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Giles Capron, Jr.

Born in Preston, Connecticut, in the late 18th century, Giles Capron, Jr. came to our area sometime before the birth of his first child Lucy in 1814. A relative of Giles, William Pitt Capron from New London, also made the move and lived in Red Hook in 1810. Giles married Elizabeth Killom, and they had at least three children–William, Lucy, and Giles Edmund Capron. 

Giles Edmund Capron (born in 1822 and baptized at St. John’s) lived in New York City and went to California in 1849 during the Gold Rush. He died sometime before April of 1850 and left his estate to his mother, or, pending her death before him, his brother William. William (1817-1881) married Clarinda Beckwith, a daughter of Col. Nathan Beckwith. They had several children who bear familiar names, honoring other members of their family such as Nathan Beckwith, Elle E., Mary, Lucy A., Edmund Giles, Carrie L., and Amie Sutherland Capron. Lucy (1814-199) married Benner Knickerbocker, a grandson of Hendrick Benner, Jr. Their children, all born in Michigan, were Margaret M., Edwin L., Mary E., Ellen C., Lucy E., and John Henry Knickerbocker. William and Lucy’s families removed to Michigan with their mother Elizabeth who is buried with William in Pontiac. 

Details about Giles Capron’s life are scarce, but there is something intriguing about Capron’s gravestone. S. Bassett, North East, the name and location of the mason who provided and engraved the stone, is recorded at the very bottom. Sherman Bassett (1794-1879) was a mason from the Town of Northeast whose place of business was located near the hamlet of Northeast Center on the south side of what is probably now Downey Road. He and his wife were painted by Ammi Phillips c. 1830, and they are buried in the Amenia Island Cemetery.

This photo of a Knickerbocker family reunion held in Illinois c.1910 may include members of Giles Capron’s family.

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