Re: Family of James Meacham/Lucy Rugg in Williamstown, Mass.
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In reply to:
Re: Family of James Meacham/Lucy Rugg in Williamstown, Mass.
Jo Ruff 7/21/07
Jo - As I indicated in a previous email, I have not been able to connect our family to the research which Virginia has done.
Here is what I have:
ISRAEL MEACHAM
Family of James Meacham and Lucy Rugg:Anne (1760-1846) married Ebenezer Clark, Lucy (1762), Elizabeth (1764),Rebekah (1766), Thankfull (1768) married Thaddeus Loomis, James Hawkins (1769) married Abigail Warner, Jacob (1771-1772), Jeremiah (1772-1850) married Parthene Joslyne (also a Jeremiah of the correct age in the 1850 census of Otsego co NY), Israel (1774
From the book “Origins in Williamstown by Arthur Latham Perry:Youngest son of James Meacham and Lucy Rugg Meacham graduate of Williams College, 1797, who became a physician in Richfiled, New York and died there in 1824.
I find no indication of a physician in 1797 in Richfield, NY by the name of Meacham.I also have no idea how he would have qualified as a physician - there were no degrees for physicians at Williams College which was chartered in 1793, the first commencement was in 1795, so Israel was a very early graduate.We stopped at the college and inquired at the alumnae office, but they didn’t have any more info.
The Vermont Gazette of Sept. 19, 1797 has an article about the public commencement of Williams college held Sept 6 at 10 A.M. Under the “Order of the Excercises” - A Disputation on this question; “Would it be good policy in the United States to build a Navy? by Jedediah Bushnell and Israel Meacham.
I have no idea which side of the argument Israel was on, but this does locate him in Mass on Sept 6, 1797.
The Otsego Herald newspaper of January 17, 1805, Letters Waiting at the Post Office:Richfield - Joseph McElwain, Obed Edson, Doct. Israel Meacham, John Miller, Solomon Spalding, Preserved Wemple.
So there is the “Dr.”, but I find nothing in Otsego Co history about a Dr. Israel Meacham.I do find that Israel’s siblings Thankful Loomis, Jeremiah, and possibly James Hawkins are in Otsego Co. I conjecture that he was there too.There is a family story that Butler Meacham was born in Cherry Valley, Otsego Cowhich does not seem too far fetched if you think that Israel migrated to be with family.I also found that Obed Edson is listed as a settler in Hamilton, Madison Co in 1802.
Bible record of Theodore Bartley:Sophronia Meacham was born in Hamilton, Madison Co, NY, Feb. 6, 1806.
The census records for 1800 and 1810 in NY for Otsego and Madison Co are a frustration because the “I” and the “J” letter look the same and they only give initials forthe first names.
Israel Meacham is on the Tax List of 1814 for Oneida Co (parent Co for Oswego Co) on Twp 17, Lot 34 which is the same property which Butler Meacham sells when he leaves Oswego Co for Pennsylvania.
Oswego Palladium newspaper, Aug. 1, 1823, List of Letters remaining at the Post Office:Meacham, Israel.
This is the last item I can find concerning Israel.If you look back to“Origins of Williamstown” you will see that they give Israel’s death as 1823.
Names that I watch:Loomis and Markham which seem to pop up around Israel.
I would appreciate hearing from any researchers who have thoughts or comments on this information.
Valerie