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OBJECTIVE 2

SUMMARY OF KNOWN FACTS 2

BACKGROUND INFORMATION 4
Steuben County: 4
The community of Mt. Washington 4

WORKING HYPOTHESIS 8

IDENTIFIED SOURCES / ANALYSIS TASKS 8

PRIORITIZED RESEARCH STRATEGY 8

FINDINGS & ANALYSIS - RESEARCH REPORT 10

Birth Records 10
Marriage Records 10
Guardianship 11
Newspapers 11
Military 11
FAN Club Research 11
DNA Research 11

CONCLUSION 11

SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH 11

RESULTS SUMMARY 12

 
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RESEARCH PROJECT TEMPLATE 

OBJECTIVE
Question:​ Who are the parents of William Hawley?

Objective:​ The objective of this research project is to prove or disprove that Daniel Hawley born
in October of 1808 in Allegany County, New York and Sarah Sally Huff born on May 14​th​, 1813
in Allegany County, New York are the parents of William Hawley who was born on August 31​st​,
1836 in Mount Washington, Urbana, Steuben County, New York.

[Does this question ask for: ​relationship​, identity or activity]

SUMMARY OF KNOWN FACTS

1. William’s parents were most likely born between 1806 and 1816, making them between
20 and 30 years old when William was born.
2. Based on the 1880, 1900 and 1910 US Federal Population Census, William Hawley’s
father and mother were born in the state of New York.
3. One or both of William’s parent probably lived in or near Urbana, Steuben County, New
York in 1836
4. William Hawley was born on August 31, 1836, in the community of Mount Washington in
Urbana, Steuben County, New York.
Birth
Source Date of Record Age Birth Date Year Birth Location Information
1850 US Federal Population John Lockwood
Census July 21, 1850 14 1836 New York (?)
1855 New York Population Steuben County,
Census June 21, 1855 19 1836 New York Drew Glann (?)
1860 US Federal Population
Census June 22, 1860 23 1837 New York William Hawley (?)
1870 US Federal Population
Census June 1, 1870 36 1834 New York William Hawley (?)
1880 US Federal Population
Census June 15, 1800 43 1837 New York William Hawley (?)
1900 US Federal Population
Census June 1, 1900 63 August 1836 New York William Hawley (?)

 
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Mount
Washington,
Death - Michigan Death September 13, Urbana, Steuben
Records, 1897-1920 1903 County, New York William Hawley
1910 Us Federal Population
Census April 22, 1910 70 1840 New York William Hawley (?)
Death - California, Death
Index, 1905-1939 August 28, 1914 78 1836 Unknown
Private - Privately Held
Family Artifacts - Hawley August 28, Steuben County,
Family August 31, 1914 78 1914 1836 New York Sarah Ann Healy (?)
Private - Privately Held
Family Artifacts - Hawley
Family August 31, 1914 78 1836 Sarah Ann Healy (?)
5. William Hawley lived in Urbana, Steuben County, New York from the time of his birth
(August 31, 1836) through June 21, 1855). Based on information from the 1850 US
Federal Census and the 1855 N.Y. Status Census. He was recorded as attending school
on the 1850 census. He was not living with his biological parents on either census.
6. William Hawley married Mercy Brown (?) between April 3, 1855, and January 3, 1856,
most likely in Steuben County, New York. No marriage has yet been located. Based on
the date of the 1855 N.Y. State Census and the fact that William and Mercy’s first child
Frank D. Hawley was born was born on January 3, 1856.
7. William and Mercy were living in Nunda, Livingston County, New York on June 22, 1860.
8. William and his family moved from New York to Long Rapids Township, Alpena County,
Michigan in about 1866.
9. William and his family lived in Long Rapids, Alpena County, Michigan between 1866 and
May 14, 1874.
7. William Hawley and his family lived in Alpena, Alpena County, Michigan and Wilson
Township, Alpena County, Michigan and Green Township, Alpena County, Michigan
between May 14, 1874, and about September 11, 1881.
8. William Hawley and his family lived in the Village of Hillman, Rust Township,
Montmorency County, Michigan between September 11, 1881, and February 15, 1908
9. William Hawley and his family lived in Ossineke Township, Alpena County, Michigan
between April 22, 1910, and about December 31, 1910. They seemed to have moved
back to Alpena County to be near their daughter Sarah Maud Hawley and her husband
William John Bates.
10. About the end of 1910, William and Sarah traveled from Ossineke Township, Alpena
County, Michigan across the country to Bellflower, Los Angeles County, California. Most
likely to live near William’s son Charles Hawley.
11. William Hawley passed away on August 28, 1914, in Bellflower, Los Angeles County,
California.

 
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Steuben County:
Steuben County was formed in 1796 from Ontario County.
Its name is in honor of Baron von Steuben, a German
general who fought on the American side in the American
Revolutionary War.

Over the years portions have been annexed to Allegany,

Yates, Livingston and Schuyler Counties so that the
present size of Steuben County is 1,397 square miles of
land area.

Steuben County includes the following Cities and

Towns: Addison, Almond, Arkport, Avoca,​ ​Bath
(County Seat)​, ​Bradford, Cameron, Campbell,
Canisteo, Caton, Cohocton, Corning, Dansville, Erwin,
Fremont, Gang Mills, Greenwood, Hammondsport,
Hartsville, Hornby, Hornell, Hornellsville, Howard,
Jasper, Lindley, North Hornell, Painted Post,
Prattsburgh, Pulteney, Rathbone, Riverside, Savona,
South Corning, Thurston, Troupsburg, Tuscarora,
Urbana, Wayland, Wayne, West Union, Wheeler,
Woodhull

In 1788 Phelps and Gorham obtained the Genesee

Tract of 2,600,000 acres from Massachusetts by an act
of the state legislature. Two years later they conveyed
to Robert Morris, the great colonial banker, and merchant, the remaining unsold 1,200,000
acres. In 1792 Morris sold to Colonel Charles Williamson, agent for the Association of British
Capitalists, nearly 1,200,000 acres, which became the Pulteney Estate. The territory was
surveyed into townships and lots for the ​Pulteney Estate​. In 1793 Colonial Williamson
commenced a settlement at Bath, now the County seat.

The community of Mt. Washington

**A majority of information included in this report related to Mt. Washington was taken from the book
“​Stories of Mt. Washington” ​by Martha and Bill Treichler

Between the village of Hammondsport and the city of Bath in Steuben County, New York there
is a beautiful little valley called Pleasant Valley and running along this valley to the east is a

 
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series of wooded hills called Mt. Washington. The plateau on its top is covered with farms and
woods.
Mt. Washington is a loosely defined area that can be broken down into two centers, North
Urbana on the northern end and Mt. Washington a few miles to the southwest along the Mt.
Washington Road, now County Route 113.

Highlighted on the map to

the left is the name and
property locations of J.W.
Lockwood, who William
was living with, in 1850.
The red line follows Mt.
Washington Road, now
called County Route 113.
Also highlighted are two
properties owned by an
E.N. Holly. Could this be
someone related to
William Hawley?
● E.N. Holly is most
likely Ebenezer Holly
born 1799 and died 1887

1873 - D.G. Beers & Co. Map of Steuben County, New York

1844 map - drawn by T.M.

Younglove, a surveyor, and farmer
in Pleasant Valley, who kept a diary
for many years.
● T. Holley is most likely
Timothy Holley born ​a​bout 1771

 
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Highlighted on
this map are the
names of J.
Lockwood, the
man that
William was
living with, in
1850, as well
as, D. Glann,
John
Lockwood’s
brother in law
and the man
that William was
living with, in
1855.

 
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The first settler to the Mt. Washington area was Ephraim Sanford who came to the heights of
Mt. Washington in 1793. Ephraim was a Revolutionary War veteran and a devout Baptist. He
bought 1864 acres of land on the northeastern end of Mt. Washington from Jacob Hallett of New
York City.

Although the folks on Mt. Washington took part in the larger community, they thought of
themselves as a closer-knit group.

From Joyce Woodhouse Garey comes the story of the Mt. Washington Aid Society and a copy
of their Rules. Article XVII of their Rules states: “Extend our limits to seven miles from the
schoolhouse in District #6. Persons living in villages shall not be admitted into this company.”

The purpose of the group was to catch horse thieves and to recover stolen horses, but it came
to be more than just a vigilante group, and became a community benevolent society, taking care
of its own. Article IX states that “Money belonging to this society may be loaned to good
responsible individuals for seven percent by the Trustees, with the express agreement that the
same shall be due at any time demand is made by said trustees.” And Article XVIII states, “Any
member dying, his widow shall have the protection of the Society while she remains a widow.”

It could be firm with members, too. Article XIV states, “Any member of said company neglecting
or refusing to obey the directions of said officers shall forfeit all claims he or she may have had,
or in any wise could have in and to said Society.” And Article XIX, “Voted that any member may
be excluded from the society at any annual meeting, by a vote of two-thirds of the members
present.”

I have not yet been able to date exactly when the Mount Washington Aid Society was first
started, but we know it was before 1867 because additional articles were added in 1867, in
1870, and in 1871. If we look at the names of members, we can see David Hutches, born in
1834, son of Nathan Hutches. We find the name of Henry Scofield who was born in 1807 and
died in 1888, and who came to Mt. Washington as a child in 1816 with his father Rufus Scofield.
In the 1855 census, Henry had a farm worth $3,400. We also see the name of his son, Milton,
born in 1844. I think a guess of 1860 is justifiable as a starting date for the Society.

 
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WORKING HYPOTHESIS
My working hypothesis is that Daniel Hawley born in October of 1808 in Allegany County, New
York and Sarah Sally Huff born on May 14​th​, 1813 in Allegany County, New York are the parents
of William Hawley who was born on August 31​st​, 1836 in the community of Mt. Washington,
Urbana, Steuben County, New York. Additionally, I hypothesize that William was born out of
wedlock and was not raised by his parents, but instead bound out to the Lockwood and Glann
Families of Urbana, Steuben County, New York as an apprentice and/or servant.

An alternative hypothesis is that William is the biological child of only Daniel Hawley.

IDENTIFIED SOURCES / ANALYSIS TASKS

● Town of Urbana Historian - Terry Bretherton, PO Box 0011, Hammondsport NY 14840
● 1840 US Federal Population Census - Searching for all Hawley Men born between 1806
and 1816 in New York and living in Steuben county between 1835 and 1840
● 1835 New York State Census
● Guardianship records for Steuben County, New York from 1836 - 1860
● Marriage records in Steuben or Livingston County between 1850 and 1860
● Steuben County Birth Records for 1836 (Church)
● Steuben County Newspapers for the time period of 1830 - 1860
● Civil War draft records - Steuben, Allegany and Livingston County, New York
● Cluster research for the families of J. W. Lockwood, Drew Glann, Wesley Jaynes
● Cluster research for all men with the surname of Hawley, Holley or Holly who lived in
around Mt. Washington, Urbana, Steuben County, New York for the years of 1830 to
1860.
● Cluster research for William C. Huff and family, specifically while they lived in Steuben
County, New York

PRIORITIZED RESEARCH STRATEGY

Priori Type of
Source Repository Location Planned Search Criteria
ty Record

records of a child with the Surname of

Hawley, Holly, Holley, or Haly born in
or near Steuben County, New York
between the years of 1834 and 1838
Birth / New York Births and Christenings, Steuben
1 FamilySearch.org records of men by the name of Daniel
Baptism 1640-1962 County
Hawley, Holly, Holley or Haly who is
listed as the father of a child born in or
near Steuben County, New York
between the years of 1834 and 1838.

 
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records for marriage records for men

with the surname of Hawley, Holly,
Steuben
Holley or Haly married in or near
County
Steuben County, New York between
New York, United States Marriages the years of 1850 and 1859
FindMyPast.com
— index records for marriage records for men
with the surname of Hawley, Holly,
Livingston
2 Marriage Holley or Haly married in or near
County
Livingston County, New York between
the years of 1850 and 1859

records for marriage records for men

Marriages and deaths from Steuben
County, New York, newspapers,
1797-1868
with the surname of Hawley, Holly,
Steuben
Familysearch.org Holley or Haly married in or near
County
Steuben County, New York between
the years of 1850 and 1859

FINDINGS & ANALYSIS - RESEARCH REPORT

CONCLUSION

SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH

● How did William Hawley come to live with John Lockwood and his family in 1850 in
Urbana, Steuben County, New York?
● Could William Hawley be the biological child of Daniel Hawley but not of Sarah Sally
Huff?
● Where and when was Mercy (Brown) Hawley born?
● Who were the parents of Mercy Brown?
● Confirm the birth date/year of Minnie Belle Hawley
● Where did Daniel Hawley and his family live between 1860 and 1870? Canada?
○ Civil War Records?
● Why did Daniel and Sarah move to McKean County, PA?
● Who are the siblings of Daniel Hawley?
● Is Daniel Hawley the son of William Holly and Elizabeth?

 
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RESULTS SUMMARY
[create at the end of the project, put first in the report, use action verbs]

 
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This template was created by Nicole Dyer and Diana Elder. They can be reached by emailing
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A link to this template is found in the book "Research Like a Pro: A Genealogist's Guide," and at
FamilyLocket.com in the following article:

http://familylocket.com/doing-a-genealogy-research-project-from-start-to-finish/

The above article also contains a download of this template as a docx file.

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