Jefferson County, NY Pioneers


PIONEER RAVEN FAMILY



1. PETER RAVEN was baptized on 7 Aug 1748 in All Saints Parish, Maldon, Essex, England. He married a first wife (name unknown) in England. While working at the King's Shipyards, Peter RAVEN was taken by press gang to fight in Burgoyne's Army (the 62nd Regiment of Foot) in 1777. He participated in the Battle of Saratoga (7 Oct 1777), where he was wounded and left for dead, then was nursed back to health by the Groom family of Clifton Park, Saratoga, New York. He reenlisted in the British Army (probably as a means of being pardoned for his "desertion" at Saratoga) in Jun 1781 at Lake Champlain, Quebec, Canada, joining the 44th Regiment of Foot. In Oct 1781, Peter RAVEN received a letter from his brother in England stating that Peter's wife had died shortly after his departure and the the brother was caring for his two young sons. Peter reportedly replied instructing his brother to keep all his property and his sons; that he would never return to England. He deserted the 44th Regiment of Foot and made his way back to the GROOM family in New York in Nov 1782. (Some say Peter RAVEN served in the American forces at some point and received bounty land in Halfmoon, Saratoga, New York, but neither the National nor New York Archives could confirm this.)

Upon his return to New York, he married Rachel GROOM. They appeared on the census of 1790 in Halfmoon, Saratoga, New York, and on the census of 1800 in Stamford, Delaware, New York. In 1806, they were one of the first five families to settle in Antwerp, Jefferson County, New York, where they lived on the old Gouverneur road. He signed a mortgage to General Lewis R. Morris (original purchaser of the tract that included the entire town of Antwerp) on 11 Sep 1806 in Antwerp.

In Jun 1810, Peter RAVEN moved from Antwerp, Jefferson, New York to Johnstown, Grenville County, Ontario, Canada (directly across the river from New York, not far from Gouverneur). He and Rachel reappeared on the census of 1830 in Antwerp, Jefferson, New York. It is presumed he died between 1830 and 1835 in Antwerp. Children of Peter RAVEN and (first wife):

2 i PETER RAVEN

3 ii JOHN RAVEN

PETER married (2)
RACHEL GROOM who was born between 1755 and 1760 in Clifton Park, Saratoga County, New York. She was the daughter of PETER & MARY (CUBBERLY) GROOM. It is presumed she died between 1830 and 1835 in Antwerp.

Children, RAVEN:

4 i MARY RAVEN, married JOHN BETHEL.

5 ii ADAM RAVEN married (1) (---); (2) MARTHA SLY; (3) DOROTHY GIBONS.

6 iii PETER GEORGE RAVEN Jr married SABRINA CUMMINS.

7 iv ISAAC RAVEN married SOMAY CUMMINGS.

8 v RACHEL RAVEN married CALEB CHENEY.

9 vi JENET RAVEN married Lyman COLBURN.

10 vii JOHN RAVEN married MARY GRIFFIN COOK.

11 viii MARTHA J. RAVEN married PHILIP RUNYON

12 ix ELIZABETH RAVEN

4. MARY RAVEN (daughter of PETER & RACHEL (GROOM) RAVEN) was born circa 1783 in New York.

She married circa 1801
JOHN BETHEL, son of JOHN & NANCY (STEPHENSON) BETHEL. He was born in 1755 near Athole Castle in the Highlands, Scotland. He and his brother Thomas BETHEL were pressed into the British navy before 1800. After nine months in the service, John BETHEL took shore leave in New York and never returned to his ship. John was one of the earliest settlers of Antwerp, Jefferson, New York, in 1806. He appeared on the censuses of 1820 and 1830 in Antwerp.

Children, BETHEL:

13 i PETER BETHEL

14 ii JAMES MILLS BETHEL married MARTHA POWERS WOOD, daughter of ABNER & REBECCA (DAVIS) WOOD

5. ADAM RAVEN (son of PETER & RACHEL (GROOM) RAVEN) was born on 29 Mar 1785 in New York State. He was baptized on 4 Jun 1785 in Katsbaan Dutch Reformed Church, Saugerties, Ulster, New York.

He served in the military on the British side in the War of 1812. He purchased the west half of Lot 18, Concession 6W from Archibald McNichol on 21 Oct 1834 in Chinguacousy, Peel, Ontario, Canada. He appeared on the census of 1837 in Chinguacousy West Twp, Peel County, Ontario, Canada. He lived in Meaford, Grey, Ontario, Canada, as of 1839. He lived in Chinguacousy, Peel, Ontario, Canada, as of 14 Oct 1841. He appeared on the censuses of 1851 and 1861 in Chinquacousy West Twp, Peel County, Ontario, Canada. He died on 12 Apr 1871 in Meaford, Grey, Ontario, Canada, at age 86. He was buried in Duxbury Cemetery, St. Vincent, Grey, Ontario, Canada.

He married (1) before 1814 (---)

Children, RAVEN:

15 i WILLIAM GROOM RAVEN married (1) ELIZABETH WILCOX, daughter of JOSHUA & CATHERINE (BONESTEEL) WILCOX; (2) PHOEBE (Pheabe) WILCOX, (3) WELSH RAVEN.

He married (2) before 1828
MARTHA SLY, who was born between 1783 and 1795. She died before 1871 in St. Vincent, Grey, Ontario, Canada.

Children, RAVEN:

16 i ADLINE (Adeline) RAVEN married PETER McLAREN

17 ii JONATHON B. RAVEN married (1) GEORGINA HAWLEY/HOWLING; (2) ANNE (---)

18 iii AMY MAUD RAVEN married PASCAL ELIJAH KNOX, son of ELIJAH & HARRIETT (STEARNS) KNOX

19 iv ANNA "Annie" RAVEN married Captain WILLIAM CURTIS KNOX, son of ELIJAH & HARRIETT (STEARNS) KNOX

He married (3) on 14 Oct 1841 in Chinguacousy, Peel, Ontario, Canada
DOROTHY GIBONS, who was born in 1789. She married (1st) James EVERSON. She appeared on the census of 1837 in Chinquacousy West Twp, Peel County, Ontario, Canada. She died on 24 Jun 1869 in Meaford, Grey, Ontario, Canada. She was buried in Duxbury Cemetery, St. Vincent, Grey, Ontario, Canada. There were no children of Adam RAVEN and Dorothy GIBONS.

6. PETER GEORGE RAVEN Jr (son of PETER & RACHEL (GROOM) RAVEN) was born on 4 Apr 1786 in New York. He served in the military in the War of 1812 on the British side, and participated in the Battle of Lundy's Lane. He appeared on the census of 1813 in Augusta Twp., Grenville County, Ontario, Canada. He lived in Ontario, Canada, as of 1820. He appeared on the census of 1835 in Antwerp, Jefferson, New York. He appeared on the census of 1840 in St. Lawrence County, New York. He appeared on the census of 1850 in Macomb, St. Lawrence, New York. He appeared on the census of 1850 in Morristown, St. Lawrence, New York, and was listed as a laborer. He appeared on the census of 1870 in the household of his son Abraham, and was listed as a shoe maker. He died on 11 Apr 1877 in Brasie Corner or Macomb, St. Lawrence, New York, at age 91. He was buried in State Road Cemetery, Raven family plot, Macomb, St. Lawrence, New York.

He married on 4 Jul 1810 in Jefferson County, New York
SABRINA CUMMINS, daughter of Daniel CUMMINS (Cummings). Her name has also been seen as "Cummings." She was born on 24 Sep 1794 in New York or Merrickville, Ontario, Canada. She died on 21 Aug 1861 in Macomb, St. Lawrence, New York, at age 66. She was buried in State Road Cemetery, Raven family plot, Macomb, St. Lawrence, New York.

Children, RAVEN:

20 i DANIEL C. RAVEN married (1) SUSANNA COWLTHROP; (2) DIANA (---)

21 ii SOPHRONIA RAVEN

22 iii DAVID G. RAVEN married (1) SARAH P. WHELPLEY; (2) DIANA FAUSETT



22 iv POLLY BETHEL RAVEN 23 v HENRY CHARLES RAVEN married (1) CLARINDA SWEET, daughter of PETER JOSIAH & EUNICE (DAY) SWEET; (2) FANNIE E. PATTEN

24 vi SUSAN RAVEN

25 vii RUBEN S. RAVEN married CHARLOTTE RUNION, daughter of NOMMAH RUNION (RUNYON)

26 viii OLIVE S. RAVEN

27 ix ABRAHAM C. RAVEN married NANCY R. WRIGHT

7. ISAAC RAVEN (son of PETER & RACHEL (GROOM) RAVEN) was born between 1785 and 1805 in New York. He appeared on the censuses of 1825 & 1830 in Antwerp. He died on 3 Jun 1864 in Russell Twp., Russell County, Ontario, Canada.

He married before 1823
SOMAY CUMMINGS. Her name has also been seen as "Somary." She died in Canada.

Children, RAVEN:

28 i MARY JANE RAVEN married ELISHA JACKSON, son of JAMES & MARGARET (DORIN JACKSON)

29 ii JAMES ELIAS RAVEN married CATHERINE FERRAND

30 iii LORENZO R. RAVEN married HANNAH BOTFIELD

31 iv ROSS RAVEN

32 v WILLIAM RAVEN

33 vi daughter RAVEN

34 vii daughter RAVEN

8. RACHEL RAVEN (daughter of PETER & RACHEL (GROOM) RAVEN) was born on 24 May 1791 probably in New York. She died on 12 Sep 1839 in Antwerp, Jefferson, New York, at age 48. She was buried in Antwerp, Jefferson, New York.

She married between 1807 and 1809 in Antwerp, Jefferson, New York
CALEB CHENEY, son of ELIPHALET & MARY (ELA) CHENEY was born either 7 Sep 1771 or 7 Sep 1781. He was one of the earliest settlers of Antwerp, in 1809. He appeared on the censuses of 1820 & 1830 in Antwerp. He died on 22 Aug 1845 in Antwerp. New York. He was buried in Antwerp Cemetery.

Children, CHENEY:

35 i DAVID CHENEY married BETSEY (---)

36 ii CATHERINE MARIE CHENEY married BENJAMIN LYNDE, son of ELLIOTT & HANNAH (WALKER) LYNDE

37 iii MARY BRADFORD CHENEY married JOHN RICKERSON, son of GUY CARLTON & ELIZABETH RICKERSON

38 iv ELIPHALET CHENEY

39 v ALICE CHENEY

40 vi JOHN W. CHENEY married ALICE (---)

41 vii SOPHIA F. CHENEY married ROYAL HULL.

42 viii CHARLES CHENEY married Mary Alice COLLINS.

7. John RAVEN (son of PETER & RACHEL (GROOM) RAVEN) was born between 1790 and 1801 in New York. He appeared on the censuses of 1825, 1830 and 1835 in Antwerp. He and Mary Griffin COOK moved to Van Buren County, Michigan, shortly after 1 Jun 1840. John bought land from William R. Williams in Van Buren County, Michigan, on 4 Dec 1840. He died intestate on 1 Feb 1842 in Lawrence, Van Buren, Michigan. He was buried in Lawrence Hill Cemetery, Lawrence, Van Buren, Michigan. His estate was inventoried on 16 Jul 1845 in Lawrence, Van Buren, Michigan, and was valued at $816.35.

He married in 1825 probably in Antwerp
MARY GRIFFIN COOK, who was the daughter of MILES & SARAH (GRIFFIN) COOK. Mary Griffin COOK and John Andrews, as principals, put up a bond of $400 against the estate of John RAVEN on 12 Jul 1845 in Van Buren County, Michigan. The $400 bond put up by Mary Griffin COOK and John Andrews was accepted by Probate Judge Frederick A. Lord of Van Buren County, Michigan, on 14 Jul 1845. Ephraim Taylor, Harvey Marshall & Nelson S. Marshall were appointed to conduct an inventory of the estate of John RAVEN on 14 Jul 1845 in Van Buren County, Michigan. The inventory and the items marked "selected" by Mary Griffin COOK from the estate of John RAVEN were approved by the Probate Judge on 19 Jul 1845 in Van Buren County, Michigan.

Mary Griffin COOK was born in 1800 in New York. She died between 20 Jul 1845 and 18 Jun 1847 in Lawrence, Van Buren, Michigan, leaving six orphaned children, all of whom were minors. On 19 Jun 1847 in Van Buren County, Michigan, Hamilton Samuel RAVEN, Adah Lucinda RAVEN, Lucien John RAVEN, Charles Hamilton RAVEN, Mary RAVEN, and Julia RAVEN, minor heirs of John RAVEN and Mary Griffin COOK, petitioned the Probate Court to appoint guardianship to John Andrews. John Andrews was granted guardianship, posted a $200 bond (with Thomas S. Camp) as required by the Court and was ordered to provide an estate inventory within four months on 21 Feb 1848. On 29 May 1848, John Andrews petitioned the Court for permission to sell real estate on behalf of his wards, consisting of an 80-acre farm in Lawrence, of which 20 acres were improved. John Andrews was granted permission to sell the real estate, which was legally described as the undivided two-thirds of the north half of the northeast quarter of Section 20 in Township 3 south of Range 15 west, situated in the county of Van Buren & State of Michigan on 3 Jul 1848 Paw Paw, Van Buren County, Michigan. He and Humphrey L. Barman posted a $1,000 bond. On 24 Oct 1848 John Andrews reported to the court that he had sold the farm to Owen M. Baker on 11 Oct. "for the sum of three hundred and thirty three dollars and thirty three and one third cents." The judge confirmed the sale on 25 Oct.

Children, RAVEN:

43 i LUCIEN JOHN RAVEN married ELENORIA M. PITCHER

44 ii JULIA RAVEN married (---) KEMP.

45 iii ADAH LUCINDA RAVEN married HORATIO JOY HENDRYX

46 iv MARY RAVEN married (---) STILES.

47 v HAMILTON SAMUEL RAVEN married (1) ALMIRA JANE BAKER, daughter of JOHN & MARTHA ANN (GLASS); (2) MARTHA N. (---) BREGARDE

48 vi CHARLES HAMILTON RAVEN married MARY C. DONEL

11. MARTHA J. RAVEN (daughter of PETER & RACHEL (GROOM) RAVEN) was born between 1792 and 1795 in New York. Her nickname was "Patty." She and Philip RUNYON lived in Antwerp, as of 1830 and in Clayton, Jefferson County, as of 1840. She appeared on the census of 1860 in Sheboygan County, Michigan, with the family of her daughter Amanda SMITH.

She married
PHILIP RUNYON. His name has also been seen as "Runion" or "Runnion." He was born between 1788 and 1791 in Clifton Park, Saratoga County, New York.

Children, RUNYON:

49 i ABEL RUNYON

50 ii AMANDA MELVINIA RUNYON married NATHANIAL SMITH.

51 iii LYMON C. RUNYON married SALOME DILLENBECK.

52 iv JOHN MARSHALL RUNYON married MARY A. LOFFT.

53 v HANNAH RUNYON

From the Owen Sound Advertiser Friday, February 15, 1907

Death of Husband and Wife

William G. Raven Expires as Wife’s Casket was Carried Out

A sad and rather singular coincidence occurred this week in the death of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. G. Raven, an aged couple who for the past 22 years have made their home with formers’ son Mr. J.P. Raven, corner of Baker and Church St., Owen Sound. Mr.. Raven who in his 94th year, has been very feeble during the present winter and his death has not been unlooked for. His wife, on the contrary has been in good health until a few days ago when she took lagrippe and died suddenly on Tuesday morning, aged 77 years. Her husband did not seem to comprehend that her death had taken place, although informed of the fact. Mrs. Raven’s funeral took place yesterday fore noon leaving for Tara shortly after ten o’clock. Just as the casket was leaving the home. Mr. Raven was found to have also collapsed and a brief delay was caused to departure of the funeral at the discovery however, it was carried out as arranged.

The deceased Mr. Raven was a native of the country, was born on the 19th of December 1813. He was a carpenter by trade and lived for many years in St. Vincent Township. Deceased was thrice married the first time to Miss Elizabeth Wilcox by whom he had a family of niglassp.htmne children, of whom three sons and five daughters survive. The daughters are Mrs. J. Bowerman, Hamilton, Mrs. N. Gould, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Mrs. A. Jay, Meaford, Mrs. M. Sewery, Detroit and Mrs. Richards, Denver Col; and the sons are John in Nebraska, C.W. in Denver and Joseph P. private banker in Owen Sound. The youngest son died at Grand Rapids last March. Mr. Raven’s second wife was Miss Phoebe Wilcox and he was married for the third time to Mrs. Welsh when about 70 years of age. The funeral will take place on Sunday morning, Interment to take place at Duxbury’s Burying Ground, St. Vincent. The services will be held at the hour at 9:45 a.m.”

Mrs. Welsh mentioned above was Jane Daniels who married Joseph Gibb and later Hugh Welsh. She married William Groom Raven on August 25, 1883. She died on February 12, 1907 and is buried in Hillcrest Cemetery, Tara, Ontario.


For further information, contact:
Alice Raven

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