Francelia A. Wightman

Notes:

In the 1850 census she is Francelia A.; in 1860 she is F. R.; in 1870 she is Celia.

Notes:

In the Federal Census of 1850, Wm & Melissa are at Wirt, Allegany Co., NY. They have a daughter Francelia, 5 mos. Also with them is William's brother Simon, 23.

In the Federal Census of 1860, Wm & Malissa Whitman, ages 35 & 32, are at Wirt, Allegany Co., NY. They have four children in the household: F. R. 10, Phebe 7, Wm M. 2, & Emma O. 1. (William M. & Emma both died young.)

In the Federal Census of 1870, William & Melissa, ages 46 & 42, are still living at Wirt, Allegany Co., NY. They have four children in the household: Celia 20, Phebe M. 17, Mary E. 7, & Sidney E. 4.

According to the book "Allegany County and its people: a centennial memorial history of Allegany County, New York" (Alfred, N.Y.: W.A. Fergusson & Co., 1896), William, son of Simon & Catherine, lived at Turtle Point, PA, when the book was written. Consequently, I have made an assumption that this William in the 1900 Federal Census is the same individual; he and his wife Melissa are living at Annin Township, McKean Co., PA. Turtle Point is also in McKean Co.

Census data says they have been married 53 years, and have had 7 children, of whom 4 are still living.

The may have had another daughter Elizabeth R., born and died in 1861 (source: online cemetery data).

William married Melissa M. Unknown Abt 1847. Melissa was born Feb 1828, NY; died 1901; was buried , Dimick-Wirt Cemetery, Allegany Co., NY. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Online cemetery info has Melissa's year of birth as 1820.

Notes:

The 1830 Federal Census at Bolivar, Allegany Co., NY, lists the following Wightmans: Simon, Aaron, E.H.

The 1840 Federal Census at Wirt, Allegany Co., NY, list the following Wightmans: A., E.H., S., & L.

In the Federal Census of 1850 at Wirt, Allegany Co., NY, Simon (Simeon) Wightman is 66 CT and Catherine is 64 NY. With them is Maria Wightman 37 NY, presumably a daughter; also Samuel Cusses 8 NY and Caroline D. Cusses 4 MI.

In 1825, Simon Wightman was an Overseer of the Poor at Bolivar, appointed by the Town Council.

The following is excerpted from "Allegany County and its people: a centennial memorial history of Allegany County, New York" (Alfred, N.Y.: W.A. Fergusson & Co., 1896) p 865: "Simon Wightman came from Skaneateles, Onondaga Co., to this county about 1812, and took up a lot of 150 acres, whose timber he felled and hewed, made his house of logs, and raised a small crop for present sustenance. He married Catherine Allen. They had 10 children of whom 3 survive: William of Turtle Point, PA; Morton, and Simon. Morton was born Oct 11, 1824, married in 1850, Calista, daughter of Rev. I. Knapp of Wirt and Sally Stanton his wife. His children living are Mark A. and Luther L. Simon Wightman, son of Simon and Catherine (Allen) Wightman, born March 6, 1827, married Melissa S. Gilbert, Sept 25, 1853. Their children are Rosa E., Frank M. and Bennie A. Simon Wightman Sr. and his wife Catherine were among the constituent members of the Baptist Church of Richburg, organized in 1828."

The following notes are from this source: "History of Allegany County, N.Y.: with illustrations descriptive of scenery, private residences, public buildings, fine blocks, and important manufactories, from original sketches by artists of the highest ability, and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents" (New York: F.W. Beers, 1879) p 381: The First-Day Baptist Church of Richburg was set off from the Baptist Church of Friendship and constituted as a church 29 Feb 1828. Among its founding members were the following Wightmans: Simon, Catherine, Roona (Roomy?), Rhoda, & Edward. Also, on its list of deacons or clerks is E. H. Wightman.

Simon married Catherine Allen 29 Sep 1805. Catherine was born 29 Sep 1786, NY; died 28 Nov 1871, Allegany Co., NY; was buried , Dimick-Wirt Cemetery, Allegany Co., NY. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

The gravestone does not have her maiden name. Catherine's maiden name is given in the following book: "Allegany County and its people: a centennial memorial history of Allegany County, New York" (Alfred, N.Y.: W.A. Fergusson & Co., 1896) p 865.

Notes:

Notes from Bruce Wightman at his website "Wightman Family History" [http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~wightman/Abraham1711.ht m]:

"Allen Wightman, born May 30, 1742. He married Rhoda Lathrop February 9, 1764 in New Haven, CT. Rhoda Lathrop was the daughter of Cyprian Lathrop and Mary Stark. The Lathrops were one of the most prominent and wealthy families in Norwich. Rhoda was a descendant of William Brewster of Mayflower and Plymouth fame. Allen and Rhoda were married at the New Haven Second Church."

The following notes are from the family tree of Gary Wightman at Rootsweb's Worldconnect. He references as a source "Ancestors and Descendants of Simon and Catherine Wightman" by Marguerite B. Wightman.

"Allen Wightman was a resident of Norwich, RI [CT?] as late as 1785, being elected that year to serve on the school committee of the town. He moved not long after 1790 to the region of German Flatts in the Mohawk Valley, NY, and later to the Township of Skaneatles, Onondaga Co., NY, where he was a farmer. The family were all members of the "Baptist Church of Christ'' there. He died intestate, his sons Aurunah and Allen, Jr., both residents of Marcellus, Onondaga Co., NY, being appointed administrators. The graves of both Allen and Rhoda are in Lakeview Cemetery in the Village of Skaneatles."

Allen married Rhoda Lathrop 9 Feb 1764, New Haven, CT. Rhoda (daughter of Cyprian Lathrop and Mary Stark) was born 9 Nov 1747, CT; died Aft 1783, Onondaga Co., NY; was buried , Lakeview Cemetery, Skaneateles, Onondaga Co., NY. [Group Sheet]