"Everything is held together with stories. That is all that is holding us together, stories and compassion." - Barry Lopez
This page houses all of my genealogical research for the Otis Family of Middletown, Connecticut, which is the paternal family of Daniel H. Otis, and the individual who I connect all others to on this page. The following information has been extremely well-researched and is the result of myriads of hours of reading, researching, digging, sleuthing, cross-referencing, and good old-fashioned leg-work. The information also includes my narrative and thoughts, making for an interesting genealogical read!
What the above sources don’t tell us is the daily circumstances of a person’s life or what was in their heart or mind. I wish there was some type of “cosmic catalog” that I could access to find out information of that sort!
Nonetheless, some fascinating ancestral connections were discovered during the course of my research. Also, as the genealogy shows, Daniel had three other brothers and came from a family who was financially comfortable, as the reader will see in their exploration of the various pages on this site. Even the book, "A Genealogical and Historical Memoir of the Otis Family in America,” by William Augustus Otis (albeit with incorrect information at times), lists four children being born to Erastus and Elizabeth Otis.
The Otis family genealogy is HUGE, and just Daniel's branch alone was quite weighty. I could have gone on and on with the Otis family's substantial genealogy, but I had to put the brakes on it at some point.
For pictures of the Otis Family gravestones, see HERE.
Died: Thursday, August 4, 1864 (age 50 years, 5 months) in Maromas, Middletown, CT. Burial was also August 4, 1864 (source: Record of the Returns Made by Sextons of Cemeteries. Aka: "Middletown Burial Lists"). Erastus is buried at Maromas Cemetery in Middletown, CT near his wife Elizabeth, and his young son Daniel.
Erastus Selden Otis was born Friday, March 4, 1814 in Wilbraham (Hampden County), Massachusetts to Stephen Otis, Jr. and Betsey Weidger Daniels. The 1830 Census Report shows 16 year-old Erastus Otis living in Wilbraham, Massachusetts. He is listed as "Head of Families" in that report. This is most-likely because his father, Stephen Otis, Jr., was killed four years previously, on November, 28, 1826, by a falling tree that he was chopping down.
To put together the following information, I consulted these sources: census reports; numerous city directories for various towns; birth, baptismal, marriage, and death records; plus certified copies of death certificates (to acquire death dates and causes of death)—which I have to say are quite expensive! Cemetery records; church records; and various newspapers. I also cross-referenced familial connections. There are also a number of other helpful works that I cite within the genealogy itself. Then, for each individual, I put together the pieces of information that have been garnered from each source (if available), and what happens next is that a picture starts to emerge—the information begins to tell a story about the person.
What the above sources don’t tell us is the daily circumstances of a person’s life or what was in their heart or mind. I wish there was some type of “cosmic catalog” that I could access to find out information of that sort!
Nonetheless, some fascinating ancestral connections were discovered during the course of my research. Also, as the genealogy shows, Daniel had three other brothers and came from a family who was financially comfortable, as the reader will see in their exploration of the various pages on this site. Even the book, "A Genealogical and Historical Memoir of the Otis Family in America,” by William Augustus Otis (albeit with incorrect information at times), lists four children being born to Erastus and Elizabeth Otis.
The Otis family genealogy is HUGE, and just Daniel's branch alone was quite weighty. I could have gone on and on with the Otis family's substantial genealogy, but I had to put the brakes on it at some point.
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Want more genealogy? See the following pages:
Daniel H. Otis, descendant of accused Salem Witch, Martha Carrier (via the Young Family)
Otis Family Genealogy Chart. This chart makes it easier for the reader to follow the connection of family relations.
Sections On This Page: (scroll down to see each particular section)
> Otis Family Genealogy
> More Otis Family Genealogy
> Daniel H. Otis: Mayflower Descendent
> Daniel H. Otis: Great-Grandson of Accused Salem Witch, Martha Allen Carrier
> Daniel H. Otis: Great-Grandson of Haddam CT founders, John Bailey and Daniel Brainerd
> Daniel's Family Members Who Served in the Civil War
> Middle Names
> Arranged Marriages of Sorts?
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Otis Family Genealogy
Erastus Selden Otis (father of Daniel H. Otis)
Son of Stephen Otis, Jr. and Betsey Weidger Daniels
Born: Friday, March 4, 1814 in Wilbraham (Hampden County), Massachusetts
Born: Friday, March 4, 1814 in Wilbraham (Hampden County), Massachusetts
Died: Thursday, August 4, 1864 (age 50 years, 5 months) in Maromas, Middletown, CT. Burial was also August 4, 1864 (source: Record of the Returns Made by Sextons of Cemeteries. Aka: "Middletown Burial Lists"). Erastus is buried at Maromas Cemetery in Middletown, CT near his wife Elizabeth, and his young son Daniel.
Note: there are two other birthdates floating around on the ancestry sites for Erastus S. Otis. I believe they are both incorrect and that March 4, 1814 is indeed his correct birthdate. I searched the Middletown Vital Records and it lists Erastus S. Otis as " 50 years, 5 months, 0 days" at the time of his death. Working backwards, he would have been born on March 4, 1814.
Cause of Death: "Brain / Liver." Yes, that's exactly what the official cause of death was recorded as. See the page "Erastus S. Otis," as to why I believe his death may have been alcohol-related, and to see a copy of Erastus' official death record.
Erastus Selden Otis was born Friday, March 4, 1814 in Wilbraham (Hampden County), Massachusetts to Stephen Otis, Jr. and Betsey Weidger Daniels. The 1830 Census Report shows 16 year-old Erastus Otis living in Wilbraham, Massachusetts. He is listed as "Head of Families" in that report. This is most-likely because his father, Stephen Otis, Jr., was killed four years previously, on November, 28, 1826, by a falling tree that he was chopping down.
Erastus' father, Stephen Otis, Jr, was a Methodist minister and a professor at the Wilbraham Academy [originally "Wesleyan Academy"] Also, Erastus had a first-cousin, once-removed (who was the son of his grandfather’s brother), also by the name of Erastus Otis. Reverend Erastus Otis (the cousin) was also a Methodist minister. In fact, Rev. Erastus Otis was one of the pioneers of Methodism in New England! Rev. E. Otis was also on staff at Wilbraham Academy. According to the 1913 book, “The History of Wilbraham Massachusetts," by Chauncey E. Peck: of the 74 males and 97 females that boarded at the school, 10 males “made their home” with Rev. E. Otis.
On September 16, 1835, Erastus S. Otis (age 21), married 18 year-old Elizabeth Mary Young of Maromas, Middletown, CT. Elizabeth was the daughter of William S. Young and Elizabeth Bailey. Erastus and Elizabeth were married by Reverend Robert McEwen of the South Congregational Church in Middletown, CT.
When Erastus met his future wife, Elizabeth Mary Young, she was living in the relativity isolated farming community of Maromas, Middletown, Connecticut. Back then, folks didn’t just randomly meet at the local “feed-and-seed,” and start dating. Instead, they were introduced, or fixed-up—usually at church, or through a web of family connections. So, I believe that Erastus most-likely met Elizabeth, through his relatives that lived in the same general area as she did—family that was related to his father Stephen Otis, Jr. (see Stephen's genealogy, below). After all, census reports and cemetery records prove that extended members of the Otis family did indeed live in the same general area as Elizabeth Young—living anywhere from 8 miles to 27 miles from Maromas.
Above, is a snip-view of the Vital Statistic Records of Erastus and Elizabeth's marriage date. Yes, "Mary C. Young" is the SAME individual as Elizabeth Mary Young. Mary was her middle name, which she was apparently going by at the time of her marriage. The initial "C." in her name may stand for "Carrier." A naming tradition during the past centuries was to give a person a family-surname as a middle name. On her father's side, Elizabeth M. Young was related to the Carrier family. Her paternal grandmother was Ruth Carrier, and her 3x paternal great-grandmother was Martha Allen Carrier, who was hanged as a witch during the Salem witch trials.
>William Young Otis (Born: July 14, 1839 / Died: April 21, 1886; age 47)
>Daniel H. Otis (Born: April 15, 1847 / Died: December 16 or 17, 1862; age 15)
>George Calvin Otis (Born: October 11, 1855 / Died: March 21, 1933; age 77)
Erastus was a stonecutter by trade and also a farmer in the Maromas section of Middletown, CT. As a stonecutter, perhaps he was employed by the Whitmore Quarry or the Scovill Quarry in Maromas, as his will shows that he owned a number of quarry tools. Also, my research points to some type of camaraderie between Erastus Otis and Edwin Scovill, who was also a resident of Maromas. Edwin was not only a fellow Methodist, but also a fellow stonecutter, who managed the lifting and cutting of the stone at the quarries.
For more information on Erastus Otis, please see the page: "Erastus S. Otis."
Elizabeth Mary Young-Otis (mother of Daniel H. Otis)
Daughter of William S. Young and Elizabeth Bailey.
Born: Thursday, April 3, 1817 in Maromas, Middletown, CT.
Died: Thursday, April 3, 1856; age 39 in Maromas, Middletown, CT.
Elizabeth is buried at Maromas Cemetery, Middletown, CT with her husband Erastus and young son, Daniel. Elizabeth is not listed in the Vital Statistics Records. I was really hoping to find a cause of death for her, but I was informed that not everyone is listed in these records.
Gone Home.
Oh my goodness. Elizabeth Otis died on her birthday! In all my research on the Otis family, I have never been able to locate an actual birth date for Elizabeth. And now here was, on her newly-discovered gravestone piece: she died the same day she was born: on her birth day! This was so significant that the family saw fit to engrave that information into her gravestone. It must have been a great tragedy for them all—especially young nine-year-old Daniel.
I wonder how Elizabeth Otis died, and from what? Did she die suddenly; perhaps an accident of some sort on the farm, or around the home? Or was it something related to the recent birth of her son George?
George Otis was born October 11, 1855. This means Elizabeth died about 6-months after George was born. Could her death have been related to the birth somehow? If so, it could not have been the devastating infection known as “childbed fever” (aka: puerperal fever), because that would affect a woman within the first three days after childbirth, with it rapidly progressing. However, other types of infections that can lead to sepsis after childbirth are urinary tract infections, and breast infections (mastitis). Could one of these two issues have taken Elizabeth Otis’s life?
Or maybe it was some type of postpartum mood disorder she was dealing with that led to her accidental death? After all, if an individual is not in their right frame of mind, anything could happen. Back in the 1850’s people knew absolutely nothing about postpartum mood disorders—zero, zilch, nada, nothing. Hell, even in our so-called “enlightened” modern times, postpartum issues are a big black-hole in healthcare and are not taken seriously by society.
The truth is, like so many things related to the Otis family—we will just never know what caused the death of Elizabeth Otis at only 39 years-old. Whatever she died from, I do believe the family had no expectations of her death and that it was sudden. However, the ideas here were still worth exploring.
Just as a side note: Oddly enough, Elizabeth Young Otis' brother also died on his birthday! His name was Russell Bailey Young, and he was born January 13, 1807, and died January 13, 1887.
When Erastus met his future wife, Elizabeth Mary Young, she was living in the relativity isolated farming community of Maromas, Middletown, Connecticut. Back then, folks didn’t just randomly meet at the local “feed-and-seed,” and start dating. Instead, they were introduced, or fixed-up—usually at church, or through a web of family connections. So, I believe that Erastus most-likely met Elizabeth, through his relatives that lived in the same general area as she did—family that was related to his father Stephen Otis, Jr. (see Stephen's genealogy, below). After all, census reports and cemetery records prove that extended members of the Otis family did indeed live in the same general area as Elizabeth Young—living anywhere from 8 miles to 27 miles from Maromas.
Also, the individual that married them, Robert McEwan, was Reverend at South Congregational Church in Middletown—the same church that the parents of Elizabeth Mary Young were members of. See the page, "Erastus S. Otis," for those documents. So yes, "Mary C. Young" and Elizabeth Mary Young are one and the same person.
Though, what I find interesting is not the "name game," but the fact that Erastus S. Otis and Elizabeth M. Young were married September 1835, and their first child, Robert S. Otis, was born four months later on January 22, 1836! This means that Elizabeth was about five months pregnant when she married Erastus.
As I discovered during my research on the families—and as I mention elsewhere on this site—that I believe the situation of being with-child before marriage was more common for folks in the past than we “moderns” realize. It was common for:
>Stephen Otis, Jr. (father of Erastus S. Otis / Grandfather of Daniel Otis) and his first bride Lucy. She was 3-months pregnant when she married Stephen in 1794.
>Lt. Gideon Bailey, Jr. and his bride, Lydia Mary Spencer (maternal grandparents of Elizabeth M. (Young) Otis / great-grandparents of Daniel H. Otis). Lydia was 6-months pregnant when she married Gideon in 1773.
>Martha Allen and Thomas Carrier (3x paternal great-grandparents of Elizabeth M. (Young) Otis / 4x great-grandparents of Daniel H. Otis). Martha Allen was 7-months pregnant when she married Thomas in 1674.
> Israel Carrier (great grand-uncle of Elizabeth M. (Young) Otis / 2x great grand-uncle of Daniel H. Otis) married Mary Clark on June 6, 1768. Their first child Levi was born July 4, 1768. Mary was about 8 months pregnant when she married Israel.
>Egbert J. Young (nephew of Elizabeth M. (Young) Otis / cousin of Daniel H. Otis) and his wife Isabella Rogers. She was 4-months pregnant when she married Egbert in 1884.
And it certainly was common for:
>Erastus S. Otis and Elizabeth M. Young (parents of Daniel H. Otis). She was 5-months pregnant with their first child, Robert, when she married Erastus in 1835.
And these were just the couples that jumped out at me while doing research. I’m sure if I looked hard enough, I’d find more. This may be surprising to us “modern-day” folks who have this false idea that everyone in the past was chaste until after the marriage. But there is an explanation for it—and it’s NOT because of “loose morals.” The book “Daily Life in Victorian England,” by Sally Mitchell gives some insight into this phenomena: “Demographers who look at marriage registers and christening records in village churches have observed that a rather large proportion of first babies were born less than nine months after their parent’s weddings. In many rural areas the older tradition of binding betrothal seems to have remained in force among the laboring classes. Sexual activity was acceptable as long as a couple intended to marry, and they did marry as soon as a child was on the way."
Erastus S. Otis and Elizabeth M. Young had four children together:
(See below for detailed information on all four brothers):
>Robert S. Otis (Born: January 20, 1836 / Died: May 21, 1894; age 58)
>Robert S. Otis (Born: January 20, 1836 / Died: May 21, 1894; age 58)
>William Young Otis (Born: July 14, 1839 / Died: April 21, 1886; age 47)
>Daniel H. Otis (Born: April 15, 1847 / Died: December 16 or 17, 1862; age 15)
>George Calvin Otis (Born: October 11, 1855 / Died: March 21, 1933; age 77)
Erastus Otis was a "Justice of the Peace" for the town of Middletown in 1847. A Justice of the Peace is a judicial officer of a lower court, elected or appointed by means of a commission. Derelicts and citizens of low-standing do not get appointments as a Justice of the Peace, therefore, Erastus Otis must have been an exemplary individual and a respectable citizen to receive this commission! See the page: "Erastus S. Otis" for more info on this.
As a stonecutter, Erastus Otis would have processed or shaped crude and rough pieces of stone into desirable shapes, sizes, and patterns for the purpose of building and creating structures. Stonecutters would build stone walls, floors, interiors and exteriors of private homes, buildings, and other structures—such as stone arches, steps, sills, hearths or piers.
Make no mistake, as a stonecutter, Erastus was a highly-skilled craftsman and should not be confused with a quarryman, which was a relatively low-skill occupation that many Irish immigrants worked at. In fact, the draft record of his son, Robert S. Otis, distinguishes between the two trades.
In the Account Book of William S. Young (Erastus’ father-in-law), Erastus was paid $7.50 for “casting stone,” after the death of of his father-in-law. I believe this was for the casting of William’s gravestone. Both William and his wife Elizabeth have matching weeping willow style gravestones. I wonder if Erastus designed and cast them both?
Could there be any other gravestones in Maromas Cemetery that artisan stonecutter, Erastus Otis, designed and cast? If a person has such a skill, as Erastus had, why would they not want to utilize it in behalf of those they love and care about, especially as a final tribute in the form of a beautifully designed and cast gravestone. Right?
Make no mistake, as a stonecutter, Erastus was a highly-skilled craftsman and should not be confused with a quarryman, which was a relatively low-skill occupation that many Irish immigrants worked at. In fact, the draft record of his son, Robert S. Otis, distinguishes between the two trades.
In the Account Book of William S. Young (Erastus’ father-in-law), Erastus was paid $7.50 for “casting stone,” after the death of of his father-in-law. I believe this was for the casting of William’s gravestone. Both William and his wife Elizabeth have matching weeping willow style gravestones. I wonder if Erastus designed and cast them both?
Could there be any other gravestones in Maromas Cemetery that artisan stonecutter, Erastus Otis, designed and cast? If a person has such a skill, as Erastus had, why would they not want to utilize it in behalf of those they love and care about, especially as a final tribute in the form of a beautifully designed and cast gravestone. Right?
Note, the Account Book of William S. Young is a lot of fun to read, and worth the time to do so.
The 1850 Census Report shows the Erastus S. Otis family living in Middletown. His occupation is "stonecutter." These older Census Reports are always unremarkable. I could not find the Erastus S. Otis family for the 1860 Census Report—anywhere. There is not a hint of Erastus, his second wife, Amanda, nor his children, William (age 21), Daniel (age 13), or George (age 5). However, his eldest son Robert Otis (age 24) shows up in the 1860 Census with his Uncle, William L. Young. 1860 was the same year, (May 5th to be exact) that Erastus' mother, Betsey Otis, died in Westerly, Rhode Island. I wonder if Erastus and his family were visiting in Rhode Island at the time of the 1860 Census, hence the reason they are not found in any of the reports.
On Thursday, August 4, 1864, Erastus Selden Otis died of the mysterious "Brain / Liver," as certified by Elihu W.N. Starr. Uncannily, August 4th was the second anniversary of his son Daniel's running away and enlistment in the Army.
Yes, "Brain / Liver" was exactly how the 1864 Vital Statistic records for Middletown listed Erastus' official cause of death. Obscure, isn't it? Please see the page: “Erastus S. Otis,” under the subheading “The Drink,” to see a copy of this record, and as to why I believe his death may have been an alcohol-related one. I don't think Erastus meant to die that day. He was just in so much emotional pain over the loss of his young son to war.
For more information on Erastus Otis, please see the page: "Erastus S. Otis."
Elizabeth Mary Young-Otis (mother of Daniel H. Otis)
Daughter of William S. Young and Elizabeth Bailey.
Born: Thursday, April 3, 1817 in Maromas, Middletown, CT.
Died: Thursday, April 3, 1856; age 39 in Maromas, Middletown, CT.
Elizabeth is buried at Maromas Cemetery, Middletown, CT with her husband Erastus and young son, Daniel. Elizabeth is not listed in the Vital Statistics Records. I was really hoping to find a cause of death for her, but I was informed that not everyone is listed in these records.
Cause of Death: ? a mystery.
Originally, there was only one piece of the Elizabeth Mary Otis gravestone, and it was the bottom half, leaning against a tree, the once white marble all black with biological growth. The individual who started me on the path to gravestone restoration taught me that gravestone pieces usually don’t stray too far from the original burial site. He proved it to me. He was like a diviner and walked directly to a spot beside the grave of Elizabeth Otis, plunged his shovel into the ground, and dug up the missing piece of her gravestone beneath at least 9-inches of sod and soil!
It was like finding a long lost treasure! As he pulled the missing gravestone piece from the ground, I was shocked to see that the marble was still a gorgeous white, albeit covered in a layer of dirt. My gosh, how long was the bottom half of that stone buried under there? It was still white!
Even more shocking, is what the remainder of her epitaph said (as revealed on the newly-discovered piece in September 2019). Note: The Elizabeth Otis gravestone has since been restored. See pictures HERE
ELIZABETH M.
wife of
ERASTUS S. OTIS,
died on her birth day
April 3, 1856
Aged 39 Yr's
Gone Home.
Oh my goodness. Elizabeth Otis died on her birthday! In all my research on the Otis family, I have never been able to locate an actual birth date for Elizabeth. And now here was, on her newly-discovered gravestone piece: she died the same day she was born: on her birth day! This was so significant that the family saw fit to engrave that information into her gravestone. It must have been a great tragedy for them all—especially young nine-year-old Daniel.
I wonder how Elizabeth Otis died, and from what? Did she die suddenly; perhaps an accident of some sort on the farm, or around the home? Or was it something related to the recent birth of her son George?
George Otis was born October 11, 1855. This means Elizabeth died about 6-months after George was born. Could her death have been related to the birth somehow? If so, it could not have been the devastating infection known as “childbed fever” (aka: puerperal fever), because that would affect a woman within the first three days after childbirth, with it rapidly progressing. However, other types of infections that can lead to sepsis after childbirth are urinary tract infections, and breast infections (mastitis). Could one of these two issues have taken Elizabeth Otis’s life?
Or maybe it was some type of postpartum mood disorder she was dealing with that led to her accidental death? After all, if an individual is not in their right frame of mind, anything could happen. Back in the 1850’s people knew absolutely nothing about postpartum mood disorders—zero, zilch, nada, nothing. Hell, even in our so-called “enlightened” modern times, postpartum issues are a big black-hole in healthcare and are not taken seriously by society.
The truth is, like so many things related to the Otis family—we will just never know what caused the death of Elizabeth Otis at only 39 years-old. Whatever she died from, I do believe the family had no expectations of her death and that it was sudden. However, the ideas here were still worth exploring.
Just as a side note: Oddly enough, Elizabeth Young Otis' brother also died on his birthday! His name was Russell Bailey Young, and he was born January 13, 1807, and died January 13, 1887.
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| Personal signature of Elizabeth Mary Otis, as signed in her father, William S. Young's will. |
Above is a copy of the lovely personal signature of Daniel's mother, Elizabeth Mary Otis. I always enjoy seeing the personal hand of individuals. Everyone signature is unique as the person who signed it!
Amanda Malvina Chapman-Otis-Hayden (second wife of Erastus S. Otis, step-mother of Daniel H. Otis)
Daughter of Samuel Chapman and Keturah Jones.
Born: Thursday, September 27, 1827 in Westbrook, CT.
Amanda M. Chapman was the step-mother (and aunt, by marriage) to the Otis siblings (Robert, William, Daniel, and George Otis). Amanda was first married to Erastus Otis' younger brother Calvin Stephen Otis who lived in Westerly, Rhode Island. Calvin was age 23 and Amanda was age 20, when they married on June 15, 1848 in Stonington, CT.
I find it very interesting that Amanda M. Chapman outlived three husbands and yet never had children with any of them. She was married to Calvin Otis for a little over a year, yet never had a child. Then she was married to Erastus Otis for nearly 8-years, yet remained childless. Lastly, she was married to James Hayden for 36 years, yet again, remained childless.
Could it be that she was not able to have children, or was it that her husbands, specifically Erastus Otis and James Hayden, already had all the children they wanted and didn't desire any more? If that was the case, how did one prevent pregnancies back then? With herbs, such as wild carrot seed? Or, abstinence? Good luck with those options. Perhaps her last two marriages were ones of convenience, born more from the needs of both parties, rather than of love and attraction? In a time period when women had few options, and marriage was equated with security for the female counterpart, perhaps these marriages allowed Amanda to have some type of security, and in exchange, she took care of the man, his home, and his children. After all, it was a time when women needed men for the security they could provide--both financially and physically, and men needed women to run a home, and bear their children, and if they already had children, then to take care of them.
I think that for Erastus Otis, his marriage to Amanda was born out of need and necessity. After Elizabeth Otis died, Erastus re-married six-months later, seemingly making haste to find himself a new wife to take care of the home and his young children. I firmly believe that Elizabeth Mary Otis was Erastus' "true love," and would always be. After all, a "flowered handkerchief" was listed among the itemized goods of his will and personal estate after he died. This handkerchief was not listed among his personal clothing items, the way his “pocket handkerchief” was. I assume that Erastus, as a man, was not personally using a flowered handkerchief. Other pages of Erastus' will show that the flowered handkerchief was passed along to his oldest son, Robert Otis. What would these men want with a flowered handkerchief—unless there was some sentimental value to it? Like it being the flowered handkerchief of Elizabeth Otis.
Son of Erastus S. Otis and Elizabeth M. Young
Born: Wednesday, January 20, 1836 in Maromas, Middletown, CT.
The website, Scottish Rite Masonic Museum and Library Blog, says that one of the objectives of the O.U.A.M "was to help its native-born members find employment." The order's motto was "Honesty, Industry, and Sobriety." Their emblem was influenced by the Freemasons, "incorporating their square inside two compasses and then adding an arm and hammer on an American flag in the middle. The compasses are a symbol of remaining within bounds with all mankind, the arm and hammer a symbol of industry and hard work and the flag a symbol of their patriotism."
Robert S. Otis and Charlotte E. Burdick had the following children together (niece/nephew of Daniel H. Otis):
>Sidney Burdick Otis (Born: Wednesday, July 14, 1869 in Maromas, Middletown, CT / Died: Tuesday, February 23, 1943 in Middletown, CT; age 73). No doubt, Sidney Burdick Otis was named after his paternal grandfather, Sidney Stanton Burdick. 19 year-old Sidney Otis appears in the 1889 Middletown City Directory for the first time. He is employed as a machinist at the Russell Manufacturing Company, and boards at his parent's home on Fowler Avenue in the Farm Hill District of Middletown.
In 1894, his father, Robert S. Otis, dies. Then, two years later in 1896 his 20 year-old sister, Charlotte Agnes, dies. Sidney continues to work and live at the same places just mentioned. In July 1903, Sidney shows up in the Hartford City Directory, working as toolmaker at 581 Capitol, which is the same company his cousin Charles S. Otis works for as a machinist. Sidney boards at 244 Asylum, Room 30, while his mother continues to live on Fowler Ave.
Sidney continues to reside at 5 Wall Street with his mother, who lived to the ripe old age of 93, dying in 1937! After his mother's death (and for the next 6 years), Sidney lives at the same residence until his death on Tuesday, February 23, 1943 (age 73), from "carcinoma of sigmoid, intestinal obstruction, and post-operative shock." He died at Middlesex Hospital. (Source: Middletown Vitals). How awful for Sidney. He must have suffered. Sidney Otis never remarried and never fathered any children either.
Sidney Burdick Otis is buried at Old Farm Hill Cemetery with his wife Mary L. Otis, along with his father, mother, and sister, Charlotte Agnes.
>Charlotte Agnes Otis (Born: Friday, May 17, 1872 in Maromas, Middletown, CT / Died: Friday, June 5, 1896 in Middletown, CT; age 24) 20 year-old Charlotte Agnes Otis appears in the 1892 Middletown City for the first time. There she is listed as "Miss C.A. Otis," and works as a stenographer for C.E. Jackson. She boards on Fowler avenue with her family. She is employed as a stenographer for about 3 years. The last time she appears in the Directory is in 1895, with just her name listed, and no occupation. Sadly, the very next year, and two years after her father died, Charlotte Agnes Otis died at age 24 on Friday, June 5, 1896 from "tuberculosis." The secondary cause of death was "exhaustion." Poor dear! (source: Middletown Vital Statistics)
Charlotte Agnes Otis is buried at Old Farm Hill Cemetery with her father, mother, and brother, Sidney.
Daughter of Robert S. Otis and Charlotte E. Burdick
Transcription (bold is mine):
My jaw hit the ground when I read this! Only four months after opening The Climax Hotel there was some debacle with an “INDECENT PICTURE RAID.” Apparently there were “picture machines”—which was some type of motion picture machine from what I can gather—that was taken by detectives of the Connecticut Law & Order League. Ten different proprietors, including Allen Risk, husband of Mary Otis Risk, “pleaded not guilty to the charge of having indecent pictures in their possession for the purpose of exhibition.”
An estate is known as an "Insolvent Estate" when its liabilities exceed its assets. In 1911, the estate of Allen Risk was inventoried at $35,169. In 2021, that sum is the equivalent of nearly 1-million dollars! Even though Mr. Risk's inventory was big, the article says there was "not much to it," and that this was a disappointment to his creditors. Forget them! I bet it was a big disappointment to his widow, Mary (Otis) Risk! I notice that the Risk's had real estate in Westbrook, CT. This was the home-town of Mary's mother, Charlotte Burdick. No doubt, Mary enjoyed time in her Westbrook home near her maternal family.
William Young Otis (brother of Daniel H. Otis)
Son of Erastus S. Otis and Elizabeth M. Young
Born: Sunday, July 14, 1839 in Maromas, Middletown, CT.
Died: Wednesday, April 21, 1886; age 47 in Plantsville, Southington, CT. William is buried at Quinnipiac Cemetery in Southington, CT.
William Young Otis was born on Sunday, July 14, 1839 in the Maromas section of Middletown to Erastus Selden Otis and Elizabeth Mary Young. William attended the little red school house in Maromas with his younger brother Daniel H. Otis and a number of cousins. William went to school until 1856, when he was age 17.
William Otis at:
I found this in the September 25, 1927 edition of the Hartford Courant. It is part of a larger article, titled: "The Grandfather of Brickmaking: Eighteenth Century Connecticut Farmers Started as a Side-Line an Industry Now Flourishing in Various Parts of the United States." That was a mouthful.
The article mentions that William Y. Otis (of Southington), assisted by Dewitt Upson, turned from the clock business to the establishment of a brickyard in Milldale! Really? Every city directory for Southington has always listed William's occupation as "machinist," but apparently, he was in the brick (and clock) business too! (note: Milldale is a neighborhood in the incorporated town of Southington, Hartford County, Connecticut).
In the section for the Southington news, the Hartford Courant (March 2, 1886) mentions that William is "dangerously ill." Poor William! It also touches on the fact that he was a "selectman" at one time. A "selectman" is a member of the local government board of a New England town.
William was a member of the Methodist Church (his paternal grandfather, Stephen Otis Jr., was a Methodist minister, and his paternal 2x-great-uncle was one of the pioneers of Methodism in New England). William was also a Mason and belonged to Friendship Lodge, No. 33, F & A.M, which means "Free and Accepted Masons." William was once a Master Mason at the Friendship Lodge, and a large number of his Mason brothers showed up for his funeral—68 members to be exact. The bearers at his funeral were past members of the Lodge. William Y. Otis was buried with Masonic honors.
William Young Otis seems to have been a very prominent, and respected member of his community, so much so that his Masonic Brothers wrote a Memorial for him in the Penny Press newspaper. It's a powerful piece eulogy to read! There are definite Masonic undertones in this one. The transcription of it can be found after the news-clipping of the memorial.
I also found this little snip in the April 25, 1896, Hartford Courant. I just want to share it because I think it's very sweet, plus I adore bits of personal info like this.
William Y. Otis and Elizabeth V. Taylor had the following children together (nephews of Daniel H. Otis):
Like his father William, Ervin was a machinist by
trade. Many other Otis family members were also machinists, including Ervin’s cousins: Frank Otis, Charles Otis, Sidney Otis, and Elmer Clifford Young.
>Francis Elizabeth (Otis) Carden (Born: May 29, 1901 / Died: July 25, 1980) was the daughter of Ervin Lewis Otis and Harriet Elizabeth Price. She married Roscoe Carden on November 26, 1958 in Richmond, Virginia. Francis's occupation was "social worker," and later "welfare director." Francis and Roscoe had one son together, Richard Otis Carden (Born: January 19, 1931). According to the "Abstract of Divorce Decree" of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Francis and Roscoe separated on June 30, 1954 and then divorced on August 1, 1955, after 28 years of marriage. The reason for divorce was "desertion." Francis died in Richmond, VA on July 25, 1980, age 79, from "carcinoma of the nose." Her son, Richard Otis Carden married Shirley Mae Porter on December 26, 1950 and then divorced on November 7, 1975.
Son of Erastus S. Otis and Elizabeth M. Young
Born: Thursday, April 15, 1847 in Maromas, Middletown, CT.
Burial: Sunday, February 8, 1863 at Maromas Cemetery in Middletown, CT. Daniel is buried in the Otis family plot near his father Erastus and mother Elizabeth, and beside his nephew, baby Lewie Otis.
George Calvin Otis (brother of Daniel H. Otis)
Son of Erastus S. Otis and Elizabeth M. Young
Born: Thursday, October 11, 1855 in Maromas, Middletown, CT.
George Calvin Otis had a rough start in life, violently losing his older brother Daniel to war, and both of his parents at a young age, thus placing him under guardianship with those who were not his kin.
To see copies of original documents that pertain to this guardianship, see the page: "Estate of George C. Otis."
By the age of 15, the 1870 census shows that George was staying in Westbrook, CT (the home-town of his step-mother Amanda Chapman). The census shows that he was working as a "farm laborer" for Edmund Roswell Morgan (age 40) and his wife, Dency B. Jones Morgan (age 41). The "guardian account papers" for George Otis show that his guardian (Sylvester Dunham) gave him $1.00 cash for him to go to Westbrook again in January, 1871.
George Otis, Family #1:
On Tuesday, September 9, 1873, George married first-generation American, Susan Smart (October 30, 1853 - February 25, 1919), whose parents were born in England. George was almost 18 years-old, and Susan was about 20 years-old when they were married. For more on Susan Smart Otis, please see her subheading below.
I imagine this Drum Corp was named after Benjamin Douglas, prominent Middletown citizen, one-time Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut, and as previously mentioned, owner of W. & B. Douglas Pump Works.
I wonder if the Drum Corps played music similar to Union Civil War song, "The Girl I Left Behind Me," which was played to fife and drum. Have a listen here or find the audio clip below. Also, "Connecticut's Fife & Drum Tradition," by James Clark is worth a read.
It was so nice to find something so personal about George, that he enjoyed playing the fife in a drum corp, and was probably darn good at it too! I wish there was something just as personal to be found about his brother, Daniel.
George C. Otis and Susan Smart had three children together (niece/nephew of Daniel H. Otis):
Notice how there is nothing mentioned about her estranged father, George Otis, in the obituary. Based on my research, I don't believe Bessie ever saw her father again once he left Middletown in 1890/91. When Bessie died in 1909, George was working as an elevator operator and living at 752 Edgewood Avenue in Akron, Ohio with his second wife, and new-born son (1908), George, Jr.
Sometime in 1890/91, George disappeared from Middletown, leaving his wife and three young children behind, and resurfacing in Ohio.
It's interesting what the book, “A Genealogical and Historical Memoir of the Otis Family in America,” by William Augustus Otis, bluntly states about George Otis. It says, “Moved west; at one time was in Cleveland O.”
And Ohio is exactly where I found George Otis when he went missing from Middletown, CT.
For more information on this strange and tragic situation, that not only involved desertion, but most-likely a case of bigamy, as well, see the page: "George C. Otis: His Two Lives." On that page, the reader will find detailed timelines that are based on the information I already had about George Otis, plus other important information gleaned from the Middletown City Directories, Hartford City Directories, Ohio City Directories, Census Reports, marriage and death certificates, and guardianship information from the Estate of George Otis, along with my commentary and explanation on important points.
On Sunday, September 15, 1901, George Otis married his second wife, Lake Lulu Swingle (November 28, 1872 - February 11, 1935, age 62 yrs. 2 m. 13dys), the daughter of Dr. George R. Swingle and Sue Berry. Lake was almost 30 years-old, and George Otis was 45, but lied on the marriage application, saying he was 40. They lived in Akron, Ohio (Summit County) for many years and had four children together, with only one of them surviving to adulthood.
George C. Otis and Lake Lulu Swingle had four children together (niece/nephew of Daniel Otis):
>Maybelle Berry Otis (Born: January 25, 1903 / Died: August 25, 1903), ages 7-months. Maybelle died from "consumption."
>Baby No Name (April 22, 1904). The baby probably died the same day they were born.
>Eugenie Otis: (Born: abt. 1905 / Died: ?) Eugenie is not listed with the family in the 1920 Census. She would have been 15 years-old in 1920, and should be listed, so I assume she didn't survive. Either way, I cannot find any information on her.
>George Ronald Otis, Jr. (Born: Saturday, June 27, 1908 / Died: Sunday, May 24, 1981 in Waynesboro, Franklin, PA, age 73). The 1940 Census Report shows 32 year-old George working as a laborer. His marital status is "single." The highest school grade he completed was "8th grade." The 1940 WW II Draft Card says that George had brown eyes, black hair, was 5 feet / 9 inches tall, and weighed 185 pounds. He listed his next of kin as "Oliver M. McCleaf" (1881-1948). Oliver was a good 27 years older than George Jr, so I wonder if he was a father-figure to George? 1940 is the last year I was able to track George Jr., and as far as I can tell, he ever married nor had children. George died on May 24, 1981 at the age 72. He is buried at Harbaugh Church Cemetery in Rouzerville (Franklin County), PA.
Please see the page: "George C. Otis: His Two Lives," where I track his last year. Here is some info from that page:
The last two times I am able to track both George and his wife, Lake, are in the 1920 and 1930 Census Reports. Obviously, between 1920 and 1930, something went wrong within their marriage, as the 1930 report show that they are now living apart. Also, their marital status has changed, with George listed as "widowed," and Lake listed as "single."
But in an odd twist of fate, George, who probably felt very much alone and abandoned early in his life, ended up being buried at the New County Home Cemetery, a type of "potter's field" burying ground for those who died at the Summit County Home. The site was used from 1916 to 1948 to bury the indigent and elderly people who ended up at the home.
Son of George Calvin Otis and Susan Smart
Born: Friday, September 25, 1874 in Middletown, CT.
Died: Tuesday, February 27, 1948 (age 73), in East Hartford, CT. Frank was cremated in Springfield, Mass.
Frank Morgan Otis was the eldest child of George Calvin Otis and Susan Smart. No doubt, "Frank Morgan Otis" was named in honor of the Morgan family (Edmund and Dency Morgan of Westbrook, CT) that his father George stayed with when he was 15 years-old.
Frank lived with, and helped care for, his mother and younger brother and sister after their father (George) deserted the family sometime in 1890/1891. To read about the details of that tragic situation see the page: "George C. Otis: His Two Lives."
The highest grade that Frank completed was “elementary school, 4th grade” (source: 1940 Census Report).
In 1892, Frank (age 18), shows up in the Middletown City Directory for the first time, working as a clerk at H.H. Buell, and then in 1894, at a cigar store. In 1895, he began working at Wilcox-Crittenden Manufacturing Company, all the while continuing to live on Durham Ave (now South Main Street) with his mother and two siblings, Charles and Bessie.
Then in 1896, at age 22, Frank married Irish immigrant Margaret Marshall (Born: October, 1875 / Died: ?). Margaret was born in Ireland and immigrated to the U.S. in 1893 when about 18 years of age. Frank and his wife moved to a house on High Street in the Farm Hill District of Middletown. Also by 1896, Frank’s younger brother, Charles (age 20) is working at Wilcox-Crittenden Manufacturing Company as well. No doubt, Charles is helping support his mother and young sister, leaving Frank free to marry.
In 1899 Charles, and his mother and sister permanently move to Hartford, while Frank and his family remain behind in Middletown where he works as a machinist, living in a house on High Street and then 94 Loveland Street. In 1902, Frank also moved to Hartford with his own family, where he worked as a machinist until 1905. The years 1906 and 1907 find Frank back in Middletown, living at 41 Loveland (house still stands), while working as a “foreman at E.H.V. Company,” which is the "Eisenhuth Horseless Vehicle Company." 41 Loveland is the same address his cousin Ervin Otis lived at when he first moved to Middletown in 1901.
Anyway, the 1920 Census Report shows 46 year-old Frank now living in Bridgeport (Fairfield County), Connecticut and working as a toolmaker at a machine factory. Machinist was his original occupation. Interestingly, his marital status is now listed as “divorced,” and he is still a “boarder” living with 55 year-old widow, Genevieve (Jennie) Haggerty, who is “head of house.”
Back in 1910, when Frank and the two other men (Henry Gibb and Andrew Jayne) were boarding with Ms. Genevieve Haggerty, Frank and she must have become romantically involved. Was Frank the most attractive of the three? The most charming? The kindest? Were the other two men just not interested in Ms. Haggerty? Or was she the one who singled out Frank and pursued him? Maybe it was Frank that wooed her and won her heart? Unfortunately, the Census Reports don’t give away those insightful and thoroughly human details of a person's life.
By 1930, 56 year-old Frank M. Otis is back in Darien (Fairfield County), Connecticut and now working as a carpenter. According to that year’s Census report, he is listed as a “lodger” who lives with 65 year-old “homemaker” and “head of house,” Genevieve (Jennie) Haggerty.
Frank M. Otis, Sr. and Margaret Marshall had three children together (niece/nephew of Daniel Otis):
Charles Selden Otis was the second-oldest child of George Calvin Otis and Susan Smart. December 13th was the day that George Otis’ son, Charles, was born. It was also the anniversary date in which George's older brother, Daniel, was mortally wounded at the Battle of Fredericksburg. I bet that date wasn't lost on George.
Charles Selden Otis was certainly named after his grandfather, Erastus Selden Otis. It's quite sad that nobody named any of their male children after their dead sibling, Daniel. There was probably a lot of unresolved pain surrounding Daniel's death, and that his death inadvertently led to the death of their father. For that matter, none of Daniel’s relatives named any of their children after him—not even a middle name.
According to the Registration Card, Charles is of medium height and medium build. He has brown eyes and black hair--slightly bald.
All those years that he lived in Hartford, Charles rented the homes he lived in. In 1920, he was still renting the house at 16 Sisson Avenue with his wife, Florence (whose parents were both born in Connecticut). By 1930, 54 year-old Charles owns his own home at 173 Hawthorn Street in Hartford. The home is valued at $9,000. He still works as a foreman at the Underwood Typewriter Company. In 1940, his income is listed as $2,800 (yearly, I assume), as $2,800 in 1940 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $51,594.20 in 2020. Charles also has other income sources, but the Census doesn't list exactly what those sources are. He worked a 40 hour work week. Charles and Florence never had any children.
Steady, reliable, hard-working, ever-loyal, Charles. All wonderful qualities in a man!
Nineteen days after his 67th birthday, Charles Selden Otis dies on New Year's Day, Saturday, January 1, 1944 (almost 100 years after his uncle, Daniel Otis, was born in 1847), from a "cerebral hemorrhage and cardio vascular disease." The death certificate for Charles Otis says that he died at exactly "12:32 p.m." and that his length of stay in the hospital was "1 hr." The physician certified that he attended Charles Otis from January 1, 1944 to January 1, 1944. What this tells me, is that Charles suddenly collapsed at home, the ambulance was called, and he was rushed to the hospital where he survived one-hour before dying at 12:32 p.m.
>Lafayette Lodge, AF & AM (AF & AM stands for "Ancient Free and Accepted Masons." This was a Masonic Lodge).
>Midian Encampment, IOOF (which is the "Independent Order of Odd Fellows." They area a non-political and non-sectarian international fraternal order of Odd Fellowship).
>Miriam Rebekah Lodge, IOOF
Born: Sunday, October 30, 1853 in Tariffville, Simsbury, CT.
Died: Tuesday, February 25, 1919 (age 65) in Hartford, CT. Susan is buried in Spring Grove Cemetery, Hartford, CT
>Clarinda Anna Otis (Born: November 23, 1748 in Lyme, CT / Married: abt. 1770 to Samuel Joslin in Colchester, CT / Died: September 25, 1784 in Colchester, CT.)
My Note: The Reverend Erastus Otis (not to be confused with Daniel’s father, also named Erastus Otis) was the grandson of Robert Otis, Sr. (born in Ireland). Rev. Erastus Otis' father was Richard Otis, who was the son of Robert Otis, Sr. This would make Reverend Erastus a first-cousin (twice-removed) to Daniel H. Otis. Also note, that Daniel’s father, Erastus Selden Otis was born in Wilbraham, Mass, where the Reverend Erastus ministered.
Stephen H. Otis, Sr. (grandfather of Erastus S. Otis, great-grandfather of Daniel H. Otis)
Son of Robert Otis and Margaret Sabin
Born: May 14, 1738 in Barrington, Rhode Island
Died: December 29, 1776 (age 38) in Lyme, Connecticut. I'd love to know what the "H" in Stephen's middle name stood for! Maybe Daniel's middle name is the same.
Children of Stephen H. Otis, Sr. and Sarah Lunt (great-aunts and grandfather of Daniel H. Otis):
>Elizabeth Otis (Born: after 1768)
>Sarah Otis (Born: after 1768)
>Louise Otis (Born: after 1768)
>Stephen Otis, Jr.(Born: July 29, 1774 / Died: November, 28, 1826). Stephen Otis, Jr, was the father of Erastus S. Otis and the grandfather of Daniel H. Otis. See below for his genealogy.
Daniel’s great-grandfather, Stephen H. Otis, Sr., assisted in the establishment of American Independence during the Revolutionary War.
Son of Stephen H. Otis, Sr. and Sarah Lunt
Born: I cannot find an official record listing Stephen’s date of birth. However, I have seen his birth repeated on genealogical sites as December 20, 1773 and July 29, 1774, both in Lyme (New London County), Connecticut.
Died: November 28, 1826 (about age 52) in Wilbraham, Mass (per the Wilbraham Town and Vital Records for Massachusetts).
The "Otis Family" book also says about Stephen Jr. that: “for several years he was a professor at Wilbraham Academy,” and that he “was also a Methodist Minister at Stockbridge, Mass.” This goes along nicely with what I sensed about his son Erastus when going through his will—that he was a lover of knowledge and books. That was a trait Stephen probably instilled in his children. Also, Stephen's first-cousin, Reverend Erastus Otis, was a Methodist minister too. In fact, Rev. Erastus Otis was one of the pioneers of Methodism in New England!
I find it highly interesting that Betsey's maiden name was “Weidger." Isn't that name uncannily similar to the first wife of Stephen Otis, Jr: “Lucy Wedger, Widger, or Wedge.” I'm wondering if “Weidger” is a misspelling, and there was some sort of family relation between Betsey and Lucy, and that is why Stephen married her? Perhaps Betsey was a younger cousin to Lucy?
Betsey Otis died on May 5, 1860 (age 69), and is buried at River Bend Cemetery in Westerly, Rhode Island near her son Calvin Otis. I've tried, but I still have yet to locate a final resting place for her husband, Stephen Otis, Jr. According to the records, he died in Wilbraham, Mass.
My family and I left a fresh evergreen wreath for Betsey, for the holidays. Riverbend is a beautiful cemetery that overlooks a fabulous view of the water.
See top of page for the information on Erastus Otis
The 1850 Census Report shows now motherless, 7 year-old Abner Day Otis living with his uncle Alfred Hayden Otis, along with Alfred's wife and children in Colchester (New London County), CT. Alfred was the brother of Abner Lord Otis. At some point, Abner Day moved to Massachusetts and was living in Holyoke (Hampden County) where, at age 18, he enlisted with Company I of the 10th Massachusetts Infantry.
On September 17, 1863, when 20 years-old, Abner Day Otis succumbed to typhoid fever and died at Armory Square Hospital in Washington, D.C. He is buried in Washington, D.C. at the "Soldier's Home National Cemetery."
It's extremely sad that both cousins, Daniel Otis and Abner Otis, each lost their mother at such a young and vulnerable age, and that each cousin enlists in the war, only to die serving while equally still young.
John Lord Otis was the son of Hayden Otis and Mary Lord. He was also the uncle of Abner Day Otis (mentioned above), and the half-nephew of Erastus S. Otis. John Otis was born July 15, 1827 in Lyme, CT and died March 14, 1894. He is buried at Spring Grove Cemetery in Florence, Mass.
>Alfred Hayden Otis (son of Hayden Otis / Daniel's half, first-cousin)
>Charles Hayden Otis (son of Alfred / Daniel's half, first cousin, once-removed)
>Uriah Hayden Otis (son of Hayden Otis / Daniel's half, first cousin). Uriah and Alfred's brother was Abner Lord Otis who was father to Abner Day Otis.
>Ebenezer Weidger Hayden Otis (Erastus Otis' full-brother / Daniel's uncle)
However, I highly doubt Daniel's middle name is another "H" name like Harrison, Hewitt, or Horatio. The truth is, there is no record of exactly what Daniel's middle name was. I'm just taking a stab at it here, kind of thinking out loud in writing form. The reader can draw their own conclusion if they care to do so.
*************
> Taylor (William Y. Otis' wife’s family)—The Taylor family were very successful farmers, ministers, and barristers.
> Young (Daniel Otis' mother’s family + Erastus Otis' first wife. Young was one of the surnames most frequently associated with the early history of Maromas, Middletown, CT).
> I also need to mention several other old settling families. There is the Carrier family of Colchester. Daniel Otis was the 4x great-grandson of accused Salem Witch Martha Carrier. They are related via the Young side of the family (see the genealogy, here).
Were all these arranged marriages? If not arranged, then strongly encouraged? Perhaps that’s why Robert Otis, at the already established age of 26, seemingly waited around to marry an 18 year-old, because she was from a certain family? Despite what us more “modern” folks like to believe, it wasn’t the norm to marry at 18 years-old back then. By 1860, most Americans were in their early to mid-20’s when they married, with the average age slightly lower in the South.
The pattern seems to end with whom George Otis married. He married a first-generation American woman (Susan Smart) who was a few years older than he was and whose parents were born in England—not very distinguished. Perhaps George was the only one who actually got to freely choose his marriage partner? After all, he did marry after both his parents (Elizabeth and Erastus) died. Very telling, no?
I wonder who Daniel Otis would have been married off to had he lived? Interestingly, Charlotte E. Burdick (Robert Otis' young wife), had a sister named Amanda Otis Burdick who was two-years younger than Daniel. Could this be the individual that both families wanted Daniel to eventually pair-up with? The girl's family gave her the middle name of "Otis," for heaven's sake! Maybe there was some type of expectation there? If so, Daniel obviously had other plans for himself because he "ran away to war." Amanda Otis Burdick eventually ended up marrying young, at age 18, just like her sister Charlotte did. For the curious, Amanda Otis Burdick married Henry E. Stevens of Westbrook. Regardless, I have no doubt that Erastus Otis wanted nothing but the very best for all of his sons.
The deeper I research both the Otis and Young families, the more I see that endogamy was heavily practiced (as opposed to exogamy). Endogamy is when one marries within one’s own group. Exogamy is when one marries someone outside one’s own group, as George Otis did with first-generation American, Susan Smart. Some will argue that the advantage of endogamy is that few outsiders are brought into the group, so inheritance and property stay “within the family.” Well, I argue that the practice narrows the gene pool and may lead to genetic disease and deformities, something that folks back then had no idea about.
Amanda Malvina Chapman-Otis-Hayden (second wife of Erastus S. Otis, step-mother of Daniel H. Otis)
Daughter of Samuel Chapman and Keturah Jones.
Born: Thursday, September 27, 1827 in Westbrook, CT.
Died: Thursday, January 4, 1912; age 85. Amanda is buried at Cypress Cemetery in Westbrook, CT.
Cause of Death: "congestion of the lungs."
 |
| Amanda Malvina Chapman |
Sadly, the next year on August 10, 1849, Calvin Otis died of dysentery at age 25, leaving Amanda a widow. Seven years later, on December 15, 1856, Erastus S. Otis married 29 year old Amanda M. Chapman Otis, his dead brother’s widow, after losing his own wife, Elizabeth, 6-months previously. Erastus was 43 years-old when he married 29 year-old Amanda—making him 14 years older.
Erastus was Amanda’s second husband, but personally, I’d like to know what Amanda was doing for seven years—which is the time between losing Calvin and then marrying Erastus. According to the dictates of the time, one would think that Amanda would have already re-married at some point and had children of her own. Instead, she was widowed and childless, marrying her dead husband’s brother seven years later.
The 1850 Census Report shows 23 year-old widow, Amanda M. Otis (née Chapman), living in Westbrook with her parents: Samuel Chapman (age 72) and Keturah Jones Chapman (age 67). Perhaps Amanda was content living at home, taking care of her aging parents all of that time, until she married her brother-in-law, Erastus Otis.
The 1850 Census Report shows 23 year-old widow, Amanda M. Otis (née Chapman), living in Westbrook with her parents: Samuel Chapman (age 72) and Keturah Jones Chapman (age 67). Perhaps Amanda was content living at home, taking care of her aging parents all of that time, until she married her brother-in-law, Erastus Otis.
Amanda and Erastus Otis were married almost 8-years, when he died on August 4, 1864 (age 50). Two years later, Amanda (age 39) marries her third husband, James Post Redfield Hayden, on December 19, 1866. James Hayden was the son of Calvin Hayden (1800 - 1866) and Mary Emaline Redfield (1810 - 1893), and the grandson of Calvin Selden Hayden (1775 - 1840) and Betsey Griffing (1778 - 1835). James P.R. Hayden was a prominent and substantial farmer of Westbrook, CT. According to the 1903 book “Commemorative Biographical Record of Middlesex County, Connecticut,” James Hayden was previously married to Ann Marie Daniels of Lyme, CT, and the following children were born from that union: Charles E. W. Hayden (born abt. 1860), James P.R. Hayden, Jr. (born abt. 1862), Francis A. Hayden (born abt. 1864), and John G. Hayden (born abt. 1865). Ann Marie died November 21, 1865 at age 22, probably from complications following the birth of her youngest son, John G. Hayden.
I find it very interesting that Amanda M. Chapman outlived three husbands and yet never had children with any of them. She was married to Calvin Otis for a little over a year, yet never had a child. Then she was married to Erastus Otis for nearly 8-years, yet remained childless. Lastly, she was married to James Hayden for 36 years, yet again, remained childless.
Could it be that she was not able to have children, or was it that her husbands, specifically Erastus Otis and James Hayden, already had all the children they wanted and didn't desire any more? If that was the case, how did one prevent pregnancies back then? With herbs, such as wild carrot seed? Or, abstinence? Good luck with those options. Perhaps her last two marriages were ones of convenience, born more from the needs of both parties, rather than of love and attraction? In a time period when women had few options, and marriage was equated with security for the female counterpart, perhaps these marriages allowed Amanda to have some type of security, and in exchange, she took care of the man, his home, and his children. After all, it was a time when women needed men for the security they could provide--both financially and physically, and men needed women to run a home, and bear their children, and if they already had children, then to take care of them.
I think that for Erastus Otis, his marriage to Amanda was born out of need and necessity. After Elizabeth Otis died, Erastus re-married six-months later, seemingly making haste to find himself a new wife to take care of the home and his young children. I firmly believe that Elizabeth Mary Otis was Erastus' "true love," and would always be. After all, a "flowered handkerchief" was listed among the itemized goods of his will and personal estate after he died. This handkerchief was not listed among his personal clothing items, the way his “pocket handkerchief” was. I assume that Erastus, as a man, was not personally using a flowered handkerchief. Other pages of Erastus' will show that the flowered handkerchief was passed along to his oldest son, Robert Otis. What would these men want with a flowered handkerchief—unless there was some sentimental value to it? Like it being the flowered handkerchief of Elizabeth Otis.
I think Erastus Otis continued to miss his Elizabeth very greatly, and that her absence left a hole in both his, and his son's lives. If the reader goes through this entire site, they will come across the reasons why I believe this to be the case.
But I do see a pattern emerge here, regarding the marital situations that Amanda Chapman found herself in—at least with her last two marriages. She seems to be the consummate caregiver, marrying older, well-established men who had just lost their beloved wives, leaving them in dire need of an experienced woman to take care of their home and motherless young children. In steps Amanda Chapman, who probably gained invaluable experience while living at home, caring for her elderly parents in Westbrook after her first husband, Calvin Otis, died.
The 1880 Census Report shows 42 year-old Amanda living in Westbrook with her husband James Hayden, age 35, and his four young sons—ages 10, 8, 6, and 5. The Census lists her occupation as “keeping house.” This is similar to what Amanda would have done for the Otis family—she being the wife of Erastus Otis, “keeping house” and caring for his two youngest children—Daniel Otis age 9, and George Otis, age 1 at the time of their marriage (Robert Otis was already a man, and William Otis, nearly).
I think Amanda took great pride in taking care of her husband and home, and raising her step-children to be decent, god-fearing humans, teaching manners and demanding good behavior.
She did her duty.
I can't imagine Amanda Chapman kissing boo-boos, wiping tear-stained cheeks, or soothing child-like fears with a comforting hug. I think that is what the children’s biological mother would have done—what Elizabeth Otis would have done for Daniel and George. But Amanda did right by her families. The home was kept clean and so were the children. They were all well-fed and well-clothed. They were respectable and raised right. That's no easy task!
Just look at how well-taken care of Daniel looks in his photo. He looks physically healthy, vibrant, and well-fed. That type of care would have fallen to the woman—to Amanda.
When looking Amanda's photograph, there is something so poignant in her countenance—something that evokes a keen sense of sadness or regret. Was Calvin Otis her first and only love? Did losing him, leave an empty space in her heart? Whatever it may have been, it was contained to her own private thoughts.
But I do see a pattern emerge here, regarding the marital situations that Amanda Chapman found herself in—at least with her last two marriages. She seems to be the consummate caregiver, marrying older, well-established men who had just lost their beloved wives, leaving them in dire need of an experienced woman to take care of their home and motherless young children. In steps Amanda Chapman, who probably gained invaluable experience while living at home, caring for her elderly parents in Westbrook after her first husband, Calvin Otis, died.
The 1880 Census Report shows 42 year-old Amanda living in Westbrook with her husband James Hayden, age 35, and his four young sons—ages 10, 8, 6, and 5. The Census lists her occupation as “keeping house.” This is similar to what Amanda would have done for the Otis family—she being the wife of Erastus Otis, “keeping house” and caring for his two youngest children—Daniel Otis age 9, and George Otis, age 1 at the time of their marriage (Robert Otis was already a man, and William Otis, nearly).
I think Amanda took great pride in taking care of her husband and home, and raising her step-children to be decent, god-fearing humans, teaching manners and demanding good behavior.
She did her duty.
I can't imagine Amanda Chapman kissing boo-boos, wiping tear-stained cheeks, or soothing child-like fears with a comforting hug. I think that is what the children’s biological mother would have done—what Elizabeth Otis would have done for Daniel and George. But Amanda did right by her families. The home was kept clean and so were the children. They were all well-fed and well-clothed. They were respectable and raised right. That's no easy task!
Just look at how well-taken care of Daniel looks in his photo. He looks physically healthy, vibrant, and well-fed. That type of care would have fallen to the woman—to Amanda.
When looking Amanda's photograph, there is something so poignant in her countenance—something that evokes a keen sense of sadness or regret. Was Calvin Otis her first and only love? Did losing him, leave an empty space in her heart? Whatever it may have been, it was contained to her own private thoughts.
Amanda Chapman outlived all three of her husbands, and all of the Otis siblings (Robert, William, and Daniel), except for the youngest, George Otis, who she would have raised from infancy. Strange how that all works out....
Two Different Obituaries for Amanda M. Hayden:
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| #1 Obituary for Amanda Hayden |
Transcription of Obituary #1: Amanda M. Chapman Hayden, widow of James P.R. Hayden, passed away Thursday evening, Jan. 4, at the home of her son, John G. Hayden, in Westbrook, Conn. Mrs. Hayden had been ill less than a week, her death being due to congestion of the lungs. She was a daughter of Samuel and Katura (Jones) Chapman of Westbrook, where she was born on Sept. 27, 1827, she being the last member of a family of twelve children. She had resided in Kirkland district in the section of the town in which she died for forty-five years and had been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church there for over sixty years. For the past eight years she had resided during the winter with her sons in Brooklyn at 233A Wyckoff Street, and made many warm friends. She was a woman of loving character, which endeared her to a large circle of friends by whom she is sincerely mourned. She is survived by four sons, Charles E.W. Hayden of Brooklyn, and John G. Hayden, and Francis Hayden of Westbrook. The funeral services were conducted by the Rev. W.N. Philips, pastor of the church of which she was a member, yesterday at 2 o’clock.
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| #2 Obituary for Amanda M. Hayden The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, January 16, 1912 |
Transcription of Obituary #2: Amanda Chapman, widow of James P.R. Hayden, and mother of Charles E. W., James P.R., Francis A. and John G. Hayden, was buried Sunday afternoon in the New Cemetery on Essex road, Westbrook, Conn., the funeral services being held previously at the home of her son in Westbrook. The Rev. William N. Phillips officiated, and a quartet, consisting of Mr. and Mrs. Crofut, Mrs. Jane F. Bushnell, and F.W. Washburne, sang “Rock of Ages” and “Leaning on the Everlasting Arm,” a favorite hymn of the deceased. The pallbearers were Albert B. Dibble, Everett F. Platt, Leroy S. Burdick, and George V. Lyon. Mrs. Hayden who died at Westbrook, Thursday, January 4, of congestion of the lungs, was born in Westbrook, September 7, 1827 [sic], and was the last of twelve children of Samuel and Katura Jones Chapman. She had resided in the Kirkland district of that town for forty-five years, had been a member of the M.E. Church for sixty years, being at one time a member of the choir. For the past eight years Mrs. Westbrook [sic] had lived during the winter with her sons at 233A Wyckoff street, where she made many friends.
In regards to "#2 obituary," ignore the typo of Amanda being referred to as "Mrs. Westbrook." Westbrook was actually the town she lived in, and not her name. Also, her date of birth is inaccurate too. Both obituaries would make one believe that the adult children mentioned therein, were hers, when in fact they were not. The children’s biological mother was Ann Marie Daniels. However, Amanda did raise them all to adulthood and it seems as if they loved her very much. I wish I knew how Daniel Otis got along with Amanda—his step-mother. The story is that he ran away to war, and I tend to believe that if Daniel Otis' biological mother were alive, he never would have left for war.
Amanda M. Chapman Hayden was ill for about a week before dying from "congestion of the lungs." She is buried at Cypress Cemetery in Westbrook, CT with her third husband James P.R. Hayden and his first wife, Ann M. Daniels
*Note: Calvin S. Otis was born July 25, 1824 / James Hayden died January 14, 1902
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| Gravestone of Amanda M. Hayden, 1827 - 1912, along with her husband, James P. R. Hayden and his first wife Ann Marie Daniels. |
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| Grave-marker of Amanda M. Hayden A.M.H. |
Robert S. Otis (brother of Daniel H. Otis)
Son of Erastus S. Otis and Elizabeth M. Young
Born: Wednesday, January 20, 1836 in Maromas, Middletown, CT.
Died: Monday, May 21, 1894 (age 58 years, 5 months, 1 day), in Middletown, CT. Robert is buried at Old Farm Hill Cemetery in Middletown, CT
Cause of Death: "apoplexy & paralysis."
Robert S. Otis was born Wednesday, January 20, 1836 in the Maromas section of Middletown, CT to Erastus Selden Otis and Elizabeth Mary Young. Like his father, Robert was a stonecutter by trade, and at one time he also had his own home and farmlands south of his parent's land in Maromas. Later, Robert's occupation would be that of a mechanic.
The 1860 Census Report shows 24 year-old Robert listed with his Uncle William L. Young’s family, along with ten day-laborers, whose occupation (including Robert's) is “factory operative.” Of the ten laborers, eight of them are male, with four from Germany, two from Ireland, and two from Scotland. Two of the laborers are women from Connecticut, one is age 18, and one is age 61. Robert must have been helping out his Uncle William with some type of harvest or farm work, probably even overseeing the entire operation in behalf of his uncle. The Young’s owned quite a bit of land in Maromas and it needed working, therefore they hired-out cheap labor each season. The Otis family owned close to 20-acres, and I am positive Erastus also hired out day laborers to help with seasonal harvesting or farm work too.
In 1862, Robert (age 26) married 18 year-old Charlotte Elizabeth Burdick of Westbrook, CT. (Charlotte, born: January 25, 1844 / died: February 20, 1937; age 93). Charlotte was the daughter of Sidney Stanton Burdick of Rhode Island and Elizabeth Jones Chapman of Westbrook, CT.
Charlotte's mother, Elizabeth Chapman, was the sister of Amanda M. Chapman Otis (Erastus' second wife, mentioned above). This relation would make Amanda an aunt, by blood, to Robert Otis' wife Charlotte. This means Erastus Otis was not only Charlotte's father-in-law, but also her uncle by marriage too!
Charlotte's mother, Elizabeth Chapman, was the sister of Amanda M. Chapman Otis (Erastus' second wife, mentioned above). This relation would make Amanda an aunt, by blood, to Robert Otis' wife Charlotte. This means Erastus Otis was not only Charlotte's father-in-law, but also her uncle by marriage too!
According to the Maromas School Registers, Robert was the school teacher in 1862 and 1863. He may have been teacher before 1862 as well, but I have no way of knowing, because the School Registers are missing for 1861 and most of 1862.
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| Personal signature of Robert S. Otis. Also showing him as teacher. Snip-view of the Maromas School Registers, November 1862 |
Beginning in 1875, Robert lived in a home on "Fowler Avenue" in the Farm Hill District of Middletown. Robert was listed in the Middletown City Directories as: "Otis, Robert S., house Fowler, Farm Hill." Robert's house still stands and is now 32 East Fowler Avenue.
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| The Robert S. Otis home at what is now "32 East Fowler Avenue." Image source: Google Street View |
Robert S. Otis died on Monday, May 21, 1894; age 58, from "apoplexy & paralysis," which is a stroke. Charlotte Burdick Otis died on Saturday, February 20, 1937; age 93! Her cause of death was "lobar pneumonia, chronic myocarditis, and general arteriosclerosis." (Middletown Vitals), and she died at her home at 5 Wall Street (pictured below). Robert and Charlotte Otis are buried at Old Farm Hill Cemetery in Middletown, CT with their two children Sidney and Charlotte Agnes, along with Sidney's wife, Mary.
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| Funeral announcement for Robert S. Otis, son of Erastus S. Otis and Elizabeth M. Young. May 22, 1894. The Penny Press |
As was the custom of the time, Robert's funeral was held at his home on Fowler Avenue. According to the funeral announcement, a number of members from the "Mattabessett Council, O.U.A.M" attended the services. O.U.A.M stands for the "Order of United American Mechanics," which no doubt, Robert Otis was a member of. According to the website Phoenix Masonry, "The OUAM was founded in Philadelphia amidst the anti-alien riots of 1844-45. It originally was called the Union of Workers. It created an agenda specifically aimed at subverting immigrant prosperity in America. Members were required to undertake efforts to publicize and campaign against the hiring of cheap foreign labor. They were also to patronize only American" businesses."
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| Emblem for: Order of United American Mechanics |
Robert Otis at:
Robert S. Otis and Charlotte E. Burdick had the following children together (niece/nephew of Daniel H. Otis):
>Mary Elizabeth (Otis) Risk (Born: Tuesday, August 12, 1862 in Maromas, Middletown, CT / Died: Saturday, March 26, 1949 in West Hartford, CT; age 86). See below for info on the family of Mary E. (Otis) Risk.
>Sidney Burdick Otis (Born: Wednesday, July 14, 1869 in Maromas, Middletown, CT / Died: Tuesday, February 23, 1943 in Middletown, CT; age 73). No doubt, Sidney Burdick Otis was named after his paternal grandfather, Sidney Stanton Burdick. 19 year-old Sidney Otis appears in the 1889 Middletown City Directory for the first time. He is employed as a machinist at the Russell Manufacturing Company, and boards at his parent's home on Fowler Avenue in the Farm Hill District of Middletown.
In 1894, his father, Robert S. Otis, dies. Then, two years later in 1896 his 20 year-old sister, Charlotte Agnes, dies. Sidney continues to work and live at the same places just mentioned. In July 1903, Sidney shows up in the Hartford City Directory, working as toolmaker at 581 Capitol, which is the same company his cousin Charles S. Otis works for as a machinist. Sidney boards at 244 Asylum, Room 30, while his mother continues to live on Fowler Ave.
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| The personal signature of Sidney Burdick Otis |
In 1904, at age 34, Sidney marries 31 year-old Mary L. Boden (Born: 1873 / Died: April 17, 1910, age 37). The next year, in 1905, they are living in a house at 64 Russell in Hartford. His occupation is still that of toolmaker, which is a machinist. In 1909, Sidney and his wife move back with his mother, Charlotte, who now resides at 5 Wall Street in the South Farms District of Middletown (house still stands). Incidentally, Charlotte Otis, widow of Robert Otis, resided at their Fowler Avenue address for 12 years after the death of her husband, and moved to 5 Wall Street in 1906.
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| The Charlotte E. Otis home at 5 Wall Street. After the death of her husband, Charlotte moved here in 1906 |
The next year, on April 17, 1910, Mary L. Boden Otis, the wife of Sidney B. Otis, dies at the family home on Wall Street. She is only 37 years-old. I will search the Vital Records for her cause of death and update here.
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| Obituary for Mary L. (Boden) Otis, wife of Sidney B. Otis. April 18, 1910. The Penny Press. |
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| Funeral of Mary (Boden) Otis. April 20, 1910. The Penny Press |
The 1910 Census Report lists Sidney's marital status as "widowed," and newly widowed at that. How sad for Sidney! So much loss for him! The Census shows his occupation as that of "machinist" again. Though, I suspect he was always a machinist, just one who made tools. By 1918, Sidney is now "foreman at the Hubbard Motor Company."
Sidney continues to reside at 5 Wall Street with his mother, who lived to the ripe old age of 93, dying in 1937! After his mother's death (and for the next 6 years), Sidney lives at the same residence until his death on Tuesday, February 23, 1943 (age 73), from "carcinoma of sigmoid, intestinal obstruction, and post-operative shock." He died at Middlesex Hospital. (Source: Middletown Vitals). How awful for Sidney. He must have suffered. Sidney Otis never remarried and never fathered any children either.
Sidney Burdick Otis is buried at Old Farm Hill Cemetery with his wife Mary L. Otis, along with his father, mother, and sister, Charlotte Agnes.
>Charlotte Agnes Otis (Born: Friday, May 17, 1872 in Maromas, Middletown, CT / Died: Friday, June 5, 1896 in Middletown, CT; age 24) 20 year-old Charlotte Agnes Otis appears in the 1892 Middletown City for the first time. There she is listed as "Miss C.A. Otis," and works as a stenographer for C.E. Jackson. She boards on Fowler avenue with her family. She is employed as a stenographer for about 3 years. The last time she appears in the Directory is in 1895, with just her name listed, and no occupation. Sadly, the very next year, and two years after her father died, Charlotte Agnes Otis died at age 24 on Friday, June 5, 1896 from "tuberculosis." The secondary cause of death was "exhaustion." Poor dear! (source: Middletown Vital Statistics)
Charlotte Agnes Otis is buried at Old Farm Hill Cemetery with her father, mother, and brother, Sidney.
See the Robert S. Otis family plot.
Mary Elizabeth Otis-Risk (daughter of Robert S. Otis, niece of Daniel H. Otis)
Daughter of Robert S. Otis and Charlotte E. Burdick
Born: Tuesday, August 12, 1862 in Maromas, Middletown, CT
Died: Saturday, March 26, 1949 in West Hartford, CT; age 86. Mary is buried at Spring Grove Cemetery in Hartford, CT
Cause of Death: "Auricular Flutter" as primary cause, with the duration of "5 days." Auricle is another term for the atrium of the heart. So basically "auricular flutter," is an arrhythmia that occurs when a short circuit in the heart causes the upper chambers (atria) to pump very rapidly. The secondary cause of death was "Arteriosclerosis Heart Disease," with a duration of "10 years." (Source: death certificate for Mary Risk).
Note: most of the information I found, and that follows, has to do with Mary’s husband, Allen Risk. Because of the time period, I almost always find more information on the man, rather than the woman, when doing genealogy work. However, the information is interesting, and I also believe it will give us a peek into the life Mary lived.
Mary Elizabeth Otis was the first-born child of Robert S. Otis and Charlotte E. Burdick. She was born on Tuesday, August 12, 1862, which was only 8 days after Robert's younger brother, Daniel Otis, "ran away to war."
In 1880, Mary “May” Otis (age 18) married Allen Risk (age 20). Like her mother, Mary was very young when she married. Allen Risk (Feb. 1860 – 1910, age 50) was the son of Mary Foster of Peekskill, New York and Marcus Risk of Scotland.
The 1880 Census Report shows Mary Otis Risk living in Middletown with her new husband, her widowed mother-in-law, and her husband’s four young siblings (Lizzie Risk, age 18; Cornelia Risk, age 16; Fannie Risk, age 14; and Robert Risk, age 11). By this time, Allen’s father had been dead for seven-years, dying in 1873 at the age of 40/41. No doubt Allen is helping to support the family. He works at a “web mill,” while Mary works at a “silk mill.” Allen’s mother—who is listed as “head,” is “keeping house.” Note: Allen’s mother died on December 3, 1903.
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| Personal signature of Mary Risk, daughter of Robert S. Otis. |
Mary Otis and Allen Risk had two children together: Charles A. Risk (1882 – 1906) and Antoinette “Net” M. Risk (1885 – 1944).
The 1900 Census Report shows Mary and Allen living in Hartford, CT at 26 Central Row in a home they rent with their two children, and six boarders of theirs. Allen is the “hotel keeper” and owner of The Climax Hotel at 23 Central Row. What a name! Is that similar to the “No-Tell-Motel?” The Climax Hotel sounds very risqué! But it wasn’t, as I found the following newspaper clip in a quick internet search:
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| The Climax Hotel opens. Hartford Courant, April 9, 1900 |
Transcription:
THE CLIMAX HOTEL.
OPEN MONDAY.
Having thoroughly renovated the premises and rechristened the old Brower House as above, I shall be open to the public for business on and after Monday, April 9, and shall endeavor to merit a share of public patronage by running a first-class hotel in the best sense of that term. A fine piano has been placed in the parlor for the use and pleasure of guests. Especial attention given to the permanent guests, either singly or in families. Mrs. Graves, formerly of the City Hotel, will have charge of the kitchen and dining room service, which is sufficient guarantee that the cuisine will be up to date and the best to be had. ALLEN RISK, Prop.
According to the above, Mr. Risk meant for the establishment to be “a first-class hotel in the best sense of that term.” Special attention would be given to permanent guests, either singly or in families. A fine piano was placed in the parlor for use by the guests. There was dining room service with an up to date cuisine, which would be “the best to be had.” A Mrs. Graves would be in charge of the kitchen. It certainly seems like The Climax Hotel was meant to be a quality lodging experience.
Or then again, was it?
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| "Indecent Picture Raid." Hartford Courant, August 24, 1900 |
Transcription (bold is mine):
INDECENT PICTURE RAID
Ten Proprietors Plead Not Guilty—
Cases Continued to Tuesday.
Ten of the proprietors of the places from which the picture machines were taken by detectives of the Connecticut Law & Order League some days ago, answered the summons to appear before Judge Perkins in the police court yesterday morning, to answer to the charges against them. M.B. Smith and Harley H. Graves were out of the city and service to appear was not made upon them. Those who appeared pleaded not guilty to the charge of having indecent pictures in the possession for the purposes of exhibition. Allen Risk of the Climax Hotel was the first put to plea. When the charge was read he started in to make an explanation. “I was in Willimantic,” and he was about to continue when Judge Perkins told him that he did not want any speech but wanted to have him plead to the complaint. He then pleaded not guilty.
The others who entered the same pleas were George T. Arthur of No. 103 State street, W.W. O’Brien of No. 178 Asylum street, Frank P. Lynch of No. 365 Asylum street, John C. Long of No. 78 State street, Fred W. Gulwits of no. 583 Main Street, W.L. Crowley of No. 589 Main street, Jeremiah Conolly of No. 46 State street, William F. Cox of No. 258 Asylum street and James F. Killin of No. 116 State street. W.W. O’Brien of the Auditorium café was the only one who had a lawyer and Hugh O’ Flaherty appeared for him. Prosecuting Attorney Freeman asked that the cases by continued to Tuesday. Mr. O’ Flaherty said that the continuance would be agreeable to him. Judge Perkins fixed the bond in each case at $500. James E. Craig went bonds for George T. Arthur, Sigmund Bondy for John C. Long and W.F. Cox and P. Donoghue for the others. Walter F. Prince assistant secretary of the Connecticut Law & Order League, who conducted the raid, was in court. He wore black trousers, a black frock coat, and a white yachting cap.
My jaw hit the ground when I read this! Only four months after opening The Climax Hotel there was some debacle with an “INDECENT PICTURE RAID.” Apparently there were “picture machines”—which was some type of motion picture machine from what I can gather—that was taken by detectives of the Connecticut Law & Order League. Ten different proprietors, including Allen Risk, husband of Mary Otis Risk, “pleaded not guilty to the charge of having indecent pictures in their possession for the purpose of exhibition.”
Other words for indecent are ‘obscene, dirty, and filthy.’ So, I wonder if these “indecent pictures” were some type of pornography that these ten proprietors were showing to audiences at their establishments. Climax Hotel, indeed! Whatever they were doing with these indecent pictures, it was serious enough to have led to a raid!
“Allen Risk of the Climax Hotel was the first to put to plea.” He pleaded “not guilty.” The judge fixed the bond in each case at $500. In 1900, that sum of money is equivalent to about $15,000 in 2021!
I wonder if Mary Otis was extremely humiliated by her husband’s shenanigans? If it were my man, I know I'd be!
Let’s finish following this interesting family, shall we?
Their son, Charles A. Risk was listed in the 1901 and 1903 Hartford City Directories as a “musician,” while boarding at his parent’s home. Sadly, Charles died in 1906 at age 25. He is buried in Spring Grove Cemetery in Hartford, CT.
Their daughter, Antoinette M. Risk (age 24) married Frederick Agusta Seidler (age 33), son of George N. and Harriet M. Seidler, on December 1, 1909. Frederick was a Spanish-American War Veteran (Frederick: 1876 – 1964)
Then on February 5, 1910, Allen Risk (age 50), dies in Torrington, CT from “a short illness with pneumonia.” He is buried at Spring Grove Cemetery in Hartford, CT.
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| Obituary for Allen Risk, husband of Mary (Otis) Risk Hartford Courant, February 8, 1910 |
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| Allen Risk, husband of Mary (Otis) Risk, is dead. Hartford Courant, February 10, 1910 |
According to the obituary of Allen Risk, three weeks before he died, he leased the “Farnham House” in Torrington, which was another hotel. The obituary makes it clear that he was some kind of hotel mogul. He was also “well known as a horseman,” and was “a familiar figure about Connecticut half-mile tracks.” Plus, he had a “training stable at the fairgrounds” in Willimantic. If that weren’t enough, he was also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Crescent Lodge, No. 25.
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| The Farnham House Hotel on Main Street in Torrington, 1905 The hotel was destroyed in a 1955 flood. |
I wonder if Mary was a part of her husband's hotel, horse-racing world? Somehow, I doubt it. Allen Risk was certainly a popular guy, but was he a “stand-up guy?” He had dabbled in pornography, was a hotel mogul, and was a familiar figure at the “half-mile tracks,” racing at trotting centers in several states. Did Allen Risk take a lot of risks at the tracks and in his business life?
No doubt Allen Risk was a hard-worker and a great provider, but I wonder if Mary Otis had a lonely marriage? She certainly had all she could wish for in a material way, and perhaps that was a draw. The highest school-grade Mary completed was “8th grade,” so unfortunately, the only way for her to have financial security was through marriage.
Whatever financial security Mary had, when Allen Risk died, his estate was declared "insolvent."
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| Allen Risk, husband of Mary (Otis) Risk, insolvent estate. Hartford Courant, February 16, 1911 |
An estate is known as an "Insolvent Estate" when its liabilities exceed its assets. In 1911, the estate of Allen Risk was inventoried at $35,169. In 2021, that sum is the equivalent of nearly 1-million dollars! Even though Mr. Risk's inventory was big, the article says there was "not much to it," and that this was a disappointment to his creditors. Forget them! I bet it was a big disappointment to his widow, Mary (Otis) Risk! I notice that the Risk's had real estate in Westbrook, CT. This was the home-town of Mary's mother, Charlotte Burdick. No doubt, Mary enjoyed time in her Westbrook home near her maternal family.
The article also says that “Mr. Risk was well known here-abouts. He had been the owner of trotting horses and a few years ago he was a familiar figure on the half-mile tracks in Connecticut. After he quit the horse trotting business, he conducted the East Hartford Hotel. After he sold out there, he lived on Greenfield avenue in this city and more recently he had been at the New Hartford Hotel, where he died last summer.”
Anyway, the 1910 Census Report shows Mary (Otis) Risk living with her daughter Antoinette and new husband Frederick Agusta Seidler, at 39 Greenfield St. in Hartford. In the 1920 Census Report, Mary is still living with her daughter’s family. They are now living on Jessamine Street in West Hartford. There is a new addition to the family, Antoinette Seidler, Jr.—Mary’s 3-year old granddaughter. Frederick Seidler, Mary’s son-in-law, works as a “furniture salesman” for Flint Bruce Co. It’s amazing that in the past, a man could actually support a family working as a furniture salesman! Nowadays, they’d all starve!
Mary (Otis) Risk outlived her daughter by five years. Antoinette Risk Seidler died in 1944; age 48/49. For the remainder of her life, Mary Elizabeth (Otis) Risk lived at 19 Jessamine Street in West Hartford, dying on March 26, 1949; age 86 from "Auricular Flutter," which is a heart arrhythmia that occurs in the atrium. The secondary cause of death was "Arteriosclerosis Heart Disease."
Mary "May" Otis Risk is buried in Spring Grove Cemetery near her husband Allen, her son Charles, and her daughter Antoinette, and Antoinette's husband, Frederick.
Son of Erastus S. Otis and Elizabeth M. Young
Born: Sunday, July 14, 1839 in Maromas, Middletown, CT.
Died: Wednesday, April 21, 1886; age 47 in Plantsville, Southington, CT. William is buried at Quinnipiac Cemetery in Southington, CT.
Cause of Death: "sclerodermia following measles,” and "inflammation of the brain or membranes."
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| William Young Otis |
William Young Otis was born on Sunday, July 14, 1839 in the Maromas section of Middletown to Erastus Selden Otis and Elizabeth Mary Young. William attended the little red school house in Maromas with his younger brother Daniel H. Otis and a number of cousins. William went to school until 1856, when he was age 17.
On July 10, 1862, William married Elizabeth Vashti Taylor of Portland, CT. Both William and Elizabeth were 23 years-old when they were married. (Elizabeth Vashti Taylor was the daughter of Gurdon Taylor and Ruth Marie Buck. She was born on April 24 1839, and died on May 10, 1896; age 56).
William was a machinist by trade and also dabbled in the brick-making business (see article below). He was also a Master Mason, and "Selectmen" at one time. There is no record that William served in the war. (I find it interesting that neither of Daniel Otis' older brothers voluntarily enlisted or served in the military at any time during the course of the war).
William and his family lived at 98 Main Street in Plantsville, Connecticut for many years. Plantsville is actually a neighborhood in the town of Southington, (Hartford County), and is centered at the merger between South Main Street and West Main Street. William's home at 98 Main Street no longer stands. In its place are brick-front stores.
William Young Otis died on Wednesday, April 21, 1886; age 47 in Plantsville, Southington, CT from
“sclerodermia following measles,” as the primary cause, and the secondary cause is, "inflammation of the brain or membranes," (Source: Southington Vitals).
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| Elizabeth V. Taylor, wife of William Y. Otis |
“sclerodermia following measles,” as the primary cause, and the secondary cause is, "inflammation of the brain or membranes," (Source: Southington Vitals).
Both William and his wife Elizabeth are buried at Quinnipiac Cemetery in Southington, CT. Since William was a Master Mason, there is a Masonic “Square and Compasses” symbol on their shared gravestone, along with one of the most haunting epitaphs, which says: "Beyond the Shadows." Does this epitaph have some hidden Masonic meaning? I bet it does.
See a Memorial for William Otis as it appeared in the Penny Press, February 9, 1887 (below).
William Otis at:
>Daniel’s birth: age 8
>Daniel’s death: age 23
>Mother’s death: age 17
The article mentions that William Y. Otis (of Southington), assisted by Dewitt Upson, turned from the clock business to the establishment of a brickyard in Milldale! Really? Every city directory for Southington has always listed William's occupation as "machinist," but apparently, he was in the brick (and clock) business too! (note: Milldale is a neighborhood in the incorporated town of Southington, Hartford County, Connecticut).
In the section for the Southington news, the Hartford Courant (March 2, 1886) mentions that William is "dangerously ill." Poor William! It also touches on the fact that he was a "selectman" at one time. A "selectman" is a member of the local government board of a New England town.
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| Funeral announcement for William Y. Otis Hartford Courant, April 27, 1886 |
William was a member of the Methodist Church (his paternal grandfather, Stephen Otis Jr., was a Methodist minister, and his paternal 2x-great-uncle was one of the pioneers of Methodism in New England). William was also a Mason and belonged to Friendship Lodge, No. 33, F & A.M, which means "Free and Accepted Masons." William was once a Master Mason at the Friendship Lodge, and a large number of his Mason brothers showed up for his funeral—68 members to be exact. The bearers at his funeral were past members of the Lodge. William Y. Otis was buried with Masonic honors.
William Young Otis seems to have been a very prominent, and respected member of his community, so much so that his Masonic Brothers wrote a Memorial for him in the Penny Press newspaper. It's a powerful piece eulogy to read! There are definite Masonic undertones in this one. The transcription of it can be found after the news-clipping of the memorial.
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| Memorial for William Young Otis as written by his Masonic Brothers. February 9, 1887. The Penny Press. PART ONE & TWO. PART THREE, BELOW. |
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| Memorial for William Y. Otis, continued: PART THREE |
Memorial Transcription:
WILLIAM Y OTIS.
In Memoriam.
The following appeared in our paper April 22, 1886.
In Southington, this State, on Wednesday, Mr. William Y. Otis, ex-selectman, aged 46 years. He was brother of Robert S. Otis and George C. Otis, of this place, and deceased formerly resided in this town. A wife and one son are left to mourn his loss. Funeral takes place at the family residence in Southington, at 1:30 p.m., Fast Day.
Mr. Otis was a master mason and the following tribute was paid to his memory by R.W. Brother J.W. Mix of Yalesville, at the association of past masters.
“Upon this occasion we meet many whose faces are familiar and whose voices are annually heart upon this floor in wise council, and others who, for the first time, have been admitted to this association. We grasp the hand in warm greeting to renew our friendship. We miss others—one, whose voice is hushed in death, and all that was mortal of him has been laid away in the silent tomb among ‘our ancestral dead.’ There are times which to express our sorrow and convey our sympathy, the present is eminently so.
“The gavel was sounded, the craft have assembled, and lo! one is missing. Shall we ask who it is? The echo comes from the silent tomb—it is our beloved brother—William Y. Otis. The Masonic tools have dropped from his nerveless grasp, the Masonic paraphernalia have been silently laid away, sad memorials of all that remains to us of an upright man and honored Mason. His exemplarily life tells us he has not left his work unfinished. Under his hand the rough ashlar has been polished, the gauge has ruled the house, the plumb maintained its uprightness and the square its correctness.
“The records from creation’s dawn coming down through ages, tell us of the ravages of the fell destroyer. There is however, a beautiful lesson of deep philosophy, breathing a song of sweet consolation amid the desolation of the dark angel—it whispers of rest and refreshment in the celestial lodge above in the ear of the just and upright Mason whose trust rest in God. To him it whispers of a palm of victory and a crown of glory. In the dark and trying hour of departure from earth, we doubt not our beloved brother heard the summons from on high, borne on the breath of angels.
Come to the land of peace
Come where the tempest [?] no longer [?]
The shadow passeth from [?]
The sound of weeping cease.
“The character of Brother Otis combined many remarkable traits. As a private member of society, he was distinguished for the purity of his morals and his circumspect conduct, the cautious yet earnest simplicity of his manner, his amiable and social habits, his warm and disinterested friendship and his sincere devotion to principle. All of these virtues combined made him a man honoring the image in which he was created. In his intercourse with his fellow-men he was exemplary in his conduct, gentlemanly in his bearing, hospitable in his family, devoted to the cause of truth and justice. As a citizen he was true to his country and wedded to principle. As a father and husband we have the tears and mourning of a bereaved family who miss his guidance and feel their loss, to speak of his virtues.
“The will of God is accomplished. He has gone from the scene of his earthly labors, as we trust and believe, to a higher and nobler sphere, where the weary are at rest.”
WOW!!!
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| Obituary for Elizabeth Vashti Otis, wife of William Young Otis Hartford Courant, May 11, 1896 |
The newspaper spelled Elizabeth's middle name wrong. It's Vashti, with a "V." Not, with a "B." It mentions that William Otis, had contracts at Peck, Stow, & Wilcox Company. This company manufactured and sold bits, braces, chisels, dividers, draw knives, hammers, household tools, machinist tools, screwdrivers, tinsmith tools and wrenches. They were housed at a factory complex at 217 Center Street in Southington. The company began in 1870 and was home to the town's largest industrial employer of the late 19th century. Nothing in mentioned about William's brick-making ventures in either his or his wife's death information . Perhaps his contracts at P.S & W were after his brick-making attempts.
I also found this little snip in the April 25, 1896, Hartford Courant. I just want to share it because I think it's very sweet, plus I adore bits of personal info like this.
William Y. Otis and Elizabeth V. Taylor had the following children together (nephews of Daniel H. Otis):
>Lewis "Lewie" Taylor Otis (Born: June 30, 1864 / Died: January 17, 1866, age 1 years, 6 months, 17 days). The Vital Statistics Records (Middletown 1866), list Lewie's cause of death as “Epilepsy.”
Lewie is buried in Maromas Cemetery in Middletown. He is buried to the right of his Uncle Daniel, resting side-by-side. There is also a cenotaph for Lewie on the back of his parent's gravestone at Quinnipiac Cemetery in Southington, CT.
>Ervin Lewis Otis (Born: May 2, 1869 / Died: October 11, 1915 in Newark, NJ). See below for his genealogy.
Lewie is buried in Maromas Cemetery in Middletown. He is buried to the right of his Uncle Daniel, resting side-by-side. There is also a cenotaph for Lewie on the back of his parent's gravestone at Quinnipiac Cemetery in Southington, CT.
>Ervin Lewis Otis (Born: May 2, 1869 / Died: October 11, 1915 in Newark, NJ). See below for his genealogy.
Ervin Lewis Otis (son of William Y. Otis, nephew of Daniel H. Otis)
Son of William Young Otis and Elizabeth Vashti Taylor
Born: Sunday, May 2, 1869 in Plantsville, Southington, CT.
Died: Monday, October 11, 1915; age 46, in Newark, NJ. (Note: I still have yet to locate the final resting place of Ervin L. Otis. However, his funeral took place on Thursday, October 14, 1915 in Cornwall on Hudson, NY).
Cause of Death: hit by an automobile.
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| Ervin L. Otis |
Ervin worked at P. S. & W. Company, which was same company
his father, William, worked for. P. S. & W. Company was the “Peck, Stow
& Wilcox Company” at 217 Center Street in Southington, CT. The company
manufactured industrial tools, specializing in tin-processing equipment. P. S.
& W. Company also operated a factory in Cleveland, Ohio—the same city his uncle, George Otis, disappeared to. Could there be a connection, and a case of who-knows-who,
and who-helps-who?
For many years, Ervin lived at 98 Main Street in the Plantsville
section of Southington, with his father and mother. After the death of his
father in 1886, he and his mother moved to 7 South Main Street in the same
town. Ervin’s mother died in 1896 and he began boarding at a house on Buckland
Street in Plantsville.
On September 5, 1898, Ervin L. Otis (age 29), marries Harriet
Elizabeth Price (age 34), a schoolteacher from Cornwall, NY. (Harriet—Born: October 18, 1864 / Died: August 25, 1905).
For the next year two years, Ervin and his new wife continue to board at Buckland Street, while he works at C. Bros. & Co. Incidentally, C. Bros. & Co. was the “Clark Brothers Company.” They were located at 1331 South Main Street in the Milldale area of Southington, and were one of the nation's largest manufactures of carriage bolts.
For the next year two years, Ervin and his new wife continue to board at Buckland Street, while he works at C. Bros. & Co. Incidentally, C. Bros. & Co. was the “Clark Brothers Company.” They were located at 1331 South Main Street in the Milldale area of Southington, and were one of the nation's largest manufactures of carriage bolts.
In 1901, Ervin and his wife move to Middletown. This is the
same year that their daughter, Frances
Elizabeth Otis (1901-1980) is born. Francis was born on May 29, 1901. Perhaps, the birth prompted the move to Middletown, where Ervin could be closer to family. Living in Middletown finds Ervin working as a toolmaker (a machinist who makes tools, no doubt) at the Wilcox & Crittenden Manufacturing Company—the same company his cousins Frank M. Otis, and Elmer C. Young, work for, and the same company that Frank's brother, Charles S. Otis worked for too. A bunch of the Otis and Young cousins worked at Wilcox & Crittenden. No doubt, they were all introduced to the job by their eldest cousin (and Elmer’s father)—Robert C. Young, who began working there in the early 1860's, and eventually promoted to "foreman."
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| Harriet Elizabeth Price, wife of Ervin Otis. |
Elizabeth Otis (1901-1980) is born. Francis was born on May 29, 1901. Perhaps, the birth prompted the move to Middletown, where Ervin could be closer to family. Living in Middletown finds Ervin working as a toolmaker (a machinist who makes tools, no doubt) at the Wilcox & Crittenden Manufacturing Company—the same company his cousins Frank M. Otis, and Elmer C. Young, work for, and the same company that Frank's brother, Charles S. Otis worked for too. A bunch of the Otis and Young cousins worked at Wilcox & Crittenden. No doubt, they were all introduced to the job by their eldest cousin (and Elmer’s father)—Robert C. Young, who began working there in the early 1860's, and eventually promoted to "foreman."
Just a little side point about the "Crittenden" part of "Wilcox & Crittenden." Albert Crittenden was formerly "Corporal Albert Crittenden" of Co. B, 14th CT Infantry Regiment—the same regiment that Otis and Young familial relation, Daniel H. Otis, served in. Albert was also founder of the Middlesex County Historical Society.
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| The personal signature of Ervin Lewis Otis |
In Middletown, Ervin is living in a home on 41 Loveland Street, while his cousin Frank Otis lives at 94
Loveland. This little set-up for Ervin reveals a closeness between him and Frank. This familial closeness is something the one-dimensional information
of census reports and directories can never reveal.
Just a little side point: Ervin and Frank's cousin, Elmer Young, also lived on Loveland
(no. 34 and 88) for about four-years. Frank Otis, at one time, also lived at 41
Loveland, right before he moved to Darien, CT (see below for more on Frank).
From 1902 to 1903, Ervin and his wife, Harriet, lived in a home on
Trench Hill. Cousin Elmer Young and his wife, Grace, also live on Trench Hill during this time. Then, in 1904, the Middletown City Directory lists Ervin as "removed to Rock Island, Illinois." Interestingly enough, in the same directory, for the same year, Cousin Elmer Young is also listed as: “removed to Rock Island, Illinois.” Ervin and Elmer must've had a very close relationship to move together with their families out to Illinois.
The 1905 Iowa State Census Report (which was woefully inadequate), lists Ervin Otis, his wife Harriet, and daughter Francis, age 4 as living at a "post office address," of 1206 Perry Street in Davenport (Scott County), Iowa. That's all the information the Census listed—no ages, no occupation, no nothing. The Elmer Young family is also living in Davenport, at 1708 Iowa Street.
What happened to Rock Island, Illinois? Well, Davenport, Iowa is literally a half-mile from Rock Island, Illinois, via a bridge over the Mississippi River. So the Middletown City Directory listing of "removed to Rock Island, Illinois" is NOT incorrect.
That same year, in 1905, tragedy strikes both the Ervin Otis and Elmer Young families, while they are all living out in Davenport together!
First, on June 15, 1905, Robert C. Young, the father of Elmer Clifford Young, dies at age 69 back in Middletown, CT.
Then, on August 25, 1905, Harriet Elizabeth (Price) Otis, the wife of Ervin Lewis Otis, dies at age 40. Ervin is age 36, and their daughter, Francis, is age 4.
Seventeen days later, on September 11, 1905, Grace (Rockwell) Young, the wife of Elmer Clifford Young, dies at age 39. Elmer is age 44, and their children Robert and Florence are age 17 and 13.
Because Harriet's and Grace's dates of death were extremely close together, my first hunch was that Grace Young probably nursed a sick and ailing Harriet Otis, and succumbed to what ever illness she had, since it was Grace who died second. Then I was lucky enough to find the obituaries for these two women. It was actually Grace who was ill for three-months, and Harriet was probably the one to nurse her, leaving Harriet to succumb to whatever Grace had. Harriet's obituary mentions that she had a short-term illness.
In a time when women were the primary caregivers for the sick and ailing, Harriet Otis most-likely nursed a sick and ailing Grace Young, who was not only her friend, but her family relation by marriage. Because of this close contact, Harriet probably contracted whatever Grace succumbed to, resulting in her own demise.
It has just been loss upon loss for these dear families!
To read Grace Young's obituary, click HERE (scroll down to the section for "Elmer Clifford Young.") I will quickly mention that Grace’s obituary says that “she is the second of the Middletown party to die in the west in a few months [Harriet Otis was the first], and it is said that some of the others are discouraged and will return to Middletown.” You think? I bet both husbands, Ervin Otis and Elmer Young, cursed the day they ever decided to move out to Iowa!
The 1905 Iowa State Census Report (which was woefully inadequate), lists Ervin Otis, his wife Harriet, and daughter Francis, age 4 as living at a "post office address," of 1206 Perry Street in Davenport (Scott County), Iowa. That's all the information the Census listed—no ages, no occupation, no nothing. The Elmer Young family is also living in Davenport, at 1708 Iowa Street.
What happened to Rock Island, Illinois? Well, Davenport, Iowa is literally a half-mile from Rock Island, Illinois, via a bridge over the Mississippi River. So the Middletown City Directory listing of "removed to Rock Island, Illinois" is NOT incorrect.
That same year, in 1905, tragedy strikes both the Ervin Otis and Elmer Young families, while they are all living out in Davenport together!
First, on June 15, 1905, Robert C. Young, the father of Elmer Clifford Young, dies at age 69 back in Middletown, CT.
Then, on August 25, 1905, Harriet Elizabeth (Price) Otis, the wife of Ervin Lewis Otis, dies at age 40. Ervin is age 36, and their daughter, Francis, is age 4.
Seventeen days later, on September 11, 1905, Grace (Rockwell) Young, the wife of Elmer Clifford Young, dies at age 39. Elmer is age 44, and their children Robert and Florence are age 17 and 13.
Because Harriet's and Grace's dates of death were extremely close together, my first hunch was that Grace Young probably nursed a sick and ailing Harriet Otis, and succumbed to what ever illness she had, since it was Grace who died second. Then I was lucky enough to find the obituaries for these two women. It was actually Grace who was ill for three-months, and Harriet was probably the one to nurse her, leaving Harriet to succumb to whatever Grace had. Harriet's obituary mentions that she had a short-term illness.
In a time when women were the primary caregivers for the sick and ailing, Harriet Otis most-likely nursed a sick and ailing Grace Young, who was not only her friend, but her family relation by marriage. Because of this close contact, Harriet probably contracted whatever Grace succumbed to, resulting in her own demise.
It has just been loss upon loss for these dear families!
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| Obituary for Harriet Elizabeth Otis, wife of Ervin Lewis Otis The Daily Times, Davenport, IA, August 25, 1905 |
To read Grace Young's obituary, click HERE (scroll down to the section for "Elmer Clifford Young.") I will quickly mention that Grace’s obituary says that “she is the second of the Middletown party to die in the west in a few months [Harriet Otis was the first], and it is said that some of the others are discouraged and will return to Middletown.” You think? I bet both husbands, Ervin Otis and Elmer Young, cursed the day they ever decided to move out to Iowa!
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| Ervin Otis and his daughter, Frances, in a "horseless carriage." |
After Harriet’s death, Ervin continued to live in Davenport—at least up to 1906, where that year's directory lists him as "works at Arsenal; boards at 1206 Perry." Thereafter, Ervin worked in New York City, and
his daughter Francis went to live with maternal aunts in Cornwall (N.Y.). Ervin
visited his daughter on weekends.
Then another calamity strikes the Otis family! Ervin Lewis Otis was hit by an automobile and gravely injured. On Monday, October 11, 1915, he died at St. Barnabas hospital in Newark, NJ. His funeral was held on Thursday, October 14th in Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY. He was only 46 years-old. His daughter Frances was age 12. Incidentally, October 11th was the birth day of Ervin's uncle, George C. Otis—the youngest brother of his father, William Y. Otis.
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| Obituary for Ervin Lewis Otis October 13, 1915. The Penny Press |
Harriet Elizabeth Otis is buried at Oakdale Memorial Gardens in Davenport, Iowa. I still have not been able to locate the final resting place for Ervin Lewis Otis. But, when I do, I will update here.
>Francis Elizabeth (Otis) Carden (Born: May 29, 1901 / Died: July 25, 1980) was the daughter of Ervin Lewis Otis and Harriet Elizabeth Price. She married Roscoe Carden on November 26, 1958 in Richmond, Virginia. Francis's occupation was "social worker," and later "welfare director." Francis and Roscoe had one son together, Richard Otis Carden (Born: January 19, 1931). According to the "Abstract of Divorce Decree" of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Francis and Roscoe separated on June 30, 1954 and then divorced on August 1, 1955, after 28 years of marriage. The reason for divorce was "desertion." Francis died in Richmond, VA on July 25, 1980, age 79, from "carcinoma of the nose." Her son, Richard Otis Carden married Shirley Mae Porter on December 26, 1950 and then divorced on November 7, 1975.
Son of Erastus S. Otis and Elizabeth M. Young
Born: Thursday, April 15, 1847 in Maromas, Middletown, CT.
Died: Tuesday, December 16th (or Wednesday, the 17th), 1862; age 15 years in Falmouth, VA during the Battle of Fredericksburg.
Cause of Death: Leg "shot off" by Rebel artillery fire. The Registers of Deaths of Volunteers (1861-1865) lists his cause of death as "vulnus selopeticus," which is medical jargon for a "gunshot wound." Please see "Daniel H. Otis: His Story," (subheading, "One of the Best Members: Mustered-Out") as to why "gunshot wound" is a complete misnomer, when in fact Daniel was "terribly mangled" by artillery fire, having one leg blown off.
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| Private Daniel H. Otis |
Per his Military Service Records, Daniel was 5 feet, 5 ½ inches tall with brown eyes, light hair, and light complexion.
Daniel's occupation was listed in his service records as: "farmer," though in "Daniel H. Otis: His Story," I make a case for the fact that I believe he was still in school when he "ran away" and enlisted in the Army.
Daniel Otis at:
Daniel Otis at:
>George’s birth: age 8
>Mother’s death: age 9 (Daniel was twelve days away from turning 9 years-old when he lost his mother).
For more about Daniel, read: "Daniel H. Otis: His Story."
A restored and colorized photo of Daniel H. Otis can be seen HERE.
A restored and colorized photo of Daniel H. Otis can be seen HERE.
George Calvin Otis (brother of Daniel H. Otis)
Son of Erastus S. Otis and Elizabeth M. Young
Born: Thursday, October 11, 1855 in Maromas, Middletown, CT.
Died: Tuesday, March 21, 1933; age 77, in Tallmadge, OH at the Summit County Home. George is buried at the New County Home Cemetery in Tallmadge, OH. This cemetery is a potter's field burying ground for the indigent and elderly who ended up at the County Home.
Cause of Death: "carcinoma of the prostate and arteriosclerosis."
George Calvin Otis had a rough start in life, violently losing his older brother Daniel to war, and both of his parents at a young age, thus placing him under guardianship with those who were not his kin.
To see copies of original documents that pertain to this guardianship, see the page: "Estate of George C. Otis."
By the age of 15, the 1870 census shows that George was staying in Westbrook, CT (the home-town of his step-mother Amanda Chapman). The census shows that he was working as a "farm laborer" for Edmund Roswell Morgan (age 40) and his wife, Dency B. Jones Morgan (age 41). The "guardian account papers" for George Otis show that his guardian (Sylvester Dunham) gave him $1.00 cash for him to go to Westbrook again in January, 1871.
Obviously, Sylvester Dunham, who was a neighbor of the Otis family, still had legal guardianship over George, even though he was spending time in Westbrook. I wonder how often George went to the Morgan farm in Westbrook? Was it an escape for him? He must have enjoyed his stay and had a meaningful relationship with the Morgans, as George ended up naming his first-born son, "Frank Morgan Otis."
I also wonder if George's step-mother—who was the only mother he'd ever known—set up the Morgan situation for him? After all, Dency Morgan's maiden name was "Jones" and that was the maiden name of Amanda's mother (Keturah Jones), all of who were from Westbrook, CT.
George Otis at:
>Daniel’s death: age 7
>Daniel’s death: age 7
>Father’s death: age 8 (at his father's death, George was about 2-months away from turning age 9)
>Mother’s death: 6-months old
George Otis, Family #1:
On Tuesday, September 9, 1873, George married first-generation American, Susan Smart (October 30, 1853 - February 25, 1919), whose parents were born in England. George was almost 18 years-old, and Susan was about 20 years-old when they were married. For more on Susan Smart Otis, please see her subheading below.
George Otis lived in quite a number of different locations around Middletown, moving every year or so to different homes, and at one time, he lived in a room on Main Street, and as a boarder at another location, even though he was married at the time. The longest place of residence for George was five-years, in a home on the corner of Church and Hubbard Streets.
When George lived in Middletown, he was a packer and pump-maker by trade. He most-likely worked at the prodigious William & Benjamin Douglas Pump Works, which was not far from where he lived on Church Street. In fact, his second Guardian, who was chosen by George himself when he turned age 18, was John Mansfield Douglas, the president of William & Benjamin Douglas Pump Works, and the son of the owner, Benjamin Douglas.
When George lived in Middletown, he was a packer and pump-maker by trade. He most-likely worked at the prodigious William & Benjamin Douglas Pump Works, which was not far from where he lived on Church Street. In fact, his second Guardian, who was chosen by George himself when he turned age 18, was John Mansfield Douglas, the president of William & Benjamin Douglas Pump Works, and the son of the owner, Benjamin Douglas.
Benjamin Douglas just happened to be a fellow abolitionist, mentor, and close friend of Elijah W. Gibbons, who was Daniel Otis' Captain in Co. B. Incidentally, it was John M. Douglas who was sent to Fredericksburg, VA, to retrieve the body of Captain Gibbons who died on December 19, 1862 from a rebel ball shattering his femur.
I still can't place the connection between George Otis and John Mansfield Douglas. How would they have known each other? How would some orphaned farm-boy from the sparsely-settled district of Maromas know such a prominent and highly-respected individual—and know them intimately enough to personally choose them as their guardian? And then said guardian, happily agreeing to do it, by signing “guardianship bonds” via the court of law (see those documents in the previous link). This shows that there had to be a high-level of familiarity between George Otis and John Douglas for this guardianship arrangement to have taken place. An individual doesn’t choose a mere acquaintance to be his guardian, and a mere acquaintance doesn’t agree to be an individual’s guardian either!
As a side point, the beautiful home of John M. Douglas still stands at 258 Court Street, which is now owned by Wesleyan University.
But I digress!
In his spare time, George was a fifer in “The Douglas Drum Corps,” which was organized in Middletown on November 21, 1880. In my 1884 copy of the book "History of Middlesex County," on page 94, it mentions that George was an officer in the Corp with his position being “leader.” The book also says that, “The Corps is in a prosperous condition, and is said to rank among the first in the state.”
I imagine this Drum Corp was named after Benjamin Douglas, prominent Middletown citizen, one-time Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut, and as previously mentioned, owner of W. & B. Douglas Pump Works.
I wonder if the Drum Corps played music similar to Union Civil War song, "The Girl I Left Behind Me," which was played to fife and drum. Have a listen here or find the audio clip below. Also, "Connecticut's Fife & Drum Tradition," by James Clark is worth a read.
It was so nice to find something so personal about George, that he enjoyed playing the fife in a drum corp, and was probably darn good at it too! I wish there was something just as personal to be found about his brother, Daniel.
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| From page 94 of the 1884 book, "History of Middlesex County" |
"The Girl I left Behind Me," played to fife and drums
>Frank Morgan Otis, Sr. (Born: Friday, September 25, 1874 / Died: Tuesday, February 27, 1948; age 73). See below for his genealogy.
>Charles Selden Otis (Born: Wednesday, December 13, 1876 / Died: Saturday, January 1, 1944; age 67). See below for his genealogy.
>Elizabeth "Bessie" Smart Otis (Born: Thursday, August 26, 1886 / Died: Sunday, September 19, 1909, age 23). Elizabeth "Bessie" S. Otis could have been named after Elizabeth Mary Otis—the mother George Otis never knew, or she could have been named after Susan Smart's mother who was also named Elizabeth. My guess is that she was named after both of them! 18 year-old Bessie shows up in the 1904 Hartford City Directory for the first time as, "Elizabeth S. Otis." She lived with her mother and older brother, Charles. Her occupation was that of "telephone operator."
>Charles Selden Otis (Born: Wednesday, December 13, 1876 / Died: Saturday, January 1, 1944; age 67). See below for his genealogy.
>Elizabeth "Bessie" Smart Otis (Born: Thursday, August 26, 1886 / Died: Sunday, September 19, 1909, age 23). Elizabeth "Bessie" S. Otis could have been named after Elizabeth Mary Otis—the mother George Otis never knew, or she could have been named after Susan Smart's mother who was also named Elizabeth. My guess is that she was named after both of them! 18 year-old Bessie shows up in the 1904 Hartford City Directory for the first time as, "Elizabeth S. Otis." She lived with her mother and older brother, Charles. Her occupation was that of "telephone operator."
Yet another tragedy for the Otis family! On Sunday, September 19, 1909 (9/19/09), Elizabeth Smart Otis died at age 23 in Hartford, CT in her family's home at 229 Hamilton Street. According to her death certificate from the City of Hartford, the primary cause of death was "pulmonary tuberculosis." She was sick for 2-years with it. If that weren't awful enough, the secondary cause of death is listed as "intestinal tuberculosis," and she was sick with that for 120 days, which is almost 4-months. Poor dear, she must have suffered greatly with a double-whammy of tuberculosis, both pulmonary AND intestinal!
Apparently, tuberculosis can also affect organs of the body other than the lungs. So, "intestinal tuberculosis," would be "inflammation and ulceration of the intestines from tubercular disease." Also on the death certificate, "George C. Otis" is listed as the father, and that he was born in "Maromas."
Bessie is buried at Spring Grove Cemetery in Hartford near her mother, Susan in the "Charles S. Otis Family Plot."
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| Obituary for Elizabeth "Bessie" S. Otis, daughter of George C. Otis and Susan Smart Hartford Courant, September 20, 1909 |
Notice how there is nothing mentioned about her estranged father, George Otis, in the obituary. Based on my research, I don't believe Bessie ever saw her father again once he left Middletown in 1890/91. When Bessie died in 1909, George was working as an elevator operator and living at 752 Edgewood Avenue in Akron, Ohio with his second wife, and new-born son (1908), George, Jr.
See below (George Otis, Family #2) for more info, as well as "George C. Otis: His Two Lives."
George Otis, Family #2:
Sometime in 1890/91, George disappeared from Middletown, leaving his wife and three young children behind, and resurfacing in Ohio.
It's interesting what the book, “A Genealogical and Historical Memoir of the Otis Family in America,” by William Augustus Otis, bluntly states about George Otis. It says, “Moved west; at one time was in Cleveland O.”
And Ohio is exactly where I found George Otis when he went missing from Middletown, CT.
For more information on this strange and tragic situation, that not only involved desertion, but most-likely a case of bigamy, as well, see the page: "George C. Otis: His Two Lives." On that page, the reader will find detailed timelines that are based on the information I already had about George Otis, plus other important information gleaned from the Middletown City Directories, Hartford City Directories, Ohio City Directories, Census Reports, marriage and death certificates, and guardianship information from the Estate of George Otis, along with my commentary and explanation on important points.
On Sunday, September 15, 1901, George Otis married his second wife, Lake Lulu Swingle (November 28, 1872 - February 11, 1935, age 62 yrs. 2 m. 13dys), the daughter of Dr. George R. Swingle and Sue Berry. Lake was almost 30 years-old, and George Otis was 45, but lied on the marriage application, saying he was 40. They lived in Akron, Ohio (Summit County) for many years and had four children together, with only one of them surviving to adulthood.
George C. Otis and Lake Lulu Swingle had four children together (niece/nephew of Daniel Otis):
>Maybelle Berry Otis (Born: January 25, 1903 / Died: August 25, 1903), ages 7-months. Maybelle died from "consumption."
>Baby No Name (April 22, 1904). The baby probably died the same day they were born.
>Eugenie Otis: (Born: abt. 1905 / Died: ?) Eugenie is not listed with the family in the 1920 Census. She would have been 15 years-old in 1920, and should be listed, so I assume she didn't survive. Either way, I cannot find any information on her.
>George Ronald Otis, Jr. (Born: Saturday, June 27, 1908 / Died: Sunday, May 24, 1981 in Waynesboro, Franklin, PA, age 73). The 1940 Census Report shows 32 year-old George working as a laborer. His marital status is "single." The highest school grade he completed was "8th grade." The 1940 WW II Draft Card says that George had brown eyes, black hair, was 5 feet / 9 inches tall, and weighed 185 pounds. He listed his next of kin as "Oliver M. McCleaf" (1881-1948). Oliver was a good 27 years older than George Jr, so I wonder if he was a father-figure to George? 1940 is the last year I was able to track George Jr., and as far as I can tell, he ever married nor had children. George died on May 24, 1981 at the age 72. He is buried at Harbaugh Church Cemetery in Rouzerville (Franklin County), PA.
Please see the page: "George C. Otis: His Two Lives," where I track his last year. Here is some info from that page:
The last two times I am able to track both George and his wife, Lake, are in the 1920 and 1930 Census Reports. Obviously, between 1920 and 1930, something went wrong within their marriage, as the 1930 report show that they are now living apart. Also, their marital status has changed, with George listed as "widowed," and Lake listed as "single."
They each have separate 1930 Census Reports with Lake Lulu Otis living in Shalersville (OH) and working as a "housekeeper," while George Otis was living as an "inmate" at the Summit County Home in Tallmadge, Ohio (Summit County). According to my research, those who ended up at the Summit County Home were the indigent elderly and people who were the victims of unfortunate circumstances caused by the Depression and difficult times.
How on earth did George Otis end up living at the Summit County Home? During the course of George’s stay at the home, the Great Depression (August, 1929—March, 1933) was in full swing. Because of this, did George end up out of work and destitute? Did he desert his second family?
Not too many years after the 1930 Census Report is taken, George Otis dies in Ohio, with his estranged wife, Lake Lulu, following him to the grave two years later in Pennsylvania. George Calvin Otis was 77 years-old when he died from arteriosclerosis and prostate cancer at the Summit County Home on Tuesday, March 21, 1933.
But in an odd twist of fate, George, who probably felt very much alone and abandoned early in his life, ended up being buried at the New County Home Cemetery, a type of "potter's field" burying ground for those who died at the Summit County Home. The site was used from 1916 to 1948 to bury the indigent and elderly people who ended up at the home.
There are actually only two headstones in the New County Home Cemetery, the remainder of the dead have no marker. How sad that the youngest, and last-surviving son of Erastus and Elizabeth Otis is now buried in a mostly-forgotten potter's field with no grave marker! How sad that in death, George Otis ended up alone and abandoned, perhaps similar to how he felt in life!
This broke my heart when I found the above little snip from the Akron Beacon Journal. The police were asked to locate George's next of kin. That is probably how he ended up being buried in the New County Home Cemetery, because no one ever came for him!
This excellent article in "Belt Magazine" is on the Summit County Home.
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| From the Akron Beacon Journal, March 21, 1933 |
This broke my heart when I found the above little snip from the Akron Beacon Journal. The police were asked to locate George's next of kin. That is probably how he ended up being buried in the New County Home Cemetery, because no one ever came for him!
This excellent article in "Belt Magazine" is on the Summit County Home.
George Otis fathered seven children, through two different women, therefore one would think that he had many descendants to trace their line back to him. This didn't end up being the case. Of his seven children, only ONE, had children of their own, and that was Frank Morgan Otis, Sr.
Frank Sr. fathered three children, one boy and two girls, none of who had any children of their own. So, there ended the line of George Calvin Otis. How sad. Life did not seem to be too kind to George Otis. (see Frank's genealogy below for more details).
Frank Morgan Otis, Sr. (son of George Calvin Otis, nephew of Daniel H. Otis)
Son of George Calvin Otis and Susan Smart
Born: Friday, September 25, 1874 in Middletown, CT.
Died: Tuesday, February 27, 1948 (age 73), in East Hartford, CT. Frank was cremated in Springfield, Mass.
Cause of Death: "Carcinoma of cardia of stomach. Metastases to liver," and "rectal ischial abscess."
Frank Morgan Otis was the eldest child of George Calvin Otis and Susan Smart. No doubt, "Frank Morgan Otis" was named in honor of the Morgan family (Edmund and Dency Morgan of Westbrook, CT) that his father George stayed with when he was 15 years-old.
Frank lived with, and helped care for, his mother and younger brother and sister after their father (George) deserted the family sometime in 1890/1891. To read about the details of that tragic situation see the page: "George C. Otis: His Two Lives."
The highest grade that Frank completed was “elementary school, 4th grade” (source: 1940 Census Report).
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| Personal signature of Frank Morgan Otis, son of George Calvin Otis |
In 1892, Frank (age 18), shows up in the Middletown City Directory for the first time, working as a clerk at H.H. Buell, and then in 1894, at a cigar store. In 1895, he began working at Wilcox-Crittenden Manufacturing Company, all the while continuing to live on Durham Ave (now South Main Street) with his mother and two siblings, Charles and Bessie.
Then in 1896, at age 22, Frank married Irish immigrant Margaret Marshall (Born: October, 1875 / Died: ?). Margaret was born in Ireland and immigrated to the U.S. in 1893 when about 18 years of age. Frank and his wife moved to a house on High Street in the Farm Hill District of Middletown. Also by 1896, Frank’s younger brother, Charles (age 20) is working at Wilcox-Crittenden Manufacturing Company as well. No doubt, Charles is helping support his mother and young sister, leaving Frank free to marry.
In 1899 Charles, and his mother and sister permanently move to Hartford, while Frank and his family remain behind in Middletown where he works as a machinist, living in a house on High Street and then 94 Loveland Street. In 1902, Frank also moved to Hartford with his own family, where he worked as a machinist until 1905. The years 1906 and 1907 find Frank back in Middletown, living at 41 Loveland (house still stands), while working as a “foreman at E.H.V. Company,” which is the "Eisenhuth Horseless Vehicle Company." 41 Loveland is the same address his cousin Ervin Otis lived at when he first moved to Middletown in 1901.
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| 1905 Compound Model 4 Eisenhuth Horseless Vehicle Co. |
The 1908 Middletown City Directory lists Frank as “removed to Hartford.” Okay, he moved back to Hartford again.
Or did he?
There is no listing in either the 1908 or 1909 Hartford City Directory for a “Frank M. Otis.” In fact, Frank doesn’t show up in the Hartford City Directory again until the year 1938! And, he never shows up again in the Middletown City Directory—his son, Frank Jr. does, but he doesn’t.
So what happened to Frank Morgan Otis?
In the 1910 Census Report (which is two years after he was supposedly "removed to Hartford"), 36 year-old Frank Otis shows up in Darien (Fairfield County), Connecticut, working as a bartender in a saloon! His marital status is listed as “single,” and he is boarding with 45 year-old Genevieve (Jennie) Haggerty—a widow who is listed as “head of house,” in the Census Report. There are two other boarders listed in the Census: 30 year-old Henry Gibb, and 44 year-old Andrew Jayne (or Jane).
Between 1908 and 1910, it seems as if Frank Otis’ marriage deteriorated, because we find him neither in Hartford nor Middletown with his wife and three young children (ages 14, 12, and 8 by the year 1910), but instead, working as a bartender and living “single” out in Darien. Uncannily, Frank’s situation mirrors his own father’s rocky marital affairs.
I was not able to locate Frank's wife, Margaret, after their separation, therefore, I could not locate his minor children either. But the obituary for his elderly daughter, Agnes M. Otis, gave a clue (see below for her 1990 obituary). It says that “she had lived in Hartford all her life.” Agnes Otis was born in Hartford, and apparently that is where she continued to reside with her mother and siblings after her father (Frank Otis) moved to Darien, CT.
The "1917 Connecticut Military Census" shows that 42 year-old Frank Otis is still working as a bartender in Darien, CT. The Census also says that he is 5 feet / 9 1/2 inches tall, and weighs 173 pounds. The Census goes on to say that Frank can ride a horse and handle a team, but he can't drive an automobile or ride a motorcycle. But! He can handle a boat, power, or sail. And, he's a good swimmer!
By 1918, 43 year-old Frank Otis continues to work as a bartender while living in Darien, CT. Check out Frank Otis' “1918, WW I, Draft Registration Card.”
Notice Frank’s occupation and residence listed on the registration above: a bartender living in Darien, Connecticut. Also, I find it interesting that the nearest relative of Frank’s is listed simply as “mother,” who lives at “43A in Westbrook, CT.” No street address is listed for "mother," either. Frank's actual mother, Susan Otis, was living in Hartford at the time, so either Frank fibbed or there was someone who he was very close to in Westbrook that he considered akin to a “mother.” Remember, Frank’s father, George Otis, spent time in Westbrook with the Morgan family, and Amanda Chapman (his father’s step-mother) was a Westbrook native too. However, Amanda Chapman was dead by 1918, so “mother” could not have been her. It does prove though that Frank had ties to Westbrook, though. Frank signed the registration card too! I was happy to see a personal signature for Frank on the above card. I just enjoy seeing signatures. Frank is medium height and medium build. He has brown eyes and brown hair.
Anyway, the 1920 Census Report shows 46 year-old Frank now living in Bridgeport (Fairfield County), Connecticut and working as a toolmaker at a machine factory. Machinist was his original occupation. Interestingly, his marital status is now listed as “divorced,” and he is still a “boarder” living with 55 year-old widow, Genevieve (Jennie) Haggerty, who is “head of house.”
Back in 1910, when Frank and the two other men (Henry Gibb and Andrew Jayne) were boarding with Ms. Genevieve Haggerty, Frank and she must have become romantically involved. Was Frank the most attractive of the three? The most charming? The kindest? Were the other two men just not interested in Ms. Haggerty? Or was she the one who singled out Frank and pursued him? Maybe it was Frank that wooed her and won her heart? Unfortunately, the Census Reports don’t give away those insightful and thoroughly human details of a person's life.
By 1930, 56 year-old Frank M. Otis is back in Darien (Fairfield County), Connecticut and now working as a carpenter. According to that year’s Census report, he is listed as a “lodger” who lives with 65 year-old “homemaker” and “head of house,” Genevieve (Jennie) Haggerty.
By now, it’s obvious that Frank and Genevieve are a couple, having been together for nearly 20 years by 1930. Because of the time period they lived in, of course Frank had to refer to himself as a “boarder,” and she the “widow” who takes in boarders. He certainly could not have been listed in the Census Report as “boyfriend" or "live-in-love," and she as “girlfriend.” Not back then.
Since Frank is now listed as “widow,” his ex-wife, Margaret must have died sometime between 1920 and 1930. As to his children, his son Frank Jr., shows up in the 1914 Middletown City Directory at age 18, as a hospital employee, and then in 1917 as a laborer. Frank Jr. disappears for a few years from the Directories and then shows back up in the 1921 Hartford City Directory, and there he stays, and so do his sisters Agnes and Florence, all with steady employment.
In 1938, 64 year-old Frank Morgan Otis, re-appears in the Hartford City Directory for the first time in almost 30 years. Frank is now living with his son, Frank Jr., and daughter-in-law, Minnie, at 1130 Burnside Avenue in East Hartford. Something must have happened to Frank’s long-time love, Ms. Genevieve Haggerty. By 1938, she would have been close to 74 years old. I think she died. How sad for Frank, who no doubt loved her very much!
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| Clip from the 1938 Hartford City Directory. Listing under "Otis." |
Unlike his father George Otis, I believe that Frank Morgan Otis actually had a relationship with his children throughout their young lives and into adulthood. After all, not too many children would allow an estranged, elderly father to live with them after his long-time love dies.
Frank continued to live with his son and daughter-in-law in East Hartford until his death on Tuesday, February 27, 1948, at age 73 from "carcinoma of cardia of stomach, metastases to liver," and "rectal ischial abscess." (Source: raised-seal death certificate of Frank M. Otis).
The cardia section of the stomach is the point where the esophagus connects to the stomach, and through which food passes into the stomach. This was the area that was cancerous in Frank's body. The cancer then spread to his liver. A rectal ischial abscess is just what it sounds like, and occurs when a cavity in the anus becomes filled with pus. It causes extreme pain, fatigue, rectal discharge, and fever. The death certificate mentions that Frank was ill in St. Francis Hospital for "3 weeks" before he died, but the duration of his illness was a "year."
His time of death is listed as 8:35 a.m. on the 27th of February. The body of Frank Morgan Otis was taken to the Springfield Crematory in Springfield, Massachusetts for cremation.
Poor Frank! Much suffering was involved with this illness. I have a special place in my heart for the children of George Otis and Susan Smart.
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| Obituary of Frank Morgan Otis, Sr. Hartford Courant, February 28, 1948 |
Frank M. Otis, Sr. and Margaret Marshall had three children together (niece/nephew of Daniel Otis):
>Frank Morgan Otis Jr. (Born: October 3, 1896 / Died: May 15, 1969, age 73). Frank was born in Middletown, Connecticut, but spent most of his life in Hartford and East Hartford. In 1921, he lived in Hartford and worked at 581 Capitol, the same place his Uncle Charles Otis did. On November 25, 1926, at age 30, Frank Jr. married Minnie Lavey, age 33 (also spelled Levy). Minnie was a hairdresser by trade and both of her parents were born in Germany. Frank Jr. worked as a machinist at a typewriter plant. His Uncle Charles also worked at the typewriter plant. Underwood Typewriter, to be exact. Frank and Minnie never had any children. They are both buried at East Cemetery in Manchester, CT.
>Agnes M. Otis (Born: January 6, 1898 / Died: November 29, 1990, age 92!). For a number of years, Agnes worked as an operator at a typewriter factory and then as a clerk for Connecticut National Bank and Trust. Agnes M. Otis never married. She is buried at Palisado Cemetery in Windsor, CT.
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| Obituaries of Frank Morgan Otis, Jr. and his wife, Minnie Otis Hartford Courant, May 16, 1969 (Frank), and December 8, 1967 (Minnie) |
>Agnes M. Otis (Born: January 6, 1898 / Died: November 29, 1990, age 92!). For a number of years, Agnes worked as an operator at a typewriter factory and then as a clerk for Connecticut National Bank and Trust. Agnes M. Otis never married. She is buried at Palisado Cemetery in Windsor, CT.
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| Obituary for Agnes M. Otis Hartford Courant, December 3, 1990 |
>Florence (Otis) Geer (Born: December 22, 1902 / Died: February, 1, 1996, age 94!). Married Russell L. Geer on April 29, 1933. (Russell—Born: abt. 1901 / Died: November 23, 1986). Florence was a graduate of the Hartford Hospital School of Nursing (1927), and worked as an RN at Hartford Hospital. Russell was a Senior VP at Connecticut National Bank, the same place his sister-in-law Agnes worked. Russell belonged to several Masonic groups: Orient Lodge (no. 62), AF & AM, which stands for "Ancient Free and Accepted Masons," Scottish Rite Bodies Valley of Hartford, and The Sphinx Temple AAONMS, which is another Masonic organization. Russell was one busy guy! He also belonged to the Old Mill Fish Club, and was a former member of the Windsor Jesters, which is a local theater group. Florence and Russell never had any children together. They probably didn't have time! Both Florence and Russell are buried at Palisado Cemetery in Windsor, CT.
Notice how long the daughters of Frank Morgan Otis, Sr. lived! Agnes until age 92, and Florence until age 94! Wow!
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| Marriage Announcement of Florence Otis and Russell Geer Hartford Courant, May 1, 1933 |
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| Obituaries for Florence Otis Geer and her husband Russell Geer Hartford Courant, February 4, 1996 (Florence), and November 25, 1986 (Russell) |
Charles Selden Otis (son of George Calvin Otis, nephew of Daniel H. Otis)
Son of George Calvin Otis and Susan Smart
Born: Wednesday, December 13, 1876 in Middletown, CT.
Died: Saturday, January 1, 1944 (age 67) in Hartford, CT. Charles is buried at Spring Grove Cemetery in Hartford, CT
Son of George Calvin Otis and Susan Smart
Born: Wednesday, December 13, 1876 in Middletown, CT.
Died: Saturday, January 1, 1944 (age 67) in Hartford, CT. Charles is buried at Spring Grove Cemetery in Hartford, CT
Cause of Death: "Cerebral hemorrhage. Hyper?? cardio vascular disease."
Honestly, I can't decipher some of the "scribble script" on the death certificate for Charles Otis. The word is hyper-something or another. Above, is a clip-view of the cause of death from the certificate. I applaud anyone who can decipher the word.
Charles Selden Otis was the second-oldest child of George Calvin Otis and Susan Smart. December 13th was the day that George Otis’ son, Charles, was born. It was also the anniversary date in which George's older brother, Daniel, was mortally wounded at the Battle of Fredericksburg. I bet that date wasn't lost on George.
Charles Selden Otis was certainly named after his grandfather, Erastus Selden Otis. It's quite sad that nobody named any of their male children after their dead sibling, Daniel. There was probably a lot of unresolved pain surrounding Daniel's death, and that his death inadvertently led to the death of their father. For that matter, none of Daniel’s relatives named any of their children after him—not even a middle name.
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| Personal signature of Charles Selden Otis |
The highest grade that Charles completed was, “elementary school, 8th grade” (source: 1940 Census Report), which didn’t stop him (or any of the other Otis and Young-family men who didn’t go beyond 8th grade) from being highly intelligent and successful.
In 1895, Charles, age 18/19 (his birth day was at the end of each year in December), also began pitching in to help the family survive after being deserted by their father, George Otis. This same year, Charles shows up in the Middletown City Directory for the first time, where it simply lists him as “employed, W.C. & Co,” which is the same company his older brother Frank works for. Charles lives with his mother, his brother Frank, and younger sister Bessie on Durham Avenue (now South Main Street).
Note: W.C. & Co is “Wilcox-Crittenden Manufacturing Company.”
1896 finds his older brother Frank married, which leaves 20 year-old Charles as “head of house.” He continues to work at W.C. & Co., while boarding on Durham Avenue with his mother and sister. It’s the same for the next few years, until 1899 when Charles, his mom, and sister move to Hartford. It is in Hartford that he and his family will live out the rest of their lives.
The 1900 Hartford City Directory lists 24 year-old Charles’ actual occupation for the first time, which is that of “machinist.” He works at 1 Flower, and ever-loyal, still boards with his mother and 14 year-old sister, Bessie at 201 Park. The 1900 Census Report lists him as “head of house.” His marital status is “single.”
The year 1902, now finds Charles working at 581 Capitol Avenue as a machinist. He will work at this location for many years while living at various addresses in Hartford. In 1906, his younger sister, Elizabeth “Bessie” S. Otis died at age 23. There is so much heartbreak for the Otis family!
In 1895, Charles, age 18/19 (his birth day was at the end of each year in December), also began pitching in to help the family survive after being deserted by their father, George Otis. This same year, Charles shows up in the Middletown City Directory for the first time, where it simply lists him as “employed, W.C. & Co,” which is the same company his older brother Frank works for. Charles lives with his mother, his brother Frank, and younger sister Bessie on Durham Avenue (now South Main Street).
Note: W.C. & Co is “Wilcox-Crittenden Manufacturing Company.”
1896 finds his older brother Frank married, which leaves 20 year-old Charles as “head of house.” He continues to work at W.C. & Co., while boarding on Durham Avenue with his mother and sister. It’s the same for the next few years, until 1899 when Charles, his mom, and sister move to Hartford. It is in Hartford that he and his family will live out the rest of their lives.
The 1900 Hartford City Directory lists 24 year-old Charles’ actual occupation for the first time, which is that of “machinist.” He works at 1 Flower, and ever-loyal, still boards with his mother and 14 year-old sister, Bessie at 201 Park. The 1900 Census Report lists him as “head of house.” His marital status is “single.”
The year 1902, now finds Charles working at 581 Capitol Avenue as a machinist. He will work at this location for many years while living at various addresses in Hartford. In 1906, his younger sister, Elizabeth “Bessie” S. Otis died at age 23. There is so much heartbreak for the Otis family!
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In 1908, Charles was promoted to “Assistant Foreman” at 581 Capitol, which was home to the Underwood Typewriter Company. The 1910 Census Report lists Charles’ occupation as “machinist at typewriter manufacturer.” The Census shows that he had “zero number of weeks out of work” in 1910. 34 year-old Charles was a hard and steady worker! His marital status is still “single.”
All those years, was there never an attractive young lady that caught the eye of Charles Otis? He certainly was of-age to marry and being the hard-working man he was, he could have easily supported a wife.
Perhaps, Charles had all the responsibility he wanted as primary wage-earner and “head of house,” supporting his mother and young sister (when she was alive). Were the responsibilities at home weighty enough? Or maybe he simply wasn’t interested, and no one caught his eye.
On the other hand, maybe he was seeing someone special, and it didn’t work out. Census Reports and City Directories are good for a number of mundane facts on an individual, but what they don’t tell us is the daily circumstances of a person’s life or what was in their heart or mind. I wish there was some type of “cosmic catalog” that I could access to find out information of that sort, because there are quite a number of folks I’d like to look up—starting with Daniel Otis!
Nonetheless, in 1915, 39 year-old Charles S. Otis, decides to take a wife for himself, and marries Florence Irene Miller, age 38 (1878-1957). Charles and his wife Florence lived with his mother at 16 Sissson Avenue until she died on February 25, 1919. No doubt, as a woman, Florence had a key role in the care of her elderly mother-in-law in the final years of her life. Perhaps Florence was a comfort to Susan Otis, since her own daughter was gone. See the subheading, "Susan Smart Otis," below for more information on Susan.
Not much changes over the years for the steady and reliable Charles Otis—at least not on paper. Therefore, I will combine the information from his 1918 WW I Draft Registration Card, and the 1920, 1930, and 1940 Census Reports.
All those years, was there never an attractive young lady that caught the eye of Charles Otis? He certainly was of-age to marry and being the hard-working man he was, he could have easily supported a wife.
Perhaps, Charles had all the responsibility he wanted as primary wage-earner and “head of house,” supporting his mother and young sister (when she was alive). Were the responsibilities at home weighty enough? Or maybe he simply wasn’t interested, and no one caught his eye.
On the other hand, maybe he was seeing someone special, and it didn’t work out. Census Reports and City Directories are good for a number of mundane facts on an individual, but what they don’t tell us is the daily circumstances of a person’s life or what was in their heart or mind. I wish there was some type of “cosmic catalog” that I could access to find out information of that sort, because there are quite a number of folks I’d like to look up—starting with Daniel Otis!
Nonetheless, in 1915, 39 year-old Charles S. Otis, decides to take a wife for himself, and marries Florence Irene Miller, age 38 (1878-1957). Charles and his wife Florence lived with his mother at 16 Sissson Avenue until she died on February 25, 1919. No doubt, as a woman, Florence had a key role in the care of her elderly mother-in-law in the final years of her life. Perhaps Florence was a comfort to Susan Otis, since her own daughter was gone. See the subheading, "Susan Smart Otis," below for more information on Susan.
Not much changes over the years for the steady and reliable Charles Otis—at least not on paper. Therefore, I will combine the information from his 1918 WW I Draft Registration Card, and the 1920, 1930, and 1940 Census Reports.
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| 1918 WW I Draft Registration Card for Charles Selden Otis Front |
According to the Registration Card, Charles is of medium height and medium build. He has brown eyes and black hair--slightly bald.
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| 1918 WW I Draft Registration Card for Charles Selden Otis Back |
All those years that he lived in Hartford, Charles rented the homes he lived in. In 1920, he was still renting the house at 16 Sisson Avenue with his wife, Florence (whose parents were both born in Connecticut). By 1930, 54 year-old Charles owns his own home at 173 Hawthorn Street in Hartford. The home is valued at $9,000. He still works as a foreman at the Underwood Typewriter Company. In 1940, his income is listed as $2,800 (yearly, I assume), as $2,800 in 1940 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $51,594.20 in 2020. Charles also has other income sources, but the Census doesn't list exactly what those sources are. He worked a 40 hour work week. Charles and Florence never had any children.
Steady, reliable, hard-working, ever-loyal, Charles. All wonderful qualities in a man!
Nineteen days after his 67th birthday, Charles Selden Otis dies on New Year's Day, Saturday, January 1, 1944 (almost 100 years after his uncle, Daniel Otis, was born in 1847), from a "cerebral hemorrhage and cardio vascular disease." The death certificate for Charles Otis says that he died at exactly "12:32 p.m." and that his length of stay in the hospital was "1 hr." The physician certified that he attended Charles Otis from January 1, 1944 to January 1, 1944. What this tells me, is that Charles suddenly collapsed at home, the ambulance was called, and he was rushed to the hospital where he survived one-hour before dying at 12:32 p.m.
How sad for his surviving wife! She and Charles were probably both at a New Year's party together only 12 hours previously, having fun, drinking and socializing with friends, and then suddenly Charles collapses and dies the next day.
It's kind of uncanny that I am writing about these details of Charles’ death on the 77th anniversary of his passing. I didn't plan it that way. It just worked out that way. On December 18, I requested a copy of his death certificate from the City of Hartford. They sent a copy on December 24 and it arrived in the mail on the evening of December 31. I only had the time to add the details of his death here on this page, on January 1—the day he died. I think serendipitous connections like this have meaning. What type of meaning? I'm not really sure, but meaning nonetheless.
Charles Selden Otis was buried on January 4, 1944 at Spring Grove Cemetery in Hartford, CT. He is buried near his wife Florence, his mother Susan, and his sister, Elizabeth.
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| Obituary of Charles Selden Otis Hartford Courant, January 2, 1944 |
Wow! Charles was a member of several different groups and lodges, even a Masonic one. His Uncle William Y. Otis was also a member of the Masons. Charles was a member of the:
>Lafayette Lodge, AF & AM (AF & AM stands for "Ancient Free and Accepted Masons." This was a Masonic Lodge).
>Midian Encampment, IOOF (which is the "Independent Order of Odd Fellows." They area a non-political and non-sectarian international fraternal order of Odd Fellowship).
>Miriam Rebekah Lodge, IOOF
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Charles was also a member of another Odd Fellows Lodge: The "Charter Oak Lodge, No. 2." I found a little newspaper clip, from the January 14, 1924 Hartford Courant that shows he was elected "treasurer" of this Lodge.
The Reverend who officiated at Charles funeral was Rockwell Harmon Potter, who was pastor at the First Church of Christ (Congregational).
The Reverend who officiated at Charles funeral was Rockwell Harmon Potter, who was pastor at the First Church of Christ (Congregational).
Susan (Smart) Otis (first wife of George Calvin Otis, mother of Frank, Charles, and Bessie Otis, sister-in-law of Daniel H. Otis)
Daughter of George Smart and Elizabeth Best
Daughter of George Smart and Elizabeth Best
Born: Sunday, October 30, 1853 in Tariffville, Simsbury, CT.
Died: Tuesday, February 25, 1919 (age 65) in Hartford, CT. Susan is buried in Spring Grove Cemetery, Hartford, CT
Cause of Death: "Cerebral hemorrhage," as the primary cause of death, and more indecipherable chicken-scratch writing as the secondary cause. The secondary cause of death looks as if it says "hyper" or "hypo" something or another...
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| Snip-view of death certificate of Susan Otis. If ya'll can decipher this gibberish for the secondary cause of death, than hats off to you, because I can't! |
Susan Smart was born in Tariffville, which is a neighborhood in Simsbury, CT. She was the daughter of George Smart, a carder at a fabric mill (1812 – Dec. 1859), and Elizabeth Best (1821 – 1864). Susan had three siblings: Thomas Smart II (1844 – 1941), Ezra Smart (1846 – 1906), and Jane Collet Smart Osborn (1851 - 1933). Note: Jane married James Henry Osborn (1847 – 1913; Civil War Veteran, Co. H, 1st CT Heavy Artillery).
In December of 1859, at age 47, George Smart died of “intemperance.” I guess this means that he consumed way too much alcohol and died. I wonder if he had a drinking problem. The 1860 Census Report shows 6 year-old Susan Smart living with her 39 year-old mother and three siblings. Thomas, as the eldest of 17-years, was working in a carpet mill, no doubt helping to support the family.
On September 25, 1861, 18-year-old Thomas Smart enlisted as a Private in Co. B, 8th CT Infantry Regiment. He was wounded in the arm at the Battle of Antietam on September 17, 1862. The 8th CT was also at Fredericksburg, though not heavily engaged. Thomas Smart mustered out on October 26, 1864.
On August 20, 1862, 16-year-old Ezra Smart enlisted as a musician in Co. E, 25th CT Infantry Regiment. He had a rank change on March 14, 1864, and was now a Private in Co. F, 16th CT Infantry Regiment, which was one of the Union Army’s most ill-fated units. On April 16, 1864, the 16th CT was captured en masse at the Battle of Plymouth in North Carolina, and Ezra Smart was among them. He was imprisoned at Andersonville on April 20, 1864. Fortunately, he was paroled. Then on June 22, 1865, Private Smart was mustered into Co. B, 6th CT Infantry Regiment. A few months later 18-year-old Private Ezra Smart mustered out for good on August 21, 1865 at New Haven, CT.
What a brave and persistent young man! I would have went home after Andersonville!
Just a side note: folks on the Ancestry site are mixing up Ezra Smart of Connecticut with an Ezra S. Smart (born: 1846) of Tamworth, New Hampshire—whose parents are Jacob and Lucy Smart. It’s really easy to sort it all out if folks would just take the time to go through the available documents!
Sometime in 1864, Elizabeth Best Smart, the mother of Susan Smart, died. Susan was only 11 years-old and her sister Jane was 13 years-old when they lost their mother. Susan’s older brother, Thomas, mustered out of the Army in October, 1864. Depending on when Elizabeth Smart died, another family member may have had to take custody of the two girls until Thomas could.
In 1865, Ezra Smart (age 19) married Jane J. Worman (1848 – 1915).
In 1868, Thomas Smart (age 24) married Anna Barber (1840 – 1924).
The 1870 Census Report shows 17 year-old Susan Smart living in New Britain, CT with her eldest brother Thomas Smart (age 26), his wife Anna, and their 2 ½ year old daughter Carrie. Thomas works in a “hardware shop.”
Then on September 9, 1873, Susan Smart (age 20—or very close to it), married George Calvin Otis (age 17—a month away from 18).
I wish I knew how Susan and George met! He lived in Middletown, which is about 10 miles from New Britain. He also seemed to spend a lot of time down in Westbrook, so I thought for sure he would have found a gal down there. For George, what was the rush to get married at such a young age? As mentioned elsewhere on this site, it wasn’t the norm to marry so young back then, especially for men. By 1860, most Americans were in their early to mid-20’s when they married. It’s a total myth that people were shorter, married as children, and didn’t live as long as we “moderns” do today. It really is total bunk.
Did George in his impetuousness (in researching George, this personality trait has revealed itself), fall head-over-heals in love with Susan and just had to have her, similar to the way that he just had to have various material goods, spending huge sums of his estate money as a young man (see "Estate of George C. Otis," subheading "September 28, 1872").
George and Susan made their lives in Middletown with their three children (Frank Morgan Otis, Charles Selden Otis, and Elizabeth “Bessie” S. Otis). But sometimes marrying young has its price, as George's marriage to Susan eventually fell apart with him taking off. The year 1890, would be the very last year that George Otis (age 35) would show up in the Middletown City Directory. Susan, (age 37) would be left behind in Middletown with their three children.
In 1894, George resurfaced in Cleveland, Ohio!
In 1899, Susan Otis and her son Charles, and daughter Bessie (Frank is now married) moved to Hartford, CT. All of Susan's siblings lived in Hartford. Her older brother Thomas Smart owned his own home at 10 Sisson Avenue with his family, and worked as a toolmaker. Ezra Smart owned his own home at 19 Sisson Avenue with his family, and worked as a machinist. Jane Smart Osborn rented a home at 12 Squire Street with her husband James Henry Osborn and their three girls. James Osborn worked as a machinist. No doubt this is why Susan moved to Hartford—to be closer to her own family.
Then on September 15, 1901, George remarries in Ohio. His new bride was Lake Lulu Swingle. Four children are born from that union with only one surviving to adulthood (see the "George C. Otis" subheading above and the page "George C. Otis: His Two Lives" as to why I believe this was a case of bigamy).
By 1910, Susan is living at a home that her son Charles rents at 16 Sisson Avenue—the same street her brother Thomas resides (her brother Ezra resided on Sisson until his death in 1906).
Susan Smart Otis lived out her life in Hartford with her son Charles and his wife Florence, dying on February 25, 1919; age 65 in her home at 16 Sisson Avenue. According to her death certificate from the City of Hartford, she died from a "cerebral hemorrhage." Of interest on the death certificate is her marital status, which is listed as "widowed." The choices of marital status on the death certificate were: "single, married, divorced, or widowed." If the individual was widowed, the name of the husband had to be given. In her case the husband was listed as "George Otis." However, George was very much alive, though obviously dead to Susan.I don't believe she ever saw her estranged husband, George Otis, again.
Susan Smart Otis is buried in Spring Grove Cemetery in Hartford, with her daughter Elizabeth, her son Charles, and his wife Florence in the "Charles S. Otis Family Plot."
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| Obituary of Susan Smart Otis Hartford Courant, February 26, 1919 |
For more insight please see the above subheading "George C. Otis."
Smart Family Deaths
>Father of Susan Smart Otis: George Smart died in 1859 (age 47) and is buried at Tariffville Cemetery in Tariffville, CT, near his wife Elizabeth.
>Mother of Susan Smart Otis: Elizabeth Best Smart died in 1864 (age 43) and is buried at Tariffville Cemetery in Tariffville, CT, near her husband George.
>Brother of Susan Smart Otis: Ezra Smart died in 1906 (age 60) and is buried at Thompsonville Cemetery in Enfield (Hartford County), CT.
>Sister of Susan Smart Otis: Jane Smart Osborn died in 1933 (age 82) and is buried in Spring Grove Cemetery, Hartford, CT, near her husband James Henry Osborn and in the same section that her sister Susan Otis is (Section H).
>Brother of Susan Smart Otis: Thomas Smart died in 1941 in St. Petersburg, FL at the ripe old age of 97! His body was brought back home and buried in Hartford, CT. I still have to locate where he was buried. His daughter Leila Smart lived with him, never marrying. She most-likely took care of her father.
Smart Sibling's Children
As one can see in the following information, Susan Smart Otis' fatherless children (Frank, Charles, and Bessie) had a lot of family support! They had numerous uncles, aunts, and a myriad of cousins on both the Smart (and Otis and Young) side of their families. Though they were left fatherless, they were not left without love and support. The following children are the nieces/nephews of Susan Smart Otis and the first cousins of Frank, Charles, and Bessie Otis.
Children of Thomas Smart II and Anna Barber
Look at that! Just about every year from 1870 onward, Anna Barber Smart was pregnant. I don't know how these women did it. Super women. I nearly died giving birth to ONE child!
>Carrie Elizabeth Smart (1870 – 1882), age 12
>Leila May Smart (1872 – 1949), age 77, in St. Petersburg, FL
>Alice L. Smart (1873 – 1882), age 9
>Frank Clayton Smart (1875 – 1950), age 75—foreman at Union Manufacturing
>Florence I. Smart (1877 – 1882), age 5
>Charles Thomas Smart (1880 – 1943), age 63 in Miami, FL. Graduated from United States Military Academy West Point, June 15, 1904. Retired as Lieutenant Colonel, September 28, 1929.
Children of Ezra Smart and Jane J. Worman
>George E. Smart (1867 – 1926), age 59
>Willie E. Smart (1868 – 1933), age 65
>John Smart (1871 – 1951), age 80
>Ezra E. Smart, Jr. (1873 – 1948), age 75
>Lillie F. Smart (1874 – 1964), age 90
>Ella J. Smart (1875 – 1941), age 66
>Susie Smart (1877 - ? )
>Annie S. Smart (1879 – 1882), age 3
Children of Jane Collet Smart and James Henry Osborn
>Annie A. Osborn (1887 – ?) 1930 Census shows that she was single and worked as a supervisor in an insurance agency.
>Leila M. Osborn (1880 – 1962), age 82. Never married. Worked as a bookkeeper.
>Gertrude H. Osborn Higginson (1878 – 1965)
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| Jane C. Smart Osborn older sister of Susan Smart Otis Source: E. Higginson |
Above is a picture of Jane Smart Osborn, the older sister of Susan Smart Otis. I wonder if they looked anything alike? She seems like a very tender and sweet person. I'd give my two front teeth for a picture of Susan Smart and George Otis!
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More Otis Family Genealogy
The following is not an exhaustive genealogy, and some of the dates are far from complete, with no available dates of death for some individuals. Though I feel that the available information is well-researched to the best of my ability, I can't claim that it's infallible. As with everything I do, I have attempted to present the following information as accurately as possible.
Isaac Otis (3x great-grandfather of Erastus S. Otis, 4x great-grandfather of Daniel H. Otis)
Born: about 1640 in Dublin, Ireland
Thomas Otis (2x great-grandfather of Erastus S. Otis, 3x great grandfather of Daniel H. Otis)
Son of Isaac Otis and ?
Born: about 1680 in Dublin, Ireland / Died: 1736
Robert Otis, Sr. (great-grandfather of Erastus S. Otis, 2x great-grandfather of Daniel H. Otis)
Son of Thomas Otis and ?
Born: about 1707 in Dublin, Ireland.
Isaac Otis (3x great-grandfather of Erastus S. Otis, 4x great-grandfather of Daniel H. Otis)
Born: about 1640 in Dublin, Ireland
Thomas Otis (2x great-grandfather of Erastus S. Otis, 3x great grandfather of Daniel H. Otis)
Son of Isaac Otis and ?
Born: about 1680 in Dublin, Ireland / Died: 1736
Robert Otis, Sr. (great-grandfather of Erastus S. Otis, 2x great-grandfather of Daniel H. Otis)
Son of Thomas Otis and ?
Born: about 1707 in Dublin, Ireland.
Died: April 21, 1799 (age 92, per death records in Lyme, CT) in Lyme, Connecticut. Robert Otis is buried at East Lyme Cemetery in East Lyme (New London County) Connecticut.
Family tradition says that when Robert Otis was age 14, he was kidnapped from Donegal, Ireland and forced onto a ship headed to American. Traditional family lore says that after numerous wanderings, he ended up in Rhode Island, and then settled in Lyme, Connecticut.
Robert Otis married Margaret Sabin August 8, 1737 in Barrington, Rhode Island. Margaret Sabin was the daughter of Israel Sabin and Mary Ormsby. Margaret was born February 5, 1707 in Rehoboth, Mass. Margaret Sabin Otis died after 1749 in Lyme, CT, and is buried at East Lyme Cemetery in East Lyme (New London County), Connecticut.
Children of Robert Otis and Margaret Sabin:
>Stephen H. Otis, Sr. (Born: May 14, 1738 in Barrington, Rhode Island / Died: December 29, 1776 in Lyme, CT). Stephen H. Otis was the grandfather of Erastus S. Otis, and the great-grandfather of Daniel H. Otis. See below for his genealogy.
>Robert Otis, Jr. (Born: March 18, 1740 in Lyme, CT / Died: ? ). Source for birth date is Lyme vital records. Folks on Find-a-Grave are mixing up his son's gravestone (also by the name of Robert) who was born May 10, 1764, and who's mother is Lydia according to Lyme vital records. Go and check the Lyme vital records for this family, and you will see it for yourself.
>Richard Otis (Born: June 23, 1745 in Lyme, CT / Died: September 19, 1830 in Canaan, Grafton, NH). Source for birth date is Lyme vital records. Richard Otis served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. He was a private in the Connecticut Continental Line and then a Corporal in Captain Canfield's Company at the Siege of Ticonderoga in 1777. ("The History of Canaan, New Hampshire," by William Allen Wallace, 1910). He is buried at West Canaan Cemetery in NH.
Robert Otis married Margaret Sabin August 8, 1737 in Barrington, Rhode Island. Margaret Sabin was the daughter of Israel Sabin and Mary Ormsby. Margaret was born February 5, 1707 in Rehoboth, Mass. Margaret Sabin Otis died after 1749 in Lyme, CT, and is buried at East Lyme Cemetery in East Lyme (New London County), Connecticut.
Here is some information on Robert Otis’ service in the American Revolution (sources: Daughters of the Ohio Society of the American Revolution and The Daughters of the American Revolution).
During the Revolutionary War, Robert Otis served for a period of 3 years in the First Regiment, State of Connecticut. Because of his advanced age, his position was that of “Wagon Master.” At one time, Robert was also an interpreter for Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette. The Marquis was a French aristocrat and military officer who fought in the American Revolutionary War, and is better known as simply, “Lafayette.” Robert Otis was discharged on July 13, 1782.
Children of Robert Otis and Margaret Sabin:
>Stephen H. Otis, Sr. (Born: May 14, 1738 in Barrington, Rhode Island / Died: December 29, 1776 in Lyme, CT). Stephen H. Otis was the grandfather of Erastus S. Otis, and the great-grandfather of Daniel H. Otis. See below for his genealogy.
>Robert Otis, Jr. (Born: March 18, 1740 in Lyme, CT / Died: ? ). Source for birth date is Lyme vital records. Folks on Find-a-Grave are mixing up his son's gravestone (also by the name of Robert) who was born May 10, 1764, and who's mother is Lydia according to Lyme vital records. Go and check the Lyme vital records for this family, and you will see it for yourself.
>Richard Otis (Born: June 23, 1745 in Lyme, CT / Died: September 19, 1830 in Canaan, Grafton, NH). Source for birth date is Lyme vital records. Richard Otis served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. He was a private in the Connecticut Continental Line and then a Corporal in Captain Canfield's Company at the Siege of Ticonderoga in 1777. ("The History of Canaan, New Hampshire," by William Allen Wallace, 1910). He is buried at West Canaan Cemetery in NH.
Note: The 1777 Siege of Fort Ticonderoga occurred between the 2nd and 6 July 1777 at Fort Ticonderoga, near the southern end of Lake Champlain in the state of New York.
>Clarinda Anna Otis (Born: November 23, 1748 in Lyme, CT / Married: abt. 1770 to Samuel Joslin in Colchester, CT / Died: September 25, 1784 in Colchester, CT.)
This is interesting, according to the book “The New England Historical and Genealogical Register,” Volume 4, page 161:
My Note: The Reverend Erastus Otis (not to be confused with Daniel’s father, also named Erastus Otis) was the grandson of Robert Otis, Sr. (born in Ireland). Rev. Erastus Otis' father was Richard Otis, who was the son of Robert Otis, Sr. This would make Reverend Erastus a first-cousin (twice-removed) to Daniel H. Otis. Also note, that Daniel’s father, Erastus Selden Otis was born in Wilbraham, Mass, where the Reverend Erastus ministered.
Reverend Erastus Otis was actually one of the pioneers of Methodism in New England, and was a minister and elder in that denomination!
And, the “three sons” of Robert Otis were: Robert Otis, Jr. (1764–1826), Richard Otis (1745–1830), and Stephen H. Otis, Sr. (1738-1776). Stephen H. Otis was the grandfather of Erastus Selden Otis, and the great-grandfather of Daniel H. Otis. All three brothers—Robert, Richard, and Stephen—fought in the Revolutionary War.
And, the “three sons” of Robert Otis were: Robert Otis, Jr. (1764–1826), Richard Otis (1745–1830), and Stephen H. Otis, Sr. (1738-1776). Stephen H. Otis was the grandfather of Erastus Selden Otis, and the great-grandfather of Daniel H. Otis. All three brothers—Robert, Richard, and Stephen—fought in the Revolutionary War.
Also of note is what the book, "A Genealogical and Historical Memoir of the Otis Family in America,” by William Augustus Otis, says, "According to persistent tradition among the descendants of this Robert [meaning Robert Otis of Dublin, Ireland], he was a distant connection of the numerous Otis family already settled at this period in the New England colonies. One of his ancestors…was said to have left England and settled in Ireland."
Kidnapping!
Stephen H. Otis, Sr. (grandfather of Erastus S. Otis, great-grandfather of Daniel H. Otis)
Son of Robert Otis and Margaret Sabin
Born: May 14, 1738 in Barrington, Rhode Island
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| Birth of Stephen Otis in Barrington, son of Robert and Margaret. Lyme, CT Vital Records |
Died: December 29, 1776 (age 38) in Lyme, Connecticut. I'd love to know what the "H" in Stephen's middle name stood for! Maybe Daniel's middle name is the same.
Cause of Death: "Smallpox," which was intentionally communicated to him while a prisoner of the British (see typed image below)
Stephen took part in the Lexington Alarm—the first battle of the Revolutionary War, which was fought in Massachusetts on April 19, 1775. His rank was Sergeant in the war (see image below for more info).
Stephen H. Otis, Sr., Wife #1: Stephen married Lois Hackett Edgerton on February 5, 1759 in Lyme, CT (Lois Hackett Edgerton—Born: May 13, 1745 in CT / Died: before 1768 in Lyme, CT)
Children of Stephen H. Otis, Sr. and Lois Edgerton (half great-uncles of Daniel H. Otis and half-uncles of Erastus S. Otis):
>Robert Otis (Born: December 31, 1760 in Lyme, CT / Died: ?)
>John Otis (Born: March 1, 1764 in Lyme, CT / Died: ?)
>Edward Hackett Otis Born: April 6, 1766 in Lyme, CT / Married: June 1, 1787 to Mary Merrill in Tunbridge, VT / Died: June 6, 1852 in Bigelow's Mills, LaPorte, Indiana. Edward Hackett Otis enlisted in the Revolutionary War at age 16.
Stephen H. Otis, Sr., Wife #2: Stephen married Sarah Lunt after 1768 in Lyme, CT. Note: I could not find an exact marriage date for Stephen Otis and Sarah Lunt, nor exact dates for the births of their three girls. “Born after 1768” isn't that helpful, but I offer it up anyway, as that was the only information I could find.
Stephen took part in the Lexington Alarm—the first battle of the Revolutionary War, which was fought in Massachusetts on April 19, 1775. His rank was Sergeant in the war (see image below for more info).
Stephen H. Otis, Sr., Wife #1: Stephen married Lois Hackett Edgerton on February 5, 1759 in Lyme, CT (Lois Hackett Edgerton—Born: May 13, 1745 in CT / Died: before 1768 in Lyme, CT)
Children of Stephen H. Otis, Sr. and Lois Edgerton (half great-uncles of Daniel H. Otis and half-uncles of Erastus S. Otis):
>Robert Otis (Born: December 31, 1760 in Lyme, CT / Died: ?)
>John Otis (Born: March 1, 1764 in Lyme, CT / Died: ?)
Children of Stephen H. Otis, Sr. and Sarah Lunt (great-aunts and grandfather of Daniel H. Otis):
>Elizabeth Otis (Born: after 1768)
>Sarah Otis (Born: after 1768)
>Louise Otis (Born: after 1768)
>Stephen Otis, Jr.(Born: July 29, 1774 / Died: November, 28, 1826). Stephen Otis, Jr, was the father of Erastus S. Otis and the grandfather of Daniel H. Otis. See below for his genealogy.
Daniel’s great-grandfather, Stephen H. Otis, Sr., assisted in the establishment of American Independence during the Revolutionary War.
Genealogy of Stephen Otis, Jr.
I must say, that when I was researching the genealogy of Stephen Otis, Jr. on the various genealogical sites and message boards, I found nothing but one huge mess of dates and names that didn’t add up. Folks were mixing up various family members, and assigning impossible birth dates and marriage dates to them. Incorrect death dates and burial places were also being cited. A simple search of cemetery records would have cleared up at least some of the mess.
If those doing the research would take the time to do the math, it would become clear to them that “so-and-so” could never have given birth that year, because she was only 4 years old! Or, that individual can’t be the child of “so-and-so” because she’d be in her 60’s when she gave birth to them! Or, "so-and-so" couldn't have been that person's father, because the supposed father died two years before they were even born! But such is the nature of genealogical research if it is not approached carefully and methodically. A good dose of common sense goes a long way, too.
It is those attributes: a careful, methodical approach, along with common sense, that I have tried to bring to the genealogy of Stephen Otis, Jr., below.
I must say, that when I was researching the genealogy of Stephen Otis, Jr. on the various genealogical sites and message boards, I found nothing but one huge mess of dates and names that didn’t add up. Folks were mixing up various family members, and assigning impossible birth dates and marriage dates to them. Incorrect death dates and burial places were also being cited. A simple search of cemetery records would have cleared up at least some of the mess.
If those doing the research would take the time to do the math, it would become clear to them that “so-and-so” could never have given birth that year, because she was only 4 years old! Or, that individual can’t be the child of “so-and-so” because she’d be in her 60’s when she gave birth to them! Or, "so-and-so" couldn't have been that person's father, because the supposed father died two years before they were even born! But such is the nature of genealogical research if it is not approached carefully and methodically. A good dose of common sense goes a long way, too.
It is those attributes: a careful, methodical approach, along with common sense, that I have tried to bring to the genealogy of Stephen Otis, Jr., below.
So, instead of going into the minutia of what didn't add up and why (which would take pages to explain, because it’s all very convoluted), I present here, what I believe is highly probable: that Stephen Otis, Jr. was married twice and fathered two different sets of children. This would make Stephen's first set of children, Erastus S. Otis' half-siblings. This was the only thing that made any sense, and it works!
For example, take John Lord Otis, who is mentioned below in the subheading "Daniel's Family Members Who Served in the Civil War." John Lord Otis was the son of Hayden Otis, and Hayden was the first-born son of Stephen Otis Jr. via his first marriage. Interestingly, John Lord Otis bears a striking resemblance to Daniel H. Otis!—so much so, that John Lord Otis could actually be an "older Daniel."
For example, take John Lord Otis, who is mentioned below in the subheading "Daniel's Family Members Who Served in the Civil War." John Lord Otis was the son of Hayden Otis, and Hayden was the first-born son of Stephen Otis Jr. via his first marriage. Interestingly, John Lord Otis bears a striking resemblance to Daniel H. Otis!—so much so, that John Lord Otis could actually be an "older Daniel."
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| Daniel H. Otis (left) and John Lord Otis (right). Post-war picture of John Lord Otis, son of Hayden Otis and Mary Lord. |
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| Daniel H. Otis (left) and John Lord Otis (right) |
What can account for this similarity in looks? They have both got to be closely related somehow, and being related via Erastus S. Otis' half-brother, Hayden Otis, is the only thing that made any sense! It's the only thing that would set all the mess of birth dates, marriage dates, and death dates right! In this case, John Lord Otis would be the half, first-cousin of Daniel H. Otis and a half-nephew to Erastus S. Otis.
I don’t claim infallibility or ultimate genealogical truth here, because it’s all been too vague for that. But what I have compiled makes more sense than anything that is currently out there for the genealogy of Stephen Otis, Jr., and by extension, his son Erastus S. Otis. And if, in my continued research, I find that I have been in error (which I don't believe I am), I will correct and revise as need be, here on this site.
Stephen Otis, Jr. (father of Erastus S. Otis, grandfather of Daniel H. Otis)
Stephen Otis, Jr. (father of Erastus S. Otis, grandfather of Daniel H. Otis)
Son of Stephen H. Otis, Sr. and Sarah Lunt
Born: I cannot find an official record listing Stephen’s date of birth. However, I have seen his birth repeated on genealogical sites as December 20, 1773 and July 29, 1774, both in Lyme (New London County), Connecticut.
Died: November 28, 1826 (about age 52) in Wilbraham, Mass (per the Wilbraham Town and Vital Records for Massachusetts).
Cause of Death: The book, “A Genealogical and Historical Memoir of the Otis Family in America,” by William Augustus Otis, says that Stephen was “killed by a falling tree, which he was chopping down.” A number of the Otis family members have died under such freak and tragic circumstances! I have yet to locate the final resting place of Stephen Otis, Jr.
The "Otis Family" book also says about Stephen Jr. that: “for several years he was a professor at Wilbraham Academy,” and that he “was also a Methodist Minister at Stockbridge, Mass.” This goes along nicely with what I sensed about his son Erastus when going through his will—that he was a lover of knowledge and books. That was a trait Stephen probably instilled in his children. Also, Stephen's first-cousin, Reverend Erastus Otis, was a Methodist minister too. In fact, Rev. Erastus Otis was one of the pioneers of Methodism in New England!
Stephen Otis, Jr., Wife #1: According to the Lyme Vital Records, 20 year-old Stephen Otis, Jr. married Lucy Wedger of Lyme, CT on May 1, 1794. They were married by "David Higgins, V.D.M." By the way, these post-nominal initials simply mean, "Verbi Dei Minister." That's just fancy stuff for, "I'm an ordained minister."
Anyway, I have seen Lucy’s name listed as not only “Wedger,” but also “Widger,” and “Wedge.” So who knows which name is accurate! Also, I cannot find any other information on a “Lucy Wedger, Widger, or Wedge.” Not a date of birth, a date death date, or parents—nothing.
The Lyme Vital Records lists five children born to Stephen Otis, Jr. and Lucy Wedger (half-siblings of Erastus S. Otis):
>Hayden Otis (Born: November 23, 1794 / Died: February 10, 1858). It looks like Stephen and Lucy were married only 6-months before their son, Hayden, was born! Is this situation unusual for the time? I would bet that it was more common than we realize, as I touched on above, under the "Erastus S. Otis" subheading. But I digress. See below for some genealogy on Hayden Otis.
>Stephen Otis, III (Born: September 27, 1796 / Died :?). According to the “U.S. Citizenship Affidavits of US-Born Seaman at Select Ports, 1792-1869,” Stephen Otis, III, age 19, was a Seaman on February 19, 1816.
>Edward Otis (Born: February 6, 1798 / Died : 1873)
>Selden Otis? That is exactly the way this individuals name appears in the Lyme Vital Records. No birth date, no nothing. If they don’t know, then I certainly don’t!
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| Excerpt from the Lyme Vital Records. |
>Charlotte Otis (Born: May 29, 1806 / Died: 1875)
Stephen Otis, Jr., Wife #2: Stephen Otis Jr. married Elizabeth "Betsey" Weidger Daniels on August 5, 1812 in Massachusetts. I have yet to find an official record for this date, but that is the consensus floating around out there.
The book, “A Genealogical and Historical Memoir of the Otis Family in America,” says that Stephen “married Betsey Weidger Daniels, a widow, who was born July 27, 1791.” Betsey was born in Hampden (Hampden County), Mass. I assume since Betsey was widowed, that her married name was "Daniels" and her maiden name was "Weidger." I found some tentative information on Betsey. I say "tentative" because I can't find the documents (like a marriage or birth document) to back it up. But I offer it up anyway:
Betsey Weidger's first husband is listed as "Ransford Daniels (1785-1812)," and that they were married in "1810." I'm not really sure how folks arrived at his name and those dates with no documentation to support it, as I can find nothing on a "Ransford Daniels." Also listed, is one child born from that union, a daughter named "Harriet Daniels" (1812 - March 29, 1878 in Franklin, Mass). I've literally exhausted myself trying to dig up something more concrete on Betsey, her pre-marriage family, and her marriage to "Ransford" and to Stephen Otis, Jr. At this point I feel like I'm chasing ghosts.
Anyhow, if the August 5, 1812 marriage date is correct, then Stephen was 38 years-old when he married 21 year-old Betsey, who was a widow. Stephen was about 17-years older than his new bride. By the time of his second marriage, the ages of Stephen's children with his first wife, Lucy, would be: Hayden (age 18), Stephen III (age 16), Edward (age 14), and Charlotte (age 6).
I would bet my prized English dish collection that there was a familial connection there. As I touch on in the subheading below, "Arranged Marriages…of Sorts," these families were like a big giant web—all connected somehow. They inadvertently practiced what is called “endogamy,” which is when one marries within their own group.
Betsey Otis died on May 5, 1860 (age 69), and is buried at River Bend Cemetery in Westerly, Rhode Island near her son Calvin Otis. I've tried, but I still have yet to locate a final resting place for her husband, Stephen Otis, Jr. According to the records, he died in Wilbraham, Mass.
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| The gravestone of Betsey Otis at Riverbend Cemetery in Westerly, Rhode Island. |
My family and I left a fresh evergreen wreath for Betsey, for the holidays. Riverbend is a beautiful cemetery that overlooks a fabulous view of the water.
Stephen Otis, Jr. and Betsey Weidger had the following children together (uncles and aunts of Daniel H. Otis):
>Erastus Selden Otis (Born: March 4, 1814 / Died: August 4, 1864). See the info under "Erastus Otis" at the top of this page for more info on Erastus. Father of Daniel H. Otis.
>Elizabeth "Betsey"(Otis) Graham (Born: June 16, 1815 in Hampden, Mass. / Died: ?) NEW INFORMATION COMING SOON!
>William R. Otis (Born: October 16, 1817 in Wilbraham, Mass. / Died: 1862) William was a clock and watch maker in Mauch Chunk, PA (now the town of Jim Thorpe). He was also a 33rd Degree Mason. The 33rd Degree is actually part of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, which is an organizations that exists within Freemasonry that Master Masons may join if they choose to. William Otis never married.
>Ebenezer Weidger Hayden Otis, Sr. (Born: November 19, 1819 in Wilbraham, Mass. / Died: October 20, 1891 in Richmond, Illinois). Ebenezer married Octavia Alvira Williams (1836-1918). They lived in Antioch, Illinois and had seven children together: Benjamin C. Otis (1850-1866), Mary Jane Otis (1851-1912), Betsey E. Otis (1854-1911), Sarah A. Otis (1856-1903), Charles W. Otis (1858-1867), Emma J. Otis (1864-1865), and Ebenezer Widger Otis, Jr. (1867-1913).
Again, with this name thing! Ebenezer Jr. has the middle name of "Widger," while his father, Ebenezer, Sr. and grandmother, Betsey, have the name "Weidger," and the mysterious Lucy is "Wedger." Ugh! Will the real name please stand up! This stuff is crazy making.
The 1870 Illinois Census lists Ebenezer Weidger Hayden Otis’ occupation as “farmer." By 1880, Ebenezer was no longer married to Octavia, as the 1880 Illinois Census lists his marital status as “divorced.” Ebenezer died on October 20, 1891, age 72, and is buried in Spring Grove, Illinois.
Again, with this name thing! Ebenezer Jr. has the middle name of "Widger," while his father, Ebenezer, Sr. and grandmother, Betsey, have the name "Weidger," and the mysterious Lucy is "Wedger." Ugh! Will the real name please stand up! This stuff is crazy making.
The 1870 Illinois Census lists Ebenezer Weidger Hayden Otis’ occupation as “farmer." By 1880, Ebenezer was no longer married to Octavia, as the 1880 Illinois Census lists his marital status as “divorced.” Ebenezer died on October 20, 1891, age 72, and is buried in Spring Grove, Illinois.
>Julia Otis (Born: May 18, 1822 in Wilbraham, Mass. / Died: 1823)
>Calvin Stephen Otis (Born: July 28, 1824 in Wilbraham, Mass. / Died: August 10, 1849, age 25). Calvin married Amanda M. Chapman on June 15, 1848 in Stonington, CT. The next year Calvin died of dysentery, leaving Amanda a widow. Per the "U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules," Calvin was sick 14 days with dysentery before he died. Amanda then married Calvin’s brother, Erastus Otis, after his wife, Elizabeth died. Calvin is buried at River Bend Cemetery in Westerly, Rhode Island near his mother Betsey.
>Florinda Otis (Born: August 13, 1826 in Wilbraham, Mass. / Died: 1865). The 1850 Census Report shows that Florinda married a young man by the name of: “Stanton Hall.”
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| The gravestone of Calvin S. Otis at Riverbend Cemetery in Westerly, Rhode Island. |
We also brought Calvin a fresh evergreen wreath for the holidays and laid it at his grave.
Son of Stephen Otis, Jr. and Lucy Wedger
Born: November 23, 1794 in Lyme (New London County), CT.
Hayden married Mary Lord of Lyme, CT. I have yet to locate a marriage date for them. The Connecticut Church Records for Lyme, show that Hayden Otis was excommunicated on March 20, 1853. Wonder what he could have done? Refusing to be controlled, perhaps?
Died: February 10, 1858 in Colchester (New London County), CT; age 63. Hayden is buried at Linwood Cemetery with his wife Mary (Lord) Otis (Born: abt. 1794 / Died: March 10, 1859; age 65). Her gravestone says: "Mary Lord Otis, wife of Hayden."
Hayden Otis and Mary Lord had the following children together (half-nephews of Erastus S. Otis and half-cousins of Daniel H. Otis):
Note: There is no one record that shows if Hayden and Mary bore all of the following children. However, the ones that I can definitely confirm are: Alfred Hayden Otis, Abner Lord Otis, Uriah Hayden Otis, Catherine Selina Otis, John Lord Otis, and Edmund C. Otis.
>Alfred Hayden Otis (Born: abt. 1814 / Died: September 20, 1865, abt. age 50). The 1850 Census Report for Colchester, CT, shows that Alfred was married to Sarah Ann Gillett, daughter of Ely Gillet, a farmer. (Sarah—Born: abt. 1810 / Died: April 18, 1863, about age 53). As a boy, Alfred Otis was bound out to Ely Gillet. No doubt a romance blossomed between Ely's daughter, Sarah, and the bound-out farm boy.
>Uriah Hayden Otis (Born: abt. 1823 / Died: May 19, 1887, abt. age 64). Uriah married Lillis White on February 10, 1848 in Windham, CT. (Lillis--Born: abt. 1828 / Died: April 4, 1908, abt. age 80). The 1850 Census shows them living in Windham with Uriah working as a "factory worker." The 1860 Census shows them living in the same town with Uriah now working as a "machinist." His younger brother Edwin Otis and family were living with them. By 1862, 39 year-old Uriah was living in Haddam, CT, and still working as a machinist when, according to the "Record of Service of Connecticut Men in the Army and Navy of the United States During the War of the Rebellion," he enlisted as a Private in Company C of the 20th Connecticut infantry on September 8, 1862. On December 25, 1863, he was promoted to a full Corporal, and mustered out on June 13, 1865 at Fort Lincoln in Washington D.C.
The 1870 Census shows Uriah and Lillis living in Haddam with his occupation now that of "farmer." It's the same for the 1880 Census, but that particular Census mentions that he has a "chronic disease." Eight years later, Uriah H. Otis dies on May 19, 1887, age 64. Both he and his wife Lillis are buried at Turkey Hill Cemetery in Haddam, CT.
>Catherine Selina Otis (Born: abt. 1825 / Died: May 8, 1908)
>John Lord Otis (Born: July 15, 1827 / Died: March 14, 1894, age 66). He is buried at Spring Grove Cemetery in Florence, Mass. He married Catherine Preston on March 1, 1847, in Manchester, CT. They had two sons together: Harry Preston Otis (1851 - 1926) and Philip Arthur Otis (1855 - 1914). To read a bit more about John Lord Otis, see the heading below: "Daniel's Family Members Who Served Served in the Civil War."
>Edmund C. Otis (Born: abt. 1829 / Died: ?). Edmund was married to Clarissa. He worked as a "machinist." They had 10 children in 23 years! That's about one child every 2 years! Yikes! Bless your child-bearing heart, Clarissa Otis! Here are the names of their children, followed by the year they were born: Edmund Jr (1851), George (1853), Charles (1855), Frank (1857), Frederick (1859), Burrows H. (1861). I bet the "H" in Burrows' name stands for "Hayden." Emma (1863), Ralph (1866), Minnie (1871), Eugene W. (1874). When Edmund Jr. was age 19, George, age 17, and Charles, age 15, they all worked in a "wool mill" together.
>Mary Caroline Otis (Born: abt. 1831 / Died: ?)
>Leander Otis (Born: abt. 1833 / Died?)
>Sarah E. Otis (Born: abt. 1835 / Died: ?)
>Betsey Lord Otis (Born: abt. 1837 / Died: ?)
Erastus Selden Otis (father of Daniel H. Otis)
Hayden Otis (half-brother of Erastus S. Otis, half-uncle of Daniel H. Otis)
Son of Stephen Otis, Jr. and Lucy Wedger
Born: November 23, 1794 in Lyme (New London County), CT.
Hayden married Mary Lord of Lyme, CT. I have yet to locate a marriage date for them. The Connecticut Church Records for Lyme, show that Hayden Otis was excommunicated on March 20, 1853. Wonder what he could have done? Refusing to be controlled, perhaps?
Died: February 10, 1858 in Colchester (New London County), CT; age 63. Hayden is buried at Linwood Cemetery with his wife Mary (Lord) Otis (Born: abt. 1794 / Died: March 10, 1859; age 65). Her gravestone says: "Mary Lord Otis, wife of Hayden."
Hayden Otis and Mary Lord had the following children together (half-nephews of Erastus S. Otis and half-cousins of Daniel H. Otis):
Note: There is no one record that shows if Hayden and Mary bore all of the following children. However, the ones that I can definitely confirm are: Alfred Hayden Otis, Abner Lord Otis, Uriah Hayden Otis, Catherine Selina Otis, John Lord Otis, and Edmund C. Otis.
>Alfred Hayden Otis (Born: abt. 1814 / Died: September 20, 1865, abt. age 50). The 1850 Census Report for Colchester, CT, shows that Alfred was married to Sarah Ann Gillett, daughter of Ely Gillet, a farmer. (Sarah—Born: abt. 1810 / Died: April 18, 1863, about age 53). As a boy, Alfred Otis was bound out to Ely Gillet. No doubt a romance blossomed between Ely's daughter, Sarah, and the bound-out farm boy.
The 1850 Census Report also shows that Abner Day Otis was also living with them. Abner D. Otis was the son of Alfred's brother, Abner Lord Otis. Abner Day lost his mother when he was a newborn, so Alfred and his wife were probably raising him.
By trade, Alfred was a farmer and also a Captain in the Militia.
Alfred Otis and Sarah Gillett had at least eight children together, ranging in ages from 18 years-old to 2 years-old. They were: Albert Lyman Otis (1831 - 1896), Sarah Angeline Otis (1833), John Lewis Otis (died in infancy), John Ely Otis (died at age 3), Francis Jane Otis (1839 - 1865), George Franklin Otis (1842 - 1878)—served as 2nd Lieutenant in the 10th Connecticut Infantry; the same regiment that his uncle, Colonel John Lord Otis was part of. Mary Ellen Otis (1844 - 1911), and the youngest was Charles Hayden Otis (July 7, 1848 - July 26, 1865, age 17).
Charles was a grocery clerk and only 17 years-old when he died of typhoid fever. Poor young man! Alfred Hayden Otis died September 20, 1865, also from typhoid fever. He and one of his daughters (Francis Jane), contracted it while caring for Charles. Francis ended up dying in August, a month after her brother did. What a good papa Alfred was, caring for his dying son. No matter the time period, a parent's love always rises to the occasion.
Alfred Hayden Otis is buried at Linwood Cemetery in Colchester, CT with his wife Sarah, his son Charles, and his father and mother—Hayden Otis and Mary Lord.
>Abner Lord Otis (Born: 1820 / Died: ?). Married Rachel Day Brewster, daughter of Darius Brewster and Elizabeth Nichols. (Rachel—Born: February 23, 1813 / Died: February 1, 1843, age 29). Rachel gave birth to her only child, Abner Day Otis, on January 23, 1843 in Franklin, CT. Nine days later she died, probably from complications following childbirth. As stated above, Abner Day Otis went to live with his uncle Alfred Otis in Colchester. Abner Lord Otis remarried, as they all do. His second wife was Almira Goddard. They had two children together: Eliza J. Otis and Roy Nelson Otis.
>Uriah Hayden Otis (Born: abt. 1823 / Died: May 19, 1887, abt. age 64). Uriah married Lillis White on February 10, 1848 in Windham, CT. (Lillis--Born: abt. 1828 / Died: April 4, 1908, abt. age 80). The 1850 Census shows them living in Windham with Uriah working as a "factory worker." The 1860 Census shows them living in the same town with Uriah now working as a "machinist." His younger brother Edwin Otis and family were living with them. By 1862, 39 year-old Uriah was living in Haddam, CT, and still working as a machinist when, according to the "Record of Service of Connecticut Men in the Army and Navy of the United States During the War of the Rebellion," he enlisted as a Private in Company C of the 20th Connecticut infantry on September 8, 1862. On December 25, 1863, he was promoted to a full Corporal, and mustered out on June 13, 1865 at Fort Lincoln in Washington D.C.
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| From the Will of Uriah H. Otis, showing he and his wife's children and grand-children's names |
The 1870 Census shows Uriah and Lillis living in Haddam with his occupation now that of "farmer." It's the same for the 1880 Census, but that particular Census mentions that he has a "chronic disease." Eight years later, Uriah H. Otis dies on May 19, 1887, age 64. Both he and his wife Lillis are buried at Turkey Hill Cemetery in Haddam, CT.
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| Gravestones of Uriah Hayden Otis (right) and his wife, Lillis White Otis (left) Turkey Hill Cemetery, Haddam, CT |
>Catherine Selina Otis (Born: abt. 1825 / Died: May 8, 1908)
>John Lord Otis (Born: July 15, 1827 / Died: March 14, 1894, age 66). He is buried at Spring Grove Cemetery in Florence, Mass. He married Catherine Preston on March 1, 1847, in Manchester, CT. They had two sons together: Harry Preston Otis (1851 - 1926) and Philip Arthur Otis (1855 - 1914). To read a bit more about John Lord Otis, see the heading below: "Daniel's Family Members Who Served Served in the Civil War."
>Edmund C. Otis (Born: abt. 1829 / Died: ?). Edmund was married to Clarissa. He worked as a "machinist." They had 10 children in 23 years! That's about one child every 2 years! Yikes! Bless your child-bearing heart, Clarissa Otis! Here are the names of their children, followed by the year they were born: Edmund Jr (1851), George (1853), Charles (1855), Frank (1857), Frederick (1859), Burrows H. (1861). I bet the "H" in Burrows' name stands for "Hayden." Emma (1863), Ralph (1866), Minnie (1871), Eugene W. (1874). When Edmund Jr. was age 19, George, age 17, and Charles, age 15, they all worked in a "wool mill" together.
>Mary Caroline Otis (Born: abt. 1831 / Died: ?)
>Leander Otis (Born: abt. 1833 / Died?)
>Sarah E. Otis (Born: abt. 1835 / Died: ?)
>Betsey Lord Otis (Born: abt. 1837 / Died: ?)
Erastus Selden Otis (father of Daniel H. Otis)
Son of Stephen Otis, Jr. and Betsey Weidger Daniels
See top of page for the information on Erastus Otis
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Daniel H. Otis: Mayflower Descendant
Not that this is anything unusual because there is estimated to be 10-million living Americans and 35-million people worldwide who are descended from the Pilgrims, according to the General Society of Mayflower Descendants. However, it's still interesting. The Mayflower passenger, Francis Billington would have been Daniel's "5-times Great Grandfather," paternal side. Forgive my primitive genealogical chart.
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Daniel H. Otis: Great-Grandson of Accused Salem Witch, Martha Allen Carrier
Daniel Otis was the 4x great-grandson of accused Salem witch, Martha Allen Carrier. The connection is made through his mother's line, Elizabeth Mary Young and then traced back through his maternal grandfather, William S. Young. To see the genealogy, click here.
Not that this is anything unusual because there is estimated to be 10-million living Americans and 35-million people worldwide who are descended from the Pilgrims, according to the General Society of Mayflower Descendants. However, it's still interesting. The Mayflower passenger, Francis Billington would have been Daniel's "5-times Great Grandfather," paternal side. Forgive my primitive genealogical chart.
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Daniel H. Otis: Great-Grandson of Accused Salem Witch, Martha Allen Carrier
Daniel Otis was the 4x great-grandson of accused Salem witch, Martha Allen Carrier. The connection is made through his mother's line, Elizabeth Mary Young and then traced back through his maternal grandfather, William S. Young. To see the genealogy, click here.
Daniel H. Otis: Great-Grandson of Haddam CT founders, John Bailey and Daniel Brainerd
Daniel Otis was the 5x great-grandson of Haddam, CT founders, John Bailey and Daniel Brainerd. The connection is made through his mother's line, Elizabeth Mary Young, and then traced back through his maternal grandmother, Elizabeth Bailey. To see the genealogy, click here.
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Daniel's Family Members Who Served in the Civil War
First Cousin (once removed) Abner Day Otis: Abner Day Otis was the son of Abner Lord Otis, who was the son of Hayden Otis. Hayden was the half-brother of Erastus S. Otis. This family connection made Abner Day Otis the half, first cousin (once removed) of Daniel Otis.
Abner Day Otis was born January 23, 1843 in Franklin (New London County), Connecticut to Rachel Day Brewster. Nine days later, Rachel died, probably from complications following childbirth (Rachel—Born: February 23, 1813 / Died: February 1, 1843, age 29). Abner Day was her only child. Note: Rachel is buried at Pautipaug Cemetery in Franklin, CT. She was the daughter of Darius Brewster (1778-1856) and Elizabeth Nichols (1784-1845). Sadly, as the dates point out, they outlived their daughter.
Abner Day Otis was born January 23, 1843 in Franklin (New London County), Connecticut to Rachel Day Brewster. Nine days later, Rachel died, probably from complications following childbirth (Rachel—Born: February 23, 1813 / Died: February 1, 1843, age 29). Abner Day was her only child. Note: Rachel is buried at Pautipaug Cemetery in Franklin, CT. She was the daughter of Darius Brewster (1778-1856) and Elizabeth Nichols (1784-1845). Sadly, as the dates point out, they outlived their daughter.
This is an original sampler made by the hands of 13 year-old Rachel Day Brewster in 1826. Her "instructress" was Sally M. Hebbard. What lovely, delicate, and tidy work she had done! I gave cross-stitch a try a few months back and it ended in frustration and failure. It's too fiddly for me. I have no patience for it. So, well-done Rachel!
The pictures of Rachel's sampler were provided by Andrew Richmond of "The Ohio Company Antiques & Art."
The 1850 Census Report shows now motherless, 7 year-old Abner Day Otis living with his uncle Alfred Hayden Otis, along with Alfred's wife and children in Colchester (New London County), CT. Alfred was the brother of Abner Lord Otis. At some point, Abner Day moved to Massachusetts and was living in Holyoke (Hampden County) where, at age 18, he enlisted with Company I of the 10th Massachusetts Infantry.
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| Abner Day Otis is buried in Washington, D.C. at the "Soldier's Home National Cemetery," which is also known as the "United States Soldiers and Airmen's Home Cemetery." Photo of Private Abner Otis’ gravestone taken by “GulfportBob” on August 11, 2009. |
It's extremely sad that both cousins, Daniel Otis and Abner Otis, each lost their mother at such a young and vulnerable age, and that each cousin enlists in the war, only to die serving while equally still young.
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| According to the Franklin, CT Town Records, Abner Day Otis was born January 23, 1843. NOT in February as it says in this clip from the "Annals of 10th Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers in the Rebellion." Abner's mother, Rachel Day Brewster Otis died in February. |
First Cousin John Lord Otis: Daniel's "half," first cousin was the Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General John Lord Otis who served as Colonel and commander of Company B of the 10th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. He was brevetted Brigadier General, on March 13, 1865 for "gallantry at the crossing of James River, VA., June 20, 1864, and at the Second Battle of Deep Bottom and Deep Run, VA." He was wounded in action at New Berne and Kinston, NC. He also authored the Regimental for the 10th CT.
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| Service Record of John Lord Otis |
This link might be of interest, which was written by General John Lord Otis. His photo can be seen here.
First Cousin Uriah H. Otis: Uriah Hayden Otis was the son of Hayden Otis—Erastus Otis's half-brother. This family connection made Uriah the half, first cousin of Daniel Otis. Uriah was also the brother of John Lord Otis, and the uncle of Abner Day Otis.
39 year-old Uriah was a machinist, married, and living in Haddam, Connecticut, when, according to the "Record of Service of Connecticut Men in the Army and Navy of the United States During the War of the Rebellion," he enlisted as a Private in Company C of the 20th Connecticut infantry on September 8, 1862. On December 25, 1863, he was promoted to a Full Corporal, and mustered out on June 13, 1865 at Fort Lincoln in Washington D.C.
Uriah died on May 19, 1887 and is buried at Turkey Hill Cemetery in Haddam (Middlesex County), Connecticut. A bit more can be read about Uriah at the subheading above for his father, "Hayden Otis."
First Cousin Henry R. Young: Daniel's first cousin was Henry Robert Young (1840-1907). Daniel’s mother (Elizabeth M. Young) was sister to Henry’s father (Robert I. Young). At one time, both Henry and Daniel attended the school house in Maromas together.
First Cousin Uriah H. Otis: Uriah Hayden Otis was the son of Hayden Otis—Erastus Otis's half-brother. This family connection made Uriah the half, first cousin of Daniel Otis. Uriah was also the brother of John Lord Otis, and the uncle of Abner Day Otis.
39 year-old Uriah was a machinist, married, and living in Haddam, Connecticut, when, according to the "Record of Service of Connecticut Men in the Army and Navy of the United States During the War of the Rebellion," he enlisted as a Private in Company C of the 20th Connecticut infantry on September 8, 1862. On December 25, 1863, he was promoted to a Full Corporal, and mustered out on June 13, 1865 at Fort Lincoln in Washington D.C.
Uriah died on May 19, 1887 and is buried at Turkey Hill Cemetery in Haddam (Middlesex County), Connecticut. A bit more can be read about Uriah at the subheading above for his father, "Hayden Otis."
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| Gravestone of Uriah Hayden Otis Turkey Hill Cemetery, Haddam, CT |
First Cousin Henry R. Young: Daniel's first cousin was Henry Robert Young (1840-1907). Daniel’s mother (Elizabeth M. Young) was sister to Henry’s father (Robert I. Young). At one time, both Henry and Daniel attended the school house in Maromas together.
While living in Chatham* with his parents and working as a mechanic, 22 year-old Henry R. Young enlisted as "Sergeant" in Company H, 21st Connecticut Infantry on August 6, 1862. He Mustered in as “Second Sergeant” on September 5, 1862, and was appointed “Sergeant Major” on October 12, 1862. Henry was disabled from exposure while on picket duty at Fredericksburg and sent to Eckington Hospital in Washington D.C. on February, 1863. Then on December 12, 1863, he was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps. He mustered out on August 11, 1865. To read more about Henry’s service, and to see his obituary (click the link and scroll down to the "Henry Robert Young" subheading).
The 21st Regiment was organized in August, 1862. In September, while in Washington, they were assigned to the Army of the Potomac. The 21st Regiment was first engaged at the Battle of Fredericksburg, where their loss was not great. Compare this to Daniel Otis’ Regiment—the 14th CT—at the same battle. There, the 14th CT suffered a 45% reduction in ranks, with Company B nearly being destroyed. Because of this, 14th Connecticut’s Lieutenant-Colonel, Sanford H. Perkins, was described as “…most crazy about it and has given notice to the authorities that the Regiment is not fit for duty.”
Note: Company B was Daniel Otis’ Company, and the Battle of Fredericksburg was where he received his mortal wound.
Read more about Henry Young here, under the "Young Family Genealogy." Scroll down to Henry's name.
Just a side point: I find it interesting that the grave of Henry R. Young gives absolutely no indication that he was a Civil War Veteran! Was that omission his wish? Or was it his wife's omission, since she died after him? Most Veterans were proud to have served their country...and survived! Henry's obituary proudly talks about his service. So, for there to be no indication that he was a Veteran is a bit strange.
* Chatham was renamed East Hampton in 1915. Sorry, but they should have kept the name “Chatham.” It sounds better.
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Middle Names
A naming tradition during the past centuries was to give a child a family surname as a middle name. I have even seen surnames used as first names, as well. Some examples of surnames used as first names are (as found on local gravestones in Middletown and Haddam): Bailey, Brainerd, Clark, Hayden, Hubbard, Selden, Smith, and Spencer. I have seen a gravestone for an individual by the name of “Hubbard Spencer,” and another for a “Smith Clark.” There is a gravestone for an individual named “Selden Smith,” and of course for "Hayden Otis." There is another gravestone for “Brainerd Bailey.” Can you imagine being giving the surname “Brainerd” as a first name? Did they call him “Brain” for short? Or maybe “Nerd?”
The middle names are definitely known for Erastus, William and George Otis (their middle names were taken from family surnames or family first names). Erastus Selden Otis. William Young Otis (his mother's maiden name), and George Calvin Otis. I could not definitely confirm the middle names of Daniel Otis and his brother, Robert Otis. But, if enough research and cross-referencing is done, a picture starts to emerge.
It may be possible that Daniel’s middle name was Hayden and Robert’s middle name was Selden.
How in the world did I come to that conclusion?
On the Otis side, there is a connection, by marriage, to the early settling family of Selden. Erastus got that middle name, and perhaps Robert did too, just like his father.
Also, there are several male relatives of Daniel (via his father's half-sibling) with the first-name and middle name Hayden, which is the surname of an another old settling-family. Based on my research, I believe that Erastus Otis and Hayden Otis were "half-siblings."
>Hayden Otis (Erastus Otis' half-brother / Daniel's half uncle). Following the "surname as a first name" naming tradition, Hayden Otis was given the surname "Hayden" as his first name.
>Alfred Hayden Otis (son of Hayden Otis / Daniel's half, first-cousin)
>Charles Hayden Otis (son of Alfred / Daniel's half, first cousin, once-removed)
>Uriah Hayden Otis (son of Hayden Otis / Daniel's half, first cousin). Uriah and Alfred's brother was Abner Lord Otis who was father to Abner Day Otis.
>Ebenezer Weidger Hayden Otis (Erastus Otis' full-brother / Daniel's uncle)
There was also an individual named Calvin Selden Hayden (of Westbrook, CT), who was the grandfather of James P.R. Hayden, the third husband of Amanda Chapman Otis. I can't prove it on paper, but I believe there was some connection with the Erastus Otis family to Calvin Selden Hayden. With the town of Westbrook itself, there definitely was a connection for the Erastus Otis family. Calvin Otis (Erastus' younger brother) married Amanda Chapman of Westbrook. Robert Otis married Charlotte Burdick (Amanda's niece) of Westbrook. Amanda Chapman Otis' third husband (James Hayden) was from Westbrook. When George Otis was age 15, he worked and lived with the Morgan family of Westbrook (George even gave his first son, Frank, the middle name "Morgan."). Robert Otis' daughter (Mary Otis Risk) had a second home in Westbrook. So there is more here than the sometimes limited genealogical record reveals.
Take a look at the names of the Otis brothers, and do the math:
>George Calvin Otis (the name "Calvin" could also have come from his uncle Calvin Otis).
>Robert S. Otis—possibly Selden (same as his father's middle name). Robert's middle name could also possibly be Stephen, after his paternal grandfather and great-grandfather's first name. It just as easily could've been whatever "S" name his maternal grandfather, William S. Young, had. Other family "S" names that are up for grabs are "Silvanus" (his maternal great-grandfather) and "Spencer" (his maternal great-grandmother's maiden name). I just don't know for sure and have not seen Robert's middle name documented, which is a shame and quite frustrating.
>Daniel H. Otis—possibly Hayden (same as the other Hayden names in his family).
So, based on the above information, the odds seem to be in favor of Daniel’s middle name being "Hayden." There is also a possibility that it could be "Henry," as well. Though Daniel had a first-cousin named "Henry Young," it wasn't a very popular family name on the Otis (or Young) side. It certainly wasn't as popular as the family names "Hayden," "Robert," or "William" were! Daniel's middle name could also be whatever his paternal great-grandfather's middle name was: "Stephen H. Otis." I would *love* to know Stephen's middle name!
However, I highly doubt Daniel's middle name is another "H" name like Harrison, Hewitt, or Horatio. The truth is, there is no record of exactly what Daniel's middle name was. I'm just taking a stab at it here, kind of thinking out loud in writing form. The reader can draw their own conclusion if they care to do so.
Side note: My family name is Hayden. My great-great grandfather was William Henry Hayden, a full-blooded Irish-man (from County Wicklow), and Marine who served in the American Civil War. But I descend from the "Irish Hayden side," and the "English Hayden side" made it very clear on a genealogy site that us "lowly" Irish folk have no relation to them. Genealogical snobbery always gives me a chuckle.
Arranged Marriages…of Sorts?
During my research, I noticed a pattern with whom the Otis men chose to take as wives (excluding Daniel Otis and his younger brother, George Otis). All of their wives were from families with a long and distinguished history in America and/or Connecticut—all of them “settling families,” including the Otis’ themselves. The families were:
> Buck (William Y. Otis' mother-in-law’s family)
> Burdick (Robert S. Otis' wife’s family)
> Chapman (Erastus S. Otis' second wife’s family, and Robert S. Otis' mother-in-law’s family)
> Otis (This really goes without saying, but I'll say anyway: the Otis family was a "Boston Brahmin" family from Massachusetts. The Boston Brahmins were mostly descendants of the earliest English colonists. Daniel's father, Erastus S. Otis, was from Mass. But, closer to home, in Connecticut, there was a "large population" of Otis' in Colchester, New London County).
During my research, I noticed a pattern with whom the Otis men chose to take as wives (excluding Daniel Otis and his younger brother, George Otis). All of their wives were from families with a long and distinguished history in America and/or Connecticut—all of them “settling families,” including the Otis’ themselves. The families were:
> Buck (William Y. Otis' mother-in-law’s family)
> Burdick (Robert S. Otis' wife’s family)
> Chapman (Erastus S. Otis' second wife’s family, and Robert S. Otis' mother-in-law’s family)
> Otis (This really goes without saying, but I'll say anyway: the Otis family was a "Boston Brahmin" family from Massachusetts. The Boston Brahmins were mostly descendants of the earliest English colonists. Daniel's father, Erastus S. Otis, was from Mass. But, closer to home, in Connecticut, there was a "large population" of Otis' in Colchester, New London County).
> Taylor (William Y. Otis' wife’s family)—The Taylor family were very successful farmers, ministers, and barristers.
> Young (Daniel Otis' mother’s family + Erastus Otis' first wife. Young was one of the surnames most frequently associated with the early history of Maromas, Middletown, CT).
> I also need to mention several other old settling families. There is the Carrier family of Colchester. Daniel Otis was the 4x great-grandson of accused Salem Witch Martha Carrier. They are related via the Young side of the family (see the genealogy, here).
Then there is the Bailey family. Daniel Otis' maternal grandmother was Elizabeth Bailey of Haddam (she married William S. Young). See the Young genealogy, here.
The Clark, Butler, and Johnson families are some of the other surnames most frequently associated with the early history of Maromas. Two of Daniel Otis' fellow soldiers and citizens of Maromas were Nathaniel Butler and Ashbel Clark. Nathaniel Butler's mother was a "Bailey," Belinda Bailey to be exact, and she was also from Haddam. Daniel's maternal, 2x great-grandmother was a "Clark"—Abigail Clark, and Daniel's aunt by marriage was Laura Johnson from Chatham. She married Daniel's uncle, Robert I. Young.
Then there is also the old settling family of Hayden, who a number of the Otis men were named after (see above), and the family Amanda Chapman married into after the death of Erastus Otis.
During the course of my research, I found Carriers married to Chapmans, and Baileys married to Butlers, and Chapmans too. Clarks who married Youngs, and Clarks who married Spencers, who then married Baileys, and even Baileys who married Baileys—cousin marriage, perhaps?
These families are like a big giant web--all connected somehow, either through blood or marriage. Trust me on this.
Were all these arranged marriages? If not arranged, then strongly encouraged? Perhaps that’s why Robert Otis, at the already established age of 26, seemingly waited around to marry an 18 year-old, because she was from a certain family? Despite what us more “modern” folks like to believe, it wasn’t the norm to marry at 18 years-old back then. By 1860, most Americans were in their early to mid-20’s when they married, with the average age slightly lower in the South.
The pattern seems to end with whom George Otis married. He married a first-generation American woman (Susan Smart) who was a few years older than he was and whose parents were born in England—not very distinguished. Perhaps George was the only one who actually got to freely choose his marriage partner? After all, he did marry after both his parents (Elizabeth and Erastus) died. Very telling, no?
I wonder who Daniel Otis would have been married off to had he lived? Interestingly, Charlotte E. Burdick (Robert Otis' young wife), had a sister named Amanda Otis Burdick who was two-years younger than Daniel. Could this be the individual that both families wanted Daniel to eventually pair-up with? The girl's family gave her the middle name of "Otis," for heaven's sake! Maybe there was some type of expectation there? If so, Daniel obviously had other plans for himself because he "ran away to war." Amanda Otis Burdick eventually ended up marrying young, at age 18, just like her sister Charlotte did. For the curious, Amanda Otis Burdick married Henry E. Stevens of Westbrook. Regardless, I have no doubt that Erastus Otis wanted nothing but the very best for all of his sons.
The deeper I research both the Otis and Young families, the more I see that endogamy was heavily practiced (as opposed to exogamy). Endogamy is when one marries within one’s own group. Exogamy is when one marries someone outside one’s own group, as George Otis did with first-generation American, Susan Smart. Some will argue that the advantage of endogamy is that few outsiders are brought into the group, so inheritance and property stay “within the family.” Well, I argue that the practice narrows the gene pool and may lead to genetic disease and deformities, something that folks back then had no idea about.
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