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Phylancourt Black


Narrative from the Black Family Book


PHYLANCOURT, was born 22 August 1820 and died 27 March 1895, age 74. He married Phoebe Ann Zeluff (b. 8 Feb. 1827, d. 1912) and they had seven children-


Horatio Milton, b. 3 April 1848; d. 7 Jun 1922
Martha, b. 22 Feb 1850; d. 6 Feb 1933
Byron Alton, b. 16 Feb 1852; d. 14 April 1932
Florence, b 12 September 1856; d. 8 February 1936
William, b. 2 August 1864; d. 24 Aug 1945
Sarah, b. 13 August 1866 ; d. 23 Dec 1844 (must be typo in book)
Frances Ann, b. 4 June 1869 ; d.

photo of Phylancourt Black Family taken no later than 1912

Please look closely at the easel stands on the table in the center of the photograph- I believe these might be memoriums to members of the family who had died. The one on the right seems to include a picture of a young woman dressed in white; this could be Sarah who passed away on what was to be her wedding day.

Milton, who lived his entire life in Jefferson Township, remained a bachelor.

Martha married Erastus E. Decker and lived in Hillsdale Co. They had a son, Fred, and daughter, Edith Lora.

Byron was a wanderer in his early life. He went to Kansas and homesteaded but got homesick, so he sold his land and returned to Michigan, staying but a short while until he got itchy feet again. He then went south, maybe Louisiana, and was an overseer of negroes until he again got homesick and returned once more. He acquired property in Jefferson Township, settled down and married his cousin Samuel’s widow, Celia Pinchin Black. They had two daughters, Sara and Nora.

The girls, unable to get to an area high school, went to live in Waldron with their half sister, ’Rilla, daughter of Celia’s first marriage to Samuel Black and granddaughter of Harvey P and Marilla Crommer Black. (Rae note: Marilla Crommer is a sister to Miner Crommer, the husband of Jane Silvernail, my gggrandparents, whew- don't relax- there are more like this!)

Celia was killed in a automobile accident, after which Byron lived with his daughter Sara.

Florence married Warren Satterlee. They had one son, Charles, born 1875 in Michigan, and another son, Frank b 1877, and daughter, Sylvia Ann b. 1882 in Kansas.

William married Minnie McDowell and their home was just south of the Black Cemetery. They had three sons: Byron b. 1888 d. 1897, Sidney b. 1892 d. 1927, and the third son, Otto b. 1904, worked for the New York Central Railroad.

Frances Ann, the youngest, married John Rupley and lived all their lives in Jefferson and Pittsford Townships. They had one daughter, Fairy b. 23 Oct. 1896.


Lucretia | Harvey P. | Phylancourt | Cyrena | MDL | Clarinda | Lucinda | Altha


Harvey Black was born on February 14, 1786 in West Springfield, MA.  He lived in St. Lawrence Co., NY for several years before moving to Ohio, and then to Michigan.  He was a private in the New York Militia during the War of 1812. His father Samuel was a Revolutionary War veteran of Scottish descent.  Samuel was born 6 Dec 1763 in Oakham, Worcester Co., MA, and died 16 Mar 1852 in Lenawee Co., MI.  Harvey's mother Achsah Jones was born 5 May 1758 in West Springfield, MA.  She was the daughter of Ebenezer Jones Jr. and Abigail Day.

MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE, known as M. D. L., was born December 8, 1823, possibly in Tompkins Co., NY.
CLARINDA, was born in 1826 in Huron Co., Ohio. She married William K. Leonard of Tompkins Co., NY on 7 September 1843. They lived in Hillsdale Co., MI where five children were born [Jefferson Twp 1850 Hillsdale Census]. Clarinda and William moved west sometime after 1865. She died 23 November 1888 in White Bead Hill, OK.
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I was able to download Samuel Black's revolutionary war records here:

http://www.footnote.com/

Here's a transcript I made of one of the documents:

State of New York
County of Wayne     On this Second day of October 1832 personally
appeared in open court, before the Judges of the court of com-
mon Pleas, now sitting Samuel Black, a resident of Port Bay,
Wayne County, New York, aged Sixty nine years, who being first
duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the
following disclarative in order to obtain the benefit of the
act of congress passed June 7th 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the
following named officers, and served as herein stated.
In the Regiment commanded by Colonel Chapin and
in the company commanded by Captain Sloper: the
first lieutenants name was Robinson Barns the second lieutenants
name was xxxxx Robinson.  That he enlisted at West Springfield in
the State of Massachusetts in the month of October 1779 for
three months that he served one and one half months and
was discharged with the rest of the Regiment-at Albany
in the State of New York.
That he again enlisted in the Seventh Massachusetts
Regiment commanded by Colonel Brook in the company
commanded by Captain Luke Day, Elijah Day was Lieutenant
that he enlisted at the town of West Springfield aforesaid
in the month of July 1780 for six months that he served
four and one half months and was discharged at West Point
that he joined the army at Orange town in New Jersey, and
marched from thence to West Point where he was discharged.
That he again enlisted in a company commanded by
Captain Troil about the first of August 1781. for three months
that he served three months and eight days and was discharged
at fort Herkimer in the State of New York.  That he marched from
West Springfield to Schoharee Middle fort in the State of New York.
from thence to fort Plain, and from there to fort Herkimer,
that Captain Troll command at Schoharrie Middle fort
while he was there, Colonel Willets commanded fort Plains
and Captain Van Rensselaer or Captain Leviston commanded
fort Herkimer that after the enemy was defeated at Johnstown
Colonel Willets came to fort Herkimer and persued the enemy
in the vicinity of West Canada Creek, at which place Captain
Butler of the refugees? was killed, that he found the said Butlers
pack containing his pocketbook and commission.
That he has no documentary evidence, and that he knows of
no person whos testimony he can procure who can testify to his
services except the affidavits of Luke Parsons and Jube Ely-
To the Interogatories part by the court he answered:
1st that he was born in the town of Oakham in the State of
Massachusetts the Sixth day of December in the year 1763.
2nd that he has no record of his age nor has he any knowledge
of there being any.
3rd that he resided at West Springfield in the State of Mas-
sachusetts at each time that he entered the service, that since
the Revolutionary War he resided in West Springfield aforesaid
until 1803 at which time he removed to Oneida County in the
State of New York and from thence to the town of Port Bay
(late Wolcott) where he now resides.
4th that he volunteered his services at each time of his enlist
enlistment.
5th that he does not recollect any the names of any Regular
officers or Regiment being with them, except those above
stated. and the 11th Regiment of Massachusetts ***** by Col Tippen?
6th that he received a discharge signed by Colonel Brooks
that it is lost or mislaid.
7th that he is known in the neighborhood where he
resides by David Gales, Norman Sheldon and Josiah Upson
of the town of Port Bay.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension
or annuity except the present, and declares that his name
is not on the Pension roll of the Agency of Any State.
Sworn to and subscribed
the day and year aforesaid.         Samuel Black
********

If you want to add any of this to your website, it's ok by me.  

cheers,
Karl Hillig
(descendent of Harvey Black Jr. through his son Samuel)

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