Elizabeth Powley

Elizabeth married William Albertson on 16 Nov 1797. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: James Gates. James was born in 1770 in Ontario, Canada; died on 15 May 1876 in Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. John Henry Gates was born on 22 Mar 1802 in Kingston, Ontario, Canada; died on 15 May 1876 in Westbrook, Ontario, Canada; was buried in Cataraqui Cemetery, Kingston, Frontenac County, Ontario, Canada.

Notes:

Born in Holland New York 14 Oct 1744. I have also seen sources suggest he was born in the Netherlands. Son of Francis Powley Sr. Mother currently unknown. The family were Dutch. Spelling of the surname is sometimes given as Pauli. Jacob married Annetje "Nancy" Van Vorst about 1774 in Schenectady, New York, although some sources give a date of 1769. This date seems unlikely given the known dates of the births of children, the earliest of which is 1775. He was a British Loyalist, like his father. Post Revolutionary War, both settled in the Kingston Ontario area.
While a resident of Schenectady NY, he enlisted 8 Dec 1781 in the King's Royal Regiment, 2nd Battalion. In the spring of 1782, Major John Ross and the men of the 2nd Batt. KRR NY were dispatched to Oswego to occupy and rebuild the fort there. During the fall of 1782 and winter 1782/83 they were ordered to Cataraqui (near what is now Kingston, Ontario), where they remained into 1784.
During the above period of time, there were no children born into the family of Jacob Powley, adding to the speculation that Jacob was at Cataraqui during this time with Major Ross. Family tradition says that he 'fled to the Kingston area and lived with the Indians until the end of the war'. Whichever is true, he was in the Kingston Ontario area during the period while his family remained in New York state.
According to the obituary of son Jacob Powley "During the Revolution his father was taken prisoner by the Indians, and kept in Canada for 7 years. After peace was declared, he brought his family to Canada, leaving them at what is now Collins Bay , west of Kingston. (US/CAN 971.3V4md, p. 259)" This explains the Muster Roll which cites him for desertion and the entry which reads "gone to States for family"(US/CAN 971m2ce p.246).
In 1784 he returned to the United States for his family, returning to Upper Canada by 1785. He and his father were both on the United Empire Loyalist list and thus eligible for both land grants and settlement supports and assistance. On 2 Sep 1785 he received the first of several land grants.
A record of Jacob's family appears on the 1786 Provision List. At that point there were five children in the family. Being on the list indicates that the family needed assistance to survive, because they were not yet self sufficient. This was common among early Loyalist settlers, because the land grants most were given were essentially wilderness, and it took some time and a great deal of labor to establish farms. One tidbit of interest - the Provision List indicates Jacob was 5' 5" tall.
Of the known children of Jacob and Annetje, Elizabeth, Francis, William, Jacob and James were born in New York State. Hannah, Charles, Mary and Rebecca were all born in Upper Canada. Charles appears to have died as an infant, but the rest all grew up and had families. There are 66 grandchildren known as of writing - thus Jacob has many descendents!!
His gravestone reads: "Here Lays The Body Of/Jacob Powley/Who Gave Much/Satisfaction Until/The Last Period When He/Sat In His Chair Facing The/Door On The 21st Day of June/2 o'clock Afternoon Year 1814/He Lay Down His He[a]d With/Out A Struggle Or a Groan/To Sleep In Silence Being/Aged 69Yrs 8M 7Dys."
This limestone slab was cut and engraved by hand - the work being done by a friend and neighbor. It was 18 inches high - 18 inches wide and 3 inches thick. Some years ago the stone was broken and removed, but by chance was recovered some years later. The stone is now in Oakville, Ontario at the home of J. Powley, great-great-great grandson of Jacob. The grave Itself is located only a few feet south of the southwest corner of the Methodist Church at Cataraqui. The above inscription is an exact copy word by word, and line by line.
--Find a Grave Memorial 18347587

Johann married Annetje Van Vorst in 1769 in Schenectady, New York, USA. Annetje (daughter of Jellis Van Vorst and Annatje Berrit) was born on 10 Dec 1758 in Schenectady, New York, USA; died in 1852 in Kingston, Ontario, Canada; was buried in Cataraqui Cemetery, Kingston, Frontenac County, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Jellis married Annatje Berrit. Annatje was born on 18 Jan 1736 in Schenectady, New York, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]