The Wagman family of Saratoga Springs, New York, descend on the paternal side from a Swiss ancestor, on the maternal from revolutionary and colonial forebears.
(I) Henry Wagman, American ancestor, was born in the canton of Zurich, Switzerland, in the year 1730, died in Dover, Dutchess county, New York, in 1812. In 1760 he came to America without much means, being obliged by the law then existing in Switzerland which compelled old persons emigrating to leave all their possessions behind. The Wagmans were a prosperous family and the pecuniary sacrifice required of Henry Wagman was not small. He no doubt received secret help from friends and relations there for he did not arrive in America empty-handed. He settled in Dutchess county, New York, where he married, in 1768, a girl, born in that county, of German parentage. She bore him three children. He married (second) Effa Emigh, by whom he had nine children, Nicholas being the fifth child of his second marriage. All these children lived to advanced ages, the men engaging in agriculture.
(II) Nicholas, son of Henry and Effa (Emigh) Wagman, was born in Dutchess county, New York, February 10, 1784, died May, 1870, in the town of Saratoga, Saratoga county, New York. He grew up on the Dutchess county farm of his father, and became later a farmer and land owner in his own right. He married his first wife in his native county, and about 1818 removed northward, settling in Saratoga county, town of the same name. Here he purchased and cultivated a farm until his death. He married (first) 1812, Sarah Emigh, born in Dutchess county, of German parentage, died in Saratoga county, 1828. He married (second) in 1829, Mary Close, of Greenfield, Saratoga county, born August 7, 1797, died 1880, daughter of Benjamin and Rhoda (Bishop) Close, of Connecticut. He had five children by first and five by his second wife.
- Almira;
- Henry E.;
- William;
- Rachel;
- Elizabeth;
- Lewis, born March 24, 1830;
- Benjamin C., July 13, 1831;
- Sarah, October 16, 1883, married John Raynor, of Long Island, New York;
- John, mentioned below;
- Nicholas, June 27, 1838.
(III) John, third son of Nicholas and Mary (Close) Wagman, was born in the town of Saratoga, Saratoga county, New York, August 20, 1835. He grew up on the farm, received a good English education in the public schools, and for nine winters after reaching a suitable age taught in the district schools, spending his summers in farm work with his father. In 1864 he became interested in the manufacture of paper and established a mill at Middle Grove, Saratoga county, where he continued in successful operation until 1870, when he removed to Fort Miller, Washington county, New York. There he continued in paper manufacture under the firm name of H. G. Craig & Company, and Wagman, Thorpe & Company; later the Fort Miller Pulp & Paper Company was incorporated, with which Mr. Wagman has since been closely identified, and is its most capable president. His business life has been a busy, successful, one, and after its storm and stress he is now enjoying a quiet, comparatively retired life at his residence in Saratoga Springs. He is interested in business, but not assuming the burdens. He is vice-president of City National Bank, Saratoga Springs, and trustee of The G. F. Harvery Medical Company. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and in politics adheres to the faith of his father and grandfather who were Whigs and Republicans. He married (first) December 31, 1863, Naomi, Swetland, of Moreau, Saratoga county, who died October 28, 1874, leaving behind her a record of piety and devotion that is fondly cherished by those who knew and loved her. He married (second) October 6, 1875, Ida M, Bennett, of Saratoga Springs, New York, born, November 16, 1855. Children, both by second marriage:
- Grace M., born June 7, 1882; educated at Saratoga high school, graduate of the class of 1901, entered Wellesley College, where she was graduated class of 1906;
- Lewis B., born October 3, 1886, at Fort Miller, New York, graduate of the high school of that village, after which he entered Princeton University, graduating class of 1909, with degree of Bachelor of Literature, and is engaged in the paper manufacturing business at Fort Miller.
(The Bennett Line)
The surname Bennett is derived from the Latin word "Benedictus," meaning blessed. Several immigrants of this name from England were among the founders of New Enland. In the colonial records the name is spelled Bennett, Bennet, Bennitt and Bennit. All these forms of spelling appear in the revolutionary rolls of Massachusetts, recording the military service of two hundred and fifty-nine of the name, while the records of New York state, where the family had hardly yet settled, twenty-five Bennetts appear as revolutionary soldiers. In reference to his more remote ancestors, James Gordon Bennett, founder of the New York Herald, once wrote, "The Bennetts were a little band of freebooters A. D. 896 in Saxony. I have no doubt they robbed and plundered a great deal. They migrated to France and settled on the Loire, where they lived several hundred years. The family was Roman Catholic, and later of the Church of England." Probably this Saxon tribe was no worse than their neighbors, and "might made right" in those days. The family became numerous in England, and during the reign of Charles the First began to assume considerable importance. The evidence that the name was originally "Benedictus" is fairly conclusive, and is strengthened by the fact that the Bennetts of Pilhouse in Wiltshire, considered the most ancient family of that name in England, have a coat-of-arms with the motto "Benedictus qui tobiet crucem," "Blessed be he who bore the cross." Although the family in New England are numerous, it is very difficult to trace them backward from the present generation to the immigrant, Sergeant Samuel Bennett, who settled in Rhode Island prior to 1645, and founded one branch of the Rhode Island Bennetts, although there are others. Edward, of Weymouth, Massachusetts, founded the family now numerous in the Wyoming Valley, Pennsylvania. Henry, of Ipswich, 1650, is the head of an extensive posterity and may safely be considered as the emigrant ancestor of the Saratoga county, New York, Bennetts. He was usually styled "Farmer Bennett," and besides his homestead held considerable land on Hog Island, Plum Island and Castle Neck. He married (first) Lydia Perkins, of Ipswich, Massachusetts; (second) Mary (Smith) Burr, widow of John Burr, who was her second husband, her first being Philip Call. She was a daughter of Richard Smith, of Shropham, Norfolk, England. He had five children, all by first wife. The founder of the Saratoga county family of Bennett was of Massachusetts birth, and prior to his coming to New York state was a resident of New Bedford, Massachusetts. There were many Bennetts resident of Bristol county, Massachusetts, prior to 1750. The records of the town of Dartmouth were destroyed by fire in 1725. (New Bedford being part of that town until 1787.) John Bennett is on a list of early inhabitants of the town and he is supposed to have been the father or grandfather of those recorded as having been born about 1750. An interesting character of New Bedford for many years was Deliverance Bennett, a revolutionary soldier, who was born in 1750, and died 1836. (See Rickelson's New Bedford History). He states that his father was a "passionate man," and one day threw a bar of iron at him. This the young man resented and leaving home enlisted in the patriot army. His birthplace was at Long Plain, old Dartmouth town. He may have been a brother of the New York settler, Gethrue Bennett, with whom this record will begin.
(I) Gethrue Bennett was born in 1756 in Bristol county, Massachusetts, died in Saratoga county, New York, 1812. He settled in Saratoga county in the latter part of the year 1800, and engaged in farming. He married Mary Deuel, born 1758, died 1809, leaving issue.
(II) Abraham, second child of Gethrue and Mary (Deuel) Bennett, was born in Massachusetts, 1784, died in Saratoga county, New York, 1861. He married, in 1809, Anna Clute, born 1788, died 1838.
(III) George W., fifth child of Abraham, and Anna (Clute) Bennett, was born in Saratoga county, New York, August 20, 1820, died June 2, 1901. He was a farmer. He married Lydia M. Hill, born in Saratoga county, New York, December 7, 1843. They were the parents of seven children.
(IV) Ida M., fifth child of George W. and Lydia M. (Hill) Bennett, was born in Saratoga county, New York, November 16, 1855; married, October 6, 1875, John Wagman (see Wagman III).
(The Hill Line)
Lydia M. (Hill) Bennett was a descendant of William Hill, who came to New England in the ship "William & Francis," June 5, 1632. He settled first at Dorchester, Massachusetts,, and became a man of prominence in that town. He was made a freeman, November 5, 1633; selectman, 1636; granted land November 2, 1635. He removed to Windsor, Connecticut, where he was granted a home lot and "set out an orchard." In 1639 he was appointed by the general court to examine the arms and munitions of the towns in the colony; was, auditor of public accounts; was elected deputy 1639-40-41-44. He later removed to Fairfield, Connecticut, where he was appointed assistant to the general court and collector of customs. He died in 1649. His will, dated September 9, 1649, mentions wife Sarah and children Sarah; William, of further mention; Ignatius; James and Elizabeth.
(II) William (2), son of William (1) and Sarah Hill, was born in England. He followed the several moves of his father, finally settling in Fairfield, Connecticut, where he was granted a home lot. He was very prominent in the life of his town, serving as town recorder for several years. He died December 19, 1684. He married, in Fairfield, Elizabeth, daughter of Rev. John Jones. Children: William (3), Eliphalet, Joseph, John, of further mention, Sarah.
(III) John, son of William (2) and Elizabeth (Jones) Hill, married Esther, daughter of John and Sarah (Whelpley) Bulkley.
(IV) Nathan, son of John and Esther (Bulkley) Hill was born October 9, 1731, baptized August 26, 1736. He married (first) July 3, 1753, Eunice, born January 1, 1735, died January 29, 1765; fourth child of Stephen and Rebecca (Morehouse) Wakeman, and granddaughter of Captain John Wakeman, son of Rev. Samuel Wakeman, son of John, son of Francis Wakeman, of Bewdley, Worcestershire, England, who married Anne Goode and died September 2, 1626; she died January 29, 1621; they had ten children. Nathan Hill married (second) August 26, 1765, Martha, daughter of Lieutenant Samuel Wakeman, eldest son of Captain John Wakeman, a cousin of his first wife, Eunice. She was baptized August 15, 1736, died March 9, 1766. Nathan Hill married (third) December, 1766, Elizabeth, daughter of Gershom Whitehead. Children of his first wife:
- Eunice, born June 3, 1754; married David Meeker; children: Hill, David, William, Eunice, Clarissa and Abigail.
- Aaron, of further mention.
- Sarah, born November 17, 1760.
- Stephen, November 16, 1762.
By his second marriage he had no issue. By third marriage:
- John, born June 5, 1768.
(V) Aaron, son of Nathan and Eunice (Wakeman) Hill, was born December 12, 1755. He served in the revolutionary war as a private in the Sixth Regiment Dutchess County Militia. He married Hannah Fiske and settled at Lebanon, New York, near the Shaker settlement.
(VI) Jonathan, son of Aaron and Hannah (Fiske) Hill, was born January 8, 1796, died May, 1886; he was a farmer of Saratoga county. He married Sally Wright, February 5, 1818.
(VII) Lydia, daughter of Jonathan and Sally (Wright) Hill, was born in Saratoga county, New York, June 7, 1824. She married George W. Bennett, December 7, 1843.
(VIII) Ida M., daughter of George W. and Lydia M. (Hill) Bennett, married John Wagman (see Wagman III).
(The Bulkley Line)
Esther Bulkley, wife of John Hill, descended from the old family of Bulkley (also Bucklogh and Bulclog) headed by Lord Bulklogh of Bulklogh, that derived its name from a chain of mountains in Ireland. The family dates from the twelfth century. The coat-of-arms found in the house of Rev. Gershom Bulkley, D. D., son of Rev. Peter Bulkley, of Concord, Massachusetts, is thus described: "Argent, a chevron between three bulls heads cobossed, Sable." Motto: "Nec temore nec temide." (Neither rashly nor timidly). Rev. Peter, son of Rev. Edward Bulkley, of the parish of Odell, Bedfordshire, England, was born January 31, 1583. He married (first) Jane, daughter of Sir Thomas Allen, by whom he had twelve children. He married (second) Grace, daughter of Sir Richard Chetwoode, by whom he had issue. Rev. Peter Bulkley came to Massachusetts in 1655 and was soon after installed as teacher of the first church of Concord, Massachusetts (Rev. John Jones, pastor). He died March 9, 1759. Three of his sons, Thomas, Daniel and Peter, settled at Fairfield, Connecticut.
(II) Thomas, son of Rev. Peter Bulkley, moved from Concord to Fairfield, Connecticut, in 1644. He died in 1658 leaving widow and family. He married Sarah, daughter of Rev. John Jones, pastor of the Concord church, of which his father was teacher. She survived him and married (second) Anthony Wilson.
(III) John, son of Thomas and Sarah (Jones) Bulkley, died about 1707. He is mentioned in his mother's will, dated February 15, 1680. He married Sarah, daughter of Joseph Whelpley. Children:
- Sarah;
- Esther;
- Hannah, married Peter Bulkley;
- Elizabeth, baptized August 26, 1694, married Nathaniel Whitehead, of Elizabethtown, New Jersey;
- Olive, baptized August 31, 1696, married James Biers.
(IV) Esther, daughter of John and Sarah (Whelpley) Bulkley, married John Hill (see Hill III).
(The Wakeman Line)
(II) John, son of Francis (q. v.) and Anne (Goode) Wakeman, was born at Bewdley, England, about 1598, baptized there September 29, 1601, died at Hartford, Connecticut, 1661. He married at Bewdley, January 28, 1628-29, Elizabeth, daughter of William and Helen (Vicharis) Hopkins; she was baptized in Ribbesford church, England, October 7, 1610, died at New Haven, Connecticut, 1658. They had four children, born at Bewdley, England.
(III) Rev. Samuel Wakeman, son of John and Elizabeth (Hopkins) Wakeman, baptized at Bewdley, England, June 7, 1635, died March 8, 1692. He married, August 28, 1656, in New Haven, Connecticut, Hannah, daughter of Governor Stephen Goodyear, who performed the marriage ceremony. She died 1721, after a second marriage to Nathaniel Burr. Rev. Samuel Wakeman had eight children.
(IV) Captain John (2), second son of Rev. Samuel and Hannah (Goodyear) Wakeman, was born in 1659, died February 15, 1709. He was a prominent man in the Connecticut colony, deputy to the general court from Fairfield, serving at twenty-three sessions, from 1690 to 1706; was commissioner 1695-96-97; justice of the peace for many years; lieutenant, May, 1697; captain 1704-05. He married, April 14, 1687, Martha, daughter of Richard and Elizabeth Hubbell. She died June 5, 1710. They had seven children.
(V) Stephen, son of Captain John (2) and Martha (Hubbell) Wakeman, was born in Fairfield, Connecticut, October 15, 1702, died 1761. He married, April 28, 1727, Rebecca, daughter of Daniel Morehouse. She was baptized February 24, 1712, died 1762. They had ten children.
(VI) Eunice, fourth child of Stephen and Rebecca (Morehouse) Wakeman, married, July 3, 1753, Nathan Hill (see Hill IV), and had four children. She died January 29, 1765.
(The Fiske Line)
Hannah, eldest daughter and second child of Jonathan and Hannah Fiske, was a descendant of William Fiske, born in England about 1613, died in Wenham, Massachusetts, 1654, son of John and brother of Rev. John Fiske, of Salem and Wenham, Massachusetts. William Fiske married at Salem, 1643, Bridget Muskert, of Pelham, England. He was the first town clerk of Wenham, 1643 to 1660; deputy to the general court, 1647, continuing in that office through successive re-elections until 1652.
(II) William (2), son of William (1) and Bridget (Muskert) Fiske, was baptized June 4, 1642, at Wenham. He held a number of town offices; was deputy 1707-09-11-13-17; moderator 1702-03-12-13-14; was lieutenant of the train band. He was elected deacon of the Congregational church in 1679. He married, January 15, 1662, Sarah, born 1646, died January 26, 1737, daughter of Austin and Alice Kilham, of Yorkshire, England. They had fourteen children.
(III) Samuel, son of William (2) and Sarah (Kilham) Fiske, was born at Wenham, February 16, 1670. He removed to Rehoboth, where he was living in 1728. He married, December 5, 1690, Elizabeth Browne, and had seven children.
(IV) Josiah, son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Browne) Fiske, was born at Rehoboth, Massachusetts, July 7, 1702, died at Cumberland, Rhode Island, January 27, 1773. He married, June 20, 1723, Sarah Bishop, of Rehoboth. They had nine children.
(V) Jonathan, son of Josiah and Sarah (Bishop) Fiske, was born in Rhode Island. He served in the revolution in the Connecticut line. After the war he removed to New York state with his family. He was granted a revolutionary pension. He removed to Saratoga county, New York, where he lived three miles from the village of Schuylerville, in a log house. He married Hannah ————, born November 18, 1743, died September 17, 1814. Children: Jonathan, Hannah, Huldah, Martha, David, Doshe, Cloah, Lydia, Abigail, Stephen, Benjamin.
(VI) Hannah, daughter of Jonathan and Hannah Fiske, was born May 4, 1762, married Aaron Hill (see Hill V).