Obadiah Baldwin (abt. 1772 - 1873)

Born about 1772 in New Jersey

Died 12 Jan 1873 at about age 101 in Crown Point, Essex, New York, United States

Biography

Obadiah was born about 1772 in New Jersey. He was the son of Stephen Baldwin.

He married first Sarah, then possibly Salome.

Known children with Sarah were Philo, Catherine (died young), and Mehitable (died young).

Known children with Salome were Nicholas, Martin, and Jane.

He married Martha Perkins after 1813. They had a large family.

In 1810, Obadiah was in Bridport, Addison county, Vermont.^[1] There were two males under 10, one aged 10-16 and one aged 26-45 and one female 26-25 (Salome or Sarah/Salome (if the same person)). He was also listed there in 1820^[2] and 1830^[3]. In 1820, there was one male under 10, two 10-15, one 15-20, and one 26-44; two females under 10, one 10-15, and one 26 - 44 (Salome or Martha?) In 1830, there were 2 males under 5, 2 males 10-15, 1 20-29 and one 50-59 (Obadiah); there was 1 female 5-9, one 10-15, and one 30-39. (likely Martha although she should have been in early 40s then).

Obadiah and family were in Crown Point, Essex county, New York in 1840.^[4]

In 1855, they were in the household of Joseph and Anna Marsh in Crown Point, listed as uncle and aunt.^[5] Joseph was the son of Martha's sister Mary Polly (Perkins) Marsh.

They were in Crown Point, Essex, New York in 1860 and 1865 in the household of Charles and Philena Gould.^[6][7] They were listed as father and mother on the 1865 census, suggesting Philena Gould was their daughter. However, her maiden name was listed as Perkins on the Fairview cemetery listing in Crown Point so she may have been a niece.^[8] The 1865 census also listed Obadiah as married three times, Martha as married twice, and the mother of eleven children (may be a combined total between her first husband and Obadiah). If Martha's first marriage was to a Perkins, then Philena could have been a step-daughter to Obadiah.

Obadiah passed away in 1873 at the age of 101, according to an obituary published in the New York Tribune:^[9]

"A fine old fellow, Obadia Baldwin by name, and one hundred and one years of age, died at Crown Point on the 12th ult. He had voted the Democratic ticket straight through from Jefferson to Buchanan - how he voted after that, we are not informed. He was very sparing in the use of alcoholic drinks. It is to be observed, however, that he had used tobacco all his life. He was celebrated for removing warts from the hands of all persons who applied to him. He married three times, which proves that if you wish to live, gentle reader, to be one hundred years old, you must marry three times - at least, wise people frequently reason in that way. He was the father of seventeen children."

Research Questions

The obituary date of death (January 12, 1873) differs from the date of death listed on Findagrave.^[10] Which is correct? There is no tombstone photo on the findagrave memorial page so the findagrave listing may be erroneous. However a transcription of Fairview cemetery in Crown Point lists the Jan 7 date.^[11]

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1810", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH21-P6M : 1 December 2015), Obadiah Baldwin, 1810.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1820", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHGD-XRD : 16 July 2015), Obadiah Baldwin, 1820.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1830," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHPX-HH5 : 18 August 2015), Obadiah Baldwin, Bridport, Addison, Vermont, United States; citing 305, NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 184; FHL microfilm 27,450.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHY4-TWZ : 24 August 2015), Obadiah Baldwin, Crown Point, Essex, New York, United States; citing p. 26, NARA microfilm publication M704, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 282; FHL microfilm 17,187.
5. ↑ "New York State Census, 1855," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K6QD-89L : 19 November 2014), Obadiah Baldwin in household of Joseph Mash, Crown Point, Essex, New York, United States; count clerk offices, New York; FHL microfilm 866,320.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCWL-1R7 : 30 December 2015), Obediah Baldwin, 1860.
7. ↑ "New York State Census, 1865," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVNJ-J4YQ : accessed 9 September 2016), Obadiah Baldwin in household of Charles Gould, , Crown Point, Essex, New York, United States; citing source p. 27, line 25, household ID 198, county clerk, board of supervisors and surrogate court offices from various counties. Utica and East Hampton Public Libraries, New York; FHL microfilm 866,321.
8. ↑ http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nyessex/faircp.htm
9. ↑ Obituary, Obadia Baldwin, New York Daily Tribune, Monday, February 3, 1873, page 48, column 5
10. ↑ http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=5106982
11. ↑ http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nyessex/faircp.htm