Aug 27, 2011 - cabin and was the first Caucasian (non-Indian) baby born in Nicholson. ... entertainment, games, contests
The Wilbur Family 125th Annual Reunion Celebration and Nicholson’s Early History By Kathy Steele The 125th annual family reunion of the descendants of Samuel Rathbone and Mary “Polly” HALSTEAD WILBUR of Northeastern Pennsylvania (NEPA) (primarily Wyoming, Susquehanna, Bradford, Luzerne and Lackawanna Counties) was held at the home of Samuel and Polly’s great, great, great granddaughter on Saturday, August 27, 2011 at Nicholson, Wyoming County, PA (the same date and geographical location as the first reunion held in 1886). A century and a quarter of consecutive family gatherings is an extremely remarkable feat for any family, however for the Wilburs it only represents a fraction of the remarkable richness of their history. By the time this country declared its independence on July 4, 1776 the Wilbur family had already been living here 146 years. Having sailed to this country from England with the Winthrop Fleet in 1630, the Wilbur family has been in America 381 years. They were instrumental in proclaiming Rhode Island as the first government in the world to allow civil and religious liberty by signing the Portsmouth Compact in 1638. For the next century and a half they carved their way through the wilderness making valuable contributions in settling Connecticut, NY, and then to NEPA. Samuel Rathbone Wilbur was born December 20, 1782 in Plainfield, Conn and came to Nicholson, PA about 1805. He was the son of Elizabeth Benjamin and Oliver Wilbur, a Revolutionary War veteran. Mary “Polly” Halstead Wilbur, daughter of Samuel and Hannah Harding Halstead, (one of the first four pioneer families from Connecticut to settle in the wilderness of Nicholson about 1787), was born January 14, 1791 in a log cabin and was the first Caucasian (non-Indian) baby born in Nicholson. Polly’s father, a Revolutionary War soldier spent seven years with Gen John Sullivan’s forces participating in Sullivan’s March along the Susquehanna River before coming back to Nicholson. He was one of the signers of the 1794 petition to the court of Wilkes-Barre asking for a township to be created. Her grandfather Isaiah Hallstead, also a Revolutionary War soldier, was the scrivener of the petition which was granted in 1795 forming Nicholson Township from the existing Tioga and Wyalusing Townships. When the Borough of Nicholson became incorporated in 1875, Polly was 84 years old. She died in 1884 (two years prior to the first reunion) at the age of 93. Polly and Samuel married in 1814 at Nicholson. Polly was pregnant at 43 with their tenth child when Samuel was killed by the falling of a tree. She raised and supported her family alone and lived to see all ten of their children reach maturity. The majority of their 47 grandchildren and 84 great grandchildren stayed in the surrounding area of Wyoming, Susquehanna and Bradford counties. As one of the early pioneer families to settle in Pennsylvania, a considerable number of the Wilbur family descendants have lived in Nicholson and the surrounding area for the past 200 plus years. Children of Samuel and Polly are: Elemuel Halstead WILBUR (married Katherine COOK), Elizabeth Ann WILBUR (married John STEELE, Jr.), Oliver WILBUR (married
Margaret MATTHEWSON), Ira Benjamin WILBUR (married Mary WOODRUFF), Woodbury Starkweather WILBUR (married, Sarah GOSS), William Rathbone WILBUR, Daniel Cagwin WILBUR, Marilda WILBUR (married John ROUGHT), Eunice Mary WILBUR (married James Elliot KINNER), and Olive WILBUR. Grandchildren include: (Elemuel Halstead WILBUR-Marion, Edward & Palmyra), (Elizabeth Ann STEELE-Balser, Olive Harriet, Mary Ellen, Palmyra, Asa Smeed & Sarah Wilson), (Oliver WILBUR-Isaiah, James, William Wellington, Charles, Mary R., Demilia & Palmyra),(Ira Benjamin WILBUR- Alamander, John, Justin Lee, Daniel Boone, Harrison Allan, Nellie Charlotte & Mary), (Woodbury Starkweather WILBURLenora Lillian, Lucinda, William H., Franklin, Herbert, George, Orrin, Caroline, Minnie J., Anna R., Lillie & Elva), Marilda ROUGHT- Abram, Loiusa L., Lydia E., Mary M., Ellicott, Thomas G., Huldah & Olive), (Eunice KINNER- Ella P., Jane Delmer & Oliver Smith). Samuel and Polly’s family has contributed much to the early history of Nicholson including: Their daughter Elizabeth’s father-in-law (John Steele) was the first settler in the Borough of Nicholson; Balser Steele (Grandson to Samuel & Polly) kept the toll gate of the Abington and Waterford Turnpike (Quarry Road) on the line between Nicholson Township and Susquehanna County; Edward Thurston Wilbur (Great grandson of Samuel & Polly) was the first Rural Free Delivery carrier (in 1904) out of the Nicholson Post Office; to name a few. The first reunion began as a party held in honor of Samuel and Polly’s son, Ira Benjamin Wilbur’s 69th birthday. He was born in 1817. It was from this single event that a family tradition began and has continued for the past 125 years. At one time these reunions have attracted several hundred descendants yearly. The passenger trains of the Lackawanna Railroad would make a special stop at Nicholson to let the people get off the trains in the morning and stop again at night to pick them up. The Wilbur reunions are not just a typical gathering to renew acquaintances, but rather a tribute to the preservation of the historic richness of their forefathers and their loyal patriotism to this country considering how many Wilburs have served their country in the many wars that have been fought since their arrival in 1630. In the Civil War alone, Samuel & Polly had 1 son, 14 grandsons, and a son-in-law that fought. Several were wounded and 3 died. In recognition of the 100th reunion, an American flag that flew over the Capitol Building in Washington on July 1, 1986 was presented to the family by Nicholson native, Congressman Jim Saxton of NJ (g, g, g, grandson to Samuel & Polly). It has flown with pride at all subsequent reunions. For the past 91 years a written record was kept documenting each reunion with the date, place, how many and who attended, what the weather was like, what activitiesentertainment, games, contests, etc. they engaged in, a business meeting was held whereby officers were elected, births, deaths, marriages were recorded, early family history reviewed with additions and corrections made, etc.
It is from these writings that many activities and entertainment from a century and a quarter of past reunions were recreated and/or reenacted to commemorate this historic all day event. The fun filled day included: a tour of the local historic Nicholson sites as it relates to the Wilbur heritage, (cemeteries, ancestral homesteads, early Nicholson landmarks, previous reunion locations, etc.), wearing period costume (having 12½ decades to choose from) and/or wearing the family colors (black and white) is encouraged, homemade ice cream, games and contests from bygone days, good food, and good fellowship. Notable attendees included State Representative Sandra Major to present a citation to the family for this remarkable 125 year accomplishment and Marion Sweet, Chair of the Nicholson Heritage Association, who was present in recognition of the Wilbur contribution to the early history of Nicholson. While most of the Wilbur reunions reflect on preserving the past, the 125th is being designated to reliving some of it while simultaneously setting the stage for future ones. The entire library of Wilbur genealogy, memorabilia, family history and local history books (much has been written over the years regarding the various contributions Wilburs have made to the area) will be displayed including the 5 hardcover volumes of Wilbur genealogy compiled in the 1930’s containing over 150,000 Wilbur descendants. It is the family goal to continue this extremely extensive research project and update the lineage to the present starting with their branch of the family tree. They are looking for family history, photographs, and Wilbur reunion photos to help complete this project. For additional information or follow-up, please contact Kathy Steele (Sec/Treas Wilbur Family Reunion) at
[email protected] or (570) 942-4327.
