The settlement of the "Greenes of Warwick" in America followed the "Landing of the pilgrims" at Plymouth by about fifteen years. The family have an ancient English lineage that dates far back into the history of that country. The name originally "De Greene" was derived from the large landed possessions of the family in Northamptonshire, England, where they were seated as early as 1320. There are several distinct families bearing the name Green and Greene in the United States. The progenitor of the family in Cohoes, under consideration, was John Greene, who founded the family known as the "Greenes of Warwick," the first permanent settlement being made at Warwick, Rhode Island, which became the family seat in America. The family figured conspicuously in the early history of Rhode Island, as did the other branches, furnishing men high in colony affairs, including a governor; men brave in war as was General Nathaniel Greene, and men who stood firm in support of their religious convictions as did sturdy old John Greene, of Warwick.
The English lineage of the American ancestor traces from 1320 down to the birth of John Greene in 1597 at Bowridge Hill, England. He was the fourth son of Richard and Mary Greene, of Bowridge Hill. He married in St. Thomas Church, Salisbury, England, November 4, 1619, Joan Tattersall, who died at Conanicut, or Newport, Rhode Island. John Greene came with wife and son James to America in the ship, "James of London," sailing from Southampton, in April, 1635, landing in Boston, Massachusetts, June 3, 1635. He did not remain here but proceeded south to Rhode Island, where he made settlement and resided until 1643. In that year, in company with twelve others, he arranged for the purchase of a large tract of land from the Indians and settled upon the purchase, at Warwick. He was a man of wealth and prominence, filling the offices of magistrate and clerk of court. He was a sturdy champion of the right of speech and liberty of conscience. In defense of his principles, he became embroiled in the fierce religious controversies of his day and both received and dealt hard blows. He was also a party to the controversy over land titles and ownership that raged between Rhode Island and Connecticut for a period of fifty years. He married a second wife, Alice Daniels, and a third, Phillipa ————. He disposed of his property by a last will and testament, probated January 7, 1659.
(II) James, son of John "the founder" and Joan (Tattersall) Greene, was born in Salisbury, England, 1626, baptized June 21, 1626, died in Rhode Island, 1698. He was but nine years of age when his father came to America, and his boyhood was spent in Providence, Rhode Island, where he was educated. He inherited land, and was a prosperous man of affairs. He was twice married, his second wife being Elizabeth Anthony, to whom he was married August 3, 1665, daughter of John Anthony. They had six sons and two daughters, one of the sons, Jabez Greene, being the grandfather of General Nathaniel Greene, of the revolutionary army, and the trusted friend of Washington.
(III) John (2), son of James and Elizabeth (Anthony) Greene, was born in Warwick, Rhode Island (Polowomuth), September 30, 1685, died December 8, 1757. He was made a freeman of Warwick in 1708. He married Mary, daughter of Increase Allen, of Dartmouth, Massachusetts, and had issue.
(IV) Joseph, son of John (2) and Mary (Allen) Greene, was born in Warwick, Rhode Island, February 19, 1727, died in Berlin, New York, 1822, at the extreme age of ninety-five years. With Joseph the settlement of the family began in the state of New York. He was a member of the Society of Friends (Quaker), and became a close personal friend of General Stephen Van Rensselaer, by whom he was always entertained when in Albany. He married Phoebe, born April 26, 1734, daughter of John Langford, of East Greenwich, Rhode Island. Joseph was a first cousin of General Nathaniel Greene.
(V) Langford, son of Joseph and Phoebe (Langford) Greene, was born in 1766. He owned and cultivated a farm in the northern part of Stephentown, Rensselaer county, New York, at an early date in the settlement of that section. He married Abigail Thomas. His sons, Joseph, Samuel and Benjamin, all married and settled on farms in the same neighborhood.
(VI) Benjamin, son of Langford and Abigail (Thomas) Greene, was born in November, 1798, died April, 1842. He was a farmer of Stephentown, New York. He married, in 1821, Rhoda Niles, born August 17, 1802, died October 3, 1849, daughter of Eliphalet and Rebecca Niles. Children:
- Louise Antoinette, married Lavinius Stillman.
- Benjamin Franklin, see forward.
- Calvin Pardee, married Jeanette Dodge.
- Rebecca, died young.
- Abigail, married Hiram Roscrans.
Rhoda (Niles) Greene survived her husband and married (second) Baisaleel Streeter.
(VII) Benjamin Franklin (called "Frank"), son of Benjamin and Rhoda (Niles) Greene, was born December, 1825, in Berlin, New York, died in Adrian, Michigan, July 30, 1863. He resided in Troy, New York, several years, then removed to Adrian, Michigan, where he engaged in the flour and feed business. For a time he was associated with Senator Jerome B. Chaffee, of Michigan. He traded in Adrian under the firm name of Warner & Greene during the gold fever of "Pike's Peak or Bust" fame, Mr. Greene, Mr. Chaffee and others went to that famous field, but Mr. Greene was taken sick, returned to Michigan and died. He was a Congregationalist, and acted with the Republican party. He married Mary Jane Hubbs, born January 29, 1828, daughter of Jonathan and Catherine (Brewster) Hubbs, and granddaughter of Joseph and Jemima Hubbs, of Saratoga county, New York. The Brewster and Hubbs families are of English ancestors that settled in America in 1701.
(VIII) John Franklin, son of Benjamin Franklin and Mary Jane (Hubbs) Greene, was born in Adrian, Michigan, March 16, 1853. He was educated in the public schools and entered Union College, class of 1879. He did not finish his college course, but after three years' attendance, withdrew and entered newspaper life, purchasing a half interest in the Democrat published at Amsterdam, New York. He remained with the Democrat two years, then disposed of his interest, and going to Baldwinsville, New York, purchased the Gazette, then named the Onondaga County Gazette. He published the Gazette successfully for ten years, then retired from active newspaper life. After five years spent in manufacturing at Fulton, New York, he settled in Waterford, 1895, when he became interested, in the Ford Manufacturing Company, of which he is now secretary. The company manufacture men's knit underwear. Politically Mr. Greene is a Republican, and in religious belief an Episcopalian. He is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, Alpha Delta Phi, Union College, and is a member of the Alpha Delta Phi Club of New York City and of the Waterford Club. He married, May 25, 1882, Mima, born at Red Creek, New York, daughter of Stephen S. Quivey, born in Westbury, New York, June 23, 1825, died in Baldwinsville, New York, April 18, 1895, who was in early life a merchant, then for twenty years secretary of the Morris Axe and Edged Tool Company, and at the time of his death a leading banker of Baldwinsville. He married Melissa J. Moore, born April 19, 1826, died July 31, 1892. Stephen S. was a son of Israel Quivey, of Saratoga county, New York. Children of John Franklin and Mima (Quivey) Greene:
- Ruth, graduated A.B., class of 1905, Wellesley College.
- Hugh Sayles, born July 13, 1888, died May 12, 1890.