(The Cuddeback Line.)

          This is a place name originating in France, where Caudebec was a flourishing provincial capital, at the beginning of the seventeenth century.  The revocation of the

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Edict of Nantes caused such a departure of the inhabitants as to practically ruin the town.  The family of Cauddeback was a wealthy and prosperous one, but the religious persecution and murders which succeeded the revocation of the edict caused a very sudden removal.  It is said that Jacob Cuddeback, founder of the family in this country was reading in his garden when informed by trusted servants that men were seeking to arrest him on account of his religious belief, and knowing that death was certain to be the consequence of his apprehension, he made his way to the roof of a neighboring building, where he succeeded in hiding until an opportunity came to leave the country.  It is not certain whether he went to England or Holland, but the family tradition states that he awaited for some time the arrival of his sisters with means for their common maintenance.  Disappointed in this, however, with some of his old neighbors he set sail for America. 

          (I) Jacob Cuddeback (the name also appears as Koddebek), landed in Maryland, whence he soon removed to New York, and in 1690 with four others he located at Peapack, on the Neversink River, six miles northeast of the present city of Port Jervis, in what was then and is now Orange County, New York.  Only one settlement had been previously made within the limits of that county.  They secured deeds of the land from the Indians and this was confirmed by a patent from the governor, October 14, 1697. Covering about twelve hundred acres of land.  For sixty years they lived in peace and quietude upon these lands until the outbreak of the French and Indian War, when they, in common with others, were forced to fight for the preservation of their homes.  They were also annoyed by the claims of New Jersey to jurisdiction over their lands.  Jacob Cuddeback lived to be nearly one hundred years old.

          He married, at the Dutch Church in New York City, October 21, 1695, (the banns having been previously published beginning with September 17), Margaret, daughter of Benjamin Prevoost, a trader of Kingston.  As the only churches within reach of these hardy pioneers were those of the Dutch immigrants, they were accustomed to have their children baptized under the authority of that church.  The pastors at Kingston were wont to make semiannual visits to the settlements, where they performed baptisms and other ecclesiastical duties, and the baptism of a number of Jacob Cuddeback's children are found recorded at Kingston, and one in New York.  It is presumable that business required a trip to New York and he took advantage of the occasion to have a child baptized.  In the records of Kingston the name is spelled Koddebek and Coddebeck, in the Dutch church at New York it is given the former spelling.  The first baptism recorded in Kingston was Maria, August 2, 1696; Benjamin was baptized February 19, 1699; Elsie, October 19, 1701; William, of whom further; Jacobus, July 7, 1706, at New York; Magdalena, June 13, 1712; Dinah, January 19, 1714, at Minisink, recorded at Kingston; Abraham, August 19, 1716, AT Minisink; Naomi, January 16, 1726, at Rochester, recorded at Kingston.  The eldest son died at the age of eighty, unmarried.  Abraham, died at the age of eighty-eight years at Skaneateles, New York where he went to join his children in old age.  Jacobus married Jannetye Westbrook and lived in the neighborhood of his birth place.  Maria married (first) Jurian Westfal, and (second) a Cole and lived to be nearly one hundred years old.  Elsie married Harmanus Van Gorton, of Ulster County, and died at the age of eighty years, at Shipikunk.  Dinah married Abraham Lowe, and died at Shipikunk at the age of seventy-four yeas.  Eleanor married Evert Hoornbeck, and died seventy years old at Shipikunk.  Naomi married Lodowycke Hoornbeck.

          (II) William Caudebec, son of Jacob and Margaret (Prevoost) Cuddeback, was baptized June 21, 1704, at the Dutch church in New York, and inherited and resided on the paternal homestead, where he died in 1778.  He used the original French spelling of the name Caudebec, but his children used the form Codebec, and later generations have given it the spelling now in use.  He was a tall, muscular and large-boned man, over six feet in height and very strong.  Talkative and witty he was fond of argument, especially in matters pertaining to the scriptures, with which he was very fa-

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miliar, and was characterized as "a wise man in his time."  He showed the soundness of his judgment by ridiculing the belief in witchcraft, which was quite prevalent in his time.  He was a patriot during the Revolution, but too old for service.  Most of his sons served as officers or privates in the Continental Army.  Though somewhat slack in business, he was loved and respected and died much regretted.  He married, April 8, 1732, Jacomyntjen Elting, of Old Paltz, granddaughter of Jan Elting, the immigrant.  Children:  1. Jacobus, baptized June 19, 1734, at Minisink, became deranged, and lived to be eighty years old.  2. Sarah, May 4, 1737, married Daniel Van Vliet.  3. Abraham, of whom further.  4. Benjamin, January 17, 1742, died in childhood.  5. Roeloff Elting, January 20, 1745, died unmarried at the age of fifty years.  6. Benjamin, June 21, 1747, was a farmer at Deer Park. 

          (III) Abraham Codebec, second son of William and Jacomyntjen (Elting) Cauddebec, was baptized October 31, 1738, in Minisink, and was an active and useful citizen of the town of Deer Park.  With his brother Benjamin and Captain Abraham Westphal, he build the Neversink saw mill on Bushkill, near the Neversink River.  He was captain of a company of Orange County militia, and distinguished himself in the Revolutionary War by his bravery and prudent management of his command. He was an athletic and handsome man, standing six feet high, and weighing over two hundred pounds.  He married, Esther Gumaer, a descendant of one of the oldest Deer Park families, which was planted in that town simultaneously with that of Cuddeback.  Among their children was William A., of whom further.

          (IV) William A. Cuddeback, son of Abraham and Esther (Gumaer) Codebec, was born November 5, 1758, in the town of Deer Park, where he died January 27, 1846.  He was a farmer, and a member of the Dutch Reformed Church, of Deer park, whose records show him among its supporters from 1785 to 1789.  He Married Charlotte, daughter of Hermanus Van Inwegen, of Deer Park.  Children:  1. William.  2. Abraham.  3. Peter.  4. Hermanus.  5. James.  6. Jacob.  7. Lewis, of whom further.

          (V) Lewis, son of William A. and Charlotte (Van Inwegen) Cuddeback, was born January 16, 1807, in the town of Deer Park, died August 16, 1889, in Goshen.  He was educated in the public schools of Deer Park, and was for some time a merchant in that town.  In 1808 he was elected clerk of Orange County and removed to Goshen.  He was a member of the Dutch Reformed Church, and built a house of worship.  Politically he was a Democrat.  He was among the founders of the Goshen Savings Bank.  He was a member of the Constitutional Convention in 1846, member of assembly, and supervisor of Deer Park for several terms. 

          He married, August 23, 1848, Caroline Lee Thompson, born July 3, 1822, died May 12, 1877, daughter of Rev. Andrew Thompson, a Presbyterian clergyman, whose last charge was at Mt. Hope, New York.  Children:  1. Augustus T., born June 27, 1849, resides in Goshen.  2. William Hermanus, March 23, 1852, is an attorney at Buffalo.  3. Mary T. C., of whom further.  4. Catherine B., July 25, 1859, married Aaron Van Duzer Wallace, of Goshen.

          (VI) Mary T. C., daughter of Lewis and Caroline Lee (Thompson) Cuddeback, was born May 17, 1856, at Cuddebackville, in Orange County.  She was married, November 10, 1887, to Joseph Merritt, of Goshen (see Merritt X).

LYON.    Thomas Lyon, "of Rye," the founder of this family, was born in England about 1621, died at Bryam Neck, Greenwich, Fairfield County, Connecticut, in 1690, and was buried in the old family burying ground at Bryam Neck.  He is believed to have come into Fairfield from the Massachusetts Bay colony and to have been a brother or cousin to Richard and Henry Lyon, of Fairfield.  He married (first) Martha Joanna, born in Groton Manor, England, May 9, 1630, and died in Stamford, Connecticut, probably about 1653, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Fones) Winthrop, governor of Massachusetts Bay.  He married (second), about 1654, Mary, Daughter of Simon Hoyt, of Stamford, Connecticut.  Children, two by first marriage:  1. A daughter, died in infancy.  2. Marie, born in August, 1640, died before 1713; married (first) Joseph Stedwell, of

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Rye, New York, (second) John Willson, of Bedford.  3. Abigail, born about 1654, died before 1713, married April 3, 1672, John Banks, Jr., of Fairfield.  Their son, Joseph, born about 1674, married Hannah ----------, who married (second) John (2) Lyon, of whom further.  4. John, of whom further.  5. Thomas, born in Greenwich, 1673m, died in April or May, 1739, married Abigail, daughter of John Ogden, of Stamford.  6. Samuel, died unmarried, at rye, new York, in 1713.  7. Joseph, born about 1677, died at Rye, February 21, 1761, married Sarah ------------.  8. Elizabeth, died about 1712, married John Marshall, Jr., of Greenwich.  9. Deborah, married ------------- Cone.  10. Sarah, married --------- Merritt. 

          (II) John, son of Thomas and Mary (Hoyt) Lyon, was born, probably in Fairfield, Connecticut, about 1655, died in Greenwich, Connecticut, in 1736.  He lived with his brother Samuel on the estate left by their father.  John Lyon was a deputy to the general court of Connecticut from Fairfield from 1725 to 1730.  February 27, 1698-99, a meeting of the town empowered certain representatives "to bargain with and sell unto John Lyon a certain tract of land lying up Byram River." At a town meeting, September 20, 1697, John Lyon was one of a committee appointed to choose a site for and to build the meeting house at Rye, New York.  In April, 1699, he and Isaac Denman were chosen to lay out a road to White Plains and in February, 1714, he was living at Bryam Neck.  His wife's name is unknown.  Children:  1. Thomas, born before 1689, died in 1732 or 1733, married Rebecca, daughter of Thomas and Rebecca Hobby, who married (second), before October 17, 1733, as his second wife, Samuel Banks.  2. Daniel, born about 1688, died in 1782, married Sarah, daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Grumman) Jennings.  3. John, of whom further.  4. Ruth, living in 1736.  5. Mary, living in 1736.  6. Hannah, born 1704, baptized, February 15, 1748-49, aged forty-five, died about 1790, married, May 6, 1729, Thomas Close.  7. Jude, living in 1736.

          (III) John (2), son of John (1) Lyon, was born in Greenwich, Connecticut, lived and died at Bryam Neck, his will being written, July 14, 1749, and proved August 10, of the same year, in New York City.  he married Hannah, widow of Joseph, son of John and Abigail (Lyon) Banks (see Lyon I). Children;  1. John (3), born November 18, 1713, died about 1790, married Mary Miller.  2. Roger, of whom further.  3. Elizabeth, born January 12, 1718, married about 1737, Thomas Starr Treadwell,  4. James, born May 31, 1720, died in November, 1804, married Martha, daughter of David and Martha (Stedwell) Lyon, and granddaughter of Thomas and Abigail (Ogden) Lyon.  5. Gilbert, born March 10, 1722, died before 1798, married Mary --------.  6. Ruth, born July 10, 1724, died June 22, 1804, married Abraham Bush.  7. Sarah, born December 10, 1727, married before 1749, Elnathan Mead. 

          (IV) Captain Roger Lyon, son of John (2) and Hannah Lyon, was born at Bryam's Neck, Greenwich, Fairfield County, Connecticut, December 13, or 15, 1715, died at North Castle, Westchester County, New York, May 13, 1707.  He removed from Byram's Neck to North Castle in early manhood and there purchased an extensive estate.  In 1772 he was commissioned by Governor Tryon, of New York, captain of the middle battalion of the Westchester County Militia, and served during the Revolutionary War.  When General Washington was on his way to White Plains, he and his staff were entertained at the home of Captain Roger Lyon, and the silver cup from which Washington drank on that occasion is now in the possession of Mr. G. Livingston Lyon, of White Plains.  Captain Roger Lyon married Mary, daughter of Samuel and Susannah (Ogden) Willson of King Street, Rye, New York.  Children, all born in King Street, Rye:  1. Roger, born in 1736, died in Bedford, Westchester County, New York, October, 1824, married Phebe, daughter of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Mead) Lyon.  2. Justus, of whom further.  3. Glorianna, married, December 13, 1764, Andrew Kniffen or Sniffen.  4. Major Samuel, born, born May 14, 1747, died in Bedford, January 23, 1819, married (first) Mary Lounsbury, (second) Elizabeth Fleming.  5. Captain Gilbert, born in 1751, died at East Chester, New York, September 12, 1819; married Mary ---------.  6. John, born about 1753, died about 185, married Ruth --------.

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          (V) Justus, son of Captain Roger and Mary (Willson) Lyon, was born in King Street, Rye, Westchester County, New York, July 6, 1744, died in Bedford, Westchester County, New York, in 1815, his will being written November 7, 1808, and proved, December 27, 1815, at White Plains.  He married Sarah Ferris, who was born October 19, 1746.  Children, all born in Bedford:  1. Justus (2), born May 19, 1765.  2. Hannah, born March 27, 1766, died October 25, 1838, married --------.  3. Sarah or Sally, born October 24, 1769, died February 6, 1847, married James Tyler.  4. Stephen, born January 1, 1772, living at Sing Sing, New York, in November, 1808.  5. John, born September 20, 1779, died January 31, 1801, married Catharine Quereau.  6. William, of whom further.  7. Ferris, born March 20, 1789, died before February 16, 1856.  8. Betsey Ferris, born January 2, 1791, married Moses Wakeman Collyer.

          (VI) William, son of Justus and Sarah (Ferris) Lyon, was born in Bedford, Westchester County, New York, August 3, 1783, died there April 14, 1844, and was buried in the Union Cemetery, Bedford.  He lived in his father's homestead, situated about a mile north of the village of Bedford, on property which was afterward sold to Mr. Orr, of New York City.  He married Rachael, daughter of Jabez and Rachel Robertson, who was born September 8, 1785, died March 26, 1872, and was buried in the Union Cemetery, Bedford.  Children, all born in Bedford:  1. Stephen, of whom further.  2. William H., born December 29, 1812.  3. Harvey, born December 26, 1815.  4. Betsey, born December 25, 1818, died young.  5. Henry, born September 12, 18211, died August 9, 1847.  6. Betsey, born March 14, 1824.  7. Catharine, born April 10, 1826, married, October 18, 1860, David E. Haight.  8. Ferris, born April 26, 1828, died November 23, 1878, married Sarah Letitia Williamson.  9. Emily Robinson, born March 27, 1831, married, June 10, 1850, Addison, son of John and Sarah (Smith) Lyon.

          (VII) Stephen, son of William and Rachel (Robertson) Lyon, was born in Bedford, Westchester County, New York, October 29, 1810, died there April 24, 1898.  He married (first) Amanda A., daughter of John and Sarah (Mills) Miller, of Bedford, who was born May 14, 1814, died January 8, 1847, and was buried in the Union Cemetery, Bedford.  He married (second), October 16, 1850, Amy Ann, daughter of Samuel Wheeler, who was born October 4, 1815, and died March 27, 1897.  Children, all by first marriage and all born in Bedford:  1. John Miller, born September 28, 1834, died February 22, 1902, married (first), Sarah Jane Clifford and (second) Jennie M. Baillie.  He was for many years a prominent man in Port Chester, New York.  2. William Penn, of whom further.  3. Jeremiah Miller, born August 10, 1841, died September 29, 1908, married Susan Robertson.  4. Stephen E., born July 8, 1843, died December 21, 1851.  5. Amanda A., born august 20, 1846, died March 23, 1847.

          (VIII) William Penn, son of Stephen and Amanda A. (Miller) Lyon, was born in Bedford, Westchester County, New York, February 7, 1836, died at Katonah, Westchester County, New York, March 29, 1908.  He owned about one thousand acres of land in Katonah, and besides being a teacher in the district school there, he and his brother, Jeremiah Miller Lyon, were in partnership in the running of a general store and also in conducting an undertaking establishment.  He married, September 16, 1874, Mary Ann, daughter of Daniel and Mary (Carpenter) Sniffen, of Round Hill, Connecticut, who was born December 13, 1839, died January 1, 1893, and is buried in Union Cemetery, Bedford.  Children, all born in Bedford: 1. Mabel Amanda, born January 4, 1876, married, June 2, 1898, George Seward Robinson.  2. Stephen D., of whom further. 

          (IX) Stephen D., son of William Penn and Mary Ann (Sniffen) Lyon, was born in Bedford, Westchester County, New York, October 16, 1882, and is now living in White Plains, Westchester County.  he received his education at the public schools and at the Bedford Academy in Bedford; his future wife, who graduated from the Mount Kisco High School in 1903, being with him in the latter institution.  At the age of twelve he went to work at the undertaking business, and in 1901 he bought out the R. B. Rank Undertaking establishment in White Plains and has built up a prosperous business, owning the building in which his undertaking rooms now are, besides his 

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home, on Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains.  Mr. Lyon is a member of the Foresters of White Plains, and of the Woodmen of America.  he is also a member of the New York Embalming Association and of the New York Undertaking Club.  He married, June 1, 1904, Elsie A., daughter of Albert B. and Minnie C. (Brown) Miller, of Bedford, who was born December 24, 1883.  Children, all born in White Plains:  1. Beatrice E., born October 3, 1905.  2. Ruth Mildred, born June 26, 1907.

BRADLEY.     William Bradley, the founder of this family, was born in Ireland,  he and his wife emigrated to new York City, and about 1825, after a short residence there, moved first to Orange County, New York, and later to Bethel, Sullivan County, New York, where he purchased a farm. He married Nancy Kennedy.  Children:  Jane M. lived and died in Bethel, married James Coots.  2. John J., died in April, 1911, married Maria Coots, a relative of his sister Jane's husband.  3. Robert Kennedy, referred to below.  4. Alexander, died young.  5. William (2), a cattle dealer, lived and died in Bethel.  6. Abner M. a physician of 198 Broadway, New York City, unmarried. 

          (II) Robert Kennedy, son of William and Nancy (Kennedy) Bradley, was born in Bethel, Sullivan County, New York, in 1839, and is now living at Monticello, in the same County.  He received a common school education and remained on his father's farm till he was twenty years old.  He then went west for two years, after which he returned home, married, and settled in Monticello, where he has been living and keeping boarders for the past twenty-eight years.  He married, in 1878, Nettie, daughter of P. R. and Lois (Lyon) Wood, of Briscoe, Sullivan County, New York.  Children:  1. Theron R., born 1879,m living in South Norwalk, Connecticut, graduate of Monticello High School, and Albany School of Pharmacy, and now studying medicine, married Lauretto Ainsworth, of South Norwalk, Connecticut.  2. Harry A., born August 11, 1880, living in Yonkers, new York,  graduate of Monticello High School and new York College of Pharmacy, is a druggist in Hageman's Pharmacy, assistant manager, married Christene A. Toochen.  3. Lulu L. born June 27, 1883, living at home, graduate of Monticello High School, unmarried. 

          Mr. Bradley and his two sons are members of the Masonic fraternity of the Eastern Star, of the same order, and the family are members of the Presbyterian church.  Mr. Bradley politically is a Democrat. 

STRONG.     Elder John Strong, the immigrant ancestor of all the known families of this surname in New England, and virtually all in this country, was born in Taunton, England, in 1605, son of Richard Strong. The family was originally located in County Shropshire, England, but one of the family married an heiress of Griffith, County Caernavon, Wales, and went thither to reside in 1545.  Of this Welsh branch was Richard Strong, who was born in County Caernavon in 1561, and in 1590 removed to Taunton, England, where he died in 1613, leaving besides his son John, a daughter Eleanor.  John Strong lived at Taunton and Plymouth and finally, having strong Puritan sympathies and convictions, he and his sister came to New England, sailing March 20, 1630, in the ship "Mary and John," and landing at Nantasket, (Hull).  They settled in Dorchester, Massachusetts.  The sister married Walter Deane, a tanner of Taunton, Massachusetts, and previously of Taunton, England.  In 1635 John Strong moved to Hingham.  He was admitted to Taunton before December 4, 1638, when he was on the list of inhabitants, and proprietors there, and remained at that place until 1645 or later.  He was deputy from that town to the general court in Plymouth in 1641-43-44.  He moved to Windsor, Connecticut where he was appointed with four others "to superintend and bring forward the settlement of the place."  He settled finally, however, in Northampton, Massachusetts with which his name has been associated since.  he was one of the first and most active founders and for a full forty years prospered in his business as a tanner and husbandman.  His tanyard was on what is now the southwest corner of Market Street,

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near the railroad station.  He owned some two hundred acres of land in and near Northampton.  He was elected ruling elder of the church and ordained May 13, 1663.  His first wife died on the passage or soon after landing in Massachusetts, and about two months later her baby died also.  He married (second), In December, 1630, Abigail Ford, daughter of Thomas Ford, of Dorchester.  She died, the mother of sixteen children, July 6, 1688.  Aged about eighty years.  The genealogy states that the eldest and youngest children of elder John Strong were thirty-nine years apart in age.  His wife Abigail was probably not more then sixteen at the time of her marriage in 1630, and he was twenty-five.  He died April 14, 1690, aged ninety-four years.  He has at the time of his death one hundred and sixty descendants, among whom were seventeen children and at least twenty-three grandchildren.  He made over his lands during his lifetime to his children.  Children of the first wife:  1. John, born in England in 1626.  2. Infant, died in Dorchester, 1630.  Children of second wife:  3. Thomas, born about 1635.  4. Jedediah, may 7, 1637.  5. Josiah, died young.  6. Return, about 1641.  8. Elder Ebenezer, 1643.  9. Abigail, about 1645.  10. Elizabeth, in Windsor, February 24, 1647.  11. Experience, August 4, 1650.  12. Samuel, mentioned below.  13. Joseph, twin, August 5, 1652, died young.  14. Mary, October 26, 1654.  15. Sarah, 1656.  16. Hannah, May 30, 1659.  17.  Hester, June 7, 1661.  18. Thankful, July 25, 1663.  19. Jerijah, December 12, 1665. 

          (II) Samuel, son of elder John Strong, was born August 5, 1652, died October 29, 1732.  He married (first), June 19, 1684, Esther Clapp, who was born July 19, 1656, a daughter of Deacon Edward Clapp, a farmer of Northampton.  She died, January 26, 1698, and he married (second), October 28, 1698, Mrs. Ruth Wright, a widow of Joseph Wright.  She was born August 27, 1663, a daughter of Isaac and Mary (Woodford) Sheldon.  Children by first wife:  1. Esther, born April 30, 1685.  2. Samuel, January 21, 1687, died August 10, 1771, killed by Indians.  3. Susannah, born February 26, 1688.  4. Abigail, born January 1, 1689, died young.  5. Christian, march 1, 1692.  6. Nehemiah, mentioned below.  7. Ezra, October 14, 1697.  Children by second wife:  8. Mary, born May 19, 1701.  9. Joseph, May 9, 1703.  10. Josiah, May 17, 1705.  11. Deacon Samuel, February 11, 1712-13.

          (III) Nehemiah, son of Samuel Strong, was born About 1694, at Northampton, died February 28, 1772.  He removed to Amherst, Massachusetts, about 1772.  He married (first), about 1728, Hannah Edwards, and daughter of Jonathan and Sarah (Warner) French.  She died August 31, 1761, and he married (second), April 24, 1764, Catherine Barrett, of Sunderland.  Children, by first wife:  1. Professor Nehemiah, born February 24, 1730.  2. Mary, February 21, 1732,.  3. Simeon, mentioned below.

          (IV) Simeon Strong, LL.D., son of Nehemiah Strong, was born at Northampton, March 6, 1735-36, died December 14, 1805.  He began to study theology, but on account of pulmonary trouble abandoned the church for law.  He read in the office of Colonel John Worthington, of Springfield, and was sworn as an attorney in 1761.  He became an eminent lawyer in his day.  He represented Amherst in the general court in 1767-69, and in the state senate in 1793; from 1800 to 1805 he was justice of the Supreme Court.  He was modest, hospitable and of strong character, brilliant intellect, discriminating in judgment.  He married (first), January 12, 1763, Sarah Wright, who was born February 24, 1730-40, daughter of Northampton.  She died December 3, 1783, and he married (second), in 1787, Mary (Whiting) Barron, widow of William Barron, of Petersham, Massachusetts. His widow died at West Springfield, February 12, 1808.  Children by fist wife:  1. Simeon, born February 22, 1764.  2. Hezekiah Wright, mentioned below.  3. Polly, baptized June 11, 1775, died in 1777.  4. Sally, born October 20, 1776, died February 26, 1777.  5. John, born August 4, 1778.  6. Hon. Solomon, born March 2, 1780.  7. Lemuel, baptized August 10, 1783.

          (V) Hezekiah Wright, son of Hon. Simeon Strong, was born December 24, 1768, at Amherst, died at Troy, New York, October 7, 1848.  He studied law and attained distinction at the bar in Deerfield and Amherst.  He was postmaster of Amherst several years, and lived at both Deerfield and

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Amherst.  He married, June 23, 1801, Martha, born at Belchertown, January 1, 1783, died June 30, 1844, daughter of Colonel Elijah and Diana (Hinsdale) Dwight.  Children, born at Deerfield:  1. Frances Emeline, September 16, 1802.  2. Sarah Sophia, February 15, 1805.  3. Elijah Dwight, August 18, 1808.  Children , born at Amherst:  4. Henry Wright, mentioned below.  5. Hon. Marshall Mason, born September 3, 1813, died in Racine, Wisconsin, 1864; studied two years in Amherst College, and one year at Union College, Schenectady; was admitted to the bar in Troy, New York, and removed to Racine in 1836, was elected in 1839 to the territorial council, where he was on a committee to revise the laws of the territory; served again from 1844 to 1847; was a delegate to the State Constitutional convention, in 1840; was an active supporter of The Union during the Civil War and a liberal contributor to the establishment of Racine College.  6. Martha Augusta, born November 30, 1818. 

          (VI) Hon. Henry Wright Strong, son of Hezekiah Wright Strong, was born at Amherst, December 11, 1810, died at Troy, February 28, 1848.  He graduated from Amherst College in 1825, at the age of fourteen years and six months.  The class of 1825 to which he belonged was the first took the full course there.  In 1827 he was admitted to the bar and began to practice in Troy, New York.  He became in the course of time one of the most eminent lawyers of the state.  He was recorder (magistrate) of the city for six years and was state senator five years, serving as chairman of the judiciary committee.  He was once the nominee of his party for governor of the state.  His cousin, Caleb Strong, was governor of Massachusetts from 1800 to 1807, United State senator six years, and governor again from 1812 to 1816.  Largely through the efforts of Senator Henry Wright Strong laws were enacted to make the wife owner of her own property and to prevent creditors from seizing the implements and stock with which a man earns his living.  He married, September 6, 1842, Sarah Elizabeth Cornell, who was born April 22, 1823, daughter of Luther and Sarah Bailey (White) Cornell.  His widow married, June 2, 1853, Horace Herrington, a farmer of Brunswick, Rensselaer County.  Children of Mr. and Mrs. Strong:  1. Latham Cornell, mentioned below.  2. Henry Wright, Jr., born March 10, 1848, died July 2, 1851. 

          (VII) Latham Cornell, son of Henry Wright Strong, was born at Troy, New York, June 12, 1845.  He inherited the talents of his father and paternal ancestors, who for generations were men of ability, character, and distinction.  he was graduated with the highest honors at Union College in the class of 1868, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, receiving at commencement two first prizes, an honor that no graduate had previously received there .  The brilliant poem that he read at commencement was afterward repeated on several occasions by request.  He went abroad for a year after graduating and studied philosophy and literature at Heidelberg University, Germany, and made a tour of Europe.  Upon his return he was for three years associate editor of the Troy Daily Whig.  He was an active member of the Young Men's Association, of which he was corresponding secretary for a number of years and afterward president.  In 1874 he was appointed aide-de-camp with the rank of colonel on Governor Tilden's staff.  At the thirtieth annual convention of the Delta kappa Epsilon fraternity, of which he was a member at Williamstown, Massachusetts, October 5, 1876, he read a poem, entitled "Looking Backward through the Gates."  At the request of Abraham Lincoln Post, no. 13, Grand Army of the Republic, he wrote a poem for the Memorial Day exercises in 1878, entitled "Lilies and Roses." He was elected a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society at Union College, Schenectady, June 24, 1879.  He contributed from time to time to various newspapers and magazines.  A series of European letters from him were published in the Troy Press, and a series of "Sleepy Hollow Sketches" in the Troy Northern Budget, besides many occasional poems in the Troy Daily Times, Graphic and Independent.  His reputation grew until he came to be known as "Troy's poet laureate."

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Mardos Memorial Library

Transcribed by Holice B. Young

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