Solomon NORTON (aka NAUGHTON) is allegedly my sixth great-grandfather, although I don\u2019t have much in the way of \u201cproof\u201d indicating the father\/daughter relationship between him and my fifth great-grandmother Sarah.\u00a0 Right now, that \u201cproof\u201d consists of a compiled genealogy [1] stating Sarah is the daughter of Solomon, three DAR applications for Solomon through a daughter Sarah (wife of Aaron Webster), [2] and a handwritten transcription of a biography for Solomon found among my family papers. [3]<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Because of the time and place, it is unlikely that a birth record exists for Sarah, other than a baptism record, which may be hard to find.\u00a0 Instead, I will have to investigate Solomon more closely, along with his wife and children, in order to see if Sarah really belongs in this family.\u00a0 There is some evidence that suggests this is the right family, which I will get into a little later in this post.<\/p>\n
Research Background<\/strong><\/p>\n Derivative sources (aforementioned) indicate that Sarah NORTON is the daughter of Solomon.\u00a0 Sarah was born about 1780, [4] likely in Poultney, Rutland, Vermont.\u00a0 She married Aaron WEBSTER on 3 January 1797, [5] probably in Poultney, or perhaps Washington County, New York.\u00a0 Sarah died on 18 August 1823 in Auburn Oakland, Michigan, the day after her husband. [6]<\/p>\n Solomon was born about 1751 in Hartford or Farmington, Connecticut. [7]\u00a0 According the aforementioned DAR applications, he married Sarah Rexford on 17 April 1774 in Canaan, Albany, New York. [8]\u00a0 A short biography in A History of the Town of Poultney, Vermont<\/em> lists Solomon\u2019s children as Solomon, John, Hannah (married Zimri Howe), James R, Joel, Aaron, and Amos; there is no mention of a daughter Sarah. [9]<\/p>\n The pension file for Solomon, along with censuses and other sources, helped to create a timeline for Solomon, resulting in the following residences:\u00a0 [10]<\/p>\n Using this timeline, I was able to see some similarities between times and places for Sarah\u2019s husband\u2019s father, Ashbel WEBSTER.\u00a0 His timeline was compiled using a variety of sources:\u00a0 [11]<\/p>\n Although Ashbel\u2019s timeline is far more estimated than Solomon\u2019s, it is clear that they resided in the same area at the same time, particularly when their children were presumed to have married.\u00a0 Although it is not clear, Ashbel and Solomon could have been acquaintances while in Hartford.\u00a0 And although Ashbel later relocated to Hampton, it is right across the state line from Poultney, so they were still very close to one another until Ashbel\u2019s death in 1801.\u00a0 [12]<\/p>\n Unfortunately, just because they were in the same place at the same time, doesn\u2019t mean that Ashbel\u2019s son married Solomon\u2019s daughter.\u00a0 More research is needed to see if Sarah is really the daughter of Solomon.\u00a0 Part 2 of this post will go in depth on the research avenues I plan to pursue in order to find more information on Solomon\u2019s family, and hopefully the link that ties Sarah to this family.<\/p>\n Sources<\/strong><\/p>\n 1.\u00a0 William Holcomb Webster and Rev. Melville Reuben Webster D. D., History and Genealogy of the Gov. John Webster Family of Connecticut With Numerous Portraits and Illustrations<\/em> (Rochester, New York: E. R. Andrews Printing Co., 1915), 401.<\/p>\n 2.\u00a0 National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, “Ancestor Database,” database, membership no. 886958, 352593, and 333048, Genealogical Research System<\/em> (services.dar.org\/public\/dar_research\/search).<\/p>\n 3.\u00a0 Handwritten transcription of Solomon Norton biography, McMahon Family Artifacts; privately held by Julie (Cahill) Tarr, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Normal, Illinois.\u00a0 The author later learned that the biography came from the following source:\u00a0 J Joslin, et al , A History of the Town of Poultney, Vermont, From Its Settlement to the Year 1875, With Family and Biographical Sketches and Incidents<\/em> (Poultney, Vermont: Journal Printing Office, 1875), 315-316.<\/p>\n 4.\u00a0 Aaron Webster Cemetery (Auburn, Oakland, Michigan), Sarah Webster marker; photograph in McMahon Family Papers, privately held by Julie M Cahill Tarr, ca. 1940s.<\/p>\n 5.\u00a0 Charles Fey, History of Freemasonry in Oakland County, MI<\/em> (Royal Oak, Michigan: Royal Oak Lodge No. 464, 1949).<\/p>\n 6.\u00a0 Aaron Webster Cemetery (Auburn, Michigan), Sarah Webster marker.<\/p>\n 7.\u00a0 “Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files,” digital images, Footnote<\/em> (www.footnote.com : accessed July 5, 2010), Solomon Naughton, pension no. S21897; imaged from Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, M804 (Washington, D.C.:\u00a0 National Archives [n.d.]).<\/p>\n 8.\u00a0 National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, “Ancestor Database,” database, membership no. 886958, 352593, and 333048.<\/p>\n 9.\u00a0 Joslin, et al, A History of the Town of Poultney, Vermont<\/em>, 315-316.<\/p>\n 10.\u00a0 “Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files,” digital images Solomon Naughton, pension no. S21897.\u00a0 Also, 1790 U.S. census, Rutland, Vermont, p. 245 (written) 14 (written), col. 2, Solomon Norton; digital images, Ancestry<\/em> (www.ancestry.com : accessed July 5, 2010); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M637, roll 12.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Also, 1800 U.S. census, Poultney, Rutland, Vermont, p. 195, line 4 (from bottom), Solo Norton; digital images, Ancestry<\/em> (www.ancestry.com : accessed July 5, 2010); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M32, roll 52.\u00a0 Also, 1810 U.S. census, Poultney, Rutland, Vermont, p. 105, line 6, Solomon Naughton; digital images, Ancestry<\/em> (www.ancestry.com : accessed July 5, 2010); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M252, roll 65.\u00a0 Also, 1820 U.S. census population schedule, Poultney, Rutland, Vermont, p. 567, line 14, Solomon Norton; digital images, Ancestry<\/em> (www.ancestry.com : accessed July 5, 2010); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M33, roll 126.\u00a0 Also, 1830 U.S. census, Shoreham, Addison, Vermont, p. 194, line last, Solomon Norton; digital images, Ancestry<\/em> (www.ancestry.com : accessed July 5, 2010); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M19, roll 184.\u00a0 Also, 1840 U.S. census, Villanova, Chautauqua, New York, p. 307 (stamped) 610 (written), line 8, G B Aldrich (Solomon Norton is listed as a Vetaran in this household); digital images, Ancestry<\/em> (www.ancestry.com : accessed July 5, 2010); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M704, roll 307.\u00a0 Also, Solomon Naughton, Final Payment Voucher 1832; Box 21, Vermont, Mu-O; Third Auditors Office; Selected Final Payment Vouchers, 1818-1864; RG 217, Records of the Accounting Officers of the Department of Treasury; National Archives and Records Administration, Washington.<\/p>\n 11.\u00a0 Webster and Webster, History and Genealogy of the Gov. John Webster Family of Connecticut<\/em>, 88, 189-190.\u00a0 The book indicates \u201cthat he paid taxes in that place [Poultney, Rutland Co., Vt.] in the years 1785 and 1787.\u00a0 Also, “Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files,” digital images, Footnote<\/em> (www.footnote.com : accessed June 11, 2011), Ashbell Webster, pension no. W18313; imaged from Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, M804 (Washington, D.C.:\u00a0 National Archives [n.d.]). This is the file for Ashbel\u2019s son.\u00a0 1790 U.S. census, Washington, New York, p. 215, line 37, Asbell Webster; digital images, Ancestry<\/em> (www.ancestry.com : accessed July 9, 2010); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M637, roll 6.\u00a0 Also, 1800 U.S. census, Hampton, Washington, New York, p. 555, line 6 (from bottom), Ashbel Webster; digital images, Ancestry<\/em> (www.ancestry.com : accessed July 9, 2010); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M32, roll 26.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n Estimated Timeframe<\/strong><\/td>\n Residence<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 1751 to ??<\/td>\n Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n ?? to 1778<\/td>\n Canaan, Albany, New York<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 1778 to 1781<\/td>\n Poultney, Bennington, Vermont<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 1781 to 1823<\/td>\n Poultney, Rutland, Vermont (county formed in 1781)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 1823 to 1836<\/td>\n Shoreham, Addison, Vermont<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 1836 to 1844<\/td>\n Villenova, Chautauqua, New York<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n \n\n
\n Estimated Timeframe<\/strong><\/td>\n Residence<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 1733 to 1775<\/td>\n Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 1775 to 1785<\/td>\n ??<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 1785 to 1790<\/td>\n Poultney, Rutland, Vermont (before 1781, was Bennington Co.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 1790 to 1801<\/td>\n Hampton, Washington, New York<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\n