Person Page

     Orrin Elias Town was born on 11 May 1847 in Parkman, Geauga Co., Ohio. (The Charles A. Towne microfilm says Parkman Co., Ohio, but this is clearly wrong.)^1,2 He married first Mary E. Fellows, daughter of Henry Fellows, on 17 January 1871 in Medina Co., Ohio.² He married second Vielda Sweet on 24 November 1909 in Geauga Co., Ohio. Vielda (Sweet) Ensign was the mother of Orrin's son Edwin's wife Mary V. Ensign.² He died on 16 January 1918 at age 70.² He was buried at Claridon-Center Cemetery in Claridon, Geauga Co., Ohio.²
     He lived on a on a 91-acre farm in Chatham Twp., Medina Co., Ohio, that had originally been cleared by his father-in-law Henry Fellows.² He and his first wife Mary had the following known children: Henry L., Edwin O. (b 31 August 1877), Leo E., Mabel B. (b 4 March 1888, d 22 March 1926).²

     Elvira Ophelia Town was born on 5 September 1849 in Parkman, Geauga Co., Ohio. (The Charles A. Towne microfilm says Parkman Co., Ohio, but there is no such county.)^1,2 She married Edwin A. Beardsley on 30 December 1874 in Geauga Co., Ohio.^1,3 She died on 20 July 1885 at age 35.^1,2 She was buried at Middlefield Cemetery in Middlefield, Geauga Co., Ohio.²
     She and her husband Edwin were living in Burton, Geauga Co., Ohio, in 1880. Living with them were Betsey Town, Elvira's widowed mother; Emmet F. Reed, a farm laborer age 19; and Cora H. Fisher, age 12. Cora may have been the daughter of Elvira's sister Roxanna.³
     She and Edwin had no children.¹

     Joel Abbey married Sally Ann Town, daughter of Lyman Town and Betsey Porter, on 11 March 1846.¹ He died in Middlefield, Geauga Co., Ohio.¹
     He and Sally had no children.¹

     Edwin A. Beardsley was born in 1847 in Wisconsin.² He married Elvira Ophelia Town, daughter of Lyman Town and Betsey Porter, on 30 December 1874 in Geauga Co., Ohio.^1,2 He died in 1919.²
     He and his wife Elvira were living in Burton, Geauga Co., Ohio, in 1880. Living with them were Betsey Town, Elvira's widowed mother; Emmet F. Reed, a farm laborer age 19; and Cora H. Fisher, age 12. Cora may have been the daughter of Elvira's sister Roxanna.²
     He and Elvira had no children.¹

     Archelaus Towne was born on 26 February 1729/30 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² He married Sarah Brown, daughter of Stephen Brown and Sarah (?), on 10 December 1754 at the New Haven Second Church in the parish of Thompson in Pomfret, Windham Co., Connecticut.^3,2 He died in 1763 in Thompson, Windham Co., Connecticut.⁴
     Although it's difficult to read, a photocopy from the Charles A. Towne microfilm collection appears to say that he served as one of Capt. Knowlton's Rangers, from Killingly, in 1763. However, Knowlton's Rangers weren't formed until 1776, after this Archelaus's death.^5,6

     Sarah Brown was born on 9 January 1732/33 in Killingly, Windham Co., Connecticut.¹ She married first Archelaus Towne, son of Joseph Towne and Jemima Bixby, on 10 December 1754 at the New Haven Second Church in the parish of Thompson in Pomfret, Windham Co., Connecticut.^2,1 She married second Thomas Ormsby on 5 December 1771.¹ She died in 1773 in Killingly, Windham Co., Connecticut.¹

     Thomas Ormsby married Sarah Brown, daughter of Stephen Brown and Sarah (?), on 5 December 1771.²

     Archelaus Towne was born on 11 October 1755 in Killingly, Windham Co., Connecticut.¹ He married Martha Johnson, probably the daughter of Abial Johnson Sr., on 25 December 1783 at the New Haven Second Church in Killingly, Windham Co., Connecticut.^2,1 He died on 18 August 1792 at age 36.^3,4 He was buried in Woodstock, Windham Co., Connecticut.³
     He served during the Revolution as a private in Capt. Joseph Child's Co., 5th Conn. Continental Line, enlisting on 26 May 1777 for three years. He was discharged on 11 April 1780.^3,2

     William Towne was born on 3 September 1758 in Killingly, Windham Co., Connecticut.^1,2 He married first Lucy Prince on 27 January 1782 in Thompson, Windham Co., Connecticut.^1,3,2 He married second Altheda Newell, daughter of Samuel Newell.^1,2 He died on 19 December 1846 at age 88.⁴ He was buried in Thompson, Windham Co., Connecticut.⁴
     He served during the Revolution as a private in the 3rd. Co., Col. David Waterbury's Connecticut Regt., from 8 May 1775 to 8 December 1775, on the northern frontier in New York. Another notation, from an affidavit in support of his pension application, states that he served as a private in Capt. John Keus' Co. under Col. Lidy for three months, and in Capt. Dixon's Co. for three months; and that he was drafted the same year into Capt. Lyons' Co., where he served two months. He was granted a pension on 22 August 1833 (Cert. #17460), and received $26.66/year.⁴
     He is listed in the census of 1790 in Thompson, Windham Co., Connecticut, with five people in his household.⁴ In 1840 he was living with his son-in-law Harmon Shumway in Thompson, Windham Co., Connecticut.⁴

More Information / Background

• 5th Connecticut Regiment.
  

     Sarah Towne was born on 11 February 1762 in Killingly, Windham Co., Connecticut.^1,2 She married Daniel Bixby, son of Jacob Bixby and Sarah Younglove, on 30 October 1783 in Thompson, Windham Co., Connecticut.^1,3,4
     An article in the September 1990 issue of About Towne, the newsletter of the Towne Family Association, says that the Sarah Towne that married Daniel Bixby on 30 October 1783 was the daughter of Joseph Towne and Jemima Bixby. However, as noted by Hoover, there's no good evidence that Joseph and Jemima had a daughter Sarah. And if they had, given Jemima's birth year of 1701/02, a daughter Sarah would have been Daniel's first cousin, and likely at least 35-40 years old in 1783, while Daniel was about 21.^5,6

     Margaret Towne was born in 1763.¹

     Martha Johnson was born on 26 April 1761 in Killingly, Windham Co., Connecticut.² She married first Archelaus Towne, son of Archelaus Towne and Sarah Brown, on 25 December 1783 at the New Haven Second Church in Killingly, Windham Co., Connecticut.^2,1 She married second Israel Tourtellote.^2,3 She died on 8 July 1842 in West Thompson, Connecticut, at age 81.⁴
     The Bixby genealogy says she was the daughter of Diah and Susanna (Converse) Johnson.³

     Ithiel Towne was born on 3 October 1784 in Thompson, Windham Co., Connecticut.^1,2 He died on 12 June 1844 at his Hillhouse Mansion in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut, at age 59.² He was buried at Grove Street Cemetery in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut.²
     He was a well-known architect and bridge designer. In 1829 he and Alexander J. Davis established one of the first architectural partnerships in the United States, with James H. Dakin also joining them for a time. From 1829 to 1835 they "produced several influential designs across a wide spectrum of building types," including the New York Customs House, the Hartford, Connecticut, City Hall, and the state capitol buildings in Indiana and North Carolina.² He received an honorary degree from Yale University in 1825.² He was among the original members of the Academy of Design in New York.²
     He lived in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut, from 1810 until his death in 1844.² He was described as "a red haired man of slight build, with a long nose and a high forehead."²
     He apparently never married, but did have a daughter, Etha L. Town, born 12 February 1809 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts.²

     Sophia Towne was born in May 1786.¹ She married Abner Davis.¹ She died on 22 June 1865 in Thompson, Windham Co., Connecticut, at age 79.² She was buried at Old East Thompson Cemetery in Windham Co., Connecticut.³

     Abner Davis was born on 22 April 1786.² He married Sophia Towne, daughter of Archelaus Towne and Martha Johnson.¹ He died on 2 July 1857 in Thompson, Windham Co., Connecticut, at age 71.^3,2 He was buried at Old East Thompson Cemetery in Windham Co., Connecticut.⁴

     Abiel Johnson Towne was born on 1 May 1789.¹ He married first Abigail Fernald on 4 November 1811 in Yarmouth, Barnstable Co., Massachusetts.² He married second Alice Bates, intentions published on 21 February 1819 in Bellingham, Norfolk Co., Massachusetts.² He died on 4 May 1855 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts, at age 66.²
     He and his first wife Abigail had one known child, Leander (b 6 December 1811).² He and his second wife Alice had the following known children: Wm. Bates, Louis, Albert, Abial, Sarah, George, Mary.²

     Roswell Towne was born in 1791.¹ He died unmarried.¹

     Sarah Towne was born on 19 February 1793.¹ She married Simon Brown in Thompson, Windham Co., Connecticut.¹
     She and her husband Simon lived in Smithfield, Providence Co., Rhode Island.¹

     Simon Brown married Sarah Towne, daughter of Archelaus Towne and Martha Johnson, in Thompson, Windham Co., Connecticut.¹
     He and his wife Sarah lived in Smithfield, Providence Co., Rhode Island.¹

     Lucy Prince married William Towne, son of Archelaus Towne and Sarah Brown, on 27 January 1782 in Thompson, Windham Co., Connecticut.^1,3,2

     Altheda Newell was born in April 1782.² She married William Towne, son of Archelaus Towne and Sarah Brown.^1,3 She died on 12 August 1856 in Thompson, Windham Co., Connecticut, at age 74.²

     John M. Towne was born in 1785.¹

     Rebecca Towne was born on 30 January 1794.¹ She married first Abner Copeland.¹ She married second Thomas Saunders.¹ She died on 20 September 1821 at age 27.¹ She was buried in Wilsonville, Windham Co., Connecticut.¹

     Ebenezer Towne was born in 1800.¹ He died on 7 October 1813.¹

     Isaac Towne was born on 16 December 1803.¹

     Lucy Towne was born in August 1804.¹

     Rhoda Towne was born in May 1809.¹

     Abner Copeland was born in 1785.¹ He married Rebecca Towne, daughter of William Towne and Lucy Prince.¹

     Thomas Saunders married Rebecca Towne, daughter of William Towne and Lucy Prince.¹