Harvey M. and Claude Hutchings

Faith and Hope

Harvey M. and his father, J. Harvey Hutchings in the Hutchings drugstore in Bancroft, Michigan Harvey M., Grace, Faith, and Paul Hutchings

The Hutchings Drugstore exterior. Its proprietor was J. Harvey Hutchings. A BRITISH SOLDIER IN AMERICA Our Hutchings progenitor is Abraham. He came to Wilson, Niagara County, New York in 1816 from Avon, Livingston County. 'He was a soldier in the War of 1812, previous to which he had served seven years in the English army, at the end of which time he had been re-enlisted through fraud or deceit. He, in 1813, with a company of thirty, was sent to Queenston, when, taking advantage of the opportunity, he deserted and joined the American army. At the battle of Black Rock he and a comrade named Berry, who had deserted with him, were taken prisoners by the British, and carried back to Queenston, Canada. After about three weeks captivity, he was smuggled across the Niagara River by a British surgeon named Anson Mary, who had been an old neighbor and friend in England. Berry was afterwards shot for desertion.' History of Niagara County, New York, 1821. Abraham Hutchings, born 176__ in England, and his wife, Katharine Westfall, born about 1777 in Germany, had ten children: Abraham, Nancy, Court, John, Joseph Harvey, Henry, Aaron, Martha, Anna, and Jane. After Abraham died in 1836, three of his sons, Court, Henry and Aaron emigrated to Shiawassee County, Michigan. Two daughters and their husbands, also left New York for Michigan. Anna and her husband, Jordon Holcomb, traveled with her brothers. Martha and her husband, John Herrick arrived later. My direct ancestor, Joseph Harvey Hutchings I, and his wife, Harriet Howell, remained in New York. Their children were Henry, Catharine Eliza, Jane Maria, Joseph Harvey II, and George Eddie. Joseph Harvey Hutchings II, born May 17, 1851 ( my grandfather), came fron New York to Gratiot County, Michigan sometime before 1882, when he married Sarah Elizabeth Abbott, born Dec. 28, 1863. Joseph Harvey II (aka J. Harvey) and his wife, Sarah, later are found living in Shiawassee County where his uncles had settled years earlier.

Harv and Grace