Gabriel Hathaway (1793 - 1878)

Born 30 Jun 1793 in Orange County, New York

Descendants

Died 4 Oct 1878 at age 85 in LaGrange, Cass County, Michigan

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Debbie Barrett [send private message]

Biography

Gabriel Hathaway was born June 30, 1793, in either New Jersey or New York. ^[1] He was identified by his nephew Daniel Pool as the brother of Hannah (Hathaway) Pool, and John M. Hathaway of Allegany County, New York. ^[2]

Interestingly, in February 1816, Gabriel’s brother-in-law and sister, Daniel and Hannah Pool, requested legislative relief from the State of New York involving the will of Peter Mettar. The relief was granted on April 17, 1816. It’s believed he is the same Gabriel Mettar mentioned in the official records. It is still unclear what the exact relationship is between the Hathaway family and Peter Mettar.

Whereas Peter Mettar, an alien, late of the town of Walkill, in the county of Orange, was in his life time and at the time of his death, seized of a certain tract of land situated in the said town of Walkill, and containing about fifty-three acres of land, and did in and by his last will and testament, will and desire that all his real estate should be equally divided between Hannah Mettar, now the wife of Daniel Pool, Betsey Mettar, Gabriel Mettar and John Mettar, and their heirs and assigns forever; and whereas the said last will and testament was witnessed by only two witnesses, and the said Peter Mettar afterwards died without having left any person capable of inheriting the said land, whereby the same has escheated to the people of the state of New York. ^[3]

Records indicate Gabriel married Mary Masters and their first child Maria Lydia Hathaway was born in 1818 but the exact location is unknown. The first mention of Gabriel Hathaway was found in the Geneva NY Gazette in July 1824 when he had a letter at the Phelps Post Office. There was also a letter there for Isaac Hathaway. ^[4] It’s believed his son Josiah Hathaway was born in New Hudson, Allegany County in May 1825.

In 1830 the family was in Urbana, Steuben County, New York where Gabriel was a carpenter. On June 1, 1831 he purchased land in Wheeler, Steuben County. ^[5]

By 1840, Gabriel had joined his brother John in Allegany County, New York, residing in nearby Cuba, NY. At their annual town meeting held on March 1842, Gabriel Hathaway was listed as one of the overseers of highways. ^{[6] [7]}

In 1844, along with a Mr. Vanwert, Gabriel moved his family to Cass County, Michigan.

Gabriel Hathaway, a carpenter from Allegany County, N.Y., settled on the edge of Young’s Prairie,” in Penn Township, in 1844, and not long afterward removed to this township, and located where his son Orrin now lives, near the Jones Mill. The family consisted of his wife, Mary Masters, and seven children, and after their arrival in Michigan two others were born. Lydia, Maria (Roundtree), John and Silas are deceased; Orrin and Josiah are residents of this township; Leonard and Joseph are in Iowa, and Frederick and Charles (deceased). Gabriel Hathaway died in 1877, at the age of eighty-four years. ^[8]

Gabriel settled in LaGrange, Michigan, where he was found in 1850. He reported that he and Mary were born in New Jersey, but later census records give his birth place as New York. Mary died in May 1851 and is buried in the LaGrange Cemetery. ^[9]

He married Cyrenia Scofield on September 21, 1851. Nothing more is known about her. ^[10]

He married Tanzell Vance on April 20, 1859 in Franklin County, Illinois. In 1860, Gabriel and Tanzell were in Franklin County, Illinois. ^{[11] [12]}

On May 7, 1862 he was appointed Postmaster in Franklin County, Illinois; he was replaced in 1863. ^[13]

Gabriel Hathaway died October 4, 1878 at age 81 years, 3 months and 4 days. He is buried in the LaGrange Cemetery, LaGrange, Cass County, Michigan. ^[14]

This profile is a collaborative work-in-progress. Can anyone contribute more?

Sources

1. ↑ Based on age at death inscribed on gravestone: 81 years 3 months, 4 days.
2. ↑ Family history files of Dee Poole; citing: POOLE file at DeWitt Historical Society of Ithaca, New York (now the History Center); 1880 interview with Daniel Poole family, Halsey Valley, New York; interview with Arthur Poole, Brooktondale, New York, September 1, 1922; transcribed 11-16-1991.
3. ↑ Laws of the State of New York: Revised and Passed at the Thirty-Ninth, Fortieth and Forty-First Sessions of the Legislature, Jan 1816-April 1818; . . . Volume 4, New York State, Elisha B. Strong.
4. ↑ Geneva NY Gazette, July 14, 1824.
5. ↑ U. S. Federal Census: 1830, Urbana, Steuben County, New York.
6. ↑ U. S. Federal Census: 1840, Cuba, Allegany County, New York, “G. Hathaway.”
7. ↑ Civic History and illustrated progress of Cuba, Allegany Co., NY, 1822-1910; online database, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Provo, UT.
8. ↑ History of Cass County, Michigan; Chicago: Waterman, Watkins & Co., 1882.
9. ↑ U. S. Federal Census: 1850, LaGrange, Cass County, Michigan.
10. ↑ Michigan Marriages, 1822-1995; database, FamilySearch, Gabriel Hathaway and Cyrenia Scofield, 21 Sep 1851; citing reference ; FHL microfilm 121,044.
11. ↑ International Genealogical Index (IGI); database, FamilySearch, entry for Gabriel Hathaway, batch 8911105, sheet 44, serial 00237; citing FHL microfilm 1,553,428; citing “Parish Printout, Family History Library Microfilm”
12. ↑ U. S. Federal Census: 1860, Township 6 S Range 3 E, Franklin, Illinois.
13. ↑ U. S. Appointments of U. S. Postmasters, 1832-1971; Illinois, Franklin Co.; online database, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Provo, UT.
14. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #19555911