General Calvin Gardner SAWYER

Born: 12 Mar 1796 at Carpenter's Point, NY
Died: 02 Apr 1874 at Middletown, NY (78yo)

Father: Benjamin Sawyer
Mother: Hannah WOOD

Spouse1: Hannay (Hannah) VALENTINE
Spouse2: Harriet (or 'Alida' ARMSTRONG [THOMPSON?]) SMITH
Spouse3: Harriet (WHITE) CASH
Spouse4: Effa Ann WHITE

Children:

with Hannay, probably a sister to Stephen VALENTINE (and therefore Aunt of Mary):

  • John Valentine
  • Rev. Samuel, a Presbyterian clergyman of Marion, IN
  • Mary E., m. Alonzo BANKS of Pine Valley, Chemung Co., NY
  • Hannah V., m. De Witt C. PAYNE, formerly of Goshen, later moved to Battle Creek, MI
  • Harriet (FindAGrave #?)
  • Gabriel, moved to Clarence, IA
  • Caroline

    with Harriet (or 'Alida' ARMSTRONG) SMITH (FindAGrave), daughter of Judge ARMSTRONG of Warwick, NY, widow of Mr. SMITH:

  • [Frances] Alida (FindAGrave #?), m. Joel H. COLEMAN of Blooming-Grove, NY
  • Calvin J., a lawyer of Clinton, TN

    with Harriet (WHITE) CASH (FindAGrave), b. 18 Aug 1815, d. 7 May 1861, m. 25 Dec 1844, widow of James M. CASH, brother of Dr. Merritt H. CASH, daughter of Maj. John WHITE and Effa BROWN of Wallkill:

  • William White (FindAGrave) m. ?

    with Effa Ann WHITE, sister of Calvin's 3rd wife, b. 15 Oct 1809, still alive in 1881 and supplier of the portrait at right (from source 2):

  • no children




    At right, Calvin's portrait and signature ===>>

    		•


    Calvin was born on the family homestead near Carpenter's Point, NY (near present-day Port Jervis). Calvin and his brothers often helped their father in running the ferry across the Delaware River.

    During the active part of his life, Calvin resided near Goshen, on the farm afterwards owned by Garret THEW and in 1881 where Dominie (Rev.) STAATS resided. Upon retirement, he moved to (nearby) Middletown (NY) and stayed for 1 year. He then moved to (nearby) Hampton burgh (NY), where he resided 9 years, after which he returned to Middletown and stayed for 16 years until his death.

    The writer of his biography in source 2 writes:

    He was a man of decided convictions, good business ability and sterling integrity. He was well informed upon the current topics of his day and always interested in local and national legislation, although no seeker after place himself. He received his military title from his connection with the old State militia and was familiarly known among the prominent men of the last generation in Orange County as sociable, frank and always generous and courteous.

    The reference New York Marriages 1740s-1880s includes that M. E. SAWYER m. Alonzo BANKS 29 May 1849 (via post by Mary [bigmikek@earthlink.net] to the rootsweb SAWYER-L list).

    Elaine MASON found a reference to the death of a Calvin C. SAWYER's wife Harriet in the OCGS newsletter, Vol. 10, 1980, pg. 21: Harriet wife of Calvin C. SAWYER, d. 24 Dec 1812, aged 41 yrs., 10 mos., 12 days (not sure if there's any connection).

    Andrea GALE-KELLY writes "My GALE ancestors lived across the road from Calvin G SAWYER. Both parents died 1846 and C G Sawyer was the executor of the administration and guardian to the two children. I found out later that Daniel GALE's wife Belinda Jane REEVE had a step mother named Mary VALENTINE. The owner of the REEVE bible has the bible of Mary VALENTINE REEVE. Apparently Mary and Hannah were sisters.I thought maybe that was why Calvin Sawyer and his wife Hannah were so kind to take in the children when their parents died. Hannah would have been their step Aunt. If you could help with any information I would appreciate it,I've been stuck at Daniel for years.Thank you. A. Gale-Kelly"

    The only GALE connection to the SAWYERs I have (besides this one) is Marie GALE, who was the second wife of Calvin's brother Moses.

    On Sa 22 Feb 2014 Nicole (nsvecchi@yahoo.com) writes 'I'm a contributor to FindAGrave and am looking for [Calvin's] burial location. His [3rd] wife Harriet WHITE (FindAGrave 35058511) as well as several of his children (Frances Alida, Harriet, and William) are buried at Scotchtown [NY?] Cemetery ... William White SAWYER (FindAGrave 35058365) was the son of Harriet and Calvin ... I'm not sure that the Scotchtown Cemetery is completely documented so perhaps he's there. I took several hundred photos (including the above mentioned children and Harriet) but his headstone was not among my photos ... It appears that Calvin G SAWYER's [2nd] wife Harriet THOMPSON (widow SMITH) is buried in Florida, NY near her family (FindAGrave 37229898)'. I responded that I don't yet know where Calvin is buried, best guess Middletown where he was living at the time of his death? Or perhaps due to his high military rank he was granted burial at a nearby military cemetery?

    For Contemporary Events see page for Calvin's older brother (and my ancestor) James.

    Sources:

  • Dear Folks
  • History of Orange County, NY, 1683-1881, E. M. Ruttenber and L. H. Clark, 1881