Cornelius R. STAFFORD^[1]

1813 - Yes, date unknown

• Name	Cornelius R. STAFFORD
  Born	4 Feb 1813	Manchester, Ontario Co., New York
  Gender	Male
  Census	1880	Auburn Twp., Geauga Co., Ohio
  _UID	D81539B38ED1724FA2027A2C317FFB10FEEB
  Died	Yes, date unknown
  Person ID	I25648	Branch 201 Thomas Stafford b. 1801 NC
  Last Modified	5 Oct 2007

  
  

  Father	Jonathan STAFFORD,   b. 17 Sep 1770, Tiverton, Newport Co., Rhode Island ,   d. 21 May 1821, Palmyra, Wayne Co., New York  (Age 50 years)
  Mother	Phebe MANCHESTER,   b. 6 Jun 1780, Rhode Island ,   d. 31 Jan 1869, Ohio  (Age 88 years)
  Family ID	F9505	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Phebe F. WHITNEY,   b. Aug 1821, Ellisburg, Jefferson Co., New York ,   d. 21 Feb 1904, Auburn Twp., Geauga Co., Ohio  (Age ~ 82 years)
  Married	4 Apr 1839	Geauga Co., Ohio   [2]
  Children	1. Olive S. STAFFORD,   b. Abt 1841, Ohio ,   d. Abt 1922  (Age ~ 81 years)   2. Royal Marzine STAFFORD,   b. 22 Apr 1848, Ohio ,   d. 11 Jun 1929, Auburn Twp., Geauga Co., Ohio  (Age 81 years)   3. Lionel Byron STAFFORD,   b. Apr 1851,   d. Yes, date unknown   4. Luzerne D. STAFFORD,   b. 1861,   d. 13 Oct 1862, Auburn Twp., Geauga Co., Ohio  (Age 1 years)
  Last Modified	25 Jun 2020
  Family ID	F9532	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  Came to Auburn Twp, Geauga Co., Ohio in 1837 and settle on the Mills tract. Statement by C. R. STAFFORD. ________ I was born in Manchester, New York, Feb. 4, 1813. Our school district was called the Stafford District because of sixty scholars enrolled, forty were Staffords. The road on which they lived is now called Stafford Street. The Mormon Smith family lived near our house. I was well acquainted with them and attended school with the younger children. There was much digging for money on our farm and about the neighborhood. I saw Uncle John and Cousin Joshua Stafford dig a hole twenty feet long, eight broad and seven deep. They claimed that they were digging for money but were not successful in finding any. Jo Smith kept it up after our neighbors had abandoned it. A year or two after Jo claimed to find the plates of the "Book of Mormon." He had men dig a tunnel near fifty feet long in a hill about two miles north of the hill where he claimed to find the plates. I tried to look into a peep-stone in my hat in a dark room; I saw nothing, some claimed they could. I saw old Jo Smith, his wife and Mrs. Rockwell baptized by prophet Jo Smith. I have seen Jo in drunken fights; father and son were frequently drunk. I remember when a man (Hurlbut) came to our school house and took statements about the bad character of the Mormon Smith family, and saw them swear to them. Jo Smith, the prophet, told my uncle, William Stafford, he wanted a fat, black sheep. He said he wanted to cut its throat and make it walk in a circle three times around and it would prevent a pot of money from leaving. Jo's family ate the sheep; he duped many people in similar ways. He claimed to receive revelations from the Lord. The Smiths stole six hogs-heads from us; everything missing was claimed by our neighbors to be in possession of the Smiths. I would make oaths to my statement were not the Justice sick. [Signed.] C. R. STAFFORD Witnessed by: R. M. STAFFORD (Son) INA M. RICHARDS (G. daughter). Auburn, O., March, 1885. Census: Listed as a farmer with wife.

  
  

• Sources

  [S4663] Stafford Data Branch 14. [S4470] Stafford Marriages in Geauga Co. OH, LDS Micofilm 1530450 (Reliability: 2).