Biography

Elizabeth Townsend Porter was born in Skaneateles, New York, in 1813, a birth year she coyly obscured for the rest of her life.

Elizabeth was the granddaughter of William Vredenburgh and his first wife, Elizabeth Townsend Vredenburgh. Her grandfather was the first man of significant wealth in Skaneateles and its first postmaster, requesting and receiving the appointment because he didn’t like to wait for his mail to come from Marcellus.

Elizabeth’s parents were Eliza Vredenburgh and James Porter, wed on Christmas Eve in 1812. Porter was a Skaneateles businessman and attorney. However, James Porter soon went to Albany to serve in the New York State Assembly, from 1814-1815, and from 1817 to 1819 he served in the U.S. House of Representatives. He then returned to the practice of law, serving as surrogate of Onondaga County from 1822 to 1824. Finally, he returned to Albany and was register of the New York State Court of Chancery.

Throughout her life, Elizabeth was close to her siblings: William Vredenburg Porter (b.1815), James Edward Porter (b. 1823), and Frances “Fanny” Lopton Porter (b. 1825).

Elizabeth was also close to her uncle by marriage, Enos Throop, the husband of her aunt Evelina. Enos Throop (pronounced “troop”) of Auburn, N.Y.

For full biography, visit: https://kihm6.wordpress.com/2010/05/24/elizabeth-t-porter-beach/