Person:Cornelius Bigelow (3)

Cornelius Bigelow, son of Paul and Hannah (Ober) Bigelow, was born 20 May 1772 in Upton, Worcester co, MA. The family removed to Windham county, VT in the 1780's, his youngest brother Job born in Brookline in 1785. In 1790 the parents were ennumerated at Dummerston, but Cornelius was no longer at home. In 1800 Cornelius was ennumerated at Bennington, Bennington county, VT, with wife and two sons, though this conflicts with other known facts, as a third son was allegedly born in 1798.

Cornelius married, circa 1792, Persis Harris, born between 1774 and 1776, daughter of Gerald and Elizabeth (Sawyer) Harris. They are supposed to have moved to Montreal circa 1800, though a fourth son was said to be born at Townsend, VT in 1801. Howe's Bigelow genealogy says he went with his brothers to form Montreal's first nail factory. By 1803 be is listed as a tenant on the lands of Col. Daniel Robertson in Chatham township, Argenteuil county. Still further rumor is that he returned to New York briefly, but in 1807 was definitely back in Quebec. Howe's Bigelow genealogy says he lived in Montreal during the War of 1812, but children born after 1814 were all born at Chatham (now called St. Philippe), Quebec.

Cornelius' wife Persis died 20 May 1823, following the birth of her fourteenth child. Cornelius raised the children with the help of his daughters-in-law until 1835, when his mother died in New York. Taking his handicapped son Edward, he removed to Cattaraugus county, NY and on 13 September 1835 married Mrs. Andrew Wiltse. She had been born Elizabeth Proper, on 25 July 1785 in Monroe county, NY daughter of Peter and Mary (Hays) Proper. She had been twice-widowed, and had a large family.

They lived at Ashford until all the children were grown, and themselves aging. They moved with Cornelius' youngest son Charles to Oneida township, Eaton co, MI in 1854. By 1860 both were invalids, and Cornelius died at Charles' home near Grand Ledge on 29 August 1861. Elizabeth died 10 November 1873 (see above). Both are buried at Oakwood cemetery. Their headstones are still visible.

Sources: Bigelow Society,The Bigelow Family Genealogy, Vol I, pg 239-240. Howe, Bigelow Family of America; pg 192;

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Bigelow Family Genealogy, in Bigelow Society
   Vol I, pg 239-240.

   http://bigelowsociety.com/rod/cor63365.htm