Robert Flewelling, Senior

From http://longislandgenealogy.com/Surname_Pages/flewelling.html:

   It is the scarcity of the name, Flewelling, which justifies the belief that all Flewellings found in New York in colonial times are of one famiy.  Certainly, no evidence that the name was used by anyone outside of the family which had its origins on Long Island has been suggested.  The division of the estate of Abraham Smith in 1734 makes it clear that a Robert Flewelling was the son of Hannah (Smith) Flewelling, daughter of William Smith (Abraham's brother); and that his siblings included Thomas Flewelling, Hannah (Flewelling) Brundage, Jane (Flewelling) Brundage, Phoebe (Flewelling) Hall, Catherine (Flewelling) Golding, and, without too much doubt,  John and Abraham Flewelling.  This in turn, leaves little doubt that Robert was the son of the Thomas and Hannah Flewelling in Hempstead, Long Island in 1698; and the records of Jamaica and Hempstead towns leave little doubt that this Thomas Sr. was the grandson of Robert Ashman, mentioned in Robert Ashman's will of 1683.  Thus, when we find notice of Robert Flewelling in North Castle in later years, and there is little doubt that his children are directly involved with children of John Flewelling of Newburgh especially as, for example, when Francis and Joseph, sons of Robert; and John and Abel, sons of John Sr.; act as witnesses for each other in their loyalist Claims in New Brunswick after the Revolution; we can feel relatively secure in knowing who Robert Flewelling is in relation to other Flewelling of the period in New York. Otherwise, we cannot say that we know a great deal of Robert Flewelling.  his given name apparently derives from Robert Ashman, and since Robert Ashman apparently left no descendants of his surname, it is some consolation that his given name has passed down through three centuries as some sort of memorial.  It is clear that many of Robert Flewelling's descendants were members of the Society of Friends (Quakers); and it is very reasonable to suppose that he was also. Since what is known of his brother John's, family leads us to believe that Robert was not a Quaker by inheritance; then we might further suspect that he was a Quaker by marriage, or by conviction, or by both.  Indeed there is reason to suspect that there existed a tendency within the Flewelling family towards strong religious beliefs, especially towards the Friends; but it also seems that only Robert actively followed this tendency.  In later years some of his children remained Quakers; while others, most probably as a result of their conflict of convictions brought on by the Revolution, left the Society.  In the case of Joseph Flewelling; probably with some reluctance. Robert Flewelling's presence in North Castle may very well have been a direct result of his attachment to the Friends; and it is my opinion that his having moved there, and the movements of many of his decendants, can be directly related to a movement of the Friends first up the Hudson River, then to northern New York, then to what is now the Province of Ontario, and the States of Ohio and Michigan.  That is, that this branch of the Flewellings was a part of the general westward migration, often spear-headed by Quaker families attempting to find places in which they could live according to their conviction free of the political and religious difficulties which so often troubled them. The numerous Quaker families with which Robert's family can be tied; often also originating on Long Island, clearly points to these conclusions; and only a thorough study of Quaker History is needed as confirmation. The name of his wife, Maphlet, has survived for several generations as Maplet, and this is a name apparently unique to the Flewelling family.  It appears to have been largely used by the family of Robert's brother, John Sr. (wo had a daughter, Maplet), and by John's son, Thomas.  In origin it is a surname, and resumably its usage came to the Flewelling family through Robert's wife.  Her brother-in-law, John Sr. must have been fond of her to have used it in his family; and his son, Thomas (who remained in North Castle until the Revolution while John Sr. went to Ulster Co.) must have shared that fondness. Joseph Flewelling, the Loyalist who went to Saint John, New Brunswick, also had a daughter, Maplet.  Joseph's great grandson reported that Joseph was of Quaker origins, and Joseph, by his own statement, came  from North Castle.  Being too old to be a son of Thomas Flewelling, son of John Sr.; and too young to have remained in North Castle when John Sr. went up the Hudson River; he is here assumed to be a son of Robert.  Most likely, he is left out of the will as he has received a full share from his father; perhaps on the occasion of his marriage.  This gives rise to speculation that Robert may have also left out other childrem.  Maplet's maiden name is said to be Jeacockes, and that her father was Francis Jeacockes.  The implication is that Robert and Maplet were something like second cousins,  and that Maplet was descended from a brother of Catern (Jeacockes) Ashman.  Since the name, Maplet, seems almost exclusive to the Flewelling family the statement that a Caleb Haight, a Quaker, of New Castle, Westchester Co., NY, b. 1730, d. 1820, married first a Maplet "Forelling", does much to cause us to suspect that this Maplet was a Flewelling of a Quaker family. Since this couple's eldest child was born in 1752, then this Maplet was most likely born between 1730 and 1734.  Thus, she is too old to be the Maplet, daughter of Thomas Flewelling, and too old to be Thomas' sister, Maplet, daughter of John Sr.  This tends to point to Robert Flewelling as her father. (Thomas Murray, "Oak Leaves" p. 27 - 30, Vol. 7, Spring 1988, Number 43.) 

Robert Flewelling who married Maphlet Jeacockes, daughter of Francis of Poughkeepsie, N.Y. and lived Fishkill in the Rombout until 1751. In 1751 he moved to North Castle, Westchester Co. and established a homestead on the impregnable heights of Mt. Kisco, little dreaming this would be one of the battlefields of the Revolution. His land was occupied by hostile armies, his children scattered, and his widow Maphlet exiled to New Brunswick. With his sons he established the first mill on Lake Leonard, the dry bed of which today forms Mt. Kisco's recreation park. Later he set up oil and grist mills and a dye works in the Croton Valley. Strategically located on a north-south road, his farms were overrun by Rebel armies. On 19 Aug. 1782, George Washington decided to abandon Dobbs Ferry and retire to the north side of the Croton River to join the French Army. 20 August 1782, he camped with his army on the lower part of North Castle being quartered on Flewelling land. He left next day for Peekskill, a village of about 20 houses on the Hudson River. The French army marched from Sing Sing (now Ossining) 21 Aug. 1782 enroute to Yorktown, camping at Pines Bridge. These invasions by the Continental army involved the Flewellings in the Loyalist cause. It became a civil war with brother against brother. In the rebel army were the Jeacockes brothers of Maphlet and the Westervelt relatives of her Loyalist son in law. Nicolas Outhouse of Haverstraw, Orange County N. Y. On 6 June 1778, Poughkeepsie, NY, the muster roll of Capt. Barnabus Swartwout's Company of Militia and Col. John Frayer's Regt. included no less than 12 members of these two families. Maphlet also participated in the Loyalist defense tearing up her underclothes for gun wadding. [BO:Will drawn June 5, 1768:BO]. Robert Flewelling, Northcastle. Leaves to wife Maphlet, "the household goods she brought to me when we were married," and pounds 10 per year. Leaves to oldest son Ezekiel 50 pds. Legacies to sons Robert 100 pds and Francis 110 pds. Directs "all lands I am now possessed of in North Castle" to be sold. Legacies to daughters Phebe wife of Joseph Golding 1 pd 10 sh, Elizabeth wife of Nicholas Outhouse 4 pds 10 sh., and the same to my daughters Mary wife of Joseph Green, Abigail wife of Solomon Searls, & Hannah wife of Benjamin Ogden. To my daughters Jemima and Freelove 9 pds each. I make my eldest son Ezekiel, and my son-in law, Solomon Searles, and Benjamin Hall, executors. Witnesses, William Daniels, Mary Bealy, Jane Daniels. Proved July 15, 1768.
(The above information was found within the notes of a Gedcom file, Uncredited)

It is the scarcity of the name, Flewelling, which justifies the belief that all Flewellings found in New York in colonial times are of one family. Certainly, no evidence that the name was used by anyone outside of the family which had its origins on Long Island has been suggested. The division of the estate of Abraham Smith in 1734 makes it clear that a Robert Flewelling was the son of Hannah (Smith) Flewelling, daughter of William Smith (Abraham’s brother); and that his siblings included Thomas Flewelling, Hannah (Flewelling, Jr.) Brundage, Jane (Flewelling) Brundage, Phoebe (Flewelling) Hall, Catherine (or Catern) (Flewelling) Golding; to which we may add John and Abraham Flewelling. This, in turn, leaves little doubt that Robert was the son of Thomas and Hannah Flewelling in Hempstead, Long Island in the census of 1698; and the records of Jamaica and Hempstead towns, and the records of the estate of Robert Ashman (d. 1683 Jamaica, Long Island) lead us to the conclusion that Robert Ashman was Thomas’ grandfather, and that Thomas was the son of Thomas and Hannah (Ashman) Flewelling. Much of this is dealt with in, “The Ancestors of Thomas and Hannah (Smith) Flewelling”, presently at:

http://members.tripod.com/thomasamurray1/index.htm

It is clear that many of Robert Flewelling’s descendants were members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers); and it is reasonably supposed that he was also. There is no evidence to establish his affiliation, but the connections made by, and the comments recorded of some of his descendants suggest that he was a Quaker. Also, on his mother’s side, he was kin to some of the earliest supporters and participants of Quakerism in North America. It is interesting that while there is no evidence that Robert was, in fact, a Quaker, or even descended from Quakers; he is so bracketed by siblings of forebears and children to great grandchildren who were, that the influence must not only have been present in his life, but transmitted through his own convictions. This has a bearing on the genealogy of his family in that it explains why two of his children are apparently not named in his will, and it points to a line of investigation which probably has not been followed. It also tends to explain the movements of his family in after years. Robert’s brother, John of Newburgh, appears, by the baptism and marriages of his children, either to have forsaken the Society, or (as the second religious influence in Hempstead about the time of his birth was the Anglican (Episcopalian) Church) have accepted a more establishmentarian form of worship. John appeared to vary from Anglican to Presbyterian or to Dutch Reformed as the circumstances dictated by the availability of clergy and church. It is a mark of his descendants that they are devoted to their choice of worship, and to have had a priest, minister, sexton, vestryman, lay preacher, etc. in the family is a source of pride. The connection to the Quakers and to the established (and later, less established) churches is what distinguishes the families of the two brothers. Robert Flewelling’s presence in North Castle may very well have been a direct result of his attachment to the Society of Friends; and it is my opinion that his having moved there, and the movements of many of his descendants, can be directly related to a movement of the Quakers first up the Hudson River, and then to northern New York, then to what is now the Province of Ontario, and the States of Ohio, Indiana and Michigan. That is, that this branch of the Flewellings was a part of the general westward migration, often spear-headed by Quaker families attempting to find places in which they could live according to their convictions. Many of the families found with this branch of the Flewellings can be traced also to origins on Long Island, and in Hempstead. These were not chance meetings, but part of a greater circle of kinship and acquaintanceship. Robert Flewelling is said to have been born in 1712; although there has been no justification given for this date. Certainly, the census of Hempstead in 1698 makes it clear that he was born after that date; and the records of the estate of his great uncle, Abraham Smith, suggests that he was “of age” or 21 years old in 1734. This would place his birth between 1699 and 1713. He was most likely born in Hempstead, Nassau Co., NY. There have been several reports of abstracts of his will which indicate that he died in North Castle, Westchester Co., NY in 1768. A, “Wills of Westchester County, New York”, by William S. Pelletreau, p. 265, is often cited; while another, unidentified, work states that the will might be found in Liber 26, p. 420 (presumably of wills recorded at White Plains, Westchester Co.); and abstracts as follows:

In the name of God, Amen. June 5, 1768. I, Robert, of North Castle, in Westchester County, farmer, being sick. “It is my will that my wife, Maphlet shall have what household goods she brought to me when first married, which she hath not already disposed of to her children.” I also leave her £10 a year so long as she remains my widow. I leave to my eldest son Ezekiel £50, besides what I have already given. I leave to my son Robert £100; To my son Francis £110. All my estate and lands are to be sold at some convenient time. I leave to my daughter Phebe, wife of Joseph Golding, £1 10s.; To my daughter Elizabeth, wife of Nicholas Outhouse, £4 10s., and the same to my daughters, Mary, wife of Joseph Green; Abigail, wife of Solomon Searles, and Hannah, wife of Benjamin Ogden. I leave to my daughter, Jemima and Freelove, each £9. I make my eldest son Ezekiel, and my son-in-law, Solomon Searles, and Benjamin Hall, executors. Witnesses, William Daniels, Mary Bealy, Jane Daniels. Proved, July 15, 1768

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 OUTHOUSE/FLEWELLING FAMILY  Posted by: Thomas A. Murray Date: April 15, 2001 at 20:57:14 

  of 183  

Below is the first part of a larger work in progress. It deals with the descendants of Elizabeth (Flewelling) Outhouse. It is my understanding that knowledge of this family is far greater than the information I have, and I offer it for your examination and comment. In transference to this forum, much of the format and 'shape' is lost. Even so, I hope that it is not too unreadable, and that it may even be informative.

Thomas A. Murray

ROBERT FLEWELLING OF NORTH CASTLE, WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NEW YORK 1712-1768

PREAMBLE

In the spring of 1988 I wrote what was to be the last issue of, “Oak Leaves”, a genealogical quarterly for Flewelling (etc.) genealogy. One of the articles was the first of three parts on the family of Robert Flewelling. The second part had been typed out, but never distributed. The third part has yet to be written, but I hope to finish it here, and to present the whole work. It is my position that Genealogy, to be a proper part of the science and art of History, should have professional and academic guidelines. These include the proper transcription of primary sources, citation of sources (including a bibliography) and any inclusions which establish the accuracy and the source of the information. I am reluctantly setting that principle aside here for the most part. There are several reasons for this:

1. The transmission of text to a web page is so difficult that a large collection of footnotes or endnotes becomes problematic. 2. The family of Robert Flewelling is so poorly known, that to attempt a complete and correct compilation would be useless at this time. 3. It is more important to create an effective summary of what IS known, in order to facilitate further study, discussion and to provide a reference to which those most interested in this branch of the family can refer in discussions and co-ordinated efforts.

In other words, it is my intention to provide a starting point rather than a finished product. This serves two purposes: it allows me to get this to you with a minimum of effort and it reduces the level of effort which prevented me from finishing this task in the first place. While I regret the delay in making these ‘notes’ public, at least this is timely in that the interest in Robert’s family seems to far exceed that which existed 13 years ago. This work, like so many, is created from fragments. So much of the following is theoretical. While it is based on an informed opinion, it is still only surmise. I leave it to you to verify and expand on the veracity of this compilation. I recommend that you do so in concert with other members of the family, and that you make every effort to humanize it with the addition of photographs, biographies, maps, pictures, histories, etc. I will not leave you completely in the dark, and will often explain my line of thinking; I only beg leave to avoid the excessive detail and meticulousness that would be required of a more finished work. Besides, I am often at the mercy of legend, and pieces of information to which the ultimate source is unknown.

ROBERT FLEWELLING

It is the scarcity of the name, Flewelling, which justifies the belief that all Flewellings found in New York in colonial times are of one family. Certainly, no evidence that the name was used by anyone outside of the family which had its origins on Long Island has been suggested. The division of the estate of Abraham Smith in 1734 makes it clear that a Robert Flewelling was the son of Hannah (Smith) Flewelling, daughter of William Smith (Abraham’s brother); and that his siblings included Thomas Flewelling, Hannah (Flewelling, Jr.) Brundage, Jane (Flewelling) Brundage, Phoebe (Flewelling) Hall, Catherine (or Catern) (Flewelling) Golding; to which we may add John and Abraham Flewelling. This, in turn, leaves little doubt that Robert was the son of Thomas and Hannah Flewelling in Hempstead, Long Island in the census of 1698; and the records of Jamaica and Hempstead towns, and the records of the estate of Robert Ashman (d. 1683 Jamaica, Long Island) lead us to the conclusion that Robert Ashman was Thomas’ grandfather, and that Thomas was the son of Thomas and Hannah (Ashman) Flewelling. Much of this is dealt with in, “The Ancestors of Thomas and Hannah (Smith) Flewelling”, presently at:

http://members.tripod.com/thomasamurray1/index.htm

Thus when we find notice of a Robert Flewelling in North Castle in later years, and his children are involved with the children of John Flewelling of Newburgh, then we can feel relatively secure in stating who this is. For example, Thomas Flewelling, son of John, also settles in North Castle initially. Francis and Joseph Flewelling in about 1785 attest to the Loyalist claims of Thomas, John and Abel Flew(w)elling, as do the sons of John for the sons of Robert. These are one family. Otherwise, there is little which has survived of Robert Flewelling besides his parentage, his residence and his death. His given name apparently derives from Robert Ashman, and since Robert Ashman apparently left no descendants of his surname, it is some consolation that his given name has passed down through over three centuries as some sort of memorial. It is clear that many of Robert Flewelling’s descendants were members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers); and it is reasonably supposed that he was also. There is no evidence to establish his affiliation, but the connections made by, and the comments recorded of some of his descendants suggest that he was a Quaker. Also, on his mother’s side, he was kin to some of the earliest supporters and participants of Quakerism in North America. It is interesting that while there is no evidence that Robert was, in fact, a Quaker, or even descended from Quakers; he is so bracketed by siblings of forebears and children to great grandchildren who were, that the influence must not only have been present in his life, but transmitted through his own convictions. This has a bearing on the genealogy of his family in that it explains why two of his children are apparently not named in his will, and it points to a line of investigation which probably has not been followed. It also tends to explain the movements of his family in after years. Robert’s brother, John of Newburgh, appears, by the baptism and marriages of his children, either to have forsaken the Society, or (as the second religious influence in Hempstead about the time of his birth was the Anglican (Episcopalian) Church) have accepted a more establishmentarian form of worship. John appeared to vary from Anglican to Presbyterian or to Dutch Reformed as the circumstances dictated by the availability of clergy and church. It is a mark of his descendants that they are devoted to their choice of worship, and to have had a priest, minister, sexton, vestryman, lay preacher, etc. in the family is a source of pride. The connection to the Quakers and to the established (and later, less established) churches is what distinguishes the families of the two brothers. Robert Flewelling’s presence in North Castle may very well have been a direct result of his attachment to the Society of Friends; and it is my opinion that his having moved there, and the movements of many of his descendants, can be directly related to a movement of the Quakers first up the Hudson River, and then to northern New York, then to what is now the Province of Ontario, and the States of Ohio, Indiana and Michigan. That is, that this branch of the Flewellings was a part of the general westward migration, often spear-headed by Quaker families attempting to find places in which they could live according to their convictions. Many of the families found with this branch of the Flewellings can be traced also to origins on Long Island, and in Hempstead. These were not chance meetings, but part of a greater circle of kinship and acquaintanceship. Robert Flewelling is said to have been born in 1712; although there has been no justification given for this date. Certainly, the census of Hempstead in 1698 makes it clear that he was born after that date; and the records of the estate of his great uncle, Abraham Smith, suggests that he was “of age” or 21 years old in 1734. This would place his birth between 1699 and 1713. He was most likely born in Hempstead, Nassau Co., NY. There have been several reports of abstracts of his will which indicate that he died in North Castle, Westchester Co., NY in 1768. A, “Wills of Westchester County, New York”, by William S. Pelletreau, p. 265, is often cited; while another, unidentified, work states that the will might be found in Liber 26, p. 420 (presumably of wills recorded at White Plains, Westchester Co.); and abstracts as follows:

In the name of God, Amen. June 5, 1768. I, Robert, of North Castle, in Westchester County, farmer, being sick. “It is my will that my wife, Maphlet shall have what household goods she brought to me when first married, which she hath not already disposed of to her children.” I also leave her £10 a year so long as she remains my widow. I leave to my eldest son Ezekiel £50, besides what I have already given. I leave to my son Robert £100; To my son Francis £110. All my estate and lands are to be sold at some convenient time. I leave to my daughter Phebe, wife of Joseph Golding, £1 10s.; To my daughter Elizabeth, wife of Nicholas Outhouse, £4 10s., and the same to my daughters, Mary, wife of Joseph Green; Abigail, wife of Solomon Searles, and Hannah, wife of Benjamin Ogden. I leave to my daughter, Jemima and Freelove, each £9. I make my eldest son Ezekiel, and my son-in-law, Solomon Searles, and Benjamin Hall, executors. Witnesses, William Daniels, Mary Bealy, Jane Daniels. Proved, July 15, 1768

Since he was sick at the time he made the will, he presumably died soon after, sometime in JUN1758. He gives his son, Ezekiel, only half as much as his two other named sons, “besides what I have already”. He also mentions that his wife, Maplet, had given some of her household goods to some of the children. This suggests the practice of giving the children their inheritance portion at their marriage when they are starting out themselves. Much the same is true for the daughters, except that the amount concerned is somewhat smaller. The implication is that Ezekiel is married, but that Robert and Francis are not. In the same way, Phoebe, Elizabeth, Mary, Abigail and Hannah are married, but Jemima and Freelove are not. A possibility is that some children might have been given their full portion at marriage, and would not be mentioned in the will. Another possibility is that a child who married outside of the Society of Friends, or who had left the Meeting, would also not be mentioned. Both possibilities will be considered later. The order of mention may reflect the order-of-birth, with the married daughters possibly being older that the unmarried sons. If Robert Flewelling was born in 1712, he was only about 55 years old when he died, and several of his children may have been fairly young.

http://robertflewelling.tripod.com/robert_flewelling.htm