Roger Orvis

ROGER ORVIS ~ Miriam joined the Church January 20, 1711, and Roger in 1712. Roger had his house at "Ye Southerly end of ye town plat". There are two records, Church and Town. One gives Miriam's death as January 27, 1748.

He was presented with a cane in 1676 by direction of King James II, of England, in recognition of his services in the Indian Wars.

ROGER ORVIS ~

Roger Orvis was a Revolutionary Soldier in Connecticut. He enlisted February 6, 1776, in Captain Watson, Jr., Eight Company, Colonel Charles Burrell's Battalion. He settled in Norfolk, Connecticut. In 1817, he moved to Genesee County, New York. According to family tradition, Roger Orvis was a soldier and had his right hand shot off at the wrist. It was said that he had two teeth when he was born, one on each jaw, where the double teeth should be. They were rough, like a rasp, in the center they were sharp and he could bite a pin in two without hurting himself. It is also said that he farmed forty acres of corn, harvested it and sold it for $400, doing all of the work himself, after he was 80 years old. He was found dead in bed at the age 93. All children were born in Litchfield, Connecticut.

His will dated December 18, 1836, gives to his second wife his estate and directs that she give it to his own children.

J. R. Orvis, son of Joseph Orvis and nephew of Roger, says Roger died July 6, 1847. In E. E. Orvis' pamphlet the date of Roger's death is given as 1829. This would make him only 84 years of age at that time. Samuel Orvis, son of Roger, lived at Champion, Jefferson County, New York. Roger's descendants are scattered through the Eastern, Northern and Western states and in Canada.

He also lived in Dumdorff, Pennsylvannia

"Roger, Prviate, Captain John Watson, Jr.s Co., Fourth Regiment, Connecticut Militia, under Colonel Benjamin Hinman in Northern Department, discharged November

20, 1775." Private in list of Connecticut pensioners residing in Vermont, Act of 1818.

Two of the sons of Roger Orvis, Timothy B. and James R. did live at Batavia, Kane County, Illinois. Other descendants reside in Western Pennsylvannia, in Ohio and other Western states.

Descendants of Lydia and Huldah Orvis reside in Tioga County, Pennsylvannia.

Samuel, a Private, Pensioned, Norfolk, Connecticut.

Roger, Pensioned. Discharged in Northern Department November 20, 1775.

David, from town of Norfolk, Connecticut. Served 32 days.

Eleazer, also from the town of Norfolk, Connecticut. Served 32 days.

I (Waitstill Orvis) take it that these three are the sons of Eleazer and Hannah (North) since their ages would be about right, still it must not be forgotten that William also had a son, Samuel, who would have been of the right age. We know that of the sons of William and Elizabeth the following were said to have been Revolutionary Soldiers:

1. Gershom, Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the Revolution. Vol. II, pages 684-5.

2. Ambrose Orvice, South Hadley, August 12, 1780, aged 23, height 5 ft. 11 inches, complexion light.

3. Waitstill

4. William

5. Zadock was Revolutionary Soldier. (Third Generation).

THIS INDICATES THAT ALL OF THE MALES OF BOTH BRANCHES OF THE FAMILY WHO WERE OF PROPER AGE AT THE TIME OF THE REVOLUTION WERE IN THE WAR AND THEIR DESCENDANTS WOULD BE ELIGIBLE TO EITHER THE SONS OR DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION OR SIMILAR SOCIETIES.