Noah Cooley

Other Events and Attributes:

• _TODO: Open

Notes:

Grandma Carrie Louella Miller-Cooley's anecdote: "They" lived 13 miles from Niagara Falls but never saw them. (This would be Robert Reed's grandfather's family, Noah Cooley and Jane Sutherland who lived on Holland Land Purchase property in Niagara County New York about 13 miles direct line distance east from the Falls). Another anecdote (Dale Cooley): They could sometimes see a rainbow caused by water spray from the Falls.
Noah Cooley, son of Col Benjamin, married Jane daughter of Peter Sutherland, January 24, 1804, and located on the west side of Otter Creek, upon land now owned by Ransom Burdett. The house he occupied, built by him, stood on the east side of the old road leading from the residence of Tilly Walker to that of Peter Rice--now R. Burdett's. The cellar of the house can still be seen in the pasture about thirty rods west of the railroad. Mr. Cooley resided there a few years, and then removed to 'Western Country' where he died, Jan 11, 1856. Mrs. Cooley died July 4, 1854. [These death dates are apocryphal. They come from p320 in Caverly's The History of Pittsford but cannot be verified because the original letter to Caverly has been lost].

Fourth Child discrepancy A large discrepancy cropped up in 2010 concerning Noah and Jane's children. Sally Merryman produced a document written by Jennie Lincoln a cousin of James Watson Cooley. The reason I latched onto that document so quickly was the way it was written including the time of day the children were born. Noah's father, Col. Benjamin Cooley as Town Clerk of Pittsford entered the births of his children into the official records of Pittsford use this same method and language. For instance, "Andrew Sutherland Cooley was born July 11th 1804 Wednesday about one o'clock in the morning". The discrepancy concerns the fourth child. Caverly in the History of Pittsford names a James G Cooley born about 1810* whereas the document written by Jennie Lincoln** has no James G. but Jane Eliza Cooley-Coomer as the fourth child, b. 11 Oct 1811, d. 10 Oct 1871. The latter is well documented and a centaph has been built by Coomer descendants in the Oak Grove Cemetery, Morenci, Seneca Twp, Lenawee Co, Michigan. Consequently, I felt "James G" was an error for many years until I visited Pittsford Vermont in 2016. I went through many land records in the Town Office and found several references to a James G Cooley in the year range 1840-1860. Those references showed James G. involved in land transactions with Lydia Huntley, wife of Azariah Cooley, elder brother of Noah Cooley. This knowledge and the fact that Lydia aged 76 is found in the household of James Cooley in Leicester, Addison County, Vermont in the 1860 US Census leads to the conclusion that James G Cooley was the son of Azariah Cooley and Lydia Huntley.
* Here is the list of Noah and Jane's children from the History of Pittsford page 697: COOLEY, NOAH s of Col. Benjamin, m 1802, Jane Sutherland, b August 24, 1787. Children-- 1, Andrew s. b 1804; 2, Samuel b 1806; 3, Caleb C. b 1808; 4, James G. b 1810; 5, Milton b 1815; 6, Mary b 1823, d 1851; 7, Benjamlin F. b 1825. The father d January 11, 1852; the mother d July 4, 1854.
**Here is Jennie Lincoln's list of Noah and Jane's children (courtesy of Sally Merryman): Benjamin and Ruth's son Noah, B 2 Jul 1782 Pittsford, VT, d. 11 Jan 1852 New York State or MI, M. 24 Jan 1804 Jane Sutherland B. 24 Aug 1787 prob Greenwich, CT, D. 4 Jul 1854.

Their children were:1. Andrew Sutherland B. 11 Jul 1804 d. 30 Oct 1890. I believe their children were: Peter, Clara married Fred Cook, Eliza, Thomas, Lewis, Robert, and Hersey. This is where Dan Cooley's (danbcooley) family comes in.
2. Samuel Thurman, B. 30 Mar 1806 Pittsford, VT, d. 4 Jan 1892 Jonesville, MI, M. 3 Feb 1831, Oakland Co., MI Harriet Electa Woodruff. Their children were: A. Byron, b. 1837 M. Sarah Collins. The only other thing I have besides the names of their children that I posted on your was on his son George. I have two pictures only. One was of Byron, George and his wife (name unknown)and their twin daughters (names unknown). The other picture is of the twin daughters only. B. Rebecca, b. 3 Mar 1839 married George Coffin. Their children were Fred and Jean. C. William, b. 1841 married Melissa Hyde. He was in Co. D", 11th Mich. Vol. Cav.
Their children:
1) Byron
2) Ralph d. 6 Feb 1961 3) Celia married Norton (first name unknown). Their children:
a. Ruth b. Grace married Charles Machin. Their child: Norene, Born 1906 Died 1922
D. Woodruff, b. 1843? d. 1848? E. James Watson, b. 12 Mar 1843 Pittsford, MI, D. 20 Jul 1924 Grand Rapids, MI, M. 30 Jun 1870 Pittsford, MI Armilla Howell. Their child: 1) Justin Winthrop, b. 5 Nov 1877 Ottawa Lake, MI, M. 3 Oct 1899 Pittsford, MI, Hazel Gwendolyn Sturdevant. Their children: a) Clifford Winthrop, bB. 2 Sep 1900 d. 27 Apr 1901
b) Madeline Evelyn, b. 11 Jun 1902 d. 15 Apr 1969
c) Thurman Woodruff, b. 30 Aug 1904 d. 5 Oct 1936
d) Marjorie, b. 17 Oct 1907 d. 25 Apr 1989 e) Katherine Armilla, b. 28 May 1909 d. 18 May 1988 f) James Louis, b. 22 Feb 1912 d. 21 May 1960. He played high school football with the late President Gerald R Ford.
g) Richard Harold, b. 2 Oct 1916 d. 14 Nov 1992 h) Audrey Janet, b. 21 Aug 1919. She is my mother-in-law.

3. Caleb Carroll, b. 25 Mar 18084. Jane Eliza, b. 11 Oct 1811, M. Arnold Coomber (brother to Ben Coomber)
5. Milton Potter, b. 6 Apr 1818
6. Noah Beach, b. 14 Nov 1819 D. 7 Sep 18207. Mary Isabel, b. 21 Feb 1823, M. Ben Coomber (brother to Arnold Coomber)
8. Frank

Noah Cooley's death date discrepancy From pp46-47 of John William Sutherland and Allied Families by Millie A. Owings "Noah Cooley was born 2 July 1782...and died 11 Jan 1852 in Lockport, New York This presents a fairly large discrepancy between the History of Pittsford year of 1856 (which the Cooley Genealogy uses) and the John William Sutherland Genealogy (1852); the day and month agree but there is a four-year difference. Also, Owings states a death place of Lockport NY whereas the Cooley Genealogy ducks the death place by saying "Western Country".
Although there is a death date discrepancy, the larger problem is that neither Noah Cooley's nor Jane Sutherland's death dates and places have any documentation whatever. Whether Lockport New York or Michigan or 1852 or 1856, it makes little difference since their death information remains an undocumented mystery.

_TODO:
Lets expand our view to include Cambria - after all, Andrew Sutherland and wife Naomi Cooley were there, buried there. Then review Holland Purchase locality - forget the 13 miles - it suffices to say they lived close to the Falls

Noah married Jane Sutherland on 24 Jan 1804 in Pittsford, Rutland Co, Vermont. Jane (daughter of Peter Sutherland and Carol Bush) was born on 24 Aug 1787 in Nine Partners, Dutchess Co, New York; died before 1850. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
Noted that Jane was age 16 when married (Noah was 21)

1. Andrew Sutherland Cooley was born on 11 Jul 1804 in Pittsford, Rutland Co, Vermont; died on 28 Oct 1890 in Garnavillo Twp, Clayton Co, Iowa; was buried about 1890 in Old Garnavillo Cemetery, Clayton Co, Iowa.
2. Samuel Thurman Cooley was born on 30 Mar 1806 in Pittsford, Rutland Co, Vermont; died on 4 Jan 1892 in Jonesville, Hillsdale Co, Michigan; was buried on 6 Jan 1892 in Goodrich Cemetery, Hillsdale Co, Michigan.
3. Caleb Carroll Cooley was born on 25 Mar 1808 in Pittsford, Rutland Co, Vermont; died on 25 Jun 1878 in Hudson, Lenawee County, Michigan; was buried about Jun 1878 in Maple Grove Cemetery, Hudson, Lenawee Co, Michigan.
4. Jane Eliza Cooley was born on 11 Oct 1811 in Pittsford, Rutland Co, Vermont; died on 10 Oct 1871 in Seneca, Lenawee Co, Michigan; was buried about Oct 1871 in Oak Grove Cemetery, Morenci, Seneca Twp, Lenawee Co, Michigan.
5. Milton Potter Cooley was born on 6 Apr 1818 in Niagara County, New York; died on 21 Aug 1894 in Burr Oak, Saint Joseph Co, Michigan.
6. Noah Beach Cooley was born on 14 Nov 1819 in Cambria Twp, Niagara Co, New York; died on 7 Sep 1820 in Cambria Twp, Niagara Co, New York.
7. Mary Isabel Cooley was born on 21 Feb 1823 in Lockport Township, Niagara Co, New York; died about 1851 in Farmington Twp, Oakland Co, Michigan; was buried about 1851 in North Farmington Cemetery, Oakland Co, Michigan.
8. Benjamin F Cooley was born about 1825 in New York; and died.

Notes:

DAR Patriot; Captain Vermont From DAR Lineage Book vol. 30 pp. 343-44 Mrs. Katherine Beach Gray (#29959) b. Pontiac MI; grandaughter of Noah Beach and Eunice Cooley; Gr. Grandaughter of Benjamin Cooley and Ruth Beach. Benjamin Cooley (1747-1810) commanded a company of Vermont militia, 1778. He responded to various alarms under Col. Ebenezer Allen and Col. Gideon Warren. He was born in Greenwich MA and died in Pittsford VT.
Greenwich was originally part of an area known as Narragansett Township Number Four and was settled by land grantees in the 1730s who had served England in the Indian Wars against the Narragansetts. The area became known as "Quabbin Parish" or "Quabbin Plantation" when the Rev. Pelatiah Webster was ordained in 1749. The towne of Greenwich was incorporated per Chapter 37 of the Massachusetts laws on April 20, 1754. It was located along the East and Middle branches of the Swift River.
Greenwich and three other towns were disincorporated on April 28, 1938 as part of the creation of the Quabbin Reservoir. Upon disincorporation, portions of the town were annexed to the adjacent towns of Hardwick, New Salem, Petersham, and Ware. It is now largely below water, except for the hilltops of Curtis Hill, Mount Liz, and Mount Pomeroy which are now islands.
Extracts From the Rutland Weekly Herald 1800-1805 by Dawn D. Hance
Monday 20 Sep 1802Thunderstorm Tues last 7 a.m., one of the worst in town [Rutland]. At Pittsford, Col. Cooley's barn struck by lightning and burned.

Benjamin5 married Ruth Beach on 18 Feb 1773 in Pittsford, Charlotte Co, New York. Ruth (daughter of Gershom Beach and Mary Salter) was born about 1756 in Morristown, Morris Co, New Jersey; died on 5 Sep 1825 in Pittsford, Rutland Co, Vermont; was buried about Sep 1825 in Congregational Church Cemetery, Pittsford, Rutland Co, Vermont. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

From the Cooley Genealogy: "[Benjamin Cooley] m. Feb. 1773, Ruth Beach, b Jan 11, 1756, Morristown, N.J., d. Sept 1, 1825; when married, she was visiting her brother, Co. Beach, in Rutland Vt. She probably belonged to the Beach family of Milford and New Haven, Conn. who went with the New Haven Colony to New Jersey in 1666"
Vermont Vital Records microfilm verifies: (1) Ruth Beach's birth place as Morristown New Jersey, (2) Ruth's birth year, 1756 and (3) Ruth Beach was a resident of Rutland, Charlotte Co, New York at the time of her marriage. However, the exact date of her birth has not been sourced. Note that her husband Benjamin was town clerk at the time.
Morris County was created on March 15, 1739, from portions of Hunterdon County. The county was named for the Governor of the Province of New Jersey, Colonel Lewis Morris. In later years Sussex County (on June 8, 1753) and, after the revolution, Warren County (on November 20, 1824, from portions of Sussex County) were carved out of what had been the original area of Morris County under English rule. The county was the site of the winter camp of the Continental Army after the Battles of Trenton and Princeton during the winter of 1777, as well as another winter camp at Jockey Hollow during an extremely cold winter of 1779-80 which occurred during the Little Ice Age.

Notes:

Married:
Cooley Genealogy: [Benjamin Cooley] m. Feb. 1773, Ruth Beach, b Jan 11, 1756, Morristown, N.J., d. Sept 1, 1825; when married, she was visiting her brother, Col. Beach, in Rutland Vt.
Vermont Vital Records: Place of residence [when married], Rutland

Notes:

Benjamin4 Cooley was born 5 Nov 1701, probably in the long meddowe precinct of Springfield, Hampshire County, Massachusetts. He was twice married, first to Elisabeth Charles, second to Mary Needham.
In Mass Vital Records microfilmed by LDS Church there is an entry: #9-Greenwich p36 "Mary daughter of Benjn Cooley by Mary his wife was born Dec 24, 1768". This is highly unlikely since there was already a Mary Cooley b. 1750, d. 1769. While the first Mary died young in 1769 and sometimes families, who lost a child renamed a later child the same name, there is overlap here.

(Research):Massachusetts Political Organization Hampshire county was created 7 May 1662 from Non-County Area 1 (towns of Springfield, Northampton, Hadley, and all territory within 30 miles). It effectively covered the entire western part of the province. (Mass. Recs., vol. 4, pt. 2:52) Hampden county was was set off from the northern half of Hampshire Co 1 Aug 1812.

Benjamin4 married Mary Needham on 14 Feb 1744/45 in Brimfield, Hampshire Co, Massachusetts. Mary (daughter of Anthony Needham and Mary (Molly) Moulton) was born on 21 Jun 1725 in Brimfield, Hampshire Co, Massachusetts; died on 16 Jun 1799 in Pittsford, Rutland Co, Vermont; was buried about Jun 1799 in Old Baptist Burying Ground, Pittsford, Rutland Co, Vermont. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Gershom Beach III died 1812 in Salisbury, Addison Co, Vermont NOT Gershom Beach Jr b. 1729

Gershom married Mary Salter on 24 Apr 1751 in Wallingford, New Haven Co, Connecticut. Mary was born about 1733 in Cheshire, New Haven Co, Connecticut; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

(Research):Massachusetts Political Organization
Hampshire county was created from Non-County Area 1 (towns of Springfield, Northampton, Hadley, and all territory within 30 miles) on 7 May 1662. It effectively covered the entire western part of the province. Non-County Area 1 was eliminated (Mass. Recs., vol. 4, pt. 2:52)
Hampden county was was set off from the northern half of Hampshire Co 1 Aug 1812.

Benjamin3 married Margaret Bliss on 30 Jan 1700/01 in Springfield, Hampshire Co, Massachusetts. Margaret (daughter of Samuel Bliss and Sarah Stebbins) was born on 23 Nov 1683 in Springfield, Hampshire Co, Massachusetts; died est 1744 in Probably Brimfield, Hampshire Co, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

South Brimfield is now Wales

Anthony married Mary (Molly) Moulton on 10 Jun 1722 in Salem, Essex Co, Massachusetts. Mary (daughter of Robert Moulton and Hannah Graves) was born on 30 Sep 1702 in Salem, Essex Co, Massachusetts; died about 1790 in South Brimfield, Hampshire Co, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
Anthony and Molly Needham are said to have gone to Brimfield about 1722, and are said to have been in 1726 the first white settlers of South Brimfield...the name of which was changed in 1828 to Wales in honor of James Lawrence Wales. Absalom Gardner's Compendium of Wales, 1873, p 3224 says "Anthony Needham was one of that band of adventurous pioneers who first made lodgment with a view to permanent settlement in this Town about 1726. He fixed his abode upon what we now call the Orcutt Place...There he lived, there he died". - NEHGR

Notes:

The Biblical name Gershom is Hebrew in origin from the Book of Exodus. It's meaning is refugee or stranger or exile (Six Exile names that mean exile for boys are Arvad, Cain, Doran, Gershom, Goliath and Nehemiah). Gershom is pronounced gay-resh-ome'. Gershom has four variant forms: Gersham, Gershon, Gershoom and Gerson.

Gershom married Deliverance Howe on 26 Oct 1721 in Wallingford, New Haven Co, Connecticut. Deliverance was born about 1705 in Wallingford, New Haven Co, Connecticut Colony; died about Dec 1748 in Cheshire, New Haven Co Connecticut Colony. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Surname spelling could be "How".