Pedigree: Me > Norma Haynes > Lillian Laffin > Asa Laffin > Thomas Laffin > John Laffin > Thomas Laffin (my 4th great grandfather)
The earliest ancestor of the Hants County, Nova Scotia Laffin line was Thomas Laffin. It is alleged that Thomas Laffin was originally from Ireland. The first known record of him is recorded in the Craig Index of the 2nd Battalion of the 84th Regiment as Private Thomas Laffin in the 2nd Company. The muster roll for Dec. 1782 - Oct 1783 given in Logan shows that he was at the Command of Spanish River (Cape Breton, Nova Scotia).
At the conclusion of the Revolutionary War in 1783, land grants were given to the 84th Regiment British Loyalists in Hants County, Nova Scotia, which became Douglas township.
" The Commissioners Report of 1800 lists 700 acres ( Lot 7C ) on the Kennetcook River as the property of Thomas Laffin. This land was obtained by a grant of the regimental lands of the 84th Regiment and by purchase from other grantees. The land had been occupied since 1786 and included a house, 15 acres of land. There was also some stock. "
However, because of improper recording and loss of records, the land grants were escheated (transferred) back to the British government. This resulted, in time, with a successful petition to have proper title to these lands returned as transcribed below (with original spellings) in 1815:
"Douglass 1 Jany 1815
"To the Honorable Speaker & the Honourable House of Assembly----
"Gentlemen,
"The Pettition of your Subscribers Most respectfully Sheweth-------
That Whereas in the year of our Lord 1783, on the Proclamation of Peace between Great Britain and the United States of AMERICA, his Majestys late 84th regiment was discharged with a Promise of a certain proportion of Lands to Officers Non commisd officers & privates, free of any charges from his Majestys Government as a compensation for their Servises during the late contest with america, to such as would actually Settle and become Inhabitants: In consequence of which Colo. Small the commandant of sd. regt. Settled in the wilderness where they encountered many difiquelties Namely up cannetcook, five mile & Nine Mile Rivers, now called the Township of Douglass and because the Major part of sd. regit. did abscond and abandon their Lands, and a number of other persons (trying to avail themselves of the same Priviledge the Soldiers had promised) Settled in among us who were actually Soldiers, and on acct. of Colo. Smalls Grant not being fully Complied with according to Government wish, it became Escheated with that reserve, that those disbanded Soldiers whom had actually Settled Should be established in their former Promise, and the same lands, altho long ago Settled, is still Lying under the same escheet, & neither of your Petitioners, having any title to our farmes. We therefore pray the Lajislative body will represent our Situation to his Majestys Council & to the Gover[n]our, expressing our wish to obtain a Genel. Grant to the undersigned who were actually Soldiers as it was originally intended of their then Promised Locations for themselves & families, Previous to our new applications Sincere whereof a return will be laid before you with the names of the occupiors of the above description at present residing in the above Township, and your Petitioners will every pray--"
[The document is signed by 40 individual Loyalists...] including Thomas Laffin.
Information about the family of Thomas Laffin is lacking,and his date and place of death are unknown with no known headstone. A son, John Laffin, was born about 1797 and married Olive Anthony (the first child of John Anthony and Jane Densmore). John and Olive had 12 children, the first born being Thomas Laffin, father of Asa Laffin.
Monday, February 27, 2017
Friday, February 10, 2017
Deacon Cornelius Van Sickle (1740 - 1820)
My Relationship: Me > William R. Compton II > William R Compton > Norris Compton > Peter Compton > Stephen Compton (wife Anna Van Sickle) > Cornelius Van Sickle (my 4th great grandfather)
Cornelius Van Sickle, the first child of Andrew Van Sickle and Mary Landen, was born in Hunterdon County, in the State of New Jersey about the year 1741. He married (about 1768) his second cousin, Miss Anne Van Sickle, by whom he had eight children--all daughters.
Cornelius is said to have walked (before 1781) from Hunterdon to Sussex County with a willow cane which he cut in two and planted on the homestead in Wantage Township, (near what was called the "Van Sickle School House" in 1880) from which grew two large trees. He was very supple, as well as athletic, and many traditions exist in regard to his wonderful feats of strength and agility.
Many years prior to its legal formation, ministers from the Minisink Dutch Reformed Church held worship services in the Clove Valley. Traditionally, services were held in Helmet Titsworth’s barn or in private homes until a log chapel could be built. One church historian recorded a romantic anecdote that according to tradition that during summer months the congregation’s first pastor, the Rev. Elias Van Bunschooten, would ride down the countryside several miles below the Clove to a certain great spreading pine tree and there standing in its ample crotch would preach to gatherings on the hillside on Sunday afternoons.
Cornelius signed a petition for a new church, along with Garret Van Sickle, John Van Sickle, David Compton (father of Stephen Compton who was the subject of a previous post on this blog), Jacob Compton, and 50 others on 21 August 1787. It read as follows:
"To the Reverend Classis of New Brunswick:
"Gentlemen - We, inhabitants of the Clove and its vicinity, Beg Leaf to present ourselves in the following manner: Our ancestors a few in number who formerly belonged to the Dutch Reformed Church settled Our County about forty years since under part of which time the Reverend Mr. Thomas Romin By permission of his Church Council and people of the Minissink preached some of his time amongst us. By his leaving them we Became again Destitute till the Reverend Mr. Bunscooting was installed in Minissink Congregations, who labored some time amongst us, whose labors to appearans has Been attended with the Blessings of God, So as we have upwards of thirty communicant members Amongst us. We the under Mentioned being Ardently Desirous of the propagation of the Gospel and of being settled under the Constitution of the Low Dutch Reformed Church, Beg permission that you would be pleased to Grant and Appoint the Reverend Mr. Elias Bunschooting or any parson or parsons you may think proper to assist us in appointing and establishing us proper Church officers in order to Rule and Represent us for the future, and Grant us such supplies in our Destitute state as you in your wisdom shall think Meet and Necessary. May the Blessing of Almighty God attend your Councills and we your petitioners are in Duty Bound to Pray."
The petition was approved and a log church was erected in 1787 at a site about 150 feet south of the present day Clove Church. The Reverend Elias Van Bunschooten, having received the calling, then became the first pastor of this Church. The Church was organized with 50 members - 25 males and the same number of females. The Church grew and flourished until the death of Rev, Van Bunschooten in 1815. Another pastor could not be found and in 1818 the Clove Church became the First Presbyterian Church of Wantage. In 1829, the old log meeting house was torn down and a new church was erected at the present site.
Cornelius was elected Deacon of the Clove Dutch Reformed Church in 1801, and was distinguished for his piety.
He died in Sussex County, New Jersey, about the year 1820. His daughters, Anna Van Sickle, (wife of Stephen Compton), and Rachel Van Sickle removed to Western New York, and Elizabeth Van Sickle to Pennsylvania.
From "A history of the Van Sickle family in the United States of America"...pp.100-101
Cornelius Van Sickle, the first child of Andrew Van Sickle and Mary Landen, was born in Hunterdon County, in the State of New Jersey about the year 1741. He married (about 1768) his second cousin, Miss Anne Van Sickle, by whom he had eight children--all daughters.
Cornelius is said to have walked (before 1781) from Hunterdon to Sussex County with a willow cane which he cut in two and planted on the homestead in Wantage Township, (near what was called the "Van Sickle School House" in 1880) from which grew two large trees. He was very supple, as well as athletic, and many traditions exist in regard to his wonderful feats of strength and agility.
Many years prior to its legal formation, ministers from the Minisink Dutch Reformed Church held worship services in the Clove Valley. Traditionally, services were held in Helmet Titsworth’s barn or in private homes until a log chapel could be built. One church historian recorded a romantic anecdote that according to tradition that during summer months the congregation’s first pastor, the Rev. Elias Van Bunschooten, would ride down the countryside several miles below the Clove to a certain great spreading pine tree and there standing in its ample crotch would preach to gatherings on the hillside on Sunday afternoons.
Cornelius signed a petition for a new church, along with Garret Van Sickle, John Van Sickle, David Compton (father of Stephen Compton who was the subject of a previous post on this blog), Jacob Compton, and 50 others on 21 August 1787. It read as follows:
"To the Reverend Classis of New Brunswick:
"Gentlemen - We, inhabitants of the Clove and its vicinity, Beg Leaf to present ourselves in the following manner: Our ancestors a few in number who formerly belonged to the Dutch Reformed Church settled Our County about forty years since under part of which time the Reverend Mr. Thomas Romin By permission of his Church Council and people of the Minissink preached some of his time amongst us. By his leaving them we Became again Destitute till the Reverend Mr. Bunscooting was installed in Minissink Congregations, who labored some time amongst us, whose labors to appearans has Been attended with the Blessings of God, So as we have upwards of thirty communicant members Amongst us. We the under Mentioned being Ardently Desirous of the propagation of the Gospel and of being settled under the Constitution of the Low Dutch Reformed Church, Beg permission that you would be pleased to Grant and Appoint the Reverend Mr. Elias Bunschooting or any parson or parsons you may think proper to assist us in appointing and establishing us proper Church officers in order to Rule and Represent us for the future, and Grant us such supplies in our Destitute state as you in your wisdom shall think Meet and Necessary. May the Blessing of Almighty God attend your Councills and we your petitioners are in Duty Bound to Pray."
The petition was approved and a log church was erected in 1787 at a site about 150 feet south of the present day Clove Church. The Reverend Elias Van Bunschooten, having received the calling, then became the first pastor of this Church. The Church was organized with 50 members - 25 males and the same number of females. The Church grew and flourished until the death of Rev, Van Bunschooten in 1815. Another pastor could not be found and in 1818 the Clove Church became the First Presbyterian Church of Wantage. In 1829, the old log meeting house was torn down and a new church was erected at the present site.
Cornelius was elected Deacon of the Clove Dutch Reformed Church in 1801, and was distinguished for his piety.
He died in Sussex County, New Jersey, about the year 1820. His daughters, Anna Van Sickle, (wife of Stephen Compton), and Rachel Van Sickle removed to Western New York, and Elizabeth Van Sickle to Pennsylvania.
From "A history of the Van Sickle family in the United States of America"...pp.100-101
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