the name Blandford.  Searching for a James Bolton who was born in 1720 and lived at Blandford, we find one on page 83 of the book Bolton Families of Ireland by Charles Knowles Bolton (Boston: Goodspeed's Bookshop, Inc., 1937).  This James and his parents, William and Elizabeth Bolton were born in Northern Ireland and then settled in Windham, New Hampshire.  According to the  book both James and his brother David lived at Blandford and then later in Cayuga County, New York. 

Alexander Bolton's affidavit provides the additional information that the family left Massachusetts when he was six years old (1764) to go to Dover, Dutchess County, New York. Six years later they moved to Stillwater, New York (now in Saratoga County), and two years after that to Cambridge, New York (now in Washington County) where they lived throughout the Revolutionary War.  The family of Alexander and Elizabeth McNitt, also of Scotch-Irish background, lived in the Black Creek neighborhood between the towns of Salem and West Hebron.  Obviously the two families were acquainted as James Bolton married Margaret McNitt in 1778 and his younger brother Alexander married Margaret's sister Sarah in 1786 (affidavits make clear that both weddings took place at the McNitt home near Salem). 

Actually, the connection between the Boltons and the McNitts may have been even closer.  After the death of Alexander McNitt's father Barnard in Palmer, Massachusetts in 1773, one of the couples listed among his heirs was James Bolton and his wife Isabel.  We know nothing else about this couple, but could it be that this James Bolton was the same as the one who lived at Blandford, Massachusetts and Cambridge, New York and fathered the James and Alexander about whom I am writing?  If that were the case, then Isabel McNitt Bolton would be their mother (she was probably a half-sister to Alexander McNitt of Washington County, New York).  It would also mean that the two Bolton-McNitt marriages at Salem, New York involved half-cousins marrying each other. It is interesting to note that the first daughter of James Bolton, Jr. and his wife Margaret McNitt Bolton was named Isabel.

James Bolton, Jr. died at a relatively young age in 1803 in Cayuga County.  I have not identified his family in the 1810 census, but in 1820 Margaret headed a household in Marcellus, Onondaga County (the county to the east of Cayuga County).  In 1830, a John L. Bolton (probably the son of James and Margaret) lived at New Albion, Cattaraugus County (in the southwest part of the state of New York).  Included in the household of this John Bolton is a female age 70-79, who is probably Margaret.  We know that she was a resident of Ellicottville in Cattaraugus County when she began the process of applying for a Revolutionary War widow's pension in 1837 and when she died in 1839.  Ellicottvile was the home of her daughter Sarah and son-in-law Elijah Vanderhoef in 1830 and 1840, so presumably she was living with them.  Since the widow's pension was not finalized in Margaret's lifetime, her heirs filed a claim to receive the money she should have gotten.

Alexander Bolton lived on for several decades in Cayuga County.  He received a Revolutionary War pension from 1833 until his death in 1836.  Sarah then applied for a widow's pension.  Although her pension was not awarded until 1841, the Pension Office made it retroactive to Alexander's death.  By that time Sarah had moved from Cayuga County to Ontario County, a couple of counties west, because two of her sons lived there.  She received her pension at least until 1848 and probably died around that time.

 

Children and Grandchildren of James Bolton and Margaret McNitt Bolton

First Generation

1.    James BOLTON was born before 1755. He died on 13 Sep 1803 in Mentz, Cayuga, New York.  James married Margaret MCNITT, daughter of Alexander MCNITT and Elizabeth MAKLEM, on 24 Sep 1778 in Salem, Washington, New York. Margaret was born in 1754/1755 in , , Massachusetts. She died on 29 May 1839 in Ellicottville, Cattaraugus, New York.

They had the following children.

+             2    F          i.    Isabel BOLTON was born in 1779. She died in 1810.

+             3    F         ii.    Susannah BOLTON was born in 1784/1785. She died after 1850.

+             4    F       iii.    Betsey BOLTON was born on 19 Apr 1786. She died on 23 Mar 1853.

+             5    M      iv.    John BOLTON was born in 1787/1788. He died before 1870.

+             6    F         v.    Sarah BOLTON was born in 1796/1797. She died before 1859.

Second Generation

2.    Isabel BOLTON (James) was born in 1779 in , , New York. She died in 1810 in , , New York.  Isabel married Isaac LEMMON on 4 May 1796 in Bridgewater, Oneida, New York. Isaac was born on 29 Jan 1768 in Salem, Washington, New York. He died on 31 Mar 1857 in Lyons, Wayne, New York. He was buried in South Sodus Cemetery, Sodus, Wayne, New York.

They had the following children.

               7    M        i.    Elijah LEMMON was born on 22 May 1797 in , Wayne, New York. He died on 27 Dec 1879 in , Wayne, New York. He was buried in Brick Churcg Cemetery, Sodus Center, Wayne, New York.  Elijah married Anna SUTPHIN on 20 Mar 1836 in , , New York. Anna was born on 20 Jun 1803 in Cayuga, Cayuga, New York. She died on 14 Jul 1900 in Sodus, Wayne, New York. She was buried in Brick Church Cemetery, Wayne, New York.

               8    F         ii.    Margaret LEMMON was born on 15 Aug 1801 in , , New York. She died on 7 Oct 1868 in , , Michigan. She was buried in Oakwood Cemetery, New Baltimore, Macomb, Mixhigan.  Margaret married Elias SUTPHIN. Elias was born on 4 Mar 1798 in , Middlesex, New Jersey. He died on 6 Jun 1874 in Lenox, Macomb, Michigan.

               9    M      iii.    Isaac LEMMON was born on 1 Jan 1808 in , , New York. He died on 17 Jun 1900 in Lenox, Macomb, Michigan. He was buried in Hart Cemetery, New Baltimore, Maconb, Michigan.  Isaac married Sally CARL about 1838. Sally was born on 6 Dec 1816. She died on 30 Jul 1841.  Isaac also married Melvina GREEN. Melvina was born on 12 Jan 1825 in , , New York. She died on 14 May 1907 in , Macomb, Michigan. She was buried in Centennial Cemetery, New Haven, Macomb, Michigan.

             10    M      iv.    Justus LEMMON was born on 22 Nov 1810 in Lyons, Wayne, New York. He died on 1 Dec 1904 in , Macomb, Michigan. He was buried in Centennial Cemetery, New Haven, Macomb, Michigan.  Justus married Mary R. HAIRE, daughter of William HAIRE and Mary R., on 22 Dec 1843 in , Macomb, Michigan. Mary was born on 3 May 1813 in , , Ireland. She died on 27 Aug 1885 in New Haven, Macomb, Michigan. She was buried in Centennial Cemetery, New Haven, Macomb, Michigan.

3.    Susannah BOLTON (James) was born in 1784/1785 in , , New York. She died after 1850. Susannah married Joseph JEFFERIES/JEFFRIES. Joseph was born in 1776. He died 1 Jan 1846 in , Cayuga, New York.  He was buried in Pine Hill Cemetery, Throop. Cayuga, New York.

They had the following children.

             11    F          i.    Esther J. JEFFRIES was born on 19 Jun 1805 in , , New York. She died on 19 Mar 1897 in Edmore, Montcalm, Michigan.  Esther married Edward HYATT.

             12    F         ii.    Lucy JEFFRIES was born in 1812/1813 in , , New York. She died on 25 Aug 1880 in Parma, Jackson, Michigan.  Lucy married Horace HUNN, son of Ephraim HUNN and Mary, on 25 Apr 1851 in , Washtenaw, Michigan. Horace was born in 1800/1801 in , , Connecticut. He died on 12 Jul 1881 in Tuscola, Tuscola, Michigan.

             13    F       iii.    Margaret JEFFRIES was born on 7 Aug 1814 in Albany, Albany, New York. She died on 12 Dec 1901 in Sparta, Monroe, Wisconsin. She was buried on 13 Dec 1901 in Sparta, Monroe, Wisconsin.  Margaret married Alpheus COOK. Alpheus was born in 1810/1811 in , , Vermont.

             14    F        iv.    Susan JEFFRIES was born on 3 Feb 1817 in , , New York. She died on 23 Feb 1905 in Highland, Oakland, Michigan. She was buried in Highland Cemetery, Highland, Oakland, Michigan.  Susan married Moses MAYNARD on 22 Feb 1882 in Tuscola, Tuscola, Michigan. Moses was born in 1807/1808 in , , Massachusetts.

             15    M       v.    Christopher P. JEFFRIES was born on 12 Jun 1824 in , , New York. He died on 11 Mar 1912 in Bridgeport, Saginaw, Michigan. He was buried on 14 Mar 1912 in Bridgeport Cemetery, Bridgeport, Saginaw, Michigan.  Christopher married Eusebia H. HUNN, daughter of Horace HUNN and Rebecca DOANE, in 1854/1855. Eusebia was born on 22 Nov 1837 in , , Illinois. She died on 24 Feb 1927 in Fenton, Genesee, Michigan. She was buried in Fairview Cemetery, Linden, Genesee, Michigan.

4.    Betsey BOLTON (James) was born on 19 Apr 1786 in , , New York. She died on 23 Mar 1853 in , Allegany, New York.  Betsey married David HAYNES. David was born on 30 Apr 1782 in , , Pennsylvania. He died on 14 Aug 1863 in Rushford, Allegany, New York.

They had the following children.

             16    M        i.    Daniel B. HAYNES was born in 1811/1812 in , Cayuga, New York. He died on 29 Dec 1899 in Ischua, Cattaraugus, New York.  Daniel married Amanda STEWART. Amanda was born in 1808/1809 in , Wayne, New York.

             17    M       ii.    James A. HAYNES was born in 1812/1813 in , Cayuga, New York.  James married Elizabeth JENISON. Elizabeth was born in 1823/1824 in , Genesee, New York. She died on 13 Sep 1873 in Fulton, Whiteside, Illinois.  James also married Fidelia TEN EYCK, daughter of William TENEYCKE and Cloe, on 6 Oct 1887 in , Boone, Iowa. Fidelia was born on 10 Nov 1820 in Owasco, Cayuga, New York. She died on 29 Nov 1897 in , Boone, Iowa.

             18    M      iii.    Samuel HAYNES was born in 1815/1816 in , , New York.

             19    F        iv.    Rebecca HAYNES was born in 1823 in , , New York.  Rebecca married Eben BERRY. Eben was born about 1812 in , , Connecticut.

5.    John BOLTON (James) was born in 1787/1788 in , , New York. He died before 1870.  John married Rebecca HORTON (some give her surname as Neal or VanderHoofe). Rebecca was born in 1791/1792 in , , New Jersey. She died after 1870.

They had the following children.

             20    F         i.    Amanda M. BOLTON was born in 1816 in , Cayuga, New York. She died on 7 Oct 1887 in , Rock, Wisconsin.

Amanda married Samuel STEWART. Samuel was born in 1813/1814 in , Madison, New York.

             21    F        ii.    Sarah Ann BOLTON was born in 1820 in , , New York. She died on 6 Oct 1854 in Peru, Miami, Indiana. She was buried in Mount Hope Cemetery, Peru, Miami, Indiana. Sarah married Milo FELT in Newark, Licking, Ohio. Milo was born on 19 Aug 1819 in Granby, Oswego, New York. He died on 1 Jan 1905 in Monclova, Lucas, Ohio. He was buried in Swan Creek CemeteryMonclova, Lucas, Ohio.

             22    M      iii.    John M. BOLTON was born in 1823/1824 in , , New York. He died on 3 Feb 1914 in , Monterey, California.  John married Marian. Marian was born in 1839/1840 in , , , Canada.

             23    F         iv.    Charlotte BOLTON was born in 1827/1828 in , , New York. She died in 1880/1885 in , , Kansas.  Charlotte married Alvin CRIPPEN on 27 Apr 1852 in , Miami, Iniana. Alvin was born in 1823 in Chateaugay, Franklin, New York. He died in 1922 in Summner, Sumner, Kansas.

             24    F          v.    Mary Isabelle BOLTON was born on 25 Aug 1831 in , , New York. She died in 1900 in , , Iowa. Mary married Jonathan R. HOOK on 29 Jun 1860 in , Johnson, Iowa. Jonathan was born in 1828 in , , Ohio. He died in 1879 in Fillmore, Iowa, Iowa.

6.    Sarah BOLTON (James) was born in 1796/1797 in , , New York. She died before 1859.  Sarah married Elijah VANDERHOEF. Elijah was born on 24 Aug 1799 in , , New York. He died on 28 Oct 1871 in , Montcalm, Michigan. He was buried in Forest Home Cemetery, Greenville, Montcalm, Michigan.

They had the following children.

             25    M        i.    James B. VANDERHOEF was born on 8 Jun 1823 in , Cayuga, New York. He died on 24 Jan 1896 in Brockport, Monroe, New York. He was buried in High Street Cemetery, Brockport, Monroe, New York.  James married Catherine J.. Catherine was born on 27 Mar 1829 in , Oneida, New York. She died on 11 Jul 1901 in , Monroe, New York. She was buried in High Street Cemetery, Brockport, Monroe, New York.

             26    M       ii.    Alfred VANDERHOEF was born on 22 Apr 1827 in Ellicottville, Cattaraugus, New York. He died on 2 Oct 1918 in Retsil, Kitsap, Washington.  Alfred married Maria VAN DUSEN. Maria was born in 1834/1835 in , , New York. She died on 10 Jul 1883 in , Kent, Michigan.

             27    F       iii.    Hyletta VANDERHOEF was born on 14 Aug 1828 in Ellicottville, Cattaraugus, New York. She died on 31 Dec 1907 in Pine, Montcalm, Michigan. She was buried on 2 Jan 1908 in Langston Cemetery.  Hyletta married Samuel B. COVEY on 14 Feb 1847 in Ellicottville, Cattaraugus, New York. Samuel was born about 1824 in , , New York. He died on 28 Dec 1863 in , Montcalm, Michigan. He was buried in Forest Home Cemetery, Greenville, Montcalm, Michigan.  Hyletta also married George H. WARD on 18 Apr 1865 in , Ionia, Michigan. George was born in 1824/1825 in , , Massachusetts.  Hyletta also married John H. HERRICK, son of John HERRICK and Charlotte VOSLER, on 18 Aug 1890 in Stanton, Montcalm, Michigan. John was born in Dec 1821 in , , New York. He died on 9 Aug 1900 in , Montcalm, Michigan. He was buried in Forest Home Cemetery, Greenville, Montcalm, Michigan.

             28    M      iv.    Franklin "Frank" VANDERHOEF was born on 22 Jan 1829 in Ellicottville, Cattaraugus, New York. He died on 16 Jan 1900 in , , Allegany, New York. He was buried in Forest Hills Cemetery, Belmont, Allegany, New York.  Frank married Laura A. COOK. Laura was born on 29 Apr 1837 in , Cattaraugus, New York. She died on 24 May 1892. She was buried in Forest Hills Cemetery, Belmont, Allegany, New York.

             29    F         v.    Sarah J. VANDERHOEF was born in 1835/1836 in Ellicottville, Cattaraugus, New York. Sarah married George W. FARRELL on 3 May 1857 in Greenville, Montcalm, Michigan. George was born in 1828/1829.  Sarah also married Asa M. LANG before 1860. Asa was born in 1837 in , , New York. He died on 30 Dec 1908 in Langston, Montcalm, Michigan. He was buried in Riverside Cemetery, Langston, Montcalm, Michigan.

 

 

Children and Grandchildren of Alexander Bolton and Sarah McNitt Bolton

First Generation

1.    Alexander BOLTON was born on 27 Apr 1758 in Glasgow, Berkshire, Massachusetts. He died on 25 Oct 1836 in Ledyard, Cayuga, New York.  Alexander married Sarah MCNITT, daughter of Alexander MCNITT and Elizabeth MAKLEM, on 10 Aug 1786 in Salem, Washington, New York. Sarah was born in 1769/1770 in , , New York. She died after 1845.

They had the following children.

               2    F          i.    Rachel BOLTON was born on 10 Apr 1787 in , , New York.

+             3    M       ii.    Barnard BOLTON was born on 27 Dec 1788. He died before 1870.

               4    F       iii.    Zilpha BOLTON was born on 1 Apr 1791 in , , New York.

               5    M      iv.    Alexander BOLTON was born on 28 Apr 1795 in , , New York.

               6    F         v.    Patsy BOLTON was born on 26 Mar 1797 in , , New York.

               7    F        vi.    Sally BOLTON was born on 9 Sep 1799 in , , New York.

               8    F      vii.    Eliza BOLTON was born on 26 Sep 1802 in , Cayuga, New York.

               9    M    viii.    James BOLTON was born on 15 Jan 1804 in , Cayuga, New York.

             10    M      ix.    Thomas J. BOLTON was born on 1 Jun 1806 in , Cayuga, New York.

+          11    M       x.    Daniel BOLTON was born on 8 Feb 1809.

             12    F        xi.    Nancy Anne BOLTON was born on 15 Apr 1815 in , Cayuga, New York.

Second Generation

3.    Barnard BOLTON (Alexander) was born on 27 Dec 1788 in , , New York. He died before 1870.  Barnard married Mary. Mary was born in 1786/1787 in , , Connecticut. She died before 1860.

They had the following children.

             13    F          i.    Mary Jane BOLTON was born on 23 Jan 1816 in Syracuse, Onondaga, New York. She was christened on 13 Jun 1847 in South Fredericksburgh, Grenville, Ontario, Canada. She died on 27 Jul 1865 in North Fredericksburgh, Lenox and Addington, Ontario, Canada. She was buried in Bethany Cemetery, North Fredericksburgh, Lenox and Addington, Ontario, Canada.  Mary married James Ezra COLE, son of Barent COLE and Isabella BLAKELY, about 1830 in North Fredericksburgh, Lenox and Addington, Ontario, Canada. James was born on 11 Jul 1807 in North Fredericksburgh, Lenox and Addington, Ontario, Canada. He died on 13 Sep 1882 in Fredericksburgh, Lenox and Addington, Ontario, Canada. He was buried in Bethany Cemetery, North Fredericksburgh, Lenox and Addington, Ontario, Canada.

             14    M       ii.    George BOLTON was born on 1 Oct 1817 in , , New York. He died on 13 Mar 1896 in Verndale, Wadena, Minnesota. He was buried in Greenlawn Cemetery, Verndale, Wadena, Minnesota.  George married Mary DODGSON.  George also married Wealthy Prudence MAGUIRE, daughter of Constant MAGUIRE and Christina DARLING, on 14 Sep 1845 in Leoni, Jackson, Michigan. Wealthy was born on 16 Mar 1820 in Royalton, Niagara, New York. She died on 8 Feb 1912 in Portland, Multnomah, Oregon. She was buried in Greenlawn Cemetery, Verndale, Wadena, Minnesota.

11.  Daniel BOLTON (Alexander) was born on 8 Feb 1809 in , Cayuga, New York.  Daniel married Dalinda TOWNER. Dalinda was born on 4 Feb 1811 in Tioga, Tioga, Pennsylvania. She died in 1869 in Montrose, Lee, Iowa.

They had the following children.

             15    M        i.    Milo F. BOLTON was born in 1842 in , , Ohio. He died on 22 Nov 1862 in Bowling Green, Warren, Kentucky. He was buried in Nashville National Cemetery, Madison, Davidson, Tennessee.

             16    M       ii.    John M. BOLTON was born on 16 Sep 1845 in Dayton, Montgomery, Ohio. He died on 25 Mar 1925 in Leavenworth, Leavenworth, Kansas. He was buried in Leavenworth National Cemetery, Leavenworth, Kansas.  John married Sarah Amanda MILES on 22 Aug 1868 in , Riley, Kansas. Sarah was born on 28 Jun 1853 in , Ray, Missouri. She died on 3 Dec 1937 in Lawrence, Douglas, Kansas. She was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Lawrence, Douglas, Kansas.  John also married Ida May CRISPEN on 15 Oct 1883 in Winfield, Cowley, Kansas. Ida was born on 3 Nov 1861 in , , Indiana. She died on 19 Jul 1945 in Kansas City, Jackson, Missouri.  John also married Anna in 1898. Anna was born in Apr 1851 in , , Ohio.  John also married Evelyn A. SIMONS on 3 Nov 1902 in , Jackson, Missouri. Evelyn was born in 1864 in , , Kansas.

revised 28 May 2023


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