1. James Corwin
Notes from Gerald Armstrong Corwin (GAC) document dated Mar 26, 1993
James Corwin
Relationship; Page 14, "Abstract of Wills Records at Lyons, Wayne County, NY", Liber B, 1832-1841; Acc # 974.787/S2w, Fam Hist Lib, Salt Lake City, UT 84150; also Pp7-9, Wayne County, NY, Will Book. "Last Will and Testament of James Corwin", Film #0850035, same library.
References:
a. Index # 974.787/S2w. "Abstract of Wills Records at Lyons, Wayne County, NY", Liber B, 1832-1841. p14: "James Corwin, of Lyons, Ontario County, NY, Jan 6, 1823. Wife Deborah. Son Stephen, to have the farm and after him it's to go to his two sons, James and Jacob Corwin. Exts: Stephen Corwin and Simeon Briant. Wits: Johathan Corwin, Samuel Soverhill, Joshua Van Wagenen. Pro: 27 Aug 1832.
Will recorded 8 Oct 1832. p. 7"
Memo for Record: I believe this pretty well establishes that this testator, James Corwin, was the father of 'our' Stephen Corwin (RIN 119). Stephen, in his power of Attorney, ca. 1840, authorized "...my son, Jacob Corwin,.." to sell certain lands in (then) Wayne County, NY. Said Power of Attorney was witnessed by a James Corwin and another. While I've not previously carried this James Corwin as a son of Stephen's, I now believe he is Stephen's eldest son, and on the basis of the P/A and this Will reference, hence, I so enter him (RIN 273), GAC 5 Oct 87
b. LDS File # 0850035 Wayne County NY, Will Book, pp. 7-9: "Last Will and Testament of James Corwin", as above.Here is what the will says and the Testament from Samual Soverhill
I James Corwin, of the town of Lyons, county of Ontario and state of New York,
make and ordain this my last will and Testament, in form and in the manner
following, viz:
1st I give and bequeath unto my wife Deborah Corwin her maintenance from my farm
during her natural life, together with her funeral charges. I give and bequeath
to my son Stephen Corwin my farm which I now live on during his natural life after
his decease I give and bequeath my farm to Stephen Corwin's two sons eaqually
divided, vir: James Corwin and Jacob Corwin. As to my personal property that it
stands as the division now made. Likewise do constitute and appoint Stephen Corwin
and Simeon Briant(sp?) my executors of this my last Will and Testament, hereby
revoking all other and former Wills by me at any time heretofore made. I
witnefs where of I have henceunto set my hand and seal the sixth day of
January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty three.
Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said testator, James Corwin, as and
for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have subscribed our
names as witnefses there unto in the presence of the said Testator. Jonathan
Corwin, Samuel Soverhill, Joshau Van Wagenen.Wayne County fs: Samual Soverhill of the town of Arcadia being first duty sworn
deposeth and saith that he saw James Corwin deceased subscribe the instrument now
shown to him, this deponent and which purports to be the last Will and
Testament of the said James Corwin, deceased, bearing date the sixth day of
January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty three; that
he heard the said James Corwin declare the same to be his last Will and Testament,
and that he, this deponent, did subscribe his name as a witnefs thereto at the
request of the said James Corwin and in his presence; and further, that at the
time
thereof the said James Corwin was of sound mind and memory, of full age, and not
under any restraint; this deponent saith that he saw Jonathan Corwin and Joshua
Van Wagenen respectively sign their names as witnefses to the said Will
in the presence of the testator, and further further he saith not.
Samuel Soverhill
Sworn and subscribed this 27th day of August 1832 before me
Graham H Chapin, Surrogate(sp?)
Gerald Armstrong Corwin had some notes that indicated that Stephen Corwin had given his Power of Attorney to his son in 1840 to sell some property in New York. So I started looking at the deeds of Wayne County NY for 1839-1843. Here is what I found. This ties to Stephen as he was listed in the Canton TWP for the 1840 Census. Below is what I have transcribed from the long hand file.
Wayne County New York Deeds and records 1840-1843 Liber #29 page 35-36 (LDS Film # 0479437)This Indenture made the Fourteenth day of November in the year of our lord One thousand Eight hundred and Forty between James Corwin of the town of Canton within the county of Wayne and the state of Michigan of the party of the first part and Wilhelmes Rowe of the town of Arcadia in the town of Arcadia in the county of Wayne and state of New York of the second part. Witnefseth, that the said party of the first part in consideration of the sum of two hundred dollars to him in hand paid by the said party of the second part the receipt where of hereby confessed and acknowledged hath bargained sold remised and quit clamed and by these present does bargain sell remiss and quit claim unto the said party of the second part and to his heirs and foregons forever all that certain piece or parcel of land located in the town of Arcadia a foresaid and bound on following viz on the south by land owned by Robert N Lattimore(SP) on the east by lands owned by Abraham Fairchild and the old Jessup farm on the north by land owned by Jonathan Sheldon and the said Wilhelmes Rowe and on the west by said Wilhelmes Rowe and Joshua Van Waggenen's land, containing thirty acre be the same more or lefs. Together with all and singular the hence it amounts and appurtenances there into belonging or in any wise appertaining and the reversion and reversions remainder and remainders rents ifsus and profits thereof and all the estate right title interest claim and demands. What soever after said party of the first part either inlaw or equity of in and to the above bargained premises with the said hereditaminds and appurtenances. To have and to hold the said above described premises to the said party of the second part his heirs and afsigns to the sole and only proper use benefit and behoof of the said party of the second part his heirs and assigns forever.
In witnefs where of the party of the fist part hath hereunto set his hands and seals this day and year first above written.James Corwin seal
Sealed and delivered inpresence of Richard P Williams State of New York Wayne County }fs: on the fourteenth day of November 1840 before James M Cain a justice of the peace in and of said county came James Corwin whom I know to be the individual described in and who executed the within deed and acknowledge that he had executed the same. James Cain
Acrue copy of the original record 17th Feb 1841 at 11 o'clock am
Jame Hawly Clerk
* * * * * * * * *
Some have suggested that James may have come from Chester Township, Morris County, New Jersey:,
As far as I can tell, James of Chester was born April 21 1779 and died Oct 10, 1844. This death date does not match our James where we know he died about January 1832 based upon the Will above. So for these reasons I have believe that James of Chester and our James are NOT the same James.
The following was provided by David A. MacDonald (he is tracking Corwin's prior to 1840).
In his will dated 6 January 1823, James Corwin of the Town of Lyons, County of Ontario, left his wife her maintenance from his farm for her life. He bequeathed to his son Stephen for life the farm on which James then lived, remainder to his two sons, James Corwin and Jacob Corwin. Personal property to be divided in accordance with division already made. He appointed as executors his son Stephen Corwin and Simeon Briant. Witnesses: Jonathan Corwin, Samuel Soverhill, Joshua Van Wagenen. The will was submitted for probate on 27 August 1832.(1)
The farm was sold by virtue of a number of documents recorded in the Office of the County Clerk of Wayne County, New York: (i) Deed dated 14 November 1840 from James Corwin of the Town of Canton, Wayne County, Michigan, to Wilhelmus Rowe of the Town of Arcadia, Wayne County, New York, conveying in consideration of $200 a tract of land containing 30 acres, more or less, in the Town of Arcadia, acknowledged the same day in Wayne County, New York, and recorded at Deed Book 29: 35-36; (ii) Deed dated 14 November 1840 from Stephen Corwin of the Town of Canton, Wayne County, Michigan, to Wilhelmus Rowe of the Town of Arcadia, Wayne County, New York, conveying in consideration of $500 an undivided one-half interest in the same tract of land, acknowledged the same day in Wayne County, New York, and recorded at Deed Book 29: 36-37; (iii) power of attorney dated 1 September 1842 from Stephen Corwin of the Township of Canton, Wayne County, Michigan, to his son Jacob Corwin of the same constituting the latter the former's attorney for the sale of a tract of land containing about 15 acres of land, it being land formerly owned by James Corwin deceased, to Wilhemus Rowe of Arcadia, New York, acknowledged the same day in Washtenaw County, Michigan, and recorded in Wayne County, New York, at Deed Book 29: 412-413; (iv) Deed dated 19 September 1842 from Stephen Corwin by his attorney, Jacob Corwin of Canton, Wayne County, Michigan, to Wilhemus Rowe of Arcadia, Wayne County, New York, in consideration of $500, conveying the same tract of land, containing 30 acres, acknowledged the following day in Wayne County, New York, and recorded at Deed Book 29:414; and (v) Deed dated 19 September 1842 from Jacob Corwin of Canton, Wayne County, Michigan, to Wilhelmus Rowe of the Town of Arcadia, Wayne County, New York, conveying in consideration of $500 an undivided one-half interest in the same tract of land containing 30 acres, more or less, in the Town of Arcadia, acknowledged the following day i n Wayne County, New York, and recorded at Deed Book 29:413-414.
Thus it appears that James Corwin received $200 in 1840, apparently in recognition that he had only an undivided one-half remainder interest; Stephen Corwin received $500 in 1840, and Jacob Corwin received $500 in 1842. It appears that in 1842 the parties had recognized that Stephen Corwin's 1840 deed left him owning one-half of his life estate and so he was paid a second $500 for the other half. The documents were badly drawn, and all three executed documents by which they purported to convey more than they actually owned, but the net effect was that the full title vested in Wilhelmus Rowe.
(1) Wayne County Will Book B: 7.I have found documentation in the historian's office of Wayne County NY that identify the heirs of James Corwin, and an earlier death date.
On January 26th 1832 Israel Corwin questioned his father's (James CORWIN) will, where it is stated that James CORWIN had died (but no specific date). This causes me to change James death to before Jan 26th 1832. In another document from the same historian office dated July 20th, 1832 it identifies the heirs as Israel CORWIN, Jesse CORWIN, James CORWIN, and Joannah HOKIM ( another document spells the name as Joannah HOLCOMB). James CORWIN, last will and testiment leaving everything to his wife Deborah, then to his son Stephen CORWIN and then his two sons James CORWIN and Jacob CORWIN.So the children of James CORWIN are:
Israel CORWIN
Jesse CORWIN
James CORWIN (sometimes added Jr.)
Joanna HOLCOMB
Stephen CORWIN
Information on Israel, Jesse, James, and Joanna came from records found in the county historian office at Lyons NY. Specific Dates and Nathan identified by David A. Macdonald. Separate writeup to be added to each, David A Macdonald has pieced this information together and it now fits with the early census records of 1810-1840.
Nathan was alive at the time of the 1810 census but presumably predeceased his father, leaving no issue, as he was not mentioned in listing his father’s heirs.