Ancestors in western New York

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On our way home from Quebec we stopped in western New York to find the final resting place of some ancestors on the Ross side. These folks are named Russell. As the Rosses migrated west from New England to Michigan, they tarried for a generation in western New York, and children were born there. Orlando Ross married Beulah Fidelia Russell. Orlando and Beulah would be Marian Ross Turner’s great-grandparents. Beulah’s grandfather was Riverus Russell, a Revolutionary War Veteran. He had also migrated west from New England to western NY, and is buried there in Livingston Co., near the little crossroads village of Linwood.
We found the little country cemetery and the Russell graves without a hitch. On the day we were there, it happened that the local historical society was having a cemetery tour, and Riverus Russell was one of their highlights of the day. We were surprised and pleased to be there on that day, and they were pleased to meet a descendant of Riverus. The photos are of the Job Wood Cemetery, and the graves of Riverus, his wife Charity, and their son George, who was Beulah’s father. Riverus lived from 1756 to 1834. Charity lived 1761 to 1851.
Orlando and Beulah were farmers, who were married in Allegan Co., Michigan, returned to western NY for several years, then spent their last 30+ years in Michigan. They are buried near Petoskey, Michigan. I have some original letters written by Beulah, and one written to her from western NY, in 1859.


Orlando’s grandfather, Kneeland Ross, was also a Revolutionary War Veteran, and is probably buried in western NY also. I don’t know where, yet. On the day we were there I learned that, during the war, an expeditionary force was sent to western NY by George Washington. These were New England farm boys used to the stony fields of home, and they thought this western wilderness looked like the Promised Land. Word spread fast when the war was over and many of them, including our two ancestors Riverus Russell and Kneeland Ross, went west to build a new life. To supply a little perspective, Riverus and Kneeland would the great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfathers of those in the Lucy, Garrett, Abigail and Seamus generation.















Comments

Harry Turner said…
great post - so interesting. That's a lot of "greats" in the chain. Good luck that you stumbled on the tour! And a living relative of a tour feature - that is too good to be true. Can we get a little post about the rest of the trip - food, drink, sites, etc.?
Wednesday, October 14, 2009 3:28:00 PM
vaturner said…
And what of Beulah's father, George? I see he has a lone grave; was he estranged from his wife? I assume he took the family west to Michigan so is his wife buried in Allegan somewhere? Good stuff...keep it coming.
Thursday, October 15, 2009 6:19:00 PM
Kay & Bil said…
George married a woman named Electa Cowley. I couldn't find her grave at this cemetery, but it might be there and unmarked. There were about a dozen Russells buried there. I don't know how Beulah got to Michigan to marry Orlando. I haven't searched for Russells in Allegan Co., but I might. I do have an original letter written in July 1859 to Orlando and Beulah from folks in western NY which begins "Dear Cousins" and is signed by Horace and Sarah Cowley. As time allows, I am writing a history of our Ross line on this continent, beginning with Killicress Ross in 1654. Completion perhaps by spring.
Friday, October 16, 2009 8:45:00 AM
Cynthia Turner said…
What great timing for your visit. You must have been like celebrities, real people connected to the history in the graveyard!
Friday, October 23, 2009 11:20:00 AM
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