| wolcott The Wolcott families of Bradford Co PA, descendant from Silas Wolcott, trace their ancestry in direct line from the Wolcotts of Tolland, England in Somerset where official records show the family settled as early as 1525. Henry Wolcott, the founder of the family in America, was the second son of John. He married Elizabeth Saunders, came to America in 1628 and two years later returned to bring his family. They landed at Nantucket, 30 Mar 1630. Wolcott remained in MA six years then joined a party moving to CT. He settled at Windsor, where he died 30 May 1655. His third son was George (who married Elizabeth Curtis) who was the father of Josiah. Josiah married, 25 Apr 1740, Mrs. Lucy White French, widow of Joseph French and daughter of Capt. Daniel White. They lived at Saybrook and in NH and NJ. They had a son, Silas. Silas Wolcott, son of Josiah and Lucy (White) Wolcott, was born 4 Aug 1755 in NH. He grew up in NJ and drifted into eastern PA. In Apr 1776, he enlisted in the 13th regiment PA line and served as a private under Captains Weitzel and Robb with Colonels Samuel Miles and Walter Stewart as regimental commanders. until 1 Jan 1778 when he was mustered out at Valley Forge. While the American army was encamped at the latter place he had the distinction of being one of Washington’s body-guard. Leaving the army he went to Lancaster, PA, where he married Margaret Rowen [R2g] the same year. Later he went up the West Branch of the Susquehanna and in 1788 settled in the wilderness, clearing a farm and erecting a saw and grist mill on a site now covered by the village of Havana, NY, being the first white settler in that section. Later he moved to Ithaca and finally to Litchfield in 1806. “He was a great hunter, the chase being a passion with him and it was the abundance of deer in this section that introduced him to come to the country.” He enjoyed the benefits of a pension in his old age. His death occurred 4 Jun 1834 at Litchfield. Mrs. Wolcott died 20 Dec 1844, aged 88 years. Both rest in the Park cemetery (now called State Line Cemetery). Their children were: Elijah, born 29 Mar 1781, married in 1802, Elizabeth Park, daughter of Thomas Park, and settled in Litchfield where he died 30 Jan 1840; his wife died 26 Jan 1873, aged 85 years. Their children, who married as follows were: Susannah to Hiram Merrill; Thomas to Eliza Gillett; Silas (born 4 Aug 1809) to Maria McCauly; Samuel to Lydia Bidlack; Maria to Ira Merrill; Elijah to Harriet Rose; Polly 1st to Henry Wood, 2nd to Hiram Merrill; William to Asenath Hotchkiss; Hannah; Amos Prentice to Esther J. Munn; Louisa to Elias M. Hadlock; Marion to Walter K Green. Mary married Thomas Munn and was the mother of one daughter and 13 sons. Dorcus married Joseph Pew of Ithaca, N. Y. Minerva married Wm. Reed and removed to Michigan. Silas married Effa Pixley and went West. Benjamin married Elizabeth Merrill. Margaret married 1st Samuel Park, 2nd married Thomas Park (brother of first husband). Loviah married 1st John Perrigo of Ithaca, NY, and 2nd Asa Caufman. John.(Source 102: Pages 54 & 55 in original source.) Silas Park Wolcott, son of the above Elijah Wolcott and Elizabeth Park, was born 4 Aug 1809 at Litchfield. He married Maria McCauly at Litchfield on 29 Apr 1839, and died 13 Aug 1870. Maria was born 4 Oct 1820 at Litchfield and died 8 Jan 1912. They had eight children- 1. Aaron M Wolcott, b 18 Oct 1840, married Maria Lovina Merrill at Litchfield on 31 Dec 1863, and died 6 Oct 1892 at Litchfield. Maria was a daughter of Elisha B Merrill and Celestia Arlington. 2. Thomas Park Wolcott, b 1843 in Bradford Co PA. 3. Mary A Wolcott, b 6 Apr 1849, married James J Dunham on 12 Jun 1867 at Litchfield and had two children. 4. Dallas Wolcott, b 22 Dec 1849, died 20 Sep 1852 at Litchfield. 5. Alonzo Wolcott, b 6 Nov 1851, died 27 Sep 1852 at Litchfield. 6. Martha Wolcott, b 3 Nov 1853, died 2 Oct 1858 at Litchfield. 7. Silas J Wolcott, b 1856, married Frances Elliott Chandler at Litchfield on 9 Sep 1884. 8. Raymond P Wolcott, b 16 Apr 1861, died in 1945. (W) |