I have been working on my Rowland family lately. See the previous post on Welsh Origin of Griffith Rowland and his parents of Cambria County, Pennsylvania for background on the Rowland family. William Rowland (1801-1883) was born in Cambria County and moved to South Mahoning Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania about 1838. He married Clarissa Rundel (1809-1897) on 12 April 1832, probably in Cambria County. According to the History of Indiana County by Stewart, her parents were Gilbert Rundel and Amy Nichols from Genesee County, New York. This is the only place where I have found the maiden name of Gilbert Rundel's wife. Gilbert Rundel was living in Jackson Township, Cambria County in the 1830 census and in Carroll Township, Cambria County in the 1840 census. His wife Amy was living with her two sons Chaney and Asept in Carroll Township, Cambria County in the 1850 census. She was born about 1774 in Rhode Island according to the 1850 census. Gilbert was born between 1770 and 1780 based on his age in the 1840 census. He probably died sometime between 1840 and 1850 since he does not appear in the 1850 census.
Part of Pennsylvania was claimed by the Susquehanna Company as part of Connecticut in the second half of the 1700's. This was the area along the Susquehanna River. There was bloodshed and conflicts over this area claimed by both Pennsylvania and the Susquehanna Company settlers as part of Connecticut. In 1782 court commissioners, under the Articles of Confederation, decided this area belonged to Pennsylvania but cautioned Pennsylvania to treat the Susquehanna Company settlers fairly. Luzerne County was created in 1786 so that Susquehanna Company settlers could elect their own justices of the peace and representatives to the Pennsylvania legislature. All of the land claims of the Susquehanna Company settlers were not resolved with Pennsylvania until 1810. Luzerne County covered a much larger area in 1786 than it does today. Present day Bradford County was created in 1810 from parts of Luzerne and Lycoming counties.
Gilbert Rundel appears in the 1820 census in Canton Township, Bradford County, Pennsylvania. He appears in the 1810 census in Caledonia Township, Genesee County, New York. Caledonia Township is part of Livingston County, New York today.
Gilbert appears in the 1800 census in Wysox Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. There is a Timothy Nichols living next to him in the 1800 census in Wysox Township. Reuben Case, Timothy Nichols' son-in-law, is also living nearby. Timothy Nichols and Reuben Case are living in Hebron Township, Washington County, New York in the 1790 census. Gilbert Rundel appears on an assessment list in Granville Township, Washington County, New York in 1799. Granville and Hebron townships in Washington County are adjacent to each other. Timothy Nichols, Sr. transferred land in Hebron Township, Washington County to his son Timothy Nichols, Jr. in 1797. Timothy Nichols, Jr. appears on an assessement list in Hebron Township, Washington County in 1799. Reuben Case settled in present day Troy Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania in 1798 according to a Bradford County history by Heverly. Timothy Nichols and his son-in-law, Reuben Case, and Gilbert Rundel were all living near each other in Wysox Township, Luzerne County in 1800.
A "Petition of the Inhabitants of Pennsylvania Who Settled on Lands Claimed Under Grants From the State of Connecticut" was read by Congress on 5 January 1802. Among the 1150 names on the petition dated 1 November 1801 were those of Reuben Case, Timothy Nichols, and Gilbert Randell. Congress did not act on their petition since they felt the matter had already been settled. It is believed that Amy Nichols' father was Timothy Nichols although positive proof has not been found.
Genesee County, New York was opened for settlement in 1802 and originally encompassed all of western New York. Gilbert Rundel left Luzerne County sometime after 1801 and was living in Caledonia Township, Genesee County by 1810. Sometime between 1810 and 1820 he moved to Canton Township, Bradford County. Sometime between 1820 and 1830 he moved to Cambria County. No deeds were found for Gilbert Rundel (also checked various spellings) in Genessee County, New York. No probate records were found for Gilbert Rundel in Cambria County, Pennsylvania.
The 1820 census probably gives the best snapshot of Gilbert Rundel's family:
Free white males 16 thru 25-2
Free white males 45 and over-1
Free white females under 10-2
Free white females 10 thru 15-2
Free white females 45 and over-1
Number of persons engaged in agriculture-1
Cheney and Asept were living with Amy Rundel in the 1850 census but Clarissa is the only one of his daughters whose name is known.
Timothy Nichols married Experience Bowen on 9 September 1764 in Coventry, Kent County, Rhode Island. Their marriage is recorded in the town records as well as the births of two of their children: Experience born 2 November 1766 and Timothy born 12 July 1769. Timothy Nichols household in the 1790 census in Hebron Township, Washington County, New York consisted of the following persons:
Free white males under 16-1
Free white males 16 and over-1
Free white females-4
His daughter Experience was not included in his household in 1790 since she had already married Reuben Case. His son Timothy would have been about 21 in 1790. If Amy was one of his daughters, then he had a son and three daughters whose names are unknown. Note that the 1850 census states that Amy Rundel was born in Rhode Island.
Volume 3 of Richard Bowen (1594?-1675) of Rehoboth, Massachusetts and his descendants states that Timothy Nichols was a blacksmith and had sold all his property in Coventry, Rhode Island by 1772. The book also states he was absent from Coventry's 1774, 1777, and 1782 censuses; and from its town "inventory" in 1778. Where did Timothy Nichols move after he left Coventry? He purchases land in 1790 in Hebron Township, Washington County, New York and is in the 1790 census there. It should be noted that Washington County, New York is adjacent to Vermont and Connecticut. The New England Historical and Genealogical website, American Ancestors.org, has a database that has many New England records. The only records in its database for Timothy Nichols are for his marriage to Experience Bowen,and the births of their children, Experience and Timothy, mentioned previously. Timothy Nichols and his son-in-law, Reuben Case, appear in the 1820 census for Danby Township, Tioga County, New York. It is believed that this is where Timothy Nichols and his wife probably died since he does not appear in the 1830 census there. There are no deeds or probate records for Timothy Nichols in Tioga County, New York.
If anyone has any additonal information on Gilbert Rundel or Timothy Nichols, I would love to hear from you. Does anyone know the names of Gilbert Rundel's or Timothy Nichols' other children?
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