The Sextons Family
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Henry Yeoman Sexton
Minerva Peat Sexton
Minerva Peat Sexton
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My great-great-great grandfather Henry Yeoman Sexton (1797-1863) was born on June 22, 1797 in New York. I do not know his ancestry. Henry married Roxa Adams in the First Lutheran Church of Albany, New York on June 14, 1823. Roxa Adams was the daughter of Williams Adams, Jr. and Orpha Cossitt of Waterbury, Connecticut. Henry and Roxa made their home in Waterbury, Connecticut where they produced at least three children and possibly five or six: Minerva Sexton Peat was my great, great, great grandmother born on October 5, 1801 in Oxford, Newhaven, CT and died October 30, 1875 in Elsie, MI. She married Henry Y. Sexton on October 21, 1831, in Oxford, CT. She was the daughter of Jehiel Peat Jr and Lois Manville. Jehiel Peat Jr.'s father, Jehiel Peat, died on his way home from the French and Indian War on Dec. 4, 1762. She was one of eight children born to Jehiel and Lois: one son who died in infancy, Nancy, Betsy, Eunice, Sally, Lois, and Lydia according to records at the Church of Latterday Saints Historical Library. For more information on her father's ancestors, view the descendant tree, Benjamin Peat. Genealogy of Lois Manville, Minerva's mother: John Manville, sometimes spelled ManDeville (French), Manville, Manvel or Manvil, by trade a tailor, came from Picardy, France and settled in Ancient Woodbury, CN. near Quassapang Lake. Four brothers came from France one of whom was Nicholas. Nicholas was born in 1710 and died March 17, 1751. Nicholas married Mary Murray who died in 1811. They had a son named John born September, 6, 1736 and died in 1818 at the age of 82. John married Elizabeth Weed, born in 1736, in 1759. Their daughter Lois was born March 14, 1765 and died August 28, 1852. On January 12, 1791, Lois was married to Jehiel Peat Jr. of whom Minerva Peat was born. Roxa Adams Sexton died December 29, 1829, shortly after Charles was born. She probably died of complications resulting from childbirth. Henry later married Minerva Peat, daughter of Jehiel Peat, Jr. and Lois Manville, on October 21, 1831. Henry may also have been married briefly to Elizabeth Ellison. A Henry Y. Sexton married Elizabeth Ellison on March 26, 1822. The wedding took place in the Dutch Reformed Church on Sugar Loaf Street in New York City. This Henry Y. Sexton's father is given as William, while his wife Elizabeth's father is given as John. If all three Henry Sextons are the same person, Elizabeth would have been Henry's first wife; Roxa his second; and Minerva his third. I believe that Henry Sexton the father of Jane Ann and Charles was the same person as Henry Yeoman Sexton. The grandchildren by both Roxa and Minerva called each other cousins, and Charles inherited the Sexton farm in Elsie, Michigan from Henry and Minerva. Charles probably built the Sexton farm in Elsie as Henry was already 53 years old when the Sextons moved to Elsie.Henry and Roxa produced three children:
Henry and Minerva produced five children:
Henry and Minerva moved their family to Duplain, Michigan in 1850. The area was an unbroken wilderness and they carved out a farm about one mile east of what would later become the town of Elsie, Michigan. In 1852, Henry's daughter Jane Ann and her husband Franklin James Tillotson followed the Sextons to Duplain and were instrumental in establishing the town of Elsie, Michigan. Henry remained married to Minerva until his death on the family farm on May 25, 1863, and he was buried in Elsie. Minerva died on October 30, 1874 and was also buried in Elsie. The family farm passed to Jane Ann's brother Charles Sexton and his wife Nancy Lewis. Commentary by Philip Burns (You must see his website for more on Henry and Minerva). Pib's Website
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William Henry Sexton
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William Henry Sexton was the son of Henry Yeoman Sexton and Minerva Peat. He was born in Liverpool, OH on November 23, 1838 and died in Detroit, MI on May 18, 1908. (William's grave ) William published a book of poetry named " Truth and Near Truth" in 1908. He was married to Anna P. Squiers who died on Feb. 9, 1926 in Chelsea, MI. She is buried with William at the Elmwood Historical Cemetery in Detroit, MI. There is only one child mentioned in his obituary named Maud Sexton Sheir. William was one of five children born to Henry and Minerva. They were Albert, died at infancy, Caroline Maria who was my great, great grandmother, Mary Minerva, and Ellen Eliza. He had half brothers and sisters born unto Henry and Roxa Adams. To see a picture of his book and read some poems, go to Pib's site on William Henry Sexton.
William Henry Sexton fought in the Civil War as a landsman in the Navy. His grave includes a Grand Army of the Republic marker. William died of Tuberculosis in Detroit, Michigan on May 18, 1908 (see his
Information on Maud and her descendants is from Philip R Burns website. |
Sexton Farm in Elsie, MI
Front View Rear View
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The farm was located about one mile East of town and is no longer there.
This picture was taken in the early 1900's. It was probably built by Charles Sexton
because he and his wife Nancy inherited it when Henry and Minerva died. |
Franklin James Tillotson
Jane Ann Sexton
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Franklin James Tillotson, born in Brunswick, Medina County, Ohio on April 3, 1824, was married to Jane Ann Sexton who in born in Brunswick, OH. on December 16, 1847. She was the half sister to Caroline Maria Sexton and the daughter of Henry Yeoman Sexton and Roxa Adams. (see commentary on Henry Y. Sexton) Franklin and Jane Ann moved their family to Duplain, Clinton County, Michigan in 1852 along with the Hicks family. In so doing Franklin and Jane Ann were following in the footsteps of the Sextons who had moved there in 1850. Susan Hicks Cobb describes the trek from Ohio to Duplain in Old Time Recollections. Franklin was a farmer and became the first postmaster of Elsie, Michigan. Elsie itself was named for Elsie Amelia Tillotson, (1853-1918), the third child of Franklin and Jane Ann. Elsie was the first white child born in what later became the town of Elsie. Elsie Amelia Tillotson died of a cerebral hemorrhage, according to her death certificate. For more about Jane Ann.
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Caroline Maria Sexton
Albert C. Bennett
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Caroline Maria Sexton was the daughter of Henry Yeoman Sexton and Minerva Peat. Caroline was born in Wolcott, CT on February, 19, 1835 and died in Elsie, MI. on March 17, 1904. She is my great, great grandmother. She married Albert C. Bennett on November 1, 1855 in Duplain Twp., Clinton Co., MI. before the town of Elsie had been founded. In the picture above, from left to right, is Clara, Eva, and Nellie. In the front, is Albert and Caroline the parents. The picture on the right may very well be there wedding picture.
Albert was
born in Brunswick, Medina Co., OH. on September 18, 1831, to Oliver Roby Bennett and Mary
Elizabeth Humes. (Oliver and
Elizabeth's grave in Medina Co.) Albert died in Elsie, MI. on November 30,
1901. Albert's family had moved to Michigan in 1852 because his father,
Oliver, had been given a land grant in Michigan for his service in probably the War
of 1812. Each of his four sons was given an 80 acre tract of land which was at that
time a wilderness. Albert and Caroline settled on Albert's 80 acres cutting trees to make
a log house.
They had three daughters: Clara May Bennett, Nellie Minerva Bennett,
and Eva Jane Bennett. Nellie was the author's great, grandmother. For more
information and pictures of Caroline and Albert, please visit Philip Burns website.
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Three daughters of Caroline Sexton and Albert C. Bennett.
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Left to Right: Clara Bennett, Eva Bennett, and Nellie Bennett (author's great grandmother) Clara was never married. Eva married Marion Leonard Tillotson, and Nellie married John Lorenzo Caswell. |
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Clara May Bennett was the oldest daughter on Caroline Marie Sexton and Albert C. Bennett born on October 8, 1858 and died in 1942. She was the sister of my great grandmother, Nellie Bennett. She had another sister named Eva who married Marion Leonard Tillotson. She is buried at the in Elsie, MI. |
Ellen Eliza Sexton
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Ellen Eliza Sexton was the youngest daughter of Henry Yeoman Sexton and Minerva Peat. She was born on December 24, 1843 in Brunswick, Medina County, Ohio and died in Elsie, MI on March 3, 1926. (grave) Ellen never married and spent most of her life caring for other members of her family. For more information on Ellen Eliza, see the commentary under Henry Y. Sexton. |
Sexton Family Picture
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Left to Right: Ellen Eliza, Jane Ann, Caroline Marie, and Charles Sexton For more about Charles. |
Bennett Homestead
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Caroline Sexton Bennett and Albert C. Bennett standing in front with Clara May Bennett, their daughter in the rear. The homestead was an 80 acre tract given to Albert by his father, Oliver, who was awarded property for his service in a probably the War of 1812. For more on Oliver Roby Bennett, go to Philip Burn's SITE. |