Isaac Countryman was likely born in Pennsylvania between 22 Sep 1799 and 23 Sep 1800 (186); however, his birthplace is uncertain, and his ancestors have not been documented.

Before May 1822, Isaac Countryman married Ellen Voorhees (aka Elen Voorhees), likely in the Ovid Township of Seneca County, New York (755). At their marriage, Isaac Countryman was about 21 years old, and Ellen Voorhees was 25 years old. Born in the Hillsborough Township of Somerset County, New Jersey on 24 Jun 1795, Ellen Voorhees was a daughter of Henry Voorhees and Margaret (Nevius) Voorhees (137, Page 344; 1347).

A daughter, Elizabeth, was born to Issac and Ellen Countryman in Seneca County, New York on 17 Feb 1823 (755). At Elizabeth’s birth, Isaac Countryman was about 22 years old, and Ellen Countryman was 26 years old.

The Isaac Countryman family, including Ellen and Elizabeth, migrated from Seneca County, New York to Pennsylvania before the birth of a second daughter, Catherine Countryman. Based on census information, Catherine was born in Pennsylvania during the period 3 Aug 1824 – 18 Jun 1825 (166, 753). Although evidence is weak, the Isaac Countryman family may have lived among the several Countryman families in the Middle Smithfield Township of Pike County, Pennsylvania. The family returned to Seneca County before Jan 1828.

A son, Andrew J. Countryman was born in Seneca County on 21 Jan 1828 (188), and a second son Joseph Countryman was born in about 1830. Before 1840, at least four more sons were born to Ellen and Isaac Countryman in Seneca County: John Countryman in about 1832; Gideon in about 1835 (993); Martin V. Countryman on 21 Mar 1836 (763); and George Washington Countryman on 21 Dec 1838 (365). Joseph Countryman died on 27 Aug 1843 at 12 years of age (229).

By 1840, the Isaac Countryman family was living in the Varick Township of Seneca County, New York where the Ira Countryman household was enumerated by the 1840 federal census (749). Isaac Countryman was 30–39 years old. Living in the household were a female, age 30–39 years, presumably Isaac’s wife, two other females, both age 15–19, a male, age 10–14, three males, age 5–9 years, and two males under 5 years of age.

In about 1845, Isaac Countryman’s daughter, Elizabeth Countryman married Whaley Alexander Brooks, and his daughter Catherine married Abram Sixberry—both marriages probably occurred in Seneca County.

Between the 1840 and 1850 federal censuses, Isaac Countryman and his wife apparently divorced or otherwise separated. In addition to 50 year-old Isaac Countryman, the 16 Sep 1850 census enumerates only two sons living in his household: Martin Countryman, 15 years old, and George Countryman, 12 years old (750). The 9 Aug 1850 federal census enumerates Ellen Voorhees, with her maiden name, living with her mother, Margaret Voorhees, in the Lodi Township of Seneca County, New York (1347).

At the 1850 federal census, Isaac Countryman’s son Andrew J. Countryman was living with the William Sweet household in the Fayette Township of Seneca County, New York (757). Gideon Countryman resided with the Milton Smith household of the Romulus Township of Seneca County (758). 

At the 1860 federal census, Isaac Countryman was living in the household of his daughter Catharine (Countryman) Sixberry (751). The winter of 1855 was particularly harsh in Seneca County. In March, Seneca Lake froze over for the first time since American settlement. The cold winter followed by the onset of the American Civil War may have forced Isaac Countryman’s move. Ellen Voorhees, then 63 years old, was living in the household of her brother, Stephen Voorhees, in the Lodi Township of Seneca County, New York (1349). The youngest child of Isaac Countryman and Ellen Voorhees, George Washington Countryman, was living in the David Vancourt household of the Romulus Township of Seneca County (761).

On 5 Apr 1864, Isaac Countryman purchased one acre of land for $5 from Lewis Ireland and his wife Eliza Ireland (217). The land was located on the Marsh Road between land owned by William Bird and that owned by Lewis Ireland. On 9 Apr 1870, Isaac Countryman acquired an additional five acres of land from Morris Bird and his wife Anny, paying $275 (774). This larger tract was apparently adjacent to the one-acre tract acquired in 1864.

At the 3 Aug 1870 federal census of the Varick Township of Seneca County, New York, Isaac Countryman was 70 years old and living alone but near the home of his oldest daughter Catharine (Countryman) Sixberry (752).

On 25 Nov 1871, Isaac Countryman sold the five acres of land in Varick Township that he acquired from the wife of Morris Bird by deed dated 9 Apr 1870 as well as the one acre tract that he acquired from Lewis Ireland and his wife by deed dated 5 Apr 1864 to Hannah Countryman, the wife of his son Andrew Countryman, for $250 (756).

The 18 Jun 1880 federal census enumerates Isaac Countryman at age 80 once again living in the household of his daughter Catharine (Countryman) Sixberry at Fayette, in the Fayette Township of Seneca County, New York (753). Catharine Sixberry’s husband Abram Sixberry was no longer living with Catharine; presumably he died before 1880.

On 21 Sep 1881, Isaac Countryman took residence at the Seneca County Alms House in Fayette Township (186). He died there on 15 Apr 1882. Isaac Countryman is very likely buried in the Seneca County Alms House Cemetery, located on County House Road (County Road 118) at its intersection with Disinger Road in Fayette Township.

Notes and Comments

Isaac Countryman was admitted to the Seneca County, New York Poor House on 21 Sep 1881 (186). The admission record shows his age as 81 years and his birthplace as Pennsylvania. Based on his age at admission, Isaac Countryman was born within the period 23 Sep 1799 – 22 Sep 1800.

In conversations about family history, Fred Countryman, a grandson of Isaac Countryman, told his daughter that Isaac was born in Holland:

“My grandfather on my father’s side of the house was born in Holland. He was 17 years old when he came over here, with two older brothers, and was over here just a year and enlisted in the revolutionary war. I think the war was pretty well over with when he enlisted, and then after that war was over with, he came back to New York and then went over in Pennsylvania and married, then went back to New York.” (760)

If Isaac Countryman did serve in the military during a war in the U.S., he likely did so at the end of the War of 1812 rather than during the American Revolution.

At the 1850 U.S. Federal Census of the Varick Township of Seneca County, New York, Isaac Countryman stated that he was born in New Jersey (750). The 1860, 1870, and 1880 federal censuses record Isaac Countryman as born in Pennsylvania. At the 1880 federal census, Isaac Countryman stated that both his father and mother were born in Pennsylvania.

The Michigan Certificate of Death for Betsey Brooks provides the best available evidence that Ellen Voorhees was the wife of Isaac Countryman (755). Born on 17 Feb 1823 in Seneca County, New York, Elizabeth (aka Betsey) Countryman was the second child born to Isaac Countryman and his wife. Elizabeth Countryman married Whaley Alexander Brooks in New York, and they eventually migrated to Michigan. Betsey Brooks died on 23 Feb 1905 at Nashville in Barry County, Michigan. Her death certificate records 17 Feb 1823 as the date of her birth in New York; her father’s name as Isaac Countryman; and her mother’s name as Elen Voorhees. Additionally, for records of Civil War soldiers collected by New York town clerks during the period 1865–1867, Isaac Countryman’s son George Washington Countryman stated  that his mother’s maiden name was Voorhees (169).

Presumably, Isaac Countryman and Ellen Voorhees married before May 1822 in Seneca County, New York, consistent with the birth of their first child, Elizabeth Countryman, on 17 Feb 1823 (755).

Prior to her marriage, Ellen Voorhees very likely resided in the the household of her parents, Henry Voorhees and Margaret (Nevius) Voorhees as early as the federal census on 4 Aug 1800 where the Henry Voorhees family is enumerated in the Ovid Township of Cayuga County, New York (1317).

Assuming that all dates and ages are correct, then with respect to age of Catharine (Countryman) Sixberry, the 1860 federal census is inconsistant with the 1870 and 1880 census. Considering only 1870 and 1880 federal census data, then Catharine was born within the period 3 Aug 1824 — 18 Jun 1825.

The 1840 federal census of the Varick Township of Seneca County, New York enumerates an Ira Countryman household that based on ages of those living in the household, was very likely the household of Isaac Countryman and his wife Elen (Voorhees) Countryman.

The 1880 federal census of Seneca County, New York misspells the surname of Catharine Sixberry.

Isaac Countryman very likely is buried in the Seneca County Alms House Cemetery located on County House Road (County Road 118) at its intersection with Disinger Road in Fayette Township.

Sources

137. Elias W. Van Voorhees, ed. A Genealogy of the Van Voorhees Family in America. New York City, New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, The Knickerbocker Press, 1888. (Images: Ancestry.com. PDF file on file.)

163. A. Van Doren Honeyman. Joannes Nevius and His Descendants, A.D. 1627–1900. Vol. 2. 2 vols. Plainfield, New Jersey: Honeyman & Company, 1900.

166. Abram Sixberry Household, 1870 U.S. Federal Census, Varick Township, Seneca County, New York, 3 Aug 1870. Family History Library Film 803861, Roll M653_861, Page 251. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C. (Images: Ancestry.com. Image on file.)

169. Town Clerks’ Registers of Men Who Served in the Civil War 1865-1867. New York State Archives, Albany New York. Collection Number (N-Ar)13774, Box Number 56, Roll Number 30. (Images: Ancestry.com. Image on file.)

186. Census of Inmates in Almshouses and Poorhouses, 1830–1920. Series A1978, Reel A1978:199, Record Number 102. New York State Archives, Albany, New York. (Images: Ancestry.com. Image on file.)

188. Andrew Countryman Household, 1900 U.S. Federal Census, Varick Township, Seneca County, New York, 25 Jun 1900. Family History Library Microfilm 1241162, Enumeration District 0098, Page 13. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C. (Images: Ancestry.com. Image on file.)

214. Samuel Countryman Household, 1820 U.S. Federal Census, Middle Smithfield Township, Pike County, Pennsylvania, 7 Aug 1820. NARA Roll M33_111, Page 20, Image 23. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C. (Images: Ancestry.com. Image on file.)

215. Isaac Countryman Household, 1820 U.S. Federal Census, Middle Smithfield Township, Pike County, Pennsylvania, 7 Aug 1820. NARA Roll M33_111, Page 20, Image 23. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C. (Images: Ancestry.com. Image on file.)

217. Indenture Between Lewis Ireland and wife Eliza and Isaac Countryman, Seneca County, New York, 5 Apr 1864. (Image on file.)

218. Septennial Census Returns, 1779–1863. Box 1026, Record Group 7. Records of the House of Representatives, Records of the General Assembly. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. (Images: Ancestry.com. Image on file.)

219. Henry Cuntryman Household, 1790 U.S. Federal Census, Lower Smithfield Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, 2 Aug 1790. Family History Library Film 0568148, Series M637, Roll 8, Page 238, Image 426. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C. (Images: Ancestry.com. Image on file.)

229. Grave of Joseph Countryman, Burgh Cemetery, Fayette Township, Seneca County, New York. Find A Grave Memorial 104227205.

238. Child, Hamilton. Gazetteer and Business Directory of Seneca County, New York, for 1867–8. Journal Office, Syracuse, New York, 1867.

365. Declaration for Pension, American Civil War Service. George Washington Countryman. Pawnee County, Kansas, 2 Apr 1907. (Images on file.)

749. Isaac Countryman Household, 1840 U.S. Federal Census, Varick Township, Seneca County, New York. Roll 339, Page 232. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C. (Images: Ancestry.com. Images on file.)

750. Isaac Countryman Household, 1850 U.S. Federal Census, Varick Township, Seneca County, New York, 16 Sep 1850. Roll M432_597, Page 69B, Image 144. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C. (Images: Ancestry.com. Images on file.)

751. Abram Sixberry Household, 1860 U.S. Federal Census, Varick Township, Seneca County, New York, 25 Jun 1860. Roll M653_861, Page 251, Family History Library Film 803861. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C. (Images: Ancestry.com. Images on file.)

752. Isaac Countryman, 1870 U.S. Federal Census, Varick Township, Seneca County, New York, 3 Aug 1870. Roll M593_1093, Page 291, Image 591. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C. (Images: Ancestry.com. Images on file.)

753. Catherine Sixberry Household, 1880 U.S. Federal Census, Fayette Township, Seneca County, New York, 18 Jun 1880. Roll 931, Family History Film 1254931, Page 54B, Enumeration District 157, Image 0616. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C. (Images: Ancestry.com. Images on file.)

754. Deed by Lewis Ireland and Wife, Eliza to Isaac Countryman, Varick Township, Seneca County, New York, 5 Apr 1864. (Image on file.)

755. Certificate and Record of Death, Betsey Brooks, Nashville, Barry County, Michigan, 23 Feb 1905. Vital Statistics Division, Michigan Department of State, Lansing, Michigan. (Image on file.)

756. Deed by Isaac to Hannah Countryman, Varick Township, Seneca County, New York, 25 Nov 1871. (Image on file.)

757. William Sweet Household, 1850 U.S. Federal Census, Fayette Township, Seneca County, New York, 29 Jul 1850. Roll M432_597, Page 151A, Image 305. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C. (Images: Ancestry.com. Image on file.)

758. Milton Smith Household, 1850 U.S. Federal Census, Romulus Township, Seneca County, New York, 26 Sep 1850. Roll M432_597, Page 85A, Image 174. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C. (Images: Ancestry.com. Image on file.)

760. Recollections of Fredrick Glonar Countryman, Fairview, Major County, Oklahoma, ca 1938. (Originals and images on file.)

761. David Vancourt Household, 1860 U.S. Federal Census, Romulus Township, Seneca County, New York, 9 Jul 1860. Family History Library Film 803861, Roll M653_861, Page 572. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C. (Images: Ancestry.com. Image on file.)

763. Martin V. Countryman, Certificate of Death, Lenawee County, Michigan, 25 May 1910.  Division of Vital Statistics, Department of State, State of Michigan. (Images: Ancestry.com. Image on file.)

774. Deed by Morris Bird and wife to Isaac Countryman, five acres of land. Seneca County, New York, 9 Apr 1870. (Image on file.)

775. Browne, P. J., A. G. Gillet, and David H. Burr. Map of Seneca County, New York: From Original Surveys. A. G. Gillett Publisher, Addison, New York, 1858. (Images: U. S. Library of Congress. Images on file.)

URL: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.gmd/g3803s.la000562

993. Gideon J. Countryman Household, 1865 New York State Census. Dryden Township, Tomkins County, New York. 17 Jun 1865. New York State Archives, Albany, New York. (Images: Ancestry.com. Image on file.)

1317. Henry Voorhis Household, 1800 U.S. Federal Census, Ovid, Cayuga County, New York, 2 Aug 1800. Series M32, Image 141, Page 556, Roll 28, Family History Library Film 193716. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C. (Images: Ancestry.com. Image on file.)

1344. Margaret Voorhise Household, 1820 U.S. Federal Census, Ovid, Seneca County, New York, 7 Aug 1820. Image 78, Page 331, NARA Roll M33_74. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C. (Images: Ancestry.com. Image on file.)

1347. Margaret Voorhees Household, 1850 U.S. Federal Census, Lodi Township, Seneca County, New York, 9 Aug 1850. Image 51, Page 23A, Roll M432_597. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. Washington, D.C. (Images: Ancestry.com. Image on file.)

1349. Stephen Voorhees Household, 1860 U.S. Federal Census, Lodi Township, Seneca County, New York, 18 Jun 1860. Page 506, Roll M653_861, Family History Library Film 803861. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C. (Images: Ancestry.com. Image on file.)

Revised 25 Jul 2020.