Samuel Heaton Gerow Family Papers (1818-1938)

Finding Aid completed by Eric J. Roth, 10/16/1999

Volume: 1 Folder

Acquisition: The papers were donated to the Huguenot Historical Society by Marion Gerow on June 12, 1999.

Access: Unrestricted.

Copyright: Request for permission to publish materials from these records should be discussed with the Archivist and Director of the Huguenot Historical Society.

Biographical Note

Samuel Heaton Gerow E-350 (1) was born on June 22, 1838 at Plattekill, NY, one of ten children of of Elias Gerow and Sally Ann Baker. He married Pheobe Howland Gerow , daughter of Daniel E. Gerow on October 7, 1856, by whom he had four children: William Penn Gerow, Daniel Elias Gerow, Irving Scott Gerow, and Charles Clarence Fitzgerald Gerow. Samuel Heaton Gerow died on November 10, 1904.

Collection Description

The majority of the collection consists of letters dating from 1846-1852 between Samuel H. Gerow E-350 from his brother Henry Seely Gerow and cousin Isaac Pine E-337. There is also a letter to Daniel E. Gerow from Isaac Gerow dated 1837. These letters chiefly discuss family matters such as illnesses, births and deaths, school life, farming, and travel to New York City and Poughkeepsie. Another letter dating from 1865 to Daniel E. Gerow discusses family genealogy. The handwriting in the letters is difficult to read, but still legible. The letters are generally in good condition, but show signs of damage from having long been tightly folded. Envelopes to the letters are available upon special request.

Other items include a copy of Elias Gerow's will (1877); albumen print photographs of Isaac Gerow and first wife Hattie Gerow; a copy of The Historical Quaker Calendar for 1913; a notice for the 1938 Gerow Family Reunion; newspaper clippings pertaining to the death of of Issac Gerow, and an article written by Thomas M. Peck about snowball fights in his youth. Other collections in the Huguenot Historical Society Archives relating to the Gerow family include the Gerow Family Papers (1753-1950) and the Robert W. Gerow Collection (1833-1945). Researchers may also want to consult the Huguenot Historical Society Bible and Religious Book Collection for other items with Gerow family history.

In addition to the Samuel H. Gerow Papers, Mrs. Gerow donated two 19th century books to HHS. These two books (described below) will form part of the HHS Rare Books Collection.

A Tale of the Huguenots, or Memoirs of a French Refugee Family: translated and compiled from the original manuscripts of James Fontaine, by one of his descendants, with an introduction by F.L. Hawks, D.D. New York, John S. Taylor (1838).

Barber, John W., and Henry Howe. Historical Collections of the State of New York; containing a general collection of the most interesting facts, traditions, biographical sketches, anecdotes, &c. relating to its History and Antiquities, with geographical descriptions of every township in the state. New York (1842).

Notes

1. Hasbrouck, Kenneth E. The Giraud-Gerow Family in America, 3 vols. Gerow Family Association, Huguenot Historical Society, New Paltz, NY (1982). Unless otherwise noted, all genealogical information is taken from this source.