Summary

 

Explanation

 My husband comes from Sarah Grace Sweet, who is believed to be the daughter of Amos Sweet and Dorcas.  However, we have NO primary sources, and the best we have is a history written by her granddaughter Nora Carter that is wonderful, but we can't prove anything about Grace's heritage from it.

This blog is more a research work than a beautiful blog.  I put all of my research here, so that I can find it wherever I am and whether or not I have my files/computer.  

At first we believed that we descended from the Amos that married Mercy Carpenter, but our Amos married Dorcas and the two families were having children at the same time.  I believe that both of these families were living in Stephentown, NY in 1790 but we have one more girl living with him than we should so this leaves doubt.  Mercy and Amos, his parents Elizabeth and Amos are both in Stephentown in 1790 as well.  Sr. built a mill, the first in the area.  

Mercy's Amos was a Loyalist - or so I believe - and they removed to Canada.  They took most of their family with them and remained there for the rest of their lives.  They are buried there. Amos Sr. is buried in Stephentown as he died before they left.

I have no idea where Dorcas and Amos went.  

Grace spent some time in upper New York.

My last few options for finding records are:

    ****The Family History Library in Salt Lake City, has a Special Collections where Grace will be listed in the temple records.  My hope is that she left a note or a hint of relationships there.

    ****The only other thought I have is to get in contact with Stephentown Historical Society.  I have looked at all of the family genealogies that they have online and we are not even hinted at, finding less than five Sweets in the whole of the pages.

I have decided to table my efforts on the Sweets.  I can prove that Hannah's Amos is not ours; Mercy's Amos is not ours; Elizabeth Straights Amos is not his father; David's son Amos is not our ancestor.  All of them I can prove are not ours, but I have not the slightest idea who is.  So when Amos, Dorcas, Grace or even Blaine D bring me the records, I'll try again.

I hope you find information found her helpful.  I have included it in FamilySearch as well under the correct Amos but that is subject to someone's whims.  It has been changed more times than I can count, but it has remained about the same now for a year, with the exception of a sibling of Grace that we don't believe belongs.

May you have a wonderful and happy HUNTing experience.  I hope it is SWEET.

Allyson Wood

Research Report

Allyson H. Wood

1221. West Ashby Road

Delta, UT 84624

www.hunt4sweet.blogspot.com for research notes.

 

January 2022

 

Where we started:

 

Sarah Grace Sweet

 

Sarah Grace Sweet was born 13 Jan 1799 in Hoosick, Rensselaer, New York to Amos Sweet and Mary Dorcas.  (source:  Nora Carter (Nora M Wood 1878 – 14 July 1960 • KWCN-X4Y on FamilySearch.org) history of Sarah Grace, her grandmother; also available at: Sarah Sweet Warren Wood.pdf (bobcatsworld.com))

Commentary:  I have always called her Sarah Grace, and will continue to do so, but her grave stone shows her as S. Grace.  This makes me believe she went by Grace in this life.

I have not discovered when this history was written, but it had to be in the 1950’s or earlier.

·        Sarah Grace is called Sarah in the title.  Grace died 15 years before Nora was born so her information is either all second hand from family or information she has researched.  Norah’s father, Wellington Wood 1841–1920 could have easily been a source for Nora and given her his best knowledge, but this is unknown to me. 

·        Nora does not state her parents by name, so linking to Amos Sr and Elizabeth Straight was done after this history was written (leaving me to believe this is the oldest information, at least that I have found to date.

·        “Mohawk Valley” in 2021 includes the counties of  Otsego, Oneida, Schoharie, Montgomery, Fulton and Herkimer.  Sarah Grace is said to have been born in Hoosick, (no original source has been located) but Hoosick is in the Hudson Valley which includes:  Putnam, Rockland, Westchester, Dutchess, Orange, Sullivan, Ulster, Albany, Columbia, Greene, 

and Rensselaer Counties.  Our blue, green and purple Amos Sweet’s are all in the Hudson Valley at the time Sarah Grace would have been growing up.  None were in the Mohawk Valley.

·        Sarah Grace was born 13 January 1799 in Hoosick, Rensselaer County (it was actually still Albany), New York.  When researching records, we will need to look in Albany county first.

 

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My Research Shows:

Amos Sweet:  Amos Sweet Jr:  Amos Sweet:  Amos Sweet Jr:

At some point more research was done which linked Amos Sweet to Amos Sweet Sr and Elizabeth Straight.  This is an easy link to make and is very reasonable.  It only falls apart with closer scrutiny.

 

Amos Sweet Jr: born 5 March 1766 in Kingston, Washington, Rhode Island

 

Amos Sweet Jr, son of Amos Sweet Sr. and Elizabeth Straight was born 5 March 1766 in Kingston, Rhode Island (source) and died 10 May 1838 in Dunham, Missisquoi, Quebec, Canada (source).  He is buried in Chapel Corner’s Dunham, Canada near his family (source).  He married Mercy Carpenter (b. (headstone shows ca. 1768);  d.  14 Nov 1828 buried in Chapel Corner, Dunham, Quebec, Canada).  Mercy is the daughter of the daughter of Joseph Carpenter b. 1736 and Phebe Ladd b. 1733.

 

Amos was born in Rhode Island, but moved with his family to Albany County, New York in the area later known as Stephentown, Rensselaer, New York.  He and many of his family moved up to Dunham, Quebec, Canada.  He is buried in the Chapel Corner's Cemetery there in Dunham.

It was believed that this was our Amos for some time.  However, this is not possible.  This man is most definitely the son of Amos Sweet and Elizabeth Straight, with his birth recorded in Rhode Island and on his headstone.   He is having children with Mercy at the same time our Sarah Grace Sweet is born from Dorcas, thus leaving us to reason that there is another Amos who is Sarah Grace's father.

 

·        Amos Sweet and Mercy Carpenter’s family consisted of:         

o   Benjamin Sweet abt 1788 d. bef 1863

o   Stephen Van Rensselaer Sweet - b. 1792

o   Phoebe Sweet - b. abt 1793; d. 30 Jul 1858

o   Amos Sweet (III) - b. 19 Aug 1797; d. 29 Oct 1872. 

§  This Amos is well documented and lives in Canada.  He is a contemporary of Sarah Grace.

o   Elizabeth (Betsy) Sweet - b. 1799

o   Temperance Sweet - b. 1 Jan 1800 d. 8 Sep 1858

o   Joseph Carpenter Sweet - b. Apr 1805; d. 29 Dec 1887

o   Mercy Sweet - b. Oct 1808; d. 3 Sep 1890

o   Hannah Sweet- b. 1810

o   Kylar Sweet – b. 1812; d. 29 Oct 1862

                           Source:  Allyson Hunt Wood research

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Amos Sweet:  no birth or death information found yet

·        Amos Sweet and Mary Dorcas ______ ’s family consisted of:

o   Elias Sweet b. 1784; d. 1832

o   Amos Sweet b. 1791 

o   Sarah Grace Sweet b.  13 Jan 1799; d. 4 Jul 1863

o   Lydia Sweet b. 30 July 1802; d. 23 Oct 1885

Source:  Betty Wood research Family Group Records pre PAF

Note:  Check further for birth dates as none has been found to date.

 

Summary:  It would be highly unlikely that one man is having children with two women in two different countries.

o   Dorcas’ Elias is born much earlier than the rest of the children (? Problem?)

o   Mercy has had Benjamin before and Stephen Van Rensselaer after Dorcas’ Amos.

o   Mercy had Elizabeth (Betsy) the same year Sarah Grace was born.

o   Dorcas’ Lydia was born between Mercy’s Temperance and Joseph Carpenter.

 

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Amos Sweet: b. 26 Dec 1755 East Greenwich, Rhode Island

·        Amos Sweet, son of David Sweet and Mary _____.  He is very easy to follow as he and David travel together.  They can be found in in 1790 in Beekman, Dutchess, New York.  David takes over the family property in his father’s will and more information may be found if more research is done in land records.

o   Ruffis Sweet,  b. about 1775-1789 of Beekman, Dutchess, New York

o   Mary Sweet, b. about 1775-1789 of Beekman, Dutchess, New York

o   David Sweet, b. about 1775-1789 of Beekman, Dutchess, New York

o   Amos Sweet Jr. b. about 1775-1789 of Beekman, Dutchess, New York. 

§  (This Amos, depending on his birthdate, may possibly be Sarah Grace’s father but highly unlikely if her brothers information is correct.  He would also need to be the oldest in the family, and children are listed in this order.)

o   George Sweet.  b. about 1775-1789 of Beekman, Dutchess, New York

§  These are the ones that went to school in 1795 and were named by the school  Children listed are a great match with 1790 census. 

 

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Amos Sweet: b. 30 Jun 1766 Attleborough, Bristol Massachusetts. 

 

·        Amos Sweet Jr. of Attleboro was born 30 Jun 1766, the son of  Amos (Elias) Sweet  (1734-1801)  and Hannah Richardson (1744-1804).   He married Sally Sweet, and they remained in Attleborough where their children were born.  There is a chance that they moved away for a few years but returned to have their children and grow old in Attleborough.

·        There children include:

o   Sally Sweet - daughter, b. 3 Oct 1796

o   Clarrissa Sweet - daughter, b. 9 Jun 1798

o   Summer Sweet - daughter, b. 27, May 1800

o   Margareet Sweet - daughter, b. 14 Feb 1802

o   Amos Sweet III - son, b.  3 Dec 1804

o   Hannah Sweet - daughter, b. 19 Feb 1810

o   Hannah Sweet - daughter b. 25 Aug 1814

o   Joabert Sweet - son, b. 3 Jan 1812

o   Joabert Sweet - son, b. 1 Oct 1818

 

The son Amos Sweet III, born 3 Dec 1804 is too young to be the father of Sarah Grace Sweet b. 1799.

 

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Mary Dorcas _____:

Sarah Grace’s mother is Mary Dorcas, unknown parentage.  However, in 1790, there is only one person in the USA Census, Alexander Dorcas in southern New York.  I doubt her last name is Dorcas, but rather her second given name.

 

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Summary:

 

The fact that Sarah Grace Sweets parents are named Amos Sweet and Mary Dorcas _____ must even come into question.  Nora Carter did not include their names in her history, which is the most closely connected document to Sarah Grace’s life.  Research of early LDS records may include their names in Sarah Grace’s records. 

 

There is, however, an Amos Sweet in the 1790 Census that is unaccounted for and may be our ancestor:

 

   Amos Sweet - NY   1.1.2.0.0.  Maybe ours
New York, Albany, Stephentown

           Page #284:

           Amos, age ??,  Elias age 6, Dorcas age ??,  Dorcas ??    

1790 Federal Census:
There are 6 Amos Sweets in the United States in 1790 they are:
(1)  Amos of Stephentown, NY  1.0.2  (suspected to be our Amos) pg 283
(2)  Amos of Stephentown, NY   1.0.2 (father of Amos Jr., wife of Elizabeth Straight) pg 286
(3)  Amos Jr. of Stephentown, NY  1.1.2  (Mercy's Amos, son of Amos and Elizabeth Straight) pg 287
(4)  Amos of Beekman, Dutchess, NY  1.4.3  (David's son)
(5)  Amos of Bristol, Attleboro, MA   3.4.2 (Hannah's son, 
(6)  Amos of Rutland, Pittsford, VA  1.1.2

1800 Federal Census:
There are __ Amos Sweets in the United States in 1790 they are:
(1)  Amos of Stephentown, NY     (suspected to be our Amos)
(2)  Amos of Stephentown, NY    (father of Amos Jr., wife of Elizabeth Straight)
(3)  Amos Jr. of Stephentown, NY    (Mercy's Amos, son of Amos and Elizabeth Straight)
(4)  Amos of Beekman, Dutchess, NY  4.1.1.1.0   1.1.1.1.0   0.0  (David's son)
(5)  Amos of Bristol, Attleboro, MA   well documented descendants  (Hannah's son, 
(6)  Amos of Rutland, Pittsford, VA 
(7)  Amos of Cayuga, Ulysses, NY  4.2.0.0.1   1.1.0.1.0  0.0
(8)  Amos of Otsego, Burlington, NY  1.0.0.1.0   2.0.0.1.0.   0.0
(9)  Amos of Nicholson, Luzerne, PA   0.0.4.0.1   1.1.0.0.1   0.0.
(10) Amos of Milford, Otsego, NY   CONTEMPORARY OF MY AMOS
      FindaGrave:  birth 15 Mar 1784 Rhode Island, death 13 Jan 1863 (78) Milford, Otsego, NY
         son f Jonathan Sweet 1755-1836 and MaryAnn Brimmer 1768-1835
         wife of Patience Eldred 1783-1857
         Children:  Amos Sweet    ?  - 1871
                          Mary Ann Sweet (Knapp) 1813-1896
                          John Sweet (1820-1890)
                          Jane Sweet (1826-1837)

 

Taking a break

After looking at every record available to me at this time, I am going to take a much needed break from the Sweet family.   To summarize, there were multiple Amos Sweets from the area, all seem to have come from Massachusetts.  They are all related and moved to New York because of their relationships and land opportunities.

An Amos Sweet Sr. married Elizabeth Straight.  They had a son Amos Sweet, Jr. who married Mercy Carpenter and they had a large family together.  Amos and Mercy took most of their family and moved to Canada where the lived the remainder of their lives.  This Amos Sweet Sr is of the age he could be our grandfather, but because the children of Amos Jr. and Mercy are being born at the same time as our Amos and Dorcas were having children, and in different countries, we are able to rule out these two as our ancestors.

Amos Sweet Sr. born about 1730 in North Kingstown, Washington, Rhode Island, son of John Sweet 1682 and Lydia Whaley 1684.  He married Elizabeth Straight 8 April 1759.  Elizabeth was born 9 March 1734 in East Greenwich, Kent, Rhode Island, to Henry Straight 1709, and Sarah Sunderland 1705.

Children incluede:  Henry, Sarah Grace 1760, Lydia, Amos Sweet, Jr. (Mar 1766), Isaiah and Elizabeth

Sarah Grace Sweet 1760, married Auigustus Jerome about 1780 and had issue.

Lydia Sweet 1764, married Abel Tanner about 1782 in Washington, Rhode Island and had issue.

Amos Sweet, Jr.  born 5 March 1766 in East Greenwich, Kent, Rhode Island of Amos Sr and Elizabeth Straight.  Married Mercy Carpenter in 1784 in Stephentown, Rensselaer (guess).  Mercy is the daughter of AJoseph Carpenter 1736 and Phebe Ladd 1733.

Their children include:  Benjamin 1788, Stephgen Van Renselleur 1792, Phoebe 1793, Amos III 1797, Elizabeth 1799, Temperance 1800, Noah 1802, Joseph Carpenter 1805, Anna 1806,  Mercy 1808, Hannah 1810, Kylar 1820 (big jump in years.  is this right?) and ?Elizabeth "Betsy" Sweet. 

This family can be found in the Canada records, as they moved there about the turn of the century.  However, Amos Sr. died in 1793 and was buried in New York.  Mercy went with the family that moved to Canada

 Amos Sweet III, born 19 August 1797, very near the age of Sarah Grace, married Elizabeth Fitchett and have issue.  Records are clear that this family was in Dunham, Missisquoi, Quebec, Canada.

Amos Sr. b. 1755 , son of David Sweet, b. 1716  and they move around together.  I hoped and thought this was our line for a few years, but upon finding the school record of Amos' 1755  children (wife unknown to me, children:  Rufus, Mary, David, Amos Jr., George), we are also able to rule out David's son Amos as our father of Sarah Grace.  They settled in Beekman, Dutchess, NY.  

        David, (b. 23 July 1716), son of  John Sweet 1684, and Catherine Whitford about 1684.  Married  Mercy Sweet  (Hoosick Historical Society shows Mercy Spencer) (b. aboujt 1719) on June 1737 in North Kingstown,  RI.  Children include: Catherine 1743, Eunice 1744, Elnathan 1746, Jonathan 1748, David 1750, Mary Mercy 1751,   John 1753, this Amos Sr. 1755, and Mercy 1760.

     Amos Sr.'s children:   Rufus, Mary, David,  Amos Jr., and George, of Beekman, Dutchess, New York.

Amos Jr. - there is a very slight change that he is our ancestor, but being in school just a few short years before Sarah Grace was born is highly unlikely in my opinion.  The birth dates of all Amos Jr.'s siblings and he are only a guess.

Amos Elias Sweet II of Attleboro is easy to rule out as he stayed put (possibly with a short stay in New York, and then moved back to Attleboro.  The records are plentiful on his family, thus we are able to rule him out as our ancestor.  Amos is the son of Amos Sweet Sr. and Hannah Richardson.

        Amos  Elias Sweet Sr,  born 9 Mar 1735, of  John Sweet 1695, and Sarah Claflin 1706.  Married  Hannah Richardson,  born 17 October 1744 in Attleboro, MA.  Married: 9 Oct 1762 in Attleborough.  Children:   Nancy 1764, Hannah 1764, Amos Elias Sweet II 1766, Elias 1768, Elizabeth 1771, Asahel 1776, John Coy 1778, Stephen 1781, Olney 1783, Nancy 1785 and Polly 1788.

Amos Elias Sweet II, born 30 January 1766 in Attleborough, Bristol, MA of Amos Elias Sweet Sr. and Hannah Richardson.  He married Sally Sweet b. 19 August 1777 in Attleboro, Bristol, MA.  Sally is the daughter of  Thomas Sweet 1741 and Margaret Foster 1742 of Attleboro.  Children include:  Sally, Clarisa, Sumner, Margaret A, Amos III, Hannah 1810-1814,  Joabert 1812-1814, Hannah 1814-1892, Joabert 1818-1898, Charles Allenm and Mina.

Amos III, married 7 Mar 1833 Mary Thrasher 1815-1837 and in 1838 married Sarah Thrasher 1809-1898.

Amos of Milford, Otsego NY is a contemporary of our Amos.  He married Patience Eldred and raised a family with her.  This Amos is the son of Jonathan Sweet and MaryAnn Brimmer.  Another option is  that he is the son of Jonathan Sweet 1755 and Margaret Elizabeth Jones.  This line looks more full, but I have not researched either of them.  Their children are listed, starting in 1809, which is after Sarah Grace was born, so I have not researched further.

In 1800 Census we have an Amos from Cayuga, Ulysses, NY  4.2.0.0.1   1.1.0.1.  0.0

There is an Amos of Rutland, Pittsford VA which I have not researched yet.  1.1.2   He is also in the 1800 census, in Rutland, Pittsford, VA.

Research on Sarah Grace's family is also hard to find primary sources.  Information in her history shows that her father Amos is the son of Amos Sweet and Elizabeth Straight.  This has been proven highly unlikely as stated above, he having married Mercy Carpenter.

Nora Carter, granddaughter of Sarah Grace states that Grace's parents lived in the Mohawk Valley.  Hoosick is not in the Mohawk Valley.

I still have not found the Farm maps, three of them, which were listed in the New York Land Records, 1630-1975, Albany County, Category:  Land Records, and then as "Farm map index no date A-Z.

There is a Dorcas Joanna Casey, born 16 Jun 1749 in Exeter, Washington, RI, daughter of Thomas Casey and Alice Tripp.  She married Stephen Sweet 1745-1794 of North Kingston on 1773.