Letter regarding "George Day"
Submitted by William
Perhaps this will be of some interest; at least it will preserve someone's research.
I am not a master of this data and in fact I am at best a very
remote relative of these folks.
These are excerpts from a copy of typewritten letter given to
me by my late father and to him by the addressee, one of his lodge brothers.
It was written by a "Day" born in Hammonton, NJ and living then
in California who was apparently unknown to the recipient.
Note: We are at a disadvantage because the author seems to be arguing
against Littel's History and a proposed genealogy that we do not have. His objective appears
to be to connect his ancestor Daniel b. c. 1708 to a George Day known to have been
active around 1670 in NJ. Much of what follows is an attempt to explore the possible
links between these 2 individuals, an activity which has lead him to believe
there were 2 George Days in the same general area in this period.
Unhappily, this theory does nothing to resolve his primary question.
August 6, 1986
Dear ____,
I am grateful for your reply to my "shot in the dark" inquiry. Thanks !
(I wrote to three "Days" in Mendham.)
..., as I have gotten into my research the past few years I more and more find
it difficult to agree with most researchers...re: the Day line.
I have accumulated quite a bit of data which seems to me points to TWO GEORGE DAYS !
George Day b. abt. 1640 d, before 1685 who married Mary Riggs in 1664 in Milford, Cn.
Their children were Paul b. 1665-68 d. 1712 in NEWARK; George b. ? d. 1720 in Newark;
and Samuel b. ? and d. 1715 in NEWARK. The "second" George Day: "George Day from England,
1677, settled on Long Island" and " he had a son, George Day, who came to N.J. and
settled on the north side of Long Hill, east of Sterling Vally (sic) (or east of Stirling)"
[ Note: source of quote not given, see below. Followed by
parenthetical hand written entry "That is not Newark!"]
Nowhere do I find that a George Day went from Connecticut to Long Island and
on to Newark ! Rather all data I found indicate that George Day of Milford, Cn.
went with Robert Treat and party in 1666 and founded Newark. There is no mention
of "stopping in N. Y." or "settling on Long Island" !
Dr. Littel in his history says that "George Day lived on Long Island. He had a son,
George, who came to N.J. & settled on the north side of Long Hill ["] etc. ["]
This son also had a son, George Day ["] etc. AND, ["] It is believed that
Joseph, John & David were also sons of George Day (the 1st). "
Nothing in the Newark records mentions any children of George Day of Cn. except Paul,
George, & Samuel !!!! And, legal records in Newark mention Paul, George, & Samuel
as landowners, etc. in 1[6]95-1701.
George of Cn & Newark died before 1685( his widow was the wife of Anthony Oliff
in records dated March, 1685). A Joseph born 1695, of course could NOT have been
the son of this George Day ! (see Dr. Littel's data) but, of course, could have
been the son of Paul born 1665-1668 ( son of George of of Cn & Newark).
This Joseph married Hannah Sargeant and Dr. Littel's Joseph, son of George of
Long Island, married Hannah Sargeant ?????????
Now, Joseph could have had a son, Paul born 1724 died 1802, BUT this Paul could not have
had a son, Daniel born about 1708 died 1760 !!!!!!
Nor, as some say, could George Day of Cn & Newark have had a son Paul who had a son, Joseph,
who had a son, Jonathan, who had a son, Daniel born about 1708. This Daniel born abt. 1708
died 1760 had Benjamin born 1728 and Samuel born 1730( and ten others).
There just could Not have been that many generations between George Day born abt. 1640
died before 1685 and Daniel Day born about 1708 died 1760 !!!!!!!!
All of this forces me to believe that there were TWO George Days and that "historians"
have intermingled the two lines.....the names of their children are not the same
(except for a George); the birthdates are not possible; etc.
As it stands now I have my line back to Daniel Day born about 1708 died 1760 who had a son,
Benjamin born 1728 died 1783, who had a son, Moses, born 1755 N.J. died 1830 Pa. etc.
[ Marginal hand written note : "Benjamins son, Moses 1755 NJ- 1830 Pa. went to W. Pa. 1789.
My father was his great-grandson...."
The question is WHO WERE DANIEL DAY'S PARENTS. Certainly NOT a Jonathan Day
said to have been born 1720 ! And, NOT a Joseph born 1695. Because Daniel Day
who died 1760 had a son, Benjamin born 1728 so Daniel PROBABLY had to have been at
least 20 years of age in 1728; Jonathan would have been 8 years of age in 1728 !!!
AND, further, Joseph would have been 13 years of age in 1708 when Daniel may
have been born...in any case Joseph could not have fathered Daniel !!
I have a feeling that the only answer is that Daniel Day born abt. 1708 died 1760 could
have been fathered by a George Day, son of George Day (of Cn. ) or by a son of
George Day of Long Island !!!!!!!!
Further, from a history, "Among the early settlers in 1730 of the Chatham area
where the Minisink Trail crossed the Passaic River were a John & Daniel Day. These
men were from Long Island" !!! And, ["]Daniel Day was one of the early settlers of
New Providence area in 1736-38...etc[.]" Then, there was, "Daniel Day of
Camptown (now Clinton)."
There probably were several Daniel Days......
I hoped that there
might be data in Mendham that would clear up the parentage of Daniel Day who
died Apr. June 1760 in Mendham...and his actual birthdate.
Apparently, you and I both go back to Daniel Day died 1760 in Mendham.
You from his son, Nehemiah and I from his first child, Benjamin,
But from Daniel
back we don't agree.
...
Sincerely,
(signed)
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