Page 7
History of Orange County
Town of Montgomery
Page 7
My second Jane, had the title of old maid before she married Dr. Farquhar, an old widower, but a very worthy good Scotchman. She had one child, but both mother and child soon died. My third sister, Alice, being also in the line of old maids, married another old widower, of the name of Willitt, and he also outlived her: but she left him three children—a son and two daughters. The son, Gilbert Colden Willitt, married the daughter of a rich old Quaker, a very valuable man, and he bids fair of being one of the best fortunes among us. The oldest daughter married young and soon died, leaving her fortune to her husband. The youngest daughter, Anna, married my son Thomas, who is happy in having a wife who inherits all the properties of her and his mother—excepting in having children—for they have none. My fourth sister died a maid, and I had also a brother who died a bachelor.— Thus have I gone through with all the different branches of my father's family, and now to myself and flock. I am the second, or rather, the third son, for there was one born before me, (David) who died an infant. As I said before, I have lived in this woody country from seven years of age, always more fond of working in the field than of literature. My father gave me five hundred acres of woodland, adjoining his farm; on which I felled the first tree, and took out the first stub with my own hands. It was then a perfect wilderness through which one could not see the sunshine.— After clearing a little land, commencing a barn and house, I thought it was proper to look for a housekeeper; and, before my house was finished, I had got one in the neighborhood, for I could not spare time to go far, and if I had should not have fared better—she making as good a wife as if she had been brought up by my own mother. She is of the name of Ellison, an English family, the most respectable then in this neighborhood, and also wealthy. We have now lived together above fifty years, and, I believe, no fifty years were spent happier by any one pair. While I am writing, she is as busy at her needle as if just beginning the world and looks almost as young, although the mother of twelve children—six only of whom are living—three dying infants and three grown up. My eldest, Cadwallader, being twice married, has a house full of children, six sons and a daughter. He has been rather unfortunate, and finds it difficult to maintain his family on the profits of a farm. My son Thomas, whom I mentioned before, lives on a beautiful farm adjoining mine, and makes as good a husbandman as he does a husband. He was a Captain in the British service, and enjoys his half pay. The fourth son, Alexander, has a farm adjoining mine, and being a bachelor, still lives at home. My youngest son, David, has part of my own farm, and lives in a small house just by. He married a respectable farmer's daughter: they have two children and live very happily together. Our eldest daughter, Alice, married young, not much to our satisfaction. Both she and her husband, a Dr. Antill, died soon after the commencement of the American war, leaving nothing behind them but two dear little infants, both girls, whom we took to our own bosom, (one of them was but six weeks old) and they knew no other father and mother. One of them is married to a clergyman and has made us great grand parents. Her sister is a fine, handsome girl of about twenty years of age. Our second daughter, Jane is too good to part with; neither can she bear the thought of leaving us, so that I am in hopes we shall have her company and affection as long as we live. Our youngest daughter, Margaret, has been twice married, and had three children by her first husband, who was of a worthy character, but became a cripple some years ere he died. With her second connexion we were not so well pleased, but as he makes her a kind husband we have become reconciled: they also live adjoining on a part of my estate. Thus, my cousin, have complied with your request in giving you a minute and particular account of your uncle’s family, and the different branches, though I shall be glad to hear from you again, and hope you will give me the same satisfaction in being particular in the statement of your family and connections. Inform me whether you are a widower or bachelor—for a married man you cannot be—as you do not mention a wife or children. I have told you my age; let me know yours, and give me a list of the descendents of my grandfather, the worthy old clergyman, whom I hear spoken so highly of by many Scotchmen and with the highest veneration. Remember me and my family to them all.
Your Affectionate Cousin,
CADWALLADER COLDEN.