The Babcocks
David Babcock, my Great, Great, Great Grandfather, emigrated from Haverstraw Town, Orange Co., New York State to Vermont in 1785. He first appears in records at Kingston, 4 December, 1793.
He took up residence at Kingston, Ontario, occupation farmer. He was granted 200 acres of land by the Land Board in Kingston.
The names of his children in his will, dated 6 November, 1812 at Ernestown and registered 30 December, 1828 were: Phoebe, Rebecca, Thankful, Silas, Henry, William, Eli, and Zeba. His wife’s name in the will was Thankful.
Peter Irish born ca. 1750, emigrated as a United Empire Loyalist. He married Mary Corry. Of their seven children, Abraham, U.E. born ca. 1778 married Rebecca Cook. Eunice was their firstborn in 1790 and has UE status, as do her descendants.
Great, Great, Grandfather Silas, who was born in 1793, married Eunice Irish, born 1790, on 9 June 1814. They had three children: Solomon, born 1820 in Ernestown, Ontario; Seth, born in 1831; and August C., born in 1841.
Great Grandfather Solomon became a sawyer and married Mary Walker, born 1831. They had three children: John Nelson, born 3 February, 1847; Mary, born 1848; and Emma, born 1851. Apparently Mary Walker then died and the children, including John Nelson, were raised by ‘Grandmother Walker’, probably Mary Walker’s mother.
Grandfather John Nelson Babcock was born as stated, 3 February 1847, in the Gore of Ernestown, Kingston, Frontenac Co., Ontario. He became a sawyer and married Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ Martin, born 1850. She died in 1882, at thirty-two years of age after giving birth to six children: Walter Wyboldt Peregood David Day Babcock (known as ‘Boldt’), who married Henrietta Cavanaugh; Hattie married Archie Erwin; Mary Ellen (known as ‘Minnie’) born 4 April 1880, married Dr. Fred Trousdale. Then followed Florence, Nelson, and Eileen.
Five years after the death of Elizabeth, John Nelson married Mary Eliza Jane ‘Maude’ Sanderson on 2 May, 1887. She was born 15 February, 1855 and was 32 years old and John Nelson was 40 years old at the time of their marriage. According to my sister, Ida (Babcock) Stocks, John Nelson had acquired greater skills by this time and had risen from sawyer to the title of Millwright, i.e. he sharpened the big saws, and generally made sure everything was in good running order. They lived in a house on Babcock Point on Sharbot Lake and he walked along a bush road some 12 miles to the Mississippi Camp to work. He walked home Saturday after work and returned to camp Sunday evening in order to be ready for work early Monday morning. They had four children: Fred Sanderson, born 2 June, 1888; Herbert Delroy, born 13 March, 1890; Beatrice Helena, born 13 June, 1894; and Emma Elizabeth, born 2 November, 1897. All four children were born at Sharbot Lake, Olden Twp., Frontenac Co., Ontario. John Nelson and Mary Eliza Jane ‘Maude’ Babcock were my grandparents.
My only memories of John Nelson are of visiting them in the small quarters rented for them by my father in the rear of the Cosford’s, now Ranks house, on Wells Street in Aurora. Grandpa had ‘bad legs’, actually covered with oozing ulcers and the bandages had to be changed with great frequency. I remember the sick, sweet smell of decaying flesh predominant as I entered. I also remember the joy of going out into the bright sunshine into their beautiful flower garden with the old standbys Hollyhock, Delphinium, Phlox, Iris, Tiger Lily, and Orange Lily of course. Grandfather was a staunch Orangeman and always dressed in his finest for the Orange Lodge Parade, which used to be held annually on 12 July in Aurora. My sister, Ida, remembers Mother pinning an Orange Lily on his lapel as he left for the parade.
John Nelson used to regale my older brothers Del, Ken, and Jack with stories of his life, especially about his dog, ‘Jack’. One of his predominant sayings was ‘Down with Popery’. He died 2 April, 1929 at the age of 82 and was buried from their living room in their small quarters on Wells Street. My father bore the cost of the funeral. Mother entertained the whole family after the funeral. Grandmother came to live with us on Wellington St. E. in Aurora. She occupied the bedroom in the northeast corner upstairs and busied herself making mittens and afghans, working with the United Church Women, and mending all of the grandchildrens’ clothes. I remember the night she suffered her fatal stroke. She was talking on the telephone at the foot of the stairs with Mrs. Stuart and I was in bed. I heard a sound and rushed down to find her huddled on the floor. I called loudly for Mother and was sent back to bed as my ever-competent Mother took charge. She always seemed to know what to do in a family emergency. Dr. C.J. Devins was called and Grandma was put to bed where she was cared for until her death 15 April, 1935.
Benjamin Babcock, also my Great, Great, Great Grandfather, and a brother of David Babcock, emigrated from Haverstrawtown, Orange County, N.Y. in 1792 as a United Empire Loyalist. He settled in the Gore of Ernestown and was granted 200 acres. He married Susannah Smith and they had ten children: Rachel, born 16 October, 1790; Peter, born 1794; James; Panina; Benjamin; Sarah, born 1797; Jacob, born 1799; John, born 1801; and Elizabeth, born 1803. Benjamin Sr. had joined the King’s Militia in New York and served in Ward’s Blockhouse. After immigration, he became an important figure in early Kingston.
Great, Great, Great Grandfather Jacob Powley was born 14 October, 1744, probably in Holland. In 1769 in Schenectady, N.Y, USA, he married Mary Ann (Annie or Nancy in his will) Van Voorst or Van Vorst. While a resident of Schenectady, he enlisted in the King’s Royal Regiment, 2nd Battalion. He subsequently fled to the Kingston area and lived with the Indians until the end of the war. Army records show that he was five feet five inches tall.
In 1784, he returned to the States for his family and emigrated with them as members of the expedition led by Captain Michael Grass, that same year. Jacob and Mary Ann has eight children: Elizabeth, born 1775; Francis, born 30 October, 1777; Willian, born 20 November, 1788; Jacob, born 12 October, 1780; James (Rev.), born 7 June, 1785; Hannah, born 1786; Mary, born 31 March, 1793; Rebecca, born 20 December, 1795.
In his will he signed his name “Jacob Pauli”. Census records show family origin as “German”.
Jacob and Mary Ann Powley are buried in the Cataraqui United Church Loyalist Cemetary in graves located just a few feet south of the southwest corner of the church.
The inscription on the stone reads: “Here lays the body of Jacob Powley, who gave much satisfaction until the period when he sat in his chair facing the door on the 21st day June 2 o’clock afternoon year 1814. He lay down his head without struggle or a groan to sleep in silence being aged 69 years 8 m 7 dys”.
Great, Great Grandfather James Powley married Rachel Babcock on 17 February, 1812 in Kingston, Frontenac Co. They had ten children: Charles, born 16 September, 1812; John Benjamin, born 3 January, 1814; Eliza Jane, born 13 November, 1815; Jonathan, born 26 October, 1817; Louisa Ann, born 11 January, 1818; Sary Lovenday; Harry Ryan; Synett Miranda, 18 September, 1826; Joseph Waldron; and Sarah Mariah.
In the course of my research, I discovered in the records of Russ Waller, a noted Kingston genealogist, that Jacob Powley was buried at the Cataraqui Cemetary. I visited the Cemetary and looked for the tombstones with no success. Luck and lots of questions later led me to Joan Bruce, the Secretary of the Cataraqui United Church Cemetary, and on May 3, 1992, we met at the Cemetary where I received the following: - “Captain Michael Grass 1735-1813, born in Germany a Palantine German, was called upon to lead a company of Loyalists from New York State in 1784. He had fought for the British against the French and Iroquois, had been captured and imprisoned at Fort Frontenac, then was either released or escaped and returned to the safety of New York State. He continued in the Militia, was offered a commission in the rebel forces and refused, remaining loyal to the King. His knowledge of the Kingston area made him a logical choice as leader of the Loyalist expedition in 1784.”
Jacob Powley, 1745-1814, was one of the Loyalists in Grass’ company. He came to the Cataraqui area in 1784, age 40 years. When Jacob Powley died, a limestone slab 18”x18”x3” thick was cut and engraved by a friend and neighbor. The grave was located a few feet south of the southwest corner of the Cataraqui Methodist Church. On 27 June, 1993, Jean and I visited the Church’s Anniversary Service, found James and Rachel Powley’s house and saw Jacob’s tombstone.
An account of our visit to Cataraqui Loyalist United Church on 27 June, 1993 follows.