Wintersmith Books
115 Brainard Road
Enfield, CT 06082-2531
United States
Wintersm
WINTERS
An English, Danish and German surname, Winters comes from the Old German term ‘wintar’ and the Old Norse term ‘vetr’ which both refer to cold temperatures, a frosty season. The spelling variations for Winters include Winter, Wynter and Wynters.
William Winters (originally Wilhelm Winter) was born on December 25, 1757 (extracted from death date on tombstone and Bible in the Stearns family) in Germany or England. (Nancy Stearns family Bible notes his daughter Charlotte Parmelia wrote that he was born in England, which contradicts our family lore that he was a Hessian Soldier. Our oral history tells us that the original family name was German The first Winters (Winter) in America was a Hessian, a mercenary soldier from Hesse-Hanau or Homburg Germany who came with one of his brothers to America during the Revolutionary War to help the English put down the rebellion. He was shot and wounded at the Battle of White Plains, NY. He probably deserted, or was released, and after the war, he was indentured to a grist miller. His brother decided to return to Germany, but this soldier ancestor decided to marry the grist miller’s daughter and stay in America, probably in Upper New York State, where our records begin.
I have learned from a Hessian researcher, H.J. Rinne, that there was one Hessian soldier named Wilhelm who fits our profile. He was in the Lossberg regiment in April of 1775 which did take part in the Battle of White Plains. He is not mentioned in the Prisoner’s lists and is not mentioned on the regimental rolls of 1783. He was a bassist musician! Hessian historians tell us that many Hessians remained in America and indentured themselves to farmers or millers.(info from Johannes Schwalm Society. (Hetrina, Vol. 1 and 2)
The Battle of White Plains in New York. The event took place on October 28, 1776, just months after the birth of America with its Declaration of Independence.The real fighting in White Plains commenced on October 28. The Americans had a slight numerical advantage with about 14,500 troops against 13,000 British regulars mixed with Hessian mercenaries. The reality was, however, that only about 4,000 soldiers participated in the battle itself. By the time the dust had cleared, the British counted a casualty of 313 against 300 for the Americans. It should be noted that figures for American casualties are highly speculative and there is no clear agreement on how many Americans died in Battle of White Plains. Some accounts put the score at about 50 Americans dead, others at 150 to 250.Many historians consider the Battle of White Plains to be basically a draw. Its significance was probably made greater by what happened afterward. Both sides gained advantages and disadvantages in the aftermath of White Plains.
In May of 1789, William married Hannah Wallace who died in 1864 in Plattsburgh. Hannah was born in April of 1765 in Shaftsbury, VT, daughter of Hammond Wallace. (see WALLACE). (Bennington, VT had grist mills at that time and it is near Shaftsbury, VT, where Hannah Wallace came from). Of note, the census of 1790 shows one William Winters as head of household in Crown Point, NY, and in 1800, one William Winters as head of household in Jay, Essex County, NY, more West and North. By 1794 the family was in Rutland, VT, almost directly across the lake from Crown Point. Perhaps they moved up to Jay in 1800 and then went over to Plattsburgh by the time John was born. (The route from Jay to Plattsburgh was a main commerce route at that time).
Children of William and Hannah:
1. Anna: born October 1, 1790 Vermont. Died July 25, 1810 age 20/21
2. William: born February 18, 1792 in Essex, NY
3. Martha: born April 28, 1794 in Benson, Rutland, Vermont. Died Nov. 21, 1889 in Clinton Co., NY (Wright-Nelson family researching.
4. Rebecca: born May 16, 1796 in Rutland, VT,
5. Sally (Sarah: born August 13, 1798 in Rutland, Vermont, died Jan. 18, 1892
6. John Winters, born 1801 in Plattsburgh. He married Harriet Reynolds. Died Sept. 3, 1872 in Mooers NY
7. Henry: born Dec. 10, 1805 or 1809 in Plattsburgh. He died Dec. 9, 1892 in Clinton Co., NY. He married Charlotte and had a daughter named Phebe M. and a son, William Henry.
9. Charlotte Parmelia: born June 17, 1808 in Beekmantown; died June 15, 1884
The 1820 census of Plattsburgh shows a family of William Winters who is likely the father of John. The next line of the Census shows the family of Hammond Wallis.
William Winter (s) died on Dec. 15, 1843 in Plattsburgh, Clinton, NY at the age of 1843 at age 84 He is buried in in Stafford Cemetery, Beekmantown. His purported wife, Hannah is not buried there with him, but is noted on his gravestone.
Cemetery records.
WINTERS
William WINTERS, / Died / Dec. 15, 1843, / AE. 84 Yrs. / Hannah is on his gravestone but not buried there.
WINTERS
Henry WINTERS / 1809 - 1896 / (son of William and Hannah)
Charlotte, / His Wife / 1812 - 1892 /
Phebe M. / Their Daughter / 1841 - 1916. /
Gone from our home, not forgotten. /
WINTERS
William Henry, / Son of / H. & C. WINTERS, / Died / Sept. 26, 1862, / AE. 18 yrs. 10 mo. / & 10 days. /
Nor pain, nor grief, nor anxious fear, /
Invade thy bounds: no mortal woes /
Can reach the peaceful sleeper here, /
While angels watch the soft repose. /
Email me for furtner information on this family.
Wintersmithbooks@yahoo.com
JOHN WINTERS
The first Winters that we have any accurate record of is John Winters of Plattsburgh, born in 1801. The 1820 Census of Plattsburgh shows family of William Winters. The 1830 Census of Plattsburgh, shows John and Harriet with two boys, probably William (b. 1824) and Henry (b. 1825). They later lived in Woods Falls, a section of Mooers, NY, located just below the Canadian border, and just West of Lake Champlain, on the Great Chazy River. John Winters was married to Harriet Reynolds (or Runnells), who was born in 1804. (William's Pension papers list his mother's name as Reynolds. Amos' death certificate says Runnells.)
John and Harriet are buried in the Old Mooers Cemetery in Mooers, NY. Their birthdates are extrapolated from the ages there, and from the census records.
They had ten children that we know of,
1) William, born in May of 1824 in Plattsburgh, NY (pension paper), married first about 1846 to Zadah Knapp, married second to Hestera Agusta Holmes. He died December 17, 1908 (see below)
2) Henry, born in 1825. Mentioned in "The History of Clinton and Franklin Counties" in the story of the Mill Fire, as a brother of William and James.
3) Reuben, born in 1826, and living separately in the 1950 census of Mooers, listed as a millwright. Plattsburgh census 1820 and his age put him in the family of John and Harriet. No further info.
4) John Wesley, born July 17, 1831, married Mary Belden died October 9, 1912. (see below)
5) James E., born January 12, 1834 in Mooers, NY, married Lovina Calkins, died. February 6, 1916. (see below)
6) Sarah, born in 1835 in Mooers, NY. No further info.
7) Harriet Winters, born in 1837 in Mooers, NY, No further info.
8) Anne E. Winters, born 1840 in Mooers, NY. Married July 4, 1863 in Plattsburgh, NY to Robert Maxwell. Married by Rev. E. Watson, Methodist. (Methodist Records, Plattsburgh)
9) Charlotte, born in 1842 in Mooers, NY, Died on May 29, 1859, "in her 16th year" according to her gravestone. Buried in Old Mooers Cemetery, Mooers, NY.
10) Amos, Born on February 4, 1846 in Mooers, NY, Married Ellen Jayne Bull, Died October 29, 1918 (see Below)
This is a picture of Sarah Ellen Jayne Bull and Amos Winters.
We have a picture of the old family homestead, where the ten children of Amos and Ellen were probably born in Mooers Forks, Clinton County, NY..
Amos and Ellen had ten children; Jennie Ella, Ina Margretta, Hattie Ann, Carrie May, Edgar Amos, Mary Elizabeth, Kittie Annette, Charles Benjamin, Emmett Harold and Maude Lane.
Sometime between 1886 and 1888, the family of Amos and Ellen moved to Lowell, MA., leaving three daughters buried in Mooers. History tells us that the lumbering business depleted the forests and the Iron Forge closed down. Industrialization had come to Lowell, MA. and there was work there for everyone. (James moved his family to Worcester, MA in 1892. They later lived in Lowell. John Winters also brought his family to Lowell. There are many records of the children of Amos, James and John in the Lowell area).
Copyright 2010 Wintersmith Books. All rights reserved.
Wintersmith Books
115 Brainard Road
Enfield, CT 06082-2531
United States
Wintersm