Thomas Osborn

Thomas Osborn was born about 1750 and died after 1797. Thomas’ son’s indenture to blacksmith George Young names Thomas and implies that he is living in Rensselaer County.  I have not found him there, but there is a Thomas in Hoosick Falls, which is about 25 miles from Troy in 1800, that could be a brother.  He is 25 or under and living with him is another male between 16 and 25, a female of that age, a male under 10 and a female over 45.  This connection is worth exploring along with other possibilities in New York and possibly Connecticut.  

Thomas Osborn and Millicent (unk) were married before 1782.

Signature on William Osborne's indenture

The back of William Osborn's indenture as a blacksmith is sent in the care of Millicent Osborn, who we assume was his mother. William named his daughter Millicent. The indenture was sent to Troy to the home of Mrs. Woods with a note to keep until the arrival of Mrs. Osborn. 

This presents a couple of possibilities, first it would seem that Millicent was not with Thomas when the indenture papers were signed, but she also wasn't in Troy where the apprenticeship was to be. Might she have been in Hoosack where another Thomas had set up household by 1800? Might that have been the family home and Thomas was travelling?  Might she have been visiting relatives somewhere else, going from that visit to Troy?

Among the tidbits of information that are floating in cyberspace is a marriage of Lt. Thomas Osborne to Millicent Garnsey the daughter of Jonathan.  This Millicent died in New York City, according to the cybernotes, in 1803.  The burial is real and it had seemed a likely fit for William's mother, perhaps they are the same person.  A Millicent Osborn died on 27 Apr 1803 in Manhattan, New York. She was buried after 27 Apr 1803 at St. Paul's Chapel and Churchyard in Manhattan, New York.^[1]

The tombstone reads, "In memory of Millicent, wife of Thomas Osborn; who departed this life April the 27th 1803 in the 43d year of her age./ While on this earth I did remain/ I was opprest with sorrow grief and pain / Adieu to friends and foes likewise / My journey is beyond the sky 

There is a burial listed for Thomas Osborn age 64 in St. Paul’s Churchyard 30 May 1811.  The age would be a fit for Millicent’s husband.  No tombstone has been found to date[2].

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[1]. Find AGrave Memorial# 11907379. Saint Paul's Chapel and Churchyard, Manhattan, New York County, New York, USA, Plot: Section C1; Baptisms, Marriages and Burials from 1750, Trinity Wall Street.org: Osborn, Millicent; 4/28/1803; age 47; St. Paul’s Chapel

[2] Baptisms, Marriages and Burials from 1750, Trinity Wall Street.org: Osborn, Thomas; 5/30/1811; age 64; St. Paul’s Chapel

William and Hannah Osborn

William Osborn was born on 3 May 1782 on Long Island, Suffolk County, New York. Adding to the difficulties of pinning down the ancestors of William is the fact that his death certificate states he was born in Long Island.  There are a few Thomas' of the right age located there, but little other information to make a connection. 

In 1797, William was apprenticed to blacksmith George Young in Troy, New York.^[1] In return for his term of indenture, George agreed to provide William with the skills of a blacksmith, food, lodging, clothing, washing and 6 months of schooling. At the end of the term he was to provide him with a new suit of clothes

NY City and County 1832 - David Burr NY
Highlighter shows Cherry and Front Streets

William Osborn and Hannah (unk) were married sometime between his release from indenture on 3 May 1803 and 1808 when their daughter Millicent was born.

Hannah was born on 9 Aug 1785, her son William's death certificate says that his mother was born in New Jersey. With no surname it is difficult to look for records.  Available marriage records have been checked in both New York and New Jersey with no result. 

It is unknown when William moved from Troy to New York City.  Millicent was supposedly born in Lansingburgh, which was a few miles from Troy, and is now a part of the city.  Henry born a year later was supposedly born in New York City.  

We do know that he is listed at 63 Front Street (Old Ship & Cuyler Alley) in Manhattan at some point.^[2] This may be the address of his smithy rather than a home address. By 1826 the family was living on Cherry Street.

William was injured in a fall caused by a fit and died on 19 Apr 1826 at the age of 43 in Manhattan, New York.^[3]

He was buried after 21 Apr 1826 in Trinity (St. John’s Burial Ground) in Manhattan, New York.^[4]  In his journal, grandson Will Chapman transcribes the tombstone , "Sacred/To the Memory of/William Osborn/who departed this life/April 19,1826/in the 44th year of his age."

This cemetery was turned into a park in the late 19^th century.  The tombstones were buried rather than moved.  

William died intestate and Hannah was appointed administratrix of his estate which was all located in New York

Hannah was living in Ward Eight in New York City in 1840.^[5] Living with Hannah were her son William Henry, her daughter Millicent who had been widowed in 1832 and Millicent’s three children.

At the time of her death on 1 Aug 1847, Hannah was living at 36 White Street.^[6] Her death certificate says that her body was removed from the city for burial.  No age, maiden name or place of nativity was recorded.

The Brooklyn Eagle reported her death, "Monday, Aug. 2, Hannah relict of William Osborn in 60y."

Hannah is buried in Lot 2066 section 66 in Greenwood Cemetery in Brooklyn.^[7]  One might wonder why she is not buried with William, perhaps she was not a member of Trinity Church, or her children might have been drawn to the new rural cemetery.   Greenwood was not in existence at the time that William was buried and by the time Hannah was buried, burials in downtown NYC had been curtailed.   Here is no stone for Hannah in the Graveyard.  She is buried in the same plot with Ezekiel Applegate, to date no connection has been found.

William and Henry had two known children.  While it is possible there were others, when Hannah died in 1847 only William H and Millicent Clark were listed as heirs.

William and Hannahs Dropbox File

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[1]. Original Indenture Papers -. signed 6 jul 1797 William Osborn son of Thomas apprentice blacksmith to Geo. Young. Owned by Gregory Trindle June 2014

[2]. Chapman, William Osborne Sr., The Journals of William Osborne Sr.  A collection of sayings, civil war remembrances, insurance sales , names dates and addresses of relatives and other trivia.  Owned by Gregory Trindle June 2014.  William found the address in an old Directory in the possession of Husseys Express on Pine Street - Did not note year of directory - but would need to be prior to 1826.

[3]. New York City New York  Death Register 6, Willm Osborne, 19 April 1826;  New York City: Letters of Administration Book 22:30.

[4]. Tombstone reading by William Osborn Chapman, Sr. prior to 1900.  Trinity Cemetery, head of Varick Street, New York City, "Sacred/To the Memory of/William Osborn/who departed this life/April 19,1826/in the 44th year of his age."  Find a Grave Memorial 132020949; Baptisms, Marriages and Burials from 1750, Trinity Wall Street.org: Osborne, William 04/21/1826 age 44, Gravesite: St. John’s

[5]. Bureau of the Census RG 29 M794 580 Rolls, Sixth Census of the United States 1840, population schedules (Washington, National Archives and Records Administration), Roll: 302; Page: 385; Image: 779.

[6]. Death Record, Certificate: at the time of her death Hannah was residing at 36 White Street.  Her body was removed from the city for burial and no age, maiden name nor place of nativity was recorded.  New York City New York Book 15, Hannah Osborn.  From an Original Obituary, Brooklyn Eagle 4 Aug 1847.

[7]. Find A Grave, Find A Grave Memorial# 58818005.