BYRNE, George

Other Events and Attributes:

• Physical Description: Semi-disabled
• Research Notes: Found verification of death on 2 Oct 1844. A document from 10/1/1844 transferring assets to his children is in the Jackson County records department, and I hope to be able to transcribe my photos of it at some point. The date used in my records comes from another tree on Ancestry.com. DNA tests and comparison with descendants from other children of John Byrne of Windham, CT (notably descendants of Samuel Hazard Byrne), indicate George was not a biological child of John. Whether he was a son of Ann Powers is unclear.
• Occupation: Register of deeds
• Religion: Baptist (was also first clerk, of the First Baptist Church in Willimantic, as well as Baptist Church in Norwich, CT)
• Residence: 1830, Windham, Windham, Connecticut
• Possessions: 7 Nov 1837, Land Patent granted of 74.5 acres, Jackson, Jackson, Michigan, USA
• Occupation: Bef 1838, Ran a store, combined with dwelling in Windham (Willimantic)
• Occupation: 1838, Schoolteacher, Jackson, Jackson, Michigan, USA
• Residence: 1838, Jackson County MI
• Occupation: Between 1840 and 1842, Register of Deeds, Jackson, Jackson, Michigan, USA
• Residence: 1 Jun 1840, Columbia, Jackson, Michigan, USA
• Occupation: Aft 1842, Justice of the Peace, Jackson, Jackson, Michigan, USA

Notes:

From History of Jackson Michigan: George Byrne settled in Jackson in 1838. He was elected register of deeds in 1840, and served two years. He also served very acceptably as justice of the peace for several years. His son, Gilbert R. Byrne, has been in the banking-house of Cooper, Thompson & Co., and with the Jackson City Bank for many years. He is now assistant cashier of the last-named institution.

From A Modern History of Windham County Connecticut:

Page 582: “First Baptist Church, WIllimantic… a number of bretheren met in council at the house of Elder Chester Tilden on Thursday, the 20th of October, 1827…. Brethren:…George Byrnes…Records of December 11, 1827, show that the first clerk of the church was George Byrnes.”

Buried:
Headstone incorrectly reads 1841, and was placed at some point in the 20th century, probably by either daughter Susan or Josephine, who have similar markers, and died in the early 1960s

George married GRIFFING, Sarah S on 23 Jan 1828 in Albany, Albany, NY USA. Sarah (daughter of GRIFFING, Benjamin and MATHER, Clarissa) was born on 24 Sep 1801 in Lyme, New London, CT, USA; died on 3 Jan 1887 in 137 Maple Avenue, Jackson, Jackson, Michigan, USA; was buried on 6 Jan 1887 in Mount Evergreen Cemetery, Jackson, Jackson, MI, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Per Albany Argus, ceremony was performed by Rev (Bartholomew) Welch. (Welch was a Baptist minister who was successful in growing the Albany parish). Per Sarah’s obituary, George and Sarah were married at the residence of Erastus Corning, Esq (a noted Albany businessman, politician, and Baptist).

1. BYRNE, Ann Mather was born on 15 Mar 1829 in Windham, Windham, Connecticut, United States; died on 21 Sep 1832 in Windham, Windham, Connecticut, USA; was buried in Windham Cemetery, Windham, Windham, Connecticut, USA.
2. BYRNE, William Lee was born on 25 Feb 1831 in Windham, Windham, Connecticut, USA; died on 11 Sep 1832 in Windham, Windham, Connecticut, USA; was buried in Windham Cemetery, Windham, Windham, Connecticut, USA.
3. BYRNE, George Griffing was born about 1833 in Connecticut; died on 28 Nov 1891 in 137 Maple Avenue, Jackson, Jackson, Michigan, USA; was buried on 2 Dec 1891 in Mount Evergreen Cemetery, Jackson, Jackson, MI, USA.
4. BYRNE, Gilbert R was born on 8 Feb 1835 in Connecticut; died on 19 Feb 1901 in Jackson, Jackson, MI, USA; was buried on 22 Feb 1901 in Mount Evergreen Cemetery, Jackson, Jackson, MI, USA.
5. BYRNE, John H was born on 13 Feb 1838 in Michigan; died on 18 Aug 1872 in Jackson, Jackson, Michigan, United States; was buried on 20 Aug 1872 in Jackson, Jackson, Michigan, United States.
6. BYRNE, Rufus T was born in Feb 1840 in Michigan, USA; died on 11 Feb 1901.
7. BYRNE, Charles Benjamin was born on 7 Oct 1842 in Michigan; died on 20 Jan 1912 in Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA; was buried on 22 Jan 1912 in IOOF Cemetery, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Co, CA.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: 1790, Newspaper Publisher
• Occupation: 1795, Postmaster
• Public activity: 19 Apr 1802, Windham, Windham, Connecticut, USA
• Occupation: 1807, Helped lay underground acqueduct

Notes:

From A Modern History of Windham County Connecticut:

Page 87: “In 1790 John Byrne of Norwich set up a printing press in the lower room of the courthouse, and early the next year produced the first newspaper of Windham County. It was called The Phenix, or Windham Herald. In a few years it had some twelve hundred subscribers, and made itself felt throughout the county. It was the medium for advertising of the first carding machine in the county, and was of great service during the War of 1812. “

Page 443: “Shaw also had a faculty for handling skunks. A man by the name of Byrnes kept a store at the foot of the hill going up to the machine shop. One day Byrnes was behind the postoffice boxes at the end of the counter next to the outside of the store. Shaw came in, had a bag which he opened and out came four or five half-grown skuns. Byrnes screamed, ‘Take them out.’ ‘Give me two plugs tobacco.’ ‘No,’ but Byrnes hesitated. Shaw kept going up and finally the Indian got six plugs, and the men in the store had a good laugh.”

Public activity:
“Mr. Charles Tainer, is appointed Poll Master at Windham, Connecticut, in the room of John Byrne, Esq., removed”

Buried:
Mr. John Byrne / Died Dec 31 1837 / Aged 77 Years

John married POWERS, Anne on 16 Nov 1784 in Windham, Windham, CT. Anne (daughter of POWERS, Samuel and BROWNING, Martha) was born on 22 Apr 1762 in New London, CT USA; died on 10 Jul 1819 in Windham, Windham, Connecticut, United States; was buried in Windham Cemetery, Windham, Windham, Connecticut, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Also Known As: Anna
• Obituary: From Connecticut Gazette (New London, CT) 14 Jul 1819: At Windham, 11th Inst. Mrs. Anna Byrne, consort of Mr. John Byrne, aged 57, formerly of this place. She was highly and justly esteemed by a numerous acquaintence for the excellent qualities of her heart; and died in the triumphs of faith.

Notes:

Newspaper notice gives date of death as July 11, 1819, though headstone says July 10th, 1819.

Died:
From Hartford Courant: At Windham, on the 11th inst. Mrs Anna Byrne, aged 57, consort of Mr. John Byrne

Notes:

Married:
New London Vital Records in Barbour Collection: POWERS Anne m John Byrne, Nov 16 1784

Samuel married BROWNING, Martha on 20 May 1756. Martha was born on 19 Nov 1733; died on 14 Apr 1816. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: South Kingstown, Washington, RI USA

Joseph married Abigail. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: South Kingstown, Washington, RI USA