Henry Nesbitt Sr. (1803 - 1883)

Born 17 May 1803 in Tullylurkin, Cavan, Ireland

Husband of Eleanor (Smith) Nesbitt — married 25 Sep 1831 in Argyle, Washington, New York, United States

Descendants

Died 4 Jun 1883 at age 80 in Attica, New York

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Jean Skar [send private message]

Biography

1820 emigrated with his mother, four brothers and two sisters to Quebec ... work on a farm at Argyle, Washington county, NY, where he married Eleanor SMITH of that place ... then to Gaines, Orleans county, NY ... 1834 to Attica Center

Buried Attica, Wyoming County, New York, USA.

Children

• Susannah,
• David who was always called "Bob".
• Henry.
• George Washington,
• Samuel Smith,
• Jane Elizabeth called "Jennie".

and the twins

• James Orrin, called "Nor'
• John Warren.

Branch DNA

YDNA unknown so any connection to the other branches is unknown (2017).

Census

• 1860 US Orangeville, Wyoming, New York, USA.
• 1870 Attica, Wyoming, New York, United States. Marital Status: Married Relation to Head of House: Self.
• 1880 Attica, Wyoming, New York, USA.

Extracts and Documents

Henry Nesbitt, the progenitor of all those who bear the name of Nesbitt in , Wyoming county, came to America, from Ireland in 1820 when but a lad of seventeen years. of his 211 direct descendants. 171 are now living; 39 reside in or near Attica and the remaining 132 are scattered in other parts of New York, and in 13 other states, from California to Massachusetts. This is as of 1941. In 1884 his daughter, Jane, recorded the early family history, and we give it here in her words. The first ancestors of whom we can gain any knowledge are James Nesbitt .and his wife, Elizabeth, or Bell, who lived and died in County Cavan, Ireland. James Nesbitt was a linen weaver and of his family little is known save that he had a son, Allen, who married Jennie Brown of Keranary, County Cavan. Allen and Jennie (Brown) Nesbitt had nine children: Hannah, James, Robert, Samuel, Allen Jr., John, Betsy, Henry and Jane. They also were linen weavers. Allen Nesbitt Sr. died in Ireland, and his wife with seven of their children, and the wife of one of them and the son of another, set sail for America. They landed at Quebec June 24, 1820, after a voyage of six weeks and six days in a sailing vessel. During the Journey ship fever broke out and many died. John and Allen were detained in the hospital in quarantine. Allen died there. The Mother’s Death The mother and Henry visited John and Allen in the hospital and, on attempting to return, found the tide so high that it is impossible to reach the ferry, and they were obliged to remain all night in the woods, in sight of the shelter they could not reach. The mother covered her son with her shawl and watched and waited for the morning. She took a severe cold which resulted in her death on July 4th„ ten days after landing at Quebec.

Henry Nesbitt Henry Nesbitt, the son of Allen and Jennie (Brown) Nesbitt. was born in the town of Tillilerkin , County Cavan, Ireland, May 17, 1803, After coming to America he worked on the fortifications of Quebec while they remained in that place, When they removed to Argyle he was bound out to a shoe maker by his brother James, He soon learned that the eldest son had no authority over his younger brothers in this country, and left , the shoemaker after six weeks' service. He then obtained work on a farm, working for six months for, six dollars per month; and from his earnings of $36, he managed to save $31 Later, while looking for work, he stopped at a farm to get a drink of water and lost his last shilling, which he was saving to buy a Jew's-harp, in the well. He obtained work on the same farm and, when the well was cleaned. he found his shilling. His wages being raised, he continued to work on this farm in Argyle for two years. He then bought a horse and wagon and went about the country side selling silks satins and all kinds of dress goods. On Sept. 25, 1831. Henry Nesbitt was married to Eleanor Smith. born Nov. 1, 1802. daughter of Samuel and Susannah Smith of Argyle (both of whom died in Orangeville and are buried in Attica). Having saved a few hundred dollars from his merchandising business, he purchased a farm of 169 acres in Gaines. Orleans County. N. Y. On the way to their new home, the Nesbitts travelled as far as Holley by boat on the newly opened Erie Canal. In May, 1834, they decided to remove to Attica, Wyoming County. All was In readiness for an early start on the morrow; but that night a visitor, in the form of their eldest son. David. arrived and delayed their departure for nine days. Then. upon a load of goods, in a lumber wagon, with an old woman for driver. the mother, baby and little two-year -old daughter rode fifty mile: in two days. The season was cold, there being snow in July; and people wore mittens to plant corn. They settled on a farm, south of Attica Center which is part of the farm now occupied by their grandson. Burton Nesbitt. Henry Nesbitt's naturalization certificate. dated 1839, is in the possession of his grand-daughter. Edith Nesbitt. of Warsaw, who is chiefly responsible for bringing this history up In date and making it available to the Attica Historical Society. Miss Nesbitt has also in her possession an old clock with wooden works, a Boston rocker and a Bible, printed in 1852, which belonged to her grandparents. There is In the family an old bible, printed in 1822, which belonged to Eleanor Smith Nesbitt’s parents and is now in the possession of Marian Gay of Attica. Eight children were born to Henry and Eleanor Nesbitt. Susannah, David who was always called "Bob". Henry. George Washington, Samuel Smith, Jane Elizabeth called "Jennie". and the twins James Orrin, called "Nor' and John Warren. The last surviving child, John, died in Warsaw in 1936. In the spring of 1844. Henry Nesbitt and his family moved 1 ½ miles south to Orangeville. Here Eleanor Nesbitt died Jan. 31, 1862, after a five-months' illness. of erysipelas. Henry continued to live here until the summer of 1865 when he married Sally Ann Underwood of Attica and moved one mile north, into the town of Attica, where he lived until his death, June 4. 1883. He and his wife, Eleanor, are burled In the Attica Cemetery.

^[1]

To Do

Sources

1. ↑ The Attica News 1941

• "Historic Wyoming" vol 2 no 3 Jan 1949 p 46