Ellen Voorhees (24 Jun 1796 – ca 1877)

Ellen Voorhees (aka Elen Voorhees, aka Nelly Voorhees) was born on 24 Jun 1795 in the Hillsborough Township of Somerset County, New Jersey (302, Page 480). She was a daughter of Henry Voorhees and his wife Margaret (Nevius) Voorhees. At their daughter’s birth, Henry Voorhees was 26 years old, and Margaret was 24. Both Henry and Margaret Voorhees were born in Somerset County, New Jersey (137, Page 344; 302, Page 480).

Before Aug 1800, the Henry Voorhees family migrated from Somerset County, New Jersey to the Ovid Township of Cayuga County, New York. The 4 Aug 1800 federal census of the Ovid Township of Cayuga County enumerates the household of 26–44 year-old Henry Voorhees (1317). A 26–44 year-old female living in the household was likely Henry’s wife Margaret (Nevius) Voorhees. Three female members of the household, who were all less than 10 years old, were likely: Ellen Voorhees, Margaret, and Annie Voorhees.

Ellen Voorhees’ father, Henry Voorhees died on 20 Feb 1806 in the Ovid Township of Seneca County, New York (137, Page 344). At the death of her 36 year-old father, Ellen was nine years-old, the oldest of five children, including Margaret Voorhees, Annie, Mary, and Stephen Voorhees.

The 6 Aug 1810 federal census of the Ovid Township of Seneca County enumerates the household of Ellen’s mother, Margaret Voorhees (1343). Margaret Voorhees was more than 44 years old. Also living in the household were two females, 10–15 years old, as well as a male and two females, both less than 10 years old. Ellen Voorhees was very likely one of the 10–15 year-old females.

The 7 Aug 1820 federal census of the Ovid Township of Seneca County New York enumerates the household of Margaret Voorhees, more than 44 years old (1344). Also living in the household were four females, age 16–25 years old; and a 10–15 year-old male. Ellen Voorhees was very likely one of the 16–25 year-old females.

Before 20 May 1822, Ellen Voorhees and Isaac Countryman married, likely in Seneca County, New York (755). The parents of Isaac Countryman have not been identified. The first child born to Isaac and Ellen, a daughter Elizabeth Countryman was born in Seneca County on 17 Feb 1823 (755). At Elizabeth’s birth, Isaac Countryman was about 22 years old, and Ellen Countryman was 26 years old.

The Isaac Countryman family, including Ellen and Elizabeth, migrated from Seneca County, New York to Pennsylvania before the birth of a second daughter, Catherine Countryman. Based on census information, Catherine was born in Pennsylvania during the period 3 Aug 1824 – 18 Jun 1825 (166, 753). The family returned to Seneca County before Jan 1828.

A son, Andrew J. Countryman was born in Seneca County on 21 Jan 1828 (188), and a second son Joseph Countryman was born on 31 Mar 1830. Before 1840, at least four more sons were born to Ellen and Isaac Countryman in Seneca County: John Countryman in about 1832; Gideon in about 1833; Martin V. Countryman on 21 Mar 1836 (114, 763); and George Washington Countryman on 21 Dec 1838 (365). Joseph Countryman died on 27 Aug 1843 at 12 years of age.

By 1840, the Isaac Countryman family was living in the Varick Township of Seneca County, New York where the Ira Countryman household was enumerated by the 1840 federal census (749). Isaac Countryman was 30–39 years old. Living in the household were a female, age 30–39 years, presumably Isaac’s wife Ellen (Voorhees) Countryman, two other females, both age 15–19, a male, age 10–14, three males, age 5–9 years, and two males under 5 years of age.

Between the 1840 and 1850 federal censuses, Isaac Countryman and his wife apparently divorced or otherwise separated. The 16 Sep 1850 census of the Varick Township of Seneca County, New York enumerates only two sons living in the household of 50 year-old Isaac Countryman: Martin Countryman, 15 years old, and George Countryman, 12 years old (750). The 9 Aug 1850 federal census of the Lodi Township of Seneca County, New York enumerates Ellen Voorhees, with her maiden name, living with her mother, Margaret Voorhees, (1347).

The 18 Jun 1860 federal census of the Lodi Township of Seneca County enumerates Ellen Voorhees, 63 years old and born in New Jersey, living in the household of her brother Stephen Voorhees (1349). Similarly, the 1870 federal census of the Lodi Township enumerates the Stephen Voorhees household including Ellen Voorhees, 74 years old (1348).

Ellen Voorhees died in Seneca County, New York in about 1877 (760).

Notes and Comments

Published genealogies of the Voorhees and Nevius families contain identical information for the family of Henry Voorhees and Margaret Nevius (137, Page 344; 302, Page 480). Henry Voorhees was born on 26 Aug 1769 and died on 20 Feb 1806. Henry and Margaret Nevius married on 29 Nov 1792. Margaret Nevius was born on 16 Mar 1768 and died on 25 Jun 1852. Nelly, born on 24 Jun 1795, is listed as the first child born to Henry and Margaret Voorhees. Nelly Voorhees was very likely Ellen Voorhees. In various records, Ellen Voorhees is referred to as Elen, Nelly, or Sarah Voorhees.

Census records are inconsistent with respect to 24 Jun 1795 documented by Elias W. Van Voorhees as the date of the birth of Ellen Voorhees (137, Pge 344). Based on age stated for the 1850–1870 federal censuses, Elen Voorhees was born within the intervals:

9 Aug 1850 a: 52, b: 10 Aug 1797 – 9 Aug 1798;
18 Jun 1860 a: 63, b: 19 Jun 1796 – 18 Jun 1797; and
22 Jun 1870 a: 74, b: 24 Jun 1795 – 22 Jun 1796.

A Certificate and Record of Death issued by the Michigan Department of State documents the marital relationship of Isaac Countryman and Elen Voorhees (755). Betsey Brooks died on 25 Feb 1905. She was Elizabeth Countryman, a daughter of Isaac and Ellen Countryman, born in Seneca County, New York on 17 Feb 1823. In 1845, Elizabeth Countryman married Whaley Alexander Brooks in New York.

Elizabeth Countryman, the first child born to Isaac Countryman and Ellen (Voorhees) Countryman, was born on 17 Feb 1823 (755). Assuming an average gestation period, Isaac Countryman and Ellen Voorhees married before 20 May 1822.

For the 1850 and 1860 federal census, Ellen Voorhees stated that she was born in New Jersey (1347, 1349). The 1870 federal census records Ellen, age 74 years, as born in New York (1348); however, this record of her place of birth is likely incorrect. The 1870 federal census of the Stephen Voorhees household of the Lodi Township of Seneca County, New York enumerates Eliza Voorhees, Stephen’s wife, as born in New Jersey, and Ellen Voorhees as born in New York. These birth places were perhaps swapped by the census taker.

The date of the birth of Catharine Countryman is uncertain. For the 1860, 1870, and 1880 federal censuses, Catharine (Countryman) Sixberry stated that she was born in Pennsylvania (751, 166, 753). At the 1880 census, Catharine stated that both her father and mother were born in Pennsylvania.

Her sister, Elizabeth Countryman, was born on 17 Feb 1823 (755). Assuming that Catharine and Elizabeth were not twin sisters and average gestation periods, Catharine Countryman was born before May 1822. Presumably, Isaac Countryman and Ellen Voorhees married before Aug 1821.

Little is known about Isaac Countryman prior to his marriage to Ellen Voorhees sometime before Aug 1821.

The 17 Jun 1869 Will of Stephen Voorhees, of the Lodi Township of Seneca County, New York and a son of Henry Voorhees, names his sister Ellen Voorhees and wife Eliza (158).

County Boundaries

Somerset County, New Jersey was created on 26 May 1688 from parts of Middlesex County. Somerset and Middlesex counties exchanged land at least through 1878.

Between 26 Jan 1789 and 14 Feb 1791, nearly all of present-day Seneca County, New York was within Montgomery County. Herkimer County was created from parts of Montgomery County on 16 Feb 1791.

On 5 Mar 1794, Onondaga County was carved from Herkimer County, New York, and on 8 Mar 1799, Cayuga County, New York was carved from Onondaga County.

Seneca County was created from parts of Cayuga County, New York on 24 Mar 1804.

Sources

114. Gravestone, Martin V. Countryman, Riverside Cemetery, Clinton, Lenawee County, Michigan. Find A Grave Memorial: 60370701. (Images: Find A Grave. Image on file.)

137. Elias W. Van Voorhees, ed. A Genealogy of the Van Voorhees Family in America. New York City, New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, The Knickerbocker Press, 1888.

158. Will of Stephen Voorhees, Seneca County, New York, 17 Jun 1869. Wills Volume P–Q, 1884–1890. Surrogate’s Court, Seneca County, New York. (Images: Ancestry.com. Image on file.)

163. A. Van Doren Honeyman. Joannes Nevius and His Descendants, A.D. 1627–1900. Plainfield, New Jersey: Honeyman & Company, 1900.

166. Abram Sixberry Household, 1870 U.S. Federal Census, Varick Township, Seneca County, New York, 3 Aug 1870. Family History Library Film 803861, Roll M653_861, Page 251. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C. (Images: Ancestry.com. Image on file.)

188. Andrew Countryman Household, 1900 U.S. Federal Census, Varick Township, Seneca County, New York, 25 Jun 1900. Family History Library Microfilm 1241162, Enumeration District 0098, Page 13. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C. (Images: Ancestry.com. Image on file.)

302. A. Van Doren Honeyman. Joannes Nevius and His Descendants, A.D. 1627–1900. Part 2. Plainfield, New Jersey: Honeyman & Company, 1900. (Images: Ancestry.com. PDF file on file.)

365. Declaration for Pension, American Civil War Service. George Washington Countryman. Pawnee County, Kansas, 2 Apr 1907. (Images on file.)

749. Isaac Countryman Household, 1840 U.S. Federal Census, Varick Township, Seneca County, New York. Roll 339, Page 232. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C. (Images: Ancestry.com. Images on file.)

750. Isaac Countryman Household, 1850 U.S. Federal Census, Varick Township, Seneca County, New York, 16 Sep 1850. Roll M432_597, Page 69B, Image 144. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C. (Images: Ancestry.com. Images on file.)

751. Abram Sixberry Household, 1860 U.S. Federal Census, Varick Township, Seneca County, New York, 25 Jun 1860. Roll M653_861, Page 251, Family History Library Film 803861. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C. (Images: Ancestry.com. Images on file.)

753. Catherine Sixberry Household, 1880 U.S. Federal Census, Fayette Township, Seneca County, New York, 18 Jun 1880. Roll 931, Family History Film 1254931, Page 54B, Enumeration District 157, Image 0616. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C. (Images: Ancestry.com. Images on file.)

755. Certificate and Record of Death, Betsey Brooks. Nashville, Barry County, Michigan, 23 Feb 1905. Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics, Michigan Department of Community Health, Lansing, Michigan. (Images: Ancestry.com. Image on file.)

760. Recollections of Fredrick Glonar Countryman, Fairview, Major County, Oklahoma, ca 1938. (Originals and images on file.)

763. Martin V. Countryman, Certificate of Death, Lenawee County, Michigan, 25 May 1910. Division of Vital Statistics, Department of State, State of Michigan. (Images: Ancestry.com. Image on file.)

1317. Henry Voorhees Household, 1800 U.S. Federal Census, Ovid, Cayuga County, New York, 2 Aug 1800. Series M32, Image 141, Page 556, Roll 28, Family History Library Film 193716. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C. (Images: Ancestry.com. Image on file.)

1343. Margaret Voorhies Household, 1810 U.S. Federal Census, Ovid, Seneca County, New York, 4 Aug 1810. Image 00155, Page 243, Roll 36, Family History Library Film 0181390. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. Washington, D.C. (Images: Ancestry.com. Image on file.)

1344. Margaret Voorhise Household, 1820 U.S. Federal Census, Ovid, Seneca County, New York, 7 Aug 1820. Image 78, Page 331, NARA Roll M33_74. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C. (Images: Ancestry.com. Image on file.)

1347. Margaret Voorhees Household, 1850 U.S. Federal Census, Lodi Township, Seneca County, New York, 9 Aug 1850. Image 51, Page 23A, Roll M432_597. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. Washington, D.C. (Images: Ancestry.com. Image on file.)

1348. Stephen Voorhees Household, 1870 U.S. Federal Census, Lodi Township, Seneca County, New York, 22 Jul 1870. Page 90B, Roll M593_1093, Family History Library Film 552592. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C. (Images: Ancestry.com. Image on file.)

1349. Stephen Voorhees Household, 1860 U.S. Federal Census, Lodi Township, Seneca County, New York, 18 Jun 1860. Page 506, Roll M653_861, Family History Library Film 803861. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C. (Images: Ancestry.com. Image on file.)

Ellen Voorhees Census Summary

1800 U.S. Federal Census (1317)
Henry Voorhees Household
Ovid, Cayuga County, New York
4 Aug 1800
Henry Voorhees, a: 26–44
+ Female, a: 26–44 (Margaret Nevius)
Female, a: < 10 (Ellen Voorhees)
Female, a: < 10 (Margaret Voorhees)
Female, a: < 10 (Annie Voorhees)

1810 U.S. Federal Census (1343)
Margaret Voorhies Household
Ovid, Seneca County, New York
6 Aug 1810
Margaret (Nevius) Voorhies, a: > 44
Male, a: <10 (Stephen Voorhees)
Female, a: 10–15 (Ellen Voorhees)
Female, a: 10–15
Female, a: < 10
Female, a: < 10

1820 U.S. Federal Census (1344)
Margaret Voorhise Household
Ovid, Seneca County, New York
7 Aug 1820
Margaret (Nevius) Voorhies, a: > 44
Female, a: 16–25 (Ellen Voorhees)
Female, a: 16–25
Female, a: 16–25
Female, a: 16–25
Male, a: 10–15 (Stephen Voorhees)

1840 U.S. Federal Census (749)
Isaac Countryman Household
Varick Township, Seneca County, New York
1 Jun 1840
Ira Countryman, a: 30–40
+ Female, a: 30–40 (Ellen Voorhees)
Female, a: 15–19 (Catherine Countryman)
Female, a: 15–19 (Elizabeth Countryman)
Male, a: 10–15 (Andrew J. Countryman)
Male, a: 5–9 (Joseph Countryman)
Male, a: 5–9 (John Countryman)
Male, a: 5–9 (Gideon Countryman)
Male, a: < 5 (Martin V. Countryman)
Male, a: < 5 (George Washington Countryman)

1850 U.S. Federal Census (1347)
Margaret Voorhees Household
Lodi, Seneca County, New York
9 Aug 1850
Margaret Voorhees, a: 83, b: New Jersey
Ellen Voorhees, a: 52, b: New Jersey

1860 U.S. Federal Census (1349)
Stephen Voorhees Household
Lodi Township, Seneca County, New York
18 Jun 1860
Stephen Voorhees, a: 55, b: Seneca County, New York (Farmer)
+ Eliza Voorhees, a: 48, b: New York
Margaret Voorhees, a: 23, b: Seneca County, New York
Jane Voorhees, a: 17, b: Seneca County, New York
Ellen Voorhees, a: 63, b: New Jersey
Jasper Shutts, a: 14, b: Seneca County, New York
Real Estate: $6,300; Personal Estate: $1,500

1870 U.S. Federal Census (1348)
Stephen Voorhees Household
Lodi Township, Seneca County, New York
22 Jul 1870
Stephen Voorhees, a: 65, b: New York (Retired Farmer)
+ Eliza Voorhees, a: 56, b: New Jersey
Ellen Voorhees, a: 74, b: New York
Real Estate: $2,250; Personal Estate, a: $4,500

Isaac Countryman and Ellen Voorhees

Evidence suggests that Ellen Voorhees of Seneca County, New York was the wife of Isaac Countryman.

New York town clerks maintained registers of Civil War soldiers. The register of soldiers from Seneca County, New York includes George W. Countryman, a son of Isaac Countryman and Private in the 15th Engineers. George resided in the Ovid Township of Seneca County, New York (169). George named his father as Isaac and his mother only by the surname Voorhees.

Elizabeth Countryman, the first child born to Isaac Countryman and his wife, married Whaley Alexander Brooks, and they eventually resided in Barry County, Michigan. The Certificate and Record of Death for Betsey Brooks names Isaac Countreman as her father and Elen Vorhess and her mother (755).

The 9 Aug 1850 enumerates the household of Margaret Voorhees in the Lodi Township of Seneca County, New York (1347). Margaret Voorhees was 83 years old. Living with Margaret was Ellen Voorhees, 52 years old, and also born in New Jersey. Ellen Countryman or Ellen Voorhees are not found otherwise within the 1850 federal census of seneca County.

At 52 years old on 9 Aug 1850, Ellen Voorhees was born on about 9 Aug 1798. That date of birth is reasonably consistent with her ages of 11 at the 1810 federal census (1343); 21 at the 1820 census (1344); and 41 at the 1840 federal census (749).

Apparently, after separating from her husband Isaac Countryman after the 1940 federal census, Ellen (Voorhees) Countryman lived with her mother in the Lodi Township of Seneca County, New York and assumed her maiden name, Ellen Voorhees.