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Gotts Surname Family History

Ridgeway, New York State, USA  (John 106 family)

On the south shore of Lake Ontario, Ridgeway was the destination for several families emigrating from rural Norfolk around 1851, many of whom settled in and around the town of Ridgeway to find work in farming and quarrying. By 1860 about half the inhabitants of the northern area of the county were recent emigrants, all striving to adapt to a very different lifestyle and, not least, climate.

Albion Main Street, Ridgeway  

 Orleans County tugboat

Photos Source: Ernest Gotts

 George 134 and Ann Waterson

Among them were George 134 (1810-92), of East Ruston, and his wife Ann 142 Waterson (1815-90), m Hempstead in 1832, along with their five sons and one daughter:

• George W. 144 (1834-94). George married Anne E. 1098 Cautman (1837-1919), daughter of another emigrant family from Happisburgh, in 1857. As well as serving as assistant foreman and then general agent for a quarry business, he owned three farms aggregating 263 acres. Their children included:
• Julia 1099 May b 1859 Orleans County m IG Smith Sanborn 1908
• Albert G 1100 b 1861 Orleans County, m Annie B Webb and had daughter Florence L 2086 in 1893: also married Elizabeth 2073
• Inez M 101, b 1872, m Solomon T House
• John 145 (1836-83) John married Harriet E. 1103 Mileham (1842-1924), who belonged to an emigrant family from Smallburgh and Dilham. He committed suicide near Shelby Basin in 1883. Their children include:
• Alice L 1104 b 1859 m James Waterson
• George E 1105 b 1861 m Olivia M 1107
• Edna L 1106 m Daniel Coon
• Earl J 2091 b 1879 m Myrtle M 2092 in 1906
• Mary Ann 146 (1838-1905) Mary Ann married George H. Curson (1830-1918).
• James 147 (1841-92) James married Frances A. 1108 James (1845-98). Apparently a prosperous and respected citizen, one winter morning he hung himself in his barn, leaving behind a widow, one married daughter and three brothers. Their daughter was Cornelia J 2090 b 1867.

Boxwood cemetery, Ridgeway

Resting place of many Gottses from Orleans County