| Notes |
- Submitted via GEDCOM diskette from Betti Hinman Paull, CMS 1313. Also contains information on lines for other CMS members:
Nancy High, CMS 55; Jane Porter, CMS 417; Arnold K. Stewart, CMS 1405; Roger B. Montgomery, CMS 1489.
.ALEXANDER MONTGOMERY (Sr.) our immigrant ancestor may have arrived in the colonies about 1750 which was the same years Richard Montgomery came to fight in the French & Indian Wars. It is suspected that his cousin may have had some influence upon his coming. There's a Fredericton, NB chapter of United Empire Loyalists who states that Alexander Montgomery arrived in 1740 and his home as being Antrim, Irland. Others believe that Alexander is too well documented in Northern Ireland so it may have been in same family but a nephew or son.
In any case,we know that Alexander married Sarah Lockwood who was the daughter of Gershom Lockwood III and Mary Ferris of Grenwich, CT. Some say they were married about 1745-50. The genealogist at Greenwich Historical Society verifies that this information and substantiated a date closer to 1754.
The children born to Alexander Montgomery and Sarah Lockwood were (John?), Alexander Jr. Archibald, Sarah, Jane, Mary, Hugh, David and Susannah. Although we do not have dates of their births, the First Congregational Church in Stamford, Conn. had records showing: Archibald was baptised April 15, 1762; Sarah, Oct 9, 1963. Nothing on Mary or David. Susannah was baptised in the 1st Presbyterian Church in New York 1770. It is believed Alexander was born in 1756-58 if he was considered a minor(under 21) in 1776.
From 1755-1767 there are numerous land records indicating that Alexander SR had been involved in farming. He bought most of his land from the Lockwoods in and around the Greenwich, Ct. area.
In 1766, sale of his land to a NYC man was recorded. About 1767 he moved to Manhattan and there are records in New York City after that date. After Alexander Montgomery had sold 50 acres of land on the east side of the Nyanos River to a Benjamin Hildreth of New York he purchased 12 acres on Manhattan. The family lived in New York City until 1771 when they moved Spencer Town. He reported owning city lots in his petitions of 1784.
At the outbreak of hostities in 1775 they were living there close to Sir William Johnson and many strong Tories or Royalists. Sarah Lockwood had passed away in 1774 as had Sir William Johnson. Gershom Lockwood III in his Will of 9 May 1774 left land to Sarah's children, naming 5 grandchildren.
Those children named in were: Alexander Jr., Archibald, Hugh, Sarah and Hannah/Sussannah. Our ancestor was Alexander Jr. The Revolutionary War was underway in earnest by 1775 and Alexander Montgomery SR & Jr. were not going to fair well in being Loyalist in upper New York where much of the fighting took place in those first years. Alexander Sr. was to relate his difficulties as a Loyalist, He had escaped & sought refuge in NYC. In 1783 the family evacuated from New York city and in May some sailed about ship, "Hope" for St. Johns.
For next twelve years he was extremely persistent in making claims to the Crown for his lands confiscated in the United States. More than half of all claims were never granted a hearing. In spite of his attempts to have some restitution, he was given quite miserbale land at Burton and all the Loyalists suffered great hardships. It is not known why he returned to live his last in New York state at Ellisburg but a married daughter settled there too.
We know he returned after 1793 to live in Ellisburg, perhaps to be near his youngest daughter Susannah who married William Stillwell.
His third son, Archibald who had served in the British navy in War, first was granted land up in Grenville Co., near New Johnstown. He later settled in Oswego, New York. They may have been in some part of the fur trade, even to smuggling pelts into the United States from Canada to avoid duty. One story was that Alexander Sr. was a "partner" with John Jacob Astor. Since during the period of much smuggling back and forth before and during the War of 1812, John Jacob Astor had at least fifty or more so-called "partners" in the fur trade and since Archibald settled in Oswego, Alexander Sr. in Ellisburg and Hugh was at Middlebury, VT. all were in close proximity to water which would have allowed them access to transporting of beaver pelts. Archibald was a Captain on Lake Ontario (some say he fought on the British side during War of 1812. He had been at sea as 22 Year old in 1786 when the rest of the family settle in Gagetown. Other record says he died at Sackett's Bay after 1810 aboard his ship of a fever.
Uncle Dick learned of the possible connection of Alexander SR. to the fur trade in beaver pelts which might also have involved Gen. Richard Montgomery earlier. They were in New York city at same time between 1768 & 1771.
John Jacob Astor did not arrive until late in 1780's and was most active in getting through blockade and embargo on import on Canadian furs prior to War of 1812. Alexander died c. 1810 in Oswego while visiting his son, Archibald. If he had become a partner in smuggling beaver pelts with John Jacob Astor, it would not be considered too unusual since the Montgomery Scots often were privateers who paid a royalty to the Crown on their profits from "high seas" robbery of Spanish galleons. Some won enough favor to be knighted.
The smugglers and "privateers" on both the American and British sides were considered more heros to the people since Thomas Jefferson's embargo was so unpopular on both sides of the border. Without smugglers parts of Northern New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine might have starved.
Latest entry: (15/10/94) It was known that David returned to the United States with his father and brothers around 1792-93 but some thought that he died young leaving no issue. Upon receipt of letter from (Mrs.Thomas) Nancy High of 717 Bay St, San Francisco, CA 94109, much more light now shed on the brothers their return to Oswego, N.Y. and Middlebury, VT. Some additional data on Archibald and children born to him and Susannah Purdy. Another son, Aaron Cobson Montgomery was born to Hugh Montgomery and an entire list of descendants has been added for David "Frank" or Francis Montgomery from his marriage to Phoebe Stickney. David Montgomery disappears quite suddenly around time of War of 1812. Hope for more information from Vermont Historical Society at Montpelier, VT and Sheldon Historical Museum Middlebury, from letters sent today. 15 Oct. 1994. Nancy High wrote that Archibald owned or commanded two ships during War of 1812, The Black Snake and The Diana. I learned from Vermont State Museum that The Black Snake had been a ferry boat traveling between NY state and Canada which did become a smuggling vessel. It took part in a notorious event at Middlebury about 1807. At that time a Hugh Montgomery was serving in the local militia. Relunctantly, the Vermont militia members who were not in favor of the boycotts were expected to make raids on smugglers which often they were greatly in sympathy with their efforts to break the embargo.
Information gained from many sources: William R. Marsh, M.D. (descendant of Sarah Montgomery and William R. Marsh, Jr.); Greenwich Historical Society, book on Lockwood Genealogy and Ye Olde Town of Greenwich, Ct., History of,; Memorial petitions made by Alexander Montgomery Sr. 1784 Reports NO. 1 & No. 2. Data from other descendants such as Nancy High who is descended from David Montgomery and Pheobe (Thebe) Pickney. Other through Richard Arthur Montgomery, Great grandson of Alexander Montgomery who learned from study of family bible in 1930's belonging to Jerusha Montgomery Cadieux, VP of United Emprie Loyalist, Toronto Branch and her sister, Mahala Montgomery Ward who was then Genealogist for the UEL-Toronto Branch. Most of what he learned cooborated what Richard knew from his father, David Montgomery.
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Abt 1725 - Abt 1810 (85 years)
