Report on Ancestors of Matthias Williamson

Date: 1790 [unknown]
Location: New York, United States

Contents 1 Introduction 2 Matthias Williamson's Immediate Family 3 John Williamson's Family Unknown 4 David and Betsy Goodale Family 4.1 Sailor's Snug Harbor, Staten Island 4.2 David's War of 1812 Service and Betsey's Widow's Pension Applications 5 Link to Ancestors of Eleanor Ann Bongiovi

Introduction

In January 2022, What Happened to Eleanor Bongiovi's Biological Family? discussed the family and ancestors of Eleanor Ann (Williamson) Bongiovi (1925-2015). This follow up will report on her father's paternal ancestors. Eleanor's father was Harry Mathias Williamson (1880-1940) and his father was Matthias M. Williamson (abt.1845-1890).

Matthias Williamson's Immediate Family

Matthias's parents were John M. Williamson (abt.1820-bef.1875) and Maria A. (Goodale) Williamson (abt.1825-1906) from Sag Harbor, New York. John and Marie had 6 children.

John and Maria's first child was Matthias.

The second child was Wallace Williamson (abt.1847-1927), who may have been a keeper at the Cedar Island Lighthouse in Sag Harbor, NY.

The third child was Marie Antoinette (Williamson) Wrigley (1851-1907). Marie married Joseph Wrigley (1847-1934) in 1883 and they had two children Florence L. (Wrigley) Harland (1889-) and Albert Howard Wrigley (1893-).

The forth child was Frank C. Williamson (abt.1852-1894) who married Maggie. Maggie and Frank had at a son, Edward Williamson (abt.1873-).

The fifth child was Ernest Williamson (abt.1857-1894), who did not marry.

The final child was Adelaide Williamson (abt.1858-bef.1865), who died before she was 7 years old.

John Williamson's Family Unknown

The identity of John M. Williamson (abt.1820-bef.1875)'s parents and family has not been found.

David and Betsy Goodale Family

Matthias's mother, Maria A. (Goodale) Williamson (abt.1825-1906), was from a Long Island family. Her father was David Goodale (-1850) and her mother was Betsey (Payne) Goodale (abt.1798-1884). David and Betsey appear to have had around 12 children, seven of whom have been identified.

The oldest known child was David Goodale (abt.1814-1903). David was a Captain of a Whaling Boat and later a Watchman. He married Emily Maria (Foote) Goodale (1823-1886) and they had four children, two who died as children. David and Emily lived and are buried in New Haven, Connecticut.

The name of the next child is not known. Unknown Goodale (abt.1818-1822) died at 4 1/2 years of age on October 26, 1822.

Elizabeth Goodale was born in the early 1820s. It appears she was only married once, but her married name varies greatly. She appears in the Census records as Elizabeth Lapham, Elizabeth McKeague, Elizabeth Laphal and possibly Ella Sophina. Married Charles Lapham. They had three daughters.

The next known child was Jeremiah Goodale (abt.1828-1907). Jeremiah married Katherine and they had no known children. Jeremiah was a mariner and a laborer.

The next child was Joseph W. Goodale (1843-1928) who married Lucelia). Joseph and Lucelia had at least one child, Bessy L Goodale (abt.1875-bef.1880).

The final known child is Emily Goodale (abt.1848-). After the 1880 US census, Emily either marries or passes away.

Sailor's Snug Harbor, Staten Island

In the 1900 United States Census, brothers and former mariners David Goodale (abt.1814-1903) and Jeremiah Goodale (abt.1828-1907) were residents at Sailor's Snug Harbor, a sailors retirement home. Sailors' Snug Harbor was founded as a retirement home for sailors after Captain Robert Richard Randall bequeathed funds for that purpose upon his 1801 death. At its peak in the late 19th century, about 1,000 retired sailors lived at Snug Harbor.

In 1899, a magazine published an article describing life at Sailor's Snug Harbor. Click here to read the article.

David's War of 1812 Service and Betsey's Widow's Pension Applications

David Goodale served in the New York Militia during the War of 1812. He served in three units:

1. September 23 - December 9, 1812 - served as a private in Capt David Heage's Company of the New York Militia.
2. June 15 - September 20, 1813 - served as a private in Capt Leidwick Post's Company of the New York Militia.
3. August 16, 1814 - February 17, 1815 - served as a private in Capt David Haynes' Company of the New York Militia.

He probably served in Mantauk and Sag Harbor.

Soon after his death, on December 4, 1850, Betsey filed an affidavit in order to obtain a land bounty as a widow of a War of 1812 veteran. In the 1870's, Congress passed a law providing a pension to War of 1812 Widows. Soon after, on April 1871, Betsey appeared before the clerk of the Kings County Court to declare she was eligible for the pension. She was awarded a pension and received $8/month (about $300 today) from 14 Feb 1874 until her death in 1884.

Link to Ancestors of Eleanor Ann Bongiovi

• The pedigree of Eleanor Ann (Williamson) Bongiovi (1925-2015): Click here