AUSTIN, Ray T.

RAY T. AUSTIN
Peekskill, NY

This is a tin-type photo located at the monthly Antique show at the Palm Beach County Fairgrounds in Florida. The photo appears to be from around the Civil War era. The young man looks like he is about 20, so a projected birth year would be mid-1840s.

Findagrave.com has a memorial for Ray T. Austin, born 1847. Died 1911 in Somers, NY (which is a mere 23 miles from Peekskill, where the photo was taken.)  The same stone memorializes his wife Ophelia Dexter (1849-1934). The site mentions one daughter, Mariana Austin (1869-1893), although there was a son Edward (born about 1874) and possibly another daughter Ida (born about 1882?, which I am still verifying). His parents were James Harvey Austin (1821-1881, son of Ralph Austin and Fanny Knapp) and Ann Eliza ___ (1823-1883).

The family appears on the 1880 Census at Somers NY. (either in the same household, or next door to parents James and Ann Eliza.)

AUSTIN, Ray, head, 35. farm labor, born in NY of NY parents

AUSTIN, Ophelia, wife, 32, keeping home, NY of NY  parents

AUSTIN, Mary A., daughter, 10, NY

AUSTIN, Edward, son, 6, NY

VANVORIS, Edward, 33, uncle, farmer, NY

This tells us that Ray's mother's maiden name was likely VanVoris (also seen as Van Voorhis, a latter-day corruption of Van Voorhies). There was a well-known Van Voris family in Schoharie county, and there is a Van Voris Road near Richmondville, NY.

The 1900 Census for Somers lists only Ray T., Ophelia, and a boarder Charles Smith. None of the children remain in the household. We know that Mariana died in 1893, and the other children would have been grown and on their own by this time.

There was a Charles W. Voorhis, of Brooklyn, Kings County NY. born about 1835, married to Eliza. Died around late 1912 - early 1913. There is a Brooklyn newspaper notice 07 Feb, 1913 alerting relatives to be present at the probate hearing. Those asked to attend are: John T. Voorhis, Antoinette Austin, Elizabeth Smith, Minerva Lockwood, Waldren Dexter, Ophelia Austin, Melissa Hadden, George Higby, Charles Voorhis, Nellie Broten, Mary Steers, Frank Voorhis, Anna Slater, Cora Mackey, Ira Voorhis, and Elam Voorhis.

1850 Census, Somers, NY

As a young man of 17, Charles W. Voorhis is found on the 1850 Census. He lived at Somers NY with his parents, John T. Van Voorhis and Clorinda (unknown), and siblings, Marcellus (22), Frederic (14), Sarah (11), John T. Jr. (13), and Edward (6). If they had a sister named Aneliza, or Ann Eliza, she would  have been about 27 and most likely already married and gone.

Nearby, lives the Dexter family, of James (35), Mary J. (25), and Ophelia (7 mo.).

Also in the 1850 Census for Somers, NY:
AUSTIN, James (37)
AUSTIN, Ann E. (37)
AUSTIN, Adelia (13)
AUSTIN, Clarissa (12)
AUSTIN, Thomas (7)
AUSTIN, Ray (3)