Descendants of Dr. Laurens Hull and Dorcas Ambler - of Angelica, Alleghany Co., NY
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Descendants of Dr. Laurens Hull and Dorcas Ambler - of Angelica, Alleghany Co., NY by A. H. Gilbertson 7 Mar 2019 version 0.53b ©A. H. Gilbertson 2103-2019. Table of Contents Preface ........................................................................................................................................... 3 Laurens Hull and Dorcas Ambler ................................................................................................... 4 Second Generation ........................................................................................................................ 7 Third Generation ......................................................................................................................... 14 Fourth Generation ....................................................................................................................... 31 Fifth Generation .......................................................................................................................... 50 Obituary of Dr. Laurens Hull ........................................................................................................ 74 2 Preface I have been doing genealogy as a hobby for over 30 years, and fairly recently have started to share some of my research in the form of books, in PDF format. Most of these books are “ahnentafel books,” which are ancestor tables, with information on ancestors of six of my eight great-grandparents. In addition, I have been working on some projects involving descendants. This format is perhaps more difficult, since I do not have the same degree of information on certain branches of family that diverged from my own branch many years ago. In some cases I have been able to contact other family members who have more direct information, but in many cases I am left to what I can find on the internet. Luckily, with sites such as ancestry.com, familysearch.org, newspaperarchive.com, newspapers.com, and genealogybank.com, it is possible to find much information online. I hope that by sharing what I have, some relatives will come forth with more information which will make this book more interesting and valuable to future generations. This book is intended for the personal use of those who are related to this family. Facts cannot be copyrighted, and can be used and shared without restriction. However, please do not copy, word for word, the text of this book, unless your copying is not shared publicly. I have included numerous footnotes. I encourage interested people to look up the original sources and put them in their own words, adding to my information where possible instead of merely copying it. If you are not sure if your use of my book is appropriate or not, please ask permission. Note: parenthesis around a first name means that the person was normally known by their middle name. I encourage questions and comments. Please direct them to [email protected] 3 Laurens Hull and Dorcas Ambler DR. LAURENS HULL was born 6 Jun 1779, in Bethlehem, CT.1 He was the son of Dr. Titus Hull and Olive Lewis. The Hull family included many doctors; Laurens Hull was the seventh generation of Hulls, in his direct line, to practice medicine. At the age of 19, he studied medicine with Dr. David Hull of Fairfield, remaining there about two years.2 He was licensed to practice by the Connecticut State Medical Society in May 1802.3 He moved to Augusta, Oneida County, NY, in November of that year and continued his studies with his cousin Amos G. Hull.4 He married Dorcas Ambler 3 Oct 1803, in Bethlehem, CT.5 The ceremony was performed by Rev. Azel Backus.6 Dorcas was born 1 Nov 1780, in Bethlehem, CT, the daughter of David Ambler and Olive Wildman.7 In September 1804 Dr. Hull opened an office in Bridgewater, NY. In 1806 he took part in the organization of the Oneida County Medical Society.8 He was a surgeon in the New York State Militia during the War of 1812.9 In 1813 he was elected to the state assembly as a representative from Oneida County.10 In 1816 he was a delegate to the first state convention held in NY to nominate a governor and lieutenant governor.11 In 1817 he was a delegate to the State Medical Society and was twice reelected, each term being four years. In 1825 he served again in the state assembly. In 1826 he was elected a Fellow of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of the University of New York.12 The following year he received an honorary degree of doctor of medicine from the regents of the same university.13 In 1836 Dr. Hull and his family moved to Angelica, Allegany County, NY.14 (He was discharged from the church at Bridgewater April 23 of that year.15) According to C. M. Crandall, at that time “he became interested in manufacturing pursuits, pretty much abandoning the practice of medicine.”16 With his brother Andrew, he completed a woolen mill at Joncey, in September 1 Puella F. Mason, A Record of the Descendants of Richard Hull (1894), p. 35. The birth date agrees with that und on a typewritten page handed down through the family - “Hull Family Record.” 2 C. M. Crandall, M.D, obituary of Dr. Laurens Hull in Transactions of the NY State Medical Society, (1867), p. 439ff. Copy found in the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, Md. 3 William Cothren, History of Ancient Woodbury (1854), Vol. 1, p. 443. 4 Crandall, Transactions. 5 First Church of Bethlehem, typewritten index to vital records. 6 Crandall, Transactions. 7 Conklin Mann, “Richard Ambler of Watertown, Mass., and Stamford, Conn., and His Descendants,” New York Genealogical and Biographical Record (1933) Vol. 64, p. 357 8 Crandall, Transactions. 9 L. L. Stillwell, Angelica Collectanea (1955), Section 6, p. 24, which states about Laurens Hull: “Husband of Dorcas Ambler Hull. Was a surgeon in New York State Militia during War of 1812. Lot 516.” 10 Mason, Descendants of Richard Hull, p. 35. 11 Crandall, Transactions. 12 Mason, Descendants of Richard Hull, p. 35. 13 Crandall, Transactions. 14 Ibid. 15 DAR, NY Cemetery, Church and Town Records, Vol. 8, (1928), p. 116; in DAR Library. 16 Ibid. 4 1837. They also erected a scythe and edge tool factory across the road from the mill.17 Later, he lived in the brick building later known as the Wilson Academy.18 Dr. Hull was president of the State Medical Society in 1839 and 1840, and his address (1839) on “Quackery” was considered one of the finest papers ever delivered before that body.19 In 1840 his address was on “Improvement in Medicine” which was described as “an eminently sensible, practical and ably written paper proving clearly that Dr. Hull was no anti-progressive clog upon the wheels of advancing science, but who believed fully in the doctrine of progress.”20 From 1837 to 1841 he served in the New York State Senate.21 He served in the sixth district, then comprising nine counties.22 Politically he was first a Federalist, then a Whig, and lastly a Republican. In a newspaper article written in 1837, he is described as follows: “While a resident of this county, Dr. Hull was distinguished for his fidelity to his party [Whig] and devotion to its principles. When others desponded, he did not; when the hopes of others sank, his were still warm and sanguine, and when others abandoned to the contest, he kept the banner flying, with the motto of Lawrence in his mouth – ‘don’t give up the ship.’”23 In 1828 and 1852 he was a member of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church.24 He was a member of the Congregational Church, which at that time was closely united to the Presbyterian Church. He was admitted to the First Congregational Church in Bridgewater, May 24, 1807.25 In his later years he was president of the Allegany County Bible Society.26 In about 1856 or 1857, Dr. Hull retired from business. In August 1862 he became permanently disabled when he injured “the neck of the femur within the capsular ligament,” requiring him to use crutches. In about 1864 his health began to decline, and he was eventually confined to his room.27 He died 27 Jun 1865, surviving his wife who had died 4 May 1858.28 They are 17 John S. Minard, Allegany County and its People: A Centennial Memorial History of Allegany County, NY. (1896), p. 411. 18 Obituary of Isabel (Renwick) Hull, August 1905 (or 1903?). 19 Henry J. Cookinham, History of Oneida County, NY, (1912), p. 396. 20 Crandall, Transactions. 21 Weygant, Hull Family in America, (1913), p. 515. 22 Cothren, Ancient Woodbury, p. 443. 23 [Utica] Oneida Whig, Oct. 24, 1837, see http://www.fultonhistory.com. 24 Crandall, Transactions. 25 Cothren, Ancient Woodbury, p. 443. 26 DAR, NY Cemetery, Church and Town Records, Vol. 8, (1928), p. 116; in DAR Library. 27 Crandall, Transactions. 28 Ibid. 5 buried in Lot 516 of the Angelica Cemetery.29 His funeral service was taken from Job 42:5, “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.”30 According to Henry Cookinham, “Dr. Hull was both in the medical societies and in the legislative bodies a constant and strenuous worker for the advance and purity of the medical profession.”31 C. M. Crandall writes: “Dr. Hull was in every proper sense a self-made man -- the architect of his own fortunes and position. He possessed a remarkably retentive memory, great perseverance and energy. What he did ‘he did with his whole might.’ His industry was untiring, his faith unswerving, his integrity unyielding.”32 Children:33 1. Lucia Hull, b. 29 Dec 1804; d. 1 Jul 1836; m. Rev. John Berrien Fish 2. Delia Hull, b. 27 Jul 1807; d. 30 Apr 1882; m. Milton Johnston 3. Henry Laurens Hull, b. 1 Apr 1809; d. 17 Apr 1813; bur. Fairview Cem., Bridgewater, NY34 4. Julia Hull, b. 25 Jun 1811; d. 13 Nov 1879; m. James Benham 5. Laurens Hull Jr., b. 11 May 1813; d. 6 Apr 1842 6. Charles Andrew Hull, b. 9 Apr 1815; d. 16 Aug 1824; bur. Fairview Cem., Bridgewater, NY35 7. Azel Backus Hull, b.