The Siblings of Samuel Falkinburg
Siblings of Samuel Falkinburg
Samuel Falkinburg had five brothers and four sisters. All but one of these siblings (Somers) was born in Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey. There are a few interesting stories that can be gleaned from historical records about three of Samuel’s brothers.
John Jr. was born to John and Mary Falkinburg 28 DEC 1767. Three years younger than Samuel, John’s descendants helped grow Pennsylvania’s oil industry. Eventually following that industry, his offspring would find their way to California and his 2-greats grandson would be remembered as a mogul in the movie industry.
John Falkinburg married Catherine Hatfield of Dauphin, Middle Paxton Twp. PA. Dauphin is located on the east bank of the Susquehanna, fewer than 20 miles south of the Falkinburg properties in Rye Township. In the first decade of the nineteenth century John and Catherine moved to Woodcock Township, Crawford County PA. Like many families, John and Catherine moved westward looking to participate in the bounty of the new land. Five children are recorded with names familiar to the family: John Jr. (b. 1800~1810), Joseph (b. 1800~1810), Samuel (b. 1810~1820), Jay J., and Catherine. The first three boys are listed in the 1840 census for PA. The 1850 US Census for PA, Crawford Co., Conneautville shows young John is married to Mary. One of the ten children, George H. Falkinburg, born in 1841, would make his mark on the emerging oil industry south of Titusville in Crawford County. Native Americans had extracted oil seeping through the sands as a fuel source for lanterns, but in the 1850s the Seneca Oil Company began drilling for oil. This turned into a boom (as well as an environmental disaster) for the community. George Falkinburg became a part of this emerging industry. George followed the oil industry to the Los Angeles basin, and in 1888 he is listed in the Great Register of Ventura County: born in PA, occupation: oil driller. [3.33] George and wife Mary (Boyle) had seven children.
Forest Lawn Memorial Park
The sixth child James Nelson Falkinburg was born on 18 Nov 1876 in Pennsylvania. James married Charlotte Isbell. The 1910 Census (Long Beach, Los Angeles, California, USA) lists his occupation as Steam Engineer. James died on 18 Jun 1947 in Los Angeles, California. James Nelson Falkinburg and wife Isabel had a son whom they named Nelson James Falkinburg. Nelson James was a motion picture director, writer, producer, and actor from the 1920s through the 1960s. He took the screen name, Sam Nelson. Most of Sam Nelson's career was spent at Columbia Pictures where he was an assistant director. He worked with Frank Capra (Dirigible, 1931), Orson Welles (Lady from Shanghai, 1947), Robert Rossen (Oscar-winning All the King's Men, 1949), John Ford (The Last Hurrah 1958) and Budd Boetticher (Comanche Station 1960). When Billy Wilder rented space at Columbia in 1958 to film Some Like It Hot (staring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, and Jack Lemmon), Nelson was on hand once more. Sam Nelson also tried his hand at acting (Rio Rita, 1929), screenwriting (The Last Man, 1932) and producing (The Menace 1932). Sam Nelson was Assistant Director on 115 movies, Director ob 28, Actor on 15 titles. Today Nelson James Falkinburg (Sam Nelson) lies in rest in Forest Lawn Memorial Park next to “First Lady of the American Screen” Bette Davis.
Joseph Falkinburg was the third eldest son of John and Mary. He and brother John are listed on the Muster and Pay Roles of the Second Battalion of the Cumberland Militia on 4 JUL 1783. At age 14, Joseph was most likely too young to fight in the Revolution. On 3 SEP 1783 the Treaty of Paris officially ending the American Revolution was signed by Congress. However, the Revolution had begun to wind-down in 1871 when with the aid of the French navy, Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown, Virginia. I have asked myself what was Joseph doing in the Cumberland Militia at age 14? The Carlisle Barracks18 was located just south of where the Falkinburgs settled in Rye Township.
“The [British] military facility at Carlisle came into American hands at the outset of the Revolution. Its facilities were untouched and it was soon put to use gathering supplies and livestock and manufacturing everything from uniforms and weapons to wagons, artillery, and ammunition.” [3.34]
In later life there is evidence that Joseph worked as a tailor and a shoe merchant. It is reasonable to propose that he learned this trade supporting the Continental Army in the manufacture of uniforms at Carlisle. Most likely, Joseph and his brother John went with their father on an expeditionary trip to Pennsylvania, found work at the Carlisle Barracks and decided to stay.
In 1790, at the age of 21, Joseph left Pennsylvania and moved back to New Jersey. He settled in Dennis Township, Cape May County. Joseph worked as a tailor and merchant. He married Sarah Ludlam 1 Mar 1801. Falkinburg served as a member of the State Assembly from 1803 to 1804 and again from 1810 to 1811. He also served two terms as a senator (member of the Legislative Council) representing Cape May County in 1803-4 and 1810-11. Following the French Revolution, the Napoleonic wars once again embroiled Great Britain and France in conflict. The United States attempted to chart a course of neutrality in this conflict. However, the British impressment of American seamen and the seizure of cargoes led President James Madison to ask Congress to declare war on Great Britain, June 1, 1812. Fearing the negative impact on maritime trade so vital to the region, Joseph Falkinburg was part of a state convention which met 4 JUL 1814 to name candidates to the United States Congress who would vote to discontinue the war. In his history of Cape May County, Lewis T. Stevens states: “ [Joseph Falkinburg] came to Cape May... a poor boy, but when he died, April 30, 1846, he was the wealthiest man in the county.” This was certainly due, in part, to his marriage into the Ludlam family. [3.35]
| Notes | |
11 |
This estimate is made from later census data in 1830 when Samuel was listed as between the ages of 40 and 49. |
12 |
Blackman gives a listing of persons buried in the Friends Cemetery in Tuckerton. Alice is listed after her parents; her surname is given as Mathis. |
13 |
From a survey of Disciplinary Cases in Pennsylvania Monthly Meetings, 1682-1776. |
| References | |
3.30 |
_____, Centennial celebration of the official organization of the town of Romulus, Seneca county, New York, p. 28 |
3.31 |
Home page of Cobblestone Winery, Romulus, New York |
3.32 |
Written History Of Seneca County: Chapter 7 The Military Tract |
Last updated 2/20/11
© 2011 Donald R. Falkenburg