Daniel B. Way

Daniel B. Way was born in Albany, New York, 2 Dec. 1762. He settled in Fishkill, Dutchess Co., NY. He came to ON from Albany, NY with his family, in 1800. They lived in Prince Edward Co., ON. He died at Sophiasburgh, Upper Canada, 14 August, 1840. He was the son of John Way (b 1725) and Mary Losen.

Daniel B. Way, first cousin of Daniel and John Way, settled in Canada in the winter of 1800. He left a written record of his family and gave it to his daughter shortly before his death in 1840. A copy of this record was given to the writer by her son, Richard L. Hubbs, who was for many years Clerk of Prince Edward County and assisted the writer as long as he lived. Daniel B. Way served a Private in the 8th Regiment Albany County Militia.

8 Octobert 1782, Daniel married first, Jemima Mosher who was born in Brunswick, NY, 13 Febuary 1761 and died in Sophiasburgh Twp., ON, in 1805.

They had eleven children, including:

John Brown Way - b 4 Apr. 1783, Province, NY - d. 1868, Ameliasburgh; John was the eldest child - married Cornelia Fox

Sarah Way - b 1784; m. Benjamin Hubbs

Mary Way - b 1787

Elizabeth Way - b 1789; m. Archelaus Doxsee

David B. Way - b 1792; m 1. Janet Chisholm and 2. Elizabeth Brooks

Daniel Way - b 1794

Jacob Tarpenny Way - b 1796

Cornelius M. Way - b 1798

Mary Way - b 1798

Reuben B. Way - b - 1800; m Lydia Gleason; he is buried in Albury Cemetery, Row 8, Ameliasburgh, Prince Edward Co.

Richard M. Way - b 1805

Daniel B. Way’s second wife was Abigail Reed (1779-1808) who was widow of John Spencer and Unknown Giles. Their only son, William Way, married Hannah Tripp.

The third wife of Daniel B. Way was Sabra Foster (1771-1841) a descendant of Stephen Hopkins who came in the Mayflower in 1620. She had four children, two of whom died young -- Jemima who became the wife of William H. Heliler, son of William Heliker and Elizabeth Way, and Abigail who married John Thompson.

In 1642, a group of English colonists in Taunton, Mass., under the leadership of Rev. Francis Doughty, who had been ordered to leave because his preaching did not please the authorities, resolved to settle in the Dutch territory of New Netherlands to be free from religious persecution. They were granted 13,332 acres of land at Maspet, first called Middleburg, and later known as the English Kills. The tract embraced the present town of Newtown, which is now a part of the Borough of Brooklyn in Greater New York.

The next year the little town was burned by the Indians and the settlers fled across the bay to Connecticut. They returned after the war and in 1652 a goodly company arrived from New England towns and villages, and others came directly from England. In 1653, when war broke out between England and Holland, the settlers fled across Long Island Sound to Stamford, Conn., but returned later that year. In 1656 the settlers began to have doubts as to their right to the lands ceded to them by Governor Peter Stuyvesant and decided to pay the Indians for the land they occupied. The price agreed upon was one shilling per acre and each colonist paid according to the number of acres he had.

The deed from the Indians is still in existence and shows that JAMES WAY paid two shilling - but he later purchased more land. No record has been found of James Way’s arrival in America, but records show that he was a resident of Newtown in 1652, and that he embraced the principles of the Quakers.

On March 30, 1676, he was elected one of the eleven “Overseers” of the town. He lived until October 2, 1685, and left a will in which he made bequests to his wife, Ede, three sons and three daughters. His son, Francis, seems to have left no will, but his widow, Elizabeth, married Peter Buckhout in 1712. He had two sons and two daughters. His son, James, became blind and died 1767. His wife was Hannah Leverich, daughter of John and granddaughter of Caleb who was son of Rev. William Leverich (1602-1677) first pastor of the Newtown church.

The last mentioned James Way had three sons, Francis, James and John. James settled on Staten Island. Francis and John settled at Fishkill in Dutchess County. Francis Way of Fishkill had five sons and five daughters. His wife was Elizabeth, daughter of Jose Gorsline, a Huguenot. Daniel Way, eldest son of Francis, settled at Northport, Ontario, after the Revolutionary War and his brother, John, settled near there in 1805. Another brother, Jose, lived at Brunswick, Rensselaer county, and had a daughter, Deborah, wife of John Kotchapaw of Picton. They were grandparents of Sir Rodmond Palen Roblin, one-time Premier of Manitoba. Another brother, Francis Way Jr., had a son, Lawrence Daily Way, who settled at Pickering, Ontario, in 1811. He had a large family, all of whom removed to Michigan in 1838.

John Way, brother of Francis of Fishkill, married Mary Losey, who died in 1769. After her death, he removed to Halfmoon Township - then in Albany but now in Saratoga County. His son, Daniel B. Way (1762-1840) removed in 1800 to Bethel, near Picton, and settled on the farm where his great-grandson, Arnold D. Way, spent his entire life.

The Three Way Pioneers in Canada

Daniel Way (1743-1829) settled at Northport in 1789. He had served as a private in the Second Regiment, Duchess County Militia, in which his father was a Lieutenant. That he was no favorite of his father is evidenced by a bequest in the latter’s will of “Five pounds as his birthright.” His other children shared equally. His wife was Jemima Kilburn. They had eight sons and one daughter. The latter was wife of William Heliker of Whitby. James, his eldest son, married Sarah, daughter of Abraham Cronk in 1792. He was then a widower. The name of his first wife is unknown. Samuel Way’s wife was Catherine Pine. Daniel married Catherine Fox, and Benjamin’s wife was Catherine Chisholm. Nothing is known concerning Henry, John, Joseph and Francis. They probably died unmarried, or in childhood.

John Way, brother of Daniel, married Mary (Molly) Budd. He enlisted in the 3rd New York Regiment June 4, 1777 and served as Private, Corporal and Sergeant, until the end of the war. He later lived at Greenbush, Reneselaer County and in 1805 removed to what is now Prince Edward county. The graves of John Way and his wife are in an old cemetery on the Foster farm near Northport. Two of his daughters married in New York and did not go to Canada. Mary was wife of William Anderson who was member of Parliament, Margaret married Richard Sprung, and Letitia was wife of John Tripp. His son, Francis, left no descendants, John married Mary, daughter of William Casey and his wife, Martha Robinson, and Benjamin R. Way married Lydia Gorsline Adams. The names of her parents are desired.

Daniel P. Way, first cousin of Daniel and John Way, settled in Canada in the winter of 1800. He left a written record of his family and gave it to his daughter shortly before his death in 1840. A copy of this record was given to the writer by her son, Richard L. Hubbs, who was for many years Clerk of Prince Edward County and assisted the writer as long as he lived. Daniel B. Way served a Private in the 8th Regiment Albany County Militia. His first wife was Jemima Mosher (1761-1806) who had eleven children - five of whom grew up and married. John the eldest, married Cornelia Fox, Sarah was wife of Benjamin Hubbs, Elizabeth of Archelaus Doxsee, David’s first wife was Janet Chisholm and his second was Elizabeth Brooks and Reuben B. married Lydia Gleason.

Daniel B. Way’s second wife was Abigail Reed (1779-1808) who was widow of John Spencer and ---- Giles. Her only son, William Way, married Hannah Tripp. The third wife of Daniel B. Way was Sabra Foster (1771-1841) a descendant of Stephen Hopkins who came in the Mayflower in 1620. She had four children, two of whom died young, Jemima who became the wife of William H. Heliler, son of William Heliker and Elizabeth Way, and Abigail who married John Thompson.

More than six thousand descendants of these three pioneers have been found in all of the Provinces west of Quebec and nearly every state in the U.S.

More than twenty years ago the late Gideon Way of Trenton invited the descendants of his grandfather, James Way (son of Daniel) to meet for a Family Reunion and the next year the invitation was extended to all of the descendants of the three pioneers. Each year since that time (except during the war) a Family Reunion has been held in Canada.

This year the Reunion will be held at Wellington on Wednesday, August 15th. All of the descendants of the three pioneers are cordially invited. The big family gets together to visit and have a good time and listen to remarks by visitors from away. The Family Historian will try to answer questions that any one cares to ask. It will be a basket picnic. Tables will be spread at 12:30 (Standard Time), and many will remain for supper at about 8 p.m. A large attendance is expected. Wellington is 10 miles from Picton, 22 miles from Trenton and the same from Belleville, on Lake Ontario. Near the park is the oldest house in Ontario. Don’t fail to see it. Hope to meet you August 15th.

Glenn C. Way, Family Historian.

 

-- The Way Family History, From “The Picton Times” Aug 4, 1951; Way Family Reunion at Wellington, Aug. 15

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