James Tyler (1736 - 1813)

Born 12 Oct 1736 in Scituate, Providence, Rhode Island

Ancestors

Husband of Mary (Place) Tyler — married 31 Mar 1763 in Scituate, Providence, Rhode Island

Husband of Rhoba Sheldon — married after 1787 in Scituate, Providence, Rhode Island [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 22 Mar 1813 at age 76 in Foster, Providence, Rhode Island, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Susan Holman [send private message]

Biography

He was born in 1736. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

James Tyler lived during a period of great change. He entered life as an American born British subject in an agricultural society. He died an American citizen at the dawn of the industrial age. By the existing records, it is known that he supported the American political and military revolt, experienced economic prosperity, and provided for his family's welfare. His activities appear local and family oriented. James was involved in land transactions and he left a detailed will that named his extended family. His descendants lived on in Moosup Valley, also known for a time as Tylerville, for many years. Today, some of James' descendants still live in Foster, Rhode Island. What is known of James and his wives are a combination of legal records, military records, and lore. Here are extracts and transcriptions that will touch upon what was his life and nature.

The 'Statewide Historical Preservation Report P-F-1' on Foster RI, pages 25, 54 and 68: "Moosup Valley, also called "Tyler" or Tylerville in the early nineteenth century, stretched along Moosup Valley Road between Johnson Road and Barb's Hill Road. ..." On Barb's Hill Road in Foster is the James Tyler House. "This much altered, 1 1/2 - story, 4 - bay house is traditionally said to have been built c. 1736. However, it seems more likely that it was built c. 1763, the year James Tyler married. A large 19th-century barn with an attached 20th-century shed stands across open fields to the south. James Tyler (b. 1736) was the son of the original settler John Tyler. After c. 1794, the house was lived in by James' son Job; it passed down to his children, Obadiah and Mary, by James' will in 1813. The house stayed in the Tyler family till 1865." On Plain Woods Road in Foster is the Captain James Tyler House c. 1750: "This typical center-chimney house, with later 2-bay ell fronted by a porch under the main gable roof, heavily remodeled on the interior, stands on the site of John Tyler's c. 1728 house, which was torn down c. 1790. John and William were early major landowners and settlers in southwestern Foster; James Tyler was John's son." [Note: The next entry on page 68 is the Tyler Store on Plain Wood Road built by John Tyler, son of James.]

May, 1778 Officers to command the several Trained Bands, or Companies of Militia within the State: Scituate, Second Company: James Tyler, ensign. May, 1779 (same unit), James Tyler, ensign. Feb., 1779 (same unit), James Tyler, ensign. June, 1780 (same unit), James Tyler, ensign. ['Records of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in New England', 1863 & 1864, edited by John Russell Bartlett, Secretary of State, Volume VIII (1776-1779), pages 392, 534; Volume IX (1780-1783), pages 8, 97. Note: the May 1779 entry was listed in the index as page 537. The entry was on page 534. No entry located in Volume X for May, 1785 service.]

May, 1778 Providence County Militia - 3d Regiment - Scituate 2nd Company: Ens. Jas. Tyler. May, 1779 (same unit), Ens. James Tyler. June, 1780 (same unit), Ens. James Tyler. May, 1785 Militia of the State, Senior Class Regiment, Providence County - Foster Company: Capt. James Tyler. ['Civil and Military List of Rhode Island 1647-1800', by Joseph Jencks Smith, Providence RI, 1900, pages 367, 378, 388, 440. Note: the first three entries were in the index, but the last entry was not. The last entry gave the rank of James as Captain. This explains the use of that title on his gravestone.]

"Tyler, James, b. 10-12-1736 d. 3-22-1813 m. Mary Place Ens RI." ['DAR Patriot Index', 1966, page 693. Note: no pension papers noted in index.]

"James Tyler (1636-1813) served as ensign in the Rhode Island militia under Capt. Simeon Herrenden in Scituate; died in Foster, R.I." Lineage to Mrs. Lorena B. Tyler Gallup. ['DAR Lineage Book', 1938, Volume 161, page 115]

Finagrave: Moosup Valley Cemetery, Foster, Rhode Island. Memorial ID 63803456^[4]

Transactions from Foster RI Land Records: James Tyler purchased from William & Elizabeth Tyler for 160 pounds 80 acres that William purchased of Samuel Dorrance on April 13, 1787. Elizabeth, wife of William, surrendered her right of dower. [1:45, November 14, 1787] James Tyler sold to William Tyler an estimated 46 acres for 160 pounds and "contains the same land which I the Grantor purchased of the Grantee." [1:61, November 14, 1787] James Tyler sold to Simeon Harrington for "Twenty Pounds Lawfull Silver Money" ten acres of "land laying at the north end of my land which I had of William Tyler Esq. being part of the Dorrance Land so called". [1:206, December 20, 1790] James Tyler purchased from William Tyler a lot for $20. [3:70, August 21, 1797] James Tyler bought from William and Elisabeth Tyler for $250 a piece of land that William bought from Dorrance. It was estimated at 27 acres and bounded by lands of Enoch Place, Thomas Parker, and David and George Dorrance. Elizabeth, wife of William, surrendered her right of dower. [3:180, May 24, 1799] James and Rhoby Tyler sold to William Hill. See the messages of James' second wife, Rhoby. [3:469, October 22, 1802] James Tyler bought from Olney Brayton a two acre and 36 rod lot. [4:85, April 13, 1806] James Tyler sold land to Olney Brayton a two acre 30? rod lot. [4:95, April 16, 1806] James Tyler conveyed to his son, Esek Tyler, the lot on which Esek lived. [4:276, May 29, 1809] James Tyler conveyed to his son, John Tyler Jr, land. [4:277, May 29, 1809] James Tyler sold to Esek Tyler five acres for $100. The lot butted and bounded the land that James set off for "my son George Tyler Deceased". [4:396, April 8, 1811]

'Rhode Island Genealogical Register' (4:284, January 1982) abstracts of "Foster, RI Wills Vol 2" notes that James Tyler of Foster drew up his will dated August 20, 1810. The will was proved April 12, 1813. Witnesses were Nathan Hopkins, Esek Brown, Benjamin Wells.

Foster RI Probate Volume II, pages 573-577, transcription: "In the name of God Amen I James Tyler of Foster in the County of Providence and State of Rhode Island being rather infirm in body but of perfect sound mind and memory blessed be god for the same, Do think it best at this time to make this my Last Will and Testament as followeth first of all I remind my soul unto God that give it, and my body to the dirt from whence it came to be decently buried in a Christian like manner and as for partitioning my property among my children, grandchildren and wife, which it hath pleased god blessed me with in this world, my will is and I do dispose of the same in the following manner...

Imprimis I give to my well beloved wife Rhoba Tyler the west room in my house and the small bedroom adjoining the same, and a privilege in the cellar and to pass and repass in all parts of the house where she pleases, so long as she shall remain my widow, and my will is that my said wife have all the goods that she brought here of every kind to be her own property forever, and my will is and I do hereby order my Executor hereafter named to find my said wife fire wood sufficient for to maintain one fire yearly and every year cut at the doorstep for the fire, and for the repast of my said wife I do hereby order my Executor to give her yearly and every year eight bushels of good Indian corn and four bushels of good rye, one hundred weight of good pork and fifty weight of good beef, and salt sufficient to salt said meat, and for her other use the year round and also to find her a sufficiency of molasses sugar, tea and coffee for her comfort delivered to her so long as she remains my widow and also my will is that my Executor should find my said wife yearly ten pounds of good fleece wool and also my will is that my said wife have one good cow and have it kept on that part of my farm hereafter given to my son John winter and summer the year round for her own use so long as she remains my widow and my will is that my said wife have a horse to ride when she pleases provided by my son John so long as she remains my widow, the above I give to my said wife in lieu of her right of dower in my estate.

Item I give to my well beloved son George Tyler to his heirs and assign forever the northerly part of my farm and it is bounded as followeth. Beginning on the west side of the highway adjoining a lane that I conveyed to Olney Brayton from there running westerly on said lane until it comes to land owned by said Olney Brayton called the Peggy Dorrance lot. Thence northerly until it comes to the north west corner of my farm from thence on my line running easterly until it comes to a stone stuck in the ground at the road thence on said road until it comes to the first mentioned bound.

Item I give to my two well beloved grandchildren Mary Tyler and Obed Tyler son and daughter of my son Job deceased to their heirs and assign forever the southerly part of my farm and is as follows /viz/ Beginning at the south end of a large ledge of rocks southwesterly of my house and runs the northwest corner of the wood lot on the land that I deeded to my son John thence running southerly near as the wall and fence now stands till it comes to a stone stuck in the ground from there a due east course until it comes to land of Nathan Hopkins thence southerly on said Nathan Hopkins line and Samuel Foster line until it comes to land of Thomas Parker, thence westerly on said Parker's line until it comes to land of Joshua King thence on King's line Reuben Blanchard and Benjamin Brown's until it stops on the end of the first row of apple trees on the south end of the Young orchard that I conveyed to my son John, and exactly in the middle between said first row and the fifth row of trees from thence running easterly in the center between said rows of trees until it comes to the road from there a straight course to the first mentioned bound.

Item I give to my well beloved son Esek Tyler ten acres of my wood lot on the Plain to be let to him on the south east part of said lot A being a part of that lot that I purchased of William Tyler Esq. which part I give to him the said Esek Tyler to his heirs and assigns forever.

Item I have given unto my two beloved daughters Hannah and Mary, deceased their portions heretofore but in remembrance of my four grandchildren namely Abigail Griffes, Archibald Griffes, James Griffes, and Lucinda Griffes my will is they have each of them one Dollar out of my estate paid by son John out of that part that I hereafter bequeath to him.

Item I gave to my well beloved daughter Esther Jencks fifty dollars ... in neat stock to be given by my son John in one year after my dec. and out of that part of my estate which I hereafter give to him.

Item I give to my well beloved son John his heirs and assign forever, after paying all my good debts, legal [?] and general charges all the rest and residue of my estate both real and personal that I have not here in ordered and given away before ..."

Wife Rhoba Tyler and son John were appointed executrix and executor. Will dated August 20, 1810.

Birth

12 OCT 1735 Scituate, Providence, Rhode Island

Death

22 MAR 1813 Foster, Providence, Rhode Island, USA

Sources

1. ↑ Sherman, Ruth Wilder. Descendants of John Tyler of Portsmouth, R.I., (The American Genealogist, Barrington, RI, 1976) Vol. 52, Sherman, Ruth Wilder. Descendants of John Tyler of Portsmouth, R.I., (The American Genealogist, Barrington, RI, 1976) Vol. 52, https://www.americanancestors.org/DB283/i/12344/224 Page 224
2. ↑ Martson Watson. "Royal Families Americans of Royal and Noble Ancestry Volume Two Reverend Francis Marbury and Five Generations of His Descendants Through Anne (Marbury) Hutchinson and Katherine (Marbury) Scott)" Baltimore MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.; 2004
3. ↑ Susan Tyler Holman. "Family of James Tyler, Descendants of John Tyler of Portsmouth, Rhode Island" Farmington, Connecticut; 1997, revised 2023 (Library of Congress CS71.T983 1997)
4. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/63803456/james-tyler

• James N Arnold. Vital Record of Rhode Island 1636-1850, Naragansett Historical Publishing Company, Providence, Rhode Island, 1891-1912.

• State of Rhode Island. Statewide Historical Preservation Report P-F-1 on Foster Rhode Island

• 1774 RI Colony Census (Genealogical Publishing Company, Baltimore MD, 1954, page 125), Scituate, James Tyler: 2 males above age 16: [James plus one], 2 males below age 16: [probably Archibald and George], 2 females above age 16: [Sarah (Place) Tyler plus one], 2 females under age 16: [probably Hannah and Phoebe].

• Rhode Island Archives [RIA]: Census of 1777 (page 179) listed James Tyler of Scituate as between ages 16-50 and able.

• 'Rhode Island 1782 Census' (by Jay Mack Holbrook, Oxford MA, 1979) did not list James Tyler under the current spelling nor any of the usual variations. No Tyler surnames were listed in Foster nor in Scituate.

• 1790 US Census ('Heads of Families', Government Printing Office, 1908, Washington), Foster, Providence RI, page 29, James Tyler: 3 males age 16 and over: [probably James, George, plus one], 3 males under age 16: [probably Job, Esek, and John], 3 females: [probably Rhoba, Mary, and Esther].

• 1800 US Census (reel 32-45, Waltham MA), Foster, Providence County RI, page 474, James Tyler: 1 male age 10-16, 1 male 16-26, 1 male over age 45, 2 females age 16-26, 1 female over age 45.

• 1810 US Census (reel 252-59, Waltham MA), Foster, Providence County RI, page 40/367, James Tyler: 1 male age 16-26, 1 male over age 45, 2 females under age 10, 1 female age 16-26, 1 female over age 45.