BIOGRAPHY OF HENRY ROCKFORD GOTHAM SR.

HENRY GOTHAM

Unidentfied article;

Born in 1762 in Salem, Mass.,Henry Gotham enlisted in 1776 in Capt. Joseph Pettengill's Co.,Col. Weston's regiment. He served until Feb.1777 when he was discharged at Cherry Valley. He enlisted again in Capt.Dustin's Co.,Col.Millum's regiment of the N.H. Line,and served until Feb. 1778. He was discharged at Kingsbury.

The name of his first wife is not known.(see below) She died sometime before 1823,probably in Pamelia,NY. His second wife was Betsey Wilson,whom he married on Oct.15,1823. He died Nov.2,1839,in Pamelia,New York.,leaving three daughters:Hannah,Merriam,and Lucina. His second wife died sometime after 1853 in Van Buren County,Mich.

(Henry Gotham's first wife is in my line. Her name was Mary Rowell b:1-29-1763,Chester,Rockingham Co N.H. d:1820 in Jefferson Co NY. Their son was Henry Rockford Gotham,Jr.b8-8-1785 Plainfield,N.H. d 8-25-1857 in the town of Clayton,N.Y. He was married to Patty Signourey b:7-8-1786or87. in N.H. d:11-19-1864 in the town of Clayton.

Their daughter was Codelia Gotham b:1813 and married to Albert Bamford b:1808 d:10-7-1888.

Henry Gotham's parents were John Henry Gotham b:1720 in Nottinghamshire,Eng. landed in Portsmouth,N.H. approx. 1750 he married Dorthy Rymes/Rhymes on 11-25-1753 in Portsmouth.Her line goes way back if any one wants the info I can send it to them. It's very interesting.

Also Albert Bamford's fathers name was James. Albert had 8 known brothers.If anyone is interested e-mail me at jmoye6@cfl.rr..com Thelma Moye

He served in the Military as a member of the Revolutionary War,Continental Army,Reg, in MA. or NH Line between 1776 and 1778. He lived in Plainsfield,Cheshire Co.,NH. He lived in Watertown, Jefferson Co., New York in 1820 He died in Pamelia ,Jefferson Co.,New York in 1838/9 Pamelia is very near Watertown.

General: Henry Gotham was born in 1762 to John and Dorothy (Rhymes) Gotham in Portsmouth, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. DAR records show the birth was in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.

Henry was a veteran of the Revolutionary War. He enlisted in Salem during June 1776 as a Private in Cpt. Joseph Pettingill`s Company of Co I. Wesson`s Regiment, Mjr. (Dehusett`s?) troops/Brigade? of the Continental Armies Massachusetts Line. It may have been (Patterson`s?) Brigade. He was discharged in Feb 1777 at Cherry Valley, New York. Henry re-enlisted during May 1777 in Cpt. Dustin`s Co. of Co!. Mellen`s Reg. in the New Hampshire line and served until discharged in Feb 1778 at Kingsbury, New York. He had been involved in several skirmishes.

A Henry Gotham of Salem and engaged for same is listed among the men raised in Essex Co., Mass. for the term of nine months from the time of their arrival at Fishkill (23 Jun 1778), returned as received of Jonathan Warner, Commissioner by Co!. R. Putnam, 20 Jul 1778. Another Henry (Goatham) is listed among men who were enlisted for a period of6 months in the Continental Army and stationed at West Point in 1781. This Henry lived in and returned to Candia, NH after his 21 July discharge and mustered out five days later. He had served 4 months and 26 days of his enlistment at $40/month. This reference is backed up by a second source showing he enlisted for Candia for six months. Two other Gothams are found among the New Hampshire rolls. They are Edward and Samuel of Portsmouth. They were probably relatives of each other, as well as the above mentioned Henry. Both are listed among the men of the 1 st NH Militia Battalion under Co!. Joshua Wentworth in Feb. 1779.

Edward is listed in the rolls for 1777-1779, 1780, and 1781 as a Drummer for the 7th Co., 2nd Regiment (Co!. George Reid). He enlisted in Apr 1777 for three years and served in Cpt. Blodgett`s Company. In 1781, the Company was commanded by Cpt. Moses Dustin who had a Lt. named Caleb Blodgett under him. Edward is also listed on payrolls for Portsmouth between Apr 1779 to Jan 1783. Officer rolls of the 2nd NH between 1777- 1779 include Mjr./Lt. Co!. George Reid, Cpt./Mjrs. Benjamin Whitcomb and Ben Titcomb, Lt./ Cpts. Moses Dustin and William Rowell, and finally Col. Nathan Hale.-In 1780, it also included an E-ns. Caleb Blodget` who rose -to rank of Cpt: by `1 78 1 ---­ Samuel is on a payroll for Cpt. Titcomb`s Co. (Co I. Baker`s command) in Nov 1776.

He enlisted in Apr 1777 for three years and served in Cpt. Rowell`s Company. On a roll for 1777-1779, he is listed as a Private in the 8th Co., 2nd Regiment (Col. Oeorge Reid). A roll of men ITom Portsmouth show he deserted in June 1778. Later rolls show him present so the desertion was probably either temporary or a mistake. He is listed on a payroll for Portsmouth in June 1781.

Between 1780/1782, Henry married Mary Rowell in Candia, Rockingham County. The couple lived in Plainfield, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire for a great portion of their life.

Their first child, Polly, was born about 1780 in New Hampshire. Their next six children were all born near Plainfield, including John (Dee 1782), Henry Rockford (1785), Enoch R. (1792), Solomon UIIin (Jun 1794), Judith (1795/1800), Robert (1795/1796), Daniel KendaIl (1797), Hannah (1798/1800), and Miriam (1799/1801). Their final child, Lucena (1805), was born in Jefferson Co., New York.

In both 1790 and 1800, he lived in Plainfield with his wife and children.

Two of their sons served during the War of 1812 in Cpt. Samuel Harger`s Co., 108th Reg., NY Militia which was part of a detachment commanded by Mjr. Calvin Britain and under the overall command of Oen. J. Brown. Enoch R. served as a Musician and Henry R. was an Ensign and Lt. in the company which was later commanded by Cpt. Newell. Another son (John) enlisted in 1812 as a Corporal under a Cpt. Lampson and served at the Battle of Sackett`s Harbor. He was active in the NY Militia after the war and eventually rose to the rank of Colonel.

On 17 Apr 1818, he first applied for a pension stating he was 56 years old, lived in Watertown, Jefferson Co., New York. Henry stated that he enlisted in Salem, Mass. and served a total of 18 months. He was entered onto the pension roIls of New York at the rate of eight doIlars per month. He received pension cert. #2450 and File W # 1753. He stated he was never in a set battle, but did participate in several skirmishes.

In July 1820, he lived in Watertown and applied for his Revolutionary War pension again. At this time, he lived with his 57 year old wife and three daughters. Hannah was described as weakly and not able to labor, Meriam as being under a doctors care most of the time, and Lucinda who was healthy. He was farmer who had thirty doIlars of debt and forty four dollars and ninety six cents of property. Later this year he was widowed.

Henry remarried to Elizabeth `Betty/Betsy` Wilson on 15 Oct 1823, probably in Jefferson County. They were married by Justice of the Peace Horatio Shumway.

Henry died on 2 Nov 1838 in Pamelia, Jefferson County. Pamelia was a town located on the opposite bank of the Black River as Watertown.

Henry was survived by Elizabeth who received a pension of96 dollars annually as late as Feb 1853. She also applied for and received a bounty land warrant (#6444- 160-55) on 27 Mar 1855 /Tom Oswego Co., NY for 160 acres which was granted 19 Sep 1855 and witnessed by John Stitt and Alvin P. Earl. On 17 Aug 1855, Betsy requested a change of address to Detroit, Michigan since she had moved to Van Buren Co., Michigan to be near relatives. This was witnessed by Alvin P. Earl.

LDS AFN: KPJJ-5Q says death year was 1839

LDS AFN: KPJJ-5Q shows birth may have been Chester Rockingham Co., NH

DAR records show birth in Salem, Mass.

Census Records

1800 Plainfield, Cheshire Co., NH (PO 33-71)

The following transcription is made regarding the pension application made by Henry Gotman:

State of New York Jefferson County

On this 17th day of April 1818, before me the subscriber, one of the judges of the court of _ _ for Jefferson County personally appears Henry Ootman aged 56 years, resident in the said district, who being by me first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the provision made by the late act of Congress, entitled `An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War.` That he the said Gotman enlisted in Salem in June 1776 in the state of Massachusetts in the company commanded by Captain Joseph Pettingil of Co I. Westin`s Regiment (Pett_ Brigade) of the Massachusetts Line; that he continued to serve in the said corps., or in the service of the United States until the month of February 1777 when he was discharged from the service in Cherry Valley state of New York. He again enlisted in 1777 into Cpt. Dustin`s Compo of Col. Millins Rgt. of New Hampshire for nine months serving till February 1778 and was discharged at Kingsberry, New York State and that he is in reduced circumstances, and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support; and that he has no other evidence now in his power of his said services. Henry Gotan Sworn to and declared before me, the day and year aforesaid. Amasa Trowbridge Judge Jefferson Common Pleas I, Amasa Trowbridge, Judge & etc. as aforesaid, do certify, that it appears to my satisfaction that the said Henry Ootan did serve in the Revolutionary War, as stated in the preceeding declaration, against the common eriemy; and 1 now transmit the proceedings and testimony taken and had before me, to the Secretary for the Department of War pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned act of Congress. and the seal of the said court this 19th day of April 1818. Amasa Trowbridge. .

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The following transcription is made regarding the pension application made by Betsey Gotman, widow of Henry Gotman: State of New York Jefferson County

On this 3rd day of August 1853 personally appeared before the Hon. Wm. C. Thompson County Judge of Jefferson County Courts, Betsey Gotman, a resident of Jefferson County aforesaid, aged sixty-six years, who first being duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits ofthe provision made by the Act of Congress passed on the 3rd February 1853 granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary War; that she is the widow of Henry Gotman who was a Private in the Massachusetts Line ofthe Continental Army and was pensioned under the Act of 18th March 1818 at eight dollars per month and placed on the New York Pension Roll at the Albany Agency. She further did say, that she was married to the said Henry Gotman according to her (firsthand?) recollection on the 15th day of October 1823 by Horatio Shummay, a Justice of the Peace, and that her name before marriage was Betsey Wilson and that she has no record of her marriage and does not know ofit`s being on record anywhere. She further declares that her husband, the said Henry Gotman died in the town of Pamelia in the County & State aforesaid on the second day of November 1838 and that she was not married to him prior to the second day of January One Thousand Eight Hundred, but at the time above stated. She further declares that she is now his widow. Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and year first above written and I certify said declarant unable to attend in open court to make her declaration.

Betsey X Gotman

Wm. C. Thompson County Judge of Jefferson County, NY

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The following transcription is made regarding the bounty land claim made by Betsey Gotman, widow of Henry Gotman: State of New York County of Oswego

On this twenty-seventh day of March 1855 personally appeared before me, a Justice of the Peace within and for the county and state aforesaid, Betsey Ootman aged seventy years a resident of the city and county of Oswego aforesaid of the said state of New York, who being duly sworn according to law declares that she is the widow of Henry Gotman deceased who was a private in the Revolutionary War. That declarant is inscribed on the pension list at the rate of ninety-six dollars per year commencing on the 3rd of February 1853. According to a certificate given at the Department of the Interior the 6 day of October One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty-Three which certificate is numbered 2312 and to which certificate and the evidence upon which the same was obtained now in the pension office _ _ this declarant _ for the evidence entitling her to the bounty land under the act approved March 3rd 1855. That declarant is now a widow. That she makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining this bounty land to which she may be entitled under said act approved March 3rd 1855.

Betsy X Gotman marke