The Advanced Genealogy Class

Joseph Longfellow, presumed son of William and Mary (Browne) Longfellow, is known to us through three records:

1. On January 21, 1710, in Talbot County, Maryland, a Joseph Longfellow was one of three witnesses to the will of Elizabeth Browne, who left her personal property to Rebecca Neal and Mary Longfellow (her daughters) and the residue to "my son-in-law (probably stepson) William Browne and his sister Mary Burgess." (Maryland Calendar of Wills by Jane Baldwin, 1901, Vol. III, p. 198. Will dated 21 Jan 1710 and probated 28 May 1711.) This is the earliest reference found, thus far, to a Longfellow in Maryland.
2. The baptismal records of St. Luke's Parish, Queen Anne's County, Maryland, show that a son was born to Joseph and Elizabeth Longfellow on January 6, 1740. (Maryland Hall of Records, Annapolis). The baptisms of no other Longfellows are listed, but Revolutionary War records indicate that Joseph and Elizabeth Longfellow also had sons Arnold, Andrew, Gideon, and Thomas.
3. A deed recorded at Centreville, county seat of Queen Anne's County, Maryland, on March 27, 1769, grants to John Longfellow ownership of land "beginning at a white oak standing on the south side of a swamp at the head of a small branch which runs by the plantation on which Joseph Longfellow formerly lived and running from said oak south -- containing fifty acres of land more or less." This indicates that Joseph Longfellow, father of John, had died prior to 1769.

Who was this Joseph Longfellow and where did he come from? He or his father may have come to Maryland from England or Virginia, but this is unlikely because there is no Longfellow among the list of immigrants to Maryland between 1633 and 1680. It was the custom to grant 50 acres of land to every white immigrant to Maryland, on demand, in those years. The Early Settlers of Maryland, compiled by Gust Skordas in 1968 from the land patent records in the Maryland Hall of Records, is a complete list of land patents and is regarded as the most complete list of white immigrants to Maryland. No Longfellows are in this list. Nor are there any Longfellows in the excellently indexed seventeenthg century records of baptisms, marriages, burial, tax assessments, probates, testamentary proceedings or abstracts of wills at the Maryland Hall of Records. Nor are there any Longfellows in C. G. Greer's very complete Early Virginia Immigrants 1623-1666 or Torrance's index of Virginia Wills and Administrations.

Because of this complete lack of seventeenth-century Longfellows in Maryland and Virginia, (and their rarity in the eighteenth-century records) we have concluded that Joseph Longfellow was the son of William Longfellow (born 1679 in Boston) who puto out to sea in his 'teens in the 1690's and was never heard from again in Boston. Because of the sudden appearance, in 1710, of Longfellows in Maryland, it is presumed that William put in at one of the port towns of Talbot County, Maryland, married Mary Browne, daughter of Elizabeth Browne, and had a son Joseph. If Mary's husband William Longfellow were either dead or away on a voyage when her mother was dying in 1710, she might well ask her teenage son Joseph to serve as one of the three witnesses of her mother's will. Today this might have doubtful legality, but in 1710, on the sparsely settled east bank of Chesapeake Bay, such legal niceties would not matter much.

Supporting the belief that the Maryland Longfellows and the New England Longfellows were descended from a common ancestor is the strong physical resemblance between Matthew Longfellow and other Maryland-descended Longfellows and the New England poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. As late as 1790, there were only 19 Longfellow families in the U.S. census: 10 in Maine, 4 in Massachusetts, and 5 in Maryland. The Maine and Massachusetts families have all been traced back to the immigrant Ensign William Longfellow who arrived in Massachusetts in 1676, by way of his sons Stephen and Nathan. The Maryland families thus descend from his son William, the runaway sailorboy.

Descendants of Isaac Staples

Generation One

1. Isaac Staples; born 1772¹ in Hampton, Windham Co., CT,² married (1) Eunice Smith 12 May 1796 in Hampton, Windham Co., CT;³ after her death he married (2) Salina (____), before 1804; ^{4, 5} he died 4 February 1839 in Williamstown, Orange Co., VT, age 67; ^{1, 6} buried in West Hill Cemetery, Williamstown, Orange Co., VT. His tombstone reads, "Isaac Staples, d. Feb. 4, 1839, aged 67 years."¹

Isaac was a farmer. He is found as the head of household on the census of 1800 in Hampton, Windham Co., CT. ⁷ This household was composed of 1 male age 16-26 [unknown], 1 male 26-45 [Isaac born 1772], 2 females under 10 [daughter Eunice born 1796, and unknown]; and 1 female 26-45 [Eunice born 1770].

Isaac is next found leasing land Williamstown, Orange Co., VT, described as "a parcel of land described as Lot # 8, third range" to John Lease for $50, said lease to run for two years beginning said two years 1 April 1815. Tax of 78 cents on this lot of 78 acres was paid by Samuel Durkee [C?] 2 March 1808 [Vol. 5: 116]. No record of a sale to Isaac Staples has been found. The indenture between Staples and Leas was dated on 4 January 1810. ⁸

He remained in Williamstown, VT, until his death, and is consistently found listed as head of household in Williamstown in the censuses of 1810, 1820 and 1830.⁹

Eunice Smith, the daughter of Solomon and Eunice Smith, was born 8 July 1770 in Hampton, Windham Co., CT. ¹⁰ She died before 1804.

Child of Isaac Staples and Eunice Smith:

i. Eunice; born 22 December 1796 in Hampton, Windham Co., CT;³ she married Capt. John Clark, August 1811 or 1812, in Ashford, CT. ¹¹

Salina (____) was born 1785 in Ashford, Windham Co., CT.^{4, 12} She died 17 August 1864 in Williamstown, Orange Co., VT, age 79 years.^{4, 6} She was buried in West Hill Cemetery, Williamstown, Orange Co., VT. Her tombstone reads, "Salina, wife of Isaac Staples, d. 17 Aug 1864, ae 79 y." ⁴ She appears as head of household in the census of 2 November 1850 in Williamstown, VT, with daughter Nancy Staples.¹² She is found with her son Joseph in the census of 8 June 1860 in Williamstown.¹³

Children of Isaac Staples and Salina (____) all born Williamstown, Orange Co., VT:

i. Isaac S. Jr; born 8 November 1804;^{5, 6} married Rhoda Dickinson 25 November 1828 in Williamstown, Orange Co., VT;⁶ married Mary Jane Foster 11 March 1873 in Williamstown, Orange Co., VT, at the age of 68;¹⁴ he died 19 May 1882 in Williamstown, Orange Co., VT, cause of death: heart disease, age 75y 8m.¹⁴ He was a farmer.

ii. George W; born 1806;⁶ may have been born in 1820; ¹⁵ married Theodosia R. Nichols 13 November 1843 in Williamstown, Orange Co., VT, by [Audes] T. Bullard, preacher; ⁶ he died 9 July 1865 in Montpelier, Washington Co., VT, cause of death: consumption, age 59.⁶ He was a farmer and a laborer.

iii. Minerva; born 24 January 1807.^{5, 6}

iv. Polly; born 16 September 1808;^{5, 6} she died 18 September 1808 in Williamstown, Orange Co., VT. ^{5, 6}

v. Sally; born 6 September 1809;^{5, 6} she died 10 April 1825 in Williamstown, Orange Co., VT, age 15y 7m;^{5, 6} buried in West Hill Cemetery, Williamstown, Orange Co., VT, Sally, daughter of Isaac & Selina Staples, d 10 Apr 1825, aged 15y 7m.

vi. Nancy; born 16 September 1811;^{5, 6} may have been born 5 March 1814 in Williamstown, Orange Co., VT; ¹⁴ she died 10 June 1874 in Williamstown, Orange Co., VT, cause of death: organic disease of throat, age 60y 3m 5d. ¹⁴ She never married.

vii. Joseph; born January 1812;¹³ married Emily Smalley 13 March 1835 in Williamstown, Orange Co., VT, by Erich Slade, J.P;34 he died 12 August 1876 in Williamstown, Orange Co., VT;¹ buried in West Hill Cemetery, Williamstown, Orange Co., VT. His tombstone reads, "Joseph Staples d 12 Aug 1876, ae 64y 7m: Resting in hope." He was a farmer.

viii. John B; born 18 March 1817;¹⁴ married Lucinda Flint 16 November 1844 in Northfield, Washington Co., VT, by [Himan] Carpenter, J.P; ¹⁴ he died 8 July 1878 in Williamstown, Orange Co., VT, cause of death: cancer, age 61y 3m 21d;¹⁴ buried in West Hill Cemetery, Williamstown, Orange Co., VT. ¹ The tombstone was erected by his son John H. Staples. He was a farmer.

ix. Marshall S; born 11 Oct 1825 in Williamstown, Orange Co., VT; ¹⁸ married (1) Lucy Abbott, daughter of John Dutton Abbott and Dorcas Beckley, 10 December 1846 in Barre, Washington Co., VT, by John W Perkins, M.G;^{6, 18} married (2) Elvira E. Stone 30 March 1885 in Wheelock, Caledonia Co., VT, by Rev. B. S. Moody. The record included the following: "Marshall S. Staples, age 57, blacksmith, second marriage, born in Williamstown, VT and Elvira E. Stone, age 36, first marriage, born in Canaan, NH."¹⁶ He died 8 July 1888 in Wheelock, Caledonia Co., VT, cause of death: rheumatism, heart disease, hernia, kidney disease, combined; ae 62y 8m 28d; ¹⁴ buried in Wheelock Village Cemetery, Wheelock, Caledonia Co., VT.¹⁸

His occupation was listed variously as blacksmith and as a farmer. ¹⁷ Marshall S. Staples enlisted on 9 October 1861, in Montpelier, Washington Co., VT, as a blacksmith in Co. C, 1st VT Regt. Vol. Cavalry.¹⁹ He was described as age 37 years of age, height 6 feet, sandy complexion, hazel eyes, dark hair on 9 October 1861.¹⁹ Dr. P. O'Meara Edson stated in an affidavit of 16 Dec 1867, "It is within my knowledge that... said Staples was severely injured by being thrown upon the pomel of his saddle, causing rupture and a large varicocele by reason of which he was made unfit for duty and eventually discharged from the service" in Strasbourg, VA, on 23 May 1862. ¹⁹ He was discharged from military service on 7 December 1862 Fort Scott, VA, "soldier has been unfit for duty the last three months owing to an injury of the testicles received during Gen Banks retreat from Shenandoah Valley."¹⁹

Marshall S. Staples enlisted on 16 October 1863, in Capt. Romeo N. Stait's Co., 3d Battery Regt. of Light Artillery, VT Vols.¹⁹ He resided between 1865 and 1886 in Danville, Barre, and Wheelock, VT.¹⁹ He was discharged from military service on 15 June 1865 Burlington, Chittenden Co., VT. ¹⁹ He resided on 11 February 1886 in Wheelock, Caledonia Co., VT.¹⁹

x. Charles D; born 1825; married Almira A. Dickinson 23 April 1848 in Williamstown, Orange Co., VT, by A. G. Buttris, M.G., Northfield.¹⁴

Endnotes

1. Isaac Staples tombstone, West Hill Cemetery, Williamstown (Orange County), Vermont, transcribed by Susan Goss Johnston, August 1982.
2. M. S. Stapels household, Wheelock Village, p. 2, dw. 22, fa. 24, father born Conn.; 1880 U.S. census, Caledonia County, Vermont, population schedule, National Archives micropublication T9, roll 1342.
3. Lucius B(arnes) Barbour and Lucius A. Barbour, Barbour Collection of CT Vital Records before 1850; Family History Library [FHL] microfilm no. 2954.
4. Salina, wife of Isaac Staples, tombstone, West Hill Cemetery, Williamstown (Orange County), Vermont, transcribed by Susan Goss Johnston, August 1982.
5. Isaac Staples family entry, Williamstown, Vermont, Town and Vital Records, Vol. 1 (1789-1832): 39, Town Clerk, Williamstown, microfilm no. 7061, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah. This record does not include the name of Isaac Staples' wife.
6. General Index to Vital Records of Vermont to 1870: Squires, D.- Starks, M., death record, Secretary of State, Montpelier; microfilm no. 027,696, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, UT.
7. 1800 U.S. census, Windham County, Connecticut, National Archives micropublication M32, roll 2.
8. Williamstown, Vermont, Deeds, Vol. 5: 240, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, UT. Hereinafter cited as Williamstown, Vermont, Deeds.
9. 1810 U.S. census, Orange County, Vermont, National Archives micropublication M252, roll 64; 1820 U.S. census, Orange County, Vermont, National Archives micropublication M33, roll 127; 1830 U.S. census, Orange County, Vermont, National Archives micropublication M19, roll 185.
10. Lucius B(arnes) Barbour and Lucius A. Barbour, Barbour Collection of CT Vital Records before 1850; Family History Library [FHL] microfilm no. 2952.
11. Charles R. Hale Collection of Newspaper Marriages, FHL microfilm no. 3311 [from the Windham, CT, Herald, 13 Sep 1811, p. 23).
12. Salina Staples household, Williamstown, p. 267, dw. 40, fa. 40; 1850 U.S. census, Orange County, Vermont, population schedule, National Archives micropublication M432, roll 926 [age 65, born MA].
13. Joseph Staples household, Williamstown, p. 637, dw. 167, fa. 169; 1860 U.S. census, Orange County, Vermont, population schedule, National Archives micropublication M653, roll 1323.
14. General Index to VT Vital Records, 1871-1908, Spencer, Fanine M. - Stetes, Sarah Van Etta, marriage record of Isaac S Staples (1873): age 68, Secretary of State, Montpelier; microfilm no. 540,148, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, UT.
15. George Staples household, 1860 U.S. census, Orange Co., VT, Brookfield, p. 130, dw. 1042, fa. 1110, age 40.
16. Affidavit, Charles Rogers, Wheelock Town Clerk, 18 Sep 1888, Marshall S. Staples, 1st Vermont Cavalry, 3rd Independent Battery, Vermont Light Artillery, Invalid Pension Certificate 358,160, Elvira E. Staples Widow's Pension Certificate 296,909 , Pension Application Files Based upon Service in the Civil War and Spanish American War, 1861-1934, Records of the Veterans Administration, RG 15, National Archives.
17. Marshall S. Staples household, Danville, p. 33, dw. 264, fa. 261, age 44; 1870 U.S. census, Caledonia County, Vermont, population schedule, National Archives micropublication M593, roll 1616.
18. Marshall S. Staples tombstone, Wheelock Village Cemetery, South Wheelock, (Caledonia County), Vermont; transcribed by Susan Goss Johnston, visit of 1984.
19. Declaration for Pension, 13 Sep 1888, Marshall S. Staples pension 358,160, widow's pension 296,909.

1. "Rebecca Barnard, daughter of Francis Barnard and Catherine Osborne, b. 23 Jun 1777 in N.C. d. 1884 Henry Co. Ind. m. Stephen Macy. He later m Rebecca Lamb Ratliff."
   
   
2. "Stephen Flanders,born circa 1620; died June 27, 1648, at Salisbury, Mass., married Jane ____, who died Nov. 19, 1683, at Salisbury. Children (recorded in Vital Records of Sal.):
   i. Mary, b. _____; d. May 4 1650.
   ii. Stephen, b. Mar. 8, 1646 (8:1m:1646, old style); m. Abigail Carter.
   iii. Mary, b. May 7, 1650 (7:3m:1650); m. _____ Feavor."
   
   
3. "John Nutting, b. ca. 1770, Middlesex Co., Mass.; d. bef. 1831, Shipton, Quebec; m. Rachael Olney, 22 May 1796, Chester, Vt. She was b. ca. 1774, Smithfiled, R.I.; d. aft. 1851, Shipton, Quebec.
   Children: Elizabeth, b. 1797; John Jr., b. 1799; Henry, b. 1801; Nahum, b. 1801; Abraham, b. bet. 1801 and 1810; Lucinda, b. 17 Jul 1806; Rachel, b. 1827."