VI. PHILIP CAVERLY, JR. 1788 - 1860
(Son of Philip Sr., Son of John Sr., Son of Peter I, Son of Peter Gerardus, Son of Jean)

Philip Caverly, Jr. was born in the Town of Marlborough, Ulster Co., NY in 1788 to Philip, Sr. and Esther (Harcourt) Caverly. He married Maria Clark around 1815. Their 7 surviving children were listed in Philip’s will in Hastings Co., Ont. Land, Deed, and Mortgage Records, 1853-1860, Vol. C, Instrument #44. They were Joseph, Moses Clark, William, Jonas, Charles, Charity (Burke), and Hester Maria (Reed). In an 1831 Ulster Co., NY deed, Philip and Maria are grantors to Roelef L. Elting. But in an 1834 deed Maria’s name is not listed giving rise to speculation that she may have died.

The obituary of son Jonas states that the family moved to the area in 1837. That year Philip had sold his land in Ulster Co., NY to John Hait and moved his family to Canada. His decision was probably based on a number of factors. One fact was that his father had loyalist leanings during the American Revolution as did other family members. Some of them had already applied for grants of land in Canada as United Empire Loyalists and moved there. In addition, an 1834 Emigrants Handbook was widely distributed for emigrants arriving at New York who were desirous of settling in Canada. It gave rates of currency exchange, what to look for, who to contact, what routes to take and the costs. It also extolled the abundance of inexpensive land going up for sale every month on “very easy terms, free to all denominations of Christians, and less burdened with taxes than any other on the face of the globe.” Such a good sounding deal would be hard to pass up.

Another factor may have been the “Financial Panic of 1837”. During the first three weeks of April, two hundred fifty business houses failed in New York. Throughout the whole country the mercantile interests went down with a general crash, involving the mechanic, the farmer, even the humblest laborer. Business vanished and trade stood still. Some of the reasons given were large state debts incurred due to construction of canals and railroads, expansion of credit by numerous banks, unfavorable balance of trade, crop failures in 1835 and 1837, and the frenzy caused by the avalanche of land speculation.

The 1834 Emigrants Handbook mentioned before suggested taking a steamboat to Albany at $1 to $3 exclusive of food and according to accommodations. Total expense from Albany to Oswego by the Erie and Oswego Canals exclusive of victuals for adult steerage took 5 days and cost $2.50. Philip and family lived near Milton on the Hudson River and probably traveled from there. It would have been about 75 miles to Albany and another 195 miles to Oswego. From Oswego they would have crossed Lake Ontario to Kingston or Coboug by steamboat.

Per Instrument #B521 dated Feb. 23, 1844, Philip bought Lot 9 on Concession 4 in Rawdon Twp., Hastings Co., Ontario consisting of 200 acres for £350 from Catherine Markland. He had occupied this land prior to 1844 since an 1842 Hastings County record lists his name and shows that 140 of the 200 acres were uncultivated. The 1844 transaction may have been when he had made full payment. Below is a 1995 picture taken from Concession (road) 4 of Lot 9 which would have been Philip’s property. During his time it would have been all forested with the exception of the sixty cultivated acres. No written record of his occupation has been found but a couple of family members thought he was in lumbering or a merchant.

michigan@thecaverlys.com

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