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Father: Isaac Ormsbee
Mother: Patience Chase
Date of Birth: 23 Oct. 1808
Place of Birth: Greenfield, NY
First Marriage: 31 Jan 1839, Amy Williams
Second Marriage: Jan 20, 1853, Margaret Hammond
Date of Death: 20 June 1892
Place of Death: Greenfield, NY
First Spouse: Amy
Williams
Father: Theophilus Williams
Mother: Chloe Payne
Date of Birth: 10 June 1815
Place of Birth:
Date of Death: 16 Jan 1852
Place of Death:
Second Spouse: Margaret Hammond
Father: Blackwood Hammond
Mother: Jane Webster
Date of Birth: 25 June 1826
Place of Birth:
Date of Death: 7 June 1894
Place of Death:
Place of Burial: Ormsbee Cemetery
Children all born on the Ormsbee farm near Porter Corners, N.Y.
Note: All references to "Greenfield, N.Y." are intended to mean the "Town of Greenfield" and not to a "Village". Porter Corners is a Village.
Russell M. Ormsbee was the family "Publicity Man".
Early in life, he developed the habit of making records and preserving
them, and inspiring his descendants to do the same.
This collection of historical material begins with; letters written
by his grandfather, Joshua Ormsbee, from Warren, R.I.; with original
deeds to interests in ships which his father bought in 1787 &
1788, before his marriage; a log of the trip which his father
made from Barrington, R.I., on foot, to the site of the present
farm, where the family has lived since 1796; the original deed
to this farm is preserved. There is a small trunk full of old
letters from members of the family who had become scattered, some
were in Vermont, others had started migrating westward into N.Y.
State, and as far as Michigan and Wis. Russell seemed to be the
one whom the others depended upon to act as the clearing-house
for all family news.
Before he was 23 years old, Russell started keeping a diary. The
first entry is dated March 15, 1831. In the diary, he recorded
his daily activities, and events in the neighborhood among relatives
and close friends, such as, births, deaths, and marriages. This
diary has been continued down to the present date, first by his
son Horace Greely, then by his son, Roy H. Ormsbee and his wife
Bess.
Russell was probably educated in the local schools, but it is
evident his thirst for knowledge continued during his life time.
His diary tells of his ambition to become a surveyor and of the
purchase of his first instruments in 1835. He also taught school,
his diary of the date Nov. 23, 1835 says, "Began keeping
school it Hamburg, N.Y. (where his brother Isaac lived) between
35 and 40 pupils. School ended Mar. 23, 1836. I got $15.00 per
month. Got home June 15," By 1842, he had purchased more
instruments and was devoting more and more time to his surveying.
He surveyed the first railroad thru the Town, and many roads and
farms. All these survey records have been preserved, and have
been called into court it title cases, and none have ever been
disproved. He held the title of State Surveyor.
He was a regular correspondent to the County Newspaper, the "Saratogan"
A scrapbook of the clippings of his articles and notices from
1867 to 1892 has been kept.
In 1834, he was commissioned a Lieut. in the 59th Regt. of N.Y.
State militia.
One learns from this diary that he was quite a traveler for those
days. He often spent part of the day working on the farm and then
went to visit some neighbor. Also mentioned are trips to Michigan,
Western N.Y., Vermont, Rhode Island, New York City and Boston.
Russell was very much interested in "The Family". He
might be called the first genealogist. Wherever he went he was
hunting relatives. Many of the old letters are from Ormsbees asking
him how they might be related. Even in his will he expresses the
desire to keep the family together.
Will of Russell M. Ormsbee. Will Book in Surrogate Court of Saratoga County, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
I, Russell M. Ormsbee, considering the uncertainity of this
mortal life, and being of sound mind and memory, do make and publish
this my last will and Testament in manner and form following,
that is to say;
1st. I hereby direct the payment of my necessary funeral expenses
2nd. Also the expenses of settling my estate
3rd. My just debts to be paid, should I owe any at my demise
4th. I desire that my beloved wife, Margaret Ormsbee, should have
all the household goods that she brought with her when she came
to housekeeping, for her benefit and her children, the same as
my first wife's children received the goods which she brought
with her.
5th. I give and bequeath also to my wife all my household goods,
absolutely; but if she should, at any time, desire to divide any
part of them, I desire that they be divided equally, as may be,
among the children.
6th. I give and bequeath also to my wife, as above, Three Hundred
dollars cash
7th. I give and bequeath to my daughter, Frances Allen, Four Hundred
and Seventy dollars.
8th. I give and bequeath to my son, Hammond W. Ormsbee, Six Hundred
dollars
9th. I give and bequeath to my son, Ferdinand C. Ormsbee, Six
Hundred dollars. These bequests are to make each of these four
legatees, with what they have heretofore received, $1000.00 each;
my son, Horace G. Ormsbee having received heretofore $1000.00
10th. I desire that my books may be divided among the four children
by mutual agreement. My scientific books should go to the grand-children
according to their predilections, if they have any. My surveying
and drawing tools have become old fashioned and would not sell-
they might be kept as heir-looms.
11th. All the remainder of my property, real and personal, I give
to my beloved wife, Margaret Ormsbee, which together with the
other bequests to her, are given in lieu of dower, during her
natural life.
12th. For the purpose of this will, my executors are hereby empowered
and authorized to sell, lease, or mortgage any part of my real
estate, or personal estate, but with the following proviso- The
burying ground should not be sold, as it was never conveyed to
me, by my father, Isaac Ormsbee, who conveyed to me all of the
balance of his real estate; also I direct the sale of all or any
real estate before the homestead, in order if possible to retain
said homestead in the family.
12th. (Note duplication) If any legatee or interested person should
attempt to break this will, or to make trouble, I hereby direct
my executors not to pay said person or persons anything whatever.
13th. If anything should remain, after all expenses and debts
are paid, subsequent to the funeral of my wife, let it be divided
equal among the four children, or their legal representatives.
14th. I hereby appoint my faithful wife, Margaret Ormsbee, and
my son Horace G. Ormsbee, executors of this my last will and testament,
hereby revoking all former wills made by me.
In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, the
9th day of February, 1891
Witness: Luther A. Cady Signed: Russell M. Ormsbee
Floyd D. Ballou
Russell M. Ormsbee, Wayne Co., Mich, Nov. 4, 1836, 170.79 acres.
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