David Fero

SUMMARY REPORT

PREPARED FOR

Patrick Fero

17 October 2022

OBJECTIVE:

Identify the place and date of birth of David Fero, who died 7 December 1874 near Seneca Falls, New York and married Hannah Marie (Breed) Fero, who was born 1837.

INFORMATION FROM CLIENT:

David Fero may have been born in New York and died 7 December 1874 near Seneca Falls, New York. He was married to Hanna Marie (Breed) Fero, who was born 1837.

David appears in the New York 1865 Census with the notation he was from Dutchess County, New York. He may have also lived in Albany, New York.

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS:

Per client information, David Fero died 7 December 1874 near Seneca Falls, New York. He may have been born between 1816 and 1818 in Red Hook, Dutchess County, New York, the son of

Henry Fero. He possibly married Margaret [maiden name unknown] around 1835 in Montgomery County, New York and had at least four children between 1836 and 1846.

Margaret may have died between 1860 and 1862; she was enumerated in the 1860 United States Census in David’s likely household, and client-provided information states that he married Hannah Breed in 1862. More than twenty Fero households were considered through a census survey and correlation, as well as examination of auxiliary documentation. One possibility has been developed, but requires further research to confirm.

Census Survey 1850–1870

According to the client’s documentation, David Fero was enumerated in Pompey, Onondaga County, New York in 1865 with Hannah (Breed) Fero, their presumed children, and Hannah’s parents and sister. His estimated birth year was 1819, and he was reportedly born in Dutchess County. Both Hannah and David were identified as having been married only once. The accuracy of information provided by unknown census informants is difficult to judge. It is possible that David was married previously—as the client stated that Hannah was.

1865 New York State Census

Other David Feros identified in 1865 can be eliminated when found in other censuses. In the 1865 Census, only one David with a similar surname born between 1813 and 1823 was located:

• David I. Fero, 48, lived with his wife, Ann, 50, in Schoharie County, New York. He was a wagon maker born in Albany County.

The following New York counties are not extant for the 1865 census year: Allegany, Clinton, Franklin, Genesee, Hamilton, New York, Oswego, Putnam, Queens, Seneca, St. Lawrence, Sullivan, Wayne, Westchester, and Wyoming, and as such, could not be searched.

1870 United States Census

David and Hannah Fero were not found in 1870 in any state. David and Hannah’s children likely lived with their grandparents. Seven-year-old Albert, five-year-old “Beloa,” and three-year-old Delmar were enumerated with Moses and Susan Breed in Camillus, Onondaga County, New York.

The only man named David Fero born between 1813 and 1823 enumerated in 1870 was David I. Fero, 53, a wagon maker who lived with his wife, Ann, 55, in Schoharie County, New York. This couple was eliminated because they were found in the 1865 Census when David and Hannah Fero lived with the Breeds. No Hannah Fero of the appropriate age was located.

1860 United States Census

In 1860, three men named David Fero, born between 1813 and 1823, were enumerated in the United States, all in New York. One was David Fero, the wagon maker of Schoharie County, New York, who has been eliminated as the research subject. The remaining two were as follows:

• David Fero, age 45, a day laborer, was enumerated in Jordan, Onondaga County, New York. His presumed wife was Margaret Fero, age 44. Two children, fifteen-year-old John Fero and fourteen-year-old Lorenzo Fero, also lived in the household.

• David D. Ferro, age 39, a farmer, was enumerated in Dix, Schuyler County, New York. His presumed wife was Sarah, age 32. They lived with two children: Gilbert, age 10, and Frank, age 5, as well as farm laborer William S. Ferro.

David Ferro from Schuyler County owned a farm valued at $4,200. Subsequent land research identified the likely land purchase in Dix, Schuyler County, New York, as having been made by David D. and William S. Fenno. The David Fero who married Hannah was enumerated as a landless laborer in 1865 and probably did not own a large farm in 1860. The difference in name and financial standing suggests that this was not the David Fero who later married Hannah.

The David Fero who was married to Margaret is a more likely candidate to have been the research subject. He was a laborer in 1860, as was the David who married Hannah. The children enumerated in the 1860 Census were old enough to have possibly lived in their own households by 1865 (or may have boarded elsewhere). In addition, this household was located near Moses and Susannah Breed’s household in 1860. David Fero may have known the Breeds and their daughter. Despite the census notation that David Fero owned real estate valued at $400, no deed was located with his name in Onondaga County.

1855 New York Census

The same individuals from the 1860 United States Census were found in the 1855 New York State Census. The wagon maker in Schoharie County was previously eliminated as the research subject, as was the David Fenno who lived in Dix, Schuyler County, New York.

David and Margaret Fero were enumerated in Elbridge, Onondaga County, New York, with a child named as only “E.H.” Fero. His age was difficult to decipher but appears to have been recorded as “19.” Margaret was identified as David’s wife. Also in the household were boarder Nathaniel Barnard, age 20, employed in boating, born in Monroe County; R. H. Barnard, age 15, whose relationship was stated to the head of household as “adopted,” born in Wayne County; and R. L. Barnard, age 12, whose relationship to the head of household was “wife’s child,” born in Montgomery County and was also employed in boating. This suggests Margaret may have been previously married to a Barnard and had at least one child at the time she married David Fero.

David’s birthplace in this census was recorded as Rensselaer County, New York; client-provided information stated that David was enumerated in the 1865 New York State Census with a birthplace of Dutchess County. The difference in birth county is not a significant enough deviation to eliminate this man.

1850 United States Census

The remaining David Fero, who was married to Margaret, was enumerated in Elbridge, Onondaga County, New York in 1850, with Margaret, a child named Margaret, and Lorenzo. The wagon maker from Schoharie County was the only other David Fero born between 1813 and 1823 located in this census.

Two Men or One?

David Fero was in his mid-40s when he married Hannah Breed. Considering the evidence in the censuses from 1850 through 1870, the David who married Hannah was likely the same man as the David who married Margaret. Evidence supporting this conclusion is as follows:

• Other David Feros in the federal and state censuses were eliminated.

• David and Margaret were not found together on census enumerations after 1860.

• Margaret Fero was not found living alone after 1860. It is likely she died between 1860 and 1865.

• David and Margaret possibly had four children, but they were all of age to be living in their own households by 1865.

• David and Margaret lived in the same village as Hannah Breed’s parents in 1860; the families may have known one another.

• Although David’s age fluctuated through these censuses, it remained within a reasonable amount of variance for census data.

The David who married Hannah was reportedly born in Dutchess County, New York, whereas the David who married Margaret was allegedly born in Rensselaer County, New York. The only sources for these birth counties are the 1855 and 1865 New York State Census. Census data, especially birthplaces, is often inaccurate, depending on who was providing the information. It is unknown who the informants were for both enumerations.

Federal census enumerations from 1820 to 1840 may provide a clue as to the birth location. Prior to 1850, the census only named head of household and age ranges for other individuals living in the household. Because no family relationships are available, these individuals may be part of a nuclear family, more distant relations, or servants or laborers for the household.

Census Survey 1820–1840

David’s uncertain birth year is the greatest hindrance to surveying census records from 1820 to 1840. He may have been born between 1815 and 1822. Although he aged approximately twelve years between each federal census year and the same between each of the New York State census years, he only aged a year during the five-year span between the federal and state census.

Census-reported Ages for David Fero

1850

33

Born 1817–18

1855

34

Born 1821–22

1860

45

Born 1815–16

1865

46

Born 1819–20

E.H. Fero, the child enumerated in David’s household in 1855, could clarify David’s age. According to the instructions for the 1855 New York Census, column nine should record relationships to the head of household. This suggests that E.H. Fero was at least David’s child. His age is uncertain because the census taker clearly corrected the number; E.H. may have been either fourteen or nineteen. Surveying the other hand-written numerals on the census page, it is probable that E.H. was 19 years old. The census taker wrote open fours, and if he intended to indicate 14, he probably would have made an open numeral four. However, if E.H. Fero was nineteen years old, according to this census David would have been fifteen when his son was born. If David was 38, as would be expected if he was 33 in 1850, then David would have been 19 when E.H. was born.

Furthermore, the same could be said of the younger Margaret who was not enumerated with this family in 1855. In the 1850 Federal Census, Margaret was enumerated as age 13. If she was David’s child as well, he would have been about twenty when she was born if his age was as recorded in 1850, but much younger if his age was recorded as it was in 1855.

It is possible that Margaret and E.H. were not David’s children, and instead siblings or cousins. If they were indeed David’s children, David was likely born about 1816–1818 as reported in the federal enumerations, rather than the date ranges reported in the state enumerations.

1840 United States Census

In the 1840 Census, David likely would have been enumerated in the age 20-to-29 category. The outlier, the calculated birth years from the 1855 Census, would place him in the 15-to-19 age category. He may have headed his own household. David may have had a child, E.H. Fero, born about 1836–7, suggesting a possible marriage date of about 1835 or 1836. He also may have had a daughter, Margaret, who was born about 1837–8. The household would contain at least four people with a male and female under age 10. The following households were headed by David Fero and had a male in the 20–29 age group in 1840:

• David Fero in Root, Montgomery County, was enumerated with a woman aged 20–29 and a male and female under age 10. The male was placed in the 5–9 category, however, which does not suggest a birth date of 1836–7.

• David Feroe in Chemung County, New York, also had four people in his household, but the ages and sexes were not as expected. Rather than two males and two females, there were four males, one in each age category from 10 to 49. It is likely the eldest was the recorded David.

• David Fero in Charleston, Montgomery County, had eight people in his household, but none were males of the correct age for the David of interest. The oldest male, who was probably David, was 40-49, corresponding to David “Phero” in 1850, who was recorded as age 54 in that census.

If David headed his own household, the most likely family to be David and Margaret’s was the family who lived in Root, Montgomery County, New York. The family makeup matched the expected composition more closely than the others. Furthermore, in the 1855 Census, Margaret’s place of birth was listed as Montgomery County. The same census noted they had been living in Elbridge, Onondaga County, for only seven years, placing them elsewhere in the 1840s. Finally, one individual was involved in navigation of the canals. David wasn’t listed as a boatman in other census records, but his possible sons were. The family appeared to have a connection to the New York canals.

1830 United States Census

Because of the likelihood that David was born between 1815 and 1820 rather than 1821–1822, it is expected that David would have been enumerated in the 10–14 age group, but he could also have been enumerated in either the 15–19 or the 5–9 age group. The three counties where David probably lived were Dutchess, where he was reportedly born per the 1865 New York State Census; Rensselaer, where he was reportedly born per the 1855 New York State Census; or Montgomery, where the David whose family matched the expected composition in 1840 lived. Not included in this survey were Fero households from Steuben, Schoharie, Albany, and Greene counties.

There were no Fero families enumerated in Rensselaer County in 1830.

Dutchess County

Two Fero households were located in Duchess County, both in Red Hook. Both were headed by a man named Henry Fero:

• The first Henry Fero was enumerated with Jonas Simmons. There was a male listed in the household between 15 and 19 who could have been David if he was born in 1815.

• The second Henry Fero was enumerated with five males below the age of 20. One was age 5–9; two were between 10 and 14; and two more were between 15 and 20, making this a strong candidate for David’s household.

Montgomery County

There were four Fero households enumerated in Montgomery County, one in Root and three in Charleston.

• In Root, Montgomery County, David Fero, the only male in the household, was between the ages of 15 and 19, and he lived with seven females.

• In Charleston, Montgomery County, David Fero, probably age 30–39, lived with a male between 10 and 14 and another between 5 and 9, as well as several females. This man was probably the man who died in 1853.

• Also in Charleston, Montgomery County, were two households that did not have males in the correct age group: those of Moses Fero and Nicholas Fero.

1820 United States Census

The federal censuses indicated that David was born before 1820; per the New York Census enumerations, it is possible he was not born prior to the 1820 Census. As discussed earlier, it is likely that he was born in the earlier rather than the later ranges. Thus, in the 1820 United States Federal Census he would have been enumerated as a male under 10. The reported possible locations for David were Dutchess or Rensselaer Counties, but correlation for Montgomery was included. Not included were Fero households from Steuben, Schoharie, Albany, and Schenectady.

Dutchess County

Three Fero households were enumerated in Dutchess County. All were neighbors, with two in adjacent locations.

• Christion Fero’s household contained two males between the ages of 16 and 26 and one male over the age of 45.

• John Fero’s household held one male between 16–25 and one female between 16–25. This is not a likely candidate for David Fero’s family unless David was born to this couple after the census in 1820. In 1830, John did not have a male in his household in the correct age group.

• Henry Fero had five males under the age of five living with him, corresponding to the Henry Fero household in 1830 that was a strong candidate to hold David.

Rensselaer County

There was one family enumerated in Rensselaer County in 1820, headed by Elanor Fero. It is uncertain whether there was a male in the household; there is a faint tick mark that looks like it may have been erased for a male under ten. There are other tick marks that also have been removed on the same line, suggesting that the erasure was apparently deliberate as an adjuster corrected his assessment.

Montgomery County

Montgomery County was home to numerous Fero households, although only one of them included a male under age 10:

• Nancy Fero headed a household in Charleston, Montgomery County, with a male under age 10, two males between 10 and 16, a female between 26 and 44, and a female over 45. Nancy Fero was not found in the 1830 Federal Census. If the female between the

ages of 26 and 44 was the mother of the children, it is possible that she remarried, and she and the children were enumerated under a different head of household in 1830.

The Most Likely David

In 1820, the most likely households to have contained David were Henry Fero’s household in Dutchess County, New York, and Nancy Fero’s household in Montgomery County, New York.

In 1830 and 1840, there were two men named David Fero who headed households: one in Root, Montgomery County, and one in Charleston, Montgomery County—towns that were approximately five miles apart. One of those men was married to a woman named Irena and died in Montgomery County in 1853. Ten years later, land in Montgomery County was sold by the heirs-at-law of David and Irena. David Fero was not among them.

Whereas the other David Fero of Montgomery County remains a possibility, it seems less likely that David was born in Montgomery County. It is more likely was that David Fero was a member of Henry Fero’s household in Red Hook, Dutchess County, possibly a son:

• In at least one enumeration naming counties, David’s birthplace was given as Dutchess County. He was never known to have been born in Montgomery County, even though his wife Margaret, and his probable son, E. H., were noted to have been born there.

• Henry Fero had a male within the right age categories to be David in 1820 and 1830.

• In 1840, Henry Fero lived in Onondaga County within ten miles of the location where

David and Margaret lived in 1850. An individual David’s age no longer lived with him. Perhaps Henry’s shift to Onondaga County precipitated David and Margaret’s move.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH:

Civil records for birth and death were not recorded until 1880 in New York, and marriages not until 1908. Evidence of David’s life, birth date, and, ultimately, parentage, will require alternate records and probably indirect evidence to prove the theories in this report. Suggested avenues for continued research are:

David and Margaret Fero: David and Margaret may have had several children, and, for David, possibly stepchildren. These relations moved in and out of his household, perhaps because many were boatmen and had a more fluid lifestyle, staying with extended family along the canals. Tracing the presumed children may provide more detailed information about David and Margaret.

• Civil War Records: David and Margaret’s children may have served in the Civil War.

• Vital Records: The late date of New York marriage records would make them an unlikely source, but depending on time of death, the potential for genealogical information exists. If they moved to another state with earlier vital records, this may prove a vital avenue of research.

• Land and probate records for the potential children should also be considered.

• The Barnards from the 1855 New York State Census provide an intriguing avenue. R.L. Barnard was noted as “wife’s child.” If the enumerator was following the instructions, it means that R.L. Barnard was Margaret’s child, but not David’s. R.L. was reportedly born in Montgomery County and the other Barnards were not. He also lived in Onondaga County for the same number of years as David and Margaret.

Henry Fero Family: Henry Fero is the most logical candidate for David’s father and appears to have had a large family who remained unnamed through 1840. Furthering knowledge on Henry and this family may provide more compelling connections to David.

• Land Records: Henry Fero from Red Hook, Dutchess County, apparently moved, purchasing land in Onondaga County, New York, in 1836. Initial review indicates he bought and sold more than the land purchased in 1836. In reviewing Henry Fero’s land transactions, linkage to David and his supposed land holdings may be revealed. In addition, earlier land transactions may provide clues to Henry’s relations with the other Feros in Dutchess County.

Page

• Probate Records: When Henry Fero died, he may have left a will or probate records which listed his heirs or beneficiaries.

• Civil War Records: David may not have served, but possible male siblings may have.

• Court: Court documents for Dutchess or Onondaga Counties may indicate familial relationships.

Eliminate Fero Households: Should the above research prove fruitful, this step will not be necessary because there will be a clearer picture of David Fero and perhaps even a clearer picture of the Fero relationships in the area. If, however, there is need, there are several Fero households in Montgomery County that were less likely but not wholly eliminated:

1. In Montgomery County in 1830, there were two households headed by men named David Fero; only one of which was eliminated from consideration.

2. Nancy Fero’s household in Charleston, Montgomery County, in 1820 was not eliminated.

Page