Phebe Howe Coray was born the eleventh and last child of John Howe of Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut and Mary Molly Stephens Howe of Stonington, New London, Connecticutt. Phebe was born in the Lackawanna area of Pennsylvania on February 21 1763.
"Since there is only one Howe family shown in the 1790 Pennsylvania state census, her father probably was the Mr. Howe who purchased the mill from James Abbott. Family tradition states that Phebe was one of those captured by the Indians during a battle, but because of her beauty, she was not killed and she was later ransomed."---"Mary Luella Abbott Leavitt 1865-1955" by Bruce McIntire, page 19.
John Coray and Phebe Howe Coray, met and later entered into the conjugal relation around 1786 in Hornelsville, Steuben, Pennsylvania, later they resided in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. They had four sons.
Children of Phebe Howe Coray and John Coray
Silas Coray, born March 18, 1788, Providence, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania; md, Mary Stephens in 1808, they had ten children.
Ira Coray, born June 3 [or 5], 1791, Providence, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania; md. Maria Atherton in 1814.
David Coray, born January 15, 1794, Providence, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania; md. Rebecca Atherton on May 22, 1817.
John Coray Jr., born June 3 [or 5], 1796, Providence, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania; md. Cynthia Webb around 1823.
John Coray Sr. was accidentally shot by one of his neighbors around 1797.
Phebe Howe Coray, after the death of her husband, John Coray, married a man by the name of James Abbott on January 17, 1798 at Kingston, Luzerne, Pennsylvania, then the couple moved to Allegany County, New York near Arkport. They had five children, but later divorced after 1813. [when she (Phebe) died they put a monument to her next to her husband James Abbott in the cemetery at Arkport, New York. I have been there and seen it. Why would they do that if they were indeed divorced? asks Carol Reid on May 11, 2008]
Children of Phebe Howe Coray Abbott and James Abbott
James Abbott Jr., b. 28 Jan 1799; md. Mary Jones 13 Nov 1825; d. 1 Sep 1846 in Pike, Illinois.
Edmond Austen Abbott, b. 19 Aug 1801 in Scranton, PA; md. Nancy Gregory; d. 1 Jan 1826.
Stephen Joseph Abbott, b. 16 Aug 1804; md. Abigail Smith 11 Dec 1825; d. 19 Oct 1843.
Eleagon or Eleazer Abbott, b. 5 Se[ 1806; md. (1)Elizabeth Gregory (2) Sarah Cook; d. 30 Mar 1887 at Little Turkey, Chicksaw, Iowa.
Abiel Abbott, b. 27 July 1813 in Hornelsville, New York; d. 6 Dec 1854.
In 1838 Phebe Howe Coray Abbott went to Illinois with her son James Abbott Jr. and family and settled near her son Stephen Joseph Abbott and his family. Again Phebe was surrounded by her family and friends. In 1939 Stephen and his wife Abigail came in contact with the Mormon people, who on being driven out of Missouri were settling in Nauvoo, Illinois.
Phebe died in Naples, Pike County, Illinois on September 9, 1842 at the age of 79.
Right Click mouse on image - then click on view image - to see enlarged photo
Sources:
PAF - Archer files = Orson Pratt Brown < Captain James Brown + (7) Phebe Abbott < Abigail Smith + Stephen Joseph Abbott < James Abbott + Phebe Howe Coray.
Additions, bold, [bracketed], some photos, etc., added by Lucy Brown Archer
A Church dissenter's story is written by Silas Coray's son (possibly William Coray) titled "Fifteen Years among the Mormons" can be found at http://delta.ulib.org/cgi-bin/display?call=4215.16450&format=3&search=
Copyright 2001 www.OrsonPrattBrown.org
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