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From: <>
Subject: Re: [NYC] Tomkins/Tompkins, 1780s-1820s?
Date: Sun, 1 Nov 1998 13:02:58 EST

Hi Steve,

In a message dated 11/1/98 4:34:35 AM, wrote:

>Greetings,
>
> I have just learned that my ggggrandfather, Enos TOMKINS was born
>in New York City, February 1, 1795. At the age of 18 he joined the New
>York City Militia Company under the command of Captain Hugh Maxwell.
>Later he was transferred to a company called the Sea Fensibles under
>Captain Shoemaker, headquartered at Mill Rock. After a short period with
>the navy he settled in Bradford County, PA, and ran a clock case and
>cabinet manufacturing business with branches in NY, TN, GA, and IL. I
>have all his later records, beginning in the 1840s, but there is no
>mention of his parents/siblings.
>
> I am very interested in tracking his parents and siblings. I
>understand that the vital records for this time are scant to non
>existant, so I imagine the best step would be to search the 1800, 1810
>census records for TOMKINS/TOMPKINS. As I am living and working in
>Tokyo, Japan, it is impossible to do direct research, and nearly
>impossible to use the services of the LDS site in Tokyo (time and
>distance problems).
> I would greatly appreciate any suggestions you might offer for
>pursuing these leads.
> Sincerely,
>
> Steve Armstrong
> Funabashi, Japan

Have you already searched military records without finding any leads? Pension
records? If so, then here are some other thoughts. It sounds like research by
mail is your best bet, so I've concentrated on research that you should be
able to do via post.

MANUSCRIPTS
First stop of choice, especially for early NY families. See what's already
been compiled in manuscript collections at the NYPL, NYHS, and NYG&BS. These
are wonderful collections, rich in detail about NYC families. I don't know if
the NYPL (http://www.nypl.org) and NYHS (170 Central Park West, NY, NY 10024)
will search by mail for you, but the NYG&BS will, via the Record Search
Service, where I work. Visit http://www.nygbs.org for more information.

AMERICAN GENEALOGICAL-BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX & OTHER SURNAME INDEXES
This series of books documents periodical articles by surname. Search for Enos
and see if any historical society publications or other periodicals include
him.
There are other excellent indexes for this time period, including those by
Colket, Crowther, and Greenlaw. These can be found at the NYPL and NYG&BS.

CENSUSES
Yes, you can certainly search censuses for this time period, but they won't
tell you the names of occupants of the household except for the head. But it
certainly would make sense to familiarize yourself with the TOMKINS/TOMPKINS
families in NYC at the time. You can go back to censuses later once you have
more information about the names of family members. Also at the NYG&BS and
NYPL.

CITY DIRECTORIES
Another excellent first step. Also at the NYPL, NYHS (in paper form), and
NYG&BS. Would suggest viewing these also to see what the TOMKINS/TOMPKINS
families were up to. Perhaps there's someone who was in the same business as
your ggggf-- perhaps his father. Is there another Enos listed? Often a good
clue of relationship.

It would be good to start with a listing for Enos, then work backwards. Do you
see another TOMKINS/TOMPKINS at the same address? Possibly siblings or
parents? Is there another TOMKINS/TOMPKINS in the same business? Keep going
back as far as possible to trace the history of possible relatives in city
directories. Note any "widow" TOMKINS/TOMPKINS and the name of the late
husband. Then look for a will under that name. Transcripts exist for wills
from this period, which would give you the names of heirs. If you see an Enos
as an heir, you may have found his father-- and his mother.

Be sure to look in the ads, too. There may be something for his company-- an
exciting document to find.

And don't forget business directories. See if Enos is listed and if there are
other TOMKINS/TOMPKINS in the same business.

WILLS
Speaking of wills... A search through TOMKINS/TOMPKINS wills in NY County may
open up doors. Manhattan Surrogate's Court, 31 Chambers St, 4 Fl, NY, NY
10007, will search the indexes for you and copy liber entries, but they charge
$70 for this and it's not part of their usual job to do this. And be advised
that they have no originals before 1830.

There are published indexes and abstracts by such folks as Kenneth Scott. The
NYPL has them, as does the NYG&BS, and many of the liber transcripts.

MARRIAGE/DEATH NOTICES
Check newspaper indexes of marriages and deaths. There are several excellent
typescripts by Gertrude Barber and others. Also at the NYPL, NYHS, and NYG&BS.
These can tell you parents' names, names of clergy, and names of the clergy's
religious institution, which can lead you to:

RELIGIOUS RECORDS
Do you know the family's religion? If so, the world of church records may open
up to you-- perhaps a baptismal record or a marriage record. Again, the NYPL,
NYG&BS, and NYHS has many, many of these, as do the religious institutions
themselves.

CORPORATE RECORDS
Perhaps he was in business with relatives. Incorporation/partnership records
will give you the names of the directors. Check the NY County Clerk/ Hall of
Records, 31 Chambers St, 7 Fl, NY, NY 10007.

Also, many account books for businesses still exist. The NYHS has an excellent
collection.

And there may be catalogs for his business, which show the type of merchandise
he crafted. The NYPL and NYHS have collections of catalogs for old companies.

LAW JUDGMENTS/PARCHMENTS
Another source of information on families in this time period. These records
may give you names of other family members--perhaps brothers who sued someone
for debt. or addresses of plaintiff and defendant.

LAND RECORDS
If you've been able to locate the address where Enos lived, it might be
revealing to search backwards and see how he came into the property. Did he
purchase it himself? Inherit it? From whom? Conveyance indexes, located at the
City Registers Office, 31 Chambers St, NY, NY 10007 will have these records.
You can also find these indexes and copies of deeds at the NYG&BS.

Best,

Leslie

Leslie Corn
NYC Genealogical & Estate Research
NYG&BS Record Search Service Genealogist

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