Jairus Wilcox (1802 - 1851)

Born 1 Mar 1802 in Middletown, CT

Ancestors

Husband of Mariette Wilcox — married 3 Feb 1825 in Stockbridge, Berkshire, Massachusetts, United States [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 16 Sep 1851 at age 49 in Chicago, IL

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Biography

Jairus Wilcox, son of Benjamin and Rachel, was born 1 March 1802, in Middletown, Connecticut.^[1][2] He was baptized at the Cromwell Congregation Church 16 May 1802.^[3][4] The area where the family lived was called Upper Houses of Middletown, at the time, and later became Cromwell.

Wilcox & Sage
When Jairus was in his early twenties, he began a career in the mercantile business. He advertised:

For Sale Part of the Cargo of Sloop Catharine, now landing at Middletown U. Houses. Consisting of 12 Puncheons of Montserat Rum, first quality, also molasses, sugar, ivory, hides, goat skins, a tortoise shell box, old lead and old iron. Jairus Wilcox and Michael Stocking.^[5]

He went into partnership with Leveritt H. Sage, selling “Groceries, Dry goods, Crockery and Hardware,” about April 1824.^[6] In October, the partnership, took on nine special partners for the purpose of raising funds for capital stock, raising $7000. Jairus invested another $3000.^[7] Then, two years later April 1826, “The firm of WILCOX & SAGE was dissolved by its own limitation on the first day of April instant. The subscribers are authorized to close the concerns of said firm. They will continue business under the firm of Wilcox and Sage^[8] By April 2, 1828, the Superior Court of the State of Connecticut adjudged them to “be insolvent Debtors” ^[9]

Marriage
“Married. In Stockbridge, Mass. Mr. Jairus Wilcox, of Middletown, to Miss Marietta Wilcox, of the former place.” Newspaper dated 8 March 1825.^[10] This marriage may have been 8 Feb 1825^[11] or 8 March 1825^[12] There are four indexes, two reporting each date. All four report a Connecticut place, but the newspaper indicates the marriage took place in the brides hometown, Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Another index reports 3 Feb 1825.^[13] Still another record reports that Mariette Wilcox, daughter of Seth, was baptized 19 Aug 1804 at the Congregational Church and married 2 Feb 1825, Jairus Wilcox of Middletown by Rev. DD Field. ^[14]

Church
Jairus was admitted to the Cromwell Congregational Church 3 June 1827. His wife was admitted at Cromwell, 7 Sept 1827 by letter from the church in Stockbridge. She was dismissed and recommended from the Cromwell Church back to the Stockbridge Church 7 June 1829. Perhaps they lived with her parents to save money, while Jairus studied to be a minister.

Seminary
After the bankruptcy of his business, Jairus decided to become a minister. He attended the Theological Seminary at Bangor, Maine, in 1829. ^[15] He and his wife moved to Stockbridge and he attended Yale in New Haven, Connecticut. He graduated from Yale Seminary, in 1833, after another three years of theological study.^[16][2]

An interesting story of his seminary days was reported in The History of Cromwell. He went to Cromwell for a winter vacation. On his way back to New Haven, he decided he needed to convert someone, so he turned back and spent the day with six young ladies, who eventually were converted.^[17]

The North Ecclesiastical Society of Middletown, (ie. Cromwell) in the early days of it’s Sunday School had as it’s superintendent Jairus Wilcox.^[17]. It is unclear when this was, perhaps during his time as a student

Ordained at Bethany, Connecticut. Pastor Nov. 1832—June 1834.^[2]
The Rev. Jarius Wilcox was installed as pastor in 1832, and was dismissed in 17 June 1834 "with testimony to his ability and fruitfulness".^[4] Marietta was admitted to the Bethany Church in 1833 by letter from Stockbridge.^[4]

Victor, New York. Pastor^[2]
He entered the ministry at Victor on 6 Nov 1836 and served until 14 Jan 1838. In 1837, while he was minister “there was an interesting revival and 39 members were added to the church."^[18]

Bergen Stone Church, New York
In Geneseo County, New York, Jairus was pastor of the Bergen Stone Church.^[19]

Geneseo, Illinois., 1838—1845.^[2]
The revivals of religion held in the early 1830s, “created the desire in many hearts to go and do for Christ in the then far west.” So many talked it over, some thinking it would be good to move on to new land, some with the plan of making a colony “where the institutes of religion and education should be made prominent.” Rev. Jairus Wilcox and John C. Ward originated the plan and some were sent to find and procure a site. The earliest settlers to Geneseo, Illinois, went in 1836. Their minister Jairus Wilcox and his family went in May 1838. They went from Geneseo, New York, across Canada, into southern Michigan, and northern Indiana to Chicago, Illinois and then Princeton, a journey of nine weeks. ^[20][19]

Bethel Church. Chicago, Illinois, 1845-1848^[2]
The Bethel Church was organized 3 August 1836 by a committee from the Rochester Presbytery, consisting of ... Rev. Jairus B. Wilcox. ^[21]

In business, Chicago., Illinois, 1858.^[2]
The 1850 US Census, Chicago, Illinois, listed Jonas [sic] Wilcox, 48, clerk, born in Connecticut; Margrett Wilcox, 46, born in Massachusetts; and children that are probably his: Henry Wilcox, 15, born in New York; Edward Wilcox, 13, born in New York, and Albert Wilcox, 9, b. in Illinois.^[22]

Death 16 Sept 1861, Chicago, Illinois^[2]
Reported in “The Constitution” a Middletown, Connecticut, newspaper: “Died at Chicago, Illinois, on Tuesday, Sept 16th the Rev. Jairus Wilcox, aged 49 years – Son of the late Benjamin Wilcox formerly of this town – Mr. Wilcox was formerly pastor of the Congregational Church in Bethany, Ct. and subsequently pastor of the Bethel Church of Chicago. He died of the Cholera, after an illness of only 12 hours.”^[23]

Children

One of his biographers said "So far I have been unable to secure anything concerning the life of Mr. Wilcox, before or since he was at Victor”^[18] Certainly, this was true of his children. Some of them were obvious, some were difficult to verify and some on this list have not been verified.

1. Infant Wilcox, child of Jarius and Marietta died 19 Nov 1825.^[3] Twin of Robert. Ancestry trees call her Lucy Harriet.
2. Robert Johnson Wilcox, son of Jarius and Mariette was baptized 28 May 1826 at the Congregational Church in Stockbridge.^[14] He was born in Middletown, Connecticut, 19 November 1825.^[24]
3. Infant Wilcox, child of Jarius and Marietta died 27 Nov 1827.^[3]
4. Ann Augusta Wilcox was baptized at the Cong. Church in Cromwell 19 July 1829^[3] Augusta A Thomas, daughter of Jairus Wilcox and Mary Wilcox, was born 17 April 1829, in Massachusetts. She died 18 Jan 1910 at 1842 indiana Ave, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States. She was a widow, 80 years old and a house wife. She was buried at Graceland. Ida (or perhaps Lela) W. Thomas, supplied the information.^[25] Benjamin W,. Thomas married in Chicago 5 Oct 1848 Miss Augusta A Wilcox d/o Rev Jairus Wilcox the first Bethel chaplain in this city^[26]
5. Watson Henry Wilcox (1833-1834^{[citation needed]}) Watson Henry Wilcox, son of Rev. Jairus was baptized at the Bethany Church 1 June 1834.
6. Henry Wilcox b. about 1835 in New York^[22]
7. Edward Wilcox b. about 1837 in New York.^[22]
8. Benjamin Wilcox b. 28 Nov 1839 Geneseo, Illinois; d. 4 Feb 1840. This comes from an unsourced Ancestry Tree.^{[citation needed]}
9. Albert B. Wilcox b. Geneseo, Henry County, Illinois, 21 May 1841, son of Jairus Wilcox and Mariette Wilcox, grandson of Benjamin Wilcox and Rachel Wilcox, greatgrandson of Jairus Wilcox and Mary Abbey Wilcox. He applied for membership and was accepted in 1892 to the Illinois Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. State #185, National #1385. ^[27]

Note: Two of Jairus' sons applied for and were accepted into the SAR using lineage -- their father Jairus Wilcox and Mariette, their Grandfather Benjamin and Rachel Wilcox, their great-grandfather Jairus Wilcox, the Patriot. At least one person applied and was accepted to the DAR through Ann Augusta (Wilcox) Thomas. This is an incorrect lineage. Notes on the DAR site: Future applicants must prove correct lineage, because Benjamin Wilcox was the son of Ozeas & Mary Wilcox

Sources

1. ↑ White, Lorraine Cook, ed. The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records. Vol. 1-55. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1994-2002. Middletown. p. 327
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7} A General Catalogue of the Divinity School of Yale College: A Brief Biographical Record of Its Members in the First Half Century of Its Existence as a Distinct Department, 1822-1872. New Haven: Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor, 1873
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3} Connecticut. Church Records Index. Connecticut State Library, Hartford, Connecticut. Cromwell Congregational Church. 1715-1875. 1954. pp 192, 197, 201
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} Sharpe, W. C. 1839-1924. Bethany Sketches And Records. Seymour [Conn.]: Record print, 190813.
5. ↑ Tuesday, November 18, 1823 Paper: Connecticut Courant (Hartford, Connecticut) Volume: LIX Issue: 3069 Page: 4
6. ↑ Date: Wednesday, April 7, 1824 Paper: Middlesex Gazette (Middletown, Connecticut) Volume: XXXIX Issue: 2002 Page: 3 Just below is a notice: “Those persons indebted to me by Note or Book account are requested to call at my Store and settle the same Middletown Upper Houses April 6 1824”
7. ↑ Date: Wednesday, October 6, 1824 Paper: Middlesex Gazette (Middletown, Connecticut) Volume: XXXIX Issue: 2028 Page: 3
8. ↑ Date: Wednesday, April 5, 1826 Paper: Middlesex Gazette (Middletown, Connecticut) Volume: XLI Issue: 3006 Page: 3
9. ↑ Date: Wednesday, April 2, 1828 Paper: Middlesex Gazette (Middletown, Connecticut) Volume: XLIII Issue: 214 Page: 3
10. ↑ Date: Tuesday, March 8, 1825 Paper: Connecticut Herald (New Haven, Connecticut) Volume: XXII Issue: 23 Page: 3
11. ↑ "Connecticut Marriages, 1630-1997", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7LN-HP2 : 31 March 2016), Jairus Wilcox and Marietta Wilcox, 1825.
12. ↑ "Connecticut Marriages, 1630-1997," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7PJ-1RM : 27 December 2014), Jairus Wilcox and Marietta Wilcox, 08 Mar 1825; citing Connecticut, United States, reference p 420; FHL microfilm 3,316.
13. ↑ Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
14. ↑ ^{14.0 14.1} Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data: Town and City Clerks of Massachusetts. Massachusetts Vital and Town Records. Provo, UT: Holbrook Research Institute (Jay and Delene Holbrook). 3x5cards compiled from stockbridge town records (I assume) at Ancestry (pay site)
15. ↑ Survey of the Theological Seminary at Bangor, ME. Published by Order of the Trustees, about 1829. Classical School Students – Jairus Wilcox of Middletown, Conn. (Nineteen of the students in the Classical School expect to become Ministers: -- Nine of them are preparing for College, and ten are preparing to enter the Theological Seminary, without a College course.
16. ↑ Ancestry.com. U.S., College Student Lists, 1763-1924 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Original data: College Student Lists. Worcester, Massachusetts: American Antiquarian Society. 1830 (Sophomore) 1831 Middle Class, 1832 Senior Class resident of Stockbridge, Mass.
17. ↑ ^{17.0 17.1} Dudley, Myron Samuel. History of Cromwell: A Sketch. Middletown: Constitution Office, 1880. p 16
18. ↑ ^{18.0 18.1} Backus, Clarence W. Historical sketch of the First Presbyterian church of Victor, N.Y., including an introductory sketch of Victor and its early history, and an appendix with rolls of ministers, officers and church members. Rochester, N.Y., J. A. Gillies, 1888. pp 79, 89 33.
19. ↑ ^{19.0 19.1} Geneseo centennial history : 1836-1936. by Geneseo Centennial Association. Historical Committee. Kewanee, Ill. : Printed by the Star-Courier, 1936. Chapter: The Geneseo Colony by Ella Hume Taylor. p. 12, 13 link Archive
20. ↑ Kiner, Henry L. ‘’History of Henry County, Illinois.’’ Chicago : The Pioneer Pub. , 1910 .p. 495 link Google books
21. ↑ “Children of the Bethel: A Semi-Centennial Celebration Held in the Central Church.” Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, New York) 30 Dec 1886, Thu p. 7 column 3.
22. ↑ ^{22.0 22.1 22.2} "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11836-152027-56?cc=1401638 : 9 April 2016), Jonas Wilcox et al. Illinois > Cook > Chicago, ward 8 > image 40 of 78; citing NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
23. ↑ Date: Wednesday, October 1, 1851 Paper: Constitution (Middletown, Connecticut) Volume: XIV Issue: 718 Page: 3
24. ↑ U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data: Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970. Louisville, Kentucky: National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Microfilm, 508 rolls. Link at Ancestry (pay site) Natl # 1384. State # 184 Robert Johnson Wilcox
25. ↑ "Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1878-1994," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2MQ-X2C8 : 17 May 2016), Augusta A Thomas, 18 Jan 1910; citing Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States, source reference 1648, record number , Cook County Courthouse, Chicago; FHL microfilm 1,239,847.
26. ↑ Andreas, Alfred Theodore History of Chicago: From 1857 until the fire of 1871 p. 581 under heading Thomas & Putnam
27. ↑ U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data: Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970. Louisville, Kentucky: National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Microfilm, 508 rolls. Link at Ancestry (pay site)