Gersham Towner

DAR Ancestor #A115532

Marker placed by S.A.R. with inscription "Gersham Towner 1750-1829"
Gersham served during the Revolutionary War, having enlisted and served as a pvt in the Albany Co., NY Militia 17th regiment.

He married abt 1773, in Danbury, CT to Tamer/Tamar Knapp. Her father was John Knapp and her mother Mary Hoyt. Tamer was born 1753. The 1790 census shows Gersham and his wife living in Canaan, Columbia, NY. The 1800 Census shows son Abraham had set up residence in the same town. Later Gersham and family moved to Leanaan, Columbia, NY, owning land there.

Gersham then moved to Painted Post, Steuben, NY. A deed in the Bath, NY clerk's office dated Sept. 10, 1803, shows the deal between Gersham Towner and Steven Patterson both of Leanaan, Columbia, NY.

Gersham and wife Tamer sold the Painted Post property, signed by Gersham and his wife Tamer on Sept. 15, 1809.

On, the same day, Sept. 15, 1809, Gersham and Tamer "of Painted Post" purchased for $2000 from Joel Calyer, "land lying ... on the east side of Canochton Creek (spelled Cohocton River now) in township number five, in the fourth range of townships in the county of Steuben", this is now in the Town Of Avoca.

Soon after the arrival of GERSHOM TOWNER, he erected on the HASKIN farm a hotel or inn. Mr. Towner was noted for his hospitality. Although his hostelry was only a double log house, he supplied liberally the necessaries of life, and no traveler was turned away hungry; whether rich or poor, his house was the home of the traveler in this then new country.

Sessions of the NY Legislature - page 122: Passed April 12, 1816 - Gershom Towner & John Loop were authorized to erect a dam "across the Conhocton river, in the county of Steuben, about 8 miles above the village of Bath, and on lands owned by the said Gershom Towner, for the purpose of erecting mills:"

Gersham named in his will Sons Isaac, Joseph, Abraham, Daniel, John and Aaron. No daughters were named. Did name Ms Amy Brewer, House Keeper. Inscription: His grave stone located in Avoca Old Barns cemetery (also known as the Pioneer cemetery) was clearly legible in 1995 and read: "In memory of Gersham Towner who departed this life Feb. 4th, 1829 in the 79th year of his age".

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Jan 21 2018, 3:30:59 UTC
• Reference: FamilySearch Family Tree - SmartCopy: Mar 31 2017, 17:31:33 UTC
• Reference: Ancestry Genealogy - SmartCopy: Mar 31 2017, 18:12:59 UTC

Brief Life History of Gersham
When Gersham Towner was born about 1750, in Danbury, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States, his father, Abraham Towner, was 22 and his mother, Hannah Foote, was 21. He married Tamara Knapp in 1773, in Danbury, Fairfield, Connecticut Colony, British Colonial America. They were the parents of at least 8 sons and 6 daughters. He lived in Canaan, Columbia, New York, United States in 1790. He died on 4 February 1829, in Avoca, Steuben, New York, United States, at the age of 80, and was buried in Avoca, Steuben, New York, United States.

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Gersham Towner
Male
about 1750 – 4 February 1829

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Gersham Towner

1750–1829

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Date
Title
Created

1776
Enlisted Albany County Seventeenth Regiment
October 4, 2022

J
JohnTowner

1790
Gershom Towner, "United States Census, 1790"
October 4, 2022

J
JohnTowner

1816
Authorized to erect a dam by the NY Legislature
October 4, 2022

J
JohnTowner

1829
Gersham Towner, "Find A Grave Index"
September 13, 2020

J
JoleneGeyer