Melissa (Rumsey) Gitchell (1816 - 1885)

Born 12 May 1816 in New York, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Robert Anderson Gitchell — married 6 Apr 1845 in Tioga County, Pennsylvania

Died 18 Apr 1885 at age 68 in Troupsburg, Steuben, New York, United States

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Biography

Melissa was born about 1820. She is the daughter of Lyman Rumsey and Lucy Austin.

1. Rev. Eli1 Gitchell, son of David Gitchell and Margaret Gallup*, reference Rumsey Hil (#5751) was born in Massachusetts 18 OCT 1783. Eli died 29 JAN 1859 in Sullivan Township, Tioga County, Pennsylvania, at age 75. His body was interred JAN 1859 in Gitchell Cemetery, Sullivan Township, Tioga County, Pennsylvania.

He married Polly Reed * BEF 1806. (Polly Reed* is #5750.) Polly was born 1787 in Vermont. Polly died 18 MAY 1863 in Sullivan Township, Tioga County, Pennsylvania, at age 75. Her body was interred MAY 1863 in Gitchell Cemetery, Sullivan Township, Tioga County, Pennsylvania. See story in Jean Rumsey work about aversion to riding.

Margaret GITCHELL "Lovell", a grandaughter of Polly and Eli, related the following family story. "Grandpa came to what is now Rumsey Hill about 1815. (Shows on 1812 tax roll) He bought 100 acres of land that was all woods. He cut the first tree, cleared a place, and built a log house. All the tools he had were an axe, hammer, auger, and saw. Not having nails he used wooden pins. He built a fire place, but when the family (there were four hcildren at that time) moved ther in 1816, ther were no doors or windows in the house. Grandma had woven woolen sheets and coverlets which were hung in place of doors and wildows and lived so the first winter. When the doors were made they were hung with wooden hinges and wooden latches, with buckskin string to raise them with. At one time all the bread they had was made fromgrain ground in a coffee mill. Once Grandpa walked and carried a bushel of wheat on his back sixty miles to get it ground. Later four neighbors took turns going with oxen sixty miles taking a grist for each. They had plenty to eat however, potatoes, rice, maple sugar, and milk. The wild animals were quite numerous. One night when Grandpa was away from home, Grandma went for water and was followed by a panther. She supposed it was a wolf, but the tracks were panther. It was a common thing tohear them howl at night and they always kept a fire all night to frighten them away. After a while they built a frame house that was considered a "big house" having eight rooms down stairs and a chamber as large as the ground floor."

Eli registered to pay taxes 1816 in Sullivan Township, Tioga County, Pennsylvania. Sullivan Township was formed in 1816. It was taken from Covington Township. Its original boundaries included the southern half of Rutland formed in 1829, and the northern part of Ward which was formed in 1852.

Rev. Eli Gitchell served as Justice of the Peace. 1819 in Sullivan Township, Tioga County, Pennsylvania. Eli's term was from 1819 to 1822, when he was succeeded by John Cochran.

Eli was listed as the head of a family on the 1820 Census in Sullivan Township, Tioga County, Pennsylvania. Eli was listed as the head of a family on the 1830 Census in Sullivan Township, Tioga County, Pennsylvania. Eli was listed as the head of a family on the 1840 Census in Sullivan Township, Tioga County, Pennsylvania. In addition to Polly and Eli, their household included one male 5-10, one male 20-30, one female 30-40, and one female 80-90. Polly and Eli are listed in the 60-70 age category which is older than they actually are.

In the Census of 1850, Eli was listed as a head of household in Sullivan Township, Tioga County, Pennsylvania. Eli was a millwright with property worth $1500. Robert was a farmer. Related to Aaron Gitchell and Levi Gitchell who settled with him on Rumsey Hill. Need further detail. Eli and Polly migrated to Sullivan about 1812.

Rev. Eli Gitchell and Polly Reed* had the following children:

2 i. Francis W.2 Gitchell (#7261) was born in Vermont 10 NOV 1806. Francis died 25 NOV 1894 in Sullivan Township, Tioga County, Pennsylvania, at age 88. His body was interred NOV 1894 in Mainesburg Cemetery, Sullivan Township, Tioga County, Pennsylvania. He married Susan Lovell BEF 1832. (Susan Lovell is #7765.) Susan was born 11 SEP 1810 in Connecticut. Susan was the daughter of Mr. ? Lovell. Susan died 3 OCT 1893 in Sullivan Township, Tioga County, Pennsylvania, at age 83. Her body was interred OCT 1893 in Mainesburg Cemetery, Sullivan Township, Tioga County, Pennsylvania. Francis Brother in law William Lovell with them in 1880- assume Lovell to be her surname. Francis was listed as the head of a family on the 1840 Census in Sullivan Township, Tioga County, Pennsylvania. Susan and Francis had one female and one male under five, two females 5-10, in their household. They were next door the his parents, Polly and Eli.

In the Census of 1850, Francis was listed as a head of household in Sullivan Township, Tioga County, Pennsylvania. Francis Gitchell was a farmer with property worth $1000.

3 ii. Robert Anderson Gitchell (#5749) was born in Pennsylvania 1810. Individual flags: Newspaper. Robert died SEP 1877 in Troupsburg, Steuben County, New York, at age 67. He married Melissa Rumsey 06 APR 1845 in Tioga County, Pennsylvania. (Melissa Rumsey is #5748.) Melissa was born 12 MAY 1816 in New York. Melissa was the daughter of Lyman Allyn Rumsey and Lucy Ann Austin. Melissa died 17/18 APR 1885 in Troupsburg, Steuben County, New York, at age 68. Mansfield Advertiser 12th Sep 1877: Died Robert Gitchell formerly of Sullivan at his home in Troupsburg, Steuben NY.

4 iii. Sarah A. Gitchell (#6365) was born in Sullivan Township, Tioga County, Pennsylvania 4 FEB 1813. Individual flags: Obituary. Sarah died 21 MAR 1887 in Mainesburg, Sullivan Township, Tioga County, Pennsylvania, at age 74. Mansfield Advertiser 23 Mar 1887- Mrs. Sarah Gitchell Runsey died Mainesburg, Mar 21st, 7 children: Joseph B. of Ohio; Aaron of Portland, Oregon; Charles M. and E. G. of Mainesburg; Mrs. D. D. Miller of Sullivan twp.; Mrs. C. E. Lovel of Canisteo, NY; Mrs. N. Soper of Covington, sister Mrs. Madison Rose, brother Francis Gitchell of Sullivan twp. Her body was interred MAR 1887 in Mainesburg Cemetery, Sullivan Township, Tioga County, Pennsylvania. She married Noah Rumsey Jr. 20 FEB 1834. (Noah Rumsey Jr. is #5965.)

Noah was born 4 AUG 1805 in Hubbardton, Rutland County, Vermont. Noah was the son of Noah Rumsey and Susannah Cudworth. Noah died 24 NOV 1857 in Sullivan Township, Tioga County, Pennsylvania, at age 52. His body was interred NOV 1857 in Mainesburg Cemetery, Sullivan Township, Tioga County, Pennsylvania. Noah was listed as the head of a family on the 1840 Census in Sullivan Township, Tioga County, Pennsylvania. Noah and Sarah had one male and one female under five, one female 5-10 in their household.

In the Census of 1850, Noah was listed as a head of household in Sullivan Township, Tioga County, Pennsylvania. Noah was a farmer with property worth $2000. Noah was but two years old when his parents located in Sullivan Township. Here he grew to manhood assisting his parents in the home duties and undergoing the trials and hardships incident to pioneer days. Like his father, he was a stanch Democrat, and both he and his wife were members of Cherry Flats Baptist Church. 1850 Census says he was born in New York, and brother Aaron one year older was born in Vermont, the former obviously an error. Noah was both a farmer and a shoe and boot maker.

5 iv. Elmina G. Gitchell (#7473) was born in Sullivan Township, Tioga County, Pennsylvania 01 MAY 1817. Elmina died 14 FEB 1889 in Sullivan Township, Tioga County, Pennsylvania, at age 71. Her body was interred FEB 1889 in State Road Cemetery, Sullivan Township, Tioga County, Pennsylvania. She married James Madison Rose. (James Madison Rose is #6824.) James was born 18 JUL 1815 in Ward Township, Tioga County, Pennsylvania. James was the son of Daniel Rose V and Sally Elliott. James died 29 DEC 1893 at age 78. His body was interred DEC 1893 in State Road Cemetery, Sullivan Township, Tioga County, Pennsylvania. James was listed as the head of a family on the 1840 Census in Sullivan Township, Tioga County, Pennsylvania. Elmina and James lived next door to his parents.

James was listed as the head of a family on the 1850 Census in Richmond Township, Tioga County, Pennsylvania. no confirmation that she is Eli's daughter. May be Levi's.

In the 1870 census Melissa (age 54), Keeping House, was in Troupsburg, Steuben, New York.^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ 1870 Census: "US Census 1870"
   FindMyPast Image - FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 3 February 2024)
   Melissa A Gitchell (54) in Troupsburg, Steuben, New York, United States. Born in New York.