By Muriel Bristol | March 22, 2026
William Courson was born in NH in 1782.
William Corson married in Wakefield, NH, in August 1804, Sarah “Sally” Roberts, he of Milton and she of Shapleigh, ME. Rev. Asa Piper performed the ceremony.
Ens. W. Corson was assessed in the Milton School District No. 3 of Paul Jewett in 1806. (See Milton School Districts – 1806).
William Courson was among the thirty-five Strafford County inhabitants that petitioned the NH Governor and Executive Council, January 2, 1810, to have Maj. Andrew Wentworth of Somersworth, NH, appointed as Strafford County Sheriff. (See Strafford County Sheriff Petition – January 2, 1810).
Wm Courson headed a Milton household at the time of the Third (1810) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 26-44 years [himself], one female aged 26-44 years [Sarah (Brown) Corson], one female aged 16-25 years, one male aged under-10 years, and three females aged under-10 years. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Jona Young and Daniel Grant. (See Milton in the Third (1810) Federal Census).
NH Governor John Taylor Gilman (1753-1828) put out an urgent call (or “Alarm”) for militia, in September 1814.
New Hampshire. Gov. Gilman, of New-Hampshire, has issued a General Order for the whole militia of that state, including Infantry, Cavalry, & Artillery, to hold themselves in readiness to march at a moment’s warning to any part of the State, where their services may be required. – He has also detached and ordered several Companies to march immediately to Portsmouth, for the defence of that town (The Washingtonian (Windsor, VT), September 19, 1814).
The Governor of Newhampshire has ordered 1200 militia to repair to Portsmouth without delay. The citizens of Portsmouth are actively engaged in fortifying and making preparations for defence (Portland Gazette (Portland, ME), September 19, 1814).
SUMMARY. The Governor of New-Hampshire has ordered out 5000 of the militia, to repair, without delay, to Portsmouth, where the citizens are actively engaged in fortifying and making defensive preparations. [Massachusetts] Gov. Strong has ordered 500 troops to Portsmouth, to aid in defending the towns on the Piscataqua River. Maj. Gen. Whiton, of Lee, is to command the troops lately ordered out by Gov. Strong (Pittsfield Sun (Pittsfield, MA), September 22, 1814).
Milton responded by sending a company of militiamen under Captain William Courson. Captain Courson’s company became a part of the Fourth Regiment, NH Detached Militia, which was commanded by Lt. Colonel Isaac Waldron of Barrington, NH. (Also known as Waldron’s Command). (See Milton in the War of 1812).
The field officers of the NH Second Militia Regiment informed the NH State Legislature, June 3, 1818, that some of their officers, including William Courson, Captain of the 7th Company, had moved out of their regiment’s district.
To the Honbl Senate & House of Representatives of the State of New Hampshire.
Respectfully Sheweth
The Undersigned Field Officers of the Second Regt. that John D. Harty, Capt of first Compy, Ephram Nute, Ensign of said Compy, William Courson, Capt. of the 7th Compy, Saml Abbott, second Lt of Artillery, & Ephm Wentworth, Ensign of the Light Infantry, have removed from the limits of this command.
We therefore pray that John D. Harty, Ephraim Nute, William Courson, Samuel Abbott, & Ephm Wentworth may be removed from their respective offices in said Regt. and as in duty bound we pray.
Edwd Sise Colon
A. Peirce Major
Dover June 3, 1818
William Courson headed a Yonkers, Westchester County, NY, household at the time of the Fourth (1820) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 26-44 years [himself], one female aged 26-44 years [Sarah (Brown) Courson], and one female aged 10-15 years. One member of his household was engaged in Commerce.
Sarah (Brown) Courson appears to have died, probably in Yonkers, NY, sometime between 1820 and 1824. William Courson married (2nd) in Yonkers, NY, September 26, 1824, Elizabeth “Eliza” or “Betsy” Kniffen. She was born in Westchester County, NY, in 1800.
(The known children of William and Elizabeth (Kniffen) Courson were: William J. Courson (1831-1888), and Jacob Courson (1835-1920).
William Courson of Westchester, NY, advertised to creditors that he would return within three months, presumably to settle debts.
Persons advertising in the state paper for the benefit of the insolvent act – Westchester – William Courson, to return within three months, & c. (New York Evening Post (New York, NY), November 18, 1824).
The New York Legislature had authorized construction of the Erie Canal in 1817. It ran 363 miles from the Hudson River, in the east, through Albany, [Fort Plain,] Utica, Syracuse, Rochester, and Buffalo, NY, to Lake Erie, in the west. It opened on October 26, 1825.
A grand salute, indeed! “Among the arrangements to celebrate the completion of the Erie canal, in New York, the committee have ordered salutes to be fired from 24 and 32 pounders, to be stationed along the whole line of the canal. from Buffalo to Albany, (365 miles,) which is immediately to be returned from Albany to Buffalo, making a line of fire of more than 700 miles, and which, like the occasion it is to commemorate, has no parallel in ancient or modern times.” So much for the “big ditch” – dug by the people of a state which, thirty-five years ago, had only a fifth rank in the union, and but little exceeded even Maryland in gross population; but which is now the first of all, and, through the perseverance of a few illustrious men, of whom, DeWitt Clinton was a chief – “the rock on which the storm did beat.” [Nites’ Reg. (Poughkeepsie Journal (Poughkeepsie, NY), October 26, 1825).
Son William J. Courson was born in Oneida, NY, in 1831.
William Cureson headed a Westchester, NY, household at the time of the Fifth (1830) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 40-49 years [himself], one female aged 30-39 years [Eliza (Kniffen) Cureson], one male aged 10-14 years, two females aged 5-9 years, one male aged under-5 years, and one female aged under-5 years.
Son Jacob Courson was born in Oneida, NY, in 1839.
The Erie Canal runs through Montgomery County parallel to the Mohawk River, connecting to the Wood River to the west, which leads to Lake Ontario. Overall, the canal connected Great Lakes shipping with the Hudson River and the port of New York on the Atlantic Ocean. Several towns and villages developed along the canal, as it carried much trade and passenger traffic during its peak years. After the railroad was built through the state, along the same river plain, it superseded the canal, which was filled in some areas (Wikipedia, 2026).
William Courson headed a Montgomery [County], NY, household at the time of the Sixth (1840) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 50-59 years [himself], one female aged 30-39 years [Eliza (Kniffen) Courson], and two males aged 5-9 years. One member of his household was engaged in Manufacture and Trade.
Minden is in western Montgomery County, bordered to the north and northeast by the Mohawk River/Erie Canal, to the west by Herkimer County, to the south by Otsego County, and to the southeast by the town of Canajoharie. The village of Fort Plain is in the eastern corner of Minden, next to the Mohawk River (Wikipedia, 2026).
William Courson, a laborer, aged sixty-nine years (b. NH), headed a Minden, NY, household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. His household included Betsy [(Kniffen)] Courson, aged fifty years (b. NY), William Courson, a laborer, aged twenty years (b. NY), and Jacob Courson, a laborer, aged fifteen years (b. NY).
William Courson resided in Minden, NY, when filing paperwork associated with his War of 1812 pension. He had two enlistments, one ran between September 11, to September 29, 1814, and the other ran between September 23, to November 20, 1814. (There would seem to be some overlap between these two terms of service).
Son William J. Courson married, circa 1854, Mary Sparks.
William Courson, a farmer, aged seventy-four years (b. NH), headed a Minden, NY, household at the time of the NY State Census of 1855. His household included his wife, Elizabeth [(Kniffen)] Courson, aged fifty-four years (b. Westchester County, NY), and his children, William Courson, a boatman, aged twenty-four years (b. Oneida County, NY), Jacob Courson, a boatman, aged twenty years (b. Oneida County, NY), and Mary [(Sparks)] Courson, aged twenty years (b. Mont. [Montgomery] County). They had a frame house, and had all resided in Minden, NY, for fifteen years, excepting daughter [in-law], Mary [(Sparks)] Courson, who had resided there for twenty years, i.e., her whole life.
William Coursen, a farmer, aged eighty years (b. NH), headed a Minden (Palatine Bridge P.O.), NY, household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Betsey [(Kniffen)] Courson, aged sixty years (b. NY), Jacob Coursen, aged twenty-six years (b. NY), Mary [(Sparks)] Coursen, aged twenty-one years (b. NY), Henry Coursen, aged four years (b. NY), Edward Coursen, aged two years (b. NY), and William Coursen, a boatman, aged twenty-six years (b. NY). William Courson had real estate valued at $700 and personal estate valued at $100.
William Courson died in Fort Plain, [Minden,] NY, January 3, 1863.
Son Jacob Courson married, circa 1865, Josephine Bush. She was born in Minden, NY, June 14, 1845, daughter of Adam G. and Harriet J. (Ehle) Bush.
Elizabeth [(Kniffen)] Courson, aged sixty-three years (b. West Chester [County, NY]), headed a Minden, NY, household at the time of the NY State Census of 1865. Her household included her son, Jacob Courson, a boatman, aged twenty-eight years (b. Oneida, NY), and [his] wife, Josephine [(Bush)] Courson, aged nineteen years (b. Montgomery [County, NY]). They shared a three-family residence with the households of Christian Linter, a harness-maker, aged thirty years (b. Germany), and that of her other son, William Courson, a boatman, aged thirty-three years ((b. Oneida, NY).
William Courson, a boatman, aged thirty-three years (b. Oneida, NY), headed a Minden, NY, household at the time of the NY State Census of 1865. His household included his wife, Mary [(Sparks)] Courson, aged twenty-six years (b. Montgomery [County, NY]), and his sons, Henry Courson, aged ten years (b. Montgomery [County, NY]), Edward Courson, aged eight years (b. Montgomery [County, NY]). They shared a three-family residence with the households of Christian Linter, a harness-maker, aged thirty years (b. Germany), and that of his mother, Elizabeth [(Kniffen)] Courson, aged sixty-three years (b. West Chester [County, NY]).
Son William Courson, Jr., testified in a lawsuit that he had been captain of the canal-boat Milton Hoag, on a trip between Fort Plain, in Minden, NY, and New York City, in 1865. The steamboat Ontario took the Milton Hoag in tow, December 4, 1865, in order to bring it across the Hudson River in New York harbor. He was accompanied by his wife and little boy. While being towed, a ferryboat struck and disabled the towed canal-boat. His brother, Jacob Courson, testified also (NY Court of Appeals, 1871).
THE CANAL. … CLEARED, MAY 26. … Mary Ann Clark, Courson, 7400 bu. corn, 500 bush oats, Ft. Plain (Buffalo Daily Republic (Buffalo, NY), May 27, 1869).
THE CANAL. … CLEARED, Oct. 9. … Mary Ann Clark, Courson, 7591 corn, Ft. Plain (Buffalo Daily Republic (Buffalo, NY), October 11, 1869).
Willian Courson, a canal boatman, aged forty years (b. NY), headed a Minden (Fort Plain P.O.), NY, household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Mary [(Sparks)] Courson, keeping house, aged thirty-six years (b. NY), Henry Courson, attends school, aged twelve years (b. NY), and Edmond Courson, at home, aged eleven years (b. NY). They shared a two-family residence on Reid Street with the household of Norman Alter, an agent [for] produce buyers, aged thirty-four years (b. NY).
Jacob Courson, a canal boatman, aged thirty-five years (b. NY), headed a Minden (Fort Plain P.O.), NY, household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Josephine Courson, keeping house, aged twenty-four years (b. NY), Jennie Courson, at home, aged two years (b. NY), George Courson, at home, aged eight months (b. NY), and Elisabeth [(Kniffen)] Courson, mother, retired, aged sixty-nine years (b. NY).
Canal Arrivals and Clearances. … CLEARED, July 5. … Mary Ann Clark, Courson, 6000 bu. corn, Ft. Plain (Buffalo Post (Buffalo, NY), July 6, 1870).
Canal Arrivals and Clearances. … CLEARED – SEPT. 17-19. … Mary Ann Clark, Courson, 5400 bu. corn, 1597 bu. oats and 100 bu. rye, Fort Plain (Buffalo Post (Buffalo, NY), August 29, 1870).
Canal Arrivals and Clearances. … CLEARED – SEPT. 17-19. … Milton Hoag, Courson, 7500 bu. corn, Fort Plain (Buffalo Post (Buffalo, NY), September 19, 1870).
THE CANAL. … Cleared – Sept. 30. … Mary Ann Clark, Courson, 6500 corn, 1200 oats, Fort Plain (Buffalo Courier Express (Buffalo, NY), October 1, 1870).
PORT OF BUFFALO. … CLEARED – MAY 24-25. … E. Bates, Courson, 8500 corn, Fort Plain (Buffalo Post (Buffalo, NY), May 26, 1873).
PORT OF BUFFALO. … CANAL ARRIVALS AND CLEARANCES … CLEARED – Nov. 11-12. … Rufus Bates, Courson, 8400 corn, Fort Plain (Buffalo Post (Buffalo, NY), November 12, 1873).
William Courson, a mechanic [in] spring & axle works, aged forty-four years (b. Montgomery [County, NY]), headed a Minden, NY, household at the time of the NY State Census of 1875. His household included his wife, Mary [(Sparks)] Courson, aged thirty-eight years (b. Montgomery [County, NY]), and his sons, Henry Courson, a mechanic [in] spring & axle works, aged eighteen years (b. Montgomery [County, NY]), and Edward Courson, aged sixteen years (b. Montgomery [County, NY]). They resided in a framed house valued at $2,000.
Elizabeth [(Kniffen)] Courson, aged seventy-one years (b. Westchester), headed a Minden, NY, household at the time of the NY State Census of 1875. Her household included her son, Jacob Courson, a boatman, aged forty years (b. Oneida, NY), her daughter-in-law, Josephine [(Bush)] Courson, aged twenty-seven years (b. Montgomery [County, NY]), and her grandchildren, Jennie Courson, aged seven years (b. Montgomery [County, NY]), and George Courson, aged five years (b. Montgomery [County, NY]). They resided in a brick house, which was valued at $2,500. Her daughter-in-law’s father, Adam G. Bush, a wagonmaker, aged fifty-two years (b. Montgomery [County, NY]), resided in the frame house next door.
Mrs. Eliza [(Kniffen)] Courson, widow of William Courson, filed for a bounty land warrant in 1878. She resided in Fort Plain, Montgomery County, NY. Her claim was based upon his service as a Captain in the NH Militia between September 11, 1814 and November 20, 1814. (She herself died “prior to” January 28, 1885).
THE CANAL. CLEARED – Sept. 4. … L.M. Clark, Courson, 8023 corn, Fort Plain (Buffalo Courier (Buffalo, NY), September 5, 1879).
Granddaughter Jennie E. Courson died in Fort Plain, Minden, NY, October 30, 1880, aged thirteen years.
William J. Courson, a laborer, aged fifty years (b. NY), headed a Minden, NY, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Mary [(Sparks)] Courson, keeping house, aged forty years (b. NY), and his son, Edward Courson, at home, aged twenty-one years (b. NY). They shared a two-family residence with the household of Alfred J. Scaplehorn, a laborer, aged twenty-eight years (b. England).
Elizabeth [(Kniffen)] Courson, aged seventy-eight years (b. NY), headed a Minden, NY, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. Her household included her grandson, George Courson, aged ten years (b. NY), her son, Jacob Courson, on the canal, aged forty-five years (b. NY), and her daughter-in-law, Josephine [(Bush)] Courson, on the canal, aged thirty-four years (b. NY).
BOATS CLEARED – AUGUST 2. … L.M. Clark, Courson, 1349 corn (added Fort Plain) (Democrat and Chronicle, August 3, 1881).
Son William Courson had an altercation with another Fort Plain boatman, Linn Bush. Bush was a brother of his sister-in-law, Josephine (Bush) Courson.
Fort Plain. Linn Bush got into an altercation with William Courson, on Monday evening, ending by Bush slapping the former in the face. Bush was arrested and placed in the cooler overnight, and this morning was arraigned before Justice Eldridge and sentenced to [a] $20 fine or thirty days in jail. He preferred the latter (Albany Argus (Albany, NY), June 20, 1883).
(A young man named “Linn” Bush, of Fort Plain, had posted bail earlier, in 1874, for having allegedly stolen a codfish (Utica Daily Observer (Utica, NY), August 15, 1874)).
Mrs. Eliza [(Kniffen)] Courson died in 1884. (She is buried in Fort Plain, [Minden,] NY).
Canal Clearances. BUFFALO, Sept. 8-9. … L.M. Clark, Courson, 8019 corn, Fort Plain (Democrat and Chronicle, September 10, 1885).
The Canals – CLEARED – October 7. … L.M. Clark, Courson, 7850 bu. wheat, do [Troy] (Buffalo Courier (Buffalo, NY), October 8, 1885).
Son William J. Courson died in Fort Plain, [Minden,] NY, June 28, 1888, aged fifty-seven years.
Nicholas Sparks, a clerk (store work), aged sixty-one years (b. NY), headed a Minden, NY, household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his stepson, Willliam Sparks, a salesman & notary, aged thirty-four years (b. NY), and his sister, Mary [(Sparks)] Coursen, a widow, aged fifty-six years (b. NY). Nicholas Sparks owned their house on Canal Street, free-and-clear. Mary Courson was the mother of one child, of which one was still living.
Grandson Edward Courson died in August 1902, aged forty-three years.
REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS AND BUILDING OPERATIONS. … HUDSON COUNTY REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS. … Conveyances. … KEARNY. Davis av., w. side, lot 66, blk. 42, on map of N.J. Land Co., Geo. B Courson et ux to Jacob Courson et ux (Jersey Observer & Jersey Journal (Jersey City, NJ), June 8, 1910).
Daughter-in-law Mary (Sparks) Courson died in Minden, NY, in 1911, aged seventy-two years.
Daughter-in-law Josephine (Bush) Courson died in Jersey City, NJ, March 29, 1917, aged seventy-nine years, nine months, and fifteen days.
NELLISTON. Late Mrs. Jacob Courson Had Lived in Jersey City Many Years. Nelliston, April 4. – Mrs. Jacob Courson died in a hospital in Jersey City after a week’s illness of stomach trouble. Mrs. Courson’s maiden name was Josephine Bush and she was the daughter of the late Adam and Jane Bush and was born in Fort Plaine 73 years ago. She married Jacob Courson about 53 years ago and moved to Jersey City where she has since resided. Her brother, George Bush, died in Flint, Mich., about 4 months ago and she was the last survivor of a large family of children. Besides her husband she is survived by one son, George Bush Courson, and a granddaughter, Miss Elsie Courson of Arlington, N.J. The remains were brought here Saturday and interment was made in the Fort Plain Cemetery (April 1917).
DIED. COURSON. On March 29, 1917, Josephine Corson, the beloved wife of Jacob Courson, aged 72 years. Funeral at her son’s residence, George B. Courson, 387 Davis Avenue, Arlington, N.J., on Friday, March 30, at 8 P.M. Interment at Fort Plain, N.Y. (Jersey Journal, March 30, 1917).
Hudson County Courts. Henry Minch, Peter Fox, John Wright and Jacob Courson, all boat captains, declared that they did not vote at the special election, although their names were marked on the poll books as voting. Each characterized their names on the signature poll books as forgeries (Hudson Observer (Jersey City, NJ), January 22, 1918).
Jacob Courson, retired, aged eighty-two years (b. NY), headed a Kearney, NJ, household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household included his son, George Courson, a millwright ([—] manufacturer) aged fifty-one years (b. NY), and his daughter-in-law, Minnie Courson, none, aged fifty years (b. PA). They shared a two-family residence at 349 Davis Street with the household of Samuel Gray, a comb maker (comb manufacturer), aged sixty-seven years (b. MA).
Son Jacob Courson died in Kearny, NJ, April 9, 1920, aged eighty-two years.
WILLS FILED WITH COUNTY SURROGATE. Jacob Courson, Arlington; died April 9, 1920; will executed August 1917; George B. Courson, 389 Davis avenue, Arlington, executor and sole legatee (Hudson Observer, April 24, 1920).
References:
Find a Grave. (2018, January 21). Jacob Courson. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/186779629/jacob-courson
Find a Grave. (2018, January 21). William Courson. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/186779569
Find a Grave. (2009, October 5). William J. Courson. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/42743921/william_j-courson
National Archives and Records Administration. (n.d.). Index to the Compiled Military Service Records for the Volunteer Soldiers Who Served During the War of 1812. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. M602, 234 rolls.
NH General Court. (1818). Journal of the House of Representatives. Retrieved from www.google.com/books/edition/Journal_of_the_House_of_Representatives/vjVJAQAAMAAJ
NY Court of Appeals. (1871). New York Court of Appeals. Records and Briefs. Retrieved from www.google.com/books/edition/New_York_Court_of_Appeals_Records_and_Br/Qp7lzL9vHNQC?hl=en&pg=RA10-PA30
Wikipedia. (2026, March 10) Erie Canal. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erie_Canal
Wikipedia. (2025, November 8). Low Bridge (Song). Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low_Bridge_(song)
Wikipedia. (2026, January 8). Minden, New York. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minden,_New_York
Wikipedia. (2026, February 22). Montgomery County, New York. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montgomery_County,_New_York
Wikipedia. (2026, February 16). Yonkers, New York. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yonkers,_New_York
Youtube. (2015, May 19). Erie Canal. Retrieved from www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcwHz6bCnEg
Shadrach Hard signed the
Caleb Wakham [Wakeham] was among the greater Rochester inhabitants that signed one of two remonstrance petitions, of June 1804, which opposed incorporating a private company to construct and maintain a turnpike, i.e., a toll road, from Dover, NH, through the Norway Plains [in Rochester, NH], to Sandwich, NH. (Samuel Nute, Francis Nute, and Samuel Nute, Jr.,
Caleb Wakeham, Benjamin Wakeham, and Jonathan Wakeham were among the fifty-two Milton petitioners that sought to have