The English family of Inchs were native to the parish of Wisbeach, Cambridgeshire, for two or three generations, coming originally from the Island of Inch, belonging to Scotland. The founder of the Gloversville, New York family, John W. Inch, came from there. His father, Captain Joseph Philip Inch, of Scotch descent, was born in the same shire, and was one of a large family. He became a seafaring man, and rose to be a master mariner. At the time of his death he was captain of the merchant ship "Sea Queen." He sailed on his last voyage from Liverpool bound for Rio [de] Janeiro, Brazil. On the return trip he was stricken with yellow fever contracted in southern ports, and died before reaching home. He is buried in Arnest Vale cemetery, Bristol, England. He was a man of education and high standing. He was a member of the Masonic order, holding high degree. He married, in England, Caroline Newton; children: John William, see forward; Mary Ann, Caroline; Lucy, Joseph Philip (2). He was thrice married, having issue by his first wife. His descendants are numerous in Cambridgeshire, England.
(II) John William, eldest child of Captain Joseph P. and Caroline (Newton) Inch, was born in Wisbeach, Cambridgeshire, England, October 11, 1846, died in Amsterdam, New York, September 9, 1890. He was educated in the English public schools, and prepared to enter college, but the unexpectedly sudden death of his father altered all his plans, and he did not enter. He became an expert accountant, and was employed in his expert capacity by several of the largest English firms, and in the town clerk's office of Bradford. At the time of his coming to the United States, in 1888, he was employed on the books of the National Liberal Club. When he came to this country, he did not expect to remain permanently and did not bring his family, but left them comfortably settled in England. He first went to Hudson, New York, where he was with the Harder Company, who later transferred him to their factory at Amsterdam, New York, where he died in 1890, two years after his coming to the United States, He was a member of the Established Church of England, and in Amsterdam was well-known as a loyal churchman. He was appointed lay leader by Bishop Doane, of the Albany diocese, whose favor and friendship he enjoyed. He was prominent in the Masonic order, belonging to Amsterdam Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and to Albany Consistory of the Scottish Rite, being a thirty-second degree Mason of that rite. He married, in England, December 20, 1873, Harriet Bell, who bore him six children; four of whom survive (1910). In 1889 she joined her husband in Amsterdam, and after his death removed to Gloversville, New York, where she still resides. Children:
- Harriet, born January 30, 1875.
- Emma Caroline, June 23, 1876; married, November 27, 1906, James Frederick Heyward Robinson; children:
- Marjorie Elizabeth, born December 30, 1907;
- Frederick Heyward (2), March 28, 1909.
- John William (2), born October 21, 1877.
- Elizabeth Mary, July 28, 1879; married, February, 1908, Charles Shepard Rowe Burdick, and has Dorothy Louise, born December 18, 1908.
The deceased children were Lucy M. and Joseph H.
(The Bell Line)
Through her mother, Emma (Mallinson) Bell, Harriet (Bell) Inch is a descendant of Sir Thomas Moore, the distinguished English officer. Her grandfather, Abraham Mallinson, married Mary Moore, of this famed English family, and had children: Emma, Mary Ann, Harriet and James. Emma, the first born, married Joseph Silverside Bell, son of James and Mary Bell, who had four children: Charles, Joseph Silverside, James and Mary. Joseph Silverside Bell was born in England, December 18, 1815, died April 7, 1887. He was a musician of considerable note; during his early life he was a school master on a training ship in Liverpool, later was for twenty years superintendent of the Industrial School of Bradford, Yorkshire, England; he was prominent in many of the church choirs, as organist, etc. He married, December 19, 1836, Emma Mallinson, born December 3, 1816, died November, 1887. They were the parents of nine children, two of whom died in infancy.
- James Mallinson, married Mary (Polly) Morrison.
- Mary Ann, married William Dawtrey.
- Anna Maria, married Dan Alexander Robinson; children:
- Edward, married Anna Van Dyke; children: Harold and Gladys Van Dyke;
- Emma Eliza, married Marshall Winder, of Bradford, England; children: Percival, married Clara Derbyshire; Harold, Gertrude, Ethel, Dorothy, Richard and Joseph;
- Georgianna;
- Harriet Louise;
- James Frederick Heyward, married Emma Caroline, daughter of John William and Harriet (Bell) Inch.
- William Charles, married Lillie Eaheart; children: Lillie Mallinson and Nora Eaheart. William C. Bell was for many years connected with the internal revenue service of England.
- Abraham Mallinson, was for twenty-one years a soldier in the English army, serving in the Grenadiers, and at the time of his death was sergeant-major of the Fifth Dragoons.
- Harriet, married John William Inch, and now resides in Gloversville.
- Joseph Henry, deceased, married Elizabeth Walker.
Two children died in infancy — James F. and Emma M.