[CG] 1773: Baptismal Record of Gallatin Reformed Church, Gallatinville, New York, 1748-1899, Arthur C. M. Kelly, Rhinebeck, NY, 1968: Reference No. 500, 1773, 6.21, Ebenor [sic], Par.:
Collin Mc Carter, Mary McCarter; Wits: John Van Buren, Latice Van Buren.
1775: Baptismal Record of Gallatin Reformed Church, Gallatinville, New York, 1748-1899,
Arthur C. M. Kelly, Rhinebeck, NY, 1968: Reference No. 538, 1775, 10.22, Annatje, Par.:
Charles M'Arthur, Dorothe Decker; Wits: John Van Buren & Latitia Smit/ wife.
1776: Baptismal Record of Gallatin Reformed Church, Gallatinville, New York, 1748-1899,
Arthur C. M. Kelly, Rhinebeck, NY, 1968: Reference No. 552, 1776, 2.6, Cornelis, Par.: John
Van Buren, Latitia Smit; Wits: Charles M'Carty & wife Dorothea Decker.
1777: Baptismal Record of Gallatin Reformed Church, Gallatinville, New York, 1748-1899,
Arthur C. M. Kelly, Rhinebeck, NY, 1968: Reference No. 588, 1777, 6.8, David, Par.: David
Windworth, Christine Decker; Wits: John Van Bure [sic], Letish Smit/ wife.
1779: Baptismal Record of Gallatin Reformed Church, Gallatinville, New York, 1748-1899,
Arthur C. M. Kelly, Rhinebeck, NY, 1968: Reference No. 667, 1779, 3.21, Elisabeth, Par.:
Michel Ellot, Lucretia Van Buren; Wits: John van Buren, Lattis Smit.
1780: Baptismal Record of Gallatin Reformed Church, Gallatinville, New York, 1748-1899,
Arthur C. M. Kelly, Rhinebeck, NY, 1968: Reference No. 739, 1780, 5.21, George, Par.: John
Van Bueren, Letitia Smith; Wits: William Elliot, Elizabeth Elliot.
1785: Baptismal Record of Gallatin Reformed Church, Gallatinville, New York, 1748-1899,
Arthur C. M. Kelly, Rhinebeck, NY, 1968: Reference No. 899, 1785, 5.22, John Laurier, b. 2.
20, Par.: William Elliott, Lucretia Laurier; Wits: John van Buren, Ladice Schmit.
Athens Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church: 1704-1918, Town of Athens, Greene County ,
Baptism Record of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church; Child: Letitie Reference ID: 2830; Birth
Date: 19 Apr 1779; Bapt. Date: 26 May 1779; Parents: Charles Schmid; Margretge; Sponsors:
Jan V Buren; Letitie his wife.
1820 Census, M 33, Roll 70, Columbia Co., NY, Hillsdale, p. 166: Trefferd, Letitia, 1 F 45+, 1
F Slave, 26-45.
1830 Census, M 19, roll 97, p. 082, NY, NYC 7th Ward: Lucy Trafford, 1M 10-15, 1F 10-15,
1F 15-20, 1F 60-70 (Letitia?).
1840 Census, M 704, roll 277, p. 131, NY, Claverack, in household of Peter Vandeboe (Not in
Index): 1 F 80-90 (Letitia?)
Unpuzzling The Will of Thomas Smith of Kings Co., NY
(1747-1828)
by
Carol Elaine (Smith) Gohari
The Sister, Letitia Smith, widow of John Trafford
The next-mentioned person in the will of Thomas Smith is Letitia Trafford, widow of John. Because her place of residence was not stated, a search was made of the Trafford surname in New York Censuses. Luckily it is one of the more uncommon surnames. In the 1820 Census, Letitia Trefferd (sic), was living in Hillsdale, Columbia Co., New York. Her household consisted of one female over 45 and one female slave, 26-45. By following this thread back in time, her husband, John Trafford, is found in earlier censuses. In the 1790 Census John Trafford was living in Livingston Town, Columbia Co. John Trafford appeared in the account book of Abraham Bachman of Claverack, 1792-93. By the 1800 Census he is still in Columbia Co. In 1810 neither John Trafford nor Letitia Trafford is listed. It was assumed that John Trafford died prior to 1810. In a search for a will for John Trafford, we find that he died in 1809:
I John Trawford [sic] of the Town of Hillsdale County of Columbia and State of New York, Farmer, Do make and publish this my last will and Testament. In manner and form following first I desire to be decently buried and as to my worldly property it is my will to dispose of in manner following. First to pay my funeral charges and also all my just debts to be paid out of the farm that I now live on, and I do give and bequeath to my loving wife Lattis [sic] one third of the farm of Land whereon I now dwell during her natural life and after her death the said one third I do give to my son Thomas Trafford and I do give and bequeath to Benjamin Snider my son in Law one equal third of all my landed estate and I do give and bequeath to my son Thomas Trafford all the other remaining third part of my landed Estate, the said Lettis [sic] my wife, Benjamin Snider my son in Law and Thomas Trafford my son paying all my debts and I do give to my daughter Ann Trafford one cow and one feather tuck and one string of gold beeds. And I do give and bequeath to my daughter Elennor Trafford one Cow, one feather tuck and one string of gold beeds and I do give and bequeath to my two daughters, That is to say Ann Trafford and Elinnor Trafford, all my bank stock in the bank of New York to be equally divided twixt my two daughters. And it is my will and I do give and bequeath to the children of my daughter Lana Breasey [Breassy?] deceased one hundred Dollars cash of them to be paid to them as they shall be come a lawful age and to be paid out of my said landed estate and it is my will and I do give to my loving wife Lattis my clock and I do give to my son Thomas Trafford my Silver Watch and my Gun and I do moreover give to my loving wife Lattis my negro Girl ["Floss"?] and it is my will and I do appoint Aaron Reed and Benjamin Snider to be my executors to this my last will and Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty first day of September one thousand eight hundred and Nine In presence of E Kingman,
Again, available records of Columbia County were examined for pertinent information. It was apparent from existing church baptismal records that John Trafford had been married first to Magdalena Rohrbach and second to Letitia Smith. There is no known record for either marriage, but the year can be estimated from the birth of the first child. Extant gravestone inscriptions tell that John and “Lettish” Trafford had one child, John Trafford who died in infancy, Sept. 9, 1798, age 1 year 10 months . This would give this infant a birth date of 9 Nov 1796, placing the presumed marriage of John and Letitia (Smith) Trafford at about February 1796 or a bit before. In 1798 John Trafford and “Lucretia” Trafford were sponsors at a baptism in Hillsdale. John Trafford and Latitia Smith acted as sponsors at a baptism at West Copake in 1800. Finally, in 1805, John and Letitia Trafford were sponsors at the baptism of John's grandson, John Trafford Snyder.
However, more importantly, Letitia Smith had been married previously to John Van Beuren of Columbia County. John Van Bueren and Letitia Smith's marriage was recorded in Kinderhook, New York, 14 Feb 1771. This marriage was recorded also in New York Marriage Licenses. John van Buren and wife Letitia “Smidt” were sponsors at baptisms at Livingston in 1771, 1780, and 1781. John Van Beuren was a son of Dr. Pieter2Van Bueren (Dr. Johannes1) and Magdalena (Kimber) Benham. He was named in the 1764 will of his father, probated 1767. In the 1769 will of Stephen Van Rensselaer, proved 1770, the following is left to son Phillip Van Rensselaer: “…a tract in my Manor on the east side of Hudson river, at a place called Scotack, bounded on the river, and to run east between the lands of John Beekman and Johanes Van Bueren, until it makes 1,500 acres. With a grist mill and sawmill on Scotack creek, with the privilege of getting logs on any part of my Manor.” John and Letitia Van Buren stood as godparents for baptisms in Gallatinville in 1773, 1775, 1777, 1779, and 1785. They acted as sponsors at West Copake in 1786. John Van Buren appeared on a tax list for Livingston Manor, Columbia Co. in 1779. John Van Buren also appears in Abraham Bachman's Claverack Account book for 1792-93. John and Letitia Van Beuren's last known child was born in May of 1792, and John Van Bueren may have died soon after that date. No record of John Van Bueren's will, death or grave stone inscription has been located.
By 1830, a Lucy Trafford was found living in New York City. In this household were one male 10-15, one female 15-20, one female 20-30, and one female 60-70. No confirming New York Directory entries for a Lucy Trafford were found from 1826-1831. She was not located as a head of household in the 1840 Census, but at her advanced age, she was probably living with relations. “Lettisha” Trafford died at Hillsdale, 24 March 1842 in her 88th year. If her age at death is correct, this gives Letitia Smith a birth year of 1754.
Known Children of John Van Beuren and Letitia Smith:
i. Cornelis, bp. 6 Feb 1776.
ii. John, b. 4 Feb 1778, bp. 25 Feb 1778.
iii. George, bp. 21 May 1780.
iv. Charles, b. 17 Mar 1782, bp. 14 Apr 1782.
v. Mary, b. 15 Mar 1784, bp. 11 Apr 1784.
vi. Andrew, b. 28 Feb 1787, bp. 1 Apr 1787.
vii. Henry, b. 28 Jun 1789, bp. 26 Jul 1789.
viii. James Benham, b. 9 May 1792, bp. 17 Jun 1792.
Known children of John Trafford and Magdalena Rohrbach:
1. Magdalena, b. 15 Aug 1780, bp. 23 Sep 1780, Pine Plains, NY, m. ca 1797, William Bressee, d. 18 Feb 1808, bur. Craryville,Columbia Co., NY. Her grave stone reads: “Mrs. Magdalen Brusee, wife of William, Feb. 18, 1808, 27-3-28.” Her age as given on the grave stone is not in agreement with the month and day given in the baptismal record. As “Lana Breasey” she was named as deceased in her father's will.
Her children named in 1810 Guardianship proceedings were (Bresee/Brezie):
i. Amanda, b. ca 1798 (12 y old)
ii. William, (No age given)
iii. Jane, b. ca 1800 (10y old)
iv. John T., b. ca 1802 (8y old)
v. Morton Pier, b. ca 1805 (5y old)
vi. Anna, b. ca 1808 (2y old)
2. Mary, b. 3 Oct 1782, bp. 20 Oct 1782, m. Benjamin Snyder , 5 July 1811, d. 1 March 1844, 61-4-26. Children.
3. Ann, b. 11 Oct 1785, bp. 6 Mar 1786, m. as his first wife, Peter Vandeboe, d. Jan 2, 1841, 55-2-24. Children.
4. Thomas, b. 13 Apr 1788, bp.1 June 1788, d. Jan. 1, 1859 in 71st year. Unmarried.
5. Helena/Eleanor, b. 10 May 1791, bp. 29 May 1791, m. aft. 1841, as his second wife, Peter Vandeboe. She died aft. 1855 Census NY. No Children. No death record or gravestone has been located for her in Columbia Co., NY.
Keep the Vandeboe surname in mind, as it appears again in another context.
↑ Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed 15 April 2020), "Record of John Trafford", Ancestor # A135173.
Acknowledgments
Thank you to Robert Haack for creating WikiTree profile Smith-48923 through the import of romans.ged on Jul 24, 2013. Click to the Changes page for the details of edits by Robert and others.
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