| Notes |
- Jacob Showers, Sr.
b. Abt. 1790, New Jersey
m. 5 Aug 1810, Phelps Township, Ontario County, New York
d. 18 Oct 1843, Concord, Jackson County, Michigan
Parents: John and Elizabeth (?) Showers
Spouse:
Abigail
b.
d. Aft. 18 Oct 1843/bef. 1850, Jackson County, Michigan
Parents:
Military Service:
Rank: Private. Pension Number: ?. Organization(s)/Dates: Lt. Col. John McMahan's Regiment, New York Militia. Campaigns: (1) Battle of Queenstown Heights; (2) Defense of Buffalo. Medals Authorized: None.
Additional Information:
The Showers family was among the earliest settlers in Phelps Township, Ontario County, New York, when it was opened to settlement after the Revolutionary War. Jacob and Abigail were not listed in the 1810 census, but there are four listings with the Showers surname in Ontario County. This suggests that Jacob and Abigail were married after the census date, the first Monday in August 1810.
During the War of 1812, Jacob enlisted as a private in Lieutenant Colonel John McMahan's Regiment, New York Militia, which had men from Cayuga, Onondaga, Seneca, Ontario and Steuben Counties. Not much is known of this regiment, but it was involved in the Battle of Queenstown Heights, the call to the Defense of Buffalo, and other assignments. After the Americans burnt Newark, Canada, it was rumored that the British would retaliate by burning Buffalo.[i]
In December 1813, about 300 men under Colonel McMahan's, plus about 400 from the 162d Regiment, were ordered to defend Buffalo. Once they arrived, they made up 2,000 men that were under the command of General Hall. The British forces detailed for the attack upon Buffalo consisted of about 1,500 regulars and 400 Indians, under General Riall. On the night of December 30, the American camp was alarmed that the enemy were crossing the Niagara River at Black Rock. At about four in the morning on the thirty-first, Colonel McMahan's regiment marched to Black Rock and posted opposite the ferry, in the rear of the battery that had been erected at that point.[ii]
About the break of day, McMahan's regiment was ordered to advance and they proceeded down the river nearly half a mile. A sharp, though unequal contest ensued when the militia broke and fled, as did those who preceded McMahan's regiment. The enemy gave chase and hoped to cut off the Americans in their retreat, so McMahan's men were forced into the woods in the rear of the ferry for safety. The Indians, armed with rifles and tomahawks, filled the woods and most of the men fled to their homes. The remainder who had survived was afterwards quartered for several weeks at Miller's Tavern, about two miles east of Buffalo. Buffalo was ultimately burned.[iii]
"It will be seen that nearly all the desertions were in the companies of Col. McMahan's regiment, in the winter of 1813-1814, in the vicinity of Buffalo, after it had been burned," wrote Judge Foote. "They had nothing to do. They had no quarters or tents, nor comfortable rations' and they went home openly and boldly, with the knowledge of the officers, without opposition, though without their consent."[iv]
It is unknown if Jacob is listed among the deserters, but he returned to Phelps where he is found in the 1820 census. The census shows Jacob and his family, indicating two females and one male under the age of ten, and his mother Elizabeth was shown living next door. By the 1830 census, Jacob had moved his family to Rose, in Wayne County, New York.
On August 1, 1838, Jacob purchased 80 acres of land in the Toledo Strip at the land office in Bronson, and by 1840 he was living in Concord, Jackson County, Michigan. Jacob's will was written on April 1, 1843, and he passed away on October 18 in Concord. He appointed his wife Abigail as executrix and his son Jacob as executor. Evidently the will was contested, as Warren Sackett, the husband of Jacob's daughter Betsey, appeared in court with the other heirs on April 20, 1847. The outcome is unknown.
Children of Jacob and Abigail (?) Showers:
1. Betsey Elizabeth Showers was born about 1812 in Ontario County, New York.
2. Jacob Showers, Jr., was born about 1815 in Ontario County, New York. He moved with his parents to Michigan in the 1830s and married Louisa Longstreet in Jackson County on February 2, 1836. She was born in 1820 in New York. The 1840 census shows him living next to his father in Concord, Michigan, where he is also found living in the 1850 census. He was a lifelong farmer, and apparently fairly successful, as his real estate in 1850 was valued at $1,500. Both Jacob and Louisa passed away between 1850 and 1860, but the circumstances surrounding their deaths are unknown. During the 1860 census, their son Jacob was living with Lorenzo Swift in Decatur and working as a farm laborer, and their daughter Louisa, age 15, was living with E. Morris in Volinia and working as a domestic servant. Their youngest children, John and Sarah, were not indicated on the 1860 census, which suggests they had passed away before that time or were adopted. Children: (1) Andrew Jackson Showers, b. Abt. 1838, Jackson Co., MI, m1. 29 Sep 1867, Calhoun Co., MI, to Mary S. Bernard, m2. 16 Sep 1883, Los Gatos, CA, to Estella Davis, d. 10 May 1886, Los Gatos, CA {deputy sheriff of Storey County, NV}; (2) James A. Showers, b. May 1840, Jackson Co., MI, m1. Celia (?), m2. 1886, Los Gatos, CA, to Hattie (?), d. Aft. 1900, San Jose, CA {Sheriff of Mono County, CA}; (3) Elizabeth Showers, b. 1842, Jackson Co., MI; (4) Jacob Showers, III, b. Jan 1843, Jackson Co., MI, m1. 18 Dec 1864, Decatur, MI, to Jane Parsons, m2. 24 Aug 1875, Calhoun Co., MI, to Rebecca A. Wetherly, m3. 11 Mar 1888, Calhoun Co., MI, to Abbie E. Harrison (or Goodwin), d. Aft. 1900, Calhoun Co., MI; (5) Louisa Showers, b. 1845, Jackson Co., MI; (6) John Showers, b. 1848, Jackson Co., MI; (7) Sarah Showers, b. Feb 1850, Jackson Co., MI.
3. Nancy Showers was born on October 14, 1816, in Ontario County, New York. She married Jonathan Newbury, who was born in New York on August 11, 1805. About 1842, the family left New York and settled in Wheatland, Wisconsin, where Jonathan became a rather successful farmer. The 1850 census indicates his property was valued at $1,000, and the 1860 census reflects that his real estate was worth $2,000 and his personal property valued at $400. Jonathan died on August 17, 1862, in Wheatland, and following his death Nancy continued to live with her children. She passed away in Wheatland on February 16, 1900. Children: (1) Ann Newbury, b. 1855, Wheatland, WI; (2) Cynthia Newbury, b. 1843, Wheatland, WI; (3) Ervin Newbury, b. 1850, Wheatland, WI; (4) Mary Jane Newbury, b. 1841, NY; (5) Oliver Newbury, b. 1852, Wheatland, WI; (6) William Newbury, b. 1853, Wheatland, WI; (7) Wilson Newbury, b. 1847, NY; (8) Edwin Newbury, b. 1847, Wheatland, WI.
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[i] History of Chautauqua County, p. 176.
[ii] Ibid.
[iii] Ibid, p. 177.
[iv] Ibid, p. 179.
---http://genforum.genealogy.com/showers/messages/294.html
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Abt 1790 - 1843 (~ 53 years)
