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Rinaldo SAMMIS (b 1831)

Rinaldo Sammis was born in June 1831 in Huntington (Suffolk) New York. The day of his birth is reported to be the 2nd or the 27th of the month by sources published on the web. An obituary included in a Find-a-Grave memorial states that he was born in West Neck, an area just to the north of Huntington Village. He was the son of Richard H Sammis and Esther Mary Eversley.

Rinaldo's parents were married in New York City on 15 Feb 1829. The couple appeared in the 1830 US Census still in Ward 7 of the City of New York. There were no children in the household that year even though son Edgar had been born late in 1829. The census, unfortunately, does not indicate what his father Richard's occupation was.

By 1840, Rinaldo's parents were living in Huntington (Suffolk) New York and his father was farming. The household of 14 persons included five boys under the age of 10 and 5 girls under the age of 15. Rinaldo would have been 9 years old that year and included in the count of five boys age 5-9. I would guess that Rinaldo's older brother Edgar who would have been 11 that year was also accounted for in that grouping. There were three boys age under 5, almost certainly none were Rinaldo's father's children. There were two males between 20 and 29 in the household who could have been the father of these children.

The 1850 Census found Rinaldo, age 19, still living with his parents. In the census listing, there are seven siblings named, two brothers and five sisters, Edgar (age 20), Adelia (age 18), Charles (age 15), Elizabeth (age 14), Emily (age 12), Phebe (age 10), and Juliette (age 8). Rinaldo was reported to be working as a farmer. The census record unfortunately does not identify the location of the household within Huntington township.

Rinaldo married Mary Jane Brush Davis in 1838. He would have been age 27, she age 19. The 1900 US Census reports in June of 1900 that the couple had been married for 42 years. A 1964 application for membership in the Sons of the American Revolution gives the date of their marriage as 09 Nov 1838 but gives no place. An undated and unattributed obituary published in Mary's Find-A-Grave memorial states that after the couple's marriage they lived in West Neck for one year and then moved to Northport, another village in Huntington township about six miles to the northeast of West Neck.

Rinaldo and Mary Jane were found by the 1860 US Census in Northport, Huntington (Suffolk) New York on 05 Jul 1860. In the agricultural census taken in June of that year, the record shows that Rinaldo had a farm of some 400 acres, with 150 of those acres being farmed. The valuation of his farm was among the three highest on a page of 40 farms. The household that year included the couple's first child, a daughter named Mary Jane, just one year old. Also in the household were Rinaldo's in-laws, Stephen and Martha Davis and three of their children. The record shows that his father-in-law was working on the farm.

The Civil War appears to have had little effect on the family. Rinaldo did not serve in the war and he had no children old enough to serve. Further, when the agricultural census was taken in 1870, five years after the end of the war, the status of his farm was little changed. He was still among the top three valuations on a page of 40 farms and his acreage had increased to 530 acres with only 130 acres under cultivation.

Rinaldo and Mary's first three children, all girls, were listed in the household in 1870, Mary J (age 11), Sarah A (age 8) and Clarinda D (age 4). The family was still in Huntington township and Rinaldo's in-laws were still a part of his household that year. Rinaldo's father-in-law, at age 63, was no longer working. Henry Conklin, possibly a relative of Mary Davis, was in the household and listed as a farm laborer. The farm was still 530 acres with 130 acres improved. The farm included a stand-out number of sheep (69). The production in 1870 was substantially lower than it would be in 1880--only roughly 200 bushels each of wheat, corn, and oats.

By the time of the 1880 Census on 18 Jun 1880, Rinaldo and Mary's family was complete. Daughter Sarah had died only a few weeks before the census was enumerated. She was 18 years old. The couple had three new sons, Richard (age 9), Gilbert (age 4) and Lawrence (age 1). The farm itself was prodigious that year. It was still only 130 acres of tilled land but a single acre was planted with 500 trees that produced 250 bushels of apples. 1880 was presumably a bumper crop year. The farm produced 400 bushels of wheat, 400 bushels of corn, 500 bushels of oats, 6000 gallons of milk and 400 pounds of butter.

Rinaldo gave up the farm sometime between 1880 and 1900. In the 1900 US Census, he was found with his family in Huntington in a home owned with a mortgage. He was age 68 and gave his occupation as brickmaker. Only son Lawrence, age 21, was still living at home.

Rinaldo's wife Mary died in late 1907. I can find no sign of Rinaldo in the 1910 US Census, but he appeared in the household of his son Gilbert's family in the 1915 New Jersey Census.

Rinaldo died in October 1919 in New Jersey. An unattributed and undated obituary included in the Find-A-Grave memorial referenced below says that he died on a Thursday. That would make a date of 09 Oct 1919 likely. He was 88 years old. The obituary states that Rinaldo died at Somerville (Somerset) New Jersey, a borough about 30 miles to the north-north-east of Trenton and gives Somerville was the home of Rinaldo's son, Richard. Funeral services were held in the Northport Presbyterian Church on Sunday of the same week and he was buried in Huntington Rural Cemetery in Huntington (Suffolk) New York.

Sources:

1829 Marriage Registration for Richard Sammis and Esther Eversley: Citation: Ancestry.com. U.S., Presbyterian Church Records, 1701-1970 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016. Presbyterian Historical Society; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; U.S., Presbyterian Church Records, 1701-1907; Book Title: 1818 - 1951. Content: A marriage registration in the records of Seventh Presbyterian Church, New York City, New York shows that Mr Richard ?P? Sammis and Miss Esther M Eversley were married on 15 Feb 1829.

1830 US Census, Household of Richard Sammis (b c1803): Citation: Ancestry.com. 1830 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Year: 1830; Census Place: New York Ward 7, New York, New York; Series: M19; Roll: 97; Page: 32; Family History Library Film: 0017157. Content: The 1830 US Census of City of New York, Ward 7, New York in June 1830 lists Richard H Sammis with household of males (1 20 to 30 yrs) and females (1 15 to under 20 yrs) a total of 2 persons. Note: Richard had married Mary Esther Eversley in New York City in 1829.

1840 US Census, Household of Richard Sammis (b c1803): Citation: Ancestry.com. 1840 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Year: 1840; Census Place: Huntington, Suffolk, New York; Roll: 343; Page: 180; Family History Library Film: 0017207, Content: The 1840 US Census of Huntington, Suffolk County, New York in June 1840 lists the household of Richard Sammis composed of males (3 under 5 yrs, 2 5 to 9 yrs, 2 20 to 29 yrs, 1 30 to 39 yrs) and females (3 under 5 yrs, 1 5 to 9 yrs, 1 10 to 14 yrs, 1 30 to 39 yrs. 5 employed in agriculture. 14 persons total.

1850 US Census, Household of Richard Sammis (b c1803): Citation: Ancestry.com. 1850 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Year: 1850; Census Place: Huntington, Suffolk, New York; Roll: 601; Page: 89a. Content: The 1850 US Census of Huntington, Suffolk County, New York on 17 Dec 1850, shows dwelling (1284/1451) with a household composed of (1) Richard Sammis, age 49, male, farmer who values his real estate at $12K, born in New York, (2) Esther M Sammis, age 45, female, born in New York, (3) Edgar Sammis, age 20, male, farmer, born in New York, (4) Rinaldo Sammis, age 19, male, farmer, born in New York, (5) ?Adelia? Sammis, age 18, female, born in New York, (6) Charles Sammis, age 15, male, born in New York, attended school, (7) Elizabeth Sammis, age 14, female, born in New York, attended school, (8) Emily Sammis, age 12, female, born in New York, attended school, (9) Phebe Sammis, age 10, female, born in New York, attended school, (10) Juliette Sammis, age 8, female, born in New York, attended school, (11) Mary Comari, age 29, female, born Ireland.

1860 US Census, Household of Rinaldo Sammis (b 1831): Citation: Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Year: 1860; Census Place: Huntington, Suffolk, New York; Roll M653_864; Page: 232; Image: 237; Family History Library Film: 803864. Content: The 1860 US Census of Huntington Township (Post Office: Northport), Suffolk County, New York on 05 Jul 1860 lists dwelling (501/508) with a household composed of (1) Rinaldo Sammis, age 23, male, farmer, (real: $10,000; pers: $1500), born New York, (2) Mary Sammis, age 21, female, born New York, (3) Mary Jane Sammis, age 1, female, born New York, (4) Stephen A Davis, age 52, male, farm laborer, born New York, (5) Martha C Davis, age 44, female, born New York, (6) Laura M Davis, age 15, female, born New York, (7) Charity J Davis, age 6, female, born New York, (8) Stephen A Davis Jr, age 2, male, born New York, (9) Jonathan ?White?, age 45, male, no occupation given, born New York.

1860 US Ag Census, Rinaldo Sammis (b 1831): Citation: Ancestry.com. U.S., Selected Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1880 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Census Year: 1860; Census Place: Huntington, Suffolk, New York; Archive Collection Number: A18; Roll: 18; Page: 9; Line: 9; Schedule Type: Agriculture. Content: The 1860 US Agricultural Census of (Post Office Northport) Huntington (Suffolk) New York taken in June 1860 lists Ronald [Rinaldo] Sammis at line 31 on page 9. The record shows that he had 150 improved acres and 250 acres unimproved. The farm is valued at $10,000, one of only three on the page of 40 farms with a valuation over $6000. The farm produced 300 bushels of corn and oats, 125 bushels of wheat 400 lbs of butter.

1865 New York State Census, Household of Rinaldo Sammis (b 1831): Citation: Ancestry.com. New York, U.S., State Census, 1865 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Content: The 1865 New York State Census of Huntington (Town 2nd Election District), Suffolk County, New York on 09 Jun 1865 lists dwelling 53, a farm, with a household composed of (1) Rilando (sic) Sammis, age 34, male, born in Suffolk County, married (once), farmer, native voter, land owner, (2) Mary B Sammis, age 27, female, wife, born New York, two children, married (once), (3) Mary J Sammis, age 7, female, child, born Suffolk County, single, (4) Sarah A Sammis, age 4, female, child, born Suffolk County, single, deaf and dumb, blind, or insane, (5) John White, age 45, male, servant, born Suffolk, single, farmer, native voter, (6) Jane ?Muia?, age 20, female, servant, born Suffolk County, single, (7) Henry ?Clay?, age 24, male, servant, born Kings County, NY, single, farmer, native voter.

1870 US Census, Household of Rinaldo Sammis (b 1831): Citation: Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Year: 1870; Census Place: Huntington, Suffolk, New York; Roll: M593_1100; Page: 533B. Content: The 1870 US Census of Huntington (Post Office: Huntington), Suffolk County, New York on 23 Jul 1870 lists dwelling (951/1002) with a household composed of (1) Rinaldo Sammis, age 39, male, farmer, (real: $13,000; pers: $2,000), born New York, eligible to vote, (2) Mary B Sammis, age 31, female, keeping house, born New York, (3) Mary J Sammis, age 11, female, at school, born New York, (4) Sarah A Sammis, age 8, female, at school, born New York, (5) Clarinda D Sammis, age 4, female, born New York, (6) Stephen A Davis, age 63, male, no occupation, born Connecticut, eligible to vote, (7) Martha C Davis, age 56, female, keeping house, born New York, (8) Henry Conklin, age 18, male, farm laborer, born New York.

1870 US Ag Census, Rinaldo Sammis (b 1831): Citation: Ancestry.com. U.S., Selected Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1880 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Census Year: 1870; Census Place: Huntington, Suffolk, New York; Archive Collection Number: A29; Roll: 29; Page: 7; Line: 38; Schedule Type: Agriculture. Content: The 1870 US Census of Huntington (Suffolk) New York on 12 Jul 1870 lists Rinaldo Sammis at line 24 on page 7. He is farming 130 acres of improved land and has 400 acres of unimproved forest and woodland. He values the farm at $13000, the third highest evaluation on a page listing 40 farms. He has a stand-out number of sheep (69) and produced 200 or more bushels of wheat, corn, and oats.

1880 US Census, Household of Rinaldo Sammis (b 1831): Citation: Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1880 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Year: 1880; Census Place: Huntington, Suffolk, New York; Roll 935; Family History Film: 1254935; Page: 273D; Enumeration District: 320; Image: 0275. Content: The 1880 US Census of Huntington (Suffolk) New York enumerated on 18 Jun 1880 shows dwelling 357/381 with a household composed of (1) Rinaldo Sammis, [head], male, age 47, married, farmer, born in NY, parents born in NY, (2) Mary B Sammis, wife , female, age 41, married, born in NY, both parents born in NY, (3) Mary J Sammis, daughter, female, age 21, single, at home, born in NY, (4) Clara D Sammis, daughter, female, age 14, single, at home, in school within the year, born in NY, (5) Richard R Sammis, son, male, age 9, at school within the year, born in NY, (6) Gilbert B Sammis, son, male, age 4, born in NY, (7) Lawrence A Sammis, son, male, age 1, born in NY, (8) Sarah A Sammis, daughter, female, age 18, born in NY, both parents born in NY, died on 3 Jun 1880.

1880 US Agricultural Census, Rinaldo Sammis (b 1831): Citation: Ancestry.com. U.S., Census Non-Population Schedules, New York, 1850-1880 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Census Year: 1880; Census Place: Huntington Enumeration District 320, Suffolk, New York; Archive Collection Number: A68; Roll: 68; Page: 25; Line: 6. Content: The 1880 US Agricultural Census of Huntington (ED 320), Suffolk County, New York (page 25) on 12 Jun 1880 lists (line 6) Rinaldo Sammis, 130 acres of tilled land, 400 acres of woodland and forest, 8 horses, 9 cows, 18 calves dropped, 6000 gallons milk, 400 lbs butter, 60 sheep, 35 lambs dropped, 240 lbs of fleece, 16 swine, 100 poultry, 300 dozen eggs, 1 acre buckwheat producing 20 bushels, 14 acres indian corn producing 400 bushels, 15 acres of oats producing 500 bushels, 8 acres of rye producing 100 bushels, 17 acres of wheat producing 400 bushels, 10 tons of straw, 3 acres of potatoes producing 300 bushels, 1 acre of apples with 500 producing trees producing 250 bushels, 100 cords of wood.

1900 US Census, Household of Rinaldo Sammis (b 1831): Citation: Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. Year: 1900; Census Place: Huntington, Suffolk, New York; Page: 12; Enumeration District: 0763; FHL microfilm: 1241165. Content: The 1900 US Census of Huntington, Suffolk County, New York on 19 Jun 1900 lists dwelling (256/269), a home, owned with mortgage, with a household composed of (1) Rinaldo Sammis, head, male, born June 1831, age 68, married 42 years, born New York, father born New York, mother born Connecticut, brickmaker, can read/write (2) Mary B Sammis, wife, female, born Nov 1838, age 61, married 42 years, 6 children, 5 living, born New York, father born Connecticut, mother born New York, can read/write, (3) Lawrence H Sammis, son, male, born Oct 1878, age 21, single, born New York, portrait artist, can read/write.

1915 New Jersey Census, Household of Gilbert B Sammis (b 1875): Citation: Ancestry.com. New Jersey, U.S., State Census, 1915 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2017. New Jersey State Archive; Trenton, NJ, USA; State Census of New Jersey, 1915; Reference Number: L-10; Film Number: 48. Content: The 1915 New Jersey State Census of Freehold Township on 12 Jun 1915 lists dwelling 124, owned with mortgage, with a household composed of (1) Gilbert B Sammis, male, born Sep 1875, age 39, married, born New York, parents born New York, farmer, can read/write, (2) Mildred R Sammis, female, born Jun 1874, age 40, married, born New York, parents born Maine, can rea/write, (3) Howard C Sammis, male, born Oct 1897, age 18, single, born New York, in school (Freehold, public), (4) Merton D Sammis, male, born Apr 1893, age 17, single, born New York, in school (Freehold, public), (5) Byron T Sammis, male, born Dec 1899, age 15, single, born New York, in school (Freehold, public), (6) Henrietta Sammis, female, born Jun 1902, age 13, single, born New York, in school (Freehold, public), (7) Henrietta Robbins, female, born Oct 1871, age 43, single, born New York, parents born Maine, missionary, can read/write, (8) Rinaldo Sammis, male, born June 1821, age 83, widower, born New York, parents born New York, retired, can read/write, (9) William Polkoskey, male, born May 1867, age 48, single, born Russia, parents born Russia,18 yrs in US, alien, laborer, can read/write.

1919 New Jersey Death Index Record for Rinaldo Sammis (b 1831): Citation: Ancestry.com. New Jersey, U.S., Death Index, 1901-2017 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016. Year Range: 1916-1919; Surname Range: 1916-1919. Content: A New Jersey Death Index record for Somerset County shows that Rinaldo Sammis died there in Oct 1919.

Find a Grave Memorial 63396184 for Rinaldo Sammis (b 1831) : Content: An undated and uattributed obituary attached to the memorial states that Rinaldo "died at Somerville, NJ, yesterday (Thursday) at the age of 88 years. He was born at West Neck, the son of Richard and Esther Sammis. ... He leaves one brother, Brewster G Sammis, and a sister, Mrs, Juliet Sammis, of Huntington, and five children, Mrs Charles Lewis and Mrs Nathaniel Hendrickson of Northport; Richard Sammis of Somerville, NJ; Gilbert Sammis of Freehold, NJ, and Lawrence Sammis, of Philadelphia. ... Funeral services ... at the Northport Presbyterian Church."

1964 Application for Membership in Sons of the American Revolution, Sammis Lewis Kirby (b 1958): Citation: Ancestry.com. U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com.