SAUNDERS
GENEALOGY
9/24/2008
Generation One
1. Richard1 Saunders, b. ca 1560 in Buckinghamshire, England,[1] d. May- -1629 in Amersham, Buckinghamshire,
England.1
He married Oct- 7-1582 in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, England,1 Johanna Osburne.
Children:
i. Ann2 Saunders, b.1.
ii. Bridget Saunders, b.1.
iii. Elizabeth Saunders, b.1.
iv. John Saunders, b.1.
v. Thomas Saunders, b.1.
vi. Ann Saunders, b.1.
2. vii. Tobias Saunders.
viii. Elizabeth Saunders, b.1.
Generation Two
2. Tobias2 Saunders, (1.Richard1) d. ca 1642,1 buried Sep- 4-1642 in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, England,1 christened May-30-1596 in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, England.1 He married May-27-1616 in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, England,1 Isabel Wilde, b. ca 1598 in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, England,1 d. aft Feb-20-1642/43.[2]
Children:
i. Elizabeth3 Saunders, b.1.
ii. Ann Saunders, b.1.
iii. Richard Saunders, b.1.
3. iv. Tobias Saunders.
v. Thomas Saunders, b.1.
Generation Three
3. Tobias3 Saunders, (2.Tobias2, 1.Richard1) christened Feb- 2-1629/30 in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, England,1 d. Aug- -1695 in Westerly, Washington Co, RI.1 Tobias Saunders first appears in the records of Taunton, Mass., in 1643. He is thought to have died in 1695, as his will was proved on September 2nd of that year. Although he was a member of the first Seventh Day Baptist Church in America at Newport, his ancestor, Rev. Lawrence Saunders, was not known to have been a Sabbath-keeper, as he was one of the Christian martyrs burned to death outside the city of Coventry, England, on Sabbath Day, February 9 1555.
Tobias Saunders was a soldier of the King in old England and at one time was one of the King's Life Guard. He was made a freeman in Newport in 1655, and on Sep 9 1661 received a quarter of a share in the division of the land at Misquamicut, as Westerly was then called. Almost immediately he was in the midst of trouble as he, his father-in-law, Joseph Clarke, and Robert Burdick laid claim to Southertown (Southertown included the later limits of the town of Stonington, CT, and much of Westerly, RI), which both Connecticut and Massachusetts claimed as theirs. All three were arrested Nov 1 1661 by Constable William Palmer, but Joseph Clarke was later freed. Saunders and Burdick were both placed on trial before Governor Endicott and associates on Nov 14 1661 in Boston. Their defense was that they had bought the land from the Indians by the authority of the Court of Rhode Island. Bonds were set at 100 pounds each, and in the absence of surety, they were committed to prison for trial in May 1662. At that time they were fined 40 pounds each and Rhode Island was notified to send in the fines, but they were kept in jail for two years.
Connecticut was later given a new charter giving Southertown to her, and Massachusetts retired from the contest. Still later, a compromise was reached in England whereby Connecticut relinquished her claim to the disputed territory in Westerly to Rhode Island. Tobias Saunders, Robert Burdick, Joseph Clarke, and John Crandall were a few of the strong men of their day who stood steadfast, endured persecution and imprisonment not only because of the land disputes, but also for the religious freedom guaranteed to the residents of Rhode Island but not vouchsafed to the Connecticut settlers where the Puritan church was to all intents the State religion.
Tobias Saunders was a deputy to the General Assembly of Rhode Island from Westerly many terms and was active in the Westerly congregation of the Newport church. Three of Tobias Saunders' daughters died of smallpox as adults.
[NOTE: Source of the foregoing information is Earl P. Crandall, Hudson, NY (1937-2002) (Crandall Family Association, http://www.cfa.net/cfa-book/), citing "The First Hundred Years: Pawcatuck Seventh Day Baptist Church," Utter Co, Westerly, RI, 1940, pp 284-285. Additional related sources cited by Earl P. Crandall:
"The English Origins of Tobias Saunders of Westerly, RI," by Paul A. Saunders, in "Connecticut Nutmegger," Vol 29, No 4, pp 583-588.
"Saunders Genealogy," by Lyle S. Saunders, on file at Westerly Public Library.
"Westerly Settlers - No. 7," by Charles Denison, on file at Westerly Public Library.][3] He married ca 1661 in Westerly, Washington Co, RI,1 Mary Peckham, b. ca 1642 in Newport, Newport Co, RI,3 (daughter of John Peckham and Mary Clarke) d. 1695 in Westerly, Washington Co, RI.3 Mary: In an article by Louise Prosser Bates in NEHGR, Vol 63, p. 198, regarding the wife of Tobias Saunders, Mrs. Bates shows by a series of probate records that Mary, wife of Tobias Saunders, was a niece of Rev. John Clarke, and that James Peckham of Little Compton, RI, was uncle to her children. She, therefore, must have been a sister of James Peckham, and he mother must have been a sister of the Rev. John Clarke, thus establishing Mary's parentage.3
Children:
i. Elizabeth4 Saunders, b.1.
ii. John Saunders, b.1.
iii. Edward Saunders, b.1.
4. iv. Stephen Saunders b. ca 1675.
v. Mercy Saunders, b.1.
vi. Benjamin Saunders, b.1.
vii. Sarah Saunders, b.1.
viii. Susannah Saunders, b.1.
Generation Four
4. Stephen4 Saunders, (3.Tobias3, 2.Tobias2, 1.Richard1) b. ca 1675 in Westerly, Washington Co, RI,3 d. Nov- -1746 in Westerly, Washington Co, RI.3 He married (1) 1710-11 in Westerly, Washington Co, RI,3 Thankful Crandall, b. ca 1685 in Westerly, Washington Co, RI,[4] (daughter of Joseph Crandall and Deborah Burdick) d. ca 1714 in Westerly, Washington Co, RI.3 He married (2) Nov-19-1721 in Westerly, Washington Co, RI,3 Rachael Bliven, b. Mar-19-1697/98 in Westerly, Washington Co, RI,3 (daughter of Edward Bliven and Isabel MacCoone) d. aft 1746.3
Children by Thankful Crandall:
5. i. Thankful5 Saunders b. 1712.
Children by Rachael Bliven:
6. ii. Stephen Saunders b. Aug- 3-1722.
iii. Rachael Saunders, b.3.
iv. Isabel Saunders, b.3.
v. Ruth Saunders, b.3.
vi. Tobias Saunders, b.3.
vii. Mary Saunders, b.3.
viii. Peleg Saunders, b.3.
ix. Martha Saunders, b.3.
Generation Five
5. Thankful5 Saunders,3 (4.Stephen4, 3.Tobias3, 2.Tobias2, 1.Richard1) b. 1712 in Westerly, Washington Co, RI,3 d. 1782 in Westerly, Washington Co, RI.3 She married Oct-25-1733 in Westerly, Washington Co, RI,3 Cornelius Stetson, b. 1708 in Pembroke, Plymouth Co, MA,3 (son of Isaac Stetson and Elizabeth Pray) d. 1772 in Pembroke, Plymouth Co, MA.3
Children:
7. i. Stephen6 Stetson b. May-17-1747.
6. Stephen5 Saunders, (4.Stephen4, 3.Tobias3, 2.Tobias2, 1.Richard1) b. Aug- 3-1722 in Westerly, Washington Co, RI,[5] d. Jan-11-1776 or 77 in Charlestown, Washington Co, RI,5 buried in Westerly, Washington Co, RI.5 He married Aug-12-1744 in Westerly, Washington Co, RI,5 Lydia Wilcox, b. Apr- 6-1725 in Westerly, Washington Co, RI,3 (daughter of Edward Wilcox and Dinah Barber) d. 1817-18 in Westerly, Washington Co, RI.3
Children:
i. Dinah6 Saunders.5
ii. Esther Saunders.5
iii. Stephen Saunders.5
iv. Lydia Saunders.5
v. Charles Saunders.5
vi. Augustus Saunders.5
8. vii. Peleg Saunders b. Sep- 5-1759.
Generation Six
7. Stephen6 Stetson, (5.Thankful5, 4.Stephen4, 3.Tobias3, 2.Tobias2, 1.Richard1) b. May-17-1747 in Westerly, Washington Co, RI,3 d. 1779 in Westerly, Washington Co, RI.3 He married Jan- 9-1768 in Hopkinton, Washington Co, RI,3 Dorcas Hall, b. near Hopkinton, Washington Co, RI,3 (daughter of William Hall and Sarah Kenyon).
Children:
9. i. Elizabeth7 Stetson b. Nov-10-1769.
8. Peleg6 Saunders, (6.Stephen5, 4.Stephen4, 3.Tobias3, 2.Tobias2, 1.Richard1) b. Sep- 5-1759 in Westerly, Washington Co, RI,[6] d. Oct-28-1814 in Buffalo, Erie Co, NY.6 The family of Peleg Saunders and Sarah Vars moved to Berlin, Rensselaer Co, NY, in the fall of 1796, and then moved to Sweden, NY, on Feb 23 1811.6 He married Jun-28-1784 in Westerly, Washington Co, RI,6 Sarah Vars, b. Mar-25-1768 in Westerly, Washington Co, RI,3 (daughter of Isaac Vars and Elizabeth Burdick) d. Apr-24-1831 in Sweden, Monroe Co, NY.3
Children:
i. Peleg7 Saunders, b.3.
10. ii. Lyman Saunders b. May-14-1787.
iii. Rowland Saunders.3
iv. Sarah Saunders, also known as Sally.3 b.3
v. Stephen Saunders, b.3.
vi. Isaac Vars Saunders, b.3.
11. vii. Alanson Saunders b. Nov- 2-1797.
viii. Catherine Saunders, b.3.
ix. Thomas G. Saunders, b.3.
x. Nathan Saunders, b.3.
xi. Billings Saunders, b.3.
xii. Saxton B. Saunders, b.3.
Generation Seven
9. Elizabeth7 Stetson, (7.Stephen6, 5.Thankful5, 4.Stephen4, 3.Tobias3, 2.Tobias2, 1.Richard1) b. Nov-10-1769 in Westerly, Washington Co, RI.3 She married Oct-25-1787 in Westerly, Washington Co, RI,3 Peleg Peckham, b. 1762 in Westerly, Washington Co, RI,3 (son of Abel Peckham and Rebecca Burdick) d. 1858 in Westerly, Washington Co, RI.3
Children:
12. i. Dorcas8 Peckham b. Oct- 4-1809.
10. Lyman7 Saunders, (8.Peleg6, 6.Stephen5, 4.Stephen4, 3.Tobias3, 2.Tobias2, 1.Richard1) b. May-14-1787 in Westerly, Washington Co, RI,[7] d. 1816 or 1817 in Unadilla, Otsego Co, NY,7 [But 1820 Census seems to show him still living.]. He married ca 1810 in Otsego Co, NY,7 Amey Coal, b. in Rhode Island,[8] (daughter of William Coal).
Children:
i. Caroline8 Saunders,3 b. 1813 in Plainfield, Otsego Co, NY,[9] d. ca 1815 in Plainfield, Otsego Co, NY.9
13. ii. William M. Saunders b. Aug- 3-1814.
iii. Hannah Saunders,3 b. 1816 in Plainfield, Otsego Co, NY,9 d. ca 1833 in Otsego Co, NY.9
11. Alanson7 Saunders, (8.Peleg6, 6.Stephen5, 4.Stephen4, 3.Tobias3, 2.Tobias2, 1.Richard1) b. Nov- 2-1797 in Berlin, Rensselaer Co, NY.3 He married ca 1818 in Rensselaer Co, NY,3 Amey Coal, b. in Rhode Island,8 (daughter of William Coal).
Children:
i. Sarah Catherine8 Saunders, b.3.
Generation Eight
12. Dorcas8 Peckham, (9.Elizabeth7, 7.Stephen6, 5.Thankful5, 4.Stephen4, 3.Tobias3, 2.Tobias2, 1.Richard1) b. Oct- 4-1809 in Westerly, Washington Co, RI,3 d. Jan-24-1899 in Voluntown, New London Co, CT.3 She married May-18-1830 in Hopkinton, Washington Co, RI,3 Robert Clinton Clarke, b. Aug- 7-1808 in Westerly, Washington Co, RI,3 (son of Samuel Clarke and Jemima Bitgood) d. Aug-16-1876 in Voluntown, New London Co, CT.3
Children:
14. i. Dorcas Elizabeth9 Clarke b. Mar- 7-1839.
13. William M.8 Saunders, (10.Lyman7, 8.Peleg6, 6.Stephen5, 4.Stephen4, 3.Tobias3, 2.Tobias2, 1.Richard1) b. Aug- 3-1814 in New York,[10],[11] d. Feb-22-1893 in Waukesha Co, WI,[12],[13] buried in Prairie Home Cemetery, Waukesha, Waukesha Co, WI,[14] resided (settled, 1844) in Waukesha Co, WI,11 resided until 1844 in New York,11 census 1850, 60, 70, 80 in Waukesha Co, WI, occupation farmer, Justice of the Peace.[15] He married Jun-11-1844 in Brockport, Monroe Co, NY,[16] Catherine Beedle, b. Feb-17-1826 near Plainfield, Otsego Co, NY,3,[17] d. May- 2-1908,17 buried in Prairie Home Cemetery, Waukesha, Waukesha Co, WI,17 census 1850, 60, 70, 80 in Waukesha Co, WI. William M. Saunders was one of the early settlers of Waukesha County, Wisconsin, first making his home there on a farm in the town of Menomonee. He was a native of New York and was married there in Brockport to Catherine Beedle on June 11 1844. During the same year they took up their home in Wisconsin. [obit]
"In the spring of 1843, William M. Saunders and William Brown opened the first store. Ashes were legal tender in those days, and any one trading with Saunders could get goods at half-price if he could tell a good story, and pay in ashes at that."
[From an 1880s publication on the history of Waukesha County, Wisconsin; cited at http://www.linkstothepast.com/waukesha/lannon.php. A later citation, at www.linkstothepast.com/waukesha/menomonee.php, gives date as 1848, rather than 1843.]
William M. Saunders received the following land patents in Waukesha County, Wisconsin:
PATENTEE NAME ISSUE DATE DOCUMENT NR. ACCESSION NR.
SAUNDERS, WILLIAM M 09/01/1848 26884 WI3000__.294 40 acres
SAUNDERS, WILLIAM M 03/01/1850 34202 WI3140__.413 80 acres
1850 Census, Waukesha County, Wisconsin (town of Menominee), enumerated on Oct 11 1850:
William Sanders [sic], 36, farmer, b. New York; Cathe [sic] Sanders, 24, b. New York; Almina [sic] Sanders, 5, b. Wisconsin; Lyman Sanders, 5 months, b. Wisconsin; Lafayette Sanders, 24, farmer, b. New York.
1860 Census, Waukesha County, Wisconsin (town of Menomonee), enumerated on Jun 7 1860:
William M. Saunders, 46, farmer, b. New York; Catherine Saunders, 34, b. New York; Almira Saunders, 15, b. Wisconsin; Lyman Saunders, 10, b. Wisconsin.
1870 Census, Waukesha County, Wisconsin (town of Menomonee), enumerated on Jun 29 1870:
William Saunders, 55, farmer, b. New York; Catherine, 44, b. New York; Lyman, 20, b. Wisconsin.
1880 Census, Waukesha County, Wisconsin (town of Menomonee), enumerated on Jun 22 1880:
William Saunders, 65, farmer, b. New York, both parents b. Rhode Island; wife Catharine, 54, b. New York, both parents b. New York.
1900 Census, Waukesha County, Wisconsin (city of Waukesha), enumerated on Jun 8 1900:
Catherine Saunders, 74, widowed, b. Feb 1826 in New York, both parents b. New York, mother of 3 children (2 still living), occupation capitalist.
(Note: Enumerators of the 1900 Census were given the following instruction regarding the listing of occupations: Report a person who receives his income, or most of it, from money loaned at interest, or from stocks, bonds, or other securities, as a "capitalist." - http://usa.ipums.org/usa/voliii/inst1900.shtml).
Children:
i. Almira9 Saunders, b. ca 1845 in Wisconsin,15,[18] resided 1893 in Fall River, Columbia Co, WI,[19] census 1850, 1860 in Waukesha Co, WI. Reports of this Almira Saunders being married to Ammi A. Brown are incorrect. He was married to Almira Sanders, born ca 1843 in New York, daughter of Henry J. Sanders and Olive Mowry. She married[20] A. A. Oliver.
ii. Myron Saunders,3 b. in Wisconsin, d. young [He does not appear in any of the 1850 thru 1900 censuses with his parents and two siblings. In the 1900 Census, Catherine Beedle Saunder reports that she was the mother of three children, two of them still living.].
iii. Lyman L. Saunders,3 b. Nov-18-1849 in Wisconsin,17,15,18 d. Oct- 4-1908,17 buried in Prairie Home Cemetery, Waukesha, Waukesha Co, WI,17 resided 1893 in Milwaukee, WI,19 census 1850, 1860, 1870 in Waukesha Co, WI.
Generation Nine
14. Dorcas Elizabeth9 Clarke, (12.Dorcas8, 9.Elizabeth7, 7.Stephen6, 5.Thankful5, 4.Stephen4, 3.Tobias3, 2.Tobias2, 1.Richard1) b. Mar- 7-1839 in Westerly, Washington Co, RI,3 d. Mar-29-1914 in Hopkinton, Washington Co, RI.3 She married Apr-12-1858 in Westerly, Washington Co, RI,3 Ezra Lee Palmer, b. Jan-11-1836 in Exeter, Washington Co, RI,3 (son of Ira Palmer and Martha Douglass) d. Apr- 3-1905 in Voluntown, New London Co, CT.3
Children:
15. i. Emma Frances10 Palmer b. Jun-17-1871.
Generation Ten
15. Emma Frances10 Palmer, (14.Dorcas9, 12.Dorcas8, 9.Elizabeth7, 7.Stephen6, 5.Thankful5, 4.Stephen4, 3.Tobias3, 2.Tobias2, 1.Richard1) b. Jun-17-1871 in Voluntown, New London Co, CT,3 d. Apr- 1-1933 in Providence, Providence Co, RI.3 She married Jul-20-1887 in Voluntown, New London Co, CT,3 John Charles Fogarty, b. Mar-20-1865 in Ireland,3 (son of John Patrick Fogarty and Mary Ann Lawlor). John: Born in Kilmaganny, Kilkenny, Ireland. He disappeared without a trace when his children were very young.3
Children:
i. Katherine Elizabeth11 Fogarty, b. Oct-30-1889 in Richmond, Washington Co, RI,3 d. Mar- 5-1953 in Providence, Providence Co, RI.3 She married Oct-30-1913 in Providence, Providence Co, RI,3 George Francis Burdett, b. Apr- -1887 in Riverside, Providence Co, RI,3 (son of Charles Abraham Burdett and Catherine Elizabeth Allaire) d. Oct-30-1950 in Providence, Providence Co, RI.3
[1] Earl P. Crandall, citing Paul A. Saunders' "The English Origins of Tobias Saunders of Westerly, RI" in "Connecticut Nutmegger," Vol 29, No 4, pp 583-588.
[2] Earl P. Crandall, citing Paul A. Saunders and advising that Isabel Wilde was living when her husband Tobias Saunders' will was proved on the date given.
[3] Earl Perry Crandall, Hudson NY (1937-2002), Descendants of Elder John Crandall of Newport and Westerly RI (Crandall Family Association, http://www.cfa.net/cfa-book/).
[4] Crandall Genealogy (http://www.usgennet.org/usa/pa/county/lycoming/family_histories/crandall/index.html).
[5] Earl P. Crandall, Hudson, NY, <eperry@capital.net>, in genealogy collection posted at www.my-ged.com/crandall, citing ARNOLD, VRRI; PECKHAM & Allied Families; and DENISON, "Westerly & Its Witnesses," p. 286.
[6] Earl Perry Crandall, Hudson NY (1937-2002), Descendants of Elder John Crandall of Newport and Westerly RI (Crandall Family Association, http://www.cfa.net/cfa-book/), NBV : VARS' Records; Vol I, p. 168.
[7] Earl Perry Crandall, Hudson NY (1937-2002), Descendants of Elder John Crandall of Newport and Westerly RI (Crandall Family Association, http://www.cfa.net/cfa-book/), NBV : VARS' Records; Vol I, p. 167 & 171.
[8] 1880 Census , Earl P. Crandall, in "Descendants of Elder John Crandall of Newport and Westerly RI," reports Amey Coal's birthplace as Plainfield, Otsego Co, NY. But son William Saunders' entry in the 1880 Census of Waukesha Co, WI, states the birthplace of both of his parents as Rhode Island.
[9] Family History Pedigree Resource File , www.familysearch.org, Vol. 4, Disc 97.
[10] Earl Perry Crandall, Hudson NY (1937-2002), Descendants of Elder John Crandall of Newport and Westerly RI (Crandall Family Association, http://www.cfa.net/cfa-book/), NBV : VARS' Records; Vol II, p. 171.
[11] Obituary, Milwaukee Sentinel, Feb 23 1893, p. 8, col A.
[12] Obituary,
Quoted in its entirety:
"DEATH OF WILLIAM M. SAUNDERS, ONE OF THE EARLIEST SETTLERS.
Waukesha, Wis., Feb. 22. - Last evening occurred the death of William M.
Saunders at his home in this village at the age of 78 years. He was one of the early settlers of Waukesha
county and first made his home on a farm in the town of Menomonee, where he
resided until about six years ago. His
death resulted from paralysis from which he has suffered for a year or
more. Mr. Saunders was a native of New
York and was married at Brockport in that state to Catherine Beedle June 11,
1844. During the same year they took up
their home in this state. His wife and a
son, Lyman L. Saunders of Milwaukee, and a daughter, Mrs. A. A. Oliver of Fall
River, Wis., survive him. Mr. Saunders
was one of the first justices of the peace in Menomonee, and the preliminary
hearing in the Bonham murder case, the first in the county, was before
him. In politics he was a staunch
Republican. The funeral will be held on Friday at 2 P. M. and the services will
be under the direction of Waukesha lodge, F. and A. M."
www.linkstothepast.com/waukesha/obitsS.php
, Milwaukee Sentinel, Feb 23 1893, p. 8, col A.
[13] Death Record - Online, Wisconsin Vital Records Death Index, Vol 1, p. 0393, Reel 134, Image 2740, Image No. 104616, Sequence No. 335299.
[14] Headstone, Buried in an adjoining lot is his son Lyman, as well as two other Saunders, Hepzibah (1846-1919) and William F. (1873-1933), relationships not known. Section G, Block 26, Lot 2, Space 4.
[15] 1850 Census.
[16] Obituary of husband, Earl P. Crandall, in "Descendants of Elder John Crandall of Newport and Westerly RI," citing NBV : VARS' Records; Vol II, p. 171, reported marriage on Jun 11 1844 in Plainfield, Otsego Co, NY. But obituary of William M. Saunders states that the marriage was on that date in Brockport, NY, which is in Monroe County.
[17] Headstone.
[18] 1860 Census.
[19] Obituary of father.