GENERATION 7

GENERATION 6

Biography

JEPTHA WILBUR was born Jan. 18, 1759. It is with JEPTHA that we first see the spelling change from WILBORE to WILBUR. It is possible that WILBOR was also used in this transition.

On May 15, 1801, JEPTHA and Anthony Briggs purchased land in lots 24 and 44 of Little Nine Partners, in Dutchess County, NY. The following year, on May 5, Anthony Briggs and his wife Elizabeth, sold their interest to JEPTHA WILBUR.

The town of Pine Plains, Dutchess, NY, was formed from Northeast in 1823. The following is taken from the records in the Town Clerk's office in Pine Plains:

We, the subscribers, Overseers of the Poor of the Town of Northeast, in the
County Duchess, do certify that Driss, a slave of Nicholas Row, of said Town
of Northeast appears to be under the age of fifty years, and of sufficient 
ability to provide for himself.

Northeast Town                                        Jeptha Wilbur
   Oct. 26, 1813                                      Philo M. Winchell
                                                         Overseers of Poor

JEPTHA is listed among the early settlers of Milan, settling in the east part. At the first town meeting held in April, 1818, he was elected Commissioner of Schools. In that year 246 children attended school in 7 districts.

The "History of Dutchess" mentions that JEPTHA built a grist-mill about a mile northeast of Lafayette. A drawing of the mill can be found on page 237 of that book.

Although the records show that ELIZABETH died in Avon, Livingston, NY, in 1828, and JEPTHA some 15 years later, the administration of the estate of JEPTHA was taken at Milan, Nov. 20, 1843.

Samuel was an active supporter of the old Whig party and well known throughout Dutchess County. Most of his life was spent farming in Pine Plains, Dutchess, NY. He married Betsey Hicks, daughter of Benjamin Hicks.

Jeptha married his childhood girlfriend, Catherine Cookingham, in Milan, in 1812. In 1817, they moved to Lawrence, Otsego, NY, where they resided eleven years on a small farm. In 1828, they moved to Avon, Livingston, NY, where they purchased 200 acres. They had ten children, and lived there the rest of their lives. Jeptha lived to the age of 77. Catherine died 2 days after Jeptha died.

A son, Marion, of Zachariah and Sarah is buried in an unnamed cemetery, three miles north of LaFayette, in Milan township. He was born Apr. 18, 1851, and died Mar. 12, 1852.

According to the book, History of Duchess County, Henry was a farmer in the Lafayetteville area of Milan township. The book says "Jeptha, his father, was born in Rhode Island and died at the age of 80". Henry's first wife, Gertrude, is buried in an unnamed cemetery, three miles north of Lafayette, in Milan.