Jonathan, Castle, Jesse, Ephraim and Abigail DAINS were a family of Connecticut birth, who came to the New Jerusalem with the earliest pioneers and all but Ephraim were at first of the Friend’s Society. Their father was Henry DAINS, who married Margaret BATES of Rhode Island and this matron lived to be 100 years old. Abigail, her daughter, became the wife of Samuel BARNS Sr., of the Friend’s Society and the mother of the BARNES family.
Jonathan DAINS married Mary GREEN of Connecticut, and had six children, Margaret, Francis, Lavina, Stephen, Jonathan and Mary. The father, who was an industrious man and useful citizen, died in Jerusalem, in the 93rd year of his age, a firm adherent of the Friend to the last. The oldest daughter, Margaret, married John WESTON of Connecticut and lived to be 86 years old. Francis was never married. Lavina lived unmarried and was an exemplary member of the Friend’s family. She died in 1850 at the age of 86 years. Stephen, after the loss of his first wife, who was the mother of a daughter, Eliza, that died a young woman, married Rachel FITZWATER. They had several children and removed to Michigan where he died advanced in years.
George DAINS of Jerusalem, is a son of Stephen DAINS. George married Mary HOPKINS, and for his second wife, Elizabeth HOPKINS, and has four children. Mary DAINS, the youngest of the children of Jonathan DAINS Sr., married Ephraim KINNEY and settled in Potter, afterwards going west.
Jonathan DAINS Jr., married Nancy MC GRAW, and had eight children, John, Jesse, Francis, Cyrus, Orilla, Perry, Richard and Ezra. Of these, John married Catharine SAUNDERS of Jerusalem, and has two sons and one daughter. Jesse, who also resided in Jerusalem, married Chloe STARK and died leaving two daughters. Francis, who is a well know shoemaker in Penn Yan, married Mary Jane LEWIS, daughter of George LEWIS who established the Seneca Patriot, a newspaper at Ovid, in 1815, and has two children, Henry Clay and Libbie. Henry Clay is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Artillery service. Libbie is the wife of Francis M. GIFFORD. Cyrus DAINS married Jane STOUT of Potter, is a merchant at Potter Center, and has one child, a daughter. Orilla married Joseph BARRETT of Jerusalem, and has three children, one of whom, George, perished in the rebel prison at Andersonville. Perry DAINS is a thrifty gardener of Penn Yan. He married Ann SHERRATT and has no children. Richard is another shoemaker of Penn Yan. He married Sarah TUCKER and has one daughter. Ezra is also married and resides in Michigan.
Castle DAINS married Joanna BARMAN in the state of Connecticut. He as a Revolutionary soldier, and in the census of 1840 was returned as 91 years old. He died three years later, at the age of 94 years. He was a carpenter and made ox yokes and plows. He and his brother, Jonathan, were both very ingenious mechanics, the latter being a tanner; and they were both noted cattle and horse doctors. Castle was also famous for his efficiency in curing the bites of rattlesnakes, which he did by means of some plant known to him which grew in the woods. His children were, Salmon, Elizabeth, Abel, Saloma and Simeon. Salmon left home about the age of 25, and it was reported that he was seized in New York by the Press Gang and forced on board a British Man of War. He was not afterwards heard from. Elizabeth married Benjamin DURHAM, celebrated as an excellent millwright of the early days. Their descendants are numerous in Jerusalem. Abel DAINS married Mrs. Clarissa BAKER, who had been Clarissa BELLONGE, and had four sons, not known to the writer. Saloma married William TORRANCE. They have several children and live in Steuben county. Simeon married Kitty BELLONGE, and lives, advanced in years, at Branchport. He has had a large family, few of whom are known to reside in Yates county. One of his sons died from service in the war of the rebellion. A daughter, Eliza, married first, Chester LAMB, and for a second husband, James PARIS, lately deceased.
Jesse DAINS married Chloe THOMPSON of Connecticut. He was a shoemaker and a farmer and lived in Milo. For many years he did the shoemaking for the Friend’s family, and was a superior workman. He and his family did not adhere to the Friend’s Society after the divisions occurred in the Friend’s settlement. His children were David, Jesse, Orilla, Therza and Eli.
David married Sarah, a sister of Aaron REMER, and his children were Mahala, Rebecca, Thompson, Richmond, Abram R., Chloe, Jane, Esther and Bryant. Mahala married Silas RIDER. Rebecca married Arnold RAPLEE, near Himrods, and has two daughters living, Susan and Sarah. Thompson married Susan PETERS and lives in New Jersey. Richmond married Polly BURTCH, resides in Torrey, and has four children, Antoinette, Clarissa, Francis and Clark. Abram R. married Matilda TAYLOR, resides in Torrey and has four daughters. Chloe married Mryon H. DURHAM of Jerusalem. Jane married Andrew HEWITT and lives west with two children. Esther died single. Byrant was a solder in the army of the Union during the late war, and died in the service.
Jesse DAINS Jr., married Mary, a sister of George and Benjamin YOUNGS, and had the following children: Avery, Josephus, Nancy, George, Aaron, Mary and Fanny. Avery married and took up his residence west, as did Josephus. Nancy married Alexander HODGE, and lives in Italy Hollow. George married Eliza, daughter of Samuel HEADLY. Mary is the widow of the late Stephen H. CLEVELAND of Milo. Fanny died single. Orilla married Ezra RAPLEE, lives at Himrods and has five children, all of whom are married. Therza died young. Eli resides in Pennsylvania. Aaron married Achsa, a sister of Timothy SUPPLEE, resides at Himrods and has a family of children.
Ephraim DAINS was not of the Friend’s Society. He married Jane STEDMAN and was a farmer and hunter. He was celebrated for deer and wolf hunting and among his children were, Henry, Ira, Samuel, Orpha and others. The whole family emigrated west, many years ago.
This is a brief sketch of one of the most extensive of the early families, and an important one in the early history of the country.