FAMILY LINE AND HISTORY
ADAH MELISSA CHAMBERLAIN
4th of 5 children of Harrison Chamberlain & Caroline Van Surdam
Born: Feb 23, 1858, Middlebury, Wyoming Co., New York
Died: Nov 1, 1927 (age 69), Rochester, Monroe Co., New York; lobar pneumonia, chronic myocarditis
Buried: Nov 4, 1927, Mt. Hope Cemetery in Rochester, Monroe Co., New York; unmarked grave
Married: Mar 4, 1882, EDSON LEROY CORY, Middlebury, Wyoming Co., New York
Two children: Seward Edson Cory, Sumner Allen Cory
EDSON LEROY CORY
Son of William Edmond Cory, III & Hannah unkn; raised by his uncle Abner Cory after death of his father in 1831
Born: Sep 29, 1858, Fond du Lac Co., Wisconsin
Died: Jan 4, 1927 (age 68), Rochester City, Monroe Co., New York; myocarditis, arteriosclerosis
Buried: Jan 7, 1927, Mt. Hope Cemetery in Rochester, Monroe Co., New York; unmarked grave
Occupation: Bookkeeper for Rochester Stamping Company, harness maker, accountant, machinist
Affiliation: Independent Order of Odd Fellows (Frankfort Lodge No. 579 I.O.O.F.) Frankfort Lodge of Foresters
Married: Mar 4, 1882, ADAH MELISSA CHAMBERLAIN, Middlebury, Wyoming Co., New York
Two children: Seward Edson Cory, Sumner Allen Cory
1. Seward Edson Cory
Born: Aug 3, 1886, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York
Died: Sep 17, 1939 (age 53), Brighton, Monroe Co., New York; tuberculosis of lungs
Buried: Nov 13, 1939, Mt. Hope Cemetery in Rochester, Monroe Co., New York; unmarked grave
Occupation: Assembler (telephone manufacturing), machinist, toolmaker, maker of leather bags
Never married, no children
2. Sumner Allen Cory
Born: Jun 3, 1890, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York
Died: Jun 19, 1897 (7 yrs, 16 days), Rochester, Monroe Co., New York; meningitis colitis
Buried: Jun 21, 1897, Mt. Hope Cemetery in Rochester, Monroe Co., New York; unmarked grave
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Timeline and Records
Five children of Harrison Chamberlain & Caroline Van Surdam:
1. Finley McLaren “Frank” Chamberlin
1845 – 1905
2. Adelaide “Addie” Chamberlain
1848 – 1935
3. Grace E. Chamberlain
1851 – 1936
4. Adah Melissa Chamberlain
1858 – 1927
5. Irene Anna Chamberlain
1866 – 1902
Four children of William Edmund Cory & Malina Ann Van Surdam
Note: Malina is the sister of Caroline (Van Surdam) wife of Harrison Chamberlain
1. Melvin B. Cory
1850 – 1868
2. Allen Ethan Cory
1856 – 1947
3. Edson Leroy Cory
1858 – 1927
4. Olive M. Cory
1862 – 1895
**********
Sep 22, 1845: Birth of Finley McLaren “Frank” Chamberlin, 1st of 5 children of Harrison Chamberlain & Caroline Van Surdam, in Middlebury, Wyoming Co., New York
Feb 18, 1848: Birth of Adelaide “Addie” Chamberlain, 2nd of 5 children of Harrison Chamberlain & Caroline Van Surdam, in Middlebury, Wyoming Co., New York
Sep 1, 1851: Birth of Grace E. Chamberlain, 3rd of 5 children of Harrison Chamberlain & Caroline Van Surdam, Middlebury, Wyoming Co., New York
Feb 23, 1858: Birth of Adah Melissa Chamberlain, 4th of 5 children of Harrison Chamberlain & Caroline Van Surdam, in Middlebury, Wyoming Co., New York
Jul 7, 1860: Federal Census for Middlebury, Wyoming Co., New York:
H. Chamberlain: age 48, M, Farmer, Value of Real Estate $5,000, Value of Personal Estate $1,600, born New York
Caroline: age 38, F, born New York
Finley Chamberlin: age 15, M, born New York
Adalade: age 13, F, born New York (Adelaide)
Grace E.: age 8, F, born New York
Ada: age 2, F, born New York (Adah)
Julius Palmater: age 17, M Farmer Hand, born New York
Nancy Chamberlin: age 82, F, born Connecticut (Nancy [Pigsley] Seekins Chamberlain is Harrison’s stepmother)
Aug 15, 1866: Birth of Irene Anna Chamberlain, 5th of 5 children of Harrison Chamberlain & Caroline Van Surdam, in Middlebury, Wyoming Co., New York
Jun 24, 1870: Federal Census for Middlebury, Wyoming Co., New York:
Chamberland, Harrison: age 56, farmer, value of real estate $6250, value of personal property $680, born New York (Chamberlain)
Caroline: age 46, keeping house, born New York
Grace: age 19, at home, born New York
Ada: age 11, attends school, born New York
Irene: age 3, born New York
Nov 21, 1877: Death of Caroline (Van Surdam) Chamberlain (age 54), mother of Melissa Adah (Chamberlain) Cory, in Middlebury, Wyoming Co., New York. Caroline is buried in the Village Cemetery in Middlebury.
Jun 8, 1880: Federal Census for Middlebury, Wyoming Co., New York:
Chamberlain, Harrison: age 68, widow, farmer, born in New York, father born N.H., mother born Conn
Grace: age 27, daughter, single, keeping house, born New York, father born New York, mother born Mass
Ada: age 22, daughter, single, at home, born New York, father born New York, mother born Mass
Irene: age 13, daughter, single, at home, born New York, father born New York, mother born Mass
Jun 5, 1880: Federal Census for Warsaw Village, Wyoming Co., New York:
Cory, Edson L.: white, male, age 21, servant, single, man of all work, maimed, crippled, bedridden or otherwise disabled, born Michigan, father born Michigan, mother born Michigan
Note: Place of his and his parents’ births do not correspond to other records. He is living in the household of Charles A. Gardiner.
Mar 4, 1882: Marriage of Adah Melissa Chamberlain and Edson Leroy Cory in Middlebury, Wyoming Co., New York. Both Adah and Edson are age 24
1882: Rochester City Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 118):
Cory Edson L. bookkeeper, 80 State, house 218 W. Main [16 Tremont
1883: Rochester City Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 123):
Cory Edson L. bookkeeper, 327 East avenue, house r 112½ Tremont [24 Tremont;16
1884: Rochester City Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 155):
Cory Edson L. bookkeeper, house r. 194 Tremont; r 112½ [16 Tremont
1885: Rochester City Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 129):
Cory Edson L. bookkeeper, 208 State, house 5 Magnolia [Tremont
1886: Rochester City Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 127):
Cory Edson L., bookkeeper, 80 State, house
Aug 3, 1886: Birth of Seward Edson Cory, 1st of 2 children of Adah Melissah Chamberlain & Edson Leroy Cory, in Rochester, Monroe Co., New York
1887: Rochester City Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 131):
Cory Edson L. bookkeeper, 205 State, house 2 Magnolia [Tremont
1888: Rochester City Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 137):
Cory Edson L. bookkeeper, 205 State, 5 Magnolia [Tremont
1889: Rochester City Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 141):
Cory Edson L. bookkeeper, 200 State, house 158 Mansion [Tremont
1890: Rochester City Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 144):
Cory Edson L. real estate, 203 State, 158 Mansion
Jun 3, 1890: Birth of Sumner Allen Cory, 2nd of 2 children of Adah Melissa Chamberlain & Edson Leroy Cory, in Rochester, Monroe Co., New York
Sep 22, 1890: Death of Harrison Chamberlain (age 78), the father of Adah Melissa (Chamberlain) Cory, in Wyoming, Wyoming Co., New York. Harrison is buried with his wife, Caroline, in the Village Cemetery in Wyoming, Wyoming Co., New York.
1891: Rochester City Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 148):
Cory Edson L. grocer, 434 Plymouth avenue, house 448 do. [Tremont
1892: Rochester City Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 157):
Cory Edson L. grocer, 7 Moran, house do.
Feb 16, 1892: State Census, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York:
Name: Adah Cory
Birth Year: abt 1862
Birth Place: United States
Age: 30
Gender: Female
Citizenship: Citizen
Residence Place: Rochester, Monroe
Ward: Ward 08
Election District: 07
1893: Rochester City Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 156):
Cory Edson L. bookkeeper, 203 State, house 58 Hawley
1894: Rochester City Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 159):
Cory Edson L. bookkeeper, 203 State, house 130 Bartlett
1895: Rochester City Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 162):
Cory Edson L. bookkeeper, 203 State, house 130 Bartlett
1896: Rochester City Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 165):
Cory Edson L. bookkeeper, 203 State, house 130 Bartlett
1897: Rochester City Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 169):
Cory Edson L. agent, harness maker, 402 West avenue, house 130 Bartlett
1897: Rochester Business Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 824):
Harness Makers.
Cory Edson L. (agent), 402 West av
Jun 19, 1897: Death of Sumner Allen Cory (age 7 yrs, 16 days), 2nd of 2 children of Adah Melissa Chamberlain & Edson Leroy Cory, in Rochester, Monroe Co., New York, of meningitis colitis.
Note: Meningitis is the inflammation of the meninges of the brain and spinal cord, most often caused by a bacterial or viral infection
Jun 21, 1897: Burial of Sumner Allen Cory in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Rochester, Monroe Co. It is not known the exact site of his grave, only the section (R-Glen) in which he is buried.
Jun 19, 1897: Union & Advertiser, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 11):
DIED.
CORY—In this city, Saturday, June 19, 1897, Sumner Allen, youngest son of Edson L. and Adah M. Cory, aged 7 years and 16 days.
—Funeral from the house 180 Bartlett street, this (Monday) afternoon at 2 o’clock.
1898: Rochester City Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 173):
Cory Edson L. agent, harness maker, 10 York, house 182 Clifton
1898: Rochester Business Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 860):
Harness Makers.
Cory Edson L. (agent), 10 York
1899: Rochester City Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 177):
Cory Edson L. agent, harness maker, 10 York, house 182 Clifton
1899: Rochester Business Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 888):
Harness Makers.
Cory Edson L. (agent), 10 York
1900: Rochester City Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 179):
Cory Edson L. agent, harness maker, 10 York, h. 182 Clifton
1900: Rochester Business Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 888):
Harness Makers.
Cory Edson L. (agent), 10 York
Edson Leroy Cory (undated photo):
E.L. Cory peddling gloves and shoestrings on Front Street with young boy, probably his son Seward
Jun 12, 1900: Federal Census for Rochester City (Ward 11), Monroe Co., New York:
Cory, Edson L.: Head, born Sep 1859, age 40, 1st married 18 yrs, married, born Wisconsin, father born New York, mother born New York, bookkeeper, rents home
Ada M.: Wife, born Feb 1862, age 38, 1st married 18 yrs, married, 2 children born, 1 child living, born New York, father born New York, mother born New York
Seward E.: son, born Aug 1886, age 13, single, born New York, father born Wisconsin, mother born New York, attending school
Note: Transcribed record is listed under Coy. Ada was born Feb 1858 and Edson was born Sep 1858
1901: Rochester City Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 186):
Cory Edson L. bookkeeper, h. 182 Clifton
1902: Rochester City Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 182):
Cory Edson L. bookkeeper, h. 182 Clifton
1903: Rochester City Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 182):
Cory Edson L. bookkeeper, Anderson av. opp. Fairmont, house 182 Clifton
Note: Edson L. Cory works as the bookkeeper for the Rochester Stamping Company which is located on Anderson Avenue, in Rochester, Monroe Co., New York.
Note: The Rochester Stamping Company (later located at 176 Anderson Avenue) of Rochester, New York made pressed metal goods such as chafing dishes, silent butlers, teakettles, cuspidors, and trays. In 1900 the Rochester Stamping Company was formed from Rochester Stamping Works in order to increase it manufacturing capacity, and in 1908 the first electric percolators were manufactured.
1904: Rochester City Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 185):
Cory Edson L. bookkeeper, Anderson av. opp. Fairmont, h. 46 Anderson av.
1905: Rochester City Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 190):
Cory Edson L. bookkeeper, 45 Anderson av house 46 do [h 8 Argyle
Apr 22, 1905: State Census for Rochester City (Ward 6), Monroe Co., New York:
Cory, Edson L.: head, male, age 46, born U.S. bookkeeper
Adah M.: wife, age 46, female, born U.S., mother born New York, house work
Seward E.: son, age 18, male, born U.S., at school
Chamberlain, Grace: sister-in-law, female, age 52, born U.S., nurse
1906: Rochester City Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 200):
Cory Edson L. bookkeeper, 45 Anderson av house 46 do [change h 42 East av
1907: Rochester City Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 206):
Cory Edson L. bookkeeper, 45 Anderson av house 46 do [change h 452 East av
1908: Rochester City Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 210):
Cory Edson L. bookkeeper, h 7 Norwood
1909: Rochester City Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 217):
Cory Edson L. bookkeeper 176 Anderson av h 7 Norwood
Cory Seward E telephone maker bds 7 Norwood
Note: The storage and shipping facility for the Rochester Stamping Company is located at 176 Anderson Ave
Adah & Edson Cory house at 7 Norwood Street (built in 1883) in Rochester, Monroe Co., New York:
Apr 22, 1910: Federal Census for Rochester City (Ward 6), Monroe Co., New York:
Cory, Edson L.: Head, age 51, married 1 time, married 28 years, born Wisconsin, father born Vermont, mother born New York, accountant for stamping unk, owns home
Adah M.: Wife, age 52, married 1 time, married 28 years, 2 children born, 1 child living, born New York, father born New York, mother born New York
Seward E.: son, age 23, single, born New York, father born Wisconsin, mother born New York, assembler, telephone mfg
Chamberlin, Grace E.: sister-in-law, age 56, single, born New York, father born New York, mother born New York
Note: Transcribed record is listed under Covy; their 2nd child, Sumner, died Jun 19, 1897
1910: Rochester City Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 230):
Cory Edson L bookkeeper 176 Anderson av h 7 Norwood
Cory Seward E telephone maker b 7 Norwood
Apr 22, 1910: Federal Census for Rochester City, Monroe Co., New York:
Cory, Edson L.: Head, age 51, married 1 time, married 28 years, born Wisconsin, father born Vermont, mother born New York, accountant, owns
Adah M.: Wife, age 52, married 1 time, married 28 years, 2 children born, 1 child living, born New York, father born New York, mother born New York
Seward E.: son, age 23, single, born New York, father born Wisconsin, mother born New York, assembler, telephone mfg
Chamberlin, Grace E.: sister-in-law, age 56, single, born New York, father born NY, mother born NY (Adah’s older sister)
circa 1911: Rochester Stamping Company photo:
View of driver posing with 1911 Packard truck owned by Rochester Stamping Company. Signs on the side of the truck: “Rochester Stamping Co., largest manufacturers of copper nickel plated ware in the United States, Rochester Stamping Company.” Handwritten on the back: “Motor trucks–Packard, 1911.”
Source: Detroit Public Library Digital Collections; Lazarnick Collection
https://digitalcollections.detroitpubliclibrary.org/islandora/object/islandora%3A176606
1911: Rochester City Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 237):
Cory Edson L bookkeeper 176 Anderson av h 7 Norwood
Cory Seward E telephone maker b 7 Norwood
1912: Rochester City Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 241):
Cory Edson L bookkeeper 176 Anderson av h 7 Norwood
Cory Seward E telephone maker b 7 Norwood
1913: Rochester City Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 251):
Cory Edson L bookkeeper 176 Anderson av
Cory Seward E telephone maker b 7 Norwood
1914: Rochester City Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 260):
Cory Edson bookkeeper 176 Anderson av h 7 Norwood
Cory Seward E telephone maker b 7 Norwood
1915: Rochester City Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 266):
Cory Edson L bookkeeper 176 Anderson av h 7 Norwood
Cory Seward E remd from city
As of Jun 1, 1915: State Census for Rochester City (Ward 6), Monroe Co., New York:
Name: Edson Cory
Birth Year: abt 1859
Birth Place: United States
Age: 56
Gender: Male
Residence Place: Rochester Ward 06, Monroe
Relationship: Head
Color or Race: White
Household Members:
Name Age:
Edson Cory: Head, age 56, Book Keeper
Ada A Cory: Wife, age 54, House Work (Adah Melissa Cory)
1916: Rochester City Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 345):
Cory Edson L (Adah) bookkeeper, 176 Anderson av h 7 Norwood
1917: Rochester City Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 353):
Cory Edson L (Adah) bookkeeper 176 Anderson av h 7 Norwood
Cory Seward machinist 203 State h 7 Norwood
1918: Rochester City Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 291):
Cory Edson L (Adah) bookkeeper, 176 Anderson av h 7 Norwood
Cory Seward E machinist h 108 Weldon
1919: Rochester City Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 297):
Cory Edson L (Adah) bookkpr, 176 Anderson av h 7 Norwood
Cory Seward E machinist bds Norwood
Jan 6/7, 1920: Federal Census for Rochester City (Ward 6), Monroe Co., New York:
Cory, Edson L.: Head, owns, age 62, married, born Wisconsin, father born Wisconsin, mother born New York, bookkeeper, stamping works
Ada M.: Wife, age 62, married, born New York, father born New York, mother born New York (Adah Melissa)
Seward E.: son, age 32, single, born New York, father born Wisconsin, mother born New York, machinist, instrument works
Note: Seward was indexed as Leward
1920: Rochester City Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 300):
Cory Edson L (Adah) bookkpr, 176 Anderson av h 7 Norwood
Cory Seward E machinist bds 7 Norwood
1921: Rochester City Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 307):
Cory Edson L (Adah) bookkpr, 176 Anderson av h 7 Norwood
Cory Seward E machinist bds 7 Norwood
1922: Rochester City Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 344):
Cory Edson L (Adah) bookkpr, 176 Anderson av h 7 Norwood
Cory Seward E machst res 7 Norwood
1923: Rochester City Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 333):
Cory Edson L (Adah) bookkpr, 176 Anderson av h 7 Norwood
Cory Seward E machst res 7 Norwood
1924: Rochester City Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co. New York (pg 345):
Corwin Edson L (Adah) bookkpr, 176 Anderson
Corwin Seward E machst res 7 Norwood
1925: Rochester City Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 668):
Cory Edson L (Adah) bookkpr, 176 Anderson av h 7 Norwood
Cory Seward E machst res 7 Norwood
1925: State Census for Rochester City (Ward 6), Monroe Co., New York:
Name: Adah Corey (Cory)
Gender: Female
Color or Race: White
Age: 67
Birth Date: abt 1858
Birth Place: USA
Residence Date: 1925
House Number: 7
Residence Place: Rochester Ward 06, Monroe
Relationship: Wife
Household Members:
Name Age:
E Edison Corey: Head, age 67 (Leroy Edson Cory)
Adah Corey: wife, age 67
Senard Corey: son, age 35 (Seward Cory)
1927: Rochester City Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 674):
Cory Edson L (Adah) bookkeeper h 7 Norwood
Cory Seward E machinist res 7 Norwood
Jan 4, 1927: Death of Edson Leroy Cory (age 68), husband of Adah Melissa Chamberlain, in Rochester City, Monroe Co., New York; of myocarditis and arteriosclerosis.
Note: Myocarditis is an inflamed condition of the muscular walls of the heart; arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) is a chronic disease in which thickening, hardening, and loss of elasticity of the arterial walls result in impaired blood circulation.
Jan 5, 1927: Democrat & Chronicle, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 24):
Edson L. Cory died yesterday at his home, No. 7 Norwood street. He leaves his wife, Adah M. Cory; a son, Seward E. Cory, of this city, and a brother, Allen Cory, of Pentwater, Michigan. He was a member of Frankford Lodge of Foresters. The body was removed to No. 137 Cady street.
Jan 6, 1927: Democrat & Chronicle, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 16):
Deaths
CORY—Entered into rest on Tuesday of this week, Edson L. Cory at his home, No. 7 Norwood street, aged 68 years. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Adah Cory, and one son, Seward E. Cory, all of this city; one brother, Allen Cory, of Pentwater, Mich. He was a member of Frankfort No. 579 I.O.O.F., who will assist at the funeral service.
—Funeral service on Friday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock at Barton Coates, No. 137 Cady street. Interment in Mount Hope Cemetery.
Jan 7, 1927: Burial of Edson Leroy Cory in the Mt. Hope Cemetery in Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (unmarked grave)
Nov 1, 1927: Death of Adah Melissa (Chamberlain) Cory (age 69), at the Genessee Hospital in Rochester, Monroe Co., New York, of lobar pneumonia and chronic myocarditis.
Note: type of pneumonia affecting one or more lobes of the lung; commonly due to streptococcal infection; myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle.
Nov 1, 1927: New York Death Index:
Name: Adah M. Cory
Death Date: 1 Nov 1927
Death Place: Rochester, New York
Certificate Number: 63447
Nov 2, 1927: Democrat & Chronicle, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 28):
Mrs. Adah M. Cory died yesterday at the Genesee hospital. She leaves a son, Seward E. Cory, of Rochester, and a sister, Miss Grace Chamberlain, of Fairport. The body was removed to No. 137 Cady street.
Nov 3, 1927: Democrat & Chronicle, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 24):
Deaths
CORY—Entered into rest on Tuesday November 1st, 1927, at Genesee Hospital. Mrs. Adah M. Cory. She leaves one son, Seward E. Cory, of this city; also a sister, Miss Grace Chamberlain, of Fairport.
—Funeral services on Friday afternoon at No. 137 Cady street, corner Jefferson avenue at 2:30 o’clock. Interment in Mount Hope Cemetery.
Nov 4, 1927: Burial of Adah Melissa (Chamberlain) Cory in the Mt. Hope Cemetery in Rochester, Monroe Co., New York, alongside her husband (unmarked grave)
Nov 11, 1927: Regarding the Estate of Adah M. Cory:
STATE OF NEW YORK,
SURROGATE’S COURT: MONROE COUNTY.
In the Matter of the Administration of the Estate
– of –
ADAH M. CORY,
Deceased.
STATE OF NEW YORK, }
County of Monroe, } SS.
City of Rochester. }
SEWARD E. CORY, being duly sworn, deposes and says:
That he is the son of the above named deceased and is the only child and heir-at-law and next-of-kin of said deceased; that deponent’s father is deceased and that there are no children or any deceased brother or sister of deponent and that deponent is entitled to the entire estate of the said Adah M. Cory, deceased; that the funeral expenses are less than Three hundred dollars ($300.00), doctor’s bill approximately Fifteen dollars (15.00), and coal bill amounting to Five dollars ($5.00); and that these debts are the only debts of said decedent known to deponent.
Deponent further says that said decedent was not engaged in any business whereby she might have contracted outstanding debts.
THEREFORE, deponent prays this Court that the amount of his bond be fixed at a sum not exceeding Five hundred dollars ($500.00–), pursuant to Section 121 Surrogate’s Court Act.
Sworn to before me this 11th }
day of November, 1927. } Seward E. Cory
James R. Martin
Notary Public
Attached to the above document:
REAL PROPERTY ASSESSED VALUE MARKET VALUE
House and lot at No. 7 Norwood Street 3,200.00 4,500.00
Rochester, N.Y.
PERSONAL PROPERTY VALUATION
As per Inventory filed in Monroe County Surrogate’s Office 189.05
Cash in Bank (Rochester Trust & Safe Deposit Co.) 2,282.49
Rochester Gas & Electric Stock 6% preferred 2,200.00
Total $4,571.54
1928: Rochester City Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 626):
Cory Adah widow Edson died Jan 4, 1927
Cory Seward E machinist res 7 Norwood
Note: The record lists the death date of Edson Cory
1928: Rochester City Directory, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York (pg 631):
Cory Adah widow Edson died Nov 1, 1927
Cory Seward E machinist res 7 Norwood
Note: The record lists the death date of Ada (Chamberlain) Cory
Sep 17, 1939: Death of Seward Edson Cory (age 43), 1st of 2 children of Adah Melissa Chamberlain & Edson Leroy Cory, in Brighton, Monroe Co., New York, of tuberculosis of lungs. Seward died in the Iola Sanitarium in Brighton, a suburb of Rochester, New York.
Note: Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis that is transmitted through inhalation and is characterized by cough, fever, shortness of breath, weight loss, and the appearance of inflammatory substances and tubercles in the lungs. Tuberculosis is highly contagious and can spread to other parts of the body, especially in people with weakened immune systems. Although the incidence of the disease has declined since the introduction of antibiotic treatment in the 1950s, it is still a major public health problem throughout the world, especially in Asia and Africa.
Source: The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
The Iola Sanitarium opened in 1910 and closed in the 1960s. It was believed that “bed rest, continuous exposure to fresh air, sunlight, low temperatures and a plentiful diet could cure or at least arrest the dreaded disease.” Tuberculosis was once known as consumption, and also called the White Plague—due to the pale complexion of its victims.
Oct 26, 1939: Letter from Olive M. Cory to C.T. Taggart regarding the estate of Seward Cory:
Pentwater, Michigan
October 26, 1939
Mr. Claude Taggert:
Your letter of October 20, 1939 received. We have filled in the blanks to the best of our ability.
As to Mrs. E.L. Cory, perhaps I should say Mr. and Mrs. Cory were first cousins. Their common relatives are the Surdams, some of whom are living around Rochester. The Chamberlain family lived in or near Wyoming, Wyoming County. Other relatives there are the Hodge family.
Mrs. Cory had one brother Finley (?) Chamberlain, and three sisters Mrs. Adelaide Kinney and Mrs. Irene Kinney of Williamston, Michigan and Miss Grace Chamberlain of Rochester and later of the Baptist Home at Fairmont. Mrs. Irene Kinney died about 1902 leaving one daughter.
Mrs. Adelaide Kinney and Miss Grace died during the early months of 1936. Mrs. Adelaide Kinne had one son, Bert. He and the husband and child of Irene removed to some western state, Nebraska or Oregon. Finley Chamberlain also went west. We never knew whether he married or not.
There are a couple of matters which we think should be mentioned at this time. One is that Mr. Edson remarked in the presence of witnesses that he intended that his brother should receive whatever, if any, of his property when he was through with it. (Mr. Edson Cory was a cripple and his brother made extra effort to provide him with an education.) As Mr. Cory died unexpectedly, before the time he imagined he would be taken, it isn’t likely he made any provisions.
Shortly before her death Mrs. Cory wrote that she had a number of keepsakes and family relics that she meant to turn over to the nieces. Afterward Seward wrote that he wished to keep the things for a while. One article was a hand woven bed spread. There was a collection of pictures, snapshots mostly. If these articles are still at hand, Miss Henrietta Cory will pay the cost of packing and shipping. If it is necessary to sell the bed spread she is willing to buy it and pay a fair price.
If there is any other information we can give we will be glad to do so.
Respectfully,
Olive M. Cory
Note: Olive M. and Henrietta Cory are the daughters of Allen Ethan Cory & Ida Jane Mott, and the nieces of Edson Cory
Nov 13, 1939: Burial of Seward Edson Cory. According to Mt. Hope interment records, Seward E. Cory is buried nearly eight weeks after his death in the Mt. Hope Cemetery in Rochester, Monroe Co., New York. There is no headstone at the site of his interment; plot 032 (buried to the right of the Goebel marker).
Email from Julie Bushnell to Catherine Sevenau regarding the burial of Seward Edson Cory:
I went to Mt. Hope Cemetery and talked with the lady in the office. She said the only reason she has ever heard that someone was not buried right away was because there was no money for the burial, so the person would be placed in a vault until the money appeared. Even that is strange to me as there are many who die penniless and yet are buried in “public” spaces at the cemeteries. I asked if it could have had anything to do with Seward having TB, but she said it would have been just the opposite: they wouldn’t have wanted to keep his body “out” and would have wanted him in the ground as soon as possible. She looked up anything there was about his burial and there were no notes about anything out of the ordinary or that he had died two months previous to the interment. Julie
Jul 18, 2008: from Julie Bushnell, a researcher in Monroe Co., New York:
Email from Julie Bushnell to Catherine Sevenau:
Dear Catherine,
Not one of the four Cory’s has a headstone! Adah and Edson are buried side by side in one section, Seward is buried alone in another section, and Sumner is buried in a public space, nowhere near parents or brother. I found the place where Adah and Edson are and took a picture of the ground; did the same for Seward, but no chance of even finding where Sumner lies. There was just nothing to provide a clue except the section letter—the section being mostly empty space with no markers.
Til later, Julie
Mount Hope Cemetery, Rochester, New York
Mount Hope Cemetery was formally dedicated on Oct 3, 1838 on 40 acres of ground purchased from Silas Andrus. Today it covers almost 200 acres and has over a third of a million permanent residents including many of Rochester’s most prominent pioneers, inventors, politicians and industrialists. It is one of America’s oldest active municipal burial grounds, continuing to grow at a rate of 200-300 burials per year. It is a geologically diverse site with dramatic natural features formed during the post-Ice Age melt, and is a haven for wildlife which is demonstrated most dramatically in early Fall when it turns into a natural rookery and the trees are dark with the roosting birds.
Source: www.findagrave.com: Find a Grave: Mount Hope Cemetery
Mt. Hope Cemetery:
The architectural styles of the cemetery’s gravestone and grave markers, crypts, chapels, gatehouses, and mausoleums span three centuries. Distinct motifs of the High Victorian Gothic and Neoclassical architectural traditions persist throughout the cemetery and its various structures. Tiffany glass windows may be found in several of the mausoleums.
The cemetery contains two non-denominational chapels which the Friends group refers to by their construction dates: the 1862 Chapel and the 1912 Chapel. Neither has been used for decades and as of 2020 both are closed to the public due to their structural deterioration.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Hope_Cemetery_(Rochester)
Letter (undated) from Mrs. Grace E. Chamberlain to her cousin Willard “Joe” Chamberlin or his brother Fred:
You must have a lot of second cousins somewhere on your grandmother Surdam’s side of the family.
Your great grandfather was Seneca Surdam, and his wife was Anna. I submit this data for your family record.
Seneca Surdam was born April 27th, 1790 ) I don’t know where
Ann Surdam ” May 25th, 1790 )
Seneca Surdam died April 13th, 1859 ) I suppose they are buried around
Anna, his wife, died May 8th, 1867 ) Wyoming, N.Y. I never have looked for their graves
Children of Seneca and Anna Surdam, as follows:
Jane born June 4, 1814
Maria ” Oct 22, 1818
Melissa ” July 1, 1820
Caroline ” Jan 4, 1823 This is the one who married your grandfather, Harrison Chamberlain. They are both buried in village cemetery, Wyoming, N.Y. and have markers.
Delia ” Oct 16, 1824
Jane ” May 26, 1826
Morgan ” Nov 28, 1829
Younglove ” Feb 24, 1830
Freelove ” Feb 14, 1831
Malina ” May 8, 1832
George ” Sept 11, 1834
Quite a sizeable family! I don’t know if any one of this name still lives around Wyoming. I assume not, for I never heard either your aunt Grace or Aunt Adah speak of any such relation. Your Aunt Grace never married‚ I think lived to be 88. Think to ask me to show her your obituary. I have one of both Addie and Grace. Aunt Grace died in a Baptist home for the aged in the suburbs of Rochester, N.Y.— Fairport, where she lived for many years. She was brought back to be buried with her father and mother, Harrison and Caroline, there in Wyoming, but at the time of the funeral I did not hear of her having any relatives present except on the Chamberlain side. Yet you see she must have had Surdam relatives a plenty.
Your father’s middle name is MacLaren. He was named for Finley McLaren, a Scotchman. The first Finley MacLaren married Betsy Stewart (or Elizabeth, I suppose). I think they were married in Scotland. Came to the vicinity of LeRoy, had two children, Finley MacLaren and Helen Mary MacLaren, when their father died— one of the earliest deaths in that vicinity. His widow soon married Hinds Chamberlain, and these children were raised by him as his own. They used to visit at Reuben C’s, and Harrison C (your grandfather) thought this MacLaren boy the finest he ever knew, and gave that name later to his only son, and according to the girls nearly always called him by both names, i.e. Finley MacLaren.
Note: This letter was written to Fred Chamberlin or Willard “Joe” Chamberlin (the sons of Finley & Emily) from Grace Chamberlain, a descendent of Orson Sumner Chamberlain, the brother of Harrison Chamberlain.
Note: Seneca Surdam died in Middlebury, Wyoming County, New York
Note: The name was originally Van Surdam, and during Seneca or Reuben’s generation, the Van was dropped from usage.
Jan 5, 1940: Letter from Irwin Elliott Kinne to C.T. Taggart regarding the estate of Seward Cory:
Chicago Ill, Jan 5 -1940
Claude T. Taggart
538 Powers Bldg
Rochester N.Y.
Dear Sir.
I received your letter and I am sorry as I can not give you the information you want, but I am sending you the address of a Grace E. Chamberlain in Highland Park Mich who can give you the information you want.
I wrote to my Aunt in Williamston Mich to go over to see my second cousin Clark Chamberlain and he told her to have you write to his sister and that she has made a study of the Chamberlains.
I can’t help you any more than I have so I will close wishing you the best of luck.
P.S.
Bert Kinne is Mrs. Adelaide Kinnes son. He lives in Spokane Washington but that is as far as I know. I do not know his address.
The person you are to write to is:
Grace E. Chamberlain
166 East Grand Ave.
Highland Park Mich
P.S. Would you let us know if we were of any help to you.
Mr. Irwin E. Kinne
2902 Woodard St
Chicago, Ill
Jan 8, 1940: Letter from Harrison Adelbert Kinne to C. Taggart regarding the estate of Seward Cory:
Spokane 1/8—40
Mr. Claude T. Taggart
Rochester N.Y.
Dear Sir
Yours of Dec 27th duly received and am glad to give you any information I can, but I know very little of my mothers family. I never saw any of her brothers family except Uncle Finleys daughter Adah Whittaker. She brot her husband here to this city to his folks to die of cancer, and I saw her a few times only. That was many years ago and do not know the whereabouts of any of the children. Perhaps you can get in touch (with) Finley Chamberlains of Long Beach California and get their address of him. There is one cousin you have not mentioned. That is Irwin Kinne son of Irene Kinne. His address is or was 3119 N Kinball Ave, Chicago.
My name is Harrison Adelbert Kinne. Am afraid this (is) not as much information as you expected but it is all I have.
Trusting this will help and if I can be of any help in the future will be glad to do so.
Sincerely yours
H.A. Kinne
Jan 16, 1944: Letter to Willard “Joe” Chamberlin, from a distant cousin, Mrs. Grace E. Chamberlin:
Jan. 16, 1944
Dear Cousin:-
We were speaking of you only yesterday, and hubby chided me for not having written earlier in response to your Christmas greetings. Christmas does not seem quite the same to us as we grow older. We could not even be with the doctor boy in Cincinnati – however, I had a week with them in November, but dare not “clutter” traffic in Dec.
I am wondering what you think of war conditions now, and how soon we may reasonably expect victory. That we shall have it, I doubt not, but some or our best informed commentators think it may be some distance off. BUT how can Germany stand much more bombing, if we are doing even half of what we are told we are? Its a heartache when we read of the numbers of our lovely bombers lost, and of the personnel that go down with them. Yet I think we get off much better than we would trying to accomplish the same task with a land army. We had another casualty among our C’s in the person of young Paul C. my nephews son – he was badly wounded in Tunisia. Has been sent back to a hospital in Butler, Pa. where he has been in a cast over six months- was wounded by shrapnel in back and in head, and both limbs have been paralyzed since. He says he is getting wonderful treatment, having all sorts of things done for him, and is given hope that he may walk again.
In going through old papers I come across letters from your aunt Addie. I will inclose some, so that you may sort of get acquainted with her, even at this late date. When she speaks of Middlebury- that is the township in Wyoming co., N.Y. the village of Wyoming is about two miles from Reuben’s old place, is where Harrison, your grandfather was born, and is buried. There was an academy there early, one Jabez Warren was one of the founders. He enters our line, via. his marriage to one Hannah Sumner, she is a sister to Reuben’s wife, Mary Sumner- in other words a brother-in-law of Reuben, and the one with whom he made the trek from Vermont to Western N.Y. in 1601 or 02. You will find much of this Jabez Warren and Hannah Sumner. Jabez was a rev. soldier, and both he and wife are buried in East Aurora, N.Y. just a few miles from Wyoming. In fact Jabez Warren owned 1750 acres of around the present village of East Aurora, later made most famous by the colony of “Roycrofters” under Fra Elbert Hubbard. I just relate this in case you ever go through there, you would want to look it up. To ever get at the C’s I virtually had to run down all their relatives, and it is interesting too, for the son of this Jabez Warren, was the Gen. Warren of the war of 1812, the burning of Buffalo, etc. Both this Gen. Warren and his father Jabez were marked by DAR {their graves} some years ago, and I have write up from Buffalo papers. Father often spoke of his Warren relatives, and I did not know until I went into matters myself, but what he always had reference to Gen. Joseph of Bunker Hill fame.
But to return to this early academy in Wyoming- I think it ranks with our present day high school, being so near Harrison’s farm, it gave his children the privileges of education, that few in rural communities had in those days. All were better educated than the average of their day.
Addie Kinne was a wonderful reader, and a retentive memory, and was a most interesting person. I am told that at the woman’s club, church meetings, etc. she was an interesting speaker always. Was very blunt in any statement she made, or position she took, and could defend any position she took on any matter. I would say that was a trait in which all of those in my father’s generation shared. She was a faithful member of the Baptist church, and her old home, is immediately adjacent to it, and the church now own and occupy it as a parsonage, which I think was her desire. She was tall and never overweight, had very sharp, piercing dark eyes, and an engaging smile. I think she was better looking perhaps than either of her sisters, Adah or Grace.
Best Wishes,
Grace
Jan 29, 1940: Letter from Grace E. Chamberlain to C.T. Taggart regarding the estate of Seward Cory:
#166 Grand Ave., East Highland Park, Mich.
Jan. 29th, 1940
Dear Mr. Taggart:–
I am sorry that I have not been able to answer fully your letter relative to the children of Finlay Chamberlain. This was a branch of the family I had not interested myself in, to date, thinking I could incorporate in my genealogy after I had disposed of the earlier generations. I never thought of it as being difficult, since it is so recent.
Finlay Chamberlain’s sister, Addie, only died two or three years ago. I saw her often, and she gave me such data concerning the earlier generations. I never asked her just when her brother died, but have the impression it was a number of years ago.
His family for years lived in Fruita, Colorado. I presumed they must have died there, but vital records do not show it, as you will note from the inclosed. I presume Finlay and his wife followed their children elsewhere. The son Fred Chamberlain, moved from Fruita, Colo. to Long Beach, Calif. I have written to try and locate him there. He, of course, would know about his brothers and sisters, and as I am quite anxious to have the data myself, I am hoping I can assist you in locating him. I suggested the pension bureau, as I know he was a soldier of the civil war, and enlisted here in Michigan, when he was really to young. He was a first cousin of my father, and while I never saw him (Finlay) father had corresponded with him, and spoke of him frequently.
You speak of the wife of Finlay Chamberlain, as Emily Bennett. My records show that she was one Emily Hoy. I thought it was Hoyt, but I have the family bible record of Harrison Chamberlain, father of Finlay, and of Finlay it states:
Finley born Sept. 22, 1845
Finley married Emily Hoy Aug 23rd, 1871, by the Rev. Father Gunther.
I trust I hear favorably from Long Beach, and will pass the information along to you. When the Washington cousin was in Michigan for his mother’s funeral, two or three years ago, he told me he thought some of Finlay’s family lived in that section too, but apparently he does not know them.
Yours truly
Grace E. Chamberlain
Grace & Frank Chamberlain
Jan 29, 1940: Letter from Grace E. Chamberlain to an Eva & Edward regarding the death of Seward Cory:
Sunday
Dear Eva & Edward:-
I found your letter when I got home, about an hour ago. We were with Frank’s cousins and just couldn’t get into your section of the country, and as they are following us home, I had to hurry to get here and ‘clean up’ for their arrival.
Too bad about Seward Edson Cory. Yes, I know his mother was a sister to Addie and Grace, and Irene. They had only the brother Finlay, and I have listed the names of his children on a separate slip, so that you could give it to the Atty. if you wish. You have the name of Addie’s son- H.A. Kinne. I will have my brother mail you direct the name of Irene’s son in Chicago, and perhaps a letter to the Postmaster at Long Beach, Cal. will yield some trace of the sons of Finlay. I think it is Fred who is there.
Sorry about Fred. C. Wish you would tell Lovina to mail me his obituary if she has one.
Things are about the same with us. Frank isn’t any too well. Has to be careful about his heart.
I know Rochester is beautiful, and I am glad you are so well situated. We shall hope to see you. I am writing this hurriedly, to pass on what information I have.
Love, and write sometime. I suppose Graham is in high school by now!
Grace
Feb 8, 1940: Letter from C.T. Taggart to Fred L. Chamberlin regarding the estate of Seward Cory:
February 8th-40
3243
Estate of SEWARD E. CORY, decd.
Mr. Fred L. Chamberlain,
343 East Gage Avenue
Los Angeles, California.
My dear Mr. Chamberlain-
Seward E. Cory died in the City of Rochester, New York, on the 17th day of September, 1939, and Mr. Clarence A. Smith was appointed administrator of his estate, and I am acting as his attorney.
Mr. Seward E. Cory never married and left him surviving no father, mother, sister, brother, wife or children, so his estate will go to the nearest relative of his father and mother.
His father, Edson L. Cory died in this City of Rochester, New York, on the 4th day of January, 1927 but all his estate was in the joint name of himself and his wife, Adah M. Cory and she inherited his estate.
His mother, Adah M. Cory died in this City of Rochester, New York, without a will and all of her estate went to her son, Seward E. Cory. The mother died on the 1st day of November, 1927.
In searching for the next of kin of the father, Edson L. Cory, I found that there is a surviving brother, Allen Cory of Pentwater, Michigan. Mr. Edson L. Cory had a brother by the name of Melvin B. Cory who died in 1868; a sister by the name of Olive Cory Beach who died at Clayton, Michigan on the 10th day of March, 1896 and her husband Byron Beach died there in the year 1918 and they had the following children, Louise Hudson of Clayton, Michigan and Mrs. Alto Tillman of Midwest, Wyoming. Under our law this share will go to the surviving brother, Allen Cory.
In searching for the next of kin of the mother, I found that Adah M. Cory, nee Chamberlain also spelt Chamberlin, left a brother by the name of Finley Chamberlain or Chamberlin. I had to go to Washington to the Veteran’s Bureau to obtain information relative to him and I found that he died in Rifle, Colorado on August 9th, 1905, and left him surviving a widow by the name of Emma or Emily Chamberlin and that she died in the City of Los Angeles, California on the 18th day of August, 1938, from the residence 343 East Gage Street, Los Angeles, California. I went to the Rundal Library at Rochester where they have a directory of the City of Los Angeles, California and found your name at that address, hence my letter to you.
I will need the names and addresses of the children of Finley Chamberlin and Emma or Emily Chamberlin of which you are one. Would you kindly fill out the enclosed chart with this information as I need the names of their husbands and wives.
A sister of your father was Mrs. Adelaide Kinne, of Williamston, Michigan who died in 1936, and the name of her husband was George Kinne, and they have one son by the name of Elliott Erwin Kinne of 2902 Woodward Street, Chicago, Illinois.
A sister of your father was Miss Grace Chamberlain who died in the Baptist Home at Fairport, Monroe County, New York, in May 1936. She never married.
I would appreciate your help in the matter as there is a small lot in Rochester, New York which we are selling and it is necessary to have a probate of heirship and in the petition, I must set forth the names and addresses of your mothers, brothers and sister and their ages.
Thanking you for your courtesy, I am,
Very truly yours,
OTT/AP
C.T. Taggart
Joe Chamberlin
Jan 16, 1944: Letter (excerpt) from Mrs. Grace Chamberlain (a distant cousin of Adah) to Willard “Joe” Chamberlin, son of Finley Chamberlin:
Jan. 16, 1944
Dear Cousin:-
In going through old papers I come across letters from your aunt Addie. I will inclose some, so that you may sort of get acquainted with her, even at this late date. When she speaks of Middlebury- that is the township in Wyoming co., N.Y. the village of Wyoming is about two miles from Reuben’s old place, is where Harrison, your grandfather was born, and is buried. There was an academy there early, one Jabez Warren was one of the founders. He enters our line, via. his marriage to one Hannah Sumner, she is a sister to Reuben’s wife, Mary Sumner- in other words a brother-in-law of Reuben, and the one with whom he made the trek from Vermont to Western N.Y. in 1601 or 02. You will find much of this Jabez Warren and Hannah Sumner. Jabez was a rev. soldier, and both he and wife are buried in East Aurora, N.Y. just a few miles from Wyoming. In fact Jabez Warren owned 1750 acres of around the present village of East Aurora, later made most famous by the colony of “Roycrofters” under Fra Elbert Hubbard. I just relate this in case you ever go through there, you would want to look it up. To ever get at the C’s I virtually had to run down all their relatives, and it is interesting too, for the son of this Jabez Warren, was the Gen. Warren of the war of 1812, the burning of Buffalo, etc. Both this Gen. Warren and his father Jabez were marked by DAR {their graves} some years ago, and I have write up from Buffalo papers. Father often spoke of his Warren relatives, and I did not know until I went into matters myself, but what he always had reference to Gen. Joseph of Bunker Hill fame.
But to return to this early academy in Wyoming- I think it ranks with our present day high school, being so near Harrison’s farm, it gave his children the privileges of education, that few in rural communities had in those days. All were better educated than the average of their day.
Addie Kinne was a wonderful reader, and a retentive memory, and was a most interesting person. I’m told that at the woman’s club, church meetings, etc. she was an interesting speaker always. Was very blunt in any statement she made, or position she took, and could defend any position she took on any matter. I would say that was a trait in which all of those in my father’s generation shared. She was a faithful member of the Baptist church, and her old home, is immediately adjacent to it, and the church now own and occupy it as a parsonage, which I think was her desire. She was tall and never overweight, had very sharp, piercing dark eyes, and an engaging smile. I think she was better looking perhaps than either of her sisters, Adah or Grace.
Best Wishes,
Grace
Feb 15, 1940: Letter from Mrs. Grace E. Chamberlin to her cousin, Fred Chamberlin, the brother of Williard Joseph “Joe” Chamberlin:
#166 Grant Ave. East
Highland Park, Michigan
February 15th, 1940
Mr. Fred L. Chamberlain-
#343 East Gage Street,
Los Angeles, California.
Dear “Cousin”:-
For a long time I have been interested in writing up my Chamberlain family history, or at least genealogy, and locating all the members I could for the rather voluminous “family tree.” Your branch have been rather difficult to corral, and as is usual, one waits to get these family details till all have passed on who might have given aid.
I should say we are straight second cousins. Our grandfathers were brothers. You come from Harrison, and I from his brother Orson. I have often heard my father speak of his Cousin Finley, and I believe they occasionally wrote each other as boys. If I can find an old letter of your father’s I will inclose it. I know I did see some in my father’s old papers.
I had the pleasure of being quite well acquainted with your Aunt Grace, who only died quite recently, and with your Aunt Addie Kinne, whom I greatly admired. She too has been gone just a short time. I did have lovely obituaries of both these aunts and if I can find one will include it. But in all these talks with them, I tried to get their memories to go farther back than your father, so asked few questions about Finley’s family, though I did have the names of his children.
We are quite a tribe, and most of our ancestors were extremely worthy of emulation. I found we had plenty of Revolutionary ancestors. Both the Elder Henry Chamberlain, father of Reuben, who was the father of Harrison, and also Capt. Ebenezer Sumner, who was the father of Mary Sumner, the wife of Reuben C. were Revolutionary soldiers. I got all the proof, and was readily accepted. Then in going back, I found that we have a direct Mayflower lineage. I also joined this, and submitted proof, so that would know it was all authentic. They are very particular but we made the grade all right. I am delighted to pass onto you so fine a lineage and if any of you ever want to join any of these societies – I will be glad to tell you more about it. In these days, with every alien well organized, I think it might be well if we Americans were a little more conscious of our Americanism. I became quite interested, and have used it as a hobby, doing all my family lines. I think it appealed to me more because I was born a Chamberlain, and married a Chamberlain and often wondered about possible relationship. We have different emigrant ancestors: Then behold my amazement to find that our ancestor the Rev. Henry Chamberlain of Vermont, had done the same thing- he had married an Abigail Chamberlain, so I had to trace her out, and she has still a different emigrant ancestor. Whether these C’s were related before coming from England, I do not know.
I wrote up my notes for a little genealogical magazine our society gets out, and as I had extra pages, am sending you a full set, not exactly full either, for our gt. grand father Reuben Chamberlain had two wives, and in a later edition I added the descendants of the second wife. But you and I come through the first wife, Mary Sumner.
I have spent several lovely vacations in and around Wyoming, N.Y., locating old graves, records, etc, and have come to know the family of Amos Chamberlain very well. He was a splendid man, and he too was quite interested in the family tree. He just died last year, but his widow and sons live in the community still. I found the old obituary of our great grandfather Reuben, and you see he was an early settler there. This Amos Chamberlain was the grandson of Luther Chamberlain, an older brother of Harrison.
Lest I give you too big a dose of family matters at one setting, I will not write more now, but leave you to digest the outline I am sending. My idea was to write up the family of Henry Chamberlain, Sr. of Westmoreland, N.H. and his wife Susannah Hinds. It was some undertaking! What a lot of writing and researching I did. I have also visited the old ancestral home on Westmoreland, N.H., and all the places in Vermont where our Rev. Henry Chamberlain preached. He was a Baptist minister.
If your mother is living, I suppose she has heard of Hinds Chamberlain, who was the first settler in LeRoy, N.Y. I have rounded up all his family, the graves, ect. He was uncle to Reuben, tho’ there wasn’t much difference in their ages. Maybe you never knew where your father got his name- Finley of Findley. Well—–this Hinds Chamberlain married the widow McLaren. She had two children, a girl and a boy, by her first husband Malcom McLaren. The boy was named Finley McLaren. I suppose Hinds Chamberlin raised him – in fact I know he did, and Hinds C. used to go out to see Reuben and Harrison, and Harrison thought this little McLaren boy was the finest youngster ever, so he later named his own son Finley McLaren Chamberlin. Addie told me this. But the old Genesee and Wyoming county histories mention the McLarens, as Scotch, and coming from Scotland about the time Hinds C. settled in LeRoy.
Now I wish you would take some time off, and write me a big letter, tell me the names, dates of birth, etc, of your brothers and sisters, who they married, etc. Also I wish I knew more about your father’s life, after he came out of the army. This Amos C. used to have your Aunt Grace come and visit them, and she told him more of your fathers life, but I do not know it. And feel free if you are interested, to ask me anything you care to about the others. Your first cousin Bert Kinne lives in Spokane, Wash. and your first cousin Elliott Kinne (this is your aunt Irene’s boy) lives in Chicago.
Grace & Frank Chamberlain
If your mother is living, I shall hope she can tell more of Wyoming matters.
Sincerely
Mrs. (J.F.) Grace E. Chamberlin
Note: Grace’s husband, J.F. Chamberlain, is Francis “Frank” Joseph Chamberlain. Fred Chamberlin is her second cousin, the son of Finley “Frank” Chamberlin & Emily Hoy. Their great-grandfather Reuben Chamberlin had two wives and both descend through the first wife, Mary Sumner. Grace descends from Reuben’s son Orson, Fred descends from Reuben’s son, Harrison.
**********
FAMILY OF EDSON LEROY CORY (Husband of Adah Melissa Chamberlain)
William Edmond Cory, III
Son of William Edmond Cory, II & Flora Barnes
raised by his uncle Abner Cory after the death of father in 1831
Born: Feb 13, 1828, Linden, Linden Co., New York
Died: Sep 28, 1875 (age 47), Pentwater, Oceana Co., Michigan; typhoid fever
Buried: Pentwater Cemetery in Pentwater, Oceana Co., Michigan
Occupation: Lake Michigan mariner
Married: Aug 16, 1948, Malina Ann (Van) Surdam, in Middlefield, Wyoming Co., New York, by Rev Jesse Elliot
Four children: Melvin B. Cory, Allen Ethan Cory, Edson Leroy Cory, Olive M. Cory
Malina Ann Van Surdam
11h of 12 children of Seneca Surdam & Anna Bump
(sister of Caroline Van Surdam m. to Harrison Chamberlain)
Born: Apr 30 or May 8, 1832, New York
Died: Feb 19, 1903 (age 71), Pentwater, Oceana Co., Michigan
Buried: Pentwater Township Cemetery in Pentwater, Oceana Co., Michigan
Married (1): Aug 16, 1948, William Edmond Cory, III, in Middlefield, Wyoming Co., New York, by Rev Jesse Elliot
Four children: Melvin B. Cory, Allen Ethan Cory, Edson Leroy Cory, Olive M. Cory
Married (2): Dec 25, 1877, Llewellyn Pollard, Pentwater, Oceana Co., Michigan
No children
1. Melvin B. Cory
Born: Sep 18, 1850, Linden, Union Co., New York (new jersey)
Died: Sep 2, 1868 (age 17), Pentwater, Oceana Co., Michigan; drowned
Buried: unkn
2. Allen/Ethan Cory
Born: Mar 13, 1856, Fon du Lac Co., Wisconsin
Died: Jul 18, 1942 (age 86), Pentwater, Oceana Co., Michigan
Buried: Pentwater Cemetery in Pentwater, Oceana Co., Michigan
Occupation: Carpenter, sailor; captain, Lake Michigan mariner for 50 years
Married: Oct 12, 1880, Ida Jane Mott, Weare, Oceana Co., Michigan
(Ida Jane Mott:
Daughter of John Tyler Mott & Isabella McLennan
Born: Apr 7, 1862, New York
Died: Oct 30, 1938 (age 76), Pentwater, Oceana Co., Michigan
Buried: Pentwater Township Cemetery in Pentwater, Oceana Co., Michigan)
Seven children: Olive May Cory, William David “Willie” Cory, Raymond Baines “Ray” Cory, Max Dudley Cory, Alice Isabell/Elizabeth Cory, Ida Fayette “Ida Fay” Cory, Henrietta Etoile “Hattie” Cory
3. EDSON LEROY CORY
Son of William Edmond Cory, III & Hannah unkn; raised by his uncle Abner Cory after the death of his father in 1831
Born: Sep 29, 1858, Fond du Lac Co., Wisconsin
Died: Jan 4, 1927 (age 68), Rochester City, Monroe Co., New York; myocarditis, arteriosclerosis
Buried: Jan 7, 1927, Mt. Hope Cemetery in Rochester, Monroe Co., New York
Occupation: Bookkeeper for the Rochester Stamping Company
Affiliation: Independent Order of Odd Fellows (Frankfort Lodge No. 579 I.O.O.F.) Frankfort Lodge of Foresters
Married: Mar 4, 1882, ADAH MELISSA CHAMBERLAIN, Middlebury, Wyoming Co., New York
Two children: Seward Edson Cory, Sumner Allen Cory
(Adah Melissa Chamberlain:
4th of 5 children of Harrison Chamberlain & Caroline Van Surdam
Born: Feb 23, 1858, Middlebury, Wyoming Co., New York
Died: Nov 1, 1927 (age 69), Rochester, Monroe Co., New York; lobar pneumonia, chronic myocarditis
Buried: Nov 4, 1927, Mt. Hope Cemetery in Rochester, Monroe Co., New York
Married: Mar 4, 1882, Edson Leroy Cory, Middlebury, Wyoming Co., New York
Two children: Seward Edson Cory, Sumner Allen Cory)
4. Olive M. Cory
Born: Jun 29, 1862, Read, Clayton Co., Iowa
Died: Mar 10, 1896 (age 33), Clayton, Lenawee Co., Michigan
Buried: North Dover Cemetery in Clayton, Lenawee Co., Michigan
Married: Sep 13, 1881, Byron A. Beach, in Rome, Lenawee Co., Michigan
Two children: Malina Louise “Louise” Beach, Alta Cory “Alty” Beach
(Byron A. Beach:
Son of Roswald/Roswell Beach & Anna King
Born: Jul 2, 1846, Hudson, Lenawee Co., Michigan
Died: Mar 4, 1918 (age 72), Rome, Lenawee Co., Michigan
Buried: North Dover Cemetery in Clayton, Lenawee Co., Michigan
Two children: Malina Louise “Louise” Beach (married Jun 2, 1910, Floyd Garfield Hudson), Alta Cory “Alty” Beach (married Archie Armond Tillman)
Note: Edson Leroy Cory is the nephew of Caroline Van Surdam, sister of his mother Malina; in some historical records Beach is spelled Beech.
Burial Note: The headstone for William Edmund Cory and Malina Ann (Van Surdam) Cory Pollard is in Block 9, Lot 79 of Pentwater Township Cemetery. However, they are actually buried on either side of Max and AmaBelle (Bower) Cory in Block 4, Lot 27. They are buried under the “Father” and “Mother” headstones. Family legend is that they weren’t getting along in life, so were buried away from each other. Malina remarried after William’s death; her second husband, Llewellyn Pollard, is buried elsewhere in the cemetery.
Source of burial note: Ancestry.com Cory family tree of William Lashua
CENSUS RECORDS FOR WILLIAM EDMOND CORY & MALINA ANN VAN SURDAM FAMILY LINE
Jun 19, 1860: Federal Census for Elkader Post Office, Read, Clayton Co., Iowa:
Corey, Wm E: age 32, male, farmer, value of personal estate $200, born New York
Malina: age 28, female, born New York
Melvin: age 9, male, born New York
Allen: age 4, male, born Wisconsin
Edson: age 1, male, born Wisconsin
Note: Census record for family of Irene M. Chamberlain’s future husband (Edson Cory, age 1)
Aug 4, 1870: Federal Census for Village of Pentwater, Oceana Co., Michigan:
Cory, William: age 43, male, laborer, value of real estate $800, value of personal estate $200, born New York
Malina: age 38, female, keeping house, born New York
Allen: age 14, male, work at sawmill, born Wisconsin, attended school within the year
Edson: age 11, male, attending school, born Wisconsin, attended school within the year
Olive: age 8, female, born Iowa
Note: Census for the family of Irene M. Chamberlain’s future husband (Edson Cory, age 1)
Note: Index lists name as Cary
Jun 15, 1880: Federal Census for Pentwater, Oceana Co., Michigan:
Cory, Allen: male, age 24, single, sailor, born Wisconsin, father born Vermont, mother born New York
Olive: female, age 18, sister, single, keeping house, born Iowa, father born Vermont, mother born New York
Census records for two children of William & Malina Cory
Jun 1, 1894: State Census for Rome Township, Lenawee Co., Michigan:
Byron Beach
Jun 18, 1900: Federal Census for Rome, Lenawee Co., Michigan
Beach, Bryon: Head, born July 1845, age 54, widowed, born Michigan, father born Ohio, mother born Ohio, farmer, 195 farm animals
Louise: daughter, born Nov 1882, age 17, single, born Michigan, father born Michigan, mother born Iowa, at school
Alty: daughter, born Apr 1886, age 14, single, born Michigan, father born Michigan, mother born Iowa, at school
Note: Census record for husband and daughters of Olive M. Cory (died Mar 10, 1896, age 32)
Jun 5, 1900: Federal Census for Pentwater, Oceana Co., Michigan:
Cora, Allen: head, born Mar 1858, age 42, married at 19, born Wisconsin, father born New York, mother born New York, sailor
Ida: wife, born Apr 1862, age 38, married at 19, 6 children born, 4 children living, born New York, father born Connecticut, mother born New York,
Olive: daughter, born May 1883, age 17, born Michigan, father born Wisconsin, mother born New York, at school
Max: son, born Nov 1891, age 8, born Michigan, father born Wisconsin, mother born New York, at school
Isabell: daughter, born Aug 1895, age 4, born Michigan, father born Wisconsin, mother born New York, at school
Ida: daughter, born May 1895, age 2, born Michigan, father born Wisconsin, mother born New York
Note: son of William & Louise: Allen Ethan Cory and family; transcribed as Cora; Ida is transcribed as Uda
Apr 21, 1910: Federal Census for Pentwater, Oceana Co., Michigan:
Cory, Allen: head, age 54, married 1 at for 29 years, born Wisconsin, father born New York, mother born New York, carpenter in building & repairs
Ida J.: wife, age 46, married 1 at for 29 years, 7 children born, 5 children living, born New York, father born Maryland, mother born New York, mother born New York
Olive N.: daughter, age 25, single, born Michigan, father born Wisconsin, mother born New York, laborer in canning factory
Max D.: son, age 18, single, born Michigan, father born Wisconsin, mother born New York, laborer in canning factory
Alice J.: daughter, single, age 14, born Michigan, father born Wisconsin, mother born New York
Ida F.: daughter, age 11, single, born Michigan, father born Wisconsin, mother born New York
Hattie E.: daughter, age 9, single, born Michigan, father born Wisconsin, mother born New York
Note: Census record for son of William & Louise: Allen Ethan Cory and family
Apr 26, 1910: Federal Census for Rome, Lenawee Co., Michigan:
Beech, Bryon: Head, age 63, widowed, born Michigan, father born Ohio, mother born Ohio, farmer, 55 farm animals
Louise: daughter, age 27, single, born Michigan, father born Michigan, mother born Iowa
Note: Census record is found under the spelling of Beeck
Jan 5, 1920: Federal Census for Pentwater, Oceana Co., Michigan:
Cary, Allen: head, age 63, married, born Wisconsin, father born Vermont, mother born New York, labor carpenter (Allen Cory)
Ida Jane: wife, age 55, born New York, father born Maryland, mother born New York
Olive: daughter, age 35, single, born Michigan, father born Wisconsin, mother born New York, labor canning factory
Max: son, age 28, single, born Michigan, father born Wisconsin, mother born New York, labor sailor
Fayette: daughter, single, age 20, born Michigan, father born Wisconsin, mother born New York (Ida Fayette Cory)
Henrietta: daughter, age 18, single, born Michigan, father born Wisconsin, mother born New York, clerk in dry goods
Note: transcribed on record as Cary
Jan 8, 1920: Federal Census for Rome, Lenawee Co., Michigan:
Hudson, Floyd: Head, owns home, age 36, married, born Michigan, father born England, mother born Virginia, farmer, general farm
Louise: Wife, age 37, married, born, Michigan, father born Michigan, mother born Michigan
Joseph: Son, age 8, single, born Michigan, father born Michigan, mother born Michigan
Sherril: Son, age 6, single, born Michigan, father born Michigan, mother born Michigan
Irva: Daughter, age 4 yrs/6 mo, single, born Michigan, father born Michigan, mother born Michigan
Note: Census record for daughter of Olive Cory & Byron Beach, Malina “Louise” (Beach) Hudson
Apr 2, 1930: Federal Census for Pentwater, Oceana Co., Michigan:
Cory, Allen: head, owns, Value of Real Estate $2000, age 72, married at 26, born Wisconsin, father born Vermont, mother born New York, carpenter house
Ida Jane: wife, age 64, married at 18, born New York, father born Maryland, mother born New York
Olive: daughter, age 42, single, born Michigan, father born Wisconsin, mother born New York, clerk in dry goods
Henrietta: daughter, age 18, single, born Michigan, father born Wisconsin, mother born New York, clerk in dry goods
Note: Francis Ferry, wife Faye, and 2 children Pauline and Olive Faye are boarders in the household
Apr 4, 1930: Federal Census for Election District 10, Johnson Co., Wyoming:
Tillman, Archie A.: owns home, age 40, Married, Married at age 29, born Michigan, father born France, mother born Pennsylvania, farmer on general farm, owns 11 animals
Wayne B.: son, age 9, born Wyoming, father born Michigan, mother born Michigan
Doris M.: daughter, age 8, born Wyoming, father born Michigan, mother born Michigan
June N.: daughter, age 7, born Wyoming, father born Michigan, mother born Michigan
Dean A.: son, age 6, born Wyoming, father born Michigan, mother born Michigan
Cleo V.: son, age 3, born Wyoming, father born Michigan, mother born Michigan
Mary K.: daughter, age 1, born Wyoming, father born Michigan, mother born Michigan
Hoevet, Helen H.: servant, age 33, divorced, married at 16, born Colorado, father born Vermont, mother born Michigan
Note: Census record for family of daughter of Olive Cory & Byron Beach, Alta Cory (Beach) Tillman
Note: Alta Tillman is not in the household as she is a patient in the Wyoming State Hospital for the Insane
Apr 4, 1930: Federal Census for Evanston, Uinta Co., Wyoming:
Tillman, Alta C.: Patient, female, age 43, married, born Michigan, father born Michigan, mother born Iowa, kitchen
Note: Census record for daughter of Olive Cory & Byron Beach, Alta Cory (Beach) Tillman
Note: Alta is a patient in the Wyoming State Hospital for the Insane
Apr 15, 1930: Federal Census for Rome, Lenawee Co., Michigan
Hudson, Floyd G.: Head, owns home, age 45, married, married at 24, born Michigan, father born England, mother born Virginia, farmer, general farm
Louise H.; wife, age 47, married, married at 27, born Michigan, father born Michigan, mother born Michigan
Joseph L.: son, age 18, single, born Michigan, father born Michigan, mother born Michigan
Sherrill E.: son, age 16, single, born Michigan, father born Michigan, mother born Michigan
Irva O.: daughter, age 14, single, born Michigan, father born Michigan, mother born Michigan
Note: Census record for daughter of Olive Cory & Byron Beach, Malina “Louise” (Beach) Hudson
Jul 18, 1942: Death of Ethan Allen Cory, age 86, brother of Edson Leroy Cory, in Oceana, Pentwater Co., Michigan:
Jul 20, 1942: The News-Palladium, Benton Harbor, Michigan (pg 12):
Lakes Captain 50 Years Dies
Capt. Allen Cory Dead at Pentwater home
PENTWATER, July 20,—Captain Allen Cory, 86, who for half a century was a sailor on the Great Lakes, died here Saturday after an illness of several months.
He was born in 1858, and he came to Pentwater with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William E. Cory, when he was seven years of age.
Except for 10 years in Ludington, Capt. Cory spent his life in Pentwater. When 18 he began sailing on Lake Michigan, continuing this work for 50 years, 25 of which were on sailing vessels.
He carried lumber from the old Lincoln village, north of Ludington, for Charles Mears, one of the western Michigan’s best-known lumber barons.
He captained the Helen Taylor, which was operated along the east shore of Lake Michigan under the name Punkinseed, so called because of her peculiar shape.
His last active work was finished 30 years ago when he was in charge of a tug in Muskegon harbor, laying pipes for Muskegon waterworks.
He leaves his daughters, Misses Olive and Henrietta Cory of Pentwater.
Jul 1958: Social Security Death Index:
Louise Hudson
Born: Nov 2, 1882
Died: Jul 19, 1958 (age 75), Clayton, Lenawee Co., Michigan
Aug 1969: Social Security Death Index:
Archie Armond Tillman
Born: Dec 8, 1889
Died: Aug 1969 (age 79), Casper, Natrona Co., Wyoming
Nov 1978: Social Security Death Index:
Alta Cory (Beach) Tillman
Born: Apr 1, 1886
Died: Nov 1978 (age 92), Casper, Natrona Co., Wyoming
Note: The cemetery and headstones pictures are from Find A Grave and are the property of those who photographed them.
2020. Catherine (Clemens) Sevenau.