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William Avery Rockefeller, Sr

William Avery Rockefeller, Sr

Male 1810 - 1906  (95 years)  Submit Photo / DocumentSubmit Photo / Document


Personal Information    |    Media    |    Event Map    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name William Avery Rockefeller 
    Suffix Sr 
    Born 13 Nov 1810  Ancram, Columbia, New York Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Also Known As Dr. William Levingston.

    William was at best a conman. In 1849 he was indicted for rape. He ran away and used the Levingston name to hide behind.

    Nothing became of the rape charge but he left his family destitute and he kept up his double life.

    He had no medical training the self granted title was an aid in selling home-brewed elixirs or patent medicines bought from druggists.

    He married again as Levingston and became a bigamist. He used "business travel" as an excuse to disappear from one life to maintain the other.

    He died and, was buried under the Levingston alias. The cost for the headstone was paid by the second wife's estate.

    His children never publicly acknowledged their father's misdeeds.  
    Rockefeller, Senior?
    Rockefeller, Senior?
    Evening times-Republican, Marshalltown, Iowa, February 4, 1908 page 5.
    Father Of Oil King.
    Father Of Oil King.
    The Washington Bee, (Washington D.C.), April 4, 1908 page 3.
    Was He Father Of Oil King?
    Was He Father Of Oil King?
    The Chickasha Daily Express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory, Oklahoma), March 6, 1908, page 3.
    Census 1850 
    1850 Rockefeller.
    1850 Rockefeller.
    1850 US census, Owego, Tioga, New York, Family Number 1230, Rockefeller.
    Census 1880 
    1880 Rudd.
    1880 Rudd.
    1880 US census, Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio, enumeration district 10, Family Number 5520608, Rudd.
    Died 11 May 1906  Freeport, Stephenson, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried Oakland Cemetery, Freeport, Stephenson, Illinois, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Levingston-Rockefeller Headstone.
    Levingston-Rockefeller Headstone.
    Levingston-Rockefeller Headstone.
    Levingston-Rockefeller Grave Site.
    Levingston-Rockefeller Grave Site.
    Levingston-Rockefeller Grave Site.
    Levingston-Rockefeller  Inscription.
    Levingston-Rockefeller Inscription.
    Levingston-Rockefeller Inscription.
    Levingston-Rockefeller Grave Site.
    Levingston-Rockefeller Grave Site.
    Levingston-Rockefeller Grave Site.
    Siblings 9 siblings 
    Person ID I37058  Nagel
    Last Modified 19 Dec 2018 

    Father Godfrey Lewis Rockefeller 
    Relationship Birth 
    Mother Lucy Avery,   b. 11 Feb 1786 
    Relationship Birth 
    Family ID F11828  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Eliza Davison,   b. 12 Sep 1813, Niles, Cayuga, New York Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 28 Mar 1889, Manhattan, New York, New York Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 75 years) 
    Married 18 Feb 1837  Niles, Cayuga, New York Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
     1. Lucy Rockefeller,   b. 1838, New York Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1878  (Age 40 years)  [Birth]
    +2. John Davidson Rockefeller, Sr,   b. 8 Jul 1839, Richford, Tioga, New York Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 23 May 1937, Ormond Beach, Volusia, Florida Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 97 years)  [Birth]
    +3. William Avery Rockefeller, Jr,   b. 31 May 1841, Richford, Tioga, New York Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 24 Jun 1922, Tarrytown, Westchester, New York Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 81 years)  [Birth]
    +4. Mary Ann Rockefeller,   b. 24 Aug 1843, Moravia, Cayuga, New York Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 8 Jan 1925, Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 81 years)  [Birth]
     5. Franklin Rockefeller,   b. 1845,   d. 1917  (Age 72 years)  [Birth]
     6. Frances Rockefeller,   b. 1845,   d. 1847  (Age 2 years)  [Birth]
    Last Modified 1 Jan 2020 
    Family ID F11829  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 Nancy Brown 
    Married
    • William never married Nancy. She was his mistress and housekeeper.
    Children 
     1. Clorinda Rockefeller,   b. 1838  [Birth]
     2. Cornelia Rockefeller,   b. 1840  [Birth]
    Last Modified 19 Dec 2018 
    Family ID F11849  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 3 Margaret L Allen,   b. 1834, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 9 Dec 1910  (Age 76 years) 
    Married 12 Jun 1855  Norwich, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Last Modified 19 Dec 2018 
    Family ID F11850  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart