James S. Porter Sr. was born on 23. Jun. 1775 at Bedminster Twp., Somerset County, New Jersey. He was the son of
Nathaniel Porter and
Charity Lane. James S. Porter Sr. married
Phebe Fairchild, daughter of
Nathaniel Fairchild and
Elizabeth Munson, on 19. Dec. 1803 at New York. James S. Porter Sr. left a will on 7. Nov. 1829 at Clarence Twp., Erie County, New York. He died on 12. Nov. 1829 at Clarence Twp., Erie County, New York, at age 54. He was buried at Harris Hill Cemetery, Clarence, Erie County, New York. James came with his parents to New York in 1796 to the area of what is now North Dansville, Livingston County. It historical accounts of Livingston County he is listed as 'The pioneer blacksmith' of the Porter family.
After his first child, Minerva was born in 1804, he began to purchase property from the Holland Land Company (1806) in the Clarence Twp. (Erie County) area and sometime between 1806 & 1808 he moved there.
After his death in (1829) his wife and children moved to Lee County, Illinois. All but his son Nathaniel Fairchild stayed there, Nathaniel F. moved back to Erie County and died there in 1888 (Buffalo).
From "Biographies of the Citizens of Lee County Illinois" by The Lee County Genealogiacal Society; 2000, Dixon, Illinois
p. 359
COL. JOHN MUNSON GENEALOGY
Col. John Munson, who was at the battle of Monmouth in New Jersey, during the Revolutionary War...had four children: Elizabeth, born Feb. 12 1763...married Nathaniel Fairchild on June 4, 1779.... They had 9 children: Phoebe Fairchild was born September 20, 1784 and died June 16, 1864. she was married to James Porter on December 19, 1803.....Sally Fairchild was born Nov. 2, 1789; and died May 11, 1869. She married Matthew Porter, brother of James Porter."
From "Early Fairchilds in America and their Descendants" by Jean Fairchild Gilmore; Gateway Press, Inc. Baltimore, MD., 1999
pg's. 110 & 111
" IC3-3-1 Nathaneil Fairchild
b. 8 Jan 1752 Morris co., NJ
d. 21 Jan 1837 Clarence, Erie Co., NY/Harris Hill Cemetery, Erie co., NY
m. Elizabeth Munson 24 Jne 1779 in Pequanock, NJ; b. 12 Feb 1763; d/o John Munson of Hanover, NJ; d. 16 Feb 1849/Harris Hill Cemetery Erie co., NY
Children of Nathaniel & Elizabeth:
Elizabeth b. 5 Nov. 1780; m. Hayden.
Nancy b. 22 Apr 1782; m. Gregory; d. 10 July 1820
Phebe b. 20 Sep 1784; m. James PORTER* 19 Dec 1803; d. 16 Jne 1868 Dixon, IL.
Margaret b.6 July 1787; m. Francis Drullard 3 Sep 1803; d. 3 Jan 1871
Sally b. 2 Nov 1789; m. Matthew PORTER*; d. 11 May 1869 N. Dansville, NY.
Mehitable b. 4 Sep 1792; m. (1) William Bird, (2) Richard Orton**; d. 28 Sep 1868 N. Dansville, NY.
Nathaniel b. 19 Mar 1795.
Mary b. 21 Oct 1797 Cayuga Co., NY; m. Park Avery, 27 Jne 1826 Clarence, NY; d. 1836 Collins, NY.
Almira b. 19 Dec 1802; m. Marcus McNeal, 14 Apr 1822 Erie Co., NY; d. 1 Jne 1868."
*Note: James and Matthew PORTER are brothers.
**Note: Mehitable probably was married (2) to Nathaniel Porter as they are shown as man and wife in the 1850 Livingston Co., NY census.
JAMES PORTER
Last Will and Testament
7 Nov. 1829
Town of Clarence
Erie County, New York
In the name of god, amen, I James Porter of the town of Clarence, County of Erie and State of New York, being weak in body, but of sound perfect mind and memory, blessed be almighty God for the same, do make and publish this my last will and testament, in manner and form following that, it to say, whereas I have an article of agreement from the agent of the Holland Land Company of the East part of Lot No. three in the north section, twelfth township in the sixth range of township situated in the town of Clarence, aforesaid, containing eighty two acres, be the same, more or less and have executed a bond conditioned for a deed to Jeremiah Wiltse for fourteen acres to be set off the south end thereof.
Also, I have a deed executed by Jacob Powers and Amy, his wife, for fourteen acres of land on the north end of Lot No. 6, section of township 11, Range 6, situated in the said town of Clarence. Likewise, a land conditioned for a deed executed by the said Jeremiah Wiltse for fourteen acres of land on said Lot No. 6 and adjoining the land on the South, which was conveyed to me by the said Jacob and Amy. I therefore will and order that my executors shall dispose of the two pieces of land, last above described, at such time and in such manner as their judgment and discretion shall dictate and apply the avails thereof for the purpose of obtaining a deed from the Holland Land Compnay of the piece of land first above described: and as soon as said deed shall be procured, to execute and deliver to the said Jeremiah Wiltse, a deed according to the true interest and meaning of the bond, first above alluded to and which I executed to him. Provided that he, the said Jeremiah Wilst, shall at the same time be in readiness to fulfill the bond above. I do hereaby further will and order that my executors recieve and execute all conveyances of land relative to my estate, in thier own names as executors of the last will and Testament of James Porter, deceased. And after all due debts and demands against my estate are settled and fully paid, I will and order that my beloved wife, Phebe Porter, shall have the use, benefit, and profit of all my lands and tenements, which shall then remain unsold, together with all the improvements, privileges and appurtenances, there unto belonging, and also the use and control of all my personal property of every description for the support and for her support of my minor children, until a time shall arrive when I have no child living under the age of twenty one years and when such time shall have fully come within the space of eighteen months, thereafter, I will and order that my executors sell, for money, all my real and personal estate, either at auction or private sale and that my beloved wife, Phebe Porter, retain out of the avails thereof, the sum of two hundred dollars and also, retain one third part of the residue in full of her Dower ----I further will and order that immediately after sale is made, of said estate, as above described, my executors divide the remaining two thirds into nine equal shares and without delay pay over to my daughter Minerva (now wife of Wm. Bivens) one share; to my son Matthew, one share; to my son Aaron Lane, one share; to my son Nathaniel Fairchild, one share; to my son James, one share; to my daughter Phebe, one share; to my daughter Elizabeth, one share; to my son David, one share; to my son John Munson, one share---and lastly I do hereby appoint my said beloved wife, Phebe Porter, executrix and Marcus McNeal, executor of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all former wills by me made.
In witness I have hereunder set my hand seal, this Seventh day of Nov. in the year of our Lord, one Thousand Eight Hundred and Twenty Nine. Signed, sealed and published and declared by the above, named James Porter to be his last will and testament in the presence of us who hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses in the presence of the teatator.
Signed: James Porter
Simeon Fillmore
John Peck
Nathaniel Fairchild
Witnesses
NIAGARA COUNTY, ss
BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the second day of December in the year of our LORD one thousand eight hundred and Twenty nine personally appeared before me Ebenezer Johnson, Esquire, Surrogate of the county of Erie, Simeon Fillmore, who being duly sworn, did depose and say, That he the deponent saw James Porter, late of the county of Niagara, deceased, sign and seal the written instument, then shown unto him of which the aforegoing is a true copy, purporting to be the Last Will and Testament of the said James Porter, deceased, bearing the date the seventh day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty nine. That at the time thereof, the said James Porter was of a sound disposing mind and memory to the best of the knowledge and belief of him the deponent and that he the deponent and John Peck and Nathaniel Fairchild subscribed their names as Witnesses to the said Will, in the presence of each other, and in the presence of the Testator. And also that Phebe Porter and Marcus McNeal executrix and executor named in the within written will likewise appeared before me and being duly sworn to the thence execution and performance of the said written will, by taking the usual oath of an executor.
E. Johnson, Surrogate
THE PEOPLE of the State of New York, by the Grace of GOD Free and Independent: To all to whom these Presents shall come, or may concern send Greeting: KNOW YE, That at the town of Buffalo in the county of Erie, on the second day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty nine --- before Ebenezer Johnson, Esquire, Surrogate of our said county, the last WILL and Testament of James Porter, deceased a copy whereof is hereunto annexed, was proved, and is now approved and allowed of by us; and the said deceased having whilst he lived, and at the time of his death, goods, chattels or credits, within this state, by means whereof the proving and registering the said WILL, and the granting administration to all and singular the goods, chattels and credits, of the said deceased, and any way concerning said WILL is granted unto Phebe Porter his wife and Marcus Micheal----
Executors in the said WILL named, they being first duly sworn well and faithfully to administer the same, and to make and exhibit a true and perfect inventory of all and singular the said goods, chattels and credits, and also to render a just and true account thereof when thereunto required.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, we have caused the seal of office of our said Surrogate to be hereunto affixed.
WITNESS, Ebenezer Johnson, Esquire, Surrogate of the county of Erie, at Buffalo, the second day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty nine.
E. Johnson
INVENTORY OF THE ESTATE OF:
JAMES PORTER
Inventory (all in dollars, $):
1 double wagon--$45
1 single wagon--30
1 old cart--7
2 ploughs--7
1 ox sled--1
1 horse sled--2
1 yoke of oxen--38
5 cows--50
2 yearling heifers--10
1 yerling bull--6
1 horse--50
1 horse--10
1 set old horse harness--6
17 small drag teeth--3.50
2 grindstones--2.75
1 new draught chain--2.56
1 old draught chain--1.38
1 blacksmith bellows--10
1 blacksmith anvil--5
1 blacksmith vise--4
1 blacksmith beakhorn--1.50
2 blacksmith sledges--1.50
2 blacksmith hammers--1
1 blacksmith box of shoeing tools--1.50
3 pair blacksmith tongs--1.50
1 old saddle and bridle--5
1 old side saddle--6
1 bull plough--3
1 old fanning mill--11
1 new fanning mill--15
Wheat in the mow estimated at 155 bushels--96.88
Oats in the mow estimated at 100 bushels--25
Corn in the ear estimated at 93 bushels when shelled--34.88
Wheat on the ground 32 acres--96
11 small swine--5
3 barrels of pork--24
7 empty barrels--3.50
2 feather beds, bedding and bedsteads--32.75
1 tea board--1.50
1 pari of brass andirons--3
1 dinner bell--1.50
1 dining table and two half rounds--7
1 bar room table--1
5 dining chairs--5
(total $675.20)
The following is an inventory of the personl property of James Porter late of the Town of Clarence deceased, which is exempt from execution or distress for rent (towit)
1 cow--11
10 sheep--10
1 barrel pork--8
6 dining chairs and six kitchen chairs--6.75
1 bureau--7
1 breakfast table--4
1 candle stand--1
1 pair fire dogs--4
2 looking glasses--1.75
1 pair tongs & shovel brass trimmed--2
1 pair andirons brass trimmed--2
1 kitchen fire shovel and tongs--2
1 large chest--2
4 brass candlesticks--1.75
4 beds, bedsteads and bedding--50
6 silver table spoons--10
18 silver tea spoons--15
1 pair silver tongs--2.50
(total $139.55)
Clarence, Twp., April 28, 1830
Simeon Fillmore, Benjamin Bivens, Appraisers
His executors were "Phebe Porter" and "Marcus McNeal" (their signatures)
The following is an observation by Glenn Atwell, a professional genealogy researcher from Erie County, New York, 2001.
"We can see that Porter was a substantial man in his day. Besides farming his land, he was also a blacksmith, an occupation which may help identify him elsewhere. He was also, I would think, considered fairly well-to-do. Note the silver, 2 mirrors, feather beds, and fancy furniture-half rounds (demi-lunes) which were placed at the ends of the dining table to make it oval, breakfast table, candle stands, etc., which were far from basic furnishings. The only reference to his tavern license is the bar room table; note there are no stocks of liquor, cider, beer, etc. So, besides providing a very nice view of the life he had in Clarence, this also provides the possibly telling fact that he was a blacksmith in addition to being a farmer of substance."