Notes for: Abraham P. Housman, Jr.
From Charlotte Hix's article in the NYG&B Record, April 2009. See her sources in that article for the information below:
HELEN/LENAH/LANEY HOUSMAN, born 15 February 1795; died 10 November
1879; married first 25 June 1815 JOHN M. CROCHERON; married second 14 August
1830 WARD WOODRUFF.
NANCY/ANN HOUSMAN, born 1 May 1797,52 baptized 7 November 1808 at the
Staten Island Dutch Reformed Church as Nancy, child of Abm. Housmon Jun. and
Polly Mersereau;53 died 17 January 1875; Miss Nancy Housman of Staten Island married
4 February 1818 at the Staten Island Dutch Reformed Church William Gibson
[sic, THOMAS GIBSON] of Staten Island,54 who was born 23 November 1793
(Bible55) or 23 December 1793 (calculated from gravestone) and died 31 October
1870, age 76 years 10 months 8 days; both are buried at the Staten Island Dutch
Reformed Church.
They were also at Indian Key. Thomas Gibson and Ann Housman had five children
(Lany Ann, Gilbert, Sarah Jane, Jacob Housman, George) baptized 12 October
1828 at the Staten Island Dutch Reformed Church. A month later, on 13 November
1828, Thomas Gibson purchased all the rights, title, and interest to the Indian
Key property of Silas and Avis Fletcher for $2,500. Thomas Gibson and family
were resident there by 1830 when they are enumerated in Monroe County with a
household that included four boys and two girls. On 5 July 1830 Phebe Taylor (free
colored) sold to Thomas Gibson a house on the west side of Indian Key for $1.00.
They sold property to Jacob Housman on 5 July 1831 (above). They were in Castleton
in 1840, 1850, and 1860, and Northfield in 1870. In 1850 Thomas was a ship
carpenter, 55; Ann was 51; only Mary F., 18, was born in Florida; Geo., 20, and W.
H., 15, were born in New York, suggesting that residence at Indian Key was brief.
ABRAHAM HOUSMAN, born about 1801 (1850 census), baptized 7 November 1808 at
the Staten Island Dutch Reformed Church, child of Abm. Housmon Jun. and Polly
Mersereau; living 11 November 1857 (father’s will); Abraham Housman, son of
Abraham Housman and wife, married 30 November 1825 at the Staten Island
Moravian Church MARGARETT BODINE, daughter of James Bodine and Margarett,
his wife, at the house of Mr. Bodine, who was born in 1806 or 1807 and died 17
March 1844, aged 37 years [illegible] and 21 days, buried at the Staten Island Dutch
Reformed Church; married second by 1860 ELLEN/ELENOR —, born about 1796;
both were living in 1870.
ELIZABETH HOUSMAN, born 30 January 1805 (calculated), baptized 7 November
1808 at the Staten Island Dutch Reformed Church as Betsey, child of Abm. Housmon
Jun. and Polly Mersereau; died 22 November 1860, age 55 years 9 months 23
days; married 19 August 1821 at the Staten Island Dutch Reformed Church PATRICK
O: ROARKE, who was born 13 July 1790 (calculated) and died 19 July 1838, age 48
years 6 days; both are buried at the Staten Island Dutch Reformed Church.
GEORGE W. HOUSMAN, born about 1808 (1860, 1880 censuses); baptized 7 November
1808 at the Staten Island Dutch Reformed Church as George, child of Abm.
Housmon Jun. and Polly Mersereau; died 17 March 1886; married first EMMELINE
VAN PELT, who was found murdered with her child on 25 December 1843; married
second 26 September 1847 in Virginia VIRGINIA DAWSON, who was born about
1825 (1860 census), 1831 (1850 census), or 1835 (1880 census) in Virginia, and died 16
January 1917, buried in the Moravian Cemetery, Staten Island.
MARY/POLLY HOUSMAN, born about 1805 (1870 census) or 1809 (1880 census);
died 27 July 1892, buried in an unmarked grave on Staten Island; Miss Polly
Housman of Staten Island married 1 December 1825 at the Staten Island Dutch
Reformed Church James Bodine, Junr, [sic, ANDREW BODINE] of Staten Island;
Andrew was born 17 January 1801, baptized 5 April 1801 at the Moravian Church,
son of James Bodine and Margaret Bodine and died 29 March 1844 at Sing Sing.
Her story is told above (pages 91-93).
MARGARET MATILDA HOUSMAN, born about 1814 (1850 census), baptized 1 June
1820 at the Staten Island Dutch Reformed Church, daughter of Abr’m Housman and
Polly Mersereau; married 30 December 1833 at the Staten Island Dutch Reformed
Church SMITH B. FREEMAN; both living in 1860.
CAROLINE HOUSMAN, born 13 March 1817 (gravestone), baptized 1 June 1820 at
the Staten Island Dutch Reformed Church, daughter of Abr’m Housman and Polly
Mersereau; died 5 April 1881; married MOSES VAN NAME, who was born 18 May
1812 and died 25 October 1889; both buried at the Staten Island Dutch Reformed
Church.