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OUR HOXIE HERITAGE

Copyright © 2004 Bruce H. Richardson

 

First Three Generations in America

 

 

 

It is provocatively interesting that our Hoxies owned slaves.  We discovered earlier in Joseph’s (Zebulon’s father) will of 1726 that he left to his daughter, Mary, “his negro girl Hannah.”  Now we discover that g‘-grandfather Zebulon had a good many slaves.  It was noted earlier, as well, that the Quakers were the very first in America to push for abolition of slavery.  Our Hoxies were in the vanguard of that movement.  The Settlers of the Beekman Patent records:

 

SLAVE MANUMISSIONS

 

A number of inhabitants of the Beekman Patent had slaves but after the Revolution many of them were set free. The committee that approved the manumission of slaves was composed of the Town or Precinct justices and the overseers of the poor. Generally they determined if the slaves were able to support themselves and in good health before giving them their freedom. The following is typical of a town notice on this subject. ‘Agreeable to a law of the state of New York, for the manumission of slaves, we the justices and overseers of the poor of the Town of Beekman find that Dinah, a certain Negro woman now in the possession of Peter Lossing Jr. of said town, County of Dutchess, is under fifty years of age and sufficient ability to secure herself a livelihood; as witness our hands this 5th day of the month called February 1793. Justices; James Vanderburgh and Maurice Pleas. Overseers of the poor; Ebenezer Cary and Hezekiah Collins.

 

The Nine Partners Friends Meeting minutes have several records of slaves being set free by Beekman residents. Some of them follow:

 

Mary Yeomans, widow of Beekman Precinct, freed a Negro man named Pomp, “left me by will” on 28 March 1776.

 

Ebenezer Cook of Charlotte Prec. agreed to free a slave on 18 May 1774. The slave, named Alice Dinah was [bought?] “some years ago from Ephraim Davis of Dover” and was to be freed when 18 years, on 17 Oct. 1779.

 

Zebulon Hoxsie possibly had more slaves than anyone else in Beekman prior to his freeing them on 9 Nov. 1775 [attesting to his prosperity!]. On that date he announced freeing the following at the dates mentioned:

 

Negro girl named Vilot, aged 18, 8 June 1775.

Negro woman named Zipro, freed 27 Jan. 1773.

Negro boy named Prince aged 15 on 20 Oct. 1775.

    Free when 21 years.

Negro girl Hannah aged 17 on 18 July 1775.

Negro boy Cesar, age 19. Free when 21 on 18 March 1777.

Negro man Mungo, aged 22 on 11 Nov. 1775.

Negro boy Abner, aged 11 on 28 Oct. 1775. Free when 21.

 

As early as 1755 the Quakers had taken a stand against trading in slaves and by 1767 the Oblong Meeting sent a notice to the Quarterly Meeting at Purchase in which they objected to even the holding of slaves obtained through inheritance. The record of this action reads as follows: “At a (Yearly) Meeting at the Meeting House at Flushing the 30th day of the 5th month, 1767, a Query from the Quarterly Meeting of the Oblong in Relation to buying and Selling Negroes was Read in this meeting and it was concluded to be left for consideration on the minds of friends until the Next Yearly Meeting. The Query is as follows: If (it) is not consistant with Christianity to buy and Sell our Fellowmen for Slaves during their Lives, & their Posterities after them, then whether it is consistant with a Christian Spirit to keep those in Slavery that we have already in possession by Purchase, Gift or any otherways.” (Quaker Hill, Warren H. Wilson, A. M. 1907 p.24).^[44]

 

 

   Children of Zebulon & Sarah:

 

i.     {Joseph}⁴, b. 08 Sep 1741 Charlestown, Washington, RI, d. 29 Apr 1811 Galway,

         Saratoga, NY; m. (1) 21 Aug 1766 Abigail Sherman b. 14 Jan 1750 Bristol,

         Dartmouth, NY; m. (2) Phebe Sherman b. 13 Aug 1762, d. 26 Sep 1841 Palmyra,

         Lenawee, MI

ii.    Sarah, b. 07 Jul 1743 Charlestown, Washington, RI; m. Levi Vincent

 

iii.   Tabitha, b. 20 Jul 1745 Charlestown, Washington, RI

iv.   Zebulon, b. 07 Jan 1747 Charlestown, Washington, RI, d. 27 Jul 1822 Easton,

         Washington, NY, age 75; m. (1) 03 Jan 1770 Oswego, Dutchess, NY, Alice

           Hall b. 24 May 1746 Dutchess Co., NY, d. 26 Feb 1814 Easton, Washington, NY, age

         67; m. (2) Phebe Baker b. about 1765, d. 11 Dec 1847

The first Friends [Quakers] who settled in the town of Easton were Rufus Hall and Zebulon Hoxie.  They were brothers‑in‑law and came from Duchess County in the fall of 1773.  The first meeting was held soon after in Zebulon Hoxsie's house.^[45]

 

Zebulon and his wife Alice were very active in the Quaker church.  Easton Friends’ Marriage Records show them as witnesses at weddings in the following years: Zebulon 1778, 79, 82, 85, 87, 89, 93, 1801, 03, 05, 10, 1811; Alice 1778, 82, 93, 96, 99.

Zebulon evidently was quite prosperous for the record indicates: “Manumitted [freed] 7 slaves, 1773‑1775.”^[46]

           

Zebulon is at the center of a very famous occurrence in Quaker history that is often pointed to as an expression of the Quaker penchant for peace :

 

The Feather of Peace: An Incident in Quaker History

 

This little story is a favorite of Quaker historians. It narrates an actual happening in the Friends Meeting in Easton Township, Washington County, New York.

 

It was a summer morning in the year 1775, and the sun shone brightly on the little cabin which served as a Meeting House for the Friends of Easton, in New York.

 

It was a warm, sunny day, but the hearts of many were troubled. It was a time of strife, and reports came that bands of roving Indians were on the warpath. Even the children knew that something unusual was in the air and sensed that the older and weightier Friends of the Meeting were ill at ease.

 

Zebulon Hoxsie, the patriarch of the Meeting, sat on the facing bench, and beside him sat Robert Nisbet, a visiting Friend, who had walked through the forests for several days to meet with them. Brother Nisbet had come East to join the Quaker settlement following the terrible battle at Bennington VT. Just 20 miles further East, the turning point of the Revolution, the Battle of Saratoga was gathering. The Easton Quakers, who had come into this peaceful valley to escape the war's ravages, were surrounded with guns and armies.

 

The children were restless, and the silence of the Meeting weighed heavily upon them, so that it came as a relief when the visiting Friend rose to speak. Robert Nisbet was a kindly man, and he knew well the fear which lay heavily on the hearts of the Easton Friends. They had stayed in their peaceful homes even though their neighbors had all fled to the larger settlements where they hoped for safety from the Indian raids. The visitor spoke:

 

"The Beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by Him; and the Lord shall cover him all the day long."

 

His voice faltered and then went on, calmly and tenderly: "And how shall the Beloved of the Lord be thus safely covered? Even as the psalmist says: 'He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust.'

You have done well, dear Friends, to stay on in your homes, even though all your neighbors have fled, and therefore are these messages sent to you by me. These promises of covering and of shelter are truly meant for you. Make then your own, and remember the words of the Scriptures, 'Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night, nor for the arrow that flieth by day.'"

 

Now the children knew why the stranger had come. Now they knew why their parents were troubled. It was the Indians! Would they really come, and, if they did, were they as terrible as people said?

 

All was quiet in the Meeting House. Here and there, a child managed to steal a look through the windows or through the chinks between the logs. Outside, there seemed to be a faint rustling in the bushes, though there was no breeze.

 

Suddenly, above the window sill, appeared the tips of several moving feathers. Then an Indian chief appeared in the open doorway, looking with piercing eyes at each Friend in turn to see if there was any weapon present; but the Friends were entirely unarmed. Neither gun nor sword was to be found in any of their dwelling houses, so there could not be any in this peaceful Meeting.

 

A moment later, other Indians stood beside their chief. Yet the Friends sat on, without stirring, in complete silence. At last, Zebulon Hoxsie lifted his head and met the full gaze of the chief. No word was spoken. Steady friendliness to the strange visitors was written in every line of Zebulon Hoxsie's face. Brother Nesbit, who spoke a few words of the Indian's language extended an open palm and said, "Welcome friend!"

 

Minutes passed, and then the Indian's eyes slowly fell. He signaled to his followers, and each slipped silently into a nearby bench. Then began one of the strangest meetings ever held in the Society of Friends. Not a Quaker stirred, and the silent Indians sat peacefully with them. At last the Friends on the facing bench shook hands solemnly. The meeting was over, and the Friends greeted their visitors.

 

Then the chief spoke: "We came to kill the Bostonions (white man), but in the Abeneke way, if a man is speaking with the Holy Spirit, he must not be disturbed. We see white men all sitting quiet: no gun, no arrow, no knife; all quiet, all still, worshipping their Great Spirit. Great Spirit is Indian, too. Then Great Spirit say to Indian: 'You must not kill these white men!'"

The Friends through gestures and speaking French, bade the Indians to follow them to the Hoxsie home where they shared the afternoon meal.

 

Then the chief took an arrow, broke it in two pieces and placed the white feathers from the shaft firmly over the doorway, saying, "Indians will understand that this is a place of peace and will not harm this house when they see this feather."

Then he turned and, with a sign to the others, led the way into the forest while the Friends watched in silence - except for Robert Nisbet's quiet words: "He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust."

 

Source:  The Quaker Electronic Archive and Meeting Place Web site http://www.qis.net/~daruma/index.html, which notes of this incident:  “This document is from a booklet published several decades ago by the Religious Education Committee of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. It was originally published by Walter and Mildred Kahoe. {GEA}”

 

James Doyle Penrose, father of the famous surrealist painter Roland Penrose (close friend of Picasso), painted a sketch of this very event:

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

       

 

    Children of Zebulon & Alice:

         1.   Elizabeth⁵, b. 11 Apr 1771 Dutchess Co., NY, d. 1828 Canada, age 56; m. 30 Jan

                  1793 Easton, Washington, NY Edward Cornell b. 06 May 1765

         2.  Abraham Hoxsie, b. 01 Sep 1773 South Easton, Dutchess, NY, d. 01 Sep 1776,

                age 3

         3.   Joseph, b. 23 Mar 1778 Easton, Washington, NY, d. 18 Oct 1851 Scipioville,

                  Cayuga, NY, age 72; m. 1806 Greenfield, Saratoga, NY

                 Eleanor Allen, b. 09 Feb 1786 Greenfield, Washington, NY, d. 27 Jan 1869,

                 age 82

        Quaker Records:  Scipio Monthly Meeting, page 63:

           Joseph Hoxie, born 23 Mar 1778, disowned

           Elenor his wife, born 09 Feb 1786, disowned

           children listed  ‑‑ disowned

 

This brings up another Quaker characteristic.  If you married outside of the Friend’s Society you were “disowned” or put out of the church.  You could be disowned for a variety of other reasons, e.g. joining the military, immoral conduct, failure to attend meetings, switching from Orthodox to Hicksite or vise-versa, etc..  In matters of religion, the Quakers were a people unto themselves.  To be “disowned” was to be ostracized from the Society of Friends, for a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump, don’t ya know.  Below see a copy of the actual Quaker record showing Joseph and family as “disowned.” This record was found on microfilm on loan from the LDS Family History Center repository in Salt Lake City:      

 

Scipio Monthly Meeting  2 mo. 17. 1830

North Street Prepartive forwarded a complaint against Joseph Hoxie and Elisha Soutwick for neglecting our meetings, joining those called Hicksites, and in holding meetings contrary to the discipline of Friends.

 

4 mo. 14. 1830

The committee in the case of Samuel Weeks, William Knowles, and Joseph Hoxie reports that they were not disposed to make satisfaction.  On consideration we conclude to disown them and produce minutes of denial to our next meeting.[47]

 

 

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                Children continued:

         4.   Ruth, b. 04 Jul 1780 Easton, Washington, NY, d. 1816 Peru, Clinton, NY; m. 27

                 Aug 1801 Easton, Washington, NY Richard Harkness Rev. b. 06 Jul 1779

                 Smithfield, Providence, RI, d. 22 Feb 1845 Raisin Twp., Lenawee, MI

 

REV. RICHARD HARKNESS was born in Peru, Clinton county, N.Y., 8th month, 24thd, 1820.  His father, Rev. David Harkness, son of Adam and Thankful Harkness, was born in Smithfield, R.I., 7th month, 6th, 1779, where he resided until he was three years old when his parents moved to Adams, Mass..  He resided in Adams about twenty years, when he went to Clinton county, N.Y., and purchased a farm in the town of Peru.  He resided there until 1834, when he came to Michigan and settled in this county, purchasing 320 acres of land on sections 13 in Adrian and 18 in Raisin.  He built his house near the center of his land, along the section line road, built barns, improved over 100 acres, and resided there until his death, which occurred 2d month, 22d, 1845.

 

He was a birthright member of the Society of Friends and was a minister over thirty years.  He was among the pioneer ministers of the Society in this county, Daniel Smith, who settled in Adrian, being the first, Charles and Esther Haviland of Raisin were the next, and Mr. Harkness followed them.  Mr. Harkness was a zealous worker in the faith, and passed many years in traveling about the New England States, as well as the State of New York, holding meetings and visiting Friends, but after he came to Michigan, his labors were confined mostly within the limits of the State.  His labors resulted in settling some of the first meetings in Michigan.

 

About the year 1801 he married Ruth Hoxie, daughter of Zebulon Hoxie, of Easton, Saratoga county, N.Y., by whom he had six children.  Ruth Harkness was born 7th month, 7th, 1780, and died in 1816.  In 1818 he married Mary Chadwick, widow of Richard Chadwick, and daughter of Daniel Willis, of Hempstead, Long Island, by whom he had four children, Richard being the second.  Mrs. Mary Harkness was born at Hempstead, Long Island, 12th month, 17th, 1784, and died in Adrian, 11th month, 28th, 1850.

 

Richard Harkness came to Michigan with his parents in 1834, and has been a resident of this county ever since.  His home has always been in Adrian, and he now owns a portion of his father's homestead.  He was reared a farmer, and only received what educaton he could get in the old fashioned district schools.  He is a birthright member of the Society of Friends.  When quite young he commenced speaking in meetings and was acknowledged by the Society as a minister in 1859.  Since that time he has devoted much time and thought to the cause and has labored with fervor and fidelity in all directions.  He has ever held himself in readiness to answer all demands for his services in any portion of the county, and has many times attended funerals in its remotest parts, with difficulty, and in the most inclement weather.  He is an earnest worker in the cause of Christ and feels it his duty to lend his voice and sympathy whenever there is a need, or willing ears to listen.  His entire life has been devoted to religious reflection, having inherited an inquiring, studious, and meditative mind.  Fourth month, 20th, 1843, Richard Harkness married Deborah R. Crane, daughter of Elijah and Mary Crane of Raisin, by whom he has twelve children.[48]

 

         5.   Hannah, (twin) b. 24 Jun 1783 Easton, Washington, NY; m. Gershom

                 Griffin

         6.   Hulda, (twin) b. 24 Jun 1783 Easton, Washington, NY; m. Doris

                 Dellavargne

         7.   Mary, b. 31 May 1785 Easton, Washington, NY; m. George Green

         8.   Gideon, b. 06 May 1787 Easton, Washington, NY, d. 27 Nov 1850 Easton,

                 Washington, NY, age 63, farmer; m. Hannah Griffin Baker d. 16 Dec 1867

         9.   Sarah, b. Feb 1790 Easton, Washington, NY, d. 22 Jul 1816, age 26

v.    Abraham, b. 07 Nov 1748 Charlestown, Washington, RI, d. 1817 Easton,

            Washington, NY, age 68; m (1) 26 Jan 1775 Oswego, Dutchess, NY,

         Deborah Butler; m. (2) 24 Mar 1797 Easton, Washington, NY, Elizabeth

           Allen

                  Children of Abraham & Elizabeth:

           1.  Stephen Hoxsie⁵, b. 05 Jan 1799 Easton, Washington, NY, d. 18 Jan 1879

                 Easton, Washington, NY; m. 24 Jul 1827 Easton, Washington, NY Phebe

                 Delavergne

vi.   Anne, b. 20 Jul 1750 Stonington, New London, CT; m. 1769 Rufus Hall b. 08 Jun

           1744 Dutchess Co., NY, Quaker Preacher

             Children:

          1.  Abigail Hall⁵, b. 26 Apr 1770 Dutches Co., NY

          2.  Samuel Hall, b. 10 May 1772 Dutchess Co., NY

          3.  Zebulon Hall, b. 06 May 1774 Dutchess Co., NY

vii.  Lodowick, b. 13 Jun 1754 Stongington, New London, CT, d. 18 Sep 1843

         Union Vale, Dutchess, NY, age 89; m. (1) 24 Apr 1777 Oswego,

         Dutchess, NY, Dorcas Adams, b. 04 Feb 1757 Marlborough, Dutchess,

 

         NY; m. (2) Elizabeth Carey, no children

 

Quaker Removal Records, taken from the Nine Partner Monthly Meeting

Lodowick Hoxsie to Cornwall from Ninepartners, 20 of 5m, 1791.

Dorcas Hoxsey, wife of Lodowick Hoxsey, to Cornwell from Ninepartners, 20 of  5m, 1791.[49]

 

Quaker Removal Records taken from Nine Partner monthly meetings:  Hoxsie

Ladowick Hoxsie and wife Dorcas, from Cornwall to Nine Partners, 25 of 4m,

1796.[50]

 

Beekman Mortgages pg. 54 records:

347.   17:390  $3400

Rev. Freborn Garretson and Catherine of Rhinebeck to Lodowick Hoxie of Beekman.

173 acres 2 rods 20 perches.  In Beekman.  Map attached.

Bounds  Henry B. Livingston

Witnesses Catherine Thompson, Morgan Lewis

viii. Peleg, b. 19 Apr 1756 Stonington, New London, CT, d. 01 May 1834

         Union Vale, Dutchess, NY, age 78, farmer; m. 23 Jan 1779 Dutchess

         Co., NY Martha Adams, b. 23 Apr 1759 Dutchess Co., NY

From Beekman Deeds:

281.   16:334  April 17, 1798  $1500

Rev. Fredoan Garretson and Catherine Rhinebeck to Henry Klien of Beekman

Begins SW corner Samuel Butler; mentions N side of Peleg Hoxie store; follows hill to Zebulon Hoxie's line.  Bounds Daniel Uhl       150 acres    Witness:  Ann Garretson, Ales Thompson^[51]

 

From Beekman Mortgages:

988.     13:150   May 1, 1807   $10.00

Peleg Hoxie and Martha of Beekman to Jesse Oakley.

In Beekman.  Leased by Freeborn Garritson and Catherine of Rhinebeck to Peleg Hoxie May 9, 1803.

Bounds: William Paddock, Loudowick Hoxie, Preserved Fish, Zebulon Hoxie, Henry Cline, William Woolley, Joseph Vail, Israel Vail         210 acres

Witness:  Philip F.D. Seelhart^[52]

            Children:

         1.   Lodowick⁵, b. 11 Mar 1779 Union Vale, Dutchess, NY, d. 1835, age 55, single

         2.   John, b. 15 Dec 1780 Union Vale, Dutchess, NY, d. 24 Dec 1820 Union Vale,

                  Dutchess, NY, age 40

         3.   Peleg, b. 24 May 1784 Union Vale, Dutchess, NY, d. 01 Jan 1821,  age 36

         4.   Abel, b. 18 Oct 1786 Union Vale, Dutchess, NY

         5.   Jarvis Whitman, b. 15 Dec 1788 Union Vale, Dutchess, NY, d. Russell, Warren,

                  PA; m. Warren Co., PA, Fidela Ackley b. 23 Apr 1815 Plymouth, Windsor, VT

         6.   Abraham P., b. 22 Sep 1791 Union Vale, Dutchess, NY, d. 1845, age 53; m. Mary

         7.   Thomas B., b. 10 Nov 1794 Verbank, Dutchess, NY, d. 27 May 1837 Washington

                 Hollow, NY, age 42; m. 29 Jan 1824 Cato, Cayuga, NY, Isabella Crowell b. 29

                 Jun 1805, d. 20 Jun 1870 Auburn, Cayuga, NY, age 64

 

Deeds  Thomas B. Hoxie to William B. Noble

1 acre in Lot. 81, town of Cato, Cayuga, NY

April 4th 1835 for $650

Thomas B. Hoxie and Isabella his wife, tract in town of Cato and is part of Lot 81 beginning at a point in the highway running south from the house of John Jakway to Seneoa (sp?) river beginning at a point in said road south 23 ½ degrees E 110 ½ links from the center of a well near intersection of the highway and one running west from the said house of said Jakway and runs N 88 degrees E 4 chains & 50 links thence S 2 chains & 50 links to a stake and stones thence S 88 degrees W 4 chains & 50 links to center of said road thence N 2 chains & 23 links to beginning, containing 1 acre of land.[53]

 

         8.   Isaac, (twin) b. 08 Jun 1797 Union Vale, Dutchess, NY, d. 16 Feb 1839, age 41

         9.   Jacob, (twin) b. 08 Jun 1797 Union Vale, Dutchess, NY

       10.   Phebe, b. 27 Jul 1803 Union Vale, Dutchess, NY

 

 

Only three generations of Hoxie Heritage have been touched upon here, but their descendants have established a fascinating, enduring, sterling record of integrity and longevity to be proud of.

 

“He only deserves to be remembered by posterity who treasures up and preserves the history of his ancestors”  -- Edmund Burke

 

 

 

 

Copyright © 2004 Bruce H. Richardson. This data file may not be copied except for small quotations used with citation of source.

         

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