CORNELL-L Archives

From: Carol Schwaderer Dickinson <>
Subject: [CORNELL-L] Introduction, two lines of Cornells
Date: Wed, 09 Sep 1998 13:03:37 -0700

My name is Carol Schwaderer Dickinson (not hyphenated) and I am new to
this list.

My family line traces back to Aaron Cornell, b 1794, New York State,
possibly "English Settlement" Died December 1886 Delaware Twp, Ontario
He was loyalist. It is believed but unproven that he was the son of
Sylvanus Cornell, of Beverly Ontario. Sylvanus traces back to Thomas
the immigrant. All the other Cornells in the area can be connected
except for Aaron. There just doesn't seem to be a paper trail in
existence.

Aaron married Hannah Sipes, born Jan 1796, Died July 5, 1881, daughter
of Jacob Sipes, U.E.L and Catharine Williams. I had a letter years ago
stating Aaron and Hannah were married 18 May 1818 by William Hare, J.P.
Record found in Upper Canada Land petitions at the Public Archives of
Canada, Ottawa, no. S12/64 which I have not had an opportunity to check
personally.

Aaron served as an american solider in the War of 1812 but later became
disenchanted with New York Politics and moved to Waterloo Canada.

I am descended through their son David Sipes Cornell and Mary Louise
Bregg. David was born and married in Canada. Lived a long while in
Michigan. Other than my grandfather, Davids children moved on with
David to Ashland Wisconsin where David died.

Seeking any Bregg information. We have a family tradition passed down
through most branches of the family that Mary Louise was granddaughter
of Ezra Cornell, founder of Cornell University on the MATERNAL SIDE.
I've even seen this stated in contemporary regional Who's Who of my
Great grand father Aaron Cornell, D.V.S. son of David Sipes Cornell ,
but some biographical material in the entry seems to be merged with
some other Aaron Cornell. Its a very long entry, more than a page of
small type but much of it is known to be untrue. and yet its written in
a manner leading one to believe that some of the information was
gathered from interviews with family members.

Mary Louise Bregg's mother was Rachel Ellen surname unknown but assumed
to be Cornell. However it is impossible for Rachel Ellen to be the
daughter of Ezra Cornell, founder of the university. Rachel Ellen b
1810 was the wife of Joseph Edwin Bregg b. 1806. Other than locale is
southern Ontario, we know nothing. I sure would love to hear anthing to
address these confusions.

I have also found crossover Cornell information in an obscure volume
entitled "Terry Family / Some descendants of / Richard Terry / of /
Southold, Suffolk Col, N. Y." Compiled by William Z. Terry / Ogden Utah
/ 1951 This is a typwritten manuscript I found in the LDS library in
Salt Lake It is available on microfilm but the numbers have faded on my
photocopy.

This is a particularly fascinating family to Terry researchers.
Parshall Terry b. 1734 on Long Island. Married 1. Deborah Clark, 2.
Sarah Lee Horton, and 3. Bethia Wells All family lines tracing back to
the original 13 settlers of Southold in 1640. He was an early settler
in the Wyoming Valley of Pennsylvania and very active in its history. He
fought on the American side during the Pennamite wars. Deborah gave
birth during one of the battles, and died during the retreat known as
Sullivans March.

The son Parshall Terry born 1756 fought on the opposite side during the
battle. He later served briefly in the American Army under Washington,
but deserted and joined the British. After the war he moved to Canada,
where he "was a highly respected citizen, judge, member of parliament,
exporter of lumber, holder of extensive land grants."

Parshall married (1) Amy Stevens of Wyoming Valley, PA, 2. Rhoda Skinner
of Ontario, Canada. After he died, Rhoda Skinner Terry married William
Cornell.

The children (all born in New York) of Parshall Terry and Amy Stevens
were
1. Parshall Terry b 1778
2. Mary Terry b 1780 married Joseph Loots
3. Submission (Mitty) Terry b abt 1782 md Alexander Gallaway
4. Elizabeth Terry, b 1784 md Young Love
5. William Terry b ayt 1787
6, Joshua Terry b 1789

Children of Parshall Terry and Rhoda Skinner (all born Canada) were
7. Timothy Terry b 1795
8. John Terry b 1800
9. Amy Terry b 1802 md Isaac Cornell
10. Nancy or Lucy Terry b 1804 md John Darling
11 Sarah Maria Terry b 1805 md Edward Thompson
12 Deborah Terry md Dr. Thomas

The children of William Cornell and Rhoda Skinner Terry were
1. Ann Cornell b 1810 md Dr. Lee
2. Lydia Cornell b 1812 md George Thompson
3. Eliza Cornell b 1814 md Mr. Thomas.

William Zimmerman wrote the following about this group:

"There is considerable confusion in the listing of the children of
Parshall Terry and Rhoda Skinner. The three Cornell children named
above are often given as children of Parshall Terry and Rhoda Skinner.
However, Mrs. Ross (Lissa) Glassford, of Toronto, Canada, states that
she has verified the births of those three from an old Cornell family
bible. Mrs. Glassford is a great grand daughter of Parshall Terry and
Rhoda Skinner, and also a great grand daughter of William Cornell,
second husband of Rhoda Skinner of Terry Cornell.

"There are some unsolved problems connected with this family. The list
of children of parshall Terry and Rhoda Skinner, given here is the list
used by James P. Terry * except that he includes also the three Cornell
children; Ann, Lydia and Eliza. The list of children given in Stuart T.
Terry's manuscript seems to be very much confused. He lists Timothy as
born in 1810, which is of course, impossible. The date of his birth as
here given, September 23, 1798, seems to be accurate. Rhoda Skinner
aTerry Cornell in her will names Timothy as her eldest son.

"Mrs. Glassford believes that her great grand mother, Amy Terry,
daughter of parshall and Rhoda, was born i n1798 or before. Parshall
Terry in a petition for land filed in 1798, stated that he and nine
children. If we count both Timothy and Amy, we still lack one. There
is evidently something missing.

"Mrs. Glassford sates that there is a Simcoe Terry among the children.
She gives the information that he was named for John Graves Simcoe,
governor of Upper Canada."

* James P. Terry and Stuart Tuthill Terry are a well known Terry
researchers of the last century.

Parshall Terry Sr. died in East Palmyra New York. The Terrys of this
region were attracted to the Mormon faith and many moved west with them.
Those that didn't migrate for religious reasons had wanderlust and were
fervent explorers. These Terrys extending to cousins on both sides of
the border explored and settled, areas across the US, Terrytown, PA,
Pontiac MI, Nauvoo, IL, Salt Lake City. I haven't got a grasp on
whether they were the Cornell connected lines or not. Very incestuous
and polygamous in the next few generations.

As a side note the Parshall ancestry can be traced back to the two
legitimate sisters of William the Conqueror, as well as the ancient
kings of England, Harold Bluetooth, Alfred the Great, a few saints,
Robert the Bruce, the ancient jings of Ireland and all sorts of rogues,
rascals, heros, traitors, and best of all (according to my bloodthirsty
little nieces) a couple of beheadings.

Carol Dickinson

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