Hattie CREGO (1868-c. 1943)

1 Hattie Elizabeth CREGO^1,2,3,4 (1868-c. 1943) [9458]. Born Jan 1868, MI.^1,2,3 Marr Benjamin F. SHELDON c. 1889.^2,3 Died c. 1943.⁴ Buried Oxford Cemetery, Oxford, MI.⁵

From the "32 Years Ago" column in the Orion Weekly Review.

November 22, 1935 - "Mrs. Will Crego and Mrs. B.F. Sheldon went to Detroit on Wednesday, where the latter's mother, Mrs. Ransom Cole, of Oxford, underwent a successful surgical operation at Harper Hospital."

From the "40 Years Ago" column in the Orion Weekly Review.

February 2, 1945 - "Mr. and Mrs. Ben Sheldon, who left their rig at Oxford while they went to Detroit to see Mrs. Sheldon's brother, Will Crego, returned Saturday to the home of Mrs. Sheldon's mother, Mrs. R.W. Cole, in Oxford. They report that Mr. Crego, who was quite sick, is now so far recovered as to be able to return to work, and his two children are also recovering. Mr. Sheldon was sick for two days while in Detroit, but is all right now. He and his wife live at their farm home west of Orion. Mr. Sheldon is of a philanthropic turn of mind, and is always the first to turn out and take up a collection if a neighbor burns out or is in need.".

2 Lucius CREGO¹ (c. 1846-1881) [9457]. Born c. 1846, NY.¹ Marr Emeline WALKLEY bef 1868.⁶ Died 1881.⁵ Buried Lot 174 #2 Oxford Cemetery, Oxford, MI.⁵

3 Emeline WALKLEY^7,8,9,10 (1848-1928) [9073]. Born Dec 1848, LeRoy, NY.^7,8,11,12 Marr Ransom W. COLE c. 1881.^11,12 Died 13 May 1928.¹³

From the 1900 and 1910 MI, Oakland, Oxford census reports we note that Emiline had two children, one of whom apparently died between 1900 and 191.

6 Asahel WALKLEY^7,8,11,14 (1807-1892) [9064]. Born 12 Jul 1807, CT.^11,14,15 Died 21 Oct 1892, NY.^11,14,15 Buried Buell Cemetery, LeRoy, NY.^11,15

12 Stephen WALKLEY¹⁶ (1779-1869) [9056]. Born 1 Mar 1779.¹⁶ Marr Hannah LAWRENCE 10 Sep 1806, Middletown, CT.¹¹ Died 26 Apr 1869.¹¹ Buried East Main Road (Buell) Cemetery, LeRoy, NY.¹¹

From The Roseman Lawrence Family by Mrs. A. Lawrence Jinks, 1965.

4a. Stephen Walkley, husband of Hannah Lawrence. Family Tree. The first emmigrant ancestor in America -was Richard Walkley (Wakelee). The present Walkley says he was born in England. The Commemoratve Biographical Record of Middlesex Co. 1903 says he came from Scotland to Saybrook, Conn. in 1635 with Lord Say, Lord Seal and Lord Brooke.
II. His son, Richard, settled In Haddam, Conn. in 1652 and in 1677 married Agnes ——-.
III. His son. Richard, born about 1705, married Abigail Spencer.
IV. His son. Richard, born about 1738, married Deborah Bailey.
V. His son, Stephen, born 1778, married Hannah Lawrence. In the same Biographical Record, a Miss Walkley and two sisters lived at home on Walkley Hill.
As early as 1730 a James Walkley served in the militia. In 1719, the estate of Richard Walkley was taxed fifty pounds at Haddam, Conn. Stephen died on the farm after living there for over 60 years, on April 26. 1869, age 91 years. He Is buried in the East Main Road cemetery. His record and Hannah*s are on one tombstone. An 1812 marker and a U.S. flag are on his grave. Stephen made a will,February 24, 1854 and later, a codicil. He willed his property to children, Richard, Harry, Harriet and Eunice. In his lifetime, he had provided for the remainder of his children. In the settlement of this estate, one hundred acres was purchased by Eunice and one hundred acres went to Richard. Later, an agreement was made that Eunice deed her part to Richard and accept a life lease in order that the farm might remain intact. In the 1860 census. William Walkley and Eunice Walkley were living at home. John Durhtie, age 30. was a farm hand.

13 Hannah LAWRENCE¹¹ (1785-1863) [9059]. Born 12 Oct 1785, Middletown, CT.^11,17 Died 13 Jun 1863.¹¹ Buried East Main Road (Buell) Cemetery, LeRoy, NY.¹⁸

From The Roseman Lawrence Family by Mrs. A. Lawrence Jinks, 1965.

4. Hannah Lawrence, daughter of Rosman and Hannah Dunham Lawrence, was born. October 12, 1785 and baptized at Christ Church, Middletown, Conn., December 25. 1785. Sponsors were her parents and the wife of G. Spooner. Hannah Lawrence married at Middletown, September 10, 1806, Stephen Walkley of Haddam, Conn. These records are found in a bible owned by Frank Walkley of LeRoy, N. Y. and described by him as follows; "The Family Bible was published in 1817 at Brattleborough, Vermont for J. Holbrook (9th edition stereotype copy) but no other publisher's name is given. The first page is inscribed "The property of Stephen Walkley, October 25, 1818'." From More Century Farms of New York State, Stephen Walkley, Conn., having married Hannah Lawrence in 1806, came in the year of 1807, to western New York looking for land. Tradition says he walked or hitched rides on that long trip from Connecticut. He purchased 200 acres of land from the Phelps and Gorham Purchase for $600 from Asher Bates, the first postmaster at LeRoy. (Mr. Frank Walkley has the original deed to this farm.) That summer (1807) Walkley cleared a couple acres and sowed wheat and erected a log house. Then he returned to Connecticut. In the spring of 1808, he came again, bringing his wife and her brother, Silas Lawrence. From the family record, their first son, Asahel, was born July 12th, so he was born after their arrival at their new home in LeRoy. The farmhouse on the Walkley farm is believed to have been built in 1812. At present, It contains many beautiful possessions collected by four generations of Walkleys that have lived in it. All four generations have celebrated their golden weddings.There are many fascinating stories to be told about the early days on Yankee Road. Limitations of space permit only one story about a brave resourceful woman, Hannah Lawrence Walkley. In the spring of 1814, Stephen Walkley was serving in the American forces at Fort Niagara. The burning of Buffalo on the last days of 1813 by the British and Indians had thrown all of western New York into a panic. Most of her neighbors had fled to the east side of the Genesee River but Hannah Walkley stayed on the farm with her three young children, caring for the family and the farm. There were oxen and hogs in addition to crops. While she was alone in this eerie wilderness, there Indians came to her door. They asked for a meal. She made a quick decision. “If you will pitch hay for the stock. I'll make a dinner for you", she told them. Her guests were willing. While they worked, she went to the cellar where she had chickens stored for some special occasions, brought up a couple and made a fine chicken dinner. The Indians were perfectly friendly and left after the meal deeply grateful. One happy day, as she was working with the oxen, one raised his head, listened and mooed. He had heard and seen his master returning from Army duty.
In the house is a yarn winding swift, still in use since the settlement days. Andirons, that came from Haddam, are still in the fireplace. Heavy drapes woven 1838, hang at the wide living room door. (Virginia Teetley and Henry S. Manley.) Hannah Lawrence lived in this house until her death, June 13, 1863, age 88 years. She is burled in the Walkley plot, cemetery east of LeRoy. N. Y.

7 Eliza A. ?^7,8,11 (1818- ) [9067]. Born 1818.¹¹

Sources

1	"1870 MI, Oakland, Oxford census".

2	"1900 MI, Oakland, Orion census".

3	"1920 MI, Oakland, Orioin census".

4	"Estate Probate announcement of Hattie Elizabeth Sheldon in the Orion Weekly Review, January 7, 1944".

5	"Oxford Cemetery Records, Oxford, MI".

6	"Estimated based on related dates and information".

7	"1850 NY, Genesee, LeRoy census".

8	"1860 NY, Genesee, LeRoy census".

9	"1910 MI, Oakland, Oxford census".

10	"Death certificate of Ransom Cole".

11	"From The Rosman Lawrence Family by Mrs. A. Lawrence Jinks, 1965".

12	"1900 MI, Oakland, Oxford census".

13	"Fro a "Ten Years Ago" column in the Orion Weekly Review, Lake Orion, MI, May 20, 1938".

14	"Death notice of Asahel Walkley in the LeRoy Gazette, LeRoy, NY, October 26, 1892".

15	"Tombstone inscription".

16	"From Crook; An American Family, 1698-1955 compiled by Charles Henry Leavitt, 1956.".

17	"From the Gazetteer & Biographical Record of Genesee County, New York 1788-1890, edited by F.W. Beers, 1890".

18	"East Main Road (Buell) Cemetery, LeRoy, NY".