THOMAS BAKER CROSBY

Thomas Baker Crosby gravestone
(Photo by Vernon B. Paddock)

B. January 20, 1793 in Canaan, Columbia County, NY
M. War of 1812 Veteran (August 18, 1814 – December 3, 1814), Private, Captain R. R. Wilbur’s Company, New York Militia
D. February 3, 1872 in Libertyville, Lake County, IL
Find A Grave memorial (click here)

• Father: Thomas Crosby born February 2, 1752 in Hartford, CT (also given as born June 17, 1753 in Scotland, Windham County, CT); served as private and corporal, 9^th company, 2^nd regiment Connecticut troops; married (1) Elizabeth Patterson (1768-1793) on September 7, 1787 (also given as June 7, 1787) at the Congregational Church Rectory in Stockbridge, Berkshire County, MA; married (2) Diantha Orcutt (1768-1853) on November 30, 1796 in Stockbridge, Berkshire County, MA, daughter of Moses Orcutt; Thomas died July 28, 1827 in Canaan, Columbia County, NY

According to the Abstracts of Wills of Columbia County, New York, Volume 4., From January, 1823 to July, 1828., page 42:

“THOMAS CROSBY of Canaan.  Dated May 1, 1823. Probated September 4, 1827.  Mentions: wife Diantha, son Thomas B, children of my daughter Betsey Warner, daughters: Rosanna, Mercy, Diantha; Executors: Capt. Samuel Gate, Wife Diantha, son Thomas B.; Witnesses: Capt. Samuel Gate”

• Mother: Elizabeth (Patterson) Crosby born about 1768 in Canaan, Columbia County, NY; married Thomas Baker Crosby on September 7, 1787 (also given as June 7, 1787) at the Congregational Church Rectory in Stockbridge, Berkshire County, MA; Elizabeth died in 1793 in Canaan, Columbia County, NY the same year her son, Thomas Baker Crosby was born.
• Wife (1): Lucinda Cregs or Crego born about 1797; married November 29, 1815 in Canaan, Columbia County, NY; Lucinda died November 22, 1824 in Canaan, Columbia County, NY
• Children of Thomas and Lucinda:
  1. Eunice Crosby born after 1816 in Canaan, Columbia County, NY
  2. Allen Crosby born after 1817 in Canaan, Columbia County, NY
  3. George Crosby born after 1818 in Canaan, Columbia County, NY
  4. Jared M. Crosby born about 1822 in Canaan, Columbia County, NY; married (1) Mary Brace (1822-1860) on February 15, 1847 in Austerlitz, Columbia County, NY; married (2) Lucy  C. Holister (1834-1915) on February 26, 1861 in Lake County, IL; Jared died December 3, 1863 (See section pertaining to Jared M. Crosby buried in the Fort Hill Cemetery) (See section pertaining to Mary (Brace) Crosby buried in the Fort Hill Cemetery)
  5. Hiram Lester Crosby born April 21, 1824 in Canaan, Columbia County, NY; married Ruth Parmalee (1823-1899) in 1846; Hiram died in 1877; Hiram and Ruth are buried in Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, IN

According to the Indianapolis News (Indianapolis IN) Monday, February 13, 1899, page 8:

“Death of Mrs. Ruth Crosby.

   Mrs. Ruth Crosby died at Irvington yesterday at the home of her daughter, Mrs. John H. Human (sic).  She had been ill of the grip.  Mrs. Crosby was seventy-five years old.  She was born in Connecticut, coming to Indianapolis thirty-five years ago.”

• Wife (2): Mary “Polly” Salls born 1797; married September 5, 1826 in New Lebanon, Columbia County, NY at the Congregational Church, Canaan Four Corners; Mary died in 1879 in Vernon Township, Lake County, IL
• Children of Thomas and Polly:
  1. Henry Crosby born 1828 in Canaan, Columbia County, NY
  2. Elizabeth L. (Crosby) Marble born November 19, 1828 in New York; married Otis L. Marble (1823-1861) on October 20, 1853 in Lake County, IL as his first wife, son of Levi Marble (1791-1874) and Elizabeth “Betsey” (Granger) Marble (1791-1878) (See section pertaining to Levi Marble buried in the Fort Hill Cemetery) (See section pertaining to Elizabeth “Betsey” (Granger) Marble buried in the Fort Hill Cemtery); Elizabeth L. died May 16, 1855 in Lake County, IL; Otis married (2) L. Elizabeth “Eliza” (Wood) Coleman (1832-1895) about 1859, daughter of Johnathan Wood;  (See section pertaining to Elizabeth (Crosby) Marble buried in the Fort Hill Cemetery) (See section pertaining to Otis L. Marble buried in the Fort Hill Cemetery)
  3. William Crosby born after 1830 in Canaan, Columbia County, NY
  4. Benjamin Salls Crosby born about 1834 in Canaan Columbia County, NY. According to the 1867 San Bernardino County, CA voter register list is Benjamin Salts Crosby, a Clergyman (age 33).  According to the 1880 U.S. Census, Benjamin was living in Lawrence, Douglas County, KS; a minister; married to Caroline (Jaggard) Crosby; children were Clement S. Crosby (age 12), William Crosby (9), and Benjamin S. Crosby (5); Benjamin died July 1889 in New York

According to Landmarks of Rensselaer County, New York, Volume 2:

“Crosby, Clement S., M.D., born in San Bernardino, Cal., November 1, 1867, is the son of Benjamin S. and Caroline (Jaggard) Crosby, he a native of Columbia county, N.Y., and she of New Jersey.  The grandfather of Clement S. was Thomas Crosby, a soldier in the War of 1813 and who spent most of his life in Illinois.  The father of Clement S. was a Presbyterian minister who in 1838 went to California, where he lived some years and returned to the State of New York and afterward went to Kansas, remaining about ten years, when he returned to New York State and died at Malden-on-the Hudson in July, 1889….”

5. Luana or Lucina Crosby born about 1836 in New York

6. Diantha (Crosby) Drowne born about 1839 in Canaan, Columbia County, NY; married Gideon Smith Drowne (1822-1899) as his second wife; Diantha died February 23, 1923 in Queens, NY; Diantha and Gideon are buried in Canaan Cemetery, Canaan, Columbia County, NY.

7. John H. Crosby born about 1842 in New York; Civil War Veteran, Company D, 146^th Illinois Infantry, Second Lieutenant (September 20, 1864-July 8, 1865); married Frances Mary Lee on September 10, 1869 in Lake County, IL; she was born July 28, 1846 in New York and died November 6, 1911 in Chicago, Cook County, IL; John died in 1875; John and Frances are buried in the Lakeside Cemetery, Libertyville, Lake County, IL.

• Sibling:
  • Betsey (Crosby) Warner born April 2, 1790 in Canaan, Columbia County, NY; married Samuel Slewman Warner (1793-?) on February 27, 1812 in Canaan, Columbia County, NY; Betsey died 1824 in Canaan, Columbia County, NY.
  • Sherry Crosby (stepsister) born after 1797 in Canaan, Columbia County, NY
  • Roxanna Crosby (stepsister) born March 14, 1798 in New York; According to the 1860 U.S. Census, Roxanna Crosby, age 60, occupation: housekeeper and living with her sister Diantha; Roxanna died April 19, 1872 in Canaan, Columbia County, NY.
  • Diantha Crosby (stepsister) born after 1801 in Canaan, Columbia County, NY; According to the 1860 U.S. Census, Diantha Crosby, age 45, occupation: housekeeper and living with her sister Roxanna.

Additional Information:

According to the War of 1812 Pension Application Files Index, 1812-1815:

“Numbers: S O 17657, S C 18369, W O 22831, W C 26814; Soldier: Crosby, Thomas B.; Widow: Crosby, Polly S; Service: Pvt Capt R R Wilbur’s Co N Y Mil; Enlisted: Aug 18 1814; Discharged: Dec 3 1814; Bounty Land: 4404 40 50, 23343 120 55; Residence of Soldier: 1850 Canaan Columbia Co N Y; 1855 Goodale Lake Co Ill; 1871 Libertyville Lake Co Ill; Residence of Widow: 1878 Vernon Lake Co (PO Half Day) Ill; Maiden Name of Widow: Polly Salts (sic); Marriage of Soldier and Widow: Sept 5 1826 New Lebanon Columbia Co NY; Death of Soldier: Feb 3 1872 Libertyville Ill; Death of Widow: About 1879”

According to the 1850 U.S. Census for the Town of Canaan, Columbia County, NY the household members were:

“Thomas Crosby, age 52, occupation: farmer, born in New York; Biantha (sic) Crosby, age 83, born in Massachusetts, Roxana Crosby, age 50, born in New York; Diantha Crosby, age 35, born in New York”

(NOTE: The next family listed in the 1850 U.S. Census, the household members were: Polly T. Crosby, age 52, born in New York; Elizabeth Crosby, age 22, born in New York; Benj. Crosby, age 16, occupation: farmer, born in New York; Luana Crosby, age 14, born in New York; Dinatha Crosby, age 11, born in New York; John H. Crosby, age 8, born in New York; Nathan Hench, age 31, occupation: laborer; Mary Hench, age 35, born in New York.)

According to the 1860 U.S. Census for the Town of Goodale (Grant), Lake County, IL, Forksville post office the household members were:

“Thos. B. Crosby, age 65, occupation: farmer; born in New York; Polly Crosby, age 60, born in New York; John Crosby, age 18, born in New York”

According to the 1870 U.S. Census for Libertyville, Lake County, IL, Libertyville post office the household members were:

“Thos B. Crosby, age 77, occupation: farmer, born in New York; Polly S. Crosby, age 72, born in New York; John H. Crosby, age 27, occupation: farmer, born in New York, married September 1869; Mary F. Crosby, age 23, born in New York, married September 1869”

According to the North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000; Lineage Book, National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution, Volume CVII. Washington, D.C..1930 (page 91):

“MRS. HARRIET LOUISE HUMANN HECKER.  111279
Born in New York, N. Y.
Wife of Edward J. Hecker.
Descendant of Corp. Thomas Crosby, as follows:

1. John Hermann Humann (1846-1913) m. 1865 Harriet Lucina Crosby (1849-1906).
2. Hiram Lester Crosby (1824-77) m. 1846 Ruth Parmalee (1823-99).
3. Thomas Baker Crosby (1793-1872) m. 1816 Lucina Cregs (1797-1824).
4. Thomas Crosby m. Elizabeth Patterson.

Thomas Crosby enlisted, 1775, as private in Capt. John Chester’s company, Col. Joseph Spencer’s Connecticut regiment.  He was born in Hartford Conn.; died, 1827 in Canaan, N. Y.
Also No. 107223.”

According to the North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000; Lineage Book, National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution, Volume CVIII. Washington, D.C..1930 (page 41):

“MRS. GERTRUDE HUMANN REID.  112128
Born in Indianapapolis, Ind.
Wife of Robert Chester Reid.
Descendant of Corp. Thomas Crosby, as follows:

1. John Hermann Humann (1846-1913) m. 1865 Harriet Lucina Crosby (1849-1906).
2. Hiram Lester Crosby (1824-77) m. 1846 Ruth Parmalee (1823-99).
3. Thomas Baker Crosby (1793-1872) m. 2^nd 1816 Mary Salts (1797-1824).
4. Thomas Crosby m. Elizabeth Patterson.

Thomas Crosby (1760-1827) served as private and corporal, 9^th company, 2^nd regiment Connecticut troops.  He was born in Hartford, Conn.; died in Canaan, N. Y.
Also No. 107223.”

According to the North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000; Lineage Book, National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution, Volume CVIII. Washington, D.C..1929 (page 74):

“MRS. SIDNEY ERENESTINE HECKER WARFEL. 107223
Born in Indianapolis, Ind.
Wife of Herbert Warfel.
Descendant of Thomas Crosby, as follows:

1. Edward J. Hecker (b. 1868) m. 1889 Harriet Humann (b. 1866).
2. John Herman Humann b. 1846) m. 1865 Harriet Lucina Crosby (1849-1906).
3. Hiram Lester Crosby (1824-77) m. 1846 Ruth Parmalee (1823-99).
4. Thomas Baker Crosby (1793-1872) m. 1^st 1816 Lucina Cregs (1797-1824).
5. Thomas Crosby m. 1^st Elizabeth Patterson (b. 1768).

Thomas Crosby enlisted, 1775, as private in Capt. John Chester’s company, Col. Joseph Spencer’s Connecticut regiment.  He was born in Hartford, Conn.; died in Canaan, N. Y.”

His residences were as follows: 1850, Canaan, Columbia County, NY; 1855, Goodale (Grant), Lake County, IL; 1871, Libertyville, Lake County, IL.  His widow, Polly, lived in Vernon Township, Lake County (Half Day post office) in 1878.  Polly died about 1879. 

According to the Waukegan Weekly Gazette (Waukegan IL) Saturday, Februrary 10, 1872, page 3:

“DIED.

“At his residence, in the town of Libertyville, on Saturday, February 3d, 1872, Mr. THOMAS CROSBY, aged 79 years.”

According to Petition of Polly S. Crosby, Thomas B. Crosby:

“departed this life at Libertyville” on or about the third day of February, 1872.”

In 1878, Polly Crosby had been living in Vernon Township in Lake County, IL with Half Day as the post office.