The Worth family in America was
derived from from William Worth, born 25 February 1641/42 in Plymouth,
Devonshire, Eng;and. The date is not always the same in the various
sources. He migrated to America in 1662. After his arrival
he joined Tristram Coffin’s colony on Nantucket Island off Massachusetts.
There on 11 April 1665 he wed Sarah Macy, born 1 August 1646 in Salisbury,
MA. She was the daughter of Thomas Macy and Sarah Hopscott.
The Macy had migrated from Chilmark, Wiltshire, England.
Thomas and Sarah’s son John Worth
was born 19 May 1666. His mother Sarah died in 1701. Two years
later William remarried. During his lifetime on Nantucket William
worked as a blacksmith and a mariner. He also served as a Clerk of
the Court and a Justice. He died 1 October 1724.
John on 22 September 1684 wed Miriam
Gardiner also of Nantucket. They had eight children. After
Miriam’s death John wed again to Ann Platts Sarson. They had two
more children. Later still after Ann died, William married another,
one Dorcas Smith who had four children. John died soon after his
father on 1 February 1731/32 at Edgartown, MA. He was buried in the
Town Hill Cemetery.
John and Miriam’s oldest son Jonathan
Worth, born 31 October 1685, wed Mary Hussey on 17 June 1707. They
lived on beautiful Nantucket where they had five children.
Their oldest son John, born 15 April
1713, wed on 6 February 1734/35 Mary Gardiner. She became the mother
of eleven children. Their son, Jonathan, born 25 September 1745,
moved to New York State on Long Island at Mattituck. On 27 November
1771 he wed Mary Edwards there. Mary, the daughter of John and Mary
Edwards, had five children. This family was recorded in a 1776 census
for Suffolk Co., NY taken for Brookhaven.
After the Revolutionary War the Indian
lands in northern, central and western New York State were opened to settlement
as the Indians had to cede their rights as set by the Peace Treaty.
Jonathan obtained property in what was then Oneida County in northern New
York. It remains unclear how Jonathan bought this land. He
likely never saw the farm. But Historian John C. Churchill noted
that in 1798 a tax assessment was levied on Jonathan in Redfield, NY.
Churchill also pointed out that not every person the assessment list actually
had taken up residence until much later. Jonathan died 12 February
1835 in Wading River, NY. His wife Mary had died there on 14 February
1821. Neither likely had visited Redfield, NY.
Jonathan’s son Thomas Richard Worth,
born 15 October 1780 at Mattituck, took over the property at Redfield.
He wed in May 1803 Mary Bourne, the daughter of Nathaniel Bourne and Mehitable
Toby. She was born 22 May 1785 at Falmouth, MA. Together they
had 14 children at Redfield, several of whom died young.
In 1814 in a census of landowners
at Redfield taken by Oneida County, Thomas R. Worth’s name was listed.
In 1816 this area was split off from Oneida County into what is now Oswego
County. Redfield is an area of hills in the northernmost part of
Oswego County. It was an area lightly settled even to modern times,
although the soil made for excellent farming.
A family member, Mary Jean Armeson,
visited Redfield in 1995. She walked the Redfield Burying Ground.
She was able to tell who supplied the various dates in the family history.
Birth dates came from the notes of Mary Bourne Wiley. Death dates
from the tombstones. There is also a handwritten index of burials
at Redfield compiled by Eloise Jones and Phyllis Grant of Redfield.
Armeson further noted that Thomas
R. Worth left a will and an inventory of his property. Thomas owned
34 cows and 6 silver spoons along with other items. The will can be found
at the County Courthouse in Oswego, NY in Probate Records, v. G,
p. 577.
Armeson owned a family keepsake herself,
a small brass candlestick with an inscription on all four sides, “To Mary
Bourne from Nathaniel Bourne, A.D. 1803, Redfield, N.Y.” The inscription
suggests it was a wedding gift from father to daughter. The
family tradition has been to hand down the candlestick to the youngest
Mary of each generation. Armeson plans to pass it on to Cynthia Mary
Phillips in Orlando, FL. Armeson’s grandmother was Mary Bourne Wiley.
All of the above was preserved
by William M. Worth on his website for John Worth which is included in
the bibliography. William has compiled an outstanding genealogy which
he has shared with all. To add data or corrections contact William
<bworth@charter.net>.
In the 1850 Redfield census there
were three Worth households enumerated.
Worth, Thomas R -69-farmer-NY-$5,000
Worth, Mary -65-wife-NY
Worth, Ammon [sic] -37-son-NY
Worth, Marcy [sic] -27-daughter-NY
Worth, Huldah -22-daughter-NY
Four of Thomas and Mary’s children died
before 1850. They were all laid to rest in the Redfield Burying Ground.
They were the following: Thomas R. Worth [Jr.], born May 1806 who died
20 July 1806; son, born July 1807 who died 20 July 1807; Orrin Worth, born
9 May 1812 who died 28 July 1812; and Thomas Worth, born September 1825
wno died 21 September 1836.
Some children not listed in this
census lived elsewhere. Son Jonathan Worth, born July 1804, lived in Wayland,
Michigan. He wed Sally Ann ____ while still in NY where they
and two children. In the 1870 Wayland, Allegan County, MI census
his two children were enumerated: Domm, age 32, and Ettie A., age 30. Jonathan
was shown as age 55 working as a laborer with wife Sally Ann as age 62.
He died before 1880 in Anawan, MI. His sister Mary Worth, born 30
April 1814, wed William Wilkenson. She died after 1861 in Prophetstown,
IL. Sister Martha Worth, born 2 May 1816, wed _____ Daniels.
They supposedly lived in Haskins, O. She died after 1861.Sister Aurelia
Worth, born 24 April 1821, wed William D. Miller with whom she had three
children: Lucy, Dwight and Dora as enumerated in the 1880 Leyden, Lewis
Co., NY census.
After the census the following happened.
Amon, born 9 May 1812, died 6 October 1855. Father Thomas R. died
15 June 1856 at Redfield. He was buried at Redfield Burying Ground.
Another 1850 Refield household was
headed by David Worth.
Worth, David -41-farmer-NY-$2500
Worth, Louisa -38-wife-NY
Worth, Emily D. -13-daughter-NY
Worth, Sarah J -10-daughter-NY
Worth, Mary R -6-daughter-NY
Worth, Enoch D -3-son-NY
David’s wife was Louisa Mary Buffington
of Trenton Falls, Oneida Co., NY. David was born on 11 October 1808,
son of Thomas R. And Mary Worth.
The third Worth 1850 household was
headed by Reuben.
Worth, Reuben -40-farmer-NY-$2000
Worth, Mary -32-wife-NY
Worth, Wilber -14-son-NY
Worth, Martha -12-daughter-NY
Worth, Jennett -9-daughter-NY
Worth, Leonard -5-son-NY
Worth, Dorliska -3-daughter-NY
Reuben’s wife’s last name remains unknown.
Reuben, born in July 1810, was the son of Thomas R. And Mary.
By the 1860 Redfield census only
two Worth households remained. One was for Mary Worth, age 75, a
widow, born in NY and with a net value of $5850. She lived next door
to her son until her death on 21 March 1868.
Worth, David -51-farmer-NY-$11,830
Worth, Louisa -40-wife-NY
Worth, Emily D. -24-daughter-NY
Worth, Jane S. -20-daughter-NY
Worth, Mary R -15-daughter-NY
Worth, Enoch D. -12-son-NY
Worth, Harriett -9-daughter-NY
Worth, Louisa -5-daughter-NY
Daughter Sarah J. in 1850 census was
called Jane S. in 1860 census.
Sister Mercy Worth, born 20 March
1823, wed John Wilkenson. She was called Marcy in the 1850 census.
The Wilkenson’s lived in Trenton, Oneida Co., NY. She died after
1861 according to family records.
Another sister Amana, born 14 February 1819, wed Henry Hedger. They
had three children. She died 3 January 1879 in Wheaton, Dupage Co.
IL
Brother Reuben removed to Mayfield,
Fulton Co., NY. He was enumerated there in 1860.
Worth, Reuben -50-farmer-NY-$3450
Worth, Mary -41-wife-NY
Worth, Jennett -19-daughter-NY
Worth, Leonard -17-son-NY
Worth, Dorliska -15-daughter-NY
Worth, Watson -12-son-NY
Burnap, Edwin -26-Christian Clergy-NY-$500
David Worth also removed from Redfield.
His family migrated west to Haskins, Wood Co., O. They were
shown in the 1870 Haskins census.
Worth, David -42-R R agent-NY-$5200
Worth, Louisa -41-wife-NY
Worth, Emily D -32-daughter-NY
Worth, Louisa -15-daughter-NY
Worth, Dolly -7-daughter-NY
Daughter Emily worked as a bookkeeper
at this time. In the 1860 census she taught school. David’s
daughter Mary R., born 14 June 1844, wed Samuel Reuben Hoobler of Middleton,
O. They had eight children. There are living heirs.
In the 1880 Haskins census
David’s family had grown smaller.
Worth, David -71-inn keeper
-NY
Worth, Emily D -42-daughter-NY
Worth, Louisa -25-daughter-NY
Emmons, Mable -8-boarder-KS
Emily D. worked as a millner.
Louisa kept house for her father.
Brother Reuben Worth also went further
west to Delavan, Walworth Co., WI. He was listed in the 1880 census
there at age 72 with his wife Mary Anne, age 62.
His son Watson Worth remained behind
in Woods County, O. at Weston. Watson was in 1880 age 33 and in the
livery business. He had married Mary E. _____, age 29, born in NY.
Also in this household was a servant and three boarders.
Reuben’s daughter Jennett may
have wed Jacob Ulniger, born in NY, but of Swiss parents. In the
1880 Mayfield census Jacob was 36, a teamster, and Jennett was 38.
They were the parents of five children, age 1 to 16, No definiitive proof
exists that this wife was Reuben’s daughter, but she might have been.
Reuben’s son Leonard Worth was enumerated
in the 1875 and 1880 census at Reading, Schuyler Co., NY. He may
have been greatly influenced or taught by the Christian clergyman who lived
with the family at Mayfield in 1860. The 1875 New York State Census
for Reading showed this description of the family:
Norton, Willis -73-head-b.
Ontario Co.- married-farmer
Norton, Phebe -71-wife-b.CT-married
Worth, Leonard O. -31-son-in-law-b.
Oswego Co.-married-Baptist preacher
Worth, Mary E. -29-daughter-b. Steuben
Co.-married
Worth, Mary E. -4-granddaughter-b.
Dutchess Co.
Worth, Francis E. -2-granddaughter-b.
Schuyler Co.
Five years later in the US 1880 Reading
census Leonard had taken over the farm becoming head of household.
Worth, Leonard -36-clergyman-NY
Worth, Elvira -34-wife-NY
Worth, Mary E -9-daughter-NY
Worth, Francis E -7-daughter-NY
Worth, Lloyd N -2-son-NY
Norton, Willis -77- boarder-NY
Norton, Phebe-76-boarder-CT
Leonard’s wife maiden name was Mary
Elvira Norton. Her parents apparently called her Mary, but as an adult
she was known as Elvira at home and in the community. An obituary
mentioning Elvira and daughter Mary E. Worth appeared in the Watkins Express
newspaper between 1880/1900. See the Rootsweb Schuyler Co., NY website
for more information.
Two daughters of Reuben’s resettled
near him at Delavan, WI. Daughter Martha E. wed William H. Shimmins,
born on the Isle of Man. William was her second husband. Her
first husband appeared to be ____ Gilbert. The 1880 Delavan census
listed the name George Gilbert, age 23, born NY, as the stepson of William
Shimmins. He seemed to be Martha’s first son. Her next son
was William Shimmins, age 4, born in WI. Also in this household was
Dorliska Worth, age 32, Martha’s unmarried sister.
Thomas R. and Mary’s youngest daughter
Huldah Bourne Worth, born 13 October 1826 in Redfield, wed 5 January 1858
Nathaniel Bourne. They had four children. This family lived
at Cedar Rapids, Linn Do., IA in 1900. She died on 7 May 1913 at
Cedar Rapids.
Huldah’s daughter Mary Worth Bourne,
born 16 January 1861 in Peosta, Dubuque Co., IA, wed J.W. Wiley.
By 1900 they resided in Cedar Rapids having been married eight years.
One of Mary Bourne Wiley’s granddaughters visited Redfield in 1995 which
was mentioned at the beginning of this sketch. It is from this
branch of the family that much genealogical research has been done.
There are living heirs.
SOURCES:
Churchill, John C. Landmarks
of Oswego County, New York. Syracuse: Mason, 1895.
Descendants of John Worth of Nantucket.
Available [online] http://history.vineyard.net/worthw.l.html
[4 October 2004].
Index of Names in the Marriage &
Death Notices from Schuyler Co., NY Newspapers, 1853-1900. Available
[online] http://www.rootsweb.com/~nyschuyl/KinIndex.html
[6 October 2004].
Johnson Carol Clark. A Genealogical
History of the Clark and Worth Families. Cygnet, O: Johnson, 1970.
Johnson, Carol Clark. The
Worths of Nantucket. [Typewritten] (LDS microfilm #0874300 item 11).
Landowners of 1814, Redfield, N.Y.
Available [online] http://www.rootsweb.com/~nyoswego/oswegocounty/landowners1814.html
[3 October 2004].
N.Y. Oswego Co. Probate Records,
v. G, p. 577 (LDS microfilm #0866850).
N.Y. State Census Schuyler
Co., 1875. (LDS microfilm #0836991).
New York Historical Manuscripts
Revolutionary Papers. Available [online] http://ancestry.com
[3 Ooctober 2004].
U.S. Census Cedar Rapids, Linn Co.,
IA 1900.
U.S. Census Wayland, Allegan Co.,
MI 1870.
U.S. Census Mayfield, Fulton Co.,
NY 1860 & 1880.
U.S. Census Leyden, Lewis Co., NY
1880.
U.S. Census Redfield, Oswego Co.,
NY 1920, 1830, 1850 & 1860.
U.S. Census Reading, Schuyler Co.,
NY 1880.
U.S. Census Haskins, Wood Co., O
1870 & 1880.
U.S. Census Weston, Wood Co., O
1880.
U.S. Census Delavan, Walworth Co.,
WI 1880.
WorldConnect Project. Available
[online] http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com
[3 October 2004].