untitled
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Welcome to My Lost "LITTLE" Tree 





This photo was taken at Riverside Cemetery in NE Columbus, 
Franklin Co., OH.
My sister Dorothy was living in San Antonio Texas in 1945/46. At that time she came into possession of the following "Genealogy of the LITTLE family" done by Dorothy Norton Law" in 1905. She thought it might be of our Little family tree but as yet I can see no connection. Rather than keep this information from those it might help. I am posting the complete document here on my web page as "The Lost LITTLE Tree". I hope it connects with more than one family. Please let me know if I help even one.

A GENEALOGY OF THE LITTLE FAMILY (As written by Dorothy Norton Law. Dixon Illinois, June 3, 1905)

"Treating with the descendants of one JAMES LITTLE who married SARAH THOMPSON. The Littles in whom we are interested at that period are an ARCHIBALD LITTLE who married SARAH WOOD and a certain JAMES LITTLE who married PHEBE YOUNG. This genealogy is kept by me for reference only. The subject of this outline was probably a cousin or brother of the Archibald Little we are interested in. This "Genealogy of the Little Family" was compiled by Dorothy Norton Law (a descendant of James Little and Sarah Thompson, his wife)at Dixon,Ill. June 3, 1905. I believe this James Little was a brother of Captain Archibald Little.

Perhaps the earliest mention of the name is that of WILLIAM LITTLE,who was born 1136 at Bridlington, Yorkshire, England. He was a monk of Newborough Abbey and wrote a history of England for the period 1066-1197, a work which is said to possess considerable merit. His name is said to be of Norman extraction: it is very probable that the first of the name came to England with William the Conqueror, as did the CLINTONS and CRANES. Interest would seem to center, for this author,about the time of the crowning of William I, 1066. Several centuries later we read that Ellen, daughter of SIR THOMAS LITTLE of Berkshire, married EDWARD BACON, Esq. of Shrubland Hall, C. He was the son of SIR NICHOLAS BACON, Lord Suffolk, keeper of the Great Seal of England, and brother of the famous FRANCIS BACON, viscount of St Albans. About the same time WILLIAM St.BARBE, a gentleman of the privy chamber,to Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth, married MARY, daughter of ROBERT LITTLE of Bray in Berkshire. In the Herald's Visitation of Essex County, England, a genealogy is given of a family that settled at Halstead, as early as 1500. At present a family of the name has its seat at Llanvoir Grange, Co. Monmouth and the Vice Chancellorship to the Duchy of Lanchester, is sold by George Little, Q.C. (may mean Queen's Council or Queen's College) Later in the time of James I, 1603 to 1625, we find in Scotland EDWARD LITTLE; about this time there was a decided movement in Scotland & England. The members of the Little family found in Mass. at an early date are distinctly connected with the WHITTIER and LONGFELLOW families. The history of the CLINTON family seems so interwoven with that of the Little family, it may help to a better tracing of our progenitors if a brief account of the Clintons is given here. The names of CLINTON, like LITTLE, is said to be of Norman origin. Individuals of the names are found in the history of the Crusades. We find the family in England during the reign of Charles I, 1625-1649, espousing the Royal side in the civil War. This was not singular, as Charles I had formed an alliance with France by marrying a French Princess. The cause failed and we next find them in Scotland. After the Battle of Worcester, the family is found in Ireland, where the ancestor of William I died, leaving a young son JAMES(2). When he grew to man's estate, he attempted to regain the landed property of his father in England, but was unsuccessful. He married ELIZABETH SMITH. CHARLES(3),their son, was a Dissenter, and was opposed to the ruling party of Ireland. At the Revolution of 1689,and accession of the house of Hanover, Ireland was treated as a vanquished country. CHARLES(3), then 40 years old, resolved to emigrate to America. He left the county of Longford, Ireland May 9, 1729, and sailed on board the "GEORGE AND ANN" from Dublin, May 20, bound for Philadelphia, Pa. but they landed at Cape Cod, Mass. in October. Here they remain until 1731, coming to New Windsor, Orange county, New York. (new Windsor, doubtless from Windsor England.) Windsor Castle owes its origin to William the Conquerer, who erected at the place a fortified manson as a hunting seat. New Windsor was principally settled by emigrants from Ireland of whom COL.CHARLES CLINTON(3) was the pioneer. By a receipt found, Charles Clinton paid the passage of 94 persons: he was apparantly chief of a part of that number. On the voyage the Captain tried to detain them as long as possible in order to make money out of them: they rebelled, bound their Captain with ropes, put the first mate in charge and soon landed.

CHARLES CLINTON(3) m. in Ireland ELIZABETH DEMMISTON,b. about 1705, who survived him. She died Dec 25,1779. They lost a son and daughter on the passage over.Two sons, JAMES(4) and GEORGE(4) were born in Little Britian, Ulster Co.(now Orange) N.Y. JAMES(4) son of CHARLES(3), was born Aug 10, 1736. Feb 15, 1765 he m. MARY (or Marie)only daughter of EDGBERT de WITTE and his wife, MARY NOTTINGHAM. She born Sep.5, 1737 d Sep 12, 1795. On May 1 1797,he m. 2nd wife, MARY daughter of GRAHAM LITTLE, widow of ALEXANDER GRAY. She born in County longford, Ireland, Aug 22, 1766, died at Newberg Orange Co. N.Y. June 23, 1835. GEORGE(4) was born July 26, 1739 m CORNELIA TAPPAN of Kingston, N.Y. he was a member of Congress 1776, First Governor of N.Y. 1777, Vice President 1804-1812, died while Vice President of the U.S.A. They had only one son, GEORGE JR(5) and five daughters. Only two daughters lived to advance age, one married CITIZEN GANET, the minister from France 1793. GEORGE JR(5) was a graduate of Columbia College, 1773 and was a representative to the 10th W.S. Congress. The arms of the Clintons are the same as the Earl of Lincoln. This village of Little Britain was about 8 miles from the modern town of GOSHEN and 12 miles E. of NEWBURG. Lieut Col CHARLES CLINTON surveyed the town of Monroe. The first store kept in Monroe was by THIMOTHY LITTLE, (son of Archiballd Little and Sarah Wood,Daughter of Timothy Wood)who married a daughter of Rev, Mr BALDWIN. The latter preached the funeral sermon of CAPT. JOSIAH CRANE, in the house where J.E.LITTLE now lives. JAMES CLINTON was under Col. Montgomery at Quebec in 1777 commanded Fort Clinton when it was attacked by Sir Henry Clinton and in the assault was wounded. he also served in Sullivan's successful expedition against the Indians 1779, and was Major General at the close of the Revolutioary war.

The children of JAMES CLINTON(4) and MARY de WITTE(she was a neice of SIMEON de WITTE, geographer of the Revolution) were CHARLES(5), JAMES(5), GEORGE(5), and deWITTE(5). Note the similarity in the names of the children. CHARLES CLINTON had sons JAMES & GEORGE. ALEXANDER DUNNISTON had four sons, GEORGE, JAMES, ALEXANDER and WILLIAM. JAMES LITTLE, came to America from Ireland with the Clintons at the age of eleven years. He was born July 22, 1717 and as he sailed for America May 20,1729, he was eleven years and ten months of age when he left Ireland. A record left by DOROTHY LITTLE CRANE says her grandfather came from Ireland at the age of eleven. Tradition says he came with brothers and sisters. There was, however, without doubt, a relationship between the Littles and the Clintons. The Thompsons and the Clintons were cousins. JAMES LITTLE died April 5, 1798. He married SARAH THOMPSON of Goshen, who was born Feb. 1729 and died April 15, 1800. JAMES LITTLE was a worker in leather. The bills he made out for making shoes are still existant. His associations from his childhood was with educated and his education was in advance of most of his time.

The following from notes of T.N.LITTLE:
"It seems probable he did not follow his trade very long, as he was a school teacher and Justice of the peace under the British Crown. This office he must have held for a considerable lenght of time, as he left at death a great many public documents and writings. From his life we infer he was a man of education and influence as a educator, conscientious as a dispenser of justice, and upright and impartial. At that time we suppose comparatively few people could write and very few could write well. I saw many writings left by him, which had been signed with a mark. He wrote a remarkably beautiful hand, large, round full with every letter regular which could be read as well as print. I doubt whether any of his posterity living with all the advantage of the age can surpass his penmanship. Col. William S. Little who remembers him when an old man, says he was a man rather above the medium height but not tall. He was thick and heavy." JAMES LITTLE settled on a farm between Hampton and Middletown, Orange Co. N.Y., afterward occupied by GABRIEL LITTLE. He had at one time considerable property ,but lost it. His son WILLIAM(2) took the place and cared for his father. The farm was then in the town of Minisink, now in the town of Wallkill: here he died of palsy at the age of 80 years. his wife survived him two years when she died of small pox. They repose in the Pine Hill Cemetary a mile and a half south of Middletown: the graves are marked by small brown stones.

JAMES and SARAH LITTLE had seven children,GEORGE(2),JOHN(2),ANN(2), JAMES(2),WILLIAM(2),SARAH(2) and MARY(2). GEORGE(2),born Oct.21,1747,d March 7,1806 married PHEBE ENSIGN,Aug 11, 1771.She died Apr.9, 1798. CHILDREN:ELIZABETH, FANNY,ISAAC,JANE,JAMES,DOROTHY,ARCHIBALD,ESTHER, AZUBAH,JOSEPH. M. second ABIGAIL(COOLEY)LATHRAP, a widow with two children. Born to GEORGE & ABIGAIL, PHEBE and IRA. JOHN(2)b. Feb 16, 1753,(Captain killed in the battle of Minnisink, Orange Co. N.Y., July 22 1779, married Miss HORTON. ANN(2)b. Oct 24, 1754 d ---, married Wm HUFF. EDWIN(4),b,May 24 1821, d Oct 13,1822 BONONI BRADNER(4) m MARY SELLICK JANE(3)b. Feb 16, 1778 died young. JAMES(3)b Feb 16 1782, Died May 10, 1853,m 1st ELIZABETH WELLS, 2nd REBECCA BORDEN (no children) DOROTHY(3)b. July 3, 1784, d June 2 1854(see Crane History vol.2) m STEPHEN CRANE, Feb 9, 1809.

CHILDREN:

GEORGE LITTLE, b Dec 26,1809, d Nov 26, 1874, m ABYALE YOUNG, Aug 5,1838. JOSEAH(4),b Mar 17, 1812 d. 1842, unmarried. DAVID & JOHN(4)b Feb 17, 1814, died in infancy. JAMES(4), b May 15, 1815,left home when a lad and not heard from since. ABRAHAM KITCHEL(4)b.Feb 7,1818,d. Feb 2 1905, m AMY SOPHIA SMITH,Sep 20,1812 PHEBE,(4)b Apr 1 1820, d. Aug 3 1899, m 1st ISRAIL TAYLOR, 2nd REV. JOSEAH SHERMAN ABIGAIL(4)B Aug 26,1822,d.Sept 21 1854,m Mar 3,1843 to ALBERT G.GOODSPEED d.May,31 ARCHIBALD(3)b Dec 8, 1787. Thought to have died young. ESTHER(3)b May 31 1789 d.Jan 28 1823, m BENJAMIN GALE. AZUBAH(3)b Apr 16 1792, d Feb 3 1872, m DR.JOHN NOLDUS De VIN PRONK, Feb 27, 1811. He born 1776, Amsterdam Holland, d Feb 8 1848.

CHILDREN:

EDWIN, b May 3, 1812, d Mar 18 1893. GEORGE(4) b Aug 13, 1814, d Sep 16 1815. GEORGE (4)b Sep 17, 1818, d Feb 1837. JAMES NODULUS(4), b Feb 14, 1821, d Oct 15, 1895, m MARY ELLAN NOUDEN Feb.25,1841. FANNY ELIZABETH(4), b Nov 7, 1823, d Mar 15 1832. LOUISE MARIE(4), b Mar28 1826,d Jul 18 1852. JOSEAH(4)b June 11,1826, d Feb 14 1833. AZUBAH LITTLE(4) B mAR 11 1834, M silas l king, May 1854. He born 1829 d 1901. JOSEPH(3)b Dec 10 1794,d Dec 16,1874. m HANNAH HARLOW Dec 27 1817. She b 1796 d May 30 1880.

CHILDREN:

JOHN M.H.(4),b Jan 6 1820, m. ELELINE GREGORY Sep 2 1853 GEORGE WEBB(4), b. NOV 28 1821,d Nov. 2 1851, m MARY BULL, Dec 15 1842 MARY ANN(4) b Mar 26,1826, d Oct 21 1845 IRA BENJAMIN(4)b Dec 25 1828, d Feb 9 1850. JOSEPH ELMER(4)b June 10 1831, m 1st AUGUSTA MYERS, Nov 20 1863. She d Feb 20,1876,m 2nd SUSAN N. WOODRUFF Feb 20 1879. REBECCA BORDEN(4)b Mar 18,1833, m DANIEL BULL Apr 13, 1867. THOMAS NOLDUS(4) b June 3,1840, m PAULINE DENTON SHAW,Dec 7,1870. PHEBE(4)daug. of GEORGE & ABIGAIL COALEY LITTLE,b Aug 17,1801, m LOUIS WILLIAMS, children :ELIZABETH,WILLIAM.

JOSEPH LITTLE'S mother, PHEBE ENSIGN lived only 4 years after his birth. Two years elapsed and his father married ABIGAIL COALEY but lived only a short time,having died when Joseph was 11 years old. Up to this time Joseph did nothing but attend school as his father intended to educate him. After his father's death,he worked on the farm under the direction of his brother James, until he was 16 yrs old when he went to Westown to learn the wagon trade and remained there until he was 21. His father died intestate and when Joseph became of age received five hundred dollars as his portion of the potremany. He married HANNAH HARLOW Dec.27,1817. They lived 2 years in NECHANICSTOWN,moved to DOLSONTOWN, now called DENTON, where he lived 6 years and in 1825 bought a farm and settled in Bullback, four miles north of Middletown. This farm was a portion of a 300 acre farm purchased by CAPT. JOSEAH CRANE after his removal from Morristown, N.J. in 1784. Here he lived, with his youngest son, STEPHEN, and died July 14, 1882, at the age of 77. Stephen married for his second wife DOROTHY LITTLE. Here all of their children were born. In 1824 they moved to OHIO. WILLIAM(son of James Little & Sarah Thompson)married MARGARET SHULTZ.

CHILDREN:

GEORGE(3) b June 20, 1786, d Dec 20 1835. SARAH (3) b June 20 1786 ANNA (3)b Feb 28 1786. m MR SHAVER ARCHIBALD(3) b Oct 13, 1790, d Mar 28, 1839. COL WM LITTLE(3) b Aug 17 1792, d Mar 20,1867, m BETSY KETCHUM Dec 22 1814 GABRIEL (3) b May 18,1796 MARGARET m MR COX.
CHILDREN OF COL Wm LITTLE & BETSY KETCHUM:

JAMES K.(4)b July 14 1817, d Apr 3,1837 RHODA(4)b Nov 23, 1819, d Feb 15 1884, m WALTER CARWIN ELMIRA(4)b Sep 12, 1823, d Mar 31,1866,m 1st DR D. D. GRAHAM. 2nd GEO.E. ROBERTSON HARRIET(4)b Feb 15,1828, d Dec.1894,m F.A.KENCH LOUISE (4)b Feb 10,1833, d jan 6,1855,m Wm F. KARTWRIGHT. ARMINDA(4)b Sep 14,1835, d Dec 27,1899,m JESS W. CANFIELD.

The Clintons played an important part in the Revolutioary War and the Littles were with them, side by side true patriots and ready to work for the freedom of the new country of their adoption. The following pledge was drawn up April 29, 1774 at the convention held in N.Y. for the purpose of providing for the sending of delegates to the second Continental Congress to be held at Philadelphia, which was virtually the organization of a revolutionary government.


PLEDGE OF COMMITTEE OF SAFETY AND OBSERVATION

"Persuaded that the Salvation of the rights and liberties of America depend, under God, on the firm union of its inhabitants in a vigorous prosecttion of the measures necessary for the safety: and convinced of the necessity of preventing anarchy and confusion of the powers of gov't: we, the freemen, free holders and inhabitants, do in the most solemn manner, resolve never to become slaves; and do associate, under all the ties of religion, honor and love of our country, to adopt and endeavor to carry into execution what- ever measures may be recommend by the Continental Congress or resolve upon by our Provincial Conventions, for the purpose of preserving the execution, and opposing the execution of the several arbitrary acts of the British Parliament, until a reconciliation between Great Britian and America, on Constitutional principles(which we ardently desire)can be obtained: and that we will, in all things follow the advice of our General Committee respecting the purposes aforesaid, the preservation of peace and good order and the safety of individual property. Among the names of those who signed the above pledge in Orange county we find GEORGE LITTLE, JOHN LITTLE, JAMES LITTLE SR., WILLIAM LITTLE. In the list of signers in Cornwall(embracing Cornwall, Blooingrove and Munroe) JAMES LITTLE and Wm THOMPSON. Deputies to the Provisional Convention from Ulster County were CHARLES CLINTON and COL.JAMES CLINTON and DeWITTE CLINTON. May 1775 Convention continued to meet until May 13,1777, when it was ordered dissolved and the committee of safety ordered to assemble next morning, which they did and continued in session till Jan 7,1778, when the Convention sat at a Senate and Assembly. Members of the N.Y. Convention for the deliveration on the adoption of the Constitution of the U.S. assembled at Poughkeepsie Jan 17, 1786. The Clintons represented the Counties of Ulster & Orange. To frame State Constitutions, members from Ulster, Orange ,met at Kingston, Ulster Co., Apr 20,1777. From Ulster with others, CHAS. DeWITTE CLINTON: from Orange, MR LITTLE with others. this was no doubt JAMES LITTLE as he was the senior Little of the county and a man well qualified for the position. The Cornwall Minute Company, JAMES LITTLE, 2nd LIEUTENENT, 1772. The first active service of this company was under the direction of the Committe of Safety at Fishkill in February. It was attached to the Gov't with Clinton's Brigade and was thereafter kept busy in the highlands. JAMES LITTLE SR.ad son Wm. belonged to this brigade and this may account for the absence at the disastrous battle of Minnisink. 1st Regiment Militia Wm THOMPSON, 3rd regiment Militia JAMES ENSIGN,JAMES and Wm LITTLE. An ARCHIBALD LITTLE was a member of the Committee os Safety 1775. Justice of the peace between 1765 and 1775. A monument was erected in Goshen and dedicated July 22,1862 on the 83rd anniversary in memory of those who fell at the battle of Minnisink,July 22,1779. Forty-four names , among them the names of two sons of James Little, Captain John Little, James Little Jr. The records of Minnisink date from 1789 at the 2nd town meeting held April 1790. Highway Masters:GEORGE LITTLE NO.1. GEORGE LITTLE signed the pledge and was a member of the Committee of Safety, but we find no record of military service performed by him during the Revolution but was a staunch patriot. All decendants of JAMES LITTLE SR. are entitled thru his services to membership in the societies of the Sons And Daughters of the American Revolution.

We realize that the foregoing record is imperfect in perhaps many respects, therefore have added notes which may seem irrelevant, but may assist some future compiler to round out the incidents and dates more perfectly. There is a relationship in all probability between the Little's and Dennistons of Newberry. There is also no doubt that SARAH THOMPSON, wife of JAMES LITTLE was a daughter of Wm Thompson and Ann Jenkins, his wife. Many facts point to the conclusion, but so far authentic records are lacking."

REMARKS:
"An American, while earnestly believing in the American Political doctrine, may justly desire, as a matter of laughable curiosity or as a matter of stimulus to duty, to know his origin and what circumstances brought him his present condition at home. He maybe justly inquisitive concerning the antecedents of his ancestors, especially if they have been on the side of Freedom, Education and Humanity", Bancroft's History of the U.S.

I am indebted for much data in the following history to the Presbyterian Church records of Goshen, Histories of Orange, N.Y. and much information gained from Newberry Library, Chicago. To Judge F. N. LITTLE and other members of the Little family. While realizing that the genealogy is incomplete and no doubt errors have crept in, it is, atleast a beginning which some future compiler may take up and round out to a perfect whole. This work has been done in loving memory of my mother and her brother, ABRAHAM KITCHEL CRANE.

(signed)DOROTHY NORTON LAW DIXON, ILLINOIS, JUNE 3, 1905. BACK

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