James More

Born 10 January 1782 at Catskill, Greene County, New York

Died 19 May 1866 at Gilboa, Schoharie County, New York

James was the sixth of eight children born to John More and Elizabeth “Betty” Taylor More. About 1786, James’ father relocated the family to Delaware County, New York with the idea of returning to his original claim near Harpersfield, New York. Before James' birth, his father had built a home and farmed the land at that place but had relocated the family for their safety to Catskill during the Revolutionary War. Instead, his father exchanged his original claim for one at what would become known as Moresville, New York (now known as Grand Gorge, New York) and that is where the family settled and prospered. James married to Roxanna Benjamin about 1800. They made their home first at Rose’s Brook in Roxbury, New York where James was the owner and operator of a grist-mill. About 1804, he relocated his young family to a farm at More Settlement on the slope of Bald Mountain. He owned and operated that farm as well as a saw-mill that he built at that place. About 1837, James retired from farm management and, in 1853, he sold the farm. He and his wife then resided at Prattsville, New York with their daughter, Elizabeth, who had married to George Hunt. Not long after the death of his wife, James relocated permanently to Gilboa where he lived out his remaining days with his daughter, Patience, who had married to William M. Peck. James and Roxanna were the parents of seven children; Jesse Benjamin More, John Benjamin More, Patience More, twins Robert Benjamin More and Alexander More (Alexander died in infancy), Dolly More, and Elizabeth Taylor More. James was a life-long Democrat and an Anti-Mason. He was remembered as kind and helpful by his neighbors. By his family, he was remembered for his numerous talks of the early days and the family history. James was buried next to his wife at Upper Cemetery at Prattsville. He was John More Association James Line cousin #6 and my fifth great-uncle.

©2018 Cindy Coffell