Elizabeth Crysdale, born in 1779 in Charlotte County, New York, daughter of John and Rebecca Chrysdale was the wife of Daniel Ostrom. Originally from England John was a United Empire Loyalist as was Daniel Ostrom's father Roelif. Both were said to be spies. How one could prove that is beyond me but it makes for good conversation. She and Daniel married in 1798 so it would appear that her family came to Canada shortly after the war and settled in Thurlow and Sidney Townships, Hastings County, Ontario. Elizabeth and Daniel had twelve children.
Minerva Martha Ostrom (1800 - 1858) -- Col. Elijah Ketchison (1795 - 1890) Minerva Ostrom, eldest daughter of Daniel and Isabel married Col. Elijah Ketcheson May 19, 1819 in Sidney Twp, Hastings, Ontario. The couple farmed in Sidney Township just east of the Ostrom farms. They had nine children. Minerva died May 04, 1858 in Belleville while Elijah lived to be ninety-five and died July 11, 1890.
Nancy Ostrom (1801 - 1850) -- James Graham (1893 - 1867) Nancy was born in Sidney Twp, Hastings , Ontario, September 20 1801. She married James Graham January 11, 1825. James was a farmer originally from Scotland. They had six children from their union, Both passed away in Sidney Township, Nancy, October 29, 1850 and James, June 09, 1867.
Maria Ostrom (1806 - Joseph K. Herchmer (1806 - 1833) Born in Sidney Twp, Hastings, Ontario December 03, 1806 Maria Ostrom would become a widow shortly after she married. Her husband Joseph Herchimer born July 15, 1806, died on the 26th of April 1833 at twenty-six years of age. They could not have been married long. The couple had no children. She never remarried and later lived with her spinster sister Martha. Together they took in their youngest sister's daughter Martha Maria Ketcheson, when her young mother died. With hopes of raising her together Martha Maria's life was cut short at fourteen, leaving their aunts to mourn the loss. Maria died September 20, 1884 outliving the sister she lived with as well. Maria and her husband are buried in the Belleville Cemetery as is her adopted niece Martha Maria Ketcheson.
Martha Ostrom (1808 - 1877) Martha, born August 8, 1808 in Sidney Twp, Hastings, Ontario. Martha would never marry and went to live with her sister Maria when she was widowed at a young age. Together they took in their niece Martha Maria an infant, when her mother died in 1843. Martha Maria would only live to be fourteen. Her aunt Martha would live until August 17, 1877. She is buried in the Belleville Cemetery.
Harriet Ostrom (1810 - 1892) -- David White (1812 - 1872) Born in Sidney Twp, Hastings, May 24, 1810, Harriet Ostrom was Daniel and Isabel's sixth child. She married David White also born in Sidney Twp, Hastings, Ontario, in 1812. The couple had four children. It is interesting to note that David and Harriet were first cousins. I found Harriet in the 1851 census at age forty-two living with a young daughter of fourteen. Her husband is not there nor are the other two children. According to a family member the couple were separated by 1851, explaining why she was living with her father. This source has been unable to find the whereabouts of David in 1851 but in 1861 he can be found in Hamilton Twp., and 1871 in Alnwick Twp. The first child died but a month after his birth while they were living near Cobourg. My contact also found the missing children. The first, a son, died one month after birth and is buried in Cobourg. The second would appear to have followed his father, moving up toward Peterborough. The third a daughter, remained with her mother after the separation and until her marriage. The fourth, another boy, was born in Cobourg in 1843. He lived with his uncle Henry in 1851 in Huntington Twp., but is lost from there. The 1861 census has her living with her nephew in a frame house next to her older brother Simeon Wellington. None of her children mentioned, however listed are her and her nephew Henry, with mention of one male and two females in the house. This could have been an oversight by the census taker and would account for her daughter Melissa.(1) David White died in 1872 in Allandale, Otonabee Twp across Rice Lake from Alnwick. Harriet died July 17, 1892 and is buried in the Belleville Cemetery. There is a large headstone for David White his wife and others.
Isaac Brock Ostrom (1812 -1898 -- Mary Grant (1822 - 1904) On May 20, 1812 Daniel and Isabel had their second boy but already their seventh child. The tale has it that when he was just an infant Sir Isaac Brock stopped in at the family tavern on his way to Queenston Heights. When he saw the baby in the cradle he picked it up and kissed him. Daniel and Isabel honoured him by calling the child his name. Brock married Mary Grant born August 31, 1822 and the couple had three girls over their lifetime as man and wife. In the 1861 census Brock and Mary are living in a two story frame house with their own children as well as Brock's two sisters Maria Herchimer (widow) and Martha (spinster) and their niece Martha Matilda, daughter of Sarah Ann Ostrom Ketchison and Gilbert Harris Ketchison. Brock died April 18, 1898 and Mary, May 13, 1904. Both are buried in the Belleville Cemetery.
John McIntosh Ostrom (1814 -1857 -- Catherine Bonisteel (apprx 1821 - John born in Sidney Township, Hastings, Ontario, April 23, 1814 worked as a farmer starting our on the family farm. He married Catherine Bonisteel and together they had four children. John died young at the age of forty-three, June 27, 2857, leaving his wife and four young children to mourn him. The youngest at the time was about nine years old. John is buried in the Belleville Cemetery. Daniel Ostrom (1816 - 1892) -- Mary Charlotte Bowen (1819 - 1894) Daniel, like all of his siblings was born in Sidney Township, Hastings, Ontario, April 20, 1816. He married Charlotte Bowen, June 18, 1839 in Carrying Place, Prince Edward Co.,Ontario. When I look at the 1861 census I find the family living in a brick house with what appears to be eight children ranging in age from twenty-one to three years of age. They also have a female servant and three other males non family living in the house. Daniel is working as a farmer and what appears to read currier(leather curer). His eldest son is also a farmer and currier and the eldest daughter a shoemaker. The three other males are working as shoemakers as well. Daniel died April 19 1892 and Mary two years later on September 8th. He is buried in the Belleville Cemetery but his wife is interred at the Holy Trinity Anglican Cemetery in Belleville, Ontario.
Sarah Ann Ostrom (1818 -- Gilbert Harris Ketchison (1815 - 1885) This is where the story gets interesting[1]. Sarah Ann Ostrom, the third youngest of Daniel and Isabel's children was born February 17, 1818 in Sidney Township, Hastings, Ontario. She married Gilbert Harris Ketcheson son of Thomas E. Ketcheson and Amanda H. Bloford. Their marriage took place on fifteen acres of land Gilbert had given to the Presbyterian Church, severed from his homestead. This land was situated in Burnbrae (Menie) Seymour Township, Northumberland, Ontario. The actual location of the land is Concession V Lot 22 consisting of 185 acres and Lot VI Lot 23 another 100 acres. Gilbert acquired this land prior to his marriage to Sarah and settled there in 1837. They were married in June 22, 1841. On May 25, 1842, Sarah and Gilbert gave birth to a little girl. This is the child that was taken in by Maria Herchimer and Martha Ostrom, sisters of Sarah, when she died December 05 1843 at age twenty-five. Gilbert remarried two years after Sarah's death and had ten more children with his second wife, Martha Bowen.
Henry M. Ostrom (1820 - 1878) -- Harriet Forster (1820 April 23, 1820, Daniel and Isabel gave birth to a son. This would be their youngest boy and second youngest child. Henry was born in Sidney Twp, Hastings, Ontario. The couple settled in Huntington Township, Hastings, Ontario and between 1843 and 1862 had ten children. Henry built a stone house and worked as a farmer, indicating he did well in life. The youngest was the only boy and was named in honour of his father.
Caroline Ostrom 1823 - 1825 Caroline was the youngest of Daniel and Isabel's children born in Belleville, Hastings, Ontario July 10 1823. Caroline lived only two years and the family buried her in the Belleville Cemetery. [1] My husband and I purchased part of the Gilbert Ketcheson property eight years ago and live in a stone house that was built by one of the family members in 1871. We were unaware of the fact until after we moved into the house.
Belleville Cemetery
Elizabeth Crysdale, died March 7, 1851 in Sidney Twp, Hastings, Ontario at seventy-one years of age She is buried alongside Daniel in the Belleville Cemetery.
Many in the Ostrom family are buried in the Cemetery in Belleville. They can be found in the section marked "M" on the map. Should you wish to visit that would be a good place to start.
Observations
Along my quest into the Ostrom family many names appear and re-appear. Sometimes as a last name sometimes used as a first name. The families were few at the beginning of the settlements in Upper Canada and therefore there was much intermarriage between the families. Quite often sisters from one family married brothers from another. Children were given the names of uncles or aunts, of last names of ancestors but used as first name. This makes it very confusing when researching some families. Especially those who were as prolific as the Ostroms. I am sure over the next few years, there will be additions, changes and retractions of those that are not properly documented. I always welcome any help.
Crysdale
Just learned more about the Crysdale's this week and thought I would put it in before I file it away and forget about it. Isabel Crysdale was fourth in a family of five girls and two boys. Her parents lived in Charlotte County, New York where most of the children were born. Elsie, Nancy, unnamed son, and Isabel were born there, Catherine in Sorel, Lower Canada in 1782, Rebecca, somewhere in Ontario (possibly Adolphustown), and Joshua (1790), in Sidney, Hastings County where they finally settled. John Crysdale had an impressive career as a soldier with the British. born in England about 1736, and possibly the son of Lot Croysdale and Hannah Newsome of Holbeck, Leeds, Yorkshire. He traveled to America and settled in New York near Lake George in 1772 buying 250 acres of land from Johathon Ogden in 1774, and another 250 acres from a Dr. Middleton in 1775, east of Glens Falls. There is proof of the deeds at his land claims hearing in Montréal in 1788. He like Daniel Ostrom's father was a spy in the war for Burgoyne, and later served in Jessup's Rangers. By 1884 the family had settled in Adolphustown. Unfortunately the family was burned out, and lost his land. They moved further west to Sidney.
There was a petition issued to Governor Simcoe to have his name corrected in 1802 as it had been mis-documented as "Chrysler" on many documents. This is apparent in William Caniff's book written in 1867. He had large land holdings before he came to Canada and then once here he had substantial acreage in Canada. 1) Adolphustown, L&A Con 4 Lot 21, 100 acres 2) Marysburg, Prince Edward Con 1 Lot 7, 100 acres 3) Sidney, Hastings Con 1 Lot 24, 100 acres 4) Sidney, Hastings Con 1 Lot 25, 100 acres 5) Sidney, Hastings Con 2 Lot 24, 100 acres 6) Sidney, Hastings Con 2 Lot 25, 100 acres 7) Sophiasburg, Prince Edward, Con 1 Lot 28, 200 acres
The following document gives us more information about John Crysdale. John was killed at a barn raising in 1807 as his widow appled in Jan 1808 to have his estate settled. The second Crysdale son, whose name is unknown was born in 1774 or before and drowned about 8 Apr 1791 in Sidney Twp. There is a record showing John Meyers loaned John Crysdale 54 nails to construct the son's coffin on 8 Apr 1791. "Joe" was slang for colonial money and I believe it was equal to one New York pound. He stated that it cost him half a Joe per acre to clear his farm in Charlotte County, NY. The Crysdales were in Sorel Quebec in 1781, came to Adolphustown in 1784 and were in Sidney by 1790. The epistle below came from Bill Smith's Tree posted many years ago, and found its way to me.(2)
Evidence on the Claim of John Crysdale, late of Charlotte County, N.Y.
Claimant sworn:
Says he was on duty in Major Jessup's Corps at Sorel in 1783. He is a native of England. He came to America in 1772; in 1775 he lived in Charlotte County in the Provincial Patent. He was in Gen. Burgoyne's Amy & was employed in secret service by the General. He remained in the Country until 1781, but never took any part with them. At last he was found to harbour British Scouts & was obliged to fly. In 1781 he came to Canada & served the war. He now resides in the Bay of Quinte. 250 acres in the Provincial Patent. Produces deed dated May 1774, whereby Jonathan Ogden conveys to claimant in consideration of £100 N.Y. currency the said lands. There was little improvement when he bought. He cleared 50 acres & built house & barn. He values it at 20 sh. per acre. 250 acres in the Provincial Pat. Produces deed from Dr. Middleton of New York dated March 1775, conveying the above lands. Says he had not paid the price but had cleared 20 acres. Says it cost him Joe for clearing an acre. Most of his stock he sold to prevent its being seized. He has not been paid. The rebels took a cow, a bull & 10 sheep. Burgoyne's Army took some yearlings & pigs, household furniture, &c. Produces affidavit of James Johnston that John Crisdale had a good farm. 40 acres cleared with a stock of cattle & hogs, furniture & farming utensils.
1788 Land Claim in Montreal Wits.. James Jackson, sworn: Claimant was always loyal. He was in Burgoyne's Camp. Remembers No. 1, there was good improvement, 40 acres were cleared. No. 2, 20 acres were cleared. He lost a cow & bull. He sold the remainder but was not paid.(3)
Based on testimony given in 1788, James Jackson was a friend or close acquaintance of John Crysdale, who emigrated from Yorkshire, England, and gave his sworn support for Jackson's land claims. James Jackson, in turn, served as sworn witness for the land claim of William Prindle. (4)
Citations
(1) Research from Bill Smith (decendant of Harriet Ostrom) (2) Research from Bill Smith (decendant of Harriet Ostrom) (3) UNITED EMPIRE LOYALISTS - Proceedings of Loyalist Commisioners, Montréal, 1788 Vol. XIII pg 433 (4) Research from Nelson Fanning (decesndant of James Jackson)