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Archiver > NY-HUDSONRV > 2007-02 > 1170428828


From: "Jan Miller" <>
Subject: [NY-HudsonRV) Peekskill
Date: Fri, 2 Feb 2007 07:07:08 -0800


My Great Grandfather, John Ormerod, is the patentee of Patent #122642--for an "Improvement in Brick-Machines".
I have a copy of the written description and a drawing of same, including his signature and those of his 2 witnesses--C. E. Swift and Fred. Seymour.
(There were other patents issued in his name, but I haven't been able to return to the film source--near Stanford U.campus).

I'd like to know where I can find more information about this manufacturing company--first of all, it's name; then, how long it was in existence--background on this Peekskill company --its years of operation, any employee records and items of interest that would enhance John Ormerod's chapter in my family history. The Ormerod family lived in Peekskill from about 1867 to 1877 when he and family moved to GreenPoint Brooklyn, where he was employed by the J. Matthews Soda Bottling Company, "suppliers of bottling industry equipment". He eventually became Vice President of the company. There are several pages of inventions credited to the Matthews Company during this period of time -- of which probably many could be attributable to him, but submitted in the name of the company. On censuses he called himself 'machinist-inventor'. Because the early 2-3 patents were submitted and attributed to him, I appreciate those most.

The family lived in Peekskill long enough to bury two infant sons in Hillside Cemetery. When John and his wife died in 1912 and 1915, they were buried there too, as well as 4 of his widowed daughters in later years.

I would appreciate any referrals you can make--and thank you.


Jan Miller


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