Francis Hamilton Arnott (1817-1892)

Francis Hamilton Arnott
1817-1892
Michelle’s 3rd Great-Grandfather

Francis Hamilton Arnott (George2, John1) was born June 8, 1817 in Salem, Washington County, New York, and died November 29, 1892 in Idaville, White County, Indiana.  He was the son of George Arnott and Jane Morrison.

Francis, called Frank, married Margaret Rea March 12, 1844 in Salem, Washington County, New York, daughter of John Rea and Isabel Dick. She was born July 2, 1818 in Hebron, Washington County, New York, and died August 29, 1882 in Idaville, White County, Indiana.

Obituary:  (Name of newspaper unknown)

Frank H. Arnott died on Monday, Nov. 29th after a long illness. He was stricken with paralysis in February, which so affected him that never after was he able to converse intelligently, though during the summer he could walk some. On Sabbath he had another stroke, from which he could not rally and passed quietly away to another and better world. Mr. Arnott was born in Washington county, New York, June 8th 1817, and lived his three score and fifteen years. The best portion of his life was spent on the old home farm, but part of it in business in the east, in which he met with some reverse. About the year 1868 he moved with his family to Paxton, Ill. when he engaged in farming. Two years after he removed to Idaville and has resided in this vicinity ever since, except two years spent with a sister in the east, after the death of his wife which occurred some ten years ago. The balance of his time since her death has been spent with his children mostly since his illness with his son-in-law Jas. M. Carson, at whose home he died. He had five children, Mrs. Oviatt on New York (deceased), Ray, Samuel, Jennie (Mrs. J. M. Carson) and Fannie (Mrs. Doeg Renwick).

In early life he united with the Associate, which in 1858 became part of the United Presbyterian church, of which he continued a member till his death. Funeral services were conducted at the U.P. church on Wednesday by Rev. J. A. McKernan assisted by Rev. Gilbert Small, his former pastor, after which his mortal remains were taken by his son Ray to be placed beside those of his wife in the beautiful cemetery at Salem, N.Y. to rest till the resurrection morn.”

Census Records:

• 1850 Federal Census: July 30, 1850, Jackson, Washington County, New York (M432-611, page 331-1, line 41)
• 1860 Federal Census: July 27, 1860, White Creek, Washington County, New York (M653-874, page 75 (625), line 25)
• 1870 Federal Census: July 25, 1870, Wall Township, Ford County, Illinois (M593-221, page 1, line 6)
• 1880 Federal Census: June 28, 1880, Jackson Township, White County, Indiana (T9-324, ED-179, page 35, line 47)

Other References:

According to  Old Cambridge: 1788-1988, Cambridge, NY, 1988, page 251, Francis H. Arnott built the brick granary in Cambridge in 1853. It was mouse and rat proof, used to store wool and fresh pork.

From a short piece titled “As I Recall”, written by Wilma Arnott Journay to her nephew Harold Arnott comes the following:

“In the years before the Civil War, the Underground Railroad was active throughout the northern states and your great-grandfather [Francis Hamilton Arnott] played an important part in the work. Father [John Rea Arnott] said he could not remember when there weren’t colored people in the home and around the buildings. Two of them, Tom the stableman, and Mammy who helped in the kitchen were always there and stayed with the family until the stock market crash, which followed after the Civil War, caused the loss of many family fortunes. Your great-grandfather [Francis Hamilton Arnott], a wealthy man, and a gentleman, was one of the many who found it necessary to adjust to a new way of life.

“The two older children, George, who was employed in a bank, and Isabel, were both married and in their own homes. Another child, John, had died in infancy. Grandfather [Francis Hamilton Arnott] had a cousin living at Payton, Illinois, who wrote that he should come to that part of the country. Freight rates were very high so grandmother [Margaret (Rea) Arnott] left her beautiful mahogany furniture which is extremely heavy, with different members of the family and selected only what she thought would be needed. This section of Illinois is so flat that it can readily be recognized as described in the Abraham Lincoln stories. Cousin Fannie Carson told me that grandfather [Francis Hamilton Arnott] grew so homesick for the rolling hills of New York State that two years later he moved to Idaville, Indiana where there was not only virgin timber and rolling hills along the Wabash, but a strong United Presbyterian Church in which he could worship and sing the Psalms of David.

“He always wore a tall silk hat to church, carefully placing his white linen handkerchief in its top before placing it on his head. Grandfather [Francis Hamilton Arnott] was a handsome old gentleman, with thick wavy hair, a well trained beard, a fine bearing, and weighing well over two hundred pounds. I remember mother [Margaret Jane (Magee) Arnott] telling of grandfather [Francis Hamilton Arnott] entering the church one Sabbath morning, removing his hat, and walking with all his dignity to the Arnott pew well to the front, his gray locks covered with the neatly folded square. As he stood waiting for his family to file in one of them whispered that his hanky was no longer in the hat.

“Speaking of your grandfather’s [Francis Hamilton Arnott] church, the father led the way followed by the mother, who entered the pew first, then the children in order that the youngest would be by the mother. Of course, if there happened to be a couple of mischief makers, they were kept apart. Regardless of age, a son or daughter sat between the parents as long as they remained unmarried. And, this is still done in our churches to the east.

“Not too long after this move to Indiana, Aunt Jennie, Uncle Sam, Aunt Fanny married and Grandmother Arnott [Margaret Rea] died. She was taken back to New York for burial and Father [John Rea Arnott] took over care of his father [Francis Hamilton Arnott], continuing to maintain a home.

“A few years later grandfather [Francis Hamilton Arnott] suffered a stroke, recovering the use of his limbs to the extent that he managed to walk with a cane but never regained his speech. This was followed by a second stroke which caused him to be bedfast. He never rallied from the third stroke and he, too, was taken back to his beloved New York State.

“The Arnott lots which he bought in Idaville were used by the Sam Arnotts, and the John Rea Arnott lots are in the newer sections.”

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Children of Francis Arnott and Margaret Rea are:

1. George H. Arnott, born January 6, 1845 in Cambridge, Washington County, New York; died December 23, 1874 in Salem Village, Washington County, New York. He married Hattie M. Liddle October 16, 1867; born January 12, 1842 in Salem, Washington County, New York; died October 27, 1925 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
2. Isabelle R. Arnott, born October 19, 1846 in Cambridge, Washington County, New York; died November 22, 1886 in Jackson, Washington County, New York. She married Thomas D. Oviatt December 7, 1869; He was born July 22, 1838 in Jackson, Washington County, New York; died October 6, 1887 in Jackson, Washington County, New York.
3. John Ray Arnott, born March 29, 1849 in Jackson, Washington County, New York; died October 5, 1852 in Jackson, Washington County, New York.
4. Jane Arnott, born 1851 in Washington County, New York; died June 16, 1939 in Indiana. She married James M. Carson; born 1847; died March 29, 1943.
5. Infant Arnott, born Abt. 1853 in Jackson, Washington County, New York; died January 9, 1853 in Jackson, Washington County, New York
6. John Rea Arnott, born February 8, 1854 in Salem, Washington County, New York; died June 16, 1940 in Wessington Springs, Jerauld County, South Dakota. He married Margaret Jane Magee January 26, 1898 in Carroll County, Indiana; born December 14, 1864 in Grant County, Indiana; died July 19, 1923 in Sturgis, Michigan.
7. Samuel Arnott, born Abt. 1856 in Washington County, New York; died February 14, 1918 in Georgetown, Indiana. He married Mary Magee; died 1946.
8. Mary Frances Arnott, born 1859 in Salem, Washington County, New York; died 1945 in White Pigeon, St. Joseph County, Michigan. She married Hamilton Doig Renwick November 13, 1879 in White County, Indiana; born January 14, 1858 in White County, Indiana; died 1923 in White Pigeon, St. Joseph County, Michigan

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Sources:

• “Obituary of Frank H. Arnott”, unknown publication and date.
• Monticello Herald, “Obituary of Mrs. Margaret Arnott,” Monticello, Indiana, Thurs. September 7, 1882
• Old Cambridge: 1788-1988, Cambridge, NY, 1988
• Oviatt, Margaret Arnott, DAR Application 67744, (Cambridge, Washington County, New York, July 13, 1908)
• McMillan, W. F. and C. E. McMillan, McMillan Genealogy & History, (1908)
• Arnott, Ruth E. (Patton) – Personal correspondence with Michelle L. McKenzie
• Gravestones in Evergreen Cemetery, Salem, Washington County, New York.
• Gravestones in Woodlands Cemetery, Cambridge, Washington County, New York.
• Woodlands Cemetery Interment Records, Cambridge, Washington County, New York.
• Culver, Peg, Carlene Banks & Dolores Phaneuf, “Evergreen Cemetery Records, Washington County, NY”, USGenWeb (May 15, 2001)
• Journay, Wilma Arnott, “As I Recall”, manuscript.
• Hulslander, Laura Penny, Washington County, New York Vital Records: 1847-1849, (The Sleeper Company, 1993)
• “Obituary of George H. Arnott,” unknown publication, December 25, 1874.
• Jackson, Mary S. and Edward F. Jackson, Death Notices from Washington County, New York Newspapers, 1799-1880, (Heritage Books, 1995)