Cummings Family Notes

Descendants of Isaac Cummings 1601-1677 of Ipswich/Topsfield Mass. 1638.

Isaac Cummings, aka Isaack Commen, was born 1601 in England, son of John and Amy (Green) Cummings; baptized 5 April 1601 at Easthorpe, Essex, England; arrived in America about 1635 and died about 22 May 1677 at Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts.

Status note: This web page was prepared about 1997, intended as just a brief overview and introduction to this line, and has not been updated substantially since then. January 2011 and May 2012 I made a few minor updates. The links to kichline.com are now invalid; I do not have replacements, probably at ICFA website but which may not be available to the public ("Members Only"). I am leaving the list in place just to show that those content items do exist. Somewhere.

Historically, the most complete information about Isaac Cummings, his family and descendants was available through books that were published in the early 1900's. Now, the most comprehensive, current and authoritative source is the web site of the Isaac Cummings Family Association (ICFA). The web site presents all information from the published books, in-depth narratives, submissions by later researchers of subsequent descendants, searchable database of descendants, results of further research into the origin of Isaac Cummings in England and corrections. Consequently, it will not be necessary to present much here; it is covered by the ICFA. Also covered by the ICFA is coordination of research into John Comins of Woburn, Mass., known as "Woburn John" who may be related to Isaac Cummings. Quick research note: the surname spelling variants for this line include: Cummings, Cumming, Cumings, Cummins, Cumin, Cumins, Cummin, Comins, Comin, Comings, Commings, etc. Beware that search engines on the various websites differ in the way they identify and retrieve alternate spellings so manual testing of the variants is recommended. The Cummings' were also associated with the Card's at Pownal.

Primary Published Materials

This descendants of Isaac Cummings have been published in these books:

• Isaac Cummings, 1601-1677, of Ipswich in 1638, & some of his descendants by A.O. Cummins; 1904; 661p.;
• Isaac Cummings of Topsfield, Mass. & some of his descendants by M. Clark & others; 1899; 39p.;
• Cummings Memorial. Genelogical History of the Descendants of Isaac Cummings, an Early Settler of Topsfield, Mass. by G. Mooar; 1903; 535p.;

Reprints of all three of these books are available through Higginson Books of Salem, MA for $99.00, $7.50 and $67.50, respectively (April 1998). They are also available at major genealogical libraries, on LDS microfilm at local FHC's and through inter-library loan at local public libraries.

Note this information is from 1998. Since then (now in 2011), many of these early (i.e. out of copyright) history books have been scanned, posted on the internet and are available for free. Google search on them as the availability increases continually. Some of the scans have been OCR'd and a Google search on a text string may result in a hit. However, the OCR translations are not perfect even for clear printed text. So actual text in the original page may not be found during a text search and where found, text results should be verified to the original. Be advised that even the early family history books may have contained errors, some substantial. Back then information was much more difficult to obtain access to. Further, these books were the work product of one individual and did not have the benefit of scrutiny by multiple researchers lurking on the internet. A current, well-researched and cited database should be a more reliable and informative source.

See also

"Pownal, Vermont" @ Wikipedia (History)

Isaac Cummings Family Association

Descendants of Isaac Cummings, 1601-1677 of Ipswich/Topsfield Mass. have formed the Isaac Cummings Family Association (ICFA). The website's main page is at Isaac Cummings Family Association (ICFA).

The site is very well-organized and easy to navigate, so it should ordinarily be accessed from the main page (above). It has the most current and complete information about Isaac Cummings and descendants.

The ICFA maintains two family tree databases. Their first, initial database of descendants of Isaac Cummings is posted online: ICFA Database online at Rootsweb

HOWEVER, as of 2010 (or prior), the Rootsweb database is not being maintained. An authoritative database is being created from those records that will be source-verified and updated BUT available only to paid members of the ICFA.

The following had been links to particularly interesting sections at an offsite ISP but are (2011) are invalid and I do not currently have replacements. Probably somewhere on the main site or absorbed into the ICFA site.

• Isaac Cummings Biography, links and children

• Isaac Cummings Will

• The English Ancestry of Isaac Cummings

• John Commyn's Will (Father of Isaac, newly discovered)

• Ongoing Research on Connections to England

• The English Ancestry of Isaac Cummings - Research Report

Ancestor connection: Hannah Cummings (1764-1857)

Benjamin Card    3 Jan 1782    Hannah Cummins
 - http://www.pownal.org/PHS/Marriages/MarriagesPownalC-E.htm

Apparent but not proven daughter of Stephen Cummings, Sr. (1736-1810/1820) of Attleboro, Mass. who migrated to Coventry, Rhode Island; Pownal, Bennington Co., Vermont; and New Lisbon/Pittsfield, Otsego Co., New York (1790-1810/1820). He was the son of Abraham Jr. (4), Abraham Sr. (3), John (2), Isaac (1) of Ipswich/Topsfield, Mass by 1630. Although not proven, the circumstances support the relationship and there is no apparent information to the contrary.

Stephen Cummings Sr. (1736-1810/1820)

• Dates (exact or approximate) of migration of Stephen Cummings (1736-1815) are either not known or not publicly reported. Further, I do not have significant source citations for the various reported locations. He is reported as born 23 December 1736 at Attleboro, Bristol County, Massachusetts, son of Abraham Cummings III and Mary Richardson. Given the practice of the time, there are probably town records for the births of the children of Abraham and Mary, but I do not have those. The early Massachusetts town vital records (births, marriages and deaths) were published in books and scans may be available online. Haven't looked.

  I do not know when, how or why Stephen left Massachusetts. His migration/location is reported as Coventry, Kent County, Rhode Island ca. 1760's; Pownal, Bennington County, Vermont ca. 1780's; and to Otsego County, New York about 1789 where he and son Stephen Jr. are found in the 1800 census. Reportedly was listed in the first town meeting of Burlington in Otsego County in 1791 as a fence viewer, elected to resolve disputes of land boundaries.

  His children are reported born at Coventry, Kent County, Rhode Island but, again, no source evidence is provided supporting the dates or that location. Also, no source or rationale for the list of reported children. The first child (Martha) is reported born abt 1756 at Coventry, Kent Co., Rhode Island. The 1850 census listings of two children report their birth places as Rhode Island: 1764 (Hannah) and 1766/7 (Elijah). All other children pre-deceased the 1850 census or their listings were indeterminate (Stephen b. abt 1772: "Unknown"; Elizabeth b. abt 1765: ditto mark continuation of long line of "Pa" - probably census taker error.)

• US Census 1800 Otsego Co. NY (AIS index) has the following lines:

  1800 CUMMINGS STEPHEN JUN Otsego Co. NY pg. 32 10010-10100-00
  1800 CUMMINGS STEPHEN     Otsego Co. NY pg. 32 01101-00101-00
  

• US Census 1810 Otsego Co. NY (Ancestry.com index) has the following lines: (A transcription of the headcounts may exist; if not should be done.)

  A Cumings
  D Cumings
  D Cumings
  D Cumings
  E Cumings
  E Cumings
  J Cumings
  S Cumings
  S Cumings
  C Cummim
  A Cumming
  C Cummings
  J Cummings
  B Cummins
  

• US Census 1820 Otsego Co. NY (Ancestry.com index) has the following lines: (A transcription of the headcounts may exist; if not should be done.)

  Benj      Cumming
  Alexander Cummings
  Hosea     Cummings
  James     Cummings
  Lucy      Cummins
  Nathan    Cummins
  Nathan    Cummins Junior
  Peley     Cummins [Presumably Peleg]
  
  Arch      Commings
  Hannah    Commings
  James     Commings
  Stephen   Commings
  Elias     Commins
  
  

• The wife of Stephen Cummings, Sr. (1736-1810/1820) is reported as Mary ________. I do not know the source of that name. Presumably marriage records and Otsego County, New York probate have been searched and nothing found. They could have married in Massachusetts or Rhode Island and probably before the move to Vermont.

• The death of Stephen Cummings is variously reported as 1815 or "About 1815" with, again, no sources or rationale cited. I suspect this year may be a mid-range guesstimate based on his enumeration in the 1810 census and absence in the 1820 census. He may have been living in another household, but would have been 84 in 1820. (Need to check the age-headcounts in 1820 census in Otsego Cummings to see if any elderly males.)

• Levi Cummings, born 1786 in Vermont and died 1863 at Clarence, Erie County, New York is reported as son of Stephen Cummings (1736-1810/1820) and Mary ________. NFI. However, 1786 represents a 14-year gap after the birth of his next youngest reported sibling (1772) when Mary would probably have been close to age 50. Levi is found in the 1850 census in Newstead, Erie County, (age 64, born Vermont) New York (Page 239) adjoining households of Elijah Cummings (age 83) and Elijah Cummings (age 65, born about 1785) who I suspect may have been his father and brother, respectively. The dates match much better.

For descendants of Anna Card, daughter of Benjamin Card (1754-1837) and Hannah Cummings (1764-1857), who married Jonathan Tuttle Stiles see the Stiles page.

Stephen Cummings Sr. (1736-1810/1820), Patriot

[121] [Capt. Nathaniel Seely's Company]
"A Pay Roll of Capt. Nathl. Seely's Company of Alarm Men in Col. Samuel Herrick's Regiment of Militia in the service of the State of Vermont, the 11^th October, 1780."
[list of payees]
"State of Vermont / Bennington, June 19, 1781.
Personally appeared the within Capt. Nath¹. Seeley and made oath that to the best of his knowledge the within roll is true. / Before me. John Fassett, Jr. Assis"

Rolls of the soldiers in the Revolutionary War, 1775 to 1783 John E Goodrich; Chauncey L Knapp; 1904; English Book Book xx, [2], 927 p. ; 24 cm. Rutland, Vt. : Tuttle Company. Page 218. PDF edition scanned at Google Books, PDF page 245/957.

This source is a printed edition of transcription of the original rolls. I believe that images of the original pages of these rolls may be still available for viewing on microfilm and/or digital scans but do not currently have a citation or link.

Stephen Cummings was paid a total of one pound, ten shillings and zero pence for five days service at one shilling-four pence per day and travel of 70 miles at four pence per mile. 37 of the 38 men listed on the page all traveled 70 miles; service four to 23 days.

While this source serves as documentary evidence of specific service that was performed and paid, Stephen Cummings, along with many others, may have served in other capacities for which documentation does not exist such as the troops who participated in the Battle of Bennington on August 16, 1777. There may also be other documentation of which I am unaware.

On the same page is listed Elisha Card who served the same and was paid exactly the same. An Elisha Card was born 17 July 1738 at East Greenwich, Kent County, Rhode Island, son of William Card (1710/1-1784/5) and Mercy Briggs (1711-1775). I do not have information as to when the Card's migrated to Pownal, but suspect it was around the same time as the Cummings' and may have been the result of homesteading incentives. (More TBR.) Elisha eventually migrated to New York reportedly around 1794 with a group of others from Pownal for Nelson, Chenango Co., now Madison Co. where he died after 1805. (Modern Madison County adjoins Otsego County.) He reportedly died at Cazenovia, New York which is in modern Madison County and buried at "Old Welsh Cemetery." An online listing of burials at the Welsh Church Cemetery at Nelson, (now) Madison Co., New York does not show his burial, the earliest marker known is 1808 and it is understood that there are unmarked graves in the old part of the cemetery. Welsh Church Cemetery : Nelson, New York

Elisha was brother of Benjamin Card (1754-1837) who married 3 January 1782 at Pownal, Bennington County, Vermont to Hannah Cummings (1764-1857), presumed daughter of Stephen Cummings (1736-1810/1820). Note that Elisha Card and Stephen Cummings were about the same age (early 40's in 1780) and Hannah was ten years younger than Benjamin. So Elisha was brother-in-law to Hannah Cummings Card and Elisha's brother Benjamin was son-in-law to Stephen Cummings. Elisha Card is listed in the DAR Genealogical Research System and presumably prior printed DAR indexes listing the service in Seeley's Company.

CARD, ELISHA
Ancestor #: A019080
Service:
VERMONT    Rank: PRIVATE
Birth:
7-16-1738    EAST GREENWICH RHODE ISLAND
Death:
(POST) 1784     POWNAL PROB VERMONT
Service Description:
1) CAPT.NATHANIEL SEELEY ALARM MEN
2) COL. SAMUEL HERRICK MILITIA. Norfolk, Massachusetts

Other/Misc. Cummings Data

Marriages in Pownal, Vermont to 1850
From books #1 & #2 of the Pownal Town Records
Copied and arranged by
Elmer I. Shepard
Williamstown, Mass.
December, 1941

Online January 2011 at:
   http://www.pownal.org/PHS/index.html

   http://www.pownal.org/PHS/Marriages/MarriagesPownalC-E.htm


Benjamin Card           3 Jan 1782    Hannah Cummins
Emeline M. Card        15 Sep 1849    Marcellus Woodward, Hebron, NY
Hester Card            10 Mar 1849    Harmon L. Randall, Petersburg, NY
Job E. Card            16 Aug 1846    Lydia Niles
Joseph Card            19 Jul 1787    Hannah Briggs
Luther Card            14 Jan 1849    Fanny H. Childs
Parker Card            26 Dec 1839    Mary Ann Barber
Sarah Card             25 Oct 1849    John Ohahan?
Waity Card             21 Oct 1832    Royal Amedon, Granville, NY

-----

Elizabeth Cummins       5 Nov 1811    Aaron H. Lewis, Wmst.
Hannah Cummins          3 Jan 1782    Benjamin Card
Jacob Cummins           6 Jun 1784    Ester Gallup
Phebe Cummins          24 Oct 1824    David Goodell
Roxana Cummins          7 Oct 1821    Noble Myers
Seth Cummins           23 Nov 1805    Lucy Haley
Williams Cummins Jr.    3 Jul 1813    Sibbel Haley

Open Research Issues

Parents of Hannah Cummings

Mary, Wife of Abraham Cummings

Probate 1810 to 1850/1860 in Otsego Co. NY for Cummings

Ancestors of Isaac Cummings 1601-1677 of Ipswich/Topsfield Mass. 1638.

Descendants of Stephen Cummings, Sr. (1736-1810/1820) of Attleboro, Mass.

Barry C.K. Moravek President of the Isaac Cummings Family Association posted the following notice abt Sep 1997:

CUMMIN(G)S Family of New York.

Working on a book of the descendents of Stephen Cummings (5) 1736 to about 1815 of Attleboro, Mass., then of Coventry, RI; then of Pownal, VT removing to OTSEGO Co., New York in 1791. He was the son of Abraham Jr. (4) Abraham Sr. (3) John (2) Isaac (1) of Ipswich/Topsfield, Mass by 1630. Stephen was in New Lisbon/Pittsfield, Otsego Co. NY from 1790 to at least 1810, probably 1815. Children removed to STUEBEN, NIAGRA, ERIE, ORLEANS, GENESEE, WYOMING, MONROE, CHAUTAUQUA, ONTARIO, WAYNE Cos.,and other UNKNOWN Cos., NY and then to Michigan and other points west. CHILDREN: 1. Thomas b. 1758 d. 1846 Troupsburg, NY m #2 Lodema BLANCHARD 2. Hannah b. 1763 d. West Burlington, NY m. Benjamin CARD 3.Jacob b. 1763 d. 1842 Newstead, Erie Co., m. #1 Ester GALLOP #2 Hannah GARDNER 4. Elizabeth b. 1765 d. 1859 Knoxville, Tioga Co., PA m. John WAKLEY or WAKLEE 5. Elijah b 1764/67 d 1857, Newstead, Erie Co., NY m.#1 Martha (Mary) EVIN #2 unknow #3 Hannah GARDNER 6. Stephen b. 1772 d. 1850 Clarence Center, Erie Co., NY m#1 Ruth Gregory #2 Lydia (RANDALL?) 3. Martha Johnson may have also resided in COURTLAND Co., NY as one daughter is called of there 7. Levi b. 1786 d 1863, Clarence, Erie Co., NY m Martha_______? at least 10 Cummin(g)s children. Other allied NY surnames associated with this Cummings family: BLANCHARD, CARD, GALLOP, WAKLEY, EVIN, GREGORY, JOHNSON, MATTESON, CROSSMAN, WINSLOW, PALMER, PORTER, POTTER, SPENCER, COOK, MURDOCK, SCHOONOVER, EDSON, MONTGOMERY, NICHOLSON, McCOMB, WHEELER, COLLINS, COLE, STRAIT, HARRINGTON, BOWDISH, PRATT, POND, BATES, CARMER, PENDER, WILLIAMS, SHERMAN, BARNEY, DANCER, STRICKLAND, ELDRICH. Have more than 5,000 decendants in data-base willing to share with family members.
HOW GOOD OF A CUMMIN(G)S DETECTIVE ARE YOU?

This one is driving me nuts! $50.00 REWARD to the first one providing a copy of the short genealogy on Stephen Cummings as referred to in the following:

WELCOME CEMETERY, cont. page 4
RUTH GREGORY, dau. of Hezekiah & Abigail Gregory and wife of Stephen Cummings died 17 July 1804 25 yrs. (Ruth Cummings b. 25 July 1779 per -pg. 11 Stephen Cummings and Descendants - Erie Co.(NY).

So the genealogy, which I believe to be short appears to exist. The information came from a book found at the NYSHA about Cemetery Records of Otsego County, was compiled by Edith Gage, Alma Slawson, Charlotte Lewis and the Oneonta Branch Cumorah Mission, 1962-67. I believe the cemetery record for Welcome was probably done by the DAR in the 1930's. Please share this announcement with other researchers.

Webmaster notes:

• Welcome Cemetery is in Town of New Lisbon, Otsego Co., New York. Transcription of Welcome Cemetery available on USGenWeb page for that county. That transcription has the following lines:

  Fanny Cole d. 6 Feb. 1854 Age 31y8m16d Wife of Nathan (nee GREGORY)
  Ruth Commins d. 17 Jul 1804 Age 25y Wife of Stephen
  Daughter of Hezekiah & Abigail GREGORY
  Four (4) Children Commins d. in infancy "In Memory of" Children of Daniel
  & Betsey Commins
  

• The Stephen "Commins" referred to above is Stephen Cummings, Junior (1772-1850) who reportedly died at Clarence Center, Erie Co., New York.

Bibliography (Surname, all lines)

LDS Family History Library

New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS)

    COMINS  Comins, Lucia B. Ancestors and Descendants of Captain James Comins.
               (1965). CS/71/C734/1965

    CUMMINGS  Clark, Miss Marietta, Mrs. Abbie W. Towne, W.F. Cummings and
               George F. Dow. Isaac Cummings of Topsfield, Massachusetts and
               Some of Descendants. (1899). Bound with Court Records Relating to
               Topsfield Salem quarterly Court. (1899). CS/71/C971/1899
    CUMMINGS  Mooar, Reverend George. The Cummings Memorial. A Genealogical History
               of the Descendants of Isaac Cumunings, an Early Settler of
               Topsfield, Massachusetts. (1903). CS/71/C971/1903
    CUMMINGS  Cumins, Albert O. Cummings Genealogy. Isaac Cummings, 1601-1677 of
               Ipswich in 1638 and Some of His Descendants. (1904).
               CS/71/C971/1904a
    CUMMINGS  Cummings, Coroden. A Record of the Cummings Family, Branch of
                Deacon Jonathan, Born June 5, 1729. Supplemented by All Known
                Changes Since 1881, Also by the Leaflet Printed by Him in 1889.
                (1916). CS/71/C971/1916
    CUMMINGS  Cummings, H.S., Jr.  Cummings Heritage. (1991). 272 p. CS/71/C971/1991
    CUMMINS  Cummins, Nora B. The History and Genealogy of the Cummins Family,
               Their Ancestors, Descendants and Experiences. (1958).
               CS/71/C9715/1958

Higginson Books Reprints

   COMINS Family: desc. of John Comins of Woburn, Mass., by W.B. O'Connor.
30p.  1915. $6.00

  CUMMINGS Memorial; genealogical hist. of the desc. of Isaac Cummings, an
early settler of Topsfield, Mass., by G. Mooar. 535p.  1903. $67.50

   CUMMINGS. Isaac Cummings of Topsfield, Mass. & some of his desc., by M.
Clark & others. 39p.  1899. $7.50

   CUMMINGS. Isaac Cummings, 1601-1677, of Ipswich in 1638, & some of his
desc., by A.O. Cummins. 661p.  1904. $99.00

Other Cummings

A DNA study has revealed a close relationship among descendants of the following earliest-known Cummings ancestors. I do not currently see any connection with the Isaac Cummings line; however, I am not currently aware of any DNA testing of descendants of Isaac. Further research into Isaac's English roots may eventually reveal a kinship. Those closely-related early Cummings ancestor lines are:

• Joseph, b. about 1680; Hopkinton, Essex Co. Massachusetts (30 mi. w. of Boston)
• Phillip, b. about 1707; Dartmouth, Bristol Co., Massachusetts (SE part of state, on Buzzards Bay)
• Abraham, b. about 1768
• James, b. about 1786-88; Rhode Island
• Elijah, b. about 1820; USA

Email me at the contact listed at the end of this page and I will forward contact information.