Samuel, Catherine, and Their Children
Introduction
Samuel George Sergeant and Catherine Marvin married about 1799, and they settled in South New Berlin, Chenango, New York, where they raised their family and lived the rest of their lives. Catherine died on October 3, 1834, and Samuel died on February 23, 1841.
The Children of Samuel George Sergeant and Catherine Marvin
William Samuel Sergeant was born on June 7, 1800, in Unadilla, Chenango, New York. As the eldest son, he was obliged to stay home and work on the farm while his father was away much of the time working as a carpenter.
William married Sally Lucinda Fish on September 19, 1822, and they had eight children: Wells Ely, Emily Sophia, George Washington, Harley Delos, William Henry, Luman DeWitt Clinton, Diogenes Fondinelle and Lorenzo Harrison.
William purchased his first lot of 41 acres in Amboy, Oswego, New York, on February 25, 1831. He continued to buy land over the next several years, and on the 1850 census, he was listed as a farmer. He was also a Justice for the Town of Amboy from 1854 to 1857, and Postmaster from 1854 to 1856.
On the 1860 census, William and Sally were living in Marquette, Green Lake, Wisconsin, where William was listed as a merchant. Between 1863 and 1864, William lost three sons, two of whom died in the Civil War, and Sally died at age 62 on June 22, 1864. In October 1865, William married the widow Ruth (Wheelock) Anjer. Ruth was the mother of Marie Antoinette Anjer, who had married William’s son, Luman DeWitt Sergeant. All of them moved to Fairchild, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where Ruth died at age 75 on September 2, 1873. William then moved to Minnesota where two of his sons, Wells Ely and Diogenes, were living. In 1879, William moved to Phelps County, Nebraska, where Luman and Marie had settled, and he lived with them for the remainder of his life.
William died at age 85 on November 3, 1885, in Juniata, Adams, Nebraska, and is buried there at the Juniata Cemetery.
See William and Sally’s complete biography under Our Forebears.
Hiram Sergeant was born in October 1803 in South New Berlin, Chenango, New York. He married Miranda Bailey on November 17, 1829, and they had five children: Catherine, Polly, Ira Marshall, Samuel M. and Adelia Adelaid. Miranda died of bronchitis at age 42 on August 15, 1849, in Guilford, Chenango, New York.
Hiram worked as a farmer his whole life. On the 1850 census, he was living in South New Berlin. In 1855, he was living with his sister, Rhoda, and her family in Morris, Otsego, New York. By 1860, he was living back in South New Berlin with his son, Marshall.
Hiram married Dorcas (Belden) Gage on October 13, 1864. They continued to live in South New Berlin until Hiram’s death at age 74 on November 14, 1877, and he is buried there at the Riverside Cemetery. Dorcas died at about age 73 on March 10, 1886.
Professor Adolphus Sage wrote the following summary of his grandfather:
“Hiram Sergeant was a tall, erect, well built man. He was never fleshy nor portly, but rather inclined to be spare and yet he was a man of fine proportions. His face was medium long with strong mouth and chin. His eyes were blue, his nose slightly aquiline and his features somewhat sharp. His hair was fine and soft and medium dark and slightly sandy or reddish brown. He wore a beard and mustache some of the time, though he was frequently seen without either. He possessed a consistent Christian character and was universally beloved by all who knew him. A characteristic incident is related of him which whether true or not is certainly like him. One winter, potatoes were scarce and rose to a high price. He had the good fortune to have a large crop and sold all he did not want for fifty cents a bushel, refusing to take more because he thought that was all they were really worth. During his early life he followed the trade of shoe-making. After the factory shoe came on the market, he took up farming and followed it till his death in 1877.”
Harley Sergeant was born on May 18, 1806, in South New Berlin, Chenango, New York. He married Amanda Fairchild on April 19, 1837, in Butternuts, Otsego, New York, and they had three children: Alice A., Stanley G. and Marvin William. Two of their children went on to have families of their own, but Stanley died in a prison during the Civil War.
Harley was postmaster for about 40 years starting in Butternuts and then Morris, Otsego, New York. He died there at age 67 on December 21, 1873, and is buried at the Hillington Cemetery. His obituary said, “Mr. Sergeant, during his active business life, enjoyed the respect and confidence of his fellow townsmen and was a good citizen.” Amanda died at age 73 on April 5, 1889, in Gilbertsville, Otsego, New York.
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Wells Ely Sergeant was born on September 7, 1809, in South New Berlin, Chenango, New York. He married Ruth Hale on December 10, 1829, and they had five children: Harriet A., William, Sarah Mariah, William and Eliza V.; both William’s died as infants.
Wells lived in South New Berlin his whole life and worked as a farmer. Wells and Ruth were married 43 years until his death on January 27, 1873. He was 63 years old and is buried at the Riverside Cemetery. His obituary said, “He was a kind faithful husband and father, a sincere honest Christian, respected by all who knew him.” Ruth died on August 23, 1894, in Norwich, Chenango, New York.
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Sally M. Sergeant was born about 1810 and died at the age of 11 on May 4, 1821. She is buried at the Riverside Cemetery in South New Berlin, Chenango, New York.
Rhoda Sergeant was born on May 30, 1813, in Chenango County, New York. She married Stephen Bailey on January 8, 1835, and they had five children: Squire R, Elnora, Chloe, Maryetta and Stephen Lincoln. Three of their children lived to adulthood while Chloe died at age 17 and Maryetta at age two.
On the 1840 census, Stephen and Rhoda were living in Butternuts, Otsego, New York. By 1850, they were living in Morris, Otsego, New York, where they lived for the rest of their lives, and Stephen engaged in farming. Professor Adolphus Sage wrote the following about his Aunt: “Rhoda was a quiet little woman of very domestic habits and intensely devoted to her home and family.” Stephen and Rhoda were married 50 years until Stephen’s death on February 12, 1885. Rhoda died nine months later on December 5, 1885, at the age of 72, and is buried at the Riverside Cemetery in South New Berlin, Chenango, New York.
