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Caleb Case

Caleb Case

Male 1825 - 1915  (89 years)

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Generation: 1

  1. 1.  Caleb Case was born on 16 Nov 1825 in Troy Twp, Bradford Co., PA (son of Abraham Case and Sarah Williams); died on 28 Jan 1915 in Troy Twp, Bradford Co., PA.

    Caleb married Nancy S. Smith on 25 Dec 1850 in Springfield, Bradford Co., PA. Nancy was born on 31 May 1827 in Springfield, Bradford Co., PA; died on 25 Oct 1893 in Troy Twp, Bradford Co., PA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

    Children:
    1. Charles Ransom Case was born on 21 Oct 1851 in Troy Twp, Bradford Co., PA; and died.
    2. Alanson Case was born on 23 Jul 1855 in Troy Twp, Bradford Co., PA; died in Troy Twp, Bradford Co., PA.
    3. Guy Philo Case was born on 9 Apr 1858 in Armenia Twp., Bradford Co., PA; died on 11 Sep 1921 in Troy Twp, Bradford Co., PA At His Home.
    4. Abigail L. Case was born on 8 Sep 1860 in Troy Twp, Bradford Co., PA; died after 1926.
    5. Wrexiville Eliza Case was born on 1 Nov 1864 in Troy Twp, Bradford Co., PA; died after 1921.

    Caleb married Caroline M. McIntosh on 25 Dec 1894 in Troy Twp., Bradford Co., PA. Caroline (daughter of Lyman McIntosh and Esther) was born in 1834; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

    Notes:

    Married:
    From Johnston: No known children.


Generation: 2

  1. 2.  Abraham Case was born on 19 Feb 1794 in Granville, Washington Co., NY (son of Aaron Case and Abigail Olmstead); died on 10 Jul 1870 in Granville, Bradford Co., PA; was buried in Glenwood Cemetery, Troy Twp., Bradford Co., PA.

    Abraham married Sarah Williams about 1815 in Troy Twp., Bradford Co., PA. Sarah (daughter of Caleb Williams and Abigail) was born between 1790 and 1794 in VT; died on 4 Feb 1877 in Williamsport, Lycoming Co., PA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]


  2. 3.  Sarah Williams was born between 1790 and 1794 in VT (daughter of Caleb Williams and Abigail); died on 4 Feb 1877 in Williamsport, Lycoming Co., PA.
    Children:
    1. Olive Case was born on 21 Dec 1815 in Troy Twp, Bradford Co., PA; died on 21 Jul 1885 in W. Granville, Mifflin Co., PA.
    2. Jabez Case was born on 20 Feb 1818 in Troy Twp, Bradford Co., PA; died on 24 Feb 1898 in Troy Twp, Bradford Co., PA.
    3. Andrus Case was born on 15 Dec 1819 in Troy Twp, Bradford Co., PA; died on 25 Apr 1903 in Troy Twp, Bradford Co., PA.
    4. Aaron Case was born on 14 Jan 1823 in Troy Twp, Bradford Co., PA; died on 3 Jun 1877 in E. Troy, Bradford Co., PA.
    5. 1. Caleb Case was born on 16 Nov 1825 in Troy Twp, Bradford Co., PA; died on 28 Jan 1915 in Troy Twp, Bradford Co., PA.
    6. Simeon Utter Case was born on 5 Mar 1828 in Troy Twp, Bradford Co., PA; died on 15 Feb 1906.
    7. Nancy Maria Case was born on 8 Mar 1830 in Troy Twp, Bradford Co., PA; died on 30 Sep 1910 in East Orange, Essex Co., NJ.
    8. Abigail Case was born on 26 Jan 1833 in Troy Twp, Bradford Co., PA; died after 25 Apr 1903 in Avis, Clinton Co., PA.
    9. Warren Case was born on 15 Apr 1835 in W. Granville, Mifflin Co., PA; died on 10 Feb 1896 in Troy Twp, Bradford Co., PA; was buried in Greenwood Cemetery.


Generation: 3

  1. 4.  Aaron Case was born about 1768 in Hebron, Washington Co., NY (son of Philip Case and Lydia Soveril); died on 4 Jan 1821 in Troy Twp, Bradford Co., PA; was buried in Prob. Glenwood Cemetery, Troy Twp., Bradford Co., PA.

    Notes:

    See: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~mdtmgug/case000t.htm
    -------------------------------------------------------------
    Found at: http://www.geocities.com/cohommel/Doreen_Dolleman_4_2.htm
    My intent for this article was to cover an entirely new topic, but due to some incredible discoveries on our recent trip to Washington County, NY, my plans have changed. I will be returning to the subject of my May 2000 article to tell you ?the rest of the story? about Aaron Olmstead (son of Jabez and Miriam). I spent a lot of time researching Aaron and his family and felt I had been reasonably thorough and was pleased with the results. I had mentioned that Aaron?s last appearance in the Washington County records was the court case charging him and several others with armed robbery. I had assumed that he might have been run out of town or run off on his own, leaving his wife and children behind. I could discover no further record of him, but it appeared that his two children, son Aaron Jr. and probable daughter Miriam were enumerated with their grandfather Jabez Olmstead in the 1800 Hebron census. With the help of the new Washington County archivist I was able to solve the mystery. He is in the process of microfilming all the records and getting more information into their computer system. He has made great progress. What I am about to tell you was not even available when we were there one year ago. This time I was able to view on film the daily court records that started in the year 1793. It was a slow process and I wish we could have stayed longer, but we did amazingly well for only one day.

    I found the trial of Aaron and his partners in crime, which took place on the first of June 1798. He was sentenced to 12 years of hard labor in the state prison in New York City. The other members of the gang received lesser sentences. Daniel Osborne ten years, Samuel Case two years, Sherman Manville one month in the Salem gaol, and Reuben Case was found not guilty. My next step was to search the old issues of newspapers from Washington County. In the 8th of January 1798 edition I found the following article:

    On Saturday last, was committed to the gaol of this town; Daniel Osborne, Reuben Case, and ___Case of Hebron; and Aaron Umstead of Hampton; for having committed many outrageous robberies in almost every town in this county, one of which was a trunk of dry goods, amounting to 900 dollars, belonging to Mr. Apollus Austin of Orwall in VT; which was taken off a wagon in Granville at Capt. Lee?s Inn. It is with singular pleasure we inform the public, that a considerable part of the goods has already been found, and the villains having confessed the fact, it is hoped no great loss will accrue. It must be a pleasing circumstance to every honest man, particularly the inhabitants of this county, that the nest and gang of such a daring set of rascals is entirely broken up.?

    In the February 19th newspaper I found a wonderful advertisement: ? STOP THE VILLAINS. Broke the gaol of the County of Washington, on the night of the 13th inst., REUBEN CASE, about five feet eleven inches high; dark complexion; had on when he went away, a blue coat and light colored clothes. AARON OLMSTEAD, about five feet nine inches high, about thirty years of age, and has a remarkable turn with his eyes; had on when he went away, a blue coat, red vest, and dark coloured overhalls (sic); and ABIEL LINDSEY, about five feet ten inches high, about twenty two years of age; had on light coloured clothes when he went away. The above Case and Olmstead was committed for repeated robberies; and Lindsey for burglary. Whoever will apprehend and return the above runaways shall receive THIRTY DOLLARS Reward ? ten dollars for each of them, and all necessary charges paid by ABNER STONE, Gaoler of Washington County. Salem, February 17, 1798.? Just to let you know the significance of the reward money, I saw many other ads for runaways with the reward only being a penny or two! Aaron must have been apprehended at some point as he was back in jail in time for the trial.

    The final article regarding Aaron Olmstead was dated June 4th 1798. It gave a summary of the convictions and sentences of each man and then the following about Aaron: ?This morning Osborne and Case were conducted from the gaol on their way to the state prison. Olmstead chose to evade his punishment, by a voluntary murder of himself, which he executed last night, by strangling himself, with the assistance of two silk hankerchiefs (sic) and a napkin. The Coroner?s inquest was immediately held, and found to be suicide; a striking instance of the horror of imprisonment, when a man, in the prime of life, prefered (sic) a cruel death to twelve years confinement. While the crimes of the miserable culprit excite detestation; the sympathetic bosom cannot restrain the sigh of sorrow at the melancholy event.? Can you imagine a reporter today using such flowery prose, especially to describe such a gruesome event? My husband, Bill, wondered if maybe Aaron had a little ?help? with his strangulation from the prison warden. I guess we?ll never know the answer to that
    -------------------------------------------------------------
    From Susan Johnston's web site:
    1. Aaron2 Case (Philip1); born say 1768 in Berkshire Co., MA;1,2,3 married Abigail Olmstead circa 1788 in Washington Co., NY; he died 4 January 1821 in Troy Twp., Bradford Co., PA;4,5,6 buried in Glenwood Cemetery, Troy, Bradford Co., PA.7

    Direct evidence relative to the life of Aaron Case and his family is very sparse. Most of the material written about this family appears to have been taken from two sources: the Erastus Ely Case manuscript in the Connecticut Historical Society Library and the biography of Aaron Case and his family in Clement F. Heverly's two volume work Pioneer and Patriot Families of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, 1770-1825. The latter reference appears to suffer from what a forensic pathologist would term "cross-contamination," as it tries to blend statements from all prior secondary sources into a cohesive history of this family. No information on the birth of Aaron Case appears in Heverly. It simply calls Aaron Case " an enterprising Yankee from VT."8 According to the Case manuscript, Aaron Case, son of Philip Case, was born in Hebron, Washington Co., NY, in 1770.9 Dr. Case extracted this information from a December 1903 letter of Simeon U. Case, Aaron's grandson. Simeon Case was born in 1828, seven years after his grandfather's death, and he was 75 years of age when his letter to Dr. Case was written. Therefore, information found on Aaron Case in the Case manuscript must be carefully verified.

    First, any researcher who has glanced through various census indexes will find a large number of Aaron Cases. Fortunately, direct evidence found in a Tioga County, NY, land record, shows that Aaron Case of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, is identical to Aaron Case, the son named in the will of Philip Case of Candor, NY : "Indenture between Aaron Case of the town of Springfield, County of Bradford, PA of the first part and William Case of Spencer... of the second part... for $140... "Whereas Philip Case of the Town of Candor in the County of Tioga and State of NY deceased did by his last will and testament bearing date the ninth day of July 1811 devise to the said aaron Case son of the said Philip Case deceased the one equal undivided seventh part or thereabouts of all that certain lot of land in the said town of Candor known by Lot # 7 in the 2nd tier of lots. . . 11 acres. . ."10

    Contrary to the statement in the Case manuscript, it is not likely that Aaron Case was born in Hebron, NY. His parents were married in 1757 in Sheffield, Hampshire Co. (now Berkshire Co.), Massachusetts. The family is known to have been in the newly created town of Alford, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts in 1775 when Aaron's brother Timothy enlisted in the Continental Line.11 Therefore, Aaron and most of his siblings were probably born in what is now Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, not in Hebron, NY.

    Aaron's 1770 birth year found in the Case manuscript is also suspect. Census data shows that Aaron Case was probably born between 1755 and 1765.2,1,3 However, Aaron is the fourth son named in his father's will, so his birth date should follow that of older brother Reuben, supposedly born 26 December 1766.12 Aaron's first child, Moses Case, was born circa 1790, so Aaron was probably born no later than 1768. The say date of 1768 is used here only because it fits the family birth pattern and all census data except that found in the 1810 federal census enumeration.1 Evidence may appear in the future which will push the date back to about 1765. Aaron's older brother Timothy served in Captain William King's Company in the Continental Massachusetts Line from December 1775 through January 1777.11 The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution has approved membership through descent from Aaron's father Philip, who served in Captain Sylvanus Wilcox's Company, Colonel John Ashley's Berkshire County Regiment in July 1777.13 Heverly also credits Aaron Case with Revolutionary War service as a private in Capt David Olmstead's company, Colonel Roger A. Enos's regiment, Connecticut State troops from 3 June 1778 to 1 September 1778.8 Given the probable range of birth years for Aaron, this identity is unlikely as he would have probably been no more than fifteen years old at this time and might have been as young as ten. Further research is necessary to verify this statement.14

    Aaron Case appears as the head of household in the 1790 U.S. census of Granville, Washington Co., NY.15 His family consists of one male over 16 years of age, presumably Aaron himself, one male under 16 and two females. He is enumerated next to his brother Timothy Case. Although this is Aaron's earliest appearance in Washington Co., NY, records found to date, it is likely that he moved with his father's family from Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, to New York perhaps as early as 1780. An undated tax list for Black Creek District, Charlotte Co., NY, includes Philip, Timothy and Abraham Case.16 As Charlotte County was renamed Washington County in 1784, this list places the family in New York prior to 1784.

    The record of Aaron's marriage has not been found yet. The date is approximated from the 1790 birth of the couple's son Moses, apparently their first child. There is no entry in the Washington Co. land records showing the purchase of land by Aaron Case. However, a land survey found among the records of the Washington County historian shows Aaron Case on land in North Hebron bordered on the north by the Granville boundary, on the west by land of Daniel Bulless, on the east by Mt. Tom, on the south by land of Samuel Salsbury, and whose southwest corner is shared by land of Jabez Olmstead. This survey is dated September 1794, P. Bishop, Surveyor. Its provenance is unknown, but the date is supported by a comparison of the landholders with the 1790 census enumerations of the area. Many of the names do not appear on the enumerations of Hebron or Granville. The Olmsteads appear on the 1790 census of Rutland Co., VT, actually taken in 1791. Apparently, this survey was made after 1791.

    Shortly before 1800, Aaron Case followed his brother Reuben to northern Pennsylvania, settling his family in what would become Bradford County and erecting a grist-mill on Sugar Creek.8 Aaron is found enumerated next to Reuben Case on the 1800 U.S. census schedule for Wysocks Township, Luzerne Co., Pennsylvania. His household includes two males under ten years of age, probably sons Abraham and Philip; two males age 10 to 16, son Moses and an unknown male; Aaron himself, age 26 to 45; three females under ten years of age, probably daughters Miriam, Elizabeth and Lucinda; and one woman age 26 to 45, probably his wife Abigail.2

    Aaron's new home was in land claimed by both Connecticut and Pennsylvania. 17 In November 1801 a petition from the "Connecticut claimants" was sent to Congress. The signature of Aaron Case appears on the petition sheet numbered 30 following that of Reuben Case. This petition also contains the names of Aaron's three sons, Moses, Philip and Abraham, and the name of Reuben's second son, Rufus. The signature of Elihu Case, Reuben's oldest son, appears on petition number 31.18

    The land claim of Aaron Case was apparently settled by an indenture dated 1 May 1809 in which "Aron Case of Springfield Twp., Lycoming Co., Pennsylvania" purchased 118.8 acres of land in Springfield Twp. from Henry Drinker the Elder of the City of Philadelphia for the sum of five shillings.19 As the geographic boundaries in this area changed, Aaron's land, originally located in Luzerne County, came under the jurisdiction of Lycoming County, then Bradford County, the present jurisdiction. The 1810 U.S. census enumeration of Burlington Twp., Lycoming Co., Pennsylvania, probably gives the most complete picture of the Aaron Case family, catching the family after all children had been born, but before any had married. The family was composed of one male over 45 years of age, probably Aaron himself, and one female over 45, probably his wife Abigail; two males under 10, probably son Aaron and an unknown child, possibly son William; four males aged 16 to 26, sons Moses, Philip and Abraham and an unknown male; two females under 10, daughters Martha and Eunice; and three females aged 10 to 16, daughters Miriam, Elizabeth and Lucinda.1 The much smaller family enumerated on the 1820 U.S. census of Springfield Twp., Bradford Co., Pennsylvania, is composed of one male and one female over 45 years of age, Aaron Case and his wife Abigail, one male age 10 to 16, probably son Aaron, and one male age 26 to 45, son Philip, who never married. Apparently three daughters still reside at home: one age 10 to 16, probably daughter Eunice; one age 16 to 26, probably daughter Martha, and one age 26 to 45, possibly daughter Lucinda, who married in 1821.3 This is the last federal census in which Aaron Case appears. ( Census summary)

    Heverly calls Aaron Case "one of the first Baptists on Sugar Creek."8 On Saturday, 31 December 1808, the members of the newly united Baptist Church of Christ at Burlington "proceded to here the Experience of Br. Aaron Case & Wife who were cordial Rcd. unto the Chh."5 From this point on, Aaron appears regularly in the minutes of the church, serving as moderator, on the council and on several committees. The church minutes are filled equally with reports of baptisms and misconducts. Even Aaron Case did not escape censure. The minutes of 23 August 1810 report:
    Isaac Wheeler sends a complaint to the Chh in writing against Br. Aaron Case as follows: To the Baptist Chh of Christ in Burlington. . . Beg leave to inform the Chh that Aaron Case a member of sd Chh has by deceit & falshood Injured & cheated the Complaninant out of his Labour to the Value of $1.50 . . . Sd. Aaron did . . . assume upon himself & faithfully promise to pay the Complainant $2.00. . .5

    Secondary sources place Aaron's death as circa 1827, probably due to this description of Troy in 1827 taken from Craft: "The only house on the west side of Elmira street, in 1827, was the frame house of Aaron Case's widow, where Mrs. Hull now lives."20 However, a small note written in the margin of the Baptist Church minutes for the year 1821 places his death several years earlier: "Jany 4th Br Aaron Case was killed by being caught in his Mill."5 Supporting this earlier date is the fact that Aaron's name never again appears in the Baptist Church records. Daughter Lucinda (Case) Cowles's 15 February 1894 also supports this date: "Her parents afterward moved to Troy, Pa., where Mr. Case was engaged in the milling business, where in 1820 he was caught in the machinery of the mill and killed."6

    Aaron Case's will, dated 15 August 1817, was not probated until 15 September 1835, more than 14 years after his death. The estate file contains nothing more than this will with the probate record written on the back.
    Aaron Case of Springfield Twp . . .I give and bequeath to my son Phillip Case thirty acres of land lying on the East side of my farm Beginning at the North East corner at a hemlock tree, thence West forty perches to a post, thence South twenty five degrees East untill it crosses the Creek thence Southardly along the Bank of said Creek untill that course crosses the South Branch of Sugar Creek thence westardly along the Bank of said Creek twenty perches to a post, Thence South to the South line of my farm, thence East thirty three perches to a post and stones it being the south East corner of my farm thence north on the East line of my farm two hundred perches to the place of Beginning containing twenty five acres . . . together with a certain piece of land which I bot of Samuel Conant.

    To my Beloved Wife Abigail Case the use of all the Remainder and Remainders of all my Property Real & personal so long as she remains my Widow after Which is to be divided amongth my Children as follows (viz) all my male Children to have Double to my female and in Case any my Boys should die his heirs to share the same as my Daughters.

    N.B. in case my Beloved Wife Abigail should marry I do give and Bequeath one third of all my Real and personal Property to her excepting the thirty acres of Phillip. . . .
    [No executor was named in the will.]
    Wit: Chll Barnes, Sally Barnes
    Sig: Aaron Case21

    The distribution of Aaron's estate appears to have been accomplished by one deed executed 4 May 1831 and recorded 28 March 183219 and two deeds of release executed 30 October and 24 November 1829, both recorded 7 May 1833.19 Unlike his will, these three deeds name all his heirs: Abraham and Sally Case of Troy, Elon and Lucinda Cowles and James and Miriam Vorhis, all of Spencer, Tioga Co., NY; Simeon F. and Martha Utter, Moses and Rachel Case, Joseph and Abigail Wills, William and Eunice Gifford, Philip Case, and Ansel and Betsey Williams, all of Bradford Co., Pennsylvania. The first deed sold Abraham Case's share in the estate of Aaron Case deceased to James Hickok for eighty dollars. The two deeds of release were made in favor of Aaron Case, probably the youngest son of Aaron and Abigail. It is likely that Heverly took his listing of Aaron's children from these documents and his assumption that the term "heirs" referred to children has led to some confusion. He added a daughter, Abigail, wife of Joseph Wills, to the family group.8 However, the Abigail Wills named in the second deed of release was Aaron's widow, not his daughter.

    In March 1809, Aaron Case had been one of a committee appointed to "Serch [sic] for a Proper Place for a Graveyard"5 and it is likely that he was buried in the resulting cemetery, Glenwood. However, no tombstone has been found for him. Three illegible, crumbling stones are found in the lot containing the burial plots of Aaron's daughter Elizabeth and son Philip. One of these probably marks Aaron's place of burial, but direct evidence to support this has not been found.7

    Abigail Olmstead was born between 1760 and 1765. She married (2) Joseph Wills between 15 February 1829 and 4 November 1829 in Troy Twp., Bradford Co., PA.19 She died after 19 July 1842 the date on which she was examined in reference to a deed made between her husband and herself and Edward C. Williams in Troy, Bradford Co., PA.22

    The identity of the wife of Aaron Case is still in doubt. Her given name was "Abigail" as shown in all land records of Bradford County, Pennsylvania.19 She is called "my Beloved Wife Abigail Case" in Aaron's 1817 will23 and Abigail is the name given for Aaron's wife by her grandson Simeon U. Case in the Case Family manuscripts.24 Abigail Case appears in the Baptist Church records at the same time Aaron Case appears.5 However, none of these sources list a maiden name and no sources predating the 1808 Baptist Church records have been found. An examination of land, probate and court records of Washington County, NY, did not yield evidence as to the maiden name and antecedents of the wife of Aaron Case. Her identity as "Abigail Olmstead" appears to rest on two sources. First, an interesting manuscript written by Adelia (Vorhis) Bidlack, circa 1870, was transcribed by her daughter Blanche (Vorhis) Lawton: "A little sketch of my G. Grandfather Case family as told by my mother Miriam (Case) Vorhis."
    Aaron was born about the year 1768 and married in the year 1788 to one Abigail Olmstead of Hebron. They lived about Hebron until 1800 when they moved into Troy Township, Bradford Co., Penn. with (6) six children and left one (1) buried.
    They had (5) five more after moving into Penn.25 The second bit of evidence is the death record of daughter Lucinda (Case) Cowles in which her mother's name is entered as "Marion Olmstead."26 Sadly, this entry in the death register shows that Lucinda's parents' names were altered. Unfortunately, death records of all other children are nonexistent or contain no information as to Abigail's identity.

    Assuming that the maiden name of Olmstead found on Lucinda's death certificate is correct, Abigail, wife of Aaron Case, has been assigned to the family of Ezekiel Olmstead and Lydia Hoyt of Ridgefield, Connecticut, and her birthdate appears as October 1766.27 Census evidence, however, supports a birth date occurring between 1760 and 1765.2,28,3,29,30 In addition, the Case family does not appear to be closely associated with the Olmstead family of Ridgefield, Connecticut. Evidence ties the family to three groups of Olmsteads. First, a 1761 quit claim deed from Jeremiah Olmsted of a place called the County Land West of Stockbridge to Philip Case of Sheffield, Berkshire County, Massachusetts;31 next, the enlisting of an Aaron Case, possibly Abigail's future husband, in the company of a David Olmstead;8 finally, Aaron Case's presence on land in Washington County, NY, adjoining that of Gideon, Jabez, and Jabez Olmstead, Jr., and near that of Aaron Olmstead.32 If the wife of Aaron Case was Abigail Olmstead, she will probably be found in the records of these families, not the Olmsteads of Ridgefield, Connecticut.

    Abigail and Aaron Case were married circa 1788, probably in Washington County, NY. Their first child was born in 1790. The family apparently moved from Washington County to Luzerne County (now Bradford County), Pennsylvania, about 1800, probably soon after the birth of daughter Lucinda. Daughter Miriam's remembrance supports this date, but adds a complicating note to the family structure. Miriam states that the couple moved "with (6) six children and left one (1) buried. They had (5) five more after moving into Penn."25 According to this, Aaron's family consisted of eleven children; only ten have been identified to date. Abigail was admitted to the Baptist Church of Christ at Burlington, 31 December 1808, with her husband5 and, like her husband, she appears regularly in the church minutes as a member in attendance. Only once does she appear in the business minutes. On 14 Feb 1824, the members "voted to drop sister Abigail Case out of the tax book."5 Abigail had been widowed in January 1821 and perhaps was having financial difficulties.

    The final appearance of Abigail Case in the Baptist Church records occurred 26 Apr 1828 when she is listed as present.5 Shortly after this date, members in attendance were no longer included in the church minutes. She next appears in a deed of release dated 4 November 1829 as Abigail, wife of Joseph Wills, one of the heirs of Aaron Case, deceased.19 Joseph Wills had been a neighbor of the Aaron Case family and was an elder in the Baptist Church. Joseph's first wife Mary had died 15 February 1829 after a long illness7 and so the marriage of the widow Abigail Case to her neighbor Joseph Wills took place between this date and the 4 November 1829 signing of the release. In fact, it is likely that the widow's remarriage precipitated this release as Aaron Case's 1817 will contained a clause bequeathing Abigail "one third of all my Real and personal Property to her excepting the thirty acres of Phillip" if she should remarry.21

    The 1830 and 1840 federal census enumerations of Troy show the Joseph Wills household containing Joseph, born between 1750 and 1760 and a woman, probably Abigail, born between 1760 and 1770.29,30 The 1830 household, enumerated next to that of Simeon F. Utter, Abigail's son-in-law, also contains a young man born between 1800 and 1810, probably Abigail's son Aaron. The 1840 census is one of Abigail's final appearances in Bradford County records. Her name does not appear on the 1841 members list of the Baptist Church of Christ. However, she was living 19 July 1842 when she was examined in reference to a deed made between her husband Joseph Wills and Edward C. Williams.22 She may have died before 5 September 1846 when Joseph Wills executes a deed between himself and Alba Burnham. This deed was executed without the examination of a wife. Although she is probably buried in Glenwood Cemetery, her tombstone could not be found. One of the three illegible, crumbling stones found in the lot containing the burials of her children Elizabeth and Philip probably marks Abigail's grave site.7

    Aaron married Abigail Olmstead in 1788 in Washington Co., NY. Abigail was born between 1760 and 1765; died after 19 Jul 1842; was buried in Prob. Glenwood Cemetery, Troy Twp., Bradford Co., PA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]


  2. 5.  Abigail Olmstead was born between 1760 and 1765; died after 19 Jul 1842; was buried in Prob. Glenwood Cemetery, Troy Twp., Bradford Co., PA.
    Children:
    1. Moses Case was born in 1790 in Granville, Washington Co., NY; died after 1860 in Byron, Ogle Co., IL.
    2. Philip Case was born on 5 May 1792; died on 22 Aug 1878 in Troy Twp, Bradford Co., PA; was buried in Glenwood Cemetery, Troy Twp., Bradford Co., PA.
    3. 2. Abraham Case was born on 19 Feb 1794 in Granville, Washington Co., NY; died on 10 Jul 1870 in Granville, Bradford Co., PA; was buried in Glenwood Cemetery, Troy Twp., Bradford Co., PA.
    4. Miriam Case was born on 15 May 1796 in Granville, Washington Co., NY; was christened on 27 Jan 1816; died on 14 Jun 1879 in Spencer, Tioga Co., NY; was buried in North Spencer Cemetery, North Spencer, Tioga Co., NY.
    5. Elizabeth Case was born on 30 Dec 1797 in Granville, Washington Co., NY; died on 9 Dec 1879 in Troy Twp, Bradford Co., PA; was buried in Glenwood Cemetery, Troy Twp., Bradford Co., PA.
    6. Lucinda Case was born on 8 Jan 1799 in Hebron, Washington Co., NY; died on 2 Feb 1894 in Spencer, Tioga Co., NY; was buried in North Spencer Cemetery, North Spencer, Tioga Co., NY.
    7. Martha Case was born in 1804 in Troy Twp, Bradford Co., PA; and died.
    8. Eunice Case was born on 7 Nov 1805 in Troy Twp, Bradford Co., PA; died on 9 Apr 1890 in Richmond Twp., Tioga Co., PA; was buried in Prospect Cemetery, Mansfield, Tioga Co., PA.
    9. William Case was born about 1807 in Troy Twp, Bradford Co., PA; and died.
    10. Aaron Case was born about 1808 in Troy Twp, Bradford Co., PA; and died.

  3. 6.  Caleb Williams and died.

    Caleb + Abigail. and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]


  4. 7.  Abigail and died.
    Children:
    1. 3. Sarah Williams was born between 1790 and 1794 in VT; died on 4 Feb 1877 in Williamsport, Lycoming Co., PA.


Generation: 4

  1. 8.  Philip Case was born on 12 Feb 1732 in Simsbury, Hartford Co., CT (son of Timothy Case and Sarah Holcomb); died on 15 Feb 1814 in Candor, Tioga Co., NY; was buried in Snyder Station Cemetery, Candor, Tioga Co., NY.

    Notes:

    DAR Patriot Index: and Index to the Spouses of the DAR Patriots, V. 3, Washington, DC 1986, p.676.

    In 1782 and 1786 there are two Leonard Case's listed in Hebron, Washington Co., NY sons of Philip Case and Lydia ??? in the Gene Pool Database at Ancestry.com.
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    From Susan Johnston's web site:
    Our present-day story of Philip Case's life is filled with questions and contradictions. Despite the fact that the Daughters of the American Revolution have accepted his descendants on the basis of service in the Northern Army in Massachusetts, supporting evidence on file at the N.S.D.A.R. Library contains no documentation explaining the assumption that a man who died in Candor, NY, is the same as the man descendants say fought in the Battle of Saratoga, and is the same man who lived in Alford, Massachusetts, and is the same man who was born in Simsbury, Connecticut. In genealogy, as in real estate, the most important factor is location. Despite similarities in names and ages, documentation of identity is required before deciding that the Philip Case of Candor, NY, is the same as the Philip Case of Alford, Massachusetts. Philip's story will be told in two parts: the first based on evidence created during his lifetime; the second, a discussion of conflicts found in evidence created by his descendants.

    The birth of Philip Case, eldest child of Timothy Case, is recorded in the town records of Simsbury, Connecticut, as 12 February 1731/2. It is followed by the birth records of siblings, Sarah, Timothy, and Martha, the latter born 25 May 1739.1 E. E. Case states that Timothy removed with his family from Simsbury about 1740 to Great Barrington (then Sheffield), Massachusetts, where Timothy died in 1754.5 This identity may be confirmed by land records and the probate and guardianship records which arose from Timothy's death, none of which this author has investigated. The earliest confirmed record of this Philip Case is therefore, his 1757 marriage to Lydia Soveril recorded in the Sheffield, Massachusetts, town records.2 In 1761, Berkshire County was created from Hampshire County and the northern parish of Sheffield became part of what was then called Great Barrington. In 1773, part of Great Barrington was set off to form what became Alford, Berkshire County, Massachusetts. Therefore, at the time the Revolutionary War began, Philip Case was a resident of Alford, Massachusetts.

    In 1777, men were called to resist the troops of General Burgoyne. A company from Alford under Captain Sylvanus Wilcox was one of two area companies in the regiment of Colonel John Ashley that answered this call. Philip Case, private, was on the list of this company. He served a total of nineteen days, from 8 July to 26 July 1777.6 Philip's name on this list does confirm his Revolutionary War service, but does not confirm his presence at either Battle of Saratoga, those taking place later that year. According to Great Barrington history, though, Willcox's company was present at Saratoga, so it is likely that Philip Case was there.

    Philip's eldest son, Timothy, had enlisted in 1775 and Timothy's pension papers, combined with Philip Case's estate file in Tioga County, NY, provide the evidence identifying the Philip Case of Candor with the Revolutionary soldier of Alford. The 1 February 1830 deposition of Abraham Case in this pension file begins, "Abraham Case of Hebron in said county [Washington County, NY] being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he is a brother of Timothy Case - that in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and and seventy five this deponent lived in Alford in the County of Burkshire in the state of Massachusetts with his father and mother and the said Timothy his brother. . .". 7 This same Abraham Case was named executor in the 1811 will of Philip Case of Candor, NY, and identified there as Philip's son.3 Timothy Case's actual signature is found on only one affidavit in his pension file, but that signature is identical to one found on a 5 May 1814 receipt in Philip Case's Tioga County estate file.3

    Land records of Hampshire and Berkshire counties have not been personally examined by this author. Evidence of four land transactions by Philip Case are known, however: a 1761 quit claim deed from Jeremiah Olmsted of a place called the County Land West of Stockbridge to Philip Case of Sheffield, Berkshire County, Massachusetts;8 and three land sales from Philip Case to Ephraim Case: land in Gore, 25 December 1770, and lands in Sheffield, 15 September 1784 and 14 June 1790.5 These land transactions must be examined. Land descriptions may be similar in the various documents, identifying Philip's exact residence in Berkshire County. After the Revolutionary War, Philip's children began their migration west into the state of New York. The latter land documents may identify Philip's residence as Hebron or Granville, NY, adding more evidence for Philip's own journey from Alford to Candor.

    Sometime between Philip's 1777 military service and the year 1784, Philip and his family left Alford, Massachusetts, for the area now known as Washington County, NY. His name appears on an undated tax list for the Black Creek District, Charlotte County, NY, with sons Timothy and Abraham Case. Philip owed a tax of ?00-06-09? for real estate valued at ?28-00 and personal property valued at ?20-15. This tax could be paid in wheat: one bushel one peck three quarts.9 Although undated, this tax list must predate 2 April 1784 when the New York legislature passed a law changing the name Charlotte County to its present name of Washington County. The earliest land record involving Philip recorded in Washington County is a mortgage deed dated 10 April 1789 and recorded 15 June of the same year. Philip Case "of Hebron township" mortgaged 666 acres of land in Granville township for the sum of ?176-10-10 from Lt. David Bory, the owner of the Bory Tract.10 He remained in Hebron and is recorded on the federal censuses of 1790 and 1800 in that town.11,12

    Four land records executed between December 1801 and June 1802 have been recorded in Washington County records in which Philip sold about 400 acres of the 666 acres he owned in Granville township.13 In a deed executed 29 February 1804, Philip Case, then called "of the town of Owego" in Tioga County, NY, bought land described as "Lot Number Seven in the Second Tier of Lots in the northeast Section of the Ninth Township in the Twelve Townships so called containing one hundred and four acres of Land" from a Reuben Case.4 Philip Case removed with his wife and at least one of his children to this property on the Catatunk Creek just west of modern Gridleyville in Candor township. Here he opened the first store in Candor and lived the remainder of his life. Philip Case sold a small piece of land Candor, Tioga Co., NY, to the Farmington Society for use as a burial ground on 30 October 1812.14,4

    On 22 November 1814, Philip Case sold twenty acres off the south end of his Candor lot to his son-in-law, Aaron Pennell.4 This deed narrows Philip's date of death to the three month period between the signing of this deed and the date probate was begun on his estate, 18 February 1815. Philip was buried with his wife in the burial lot he himself had set off on his property several years before.4,15 This small cemetery sits high above the road leading from Gridleyville to Spencer and is now called Snyder Station Cememtery. It is not maintained, but the large number of pine trees keeps the undergrowth to a minimum. This author and other Case family researchers have searched the grounds for Philip's tombstone, or tombstones of other Case family members, but none have been found.16

    Children of Philip Case: The births of Philip Case's children have not been found recorded in Massachusetts or New York records searched to date. The wide variety of indirect sources and family legends have given rise to variations in birth dates and number of children. Sources for the Philip Case family group sheet in the Case manuscript include letter no. 931 from Leonard F. Case dated June 1903, records of Hiram A. Case, and the 1900 Temple genealogy written by Levi Daniel Temple.5 Leonard F. Case, son of Reuben Case and grandson of Philip, was born circa 1832 and died at the age of 100 in April 1932. Hiram A. Case, Reuben's grandson, was born in 1825 and died in 1900. It is likely that family information from these two sources was similar. The Temple genealogy is undocumented, but information on Philip's family probably came from descendants of Philip's son Abraham, as it was his daughter, Elizabeth, who married a Temple.17 Erastus Ely Case may have given preference to the former sources, as his group sheet does not agree with the Temple genealogy. Neither reference appears to give an accurate or complete picture of Philip's family. Because the information given here differs from both the Case manuscript and the Temple genealogy, a discussion of the evidence is warranted. First, Philip's 1811 will names ten children in this order: five sons, Timothy, Abraham, Reuben, Aaron and Samuel; and five daughters, Lydia, Rachel, Semanthy, Justinia, and Sarah.3 Both Case and Temple list Philip's children as being born males first, but vary the order within the gender group and assign birth years where necessary to accomodate the supposed birth order. It is more likely that Philip followed the common practice of naming his children in birth order within their gender, males first. The dates of birth which have been discovered tend to support this assumption and the children listed below follow this new birth order. The Temple genealogy includes an eleventh child, Leonard, born 1786. Case does not include this child in his listing, but does mention the possibility.5,18 However, no contemporary documents found to date support the existence of this child. In fact, a memorial record written by Philip's granddaughter, Miriam (Case) Vorhis, states explicitly that her father, Aaron, was one of ten children, five sons and five daughters.19 Philip did have a grandson Leonard, born 1793, son of Abraham Case. A note in the Case manuscript suggests why some Philip Case descendants favored this hypothetical son. "Leonard Case, claimed to be the Leonard Case of Cleveland, whose son left a large estate." This information came from the July 1903 letter of Leonard F. Case (Reuben, Philip) to E. E. Case. The Leonard Case of Cleveland, however, was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, the son of Meshach Case.

    Although Philip Case's will does name his ten children, he does not include his daughters' married names or the residences of any children, nor do the records found to date in his estate file name each child. Direct evidence does exist for the following relationships, however.

    * Abraham Case, executor of Philip's estate, is called his son and accounts filed by Abraham identify him as the Abraham Case of Hebron, Washington County, NY.
    * Timothy Case, son of Philip, is identified with the Timothy Case of Alford, Massachusetts; Middlebury, VT; and Cook County, Illinois, by his signatures found on a receipt in Philip Case's estate file and on affidavits in his Revolutionary War pension file. The receipt calls the payment an advance on "his portion".
    * Aaron Case, son of Philip Case, is identified with the Aaron Case of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, through a land record in which he deeds his 1/7 share in his father's estate to William Case [his nephew].
    * Samuel Case, son of Philip Case, is identified with the Samuel Case of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, through a land record in which he deed his share in his father's estate to Abraham Case. Note that Abraham's expense account lists a charge of $12.00 "To cash pd. for 2 witnesses from Sugar Creek [home region of Aaron and Samuel Case] to attend & expenses settling an arbitration & their expenses" dated 1 February 1816, the date the above deeds were executed.
    * A 1 February 1816 charge of $5.50 is labelled "To attending an arbitration with Reuben Case". No residence identifies him, but the Reuben Case of Troy, Pennsylvania, and Danby, NY, is closely associated with Aaron Case (above) throughout his life.
    * Sarah Case, daughter of Aaron Case, is identified with Sarah, wife of Aaron Pennell, in a deed in which she deeds her 2/7 share in her father's estate to Abraham Case. In accordance with her father's will, she received twice her brothers' shares.

    Lydia Soveril was born 15 September 1736 in Simsbury, Hartford Co., CT.20,18,21,1 She probably died before 1811 Candor, Tioga Co., NY, as she is not named in her husband's will.21 She was buried in on the family lot, Candor, Tioga Co., NY.4

    The Case manuscript states that Philip Case married Lydia Holcomb circa 1761 in Hebron, NY. As both the Temple genealogy17 and Sheffield, Massachusetts, marriage records2 show that Philip Case married Lydia Soveril, Dr. Case must have taken this information from either the records of Hiram A. Case (1825-1900), the great grandson of Philip and Lydia, or letter no. 931 dated June 1903 from Leonard F. Case (1833-1932), Philip's grandson. Both these informants were descendants of Philip's son Reuben and it is with this branch that the idea of a Philip Case-Lydia Holcomb marriage seems to have entered family lore. A letter from Merritt Birdsell Case [Leonard's brother] to his niece Helen Palmer dated 3 August 1914 was partially transcribed in a 1965 letter found in the N.S.D.A.R.'s Philip Case file:
    Len is 82 years old, 7 years older than myself; He is hail & hearty, allso has good memory and Explained Evrything as near he knew. . . .
    Our greate grand father Case was of an English decent. Our greate grand father Timothy Case came over on the May Flower with his 2 brothers and his wife (a Welch lady) to America. . . . Timothy with his wife settled in VT or Mass. and there raised a famley. One of his Sones Philip Case our grand father moved to the Eastern part of NY and marrid Lidy Holdcome; there raised a large famley.6

    The writer of the 1965 letter, called only AB, points out the Mayflower absurdity and notes that she believes that the Holcomb name actually referred to Philip's mother, Sarah Holcomb. A second record found in this branch of the family is a recopied family Bible. On the Memoranda page of the undated Bible is the following: "Philip Case Sr. born in England 1740, married to Lydia Holcomb (born 1740) at Hebron N.Y. He died 1816 at Candor N.Y."22 Records in this Bible were copied 20 November 1898 by Adrial Hebard Case, Reuben's grandson, "from an old bible." Judging from the order of information copied in this Bible, the original was probably the family Bible of Elihu Case, Hebard's father. Notes on relationships and earlier generations appear to be added by Hebard and are in conflict with contemporary evidence. For example, Philip Case's death date of 1816 is incorrect as probate of his estate was begun in February 1815. Pending the discovery of additional primary evidence, it seems safe to assume that in the matter of Lydia's maiden name the Case manuscript is incorrect. She was Lydia Soveril, not Lydia Holcomb.

    Lydia's birth is recorded in Simsbury town records with the births of her siblings.1 Her father, Abraham Soverhill, died before 12 August 1746, the date her older brother, also an Abraham, was appointed her guardian, as well as the guardian of three other minor siblings: Anna, Samuel, and Reuben.23 At the time, Lydia was only nine years old. Her brother Abraham was a resident of Newark, Connecticut, in 1746; but some members of this family appear to have removed to Sheffield, Massachusetts. In addition to Lydia's marriage to Philip Case, the marriages of sisters Rachel2 and Anna2 are also found in the Sheffield marriage records.

    Lydia was not named in her husband's will of 9 July 1811 and so it is assumed that she died before this date. Tioga County, NY, land records confirm, though, that she was buried with her husband in the family burial lot now called Snyder Station Cemetery.4,15 Her tombstone, if it ever existed, has not been found.

    Philip married Lydia Soveril on 30 Nov 1757 in Sheffield, Berkshire Co., MA. Lydia (daughter of Abraham Soveril and Jemima Adams) was born on 15 Sep 1736 in Simsbury, Hartford Co., CT; died in 1810 in Candor Or Spencer, Tioga Co., NY; was buried in Snyder Station Cemetery, Candor, Tioga Co., NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]


  2. 9.  Lydia Soveril was born on 15 Sep 1736 in Simsbury, Hartford Co., CT (daughter of Abraham Soveril and Jemima Adams); died in 1810 in Candor Or Spencer, Tioga Co., NY; was buried in Snyder Station Cemetery, Candor, Tioga Co., NY.
    Children:
    1. Lydia Case was born about 1758 in East Barrington, Berkshire Co., MA; died in 1834.
    2. Timothy Case was born on 28 Sep 1759 in East Barrington, Hampshire Co., MA; died on 30 Jul 1844 in Chicago, Cook Co., IL.
    3. Abraham Case was born on 28 Dec 1761 in Great Barrington, Berkshire Co., MA; died on 8 Feb 1831 in North Hebron, Washington Co., NY; was buried in North Hebron Cemetery, Hebron, Washington Co., NY.
    4. Rachel Case was born in 1764 in Hebron, Washington Co., NY; died in 1846 in Middlebury, Wyoming Co., NY.
    5. Reuben Case was born on 26 Dec 1766 in Great Barrington, Berkshire Co., MA; died on 30 May 1847 in Danby, Tompkins Co., NY.
    6. 4. Aaron Case was born about 1768 in Hebron, Washington Co., NY; died on 4 Jan 1821 in Troy Twp, Bradford Co., PA; was buried in Prob. Glenwood Cemetery, Troy Twp., Bradford Co., PA.
    7. Samuel Case was born about 1772 in Berkshire Co., MA; died on 17 Jun 1836 in Troy, Bradford Co., PA.
    8. Sarah Case was born on 16 Dec 1778 in Berkshire Co., MA; and died.
    9. Semanthy Case was born about 1780 in Berkshire Co., MA; died about 1815.
    10. Justina Case was born about 1786 in Berkshire Co., MA; and died.
    11. Leonard Case was born in 1786 in Berkshire Co., MA; died in 1864 in Ohio, USA.



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