u.s.s. Providence - 1778 John Peck Rathbun, Captain
October 1982 The Rathbun-Rathbone-Rathburn Family Historian
Volume Two. Number Four. October 1982
Letter From the Editor This issue completes the Historian's continued help, I am confident we can ily data in their areas. John Rathbun of second year. Our membership now ex keep building on this record of accom Lansing, Mich., has sent an extensive ceeds 270, slightly more than the 267 plishment. package of genealogical material col we recorded in 1981 . We had hoped to Enclosed with this issue is a renewal lected by his late father. Frank E. Rath reach 300, and we will continue our form for 1983. We hope and trust that bun of Coventry, R.I. , has copied doz efforts to reach this goal. you will renew your membership, and ens of Rathbun-Rathbone cemetery in We are so confident that our mem we ask that you send your checks as scriptions, and Betty Bonawitz of bership will grow, we have decided promptly as possible. Groton, N.Y., has transcribed family again to reduce the price. The rate for Also enclosed is a letter outlining a data in the public library at Norwich, N.Y. 1983 will be $17 - a 15 percent reduc proposal to erect a marker near the Some of you have still not responded tion from the present $20 figure, and graves of our immigrant ancestors, John to our continued pleas for your own fam considerably less than our original $25 and Margaret Rathbun on Block Island. ily records. Our genealogical section is subscription rate. We need your help to finance this idea. about to begin the fifth generation, and Last year, in the October issue, we Please read the letter carefully and let we desperately need all your data to printed our association's 1981 financial us know what you think. make the family record complete. report, estimating our costs for the final I would like to offer special thanks to An important role of the Historian is to three months of the year. The 1982 fi my "staff members" whose efforts have record the present-day activities of nancial report will be published in the been indispensable to the magazine's Rathbuns, Rathbones and Rathburns January 1983 issue so we can have a success. and their families. Please let us know of more exact accounting. My wife, Hazel, checks my writing for births, deaths, marriages, job changes As the magazine's founder and editor, errors and inconsistencies, types all my and honors in your family or those you I am personally very satisfied with the copy into readable form for the type see in your local newspapers. Share results of our first two years. In addition setter, and carefully checks the galley your good news, and sad, with your to our articles on past and present family proofs and page proofs. cousins in our family association. members, we have continued publica My son, Frank, edits my copy for style For example, we have received word tion of our genealogy beginning with and accuracy, reads the galleys, de that some 135 descendants of John K. John and Margaret Rathbun of Block signs the pages and painstakingly and Laura (Howell) Rathbun gathered Island, and with this issue have reached pastes up the final layout to make July 10 at Fitzgerald, Ga., for their an the end of the fourth generation. This "camera-ready" pages for our printer. nual family reunion. Among those pres year, we donated $270 - $1 for each His wife, Janice, keeps track of our ent were three of our members-Reba member - to the Block Island Historical financial records, deposits and keeps Rathbun Reeves, Susie Carter Baston Society for its new museum. With your track of all incoming checks and pays and Ann Paulk. The 1983 reunion has our bills as they come due. been scheduled for next July 2. John All three of them help me paste on Rathbun was the son of Hallet' Rathbun mailing labels , insert the (Thomas&-5-4 Ebenezer' William2 John') magazines and make the mailings. and his third wife, Augustine Kramer. Last, but far from least, Cousin Rob To all of you, thanks once again for Published quarterly by the Rath Rathbun of Kentucky, who lives too far your continued support. bun Family Association at 11308 away to help prepare the magazine, Popes Head Road, Fairfax, Va. devotes much of his spare time check 22030 . Telephone: (703) ing vital statistics, cemetery records, 278-8512. census data and other sources of infor mation on our family, helping us put Frank H. Rathbun together an accurate and complete his Editor & Publisher tory of the Rathbuns, Rathbones and MRS. JOY ROBINSON of Brill, Eng Robert Rathbun Rathbums in America. land has become our first "international" Research Director Special thanks also to all our mem member. She joined our association Hazel J. Rathbun bers whose financial support has made after spending a weekend in August with Assistant Editor the Historian possible, and to those who Frank and Hazel in Fairfax, Va. Mrs. Frank H. Rathbun III have, and are, sending in family rec Robinson is a descendant of the famous Production Manager ords, pictures, obituaries and other ma Rathbones of Liverpool, and with her Janice A. Rathbun terial on the family. twin brother, Philip Rathbone, has prom Business Manager I am especially grateful to those who ised to provide material for a story on are making special efforts to collect fam- these illustrious cousins.
50 Several States Have Towns Named for Family Members
At least seven small towns in the bun (WilliamSThomas ~ Samuel' John'). United States have been named for Rathbone, Mich., is also a tiny cross members of our family, but only one is roads hamlet, with two stores and a large enough today to appear on a road church. It is located in Saginaw County, map - the city of Rathbun, Iowa. and may have been named for Justus H. There is also a town of Rathbun in Rathbone, founder of the Knights of Pennsylvania; small villages named Pythias. We will have a story on him in Rathbone in New York, Colorado, Michi one of our 1983 issues. gan and Ohio; a Rathbun Gulch in Rathbun Gulch, Idaho, is located on Idaho, and a Rathbun School District in the North Fork of the Salmon River near New York. Lost Trail Pass, along the route taken by Rathbun, Iowa, the largest and most Lewis and Clark in 1805 on their way to famous of these communities, is in Ap the Pacific Ocean. It was brought to our panoose County. It made headlines in attention by C.C. Comell, one of our August 1971 when President Richard members, who could not determine its Nixon dedicated nearby Rathbun Dam, The Town Hall of Rathbone, N. Y. namesake. (This would make a good a $25.5 million structure which created research project for any member living Rathbun Lake. The 11 ,OOO-acre lake is or traveling in that area.) the state's largest, and has been de The Rathbun School District is (or veloped as a vast recreational area. 1842 and built the first store and hotel. was) in the town of Hanover, Chau The city was laid out and platted in General Rathbone (1780-1861) was tauqua County, N.Y. Its name may have 1892 by the Pacific Star Coal Company, the son of Moses' Rathbone (Joshua' been changed over the years. It was which then sold it to the Star Coal Com Jonathan3 John'·'). He was an early named fOr Demarcus Rathbun (1788- pany of Streator, III. Charles H. Rathbun settler of Oxford, in Chenango County, 1878), a son of SolomonSRathbun (Job' was secretary and general manager of N.Y. , where he owned a paper mill and Joshua3 John'·'). He was one of the ear Star Coal, and the company named the served in the local milita. He became a liest settlers in Hanover, in April 1831 , new city after him. He was born in 1846, brigadier general in 1807. and is buried there in the old Rathbun the son of Hubbar
51 John Peck Rathbun Merchant Skipper Becomes Officer in Continental Navy
John Peck Rathbun is one of the true sible that he was a witness to two his "forgotten heroes" of the American Rev toric events - the Boston Massacre of olution. His record as a lieutenant, then 1770 and the Boston Tea Party of 1773. captain, in the Continental Navy ranks "Most of John Paul Jones' The Massacre - in which seven Bos him at least the equal of John Paul success was due to John Peck tonians were killed by British troops - Jones, his one-time commander, in Rathbun's valour and con took place only a few doors from his terms of courage, audacity and skill. uncle's haberdashery shop. One of Unfortunately, he was captured by the duct" - Commodore Esek Rathbun's cousins years later told of British during the war, died in an English Hopkins, 1ns. visiting the spot the next moming as a prison and literally disappeared from young boy to see the bodies and the history for nearly two centuries. frozen blood in the gutters. Rathbun has been called the "mystery The massacre was stopped at the man" of the Continental Navy because she died there herself only three years urging of a prominent Tory - Benjamin so little was known of him. Even his later, aged 30. Leigh, who, ironically, would one day be name was consistently misspelled in It is not known who reared the four Rathbun's father-in-law. Leigh was a Navy records. Two Navy vessels named children, but the three daughters, at friend of the officer commanding the in his honor in this century were called least, apparently returned to Rhode British troops involved, and persuaded Rathburne. Island, where they all married, and then him to withdraw his men to their quarters In the past two decades, historians died in their 20s or 3Os. Early death to prevent further bloodshed. have started to take notice of this long seemed to run in this branch of our Rathbun was in port at the time of the forgotten naval hero. Several books family. Boston Tea Party, and his uncle was have outlined some of his accomplish John Peck Rathbun, seven at the time likely one of the town leaders who ments. An article by your editor on Rath of his mother's death, may have stayed helped plan it. Some 150 patriots, dis bun's major feat - the capture of Nas in Boston with his mother'S oldest guised as Indians, boarded three ships sau in 1778 - was published by the brother, Thomas H. Peck, a wealthy fur and dumped 342 chests of British Naval Institute in 1970. merchant and hatter. Ann Rathbun's will owned tea into Boston Harbor. The loss The following account of John Peck had specified that her brother use part of was estimated at 18,000 pounds ster Rathbun's life, which will be continued in her estate to educate her four children. ling. The Americans were protesting the succeeding issues, is based on years of John Peck Rathbun's later career and a British Parliament's action in giving one research by your editor, who hopes few surviving letters indicate that her rompany a monopoly to sell tea in the eventually to publish a full-length biog wishes were carried out. rolonies. raphy of Captain Rathbun. From Boston cousins, Rathbun The British reaction was explosive. heard glowing tales of his mother's fam King George signed what Americans ily, including a great-uncle who had cap called the Intolerable Acts. Among other John Peck Rathbun was born March tured and slain the dreaded pirate, provisions, Boston was closed to all sea 23, 1746, in Exeter, R.I. , the son of Blackbeard, and others who had held rommerce as of June 1, 1774. Nathaniel' (Thomas~2 John') and Ann high positions in the British Army and John Peck Rathbun retumed in mid (Peck) Rathbun. Navy. June from a trip to Newfoundland, but His father was bom and married on" He probably attended school in Bos because of the blockade he had to dock Block Island and moved to Exeter about ton until his early teens, then was sent to at Salem and travel to Boston overland. 1744. Nathaniel became a prosperous sea as a ship's boy on one of his uncle's During that summer and fall, Boston's farmer and a community leader, and trading vessels. By 1773, when he was economic life came to a halt. We do not was serving as captain of the local militia 27, Rathbun was commanding a small know just how Rathbun spent those when he died in June or July 1750, aged schooner in the coastal trade between months, but we do know that during that 31 . His widow was left with four young New England and the maritime provin time he fell in love with beautiful young children - John Peck, aged four, and ces of Canada. Polly Leigh, 16-year-old daughter of three daughters aged eight, six and one. Boston was his home port during the Benjamin Leigh, the man credited with Ann sold the family farm and moved to early 1770s - the turbulent years pre halting the Boston Massacre. Boston, where she had two brothers, but ceding the Revolution. It is quite pos- There must have been problems.
52 The sloop Providence (front) and ship Alfred. John Peck Rathbun, a lieutenant on both ships under John Paul Jones, was later captain of the Providence.
The Manners Museum In Newport News. Va
Leigh was a wealthy Delphware agent rebellion and the British garrison at Bos summer and fall of 1775 at the Cases, whose brother was a tutor to the royal ton was increased. On April 18, fighting as the war continued and demands for family. He was an open and avowed broke out at Lexington and Concord, independence increased. Tory, who looked upon talk of inde and the war was on . In Philadelphia, the Continental Con pendence and revolt as dangerous non Benjamin Leigh made plans to return gress had already created an Army, and sense. to England with Polly and his younger now decided to authorize a Navy. Esek Rathbun's uncle was a prominent pa children. Rathbun wanted to leave Bos Hopkins of Rhode Island was named triot, closely allied with the Boston rad ton, which was quickly filling up with Commander in Chief and was ordered icals who favored independence. Rath Tory sympathizers from throughout the to begin recruiting officers and seamen. bun no doubt shared his uncle's views, countryside, while patriots were leaving Joining the new navy was a logical although he probably refrained from air to join the Continental Army, gathering choice for an unemployed merchant ing them in the Leigh household. outside the city. captain. In November 1775, Rathbun There may have been a problem, too, Rathbun solved the problem in a set off for Providence to offer his with the age difference. Leigh likely simple, direct manner-on May 4, 1775, services. frowned on the romance between his he and Polly were married. They left Hopkins had already left for Phil teen-aged daughter and 28-year-old Boston for Rhode Island, probably to the adelphia to organize the new Navy, Rathbun. home of his only surviving sister, Ann, leaving recruiting in the hands of Abra A decision was forced by fast-moving wife of Immanuel Case, a shopkeeper ham Whipple, like Rathbun a merchant events in the spring of 1775. Mas· and tavern owner in South Kingston. sachusetts was declared in a state of The newlyweds probably spent the (continued on page 54)
53 John Peck Rathbun
(continued from page 53) command - the equivalent of today's "executive officer." skipper before the war. Assured by Rathbun sailed on the Providence un Whipple that he would be com der Jones for the next six months, cruis missioned an officer, Rathbun "signed ing the Atlantic from Newfoundland to up" in the world's newest navy. Bermuda. The Providence captured On November 20, he boarded the eight British vessels and destroyed sloop Katy, flagship of the little Rhode eight others. Jones was hailed as a Island Navy, on which Whipple was to hero, but Commodore Hopkins later take a group of newly enlisted seamen commented that most of the success and officers to Philadelphia. They sailed was due to Rathbun. on November 26 and arrived at Phil In October, Jones was promoted to adelphia on December 5. The sloop's command a larger ship, the Alfred, and name was changed to Providence and persuaded Rathbun to join him again as she joined four larger converted mer first lieutenant. On a cruise to Nova Sco chant vessels to form the U.S. Navy's tia, they captured nearly a dozen ves fi rst fleet. sels and destroyed several others - On Feb. 10, 1776, Rathbun was com another successful cruise. missioned a second lieutenant and as On this trip, we find a graphic account signed to the Providence, under the of the courage for which Rathbun came command of Captain John Hazard. The to be noted. fleet set sail the next day, and three Coming across an American privateer weeks later was in the Caribbean. Hop schooner, the Eagle, known to be carry kins had heard there were large sup ing a number of Navy deserters, Jones plies of British gunpowder and ammu sent Rathbun on board with a band of nition at Fort Nassau on the island of marines to search the ship. An officer on New Providence. the privateer later complained of Rath On March 3, some 250 marines land bun's actions, charging that the marines ed and took over the island with little . . . "were ordered by said Rathbun to go opposition. Two weeks later, the fleet into the hold and prick about with their started on its retum trip to New England, cutlasses to discover any concealed having found less ammunition than men, which they did . ... Rathbun Hopkins had hoped. abused the first lieutenant of the said It was an uneventful trip until April 4, schooner by heaving him on the deck, off Long Island, where they became in and many other acts of high insult were volved in the first major naval battle of committed by Rathbun's orders." the war. After capturing two small British Four deserters found hiding below warships, the American fleet battled deck were sent over to Jones on the briefly with the 20-gun Glasgow, whose Alfred, who sent back orders to Rathbun captain managed to outmaneuver the to seize 20 of the Eagle's regular crew to five American ships and escape. fill Jones' manpower shortage. During the battle, Captain Hazard of This cruise ended the highly suc the Providence proved to be cowardly, cessful Jones-Rathbun partnership. On incompetent, or both. The sloop took their retum to port, they found that a John Paul Jones virtually no part in the action although it promotion list had been issued, and Artist-Donna J. Neary was one of the fastest and most maneu both were disappointed. Jones was verable vessels in the fleet. again offered command of the little Rathbun and his fellow junior officers Providence, and Rathbun remained a on the Providence were thoroughly dis first lieutenant. They talked together in gusted and once in port they brought Boston and decided to take their cases charges against Hazard. He was court directly to Philadelphia and the Marine martialed and became the first officer of Committee of the Continental Con the United States Navy to be dismissed gress. It had become apparent that pro from service. motions and top assignments went to Named to succeed Hazard as captain those with well-placed friends in the of the Providence was a short, cocky Congress and on the committee. first lieutenant named John Paul Jones. Jones left immediately, but Rathbun Rathbun was promoted to first lieuten went first to Providence to visit Commo ant and became Jones' second-in- dore Hopkins. Jones and Hopkins had
54 developed a bitter feud, but Rathbun got captured, Rathbun's successful mission along with both men. At Rathbun's urg to Philadelphia would have been in vain. ing, Hopkins wrote a glowing letter of He waited for weeks. Polly probably recommendation to his friend, William came to Providence to be with him dur Ellery, an influential Rhode Island con ing the anxious vigil. Finally, in mid gressman who served on the Marine June, word came that the Providence Committee. had put into Bedford, Mass., and Rath In the letter, Hopkins called Rathbun bun immediately proceeded to Bedford "a man of courage" and declared that to take command. most of Jones' successes had been due Again, he found bad news. The sloop to Rathbun 's "valour and conduct." In had been badly battered in a gun fight concluding, Hopkins wrote that Rathbun with a British ship near Newfoundland. was "of a good family in Boston. Any Lt . Pitcher had been wounded ; the service you may do him will be serving Providence needed extensive repairs, the cause." including a new mast. Her crew mem With effective foresight, Rathbun bers had scattered. asked for a copy of the letter addressed For the next month, as carpenters and to the chairman of the Marine Com caulkers worked to repair the sloop, mittee - John Hancock, of Boston, a Rathbun rounded up a new crew and a friend of his uncle Thomas H. Peck. He new set of junior officers. By mid-July, then set off for Philadelphia carrying the Providence was repaired, stocked both letters. with provisions, and had a new crew of William Ellery, no doubt with Han five officers and some 66 enlisted men. cock's backing, proved to be the "friend Rathbun must have been happy and at court" that Rathbun needed. On El confident. He knew the Providence well, lery's recommendation, the Congress and he was anxious to set sail for the on April 19, 1777, issued Rathbun a first time as captain of his own ship. captain's commission and gave him The little sloop was about 60 feet long , command of the sloop Providence. 20 feet wide amidships, and carried a Jones was to wait another six months single mast some 80 feet high, with two before his next command. yardarms. A bowsprit projected 40 feet On April 23, the Marine Committee from her bow. She had a high quarter gave Rathbun his orders: deck running from the stem to half the "You are to lose no time in proceding length of the ship, covering the officers' to join your vessel at Rhode Island sleeping quarters and eating area, and where you must exert yourself to have the large "captain's cabin" at the stem. her fitted and manned immediately - The crew slept in close quarters below when ready for the sea you are to pro the main deck. ceed on a cruize in such Latitudes as will The Providence carried eight car be most likely to fall in with and intercept riage-mounted cannons on her main the enemys Transport Vessels coming deck and four more on the quarter-deck. to reinforce or supply their Army at New Each could fire four-pound cannonballs. York, and you are to use your best en She was a fast, maneuverable and well deavours to take, bum, sink or destroy built vessel , and Rathbun must have as many of the enemies Vessels of been a proud commander as he sailed Abraham Whipple every kind as it may be your good for her out of Bedford on his first cruise as u . s. Naval History Depattmenl tune to fall in with .. .. " her captain. Rathbun immediately left for Provi dence, no doubt stopping on the way to To be continued visit Polly at South Kingston. He may have been there on May 4 to celebrate the second anniversary of their wedding. At Providence, he found bad news. The Providence was gone! Commodore Hopkins had sent her out on a cruise under Lieutenant Jonathan Pitcher a month earlier, and nothing had been heard of her since. If she were sunk or
55 Rathbun-Rathbone Brothers Were Grand Rapids Founders
Charles Rathbun Alfred D. Rathbone Amos Rathbone 1796-1875 1806-1856 1808-1882
The early history of Grand Rapids, 1800, as township supervisor from 1800 short breaks for lunch and supper. The Michigan's second largest city, is close to 1802, and in the state legislature from pay was $1 .50 a day. ly entwined with the lives of three broth 1804 to 1807. One morning, Charles' wife and new ers - Charles Rathbun (your editor's He died on Sept. 22, 1823, leaving a born baby were sick, and by the time he great-grandfather), Alfred Day Rath sizable estate which gave his six sons tended to them, it was after 6 a.m. and bone, known as "A.D.," and Amos Rath and four daughters a good start in life. he was two hours late for work. His bone. His wife died seven years later, on Aug. employer informed Rathbun that he Charles owned the city's leading hotel 20, 1830. Amos was described as "a would not pay him for a full day's work. for many years. Amos was city trea large, powerful man of great courage." "How much will you pay me by the surer, alderman, supervisor and a lead acre?" Rathbun asked. ing financier. Alfred was one of the The farmer, estimating that a hard town's first lawyers, served as its first Charles Rathbun (1796-1875), the worker could cut about three acres of postmaster and prosecuting attorney, second oldest son, was married in 1818 wheat in a day, said he would pay 50 and helped write the first city charter. to Anna Kniffin, and raised a family of cents an acre. The three were among the 10 children five sons and six daughters. As a young Rathbun agreed, and set to work with of Amoss Rathbun (Amos' Joshua3 man, he was a farmer in Scipio, where such vigor he kept two men busy tying John" ') and Mary (Polly) Williams. he earned a reputation for strength and and stacking the wheat behind him. By Amos was a Revolutionary War veteran endurance. dark, he had mowed seven acres. The from Richmond, Mass., who later settled Family tradition tells that, shortly after astonished farmer paid him $3.50 and in Troy, N.Y., and finally moved about his marriage, he worked for a neighbor gave him a bushel of wheat as a bonus. 1798 to the beautiful Finger Lakes area ing farmer during the wheat harvest sea In 1825, two years after his father's of New York State, at Scipio in Cayuga son, cutting wheat by hand with a "cra death had left him with a modest in County, purchasing more than 1,000 dle" while a companion scooped up the heritance, Charles sold his farm and acres which he cleared for growing stalks and tied them into sheafs for moved with his wife and three young wheat. He became a prosperous farmer stacking and drying. The workers re children to Huron County, Ohio, where and an influential member of the com ported at 4:30 a.m., began working at he purchased a tract of wilderness and munity, serving on the Grand Jury in dawn and kept going until dusk, with cleared it for farmland. Seven years
56 The Rathbun House in Grand Rapids, Mich. , about the time it was torn down in 1887.
later, he sold the farm and, with four there that year. They opened a general 20-by-30 feet in size, making it a "man more children and a good profit for his store with a total investment of $6,000 sion" for that day and area. Two elderly investment and work, he returned to - each partner putting up $3,000. Gou sisters had bought it from Campeau and Cayuga County in 1832. verneur had borrowed the money from operated a boarding house there for Meanwhile, in the Territory of Michi his father. The business prospered and, several years. It was converted into a gan, early settlers were sending back in 1843, Amos and Gouverneur bought hotel in 1841 and called the Mansion word of a fertile, pleasant area along the land on a busy downtown street and House. rapids of the Grand River, 25 miles from erected the city's first stone business Charles purchased it for $3,500, ex Lake Michigan. A Rathbun cousin, Rix block. tended the front, added two stories and Robinson, operated a fur-trading post Hearing these stories of success from renamed it the Rathbun House. for Indians there in 1821 , and became a Grand Rapids, Charles Rathbun, then Two years later, in 1846, as the village prime mover of the area's growth and 48, decided i" 1844 to make the move continued to grow and prosper, Charles development. He was a grandson of himself. Taking his wife, mother-in-law spent another $3,500 for a large ad Edward Robinson and Susannah· Rath and the 10 youngest children - ranging dition made of cut limestone. It added bun (Joshual John"'). in age from 3 to 22 - he loaded up a some 60 rooms, a kitchen and large In 1835, 42 residents from Cayuga caravan of ox-drawn carriages and dining room , and a huge ballroom cover County, N.Y., including six of Rix Rob wagons and set off for Michigan. ing the entire upper floor. The hotel then inson's brothers, moved to the "Grand A farmer all his life, Charles now had 117 rooms. Rapids" area, then known as Kent. looked for a new occupation - and Charles became the most popular ho Word was sent back east to relatives, found it. He bought one of the village's tel landlord in western Michigan. Aided friends and neighbors about the great three hotels, the Mansion House, at by his older sons and daughters, he potential of the area. Monroe and Waterloo (now Market) made the Rathbun House a center of the Gouverneur B. Rathbun (1819-1888), streets. community's life. Elections were held the 20-year old son of Charles and The frame building, originally the there, auctions were conducted from the Anna, moved to Grand Rapids in 1839, home of wealthy French land speculator front balcony and bonfire rallies were and went into business with his uncle, Louis Campeau, was about 10 years old held on the street in front. Amos Rathbone, who had also settled and solidly built. It was two-storied and (continued on page 58)
57 Grand Rapids
(continued from page 57) Circulation of the Times dropped from the ground for walls, and with bare dirt 1,200 to 600 within days, and in two for a floor. Within a decade, he would The huge upper ballroom was used years it folded. Gouverneur then bought become one of the city's wealthiest almost nightly for dances, lectures, con a farm near Grand Rapids and lived men. certs or shows by traveling theatrical there until his death. He was the first regular attorney to groups. Charles Rathbun stayed on the farm settle in Kent County, and quickly rose In 1851 , Charles bought a farm in in Paris Township for nearly 20 years, to a position of prominence. He was nearby Paris Township and moved until he turned it over to his youngest school inspector in the middle 1830s, there with his still unmarried children. son, Hugo, in 1870. He then moved into and in 1838, when the community was Despite the hotel's success, he appar Grand Rapids to live with a daughter. He incorporated as the village of Kent, he ently preferred the more peaceful life of remained physically active through his was named the first postmaster. a farmer. Possibly he was influenced by late 70s. In 1874, aged 78, he was From 1839 until 1843, he was Kent the marriages that year of three of his thrown from his horse while riding and County's prosecuting attorney, and in children - costing him three valuable suffered injuries that led to a stroke and 1850 he served on the commission assistants - or by the failing health of his death on Nov. 13, 1875. which wrote the first Grand Rapids city his wife. She died in 1854, and he was Charles left an estate of $13,000, in charter. married again, in 1856, to Jane Van addition to the Paris Township farm Alfred became a major leader of the Tuyle. which he willed to Hugo. Much of his local Democrats, and in 1854 was draft Charles leased the hotel to a series of savings had been lost some years ear ed to become the party's candidate for landlords, first to his cousin/brother-in- lier after he invested in the Grand the state senate. He lost by a slim mar Rapids-Kalamazoo Plank Road. gin as the Whig party converted many Plank roads had become almost a Democrats because of the slavery mania in Michigan in the Civil War era, issue. and were built throughout the state. His promising career was ended by a Thick planks were laid over parallel tim stroke which resulted in his death on bers making a smooth-surfaced road April 5, 1856, at the age of 50. much cheaper than railroads. Railroads He left an estate of nearly $60,000, proved longer-lasting and cheaper to mostly in real estate, and a will which set maintain, however, and plank roads legal precedent at the time. He set aside were soon obsolete. Many investors lost some money to care for his wife and heavily. educate his children, but retained the Charles Rathbun had sold the Rath bulk of his property intact for his unborn bun House in 1872 for $28,000, with a grandchildren, permitting his children to sizable down payment. He may have use only the annual interest. He had set used that cash for his unfortunate plank a pattern later to be followed by the road investment. The hotel was torn Morgans, Rockefellers, Fords and other down about 1886. wealthy families in what we know today A writer of the time called Charles as trusts or foundations. Rathbun "a man of robust frame, strong Alfred left two daughters and a son, will and temperate habits." Alfred D. Rathbone II, who established a Gouverneur B. Rathbun dynasty that ended with the death in 1819-1888 1949 of Alfred Day Rathbone IV, leaving Alfred Day Rathbone (1806-1856), two daughters but no sons. law, Hiram Rathbun, who had married Charles' brother, adopted the Rathbone his sister, Pamela, and later to his spelling as a young man, and became Amos Rathbone (1808-1882), the daughter and son-in-law, Sarah and an attorney under the guidance of a third brother, caught "western fever" in Benjamin Smith. brother-in-law, Thomas Yardley How, 1834 and set off for Fountain County, Charles' son, Gouverneur, bought out who had married his sister Mary. Ind., where he opened a general store in his uncle Amos' interest in the stone Alfred practiced law for a few years in Covington, the county seat. He also business block, known as "The Wedge," Brownville, N.Y., then moved to Silver used the Rathbone spelling. and finally sold it in 1853. He then en Creek in the same state, where in 1836 Amos operated his store in Indiana for tered the newspaper business and with he married Lucy Redfield. several years, but visited Alfred in a partner, Nathan Church, bought the That same year, he caught the "Michi Grand Rapids and bought several lots Grand Rapids Times, but with unhappy gan Fever" and set out for Grand Rapids there as an investment. In the spring of results. An ardent Dernocrat, Gouver with his new bride in the fall. They found 1839, a letter from Alfred informed him neur was a bitter foe of Michigan Repub a frontier village, with muddy streets and that a shipload of groceries bound for lican Senator Zachariah Chandler, and few buildings, but a spirit of bounding Grand Rapids had been water-soaked when Chandler died in 1879, the Times optimism for the future. He and his wife and virtually ruined in a storm on Lake carried a front-page headline, "Zach spent the first winter in a crude shack Michigan. The town's residents were Chandler Is Dead-Thank God." build by driving sharpened planks into desperately short of food .
58 Seeing an opportunity for profit, Amos $135,000 estate was left to nephews Electa Williams Rathbone (1797- hired some young men, loaded a wagon and nieces. 18??) married Robert Cooley and was with groceries and hauled it to Grand Amos Rathbone'S obituary described the mother of John Clark Cooley, author Rapids with teams of oxen, driving 50 him as "a man of quick and keen per of the 1898 Rathbone Genealogy. head of cattle with them. He sold the ception ... not a perfect man, we Judah Williams Rathbun (1801-1885) entire lot, and returned to Indiana for haven't had any since Christ died, (but) remained in Cayuga County as a farmer more. He continued in this profitable ... there is left among us but very few of most of his life. He also complained that trade until fall when he decided to make better stuff than Amos Rathbone." he loaned money to his brother Amos Grand Rapids his home. Unfortunately, brothers Amos Rath and was never repaid in full. He and his Amos went on to make a fortune and a bone and Charles Rathbun became es wife, Celia" Rathbun (John' Daniel' 3 2 successful political career in Grand tranged in middle age. The two brothers Joshua John . ' ) had several children. Rapids. After he and his nephew, Gou did not speak to one another for the last Pamela Brown Rathbun (1803-1870) verneur Rathbun, sold their general decades of their lives. Family tradition married her first cousin, Hiram" Rathbun 3 2 store, Amos turned to the lumbering says they quarreled over the spelling of (Edward' Amos' Joshua John . ' ) , and business. their last name, but surviving letters in moved to Grand Rapids. Hiram leased Amos bought two sawmills north of dicate a more logical reason - Amos the Rathbun House from Charles Rath Grand Rapids, and built a ship to carry borrowed money from Charles to fi bun for some years. Hiram and Pamela his lumber to Chicago and other Great nance his early operations and appar have a number of living descendants, Lakes ports. A few years later, as the ently failed to repay it in full. none with the Rathbun/Rathbone name. area's plentiful limestone deposits be The three brothers who played such Jacob Brown Rathbun (1810-1850) gan to challenge wood as a building important parts in the early history of material, Amos returned to the grocery Grand Rapids have only a few descen trade for a time, but then formed a com dants in the area today and none with pany to enter the limestone business. the Rathbun or Rathbone name. A In 1864, with several partners, he pur bronze plaque marking the site of the chased an old "plaster mill" just south of Rathbun House was torn down a few the city, on 425 acres which covered years ago when a new building - the gypsum beds some 12 feet thick, lying fourth - was erected on the property. under 10 to 15 feet of soil. Amos invested profits from his lime stone operation in Grand Rapids real The other children of Amos Rathbun estate, which escalated sharply in Sr. and Polly Williams had interesting value. He bought property and built nine and eventful lives. brick stores on Monroe Street, the city's The oldest, Mary (1790-1885), mar main commercial thoroughfare. He was ried Thomas Yardley How, attorney, re an early promoter of the Grand Rapids ligious leader and secretary to Alexan and Indiana Railroad, which was to run der Hamilton during his service as sec directly through his plaster mill property retary of the Treasury in George and simplify his transportation prob Washington's cabinet. They had no chil lems. He was a large and early stock dren. holder in the railroad. Nathan Williams Rathbun (1792- Jacob Brown Rathbun (1810-1850) was Amos was also one of the founders, 1852) became a lawyer and practiced called the second most handsome man and on the first board of directors, of the for some years in Brownville, N.Y. He in New YorK City. First National Bank, whose original capi migrated in 1824 to Lenawee County, tal of $50,000 rose to $500,000 within a Mich., but returned after a few years to few years. New York. About 1836, he went west moved to New York City as a young man In civic affairs, Amos was equally ac again, settling at Maumee City, near and invested his money in a general tive. In 1844, he helped organize the Toledo, when he bought and improved store. An early writer called him "the Grand Rapids Academy, the city's first waterfront property expecting Maumee handsomest man save one" in the entire institution of higher learning, and served to become the area's major port city. city. He died there unmarried on Nov. on the board of trustees. He was elected When that honor went to Toledo, his 19, 1850, aged 40. city treasurer in 1847 and alderman in property became worthless and he suf Sarah Frances Rathbone (1815- 1857. He also represented Grand fered heavy losses. He was a justice of 1902) married George Benedict, an at Rapids on the Kent County Board of the peace at Maumee in 1837, and prac torney, and moved to Cleveland. Ben Supervisors. ticed law there until the 1840s, when he edict became city attorney, council pres Amos died in 1882, aged 74, after moved to Washington, D.C. He was ident, postmaster and eventually owner spending his final years in retirement serving as a clerk for the House Com of the Cleveland Daily Herald. and living off the income of his many mittee on Post Offices and Roads when investments. He and his wife, Amanda he died in 1852. He and his wife, Mary Carver, had no children, and his Turner, had no children .
59 Genealogy: The Fourth Generation in America
43. BENJAMIN' RATHBUN (Ben and moved there with his family about 45_ SIMEON' RATHBUN (Benjamin3 jamin3 Joseph2 John'), born Jan. 12, 1815. He built a large home in which Joseph2 John'), born May 2, 1751 , in 1747, in Colchester, Conn., and married early town meetings were held. In later Colchester, Conn" and married about there in October 1771 , Huldah Williams, life, he operated a distillery in what was 1771 Avis Hamilton, born Feb. 7, 1754, born Dec. 24, 1752, daughter of Philip known as "Old Castle," a stone house daughter of James and Priscilla (Strick and Hannah (Crocker) Williams. (The built by his son, Alfred. Job died May 1, land) Hamilton. He is presumably the story of his life was told in our April 1982 1838, in Howard, and Deborah died Simeon Rathbun listed in the 1790 cen issue.) He died July 21 , 1819, in Spring there in 1845. Both are buried in the old sus in Hartford County, Conn., although field, N.Y. Huldah died there Nov. 23, Allen Cemetery. Cooley says he moved to Williamstown, 1824. Oswego County, NY in 1793. He does not appear in the census there of 1800 CHILDREN CHILDREN or 1810, but does in 1820. He died in WILLIAMS, born Aug . 16, 1772; mar GEORGE WASHINGTON, born Oct. Williamstown on April 29, 1829. Avis ried Jemima Green. 16, 1775; married (1) Eunice' Rathbun died, presumably there, in September 3 2 1828. DANIEL, born Nov. 6, 1774; married (William' Job Joseph John'); (2) Anna Dolly Stocking. Matthews. BENJAMIN, born Feb. 11 , 1777; mar EUNICE, born Dec. 6, 1777; married 3 CHILDREN ried Mary Carter. Joshua' Rathbun (William' Job Joseph2 John'). SIMEON, born Nov. 6, 1771 ; married JOEL, born Aug. 20, 1779; married (?)-_. Philomelia Alden. RUSSELL, born June 13, 1780; mar ried (1) __; (2) Elizabeth Treadway. MARY, born March 1, 1775; married SELDEN, born Sept. 2, 1781 ; married Admiral Birch. (1) Rosina Eldredge ; (2) Betsey HUBBARD WELCH, born April 24, Knowlton. 1781 ; married Abigail Saxton; three SAMUEL, born Nov. 14, 1776; mar others. ried Beulah Wright. ARTEMUS, born March 16, 1784; married Phoebe Carpenter. LYDIA, born about 1782; married Ru NANCY, born Sept. 25, 1778; married fus Halsey. Hezekiah Stocking. HULDAH, born Nov. 22, 1786; mar ried Robert Rogers. DYER DANA, born April 6, 1784; mar EPAPHRODITUS, born Aug. 12, ried Susan (Rich) Strong. 1780; married (1) __; (2) Harriet ELECTA, born March 12, 1789; mar Simpson. ried Elezer Perry. DEBORAH, born April 1786; married James Corey. RODNEY, born June 23, 1782; mar CLARISSA, born Jan. 16, 1796; died ried Ruth Redfield. unmarried Feb. 11 , 1862. AMIZIAH RILEY, born Dec. 25, 1789; married (1) Joanna Wheeler; (2) Sarah MARTHA, born May 30, 1784; mar Whiting. ried Samuel Clements in 1807. ALFRED, born about 1-791 ; married STRICKLAND, born March 13, 1786; 44. JOB' RATHBUN (Benjamin3 Jo Laura Brown. married (1) Millie Ellis; (2) Prudence seph2John '), born July 24, 1748, in Col CLARISSA, born about 1793; married Twitchell. chester (now Salem), Conn., and mar Cornelius' Rathbun (William' Job3 Jo- DANIEL, born May 12, 1788; no fur ried there about 1774 Deborah Welch, ther information. born about 1753 in Wales, possibly the seph2 John'). , ~ '1 /7 'i daughter of Hubbard Welch. A descend SARAH ANN, born about ~ 795~ mar ERASTUS, born July 23, 1790; no ant reported that she and her sister left ried Cornelius Madole (McDowell?). further information. Nova Scotia by boat, and that the sister BETSEY, listed by Cooley; no other SALAH JONES, born Oct. 4, 1792; was washed overboard during a storm information. married (1) Mary Barber; (2) Sophia B. on the way to New London, Conn. Job Hills. was a minuteman in the Connecticut militia in 1775 and 1776, under Captain CHARLES, born Nov. 28, 1794; mar Eliphalet Holmes. He bought 300 acres ried Electa Appleby. in 1808 in the northern section of How LOUISA, born June 4, 1798; no fur ard TownShip, Steuben County, N.Y., ther information.
60 46. JOB" RATHBUN (Job3 Joseph2 EUNICE, born April 2, 1780; married CHILDREN John'), born Jan. 22, 1739, in Can George WashingtonS Rathbun (Job' THEOPHILUS, born about 1758; terbury, Conn. His father died when he Benjamin3 Joseph2 John'). served in the Revolutionary War and was about six, and he was reared by his MARY, born Nov. 1, 1782; died in was apparently dead by 1790. No uncle, William Harris, a mariner. Job 1793. known marriage or children. went to sea as a young boy, was a mariner all his life and became a captain JOB BEEBE, born May 20, 1784; JONATHAN, born about 1760; living operating from New London, Conn. He married Fanny Brown. in Colchester in 1790. married Patience __, born about JEREMIAH, born May 5, 1786; died in SYBIL, born about 1764; married 1749. Job died "at sea from the effects of infancy. Noah Beebe Aug . 26, 1784, in Lyme. poison put into the drinking water by BENJAMIN, born May 10, 1788; mar PRISCILLA, born about 1766; mar natives near the coast of South Ameri ried Margaret Walker. ried David Ranney June 6, 1783. ca," according to Cooley. His will was proved in 1797. Patience died March 16, REBECCA, born Aug. 9, 1789; mar DANIEL, born about 1769; died July 1829, in New London. They apparently ried Ephraim Rumsey. 8, 1787, in Lyme, aged 17. had no children. CORNELIUS, born Jan. 1, 1792; mar LYDIA, born July 27, 1770; married ried Clarissas Rathbun (Job' Benjamin3 Reuben Marsh Aug. 4, 1791 in Tyring Joseph2 John'). ham, Mass. MARY, born July 20, 1794; died ANNA, born about 1772; married young. Obadiah Spicer July 25, 1790. 47. WILLIAM HARRIS" RATHBUN (Job3 Joseph2John'), born June 1 , 1743, LYDIA, born July 1, 1797; married SAMUEL, born about 1774; married in New London, Conn., and married Isaac Bennett Sarah __. about 1773 Jerusha Beebe, born June WILLIAM, born about 1778; married 4, 1752, daughter of Jabez and Eunice 48. SAMUEL" RATHBUN (Newbury) Beebe. Like his brother, he (?Thomas3 Samuel2 John'), born about AUGE, bom aeeu~a rJ:.i eg was reared by his uncle, William Harris, 1729, probably in Exeter, R.I. ; moved to CRauRCsy.-Greene Bee. 1, 1-8-1. for whom he was named, and went to Lyme, Conn., and married there about sea as a boy. The uncle built a ship for 1755, Huldah Lord, born July 16, 1735, his two nephews when they came of daughter of Theophilus and Deborah age, naming it the Two Brothers. It was (Mark) Lord. This family was overlooked 49. THOMAS" RATHBUN (?Thom burned by the English during the Revo by Cooley, and there is no record of their as3 Samuel2 John'), born about 1731 lutionary War with a cargo of indigo from marriage or children. Samuel's parent probably in Exeter, R.1. He married Nov. the Caribbean. They were awarded a age and the following list of children are 15, 1755, at Canterbury, Conn ., Abigail land grant as compensation for their based on study and analysis of Con Kimball , born May 30, 1731 , daughter of loss, but never claimed the land. Some necticut records. Theophilus, Sybil, Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Ringdo?) Kim years after losing the ship, William Har Priscilla, Daniel and Samuel are most ball. They moved about 1761 to Lisbon, ris Rathbun left New London and moved likely his children; the others are prob Conn., where Abigail was admitted to to Warren, Herkimer County, N.Y., and able or possible. Samuel died Dec. 16, church in April, described as "sick." She then to Howard, Steuben County, N.Y., 1793, in Lyme, aged 63, and Huldah apparently died about that time, for on in 1808. He died there on April 16, 1822. died June 30, 1794. July 19, 1762, he married in Norwich Jerusha died later, but the date is not Priscilla Baldwin, parentage unknown. known. He died in Lisbon Dec. 29, 1793. Priscil la later married Silas Larabee and died Jan. 29, 1826 in Lisbon.
CHILDREN Correction CHILDREN JOSHUA, born Sept. 20, 1775; mar Dorcas Wells, the wife of Joshua' (By Abigail) ried Eunices Rathbun (Job' Benjamin3 Rathbun (Joshua3 John"'), was the Joseph2 John'). daughter of Peter and Ann (Watson) AMASA, born Sept. 19, 1756; died Wells, not James Wells, as reported in about 1761 . JERUSHA (twin), born Sept. 20, the April 1982 issue (page 27). Her .1775; married John C. Rogers. ASA (twin), born Sept. 19, 1756; mar father's name was given as James in ried Ruth Kimball. WILLIAM, born Jan. 28, 1778; mar Cooley's Rathbone Genealogy. The ried Hannah Page. He moved with his corrected information was supplied by a LYDIA, born Oct. 3, 1757; married father to Warren, and then to Howard, new member, Mrs. Ellen Brown, to Rufus Morse Sept. 13, 1778. and by 1830 was living at Grand Island, whom we express gratitude. Cooley's ZERVIAH, born Feb. 18, 1759; alive near Buffalo, N.Y., where he drowned work has many such errors, and we in 1782, no further information. while crossing the Niagara River in appreciate any opportunity to correct 1835. He had no known children. them. (continued on page 62)
61 Genealogy
(continued from page 61) LYDIA, born Nov. 29, 1758; died April CHILDREN 25, 1780. (By Elizabeth) (By Priscilla) TAMAR, born Feb. 16, 1761 ; died ELIZABETH, born Sept. 1, 1764; mar AMASA, born April 2, 1763; died May Oct. 25, 1809. ried Elisha Rose. 6, 1763. HANNAH, born Dec. 27, 1764; mar BENJAMIN, born Sept. 14, 1766; AARON, born July 28, 1764; married ried Archibald Millikin June 10, 1787. married Elizabeth Packer. Deborah Rose. EZRA, born April 29, 1767; died in LUCRETIA, born Aug. 24, 1767; died THOMAS, born Jan. 25, 1767; mar June 1767. young. ried Elizabeth __. JAMES, born May 13, 1768; married DIANA, born Dec. 8, 1771 ; died Jan. ABIGAIL, born Aug. 21 , 1768; died Waity Littlefield . 19, 1794. Jan. 5, 1769. CATHERINE (twin), born May 13, NANCY, born March 29, 1774; mar ESTHER, born Nov. 27, 1769; died 1768; married Daniel Mott, Jr. Dec. 24, ried James Sawyer. 1795. Jan. 9, 1814. SAMUEL, born July 15, 1776; married MERCY, born April 15, 1771 ; no fur 51. SAMUEL' RATHBUN (SamuelH Abigail Burroughs. ther information. John'), born July 10, 1736, on Block (By Desire) Island, and married there Nov. 18, 1758, HANNAH, born May 9, 1772; married HANNAH, born about 1779; married Susannah Reynolds, born about 1739. Henry Eldredge Oct. 29, 1794. Silas (or Elisha) Beebe Oct. 13, 1795. He became a sea captain and moved to CYRUS, born July 31 , 1774; died Greenwich, Conn., during the Revo DESIRE, born about 1781 ; married Sept. 18, 1774. lutionary War. On Oct. 29, 1779, the Richard Bill. ABIGAIL, born Oct. 14, 1775; no fur Connecticut Governor and Council gave ELISHA, born Dec. 14, 1782; married ther information. permission to "Captain Samuel Rath Lucretia Packer. ERASTUS, born April 5, 1777; mar bone, late an inhabitant of Block Island, ried Lydia Tubbs. now residing at Greenwich, to go to Block Island and bring away his effects WILLIAM, born Oct. 3, 1778; married and settle his affairs." He died in 1786 in 53. JAMES' RATHBUN (Jamesl Edna Loomer. Greenwich, and his wife died there in Samuel2 John'), born about 1733 on HENRY, born Sept. 9, 1780; married 1792. Block Island, and moved with his par Elizabeth Loomer. ents, as a child, to Greenwich, Conn. He CHILDREN ELIJAH, born June 14, 1783; married apparently became a sea captain and is Bathsheba Rose. DELIVERANCE, born Nov. 18, 1759; probably the Captain James Rathbun no further information. who was commander of the Recovery BALDWIN, born Sept. 15, 1785; which was sailing in 1769-70 between married Elizabeth Mowrey. MARY, born Jan. 30, 1762; no further Newport and the West Indies. He moved information. by 1775 to Dutchess County, N. Y., SUSANNAH, born Dec. 8, 1766; mar where on Aug. 15, 1775, he signed a ried Jotham Merrit. pledge of loyalty to the revolutionary government. This family was also over 50. WALTER' RATHBUN (SamuelH looked by Cooley, and nothing more is John'), born June 16, 1734, on Block known about him or his wife. The fol Island; married there March 4, 1756, lowing children are assumed to be his. Hannah Rose, born May 18, 1728. He 52. ELIJAH' RATHBUN (SamuelJ.2 There were probably others. was admitted freeman in 1757, elected John'), born May 28, 1740, on Block Block Island town clerk a short time Island. He married June 19, 1763, in CHILDREN later, and held that post until his death Groton, Conn., Elizabeth Ann Bur JAMES, born about 1758; married 60 years later. He was known as "Walter roughs, born about 1747, daughter of the Scribe." He was the island's rep Lemuel Burroughs, and moved to Gro ANNA, born about 1762; married resentative to the Rhode Island General ton. She died of smallpox on Nov. 22, Robert Miller Jan. 17, 1782, at the Assembly in 1774, and served on the 1777. He then married, about 1778, Schagiticoke Dutch Reformed Church town's Committee of Correspondence Desire (Packer) Walsworth, born about in Rensselaer Co., N.Y. during the Revolution. Walter died at 1755, daughter of Ichabod Packer and Block Island Jan. 4, 1818, aged 84. His widow of ___ Walsworth . They wife died March 10, 1807. moved to Guilford, Vt. , where he was surveyor of highways in 1782. They re CHILDREN turned by 1790 to Groton, where she ABRAHAM, born Feb. 22, 1757; died died in 1815 and Elijah on Feb. 14, March 29, 1761 . 1825.
62 54. COGGESHALL" RATHBUN (Abraham3 Samuel2 John'), born July New Shoreham 16, 1738, on Block Island. He was prob Early Letter June the 7th, 1770 ably a sailor in early life, and traveled to To Aaron Lopez-Sur, I have a 3 2 Nantucket, where he married, March 23, Samuel" Rathbun (SamueI ' percil of choyse pickled cod 1761 , Mary Coffin, born Nov. 8, 1740, John'), born in 1736 on Block fish which should be very glad daughter of Robert and Susannah Cof Island, became a fishing boat if they would sute you-pray fin . He lived for a time at Hastings, on the captain, carrying his codfish be so kind as to let me know east end of Long Island, where his son and mackeral back to the by the bearer and if they will Jonathan was born in 1764. He was island to be preserved in salt I'le bring them. I expect I shall described as a "cordwainer" (shoe or vinegar and sold to mer have some small mackrel maker) in 1769 when , living on Nan chants on the mainland. He aliso, which wont likely be tucket, he sold land in Exeter, R.1. Mary moved from the island during ready till the first of next died in the early 1770s, and on Sept. 22, the chaotic days of the Revo month. We jest begin now to 1774, in Yarmouth , Mass., he married lutionary War, when Block catch them. I shall take it very Thankful (Tripp) Cash , born about 1749. Island was frequently raided kindly if you would take them He died (?) Jan. 30, 1788, in Nantucket. by the British, to Greenwich, for money is not to be had and Thankful died Jan. 28, 1807, in Hawley, Conn., where he died in 1786. I want to pay you as fast as Mass. The following letter from him possable. If it should sute you to Aaron Lopez, a prominent to trade further for fish, CHILDREN Newport merchant, is the should be glad to know if you (By Mary) earliest known letter written have any fishsalt, and the ABRAHAM, born Sept. 1, 1762; re by a Rathbun. The original is price by the hundred bushel, portedly became a seaman; was cap in the Burton Historical Col which concludes your obliged tured by the British during the Revo lection, Detroit, Mich. friend. lutionary War, and later moved to Eng Samuel Rathbun, Junior land where he died. JONATHAN COFFIN, born Sept. 7, 1764; married (1) Mary Fosdick; (2) Sarah Clift. JETHRO, born June 28, 1767; mar ried Elizabeth Baxter. JAMES, born about 1769 (baptized Sept. 10, 1770); possibly the "one of Coggeshal Rathbun's children" who died Sept. 4, 1777, in Nantucket. NATHANIEL, born about 1770 (bap tized Feb. 17, 1771); probably died young. (By Thankful) MARY (Polly) , born about 1775; mar ried William Tripp Nov. 6, 1792. CATHERINE, born about 1777; mar ried Edward Baxter, Dec. 26, 1795. ?COGGESHALL (A "Cogeshel Rath bun" died of smallpox in April , 1778, in Yarmouth , Mass. This could be Cog geshall Sr. if the 1788 death date is wrong, or it could be a son who had been given the father's name. The early re cords are confusing.) Victor and Ruth Streeter of Sparta, Wisc. , were amazed at the photograph (above, left) ~ d f'/}(, ;J 7 in the April issue of Williams Alden Rathbun (1865-1926) of the Springfield Rathbuns. He looked remarkably like their nephew, Army Private Lawrence R. Streeter (above, This concludes the fourth generation right), who died in 1979, aged 20. Young Streeter was a descendant of Thomas· of our family in America. The next issue Rathbun (Thomas5-4 Ebenezer" William 2 John ') and a very distant cousin of the Spring will begin the fifth generation. field Rathbuns.
63 Queries Newest Subscribers WANTED-Information on Augustus' Rathbone (Stephen 7 Joshua"·'·· ·3 Mrs. Ellen G. Brown G. Rex and Sheila Rathbun John"'), who married Hannah Elizabeth New London, N.H. Chippewa Falls, WIse. Chase in San Francisco in 1855. They Ralph A. Cangson Walton and Unda Rathbun were living as late as 1900 in Santa Garden Grove, Calif. Parris Island, S .C. Clara County, Calif. Did they have any Mrs. Eloise lewis Mrs. Joy Robinson children? When and where did they die? Boi88, Idaho Brill, England
WANTED - Parentage of Dan iel Edward and Pauline Rathbone Richard Sharp Kent, Wash. Alexandria, Va. Rathbun, born about 1822 in New York; moved by 1850 to SI. Joseph Nancy Rathbone James and Maxine Stites County, Michigan, from where he Am_pollS, Md. Lee's Summit, Mo. served in the 11th Michigan In fantry Jack Howard Rathbone LomaC. Vogt during the Civil War. He was dead WIchIta, Kan. DeKalb, III. by 1900, when his widow Rebecca, Darrell and Leyta Rathbun Mary Pearl Whitman and sons, Stephen, Charles and Bayport, N.Y. ZIon, III. David, were living in Monroe Co., Iowa.
WANTED - Information on Charles Rathbun, born in 1851 in New York; married Charlotte A. in the People Obituaries early 1870s and had at least three RICHARD SHARP, one of our new DIED - July 31 , 1982, Jean (Rathbun) children Theron, Pau l and est subscribers, has compiled an exten DuBois, aged 44, in Colorado Springs, Harold. They lived in Minneapolis in sive ancestry for Jerusha Beebe, the Colo. She is survived by her parents, 1900, but earlier lived in Nebraska. wife of William Harris· Rathbun (Job3 Gathryni Rathbun (George' Jonathan7 Joseph' John'). Interested descendants Thomass-", Ebenezer" William' John') WANTED - Parentage and informa may obtain a copy by sending a self and Leah Coleman; her husband, Adri tion on Charles L. Rat hbun, born in addressed stamped envelope to your an ; two brothers, Rex and Max Rathbun ; 1861 in Illinois; married Mary editor. a sister, Judy Geer; six children, and five Margaret Evans in the 1880s and grandchildren. had children named Cl ifford, Harold ROSMA LIMBECK found four stan and Bessie. They were living in zas for the song, Rathbun (July issue), DIED-Feb. 15, 1982, Donald Rathbun, Davenport, Iowa, as late as 1913. in her Lutheran Hymnal, under the title, 30 , of East Greenwich, R.I. He was one "In the Cross of Christ I Glory." The four of 84 men who died when an oil rig sank verses read : . "In the Cross of Christ I during a storm off the coast of Nova glory, tow'ring o'er the wrecks of time. Scotia. He is survived by his wife, Answers All the light of sacred story gathers Nancy; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Earl Vol. 2, No. 1 - The Jacob Rathbon round its head sublime." • "When the Rathbun ; a sister, Diane; and a brother, living in Victor, Ontario County, N.Y., in woes of life o'ertake me, hopes deceive Robert. We do not know the ancestry of the 18305 was actually Jacob Rathfon. and fears annoy, Never shall the Cross this family, and would like to make This is a German name, sometimes foresake me; Lo, it glows with peace and contact. spelled Rathvon, and is frequently con joy." . "When the sun of bliss is beam tused with Rathbun in census returns ing light and love upon my way, from the and other records. Mary, wife of Jacob Cross the radiance streaming adds Rathfon, died in 1847 and is buried in more luster to the day." • "Bane and Victor. blessing, pain and pleasure by the Vol. 1, No. 1 - William Rathbun of Cross are sanctified; Peace is there that Birth Uttle Falls, N.Y., in the mid-1800s was knows no measure, Joys that through all BORN-March 19, 1982, in Newport undoubtedly the son of Joseph' Rath time abide." Beach, Calif., Cortney Lynn look, bun (George· Joseph""' John'). He mar daughter of Robert and Vicki (Rath ried Aug. 17, 1842, at Mohawk, N.Y., bone) look. Mrs. look is the daughter of Mary Ann (Meyer) Wilcox and had three Robert C.i Rathbone (Cameron" children - Charles, Harriet and David. The father of Juanita (Rathbun) Curtis Francis7 John' William' Wait" Joshua3 His stepchildren - Susannah, Wilma (People, July issue) is Amory 'O Rathbun John"') and Betty Kirkeby Rathbone. and Alfred Wilcox - were living with (Charles" William 7 Alfred' Wait'" Josh The looks have one other daughter, them in the 1850 census. ua3 John"'). Ashley Kay, aged four.
64