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- Portrait & Bio records, Orange County
Pg 1125
Roswell Carpenter Coleman has held the important judicial position of
Surrogate of Orange County since 1883. He has in a large measure
succeeded in his endeavors to elevate the office to what it should be by
enforcing proper rules, and by careful decisions in cases coming before
him. He is a man of recognized ability, wide information, both on
matters pertaining to his profession and to the science and public
questions of the day as well. For some years he was Trustee of the
village of Goshen, and has been engaged in practice here for about
thirty years. In Early life he was a Justice of the peace for eight
years, and after being nominated and elected to his present responsible
place on the Democratic ticket, assumed the duties of the office in
January, 1884. That his services were appreciated, was shown when he was
reelected in 1889, being the only one of his political faith so honored,
and received a majority of about one thousand votes. His term runs until
1896.
The Coleman's are of English descent, and after coming to America
are supposed to have located first about New Haven, thence going to
Southold, L.I. Roswell's great grandfather was Benjamin born April 16,
1755 In Orange County and died Aug. 5, 1832. He married Hannah Carpenter
Finch, who was born Nov. 15, 1761, and died April 8, 1846
She and her father's family were refugees from the Wyoming Massacre.
Our subject's grandfather, Benjamin Carpenter Coleman, was born in this
county, Aug.2, 1791, and was accidentally killed Aug.16, 1845. He was a
soldier of the War of 1812. His wife, Eleanor, was a daughter of Gen.
Abram Vail, who was a member of the State Assembly and a resident of the
town of Goshen. His parents, John and Mary (Alsop) Vail lived and died
in Goshen. The former was born Sept. 22, 1744 and died Feb.2, 1815, and
the latter was born March 21, 1742 and died May 31, 1851. He married
Easter Rockwell, who was born March 19, 1768 and died Oct. 21,1811.
Their daughter Eleanor, whose birth occurred Aug. 9, 1793, died Oct.9,
1853.
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