C E L E B R AT I N G T H E P E O P L E O F T H E F I N G E R L A K E S

LAKE LIFE

Sunday: Community

Sunday, March 22, 2009

C3

PORT BYRON

Search for roots uncovers mystery

The upstate winter weather was no deterrent for our recent visitors from Prunedale, a community near Salinas, Calif. Lynda Leah Brumm Marsh and her husband Steve visited in January to find the graves of her ancestor Thomas Jefferies Dawn of Throop as Roe well as related families at Port Byron. Leahs ancestor Thomas Jefferies served as a soldier in the American Revolution and some of the family lived at Port Byron. Thomas son, the Rev. John Jeffries, is buried in the Old Port Byron Cemetery or King Cemetery and was married to Clarissa King, a daughter of Philip King and Hannah Warren. With the snow, we were not able to visit all the markers of interest but seeing Philip Kings grave was one of the highlights at Port Byron. Afterwards we continued to Throop where we walked on foot to search for the grave of Thomas Jefferies at Pine Hill Cemetery. Then we proceeded to the Centerport Aqueduct Park in Weedsport. The tour closed with a stop at the Erie Canal Lock at Baldwinsville. They left with a better appreciation of where her ancestors came from, not just dates and graves. The tour would not have been complete without sharing some of our rich canal history, a subject that has been covered so well by our town historian Mike Riley. It was a pleasure to assist the Marsh family but another surprise was just around the corner. The next day Leah and Steve visited Auburn and were informed that her ancestor Thomas Jefferies had worked on the Elijah Miller home, now the Seward House, and that Thomas apprentice was Brigham Young, the future Mormon leader. With renewed excitement they contacted me with the details, which motivated me to look a little closer at Thomas Jefferies. It wasnt long before I discovered a discrepancy. The sources all agree that Brigham Young was hired for interior painting but what was unclear was which Jeffries had hired him. The Mormon Church site listed that Young was apprenticed to John C. Jeffries and other limited Tremper and Jeffries Family Genealogy says they were likely uncles or cousins. The history of John Chapman Jeffries on page 22 also states that he manufactured chairs in his shop. Local papers show that John C. Jeffries did advertise his trade as a house and sign painter, as well as selling chairs. Census records also show that John C. Jeffries lived in Aurelius and was employed in manufacturing while Thomas lived in Throop and was employed in agriculture. Then there is an 1877 article in the Auburn NY Journal regarding a number of papers of The Advocate of the People printed at Auburn in 1816, which again says it was John C. Jeffries that hired Young. There is no doubt that both Jeffries families made valuable contributions to our area. The Rev. John Jeffries has associations to several churches in the county, including the Montezuma Baptist Church and The First Baptist Church in Port Byron. His brother George P. Jeffries would serve on the building committee for Free Photo provided Bridge that was constructed across the outlet of the Cayuga Lynda Leah Marsh doesnt let upstate New York weather get in the Lake, crossing the Seneca River. way of searching for her roots. She stands with her Patriot Ancestor Elder John Jeffries gave a Thomas Jeffries, a Revolutionary War Soldier buried at Pine Hill prayer and sermon for the Cemetery in Throop. Fourth of July celebration held at the bridge in 1831. Both sources say it was Thomas JefJohn and Christopher Jeffries feries. Brittany Chapman, an were pioneer settlers of intern at the Church History Throopsville. Library in Salt Lake City, Utah According to the family hisresponded that John C. Jeffries tory, John Chapman Jeffries is cited in the book Brigham would later move to New RichYoung-The New York Years. mond, Ohio where he built Peter Wisbey, executive another chair shop. It also director of the Seward House, states that he established the replied that he loves a good first drug store there and mystery and that he also was Article provided served as mayor from 1838 to able to reproduce both versions. From the Auburn Western 1839, living until 1852. The famiThe Genealogical and Bioly surname can be found as JefFederalist, The Advocate of the graphical Sketch of the Late feries, Jeffries and Jeffery. People article. Honorable Elijah Miller by Benjamin F. Hall c. 1877 says Sources: Brigham The 1869 History of Auburn that Thomas Jeffries, a chair Youngs Homes edited by Colleen by Henry Hall only states that maker and housepainter, was Whitley, Brigham Young-AmeriYoung worked in Jeffries chair hired to paint the woodwork can Moses by Leonard J Arringshop, with no first name stated. ton, The History of Auburn by and with him he brought the renowned Brigham Young, then However, in 1811 Thomas, Henry Hall 1869, Genealogical Christopher and John C. Jefa journeyman of his to assist and Biographical Sketch of the fries all contributed to the subhim. late Honorable Elijah Miller by scriptions to the building fund However the book Brigham Benjamin F. Hall c. 1877, A of the common schools and Youngs Homes as well as History of the Tremper and JefJohn served as one of the first Brigham Young-American fries Families by Richard Hayvestrymen at St. Peters Church man Tremper 1971, Internet Moses both say it was John C. in Auburn, and Thomas was Jeffries. Wisbey also stated that searches and e-mail interviews present at the first meeting. while he cant say positively with Peter Wisbey and Brittany John Chapman Jeffries was also Chapman which Jeffries is correct, it is possible that perhaps the write- one of the subscribers for the up by B.F. Hall simply contained founding of North Street Ceme- Dawn Roe is historian for the village an error, having used the wrong tery in Auburn. The exact relaof Port Byron. She can be reached tionship between Thomas and first name. at 776-8446 or e-mail beatatune@tds.net John C. is not known but the It is interesting to note that