CHAPTER SEVEN

SECOND

THE BEEKMANTOWN BRANCH OF THE DOMINY FAMILY

(SEE FIRST AND SECOND GENERATION)

(LONG ISLAND BRANCH)

THIRD GENERATION:- or fourth in line. DOMINY, HENRY (1), Born December 15, 1746. Died January 23, 1817, age 71 years. MARRIED November 4, 1773 to ELIZABETH DAYTON, Born July 14, 1752. Died December 1830, age 78 years. CHILDREN: HENRY (2), Born December 26, 1776. Died September 1834. Married Charity Hubbard. WILLIAM, Born 1780. Died ?. Married Catherine Stafford. ELIZABETH, Born January 20, 1781. Died April 14, 1864, age 83 years. Married Doctor Sharp McFadden. EZRA, Born May 13, 1786. Died January 13, 1879, age 93 years. Married Rhoda Smith. JEREMIAH (1), Born August 22, 1789. Died January 31, 1865, age 76 years. Married Abigail Norton. Went to Ohio. Phoebe, Born May 11, 1792. Died December 27, 1873. Age 81 years. Married John Gale. ANNA, Born November 28, 1794. Died ?. Married Joshua Boswick. AMY, Born 1796. First Regiment, Suffolk County, Militia of Minute Men.

RESIDENT: East Hampton, Suffolk County, Long Island, New York. Later removed to Beekmantown, Clinton County, New York.

In the spring of 1796, he went from East Hampton, Long Island to Beekmantown, Clinton County, where he purchased a patentee on 600 acres of wild land and settled there as a pioneer. His brother John located in the eastern part of the town.

He also was the first land surveyor in that section of the state. He readily perceived the advantages and future possibilities of his state, and was instrumental in the development of agricultural resources in that section of his state.

As to his service in defense of his country, I found on making investigation that our records are well supported by the Revolutionary War Records of the State of New York in the state library at Albany. TO WIT:

DOMINY, HENRY. Listed as a private and sergeant in the First Regiment of Suffolk County, Militia, Colonal Josiah Smith's regiment of Minute Men. Born, East Hampton. Age 29 years. Height 6'-1". Complexion Dark. Hair Light. Occupation - Yoeman. Soldiers 58 - Examined according to the best of my knowledge, they are Sound, Healthy and Able Body. July 26, 1776.

David Mulford, Muster Master for said County. New York in the Revolution as Colony and State. Volume No. 1, 169.

DOMINY, HENRY. Associator in East Hampton, Suffolk County, New York. May 5, 1775. Listed as head of a family in East Hampton, Suffolk County, in 1776. Family consisted of one male above 16 and under 50, and one male under 16, and one female above 16. - "Calendar of historical manuscripts relating to War of the Revolution. Volume 1. Pages 56, 404.

DOMINI or DOMINY, NATHANIEL. Associator in East Hampton, Suffolk County, New York.

May 5, 1775. Nathaniel Domini, listed as bead of a family in East Hampton, Suffolk County, in 1776. Family consisted of one male over 50, and one male under 16, and one female under 16. ,Nathaniel Dominy, Jr. Listed as the head of a family in East Hampton, Suffolk County, in 1776. Family consisted of one male above 16 and under 50, and four females under 16."

Calendar of Historical Manuscripts relating to the Revolution Volume No. 1. Pages 56, 400, 404.

CATHERINE DOMINY, A widow, listed as head of a family in East Hampton, Suffolk County, in 1776. Family consisted of one female above 16. Calendar of Historical Manuscripts relating to War of the Revolution.

I will relate another incident that William Dominy, a brother of Henry (2) and Jeremiah (1), was an officer in the War of 1812. As to his rank, under what commanding officer he served, Regiment and Company number, and state troops are unknown to me at present.

The only incident of his service I have, was at the battle of Plattsburgh, New York, when the British came and retreated they crossed the farm owned by our Great-great-grand-father HENRY (1), at Beekmantown, Clinton County, New York, which was only a few miles from the battle field, as here-to-fore related.

THE DAYTON FAMILY GENEALOGY

SAVAGES - "Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England." 1850 -- 1860.

HENRY, accompanied by his son William, left in the early spring of 1795 for Beekmantown, Clinton County, New York, where he took claim to 600 acres of wild land, from judge Tidell; erected his cabin, and then returned to East Hampton for his family, disposed of his holdings and left for his new home in 1796. His brother, John left the next year.

Henry's brother, Nathaniel the clock maker, made and presented to his brother one of his famous New Brass Clocks. To substantiate this fact, reference is made to the following:

George McFadden, son of Doctor Sharp and Elizabeth (Lissie Dominy) McFadden, states "This clock came down to my Grand-mother, then to my mother, then to me. When I found myself without a home, I was advised to sell it. At an evil hour, I consented, and sold my mother's clock. It has annoyed me ever since. The lady that bought Mother's clock praises and speaks so highly of the clock. My grand-father's clock is now one hundred and seven years of age, is in good shape, and still ticks off the time as it has done in the years that have passed". January 21, 1908.

Also from Miss Mary A. Dominy, "Before the passing of the Grand-mother, the cherished pieces of furniture and relics that had been in the family more than a century had been parcelled out to the daughters for their homes. To Elizabeth, wife of Dr. Sharp McFadden was given the Brass Clock, which is now (1928) the property of Mrs. Madell of Ogdensburgh, New York, ticking time away as it did when made more than a century ago."

Thus ends the first home of the Dominy's in Beekmantown, Clinton County, New York.

March 29, 1931. Newton Dominy, Historian

  - DOMINY CLOCKS - MAKER: NATHANIEL DOMINY(4) EAST HAMPTON, NEW YORK

A Product of Early Long Island "Telltale, Alarm, Repeater Clock," made by Nathaniel Dominy in 1797. One of the last made by the East Hampton Clockmaker, it is now owned by Mr. and Mrs. James Mulford, East Hampton.

We find that Henry and John were the first to break away from the Long Island home. Nathaniel, the fourth generation who married Temperence Miller, remained in the home of his father.

Quoting from Elizabeth R. Brown, August 1942, Long Island Forum:

(Editor's Note: The author, whose sister married the great-great-grandson of Nathaniel Dominy, the Clockmaker, has since retiring from the New York City school system, lived in East Hampton where the master craftman had his home and shop during the 1700's.)

"David Grayson writing about Time said 'It is one of the provoking, but interesting things about life that it never stops a monent'. It has been interesting to discover that in our beautiful town of East Hampton we have clocks more than one hundred and fifty years old that, like time itself, are still going on.

"It was in the early eighteenth century in the old homestead still standing in lower Main Street that these clocks were made by a Nathaniel Dominy. If they were made there before his time, there are yet no records to verify it.

You will find in searching the Archives o/ the Libraries, that the EYERS or EYRES were early English Clock-makers, before coming to America, and NATHANIEL grand-father married ELIZABETH H EYRES from whence (Nathaniel) could have learned the Trade.

"He was born in 1737, the fourth Nathaniel of the family which had arrived on eastern Long Island sometime in the late 1600's. (I will say just before the middle of the century.)

"An old ledger of his, dating as early as 1764, still held by the family, records the sale of a clock made for Henry Dayton, April 12, 1769, for six pounds. At that time a pound was the equivalent of $2.50. The last clock recorded in the ledger was made April 20, 1809 for Abraham Edwards for 11 pounds, or $27.50.

"This Nathaniel Dominy died in 1812, but as there are clocks to be seen in the village now that bear the Dominy name and later dates, it is evident that his son Nathaniel, whom he mentions in this ledger, still carried on the clock-making in the old clock shop, or the little slop, as the family called it, on the west end of the old homestead.

"At the east end is the cabinet shop where the elder Dominy, using tools of his own devising, made everything from buttons to coffins. Family legend has it that an old Indian basket-maker who frequented the Dominy homestead once asked the clock-maker if there was any thing that he couldn't make. He replied that he could make anything he had a pattern for. Then turning to the Indian, the clock-maker asked if he could make a basket that would hold water. It wasn't many days before the Indian returned with a basket that did hold water and a fishhawk's nest as a pattern for his friend the clock-maker.

"The works in these old clocks were made of brass of which Nathaniel Dominy was particularly proud of. It was his own formula, and it contained no grit or any thing that would cause undue wear, which perhaps explains the reliability of the clocks of which their present owners boast. His forges, pots and many other tools for creating silver spoons and buckles as well as the brass for his clocks, were also made in the old home. Some of these tools are exhibited in the Historical Museum in Clinton Academy, East Hampton. "(One of the oldest, being the first chartered Academy in the State.)"

"Besides the forty-one clocks recorded in the old ledger from 1769 to 1809, there are some thirty or more not recorded there but in existence and investigated in recent years before his death in 1940 by Captain Tyson Dominy and the writer.

"Some of these clocks date back to 1828; all are in good condition and running, often more dependable than our modern electric clocks.

"All Dominy clocks are of three distinct models, housed in tall, plain boxes standing at varying heights from the floor. The long door in front is fastened by small wrought-iron hinges of a hook-and-eye design. Behind the door one finds one or two weights and a long pendulum, sometimes bearing initials and date.

"The first model, which Nathaniel Dominy called a time-piece, had but one hand designating not only the hour but fractions thereof. These he sold as low as 5 pounds or $12.00.

"The second model is a clock with two hands that would either strike once on the hour or not at all. The former he called the "one strock," the latter the silent clock.

"The third the most elaborate and expensive, is described in his ledger as a "telltale, alarm, and repeating clock." In a letter he wrote to a Gardener he described one of these as a "horologigraphical" clock.

"The face always bore his name in his characteristic script, the year it was made, and usually a digit of the year in each corner. The date of the month, and often the number of days of the week also appeared. This clock had an alarm and would repeat the hour just passed until within five minutes of the next hour.

"Several of the finest of these latter models are still in existence. The one made in 1791 for John Lyon Gardiner of the Isle of Wight (Gardiner's Island), who paid 28 pounds for it, is owned by Winthrop Gardiner and is standing in his East Hampton home. Another was made for Jeremiah Miller, East Hampton's village postmaster, who lived opposite the present Presbyterian Church.

"This clock is now owned by Fred Dominy of Bay Shore, who always says when showing it "Yes, it's a Dominy clock, but it's not for sale."

"The writer, with the late Captain Tyson Dominy, looked up the known Dominy Clocks and listed their present owner. This list will be preserved in the Pennypacker collection in the East Hampton Library. All but three of the old clocks were keeping splendid time and these three, we are told, would undoubtedly do so if properly attended to.

"Let us hope that many future generations will continue to revere those truly remarkable masterpieces of early American craftsmanship and that the memory of Nathaniel Dominy, the Clock maker, will inspire other men to seek perfection in their various pursuits."

FOURTH GENERATION:- or fifth in line. DOMINY, HENRY (2), Born December 26, 1776. Died September 1834, age 58 years. MARRIED, Date ?. to CHARITY HUBBARD, Born ?. Died ?. CHILDREN: ELIZABETH A., Born?. Died?. Married Ruben Murry. MARY GILDON, Born?. Died ?. Married Elmer Clark. HENRY LOREN, Born July 15, 1807. Died April 27, 1898. Married Sophrona Hickock. EZEKIAL H., Born ?. Died ?. Married Jerusha Newton. JEREMAH, Born ?. Died ?. Married Tryphona Lewis. ALONZA, Born ?. Died ?. Married Louisa Hinder.

RESIDENT: Beekmantown, Clinton County, New York.

FIFTH GENERATION:- or sixth in line. DOMINY, HENRY LOREN, Born July 15, 1807. Died April 27, 1898, age 91 years. MARRIAGE in 1829 to SOPHRONA HICKOCK, Born in 1805. Died September 1898, age 93. CHILDREN: ALASON(1), Born July 7, 1830, Died August 19, 1863. Married Nancy Stafford. SULLIVAN H., Born 1832, Died ?. MARY A., Born in 1834. Died in 1932. A Maiden Lady. JOEL MARTIN, Born ?. Died ?. Married ?. LOUISE, Born ?. Died ?. EZRA, Born ? Died ?. MARTHA, Born ?. Died ?. EMMA, Born ?. Died?.

RESIDENT: Beekmantown, Clinton County, New York.


He learned the blacksmith trade, and followed it in connection with farming. His entire life was spent in his native town, with the exception of two years in Chazy, New York. He was a public-spirited citizen, highly esteemed for his sterling integrity and other commendable qualities. He was an elder in the Presbyterian church many years. He also rendered efficient service as town clerk, for ten years.

THE DOMINY SISTERS

From Left to Right:

MARTHA H., MARY A., and EMMA

(Beekmantown, New York.)

SIXTH GENERATION;- or seventh in line. DOMINY, ALASON(1), Born July 7, 1830. Died August 19, 1863, age 33 years. MARRIED: Date?. to NANCY STAFFORD, Born?. Died?. CHILDREN: ADA M., Born ?. Died ?. Married ?. MARY ELIZABETH Born ?. Died ?. Married William P. Lumbard. ALASON (2), Born November 14, 1863. Died September 9, 1908, age 45 vears. Married Etta M. Atwood.

RESIDENT: Beekmantown, Clinton County, New York.

He married Nancy, daughter of Peleg T. Stafford of Plattsburgh, New York. He died in the prime of life, and only three of their children grew to maturity, the above mentioned.

SEVENTH GENERATION:-or eighth in line. DOMINY, ALASON(2) Born November 14, 1863. Died September 9, 1908, age 45 years. MARRIED, November 30, 1893 to ETTA M. ATTWOOD. Born July 22, 1865. CHILDREN: KENNETH HARLEY, Born March 2, 1901. DORIS ELIZABETH Born November 22, 1903.

RESIDENT: Beekmantown, Clinton County, New York.

He received a public school education, in his native village, and in early life engaged in mercantile business of the firm of Dominy and Walker, a general store in his native town, which bears his name today.

In 1887 he was chosen town clerk, for two years, and for twelve years was one of the towns supervisors, also served as chairman of the board for one year.

He was elected sheriff of the county in 1901, served in 1902, 1903 and 1904 residing in Plattsburgh, and on retirement from office returned to his native town.

He represented his town in the New York Assembly, for a term of two years, serving upon the committees of fisheries, game, prisons, soldiers, and agriculture. He labored diligently in forwarding the interest of northern New York.

Thus, this is what I may say, relative to our ancestors, who labored diligently in the wild woods of northern New York and Long island, to rear their families. I tried to gain all knowledge that could be had from any and all sources available in my research. I do hope and trust that our present and all future generations may derive some benefit from past history, and enjoyment from the privations that our ancestors shared together so that we may live and share the "Liberties' established by their devotion to their Creator - all are created equal.

  GENEALOGICAL HISTORY

  THE NORTON FAMILY

  at

  New Haven, Connecticut

  Saratoga Town, Albany County, New York

  Plattsburgh, Clinton County, New York

  Darby Township, Madison County, Ohio NORTON FAMILY:

The name NORTON, said to have been Anglo-Norman origin from the name NORVILLE, meaning "North Town". It was probably taken by the original bearer from the name of his place of residence.

It is found on ancient records in the forms of NORVILLE, NORTOWN, NORTONE, NORTUN, and NORTON, of which the last is the most accepted form today.

The family of Norton is believed to have been descended from Seigneur de Norville who went to England as Constable to William the Conqueror at the time of the Norman conquest in 1066.

In the sixth generation from Seigneur de Norville, the direct line assumed the English form of Norton, and the translation was brought from Normandy.

Seigneur de Norville or NORTON of the sixth generation in England married a daughter of Sir John Hadscoke, and had issue by her of a son who married the daughter of Monseigneur Bassingbourne, who had issue among others, Sir John Horton, who married the daughter of Lord Grey. Sir John was the father by her of seven children, with the oldest son John making his home in Bedfordshire and was succeeded by his oldest son John, who had issue by his first wife an only son named William, who died young, and by his second wife Jane Cowper, had Thomas, Richard, Robert, John, Abigail, and William. The first son, Thomas, had a large family and was the ancestor of the English line of Norton.

Richard, the second son married Margery Winger and had Thomas and William, who were among the early emigrants to America. Probably the first family in New England was George Norton of Salem, Massachusetts, in 1629.

He, by his wife Mary, was the father of five or six sons, and four daughters, of which Abigail was the name of one. About 1642 removed to Wenham where he died in 1659.

The before mentioned brothers, Reverend John and William, emigrated to Ipswick, Massachusetts, about 1632, or probably thereafter. The Reverend John had a wife called Mary but no children. William married Lucy Downing, and by her, he is believed to have had a John, Elizabeth, William, and Lucy.

Thomas, uncle of the emigrant brothers, came with his wife Grace to Boston before 1639. His children were Thomas, John, Ann, Grace, Mary, and Abigail.

Many others of this name emigrated to America at an early date, but left few records of themselves and their families. Among those were John of Charlestown, Massachusetts, removed to Virginia; JAMES of New Haven, Connecticut in 1640, and others.

The descendents of the various branches of this family in America have spread to every State in the Union, and have aided as much in its growth as their ancestors aided in the founding of the Nation.

They have been noted for their ambition, industry, integrity, moral and physical strength, courage and leadership. When the country needed their assistance, they answered the call to arms, and gave their all in its defense. Among those who fought as officers in the Revolutionary War were Colonel Beriah of Massachusetts, Major John of Vermont, Captain Charles of Connecticut, and Nathaniel of New. York.

Here are some of the Christian names favored most highly by the family for the sons and daughters: James, Soloman, John, Samuel, Jeremiah, and Nathaniel; also Abigail, Elizabeth, Phoebe, Sarah, and others.

A few of the many members of the family, who nave distinguished themselves in more recent times are:

Charles Ellor Norton, of Massachusetts, author and scholar, 1827.

Sidney A. Norton, of Ohio, chemist, 1835-1918.

Richard Norton, son of Charles above, archaeologist 1872 - 1918.

Frank Henry Norton, of Massachusetts, journalist, 1836 - 1921.

One of the most ancient of the many Coats-of-Arms of the family of NORTONS is described as follows:

ARMS ---"Argent, on a bend between two lions rampant sable, three escallops of the first.°' CREST---"A greyhound's head or, gorged with a fess engrailed between two bars gules, the first ringed behind of the first."

(Arms taken from Burk's "General Armory", 1884.)
The above data was compiled chiefly from the following:

WHITMORE - "Genealogy of the Norton Family", 1859. A. B. NORTON, "Norton Family°", 1856. BALDWINS, "NORTON", 1882. SAVAGES, "Genealogical Dictionary of New England", 1850. HEITMAN, "Officers of the Continental Army", 1914.

SECOND GENERATION:- or third in line. NORTON, JAMES, Born July 6, 1766. Died September 23, 1836, age 70 years. MARRIED, April 10, 1788 to DEALANY HOWE, Born September 26, 1772. Died November 9, 1836, age 63 years. CHILDREN: ABAGAIL, Born August 26, 1794. Died September 16, 1830. Married JEREMIAH DOMINY. KEZIAH, Born in 1796. Died in 1833. age 37 years. Married Elihu Knapp. JOHN, Born in 1799. Died in 1880, age 81 years. Married Sarah Taylor. SOLOMAN, Born in 1800. Died?. Married Cynthia Knapp. PHOEBE, Born in 1802. Died ?. Married Charles Converse. LUCINDA, Born ?. Died ?. Married ?.

RESIDENT:- The census of 1810, gives James Norton resided with his family in Plattsburgh, Clinton County, New York, consisted of two sons and four daughters, when the family removed to Darby Township, Madison County, Ohio, about 1811.

It appears that James Norton and his wife Dealany, and family, (two sons, John and Soloman, and three daughters, Keziah, Phoebe, and Lucinda, accompanied by his son-in-law, Jeremiah Dominy, who married their daughter, Abagail, in Plattsburgh, Clinton County, New York, in 1810,) came to Darby Township, Madison County, Ohio, in 1811. They resided in Worthington, Ohio, with a Mr. Bell. While there, Dr. Neil offered them land on what is now High Street, between the villages of Worthington and Columbus, in a price ranging from $2.00 to 3.00 per acre as to where located. The price was too high for that day, so they purchased their farm on Sugar Run of about 300 acres, and cabins could be erected thereon.

The old Norton home was erected just west of Sugar Run on the north side, where it crosses the Old Granville-Greenfield Stage Coach Line, (known as the Post Road), now state route 161.

His holdings stretched from Post Road on both sides of Sugar Run, westward toward Big Darby Creek, just west of the Pittsburgh, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad, (known as Pennsylvania Lines). On the north side of Sugar Run, where the County Road crosses the run going to the Forest Grove Cemetery, Jeremiah Dominy erected his cabin.

(SEE DOMINY'S GENEALOGY FOURTH GENERATION)
Dated: August 29, 1940. Newton J. Dominy, Historian