The Compton Family of Smith's Clove

Introduction

Recently, I was informed by Ancestry.com that I have a #DNA Connection with the family tree of Mr. Frank E. Compton. It had been awhile since I looked into my Compton ancestors, so this seemed like a good opportunity to revisit them and see if I could find a connection to Frank's tree. When I looked at our trees, I did not find a common ancestor, but I did notice that some of his ancestors lived in the same county as mine ... at the same time. So with that good news, I went searching for our elusive patriarch. Having now finished the bulk of that research, I am happy to say that I have been successful in my task. I have been able to map out a pretty clear family tree, albeit limited in scope. For the most part, I used primary and contemporary sources. When none were available, I used secondary sources, but only when they are generally considered to be reliable, that is, when they are either direct transcriptions of primary sources, or when they were written by trained genealogists or historians familiar with the material at hand. Even the most reliable sources are prone to errors, a prime example being ages found in early census records, so I tried, whenever possible, to find multiple, independently derived sources to ensure the information was accurate. As with many family histories, the Internet makes readily available a long list of unsubstantiated claims [see The Compton Family of Smith's Clove (Supplement 1)], which by their very nature are unreliable, and have therefore not been considered. I have also tried to point out any errors in the sources I did use, as well as any assumptions that I made. This article presents my conclusions and discusses the evidence necessary to support those conclusions. A complete list of linked references is included at the end of this article.

A quick note on conventions: I have used U. S. Federal census records heavily in this article. Whenever a decennial date is given along with a claim, and no other source is specified, it should be considered as having been taken from that year's federal census record. Names found in brackets, indicate the original name used in the referenced record when it differs from the primary name I use elsewhere, but only when it has some significance. I am not concerned here with common misspellings or alternate spellings of names. Lastly, I have attempted to restrict the content of this article to just those individuals whom take part in the telling of this story. With few exceptions, spouses, children, and siblings that are unnecessary to the conclusions made, have been omitted.

Phoebe Jane Compton

Frank E. Compton and I, as it turns out, are both descended from Jacob Compton Sr., who is found living in Smith's Clove, Orange County, New York shortly before the Revolutionary War.

I am descended from Jacob Compton through my great grandmother, Phoebe J. Compton. We know from her marriage certificate, that she married David H. Humphrey in Fulton County, Illinois on February 21, 1878. David was a barber and in the early years of their marriage, moved from town to town looking for work. It is no surprise then, that just two years after their marriage they were living in Prairie City, McDonough County, Illinois with her sister Sorelda A. Cunningham and her husband James R. Cunningham. In 1900 and in 1910, Phoebe and David Humphrey were living in Galesburg, Knox County, Illinois with their daughter, Minnie E. Humphrey. The 1900 federal census says that Phoebe was born in May of 1857, and that Minnie was born in December of 1894. On June 25, 1917, Minnie E. Humphrey married William H. Forsythe. In 1920 and 1930, William and Minnie Forsythe were still living in Galesburg with their son William D. Forsythe, my father. Phoebe Humphrey died on October 25, 1938 in Wilmington, Will County, Illinois. She is buried in Linwood Cemetery in Galesburg.

In 1870, prior to her marriage, Phoebe J. Compton was living in Avon, Fulton County, Illinois with her sister Sorelda A. Compton, and her parents Jonathan J. and Julia A. Compton. In 1860, all four were living in Canton, Fulton County, Illinois along with three other children, one of which was named Catherine. Catherine Sorrell Compton grew up and married John William Hodson and had among their many children, Leonard Jelliffe Hodson, Alma Prindle Hodson, and Ethel Lamoureaux Hodson. These names are significant because all three of these children's middle names were also the maiden names of Catherine's grandmothers and great grandmothers. We will revisit each of these shortly.

Jonathan Jesse Compton

I have in my possession photocopies of several pages that were torn from the Compton's family bible. In their original handwriting we find that Jonathan J. Compton was born in Tyrone, Steuben County, New York on January 17, 1818, that he married Julia Taylor in James Town, New York in April of 1840, and that he died in Avon, Fulton County, Illinois on May 21, 1887. His birth and death dates are verified by his tombstone, located in Avon Cemetery in Fulton County, Illinois.

Jamestown, New York is located in Chautauqua County. In 1840, Jonathan Compton was living in Carroll, Chautauqua County, New York with his wife and no children, indicating that they were newly-weds. They were living next door to James Compton who was between 40 and 50 years old, married and had 7 sons still living at home, two of which were between 20 and 29 years of age. Since these were the only Compton's in that county, we can be certain that James Compton was Jonathan's father.

My grandmother wrote several lengthy unpublished family histories. In one of these, "The Forsythe-Humphrey Story", she states that Jonathan Jesse Compton was the "son of James Compton and Phoebe Lamoreux". She does not provide any evidence for this claim. It is also quite evident from her notes (and mistakes) that she did not consult primary records for her information, but obtained most of it by word of mouth from her mother and her many, many aunts and cousins. Since this information seems to have come from a close relative, we can be relatively certain that the family believed it to be true. This is supported by additional "DNA connections" to several other children of James Compton and Phebe Lamoureux.

James Compton

One of James' sons was Benjamin Franklin Compton. In "The History of Dane County, Wisconsin", 1880, p 1152, under the heading for the "Town of Dunkirk", we find a short biography for Benjamin. Since the biography was written while he was still living, it is likely that he was interviewed directly.

"Benjamin F Compton, farmer, Secs. 23 & 24; P.O. Stoughton; was born in the town of Jamestown, Chautauqua Co, NY in 1835; he is the son of James and Phebe (Lamoureux) Compton, natives of New York, and with whom, in the spring of 1841, he emigrated to Wisconsin and located in the town of Richmond, Walworth Co; in 1855, they removed to the town of Dunkirk, Dane Co, and bought the present farm of 80 acres on Sec 23 and 160 acres on Sec 24; his father died here in March, 1872; his mother now lives with him on the homestead, and was 93 years old in April, 1880, doubtless the oldest person living in the town."

This provides us with quite a few details for James Compton that can be verified. Firstly, Phebe's maiden name matches that given by my grandmother, and it matches one of the middle names of her granddaughter, Ethel Lamoureaux Hodson. It also validates the relationship between Jonathan Compton, Benjamin Compton as both were living in James Town, Chautauqua County, New York about the same time. In the 1842 state census, James Compton is found living in Whitewater, Walworth County, Wisconsin, but then in 1850, he was living in Richmond, Walworth County which is about 10 miles south of Whitewater. In 1850, James was 65 years old, his wife Phebe was 63, and their son Benjamin [B. F.] was 15. They were living with two other sons, Andrew Jackson [A. J.] who was 19 years old, and Henry who was 22. Andrew's place of birth is listed as Pennsylvania, whereas Benjamin's and Henry's is listed as New York. Another son, David, aged 41, is living in nearby Dunkirk, Dane County, Wisconsin with a wife, a daughter, Phebe, and two sons, DeWitt [D. W.] and Wyram [W. L.]. David would have been born about 1809, so was quite a bit older than Jonathan. James and David Compton were both living in Dunkirk in the 1855 state census. In 1860, James Compton was living in Dunkirk, aged 76, with his sons Andrew Jackson [A. J.] and Benjamin Franklin [B. F.], and three other children. These were Clara J. [C. J.] who was 1 year old, and who was the young daughter of Andrew; and Phebe and DeWitt, David Compton's children. Andrew's place of birth was again listed as Pennsylvania. Andrew's and David's wives had apparently died, as had David and his youngest son, Wyram. It is not known where James' wife Phebe was living in 1860. At that time, James Compton was living close to his eldest son Joseph [J. L.] and his family. Joseph was 52 years old, so was born about 1808. In 1870, Andrew J. Compton was living in Stoughton, Dane County, with his second wife. He was 38 years old, listed again as being born in Pennsylvania, and his daughter Clara was 12. It is interesting that in the 1880 federal census for Frankford, Mower County, Minnesota Andrew's birthplace is shown as New York. In the 1860 plat maps for Dunkirk, James, Andrew [A. J.] and Joseph [Jos. L.] all held property in section 22 and 23. James Compton died on March 22, 1867 and is buried in Wheeler Prairie Cemetery in Dunkirk. He was 85 years, 1 month and 9 days old, which if accurate, puts his birth on February 13, 1782. His son, Benjamin, appears to be incorrect in 1880 when he stated his father died in 1872. Phebe Compton is not found in 1860 or 1870, but in 1880 she was 94 years old and living in Dunkirk with her son Benjamin. She is buried alongside her husband, and died June 19, 1855 at the age of 98 years, 5 months and 14 days, making her birth date, January 6, 1786.

Before moving his family to Wisconsin in 1841, James Compton is found in the 1835 state census for Ellicott, Chautauqua County, New York. Jonathan Compton's father-in-law, Bennett Taylor, who is not found in the 1835 state census, is found living in Ellicott in 1840. This would indicate that Bennett Taylor moved to Ellicott between 1835 and 1840, and that James Compton moved out of Ellicott during the same period. There was undoubtedly a short period between these years when both men were living near each other in Ellicott, where Jonathan Compton and Julia Taylor met. According to an undated letter written to grandmother from her cousin Ora Cunningham, the daughter of Sorelda (Compton) Cunningham, she said:

"Your mother's mother was Julia Taylor,- born in Cato N. York July 7 1824. Caguaga County. Her mother was Rachel Jelliffe- born Jan 4 1793 at Westport Connecticut. who was married to Bennett Taylor in 1813."

Here again we see one of Catherine Hodson's children, Leonard Jellife Hodson, using the maiden name of her grandmother as a middle name.

In 1830, James Compton is found in Ripley, Chautauqua County, New York, with 9 children and was living next door to his eldest son Joseph who was newly married and had no children. Since James was living in Chautauqua County in both 1830 and 1835, it seems unlikely that he could have been in Pennsylvania in 1831 when his son Andrew Compton was born. In the 1825 state census, James Compton is found living in Tyrone, Steuben County, New York. His is also found there in 1820 when the town was still called Wayne. Tyrone was created from the town of Wayne in 1822. When Jonathan Jesse Compton listed his place of birth in his bible, he used the modern name rather than the name that was in use at the time of his birth.

In the "Military Minutes of the Council of Appointment of the State of New York, 1783-1821, Vol. 1", p 2321-2322, we find Lt. James Compton [Cumpton] in 1821 serving in the Steuben County militia, 81st infantry regiment. He is found as an Ensign in the same regiment in 1816 (ibid. p 1685). The first appearance we have of James Compton [Cumpton] in Wayne is in 1810. He was married with 2 young sons, no doubt these were Joseph and David. From this, and the known age of his eldest son Joseph taken from the 1860 federal census, we can conclude that James Compton and Phebe Lamoureux were married about 1807, probably in Chenango, Tioga County, New York.

David Compton

We know that James Compton was the son of David Compton of Tioga County, New York for several reasons. Firstly, on July 12, 1805, David Compton wrote his will listing among his children, James Compton. No other James Compton has been found in the early records of New York, so it seems likely that these are one in the same person. Secondly, as we shall see, David Compton was closely associated with Joseph Lamoureux who moved with him to Chenango, Tioga County from Smith's Clove, Orange County, New York shortly before 1798. As we've already seen, James Compton named his first son Joseph and his second son David. We also know that his wife's maiden name was Lamoureux and was, therefore, more than likely the daughter of Joseph Lamoureux. Next, David Compton' first wife's name was Abigail Prindle, and as we saw, James Compton's great granddaughter was named Alma Prindle Hodson. Lastly, several of David Compton's nephews, all sons of his brother, William, moved to Steuben County, New York shortly after James moved there. Two of these were living in the same town, at the same time as James Compton. Another had a son who served with him in the same military regiment. This last point, although useful to our discussion, should not be given too much weight. Another family of Comptons also moved to Steuben County about this time, but they appear to be unrelated as all of them were born in New Jersey. This migration may have been due to land bounty grants being given to soldiers who served in the War of 1812.

The first appearance of David Compton in New York is found in "New York in the Revolution as Colony and State, Vol. 1", 1904, p 74, where David Compton was serving as an enlisted man in the New York Levies under Col. William Malcom. The Levies were a branch of military force in New York during the Revolution similar to the Militia. Levies were not generally given regiment numbers but were instead assembled by county. The reference does not say when David served, or where in New York David was from, but we have evidence, discussed below, that Col. Malcolm's Levies were stationed in Smith's Clove, Orange County, New York in the autumn of 1778.

David Compton is next found in the Session Book of the Presbyterian Church of the Village of New Windsor for the New Cornwall District, and is published in "Historical Society Newburgh Bay and the Highlands, No. 3", 1896, p 14, where he and Abigail Prindle, both of Smith's Clove, are recorded being married on March 9, 1779. Joseph Lamoureux [Lumeree] and Abigail Sneden, James Compton's in-laws, also both of Smith's Clove, were also married there, on November 27, 1782 (ibid. p 17).

By 1790, David Compton had moved east to Chemung, Montgomery County, New York. This may have been due to a land bounty grant for his service during the Revolution, but we are not sure. He was married with just two children; this is 11 years after his marriage. Ten years later, he was married with 5 children, two of those were over the age of 16, and three under the age of 10. When he wrote his will in Conklin, Tioga County in 1805, he names his 5 children, one of whom was James Compton, and a second wife, Phebe. Apparently his two oldest children were of his first marriage and the younger ones were from the second. The wife shown in the 1790 census must have been his second wife, and since they had no children yet, they were probably newly-weds. Joseph Lamoureux is not found in 1790, but Abraham Sneden, Joseph's father-in-law, was in Haverstraw, Orange County, New York where he operated a ferry on the Hudson River for a short while. Abraham's mother was Mary Dobbs, of Dobbs Ferry. By 1798, all three had settled in Chenango, Tioga County, New York. The towns of Chenango and Conklin are both small villages in close proximity to the town of Binghamton. We find our first reference to these men in Chenango in "The Annals of Binghamton", 1840, p 88-91, when the settlers sent a petition to the Hon. William Bingham, requesting permission to lease the land they were squatting on in Bingham's Patent. The citation below includes the petition and the names of the petitioners:

"' To the Honorable Wm. Bingham ;

A petition from the inhabitants and settlers on said Bingham's Patent, on Susquehannah river, in the towns of Union and Chenango, county of Tioga, and state of New-York, humbly prayeth :

That whereas we, your petitioners, having been to considerable expense in moving on said land and making improvements, we pray your honor would grant us three lives lease, and we will pay an annual rent for the same ; otherwise, let us know on what terms we can have the land, and your petitioners, as dutiful tenants, shall ever comply,

Chenango, Feb. 15, 1798.'

This petition was signed by thirty-seven persons. A few objected, contending that Bingham had no right to the land.

As the names of these petitioners, by being inserted, will assist in forming an estimation of the population at that period, as well as afford a knowledge of the inhabitants who composed it, we shall give them.

Abraham Sneden and Daniel Sneden, who lived where Henry Squires now keeps his public house ; Abraham Sneden, Junior, who lived where Judson Park now lives ; William Miller lived where Mr. Harder now lives ; Ebenezer Park, the father-in-law of Judge Chamberlain, who lived where Ira Stow and the elder Mr. Bartlett now live ; Joseph Compton lived a little east, upon the same lot ; Zachariah Squires and James and Asa Squires lived where Mr. Russ keeps his public house ; James Ford lived where Mr. A. G. Ransom has lately purchased, known by the name of the Moore farm ; Silas Moore, who lived where Mr. E. Brown now does ; Ezra Keeler and Ira Keeler, who lived where James Hawley now lives ; Joseph Lemerick, who lived where Edward Park now lives. Robert Foster and Roswell Jay, who lived where Judson M. Park owns. Nathaniel Taggart, who lived where Elias Jones now does ; John Carr lived on a part of the present farm of Judge Chamberlain ; Arthur Miller lived on the farm where Gen. Whitney now lives ; Barnabas and Solomon Wixon, who lived on the south side of the Susquehannah, where James Evans now lives ; Jonathan Dunham, who lived where Mr. Brigham lately lived ; Zebulon Moore, who lived where James Munsell owns, one mile below the village, on the south side of the Susquehannah ; Daniel Delano and Levi Bennett lived near Millville ; Samuel Bevier occupied a lot upon the Bingham Patent, that Arthur Gray afterward purchased ; James Lion lived at the ferry, which he kept ; Abraham Carsaw and Wm. Brink, who lived on the Rufus Park place ; Silas Hall, who lived where the wife of Andrew Moore at present lives ; Asher Wickam, who lived where Mr. Brown and Isaac Lion own ; Thomas Cooper, the father of Ransford Cooper, and Walter Slyter, who lived where Deacon Stow now lives ; Andrew Cooper, who occupied the flat from Col. Lewis Mills down to the red bridge ; David Compton, who lived on the farm and kept the tavern where Mr. Finch now lives ; Amos Towsley, who lived on the south side of the Susquehannah, opposite where Elias Jones now lives; Judge Chamberlain lived, though a little after the date of the petition, on the lot with his father-in-law, Ebenezer Park."

We see included in this list, Abraham Sneden and two of his sons, Daniel and Abraham Jr., as well as Joseph Lamoureux [Lemerick], David and Joseph Compton.

In Joseph Lamoureux's Revolutionary War pension application, he stated that he was born in Cornwall, Orange County, New York on October 11, 1760, enlisted in 1776, and was discharged in 1777. He said he moved from Cornwall to Chenango County 15 to 20 years after the war, or sometime between 1792 and 1797, roughly. He then stated that he remained there 7 years before moving again. Chenango County was located just north of Tioga County. However, besides the petition quoted here, he is also found in Chenango, Tioga County in the 1800 federal census [James Lomarex], and in the tax lists from 1799 through 1803. I suspect that in 1832 in Yates County, when Joseph gave his affidavit for the pension application that he told them he moved to Chenango, and they assumed he meant county, not township.

In the "The Annals of Binghamton" pp 134-135, we find another reference.

"To give also the names of the early settlers, from Mr. Bennet's to the Great Bend, upon the river road, and that too in their order, we should mention, first Joseph Compton ; then, one Mr. Hungerford ; next. Mr. Slighter ; Thomas Cooper ; Noel Carr ; Mr. Wickam ; Ebenezer Park ; Mr. Miller ; David Compton ; Mr. Sneden ; Mr. Lommeree ; John Bell ; Asa Squires ; Nathaniel Tagot ; Asa Rood ; Peter Wentz ; Daniel Chapman ; David Bound ; Garrit Snidaker; Jonathan Bennet, a very early settler ; Ralph Lotrip ; Waples Hanth, at the mouth of Snake Creek. And at the Bend, a Mr. Merryman ; Jonathan Newman ; Jonathan Dimon, very early ; Joseph Strong and Henry Smith. Asa Adams and Jedediah Adams settled about one mile and a half above the mouth of Snake creek, on the south side of the river."

Here Mr. Lommeree undoubtedly refers to Joseph Lamoureux. The subscriber likely used the surname pronunciation rather than one of its many traditional spellings. In "Rose Neighborhood Sketches : Wayne County, New York", 1893, pp 49-60 in reference to Peter L'Amoreaux, who was probably a descendant of Joseph, it says:

"To show how names change in their daily use, it is interesting to know that the family and neighbours for forty years pronounced the foregoing name 'Lummeree'."

In "Binghamton: Its Settlement, Growth, and Development, and the Factors in its History, 1800-1900", 1900, pp 807-808, we find:

"… Joel Lamoreaux, who located on the afterward known Edward Y. Park farm about 1798, and who later on settled in Windsor; David Compton, who settled on the river, four miles from Chenango Point, in 1798, and who was an early tavern keeper and a 'second captain' of the militia company (Joseph Compton, brother of David, settled on the south side of the river) …"

In this case, Joel is undoubtedly a transcription error of "Jos." (we saw in the Binghamton petition that Joseph Lamoureux lived on Edward Park's farm). Here we find that Joseph Compton is a brother of David. Joseph Compton is found in the tax lists for Chenango through 1803, but is only ever taxed for land, not a house and farm like his brother. He was last seen in Chenango in 1806 when he sold land to his likely father-in-law, William Cooper, for two dollars. In 1802, William Cooper had sold him the same lot for the same amount. He does not appear again until 1820 and 1830 in Warwick, Orange County, New York, where we find him in 1830 between 70 and 79 years old putting his birth date between 1751 and 1760. We have no way of knowing if this is the same Joseph Compton, but I know of know other men by that name, that were in his generation. For now we'll estimate his birth at around 1758, roughly. In 1800, David Compton was living in Chenango a few doors from Joseph Lamoureux [James Lomarex] and next door to Abraham Sneden [Smithins]. It seems quite clear that these three men all relocated together to Chenango by 1798.

In the "Military Minutes of the Council of Appointment of the State of New York, 1783-1821, Vol. 1", pp 476-477 for the year 1800 we find Ens. David Compton assigned to Major Commandant William Whitney's battalion. In 1802 (ibid., pp 624-625) he was promoted to a lieutenant, and in 1803 (ibid., pp 657-658) he was promoted again, this time to Captain. Finally in 1805 (ibid., pp 773-774) he resigned, undoubtedly due to his illness. On June 12, 1805, David Compton wrote his will in Conklin, Tioga County, New York. In it he names his wife Phebe and his children, James, Ashman, John, Elizabeth and Sally. Daniel Sneden, Abraham's son, was one of the witnesses. David died there the same year, and was buried in Layton cemetery in the nearby village of Kirkwood, where his tombstone reads:

"Here lays the body of Captain David Compton who was born May 10 in the year of our Lord 1756 by a long and lingering disorder called the dropsey departed this life August 24, 1805."

Joseph Lamoureux moved to Genoa, Cayuga County, New York about this time. Abraham Sneden continued to be found in the area through 1810. David's son, Ashman, also continued to live in the area and can be found in subsequent census records. James Compton moved to Steuben County where he was living in 1810.

Jacob Compton, Sr.

The first appearance of the Compton family in Orange County, New York is when Jacob Compton, Sr. [JaCop Comten, Senior] and his two sons, Jacob Compton Jr. [JaCop Comten], and William Compton [Comten] signed the Articles of Association in Cornwall, Orange County, New York in June of 1775 ("Calendar of Historical Manuscripts, Relating to the War of the Revolution, in the Office of the Secretary of State, Albany, N.Y., Vol. 1", 1868, pp 12-15). The town of Cornwall consisted of several boroughs or villages, one of which was called Smith's Clove. The Articles of Association were created by the First Continental Congress in 1774 to institute a ban on British trade. The signers also included Joseph Lamoureux, several of Joseph's brothers, Joseph's father, Peter, Joseph's father-in-law, Abraham Sneden, and David Compton's father-in-law, Benjamin Prindle [Pringle]. The names of all those refusing to sign were also recorded. Noticeably absent from both signature lists is David Compton. This is probably because he was not yet 21 years old.

In "New York in the Revolution as Colony and State, Vol. 1", 1904, p 253, we see Jacob Compton [Comton] and his sons, Jacob Compton [Cumton] Jr. and William Compton all serving as enlisted men in the 1st Regiment of the Orange County Militia under Maj. Zachariah Du Bois. The upper age limit for enlistment at the time was 50 years. It was later extended to sixty. Based on this we can deduce that Jacob Compton Sr., was probably born after 1726.

In 1778, Jacob Compton and his sons also signed a petition requesting the Governor of New York to establish a permanent garrison in Smith's Clove. Abraham Sneden [Smethen] and Benjamin Prindle also signed the petition. A copy of the petition can be found in the "Public Papers of George Clinton, First Governor of New York", pp 274-275

"[No. 1909.]
The Clove Asks to Become a Permanent Military Post.
Novem'r 14. 1778.

To His Excellency George Clinton Esqr. Governor of the State of New York.

The Humble Petition and Representation of the Subscribers Inhabitants of Orange County in Smith's Clove
Humbly Sheweth, That for a Considerable time past, a great part of that County hath been infested by a Banditti of Villains, who have Committed many Robberies, & Murder, and that at this time notwithstanding some exertion to suppress them, they continue in Numbers to the great terror of the peacable Inhabitants as well as danger to Travellers through the Country:

That if some Spirited measure is not Speedily pursued to apprehend their principals, and shorly to reduce the Gang, your Petitioners are perswaded that the most dangerous Consequence, may be expected, to the public, as well as certain Ruin to the Country where they harbour. Deserters already are Collecting to them and as they are favoured by the Mountanious Situation of the Country, as well as by too many of the Inhabitants, and also have an easy communication with New York it's feared that in a short space of time they will be formidable.
Your Petitioners confess that Colo. Malcom at their Request, hath for Two Months past kept a party of Troops on duty at the Clove for their Protection, but for reasons which we cannot disapprove of, he has lately called them to the Garrison, so that the Country is now exposed to the insults, and depredation of those Lawless banditti.
Your Petitioners therefore moved by their wish for the Public good, as well as their own safety, most humble intreat your Excellency will be pleased to Scilicet the Commander in Chief, to Establiss a Post, in the Clove this Winter, which, we are perswaded will have a salutary effect, If conducted by a Judicious Officer or such other means as your Excellency shall judge most proper, for the Public good & their Production and as in duty bound
Your Petitioners Shall ever Pray &c.

Adam Gilchrist, David June, William Miller. Sen., David Miller, Zebert June, David Phillips, Thomas Smith, Benjamin Prindle, David Prindle, Ittiel June. Roger McManus, Peter Reynolds, Thos. Couper. James Runels. Abner Thorp. Silas Reynolds, Chever Devenport. Thomas Devenport. Robert Devenport, John Woolly, John Wygand. Andrew Thorp. John Waygant, Jun., Cloudes Reynolds, Wm. Miller, Abraham Smethen. John Johnston. James Tuthill, Abraham Butler. Francis Smith. John Floranc, Thomas Lemerix, James Galiway, Henry Reynolds. Eseri Earles. John Earles, Sen., William Reynolds, Solomon Lewis, Johnathan Earll. James Lewis, Peter Earll, John Brooks, Samuel Earll, David Reynolds, Daniel Reynolds. Andrw Reynolds, John Lamoureux, Jun'r, John Demerest, Jacob Compton. sen'r. Jacob Compton, Jun'r, Wm. Compton, James Lewis, Jun'r, Samuel Lewis. Fracis Miller. Wm. Clark, Morris Pilgrim, Wm. Bell."

According to the petition, Col. Malcom had his Levies in Smith's Clove from September through October of 1778, but had left, which might explain the absence of David Compton's signature who was now 22 years old. Joseph Lamoureux's signature is also absent. According to Joseph's Revolutionary War pension application of 1832, he enlisted in nearby Cornwall on June 12, 1776 and was discharged in May of 1777. Many of the other Lamoureux family member's signatures are also absent from this petition.

Jacob Compton Sr., must have died before 1790 because he is not found in the federal census for that year. Jacob Compton Jr., is found in the neighbouring villages and boroughs of New Cornwall, Cornwall, Cheesecocks, and Monroe in the federal census records and tax lists from 1790 through 1830. In these records, he is no longer referred to as a junior. His will was proved in Monroe on November 12, 1832. Jacob Compton, wrote his will there on June 29, 1824 ("New York Probate Records, 1629-1971, Orange County, Will Book Vol. I", p 431-432). In it he names his wife, Susannah, and his children, Stephen, Jacob, Moses (dec'd), Isaac, Anna, Sarah, Susannah and Rachel, and Moses' daughter, Sarah. One of Stephen Compton's sons, Harrison Compton, is featured in the "Portrait and Biographical Record of Orange County, New York, Part 1", 1895, pp 762-763. The biography states that he is living, so again we can expect that the contents were taken from an in person interview:

"HARRISON COMPTON was born November 14, 1819 in the town of Monroe upon the farm where he now resides. This place was entered in 1792 by his paternal grandfather Jacob Compton who during the following year built the present family residence a substantial structure doubtless good for many years yet to come. One of the bricks in the chimney has carved upon it the words JC 1793. The weatherboarding is of whitewood the studding of heavy hardwood timbers three feet apart and the nails were manufactured by hand by a neighboring blacksmith. Jacob Compton lived to enjoy the comforts of this home and in it he died at eighty years of age. The father of our subject Stephen Compton was born near the present home of our subject April 26, 1791 and died October 5, 1867."

The grandfather being referred to is Jacob Compton, Jr., the son of Jacob Compton Sr. Stephen Compton wrote his will in Monroe on April 3, 1867 ("New York Probate Records, 1629-1971, Orange County, Will Book Vol. 31", p 38-39). In it he mentions his wife, Abigail, his son Harrison, his daughters Anna and Eunice Earl, and three grandchildren, Abigail Arnold, Ira and Sarah Elizabeth Earl. In the "History of Orange County, New York" 1881, p 788, we find the following in the section for Monroe Township:

"David Compton's homestead was the present place of Harrison Compton and has been in the family from before the Revolution. Jacob Compton both Sr. and Jr. are also mentioned in the early records."

Since Harrison Compton was still living, we can assume that he provided the information for the quote. Together these references show that David Compton and Jacob Compton Jr., by way of Harrison Compton, were of the same family. David Compton must have, therefore, also been a son of Jacob Compton, Sr. This also goes for David's brother Joseph Compton. Since Jacob Compton, Jr., died in 1832 and according to Harrison Compton, died when he was 80 years old, Jacob must have been born about 1752. This is supported by the 1830 federal census for Monroe which states that he was between 70 and 79 years of age.

William Compton, Sr.

William Compton, the signer of the Articles of Association in 1775, member of the 1st Regiment of Orange County in 1776/77, and signer of the Smith's Clove petition in 1778, is found living in New Cornwall, Orange County, New York in 1790 near his brother Jacob. He had 7 sons and 1 daughter. Only five of his sons have been identified. In the 1800 federal census and tax list, he is found living in the neighbouring village, Blooming Grove. He is last found in 1810 in nearby Monroe, Orange County. He was over 44 years old making his birth date prior to 1756. The census records for his eldest son place his birth in 1770/71, so we can expect that he married the year prior, making his birth date about 1748. This puts him in the same generation as Jacob Compton Jr., David and Joseph Compton and therefore he must have been a son of Jacob Compton Sr. as well, and not, for instance, his brother. Unless there was an older sister, William Compton is likely to be the oldest child, so his parents were probably married about 1747, which supports a birth date for their father after 1726, and probably about 1727.

William Compton Sr. had five known sons: William Compton Jr., Runyon, Francis, Joseph and Jonathan Compton.

Very little can be said of the youngest three. Jonathan is associated with his elder brother Runyon between 1820 and 1830, and died about 1831. In 1820 he was married with one young son, but according to the 1830 federal census he was born before 1791. We must assume he married late and may have been born as late as 1790. His brother, Runyon Compton was one of the executors of his estate. Joseph Compton was living near his father and his brother, William, in 1810, and in the same town as his mother, Sarah, in 1820. In 1810 he was married with just one young daughter, so he was probably born about 1787. He is not seen after 1820. Francis Compton was living near his uncle, Vincent (more on him later), in 1800, but in 1810 and in 1813 he was living near his brother Runyon in Warwick, Steuben County, New York. In 1820 he was probably the man counted in Runyon' census record for Wayne, Steuben County. He also is not seen after 1820. In 1800 he was married with 2 younger daughters, and in 1820 he was older than Runyon, so was probably born about 1775.

Of the other two brothers, Runyon Compton was born, according to a transcription of his tombstone on September 30, 1778. In 1802 he was taxed in Warwick, Orange County, New York. He is also found there in 1810 alongside his brother Francis Compton. On July 13, 1813, Runyon and Francis Compton are listed as heads of household in Warwick school district No. 23 in Sugar-Loaf Valley. In 1820 they moved to Tyrone, Steuben County, New York. Their cousin, James Compton, the father of Jonathan Jesse Compton, my great-great grandfather, lived nearby. It is probably no coincidence that Runyon had a brother name Jonathan and a son named Jesse. Runyon remained in Tyrone through 1850 when he was listed as 76 years old (he was only 72) living with his daughter Hannah Hallock, the wife of Jesse Hallock. Not long after, Runyon Compton moved to Clarksville, Allegany County, New York where he wrote his will on July 3, 1852. In it he mentions both his daughter, Hannah Hallock and his son, Jesse M. Compton. Jesse Compton had moved to Clarksville about 1845 along with his father-in-law. It is an interesting coincidence that in 1850, Jesse was living between, and two doors from each on either side, Samuel and Sylvester Compton. They appear, however, to be from an unrelated family as both were born in New Jersey.

William Compton, Jr.

The eldest son of William Compton Sr., was William Compton Jr. He was born, based on various census records, about 1770/71. In 1800 he is found in the federal census and tax list for Cheesecocks, Orange County, New York. He is also found there in the 1801 tax list. In 1810, he was in Monroe, Orange County. He then moved to Jersey, Steuben County, New York with his brothers where he is found in 1820 and 1830 in the 1825 and 1835 state censuses. In 1840 he was living in Tyrone, Steuben County near three of his children and his brother Runyon. William Compton is not seen after that. On September 16, 1847, his son was referred to as 'William Compton Junior of the town of Orange, County of Steuben' when he bought land from William J. Staples. Since he was referred to as 'Junior' we must assume his father was still alive in Tyrone.

William Compton Jr., had 7 sons, Abraham, David, Peter, William, Runyon L., Hezekiah, and John. All of them can be found in the townships of Jersey, Tyrone and Orange in the county of Steuben between the years of 1818 and 1850.

Of these, Abraham Compton is listed in the "Military Minutes of the Council of Appointment of the State of New York, 1783-1821, Vol. 1" p 2192, as a Lieutenant in the 81st Regiment of infantry for Steuben County in 1820. This is the same regiment that James Compton, the father of Jonathan Jesse Compton, my great-great grandfather, was listed as a Lieutenant in the following year. Abraham is considered further in The Compton Family of Smith's Clove (Supplement 2) where I validate another DNA connection to one of his descendants.

Hezekiah, was living in Tyrone, Steuben County in 1840 near his father and uncle Runyon. About 1844 he moved to Orange, Schuyler County, New York, where he is next found in the 1855 state census. He was 47 years old, born in Orange County, married to Margaret and had 4 children. One of which was Francis, age 7 who was born in Schuyler County. In 1860, Hezekiah was still living in Orange, 53 years old and his son Francis [Frances] was 12. He died on May 7, 1877 in Schuyler County and is buried in Monterey Cemetery, Monterey, Schuyler County. His tombstone says he was 69 years old, so he must have been born about 1807/08. His wife, Margaret Benson Compton is buried alongside him.

Francis Compton was still in Orange, Schuyler County in 1880. He was married to Emma, and was living with his mother Margaret who was listed as a widow. His son John was 1 year old. In 1900 he was widowed and is shown as being born in June of 1848. He was living with his son George H. Compton who was born in March of 1891. Frank Compton remarried about 1907 to another woman named Emma. They appear together in 1910 in Orange.

In 1910, George Compton was living with his newly married brother, John B. Compton, in Dryden, Tompkins County, New York. John was 32 years old, and George was 21. George Compton is not found in 1920, but in 1930, he was married with 7 children and living in Dix, Schuyler County, New York. His youngest son, Frank E. Compton, [Frank] was only 11 months old. In the last available federal census for Dix, in 1940, we find George Compton with a wife and 8 children. Frank E. Compton [Frank] was 6 years old. It is this Frank E. Compton whose Ancestry.com family tree I have a positive DNA connection to.

More Smith's Clove Comptons

Jacob Compton Sr. had at least two, possibly three, other children.

In the "Journal of the Rev Silas Constant" transcribed and published privately by Emily Warren Roebling in 1903, we see in the Orange County marriages for Smith's Clove, Blooming Grove & Florida, the marriage of Joseph Sheldon and Lydia Compton, which took place on August 11, 1785. Joseph Sheldon is shown as being over 45 years old in the 1800 federal census for Cheesecocks, Orange County, New York, so when he married he was about 30 years old, which is quite old for a first marriage. If we assume this was his second marriage, then we would expect that Lydia was between 20 and 25 years old and not younger. Lydia's birth is therefore probably in the range of 1760 +/- 5 years, placing here in the same generation as Jacob Compton's sons already identified.

Vincent Compton appears in the 1790 federal census for New Cornwall, married with one young son. He was living next to William and Jacob Compton. This puts his marriage date about 1788, again, putting him in the same generation as Jacob Compton Sr's., other sons.

Zachariah Compton is found serving in the 4th Regiment of Orange County, New York during the Revolution alongside Joseph and Luke Lamoureux who were both of Smith's Clove. Beyond this, there is no evidence that he was from the Smith's Clove area. Regiments were often constructed from men from different towns and counties. Zachariah is not found thereafter so may have been killed.

Conclusion

It it clear that the Compton families who lived in Smith's Clove in the late eighteen and early nineteen centuries, are all derived from the only person of that surname that was of a generation earlier than all of the others. Jacob Compton Sr. must have, therefore, been the patriarch of these families. The positive DNA connection found between myself and Frank E. Compton further supports this conclusion.

Appendix: Compton Family Tree

The following Compton family tree includes only the cast of characters that are mentioned in the construction of this article.

1. Jacob Sr. (abt 1726 - bef 1790)
    2. William Sr. (abt 1748 - bef 1820) m. Sarah
        3 William Jr. (abt 1770 - aft 1840)
            4. Abraham (abt 1794 - aft 1825)
            4. David (abt 1797 - aft 1850)
            4. Peter (abt 1799 - 1885)
            4. William III (abt 1802 - aft 1850)
            4. Runyon L. (1803 - 1862)
                5. Henry C. (1831-1888)
            4. Hezekiah (abt 1807 - 1877) m. Margaret Benson
                5. Francis (1848 - aft 1910)
                    6. George H. (1891 - aft 1940)
                        7. Frank E. (living)
            4. John (abt 1809 - aft 1840)
        3. Francis (abt 1775 - aft 1820)
        3. Runyon (1778 - 1852)
        3. Joseph (abt 1787 - aft 1820)
        3. Jonathan (abt 1790 - abt 1831)
    2. Jacob Jr. (abt 1752 - 1832) m. Susannah
        3. Stephen (1791 - 1867) m. Abigail
            4. Harrison (1819 - aft 1850)
    2. David (1756-1805) m1. Abigail Prindle (dau. of Benjamin Prindle) m2. Phebe
        3. James (1782-1867) m. Phebe Lamoureux (dau. of Joseph Lamoureux and Abigail Sneden)
            4. Joseph L. (abt 1808 - ?)
            4. Jonathan J. (1818 - 1887) m. Julia Taylor (dau. of Bennet Taylor and Rachel Jelliffe)
                5. Catherine S. (1845 - 1929) m. John W. Hodson
                    6. Leonard Jelliffe Hodson (1874 - 1876)
                    6. Alma Prindle Hodson (1876 - 1976)
                    6. Ethel Lamoureaux Hodson (1878 - abt 1972)
                5. Sorelda A. (1854 - 1925) m. James R. Cunningham
                    6. Ora Cunningham (abt 1855 - aft 1880)
                5. Phoebe J. (1857 - 1938) m. David H. Humphrey
                    6. Minnie E. Humphrey (1894 - 1990) m. William H. Forsythe
                        7. William D. Forsythe (1918-2015)
                            8. Tim Forsythe (living)
            4. Andrew J. (abt 1828 - ?)
            4. Benjamin F. (1835 - 1911)
    2. Joseph (abt 1759 - aft 1830)
    2. Lydia  (abt 1762 - ?) m. Joseph Sheldon
    2. Vincent (abt 1764 - aft 1840)