Suffolk County Historical Society

300 West Main Street

Riverhead, New York

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Carrie's Letters A Glimpse into Rural Family Life 

Baiting Hollow, NY

A box of long-forgotten letters written by a young woman, mainly to her sister, provides an intimate insight into her life as she studies to be a teacher, becomes the wife of a farmer, then the mother of six sons before her untimely death at the age of 48.  You will get to know Carrie, her thoughts, sense of humor, and views of the world around her.  The addition of detailed sidebars containing connections of family members, along with newspaper accounts of events referred to in the letters offers an amazing glimpse into rural family life from 1880-1910.

For additional posts and information click Tab Carrie’s Letters

Hope to see you there,

If you have any corrections or additions or stories to share, I look forward to hearing them.

Enjoy the journey,

Debby

Jemima Benjamin Warner

Jemima Benjamin Warner is my paternal 3x great-grandmother.  What can I find out about her?

• Suffolk County was created in 1683.  The Revolutionary War ended in 1783 and the first census of the United States was done in 1790 with Census day being 2 August 1790. 

When searching the census for Southold, Suffolk County, New York the following Heads of Households are listed;

• Nathan Benjamin Junior  (father of Jemima)
• James Warner (father of Daniel Warner)

Jemima was born 7 February 1791 in Baiting Hollow, Suffolk County, New York.  Her parents were Nathan Benjamin and Joanna Swezey Benjamin.

Jemima grew up as the 4th child of 8 children:  Joanna, Nathan, Polly, Jemima, John, Daniel Sarah and Goldsmith.

• Riverhead was created from Southold in 1792.  According to the 1800 US Federal census Riverhead had a population of 1,498.

Jemima, aged 21, married Daniel Warner, aged 28, about 1812 in Baiting Hollow, New York.  They were both born and raised in the community of Baiting Hollow.  I find it interesting in the 1790 census that both families lived next to each other, farm family neighbors.

• When Jemima and Daniel married in 1812 War was happening with Great Britain.  “The War of 1812 gave Suffolk County little trouble except for the worry of attack which threatened at all times from the sea.”  from LI Genealogy.  The family lived in Baiting Hollow close to the Long Island Sound.  Did they ever go to the Cliffs of the Sound and look for British war ships?

Jemima and Daniel had 6 children: Lewis, Goldsmith, Daniel (my 2x great-grandfather), Joanna, Jemima and Susan.

1850 US Federal Census taken on 12 September shows Jemima as 59 years old living with her husband Daniel (aged 65), her sons Lewis (aged 37) and Goldsmith (aged 34) and daughters Susan (aged 24) and Jemima (aged 15) in Riverhead, Suffolk County, New York.

1860 US Federal Census taken on 2 July shows Jemima as 69 years old, living only with husband Daniel (age 75) in Riverhead, Suffolk County, New York.

1865 New York State Census shows Jemima as 74 years old, living with husband Daniel (age 81), and sons Lewis (age 50) and Goldsmith (age 48) in District 2, Riverhead, Suffolk County, New York.

1870 US Federal Census taken on 15 July shows Jemima age 78 living with her sons Lewis (age 59) and Goldsmith (age 54) in Riverhead, Suffolk County, New York.  Her husband Daniel had died in March of that year.

Jemima was listed as a deceased member of the Baiting Hollow Congregational Church in their 1882 Manual of the Congregational Church in Baiting Hollow, L. I.  (See post Don’t Forget Church Records-The Warner Family)

Jemima died 8 months after her husband Daniel on 9 November 1870 at the age of 79 and is buried in the Baiting Hollow Congregational Cemetery.  The same area she lived her entire life.  I wonder how far she ever traveled from her home?

Wonderings: 

• My great-grandfather was named John Benjamin Warner.  I wonder if the Benjamin as a middle name was to honor/remember his grandmother’s maiden name or was he named John Benjamin after his grandmother’s brother-John Benjamin?
• In general it’s interesting to see names repeat in subsequent generations.
• I wonder why Goldsmith (never married) and Lewis (who was separated from his wife) are not living with the parents in 1860 but are back with them in 1865 and 1870?  I wonder if they were just not recorded in 1860?

If you have any corrections, additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.
Enjoy the journey,
Debby

Don’t Forget Church Records-the Warner Family

On a visit back East several years ago I visited the Suffolk County Historical Society as I frequently do.  At that time I was on a hunt for information that would help me understand some information in my Great-Grandmother Carrie Terry Warner’s letters.  (See post Carrie’s Letters and additional posts labeled Carrie’s Letters ) I knew from Carrie’s Letters that a significant part of of my great grandparents’ lives was built around the church community.  The church they attended was the Baiting Hollow Congregational Church in Baiting Hollow, New York.  I recently came across this pamphlet from 1882 I had gotten a copy of and was reviewing the information in it.  I realized what a wealth of information there was in just a few pages:

(click to images to enlarge)

To begin with there was a history of the Church:

I grew up in the area and knew this church because of Girl Scouts and yearly chicken barbeques, roaming the cemetery with my grandparents, etc. but I had never heard about how the church was started. 

I thought it was interesting to read the ‘Covenant’, or agreement that the members of the Church had.  This helps put the time period and the community into perspective for me.  It helps me understand what their beliefs were and how they valued others in the church community:

I was surprised to read that as part of their ‘Covenant’ they agreed not to use ‘intoxicating liquors as a beverage’.  I know from Carrie’s Letters that she would become part of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union.  Now I can see the connection after reading the ‘Covenant’ and understanding the beliefs of this farming community.

In just looking at the names of my Warner ancestors I have learned:

• My 3x great grandparents Daniel Warner I (1784-1870) and his wife Jemima Benjamin Howell (1791-1870) had been members of the Church.
• My 2x great uncle Goldsmith Warner (1815-1897) and brother of Daniel II was a member of the Church.
• My 2x great aunt Susan Warner Cleaves was a member of the church.  (I believe this is the Susan Warner on the list.)
• My 2x great grandparents Daniel Warner II (1818-1895) was not listed as a member of the Church but his wife Eleanor Howell Warner was a member of the Church.  I wonder why Daniel wasn’t a member?
• Daniel and Eleanor’s son Allen W. (1842-1927) and his 1st wife Achsah Howell Warner (1841-1846) and second wife Isabella Robinson Howell were members of the Church.
• Daniel and Eleanor’s son Eugene G. (1864-1952)
• My great grandfather John Benjamin Warner would have been 20 years old and unmarried at this time, so, I wonder if he joined after he and Carrie Terry Warner were married in 1885?
• I also wonder about my great grandfather’s other siblings who are not listed as members of the Church?

Knowing more about the Church community and beliefs of the time also helps tell the story of my ancestors’ lives.  Don’t forget when you are searching for information to also look for church records and information.

If you have any corrections or additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.
Enjoy the journey,
Debby