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Elizabeth Files, wife of Martin O’Leary

Proposed Files/Flagg/Fyles Lineage

Compiled by Judy Griffin, 2007 - email address

Paul Flack/Flagg + unknown wife
..... 2 Henrich (Heinrich) Flagg ca 1743 - + Dorothy Rohrig
..... 2 Catherine Flagg 1747 – 1825 + (Johann) Peter Woleven/Wohleben 1736 -
..... 2 John Flagg ca 1749 -
..... 2 Peter Flagg 1750 – 1844 + (1) Sophia Wohleben 1754 - , (2) Roxanna Mixture - 1860
..... 2 Aneche/Antje Flack/Vlack ca 1751 - + Jurry Fyles 1749 -
.......... 3 Peter Files/Fyles + Elizabeth Reed
................ 4 Antye 1794 -, possible
................ 4 Conrod/Conrad 1797 -
................ 4 Zuzannah/Susannah 1800 -
................ 4 Sarah 1802 -
................ 4 George 1805 -
................ 4 Philip 1810 -
................ 4 Elizabeth Ann 1812 - + Martin O’Leary
................ 4 Andrew 1814 -
..... 2 Maria Flagg ca 1755 – 1850 + possibly Johannes Wohleben ca 1740 - 1777
..... 2 Susanna Flagg 1756 – 1851 + Jacob Wohleben 1761 - 1827

Elizabeth M. Files

The ancestry of Elizabeth Files is particularly difficult to follow. There is a great deal of unconnected information that is confusing to read.

Elizabeth M. Files (1) was born August 13, 1813 in New York, (2) and died January 09, 1877 in Mason County, Illinois. On daughter Elizabeth O’Leary Hutchinson’s death record in 1917, Elizabeth Files birthplace was listed as Pennsylvania, but in census records Elizabeth stated she and her parents were born in New York. Elizabeth married Martin O’Leary (3) before 1839, probably in New York. (4) He was born November 2, 1809 in Ireland, (5) and died February 20, 1879 in Mason County, Lynchburg Township, Illinois. (See O’Leary history for information on Elizabeth and Martin’s family.)

There is no documentation for the parents of Elizabeth Files. The parents of our Elizabeth Files, nee O’Leary, have tentatively been identified and she may have been of German and/or Dutch heritage.

First, in the Civil War pension file of William Henry Hutchinson, husband of Elizabeth Sarah O’Leary (Martin and Elizabeth O’Leary’s daughter Elizabeth Sarah), Elizabeth Sarah stated that she was born in 1842 in Fundy, New York. Research indicates that there was no village or town named Fundy, but there was a Fonda in Mohawk Township, Montgomery County, New York. In addition, the only Martin with a surname even close to O’Leary was found in the 1840 New York census, a Martin O’Leara in Montgomery County, town of Mohawk. Listed just after Martin O’Leara in the 1840 census for Mohawk, Montgomery County, New York is a John W. Reid, age 30-39. The Reid/Reed family was found in the records of the Files families in Montgomery County, New York.

Second, in the Baptism Record of Caughnawaga Reformed Church, 1758-1899 (Town of Mohawk, Montgomery County) there is a baptismal entry that is very likely our Elizabeth Files. The birth date for this Eliza Ann Files was given as August 13, 1812 and our Elizabeth’s tombstone states she was born August 13, 1813. Eliza Ann’s parents are listed as Peter Files and Elizabeth Reed and the baptismal date was 1815. The odds of another Elizabeth Files being born in the same area exactly one year after the birth date we have for Elizabeth is highly unlikely.

Peter Files

Peter Files and Elizabeth Reed were found in records of the Caughnawaga Dutch Reformed Church at Fonda from 1797 to 1815. They were listed as sponsors for the baptism of a George, whose parents were Hendrick Files and Elizabeth Kitts, born June 3, baptismal 1797. Peter and Elizabeth were listed as parents of Conrod/Conrad (Peter Philes and Elizabeth Reed), born December 25, 1797, baptismal 1798, sponsors Isaac Smith and Dorite Reed. They were also listed as parents of Zuzannah, born March 2, baptismal date 1800; Sarah, born February 3, baptismal date 1802; George, born September 5, baptismal date 1805; Philip, born February 2, baptismal date 1810; our Eliza Ann, August 13, 1812 and Andrew, born November 20, baptismal date 1815. These were probably the brothers and sisters of our Elizabeth Files. Hendrick Files was probably a relative or brother of Peter Files and Dorite Reed may be a relative or sister of Elizabeth Reed.

There are two christening records for a Pieter/Peter Fyles for the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Caughnawaga, Fonda, Montgomery County, New York (IGI). Pieter had a birth date of June 17, 1772, father Jurry Fyles, mother Aneche Flack, witnesses were Pieter Coyn, Deborah Conyne. (6) The other listed a Peter Fyles with a birth date of January 12, 1778, parents Jurry Fyles and Antje Vlack, witnesses were John Vlack and Catrina Vlack (possibly brother and sister of Antje or brother and wife). (7) It is likely that the first child, Pieter, died and a later son was named with the anglicized Peter. The original records have not been consulted. These two entries could be the same child with a transcription error.

A Peter Files was found in the 1820 census for Palatine, Montgomery County, New York. The ages of the individuals listed in this record account for all the children of Peter Files and Elizabeth Reed, though there is one individual that is not listed in the Caughnawaga Church records above, one male age 18 to 26. This could be a spouse of their older children or other relative, etc. The oldest male, probably Peter, was listed in the 26 to 45 age bracket, which would indicated that the 1778 birth date from the IGI is this Peter Files.

Based on the above, this is the proposed lineage for our Elizabeth Files:

Jurry Fyles + Aneche/Antje Flack/Vlack
..... 2 Peter Files/Fyles + Elizabeth Reed
........ 3 Antye, born August 12, 1794, witnessed by Michail Read and Antye Vlack. (8) Seems early to be a child of Peter born January 1778 (age 16 years, 7 months).
........ 3 Conrod/Conrad, born December 25, 1797
........ 3 Zuzannah/Susannah, March 2, 1800
........ 3 Sarah, born February 3, 1802
........ 3 George, born September 5, 1805
........ 3 Philip, born February 2, 1810 (there was probably a child born between George and Philip)
........ 3 Elizabeth Ann, born August 13, 1812
........ 3 Andrew, born November 20, 1814

Elizabeth and Andrew were both baptized in 1815, possibly the family lived some distance from the church and returned for the baptism of both children.

In the information below, name variations are important. Jurry - George. Fyles - Files, Philes, Phyles, Feyles. Aneche - Antje, Annetje, Anche, Antye, Anna. Flack - Vlack, Flacht, Flogh, Flagg (possibly Flacht originally, means Flagg in German). Viele or Vielen is a patronymic derived from Frisian name Fiel or Fyle. Netherlands - There are two official languages, Dutch and Frisian, both of which are Germanic languages. Frisian is only spoken in the northern province of Friesland, and it is the language which most resembles English.

Jurry/George Fyles

There is a possible 1700s immigration of Jurry/George Fyles and Anche Flack/Flagg: Fyles, Anche (Flack); Fyles, Georg; Fyles, Peter. (9) This record also lists Flack, Anche; Flack, Catharina; Flack, Dorothea (Rohrig); Flack, Elisabetha (--); Flack, Henrich; Flack, Hermannus; Flagg, Dorothea Elis (--); Flagg, Henrich; Flagg, Paul; Flagg, Peter.

Other researchers provide undocumented birth dates for George Fyles/Files and Annetje Flagg. George may have been born circa 1749 in Caughnawaga, Montgomery County, New York. Annetje is said to have been born circa 1751 in German Flats, Herkimer County, New York. They were married circa 1771, probably estimated from birth of Pieter.

Jurry/George Fyles and Anche Flack/Flagg were found in additional records in Tryon County, New York (Tryon became Montgomery County 1874). (10) In 1774 Philip George Fyles and Anna Fyles were sponsors for Philip, son of Adam Dogsteder and Maria Philipse and George Fyles and Antje Fyles were sponsors for Jannetje, child of Jacob Herris and Elizabeth Putman. Philip George Fyles may be the same person as George Fyles.

Jurry/George Fyles is found in the Revolutionary War, serving in the Associated Exempts for the Tryon County Militia. The Associated Exempts was a military organization of the Revolution. (11) There was a body of militia of this kind in several counties. A company existed in Tryon county during a part if not all of the Revolutionary period. “We the subscribers having heretofore held commissions, or being beyond the age of 50 years, or otherwise exempted from serving in the militia, do hereby voluntarily associate and engage, that we will forthwith provide ourselves with arms, accoutrements and ammunition;” adding a pledge that on alarm they would repair to their appointed rendezvous, and when drafts were made on the militia they would contribute their portion of men, to be commanded by their own officers. The State convention approved their action and accepted their services, exempting them from other militia duty. (12) In addition to George Fyles, a George Fyes, Jacob Kitts and various Dachstetter/Dochstader/Dockstader also served in the Associated Exempts for Tyron County. (13) Serving in other Regiments were additional names found associated with Fyles/Files: James Philipse (Third Regiment), Peter Flack (First Regiment), and Flack, Fitter and Flock, Peter (Fourth Regiment). (14) In the list of Land Bounty Rights, Third Regiment, were Philip Files and Hendrick Pilse. (15)

Additional Files/Fyles were found in the Dutch Reformed Church records and could be children of Jurry/George - brothers and sisters and/or other relations of Peter. These are Susanna, Jacob, Philip, Unknown male Fyles, Barbar(a) and Henry.

• A Susanna Fyles and Adam Rees were witnesses to a birth on May 15, 1780. Probable sister.

• An unknown given name Fyles and unknown wife, child Debora born 1787. Probable brother.

• Susanna Philes and John Stoner, child John born October 4, 1790, witnesses were Jacob Philes and Peggy Ackerman.

• Susannah Philes married John Stoner circa 1785, Fonda’s Bush, Montgomery County, New York (undocumented ancestral file).

• Barbara Fyles, born circa 1765 in Montgomery County, New York, died at Schenectady, Schenectady County, New York, married Gysbert Van Sice on October 22, 1786 in Schenectady (undocumented ancestral file). Barbara Fyles, born circa 1760, married Gysbert Van Sice (born circa October 17, 1762) (undocumented ancestral file). Barbara Fyles of Montgomery County married Gysbert (Gilbert) Van Sice on October 22, 1786. Child Sarah, born September 17, 1787 (See Appendix for source). Barbar Fyles and Gysbert Van Sice, child Marigrita born February 3, 1792.

• Elizabeth Kitts, born March 29, 1772, father Jacob Kitts, mother Eva Service, Dutch Reformed Church record.

• Henry Philes and Elizabeth Kits, child born September 27, 1792, witnesses were John Stoner and his wife (Susanna above). Probable brother. Note that Peter Files and Elizabeth Reed were witnesses for the baptism of a George, whose parents were Hendrick Files and Elizabeth Kitts in 1797.

• Philip Philes married a C?aty Smith(?) on February 22, 1790. Probable brother.’

• Philip Philes and Caty (Catherine?) Smith, child John born September 5, 1793, witnesses were John Smith and Nancy Flyn. Note that Isaac Smith and Dorite Reed were witnesses to the 1797 birth of Conrod, son of Peter Philes and Elizabeth Reed. There is probably a Files-Smith connection.

• Peter Files was a witness to the baptism of Peggy, child of Henry Files and Elizabeth Kitts in 1800.

Other Fyles/Files:

• Jacob File, born June 5, 1768, First Dutch Reformed Church, Albany, Albany County, New York. Father Melchior File, mother Elisabeth Hunsinger (IGI). Jacob File, born June 5, 1758, Brunswick, New York, father John N. File, mother Elizabeth Hunsinger, married Anna Maria Heiner circa 1791 in Brunswick, New York (undocumented).

A Peter Files was found in the 1790 New York census, Haverstraw, Orange County. Listed were one free male 16 and up including head, one male under 16 and two females. Also found in Haverstraw were a Reed and an Isaac Smith (an Isaac Smith was married to a Dorite Reed). Haverstraw is over 100 miles from Fonda. A George Fys was found in the 1790 New York census, Montgomery County, Palatine Town. Listed were five males 16 and over including head, one male under 16 and five females. A Peter Filex (Files) was found in the 1800 New York census, Orange County, Cheesecocks. Listed were three males under 10, one male 10-16, one male 26-45, two females under 10, one female 10-16 and one female 26-45. Cheesecocks is about 80 miles from Fonda. Cheesecocks was formed from New Cornwall in 1799, became Southfield in 1802 and Monroe in 1808.

The parents of Elizabeth Reed are unknown. Other Reed entries were found in the Dutch Reformed Church records. Michail, Dorite, Annah and B/Parent are probably brothers and sisters and/or other relations of Elizabeth Reed.

• Elizabeth Reed married Willem Luis in 1775. Note: could be a parent or other relation of Elizabeth.

• Michail Read was a witness to birth of Peter and Elizabeth’s possible child Antye in 1794.

• Dorete Reed married Isaac Smith on December 5, 1795.

• Dorite Reed was a witness to birth of Peter and Elizabeth’s child Conrod in 1798.

• Dorite Reed and Isaac Smith, child Jonas born 1800.

• Dorite Reed and Isaac Smith, child Barbarah Ann born 1802.

• Annah Reed and Hendrick Smith were witnesses to birth of Hendrick in 1803, parents William Frederick and Christine Smith.

• A Mr. Reed had a handmaid, Nancy, whose child was born in 1803.

• Dorite Reed and Isaac Smith, child Hannah born 1805.

• B/Parent Reed and Maria Loux, child Nancy born 1807.

Aneche/Antje/Annetje Flack/Vlack/Flagg

Another researcher, Allen L. Douglas, has provided information on Aneche/Antje/Annetje Flack/Vlack/Flagg. (16) Annetje was born circa 1751. Her father was a Paul Flagg (wife unknown), who was born circa 1705 and died in 1775. Paul Flagg was married in 1762 in Stone Arabia, New York (probably a second marriage). It is believed that Paul Flagg came from the Palatinate in what is now Germany and like many of his countrymen who wound up in the Mohawk Valley, probably changed his name once or twice (perhaps in Holland and later in England). (17) His name might have been Flacht originally (means Flagg in German). Paul’s family and others in this family history may have been what are now called “The Palatines” who immigrated to America in the early 1700s (see below).

Paul Flagg was found by Douglas in various New Jersey records. In the will of Kenny (Kenney), David of Reading Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey in an entry dated June 17, 1766, the Executor George Biggs mentioned a Paul Flagg. A Paul Flag was listed as applying for citizenship in the Colony of New Jersey under the Crown of England. On March 11, 1745, a Paul Flag was appointed as the overseer of the Raritan Road at an Amwell, New Jersey town meeting. On April 2, 1751, a Paul Flag was listed as a tax payer in Amwell, New Jersey. On July 23, 1774, a Paul Flagg was listed as having had an account with Reed & Furman. “An Act for the better enabling divers inhabitants of the province of New Jersy to hold lands, and invest them with the privilege of natural born Subjects of said province. Whereas . . . (several names including Paul Flagg) . . . were born under the leigance of the Emperor of Germany and other Princes . . . swore allegiance to the Crown. In the “History of Hunterdon and Somerset Counties, New Jersey” compiled by James P. Snell Everts & Peck, Philadephia: 1881page 347. . . a Paul Flagg was listed as having been selected to be the overseer of the Raritan road at a town meeting in Amwell. A Paul Flack was found in Maidenhead Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey in 1741. (18) Paul Flagg came to German Flats prior to 1760 from Amwell, New Jersey.

Douglas also lists negative results of his research. He found no record of a Flack on the Kochertal’s List; no record of a Flagg or Flack on the “Subsistence List;” no record of a Flagg or Flack on the Simmendinger Register; Herkimer County Surrogate Court Records of 1795 - 1900, no record of Flagg; and File of Will Abstracts, Herkimer County Historical Society, no record of Flack, Flagg.

We can now tentatively extend the Flack/Flagg, Fyles/Files family tree:

Paul Flack/Flagg + unknown wife
..... 2 Henrich (Heinrich) Flagg, born circa 1743
..... 2 Catherine Flagg, born 20 Apr 1747
..... 2 John Flagg, born circa 1749
..... 2 Peter Flagg, born 15 Nov 1750 in Amwell, New Jersey
..... 2 Aneche/Antje Flack/Vlack born circa 1751 +Jurry Fyles
......... 3 Peter Files/Fyles +Elizabeth Reed
................ 4 Antye, born August 12, 1794, possible
................ 4 Conrod/Conrad, born December 25, 1797
................ 4 Zuzannah/Susannah, born March 2, 1800
................ 4 Sarah, February 3, 1802
................ 4 George, born September 5, 1805
................ 4 Philip, born February 2 1810
................ 4 Elizabeth Ann, born August 13, 1812 + Martin O’Leary
................ 4 Andrew, born November 20, 1814
..... 2 Maria Flagg, born circa 1755
..... 2 Susanna Flagg, born circa Feb 1756

Children of Paul Flagg: (19), (20)

• Henrich (Heinrich) Flagg, born circa 1743, married Dorothy Rohrig on July 1, 1762 in Stone Arabia, New York. Marriage verified thru the records of the Dutch Reformed Church of Stone Arabia, NY.

• Catherine Flagg, born April 20, 1747, died December 29, 1825 in Herkimer, New York. Catherine married (Johann) Peter Wohleben (born circa March 1736) on July 17, 1765 at the Dutch Reformed Church in Stone Arabia, New York. Their children were:

• Maria Elizabeth Wohleben, born April 1, 1766 in German Flats, New York.

• Catherine Pet. Wohleben, born March 28, 1768 in Stone Arabia, New York.

• Johann Nicholas Wohleben, born August 1, 1770 in Stone Arabia, New York.

• Susan Wohleben, born 1771 in New York.

• John Wohleben, born 1770.

• Anna (Hannah?) Wohleben, born January 29, 1777 in German Flats, New York.

• Johann Petrus (Peter) Wohleben, born April 12, 1779 in German Flats, New York.

• Jacob Wohleben, born September 3, 1781.

• Mary Wohleben.

• Eva Wohleben.

• Henrick? Wohleben, born June 17, 1786 in German Flats, New York.

• Margaret Wohleben, born May 24, MAY 1789 in German Flats, New York.

• John Flagg, born circa 1749. John Vlack and Catrina Vlack were witnesses to the 1778 birth of Peter Fyles, son of Jurry and Antje.

• Peter Flagg, born November 15, 1750 in Amwell, New Jersey and died on June 25, 1844. Peter was buried at the Marshall (or) Hicks Burying Ground, Herkimer, New York. His death was verified by the records of the Marshall or Hicks burying ground, Herkimer County, New York. It is not consistent with “cemetery records” cited in Early Families of Herkimer County. In 1778 Peter was said to have pursued the Andrustown Raiders, along with Thomas Van Horne and Richard Wohleben. They rescued a woman and her child from the Indian raiders. Peter’s pension file, which Allen Douglass has twice reviewed in its original form (not microfilm) is a fascinating record (see below). Peter is said to have been born in Amwell, New Jersey. Peter was illiterate, for he made his application for pension to a Notary and signed with his X. Four of his former comrades in arms gave statements about his service. They were Peter Bellinger, Henry Appel, Lemuel Swift, Capt. Michael Ittig. The record indicates that his unit was called up in 1775 and went with Col Bellinger to Johnstown. In Feb 1776 he was again called up to protect shipping along the Mohawk River from Fort Herkimer to Fort Stanwyx/Stanwix, a distance of 32 Miles. In 1777 he was called up, after the Cherry Valley Massacre, to go to Cherry Valley and pursued the enemy as far as Otsego Lake. Peter married, first, Sophia Wohleben (born 1754). Their children were:

• Dorothy Flagg, born 1773 in German Flats, Herkimer, New York.

• Jacob Flagg, born November 11, 1780 in German Flats, NY.

• Johann Peter Flagg, born September 4, 1783 in German Flats, New York.

• Johann Jost Flagg, born September 12, 1785 in German Flats, Herkimer County, New York.

Peter married, second, Roxanna Mixture on October 23, 1825. A Peter Flagg was found in the 1790 New York census, Montgomery County, German Flatts Town. Listed were one free male 16 and up including head, two males under 16 and three females. Roxanna is said to have died on December 4, 1860. In the 1830 census Peter was still in German Flatts, no children, apparently Peter and Roxanna did not have any living children.

• Annetje Flagg (see above).

• Maria Flagg, born circa 1755 and died in 1850. Maria was a sponsor for baptism of a Wohleben. Undocumented information - Maria is said to have married Johannes Wohleben in Herkimer County. Johannes was born circa 1740, and died on August 1777, in the Battle of Oriskany. Their son was Jacob Wohleben, born January 10, 1760, at Herkimer County. If the information on Maria’s marriage is correct, she could not have been born in 1755. Or the information on her son is not correct?

• Susanna Flagg, born February 1756 and died September 1851. Note: Information based on Barker’s Early Families of Herkimer County. Also on pension abstracts from the Revolutionary War. Susanna married Jacob Wohleben (born January 10, 1761 in Stone Arabia, New York) on May 10, in Fort Herkimer in the home of the groom). Their children were:

• Catherine Wohleben, born February 12, 1783 in German Flats, New York.

• Lena Wohleben, born October 25, 1784 in German Flats, New York.

• Elisabeth Jacqueline Wohleben, born October 26, 1786 in German Flats, New York.

• Jacob Wohleben, born February 18, 1790 in German Flats, New York.

• Margaret Wohleben, born November 13, 1792.

• Nicholas Wohleben, born August 20, 1795 in German Flats, New York.

Source: Penrose, Maryly B., Compendium of Early Herkimer Families, Vol.2, Genealogical Publishing Company, Baltimore, 1990, p. 917. It seems a bit remarkable that all but one of the daughters of Paul Flagg married into the Wohleben family.

Endnotes