Billius Stocking (1779 - 1851)

Ancestors Descendants

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Occupation 1.2 Death 1.3 Timeline 2 Sources

Biography

Billius was born in Sandisfield, Massachusetts 7 Sep (or Aug) 1779 and died 11 Oct 1851, Lisbon New York.^[1] Billius was orphaned at about age 10 when his father Timothy died. He may have lived with his grandfather John.^[2] As late as 1802 (tax roll) he was living in Hebron, Washington co. New York with wife Patience and they were enumerated there for the 1800 census.^[3] Patience’s father Capt. Isaac Gray returned to New Hampshire, but his son, Patience’s brother, Daniel Carr Gray, settled in Hebron, New York.^[4] Daniel remained in Hebron, but as early as 1804 Billius Stocking moved near Lisbon Center, New York where he became elder of the Presbyterian Church, and was Pathmaster by 1807.

Occupation

In the earliest town records noted above Billius is listed as a “joiner”. On the 1850 census he was a “carpenter.” He also ran a sawmill, and with two partners ran the “Halfway House” between Canton and Ogdensburg, NY.

The Halfway House was built as a tavern by Stillman Foote of Canton when he obtained the franchise to carry the mail between Ogdensburg and Canton. The horses on the stages were changed here to make the eighteen-mile trip faster.^[5]

Some of Billius Stocking landholdings in Lisbon.

Jennifer Bixby, formerly Lisbon Town Historian, now lives (as of 2021) in Billius Stocking’s property, the “Halfway House.” According to local legend, Billius was good friends with Stillman Foote. In 1807, when Stillman Foote obtained the franchise to carry mail between Canton and Ogdensburg, NY, the two reputedly built the Halfway House on that road, for a stagecoach stop and tavern. Dances were also held in the large open upper floor. A Mr. Legge was involved at some point, leading to the alternate name of “Foote-Legge-Stocking Tavern” Mrs. Bixby doesn’t think that Billius Stocking ever lived in the tavern. He operated a saw mill that was located across the road from the Halfway House (built with the help of his sons ca 1835-1836?). Billius probably left the business when the property was sold to Henry Van Rensselaer in 1839, but the land transactions are not providing a complete record yet (RHSeale|as of 2020)

Jennifer also thinks the Halfway House may have been used for church services before the Presbyterian Church was built in 1852. His headstone states “Ruling Elder in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church.”^[6] Further information was also reported in the St. Lawrence County Quarterly in 1971.^[7]

Death

Billius - “Ruling elder in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church” d. Oct 11, 1851, ae 72y 1mo, 4days, outliving his wife by just a year. The specific age would support a birth date of 7 Sep 1779^[8]. Billius is buried in the Flackville Cemetery, Lisbon, NY along with many of his family members.^[9] Photos at Find A Grave: Memorial #53636321

Timeline

1800 Federal Census, Hebron, Washington county. Billius was enumerated there as was his brothers-in-law Daniel C Gray, and Isaac Gray. Stocking.^[10]

1802 Billious Stocking is listed on the tax roll of Hebron, Washington, New York but is taxed only for Personal Property - no Real property.^[11]

1804 "Bilius Stocking" noted on tax report for Lisbon, St. Lawrence, New York, along with Patience's brother Elihu Gray. Billius was taxed on $40 worth of Real Estate, but no amount for Personal property^[12]

1805 – “Billias Stocking, Joiner” On a list of jurors in Lisbon, St. Lawrence, New York, describing him as a "joiner"^[13]

1806 – "Billins Stocking" noted on a list of property owners in Lisbon, assessed on property valued at $50^[14][15]

1807 – “Billias Stocking, Pathmaster” ^[16]

1808, 7 Jan – First recorded deed in St. Lawrence co. New York, purchased part of lot #6, 2nd Range, about 95 acres. ^[17]

1810 “Billias Stocking” Lisbon, St Lawrence, New York, 3m<10, 1m10-15, 1m26-44, 1f<10, 1f26-44 ^[18]

1818 – “Billias Stocking, Assessor,” Lisbon

1819 “Billias Stocking, Assessor”, “Commisioner of Highways”, and “Inspector of Schools,” Lisbon

25 May 1819 Billius sold the 95 acre parcel he purchased in 1808 back to Stephen Van Rensselaer (Billius signed, Patience made her mark)^[19]

On 25 May 1819 Billius also purchased from Stephen Van Rensselaer part of Lot #8 in Range 7 (in Lisbon, St Lawrence county)^[20] - that location may have been where he then became involved with the operation of the "Halfway House" at approximately 44.659684, -75.329732. This is on route 68 near Mill Road.

In 1839 Billius purchased an additional 20 acres from Stephen van Renssellaer in Lot #8, Range 7.^[21]

1820 “Billias Stocking, Assessor”, “Inspector of Schools”, Lisbon

1820 Federal Census, Lisbon, St. Lawrence, New York “Billious Stockings” (indexed as "Billians") Lisbon, 2m<10, 1m10-15, 1m16-18, 2m16-25, 1m26-44, 3f<10, 1f10-15, 1f26-44 ^[22]

1821 “Billias Stocking, Assessor”, “School Commissioner”, “Commissioner of Highways”, “Pathmaster”

1822 “Assessor, Billius Stocking”, “Commissioner of Highways”, “Commissioner of Schools” ^[23]

1826 30 May. A "Regimental Court Martial and Court of Enquiry" presided over by Major David Olin - "said court will convene on the twenty-fifth day of October next, at the dwelling house of Billius Stocking, in the town of Lisbon, and adjourn from time to time as shall be necessary for the transaction of business." ^[24]

1827 12 Jun. "St. Lawrence Common Pleas and General Sessions, June term" - Billius Stocking sworn in as one of the Grand Jurors^[25]

1829 Jul 28, "Temperence in Lisbon! We have been informed by a gentleman who resides in Lisbon, that on Monday the 20 instant, a barn, thirty by forty-five feet on the ground, of uncommonly heavy timber, was put up on the farm of Mr. Alexander Armstrong, without the use of a drop of ardent spirits!! Deacon Billius Stocking was the master builder. This circumstance evinces a laudable disposition in our Lisbon neighbors to aid in arresting the overwhelming progress of intemperance.”^[26]

1830 US census, Lisbon, NY: “Billinus Stocking” 01111001|| 00120001. Isaac Gray was still in the adjacent household^[27] On the next page (p100) is son Isaac Stocking.

1840 Federal Census, Lisbon, St Lawrence, New York, “Billious Stocking” [sic], 000210001||000020001^[28]

1845 Billius Stocking of Lisbon, sells to Duncan T Stocking of Lisbon, 23 acres in mile sq#8, Range 7, known as homestead land, on Canton turnpike.^[29]

1850 US census, Lisbon, New York: “Billious Stocking, Carpenter”, age 70, b. MA. In household of James T and Jane Stocking, Billius’ son and daughter in law. Billious' wife Patience died in April of 1850^[30]

In the 1850 Agriculture census Billius claimed 100 acres of improved land (non unimproved), worth $3,000. They had numerous animals and feed stock. ^[31]

Sources

1. ↑ The Stocking Ancestry gives the date as 7 Aug 1779. His gravestone gives his age as “72 yrs, 1 mo, 4 days” which would be the month of September. RHSeale|2023 gives more credence to the headstone. Stocking Ancestry has many date and name errors. Rev. Charles Henry Wright Stocking, DD, ed. The Stocking Ancestry, Comprising the Descendants of George Stocking Founder of the American Family. No. 465, p36, 72. The Lakeside Press, 1903. Loose-leaf Interim Edition, Edited by Hobart E Stocking, 1981 and Gregory Paul Stocking, July 1991. p101
2. ↑ There are 3 males under 16 in John Stocking’s household in the 1790 census. John’s youngest male, Alvin, was older than that.
3. ↑ 1800 census, 1 male and 1 female ages 16-25. Next household is Daniel Gray (Patience's uncle?) "United States Census, 1800,": accessed 11 December 2018), "Billious Stockings", Hebron, Washington, New York, United States; citing p. 289, NARA microfilm publication M32, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 26; FHL microfilm 193,714. database with images, FamilySearch
4. ↑ Daniel was living next door to the Stockings in the 1800 census
5. ↑ Halfway House, by Catherine Lukens, St. Lawrence County Historical Association Quarterly, Vol XVI, #4, Oct 1971, p6
6. ↑ Information obtained from several personal interviews with Jennifer Bixby, and from her article in the St. Lawrence [New York] Quarterly, April 1982, p12. Jennifer Bixby was the Town Historian for Lisbon at that time. RHSeale|2016
7. ↑ Halfway House, by Catherine Lukens, St. Lawrence County Historical Association Quarterly, Vol XVI, #4, Oct 1971, p6
8. ↑ Lisbon Cemetery Records, original records examined in Canton, NY, RHSealeseale-237|RHSeale]] 1 Sep 1983:
9. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images accessed 10 December 2021), memorial page for Billius Stocking (unknown–11 Oct 1851), Find A Grave: Memorial #53636321, citing Flackville Cemetery, Lisbon, St. Lawrence County, New York, USA ; Maintained by Anne Cady (contributor 46985237) .
10. ↑ 1800 Federal Census, Year: 1800; Census Place: Hebron, Washington, New York; Series: M32; Roll: 26; Page: 292; Image: 285; Family History Library Film: 193714
11. ↑ New York, Tax Assessment Rolls of Real and Personal Estates, 1799-1804. [Subscription database on-line, Ancestry.com]
12. ↑ New York, Tax Assessment Rolls of Real and Personal Estates, 1799–1804. [Subscription database on-line, Ancestry.com]
13. ↑ Lisbon Town Meeting, handwritten record begun in 1802, stored in the vault at the Lisbon Town Clerk’s office
14. ↑ There was a tax list for 1805, but that was incomplete and only covered the area now part of Canton
15. ↑ St. Lawrence Republican and Ogdensburgh weekly journal., July 19, 1893, Page 4..
16. ↑ Lisbon Town Meeting, handwritten record begun in 1802, stored in the vault at the Lisbon Town Clerk’s office
17. ↑ St. Lawrence co. NY deeds, vol2, page 68. Mile square 6 located at approximately, 44.7311698, -75.342599.
18. ↑ database with images, FamilySearch "United States Census, 1810,": 1 December 2015), New York > Saint Lawrence > Lisbon > image 1 of 3; citing NARA microfilm publication M252, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
19. ↑ St Lawrence county, New York, deed book 5:415
20. ↑ St Lawrence county, New York, deed book 5:368
21. ↑ St Lawrence county, New York, deed book 30:431
22. ↑ database with images, FamilySearch “United States Census, 1820," : accessed 10 December 2018), Billians Stockings, Lisbon, Saint Lawrence, New York, United States; citing p. 30, NARA microfilm publication M33, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 79; FHL microfilm 193,734. ]
23. ↑ All town office records were recorded in Lisbon Town Meeting, handwritten record begun in 1802, stored in the vault at the Lisbon Town Clerk’s office
24. ↑ St. Lawrence Gazette 30 May 1826, page 3 accessed 12 Aug 2020..
25. ↑ St Lawrence Gazette, Jun 12, 1827, p3..
26. ↑ St Lawrence Gazette, Jul 28 1829, p3..
27. ↑ "United States Census, 1830," database with images, FamilySearch : 19 August 2017), Bllinus Stocking, Lisbon, Saint Lawrence, New York, United States; citing 99, NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 107; FHL microfilm 17,167.
28. ↑ "United States census, 1840 Roll 334, p147, database with images, Family Search.
29. ↑ St. Lawrence deeds: 38A:438,
30. ↑ database with images, FamilySearch "United States Census, 1850,": 9 April 2016), New York > St. Lawrence > Lisbon > image 29 of 128; citing NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.). stamped page 177.
31. ↑ 1850, US Census Non-population schedule, New York, 1850. [Subscription database on-line, Ancestry.com]

See also:

• The "Halfway House"
  
• Raymond, Marcius Denison. Gray Genealogy: Being a Genealogical Record and History of the Descendants of John Gray, of Beverly, Mass. (Tarrytown, New York, 1887) Page 277

• Stocking, Rev. Charles Henry Wright, DD, ed.The Stocking Ancestry, Comprising the Descendants of George Stocking Founder of the American Family. The Lakeside Press, 1903