Notes for Silas Brees

The Family of John Brees II & Hannah Gildersleeve

Michael Shoemaker book lists birthdate as May 5, 1874 or May 1, 1783.

1800

Silas Brees married Mary Bennett about 1807

June 25, 1808 - son Menard born
June 26, 1810 - son Zopher born

1810 census Elmira, Tioga Co., NY
Silas Breese
20100-00100
1 male 16-25 (Silas, age 27?)
2 males under age 10 (Menard, age 2 & Zopher, age baby)
1 female 16-25 (Mary, age 26?)

abt 1815 - daughter Nancy born
abt 1817 - son William born
1819 - son Ira born

1820 census Elmira, Tioga Co., NY page 300
Brees, Silas
220010-10010-01
1 male 26-45 (Silas, age 37)
2 males 10-16 (Menard, age 12 & Zopher, age 10)
2 males under 10 (William, age 3 & Ira, age 1)
1 female 26-45 (Mary, age 36)
1 female under 10 (Nancy, age 5)
1 person engaged in agriculture

March 28, 1822 - son Ulysses born
abt 1825 - son Achilles born
1828 - daughter Mary born

1830 census Elmira, Tioga Co., NY
Silas Brees
1 male 40-50 (Silas, age 47)
1 male 20-30 (Menard, age 22)
2 males 15-20 (Zopher, age 19)
1 male 10-15 (William, age 13 OR Ira, age 10?)
2 males 5-10 (Ulysses, age 8, Achilles, age 5)
1 female 40-50 (Mary, age 46)
1 female 15-20 (??)
1 female 10-15 (Nancy, age 15)
1 female under 5 (Mary, age 2)

Chemung County formed from Tioga Co., NY in 1836

1840 census Elmira, Chemung Co., NY
Silas Brees
1 male 50-60 (Silas, age 57)
2 males 20-30 (William, age 23 & Ira, age 20)
2 males 15-20 (Ulysses, age 18, Achilles, age 15)
1 female 50-60 (Mary, age 56)
1 female 10-15 (Mary, age 12)

1850 census Elmira, Chemung Co., NY
#1150/1228
Silas Breese, age 62, farmer, b. NY
Mary, age 22, b. NY
William, age 13, b. NY (who is this?)

Mary died on March 14, 1850

Silas died on October 05, 1855

Brees, Silas State: New York Year: 1840 County: Chemung Roll: M704_268 Township: Elmira Page: 267 Image: 162

http://www.breeseusa.org/Sket_Silas%20Brees%20.htm
Silas Brees (1784 - 1885)
Provided by Merlin Russell. Thanks Merlin!

Silas’s parents were John Brees (8 Nov. 1738-24 Mar. 1829) and Hannah Gildersleeve (9 June 1750-15 Jan. 1844) [1, 2]. Silas was born 1 May 1784 [5].
Silas was married to Mary Bennett [3] (18 Mar. 1784-14 Mar. 1850), daughter of Abraham (1742-1795) and Jerusha Wanzer.
Silas is listed as one of the early settlers of Horseheads [6, 3 pg. 344].
On June 25, 1808, Minard was born [1, 2, 5].
The 1810 Tioga Co. census lists Silas Breese (On March 29, 1836, Chemung County was formed from Tioga County).
On June 26, 1810, Zopher was born [1, 2].
Nancy was born c. 1815 [1, 2].
William H. Breese was born about 1817 [1, 2].
Ira Breese was born about 1820 [1, 2].
On March 28, 1822, Ulysses was born [1, 2].
Achilles was born in 1825 [1, 2].
Mary was born about 1828 [1, 2].
On March 29, 1836, Chemung County was formed from Tioga County.
William was born about 1837 [1, 2].
On February 10, 1843, their son Minard died at the young age of 34. He was buried in the Maple Grove cemetery [5].
Between 1846-48, Silas and D. W. Frost were the Superintendents of the Poor [3, pg. 90].
On March 14, 1850, Mary, his wife died. Mary is listed in the Mortality Schedule from the 1850 Federal Census of Chemung County. Mary died from dropsy heart, a condition that had persisted for a year. She was buried in the Maple Grove Cemetery [5].
Six months later on August 31, 1850, Silas is listed in the 1850 Census, age 62, and occupation as a farmer. Two of his children, Mary, age 22 and William, age 13 were residing in his home.
Silas died October 5, 1855 and is buried next to his wife and son Minard in the Maple Grove Cemetery, Horseheads, New York. The three stones are flat on the ground. Silas’s states: “SILAS BREES, DIED OCT. 5, 1855, Ag’d 72 y’r, 5 months & 4 days.” [5].
Politically, Silas was a firm supporter of the Democratic Party. He belonged to the Universalist Church. He was known for his happy and cheerful disposition, and gained the esteem and respect of all who knew him [3].
Sources:
[1] The Michael Shoemaker Book
[2] The Breese Family, 20 Pages
[3] History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler Counties, New York
[4] Mortality Schedule from the 1850 Federal Census of Chemung County
[5] Visit to Maple Grove Cemetery, Horseheads, Chemung County, New York
[6] Pioneers of the Southern Tier by Doris Reynolds Hoiland, 1974