Deacon Caleb Humiston was the son of James Humiston (1727 - 1812). He was born on May 2, 1762 in New Haven Co. and christened on Sept. 5, 1762 at the First Congregational Church in North Haven. He married Sarah Bishop on Feb 14, 1782 at the same Congregation Church. Sarah was born on Mar. 5, 1764 in New Haven Co. They later moved to W. Springfield between 1783 and 1787 and he is listed in the 1800, 1810, 1820 US Census as the head of a household in W. Springfield with (in 1810) 1 male over 45 (himself), 3 males 26-16 (?), 2 males 16-10 (likely Bishop and one other), 1 female over 45 (his wife), 1 female 45-26 (likely Lovina), 3 females 26-16 (likely Abigail, Esther, and Sarah, and 1 female under 10 (Sarah).
Usually a name is not re-used when the first child with name survives but it is clear that Caleb had two daughters named Sarah, the younger one married Sumner Ives, and the older one did not marry. After Sumner Ives died, the younger Sarah and her children lived with her brother, Bishop and his family along with their sister, Sarah. Caleb’s father, James, and brother, James, Jr., are also listed as heads of households in the same 1810 census. The 1820 Census records for Caleb and his family are shown several pages further. Caleb died on Jan. 5, 1842 in W. Springfield and Sarah died on Jan 7, 1854. They had at least six children, all born in West Springfield, except Lovina
1. Lovina, born April 16, 1783* in New Haven, recorded in West Springfield. She married* Stephen Chapin.
2. Abigail, born Jan 14, 1787*, died June 6, 1837* in W. Springfield.
3. Serah, born Sept. 22, 1789*, died after 1870. He never married. Serah Humiston is listed, at age 70 & 80 in the 1860 & 1870 US Census in Holyoke in his brother Bishops’ household along Sarah Humiston Ives, his younger sister and widow of Sumner Ives, and the younger Sarah’s four children.
4. Esther, born Oct. 18, 1792*, married* Lyman Goodyear.
5. Bishop, born Jan. 25, 1796*, married Nancy Frick, also of W. Springfield on June 10, 1816* and they are listed in the 1820 Census – see following. She died in May 18, 1844* in W. Springfield. He then married Betsy Saphronia, also of W. Springfield, on Oct. 19, 1844*. Bishop and Saphromia are also listed in the 1860 US Census but only Bishop in 1870, at age 74, when Ameila Humiston, age 45, is listed as living with him – either a third wife or a relative but not a daughter. Sarah refers to her as Aunt Ameila in a letter to her son, suggesting she is a third wife. The 1860 and 1870 Census Records for the families of Bishop and his son, Caleb, follow, as well as the 1820 Census records for the families of Bishop and his father, Caleb. Sarah Humiston Ives returned to Holyoke to live with her brother, Bishop some time after her husband died in 1844.
Bishop and Nancy had a son, Caleb, born 1819* in W. Springfield, and a daughter. Later Caleb is listed as a farmer in the W. Springfield Vital Records and married Salome J. Rand, also of W. Springfield on Dec. 25, 1845*. Caleb and Salome had a son, Caleb, born on Oct. 28, 1849*. This younger Caleb is the cousin who corresponds with Sumner Abraham in 1906-1907. He is listed in the 1902 and 1912 Holyoke Directories as a bookkeeper for the Holyoke Paper Co. and living at 220 Pine St. Holyoke (see below). His brother Thomas is listed in the same Directories as a paymaster for the Holyoke Paper Co. and living on Back St. in 1902 and Homestead Ave. in 1912. Sarah Humiston Ives refers to an Uncle Bishop to her son, Sumner Abraham in her correspondence, likely his younger cousin Caleb’s grandfather. In this 1873 letter, she also refers to an auction of a barn and personal property belonging to Bishop, suggesting he recently died. She also mentions notes suggesting money owned Sumner by his Uncle Bishop.
Caleb Humiston wrote to his cousin Sumner Abraham Ives in 1906 that he could now longer keep up his father’s old farm and was considering, “selling of the old farm and my ¾ interest in the house in which you and cousin Mary (Sumner’s sister) have ¼ interest. I have carried the property for about sixteen years. It has been a burden most of the time, is increasingly so now, and means disaster to me in my old age if I continue to struggle on with it. My brother Thomas is not able to take the burden of it so there seems no other way but for me to sell to some stranger. I hope it may be to someone who will improve and beautify the place as I would be glad and once hoped to do.” Sumner wrote back, “I am very sorry you feel you must sell the old place. I wish I had money enough to spare for buying it. There are to me so many sacred memories connected with its rooms.” Both men were worried about the effect on Sumner’s sister, Mary, who was very attached to the old place.
6. Sarah, born Dec. 26, 1803*, married Sumner Ives on Nov. 26, 1829* in W. Springfield, They had five children: Eunice (1830 -1878), Sarah (1832-1850), Frances (1834-1862), Mary (1836-after1906), Sumner Abraham (1839-1924).
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