Genealogy: Lockwood

This genealogy of Robert Lockwood, who came to America in 1630, is presented with the kind permission of Tom Ayres. Descendants of Robert Lockwood included Henry Lockwood and his sister Elizabeth (Gibbs) Lockwood who settled in Norwalk Township of the Firelands in 1816.

FIRST GENERATION

1. Robert Lockwood was baptized Jan. 14, 1599-1600, at Combs, Suffolk Co., England, son of Edmund and Alice (Cowper) Lockwood.   He married Susannah Norman, daughter of Richard and Margaret (Alford) Norman, in 1632, at Watertown, Ma.  She was born Sept. 2, 1605, in England.  He died Sept. 16, 1658, at Fairfield, Ct. She secondly married Jeffrey Ferris.   She died Dec. 23, 1660, at Greenwich, Ct.

In 1630, The Winthrop Fleet of 11 vessels brought the ‘Great Migration’ from England, including Robert and his brother Edmond, from Combs, Suffolk County. Robert first settled at Watertown, Ma., where he was a proprietor in 1636-7.  He was made a freeman Mar. 9, 1636-7. Lands were granted to him from 1636-1642, as follows:  (1) an Homestall of 18 acres, (2) 2 acres of Meddow in Pinemarsh, (3) 1 acre in Pond Meddow, (4) 35 acres upland, (5) 6 acres of Plowland, (6) 16.5 acres upland, (7) 6 acres of Meddow, and (8) a Farme of 134 acres upland.  About 1646, they moved to Fairfield (Sound Beach, Greenwich Twp.), Ct., where he was appointed Sergeant in May of 1657.

Their children:

i. Jonathan Lockwood born Sept. 10, 1634, at Watertown, Ma;. married Mary Ferris, daughter of Jeffrey Ferris, Jan. 6, 1664, at Stamford, Ct.; and died in 1688.

ii. Deborah Lockwood born Oct. 12, 1636, at Watertown, Ma. and married William Ward, son of Andrew and Esther (Sherman) Ward, Oct. 12, 1656, at Fairfield, Ct.

iii. Joseph Lockwood born Aug. 6, 1638, at Watertown, Ma. and married a daughter of Robert Beacham.

iv. Daniel Lockwood born Mar. 25, 1640, at Watertown, Ma.; married Abigail Sherwood, daughter of Thomas Sherwood, in 1668, at Fairfield, Ct.; and died in 1691.

v. Ephraim Lockwood see #2.

vi. Gershom Lockwood born Sept. 6, 1643, at Watertown, Ma.; married Lady Ann Millington, daughter of Lord Millington; and died in 1718.

vii. John Lockwood born in 1645, Fairfield, Ct.; married Abigail Robertson; and died in 1677

viii. Abigail Lockwood born in 1648, at Fairfield, Ct. and married John Barlow, son of John and Ann Barlow in 1666, at Fairfield.

ix. Sarah Lockwood born in 1649 and died in 1650-1.

x. Sarah Lockwood born Feb. 27, 1651-2, at Fairfield, Ct. and married Abraham Adams in 1677, at Fairfield.

xi. Mary Lockwood born in 1654, at Fairfield, Ct. and married Jonathan Huested in 1682, at Greenwich, Ct.

SECOND GENERATION

2.  Ephraim Lockwood (Robert 1) was born Dec. 1, 1641, at Watertown, Ma. He married Mercy Sention, daughter of Matthais and Elizabeth Sention (or St. John), June 8, 1665, at Norwalk, Ct. He died June 13, 1685, at Norwalk.

They resided at Norwalk, where he was made a freeman in Oct. of 1667.  He bought the homelot of Jonathan Marsh, Dec. 30, 1664, “For and in consideration of one mare and suckling colt, his house with the shefes, dress-board, etc.   Also the yards, hovells, and tenn fruit trees growing upon the orchard; and also the home-lot containing one acre more or less.”  It was located along a Salt Meadow, on the Norwalk River

His estate inventory was taken July 20, 1685 at Norwalk and was valued at 322 pounds 6s 2p (# 3831, State Library, Hartford, CT).  The inventory of his estate included: “Homsted and Building, other Lands, working clothes, Beds & Bedding, furniture, linnin & woolen, chests & Boxes, and cattle.”

Their children:

i. John Lockwood born Mar. 19, 1665-6, at Norwalk, Ct. and died in 1690.

ii. Daniel Lockwood born Aug. 13, 1668, at Norwalk, Ct. and died in 1741.

iii. Sarah Lockwood born Nov. 3, 1670, at Norwalk, Ct. and married John Flatt, son of John Flatt, May of 1696, at Norwalk.

iv. Ephraim Lockwood born May 1, 1673, at Norwalk.

v. Eliphalet Lockwood see #3.

vi. Joseph Lockwood see #4

vii. James Lockwood born Apr. 21, 1683, at Norwalk, Ct.; married Lydia Smith, daughter of Samuel and Rachel  (Martin) Smith, Oct.  23, 1707, at Norwalk, Ct.; secondly married Macy; and died in 1769.

viii. Edmund Lockwood died in 1740.

ix.  Mary Lockwood married Joseph Garnsey, son of Joseph and Rose (Waterbury) Garnsey.

x. Abigail Lockwood married ? Cook.

THIRD GENERATION

1. Eliphalet Lockwood (Robert 1, Ephraim 2,) was born Feb.  27, 1675-6, at Norwalk, Ct. He married Mary Gold, daughter of John Gold, Oct. 11, 1699, at Norwalk, Ct. She was born in 1673, at Stamford, Ct. He died Oct. 14, 1753 and she died Mar. 6, 1761.  Both were buried at Town House Hill Cemetery (Wall St. & East Ave.), Norwalk, Ct.

He was a Representative from Norwalk to the General Assembly in May of 1724.

Their gravestones read: “Here lies buried the body of Mr. Eliphalet Lockwood who departed this life in the 78th year of his age, October 14th 1753.11 “In memory of Mrs. Mary Lockwood, relict of Mr. Eliphalet Lockwood, who dec’d. March ye 6th, A.D. 1761, in the 89th year of her age.”

His estate was valued at 4702 pounds (# 3830 State Library, Hartford, Ct.). His will names Damaris (daughter) & John Bettes to receive 18 acres; son Peter receives half of the home; grandson Eliphilet Kellogg; Great Bible & two small bibles. His estate home lot and buildings were valued at 1,500 pounds and the total value was 4,702 pounds.

Their children:

i. Hannah Lockwood born July 28, 1700, at Norwalk, Ct and died July 16, 1712, at Norwalk.

ii. Damaris Lockwood see #5.

iii. son born Nov. 28, 1703 and died Dec. 20, 1703, at Norwalk, Ct.

iv. Mary Lockwood born Nov. 4, 1704, at Norwalk, Ct.

v. Eliphalet Lockwood born June 22, 1706, at Norwalk, Ct. and died Oct. 17, 1734, at Norwalk.

vi. John Lockwood born Jan. 8, 1707-8, at Norwalk, Ct. and died Dec. 12, 1719, at Norwalk.

vii. Marcy Lockwood born Apr. 11, 1709, at Norwalk, Ct. and died Oct. 1, 1712, at Norwalk.

viii. Peter Lockwood born Mar. 16, 1710-1, at Norwalk, Ct. and married Abigail Hawley, daughter of Rev. Thomas and Abigail (Gold) Hawley, Sept. 8, 1737, at Norwalk, Ct. She died June 6, 1749, at Norwalk, Ct. He secondly married Elizabeth Lambert, daughter of David and Laurana (Bill) Lambert, Jan. 1, 1750-1, at Norwalk, Ct. He thirdly married Hannah Fitch.

ix. Hannah Lockwood born July 12, 1712, at Norwalk, Ct. and died July 16, 1712, at Norwalk.

x. Abigail Lockwood born Oct. 17, 1716, at Norwalk, Ct.

4.  Joseph Lockwood (Robert 1, Ephraim 2,) was born Apr. 1, 1680, at Norwalk, Ct. He married Mary Weed (or Wood), daughter of John and Mary Weed, Aug. 14, 1707, at Norwalk, Ct. She was born Apr. 21, 1684. She died June 2, 1736. He secondly married Hannah. He died Nov. 23, 1760. Both were buried at Town House Hill Cemetery, Norwalk, Ct.

Joseph was a lifetime resident at Norwalk, Ct. He bought land at ‘Sticky Plain’ or ‘Pudding Lane’ (later Main Street), a portion of Norwalk. He made sage land choices at: homestead land, including dwelling house and barn; Cannaan parish; Bouton’s Meadow; Rail Hill; Crambery Plain; Toylsome; goggy meadoe at the Beaver Dam; salt meadow at Great Meadow; and sedge flats at Bouton’s Meadow. His gravestone reads:  “Deacon Joseph Lockwood, who departed this life November 23rd, 1760, in ye 81st year of his age.”

His estate inventory was valued at 91 pounds on July 21, 1761 at Norwalk (# 3861 State Library, Hartford, Ct.). His will reads as follows. “In the Name of God Amend, I Joseph Lockwood of Norwalk in the County of Fairfield and Colony of Connectict, being weak of body but of sound and disposing mind and memory (praysed be God) do make and ordain this my last will and testament – first I recommend my soul to God who gave it, my body I commend to the Earth to have a decent Christian burial at the discretion of my exec. Hereafter named, nothing doubting but that I shall receive ye same again by ye mighty power of God and touching such worldly estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life (my just debts and funeral expenses being first paid) I give and devise as followeth –

I give and devise to my beloved wife Hannah four ponds money New York currency over and above what is expressed in a jointure made prior before marriage.

I give and devise to my beloved son Joseph and to his heirs & assigns forever the half part of my Rail Hill, being ye easterly part of the same … my southeasterly lot at Crambery Plain, it being about nine or ten acres … one half part of ye remaining part of my land at sd. Toylsome … one acre of my boggy meadow at Beaver Dam …”

His will also has provisions for: son Ephraim; grandchildren of deceased son Daniel; son Isaac; and daughters Ruth, Mary and Elisabeth.

Their children:

i. Ephraim Lockwood born Aug. 23, 1708, at Norwalk, Ct., married Thankfull Grumon, daughter of John Grumon, Oct. 30, 1734, at Norwalk, Ct., and died in 1786.

ii. Joseph Lockwood see #6.

iii. Ruth Lockwood born July 17, 1714, at Norwalk, Ct. and married David Hoyt, son of Caleb and Mehitable (Hoyt) Jan. 5, 1735-6, at Norwalk.

iv. Daniel Lockwood born Dec. 5, 1716, at Norwalk, Ct. and died Oct. 17, 1751.

v. Mary Lockwood born Mar. 7, 1719-20, at Norwalk, Ct., married Nathaniel Benedict, son of John and Mary Benedict, Oct. 25, 1738, at Norwalk, Ct., and died in 1763.

vi. Elizabeth Lockwood born May 23, 1721, at Norwalk, Ct. and married Nathan Hoyt, son of Daniel and Elizabeth Hoyt, Apr.  9, 1741, at Norwalk, Ct. He was born Apr. 29, 1718.  She died Feb. 22, 1783, at Norwalk and was buried at Pine Hill Cemetery.

vii. Sarah Lockwood born Nov. 28, 1723, at Norwalk and died Feb. 21, 1726-7, at Norwalk.

viii. Isaac Lockwood born Dec. 24, 1726, at Norwalk, Ct. and married Ruth Whitney, daughter of Hezekiah and Margaret (Harris) Whitney.

FOURTH GENERATION

1. Damaris Lockwood (Robert 1, Ephraim 2, Eliphalet 3) was born Nov. 7, 1701, at Norwalk, Ct. She married John Betts, son of John and Hannah (Bell) Betts, Apr. 17, 1722, at Norwalk, Ct. He was born Nov. 17, 1692, at Norwalk, Ct. She died Mar. 24, 1776, at Norwalk, Ct. He died in June 27, 1767, at Norwalk, Ct. Both were buried at Town House Hill (Wall St.) Cemetery.

He was known as ‘John Betts the carpenter’ at Norwalk. He served as a delegate to the Colonial Assembly for several sessions and was honored in 1739, by appointment to audit the Colonial Treasurer’s account.

Their children:

i. Thaddeus Betts see #7.

ii. Mary Betts born May 4, 1727; married Samuel Hilton; and died Aug. 24, 1798, at Norwalk, Ct.

iii. Hannah Betts born May 21, 1730.

iv. John Betts born Aug. 11, 1735, at Norwalk, Ct.; married Lydia Ketchum, daughter of Sam’ll., Feb.17, 1765; and died June 12, 1766, at Norwalk, Ct.

1. Peter Betts born Oct. 1, 1739; married Sarah White; and died Aug. 10, 1807, at Franklin, NY.

6.  Joseph Lockwood (Robert 1, Ephraim 2, Joseph 3) was born Nov. 23, 1710, at Norwalk, Ct. He married Rebecah Rogers, Mar. 10, 1736-7, at Huntington, Long Island, NY. She was born Dec. 2, 1716, at Huntington, NY.  He died July 20, 1773 and she died Sept. 23, 1775, at Norwalk.  They were buried at Town House Hill (Wall St.) Cemetery.

Joseph was brought up a lad of diligence until he became of age to choose a wife, whom he found at Huntington, Long Island, New York. He was obliged to make a home for himself as his father’s house went to his older brother. Consequently, he bought land at ‘Sticky Plain’ or ‘Pudding Lane’ (later Main Street), in Norwalk. He made sage land choices: homestead land, including dwelling house and barn; Cannan parish; Rail Hill; Crambery Plain; Toylsome; boggy meadow at Beaver Dam; salt meadow at Great Meadow; and sedge flats at Bouton’s Meadow.

Their gravestones read: “In memory of Joseph Lockwood, who departed this life July ye 20, 1773, in the 63d year of his age.”  “Here lies the Remains of Rebecah Lockwood, Wife of Mr. Joseph Lockwood Dec., who departed this life Sept. 23rd, A.D. 1775, the 59th Year of her Age.”

His estate inventory was valued at 765 pounds 3s 19d (# 3862 State Library, Hartford, Ct.).

Their children:

i. Ebenezer Lockwood born in 1736, at Norwalk, Ct. and married Mary Godfrey, daughter of Nathan and Martha (Couch) Godfrey, May 23, 1776, at Norwalk.

ii.  David Lockwood born Mar. 27 1737 at Norwalk, Ct.; married Martha (Hickox) Trowbridge, widow of Josiah Trowbridge, Aug. 6, 1777; and died July 6, 1789, at Norwalk.

iii. Ruth Lockwood born Dec. 30, 1741, married John Boalt, and died Nov. 4, 1774 and was buried at Wall St. Cemetery, Norwalk.

iv. Anna Lockwood born 1743, died Dec. 3, 1774 and was buried at Wall St. Cemetery, Norwalk.

v. Sarah Lockwood born Sept. 15, 1745, at Norwalk, Ct., married Col. Ozias Mervine, son of Matthew and Elizabeth (Clark) Mervine or Marvin, Nov. 26, 1761, at Norwalk.

vi. Phebe Lockwood born June 21, 1748, married James Lockwood, son of Job and Rachel St. John Lockwood, Dec. 30, 1767, at Norwalk, Ct. She died Mar. 5, 1773, at Norwalk.

vii. Joseph Lockwood born Apr. 1 1750 at Norwalk, Ct., married Cordelia Filley, and secondly married Isabell Hyatt.

viii. Stephen Lockwood see #8.

FIFTH GENERATION

7.  Thaddeus Betts (Robert 1, Ephraim 2, Eliphalet 3, Damaris 4,) was born May 3, 1724, at Norwalk, Ct. He married Mary Gold, daughter of John Gold, Nov. 8, 1752, at Fairfield, Ct. She died Nov. 20, 1752, at Fairfield, Ct. He secondly married Elizabeth Maltby, daughter of William and Sarah (Davenport) Maltby, May 15, 1754, at Norwalk, Ct. She was born Mar. 17, 1725/6, at New Haven, Ct. She died Feb. 8, 1789, at Norwalk, Ct. He thirdly married Eleanor  (Fairchild) Benedict Lyman, daughter of Jonathan and Eleanor Fairchild, widow of Seth Benedict and Daniel Lyman, Nov. 4, 1789, at Norwalk, Ct. He died Mar. 22, 1807, at Norwalk, Ct. She died Mar. 23, 1825, age 95 Years. Both were buried at Town House Hill Cemetery (Wall St.), Norwalk.

Doctor Betts graduated from Yale College in 1754 and established himself on the ‘Green’, living in a typically comfortable east dormer window home.  He was a truly patriotic physician during the American Revolution. He suffered losses of 272 pounds 17 shillings and 9 pence when his house was burned during British General Tryon’s raid. On July 10, 1797, he sold his Sufferers Land Deed value to his son-in-law, Stephen Lockwood, for $270.

Feb. 6, 1775 he was appointed to a committee of inspection.  He was Justice of the Peace, July 26, 1779.

His tombstone reads, “Sacred in the Memory of Thaddeus Betts Esq. M.D. who died on the 22 day of March 1807; in the 83 year of his age. In his Death Religion, Literature & Humanity have to lament the loss of one of their greatest ornaments.” Her tombstone reads, “Mrs. Elisabeth Betts the Daughter of Capt. William Maltby of New Haven & Wife of Thaddeus Betts Esqr. of this Town was born March 1726 & dy’d on the 8^th Day of February 1789 AEtat. 63d.”

His children by Elizabeth:

i. Sarah Betts see #8.

ii. William Maltby Betts born Jan.  4, 1759, at Norwalk, Ct., married Lucretia Gregory, daughter of Jabez and Mercy (St. John) Gregory, June 26, 1785, at Norwalk, Ct., and died in 1832.

iii. Mary Betts born July 14, 1761, at Norwalk; married Daniel Platt Apr. 15, 1781; died Feb. 3, 1782.

8.  Stephen Lockwood (Robert 1, Ephraim 2, Joseph 3, Joseph 4) was born Aug. 16, 1754, at Norwalk, Ct. He married SARAH BETTS (Thaddeus 5, Damaris 4, Eliphalet 3, Ephraim 2, Robert 1) [second cousin once removed], daughter of Dr. Thaddeus and Elizabeth (Maltby) Betts, Apr. 14, 1782, at Norwalk, Ct. She was born Mar. 7, 1757, at Ridgefield, Ct. He died Feb. 13, 1830, at Norwalk, Ct. and was buried at the First Cemetery (East Ave. & Fort Point).  She died Sept. 21, 1848, at Milan, Ohio, where she is buried.

Stephen was brought up in old “Pudding Lane” (Main Street in 1896) and Center Avenue, which cuts through the very site of the Joseph Lockwood barn-yard, while his mother was bred where the First Congregational Church stands on “Norwalk Green.”

Revolutionary War Soldier

During the American Revolution, he served in Capt. Mills Co., having enlisted Mar. 1, 1777, the Second Regt., of Foot commanded by Colonel Charles Webb, “Connecticut Line”.    They were ordered to assemble at Danbury in April, preparatory to taking the field, and soon went into camp at Peekskill.  They served during the summer and fall of 1777 along the Hudson under General Putnam. Nov. 14th they joined General Washington’s army in Pennsylvania and on Dec. 8th engaged in the sharp action of Whitemarsh where a number of officers and men were killed or wounded. Winter was spent at Valley Forge in 1777-8, and were present July 28, following, at the battle of Monmouth.  Next they were assigned to the Second Conn. Brigade, Huntington’s, at Camp White Plains July 1778; and was sick at Fairfield in Oct. 1778 through Jan. 1780. He was discharged Mar. 1, 1780.

Connecticut Western Reserve – Sufferers’ Lands or Firelands

On July 10, 1779, under General William Tryon, British forces anchored in the Bay of Norwalk and commenced landing at nine o’clock. The following day, the local militia fired at them and the British proceeded to take possession of Norwalk, burning most of the village and stealing $50,000 worth of rebel private property. This and other burning raids along the Connecticut coast, instead of inculcating “terror and despondency” among the rebels, only confirmed them in their belief that Britain was irremediably evil and made them ten times more determined top throw off “English tyranny.” British and Tories burned 80 buildings, two churches, 87 barns and 17 shops. The estimated damage was $116,000.

Sufferers’ Lands – a tract of land lying south of Lake Erie in the State of Ohio, in the quantity of half a million acres was ceded by the State of Connecticut at their Session in May 10, 1792, to certain persons who were Sufferers during the late war between America and England. Stephen suffered losses of 18 pounds 12 shillings during the war.

Stephen began buying Sufferers’ Land Rights on July 10, 1797, when he purchased Thaddeus Betts (father-in-law) rights for consideration of $277. Between July 1797 and November 1829, he bought (including Sufferers’ Rights) and sold more than 5,700 acres of land in the Connecticut Western Reserve, most of which were located in the Firelands, Huron County, Ohio. See Appendix for details.

Initial Trip to the Firelands in Ohio

At the age of 60, Stephen, along with his son Henry and son-in-law David Gibbs left Norwalk, Ct. June 12, 1815 proceeding by covered wagon to New York City, Newark, NJ, Reading, Harrisburg, Pittsburg, Pa, New Lisbon, Columbiana County, Wooster, Mansfield, New Haven and then by Bell’s Trail to Lower Sandusky, Milan and finally Norwalk, Oh. The whole journey took place in almost continuous rain. They spent a week examining his land and picked a site about one mile east of Norwalk, known as Allings Corners, where they built a double log cabin, cleared and planted six acres of wheat.  Then they returned home to Connecticut in mid-October.

In 1807 he was a Representative from Norwalk to the Connecticut General Assembly. Stephen maintained an Account Current of debits and credits from 1818 to 1823 for the R & G Lockwood partnership of his sons (see Ralph Lockwood).

His will was filed with the Probate Court, Huron Co., Oh.  He gave his wife the use of one third of his real and personal estate.  The remainder of his estate went in one eighth shares to his children and grandchildren: Sally Marvin, Esther Saunders, Mary B. Benedict, Eliza Gibbs, Henry, and to the children of Ralph, George and Stephen.

Their tombstones at First Cemetery, Norwalk, Ct. read as follows. “In memory of Capt. Stephen Lockwood who died Feb. 13, 1830 in the 76 year of his age.” “Sarah, Relict of Stephen Lockwood within was born March 7, 1757 and ended a life of practical benevolence Sept. 21, 1848, aged 91, among her children in Milan, Ohio, where beneath their joint memorial repose her remains.” Her tombstone at Milan Cemetery reads as follows. “Our Mother, Sarah, relict of Stephen Lockwood, dater [daughter] of Doct. Thad Betts, born Mch. 7, 1757 in Norwalk, Ct. died Sept. 21, 1848 among her children in Milan, Aged 91.”

Their children:

i. Sarah (Sally) Lockwood born Dec. 9, 1782, at Norwalk and married Asa Marvin or Mervine (a cousin), son of Col. Asa and Sarah (Lockwood) Marvin. They sold her inherited land, in Sherman, Ohio to J. Henderson.

ii. Ralph Lockwood see #9.

iii. Stephen Lockwood born June 1, 1789, at Norwalk; married Sally Richards, daughter of Guy and Hannah (Dolbeare) Richards, Sept. 5, 1811; died Mar. 23, 1827, when a boiler burst on the steamboat Oliver Ellsworth on the Connecticut River. He was a business partner with his brothers, Ralph & George.

iv. Elizabeth Lockwood born Mar. 24, 1791, at Norwalk: married David Gibbs (born May 22, 1788, at Norwalk), son of Capt. Samuel and Nancy (Harsen) Gibbs, June 12, 1815, at Norwalk, Ct.; died Oct. 4, 1873, at Norwalk, Oh. Her parents gave her 360 acres at Norwalk, Ohio, Jan. 23, 1816. See Appendix for her Personal Memoirs.

v. George Lockwood see #10.

vi. Henry Lockwood see #11.

vii. Esther Lockwood born July 13, 1797, at Norwalk, Ct. and married Rev. Stephen Saunders (of South Salem, NY), May 5, 1823, at Norwalk, Ct. She died in Feb. 1877, at Milan. They sold her inherited 110 acres of land in Milan to Ralph and George Lockwood for $1,092.

viii. Mary Betts Lockwood born Apr. 17, 1799, at Norwalk, Ct. and married Rev. Henry Benedict, son of John and Jane (Raymond) Benedict, Sept. 1, 1823, at Norwalk, Ct. He was born Jan. 22, 1796, at Norwalk, Ct. and died July 19, 1868, at Saratoga Springs, NY. She died Jan. 22, 1885.

SIXTH GENERATION

9. Ralph Lockwood (Robert 1, Ephraim 2, Joseph 3, Joseph 4, Stephen 5) was born July 9, 1787, at Norwalk, Ct. He married Esther Antoinette Gregory, daughter of Moses and Esther (Hoyt) Gregory, in May of 1815, at New York, NY.  She was born Oct. 5, 1795, at Norwalk, Ct. He died Oct. 28, 1838, at Milan, Oh. She died Jan. 3, 1856, at Buffalo, NY. They were buried at Milan.

Antoinette was reared in the midst of all the privileges and comforts that characterized a New England home. She was social and of old-time nice sense of conventional propriety.

Trip to Ohio

Ralph and Esther left Norwalk, Ct. in the autumn of 1819 and proceeded to Buffalo, where they chartered a schooner to take them to Sandusky Bay, about 14 miles north of Milan, Oh. The schooner was becalmed near the Canadian shore for five or six days, so Ralph landed his family and procured teams to pull their wagons back to Buffalo and then along Lake Erie to Milan about 250 miles. It took over a month to reach their destination.

They located on farms with living springs, Ralph east and George west of the road, north of Gibbs’ Corners (later Allen’s Corners) on the Electric road to Norwalk, but soon thereafter moved to Milan. In 1823, he had a house built on Lot 42 (originally purchased from Ebenezer Merry July 14, 1819), on Huron St., in Milan. In 1824, tax records show it was valued at $250.

R. & G. Lockwood Partnership

Ralph and his brother George carried on a mercantile business in New York City, on Pearl St. under the firm name R. & G. Lockwood. The brothers received Fire Lands from: their father Stephen, their grandfather Dr. Thaddeus Betts, and George’s grandfather-in-law John Cannon.  Additionally, from 1819 to 1835 they bought and sold thousands of acres of land in Erie Co., now part of Milan and Norwalk, Ohio.  These well-educated young men were surveyors and they laid out much of the land in Erie Co.

By 1817 they removed their goods and business to Gibbs’ corners (corner of East Main St. and Old State road), Norwalk, Ohio, where they opened a store in a hand hewed log house. It was a trading post for white settlers and Indians. Because of the shortage of cash, they traded the skins of wild animals, beeswax, and lard for cash with Tiffany & Co., in New York City. On Feb. 14, 1817, Ralph rented a house for an annual rent of $400 plus taxes. The brothers bought up a large acreage, Lockwood annexes, South of the first Milan town limits. Between September 1819 and 1836, Ralph and George bought and sold thousands of acres of land and many town lots in Huron County. They purchased goods through an agent, Joshua Aikens, at Liverpool, England. Their father kept the Account Current (debits and credits) for R & G Lockwood from 1818-1823. On Oct. 20, 1818, Ralph received permission to keep a store at his residence at Norwalk. In 1819, Ralph and George moved to Merry’s Mill (later Milan). On May 18, 1819, R & G Lockwood of Beatty [later Milan] were licensed to keep a store at their residence. By 1819 they had a store on the west side of Milan square where a post office was opened with Ralph as the original postmaster, a position he held for 17 years. In 1824, they had a sales account with Tiffany & Co., in New York City.

Milan Canal

As copartners, Ralph and George not only owned a large quantity of real estate, but were largely interested in the building of the Milan canal that would connect Milan with the navigable waters of the Huron River and thus greatly increase the value of their town property. By August of 1826, George was in Columbus, Ohio working with the legislature to pass the Milan Canal Bill. In a letter to their father, they expressed the hope that the extension of navigation to Milan by the canal would increase their property values from three to six times the current market value. In 1827 the Milan Canal Co. received its charter from the state of Ohio. Shares cost $50 each. On Nov. 1, 1830, Francis H. Gregory, sold R & G Lockwood land situated in Milan bounded as follows: beginning on the west bank of the Huron River above or south of Abbotts land and thence along the river south and west to a store house, together with land and water to the centre of the Huron River. In 1833, the Canal Co. entered into a contract to construct the canal. The canal took six years to build because of bad financial conditions in the country. George was on the Canal Committee that laid out the canal, which was originally was planned to be four feet deep and thirty feet wide, with two locks for the seven foot drop over three miles, at a cost of $1,500 per mile. The final cost was $23,392 and the canal was 40 feet wide and 13 feet deep. In 1835, George was president of the Milan Canal Company. The canal was finally opened in July, 1839 was designed for sloop rigged sailing vessels. In the late 1820s, they owned Lockwood’s Landing, a grain warehouse at Abbottsford (which was the head of navigation) three miles down the Huron River from Milan.  In 1839 the warehouse was moved to lots 74 and 75 on the south side of the Canal Basin, on Water St., in Milan. On Nov. 1, 1840, George and the Executors of Ralph’s estate, leased half of the new Stone House that was erected on the Canal Basin for $400. The Milan Canal Company took in $102,000 in tolls in the first five years and paid $20,000 in dividends to its shareholders.

Financial Difficulties

In April of 1827, they faced serious financial difficulties. Their brother Stephen had an untimely death and he was heavily invested in the ‘R. & G. Partnership.’ Stephen’s estate wanted their money from the partnership. By May 5, 1827, Stephen’s father-in-law, Mr. Richards, stated that he didn’t want the estate property remaining in Ralph and George’s hands. However, the partnership’s assets were in property, which could not be quickly converted to cash. By August of 1828, Stephen’s Estate was due $25,509 from the partnership. During the next several years Ralph and George sold a significant amount of real estate to settle with their brother’s estate.

Ralph’s will was filed at Huron Co. Probate Court (Will Record “A”, pp. 78-9), Oh. It reads as follows. “I, Ralph Lockwood of Milan Township, in the County of Huron, and the State of Ohio, do make and publish the following to be my last will and testament.

First – I do hereby declare that all the lands and tenements deeded to me; or standing in any individual name, belong to myself and my brother George Lockwood in equal portions; and that all the lands and tenements deeded to my brother George Lockwood or standing in his individual name, belong to myself and George Lockwood in equal portions.

Second – I do authorize and empower my Executor hereinafter named; or any two of them, to sell or dispose of my personal Estate, in such manner, as they shall deem for the good of my Estate.

Third –  I do authorize and empower my Executor hereinafter named, or any two of them, to Lease, Sell convey in fee simple, or otherwise, to mortgage, to divide & make partition off any, or all my lands and tenements and to reinvest the proceeds of sale, otherwise to dispose of the proceeds for the good of my Estate. To lay out roads … and divide my lands or any of them into lots as they shall deem for the best interest of my Estate. Any one of my Executors who shall be the only survivor, is empowered to make deeds, pursuant to any written contract previously made by any two of them.

Fourth – I do appoint my beloved wife Esther Antoinette, and my son Francis H. Lockwood, Guardians of my minor children, until they shall respectively attain the age of twenty one years, without giving security.

Fifth – I do hereby appoint my beloved wife Esther Antoinette Lockwood, Henry Lockwood [brother] of said Milan Township, and George L. Marvin [son-in-law and lawyer] of the City of Buffalo, of the state of New York, Executors of my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all former Wills.

Signed, Sealed, published, and declared by the above named Ralph Lockwood, to be his last Will & Testament, at Milan, this 27^th day of October, in the year of our Lord, One Thousand Eight hundred and Thirty eight.

Ralph died the next day, after completing his “death bed” Will in the presence of his doctors and his sister, Esther L. Saunders. After Ralph’s death, the distribution of the partnership real estate took 14 years in Probate Court, with a final deed of partition on June 3, 1852.

Their tombstone reads: “Ralph Lockwood Born July 9, 1787 Died October 28, 1838 Aged 51; E. Antoinette Gregory his wife Born October 5, 1795 Died January 3, 1856 Aged 60”.

Their children:

i. Francis (Frank) Gregory Lockwood born Apr. 6, 1816, at New York, NY; married Electa Malvina Reynolds, daughter of Jason and Esther (McMillen) Reynolds, Apr. 24, 1854, at Milan; died July 21, 1891, at Milan.

ii. Elizabeth Shaw Lockwood born Apr. 18, 1818, at New York, NY; married George Lockwood Marvin, son of Asa and Sarah (Lockwood) Marvin, July 18, 1839, at Milan; died Sept/ 23, 1903, at Buffalo, NY.

iii. Stephen Adolphus Lockwood see #12.

iv. William Eli Lockwood born Aug. 17, 1822, at Milan; married Amelia Williams, daughter of Jonathan and Martha Williams, Apr. 17, 1853, at Milan; died in Nov. 1901, at Milan.

v.  Augusta Antoinette Lockwood born Dec. 25, 1825, at Milan and died Oct. 17, 1826, at Milan.

vi. Ralph Lockwood born Dec. 5, 1830 and died Oct. 7 1891, at Milan. He was in the Dry Goods business and resided with his brother Francis in 1870.

10.  George Lockwood (Robert 1, Ephraim 2, Joseph 3, Joseph 4, Stephen 5) was born July 29, 1793, at Norwalk, Ct. He married Mary Cannon, daughter of James and Rebeckah (Gould) Cannon, in 1813, New York, NY. She was born Feb. 6, 1792, at Norwalk, Ct. She died May 19, 1835, at Milan, Oh.  He secondly married Jane Osborn, May 21, 1837, at Huron Co., Oh. She was born July 2, 1810, in Ct. She died Feb. 6, 1902, at Saginaw, Mi., where she was buried. He died July 6, 1860 and was buried at Milan.

Mary’s grandfather, John Cannon, lost his house to fire when the British under General Tryon burned much of Norwalk, Ct. on July 11, 1779 during the American Revolution. He suffered losses of 1933 pounds 8 shillings 3 pence. Oct. 2, 1815, George and Mary of New York City, repose [confidence or trust] in the ability and integrity of David Gibbs, Esq. [husband of his sister Elizabeth] of Norwalk, Ohio, appoint him our true and lawful attorney, with full power to cause partition of all lands that we hold in common in Huron County.

Milan, Ohio

They moved to Milan, Ohio in 1819, traveling in three wagons and were six weeks on the road. They built a frame house and had been in it but a short time, when it the house burned to the ground. The ever hospitable Ebenezer Merry took them into his home until they could convert the cooper shop into a house, as it was mid-winter. George boarded his family from Jan. 31^st till Aug. 8, 1822, for 27 weeks, at a cost of $73. By 1823, he had built a Federal style house on Lot 11 on Norwalk Ave. (now 59 South Main St. – see picture in Appendix).

Between August 1828 and July 1835, he lost five children and his wife. He remarried two years later and lost five more children by the age of six. Furthermore, his business partner and brother Ralph died in 1838.

R. & G. Partnership – Financial Problems

See above, under Ralph, for the R. & G. Partnership. By 1836, they needed more cash, so George went east to raise funds for the partnership. On Mar. 17, 1836, they entered into a contract with Minot Mitchell and Elisha Crawford, of White Plains, NY, as follows: $400 bonus paid to Mitchell; loan from Mitchell for $8,000; interest of 7% per annum; note payable in five years; Lockwood’s mortgage deed, at double the sum due on the note. The note was extended for five more years in April 1841. After the death of Ralph in 1838, George became insane, at least in the eyes of his son, James, who, without any judicial authority, had him placed in the Ohio Lunatic Asylum at Columbus in Dec. 29, 1843.  In August 1844, James, without legal authority, enters into an agreement with Mitchell and Crawford to sell the mortgaged property to pay the aggregate amount due, $11,515. George was discharged from the asylum Aug. 1, 1845, and promised his all Glorious Father stronger attachments to Heaven. In a letter dated August 1845, he complains about “foul persecution and wickedly confined” and announces that he is returning to business. By 1846, J. C. agreed to release and quitclaim to Mitchell four parcels land to full payment of Mitchell and Crawford’s claim under the mortgage agreement. On Jan. 1, 1849, George files a bill of chancery [court of equity to administer justice, where common law provides no redress] against Mitchell and Crawford alleging fraud and collusion between them and James. There was an injunction restraining Mitchell and Crawford from further proceedings on the mortgage in both New York and Ohio. The Bank of Manhattan, NYC accepted 19.5 acres in Milan in lieu of $25,000 owed the bank. On May 4, 1849, J. C. Lockwood and Francis G. Lockwood returned title to George for land in Milan that was taken illegally.

Lockwood Temple

George built the Lockwood Temple between 1845 and 1849, as part of the Millerite religious sect in preparation for the judgment day. This large two story brick walled building was 45 feet wide and 150 feet long. It was located behind the Lockwood Block on the west side of Milan square. Meetings were held in the southerly chamber on an elevated level, as the faithful prepared for the destruction of the earth by flood. This temple was a religious home, with a cupola, over a dais in the meeting room. The true believers would ascend to heaven on the appointed day. That day has yet to come and the Temple, more recently a roller skating rink, auto assembly factory, toy manufacturing plant, antique shop and warehouse, was torn down in 1993.

In 1847, he built a Tuscan style house, now 21 Williams St. and gave it to his daughter Sarah as a wedding present. In 1848, he built a mirror image of this house across the street, now 34 Williams St. and gave it to his daughter Mary as a wedding present.

George was one of Milan’s leading citizens and a valued member of the Whig Party, supporting its principles by voice and vote. He was engaged in the grain, wool and timber shipping business on the Milan canal and made a fortune. In 1850, he was listed as a land speculator at Milan. The whole Lockwood Block was destroyed by fire in 1852, doing $40,000 worth of damage. There were four buildings in the block owned by George and none were insured. The brick Lockwood Temple was not materially damaged.

George died intestate. James C. Lockwood was Administrator of the estate, which took ten years to settle. By the time the debts were paid, his creditors were paid about 40% of the amount due to them, so the estate was insolvent.

In 1900, the widow Jane Lockwood resided with son-in-law and daughter, Sylvanus and Harriet Reynolds, at Saginaw, Mich.

His monument in the Milan cemetery has the following inscriptions: “George Lockwood, Born at Norwalk, Conn. July 29, 1793, Died July 6, 1860, Aged 67 year’s. Mary Cannon, wife of George Lockwood, Born at Norwalk, Conn. Feb. 6, 1792, Died May 19, 1835, Aged 43 year’s”. His children on the monument are listed below.

His children by Mary:

i. James Cannon Lockwood see #13.

ii. Mary Elisabeth Lockwood born Aug. 7 1818, at New York, NY and died Aug. 28, 1828, AE 10 years, at Milan, Oh.

iii. George Lockwood born Dec. 20, 1820, at Milan, Oh. and died Dec. 27, 1825, AE 1 year, at Milan, Oh.

iv. Maltbie Betts Lockwood born Dec. 20, 1824, at Milan, Oh. and died Nov. 12, 1825, AE 1 year, at Milan, Oh.

v. Sarah Lockwood see #12.

vi. Mary Elizabeth Lockwood see #100.

vii. George Maltbie Lockwood born Aug. 20, 1832, at Milan, Oh. and died Feb. 10, 1835, AE 2 years, at Milan, Oh.

viii. Frederick Lockwood born Apr. 22,1835, at Milan, Oh. and died July 19, 1835, AE 2 months, at Milan, Oh.

His children by Jane:

ix. Jane Eliza Lockwood born June 4, 1838 and died Mar. 7, 1850, AE 12 years, at Milan.

x. Harriet Antoinette Lockwood born May 24, 1840, in Ohio; married Sylvanus J. Reynolds (born Oct. 1836, NY), in 1864; died in 1933.

xi. Hellen Augusta Lockwood born Jan. 18, 1843, in Ohio and died Mar. 28, 1849, AE 6 years, at Milan.

xii. George Osborn Lockwood born Mar. 8 1847, in Ohio and died Aug. 22, 1852, AE 5 years, at Milan. He drowned in a small creek on the outskirts of town while playing with Thomas Alva Edison, later an inventor of some note.

xiii. Frederick Parsons Lockwood born Oct. 8, 1849 and died Aug. 1, 1850, AE 9 months, at Milan.

xiv. Hellen Lockwood born Oct. 8, 1849 and died Oct. 9, 1849, AE 1 day, at Milan.

xv. John Rogers Lockwood born Jan. 13, 1851, in Ohio and died in 1876.

1. Annie May Lockwood born May 9, 1854 and died Feb. 9, 1859, age 5 years, at Milan.

11.  Henry Lockwood (Robert 1, Ephraim 2, Joseph 3, Joseph 4, Stephen 5) was born May 11, 1795, at Norwalk, Ct. He married Amelia Chichester, daughter of Henry and Deborah (Hoyt) Chichester. She was born Mar. 27, 1795, at Norwalk, Ct. He died June 9, 1865 and she died Jan. 1, 1863, both at Milan, where they are buried.

Henry became a ‘hatter’ in his father’s hat-shop at Norwalk, Ct.

During the summer of 1815, Henry, his father, and brother-in-law, David Gibbs traveled to Ohio by covered wagon, a journey that took over ten weeks. They cleared the land, planted 6 acres of wheat, thinking to have bread the next year, but wild turkeys, etc., trailed it so that it could not be cradled at all and they were obliged to reap it with a cycle, saving very little. They built a double log cabin at Norwalk, before returning to Connecticut in the fall. They settled at Norwalk, Ohio in 1816. Henry’s parents gave him 480 acres at Norwalk, Ohio on May 22, 1816. See appendix for his diary.

Henry built a hat factory on the Milan square, using borrowed money. His father was concerned in 1827 with Henry’s debt and refused to lend him more money to buy Muskrats. Feb. 28, 1833, he sold his share of his father’s estate, including 113 acres of land and four lots in Milan, for $1,772 to Ralph and George. Henry became a Justice of the Peace.

Their children:

i. Henry Lockwood born in 1814 and died Feb. 25, 1816, in New York, on trip to Ohio.

ii. Stephen Henry Lockwood born Dec. 3, 1816, Norwalk, Ohio; married Mary S.; and died in 1872, at Milan.

iii. Albert Lockwood born June 2, 1819 and died in 1819, at Milan.

iv. Theodore Lockwood born in 1820 and died in 1825, at Milan.

v. Alfred Chichester Lockwood born in 1824, in Ohio; married Sarah Collins (born in 1829, in Ohio), daughter of Isaac and Betsey (Ward) Collins, Feb. 6, 1849, at Huron County, Ohio.

vi. Amelia Augusta Lockwood born Oct. 21, 1826 and died in 1848, at Milan.

vii. Henry Walter Lockwood

viii. Ward Lockwood born Dec. 28, 1829.

ix. Theodore Lockwood born Feb. 11, 1831, in Ohio and died in 1898, at Milan.

x. Emeline Elizabeth Lockwood see #900.

xi. Sarah Louise Lockwood born June 18, 1838 and died in 1849, at Milan.

SEVENTH GENERATION

12.  Stephen Adolphus Lockwood (Robert 1, Ephraim 2, Joseph 3, Joseph 4, Stephen 5, Ralph 6) was born June 11, 1820, at Milan, Oh. He married Sarah Lockwood (Robert 1, Ephraim 2, Joseph 3, Joseph 4, Stephen 5, George 6) [first cousin], daughter of George and Mary  (Cannon) Lockwood, Aug. 3, 1847, at Milan. She was born Oct. 30, 1826, at Milan.  He died Mar. 6, 1898, and she died Apr. 6, 1914, both at Milan where they were buried.

Stephen was born in a log cabin on old state road, near Allings Corner. His early education was in the old yellow schoolhouse and he was one of the first students at the Huron Institute, being there on the day it opened.  He was raised on a farm in Milan.

In 1845, Stephen and his brother William were engaged in the mercantile business under the name of S. & W. Lockwood, on the west side of Milan square, handling a general stock of goods. They were thrifty and intelligent young men who erected some substantial business blocks. In 1852, they suffered heavily when the west side of the square burned. S. & W. Lockwood Dry Goods Store had inventory insured for $6,000. As a result of this loss, he left the merchandising business, to engage in agricultural pursuits.  In this vocation he also prospered, leaving a large amount of property to his family.

During the Civil War, he enlisted in the naval service, Feb. 21, 1863, at Cincinnati, Oh. He served as a seaman on the USS Tuscumbia, an ironclad river gunboat. He was transferred to a Memphis Hospital as a ward master. In a letter to his wife, Dec. 13, 1863, he says that President Lincoln’s message was good and shows the right spirit for the Rebels good. He was discharged Feb. 11, 1865.

Erie County land deeds reveal that Stephen was Grantor (seller) and Grantee (buyer) of a substantial number of land deeds in Milan between 1852 and 1898.

His political affiliation was with the Whig Party and subsequently the Republican Party. In 1897, they celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary, with all the family present except one son.  They belonged to the Presbyterian Church.

Sarah was born and spent her entire life in Milan. After the death of her mother in 1835, when she was eight years old, she lived with her older brother, J. C. and his wife Louisa, in whose home she married her first cousin in 1847. Sarah joined the First Presbyterian Church of Milan, May 7, 1843. Her father built her a house as a wedding present, located at 21 William Street (see Appendix), where all of their children were born. By 1900, Sarah resided with her daughter Mary Meacham’s family, who returned to Milan to take care of her. She thought the world of her brother, J. C., and entrusted all of her financial resources to his care.

For Sarah Lockwood’s ‘Reminisces of Early Days in Northern Ohio’ – see the Appendix.

Sarah Lockwoods Will – Memoranda of Agreement

This Memoranda of Agreement entered into in 1914 and Administration of the Will by Executor, Stephen A. Lockwood, May 14, 1914. Agreement between: A. F. and E. Antoinette Dixon; James C. and Sarah Lockwood; George R. and Sarah R. Curtis; Stephen A. and Libbie E. Lockwood; Wilbert H. and Louise C. Arnold; Alfred  J. and Mary E. Meacham; Roy H. and Verna L. Williams; Ada L. and Claude L. Latham; Arthur B. and Mary B. Lockwood; and Stephen A. Lockwood, as Trustee of the property of James C. Lockwood, under and by virtue of the Last Will and Testament of Sarah Lockwood, deceased – witnesseth.

The said parties have entered into an agreement for a division of the real and personal property of the estate of Sarah Lockwood, deceased; and

Stephen A. Lockwood has been appointed trustee of the property and estate of James C. Lockwood … and Ada Latham and Arthur Lockwood are the only children entitled to the trust property; and

By virtue of a written agreement entered into, the aforesaid parties have bid for and agreed to take articles of personal property and parcels of real estate at the price … set forth; and

Sarah Lockwood died leaving surviving her the following children – E. Antoinette Dixon, James C. Lockwood, Sarah R. Curtis, Stephen A. Lockwood, Louise C. Arnold, and Mary E. Meacham and the following grandchild, Verna L. Williams, daughter of Ralph M. Lockwood, lately deceased; and

George Lockwood, son, died a widower without issue.

It is therefore agreed that division of said property be made at prices hereinafter stipulated, as follows –

– E. Antoinette Dixon: one Loomis Bond & premium, $512.50; 10 shares capital stock Cleveland Railway Co., $1,017.50; and cash, $2,570.00.

– James C. Lockwood (property held in trust): Lot 44 in Milan; one Troy Special School bond, $507.20; Cash $593.07.

– Sarah (Sadie) R. Curtis, Stephen A. Lockwood and Louise C. Arnold: farm consisting of 172 acres, Erie County Record of Deeds, Vol. 20, page 256 (River Bottom Farm), price $15,000, to be paid jointly.

– Mary E. Meacham: 5 shares capital stock Cleveland Railway Co., $508.75; lot 22 in Milan, Erie County Record of Deeds, Vol. 18, page 307, $3,950; and cash $141.25.

– Verna L. Williams (granddaughter, only daughter of Ralph M. Lockwood): one Putnam County bond, $1,000; 5 shares capital stock Cleveland Railway Co., $508.75; one Troy Special School bond, $511.80; lot 74 Warren St., Southwark’s Addition to the city Sandusky, Ohio, $2000; and cash $579.71.

Personal property – $8,000 and real estate – $23,000.

Their cemetery monument reads as follows: “Stephen A. Lockwood, June 11, 1820 – Mar. 6, 1898, Sarah, his wife, Oct. 30, 1826 – Apr. 6, 1914”. Next to the monument is G.A.R [Grand Army of the Republic] Post Erie Co. star marker with an American flag. On the side of the monument is the following: children of S. A. & S. Lockwood, S. Albert, Mar. 28, 1848 – Aug. 1, 1848; Jessie Isabel, May 24, 1857 – Jan. 10, 1860.

Their children:

i. Stephen Albert Lockwood born Mar. 28, 1848 and died Aug. 1, 1848, at Milan.

ii. Esther Antoinette Lockwood see #200.

iii. Ralph Marvin Lockwood see #300.

iv. James Cannon Lockwood see #400.

v. Jessie Isabel Lockwood born May 24, 1857 and died Jan. 10, 1860, at Milan.

vi. George Lockwood born June 16, 1863, in Ohio; married Anna Schumann (born June 1870, in Germany) in 1894; and died Mar. 12, 1911, at Tampa, Fl. and was buried at Milan. No children.

vii. Sarah Rebecca Lockwood see #500.

viii. Stephen Adolphus Lockwood see #600.

ix. Louisa Choate Lockwood see #700.

x. Mary Elizabeth Lockwood see #800.

13.  James Cannon (J. C.) Lockwood (Robert 1, Ephraim 2, Joseph 3, Joseph 4, Stephen 5, George 6) was born Nov. 14, 1814, at Norwalk, Ct. He married Louisa Choate, daughter of George Washington and Mary (Baldwin) Choate, Dec. 23 1835, at Huron Co., Oh.  She was born May 5, 1815, at Rutland, NY.   She died June 20, 1876. He secondly married Mary W. (Chapman) Van Norman, daughter of George W. and Elizabeth (Storer) Chapman, Sept. 15, 1880, at Cleveland, Oh. She was born in 1841. He died Nov. 26, 1890, at Milan, Oh. She thirdly married L. V. McKesson. She died Jan. 21, 1914, at Toledo, Oh.

James, at the age of 14, was employed by Nathan Jenkins, as a clerk in dry goods and general supply. By the age of 21, he bought out Jenkins and always remained in this business. By 1835, he was largely interested in vessel building in Milan, with Capt. Henry Kelley and others. His first schooner was named the Minot Mitchell in early 1852. He made a great deal of money in the vessel business on the lakes. In 1840, he and his cousin Francis G. Lockwood were associated in business under the firm of J. C. Lockwood & Co. in the corner store, No. 1 Lockwood block. By 1852, he had interest in a schooner and was generally successful in making a great deal of money on the lakes.  He owned some of the best schooners on the lakes, including two first class steam propellers.  By 1866 he had become so successful with his store, that he also conducted a brokerage and exchange business.  In 1882, he established a private bank, The Milan Banking Company and was  President.

In 1850, after the old Choate house burned, J. C. built a Greek Revival brick house at 30 Edison Drive (see Appendix). He was a man of high integrity and great business capacity.  He furnished money to the Presbyterian Church, which was used to build the Lockwood Chapel.  In his business relations, he illustrated a high minded purpose, keeping his word as good as his bond. There was one questionable area, in the dealing with his father and his property in the early 1840s – see George Lockwood, R. & G. Lockwood.

J. C. left a large estate. However, his Will (see Appendix) was contested, as there were changes made shortly before his death. This case took six years in court, with the original will and two codicils eventually being sustained. He left money to the Milan Cemetery Association, First Presbyterian Church and a substantial amount to various relatives.

His monument reads as follows: “James C. Lockwood, born November 14, 1814, died November 26, 1890. Louisa Choate wife of J. C. Lockwood died June 20, 1876, aged 61 years. Cornelia, daughter of J. C. & L. C. Lockwood died June 5, 1850, aged 5 years.”

His child by Louise:

i. Cornelia Lockwood born in 1845, in Ohio and died June 5, 1850, at Milan.

His child by Mary:

ii. Jay Cannon Lockwood born Dec. 8, 1882, at Milan; married Margaret C. (born in 1886, in Ohio); secondly married Helen; died Apr. 28, 1950, at Toledo, Oh. and was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery.

See the BIBLIOGRAPHY on this website.

© 2010 by Tom Ayres. All Rights Reserved.