The Ancestry of Mabel Gertrude (Warren) Adams

For those of you who have been following the history of the Adams family, youll remember that the first ancestor to immigrate to America was John Adams, born in 1672 in Antrim, Ulster, Ireland. He and his wife Elizabeth (Hughlings) Adams (born 1677 in Antrim, Antrim, Ireland) immigrated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania about 1710, along with at least two children, and began farming. The family would remain in Pennsylvania for nearly 100 years before some members moved west to Ohio. John Adams had the benefit of a landed family and a good education in Ireland, and he and his descendants prospered in America.

Mabel Gertrude Warren, who became the wife of Horace G. Adams, Sr., was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and was proud enough of her ancestry to have it researched and entered into the permanent records of the DARand rightly so. Her father, Benjamin Warren, Jr., was the 9th generation of one of the earliest families in New England and her mother, Gertrude Olney, was an 8th generation New Englander and the 5th great granddaughter of Thomas Olney, Sr., one of the founders of Providence, Rhode Island.

Thomas Olney was important in the political and military history of Providence, R. I. as well. Mabel Gertrude (Olney) Adams, wife of Horace G. Adams, Sr., had a remarkable ancestry among the annals of New England and the United States of America. Her paternal and maternal ancestors all arrived within 10 years of the landing of the Pilgrims on the Mayflower and among her paternal and maternal ancestors were no fewer than 17 soldiers in the American Revolution. New Englanders were proud of their heritage, and my guess is that Mabel Adams parents knew about their ancestors and shared that information with her often.

Lets begin with her father, Benjamin Warren, Jr., who was born on February 1, 1839 on his fathers estate in Eastford Township, Windham County, Connecticut. I dont wish to confuse our readers, but I will mention at this time, that Benjamin Warren, Jr. was the younger brother of Dura Warren, who with his extended family settled in Maple Hill Township, Wabaunsee County, Kansas in 1874. The parents of Benjamin and Dura Warren were Benjamin Warren, Sr. and Elizabeth (Fisher) Warren. The Warren Family were among the most prominent and oldest residents of Windham County, Connecticut. The Fishers also produced many men who served in the American Revolution and her great grandfather was a member of General George Washington’s personal staff.

I was able to find a biography of the Warren family which I will include verbatim here. The biography is actually meant to feature the life of Edmond W. Warren, but Edmond is also a brother of Benjamin and Dura Warren, as you will learn in reading.

Isaac and Benjamin Warren
Eastford/Killingly, Connecticut
Commemorative and Biographical Record of Tolland and Windham Counties In Connecticut.
Volume 1 J. H. Beers & Company
Pages 580 and 581

Edmond W. Warren, a highly esteemed citizen of Eastford and Windham County, Connecticut, is a worthy representative of one of the old and honored families of New England—a family which always taken a progressive role in the moral, educational, governmental and religious advancement of the communities in which it has found a home.

Isaac Warren, the grandfather of Edmond W. Warren, was at one time a wealthy and respected citizen of Springfield, Massachusetts where he was an extensive farmer and innkeeper. His kind heart induced him to give security for neighbors and in this way, he met with financial reverses which induced his removal to another state in the hopes of regaining independence. At that time, Madison County, New York was a wilderness and there as a pioneer he relocated and lived the remainder of his life.

Benjamin Warren, son of Isaac and Eunice (Basset) Warren and father of Edmond W. Warren, was one of a large family and was born in Springfield, Massachusetts. He accompanied his parents into the backwoods of Madison County, New York and gave his youthful assistance to his father until he gained manhood. After some 18 months spent in Canada, Benjamin Warren returned to Killingly, Connecticut and there was employed in farm work until his marriage.

Following marriage, he located in Thompson, Connecticut where his ability as a practical and efficient farmer was recognized. For a considerable period, he was employed as foreman on one of the large estates in the area. Later he rented a large farm in Pomfret, Connecticut and resided upon it for a number of years. His work was observed with enthusiasm and he then accepted the position of manager for an extensive model farm owned by Smith and Wilson, well-known manufacturers of Putnam, Connecticut.

After leaving their employee, Benjamin Warren successfully owned and operated a large inn, at Phoenixville in the Town of Eastford, was a partner in his father’s cotton mill, and later also owned a general mercantile and hotel at Pomfred Landing, Connecticut.
In the spring of 1831, Benjamin Warren, Sr. moved his family to the large farm of 200 acres now owned and occupied by his son Edmond W. Warren. Benjamin Warren, Sr., purchased the property from Benjamin Bosworth some months previous. This valuable property was then known as the Joseph Grow Estate. The Honorable Joseph Grow was well known in politics and at one time served as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.

On this farm, Benjamin Warren, Sr. resided the rest of his life, dying September 14, 1851. He was buried at Eastford, Connecticut. Mr. Warren was a life-long Democrat and was a prominent and influential member of that party locally and through the state. Almost all local offices were efficiently held by Mr. Warren at one time and he represented Eastford in the State Legislature before the Town was set apart from Ashford. Mr. Warren was a consistent and liberal member of the Congregational Church. His generosity in charitable enterprises was well known and also caused him to at times be taken advantage of by business associates. Upright, honest and fair dealing himself, it was often difficult for him to realize that all men are not the same. He was mourned by a large number of family and friends.

On February 24, 1813, Benjamin Warren was married to Miss Elizabeth Fisher of Killingly, Windham County, Connecticut. Miss Fisher was a descendant of John Fisher, who served with great distinction during the Revolutionary War and was himself a member of General George Washingtons personal staff. She also was a devout member of the Congregational Church. Her death occurred October 23, 1866 at the age of 73 years.

Their children were: William born December 13, 1814; who in adulthood was a conductor on the first train that passed over the Norwich and Worcester Railroad and was killed October 6, 1841 in a train collision on the Albany and Baltimore Railroad. He was never married and had no children.

The second child was Dura Warren, born May 25, 1817. He married Meletiah Childs, a member of an old New England family. She was born at Stafford Springs, Connecticut. Dura Warren was a farmer and cattle dealer and during the Civil War, supplied the United States Army with cavalry horses. Later, in conjunction with his sons, he opened a very successful stock brokerage firm on Wall Street in New York City. The firm operated until Black Friday, 1873, when along with others involved in banking and stocks, they met complete disaster.

Dura Warren, with his extended family, moved to Maple Hill, Kansas where he now owns 1,240 acres of land and is a respected cattle and horse rancher. His death occurred in New York City on March 12, 1891, while there with a consignment of horses. His body was returned to Maple Hill, Kansas for burial.

John F. Warren was born on February 11, 1819. He married Serepta Bowles. In early life, he was a clerk for his fathers enterprises and later became a school teacher. He and his wife later moved their family to Providence, Rhode Island where he purchased a farm and became successful. He died there.
Isaac Warren, Jr. was born February 28, 1821 and married Lydia Sumner. At first he farmed and then became successful in the mercantile business. He was also appointed postmaster of Eastford, Connecticut. He is now retired but continues to live in Eastford.

Edward W. Warren was born September 2, 1826. We shall have a more extensive report of his life later in this article.
Mary Elizabeth Warren was born March 31, 1829 and married John B. Ormsbee, an efficient and successful Boston merchant. After his death, Mary Ormsbee returned to Eastford, Connecticut where she continues to live.

Benjamin Warren, Jr. was born February 1, 1839 and married Martha P Olney. They resided at Eastford for the first portion of their married life, but now reside with other family members in Maple Hill, Kansas.

Edmond W. Warren was born in Phoenixville, Connecticut and moved to Eastford with his parents. He was given the best education available in those locations. Farm work pressed through the summers and under the just but stern discipline of his energetic father, he found little time for anything but labor during his boyhood days. Upon obtaining his majority, his father hired his services and he remained at home for several years until he became engaged in the operation of a woolen mill at Oxford, Connecticut in New Haven County. Mr. Warren was his fathers assistant until the latters death and assisted in managing his farming and milling interests. After his fathers death, he did the same for his mother, Elizabeth Warren.

After a resident of four years in Eastford Center, he returned to the farm to assist his mother who had grown feeble. There he gave her loving care until the end of her life. Mr. Warren used his portion of his parents estate to purchase their fine farm of 200 acres and has since lived there.

On January 1, 1857, Mr. Warren was united in marriage with Emily Edwards, born August 4, 1830 in Montpellier, Vermont. She is the daughter of Samuel and Dulcina (McKnight) Edwards. The ceremony was performed in Eastford in the home Mr. Warren now occupies by Rev. Charles Chamberlain. Mr. and Mrs. Warren have no children.

In politics, Mr. Warren has been identified with the Democratic Party, has served for many years on the Board of Selectmen and for two years was chairman of that Board. He has filled many Town offices and was elected Assessor for many years. He served two years of judge of the probate court. Both Mr. and Mrs. Warren were among the first to join the Grange Agricultural movement and have been involved since. They were charter members of Crystal Lake Grange #60 and have held many offices. In 1902, both Mr. and Mrs. Warren were chosen for National Offices in the Grange.
Mr. and Mrs. Warren are members of the Eastford Congregational Church and have been useful members for many years. Mr. Warren has been a member of the Church Board for over 40 years. It is both their duty and pleasure to actively engage in church work and they have been involved in the formation of a new congregational church where members of the family now reside at Maple Hill, Kansas.

Mr. and Mrs. Warren are held in wide esteem in the Eastford community and are surrounded by a large, warm circle of friends. Their influence is elevating and they represent the best society of the community.

I will end this post here and will continue with the lives of Benjamin and Gertrude (Olney) Warren in the next post.

Photo 1 – A map of Connecticut showing the location of Windham County and Eastford Township, where the Warren and Olney families were residents.

Photo 2 – An early photograph of Mabel Gertrude Warren provided by her great great grandson, B.W. “Pete” Woodward.

Photo 3 – A photograph of Mrs. Gertrude (Olney) Warren and her husband Benjamin Warren, Jr. provided by B. W. “Pete” Woodward. The location of the photograph is not known since the Warrens lived both at Maple Hill, Kansas and at Eastford, Connecticut between the years 1900 and 1910.

Photo 4 – The Eastford Congregational Church attended by the Warren and Olney families. The church was founded in 1777 and this sanctuary was built in 1844 and is still in use.

Photo 5 – An interior photo of the Eastford Congregational Church.

Photo 6 – Mr. Edmond W. Warren, Eastford, Connecticut.

Photo 7 – Edmond and Emily Warren Tombstone, Eastford, Connecticut.

Photo 8 – The tombstone of Edmond and Emily Warren, Grove Cemetery, Eastford, Connecticut.