Parents: Ephraim Leighton and Esther Tibbetts

BIrth order: 2nd of seven children

Siblings: Stephen, Ephraim Jr, Esther, Charlotte, Anna B. and Isaac.

Marriage:

• Miriam died in 1836 and it seems Henry married Amanda M. Pinkerton* in about 1840 as they had a child in 1841.

Children:

• With Miriam: Henry Tibbetts Jr; Elbridge; and Solomon.

• With Amanda: Esther; Walter; George; and Ann

Census Records:

• 1820: We first find Henry in Olean, New York in the 1820 census as "Henry T Layton." The record is a bit confusing but it looks like there is a female in the household so we assume Henry was married to his first wife, Miriam.

• 1830: Still living in Olean, the 1830 census shows nine household members. The first recorded child of Henry and Miriam was born in 1830 so one might assume that in the previous ten years there are other children who may not have survived beyond 1830 and/or other family members might account for the large household. (We know for sure Henry's younger brother, Isaac was there in 1840 because his daughter, Mariam was born there in 1841).

• To this point, no 1840 census has been found. But we know something of Henry's life from regional histories: according to "History of Cattaraugus County, New York," by Ellis and Nash, page 409, Henry was living in Portville, with the following details:

• "The year 1832 found...Henry T. Leighton on lots 23 and 38..."

• elected one of three town constables

• elected town collector, March 6, 1838

• 1850: The 1850 census (Portville) finds Henry as a successful farmer living with wife Amanda and six children: Henry 20, Eldridge 17, Solomon 15, Esther 9, Walter 7 and George 1. There's also Abigail Bowen 15, living in the household, maybe she's a hired housekeeper. Henry and Amanda have one more child, Ann, born in 1852.

• The 1850 non-population schedule tells us just how successful Henry is: 45 acres improved; 5 acres unimproved; farm valued at $1200 ($40K in 2020 dollars); equipment valued at $100 ($3.3K in 2020 dollars); 3 horses, 5 milk cows, 4 working oxen, 12 cattle, 20 sheep, 14 pigs, (livestock valued at $500); 100 bushels of Indian corn, 200 bushels oats, 90 lbs wool, 13 bushels beans, 100 lbs potatoes; $10 orchard products; 300 lbs butter, and 30 tons hay.

*Notes:

• Amanda's maiden name comes from son Walter's Michigan death certificate and also from son, George's 1889 marriage record.

• Though we do not know for certain that Henry is buried in this cemetery (we are still looking for documentation), but both of his wives are here (Amanda died just 2 years after him) so it seems reasonable to assume he may be buried here as well.

• Error in A Leighton Genealogy, page 135: Susanna K is not a sister. Editors may have been confused because she is buried with other Leighton family members in the Augusta, Maine cemetery. However it is now provied that she was a sister of Hannah Brainard, Henry's brother, Ephraim Jr's wife.

Additional information is always welcome. We are also interested in any information on Henry's mother, Esther Tibbetts.

Sources: Federal Census Records; History of Cattaragus New York; Leighton Genealogy, Perley Leighton, pub. 1989, Vol. 1, page 311; Ancestry.