HISTORY
OF THE
ofon of itiiteto, fit.,
WITH
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
AND
FAMILY RECORDS
BY A. M. GAVERLY, M. D.
Clergyman" It seems he [ Arne] wishes to go away in search of life s good."
Margit" But isn t that just what the old crone did ? "
Clergyman" The old crone ? "
Margit " Yes ; she who went away to fetch the sunshine, instead of making
windows in the walls to let it in! "
Bjornstjerne Bjornson in Arne.
RUTLAND:
TUTTLE & CO., PRINTERS.
1872.
EESPECTFULLY DEDICATED
With the fervent desire that they may increasingly appreciate the precious-
ness of their heritage ; may unceasingly enjoy it until the sunset of their
careers, and may transmit it to the next generation, improved, ennobled
and perfumed with the memory of generous efforts for the amelioration
of our race.
The writer of this History, animated by a love for historical
and antiquarian researches, some years ago commenced to
collect interesting incidents relating to the early settlement of
Pittsford. This was done with a view to his own gratification,
rather than with the intention of writing a book. But the
materials, which soon accumulated on his hands, were of so
much interest to himself that it was conceived they might afford
pleasure to others. In conversation upon the subject with some of
our citizens, a desire was expressed by them that the writer should
prosecute his investigations, and prepare a connected history of
the town. Though aware that the limited amount of time he
could consistently spare from professional engagements might
postpone the completion of such a work beyond the expectation
of those interested, he continued his researches, and at the
annual meeting, in March, 1870, the subject was brought before
the town, and a vote carried requesting him to prepare a his
tory of the town for publication. He then entered upon the
work with renewed energy, and spared no necessary labor or
expense in collecting all available materials.
At several points the writer has trenched somewhat upon the
general history of the State, but this was indispensable in order
to explain certain events which occurred here at an early day
It should be especially noted that this was a frontier town during
the Revolutionary struggle, and that on this account not a little
of our town history has been intimately connected with that
of the State.
In the preparation of his work the author has consulted the
Colonial Records of New York and New Hampshire, and the
IV PREFACE.
Collections of the Historical Societies of Vermont, New Hamp
shire and Massachusetts, as well as Williams and Hoskins
Histories of Yerrnont, the History of Eastern Vermont and
the Early History of Vermont. He has drawn quite largely
from the Proprietary and Town Records, and also from the
records in the archives of the Secretary of State at Montpelier.
His acknowledgments are due to some of the older inhabi
tants of the town for the interest they have taken in the work,
and for information furnished, and to none more than to Hon.
S. H. Kellogg, Mr. Abraham Owen and Deacon Abel Penfield.
The last named gentleman died March 9th, 1871, but he had
furnished the writer much valuable material, and one of the
last acts of his life was to prepare for him a list of all the early
inhabitants who had taken an active part in the Revolutionary
war. The writer is also under great obligations to Rev. Sim
eon Parmelee, D. D., of Oswego, N. Y., who has contributed
facts known to no other man, for the reason that he resided in
the town earlier than any other man now living. He came here
in 1787, when he was five years of age, and he has a personal
knowledge of many events which took place at that early day.
The writer would also acknowledge his indebtedness to Ex.-
Gov. Hall, of Bennington, and to Chauncy K. Williams,
Henry Hall and F. W. Hopkins, Esqs., of Rutland, for favors
shown.
The late Gen. Hendee, at the time of his decease, left in
manuscript a history of his ancestors, with an account of many
events which took place in the early settlement of the town. His
children have very kindly placed this at the service of the au
thor, together with other writings by the same hand throwing
light upon the past.
Credit should also be given to Rev. Myron A. Munson for
much valuable assistance in the preparation of manuscript and
the correction of proof sheets.
PREFACE.
The writer does not flatter himself that his narrative is free
from error, but he has endeavored to state facts only, and in
language which might be understood. The work is submitted
to his fellow citizens, not as a contribution to literature, but as
a hearty effort to preserve the knowledge of interesting and
important events ; and if they shall take some degree of pleas
ure in perusing its pages, he will feel that his labor has not been
in vain.
OITEITS.
Page.
CHAPTER I.
The Indians ; Early Explorations ; Military Road ; Charter of the
Township, 1
CHAPTER II.
Proprietors Records ; First Settlement, 25
CHAPTER III.
The Land Title Controversy, 64
CHAPTER IV.
The Revolutionary War, * 99
CHAPTER V.
The Revolutionary War Continued, 146
CHAPTER VI.
Immigrants after the War, and their Locations ; The Insurrection,
17801790, 184
CHAPTER VII.
Immigrants Continued ; Settlement of the Land Title Controversy
1790-1800, 265
CHAPTER VIII.
Immigrants Continued ; Wolves 1800-1810, 309
CHAPTER IX. f
Immigrants Continued; The Great Flood; War of 1812-14
1810-1820, 339
CHAPTER X.
Immigrants or Settlers, and their Locations Continued 1820-1830, 367
CHAPTER XL
Immigrants or Settlers, and their Locations Continued 1830-1840, 392
CHAPTER XII.
Immigrants or Settlers, and their Locations Continued ; Rebuild
ing of the Mead Bridge 1840-1850, 419
CHAPTER XIII.
Immigrants or Settlers, and their Locations Continued ; Purchase
of a Town Farm 1850-1860, 444
Vlll CONTENTS.
Page.
CHAPTER XIV.
Immigrants or Settlers, and their Locations Concluded ; War of
the Rebellion 1860-1870, 466
CHAPTER XV.
Roads ; Bridges ; Mills ; Tanners and Curriers Works ; the Fur
nace ; Iron Foundries ; Potash Works ; Distilleries ; Marble
Interests, 499
CHAPTER XVI.
The Librarian Society ; Library Company ; Maclure Library As
sociation ; Schools, 526
CHAPTER XVII.
College Graduates, and other Men of Note, 557
CHAPTER XVIII.
Medical and Legal Professions ; Stores and Taverns, 592
CHAPTER XIX.
Ecclesiastical History and Religious Revivals, 611
CHAPTER XX.
Meeting Houses and Burying Grounds, 662
APPENDIXES,.. 683
HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD,
CHAPTEK I.
Introduction; The Indians; Early Explorations; French and
Indian War ; Military Road ; Charter of the Township.
The more familiar we become with the history of our country,
the stronger is our attachment to it. The outlines of this
history have been faithfully written, but the integral parts of
which it has been made up have not received the attention they
deserve. We read of Bunker Hill, Brooklyn, Saratoga and
Yorktown, but we should remember that those conflicts were
but the eruptions of fires that were burning all over the
country, and kindling into military life and activity every city,
town and hamlet. Wherever there were patriotic hearts there
was a recruiting station or camping ground, where men were
mustered or were trained for the conflict. The scenes enacted
at Trenton, Princeton and Bennington were but the more promi
nent exhibitions of military prowess, seized upon and described by
the general historian^ while the less dazzling, though equally
interesting and important events, that transpired in rural districts
far beyond the limits of the public gaze, obtain less attention
than they deserve. Now to gather up these obscure items
of history and to arrange them in some permanent form for the
benefit of those who shall hereafter live, is the work not of the
general but of the town historian.
This tract of earth, called Pittsford, though merely an
insignificant speck upon the map of our country, has been
HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
the theatre of some stirring events, but the generations which
were active in them have long since passed to that
u undiscovered country, from whose bourn
No traveller returns ; "
and as they left but few records, we can gather from this source
only fragments of their history. To connect these so as to
form one continuous narrative, we are obliged, sometimes, to
resort to uncertain tradition. This being a frontier town,
was particularly exposed, during the Eevolutionary war, to the
incursions of the enemy, so that the inhabitants found it
necessary, at a very early period, to unite in some measures
of common defense. Afterwards, by order of the State military
authority, these measures were extended and rendered more
efficient and became a part of the more public defenses.
Consequently some few items of our town history relating
to military operations as well as to the land-title contro
versy nav e found their way into the general history of the
State, but by far the larger portion of it remains unwritten.
To write a really complete history of the town at this late
period, is a task which none can hope to perform, as too much
of the material is already irrecoverably lost. Nevertheless,
we have spent much time in efforts to collect all that is
available, and the result will appear in the following pages.
Up to 1760, the territory, now the State of Vermont, was
almost wholly an unbroken wilderness. A few men from
Massachusetts had located at " Dummer Meadows," within the
*
present limits of Brattleboro ; others had built a few block
houses and commenced clearings at several points further
north, on the same side of the Connecticut river ; and some
French Canadians had built temporary residences at Chimney
Point, in the present township of Addison ; but till the com
mencement of the French war a large proportion of this region
was little known to civilized men, few of whom had ever
penetrated its sequestered recesses.
THE INDIANS.
This territory had been claimed by the Mohicans, a tribe of
Indians in alliance with the Iroquois or Six Nations, and whose
principal seat was at Albany, though they had temporary
residences here to which they annually repaired for the
purposes of hunting and fishing. But it is asserted by what
authority we cannot say that the north-west part of this
territory was conveyed to the Caughnawagas, a branch of
the Mohawks, formerly residing in New York, but now settled
at Sault St. Louis, near Montreal. The territory thus conveyed
was bounded as follows: "Beginning on the east side of
Ticonderoga from thence to the great falls on Otter Creek, and
continues the same course to the height of land that divides the
streams between Lake Champlain and the river Connecticut;
from thence along the height of land opposite Missisque, and
thence to the Bay." The valley of the Creek being central in
its location, and abounding in all those materials which min-
ister d to the gratification of red men, was one of their
favorite haunts, and throughout its course at certain seasons the
curling smoke might have been seen ascending from the rudely
constructed wigwam. But the Indians more frequently found
in this part of the valley of the Otter Creek, and with whom
the early settlers were familiar, were from a colony of the
Caughnawagas which located, in earlier times, at St. Regis,
within the present limits of Bombay, Franklin Country, New
York, and were known as the St. Regis Indians. Every year
large numbers of these Indians were seen in their canoes
ascending the Creek to their favorite hunting-grounds, wherein
they constructed small huts, in which they took up their abode
during the season favorable for the prosecution of their usual
employment.
Whatever attractions there might have been in other parts,
there is no doubt that the territory now included in Pittsford,
was favorite hunting-ground with the Indians ; and the numerous
relics of their presence found at an early day some distance
HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
south of the Tillage, indicate that wigwams may once have
stood there whence the red men daily issued forth to pursue
their game upon the mountains, or to find victims among the
finny tribes which abounded in the Creek, and in the smaller
streams that meander through the low-lands. At that early day a
great variety and number of animals had their residence in the
forest and in the waters. The moose, deer, bear, wolf, wild-cat
and martin roamed in the former; while the otter, beaver,
musk-rat and mink were found sporting in the latter. All of
these animals were sought by the children of the forest, some
for food, others for their fur which was used not only for
clothing but as an article of trade. To agriculture they gave
but little attention, and the management of this department of
labor was committed wholly to the women ; and being destitute
of the proper instruments of husbandry it is easy to believe that
their efforts were attended with but little success.
Such was the condition of this section of the country and
such were the inhabitants thereof, at the time civilization began
to approach its borders. Doubtless some individuals of a
superior race actuated by the spirit of adventure or discovery,
penetrated at various times its dark recesses; but they left
no vestige of their presence and published to the world no
account of their discoveries.
The first exploration by the white race of any part of the
territory now included in Pittsford, so far as history informs
us, was in the year 1730, an account of which is contained
in the diary of a journey from Fort Dummer to Lake Chain-
plain performed by Mr. James Cross. From this diary we
copy the following :
"MONDAY, ye 27th April, 1730, at about twelve of ye
clock, we left Fort Dummer and travailed that day three miles,
and lay down that night by West Kiver which is three
miles distant from Fort Dummer. Notabene. I travailed
with twelve Canady Mohawks that drank to great excess at ye
EARLY EXPLORATIONS.
fort and killed a Skatacook Indian in their drunken condition
that came to smoke with them.
TUESDAY. We travailed upon the great river * about ten
miles.
WEDNESDAY. We kept the same course upon ye great river,
travailed about ten miles, and eat a drowned Buck that night.
THURSDAY. We travailed upon the great River within two
miles of y e Great Falls,! m said river, then we went upon land
to the Black River above y e Great Falls, went up in that River
and lodged about a mile and a hall from the mouth of Black
River, which days travail we judged was about ten miles.
FRIDAY. We crossed Black River at ye Falls,:): afterwards
travailed through ye woods N". N. W., then crossed Black
River again about 17 miles above our first crossing, afterwards
travailed y e same course, and pitched our tent on ye homeward
side of Black River.
SATURDAY. We crossed Black River, left a great mountain
on y e right hand and another on y e left. Keep a N. W.
course till we pitch our tent after 11 miles travail by a Brook
which we call a branch of Black River.
SABBATH DAY. Soon after we began our days work,
an old pregnant squaw that travailed with us, stopt alone and
was delivered of a child, and by Monday noon overtook us with
a living child upon her back. We travailed to Black River.
At y e three islands, between which and a large pond we pass
ye River enter a mountain || that afforded us a prospect of y e
place Fort Dummer. Soon after we enter a descending country
and travail till we arrive at Arthur Creek f in a descending land.
In this days travail, which is 21 miles, we came upon seven
brooks which run a S. W. course at ye north end of said
mountain. From Black River to Arthur Creek, we judge is 25
miles.
* Connecticut River, t Bellows Falls, f At Springfield. In Ludlow. || In the
township of Plymouth where Black River rises. ^[ Otter Creek.
HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
MONDAY. Made canoes.
TUESDAY. Hindered travailing by rain.
WEDNESDAY. We go in our canoes upon Arthur Creek till
we meet two great falls in said river.* Said river is very
black and deep and surrounded by good land to y e extremity of
our prospect. This days travail, 35 miles.
THURSDAY. We sail 40 miles in Arthur Creek. We meet
with great Falls,! and a little below them we meet with two
other great Falls, { and about 10 miles below y e said Falls
we meet with two other pretty large Falls. We carry our
canoes by these Falls and come to ye Lake."
Again, in 1748, Capt. Eleazer Melven, of Concord, Massa
chusetts, with eighteen men under his command, passed through
this territory on a tour of observation. Capt. Melven was one
of the survivors of the brave company of Capt. John Lovewell
who fell at Pequauket in 1725, and was lieutenant of a
company at the siege of Louisburg in 1745, and served as
captain in several subsequent campaigns. From March to
September, 1747, he was stationed at Northfield, on the bor
ders of New Hampshire. Captain M. died at Concord, Oct.
18, 1754, aged 52 years. We copy the following from the
journal of his march || through Yermont :
" May 13. March d from Fort Dummer to No. 2, and
there camp d.
14. March d to No. 4. Made no discovery of the enemy.
15. Sunday in the evening, march d with Capt. Stevens
and Capt. Hobbs to the mouth of Black Eiver and crossed the
Great River and camp d.
16. March d about 14 miles, crossed a branch of Black
River, which runs from Ascutney. Made no discovery.
17. March d a K W. point about 13 miles. Came to a
* Gookin s Falls and Sutherland Falls, in the town of Rutland, t Middlebury
Falls. J At Waybridge. At Vergenucs, ||A part of this march was through
what is now Pittsford,
EAKLY EXPLOEATIONS.
large branch of Black River and carap d. Saw no new signs of
the enemy.
18. March d a W. K W. point, about 3 miles, cross d
Black Biver, kept the same point about 9 miles further, over
the height of land, and camp d. Saw no new signs of the
enemy.
19. March d a ~N. W. point. Crossed several large streams,
being branches of Otter Creek. Saw many signs of the enemy,
both old and new, as camps, trees redded, &c. March d about
10 miles this day, and camp d, after we had sent out proper
scouts.
20. March d about 6 miles, a K W, point, down Otter
Creek, there parted with Capt. Stevens and Capt. Hobbs who
thought proper to take another course. March d over Otter
Creek, kept a N. W. point about 8 miles, and came again
to the river, about one mile below some large falls, crossed a
large stream which came into Otter Creek on the west side, a
little below the falls, and camp d. Saw no signs of the enemy
very new.
21. Being rainy weather, march [ed] but two miles and
camp d.
22. March d N. W. by N. down Otter Creek, about ten
miles, then took a K W. point and marched about 10 miles
further, saw several camps made last winter, also saw tracks,
and some considerable beaten paths made by the enemy, but
not very new.
23. March d K W. about three miles, came to a large
camp, fenced in with a very thick fence, where we found a
keg of about 4 gallons, which appeared to be newly emptied of
wine, as plainly appeared by the smell, and about 12 pounds of
good French bread ; the bread we took and divided among
ourselves. Kept the same point about 11 miles further and
camp d, making no further discovery.
24. March d N. W. about 10 miles and came to Lake
HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
Cliamplaiii about 4 o clock. March d about 3 miles down the
lake and camp d, making no discovery of the enemy.
25. In the morning heard 5 guns about 2 or 3 miles
distant, as we judged, but could not tell which way, whether up
or down the Lake. March d down the lake northward about 3
miles, discovered a large canoe with, sails, coming from the
southward, with six Indians in it, who passed by us at so great
a distance that we could not hurt them. Soon after another
canoe followed, with 12 Indians, whereupon we ran to a point
of land about half a mile distant towards Crown Point Fort,
and they coming within about 50 or 60 rods, and apprehending
we might make some spoil upon them, and fearing we should
have no better opportunity, w r e agreed to fire upon them, and
accordingly fired six times each, in about 3 or 4 minutes. The
first shot they all lay down close in the canoe, and did not show
their heads till the 3d shot, when they made a most terrible
out-cry, cut down their sails, and about six got to padling from
us as fast as possible. At the fourth shot we made, they fired
3 guns at us, one of which grazed one man s hand, and imme
diately they fired 3 guns at Crown Point, which we judged to
be 4-pounders, and at about a mile distant, by the noise and the
rising of the smoke, which, rose like a cloudy pillar ; then we
carefully retreated, marching east through a very thick part of
drowned land, 3 or 4 miles, the water a great part of the way
about mid leg deep : then we took a S. E. point, and travelled
about 10 miles and camp d ; heard several great guns at
Crown Point, as also 2 next morning.
26. March d a S. E. point about 5 miles, saw the tracks of
about 150 or 200 of the enemy gone that morning, having got
upon our tracks where we went to the lake then we took a
south point, and marched about 11 miles further and camp d.
27. March d S. S. E. about 10 miles, came to Otter
Creek about one mile below the first falls ; march [ed] about
EARLY EXPLORATIONS,
4 miles above the falls, and camp d after sending out scouts as
was our constant practice.
28. Mareh d up Otter Creek to the Crotch about 6 miles,
then we took up the south branch of Otter Creek, and march d
about 10 miles and camp d.
29. March d up the south branch of Otter Creek to the
head of it ; then steered S. E. ; travelled over a large moun
tain, leaving another large mountain on the N. W. Keeping
our course down the mountain, we crossed several streams we
supposed to be the head of Saratoga river. March d this day
about 16 miles.
30. March d S. S. E. about 6 miles, came upon a branch
of West River, travelled down the river about 8 miles and
camp d.
31. Our provisions being very short we began our march
before sunrise, and travelled till about half past nine o clock ;
being by the side of the river, several of the company desired
to stop to refresh themselves, being faint and weary, whereupon
we halted and began to take off our packs, and some were set
dow r n, and in about half a minute after our halting, the enemy
arose from behind a log and several trees, about 20 feet or 30
at farthest distant, and fired about 12 guns at us, but do not
know whether any men received any hurt, tho so near;
whereupon I called upon the men to face the enemy and run up
the bank, w r hich I did myself, and several others attempted, but
the enemy were so thick, they could not. I was no sooner
jumpt up the bank but the enemy were just upon me. I
discharged my gun at one of them about 8 feet from the muzzle
of my gun, who I see fall, and about the same tfhie that
I discharged my gun, the enemy fired about 20 guns at us, and
kill d 4 men namely, John Howard, [Hayward ?] Isaac Taylor,
John Dod and Daniel Man. The men which were left alive
fired immediately on the enemy, several of which shots did
execution, as can be witnessed by several who see the enemy
HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
fall ; but seeing the enemy numerous and their guns being
discharged, they retreated. Several ran across the river, where
they had some of them opportunity to fire again at the enemy.
Some ran up the river and some down, and some into a thicket
on the same side of the river. For my own part, after I saw
my men retreat, and being beset by the enemy with guns,
hatchets and knives. Several of them attempted to strike at me-
with their hatchets. Some threw their hatchets, one of which,
or a bullet, I cannot certainly tell which, carried away my belt,
r and with it my bullets, all except one I had loose in my pocket.
I ran down the river, and two Indians followed me, and ran
almost side by side with me, calling to me, " Come Captain,"
" Now Captain," but upon my presenting my gun towards
them (though not charged) they fell a little back, and I ran
across the river, charged my gun, moved a few steps and one of
them fired at me, which was the last gun fired. I looked back
and saw nine of the enemy scalping the dead men, and six or
seven running across the river, and several about the bank of
the river very busy, which I apprehend were carrying off their
dead. I then being alone got to the side of a hill, in sight of
the place of battle, and there seated myself to look for some of
my men, and to see if the enemy made any shout, as is
customary with them when they get the advantage, but hearing
no more of them, nor seeing any of my men, I made the best of
my way to Fort Dummer, where I arrived the next day before
noon, where one of my msn got in about an hour before me,
and eleven more came in, in a few hours, though in several
companies. Joseph Petty was wounded, and I have not yet
heard of*liim. Samuel Severns [Severance] 1 imagine is taken.
I went out next day with above forty men, to bury the dead,
and spent one day in looking for Joseph Petty, who was
wounded but could nut find him.*
ELEAZER MELYEK"
Coll. N. H. Historical Society, Vol. V., Page 207.
* It was afterwards found that Severance and Petty were killed by the Indians.
OEIGIN OF THE FEENCH AND INDIAN WAE. 11
Such were the two earliest explorations of this territory of
which we can find an authentic account, but it did not begin to
be generally known till 1754, when began a series of operations
which, as w r e shall see, were destined to change its whole
physical aspect and to bring in a race of men bearing the stamp
of civilization.
The eastern portions of North America were settled by men
of different nationalities. The French colonized Canada and
Louisiana ; the English, New England, New York, to a great
extent, and parts farther south ; and the colonists in each of
these regions acknowledged allegiance to, and acted in the
interest of their respective sovereigns. At first these colonies
were widely separated, but by continual accessions to their
numbers, they soon spread over a large territory, and as their
settlements began to approximate, it was easy to foresee that
the two nations, equally jealous, would sometime come into
collision respecting their boundaries. By the construction of
charters and grants from the crown of England, her colonies
extended indefinitely westward. The French in attempting to
connect their northern and southern settlements, by a chain of
forts and posts from the St. Lawrence to the Mississippi,
necessarily interfered with the claims of the English. In
execution of this purpose, the French took possession of several
important posts upon the Ohio river, and declared their inten
tion to seize every Englishman within the valley. Thus
originated the struggle between the powers of France and
England, in which the avarice and ambition of these two mighty
nations worked themselves out in a war for conquest "the
game of kings."
At that time the colonies of New England were separated
from the French settlements by the belt of wilderness which
mutated into the State of Vermont ; and during the ensuing
struggle, this was frequently passed through by military expedi-
tions to the lakes and Canada, and consequently became much
12 HISTOET OF PITTSFOBD.
better known. A large proportion of the New England soldiers
who served in the war, had to traverse this wilderness, and as
no public highway had been opened, the passage was attended
with no little difficulty, and the army stores could be transported
only on pack horses. The route taken lay partly in an old path
made by the Indians in their expeditions from Canada to Fort
Dummer, and was by way of Lake Champlain, Otter Creek r
and Black and Connecticut rivers. From the time of the
earliest English settlements, this path was known as the " Indian
road."
Early in the spring of 1756, the government of Massachu
setts discussed the feasibility of constructing a road between a
point on the right bank of Connecticut river, opposite Charles-
town, and a point on the right bank of Lake Champlain,
opposite Crown Point, for the purpose of facilitating military
operations in that quarter. As the result of these deliberations
the following vote was passed in the House of Representatives
on the 10th of March, and met with the approbation of the
Governor and Council :
" Whereas, it is of great importance that a thorough knowl
edge be had of the distance and practicability of a communication
between Number Four on Connecticut river and Crown Point,,
and that the course down Otter Creek to Lake Champlain
should be known; therefore, voted that his Excellency the
Governor be, and he is hereby desired as soon as may be, to
appoint fourteen men upon this service, seven of them to go
from said Number Four the direct course to Crown Point, to
measure the distance and gain what knowledge they can of the
country ; and the other seven to go from said Number Four to
Otter Creek aforesaid and down said creek to Lake Champlain,,
observing the true course of said creek, its depth of water, what
falls there are in it and also the nature of the soil on each side
thereof, and what growth of woods is near it. Each party of
said men to keep a journal of their proceedings and observations
MILITARY EOAD. 13
and lay the same, on their return, before this Court. They to
observe all such directions as they may receive from his Excel
lency. One man in each party to be a skillful surveyor, and
the persons employed shall have a reasonable allowance made
them by the Court for their services."
It was also proposed to build a strong fort on the height of
land between Black Eiver and Otter Creek. A military post
there was deemed important, as it would furnish an opportunity
to prevent the advance of the enemy from Lake Champlain,
facilitate operations against Ticonderoga and Crown Point, and
aiford a safe retreat for scouting parties from Connecticut river.
This project had also attracted the attention of Lord London,
the commander-in-chief of the English forces, who desired that
the route should be surveyed and the result reported to him.
By request, Col. Williams drew up a topographical sketch and
a description of the country, compiled from the journals of men
who had traversed it, and presented the same to -his lordship ;
but this not being quite satisfactory, he w T as ordered to make an
accurate examination of the country with the assistance voted
by the General Court, and to give such additional information
as might appear to him necessary. But the number and
hostility of the Indians in that region rendered the undertaking
too hazardous. Accordingly, though surveys were made as far
as the height of land, there w r as no attempt at this time to build
either the road or the fort.
In 1759, General Amherst projected the construction of a
military road from Number Four (now Charlestown) on the
Connecticut river to Crown Point. This was for the purpose
of transporting troops and baggage from Charlestown, it being
the rendezvous for men enlisted in New Hampshire and Mas
sachusetts. Capt. Stark, with two hundred Hangers, entered
upon the work. Commencing at Crown Point, they con
structed a good wagon road to Otter Creek, and thence Lieut.-
Col. Hawks cut a bridal path over the mountains, but, for some
14r HISTOKY OF PITTSFOED.
reason, did not complete the work. The following spring,
Col. John Goffe, with a regiment. of New Hampshire soldiers,
marched from Litchfield by way of Peterboro and Keene to
Number Four. Beginning at Wentworth s ferry, two miles
above the fort, they constructed a new road twenty-six miles in
the course of Black River, as far as the present town of Ludlow,
where terminated the path which had been made the year before
by Col. Hawks. In this they passed over the mountains to
Otter Creek and thence proceeded to Crown Point. Their
stores were brought in wagons as far as the twenty-six miles
extended and thence transported on horses. A drove of cattle
for the supply of the army went from Number Four by this
route to Crown Point. While the soldiers were engaged in
cutting this road, the trails of Indians were occasionally seen in
the adjoining woods, but no hostilities ensued.
The road passed through the present township of Pittsford.
It entered from the south by two branches which united a little
west of Otter Creek. The first and older branch, and probably
the only one travelled prior to 1759, leading north from what
is now known as Center Rutland, entered this town a little west
of what has since been known as Sutherland Falls. Passing
near the present residences of Artemas C. Powers and Chapin
Warner to where the Gorham bridge now stands, it thence
turned a little westerly, and running past where Roger Stevens
afterwards lived, and past the Rice, Mead and Barnes places
to the Buck place, it there took a northwesterly course and
passed near the Waters place now Abel Morgan s and pur
sued about the same course by where Benjamin Stevens and
Asa Blackmore once resided to the site of Bresee s mills, and
thence on to Crown Point.
The second or later branch, opened in 1759 or 1760, leading
north from the site of the village of East Rutland, entered this
town near where the present highway, leading south from
Abner T. Raynolds , intersects the town line. From that point it
MILITARY ROAD. 15
pursued a northwesterly course through land now owned by S.
B. Loveland, F. Manley, Marshall Wood, and G. N. Eayres,
and near the present residence of Amos C. Kellogg it turned
westerly and crossed Mill brook. Near where Ebenezer Hop
kins afterwards lived now S. B. Loveland s it turned north,
passed a little west of the site of the present Village to the
Olmstead place, where it turned more westerly and crossed
Otter Creek at a ford* just at the mouth of what is now known
as the Stevens brook, and continuing westerly, passed about
three rods west of the present residence of Benjamin Stevensf
and united with the branch formerly described about one hun
dred rods south, or perhaps a little southeast, of where Benja
min Stevens, sr., afterwards resided.
The following description of this road, w T ritten by one whose
father had travelled it, may be worth quo ting I : "I have thought
it might interest some of your readers to see some account of
the old French track or road from old Crown Point Fort to
No. Four, (now Charlestown, N.H.,) previous to the peace be
tween England and France in 1763, My attention was called to
this subject by Mr. Hager, the State Geologist, calling on me
to inform him where it was. I said to him I had a general
knowledge of the route, but could not answer the direct ques
tion. He then said he must give up the finding it on the
west side of the mountain ; he could trace the road to Mount
Holly and no further. He then told the object of the inquiry,
which was that a new State Map was in progress, and he
wanted to have the track of the old French road appear on
it across the State from the two points named. And it excited
my mind at once, for the following reason : My father, Elias
Hall, then of New Cheshire, New Haven county, Connecticut,
enlisted into the army of Lord Amherst at Hartford, and the
* This, the best ford on the Creek, was named Pitt s Ford in honor of William
Pitt, the celebrated English statesman and frieud of the colonies,
t Mr. Stevens corn barn stands in this road.
\ See Rutland HERALD, Jan. 16, 1861.
16 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
colonel s name was Whiting. He was at Crown Point* and
acted as Sergeant and was on fatigue duty some of the time in
digging the big well in the northeast angle of the fort. * * *
When I was nineteen years old, I went to look over my father s
ancient scenes. * * * * * *
Crown Point Fort and Chimney Point f being only half a
mile apart, the old French road started at the latter point to
cross what is now Vermont and across the mountain. My
father, late in the fall of 1Y59, was taken with the rheumatism,
and had permission from Lord Amherst to return home, and
went in the old French road, before there was a family in this
section of the country except what I have named ; and he is the
only individual I ever knew that walked it.
The first night on his way he stopped at Camp Cold Spring,
near the eastern part of the town of Shoreham, and six miles
west of Whiting depot, and ten miles southwest of Middlebury.
I have forwarded to Mr. Bissell, who owns the farm where the
spring is, a monument, to be placed there to mark one spot on
the old French road and to designate the spot where my de
ceased parent rested his weary limbs in the wilderness, one
hundred and eleven years since ; and have suggested two other
places to mark the road, of some importance to history, from
Lake Champlain to Connecticut Kiver. I understand that Mr.
Hager, the Assistant State Geologist, followed the information
I communicated to him soon after his application, and it appears
on the new map as desired. There is no doubt that Pittsford
* Mr. Hall was with Amherst s army when it crossed the lake to invest Ticon-
deroga. The army landed at what has since been called Amherst s Landing, just
east of the outlet of Lake George, Lord Howe s Landing being in the rear near a
mile, and where the steamboats now stop.
t In speaking of Chimney Point, Mr. Hall says : " In what was called the French
Burying Ground, I saw a slatish-appearing grave-stone, in a leaning position, with
the figures 1720 on it ; and I think this was the place the first old settlers of
what is now the town of Addison used lor the dead. The old French settle
ment extending, perhaps, five miles on the east side of the lake from Chimney
Point, was entirely abandoned between 17(30 and 1763 ; and several of the hardy
and enterprising farmers who removed from Connecticut and Massachusetts, took
possession of well improved farms ; and I am inclined to think that place was the
first settled in Vermont ; and I am confirmed in this opinion by a Mrs. Sarah Mark-
ham, a daughter of Benjamin Kellogg, who was among those who came there first."
MILITARY ROAD. 17
Stockade Fort* was on the track ; it then went south three or
four miles, turned southwesterly from the place where old Capt.
J. Fassettf lived and by where E. Druiy, J. Warner and A.
Ladd lived, in Pittsford ; in Rutland by where Joe Keeler lived
more than twenty years since, by Seth Keeler s to the old Maj.
Cheney place, and then south to Rutland Union Store, near
which are the marks of the Rutland fort ; then it went south
over four miles, turning easterly passed the Bowman place and
to the north of Crary s Mills, then east to the road going to
Shrewsbury Centre to where Mr. White lived eighty years
since, from there to the twenty-mile cainp, three miles from the
old Dutton Tavern Stand, and thence to No. Four. The brave
and celebrated Major Rogers, after incredible sufferings and
hardships, with what men were not starved on his return, after
the destruction of the St. Francis Indians, returned in this road
to Crown Point in 1759, a hazardous expedition.
ELIAS HALL."
In the foregoing, Mr. Hall terms this the "Old French Road,"
for what reason we do not understand, as it was not built by
the French, but by the British Provincials for the transportation
of military stores from Number Four to the troops sent to
invade Canada, while Mr. Hall s description of the road is
undoubtedly, in the main, correct, yet it is not strictly so in
respect to that section of it which is included within the limits
of Pittsford. Fort Mott was more than half a mile, and Fort
Vengeance was nearly one and a half miles north of Pitt s Ford,
the point at which the road was nearest the forts. The distance
from this ford to Capt. Jonathan Fassett s was less than two
miles. The road already mentioned, as passing from Center
Rutland through this town, on the west side of Otter Creek,
left the road mentioned by Mr. Hall at East Rutland, the fort
there being the junction.
* Fort Mott.
t The farm now owned by the heirs of the late David Hall,
3
18 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
During the French war, the New England soldiers engaged
in it had a favorable opportunity of becoming acquainted with
the country in the vicinity of this and other military routes.
Among these soldiers many of the young men were so charmed
with the valley of the Otter Creek, that they resolved to make
it their future abode. These lands were claimed by New
Hampshire, and had been promised to the soldiers as a reward
for their services in conquering the country from the French,
ifut no sooner was peace restored by the conquest of Canada
in 1T60, than a great crowd of adventurers and speculators
made application for them. Benning "Wentworth, then governor
of New Hampshire, had already granted several townships
on the west side, of Connecticut river, and thinking this a
favorable opportunity for filling his coffers with the fees, con
tinued to make grants, and so rapidly were the surveys extended,
that in 1761, no less than sixty townships of six miles square,
were granted on the west, and eighteen on the east side of the
river. Besides the fees and presents this avaricious governor
reserved in each township, five hundred acres of land to himself,
which was to be free from all taxation. Within two years the
number of these townships on the west side of the river num
bered one hundred and thirty-eight, each of which was usually
divided into seventy shares, of which sixty-four were granted to
that number of individuals whose names were entered upon the
back of the charter. In this transaction the claims of the
soldiers were entirely disregarded, and the lands passed into
the hands of a class of men who sought to enhance their fortunes
by selling out their rights to those who wished to become actual
settlers.
Pittsford was granted October 12th, 1761, to Ephraim
Doolittle and sixty-three others, and the charter, in the usual
form of the charters granted by New Hampshire, was as
follows :
CHARTER OF THE TOWNSHIP. 19
PROVINCE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE,*
GEORGE THE THIRD,
By the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland,
King, Defender of the Faith, &c.
To ALL PERSONS TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME :
GREETING :
KNOW YE, that we of our special grace, certain knowledge
and mere motion, for the due encouragement of settling a new
Plantation within our said Province, by and with the advice of
our trusty and well beloved Benning Wentworth, Esq., our
Governor and Commander-in-Chief of our Province of New
Hampshire in New England, and of our Council of said Prov
ince, have upon the conditions and reservations hereinafter
made, Given and Granted and by these Presents for us and our
Heirs and successors, do Give and Grant in equal shares unto
our Loving Subjects, Inhabitants of our said Province of New
Hampshire and of our other Governments, and to their heirs
and assigns forever whose names are entered on this grant, to
be divided to and among them, into seventy equal shares, all
that tract or Parcel of land, situate Lying and being within our
said Province of New Hampshire, containing by a measurement
twenty-five Thousand acres, which tract is to contain something
more than six miles square and no more : out of which an
Allowance is to be made for High Ways and unimprovable
Lands, by Hocks, Ponds, Mountains and Rivers, One Thousand
and Forty Acres free, according to a Plan and Survey thereof?
made by Our said Governor s Order, and returned into the
Secretary s Office, and hereto annexed, butted and bounded as
follows, viz : Beginning at the northwesterly corner of Rutland,
thence Running North four Degrees west Six Miles, Thence
East five Degrees South Six Miles, thence South Twenty
* The charter, still to be seen at the Town Clerk s Office, was printed with large
type, on the kind of paper in common use at that time, but it has been so often
folded and unfolded, that it is now broken into twelve pieces.
20 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
Degrees East to Rutland afore said, thence West five Degrees
North by Kutland, The North westerly Corner Thereof The
Bounds first Above Mentioned, And that the same be and
hereby is incorporated into a Township by the Name of Pitts-
ford,* And the Inhabitants that do or shall hereafter inhabit the
said Township are hereby declared be Enfranchized with and
Intitled to all and every the Privileges and Immunities that
other Towns within Our Province by Law Exercise and Enjoy.
And further that .the said Town as soon as there shall be Fifty
Families resident and settled thereon, shall have the liberty of
holding Two Fairs, one of which shall be held on the second
f And the other on the annually, which
Fairs are not to continue longer than the said
And that as soon as the said Town shall consist of Fifty
Families, a Market may be opened one or more days in each
Week, as may be thought most advantagious to the Inhabitants.
Also that the said Meeting for the Choice of Town Officers,
agreeable to the Laws of our said Province, shall be held on
the second Thursday of December next, which said meeting
shall be notified by Capt. Ephraim Doolittle, who is hereby
also appointed the Moderator of the said first Meeting which
he is to Notify and Govern agreeable to the Laws and customs
of Our said Province, and that the annual Meeting forever
hereafter for the Choice of such Officers for the said Town shall
be on the second Tuesday of March annually, To HAVE and
HOLD the said Tract of Land as above expressed, together
with all the Privileges and Appurtenances, to them and their
respective Heirs and Assigns forever upon the following Con
ditions, viz :
I. That every Grantee his Heirs and Assigns shall plant
and cultivate five Acres of Land within the Term of five Years
for every fifty Acres contained in his or their Share or Pro-
* Named from its principal ford. See note, page 15.
t The charter was originally a printed blank, and the spaces indicated by the
dash were not filled.
CHARTER OF THE TOWNSHIP. 21
portion of Land in said Township, and continue to improve and
settle the same by additional Cultivations, on Penalty of the
Forfeiture of his Grant or Share in the said Township, and of
its reverting to Us our Heirs and Successors, to be by us or
Them Eegranted to such of Our Subjects as shall effectually
settle and cultivate the same.
II. That all white and other Pine Trees within the said
Township, fit for Masting Our Royal Navy be carefully pre
served for that Use, and none to be cut or felled without Our
special Licence for so doing first had and obtained, upon the
Penalty of Forfeiture of the Eight of Grantee, his Heirs and
Assigns, to Us our Heirs and Successors, as well as being
subject to the Penalty of an Act or Acts of Parliament that
now are, or hereafter shall be enacted.
III. That before any Division of Land be made to and
among the Grantees, a Tract of Land as near the Centre of
the said Township as the Land will admit of, shall be reserved
and marked out for Town Lots, one of which shall be allotted
to each Grantee of the Contents of one Acre.
IV. Yielding and paying therefor to Us, Our Heirs and
Successors for the space of ten Years, to be computed from the
Date hereof, the Rent of One Ear of Indian Corn only, on the
twenty-fifth Day of December annually, if lawfully demanded,
the first Payment to be made on the twenty-fifth Day of
December 1762.
Y. Every Proprietor, Settler or Inhabitant, shall yield and
pay unto Us, our Heirs and Successors yearly, and every Year
forever, from and after the Expiration of ten Years from the
above said twenty-fifth Day of December, namely, on the
twenty-fifth Day of December, in the Year of our Lord 1772,
one Shilling Proclamation Money for every Hundred Acres he
so owns, settles or possesses, and so in proportion for a greater
or lesser Tract of the said Land ; which Money shall be paid
by the respective persons abovesaid, their Heirs or Assigns, in
HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
our Council Chamber in Portsmouth, or to such Officer or
Officers as shall be appointed to receive the same ; and this to
be in Lieu of all other Rents and Services whatsoever.
In testimony whereof we have caused the seal of our said
Province to be hereunto affixed. Witness BENNING
WENTWORTH, ESQ., Our Governor and Commander-in-
Chief of our said Province, the Twelfth Day of October, in the
Year of our Lord CHRIST, One Thousand Seven Hundred
and Sixty-one, And in the first Year of Our Reign.
B. WENTWORTH.
By His Excellency s
Command With Advice
of Council.
THEODORE ATKINSON, Secretary. .
Province of New Hampshire, October 12, 1762. Recorded
in the Book of Charters, Page 249 and 250.
THEODORE ATKINSON, Secretary.
The Names of the Grantees of Pittsford.
EPHRAIM DOOLITTLE, Lucius DOOLITTLE,
WILLIAM NUTTING, EBENEZER HARVEY,
SAMUEL BOWERS, JOJEPH BURT,
JOSHUA HUTCHINS, AARON BURT,
ABRAHAM NORTON, AARON DENIHO,
JOHN HUBBARD, DAVID FIELD,
ALEXANDER SCOTT, JOHN ARMS,
ANDRED POWERS, JOSIAH ARMS,
NATHANIEL MORE, Jun., ELISHA HALL, Jr.,
ROBERT CROWFORD, CHARLES WHITTLESEY, ESQ.,
EDWARD FLINT, NATHANIEL CHANCY, ESQ.,
DANIEL MCFARLING, Lucius HALL,
GEORGE ROBINS, SAMUEL WHITTLESEY,
PHINIAS HAYWARD, CHANCY WHITTLESEY,
EZRA SANGER, JEDEDIAH WINSLOW,
JOHN OAKS, TIMOTHY PATTERSON,
NAMES OF THE GRANTEES. 23
DAVID OAKS, DAVID PURPAW,
JOHN JENKS, NATHAN JEWETT,
JOHN BENHAM, BENJAMIN HUNTLEY,
DANIEL THOMAS, DANIEL DREGGS,
ELISHA WHITTLESEY, AMOS JONES,
ASHBEL STILES, PHINEAS NEWTON,
ELISH HALL, ELISHA FULLER,
SAMUEL MANSFIELD, SAMUEL FULLER, Jun.,
JOHN HALL the 5th, ELK AN AH Fox,
LENT MERIMAN, ELISHA HARVEY,
DANIEL LORD, WILLIAM STEWARD,
JOHN LOOMIS, DANIEL WARNER, ESQ.,
KlCHARD WlBERT, Esq., PETER JOHNSON,
DANIEL BOYDEN, SAMUEL BREWER,
THEODORE ATKINSON, Jun., Esq., SAMUEL JOHNSON,
JOSHUA JOHNSON, JACOB HEMMINGWAY.
His Excellency Benning Wentworth, Esq., a Tract of Land
to contain five Hundred Acres as marked B. W. in the Plan,
which is to be accounted two of the within shares. One share
for the Incorporation for the Propagation of the Gospel in
Foreign Parts. One Share for the Glebe for the Church of
England as by Law Established. One share for the first settled
Minister of the Gospel, and one share for the Benefit of a
School in said Town.
STATE OF VERMONT
Surveyor General s Office, Sunderland July the 20th 1787.
Kecorded in the Book of Charters for New Hampshire Grants,
Page 202, 203 and 204.
J. I. ALLEN, Surveyor General."
Of these grantees we have but little knowledge. The most
of them were residents of Massachusetts, though a few from
New Hampshire joined them to make the requisite number
(sixty-four) to obtain a charter of the township, but none of
them ever had a permanent residence within its bounds. The
24 HISTORY OF PITTSFOED.
most active and influential was Col. Epliraim Doolittle, who
probably did more than any other to effect the settlement of
the town. He was a resident of Worcester, Mass., and on
the breaking out of the French war, received a Captain s com
mission and entered the service of the Colonies, was with Gen.
Amherst at the taking of Ticonderoga and Crown Point in
1759, and it is said that he assisted Stark in opening and com
pleting the military road from Crown Point to Otter Creek.
He was Colonel of the Massachusetts Militia in the Revolution,
and afterward settled in Shoreham, Vermont, of which town
he was one of the grantees. He died there in 1807.
Thus the grantees by the payment of a small sum had
secured to them the title to a tract of land which, as they sup
posed, would be eagerly sought by a class of men who wished
to make for themselves permanent homes in a new country.
But unforeseen events prevented the immediate realization of
their cherished hopes. It was soon found that another State
asserted its claim to this same territory, and that the validity of
their title depended upon contingencies too uncertain to com
mand the confidence of prudent men. A controversy had
commenced between New York and New Hampshire respect
ing their mutual boundary. New York asserted its right to the
territory winch New Hampshire claimed, and till this was
settled, claimants under grants from the latter must remain
uncertain whether their claims would prove to be valid. And
it was not till the promulgation of the King s Order in Council
of April 11, 1767, winch was construed to favor the claims of
New Hampshire, that men seeking new homes felt willing to
stake their fortunes in this newly granted township.
CHAPTER II.
Proprietors Records; Governor s Lot ; First Settlement; Propri
etors 9 Meetings; Pitches of First, Second and Third Divi
sion Lots ; Settlers. 17701780.
As the records of the Proprietors for the first ten years are
lost, we have no means of knowing when they organized or
who were their first officers ; but it is known that at a very
early period they proceeded to carry out the provisions of the
charter. The township w r as carefully surveyed, and we are told
that Governor Wentworth, in the location of his five hundred
acre lot, was made the dupe of a little sharp practice. Capt,
Doolittle drew a plan of the township, and in the southeast part
it represented a stream of water and the only one on the plan.
This he carried to Portsmouth and laid before the Governor,
and on being asked what stream was there represented, replied,.
East Creek. His Excellency supposing it to be Otter Creek ?
and knowing that the lands upon that stream were of the best
quality, said that he would have his lot in the southeast corner
of the township. It w T as surveyed off to him and marked
B. "W. on the plan. Some time after this he had the exquisite
pleasure of finding that East Creek was not Otter Creek, but a
small stream running through the poorest part of the township.
The first condition of the charter requiring " every grantee
to plant and cultivate five acres of land, within the term of five
years, for every fifty acres contained in his or their share or
proportion of land in said township," was not fulfilled. How
this was tolerated we are not informed ; but we may suppose,
26 HISTORY OF PITTSFOED.
that in consideration of the conflicting claims to this territory,
and the unsettled condition of public affairs, His Excellency
thought it wise to exercise clemency towards his "loving sub
jects." The township being divided into seventy shares, the
proportion of land for each grantee was nearly 360 acres. It
would appear from the records that, for a time, the grantees
carried on quite a traffic in these town shares or rights, and at
one period Capt. Doolittle owned nearly one-fifth of the town
ship.
Though anxious to effect the settlement of the township, it
was not till 1769 that the proprietors were able to dispose of a
right to an actual settler. This year Gideon Cooley bought of
Ephraim Doolittle one right located in the south part of the
township, upon which he had already made improvements. He
was the son of Benjamin Cooley who was born in 1702, mar
ried Betsey - , and located in Greenwich, Mass., where
were born to him by this marriage three daughters and one son.
His wife Betsey died about the year 1745, and the following
year he married Mary - , who was born in 1725. The
children by this marriage were 1st, Benjamin, born April 30,
1747 ; 2d, Eeuben, born April 25, 1752 ; 3d and 4th, Azariah
and Naomi (twins), born July 26, 1755 ; 5th, Margaret, born
November 13, 1757.
Gideon Cooley was the son of Benjamin by his first wife,
and was born about the year 1737. At the commencement of
the French war he enlisted as a soldier in the service of his
country, and was assigned to the company commanded by Capt.
Doolittle. During his three years service he passed through
this region of country several times, and whenever he came in
sight of the valley of the Otter Creek we are informed that he
expressed his highest admiration of it. At the expiration of
his term of enlistment he received his discharge, and returning
on the military road from Crown Point, when he had arrived
near Otter Creek he followed the old road up the west side of
FIRST SETTLER. 27
it till lie readied the high bluff a few rods west of the present
Gorham Bridge, and standing there he remarked to a comrade,
" That," pointing to the broad expanse below, "is the place for
me." But he returned to Greenwich, married Elizabeth Osborn
of that town, in October, 1758,* and resided there till the
spring of 1766, when he came to Pittsford to make a more
thorough exploration of the country which had so long flitted
before his mental vision. By a more critical examination of
the land in the vicinity of what is now known as Sutherland
Falls, he discovered some seventy acres on the east side of the
Creek, jutting in towards the Falls on the west and the high
lands on the east, and covered with shallow water retained there
by a dam which had "Been constructed by beavers. He was
convinced that by cutting this dam and draining the land, he
might soon have a fruitful field. This to him was a coveted
spot ; and he therefore applied to his friend Capt. Doolittle for
a deed of it. The Captain having a large interest in the town
ship and being anxious to effect its settlement, promised him
one right of land as a gift, on condition that he would improve
and occupy it, or in other words become a bona fide settler ; and
to make the promise sure he gave him a bond for a deed. Thus
encouraged Mr. Cooley hastened to Greenwich to get his
younger brother, Benjamin, to accompany him to Pittsford and
assist him in making improvements upon his land. But Benja
min being only nineteen years of age his father refused to give
him his time. It was finally agreed that Gideon should remain
in Greenwich and work for his father one year, in compensa
tion for a year of Benjamin s time. Gideon s share of the
contract having been performed, early in the summer of 1767,
the two brothers, taking a package of provisions, axes, shovel
and hoe, set out on horsebackf to make for themselves a future
home in the wilderness. Arriving in Pittsford, after making a
*We are unable to fix the precise date of this marriage, but the records of
Greenwich contain a notice of their intention of marriage, dated October 9, 1758;
so it is quite probable they were married the latter part of that month.
t They had but one horse.
28 HISTORY OF PITTSFOED.
rude shelter they commenced a clearing, and in a short time
began to build a log house. In this they paid but little atten
tion to the rules of architecture, but gave to it such shape and
proportions, as appeared to them best adapted to their more
urgent necessities. This house stood about fifteen rods north
east of the present residence of Samuel B. Loveland, and on
the east side of the present highway. The only vestige of it
now remaining is a small excavation in the ground, which once
constituted the cellar. Their living consisted mostly of game
with which the woods abounded, though the streams contrib
uted no insignificant part from their living tenants. With the
exception of one or two trips to Bennington to procure a few
of the necessaries of life, they spent the summer here. They
enlarged their clearing, completed the house and made such
general arrangements as would enable them to resume their
improvements another year to better advantage. In the fall
they went back to Greenwich where they spent the winter.
Early in May the next year they returned to Pittsford, bring
ing with them the seeds for a future harvest.
Up to tins time Benjamin had supposed that he was to share
equally with his brother, in the land they had taken up, and in
the improvements. But now, to his great disappointment, he
learned that Gideon had both the land and the improvements
secured to himself. This produced some alienation of feeling,
and Benjamin left his brother, went to the township of Addi-
son and took up a lot of land on the border of Lake Cham-
plain. Gideon, however, remained in Pittsford, and with the
assistance of a hired man, continued the improvements upon
his land, and during that season raised some corn, potatoes and
other vegetables, and got his place ready for the reception of
his household the following year. He returned to Greenwich
in the fall, and during the winter made the necessary arrange
ments for the removal of his family. In the meantime Benjamin,
who, as we have stated, went to Addison, had labored there
FIRST FAMILY IN THE TOWNSHIP. 29
through the summer of 1768, but in the fall he suffered so
severely from intermittent fever that he abandoned his land
upon the lake and returned to Greenwich. The following win
ter Gideon, probably actuated by sympathy for his brother, and
by the desire of reconciliation, applied to Capt. Doolittle in his
behalf, and obtained from him the pledge of a deed of one
hundred acres, on condition that he (Benjamin) should im
prove and occupy it. This was satisfactory to Benjamin, the
past differences of the brothers were forgotten, and they made
the needful arrangements for removing to the wilderness of
Vermont, as early in the spring as the condition of the roads
would permit. Procuring two horses for the occasion, Gideon,
his wife and five children, accompanied by Benjamin, set out
about the first of May en the journey. Their scanty furniture
and domestic utensils were packed in sacks which were carried
upon the backs of the horses. Thus encumbered, their progress
was necessarily slow, but after a toilsome journey attended with
many vexatious delays, they reached the humble log cabin far
removed from the haunts of civilization.
Here then we date the beginning of the sestlement of Pitts-
ford by the European race. Of the exact day we are not
informed, but that it was early in May there can be little doubt.
They at once " set up house-keeping," and during that year
the two brothers worked together, and by hard labor succeeded
in raising a comfortable supply of provisions. Besides culti
vating the land which had been cleared on Gideon s lot they
made a clearing and some other improvements on Benjamin s
lot, which he "pitched"* on the east side of Otter Creek, and
a little more than a mile north of Gideon s pitch.
The two Cooleys having performed their part of the con
tract, in the fall Capt, Doolittle, in fulfilment of his part,
presented them deeds* of their lands. Gideon s deed covered
the right or share of Robert Crawford, of whom Doolittle had
* Located.
30 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
purchased it, and Benjamin s deed entitled him to one hundred
acres, which constituted a part of the right of Daniel Boyden,
of whom Doolittle had bought, and this division was "to
include all the Intervale Land belonging to said Boyden s
Eight."
These lands are described as being in the town of Pittsford,
County of Albany and State of New York, and the deeds bear
date "the 30th day of October, in the Tenth year of his
majesty s Keign, A. D. 1769."*
The pitch which had been made by Gideon, and of which
he now had a warranty deed, included the farm now owned by
Samuel B. Loveland. The beaver dam to which allusion has
been made, was about one hundred rods west of Mr. L. s pres
ent residence, but it has been so much disturbed by agricultural
operations that scarcely a vestige of it remains.
Thus we have one solitary family quietly settled in the
wilderness of Pittsford ; but during the winter of 1769-YO, we
hear little from them. Early in the spring, however, the elder
Cooley emerges from his seclusion and reports himself to the
world. It appears that the family had passed the winter com
fortably, living in part upon vegetables raised the previous,
season, and in part upon venison, an abundance of which was
readily obtained.! The most of the cooking was done in a
small iron kettle brought with them from Greenwich. This
utensil is still preserved in the Cooley family as a relic of that
olden time.
* The consideration of these deeds was the nominal sum of five shillings which
probably paid for making the writings. The deeds were executed at Worcester,
Mass., Joseph Childs and Thomas Laton being the witnesses, and John Chandler
the justice before whom they were acknowledged. In order to satisfy himself that
the Cooleys had fulfilled the condition of the bond, Capt. Doolittle, with the deeds
in his pocket, came to Pittsford on horseback. He found them at .work, cutting
timber on the intervale about twenty rods east of the creek, and on land now
owned by G. N. Eayres. The Captain, riding near, dismounted and walked up to
them ; and while engaged in conversation he thrust his willow riding stick through
a hollow stump into" the ground. It took root, grew and became quite a stately
tree, and was standing till within some thirty years.
t The tradition in the family is that Gideon and his brother killed seventeen
bears that winter.
SUGAR MAKING. 31
Some leisure hours which could be spared from family cares,
were improved in the preliminary arrangements for making
maple sugar. They manufactured sap-spouts, and from split
logs excavated small troughs the antecedents of buckets.
They were obliged to obtain their kettles from Bennington.
But on account of the depth of snow it was impossible to go
there with a horse ; consequently Gideon resolved to make the
journey on snow-shoes. Without a load this was easily accom
plished, but when he had purchased his two kettles and attempted
to return with them, their combined weight was more than he
could carry. But being determined to accomplish the object of
his journey, he carried one kettle a short distance, and setting
this down, returned and got the other ; and thus he persevered
till he had carried both home. How much sugar was made that
spring as the effect of this labor we have no means of knowing,
but it is reasonable to presume that their grocery bill for the
year 1770, did not contain the saccharine item.
Benjamin Cooley s hundred acres included what has since
been known as the Cooley farm, a very small part of which is
now owned by Peter Fredett. During the year 1770, he devoted
his time to improvements upon this tract, though he continued
to board in his brother s family till 1771, when he built a log
house which stood about two rods w r est of the house now stand
ing on the farm. In this he resided alone till the 18th day of
February, 1773, when he married Euth Beach, who was born
in Morristown, K J., Jan. 11, 1756, but at the time of her
marriage was residing in Kutland, Yt. After occupying the
log house a few years Mr. Cooley built a frame house which, in
the year 1802, was burned. The present house was built by
Mr. Cooley on the same site.
In the year 1770, seven individuals with their families, influ
enced by the glowing accounts they had heard of the new
country, cast their lot among the pioneers of the wilderness of
Pittsford. These were Koger Stevens, Ebenezer Hopkins, James
HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
Hopkins, Samuel Crippen, Felix Powell, Isaac Eood and Isaac
Buck.
Roger Stevens was the elder son of - Stevens,*
who was born in "Wales about the year 1700, emigrated to this
country in early life, married and located on what was known
as Quaker Hill, N. Y., about the year 1722. He had two sons-,!
Roger and Benjamin, the former born in 1730, the latter in
1734. Roger was placed as an apprentice to a hatter, a trade
he learned and afterwards prosecuted with considerable success.
About the year 1745, he married Mary, sister of Capt. Ephraim
Doolittle, who procured the charter of the township of Pitts-
ford, and continued his residence on Quaker Hill, where were
born to him the following children, viz.: Roger, Jr., Ephraim,
Abel, Elihu, Moses and Abigail.
In the spring of 1770, through the influence of Capt. Doo
little, he came to Pittsford, purchased a large tract of land,
built a house into which he removed his family, and with the
assistance of his sons soon made quite an opening in the primi
tive forest. This house stood on the high ground, about thirty
rods west of the present Gorham bridge, and on the south side
of the old military or Crown Point road. The cellar is still to
he seen, from the bottom of which are now growing two but
ternut trees. Roger, Jr., married Martha - - in 1773, and
located and made the first improvements on the farm recently
owned by Edwin Wheaton. The house built by Mr. Stevens
stood about seventy rods east of the present house.
Ebenezer Hopkins was born in Waterbury, Conn., in 1699,
married in 1728, and settled in Hartford. He became one of
the original proprietors of Harwinton in the same State, and
removed there in 1733. He had three sons, James, Nehemiah
and Elias, the two former born in Hartford, the latter, and a
daughter, Tabitha, born in Harwinton.
* We have not been able to learn his Christian name.
t There might have been others, but we have no knowledge of them.
JAMES HOPKINS. 33
James married and had the following children, viz. : Caleb,
James, Rhoda and Susannah.
Nehemiah married Tryphena Smith, and located in Stock-
bridge, Mass. His children were Ebenezer, Nehemiah, Ashbel,
Martin, Matthew, Jemima, Tryphena, Rachel and Sylvia.
Elias married Polly - , and his sons were Elias, John,
Daniel, Royal and Jesse. He also had several daughters.
James Hopkins came to Pittsford in the summer of 1769,
and was so well pleased with the township that he purchased of
Felix Powell two rights of land, a part of which he pitched on
the east side of Otter Creek, and a part on the west side. The
deed which was in consideration of "Fifteen Pounds Ten Shil
lings Three Pence New York Currency" was dated " this 5th
day of September A. D. 1769, and in the 9th of his Majesty s
Reign." One of the two rights thus conveyed was originally
granted to Jacob Hemenway, and the other to Samuel Brewer.
Mr. Hopkins first pitch of one hundred acres on the Hemen
way right, was nearly identical with the farm just south of the
Village, now owned by S. B. Loveland. During the fall of that
year he made a clearing upon this tract and built a log house
which stood about seventy rods southwest of the site of the
present house, and near Mr. F. Burdett s nortl^line. The
following winter he spent with his family, quite likely, in Har-
winton. Early in the spring, with his wife, children, and his
aged parents, he set out for the wild lands of the New Hamp
shire Grants. It was a wearisome journey but successfully
accomplished, and being accustomed to a forest life they well
understood how to adapt themselves to the rude circumstances
in which they were placed.
Having made for himself a comfortable home on the east
side of the Creek, Mr. Hopkins began some improvements
upon a lot he had pitched on the west side. He made a clearing
and built a house about midway between the present residences
4
34 HISTORY OF PITTSFOED.
of Nelson Loveland and the Hendee brothers. This was a
small log house,and stood about twelve rods west of the present
travelled road, and on land now owned by Mr. Loveland.
August 4th, 1774, he deeded his lot with its improvements, on
the east side of the Creek, to the old gentleman, who, with the
assistance of his grandsons, Ebenezer and Martin Hopkins,*
continued to occupy and improve the place, while he devoted
his energies to improvements upon his lot on the west side of
the Creek.
The Crippen family is of English descent ; the first of the
name, in this country, settled in Connecticut at an early day.
Samuel Crippen was born, as is supposed, in Simsbury, or near
there, about the year 1743, and spent his early life in that
vicinity. In 1770 he came to Pittsford and purchased of James
Mead one right of land the Alexander Scott right including
the farms| now owned by Ransom Burditt, for which he paid
22, the deed bearing date July 27, 1770. He cleared land
and built a house on the rise of ground about fifteen rods south
west of the house now occupied by Austin Chingreau, and on
the west side of the present highway. Early in the fall he
married, and occupied this newly built house. His wife, Esther,
was a Scotch woman who had previously had two husbands.
The name cfr her first husband was Wheeler, but the name of
the second is not now remembered. Mr. Crippen was a man
of considerable energy and of great moral worth. At the
organization of the first Congregational church in Rutland,
Oct. 20, 1773, his name, with that of Ebenezer Hopkins of
Pittsford, is found on the list of members.
The Powells of this country are of Welsh origin, and were
among the early immigrants to Massachusetts. The name
occurs upon the earliest records of Gloucester. In 1748, John
Powell, of Boston, married Martha Winslow, and there is record
* They had come from Stockbridge to reside with him.
t His first pitch of 100 acres included the farm now occupied by Austin Chin
greau.
ISAAC KOOD ISAAC BUCK. 35
of the birth of Sarah, their first child, on the 25th of Decem
ber, that year. Felix is supposed to have come of this family,
but we are unable to fix the date of his birth. He married and
settled in Dorset, Vermont, in 1768, and was the first settler in
that township, in consideration of which his fellow-townsmen,
some years after, made him a grant of fifty acres of land. He
came to Pittsford in 1770, and built a small house on land now
owned by Isaac C. Wheaton. This house stood about seventy
rods northeast of the site of Mr. Wheaton s house. He had
one daughter, the first white child born in Pittsford, but she
lived only a few weeks,
Isaac Rood is supposed to have spent the most of his early
life in Windsor, Conn. He married Elizabeth, daughter of
Samuel Ellsworth, Sen., by whom he had children, Ira and
Adah. In 1770, he came to Pittsford and built a small house
which stood on the north side of the brook opposite the present
residence of Augustus and John Eichardson.* He resided
here till his death, which occurred in 1775. "He was called
Deacon Kood, and his widow was a weakly woman and died a
few years afterwards. "f
Isaac Buck is supposed to have been born in New Milford,
Conn., about the year 1735, and at the age of twenty-two he mar
ried Elizabeth Waters and located in that town. In the spring of
1770, he came to Pittsford and purchased of James Hopkins a
small tract of land which is now mostly owned by Thomas D.
Hall. He built a house on a point of land, about sixty rods
northeast of the present residence of Mr. Hall, and about eight
rods south of the east-and-west road. In the fall of that year,
he removed his family, consisting of a wife and three children,
from New Milford to Pittsford, and this was the eighth family
then located in the township.
During the year 1771, only one family Mo^es Olmstead s
settled in the township. The first of the Olmstead family in
* The land on which the house stood is now owned by Augustus Thomas,
t Hendee s MS.
36 HISTOKY OF PITT8FOED.
this country was undoubtedly James, who came to Boston in
the ship Lyon, Sept. 16, 1632, and settled in Cambridge, but
moved to Hartford in 1636. He was accompanied by two
nephews, Richard and John, and from these have probably
descended the most of the families of this name, in New Eng
land. We are informed, however, that Moses descended from
one of two brothers who came from England and settled in
Rhode Island, but we are unable to trace his genealogy. He
was born about the year 1718, married Abigail Ell well in 1754,
and had the following children, viz. : Jabez, Gideon, Moses,
Simeon, Benjamin, Jonas and Lucy. June 30, 1771, he pur
chased of Asa Johnson one right of land in Pittsford, a part of
which was so located as to include the farm now owned by
Charles Hendee, and he built a house which stood about fifteen
rods east of Mr. Hendee s present residence. To this house he
removed his family, which was the ninth located within the
limits of the township.
This year begin the earliest existing records of the Proprie
tors meetings. The record of the first meeting is as follows :
"March 19, 1771.
Warned by Gideon Warren Proprietors Clerk. A Propri
etors Meeting Now Held at the House of Ebenezer Hopkins,*
Firstly Yoted and Chose Ebenezer Hopkins Proprietors Mod
erator to be Moderator for Sd Meeting.
Then Yoted and Chose Benjamin Cooley Proprietors Clerk.,
Then Yoted to lay out the first Division of Lots and Num
ber the Same.
Then Yoted and Chose Isick Rood First Committy Man.
Then Yoted and Chose James Hopkins 2 Committy Man.
Then Yoted and Chose Moses Olmstead Committy Man.
Then Yoted to ad Ten acres to every Loot in the first
Division for Highways. Then Yoted that every Man should
* This house was built by James Hopkins and his father, but as it was designed
or the lather s use it is here called the house of Ebenezer Hopkins.
LOCATION OF EIGHTS. 37
have his Hundred acres where he has Don his Work.* Then
voted that all the Lots be the same size. Then Voted to give
the Committy three shillings a Day. Then Yoted to have the
same Committy lay out the Hiways."
This meeting was continued by adjournments from time to
time, with such intervals as were judged necessary by the
Proprietors for the transaction of the public business.
On the 9th of June, 1772, the Proprietors " Yoted to dis
annul a vote formerly passed concerning sizeing Land by Sd
Meeting in March 19th 1771. Then voted to lay out one
hundred acres for a meeting house Lot."
On the 21st of July, " Voted that every man that lives in
the town, and has land in the town, shall pay the Committy
for Laying out the Public Eites, according to what Land they
own in the town."
September 1st, "Yoted that Benjamin Cooley be a Com-
mitte man in the room of Isaac Rood to lay out land and
highways."
October 8th, "Yoted to lay out five acres to every Eight
amongst the pine timber, where the Commitee shall think best
for the public good."
Docember 1st, "Yoted to give the Proprietors of this Place
to the fifteenth day of May next, to come and make their first
Pitches. Then voted that William Ward should git it put in
the Publick Prints."
The location of rights was most immethodical. Each pro
prietor had his land surveyed to him in such part of the
township as he chose, the only condition being that he should
not encroach upon claims already existing. The lots thus
located were called pitches, and the only evidence necessary to
establish a claim was a record of the survey in a book of the
Proprietors. This manner of making the early pitches accounts
for the great irregularity in the lots and for the many variously
* Up to this time no division of lots had been made among the Proprietors, but
those who had settled here, did so on rights which they had purchased, and they
had made their pitches without regard to any particular system ; hence this vote that
" every man should have his hundred acres where he has done his work."
38 HISTORY OF PITT8FOED.
shaped patches existing between these lots, some of which
remained for years unclaimed.
Three families are known to have located in Pittsford
during the year 1772, and these were the Tuttle, Waite and
Waters families.
Thomas Tuttle was from Litchfield county, Conn., where he
married Phebe - , and had one or two children. March
10, 1772, he bought of James Mead, of Rutland, one right of
land in Pittsford, and located one hundred acres of it. Upon
this he made some improvements and resided till 1776, when
he removed to Brandon and was the first representative from
that town to the General Assembly of the State. A careful
search of the records of the Proprietors yields nothing definite
in regard to his location in this town. It is stated in a writing
left by the late Gen. Hendee that Thomas Tuttle resided on the
west side of Otter Creek, and this is all we know of the
matter.
The Waite family, consisting of Noah and his wife Esther,
and their son Joseph and his wife Ruth, were from Lenox,
Mass. Noah Waite purchased one right of land the right of
Ebenezer Harvey and located the first division of it so that
it included land now owned by William E. Hall and the heirs
of the late Joseph Morseman. He and his son made the first
.clearing west of the present highway, and near the northeast
corner of a young growth of pine trees which can now be seen
from the road. There they built a house, the relics of which
are still visible.
Samuel Waters was from " Bailmons Patton, Dutchess
county, N. Y.," but we are not able to trace his genealogy. He
came to Pittsford in 1763, only about two years after the
charter of the township was obtained, when the whole ter
ritory was an unbroken wilderness, and he was so well
pleased with it that he bought six rights of land, those of which
David Parpaw, Elisha Harvey, John Loomis, Samuel Fuller,
SAMUEL WATERS WILLIAM COX. 39
Timothy Patterson and William Howard were the original
Proprietors. The deed bears date Jan. 2, 1764, and is the
earliest, with one exception, on the town records. But he did
not settle here till 1772, when he came with his family and
occupied the lot of which a part isfeiow owned by Abel Morgan.
The house which he had built stood near the southeast corner
of what is now Mr. Morgan s orchard, and near the old military
or Crown Point road. This, though a log house, was quite
commodious for that period, and for several years was kept as
a public house, the first of the kind in the township. A small
cavity in the ground is the only thing that now marks the spot
where it stood.
In 1773, three men, William Cox, Samuel Ellsworth and
Stephen Mead, with their families, took up their residence in
this town.
William Cox was a native of Massachusetts, but the exact
place of his birth is not known. He resided some years in
Waltham, from which town he enlisted as a soldier in the
French war, and was a member of the company commanded
by Capt. John Brown. The good qualities he displayed as a
soldier secured his promotion and he was soon appointed lieu
tenant of the company, in which capacity he served at Lake
George in 1758. After the expiration of his term of service
he returned to Waltham where he married Beulah Batt, a
Dutch lady, Nov. 29, 1759. In that town three children were
born to them, viz.: Sarah, Betsey and Beulah. In 1772, Mr.
Cox came to Pittsford and bought of Moses Hill* one right of
land which he located on the east side of Otter Creek. It
included the farm now owned by Junia Sargent, with some
other lands in that vicinity. The deed of this purchase was
dated April 1, 1772. He cleared the land and built a house
on the east bank of the Creek, near the most easterly point of
a short curve in the stream, and the house stood within four or
Hill had this right of Felix Powell.
4:0 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
five rods of the water. The following winter he spent with
his family in Waltham ; but in the spring of 1773, with his wife
and children, he set out on horseback for the place in the wilder
ness which he had selected as his future home. The limited
supply of clothing and furniture belonging to the family was
packed upon the horses, and in this manner they proceeded
on their journey, being guided some part of the distance by
marked trees.
Samuel Ellsworth was the son of Samuel, the youngest son
of Josiah, who came from England and settled in West Wind-
*
sor, Conn., on the farm which afterwards became the home of
Oliver Ellsworth, late Chief Justice of the United States.
"He (Samuel, Jr.) was of light complexion, blue eyes, middle
stature, thick set, firm constitution and much given to study.
When young he worked at the weaver s trade. His parents
gave him little opportunity for acquiring learning, but hav
ing a great thirst for knowledge, he acquired by his own exer
tions considerable information, calculated almanacs for several
years in Connecticut, and for one year in this State. At the
age of about thirty years he married the widow Anna Matson*
by whom he had three children, Samuel, Caroline and Israel. "t
He came to Pittsford in 1773, and purchased what is now the
south part of the farm owned by Isaac C. Wheaton. He built a
house about seventy rods south of the present residence of Mr.
W., and just west of a small ravine, and to this he removed
his family in the fall of that year. In addition to his agricul
tural employments he practiced land surveying, and was Pro
prietors clerk and justice of the peace.
The Mead families in this country are of English descent.
The record of the Pittsford branch of the family is as follows :
"Timothy Mead of Horseneck, N. Y., a descendant of one of
two families who emigrated from England, died and left his son
* Her maiden name was Anna Halida.
t Hendee s MS.
TIMOTHY MEAD STEPHEN JENNER 4:1
Timothy Mead, 2d, who, with his wife Martha, moved to Erne
Partners, N. Y., (which took its name from nine men settling
there,) thence to Manchester, Yt., where they died, leaving
their son, Timothy 3d, in Manchester, Zebulon, James and
Ezra in Rutland and Stephen in Pittsford.* James, next elder
than Stephen, was born at Horseneck Ang. 25, 1730, and
moved to Rutland, being the first settler in that township.
Stephen resided one or two years with his brother James Mead
of Rutland, who had invested quite largely in Pittsford lands.
Stephen purchased of his brother James one right of land in
this town, a part of which was located north of Samuel Crip-
pen s lot, and included the farm now owned by B. J. Douglas.
The deed was dated May 15, 1773. His first clearing was
about forty rods southwest of the site of Mr. D. s residence, and
there he built a house into which he removed his family in the
summer of that year. Mr. Mead built the house in which Mr.
Douglas now resides, about the year 1800.
The year 1774, is marked by the arrival of a large number
of new settlers. Some of these had been here some time pre
viously, made their pitches and commenced improvements.
The names of those who settled here this year with their fami
lies were Stephen Jenner, Jonathan Fassett, Ebenezer Lyman,
Caleb Hendee, David Crippen, William Ward, Edward Owen,
Jonathan Rowley, Joshua Woodward, Benjamin Stevens, Aaron
Parsons, Samuel Daniels, Peter Whalin, Silas Mosher, John
Hall, Gideon Sheldon, Isaac Matson and Samuel Montague.
Stephen Jenner was born March 24, 1749, and resided in
his younger days in Stevenstown, Mass. In 1772, he came to
Pittsford, and purchased of James Mead one right of land, for
which he paid 20, L. M., the deed being dated June 10, 1772.
This right or share was so located as to include the most of
the land upon which Hitchcockville now stands, and it extended
* On the Coat of Arms attached to the original name of Mead, the field is sable,
it ll <r r-Vmvorrm l^ptiv^fMi tlirnp l^lir^nna
with a cheveron between three Pelicans.
42 HISTOEY OF PITTSFOED.
some distance eastward. The following year he cleared the
tract of land now the south part of the field owned by Mrs.
Emeline Smith, and built a house thereon. This house stood
about fifty rods east of the present residence of Henry Merrill.
February 16, 1774, Mr. Jenner married Mary Ivirkum, of
Whiting, who was born August 2, 1755. Immediately after
his marriage Pittsford became his legal residence.
Jonathan Fassett was the son of John Fassett who was
born April 1, 1720, and removed from Hardwick, Mass., to
Bennington, Vermont, in 1761. He was chosen Captain of the
first military company formed there, and was one of the two
representatives from that town in the first State Legislature.
He was a member of the Bennington church at its organization,
and was the first clerk of the church. He died at Bennington
August 12, 1794, in the seventy-fifth year of his age.
His children were Sarah, John, Jonathan, David, Nathan,
Amos, Mary, Benjamin, and Hannah.
Jonathan, the second son, was born in Bedford,* Mass.,
May 7, 1745, married Mary,| daughter of Samuel Montague,
of Sunderland, Mass., October 9, 1764, and settled in Ben
nington, Vt., to which place he had removed with his father in
1761.
October 27, 1773, he purchased fifty-five acres of land, in
Pittsford, including a part of the farm now owned by the heirs of
the late David Hall, and built a log house on the same ground
upon which the present house stands. Here he removed his
family, consisting of his wife and four children. The exact
time of their arrival is not known, but they were residing here
very early in the spring of 1774.
We have no knowledge of the birth-place of Ebenezer
Lyman. The first we hear of him is in October, 1769, when
his name occurs upon petition of the citizens of Bennington
* Town Records.
t Mary Montague was born Nov. 4, 1746.
HICHAED HENDEE. 43
"to the Governor of New Hampshire, and as his name is not
found upon the records at an earlier period, it is probable that
he was then a new-comer in that town, or had recently attained
his majority. He married Martha, daughter of Samuel Mon
tague, June 15, 1768, and there is little doubt that he resided
in Bennington till he removed his residence to Pittsford in
1774. May 12, 1773, he bought one-half of a right of land
in Pittsford, for which he paid 15, and he made a clearing
and built a house* near where John Lique now resides, a little
south or southeast of Furnace Brook then called East Branch.
He removed his family here the following spring.
The first of the Hendee family in this country was named
Richard. He descended from a family of French Protestants
who, on account of their religion, were expelled from Nor
mandy and afterwards settled in England. Richard came to
Boston in the first settlement of the country, married and
settled in that vicinity. He had two sons, Richard and Caleb.
The latter died without children ; the former married and had
a son Jonathan ; his wife soon after died. He left the child
with its mother s relatives, moved to Connecticut, there married
a Conant and settled in or near Windham. Jonathan on com
ing to manhood married and had several children David,
Barzillai, Asa and Hannah. His wife died and he afterwards
married Martha Millington by whom he hftd Jonathan, Richard,
Caleb, Rachel and Martha. He died at the place now called
Ellington about the year 1775. He was poor and illiterate,
but was said to have been an honest man and to have possessed
more than an ordinary share of physical power, as did also his
sons by his first wife. Of his sons by his second wife, Jonathan
died when young at Havana, Cuba; Richard we shall have
occasion to refer to hereafter ; Caleb, the third son, was born
in Coventry, Conn., in the month of August, 1745. While
* This house and the one built by Mr. Jenner were the first two houses built in
the vicinity of what is now Mill Village.
44 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
young lie removed with his father s family to Simsbury,, and r
being in humble circumstances, he received very limited educa
tional advantages. He was taught to read and drilled! in
writing just enough to enable him to keep his book accounts-
He knew nothing of the rules of Arithmetic, though he coald
calculate interest and make such reckonings as were necessary
in his business as a farmer. When twenty-one years of age fe
was admitted to freedom with no other patrimony than a good
constitution, without property or a trade. His father preferred
that his elder brother Richard should live with himself, and to
him he gave the small estate he possessed, which in a few years
was sold and the avails lost by the depreciation of continental
money.
On the 27th day of April, 1767, in the twenty-second year
of his age^ Caleb married Caroline, only daughter of Samuel
Ellsworth, to whom allusion has already been made. She was
born sometime in the month of March, 1748, and of course had
just entered her twentieth year. She was without wealth and
" had nothing to commend her but the good qualities of her per
son which were not inferior." He settled in Simsbury, Conn.,
where he resided about two years, then moved to East Windsor
where by the fruits of his industry, he purchased a small farm,,
and erected buildings and made other improvements. In the win
ter of 1773, he came tp Pittsford and purchased* of Silas Harmon
one right of land, a part of which is the farm now owned by
his son Dea. Samuel Hendee. He returned to Windsor, sold
his farm there for 300, (about $1000,f) and in February or
March, moved to Pittsford, where with vigor he entered upon
agricultural pursuits, under all the disadvantages incident to the
settlement of a new country. He built a house which stood a
few rods north of the present residence of his son Samuel, and
very near where Chester Thomas now lives.
* It is probable the contract here made was a verbal one, and that it was after
wards consummated by a written one, as we find the deed was dated June 7, 1774.
t A shilling was one-sixth of a dollar or 16 2-3 cents, and twenty of these were
reckoned a pound.
WILLIAM WARD. 45
We are informed that David Crippen was a relative of
Samuel but whether a brother or cousin we cannot determine ;
nor have we succeeded in our efforts to ascertain his birth-place.
Tradition makes him a native of Connecticut. On the 14th
of February, 1774, he bought of Samuel Crippen twenty acres
of land in Pittsford, comprising the north part of the farm now
owned by Chapin E. Warner. He made a clearing and built
a house* about six rods west of Otter Creek and forty or fifty
rods south of the present Gorham bridge. To this place he
removed his family consisting of his wife and two sons, David,
Jr,, and Darius, then grown to manhood.
The Ward family can be traced far back into English
history. Seven hundred and ten distinguished persons, each
bearing but one name, accompanied William, the Conqueror,
from Normandy to the conquest of England in 1066. Among
the number was " Ward one of the noble Captains." The
first that appears with an additional name was William de la
Ward residing in Chester in 1173.
The Wards became quite numerous in Yorkshire and soon
spread into the adjoining counties of England. The first men
tion of the name in America was in 1639, w r hen William Ward
shared in the division of the lands of Sudbury, Mass., as one
of the proprietors of that plantation. He was made freeman
in 1643, represented Sudbury in the General Court in 1644,
and was several years chairman of the selectmen, which office
he held in 1660, when he removed to Marlboro. At the
organization of the church in that town he was elected deacon.
In common with others he endured great hardships and
sustained great losses through Indian hostilities; more espe
cially during King Philip s war in 1675-6, when his buildings
were fired, his cattle destroyed and one of his sons slain by the
enemy. He died at Marlboro, August 10, 1687. He had fourteen
* This house stood on the east side of the road and on the first rise of ground
south of the bridge. There is nothing now to mark the site of it.
46 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
children, the first three or four of whom were born in England.
His eldest child John, born in 1626, became one of the
proprietors of Sudbmy in 1651, married Hannah Jackson, of
Cambridge, in that part now ,called Newton, where he settled
and was selectman nine years, and nine years representative in,
"The Great and General Court." He lived in the southeasterly
part of the town his dwelling house being constructed for, and
used as a garrison prior to, and at the time of King Philip s war.,
In 1701, he disposed of his real estate, lying mostly in one
body, by deeds of gift to his sons. The quantity of land to-
each was about one hundred acres, and in each deed was a
clause restricting the grantee from selling without the consent
of his brothers, or the major part of them. When any one of
them sold, his brothers witnessed the deed, which implied his
consent to the transaction. He made his will, Feb. 2, 1708,
and died July 8, 1708, aged eighty-two. His wife died April
24, 1704, aged seventy-three. They had thirteen children.
Their 7th child, William, born Nov. 19, 1664, married
Abigail - , Dec. 31, 1689, and settled in Newton, where
he was selectman several years. He held this office as late as
1722, and perhaps moved away soon after. Nothing more is
known of the parents.
They had at Newton, John, born Feb. 23, 1690, who mar
ried Deborah , and resided at Newton until after 1720.
He was for many years a school teacher at Grafton, and died
there May 24, 1747, aged fifty-six. He had nine children.
His third child, William, born Dec. 18, 1716, married
Mary Cole ; when and where, not known. He died at Ashford,
March 27, 1778, in the sixty-third year of his age. His widow
died Aug. 19, 1779, aged sixty-five. They had six children.
William the eldest, born about the year 1755, went from
Ashford to Shaftsbury, Yt., where he married and resided
several years and was a magistrate.* September 14, 1774, he
* Ward family.
EDWAED OWEN JOSHUA WOODWARD. 47
bought of Reuben Ellis one hundred and ten acres of land on
Otter Creek in the town of Pittsford. This purchase included
a part of the farm now owned by Isaac C. Wheaton. He
cleared the land and built a house on what is now the field
northeast of Mr. Wheatoii s residence. Mr. Ward remained in
town only a few years, and we have not been able to ascertain
where he went, or to trace his descendants.
Of Edward Owen s ancestry we know nothing. His early
life was spent in Sheffield, Mass., where he married Elizabeth
Torrey and continued his residence there till 1774, when he
came to Pittsford, Yt., and purchased the land now constitut
ing the easterly portion of the farm owned by the heirs of the
late David Hall. He built a house* on the ridge of land about
seventy rods east or a little south of east of the house now
on the farm. Hither he moved his family, consisting of his
wife and six children, viz. : Abraham, Abdon, Amasa, -Rebecca,
Thirza and Ersula, the eldest at this time being nearly grown
to manhood.
Of Jonathan Rowley, previously to the time he located in
Pittsford, little is known. It is supposed that he was a native
of Massachusetts ; and that he had resided sometime in Rich
mond, Berkshire Co., there can be little doubt. In the fall of
1773, he came to Pittsford, and bought of Roger Stevens, one
right of land, for which he paid 24, the deed bearing date
Sept. 6, 1773. This land was so located as to include the farm
now owned by Edward Paine. He built a log house, sixteen
feet by twenty, at the base of the hill, and about thirty rods
west of the site of the house now occupied by "Mr. Paine. The
following spring he removed here with his family which con
sisted of a wife and nine children, the eldest at this time having
nearly come to maturity.
Joshua Woodw r ard was a descendant of Richard w r ho was
born in Ipswich, England, where he married Mary - , and
* The cellar of this house may still be seen.
4:8
HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
embarked for America April 10, 1634, and became one of the
earliest proprietors of Watertown, Mass. By his first wife he
had eight children. He married, second, Elizabeth, daughter of
Thomas Hammond of Newton. George, the eighth child, born
September 11, 1660, married Lydia Brown, and after the birth
of one child, settled in Brookline. The eldest child, Abraham,
born in Watertown, February 1, 1687-8, married Joanna
, and had a son Abraham, born January 12, 1718, who
married and resided some years in Brookline. By a second
wife Sarah he had two sons, Caleb and Joshua. Caleb admin
istered upon his father s estate in 1760. Joshua came to
Pittsford in 1774, and bought one right of land, which included
the farms now owned by C. Bowen, F. B. Barnes, Josiah
Leonard and James Bucknam. He built a house which stood
about four rods north of Mr. Bucknam s, and to this he removed
his family.
Benjamin Stevens was brother of Roger who has already
been mentioned. He married Hopestil Shaw and resided in
Nine Partners, Dutchess Co., N. Y., where were born the
following children, viz.: Daniel, Benjamin, James, Simeon,
Jonathan and Hopestil. In 1773, he moved to Manchester,,
Yt., and in the following year, to Pittsford. He bought the
land which now forms the farm owned by Edward and Richard
Hendee, and built a house on the south slope of the hill, the
cellar of which may still be seen on the north side of the east-
and-west road, near its junction with the north-and-south road.
At that early period the Crown Point road passed a few rods
east of this house ; and the location of that road might have
had some influence with Mr. Stevens in making his "pitch,"
and in the selection of a site for his buildings.
Of the ancestors of Aaron Parsons we have no positive
information. It has been supposed that he descended from
Jeffrey Parsons who settled in Gloucester, Mass., at a very
early day. But if of Gloucester origin his parents were not
SAMUEL DANIELS PETER WHELAN SILAS MOSHER. 49
probably living in that place at the time of his birth, as we find
no Aaron there of mature age in 1774, except one who died
there in 1809. Josiah Parsons and Eunice Sargent were mar
ried in Gloucester, Dec. 24, 1719, and had Josiah, Eunice,
Nathaniel, Rachel, Job, Sarah, Abraham, Deborah, Lydia and
Mary born there. They afterwards moved to New Hampshire.
Possibly Aaron of Pittsford came of this family. Whatever
Ms origin might have been, he located in Pittsford with his
family in 1774, and resided in a house which stood on the brow
of the hill about sixty rods west of the present residence of
Azro Dickerman.
Samuel Daniels was from Upton, Mass. He purchased two
rights of land in Pittsford of which Amasa Bo\vers and Joshua
Hutchins were the original grantees. No copy of the deed of
this purchase can be found ; consequently we are unable to fix
the date of it. These rights were located east of Otter Creek
and between William Cox s land and Caleb Hendee s. The
probability is that he purchased this land of Isaac Rood, as it
was the land formerly owned by him, and it is known that he
lost his health about this time and died soon after at Caleb
Hendee s. Mr. Daniels with his family, consisting of a wife
and four children, Betsey, Polly, George and Dan, located
here and occupied the Rood house. On the 28th of June,
1776, he sold his real estate in Pittsford to Benjamin Wrisley
of Coventry, Conn., and removed to Salisbury. We shall
hereafter find that he was killed by the Indians.
Peter Whelan was from Connecticut but we know nothing
of his ancestry. He married Ruth - - in 1774, and located
in a small house which he had built a few rods north of the
residence of Caleb Hendee.
Silas Mosher is supposed to have come from Dutchess
coanty, N. Y., but the exact place of his birth is not known to
us. He made the first improvements on the farm now owned
by Richard and Charles Burditt, and built a house a few rods
5
50 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
north of the Burditts north barn. A road was cleared by his
house which, leading north, entered the Crown Point road near
the residence of Benjamin Stevens.
John Hall was a native of Connecticut. He married, and
had one son, John, grown to manhood, when he located in this
town in 1774. This family resided on the west side of the
Creek, though the exact lot occupied cannot be determined.
They removed to Sudbury about the year 1780.
Gideon Sheldon, from Dover, Dutchess County, New York,
located here in the fall of this year. He purchased of Samuel
Waters* a lot of land which included the farm now owned by
Byron Morgan in Whipplc Hollow. His first clearing was
made and his house built about one hundred rods west of the
present residence of Mr. Morgan. The cellar is all that now
marks the spot.
Isaac Matson was the son of - - Matson who married
Amy Holida and resided some time in or near Windsor, Conn.
Two children were the result of this marriage, viz. : Isaac and
Amy. Isaac married Martha, daughter of Jonathan Hendee,
in 1767, and seven children w r ere the result of this marriage,
viz. : Isaac, Joshua, James, Martha, Nancy, Polly and Sally.
This family came to Pittsford, in 1774, and resided for a short
time on the west side of the Creek; afterwards Mr. Matson
bought of Samuel Ellsworth what is now the north part of the
farm owned by Isaac C. Wheaton, then known .as the Ward
place. Mr. Matson moved his family into the house formerly
occupied by William Ward. He was a large man with black
eyes, and somewhat loquacious ; his wife was a weakly woman
and died some years before her husband, of consumption. |
Samuel Montague was a descendant of Richard who came
from England and settled in Wethersfield, Conn., in 1627. The
following is his lineage : Samuel Montague, son of Samuel
* Mr. Sheldon had married Sarah, sister of Samuel Waters,
t Hendee s MS.
SAMUEL MONTAGUE. 51
and Elizabeth (White) Montague, of Sunderland, Mass., son of
John and Hannah (Smith) Montague, of Haclley, son of Richard
and Abigail (Downing) Montague, of Wethersfield and Hadley,
was born at Sunderland,* June 30, 1720. He married Eliza
beth Montague, probably, f early in 1742, and settled in Sun
derland where he followed the occupation of weaving. He was
of a religious turn of mind, united with the Sunderland church
and was very strict in the observance of all his religious obliga
tions. But certain troubles which had sprung up in the church,
began about this time to assume a serious aspect. Some mem
bers of the original church believed that it had departed from
its original faith and order, and on that account refused to
commune with it and established a separate church. The old
church excommunicated these separating members, and refused
to recognize the new organization as a church of Christ.
Samuel Montague was one of these separating members or
"new lights." The religious troubles in that town caused him
with several of his associates to remove to Bennington in 1761..
He w ; as moderator of the iirst town meeting held there in
1762, and a member of the first church, at the time of its
organization there the same year. We are unable to learn
wiien he purchased an interest in the township of Pittsford, but
it appears from the records that he bought the right of John
Loomis, one of the original proprietors and pitched fifty-five acres
of the same in the north part of the township. This included
what is now the north part of the farm owned by Eoswell Wood
cock. He built a house on the high ground, about one-fourth of
a mile north of the site of Mr. Woodcock s house, and some
vestiges of the same may still be seen, on the east side of the
old road leading to Seth Hewitt s. His house having been
completed, he removed his family from Bennington to Pittsford
in the summer of 1774.
* The homestead on which he was born has ever been owned by the Montagu^
family,
t The records do not make this certain.
52 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
But one family is known to have located in Pittsford in
1TT5. Amos Fassett whose ancestors have already been men
tioned, was born in Hardwick, Mass., in June, 1752, moved to
Bennington with his father s family in 1761 and married, in 1773,
Anna Lawrence of Norwich, Conn., who was born Dec. 22,
1755. In the fall of 1774, Mr. Fassett came to Pittsford and
built a house on the old Crown Point road, about thirty rods
west of the site of the present Village, and on land now owned
by E. B. Rand. The following spring he removed here with
his family consisting of a wife and one child Samuel, born
November 21, 1774. In the records he is called Dr. Fassett,
but we learn from one of his sons that he was not a doctor by
profession. His older brother, Nathan, received a medical
education, and it is possible that Amos, learning something of
the healing art from his brother, made some pretentious to a
knowledge of medicine and thereby got the title of doctor ;
but it is quite certain that he did not make the practice of med
icine a business.
With one exception we have mentioned all the families that
were located in the town at the commencement of the Revo
lutionary war. John Marshall and wife and perhaps several
children were living here, but we neither know the time when
they came nor their place* of residence. Our oldest inhabit
ants know nothing of them and the existing town records make
no allusion to them. Some years later, reference is made to " a
lot of land owned by William Marshall," who might have been
a son of the aforesaid John.
At a meeting held at the house of Ebenezer Hopkins, Sept.
14, 1773, the Proprietors " voted to lay out one hundred and
ten acres of land in the Second Division to Every Right ; Then
voted that every lot should be laid out together in the Second
Division ; Then voted that fifty-five acres in the Second Divi-
* We should infer from Hendee s manuscript that this family was located some
where near the residence of Benjamin Stevens.
EXTRACT FROM RECORDS. 53
sion should not exceed half a mile in length, as the whole
hundred and ten ; Then voted that the Clerk should set up
notification in three towns at Public houses to notify the pro
prietors of Pittsford to come in by the foreteenth of October
next to make their first piches. Then voted to adjourn sd
meeting to the fourteenth of October next at the house of Moses
Olmstead.
PITTSFORD, October 14, 1773.
Then met on sd Tuesday and opened said meeting and
voted for the Second Division Piches to be drawn and number
the same.
Yoted that the meeting be adjourned until the 3 Day of
January 1774.
PITTSFORD January 3, 1774.
Then met on said Monday and opened said meeting and
voted to have Ebenezer Lyman P. Clerk in said town.
, Then past to vote at Proprietors Meeting that Every Person
that has Land laid out they shall pay their Equal Proportion of
32 pounds New York Money and the Interest.
Yoted that Samuel Ellsworth, Stephen Mead and Benjamin
Cooley be sessors, Benjamin Cooley, Collector."
At an adjourned meeting December 19, 1774, the Proprie
tors "voted Ebenezer Lyman Collector to collect the cost of
laying out the township of Pittsford. Yoted 6 shillings on a
Right to lay out town and Public lots and Pine lots and town
Plot."
PITTSFORD March 8, 1774.
Then met on said Tuesday at the house of Ebenezer Hop
kins and opened said meeting.
Firstly, voted that Jonathan Fassett should be a committee
to lay out the land and 2 that Peleg Sunderland should be
another, and 3 Ebenezer Lyman should be another, 4th that
54 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
Aaron - be another, 5 and Lastly to adjourn said meet
ing to the 4th day of July at the house of Ebenezer Hopkins."
PITTSFORD July ye 4 th 1774.
Then met and opened said meeting on said Monday at the
house of Ebenezer Hopkins and voted to lay out the pine lots,
that all the pine lots should have the privilege of a two Rod
Road between every other lot, meaning that each lot should
have its timber on the Road and that each lot contain three
acres. Then voted Ichabod Parker and Isaac Rood shall draw
the Pine Lots and number the same.
Then voted that Stephen .Mead may lay out fifty acres of his
Second Division south of Penny s first lot.
Then voted that Reuben Cooley should be one of the com
mittee and also John Ewers another of the committee to lay out
land."
" PITTSFORD November ye 13th 1775.
Then met and opened said Meeting.
Firstly, Yoted to chose a Proprietors Clerk.
2d Yoted that Samuel Ellsworth be the Clerk.
3d Yoted to choose a Committee.
4th Chose Gideon Cooley William Cox and Amos Fassett
committee men to lay out land.
5th Chose Samuel Waters, Samuel Ellsworth, Joshua
Woodward and Gideon Sheldon, Committee men for the same
purpose.
6th Yoted to draw for the third Division on the first Mon
day of June next at one o clock afternoon."
" PITTSFORD March ye 12th 1776, then met according to adjourn
ment and opened said Meeting.
1. Chose Ebenezer Hopkins, Moderator, Chose Nathan
Fassett Clerk for said Proprietors, voted to adjourn this Meet-
EXTRACT FROM RECORDS. 55
ing to John Barnes untill the first monday of June next at one
o clock afternoon.
PITTSFORD June 3d 1776.
Then met according to adjournment in order to draw for
our third Division Lots.
The meeting being opened,
1. Chose Ebenezer Hopkins, Moderator.
2d Chose Jona. Fassett Clerk, Pro. Tern, for said Meeting.
3d Voted to lay out one hundred acres for each lot with
the addition of ten acres for roads.
4th Yoted to begin the first Monday of October next to
Pitch the third Division Lots.
5th Voted to lay out two Lots in a Day or to Pitch the
same untill the whole is Pitched or laid out.
6th Voted that any man having a Piece of land adjoining
to his land under fifteen acres shall have a right to take up said
strip of land with a third Division lot.
7th Voted that any man having half a Pitch of Land may
lay it by itself.
8th Voted that the lot joining Aaron Parsons on the East
be for the first settled minister.
9th Voted that the lot laid out on the south side of Reuben
Cooley s, be for a ministerial Lot.
10th Voted that the Church of England lot shall not lay
south of the Ministerial or Gleeb Lot.
llth Voted that Moses Olmstead, Benjamin Cooley, Ebe
nezer Lyman be a committee to lay out the public lots.
12th Voted that the Lot south of the Ministerial lot be
sold as a -priviledge to the town to the highest bider, and they
or he to lay a pitch on said Land, and the pay to go to the
men that have expended cash for the town.
13th Voted that the man that bids of said land, if he Doth
not pay for said land in one month from this date, the com-
56 HISTORY OF PITTSFOED.
mittee of Safety shall have a right to seize his Estate and make
sale of the same for Payment.
Benjamin Cooley being the highest bider, said lot was
struck of to him at twenty one pounds New York money ; and
the committee at the same time Pitched the first lot for the
Church of England, on the south side of a large Pond on the
east side of said town.
Yoted that Ebenezer Hopkins and Jonathan Fassett be a
committee to receive the money from Benjamin Cooley and pay
the Publick Debts which are behind and keep the rest until
called for.
Yoted that no committee lay out any land for any mam
that will not Pay the Money due for England money, so called,
on account of cost by sending their agent."
The lots in each division were drawn in conformity to the
vote of the Proprietors ; and the following table will show the
number of the lot in each division drawn by each Proprietor:
FAMES.
IstDiv.
2d Div.
3d Div.
NAMES.
IstDiv.
2d Div.
3dD
Ephraim Doolittle,
10
11
29
Nathan Moore,
22
38
11
Wm. Nutting,
9
64
63
Robert Oofford,
23
51
sa
Sam l Bowers,
7
7
35
Edward Flint,
25
44
37
Joshua Hutchins,
6
58
50
Daniel McFarling,
24
33
31
Abraham Morton,
2
14
34
George Robins,
27
19
43-
John Hubbard,
5
48
19
Phineas Haywood,
2
59
61
Alexander Scott,
11
8
32
Ezra Sanger,
26
62
59
Andrew Powers,
15
22
18
John Oaks,
30
45
10
Lucius Doolittle,
14
26
9
John Jenks,
18
31
12
Ebenezer Harvey,
20
65
42
John Benham,
28
61
30-
Joseph Burt,
12
23
4
Daniel Thomas,
29
27
13
Aaron Burt,
16
36
44
Ashbel Stiles,
31
42
24
Aaron Deniho,
17
53
22
Elisha Hall,
33
4
25
David Field,
19
34
48
Sam l Mansfield,
32
9
8
John Armes,
21
3
26
John Hall the 5th,
40
12
53
Lieut. Merriman,
48
57
62
Phineas Newton,
Elisha Hall, Jr.,
38
46
39
Elisha Fuller,
Chas. Whittlesey,
34
60
68
Samuel Fuller,
David Oaks,
37
43
57
Samuel Fuller, Jr.,
Elisha Whittlesey,
37
35
23
Elkanah Fox,
Natha l Cheney,
39
66
17
Elisha Harvey,
DIVISION OF LOTS.
57
NAMES. 1st Div. 2d Div. 3d Div
NAMES. IstDiv. SdDiv 3dDiv.
Lucius Hall,
42 15 6
Daniel Lord,
Sam l Whittlesey,
41 63 21
William Howard,
Chancey Whittlesey,
50 *
John Loomis,
Jedediah Winslow,
54
Daniel Warner,
Timothy Patterson,
1
Richard Wibert,
David Parpaw,
52
Daniel Boyden,
Nathan Jewett,
58
Theo. Atkinson,
Benja. Huntley,
53
Peter Johnson,
Daniel Dreggs
56
Samuel Johnson,
Amos Jones,
51
Jacob Hemenway,
Minister s Lot,
24 54
Samuel Brewer,
School Lot,
61 54 67
Joseph Arms,
Society Lot,
64 10 52
Gleeb Lot.
The following table shows the number of the Pine Lot
drawn to each proprietor s name :
NAMES.
Timothy Patterson,
David Parpaw,
Josiah Armes,
Amos Jones,
William Nutting,
Priest Lot,
Abraham Merton,
Leut Meriman,
Elisha Hall, Jr.,
George Whittlesey,
Samuel Fuller,
Daniel Thomas,
Samuel Whittlesey,
Edward Flint,
Elisha Fuller,
William Howard,
Ephraim Doolittle,
Benjamin Huntley,
Society Lot,
Peter Johnson,
John Oaks,
John Jenks,
Samuel Mansfield,
Daniel Lord,
Lucius Hall,
John Hubbard,
No.
NAMES.
66
Daniel Warner,
65
Ebenezer Harvey,
28
Joseph Burt,
56
Phineas Haywood,
63
David Oaks,
67
Samuel Johnson,
34
Theodore Atkinson,
62
Nathan Jewett,
39
Alexander Scott,
68
Nathaniel Cheney,
51
Aaron Deniho,
13
Daniel Boyden,
21
Elisha Whittlesey,
37
Ashbel Stiles,
47
John Hall, the 5th,
38
Aaron Burt,
29
Samuel Brewer,
45
Joshua Johnson,
54
Elisha Harvey,
60
Joshua Hutchinson,
10
Richard Wibert,
12
John Benham,
8
Gleeb Lot,
55
Elisha Hall,
6
Daniel McFarling,
19
Jacob Hemenway,
No.
49
42
4
61
57
7
20
64
32
17
22
30
24
9
53
44
14
15
1
50
58
36
27
25
31
16
* This table is a copy of the one in the Proprietors records, but as will be seen it
is not full.
58 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
NAMES.
No.
NAMES.
No.
Samuel Brewer,
35
Charles Whittlesey,
69
George Robins,
43
Lucius Doolittle,
23
Nathaniel More,
11
Jedediah Winslow,
41
Elkanah Fox,
2
Ezra Sauger,
59
School Lot,
52
Daniel Dreggs,
46
Phineas Nutting,
5
Chancey Whittlesey,
3
Robert Crawford,
33
David Field,
48
Andrew Powers,
18
John Loomis,
40
John Armes,
26
The commencement of the revolutionary struggle on the
19th of April, 1775, checked the tide of immigration which
had so auspiciously commenced, so that during the next five
years, the population of the township was but little increased
by the arrival of new families. It is not known that more
than two families moved into the town in 1776. These were
t
the Drury and Sweet families. John Barnes commenced to
make his home here, and Darius Crippen married and located
here this year.
The most of the Drury families in New England have
./ O
probably descended from Hugh Drury, of Boston, who was
made freeman in 1640, constable in 1654, and a member of the
artillery company in 1655. He died in 1659, and was interred
in Kings Chapel Cemetery. He had two sons, John and
Thomas, one of whom was the father of Daniel who was born
April 25, 1709. He married Sarah - , who was born
May 11, 1703. The former died June 9, 1786, the latter Nov.,
30, 1775. Ebenezer, son of the above was born in Shrews
bury, Mass., Jan. 17, 1734, O. S., and in 1762 married Hannah
Keys, who was born April 17, 1742. They first located in
Shrewsbury, but moved to Temple and again back to Shrews
bury. In the spring of 1776, Mr. Drury came to Pittsford
and bought of Benjamin Cooley one hundred acres of land
which included, with other land, the farm now owned by the
heirs of the late Austin Andrews. The deed of this purchase
was dated April 10, 1776, and w r as in consideration of 100.
He made his first clearing and built a small house in what is
JONATHAN SWEET JOHN BARNES. 59
now a pasture, nearly two hundred rods west of the site of the
present house. There are some vestiges of this building still
in existence. It is evident that Mr. Drury removed his family
here in the fall of this year.
Jonathan Sweet, quite likely a son of Samuel, of Benning-
ton, located here this year. He bought one right of land (of
which Andrew Powers was the original proprietor) and pitched
two hundred and twenty acres of it November 23, 177i. This
pitcli included the farm now owned by Allen Mills. After making
a clearing he built a log house which stood just south of the west
road, near its junction with the north-and-south road, or some
distance east of the present residence of Mr. Mills. He married
and located here in 1776. He brought with him nine sheep, the
first ever brought into Whipple Hollow, but the wolves destroyed
all except one the first year.
John Barnes, son of John, was born in New Fairfield,
Conn., March 13, 1756. His mother s maiden name was
Waters, and she was sister of Samuel Waters before mentioned.
When quite young, in company with his grandfather whose
name was also John, he came to Pittsford on a tour of observ
ation. In 1775, his father entered the army and died soon
after in the service of his country. In the spring of 1776, he
came to Pittsford and bought, quite likely of James Hopkins,
a small lot of land which now forms a part of the farm owned
by A. N. Loveland. He commenced at once to clear the land
and build a house, and the work upon the latter was carried
forward so rapidly that a Proprietors meeting was held in it
on the. third day of June that year. This house stood about
twelve rods north of the house now occupied by Mr. Love-
land. Young Barnes continued to reside here a large part of
the time alone until the 21st day of September, 1785, when he
married Saloma Harwood* who was born in Bennington, March
5, 1768.
* Daughter of Rev. Eleazer Harwood.
60 HISTORY OF PITTSFOED.
Darius Crippen, son of David, married Abigail, daughter
of Roger Stevens, and located on the home farm with his
parents. How long the latter lived after this period we have
no means of knowing, but it would appear that Darius bought
his brother David s interest in the homestead in 1783, and quite
likely the latter soon after left the town. Darius resided here
till 1794, when he sold his farm to Elias Williams of Rutland.
The deed was dated January 4th and was in consideration of
120. Crippen then moved to Bastard, Lower Canada, where
he was afterwards drowned. Mrs. Crippen, after the death of
her husband, went to live with her son in the western part of
New York where she died.
Two families named the May and E wings families, located
here in 1777.
John May was born in England about the year 1746, and
came to America when he was a young man. He purchased of
Stephen Mead one hundred acres of land in Pittsford, the deed
being dated "Jan. 16, 1777, and in the 15th year of his Majes
ty s reign." This included most of the farm now owned by Lewis
White. The following spring he built a house a little south
west of the residence of Roger Stevens, the cellar of which
may still be seen, about one-fourth of a mile south of the
present residence of Mr. White, and near a large boulder on
the east side of the road leading south to Sutherland Falls.
He married and resided in this house several years. We cannot
learn the maiden name of his wife.
James Ewings was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1749.
Alexander Ewings, his father, was a Scotchman by birth, and
a graduate of the University of Edinburgh. He entered the
British army soon after his graduation and received an adju
tant s commission in one of the regiments which was stationed
at Cork, Ireland. There he married a Miss Sullivan and
remained at that post with his regiment some years, and there
a number of his children were born, including James and
JAMES EWINGS. 61
Alexander. Early in 1755, his regiment was ordered to
America under the command of the noted General Braddock.
Adjutant Ewings accompanied his regiment,* taking his family
with him, and on arriving in America he left them upon the
coast and proceeded with his regiment to Fort Cumberland.
He shared in the hardships of the unfortunate expedition
against Fort du Quesne. On the retreat after the disaster of
the 9th of July, a trivial circumstance occurred which changed
the whole course of his life. At a safe point where the army
had halted to gather up its scattered fragments, and care for
the wounded that had been brought along, the Adjutant was
approached by certain ones in authority and asked to act as
chaplain performing the burial service over the dead bodies
of some officers. He took off his sword and performed the
service, but he declared that he could never put it on again.
Soon afterwards he and his brother, a captain in the same
regiment, procured their discharge from the army. The Cap
tain settled in Philadelphia as a lawyer; the Adjutant in
Massachusetts, where he became a Baptist clergyman. Rev.
Alexander Ewings was the father of a large family seven sons
and one daughter though the names of only three are now
remembered by our informant James and Alexander, Jr.,
already mentioned, and John, who settled in the northern part
of the State of Vermont. .
James was six years of age at the time he was embarked with
his father s family on board a vessel bound for America. They
landed in Boston, and after the father obtained his discharge from
the army, they resided some years in Greenwich, Mass. James
married Naomi, daughter of Benjamin Cooley of that town,
in 1775. Their eldest son, Benjamin, was born in May, 1776.
The following year Mr. Ewings came to Pittsford and bought
of Darius Crippen fifty acres of land,j lying south of said
* Two regiments were sent out at this time under Braddock.
t This was a part of the first division of the right of John Oaks.
62 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
Crippen s home farm, and with some additions afterwards pur
chased, it included the farm now owned by Artenias C. Powers
He made the first clearing on that farm and built a house on
the west side of the road exactly opposite the present house,
He removed his family here in the fall of that year.
Joshua June, Nehemiah Hopkins, Timothy Barker and
Abel Stevens located here in 1778.
The ancestors of Joshua June resided in Stamford, Conn.,
where, it is supposed, he was born about the year 1756. Soon
after coming to this town he married Sarah, eldest daughter of
William Cox, wlio gave him one hundred and ten acres of
land from the north part of his home farm, the deed being
dated March 23, 1779. Mr. June built a house about one-half
a mile northeast of the residence of Mr. Cox, the location of
which may still be seen in the field, about one hundred rods
north of the stone house owned by Junia Sargent, and about
three rods from, and on the west side of, the present highway
leading to Brandon ; a pile of stones now occupies the place of
the cellar. The house was completed and occupied early in
the summer of that year.
Nehemiah Hopkins was the second son of Ebenezer
before mentioned and was, probably, born in Harwinton,
Conn., where he spent his childhood. He married Tryphene
Smith and settled in Stockbridge, .Mass., where were born to
them five sons, Ebenezer, Nehemiah, Aslibel, Martin and
Matthew ; and four daughters, Jemima, Tryphene, Rachel and
Sylvia. He came to Pittsford in 1778, and purchased the tract
of land upon which Mill Village is now located. He made a
clearing and built a log house which stood about ten rods west
of the present residence of John Stevens, and here he removed
his family in the fall of that year.
Timothy Barker was one of the early settlers of N eshobe
now Brandon and, for a few years, was quite a prominent
man in that township. At a general convention of delegates
ABEL STEVENS RICHARD S. ADAMS. 63
from the towns in the New Hampshire Grants, held at Dorset,
Sept. 25th, 1776, "Capt. Timothy Barker" was one of the
delegates from Neshobe. In 1778, he married the widow of
Isaac Buck, and removed his residence from Nesliobe to Pitts-
ford, and occupied the house already mentioned as having
been built by Mr. Buck. An adjourned Proprietors meeting
was "held at the house of Timothy Barker, on the west side
of the Creek, October 12th, 1779."
This year Abel Stevens, son of Roger, married Eunice,
daughter of Isaac Buck, and on the 21st of November bought
of his father one hundred and forty-five acres of land, bounded
on the north by land of Benjamin Cooley, on the east by land
of Col. E. Doolittle, on the south by land of Eleazer Harwood,
and on the west by the Creek. The consideration was 400.
This included the farm recently owned by the late Deming
Gorham. Mr. Stevens built the low part of the present house
and resided there till 1796,* when 4 he removed to Bastard,
County of Leeds, Canada, where he died in 1816. We are
informed that he was a man of earnest piety, and a preacher of
the Methodist doctrine.
Richard S. Adams, from Connecticut, located here in 1779,
making his first pitch April 9th, on the right of John Loomis
in the third division of lots. This included what has since
been known as the Beals place, now owned by John Eggleston.
He made the first improvements on that farm, and the house
built by him stood on the east side of the east-and-west road,
and about half-way between where Mr. Eggleston s house now
stands and the four-corners so called a short distance west
ward. Before coming to Pittsford, he had married Lucy Matson,
half-sister of Dea. Caleb Hendee s wife. He resided here till
1798, when he sold his farm to Solomon Purely, of Rutland,
and soon after moved to Bastard, Canada, with all his children,
whose names were Saxton, Daniel, Joshua and Lucy.
*Mr. Stevens sold his farm to Ichabod Cross March 4, 1793,
64: HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
CHAPTER III.
Origin of the Land-title, controversy / Rapacity of the Colo
nial Governors of New York; Charter of Socialborough;
A ttempts of the Grantees to enforce their claims ; Resist
ance to the New York officials; Conventions of the peo
ple of the New Hampshire Grants.
The early settlers had scarcely become established in their
new homes, ere they found themselves involved in a contro
versy which had, for some time, existed between New Hamp
shire and New York, respecting their division line. The history
of this "Land-Title Controversy" for such it truly was
belongs no more to Pittsford than to other towns in the State ;
but it will be needful to glance at some of its more prominent
features, in order to understand some important events, which
took place in the early settlement of this township.
It should be remembered that the Dutch first colonized
New York under the name of New Netherland, and that
betw r een them and the English colonies of Connecticut, there
was not the most friendly feeling. Jealousies and animosities
were frequently springing up between them, and as their settle
ments extended, their boundaries became a source of serious
contention. By an agreement, however, entered into on 19th
Sept., 1650, by representatives of the two parties, their division-
line was defined as " beginning at the west side of Greenwich
Bay, being about four miles from Stamford, and running a,
northerly line twenty miles up into the country, and after as it
should be agreed by the two governments of the Dutch and of
New Haven, provided the said line come not within ten miles.
of Hudson s river. And it was agreed that these bounds and
GRANT TO THE DUKE OF YOKK. 65
limits should be observed and kept inviolate, both by the
English and United Colonies, and all the nation without any
encroachment or molestation, until a full and final determina
tion be agreed upon in Europe, by the mutual consent of the
States of England and Holland." This treaty-boundary was
formally approved and ratified, under the seal of the States
General of the United Netherlands, Feb. 22, 1656, as the line
of division between New Netherland and New England.
But the English government, regarding the Dutch as
intruders upon their territory, resolved upon the conquest of
New Netherland. As a preliminary measure King Charles the
Second, on the 12th of March, 1664, issued to his brother
James, the Duke of York, a grant of all the land from the
west side of Connecticut river to the east side of Delaware
Bay, and the Duke was authorized to employ the necessary
force to make his grant available.
Accordingly an expedition was fitted out which, being
joined by troops from Connecticut, appeared before New
Amsterdam, and made a formal demand for its surrender to
the English crown. Terms favorable to the Dutch having been
agreed upon, New Amsterdam, with all its dependencies, was
surrendered to the English, Sept. 8, 1664.
The boundaries of this grant were probably never intended
as definite limits, since this would interfere with former grants,
"but rather as outer limits within which New Netherland, the
object of the grant, was supposed to be included."* The natural
inference from all the circumstances attending the issue is,
that the description was designed to indicate New Netherland
as the object of the grant, leaving its extent and limits, then
imperfectly known to the Crown, to be afterwards ascertained
.and determined.
Accordingly, within less than two weeks after the conquest
of New Netherland, the Assembly of Connecticut appointed
* Early history of Vermont,
66 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
five commissioners, to settle with the King s commissioners the
boundary-line. These commissioners convened at New York,
and after a full hearing, made their decision in regard to the
conflict of boundaries in the two charters as follows, viz.: "that
the creek or river called Mamarpneck which is reputed to
be about thirteen miles to the east of Winchester, and in a line
drawn from the east point or side where the fresh water falls
into the salt, at high water mark, north-northwest to the line of
the Massachusetts, be the western bounds of the said colony of
Connecticut, &c." This decision of the commissioners was
accepted for a time by both parties, but it was soon found
that there was a great defect in the language by which the
division-line had been defined in 1664, especially in the direc
tion of its northern line, which, running north-northwest, would
* j O / ,
cross Hudson s river instead of being parallel to its general
course.
The King s commissioners asserted that they never intended
the line to come within less than twenty miles of that river,,
and by further negotiations it was surveyed and established* at
a distance of twenty miles from the Hudson.
The adjustment of this boundary-controversy between New
York and Connecticut, in terms applied only to the boundary
between those two provinces ; but there is abundant evidence
to show that the line running parallel with the Hudson at
the distance of twenty miles eastward was understood at
the time to apply to the whole eastern boundary of the
Duke s patent. Agreeably to this understanding Massachusetts
proceeded to make grants of townships west of the Connecticut
river, and this territory was rapidly filling up by immigration
from the easterly part of the State. Very soon it was dotted
with flourishing settlements. But in 1753, the government o
New York, for the first time, notified the government of Massa
chusetts, that under the charter to the Duke of York, she
*This was established jn 1731.
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE. 67
claimed the territory eastward to the Connecticut river. The
disturbances growing out of these conflicting claims soon
became so serious as to attract the attention of the Board of
Trade who summoned before them the agents of the respective
provinces, then in England, and having heard what they had
to say upon the subject, on the 25th of May, 1757, made a
representation of the case to the King.
In their report they say " we are of opinion that a line to
be drawn northerly from a point on the south boundary line of
Massachusetts Bay, twenty miles due east from Hudson s river,
to another point twenty miles distant due east from the said
\
river, on that line which divides the province of New Hamp
shire and the Massachusetts Bay, would be a just and equitable
line of division between your Majesty s provinces of New
York and Massachusetts Bay. They therefore recommend the
establishment of such boundary line by his Majesty s order in
council." The line thus recommended not being satisfactory to
the government of either province, no further attempt was
made at that time to settle the pending controversy.
But the disturbances continuing, the Earl of Shelburne by
command of the King addressed letters to the governors of the
respective colonies recommending that effectual measures be
taken to settle every difference relating to their boundaries by
commissioners appointed from each for that purpose. Accord
ingly commissioners were appointed who met at New Haven,
October 1, 1767, but after a session of several days, separated
without coming to an agreement. In 1773, other commissioners
appointed and duly authorized by the respective provinces, met
at Hartford and executed in the presence and with the approval
of the governors of the two provinces an agreement by inden
ture in which it was declared that, " A line beginning at a place
fixed upon by the two governments of New York and Con
necticut, in or about A. D. 1731, for the northwest corner of
a tract of land commonly called the Oblong or equivalent land,
68 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
and running from the said corner north twenty-one degrees ten
minutes and thirty seconds east, as the magnetic needle now
points, to the north line of Massachusetts Bay, shall at all times
hereafter be the line of jurisdiction between the said province
of Massachusetts Bay and the said province of New York, in
all and every part and place where the said province of New
York 011 its eastern boundary, shall adjoin on the said province
of the said Massachusetts Bay." This line though described
in different language was substantially the same as that recom
mended by the Board of Trade in 1757.
Soon after the establishment of the line between Massachu
setts and New Hampshire in 1740, Benning Went worth of
Portsmouth was appointed Governor of the latter province ;
and his commission in defining the limits of his jurisdiction
states that it was to extend westward till it "meets with our
other governments." After the establishment of the boundary
between New York and Connecticut in 1731, it was generally
understood that the eastern boundary of New York was a line
beginning at the northwest corner of Connecticut and running
at a distance of twenty miles from the Hudson to Lake Cham-
plain. And that such was the understanding of the British
government, is evident from the fact that the maps of the
British American provinces which were used for reference by
the government, contain such a distinctly marked line. The
evidence upon this subject was so convincing that Gov. Went-
worth did not hesitate to grant townships on the west side of
Connecticut river though careful to avoid encroaching upon the
territory of New York. But as this line had not been definitely
established, on the 17th of November, 1749, the Governor
wrote Gov. Clinton that he had it in command from his majesty
to make grants of unimproved lands within his government to
such persons as would obligate themselves to improve the same ;
that applications were coming in for the laying out of some
townships in the western part of it ; and that wishing to avoid,
N. H. GRANTS ANNEXED TO NEW YORK. 69
as far as he could, interfering with the government of Plis
Excellency, he enclosed a copy of his commission from the
King, and desired to be informed how far north of Albany and
how many miles east of Hudson s river, to the northward of
Massachusetts line, his (Gov. Clinton s) government, by his
majesty s commission, extended.
This letter having been laid before the New York council,
they advised Gov. Clinton to acquaint Gov. Wentworth "that
this province is bounded easterly by Connecticut river; the let
ters patent from King Charles the Second to the Duke of York,
expressly granting all the lands from the west side of Con
necticut river, to the east side of Delaware Bay." This advice
being communicated to Gov. Wentworth an earnest corres
pondence ensued between the two governors, the one claiming
to the Connecticut river, and the other to a line twenty miles
from the Hudson, but reaching no satisfactory result they
mutually agreed to refer the matter to the decision of the
King.
The subject having been brought before the Board of Trade,
the New York claim was urged with so much skill and vehe
mence, that in July, 1764, an order was obtained of the King
in council, declaring "the west bank of the river Connecticut,
from where it enters the province of Massachusetts Bay, as far
north as the 45th degree of north latitude, to be the boundary-
line between the two provinces of New Hampshire and New
York. The territory thus annexed to New York comprised
the whole of the State of Vermont, and having up to this time
been considered a part of New Hampshire, a large proportion
of it had been granted in townships of six miles square by
Gov. Wentworth and in a few of these were quite flourishing
settlements. This change of jurisdiction had been made with
out consulting the inhabitants, who were to be most affected
thereby, and even without their knowledge. Had the change
been confined to jurisdiction only they would have submitted
70 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
without any serious opposition, though the most of them would
have preferred to remain under the laws and institutions of
New Hampshire. But when the New York government went
farther, and, disregarding the claims of the settlers, proceeded
to grant their property to other parties, it aroused the most
serious indignation.
The order of the King annexing the Kew Hampshire
grants to New York, though dated July 20, 1764, was not
made known to the settlers till the following year, 1765. On
the 10th of April of that year, Lieut.-Gov. Golden laid it
before the New York council, and in pursuance of their advice,
issued a proclamation giving notice of the same " to the end
that all his Majesty s subjects within the provice might conform
thereto and govern themselves accordingly." No sooner w r as
this proclamation made known to the Proprietors of Pittsford
than they adopted such measures as they supposed would
insure to them a confirmation of their charter, and the follow
ing address and petition w r ere presented to Lieut.-Gov. Golden :
Dated at Shrewsbury in the Province of Massachusetts Bay,
June 24th, A. D. 1765.
To the Hon ble Cadwallader Golden, Esqr., Lieut. Governor
and Commander in Chief in and over his Majesties Prov
ince of New York, &c., and the Hon ble his Majesties
Counsel.
The petition of a number of persons who, as they thought,
obtained his Majesties Grant of a Township or tract of land
by the mediation of his Excellency Benning Wentworth, Esqr.
Governour and Commander in Chief of his Majesties Province
of New Hampshire, the Honourable his Majesties Council of
said Province, situate West of Connecticut Kiver, on Otter
Creek. Beginning at the Northwest corner of the Township
of Rutland so granted, from thence extending North four
degrees West six miles, from thence East five degrees south six
miles, from thence South twenty degrees East to Rutland
71
North East corner, from thence West five degrees North by
Rutland to the bounds first mentioned, by the name of Pitts-
ford, and that your Petitioners have surveyed said Township,
and have made some improvements thereon with raised expect
ations of making good settlements for ourselves and Familys,
but on reading your Honours former Proclamation in the year
A. D. 1764, laying claim to the land West of Connecticut
River, great scruples arose in our minds with regard to the
validity of our aforesaid grant, whereby the prosecution of our
settlements hath been retarded in a great measure, and by
yours Honours late Proclamation we are informed, that his
Majestie and Council have actually established Conecticut
River as the boundary line between the Governments of New
York and New Hampshire, by which we are ascertained of our
Grants being in the Government and jurisdiction of New
York, & being desireous of obtaining a confirmation of our
Grants and of becoming inhabitants in said Government of
New York, and being informed by Gents, who have been with
your Honour for instructions, with regard to such Grants there
can be no grant given as yet, and that our conduct which will
be most agreeable to recommend us to the obtaining such
grants will be to pursue our settlements with the utmost
vigour; we pray that your Honour will receive this our hum
ble adress, and while we are pursuing our settlements, bear in
mind our sinsear endeavours to become a respectable part of
your Honours government, and in proper time will give us
opportunity of not only knowing our duty in fe complying with the
Constitution of the government of New York, but of attending
to those measures as shall be requisite in procuring a confirma
tion of our Land ; and until which may be accomplished we
ground our hopes on your Honour and Honours Wise adminis
tration of his majesties Government, and the humane disposi
tion which we doubt not but your honours are Possest of
towards your fellow men. We would further inform your
72 HISTORY OF PITTSFOBD.
honours, that the greatest part of us have obtained the knowl
edge of those lands by our services in the late war at the
reduction of his Majesties enemies, and as w r e have been at
considerable expence already on act. of our grant, and most of
us are unable to loose such cost without destresing ourselves
and familys, we are the rather encouraged to hope and as
in Duty Bound shall ever pray.
JOSHUA JOHNSON, \
( Proper
PETER JOHNSON,
^ Committee.
SAMUEL BREWER, >
This petition was unheeded, though the Proprietors had
been encouraged by Gov. Wentworth to believe, that if the
King should see fit to change the boundary, the title to their
lands legally obtained from the government of New Hamp
shire would be respected. But as the value of these lands
became more generally known, they were eagerly sought, not
by those who wished to cultivate and improve them, but by
New York speculators. And Gov. Golden finding this a favor
able opportunity for enhancing his private fortune by the fees,
carried on a lucrative business in the granting of townships,
till his career was suddenly arrested by the notorious Stamp
Act of the British Parliament, which required all instruments
of contract, such as bonds, notes, deeds, &c., to be executed
upon stamped paper, for which a duty w T as to be paid to the
Crown; and any contract not thus executed was to be null
and void. This act produced great agitation throughout the
country, and so excited the populace that, in some instances,
they assaulted the stamp officers and compelled them to give
up the stamps. Some of these odious stamps were destroyed, and
others were either re-shipped to England or carefully guarded,
so that none found their w r ay into the places of business. As
all land patents were to be void unless stamped, and as the
stamps could not be obtained, their further issue was necessa
rily suspended.
ORDEK OF GOV. MOOEE. 73
Up to this time the patents of Vermont lands issued by
Golden covered over one hundred and seventy-four thousand
;acres ? nearly all of which had been previously granted by New
Hampshire,
On the 12th of November, Sir Henry Moore arrived from
England and superseded Golden in the government of New
York. At once there came pouring in upon him from the
Proprietors of the New Hampshire grants, complaints against
the -acts of his predecessor in granting their lands to other par
ties:; and he was petitioned to confirm to them their titles.
While he pretended to listen to these petitions with some degree
of respect, he gave no assurance of protection against the land
patents issued by Golden, nor any security against future
grants. But the excitement ran so high that he felt compelled to
make some show of conciliation ; and he therefore had an order
passed by his council and published, allowing three months
from the 6th day of June 1760, for all persons holding or
claiming lands under grants from the government of New
Hampshire, to appear by themselves or their attorneys and
produce the same, togther with all deeds, conveyances or other
instruments, by which they derive any title or claim to the said
lands, before his Excellency in council, and that the claims of
.such person or persons who should not appear and support the
same as aforesaid, within the space of three months, be rejected.*
While this procedure made some pretension of favor tow
ards the New Hampshire charters, the fees demanded by the
New York officials for a confirmation of the same, virtually
amounted to a prohibition. The fees to the Governor of New
Hampshire for the granting of a township, were about one
hundred dollars, while under the government of New York,
two thousand, or two thousand six hundred! were demanded
for a confirmation of one of those charters. This unreasonable
* Doc. His. of N. Y., Vol. IV., pa<re 587.
t Williams History of Vt., Vol. II., page 19.
74 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
demand could hardly be complied with, inasmuch as most of
the early settlers were men of slender means who had expended
what they had, in acquiring the New Hampshire title to their
lands and in making improvements upon them.
Failing to obtain relief from the government of New York,,
the Proprietors of the New Hampshire grants resolved to apply
for the redress of their grievances to the good sense of the
King. Accordingly a petition was prepared and signed by
over one thousand setjlers and grantees, and Samuel Robinson,
Esq., of Bennington, was appointed their agent to lay it before
Ilis Majesty. Mr. Robinson landed in England on the 30th
of January, 176T. Deeming it advisable to set forth the griev
ances of the claimants in greater detail than was stated in the
petition of which he was the bearer, he drew up a new petition
and subscribed it, in behalf of himself and more than one
thousand other grantees, and this was delivered to Lord Shel-
burne, principal Secretary of State for the colonies, the 20th* of
March, to bdftaid before His Majesty in council.*
The action of the King in council is stated in a letter from
Lord Shelburne, to Gov. Moore, dated April 11, 1767, in which
he says: "I am to signify to you His Majesty s command that
you make no new grants of these lands, and that you do not
molest any person in the quiet possession of his grant who can
produce good and valid deeds for such grant under the seal of
the province of New Hampshire until you receive further
orders respecting them. You are directed to take care that the
inhabitants, lying westward of the line represented by the
Board of Trade, as the boundary of the two provinces, be not
molested on account of territorial differences or disputed juris
diction, for whatever province the settlers may be found to
belong to, it should make no difference in their property,
provided that their titles to their lands should be found good
in other respects, or that they have long been in the unin-
* Early History of Vermont, page 88.
ORDER OF THE KING. 75
terrupted possession of them. The power of granting lands
was vested in the governors of the colony, originally, for the
purpose of accommodating, not distressing settlers, especially
the poor and industrious.
The unreasonableness of obliging a very large tract of
country to pay a second time the immenee sum of 33,000 in
fees, according to the allegations of this petition, for no other
reason than its being found necessary to settle the line of boun
dary between the colonies, is so unjustifiable that His Majesty
is not only determined to have the strictest inquiry made into
the circumstances of the charge, but expects the clearest and
fullest answer to every part of it.*
To this letter Gov. Moore made an elaborate reply, full of
quibbles and evasions, which produced no change, however, in
His Majesty s determination, as expressed in Lord Shelburne s
letter ; and on the 2-ith of July following an order of the King
in council was made, commanding the Governor of New York
upon pain of His Majesty s highest displeasure, to make no
grant whatever of any part of the controverted lands, until
His Majesty s further pleasure should be known concerning the
same. f This order was afterwards strictly observed by Gov.
Moore; but his death, which occurred Sept. 11, 1769, brought
Mr. Golden again to the head of the New York government,
who, disregarding the King s order in council, resumed the
work of issuing patents of the controverted lands, and pro
ceeded therein as fast as parties could be found who were willing
to advance the patent fees. At the close of his administration,
Oct. 18th, 1770, (it had continued more than a year,) his
patents covered more than six hundred thousand acres of gov
ernment lands, and he had realized from the same about
$25,000 in money besides reserving to himself in the name of
others, more than twenty thousand acres.
* Doc. Hist, of N. Y., Vol. TV., pni>;e 589.
tDoc. Hist. N. Y., Vol. IV., p. 609.
76 HISTORY OF PITTSFOED.
Golden was succeeded in tlie government by Jolm Murray,
titled Earl Dumnore, a rapacious Scottish peer who, on his.
arrival in this country, was immediately involved in a quarrel
with Golden in respect to the fees of certain land patents which
the latter had rushed through his office, for the purpose of
pocketing the fees. Golden being the winner of the game,
Dumnore was left to amplify Jiis own fortune in the lucrative
manner of his predecessor. And as proof of his industry it
may be stated that in the short space of eight months he had
granted to speculators four hundred and fifty thousand acres of
Vermont lands and received tile fees for the same, and also had
granted to himself in the name of others fifty-one thousand
i
acres more.
Among the patents issued by Golden was that of Social-
G X /
borough, covering the townships of Pittsford and Rutland,,
which had been granted ten years before by Gov. Wentworth.
The following is a copy of the return of the survey of this
patent :
Pursuant to an order in Council from his Excellency, the Right
Honorable John Earl of Dunmore, Captain General and
Governor in Chief, in and over the province of New York,
and the Territories Depending thereon in America, Chan
cellor and Vice Admiral of the same, bearing Date the
thirteenth Day of this present month of March,
I have laid out for John Harris Cruger and his associates,
All that certain Tract of land surveyed in the year one thou
sand seven hundred and sixty-seven by my Deputy William
Cockburn, situate lying and being on both sides of Otter Creek,
in the County of Albany within tho province of New York,
which said tract Begins on the East side of the said Otter
Creek in a line of trees marked the same year by my Deputy,
Archibald Campbell, for the North bounds of a Township
Erected by the Government of New Hampshire, under the
SOC1ALBOKO UGH OTHER PATENTS ISSUED. 77
Name of Clarendon, and runs from the said place of beginning
along the said line of marked trees, South eighty-six degrees
East, two hundred and nijie chains ; Then North thirteen
degrees West, one thousand and fifty-two chains; Then West
five hundred chains ; Then | South thirteen degrees East one
thousand and nineteen chajns ; and then South eighty six
degrees East, two hundred ar.d ninety-nine chains to the place
-where tins Tract began, Containing Forty eight Thousand acres
of land and the usual allowance for highways.
Given under my hand this Twenty second day of March
one Thousand seven hundred and seventy-one.
ALEX GOLDEN, Surveyor Genii.
Dunmore having been appointed to the governorship of
"Virginia, was succeeded in the government of New York by
Sir William Tryon, who arrived from North Carolina in July,
1771, He was a proud aristocrat and proved to be as unscru
pulous as either of his predecessors, but continued to administer
the government until April, 1774, when in obedience to the
mandates of the ministry, he departed for England, leaving the
government in the temporary charge of Lieut.-Gov. Golden.
During this period of his administration, Tryon. had issued
patents for over two hundred thousand acres of land within the
disputed territory, a large portion of which had been previously
granted by New Hampshire. He had also provided for himself
a township of thirty-two thousand acres by the name of Nor-
bury, situated in the present county of Washington.
During Tryon s absence, from the 7th of April, 1774, to
the first of July, 1775, Golden prosecuted the work of issuing
land patents so vigorously, that not less than some four hundred
thousand acres of Vermont lands were granted during this short
period, the fees for which were not less than ten thousand
dollars. Up to this time, the amount of these lands patented
by New York exceeded two millions of acres, the most of
78 HISTORY OF PI7TSFORD.
which had been granted in direct violation of the King s order
of July, 1767.*
We thus have some general idsa of the grasping selfishness
of the New York governors, whose only object seems to have
been to enrich themselves, at the expense of the people whom
they were appointed to govern. The only wonder is that such
men should have been tolerated &o long by an intelligent and
spirited people.
On the arrival of Tryon from England, the 25th of- June,
he found the country involved in civil war ; and though lie
tarried for a limited time, the prejudices of the people against
him and the government he represented were so strong that lie
found it necessary to take refuge on board a British man-of-war
in the harbor of New York, and soon after he departed from
the country.
We have thus sketched a general outline of the origin and
character of the respective claims of the governments of New
York and New Hampshire to the territory now constituting the
State of Vermont.
We are next to notice briefly the controversy between the
the settlers and the New York claimants, in respect to the soil
claimed under conflicting grants ; and, as we proceed, we shall
see what the Proprietors and early settlers of Pittsford had to
do with, this unfortunate contest.
About, the year 1770, some New York patentees attempted
to get possession of lands occupied by claimants under the New
Hampshire charters, and served upon them writs of ejectment,
returnable to the court at Albany. These actions were to be
tried in June, and although tile settlers had but little confidence
in the New York courts, they resolved to appear and defend
their rights. The first case for trial was that of John Small
against Isaac Carpenter, relating to land in Shaftsbury. The
council for the plaintiff produced the patent of his client
* Early Hist, of Vt., page 109.
TEST CASE TRIED SHERIFFS RESISTED. 79
obtained from the Governor of New York, as the evidence of
his claim.. The counsel for the defendant offered in evidence
the New Hampshire charter dated August 20, 1761, four years
before the plaintiffs patent, together with authentic copies of
Governor Wentworth s commission, and the King s instruction,
authorizing him to grant lands.* But the court decided that
New York had always extended eastward to the Connecticut
river, and that consequently the New Hampshire charter was
null and void, and refused to allow it to be read to the jury.
As the result of this ruling, judgment was obtained for the
plaintiff; and this being a test case foreshadowed the verdict in
all the other cases. The result of this trial was not unexpected,
as it was well known that the Lieut.-Governor, the prosecuting
attorneys, and the presiding judge were interested parties in
these suits, all claiming lands in the disputed territory by virtue
of the New York title.
But the Ne\f York patentees found it one thing to obtain
: the decision of the Albany court in their favor, and quite
another thing to enforce that decision. The Sheriffs in attempt
ing to execute the writs in the ejectment suits, met with
determined opposition. The settlers felt that they had justice
and equity on their side, and more than all that the validity of
their title had been repeatedly recognized by the King ; and
they deliberately concluded to defend their possessions at all
hazards.
The plaintiffs in the Albany suits sent the sheriff to dispos
sess the occupants of certain lands which had been adjudged to
them by the court ; but this officer found the settlers assembled
in arms, and they "threatened," as he said, "to blow his brains
out if he proceeded."
It became evident that these lands could not be made avail
able to the plaintiffs, without a strong force to assist the sheriff
in the execution of his writs. It was therefore resolved to call
* Early Hist, of Vt., p. 118.
80 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
to his aid the military* power of the country. A general sum
mons to the citizens of Albany was issued to meet at the time
and place appointed, and on the 18th of July, 1771, the sheriff
set out on his mission at the head of about three hundred men
of all grades and professions. This corps was somewhat aug
mented by accessions on the w^ay. But the settlers bad received
timely notice of the approach of the sheriff and l\\$* posse, and
had made the necessary preparation for effectual resistance.
As the New York party drew near, they discovered the for
midable opposition with which they had to contend,, and being-
unwilling to risk their lives in so perilous an undertaking, they
withdrew and left the settlers in undisputed possession of the
field.
Hitherto no effort had been made to dispossess the Propri
etors and settlers of Pittsford of the lands upon which they
were then engaged in making extensive improvements. And
notwithstanding the unfavorable reception which had been
given to a former petition, they drew up the following which,
was conveyed to Albany by a special messenger :*
To his Excellency the Right Honorable John Earl of Dun-
more, Captain General and Governor in Chief of The Prov
ince of New r York, &era &era &cra
In Councill.
The Petition of the subscribers Inhabitants on a Tract of
land commonly called Pittsford, on Otter Creek, about Twenty
Six miles South Easterly from Crown point,
. Humbly Sheweth,
That there is a certain Tract of vacant land
now within tin s province, formerly Deemed and reputed to be
within the province of New Hampshire, lying to the North
ward of the Great Falls on Otter creek, commonly called Rut
land falls, and bounded as followeth ; Beginning at a Maple
* Supposed to have been Benjamin Coolcy.
PETITION TO EARL DUNMORE. 81
Tree Marked P. P. on the North line of Rutland, which line
divides pitstbrd from Rutland, as was granted by the Govern
ment of New Hampshire. Thence runs West five degrees
North, foure miles and ten Rods to a Beach Tree, from thence
runs North twelve degrees West, six miles to a Beach Tree,
from thence runs East five degrees South foure miles and ten
Rods to a Beach Tree, from thence runs South twelve degrees
East six miles to the place where it began, containing Fifteen
Thousand acres, Which Tract of land was granted by the
Governor and Counsell of the Province of New Hampshire, in
consequence of which we your Excellencys petitioners have
actually settled and made considerable improvements thereon ;
and are willing and desirous to compleet the same. Therefore
most humbly pray your Exceelenty will be fav6urably plesed
to grant us the same under the usual restrictions &c, and your
JExcelencys Petitioners shall ever pray.
BENJAMIN COOLEY, DANIEL JOHNES,
ISAAC ROODE, WILLIAM MARSHALL,
JAMES MEADE, SAMULL CRIPPER,
SAMUEL WATERS, ISAAC BUCK,
FELIX POWEL, JEAMS HOPKINS,
PELEG SUNDERLING, GIDEON WARRIN,
ASA JOHNSON, MOSES UMSTEAD,
BLESS WILLOUGHBY.
This petition was presented January 12, 1771, and upon
the back of it we find the following endorsements :
"1771, January 17. Read in Council, referred to a com
mittee.
1771, February 28. To be postponed until final orders are
received touching these lands."
If any " final orders " were received previously to the 3d
of April following, they are not discoverable ; but on that day
Gov. Dunmore issued the patent of Socialborough, the survey
7
82 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
of which had previously been ordered, as will appear from the
return of the Surveyor-General which has already been given.
This grant, made in violation of the King s prohibitory order,
covered forty-eight thousand acres, and was made to forty-eight
grantees, each of whom was to have one thousand acres ; but
a few days after the patent was issued, the majority of them
conveyed their shares to a few speculators of New York city
for whose benefit the grant had really been made, and who
were the prime movers in all the suits instituted to eject the
New Plampshire claimants.* James Duane, a famous New
York attorney, claimed fifteen thousand acres of this land,
Goldsbrow Banyar and William Walton each four thousand,
and John Kelley claimed six thousand.
The New Hampshire settlers did not seriously object to
being transferred to the jurisdiction of New York, and so long
as the officials of that province confined themselves to their
legitimate duties they were duly respected; but when they
went beyond this and attempted to take private property, for no
other reason than that the title to it had been obtained from
the government of New Hampshire, they encountered such
treatment as is indicated in the following :
" LETTER FROM WILLIAM COCKBURN TO JAMES DUANE.
ALBANY, 10th Sept., 1771.
SIR Your favor of the 16th August and the 629 of
Mr. Robert Yates I received on my return here after being the
second time stopped in Socialborough, by James Mead and
Asa Johnson in behalf of the settlers in Rutland and Pittsford.
I have run out lots from the south bounds to within about two
miles of the Great Falls. I found it in vain to persist any
longer, as they were resolved at all events to stop us ; there
have been many threats pronounced against me. Gideon Cooley,
who lives by the Great Falls, headed the party who was to
* Early Hist. Vt., p. 168,
83
shoot me. ****** a fellow of no residence and
one * * * * * O f Tinmouth were the principal, and
jour acquaintance Nathaniel Allen, was in the woods with
another party, blacked and dressed like Indians as I was
informed. Several of my men can prove Townsend and Train
threatening my life, that I should never return home, &c.,
though they denied every thing to me. The inhabitants denied
that they knowed any tiling about these men, though the people
of Dunham assured me that those men pretended to murder us
if we did not go from thence, and advised me by all means
to desist from running through, some said they were sorry
for it as it might hurt them all settling with the Proprie
tors easily. After being stopped I found I would not be
allowed to go to the northward, as they suspected I would
begin again, and therefore intended to convey us to Danby,
and so on to the southward, and by all accounts, we should not
have been very kindly treated. I was advised by no means to
go that road my provision I was obliged to bring out by
Major Slones. On my assuring them I would survey no more
in those parts, we were permitted to proceed along the Crown
Point road with the hearty prayers of the women as we passed
never to return. We came off all safe, with the loss of one
horse and two more in bad condition. Spencer s return I made
out at Albany Court and sent to New York I then informed
you of the manner and returned. You know well
Mr. Golden will not allow me to make return before they are
lodged with him. I have not been able to fix Kier s location
and Danby people have been continually on the watch all way
some I am told at and near their corner since I have been
here, several have visited us asking questions and no doubt to
be able to know us should we venture within their territories,
and at the same time warning us of the dangers should we be
found there. Marsh s survey is likewise undone as I did not
care to venture myself that way. I shall be able to inform,
84: HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
you more particularly at meeting and am sir, your most ob t
serv t,
WILLIAM COCKBURN."
The New York patentees as we have noticed already-
called for the surrender of the New Hampshire charters of .
Pittsford and Kutland, and required all who held lands under
those charters to take new titles from them, for which large
fees were demanded, but the demand not being complied with,,
they proceeded to dispose of these lands to other parties, who,
in attempting to locate them, met with no very encouraging
success, as will appear from the following :
" LETTER FROM BENJAMIN SPENCER TO JAMES DUAlsrE.
DURHAM, April, 1772.
SIR : The people of Socialborough decline buying of their
lands, saving four or five, and say they will defend them by
force. The people that settled under Lydius title, and those
that have come in this spring have agreed for their lands. The
New Hampshire people strictly forbid any farther survey being
made of Socialborough, or any settlements being made only
under the New Hampshire title ; which riotous spirit has pre
vented many inhabitants settling this spring. You may ask
why I do not proceed against them in a due course of law, but
you need not wonder when I tell you that it has got to that the
people go armed and guards set in 1;he roads, to examine people
what their business is, and where they are going and if they do
not give a particular account, they are beaten in a most shame-
full manner, and it has got to that they say they will not be
brought to justice by this province, and bid defiance to any
authority in the province. We are threatened at distance of
being turned off our lands or our crops destroyed I have this
opportunity of writing, by way of Major Skeene, and have not
opportunity of informing you of the number of lots and men s
DEPOSITION OF CHARLES BUTTON. 85
names that you may draw the deeds, but will send them the
first opportunity, as it will take some time to view the lots and
give a particular account. I hope the survey of our patent
may not be stopped on account of this tumult, as we shall labor
under a great disadvantage if our lands are not divided this
spring. I look upon it to be dangerous for Mr. Cockburn to
come into the country until these people can be subdued, he
may come here by way of Major Skeene but he cannot do any
work only what he doth for us, if he attempts any further, I
am afraid of the consequences, but if he does not care to come,
I desire that some person may be employed hereabout that we
may know where our land is, which I should be glad you would
inform me of, as soon as posssble. One Ethan Allen hath
brought from Connecticut twelve or fifteen of the most black
guard fellows he can get, double armed in order to protect him,
and if some method is not taken to subdue the towns of Ben-
nington, Shaftsbury, Arlington, Manchester and those people
in Socialborough, and others scattered about the woods, there
had as good be an end of government.
I am with all due regard,
Your humble servant,
BENJAMIN SPENCEK."*
The estimation in which the New York officials were
held by the New Hampshire settlers, may be seen in the fol
lowing :
DEPOSITION OF CHAELES BUTTON.
County of Cumberland, ss. Charles Button of a place
called Durham on the bank of Otter Creek on the west side of
the Green Mountains, in the county of Charlotte and province
of New York, of full age duly sworn on the holy Evangelists
of Almighty God deposeth and saith, that the deponent with
others to the number of thirty-five families, seated themselves
upon the said tract, and hold a title derived from the province of
* Benjamin Spencer was one of the earliest settlers of Clarendon, purchased his
land under a title derived from New York, was a Tory in the Revolution, and in
1777, sought protection under Burgoyue at Ticonderoga and died there soon, after
his arrival.
86 HISTORY OF PITTSFOED.
New York, that the deponent has lived with his family upon the
same track since the 8th day of February, 1768, has cleared and
improved a large farm, built a good dwelling house with other
outhouses, and was lately offered a thousand pounds current
money of New York for his improvements. That about eleven
o clock night on Saturday the 20th instant, as the deponent is
informed and verily believes, Remember Baker, Ethan Allen,
Robert Cochrane and a number of other persons, armed with
guns, cutlasses, &c., came to the house of Benjamin Spencer Esq.
of said Durham who holds his farm under a title derived from
the government of New York, and break open the said house,
and took the said Spencer and carried him about two miles to
the house of Thomas Green of Kelso, and there kept him in
custody until Monday morning. The heads of the said rioters
then asked the said Spencer whether he would chose to be tried
at the house of Joseph Smith in said Durham, or at his the
said Spencer s own door. To which Spencer replied that he
was guilty of no crime, but if he must be tried he would choose
to have his trial at his own door; the rioters thereupon carried
the said Spencer to his own door and proceeded to his trial
before Seth Warner of Bennington ; the said Remember Baker,
Ethan Allen and Robert Cochrane who sat as Judges. That
said rioters charged the said Spencer with being a great friend
to the government of New York and had acted as a magistrate
of the county of Charlotte ; of which respective charges his
said Judges found him guilty, and passed sentence that he the
said Spencer s house should be burned to the ground, and that
he should declare that he would not for the future act as a
justice of the peace for the said County of Charlotte. Spencer
thereupon urged that his wife and children would be ruined,
and his store of dry goods and all his property wholly destroyed
if his house was burned. Warner then declared that Spencer s
house should not be wholly destroyed, that only the roof should
be taken off and put on again, provided Spencer would declare
that it was put on under the New Hampshire title and pur-
DEPOSITION OF CHARLES BUTTON. 87
chase, a right under the charter from the last mentioned
government. These several conditions Spencer was obliged to
comply with, upon which the rioters dismissed him. That a
party of the said rioters came to deponent s house on the night
of Saturday the 20th instant as the deponent is informed and
broke open the doors and sacked the house for the deponent
which they did not find, as he was gone to Crown Point to
take Stephen Weakly upon writs Issued against him, at the suit
of Samuel Green and one Sprague. That upon the deponent s
return home with the said Weakly in custody, another party of
the said rioters took the deponent obliged him to discharge the
said Weakly, and one Smith and others of the said rioters the
next day declared they would pull down Green s house, and
give him the Beach-seal (meaning they would flog him unless
he consented thereto) which he accordingly did. They then
obliged this deponent to give the said Weakly six shillings cur
rent money of New York, for taking him the said Weakly into
custody, and declaring for the debts due from him, the said
Weakly to the said Green and Sprague as aforesaid, and after
wards made this deponent promise, that he would never serve
as an officer of justice or constable to execute any precept under
the province of New York, and then gave him a certificate in
the words and figures following to wit :
" PITTSFOKD, Nov. 24th, 1773.
These are to satisfy all the Green Mountain Boys that
Charles Button has had his trial at Stephen Mead s, and this is
his discharge from us.
PELEG SUNDERLING,
BENJAMIN COOLEY."
Which certificate they declared would be a sufficient permit
or pass among the New Hampshire claimants or Green Moun
tain Boys and further the deponent saith not.
CHARLES BUTTON."
Sworn before me this 30th day of Nov., 1773.
NATH L STONE."
88 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
One Jacob Marsh, a resident of Socialborough, who held
the commission of Justice of the Peace under the government
of New York, and had rendered himself particularly obnoxious
to the New Hampshire j settlers on account of his agency in
some ejectment suits, on returning from Albany to his resi
dence was arrested at Arlington by order of Seth Warner and
Remember Baker, and brought before a tribunal, consisting of
Samuel Tubbs, Nathaniel Spencer and Philip Perry. The
prisoner was charged with having purchased lands under a title
derived from the government of New York, and discouraging
settlers from settling in the province under titles derived from
New Hampshire, and further of having accepted a commission
of Justice of the Peace in the county of Charlotte, and having
qualified and acted as a justice of the peace in pursuance
thereof.
The case having been heard, the court returned a verdict
to the following effect : " That the prisoner was not to encour
age any settlements by persons settling under titles derived
from the government of New York, but to discourage such
settlements, not to discourage any persons settling under titles
derived from grants made by the government of New Hamp
shire, and not to act as a justice of the peace, by virtue of a
commission under the government of New York, upon pain of
having his house burned and reduced to ashes, and his person
punished at their pleasure."
The prisoner was then discharged and furnished with the
following certificate :
ARLINGTON, Nov. 25, 1773.
This may certify that Jacob Marsh hath been examined and
had on fair trial, so that our mob shall not meddle further with
him as long as he behaves.
SAMUEL TUBES,
Teste, NATHANIEL SPENCER,
SETH WARNER. PHILIP PERRY.*
* Doc. Hist. N. Y., Vol. IV., p. 863.
STATEMENT OF JACOB MAESH BEACH SEAL, 89
This same Jacob Marsh in a deposition dated December,
1773, stated that "when he arrived at his own house he found
that the same mob or company had been to his house in his
absence and taken off the roof of the house and that he the
deponent was informed and verily believes that only the inter
position of some of his friends prevented them from burning
the roof of the house after it was taken off ; that they destroyed
several bushels of corn, split a number of boards and did him
some other damages. That he the deponent has been informed
that John Smith and Peleg Sunderland (both of Socialborough)
were the captains or leaders of the mob who had been at his
house, and Benjamin Cooley and one Sylvanus Brown their
lieutenants or next in command and misclnef and that the
company there with them amounted to forty or fifty armed
men. And the deponent further saith that he*verily believes,
that if he should act in his office as justice of the peace in the
county of Charlotte his effects^ and property would be destroyed
and that his life would be in danger."*
It would appear that the Green Mountain Boys in their
dealings with the Yorkers as they were called were governed
by a code of laws enacted by their own conventions, were care
ful to have all these faithfully executed, and were ready to mete
-out to any offending Yorker such punishment as they consid
ered due to the quality of his crime. One of these penalties
occasionally, though not often, inflicted was the application of
the beach sealj so termed in allusion to the great seal of New
Hampshire, affixed to the grants made by the governor of that
province, of which the beach rod well laid on the naked backs,
of the Yorkers and their adherents, was humorously considered
a confirmation 4
There is one well authenticated instance of the infliction of
* Doc. Hist, of N. T., Vol. IV., p. 804.
t Allen defines this to be " the chastisement of the New York claimants, with
the twigs of the wilderness, the growth of the land they coveted."
JSlade, State Papers, p. 36.
90 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
this mode of punishment within the limits of- Pittsford. It
appears that a New York surveyor with several assistants was
sent into the north part of Socialborough to run out and locate
some land in that section of the township. Intelligence of their
appearance and object rapidly spread and in a few hours CoL
Cooley at the head of a party of the Green Mountain Boys
was in rapid pursuit. They were overtaken and arrested in
the swamp a little north of the present residence of Ira Hitch
cock, on land then owned by Stephen Jenner, and taken before
three men who acted as judges and after going through the
forms of a trial the verdict was to the effect " that the head
surveyor should have the application of the beach seal and that
his assistants should be discharged on condition that they pledge
themselves to offend no more." The surveyor was accordingly
tied to a tree, mud the beach withe applied to his naked back,
or as the Colonel was accustomed to phrase it was given a
"sound drubbing." The culprit was then warned that if he
repeated the offence the punishment would be death.*
The last instance of the infliction of this punishment so
far as we can learn was on the person of Benjamin Hough a
noted New York partisan who resided in the south part of
Socialborough. Hough accepted a commission of justice under
the New York government, and took a very active part in insti
tuting suits of ejectment against the New Hampshire claimants.
He was formally served with a copy of the resolution of the
Manchester* convention by which it was declared that " whoever
should in the then unsettled state of affairs presume to take a
commission of justice of the peace from the New York govern
ment should be deemed an enemy to their county and the
common cause." To this he paid no attention but continued
his obnoxious career till he was siezed by a body of his neigh-
* We have searched all the records of that period, to which we have had access,
to find some account of this transaction, but without success. It is here pub
lished, on the authority of those who have frequently heard Col. Cooley give an
account of it, and no one acquainted with him would doubt his veracity.
PUNISHMENT OF HOUGH. 91
bors among whom were Ebenezer Lyman, Benjamin Cooley
and Stephen Mead, and conveyed .to Sunderland and there
tried for his offences by a court consisting of Ethan Allen,
Seth Warner, Kobert Cochran, Peleg Sunderland, James Mead^
Gideon Warren and Stephen Sawyer. He was found guilty
and sentenced " to be tied to a tree, and receive two hundred
lashes on the naked back, and as soon as he should be able,
should depart from the New Hampshire grants, and not return
again, till his majesty s pleasure should be known in the premi
ses, on pain of receiving five hundred lashes."
This sentence was immediately put into execution and then,
as a protection against further punishment, he was furnished
with the following certificate :
" SUNDEKLAND, January 30, 1775. This may certify to the
inhabitants of the New Hampshire grants that Benjamin
Hough hath this day received the full punishment for his
crimes committed heretofore against this country and our
inhabitants are ordered to give him the said Hough free and
unmolested passport towards the city of New York, or to the
westward of our grants, he behaving as becometh.
Given under our hands the day and date afcresaid.
ETHAN ALLEN,
SETH WAKNER."
Hough departed the next day for New York, where he
made an affidavit before Chief-Justice Horsmanden, giving a
minute account of the cruel and abusive manner in which he
had been treated ; and he petitioned the council for protection
against the rioters.*
While this affair was under consideration intelligence was
received of an alarming insurrection against the government of
New York, on the east side of the Green Mountains in the
county of Cumberland, which resulted in the breaking up of
* See Doc. Hist. N. Y., Vol. IV., p. 897.
92 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
the session of the county court and the arrest and imprison
ment of the sheriif and judges.
The British ministry had for some time been maturing a
plan for obtaining a revenue from the American colonies. In
pursuance of that plan numerous acts of parliament were
passed, so oppressive in their nature as to alienate the affections,
of the colonists from the government of Great Britain. In
September, 1774, a congress of delegates from twelve of the
colonies assembled at Philadelphia, and among other acts.
" resolved to suspend all commercial intercourse with the
mother country, until the obnoxious acts of parliament should
be repealed." This resolution, with other measures of resist
ance, was embodied in the form of an agreement, and sub
scribed by all the members present, and recommended for
adoption by all the colonies.
One of the articles of agreement was that they "would
have no trade, commerce, dealings or intercourse whatever with
any colony or province, in North America, who should not
accede to, or should violate the association, but would hold
them unworthy the rights of freemen and as inimical to the
liberties of ^.icir country."
These measures, recommended by Congress, were approved
and adopted by all the colonies except New York. The major
ity of the people of Cumberland .county, approving of the
action of Congress, very naturally felt that they would be
justified in renouncing allegiance to a government which they
had long disliked, and which had now violated the decrees of
Congress, and had, thereby, according to the language of that
Congress, become "unworthy the rights of freemen."
In the meantime the excitement, growing out of the arbi
trary demands of the British ministry, intensified by the menac
ing attitude of the King s troops in Boston, became so furious
as to disarrange the machinery of all the colonial governments.
The courts of justice which had been held under the royal
ACT FOB SUPPRESSING KIOTS. 93
authority, were either suspended or broken up, and a general
stagnation pervaded all departments of human industry. A
term of court for Cumberland county was appointed to be held
at Westminster, on the 14th of March, and as it was known
that the members of the court were advocates of the King s,
measures, and opposed to the Eesolves of the Continental Con
gress, the people felt it their duty to resist their authority and
prevent the holding of such an obnoxious court, and hence
the outbreak to which allusion has been made.*
Information of this Westminster tragedy was communicated
to the New York Assembly, by Lieut.-Gov. Colden, together
with the papers relating to the Hough affair, and that body was
urged to take effectual measures for protecting His Majesty s
suffering and obedient subjects, and for vindicating the honor
and dignity of the government. After an animated debate the
Assembly resolved "that this house will make provisions for
granting to his majesty the sum of one thousand pounds to be
applied in enabling and assisting the inhabitants of the county
of Cumberland to reinstate and maintain the due administra
tion of justice and for the suppression of riots in said county."
This resolution was followed by another offering a reward,
in addition to one that had already been offered, for apprehend
ing and confining in any jail in the colony certain prominent
"rioters." Here terminated the efforts of the colonial govern
ment of New York to exercise jurisdiction over the people of
the New Hampshire Grants, as the commencement of the rev
olutionary struggle, on the 19th of April following, rendered
all further efforts useless.
Allusion has been made to certain conventions which were
held at different times during the period we have been contem
plating. These had their origin in a common necessity. The
inhabitants of the several townships chartered by New Hamp-
*For a full account of this transaction see " History of Eastern Vermont."
94: HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
ehire, as soon as they became sufficiently numerous, organized
themselves into municipal communities and adopted such rules
and regulations as were essential for their local government ;
and as their land titles began to be called in question, town
committees were chosen, whose duty it was to attend to matters
of public interest, and especially to the defence of their prop
erty against the New York claimants.
The committees of the several towns occasionally met in
general convention to consult upon matters of common interest
and to adopt some general and uniform measures for their pro
tection. As few records of these conventions have been
preserved we know little of their proceedings ; it is certain,
however, that their decrees were regarded and obeyed as laws.
At first the execution of these laws appears to have been left
to individuals or local communities, but as the powers with
which they had to contend became more formidable, a military
organization wider in scope was resorted to. This consisted
of several companies of infantry properly equipped and officered,
which was held in readiness to repel invasion or to assist in
executing the laws of the conventions. The members of this
military corps assumed the name of Green Mountain Boys, in
derision or defiance of a threat said to have been made by Gov.
Tryon, that he would drive the rebellious settlers into the
Green Mountains. This name soon became an honorable appel
lation, and is associated with some of the most brilliant military
achievements in the early history of the country.
Whatever expense was incurred in executing the decrees of
the conventions appears to have been apportioned among the
towns represented therein. Thus in a convention held at Man
chester on the 21st of October, 1772, Jehiel Hawley and James
Breckenridge were appointed agents to repair to London and
" solicit their petition " to His Majesty for a confirmation of their
claims under the grants from New Hampshire.* That the
*Doc. Hist. N. Y., Vol. IV., p. 802.
PETITION FOR COMPENSATORY LANDS. 95
expense of this mission was apportioned among the towns rep
resented will appear from the following extract from the jour
nal of the General Assembly of Vermont, in October, 1786 j
" A petition signed by Gershom Beach, setting forth that
he gave his note in November, 1772, for 75 New York money,
being the quota of money for the towns of Kutland, Pittsford
and Clarendon, to defray the expense of Messrs. Hawley and
Breckenridge to England to obtain a confirmation of the New
Hampshire grants, and that the town of Rutland have not paid
their quota of said money, and that he is called upon to pay
said note ; and praying that he may be authorized by law to
collect said money to pay the aforesaid debt; was read and
referred to a committee of three to take the same under con
sideration, state facts and make a report. Members chosen Mr.
J. Smith, Mr. Cosseen and Mr. Allen."
The early settlers of Pittsford, having a common interest
in establishing and maintaing their title to the soil, acted with
a good degree of unanimity, in all their efforts to resist the
establishment of any claim under the New York patent of
Socialborough. But there were a few non-resident Proprietors
under the New Hampshire grant, who were quite willing to
relinquish their claim, on condition that they could have secured
to them a tract of land of equal value in some other part of
the royal domain, as will appear from the following petition :
To the Honourable Cadwallader Golden Esquier his Majesty s
Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief of the Prov
ince of New York, and the Territories depending thereon
in America.
The humble Petition of Samuel Ashley of Winchester in the
Province of New Hampshire, Esquire, and his Associates,
Sheweth,
That your Petitioners formerly obtained from the Gov
ernment of New Hampshire a Grant of a Township called
Shrewsbury, and part of the Township of Pittsford, to the
"96 HISTOKY OF PITTSFOED.
Westward of Connecticut River, and that a controvers} 7 arising
between that Province and New York respecting their Boun
dary, it was finally determined in Favour of the latter by a
Royal Decree of his Majesty in Privy Council dated the Twen
tieth Day of July, one Thousand seven Hundred and sixty-four.
That altho your Petitioners afterwards applied to Sir Henry
Moore, Baronet, formerly Governor of this Province in Council
for a confirmation of the said Township of Shrewsbury, and
part of the Township of Pittsford, and altho they at first
obtained a Resolution in their Favour, yet those lands were
afterwards granted to others.
That your Petitioners in the Month of April, One Thou
sand seven Hundred and Seventy-two, applied to his Excel
lency, Governor Try on for Lands in compensation for their
New Hampshire Claims, situate about fifteen miles to the East
ward of Lake Champlain in the County of Charlotte ; and his
Majesty s Council conceiving it highly equitable that a reason
able Recompense should be made to your Petitioners for their
Losses, were pleased to advise that a Grant should be passed
under .the Great Seal of this Province to your Petitioners
.agreeable to the Prayer of their Petition.
That your Petitioners have since at a very great Expence
procured a Survey and Return to be made of the said Com
pensatory Lands, which is now in the hands of the Surveyor
General.
That such advice was given by his Majesty s said Council
in Favour of your Petitioners since the last Instructions to his
Excellency Governor Try on on the subject of the Lands for
merly claimed by New Hampshire was communicated to his
said Excellency, and that since that Period other Grants have
passed the seal in his said Excellency s Administration for
Lands lying within the District formerly claimed by New
Hampshire.
That tho the Lands so advised to be granted to and sur-
PETITION FOB COMPENSATORY LANDS. 97
veyed and returned for your Petitioners do lay within the said
District, yet no part thereof was ever Patented either under
New Hampshire or the French Government of Canada, but
always remained as it now does, vacant and vested in the
Crown.
That your Petitioners humbly conceive it would be a very
great Hardship, if in addition to the Misfortunes they have
already sustained in loosing the Lands Patented to them by
New Hampshire, they should now be doubly distressed by being
disappointed in a Compensation, which his present Excellency
Governor Try on, and his Majesty s Council thought so equita
ble, and this the more especially as in a Dependance on the
Stability and good faith of the Acts of this Government in
their Favour, your Petitioners have actually expended and dis
bursed large Sums of Money in Discovering, Surveying and
laying out the said Lands in a very remote Part of the Province.
That your Petitioners humbly hope that their Hard Case
will be conceived to be within the equity of his Majesty s
Instructions for granting such Lands as are already advised to
be granted to and actually surveyed for his Majesty s subjects
on the Terms hitherto usual.
That since Granting the said last mentioned Petition several
of your Petitioners associates therein named are either dead
or removed out of this Province (to wit) Simon Stevens, John
Levine and Samuel Stevens.
Your Petitioners do therefore most humbly pray that your
Honour will be pleased to order Letters Patent to be
passed the Great Seal for Granting to your Petitioners
the Lands so advised to be granted to and surveyed for
them, and laid down on the Map annexed to Colonel
Josiah Willard, and John Wigrains Petition, under the
Quit Rents and conditions hitherto usual ; That the
same may be erected into a Township by the name of
with the usual Privileges, and that instead
8
98 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
of the names of tlie before mentioned Persons who are
so dead or removed the following may be inserted in
such Letters Patent, (to wit) Samuel Roberts, William
Crossley, & John Ryan.
And your Petitioners shall pray &ce.
SAMUEL ASHLEY
For himself and his
Associates.
Upon the back of this petition was the following endorse
ment :
"1772, May 2d, referred to a committee.
1774, May 6th, read in committee, and referred to his
majesty s power to counsel, being restrained by the King s
instructions."
Shrewsbury was first granted by the Governor of New
Hampshire to Samuel Ashley and his associates. The most
of the same territory was afterwards covered by the New
York patents of Newry and Durham. Mr. Ashley s name is
not found among the original grantees of Pittsford, so that
whatever interest he had in this township, must have been
obtained by subsequent purchase. It is quite likely, however,
that some of Ashley s associates were among the original
grantees of Pittsford, but we have no means of knowing, how
many, nor who among them became Proprietors by purchase.
REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 99
CHAPTEK IY.
REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
Capture of Ticonderoga and Crown Point ; Expedition to
Canada; Convention of the New Hampshire Grants;
Battle of Hubbardton; Pittsford Company Organized;
Fort Mott ; Pittsford men taken prisoners.
The Disturbances growing out of the conflicting claims to
the New Hampshire Grants, in which the inhabitants of Pitts-
ford had been compelled to take part, subsided somewhat for
the time being, in consequence of public attention being directed
to the more exciting subject of a war with England. However
much of personal interest the early settlers of these grants had
in an equitable adjustment of the long enduring land-title con
troversy, they were willing to postpone further proceedings in
relation to it, in order that they might the better co-operate
with their countrymen, in resisting the unjust claims of the
British government. And when, on the 19th of April, 1775,
the impending war was opened by the conflict at Lexington,
when the last flickering hope of a peaceful solution of the diffi
culties with England was extinguished, and the colonies were
hastily preparing for the struggle, every nerve being strained
to its utmost tension the people of these grants being in full
sympathy with the New England colonies from which they had
emigrated, espoused most heartily the common cause and made
the needful preparations for aiding in its defence.
It had long been foreseen by the colonies, that in the event
of a war with the mother country, it would be very essential
for them to possess the important fortresses of Ticonderoga and
100 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
Crown Point. Accordingly on receiving the first intelligence
of the battle of Lexington, a number of men in Connecticut
procured the necessary funds and set on foot an expedition for
the capture of these military posts. On arriving at Bennington
they were joined by Col. Ethan Allen who eagerly enlisted in
the enterprise and together they proceeded to Castleton, where
a council of the committee of war was held to decide upon
future operations. It was thought best to send Capt. Noah
Phelps, of Simsbury, Conn., to Ticonderoga to examine into
its situation and condition and make report to his associates.
He passed over the lake in a boat, in the rustic garb of a
farmer, and put up at a house near the fort for the night, where
several of the officers were collected for a supper party. He
listened to their conversation respecting the commotions in the
colonies, and the defenceless condition of the post, without
taking any apparent interest in what they said.
In the morning he gained admission into the fort for the
purpose of being shaved, and having learned the number of
men in the garrison and ascertained that their ammunition was
damaged, he engaged the boatman to take him across the lake,
and returned to Castleton where he reported what he had
seen and heard. Allen immediately dispatched Maj. Beach as
a messenger to collect men to meet his party at a place since
known as Hand s Point, in the town of Shoreham. Beach went
on foot to Eutland, Pittsford, Neshobe, (now Brandon,) Mid-
dlebury, Whiting and Shoreham, making a circuit of sixty
miles in twenty-four hours.*
In passing through Pittsford he called at the residece of
Capt. Benjamin Cooley, to whom he delivered the message of
Col. Allen. Capt. Cooley at once left his field, seized his gun,
and taking with him Isaac Buck, Jr., John Deming, Hopkins
Rowley, and Ephraim Stevens, proceeded to the appointed
* Hist, of Shoreham.
EXPEDITION TO TICONDEKOGA. 101
place of rendezvous. Allen and his men took the old Crown
Point road* in Sudbury, and came to Lake Champlain, at a
place since called Hand s Cove, where the men lay concealed
from the view of the enemy in a ravine, and where they were
joined by the recruits raised by Maj. Beach, among whom
were Capt. Cooley and his Pittsford boys. Allen finding here
no adequate means of conveying his men across the lake, sent
messengers to Bridport and Addison to procure boats. They
reached Bridport in the night, and made their object known to
a Mr. Stone, in whose chamber a couple of young men were
sleeping. He awakened them, when they arose and having
received instructions proceeded to the fort at Crown Point and
persuaded a negro who had charge of the boats belonging to
the garrison to row them as far as Shoreham, where they pre
tended there was to be a squirrel hunt the next day, promising
him as a compensation a jug of rum. The boats did not arrive
at the rendezvous until towards morning of the next day. There
were two hundred and seventy men in all, two hundred and
thirty of whom were Green Mountains Boys, all eager to
embark and share in the perils and honors of that daring enter
prise. The boats, however, were insufficient to carry all. Only
eighty-three of the two hundred and seventy passed over, leav
ing one hundred and eighty-seven behind. Those remaining
expected to be sent for immediately after the landing of the
first party, but as they had to row nearly two miles before they
reached the shore on the west side of the lake a little north of
Willow Point, it began to be light, and Allen therefore deter
mined not to await the arrival of the rest of the men from the
other side, but to push on immediately to the attack. They
set forward under the guidance of a young man named Beman,
about eighteen years old who had spent much of his time at
the fort, and was well acquainted with all the passages and
buildings, including the quarters of the officers and soldiers.
* The pilot led the company through the wilderness by imitating the notes of the
cuckoo.
102 HISTORY OF PITTSFOED.
Allen and Arnold* followed by their men proceeded on through
a covered passage into the fort, under the direction of Beman.
The sentinel, unaware of their approach had not given the
alarm, but at sight of the enemy he instinctively snapped his
gun at Allen, who parried the weapon with his sword, and
struck a blow at the soldier s head which inflicted a wound that
would probably have killed him, if the force of the blow had not
been abated by collision with a comb which was in the soldier s
hair. Allen pushed on to the apartment occupied by Capt. De
La Place who was yet in bed, and demanded the immecjiate sur
render of the fort in the name of powers, for one of which the
British commander had little respect however much he might
have had for the other.
"With such celerity had the men under Allen entered
and paraded themselves in the open area within the fort, while
the soldiers were yet sleeping in their barracks, that aroused
thus suddenly from their slumbers, no opportunity was offered
them to organize, and resistance in such circumstances being
impracticable was not for a moment to be thought of. In a
few minutes the officers and men were paraded on the square
embraced within the walls and surrendered themselves, forty-
four in number, to the hero o f the Green Mountains."!
In a short time the men who had been left on the opposite
side of the lake, under Col. Warner, went over and joined
their comrades in celebrating a triumph achieved without the
sacrifice of a single life. On the same day Warner was sent
with a detachment of men to take Crown Point, which being
garrisoned by a sergeant and twelve men only, was surrendered
without resistance. Amos Callendar was also sent with a small
party of men to take the fort at the head of Lake -George
which was easily accomplished.
Thus, on the 10th day of May, 1775, was achieved by the
* Arnold had joined Allen at Castleton.
t History of Shoreham.
EEPULSE AT ST. JOHNS. 103
colonies the first important conquest of the Revolutionary war,
a conquest in which the citizens of Pittsford felt a deep interest
and, in the honors of which, they are entitled to an humble
share, inasmuch as Capt. Cooley and his recruits were among
the first to cross the lake, to enter the covered passage and to
parade upon the square within the fort. A few days afterwards
Allen and Arnold formed a plan to take the King s sloop that
lay in the harbor of St. Johns, and to attack the garrison. The
first part of the plan was easily accomplished, but their attack
upon the garrison was repulsed, and the assailants were obliged
to retire. The capture of the King s sloop which took place
on the 17th of May, gave the captors the complete command
of the lake, and thereby, for a time, protected the settlers
upon the New Hampshire grants against the incursions of the
enemy from the north. The colony of Connecticut, by the
request of Continental Congress, and also of the Congress of
New York, sent a regiment of one thousand men to garrison
and maintain the posts at Ticonderoga and Crown Point, and
on its arrival there, early in June, Col. Allen delivered up his
authority to Col. Benjamin Hinman, the commander of the
Connecticut forces, when the men from the New Hampshire
grants who had been collected for a brief period, and a tempo
rary purpose, were discharged and permitted to return to their
homes.
At the time of this, the first call upon Pittsford for troops
to serve in the war of the Revolution, there were within the
limits of the township, thirty-eight families, and, including the
children, about one hundred and ninety-five individuals, who
were nearly all loyal to the cause of their country. But they
shared the ill feeling subsisting between the people of the New
Hampshire Grants and the governing authorities of New York,
to which province they nominally belonged, and were unwilling
to enter the military service unless they could do this inde
pendently of the government they so much detested. But the
104 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
Green Mountain Boys having established a reputation for
patriotism and bravery, were urged to enter the field, and
arrangements were made by which they could do this, as an
independent corps, and under officers of their own selection.
They were organized under the direction of Gen. Schuyler who
had been appointed a Major General and assigned to the com
mand of the northern frontier. The General s head-quarters
for a time were at Ticonderoga.
The officers of the Yermont battalion chosen at a conven
tion of town committees held at Dorset, were as follows :
Setli Warner, Lieut.- Colonel.
Samuel SafFord, Major.
Captains Wait Hopkins, Oliver Potter, John Grant,
William Fitch, Gideon Brownson, Micah Tail, Heman Allen.
First Lieutenants John Fassett, Ebenezer Allen, Barna-
bus Barnum, Tille Blakely, Ira Allen, Gideon Warren, David
Galusha.
Second Lieutenants John Nobles, James Claghorn, John
Chipman, Nathan Smith, Jesse Sawyer, Joshua Stanton, Philo
Hard.
Early in June, Col. Allen urged upon the Continental Con
gress the policy of an immediate invasion of Canada, and after
about three months delay, an expedition was fitted out for this
purpose. But Gen. Schuyler s health not permitting him to
continue in active command on the northern frontier, the
American forces were led by Gen. Richard Montgomery, who,
on the 17th of September, laid siege to St. Johns, a fortified
post near the outlet of Lake Champlain. He was soon joined
by the Green Mountain Boys under the command of Col.
Warner. The Colonel, with a portion of his men, was sent to
the St. Lawrence, in the vicinity of Montreal, to watch the
movements of the enemy. Montgomery pushed the siege of
St. Johns, which was defended by six or seven hundred men,
who made a brave and protracted resistance in the hope of
INVASION OF CANADA. 105
""being soon relieved by Gen. Carlton, the Governor of Canada.
Carlton was exerting himself to the utmost for their relief, and
collecting about eight hundred men, consisting of the militia
of Montreal, some Canadians, a few regulars, and some Indians,
he embarked them from Montreal to cross the St. Lawrence
and land at Longuiel. Their movements were watched from
the opposite shore by Col. Warner, who with about three hun
dred Green Mountain Boys and some troops from New York,
prepared for their approach. As they came near the south
shore, Warner and his men opened upon them a well directed
and incessant fire of nmsketry and grape-shot, which threw
them into great confusion, and they retired in disorder and
gave up the attempt. This decided the fate of St. Johns, for
the commander of that post, on hearing of the defeat of Carlton,
well understood that he could receive no relief, and as he had
little prospect of being able to defend the place much longer,
he decided to surrender the garrison prisoners of war, and on
the third day of November they marched out of the works
and laid down their arms. Carlton, having been repulsed,
retired to Montreal, and Warner, to confine him there, pro
ceeded to erect a battery at the mouth of the Sorel, which
should command the passage of the St. Lawrence ; but Carlton
escaped and marched for Quebec only the day preceding the
arrival of Montgomery, who took possession of Montreal with
out opposition. Warner s regiment thus acted an important
part in the reduction of St. Johns and Montreal, but having
served as volunteers and being too miserably clothed to endure
a winter campaign in that northern latitude, they were honora
bly discharged on the 20th of November and returned to their
homes. Leaving a small garrison at Montreal, Montgomery
hastened to Quebec to join Arnold who had reached that city
by a march through the wilderness, which was memorably bold
in conception and daring in execution. The Generals made a
simultaneous assault upon the fortifications at different points
106 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
which, however, signally failed, and the troops, weakened by
disaster, were compelled to retire in discouragement and
gloom.
Upon the death of Montgomery the command in Canada
devolved upon Gen. Wooster, then at Montreal. This officer
made every effort to reinforce Arnold in the vicinity of Quebec,
and to garrison strongly all the military posts in his possession
within the province. To do this he was obliged to call upon
the colonies for a generous supply of men and provisions. On
the 6th of January, 1776, he wrote to Col. Warner for aid,
and after mentioning the misfortunes at Quebec he says: "I
have not time to give you all the particulars, but this much will
show you that in consequence of this defeat our present pros
pect in this country is rendered very dubious, and unless we
can be quickly reinforced perhaps they may be fatal, not only
to us who are stationed here, but also to the colonies in general ;
as in my opinion the safety of the colonies, especially the fron
tiers, very greatly depends upon keeping possession of this
country. ****** You, sir, and the valiant Green
Mountain corps are in our neighborhood. You all have arms,
and I am confident ever stand ready to lend a helping hand to
your brethren in distress, therefore let me beg of you to raise
as many men as you can, and somehow get into this country,
and stay with us till we can have relief from the colonies. You
will see that proper officers are appointed under you, and both
officers and privates will receive the same pay as the continental
troops. It will be well for your men to set out as soon as they
can be collected. **********j can ^^
hope that the people will make a push to get into this country,
and I am confident I shall see you here with your men in a very
short time."* Warner, in response to this request, issued a call for
troops, and a regiment soon gathering around him he set out for
Canada, and was among the first to join Arnold before Quebec.
* Early History of Vermont.
RETREAT FROM CANADA. 107
But the American soldiers were poorly prepared to endure
a winter campaign in that northern climate. Not having com
fortable barracks, clothing or provisions, their sufferings were
severe, and to add to their dismay, the small-pox* broke out
among them and was carrying destruction through the camp.
Among those who fell victims to this loathsome disease, was
Isaac Buck, Sen., of Pittsford. The state of affairs being such,
Arnold could do little more than maintain the blockade of the
river and cut off the supplies of the city. By the 5th of May
his forces were so much reduced, and their provisions so nearly
exhausted that a council of war was called, and, in view of
their weakened condition, and the daily expected arrival from
England, of large reinforcements for the city, it was decided to
make a hasty retreat. Early the next morning the expected
British troops arrived at Quebec, and about noon Carlton
marched out of the city to give battle to the Americans, who,
abandoning their artillery, stores, baggage, and every incum-
brance, fled as fast as they could. Col. Warner s regiment
covered the retreat, and by his prudence, vigilance and perse-
verence, he brought off many who would otherwise have fallen
into the hands of the enemy. The retreat was continued from
post to post, with the British army in close pursuit ; and tow T -
ards the last of June the Americans reached Ticonderoga, a
few days after the main army had taken possession of that
fortress. As the continentals held the command of the lake
they did not apprehend any immediate molestation from the
enemy, and Warner s regiment, raised for a temporary purpose,
was discharged.
Hitherto the rank of Warner had been that of Lieutenant-
Colonel, and his corps had been employed only for temporary
purposes, but his services and those of his men were so highly
appreciated that on the 5th of July, the day after the declara-
* This disease was given to the soldiers by a girl, who came into the American
camp from the hospital in Quebec.
108 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
tion of independence, Congress resolved to organize in Yermont
a regiment of regular troops for permanent service, and this
regiment was to be under command of officers who had served
in Canada. Seth Warner was appointed Colonel, and Samuel
Safford, Lieutenant-Colonel.
No sooner had the Americans evacuated Canada than Gen.
Carlton commenced the construction of vessels at St. Johns,
with the design of securing the command of Lake Champlain.
And such were his facilities that in a few months he had a
naval force greatly superior to that of the Americans. Engage
ments between these hostile fleets, on the llth and 13th of
October, resulted in favor of the British, and Arnold, who had
command of the American flotilla, destroyed his vessels, and
with the most of his men retired to Ticonderoga. General
Gates, who was then in command at that post, supposing that
Carlton would attempt to follow up his success by an attack
upon the garrison, called earnestly for reinforcements. The
three regiments which had been organized on the w r est side of
the Green Mountains turned out en masse, and were soon with
Gates at Mount Independence. Carlton landed his forces at
Crown Point, where he remained about two weeks, but finding
the Americans strongly intrenched and prepared for an obsti
nate defence, he retired into Canada for the winter.
The militia which had been hastily called to the assistance
of Gates were discharged early in November, and the campaign
for the year 1776, in the northern department, was thus brought
to a close.
One pretty well authenticated incident, however, is related
as having taken place in the fall of this year, which may be
here appropriately noticed. The circumstances as we find them
narrated were as follows :
" It appears that John Fassett of Bennington and Jonathan
Fassett Of Pittsford had received commissions as Captains to
raise two companies of Green Mountain Boys for the defence
109
of the frontier settlements. The militia company of Rutland
was called together for the purpose of ascertaining if any of
them would volunteer to join the company of Jonathan Fassett.
It was agreed that the man who could procure the most volun
teers should receive a commission as Lieutenant. Two persons
offered themselves as candidates for that office ; one was
Thomas Lee, but the name of the second person is forgot
ten. The latter made an effort and succeeded in obtaining
one volunteer. Lee tried and immediately recruited some
fifteen or twenty, and was accordingly appointed Lieutenant.
There was at that time a small settlement on Onion River
in the town of Jericho. Their remote and exposed situation
caused considerable anxiety, and after consultation it was agreed
that Lieut. Lee and his men should go and assist them in
removing south, where they could be more conveniently pro
tected Accordingly, providing themselves with provisions
sufficient for ten days, and with no change of clothing, Lee
and his men left home for Jericho. Lee s Sergeants were Mott
and Martin, (the former of whom afterwards settled in Brandon
and became deacon of the Baptist church in that place,) his
waiter was Joshua Pratt of Rutland, then quite young, and
among his men were Wait Wright, Benjamin Johnson and
Nathan Pratt of Rutland. Among the settlers at Jericho was
a certain politic Deacon Rood, who, on the arrival of Lee
fully appreciating the benefit of living at home, and being well
protected by soldiers, as contrasted with the disadvantages of
removal to a land of strangers, however amicable slyly
departed for Ticonderoga, and there obtained from General
Gates as Continental Commander of the Northern Department,
orders not only for Lee to remain where he was, but also for
the Fassetts to come there with their companies. In obedience
to this order Lee remained at Rood s settlement about five
weeks, his men meanwhile managing as best they could, with
only one suit of clothes apiece. On the arrival of the Fassetts,
110 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
Lee and his men obtained a furlough and returned to refresh
themselves and recruit their wardrobes. With the Fassetts was
Matthew Lyon, as Lieutenant, then of Arlington, afterwards of
Fairhaven. The pleasures of life at Jericho with nothing but
interminable woods around them, and no society except what
was found in unseasonable calls from bears, wolves, Indians and
Tories soon began to be realized in all their captivation, by
the Fassetts, Lyon and company. Their inactivity and expo
sure were naturally dissatisfying, and they imparted their dis
satisfaction to each other. Presently they resolved to leave the
station, but this was a dangerous step. To desert his post would
be, to the officer, public disgrace and the loss of his commission,
and to the soldier it would be death. They finally arranged
that the soldiers should appear to mutiny and compel the
officers to leave ; and packing up, off they started for home.
Meanwhile, Lee and his men their furlough was about to
expire had started from Rutland and arrived at Brandon on
their return to Jericho, when news of the desertion reached
them. Lee, sending on his men, immediately crossed over to
Ticonderoga to inform Gen. Gates of the affair. Gates had
already heard of it and sent a Major with a corps of riflemen
to intercept the fugitives and bring them to Ti. At Middle-
bury the riflemen met Lee s men and a difficulty arose imme
diately. The Major s orders were to take the Fassetts and all
their men. Lee s men replied through their Sergeants Mott
and Martin, that they had done no wrong, and would not give
up their arms, or surrender as prisoners, to any power on earth ;
they should encamp where they were, as they had intended, but
if the riflemen would go on that night they would follow- them
the next morning, and to this the Major seeing there was no
other way without a fight consented. The Fassetts, Lyon
and their men were taken near New Haven and carried to Ti.
Here their swords were taken from the officers, and all thrown
into the guard-house. Lee obtained authority to release all he
NO FAVOR FEOM THE N. Y. GOVERNMENT. Ill
knew to be innocent, and the rest were court-martialed. The
fact having been elicited by the investigation the sentence
liberated all the soldiers and not only deprived the officers of
their commissions but rendered them ineligible to a reappoint-
ment in the continental service. The latter part of the sentence
of the officers Gates took off, saying that if anybody was d d
fool enough to appoint such cowards they might. The next
year Gen. St. Clair, as commander of the Northern Depart
ment, reversed the sentence of the officers. This transaction
excited general execration throughout the army, the officers
were hung in effigy, etc. The Fassetts never afterwards held
any commission in the continental service, though Ly on was
appointed Paymaster, and Lee received a commission as Cap
tain for three years and recruited a company of which Martin
was a Lieutenant."
As has already been intimated, the excitement produced by
the Revolutionary war caused a tempary suspension of the
controversy with the New York land claimants. And it was
hoped that the new government, which took the place of the
old, colonial government of New York, would be more favora
bly disposed towards the inhabitants of the New Hampshire
Grants, and recognize the justice of their claims. But it was
soon found that the New York land jobbers had a controlling
influence in the new government, and that no more could be
hoped from this than from the old government. The conven
tion of that State, by a unanimous vote, claimed all the quit
rents formerly due to the King of Great Britain. It was obvi
ous that for the Green Mountain people "to submit to the
claims of New York, was to give up the whole of their prop
erty, and to reduce themselves to a state of dependence and
beggary. To oppose her claims and power, would probably
bring on not only a contest with New York, but with Congress
also ; and to continue without some form of government was
impossible."
112 HISTOKY OF PITTSFOKD.
This was a difficult situation and gave rise to a variety of
opinions. Some, preferring New Hampshire, advocated a
return to that government ; others were inclme4 to submit to
New York ; but the more courageous were for establishing
an independent government.
To ascertain the prevailing opinion, and determine what
measures should be adopted for the defence of the district
against the common enemy, a convention was called to meet at
Dorset, on Wednesday, the 24th of July, 1776. In response
to this call thirty-two towns sent delegates to meet at the time
and place appointed. Pittsford was represented in that con
vention by Jonathan Fassett, Jonathan Rowley and Aaron
Parsons. The convention by an almost unanimous vote decided
that they could not consort with New York or New Hamp
shire; but "to convince the public of their readiness to join
in the common defence of the liberties of America they pub
lished and subscribed the following association, viz.:
"We the subscribers, inhabitants of the district of land
commonly called and known by the name of the New Hamp
shire Grants, do voluntarily and solemnly engage under all the
ties held sacred amongst mankind, at the risk of our lives and
fortunes, to defend by arms the United American States against
the hostile attempts of the British fleets and armies, until the
present unhappy controversy between the two countries shall
be settled."
Such associations had been entered into by members of
public bodies in the several colonies, and it had been recom
mended that they be also subscribed by their constituents.
Such an association had been adopted and recommended by
the committee of safety of New York, to be subscribed by the
people of that colony. The inhabitants of the New Hamp
shire Grants would not subscribe the New York association,
but they here adopted one of their own, and declared that
THE COVENANT. 113
"any persons within the district who should subscribe and
return any other association than the above to the committees
of safety for either of the counties in the province of New
York, should be deemed enemies to the common cause of the
New Hampshire Grants."
The convention then adjourned to meet at the same place
on Wednesday the 25th of September following.
The convention assembled agreeably to adjournment and
was attended by fifty-six delegates representing thirty-three
towns. Various measures preliminary to the formation of the
territory into a separate State were adopted, and such action
was taken as would enable them to furnish aid in the general
struggle against the common enemy. The contest with New
York in relation to their land titles was duly considered, and it
was unanimously voted "that no directions or laws of that
State should be accepted or obeyed." A covenant or compact
was subscribed by all the members and recommended for sig
nature by their constituents. This covenant omitting the
preamble was as follows, viz. :
"We the subscribers, inhabitants of that district of land
commonly called and known by the name of the New T Hamp
shire Grants, being legally delegated and authorized to transact
the public political affairs of the aforesaid district, for ourselves
and constituents, do solemnly covenant and engage that, for the
time being, we will strictly and regularly adhere to the several
resolves of this or a future convention, constituted on said
district by the free voice of the friends to American* liberties,
which shall not be repugnant to the resolves of the honorable
the Continental Congress, relative to the cause of America."
The town committees were directed "to see to it that the
association be forthwith signed by every individual male inhab
itant of each town from sixteen years old and upwards and that
the association thus signed be returned to Dr. Jonas Fay, clerk
of the convention, before its next sitting,"
9
114 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
At this convention " a committee of war, consisting of nine
members, was appointed, who were authorized to issue warrants
or commissions in the name of the convention to the several
field officers of the militia, and were invested with the general
superintendence of the military affairs of the district,"
"They were directed on sufficient notice of the Continental
Congress, or from the commander of the armies of the United
States, or on any sudden emergency, to order the militia to
march immediately to such part of the continent as might be
required."
After the transaction of some other business of minor
importance the convention adjourned "to meet at the Court
House in Westminster on Wednesday the 30th of October
then next."
When the convention reassembled the inhabitants of the
territory were in a state of great excitement and alarm in con
sequence of the destruction of the American naval force on
Lake Champlain, and the threatened attack of Carlton upon
Ticonderoga. A large proportion of the people having gone
to the defence of that fortress, the convention was very thinly
attended, and but little business was transacted. After a brief
session . the convention adjourned to meet again at the same
place on the third Wednesday of the ensuing January.
The convention assembled agreeably to adjournment on the
15th of January, 1777, and voted unanimously for a separate
and independent State, to be known as New Connecticut, and
a declaration to this effect was adopted and published.
The convention was then adjourned to meet at the meeting
house in Windsor, on the first Wednesday of June then next.
The declaration was presented to Congress on the 8th of
April, by a committee chosen for that purpose, together with a
petition, praying that the district might be ranked among the
free and independent American States, and delegates therefrom
admitted to seats in the Continental Congress. All this had
PROCEEDINGS OF CONVENTIONS. 115
been done in direct opposition to the government of New York,
and the influence of that State in Congress prevented a favora
ble consideration of it.
The convention of the New Hampshire Grants assembled
on Wednesday, the 4th day of June, and was very fully
attended, fifty townships being represented by seventy-two dele
gates. In the three preceding conventions Pittsford does not
appear to have been represented, but in the present convention
the delegate from this town was Jonathan Fassett. In the
course of the proceedings a. committee was appointed to draft
a constitution, and a resolution was passed recommending that
each town elect and send representatives to the convention
which was to meet at Windsor in the July following. A com
mittee was appointed to wait on the commander at Ticon-
deroga and consult with him respecting the regulations and
defence of the frontiers; and an act was passed appointing
Wednesday, the 18th of June, as a day of public fasting and
prayer, the first ever appointed in the State.
It has been stated that the New Hampshire Grants had
been declared a separate and independent State by the name
of New Connecticut, but it having come to the knowledge of
this convention that there was already a township by this name
on the Susquehanna river, it was unanimously resolved that the
New Hampshire Grants should ever thereafter be known and
called by the name of Vermont.
The convention adjourned to meet at the same place on
Wednesday, the 2d of July following.
On the 2d of July the convention met at Windsor and the
draft of a constitution was presented and read. While it was
under consideration the news of the evacuation of Ticonderoga
arrived which occasioned great alarm, as thereby the frontiers
of the State were exposed to the ravages of the enemy. But the
reading of the constitution, paragraph by paragraph, which was
then in progress, was continued to the end. The convention then
116 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
appointed a " Council of Safety" to act during its recess, and
adjourned. Neither the journal of this convention nor the list
of its members has been preserved, and about all we know of
its proceedings is gathered from the brief account given by Ira
Allen in his history of Vermont.
In May, 1T7T, a party of Tories headed by one Benjamin
Cole passed through this region on their way to Canada to join
the British. Capt. James Bently with a few other individuals
resolved to capture them. Their number increased, while they
were hastening northward, to twenty-two. They learned by their
scouts that the enemy were encamped for the. night in a forest
at Monkton. Waiting till the tories were all sound asleep,
Bently rushed upon them with a terrific noise and made the
whole party, thirteen in number, prisoners. The next day they
marched them to Neshobe where a court was convened for their
examination. This court consisted of Thomas Tuttle, Timothy
Barker, Jonathan Eowley, Moses Olmstead and John Smith.
After a patient investigation which was continued two days and
a half, the prisoners were ordered to be delivered over to the
garrison at Ticonderoga, and Capt. Bently and his men marched
them directly to that fortress.
The following is a copy of the order compensating the
court:
"SlK.
Please pay to Esq. Timothy Barker, Jonathan Rowley,
Moses Olmstead, John Smith and Thomas Tuttle thirty shillings
each for setting two days and a half to examine thirteen tories
taken at Monkton in May, 1777, which amount to seven
pounds and ten shillings.
ARLINGTON, 22d Jan. 1779.
THOMAS CHITTENDON.
To Ira Allen, Esq., Treasurer.
Received Jan. 22d, 1779, of Ira Allen seven pounds ten
shillings.
THOMAS TDTTLE."
CAMPAIGN OF 1777. 117
"A Pay Roll of a party of men under the command of James
Bentley in taking 13 Tories in Monkton on their way to Can
ada viz. Benj. Cole and his party and for bringing them
before the Committee at Neshobe and guarding them to Ticon-
deroga :
CAPT. JAMES BENTLEY, JAMES BENTLEY, JR.,
WINCHIP HOIT, THOMAS BENTLEY,
JOHN BISHOP, DANIEL FOOT,
RICHARD BAENUM, ISRAEL EVERIST,
JEHIEL GREGORY, SOLOMON STORY,
- ROAD, NOAH STRONG,
PHILIP FOOT, ELISHA WEBSTER,
" " JR., JOSEPH BARKER,
WILLIE HOPKINS, TIMOTHY BARKER,
SAMUEL BLODGETT, JESSE TUTTLE,
SIDRONS BLODGETT, ORIC (OR ORI) BUCK.
The pay of the above was 90. 9s. Od.
Rec d Arlington, Oct. 3d, 1778, of Ira Allen, Treasurer,
90. 9s. L. M., it being the contents of the within pay roll.
JAMES BENTLEY, Capt."
Military operations on a very extensive scale had been
planned by the British Ministry, for the year 1777. The cam
paign was opened in the north, by the advance of General
Burgoyne from Canada, with a well equipped army of ten
thousand men, of whom a large number were savages, one
corps renegade tories and one-half German hirelings. This
formidable force was gradually approaching Ticonderoga which
was occupied by about two thousand five hundred and forty
continental troops commanded by Gen. St. Clair. This officer
immediately called for reinforcements, that he might be able to
check the advance of the enemy and save that military post.
On the 5th of July, Col. Warner joined him with nine hundred
militia hastily collected mostly from Vermont ; but the garrison
118 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
thus reinforced could hardly expect to stand against the well
appointed army of Gen. Burgoyne. On the morning of the
.6th, before daylight, the Americans abandoned the fort, all the
cannon, most of the provisions and military stores, which fell
into the hands of the enemy, and retreated towards Castleton.
Col. Warner with the .rear guard, consisting of three regiments,
was overtaken on the morning of the 7th, at Hubbardton, by a
pursuing party of British troops commanded by Brigadier Gen
eral Frazier, and a severe battle ensued, the result of which
was for a considerable time doubtful ; but the British, receiving
reinforcements, renewed the attack with increased vigor, and
the Americans being overpowered by numbers were routed at
every point, a part fleeing south into Castleton, others escaping
over the mountain into Pittsford.
In this engagement the Americans lost, in killed, wounded
and prisoners, three hundred and twenty-four ; the British loss,*
in killed and wounded, was estimated at one hundred and
eighty-three.
The day on which Hubbardton battle occurred was one
of great excitement in Pittsford. It was well known that Bur
goyne, with a powerful army, was about to invest Ticonderoga,
and that, with the fall of that fortress, Pittsford and other
frontier towns would be exposed to the incursions, not only of
the British, but of their allies, the Tories and Indians. And
the lively discharge of musketry at Hubbardton, which was
distinctly heard in Pittsford, told but too plainly that the first
great obstacle to Burgoyne s progress had been overcome and
that the conflict had been brought to the very borders of the
township. Should the Americans be defeated in this engage
ment, the enemy might be expected to sweep through the
town, spreading destruction and ruin. Every eye was turned
towards Hubbardton, and the people were running hither and
thither, eager to catch the earliest tidings from the scene of
* A part of these were Germans in the British service.
THE ALAEM. 119
conflict. Thus the hours wore away in fearful suspense, till a
few fugitives from the bloody field, rushing over the mountain,
revealed the sad disaster which had befallen the American
arms. Few of the inhabitants of Pittsford slept in their houses
that night. Expecting every moment an attack by plundering
parties from the British army, or by their more ferocious allies,
the Indians, who were known to be hovering in the vicinity,
they secreted or carried with them their most valuable personal
effects, and betook themselves to the woods where they awaited
in painful suspense the approach of morning. And then while
the women and children, with a few of the more timid and
feeble, fled southward, some to Clarendon, others to Shaftsbury
or Bennington, and a few to Fort Edward on the Hudson ;
others, more courageous and well armed, went over the moun
tain into Hubbardton and assisted in gathering up and burying
the remains of the dead upon the battle-ground.*
Many interesting incidents touching the flight of the inhab
itants are related. As they could carry away only a few of
their domestic utensils, many of these were secreted at some
distance from their dwellings, which they supposed would be
pillaged by the enemy. Mrs. Buck, (widow of Isaac,) in her
haste, threw an iron kettle and some pewter dishes into the
swale just east of her house, and with her children escaped to
Clarendon. On returning, a few weeks after, these articles
could not be found ; but in 1838, after having lain there sixty-
one years, they were found by Simeon Smith, in digging a ditch
through that- swale, and identified by Alfred Buck, then living. f
Some of the families returned to the towns from which they
had emigrated. Capt. Benjamin Cooley placed his wife upon a
horse, and having two children, he put one in each of two bas
kets}: which were suspended one on either side of the animal, and
* Hendee s MS.
t Mr. Buck purchased this kettle of Mr. Smith, and it was kept in the Buck
family some years as a memento of that olden time. Mr. Smith retained a pewter
dish, which was accidentally melted on the stove some years afterwards.
J These baskets, called pioneer baskets, were about three feet long, twenty
inches wide and fourteen inches deep, and had two holes on either side, beneath
the rim, to receive straps by which they were suspended from the saddle.
120 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
in this way he accompanied them to Greenwich, his native
town. There the family remained some months, but Mr.
Cooley returned to Pittsford to assist his fellow-townsmen in
defending their possessions. Before escaping, they hid their
cooking utensils in the cove near the house, but these could
never afterwards be found.
Stephen Jenner and family returned to Stevenstown, Mrs.
Jenner and child on horseback, and Mr. Jenner accompanying
them on foot ; and there they remained till the close of the war.
Edward Owen, with his wife and two daughters, after a journey
of nearly two days, reached Fort Edward. Samuel Waters
and family fled to Shaftsbury ; Samuel Ellsworth and family to
Arlington.* The families that remained in the town did not
venture to sleep in their houses for several successive nights, as
they were fearful of being attacked by the Indians and killed
or carried into captivity.
The men from Pittsford who assisted in burying the dead
after the battle of Hubbardton w T ere somewhat successful in
collecting the debris of the battle-field, as will appear from the
following memorandum found in the archives of the State at
Montpelier :
" PITTSFORD, August 11, 1777.
Memorandum of receipts given to the Inhabitants of Pitt%-
ford, and the number of Guns brought in by the persons whose
names are here mentioned. Guns marked with the letters as
follows :
No. of No. Cartridge Number kept beside the
Guns. Bayonets. Boxes. foregoing turned over
to the State.
3 Guns.
Capt. Peleg Sunderland S,
12
Lieut. Moses Olinstead O,
9
4
3
Samuel Wisel W,
4
2
Jonathan Rowley R,
9
1
Jonathan Swett S,
7
5
5
Asael Blanchard B,
3
Ebenezer Drury D,
6
5
Aaron Parsons P,
3
3
Adonijah Brooks B,
8
7
Total,
61
27
8
7
1
14
Samuel Montague, some time before, had fled to Bennington.
FORT MOTT. 121
The following is a copy of Mr. Olmstead s bill :
" State of Yermont to Moses Olmstead Dr.
To nine Guns found on the ground after the battle
was fought at Hubbardton in July, 1777, which Guns
I delivered to Maj. Joseph Taylor for the use of the
State after my trouble conveying them to Pittsford at
three dollars per each Gun, $27.00
The following entry is found upon the Treasurer s records :
" June 15, 1778, There was paid to Moses Olmstead
by order of the Governor for Guns delivered to Joseph
Taylor for use of State, 8 2s.
The . other persons who delivered guns to the State were
paid in the same proportion.
After the alarm occasioned by the near approach of the
enemy had subsided, the most of the male inhabitants of Pitts-
ford who had fled from their homes, returned, and their first
care was to prepare a place of refuge to which they might
repair whenever threatened with an attack by the enemy. The
place selected was the residence of William Cox, on the east
bank of Otter Creek. This was surrounded by a high breast
work of hemlock logs set endwise in the ground, and on the
west side this work w r as carried down the bank into the channel
of the creek which supplied the inmates with an abundance
of fresh water. In form the enclosure was nearly square,
and contained about three-fourths of an acre of ground, in the
center of which was the log dwelling which took the place of a
block-house. This work was accomplished a by the combined
voluntary efforts of the neighboring inhabitants* for their
* That the State did something towards strengthening this fort in 1778 will
appeal- by the following :
" State of Vermont, Dr.
To Jonathan Rowley of Pittsford for service done in the year 1778.
To one day s work of his son and two yoke of oxen drawing timber for
the fort at Pittsford 7s
To one day s work of himself and canoe following a scout for Lieut.
Holms 4 05
0-12 0"-
The above bill has the following endorsement :
" Treasurer s Office.
Received this seventh of March 1781, the within account in full for Jonathan
Rowley in State Note. JOHN MOTT."
I
*
122 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
mutual security against the sudden attacks of roaming parties,
of Indians and British, piloted by the detestable renegate
Tories, familiar with every road, by-path, log house and ambush
in the settlements." This was afterwards named Fort Mott,
from Mr. John Mott who often acted as commander of those
collected within it,- and wiiose residence was near where
Lorenzo Dyer now lives, within the limits of Neshobe.
From -this period to the close of the war the inhabitants of
Pittsford saw perilous times. The Indians, instigated by the
British, were almost continually lurking in the vicinity, ready
at any moment to take advantage of the defenceless condition
of the inhabitants, to carry into execution their schemes of
plunder and devastation. And this having in former years
been their favorite hunting-ground, they were familiar with
every part of it, and not unfrequently they were guided by a
despicable set of Tories, who understood the exact location and
condition of every family in the township. Late in September of
this year the Indians seized two boys, Joseph and John Rowley,
the former aged fifteen years and the latter eleven years, sons
of Jonathan Rowley, and carried them prisoners to Canada.
A few days later the same or another party of Indians captured
two lads in Whipple Hollow, viz. : Gideon and Thomas Sheldon,
fifteen and thirteen years of age respectively, sons of Gideon
Sheldon. In this instance the boys were returning to the barn
with an ox team loaded with grain; the Indians, approaching
stealthily, made them prisoners and then proceeded to the
house. As they entered the door Mrs. Sheldon, the mother of
the two boys, in her fright sprang out of a back window. The
Indians searched the house, took the only spare dress a calico-
one belonging to Mrs. Sheldon, and a web from the loom,,
partially woven, and retreated with their prisoners and booty.
Mrs. Sheldon followed some little distance and entreated them
to give up her sons but they refused.
The house of Felix Powell was attacked in the night. Mr.
Powell was absent, but Mrs. Powell apprehending an attack
CAPT. SALISBURY 8 PAY ROLL.
123
had fled into a thick cluster of bushes in the vicinity, and while
there the house was plundered and burnt. In full view of the
burning residence she was delivered of a child, before morning.
Intelligence of these outrages rapidly spread, and a com
pany of soldiers was soon sent to protect the inhabitants and if
possible to recover the captives. This force was under the
command of Abraham Salisbury.
The following is the pay-roll of Capt. Salisbury s company
on Qtter Creek, raised in Clarendon by advice of the Commit
tee of Safety, and principal inhabitants of the towns of Wal-
lingford, Clarendon, Rutland and Pittsford, on being alarmed
by the enemy coming to Pittsford, taking some prisoners and
plundering some houses. Capt. Salisbury s company came to
Pittsford Oct. 17, 1777, and went away the 25th of the same
month :
Capt. A. Salisbury,
" Thomas Sawyer,
Sergt. Joseph Smith,
" Jedidiah Jackson,
" Jabez Weaver,
" Zebidiah Green,
Clerk, Asable Blanchard,
Sylvanus Brown,
Noel Potter,
Ebenezer White,
Samuel Waters,
Thos. Tuttle,
Jacob Patridge,
Nehemiah Angell,
William Cox,
Abel Spencer,
Thos. Curtis,
Edward Owen,*
Daniel Niles,
Benj. Foster,
Oliver Arnold,
Jesse Place,
John Squire,
Amah Brooks,
Peter Tarbox,
Xath nl Place,
Abadiah Gill,
William Rounds,
Joseph Barker,
Obediah Edwards,
Jona. Eddy,
Silas Whitney,
" " Jr.,
Benj. Stevens, Jr.,
James Stevens,
Joseph Williams,
Joel Foster,
Peter Eddy,
124 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
Thos. Eddy, Mark Jeney,
Levi Calvin, Jonah Ives,
David Warner, Newton Drury,
Azariah Brooks, Ebenezer Cooley,
James Rounds, James Edwards,
Mathew Cox, Daniel Stevens,
Noah Bush, Abel Stevens,
Aaron Bush, Samuel Williams,
Wallis Sutherland, Joseph Jackson,
Nathnel Skelter, Ezekiel Clark,
James Smith, Eliliu Allen.
This company afterwards received of the State as compen
sation for services on this occasion, 37 7s lid.
The Sheldon boys were carried to Canada where Thomas,
the younger, being a feeble child, died in captivity, but Gideon
and the Rowley boys, after a few months confinement, were
released and returned home.
The battle of Bennington on the IGth of August was a
severe blow to the haughty Burgoyne, and gave him some idea
of the spirit of the people with whom he had to contend ; and
the two battles of Stillwater, a few weeks later, so crippled his
army that he was not only incapacitated for aggressive opera
tions, but for defending his position; and on the 17th of
October he was compelled to surrender to the American com
mander. On receiving intelligence of the fate of Burgoyne,
Gen. Carlton ordered all the posts south of the province line
to be abandoned. In conformity to this order, Ticonderoga
was evacuated about the middle of November. The rear of
the retreating garrison was overtaken and attacked by a com
pany of rangers under the command of Capt. Ebenezer Allen
with the result of a loss to the enemy of forty-nine men who
were taken prisoners, as well as more than one hundred horses,
twelve yo ke of oxen, four cows and three boats.
This affair terminated military operations in the northern
COMMITTEE OF SAFETY. 125
department for the year 1777, and Pittsford, with other frontier
towns, being relieved from the presence of the enemy, many
of the inhabitants thereof who had been driven from their
homes, returned and gathered their crops- of hay and grain,
though the most of these were in a damaged condition.
It is very much to be regretted that the records of the town
through this eventful period should have been destroyed, for if
existing thev would doubtless reveal to us, in clearer light than
f ^
can now possibly be done, the labors, sacrifices and nameless
trials of the early inhabitants, not only in defence of their homes,
but in aid of the common cause.
The only record in existence relating to military affairs up
to the period which this history has now reached is found in
the proceedings of a Proprietor s meeting held at the house of
John Barnes, June 3, 1776. The following is a copy :
" Voted that every poll in town pay one dollar for a stock
of powder to be left in town. ,
Yoted that the committee of safety take care to see that
the above vote is carried into execution."
Of the men who composed this Committee of Safety we
have no knowledge, but that there were such committees chosen
in the several towns from year to year, there can be no doubt,
as allusion is frequently made to them in the records of the pro
ceeding of the Council of Safety, Board of War, and Public Con
ventions. The duties of these tow r n committees are set forth in
part by the following circular :
"In Council of Safety, Nov. 16, 1777.
Resolved, That it be recommended, and it is hereby recom
mended, to the Committee of Safety, of each town in this
Stats, to take immediately under their examination, all persons
who have been to the enemy, or such as are deemed enemies
to their country ; each Committee taking under their examination
the persons belonging to their own town, and in such town
126 HISTORY OF PITT8FORD.
where no committee is appointed to call the assistance of the
neighboring committee. No person to be tried short of the
number of seven or more committeemen, selected from three
different committees. In case any such person or persons
cannot satisfy the inhabitants of the town to which they belong,
and obtain their liberty to remain at home under proper
ic,tions, to send such persons, forthwith, to this Council,
with their crimes, in writing, and evidences to support the
charges against them.
The Council further recommend to the respectable Com
mittees of Safety, in this State, to be ever mindful of the wor
thy and laudable example set us by his Excellency General
Washington, and the good people, inhabitants of New Jersey ;
always bearing in mind to consider the weak capacities of
many who have been afrightened into a submission to General
Burgoyne, &c. after which, seeing their error, confess their
fault, and are willing to defend their country s cause, at the
risk of life and fortune.
By order of Council,
THOMAS CHITTENDEN, President.
P. S. No person whatever, included in articles of capitulation,
are to be considered.
JOSEPH FAY, Setfy"
In the journal of this Council we find the following, relat
ing to three of the Pittsford men :
"//i Council, Bennington, Feb. 17, 1TT8.
To Capt. Joseph Bowker Sir :
Whereas, complaint is made to this Council by Deacon
John Burnap, that Moses Olmsted, Jabez Olmsted and -
Owen, of Pittsford, did in December last, take from him
about twelve hundred weight of iron which is detained from
him; he therefore desires of tliis Council, that they would
RESOLUTIONS OF THE N. Y. ASSEMBLY. 127
direct him, in what manner he may obtain his property again.
Therefore, this Council recommend to call together the
members of the several committees in Rutland and the neigh
boring towns, to the number of five, to judge and determine
the case, depending between the above parties, according to
justice and equity.
By order of Council,
THOMAS CHITTENDEN, President"
The noble efforts made by the inhabitants of the New
Hampshire Grants in favor of American liberty, as exhibited in
the last campaign, and the applause which such efforts had
elicited from the people of other States, were not unnoticed by
the ruling classes of New York. And it is not unnatural that
they should suppose, that a people possessed of such courage
and energy would not be very likely to yield to demands
involving submission to that State. This feeling was fully
exhibited in the General Assembly of New York in February.
A series of resolutions was adopted, proposing to the inhabit
ants of the New Hampshire Grants certain terms of accommo
dation in reference to their land titles, which terms were offered
(it was so declared) as an inducement to them to submit quietly
to the jurisdiction of that State. These resolutions were made
known to the inhabitants by proclamation of the Governor
February 23d, 1778 ; and at first view they have the appear
ance of candor and liberty; but in reality they contained
proposals for confirming the grants, on the payment of certain
specified fees, of a very small part only of the lands that were
in controversy. They applied only to such lands as were in
actual possession of claimants under New Hampshire at the
tirnte these lands were granted by New York. Now the grants
made by New York were at a very early date, and a very large
majority of the inhabitants settled on these lands, after grants
of them had been made by New York, and obtained their titles
128 HISTORY OF PITTSFOED.
from the government of New Hampshire. Again there were
others who honestly purchased lands and held them under
titles derived from New Hampshire, but who never occupied
them. To these two classes 110 security was offered by the
proposals of the New York government, but the moment the
jurisdiction of that State should be recognized they would be
completely at the mercy of the New T York land speculators.
This was well understood by the claimants under New Hamp
shire, and served only to strengthen their prejudices against
the government of New York. The original resolutions not
having the intended effect, the New York Assembly thought it
expedient to pass explanatory resolutions, in which they say
"their former resolves had been misrepresented by some, and
misunderstood by others," and they proposed to submit the*
oase of each claimant " to such persons as the Congress of the
United States should elect or appoint for that purpose." This
proposal was also made known by proclamation of the Gov
ernor, dated October 31, 1778. But this arrangement, if
carried into effect, would involve each settler in a lawsuit, the
cost of which, even if the verdict should be favorable, would
quite likely be disastrous to him. It was apparent that no
security for the titles under New Hampshire was to be expected
from the government of New York, and that in order to pre
serve their property, it would be necessary for the inhabitants
of the New Hampshire Grants to " stand by and maintain their
new State organization." This action, if successful, would
invalidate the New York patents, and secure protection to the
inhabitants in their persons and property.
Previous to the adjournment of the convention in July it
was ordered that the first election, under the constitution,
should be holden in December following, and that the General
Assembly, thus elected, should meet at Bennington in January
1778. But military operations so engrossed public attention,
that the constitution was not printed seasonably to have the
STATE DIVIDED INTO TWO COUNTIES. 129
election holden in December. The convention was, therefore,
summoned by the Council of Safety to meet at Windsor, on
the 24th of December, 17TT. This body assembled, and after
revising the constitution, postponed the day of election until
the first Tuesday of March, 1778, and the sitting of the
Assembly until the second Thursday of the same month. The
election was held at the appointed time, and the Legislature
met at Windsor on Thursday, the 12th of March. To this,
the first General Assembly of the State under the constitution,
the representative from Pittsford was Jonathan Fassett.
" The Assembly divided the State into two counties by the
range of the Green Mountains, that on the west side being
called Bennington, and that on the east, Cumberland. Each
county w r as divided into half shires, for which special courts con
sisting of five judges each, were appointed to continue in
office until county officers could be elected as provided for by
the Constitution." Rutland shire was bounded on the south
by the north line of Dorset and Tinmouth, and the judges
appointed for this shire were Joseph Bowker, Heber Allen,
Charles Brewster, John Starks and Jonathan Fassett. Among
the important acts of this session Was one confiscating tory
estates. The Council of Safety had the previous year ordered
the confiscation of the personal property of tories, and Jonathan
Fassett, of Pittsford, was appointed one of the commissioners
of sequestration, his commission being dated Nov. 28, 1777.
But this year the General Assembly passed (March 26th) a bill
empowering the Governor and council "to act respecting tory
lands as they shall judge proper or advantageous to this State,
and do justice to the persons that owned said lands." Under
this bill tory estates might be disposed of and the proceeds put
into the treasury of the State. Agreeably to these provisions
the following estates in Pittsford were sold by James Claghorn,
commissioner of confiscated estates. The first was the home
stead (one hundred and ten acres) of Roger Stevens, Jr., "which
10
130 HISTORY OF PITTSFOED.
was forfeited to the State by his treasonable conduct," and sold
September 9th, 1778, to his uncle, Benjamin Stevens, for 330.
The second was an estate (two hundred and .twenty acres)
belonging to William Marsh, of Manchester, " forfeited by his
treasonable conduct," and sold December 7, 1778, to Edward
Harris of Londonderry, K JL, for 500. The third was a lot
(one hundred and ten acres) belonging also to Roger Stevens,
Jr., and sold February 8, 1779, to John Gilmore of London
derry, N. H., for 455. This lot "was bounded south on lands
of the heirs of Isaac Buck, east on Otter Creek, north on land
said Claghorn sold to Benjamin Stevens," and appears to
have been identical with the farm now owned by G. and F.
Heiidee.
The experience of 1777 served to show the necessity of a
thorough organization of the militia; for though the frontier
towns might not be invaded by any formidable force, yet they
were continually exposed to the depredations of scouting parties,
to guard against which it was necessary to have the militia in
readiness to march at the shortest possible notice. Early in
the year 1778, a company was organized in Pittsford, con
sisting of nearly all the able-bodied men in the township, and the
following were the officers duly commissioned :
Captain Benjamin Cooley.
Lieutenant Moses Olmstead.
Ensign James Hopkins.
This company was attached to the Fifth Regiment of the
State, of which the following were the officers :
Colonel Gideon Warren.
Lieut.- Colonel James Claghorn.
Major Nathaniel Smith.
Adjutant Nathan Smith.
Quartermaster George Root.
The constant fear and apprehension of the people will
appear from the following :
LETTER OF GOV. CHITTENDEN. 131
" LETTER FROM GOV. THOMAS CHITTENDEN TO OOL. FLETCHER.
BENNINGTON, 13th June, 1778.
SIR : Inclosed you have my particular order for drafting
73 men from your regiment. I have received intelligence this
morning by express from Head Quarters at Rutland, that a
scout of 500 of the enemy are now at Crown Point, who have
just returned from a scalping tour in - * County who
have brought with them a considerable number of - * as
it depended on that attempt an immediate attack on our post
at Rutland. I natter myself you will not lose one minute s
time in executing such orders. Pray sir, consider the distress
of the poor frontier inhabitants who are hourly in jeopardy of
their lives, and let humanity inspire you to exert every faculty
to give them immediate relief.
I am sir, your humble serv t,
THOMAS CHITTENDEN, Capt.-G-en.
Col. Fletcher."
In the month of March, 1778, an event occurred in the
town of Shelburne which proved fatal to tw r o of the inhabitants
of Pittsford. One of the early settlers of that township, Moses
Parsons, had raised a large crop of wlieat the previous year,
and soon after it was harvested on the approach of the British
and Indians up the lake he, with others, deeming it unsafe to
remain in that vicinity, removed to another part of the State.-
Early in March the following year he returned with his family
to Shelburne, and under the protection, and with the assistance
of a company of armed men commanded by Cap. Thomas
Sawyer of Clarendon, attempted to thresh out the wheat and
secure it. While they were engaged in this work Joshua
Woodward of Pittsford and Samuel Danielsf made a journey to
Shelburne for the purpose of purchasing wheat, and were under
*We found this letter, with the blanks indicated, in the State archives a,t
Montpelier.
t Mr. Daniels had removed from Pittsford to Salisbury.
132 HISTORY OF PITTSFOED.
the necessity of remaining through the night. Apprehending an
attack by the tories and Indians, Capt. Sawyer and his men,
and also Woodward and Daniels, lodged with Parsons family
in the log house, which they barricaded and rendered secure at
every point, with the exception of one window. The attack
was made that night, and through that window Woodward and
Daniels were killed at the first fire of the enemy. After a
severe encounter the enemy were repulsed, with a loss of one
white officer and one Indian chief who were found dead in the
field, besides several who were thrown into the lake through a
hole cut in the ice. This fight occurred on the 12th of March,
1778, and of those comprising Capt. Sawyer s little band not a
man was lost.
"The following day Capt. Sawyer buried the bodies of
Woodward and Daniels, also of the two men picked up on the
field, having first cut from the nose of the Indian chief his
jewels, and secured his powder horn and bullet-pouch, as
trophies of his victory."*
Military operations this year were not of very much import
ance, being mostly limited to a few incursions into the frontier
towns by small parties of Indians and tories, but it is not known
that more than one of these extended as far as Pittsford. In
November a British force came up the lake as far as Ticon-
deroga, and ravaged the towns upon the shore ; and a small
party of British, Indians and tories came to Pittsford, but the
inhabitants remaining in the town had received timely notice
of their approach, and were collected in Fort Mott prepared
for a vigorous defence. The enemy came to the house of
Roger Stevens, Jr., which was occupied by Mrs. Stevens and
her infant daughter. An Indian seized the child and was
about to dash its head against the stone chimney, but upon
being informed that the father of the child was in the British
* History of Salisbury.
BOLL OF PITT6FOKD COMPANY. 133
service, he smilingly handed it to its mother, and the whole
party quietly departed. The near approach of the enemy
thoroughly aroused the inhabitants and a strong force was
immediately sent in pursuit. That Pittsford contributed fully
her share of men will appear from the following :
" Pay Roll of Capt. Cooley s company in Col. Warren s Regi
ment of militia in the service of this, and the United States
commencing Nov. 8, 1778, and ending the 13th, both days
included.
NAMES. No. of Days. Wages per Month. Total.
. B. . a.
James Ewings, 6 210 010
Silas Mosier, 6 310 010
Gideon Cooley, 6 210 010
Ebunezer Drury, 6 210 010
Edward Owen, 6 210 010
Nehemiah Hopkins, 6 210 10
Ashbel Hopkins, 6 210 10
Ebenezer Lyman, 6 2 10 10
Samuel Ellsworth, 6 210 010
Israel Ellsworth, 6 210 010
Hopkins Rowley, 6 210 010
Sidias Blodgett, 6 210 010
Benjamin Stevens, 6 210 010
Ephraim Stevens, 6 210 010
Aaron Parsons, 6 210 010
DECEMBER 15, 1778.
The within Pay Roll examined and approved and the treas
urer is directed to pay the same which is 8.
THOS. CHITTENDEN.
. Date above, received of Ira Allen, Treasurer, the contents
of this order which is 8.
JAMES CLAGHOEN,
BENJAMIN COOLEY, Captain"
134 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
We find on the Pay Rolf of a company of men raised in a
time of alarm to defend the frontiers of this State Capt.
Thomas Sawyer s company, in 1778, the following names :
Jonathan Rowley, entered March 9, discharged March 18.
Matthew Cox, " " " "
James Hopkins, " " " "
These men received their pay 2 14s each, December
28, 1778.
The continental troops having been withdrawn from the
State, the frontier towns were particularly exposed to the
ravages of an enemy that was ever ready to take advantage of
their defenceless condition. As the people found themselves
left to their own resources for protection, on the 25th of
February, 1779, through their representatives in general assem
bly, they constituted the Governor and council a "Board of
War with full power to raise any number of men that they
should think necessary for the defence of the frontiers, and to
make any necessary preparations for the opening campaign."
We copy the following proceedings of the Board of War
in reference to Pittsford :
BOARD OF WAR, ARLINGTON,
March 12, 1779.
Whereas this state is a frontier to the northern enemy, it is
therefore necessary some lines should be ascertained where this
state will attempt to defend the inhabitants. Therefore, Resolved
that the north line of Castleton, the west and north lines of
Pittsford to the foot of the Green Mountains, b<| and is hereby
established a line, between the inhabitants of this state and the
enemy and all the inhabitants of this state living to the north
of said line are directed and ordered to move with their families
and effects within said lines. This board on the petition of the
inhabitants, do also recommend the inhabitants of Castleton
ORDERS TO CAPT. SAWYER. 135
and Pittsford to immediately erect a picket fort, near the center
of the inhabitants of each town and that the women and
children (excepting a few near the fort,) move to some conven.
ient place south and that the men with such parts of their
stocks as may be necessary, remain on their farms and work in
collective bodies with their arms.
The following is a copy of "Orders to Capt. Thomas
Sawyer commanding at Fort Hanger,* dated Arlington, May
14, 1779 :
The design and object of a garrison s being kept at your
post is to prevent the incursion of the enemy on the Northern
frontiers and to annoy them should they come within your
reach; as there are two other forts, one at Castleton, and the
other at Pittsford, dependent on yours, you are to take care
that they are properly manned and provided proportionable
to your strength at Fort Hanger. You will keep out constant
scouts towards the lake, so as to get the earliest intelligence of
the motion and designs of the enemy. You will keep the
command of Fort Ranger and the other forts depending until
otherwise ordered by me, or until some Continental Officer
shall take the command. You will post the earliest intelligence
of the motion of the enemy to me and guard against surprise.
Given under my hand.
THOS. CHITTENDEN, Capt. Gen"
We have already stated that Fort Mott was built by the
combined voluntary eiforts of the inhabitants of the town in
1777, and that it was afterwards strengthened at the expense of
the State and" occupied by. a small detachment of State troops.
The next year the inhabitants of the town presented a bill to
the General Assembly for labor and other expenses which
attended the building of this fort. The assembly appointed a
committee, consisting of Joseph Bowker and Roswell Post, to
* Name of the Fort at Rutland.
136 HISTORY OF PITT8FOKD.
examine the structure and to inquire into the justice of the
claim. The following is the report of this committee :
"We the subscribers being a committee appointed by the
Hon. General Assembly of this State, to examine the cost
expended by the inhabitants of the town of Pittsford in build
ing a picket fort in said town, having been to said fort and
examined the committee that was appointed by said town to
oversee said business, and likewise examined their accounts.
Beg leave to report that it is our opinion the labor done on
said picket fort is not charged higher than is reasonable, and
that said accounts have been kept regular.
JOSEPH BOWKER, ^
KOSWELL POST, 5 Committ ee.
October - - 1779.
Rutland was made the headquarters of the State troops,
and a small garrison was kept at Fort Mott, but whether this
garrison was maintained wholly or only in part at the expense
of the State, is not now known. As this fort was in part
neighborhood property, it is quite likely that those whose inter
ests it was primarily designed to protect, contributed largely
towards its support.
In May, 1779, the commander at Fort Mott received
information that the enemy in considerable force was coming
up Lake Champlain to annoy the settlers in that vicinity ; and
in order to ascertain the truthfulness of this report he sent a
scouting party, consisting of Ephraim Stephens, commander,
Benjamin Stevens, Jr., Ebenezer Hopkins, and Jonathan Row
ley, Jr., on a reconnoitering expedition. The commander of
this party had orders not to venture across the lake, but to make
every discovery that could be made, in that vicinity, without
doing it. The route from Pittsford to the lake was nearly north
west, between twenty and thirty miles, through nearly one
continued forest. On their arrival at the lake nearly opposite
A SCOUTING PARTY. 137
to the Fort at Ticonderoga, the commander was determined to
cross over notwithstanding he was forbidden by his orders to do
so, and all his party remonstrating against it, yet he could not
be dissuaded, and at that place he procured a canoe and passed
over to the Fort, where they spent some time in visiting, and
reconnoitering in that vicinity, without discovering any signs of
the Indians. They were induced to venture further, and accord-
ngly went on board of their canoe, and proceeded down the
lake as far as Basin Harbor,* where they made a landing.
After examining the shore for some distance up and down the
lake, and back into the forest, they become satisfied that there
were no savages in that vicinity and returned to their canoe.
When they had started out some little distance from the shore,
feeling inclined to show their courage, as they had gone thus
far without discovering the least trace of any enemy, they con
cluded to give one salute by discharging all their pieces. To
their astonishment the echo of their guns had but little more
than returned to them, before a party of some fifteen or sixteen
Indians appeared on shore, on the very spot of land which they
had just left, and their leader called out, " If you wish to save
your lives, surrender and come on shore." Stevens and his
men disregarded the command and pushed out into the lake
amidst a shower of bullets, none of which, however, took effect,
and they were soon out of range. The hostile party sprang
into a canoe which the Americans had not discovered and began
the chase. An Indian lay upon his belly in the bow of the
boat, and as others loaded the guns and passed them along to
him, he was enabled to repeat his shots rapidly and at the same
time with deliberate aim. For a time these shots proved harm
less ; but at length young Rowley who sat in the stern of the
retreating craft, steering it, received a shot in the back of the
head. He fell so suddenly dead from his seat that his oars and
*This is one of the best harbors on the lake, and is situated on the easterly shore
in the town of Ferrisburgh, and three miles north of the southwest corner of it.
138 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
hat fell into the lake. His companions plied their oars with
redoubled energy, hoping to reach the opposite shore and
escape. But finding their pursuers gaining upon them, they
decided to surrender and trust themselves to the mercy of their
captors. The Indians, when they came up, with apparent stern
ness, commanded the prisoners to leap from their own canoe
into theirs. When they had done this, one Indian sprang into
the prisoners canoe, and, before their eyes, took the scalp from
the head of the dead man ; and when he had returned to the
Indians boat, the other, with the dead man in it, was turned
bottom-side up, and left to float wherever the winds should
drive it. The Indians then, with their prisoners, directed their
way back to the eastern shore, and immediately commenced
their march into the wilderness. When they had encamped for
the night, the prisoners soon perceived that their feelings were
about to be harrowed and torn beyond anything they had ever
experienced. They beheld with horror the scalp of their com
rade stretched upon the top of a pole, and they were com
manded to follow the Indians in single file, dancing round it
in a circle. The prisoners were kicked and pounded becanse
they were reluctant to join in their fiendish mirth with all their
might. After the dance the prisoners hands were tied, and
they were compelled to lie each one between two Indians, and
each had an arm tied to that of an Indian. The next night they
arrived at a place where there was quite an encampment of
Indians. Among them was an aged squaw pointed out to
young Hopkins, (then but sixteen years of age,) and he was
told that she was to be his mother. Seeing his extreme youth
to be mingling in such scenes, she began to howl and lament
most hideously over him, and combing his hair with her long
fingers, she sent a chill of horror through his whole frame.
Leaving this place, in a day or two, they arrived at a village
where were quite a number of inhabitants, and here a new trial
awaited the prisoners. They perceived that the leader of the
RUNNING THE GAUNTLET. 139
savage party had obtained by some means, some ardent spirits
and had become nearly intoxicated. Of course he was full of
courage and bravado ? and being destitute of everything like
humanity, he seemed to be blood-thirsty and inexorable as a
tiger. He ordered arrangements to be made for the massacre of
all the prisoners, and it was some two hours before the rest of
the party could dissuade him from his purpose. The prisoners
were taken to St. Johns, and on approaching the shore the
latter part of the journey to that place was upon the lake
they saw a party of savages some two hundred drawn up in
two lines, facing each other, with a narrow passage between
them extending several rods. Through this passage each pris
oner was to go, the Indians striking him with sticks or clubs, as
he passed along to the head of the line, where the Indian chief
stood with open arms ready to receive him. Near the edge of
the water were placed young squaws who amused themselves
by seizing the prisoners and ducking them in the water as they
Jumped from the boat upon the shore. Ephraim Stevens was
the first to pass this savage ordeal. As he leaped upon the
shore he was not only pitched into the water, but was attacked
with clubs and soon knocked down. Being, however, a young
man of extraordinary strength and activity, he soon rose. To
compel him to advance so slowly through the passage that each
might have a chance to strike him, a large and stout Indian
went directly before him, walking backward. Stevens had
scarcely commenced before he threw his feet, by a sudden
spring, into the breast of the Indian before iflhi and threw him
upon his back, and then by running with great velocity, he
received scarcely a blow. For this exploit of agility and cour
age, he received the most marked manifestations of approba
tion from the multitude. They came round him, and slapping
him upon the back, gave him to understand that they could not
have been better pleased.
Hopkins was the next to follow, and as he jumped upon
140 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
the shore he was seized by an aged Indian and directed to
follow him. He soon found that the object of this Indian was
to hide him, that he should not be compelled to suffer that
barbarous treatment. When he had led him slyly back out of
the crowd, he pointed to a wigwam standing back some eighty
or one hundred rods from the place where they were assembled,
and bid him run. He did so, and found in the wigwam to
which he was directed an aged squaw, whose locks were white
almost as snow, and who exhibited a remarkable sympathy for
him, and immediately got him something to eat.
Benjamin Stevens, Jr., whose turn came next, noticing a
squaw ready to seize him, made a false motion to jump, when
the squaw, springing to catch him, lost her balance and fell into
the water. Stevens then leaped over her, creating so much
merriment that he went through the course without receiving a
blow, and was accosted by the old chief with " Good Indian !
Good Indian!"
The prisoners were taken to the St. Lawrence, in the
vicinity of Montreal, and the Indians of that village, male and
female, soon gathered together and prepared for the carousal
usual on such occasions.
Here, Ephraim Stevens was separated from his companions,
his great strength and activity rendering him an object of
extreme solicitude, and all his movements were carefully
watched. The carousal being ended, he was confined in a small
room arid a guard stationed at the door. Early the next morn
ing the door waf opened and an Indian, who had not been
there the night before, entered the room and fixed his eyes long
and keenly on the prisoner. Stevens immediately recognized
this Indian as one of a party that had visited Pittsford before
the war, on a hunting expedition, and one with whom he had
there had some quarrel or difficulty.
The visitor soon disappeared and presently two large, stout
Indians came and stood in the door apparently as guard. In a
EPHRAIM STEVENS, A PRISONER. 141
short time a young squaw came and stood behind these two
with looks of intense sorrow, and which even dissolved into
tears. "By this time," says Stevens, "I made up my mind
that my old acquaintance, on Otter Creek, was determined
to wreak his vengeance on me by a cruel sacrifice of my life, in
the barbarous manner the Indians are sometimes wont to do.
I determined to place myself in the hands of a less dangerous
enemy or lose my life in the attempt. I looked around for
some weapon, but saw none sufficient to use. I then thought I
would try to pass the two Indians in a quiet and peaceable
manner, as if I wanted carelessly to view the premises. Slowly
and awkwardly I approached the door, but one of the Indians
sprang forward, placed his hand on my breast, and shoved me
back into the room. I quietly yielded to his push and made as
though I was about to resume my seat, but as he was returning
to the door, I sprang with all my might and threw both pros
trate on the ground. I flew like lightning through the door
and the young squaw cried <Run! Run! but I needed no
urging. In the midst of my speed I met a small British guard
who had in custody my two companions, B. Stevens and E.
Hopkins. I passed them swiftly; their officer hailed me, told
me to stop and I should not be hurt. I first intended to leave
them all, but taking into view all the circumstances of my situ
ation, I concluded it would be impossible to escape, and being
promised that I should receive no harm, I returned and surren
dered to them." He and his companions were soon taken to
the British garrison. Here he was visited by his brother,
Roger Stevens, Jr., who had turned Tory and was then a
Captain in the British service. Roger reproved Ephraim for
joining the rebels, and behaving disloyally towards the King.
Ephraim retorted, cursing the King, and reproaching Roger for
deserting his country. Roger promised Ephraim the liberty of
the city if he would give his word not to leave it. Ephraim
142 HISTORY OF PITTSFOED.
spurned the offer with indignation, and the three captives were
sent to prison. Here Ephraim, for his praise of the Americans
and contemptuous dispraise of the King and his cause, was
hand-cuffed and fettered. His great strength enabled him to
break the ordinary iron fetters, and he was loaded down with
heavy irons. He and his companions were then put on board
a vessel, sent to Quebec and there thrown into a dungeon.
Their keepers, supposing them safe in that place, took off their
fetters. There they were confined till the following fall, when
they were taken out under guard to labor in harvesting corn
and grain. In some way they eluded the guard, escaped, took
a boat, crossed the river, pushed into the wilderness and after
wandering fourteen days with little to eat except roots and the
bark of trees, they came in sight of the Green Mountains. But
as they were fishing in the head-waters of the Connecticut
river, they were recaptured by the Indians, taken back to
Quebec and again thrust into prison. They were now ironed,
and their guard was commanded to exercise the strictest vigil
ance. In a few months, when the guard had become somewhat
negligent, the prisoners managed to get the iron keys out of
their bolts, and inserted instead thereof keys made of pewter,
smoked in the candle to give them the appearance of iron.
Having thus recovered the use of their limbs they improved
the nights in digging a hole under the prison wall, which was
also the main wall of the city, twelve feet thick. In the prison
was a large chimney with a stone mantel, underneath which
was an iron bar. This bar the prisoners appropriated to their
use during the night, and restored it to its place in the morning
before the arrival of their keeper, who found them as usual, in
irons and to all appearance secure. The dirt and rubbish taken
from under the wall were put in the bunks, and beds made over
them, so that they were concealed from view. The prisoners
dug to the last stone in the wall, and were only waiting for a
E. STEVENS ENLISTS IN BRITISH NAVY. 143
dark night to make their escape, when one of their number,
under the influence of liquor,* became unruly, commenced
digging in the day time and was discovered. Then all their
plans were frustrated and their labor lost. As soon as they
found they were discovered, the prisoners threw all their rubbish
into one large room, and ladies and gentlemen from all parts of
the city came to see what the Yankees covered with irons
had done. Their keeper offered a reward to any one who would
tell where the tool was that had been, used in the work.
Ephraim Stevens replied that it was in the chimney, and this
was searched from bottom to top without making the discovery,
and for aught we know the iron may be there to this day.
The press-gang occasionally called at the prison and beat up
for volunteers to man the British navy. On one of these occa
sions Ephraim Stevens declared that he was ready to go. His
comrades remonstrated with him and told him he would never
return, but he assured them that he would be back within a
week. He set out and was conducted on board a vessel in the
river, when the Captain, after showing him over the ship, asked
him how he would like to be a sailor. " First rate," said he,
" but the first chance I have I will put a brand of fire into the
magazine and we will all go to h 1 together," and he d d
the king and all on board. An attempt was made to hang him
to the yard-arm. The rope was put around his neck and while
it was being adjusted Stevens shouted, " Draw away ! I will
find neck as long as you will halter ! Draw away ! You are a
set of infernal cowards ! I dare you to hang me, thousands
of Yankees will be upon the war-path ! D n you and your
king." In about a week the captain ordered his men to take
Stevens back to prison, declaring that "he would have no such
fellow on board his ship."
In the winter of 1781, the prisoners succeeded in digging
* It appears that there were other prisoners here besides the three that have been
mentioned.
144: HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
their way out of the prison, and eluding the vigilance of the
sentinels, they proceeded up the St. Lawrence on the ice, travel
ing in the night and secreting themselves by day. They suffered
keenly from cold and hunger. One bitter cold night, Ephraim,
being a little in advance of his party, fell through the ice.
He promptly reinstated himself on the firm ice before his
companions came up ; but as he was completely drenched
with water which almost instantly turned to ice, he knew
that he must get to a fire or perish. This was extremely
difficult. The British government had threatened severe pun
ishment to any who should aid escaping prisoners but there
was no alternative save death. A farm-house was seen not
far distant. Stevens approached it alone, and knocked for
admission. The inmates were asleep, but he aroused them,
told his story, and after much importunity, reinforced by the
pleading of the man s wife, he was admitted at the muzzle of a
gun, a fire was made and Stevens relieved of his sufferings.
His companions soon joined him, and the next night they pro
ceeded on their way. At length, when about a day s journey
from Vermont, they missed their way, fell in with some British
scouts, were recaptured and taken back to their prison in
Quebec. Meanwhile, their friends in Pittsford, receiving no
intelligence from them, supposed they were dead, and employed
Elder Elisha Rich to preach their funeral sermon.
In June, 1782, Benjamin Stevens, Sen., of Pittsford learn
ing that some prisoners were to be exchanged at Whitehall,
made the journey thither hoping to hear something respecting
the fate of his son, and his companions. While standing upon
the wharf a vessel came in, and the first to disembark was hie
own Benjamin. What imagination can realize that scene ? The
dead was alive ! Ephraim Stevens and Ebenezer Hopkins were
also exchanged on this occasion and returned to their families.
These young men were of Capt. Thomas Sawyer s company, and
received forty shillings per month for the time of their captivity.
CERTIFICATE RELATING TO PRISONERS. 145
The following is copied from a certificate in the office of the
Secretary of State :
"State of Vermont, Clarendon, August 14, 1782.
To the Pay Table. This is to certify that Benjamin Stevens
and Ebenezer Hopkins were taken prisoners, while in the State
service, on the 12th day of May, 1779, and carried to Canada
with Ephraim Stevens, at the same time lost their guns and
accoutrements and were exchanged on the 9th of June last.
THOS. SAWYER, Capt"
The following certificate is also extant :
" Certified extract of the Journal of the General Assembly
of a resolution of October 19, 1782, to pay Ephraim Stevens,
Benjamin Stevens, Ebenezer Hopkins and Jonathan Rowley
five dollars each, for guns they each lost in the service of the
State, when they were taken prisoners in the year 1779."
11
146 HISTORY OF PITTSFOED.
CHAPTER Y.
REVOLUTIONARY WAR CONTINUED.
Act Relating to Tories; Incursions of the Indians; Fort
Vengeance; Murder of Caleb Iloughton; Alarm, Pitts-
ford Company marches to Mount Independence; Capture
of Mr. Matson, Mr. Crippen and Miss Cox ; Bridge
built over Otter Creek; Provisions for the Army; Con
templated attack upon Fort Vengeance; Interview between
Patriot and Tory; Close, of Hostilities.
The people of this State became so exasperated at the tories
for the unworthy part taken by them in the great struggle, that
the General Assembly, in February of this year, passed the
following "Act to prevent the return to this State of certain
persons therein named, and others who have left this State or
either of the United States, and joined the enemies thereof.
" Whereas [here follow the names of one hundred and
eight persons, but only one from Pitts ford, viz.; Roger
Stevens, //.,] and many other persons, have voluntarily left
this State, or some of the United States of America, and joined
the enemies thereof; thereby, not only depriving these States
of their personal services, at a time when they ought to have
afforded their utmost aid in defending the said States against
the invasion of a cruel enemy, but manifesting an inimical
disposition to said States, and a design to aid and abet the
enemies thereof, in their wicked purposes.
And whereas many mischiefs may accrue to this, and the
ACT RELATING- TO TORIES. 147
United States, if such persons should again be admitted to
reside in this State.
Which to prevent,
JBe it enacted, &c., that if the said [the one hundred and
eight names repeated] or any of the before mentioned persons,
or either of them or any other person or persons, though not
specially named in this act, who have voluntarily left this State,
or either of the United States, and joined the enemies thereof,
as aforesaid, shall, after the passing this act, voluntarily return
to this State, it shall be the duty of the sheriff of the county,
his deputy, the constable, selectmen, or grand-jurors of the town
where such person or persons may presume to come, and they
are hereby respectively impowered and directed, to apprehend
and carry such person or persons before an assistant or justice
of the peace ; who is hereby required to call to his assistance
one or more assistants or justice of the peace, who are hereby
directed to give their attendance, according to such requisition,
and if upon examination into the matter, the said justices shall
find that the person brought before them is any one of the
before described persons, they shall order him to be whipped
on the naked back, not more than forty, nor less than twenty
stripes ; which punishment shall be inflicted, and the delinquent
shall be ordered to quit this State immediately.
Be it further enacted, that if any person shall continue
in this State one month, or shall presume to come again into
this State, after such conviction (without liberty first had and
obtained therefor, from the Governor, Council, and General
Assembly) and be convicted thereof, before the superior court
of this State, he shall be put to death.
jBe it further enacted, that if any person shall, willingly
or willfully, harbor or conceal any of the persons above named
or described, after their return to this State, contrary to the
design of this act ; such person, so offending, shall, on convic
tion thereof before the superior court, forfeit and pay the sum
148 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
of five hundred pounds ; two-thirds thereof to the use of the
State, the other third to the use of him or them who shall
prosecute the same to effect."
The Roger Stevens, Jr., who was included in this act of
proscription, will "be remembered as the brother of Ephraim.
In 1774, or early in 1775, he built a grist-mill in the town
at the mouth of the Stevens brook, near the old ford. It
was on a fifteen-acre lot that had been given by the Proprie
tors in 1772, for a mill-privilege. At the breaking out of the
war he espoused the cause of England, constructed a raft upon
which he put his millstones, irons, &c., and floated them down
the Creek as far as Middlebury. He then withdrew to the
British army in which he served as a lieutenant. During the
war his family abode in Pittsford, and it was known that he
occasionally visited them ; but it was done secretly, as he was
aware that he was an outlaw, and liable at any time to be
arrested and punished. After the passage of the act of which
we have given a copy, his residence here was carefully watched
by the inhabitants of the town, who were anxious to secure
him ; for it was well known that he was furnishing the enemy
with information which was very valuable to them in their
work of plunder and destruction.
One dark night in the month of July, Moses Olmstead,
discovering a bright light in Stevens house at an unusual hour,
was convinced that he had returned on a flying visit to his
family. He communicated his suspicions to the men in the
fort who immediately turned out and surrounded the house.
Three of their number were chosen to enter, but on doing this,
they discovered no one except Mrs. Stevens and her two chil
dren. It was afterwards ascertained that he had been fore
warned of their approach, and was secreted among the weeds
close to the logs of his house. It was also ascertained that he
had conducted a party of some thirty Indians to the vicinity of
the fort, with the design of attacking it ; but finding it strongly
ESOAPE OF DEACON HENDEE AND OTHERS. 149
garrisoned the Indians retired, while Stevens improved the
opportunity to visit his family.
The inhabitants of the town were frequently alarmed by
the reported approach of small parties of the enemy, and on
all such occasions the women and children repaired to the fort,
where they remained till the alarm subsided. In the month of
November, Deacon Caleb Hendee, Elder Elisha Eich of Clar
endon, and Deacon Murray, late of Orwell, went in company
to Neshobe to view a lot of land near the house of George and
Aaron Robbins. After an inspection of the land they called at
the house of the Messrs. Robbins and then returned to PittsforcL
A few minutes after they left the house it was attacked by the
Indians, and the two owners w r ere killed. Most of the other
inhabitants of Keshobe were made prisoners and their houses
burned. About ten o clock that night the news of this attack
reached Pittsford. The same hour, Deacon Hendee, with the
assistance of Elder Rich, Deacon Murray and Richard Hendee,
the Deacon s brother, who happened to be there at that time,
placed his whole family (including his aged mother) on horse
back, and traveled all night as far as the town of Clarendon,
where they arrived at the house of Elder Rich, early the next
morning.* A company of Col. Gideon Warren s regiment was
dispatched to the scene of distress, where it remained three
days, but the enemy having retreated the company was with
drawn. Capt. Wright and the Lieutenant being absent, Ensign
Blanchard had command of the force on this occasion. We
find the name of Stephen Mead of Pittsford on the roll of this
company.
Fort Mott was illy adapted to shield the people from the
protracted efforts of a powerful foe. Accordingly, being roused
by the startling acts of cruelty and bloodshed which had been
perpetrated, they resolved to have a fort built that w r ould
accommodate a large garrison and afford them adequate pro-
Hendee s MS.
150 HISTOEY OF PITTSFOED.
tection. This subject was laid before the Board of War in the
fall of 1779, with the assurance that if such a fort should be
constructed, the inhabitants of Pittsford would contribute
liberally towards the expense. This Board appointed a com
mittee to look into the subject and to report the result of their
investigations. We have not been able to find the report, but
that the investigations were made and the report submitted
will appear from the following :
" BOAED OF WAE, ")
AELINGTON, April 6, 1780. 5
Resolved, that said Board accept of the report of their
committee respecting building a fort at Pittsford, &c.
Resolved said fort be built near the north line of Pittsford
where Major Ebenezer Allen shall* judge proper. That said
fort be a picquet with proper flankers with barracks for 150
men inclosed that said fort be accomplished as soon as
may be.
Resolved, to raise one company of 75 men exclusive of
officers to join Major Ebenezer Allen for defence of frontiers
8 men from Col. Warner s regiment to be raised from Wells,
Clarendon, Tinmouth and Wallingford, Isaac Clark to be
Captain, Benjamin Everst 1st Lieut., Eufus Branch 2d Lieut,
and Capt. Jonathan Eassett commissary of purchaser."
The spot selected for this fort was on the farm of Caleb
Hendee in the north part of the town, and at the time of
taking possession of it, Joseph S afford as the proper officer
gave Mr. Hendee the following receipt :
" PITTSFOED, May 3, 1780.
Eeceived of Mr. Caleb Hendee for the use of the State the
year ensuing a part of his farm, viz : all his improvements on
the east side of the Creek, except 6 acres of plough land on
the intervale, and one acre of pasture land adjoining and north
of his barn, and five acres of wheat and three quarters of an
FORT VENGEANCE. 151
acre of land whereon he had turnips the year past. For the
use of said land I promise, in behalf of the State, to pay him
24 pounds, as specie went in market in the year 1774, Provided
we are able to maintain this post so as to secure the troops ; if
otherwise we are obliged to evacuate this post on account of
the enemy, one half of the above mentioned sum shall be due
him, which sum is to be paid at or before the first day of
December next,
JOSEPH S AFFORD, Barracks Master."
"Work was immediately commenced upon this fort, and the
following account of it was furnished by the late Gen. Caleb
Hendee to Henry Hall, Esq., of Rutland, to whom the writer
is indebted for a copy :
" The site selected for its location was on the upland about
a mile north-easterly from Fort Mott, and around the very spot
then occupied by the dwelling house of Caleb Hendee, Sen.,
and was between the present residence of Samuel Hendee and
that of Chester Thomas. The stage road from Pittsford
village to Brandon passes over the ground formerly occupied
by this fort. Like all the other forts in Vermont, it was a
pickqt fort ; a trench was dug five or six feet deep, the trunks
of trees, mostly hard maple and beech, a foot or a foot and a
half in diameter, were sunk into the trench as closely together
as possible, extending sixteen or eighteen feet above ground
and sharpened to a point at the top ; between each log a stake
was driven to fill the space left by the round, unhewed logs ;
within the pickets a breastwork was thrown up about six feet
high and about six feet broad at the base, and composed
entirely of dirt and logs. At a height convenient for the
garrison were loop-holes between the logs, and large enough
at the center for the barrel of a musket to pass through, and
radiating outside and inside so that the soldiers within could
move the muzzles of their guns in the loop-holes and command
a wide range without, while the loop-holes were so far from the
152 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
ground on the out-side that the enemy s shots coming through
them would pass over the heads of the garrison. The form of
the fort was square, enclosing an acre or more of ground. On
each corner jutting outside was a flanker, with two stories,
that is, a floor was laid across each about eight feet from the
ground answering for a ceiling to the space below; above this
floor or ceiling was the sentinel s box with loop-holes above and
below, from which the musketeers could rake the approach to
the fort in every direction with a deadly fire. On the east of
the fort was a large double gate of oak plank thickly studded
with large headed nails or spikes so as to be completely bullet
proof, while on the west side of the fort was a wicket-gate ;
within the fort, extending along the north side were the oncers
barracks, and on the south side the soldiers barracks. In the
northwest corner was the magazine for the munitions of war, a
framed building ; in the northeast and southwest corners were
wells, but these were soon neglected and the garrison supplied
themselves with water from a spring thirty or forty rods east of
the fort. The space between the officers and soldiers barracks
was the parade ground. The fort was finished in June, 1780.
After the war the barracks were long used as dwelling houses,
and one room of them may even now be seen, standing at the
west end of Samuel Hendee s barn yard."*
The new fort was doubtless in a condition for occupancy
early in June, though we find the following record of the
proceedings of the Board of War at a later period :
"!N BOARD OF WAR, ^
ARLINGTON, July 14, 1780. )
Whereas, it has been represented to this board that 20,000
brick are wanted to build chimneys in the barracks in the fort
on the north line of Pittsford, Therefore Resolved, that this
board do recommend to Major Ebenezer Allen to furnish five
* Since thetibove was written, this, the last vestige of the old barracks, has been
demolished.
BILLS FOR LABOR ETC. ON THE FORT.
fatigue men that are accustomed to the business if any there
be, to assist the barrack-master in making said brick, who shall
be allowed one shilling each in hard money or an equivalent
for each day in addition to their pay. Resolved that the com
mandant of said fort be allowed to keep one horse and one cow
in the State s pasture and the barrack-master see that there be
no other cattle of any land kept on the State s cost. Resolved,
that there be no more barracks built in said fort on the State s-
cost for the time being."
The following are copies of some of the bills paid by the
State for labor, and material used in the fort, and for some
improvements afterwards made &c &c. :
" State of Vermont Dr.
To Jonathan Rowley.
By one draft chain 14s Od
" two oxen at 6s. 12
" one Iron wedge 3
" one hoe 3
112
GERSHOM BEACH, Amr."
State of Vermont Dr.
To Nehemiah Hopkins.
To labor on fort in Pittsford by request of
Ebenezer Allen in the month of May
1780,
To 6 days work of himself at 3s. per day 18s Od
To 4 days ox work at Is. 6d. 6
To an axe delivered to Major Allen for
the use of the garrison 5
1 9 0"
154: HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
" State of Vermont Dr.
To William Cox.
To 40J- Ibs Kails 2 2s 6d
" 20 days work of one pair oxen 2
" 8 pairs door liinges 19 Ibs 1 4
" one ox yoke and irons 12
" one bushel corn 3
" one piece of chain 6
6 7 6"
" The following bills were paid by Jonathan Fassett s order
as commissary :
To Jonathan Kowley for wheat 10 15s Od
" Caleb Hendee for flour 411 10
" " for beef 10 00
" Gideon Cooley for transportation 18 9 8
4317 _ 4"
This may certify that this state is indebted to Gideon
Cooley eighteen pounds nine shillings hard money for trans
porting provisions from Kutland to Pittsford the last campaign
for state troops.
Pittsford, Feb. 19, 1781.
JONATHAN FASSETT, C. P."
" State of Yermont Dr.
To Gideon Cooley.
1780 Sept. 14. To taking 11 rafts of
boards from Sutherland s mill in Rut
land to Fort Yengeance at 24s. 13 4s
To 3 quarts 1 pt. and 1 gill Eum 14 6
" dressing two wolfs skins 3
14 1 6"
BILLS FOE MATERIALS, ETC. 155
" PlTTSFOED, Allg. 8, 1780.
State of Yermont to "William Cox Dr.
To finding house room and lodging for
Ichabod Downing, a soldier in William
Hutchins company, Major Allen s de
tachment, the time he was lame with a
broken thigh, it being from the 4rth of
April to the 3d of July 1780, at 3s. 6d.
per week 1 12s 6d
To one gallon of vinegar and bandage 6
1_18 6"
" PITTSFORD, October 25, 1780.
This certifies that Jonathan Kowley let
* me have for the use of the state at
Pittsford,
22 Ibs nails at one shilling per Ib. 1 2s Od
20 bushels Indian corn at 3s. per bu. 3
2 tons of hay at one pound eighteen shil
lings per ton 3 12
To pasturing two yoke of oxen 12 weeks
at four shillings per week 1 15
To one ox cart 6
15_10"-0
For which he hath received no pay.
JOSEPH SAFFOED, JR."
Capt. Benj. Cooley received by order of
Pay Table, for labor done by sundry
Persons on Fort in Pittsford 3 14s Od
"After the fort was completed Major Ebenezer Allen, of
Tinmouth, with about one hundred and fifty men was put in
command of it. They were scarcely established in their new
156 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
quarters before one of their number was missing. Caleb
Houghton, a young man aged about twenty years who came
from the east part of the State, went unarmed to the residence
of Joshua June to obtain some garments which Mrs. June had
washed for him. He had been gone from the house but a short
time when Mrs. June heard the report of a gun. Stepping
to the door and looking up along the road she saw an Indian
in the act of transfixing Houghton with his bayonet.
For some time previous to this event the horrid atrocities
of the Indians had produced such an effect upon Houghton s
mind that he had a frightful dream of being captured and
tortured by them, and had been heard afterwards solemnly to
declare that he would never be taken alive by them. These-
facts were recollected at the fort when Houghton s absence was
unexpectedly protracted, and sad fears were entertained as to
his fate. A party of men were sent out to look for him, and
after a while they found his corp.?e about half a mile south of
the fort, bearing marks of a fierce struggle and of savage
revenge. This took place beneath an oak tree* which stood
about one hundred rods northeast of Mr. June s house, and
when the land was cleared this tree was thoughtfully spared,
and may still be seen pointing out the spot where Houghton
fell a victim to Indian ferocity. The soldiers took the body of
their comrade, carried it to the fort and thence buried it on a
small knoll, about fifteen rods east of the present residence of
Samuel Hendee.
Major Allen, to whom are attributed some of the peculiari
ties of his relative, old Ethan, exasperated by the loss of a good
soldier and the audacity of the murder, made strenuous efforts
to discover the perpetrators of the deed, but for several days
no trace of them could be found. Allen collected his men in
front of the large gate on the east side of the fort, and publicly
* The top of this tree has been broken off, but new branches have sprung out
from the trunk so that it now presents quite a thrifty appearance.
CALEB HOtlGHTON. 15 7
vowed vengeance against all and every Indian that should come
within his power, and then, as a memorial of his vow, he took
a junk bottle filled with rum, stepped out in front of his men
and dashed the bottle furiously against the gate and christened
the establishment i Fort Yengeance, and by that name it was-
ever after known."
Caleb Houghton, the subject of the foregoing narrative,,
was a descendant of Robert Houghton who was born in 1658.
Robert had one son, Ebenezer, who married Susannah Farns-
worth, and died May 15, 1 TOO. A son, Cyrus, born in 1722,,
was the result of this marriage; and he married Hodessa r
daughter of Simeon Houghton of Petersham, and settled in
Bolton, Mass., where were born the following children,, viz.:
1st, Cyrus, born 1745 ; 2d, - , born 1747 ; 3d, Ebenezer,,
born 1750, died August 16, 1826; 4th, Olive, born 1752; 5th,,
Abigail, born 1755; 6th, Mary, born 1757; 7th, Caleb, born
1760 ; 8th, Aaron, born 1766. The parents, with their children,
removed from Bolton to Putney, Yt., before the Revolutionary
war.*
The first w r e hear of Caleb Houghton as a soldier was in
the year 1777, when he was enrolled in the company com
manded by Capt. John Patty in Col. Williams Regiment.
This company was called out Aug. 29th, and was in service
twenty-five days. Young Houghton received for this service
2. 10s. 8d.
"We next hear of him as a member of Capt. Jesse Safford s
company of forty-two men, a part of whom were sent to the
fort at Pittsford and a part to Royalton. Houghton was with
that part of the company which came to Pittsfordf and he was
allowed pay for eighty miles travel. The total amount of his
pay, drawn by the family, February 20th, 1783, was 8.
The Continental troops having been withdrawn from the
* Manuscript " Genealogy of the Houghton Family" by the late Fisher M. Rice,
t July, 1780.
158
HISTOEY <5F PITTSFOED.
State the inhabitants were left, during the year 1780, to their
own resources for protection against the enemy from Canada.
Measures were immediately taken for strengthening the forts
at Rutland, Castleton and Pittsford ; two companies of rangers
were raised and kept in constant service guarding the frontiers
and watching the movements of the enemy, and the great body
of the militia was continually held in readiness to turn out
en masse whenever their services were required. The first
alarm this year occurred in the month of March, but we can
learn nothing of the cause or of the circumstances attending it.
Several companies of militia were called out, but the alarm
subsiding, they were soon discharged.
The following is the " Pay Roll of Capt. Benjamin Cooley s
company in Col. Ebenezer Allen s Regiment called out on the
alarm of the 23d of March, 1780, commencing the 23d and
ending the 28th, inclusive:
Capt. Benjamin Cooley,
Lieut. Moses Olmstead,
Ensign James Hopkins,
Sergt. Silas Mosher,
" Barzaleel Richardson,
" David Crippen,
" Samuel Ellsworth,
Clerk John Barnes,
Corp. James Stevens,
" Ashbel Hopkins,
" Aaron Parsons,
Samuel Wiswell,
Abel Stevens,
Jeremiah Parker,
Solomon Story,
Jona. Partridge,
Ephraim Story,
James Smalley,
William Cox,
Adonijah Brooks,
Luther Drury,
Nehemiah Hopkins,
Ebenezer Ambler,
Samuel Sheldon,
Gershum Beech,
Timothy Miller,
David Gilmore,
Gideon Cooley,
Daniel Stevens,
Jabez Olmstead,
Samuel Crippen,
Benjamin Stevens,
Stephen Jenner.
PITTSFORD COMPANY AT MOUNT INDEPENDENCE. 159
Total amount of compensation for 6 days service 38
12s 8d.
.* AUGUST 10, 1781.
The within Pay Eoll examined and approved and the
Treasurer is directed to pay the same which is 38 12s 8d.
THOS. CHITTENDEN.
Date above mentioned received of Ira Allen, Treasurer,
the contents of the above which is 38 12s 8d.
BENJ. COOLEY, Capt"
In the month of May, the enemy in considerable force
came up the lake, made an incursion into the valley of the
Mohawk, and ravaged the country in the vicinity of that river.
The Governor of New York, with some militia then at Albany,
hastened to Lake George for the purpose of intercepting him
on his return. When near the lake he sent a message to the
commanding officer at Castleton, requesting that he should
meet him at Ticonderoga with such force as he might be able
to collect. On receiving this communication Major Ebenezer
Allen immediately called the roll of his men and took up the
line of march for the lake. At the same time he sent orders
to the officers commanding the militia in the vicinity, to collect
their men and join him at Ticonderoga. The next day he
wrote the Governor " that h had reached Mount Independence
with over two hundred men, and was in the immediate expecta
tion of being joined by one hundred more, but that he had no
boats, which he trusted the Governor would furnish to enable
him to cross over to Ticonderoga." But the enemy taking
a northerly course reached Lake Champlain at Crown Point
and made his escape. Among the one hundred by whom
Allen was in immediate expectation of being joined, was the
company from Pittsford, and it reached Mount Independence
but a very few hours after the arrival there of the forces from,
Castleton.
160 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
The following is a copy of the " Pay Eoll of Capt, Benja
min Cooley s company in Col. Ebenezer Allen s Regiment of
Militia, called out on the alarm of the, 30th of May, 1780,
commencing the 30th of May, and ending the 6th of June,
1780, inclusive, the money being due from the State of Ver
mont:
NO. Amt. of Miles Tr
NAMES. Days. Wages. Travel.
s. d. s. d. s. d.
Capt. Benj a. Cooley, 8 2 28 56 0188 3 14
Sergt. Bezeleel Richardson, " 0-128 " " " " 1114
" Jabcz Olmstead, " 0128 " " " " 1114
Corp. Ashbel Hopkins, " 011-8 " " " 1104
." Gideon Cooley, " 0118 " " " u 1-104
Ebenezer Drury, " 0108 " " " " 1 94
Darius Crippen, " 0108 " " " " 1 94
Solomon Stacy, " 0108 " " " " 1 94
Caleb Cooley, 0-10-8 " " " 1- 9-4
Abdon Owen, " 010-8 " " " " 1 94
16114
Eeceived of the Treasurer of the State the contents of the
above, August 10, 1781.
BENJAMIN COOLEY."
It does not appear that any considerable body of the enemy
invaded Vermont during the summer ; but the frontier towns
were exposed to sudden irruptions of small parties of Indians
and Tories and rumors of their depredations kept the people in
a continual state of alarm. In July one of these marauding
parties visited Pittsford, took Isaac Matson prisoner and carried
him to Canada, where he was compelled to run the gantlet,
receiving wounds which nearly proved fatal.*
About this time Mr. Samuel Crippen set out to walk from
his hay-field to Fort Vengeance. Shortly after he left, a
hay-rake, which he had left standing in the field, was observed
to fall without any apparent cause. Mrs. Crippen construed
this as an ill omen and prophesied that her husband would
*Hendee sMS.
CAPTURE OF MR. CKIPPEN AND MISS COX. 161
never return. On reaching the house of John Barnes, Mr.
Crippen was offered the use of a horse and saddle, which were
accepted, and from thence he proceeded on horseback. As he
was passing a high rock, which may now be seen near the
northwest corner of the woods that are situated north of the
present town alms-house, a party of Indians and one Tory*
darted out from behind the rock, seized the horse by the bridle,
pulled Mr. Crippen from the saddle and led both man and
beast around behind the rock. Detaining Mr. Crippen as a
prisoner, thsy cut the throat of his horse and besmeared their
hands and faces with its blood. The saddle-tree they took
with them after stripping off the leather. A short time after,
Mrs. Sarah, wife of Joshua June, and her sister, Betsey Cox,
came along, each on horseback, Mrs. June being in advance
and having her infant son John in her lap. As they were
passing the rock before mentioned, the Indians and the Tory
rushed out from behind it and attempted to capture them. Mrs.
June having a spirited horse quickly left them in the rear,
while Miss Cox was made a prisoner. The throat of her horsef
was cut, after it had been wounded by a musket ball. The
bandits with their two prisoners then commenced a retreat
northward, going over Cox Mountain that they might keep
clear of the fort, going thus by a circuitous route to their camp
ing ground about a mile east or perhaps a little north of east
of the site of Brandon village. The Indians, through the
influence of Stevens, released Miss Cox, and having given her
some food, they allowed her to return home, but with a caution
to proceed slowly lest, probably, that the knowledge of their
violence and their whereabout be too promptly conveyed to the
fort, and the garrison thus be enabled to fall upon them. She
started slowly for home, but had proceeded only a short dis
tance when she saw coming towards her from the south a large,
fierce-looking Indian, fully armed ; he was acting as a rear
*It is understood that there were four Indians and one Tory, the latter being
Eojrer Ste\ 7 ens, Jr.
t This horse belonged to Jonathan Rowley.
12
162 HISTORY OF PITTSFOED.
guard to the hostile party. When, however, he saw in her
hand the food she had just received, he seemed to regard that
as her passport ; and, stepping aside from the path she was
traveling, he motioned her to pass by. As soon as she got out
of his sight, she stopped and divested herself of every article
of clothing save the gown that might impede her flight.
Winged with all the speed which the fear of a hideous captivity
and the sweet hope of escape could inspire, she flew towards
the fort some five miles distant, and at the gate of it she pres
ently fell exhausted. Her father caught her in his arms and
carried her within the enclosure, where she received such kindly
attention as her circumstances required.
Miss Cox was the first to bring the garrison news of the
capture of Mr. Crippen. Information of this and other
outrages committed by the enemy soon ran abroad, and an
additional military force under the command of Capt. John
Spofford, was sent to assist in protecting the inhabitants.
The following is the " Pay Koll of Capt. Spofford s com
pany, Col. Ebenezer Allen s Regiment of Militia in the service
of the State of Vermont, in the month of August, 1780, from
the 4th to the 18th, Pittsford.
Capt. John Spofford, Alfred Hathway,
Lieut. Nathaniel Blanchard, Job Candor,
Ensign Jedediah Jackson, Samuel Swift,
Sergt. Peabody Kinne, William Boyd,
" John Barns, Jacob Patridge,
" Elisha Wright, Silas Whitney,
" Isaac Harwell, Seth Kenne,
Corp. Peter Powell, Elisha Allen,
" Timothy Winter, Ichabod Kendall,
" Elisha Johnson, Seth Chandler,
" Luther Drury, Benjamin Whipple,
Jacob Johnson, David Whipple,
Samuel Pratt, Silas Pratt,
Abraham White, Comfort Smith,
163
James Fitch, Ziba Parsons,
Cephas Smith, Enos Ives,
John Trask, Gershum Obs,
Samuel Owen, John Ward,
Miles Leet, John Dagget,
Joshua Southwort, James Olmstead."
The Indians were pursued, but they succeeded in escaping
with their prisoner to Canada. It is understood that Mr.
Crippen was not subjected to very cruel treatment during his
captivity, and that within less than a year he was permitted to
return home on his parole. He then moved to Wallingford
w T here he would be less exposed to attacks, and there he died
of typhus fever early in 1783. Mr. Crippen was intending to
make Wallingford merely a temporary residence, as he wished
to return to Pittsford as soon as peace should be restored.
Accordingly he did not dispose of his real estate here, so that
w r e find the following account of the disposition of it by the
administrator :
" Inventory coated 25th Nov. 1784. Eeal estate as follows :
Home Lot appraised 87 10s
Half Pitch undivided land 4
Half Pine Lot 015
Half acre Town Plot 012
Set oif to Widow Esther 22J acres & buildings.
By order of Legislature sitting at Windsor dated 8th of April,
1784, the Administrator was authorized to sell to the
amount of 70 to pay debts, which was done and
sold as follows :
One half acre of Town Plot bid off by Widow ;
One half acre Pine Hill Lot sold to James Ewings.
Fifty acres of Undivided Land to Caleb Hendee ;
Home Lot to Samuel Campbell including Widow s Third with
the incumbrance."*
* Probate Records.
164: HISTORY OF PITTSFOED.
Isaac Matson, after being held a prisoner in Canada over
two years was released, and returned to his family in Fittsford.
During his captivity one of his sons, Joshua, had died, and the
family were in mourning, not only for him, but also for the
father who they supposed was likewise dead.
Early in October the enemy, about one thousand strong,
under the command of Maj. Carlton, came up the lake, took
Fort Ann, with its garrison of about fifty men, and then pro
ceeded to Fort George* which was also compelled to surrender.
On their way to Fort George they had laid waste the country ;
and they now kept up indications of making further advances.
This invasion created great alarm, and the militia of Yermont
were called out and ordered to rendezvous at Castleton, under
the command of Ethan Allen. Capt. Cooley of Pittsford
received this order on the llth, and the next day he was at
Castleton with his men.
The following is a copy of the " Pay Roll of that part of
Capt. Benjamin Cooley s Company in Col. Ebenezer Allen s
Regiment of Militia, called out on the alarm of the 12th of
October 1780, and commencing the 12th, and ending the 18th
inclusive, the money being due from the State of Yermont :
s s. !l
o i B ^ -SS = 3
H * II i. I-i *
1" 3 I I* I* "1 I
W i^ p t> ic
s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d.
Capt. Benjamin Cooley, Oct. 12. Oct. 18. 7 800 1-174 94 268
Lieut. James Ewings, " " " 580 151 048 199
Sergt. David Crippen, " " 280 0-111 010 0-111
Corp. Ashbel Hopkins, " " 240 0-102 010 0-10-2
Nehemiah Hopkins, " " 200 094 010 094
Caleb Cooley, " " " 20-0 094 010 094
Ephraim Strong, " " " 20-0 094 010 094
David Gilmore, " " " 200 094 010 094
Edward Owen, " " " 2 -00 094 010 094
Adonijah Brooks, " " " 200 094 010 094
Total 830
* Fort George was situated at the head of Lake George.
BRIDGE ACROSS OTTER CREEK. 165
Keceived 10th August 1781, of the Treasurer of the State
of Vermont the contents of the above.
BENJAMIN" COOLEY, Capt"
The enemy, however, kept to the westward of the Vermont
settlements, and soon retired to Ticonderoga and Crown Point.
While at Castleton Gen. Allen entered into negotiations with
the British commander for an exchange of prisoners, and it
was mutually agreed by the two commanders that hostilities
should cease during the continuance of these negotiations. The
enemy did not resume hostile demonstrations, but soon returned
down the lake to Canada, when Gen. Allen, in conformity to a
resolution of the Vermont Assembly, discharged the militia
and volunteers raised for the defence of the northern frontier.
The fort at Center Rutland was made the principal depot of
supplies for the troops in this section of the State, and from
this central storehouse ammunition and provisions were con
veyed to the forts at East Rutland, Castleton and Pittsford as
they were needed. But it was found inconvenient to transport
supplies to the fort in Pittsford, in consequence of there being
no bridge across Otter Creek within the limits of the town.
Usually, teams could cross at Pitt s ford, but in time of high
water even this was impracticable.
This subject was brought before the General Assembly at
its session in October, and a committee was appointed to investi
gate the matter and report. The following is the record :
Friday October 20, 1780.
The committee appointed to examine into the necessity
of building a bridge in Pittsford &c, brought in the following
report, viz :
That it is our opinion that there ought to be a bridge fit for
ox teams to pass over in said Pittsford with the greatest possible
expedition.
Signed, JEREMIAH CLARK, Clerk"
166 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
" Whereas it is represented that it is dangerous transporting
provisions across a creek near Capt. Benjamin Cooley s in
Pittsford to the garrison in said town by reason of there not
being a good and sufficient bridge over said creek ; Therefore,
Resolved, that a bridge sufficient for ox teams with a loaded
cart to pass over, be built over the said creek near Capt.
Cooley s on the State s cost, and that Ebenezer Drury, Capt.
Joseph Safford and Capt. Benjamin Cooley be, and they are
hereby appointed a committee to see that said bridge is imme
diately built; and the commander of the garrison in Pittsford
is hereby requested to detach such a number from the garrison
from time to time, as he can spare to work on said bridge,
under the direction of said committee."
It would appear from the record that Capt. Cooley superin
tended the construction of the bridge, and the following is his
bill:
" State of Vermont to Benjamin Cooley Dr.
For building a bridge in Pittsford by order of the General
Assembly.
To 114: days work Chopping 22 16s -Od
" 20 days work Hewing 6
" 42 days Ox Work 4 50
6 Gallons Kum 4_16_0
" Flour and Sauce 1 06
" 100 wt. Pork 2100
" 38 wt. Beef 0124
" 2900 ft. Plank 4 70
" 1500 ft. Boards 110
" Paying for two axes which were
broke at Bridge 0120
" One Hoe lost 0- 60
PROVISIONS FOR THE TROOPS. 167
" Pine Timber for said Bridge 1 10
" Wintering one pair of oxen for State 5
54180
Credit. By 19 Bushels Corn 3__17__0
Balance due 51 10"*
Capt. Cooley receipted this bill Aug. 10, 1781.
That this bridge was built over the Creek near the present
Gorham bridge there can be no doubt. One or two men now
living remember that there w T as a bridge there about the year
1790, and that its location was fifteen or twenty feet further
south than the present bridge, and indeed a portion of one of
the abutments is still visible.
At this time the finances of the country were in such a
condition that it was found difficult to procure provisions for
the army, and the Legislature, then in session at Benningtoa,
passed the following : . Act for the purpose of procuring Pro
visions for the Troops, to be employed in the service of the
State for the year ensuing.
Whereas, the state of the present currency, or medium of
trade, is such that it is difficult to procure necessaries to supply
the army, without calling on each town for a quota of such
supplies. Therefore,
Be it enacted, &c. that there be seventy-two thousand,
seven hundred and eighty one pounds of good beef ; thirty six
thousand, three hundred and eighty-nine pounds of good salted
pork, without bone, except back bone and ribs ; two hundred
and eighteen thousand, three hundred and nine pounds of good
merchantable wheat flour ; three thousand and sixty-eight bushels
of rye ; six thousand, one hundred and twenty-five bushels of
indian corn, collected at the cost and charge of the respective
towns in this State, and at the rates or quotas hereafter affixed
to such towns; and that there be a Commissary General
* This bill does not include labor furnished by the commander of the fort.
168 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
appointed, who shall take charge of the same. And it shall be
the duty of the selectmen of each respective town, to procure
such quota by the time or times hereafter directed by this act ;
which selectmen are hereby empowered to levy a tax on their
respective towns, for the procuring such quota ; and also such
quantity of salt, and number of barrels, as shall be found nec
essary for that purpose, and all the attending charges, either in
the articles before described, or in silver or paper currency.
*****************
And be it further enacted, that if the selectmen or other
person appointed by the Governor and Council, shall collect,
store up, or deliver to the Commissary General or his order,
any provision, except such as is of a good quality, and well
packed and saved ; or of any other than the quality required
in this act, and be thereof convicted, he shall pay treble the
value of the article he should have procured, to be disposed of
as aforesaid, unless it appears that it was not through his neg
lect, or for want of properly attending to his duty.
Provided always, it shall be the duty of the selectmen to
warn a town meeting, and consult the inhabitants on the method
of procuring such provision. That the time for the flour, pork,
rye and indian corn to be provided and stored in each town, be
the first day of January next ; that the time for the beef to be
provided and delivered, be, for the towns of Manchester, Sand-
gate and to the northward in the county of Bennington, the
eighteenth day of December; that the time for the beef to be
provided and delivered for the towns of Arlington, Sunderland
and all the towns to the southward thereof in said county, be,
on or before the fifteenth day of January next ; that the time
for the beef to be provided and delivered for the county of
Cumberland, be, on or before the fifteenth day of January next.
And that all such beef be delivered on the foot, except such
towns shall otherwise agree with the Commissary.
THE FORT A PLACE OF KEFO-P.. 169
And be it further enactf. that to the end it may be
known which town is guilty of embezzling, or misapplying, or
being any ways concerned in collecting, storing up, or deliver
ing to the Commissary, any provisions, except such as is < >f
good quality, and well packed as aforesaid ; each town shall
mark their barrels of provision, to be delivered as aforesaid,
with the same mark as is established by law to brand* their
horses.
The Assembly fixed the quota for every town in the State ;
that for Pittsford was of Flour 900 Ibs; of Beef 300 Ibs; of
salted Pork 150 Ibs ; of Indian Corn 24 bushels ; of Rye 1 -1
bushels.
The year 1781 is marked by no very formidable invasion*
by the enemy, but military operations were mostly confined to
marauding expeditions by small parties of Indians and tories
who improved every opportunity to harass the settlers. Kurt
Vengeance was kept garrisoned, and the few families remaining
in the township resorted there for protection on all occasions of
alarm. The land was often cultivated by men working in com
panies, well armed, over whom sentries were placed to sound
an alarm in case the enemy made his appearance. Few families
spent the night in their houses when it was known that the
Indians were hovering in the vicinity ; the most went t<> the
fort, though occasionally a few betook themselves to some
thicket in the woods ; and in the morning perhaps they would
find one or more of their dwellings in ashes.
In the month of May Jabez Olmstead, then living some
two hundred rods east of the residence of his father, discovered
in the evening several Indians in the vicinity, and not deeming
it safe to repair to the fort in consequence of the Indians lurk
ing in that direction, with his wife and one child he proceeded
some distance in an opposite direction, and lay in the woods
* The General Assembly, in February, 1779, passed an act establishing town
brands for horses. The brand for Pittsford was the figure 3.
170 HISTORY OF PITTSFOED.
through the night. The next morning he found his home
destroyed and gave notice of the event at the fort when the
soldiers went immediately in pursuit of the destroyers. During
their absence the Indians attacked the fort, and as there were
but three men remaining in it, the women seized muskets,,
fought with the men, and made a successful defence.
A few days later, as men were at work at Fassett s saw
mill,* one of the men, who had been placed as sentry, discov
ered on the top of the hill, some twenty rods west of the mill,
the heads of some six or eight Indians, with feathers in their
caps. A swift messenger was immediately dispatched to notify
the commander at Fort Yengeance of the presence of the sav
ages, and to ask him to send a company to intercept their
return to the north. The Indians finding the workmen in
considerable force and prepared for defence, slowly withdrew.
The mill party, well armed, w r ent in pursuit, and followed
close upon them till they arrived near the brook, just south of
the present town farm, where the Indians discovered, advancing
upon them from the north, the company which had been sent
out from the fort; and finding their retreat northward cut off,
they quickly plunged into the channel of the brook, and by
holding their heads low, succeeded in making their escape
unobserved eastward.
In the month of June, the Indians in considerable force
planned a vigorous assault upon Fort Yengeance. The force
engaged in this daring undertaking was a troop of the Coughna-
wagas, under the command of that renowned chief, " Tomo,"
who had established for himself the reputation of a shrewd,
bold and powerful leader. The attack was planned for the
night and was designed to be a complete surprise to the gar
rison. But some of the soldiers, who had been out on a scouting
tour, discovered the enemy at some distance from the fort, and,
* This mill stood where Smith and Barber s mill now stands.
INTENDED ASSAULT UPON FORT VENGEANCE. 171
readily divining their intention, hastened back and communi
cated the intelligence to Capt. Brookins. The latter at once
laid his plans to give the savages a warm reception. Early in
the evening he sent a detachment of his men a little distance
from the fort in the direction from which he supposed the
Indians would advance, and ordered them to lie in ambush and
wait the approach of the red-skins. As soon as they should
come within range the soldiers were to fire upon them and
retreat immediately within the fort. A little past midnight the
listening soldiers heard in the distance the cautious tread of
agile feet, and soon appeared dimly the dusky forms of the foe,
in single file, pressing on towards the fort. The signal was
given, when an unexpected volley threw the braves into confu
sion, during which the whites retreated within their fortification,
and the garrison held itself in readiness for an assault. But
when the Indians had felt the fire of the ambuscade the air was
rent with their hideous yells; and as those sounds died away,
there died also their purpose of attacking the fort. Early in
the morning the soldiers sallied out to the scene of the night s
adventure, when they discovered blood with other indications
that their volley had been effective. They were satisfied that
one Indian had been killed and others wounded.
The following is the " List of names in Capt. James Brook-
ins Pay Roll of himself and company in service of the State
of Vt. from the beginning of the Campaign in 1781 to the 30th
of June, in said year.
Capt. James Brookins, John Haynman,
Lieut. Elias Hall, Samuel Swift,
" David Powers, Jona. Shephard,
8ergt. Alpheus Hall, Saml. Philips,
" Eleazer Marble, Asahel Williams,
Elisher Smith, Philip Sprague,
" Solomon Cogswell, Obadiah Noble,
172
HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
Corp. Oliver Wright,
" Silas Brookins,
" Isaac Grant,
" Timothy Clark,
Nehemiali Kellogg,
John Lewis,
John Martin,
Eli Freeman,
Jedidiah Blackmar,
Amaziah Church,
Isaac Fenny,
Chancy Clark,
Hezekiah Rhodes,
Elihu Allen,
Justus Brewster,
Moses Beech,
Jesse Lang,
Nath niel Hamilton,
Samuel Owen,
Caleb Warren,
Caleb Ilaywood,
Nath niel Allen,
Abraham Owen,
Isaac Laughborough,
Saml. Chipman,
Richard Chamberlin,
Jona. Newton,
Ephraim Wescott,
Jona. Remington,
Usual Parsons,
John Cook,
Mansan Cook,
John Cristie,
Fifer Joseph Dewey,
Drummer Martin Adams,
Comfort Smith,
Moses Powers,
John Cook."
Daniel Haskins,
David Roberts,
Samuel Morrison
John Wilson,
After the close of the war Tomo returned to CoughnawagB, .
the residence of his tribe, and engaged in civil pursuits. In
that place, for some years, he kept a public house. Captain
Brookins, in passing through that region about the year 1800,
chanced to stop at this tavern. Observing that the landlord
a stout intelligent Indian limped a little in walking, he asked
him the cause of it. The reply was, "Me wounded at Pitts-
ford fort." This response brought to the Captain s mind the
night-scene near the fort in 1781, and it occurred to him that
this Indian might have been one of the braves wounded by the
ambuscade. He made further inquiries in respect to the time
and circumstances of Tomo s wounding, and discovered that the
limping landlord was the chief who had led the savages against
TOMO. 173
the fort on that well-remembered night. Other facts elicited
from the chief, were corroborative of the opinion entertained
by the garrison at the time, that one Indian was killed and
that others were wounded. The Captain neglected to inform
Tomo that the former commander of Fort Vengeance was
before him, but whether this reticence was prompted by the
consciousness that he was then in his power, we are not
informed.
A few years later, Allen Penfield, Esq., was traveling
through the same region and stopped at the same tavern.
Tomo was no longer the landlord, but he was still about there.
He was advanced in years and somewhat decrepit. As soon as
the old chief learned that Mr. Penfield was from Pittsford, he
made special effort to form his acquaintance. He engaged a
room, had it well warmed and lighted, and into this he took
Mr. Penfield, excluding all other company. Here he spent
hours in questioning the stranger respecting the condition of
his former favorite hunting-grounds and fishing-grounds. And
Mr. Penfield declares that this aged Indian gave a more accu
rate description of Otter Creek and the adjacent valley, from
Sutherland Falls to Middlebury, than he could possibly have
done, though familiar with them from his boyhood. Tomo
gave Mr. Penfield a full account of the contemplated attack
upon Pittsford fort, pulled up his pants and showed him the
scar upon his leg where he w r as wounded by a musket-ball, and
narrated the circumstances attending the Indians retreat* as
w r ell as the conveyance of their dead comrade to the place of
burial. The interview was pleasant and cordial and full of
interest, and at parting the old chief congratulated Mr. Penfield
on succeeding to so goodly a heritage, while the latter in
turn expressed his wish that the remaining days of his host
might be peaceful and happy.
It is very much to be regretted that so little can be learned
of the active life of Tomo. For many years he was known to
174 HISTORY OF PITTSFOED.
the white men as a bold and cunning chief, bnt the most of his
deeds have passed into oblivion. His full name was Thomas
Orakrenton. It appears that he was born on the 9th of Octo
ber, 1752. In the Register of Baptisms, &c., of the mission
of Sault St. Louis, is found a record of Thomas Orakrenton s
baptism, in Latin, as follows :
25 " Equidem baptizavi cum Ecclesioa ceremoniis
Orakrenton. puerum eodem die 9 Octobre iiatum ex patre
Matthia Teshonarenion et ex matre Cecilia
Anhrensite conjugibus quern Thomam nominavit Thomas
Raonhrentsiakare filius.
Signe (a un des actes precedents)
JOS. HlJQUET."
He married Anastasie Teramistha, by whom he had twelve
children, seven of which died in childhood, and five arrived at
the age of maturity, as follows: Joseph Tehaiasesha, Michel
Tsioronrati, Recri* Saioris, mother of Anne Kaheriton the
widow of Syneco Tehemiraron still living, Charlotte Tekaiaks
and Susanne Kurakrentha.
During some part of his elder years he carried on a trade
in skins in a stone house occupied at the present time by Pierre
Keehere*ton, called Murray, a merchant, one of his relatives or
descendants.
Thomas Orakrenton died at his home in Caughnawaga on
the llth day of February, 1825, as will appear by the fol
lowing :
6. " On the llth day of February eighteen
Thomas hundred and twenty-five, I the undersigned
Orakrenton. missionary buried Thomas Orakrenton,
husband of Anastasia Teramistha deceased,
* Or words to that effect.
INTERVIEW BETWEEN PATRIOT AND TORY. 175
* ? .
aged seventy three years and four months the day before yes
terday, died with the assistance of the church.
Charles Ohnarera and Jean Baptiste Ateramarikhon who
* * * *
Jos. MAREOUX, Priest.
This extract, signed by the actual missionary at Sault St.
Louis, ah" as Caughnawaga, we declare and certify to be a copy
of the original inscribed in the archives of the said mission.
Caughnawaga July fourth eighteen hundred and seventy-one.
M. Y. BURTIN."
It was probably about this time that the interview reputed to
have been held between Captain Benjamin Cooley and Roger
Stevens, Jr., took place. It appears that in the evening of the
seventh of April, 1780, Capt. Cooley went on horseback to
carry home Mrs. John May who had been at his house nursing
Mrs. Cooley, who was sick. On his return, when he had got
near where the present Gorham bridge now stands, his horse sud
denly stopped and appeared very much frightened. " What ! 5>
says the Captain, " do you smell a tory ?" Applying his whip
to the animal he succeeded in forcing him along. No more
o O
was thought of the circumstance at the time, but this year,,
1781, while Cap t. Cooley was on duty at the fort, he received
a note from Roger Stevens, Jr., who was in the vicinity at the
head of a scouting party of Indians and tories requesting an
interview and appointing a time and place. He asked the
Captain, moreover, to appear there with his side arms, and
assured him that he would meet him alone, unarmed, and as a
friend. The Captain complied, and held a long interview with
his old neighbor. In the course of the conversation Stevens
remarked to the Captain that he supposed his former towns
men blamed him very much for the part he had acted in the
war ; but he stated that he had been governed by his convic
tions of duty, and that notwithstanding the course he had
176 HISTOEY OF PITTSFOED.
^^ ^___^ *
taken, lie was then and always had been, a friend to the people
of Pittsford, and that he had done them many favors of which
they were entirely ignorant. For when the Indians had taken
any of ther number prisoners he had used his influence in
saving their lives, mitigating their sufferings and effecting their
release from captivity. And to convince the Captain that he
had refrained from exercising his power to harm the inhabit
ants, he asked him whether he remembered the evening when
returning from Mr. May s, his horse became frightened and
refused to proceed, and he inquired of the animal if he smelt a
tory. The Captain replied in the affirmative. " Well," said
Stevens, " I was but a few feet from you with a party of Indi
ans, and might easily have killed you or made you a prisoner ;
but wishing you well I refrained, though against the wishes of
the Indians."
It is not probable that Stevens remained long about here after
this interview, as he persevered in his attachment to the cause of
the enemy. After the war, he settled in Canada, near the Rideau
river, in which, some years later, he was drowned while shoot
ing ducks. His wife did not long survive him. They had one
daughter, Martha, who married a Mr. Burritt, and whose
descendants now live in Canada. He had also two sons, Guy
and Christopher, both of whom left Canada at an early age
and have not since been heard from.
Early in August, Gen. Stark, of New Hampshire, was
placed in command of the northern department, with his head
quarters at Saratoga, and he was in constant communication
with the military authorities of Vermont, who promised him
all the assistance in their power to repel the common enemy.
Though the British had a large force in Canada at this time,
they attempted little, except to make a few demonstrations
from St. Johns, still these demonstrations were sufficient to
keep the people of Vermont in a constant state of alarm. It
is probable that the activity of the enemy was stayed, in view
OPERATIONS IN 1782. 177
of certain negotiations then pending between the authorities of
Vermont and the British Generals, by which the latter hoped to
make a peaceful conquest of the State. The history of those nego
tiations is foreign to our purpose.* In the fall, however, the
enemy in considerable force came up the lake as far as Ticon-
deroga; but the news of the surrender of Cornwallis, on the
19th of October, so disheartened them that they soon after
retired down the lake, and went into winter quarters in Canada,
without having done any injury to the people of Vermont.
There was much anxiety in the public mind to know what
effect the surrender of Cornwallis would have upon the British
and how it would influence their plan of operations for the
year 1782. It was generally believed, however, that as they
had a large force in Canada, an invasion of the northern fron
tier would be resolved upon. In anticipation of this, the Legis
lature in February ordered the raising of three hundred men
for garrisoning the frontier posts, and they were to serve from
the 15th of April to the 15th of December. The Board of
War was directed to allot to each town its quota of said levy,
according to the common lists of said towns made for the year
1781, and each town was also required to provide the wages
for the non-commissioned officers and soldiers which it fur
nished, a sergeant to receive two pounds eight shillings per
month, a corporal, drum or fife, two pounds four shillings, and
a private, two pounds.
But instead of entering at once upon open hostilities, as
had been expected, the British agents resumed the negotiations
which had been so abruptly terminated the previous fall, and
the season wore away in " masterly inactivity," though a large
British force in the vicinity of the lake, kept the peoplo of
Vermont in a state of continual apprehension, and rumors of
aggressive movements created frequent alarms. That Gen,
* For a full account of them consult the excellent work of Gov. Hall.
13
178 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
Haldimand, the commander of the British forces in Canada,
intended to enter the frontier towns with a powerful army,
about the month of June, there can be no doubt ; but before the
necessary arrangements could be made, he received from Sir
Guy Carleton who had been appointed to the chief command
in America, a dispatch communicating the pacific intentions of
the new ministry and their instructions prohibiting further
offensive movements. These instructions were not then known
to the people of Vermont, and consequently they were not
wholly relieved from the fears of an invasion until they received
intelligence of the provisional articles of peace, which were
signed at Paris on the last day of November, 1782.
We have thus sketched the principal events in the Revolu
tionary war, which have most specially interested the inhabitants
of Pittsford. In the office of the Secretary of State, there are
certain papers which contain a few supplementary references to
persons who resided in this town and it may be worth while to
notice them.
On the Roll of " Capt. Brownson s Company called out for
the defence of the frontiers of the New Hampshire Grants in
June, 1776," we find the name of Jabez Olmstead who served
22 days and received 2 4s 6d.
On the Roll of " Capt. Parmelee Allen s Company of
Rangers, Maj. Ebenezer Allen s detachment, raised for the
defence of the State of Vermont," are the names of Thomas
Tuttle, Nathan Rowley, Hopkins Rowley and Ira Rood, who
served from Feb. 1st to Dec. 1st, 1780.
On the Roll of " Capt. Tehan Noble s Company, Col.
Warren s Regiment, which served in defence of the northern
frontier," are the names of Ira Rood, wiio served from May
5th to June 18ht ; and Nathaniel Montague wiio served from
May 7th to June 18th, 1781.
On the Roll of " Capt, William Hutchinson s Independent
Company, on duty at Castleton and Pittsford forts," we find
PETITION OF ROWLEY AND HENDEE. 179
the names of Joshua June and John May, who served from
JSTov. 20, 1781, to May 1, 1782.
On the Roll of " Capt. Patterson s Company, Col. Warren s
Regiment, for service in the alarm in October, 1781," are the
names of Samuel Hopkins and James Hopkins.
On the Roll of " Capt. Jotham White s Company, Col.
Fletcher s Regiment," is the name of Ashbel Hopkins, who
served from July 1st to Dec. 19, 1781.
On the Roll of " Capt. Zadock Everest s Company, Col. Ira
Allen s Regiment," is the name of James Hopkins, who was
allowed pay for 27 miles travel and 9 days service 1781.
On the Roll of " Capt. Eli Noble s Company, in the service
of the State from the 16th of August to the 21st of Nov.,
1780," are the names of Aaron Parsons and Abraham Owen.
On the Roll of " Capt. Lee s Independent Corps of Rangers
in the three years service," is the name of Jabez Olmstead.
On the Roll of " Capt. Joshua Babcock s Company, in the
Battalion commanded by Lieut. Col. Walbridge," is the name
of Luther Drury.
PETITION OF JONATHAN ROWLEY AND CALEB HENDEE.
" To the Hon. the General Assembly of the State of Yermont
to Be convened at Bennington Jan. 31, 1782.
The memorial of Jonathan Rowley and Caleb Hendee
of Pittsford in Rutland County, Humbly showeth, that your
honor s Memorialists situated in Pittsford, Lying adjoining the
Garrison, chiefly on the ijorth side of the Garrison, rendered it
impracticable for us consistent with prudence to continue on
and improve our houses and lands, we thought fit by the
advice of the principal officers of the Garrison to remove our
families into the more interior parts of the State, since which
time the Garrison has made use of about 2000 feet of boards,
which were the property of Jonathan Rowley, your honors
memorialist, the bigger half of said boards were taken from
180 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
his house, the upper and lower floors being loose, and the parti
tion and ceiling boards &c., taken and improved for the barracks,
and a considerable number of nails taken for the same use, some
of the shingles of the roof taken oif for the nails. The state
hath been benefited by our fields and meadows for feeding the
cattle, and all for the benefit of the state ; and we your honors
memorialists have been and still are put to great distress to
support their families, we think it altogether reasonable that
the state should pay us, at least, what they have been benefited
by our property if not the damages for burning our fences for
fire wood and many other damages. Your honor s memorialists
would therefore pray that the Hon. the General Assembly
would appoint a committee to look into the affair and examine
into the whole of the circumstances, and make their report to
some Board as your honors shall think proper. That your
honors memorialists may be considered and have justice done
in the case, as your honors memorialists in duty bound shall
ever pray.
Dated in Danby, 29th June, 1782.
. JONATHAN ROWLEY,
CALEB HENDEE."
This petition has the following endorsement :
"In General Assembly Feb. 7, 1782.
The within petition was read and dismissed.
Attest, ROSWELL HOPKINS, Clerk"
\
"PITTSFORD, May 28, 1784.
Then application being made by Mr. Caleb Hendee of said
Pittsford to us John Mott and Amos Cutler of Brandon, to
apprise on said day the damages done him the said Hendee, on
his place in time of the war by the garrison being erected there
in said place. We living near in said Brandon and being in
some measure acquainted with the articles that were on said
ANECDOTE OF ABEL STEVENS. 181
Hendee s place that are now destroyed or gone, we truly judge
the house would have been worth at the end
of the war 10 12s 6d
Barn would have been worth 6
Fences " " , " " 15
Wood lot " " " " 11
Maple trees saved for sugaring, 5
Apple orcharding . 22 10
70 2s 6d
Attest, JOHN MOTT,
AMOS CUTLEK."
Mr. Hendee presented a petition to the General Assembly
in 1T86, asking for twenty-four pounds as compensation, for
one years use of his farm by the State troops. This petition
was favorably entertained, and the amount asked for paid.
In this chapter and the one preceding relating to the Revolu
tionary war, we have given an account of most of the known
events, in which the inhabitants of this town or any portion of
them, took an active part. Tradition has transmitted to us
some anecdotes pertaining to the period immediately following
the war, though the most of these are too uncertain to be
recorded as authentic history. The following, however, comes
from a source which entitles it to credit: Among the early
inhabitants of the town were a few men who, at the usual sea
son, dealt quite largely in furs, and hunting and trapping were
to them not only pastimes, but sources of considerable income.
Abel Stevens was one of this class. In the fall of 1782, or
about that time, he went on a hunting expedition to the north
ern part of the State, and upon territory claimed by the
Caughnawaga Indians. In his rambles he chanced to meet a
hunter of that tribe. The Indian treated him cordially, pro
fessed great friendship, and invited him to accompany him to
182 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
new ground where game was more abundant. After a little
discussion they agreed to go in company one week, and at the
expiration of that time to divide their furs equally. It was a
successful expedition, and when the time had expired they
divided their furs according to agreement and set out on their
return. As they were traveling along a narrow foot-path
Stevens who was in advance heard behind him a sound like the
snap of a gun. Turning quickly he saw that the Indian had
treacherously attempted to shoot him, but his gun had missed
fire. Without a moment s delay, Stevens lodged the contents of
his gun in the Indian s heart, took the furs of both and returned
home.
In about a year from that time Mr. Stevens decided to revisit
the same territory. But this time he took with him Gardner
Simonds, an experienced hunter from Elizabethtown, N. Y.
They were quite successful in collecting furs, but on* their
return they were followed by a party of Indians who were
incensed at them for trespass, and quite likely had in mind the
fate of one of their tribe the year before. On reaching the
town of Addison, it being late in the fall and quite cold,
Stevens went into a house to warm himself. As he sat by
the fire, a tall, angry-looking Indian entered the room, and
approaching him in a menacing manner, said, " Me come to
kill thee." Stevens, who was a very large, athletic man, rose
quickly and struck the Indian a powerful blow which felled him
to the floor, where he lay some time in an insensible condition.
In the meantime Stevens and Simonds hastened on their return,
but finding Indians in pursuit, they turned westward and went
to Ticonderoga, where they remained several days. After
changing their course, the Indians, losing all traces of them,
gave up the pursuit and all but one turned back. This one
supposed to be the one whom Stevens had floored came on
to Pittsford, and for several days was seen lurking in the woods
in the vicinity of Stevens house. In about a week Stevens,
A SAVAGE KILLED. 183
accompanied by Simonds, returned to Pittsford and on being
informed of the proximity of the Indian, he knew very well
that the savage was seeking personal revenge, and that his life
was in danger. Simonds, who well understood Indian tactics,
determined to protect his friend and relieve the town of so
dangerous a visitor. Being w^ell armed, he went into the woods
near Stevens house, and lay in ambush, waiting the approach
of the enemy. After several days of anxious waiting, he con
cluded to change his position, and walking cautiously down the
Creek, just in the evening twilight he discovered, near the foot
of what is now known as Town Hill, the tall form of an Indian
creeping stealthily along, and headed towards Stevens house.
Just as he was passing the most easterly point of the short
curve of the Creek that part of it, the channel of which is
now nearly dry, the water having cut a shorter channel farther
west Simonds shot him through the heart. Taking his gun,
powder-horn and bullet-pouch, together with the rings from his
ears, he rolled his body into the Creek, and with the trophies
of Ins victory he proceeded to Stevens house, and communi
cated to him and his family the gratifying intelligence of the
death of the blood-thirsty being of whom they had such fearful
apprehension. This was probably the last Indian who was
killed on Pittsford soil. Mr. Stevens resided in this town about
ten years after this event, and then with his family he removed
to Canada where he died in 1828.
184: HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
CHAPTER VI.
Immigrants after the War, and their Locations; Proprie
tors Meetings; Survey of Town Plot Lots; The Insur
rection; Arrest and trial of the "Regulators;" Apology;
Leader expelled from the General Assembly ; 1780
1T90.
Jonathan Warner, Eleazer Harwood and Caleb Cooley
located in Pittsford in 1780.
Jonathan Warner wag born in Sandersfield, Conn., March
17, 1750, came to Pittsford in 1772, and bought of Isaac
Fellows two rights of land originally owned by Benijah Hunt-
ley and Nathan Jewett. The deed was dated October 10, 1772 7
and was in consideration of 20, L. M. A part of this land
was so pitched as to include the farms now owned by Mr.
Warner s grandson, Jonathan Warner, and E. M. Bailey. The
following year he commenced some improvements on his pur
chase. His first clearing was near where Mr. Bailey now lives.
In 1774, he built a log house which stood a few rods north of
the ground on which Mr. Bailey s house stands, and near the
location of the present highway. January 1, 1775, he married
Mary Griffin. At that time it was his intention to make his
home in Pittsford the following spring ; but on the breaking
out of the war, he changed his plans and entered the service of
his country. He was in the battle of Brooklyn, was with
Washington on his retreat through New Jersey, and w T as also
in the battles of Trenton and Princeton. On arriving at the
Delaware river the night before the former battle, Washington
wished to obtain a boat from the opposite shore, and called
J. WARNER E. HARWOOD. 185
upon some one to swim the stream and get it. Warner volun
teered and obtained the boat. Patting him on the shoulder
Washington exclaimed, " Brave fellow," and sent him for a
dry suit of clothes. His term of enlistment expired in the fall
of 1779, when he was discharged and took his pay in conti
nental money which, on account of its great depreciation, went
but little way towards procuring an outfit for housekeeping.
So little value had the currency that Mr. Warner paid sixty
dollars for a small kettle, and about in the same proportion for
other things. In the spring of 1780, with his wife and two
children, he came to Pittsford and occupied the house he had
built before the war. After residing here a short time he went
to Connecticut to visit his friends, and during the absence his
house here was burnt. On his return he built another house,
which stood on the west side of the present road, and on the
highest point of ground, between the present residence of
Jonathan Warner and that of Abner T. Reynolds. In this
house he resided until 1795, when he built the house now occu
pied by his grandson. Thenceforth this was his residence.
On the 15th of October, 1776, Eleazer Harwood of Ben-
ningtonhad pitched fifty-five acres of land in Pittsford, "being
a part of a 3d division lot belonging to the right of Phineas
Newton." This pitch included a part of the farm now owned
by John M. Goodnough. The year we are noticing (1780),
Mr. Harwood cleared the land and built a house near where
the red school house now stands, and removed his family here
in the fall. In 1786, he came into possession of the land which
now constitutes the farm owned by his grandson, Samuel H.
Kellogg, Esq., and removed thither, occupying a house which
had been built by his son-in-law, Amos Kellogg. A more
extended account of him will be given in connection with a
different subject.
Caleb Cooley was the youngest son of Benjamin, of Green
wich, and brother of Captain Benjamin of Pittsford, and was
186 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
born February 12, 1762. In 1778, Capt. Benjamin Cooley
went to Greenwich to see his family, (who, it will be recol
lected, had gone there for safety the year before,) and as he
was about to return to Pittsford, he urged his youngest brother
to accompany him. Their father, as a special inducement to
go, offered to give him one hundred acres of the wild lands in
Pittsford. He consented to go, for a few months, and the two
brothers resided together, cooking their own provisions and
living mostly on wild meat and corn bread. The corn used
had either to be pulverized in a mortar, or carried to Charles-
town or Bennington to be ground, as neither of the grist-mills
in this town was then in a condition to do work.
Although Caleb spent considerable time here, he did not
make Pittsford his home till 1780, when he became a member
of his brother s family, and from that time till the close of the
war, he served under Benjamin in most of the latter s move
ments as an oincer. From his youth he had shown himself
strictly honest and faithful in the discharge of every known
duty, and when called into military service these traits of char
acter were duly appreciated by his commander. He was conse-
qiiently assigned to places of great responsibility. After the
close of the war he devoted himself to improvements upon a
lot of land of which he had obtained possession, and which was
located directly west of the lot which had been surveyed to,
and was then occupied by Nehemiah Hopkins, and now (1871)
owned by H. F. Lothrop. He made the first clearing on the
high ground near the intervale and about one hundred rods
west of the residence of Nehemiah Hopkins. In the spring of
1784, he commenced the construction of a plank house upon
the small clearing he had made, and on the 6th day of May
married Elizabeth Sanford of Weybridge, and at once com
menced to occupy the unfinished house. Miss Sanford, the
bride, was a lady of rare excellence of character, and had
passed through scenes of suffering and affliction such as have
CAPTURE OF THOMAS SANFORD. 1ST
seldom fallen to the lot of women, even in the settlement of
new countries. She was born April 26, 1762, and was a
daughter of Thomas Sanford, who was among the first settlers
of "YVey bridge, (in 1775, ) and was among those who shared the
disasters attending the settlement of that township. One
Sabbath morning in the month of November, while Elizabeth,
the subject of this notice, was milking a cow near her father s
house, she was suddenly startled by the hideous noise of a party
of Indians and tories who were rushing directly towards her.
She rose, and, at the sight of her fiendish assailants, was so
amazed that she stood motionless for a few moments and then,
fainting, fell upon the ground. The Indians took the pail and
drank the milk. They then went into the house, made her
father and younger brother prisoners, and having split the cradle
into small pieces they piled them up in the middle of the room
and set the pile on fire. They then told the women they might
leave the premises, if they would not inform their neighbors.
The destroyers carried the feather beds out of the house, and
having, ripped open the ticks, scattered the feathers in every
direction. Mrs. Sanford had what was very uncommon at
that early day tw r o silk dresses. The Indians seized them,
tore them into shreds, w r hich they tied upon the ends of long
poles, and raising these in the air, they ran with them about
the premises, exulting to see the fragments of silk fluttering in
the breeze. One fierce-looking Indian took Mrs. Sanford s
infant child and was about to dash its head against a stone, but
the earnest pleadings of its mother touched his heart, and he
restored it unharmed to her arms. The other families in the
township shared a similar fate. The Indians killed all the
cattle in the neighborhood or drove them to the British army,
made all the men prisoners and took them to Quebec, and left
the women and children to take care of themselves. These
lingered in the vicinity a few days, not knowing which way to
turn ; but as their stock of provisions had been destroyed or
188 HISTOEY OF PITTSFOKD.
carried off by the enemy, they were soon reduced to great
distress. In a solitary wilderness, far away from friends and
human habitations, with no means of support and at such an
inclement season of the year, their condition was truly deplor
able, and no wonder they were upon the verge of despair. One
afternoon while upon the bank of the Creek, they descried in
the distance two canoes descending the stream. Not knowing
whether those canoes contained friends or foes they watched
them with breathless anxiety, but as they drew near their fears
were dissipated as they received a friendly greeting. The boat
men proved to be a scouting party from Pittsford fort sent out
to watch the movements of the enemy. The boats were small,
but all were taken into them, except Elizabeth, Miriam and
Eobert Sanford ; the latter, a lad of thirteen years of age, was
first taken away by the Indians, but not being able to endure
the journey, he was sent back. Those in the boats reached
Pittsford fort the following night, and before morning one of the
women was delivered of a child. The three others, accom
panied by two soldiers, set out on foot for the same place, but
they only reached Sudbury the first night where they encamped,
and the next day they arrived at the fort. Elizabeth Sanford
had been noted for her industry from her youth, and she was
now more than ever anxious to do something to support herself
and other members of the family. Mr. Arnold of Clarendon
was at the fort a few days after the Sanford family arrived
there, and Elizabeth made known to him her desire to obtain
employment. He told her he would hire her if she could ride
to his home, some seventeen miles, on a man s saddle, he being
on horseback. She replied that she had helped her father
break many a colt, and was ready to mount the saddle. She
did so and rode to Clarendon, Mr. Arnold walking by her side.
She spent one year in Mr. Arnold s family and then went to
live in Mr. Asa Ilale s family in Kutland, so that she could be
nearer her mother. The Hale family, at that time, fearful of
ELIZABETH SANFORD. 189
an Indian attack, did not sleep in the house through the night,
but retired to an out cellar; and Miss Sanford, in after life,
related many an anecdote connected with that secluded noctur
nal abode. After spending a few months there she went to
Mr. Kent s, in Benson, in whose family she remained one year,
and then returned to Rutland to visit her mother. While there
her father, from whom nothing had been heard during his cap
tivity, returned from Quebec, and was on his way to Weybridge
in pursuit of his family. Calling at Mr. Eawson s, then living
near where J. M. Goodnough now resides, he there received
the first intelligence concerning his family. They soon met
face to face, and we can easily imagine that it was a joyful
greeting. After this meeting Elizabeth w r ent to work in the
family of Capt. Cooley of Pittsford, on the expressed condi
tions that her compensation should be in provisions, and paid
to her father to assist him in the support of his family which he
was about to collect and then return to Weybridge. Elizabeth
did not return with the rest of the family, but remained at
Capt. Cooley s till she was married to his brother Caleb, as
already mentioned.
As she had labored to support herself and other members
of her father s family, she had little furniture, but in that age
of simplicity a little supplied all their wants they w r ere con
tented and happy. The house in which the earlier part of their
wedded life was spent, was nearly square in form, and contained
only one room on the first floor, with a small chamber above.
At one end was a stone fire-place and chimney. On one side
of the chimney w r as a pantry, and on the other a flight of
stairs leading to the attic or chamber. As but little land had
been brought into a state of cultivation, the hay crop the first
year was small and this was stacked near the house. Their
stock the first season consisted of one cow, a pair of oxen and
six sheep, which were protected to some extent from the cold
of winter by a rude temporary shelter, which in 1787, gave
190 HISTOKY OF PITTSFOKD.
place to a barn of sufficient capacity to contain both hay and
stock. The first spring following their marriage, their stock of
provisions running low, Mr. Cooley went to Middlebnry to
labor a short time, in order to obtain funds to renew their sup
ply. In his absence Mrs. Cooley had the care of their stock,
and on one occasion she ascended the hay-stack to obtain a sup-
ply for the animals, and while there a fierce wolf came howling
about the stack, and endeavored to reach Mrs. Cooley. She
kept him at bay with her pitchfork till assistance arrived. They
continued to reside there till November, 1794, when they
removed to the farm now owned and occupied by their two
daughters, Ruth and Ann. The land forming this farm was
pitched by Mr. Cooley March 30, 1783, and lay directly east
and adjoining the lot owned by Stephen Jenner. It was sur
veyed as a "part of the original rights of Benajah Huntly and
Nathan Jewett, being fifty-five acres of the third division of
each of said rights." This was surveyed by Samuel Beach,
County Surveyor, assisted by Nehemiah Hopkins and Stephen
Jenner.
The house was commenced in the summer of 1794, and was
occupied the following winter, though only partially completed.
The next season it was clapboarded and otherwise improved,
so that it was one of the best residences at that time in the
town. Mr. Cooley fell a victim to the malignant fever which
prevailed in 1813, and died Feb. 13th, in the triumphs of the
Christian faith. Few men have left a better record or been
more generally respected ; he was a kind husband and father,
a highly esteemed neighbor and townsman, a man of large
sympathies embracing the poor and lowly, faithful and con
scientious in the discharge of every duty, and as the result of
this, he was frequently promoted to offices of trust and respon
sibility.
Jonathan Dike, Peter Rice and Phineas Ripley located in
this town in 1781.
JONATHAN DIKE PETER RICE. 191
Jonathan Dike was from Coventry, Conn., and had married,
December 28, 1TT5, Esther, daughter of Dan Barnard, Sen.,
of that town. He purchased of Joseph Lyman one hundred
and ten acres of land in the southeasterly part of the township
of Pittsford, which land bordered upon and lay south of what
is now called Burr Pond. The deed of this purchase w r as
dated March 6, 1780. It is not certain that he made any
improvements upon this land, but a few months later he came
in possession of what is now the farm owned by Hawkins Hart.
How he obtained this we are not informed, as no record of the
deed or pitch is to be found upon the Proprietors books ; but
that he owned it is evident from the fact that he afterwards
sold it with the improvements to David Stark. Having built
a small house Mr. Dike came here with his family in 1781, but
three years later he removed to Chittenden and spent the
remainder of his days on the farm now owned by Aretas
Ranney.
Peter Rice was, undoubtedly, a descendant of Edmund who
was born in Barkhamstead, South Britain, in 1596, came to
Massachusetts, took the freeman s oath May 13, 1640, and was
one of the first Proprietors of Sudbury. He had eight sons,
and from these have sprung most of the Rice families in New
England. We have not been able to trace the genealogy of Peter
Rice, but in his first deed of land in Pittsford in 1 780, embracing
fifty-five acres a part of the farm now owned by Royal Hall
he is said to be " of Guilford, Cumberland County, Vt.,"
and if so, quite likely he was a son of Micah Rice who was the
first settler of that township in 1760. Peter was born July
14, 1745, married Margaret, born November 13, 1757, widow
of Job Winslow, and daughter of Benjamin Cooley, Sen., of
Greenwich, Mass. He made the first improvements on the
farm now owned by Mr. Hall, commenced to reside there in
1781, and remained there till 1789, when he bought of Nathan
iel Pimiey one hundred acres of land south of Stephen Mead s.
192 HISTOEY OF PITTSFOED.
To secure payment Pinney took a mortgage deed of the land
to the amount of 74. 8s., and this is the first mortgage found
on the town records. Pinney never resided here, but was of
Dutchess Co., N. Y., and bought this land on speculation of
Stephen Mead, in 1773. This lot included the farm now owned
by Ransom Burditt. Mr. Rice built a small house about where
the brick house now stands, and into this he removed his family
a few months after he had made the purchase.
Phineas Ripley was born in Windham, Conn., where his
early life was spent. He came to Bennington, Yt., sometime
during the Revolutionary war and enlisted in the army. He
was soon appointed Sergeant Major, and served as such in the
battle of Bennington. How long he continued in the army we
are not informed, but he married Experience, daughter of
Samuel Montague, and located in Pittsford, on the farm now
owned by S. T. Fenton. If the deed- of this land was ever
recorded the record has been lost, and consequently we have no
means of knowing who was the original Proprietor, or the
number and division of the lot. His first clearing was on the
east side of the brook* and he resided there in a log house till
1802, when he built the house now owned and occupied by Mr.
Fentori.
Eleazer Warner, Amasa Ladd, John Tupper and sons,
Simon and Ebenezer, and Amos Kellogg located here in 1782.
Eleazer Warner was the son of Eleazer and Esther (Smith)
Warner and was born in Granby, Mass., Sept. 13, 1755. He
had for brothers, Elisha and Seth, and for sisters, Mary and
Esther. Eleazer came to Pittsford in 1782, and the following
year married Hannah, daughter of William Cox. He resided
two or three years on the farm of his father-in-law and then
purchased a lot of land in the south part of Sugar Hollow
now known as the Lampson place. He built the first house
north of the bridge and resided there till 1792, when he bought
*This house stood about forty rods east of the house now owned by Mr-Fentoru
AMASA LADD JOHN TUPPER. 193
of Gideon Cooley the lot now known as the Bishop Booth
place. He made the first improvements and built the house on
that farm, and resided there till his death in 1835.
Amasa Ladd came here from Chittenden where he had
resided sometime with his brother, Nathaniel Ladd, who was one
of the early settlers of that township. He married Elizabeth,
daughter of William Cox, from whom he received as a gift, one
hundred and ten acres of land on the right of Joshua Johnson,
the deed being dated Nov. 16, 1782. Two days later this land
was pitched (surveyed) in the southeasterly part of the town
ship near what is known as Ladd Hollow. Mr. Ladd never
occupied this land, but on the 3d day of Nov. 1784, he bought
of Gideon Cooley one hundred acres which included the farm
now owned by Abner T. Reynolds. He made the first clearing
about sixty rods southeast of the site of the house now on that
farm, and there he built a log house which he occupied till he
built the present house, about 1790. This is now one of the
oldest houses in the town. In the year 1800, he sold this farm
to Simeon Gilbert and removed with his family to Malone,
N. Y., or near there, where he died. His widow afterwards
married Aaron Miller of Rutland, and she died in that town.
We know little of the Tupper family. That they were in
this town in 1782, the records conclusively show, though we
are unable to fix their exact place of residence. John and his son
Simeon purchased of Ebenezer Lyman fifty acres of land here
as early as 1776, and it was surveyed by Thomas Baldwin on
the 14th of October, as a part of the third division of the right
of Aaron Deniho. This included a part of what is now the
farm owned by John R. Barnes. In the spring of 1782, they
commenced a clearing and built a house about twenty rods
from the site of Mr. Barnes house, and on the east side of the
present highway. The family came here some time the follow
ing summer, and we are informed that they were from Worcester
County, Mass. On the 10th of October, 1785, they purchased
14
194 HISTORY OF PITTSFOBD.
of Jonathan Fassett one hundred acres, a second-division lot of
the right of Samuel Whittlesey. It appears that this land was
adjoining the fifty acres they had before purchased.
December 15, 1786, John Tupper conveyed his interest in
the rights of Deniho and Whittlesey to his son Simeon, with
whom he resided till his death which took place a few years
later. Before he came here he had been a soldier in the French
and Kevolutionary wars, and had performed important labor in
the service of his country. He was one of the early members
of the Congregational Church in Pittsford, and being skilled
in vocal music, he was chosen by the choir as their chorister, a
position which he held several years. Simeon was also a soldier
in the Kevolutionary war, and we are informed that he was
under Warner in the battle of Hubbardton. His connection
with the army was mostly in the capacity of a filer. Ebenezer
made the first improvements on the farm now owned by Eliza
Connell. He built the house about the year 1794, married
Lois Bisby, and resided several years on that farm. John, the
father, died in Pittsford, but the two sons moved to New
York.
The Kellogg family is of English descent. Joseph Kellogg,
the father of Amos, was born in the year 1731, in the vicinity
of Lebanon, Connecticut, and married Mary Cushman who
was born in that vicinity in 1732. The date of their marriage
is not now known, but their eldest child Amos, the subject of
this notice, was born in what was then called Lebanon Goshen,
July 7, 1760. He had five brothers, viz. : Joseph, Isaac,
Edward, Elijah and Frederick ; and one sister, Lucy, who mar
ried Thomas Sanford of Weybriclge she who w T as the mother
of Mrs. Caleb Cooley, of whom some account has been given.
Joseph Kellogg, the father, moved to Bennington, "Vt., with
his family before the Revolutionary war, and after its close he
located in Castleton, and subsequently in Wey bridge where he
lived with his son Joseph, who had married and settled in that
KELLOGG FAMILY. 195
township. About the year 1805, he and his wife came to
Pittsford to reside with their son Amos, and lived here five or
six years, then moved to the town of Henderson, Jefferson
County, K. Y., where they again resided with their son Joseph
who had removed there from Weybridge. They died in that
town, very near together, in 1824 or 1825, having lived together
in their married state over seventy years. Isaac, their son,
married and settled in Weybridge, where he was killed by
being blown from a building about the year 1800. Edward
died in Hubbardton, March 7, 1830, aged fifty-nine years, and
during the latter part of his life he was a cripple from the
effects of disease brought on by exposure in building the
Castleton turnpike. Joseph died in Henderson about the year
1827. Frederick married and settled in Canada East, where
he died about the year 1828, leaving several children.
Elijah Kellogg, at the age of about fifteen years, was hired
out to work and pay an old debt of his father s, which did not
exactly please him, and he made up his mind to abscond ; so he
and a cousin, son of his uncle Preserved Kellogg, of Castleton,
took French leave, and neither of them were heard of for nearly
thirty years. About the year 1820, his brother Joseph, by
some means, heard of a man living in Kingston, Canada, across
Lake Ontario from Henderson, by the name of Elijah Kellogg.
He went to that place to ascertain whether this man was his
lost brother, and to his great satisfaction found he was. He
returned home and informed his parents that he had found the
long-lost son and brother, which information caused them great
joy, and they insisted that the son, who then had a wife and
several small children, should be invited and entreated to
remove to Henderson. Elijah complied with their request and
removed to Henderson where he resided till after the death of
his parents, and then he returned to Canada. His cousin, who
left this section of country with him, afterwards became a
196 HISTORY OF PITTSFOED.
merchant in the city of New York, where he now lives and
has a family.
Amos Kellogg, on the 19th of March, 1777, then in the
seventeenth year of his age, enlisted as a waiter for Capt.
Brownson, in Col. Warner s regiment of Continental troops,
in the Revolutionary war, and served as waiter, soldier and
sergeant in that regiment until 1781, when he was offered a
Lieutenant s commission by the Vermont Board of War. On
application for a discharge Col. Warner consented to give him
a furlough, but not a discharge from the regiment. He was
never recalled nor discharged. But he served as a commis
sioned officer of some grade under appointment of the Yermont
Board of War until the close of the revolutionary contest,
being connected with the army about six years. He was sick
with the measles in Fort Ticonderoga, at the time that fortress.
was evacuated by St. Clair, and consequently he did not par
ticipate in the battle of Hubbardton; but he ran the risk of
exposure in traveling to Bennington rather than be taken by
the British. He soon recovered, joined his company and took
an active part in the battle of Bennington.
He married Lucretia, daughter of Eleazer Harwood, Decem
ber 7, 1780, he being at that time twenty years and seven
months old, and she being sixteen years and nine months. Mrs.
Kellogg remained with her parents and with her husband in
camp until December, 1782, when they came to Pittsford, and
located on the farm where they lived till they died.
That farm, now the .home of his son, Hon. Samuel H.
Kellogg, was then in a state of nature, not a tree cut nor a
house built. It was a second-division lot of the ministerial
right, and fell to his father-in-law, Rev. Eleazer Harwood, of
whom he afterwards bought it, the deed being dated April
24, 1789.
They came to Pittsford on horseback, with two horses,
AMOR KELLOGG ELISHA RICH. 197
bringing their bed, all they had of household goods, also a
sister of Mrs. Kellogg, a young girl, on the horses backs. For
several years, while clearing up the land, they fared very hardly,
but " stuck and hung, having the pluck of revolutionists."
Having been an officer in the army, Mr. Kellogg was appointed
to the office of Major, and soon rose to the rank of Brigadier
General in the Vermont Militia. His training bills were no
small draft upon his income, and to meet these he sat up nights,
boiled and made salts which he carried to Bennington and
exchanged for money. He always made it a rule to lose no
time from his farm work, but time spent in training was made
up on the farm, either before or after the day of training,
and in that way he was able to keep along in the military line
without embarrassment. At that time the officers were expected
to treat the soldiers with liquor, and at one general muster he
had to furnish a barrel of rum for them on parade. Mrs. Kellogg,
too, cheerfully did what she could to assist her husband, she
boing of a military turn, as might be expected, from the fact of
her having married a soldier in the army, when only sixteeen
years of age.
The following persons are known to have purchased land
and located here in 1783, viz.: Elisha Rich, Benjamin Stevens,
Jr., Ebenezer Hopkins, Jr., Joshua Morse, Adonijah and Rufus
Montague, Justus Brewster, Elijah Brown and David Starks.
Elisha Rich was a native of Massachusetts, but removed to
Clarendon in 1777, and in March, 1783, he located in Pittsford,
and made the first improvements on what is now called Furnace
Elat. In the fall he built a grist mill on the brook a few rods
below where the bridge now stands. He obtained the land of
Jonathan Fassett, and this was in three pieces ; the first being
a third-division lot of the right of John Jenks; the second
being the first and second-division lots of the right of Samuel
Mansfield ; the third being a part of the right of Elihu Hall.
The whole consisted of four hundred and forty acres, and
198 HISTORY OF PITTSFOED.
included Furnace Flat and the land eastward to Chittenden
line. He built a small house near where the brick house now
stands. On the 8th of October, the same year, he bought the
farm owned and occupied by Aaron Parsons, but continued to
reside near his mill till the 21st of May, 1784, when he sold
the mill and one hundred acres of land to Thomas and Samuel
Adams, and then moved to the Parsons farm, and planted the
whole of the large orchard, the vestiges of which may still be
seen. He was a great lover of bees and usually kept from
thirty to forty swarms.* A more particular account of him
will be given hereafter.
Benjamin Stevens, (son of Benjamin, the early settler,)
soon after his return from captivity in Canada, married Lydia,
daughter of Elisha Field,f and located on the farm which was
first occupied by Roger Stevens, Jr., and afterwards confiscated
and sold to Benjamin Stevens, Sen., who sold it to his son
Benjamin, June 13th, 1783. The latter built a log house on
the west side of the road, and about thirty rods north of the
present residence of Benjamin Stevens. Hero he resided till
1793, when he sold his farm to his brother Daniel and moved
to Cornwall.
Ebenezer Hopkins, son of Nehemiah, another of the returned
captives, married Rachel, daughter of Stephen Mead, Decem
ber 2d, 1783, and located in a house which he had built, about
ten rods east of his father s residence. It stood on the bank of
the brook about one rod north of the present residence of John
Stevens and near the bridge. It would appear that for a few
years he assisted his father in the care of the mill and culti-
* Hendee s MS.
t Elisha Field was born in Sunderland, Mass., J717, married Betsey Pratt in 1753,
and located in Leverett, from which place he removed to Bennington, Vt., in 1761.
In 1782, he came to Pittsford and resided one year on the farm afterwards owned
by Col. Hammond, and then moved to Cornwall where he died in 1791. Betsey,
his widow, died in 1809. Their children were 1st, Lydia, (Mrs. Steveus,) bom in
1760; 2, Elisha, born March 3d, 1763, married Ruth Kirkham, March 10th, 1700;
3d, Asahel, born March 25th, 1765. The children of Elisha and Ruth Field were
1st, Clarissa, born Dec. 26th, 1790 ; 2d, Orrin, born June 12th, 1792 ; 3d, Lumau,
born March 28th, 1794; 4th, Norman, born in 1800.
JOSHUA MOKSE ADONUAH AND RUFUS MONTAGUE. 199
vating some land in the vicinity; but On the 12th of May, 1789,
his father sold to him and his brother, Ashbel, the grist-mill
and twenty-seven acres and forty-nine rods of land, and the
two brothers, having a joint interest in the property, labored
together till the death of Ashbel, about the year 1793, when
Ebenezer bought his brother s share of the property. In 1795,
he sold the mill and other real estate to John Penfield, and
May 4th, 1802, bought the Morse farm so called of Robert
Brown and Peter Ludlow. This farm at that time consisted of
one hundred and forty acres, and included the land now owned
by Capen Leonard and William P. Ward. The house into
which Mr. Hopkins moved, stood on the east side of the road
and about twenty-five rods north of the present residence of
Mr. Leonard.
Joshua Morse came here this year. He was from Water-
town, Conn., and purchased one hundred and seventy acres of
land which included the third-division lot of the right of Joshua
Arms, and the same which had been purchased by and surveyed
to Gideon Cooley. The deed from Cooley to Morse bears date
Feb. 23d, 1783, and covers the land now owned by Capen
Leonard, William P. Ward and Mrs. Fargo. He built a log
house about fifty rods in a northeasterly direction from the
house now owned by Mr. Leonard, and into this he moved his
family the following summer. A few years later he built a
frame house several rods west of this and near the road. He
occupied this house till March 17th, 1792, when he sold his
farm to a Mr. Graham, of Rutland, who sold it to Brown and
Ludlow, and these gentlemen sold it to Ebenezer Hopkins as
already stated.
Adonijah and Rufus Montague, sons of Samuel, who has
been mentioned as one* of the early settlers, came here from
Bennington about this time. They were weavers by trade, and
had been brought up to this occupation by their father, but to
what extent they practiced it is not now known. Both had
200 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
served in the army, and were in the battle of Bennington. The
exposures of camp life had seriously impaired the health of
Adonijah, and this was never fully recovered. It is not now
known where they spent the first few years of their residence
here, but, quite likely, it was on the place which had been
vacated by their father. August 9, 1783, Rufus bought of his
brother-in-law, Jonathan Fassett, one lot, (one hundred and ten
acres,) lying on Otter Creek, and north of the lot which had
been owned and occupied by Roger Stevens, Jr., but now just
purchased by Benjamin Stevens, Jr. This was a third-division
lot of the right of Theodore Atkinson, and included the farm
now owned by Orlin Smith. But Montague made no improve
ments on this lot. He afterwards sold it to Abraham Owen.
January 22d, 1790, the brothers, Adonijah and Rufus, bought
of Jonathan Fassett another lot of land which included what is
now the farm owned by Abraham Potter, and divided the land,
Rufus taking the north half, and Adonijah the south half, of
the lot. Rufus built a house about where Mr. Potter s house
now stands, and Adonijah built one on the south side of the
road nearly opposite his brother s. It is evident that they had
made improvements on this land, and had resided there some
time before they obtained a deed of the same from Fassett, for
only three days after the date of that deed, Adonijah deeded
his half of the land to Adgate Lothrop, and the deed of con
veyance describes it as " the land said Montague s house now
stands on, and bounded on the north by Rufus Montague s land
he now lives on." The first year of their residence in the
town was one of considerable suffering on account of the
scarcity of provisions. The young men had been in the army,
agriculture had been neglected, and the stock of provisions was
scarcely sufficient for the families that had for some time resided
here, so that those who came into the town immediately after
the war, were obliged for a time to look elsewhere for their
daily supply. Adonijah, being in feeble health, could hardly
JUSTUS BBEWSTEE ELIJAH BEOWN. . 201
*
provide for his family, and more than once did their provisions
Jim so low that Mrs. Montague was compelled her husband
not being able to go to Bennington, about sixty miles, on
horseback, guided some part of the distance by marked trees,
over hills, through valleys and across streams, in many instances
without bridges, to procure flour with which to relieve their
urgent necessities. Adonijah went from Pittsford to Pawlet,
where he resided several years, and then moved to Cambridge,
where he died. Rufus also spent the last of his days in Cam
bridge and died there.
Justus Brewster, from Coventry, Conn., came here this
year, and built a log house near where Charles Stiles house
now stands. This was a second-division lot of the right of
Ashbel Stiles, and w r as purchased of Eleazer Davis, the deed
bearing date December 28, 1782. It is supposed that he
removed his family here in the fall.
The Brown family came from Connecticut. Elijah Brown,
of Coventry, married Lydia Garry of Sanners, Feb. 12th,
1755, and had the following children, born in Coventry :
Elijah, born March 28, 1756.
Abraham, born March 11, 1758, and died the 24th of the
same month.
Bethiah, born June 3, 1759, and died July 30, 1760.
Eli, born Dec. 8, 1760.
James, born Dec. 24, 1762.
Noah, born April 2, 1765.
Ephraim, born June 20, 1767.
Allen, born Aug. 29, 1769.
Elisha, born Dec. 31, 1771.
Cyrenius, born April 30, 1774.*
Elijah Brown, Jr., above mentioned, married Sarah Adams
of Coventry, and their eldest child, Sarah, was born in that
town January 16, 1779. The following year they removed to
* Coventry Records.
202 HISTOKY OF PITTSFOED.
Rutland, Vt., where their second child, Elijah, was born, April
15, 1781. The time when they came to Pittsford, and the
exact place where they first located here, are not now known,
l3ut their third child, Oliver, was born here, Dec. 23d, 1783..
It is possible that he made his first improvements and built a
house where he was afterwards known to have lived, on the
plat of ground some sixty rods east of the present residence of
Demas Chaifee ; if so, he probably did it on the strength of the
promise of a deed of the land from Elisha Rich, which was not
executed till May 21, 1784. This deed covered two hundred and
twenty acres of land which was bounded as follows, viz. : " Begin
ning at a hemlock tree standing on the east line of Pittsford, two
rods north of what is called Mill River, thence west 20 South
to a beech tree, thence east 20 North 160 to a stake in the
town line, thence north 20 West on the town line 200 rods to
the first bounds, to the original right of Elihu Hall." The
consideration was 82 10s. L. M.
David Starks was the son of Zephaniah who was born in
England, came to America when a young man, married Martha
Edgerton of Conn., and located in that state. They had two
children, David and Eunice, born in Connecticut. The father
died on the voyage to Nova Scotia ; the mother died in Nova
Scotia. David, born in 1765, bought one hundred and ten
acres of land in Pittsford in 1783, which land included the
farm now owned by Hawkins Hart. He made a clearing, built
& house, and married Jennie,* daughter of Stephen Mead of
Pittsford, in 1785. Mr. Starks died in this town in 1805 ; Mrs.
Starks died in Buffalo, N. Y., in 1834.
The Adams family, consisting of the father and mother
Elisha and Sarah and sons, Elijah, Samuel, Thomas and
Elisha, and daughter Anne, John Fenn, Elias Hall and Noah
Hopkins, located here in 1784.
* Jennie Mead was the first female child born in Manehester (1767).
ADAMS FAMILY. 203
Elisha Adams married Sarah Taylor, but where he first
located we are not informed. " He bought land of the agents
<rf the Governor of the colony of Connecticut, located in
Coventry, on the 2d day of June, 1771." He " leased a small
farm in Coventry, Nov. 30th, 1771." He "sold and conveyed
land in Coventry, Feb. 17th, 1774." He "bought land in
Coventry of Samuel Ladd, Aug. 29th, 1778." " Thomas and
Elisha Adams sold and conveyed land in Coventry, Aug. 29th,
1778. Elisha Adams sold land in Coventry, April 29th,
1779."*
The following is the record of Elisha Adams family :
Ilisha Adams, 2d, born Dec. 1, 1757, and died the 28th
-of April.
Sarah Adams, born May 30, 1759.
Elisha Adams, 3d, born March 14, 1762, and died May 9,
1773.
Elijah Adams, born October 9, 1764.
Samuel Adams, born March 23, 1767.
Thomas Adams, born Nov. 8, 1770.
Anne Adams, born May 8, 1772, and died August 5th, the
same year.
Anne Adams, 2d, born May 1, 1775.
Elisha Adams, 4th, born May 19, 1778.
The above were all born in Connecticut."
Whether this family came directly from Coventry to Pitts-
ford, or stopped by the way as did the Brown family, we have
no means of knowing. Their earliest deed of land in the
township of which a record exists, was one of one hundred and
ten acres, from Elisha Rich to Thomas and Samuel Adams, and
is dated May 21, 1784. As will be seen, the former was seven
teen and the latter a little more than thirteen years of age.
The boundaries of this lot were marked by perishable objects,
* Coventry Records.
204: HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
no vestige of which now exists, consequently it is impossible to
fix its exact limits, but it is known to have been on or near
East Branch brook, and to have included a part of the high
land east of Furnace Flat. As no mention is made of the mill
in this deed, and as it is known that Elisha Adams, the father,
owned this a few months later, it is highly probable that he
purchased this with some land in the vicinity in his own name,
but the deed was never recorded. Not long after he purchased
the grist-mill, he built a saw-mill a few rods below it, and both
were kept in operation some years by some member or mem
bers of the Adams family. They first moved into the house
built by Elisha Rich, but they soon constructed another log
house, on the hill, about six rods west of the present residence
of Mrs. Carrigan. Elijah Adams married Ruth, daughter of
Elder E. Rich, and resided some years on the farm which has
been mentioned as first improved by Abraham Owen, Sen.,
(O. Smith place,) then occupied for a few years the farm which
had been improved by Richard Hendee, (Willis place,) but
finally moved to Buffalo, !N". Y. " He was highly respected,
had a large family, and for the last twenty years of his life, was
unable to labor, being nearly blind."*
Samuel Adams married Polly Baird, and resided for a time
with his parents in the log house on the hill, east of Furnace
Flat, but afterwards built the red house, now owned by A. G.
Allen, and this, then became the home of himself and parents,
Elisha, the father, for the last few years of his life, was blind.
Thomas Adams married Polly Cole,f and located on the
farm now owned by his son, Elias T. Adams, and built the
easterly part of the present house about the year 1792. He
took that farm in a state of nature, and the most of the improve
ments on it are due to his labors.
Elislta Adams, 4th, married Stella, daughter of Oliver Bogue,
* Hendee s MS.
t Miss Cole was bora in Woodbury, Ct.
JOHN FENN ELIAS HALL NOAH HOPKINS. 205
resided a few years in the village and kept a store in company
with John Merriam, but afterwards left town.
John Fenn of Waterbury, Conn., bought of Gideon Cooley
one hundred and seven acres of land, eighty-six of which were
on the right of Elhanan Fox, and twenty-one on the right of
Daniel Dreggs, the deed bearing date Feb. 7, 1784. This-
included the most of the farm now owned by Fobes Manley,
but it was then an unbroken forest. Mr. Fenn and his sons-
cleared a few acres and built a house near where the present
house stands, and the farm was occupied by the family or some
members of it, till it was sold to John Hitchcock, Jr.
Elias Hall was born in Southington, Conn., but the year is
not given. In the French war he enlisted in the army of Lord
Amherst, at Hartford, and was assigned to the regiment com
manded by Col. Whiting^ He was on duty at Ticonderoga
and Crown Point till the fall of 1759, when he was taken sick
with rheumatism and had permission to return home. After
the war he married Sarah Hitchcock and located in New
Cheshire, New Haven County, Conn. On the second day of
May, 1783, he purchased* of Gideon Cooley thirty-three acres-
of land in Pittsford, which included what is now known as the
Joshua Bates place. He built a house some forty or fifty rods-
west of the present house and near the old military road, and
removed his family here in the spring of 1784. About the
year 1795, he sold this place and resided a few years in the
house which then stood about where the Baptist meeting house
now stands. He removed to Williston where he died October
29, 1820 ; Mrs. Hall died in 1815.
Noah Hopkins was a cousin of Nehemiah, his father being
a brother of Ebenezer, Sen., one of the early settlers who has
been mentioned. He was born about the year 1745, but we are
not informed of the place of his birth or marriage, though he
resided for a time, at least, in Nine Partners, Dutchess Co.,
* This deed was made out in the name of Sarah Hall, wife of Elias.
206 HISTOEY OF PITTSFOED.
N. Y., where his sons, Hiram,* Noah, Jr.,. and Samuel were
born. He came to Pittsford, probably, through the influence
of his relatives, and purchased the real estate which had belonged
to his uncle, then deceased. The deed of this purchase was
never recorded and we have no means of inowing its date.
Among the number who located here in 1785, were Eichard.
Hen dee, John Hitchcock and son John, Israel Lake, Thomas
Hammond, Daniel Stevens, James Stevens, and Samuel
Waters, Jr.
Richard Hendee was a son of Jonathan, and brother of
Deacon Caleb, both of whom have been mentioned. He mar
ried Hannah Parsons, of Windsor, Conn., where he resided
some years, and then moved to Shaftsbury, Yt., from which,
town he came to Pittsford in 1785, and located on a lotf,
of land upon which a little improvement had been made
by a man named Wright. When he came here his property
consisted of a few hundred dollars in Continental money which,
had so depreciated that it was of little value, and to assist him
to begin the world anew financially, his brother Caleb gave him
this lot of land. In raising a barn for Capt. Milton Potter in
1797, Mr. Hendee fell from the frame and was instantly killed.
He was about six feet high, well proportioned, though not
fleshy, and weighed one hundred and eighty pounds. He left
a widow and eight children, the former of whom afterwards
married David June of Brandon, where she resided till his-
death, and then went to the western part of the State of New
York to live with her children. The eldest son, Richard, mar
ried Phebe, daughter of Capt. Nathaniel Rich of Shoreham,
resided some years on the homestead, and then moved to
Ticonderoga.J
John Hitchcock, a tanner by trade, was a native of Con-
* Hiram Hopkins was born Janunry 16, 1772.
t The farm now owned by N, Willis.
JHendee s MS.
JOHN HITCHCOCK. 207
necticut, where the most of his early life was spent. He
married Abigail Chapman and located in Saybrook, where were
born the following children, viz. : John, Remembrance, Joseph,
Chapman, Benjamin, Abigail, Lydia and Anna. About the
year 1780, he removed from Saybrook to Surry, N. EL, where
he resided till 1785, when he bought of Samuel Drury, said to
be of Alstead, !N. H., one right of land, minus one hundred
.and ten acres, in Pittsford, the deed being dated the 10th of
May, and it was in consideration of 16 L. M. He pitched
one hundred and ten acres of this right the third-division lot
of the right of Jedediah Winslow on the northwest slope of
what has since been known as " Corn Hill." It covered the
farm now owned by Amos C. Kellogg. This he deeded to his
son John, May 23, 1785, and then purchased the lot forming
the farm now owned by his grandson Capt. Charles Hitchcock.
He assisted his son in clearing the land and building a house
on the side of the hill some eighty rods east of the present
residence of Mr. A. C. Kellogg, and they transplanted an
orchard near the house, some of the trees of which are still
standing. At that time the road leading north from Joshua
Morse s, passed some rods west of the present road, and on
through land owned by Amos Kellogg, and a branch of it
crossed Sucker Brook a few rods below the saw-mill. The
family came here as soon as comfortable quarters could be pre
pared, and it is evident that they resided here together for a
time, or until a small clearing and a house could be made on
the other lot where Capt. Charles Hitchcock now lives ; and
then the father and other members of the family removed to
the latter place, while the eldest son, John, who had married
Hannah "Weed, remained on the former place of which he had
a deed.
In 1784, John Hitchcock, Sen., and Amos Kellogg exchanged
farms for one year, though they never exchanged deeds. While
Mr. Hitchcock was residing on the Kellogg farm, the house he
208 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
occupied took fire and was consumed with all its contents, fur
niture and provisions. But with the assistance of his sons he
soon had a new house, and at the expiration of the year he and
Mr. Kellogg re-exchanged locations, each occupying his own
land.
Of the ancestry of Israel Lake no information has been
obtained. That he became a resident of this town in 1785,,
the records conclusively show, though we are unable to learn
from whence he came. He purchased of Caleb Hendee fifty-
five acres of land a part of the right of Alexander Scott for
which he paid 6, L. M., and the deed was dated "June 8th,
in* the 9th year of American Independence 1785." This appears-
to have been located west of Richard Hendee s lot ; and about
the same time Mr. Lake pitched fifty acres more of the same
right bordering on the west bank of Otter Creek. This proba
bly included the land upon which Pittsford Quarry Co. s depot
now stands. He built a house about one hundred rods in a
northwesterly direction from the residence of Richard Hendee,
and perhaps occupied it alone for a time, as the record states
that " Israel Lake and Hannah June were married to each
other the tenth day of May, 1787."
Thomas Hammond was born in Newton, Mass., Feb. 20,
1762, and at the age of four years, was taken from his parents and
carried* to Leicester, where he was bound to a farmer by the
name of Denny and remained there the most of the following
sixteen years. In 1778, he enlisted in the Continental army,
and was stationed some months at West Point, where he served
as fifth corporal, a position of which, as he used to say, he felt
prouder, than of any he ever afterward held. He served "but
nine months in the army and then returned to Leicester. In
1782, he came to Shaftsbury, Bennington County, Yt., and
married Hannah, daughter of Ichabod Cross, March 25, 1784.
*He rode horseback behind a man, forty miles the first day.
THOMAS HAMMOND DANIEL STEVENS. 209
The following year his father-in-law* gave him one hundred and
ten acres of land in Pittsford which lay south of and adjoining
the lot owned by William Cox.f He built a small house about
twelve rods south of the Cox fort Fort Mott just across the
ravine, and resided there three or four years, then cleared the
land and built a house in what is now the southeast corner of
the field on the west side of the road and about fifteen rods
north of the brook on the town farm. This was a frame house,
clapboarded and shingled, and was used some years as a tavern.
After residing here some seven years he built a house a few
rods north of the present house on the town farm, and in this
he resided till 1814, when he bought of Isaac arid James Matson
the farm now owned by Isaac C. Wheaton. The large house
on that farm was built by Col. Hammond, in 1814. During
the early years of his residence here, as also later, he kept a
large flock of sheep, and the wolves sometimes made sad havoc
among them. Daring one night they killed thirty and another
night forty.
Daniel Stevens, eldest son of Benjamin, Sen., married
Mary Howe, of Manchester, but where he first located is not
now known, though in 1793, he purchased the farm then owned
by his brother Benjamin Stevens, Jr., and the same that is now
owned by his grandson, Benjamin Stevens, 3d. He built a
house on the east side of the road and about twelve rods north
east of the one which had been the residence of his brother.
He resided here till his death, June 1st, 1829.
* Ichnbod Cross was born .in Mansfield, Conn., but was one of the early settlers
of Shaftsbury, Vt., was in the battle of Hubbardton, and as our forces were scat
tered he was taken prisoner by some Indians. As our soldiers were retreating, he
stopped at a spring to drink, and a wounded soldier lying near, he dipped up
some water in his hat and passed it to his dying comrade. While in this act,
four Indians rushed up and seized him, carrying him off, one holding each arm,
one forward and another behind him, with their guns, and in this way they pro
ceeded till they came to a thick growth of trees, when he threw up his arms and,
freeing himself from their grasp, sprang into the woods. The Indians stood
amazed, and attempted neither to pursue nor shoot him. He ran some distance,
and then divested himself of the most of his clothing which he put under a log,
ii order to weaken their hold of him should tiiey attempt to sieze him auain. He
made good his escnpe, and after the war returned" home where he died Feb. 8, 1827,
aired ninety years and some months.
"tThe deed bears date Dec. 21, 1785.
15
210 HISTOKY OF PITTSFORD.
James Stevens, also a son of Benjamin, on the 1st of May,
1784, pitched one hundred acres of land adjoining the north
east part of Gideon Sheldon s land. This was a second-division
lot of the right of Daniel McFarland, and included the westerly
part of what is now known as the " Bresee farm," owned by
Benjamin Stevens, 3d. He cleared the land on the south slope
of the hill, and built a house and barn about ten rods west of
the brook, and about the same distance north of the east-and-
west road. Some vestiges of these buildings may still be seen
in the pasture. He married - - Douglas, and resided here
from ITS 5 to 1794, when he sold his real estate in Pittsford,
and removed to Upper Canada.
Samuel Waters, Jr., the eldest son of Samuel Waters,
married arid settled on the farm now owned by Marshall
Howland in Whipple Hollow. He purchased that lot of his
father in 1783, made the first improvements on it and resided
some years in a log house which stood on the east side of the
road near where Mr. Howland s barn now stands. His wife
died, and he afterwards married Prudence Moses.
The following persons are known to have located in the
township in 1786, viz.: Jacob Weed, Jeremiah Powders, Simeon
Stevens, Reuben Allen, Lot Keeler, Israel Ellsworth, Abraham
Owen, Nathan Webster, Amos Webster, William Orcutt, Jere
miah Sheldon and Samuel Sheldon.
Jacob Weed was from Lanesboro, Mass., where he married
Sarah Kittersfield of that town, and had the following children,
viz. : Amasa, John and Mercy. He bought one lot (one hun
dred and ten acres) of land of Stephen Jenner, June 21, 1786.
This was a second-division lot of the right of William Nutting,
and included a part of the farm now owned by Cyrus Dike and
the land adjoining on the south, now owned by Seba F. Smith.
He made a clearing and built a house immediately south of the
brook on the west side of the road about where a house now
stands, and to this he removed his family.
JEREMIAH POWERS SIMEON STEVENS. 211
Jeremiah Powers was the son of Jeremiah, of Greenwich,
Mass., who w T as the third generation from the early settler
of this name in that township, and who was originally from
Ireland. Jeremiah, 3d, married Elizabeth, daughter of Benja
min Cooley, of Greenwich, and resided some years in that
township where the following children were born, viz.: Jere
miah, Justus, Joab, Charles, George, Prudence, Montgomery
and Gardner. The eldest son, Jeremiah, born in 1760, at the
age of sixteen years enlisted in the army and served as a
soldier, during a part of the Revolutionary war. After the
war he was employed to assist in the survey of the township
of Leicester, Addison County, Yt., and he purchased nine hun
dred acres in that township. But by mistakes in the early
surveys only about two-thirds of the township were ever
obtained, and from this circumstance Mr. Powers lost his title,
arid came to Pittsford, where he purchased of Gideon Cooley
one hundred acres, for which he paid 100, the deed bearing
date Oct. 15, 1785. This included the place now owned by
E. M. Bailey, and the land extending southward upon the
north slope of the hill, and adjoining Amasa Ladd s on the
east. He built a house and barn on the south side of the Crown
Point or military road, and about one hundred rods south of
the house now owned by Mr. Bailey. To this place he removed
his family in the spring of 1786. This house, built of logs,
was occupied till 1804, when Mr. Powers built the house where
Mr. Bailey now resides. Into this he removed his family, and
died here in February, 1845, aged eighty-five years.
Simeon Stevens purchased one hundred acres of land of his
father, Benjamin Stevens. The deed, dated Oct. 12, 1785,
included the lot eastward of and adjoining the homestead. He
built a house on the high land about one-fourth of a mile east of
his father s residence, and the following year married Anna
Martin, of Shaftsbury, and at once occupied this house. After
212 HISTORY OF PITTSFOED.
residing liere sixty-one years, lie died Sept. 2d, 1847, aged
eighty-four years.
The first we hear of Eeuben Allen is on the 21st of October,
1784, at which time the Proprietors Collector sold land belong
ing to fifteen of the grantees, for the payment of a two-penny
land tax, voted to be raised for the building of bridges. This
land was sold by auction, and Allen bid off fifty-seven acres
belonging to the right of Daniel Thomas, for which he paid
1 16s. This was located in the westerly part of the town,
and included the farm lately owned by Augustus Bailey, but
now by Nathaniel Willis. He built a log house about where
the present house stands, and made the first improvements on
that farm. He resided there a few years and then sold the
place to one Gilbert, and after residing a short time on the
farm now owned by Alexander Parmelee, he moved to Whipple
Hollow.
Lot Keeler was born in Ridgefield, Conn., June 7, 1752,
and accompanied his parents to Lenox, Mass., whither they
removed when he was a small boy. At the age of eighteen he
came to Rutland, and let himself to work at seven dollars and
fifty cents per month. From Rutland he came to Pittsford and
worked for Amasa Ladd some time ; and by industry and
economy he accumulated a little money which he invested in
land. He made his first purchase of Jonathan Fassett, May
21, 1786, and this consisted of twenty-seven and one-half acres,
including the homestead now owned by his son, Lot Keeler, Jr.
Additional land was afterwards bought so that he eventually
owned a good farm and of ample dimensions. He commenced
a clearing near where the present buildings stand, and the first
summer he spent here he had no shelter except the trunk of a
huge pine tree, the centre of which had been burnt out, with an
opening on the west side sufficiently large for a person to walk
through into the center of it. He built a log house which
LOT KEELEE. 213
occupied the same ground that is now occupied by the north
part of the present house, married Catharine Goodnough, of
Brandon, and commenced housekeeping. Not having sufficient
provisions and comfortable quarters here, they went to Lenox
in the fall and spent the winter with his father, and there, by
his labor, he earned enough to buy two yearling heifers which
he drove to Pittsford in the spring, and from these he stocked
his farm. He is said to have been a man of extraordinary
courage and physical power, which will appear from the follow
ing anecdote : One of the citizens of the town had committed
a crime against the laws of the State, for which the sheriff of
the county had orders to arrest and bring him before the court.
But the criminal armed himself, retired to a camp near Otter
Creek, refused to be arrested and threatened to shoot any man
who should attempt to take him. At one May training, as
Capt. Caleb Cooley had his company on parade, the sheriff rode
up to the Captain and requested him to select four of the most
resolute men in his company for his service. " For what pur
pose do you wish to employ them," said the Captain. " I have
orders," said the sheriff, " to arrest - * and bring him
before the court, dead or alive, but he has armed himself,
retired to a camp and refuses to be arrested, and I want these
men to take him." The Captain turned to his company and
said, " Justus Brew r ster, Lot Keeler, - - and - ,f
march to the front." The order was obeyed and the four men
accompanied the sheriff to the camp of the criminal who, seeing
their determined demeanor, and probably considering prudence
the better part of valor, concluded to surrender ; and he was
immediately bound and taken before the court.
Israel Ellsworth, youngest son of Samuel, married Hopestil,
daughter of Benjamin Stevens, and located on a small lot of
land, afterward included in the Beals farm now owned by
* For obvious reasons the unmc is withheld,
t The names of the last two inert are forgotten.
214: HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
John Eggleston. The log house stood in the lot, in a north
westerly direction from the Beals house, and on the east side of
the road leading from Joseph Wolcott s to William Wing s.
The cellar of the house is still to be seen about eighty rods
southeast of the residence of Mr. Wing. "After residing here
a few years they removed into the State of Pennsylvania, and
while there he disappeared strangely ; his wife came back and
said her husband, in a fit of insanity, went into the woods and
was never seen afterwards. Many hearsay stories were told
and suspicions entertained. His wife married again a Mr.
Patterson, with whom she lived some years, and then he left
her ; after this she married a Mr, Willard Leaton with whom
she lived some years, and they were pretty well matched, both
bad enough, but he at length left her, and she afterwards went
into Upper Canada, and there married for the fourth time, but
has now been dead some years.
Israel Ellsworth, her first husband, who so strangely disap
peared from Pennsylvania, it was afterwards ascertained, went
to Virginia and settled in Fairfax County, where he married a
woman by the name of Ann Bennett, by whom he had the
following children, viz. : 1st, Elizabeth, who married a man by
the name of Chappel; 2d, Samuel; 3d, Amy, who married a
man by the name of George P. Poole; 4th, Israel E. Holida;
he there had gone by the name of Israel Ellsworth Holida,
his mother s maiden name being Holida. He had applied
for and obtained a pension, and this was the way his friends at
the north heard from him.*"
Abraham Owen, second son of Edward, married Nelly,
widow of William Bogue, but where they resided the first few
months after their marriage we are not informed. On the 7th
of June, 1787, Mr. Owen bought of Eufus Montague fifty-five
acres, embracing the easterly portion of the farm now owned
by Orlin Smith. He built a log house a few rods southeast of
*Hendee s MS.
ABRAHAM OWEN NATHAN WEBSTER. 215
the present house, in what is now the northwest corner of the
field on the east side of the road. The roof of this house was
covered with elm bark, and the floor was made of basswood
logs, split, and laid with their flat surface up. Afterwards he
built another log house near where the present house stands,
lived in this about two years, and then bought that part of the
farm recently owned by Edwin Wheaton, which lies on the
west side of the hill towards Abel Morgan s. There he built a
house in which he resided about seven years, and then bought
the Mosher place and built the house now owned by Eichard
and Charles Burditt in 1811, and died there Feb. 14, 1813.
The house built on the Wheaton lot was removed to the latter
place and is now the horse-barn on the west side of the road.
We have no knowledge of the ancestors of Nathan Webster,
but his name appears upon the records for the first time in 1785,
on the 14th of October of which year, he purchased of Jona
than Fassett twelve acres of land, a part of the first-division lot
of the right of Elihu Hall, and bounded as follows, viz. :
" Beginning at stake and stones at the northeast corner of
Ebenezer Hopkins home lot ; thence east five degrees south
32 rods to stake and stones; thence north ten degrees east
50 rods to the south side of the road that leads to the mills ;
thence west on the south line of said road till it strikes the east
line of the road that runs north and south through the town,
being about 45 rods to stake and stones ; thence south on the
east line of the road to the first bounds." The consideration
of the deed was 40. It will be seen that this purchase included
the site of the present hotel owned by L. F. Scofield, together
with land now owned by Bradley Burditt, D. Austin, B. Kemp,
E. E. Drake, and J. A. Eandall. He cleared the land and
built a house where the hotel now stands, and it is supposed
that he removed his family here in the spring of 1786. The
ground now occupied by the Village was then covered with the
native forest, with here and there an undergrowth of blackberry
216 HISTOKY OF PITTSFORD.
bushes which at the usual season yielded an abundant supply
of berries, from which circumstance the ground was known as
" Blackberry Hill." The house built by Mr. Webster was the
commencement of the village.*
Amos Webster is supposed to have been a brother of Nathan,
and from the records we learn that he was from Bennington,
but quite likely his residence there was temporary. On the
7th of November, 1785, he purchased of Jonathan Fassett a
tract of land in this town, the bounds of which are thus
described : " Beginning about 17 J- rods from the northeast
corner of the old grist-mill lot, westerly in the north line of
the same at a stake and stones ; thence north ten degrees east
38 rods to stake and stones ; thence east five degrees south
22J rods to the pine lots and stake and stones ; thence north
ten degrees east 50 rods to elm tree ; thence north fifty-two
degrees west 33 rods to a birch tree ; thence west 16 rods to a
birch tres ; thence north 30 rods to a stake and stones ; thence
west 52 rods to a pine tree; thence south fifteen degrees east
81 rods to a beech tree ; thence west fifteen degrees south 69
rods on the south line of the Town Plot to the road, a stake
and stones ; thence on the east side of the road south sixteen
degrees east 27 rods to stake and stones ; thence east five
degrees south about 97 rods to the first bounds."
It thus appears that this purchase included all the land now
in the Village east of the north-and-south road, between the
Town Hall lot and the road leading to Hitchcockville, together
with lands lying eastward and now owned by S. D. Win slow,
John Leonard and Charles Walker, and the whole was sepa
rated from the lot purchased by Nathan Webster by the east-
and-west road. He built a house the following spring about
where Willard Randall s south house now stands, and this was
probably the third house built on " Blackberry Hill," and
* Only one house had been built on "Blackberry Hill" at this time, and this
was the one built about thirty rods west of the present village by Amos Fassett.
JEREMIAH SHELDON SAMUEL SHELDON EEUBEN IYES. 217
for years afterwards it was known as the " Webster house."
William Orcntt, from Stafford, Conn., came here in 1786,
and made the first improvements on the place now owned by
Charles T. Colbnrn. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary
"war, and during the latter part of it, held a captain s commis
sion. He married a lady of French descent and resided some
years in Stafford before coining to Pittsford. He resided in
this town only a few years.
Jeremiah Sheldon, son of Gideon, married and located on
the Waters place now Abel Morgan s. He purchased this of
Samuel Waters w r ho had left it during the war, removed to
Shaftsbury, and being advanced in years decided to remain in
that town. Mr. Sheldon built a log house a few rods west of
the present house, and occupied it till about the year 1800,
when he sold his real estate to Abraham Owen and moved to
Canada.
Samuel Sheldon, brother of the preceding, married and
resided in the house with him till 1795, when he removed to
Canada.
Among the number who located here in 1787, were Reuben
Ives, Simeon Parmelee, Jonathan Stevens, Josiah Eddy, the
Jackson family, Anthony Phillips, Hopkins Rowley, Nehemiah
Hopkins, Jr., John Hopkins and Simon Harwood.
Reuben Ives was a native of Massachusetts, but came to
Pittsford in 1786, and on the 13th of June of that year bought
one hundred and ten acres of land a part of the original right
of Elisha Harvey of Richard Hendee for which he paid 45.
This included the land now owned by Mrs. Sarah Adams,
Charles Smith and Arba Bassett. He cleared the land and
built a house near where Mrs. Adams house stands and
removed here in the spring of 1787.
Simeon Parmelee was the son of Hezekiah who was born
in Connecticut, married and settled in Durham in that State
218 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
where both died. Their children were Simeon, Hezekiah,
Moses, Dan, Charles and two daughters.
Simeon was born in Durham, 1741, and married (1775)
Tryphena Smith, who was born in 1755. They settled in West
Stockbridge, Mass. At the commencement of the Revolu
tionary w r ar he enlisted in the American army and was with
the expedition against Quebec in 1775. While in Canada he
had the small pox, with which he came near losing his life, but
after much suffering he was brought to Ticonderoga, where his
father-in-law, Nehemiah Hopkins, met him and brought him
through the wilderness to Pittsford. Here he remaned till he
recovered his strength so as to be able to ride to Stockbridge.
Mr. Parmelee removed from West Stockbridge to Pittsford in
March, 1787, and on the 27th of January, 1792,* he bought
two hundred and twenty acres of land of Thomas Cranfield
for which he paid 160. This was a part of the original right
of William Stewart and included the farm now owned by Seba
F. Smith with some land adjoining. He made the first improve
ments on that farm and built the first house which stood on the
east side of the road and only a few rods south of Mr. Smith s
barn. After residing here some years they removed to West-
ford, where Mr. Parmelee died May 3d, 1820 ; Mrs. Parmelee
died May 14th, 1831.
Jonathan Stevens, son of Benjamin, the early settler, w r as
born at Nine Partners, Dutchess County, IN". Y., and came to
this town with his father s family before the war. February
13th, 1787, he bought of Joseph Crary fifty acresf of land
which included the south part of the farm now owned by
William Wing, and he made the first improvements on that
farm. The first clearing was made some distance south of the
present buildings, and in what is now the pasture owned by
*This is the date of the deed, but it is known that Mr. Parmelee built the house
and settled on this laud when he first moved into the town, and quite likely lie
took a bond for a deed at that time.
tThis was a part of the third-division lot of the right of Samuel Mansfield.
JOSIAH EDDY JACKSON FAMILY. 219
John M. Goodnough. He built a house about fifteen rods west
of the road, the cellar of which is still to be seen, married
Lucy, daughter of Richard Adams, and resided here some years,
but eventually moved to the township of Bastard, Upper
Canada, where he died at the age of about eighty years.
The first we hear of Josiah Eddy is in 1782, on the 6th
of July, when he pitched fifty acres of land in Pittsford,
bounded as follows : " Beginning at a small dry beech which
is the northeast corner of Edward Owen s lot; then south by
the needle 110 rods to a beech sapling; then due east 80 rods
to a hemlock stake and stones ; then north by the needle 110
rods to a maple marked ; then on the Widow Woodward s south
line due west 80 rods to the first bounds. Surveyed to the
original right of Samuel Brewer, it being the third-division
pitch." Again on the 30th of October, 1785, he pitched fifteen
acres more adjoining Simeon Tupper s fifty-five acre lot on the
east, but he made Jio improvements on either of these pitches
till about the year 1786, when he cleared a few acres of the
first lot which, as will be seen, included the most of the farm
now owned by John Hudson. He built a house near where
Mr. Hudson s house now stands, married Ursula, daughter of
Edward Owen, and commenced housekeeping the following
spring.
The Jackson family was from Spencer, Massachusetts. David
Jackson married Hannah Graton and resided some years in
Spencer, where the following children were born, viz. : David,
Jonathan, James, William, Samuel and Daniel. David, the
father, died in Spencer, and the sons having grown to manhood
sought the wild lands of Yermont. David, the eldest son,
bought fifty acres of land, a part of the right of George
Bobbins, Dec. 5, 1786. This land was bounded south on the
north line of Rutland, and he also purchased a lot within the
township of Rutland, adjoining his Pittsford lot on the north,
and built a house but a few rods south of the town line, married
220 HISTOKY OF PITTSFOED.
Persia, daughter of Benjamin Whipple of Rutland, and resided
some years within the limits of that township. He enlisted in
the army in the war of 1812-14-, and died on the road as he
was returning home from Plattsburgh.
Jonathan married - - Morgan, in Spencer, some time
before coming to Pittsford. Whether lie came here with the
other members of the family we are not informed, but he
bought of Benjamin Smalley one-half of a right of land in this
town the right of Joseph Burton for which he paid 50, and
the deed bears date Nov. 22, 1788. This purchase included
the farm now owned by Hiram Bates, and the first improve
ments on that farm were made by Mr. Jackson. He lived and
died there.
James married Margaret, daughter of Jeremiah Wood of
Pittsford, and located on land now owned by Whipple Mills,
about fifty rods west of the present residence of Samuel Butler.
He built a house and resided there till after the death of his
wife, when he went to Pennsylvania and died there.
William was accidentally killed.
Samuel married 1st, Relief, daughter of Aaron and Sarah
Smith, and resided some years on the same farm with his
brother James. His wife, Relief, died and he married 2d ?
Mrs. Betsey, widow of Nathaniel Fail-field, and daughter of
Gideon Sheldon, Sen. A short time before the war of 1812,
he sold his real estate in Pittsford, removed to Canada and died
in the British military service. His son Samuel was with him
in the same service against the United States, and while on
duty near the Canada line, he deserted from the British and
came to visit his uncles in Pittsford, where he remained till
after the close of the war and then returned to Canada.
Daniel married Catharine Ratz, made the first clearing^
built a house, and resided on the farm now owned by Samuel
Butler.
Mrs. Jackson, the mother, resided some years in a log house
ANTHONY PHILLIPS HOPKINS ROWLEY. 221
which stood on the east side of the road, some six or eight rods
north of the house now owned by Whipple Mills, but died in
the family of her son Daniel.
Anthony Phillips was from Massachusetts, where he mar
ried and resided some years. He came to Pittsford in the
winter of 1787, and purchased of John Barnes one hundred
acres of land third-division lot of the right of Timothy Pat
terson the deed being dated Feb. 7th of that year, and it was
in consideration of 100. This lot included the most of the
farm now owned by his grandson Orrin Phillips. Having
made a small clearing and constructed a temporary house, lie
removed his family here the following spring, and with the
assistance of his sons soon brought several acres of land into a
state of cultivation.
Hopkins Rowley was the eldest son of Jonathan of whom
some account has been given. He purchased a part of his
father s farm and built a small house on the west side of the
road* about two rods southwest of his father s residence. He
married! and resided there some years, and then moved to
Shoreham.
Nehemiah Hopkins, son of the Kehemiah who has been
mentioned, built a house on land given to him by his father on
the north side of the road, and a few rods east of the mouth of
Eipley Brook.j: He married - - Durphy and resided here
some years, afterwards lived for a short period in a house which
stood about where L. Woolson s house now stands, then moved
into a house which stood a few rods west of the present resi
dence of H. F. Lothrop, Esq. He was a man of considerable
business capacity and served as constable for several years. He
moved to the State of New York.
John Hopkins, son of Elias, was never a large real estate
*The road nt that time passed between these two houses,
t We have riot been able to learn anything respeeting his wife.
J We venture to call this Ripley Brook, from the fact that Phineas Ripley once
owned a large proportion of the laud through whieh. it flows.
222 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
owner. He married Hannah, daughter of Stephen Mead,
December 12, 1T8T, and resided for a time in a house which
stood near where Mr. Whitaker s house now stands. He
changed locations here several times and eventually left the
town.
Simon Harwood, son of Rev. Eleazer, was born Aug. 23,
1766, and married Ruth, daughter of Elias Hall, April 19,
1787. He resided some years on the farm now owned by S. II.
Kellogg, living in a house which he built some fifty rods south
of the present house near where the road turns, leading to
Mrs. Tilson s; the cellar of the house is still visible. After
wards he bought the house now owned by Silas S. Westcot.
He built and for some years occupied the house now on that
place. He died on the place formerly owned by Benjamin
Stevens, Sen., March 3, 1816. Mrs. Harwood died in Michi
gan, Oct. 18, 1838.
Among those w r ho located here in 1788, may be mentioned
Asa Stevens, Simeon Clifford, Abiathar Millard, Nathaniel
Fairfield and Israel Morgan.
Asa Stevens was a son of David who was born in Plainfield,
Conn., in 1733, and who married Sarah Spanieling, born in the
same town in 1731. They resided in Connecticut some years
after their marriage and the following children were born there,
viz.: 1st, Asa, born in 1756 ; 2d, David, Jr., born 1758, died
Nov. 4, 1817; 3d, Deborah, born June 25, 1759, and died the
following October ; 4th, Sally, born 1761, died June 7, 1777 ;
5th, Phineas, born 1763, died May 2, 1766 ; 6th, Mary, born
1765, died in 1770.
Asa, the eldest son, married Sally Dunlap of Plainfield,
Conn., and after residing there one or two years removed to
Plainfield, New Hampshire, joining a small colony in that
township, originally from Plainfield, Connecticut. In 1788, he
removed from Plainfield, N. II., to Pittsford, Yt., and bought
of Benjamin Smalley, of Middlebury, one-half of the right or
EDWAKD CLIFFORD. 223
share originally belonging to Joseph Burt. The deed bears
date Nov. 22, 1788, and was in consideration of 50, L. M.
This was so located as to include the farm now owned by
Stephen Whipple, together with land now owned by Albert W.
Fletcher and Elisha Smith. The first clearing was made where
Mr. Fletcher s house now stands, and a log house was hastily
constructed there, in which the family resided the following
winter. After enlarging his clearing Mr. Stevens built a frame
house on the same side of the road, but some ten or fifteen rods
north of the log house, and in this he resided till his death,
Aug. 31, 1817. Mrs. Sally Stevens died in 1833, aged seventy-
seven years. They had but one child, Rachel, born May 22,
1783, in Connecticut.
Simeon Clifford was the second son of Edward, who was
born in Maiden Lane, England, about the year 1747, and at
the age of eighteen years came to Philadelphia as a waiter for
a man by the name of Logan. How long he remained in
Logan s service we are not informed ; but he eventually made
his way north and came to Massachusetts, married Abigail
Winslow of Hardwick, a descendant of Gov. Winslow, and
resided some years in that township, where were born to them
four sons and three daughters ; the former being named Sam
uel, Simeon, Edward and Calvin ; the latter, Anna, Amelia and
Fanny. Mr. Clifford had a weakness too common, not only to
young men of that day, but to the same class of the present
day, in his resolution to resist the intoxicating cup. In 1780,
a recruiting party came along, gave him liquor enough to over
come him, and then got his name on the enlistment papers for
the army. When he became sober enough to know what he
had done he was in agony of mind. What could he do ? He
had a family of small children wholly dependent upon him for
support. To put himself beyond the reach of the recruiting
officers he fled from home and went on board a vessel which
soon put to sea. He had been on the water but a short time
224 HISTORY OF PITTSFOBD.
before the vessel was captured by a British man-of-war, and
being an Englishman the captain tried to enlist him into the
British service. But he peremptorily refused. America was
his country, here was his family, and he would not fight against
them ; but lie was willing to do anything for the ship or crew,
and being a tailor by trade,, he was employed in making and
mending garments. After a time the ship in which he sailed
put into the harbor of the Britisli island Antigua, and being
desirous of getting away, he asked and obtained leave to go on
shore, and he was soon out of sight. But he had no means of
subsistence, and after seeking employment for some time with
out success, he concluded to make one bold move, and, going
into the office of a lawyer by the name of Lovell, lie said to
him : " Sir, I am a stranger in a destitute condition whom the
fortune of war has cast upon this island, and you must put me
into some business whereby I can earn a living." Mr. Lovell
made some inquiries of him about what he could do, and told
him to call again the next day, and he would let him know
what could be done for him. He called according to appointment
and was employed to take charge of the field hands on a planta
tion. How long he continued in this employment we do not
know, but in process of time he was raised to the condition of
manager of the plantation, with higher salary, which enabled
him to accumulate some funds. He eventually invested his
money in merchandise, and, joining with others, bought or
chartered a vessel and sailed for New York. In passing " Hell
Gate " the vessel was stranded and, losing all their property,
they barely escaped with their lives. Thus suddenly perished
the hope Mr. Clifford had so long cherished, of putting his
family in comfortable circumstances, but he found them alive
and his return was a joyful surprise as they had long supposed
him to be dead.*
*Tlic family hnd worn the usual symbols of mourning and laid thorn aside, and
had Mr. Clifford remained away a few weeks longer, Mrs. Clifford would have
changed her name.
CLIFFORD FAMILY. 225
Samuel, the eldest son, married and settled in Hardwick.
Simeon married Susan Martin, came to Pittsford in 1788, and
bought of John Rhodes one hundred acres of land, a third-
division lot of the right of Abraham Morton, the deed being
dated May 1st, and it was in consideration of 50. This pur
chase included the farm recently owned by the late Orville
Spencer, and at that time was wholly in a state of nature. Mr.
Clifford made a small clearing and built a house on the south
side of the road nearly opposite the present house.
Edward, Jr., at the age of seventeen years, having given
some attention to the study of navigation, commenced following
the seas, a business which he prosecuted two or three years, and
was promoted to the rank of second mate; but through the
importunity of his friends he left the sea, married Rachel Rich,
of Enfield, Mass., in 1791, came to Pittsford in 1793, and
occupied the Graham house which stood in the Village where
J. A. Randall s house now stands. March 10, 1799, he bought
of his brother Simeon forty-five acres of land which included
the farm now owned by the Pittsford Quarry Co. He made
the first improvements on that farm and resided there till 1845,
when he moved to Parma, Michigan. The house now on the
farm was built by Mr. Clifford in 1814.
Soon after the two sons located here, Edward, Sen., the
father, and the mother came, accompanied by the youngest son,
Calvin. These occupied the house which had been built for
them by Simeon, on the easterly slope of the hill about twenty-
five rods west of his house. They resided there till 1812, when
Simeon sold his farm in Pittsford to William Allen, and moved
to Brandon, taking his aged parents with him.
We have alluded to the pernicious habit which Edward, the
father, had when a young man, of using intoxicating drinks
and of his being under the influence of these when he signed
the enlistment papers to enter the army, which led to his flight
from home and the serious results that followed. But it is due
16
226 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
to him to say that after his return to his family, he made a
solemn vow that he would never again touch intoxicating
drinks, a vow which he religiously kept, thus setting an exam
ple worthy to be imitated by all addicted to similar habits.
The Millard family is of Welsh descent, and some members
of it resided for a time in Warwick, R. I. Dr. Abithar Millard
(as he spelled his name) was born June 22, 1744:, at Hehoboth,
Massachusetts. He married Tabitha Hopkins, who was born
Oct. 16, 1745, daughter of Ebenezer Hopkins of Harwinton,
Conn., afterwards of Pittsford, Yt. Soon after their marriage
they went to reside in Dutchess Co., E". Y., where their first
child, Abithar, was born, May 6, 1763. Tabitha was born
March 4, 1765 ; Lydia, Oct. 14, 1768 ; Huldah, March 5,
1773 ; Sarah, January 18, 1775; Olive, May 5, 1778 ; Phoebe,
Aug. 12, 1781 ; Jesse, Oct. 6, 1784 ; Almon H., April 19,
1788. With the exception of the first, the record does not
state where the above children were born.
It is evident that Dr. Millard located in Pittsford in the
spring of 1788. His first purchase of real estate in this town
was " one certain acre lot of land in the Town Plot, viz. : Lot
~No. 56 drawn in favor of Abraham Morton, original pro
prietor." The deed bears date April 1J, 1788, and was in
consideration of twenty shillings. He soon after purchased
Lot No. 9, of the Town Plot, or what is now the southwest
corner of the lot owned by C. A. Hitchcock, being nearly
identical with the garden west of the present house. He cleared
this lot and built upon it a house which was probably the fourth
then standing on " Blackberry Hill." The house was a small
one hastily constructed, and it was occupied as soon as it was
completed, and the youngest child, Solomon Eddy, was born
here Feb. 17, 1789.
Nathaniel Fairfield was from Plainfield, N. H., though he
was probably one of the colony from Connecticut that settled
in that township. lie purchased of Joseph Hosier forty acres
ISRAEL MORGAN ITHIEL BARNES. 227
of land in Pittsford, Jan. 31, 1788. This lay north and
adjoining the lot owned by Asa Stevens, and included land
now owned by Mrs. Mills. He made the first clearing and
built a house about where Mrs. Mills barn now stands. This
was for some years the residence of the father and his son
Samuel.
Israel Morgan, from Spencer, Mass., purchased of Gershom
Beach, of Rutland, fifty acres of land in Pittsford, paying for
the same 18. This. was located east of the home lot of Gideon
Sheldon, and though the deed was obtained in 1787, the land
was not occupied that year, but a small house was built in the
fall, and the following spring the family, consisting of the
parents and five children, came from Spencer and occupied
the house which stood about forty rods west of the house then
owned by Samuel Waters, Jr. After the death of the father,
Peter, the son, born in 1785, married Mary Page, July 3,
1806, and located on the home farm. His wife Mary died
Feb. 6, 1845, and he married, 2d, Adaline Eoberts, April 9,
1845. Before his death he purchased the Sheldon farm, and
built a new and substantial house which is now occupied by his
son Byron.
The year 1789, witnessed the arrival of several new settlers,
and the multiplication of families by the marriage of several
young men who had resided in the town for longer or shorter
periods. Among the number we may mention Ithiel Barnes,
Peter Powers, Asband Polley, Caleb Hendee, Jr., Ashbel
Hopkins and Martin Hopkins.
Ithiel Barnes was the son of James and Experience (Wise)
Barnes, and was born in New Fail-field, Conn., April 27, 1763.
In 1784, he married Grizzel Hunt, who was born in New
Milford, Conn., Dec. 10, 1765, and they first located in New
Fairfield, where were born the following children, viz. : Nancy,
Abigail, Experience and Isaac. He came to Pittsford in the
winter of 1789, and purchased of his cousin John Barnes
228 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
eighty acres of land the first-division lot of the right of
Edward Flint the deed being dated January 12, 1789. This
included the farm now owned hy Mrs. Charlotte Barnes with
some adjoining land. The following spring he built a house
which stood about three rods north of the house now on the
farm, and as soon as the traveling would permit, he went to
Connecticut for his family. We are unable to state the time
of their arrival here, but probably early in June. They had
four children born in Pittsford, viz. : Susan, Ann, Polly and
IthieL*
Peter Powers had an honorable ancestry. Peter Powers,
born at Littleton, Mass., 1707, and Anna Keyes, born at
Chelmsford, Mass., 1708, being united in wedlock in 1728,
moved to Dunstable, N. H., the same year. But not consider
ing himself permanently located in that township, he penetrated
the forest of Ni&sitissit, now Hollis, in the fall of 1730, and
was the first white settler in that township. They spent the
following year and a half in that dense forest secluded from the
civilized world ; their nearest neighbors could not be visited in
a less traveling distance than ten miles. On the 9th of March,
1732, their third child, Anna, was born, and was the first
English child born in that town. In 1755, New Hampshire
troops were called upon to aid in the capture of Ticonderoga
and Crown Point, and a number of Hollis men went on the
expedition. At that time Peter Powers received his commis
sion of Captaincy under Col. Blanchard. It was given " under
the Hand and Seal at Arms, at Portsmouth, the 5th day
of June, in the 28^A year of the Reign of His Majesty,
King George the Second, A.nno Domini 1755 signed J3en-
ning Wentwor-th, as Governor of His Majesty s Province of
New Hampshire." How long he was in the service we are not
*Ithiel Barnes, the father, entered the army as a waiter for his father who was
Lieutenant in the Revolutionary war, and the Muster Master mustered him out on/
account of his age, (being but fifteen,) but his father took him to Gen. Putnam,
who asked the lad if he wanted to stay, and he replied yes. " Well," said the
General, "let him stay, he will grow to it." And he served through the war.
PETER POWERS ASBAND POLLEY. 229
informed, but he died of a malignant fever, August 27th, 1757.
Anna Powers, his widow, died Sept. 21, 1798. Peter Powers,
their eldest son, born at Dunstable, Nov. 29, 1728, graduated
at Cambridge College 1758, and was a devoted minister of the
Gospel more than forty years. He died at Deer Island in the
year 1800.
Stephen Powers, a younger son, married and located in
Hollis, where he died in 1775 ; leaving a son Peter, born April
28, 1765. The latter, at the age of sixteen years, entered the
American navy, but in a few months left the naval service and
returned to Hollis. In 1789, he came to Pittsford and bought
of Jonathan Fassett one hundred and twenty-four acres of land,
a part of which had been surveyed on the right of John Jenks,
and a part on the right of Ebenezer Harvey. This deed
appears to have included a part of the Fassett farm now
owned by the heirs of the late David Hall together with land
which had been owned by Edward Owen. February 17, 1791,
he married Lucy, daughter of Thomas Lee, and resided a short
time on the Fassett farm. He soon after sold a part of his
land and, on the 13th of September, 1792, bought of Moses
Doolittle one hundred and forty acres, the most of which was
laid out on the right of Samuel Johnson. This included most
of the farms now owned by George N. Eayres and Marshall
Wood, and was mostly covered with a dense forest. The first
clearing was made, and a small house built* near where Mr.
Eayres house now stands, and this continued to be Mr. Powers
residence for nearly twenty-nine years. Afterwards he lived
for limited periods on different farms, but finally located where
his son Samuel Putnam now lives, and died there April 11,
1854.
Nothing is known of the ancestry of Asband Polley. He
was in this town in 1789, married a daughter of Edward Owen,
and resided for a few months in the family of his brother-in-
* Mr. Doolittle had built the house and made other improvements.
230 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
law, Abraham Owen. He owned no real estate here, but had
made arrangements for building a house on land then owned
by Mr. Owen, and had proceeded so far with the work as to
put up the frame, when he went to Peter Sutherland s saw
mill to obtain boards with which to cover the same, and
while standing upon a pile of boards at the head of the Falls,
the boards slipped, and he was precipitated into the stream.
The following is copied from the record : " Asband Policy
died the 12th of April 1790, drowned in Peter Sutherland s
Falls in Otter Creek, north part of Rutland, and was found in
five weeks and one day and decently buried in Pittsford North
Burying Ground east side of the Creek."
Caleb Hendee, Jr., was the eldest son of Caleb Hendee of
whom some account has been given. As we shall probably
hereafter give a sketch of his public life, a glance at his early
history only, is intended here, and we will let him tell his own
story : " As I have related, my father was married on the 27th
day of April 1767, to Caroline Ellsworth, at Simsbury, Con
necticut. On Friday at noon or high twelve, the 21st day of
October, A. D. 1768, on the 12th day of the moon, according
to Astrology, Yenus governed the day and Jupiter the hour,
their first born, the writer of this article, was ushered into this
wonderful world ! But as I have no faith in Astrology, I have
placed no confidence in that part of the matter. A few days
after my father moved into this town (Pittsford) in the month
of March, being in my sixth year, I narrowly escaped being
drowned in Otter Creek near what is called Stevens Fordway,
on what is now Col. Hammond s intervale. My Uncle, Israel
Ellsworth, and one Mr. Warner were at work clearing off
the timber into the river the bank being nearly full, the water
swift and cold, I with a small pole was endeavoring to shove
off some flood wood to see it swim away. In leaning on the
pole the other end slipped off and in I went, head foremost, the
water ten or fifteen feet deep. Not being perceived by any one
CALEB HENDEE, JR. 231
I was left to shift for myself. After a short struggle, with some
difficulty I succeeded in extricating myself from a watery and
untimely grave. I had got some rods from the spot before I
was seen by my uncle and the other man. In the month of
December 1784, my father sent me to a boarding school in
Danby under the instruction of an Englishman where I studied
four months, and studied arithmetic, geometry and surveying
which I now have in two large manuscripts, as well as the large
slate on which I figured. This was the best and essential part
of the school instruction which I received of my father. About
the year 1786, my father purchased me a set of surveying
instruments and I commenced the business of land surveying
which I followed occasionally for about forty years. About the
same time also I commenced teaching school in the winter
season, and followed it for eight winters, including three years
that I taught school constantly. From my earliest youth I
have had a strong desire to obtain knowledge, and of course I
have read and studied as much as my other avocations of life
would permit. From the age of seventeen to that of twenty I
was occasionally unwell, and did not enjoy very good health ;
indeed, from sixteen years old till nearly twenty I was weakly.
In the fall of the year 1788, by the permission and assistance
of my father, I visited the sea shore of New Haven, New
London, New York, &c., for the benefit of my health, and
returned in November with my health improved and took a
school. On the 14th of January, A. D. 1789, I was duly
joined in marriage to Lydia, daughter of Elder Elisha Rich ;
this union took place in consequence of a long standing agree
ment, and, as I had reason to believe, a mutual attachment.
But I continued in the service of my father till the 21st day of
the following October, he not choosing to let me have my time
till I was twenty-one years old. In November or December 1789,
my wife and myself commenced keeping house for ourselves. We
began the world rather low as to property ; she had given her,
232 HISTOKY OF PITTSFOED.
by her father, about this time, twenty acres of wild land which
we sold for $120, which, with what she had acquired by her
own industry, constituted her portion, with which we purchased
two cows and some furniture. Some time after this my father
gave me one hundred acres of land on which were some
improvements, but no buildings; the land might have been
worth about $600. He also gave me a three years old colt, a
part of the value of a pair of ordinary oxen. I had caught a
wolf with whose pate and skin I purchased some sheep ten in
number this is all that constituted my portion, except my
father gave me about one hundred and fifty young apple trees
and land to set them on which I now own. By my own and
my wife s industry, in a few years we were able to purchase
from my father about eight acres more of land, viz. : four acres
of intervale and four of upland for which we gave about $150.
It adjoined the other and was bought to accommodate the same,
but still we had no buildings, but lived in one of the old bar
racks at Fort Vengeance. In February or March I exchanged
the land I had of my father with Col. Thomas Hammond for
a part of the farm on which I now live. I had of him about
one hundred and fifteen acres which was reckoned at $1,000,
and what I let him have at $750. By the industry and economy
of myself and wife we soon paid the boot money and have since
added considerably more to our possessions. On the first day
of June, 1795, I narrowly escaped being killed. I was return
ing from Pittsford village in an empty cart with a young pair
of oxen which took fright and ran rapidly. I was in the
forepart of the cart, and before I could get out, the cart was
turned upside down, and I was thrown on my head and face on
the frozen ground which was very rough from a late rain and
sudden freeze. I was very much bruised and my right ear
knocked off and hung only by a small piece of skin. My ear
was sewed on, but the cartilage, in healing, rotted and came
out, and the wound was a long time in getting well. About
ASHBEL HOPKINS MARTIN HOPKINS. 233
this time commenced the three years which I taught a school
in Pittsford village. I built my barn under the hill, A. D.
1811, and my cider mill about the same time. In the summer
of 1815, I built the house in which I now live. In the spring
and summer of 1821, I built the barn called German s barn,
this side the Baptist Meeting House. My writings will show
my dealings in landed property. On the 27th of July, A. D.
1822, I was taken very sick with stagnation of my blood which
confined me to my room about fifteen days. In the month of
March, 1823, I went on horseback to Boston and to Sharon,
Mass., and it being very stormy, brought on inflammation of
my eyes which have never been entirely well since, and I can
now see but poorly. I had to be shut up in a dark room seven
or eight weeks, bled, blistered, &c."*
Ashbel Hopkins was a son of Nehemiah, and born at West
Stockbridge, Mass., and probably came to this town with other
members of his father s family. On the 12th of May, 1789,
his father deeded to him and his brother Ebenezer, the grist
mill and twenty-seven acres and forty-nine rods of land. Ashbel
built a house on land now owned by Augustus Hammond ; it
stood some five or six rods east of the one now owned by Mr.
Hammond. He married, and resided there till his death in
1793.
Martin Hopkins, brother of the preceding, was a carpenter
and joiner by trade, and was considered one of the best archi
tects of that day. The most of the buildings erected here
during the time of his residence in the town, were constructed
under his direction. He married Sarah, daughter of Stephen
Mead, and resided some years in the first house built by Caleb
Cooley ; afterwards he built a house on land now owned by
Charles Spencer, which stood a few rods north of where George
Brown s house now stands. After a few years he moved to
the State of New York where he died.
* Hendee s MS., Sept. 21, 1827.
234: HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
Having given some account of the families that located in
the township during the last ten years and pointed out their
places of residence, it .now remains to see what was done,
during this period, by the inhabitants or Proprietors in their
collective capacity, for the benefit of society or by way of inter
nal improvements. Several subjects such as the building of
mills and the establishment and maintenance of religious insti
tutions, might properly be mentioned in this connection, but
the consideration of these will be reserved for separate chapters,
and we shall speak here only of those civil and political acts
which, so deeply concerned the people of that period. As the
records are the chief source of information we shall take the
liberty to transcribe from these, retaining the exact language
and orthography of the original :
" PITTSFORD March 15th 1780, then met and opened the sd
meeting.
1. Chose Jonathan Rowley moderator.
2. Chose William Cox Proprietors Clerk.
3. Yoted that the Proprietors Clerk send to Doctor Fassett
for the Proprietors Books and other Papers that belong
to the Proprietors of sd Pittsford. Chose Moses Olmsted
and Silas Mosher as a Committee to see the Papers fetched.
4. Voted to adjourn sd meeting to the first Monday of May
next, at the house of John Barnes, at one of the clock in
the afternoon.
PITTSFORD May ye 1, A. D. 1780, then met and opened the
sd meeting.
1. Chose Samuel Crippen to be the man that takes care to
get the Proprietors Books, and other Papers that belong
to the Proprietors of Pittsford.
2. Yoted to adjourn sd meeting to the first Monday of Novem
ber next then to meet at Lieut. Moses Olmsted s, at one
of the Clock in the afternoon.
235
PITTSFORD October 2d 1783.*
Then the Proprietors of the township of Pittsford met at
the Dwelling house of Esq. Fassett and proceeded to business.
1. Made choice of Nehemiah Hopkins, Moderator.
2d. Made choice of James Ewings, Clerk.
3d. Voted that every free Holder be a voter in this meeting
according to his interest.
4th. Yoted that Capt. Cooley Be Treasuary for this Propriety.
5th. Yoted that a committee of five men be as a committee
to Regulate the former surveys records, viz.: Jonathan
Rowley, Capt. Cooley, Esq. Fassett, Esq. Drury and
James Hopkins, and make their report to the next
meeting.
6th. Yoted that the Town Plot be surveyed in acre lots.
7th. Yoted that Aaron Parsons Gideon Sheldon, John Road,
Calvin Pitkin, Joshua June, Ephraim Stevens be a Com
mittee to lay out lands in this town.
8th. Yoted that every Proprietor that has had a survey of his
land and has lost it by reason of the war, shall have
twenty days to file his declaration in the Clerk s Office
where his land lies and the dimentions of it, that being
done shall have till the next adjourned meeting to get a
proper survey Bill of his land.
9th. Yoted that there be 3 shillings on a right to defray the
charges of the Propriety.
10th. Yoted that there be an addition of 3 shillings more on
each right which will make 6 shillings on the right or
share of Land to defray public charges.
llth. Yoted that Mr. Rowley, John Barnes James Ewings
stand as a Committee to settle with Capt. Cooley, to see
what lias become of the money, that Pitch of one Hun
dred acres of land was sold for, and make a report to the
next meeting.
* The records from the 1st of May, 1780, to the 2d of October, 1783, are lost.
236 HISTOEY OF PITTSFORD.
12th. Voted that this meeting be adjourned until the first
Monday of January at the dwelling house Esq. Fassett."
.
Following the foregoing record is this declaration in con
formity to the eighth vote :
" PITTSFORD, Oct. 9, 1783.
Benjamin Stevens this day declares and says that he has
one hundred and ten acres land being in Pittsford, Bounded as
follows, viz. : Beginning at his northeast corner first lot, then
running North 160 Rods, then running 110 East to a Beach
Staddle then running round to the first mentioned Bounds con
taining one hundred and ten acres of Land."
Five similar declarations, claiming as many lots follow the
above, viz.: two more by Benjamin Stevens, two by Silas
Mosher, and one by John Rhodes.
" PITTSFOKD, January 5, 1784.
Then met upon said Monday and opened said Meeting at
ten O clock forenoon and voted to adjourn said Meeting unto
3 o clock said day. Met according to adjournment and opened
said Meeting and Proceeded to business, then voted that the
reports of the Committee is according to the Resolve of the
Proprietors of said town on the disputes between Jonathan
Fassett and Amasa Ladd.
Then voted to except the report of the Committee on
William Marsh s survey in said town.
Then voted to except Elihu Stevens pitch and survey to be
good.
Then voted to except the report of the Committee on 110
acres of the right of John Hall 5th, William Cox and Jona
than Fassett.
Then voted to give untill the next adjourned meeting to the
man or men that hant got a survey of their land and likewise
for any man or men that has not got a good Proprietor to get
237
a good Proprietor and cover their land, not interfering on
former surveys.
Yoted to except the report of the Committee on the survey
of 110 acres of land 2d division of Theodore Atkinson, Esq.,
to be good to Fassett.
Then voted to except the account of the Committee for
services which is 10 15s L. M.
Yoted to pay the Committee Mr. Jonathan Rowley, James
E wings and John Barnes for their services in finding what was
become of a sum of money that a pitch of Proprietors land
was sold for 1 10s. York Money.
Yoted to pay James E wings for recording the Charter in
the Proprietors Book 5 shillings.
Yoted to except the report of the Committee on Elisha
Harvey s 110 acres of land not good.
Yoted that James Ewings be Collector for the Proprietors
on the six shillings, and two and two pence tax.
Yoted to raise one shilling more as an addition to the six
shillings which will make seven on each rite to be paid at the
same time when the other six is paid.
Yoted to have John Rhoads, Moses Omsted and James
Ewings a Committee to settle with Esq. Jonathan Fassett to
see what is come of the money that a lot of land was sold for
(21 New York money) and make their report at the next
meeting.
Yoted that the seven shillings tax be paid by the first day
of March next.
Yoted that Esq. Drury be an assistant to the Collector to
publish all the delinquents lands in the Yermont Gazette accord
ing to law, both for the town and Proprietors.
Yoted that Ebenezer Lyman and Moses Omsted be a Com
mittee, as an addition to the former Committee, to lay out the
lots and Town Plott.
Yoted to adjourn this proprietors meeting untill the first
238 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
Monday of May next at the house of Lieut. Omsted at ten
o clock forenoon.
Attest, JAMES EWINGS, Clerk.
EEHEMIAH HOPKINS, Moderator.
PITTSFORD May ye 3, 1784.
Then met upon said Monday at the time and place according
to adjournment and opened the meeting and adjourned the
meeting to Esq. Fassetts the same day at three o clock after
noon.
Attest, NEHEMIAH HOPKINS, Moderator.
JAMES EWINGS, Clerk.
PITTSFORD May ye 3, 1784.
Then met according to adjournment and opened the meet
ing and proceeded to business.
Yoted to except the Committee s report in their settlement
with Esq. Jonathan Fassett on account of the pitch of land
sold by the proprietors at Yen due and find due to said proprie
tors 1 2s 2d York Money.
Yoted to chose a committe of three men to examine Col.
Doolittle s account against the proprietors and make their
report at the next meeting, viz.: John Roads Esq. J. Fassett
and Deacon Harwood.
Yoted to choose a committee of three to settle with the
Collector and Treasurer on the two penny land tax, viz., Esq.
Drury, Esq. Fassett and Deacon Harwood and make their
report at the next meeting.
Yoted that the Proprietors have untill the next adjourned
meeting to get their land surveyed, not interfering on former
surveys.
Yoted to adjourn the meeting untill the first Monday of July
next at one o clock afternoon at the house of Moses Omsted.
NEHEMIAH HOPKINS, Moderator.
JAMES EWINGS, P. C.
239
PITTSFOKD July ye 5, 1784.
Then met at time and place according to adjournment and
opened said meeting and adjourned until the first Monday of
October next at one o clock afternoon at Lieut. Omsted s.
At. NEHEMIAH HOPKINS, M.
JAMES EWINGS P. C.
PITTSFOKD October ye 4th 1784.
Then met at the time and place according to adjournment,
and opened the meeting and voted that Capt. Cooley has the
whole of the two-penny Land tax ;* and find in the two Bridges
over the Gulleys and the other Bridges fifteen hundred feet to
be built.
Yoted that the meeting be adjourned to the first Monday
of April next at two o clock in the afternoon at the house of
Lieut. Omsted.
PITTSFOKD, April ye 4, 1785.
Then met at the time and place and proceeded to business.
Chose Ebenezer Drury, Esq., Moderator.
Voted that there be a Committee of five men to lay out the
Town Plot and also to lay out all the other Public Lands in
said town.
Chose James Ewings, John Barnes, Capt. Cooley, Lieut.
Omsted and William Cox the above committee.
Voted that the former committee chosen, see that the Town
Plot be cleared of men and people and also all the other public
lands in said town by order of the Proprietors.
Voted that James Ewings, Deputy Sheriff, serve as an
officer to warn the present Inhabitants now residing on the
Public Lands which men are cutting and culling the timber on
said land and also making improvements on said Public Lands
which is a detriment to said Proprietors, and contrary to
Charter.
* It will be recollected that the two-penny land tax was raised for the building of
bridges.
240 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
Yoted that James Ewings, Capt. Cooley and Esq. Fassett
be as a committee in order to examine Col. Epliraim Doolittle s
account for running the town lines and make their report at the
next meeting and also examine all other accounts exhibited.
Voted that James Ewings, Proprietors Collector, receive
notes from the present Inhabitants for their proportion of the
seven shillings tax and that they settle by the first day of May
next, or their not complying with the above proposal so much
of their lands will be sold to pay the above said tax, payable
by the first day of September next.
Yoted that the acre lots be laid out by the next adjourned
meeting and that the Proprietors draw for their loti according
to charter.
Yoted that this Proprietors Meeting be adjourned untill the
first Tuesday in September next at one o clock in the after
noon, at the house of Lieut. Omsted.
Attest, EBENEZER DRURY, Moderator,
JAMES EWINGS, P. Clerk.
PITTSFORD Sept. 7, 1785.
Then met at the time and place according to adjournment
the Proprietors meeting fifteen minutes unto the Meeting
House.*
PITTSFORD, SEPT. 6, 1785.
Met according to adjournment and proceeded to business,
firstly voted and chose Doct. Easmon and Joseph Crary as a
committee to draw the acre lots in the Town Plot.
Excepted the report of the Committee concerning the
account of Col. Doolittle and ordered the report to be recorded.
Yoted to except a survey of ten acres of land, left in the
Town Plot, for part of the second division of the school lot.
Yoted to except the Committes doings in laying out the
Town Plot.
* This was the log meeting house which stood about where the Baptist meeting
house now stands.
241
Voted to give Esq. Jonathan Fassett eight dollars for the
Plan of the Town of Pittsford, drawn by Esq. Tolman on
Parchment.*
Voted to pay Capt. Joseph Crary 2 14s. L. M., for work
laying out the Town Plot.
Excepted John Barnes Account 1 6s 6d
Excepted John Rhoads Account 10 6
Excepted James E wings Account 11 8 --
Excepted Esq. Drury s Account. 5 --
Excepted Capt. Cooley s Account 5 - -
Excepted Lieut. Omsted s Account 1 2 10
Excepted Caleb Hendee s Account 1 12 --
Excepted Capt. Fassett s Account 6
Voted that Cap. Cooley and Jarnes Ewings be as a com
mittee to regulate the Proprietors and record the doings regular
on the Book.
Voted to send to the Assembly to get a special act to sell
so much of the divided lands of the Proprietors as to pay the
seven shillings tax.
Voted to adjourn this meeting untill the first Monday of
January next at two o clock afternoon on said day at this
place.
Attest, NEHEMIAH HOPKINS, M.
JAMES EWINGS, Clerk.
MONDAY January 1786.
Met at the time and place according to adjournment, and
adjourned this meeting untill the 14th day of March next at
the Meeting House at two o clock afternoon on said day.
Attest, JAMES EWINGS, P. C.
NEHEMIAH HOPKINS, M.
* This plan on parchment is still in the archives of the town, and though some
what defaced is still of great value in locating the original lots. It is entitled u A
Plan of the town of Pittsford taken from Baldwin s original draught of said town
ship by T. Tolman and A. Fassett." The original draught is dated 1783. The Plan
in this volume is a copy.
17
24:2 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
PITTSFORD March 14: 1786.
Met at time and place according to adjournment and
adjourned the meeting untill the first Tuesday of May next at
nine o clock A. M.
Attest, JAMES EWINGS, P. C.
NEHEMIAH HOPKINS.
PITTSFORD May 2, 1786.
Met at the time and place and opened the meeting and
made choice of Capt. Benjamin Cooley Proprietors Clerk.
Voted to except Capt. Crary s account for surveying Public
Land in the month of October, 1785, it being 18 shillings.
Voted to except John Barnes account for measuring land
for the Publick with Capt. Crary it being 15 shillings.
Voted that the new Clerk report Emediately to James
Ewings and request all the writings that belong to the Pro
prietors of Pittsford.
Voted to adjourn said meeting to the first Tuesday in
September next at one of the clock in the afternoon said meet
ing to be held at the Baptist Meeting House.
NEHEMIAH HOPKINS.
BENJAMIN COOLEY, P. C.
September 5, 1786.
Then the Proprietors met at time and place and opened
the meeting that stood adjourned to this day.
Voted Ebenezer Drury, Capt. Benjamin Cooley be a com
mittee to assist Mr. Ewings, Collector, in posting the delinquents
lands on the seven shillings tax.
Voted that Esq. Jonathan Fassett and Capt. Benjamin
Cooley and James Ewings be a committe to examine all
accounts against the Proprietors and report at the next
adjourned meeting and all accounts exhibited to said Com
mittee before said adjourned meeting to be foreclosed.
243
Yoted to adjourn sd meeting to the second Tuesday of
March next 4 o clock afternoon to the Baptist Meeting House.
NEHEMIAH HOPKINS, Modr.
BENJAMIN COOLEY, P. C.
March ye 13, 1787.
Then the Proprietors met according to adjournment and
opened said meeting and voted to adjourn said meeting one
fortnite from this day at one o clock at this place.
NEHEMIAH HOPKINS, Mdr.
BENJAMIN COOLEY, P. Clerk.
March 27, 1787.
Then the Proprietors met at time and place according to
adjournment, and opened said meeting and voted to adjourn
said meeting to the first Monday in May next, at one o clock
afternoon at the Log Meeting House.
NEHEMIAH HOPKINS, Modr.
BENJAMIN COOLEY, P. C.
PITTSFORD May 7th 1787.
Then the Proprietors met at the time and place according
to the adjournment and opened said meeting.
Yoted that James Ewings record all surveys brought to him
for record when he was Proprietors Clerk except that lot that
was given to Mr. Har\vood by the town.
Yoted that the cost of laying out the acre lots and Publick
lots be paid out of the acre lots by tax.
Yoted to lay out the forth Division.
Yoted that the Proprietors have until! the first of October
next to lay out the Publick Lands.
Yoted to adjourn said meeting to the first Tuesday of Sep
tember next at this place at two o clock afternoon.
KEHEMIAH HOPKINS, Modr.
BENJAMIN COOLEY, Clerk,
244 HISTORY OF PITTSFOBD.
PITTSFORD, Sept, 4th, 1787.
The Proprietors of Pittsford met at the time and place, and
opened said meeting according to adjournment, & n d adjourned
said meeting to the first Monday in October next at one o clock
afternoon at the Log Meeting House.
BENJAMIN COOLEY, Proprietors Clerk.
NEHEMIAH HOPKINS, Moderator.
PITTSFORD Oct. 1, 1787.
The Proprietors meeting opened and proceeded to business.
First, Voted that James Ewings collector advertise the acre
lots in said town, to be sold to pay the cost of surveying out
said lots as soon as the law directs.
Yoted to adjourn this meeting untill the second Tuesday of
March next at two o clock afternoon on said day at this meet
ing house in Pittsford.
Attest, NEHEMIAH HOPKINS, Moderator.
JAMES EWINGS, Clerk Pro. tern.
PITTSFORD, March llth 1788.
Then the Proprietors met at the time and place according
to adjournment and opened said meeting, and adjourned said
meeting to Nathan Websters at four o clock on said day.
Yoted to call the acre lots the fourth division.
Yoted to adjourn said meetings to the first Tuesday in
September next at four o clock afternoon to be holden at the
meeting house.
NEHEMIAH HOPKINS, Moderator.
BENJAMIN COOLEY, Clerk.
PITTSFORD September ye 2, 1788.
Then met at the time and place according to adjournment
and opened said meeting and voted to adjourn said meeting to
TOWN-PLOT LOTS. 245
the second Tuesday in November 1789, at 2 of the clock in
the afternoon to be holden at the house of Nathan Webster.
NEHEMIAH HOPKINS, Moderator.
BENJAMIN COOLEY, Clerk.
PITTSFORD, November 10th 1789.
Then met at time and place according to adjournment and
opened said meeting and voted to ajourn said meeting to the
second Tuesday in November in the year 1790, two of the
clock in the afternoon to be holden at the house of Nathan
Webster.
NEHEMIAH HOPKINS, Moderator.
BENJAMIN COOLEY, Town Clerk."
These are the only existing records of meetings held by the
Proprietors during the last ten years, and it will be seen that
at many of them no important business was transacted, but
they were merely meetings and adjournments. Up to 1771,
the meetings of the Proprietors had doubtless been held either
in Massachusetts or Bennington, Vermont, and the records of
the proceedings of those meetings had been kept by different
clerks, and had become somewhat scattered and confused. The
Proprietors deemed it a matter of considerable importance, as
truly they might, to have these records collected and system
atically arranged or "regulated." And that the committee
charged with this duty, made some little effort to accomplish
the work assigned them, the records conclusively show, but for
some reason, to us unknown, it was very imperfectly done.
The Town-Plot Lots were surveyed in 1785, in conformity
to the vote of the Proprietors, and these acre lots were laid out
on either side of the north-and-south road, thirty-four on the
east side, and an equal number on the west, and extending
from a point forty rods and seven feet north of the north line
of the Baptist Burying Ground, to the south line of the Con-
246 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
gregational Meeting House Lot, or to about the middle of the
house lot now owned by *J. A. Randall. On the east side of
the road the north line of Willard Randall s lot is the south
line of the Meeting House Lot.
In this Plot four acres were laid out for the Congregational
Meeting-House Lot ; two acres and ten rods for the Baptist
Meeting-House Lot, and two acres for the North Burying
Ground.
The whole Town Plot consisted of a little more than eighty-
six acres, but only about seventy-six acres were included in the
foregoing lots, consequently there remained in the easterly part
of the Plot ten acres of common-land which, according to the
vote of the Proprietors, was reckoned a part of the second
division of the school lot.
A Plan of the Town Plot with the original papers relating
to it, is in the Town Clerk s Office, the filing of which is as
follows :
"Field Book
Town Plot May 10, 1785.
JOSEPH CHARY, Surveyor."
All these papers have been neatly recorded in the Proprie
tors Book by the present town clerk, Samuel H. Kellogg.
But the most exciting events of the last decade do not
appear upon the Proprietors records, and for an account of
these we shall have to go to other sources of information. The
history of those events has never been fully written, and it is
very difficult at this late day to appreciate in their entireness
the motives which influenced the candid and patriotic men of
that period, to adopt measures which to us, with our present
light upon the subject, appear rash and unreasonable. During
the war the people of Yermont had made great eiforts to aid
in the common cause the defence of American liberty and
at the same time to maintain their independence. These efforts
THE INSURRECTION. 24:7
hid required the expenditure of large sums of money, and to
meet the demands of taxation a large proportion of them had
contracted debts, which upon the return of peace, they were
expecting to liquidate with no great strain upon their resources.
But the close of the war, instead of ushering in a season of
financial prosperity, as had been anticipated, was followed by a
ruinous depreciation in the value of the currency and all other
kinds of property ; specie was flowing out of the country in
exchange for foreign merchandise, and as the result of these
facts the debtor portion of the people found it impossible to
meet their obligations, and were completely at the mercy of
their creditors. So wide-spread was the dissatisfaction, and so
loud the complaint of suffering, that in August, 1786, Gov.
Chittenden prepared and published an address to the citizens
of the State, counseling mutual forbearance and kindness, the
cultivation of the necessaries for clothing and food, particularly
wool and flax, industry, economy, and the non-importation of
f jreign products, and suggesting a hope of some alleviation of
their suffering by the action of the next Legislature. In October
O a/ o
the Legislature assembled at the Court House in Rutland, and
it was soon found that the .members of the House of Repre
sentatives shared in the general feeling of discontent, and were
ready for the adoption of almost any measures, however absurd,
provided thay held out the prospect of even temporary relief.
"A law was passed authorizing a defaulting debtor to tender
on execution the same articles which would have been good in
the life of the contract; and another was passed enabling debt
ors to pay creditors in other States in specific articles, according
to the laws of those respective States. A large party were clam
orous for a State Bank of paper money and a general tender
act, a law which would enable a debtor to pay a debt in what
ever articles he chose. Some three or four able and conservative
members of the Legislature, with Nathaniel Chipman, then in
Rutland, held a private consultation in regard to the financial
24:8 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
condition of the State and the means of mitigating, the existing
evils ; and being fully convinced that the measures proposed
by a large majority of the members, wonld aggravate rather
than mitigate these evils, they hit upon a plan to prevent the
passage of laws which, it seemed to them, would be pernicious.
This plan contemplated the postponement of the whole subject
until the heat and excitement of the time had passed away ;
and in order to effect this object they agreed upon the follow
ing resolution, viz. :
"Resolved, That the people assemble in their respective
towns on the first of January 1787, at the usual place of hold
ing freemen s meetings, and there express by yeas or nays their
approval or disapproval of emitting a small bank of paper
money on loan or otherwise, of continuing the existing tender
acts, and of a general tender act ; the yeas and nays on these
subjects to be transmitted to the Speaker of the Assembly to
be a guide to the Legislature at their next session."
This resolution, on being* introduced into the House, met
with vehement opposition ; but the argument that the people
Vere the best judges of the remedies they needed prevailed,
and the resolution was passed the 31st of October. After the
Legislature had adjourned several reckless and unscrupulous
men who were determined to avoid the payment of their debts,
became quite active in denouncing the action of the Legisla
ture ; and by misrepresentation and every artifice in their
power, they attempted to stir up the people to resist the execu
tion of the laws. Among the most conspicuous of these restless
spirits was Col. Thomas Lee of Rutland who had served as
Captain in Col. Warner s regiment in the Revolutionary war,
and was a man well calculated to take the lead in such a rebel
lious enterprise.
On Tuesday, the 21st of November, the County Court was
to commence its usual session. The Court consisted of Chief-
Justice Increase Moseley, of Clarendon ; Assistant Judges
THE INSURRECTION. 249
Samuel Mattocks and Ebenezer Marvin, of Tinmouth, and
Wham Ward, of Poultney; Clerk, Rev. Obadiah Noble, of
Tinmouth ; State s Attorney, Darius Chipman, of Rutland ;
Sheriff, Jonathan Bell of Rutland. It was known that a por
tion of the suits pending at this Court had been instituted for
the recovery of debts, and as the General Assembly Lad
omitted such legislation in reference to these debts as the
debtor portion of the community demanded, they resolved to
prevent the holding of the Court and thereby to arrest, for the
time being, all judicial proceedings. The excitement upon this
subject ran so high, that on the morning of the 21st of Novem
ber, as the Judges came into Rutland, they found a crowd of
men and boys, armed with clubs, thronging the streets, collect
ing about the Court House and protesting against the holding
of the Court. The Court, however, was opened, but without
proceeding to the business before it, adjourned to two o clock
P. M. Soon after the adjournment a number of men waited
upon the Judges and presented to them a petition, requesting
them to adjourn the Court without transacting any business.
The Judges replied that in the afternoon, after the docket had
been called and the business of the day attended to, the petition
should be taken into consideration. Immediately after the
Court was opened in the afternoon, Col. Lee, at the head of
about one hundred men, rushed into the Court room and,
in a boisterous and insolent manner, threatened the Court
for not granting their request. The Court, for the time, being
powerless against the mob, was by order of the Judges
adjourned to nine o clock the next morning. This -being in
exact opposition to the request of the mob, as expressed in
their petition, they became greatly exasperated and a few of
their number rushed to a neighboring house, where they pro
cured a supply of fire-arms, and returning, distributed them
among their comrades, who immediately surrounded the Court
House, guarded every avenue and held the Court and all in
250 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
attendance thereon, prisoners. By thus making an exhibition
of their power they were hoping to intimidate the Court and
gain the object of their request. But in this they mistook ;
the Court was not thus to be overawed ; and after being held
about two hours, they were permitted to depart and return to
their lodgings. Here the committee of the Regulators as the
mob styled themselves again presented their petition to which
the Judges formally replied as follows : " The Judges of the
County Court, in and for the County of Rutland, having taken
under their consideration the petition of a number of the
inhabitants of said County, in which it is requested that this
Court adjourn without doing any business ; the Court find on
examination of the docket, that a large number of cases are in
suit, in which the plaintiffs and defendants are mutually agreed
to come to a decisive trial this session, and some other matters
of such importance to the peace, dignity and interest of the
good people of this County are depending, that the Court can
not, agreeable to the tenor of their oaths and the general good
of this County, comply with the aforesaid requisition ; notwith
standing this Court would not wish to try any causes at this
term, but such as, in the opinion of the Court, are necessary to
preserve the peace, happiness, interest and dignity of this
County in particular, and the Constitution and State of Ver
mont in general." Failing thus far to obtain their object, the
Regulators determined to accomplish by force what they could
not do by petition nor threats. A part of their number, well
armed, took possession of the Court House, with the design of
holding it and preventing the sitting of the Court the next day,
and expresses were sent out into the neighboring towns for
reinforcements. In the evening the Sheriff sent orders to Col.
Isaac Clark of Castleton, Col. Pearl of Pawlet, and Lieut.-Col.
Spafford of Tinmouth to raise the militia of the county and
come without delay, supplied with fire-arms and three days
provisions, to assist him in sustaining the Court. These orders
THE INSURRECTION. 251
were promptly responded to, and by nine o clock Wednesday
morning, Cols. Clark and Pearl arrived with so formidable a
force that the Regulators, intimidated, quit the Court House
and offered no further resistance to the Court.
During the day the militia came in from every quarter.
Companies from Tinmouth, Hubbardton, Castleton and Poult-
ney, well armed and officered, placed themselves under the
command of Col. Clark as senior officer. In the meantime
the Regulators had not been idle, but by misrepresenting the
answer of the Judges to their petition, and by circulating false
reports, they stirred up a feeling of indignation towards the
Court, so that during the day they received considerable rein
forcements, coming chiefly from Pittsford and West Rutland,
with a few from Chittenden, Ira and Clarendon.
After all their efforts at drumming up recruits, they were
not in sufficient force to -think of contending successfully with
the militia, but they kept up their demonstrations during the
day, marching through the streets, confronting the militia, dis
cussing the nature of their grievances and demanding the
adoption of such measures as, in their opinion, would afford
them relief. Foremost in raising the recruits from Pittsford
was Jonathan Fassett, though Col. Benjamin Cooley, in consid
eration of his long military experience, w r as placed in command.
This company joined Lee early in the day, and was with him
in the most of his noisy demonstrations ; but at night Col.
Cooley with about fifty men retired to the house of Lt. Ros-
well Post about a mile north of the Court House on the Pittsford
road. Just at night several of the more prominent of the rioters
remaining in the village were arrested, though Col. Lee escaped.
The militia were quartered at Gove s tavern and other houses
in that vicinity. Sentries were placed in the streets, and none
were allowed to pass without giving the countersign. About
midnight orders were received to arrest Col. Cooley and his
company. Col. Clark called for volunteers. Sixteen horse-
252 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
men under the command of Capt. Noah Lee of Castleton, and
a party of infantry offered their services and were soon on the
march. On arriving at the brook a little south of Post s, they
took a circuitous route and surrounded the house. So quickly
and noiselessly was this movement made that Col. Cooley and
his party had no knowledge of the approach of the militia till
called upon to surrender. On being thus suddenly aroused,
they seized their guns and prepared for resistance ; but after
the exchange of a few shots and some blows, they saw the hope
lessness of further resistance and surrendered. A few escaped,
and these only by leaping out of a window, and taking advant
age of the darkness of the night. Nehemiah Hopkins, Jr., of
Pittsford, a member of the mob, received a shot which shat
tered his right arm from the elbow to the wrist. Amputation
was successfully performed the following day by Drs. Ezekiel
Porter* and Daniel Reed of Rutland. The prisoners w r ere
conducted back to the village and lodged in jail. Thursday
morning, the Regulators having disappeared from the streets,
and the excitement somewhat subsided, the Court was opened,
the prisoners arraigned and their trials commenced. Some
were discharged without trial ; five w r ere acquitted ; twenty-
onef plead guilty and were fined, some 9s. and some 10s.
and costs ; and fourteen on trial were found guilty, and were
fined from 3 to 25 with costs, and were required to give
bonds varying from 20 to 150, with sureties for their good
behavior for one year.
The following papers relative to these trials were found
among the old Supreme and County Court files, rescued, col-
* Young Hopkins wound was dressed by order of Col. Clark, and Dr. Porter s,
bill for amputation and subsequent treatment was 11 3s. This was paid by the*
State.
t These were James Hopkins, John Tuttle, Ebenezer Hopkins, John Khodes T
Elisha Warner, Martin Hopkins, Stephen Hopkins, John Tupper, Aslibel Hopkins,
David Storks, Elijah Adams, Caleb Cooley, Benjamin Stevens, Jr., Jeremiah
Powers, Ebeuczer Lyinan, Elijah Brown, Samuel Adams, Peter Powers, Amos
Kellogg, Solomon Taylor and Jabez Olinstead.
THE INSURRECTION. 253
lected and bound in ten Yolumes, by Gen. Hopkins, while
Clerk of the Court, and furnished me by him :
" To the Honorable the County Court, now sitting in Rut
land, within and for the county of Rutland, comes Darius
Chipman, Attorney for said county, and complaint and informa
tion makes, that on the 22 day of November, A. D. 1786, at
said Rutland, Jonathan Fassett, Ebenezer Drury, Dan Barnard,
Reuben Allen, Jonathan Swift, Simeon Tupper, Jonathan Row
ley, Benjamin Cooley, all of Pittsford in said county, Gideon
Horton, Nathan Daniels, of Brandon, and William Roberts,
Benjamin Whipple and Silas Mead, of Rutland, in said county,
assembled in a riotous, routous and unlawful manner, with an
intent to prevent the sitting of the Honorable County (Court),
then and there sitting, and being so assembled as aforesaid,
with guns, swords, and stones, marched through the streets at
Rutland aforesaid, to the terror of the good people of this
State, and then and there disturbed the Honorable County
Court then sitting in the Court House in said Rutland, and
many other enormities, they, the said Jonathan, Ebenezer,
Dan, Reuben, Jonathan, Simeon, Jonathan, Benjamin, Gideon,
William, Nathan, Benjamin and Silas then and there did,
against the peace and dignity of the Freemen of the State of
Vermont, to the evil example of others in like manner offend
ing ; wherefore said Attorney prays, that they, the said
Jonathan, Ebenezer, Dan, Reuben, Jonathan, Simeon, Jona
than, Benjamin, Gideon, William, Nathan, Benjamin and Silas,
may be made to ans\ver this complaint, and be further dealt
with, as to law and justice appertains.
Dated at Rutland this 23 day of November, A. D. 1786.
D. CHIPMAN, Attorney.
To the Sheriff of Rutland County, his Deputy, or either of
the Constables in said county, in the name and by the authority
of the Freemen of the State of Vermont, you are commanded,
forthwith to apprehend the bodies of the within delinquents,
254: HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
and safely keep and cause to appear before the County Court,
now sitting in Rutland in said county, then to answer the
within complaint, and do and suffer as the court shall order.
Dated at Rutland, November 23, 1786.
OBADIAH NOBLE, Clerk.
November 23d, 1786. , Then, by virtue of the within pre
cept, I have arrested the bodies of the within Delinquents, and
have them here in court.
Attest, JONA. BELL, Sheriff.
And now the said Attorney says, that he will prosecute the
said Jonathan Rowley and Gideon Horton no further.
D. CHIPMAN, Atty.
Whereupon, the Delinquents, being called to plead to said
Information, plead not guilty, and put themselves on the coun
try for trial.
Whereupon, a jury being impannelled and sworn to try
the Delinquents, and having heard the said cause, on their
oaths say, that Jonathan Fassett, William Roberts, Benja
min Cooley, Benjamin Whipple, Nathan Daniels, Silas Mead,
are guilty of the facts charged against them in the said
Information ;
Whereupon, this court do adjudge and sentence that the
said Jonathan Fassett pay a fine of 25 L. Money, to the
Treasurer of this county, and give a bond, with surety, in the
sum of One Hundred and Fifty Pounds, for his good behaAiour
for one year, and also a Bill of Costs, taxed by said court at
1. 2. 6. and that that the said William Roberts pay a fine of
15 to the Treasurer of this county, and give a bond, with
surety, in the sum of 100 L. Money, for his good behaviour
for one year, and pay a Bill of Costs, taxed by said court at
1. 2. 6. And that the said Benjamin Cooley pay a fine of
12. to the Treasurer of this county, and give a bond, with
surety, of 100. for his good behaviour for one year, and also
pay a Bill of Cost, taxed by said court at 1. 2. 6. And that
THE INSURRECTION. 255
the said Benjamin Whipple pay a fine of 10. to the Treasurer
of this county and give a bond in the sum of 100. for his
good behaviour for one year, and also pay a Bill of Cost, taxed
by said court at 1. 2. 6. And that Nathan Daniels pay a fine
of 10. to the Treasurer of this county, and give a bond, with
surety, for his good behaviour for one year, and pay a Bill of
Cost, taxed at 1. 2. 6. And that Silas Mead pay a fine of
6. to the Treasurer of this county, and give a bond, with
surety, for his good behaviour for one year, in the sum of 50.
and pay a Bill of Cost, taxed by said court, at 1. 2. 6. And
the aforesaid Delinquents, not being satisfied with said judg
ment, prayed for, and were admitted to an appeal to the then
next stated session of the Supreme Court, to be liolden at Rut
land, within and for the county of Rutland, on the Third
Tuesday of August then next.
The rebellion being considered effectually crushed, on Sat
urday afternoon the militia were assembled, and after being
addressed by Col. Clark were discharged. But it was so near
dark that they remained over night, and on Sabbath morning
started for home. As the militia, returning westward, arrived
at Pine Hill, they were informed that some two hundred mal
contents were assembled at Col. James Mead s, west of Otter
tDreek. On the reception of this intelligence the Court issued
orders for the immediate recall of the militia and for reinforce
ments from other parts of the county. Col. Pearl, who had
gone southward, immediately returned with the militia under
his command, and receiving large reinforcements from the
west, halted at Blanchard s Corners in West Rutland, while
the militia from the east proceeded to Center Rutland and,
placing a strong guard at Otter Creek bridge, halted there
during the clay, thus placing the insurgents in a very unenvi
able position between two formidable forces. During the latter
part of the preceding week, some of the most active in insti
gating the rebellion, had traversed the neighboring towns,
256 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
falsely charging the Court with dealing fraudulently with the
Regulators, and with treating the prisoners with the most out
rageous cruelty. The result of these charges was that even
tlie most candid and conservative portion of the people were
aroused to the highest state of indignation. Acting from the
impulse of feeling created by what they were made to believe
were the acts of an unjust and tyrannical court, the assemblage
at Col. Mead s had convened to inaugurate active measures for
redressing their wrongs. Sunday w r as improved by several
friends of law and order, in efforts to convince the malcon
tents that many of the evils of which they complained did not
exist ; that for such as did exist, the Court was in no way
responsible ; that the prisoners had been kindly treated ; and
that the Court and the government had a common interest in
doing all in their power to relieve the sufferings of the people.
They were told that they had been misinformed, that they had
been imposed upon by a few artful and designing men, and
that the course they were pursuing, if persisted in, must inevit
ably result in bloodshed and ruin. These efforts were attended
with gratifying success ; the Regulators were convinced that
they had been made the dupes of a gross imposition; and as
candid and honest men they not only abandoned the object of
their enterprise, but even. joined the militia under Col. Clark
in defence of the Court and the laws. Monday morning, all
being again quiet, and no further use for the militia being
anticipated, they received the thanks of the Court and were
dismissed. The Court continued in session without further
interruption until Tuesday evening, when it was adjourned
without day. The militia were afterwards paid for their ser
vices by the State, and on the 2d day of March, 1787, the
General Assembly passed and caused to be published the
following resolution : "Resolved, That this House entertains
a high sense of the services done to this State by the officers
.and soldiers, whose spirited exertions crushed the late daring
THE INSURRECTION. 257
insurrection against government, in the counties of Rutland
and Windsor,* and does hereby return the said officers and
soldiers their hearty thanks."
On looking over the list of names of those who were
engaged in this insurrection we are not a little surprised to find
in it the names of such men as Col. Benjamin Cooley, Capt.
Caleb Cooley, Amos Kellogg, Ebenezer Lyman, Ebenezer
Hopkins and Elijah Adams, pioneers in the settlement of the
town ; men who had received a religious education and were
deeply imbued with the spirit of Christianity ; who had toiled
together to lay broad and deep the foundation of our social and
religious institutions ; who were foremost in every enterprise
pertaining to the material prosperity of the people ; and who
were looked upon as models of stability and embodiments of
almost every manly virtue ; and we wonder how such men
could have engaged in high-handed rebellion against a benefi
cent government, and a government which they had them
selves helped to establish. But the fact that they did this,
shows the extremity of their sufferings, as well as the extremity
of their misapprehension, in respect to its causes and proper
remedies. But we must bear in mind that they lived in a very
exciting period of our history. Not only were the finances of
the country in a very unsatisfactory condition, but the plans for
improving them were various ; and upon this subject public
sentiment was very much divided and party feeling very strong.
At that time the facilities for obtaining information were
greatly inferior to those we have now. There was not a news
paper published in the county, and only twof in the State, and
very few copies of these found their way into the families of
Pittsford. It was not so difficult, therefore, for crafty politi-
* A similar outbreak had occurred in Windsor County.
t At chat time the Vermont Gazette was published at Bennington, and the Ver-.
mont Journal at Windsor.
18
258 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
cians to manufacture a local, public sentiment for or against a
public measure. The people of Pittsford in common with the
citizens of other portions of the State were in debt, and suffer
ing greatly from an almost worthless currency; yet, that they
would have risen in rebellion against the government, had they
not been misinformed and perversely influenced, we are not
prepared to admit. The man who of all others did most to
promote a spirit of discontent and rebellion in Pittsford was,
undoubtedly, Jonathan Fassett. He was one of the early set
tlers, a large land-holder, quite loquacious, took a prominent
part in the transaction of the public business, and, up to this
time, appears to have had the confidence of his townsmen, by
reason of which he had three times represented them in the
General Assembly of the State, and had but recently been
elected for a fourth term. He had also held the office of
Justice of the Peace and County Judge. It is not our purpose
to discuss his motives, whether honest and conscientious, or
selfish and vindictive; but that he, by his personal influence
and public harangues, did more than any other to array the
people of the town against the Court, there is no room for
doubt. It is creditable to those whom he had deceived that
their minds were open to conviction, and that as soon as con
vinced of their error, they deplored the course they had taken,
and became law-abiding and law-sustaining citizens ; while the
man who had deceived them and been the principal cause of
their .disgrace, never afterwards received much favor at their
hands.
The Court showed great discrimination in passing judgment
upon the insurrectionists, and while the majority of those con
victed were discharged on the payment of a mere nominal fine,
Jonathan Fassett was required to disgorge the sum of 25,
more than double the amount demanded of any other Pittsford
man. But this was not the whole of his punishment, as will
COMPLAINT AGAINST FASSETT. 259
be seen by the following extract from the journal of the
proceedings of the General Assembly, at its next session in
February following.
"To the Honorable General Assembly now sitting in Ben-
nington by adjournment :
Gideon Brownson, Esq., complaining, saith, that Jonathan
Eassett, Esq., of Pittsford, in the county of Rutland, and Rep
resentative to this Assembly for said town of Pittsford, for the
present year, hath, during and since the session of this Assem
bly in October last, by seditious speeches misrepresenting the
proceeding of this Assembly at their said session, among the
good people of this State, endeavored to influence the minds of
the citizens of this State against the proceedings of this Assem
bly, at their said session, and did excite them to mutiny, riot
and sedition against the laws and government of this State;
and did, on the third Tuesday of November last, excite, encour
age, aid and abet, a large number of the inhabitants of the
county of Rutland, then notoriously and seditiously assem
bled at said Rutland to oppose the sitting of the County
Court for the county of Rutland, then and there to be holden
according to law ; all which conduct of the said Jonathan
Fassett is contrary to and in violation of a duty and obligation
of a member of this House ; your complainant therefore moves,
that inquiry be made into the conduct of the said Jonathan,
and he dealt with according to the rules and regulations of
this House.
(Signed) G. BROWNSON."
The question being put to Mr. Fassett whether he plead
guilty or not guilty to said complaint, he answered not guilty.
And on motion made, and agreed to by Mr. Fassett, Ordered,
That Wednesday morning of next week, at the opening of the
House in the morning, be assigned to take said complaint under
260 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
consideration ; and that Mr. Fassett be suspended until that
time from taking his seat in this House ; and that the State s
Attorney, for the county of Rutland, be requested to bring
forward the evidence to support said complaint.
Wednesday February 28, 1787.
Agreeable to order, the house took under consideration the
complaint of Col. Brownson against Jonathan Fassett, Esq.,
which was read, and Mr. Fassett not appearing, the evidence
in support of the complaint being heard, the question was put,
whether said complaint is supported, and that Jonathan Fassett,
Esq., be expelled from his seat as a member of this House ?
The yeas and nays on the question were required by Mr. Free
man, they stand as follows, viz. :
Yeas Mr. Dewey, Mr. Goodrich, Mr. Gardner, Mr.
Speaker, Mr. O. Smith, Mr. Canfield, Mr. Brownson, Mr.
Gray, Mr. Sheldon, Mr. Bristol, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Chipman,
.Mr. J. Burt, Mr. Marvin, Mr. Randall, Mr. Merriman, Mr.
Marsh, Judge Ward, Mr. Higley, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Asabel
Smith, Mr. Mott, Mr. C. Carpenter, Mr. Wilson, Mr. B. Burt,
Mr. Freeman, Mr. Bridgman, Mr. Clark, Mr. Spaulding, Mr.
Jewet, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Wells, Mr. Briggs, Mr. Roberts, Mr.
Cook, Mr. Aiken, Mr. Hudson, Mr. Burgiss, Captain Ward,
Mr. B. Brown, Mr. Bisbee, Mr. Hubbard, Mr. Davison, Mr.
Brigham, Mr. Heald, Mr. Emmons, Mr. Weld, Mr. Abida
Smith, Mr. Green, Mr. Cosseen, Mr. J. Carpenter, Mr. Park-
hurst, Mr. Bliss, Mr. Rosbrooks, Mr. Steel, Mr. Bartholomew,
Mr. Hall, Mr. P. Brown, Mr. Ferris, Mr. S. Lane, Mr. Loid,
Mr. J. Lane, Mr. Pierce, Mr. Butterfield.
So it passed unanimously in the affirmative.
"Thursday, March 1, 1787.
Mr. Chipman, State s Attorney for the county of Rutland,
presented a bill of cost on the complaint against Jonathan
Fassett, Esq., as follows :
261
Two Subpoenas, 2
Serving ditto on Esq. Drury and Mr. Moulton, 3 12
Cost of taking depositions taxed by Esq. Drury, 19 6
Esq. Drury s travel 70 miles and Mr. Moulton s travel, 1 14 7
Subpoena and serving on Col. Clark and others, 6
Four witnesses attendance one day each, 8
Attorney s fees, 1100
Attendance eight days, 16
Clerk s fees, 26
Whereupon the General Assembly
Resolved, That the Treasurer pay to Darius Chipman,
Esq., .9: 10: 7. in hard money orders, for cost of prosecuting
the impeachment against Jonathan Fassett, Esq., and that he
pay the same to the several persons that the same is due to.
Resolved, That Jonathan Fassett, Esq., pay to the Treas
urer of this State the sum of nine pounds ten shillings and
seven pence, lawful money, as cost of prosecution on an
impeachment exhibited to this Assembly againt him, by Col.
Gideon Brownson; and that the State s Attorney for the
county of Rutland, be, and he is hereby directed, to collect
the same of the sai4 Jonathan Fassett, and pay the same into
the treasury of this State."
On the first Tuesday of January, 1787, The votes on the
establishment of a Bank were as follows: Yeas 450, Nays
2197. On the passage of a General Tender Act, Yeas 150,
Nays 881.
The votes in the Town of Pittsford were for the establish
ment of a Bank 3, against a Bank 25 ; For a General Tender
Act none, against such an Act 38.
During the latter part of this period an event occurred
which was long remembered, and should be recorded that those
who now live may, by comparison, better appreciate the bless-
262 HISTORY OF PITTSFOED.
ings which are lavished upon them. The year 1788 was noted
for a severe famine which prevailed throughout Vermont, some
other parts of New England and Canada. It is thus described
by one* then living in this town, and probably one of the very
few now living who have any personal knowledge of it :
" There was at that time, commencing as soon as April and
lasting until harvest, a scarcity of bread which caused great
suffering throughout Vermont, the newer parts of New York
and Canada. Most of the people had one cow and a pair of
oxen. The pasture was the woods after the first of May. The
plains had been burned over a few years before this, and the
Lord sent us that year a wonderful crop of wintergreen berries
to begin with, and then strawberries, raspberries and black
berries in succession. There were a few families in town that
had a competency, but only a few, and these imparted to others
and put their own families upon rations to keep others from
starving. Children were dispersed through the day to obtain
berries, and the cow would give us some milk at night, and a
handful of berries to a person or child, and a small piece of
bread baked in a pan, for it would not do to have a loaf of
bread, as it would be in danger of being devoured at once.
But the good mother would take, at every meal, a certain quan
tity of flour, just enough to make one ,cake, that would be
faithfully divided and the rest must be made up with milk and
berries and this must answer for two meals ; and for dinner we
had greens and sometimes a small allowance of meat with a
few mouthfuls of bread. But many families were without bread
or meat for weeks. The material for bread was not in the
country ; no money could procure it because it was not here.
Corn was brought from Virginia to Troy, and from thence to
Pittsford in an ox cart, on such a road as a new country fur
nished. A team would go and return in about ten days and
bring, with two yokes of oxen, twenty-five bushels of Southern
*Rev. Simeon Parmelee.
THE FAMINE. 263
corn. One man I will not call his name for he is dead, and
I hope in heaven, for he expected to go there, but he was
rather a selfish man brought a number of bushels of old
wheat to mill after harvest, and my grandfather, who was then
the miller, gave this man a severe reproof for keeping his
wheat when his neighbors were starving. His excuse was that
he did not think it good economy to thrash new wheat as soon
as it goes into the barn. Multitudes were offering to labor for
their board. There were not many in that town that were as
much straightened as many in neighboring towns. In Chitten-
den, Pittsfield and newer towns, and nearer the mountains,
they suffered more. In some places, such was the severity of
the famine that many could accomplish but little labor, and
they had forebodings lest another year would be more distress
ing than the present. Let us now cast our eyes abroad and
institute a comparison of the present condition of our country
with the state of things that we witnessed in our country then.
Then our country was comparatively a wilderness, and now it
is a fruitful field. Then we had cabins, but now temples ; then
corduroy roads and now rails. Then it was long trust, and
often imprisonment for debt, now the latter is not allowed, and
as a rule it is ready pay. Men now fail, and are reckless and
imprudent, but there is no difficulty if we have not bread
enough in Vermont or New York, we can go to Iowa, Texas
or California for it, and it need not cost us very dear. God
has blessed our land with plenty and with means of obtaining
it from any section, and we are a very wicked people if we are
not truly thankful for these blessings scattered broadcast over
the land."
The writer of the foregoing extract feels confident that the
famine was in 1788, though we find some writers assert that
it was in 1789, and others that it was in 1790.
" The scarcity was attributed to the too rapid filling up of
the country. The few who had made clearings and brought
264: HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
their land into a state of cultivation, were not able to raise
provisions sufficient to sustain .themselves, and all those who
were so constantly seeking to settle here, from the older
States."* Ths was a serious condition, and was made still
more so by the difficulty of transporting provisions from
abroad.
In connection with the history of this trying period, some
notice should be taken of Ebenezer Drury, Esq., a man of
large heart and uncommon benevolence, and whose sympathies
embraced the needy of all classes. He was not in affluent cir
cumstances, but he was ready, at all times, to divide his " staff
of life " with his suffering neighbors. He made a special effort
to learn the circumstance of every family in the township, and
he not only imparted to the needy from his own stores, but he
collected from his wealthier neighbors and distributed among the
destitute. Almost every day he could be seen, on horseback,
conveying packages of provisions to families in straightened
circumstances. By reason of these acts the trials of many were
greatly mitigated, and they were enabled to pass through this
period of famine without suffering the pangs of starvation.
By such deeds Mr. Drury merited and received the gratitude of
the people of the town.
History of Salisbury.
ABRAHAM DEUKT. 265
CHAPTEK VII.
JTmmigrants and their Locations continued / Extracts from
the Proprietors Records ; Settlement of the Land-title
Controversy ; Vermont admitted into the Union ; Pay
ment of $30,000. 1.7901800.
During the next ten years, the agitation occasioned by the
war having subsided, the population of the town went on grad
ually increasing, while new openings were continually made in
the forest, a greater breadth of soil was brought under the
influence of husbandry, and the machinery of civil government
was moving gracefully along. This prosperous state of things,
combined with the natural fertility of soil, made the township
a desirable one for enterprising young men, who wished to
make pleasant homes for themselves in some promising region.
Among the number who located here in 1790, we find
Abraham Drury, John Woodward, Samuel Copley, Phineas
Hammond, Abraham Carpenter, Adget Lathrop and Nathan
B. Graham.
Abraham Drury was a nephew of Ebenezer Drury and
grandson of Daniel Drury of Shrewsbury, Mass., but his
father s Christian name we have not been able to obtain. He
was born in Shrewsbury, came to Pittsford in 1790, and pur
chased the westerly half of the Joshua Woodward farm, or
what constitutes the farm now owned by Frank B. Barnes.
The road at that time, it will be remembered, passed consider
ably to the west of the present road and about sixty rods south
west of the present residence of Mr. Barnes, made a short turn
from a southwesterly to a southeasterly direction and upon that
266 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
corner Mr. Drury built a house.* He married Abigail, daugh
ter of Joshua Morse, and resided there till 1804, when he built
the house now owned by Mr. Barnes on the present road. His
wife Abigail died about the year 1800, and he married Lucy,
daughter of Abijah Tucker, March 8, 1802. He afterwards
moved to the State of Ohio where he died.
Calvin Drury, the second son of Ebenezer, was born in
Templeton, Mass., May 8, 1765, came to Pittsford with other
members of his father s family, and married Azubia, daughter
of Rev. Eleazer Harwood, about the year 1790. He located
on the home farm upon which he built a house which stood
about three rods north of the house now owned by the heirs of
the late Austin Andrews. His wife Azabia died about 1824,
and he married Sarah, daughter of Jacob Weed, September
22, 1825. He was industrious, frugal, of sound judgment,
and took a deep interest in everything pertaining to the pros
perity of the town and the Christian Church.
John Woodward was the eldest son of Joshua, of whom
some account has been given. We find but little upon the
records relating to the Woodward family, and it is not known
to the writer \vhere any member of it now lives. John was
probably born in Watertown, Mass., before his parents moved
to Pittsford, since he was old enough to take an active part in
the Revolutionary war, as has appeared in the account of that
struggle. He married and located on the homestead with his
mother, his father having been killed in the war. He had two
brothers, Joshua, Jr., and Amos, both of whose interests in
the home farm he bought in February, 1792 ; the former at
that time resided in Harkmore, N. Y. John s first wife died,
and he married, for a second wife, a daughter of Abijah Tucker.
He resided in the house built by his father till the year 1802,
when he built and began to occupy the house now owned by
C. Bowen. A few years later he moved to New York.
* The land on which the house stood was purchased of Joshua Morse.
Samuel Copley resided in Pittsford some fourteen or fifteen
years, but we know nothing of his early life or residence. He
purchased eighty-eight acres of land of Josiah Eddy, and this
appears to have included the south part of Eddy s home farm.
In the deed Copley is said to be of Clarendon. He resided in
a house which he built about thirty rods south of the residence
of Mr. Eddy, and a little southeast of Abraham Drury s. He
moved to the State of New York about the year 1804.
Phineas Hammond was the second son of Daniel, of New
ton, and was born June 4, 1755. About the year 1790, he
came to Pittsford, but it does not appear that he bought any
real estate till some years later. He married and resided a few
years in the house built or repaired by Caleb Hendee, Jr., on
the farm now owned by A. and J. Richardson ; he afterwards
occupied a house which stood in what is now Abraham Owen s
garden. Later still he went to New Orleans where he died.
Abraham Carpenter was born in Rehoboth, Mass., Sep
tember 23, 1739, and in the French war he enlisted in the
army and was sent through the wilderness to Crown Point
Fort, where he remained through one summer, acting, the most
of that time, as one of the guard at that fortress. How long
he remained in the army we are not informed, but when his
term of service had expired, he returned to Rehoboth and
commenced studying for the ministry. He married Elizabeth
Bliss, also of Rehoboth, who was born April 5, 1738, and after
their marriage they went to reside in Killingly, Conn., from
which town they removed to Plainfield, N. H., in 1774. He
was there ordained and settled over a Congregational Church,
the first in the township. From Plainfield he removed to
"Whipple Hollow, and of his labors there we shall have some
thing to say hereafter.
Adget Lathrop was the son of Cyprian and Mary Lathrop,
and was born in Connecticut, Ang. 29, 1764. He was a car
penter and joiner, and wrought at his trade some years in his
268 HISTORY OF PITTSFOED.
native State, but at length came to Pittsford, married Martha,
daughter of Joshua Morse, January 13, 1790, and located, in
the fall of the same year, on the farm which has been men
tioned, as having been first improved by Adonijah Montague.
On the tenth day of September, 1792, he bought of Peter
Powers the farm which had been, for some years, occupied and
improved by Jonathan Fassett. He removed to Stafford about
the year 1816, and died there April 10, 1840. Mrs. Martha
Lathrop died* in Geneva, N". Y., about the year 1850.
We have no knowledge of the ancestors of Nathan B. Gra
ham. He was brother of John A. Graham of Rutland, was
educated as a lawyer and located in this town in 1790. He
purchased of James Swings the house-lot now owned by J. A.
Randall, and built upon it what was long known as the gam-
brel-roof house. He practiced his profession here till the
spring of 1796, when he removed to Boston, Mass.
We find the following among those who located here in
1791, viz. : Milton Potter, Rufus Ward, Israel Keith and sons
Scotland, Daniel and Alfred.
Milton Potter was born in New Fairfield, Conn., in 1763.
His father was a physician and educated his son for the same
profession ; but Milton preferred the life of a farmer. At the
age of about fourteen he enlisted in the army and remained in
the service till the close of the war, taking an active part in
many of the hard-fought battles of the Revolution. He was
one of the men who rowed Arnold to the Yulture, on the
Hudson, when he fled from West Point, and was by that traitor
delivered over to the British as a prisoner of war, but was
afterwards set at liberty by Sir Henry Clinton, who, in this
instance, had no sympathy with Arnold s meanness. He wit
nessed the execution of Andre, participated in most of the
military movements upon the Hudson river, and near the
close of the war, received a Captain s commission, signed by
* She died from the effects of a fall which dislocated her neck.
MILTON POTTER RUFUS WARD. 269
Washington. After the war he returned to New Fairfield and
married Esther Cone, whose father was a merchant at East
Haddam, Conn., and who, on the breaking out of the war, was
in Liverpool, England, with a cargo of merchandise which was
taken by the British government and confiscated, and its owner
imprisoned. By the aid of friends he was released and returned
to America, but he had lost his property, lie enlisted in
the army, very soon after his return, and having been taken
prisoner by the British he was confined in a sugar-house in the
city of New York, where he soon died.
Capt. Potter came to Pittsford in 1791, and bought of Elias
Hopkins, Jr., forty-four acres of land bounded as follows :
" Beginning at a hemlock stub standing near the Great Bridge,
on Stephen Mead s north line ; thence running northerly, with
the highway, to John Barnes land on the west of the highway ;
thence running westerly on said Barnes land to an elm stub
marked, and standing in the northeast corner of Stephen
Mead s land ; thence southerly on said Mead s line to a stake
and stones, near a beach staddle marked ; from thence easterly
on said Mead s line to the first-mentioned bounds."
Mr. Hopkins had made some improvements on this land,
but to what extent is not now known. Mr. Potter built a house
and barn on the place, the former of which is still standing,
but the latter has been removed, and is now one of T. D.
Hall s barns. Mr. Potter resided in Pittsford till 1839, when
he went to Whiting to live with his son James A., and died
there, July 2, 1840.
We can learn but little of Rufus Ward, though he is reputed
to have been a son of William, the early settler. It is supposed
that he married about the year 1791, but where he first located
is not now known. It is certain that he owned land on West
Hill near Hubbardton line, and that he cleared some of it,
though he never located there. About the year 1806, he pur
chased a few acres of land on the east side of the road leading
2 TO HISTOEY OF PITTSFOKD.
north by the residence of Benjamin Stevens, Sen. The house*
in which he lived is still standing on the high ground east of
the road, and about eighty rods in a northeasterly direction
from where Mr. Stevens house stood. This family left town
many years ago.
The Keith family was from Easton, Massachusetts. We are
informed that Col. Israel Keith was a graduate of Harvard
University, and that after leaving the University he married
and located in Boston, where he accumulated considerable
property. He came to Pittsford in the summer of 1791, and
purchased of Joseph Hitchcock three acres, which included
the land upon which the furnace now stands. The deed was
dated Aug. 3d, and was " in consideration of six pounds
L. M." In the fall of that year he constructed a furnace and
commenced the manufacture of iron, but did not remove his
family to Pittsford till about the year 1800, when he located
on the farm which has been mentioned as having been first
improved by Jacob Weed. He bought this place and occupied
the house built by Mr. Weed till his death in 1821. His father,
Zephaniah, came here, also, about the same time, and located
in the house which has been mentioned as the residence of
Amasa Weed, now the Cyrus Dike place. The house in which
he lived stood seven or eight rods in a southwesterly direction
from the present house.
Scotland removed here from Easton in 1795, and on the
4th day of July he purchased of Col. Keith one-eighth part of
the furnace and its adjuncts, and became one of the firm of
Keith & Co.
Daniel married a Simmons, of Easton, and located where
W. Morseman now lives. He built the house now owned by
Mr. M. in 1800.
Alfred located on land now owned by E. Randall. He
* This house was built by Abraham Owen, Sen., on the farm now owned by
Richard and Charles Burditt, and was purchased and removed to its present
location by Mr. Ward.
OZIAS CEAMPTON DANIEL CAEPENTEE. 271
purchased this, one hundred and thirty acres, of Elisha Rich,
Dec. 10, 1T93.
The men who located here in 1792, were Ozias Crampton,
Daniel Carpenter, Alexander Ewings, William Baxter, Luther
Wicker, James Wicker, Frederick Wicker, Jeremiah Need-
ham, Daniel Lee, Oliver Bogue, and Jeremiah Powers, Sen.
Of the early life of Ozias Crampton we know nothing. He
came to Pittsford in 1792 and had the title of Doctor, but we
cannot learn that he ever practised medicine. He married
Anna, daughter of John Hitchcock, and resided a few years in
the house which was built and- occupied by Mr. Hitchcock
when he first came into the township. It stood a few rods
north of the house now owned and occupied by S. H. Kellogg,
Esq. He and Joseph Hitchcock, his wife s eldest brother,
bought the grist-mill and one-half of the saw-mill, the former
built by Elisha Rich and the latter by Elisha Adams who still
retained one-half of it. This purchase was made of John
Rotchem March 9, 1792, and the consideration was two hun
dred pounds. In 1800 Mr. Crampton sold his real estate in
Pittsford and moved to Pennsylvania where he afterwards
died. His widow and three sons returned to Pittsford, and in a
few months she married a man by the name of Crossman and
resided in the house standing in the lot northwest of the resi
dence of John Hitchcock, and now owned by H. F. Lothrop.
The father of Daniel Carpenter was born in England, came
to America when a young man, married Hannah Needham and
settled in Greenwich, Mass., where his son was born. The
latter, about the year 1775, married Lucy Nichols and located
in South Wilbraham where were born the following children,
viz.: 1st, Polly, born Nov. 27, 1776 ; 2d, John; 3d, Artemas;
4th, Daniel ; 5th, Caleb ; 6th, Lucy.
Mr. Carpenter made his first purchase in Ladd Hollow,*
*Ladd Hollow included a part of Chittenden and that part of Pittsford now
known as East Pittsiord.
272 HISTORY OF PITTSFOED.
Pittsford, Aug. 11, 1792. This purchase consisted of one
hundred acres of land, " bounded on the north by Nathaniel
Ladd, on the east by town line ; on the south by the Governor s
right, and extends so far west as to include one hundred acres."
This land is described as " lying on Little Eiver called East
Krick," and was purchased of John Simonds of Leominster,
Mass., being a part of the second-division of the original right
of John Hubbard. It is not known what time he removed his-
family into Pittsford, but probably soon after he made his pur
chase here. He and Nathaniel Ladd* are reputed to have
been the first two settlers in Ladd Hollow. Mr. Carpenter
made his first clearing and built a log house about where Mrs.
Eddy now lives. He afterwards built a house farther south,
where his son Artemas lived many years. It is now owned
by D. Gould. Mr. Carpenter died in 1811.
Alexander Ewings, son of Rev. Alexander Ewings and
brother of James, of whom some account has been given, was
a physician by profession. He married and located in Pittsford
in 1792. His first purchase of real estate was on the 23d day
of March, and it consisted of the buildings and two acres of
landf then but recently owned and occupied by Amos Webster.
It is evident from the records that Mr. Webster had, at this
time, built a house on the southwest corner of this lot which
was identical with the lot now owned by the heirs of the late
George B. Armington, M. D. Mr. Ewings undoubtedly resided
for a short period in the first house built by Mr. Webster, on
the lot now owned by Willard Randall, though it is known
that he afterwards occupied the newer house built on what is
now known as the Armington lot. About the year 1801, he
bought of Joseph Hooper the place now occupied by John C.
Leonard and resided there till the 9th of May, 1805, when he
* Mr. Ladd was there some years before Mr. Carpenter.
tThis was purchased of Amos Smith of Shoreham, who had purchased it the
same day of Amos Webster, together with twenty-six and two-thirds acres addi
tional land.
WILLIAM BAXTER FREDERICK WICKER. 273
sold all his real estate in this town, consisting of twenty-two
acres of land with the buildings thereon, to John Merriam, the
price received being one thousand dollars. After disposing of
his real estate in Pittsford he removed to Canada, since which
time we have heard nothing from him.
William Baxter, from Rutland, purchased of Joseph Hitch
cock several acres of land on Furnace brook, including one-half
of the saw-mill, the other half being owned by Elisha Adams.
The deed was dated April 24, 1792, and was in " considera
tion of two hundred pounds, L. M." He married a Buell, of
Rutland. It is not now known where he resided when he first
moved into the town; but in 1797, he was living*in a small house
which stood about where Dr. E. H. Drury s house now stands.
He changed locations quite often. The last place lie occupied
in this town, was the red house now owned by Josiah Leonard,
and standing a few rods north of the one he occupies. Some
of Mr. Baxter s traits were peculiar, and afforded him a degree
of distinction. He was very loquacious, and he had the faculty
of keeping his listeners in a continual state of laughter. He
removed to Massena, N. Y., about the year 1830.
But little relating to the Wicker family has been obtained.
Frederick, in his first deed of land purchased in this town, is
said to have been "of Easton in the county of Albany and
State of New York," and this may have ^een the former resi
dence of his two brothers, who evidently came to Pittsford
about the same time.
Luther s first purchase was made by Elijah Herrick, and
consisted of one hundred acres in the easterly part of the town,
adjoining a lot owned by Amasa Ladd, the deed being dated
May 5, 1792. On the 18th day of July, 1796, he purchased
of Nathan Hewitt sixty-five acres which included the farm now
owned by M. Mehan. Mr. Hewitt had built a house on that
lot and made some other improvements ; but Mr. Wicker made
19
274 HISTORY OF PITTSFOED.
many more improvements, and continued to reside there till his
death.
Frederick had no very permanent residence in the town.
James, on the 131;h of April, 1794, purchased of Stephen
Esty one hundred and thirty-five acres which included a large
proportion of the land recently owned by the Town of Pitts-
ford and occupied as a Town Farm* in the support of the poor.
Mr. Esty made the first clearing on that farm and built a
house near where the present house now stands, and in this he
resided nearly two years. Mr. Wicker lived on that farm
a few years, and then sold it and left the town.
James and *Luther were both religious men, and preachers
of the Methodist doctrine, and so far as we can learn were
faithful and devoted Christians.
Jeremiah Needham was born in South Brimfield, Mass.,
Feb. 20, 1766. His father, Jeremiah, also a native of the
same town married Elizabeth Gardner and had the following
children born there, viz : Jeremiah, Elisha, Anna, Charles and
Rebecca, the last two being twins. The father died in Wilming
ton, N. Y., August, 1815 ; the mother died in Ferrisburgh,
Yt., 1819.
Jeremiah, the eldest son, married Ruth, daughter of Col.
Benjamin Cooley of Pittsford, May 31, 1792. It is not now
known where he first located but in 1797, he bought the north
half of the farm first occupied by Gideon Cooley, and for four
or five years resided in a house which had been built and occu
pied by Jacob Cooley, son of Gideon. This house stood on
the west side of the road and about eight rods in a south
westerly direction from the house now owned by Mr. Mead.
In 1801, he purchased the easterly part of the farm first
improved by his father-in-law. The land included in this pur-
*This farm was sold by the Town to A. Judson Smith, in March, 1870.
DANIEL LEE. 275
chase is now mostly owned by Jeremiah C. and Artemas C.
Powers, and has long been known as the Needham farm. The
house Mr. Needham occupied during his residence in this part
of the township stood on the north side of the road and about
five rods from the easterly end of the bridge near Col. Cooley s.
The most of his time was devoted to farming, though he occa
sionally worked at shoemaking, a trade he learned in his
younger days. He was a very good penman, and some speci
mens of his writings may be seen upon the town records, he
having been employed by Col. Cooley to do a part of his
writing while he held the clerkship. On the 26th of June,
1806, Mr. Needham removed to North Elba, Essex Co., K. Y.
Daniel Lee was the grandson of Thomas who was born in
London, England, and possessed so wild a nature that his father
bound him to a stern cooper to learn a trade, hoping thereby to
curb his wild passions and soften his nature. Young Lee
mastered his trade and it was, at length, the means of saving
his life. When his term of service had expired he went to sea,
and in every voyage he encountered difficulties. Twice he
was shipwrecked, and eventually he was taken prisoner by
pirates, who, when they learned that he was a cooper, spared
his life while they put to death the rest of the crew. He then
made a solemn vow that if he should ever get ashore, wherever
it might be, he would never again go to sea. One night, while
in the vicinity of the coast of Massachusetts, he managed to
get into a boat and escape to the shore. He married and had
two sons, Thomas and Daniel. The former, who figured quite
conspicuously in the Revolutionary war, was captain of a com
pany of Rangers, and was afterwards commander of a regiment.
He resided, during the latter part of his life, in Rutland, on the
farm now owned by Nahum Johnson. Daniel married and
resided in this town some years. He purchased the confiscated
lands of Roger Stevens, Jr., Oct. 10, 1792, but sold them to
John Barnes, Sept. 2, 1793. He afterwards purchased of
276 HISTOKY OF PITTSFORD.
Peter Sutherland the Gideon Cooley farm, upon which he
resided till he sold it to Kobert Lovelaiid, Aug. 29, 1798. He
left the town soon after this sale.
Oliver Bogue was born in Farmington, Conn., April 13,
1757. In 1778, he married Lucy Derrin of Guilford, who was
born Feb. 15, 1762, and they first located in Farmington ; but
in March, 1788, they removed to Chittenden,* Vt., where they
resided four years. They then came to Pittsford and resided
four years on the farm which had been occupied by Joshua
Morse, and one year on the Jonathan Fassett farm. On the
21st day of February, 1797, Mr. Bogue bought of Philemon
Mossey fifty-four acres; and on the 25th day of September fol
lowing, he bought of Samuel and Stephen Hopkins fifty-one and
one-half acres which included the greater part of the farm now
owned by Charles Mussey. Some time that year he cleared
land and built a house into which he moved his family. Mr.
and Mrs. Bogue spent the remainder of their days on that
farm. The former died February 22, 1828, and the latter
October 16, 1850.
Jeremiah Powers,f Sen., father of the Jeremiah who has
been mentioned, removed from Greenwich to Pittsford in 1792,,
and located in Sugar Hollow, on a lot of land now constituting
the farm owned by William Nicholas. He made the first
improvements on that farm and built the house that is there.
His wife, Elizabeth, was a daughter of Benjamin Cooley of
Greenwich. Mr. Powers died in Pittsford, June 2, 1801 ; Mrs.
Powers died Aug. 17, 1823.
The immigrants in 1793, were Nathan Hewitt, James
Barnes, Bildad Orcutt and Hiram Hopkins.
Nathan Hewitt was a native of Easton, Mass., where he
married Mary Finney and resided some years. In 1793, he
came to Pittsford and bought of Elijah Harrick sixty-five acres
* The part called New Boston.
t Born in Greenwich, Dec. S5, 1775.
JAMES BARNES BILDAD ORCUTT. 277
K
of land wliich included the farm now owned by M. Mehan.
The deed was dated June 18th, and was in consideration of
24, L. M. He built a log house on the north side of the
present road near a large boulder, and removed his family here
in the fall of that year.
James Barnes spent the most of his minority in New Fair-
field, Conn. He married Experience Bangs of Cape Cod, and
for several years devoted his time to farming. At the opening
of the Revolutionary war, he entered the army and served as
lieutenant, a title which he ever afterwards bore. His eldest
son, Ithiel, accompanied him in all his military movements.
After the war he returned to New Fairfield, where he lived till
1793, when he removed to Pittsford, his son Ithiel having then
resided here nearly four years. He made the first improve
ments, and located on the farm now owned by Mr. Griswold
in Whipple Hollow, but during the latter part of his life he
resided with his son-in-law, Alfred Buck, and died there in
1809. Mrs. Experience Barnes died at her son Ithiel s, in
1825.
Bildad Orcutt was a son of William Orcutt who once resided
near where Chas. T. Colburn now lives. We have no knowl
edge of his birth-place, but he came into the town with his
father s family, married Asna, daughter of Elisha Adams, Sen.,
and located in a house on the west side of the road and near
the residence of Simeon Parmelee, Sen. He purchased twelve
acres of land here, the deed of which was dated Aug. 14, 1793,
and was in consideration of 6 12s., L. M. His residence was
here some years, but being a carpenter by trade, much of his
time was spent away from home in the prosecution of his busi
ness. He changed his dwelling place several times in this
town, and at length removed with his family to Malone, N. Y.
Hiram Hopkins, son of Noah, was born in Nine Partners,
Dutchess County, N. Y., Jan. 16, 1772. He married Eache
2T8 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
Spotten* of New York city, February 3, 1793, and located on
the Ripley farm in Pittsford. He was a carpenter and joiner
by trade and did not devote much attention to farming. He
changed his location several times while a resident of Pittsford,
and about the year 1808, moved to Middlebury where he
resided some years, and from thence he removed to Rutland
where he died Nov. 23, 1847. Mrs. Hopkins also died in
Rutland, April 30, 1839.
Among those who came here in 1794, we find Samuel Fair-
field, Stephen Esty, Abraham Walker, James Hewitt, Josiah
Taft, Samuel Craft, Israel Purdy, Benjamin Chaffee and Abner
Needham.
Samuel Fairfield was the eldest son of Nathaniel, and was
born in Connecticut before the family removed to New Hamp
shire. He married Martha Gallop of Plainfield, and located
on the home farm with his parents.
We can learn little of Stephen Esty. He was in Pittsford
as early as 1792, but we are unable to fix his residence till
1794. The 7th of August in that year he purchased of
Samuel Williams, of Rutland, the farm which had been first
improved and occupied by David Crippen and afterwards by
his son Darius.f
Abraham Walker, from Brookfield, Mass., purchased of
Roger Stevens the farm upon which the latter had resided
from 1770 ; the deed of the purchase bears date March 10,
1794. On the 21st of April 1795, he purchased of Nathan
Osgood, of Rutland, twenty-six and two-thirds acres which
included the place in the Tillage now owned by Mrs. Ange-
line Gorham, together with a part of the farm owned by S. D.
Winslow. Osgood had obtained this on an execution against
* Bora Feb. 7, 1773.
t Darius Crippen sold this place to Elias Williams who sold it to Samuel, but
neither of the latter ever resided on it.
JAMES HEWITT JOSIAH TAFT SAMUEL CRAFT. 279
Augustine Hibbard on the 13th of the same month. Whether
Mr. Walker resided one year on the Stevens place is not
now known, but soon after he made his purchase in the Vil
lage lie built and occupied a house which stood about where
Mrs. Gorham s house now stands, and on the 30th of August,
1796, he sold the Stevens place to his son Tilly, who occupied
the same some years.
James Hewitt was the son of Henry and Rachel (Kinney)
Hewitt, and was born in Stonington, Conn., Feb. 23, 1771.
lie came to Vermont in 1787, and in June, 1794, married
Phebe Mead of Rutland, who was born Feb. 13, 1774. On
the 10th of November, 1795, he purchased of David Finney
of Rutland, eighty-two and three-fourths acres of land which
included the most of the farm now owned by his son, Seth H.
Hewitt. After making a clearing he built a house in which he
resided till his death, April 8, 1858, Mrs. Phebe Hewitt died
August 8, 1855.
Josiah Taft from Douglas, Mass., came here about this time,
married Drury. During his residence here he changed
locations several times. He resided a few years on the farm
now owned by Jeremiah Leonard, then moved to a house which
stood near the turn in the road a little east of Israel Brewster s,
and finally he occupied for a short time a house which stood
near where Seth Hudson now resides. He died suddenly about
the year 1844.
Samuel Craft was a tailor by tmde. We have no knowl
edge of his parentage or early life. We first hear of him in
1794, when he bought of Augustine Hibbard the place now
owned by Mrs. Mary Barnes. In 1797, he was living in what
was long known as the " gambrel-roof house " which stood
where the brick house now stands, owned by Jeffrey A. Ran
dall, and at the same time he had a shop in a part of the house
formerly owned by Elias Hopkins.
Israel Purdy, from Litchfield, Conn., came here about this
280 HISTORY OF PITTSFOED.
time and located on land now owned by D. J. Griffith ; the
house he occupied stood a few rods west of the site of Mr. G-. s
barn. After residing there a few years he removed to Brandon
where he died.
Benjamin Chaffee was born in Rehoboth, Mass., Aug. 7,
1768. In early life he became a blacksmith and followed this
occupation many years. On the 16th of January, 1794, he
married Judith Fuller, who was born September 28, 1770, in
Rehoboth. Immediately after their marriage they came to
Pittsford and located on the farm now owned by their son
Demas. Here they spent the remainder of their days. Mr.
Chaffee died Dec. 26, 1850 ; Mrs. Chaffee, March 26, 1835.
Abner Needham came here in 1794, married Melinda,
daughter of Stephen Mead, and located on a part of the
Matson farm. The house in which he resided stood in what is
now I. C. Wheaton s pasture, and a little west of his sugar
house. Mrs. Needham was the mother of thirteen children
before she was quite thirty-six years of age.
Among those who became residents of the town in 1795,
were Daniel Warren, Reuel Keith, Matthew Hopkins, Alfred
Buck, Nathan, Cornelius and Thomas Gibbs, John Train,
Samuel Jones, Jr., Azariah Newcomb and John Miller.
Daniel Warren, from Massachusetts, purchased the place
which had been first improved and occupied by Elias Hopkins,
Sen. This purchase included one acre of land with the build
ings thereon, and the deed bears date Aug. 3, 1795. Soon after
this purchase Elisha Warren, a hatter by trade, occupied the
place, but whether he was a son or brother of Daniel has not
come to light. A part of the house was occupied as a hat
shop. Daniel remained in the town but a short time, and
Elisha moved away about the year 1813.
Reuel Keith, son of the Israel who has been mentioned,
bought of Ebenezer Gibbs eleven acres of land, " bounded on
the north by land which Nathan Webster sold to Augustine
4
MATTHEW HOPKINS ALFRED BUCK. 281
Hibbard, east on the Pine Lots, south on Alexander Swings
land and west on the highway." The deed bears date Feb
ruary 5, 1795, He built a house four or five rods south of the
present residence of Benjamin Kemp and resided there till
about the year 1803, when he sold the place to Dr. William
Frisbie and became proprietor of the Webster tavern. He
moved to Shelburn about the year 1813.
Matthew Hopkins, son of Nehemiah, married Mercy, daugh
ter of Stephen Mead, Feb. 17, 1795, and resided some months
in the house which had been built by his brother Ebenezer,
near the grist-mill. He and his brothers, Ebenezer and Martin,
had, as early as 1791, purchased the saw-mill, which stood on
the north side of the brook opposite the grist-mill, and the
most of his time was improved either in the saw-mill or grist
mill. He changed his location several times while a resident
of the town, and eventually moved to the State of Ohio where
he died,
Alfred Buck, son of Isaac, married Marcia, daughter of
James Barnes, in 1795, and located on the farm now owned by
G. and L. Hendee. He cleared the most of the cultivated
part of that farm, and first resided in a log house on the east
side of the road a little north of the present white cottage ;
afterwards he built another log house on the west side of the
road, on ground now occupied by the garden. He built the
red house on the west side of the road in 1803, and in this he
resided till his death, May 23, 1842.
The Gibbs family were from Eastern Massachusetts. On
the 4th day of July, 1795, Nathan Gibbs purchased of Israel
Keith one undivided fourth part of the Furnace property, both
real and personal. That summer he moved his family to Pitts-
ford and resided in the house which stood where the brick
house now stands. He carried on the furnace business in com
pany with his brother, Cornelius Gibbs, Edward Kingman* and
* Kingman was also from Eastern Massachusetts.
282 HISTORY OF PITTSFOED.
Luke Reed, to each of whom Keith deeded one undivided
fourth part of the furnace property. Cornelius and his brother,
Thomas Gibbs, came here about this time and built a house
which is now the first south of the school house, and in that
the two families resided some years. Nathan Gibbs married
Caroline Powers some time before he came to this town.
Cornelius married Hope Pierce, Nov. 25, 1803.
On the 4th day of December, 1797, Nathan Gibbs bought
of Edward Kingman the one-fourth interest he had in the
Furnace property, and soon after he bought the remaining two-
fourths and then he had the whole management of the Furnace
business. He is reputed 1 to have been a man of great energy
and strictly honest, but much given to the exercise of authority
over those whom he employed, and in consideration of this
trait in his character he obtained the appellation, by which he
was generally known, of li Master Gibbs."
John Train, from Clarendon, bought of Nathan Osgood of
Rutland, two pieces of land in Pittsford. The first contained
about sixty acres, lay east of Otter Creek, and was bounded as
follows, viz. : " Beginning at about three rods from the gate on
the bank of Orter Krick on the road that leads to Captain
Potter s, thence north eighty-seven rods to a beach tree, thence
"West 15 South to the River, thence up the River to the first
bounds." The second piece contained about eighteen acres
and included the Webster tavern. The deed bears date April
23, 1795, and was in consideration of 300, L. M. Mr. Train
resided in the tavern till about the year 1802, when he left the
town.
Samuel Jones, Jr., from Wallingford, bought of Nathan B.
Graham, of Rutland, one hundred acres of land in Pittsford,
bounded as follows, viz. : " Beginning at stake and stones at
Noah Waite s southwest corner, from thence on the town line
west, five degrees north one hundred and eighty rods or more
to Dennis Burgess northwest corner, from thence north five
AZA.JIAH NEWCOMB. 283
degrees East about seventy-six Rods to a stake and stones, being
the half distance from the south line of said lot to Jonathan War
ner s south line of his home farm, thence West two and a half
degrees south about two hundred Rods to Noah Wait s West
line to a stake and stones, thence South twenty degrees West
about eighty-seven Rods to the first mentioned bounds." This
included the land now owned by Mr. Dickerman. Mr. Jones
made the first improvements on that farm, and the house in
which he resided stood some four rods southwest of the barns
now on the place. The 25th of August, 1800, he sold his farm
to Gardner Powers and left the town.
Azariah Newcomb, from New Haven, Addison County, Yt.,
came here early in 1795, and rented the south part, (seventy-
four acres) of the Stephen Mead farm for a period of ten years.
This land had been sold by Stephen Mead to Caleb Smith who
deeded it to James Mead of Rutland, and the latter conveyed
it by deed, dated March 8, 1791, to Isaac Purdy of Sharon,
Litchfield County, Conn. It appears that Purdy sold one-half
of his interest in this property to Nathaniel Buell of Salisbury,
Conn., as these two men leased it to Newcomb on the 22d of
January, 1795, for an annual rent of " five shillings L. M."
Newcomb was to clear and fence a part of the land, and if it
was found that at the expiration of ten years he had not received
compensation for the improvements, Purdy and Buell were " to
make him full satisfaction for what should be wanting." It was
also stipulated that in case Newcomb should build a barn on
the land Purdy and Buell should find the nails for the same.
It would appear from the records that Purdy came here with
his family soon after he purchased this land in 1791, and quite
likely built the house which stood on the north side of the road
leading to Anthony Phillips and a few rods, only, east of the
brook. How long he remained here is unknown, but probably
not more than two or three years. It is supposed that New-
comb occupied that place only three or four years, as it is
284: HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
known that in 1799, he was living in the house which,, at
that time, stood on the bank, near where H. F. Lothrop s south
barn now stands. He was then employed to attend CoL
Cooley s saw-mill* which stood on the south side of the brook
opposite the house. After Newcomb left the place on the west
side of the Creek, the house in which he had lived was sold to
John Barnes, and it is now Nelson Loveland s horse barn. The
barn which was built by Newcomb was sold to Peter Kice and
is now one of the buildings on the farm owned by Ransom
Burditt.t Newcomb left Pittsford about the year 1806.
John Miller came here in 1795. We haye no knowledge
of his birth-place. He bought forty-five acres of Gideon
Cooley, Jan. 30, 1795, which land was located on the west side
of the road and directly south of the present residence of
William Mitchell. The most of this land is now owned by
Newell Leonard. He built a log house which stood some
twenty rods south of the present residence of Mr. Leonard. A
Miss Mary Buell kept his house for him till Jan. 28, 1828 ?
when they decided to become husband and wife, and they were
accordingly joined in marriage by Samuel H. Kellogg, Esq.
Mr. Miller died about the year 1833. Mrs. Miller died some
time afterwards at Hawkins Hart s.
Among those who settled here in 1796, were John Lampson,
Samuel Morgan, Anthony Butler, Noadiah Deming, William
Sanders, John Penfield, Richard M. Powers, Timothy Jenner,
Jonathan Hendee, Isaac Matson, Jr., Tilly Walker, William
W. Barlow and Jacob Phillips.
John Lampson from Greenwich, Mass., purchased of Elea-
zer Warner the farm upon which the latter first settled, in what
is now known as Sugar Hollow. The deed was in considera
tion of 120, L. M., and dated December 20, 1796. He
resided there till about the year 1830, when he sold his real
*This mill was carried away by the freshet of 1811.
t The land was sold to Stephen Mead, Jr.
SAMUEL MORGAN ANTHONY BUfLEK N. DEMING. 285
estate in this town and removed to the State of Pennsylvania.
Samuel Morgan, son of Israel, bought of Ithiel Field one
hundred acres of land in this town, December 9, 1793. This
included what is now the farm owned by James D. Butler. He
made a clearing, built a house and married Betsey, daughter of
Nehemiah Whipple, in 1796. He resided in this town till
1812, when he removed to Rutland and died there in 1830.
Anthony Butler was born in Boston, Mass., in 1768, became
a hatter, married Jerusha Hill and settled in Hardwick. He
became a resident of this town in 1796, though he purchased
no real estate till the 10th of January, 1797, w T hen he bought
of Jonathan Sweet one hundred acres, " being the first division
of the original right of Andrew Powers." This included the
most of the farm now owned by Allen Mills, but was then sub
ject to the incumbrance of a lease given to David Gitchell,
dated March 12, 1796, which lease gave to said Gitchell the
privilege of flowing a part of said land for the use of a grist
mill. Mr. Butler sold this farm to Samuel Fairfield and moved
to Oxford, Ohio, where he died in February, 1847.
Poadiah Deming was born in Connecticut. He was a
soldier in the Revolutionary war, and having been taken pris
oner by the Indians was carried to Canada, but was kindly
treated. He was permitted to mingle freely with the tribe,
and he there became familiar with their habits and customs.
He also carefully studied their practice of medicine. Mr.
Deming was eventually released from captivity and returned to
Connecticut, but in 1796, he purchased of Abraham Drury, of
this town, thirty-nine and three-fourths acres of land, the deed
being dated May 28th. This purchase included a part of the
farm now owned by Simeon Parmelee, and Mr. Deming built
a house* some ten rods east of the present residence of Mr.
Parmelee. He practiced to some extent the Indian system of
medicine and thereby obtained the title of Doctor. He died
* This house was burnt in 1801.
286 HISTORY OF PITT8FOKD.
at the residence of his son-in-law, Benjamin Cornish, then
residing in Whipple Hollow.
William Sanders was an Englishman by birth, but came to
this country* when quite young, and became a carpenter and
joiner. He came to this town at length and purchased of Tim
othy Higley what is now the farm owned by Marshall Thomas.
The deed was dated February 11, 1796, and was in considera
tion of 55, L. M. He married a Mrs. Soule and resided here
till about the year 1804, when he sold his farm to Nathan
Whitmore and moved to Canada.
John Penfield was born in Fairfield, Connecticut, Novem
ber 5, 1747, and in 1770, married Eunice Ogden who was
born in Fairfield in 1753. He served some months in the
Revolutionary war, and in 1795, he came to Pittsford and
bought of Ebenezer Hopkins the grist-mill built by Nehemiah
Hopkins, Sen., and some land in the vicinity, the deed being
dated September 7, 1795. The following February he moved
his family into this town and resided in the house now owned
by William B. Shaw. In December following he opened a
public house which he kept till 1811.
Richard M. Powers, son of Jeremiah, formerly of Green
wich, Mass., was born December 25, 1775, and on the 9th of
March, 1796, he married Polly Carpenter who was born in
South Wilbraham, Mass., Nov. 27, 1775, but at the time of
their marriage was residing in her father s family in Chittenden,
Yt. Mr. Powers had resided in Pittsford three or four years
before his marriage, and in 1795, he purchased the land and
commenced improvements on what has since been known as
the Wright place, on the west side of the road near where John
May resided. He built a house there in the fall of 1795, and
the next spring after his marriage commenced housekeeping.
On the 3d of October, 1797, he sold this place to Robert Wright
* He spent several years in New Fairfield, Conn.
TIMOTHY JENNER JONA. HENDEE ISAAC MATSON, JE. 2 87
and soon after bought the James Swings farm, the most of which
is now owned by his sons, Jeremiah C. and Artemas C. Powers.
He resided a few years in the Ewings house, and then built
the house on the east side of the road, nearly opposite the old
one. Here he resided till his death February 28, 1848. Mrs.
Polly Powers died October 12, 1863.
Timothy Jenner, eldest son of Stephen, married Ruth
Hurlbut and located on land given to him by his father. This
land included a part of the farm now owned by the heirs of
the late James R. Smith. Mr. Jenner cleared the land and
built a log house on the east side of the road about where Mrs.
Smith s garden is, and in this he resided till 1803, when he
built a frame house* on the west side of the road about where
Mrs. Smith s house now stands. About the year 1815, he
removed to the western part of the State of New York.
Jonathan Hendee, second son of Deacon Caleb, bought a
farm which is now mostly owned by Roswell Woodcock. He
built a house a few rods east of the present residence of David
Ward, married Sarah Squires, daughter of Deacon Caleb Hen-
dee s second wife, and resided on that farm some years, but in
1820, he sold it to his brother Solomon and moved to Moriah,
N. Y. His wife Sarah died, and he married, for his second
wife, a lady by the name of Anna Stowe.
Isaac Matson, Jr., son of Isaac the early settler, married
and located on his father s farm the one now owned by Isaac
C. Wheaton. The house in which he resided stood on the
south side of the road, where the barn-yard now is. He and
his brother James bought this farm of their father and resided
on it till about the year 1808, when they sold it to Thomas
Hammond and moved to the northern part of the State of
Pennsylvania.
Tilly Walker, son of Abraham, bought of his father the
* This is the brown house next north of Mrs. Smith s residence. It was removed
some years since to its present location.
288 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
Boger Stevens place, Aug. 30, 1796, He married and resided
on that farm till about the year 1824, when he moved to the
State of New York where he soon after died.
William W. Barlow, from Greenwich, Mass., bought* of
Simeon Clifford a lot of land lying west of his home farm. He-
made a clearing and built a log house in which, he resided a
few years, and then built the house and barn now on that farm
which, at the present time, is owned by David Mills. He was
a ship calker, and some part of his time was spent in Boston
working at his trade. He died in this town about the year
1814. His father, who was a blind man, resided with him a
portion of the time.
Jacob Phillips, son of Anthony, married Lucy Weller in
1796, and located on the home farm with his parents. His
father gave him a deed of one-half of the farm, November 21,
1796. The son resided on that farm till his death, in March,
1848. Mrs. Lucy Phillips died in March, 1855.
Among those who took up their residence here in 1797>
were Asa Jenner, Samuel Cooley, James Matson, Christopher
Bresee, George Walton, Oliver and Timothy Morseman, Elisha
Woodruff and Remembrance Hitchcock.
Asa Jenner, son of Stephen, was born in Stevenstown,,
Mass., Dec. 17, 1777. His parents were residing temporarily
in that town, having fled from Pittsford early in the war. As
the frontier towns became less exposed to the incursions of the
enemy, they returned to Pittsford, and here young Jenner spent
the most of his minority. He built a house on land given him
by his father, some two or three rods north of the present resi
dence of J. C. Howe, and on the 25th of December, 1797, htj
married Tryphena Grandee and began living in his new house.
He resided there till 1801, when he sold this place to Jirah
Barlow, and built another house about where Willard Hum
phrey s house now stands. In this he resided some years and
*The deed was dated May 25, 1796.
SAMUEL COOLEY JAMES MATSON C. BRESEE. 289
cleared considerable land in that vicinity. He also built the
barn now on that place, though at first it stood on the west side
of the road. It has since been moved across to the east side.
His wife Tryphena died Nov. 16, 1801, aged twenty-two years
and nine days. The next year he married Nancy Kirkham of
Hubbardton. He changed his residence quite often during the
latter part of his life, and died on the Town Farm in 1864.
Mrs. Nancy Jenner died at the same place in 1869.
Samuel Cooley, born Nov. 17, 1775, son of Benjamin,
married Polly, daughter of Jonathan Dike of Chittenden,
October 5, 1797, and resided a few years on his father s farm.
He then moved to Chittenden and located on the farm now
owned by Patrick and William Shelvy. Again he returned to
Pittsford and resided a short time on the homestead, and then
he removed to the State of New York.
James Matson, son of Isaac the early settler, married
Susan, daughter of James Barnes, formerly of New Milford,
Conn., and located on the home farm with his brother Isaac.
He occupied the house which has been mentioned as having
ono.e been the residence of his father. The two brothers sold
the farm to Col. Hammond and moved to Pennsylvania,
Christopher Bresee, from West Stockbridge, Mass., located
on the farm now owned by his grandson, Wallace E. Bresee. He
and Elijah Hewings bought of John Sunderland one hundred and
sixty-six acres, " being the second part of the third division of
the original right of Charles Whittlesey." The deed was dated
Jan. 31, 1797, and was in consideration of 260, L. M. Bresee
is supposed to have bought Hewings interest in the land as it
is known that he made the first improvement on it, built a
house, and for some years was the sole owner of it. His wife s,
maiden name was Henman, (Hannah,) and they had been,
married some years before coming to Pittsford.
Efforts have been made to obtain some information respect
ing the ancestry of George Walton but without success. He
20
290 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
purchased three-fourths of an acre of land on the west side of
the road, north of and adjoining Esq. Graham s lot, and in the
deed he is represented as being a resident of Whitehall in the
State of New York. The date of this deed was August 4,
179T. He probably located in Pittsford about this time and
built and stocked a store which stood on the ground occupied
by the brick store now (1870) owned by G. H. Simonds. He
was unmarried and boarded at the hotel, but had been in the
town only a short time before he committed suicide by cutting
his throat with a razor. No reason could be assigned for the
deed. It was not known here at the time that he had any
relatives in New England, and his remains were interred within
the limits of the North Burying Ground, as was then supposed,
but after the establishment of the boundaries it was found to
be northward of the Burying Ground. A few weeks after
Walton s death, a brother of his came here, visited his grave
and erected over it a stone bearing the following inscription :
" Vain man behold me as I am,
Beneath this mossy clod,
Here lies the body of George Walton.
Heaven from my eyes did hide the book of fate,
But this tomb doth prescribe my present state.
His brother J. D. Waltou from sentiments of filial duty consecrates this stone
to his memory."
The exact time when the Morseman family located in Pitts-
ford is not now known. On the 27th of October, 1787, Ebe-
nezer Drury, Commissioner on the estate of Noah Waite,
deceased, sold so much of said estate as would pay the debts
against the same, amounting to 44 4s. Fifty-five acres of this
estate were sold, to Joshua Morseman of Massachusetts. The
name of the town is not given. It is hardly probable that the
above named Joshua Morseman located in Pittsford at that time
if at all, but he had two sons, Oliver and Timothy, both of whom
became residents of this town about the year 1797. Oliver
married Esther, daughter of Joseph Waite, and located on the
ELISHA WOODRUFF REMEMBRANCE HITCHCOCK. 291
"Waite farm. Timothy married and located on land purchased
of his father, Joshua. He built a house about where George
Horseman s barn now stands, and in this he resided some
years. Oliver and Esther Horseman had a daughter Hannah,
and Timothy had a son Timothy, Jr., who married the above
named Hannah and resided some years in the house on the
west side of the road, now owned by William E. Hall.
Elisha Woodruff was from Southington, Conn., but it is
not now known what time he became a citizen of this town.
According to the records his daughter Anna was born here
Sept. 19, 1794:. In what part of the town he then resided,
however, we are not informed. On the llth day of December,
1T9T, he purchased of Thomas Hammond ninety-two and
three-fourths acres of land, " being a part of the third-division
lot laid out to the original right of Andrew Powers." This
included the most of the farm now owned by David Scofield,
and extended easterly so far as to include land now owned by
Samuel. Nurse with the mill privilege. He built a log house
about twenty rods west of the site of the house now owned by
Mr. Scofield, and in that he resided till 1809, when he built
the present house. In 1798, he built a saw-mill the one
recently demolished to give place to the new one now being
built by Samuel Nurse and two or three years later he built
another saw-mill some five or six rods below the one first built.
He operated both of these mills till 1811, when he was acci
dentally killed by a log rolling on him. Very soon after this
his family left the town.
Remembrance Hitchcock, son of John, married Eunice
Allen of Pittsfield, Mass., in 1795, and located in Brandon. In
1797, he came to this town and resided with his parents about
three years. He built the house which is now the residence of
Capt. Charles Hitchcock, in 1797, and the house now owned
by Frank Bresee in 1800. He removed to the latter house as
soon as it was finished, and resided there till about the year
292 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
1815, when he exchanged farms with Capt. Peter Powers, and
soon after built the house recently reconstructed by George N.
Eayres. He sold the Powers farm to Miles Johnson, and hav
ing purchased a site, built the house now owned by J. H.
Peabody. He afterwards built the house now owned by Allen
Hitchcock, as well as that now owned by Mrs. Obers. Mrs.
Hitchcock died in August, 1844; Mr. Hitchcock in August,
1849.
The accessions to the inhabitants in 1798, were Levi Row
ley, Eli Hudson, Zelotes Andrews, Thomas Beals, Stephen
and Elijah Avery, Abraham Anthony, Isaac Clark, Robert
Loveland.
Levi Rowle} r , son of Jonathan, married Esther Woodward
and located on his father s farm. He occupied the old house
built by his father, who moved to the west side of the road,
into the house which has been mentioned as having been built
by his son Hopkins. Jonathan, his father, deeded to him his
home lot except the house he occupied and one acre of. land on
the west side of the road. The deed was dated October 13,
1798, and was in consideration of $1,200. At the same time
the said Levi bound himself, his heirs, executors and .admins-
trators, a to the said Jonathan and his wife Esther Rowley, to
provide and perform to the said Jonathan and Esther, each and
every of the articles herein mentioned, yearly, during their life
time, viz. : Twelve Bushels of Wheat, Eight Bushels of Indian
Corn and Four Bushels of Rye, all good and merchantable,
Three Hundred pounds weight of good fatted Pork, and as
much Sauce of a Suitable Variety as the said Jonathan and
Esther will want to eat, likewise a sufficiency of Salt, Pepper,
Ginger, Allspice, Tea, Sugar, &c., for them as they want, also
a sufficiency of Wearing Apparel for the said Jonathan and
Esther, suitable for them at all times and places, both for
decency and comfort, and what necessary Physic and Cordials
their health and age may require. Likewise their food dressed
ELI HUDSON ZELOTES ANDREWS THOS. BEALS. 293
and a nurse to attend them whenever they are unable to do it
for themselves, also a Horse, Saddle and Bridle fit for the use
of the said Jonathan and Esther."
The above were a part of the conditions of the bond, but
how well they were fulfilled we are unable to learn.
Eli Hudson, of Hadley,* Mass., bought of Simeon Clifford
the land recently occupied by Manuel Eckley, the deed being
dated May 5, 1797. He cleared the land and built a house
the one now on the place the following fall, and in about one
year he married Eunice,! daughter of Isaac Chase, and com
menced housekeeping. They resided on the place first pur
chased till 1820, when they sold it to Mr. Eckley, and bought
the farm which had been improved by Josiah Eddy. Mr.
Hudson died there, April 18, 1821. Mrs. Hudson died in
1844.
September 19, 1798, Zelotes Andrews of Chatham, Colum
bia County, ~N. Y., purchased of Nathan Hewitt ninety-five
acres of land in Pittsford, which included the farm in the
southeasterly part of the township now owned by Harvey Jack
son. The most of the earlier improvements on that farm were
made by Mr. Andrews. On the 9th of September, the same
year, he married Betsey, daughter of James Wicker, and com
menced to reside on the place he had purchased. He continued
to live there till 1813, when he fell a victim to the malignant
fever which prevailed that year. His widow afterwards mar
ried Jirah Barlow.
Thomas Beals married Charlotte Dimick and resided a few
years in Sullivan, K. H. ; but in 1798, he bought the farm in
Pittsford now owned by Kufus Thomas and removed his family
here early in the summer of that year. He resided on that
place till 1806, when he sold his real estate in this town and
removed to Pennsylvania.
* Mr. Hudson was born in Southington, Conn., Nov. 17, 1774.
t Eunice Chase was bom ill Sutton, Mass., March 10, 1776. Mr. Hudson married
Miss Chase in 1798.
294: HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
Stephen and Elijah Avery were brothers, and came from
Brookfield, Mass.
On the 13th of January, 1798, Stephen bought of Benja
min Cooley one acre and fifty-five rods of land lying south and
adjoining the lot fornerly owned by Elias Hopkins. This
included the house-lot and gardens now owned by A. M.
Caverly. During the following summer he built the house
which has since been known as the E~ewell house, and was the
one recently reconstructed by Dr. Caverly. On the 30th of
April the same year he purchased of James Ewing five acres
and sixty-seven rods, and on the 8th of April, 1799, he pur
chased "seven acres and three-quarters of an acre," both of
which pieces lay south or southwest of the lot first purchased,
and the whole included the easterly portion of what has since
been known as the Newell farm.
On the 5th of October, 1798, Elijah Avery bought of
Alexander E wings one-half of an acre of land lying south of
Abraham Walker s house-lot on the east side of the highway
in the Village. This included the house-lot now owned and
occupied by S. D. Win slow. Mr. Avery married Deborah
Knowles and located on that place.
The two brothers bought the store* which had been owned
and occupied by George Walton, and there carried on mercan
tile business in company.
Elijah died here in 1803, and Stephen sold out his real
estate in -Pittsford in 1807 and returned to Brookfield. He
came to Pittsford again in 1813, and in company with others
erected a mill for the manufacture of woolen cloth. This mill
stood just below the grist-mill now owned by Mr. Stevens. In
addition to the manufacture of cloth they carried on the busi
ness of carding wool and dressing cloth. Reuben Colton was
the agent of this company, and for a time they did a brisk
* We have recently learned that this store was built by Elisha Ladd.
ABRAHAM ANTHONY ISAAC CLAEK E. LOVELAND. 295
business. Mr. Aver y retired from the firm in 1821, and moved
to Brandon where he soon after died.*
Abraham Anthony, from Danby, located in the Ewings
tavernf in 1798. He kept a public house during the greater
part of his residence here which terminated in 1803. He then
moved to Rutland where he resided a few years, and thence to
Pawlet where he died.
Isaac Clark, a blacksmith by trade, was for some time a
resident of Sullivan, N. H., but in 1798 he came to Pittsford
and bought of Michael Sanders forty-two acres of land, the
deed being dated the 21st day of June. This, a part of the
original right of Aaron Deniho, was located west and adjoining
the farm owned by Richard Adams. Mr. Clark built a house
on the west side of the north-and-south road near where it
intersects the east-and-west road, and on land now owned by
Lewis White. The ruins of the house are still visible. Mr.
Clark resided here till about the year 1845, when he removed
to Brandon.^
Robert Loveland w r as the son of Robert who married Eliza
beth Gaines, Dec. 17, 1761, and settled in Hartford, Conn.
Their children were Elizabeth, Robert, Olive, Erastus, Abel,
Joseph, Temperance and Austin. Robert was born in Hart
ford, March 19, 1765, married Ruth Milber, and located in
Rutland, Yt. He bought of Daniel Lee the Gideon Cooley
farm, Aug. 29, 1798, and about that time located in Pittsford:
He resided on the Cooley farm till his death. Mrs. Ruth
Loveland died March 18, 1846.
Seven families located in this town in 1799. The following
names represent them : Daniel Hendee, Cyrenius Brown, Heze-
kiah Carr, William Morgan, John Mead, Peter Worden and
Ozem Strong.
* Mrs. Stephen Avery was a daughter of Abraham Walker,
t Now the Rand house.
JMrs. Clark was a sister of Mrs. Seymour Stevens, and was from Charles-
town, N. H.
296 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
Daniel Hendee was the third son of Deacon Caleb, and
was born in Pittsford, May 21, 1776. At the age of twenty-
one, his father gave him a lot of land adjoining the town
of Brandon, and he afterwards bought a lot contiguous,-
within the limits of Brandon. He made a clearing and
built a log house, on land which has since been set off
to the town of Brandon. This land included what was the
farm recently owned by Daniel Goodnough. Young Hendee
married Lucy, daughter of William Allen, and located on his
farm. They had several children, but the most of them died
young. Mrs. Hendee died in the prime of life, and Mr. Hendee-
married, for his second wife, Sally Burdett, and resided here
till about the year 1835, when he moved to Dansville, Allegany
County, K Y.
Cyrenius Brown was the son of Elijah and Lydia Brown,
and was born in Coventry, Conn., April 30, 1774. It is not
now known what time he came to this town, but quite likely
it was about the time that other members of the family came,
in 1784. He married Expedience Barnstable, October 12,
1799, and resided for a time in the house which stood just east
of the brook on the north side of the road, near the present
residence of Mrs. Hennessey. He changed his location quite
often while a citizen of the town, and moved to the State of
New York about the year 1806.
Hezekiah Carr, from Middletown, bought of Ebenezer
Hopkins about one hundred and ten acres of land in this town,
the deed being dated Dec. 11, 1798. This purchase included
the land adjoining, and on the east side of the highway, oppo
site the residence of Jonathan Fassett, and it embraced a
house and barn ; the former stood near the road and about
eight rods southeast of the Fassett house. This land was a
part of the Fassett farm, and a portion of it was taken oil
execution in favor of John Shumway of Dorset, and by him
deeded to Ephraim Doolittle of Shoreham, May 10, 1791.
WILLIAM MORGAN PETER WORDEN OZEM STRONG. 297
The latter deeded it to Ebenezer Hopkins, November 12, 1792.
It is not now known by whom the house was built, but as it
had been built previous to the purchase of the estate by Hop
kins it is quite probable that Jonathan Fassett was the builder.
Mr. Can* resided on this farm till the spring of 1804, when he
sold it in divided portions to Col. Cooley, Amos Kellogg, Adget
Lothrop and others, and moved back to Middletown.
William Morgan, son of Israel, married Rachel, daughter
of Gideon Sheldon, Sen., Feb. 21, 1799, and located in a log
house on the farm now owned by Jonathan Gould. He after
wards built the house and barn now on that farm and resided
there till his death.
We have no knowledge of the ancestry of John Mead. He
resided in Chitteiiden a few years, but the 3d day of April,
1799, he purchased the lot of land in this town now occupied by
Patrick Douland. It seems quite evident that Mr. Mead made
the first improvements on that farm.
Peter Worden was from Dutchess County, "N. Y., but
nothing*is known of his ancestry. He married Hannah, daugh
ter of Gideon Sheldon of Pittsford, about the year 1799, and
located on land now owned by Joseph Wolcott. The honse
he occupied stood on the north side of the road and only
a few rods east of the school house in District No. 10. The
house recently occupied by Hiram Bates stands where the
former house stood. He resided there till about the year 1834,
when he sold his real estate here to his son Humphrey, and
moved to Pennsylvania.
Ozem Strong was from Pittsfield, Mass. We know nothing
of his ancestry. February 10, 1799, he took a lease of Mrs.
Mary Hopkins of the place which had been the residence of
her deceased husband, Elias Hopkins. This, as already stated,
included a small piece of land now owned by R. R. Drake ;
and the house stood about where his store now stands. Mr.
Strong appears to have been a man of considerable business
298 HISTORY OF PITTSFOED.
capacity, and during his residence here, was frequently honored
with such offices as were within the gift of his fellow-citizens.
He held the office of first constable and collector of taxes from
1806 to 1813, and soon after the latter date he removed to
Canada. Mrs. Strong was the daughter of Elias Hopkins, Sen.
That matters of public interest were not altogether neglected
during the past ten years, will be made apparent by the follow
ing extracts* from the records of that period :
"PITTSFORD, March 16th 1790.
Then Annual Meeting opened according to warning, and
made choice of Thomas Hammond moderator for sd meeting.
2. Yoted to adjurn sd meeting to the house of Nathan
Webster, sd ajurnment is three quarters of an hour. Then
met according to ajurnment and opened sd meeting and read
the Regulations.
3. Yoted that Col. Benjamin Cooley Be Town Clerk.
4. Yoted Col. Benjamin Cooley, Elish Adams and Thomas
Be Selectmen the year Tn suing.
5. Yoted Thomas Hammond, Town Treasurer.
6. Yoted Nathan Webster first Constable.
7. Yoted Samuel Coley 2 Constable.
8. Yoted Phineas Ripley first gran djury man.
9. Yoted John Barnes 2 grandjuryman.
10. Yoted Caleb Hendee, Jr., Ozias Crampton, Insign
James Field, Insign Ladd, John Barnes, Listers.
11. Yoted the first Constab Be collector to collect the
Town Taxes.
12. Yoted Ebenezer Lyman Be other Lister.
13. Yoted Noah Hopkins Pound Keeper.
* These extracts are from the earliest existing- town records. The records of the
town were burnt about the year 1788. Col. Cooley, who was then Town Clerk,
employed a man by the name of Gates, who resided some sixty rods east of the
residence of Jonathan Fassett, to do some writing for him. While the records
were in Gates possession, his house took fire and was burnt, together with the
records. Consequently we have no means of knowing when the town was organ
ized, but inasmuch as the town officers can be traced back to 1780, it must have
fceeri prior to that period.
EXTRACTS FKOM RECORDS. 299
14. Voted Lieutenant Olmstead Tyding man.
15. Voted Lieutenant Calogg 2 Tyding man.
16. Voted Calvin Drury, Sexton Adams, Peter Powers,
Elislia Warner, Hog Howards.
IT. Voted Benjamin Cooley, Benjamin Stevens, John
Barnes, fence vewers.
18. Voted Anthony Philips, Joseph Mosher, Robert Sweet,
Deacon Sendee, Benjamin Stevens, Jedediah Lee, Abraham
Drury, Elijah Brown, Amasa Weed High Way Surveyors.
19. Voted Joseph Mosher, Deer Eeaf.
20. Voted Elias Hopkins, Sealer of Weights.
21. Voted Deacon Hopkins, Sealer of Measures.
22. Voted Mr. Lyman Be Sexton to dig graves.
23. Voted to shut up Hogs and Sheep.
24. Voted to build a Pound in the middle of the Town by
the middle of May next.
25. Voted to discontinue the Road Beginning near the
Burying Place on the west side of the River Running the east
side of Benjamin Stevens now Dwelling House, about half a
mile north of Israel Lakes now Dwelling House.
26. Voted that Lieutenant Olmstead should not be in the
List of this town to pay Town Taxes.
27. Voted .to raise a Town Tax of Fifty Pounds L. M. sd
money to be paid on the grand List of the year 1790, to be
collected by the first of December next to be paid in Wheat,
Rye, Indian Corn, Beans, Peas, Oats, Wool, Flax or Tow
Cloth.
28. Chase, Petty Jurymen.
Noah Hopkins,
Caleb Cooley,
Thomas Hamond, Abel Stevens,
John Mott, David Gitchell,
Ozias Crampton, Samuel Fairneld,
300 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
Calvin Drury, Justus Brewster,
Amasa Ladd,
Phineas Ripley,
Samuel Cooley,
Amos Calogg,
Jedediah Lee,
Simeon Parmeley.
Attest, BENJAMIN COOLEY, Town Clerk."
At a special meeting held on the 5th of April, 1791, of
which Thomas Hammond was Moderator, the " Town made
choice of a Committee to take a view of the ground that was
laid out as Common Land on the main road leading through
sd Town, north of Nathan Webster s, and make a just estima
tion according to the best of their Judgment what the ods was
in the two pieces of ground that was there proposed for the
purpose of Building meeting houses on for the two denomina
tions in sd town, viz. : the Baptists, and Congregational order.
The said Committee according to their instructions took a view
of the ground and Reported that it was their opinion that the
price of ground South of the training field and North of Amos
Webster s land was Twenty four Pounds of the most value
than that was where the Baptist meeting house then stood.
Then the Town decedied to Except the Report of the Com
mittee, and then sd Town voted to draw lots for the ground
aforesaid and stated the matter that the denomination that
drew the spot south of the training field should pay to the
other twenty-four Pounds, and the other was to take sd sum.
Then the two denominations proceeded to the draught, and the
Congregational order in said Town drew the spot south of the
training field, and also gave their obligation to the Baptist
order at the same time for the sum of 24."
At a meeting held on the 28th of March, 1792, the town
" voted to choose a Committy of three, to wit : Lieut. Kelogue,
EXTRACTS FROM EECOEDS. 301
Esq. Drury, Samuel Copley to be Committy to Settle with.
Lieut. Hammond, the former Treasurer and also Col. Cooley
the present Treasurer and make their report to the next annual
Meeting. Voted to raise three Pence on the Pound on the
List of 1792, Payable by the 25th December next in wheat at
4s 6d per bushel and rye at 3s 3d, and Beans and Peas, Beef
and Pork agreeable to that price and Corn and oats as Town
Tax. The Road from School House No. 3, is Discontinued to
the place where it strikes the other Road
PETTY JURY FOR 1792.
William Spencer, Calvin Drury,
Samuel Copley, Samuel Fail-field,
Abraham Drury, James Hopkins,
Samuel Hopkins, David Gitchell,
Israel Lake, Abell Stevens,
Gideon Sheldon, Thomas Hammond.
AMOS KELLOGG, Moderator.
BENJ. COOLEY, Town Clerk."
On the 4th of March, 1793, the town
"Voted to lay out a Road in the most convenient Place
from the meeting House to Wm. Cox s South Line.
Voted to lay out a Burying Place Northeast of the Meet
ing House Lot on the Town Plot.
Voted to build two Bridges over the Brook on Mr. Row
ley s interval at the Town s Cost.
Chose Benjamin Cooley, Thomas Hammond, Noah Hop
kins, William Cox, Samuel Copley, a Committy to lay out a
Burying Place.
Chose William Cox, Amos Calog, Caleb Cooley to Repair
the Bridges."
At the annual meeting, March 3, 1794, after choosing the
usual town officers, the town
" Voted to raise four Pence on a Pound on the List of
302 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
1794, sd money to Be raised in Wheat, Corn and Oats, Wheat
at four shillings six pence per bushel, Corn at three shillings,
Oats one and six pence per bushel, Paable by the first of Jan
uary next."
" Sept. 21, 1794.
Respecting the Soldiers in Pittsford that did List. Yoted
that this town will make up the soldiers their wages to 40 shil
lings per month during the time they are in actual service.
Sargents to be made good Eight Dollars per months. Corpo
rals 44 shillings per month Provided that Congress does not
nor the General Assembly provide for them equal to that, and
that the Selectmen of sd Town is directed to make up on the
Grand List the sum for each person to pay and the first months
wages to be paid when they are called to march."
" September the 1st 1795.
Then the inhabitants of the Town of Pittsford that are
legal voters met at the time and place as the Law Directs and
opened sd meeting and Proceeded to Bisnes.
1. Chose Thomas Hammond, Moderator.
2. Yoted to Build a Bridge acrost the Little River near
Benjamin Cooley s. .
3. Yoted to choose a Commite to superintend the Building
of the above said Bridge.
4. Chose the Selectmen as the above said Commite.
5. Yoted to raise thirty pounds to be Propriated towards
the Building a Bridge over Orter Krick East of the Wid.
Hendee s Provided that there is enough subscribed by Individ
uals to finish the bridge."
March 1, 1796.
Yoted that the Comity that shall build a good Bridge over
Orter Krick near Mr. Daniel Lees* when sd Bridge is well
finished shall draw fifteen Pounds out of the Town Treasury.
* Daniel Lee at this time lived on the Abel Stevens farm.
EXTEACTS FROM KECOKDS. 303
Yoted to raise four Pence on the Pound of the List of
Ninety-Six to be paid in any kind of Grain by the first of
January next.
Yoted that the Selectmen hire some person to sweep the
Meeting House one year. Caleb Hendee found.
October the 1st, 1796.
Yoted to Build a Bridge crost the River By Benjamin
Cooley s.
Yoted that the Selectmen be a Committy to Build sd
Bridge.
Yoted that the Selectmen shall have Liberty to draw ten
Pounds in Addition to fifteen Pounds out of the Treasury that
was given Last March for the purpose of building the Bridge
over Orter Krick Near Daniel Lees if more is Needed When
sd Bridge is Finished.
Yoted that the Selectmen shall have Liberty to Draw Eight
Pounds out of the Town treasury for the support of mr. Jones
Family.
Yoted that the Selectmen Draw Six Pounds out of the
Town treasury for the Purpos of Bying a Cow to lend to mr.
Hawks.
Yoted to Raise one Peney on the Pound on the List of
Ninety-Six Paable in any kind of Grain by the first of January
Next,
Desolved sd meeting.
Attest, NOAH HOPKINS, Moderator.
BENJAMIN COOLEY, Town Clerk."
" September 25th 1797.
Then the Inhabitants of Pittsford met at the time and
Place acording to the warning and opened sd Meeting and
Proceeded to Bisnes as the Law Directs.
First, made choice of Amos Kellogg, Moderator.
2. Yoted to Except the Road as it w r as laid out by the last
304 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
Commity that was appointed by the Snprem Cort from Pen-
field s Mills to John Trains House* and from thence to Col.
Hammonds House.
3. Voted that the Selectmen should Draw Six Pounds out
of the Treasury for the Purpos of Making beas to clear the
Road from Penfields Mills to John Trains House.
4. Yoted that the Selectmen should superintend the Bisnes.
5. Yoted that the sd Work begin the third Monday of
October Next.
6. Yoted that the Selectmen Draw twenty-five Dollars out
of the Town Treasury for the support of Singing Schools.
7. Yoted to Disolve sd Meeting.
Attest, AMOS KELLOGG, Moderator.
BENJA. COOLEY, Town Clerk."
PITTSFORD, March 13th 1798.
Yoted to Raise two hundred Dollars on the grand List of
the year 1798, sd Tax to be raised in any kind of grain By the
first of January Next.
Yoted to sell the timber on the reserved part of the School
Lott and that the Selectmen and Esquire Kellogg be trustees
to sell sd Timber.
Yoted to pay Fifteen Dollars out of the Town Treasury for
each Grown Wolf that is killed in Pittsford, not followed in
from other Towns. If a Wolf shall be drove from Pittsford
and killed, sd scalp shall be paid for by the Town.
Yoted to give John Train the Priviledge of keeping good
gates to secure his Intervale, one at Mead s Bridge and one at
the East end of the Intervale in the place where the old Gate
stood."
March 4, 1799.
Yoted that Swine run at large with a Suficient Yoke and
Ring.
* This was the Webster tavern.
EXTRACTS FROM RECORDS. 305
Yoted that the Pound Keeper be the sole Judge with
respect to their Yokes and rings.
Yoted that Sheep should not run at large.
Yoted that Horses should not run at large.
**********
Yoted that the Selectmen and a Committy of two others,
viz, Captain Handy and Samuel Copley view the Spot for a
Bridge near Pikes over Orter Creik and make a report at the
ajurned meeting.
Yoted that the Selectmen provide a Work House or a place
for the Towns Poor.
Yoted to aJurn sd meeting to the last Wensday in this
month at 3 of the Clock After Noon."
March 27th, 1799.
Then the Inhabitants of the Town of Pittsford met at
time and place acording to adjurnment and opened sd meeting
and Proceeded to Bisnes.
Yoted to raise one cent on a dollar to be laid on the Grand
List of the year 1799, sd Tax to be Paid in Wheat at 4s 6d
per Bushel, or Eye at 5 and 9 pence, Indian Corn at 3s Od.
Yoted that the Selectmen lay out twenty Dollars in making
the Road by Mr. Copley.
Yoted to make a Rope suficient lor raising Bridges.
Yoted to By a Pall or grave Cloth.
Yoted to Reconsider the vote of the Town of Pittsford
which was to give fifteen Dollars for the killing of Wolves per
Head.
Yoted to give 5 Dollars for a Bounty to any one that shall
kill a grown Wolf.
Yoted to give 8 cents for each grown Crow that shall be
killed in Pittsford between the 15th of April and the 20th of
June Next.
Yoted to give 3 cents for each grown Blackbird killed in
sd town between the 15th of April and the 20th of June next,
21
306 HISTORY OF PITTSFOED.
Yoted that the school trustees take the acount of the above
Crows and Blackbirds that are killed as above discribed, who
kills them and how many.
Yoted to give one cent for each head or scalp of grey, black,
or read or chip squirrill killed from this time to the first Mon
day in January Next, killed in Pittsford, sd Calps to be brought
to the Trustees of the School Districts or Selectmen.
Yoted that the Selectmen draw out the Town Treasury
five gallons of Rum, to give to the side that shall Beat in the
Squirrel Hunt on the first Monday of May Next.
Yoted that the Selectmen provide a Black Bear for to carry
the Dead on.
Yoted to Desolve this meeting.
THOS. HAMMOND, Moderator.
BENJA. COOLEY, Town Clerk."
In the early part of this period the long pending land-title
controversy with New York was brought to a successful termi
nation. New Hampshire had long since relinquished her claim
to this territory, and New York had become convinced that
further efforts to recall the people of the New Hampshire
Grants to her jurisdiction would be futile, and that it would be
for the interest of all parties that their independence should be
acknowledged. As early as the 14th of July, 1789, the legis
lature of that State passed an act appointing commissioners
" with full powers on such terms and conditions, and in such
manner and form, as they should judge necessary and proper
to declare the consent of the legislature to the erection of the
district of Yermont into a new State." It was, however, pro
vided that the act should not be construed to give any persons
claiming lands in such district, to be erected into an inde
pendent State, any right to compensation from that State.
On the 23d of October following, the legislature of Yer
mont passed an act appointing commissioners with authority
SETTLEMENT OF THE LAND-TITLE CONTROVERSY. 307
a to treat with commissioners that now are or hereafter may be
appointed by the State of New York, and granting them full
powers to ascertain, agree to, ratify and confirm, a jurisdictional
or boundary line between the State of Vermont and the State
of New York, and to adjust and finally determine all and every
matter or thing which in any wise obstructs a union of the
State with the United States."
The commissioners of the two States met in the city of
New York in February, 1790. But it was soon found that the
New York commissioners had no authority, under the act by
which they were appointed, to make stipulations which would
be satisfactory to the people of Vermont, and the negotiations
were broken off. But the legislature of New York, on the 6th
of March, repealed the former act, and, as a substitute for it,
passed another, conferring on the commissioners full power, not
only to relinquish the jurisdiction of New York over the terri
tory of Vermont, but also to provide in such manner as they
should consider proper for securing the titles to lands therein
against persons claiming the same lands under grants from the
State of New York ; and it further provided that any compen
sation that might be received for the relinquishment of territory
should be for the use of the land claimants and not for the
State. The commissioners appointed under this act met the
Vermont commissioners on the 27th of September, and after
careful deliberation the New York commissioners entered into
a written agreement declaring the consent of New York that
Vermont be admitted into the Union of the United States of
America, and that immediately on such admission all claim of
jurisdiction of the State of New York within the State of Ver~
mont should cease. And it was further agreed that if the
legislature of Vermont shall, on or before the first day of Janu
ary, 1792, declare that, on or before the first day of June,
1794, the said State of Vermont would pay to the State of
New York the sum of thirty thousand dollars, all rights and
308 HISTORY OF PITTSFOED.
titles to lands within the State of Yermont under grants from
the late colony of New York or from the State of New York,
should cease. On the 28th of the same month the legislature
of Yermont passed an act making provision for the payment of
the thirty thousand dollars in accordance with the stipulations
.which had been subscribed by the commissioners of the two
States. Agreeably to a call, a convention of delegates from
the several towns* in Yermont met at Bennington on the 6th
of January following to act upon the question of the adoption
of the United States Constitution which was ratified on the
10th of the same month; and on the 4th of March, 1791,
Yermont was admitted into the Union as a member of the
United States of America.
The thirty thousand dollars which had been appropriated
by the legislature of Yermont for compensation to New York,
had accumulated in the Treasurer s vault at Rutland, and some
responsible person was wanted to convey it from thence to the
office of the New York State Treasurer at Albany. An hon
ored citizen of Pittsford, Thomas Hammond, was appointed to
this important trust. Late in May, 1794, in season to reach
Albany at the appointed time, he had the coin packed in boxes
which were placed in a wagon, and one morning, long before
daylight, accompanied by Samuel Mattocks, then State Treas
urer,! he set out on his journey. On descending the hill a little
south of Clarendon Meeting House, one of the boxes burst
open and the coin rolled out on to the ground. As it was
dark, they had to go to a neighboring house for a light to
enable them to gather up their scattered treasure. In this they
succeeded, so that not a dollar was lost, and the funds commit
ted to their care were safely deposited in the Treasurer s office
at Albany.f
*The delegate to this convention from Pittsford was Thomas Hammond,
t And Mr. Mattocks sons, William and John.
J The documents show that twenty-five thousand dollars were paid at this time ;
when the balance of five thousand was paid is not known to the writer.
LUKE OSGOOD LEONARD KAWSON. 309
CHAPTER Yin.
Immigrants and their Locations continued ; Proprietors
Records / Wolves, and measures taken for their destruc
tion. 18001810.
Luke Osgood, born in Wendell, Mass., March 15, 1778,
son of Luke and Eunice (Crosby) Osgood, located in Pittsford
in 1800. He came here for the first time in 1799, and pur
chased one hundred acres of land which included the most of
the farm now owned by William Creed. After making a small
clearing and building a log house, he returned to Wendell
where he spent the winter. On the 10th of February, 1800,
he married Olive Dresser, and in March following they settled
in this town. Mr. Osgood died here March 31, 1853. Mrs.
Osgood died November 5, 1869.
Leonard Rawson, from Rhode Island, purchased of Israel
Keith the " Harwood farm,"* so called, " bounded north by
land of Peter Powers, east by John Fenn s farm, south by land
of Jacob Cooley and West by Daniel Lee s home farm.f It
contained about eighty acres, though, to quote the deed, " four
acres on which are Nathaniel Kingsley s house, barn and tan-
yard, are to be reserved to sa-id Kingsley." Mr. Rawson was
a joiner by trade, and soon alter he purchased this land he
built the house which now stands nearest to, and a few rods
west of, the school house in District No. 2. On the 6th of
March, 1800, he married Lydia, daughter of John Hitchcock,
Sen., and commenced to occupy this new house. Both died in
this town ; Mrs. Rawson in 1816, and Mr. Rawson in 1820.
* This was the land upon which Eleazer Harwood first located in this town,
t Daniel Lee at this time resided on the Abel Stevens larm*
310 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
Gardner Powers, son of Jeremiah of Greenwich, Mass.,
bought of Samuel Jones, Jr., the farm next south of Amasa
Ladd s, consisting of one hundred acres, Aug. 25, 1800. He
married Chloe Powers and resided on that farm till about the
year 1833, when he left the town.
Joshua Kingsley, son of Nathaniel, married, May 28, 1800,
Wealthy, daughter of Amos Weller, and located on the home
stead in Pittsford. He was a tanner, a trade he learned of his
father, and he worked at it some years in this town. His wife,
Wealthy, died in 1806, and the following year he married
Lucy Kobinson who was born in Windham County, Conn., in
1779. The marriage took place in Dorset. They resided in
Pittsford till about the year 1830, when they removed to Troy,
Penn., where Mr. Kingsley died, Aug. 6, 1857. Mrs. Kings-
ley died Feb. 14, 1859.
Eli Williams resided in this town but a few years and we
know little about him. He married Elizabeth Wheeler, May
25, 1800, and located on the place which has been mentioned
as the former residence of Jacob Cooley, and afterwards of
Jeremiah Needham.
John Penfield, son of John, was born in New Fairfield,
Conn., in 1774, and at an early age was placed as an appren
tice to a saddler on Quaker Hill, Dutchess County, N. Y. He
came to Pittsford in 1797, and opened a shop* where the red
house now stands, at the junction of the Eutland and Chitten-
den roads, near the present residence of David Blair. July 2,
1800, he married Patience, daughter of Abraham Anthony,
and located in the house now owned by Martin Leach. He
left Pittsford in 1803, and died in Whitehall, Oct. 9, 1848.
Chauncey Fenn, son of Gideon, married Sarah Ward, and
resided a few years on the homestead with his parents and
afterwards left the town.
Nathan Wright, son of Abel, married Abigail Woodruff,
* This shop has been removed and it is now Thos. Hennessy s barn.
MOSES HITCHCOCK EPHRAIM DTJNLAP. 311
July IT, 1800, and located on land now owned by Nathan
Hand. The house he occupied stood in the southwest corner
of the orchard, a little north of Mr. Hand s north barn. It
was near the road which at that time passed some rods west of
the present road. His wife Abigail died in 1802, and he
married Esther Fassett October 27, 1803. He left the town
about the year 1808.
Moses Hitchcock, son of John, Jr., married Baird
of Chittenden, and located on the farm now owned by Nehe-
miah Barnes. His house stood on the east side of the road,
and he had a blacksmith s shop on the opposite side about
where the present house now stands. He was a blacksmith by
trade and to this employment the most of his time was devoted.
He moved to St. Lawrence County, N. Y., about the year 1806.
Ephraim Dunlap was born in Windham, Conn., April 17,
1746. At the commencement of the Revolutionary war he
enlisted in the service of his country. He assisted in the con
struction of the redoubt on Breed s hill, during the night of the
16th of June, 1TT5, and participated in the battle which fol
lowed. He was afterwards appointed orderly sergeant in which
capacity he served several months. Mr. Dunlap married Betsey
Tedder* about the year.lT90, and located in Andover, Vt., in
1T98, from which town he came to Pittsford in 1800. He
resided one year on the place now occupied by Erastus Par-
melee, though the house at that time stood on the west side of
the road. In 1801, he moved to Whipple Hollow, and built
the house now owned by his daughters, Rachel and Betsey, and
in that he resided till his death.
James Tedder, son of James, was born in New Ipswich,
K H., March 3, 1768, and married Polly Patten of Temple.
He resided in his native town till 1798, when he removed to
Andover, Yt., and from thence to Pittsford in 1800. He
* Born in New Ipswich, N. H., Sept. 2, 1765.
312 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
resided a few years on the farm formerly owned by Dr. Deming,
and now by Simeon Parmelee. He changed his residence sev
eral times while a citizen of the town. Mr. Tedder moved to
Whitehall about the year 1818.
The Booth family is of Welsh descent. Simeon Booth came
from Wales about the year 1680, and settled in Endfield, Conn.
He had two sons, William and Zachariah. The latter had two
sons, John and Joseph. Joseph had several children, one of
whom was Isaac, who had Isaac, Jr.,and Benjamin. The last
was born May 17, 1768, in Union, Conn., and in the year
1800, he married Anna Needham, a native of Brimfield, and
located in Pittsford, Yt. They resided for a time on the farm
formerly owned by James Hopkins, but afterwards removed
to the place now owned by Seth Hudson. The house they
occupied the first on that place stood on the same ground
as the present house. Mr. Booth died Jan. 18, 1839, and Mrs.
Booth in May following.
The first we hear of Samuel Buell is in 1799. On the 30th
of December in that year he bought of Peter Bresee forty acres
of land which included a part of the farm now owned by
David Mills. Mr. Buell built the easterly part of the house
now occupied by Mr. Mills. He married Hannah, daughter of
Richard Hendee, and resided some years on his farm which
was several times enlarged by additional purchases. Mr. Buell
came here in the spring of the year 1800, and removed to
Brandon about the year 1813.
Simeon Gilbert, from Oakham, Mass., located here in the
year 1800. Jonathan Gilbert, his father, was born in Brook-
field, in August, 1726. He married Hannah Abbott who was
born in New Braintree. They located in Brookfield, where
the following children were born, viz. : Martha, Jacob, Eleanor,.
Affa, Sarah, Daniel, Simeon, Jonathan and Josiah. Simeon
was born Aug. 29, 1761. July 12, 1787, he married Sarah
Amadon, who was born in New Braintree, Feb. 12, 1765.
HEZEKIAH PARMELEE CALVIN CON ANT. 313
They located in Oakham, but removed to Pittsford, "Vt., Jan-
nary 18, 1800, and bought the farm then owned by Amasa
Ladd. Upon this they spent the remainder of their days.
Mr. Gilbert died January 5, 1835.
Hezekiah Parmelee, son of Simeon, Sen., was born at West
Stockbridge, Mass., in 1775, and married Miriam,* daughter of
William Orcutt, April 5, 1801. He located on the paternal
homestead where he resided till about the year 1815, when he
removed to the farm formerly owned by Josiah Eddy, where
he lived seven years. After spending one year on the Daniel
Keith place he bought the Dr. Deming farm and resided there
till his death, September 19, 1853. Mrs. Parmelee died Jan
uary 3, 1846.
Calvin Conant brother to John of Brandon, and Ebenezer
for a time of Pittsford married Esther, daughter of Elder
Elisha Rich, May 24, 1801, and resided a short time with his
father-in-law; but he afterwards built a house on the east side
of the Brandon road, a few rods south of the branch road,
leading to the present residence of Isaac C. Wheaton. He had
probably resided in this town one or two years bef _>re his mar
riage, as we find that he became a member of the Baptist
church on the 9th of November, 1800, and was chosen church
-clerk two years later. His dwelling house, being quite large,
was occupied by the Baptist society as a place of worship, from
the time they left the present Town House to the completion
of their new house of worship. About the year 1811, he
removed to Brandon, thence to Shelburne, and thence, in 1816,
to Putnam, Ohio, where he died in 1825. Mrs. Conant died
in 1824. "Mr. Conant was an ingenius mechanic, and said
to be a good physician which profession he followed some
years."f
Jirah Barlow of Greenwich, Mass., brother of William,
* Born in September, 1775.
t Hendee s MS.
314 HISTORY OF PITTSFOED.
already mentioned, came here in 1799, and purchased of
Chester Powers a "piece or parcel" of land lying east and
northeast of Penfield s mill-lot, and it included the water privi
lege, " together with the fulling mill, dye houss, two strings of
tenderbars, dwelling house, and shop, and one pair clothier s
shears, one iron screw and box, and one clothier s plait."
Powers purchased this property the 31st day of March, 1797,
of Noel William Avery, who had built the mill the previous
year. This mill stood on Ripley Brook some twenty or thirty
rods from its entrance into Furnace Brook. Soon after Mr.
Barlow made this purchase, he bought the water privilege
below Penfield s mill, and built what is now a part of the
straw-board mill, owned by Mr. Allen. Here he carded wool,
and manufactured and dressed cloth. On the opposite side of
the stream he built an oil mill, and a few rods below this he
put up a distillery. On the 5th of July, 1801, he married
Anna, daughter of Simeon Par melee, and located in a house
which stood on the bank in the mill yard, two or three rods
southwest of the barn now owned by H. F. Lothrop. He was
a man of considerable energy but the result of his operations
showed that he had more business on his hands than he could
manage to advantage. He left this town about the year 1826,
and went to the State of Illinois.
The Wheaton family is of English descent ; the first in this
country was Thomas Wheedon (English orthography) who
came here from England in 1650. He was then nineteen
years of age, and he went to North Brandford where he learned
the tanning and currying business of a man by the name of
Gilbert. About the year 1657, he married Hannah Harvey.
He became a man of wealth and died at the age of ninety.
His family consisted of two sons, Thomas and Jonathan, and
four daughters. One of these sons, it is not certain which, had
a son Isaac, who married and had three sons, viz.: Solomon,
Isaac and James ; the latter married Dina Whedon by whom
y^
^
ISAAC WHEATON CHAPMAN HITCHCOCK. 315
he had sons, Rufus, Isaac, Pittman and James ; and daugh
ters, Eunice, Irena, Olive and Lois. James, the father, died
March 8, 1804.
Isaac Wheaton,* (as he spelled his name,) the son of James
above mentioned, became a joiner by trade, and came to Thet-
ford, Yt., where he worked a few weeks and then came to
Chittenden and bought the Randall farm, but kept it only a
few months. After this he married Irena,f daughter of Jona
than Dike, and resided a short time in the house with Capt.
Caleb Cooley; but on the 21st day of October, 1801, he
bought of Stephen Mead, Jr., fifty-five acres of land a part
of the first-division lot of the right of Alexander Scott which
included a part of the Samuel Crippen farm, now owned by
Ransom Burdett. He resided here the following winter, but
on the 1st of February, 1802, he sold this farm to Hiram Hop
kins, and on the 19th of April following, he bought of Abel
Wright one hundred and ten acres, the most essential part of
what has since been known as the Wheaton farm. ^M r. Wheaton
made many improvements on that farm and resided there till
his death, Nov. 25, 1851, when it passed into the hands of
his worthy son, Isaac C. Wheaton. Mrs. Wheaton died July
5, 1855.
Chapman Hitchcock, son of John, married Chrissey Hill in
1801. He made the first improvements and built a house
where E, Seward now resides known as the Alexander place
and occupied it till after the death of his father when he
returned to the paternal homestead. He possessed a cultivated
mind and was very fond of music in which he became very
proficient. For several winters he taught singing schools, and
by our older inhabitants he will be remembered as the leader
of the choir in the old Congregational Meeting House, where
were often heard old Claremont, Judgment Anthem, etc. He
* Born Aug. 17, 1770.
t Born June 25, 1779.
316 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
was also very much given to hunting, being always ready to
join his neighbors in a hunt for bears or deer, many of which
were roaming about the township or neighboring hills. On
one occasion, in company with Andrew Barnard, he followed a
bear up on the side of the hill west of his house, where the
dogs drove bruin up a tree. On coming up Barnard fired and
brought the beast to the ground, wounded, but abundantly able
to fight. Hitchcock raised his gun to fire, but Barnard cried
"Hold on, you will kill my dog!" He then seized a hand
spike and struck a heavy blow which the bear warded off, but
it killed the dog. He then took his gun and killed the bear.
Peter Bresee, from Stockbridge, Mass., brother of Christo
pher who has already been mentioned, married Hannah June
of Brandon, Jan. 7, 1802, and located on the farm which has
been mentioned as once the home of John Hall, now that of
Alexander Parmelee. There were two houses then on that
farm, both standing north of the present house and near the
north barn ; and in one of these Mr. Bresee resided a few
years, when he moved a little north to the farm now owned by
David Holden. He removed thence to a house which stood a
few rods south of the west end of the Mead bridge. He had
a blacksmith s shop near the house, in which he wrought at his
trade, that of a blacksmith. He moved to Canada, where he
afterwards died.
Elisha Rich, son of Elder Elisha, was a blacksmith by trade,
though he occasionally officiated as a Baptist preacher. He
married Peggy Barnes, Feb. 9, 1802, and resided a short time
with his parents in this town, after which he moved to Sugar
Creek, Penn. He inherited the most of his father s estate, a
part of which was in this town.*
Levi Gitchel, son of David, married Diadama, daughter
of John Dimmick, January 31, 1802, and located on the home
Hendee s MS,
SAMUEL LUCAS THOMAS WINSLOW. 31 7
farm with his parents. Another son, Eli, married and resided
there, also, till about the year 1806, when the two brothers
removed to Pennsylvania. David, the father, died about the
year 1803, and his widow left the town with her sons.
Samuel Lucas was a school teacher by profession, and w r as
employed in this business during the most of the time that he
resided in this town. He married Sarah, eldest daughter^of
Nathaniel Kingsley, and located on the place now owned by
Martin Leach.* He was a cripple, unable to labor on a farm,
and consequently devoted his time to teaching. He sold the
place upon which he first located to Abraham Walker, Oct.
29, 1804, and the first of November he took a deed of twenty-
nine acres of Absalom Burnham the same land now owned
by Henry Sherman, James Bucknam and Josiah Leonard. The
house in which Mr. Lucas here resided, stood a few rods south
of where Mr. Bucknam now lives. Soon after he purchased
this land he sold one acre of it to Abraham Drury. This was
a corner piece and the same upon which Mr. Leonard s red
house now stands. Lucas sold the remainder of his land
(twenty-eight acres) to Phineas and William Ripley, December
10, 1807, and moved to Amsterdam, N. Y., where he died.
Thomas Winslow was from Greenwich, Mass. His mother
was Margaret, daughter of Benjamin Cooley of that town, and
sister of Col. Benjamin Cooley of Pittsford. He came to
Pittsford about the year 1802, and married the widow of
Timothy Mead. Timothy Mead, son Stephen, Sen., had built
a house some five or six rods south of his father s residence,
and had married and resided there till his death in the year
1800. Two years later Thomas Winslow married Mr. Mead s
widow and occupied that house till about the year 1818, when
he removed from the town.
Harvey Houghton, from Brimfield,t Mass., married Polly
*He purchased this place of John Penfield, Jr., March 10, 1803.
t Before coming to Pittsford he had resided in Chaze, N. Y.
318 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
Brewster of this town, July 7, 1803, and located on a piece of
land north of and adjoining the farm of John Barnes. The
house in which Houghton lived stood about three rods west of
the present highway, and fifteen rods southwest of the three
large boulders on the east side of the highway. Solomon
Moulton, also from Brimfield, had, at an earlier period, located
a few rods further north, on the west side of the road, nearly
opposite the burying ground. Houghton left the town, K ut
Moulton died heit *bout the year 1830.
Charles Lamb was born in Scotland in 1747, and became a
mason and stone-cutter by trade. He enlisted into the British
military service in 1775, and was sent to America in the expe
dition under Gen. Howe. In the vicinity of Boston he was
taken prisoner by the Americans, whether willingly or unwil
lingly we are not informed. At any rate, he never again
joined the army, but retired to the peaceful pursuits of life.
He married Sarah Pierce of Pittsfield, Mass., in 1777, and
located in that town where he resided till 1791, when he moved
to Salem, K Y. In 1803, March llth, he bought of Asa
Blackmer* the farm now owned by his daughter, Mrs. Sally
Walker. He resided on that farm till his death, February 4,
1834. Mrs. Lamb died in September, 1841.
Joab Powers, son of Jeremiah of Greenwich, probably
came to Pittsford with other members of his father s family.
On the 31st of August, 1799, he bought of Joseph Rowley
fifty-five acres of land, "being the easterly half of the second-
division lot of the original right of Peter Johnson ;" and on
the 6th of November, the same year, he bought also of Joseph
Rowley fifty-five acres, the same u being one-half of the third-
division lot of the original right of Peter Johnson." This land
was located in Sugar Hollow and was nearly identical with the
* Asa Blackmer made the first improvements on that farm, but we are unab e to
learn when he commeneed them. He was from Greenwich, Mass. In 1803, he
moved to Brandon.
DANIEL HALL ASA MEAD WILLIAM CHAPMAN. 319
farm recently owned by John Rand. Mr. Powers built the
house now standing on the west side of the road, and about the
year 1803, married Milleant - , and located on the west
erly half of that farm. He died there about the year 1830.
Justus Powers, brother of the preceding, married Lucy, daugh
ter of Daniel Carpenter, and located with his parents on the
east side of the highway, opposite his brother. He moved to
Rutland about the year 1810.
David Hall was born in Colchester, Conn., Nov. 8, 1764,
and when a young man he went to Surry, N. H., where he
married, April 3, 1784, Abigail Hitchcock, who was born in
Bolton, Conn., April 12, 1762. They resided a short time in
Surry, and then removed to Newport, and from thence to
Brandon, Yt., where their son David was born, June 3, 1795.
In 1803, the family came to Pittsford and located on the farm
now owned by Alexander Parmelee. They occupied one of
the two log houses* which at that time stood a few rods north
of the house now on that farm. Mr. Hall died in Pittsford,
Nov. 7, 1841 ; Mrs. Hall died in Sudbury, Aug. 28, 1833.
Asa Mead, son of John, married Polly, daughter of Heze-
kiah Carr, September 4, 1803, and resided some years in the
family of Mr. Carr. During his residence here his time was
principally employed in making shingles. He and Mr. Carr
left the town about the same time.
William Chapman, when a young man, worked for Major
Cheney in the north part of Rutland ; but on the 27th day of
February, 1803, he married Elizabeth Tupper, and located on
a piece of land lying east of the present residence of Royal
Hall, and north of Lot Keeler s. Some vestiges of the house
may still be seen, together with the orchard near it. There
was a William Chapman at one time living in a log housef
* Mr. Hall afterwards built and occupied the house which is now the residence
of Alexander Parmelee.
t There were two houses near that barn. One was for a time occupied by Chap
man, and the other by a Mr. Brooks.
320 -HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
which stood on the Hnbbardton road, on the hill west of Mar
shall Thomas , and near where the barn now stands. Quite
likely this was the same man who, some time afterwards moved
to the State of New York.
Bradley Squire was from Manchester, Yt., but we can learn
little of his ancestry. He was a large, portly man, and in
early life became a school teacher, a vocation which he followed
several years in this town. He married Sally, daughter of
Jonathan Rowley, July 30, 1803, and resided a short time in
the family of Deacon Caleb Hendee who, in 1791, had married
his mother, Mrs. Mary Squire, then a widow. Mr. Squire
resided in this town but a few years after his marriage. He
had a brother, Phineas Squire, who married Esther, another
daughter of Jonathan Rowley, and resided some years on the
Rowley farm, but eventually moved to Pennsylvania.
Joshua Bates, born in Mendon, Mass., March 20, 1782,
came to Pittsford in 1801, and married, Dec. 6, 1804, Rebecca
Douglas, who was born March 6, 1785. They located on the
farm* first improved and occupied by Elias Hall. His wife
Rebecca died Sept. 9, 1839, and he married Mary Warner who
died Sept. 10, 1865. Mr. Bates died February 10, 1867.
Noah Cooley, son of Col. Benjamin, married Jane, daugh
ter of Peter Sutherland, January 24, 1804, and located on the
west side of Otter Creek, upon land now owned by Ransom
Burdett. The house he occupied, built by him, stood on the
east side of the old road leading from the residence of Tilly
Walker to that of Peter Rice now R. Burdett s. The cellar
of the house can still be seen in the pasture about thirty rods
west of the railroad. Mr. Cooley resided there a few years^
and then removed to the western country where he died, Jan.
11, 1856. Mrs. Cooley died July 4, 1854.
* Mr. Bates bought this farm of his elder brother, Michael, who purchased it of
Elias Hall, Sept. 6, 1795.
PETER THOMAS THOMAS EUBDITT. 321
Elisha Woodruff, Jr., son of Elisha, married Welthen,
daughter of William Spencer, Jan. 5, 1804, and located on
the place now owned by Peter Bullet. He removed to St.
Lawrence County, N. Y., about the year 1814.
Peter Thomas, born in Concord, Mass., March 1, 17TO, son
of John Marion, located here in 1804. He well remembered
the battle of Lexington and the eventful scenes of that day.
His parents, in common with other inhabitants of the town,
were alarmed by the approach of the enemy, and while Mr.
Marion joined the men of the town in secreting what was left
of common and military stores, Mrs. Marion and her son, a
little more than five years of age, with other women and children
fled to the hills for safety. There young Marion, who after
wards took the name of Thomas, saw the British Regulars as
they marched into the town ; and after their departure he saw
the dead bodies of several persons whom they had murdered.
These events, at that tender age, made a deep impression upon
his mind, and he was accustomed to narrate them with deep
emotion. He married Mary, daughter of Joseph Read of
Acton, in October, 1803. The following year they came to
this town and located on the farm now owned by his son
Marshall. Mr. Thomas purchased this of John Marion who
had it of Nathan Whittemore. Mr. Whitternore built the
house in which the family resided till 1846, when it was
removed and the present one built by Marshall Thomas.
Thomas Burditt, from Lynn, Mass., came to Pittsford about
the year 1804, and located on the easterly slope of West Hill,
on land now owned by Ransom Burditt. He made the first
clearing there and built a house very nearly west of the present
residence of Mrs. Susan Burditt. Mr. Burditt and his wife
both died in this town.
We know little of Samuel Smith. He married Rebecca,
daughter of Abraham Owen, December 24, 1804, arid located
in the westerly part of the town, on the easterly slope of the
22
322 HISTORY OF PITT8FOBD.
hill west of Thomas Beals place now Kufus Thomas . The
house he occupied was about one-half mile from Mr. Beals .
From that place he removed to Canada where he resided a
few years, and then returned to Pittsford and occupied the
house now owned by Haskell Burditt. This house formerly
stood on the William Beals farm, but was removed to its pres
ent position by Mr. Smith, who resided there a few years and
then moved to Michigan where he died.
Isaac Leonard was from Easton, Mass. His father, Jacob
Leonard, was born in Easton in 1746, and married Jerusha
Capen who was born in Stoughtori, Mass., in 1750. They
located in Easton where were born the following children, viz. :
Isaac, Jacob, Capen and Militiah. On the llth of July, 1801,
Jacob, the father, purchased of Elisha Bradford a tract of wild
land in Vermont, a part of which lay in the northeast part of
Pittsford and a part in Chittenden. The Pittsford portion was,
in 1805, deeded to his son Isaac* who built a house and made
the first improvements on it. Before this, however, in 1795,
he had married Ruth Fullerf of Sharon, and they came to
Pittsford and located on this land which is the farm now owned
by their son Martin. Mr. Leonard died in 1855 ; Mrs. Leonard
in 1839.
Samuel Mead, son of John, married Anne, daughter of
Elijah Brown, Jr., March 13, 1805, and resided some time with
his brother-in-law, Nathan Nelson, on the place now owned by
George Brown. Mrs. Mead, at the time of her marriage, was
only about fourteen years of age. The latter part of their
married life was passed in the easterly part of the township on
the farm now owned by J. McCail. There Mr. Mead died,
January 11, 1831. Mrs. Mead died in Troy, K Y., May 31,
1866.
William Beals, from Cornish, N. H., came here in 1806,
* Born in 1772 in Easton.
t Born in 1776.
)
STURGES PENFIELD. 323
and bought the place upon which Richard Adams had resided,
and made the first improvements. Mr. Beals built a new house
and barn some rods northeast of the house built by Mr. Adams,
and here he resided till his death, when the farm passed into
the possession of his son William, Jr. This has for years been
known as the Beals farm, but it is now owned by John
Eggleston.
Sturges Penfield, son of John, Sen., was born in New Fair-
field, Conn., Sept. 1, 1780, and carne to Pittsford with his
father s family in 1796. While a young man he learned the
hatter s trade of a Mr. Butler of Rutland. On the 12th of
January, 1806, he married Laura Giddings, who was born Jan
uary 23, 1785. This event took place in New Fairfield. The
pair came directly to Pittsford and resided in a house which
stood on the same spot where they ever after lived and where
they died. This house was formerly the saddler shop of Mr.
Penfield s brother John, but it had been removed and fitted up
for a dwelling house. His father built him a hat shop which
stood five or six rods south of the house, and in this he carried
on hat making some years. This building has recently been
removed, and it is now the house occupied by John Lique. In
1808, Mr. Penfield built a store at the corner of the road, on
the ground formerly occupied by his brother s saddle shop and
traded there about ten years. Then, in company with his
brothers, Allen and Abel, he bought the woolen factory, which
had been operated for some time by Stephen Avery and others ;
and here they carried on wool-carding, and manufacturing and
dressing cloth. After a few years the three brothers dissolved
their copartnership, when Mr. Sturges Penfield bought his
brothers interest in the stock property, though he did little
manufacturing. Retiring from business, he devoted the rem
nant of his life to light horticultural pursuits. He was a man
of strong constitution, great energy and strict integrity. He
324 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
was also an exemplary Christian, and did much to support the
religious institutions of the town.
Martin Leach, the son of Abisha and Patience (Wood)
Leach, was born in Easton, Mass., in 1771. He became a
blacksmith by trade and worked with his brother Andrew in
Pittsford as early as 1798, and afterwards, he worked at his
trade in Middlebury. In 1801, he married Sylvia Powers of
Norton, Mass., who was born in 1774, and they located in
Cummington where they resided till 1806, when they came to
Pittsford and resided on the place now owned by Asa Nourse.
The house they occupied has since been removed, and it is now
the house owned by Jeduthan Thomas. During the time of
his residence on that place, he worked at his trade in the shop,
which stood a few rods west of the house. But wishing to
devote his time to agriculture he sold this place in 1809, and
bought the farm then owned by Martin Mead, and now by
Moses P. Humphrey. The construction of the house the one
now on the farm had been commenced by Mr. Mead, but it
was not finished. Mr. Leach completed the work and soon
occupied it. The most of the improvements on that farm are
the result of his labor. He died in 1855 ; Mrs. Leach, in 1858.
Elisha Cox, son of William, married Abigail, daughter of
Edward Clifford, Sen., March 6, 1806, and located on the
home farm. The house he occupied had been built by his
father, and it stood on the east side of the present highway and
about sixty rods south of the stone house owned by Mr. Sar
gent. Mr. Cox was a soldier from this town in the war of
1812, and after the war he became somewhat embarrassed in
his financial matters, sold his farm to his brother-in-law, Eberie-
zer Conant, of Brandon, and moved to Canada.
William Ripley, son of Phineas, married Ellis Durfee,
October 26, 1806, and located on the homestead, where he
resided till 1818, when he moved to the State of Ohio.
^
STEPHEN WOOD JOSEPH TOTTINGHAM. 325
Stephen Wood, a stone-cutter by trade, married Deborah
Avery, July 13, 1806, and located on the place formerly owned
by Dr. William Frisbie. His principal business was the making
of gavestones, and he quarried his stone from a ledge now
owned by Abraham Owen, and lying a little southeast of the
residence of Abel Morgan. He changed his residence several
times while a citizen of the town and left it about the year
1814.
The Tottingham families of this country have mostly
descended from Henry Tottingham (or Tottman as formerly
often written and pronounced) who was born in England,
but was in Charlestown in 1640, when and where he sub
scribed the " Town Orders" for Woburn. He removed shortly
after to Woburn; was taxed there in 1645, 1646, 1666; and
had a right assigned him, in 1668, in the common lands of the
town. By his wife, Anna, he had 1st, Nehemiah, born Aug.
23, 1646, died 28th March, 1714 ; 2d, Elijah, born Feb. 28,
1651. Anna, his wife, died Feb. 23, 1653, and he married
Alice Alger, July 13, 1654. Elijah, son of Henry, married
Mary , and had Anna, Mary, Sarah, Henry, Elisha,
Elizabeth, Alice and Arminell. Elisha, son of Elijah and
Mary, was born July 22, 1696, and married Rebecca ,
by whom he had Rebecca, Elisha, Elizabeth, John, Phebe and
Abigail. Elisha, son of Elisha and Rebecca, married Sarah
Lawrence of Woburn, May 27, 1736, and had Elisha, Sarah,
Nathaniel, Ephraim, Moses, Jonathan, James, Rebecca, Abi
gail and David. Nathaniel, son of Elisha and Sarah (Lawrence),
was born June 10, 1740, married Esther Brown, of Lexington,
and settled in Westminster, Mass. Joseph Tottingham, sup
posed to have been the son of Nathaniel, was born in West
minster, September 14, 1783, came to Pittsford in 1805, and
on the 14th of August of thai? year he bought one acre of land
with the buildings thereon, the land the same that is now owned
by Mrs. Elizabeth Bogue. This purchase was made of William
326 HISTORY OF PITT8FOKD.
Baxter, and the house, an old one, was, some years after, burnt.
Mr. Tottingham married, January 16, 1806, Nancy Wood who
was born in Westminster, Feb. 16, 1786. They located, in
February, on the place purchased in Pittsford, and resided on
the same till 1813, when Mr. T. purchased of Jonathan Kendall
a farm of which part is now owned by Abraham Owen. He
resided in the Kendall house till 1816, when he built a new
house the same now owned and occupied by Mr. Owen. Mrs.
Tottingham died Nov. 9, 1841. Mr. Tottingham died July 4,
1859. He was a man of great moral worth, a deacon of the
Congregational church, and one of the men who organized the
Pittsford Temperance Society.
Amos Crippen, son of Samuel, was born May 22, 1778,
and was the only son in his father s family, though he had two
sisters. After the death of his father, about the year 1783, he
was placed in the family of Samuel Fail-field, of Whipple Hol
low, where he remained eight or ten years. Some time in
this period he came near being drowned in Otter Creek. It
appears that he was visiting his cousin, Darius Crippen, at
some time when there was no bridge over the Creek near
Roger Stevens . The water was high and* he attempted to
cross the stream in a boat at the fordway, but had proceeded
only a short distance from the bank when, by some mismanage
ment, the boat was upset and he was precipitated into deep
water. Some boys on the bank gave the alarm, and Abel
Stevens, being in the hay-field near, ran to his rescue and saved
him. He learned the trade of a blacksmith and, about the
year 1806, married Lucy, daughter of John Hitchcock, Jr.,
and located on the place now owned by Nehemiah Barnes.
His house and shop stood on the west side of the road. Feb
ruary 25, 1814, he bought of John Hitchcock, Jr., sixty acres
of land which included the principal part of the farm now
owned by Lewis White. The house in which Mr. White now
resides was built by Mr. Crippen. In a few years he sold that
y
/l^i^J^in^^J
MOSES HAVEN ANDREW LEACH. 327
place and bought the one which had been owned by Lyman
Rockwood now owned by James Bucknam and occupied
the house, working at his trade in the shop on the opposite side
of the road. He removed to the State of Pennsylvania about
the year 1855, and died there in August, 1864. He was twice
married. His wife Lucy having died, he subsequently married
Mrs. Lucinda Ives, who now lives in this town.
Moses Haven, Jan. 7, 1807, married Polly, daughter of
Samuel Davis, who was born March 7, 1787. He resided
some years in a log house which stood on the west side of the
road, about one hundred rods north of the late residence of
Israel Burdett, deceased. He removed from the town some
years since.
Andrew Leach was the son of Abisha, who was born at
Titicut, Mass., March, 1740, and in 1765, married Patience
"Wood who was born at Bridgewater, September, 1745. They
located in Easton, where were born Andrew, Philip, Mar
tin, Jason, Shepherd, Cephas, Solomon, Jerusha and Anne.
Andrew, the eldest, born Dec. 14, 1768, became a blacksmith
by trade, came to Pittsford in 1795, and worked some time in
the shop formerly occupied by Elias Hopkins. In 1805, he
purchased what has since been known as the Leach farm, includ
ing land now owned by William C. Cotting, Joshua D. Barber,
Jeffrey A. Randall, Henry F. Lothrop and Asa Nourse, with
some land on the north side of the present highway. He built
a blacksmith shop near where Thomas Tennian s shop now
stands, and in 1806, built the house now owned by "W. C.
Cotting. On the 24th of February, 1807, he married Mary
Powers,* and occupied the new house. His wife Mary died in
June, 1810, and the following October he married Deborah
Spooner, who was born in New Lon don, Conn., February,
* Born in 1777.
328 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
1779. Mrs. Deborah Leach died February 7, 1823, and Mr.
Leach married Olivia Moulton, of Fair haven, Nov. 13th, the
same year. Mr. Leach died September 15, 1852. Mrs. Olivia
Leach died August 27, 1840. The following extract from an
obituary, published shortly after Mr. Leach s death, probably
shows the true character of the man :
" He removed to Pittsford when a young man, and by
industry and energy in business as a mechanic accumulated
considerable property, and on account of his integrity, prompt
ness and trustworthiness, has ever held a prominent station in
the community. The cause of education found in Mr. Leach a
firm and steadfast friend. Though his own education was very
limited, yet having a strong native intellect, he became a very
intelligent man, and cherished enlarged and liberal views of
the importance of mental training and development. * * *
***** jj e ear lj made a profession of religion, and
united with the Congregational church of which he remained,
to the time of his death, one of the most useful and active
members. Decision and constancy were the most prominent
traits in his character. In no pursuit could it be said of him
that when * he put his hand to the plow he looked back, and
least of all could this be said of him in the work of religion
In late years especially, when old age and infirmity were upon
him he sought no relaxation from Christian duty, but mani
festly grew in grace as he advanced in years, and continued
unto the end. The heart of Mr. Leach was fixed on the object
of building up the Savior s kingdom. This was manifest not
only from his diligence in Christian duties at home, but from
the liberality with which he contributed of his substance to
send the gospel abroad. All the principal societies for the
extension of the Redeemer s kingdom received from him a
constant, and according to his means, an uncommonly liberal
support. For many years his annual contributions to Domestic
JONATHAN DIKE SOLOMON FARE JUSTIN DARLING. 329
Missions was twenty dollars, and to Foreign Missions one hun
dred dollars. In eleven successive years, he has made as many
members of his family himself, children, and wife s children
life members of the American Board."
Jonathan Dike, son of Jonathan, was born in Chittenden,
April 16, 1786, and in May, 1808, married Tamesin, born Jan
uary 4, 1787, daughter of Thomas Hammond, and located
on the June farm. Mr. Dike built a house on. the east side
of the present highway, and about midway betwixt the old
June house and the present stone house on the Cox farm. He
was a Deputy Sheriff some years, and was eventually appointed
Sheriff of the county, when he removed to Rutland where his
wife died Aug. 23, 1829. Mr. Dike died in Crown Point,
K Y,, 1871.
Solomon Farr, Jr., a moulder by trade, married Mabel
Dean, January 3, 1808, and located on the place now owned
by Mrs. Eliza Connell He resided in the town but a few years
and the most of this time was spent in the service of Gibbs &
Co., at the Furnace.
Justin Darling was born in Marlboro , Mass., October 30,
1784, and his early life was spent in that township. He came
to Pittsford when a young man, married Margaret, daughter of
Caleb Cooley, March 17, 1808, and located in the house now
owned by Mrs. Margaret Hennessey. They resided in this
town till 1836, when they moved to the western part of the
State of New York,
Daniel Sherman was the son of Daniel who was born in
Massachusetts, in July, 1763, and married Anna Knight who
was born May 8, 1766. They died in Bolton, leaving one son,
Daniel, who was born July 23, 1785. He became a wheel
wright, and having migrated to this town in 1806, he bought
the place now owned by his son Henry. In 1808 he married
Polly Gorham, who was born in Connecticut, April 16, 1790.
Mr. Sherman built the house and other buildings now owned
330 HISTORY OF PITT8FORD.
by his son. He worked at his trade a large proportion of the
time till his death, June 29, 1854.
John Dimick, from Sullivan, N. H., located here in 1808,
He bought of Michael Sanders the farm now owned by Joseph
Wolcott, the deed being dated November 3, 1808. The first
improvements on that farm were made by Mr. Sanders who-
resided some time in a log house which stood on the west side
of the road, and some distance northwest of the present house
which Mr. Sanders had built before he sold the farm to Dimick,
Jacob Thayer married Wealthy Grossman and located in
Easton, Mass. In 1809, he came with his family to Pittsford
and purchased the farm now owned by Mrs. Eliza Connell.
Samuel Wheeler was born in 1787. His birth-place is not
known to the writer, though his parents resided some years in
this town. In 1809, he married Catherine born Nov. 22,
1789 daughter of Caleb Cooley, and resided a few years in
the family of his father-in-law. He afterwards removed to the
Isle La Motte, Grand Isle County, where he died, April 10,
1851. Mrs. Wheeler died Feb. 5, 1869.
John June, son of Joshua, born in 1780, married Lydia y
daughter of Ebenezer Lyman, January 1, 1809, and resided
some years on the Lyman farm now David Scofield s. After
changing his residence several times he settled in Brandon,
where he died in June, 1866.
Zachariah Rand became a resident of this town in 1809.
He was the son of Col. John Rand who was residing in Narra-
ganset, Mass., in 1753, whose first wife, Elizabeth, died Dec.
14, 1756, and who married, 1766, widow Tabitha Stedman,
He had Zachariah, John, Thomas, William, Samuel, and four
daughters. He sustained important town offices and rose to
the rank of Colonel in the militia. He also served as Colonel
in the Revolution. He died Dec. 11, 1789, in the sixty-seventh
year of his age. His eldest son, Zachariah, born in Westmins
ter, Mass., was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. His name
EXTRACT FROM RECORDS. 331
is found upon the roll of a company of eight-months men who
enlisted into the service immediately after the Lexington alarm.
At the time when the alarm was excited by the Bennington
fight, in August, 17TT, his name is found upon the roll of a
company of men who marched from Westminster and were in
service ten days. After the war he married Jerusha Saw^yer
and located in Westminster, his native town. He had the fol
lowing children, viz.: Asa, Phebe, Nathaniel, Jerusha, Tamar,
Lucinda, Susanna, Betsey, John Stark, Ebenezer Blanchard,
Diantha. In January, 1809, he removed from Westminster to
Pittsford, Vt., and located on the Powers farm in Sugar Hol
low, now owned by Watson C. Rand and William Nicholas.
Mr. Rand died here in April, 1826 ; Mrs. Rand died August
13, 1844.
Some of the public acts of the past ten years will appear
from the following quotations from the records of this period :
At a meeting held on the 24th of February, 1800, the town
*" voted, on application of Hiram Hopkins, that the selectmen
for the time being, be authorized to Deed to Ephraim Morgan
of Troy in the State of New York and his Heirs and Assigns,
so much Land from off the S. E. Corner of S. side of the Plot
of Land, on which the Meeting House now stands, as will com
pensate him or them for the Land wiiich now lies in Common
or Highway, which belonged to the said Morgan s House lot,
now occupied by Hiram Hopkins and take a Deed to the Town
of Pittsford of the Common Land from the said Morgan s Lot,
and agreeable to the former contract made between the Town
and the prior owner of sd Lot."
" Voted to raise a Tax of three Mills on a Dollar on the
Grand List for A. D. 1799, payable on the first day of June
next,"
" Voted to raise a Tax of one Cent on a Dollar on the
Grand List of A. D. 1800, payable in Rye, Wheat or Indian
Corn on the first day of January next."
332 HISTORY OF PITT8FOED.
"Tuesday, March 25, 1800.
Voted that the Selectmen be allowed to grant liberty to any
number of Individuals of sd Town, to build a Horse Shed or
Sheds on the Town s Land, near the Meeting House for his cwr
their own use."
" Tuesday, September 2, 1800.
Voted to Establish a Survey of a Road as a Town Road
laid by the present Selectmen from Mr. Penfield s, by Jenner s
Mill to Andrew Leach s tavern."
"March 3, 1801.
Voted that Swine be allowed to run at large well yoked
and ringed, the Pound Keeper to be the Judge of the suffi
ciency of said Yokes and Rings."
" Voted that there be a Committee of three to make arrange
ments for a squirrel hunt this spring and report to this or our
next adjourned meeting. Chose Caleb Hendee, Jr., Caleb
Cooley and Ebenezer Hopkins for said Committee."
" Voted to raise a Town tax of one Cent and five Mills on
the Dollar to be assessed on the Grand List of A. D. 1801."
" Here follows a list of the persons names who were admit
ted by the Selectmen to the privileges of freemen and were
duly sworn as the Law directs at the aforesaid meeting, viz.:
Elisha Rich, Jr., Samuel Lucas, Edward Clifford, Paul Lucas,
Timothy Taft, Eleazer Harwood, Jr., Calvin Conant, Heman
Johnson, Joab Powers, William Allen, Jr., Jonathan Warner,
Jr., Nathaniel Quincy, Gordon Newell, Joseph Johnson, James
Hicock, Isaac Ma tson, Hiram Baxter, Thomas Joy, Hiram
Phillips, Howard Lathrop, Peter Bresee, Jr., Isaac Clark,
Calvin Wilder, Amos Churchill.
Attest, CALEB HENDEE, T. Clerk."
"March 2, 1802.
Voted to give a bounty of the Town s money of ten dol
lars, for each grown Wolf that shall be caught in the Town of
EXTRACT FROM RECORDS. 333
Pittsford, or pursued out of sd Town and caught by any Inhab
itant or Inhabitants of sd town, and five dollars for each young
Wolf caught as aforesaid.
On application to the Town to advance money to repair the
bridge over Otter Creek near Tilly Walker s ; It was voted that
the Selectmen be, and they are hereby authorized on a view
and examination of the premises, to use their discretion as it
respects advancing money for the repairs thereof."
At Freemen s meeting Sept. 7, 1802, " the following per
sons were duly admitted and sworn as Freemen, viz. : Nathan
Jenner, Nathan D. Wright, Asa Blackmer, Richard Bristol,
Thomas Winslow and John Kimball, all Inhabitants of Pittsford.
Attest, CALEB HENDEE, T. Clerk."
"September 7, 1802.
Voted to raise a Town Tax of one Cent on a Dollar, to be
assessed on the present year s list and made payable in Grain,
on the first day of January next."
March 8, 1803.
Yoted to Build a Bridge over Otter Creek, near Mr. Matt-
son s Land within a year from this time."
"Sept. 6, 1803.
List of Freemen sworn at the foregoing Meeting to wit ;
William Allen, Abel Wright, Jr., Daniel Pierce, Lot Hudson,
Oliver C. Bogue, Elijah Brown, 3d, Simeon Parmelee, Jr.,
Ebenezer Titus, Jr., Robert Hoore, Union Keith and Samuel
Buel.
feworn by CALEB HENDEE, T. Clerk."
" September 6, 1803.
Yoted to raise one Cent 2 Mill on the Dollar of the Grand
List of the year 1803, payable in Money the 5th day of
December next. Yoted that the Selectmen have leave to set
334 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
up the Inoculation of the small-pox, to continue until the first
of May next under the proper restrictions of the Law, in such
cases provided."
" September 8, 1804.
Voted that the Selectmen be and they are hereby authorized
to appropriate Seven Dollars of the Town s Money towards
repairing the Bridge over Otter Creek, near Tilly Walker s,
Providing that Neighborhood or others complete the remainder
of sd repairs."
"Tuesday, September 3, 1805.
List of persons admitted to take the Freeman s oath, to wit :
Abraham Bresee, Chauncy Fenn, Ezra Mead, Ira Ladd, John
Gillett, Elias Plumb, Elisha Drury, Elias S. Mead and Jesse
Wheeler.
Sworn before me, CALEB HENDEE, JR., T. Clerk."
"March 26, 1806.
List of Freemen admitted and sworn at the above Free
men s Meeting, viz : Israel Elsworth, Thomas Spencer, Solomon
Hendee, Bradley Squire, Allen Cobb and Isaac Eowley.
September 2, 1806.
List of persons admitted and qualified as freemen as the
Law directs, to wit : Reuben Wicker, William Ripley, Ozias
Osborn, Nathan Wadsworth, Dan Dike, Elisha Woodruff, Jr.,
John Parsons, Elisha Hall, Samuel Fairfield, Jr., Chester
Leonard, Allen Penfield, David Mauley, Sardius Manley, The-
ophilus L. Howe, Justine Darling, John Munson, Orin Polley,
Isaac Gillett, Elisha Cox, Ashbel Parmelee, Ebenezer A.
Walker, Timothy Taft, Jr., Eli Gitchell and Thomas Wylbys.
Sworn,
Before me,
CALEB HENDEE, JR., Justice Peace."
Wolves committed such ravages among the sheep at this
EXTRACT FROM RECORDS. 335
period, that a public meeting, composed of men from this and
the adjoining towns, was held at Kendall s hotel in Pittsford,
the 16th of January, 180T, " for entering into measures for the
destruction of wolves. The following is copied from the record
of the " Proceedings of this General Conference :"
1st. Made choice of Gen. Amos Kellogg, Chairman.
2d. Chose Caleb Hendee, Jr., Clerk.
3d. Yoted to recommend to the Inhabitants of the Towns
of Rutland, Pittsford, Brandon, Philadelphia, Chittenden and
Medway, to raise a bounty of twenty dollars in addition to the
State bounty* for each grown Wolf that shall within the period
hereafter named, be killed within the limits of either of the
aforesaid Towns, or upon a fresh pursuit from within the same,
to any other place and there killed, shall be entitled to the
same Bounty, the person killing any Wolf in either of the
cases aforesaid to give sufficient Evidence to the satisfaction of
the Majority of the Selectmen of the Tow T n in which the Wolf
shall be killed, or pursued from, upon examination upon oath
or otherwise.
4th. Yoted that each Town shall pay their equal proportion
of the aforesaid Bounty, according to the Grand List of the
Respective Towns for the year A. D. 1806.
5th. Yoted that the Period in which the wolves shall be
killed to entitle the person killing to the aforesaid Bounty,
shall be from the 16th day of January instant, until the first
day of May next both days included.
6th. That from the first day of May until the first day of
January next, the Bounty shall be ten Dollars in addition to
the State Bounty, for each grown Wolf taken within the limits
of either of the aforesaid Towns, the evidence given and money
apportioned in the manner aforesaid.
7th. Yoted that the several Towns make a return of the
* By a statute law of 1779, twenty dollars was to be paid by the State for every
full grown wolf killed, and ten dollars for every wolf s whelp killed.
336 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
proceedings of the same to the Chairman and Clerk of this
meeting at tliis place on the 5th day of February next.
8th. Yoted to adjourn this meeting without day.
Done at Pittsford this 16th day of January, 1807.
Attest, AMOS KELLOGG, Chairman.
CALEB HENDEE, JK., Clerk."
Immediately after the adjournment of the aforesaid meet
ing, the selectmen of Pittsford issued a warrant for a town
meeting to be held on the 30th day of the same month, at
three o clock in the afternoon, to see if the inhabitants would
raise money by the Grand List or otherwise, to encourage
the destruction of wolves, and to transact any other busi
ness thought necessary and proper when met. At the time
appointed the meeting was organized by the choice of Adget
Lathrop, Moderator ; and the town then voted to accept the
recommendation of the General Conference for destroying
wolves. Also, "voted that the Selectmen be and they are
hereby authorized to pay out of the Treasury such a sum as
will be our proportion of the aforesaid additional bounty, with
those towns that may adopt the recommendations, under the
same regulations as therein specified, after deducting the share
of sd bounty that would fall to those towns that do not accept
the recommendations."
"March 3, 1807.
Yoted that the Selectmen purchase at the expense of the
town a Spade, Pick Ax and Pall Cloth. Yoted to allow Mr.
Tottingham four dollars for sweeping the Meeting House the
year past."
"At the Freemen s meeting September 1st, 1807, the follow
ing were admitted and qualified as freemen, viz : Danforth
"Wales, Joseph Durfy, Josiah Hopkins, Isiah Noyes, Samuel
Warner, Eli Stevens, Bela Rogers, Stephen Stark, John Lilly,
Daniel Keith, Phineas Woodruff, Edward Gibbs, Abraham
Thomas and Michael Fairfield."
EXTRACT FEOM RECORDS. 337
At Freemen s meeting, held on the first Tuesday of Sep
tember, 1808, the following persons were admitted as freemen
and sworn, viz : Nathan Gibbs, Abijah Tucker, Israel Brewster,
Lewis Phillips, Simeon Gilbert, William Barlow, Benjamin
Bachelder, John Miller, Daniel Sherman, Benjamin Salisbury,
Luke Osgood, Josiah Wicker, Nathan Gibbs, Jr., Isaac Leonard,
Stephen Jenner, Jr., Charles Lamb, Joseph Tottingham, Sam
uel Riggs, Ephraim Farrar, Abner Jackson, Thomas Walker,
Otis Clapp, Ezekiel Bebee, Beriah Grundy, Jr., Mace Lincoln,
Solomon Thayer, Samuel Gould, Samuel Merriam, Peter
Thomas, William Beals, Lyman B. Walker, Ephraim Dunlap,
Jacob Thayer, James Lamb, Cornelius Bresee, Lewis Barlow,
Homer Potter, Scotland Keith, Cornelius Gibbs, Samuel Row
ley, Jonathan Dike, Jeremiah F. Wood, Peter Morgan, David
Hendee and John Foster."
In February, 1809, occurred one of those exciting wolf
hunts which occasionally took place in the early history of the
town. One bright moon-light night, Adget Lothrop heard an
unusual noise in his sheepfold. Hurrying out to ascertain the
cause of such disturbance, he discovered among his sheep two
wolves, which had already killed some eight or nine of the
flock. After frightening away the wolves, he called up his
boys and sent them to almost every house in the town to notify
the people to assemble early in the morning for a general wolf
hunt. The call was promptly responded to, and by day-light
in the morning, people from all directions began to assemble at
Mr. Lothrop s.
After the wolves had been driven from the sheepfold, they
went directly to the Creek which they followed northward upon
the ice. The snow was deep, and as the wind had blown it off
from the ice, the Creek afforded a much easier path than the
banks did. When they had reached a point opposite Elder
Harrington s, they were discovered by William Harrington, the
Elder s eldest son, who had risen at a very early hour, and was
23
338 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
at a barn on the bank of the Creek, feeding some cattle. With
pitchfork in hand he turned them and drove them back, south
ward. When they were a little above the Mead r.oad, finding
their retreat in that direction cut off, they left the Creek and
went into the swamp on the west side, then mostly owned by
Peter Rice. This was soon surrounded by the hunters, but as
they began to close in upon the beasts, both escaped through
the ring and fled to the highland, southward, near the residence
of Tilly Walker. The hunters were not long in encircling this
highland, but again the wolves escaped, crossed the Creek and
went into the swamp near the foot of Sutherland Falls. By this
time the number of hunters had so increased that this swamp
was enclosed by a very strong force. As the encircling ring
closed in, the wolves were driven upon the ice just at the foot
of the Falls, and there they were shot, one by Ezra Spencer,
and the other by a marksman standing in Sutherland s saw
mill, but whose name is not now remembered.
After the wolves had been killed, the retreat was sounded
and the hunters re-assembled in the road, not far from the pres
ent residence of Mr. Patch, where Gen. Caleb Hendee, who
was one of their number, took a list of their names, in order
to make a just distribution of the bounty money. This list of
names as taken by Gen. Hendee may be seen in the Appendix
of this book. After their names had been taken, the most of
them, some in sleighs and others on foot, went to Merriam s
store in the Village, where liquor was served out to their satis
faction. It was a time of general hilarity with them ; and it
w T ould not be strange if some of them made crooked tracks as
they departed for their homes.
JOHN HALL SAMUEL WARNER. 339
CHAPTER IX.
Immigrants and their Locations continued j Extracts from
the Records; The Great Flood. 18101820.
John Hall was of English descent. His father, whose
name was also John, married and located in Canaan, Conn.,
where he resided till a short time Jbefore the Revolutionary
war, when he removed to Castleton, Yt., and located a short
distance east of the village, where the Hubbardton road inter
sects the road leading from Eutland to Castleton. He was
mortally wounded in a fight with a detachment of Burgoyne s
army near his own house, on Sunday, immmediately after the
battle of Hubbardton ; and during the few days he survived
he was brutally treated by the Tories. His children Elias,
John, Royal, Ira, Samuel, Harvey, Mercy, Mary and Olive
with one or two exceptions, were born in Canaan. Elias
located in Castleton. He was a lieutenant in the Revolutionary
war, and served with distinction. John, born July 3, 1747,
married Mary Stevens, of Canaan, and resided a short time in
his native town. While the Revolutionary war was in pro
gress he entered the army and served a short time as orderly
sergeant. After its close he returned to Canaan. About the
year 1810, he removed to Pittsford and resided a short time on
a part of the Matson farm, now owned by I. C. Wheaton,
though he never owned real estate here. From this town he
removed to Chittenden, and from thence to Luzerne, Warren
County, K. Y., where he died about the year 1842. His wife
died at the same place.
Samuel Warner, son of Eleazer, born May 24-, 1785, mar
ried Mercy, daughter of Nathan Smith, of Granby, March 15,
34:0 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
1810, and located on the farm now owned by the heirs of
Douglas Bates. This farm was first improved by John Titus,
who resided some years in a log house which stood a little
north of the present house. Mr. Titus sold this farm to
Eleazer Warner, who deeded it to his son Samuel. The latter
resided on it till 1835, when he sold it, and has since resided
with his children. From his youth he was blessed with a good
constitution, and he is still quite vigorous. Mrs. Warner died
May 31, 1864.
Allen Penfield, son of John, was born in New Fairfield
now Sherman Conn., <uly, 3, 1785. He married Anna,
daughter of Thomas Hammond, December 27, 1810, and took
his father s place in the hotel now the residence of William
B. Shaw. The following year his father built the house now
owned by John Stevens, and in that he resided till his death.
Allen continued to manage the hotel till 18^8, when he sold it
to German Hammond and removed to Crown Point. He has
been an active, energetic man, prompt and reliable in his busi
ness transactions. He has now retired with an ample fortune,
and resides with a daughter, Mrs. Dr. Nichols, at Burlington.
Mrs. Penfield, died at Crown Point, K Y., in 1859.
Eli Mead, son of John, married Sally, daughter of Walter
Houghton, September 16, 1810. He and his younger brother
assumed the care of the home farm where they spent a few
years and then moved to the West.
We know but little of Josiah Parsons. He purchased of
Walter Houghton* the farm now owned by Warren Chafee,
and he and his son Arza resided there till about the year 1830,
when Abel Penfield bought the farm, and they removed from
the town.
Eli Stevens, son of Daniel, married Philecta Wheeler in
1810, and located on the small place next east of the farm of
*Mr. Houghton made the first improvements on that farm.
NATHAN HAWLEY OLIVER WOLCOTT SAMUEL HENDEE. 341
Abel Morgan and resided there four years. In 1821, he bought
the farm which was once the property of Eoger Stevens, Jr.,
and confiscated in consequence of his treasonable conduct. He
removed to Cornwall in 1839, and died there in 1859.
Nathan Hawley bought of Elisha Woodruff two and one-
half acres of land including the north saw-mill, June 29, 1807.
He was then living in Philadelphia, Vt. On the 24th of Octo
ber, 1809, he bought of John Merriam* the Dr. Abiathar
Millard place, and the following winter removed his family to
this town. He died in the house now owned by Miss Achsah
Leach, June 7, 1849, aged eighty years. Mrs. Hawley died in
Brandon, April 23, 1851, aged eighty-six years.
Oliver Wolcott, son of Oliver, was born in Massachusetts,
Jan. 16, 1761. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war,
married Lydia Haynes, of Natick, Mass., Feb. 24, 1792, and
resided in that State till 1810, when he leased, of the Select
men of Pittsford, fifty acres of the school right which had been
pitched on the hill west of the present residence of Rut us
Thomas. He resided some time in a log house, some one hun
dred rods southwest of the house now owned by Mr. Thomas.
He afterwards resided on the Benjamin Stevens farm, and from
thence he removed to the Owens farm, now owned by Orlin
Smith, where he died, August 10, 1845. Mrs. Lydia Wolcott
died November 6, 1844.
Samuel Hendee, born April 23, 1791, son of Caleb Hendee,
Sen., married Abigail Paine, of Leicester, Dec. 2, 1810, and
located on the home farm with his parents. He is an industri
ous, quiet, faithful man, and is one of the deacons in the
Baptist church, as was also his father. He has never left the
farm which lie inherited from his father, and this is one of the
few instances in which a farm is still owned and occupied by
the posterity of an original settler.
* Merriam bought this place of Dr. Millard in the spring- of 1808.
34:2 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
Reuben Mead, the youngest son of John, married Sophia
Howe, December 22, 1811, and located on the home farm with
his parents. On the 30th of November, 1813, his father
deeded him thirty-seven acres of the homestead. He and his
brother Eli resided on the farm till after the death of their
parents and then left the town.
Elisha Adams, Jr., son of Elisha, married Stella, daughter
of Oliver Bogue, in 1811, and after residing a few months
with his father-in-law, moved to Malone, N. Y., where he
remained four years ; thence he removed to Norfolk, where
Mrs. Adams died in 1826. Mr. Adams died in Canada about
the year 1850.
Solomon Hendee, son of Deacon Caleb, was born October
30, 1784, and resided with his parents till he married Lois
Paine, of Leicester, January 21, 1811. His father as early as
the 23d of March, 1806, gave him one hundred and sixty acres
of land which included the farm now owned by his son-in-law,
Roswell Woodcock. He commenced improvements on it soon
after, and built a log house where the small cottage now stands,
a few rods back of the stone house. After his marriage he
occupied that house till he built the stone house in 1828. Mr,
Hendee died July 16, 1863. Mrs. Hendee died in 1870.
Elijah ] Brown, 3d, son of Elijah, Jr., was born in Rut
land, April 15, 1782, about two years before his parents
removed to Pittsford. He became a tanner and currier, and
on the 3d of September, 1805, bought of Andrew Prindle
one-half of the Nelson tannery, and November 11, 1808, he
bought of Elias Plumb the other half of it. On the 9th of
December, 1811, he married Mary Williams who was born in
Rutland, July 22, 1792. He and his brother, Samuel A. r
carried on business together till 1827, when Elijah sold his
interest in the tannery to his brother and bought the Webster
tavern. He kept a public house till 1839,- when he sold his
location to Michael Sanders and afterwards was cnaged in man-
EZRA SPENCER CONSIDER BOWEN JACOB SHELDON. 343
ganese operations in Chittenden. lie was accidentally killed
on the railroad in Providence, IJ. I, Jan. 20, 1860. Mrs.
Brown died in Cliittenden, Feb. 18, 1847.
Ezra Spencer, son of William, born in 1790, married
Nancy Snell in January, 1811, and after residing two years on
the Cox farm, moved to Pennsylvania. His wife died in the
spring of 1813. He returned to Pittsford and was one of the
Plattsburgh volunteers in 1814. He married Mary Whitney
in January, 1815, and again moved to Pennsylvania. He
returned to Pittsford in 1819, and purchased of William Allen
the Simeon Clifford farm, upon which he located and resided
till 1843, when he purchased of Edward Lowth the Purely
farm now D. J. Griffith s. He purchased the Gibbs place in
Hitchcockville, in 1865, and this has since been his residence.
Consider Bo wen located in this town in 1811. He was
born in Rehoboth, Mass., in 1753, and in early life he went to
Providence, R. I., where he served an apprenticeship with a
carriage-maker. He was in the American army during the
Revolutionary war, was in the battles of Trenton and Prince
ton, and was with the army in most of its operations on the
Hudson. After the close of the war he worked at his trade in
Hartford, Conn., where he married, about the year 1788, Sabra
Hosmer, who was born in 1760. After residing in Hartford
some fifteen years he removed to that part of Cliittenden, Yt.,
known as New Boston. On the 14th of October, 1811, he
bought of Allen Bowen, the easterly part of the Woodward
farm. Allen Bowen had purchased this of his father, Simeon
Bowen, who had purchased it of John, son of Joshua Wood
ward, March 2, 1807. Mr. Consider Bowen died on this farm
in 1834, Mrs. Bowen died in 1854.
Jacob Sheldon was a descendant of William, who with
three brothers, Abraham, Ephraim and Nathaniel, settled in
Reading, Mass., in the early period of its history. William
344 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
had two sons, Samuel and William ; the latter was killed in
the French war by the Indians. Samuel married and resided
a few years in Reading, and then removed to Wilton, N. EL
His wife s maiden name w r as Wellrnan. They had five sons
and three daughters. Their sons were Jacob, Samuel, William,
Michael and Uzziel ; their daughters, Sarah, Tamar and Ziba.
Jacob, born December 8, 1763, married Dorothy Lovejoy, in
1792, and located in Nelson, N. II. There lie resided a few
years and then removed to Andover, Yt. They had four sons,
Jacob, John, Joel and Joseph ; and two daughters, Sarah and
Dorothy. Jacob, the eldest, born at Nelson, May 19, 1794,
married Joanna, daughter of Nathan Hawley of Fittsford, and
located in the house now owned by Mrs. Elizabeth Bogue. He
was a blacksmith by trade, and worked in the shop which, at
that time, stood on ground now forming C. A. Hitchcock s
garden, west of his house. Mr. Sheldon s wife Joanna died,
and he married Louisa Tinkhain, a native of Greenwich, Mass.,
October 20, 1822. After the death of Mr. Hawley, about the
year 1848, he purchased of his heirs the place now owned by
C. A. Hitchcock and resided there till his death, August 5,
1851. Mrs. Louisa Sheldon died August 7, 1859.
John Hawkins married Persis Hitchcock, March 1, 1812,
and located in the old house which has been mentioned as once
the residence of Joshua Woodward. This he had purchased
of Joshua Brooks of Salisbury, March 5, 1811. He changed
his residence several times, but died in this town.
Thohias Burditt, son of Thomas, of Lynn, Mass., was born
at that place in February, 1781, and in January, 1812, married
Susan, daughter of Reuben and Elizabeth Weston of Maiden.
He located in Pittsford, and bought one hundred acres of land
lying south, or a little southwest, of the farm now owned by
Marshall Thomas. There he built a frame house in which he
resided eleven years. He then bought the farm upon which he
PETER MC COLLUM- E. MERRIAM JONA. TILSON. 34:5
afterwards lived and died. He cleared the most of the culti
vated land on that farm and built the house and barn that are
on it. He died February 16, 1860.
Peter McCollum married Nancy Par km an, December 2,
1813. Just before his marriage lie had built a house on land
then owned by Israel Lake. This house stood a few rods east
of the present residence of D. J. Griffith, and McCollum
resided there some years before he became a landholder ; but
on the 9th of November, 1826, he purchased of Israel Lake a
piece of land bounded south by land of Elijah Adams ; west
by the road leading from said Adams to the school house ; and
north by the Johnson farm now Alexander Parmelee s. The
same deed included the house in which he then resided. That
house has been twice moved, and is now the first house north
of Nathaniel Willis , on the west side of the road. McCollum
left the town about the year 1843.
Ebenezer Merriam married Polly, daughter of Ozem Strong,
Aug. 2, 1813, and resided for a time in what was known as the
" gambrel-roof house," which stood where Mr. Kandall s brick
house now T stands. He was employed as clerk for his brother
John, in the store, for about four years, and then moved to the
State of Virginia.
Jonathan Tilson, a cabinet-maker by occupation, was born
in New Braintree, Mass., May 17, 1786. He came to Pitts-
ford in the winter of 1812, and bought of Chester Leonard the
place where he afterwards lived and died. The deed of this
purchase was dated February 25th. February 8, 1813, he
married Charlotte Wood, who died March, 5, 1814. Mr.
Tilson married Almira Simmons, of Easton, Mass., Nov. 10,
1815. He died March 13, 1858. Mrs. Tilson resides on the
homestead and is an invalid.
Stephen Powers, born September 4, 1791, son of Peter,
married Diadama, daughter of Zebulon Pond, Sen., January
27, 1814, and located with his parents on the farm now owned
34:6 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
by George N. Eayres. He changed locations several times
during Ins life, residing at one time in the first house* east of
the present residence of Mrs. Mary G. Hendee, the one recently
repaired and now owned by Chester Granger. His wife
Diadama died in 1843, and lie afterwards married again, but
eventually went to reside with his son-in-law, Joel Thomas, and
died there Sept. 3, 1862.
John Barnes, son of John, "born September 10, 1787, mar
ried September 14, 1814, Electa Dimickf who was born August
25, 1793. He resided for a time in the Swings tavern which
his father had purchased. The next spring, March 30, 1815,
his father deeded one undivided half of the same to him and
his brother Jeffrey. John, Jr., bought of Jirah Barlow the
Tupper farm February 28, 1825, and at once removed there
with his famity. Mr. Barnes was a soldier in the war of
1812-14, and for a time held the rank of orderly sergeant.
He died December 1, 1850, and his son, John Randolph, now
owns and occupies the paternal homestead.
Asher Burditt w r as a native of Gilsum, !N". H. His father,
Ebenezer, born in Lancaster, Mass., in 1761, spent his early life
on a farm. At the commencement of the Revolutionary war,
he and another brother enlisted in the service of their country,
and were attached to a privateer which put to sea and soon
captured a British ship that had been preying upon American
commerce. The trophy of their victory, however, was lost, for
as they were about to board the vessel her magazine exploded
and she soon disappeared forever, with all but twelve of her
crew. After the close of the war the two brothers returned to
Lancaster. Asher married Ruth Loveland of Gilsnm, N. PL,
in 1785, and settled in that town. Their children were Ebe
nezer, Asher, Abel, Israel, Amasa, David, Gilman, Ruth, Mary
* This house was formerly John and Henry Simoncls store, and stood on the
ground now occupied by the brick store in the village.
t Daughter of John Dimick, formerly of Sullivan, N. H.
LUKE DEAN CAPEN LEONARD.. 347
and Charlotte. Asher, born March 31, 1788, married Melinda
Davis, of Chester, Yt., March 24, 1814. The following year
he came to Pittsford and located on the farm now owned by
his son Ransom. He had purchased fifty acres, a part of the
first-division lot of the right of Alexander Scott, November 17,
1814. This included the most of the land in that farm lying
on the west side of the road, and Mr. Bnrditt occupied the
house which stood on the same ground where once stood the
log cabin of Samuel Crippen. On the llth of May, 1826,
Mr. Burditt bought of Jason Harwood thirty-three acres on
the east side of the road, including the house now occupied by
Austin Chingreau, and which had been built by Mr. Harwood.
Mr. Burditt resided in this house till 1846, when he bought of
Harris Bogue the farm now owned by his son, Franklin
Burditt, and there he resided till his death, October 22, 1855.
He was twice married; his wife Melinda having died Feb. 21,
1832, lie married Mrs. Damaris C. Deming, daughter of Oliver
Eogue, in 1834.
Luke Dean, son of James, married Mary Thomas, January
12, 1815. lie located on the farm north of and adjoining
Enos Bailey s farm, the place that Nathaniel Willis recently
bought of Augustus Bailey. Mr. Dean occupied an old house
that formerly stood where the present house stands.
Capen Leonard, son of Jacob, was born in Easton, Mass.,
in 1782, and in 1802 he married Mehitable Forbes who was
born in Bridgewater in 1778. They located in Chittenden,
Yt., but removed to Pittsford in 1815, and settled on the farm
first improved by Chapman Hitchcock now the Alexander
place. They afterwards resided on the Blair place at Mill
Yillage, but returned to the Alexander place, where Mr. Leon
ard died, December 10, 1845. Mrs. Leonard died May 21,
1863.
Asa Moon, son of Jesse, married Tamar Salisbury, Octo-
34:8 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
L .
ber 31, 1816, and resided about one year with his father-in-
law, Benjamin Salisbury, and then moved to the West.
Andrew Sutherland, born in 1776, son of Peter Suther
land, of Rutland, married Naomi, daughter of Col. Benjamin
Cooley, January 6, 1807, and located with his parents at Suth
erland s Falls. After the death of Col. Cooley his estate was
divided among his heirs. Mrs. Sutherland inherited a part of
her father s property, and in January, 1816, her husband
bought of "Noah Beach and his wife Eunice" another
daughter of Col. Cooley their interest in the estate, and then
moved on to the Cooley farm in this town. But in the fall of
the same year they sold all of their real estate in Pittsford to
Asher Burditt, Jason Harwood, R. M. Powers, and Harris and
Alexander Bogue, and the following spring moved to the west
ern part of the State of New York.
James D. Butler, born July 25, 1795, son of Anthony,
married, Oct. 6, 1816, Rispah, daughter of Samuel Morgan,
and soon after located on the farm witli his father-in-law. Mr.
Butler has continued to occupy and improve that farm.
Ebenezer Conant, born June 5, 1777, married Fanny,*
daughter of Edward Clifford, and located in Brandon. In
1816, he purchased of Elisha Cox the farm which had been
the homestead of his deceased father, William Cox. Mr
Conant removed his family here this year, and soon after built
the stone house now the residence of Junia Sargent and
made other improvements on the farm. He removed from the
town in 1833, and for some years has resided in Geneva, 111.
Charles Gr. Boardman is a descendant of Timothy, who
was born in Weathersfield, Conn., December 2, 1727, and on
the 14th day of November, 1750, married Jemima Johnson,
who was born in the month of August, 1732. They located
* Bom February, 1780.
DANIEL HALL LYMAN HITCHCOCK. 349
in Middletown, where were born to them the following chil
dren, viz.: Timothy, Oliver, Mary, Elisha, Betsey, Joseph,
Sarah and William. Timothy, the father, died in 1792 ;
Jemima, the mother, in 1798. Timothy, the eldest son, born.
Jan. 20, 1754, married, Sept, 28, 1783, Mary Ward who was
born October 21, 1753. They located in West Eutland, Yt,
and had the following children, viz.: Hannah, Timothy, Mary,
Samuel W., Elijah, Charles G. and Betsey. The mother died
in West Rutland in December 1836; the father died in Middle-
bury, April 3, 1839. Charles G. the sixth child, married
Submit Watkins, of Rutland, and located on the Abraham
Drury farm in Pittsford now owned by Frank B. Barnes.
This farm, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, had been
purchased by his father, April 24, 1816, and now, 1817, he
(Charles G.) took possession of it and kept a public house. He
was assisted, however, by his older brother, Samuel W., who
shared with him the profits. On the 5th of March, 1823,
Timothy Boardman deeded to his son, Charles G., the tavern-
stand and sixteen acres of land, and to his son Samuel W.,
eighty -four acres of the north part of the Drury farm. Charles
G. kept the hotel till 1837, when he sold it to Nehemiah
Barnes and removed to Rutland, where he now resides.
David Hall, Jr., son of John, of Newport, N. H., was a
stone-cutter by occupation, having learned his trade of his
cousin, John Hall, <tf Sudbury. On the 10th of March, 1817,
he married his cousin Abigail, daughter of David Hall, Sen.,
of Pittsford, and resided a short time in Brandon, and also in
Sudbury, from which town he came to Pitrsford and occupied
the house built by Dr. Frisbie, then standing on land now
owned by Bradley Burditt. He removed to London, Michi
gan, about the year 1830.
Lyman Hitchcock, eldest son of Remembrance, was born
in 1796, married Parthena Weed, in December, 1817, and
located with his parents on the farm now owned by George K.
350 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
Eayres. He resided a few years in Rutland, but the most of
his married life was spent in Chittenden. He died while on a
visit at the residence of Henry Merrill in Pittsford, in January,
1846.
Enos Bailey, son of Enos, married .Relief Johnson, Janu
ary 1, 1818, and resided a few years with his parents on the
farm now owned by H. C. Stetson. The first improvements
on that farm were made by Enos Bailey, Sen., and the house
was built by him about the year 1806. His son Enos resided
there but a limited period after his marriage.
Jabez Luther, from Rhode Island, came here in 1818, and
resided a short time on the Daniel Stevens farm. He had had
one arm amputated just above the elbow, and the other at the
wrist ; nevertheless he could do almost any kind of work ; and
the feats he performed were subjects of general remark. He
changed his residence quite often while a citizen of the town,
and removed to Dorset in 1830.
Timothy Lester, a blacksmith, from Hartford, Yt., came
here in 1818, and bought of Amasa Weed the farm* now
O
owned by Amos C. Kellogg. He built the brick house in
1831, and made other improvements on that farm which he
sold to Samuel II. and Amos C. Kellogg in 1837, and removed
from the town. He returned to this town and resided some
four years in the house recently owned by Parker Kemp, then
removed to the West.
Ansel Burr, son of Rufus and Lydia Burr, was born in
Massachusetts, May 2, 1796, married Esther - - in 1818,
and located on the farm now owned by Harvey Jackson. Both
died in this town , Mr. Burr, Feb. 3, 1871 ; Mrs. Burr, some
years earlier.
Nathaniel K. Andrews,! son of Kellogg, married Eunice,
daughter of John Barnes, January 3, 1819. He resided a
* The John Hitchcock farm,
t Bum iu 1794.
JUNIA SARGENT. 351
short time on the place formerly owned by James Hopkins,
then bought the farm now owned by Charles Stiles, and after
residing there about one year, he exchanged farms with his
brother-in-law, Nehemiah Barnes, who had purchased the David
Hall farm, now owned by Alexander Parmelee. After residing
on the latter place a short time he purchased of Jonathan Dike
what is now the town farm, and there he resided till his death,
June 8, 1855.
Junia Sargent was the son of Timothy C., who was born at
sea, on the voyage from England to America, in 1751, and
whose early life was spent in Williamstown, Mass. In 1770,
he married Ann Horton, of Londonderry, Yt., who was born
in 1755, and they located in that town. At the commence
ment of the Revolutionary war Mr. Sargent enlisted in the
army, and as he enlisted from Williamstown it is quite likely
that he had returned to that town before enlisting. But he
had had a little military experience before enlisting in the regu
lar service, and probably before he removed from Londonderry,
as it is known that he went with Allen to Ticonderoga and wit
nessed the capture of that fortress in 1775. After entering
the regular army he was stationed some time at Fort Edward,
shared in most of the military movements in the vicinity of
North River, was one of the number detailed to escort Andre
from prison to the place of execution, and after serving through
the war was honorably discharged, and returned to his family.
He had five sons, Timothy, Enoch, Ephraim, Junia and Ira ;
and five daughters, Alice, Lucinda, Nancy, Jerusha and Eunice.
Junia, the fourth son, born in Londonderry, July 5, 1788,
married, February 17, 1806, Sally, daughter of Thomas Clark,
of Fitzwilliam, N. H., and located in Rutland, Vt. In 1819,
he came to Pittsford and located on the Rood farm now owned
by D. A. and J. Richardson. In 1821, he removed to the
Caleb Hendee farm where he resided two years, and after
changing his residence several times in this town, bought a
352 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
farm in Hubbardton, whither he removed and resided six or
seven years, and then returned to this town and spent the
remainder of his life with his son Leonard. He died May 20,
1869.* Mrs. Sally Sargent died April 12, 1863.
Job Winslow, brother of Thomas, married Lucy, daughter
of William Spencer, in 1819, and located on the south part of
the Rice farm. He had, as early as the 28th of January,
1809, bought of Peter Rice (who had married his widowed
mother) fifteeen acres from the south part of his farm, and
soon after built the housef which, after his marriage, he occu
pied till his death, in 1828. Mrs. Winslow died in 1824.
Henry Simonds located here in 1819. He was a descend
ant of William Simonds who settled in Woburn, Mass., about
1644, near a place still known by the name of Dry Brook. He
(William) married, Jan. 18, 1643, Judith Hay ward, widow of
James Hayward, who had married her, when Judith Phippen,
a fell-passenger and a fellow-servant, on board the " Planter,"
from London, 1635. The house Simonds built and occupied
in Woburn was used as a fort during the Indian wars. He
was one of the proprietors of that town and became a consid
erable landholder. He w r as denominated a planter. He served,
as most of the men of that clay did, in the current military
movements. He was admitted a freeman in 1670, and died
the same year. His widow survived him twenty years, and
died January 5, 1690. They had eleven children. Caleb, the
eldest son, born- Aug. 26, 1649, married, Sept., 1677, Sarah
Bacon. To them were born 1st, Samuel, June 60,1678 ; 2d,
James, January 15, 1683; 3d, Sarah, Nov. 11, 1687. Caleb
Simonds died Nov. 4, 1712. Wid. Sarah Simonds died April
12, 1727. James, by his wife Lydia, had James, Caleb, Sarah,
Lydia, Abigail and Susanna. James Simonds, the eldest son
* He had resided :\bou*. two years on the Benjamin Stevens farm, now owned by
R. and E. Hendee, and while there his ared father went to live with him, and died
there in 1827. His wife, Ann, died in Hubbardton in 18:39.
t This was the house now standing- about one hundred rods south of Ransom
Burditt s.
JOHN AND HENEY SIMONDS. 353
of James and Lydia Simonds, was born April 22, 1714, and
married Ann Convers about August, 1745. To them were
born Anne, Jude, Esther, Hazael ("Asahel"), Ebenezer and
Keziah. Hazael, above mentioned, was born December 28,
1752, married Mary - - and settled in Charlestown, New
Hampshire. Their children were : Josiah, Henry, John,
Joseph, William, Hannah, Fanny, Esther and Caroline. Josiah
married and sattled in Whiting, Yt. Henry, born May 2,
1791, married Mary Jones, of Claremont, N. H. On the 17th
of November, 1819, in company with his brothers, Josiah of
Whiting, and John, he purchased of William Barnes, of Rut
land, the Merriam store* and the place now occupied by John
Leonard. The firm took the name of " J. Simonds & Co.,"
and after trading a short time, Henry and John bought Josiah s
interest in their Pittsford property and continued business under
the firm-name of " Simonds & Co." In 1826, they bought of
Whipple Spooner the place now owned by the heirs of Henry
Simonds and occupied by his widow. They lived in an old
house which, at that time, stood near where the horse-barn now
stands, and had a distillery a few rods southwest of the house.
Tn 1834, John sold his share of the property to his brother,
Henry, who continued the mercantile business. About the
year 1840, he built the house now on the premises, and sold
the old house which was removed to the lot now owned by
John Fleming, and was soon after burnt. Mr. Simonds was
married three times. His wife Mary died Aug. 25, 1825, and
he married, May, 1826, Sarah, daughter of Caleb Hendee ; she
died October 19, 1833, and he married, May 2, 1834, Betsey,
daughter of Martin Leach. Mr. Simonds died December 4,
1865.
The period from 1809 to 1820, is distinguished by no very
marked transaction in the civil affairs of the town, though
* This store was built by ElLslia Ladd.
24
354 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
every year brought with it some change, the necessity for which
was made apparent by experience.
The General Assembly at its session .in October, 1810,
passed an act making it the " duty of the selectmen of the
several towns in this state to assess a tax of one cent on a
dollar on the list of the polls and ratable estate of the inhab
itants of their respective towns for the purpose of schooling ;"
and a provision was made that, " any town at any meeting
warned for that purpose, may by vote direct the collection of
such tax in such articles of produce, as may be most advan
tageous to such towns. The Selectmen called a meeting of the
legal voters of Pittsford on the 31st day of December follow
ing, " To see if the Inhabitants will have a mind to vote to
pay the cent tax on the Dollar, assessed by an act of the Legis
lature at their Session at Montpelier in October last, in produce
agreeably to the provisions of said act." At this meeting the
town " voted to raise one half Cent or five Mills on the Dollar
of the list of the present year, payable in grain to be appro
priated for the support of schools, as provided in the act men
tioned in the warning." At this meeting the town also "voted
to appropriate twenty Dollars out of the Town s money for
the purpose of repairing the Bridge across Otter Greek near
Tilly Walker s."
At a special meeting held on the 28th of March, 1811, the
town " voted to admit the Small Pox in Town by Enoculation
next fall, to be under the direction of the Selectmen and
authority of sd Town."
At Freemen s Meeting on the first Tuesday of September,
1811, the following persons were admitted as freemen, viz. :
Daniel Tucker, Orin Strong, William House, Eli Mead, John
Blanden, John Hall, Francis Lsclare, Hiram Ives, William
Pearse, William Stevens, Joshua Ray, John Hudson, Azariah
THE GREAT FLOOD. 355
Cooley, Samuel Masters, George N. Gilbert, Daniel Lincoln,
Jr., and Ebenezer Smith.
About the llth of July, this year, occurred one of the
most remarkable floods that lias ever visited this section of the
country. It commenced early in the morning with a succes
sion of thunder showers. Towards noon the clouds gathered
blackness, the rain descended in torrents, and during the after
noon and following night it seemed as though " the fountains
of the great deep were broken up." The next morning the
rain ceased and the clouds cleared away; but the roads were
so washed in many places as to be impassable, and the streams
were overflowing their banks, spreading devastation and ruin
in every direction. Otter Creek rose to an unprecedented
Jieight, the waters overflowing the intervale to a vast extent on
either side. When at the highest pitch, they washed the door
sills of the house of Stephen Mead on the west side, and boats
were propelled on the line of the highway from Milton Potter s
to Mr. Mead s. The bridge near Mrs. Cooley s,* as well as
the "Walker and Hammond bridges on Otter Creek, were
swept away; but the Mead bridge was, by great exertions,
saved, though its structure was greatly damaged. When it
was perceived that this was seriously endangered, the neighbor
ing inhabitants turned out, and having taken up the planks,
piled heavy timbers upon the rails, so that the superincumbent
weight was sufficient to resist the force and uplifting power of
water.
In the midst of these operations, the following little episode
occurred : Several hours of hard labor had been passed in the
heat of the sun when the fatigued and thirsty men, conform
ably to the customs of the time, bethought themselves of a
potation stronger than water. But there was no liquor at
hand, nor could it be obtained at any point nearer than the
Village, and as there was no boat riear, how to obtain it was 3t
* The widow of Col. Benjamin Cooley.
356 HISTOKY OF PITTSFORD.
puzzling question. At length a courageous young man pro
posed to swim the Creek and obtain the liquor on condition
that others would pay the bill. The proposition was acceded
to, and our adventurous hero, stripping himself of all gar
ments except his shirt and pants, plunged into the flood and
gradually worked his way to the eastern shore, coming out at
Gen. Hendee s barn near the present depot. He then went to
Merriam s store, obtained a five gallon cask filled with rum,
and placing it upon his shoulders set out on his return. In
order to take advantage of the current, he proceeded south to
the farm owned by Adget Lathrop now D. K. Hall s and
there turned west and went upon the high point of land extend
ing out into the water as it was then and upon the western
extremity he procured a large plank, upon which he lashed hi$
cask, and committing it to the water he swam witli it abreast,
intending to come out near the workmen at the bridge. The
current was so strong, however, that he was carried several
rods below, where he came out safe upon terra firma amidst
the shouts of the multitude. This was a daring feat, and such
as few young men at the present day would be willing to
undertake. The young man who accomplished it was William
Stevens, son of Daniel, and grandson of Benjamin, Sen. We
may suppose that the workmen had a jovial time during the
remainder of the day.
At a special meeting called on the 3d of September the
town "voted to raise two cents on a Dollar on the list of 1811,
payable in Grain first of January, 1812, and two cents on a
Dollar on the list of 1812, payable in Grain first of January,
1813, to Rebuild and Repair the four large Bridges in sd Town
carried off by the late freshet and to defray other expenses.
"Voted that the Selectmen, with the addition of Adget Lathrop,
and Ashbel Lee, be a committee to superintend the Building
and Repairing the Bridges aforesaid. Voted that the Select
men be and they are hereby authorized to put up the Town
REPAIRS OF BRIDGES AND ROADS. 357
Poor to be kept at Public Auction to the best bidder."
At the annual meeting in March, 1812, the town "voted
that .the Selectmen be a Committee to hear and grant the
Bequest of Israel Brewster, Jr., Samuel Button, Zelotes
Andrews, Josiah Parsons, Ira Parsons, Nathaniel Anson,
Jason Ladd, Justus Powers, Artemas and Caleb Carpenter to
be exonerated from paying their proportion for building the
three Bridges over Otter Creek and the one over Mill River
by Widow Cooley s, where the old ones were carried oif by the
late freshet, on account of their building Bridges over East
Creek near where they live.
Yoted to Relinquish the Poll Tax of Christopher Bresee,
Jr., for the year 1811, on account of his being equipped in the
Militia as the law directs.
At the annual meeting of the 8th of March, 1814, the
town chose a committee consisting of the Selectmen Thomas
Hammond, Samuel Fairtield, Ebenezer Beach, Nathan Gibbs,
Samuel Smith and Oliver Bogue to explore and see what
alterations it is necessary to make in the road from Strong s
Tavern to John Penfield s, also from Holland Weeks to the
Mead Bridge, so called.
"At Freeman Meeting, September 5, 1815, the following
persons were admitted freemen by taking the prescribed oath,
viz. : Orin Ives, Francis Goodale, Aloy Churchill, Cyrus Chase,
Jacob Sheldon, Asa Moon, Levi Stratton, Oliver Wolcott, Jr.,
Horatio Walker, Azor Dickerman, Nathan H. Wescott, Ger
man Hammond, Jedediah Bugbee, John Gillitt, Jr., James
Wheelock, Robert L. Loveland, Theophilus Capen, Jr., John
Olds, Jr., George C. Ridle, Nathaniel K. Andrews, John
Dean, James Bowen, and Jonathan Tilson. Nathan Pratt
and Samuel H. Bottom, from a foreign government, were
admitted and took the oath of Allegiance to this State and to
support the Constitution of the United States as well as the
Freemen s oath."
358 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
At a meeting held December 11, 1815, "the Selectmen
having stated the debts and credits of the town, on motion,
voted to raise one Cent on the Dollar of the present year s
list, to be added to the Tax voted last March meeting, to defray
the necessary expenses of the town.
Yoted not to prosecute the Bail of Ozem Strong till after
next March Meeting.
Yoted that the Meeting House Bell be rung till next March
meeting on Sundays and Funeral Occasions at the expense of
the town."
The following is found upon the records of 1817 :
" Keceived of Peter Powers and Tilly Walker their
Notes to the amount of lour Hundred and twenty Six dollars
which is in fall of the demands of the Town of Pittsford for
Bonds entered for Ozem Strong, Constable, and the said Peter
and Tilly are hereby discharged from said Bonds in full.
Pittsford, December 1, 1817.
ISAAC WHEDON, ~1 Selectmen of
SAMUEL SMITH, J> the Town
ANDREW LEACH, J of Pittsford.
Received the above on Record December 2d, 1817.
Attest, CALEB HENDEE, JR., T. Clerk."
At Freemen s meeting, Sept. 1, 1818, the following persons
were admitted freemen and took the customary oath, viz. :
Elias Hay ward, Augustus Bailey, Jr., Levi F. Hay ward,
Recompence Wadsworth, Arba Bassett, Luther Wicker, Jr.,
John Yan Allen, Jr., John Cooley, Bradford Andrews, Daniel
Priest, Marquis D. F. Gibbs, Jeremiah Morse, Jr., John Sim-
son, Isaac K. Drury, Dexter Babbit, William Hunter, Graten
Jackson and Thomas Adams, Jr.
The most exciting event of this period was the second
war with Great Britain, commencing in June, 1812, and ter
minating with the ratification of the treaty of Ghent in Febru-
SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 359
ary, 1815. Although public sentiment in this State was divided
in respect to the policy pursued by the dominant party of the
country, yet when the national flag was insulted and the
national honor at stake, party feeling was laid aside and
the people, with great unanimity, rallied to the support of
the government. It is very much to be regretted that so much
of the necessary material for writing a full history of this war
should be inaccessible. None of the muster rolls of the
soldiers, with the exception of those of the Plattsburgh volun
teers are to be found in the archives of the State. Some years
since they were transferred to Washington, and all efforts to
recover them have, thus far, been unavailing. Consequently,
with the exception above mentioned, we are unable to give the
time of enlistment or term of service of the volunteers from
Pittsford, and as the most of these have passed away from the
earth, we can do little more than give a list of their names
with a few incidents in their military experience, as they are
found in the memories of their descendants. The following
list of the names of persons, known to have served for a longer
or shorter period in the regular army, has been gathered from
various sources, and though probably not complete, yet it is
as nearly so as we can make it without access to the origi
nal rolls :
John Axtell, Amherst Lee,
John Lampson.
John Barnes, Jr.,
Israel Burditt, Samuel Miller.
David L. Beebe,
Eufus Bur, Bildad Orcutt,
Enos Bailey, Jr., Amasa Owen.
John Betts,
E. M. Powers,
Elisha Cox, K. M. Powers, Jr.,
360 HISTORY CF PITTSFORD.
Samuel Cook. Joab Powers,
Gardner Powers,
John Dean, Zebnlon Pond.
Asa Durgee,
Ezra Day, Nathaniel Rand.
Justin Darling.
William Spencer,
Leonard Fargo. Gideon Sheldon.
W. D. Hitchcock, Lucas Thomas.
Samuel P. Hawes.
Abel Wheeler,
Reuben Jackson, Samuel Wheeler,
Graton Jackson. Arden Weller,
Edward Wheeler,
John H. Lincoln, Robert Wright.
Early in September, 1814, the Governor General of Can
ada, with an army of fourteen thousand men, some of whom
had had the advantage of military experience in the wars of
Europe, invaded the northern frontier of the United States, by
way of Lake Champlain. Intelligence of this invasion spread
rapidly through Vermont, producing the most intense excite
ment, and arousing the patriotism of the people, -ft ho at once
determined to drive back the foe and to defend their posses
sions. To contest the advance of the enemy upon Plattsburgh,
Rutland County furnished two hundred and seventy-four men,
of whom one hundred and six were from Pittsford. On
Friday afternoon, the 9th of September, Col. Hammond
received notice of the invasion, with the request that he would
collect as many men as possible, and hasten to the assistance of
his countrymen. The Colonel mounted his horse and pro
ceeded to the residence of his neighbor General Hendee, with
whom he had a short consultation, and they either went or
PLATTSBURaH VOLUNTEERS. 361
sent messengers into all parts of the town to call the people to
arms. That evening a large number assembled at Yan Allen s
hotel* where it was arranged that they should meet at the same
place the next morning, properly armed and equipped, organ
ize, and inarch to the scene of conflict. On the 10th, at the
hour appointed, more than one hundred men, with their muskets
and two days provisions, paraded on the Common in front of the
hotel. They had expected Col. Hammond to lead them ; but
when they came to ballot for a commander, he declined to bo
a candidate ; consequently Gen. Caleb Hendee, Jr., w r as unani
mously elected, and his acceptance of the command was highly
gratifying to the company.
The following is a copy of the muster roll :
Caleb Hendee, Jr., Captain.
Isaac Wheaton, First Lieut.
Harris Eogue, Second Ditto.
Jonathan Dike, Ensign.
K. Winslow, Surgeon.
George K Gilbert, Surgeon s Mate.
Jonathan Kendall, Wagon Master.
John Barns, Jr., Sergeant.
Joel Burroughs, Ditto.
William Cushman, Ditto.
Anthony C. Kice, Ditto.
John H. Lincoln, Ditto.
Amos Drury, Corporal.
Jason Harwood, Ditto.
Reuben Jackson, Ditto.
Thomas Barlow, Ditto.
Japhet L. Warner, Ditto.
Azer Dickerman, Ditto.
Enos Bailey, Jr., Drummer.
* Now E. B. Baud s bouse.
362 HISTORY OF PJTTSFORD.
Samuel Holcomb, Drummer.
Ardin Wilier, Filer.
William Beel, Jr., Ditto.
Zebidee Cooper, Jr., Ditto.
Nathaniel K. Andrews, Private.
Bradford Andrews, Ditto.
Jeffrey Barns, Ditto.
Oliver Brown, Ditto.
Jonathan P. Barron for Allen Penfield.
David L. Beebe, Private.
George Burditt, Ditto.
Gersham Beach, Ditto.
William W. Barlow, Jr., Ditto.
Daniel Barton, Ditto.
Edward Clifford, Ditto.
Zebidee Cooper, Jr., Ditto.
Caleb Carpenter, Ditto.
Luke Dean,
John Downey,
Horace Downey,
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Washington Davis for John Kingsley.
Roger Egleston, Private.
Cameron McGregor, Ditto.
Francis C. Goodale,
John A. Gillet,
Eli Hudson,
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
William Hay, discharged on the llth inst. on acc t
of old age.
Alvin Hewit, Private.
Nathaniel Hunter for Martin Leech.
Daniel Hendee, Private.
David Jackson, Ditto.
David A. Jackson, Ditto.
Hezekiah June, Ditto.
PLATTSBURGH VOLUNTEERS.
363
Lott Keeler,
Amherst Lee,
Roger Ladd,
Robert L. Loveland,
John Lampson, Jr.,
Ebenezer Mitchell for D. H.
Jesse Moon,
Hiram Millington,
Eli Manley, Jr.,
John Miller,
Discharged on the llth
Joseph A. Montague,
Abraham Owen,
Justus Powers,
Richard M. Powers,
Joab Powers,
Peter Powers,
Zebulon Pond,
Ira Persons,
James Perkins,
Elijah Richardson,
Oliver Rice,
William Stevens,
Ezra Spencer,
Jacob Simmons,
Obid C. Smith,
John Simmons,
Highman Stevens,
James Tedder,
William Woods,
Nathaniel H. Wescott,
Oliver Wolcott,
Lemuel Whitmore,
Simeon Wright,
Private.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Hammond.
Private.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
on account of old age.
Private.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto. Deserted,
Ditto.
364: HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
Alvin Wright,
Private.
Horatio Walker,
Ditto.
Peter Warner,
Ditto.
John O. Wadswortli,
Ditto.
Oliver Yaw,
Ditto.
Amos Kellogg,
Wagoner.
Milton Potter,
Ditto.
Andrew Leach,
Ditto.
Samuel Wheeler,
Ditto.
Isaac Clark,
Ditto.
Isaac Segar,
Ditto. $3.30.
James Buck,
Ditto. $1.34.
Jesse Moon,
Ditto.
William Spencer,
Ditto.
Lewis Barlow,
Wagoner, only one horse.
The above wagoners carried loads both ways between Bur
lington and Pittsford.
Aclgate Lathrope, Wagoner.
Joseph Tottingham, Ditto.
Tilly Walker, Ditto.
William Morgan, Ditto. These carried
Abner Hendee, Ditto. j> Loads but one
German Hammond, Ditto.
way.
Justus Powers, Ditto.
Josiah Persons, Ditto.
The forenoon was spent in organizing, and making the
necessary preliminary arrangements, and immediately after
dinner the company took up the line of march for Burlington.
That night they reached Boardman s tavern in Leicester, where
they found quarters for the night, some in the house and others
in the stable or barn. Sunday morning they resumed the
march, and on arriving at Vergennes, stopped, and those not
supplied with good fire-arms drew them from the arsenal at
EXPEDITION TO PLATTSBURGH. 365
that place. The company then set out for Charlotte which
they reached that night. On their way thither they heard the
booming of cannon which so intimidated one of their number,
Lemuel Whitmore, that he deserted the following night. Mon
day morning they proceeded to Burlington \vhere they drew
rations, and from thence crossed the lake to Plattsburgh, but
too late to take part in the contest which resulted so trium
phantly to the American arms. The enemy having been
repulsed made a hasty retreat, and the Vermont volunteers
being no longer needed were discharged and returned to their
homes. Captain Hendee received a complimentary letter from
Gen. Macomb, thanking him and his man for their patriotic
efforts to maintain the honor and dignity of their country.
The town of Pittford was not slow to recognize the claims
of the soldiers, and provision was made for their wants, as will
be seen by the following extract from the records of a meeting
held October 10, 1814.
" Voted that the Selectmen, together with the Commanding
officers of the several companies, for the time being be a Com
mittee to look into the subject, for procuring necessaries for
the Standing Militia when called into actual service, and to
appropriate such sum or sums as they may think necessary,
not to exceed fifty dollars.
Voted that the Town pay to Caleb Hendee, Jr., Sixteen
Dollars and ninety-three cents for monies by him borrowed for
the use of the Volunteer Company from Pittsford in their late
Expedition to Plattsburgh.
Voted to appropriate a sum, not to exceed twenty Dollars,
to be laid out at the discretion of the Commanding Officers of
the Respective Companies of Militia of this town, in treating
their men when called out and drilled for Military Exercises."
"March 4th, 1817. Voted to Raise two Cents on the
Dollar to be appropriated towards the expenses of the Platts
burgh Expedition, and one and one-half for other purposes on
366 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
the Grand List of A. D. 1817, to be paid the one-half in
money and the other half in Grain by the first day of January
next.
The volunteers from Pittsford, whether in the regular army
or serving for a limited time with the militia, suffered but few
casualties. It is believed that nearly all, after having served
out their term of enlistment, returned to their homes.
Arza Lee, son of Ashbel, lost a leg in the battle of
Williamsburgh, and David Jackson died on his way home
from the scene of that conflict.
Abel Wheeler, son of Jesse, a young lad who went as a
waiter to Col. Rumsey, of liubbardton, was killed by a musket
ball which entered his abdomen.
Amasa Owen, son of Abraham, enlisted in July, 1812, for
five years. He was in Capt. Hawley s Company, Col. Clark s
Regiment. He was at Sackett s Harbor at the time of the
British attack, May 29, 1813. He was also in the battle of
Williamsburgh, on the llth of November. In this battle he
was wounded in the thigh by a musket ball, fell into the hands
of the enemy and was carried to Prescott, where his wound
was dressed, and he remained a short time in the hospital at
that place. He was then taken to Montreal, thence to Quebec
and afterwards to Halifax, and was confined in prison on
Mellville Island. He escaped from prison, and resided some
time in New Brunswick, where he married Mary McKeel in
1818. He returned with his family to Pittsford in 1824,
though he resided here but a short time. He is now living at
the West.
ABEL PENFIELD GKATON JACKSON. 367
CHAPTEK X.
Immigrants or Settlers and their Locations, continued.
18201830.
Abel Penfield located here in 1820. He was the son of
John Penfield, was born in New F airfield, Conn., Nov. 12,
1787, and came to Pittsford with his father s family in 1796.
When a young man he was placed as an apprentice with
Eleazer Harwood, Jr., to learn the clothier s trade. After he
had acquired his trade, he located in Hartford, Vt., in company
pany with Mr. Harwood, his teacher, and they carried on man
ufacturing business there from 1812 to 1820. In 1816, Mr.
Penfield married Pedy Lincoln who was born in Keene, N. H.,
March 6, 1786. He sold his property in Hartford in 1820,
returned to Pittsford and occupied his father s house now the
residence of John Stevens till 1828, when he built the house
in which he recently resided. About the same time he bought
one-third of the woolen factory, the grist-mill and ten acres of
land, the other two-thirds being owned by his brothers, Sturges
and Allen. In 1824, he sold his interest in all this property,
-excepting the grist-mill which he rebuilt, and the same is now
the one owned by John Stevens. He sold the mill property to
Mr. Stevens in 1836, and since then he has devoted the most
of his time to farming. Mrs. Penfield died October 8, 1842.
Mr. Penfield died March 9, 1871.
Graton Jackson, son of James, married Malinda Dunham,
of Brandon, Nov. 20, 1820, and located about one-fourth of a
mile east of the residence of Samuel Waters, on land now
owned by Marshall Howland. He died about the year 1830,
and his widow, soon afterwards, moved to the West.
368 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
David Hall, son of David, was born in Brandon, June 3,
1795, married Electa Esther, daughter of Isaac Wheaton,
April 20, 1820, and resided some months in the house now
owned by E. B. Rand. Afterwards he bought the Stephen
Mead farm, on the west side of the Creek, and after occupying
it a few years he exchanged it for the John Barnes farm, a
part of which is now owned by A. N. Loveland. In 1849, he
bought of Warren Barnard the Jonathan Fassett farm, to the
improvement of which he devoted the most of his energies in
subsequent life. He brought his lands into a high state of
cultivation, reconstructed the buildings and made one of the
most beautiful estates in the town. He died March 7, 1860.
Clark Taft, born in 1800, son of Josiah, married Mary A.,,
daughter of Moses Hitchcock, April 26, 1820. Soon after
their marriage they removed to Hopkinton, N. Y., where they
resided till 1828, when they returned to Pittsford, and after
residing in various places, located where John Flemming now
resides. Mr. Taft bought the house which formerly stood
where Mrs. Simonds now resides, and removed it to the pres
ent Fleming place, where it was soon after burnt, and he built
the present house on its site in 1854. He removed to Weston
in 1860. His wife Mary died, and he married a second time.
John P. Stanton, from Williston, married Lucy Hubbell,
daughter of Oliver Bogue, Nov. 28, 1820, and resided a short
time on the Rice farm, occupying a house which stood at that
time about where the brick house now stands. Afterwards he
resided a year on the John Gillett place, and in 1832, removed
to the farm now owned and occupied by David Mills. There
he resided two years and then removed to Westport, K. Y.,
where he died in 1868. Mrs. Stanton died in 1840.
Nicholas Wescott, married Abigail Gibson, March 2, 1820,
and located on the Benjamin Stevens farm, where he resided a
few years, and then moved to the State of New York. He
remained there a short time, after which he returned to this
0&*+> &-
G. F. HENDEE J. SIMONDS THOS. F. BOGUE. 369
town and resided in Whipple Hollow one or two years. He
finally removed to Pawlet, where he now resides.
German F. Hendee, son of Gen. Caleb, married Sarah,
daughter of Asa Jones, of Claremont, N. H., Nov. 30, 1820,
and located on the home farm, where he resided some four
years, and then bought the farm which was first improved by
Benjamin Stevens, Sen. This purchase was made of Asahel
Wolcott, the deed being dated 1839. He built the house on
the bluff near the depot in 1849, and the following year
returned to the home farm and occupied this new house. He
died August 25, 1863.
John Simonds, son of Jahazel, born in Charleston, N. H.,
April 22, 1793, came here with his brother Henry in 1819,
and was one of the firm of " J. Simonds & Co.," traders. He
married Nancy Malinda. daughter of Asa Jones of Claremont,
N. H. ? Nov. 30, 1820, and located with his brother in the
house now owned by John C. Leonard. He and his brother,
Henry, bought the place how owned by the heirs of the latter,
and they traded here in company till 1834, when John sold his
share of their Pittsford property to Henry, and removed to
Shoreham. There he resided till the fall of 1864, when he
removed to Brandon. He died there April IT, 1869, leaving
six children and seventeen grand children. He was a man of
sound judgment and of excellent business habits, and was
successful in accumulating a large property. He was twice
married. His wife Nancy M. having died March 29, 1841, he
married Maria Kirby the following September. She now
resides in Brandon.
Thomas F. Bogue became a citizen of this town in 1820.
The first of the Booge (as formerly written) family in this
country was John Booge, a native of Scotland, born in the
city of Glasgow, and a tobacconist by occupation. He was a
religious and enterprising young man ; and considering that in
the colonies he could enjoy civil and religious liberty, and at
25
370 HISTORY OF PITTSFOED.
the same time landed property, and there lay a better founda
tion for his own support and that of a family, if he should have
one, than by working at his trade in his native land, he deter
mined that it was desirable to emigrate. He accordingly left
Glasgow and all his connections, and came to America about
the year 1680. The place he selected for his residence was in
the south part of East Haddam, Conn., near the river. He
was the fifth man who made a beginning in that town. When
a church was formed there he was appointed an elder, in which
capacity he served through life. He was frequently chosen a
representative to the legislature of the colony, and such
was his good and exemplary conduct among the people
with whom he dwelt, that they gave him the appellation of
" Good Man Booge." He married Rebecca Walkley, of Had-
dam, who proved herself to be equal in worth to the good man
with whom she had been united. They had a large family,
comprising seven sons John, William, Richard, Daniel,
Stephen, James and Ebenezer; and three daughters Sarah,
Hannah and Rebecca.
Ebenezer Booge, the seventh son and yougest child, was,
at the age of fourteen years, bound out by his father as an
apprentice to a Capt. Butler, of Saybrook, to learn the trade
of carpenter and joiner. He served out the time of his appren
ticeship faithfully, and to the satisfaction of his master. About
the time he completed his apprenticeship, he became the sub
ject of very serious and powerful religious impressions, and
having obtained, after a time, a good hope of pardon and
acceptance with God, he decided to devote himself to the
Christian ministry, provided he might be able to enter upon
that goodly work with a proper education. As he lacked the
means requisite to obtain a college education, he employed
himself at his trade about two years, during which time, by
the strictest economy, he saved a large proportion of his earn
ings. He then commenced a course of study to qualify himself
EBENEZER AND JEFFREY A. BOGTJE. 371
for admission to college. Having gone through this prepara
tory course he was examined and admitted to Yale College at
the commencement in 1744, being then a little more than
twenty -four years of age. He graduated in 1748, and after
devoting some time to theological studies, entered upon the
labors of the ministry. He accepted a call from the parish of
Northington, in the town of Farmington, Conn., and was
ordained Nov. 27, 1751. On the 19th of December, 1750, he
married Damaris Cook of Wallingford, Conn. This worthy
lady was a daughter of Capt. Samuel Cook of Wallingford,
one of the most respectable men in the town.
By this lady Mr. Booge had seven children five sons,
Aaron Jordon, Samuel Cook, Oliver, Jeffrey Amherst, and
Publius Yirgilius ; and two daughters, Rebecca Walkley and
Damaris Corintha, Rev. Ebenezer Booge, dted February 2,
1767, aged fifty-one years nearly. One writes of him as fol
lows : " He was not only an eminent and finished scholar, but
had an ardent desire to promote learning and education. For
this purpose, in addition to his multiplied and arduous labors
in the ministry, he taught many young men the Latin and
Greek languages and prepared them for admission into college ;
and besides this, such was his tender regard for the youth and
children of his people, for whom in that day it was difficult to
procure education, that he usually gave four months schooling
in a year to the young people and children of his congregation
gratuitously, and without fee or reward, at his own house and
at such other houses as were most convenient for his people.
This excited great gratitude in his society among both parents
and children, and greatly endeared him to them."
Jeffrey Ainherst Booge, the fourth son of Rev. Ebenezer
Booge, was born in Farmington, and married Freedom Bar
nard, of Coventry, who was born in 1773. They located in
Chittenden, Yt., and had the following children, viz.: Jeffrey
372 HISTORY OF PITTSFOED.
A., Clarissa, Sarah, Thomas F., Dan B., Louisa, Sophia,
Almira, Nancy, Samuel and Yirgilius B.
Thomas F. Bogue, (as he wrote his name,) the second son
of Jeffrey Amherst, was born in Chittenden, June 17, 1795,
and married, in 1819, Elizabeth Stewart, who was born in
Sherman, Conn., in 1794. They located in Pittsford, on the
Parsons farm,* which Mr. Bogue purchased of Elder William
Harrington early in 1820. Mr. Bogue possessed those quali
ties of mind and heart which fitted him for prominent positions
in the town, and at different times he held almost every office
within the gift of his fellow-townsmen. He died July 11,
1864:. Since his death his family has sold the home farm to
Azro Dickerman, and now own and occupy the Sheldon place,
in the Village.
Joseph Whftmore married Betsey, daughter of David Jack
son, Feb. 25, 1821, and located on land now owned by Henry
Mills. The house stood west of the road, nearly opposite the
present residence of Michael Cane. After residing there a
short time he removed to the farm now owned by Stephen
Whipple. The house he there occupied stood a few rods north
of the one now occupied by Mr. Whipple. From that farm
he removed to Chittenden.
Hiram Jackson, son of Daniel, married Experience, daugh
ter of Peter Worden, Dec. 31, 1821, and located in Whipple
Hollow, on land now owned by Leonard Sargent. The house
he occupied stood some rods northeast of Graton Jackson s.
He removed to Pennsylvania about the year 1840.
Alexander Bogue, son of Oliver, married Hannah Stanton,
Sept. 9, 1821, and located on the home farm with his parents.
His life was mostly spent upon that place, where he died Dec.
15, 1842. Mrs. Bogue died July 5, 1839.
* It will be remembered that Elisha Rich bought this farm of Aaron Parsons,
and cold it to Mr. Harrington.
B. C. NEEDHAM J. H. LINCOLN S. MORGAN. 373
Benjamin C. I^eedham^ born Aug. 17, 1794, son of Jere-
miali Needham, married Achoah Thayer, March 17, 1814, and
located in Wilmington, Essex County, N. Y. His wife Aclioah
died, and he married Feb. 22, 1821, Lois Huntley, who was
born in Salisbury, June 20, 1797. He located at this time in
Pittsford, and occupied a house which stood near the bank of
the Creek, some forty rods south of the house which had been
the residence of Col. Benjamin Cooley. Some years since he
removed to Parkersburgh, Butler County, Iowa, where he now
resides. He was a soldier in the war of 1812.
John Harvey Lincoln, born in Taunton, Mass., came to
Pittsford with his father s family in 1809. He enlisted as a
soldier in the war of 1812, and served fifteen months, and,
besides, was one of the volunteers in the expedition to Platts-
burgh in 1814. In June, 1821, he married Dulcima, daughter
of Samuel Fenton, and after residing a few months in the
house now owned by Charles Stiles, bought the farm now
owned by Capon Leonard and built the house in which Mr.
Leonard now resides. He occupied that farm* till 1852, when
he removed to Brandon, and there he died in 1867. Mrs.
Lincoln died in 1855.
Samuel Morgan, born in March, 1802, son of Samuel,
married Eunice Stevens, Jan. 30, 1822, and located on the
home farm with his parents, where he resided till about the
year 1835. He then moved to Rutland, and after residing
there a year or more, he removed to the north part of the
State, and there died in February, 1867.
Bradford Andrews, son of Kellogg, married Fanny, daugh
ter of William Baxter, March 14, 1822, and after residing in
this town a few months, moved to the State of New York,
where he resided some years, and where his wife died. He
afterwards returned to Pittsford, and one morning in the year
* He sold the farm to Cyrus Dike, Dec. 21, 1852.
374 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
, he was found dead by the side of the road, a little north
of the present residence of A. J. Tiffany.
Ambrose Parmelee, born in Seabrook, "N. H., in 1763,
married Amelia Conant, of Claremont, in 1805, and located in
Windsor, Yt., from which place he came to Pittsford in 1822,
and bought of Jonathan Dike the June farm ; the deed, dated
April 20th, was in consideration of eight hundred and twenty-
nine dollars. He removed his family here that spring and
resided on his farm till 1844, when he removed to Ohittenden
where lie died in 1853. Mrs. Amelia Parmelee died in 1862.
Eli Lincoln, sixth son of Daniel, born in Taunton, Mass.,
married Dorris Downey, Feb. 29, 1822, and located in what
was then called the Beach house, a part of which is now stand
ing a few rods north of the present residence of Eliab Randall.
After residing there about one year he removed to Wilmington,
X. Y., and remained there about two years. His wife died in
Wilmington, January 25, 1825, when he returned to Pittsford
and was engaged in farm work in various places. He married
Hannah Powell Oct. 1, 1844, and located on the place now
owned by Siloe Dunklee, occupying an old house which for
merly stood where Mr. Duriklee s house now stands. He
exchanged his place of residence quite often till 1857, when
he settled on the place he now occupies.
Lyman Rockwood, from Fitzwilliam, K. H., married Betsey
Powell, and located in Pittsford in 1822. He purchased of
his brother, John, one undivided half of a lot of land which
the latter had bought of Andrew Leach. This included the
lots now owned by Paschal Whitaker and Simeon Gilbert as
well as one-half of the saw-mill. The deed bears date March
25, 1823. The two brothers built the Whitaker house that
spring and the following summer. Lyman bought of Nathan
Dana "40J rods of land on the north side of the highway
leading from Pittsford Tillage to Heman Johnson s, and
adjoining John and Henry Sinionds garding." The deed
S. A. BROWN NEHEMIAH BARNES. 375
bears date January 25, 1825, and the consideration was thirty
dollars. He built a house upon this lot the following summer
the same now owned by the heirs of the late Charles
Walker, D. D. He resided on this place till the 24th of
October, 1826, when he sold it to Warren Barnard. On the
2d day of September, 1828, he purchased of Benoni Taylor
the land now owned by James Bucknam, and soon after built
the house now occupied by Mr. B. His trade was that of a
wheelwright, but after locating on this place he worked at sash-
making and painting. His wife Betsey died in 1833, and he
married Julia Bliss in 1835. He sold the last mentioned place
to Amos Crippen, September 30, 1835, and left the town. He
returned in 1842,* bought the location now owned by Eollin
S. Meacham, and in 1844 buftt the house now occupied by Mr.
M. He traded there till April 26, 1850, when he sold the
location to Thomas H. Palmer and again left the town.
Samuel A. Brown, tanner and currier, born July 23, 1798,
son of Elijah, Jr., married Betsey Hemenway, Feb. 11, 1822,
and located with his brother Elijah on the place now owned
and occupied by his son George. The two brothers carried on
the tanning and currying business in company until the 1st
day of March, 1827, when Samuel A. bought the location of
his brother, paying him the sum of twelve hundred dollars.
He resided there until his death, Nov. 16, 1867.
Nehemiah Barnes, son of John, bought of David Hall, Jr.,
the farm now owned by Alexander Farmelee, the deed being
dated April 20, 1819 ; and in the spring of 1820, he exchanged
farms with Nathaniel K. Andrews who had bought and resided
on the farm now owned by Clrarles Stiles. He married Ladocia
Andrews, March 9, 1823, and resided on the farm first men
tioned till 1865, when he exchanged it with Charles Stiles for
the one on which he now resides. Mr. Stiles had, a short time
before, purchased it of Austin Andrews.
* Ee purchased this place of Seneca Towusend aiid Ira Button, April 26.
376 HISTOKY OF PITTSFOED.
Samuel Ward Boardman, son of Timothy, was born in
Eutland, Nov. 27, 1789, and the most of his minority was
spent in that town. He came to Pittsford in April, 1817, in
company with his brother, Charles G., and assisted him in the
care of the farm and tavern. The Pittsford property, of which
the two brothers had the care and income, was, up to April 5,
1823, owned by their father, Timothy, then residing in Eut
land. At this time he deeded the tavern and a few acres of
land adjoining, to Charles G., and the north and larger part
(eighty-four acres) of the farm to Samuel W. This included
the farm now owned by Josiah Leonard. On the 5th of May,
1823, Samuel W. married Anna, born Dec. 6, 1793, daughter
of Simeon Gilbert, and occupied the red house now owned by
Mr. Leonard, and standing but few rods north of the brook.
He resided there till 1836, when he removed to West Eutland,
and the following year to Castleton where he resided till 1860,
when he went to Middlebury and resided with his son, Prof.
George N. Boardman. Hs returned to Pittsford in the spring
of 1869, and died here, May 13, 1870. Few men have left a
better record. He took a great interest in the peace move
ment, and many articles upon this subject from his pen were
published and widely circulated.
John Eockwood, born in 1790, son of Samuel, of Fitz-
william, N. H., came to Pittsford in 1821, and bought of
Andrew Leach one and one-half acres of land, which included
the house lots now owned by Paschal Whitaker and Simeon-
Gilbert, also "one-half of the saw-mill* and one-half of the
mill yard north of the bridge on the road leading from the
village to Heman Johnson s." The deed was dated September
19, 1821, and was in consideration of three hundred and fifty
dollars. As heretofore stated, he and his brother, Lyman,
built the house now owned by Mr. Whitaker in 1822, and he
Ibis was the Fassett mill.
WILLIAM WHEELER OLIVER BROWN JOHN COOLEY. 377
married Lucinda Kiraball, Oct. 2, 1823, and resided in the
house with his* brother. In early life he had worked at clock-
making, but here he devoted the most of his time to wagon-
making. The shop in which he worked stood where Mr.
Gilbert s house now stands. This was removed some years
since, and is now one of the shops recently occupied by Dudley
and North. His wife Lucinda died in 1840, and he married
Delia, daughter of Ezra Cummings, early in 1841, and in 1844
he removed to McHenry, HI.
William Wheeler married Philinda, daughter of Robert
Loveland, in 1.823, and located near the south line of the town
occupying the first house south of the present railroad bridge,
near Sutherland Falls. He changed locations several times
while residing in this town, and at one time moved to some
part of the State of New York, but returned to Pittsford, and
eventually moved to Brandon where he died in 1867.
Oliver Brown, harness-maker, born October 17, 1793, son
of Elijah, married Lydia Maria Bixby, Nov. 14, 1823, and
located on the Elias Hopkins place, now owned by E. R.
Drake. He resided in the south part of the house, and used
the north part for a work-shop. It would appear that he
rented this place for a term of little more than two years, as
we find that he purchased it of Gordon Newell, Esq., the 9th
day of May, 1826, for the sum of six hundred dollars. Mr.
Brown resided on this place till 1842, when he sold it to R. R.
Drake, and has since resided in various places, though for the
last four or five years lie has been living with his daughter,
Mrs. William Eayres, of Rutland. His wife, Lydia Maria,
died May 12, 1840.
John Cooley, son of Capt. Caleb, married Amanda Cook,
October 12, 1823. His trade was that of a potter. He located
in a log house on the north slope of the hill, some one hundred
rods southeast of Demas Chaffee s. After residing there a
short time he purchased the land on the south side of the road,
378 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
near what was known as the " Pocket Furnace," and bnilt the
two-story house now occupied by George Putnam. He resided
there a few years, and manufactured earthen ware. He after
wards built the house now owned by his son, Orin. This was
built on the southeast part of what was his father s home farm.
He died there, July 17, 1856.
Jeffrey Barnes, son of John, was born May 27, 1792,
married, Feb. 24, 1823, Yiolet,* daughter of David Brewster,
and located on the home farm with his parents. Afterwards
he resided some months with his brother on the Johnson farm,
now owned by Alexander Parmelee. He bought the Weeks
place, near the Village, in 1825, but after the death of his
father, he bought of his heirs the home farm, upon which he
resided till 1832, when he exchanged farms with David Hall,
and obtained, by the exchange, the Mead farm, now owned by
B. J. Douglas. In 1855, Mr. Barnes bought of Frank May-
nard the place which had a short time before been fitted up by
the latter, and on the 12th of November he commenced to
occupy it. While in the vigor of manhood he was a very
industrious man, and well understood the public business of
the town ; and for a long period he held some office within the
gift of his fellow-citizens. He died December 17, 1861. Mrs.
Barnes died February 19, 1865.
George Godfrey located here in 1823. His grandfather
whose name was also George w r as a Brigadier General in the
Revolutionary war. He married Bethiah Hodges and settled
in Taunton, Mass., where were born the following children,
viz.: Mary, Joanna, Lydia, Wealthy, Jerusha, George, Rufus,
John and Melinda. George, the father, died at Taunton, June
30, 1793. George, the eldest son, was born Sept. 17, 1758,
and during the early part of the war was in the army as waiter
for his father, but afterwards entered the ranks as private.
* Born Feb. 28, 1797.
LYMAN GRANGER. 379
During the latter part of his life he drew a pension from the
government. He married, December 26, 1782, Abigail King,
who was born June 22, 1763, and they settled in Bennington,
Vt. They had eight children, viz.: James, Samuel L., Abigail,
George, Melinda, Bradford, Catherine K. and J. Pitts. George,
the third son, was born Nov. 21, 1793, and was a soldier in
the war of 1812. He married, Nov. 6, 1823, Eelief Lincoln,
who was born March 3, 1787. They came to this town and
located on the farm now owned by the heirs of the late James
E. Smith. Mr. Godfrey died October 5, 1837. Mrs. Godfrey
afterwards married Randall, and died May 20, 1863.
Lyman Granger son of Simeon, hereafter to be men
tioned was born in Sandersfield, Mass., December 22, 1794.
He was graduated from Union College about 1820, and at
ones entered upon the study of law. He commenced the
study of his profession at the Litchfield Law School and closed
it with Judge Samuel Church, of Salisbury, Conn. He com
menced practice in company with Moses Strong, Esq., of Rut
land, in 1823. In the fall of this year he married Frances
Smith of Rutland, who was born Feb. 23, 1799. About this
time in company with his father, then living .in Salisbury,
Conn., and his younger brother, Chester he purchased several
small lots of land in Pittsford, and the following year lie
came here to reside. For a little time, he occupied the
Ewings house, now known as the Armington house. On the
30th of November, 1826, he and his brother, Chester, pur
chased of Andrew Leach the furnace property, " consisting of
160 acres of land with all the buildings standing thereon,"
and the sum paid was six thousand dollars. Immediately after
this purchase Lyman removed to the white cottage on the south
side of the road leading from the road on which the school
house now stands, to the Furnace. The father and two sons
carried on the furnace business, and the firm was known as
" Simeon Granger & Sons," though the father had not yet
380 HISTOKY O^ PITTSFORD.
removed his residence from Connecticut. The company built
the white house on the north side of the road and a few rods
east of the cottage already mentioned, in the spring of 1827,
and Lyman afterwards occupied this. He practiced law about
two years after he located in this town, but after acquiring an
interest in the Furnace, he relinquished professional business
and devoted his whole attention to the interests of the com
pany. His wife Frances died December 31, 1834, and in 1836
he married Betsey Spurr. The following year he sold his inter
est in the furnace property and moved to Granville, 1ST. Y. He
died suddenly at Utica, on a visit, June 18, 1839.
Amanuel B. Eckley, son of George, was born in Boston,
Mass., June 27, 1796, and married, 1824, Polly Simmons, who
was born in Chittenden, Yt., April 26, 1798. They resided
some-years on the west part of the farm once owned by Simeon
Clifford, a part of which had been sold to, and occupied by,
Eli Hudson. In 1867, Mr. Eckley and his son Samuel bought
the Lewis Barlow farm, and on this they now reside.
Asa Paine also located in this town, in 1824. He was the
son of Edward and Nabby (Smith) Paine, and was born in
Leicester, August 26, 1801. He bought the Kowley farm in
1823. January 15, 1824, he married Harriet Horton, of Mt.
Holly, and located on the recently purchased farm. His wife
Harriet died JSTov. 18, 1826, and he married Sally, daughter of
Lot Keeler, of Pittsford, March 18, 1827.
Humphrey "Worden, son of Peter, was born in Dover,
Dutchess County, K Y., August 29, 1800. "While an infant
his parents removed into this town, where his minority was
spent. He married Anna, daughter of Ithiel Barnes, in June,
1825, and located with his parents, then occupying the first
house east of the school house, in District No. 10. He sold
that farm in 1841, and purchased the one upon which he after
wards lived and died. He died E"ov. 5, 1869.
Warren Barnard was born August 26, 1790, the son of
WAEEEN BAENAED DAVID WAED. 381
Andrew, born November 28, 1764, the son of Dan who has
been mentioned as coming from Coventry, Conn., in 1784,
settling in the south part of this town, and afterwards remov
ing to Chittenden. Warren married Elizabeth Clark, Nov. 4,
1813, and located in Chittenden, where Mrs. Barnard died,
January 6, 1814. He came to Pittsford in 1825, and boarded
some. months at the hotel; October 24, 1826, he purchased
of Lyman Rockwood the place now owned by the heirs of the
late Charles Walker, D. D., and the 4th of December follow
ing, he married Abigail H. Lincoln, and located in that house.
He sold his place for a parsonage, and in 1834, bought of
Michael Sanders the farm now owned by the heirs of the late
David Hall. He resided on this farm till 1839, when he sold
it to Hall, and bought the place he now occupies of Ira Hitch
cock. His wife Abigail died April 5, 1857, and he married
Laura W. Shaw, April 24, 1860.
David Ward is a descendant of William who emigrated
from England, and was living in Sudbury, Mass., as early as
1639. David s ancestry, traced back in a direct line, is as
follows, viz.: David, of Pittsford, born in Shoreham, Yt., Feb.
27, 1797, son of Adam P., born in 1769, son of William, born
in Union, Conn., July 13, 1741, son of Uriah, born Feb. 24,
1715, son of William, born in Marlboro, Mass. June 9, 1691,
son of William, born in Sudbury, (probably,) June 7, 1670,
son of Obacliah, born about 1632, the third son of William,
the first of the family in this country.
David, of Pittsford, married Mary Ann McCollum, Feb. 7,
1818, and located in Saratoga, N. Y. He removed to May-
field, and from thence to Pittsford, Vt., in February, 1826,
locating on the place he has ever since occupied. His wife,
Mary Ann, died March 20, 1852, and he married Amelia,
daughter of Edward Clifford, March 2, 1853, and she died in
1854, and he married, Sept. 13, 1855, Eveline Lord, who was
born in Putney, Yt.
382 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
Jeduthan Thomas, born June 27, 180.7, son of Ebel, of
Chittenden, married Minerva Scott, December 27, 1826, and
resided some years on the Woodruff farm now David Sco-
field s. In 1 863, he removed to his present place of residence,
formerly owned by Luther Nurse and his son William.
David Johnson, son of Isachar, married Esther Bailey,
February 20, 1826, and located with his father on the Stephen
Mead farm, now owned by B. J. Douglas. They had resided
on that farm several years before the son married. The father
bought of Jeffrey Barnes the farm upon which Alexander
Parmelee now resides, and not long after they removed to this
farm, Isachar, the father, died. After residing there a few
years David removed from the town.
Ebenezer Blanchard Rand, son of Capt. Zachariah, was
born in Westminster, Mass., December 17, 1802, married
Betsey Scofield, of Brandon, March 6, 1826, and located on
the home farm in Sugar Hollow. In 1840, he bought of
Ebenezer Brooks the Ewings tavern and kept a public house
till the time of his death, January 3, 1851.
Jonathan Burditt, son of Thomas, was born in Lancaster,
Mass., Nov. 16, 1798. His early life was spent with his lather
on the farm, but after he had attained his majority lie went to
Canada and engaged in the lumbering business. After an
absence of a few years he came to Pittsford, where his parents
then lived, and bought the small farm east of Marshall
Thomas , near what was called the " Four Corners." The 5th
day of April, 1827, he married Sally Floyd, who was born in
Springfield, Mass., April 30, 1804. They located on the farm
above mentioned, and resided there until the fall of 1852,
when they bought of Abraham Owen what had formerly been
known as the Mosher place, now owned by Richard and
Charles Burditt. Mr. Burditt died on this farm, July 6, 1868.
Mrs. Burditt died December 19, 1863.
Harris W. Phillips, son of Jacob, married Fanny, daughter
LAB AN BOWEN A. C. KELLOGG CHESTER GKANGEK. 383
of Ebenezer Conant, in 1827, and located on the home farm
with ^his brother Orin. The house lie occupied stood some
rods north of the house now occupied by his brother. He
resided on that farm until 1850, when he sold his share of it to
Orin, and removed to Illinois.
Laban Bowen, was clerk for Sturges Penfield, in the store,
some years before he was married. He married Esther, eldest
daughter of Amos Crippen, December 6, 1827, and located in
the house now owned by Thomas Hennessey. This house had
been built for him by Mr. Penfield. After residing there a
few years he moved to Pennsylvania.
Amos Cushman Kellogg, born Nov. 22, 1803, son of Amos,
married Nancy Bogue, of Chittenden, October 9, 1827, and
located on the home farm with his brother, Samuel H. He
resided there until 1837, when he bought of Timothy Lester
the farm upon which he now resides. At one time he took an
active part in the military affairs of the State, and rose,
through various grades of subordinate offices to the rank of
Brigadier General.
Chester Granger, born July 5, 1797, son of Simeon, mar
ried Mary Smith, of Rutland, December 5, 1827, and located
in the white cottage, on the south side of the road leading to the
Furnace. He took possession of this immediately after it was
vacated by his brother Lyman, and resided there about nine
years, or until Lyman moved to Gran ville, and then took his
place in the house on the north side of the road. After the
death of the father, Simeon, his share of the furnace property
claimed by his heirs was purchased in 1835, by Chester and
his brother, Edward L. Granger, and the business of the firm
was conducted in the name of C. and E. L. Granger until 1846,
when the younger member of this firm died, and his share of
the property was purchased by George Hodges, when the busi
ness was conducted in the name of " Granger, Hodges &
Co." The furnace property was afterwards transferred to the
384: HISTORY OF PITTSFOED.
" Pittsford Iron Co.," and Granger and Hodges retired. Mr.
Granger left Pittsford and engaged in the iron business in
Pennsylvania, and also assisted in a foundery establishment in
Providence, R. I. Within a few years, however, he has
returned to his adopted town, and is now enjoying the fruits
of an industrious life. His wife Mary died in Pittsford,
April 1, 1838, aged thirty-two years, nine months and twenty-
eight days.
James Lowth is the son of James who was born in Dun-
dalk, Louth County, Ireland, in 1765, married 1788, Margaret
McGuire, who was born in Coat Hill, Cavan County, in 1768,
and located in Killeary, Meath County. They had two sons,
James and Edward. The father was liberally educated, and
for some years the principal of an academy, but died. in 1794;
the mother died in 1820. James, the eldest son, born May
14, 1790, married, in 1800, Marcella Guirk, who was born
June 20, 1791. They came to America in 1827, and soon
located in Pittsford. For a few years Mr. Lowth found
employment at the Furnace, but on the 21st day of April,
1832, he purchased of Clark Taft the farm upon which he still
resides, with his son Matthew. He has been an, industrious
man, of good habits. His wife died June 21, 1848.
John R. Dunlap, born August 23, 1802, married (1827)
Sarah Walker, and located on the farm now owned by Daniel
Eay. He left the town in 1843.
Addison Buck, son of Alfred, was born February 19, 1804.
A part of his early life was spent as a clerk in the store of his
uncle, then residing in Bridport. He married Amanda H.
Hay ward, of Bridport, April 16, 1827, and located on the
Mott* place in Pittsford Tillage. He built a store a little
south of the house and went into mercantile business. His
store was burnt in the winter of 1827-8, and he built a new
* This, for a time, was owned by Dr. Mott.
SIMEON SMITH RUFUS WHEDON. 385
one upon its site and continued to occupy it as a store till
about the year 1853. He was appointed Postmaster under
the administration of President Jackson, and served as such
through the administration of Martin Van Buren. Mrs.
Amanda H. Buck died November 4, 1858, and Mr. Buck
married Fidelia E. Field of Brattleboro, July 10, 1861. He
is now residing on the Cooley place and is employed as a
meat merchant.
Simeon Smith is the son of Abijah and Sabra Smith,* and
was born in Pittsford, February 7, 1806. December 24, 1827,
lie married Lydia Bickford, who was born in Canada, June 14,
1806. They resided some years in the westerly part of the
town, but in 1856, Mr. Smith bought of Newell Leonard the
John Parmelee place, and has since resided on it.
Rufus Whedon (as he spelled his name) was the eldest son
of James Whedon, and brother of Isaac, who has already been
mentioned. He was born in Connecticut in 1757, and at the
commencement of the Revolutionary war, being then eighteen
years of age, he enlisted as a soldier in the American army,
and served through the war. He was with Washington, in
the most of that General s hard-fought battles, and during
some part of the time he was a member of his body-guard.
After the close of the war, he married Anna Norton, and
resided in Connecticut till 1827, when he removed with his
family to this town, and resided a year with his brother Isaac.
April 2, 1828, he purchased of Abel Penfield the farm which
had been owned and improved by Ebenezer Hopkins, the same
which is now owned by William P. Ward. Mr. Whedon
moved on this farm very soon after he bought it. Mrs.
Whedon died of small-pox, February 9, 1832. Mr. Whedon
afterwards married a Widow Gatt, of Rutland. He died April
* Abijah Smith s children were Abigail, Israel, Mary, Simeon. Leander and
William.
26
386 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
5, 184:0. He was a tall, portly man, quite social, and delighted
to narrate his military experience, and he had a fund of anec
dotes respecting the " Father of his country."
We have little knowledge of Leonard Fargo prior to the
time he came to Pittsford. He had resided some time in Hut-
land, and there lost his first wife. He came to this town in
1828, and on the 7th day of December, that year, married
Hepzibah Eider, daughter of Rufus Wheaton, and perhaps
resided a short time in Rutland, though not long after their
marriage they were occupying the Rawson place in this town.
After the death of Mrs. Fargo s father, in 1840, his farm was
divided among her heirs, and Mrs. Fargo had her share set off
to her from the south part of it, and Mr. Fargo built a house
and barn upon that part the same that now stand near the
foot of the hill, south of William P. Ward s. Mr. Fargo died
there in 1868 ; Mrs. Fargo died in 1870.
Thomas H. Palmer was born in Kelso, Scotland, Dec. 27,
1782, and in early life came to Philadelphia and was there
employed some years in a printing office. His attention was
mostly directed to literary pursuits, and being a man of great
energy and perseverence, he soon acquired an extensive knowl
edge of almost every department of science. On the 8th of
July, 1822, he married Joanna T. Fenton, who was born in
Georgia, Yt., September 25, 1800. They resided in Philadel
phia four years, then came to Rutland, Yt., and resided two
years; and on the eleventh of June, 1828, Mr. Palmer bought
of Jeremiah Howard the Phineas Ripley farm in Pittsford, for
which he paid three thousand dollars. This farm had been
mortgaged by Mr. Ripley to the Yermont State Bank, and it
was afterwards sold to Mr. Howard. Mr. Palmer located in
Pittsford about the time he purchased this farm, and occupied
for some time the Ripley house, now owned by Samuel T.
Fenton. In 1832, he built the brick house one of the largest
ABIEL MITCHELL GRANGER FAMILY ARBELA ADAMS. 387
and pleasantest houses in the town and in this he resided till
his death, July 20, 1861. The homestead is still retained and
occupied by the Palmer family.
Abiel Mitchell, son of Abiel, was born in Easton, Mass.
He married Sarah Lingham and located in Chittenden, Yt.,
prior to 1806. In 1828, he bought of Daniel Keith the place
on which his son William now resides, near " Sand Hill," so
called. He died there in September, 1848, and his son William
then bought the place.
The Granger family is of English origin, and the first of the
Pittsford branch settled in Massachusetts in the early part of
the last century. The Christian name of the early immigrant
is not now remembered, but he had a son Simeon, who was
born in Sum^ld, Conn., September IT, 1734, married Abigail
Dudley, of Saybrook, Conn., Nov. 26, 1757, and located in
Springfield, Mass. He afterwards removed to Sandersfield,
where he died in 1815. His wife Abigail died in Deerfield,
Ohio. Their youngest son, Simeon, born in Springfield, Mass.,
March 17, 1770, married Phebe Couch, of Sandersfield, Conn.,
in 1791, and resided there till 1801, when he removed to Salis
bury, Conn., where he was a farmer and real estate broker.
He purchased some real estate in Pittsford in 1825, and as
heretofore stated, became the head of the firm of " Simeon
Granger & Sons," in 1826. Though he did business in Pitts-
ford, his family remained in Connecticut until May, 1829,
when they removed to this town and occupied the Keith house,
which stood on the south side of the brook, where Seba Smith s
house now stands. He died here, November 9, 1834. Mrs.
Granger died February 6, 1840.
Arbela Adams, born April, 1804, son of Thomas, married
Olive Hawes, of Croydon, K H., August 17, 1829, and located
on a part of the home farm. The house built for him stood on
the east side of the road between the present residence of Elias
T. Adams and that of Seba Smith, but scarcely a vestige of it
388 HISTOEY OF PITTSFOKD.
remains. He removed to the West about the year 1846.
William Nourse, youngest son of Ebenezer, was born in
Fitz williarn, N. II., June 3, 1807, and in early lite learned the
potter s trade of Solomon Goddard, of Troy. He married
Charlotte Kimball in 1827, and in the winter of 1829, came to
Pittsford and bought of Andrew Leach, sixty square rods of
land on the north side of the road and near the east end of
what is now known as the Colburn bridge. Upon this he built
a pottery and made earthen ware. He resided, at this time, in
the house which stood near where Asa bourse s house now
stands. On the 5th of June, 1834, he sold the pottery to his
brother Asa and removed to South Chittenden, where he
engaged in the same business. Soon, however, he removed to
Middlebury where he resided a few years, after which he
removed to Weybridge where he died.
James Gorham came here in 1829. He was the son of
Wakeman Gorham, who was born in Massachusetts, married
Polly , and located in Chittenden, Yt. Their children
were Polly, Lucy, Carter, James, Jerusha and Alrnira. James
was born in Chittenden, in June, 1801, married Dec. 9, 1829,
Angeline Wood,* daughter of Joseph Tottingham, and located
on the Abraham Walker place in Pittsford Village. Mr. Gor
ham was a shoemaker, and worked at his trade in a small shop
which stood a few feet south of the house. He built the pres
ent house, and died there January 10, 1849.
The town, at an adjourned meeting, March 29, 1820,
u Voted to raise two Cents on the Dollar of the list of A. D.
1820, half paid in Grain, payable the first of January next."
" Chose William Thomas School Trustee in Pleasant Valley
District. !
" Voted that the Selectmen have discretionary power to
*B>rn Otober 1, 1801).
tTlfw district im-liulcd what is known ns C obb Hill. Allen Cobb, .a prominent
settler in that district, hearing some person speaking of it in terms of derision,
reproved the scoffer and christened that section of tue town Pleasant Valley
District, a, .name by wliicli.it was. long .aiiar.knjow.
EXTRACT FROM RECORDS. 389
purchase Whisky, or Cider Brandy for Squirrel hunters not to
exceed six Gallons."
March 1, 1821. " Yoted to pay the Listers twelve dollars
each for their services in 1820."
At this time the most of the larger bridges in the town
were built upon trestle work, and almost every spring on the
breaking up of the ice in the streams, they were more or less
injured > so that the cost of supporting them was felt by the
tax-payers to be a heavy burden. Many persons were of the
opinion that several of the bridges and roads in the town might
be dispensed with ; and the selectmen were requested to call a
special meeting of the legal voters of the town, for the pur
pose of taking some action upon this matter. A meeting was
called by a warrant containing the following articles :
" 1st. To choose a Moderator.
2d. To see what number of bridges in said town they will
agree to support, and what number they will agree to dis
continue.
3d. To fix on the method of rebuilding those that should
be regarded necessary or expedient, either by raising tax or
otherways."
The following, copied from the record of the proceedings
of that meeting, will show that public sentiment was divided
in relation to the subject under consideration :
" Proceeded to choose a moderator, -whereupon Isaac "Whea-
ton was appointed.
2d. Appointed G. Newell, clerk proternpore.
3d. Voted that the town will not discontinue the east and
west road from the village across the bridge near Isachar
Johnson s.*
4th. Yoted to discontinue the road leading from the road
* Isachar Johnson at this time lived on the Mead place*
390 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
passing by Robert Wright s* across the Creek intersect ing the
road on the west side of the Creek.
5th. Yoted to appoint a committee of five to joine the
selectmen to examine the best place for a road from the village
to Penfield s, and appointed Thomas Hammond, Calvin Drury,
Nathan Gibbs, Amos Kellogg and Thomas Adams, and make
report at the next meeting.
6th. Yoted not to discontinue the road and bridge from
the village in Pittsford to R. Wright s by the widow Cooley s.
7th. Voted to discontinue the road from the west side of
the Creek across to Thomas Hammond s house.
8th. Yoted to discontinue the bridge by Capt. Allen Pen-
field s as a town bridge.
9th. Yoted to discontinue the bridge near Andrew Leach s
house, east.
10th. Yoted to recind the vote as to the bridge near
widow Cooley s.
llth. Yoted to recind the former vote as to the Mead
bridge and the road leading thereto."
A sufficient explanation of the foregoing record will be
found in the fact WG have already noticed, that there were
many influential men in the town who felt that there were more
bridges than the public could afford to support, and accordingly,
whenever one was swept away or needed extensive repairs, an
effort was made to discontinue the bridge and the road leading
thereto. One party would occasionally succeed in discontinuing
a bridge and road, and another would resort to such expedients
as would soon cause them to be legally reopened. By the eighth
vote an effort was made to throw the expense of supporting the
Mills bridge upon the inhabitants in that neighborhood.
" March 6th, 1827. Yoted to instruct the Selectmen to
* Kobert Wright at this lime lived on the Abel Stevens place.
EXTRACT FROM RECORDS. 391
defend the suit in court, concerning the road and bridge near
Thomas Hammond s."
It will be remembered that the town voted, in 1820, to
discontinue this road and bridge, and the suit referred to was
brought to compel the town to reopen them.
"March 3, 1829. Chose Rev. Willard Child, Thomas
H. Palmer and A. G. Dana, Superintending Committee of
Schools.
Voted the above committee serve without compensation."
392 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
CHAPTER XL
Immigrants or Settlers and their Locations continued;
Repairs on the Meeting House; Purchase of the East
Room. 18301840.
Ithiel Barnes, Jr., located here in 1830. He was the son
of Ithiel, was born in Pittsford, June 12, 1803, married Char
lotte Palmer of Castleton, May 13, 1830, and located on the
home farm with his parents. His time was mostly devoted to
farming, but being in feeble health he could never accomplish
what his ambition dictated. He died August 6, 1866, and the
farm is now owned by Mrs. Charlotte Barnes.
Reuben Thomas, son of Ebel, married Sophronia, daughter
of James Rollins, August 1, 1830, and located on land now
owned by Augustus and John Richardson. The house he
occupied stood on the east side of the road, a little north of
the residence of Ambrose Parmelee. He owned a small house
lot only, which was purchased of Mr. Parmelee.* He died
there March 9, 1850, aged fifty-three years. Mrs. Sophronia
Thomas died April 7, 1823, aged forty -nine years.
Nahum Mills, son of Luke, was born in Needham, Mass.,
January 17, 1785, married Eliza Ballon, about 1803, and
resided a short time in Newton, but returned to Needham, and
from thence removed to Brandon, Vt., in the winter of 1808.
On the 19th day of January, 1830, Mr. Mills bought of
Samuel Fairfield the farm in Pittsford formerly owned by
Anthony Butler, but now by Mr. Mills son, Allen. He
removed his family here soon after he purchased the farm, but
* It will be rememqcrcd that this was the north part of the Cox farm, whicli wa&
first improved by Juoiiua June, and alter wards by Jouutium Dike.
I. C. WHEATON - A. ANGER - O. SMITH -- J. W. SMITH. 395
some years afterwards returned to Brandon, where lie died
March 4, 1858. His widow died October 22, 1869.
Isaac C. Wheaton, born October 16, 1809, son of Isaac,,
married, Feb. 22, 1831, Mary A., born April 30, 1810, daugh
ter of Edward Clifford, and located on the home farm with his-
aged parents. He built a large addition to the house in 1843,,
and improved the out-buildings and the farm. He continued
to dwell there till the spring of 1868, when he sold the farm to
Nathan Hand, and bought the Hammond farm, on which he
now resides. During the period while the militia was organ
ized, and military drills were in vogue, he took a warm interest
in sustaining them, and from a private he rose to the rank of
Brigadier General.
Aaron Anger, son of Benjamin, married Eliza Luther,,
April 1, 1831, and resided a short time with his father, occu
pying the house now owned by Mr. Peabody, and recently
occupied by John Dudley. He soon became a Baptist minister
and removed from the town.
Orlin Smith, born March 14, 1807, son of Samuel, married,
November, 2, 1831, Mary B. Manley, who was born in Chit-
tenden, July 22, 1811. He located on the home farm now
owned by William A. Wing, and he resided there till 1835,
when he sold that farm to Bradley Burditt and bought the farm
formerly owned by Amherst Lee, and now by David Holden.
In 1837, he bought* the Richard Hendee farm (now K Willis )
and resided there till 1846, when he sold that place and bought
the Owen farm,f formerly Rufus Montague s, and upon this he
now resides.
John W. Smith, eldest son of Samuel, married Elvira,
daughter of Solomon Hendee, September, 16, 1831, and
resided with his father-in-law about five years. He then
* This was bought of James
t HougUt of AsaUel VVukott.
394 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
bought the Lee farm, now owned by David Holden, and on
this lie died, Oct. 4, 1847, aged forty-three years.
Martin Leonard, born in Easton, Mass., in 1804, son of
Isaaie, married, December 5, 1831, Salome Manley, who was
born in Pittsford in 1807. They located on the paternal
homestead where they still reside.
Hiram Davis, from Chester, came here some time before
lie purchased real estate. He bought of William Stevens the
north half of what was the horns farm of his late father,
Daniel Stevens, the other or south half being owned by his.
brother Eli. This purchase consisted of about one hundred
acres, and the deed, bearing date December 11, 1830 r was in
consideration of one thousand seven hundred dollars. In
March, 1831, Mr. Davis married Ann Hubbell, of Chester,
and located on the Daniel Stevens farm, occupying a part of
the house. He died there about the year 1843.
Levi Woolson is of English descent. His ancestors came
to this country at an early period and settled in Hopkinton,
Mass. His father, Asa Woolson, was born in Townsend, Mass.,
married Ann Sargent and resided some years in Grafton, Yt.,
"where he died in 1825. Mrs. Woolson died in Springfield, Yt.,
in 1857, aged eighty-six years. They had thirteen children.
Levi, the sixth child, was born in Grafton, April 7, 1807, came
to Pittsford when he was about ten years of age, and resided
in the family of Thomas Burditt till he was twenty-one. He
married, in 1831, Betsey E. Thayer, who was born in Ben-
nington, March 30, 1809. They located on the farm now
owned by Alexander Parmelee. In 1849, Mr. Woolson bought
the land and built the house he now occupies ; and during his-
residence here he has worked at wagon and sleigh making.
Mrs. Betsey E. Woolson died March 31, 1842. Mr. Woolson
married, August 29, 1844, Elizabeth Hoar, who was born in
Chester, August 28, 1822.
Ashbel Lee, Jr., born July 7, 1810, son of Ashbel, mar-
D. C. POWERS R. THOMAS N. ANDREWS H. LEONARD. 395
ried, March 27, 1832, Eliza Mills, who was born February 11,
1810, and located on the farm* now owned by Marshall How-
land. He removed to Castleton in 1843, where he now resides.
Daniel <X Powers, born June 29, 1805, son of Richard M.,
married, May 10, 1832, N. Maria Palmer, of Castleton, who
~was born June 26, 1810. He located an the homestead with
Ms parents where he resided till 1837, when he built the house
now owned by Jeremiah C. Powers, into which he removed.
This house was built on the farm formerly owned by Samuel
Kendall who sold it to Richard M. Powers, and it was, by the
latter, deeded to his son Daniel C., who resided on it till about
the year 1853, when he sold it to his brother, Jeremiah C.
After residing a short time in Castleton. and a few months in
the westerly part of this town, he removed to Danby, Illinois,
where he now resides.!
Rufus Thomas, son of Ebel, married Lucina Mead, and
located on the place now owned by Charles Smith. He had
purchased this place of Charles Pearse, of Chittenden, but
finding no copy of the deed we are unable to give its date.
He resided there till about the year 1855, when he sold his
place to Mr. Smith and removed to Wisconsin.
Nelson Andrews, son of Elvin, was a clothier. He was in
the employment of Sturges Penfield for some time, though we
do not know where he learned his trade. He married Frances
Wedge, February 23, 1832, and resided some months with his
parents on the farm now (1870) owned by Judson Smith. He
removed from the town about the year 1835.
Hiram Leonard, born Sept. 25, 1802, son of Capen, mar
ried, November, 1832, Almira Barnard, who was born in 1805.
He located on the Rawson farm which he had purchased of
Timothy Lester in 1827. Having improved his early school
*This fnrm was a part of his father s estate which he inherited,
t Mr. Powers returned to Pittpford in lytfH, and was employed here in quarrying
marble, but has recently returned to LU borne in the West.
396 HISTORY OF PITTSFOED.
Advantages he had obtained a good English education, and, for
ome years after his marriage, he taught school in winter and
worked on the farm in summer. He sold the Rawson farm to
S. H. and A, C. Kellogg in 1835, and bought a small place a
few rods north of Mr. A. C. Kellogg s, the same year. His
wife Ahnira died in 1837, and he married Maria Dodge, of
Weybridge, March 24, 1838. He sold his last mentioned
place in 1839, and soon after removed to Mill Village, bought
the saw-mill which he now owns, and after renting tenements-
.some years, built the house in which he now resides. His wife
Maria died in 1862, and he married Charlotte Dodge, sister of
Jiis second wife, Sept. 21, 1863.
Thomas Mills, son of Nahum, was born in Brandon, Dec.
10, 1810, and spent his minority in that town. He married.
Belinda, daughter of Wright Whipple, August 25, 1832, and
located on the Weller farm, on the easterly slope of the hill,
west of the present residence of Allen Mills. After residing
there a short time he removed to Brandon, but returned and
bought a part of the Stevens farm now owned by Albert
Fletcher, A few years later lie sold this and purchased the
David Jackson farm, a part of which is in Rutland. He had
.this farm of the heirs of Eleazer H. Morgan, who had pur
chased it of the heirs of Zephaniah Potter. Potter had the
place of Amherst Lee, and Lee had it of David Jackson.
Thomas Mills died on that farm, July 17, 1866.
The Thomas family of Pittsford is of Welsh origin.
Odonrdo Thomas was born in W ales, and came to this country
in early life. He married Hannah Morse and located in
Marlboro , Mass. They had one son, Ebel, who was born in
Maalboro , in 1761. He married Persis Baldwin, who was
born in Swan ton, Vt., in 1774. They located in Chittenden,
and had fourteen children twelve sons, Lucas, Nathan,
Reuben, Rnfus, Caleb, Augustus, Jeduthan, Eber, Robert,
Grin, Joel and Aasoa> and twa daughters, Dolly and
AUGUSTUS THOMAS ORIN W. PHILLIPS HENRY MEESEK. 39T
Ebel, the father, died in Chittenden in 1834. Persis, the
mother, died in Pittslbrd in 1842.
Augustus Thomas, son of Ebel, was born in Chittenden,.
Dec. 1, 1803, and married, July 15, 1832, Rebecca Hay ward,
who was born in Mount Holly, Jan. 4, 1809. They located on
the farm in the north part of the town, where they have ever
since resided. This farm was formerly a part of the estate of
Caleb Ilendee, Sen., and was deeded to his son David, who
built the house and resided in it a few years. Thomas M^Con-
nel bought the farm and sold it Hulas and Augustus Thomas,
March 18, 1829. Eufus sold his undivided half to Simeon
Granger & sons, on the 26th of March, 1834, and on the same
day, said Granger and sons conveyed the same property by
deed to Augustus Thomas.
Orin W. Phillips son of Jacob, was born December 8 r
1807, married Frances F. Clifford, March 15, 1832, and located
on the home farm with his parents. The farm was afterwards
divided between him and his brother Harris, but the latter
sold his part to Orin W. aad removed to the West. Orin W.
still occupies the farm which has been in possession of the family
since the first improvements upon it by his grandfather, Anthony
Phillips.
Henry Messer located here about this time. He was the
son of Moses Messer who was born in Methuen, Mass., about
1772, and married Abigail Stevens, of Killingworth, Conn., in
1792. They were married in Newport, N. II., and located in
Claremont, where their first child was born. They removed
to Orwell, Vt, where Mr. Messer died, after a residence in
that town of twenty -one years. Mrs. Messer died in February,
1833, aged sixty-two years. They had ten children, of which
Henry, the eighth, was born in 1805. He resided with his
parents in Orwell until lie was fifteen years of age, when he
came to Pittsford to learn the trade of tanner and currier of
Elijah Brown. After serving his term of apprenticeship, lie
398 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
worked at shoemaking with James Gorham. In March, 1832,
lie bought of Dr. Dana the Graham place in the Village, now
owned by J. A. Randall. He married Lydia Fenton, and not
long afterwards, he demolished the old house and built the sub
stantial brick house upon its site. He worked at shoemaking
in the shop now occupied by Mr. Randall. He died August
2J, 1839.
Charles Thomas Colburn, became an inhabitant of this
town in 1832. He is a defendant of Moses Colburn, who was
born in Massachusetts, married Betsey Peabody, and settled
in Andover, where were born the following children, viz.:
Stephen,* Moses, David, Jonathan, Betsey and Hannah. The
father died in Sheffield, X. B., 1790 ; the mother died in
Andover, 1763.
Stephen, the eldest son, married Ann Wasson, February
20, 1787, and located in Sheffield, X. B. Their children were
John P., Susannah V., Betsey, Moses, Rebecca M., George
W v Mary P., Charles T., William B. and Ann Q. The father
died February 20, 1829; the mother died October 16, 1832.
Charles Thomas Colburn was born in Fredericton, X. B.,
October 11, 1801, adopted the trade of a blacksmith, and
married, Xov. 5, 1829, Olivia L. Moulton, who was born in
Castleton, October 16, 1801. They settled in Fairhaven, Yt.,
where they resided till 1832, in the fall of which year they
removed to this town. On the 17th of October, 1833, Mr.
Colburn purchased of Andrew Leach the William Orcutt
place, together with the blacksmith shop, and water privilege
below the bridge the same which had been improved by Mr.
Leach. He at once occupied the house and carried on black-
smithing business in the old Leach shop. He continued in the
same employment, till three or four years ago, when he retired
for the most part from active business.
* Stephen by his wife Betsey, the other children by a second wife.
BRADLEY BURDITT 8ILOE DUNKLEE. 399
Bradley Burditt, born September 4, 1817, son of Thomas,,
married Cynthia, daughter of Samuel Smith, in 1833, and
resided two years on the home farm with his parents. He
then bought of Orlin Smith the farm next south upon which
his father-in-law had resided. He occupied this farm till 1862,
when he bought the Buck place in the Village and this has
since been hie residence.
The Dunklee families of Pittsford were originally from
New Hampshire. Thaddeus Dunklee was born in Amherst,
N. H, and married Sarah Prince, of that town, in 1774.
Their children were Abel, Sarah, Abraham, Susanna, Damaris,
Esther, James, Thaddeus, Joseph and Betsey. Abel, the
eldest, born in Amherst, N. H., April 8, 1776, married, in
1803, Ruth Wright, who was born in Dublin in 1772. They
resided a few years in Dublin, then removed to Hartford, Vt.,
and some time afterwards to Rutland where both died the
wife in April, 1864, the husband in December, 1867. Their
children were Siloe, Mary, Lucias and Lucia (twins), Paschal,
John W., Elmira, Jane, Louisa and Phebe. Siloe, the eldest,
born in Dublin, January 18, 1805, married Elizabeth Booth, of
Pittsford, January 16, 1827, and located in Chittenden, from
which town he removed to Rutland. In 1833, he came to
Pittsford and occupied the house then standing between Amos
Crippen s and Samuel W. Boardrnan s, though he did not pur
chase the place till the 29th day of October, 1839, when he
took a deed of the house* and thirty rods of land from Paschal
Dunklee of Fredericktown, Ohio. He sold this place to Isaac
Leonard, March 3, 1840, and on the same day bought of Ira
Hitchcock the Hickockj place, on which he now resides. The
house at that time was considerably dilapidated, and Mr.
Dunklee removed it and built the present one upon its site in
1849. Mr. Dunklee is a cooper, and has done a large amount
* This house was demolished in 1866.
t Oliver Hickock formerly resided oil this place.
400 HISTORY OF PITTSFOED.
of work in this line of business. Within a few years his-
health lias become so much impaired, that he has. been com
pelled to retire from active business. His wife Elizabeth died
August 9, 1864, and he married Nancy Beard, December
28, 1864.
Daniel Chaffee, son of Benjamin, married Miranda, daugh
ter of Simon Haven, February 7, 1833, and located on the
home farm with his parents. He died suddenly, in the house
now owned by Michael Carrigan, about the year 1839.
William C. Cutting, son of Samuel and Hannah (Coolidge)
Cotting, was born in Ashburnham, Mass., in 1808, and at the
age of twelve years, his parents removed to Chester, Yt., where
his mother died in 1824, aged forty-five years. His father
subsequently married and removed to Rutland in 1827, where r
after surviving five of his eight children, he died in 1854, aged
eighty-two years. The son, William C., became a cabinet
maker, and worked in Pittsford when a young man. He
married Mary, daughter of Amos and Lucy Kimball, in 1833,
and located in the Johnson house, now owned by Joseph
Kelley. They changed locations several times, but on the
12th day of April, 1855, Mr. Cotting purchased the Andrew
Leach place, and this has since been his residence. Mrs. Mary
Cotting died in 1863.
Simeon Parmelee, born Feb. 19, 1807, son of Hezekiah r
married, January 29, 1834, Roxana Powell, who was born in
Sullivan, K H., August 22, 1804. He had purchased of his
father, on the 25th of January, 1831, the Keith place, consist
ing of a house and fifteen acres of land, the same that is now
owned by William Morseman. This place was deeded to
Hezekiah Parmelee by Daniel Keith, the 5th day of May,
1823. On the 10th of October, 1833, Mr. Parmelee, the
younger, bought of Joel Cutler, fifteen acres, lying south of
and adjoining the Dr. Deming place, then owned by his father.
He located on the farm with his father, and somewhat enlarged
ARTHUR MILLER LEWIS WHITE E. L. GRANGER. 401
it by additional purcahse, and the most of the later improve
ments upon it are the result of his labor. He built the present
house. He is a mason, and formerly devoted a large share of
his time to this trade. We are informed that few men could
excel him in the thoroughness and finish of his work. Within
the past few years he has devoted the most of his time to
farming.
Arthur Mullin is the son of William and Hannah (Haybron)
Mullin, and was born in Tyrone County, Ireland, about the
year 1810. He came to this country in early life, married
Mary McCre, July 14, 1834, and located in Pittsford. He
changed his location quite often while a citizen of the town.
In 1856, he removed to the north part of Chittenden where
he purchased land. He is now counted among the thrifty
farmers of that town. He has raised a large family of children,
and they are industrious and enterprising.
Lewis White located here in 1834. His father, Solomon
White, was born in Charlestown, N. H., married Hannah
Sirnonds, of that town, and located in Antwerp, Jefferson
County, 1ST. Y. Mrs. White died there at the age of seventy-
one ; Mr. White died at the age of eighty-four. Their son
Lewis was born in Antwerp, January 29, 1811, and on the
28th of October, 1834, he married Charlotte Burditt, who was
born in Pittsford, April 18, 1815. Mr. White located on the
Amos Crippen farm in this town, where he still resides.
Edward Livingston Granger located here in 1834. He was
the youngest son of Simeon Granger, and was born April 5,
1808. He married, January 6, 1834, Mary W., daughter of
Elijah Brown, and located in Furnace Village, occupying the
cottage in which his older brother, Chester, had before resided.
He was engaged in operating the furnace, of which he was a
joint owner with his brother Chester. He was active, shrewd
in business, and under his management the furnace property
was very productive, and yielded the proprietors large profits.
27
402 HISTORY OF PITTSFOED.
He died, after a short illness, Dec. 1, 1846, leaving his heirs
considerable property. Mrs. Mary W. Granger afterwards
married B. F. Winslow, Esq.
Newell Leonard, son of Isaac, married Clarissa Cutler,
March 24, 1835, and located on what was a part of the John
Miller place, where he now resides. The house he occupies
was built only a short time before he married. The farm he
cultivates was purchased in small portions, at different times, a
part being taken from the Derby place, and a part from other
adjoining lots.
Luther Nourse, son of Ebenezer, was born in Fitzwilliam,,
N. H., July 16, 1787, married Lucy Davis, of that town, in
1812, and resided on the home farm with his parents until
1825, when he removed to Albany, Yt. He afterwards
removed to Canada, and from thence, in 1835, to PittsforcL
He resided some time in the Nixon house, from which he
removed to the Wright farm, a little south of Lewis White s,
and in 1850, he and his son Joel bought the place now owned
by Jeduthan Thomas. A few years later Joel sold his share
of the property to his brother William, who married and
resided there with his father till 1863, when they sold the
place. After residing two years at Mill Tillage, and one at
Center Rutland, they removed to Fairhaven, where the father
died in 1868.
Deming Gorham became a citizen of this town in 1835.
He was a son of Seth Gorham, who was born in Fairfield,
Conn., married Millacent Dunks, and located in Poultney, Vt.,
where were born the following children, viz.: Betsey, Barlow,
Eli, Deming, Judson, Alonzo and Laura. Deming, the third
son, was born June 6, 1789, and married, February 11, 1808,
Sabra Gates, who was born in Rutland, August 22, 1790.
They located in West Rutland where they resided till 1835,
when Mr. Gorham bought the Abel Stevens farm in Pittsford,
and immediately eame here with, his family. This farm had,
SAMUEL MEAD JOSEPH KELLEY. 403
but a short time before, been owned and occupied by Robert
Wright, Mr. Gorham improved the farm and buildings, and in
1856, he built the cottage a little east of the old mansion. In
this he died, Nov. 14, 1861. Mrs. Sabra Gorham died June
23, 1869.
Samuel Mead settled here in 1835. He was the son of
Samuel Mead who w r as the son of John, and was born in this
town, November 27, 1808. June 3, 1835, he married Solana
Chaffee, who was born in Chittenden, December 23, 1810.
Mr. Mead located on the home farm with his parents the
same farm which is now owned by John McCail. After
residing there some years he removed to a house near the
Furnace, where he died July 2, 1858. Mrs. Mead now resides
in Hitchcockville.
Joseph Kelley became a citizen of Pittsford in 1835. His
grandfather, Joseph Kelley, was born in Swansea, Mass., Sep
tember 14, 1719, and married Lydia Buffum who was born in
Salern, Mass., July 12, 1721. They located in Smithfield, R. I.,
and had the following children, viz.: Hannah, Benjamin, Joseph
Daniel, David, Betsey, Micajah, Hopestill, Lydia and Elipha-
let. Lydia, the mother, died in Smithfield, October 23, 1802.
Joseph, the father, died in Wallingford, Yt., Sept. 11, 1817.
Eliphalet, the youngest child, was born November 28, 1766,
and married Prudence Matthewson, who was born in Glouces
ter, October 14, 1770. They also located in Smithfield and
had the following children, viz.: Azel, David, Joseph, George
W., Hannah, Daniel, Timothy, Lydia, Anna and Amy. Mrs.
Kelley died Jan. 23, 1835. Mr. Kelley died June 23, 1850.
Joseph Kelley, the third son of Eliphalet, was born in
Smithfield, February 19, 1795, and married, October 19, 1819,
Anna M. Swett, who was born in Leicester, Yt., January 7,
1799. They located in Danby, but removed to Middletown,
where they resided till they came to Pittsford. Mr. Kelley is
a mechanic by occupation, and he worked some years at the
4:04 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
Furnace. In 1848, he bought of Chapman Hitchcock, the
place which was, for some years, the residence of Heman
Johnson. This has since been his home.
Seth Hudson, son of Eli, was born January 1, 1806. His
trade was that of a carpenter and joiner. He married Lucy
Lillie, May 23, 1836, and resided a short time in the family of
Samuel A. Brown. He had changed his place of residence
quite often previously to 1865, when he removed to the place
he now occupies the same that was once owned by Benjamin
Booth.
Benajah Douglass Bates, son of Joshua, was born July 18,
1810, and married Jemima F., daughter of Samuel Warner,
October 25, 1836. He resided several years on the home farm
with his father. About the year 1835, he removed to the Titus
farm which had been purchased by his father-in-law, "Warner,
who had occupied it some years. The old house at that time
stood some few rods northeast of the present house, which was
built by Mr. Bates. He died October 16, 1864, but the farm
is still occupied by his heirs.
John Stevens is a descendant of Simon Stevens, who was
born in Canterbury, Conn., December 15, 1736. At the com
mencement of the French war, Simon enlisted in the service of
his country, in 1758, was taken prisoner by the Indians, on
Lake George, and carried to Onodago, where he was confined
more than a year. After enduring many hardships he made
his escape, and located in Springfield, Yt., He was appointed
Captain of a military company in 1766, was promoted to the
rank of Major in the Revolutionary war, and was afterwards
Lieutenant-Colonel of a regiment of State militia. He was
the first Justice of the Peace in his adopted town, an office
which he held more than fifty years. He was a member of
the Provisional Congress, and for several years he represented
his town in the General Assembly of the State. He married
Willson, who died about 1778 ; and he married, in
JOHN STEVENS JOSIAH LEONARD AUGUSTUS BAILEY. 405
March, 1T80, Lydia Silsby, who died in Februrry, 1781. Mr.
Stevens married, for his third wife, Anna Fields. Pie died
February 15, 1817, in the triumphs of the Christian faith.
His children were Simon, John and Silsby. The last, born
January 5, 1781, married, March 18, 1802, Abigail Wetherby,
who was born in Lansingburg, Mass., Nov. 12, 1780, and they
located in Acworth, !N". EL, where Mrs. Stevens died April 18,
1818. May 1, 1819, Mr. Stevens married Mary Ann Grimes,
who was born in Windham, N. H., in 1782. She died October
10, 1839. Mr. Stevens died in Lynchburg, Ohio, in 1861,
leaving three sons, viz.: John, Thomas and Ithiel.*
John Stevens, born August 4, 1804, came to Pittsford in
1836, and married, February 26, Melinda, daughter of Asher
Burditt, and located in the house he now occupies, near the
grist-mill in Mill Village. On the 29th of March, 1837, he
purchased of Abel Penfield, one undivided third part of the
grist-mill and mill privilege, on the 17th day of April follow
ing, of Allen Penfield another third, and on the 19th of
November, 1838, of Sturges Penfield, the remainder. Mr.
Stevens has continued to run the mill to the present time.
About two years since he enlarged and greatly improved it, so
that it is now one of the best in the State.
Josiah Leonard, born January 4, 1810, son of Isaac, mar
ried Olive P., daughter of Samuel Hendee, April 19, 1836,
and located on the farm he had purchased of Samuel W.
Boardman on the 16th of January the same year. He con
tinues to reside upon this farm, though he now occupies a house
that was built especially for his parents.
Augustus Bailey, son of Enos, married Betsey Ray, May
15, 1836, and located on the Allen farm.f He had purchased
this of Enoch Paine, June 8, 1833. Mr. Bailey built a barn
* These were his children by his first wife. By his second wife he had Abigail,
Mary Ann, Sarah Jane, Lydia, Aaron, Caroline M. and James A.
t This farm has been mentioned as having been first improved by Reuben Allen.
4:06 HISTORY OF PITTSFOED.
on the farm, which was burnt, and he built another upon its
site. He resided on the farm till 1865, when he sold it to
Nathaniel Willis and removed to Brandon.
John Parmelee, a shoemaker, born about the year 1805,
son of Hezekiah, married Ruth M., daughter of Robert Love-
land, in 1827. He located in Malone, !N". Y., but returned to
Pittsford, in 1836, and resided at Mill Tillage till 1841, when
he bought of Sylvester Sherman the place now owned by
Simeon Smith. Mr. Sherman had purchased that place of
Gilbert Cutler, who had purchased the land and removed upon
it the old Derby house which he repaired. He resided there
and worked at his trade till 1854, when he sold the place to
Phineas Blood and removed to Lomira, Wis., where he died in
1860.
Caleb Rich Hendee, son of Gen. Caleb, was born Nov. 5,
1808, and received a large share of his early instruction from
his father. He attended school at Castleton some time, after
which he commenced the study of law in the office of John
Pierpoint, Esq., then of Pittsford. He also spent some time
in the office of Gordon Newell, Esq., after which he went to
Zanesville, Ohio, where he completed his course of study and
was admitted to the bar. He returned to Pittsford in 1836,
and on the 21st day of April, married Mary Ann Granger,
who was born September 19, 1812. They resided in this town
till the 6th of September, when they set out for Zanesville,
Ohio, where Mr. Hendee practiced his profession about two
years, when he returned to this town and located in a house
which stood where Mr. Tiffany s house now stands, and devoted
his attention to farming. On the 14th of February, 1840, his
house was burned. The following year Mr. Hendee built the
house which stands further south, and on the east side of the
road, and is now occupied by his heirs. He died March 26,
1842.
The Fenton family located in Pittsford in 1836. Samuel
JOHN DUFFY ASA NOITRSE. 407
Fenton, son of John, was born in Rutland, Mass., February
22, 1774, and married, (in Rutland, Yt.,) in 1798. Cynthia
Woods, who was born in Braintree, Mass., April 1, 1774.
They located in Georgia, Yt. Their children were Dulcima,
Joanna, John, Lydia, Sarah, Samuel T. and Anne W. The
last two or three were born in Rutland where the family
resided for a time. Samuel T. was born in Rutland, Aug. 25,
1810, married Miss A. R. Hall, of Chittenden, October 26,
1831, and settled in that town. In 1836, he bought of Sylves
ter Sherman the Martin Keeler farm,* now owned by Jeremiah
Leonard, and here he removed his family and was joined by
his father and mother, who resided with him till their death.
His father died July 25, 1854 ; his mother died April 23, 1857.
He sold that farm to Jeremiah Leonard in 1859, and at the
same time purchased of Thomas H. Palmer the larger part of
the Ripley farm, and on this he has since resided, occupying
the Ripley house.
John Duffy was born in Meath county, Ireland, April 7,
1798. At the age of twenty-eight years he came to America,
found his way to Pittsford, Yt., and worked a few years at the
Furnace. On the 28th of October, 1834, he purchased of
Reuben and Seth J. "Wicker what was known as the Wicker
farm. He married Mary Ratigan, April 9, 1837, and located
on this farm, where he resided till his death, Feb. 12, 1869.
Mrs. Duffy, born also in Meath county, Ireland, March 20,
1806, still occupies the farm. They had but one child, a daugh
ter, Margaret, who now resides with her mother.
Asa bourse, son of Ebenezer, was born in Fitzwilliam,
N. H., May 9, 1801. At the age of ten years he went to
* This was a part of the Noah Waite farm. Martin Keeler married Hannah,
youngest daughter of Noah Waite, and after the death of her father, the north part
of the farm was set off to her and her husband. They resided some time in a log
house which stood about ten rods north of the brook which runs from east to
west through the original Waite farm. This was before, there was a road in that
section, and after the present road was laid out ten acres were purchased to give
place for buildings near the road. The second house on that farm stood a little in
the rear of the present one, now owned by Jeremiah Leonard.
408 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
Brookfield, Yt., to reside with his oldest brother, Josiah, who
had located in that town. There he attended the district school
in winter, and worked on the farm in summer. In the spring of
1819, his brother having purchased a farm in Pittsford ^ he
came here to reside with him. He was a good scholar, and he
taught school several successive winters, attended to agricul
tural pursuits at other seasons of the year. On the 25th of
October, 1824, he purchased of John and Lyman Rockwood t
" one equal undivided half" of the saw-mill, just north of what
is now known as the Colburn bridge, together with one-half of
the mill yard and privilege. On the first day of March, 1830,
he purchased of Andrew Leach two and three-fourth acres of land
with the buildings thereon, lying east of the said Leach s black
smith shop. This included land now owned by Mr. bourse and
the heirs of the late Jeffrey Barnes. The house then standing on
it the one now owned by Jeduthan Thomas occupied about
the site of the present house of Mr. Nourse. On the 12th day
of February, 1835, he purchased of his brother William, the
other half of the saw-mill, which had been deeded by Andrew
Leach to the latter, January 20, 1829. He married Olive
Cummings, March 9, 1837, and located in the house already
mentioned. He removed this in 1844, and built the one he
now occupies. Formerly a [considerable share of his time was
improved in his saw-mill, but he sold this in 1865, and ha&
since given the most of his attention to farming.
James R. Smith located here in 1837. He was the son of
Cornelius Smith, and was born in Warren, New York, October
14, 1806. He married Emeline A., eldest daughter of Samuel
Hendee, January 2, 1833, and located in Brandon; but in
1837, Mr. Smith bought of Alvin Andrews what has long
been known as the Andrews farm, now (1871) owned by Jud-
son J. Smith. He resided on that farm till 1853, when he
sold it to the town of Pittsford. The following year he bought
of Orin Thomas the Woodruff farm, now owned by David
B. STEVENS JUJSTIA SABGENT CHARLES FAY. 409
Scofield. He sold this farm to George White in 1865, and
bought the Edward Granger farm, January 25, 1867. Mr.
Smith died March 12, 1867, and never occupied the last pur
chased farm, though his family took possession of it soon after
his death, and still reside on it.
Benjamin Stevens, 3d, located here in 1837. He is the
eldest son of Eli Stevens who was the son of Daniel, who was
the son of Benjamin the early settler, of whom some account
Las been given. He was born in Pittsford and resided here the
most of the time till 1833, when he married Nancy, daughter
of James Burditt, and settled in Cornwall. He returned to
Pittsford in 1837, and purchased the farm recently owned by
Edwin Wheaton, and built the present house in 1842. He also
built the barnes. He sold this farm to Mr. Wheaton and
purchased the one next adjoining on the north and built the
house he now occupies in 1861. The farm on which he now
resides has been owned by three generations of his ancestors
and occupied by two, his father and grandfather.
Junia Sargent, Jr., born in Ticonderoga, N. Y., May 20,.
1809, son of Junia, married Harriet S., daughter of Ezra
Spencer, Nov. 29, 1838, and located on the Barlow farm which
he had purchased of Mr. Spencer. He resided on that farm
about seven years, and then bought of the heirs of Samuel
Fairfield, the farm on which he now resides.* His wife Harriet
S., died April 17, 1859, and February 4, 1862, he married
Mary A. Richardson.
Charles Fay married Harriet Howland, January 10, 1838,
and located in the northwest part of the town, on the road
leading from John Ray s to Hubbardton. He had purchased!
of Leonard Wheeler, seventy-five acres of land in that part of
the town upon which he built a house and made other improve
ments. Mr. Fay left town some years since.
*It will be remembered that this was the William Cox farm.
t The deed bears date July 15, 1832.
J The purchase was made of Deodat Brewster.
410 HISTORY OF PITTSFOED.
Nathan Smith Warner, born January 22, 1812, son of
Samuel, married, August 26, 1838, Sarah G., daughter of
R, M. Powers, and located on the Esty or Brewster farm
which had been purchased}: by himself, his father, and brother
Chapin, in company. He resided there a few years and then,
in company with his brother-in-law, Marshall Wood, he pur
chased the Kingsley tannery, and removed to the house now
owned by Edward Ladderbouche. Here Mr. Warner worked at
tanning and currying, a trade he had learned some years before.
In 1852, he purchased a farm in the north part of Rutland,
where he now resides.
Seth H. Hewitt, born in Pittsford in 1811, son of James,
married, 1838, Lovina, born in 1812, daughter of Robert
Loveland, and located on the homestead with his parents. He
has continued to occupy and improve that farm to the present
time.
Zebulon Pond became a citizen of Pittsford in 1838. His
father, whose name was also Zebulon, was born in Wrentham,
Mass., December 5, 1765, and, though quite young, served as
a waiter to an officer in the Revolutionary war. After the
war, he married Lucretia Ware, who was born in Wrentham r
June 21, 1770. Soon after their marriage, they removed to
Wilmington, Vt. Their children were Joseph, Alson, Benja
min, Diadama, Zebulon, Betsey, Lucretia and Daniel. Zebu-
Ion Jr. was born July 6, 1795, married Mary Smith, March
24, 1816, and located at Sutherland Falls, Yt. He afterwards
removed to the south part of Brandon, where he resided till
March 12, 1838, when he bought the Dike farm in Pittsford
(Sugar Hollow) consisting of one hundred and sixty acres,
the same now occupied by Martin Eitzpatrick. His father and
mother came here to reside with him, the former of whom died
September 20, 1844, and the latter March 30, 1843. Mr.
Pond was a soldier in the war of 1812.
AMOS HITCHCOCK JOHN M. AND JOHN M. GOODNOUGH. 411
Amos Hitchcock located here in 1838. He was the son of
Chapman Hitchcock and was born October 27, 1803. He
married Elizabeth Harwood,* September 4, 1838, and settled
on the farm, a part of which is now owned by Frank Bresee.
In 1850, he bought of Dr. E. Y. K Harwood the lot now
owned by his heirs, and built upon it one of the handsomest
houses in the town. He moved into this house on the 4th day
of December. Mr. Hitchcock died September 3, 1852. He
was a very industrious man, a model farmer and a good citizen.
Few have left pleasanter memories.
John M, Goodnough settled here in 1838. His grand
father, Timothy Goodnough, was born in Charlestown, Mass.,
married Sally Lincoln and resided in that town. Their children
were Daniel, Elijah, Asa, Willis, Abel, John, Experience,
Louisa, Catharine, Abigail, Sally and Polly. Willis, the fifth
son, was born March 25, 1781, and while a young man he
went to Brandon, Yt., (then Neshobe). On the 25th of Jan
uary, 1802, he married Lydia Mott and located in that town.
Miss Mott was the daughter of Deacon John Mott, and was
born in Fort Yengeance, where her parents had taken refuge
during the troublesome time of the Revolution. The children
of Willis and Lydia Goodnough were Elijah, Daniel, Mary
and John M. The father died in 1854, the mother in 1855.
John M. Goodnough, the youngest son of Willis, was born
in Brandon, March 30, 1813. While a young man he was
employed some part of the time as a clerk in a store. On the
30th of May, 1838, he married Sarah Ann Gorham, who was
born in West Rutland, January 29, 1819. They have resided
in this town since their marriage, and for several years have
occupied the Harwood farm, a part of w r hich was -once owned
by Mrs. Goodnough s father, Deming Gorham. Mr. Goodnough
has built upon this farm a neat and convenient house and other
* Born in Hartford, Vt., Jan. 29, 1814.
412 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
substantial buildings. He is a man of energy and of uncommon:
sagacity, and, as a matter of course, has been very successful
in business. He is " one of the solid men of tlie town."
Augustus Hammond, born June 5, 1800, son of Thomas,,
married, October 12, 1839, Mary, born June 2, 1807, daughter
of Sturges Penfield, and located on the home farm with his
parents. His father, with ample means and sound judgment^
had brought the farm to a high state of cultivation, and at his-
death, left it to a son who has proved to be one of the worthiest
citizens of the town. In 1867, he sold his farm to Isaac C.
Wheaton and bought the homestead of his father-in-law, Pen-
iield, and upon this he now resides.
Martin Leach, Jr., born July 19, 1813, son of Martin,,
married, August 14, 1839, Harriet, born April 19, 1819 r
daughter of Asher Burditt, and located on the home farm with
his parents. His father was a blacksmith, and the son was
taught the same trade ; but not having a taste for it, he has
abandoned it altogether and given his attention to fanning and
horticulture. He sold his farm to Ashbel Humphrey, in 1857,,
and has since resided on the Lincoln, or Lucas, place at Mill
Village.
John W. Hudson, son of Eli, married Jerusha Gorham,
July 17, 1839, and located on the paternal homestead where
he now resides. The house he occupies was commenced by
Ms father, and completed by him in 1821.
Koswell Woodcock, son of Nathaniel, bora in Jamaica,. Yt.,
December 16, 1809, married Olive, daughter of Solomon
Hendee, February 5, 1839, and located on the farm with his
father-in-law. After the death of Mr. Hendee, Mr. Woodcock
had the farm, the value of which he has very much enhanced
"by extensive improvements.
William F. Manley, son of William, was born in Chitten-
den, December 16, 1811, married, October 10, 1839, Betsey,
born December 19, 1816, daughter of Sturges Penfield, and
EXTRACTS FEOM RECORDS. 413
located in this town. He was a carpenter and joiner and some
times worked at house-painting. He built the house now
owned by Henry Merrill, in 1843, and resided in it some time.
Afterwards he built the house on the north side of the road,
now owned by Miss Roach. He likewise built the house on
the corner lot next west of the house last mentioned, and in
this he resided some years, keeping a store in one part of it;
but he afterwards remodelled the building, converting the
whole of it into a dwelling house, and in this he resided till his
death, March 24, 1865.
Elisha Pike located here in 1839. He was born in Clare-
mont, N. H., in 1801, and resided there till he was twenty-
three years of age. In 1824, he went to the State of New
York, where he married Jane Harwood, June 3, 1830. In
1839, Mr. Pike bought the Hopkins farm in Pittsford, the one
first occupied by Ebenezer Hopkins, Sen., but later by Josiah
Nourse. Mrs. Jane Pike died, and Mr. Pike married Abigail
Harwood, sister of his former wife, and continued to reside
here till his death, January 28, 1846. Mrs. Abigail H. Pike
now resides in Holley, New York.
During the past ten years, the usual number of town officers
were elected from year to year, and the customary routine of
business attended to, but very little that was memorable
occurred in the civil affairs of the town.
At Freemen s meeting, Sept. 7, 1830, the following persons
were admitted freemen, viz.: Ira Manley, William Cotting,
John G. Newell, Caleb K. Hendee, James E. Newell, William
Nourse, Anthony Willis, M. W. Nelson, Theron Hawes, Wil
liam Henry, Philip Stewart, William Mead, Francis Johnson,
Ebenezer H. Squire, Junia Sargent, Jr., James E. Hewett and
Orin Clark."
At a special meeting held Nov. 1, 1831, " a petition was
presented by the Methodist society for leave to erect a meeting
house on the Common."
414: HISTOEY OF PITTSFOED.
The town " voted the prayer of the petitioners be granted
under proper restrictions : Provided the town have a legal
right so to do.
Voted to appoint a committee of five persons to investigate
the subject and report, next March meeting.
Chose Gordon Newell, Isaac Wheaton, Caleb Hendee,,
P. C. Barlow, Jeffrey Barnes, the above Committee."
At the March meeting the foregoing Committee made a
report to the effect that the town had a legal right to grant the
request of Methodist society, which report was accepted ; but
for some reason the petitioners did not see fit to locate their
house on the Common.
" At a meeting March 5, 1833, the following statement and
resolution was read and accepted :
Pittsford, March 6, 1833. In Town Meeting :
Whereas, at a regular meeting of the Proprietors of the
white meeting house in said Town, holden at the same, on the
2d Monday in February last, a Committee was appointed by
said Proprietors to apply to the town at this meeting for some
pecuniary aid towards the necessary repairs of said house, and
the said committee having laid the subject before the meeting :
And whereas, the town for nearly forty years have had the use
and occupancy of said house for the purpose of holding their
Town and Freemen s meetings, and will continue to want the
use of the same for the purpose aforesaid : Therefore be it
Resolved, that the selectmen be and they hereby are author
ized in this capacity, either separately or in conjunction with a
committee of said proprietors, to make a suitable examination
of said house, and ascertain what external repairs are neces
sary to make to prevent said house from going to decay, and
lay out such a sum towards such repairs as they may deem
reasonable for the town to advance, and draw an order on the
Town Treasurer for the amount, who is hereby directed to pay
the same out of any money in the treasury not otherwise
EXTEACTS FKOM EECOEDS. 415
appropriated : Provided that the sum so expended shall not
exceed seventy-five dollars."
We make the following extract from the record of the pro
ceedings of Freemen s Meeting, the first Tuesday of Septem
ber, 1834: : " And after balloting faithfully 9 tfmes and until
12 o clock without making choice of a Representative, the;
meeting adjourned without day.
D. BKEWSTEE, First Constable.
S. H. KELLOGG, T. Clerk."
The following is taken from the records of a special meet
ing held March 31, 1834 :
" On application of Ebenezer Brooks, Elijah Brown, Jr.,,
and Benjamin H. Trowbridge to become Inn keepers and
retailers of spirits and wine by small measure at their present
dwelling houses ; voted to approbate them and assessed them
in the sum. of three dollars each, to be paid into the Treasury"
of said Town before taking licence.
On application of Charles G. Boardman to become an Inn
keeper in his now dwelling house, without dealing in the arti
cle of ardent spirits or wine; voted that he be licensed
according to the above application.
On application of Henry Simonds and Addison Buck to-
become retailers of ardent spirits in the stores they now occupy ^
voted to approbate them for a licence to become retailers as
aforesaid, and assessed them in the sum of $10.00 each, to be
paid into the Treasury of said Town, before taking said licence.
All the aforesaid Licences to commence the first day of April,
1834, and continue one year."
The following is a copy of a license granted by the Select
men :
"Pittsford, September, 1836. Approbation is hereby given
to R. Welch & Co., to exhibit their Arena and Amphitheatre.
416 HISTOEY OF PITTSFOED.
company in this town, on Satuday, the 1st day of October,
1836, for the sum of fifteen dollars.
HARRIS BOGUE, ^ Selectmen of
G. F. HENDEE, > Pittsford."
In the warrant for town meeting on the 6th day of March,
1838, were the following articles, viz.:
" 5th. To see if the town will buy the East room on the
lower floor in the white meeting house for a Town room.
6th. To see if the town will buy the upper part of said
house, for a high school and other purposes."
Action was taken upon the foregoing articles as follows :
" Voted to raise a committee of five persons to examine
and investigate the subjects embraced in the 5th and 6th arti
cles in the warning, who shall make a report at an adjourned
meeting from this, and that when this meeting be adjourned, it
be till 4 weeks from this day, at one o clock P. M., at the Town
room, or this place.
Voted, the moderator appoint the above committee.
The chair announced for said committee
JONATHAN WARNER,
GORDON JEWELL,
JEFFREY BARNES,
DAVID RICHARDSON,
S. H. KELLOGG."
At the adjourned meeting the above committee made the
following report :
"The Inhabitants and voters of the Town of Pittsford in
Town Meeting assembled by adjournment from their annual
March meeting, A. D. 1838.
Your Committee, to whom was referred the subjects con
tained in the 5th article in the warning, in relation to the pur
chase of the East room, on the lower floor of the old white
Meeting house, repaired by Capt. Harris Bogue the past sea-
EXTRACTS FROM RECORDS. 417
son for a town room or house, respectfully submit the following
report :
That we have attended to the business of our appointment,
and having conferred with Capt. Bogue, examined the said
house and room, together with the amount of the expendi
tures, which were for the whole building, $1,207.93, for the
repairs only, including stoves and table, and have obtained
from him the following terms for the sale and purchase of the
same. He will give a quit claim deed of the room, with all
the privileges and appurtenances, including stove, stove-pipe
and table, in consideration of three hundred dollars and inter
est, payable in one year from the first day of April instant.
We therefore recommend the adoption of the following
Resolution, to wit.: In Town meeting, April 3, A. D. 1838,
Resolved, that it is expedient that the Town accept the
proposition of Capt. Bogue and purchase said room, on the
terms aforesaid for a Town House.
All which is respectfully submitted.
G. NEWELL, For Committee.
The 6th article in the warning was withdrawn by consent
and request of Capt. Bogue.
G. NEWELL, For Com.
The Town voted to accept the report of the Committee.
A motion was made to adopt the Resolution recommended
by the Committee aforesaid, and on this question the yeas and
nays were demanded and were as follows :
Those who voted in the affirmative were Elijah Brown, Jr.,
J. Dike, Jr., John Cooley, John Barnes, David Richardson,
Andrew Leach, Thomas F. Bogue, Solomon Thayer, R. M.
Powers, Jonathan Warner, C. T. Colburn, S. Penfield, A. G.
Dana, Anson Ladd, Addison Buck, James Gorham, George
Dike, Jonathan Stevens, R. R. Kingsley, Samuel Fenton,
Nathan Clifford, Asher Burditt, S. Powers, A. Penfijeld, A,
28
418 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
W. Titus, A. Potter, H. Davis, G. Newell, P. C. Barlow,
D. Brewster, K. Winslow, J. Daggett, S. Sherman, Jeduthan
Thomas, Martin Leach, Jr., H. Gorham, D. Hall, 2d, B. H.
Trowbridge, H. Leonard, K. Andrews, Ebenezer Drury, Solo
mon Hendee, Oliver Brown, E. Lincoln, J. S. Ewings, M. C.
Bogue, William Mead, C. Hitchcock, M. Leonard, H. Messer,
A. Hitchcock, C. A. Kandall, S. Gilbert, L. Woolson, S.
Damon, J. Woodbury, M. Mitchell, J. S. Rand, A. Hammond
H. Simonds, C. H. Kellogg, B. Nixon, D. Gorham, A. Cooley,
J. Sheldon, Jr., M. W. Morrill, J. Tottingham, A. Gorham,
W. Barnard, T. Lester, A. C. Kellogg, J. G. Newell, S. D.
Winslow, G. F. Hendee, Anson Brown, Caleb Hendee, J.
Eockwood, A. Nourse, A. Crippen, I. Wheaton, S. H. Kellogg,
T. H. Palmer, J. Tiltson, E. Frost, J. Burditt, Austin Graham,
Bradley Burditt. 88.
Those who voted in the negative were: H. Henry, N.
Barnes, I. Owen, J. Buck, N. Leonard, J. E. Newell, L. San
ders, J. W. Hudson, J. Lowth, A. Jenner, A. Merrill, E.
Bailey, S. Mead, T. Burditt, G. Johnson, J. Dunlap, O. Smith,
G. S. Worden, F. Barlow, J. Betts, A. Paine, I. Booth, N.
Wescott, L. Keeler, G. Powers, S. S. Abbott, J. Barnes, J. W.
Smith, B. Manley, N. Walker, William Beals, C. Blanchard,
T. Howland, I. Burditt, A. Buck, D. Sherman, H. Hart, C.
Fay, S. Collam, O. Williams, G. Smith, T. Willis, L. Wheeler,
E. Lindsley, Erastus Bailey, D. Chaffee, E. E. Thomas, D.
Eeed, E. Stevens, J. N. Wolcott, O. Thomas, E. Thomas, Ira
Hitchcock, G. Clark, O. W. Phillips, J. Wicker, I. Brewster,
G. Westcoat, J. Freeloon, J. Walker, E. Spencer,* J. Bresee,
I. Bresee, S. Warner, D. Hall, Jr., H. Beals, E. Wheeler, T.
Morseman. 68.
So the Eesolution was adopted."
BISHOP BOOTH JEFFREY RANDALL SEBA F. SMITH. 419
CHAPTER XII.
Immigrants or Settlers and their Locations continued;
Resurvey of the Public Lots; Rebuilding of the Mead
Bridge; School Teachers Certificates. 18401850.
Bishop P. Booth, son of Benjamin, was born 1 ebruaiy 7,
1810, married Elizabeth, daughter of John Barnes, Jr., March
31, 1840, and located on the Warner farm which he had pur
chased of Edward Wheeler. He died May 3d, 1866, and the
farm is now owned and occupied by his heirs.
The Randall family was from Easton, Mass. Ephraim
Randall married Mary Blake and settled in Easton, before the
Revolutionary war. Their son Moses was born in that town,
July 16, 1775, and married Unity Shepherd, who was born
March 10th, the same year in which he was born. Soon after
their marriage they removed to Chittenden, Vt, but on their
way they stopped several months in this town, on the farm now
owned by Martin Leonard. At that place their eldest son,
Jeffrey A., was born, May 6, 1804, and the father being a
shoemaker, the son learned the same trade and worked at it
some time with Elijah Brown. On the 21st of September,
1840, he married Lydia (Fenton) Messer, who was born in
Georgia, Vt., April 26, 1805. They located in the Village, on
the place formerly owned and occupied by Henry Messer,
deceased. Mr. Randall and his son Julius S. are engaged in
the manufacture of shoes.
Seba F. Smith came here in 1840. He is a descendant of
Perry Green Smith, who was born in Rhode Island and was a
soldier in the Revolutionary war, after which he married Sophia
420 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
Eddy and located in his native State. He afterwards removed
to Clarendon, Yt., where he died, in 1813. Mrs. S. died there
in 1847. Their children were James, Job, Arnold, Levi and
Polly. James, the eldest, born in Rhode Island, August 6,
1782, married Hannah Eddy, who was born in Clarendon
March 4, 1783, and they resided in that town where the former
died December 12, 1863, and the latter, May 13th, the same
year. Their children were Freeman, Perry, Seba F., Rensse-
lear, Sardius, Yernon, Nancy, Hannibal, James, George and
Sophia. Seba F. was born in Clarendon, September 3, 1810,
and on the 9th of February, 1840, married Cynthia A. Russell,
who was born in Weathersfield, May 9, 1818. They located
in Pittsford near the Furnace, but on the 24th day of May,
1842, Mr. Smith bought of Thomas Adams a part of what was
the Parmelee farm* with other land adjoining, and he has since
occupied and greatly improved it.
Rufus R. Thomas, son of Peter, was born Feb. 5, 1807,
and on the 22d day of March, 1840, married Sarah M. Wes-
cott, who was born in Sudbury in 1815. On the third day of
April following, he purchased of Abraham Owen eighty-five
acres of land which included the place now owned by Oliver
Bates, and at once took possession of and occupied it till the
16th day of November, 1846, when he sold it to Benjamin
Stevens. The 22d day of March, 1847, he purchased of
Michael Sanders, then of Middlebury, the farm on which he
now resides.
Royal Hall, son of Elias, who was the son of John, hereto
fore mentioned, was born in Queensbury, 1ST. Y., February 15,
1800, and on the llth day of May, 1828, married Harriet
A. Burnham, who was born in Windsor, Yt., February 23,
1807. They located in Rutland, but on the 25th day of Janu
ary, 1840, Mr. Hall bought of Isaac Leonard what had been
* Simeon Parmelee, Sen., was the first settler on that farm.
ASA S. WHIFFLE WILLIAM MANLEY ELIAS T. ADAMS. 421
the Ladd* hotel in Pittsford, and at once removed to this town
where he now resides.
Asa S. Whipple, son of Wright, married Elizabeth Berry
in 1840, and located on the paternal homestead. He has made
many improvements on the farm, which he continues to occupy.
His aged mother is yet living, and is a noble specimen of the
past generation. Mrs. Elizabeth Whipple died in 1871.
William Manley s ancestors were from Easton, Mass. They
migrated to Chittenden in the early settlement of that town
ship, and resided in that part of it known as New Boston.
William married, first, Mary Green, and resided some years in
Brandon, where his wife died, and he married, second, Lucy,
widow of John Hitchcock, Jr., May 14, 1841. They resided
a few years in the house now owned by J. H. Peabody, which
had been built by Remembrance Hitchcock, and deeded to his
brother John s heirs. Mrs. Manley bought that part of it
which belonged to other heirs of her former husband. Mr.
Manley died March 11, 1863, aged eighty-four years; Mrs.
Manley died October 17, 1867.
Elias T. Adams, son of Thomas, was born July 29, 1818,
and spent his early life on his father s farm. He married,
September 30, 1841, Adeline M. Haselton, who was born in
Andover, Yt., Nov. 23, 1820, and they located on the home
farm in Pittsford, where they still reside. This is one of the
few farms in this town that have not passed from the family of
the first occupant.
George B. Button, a carpenter and joiner, married Mary
H., daughter of John Dickinson, August 22, 1841, and resided
in this town a few years, occupying the house now owned by
Mrs. Jackson at the foot of "Sand Hill." Mr. Dickinson
occupied the house with them. Mr. Dutton removed to Min-
* Hammond Ladd built and, for some years, kept a public house on that farm,
and the same was also kept by Mr. Leonard.
422 HISTORY OF PITTSFOBD.
nesota, and for a time was a member of the Legislature of that
State. He now resides in Texas.
Carlos W. Burr, born in Pittsford in 1820, son of Ansel
married, October, 1841, Mary , who was born in 1819.
They resided one or two years in the Village, but after chang
ing their residence several times they located in the house built
for Charles H. Kellogg, where they now reside.
Fobes Manley became an inhabitant of this town in 1841.
He is a son of Eli Manley who was born in Easton, Mass.,
married Betsey Forbes and located in Brookfield. Their
children were Eli, Mary, Ehoda, Forbes, Benjamin, Joseph,
Sophronia, Khoanna and Kebecca. Forbes was born in 1793,
and married, March, 1816, Wealthy Hill, who was born in
Weston, Mass., 1796. They settled in Hubbardton, Vt, but
removed to Fittsford in 1841. Mr. Manley bought the Fenn
farm on the 17th of July, 1841, the deed of it being obtained
of Elam Mead. He and his son, Benjamin Franklin, enlarged
and repaired the old house in 1869, so that it is now a large
and commodious dwelling.
David Blair became an inhabitant of this town in 1841.
His grandfather, James Blair, was born in Glasgow, Scotland,
where he married Jeannette Telford, lived and died, leaving
the following children, viz.: James, David and Jeannette.
David, the second son, was born in 1771, and married Mary
Bruce, who was born in 1772. They located in Bridgton, and
their children were Elorabeth, Jeannette, Joseph, James and
David. David, the youngest son of David, was born in Ruther-
glon in 1817, became, by occupation, a tailor, and in 1835,
married Helen Morton, who was born in Botherell in 1818.
They resided in Rutherglon till 1841, when they came to this
country and located at Mill Village in this town. He resided
in a house then owned by Sturges Penfield till 1849, when he
bought of James T. Gorham the place on which he now
WM. HORTON J. WAKNER J. G. NEWELL W. CHAFFEE. 423
resides. Mr. Blair s mother died in Rutherglon in 1835, just
before the family immigrated to this country, but his father
came to Pittsford and died here in 1850.
William Horton, a young man from Sudbury, came here
about the year 1840, and worked for R. R. Drake, of whom
he learned the tailor s trade. He married Charlotte, daughter
of Clark Taft, July 1, 1842, and located in the house now
owned by John C. Leonard. He had a tailor s shop in the
southwest room of the Town House. He removed to Bran
don, and afterwards to some part of the West.
Jonathan Warner, third son of Jonathan, Jr., was born in
Pittsford, April 12, 1810, and married, June 27, 1842, Sarah
M. Walton, of Brandon, who was born August 22, 1815.
They located on the paternal homestead where they now
reside. Mr. Warner s farm is another of the few that have
not passed out of the family of the original occupant.
John G. Newell, born November 4, 1807, son of Gordon,
married Susan, daughter of Charles W. Cartwright, Esq., of
Boston, January 13, 1842, and resided several years with his
parents. Afterwards he bought the Dana place on the east
side of the street in the Village, and resided there till 1864,
when he sold his location to William Barnes, and removed to
Boston where he now resides. He is a lawyer by profession,
and will receive further notice in another place.
Warren Chaffee was the son of Simeon who was born in
Eehoboth, Mass., Feb. 5, 1772, married in 1796, and had the
following children : Stephen, Joel, Job, Carpenter, Amos and
Simeon. His wife died and he married a second wife, Fanny
Parsons, April 22, 1813, and by her he had Warren, Heman,
Christopher, Nathaniel and Susanna. These children were
born in Chittenden, Yt., to which town the parents removed
soon after their marriage. Warren was born January 13,
1814, and married, September 11, 1842, Chloe M. Paine, who
was born September 11, 1818. They located on the farm
424 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
formerly owned by Josiah Parsons, in the southeasterly part
of Pittsford, where they now reside.
Martin Fitzpatrick became an inhabitant of this town in
1842. He is a descendant of John Fitzpatrick who was born
in Castletown, Queens County, Ireland; married Catharine
Quigly, December 3, 1743, and located in Castletown on an
estate which had long been in possession of the family. Their
children were Patrick, Martin, John, Daniel, Betsey, Julia and
Catharine. Daniel, the fourth son, married, November, 1803,
Mary Sebeter, and located on the homestead, where he died,
December 4, 1829. Their children were John, James, Etin,
Margaret, Mary, Martin, Catharine, Daniel and Ann. Mrs.
Fitzpatrick came to America in 1834, and died in Brandon,
January 13, 1866. Martin came to America with his mother ;
married, February 3, 1842, Caroline, daughter of Zebulon
Pond, of this town, and has since resided, the most of the time,,
on the Pond farm. His wife Caroline died October 30, 1854,
and he married Margaret Duffy.
David L. Mills, son of Thomas, married Orra Jackson,
Feb. 7, 1843, and located on the Morgan farm now owned by
Joseph Wolcott. He purchased this farm of his father who
had it of Page Morgan. The deed to David L. Mills bears
date February 16, 1842. He resided on this farm till 1847,
when he sold it, December 14th, to Joseph Wolcott ; and on
the 26th of January following he bought of Sterling More-
house, of Brandon, the William Barlow farm in Pittsford. He
occupied this farm till 1861, when he bought the farm on which
he now resides, though he still owns and cultivates the former
farm.
The branch of the Bates family from which Hiram has
descended resided some years in West Haven, Yt. Oliver
Bates was born June 20, 1743, and married, April 26, 1768,
Rachel Adams, who was born April 6, 1750. They located in
West Haven, and had the following children, viz.: David,
MATTHEW LOWTH B. BTJKDITT DANIEL D. HENNESSY. 4:25
Rachel, Oliver, Hannah, James, Lucy, Ephraim, Sally, Russell
and Ezra. The father who had been a soldier in the Revo
lutionary war died in New York, Feb. 20, 1814 ; the mother
died in Chesterfield, Macomb County, January 26, 1838.
Oliver, the second son, was born in West Haven, Feb. 5, 1776 r
and married Hannah Morgan, of Pittsford. He located in his
native town, where both he and his wife died in March, 1811.
Their children were Hiram, Betsey and Salem. Hiram was
born June 20, 1802, and married, March 5, 1832, Mary B.
Richardson, who was born in Brookfield, Mass., June 28, 1809.
They located in Fairhaven, where they resided till 1843, when
they removed to this town and located on the Jonathan Jack
son farm, where they now reside.
Matthew Lowth, son of James, was born in Killeary, Meatk
County ? Ireland, April 8, 1813, and came to America with his-
father s family. November 8, 1843, he married Catharine
Hudson, who was born in Clard, Kings County, Ireland, Dec.
25, 1820. Mr. Lowth located on the.Taft farm with his father,
where he now resides.
Ransom Burditt, son of Asher, was born in this town,,
August 1, 1821, and married, March 22, 1843, Laurenza
Davis, of Chester, who was born March 22, 1821. They
located on the Samuel Crippen farm which had been owned
some years by his father Asher. In 1864, he bought of Charles
M. Winslow, the Rice farm which he has greatly improved,,
and where he has made one of the pleasantest residences in
the town. Mr. Burditt is a man of energy and public spirit,,
taking an interest in whatever relates to the prosperity of the
town.
Daniel D. Hennessy came here in 1843. He was born in
Ireland, in 1804, and at the age of sixteen years came to
Boston, where he married, September 16, 1827, Ellen Burn,,
who was born in Ireland, Nov. 9, 1802. Having resided a few
years in Boston, they removed to Claremont, N. H., and
4:26 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
thence to Brandon, Yt., in 1842. They came to this town the
following year, and the family still resides at Mill Village,
though Mr. Hennessy died at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, August
2, 1862.
Charles Lincoln Penfield, son of Abel, was born in Pitts-
ford, September 15, 1820, married Irene C. Dike, January 16,
1844, and located on the home place with his aged father
where he now resides. He has had a Puritan ancestry, inherits
the sterling qualities of his father, and is fitted, both by natural
endowments and education, to extend a strong influence in the
town.
Abraham Butterfield, a shoemaker, resided some years in
Rutland. He married Ann, daughter of Jonathan Warner,
Jr. She died in Rutland, in 1843, and he married Temper
ance, daughter of Robert Loveland, April 3, 1844. In 1850,,
he bought the Kingsley tannery, and carried on the tanning
and currying business in connection with shoemaking ; but in
a few years he relinquished tanning and limited his attention
to shoemaking. The tan works have since gone to decay. In
1866, Mr. Butterfield removed to Tunbridge, where he was
killed by the falling of a tree, in March, 1870.
The ancestors of Robert R. Drake are supposed to have
come from Connecticut. Eli Drake married Ariminta Buel
and located in Castleton, where both he and his wife died some
years since. Their son, Alvan B., was born in Castleton, mar
ried Grace Hill, of New Haven, Conn., and located in his
native town where he and his wife both died. Their children
were Robert R., Mary, Ann, Jane J., and John H. Robert
R. the eldest, was born in Castleton, October 4, 1816, mar
ried, February 29, 1844, Nancy E., born April 29, 1816,
daughter of Joseph Tottingham, of Pittsford, and located in
Pittsford Village, on the Elias Hopkins place which he had
purchased of Elijah Brown the 28th of March, 1842. At that
time the store stood north of the house on the ground which
DANIEL RAY ALLEN MILLS S. D. WIN8LOW. 427
Mr. Drake now uses for a garden. He traded in this store till
April, 1860, when he sold the place to James T. Gorham, who
built the present store the following summer, and who also
made repairs on the house. Mr. Drake sold the old store,
which was removed, and now forms the main part of Henry
Kingman s house. The whole of this property was again pur
chased by Mr. Drake, Jan. 22, 1861 one thousand three
hundred dollars being allowed for the improvements. Since
then he has carried on the mercantile business in the new store.
Daniel Kay located in this town in 1844. George Bay,
father of Daniel, married Mary Gurden, who died in Middle-
bury, in February, 1834. Mr. Kay died in Salisbury, 1840.
Their children were Mary, Harriet, Daniel and Elizabeth.
Daniel was born in East Middlebury, March 14, 1820, and
married, April 10, 1844, Mary Ann Ayers, who was born in
Goshen, February 15, 1825. They located on the Hopkins*
farm, but afterwards removed to " Fire Hill," and settled on
the Stowellf farm. They have recently removed to the Lamb
farm.
Allen Mills, son of Nahum, was born in Brandon, Jan. 3,
1815, and married, December 5, 1844, Melissa Pepper, who
was born in Pawlet, December 25, 1820. They settled in
Whipple Hollow, on the Sweet farm, which had been occupied
by his father. Mr. Mills is one of the active farmers in that
section of the town.
Samuel Dana Winslow settled here in 1 844. He is the
second son of Dr. Kenelm Winslow, and was born in this town,
February 26, 1815. For some years he was clerk in his father s
store, but in 1841, the Doctor transferred to Dana his interest
in the store, and the latter conducted the mercantile business
in his own name till 1852, when he relinquished it. He has
since acted as a pension agent in connection with his farming
* This was the farm on which Ebenezer Hopkins, Jr., resided some years,
t Farm on which Nathan Stowell once lived.
428 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
operations. For more than eight years of the time he was in
trade he held the office of Postmaster. He was married, Sep
tember 4, 1844, to Elizabeth Page, of Rutland, and they have
since resided on the Winslow place.
Levi Stiles became a resident of Pittsford this year. His.
father, Peleg Stiles, was born in Lunenburgh, Mass., married
Rebecca Wyman and settled in Westmoreland, but removed to
his native town where his son Levi was born, March 4, 1789.
December 8, 1811, he married Relief Heaton, who was born
in Charlemount, Mass., May 29, p.787. They settled in More-
town, Yt., and thither Mr. Stiles parents went to reside^ and
there they died. Mr. Stiles removed from Moretown to Pitts-
ford in 1844, and occupied tfye house now owned by David
Blair. After residing here sometime he left town, but within,
three or four years he has returned, and resides near his son
Charles in the easterly part of the town. He was a soldier in,
the war of 1812-14, and he now receives a pension from the
government.
Joshua C. Howe is a descendant of Eli who married Polly
Oakes, settled in Henniker, N. H., and had the following chil
dren, viz.: Eli, Stephen, Abel, Polly and William. Stephen,,
the second son, was born February 25, 1787, and married
Ruth Colby, who was born in Henniker, December 15, 1787.
They settled in their native town and had several children
Joshua Colby, Janette, Stephen, Lois M., Philip, Ruth, Jeru-
sha, Horace, John W. and Martha.
Joshua Colby, born July 12, 1810, married Lydia Kelley
in 1837, and located in Goshen, N. H., but removed to Pitts-
ford, Yt., in 1844. He bought a house lot of Howard Lothrop
and built the house he now occupies. He is a cooper, and the
basement of his house is used as a shop. His wife, Lydia,
died July 28, 1864, and he married Mary E. Worthen,* Decem
ber 31, 1864.
* Born in Mendon, May 28, 1824:.
HENRY W. MERRILL L. SARGENT S. B. LOVELAND. 429
Henry W. Merrill settled in Pittsford in 1844. He is the
son of Roswell Merrill, who was born in Goshen, Conn., and
married Elizabeth White, removed to Castleton, Vt., where he
resided some years and worked at blacksmithing. Their chil
dren were Guy C., Henry W., Abigail, Roswell T., Alonzo,
Dexter B. and Mary. The father died in West Rutland, in
1818 ; the mother died in Pittsford, in 1844. Henry W., the
second son was born in Castleton, July 15, 1798, and became
a merchant. He married Abigail, daughter of Remembrance
Hitchcock, February 11, 1821, and located in West Rutland,
where he engaged in mercantile business. In 1844, he came
to Pittsford and purchased of William F. Manley the pleas
ant location in Hitchcockville where he still resides. Being
advanced in years, he has retired from business, and is now
enjoying the fruits of an industrious and honorable life.
Leonard Sargent, carriage maker, son of Junia, was born
in Brandon, April 19, 1816, and married, October 20, 1841,
Sophia Allen, who was born in Greenwich, Washington Co.,
N. Y., January 11, 1823. They located in Hubbardton, but
removed to Pittsford in 1845. In company with his father,
Mr. Sargent bought of Rufus Goss the farm on which he now
resides, "together with the saw-mill and mill tools." The
deed was dated April 21, 1845, and was in consideration of
twelve hundred dollars. Goss had this property of Thomas
Davenport, who purchased it of M. W. Nelson in 1837. Mr.
Sargent is engaged somewhat in farming, as well as carriage-
making.
Samuel Basset Loveland, son of Robert, born Nov. 26,
1816, married Mercy Betts, December 31, 1844, and located
on the home farm s with his parents. It will be remembered
that this was the first settled farm in the township, and it has
had the following owners, and in the order here indicated :
Robert Crawford, Ephraim Doolittle, Gideon Cooley, Peter
Sutherland, Daniel Lee, Robert Loveland and Samuel B.
430 HISTOEY OF PITT8FOKD.
Loveland. But Crawford, Doolittle and Sutherland never
resided on the place.
John R. Barnes, son of John, Jr., was born June 28, 1822,
married, July 6, 1845, Mary, daughter of John Cooley, of
Pittsford, and located on the home farm with his parents. He
has not since changed his residence.
Eleazer Chapin Warner, son of Samuel, was born August
15, 1818, and the most of his time has been given to agricul
tural pursuits. In company with his father and elder brother,
Nathan Smith, he purchased of Deodat Brewster, what had
been the Crippen farm.* On the 26th of May, 1841, he pur
chased his father s share, and on the 4th of November follow
ing, his brother s share of the farm, which he has continued to
own. He married, Aug. 3, 1845, Electa, daughter of John
Barnes, Jr., and resided in the house built by David Brewster,
till 186T, when he built the house he now occupies.
Marcus Clifford married Lucy, daughter of Luther Nourse,
October 13, 1845, and resided a short time with his father;
but after changing his residence several times in this town, he
removed to Sudbury where he now resides.
Marshall J. Wood purchased of Elhanan S. Winslow, one
undivided half of the Kingsley place, consisting of the tannery
and twenty-five acres of land. The deed bears date December
15, 1844, and is in consideration of seven hundred dollars. In
this purchase was included the east house, the other having
before been deeded to K S. Warner. On the 15th of April
following, he married Emeline, daughter of Samuel Warner,
and located on the place above mentioned. There in company
with Mr. Warner, he carried on tanning and shoemaking. On
the 26th of October 1846, he sold his share of this property
to his partner in business, K S. Warner, and on the 1st of
April, 1848, he purchased of John Betts a part of what was
* This was the farm first settled by David Crippen, and it was afterwards the
home of his son Darius.
SAMUEL NOUBSE J. H. PEABODY JAMES KELLOGG. 4:31
known as the Gardner Powers farm, lying south of Simeon
Gilbert s now Abner T. Raynold s. He resided on this farm
till 1855, when he purchased the south part of the Doolittle
farm* on which he now resides.
Samuel S. Nourse, born Feb. 27, 1823, son of Luther,
married Mary Wood, October 30, 1845, and located on the
Woodruff place where he now resides. For a few years he
operated the Woodruff saw-mill, but it soon went to decay.
Recently, however, he has built a substantial dam and a new
mill.
Joseph Holt Peabody located here in 1845. He is a son
of Daniel Peabody ,f who was born in Andover, Mass., and
married Betsey Holt, who was born in Wilton, N. H. Their
children were Isaac, Merriam, Betsey D., Abigail, Dorotha,
Eliza Ann, Joseph Holt, Putnam D. and Angeline. The
parents died in Andover, Yt., where the most of their wedded
life was spent. Joseph Holt was born in Andover, Vt., and
married, November 27, 1845, Lydia K. Woodbury, who was
born in Wendell, Mass., December 11, 1817. They located
on the farm now owned by Frank B. Barnes where they resided
till November, 1858, when Mr. Peabody bought of William
Manley the place in Hitchcockville which he now occupies.
He is a merchant by occupation, and he is an industrious and
enterprising citizen.
James Kellogg, born December 6, 1822, son of Samuel
H., married Esther Ann, daughter of Joseph Tottingham,
April 22, 1846, and located on the home farm with his parents.
He died of a tumor on the brain, July 2, 1850.
Joel Nourse, son of Luther, married Lucia Bassett, August
26, 1846. After residing some time with his father, he
*Mr. Wood s farm was formerly included with the farm now owned by G. N.
Eayres, and the first improvements on it were made by Joel Doolittle, who mar
ried Betsey, daughter of Isaac Buck.
t Daniel Peabody was the son of Isaac, of Salem, Mass.
432 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
removed to Chittendeii where lie remained a few years, and
then moved to the State of Wisconsin.
Austin Chingreau, a native of Canada, married Margaret
Billings of Brandon, Nov. 29, 1846. They resided some years
on a part of what was the Spencer place the first south of
the present Town Farm but in 1865, he sold that place and
removed to the west side of the Creek, where he now occupies,
the Samuel Crippen farm.
Joseph Wolcott, born in Brandon, March 29, 1802, son of
Oliver, married, April 4, 1846, Samantha Dimick, who was
born in Pittsford, January 23, 1815. They located on the
Dimick farm which Mr. Wolcott purchased of the heirs of
Leonard Dimick. Mr. Wolcott has continued to occupy and
improve this farm.
Edwin Lester, son of Timothy, married Martha E. ? daugh
ter of Samuel Mead, and located in the house which was built
for, and, for a time, occupied by Charles Kellogg. He was a-
shoemaker, and for some time worked in Sturges Penfield s old
.store, but in 1848, he purchased the lot now owned by E. B.
Watkins, and built the house and shop now on the same.
German Hendee, son of German F., was born in Pittsford,.
Nov. 10, 1822, married Sarah A., daughter of Samuel Smith,
April 22, 1846, and resided some years on the Benjamin
Stevens farm, where his father had resided some years before.
In 1859, in company with his younger brother, Lafayette, he
bought the Buck farm on which they now reside.
Joseph B. Tottingham, son of Joseph, was born in Pitts-
ford, December, 11, 1820, married Caroline S. Hall, August
12, 1846, and located on his father s farm, where he died Nov.
21, 1853.
Jeremiah Cooley Powers located here in 1847. He was the
son of Richard M. Powers, and was born December 7, 1820,
and married, February 17, 1847, Jane A. Rogers, who was
born in Whitefield, N. H., January 3, 1827. They resided for
WILLIAM NICOLL H. B. CHITTENDEN A. N. LOVELAND. 433
a time on the paternal homestead, but afterwards Mr. Powers
bought of his brother, Daniel, the Kendall farm on which he
now resides.
William Nicoll, a cabinet maker, is the son of Alexander
Nicoll, of Scotland, whose early lite was spent in the service of
his country as a member of the Royal Artillery. William was
born in Kinross, Scotland, July 21, 1809, came to Canada in
company with his father, when only five years of age, and has
remained in America since then, with the exception of one or
two short visits to his native land. He came to Pittsford in
1839, married Sophronia, daughter of Luther Nourse, Septem
ber 14, 1847, and located on what was a part of the Jirah
Barlow estate. The house he first occupied is now his cabinet
shop, and he built his present house in 1860.
Hiram B. Chittenden of London, Mich., married Saloma
Andrews, May 30, 1844, and located at the West, but returned
to Pittsford, in 1847, and leased the Jeremiah Powers farm, or
that part ot it now owned by E. M. Bailey, for the term of
five years. At the expiration of this period he bought the
Drury farm on which he resided till 1868, when he sold it to
the heirs of Austin Andrews, and returned to the West where
he now resides.
Aaron Nelson Loveland, son of Robert, was born in Pitts-
ford, October 6, 1819, and married, February 18, 1847, Harriet
E. Davis, of Chester, who was born November 14, 1824.
They reside on the Barnes farm,* which Mr. Loveland pur
chased of Thomas D. Hall. He lias repaired the house and
made many improvements on the farm.
Charles M. Winslow, son of Job, was born in Pittsford,
March 1, 1823, married Nancy E. Smith, of Rutland, Jan. 5,
1848, and located on the Rice farm, now owned by Ransom
Burditt. Job Winslow s mother, after the death of her
husband, f married Peter Rice, who was the father of Elder
*This was first improved and occupied by John Barnes, Sen.
t The Christian name of her tirst husband has not been obtained.
29
434 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
Anthony Rice, who, after the death of Job Winslow, adopted
his son, Charles M., as his legal heir, so that after the death of
Elder Rice, young Winslow inherited his farm. He occupied
it till April, 1864, when he sold it to Ransom Burditt. After
remaining in town another year, Mr. Winslow removed to
Brockport, N". Y., where he now resides.
Charles Hitchcock, son of Chapman, was born in Pittsford
in 1822, and married, in 1848, Sarah J. Merrill, who was born
in West Rutland in 1823. They located on the paternal home
stead where they now reside. Mr. Hitchcock is a man of
sound judgment and nice discrimination, is careful and consid
erate in all his business transactions, and exerts a strong influ
ence in the political and religious affairs of the town. Some
years since he took an active part in the military organizations
of the town, and held a captain s commission, the title of which
he still retains.
Thomas Denny Hall, son of David, was born in Pittsford,
August 2, 1823, married March 22, 1848, Susan, born July
1, 1828, daughter of Asher Burditt, and resided some months
on the farm now occupied by his brother, Dan K. Hall. At
this time his father resided on the John Barnes farm, west of
Otter Creek; and it was arranged that Thomas D. and his
younger brother, JSTorman Perry, should take that farm, and
that their father should locate on the Fassett farm, east of the
Creek. This arrangement was carried out, and afterwards the
two sons divided the Barnes farm, Norman P. taking the north
and Thomas D. the south part of it. The south part included
the Potter place, and Thomas D. occupied the old Potter house
till he built his new house in 1860.
Benjamin Franklin Winslow, son of Dr. Ken elm, was born
September 19, 1810, and having a thirst for knowledge, the
most of his early life was spent at school. Having obtained a
good education he proceeded to the South, where he taught
school several years. After returning to his native town he
WILLIAM MITCHELL H. F. LOTHROP. 435
married, July 20, 1848, Mary W. Granger, daughter of Elijah
Brown, and located on the Granger farm,* where they resided
till 1864, when Mr. Winslow removed to the City of Wash
ington where he had received an appointment as clerk in the
War Department of the U. S. Government.
William Mitchell, son of Abiel, was born in Chittenden,
January 13, 1809, married Cynthia Forgan, of Bethel, Decem
ber 4, 1828, and resided in Chittenden the most of the time
till 1848, when he removed to Pittsford and located on the
farm which had been, for some time, the residence of his father,
who died in September of that year. Mr. Mitchell enlarged
the place by additional purchases, and all the buildings on it
have been constructed by him.
Members of the Lothrop family are found among the early
and honored settlers of Massachusetts. Capt. Thomas Lothrop
acted a conspicuous part in the Pequot war, and in the war
with King Philip. He was also with Capt. Beers in his fight
with the Indians, on the 26th of August, 177o, near Northlield;
but at the head of about ninety men, " the flower of Essex
County," he was ambushed by the Indians and slain with
almost the whole of his company. f Henry F., of Pittsford,
has descended from Edmund, who was born in Bridgewater,
Mass., married Bettie Howard, of Easton, and located in the
latter town. Their children were Edmund, Howard and Cyrus.
Howard was born in December, 1T76. When a young man
he invested^: some property in what was then known as the
Keith furnace, in Pittsford, and by a combination of circum
stances, the whole of the furnace establishment eventually
came into his hands. As the result of this he came here and
superintended the furnace business nearly twelve years, though
he never made Pittsford his home. About the year 1809, he
*This farm had been purchased by Edward Granger, Mrs. Winslow s former
husbnnd, before his death.
t Capt. Lothrop belonged in Beverly.
J The investment was first made by his father.
436 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
transferred the furnace property to Gibbs & Co., and after
wards spent but little time in this town. He married, in 1804,
Sarah Williams, who was born in Easton in 1786. They located
in that town, and both died there : Mr. Lothrop, August 20,
1857; Mrs. Lothrop, in June, 1867. Their children were
Edwin H., Thomas C., Sarah, Edward, George Van Ness,
Henry F., Cyrus, De Witt C. and Horace A. Henry E. was
born in Easton, March 1, 1820, and came to Pittsford, April
12, 1844, to take charge of some real and personal property
in which his father had made considerable investment. Mr.
Lothrop, Sen., at this time or soon after, owned the real estate
now belonging to William B. Shaw, Levi Woolson, Luke
Osgood, Henry W. Merrill and Edward Phalen, as well as the
Jirah Barlow property. Henry F. built the house he now
occupies in 1846, and on the 5th of October, 1848, married
Eleanor B., daughter of Sturges Penfield, and located in his
new house. He is a man of ability and great energy, and
takes much interest in the civil and political affairs of the
town.
Michael Phalen was born in Urlingford, Kilkenny Co.,
Ireland, married Mary Forgarty, and settled in his native town
where he resided till 1848, when he came to America with his
family, and soon after located in Pittsford. He worked about
one year in the furnace, and died March 6, 1849. His widow
and two sons still reside in this town.
Paschal Whitaker located here in 1848. He is the youngest
son of David Whitaker, who was born in Massachusetts, Janu
ary 26, 1767, married Anna Beach, who was born August 3,
1771. They located in West Windsor, Yt., and had the
following children, viz.: David, Ira, Nancy, Marshall, John,
David, 2d., George, Reuben, Chancy, Lydia, Caroline and
Paschal.* The last was born March 9, 1817, married Mary
* David Whitaker, the father, died in Pittsford, Sept. 24, 1852. Anna, the
mother, died in Bethel, April 21, 1867.
AUSTIN ANDREWS SIDNEY P. GKISWOLD. 437
Bidwell, of Covington, K. Y., September 6, 1842, and located
in Bethel, Yt. On the 28th of October, 1847, in company
with Winslow G. Fish, Mr. Whitaker bought of Edward D.
Brown the carriage shop which had been owned by Mr. Rock-
wood. On the 23d of February, 1848, he bought of William
F. Manley the Rockwood house and lot, and on the 10th of
March following, he removed his family from Bethel to this
town, and worked at carriage-making in company with Mr.
Fish. In 1850, Mr. Whitaker sold a house-lot to Mr.
Fish, who built the house a few rods east of the Rockwood
house. In 1868, Mr. Fish sold his interest in the shop to Mr.
Whitaker, and not long afterwards he sold his house to Simeon
Gilbert and removed to Rutland. Mr. Whitaker now works
at his trade, in a new shop which he has built a few rods north
of his house.
Austin Andrews, son of Nathaniel K., was born December
8, 1827, married Lucy J. Richardson, April 4, 1849, and
located on the home farm with his parents, where he resided
till 1852, when he purchased, December 16th, of S. H. Kellogg
and Jeffrey Barnes, the north part of the Drury farm. This
part of the farm had been set oif to A. J. Tiffany, who had
married a daughter of Deacon Calvin Drury. Mr. Andrews
resided a few years in the house that had been occupied by
Mr. Tiffany the old Drury house which stood but a few
rods north of the house recently occupied by Mr. Chittenden,
but built the new house the one now owned by Nehemiah
Barnes in 1858. He removed to Whitehall in 1866, where
he died, July 2, 1868. Mrs. Andrews and children now reside
on the Drury farm in this town.
Sidney P. Griswold, from Whiting, was for some time
employed as elerk in the store of Addison Buck. He married
Mrs. Elvira L. (Hendee) Smith, December 19, 1849, and
located on the Amherst Lee farm, which had been owned by
Mrs. Griswold s former husband, John W. Smith. Mr. Gris-
438 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
wold died on that farm, February 2, 1862, aged fifty-two years.
In 1866, Mrs. Griswold sold the farm to James R. Smith and
removed to Brandon, where she now resides.
James Bucknam is the son of Benoni, who was born in
Maiden, Mass., August 24, 1767, and married, in June, 1793,
Elizabeth Floyd, who was born in Boston, in June, 1 773.
They located in New Ipswich, N. H., where their son James,
was born, October 11, 1811. He became a tanner and currier,
a trade he learned in Keene ; and on the 17th of July, 1838,
he married Mehitable Pratt, who was born October 10, 1810.
They located in Rutland, Yt., where Mrs. Mehitable Bucknam
died, July 20, 1844:. Mr. Bucknam married Almira Dunklee,
November 28, 1844, and in 1849, they removed to this town
and resided nine years in Samuel A. Brown s house. In 1858,
Mr. Bucknam bought the buildings and a part of the land
then owned by Amos Crippen, and on this place he has since
resided.
Franklin Burditt, son of Asher, was born August 18, 1826,
and married, October 4, 1849, Susan Elmira Dike, who was
born in Stockholm, K Y., May 28, 1825. They located on
the home farm the Harris Bogue farm which had been pur
chased, and for some time occupied by Asher Burditt and on
this they still reside. Mr. Burditt is one of the most thrifty
farmers in the town.
Michael O Donnel located in this town in 1849. He is the
son of Thomas O Donnel, and was born in Limerick, Ireland,
in 1805. He came to America in June, 1846, and soon after
wards to Pittsford. He married, August, 1849, Mary Mehen,
who was also born in Limerick. Mr. O Donnel had no per
manent residence till September, 1860, when he bought the
farm he now occupies. He has erected new buildings and
greatly improved the farm.
Charles D. Brown, son of Elijah, was born March 17, 1819,
married, September 26, 1849, Jane, E., daughter of Dr.
DAVID HALL. 439
George B. Armington, and resided a short time at Furnace
Village. He had purchased of George Hodges, in 1847, an
interest in the Furnace property, and for a few years he was
engaged in business connected with it. Not long after his
marriage, however, he removed to Providence, R. I., and
thence to Augusta, Maine, and afterwards to Portland ; but he
returned to Pittsford in 1863. In 1864, he was appointed
by the Rutland & Burlington Railroad Company ticket agent
at Rutland. He removed his family to that town, entered at
once upon the duties of his appointment, and continued in the
faithful discharge of them till he was stricken down by disease
which terminated in death Nov. 29, 1869.
David Hall, the fourth son of Elias, located here in 1849.
He was born in Chittenden, March 15, 1813, and April 18,
1842, he married Eliza Kimball, who was born in Pittsfield,
March 11, 1816. They located in Castleton, where they resided
till they removed to this town. The place they occupied here
was purchased of Amos Crippen. They removed to the State
of Iowa in 1871.
For some years previous to 1840, a degree of doubt had
been entertained respecting the boundaries of the public lots ;
the ancient marks had become obliterated, and it was feared
that these lots had been encroached upon by men who owned
adjoining lands. In order to remove the doubt upon this sub
ject, the Selectmen were directed, at the annual meeting in
March, 1839, to "resurvey and restore the ancient lines and
boundaries of these lots." At the annual meeting in March,
1840, a written report was made and accepted, which may be
found upon the town records of that year, and signed by
DAVID HALL,
a
CALEB HENDEE, Surveyor."
i Selectmen.
JEFFREY BARNES,
The rebuilding of the Mead bridge had, in conformity to a
vote of the town, been put under contract, and it was now in
4:40 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
process of construction* by Abraham Owen and Nicholas and
Daniel C. Powers.
At a special town meeting, July 21, 1840, "the Selectmen
made the following statement and report, to wit.: That they
had drawn orders, in pursuance to contract, on the Town
Treasury, to the amount of three hundred and forty-one dol
lars for payment in part for the building of the Bridge near
Jeffrey Barnes , and that there are no funds in the Treasury to
meet the same."
" Voted that the Selectmen be authorized to borrow the
some of three hundred and fifty dollars for this contingency, if
the same can be loaned for an interest not exceeding 12 per
cent per annum."
At an adjourned meeting, Sept. 1, 1840, " The Selectmen
stated that they had not been able to obtain the money wanted
by loan as they were instructed, but they could get it at the
Bank for 60 days.
Voted that the Selectmen be authorized and directed to
make a tax on the Grand List of 1839, of 2-J- cents on the
dollar, to be collected and paid into the treasury forthwith, to
defray the expenses of the Town."
At a meeting held January 25, 1841, The tow y n " voted
the Selectmen be instructed to build the Bridge near Deming
Gorham s, in the summer of 1841, and the Bridge near Judge
Hammond s, in the summer of 1842.
Voted to appoint a committee of four persons to advise
with the Selectmen, to advise as to the kind of Bridges best to
be built.
Chose NATHAN D. CLIFFORD,^)
DAVID RICHARDSON, I The above
JOHN ROCKWOOD, | Committee."
ABRAHAM OWEN,
* This was the bridge now standing, and was the first lattice bridge built over
the Creek.
EXTRACTS FROM RECORDS. 441
The subject of purchasing a town farm came up for the
first time at the annual meeting in March, 1842. The record
is as follows :
"Voted that the selectmen be authorized to purchase a
farm upon which to support the Town poor, as in their discre
tion they think expedient, and for the interest of said TOWUJ
with authority to consult other towns on the subject, and that
so much of the surplus deposit money of this town as should
be needed in such purchase, shall be called in and appropriated
to that object."
At the annual meeting in March, 1846, the town limited
the compensation of the Selectmen and Listers as follows :
" Voted to allow the Selectmen not to exceed the sum of
ten dollars each for their services.
Voted to pay the Listers not to exceed five dollars each."
In the year 1846, we find the first record of a school teach
er s license, which was made in conformity to the law at that
time. The following are specimens of many found upon the
records :
State of Vermont, ) PITTSFORD, April 25, 1846.
Rutland County, ss. > This certifies that
Miss - - has this day been examined and is found qualified
to instruct in Spelling, Reading, Writing and Geography, and
satisfactory evidence being given that she sustains a good moral
character, she is hereby Licensed to teach school in the Town
of Pittsford for the term of one year from this date.
LEVI SMITH,
Superintendent of Com. Schools
for the Town of Pittsford.
May 12, 1846. Received on Record.
Attest, S. H. KELLOGG, T. Clerk."
" State of Vermont, \ April 20, 1846.
Rutland County, ss. ) has this day been examined and is
found qualified to instruct in Spelling, Reading, Writing, Geog-
442 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
raphy, Arithmetic, Grammar and Composition, and satisfactory
evidence being given that she sustains a good moral character,
she is hereby Licensed to teach school in the Town of Pitts-
ford for the term of one year from this date.
THOMAS H. PALMER,
Superintendent of Com. Schools
for the County of Rutland.
May 14, 1846. Received on Record.
Attest, S. H. KELLOGG, T. Clerk."
At the annual meeting in March, 1847, The following
Resolution was offered and passed, viz. : "Resolved, That
Jeffrey A. Randall and Henry Simonds be authorized by the
Town to procure the erection of suitable fences around the
burying grounds of the town at the expense of the Town, and
that the said Randall and Simonds be authorized to confer
with the persons having leases of the said grounds and make
such arrangements with them as they deem suitable, for bring
ing the superintendance of said grounds under the care of the
Town, and then they take such superintendance, and that all
cattle, horses, sheep, and such animals as may trample down
the graves, destroy the shrubbery planted, or injure the grave
stones, shall not be allowed to be pastured or to run at large
within the enclosures of said burying grounds."
At the annual meeting in March, 1848, the town "Yoted
to give the Selectmen ten dollars each, and no more, for their
services for the year ensuing. Chose Jeffrey Barnes First
Constable and Collector of Town and School Taxes which he
agreed to do for fifty dollars."
"All the inhabitants of the Town of Pittsford who are
legal voters in Town or Freemen s meetings, are hereby noti
fied and warned to meet at the Town Room in said Town oil
Tuesday, the 6th day of March next, at one o clock P. M., for
the purpose of voting License or No License in conformity
EXTRACTS FROM RECORDS. 443
with an act of the Legislature of this State, passed Nov. 3,
1846.
JEFFREY BARNES,^
DAVID HALL, )> Selectmen.
ORLIN SMITH,
Pittsford, Feb. 22, 1849.
At a meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town of Pittsford
who are voters in Town and Freemen s meetings legally
warned and holden on the first Tuesday of March, A. D.,
1849, for the purpose of voting License and No License for
the year ensuing, the votes being publicly sorted, counted and
declared, are as follows :
The No. of votes for License are 28
The No. of votes for No License 212
A true Record,
Attest, S. H. KELLOGG, T. Clerk."
4:4:4: HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
CHAPTER XIII.
Immigrants or Settlers and their Locations continued;
Purchase of a Town Farm / First train of Cars in
the Town ; Controversy about the Roads to and from
the Depot ; Establishment of the same ; Result of the
jirst Experiment with a Town Farm. 1850 1860.
Jonathan Tilson, son of Jonathan, located in this town in
1850. He married Adeline Jackson, Feb. 12, 1850, and soon
after settled on the place where he now resides. The house
he occupies was built by Otis Clapp, who resided in it a short
time. It was afterwards owned by the following persons in
succession, viz.: Joel Tedder, Joseph Parker, Ansel Jenkins,
George W. Barnard, Carlos A. Hitchcock and Jonathan Tilson.
Eliab Randall, son of Moses, was born in Chittenden, Aug.
31, 1819, and married Rachel Amelia Trowbridge, of Stanford,
N. Y., June 16, 1850. He located at Furnace Village, where
he was employed by the Pittsford Iron Company. In 1865,
he purchased the Armington* property, near the furnace, and
occupied it. In 1867, he enlarged and repaired the house,
and, as the result, he had a convenient and pleasant residence.
Mr. Randall died in 1871.
Warren S. Guilford, from Whitehall, came here about the
time the Rutland & Burlington Railroad was opened through
this town, and was the first station agent here. He married
Emeline M. Trowbridge, October 10, 1850, and after residing
here a short time removed to Rutland.
William Barton Shaw began house-keeping here in 1850.
* Dr. George B. Armiugton built the house and occupied it some years.
W. B. SHAW IRA F. MAYNARD JONAS WHEELER. 445
His grandfather, Luther Shaw, married Judith Squires, and
settled in Lanesboro , Mass., where his son William R. was
born, March 25, 1784. William R. married Anna Barton, of
Mansfield, Conn., January 30, 1813, [and settled in Rutland,
Yt. Their children were : 1st, William B., born October 26,
1814 ; 2d, Luther died in infancy ; 3d, Ann Eliza, born Jan.
6, 1818; 4th, Laura W., born April 11, 1820; 5th, Charles
L., born January 28, 1822 ; 6th, Henry G., born March 22,
1830.
William B., the eldest son of William R., came to Pittsford
in 1848, and bought of Howard Lothrop the Deacon Hopkins*
place at Mill Village. This purchase included the brick store
built a short time before by William I . Manley. Here Mr.
Shaw commenced mercantile business, and, having got well
established, on the 26th of August, 1850, he married Jenette
S., daughter of Adin Swinington, Esq., of Leicester, and occu
pied the Penfield house. Mr. Shaw is one of our enterprising
merchants.
Ira F. Maynard, son of Ira, married Mary Jane Hayden,
October 25, 1850. The 29th day of March following, he pur
chased ot Asa bourse one acre of land directly east of the
said bourse s house, and, during the ensuing summer, built a
house upon it, which he occupied till 1858, when he sold it to
Jeffrey Barnes and removed to Prescott, Wisconsin.
Jonas Wheeler settled here in 1850. Lie was the son of
Jacob Wheeler,! who \vas born in Massachusetts, married
Molly Kebby, of Carlisle, and located in Nelson, K H., where
both died. Their children were Luther, Sarah, Molly, Esther,
Jacob, Jonas, Lucy, Rhoda, Amos, Jeremiah and David.
Jonas, the third son, was born March 2, 1784, and married,
Sept. 1, 1805, Hannah Seward, who was born in Sullivan,
K LI., Sept. 1, 1784. They located in South Chittenden, Yt.,
*This place was first improved and occupied by Deacon Nehemiah Hopkins who
sold it to John Pentield.
t Mr. Wheeler was a soldier in the Revolutionary war.
t
446 HISTOKY OF PITTSFORD.
where their son David was born, June 15, 1806. Mrs. Wheeler
died, and Mr. Wheeler married - , by whom he
had Edwin, born Dec. 8, 1838, and Seneca E., born June 13,
1841. In 1850, Mr. Wheeler removed into this town and
occupied the farm now owned by George Jackson. He died
in 1870.
Jacob Yanhess Sheldon located here in 1850. He is the
son of Jacob Sheldon, was born in this town September 8,
1823, and married, Nov. 21, 1850, Amelia Flint, who was
born in Lowell, Mass., March 6, 1832. They located on the
home place now owned by Mrs. Elizabeth Bogue. Mr. Shel
don is a blacksmith, a trade he learned of his father, and he
worked at it some years after his marriage. Mrs. Sheldon
died ; Mr. Sheldon married Angeline Whitlock in 1860. His
health failing, he quit his trade, sold his house and bought* the
Webster tavern which he kept till 1866, when he sold it to
Lewis F. Scofield and soon after removed to Berlin, Wisconsin.
Before he sold the hotel, he had made repairs upon it to the
extent of over t\vo thousand dollars.
Charles Cook Morgan, son of Ezra Rendell, was born in
Hampton, New York, August 18, 1818. His grandfather
David was a native of Wales, came to America, married and
located in Hampton. There his son, Ezra Rendell, was born,
about the year 1790. He married Ann Honey, a Dutch lady,
and settled in Hampton. Charles Cook married Judith Ann
Ivemp, of Fittsford, August 14, 1846. After residing in Hut-
land one year, he removed to Whitehall where he remained
three years, and then came to Pittsford and resided some time
on the place recently owned by Parker Kemp. He has
changed his dwelling place several times since locating in this
town. At the present time he occupies a house in the Yillage.
His daughter, Athleen Yiroqua, was born Jan. 7, 1850.
tThis purchase wns made of Smith and Woodcock, Mrtrch 28, 1854. We have
called this the Webster tavern, from Nathan Webster, the first proprietor.
P. W. KELLOGG D. A. RICHARDSON H. SHERMAN. 44:7
Thomas McEnaney became a resident of the town in 1850.
He and his ancestors of several generations were natives of
Ireland. His grandfather, John McEnaney, married Catharine
Shevlin, and had James, Thomas and Rose. James, the eldest,
married Bridget Hammel. Their children were Thomas, Pat
rick, James, Elizabeth, Bridget and Mary. Thomas, the eldest,
was born August 8, 1816, came to America when a young
man, and in 1840, married Bridget O Neil, who was born in
Ireland, Nov. 25, 1826. They resided in Fail-field, Yt,, till
J 850, when they came to Pittsford and have since resided at
Furnace Village.
Patrick W. Kellogg, son of Charles H., married Elizabeth
Sophia Prentiss, March 4, 1851. After residing a short time
with his parents in this town, he removed to Whiting, and was
for a time, station agent for the Rutland & Burlington Railroad
Company, in that town. He now resides in North Brookfield,
Mass.
David Augustus Richardsoft, son of David, was born in
Pittsford, married Celia Ann Johnson, of Sudbury, September
16, 1851, and located on the home farm where he and his
younger brother, John, still reside.
Henry Sherman, son of Daniel, was born Nov, 4, 1821,
and married, February 19, 1851, Elizabeth Price, who was
born in Brooklin, Kent County, England, March 12, 1820.
They located on the home place where he had spent his younger
days, and learned of his father the trade of a wheelwright.
For some years, however, Mr. Sherman has devoted his atten
tion to farming.
Newton Rand, son of Ebenezer Blanchard, was born in
Pittsford, July 31, 1837, married Adelia, daughter of Osmond
Stevens, September 25, 1851, and located on the home place.
They have resided in this town the most of the time since their
marriage, with the exception of four years during which they
were in the West.
448 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
"Wakeman Gorham, Jr., son of Wakeman by a second wife,
was born in Chittenden, and, when a young man, resided in
the family of Bradley Burditt, of this town. He afterwards
learned the tanner s and currier s trade of Samuel A. Brown,
and also devoted some time to shoemaking. He married Laura
A. Page, July 3, 1851, and after residing in a house near
Brown s tannery a year or more, removed to Duxbury, where
he died some four or five years since.
Jonathan J. Gould, born May 23, 1821, married, March
11, 1851, Laura Dirnick, who was born May 27, 1817. They
located on the Morgan farm* where they now r reside.
John Laque, son of John, a Frenchman, married Ardriette
Laforge, October 23, 1852. They have changed their place of
residence quite often, though they have resided in this town
the most of the time since their marriage. In 1866, Mr.
Laque purchased of Henry F. Lothrop the ground upon which
the Lyrnan house once stood, and upon this he removed a house
which stood a few rods south of the house now owned by
Augustus Hammond the Sturges Penfield house. Mr. Laque
now occupies the house thus removed.
William A. Pratt, a shoemaker, resided some time in Fur
nace Village, and worked for Harvey Green. He married
Sarah G. Segar, Nov. 4, 1852. He remained here a short
time after his marriage, and then removed to the State of
Minnesota.
Capen Leonard, son of Capen who has already been noticed,
was born in Chittenden, June 25, 1808, and married Nov. 26,
1832, Mary Ann Dike, who was born in Chittenden, January
24, 1812. Mr. Leonard resided some years in Chittenden. In
1852, he removed to this town and occupied the farm which
had been purchased of John Lincoln a part of the Morse
farm. He left this farm for a time, but returned to it again
and still occupies it. Mr. Leonard is one of the prominent men
* This farm was long 1 owned by William Morgan.
EGBERT ELLIOT A. C. POWERS HUMPHREY FAMILY. 4-49
of the town, and has, at various times, held almost every office
within the gift of his townsmen. In the years 1868 and 69,
he was a member of the State Senate.
Robert Elliot was the son of Michael, and was born in
Ireland, about the year 1820. He came to America when a
young man, and married, January 16, 1852, Mary Corana,
who was also born in Ireland. In the month of April, next
after his marriage, Mr. Elliot removed to this town and has
since resided at Furnace Village.
Artemas Carpenter Powers, son of Richard Montgomery,
was born March 28, 1823, and married, February 15, 1853,
Juliana Douglas, who was born in Richmond, "Vt., January 1,
1827. They located on the home farm, where they have ever
since resided. Mr. Powers possesses business capacity, and has
held many offices of trust and responsibility.
The genealogy of the Humphrey family can be traced back
to the early settlement of Massachusetts. Jonas Humphrey,
with his son James, came to New England about the year
1637. Jonas Humphrey was made freeman in 1 640 ; James
Humphrey, in 1645. Jonas Humphrey s first wife s name was
Frances - ; his second wife s name was Jane .
They settled in Dorchester, Mass. Jane died Aug. 2, 1668.
Jonas Humphrey s children by his first wife, Frances, were :
1st, James, born in England, in 1608, settled in Dorchester,
died May 12, 1686 ; 2d, Jonas, born - - , settled and
died, probably at Weymouth, Mass. ; 3d, Elizabeth, married
- Price ; 4th, Susanna, married Nicholas White, of
Dorchester. James Humphrey, above mentioned, married
Mary - , who died May 6, 1677. Their children were :
1st, Hopestill, born 1649, settled at Dorchester, died March
22, 1731 ; 2d, Isaac, baptized 1652 ; 3d, Mary, married Obadiah
Hawes, of Dorchester. Hopestill and Isaac Humphrey were
made freemen in 1690.
Hopestill married, for his first wife, Elizabeth Baker, of
30
4:50 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
Dorchester, Nov. 2, 1677 ; for his second wife, Hannah Blake,
January 5, 1719. Elizabeth, his first wife, died October
25, 1714. The children of Hopestill and Elizabeth Humphrey
were : 1st, James, born March 8, 1680 ; 2d, Mary, horn Feb
6, 1682; 3d, Kuth, born May 13, 1684; 4th, Sarah, born
Sept. 17, 1686 ; 5th, John, born Dec. 31, 1688 ; 6th, Samuel,
born Aug. 27, 1691 ; 7th, Jonas, born March 12, 1696 ; 8th,
Elizabeth, born October 19, 1699.
John Humphrey married Hannah - , and settled in
Dorchester. Their children were : 1st, Hannah, born July
18, 1713 ; 2d, John, born May 10, 1715 ; 3d, Thankful, born
Feb. 23, 1718 ; 4th, Joseph, born May 23, 1723 ; 5th, Sarah,
baptized Jan. 24, 1725 ; 6th, Thomas, baptized Aug. 6, 1727;
7th, William, born March 5, 1730.
William,* above mentioned, married - - Pratt, and
settled in Winchester, N. H. Their children w r ere Olive,
Sarah, Hannah, Lydia, Esther, Susan, Mercy, Julia, Eusebia,
Willard, William, Amherst, Joseph, Jonas and Oliver.
Joseph, the fourth son, was born March 17, 1769, and
married, about 1795, Hannah, daughter of Simeon Parmelee,
of Pittsford, formerly of Stockbridge, Mass. They located in
the north part of Rutland. Their children were William,
Diana, Mercy, Willard, Moses, Joseph and Ashbel. The father
died Nov. 30, 1852 ; the mother died April 7, 1863.
Willard Humphrey, son of Joseph, was born in Eutland,
July 2, 1803, and on the 22d of October, 1833, married
Melinda Harwood, who was born in Hartford, Vt, July 8,
1808. They first located in Rutland, but removed to Schroon,
K Y., and thence to Pittsford, in 1853. Mr. Humphrey
bought the farm formerly owned by Amos Hitchcock, now in
part by Frank Bresee, and resided there till 1863, when he
purchased of Newton Kellogg the place where he now resides.
* William was a Captain in the Revolutionary war.
HENKY COOLEY A. T. REYNOLDS D. P. PEABODY. 451
Henry Cooley, son of John, was born February 19, 1830,
married Frances E. Howe, July 4, 1853, and located on the
home place with his parents, who died soon afterwards. The
son still retains the homestead.
Abner T. Reynolds became a citizen of this town in 1853.
He is a son of Morris Reynolds, w r ho was born in Rutland,
Feb. 13, 1780, married Charlotte Chatterton in 1804, and
settled in that town. Their children were Isaac, Morris,
Bradley A., Abner T. and Charlotte P. Morris Reynolds, the
father, died July 9, 1848 ; Charlotte, the mother, died May 6,
1854. Abner T. Reynolds was born March 20, 1817, and
married, December 3, 1846, Fannie Starks, who was born in
Lockport, K. Y., April 13, 1820. They resided in Rutland
till the 24th of March, 1853, when Mr. Reynolds bought of
Simeon Gilbert the Ladd farm in Pittsford, and on this they
have since resided. The house built by Mr. Ladd was exten
sively repaired by Mr. Reynolds in 1867.
Daniel P. Peabody, merchant, located here in 1853. He
is the son of Isaac Peabody, who was the son of Daniel and
Betsey (Holt) Peabody, who lived and died in Andover, Yt.,
and whose children were Isaac, Merriam, Dorothy, Putnam
D., Betsey D., and Joseph Holt. Isaac, the eldest, was born
March 21, 1804, and married, Feb. 13, 1828, Susan Bradford,
who was born in Montvernon, 1ST. PI., April 6, 1805. They
located in Montvernon, and had the following children, viz.:
Elizabeth, Daniel P., Isaac Bradford, George Henry, Harland
O., William, Sarah Ann, and Charles Holt. Daniel P., the
second child, was born Aug. 17, 1832, married Mary A. E.
Woodbury,* October 20, 1853, and located on the place now
owned by Mrs. S. Mead. For a few years past he has been in
business with his uncle, Joseph H. Peabody, and now resides
with him.
* Born in Chittenden, March 13, 1832.
452 HISTOEY OF PITTSFORD.
Nathaniel Willis, son of Thomas, was born in this town,
January 22, 1812, and married, Nov. 15, 1853, Abigail M.
Carr, who was born in Chester, Nov. 24, 1819. In 185 7, Mr.
Willis bought of Daniel Goodnough the Richard Hen dee farm,
on the west side of the Creek, and on this he now resides. He
has greatly improved the farm, and in 1871, he built a large
and convenient house in conformity to the modern style of
architecture.
John Brophy, shoemaker, a native of Canada, of French
birth, married Nancy Ann Bassett, July 20, 1854, and resided
in this town a few years and then left. He returned in 1867,
and has since worked in the shop of E. B. Watkins. In 1870,
he purchased of the heirs of James R. Smith a small house-lot
on the east side of the road, some sixty or seventy rods south
of the residence of Mrs. Smith, and upon this he has built the
house which he now occupies.
William Penn Barnes, eldest son of Jeffrey and Violet,
was born in Pittsford, Feb. 2, 1832, married Mary P. Roach,
December 26, 1854, and located on his father s farm formerly
the Mead farm. He died June 16, 1861, and Mrs. Barnes
now occupies a house built by William Manley, near the Meth
odist church.
Lot Keeler, Jr., son of Lot, was born in Pittsford, October
9, 1798, and after the death of his father, inherited the home
farm. He married Bridget Tye, Nov. 24, 1855. This mar
riage proved to be very unhappy, and a divorce was the result.
Mr. Keeler continues to occupy his old home, which is another
of the few that have not passed from the family ot the original
settler.*
William W. Nourse, son of Luther, was born ,
married Julia M. Strong, of Benson, March 10, 1855, and
located on the place occupied by his father; He had purchased
* Mr. Keeler has recently died, (March 28, 1871).
C. J. FENTON JAMES N. PALMER J. T. GORHAM. 453
his brother Joel s interest in the place and resided on it till
1863, when he sold it to Jeduthan Thomas. He removed to
Mill Village and worked in the grist-mill about two years.
Thence he removed to Centre Rutland, where he followed the
same occupation one year. He then removed to Fairhaven
where he now resides.
Charles J. Fenton, son of Samuel T., was born May 29,
1834, married Almira P. Daggett, July 4, 1855, and located
on the farm with his parents. Mrs. Almira Fenton died July
26, 1863, and Mr. Fenton married Valina Burbank, October
9, 1869.
James N. Palmer, son of Thomas H., was born July 10,
1833, married July 4, 1855, Ellen E., daughter of Jeremiah
Powers. After residing in this town a short time he removed
to Malone, X. Y., and engaged in mercantile business. In
1870, he removed to New Haven, Vt., where he now resides.
James T. Gorham, son of James, was born April 26, 1834,
and married Addie N. Ives, of Ludlow, July 2, 1855. About
this time* he purchased of Thomas F. Palmer the location
now owned by Rollin S. Meacham, and occupied the house
and store. After trading there about four years he sold the
location to Marcus C. Bogue, and bought of Robert R. Drake
a house and store in the Village. After repairing the house
and building a new store, he traded here a few months and
then removed to Ludlow. Soon after the war of the Rebellion
broke out, he enlisted in the army and served as sergeant for a
time, but was afterwards promoted to the rank of captain.f
After the close of the war he located in St. Louis, where he
died suddenly of cholera, August 21, 1866. His family
returned to Ludlow, where they now reside.
Franklin B. Barnes, son of Nehemiah, was born -
. After obtaining a good English education he
* This purchase was made June 5, 1855.
t He commanded Company G of the Ninth Regt. Vt. Vols.
454: HISTOKY OF PITTSFOKD.
spent several winters in teaching school, and labored on the
farm in the summer. On the 25th of November, 1854, he
married Mary Ann, daughter of James Eayres, of Rutland,
and, the following spring, bought of Joseph H. Peabody what
was long known as the Abraham Drury farm. Mr. Barnes
located on this farm in May, and has resided there to the pres
ent time.
George N. Eayres is a descendant of William, who married
Mary Adams and located in Londonderry, N. H., where were
born to them the following children, viz.: Mary, James, William,
John, Jane and Lewis. James was born July 4, 1799, married
Ann Kingman,* Sept. 9, 1823, and located in Rutland. Their
children were George E"., Almon, Mary Ann, Ruscilla M.,
Sarah M., William and James. James, the father, died March
3, 1870; Ann, the mother, died July 29, 1871. George K
was born December 12, 1824; and after acquiring a good
knowledge of the common branches of learning, he commenced
teaching school winters, and followed this avocation .some seven
or eight terms. He married, Sept. 19, 1849, Almira A. Allen,
of Rutland, who was born in Hinsdale, K". H., October 11,
1822. They resided in Rutland till 1855, when Mr. Eayres
bought of Miles Johnson the Peter Powers farm in Pittsford,
and upon this he has since resided. During the past year he
has remodelled and repaired the house, and now has one of the
finest habitations in the town. He has also one of the best
farms, and few men understand better the science of agricul
ture. Mr. Eayres strong points are keenness of insight and
accuracy of judgment.
Richard Mooney became a resident of this town in 1853.
He is the son of Patrick Mooney, who was born in Ireland in
1785, and married, in 1818, Ellen Allen, who was born, also,
in Ireland in 1780. Their children were Patrick, Richard,
William, Ann, Jane and Ellen. This family came to America
* Miss Kingman was born in Lanesboro , Mass., Sept. 9, 1805.
C. A. STILES GEORGE DUNKLEE WM. E. HALL. 4:55
and located in this town, where Patrick, the father, died April,
1859. Richard, the second son, was born in Ireland in 1827,
and married, Sept. 5, 1855, Mary Riley (Canton), who was
born in Ireland in 1827. They located in Furnace Village,
where they now reside.
Charles A. Stiles located here in 1855. He is the son of
Levi Stiles, and was born in Moretown, N". Y., June 3, 1833.
In 1855, he married Mary A. Jackson, who was born in this
town June 11, 1840. Mr. Stiles, after changing his residence
several times, purchased the farm occupied at an early day by
Justus Brewster, but more recently by Nehemiah Barnes. He
has the care of the farm, though a part of his time is improved
as a meat merchant.
We know little of Thaddeus H. Preston. He married Ann
M. Foster, Sept. 10, 1856, and resided for a time in East Pitts-
ford. We have no knowledge of his present residence.
George Dunklee, son of Siloe, was born January 1, 1829,
and married Julia Clark, Sept. 2, 1856. He has resided in
different places in this town and in Chittenden, and is now
residing in Crown Point, N. Y.
William E. Hall became a citizen of this town in 1856.
He is the fifth son of Elias Hall, and was born in Chittenden,
July 4, 1818. He married, May 15, 1848, Elmira M. Hitch
cock, who was born in Pittsford, October 29, 1822. Mr. Hall
located in Troy, N. Y., where he had an appointment as Treas
urer of the Schenectady & Troy Eailroad Company. He was
afterwards Superintendent of the same company s road. His
health becoming impaired, he came to this town in 1856, and
bought of the heirs of Timothy Morseman, what was a part of
the original Wait farm. Mr. Hall occupied the old Morseman
house till 1867, when he built another house on the east side
of the road, and this is now his residence. His time is now
mainly devoted to agricultural pursuits.
Frederick Scofield became a resident of this town in 1856.
4:56 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
His grandfather, whose name was also Frederick, was born in
England, came to this country in early life, married Eunice
Seeley, of Connecticut, and located in that State. They had a
son Frederick, who. was born in Stamford, Conn., September
18, 1769, married Nov. 14, 1793, Mary Mott, who was born
in Brandon, Yt., May 7, 1777. They resided in Brandon, and
had the following children, viz.: Mary, Frederick, Lydia,
James, Betsey, Louisa, David, John and Thirza. Frederick,
the father, died in Brandon, July 3d, 1842. Mary, the mother,
died in the same place, August 29, 1865.
Frederick, the second child, was born June 6, 1802, studied
medicine with Dr. Freeman H. Mott, then of Pittsford, and
graduated at the Castleton Medical College. He married
Polly Farnum of Salisbury, January 20, 1824, and located in
Bolton, N. Y., where he practiced medicine a short time. He
changed his residence several times, and eventually quit the
practice of medicine and devoted his attention to other pursuits.
In 1856, he and his son, Clark Scofield, bought of Hiram B.
Chittenden a part of what was the Powers farm, lying west of
the Ladd farm. He removed his family from Brandon to this
farm, where he resided till 1865, when he sold his interest in
the farm and located in the Yillage. He returned to Brandon
in 1868, where he now resides.
Michael Timbers, Jr., son of Michael, was born in Kilkenny,
Ireland, March 25, 1831, came to America in 1848, and to
Pittsford in 1849. He married Julia, daughter of Patrick
Dowling, January 3, 1855, and located in Chittenden. In
1857, they came to Pittsford and resided on the Samuel Adams
place a short time, but returned to Chittenden, where they
resided till 1866, when they again located in Pittsford, and
now reside in Furnace Yillage.
Egbert B. Kand, son of Ebenezer Blanchard, was born in
Pittsford, May 26, 1829, and married, January 14, 1858,
Samantha M., born Nov. 30, 1827, daughter of Joseph Kelly,
E. B. W ATKINS WM. H. HARRISON. 457
of this town. They located on the home place the E wings
tavern stand where they still reside. In 1866, Mr. Rand
remodelled and repaired the house, and has now one of the
pleasantest residences in the Village.
Edward B. Watkins is a descendant of Willard Watkins of
Connecticut, who had the following children, viz.: Willard,
Abner, Alpheus, Benjamin and Andrews. Alpheus, the third
son, was born in Ashford, Conn., and married Alice Fuller,
who was born in Pomfret. They located in Charlestown,
N. H., where they died. Their children were Charles, Lutheda,
Alpheus, Lucena, Ira, Charlotte and Edward B. The latter
was born in Charlestown, October 29, 1808, and at an early
age served an apprenticeship at shoemaking. He came to
Pittsford, April 25, 1856, and worked in the shoe shop owned
J. A. Randall. He married Joanna, daughter of Jacob Shel
don, and resided in the Sheldon house till the death of his wife,
June 18, 1859. He married, for his second wife, Delia Eliza,
daughter of Samuel A. Brown, Sept. 13, 1859, and resided at
Mill Village till 1865, when he bought of Mrs. Howard the
Edwin Lester place, where he now resides.
William Henry Harrison became a citizen of Pittsford in
1858. His grandfather, Samuel Harrison, was born in Eng
land, and graduated at the University of Oxford, though we
are not aware that he studied for either of the learned profes
sions. Much of his time in early life was spent in teaching
school. He married Nancy Robinson, by whom he had several
children Samuel, Joseph and Jesse. His wife Nancy died,
and he afterwards married Betsey Dent, by whom he had
Betsey, Dent and William Henry. He came to America with
his family in 1772, and settled in Roxbury, Mass. Samuel, the
eldest child and son, was born April 26, 1756, in Norton,
Derby County, England. Soon after the family came to this
country the Revolutionary war broke out, and this son enlisted
in the patriot army. He was under Warner in his expedition
458 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
to Canada in 1775, and was also in the battle of Bennington.
He was in the army three years, and during the latter part of
this period he was a lieutenant. He married, March 9, 1780,
Rebecca Keeler, who was born in Ridgefield, Conn., August
26, 1756. They located in Pittsfield, Mass., but removed to
Chittenden, Vt., in the early settlement of that township.
Their children were Samuel, Lovisey, Betsey, Joseph, Clarinda,
William Henry, Rebecca and Pamelia. The father died April
6, 1813 ; the mother died May 1, 1832.
William Henry Harrison, the sixth child of Samuel, was
born Feb. 22, 1790, and married Sally Bogue, Feb. 1, 1822.
They resided in Chittenden till 1858, when Mr. Harrison
bought the Sheldon place in Pittsford village formerly the
Millard place. The family resided here till the death of Mr.
Harrison, January 20, 1866. Mrs. Harrison and her daughter,
Nancy Columbia, now reside in Hollcy, N. Y.
Carlos A. Hitchcock, son of Lyman, was born in Pittsford,
Nov. 2, 1820. While a young man, he met with an accident
which deprived him, to some extent, of the use of his hands,
thus incapacitating him for many kinds of manual labor ; but
by study and close application to business, he has become one
of the best financiers in the town. For several years he has
held the office of constable and collector of taxes, and at the
present time is a member of the General Assembly of the
State. He married Caroline (Hall) Tottingham, March 9,
1859, and located in a house which he purchased of Ira Hitch
cock in Hitehcockville. In 1867, he purchased of the heirs of
William H. Harrison the Sheldon place in the Village. Soon
after he made this purchase he repaired and improved the
buildings, so that he now has a very desirable abode.
Charles A. Hitchcock, son of Ira, was born June 22, 1827,
and married, Nov. 10, 1859, Laura A. Rice, of Rutland, who
was born August 8, 1839. In the spring and summer of 1850,
he built a house some two or three rods east of his father s
M. C. BOGUE KOLLIN S. MEACHAM. 4:59
residence, and in this he lived till the death of his mother-in-
law, when he removed to his father s house. After the death
of his father, December 7, 1870, he returned to the house he
first occupied.
Marcus Cook Bogue, son of Alexander, was born at Can
ton, St. Lawrence County, N. Y., July 8, 1827. He acquired
a good English education, and his tastes led him to qualify
himself for mercantile business. On the 29th of November,
1849, he married Sarah Giddings, who was born in Rutland,
August 27, 1828, and they located in West Rutland, where he
followed his favorite occupation as a merchant, and resided
there till October 1, 1859, when he removed* to this town and
located on the Townsend place, which he had purchased of
James T. Gorham. Mr. Bogue traded there with good success
till the spring of 1867, when, his health becoming somewhat
impaired by close confinement to business, he sold his location
to Rollin S. Meacharn, and bought of Jeremiah Powers the
old Hopkins farm, and devoted his time to farming. The fol
lowing winter he had a severe illness, which incapacitated him
for very active labor, but he continued to superintend his farm
ing operations till the spring of 1870, when he sold his farm to
Samuel B. Loveland, and removed to Sioux City, Iowa, where
he again resumed his former occupation as a merchant.
Rollin S. Meacharn is a descendant of Isaac Meacham, who
was born in Williamstown, Mass., April 3, 1766, and married,
in 1799, Phebe Thompson, who was born in Pawlet, "Vt.,. May
27, 1777. They located in Benson, and had the following
children, viz.: Ansel M., Alanson, Alonzo, Aurelius A., Rosalia
and Almeda Lorett. Phebe, the mother, died in Stockholm,
N. Y., in 1839 ; Isaac, the father, died in Brandon, May 15,
1844.
Alanson, the second son, was born in Benson, October 24,
1801, and married, January 11, 1829, Hannah Patterson, who
was born in Potsdam, N. Y., May 15, 1807. They located
460 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
In Potsdam, and had several children Pulaski, Ozro, Rollin
S., Jannette and Maria Antonette. Rollin S. was born in
Brandon, Yt., (to which town his parents had removed,) Sept.
25, 1833, and spent much of his early life in a store. He
married Mary E. W. Gorham, of Pittsford, September 28,
1859, and has resided a large proportion of the time since his
marriage in this town. In 1864, he entered the army as com
missary clerk, but returned to this town in 1866, and the
following year bought of M. C. Bogue the store and residence
at Mill Village, which he still occupies.
Elhanan W. Nichols located in this town in 1859. He is
the son of Asa Nichols, who was born in Connecticut, married,
June 2, 1803, Rachel Lamson, and settled in Crown Point,
N. Y., where were born the following children, viz. : Fanny,
Eliza, Ransom, Alonzo, Mary, Elhanan, Cynthia and Catha
rine. Rachel, the mother, died May 23, 1856 ; Asa, the father,
died April 23, 1866. Elhanan, the third son, was born in
Crown Point, became a shoemaker, married Hannah - ,
May 9, 1837, and located in Stockholm, N. Y., where he
resided till he came to this town. He resided a few years in
the Angier house, where Mrs. Hannah Nichols died in 1862,
and Mr. Nichols married Delia S. Godfrey, December 14,
1864. For the last few years he has worked at house painting.
" At the annual meeting in March, 1850, the votes upon
the question of License or No License were taken, sorted,
counted and declared to be as follows :
The No. of Yotes for License 73.
The No. of votes for No License 183."
" At Freemen s meeting held on the first Tuesday of Sep
tember, 1850, the following persons were admitted and sworn
as Freemen, viz.: James B. Gilbert, Herman B. Preston,
Patrick W. Kellogg, David A. Richardson, Egbert Rand,
Thomas F. Palmer, Ogden A. Penfield, George W. Dunklee,
Francis Thomas, and Benjamin S. Cooley."
EXTRACTS FROM RECORDS. 461
In March, 1852, the Town " voted to appoint a committee
of two whose duty is to procure a suitable fire-proof Safe for
the Town, in which to preserve their records."
" Yoted, That the Selectmen be instructed to appoint and
license one and only one Agent to purchase at the expense of
the Town, and sell intoxicating Liquors for medicinal, chemical
and mechanical purposes only, in pursuance of Sec. 4, of Chap.
87, of Compiled Statutes of Yt."
In conformity to the above vote the Selectmen appointed
and licensed Jeffrey A. Randall, Agent for the sale of intoxi
cating liquors during one year, commencing the eighth day of
March, 1852.
At the annual meeting in March, 1853, Mr. Lothrop offered
the following resolution, viz. : "Resolved, that a committe of 5
be appointed to purchase a Farm, Stock and Tools for the
Town, and that they be instructed to buy as soon as practable
some one of the Farms that have been offered the Town,
unless there should be others offered them for the Town that in
their judgment would be more for the interests of the Town
to purchase ; which resolution was adopted.
Chose S. H. KELLOGG, "1
H. F. LOTHROP,
T. F. BOGUE, ^ The above Committee.
JEREMIAH POWERS,
J. M. GOODNOUGH,J
Yoted to appropriate the United States deposite, or Surplus
money, not already appropriated, towards the purchase of the
Farm and Stock aforesaid."
At the next March meeting the committee reported, " That
they had purchased* the home farm of James R. Smith,
together with his farming tools, sugar apparatus and stock,
amounting in all to about $4586.75, viz.: Farm and Tools
$3800, Stock $786.75.
*The date of this purchase was Feb. 18, 1854.
462 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
In the years 1853 and 54, the citizens of the town were
called to act upon a subject which caused considerable excite
ment, and aroused considerable animosity between prominent
men in different parties.
That section of the Rutland & Burlington Railroad which
passes through this town was completed in the fall of 1849,
and an engine, with a train of cars from Burlington, came into
Pittsford for the first time, on the 19th of October. The next
day the train proceeded as far as Rutland.
The depot in this town was built in 1850, and it was neces
sary for the town to construct one road from the depot across
the Creek to the north-and-south road on the west side, and
another from the depot to the stage road on the east side of the
Creek ; and the location of these roads was a matter about
which the people were divided in opinion. In 1851, the
selectmen of the town, consisting of Isaac C. Wheaton, Asa
Nourse and Asher Burditt, on petition, laid out a road from
the depot westward across the Creek to a point on the north-
and-south road near the residence of David Hall. But this
route met with so much opposition that the building of the road
was not then put under contract. The subject continued to be
agitated, however, and the leaders of the different parties used
every appliance to establish their favorite routes. On the 9th
of February, 1853, a new board of selectmen, consisting of
H. F. Lothrop,* Orin Thomas and S. P. Griswold, in their
official capacity laid out a road from the depot in a northwest
erly direction, running along the side of the bank in close
proximity to the railroad track some distance, then crossing it,
bearing westerly and crossing the Creek a few rods north of
the mouth of the Stevens brook, entering the north-and-south
road near Benjamin Stevens north barn. On the 17th of
June, the same year, the aforesaid selectmen laid out another
* Mr. Lothrop s name does not appear upon the record of the proceedings of
the Selectmen.
ROAD CONTROVERSY. 463
road from the depot in a southerly direction, along the side of
the bank to the foot of the Town Hill, so called. And the
selectmen went still farther and put the building of these roads
under contract; also the construction of a bridge over the
Creek ; and the work upon these was commenced and carried
on to some extent. But a large proportion of the citizens of
the town were not satisfied with these proceedings, and felt
that the roads were not being built where the public good
required. Accordingly, they applied to the County Court for
an injunction, staying the further prosecution of the work till
the controversy in relation to the two routes could be legally
settled. A writ of injunction was issued and served, but the
selectmen, disregarding it, continued the work. The Court,
on petition, appointed a committee, consisting of Harvey Shaw,
Silas "W. Hodges and John Buckrnaster, to examine the ground
and to lay out the road in such place as they should find the
public good required. This committee came to Pittsford, went
over the different routes, and after having candidly heard all
parties interested, decided that the public good would be better
subserved by building the road first laid out by the selectmen
in 1851 ; and they therefore relaid the road substantially in the
same place.
The Court, at the September term, was petitioned for a
committee to discontinue the roads which had been laid out by
the selectmen on the 9th of February and the 17th of June.
The Court appointed Francis Slason, Alan son Allen and Jus
tin Jennings a committee to examine the subject embraced in
the petition, with power to discontinue the roads if they should
be satisfied the public good did not require them. This com
mittee, after a thorough investigation and candid hearing of the
parties, reported to the Court, on the 29th of October, that in
their opinion the public good did not require the two roads
which had been laid out by the selectmen in 1853, and that
they had discontinued them.
464: HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
This settled the long-standing road controversy, and after
the excitement of the time had passed away, and men had had
time for calm reflection, we believe that all parties were satis
fied that the road, as finally established, was in the right place.
Soon after it was laid out by the Court s committee, the build
ing of it and of the bridge was put under contract by the
selectmen, and they were, in due time, completed ; and though
the road is not, in all its parts, above high-water mark, yet it is
an important thoroughfare, and lias thus far cost the town but
little for repairs.
Suits were commenced against the town for compensation
for labor performed after the service of the writ of injunction
on the roads laid out by the selectmen in 1853, and on the
bridge, but in each case a verdict was given for the defendant.
And, as the town had "Resolved that the Treasurer be
instructed not to pay any of the orders drawn, or that may be
drawn by the Selectmen for 1853, on account of any expenses
in laying out and making either of. the roads that have been
discontinued by a Court committee during the year 1853, or
any land damages or expenses of building bridges on the same,"
those who had claims for such services or damages had to
remain uncompensated.
The result of the first experiment with a Town farm for
the support of the poor of the town, is shown by the following
report* of the Auditors :
" The overseer has paid out for the support of the poor and
for carrying on the Town farm as per his report, the
sum of $766.26
For his services as overseer 30.00
Making the current expenses for the year $796.26
The produce sold from the farm amounts to $458.49
Which leaves a balance due overseer of $337.77
* This report Was made at the annual meeting in March, 1855.
EXPERIMENT WITH A TOWN FARM. 465
Yalue of stock, hay, grain and provisions on the farm at the
commencement of the year was $988.00
The above named articles remaining on the farm at
the present time are estimated at $1034.00
Which leaves a balance of stock &c., in favor of the
town of $46.00
Subtracting the sum of $46 from $337.77 due the
overseer, leaves for the expenses of the poor,
over and above the productions of the farm, the
sum of $291.77"
" A further statement of the Auditors is as follows : The inter
est on the money invested in the Town farm, the produce,
stock, provisions, &c., for the use of the said farm, at the
commencement of last year is $288.00
Add the expenses over the produce 291.77
Leaves the current expenses for the year $579.77"
31
466 HISTORY OF PITTSFOED.
CHAPTER XIV.
Immigrants or Settlers and their locations continued; War
of the Rebellion ; Call of the President for Seventy-five
Thousand Men; Volunteers from this Town; Subse
quent Calls for Men and the Quotas of this Town;
Bounties paid by the Town ; Roll of the Volunteers
and Drafted Men ; Personal notices. 1860 1870.
Wallace E. Bresee, son of Jacob, was born in Pittsford,
June 18, 1837, married, Jan. 1, 1860, Mary C., born March
10, 1833, daughter of Siloe Dunklee, and located on the home
farm, where he now resides.
Chester G. Thomas, son of Augustus, located here in 1860.
He was born in Chittenden, March 24, 1834, and married,
December 18, 1860, Martha Pray, who was born in Salisbury,
June 16, 1830. They located on a part of the Ilendee farm.
Mr. Thomas purchased this of Samuel Hendee, April 8, 1858.
Michael O Donnel located here in 1860. He was born in
Limerick, Ireland, in 1805, came to America in June, 1846, and
married, in August, 1849, Mary Mehen, who was also born in
Limerick. Mr. O Donnel worked several years on the railroad.
He bought the farm he now owns of Patrick Riley, in Septem
ber, 1860, and the following year he located 011 it. He has
built a new barn and remodelled and improved the house.
Michael Duffy became a resident of this town in 1860. He
was born in Ireland, in 1801, came to America in 1833, mar
ried Mary McCalley, and located in Brandon. In 1860, he
removed to this town, where he still resides.
Francis Alexander located here in 1860. He is the eldest
son of Henry Alexander, and w^as born in Salisbury, October
M. MULLIGAN N. KELLOGG W. E. HALL. 467
13, 1835. When he was ten years of age his parents removed
from Sails our y to this town, and he accompanied them and
resided with them the most of the time till July 4, 1860, when
he married Emily A. Stocker, and " set up house-keeping."
Matthew Mulligan, son of John, was born in the County of
Clare, Ireland, in 1834, came to America in 1850, and to Pitts-
ford in 1855. He married, Nov. 24, 1861, Mary McColley.
who was born in the County of Latrem, Ireland, in 1840,
For the most of the time since residing in Pittsford, Mr. Mulli
gan has been a laborer on the railroad track.
Newton Kellogg, son of Samuel H., was born December
28, 1819, and in early life possessed a frail constitution which
did not permit him to enter upon any very laborious occupa
tion. He was a clerk in a store for some years, a part of the
time for Mr. Simonds in this town, and a part for Mr. Barrett
of Rutland. He married Julia Page, of Rutland, May 30,
1855, and resided in that town till October 11, 1861, when he
purchased of Thomas F. Bogue the Jenner place, and after
repairing the house built by Isaac Leonard, who had owned
the place, he removed to Pittsford and occupied this place.
While his home was here, he went to Rutland daily and con
tinued to perform the duties of Teller of one of the Banks, or
of clerk for the State Treasurer. He sold his Pittsford prop
erty to Willard Humphrey, May 11, 1863, and removed to
Rutland. He is now residing in this town.
William R. Hall, son of Royal, was born Nov. 16, 1839,
married, Nov. 14, 1861, Frances Caroline, daughter of Elias
T. Adams, and located on the home farm with his parents.
His time is mostly devoted to the farm, though he devotes con
siderable attention to hunting and fishing.
Henry Kingman was born in Rutland, April 21, 1828, and
resided in Rutland or Pittsford the most of the time till 1854,
when he married, October 28, Electa M. Mitchell, who was
born in Chittenden, October 20, 1831, and he located in Mount
468 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
Holly. In 1861, he purchased a house-lot near the Baptist
church, upon which he removed the store that had been occu
pied by R. R. Drake. This he converted into a dwelling
house and occupied it with his family. Within a few years he
has enlarged and improved his house, and purchased additional
lands, so that he now has a convenient home and a desirable
estate. He has been for several years engaged in the express
business, and has conveyed the mails to and from the depot.
Moses P. Humphrey, son of Joseph, was born in Rutland,
December 17, 1809, married Nancy P., daughter of Martin
Leach, Sen., September 2, 1835, and settled in Rutland. On
the 22d of June, 1861, he purchased of Mrs. Stella Humphrey
the Leach farm, which the latter inherited from her deceased
husband, Ashbel Humphrey. He removed hither, this year,
with his son Martin, who was born November 29, 1838, and
who married Huldah Locklin, February 23, 1860.
Austin A. Hewitt located here in 1861. He is the son of
Israel Hewitt, was born in Pittsfield, and married, March 29,
1861, Jane M. Dominy, who was born in West Chazy, N. Y.
They have resided in this town the most of the time since their
marriage. Mr. Hewitt, in his younger days, had a disease in
the hip which produced a shortening of one limb, and tins some
what impairs his locomotion, though he is very active, and few
men can perform more labor at the carpenter and joiner s
trade than he.
James Falloon is a son of Jeremiah, wiio was born in
Ireland, married, in 1834, Mary Gauley, and immigrated to
this country in 1838. They located in Moretown, N. Y.
Their children were Eliza, Jeremiah, James, Mary, Dorsoii
and Esther. Jeremiah, the eldest son, was born in Waterford,
K. Y., came to Pittsford in 1857, married Mary Keef in June,
of that year, and resided temporarily in . different places till
1864, when he purchased of Francis Thomas a small place,
near what is known as Sand Hill. Soon after he made this
C. BRADLEY O. T. BATES R. F. BTJRDITT. 469
purchase he enlisted in the army, and died in Texas, Sept. 13,
1855.- James, the second son, was born also in Waterford,
December 15, 1841, married Bridget Carrigan, June 25, 1861,
and located in Pittsford in the fall of that year. In 1867, Mr.
Falloon bought the southeast part of what was the Cox farm,
and upon this he now resides.
Cornelius Bradley, son of John and Catharine (Long)
Bradley, was born in Limerick, Ireland, Nov. 15, 1843, came
to America in 1859, and to Pittsford in 1860. He married
Mary McKearin, Sept. 5, 1862, who was born in Latrem,
Ireland, April 18, 1845. Mr. Bradley enlisted in the army
for nine months service, under the call of the President, and
atthe expiration of his term, returned to this town, where he
has since resided. For one or two years he labored on a farm,
but more recently he has been employed as section hand on
the railroad.
Oliver T. Bates, son of Hiram, was born in Fairhaven,
Nov. 13, 1881, came to Pittsford with his father s family in
1843, married Eliza A. Lindsley, June 5, 1862, and resided
one or two years on the Worden place, but is now living on
the home farm with his parents.
Richard Floyd Burditt, son of Jonathan, waL born May 17,
1832, and married, December 25, 1862, Nancy Ann Howland,
who was born October 10, 1834. They located on the home
farm, which is owned by him and his brother Charles.
A. M. Caverly located here in the spring of 1863. The
earliest of the Caverly family, of whom we have any knowl
edge, was "Sir Hugh Caverly," who lived in England, in the
fourteenth century. " Caverly, Sir Hugh, the first who used
guns for the service of England, died in 1389."*
Nearly two and a half centuries later we hear of, second,
" Charles Caverlie." This passenger was shipped in England,
* Historical Grammar, p. 212.
470 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
"to be transported to St. Christophers, embarqued in the
Matthew of London, Richard Goodlad, mr. p. Warrant from
ye Earle of Carlisle May 21, 1635 age 17."
Third, " George Caverlie." This boy was shipped " to be
transported to the Bermoodes, or Summer Islands, embarqned
in the True-love de London, Robert Dennis, mr., being exam
ined by the minister of Gravesend concerning his conformity
to the orders and discipline of the church of England, as it now
stands established, and took the oath of allegiance age 14
years."
The descendants of Sir Hugh Caverly are found in Croy-
don,* England, and hence, Philip, the first of the family in
this country, so far as we know, probably came. Philip first
appears upon record as a member of a jury of inquest impan*
elled at Portsmouth, K H., in IGSO.f
Two years later, this same Philip Caverly witnessed a
Power of Attorney, given by " Joseph Juell and Isabel Juell"
to one Samuel Reed, of Mendon, Mass., to sell land in Ports
mouth. Here the name Caverly was written thus : Cavrly,
without the e.
The following, copied from the "Records of the births,
marriages and deaths, in Portsmouth," probably refer to a son
and daughter of the aforesaid Philip Caverly :
" Moses Caverly and Margaret Cotton both of this town
were marry d 30 Jan y 1714."
"Elizabeth Caverly "" Tho. Wilkinson of London in
Great Britain and Elizabeth Caverly of Portsmouth w r mar-
ry d Aug st, 1715."
Moses and Margaret Caverly had three sons, viz.: Moses,
Jr., Thomas and Nathaniel. The father and son, Thomas,
removed to Harrington, and now sleep at the old "French
Mill" place, with marble slabs at the heads of all that rest
* A town about ten miles south of London,
t Colonial Records.
CAVERLY FAMILY. 4:71
there. Nathaniel married and removed to Township Number
Four (now Charlestown), where he died. Moses, Jr., the eldest
son, married a Johnson, of Portsmouth, about the year 1741,
and resided there till 1770 or 71, when he removed to Bar-
rington. He had five sons, Charles, Philip, John,* William
and Charles 2d ; and one daughter, Abigail, all of whom were
born in Portsmouth.
Charles, the oldest son of Moses, Jr., was a soldier in the
French war. He enlisted from Portsmouth, April 19, 1760,
in the company commanded by Capt. Ephraim Berry, and was
stationed several months with his company at Crown Point,
N. Y. This company was ordered to Canada, and in advanc
ing from Crown Point towards St. Johns, the first military
post in Canada, one of the horses in the boat jumped into the
water, and in order to rescue the animal, young Caverly
plunged int > the water after him, and it is supposed that he
was wounded in his struggles with the beast, as he sank and
was drowned. f
Philip Caverly, the second son of Moses, Jr., was born
March 23, 1745, removed, with his father and the rest of the
family, to Harrington, married Bridget PendergastJ and resided
there till his death, April 1, 1813. During the time of the
Revolutionary war, he took an active part in opposing the
arbitrary acts of the British. His name occurs upon the
" Test Papers" from his adopted town, as one who joined the
"American Association," and in 1777, he entered the army
and was on duty several months in the State of Rhode Island.
After the war, his time was devoted to farming, and he owned
one of the best farms in that part of Barrington which is now
included in StrafFord, and had considerable property invested
* John, born in 1752, married and settled in Harrington, where he died in 1842,
leaving children. William died early, and left no children. Charles, 2d, married
and settled in Newport, Maine, where he died at an advanced age, leaving many
descendants.
t Aug. 14, 1760.
jBoru February 24, 1745.
472 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
in wild lands in different parts of the State. He had nine
children eight sons and one daughter. Moses, 3d, the eldest
child, was born April 3, i771, and spent his minority on his
father s farm. August 4, 1793, he married Judith, daughter
of John Caverno,* and the following year removed to London,
and located on a lot of land given to him by his father, and
situated about two miles north of the center of the town. He
died June 25, 1821. Mrs. Judith Caverly died Feb. 1, 1824,
aged forty-nine years.
Moses Caverly, 3d, and Judith had two sons, Solomon, and
Moses, 4th ;f the former was born Feb. 21, 1795 ; the latter,
April 13, 1797. Solomon married Sarah, daughter of John
Moore, of Canterbury, Nov. 14, 1816, and settled on a farm
given to him by his father, and adjoining the homestead. Mrs.
Sarah Caverly died March 21, 1850, aged fifty-three years.
Mr. Caverly is now residing with his son, Dr. A. M. Caverly,
of Pittsford, Yt., who, with one daughter, Judith,:): constituted
the family.
Abiel Moore Caverly was born in London, November 28,
1817, and after pursuing a preparatory course of study, became
the pupil of E. P. J. Tenney, M. D., of London (now of
Pittsfield), under whose instruction he remained one year. The
last two years of his medical course were spent under the tutil-
age of William W. Brown, M. D., of Manchester. He attended
his first course of public lectures at the Medical Institution of
Dartmouth College, and his second at the Philadelphia College
of Medicine, wiiich conferred upon him the degree of M. D.
The Pennsylvania College afterwards conferred upon him the
ad eundem degree of M. D. He spent about three months in
* John Caverno was the son of Arthur, who wns of Scotch-Irish descent, and
was born in the north of Ireland, in the year 1718, immigrated to this country
about the year 1738, and married Fanny Potts, of Boston, in 1741. Their eldest
son, John, was born on the Island of Newfoundland, in 1742.
t Moses Caverly, 4th, married Polly Clouo;h, of Loudon, in 1817, and located on
the homestead in that town, where he died, June 18, 1837. Mrs. Polly Caverly
resides in Salem, N. H.
| Judith Caverly was born in 1825, and married, Nov. 27, 1856, Samuel Wales, of
Loudon. One child, Sarah Carrie, boru Aug. 28, 1858.
GEORGE D. WHEATON J. J. SMITH J, F. BRESEE, 473
the Pennsylvania Hospital, and afterwards attended one course
of lectures in the Medical Department of Harvard University.
He was elected Principal of the South Grammar School in
Manchester, in the spring of 1846, and at once entered upon
the duties of this new calling. He resigned in 1852, and com
menced the practice of medicine with Dr. Brown, his former
preceptor. In the fall of 1853, he located in Troy, N. H.,
where he practiced his profession till the spring of 1863, when
he removed to Pittsford, Yt. In 1866, he purchased the
Avery place,* in the Village, and after making some repairs
upon the buildings, commenced to occupy them.
Dr. Caverly married, March 25, 1845, Caroline Ames,f of
Canterbury, who was born Sept. 10, 1820. She died February
2, 1851. He married, Nov. 30, 1854, Sarah L., daughter of
Solomon Goddard, late of Troy, K H.
George D. Wheaton, son of Isaac C., was born October
23, 1836, married Ella L. Howard, October 13, 1863, and
located on the home farm. He now resides with his parents
on the Hammond farm.
Judson J. Smith, son of James E. and Emeline, was born
in Pittsford in 1843, married Hattie A., daughter of Seba F.
and Cynthia A. Smith, April 28, 1863, and resided two years
on the farm with his parents. He afterwards removed to
Chittenden, where he resided till the spring of 18 67, when
he returned to Pittsford, and occupied the Woodbury place till
1870, when he purchased of the Town the farm first owned
and improved by Frederick Wicker. Mr. Smith now resides
on this farm.
Jacob Franklin Bresee, son of Jacob, was born in 1842,
married, March 17, 1863, Charlotte Ann, daughter of Hiram
Leonard, and resided on the home farm with his brother
Wallace, till the spring of 1865, w r hen he removed to the
* This place has had the following owners, and in the order here mentioned.
Original Proprietors Benjamin Cooley, Stephen Avery (who built the houee)
Dr. William Frisbie, Dr. Freeman H. Mott, Gordon Newell, and A. M. Caverly.
t Daughter of the late Thomas Ames, Esq.
474 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
Amos Hitchcock farm, fifty acres of which, including the build
ings, he had purchased of Charles Hitchcock. The deed was
dated Feb. 13, 1865.
Amos J. Powers, son of Jeremiah, was born in Dundee,
Michigan, in 1841. At the age of twenty years, he enlisted in
the Twelfth Regiment Yermont Volunteers, in the war of the
Rebellion, and at the expiration of his term of service, returned
to Pittsford, married Imogene, daughter of Orlin Smith, Sept.
3, 1863, and resided for a short time on the home farm with
his parents. He was afterwards employed in quarrying marble
at West Rutland, where he was killed by the explosion of a
steam boiler, December 19, 1868.
William H. Palmer son of Thomas H., was born May 23,
1838, married Frances C. Cheney, December 2, 1863, and
after residing a short time at the Palmer homestead, he removed
to Malone, JS\ Y., where Mrs. Frances C. Palmer died. Mr.
Palmer married Louisa J. North, April 22, 1869, and now
resides on the family homestead.
Samuel Butler, son of James D., was born July 7, 1817,
and married April 20, 1851, Mary Calligan, who was born in
Ireland, December 24, 1834. They resided in Rutland till
1863, when he removed to this town and located on the Daniel
Jackson farm, in Whipple Hollow, where he now resides.
Alexander Bean, son of Francis, was born in Moscow, C. E.,
1840. He came to this town and married Adeline, daughter
of Julius Pelky, Feb. 5, 1864. Not long after his marriage
he entered the army in the war ot the Rebellion, and, after its
close, returned and located in Chittenden, where he resided
till 1868, when he bought a house and small lot of land* of
Charles Morgan. The following year, he built upon the lot a
new house in which he now resides.
Albert W. Fletcher is a descendant of Charles Fletcher,
who was born in Chelmsford, Mass., in 1753, and married
Sarah - , who was also born in Chelmsford, August 16,
1751. Their children were Sarah, Charles, Susan, Edward,
H. C. STETSON E. 0. SMITH D. LAWRENCE. 475
Sybel, Stephen, Noah, Martha and Benjamin. Noah was born
in Wilton, N. H., April 15, 1793, and married, February 24,
1823, Betsey D. Holt, who was born December 3, 1797. They
settled in Pittsburgh, N. H., where the following children were
born, viz.: Warren J., Martha J., Albert W. and Betsey C.
Albert W. was born September 2, 1831, and married, Septem
ber 1, 1864, Lucelia M. Churchill, who was born in Chitten-
den, Nov. 30, 1839. In 1868, Mr. Fletcher bought a house in
Whipple Hollow, together with a few acres of land. He
removed to that place and continues to make it his home.
Horace C. Stetson located here in 1864. He is a son of
Anson Stetson, who was born in Connecticut, married Betsey
Lawrence, and settled in Berkshire, Franklin County, Yt., but
died in Stanbridge, Canada East. Mrs. Betsey Stetson died in
Montgomery, Yt. Their children w T ere Anson, Oramill, Hiram,
John, Charles, Samuel, Horace C., Mary, Lomira and Minerva.
Horace C. was born in Berkshire, June 2, 1823, and married,
January 29, 1850, Marietta Cutting, who was born in Orwell,
August 22, 1831. They located in Whiting, but, April 1,
1864, Mr. Stetson bought of B. F. Goodrich the Bailey farm,
in Pittsford, where he now resides.
Kollin C. Smith, son of Orlin, was born May 22, 1839,
and after acquiring a good English education, taught school in
winter and labored on the farm in summer. In 1861 he went
to California, and returned in 1864. March 29, 1865, he mar
ried Addie A. Wheaton, of Madison, Conn., and located on
the home farm with his parents. He is a young man of ability,
and has the confidence of his fellow-citizens, as is fully shown
by the numerous offices he has held within their gift.
Daniel Lawrence was the son of Samuel, who was born in
Groton, Mass., married Sarah Bundy, and located in Man
chester, Yt. Daniel was born there, October 17, 1820, married
* This is located on what is known as the Plain, in Pittsford.
476 HISTOKY OF PITTSFOKD.
Margaret Malvina Me Wain, of Wallingford, October 20, 1845,
and resided four years in Dorset. After changing his location
several times, he came to Pittsford in 1865, and has resided
the most of the time, since that period, at Furnace Village, or
near there.
Willard S. Humphrey, son of Willard, was born March 7,
1841, and became a carpenter and joiner, trades which he
learned in Troy, K. Y. At the commencement of the war of
the Rebellion, he enlisted in the Second Vermont Regiment of
Volunteers, and was with his regiment in the army of the
Potomac, sharing its dangers and hardships till his health
became so much impaired that he was sent to the hospital in
Philadelphia, where he was discharged, October 14, 1862. He-
married Marion Porter, of Rutland, October 24, 1865, and
located on the home place with his parents.
George X. Brown, son of Samuel A., was born August ,20 y
1844, and became a tanner and currier, a trade lie learned of
his father. He enlisted in the Fifth Regiment Vermont Vol
unteers, in the war of the Rebellion, and served from the 22d
of August, 1861, to the 26th of June, 1865. He was a
private in Company G-, till June, 1864, when he was made a
sergeant. He married Mary Elizabeth Bacon, of Brandon,
July 13, 1865, and resided some time on the homestead, in this
town. He has recently removed to Brandon.
Willard C. Brown, son of Samuel A., was born October
29, 1 842, and he also became a tanner and currier, and worked
at this business till October, 1861, when he enlisted in the
Second Regiment Berdan U. S. Sharpshooters, He served in
Company E till ["the close of the war, when he was hon
orably discharged. He married Mary E. Cole, of Westport,
X. Y., September 6, 1865, and settled on the home place with
his brother, George K. He sold his interest in the property to-
his brother, in September, 1868, and removed to Hoag s
Corner, 1ST. Y., where he now resides.
L. F. SCOFIELD E. W. CLIFFORD 1. B. WORDEN. 477
Lewis F. Scofield located in Pittsford, in 1865. He is the
eldest son of Frederick Scofield, and was born in West Haven,
September 16, 1826. December 15, 1847, he married Betsey
Jane Gorliain, who was born in West Rutland, December 16,
1826. After his marriage, Mr. Scofield located in Brandon, as
landlord of the Brandon House, and remained there till he
removed to this town. February 9, 1865, he bought of J. Y.
Sheldon the Otter Creek House, of which he took possession
in April following. He has enlarged and improved the house,
so that it is now a first-class hotel, and, in the summer, it is a
favorite resort of boarders from the cities. There is a livery
stable, supplied with good teams, connected with the hotel, and
the ever-attentive landlord is ready, at all times, to meet the
wants of his patrons.
Elhanan W. Clifford, son of Simeon W., was born in
Brandon, January 20, 1844, and at the age of seven years
went to reside in the t family of Dea. Asa bourse, where he
remained till he was twenty-two years of age. He married,
Nov. 28, 1866, Ella J., daughter of John W. Dunklee, and
resided in the family of Mr. Dunklee, the most of the time,
while the latter remained in this town, and in 1869, when he
removed to Rutland, Mr. Clifford accompanied him, and still
occupies a part of Mr. D s house.
Ithiel Barnes Worden, son of Humphrey, was born Nov.
13, 1838, married Ellen Kelley Leonard, May 28, 1866, and
settled on the home farm with his father, where he now resides.
William Nicholas, is a descendant of William Nicholas,
who was born in Cornwall, England, in 1770, and became a
miner. He married Johanna Young, who was born in Corn
wall, and resided in that town. Their children were John,
Johanna, Mary, Catharine, James and Isaac. The parents
both died in Cornwall. John, the eldest son, married in
August, 1815, Ann Harris, and settled in St. Agnes, in the
County of Cornwall, where Mr. Nicholas died in 1865, and
478 HISTOKY OF PITTSFOKD.
Mrs. Nicholas in 1867. Their children were William, Jane,
Eleanor, John, Johanna, Ann and Catharine. William was
born in St. Agnes, became a miner, married Mary Paul, Aug.
11, 1839, and, after residing a short time in St. Agnes, came
to America. Mr. Nicholas bought of John Rand the Powers
farm in Sugar Hollow, in 1866, and this is now his residence.
Walter North became a citizen of this town in 1866. He
is a descendant of Simeon North, who married Lucy Savage,
and settled in Berlin, Conn. Their children were Reuben,
James, Alvin, Selah, Betsey, Lucetta and Simeon. Simeon,
the father, died in Middletown, in 1852. Alvin, the third son,
born in 1789, married, in 1812, Mary Goodrich, who was born
in New Britain, in 1791. They located in Berlin, and had the
following children, viz. : Ralph, Willis, Walter, Jane, Emily,
Horace, Mary Ann, Alvin and D wight. Alvin, the father,
died in Hartford, in 1844. Mary, the mother, died in Middle-
town, in 1868. Walter, the third son, was born in Middletown.
Nov. 5, 1817, and married, May 20, 1841, Betsey Carpenter,
who was born in Kingston, R. I., Sept. 16, 1813. They located
in Middletown, but removed to Springfield, Mass., and from
thence to Pittsford, Yt. Here he was one of a company who
converted the Barlow Mill into a paper manufactory. , Mr.
North returned to Springfield in 1869.
Alanson G. Allen became an inhabitant of this town in
1866. He was born in Bristol in 1828, married, in 1852, Sally
Eliza - , who was born in Rochester. They located in
Brandon, where they resided till 1866, when Mr. Allen bought
of John McMaynard, the Samuel Adams farm, in Pittsford,
and on this he now resides.
Elisha Pike Hitchcock, son of Amos, was born June 22,
1845, and married, June 27, 1866, Susan Ida Porter, who was
born in Middlebury, January 1, 1848. They located on the
home farm in this town. Mr. Hitchcock has had a military
education, was somewhat active, during the war of the Rebel-
IKA PUTNAM EDWARD PHALEtf. 479
lion, in drilling soldiers for the army, and had command of the
Pittsford Home Guards, a military company organized under
an act of the Legislature. For a few years he was engaged in
mercantile business in Middlebury, but since his marriage he
has given his attention to farming.
Ira Putnam is a descendant of Caleb Putnam, who was
born in Croydon, K H., about the year 1778, married Susan
Howard, and settled in Marshfield, Yt., where their son Ziba
was born, Nov. 29, 1804. Ziba became a blacksmith, married
Harriet Pierce, July 4, 1827, and settled in Calais, Yt., and
had the following children, viz. : Lewis, Maria, Ruth Ann, Ira
and Sarah. Ira was born June 13, 1838, in Woodbury, and
married, July 20, 1857, Mary E. Curtis, who was born in Bur
lington, July 4, 1838. They located in Winooski, but removed
to Lowell, Mass., where they remained till about the time they
settled in Pittsford, 1867. Mr. Putnam is chief engineer for
the Pittsford Quarry Company, and resides in the Clifford
house.
Edward Phalen, son of Michael, was born in Ireland, Jan.
22, 1844, and at the age of five years came to America with
his father s family, which located in Pittsford. December 3,
1861, he enlisted in the Seventh Regiment Yermont Yolun-
teers, and was at Yicksburg, New Orleans, Pensacola, and
Orange Hill, Florida, where he was taken prisoner by the
enemy, Nov. 9, 1864, and taken to Appalachicola, and from
thence to Andersonville, where he suffered in common with
other prisoners for some months. He was exchanged at Charles
ton, S. C., and reached the camp at Burlington, Yt., January
14, 1865, and was discharged the 3d of March following. He
married Catharine Donnelly, of Clarendon, Sept. 25, 1867,
and has since resided in this town. April 1, 1870, he bought
the Heath place of Henry F. Lothrop, and this is now his
home.
Franklin S. North is a descendant of Simeon, a Revolutionary
480 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
;soldier, who married and located in Middletown, Conn., and
had the following children, viz. : James, Simeon, Reuben,
Alvin, Selah, Lydia and Lucetta. James was born Sept. 16,
1788, married Mary Dowd, October 24, 1810, and settled in
IMiddletowa. Their children were Henry, Lucy, James, Mary,
Norman, Harriet, Susan, Lot, Elizabeth, Richard, Frances,
Luther and Franklin.
Franklin, the youngest, was born May 24, 1835, and mar
ried, May 16, 186T, Naomi B. Harris, who was born in
Smithfield, K. L, Sept. 25, 1835. They located in Pittsford,
where Mr. North has been engaged in a paper mill, and in a
sash and blind manufactory.
Dan Kirke Hall, son of David, was born May 5, 1843. On
the 12th of August, 1862, he enlisted as a soldier in the Twelfth
[Regiment Vermont Volunteers, in October following was made
sergeant, and in March was promoted to a lieutenantcy. The
17th of July, his term of service having expired, he was hon
orably discharged. In May, 1864, he was appointed commis
sary of subsistence with the rank of Captain, and in this
capacity he served in the Department of the Gulf. In July,
1865, he was made Major by brevet. January 6, 1867, he
married Mattie A., daughter of Isaac C. Wheaton, and settled
on the paternal homestead, where he now resides. There are
few young men of finer promise or nobler performance ; and
Mr. Hall has already taken rank as a leading citizen.
Daniel J. Griffith located here in 1867. He was born in
Mount Tabor, Nov. 14, 1828, and married, December 23,
1853, Mary M. Burditt, who was born in Salisbury, March 28,
1828. They located in Brandon, where they resided till 1867,
when Mr. Griffiith was appointed clerk of the Pittsford Quarry
Company, and removed to this town.
Silas S. Wescott located here in 1867. His grandfather,
Johnson Wescott, was born in Clarendon, married a Sim
mons, and settled in that town. In the war of 1812, he enlisted
M. T. ROWLAND A. POTTER R. E. LOVELAND. 4:81
as a soldier, and served several months in the army. His son,
Oliver was born in Clarendon, married Poll} 7 Howland, and
located in Hubbardton. Their children were Silas S., William,
Roxy, Lavoni, Alfred, Lyman, Betsey and Charles. Silas S.,
the eldest, was born in Hubbardton, August 26, 1820, married
Jane Howland, May 29, 1845, and located in his native town.
In 1867, he bought of Richard and Charles Burditt the Harwood
place, the first west of the Owen farm. He repaired the house
and made other improvements on the place. About a year
since, he removed to Brandon.
Marshall T. Howland, son of Thomas, was born May 20,
1840, married Jane O., daughter of Benjamin Stevens, Nov.
24, 1863, and settled in Hubbardton, but afterwards removed
to Poultney. On the 8th of September, 1866, he and his father,
Thomas Howland, purchased of John S. Ray the Waters farm,
in Whipple Hollow. In the spring of 1869, Marshall T.
bought his father s share of the farm and has since occupied it.
Amos Potter, son of Abraham, was born in 1841, married
Rosina Dow, of Chittenden, Feb. 15, 1868, and settled on his
father s place the Montague farm in this town. In the spring
of 1870, he purchased of Nehemiah Barnes the Israel Brewster
farm, and on this he now resides.
Robert E. Loveland, son of Samuel B., was born March
25, 1846, and passed his minority on his father s farm. He
married Emma Eliza Jenkins, April 16, 1868, and resided two
years on the farm owned by Abner T. Reynolds, but in the
spring of 1870, he removed to the home farm of his father.
Samuel Eckley, son of Amanuel B., was born Nov. 5, 1829,
and married, Jan. 1, 1868, Lucy M. Powers, who was born July
28, 1848. He resides with his father, on the Lewis Barlow farm.
Francis B. Loveland, son of Samuel B., was born Sept. 12,
1847, married Fanny Adelaide Patch, of Rutland, October 21,
1869, and now resides on the Hopkins farm, recently owned
by Marcus C. Bogue.
32
482 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
Thomas F. Bogue, son of the late Thomas F., was born in
1832, and, when a young man, went to California, where he
remained seven years. He returned to Pittsford and married
Carrie Daniels, daughter of David Hall, February 18, 1869.
They resided in this town till the spring of 1870, when they
removed to Avoca, Wisconsin.
Edward L. Paine, son of Asa, was born April 3, 1841, and
married, June 17, 1869, Francelia M. Ames, who was born in
Strafford, December 12, 1845. They settled on the Paine or
Rowley farm, which, by the labors of former owners, has been
greatly improved, and is in a high state of cultivation.
The earlier part of this decade will long be distinguished
for the Slaveholders Rebellion and the war for the preservation
of the Union. Of course it is not our purpose to write a history of
the exciting scenes of this period, but merely to notice the hum
ble part performed by the Town of Pittsford, in accomplishing
those grand results which have astonished the world. The
great unanimity with which the people of the town supported
every effort to raise troops, pay bounties and aid the families
of the soldiers, was as gratifying as it was remarkable. It is
believed that the town fully met every obligation imposed upon
her ; and the ladies, true to their noble instincts, did very much,
through their Soldiers Aid Society, for the comfort of the
soldiers. The people of the town contributed about two
thousand, dollars to the Sanitary and Christian Commissions.
Under the first call of the President of the United States for
seventy -five thousand men for three months service, Pittsford
promptly supplied the following volunteers :
Com- Regi- When raus- When mus-
Names. pany. meat. Age. tercel iu. tered out.
1861. 1861.
WILLARD A. CHILD, 1st. 32. May 2. Aug. 16. Assistant Surgeon.
EUGENE A. COOLEY, G. " 18. " "
GEORGE H. LINCOLN, " 18. "
EDMUND R. STILES, " " 43. " "
HENRY THUMBULL, " " 19. " u
ARNOLD F. WALLACE, " " 19. " "
EXTRACTS FROM RECORDS. 483
These soldiers enlisted with no other inducements than
those offered by the Government of the United States and
their own patriotism. But on the 2d day of May, 1861, the
same day on which the above volunteers were mustered into
the United States service, the Town was convened by a war
rant of the Selectmen, to act upon the following articles, viz. :
"1st. To choose a Moderator to govern the meeting.
2d. To see if the town will appropriate funds for the sup
port of the families of persons enlisting in the army.
3d. To make any other arrangement in regard to the same
object in any form thought proper."
At this meeting B. F. Winslow was chosen Moderator.
Under the second article the " Town voted unanimously to
provide for the families of soldiers who serve in the army of
the present war, during their absence, all that is necessary,
over and above the State appropriation."
Under the third article the "Town voted to appropriate
and pay to each volunteer who actually serves in the army of
the present war, at the rate of eight dollars per month over
and above their regular wages."
"Yoted to instruct the Selectmen to draw an order on the
Town Treasurer to pay the expenses which have already
accrued in furnishing clothing for the persons from this town
who have enlisted in the Brandon company."
" Yoted to appoint a committee of fifteen persons whose
duty is to look after the interests of the soldiers and families,
and all the things connected with the object for which this
meeting is called.
Chose Thomas F. Bogue, H. F. Lothrop, Jeremiah Powers,
Eobert K. Drake, S. D. Winslow, Orlin Smith, Isaac C. Whea-
ton, Charles Hitchcock, M. C. Bogue, Caleb Smith, William
E. Hall, J. M. Goodnough, Thomas D. Hall, William B. Shaw,
S. H. Kellogg, the above committee.
484:
HISTORY OF PITTSFOED.
On the call of
the President, in 1861, for five hundred
thousand men for
three years, the following persons enlisted
from Pittsford :
-d CO
uL - & a
% s a- a
Names.
i, a-
1 1? 5 * * * 1 Remarks.
1861. 1861.
THOMAS ALCHIN,
G. 5th. 33. Sept. 4. Sept. 16. Com. Lt. Sept. 10, re
signed Nov. 27, 61.
H. H. ALEXANDER,
C. 7th. 21. Nov. 26. Died February 5, 1863.
JAMES W. BLAIR,
B. 2d. 18. Sept. 11. Discharged.
GEORGE BROWN,
G. 5th. 18. Aug. 22. Sept. 16. Served full term and
re-enlisted.
WILLIAM H. BREED,
G. 5th. 20. Aug. 21. Sept. 16. Pro. to Corp., then to
Sergt., Feb. 1, 1864.
JOHN BUSHEY,
G. 5th. 23. Aug. 24. Sept. 16. Pro. Sergeant.
PETER H. BROWLINE,
G. 5th. 18. Aug. 24. Sept. 16. Died June 29, 1862.
WILLARD C. BROWN,
E. 2dS s. 19. Oct. 22.
HENRY A. BURR,
H. Cav. 22. Oct. 17. Disch d spring of 1862,
re-enlisted in Vt. Re
serve Corps.
ELISHA C. BLODGETT,
G. 5th. 23. Aug. 22. Sept. 16. Disch d Nov. 4, 1862;
wounded at Fair Oaks.
WILLARD A. CHILD,
4th 32. Aug 29. Asst. Surgeon Com d
Aug. 15, 1861.
SANDY COOK,
C. 4th. 21. Aug. 28. Sept. 20. Disch d July 9, 1862.
DUNHAM CLARK,
H. 5th. 18. Sept. 9. Sept. 16. Died April 24, 1862.
WILLIAM CONNELL,
B. 7th. 21. Dec. 17. Died Aug. 10, 1862.
1862.
BENJAMIN S. COOLEY,
B. 7th. 33. Dec. 14. Feb. 12. Re-enlisted Feb. 28, 64.
EUGENE A. COOLEY,
B. 7th. 18. Nov. 25. Feb. 12. Re-enlisted Feb. 25, 64
PETER DEFORCE,
G. 7th. 18. Dec. 3. Feb. 12.
EDWARD DIN,
G. 7th. 21. Dec. 11. Feb. 12. Died Dec. 14, 1862, of
wounds.
1861.
JAMES P. ELMER,
H. 5th. 22. Aug. 23. Transferred to Invalid
Corps ; wounded.
JEREMIAH FULLAM,
B. 7th. 26. Dec. 17. Died in service.
DAVID GREENOUGH,
H. Cav. 28. Sept. 23. Nov. 19. Disch d, spring, 1862.
WILLARD S. HUMPHREY
, B. 2d. 25. May 15. June 20. Disch d Oct. 14, 1862.
CHARLES HEMENWAY,
G. 5th. 32. Aug. 26. Sept. 16. Transfd to Inv. Corps,
Sept. 1, 1863.
E. V. N. HITCHCOCK,
C. 7th. 20. Com. 1st Lt. Feb. 4, 62.
Pro. Capt. Aug. 28, 62.
1862.
DANIEL D. HENNESSEY,
G. 7th. 45. Nov 29. Feb. 12. Died Aug. 2, 1862.
1861.
GEORGE M. JOHNSON,
B. 2d. 29. May 16. June 20.
WIWA.M JOHNSON,
G. 5th, 18. Aug. 21. Sept. 16. Disch d Oct. 30, 1862.
ROLL OF VOLUNTEERS.
485
g
+j
d
<D
i
w
i
|.S
P<
a
fl"d
1
Names. |
1
|
Remarks.
MILTON KEMP,
WILLIS F. KEELER,
CURTIS KIMBERLY,
FRANCIS LADABUSH,
HENRY A. MITCHELL,
MICHAEL MALONEY,
ROLLIN C. PHILLIPS,
WILLIAM PELKY,
JEREMIAH PELKY,
EDWARD PELKY,
AMOS POTTER,
EDWARD PHALEN,
PETER PROVOST,
WILLIAM H. ROWE,
JEROME SMITH,
CHAS. K. SPENCER,
WILLIAM D. SMITH,
HENRY TRUMBULL,
DANIEL W. TAFT,
SENECA E. WHEELER,
WILLIAM S. WALKER,
ARNOLD F. WALLACE,
1861. 1861.
E. 2d S s. 20. Oct. 16.
H. 2dS s. Oct. 16.
H. 2d S s. Oct. 16.
2dVt.Bat. 21. Dec. 16. Dec. 16.
G. 5th. 22. Aug. 26. Sept. 16.
B. 7th. 18. Dec. 11. Feb. 12.
1864.
K. 2d. 19. June 29.
A. 3d. 34.
G. 5th. 32. Sept. 12.
G. 5th. 41. Aug. 26. Sept. 16.
B. 7th. 21. Nov. 25. Feb. 12.
B. 7th. 18. Dec. 3. Feb. 12.
1862.
C. 7th. 18. Dec. 16. Feb. 12.
1861.
G. 5th. 38. Aug. 22. Sept. 16.
2dVt.Bat. 18. Oct. 14.
K.lstCav. 23. Sept. 17. Nov. 19.
E. 2d S s. 18. Oct. 16. Nov. 9.
H. 5th. 19. Aug. 24. Sept. 16.
G.lstCav.18. Oct. 2.
1862.
G. 7th. 20. Dec. 28. Feb. 12.
B. 7th. Dec. 9. Feb. 12.
1861.
2dVt. Bat. 19. Oct. 15. Dec. 16.
Disch d June 26, 1862.
Deserted Feb. 16, 1863.
Killed in battle, Fair
Oaks, June 29, 1862.
Died Feb. 11, 1864.
Discharged.
Discharged 1863.
Disch d Dec. 14, 1861.
Re-enlisted.
Taken pris. in Florida,
Feb., 64; exch d 1865.
Disch d Jan. 6, 1864.
Disch d Aug. 24, 1863.
Promoted Sergeant.
Died Oct. 1, 1863.
Disch d Nov. 15, 1862,
wounded.
Dis. about June, 1862-
Died Aug. 8, 1862.
Disch d Oct. 8, 1862.
Dec. 16, pro. Corp; and
Oct. 15, 63, pro. Sergt.
On the call of the President, August 5th, 1862, for three
hundred thousand men, this town supplied the following :
Names.
MARCUS ATWOOD,
THOMAS O BRIEN,
? -==
Remarks.
1862. 1862.
C. 10th. 20. Aug. 4. Sept. 1. Killed in battle, Nov.
27, 1863.
B. 9th. 26. June 11. July 9. Disch d Jan. 16, 1863.
4-86
HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
>^
c
1
1
.2
I*
Names.
1
)
to
3
03
.G <t>
Remarks.
1862.
1862.
JAMES D. BUTLER,
B.
9th.
18.
June 9.
July 9.
Disch d April 2, 1863.
JAMES W. BLAIR,
C.
10th.
18.
July 20.
Sept. 1.
GEORGE N. BADGER,
C.
10th.
23.
July 28.
Sept. 1.
CHAS. H. BURR,
C.
10th.
19.
Aug. 4.
Sept. 1.
Fifer.
WILLIAM H. BRACKETT,
C.
10th.
22.
Aug. 4.
Sept. 1.
Pro. Hospital Steward.
CHAS. H. BROWN,
I.
7th.
18.
Feb. 11.
Feb. 12.
Pro. Corporal.
PATRICK COONEY,
A.
7th.
39.
Mch. 5.
July 12.
Disch d Feb. 25, 1863.
JAMES CONNELL,
G.
7th.
18.
Feb. 25.
July 12.
Died Jan. 26, 1863.
THOMAS CUNNINGHAM,
C.
10th.
18.
Aug. 2.
Sept. 1.
WILLARD A. CHILD,
10th.
32.
Surg., com. Aug. 6, 62.
JOHN W. DIKE,
C.
10th.
18.
July 29.
Sept. 1.
Wounded.
JAMES FULLAM,
B.
7th.
24.
Jan. 14.
Aug. 3.
LOOMIS C. FAY,
B.
9th.
18.
June 2.
July 9.
Deserted Oct. 2, 1862.
JESSE GERARD,
B.
9th.
38.
May 29.
July 9.
Disch d Sept. 2, 1863.
JOHN C. HART,
C.
1st S s
Sept. 4.
Died Nov. 18, 1862.
EDWIN S. HUDSON,
CHARLES LEONARD,
C.
C.
10th.
10th.
20.
22.
Aug. 2.
July 31.
Sept. 1.
Sept.l.
Pro. Hospital Steward.
Died Aug. 22, 63.
GEORGE H. LINCOLN,
B.
7th.
18.
Mar. 10.
Died Dec. 3, 1862.
BYRON D. MORGAN,
C.
10th.
19.
Aug. 4.
Sept 1.
CHARLES MYATT,
G.
5th.
18.
Aug. 14.
WILLARD H. MITCHELL,
I.
7th.
19.
Feb. 8.
Feb. 12.
Must, out Aug. 30, 64.
WILLIAM PELKEY,
B.
7th.
35.
Jan. 9.
Feb. 12.
Died Aug. 24, 1862.
WILLIAM PEABODY,
WILLIAM PELKEY,
C.
G.
10th.
5th.
21
18.
July 21.
Aug. 4.
Sept. 1.
Sept. 1.
2d Sergt., Pro. 1st Ser
geant, Oct. 6, 1862.
CHAS. PREVOST,
G.
5th.
19.
Aug. 4.
Sept. 1.
FRANK A. PREVOST,
B.
7th.
23.
Jan. 15.
Feb. 12.
Re-enlisted Drummer.
JOSEPH SOULIR,
B.
7th.
21.
Jan. 16.
Feb. 12.
NELSON VEVER,
I.
7th.
30.
Jan. 27.
Feb. 12.
Re-eulist d Feb. 28, 64.
NATHAN N. WESCOTT,
C.
10th.
36.
July 21.
Sept. 1.
Died Jan. 13, 1863.
In response to
the call
of
the President for three hundred
thousand men to
serve in
the army
of the
United States for
nine months, this town supplied the following
volunteers :
g
&
Names.
^o
"3
<x>
a
&
02 <J
S |
OQ g
! 1
CO .
5 2
so
o Jj | Remarks.
1862. 1862. 1863.
STEPHEN C. ALLEN, G.
12th. 29.
Aug. 18. Oct. 4. July
14.
ALEXANDER BEAN, "
"
24.
" *
i "
BOLL OF VOLUNTEERS.
487
1
Names. &
Regiment.
c5
bJO
T3 GO GO .
-2 a 3 3
a g- 1 So
a? o g a^
j< jq o jij Remarks.
1862. 1862. 1863.
GEO. W. BARNARD, G.
12th.
33.
Aug. 25. Oct. 4. July 14.
CORNELIUS BRADLEY, "
23.
Aug. 20.
ALBERT BASSETT, H.
14th.
31.
Sept. 10. Oct. 21. July 30. Left arm shot off
in Bat., Gettysb g.
THOMAS CLARK, G.
12th.
24.
Aug. 18. Oct. 4. July 14.
HENRY S. DIKE, "
22.
Aug. 19. " "
ROBERT ELLIOT, "
"
26.
11 U U
JOHN FREDETTE, "
"
18.
Aug. 25. " "
ALB T W. FLETCHER, H.
14th.
31.
Sept. 10. Oct. 21. July 30.
EDWARD L. FARMER, "
"
21.
" " Capt d and taken,
to Richmond.
ISAAC GATES, "
"
23.
" " July 14.
DANIEL L. GOULD, "
11
24.
Aug. 25. Oct. 4. "
HANNIBAL L. GOULD, K.
U
22.
Died May 26, 63.
GEORGE GRANGER, G.
12th.
33.
Aug. 18. " "
DAN. K. HALL, "
"
19.
" " " Pro. 2d Lieut.
CHARLES HUDSON, "
"
21.
Aug. 20. "
CALEB R. HENDEE, "
12th.
20.
Aug. 18. Oct. 4. July 14.
RUFUS C. JONES, "
"
22.
" " " Sergeant.
JOHN KEOTJGH, "
"
20.
Aug. 22. " "
MILTON V. KEMP, "
20.
Aug. 18. " "
ALVEN S. KEMP, "
"
36.
Aug. 20. " "
WM. H. MORSEMAN, "
u
22.
Aug. 19. " "
GEO. H. MORSEMAN, "
u
24.
Aug. 18. " "
FELIX PARO, "
"
21.
(i u a
JOCK PARO, "
u
24.
Aug. 20. " "
CHIG PAKO, "
u
21.
Aug. 23. " "
WILLIAM H. PALMER, "
II
24.
Aug. 18. " "
AMOS J. POWERS, "
II
20.
Aug. 20. " "
DENNIS SMITH, "
II
35.
u a ti
ITHIEL B. WORDEN, "
II
23.
Aug. 18. " "
To the foregoing men the Town paid bounties as follows :
To twenty-seven men, $37 each,
" three men, $100 each,
" one man, $80,
I
Total, thirty-one men, $1,379
300
80
4:88
HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
Under the call in 1863, for three hundred thousand men,
this town furnished the following :
^t
5
a
1
& a
Names.
a
o
o
g
be
.cj
c o
25
1863.
1863.
AUGUSTUS L. BREED,
B.
9th.
27.
Dec. 18.
Dec. 26.
ELLIOT BEAN,
M.
llth.
18.
July 21.
CHARLES F. CHURCH,
C.
it
26.
Dec. 7.
Dec. 12.
NATHAN B. DUTTON,
u
"
42.
u
ti
SAMUEL H. GREEN,
"
2d S s.
36.
Dec. 18.
Dec. 26.
HARVEY GREEN,
10th.
42.
Dec. 2.
c.
DARWIN JOHNSON,
"
llth.
34.
Dec. 7.
Dec. 12.
FRANK KING,
6.
5th.
23.
"
"
EDWARD PELKY,
"
"
22.
u
JULIUS J. PREVCST,
M.
llth.
18.
July 21.
JOSEPH N. PERRY,
L.
21.
May 27.
HYMAN C. RICHARDS,
&,
u
22.
July 15.
GEORGE H. SWIFT,
3d S s.
28.
Dec. 7.
Dec. 12.
EDMUND R. STILES,
C.
10th.
44.
Dec. 8.
Dec. 26.
PETER TRUDEAU,
M.
llth.
21.
July 21.
Oct. 7.
JOSEPH WHITE,
C.
10th.
18.
Oct. 30.
Oct. 30.
1864.
HENRY E. WOOD,
1.
17th.
Oct. 6.
Apr. 12.
Remarks.
Must d out Dec. 1, 1865.
Must d out Aug. 25, 65.
Must d out Aug. 25, 65.
Wounded June 16, 1864.
Disch d July 12, 65.
Disch d March 23, 1864.
Must d out Aug. 25, 65.
Deserted Sept. 24, 64.
Must d out June 15, 65.
Disch d Jan. 15, 1864.
Must d out July 13, 65.
Died June 12, 1865.
Must d out June 26, 65.
Must d out July 14, 65.
The following fourteen veterans re-enlisted, and to each o
them the Town paid a bounty of one hundred dollars :
Names.
JOHN BUSHEY,
GEORGE BROWN,
Remarks.
1863. 1863. 1865.
G. 5th. 23. Dec. 15. Dec. 16. June 29. Wounded.
" " 18. Dec. 15. "
Wounded May
12 and 14, 64.
WILLARD C. BROWN, E. 2d S s. 19. Dec. 21. Dec. 22. July 13.
HENRY A. BURR, Res d Corps. July 18. July 18. Nov. 15.
1864. 1864. 1866.
EUGENE A. COOLEY, B. 7th. 18. Feb. 18. Feb. 18. Mar. 14.
BENJ. S. COOLEY, " 33.
1863. 1863. 1865.
WILLIS F. KEBLER, H. 3d S s.
Dec. 21. Dec. 22. July 13. Pro. Cor. Mar-
12, 1864.
EOLL OF VOLUNTEERS.
489
a
1
^3 to .
2 pa
"co |~
01
&
a
C a C S
fl T3
Names.
5
So
QJ J> 0> ^ o
o o
-3 rl
Remarks.
8
09
if "
M
1863. 1863.
1865.
JAMES MANSFIELD,
p.
4th.
18. Dec. 15. Dec. 16.
Wounded Aug.
21, 64; disch.
July 11, 65.
1862.
1866.
HAS. A. NICHOLS,
B.
7th.
35. Feb. 22.
Mar. 9.
1864.
1865.
FRANCIS A. PREVOST,
"
u
23. Feb. 21.
Aug. 5.
Drummer.
1866.
PETER PREVOST,
C.
7th.
18. Feb. 15.
Mar. 14.
1864.
1865.
CHAS. K. SPENCER, K. 1st Cav. Feb. 25. Feb. 27. June 21.
1866.
JOSEPH SOULIE, B. 7th. 20. Feb. 20. Mar. 12.
NELSON VEVER,
I.
30. Feb. 13.
Des d Oct. 4, 64.
Under calls in 1864 February 1st, for two hundred thou
sand, March 14th, for two hundred thousand, July 18th, for
five hundred thousand, and December 19th, for three hundred
thousand, this town supplied the following :
e
Names.
f *
o
U P3
g
JAS. D. BUTLER, JR., D 7th. 18.
MARTIN DUFFY,
JOHN FREDETTE,
ALBERT FREDETTE,
DANIEL HALEY,
MICHAEL HIGGINS,
I. 17th. 18.
B. 7th. 20.
B. 7th. 18.
I. 17th. 18.
Hancock s
1st Army Corps
JAS. HAMMERSLEY, I. 17th. 22.
a
1865.
Mar. 9.
1864.
Apr. 4.
Aug. 15.
Aug. 27.
Apr. 4.
1865.
Jan. 30.
1864.
June 6.
MORRIS MURPHY, G. 5th. 37. Feb. 19.
1865.
SCOTT MAYNARD, C. 10th. 18. Jan. 23.
1863.
ORVILLE H. PROUTY, H. 17th. 21. Mar. 31.
J3 % Remarks.
1865.
Mar. 9. Must d out July 11, 66.
1864.
Apr. 12. Must d out July 20, 65.
Aug. 15. Must d out July 14, 65.
Aug. 27. Disch d Aug. 23, 1865.
Aug. 27. Disch d July 14, 1865.
1865
Jan. 30. Disch d July 20, 1866.
July 6. Corporal. Mustered out
May 13, 65.
Feb. 22. Deserted March 19, 64.
1865.
Jan. 23. Must d out June 23, 65.
Apr. 12. Deserted April 18, 64.
490
HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
Names.
Remarks.
1864. 1864.
23. Aug. 29. Aug. 29. Deserted July 14, 65.
19. Feb. 13. Feb. 24. Died July 1, 1864.
21. Oct. 15. Oct. 15. Must d out July 24, 65.
18. Mar. 15. Apr. 12. Must d out July 24, 65.
ISAAC ROOT, A. 7th.
SAMUEL SENICAL, C. 7th.
PETER THOMAS, B. 7th.
JOHN R. WIGHTMAN, G. 17th.
The following drafted men entered the service on the credit
of the town: Charles Dodge, Kelson B. Rugg, Joseph Blair.
The following men enlisted for and served in the navy:
Lyman Granger, M. D., Assistant Surgeon; Abel A. Wood
bine, Joseph Blair, James Lunerden.
The following is the amount of bounty paid recruits by the
town of Pittsford during the war of the Rebellion under each
call, respectively, viz. :
On call for nine months men,
of August 5, 1862, for 300,000 men,
of October 17, 1863, for 300,000 men,
of February 1, 1864, for 200,000 men,
of March 14, 1864, for 200,000 men,
of July 18, 1864, for 500,000 men,
of December 19, 1864, for 300,000 men,
$1,379 00
200 00
5,600 00
2,500 00
2,550 00
2,350 00
4,500 00
Total amount paid, $19,079 00
The above amount was paid to recruits in such sums as
were pledged by vote of the Town, or such sums as were
agreed upon by the recruits and the Selectmen the latter
having been authorized to enlist men to be applied on the
quotas of the town.
The following will show the distribution of a part of this
money :
1862. Paid 4 three years men, $50 each, $200 00
" " 27 nine months " 37 " 999 00
" "3 " " 100 " 300 00
BOUNTIES OBITUARY. 491
1862.
Paid
1
nine months
man.
80
80
00
1863.
u
1
three years
u
100
100
00
a
a
11
u
men,
500
each,
5
,500
00
1864.
it
a
u
75
u
150
00
u
a
5
a
/
a
100
ti
500
00
tt
6
tt
a
400
u
2,400
00
1865.
tt
3
one year
a
500
a
1
,500
00
a
tt
2
a
825
a
1
,650
00
a
1-1
veterans,
100
u
1
,400
00
It will be seen that among those who enlisted in the service
from this town, the following never returned, but died of dis
ease or were killed in action :
Daniel D. Hennessy, Nathan N. Wescott,
George Henry Lincoln, Henry H. Alexander,
Edwin S. Hudson, William Pelkey,
Jeremiah Falloon, Marcus Atwood,
Edward Din, James Connell,
Michael Maloney, Nelson B. Rugg,
Henry A. Mitchell, Dunham J. Clark,
William D. Smith, William Connell,
William Peabody, Samuel Senical,
Edmund R. Stiles, Seneca E. Wheeler.
John C. Hart,
Daniel D. Hennessy was born in Ireland, came to this
country in 1820, and resided in Boston, Mass., or Clare-
mont, N. H., till 1842, when he removed to Brandon, Yt.,
and the following year to Pittsford. He never owned real
estate here, but rented tenements, and labored on the farm
as he had opportunity. He enlisted in the Seventh Vermont
Regiment, Company G, Nov. 2, 1861, and was mustered into
the United States service February 12, 1862. He went with
his regiment to Louisiana, and died of fever on board a vessel,
near Baton Rouge, August 2, 1862.
492 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
>
George Henry Lincoln, son of Eli, was born Feb. 29, 1844,
and was spending his minority with his parents when the war
commenced. When the President called for seventy-five thou
sand volunteers, young Lincoln was one of the first to respond
from this town, and he was mustered into the United States ser
vice May 2, 1861. He was mustered out on the 16th of August
following, and re-enlisted March 10, 1862. He was assigned
to Company B, in the Seventh Yermont Regiment, and died of
fever at Pensacola, Florida, December 3, 1862.
Edwin S. Hudson, son of Seth C. and Lucy Hudson, was
born in this town July 2, 1842. When a youth, he thirsted for
knowledge, was a close student, and improved every opportu
nity of acquiring information. To the call of his country he
gave an attentive ear, and enlisted in the Tenth Yermont Regi
ment, Company C, August 2, 1862. Soon after he entered the
service, a vacancy in the office of Hospital Steward occurred in
his regiment, and, on account of his trustworthiness and com
petence, he was selected to fill the place. He continued to
discharge the duties of this office to the full satisfaction ot all
interested till he was stricken down with typhoid fever, of
which he died at Fairfax Seminary Hospital, near Alexandria,
Ya., August 23, 1863.
Jeremiah Falloon was born in Waterford, N. Y., Septem
ber 21, 1835, married Mary Ann Keith, June 9, 1856, and
resided in Pittsford till he enlisted in the Seventh Yermont
Regiment, Company B, December 17, 1861. He enlisted for
three years service, but was discharged a little before the expi
ration of this term in consideration of his re-enlisting. After
he obtained his discharge he returned home, spent a few weeks,
and again entered the same company and regiment from which
he had been discharged. He died of chronic diarrhoea, at
Brownsville, Texas, Sept, 13, 1865.
Edward Din, son of Michael, was born in Ireland, in 1841,
came to America with his father s family, and resided some
OBITUARY. 493
time in Pittsford. He enlisted in the Seventh Yermont Regi
ment, Company B, December 11, 1861, was at the siege
of Yicksburg in June and July, 1862, and in the battle of
Baton Rouge, Aug. 5, 1862, where he was wounded in the
wrist by a musket ball, in consequence of which, amputation
was necessary and he w r as conveyed to the hospital in New
Orleans, where he died of gangrene, December 14, 1862.
Michael Maloney was the son of Michael, and was born in
Ireland in 1842, came to America with other members of the
family and resided some time in this town. He enlisted in the
Seventh Yermont Regiment, Company B, December 11, 1861,
and was mustered into the United States service Feb. 12, 1862.
He was with the Seventh Yermont in the siege of Yicksburg and
in the battle of Baton Rouge, but the exposures of camp life
brought on disease of the lungs, of which he died, February
11, 1864.
Henry A. Mitchell, son of William, was born in Pittsford,
Nov. 7, 1839, and spent the most of his minority in this town.
He enlisted as a soldier in the Fifth Yermont Regiment, Com
pany G, August 26, 1861, and was mustered into the service
on the 16th of September following. The Fifth Regiment was
one of the number composing the Yermont Brigade, which was
engaged in no less than twenty-five battles. In the bloody
fight at Savage Station, on the 29th of June, 1862, the Fifth
Regiment lost nearly two hundred men in killed, wounded and
missing, and among the killed was Henry A. Mitchell, who
fell early in the engagement by a Minie ball, which entered his
forehead.
William D. Smith, youngest son of Simeon and Lydia
Smith, was born in Pittsford, January 27, 1845. He enlisted
in the Second Company of Yermont Sharpshooters, October
16, 1861. This company rendezvoused at West Randolph,
Nov. 1, 1861, and was mustered into the United States service
on the 9th, with ninety-one officers and men. It was attached
494: HISTORY OF PITTSFOBD.
to the Second Regiment Berdan s Sharpshooters, as Company
E. Mr. Smith was with this company in all its marches and
battles till he was taken prisoner. Soon afterwards he was
paroled and sent to Parole Camp, Maryland, where he died of
typhoid fever, October 1, 1863.
William Peabody, son of Isaac, was born in Mount Yernon r
E". EL, in 1841, came to Pittsford, and was a clerk for Marcus
C. Bogue, a trader at Mill Village. He enlisted in the Tenth
Regiment, Company C, July 21, 1862, was mustered into the
United States service September 1st, as second sergeant, and
was promoted to the rank of first sergeant, October 6, 1862.
The Tenth Regiment, during the first year of its service, was
stationed on the Upper Potomac, but during the invasion of
Maryland and Pennsylvania by the rebels, it was attached to
the Army of the Potomac and was engaged in more than a
dozen battles. Mr. Peabody was wounded in the battle of
Monocacy Junction, July 9, 1864, and was conveyed to the
United States Hospital at Frederick, Maryland, where he died
on the 23d.
Edmund R. Stiles, son of Levi, was born in 1819, married
Susan E. Greenleaf, of Pittsfield, and resided in this town.
He enlisted for the term of three years in the Tenth Regiment,
Company C, December 8, 1863, and was mustered into the
United States service on the 26th of the same month. In the
spring of 1865, he was attacked with chronic diarrhoea, and
sent to flare wood Hospital, Washington, where lie died June
12, 1865.
John C. Hart, son of Hawkins, was born in this town, and
married Sabed C., daughter of Simeon Smith, May 26, 1857.
He enlisted in the First Regiment, Company F, United States
Sharpshooters, September 4, 1862. He had been in the service
but a short time when he was attacked with acute diarrhoea,
and died on his way to the hospital in Alexandria, Nov. 16,
1862.
OBITUARY. 495
Nathan N. Wescott, son of Nicholas, was born September
27, 1825, married, September 27, 1850, Betsey E. Battise, of
Tinmouth, and resided in this town. He enlisted in the Tenth
Regiment, Company C, July 28, 1862, and was mustered into
the United States service on the first of September. He had
been in the army only about three months when he was
attacked with typhoid pneumonia, and died at the regimental
hospital, Seneca Locks, Md., December 11, 1862.
H. H. Alexander, son of Henry S., was born in 1840, and
spent the most of his minority in this town. He enlisted in
the Seventh Regiment, Company C, Nov. 26, 1861, and was
mustered into the United States service on the 12th of Febru
ary following. He died of chronic diarrhoea, at Pensacola,
Florida, February 5, 1863.
William Pelkey, a Canadian Frenchman, was born in 1827.
He married and resided some years in this town. He enlisted
as a filer in the Third Regiment, Company A, June 20, 1861,
and was mustered into the United States service, with other
members of his company, on the 16th of July. His health
failing, he was discharged December 16th and returned home.
He recovered his health and re-enlisted in the Seventh Regi
ment, Company B, January 9, 1862, and died in the General
Hospital at New Orleans, of chronic diarrhoea, August 24,
1862
Marcus Atwood, son of Marcus, was born in Pittsford, in
1842, and spent the most of his early life in the family of his
uncle, Demas Chaffy. He enlisted in the Tenth Regiment,
Company C, August 4, 1862, and was mustered into the ser
vice of the United States, September 1st, the same year. The
Tenth Regiment was at one time attached to the First Brigade,
Third Division, of the Sixth Army Corps, and with it partici
pated in the engagement at Orange Grove, where Atwood was
killed, Nov. 27, 1863.
James Connell, son of William, was born in 1844, and his
496 HISTORY OF PITTSFOED.
early life was spent on his father s farm. He enlisted in the
Seventh Regiment, Company G, February 25, 1862, and was
mustered into the United States service on the 28th, The
Seventh Regiment was sent to the Department of the Gulf,,
and was stationed some time in the District of West Florida..
While there, young Connell was attacked with chronic diar
rhoea, and sent to the hospital at Perisacola. Pie partially
recovered his health, but a little imprudence in his- diet brought
on a relapse of the disease, and he died January 26, 1863.
Nelson B. Rugg, son of Nelson, was born in Pitts-field, in
1837. He was a carpenter, and after coming to this town, in.
1853, he worked at his trade at Furnace Village, He married,
December 22, 1856, Jane Mooney, who was born in this town
in 1838. He was drafted for the army in 1863, and entered
the service on the 18th of July, being assigned to the Third
Regiment, Company I. Upon the roll of his company he is.
charged with desertion, on the 26th of April, 1864; but some
time afterwards he was discovered within the lines of the Union
army, and he denied the charge of desertion, alleging that he
had been taken prisoner by the enemy, and had just escaped
from captivity. He then had chronic diarrhoea, was very
much emaciated, and died soon after being conveyed to the
hospital.
Dunham J. Clark was born in 1843. He came from Bran
don to Pittsford, and was clerk for the Pittsford Iron Company
some time before the war commenced. He enlisted in the
Fiftli Regiment, Company H, Sept. 2, 1861.
William Connell, son of William, was born in 1840, and
resided with his parents during the most of his minority. He-
enlisted as a soldier in the army, December 17, 1861, and was
attached to Company B, Seventh Regiment, in the Department
of the Gulf. He fell a victim to chronic diarrhoea, August 10,
1862.
Samuel Senical, son of John Senical, was born in Moscow,
SENECA E. WHEELER EDWARD M. GRANGER. 497
Canada, in February, 1844. His parents removed to Monk-
ton, Yt., in 1846, and the following year to West Rutland.
Fifteen years of young Senical s life were spent in that place.
He resided in the family of David Mills, of this town, a little
more than a year before he enlisted in the army, February 13,
1864. He became a member of Company C, in the Seventh
Regiment, in the Department of the Gulf, and died of measles,
at New Orleans, July 1, 1864.
Seneca E. Wheeler, the youngest son of Jonas and Han
nah Wheeler, was born in Chittenden, June 13, 1841. His
early life was spent on a farm. He enlisted as a soldier in
Company G, of the Seventh Regiment, December 28, 1861,
and died August 8, 1862.
The preceding rolls contain the names only of the men who
entered the military service on the quota of this town. Two
young men from this town entered the army, whose names are
not found upon those rolls, viz.: Edward M. Granger, and
Thomas J. Hennessy.
Edward Myron Granger, the only son of Edward L. and
Mary W. Granger, was born Sept. 18, 1844. He spent three
years at Mr. Abbott s school, Farrnington, Maine, and two
years at the Military School in Norwich, Yt., and was at the
last named school when the war of the Rebellion broke out.
At the age of sixteen years he enlisted, in Yermont, and
shortly afterwards was transferred to a New York regiment of
cavalry, known as the Second New York Cavalry, and some
times as the Harris Light Cavalry. He was made Orderly
Sergeant from the first, and in that capacity he acted during
the first two years of the war. His regiment was first com
manded by Col. Davies, and afterwards by Col. Kilpatrick, who
was promoted from this regiment. The last year of his ser
vice he was acting aid to Gen. Hatch, and was in that capacitv
when he was shot, on the 19th of September, 1864, at eight
o clock in the morning, at the battle of Winchester. He sur~
33
498 HISTORY OF PITT8FORD.
vived till eight o clock in the evening, when he passed quietly
away. He had fought up and down the Potomac in most of
the battles and skirmishes on that river, and passed through
more than twenty without receiving a wound. He had his
horse shot from under him at the battle of Fredericksburg,
and was taken prisoner at the second battle of Bull Run, and
exchanged at Annapolis. In November, after his death, his
remains were brought home, and now rest in the family tomb
at Pittsford. He had the reputation of being a brave and
faithful soldier.
Thomas J. Hennessy, son of Daniel, was born in Clare-
mont, N. H., December 9, 1833, and came to Pittsford with
his father s family, in 1841. He enlisted for the army in 1864,
and was mustered into the United States service at New Haven,
Conn., on the 23d of September. The quota of Pittsford
being, at that time filled, he was credited to the town of
Jamaica, and received from that town a bounty. He was
attached to Company C, Tenth Yermont Regiment, which, at
that time, was stationed at Cedar Creek, Virginia. In the
battle which occurred there, October 16th, he was wounded in
the shoulder by a musket ball, which made amputation at the
shoulder joint necessary. This was successfully done fourteen
hours after receiving the wound. He remained in the hospital
at Winchester eight weeks, and was then transferred to Bur
lington, Yt., where he was discharged on the 16th of May.
He is now receiving one hundred and eighty dollars per annum
from the government.
ROADS. 499
CHAPTER XY.
Roads ; Bridges ; Mills ; Tanners and Currier^ Works ;
The Furnace ; Iron Foundries ; Potash Works ; Dis
tilleries; Marble Interests.
ROADS.
The early roads in the township, like those in other parts of
the new country, were little better than rude paths in the
wilderness. A narrow passage was made by cutting away
trees and bushes, and streams that could not be easily forded
were bridged with logs. No turnpike welcomed the weary
traveler, and no toll-gatherer laid him under contribution ; his
progress was measured by his strength and power of musucular
endurance. The first highway in the township was the old
military road which has already been described. This was cut
through the forest some nine years before Pittsford could claim
a civilized inhabitant. We hear nothing of other roads until
nearly three years atter the arrival of the first settler.
On the 14th of April, 1772, the Proprietors, at a meeting
regularly warned, chose Isaac Rood, James Hopkins and
Moses Olmstead, a committee to lay out land and highways.
Mr. Rood being in feeble health, the Proprietors, at a meeting
in July following, excused him from serving on this committee,
and chose Benjamin Cooley in his place.
That several short roads were laid out by this committee,
there is the best reason to believe, though no record of them
exists. The most of them branched off from the old military
road into different sections of the town.
In the south part of the town a road was laid out, extend-
500 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
ing from the military road, a little . east of the residence of
Gideon Cooley to the Great Falls.
Another road was laid out from Mr. Cooley s to Otter
Creek, near the residence of Roger Stevens. The Creek was
there crossed sometimes upon a jam of logs which then existed,
and sometimes in a boat.
Further east, a road was laid out, commencing at the mili
tary road near the north line of Eutland, and extending to
Noah Waite s ; and this was afterwards continued northerly
by Abraham Drury s to Joshua Woodward s.
Another road commenced at the military road, near the
residence of Ebenezer Drury, extended northward to the site
of Mill Tillage, and thence turning westerly, entered the mili
tary road, or main trunk, near Mill Brook.
Another road, which branched from the main trunk, com
menced near the residence of Aaron Parsons, and extended
northward near the site of the house on the present Town
Farm, north of which it continued considerably to the east of
the present traveled road, till it reached the brook near the
residence of Isaac Hood ; thence it passed the residence of
Caleb Hendee, and, bearing westerly, passed Jonathan Row
ley s, and, pursuing about the same course, crossed the Creek a
little north of the town line, whence it continued on over
Hawk Hill, in Brandon.
There was another road, perhaps not regularly laid out,
leading from the east to the west side of the Creek. It com
menced at the military road, a little north of the residence of
Ebenezer Hopkins, and passing down what is now known as
Town Hill, crossed the Creek some thirty or forty rods east of
the site of the Mead bridge, and entered the old road, near
the residence of Mr. Mead. Sometimes the Creek at the place
of crossing was fordable, at other times boats were in requi
sition.
ROADS. 50l
In the westerly part of the town, a road was cut from
Rutland north line, near the present residence of Whipple
Mills, in a northerly direction. This passed the residence of
Gideon Sheldon, the sites of buildings now owned by Allen
Mills, Hiram Bates, Joseph Wolcott, and through what is now
known as the Beals, farm, to the military road near the resi
dence of Benjamin Stevens, Sen.
These were the principal roads existing before the Revolu
tionary war ; but how many of them were regularly laid out
by the Proprietor s committee, it is impossible, at this late day,
to know.
The earliest survey of a road, of which a record exists, was
in 1785. On the 30th of April, that year, Jonathan Sweet
and John Barnes, as selectmen, laid out a road from the Creek
road, on the west side of Otter Creek. It commenced a few
rods south of Stephen Mead s, and, running westward by
where Anthony Phillips afterwards resided, entered the road
leading north from Whipple Hollow, near the south part of
the farm now 7 owned by James D. Butler.
On the 2d of May following, the same Board of Selectmen
laid a road through the west part of the town, commencing at
the south line ot the town, about thirty rods west of Castleton
river, and running north past the residences of Samuel Waters,
Jr., David Gitchell, Jonathan Sweet and Nathaniel Fairneld,
until it entered the old road, near Silas Mosher s. This was
nearly identical with the road leading from Whipple Hollow
by James D. Butler s to Richard and Charles Burditt s. That
part of it leading from the latter point to the north road was,
some time ago, discontinued.
On the 16th of the same month a road was laid out on the
east side of the Creek, commencing at the Great Bridge (the
Mead bridge) and running easterly until it entered the Great
Road, some little distance south of the Village. This was evi-
502 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
dently a resurvey of an old road or path which had been
traveled several years.
On the same day a road was laid out from the west road,
beginning near Silas Mosher s, and extending westerly by the
sites of the present residences of John Eggleston and Marshall
Thomas, and continuing, in the same general direction, to
Hubbardton line.
Prior to this time a road had been laid from Hopkins
mills through the site of Hitchcockville to the site of the
Village, and thence to William Cox s, who, at that time,
resided in a house which stood a few rods north of the present
residence of James Falloon. On the 20th of April, 1786,
Noah Hopkins and Benjamin Cooley, as selectmen and com
mittee, surveyed a continuation of this road from William
Cox s to Brandon line.
About this time a road was laid out from Elisha Adams to
a point in the Great Road near Lieut. Olm stead s, and north
of the Town Plot. This was, substantially, the road leading
from the Furnace to the Baptist meeting house.
Another road was laid out from Hopkins Mills, easterly,
by the sites of the present residences of Abraham Potter,
Matthew Lowth and Mrs. Duffy, to Chittenden. Also, another
short road was laid out " from Ebenezer Lyman s, on the east
side of Hopkins mill stream, northwesterly across the stream,
to a beech tree, on the east side of the road which leads from
Hopkins to Olmstead s mills."* This ?oad passed near Stephen
Jenner s to what is now Hitchcockville. It was discontinued
many years ago.
On the 29th of April a road was laid out from Jonathan
Warner s towards Abel Stevens . This was the road now
leading from Abner T. Reynolds to John M. Goodnough s.
Moses Olmstead, at that time, owned the Fassett saw-mill.
EOADS. 503
On the 5th of May, 1788, a road was surveyed from Benja
min Stevens, Jr. s, to Benjamin Stevens, Sen. s. It commenced
near the residence of the former, a little north of the residence
of Benjamin Stevens, 3d, and running a northwesterly course,
passed near the residence of Simeon Stevens, and thence turn
ing southwesterly it entered the old road a little north of the
residence of the aforesaid Benjamin Stevens, Sen. If this road
was made, it could have been used but a short time.
On the 9th of May, 1789, a road was laid out by Thomas
Hammond and Amasa Ladd, as selectmen, which commenced
at the old road, about eight rods southwest of the burying
ground, and on the west side of the Creek, and ran north.
The first part of it was a little west of the present highway.
From Edwin Wheaton s present residence to N. Hand s, it
was about identical with the present road ; but at the latter
point it ran west of it, and some rods west of the residence of
Kichard Hendee, now N. Willis , and continued on past
where David Hall once resided, now Alexander Parmelee s, to
the present residence of Roswell Woodcock. Thence it turned
north of the present road, and passed the site of the old house
once occupied by Samuel Montague ; and a little south of the
present residence of Seth Hewitt, it occupied about the same
ground as the present Brandon road.
The old road from the burying ground northward, ran
some seventy or eighty rods east of the present traveled road,
passed near the residence of Roger Stevens, Jr., to the grist
mill, and thence northwesterly to what was afterwards the
Adams place, now O. Smith s.
On the 20th of August, 1791, Caleb Cooley and Samuel
Fail-field, as selectmen, laid out a road which began at the old
road, some seventy-five or eighty rods south of the residence
of Benjamin Stevens, Sen., and, running an easterly course,
terminated at the north-and-south road near the residence of
Benjamin Stevens, Jr. This was the road now traveled.
504 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
On the 24th of September, Caleb Cooley and Thomas
Hammond laid out the road "from Mr. Burnett s dwelling
house, in Sugar Hollow, to a large pine tree standing on the
Common, northeasterly of the Log Meeting House." This
was the present Sugar Hollow road.
On the llth of April, 1795, a road was laid out from "the
Starks road to Chittenden line, First bounds a pine tree in the
hollow north of Mr. Miller s." Running easterly, it passed
the residences of Israel Brewster, J. Wicker and J. Brewster,
to the west line of Chittenden. This was the road now lead
ing from Simeon Smith s, eastward to Chittenden.
This year Phineas Ripley and Amos Kellogg, as selectmen,
laid out a road from Arnasa Ladd s, eastward by Abraham
Stanton s to the north-and-south road, which passed David
Starks . This road was traveled many years, but is now
given up.
On the llth of April a road was laid out, which began at
Samuel Adams dwelling house, ran a short distance south
easterly, then southward to Simeon Tupper s, and thence con
tinued about the same course to Lot Keeler s land, entering the
the Rutland road a little south of the residence of Timothy
Morseman. This was the road which now leads from the
Furnace by the residences of Michael O Donnel and Eliza
Connell to John R. Barnes : but that part of the road which
extended farther south was long since discontinued.
In 1796, the road leading from Rutland past Penfield s*
mills, and through the Village to William Cox s, was resur-
veyed, and some parts of it considerably altered. The altera
tions were chiefly in that part of it which was between John
Miller s and Penfield s mills, and they brought the road into
its present line. The old road through a large part of this
section was left considerably to the west.
Mr. Penfield, at this time, owned what had been known as Hopkins mills.
ROADS. 505
In 1797, a stage or post road was surveyed from Rutland to
Tergennes, passing through this town. This was surveyed and
established by John Ramsdell, Jonathan Bell and Joel Linsley,
a committee appointed for the purpose, in conformity to an act
of the Legislature, passed at its session in Rutland that year.
This road was laid out six rods wide, and from Rutland north
line to Orcutt s* mill, it pursued, in most of its parts, the old,
that is, the present traveled road. From Orcutt s it turned a
little northwesterly, passed east of the Tillage, and re-entered
the old road a little north of the Town Plot. It continued on
in the general course of the old road, straightening and improv
ing it, however, in some parts, to Brandon south line. This
road was put into good condition in all its parts. That section
of it, however, which was laid east of the Tillage, was never
built, and traveling was continued through the Tillage.
On the 9th of April, 1803, a road was laid out from the
west to the east side of the* Creek, " beginning near Elijah
Adams , and leading easterly, across the Creek, by Isaac
Matson s to the road leading from Elisha Rich s to William
Spencer s." This was the road now leading eastward from O.
Smith s by I. C. Wheaton s.
In 1807, a "Market Road" was laid out, in conformity to
an act of the Legislature, from Salisbury to West Rutland,
passing through this town on the west side of Otter Creek. It
was surveyed four rods wide, and followed the course of the
old road from Brandon line south, by the residences ot Isaac
Wheaton, Alfred Buck, John Barnes, Stephen Mead, Peter
Rice, John May and Robert Wright, to Rutland line.
It is believed that the roads we have mentioned include
the most important that existed here prior to the year 1808.
Others have been surveyed and made at later periods, but these
have been noticed in other parts of this volume. The road
*William Orcutt, at this time, resided where Charles T. Colburn now lives, and
owned the saw-mill that was near the house,
506 HISTORY OF PITT8FOED.
leading south from the Tillage, by the residence of Col. Cooley,
to the site of what is now known as the Gorham bridge, existed
during the Revolutionary war, but we have not the date of its
survey.
It should perhaps be mentioned that, before the war, Otter
Creek was a common thoroughfare through the town. The
most of the early settlers of the towns on the Creek north of
Pittsford, were from Massachusetts and Connecticut, and they
came on the old military road to Otter Creek in this town, and
here they constructed rafts or boats and completed their journey
by water.
BRIDGES.
At what time the first bridge was built over East Branch,
at what is now Mill Tillage, will never be known. But that
there was a foot bridge there, and also one over Mill Brook,
near where William Orcutt afterwards resided, now C. T,
Colburn s, before the Revolutionary war, there can be little
doubt. And it is highly probable that these soon gave place
to more substantial structures, capable of sustaining the weight
of loaded teams. The first bridge over Otter Creek in this
town, as already stated, was built by the State for military pur
poses, in the spring of 1781. How long this remained and
continued serviceable to the people of the town cannot now be
determined, though probably not many years, as they found it
necessary, in the spring of 1785, to build another bridge over
the same stream ; but this was built below the former bridge,
near what was known as the " Mead crossing," where it would
better accommodate the people. This, when completed, was
known as the " Mead bridge," and it stood some eight or ten
rods above the site of the present bridge. In 1781, the Legis
lature had passed an act authorizing the collection of a " two
penny land-tax ;* and this bridge was built, in the main, with
* This tax was authorized expressly for the building of bridges.
BRIDGES. 507
funds which had been raised in conformity to the provisions of
this act. The bridge was built on trestle work, and was raised*
in March.
The people in the south part of the town became clamor
ous for the building of a bridge on the site of the one first
built ; and in March, 1796, the town "voted that the Commit
tee that shall build a good bridge over Orter Krick, near Mr.
Daniel Lee s, when said bridge is well finished, shall draw
fifteen pounds out of the Town Treasury."
At a meeting on the first of October, the same year, the
town " voted that the Selectmen shall have liberty to draw ten
pounds, in addition to the fifteen pounds out of the Treasury,
that was given last March, for the purpose of building the
bridge over Orter Krick, near Daniel Lee s, if said money is
needed when said bridge is finished." This bridge was raised
and finished in March, 1797. The same structure was repaired
in 1802, in 1805, and in 1810.
At the annual meeting in March, 1803, the town "voted
to build a bridge over Otter Crick near Mr. Matson s." In
April, a road was laid out in connection with the bridge, and
both were built the following summer.
The most of the bridges in the town were carried off by
the freshet of 1811, and the few remaining were greatly dam
aged. The town, however, took active measures for rebuild-
*At the raising of this bridge an incident occurred which is, perhaps, worth
recording. When the structure was partially raised, two of the workmen acci
dentally fell from one of the highest timbers. One of them was drowned, though
it was supposed that he might have been killed by falling upon a fragment of
floating ice, the other was rescued by Ephraim Stevens, who has already figured
in this history .is something of a hero. As the workmen fell, Stevens instantly
lowered himself towards the water, suspending himself by one arm, the hand of
which grasped the timber above. With the other hand he seized one of the sink
ing men, and, by his gigantic strength, drew him from the water and reinstated
him upon the timber. The name of neither of these men is now known with
certainty. Tradition asserts that the remains of the one that was drowned or
killed, were buried in the burying ground, and that the grave is one of those on
the north side of the enclosure. One of the head-stones there has this inscription :
"In memory of Mr. Dan Howlett, who was drowned on the 7th day of March,
1780, in the 57th year of his age."
If this was the man who lost his life at the raising of the Mead bridge, there
must have been a mistake of one year in the date upon the head-stone ; for that
this bridge had been built prior to the 16th of May, 1785, is as certain as the town
records can make it.
508 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
ing or repairing them, and this involved an expenditure which
drew quite heavily upon the resources of the people.
MILLS.
As soon as the primitive settlers began to gather their
scanty crops, the product of diligent and protracted labor, they
began to feel the need of a mill where their grain might be
ground. One of their number, Samuel Crippen, a man of
considerable enterprise and mechanical skill, proposed to build
a grist-mill. To aid and encourage him in his efforts, the
Proprietors, at a meeting Sept. 3, 1771, "voted to give Samuel
Crippen fifty acres of land, upon his getting a good mill first,
to grind by the first of December next ; said land lying thirty
acres on the brook, taking a convenient place for the said land
not encroaching upon the saw-mill spot he shall choose with
allowance for roads to said saw-mill ; twenty acres of said land
lying on the north side of said Crippen s lot he now lives on."
" Voted that Isaac Rood, James Hopkins and Moses Olm-
stead should be a committee to lay out the land."
It is evident that Mr. Crippen did not complete the build
ing of the grist-mill at the specified time, as we find that the
Proprietors, at a meeting, April 14, 1772, " voted to give
Mr. Crippen to the first of September next, to build the grist
mill, and upon the condition that he builds a good mill."
The reader may be interested in learning what measures
were taken in the early times to supply the want of a mill.
For the first few years a portion of the grain used by the early
settlers was procured from the older and more productive
towns, and this was ground before it was brought hither. But
the most of them were constrained to rely as much as possible
upon their own resources, as they were not in circumstances to
meet the expense of importation to any considerable extent.
Prior to the fall of 1772, the nearest accessible grist-mills
were at Bennington and Number Four (Charlestown), some
MILLS. 509
sixty miles away, but a portion of the grain raised in Pittsford
was transported even this distance to be ground. Number
Pour was more easily reached than Bennington, from the fact
that it was situated 011 the Military road, which was a much
better thoroughfare than could be found between Pittsford and
Bennington. Indeed, a part of the distance between the two
latter towns had no semblance of a road, and the traveler from
one to the other was guided only by a few marked trees. We
can readily see that going to mill at that day was anything but
a pleasure trip. It was a tax upon patience and strength, and
was attended with no little danger. So great and difficult was
the journey, that the early settlers carried but a small propor
tion of their corn to mill, but this article was ground or crushed
in a mortar made in the following manner : The stump of a
hard-wood tree was selected, and upon the centre of the top of
it, some two or three feet from the ground, a fire was built.
When, by a slow process of burning, an excavation had been
made sufficiently deep, it was made smooth. Into this bowl
the corn was poured and then pulverized with a stone or
wooden pestle. Almost every family had its stump mortar ;
and very much of the material used for bread passed through
the process of pounding.
That Mr. Crippen finished building the grist-mill in the fall
of 1772, there is little doubt The Proprietors, at a meeting,
October 8, 1772, "Voted that Samuel Ellsworth, Thomas
Tuttle and Moses Olmstead, should be a Committy to see when
Samuel Oippen s mill is a good sufficient mill for business."
We find no report of this committee, but the Proprietors,
at a meeting, December 1, 1772, " Voted that Samuel Crippen
should have the land which was formerly given him by the
proprietors of this place for building a grist-mill, upon condi
tion said Crippen keeps said grist-mill in good repair ten years
from this time fit for grinding." The mill Built by Mr. Crip
pen stood on " Mill Brook," now known as Sucker Brook,"
510 HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
and about where William C. Cotting s turning mill now stands,
The dam was some fifteen or twenty feet above the present
dam. Where the mill-stones were obtained we do not know,
but from the fact that most of the mill-stones used in this
vicinity at a later period, were quarried in the neighborhood of
Cox Mountain, it is quite likely Mr. Crippen obtained his from
the same locality.
This mill was patronized by the inhabitants of the neigh
boring towns, and it was soon found that the business to be
done exceeded the capacity of the mill. The Proprietors
accordingly set apart sites, suitable for other mills, with the
expectation that they would be improved as they should be
needed.
On the second Tuesday of November, 1772, it was "Voted
that twenty acres of land be laid out on East Branch flats for
the use of the Town for the building of mills. Then voted
that fifteen acres of land be laid out on the west side of the
Creek, on the stream north of Roger Stevens, Jr. s, lot, for the
use of the Town for building mills."
On the 14th of April, the same year, the Proprietors had
" Voted to give Felix Powell fifty acres lying upon the brook
upon conditions he get a good saw-mill agoing by the first of
December next, and keep it in repair five years."
For some reason Mr. Powell did not build the saw-mill
which was contemplated in the above vote of the Proprietors,
giving him fifty acres of land for such a purpose ; and at a
meeting, April 20, 1773, they "Voted that Jonathan Fassett
should have fifty acres of land upon condition said Fassett
shall build a good saw-mill by the first of -December next, said
Jonathan Fassett s fifty acres of land is to be laid out where it
was formerly given to Felix Powell for the building of the
same saw-mill."
It appears that the grist-mill was in operation but a few
months before it was found to be out of repair ; and the Pro-
MILLS. 511
prietors, at a meeting, March 8, 1774, " Voted that Samuel
Crippen should have until the first day of May next to get his
grist-mill in good repair ; Likewise voted that Jonathan Fassett
should have until the first day of May next to get his saw-mill
in good repair.
Yoted that Gideon Cooley, Moses Olmstead, Peleg Sunder-
land, Samuel Ellsworth and Stephen Mead be a committy to
view the grist-mill and saw-mill, and give their opinion whether
the mills are according to the meaning of the proprietors votes.
Yoted that said committy finding the grist-mill in good
repair, shall have power to take bonds of said Crippen for the
maintaining of the grist-mill ten years, and make their report
to the next meeting."
Quite likely the grist-mill was repaired and the saw-mill
finished at the time proposed, as we find no other allusion to
them upon the Proprietors records. The saw-mill was built
upon " Mill Brook," north of the grist-mill, and occupied the
site of the mill now (1871) owned by Smith & Barber.
The second grist-mill in the town was built in 1775, by
Roger Stevens, Jr., on the lot laid out by the Proprietors for
this purpose, on the west side of Otter Creek. This mill stood
on what has since been known as "Stevens Brook," at its
mouth, close by the old ford Pitts Ford. Mr. Stevens
employed a mill-wright by the name of Samuel Brackett* to
build the mill, and it was completed in the summer of that
year. The only vestige of this mill now to be seen is one of
the mud-sills, apparently in its original position. In the early
part of the Revolutionary war, as already stated, Mr. Stevens
became a Tory, and, having constructed a raft upon which he
placed his mill-stones and irons, he floated them down Otter
*Mr. Brackett resided in this town several years, and he has the reputation of
having been a very eccentric man, and some anecdotes respecting him have come
down to our time. It is said that he once attended church service at the old log
meeting house, clad in a suit of birch bark.
512 HISTOET OF PITTSFOED.
Creek as far as Middlebury, and then joined the British army.
His mill was abandoned.
The second saw-mill in the town was built about the year
1783, but it is not now known by whom it was built. It stood
on Mill Brook, some one hundred rods below Mr. Crippen s-
grist-mill, and on land then owned by Ebenezer Hopkins,, Sen. y
but now by Edwin C. Wheaton. Some have supposed this-,
mill to have been built by Mr. Hopkins, perhaps assisted by-
one of the Cooleys, as it is known that Gideon Cooley at one
time owned a share in it. This mill continued to be used till
about the year 1800, when it was neglected and soon became a
ruin. A small portion of the dam is all that now marks the
spot where it stood.
The third, grist-mill in the town was built in the fall of
1783, by Elisha Rich.* It stood on what was then called East
Branch, but now Furnace Brook, and just below the bridge at
Furnace Village. Elder Rich sold this mill to Elisha Adams,
in 1784. It w r as kept in operation some years by members of
the Adams family, and when it had gone somewhat to decay,
another grist-mill was built just above the bridge, and this, for
some time, did a good business.
The fourth grist-mill was built in 1785, by i^eheniiah Hop
kins. This mill was on East Branch, and stood about where
John Stevens mill now stands. A little later, Mr. Hopkins
built a saw-mill on the opposite, or north side of the stream,
and these mills were kept in operation by Mr. Hopkins or his
sons till they were purchased by John Penfield in 1796.
The fifth grist-mill was built in 1786, by Gideon Sheldon
and David Gitchell. This mill stood on the small stream some
sixty rods south of Mr. Sheldon s residence, in Whipple
Hollow.f
* Hendec s MS.
tTiiis mill stood on the east slope of the hill, west of Whipple Hollow.
MILLS. 513
Not far from this time, Elisha Adams and sons built a saw
mill just below the grist-mill, at what is now Furnace Village ;
and a few years later, or about the year 1T95, Abraham Stan-
ton built a saw-mill on the brook near his house. Mr. Stanton
located, as early as 1782, about one hundred rods east of
Amasa Ladd s, and a road was constructed soon after, from
Mr. Ladd s, past Mr. Stanton s to John Miller s. The mill
built by Mr. Stanton was never of much service, as it could be
used only at certain seasons on account of the scarcity of
water. Mr. Stanton died about the year 1813, and his real
estate passed into the hands of Charles Derby.
The sixth grist-mill in the town was built by David Gitchell,
in 1796. It stood near where Leonard Sargent s saw-mill now
stands, in Whipple Hollow. This mill was built as a substi
tute for the one built earlier on the east side of the hill, that
not having a sufficient supply of water. The stones and other
fixtures of the former mill were used in this.
Amos Weller and Anthony Butler built a saw-mill in the
year 1800, on the brook near Mr. Butler s house. A part of
the dam is all that now marks the spot.
Stephen Jenner built a saw-mill about the year 1800, just
below the bridge on the south road leading from the Village to
Penfield s mills; and not far from this time Elisha Woodruff
built a saw-mill where Samuel bourse s mill now stands.
David Cross built a saw-mill, near the grist-mill built by
Mr. Gitchell, in Whipple Hollow. This was used till 1840,
when it was purchased by M. W. Nelson, who removed it and
built a new one on its site. After changing owners several
times it was purchased by Mr. Sargent in 1845.
Benjamin and Caleb Cooley also built a saw-mill, at quite
an early day, on the south side of East Branch, nearly opposite
the straw-board mill, now owned by Allen & Co. There is
nothing upon the records to show when this mill was built, and,
as it was beyond the recollection of living men, we have been
34
514: HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
unable to fix the date. This mill was swept away by the
freshet of 1811.
A saw-mill was built on East Creek in East Pittsford, about
the year 1808, by Artemas Carpenter. A few years later, Mr.
Carpenter built a grist-mill on the same stream, some rods
below the saw-mill. The grist-mill was run some ten or twelve
years only, but the saw-mill was kept in operation many
years.
The first fulling-mill and works for dressing cloth in this
town were constructed by Noal William Avery, in 1796. The
fulling-mill was on Kipley Brook, some twenty or twenty-five
rods above its entrance into East Branch (Furnace Brook).
Mr. Avery sold this mill to Chester Powers, March 31, 179T,
and the latter " sold the water privilege, together with the full
ing-mill, dye house, two strings of tenderbars, dwelling house
and shop, one pair of clothier s shears, one iron screw and box,
and one clothier s plait," to Jirah Barlow, in 1799. Soon after
he had made this purchase, Mr. Barlow bought the water priv
ilege below Penfield s mills, and built one part of the mill now
owned by Allen & Co. Here he enlarged his works and had
a well-arranged woolen factory. He continued to manufacture
cloth here till 1826, when he sold his mill and machinery and
left the town.
About the year 1811, clothier s works were constructed by
Capt. Caleb Cooley, on Eipley Brook, near Daniel Sherman s.
Justin Darling, son-in-law of Capt. Cooley, had the manage
ment of these works for some years. After the death of Capt.
Cooley, in 1813, this property was set off to Mrs. Darling and
Mrs. Woodward,* as a part of their share of their father s
estate. Daniel Sherman bought it, about the year 1823, and
continued the business of dressing cloth till 1852. These works
have since been abandoned.
The Pittsford Manufacturing Company was incorporated by
* Betsey Cooley, daughter of Capt. Caleb, married Jesse Woodward.
MANUFACTURING COMPANY. 515
an act of the General Assembly, October 19, 1812. The cor
porate members were Stephen A very, John Penfield, Sturges
Penfield, Allen Penfield, Thomas Hammond and Caleb Hen-
dee, Jr., and others, their associates and successors. The
company was organized in conformity to the act of incorpo
ration, Thomas Hammond being chosen President, and John
Penfield, Clerk and Treasurer. A code of By-Laws was
adopted, and the necessary arrangements made for putting into
operation a factory, which had been erected on East Branch,
just below Penfield s grist-mill. The original members of the
company prosecuted the work of manufacturing and dressing
woolen cloth till April 3, 1820, when Caleb Hendee, Jr.,
John Penfield, Stephen Avery and Thomas Hammond released
to their associates their shares or rights to the property of the
company and right of membership. The company, now con
sisting of Sturges Penfield and Allen Penfield, together with
Abel Penfield, who had purchased a portion of the stock, con
tinued to run the factory till 1825, when Abel sold his share
in the property to his associates, June 15, 1827, Allen Pen-
field sold his interest in the property to Sturges, who became
sole proprietor. The latter continued to operate the mill till
about the year 1860, when he retired from the business. May
14, 1866, John Stevens purchased the factory property of the
heirs of Mr. Penfield, and converted it to other uses.
About the year 1822, clothier s works were constructed on
East Creek, in the southeasterly part of the town, known as
East Pittsford. "We can trace the ownership to Luny Thayer,
who, quite likely, built the works, but they were purchased by
George W. and Luther Daniels, who sold them to Justin Dar
ling, Jirah Yaughn and Thomas Frink, Aug. 25, 1825. After
having been used a few years the works were abandoned.
Before purchasing an interest in the works at East Pitts-
ford, Justin Darling planned the construction of a fulling-mill
on East Branch, near the mouth of Ripley Brook, He par*
516 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
tially built a dam across the stream some thirty rods north of
the mouth of the brook, and, on the east bank of it, dug a
canal through which he might convey the water, from the pond
to a point near the road where he intended to build his mill,
but for some reason this was never done. This canal is still
visible.
Two oil-mills have been built in the town, both of them by
Jirah Barlow. The first stood on East Branch, about opposite
the present residence of William Nicoll. This was built about
the year 1810. The second, built about the year 1815, stood
on the south side of the stream, nearly opposite Mr. Barlow s
factory, and very nearly where the Cooleys saw-mill had stood.
TANNERS AND CURRIERS WORKS.
The first to carry on the tanning and currying business in
this town was Nathaniel Kingsley. He learned his trade in
Simsbury, Conn., came to Pittsford in 1785, bought twenty-five
acres of land of John Fenn, and established himself in busi
ness near the school house in District No. 2. His vats were
constructed a few rods south-east of his house, near the brook.
He was a shoemaker, as well as tanner and currier, and all
these branches of business were carried on under his super
vision. After the death of Mr. Kingsley, his son, Joshua,
assumed the care of the works and continued their manage
ment till about the year 1835, when they came into the pos
session of Samuel Warner & Son, who, with Marshall Wood,
continued the business till 1850. The works were then pur
chased by Abraham Butterfield, who soon, however, relin
quished the tanning business, and all the apparatus for its
prosecution were quickly in ruins.
Isaac and Kendrick Bresee, sons of Christopher, commenced
the tanning and currying business in 1804, on the place now
owned by Benjamin Stevens, and a few rods northwest of
the present residence of Mrs, Catharine Tennian. The two
THE FURNACE. 517
brothers worked together till 1820, when Kendrick sold his
share of the property to Isaac, and left the town. The latter
continued to carry on the business of tanning and currying till
1852, when he sold his real estate in this town and removed to
the West. These tan works have not since been in use.
About the year 1805, Frederick Freeman constructed
works for tanning and currying, on land now owned by Miss
Achsah Leach. He worked at his trade here a short time,
when the tan works became the property of Joshua Osgood, of
Rutland. Mr. Osgood sold them to Jonathan Kendall, in
1807. Mr. Kendall carried on the tanning and currying busi
ness here, in connection with shoemaking, till 1812, when he
sold his tan works to Josepli Tottingham. Mr. Tottingham,
having no use for the tan works, sold the most of the movable
portions of them, and other parts were either used for other
purposes, or were neglected and fell into decay.
THE FURNACE.
A furnace for smelting iron ore was built in this town in
the fall of 1791, by Israel Keith, from Easton, Mass. It stood
about where the present furnace now stands in Furnace Village.
The ore was mostly brought from Chittenden, a distance of
more than two miles. It made a good quality of iron which
found a ready sale, and yielded the proprietor a liberal return.
On the 4th of July, 1795, Mr. Keith sold the furnace property
to Nathan Gibbs, Cornelius Gibbs, Edward Kingrnan and
Luke Reed ; and two years later, Nathan Gibbs purchased of
his associates in business their interest in the property, and
took upon himself the sole management of it. He enlarged
and improved the works by which their value was much
enhanced, and he continued in charge of them till about the
time of his death, in 1824.
Soon after the death of Mr. Gibbs, the furnace passed
518 HISTOKY OF PITTSFORD.
into the hands of Andrew Leach, of whom Simeon Granger
& Sons purchased it November 30, 1826. The furnace was
burnt in August following, but the proprietors rebuilt it soon
afterwards. Simeon Granger s sons who had an interest in the
furnace were Lyman and Chester, and the business of the firm
was conducted in the name of " Simeon Granger & Sons," till
the death of the father, in 1834, when the two sons took the
charge of the works. In 1837, Lyman Granger sold his share
of the furnace property to Edward L. Granger, another
brother, and withdrew from the firm. "C. and E. L. Granger"
then continued the manufacture of iron till the death of the
junior member of the firm, in 1846. George W. Hodges was
then admitted as a member of the firm, and the furnace busi
ness was conducted in the name of " Granger, Hodges & Co.,"
till 1852.
After a partial suspension of business a stock company was
formed and incorporated by an act of the Generel Assembly
as the " Pittsford Iron Co." This company put the furnace in
operation, and for a time did a brisk business, but it could
hardly compete with companies elsewhere, possessing superior
facilities for the manufacture of iron, and as it was found that
the income was but little in excess of the expense, the business
was soon suspended.
In 1865, however, the company, consisting entirely of new
members, repaired the furnace and again put it into operation,
but it was not found to be a paying business, and was, conse
quently, again suspended. At the time the furnace was put into
operation, in 1865, the name of the company was changed to
the "Vermont Iron Co.," and by this name it has since been
known. The property of the company is now owned by Jere
miah Pritchard, of Boston, and we are informed by his agent,
Mr. Webber, that arrangements are now being made for put
ting the furnace again into operation.
IRON FOUNDRIES. 519
For some years after this furnace was built, it was a source
of considerable profit to the owners, while it also furnished
work for a large number of individuals who were enabled,
thereby, not only to pay their current expenses, but to lay
aside a portion of their earnings, with which some of them
afterwards purchased farms and made themselves comfortable
homes. But in process of time the ore bed, from which the
furnace was supplied, ceased to be productive, and the company
had to resort for their supply to another deposit of ore, some
six miles away. The extra cost of transportation, and the
increased expense of other materials required in the manufac
ture of iron, have exceeded the rise in the price of the metal,
so that latterly the furnace could not be operated remuner
atively.
IRON FOUNDRIES.
Two iron foundries have been built in this town. One was
built in 1827, by Cyrus Gibbs and John Cooley. This stood
near the mouth of Ripley Brook and was connected with the
trip-hammer shop which, before the foundry was built, had
been occupied by Amos Crippen.* This was a small establish
ment and was used only for small castings, and it was generally
known as " Pocket Furnace."
The other foundry was built in 1829, by Simeon Granger
& Sons, near the blast furnace. Here a large number of stoves
have been manufactured, besides a great variety of other arti
cles. A few years since, it was rebuilt and removed a few rods
towards the west, where it is still in a usable condition.
POTASH WORKS.
Three establishments for the manufacture of potash have
been put in operation within the limits of the town. The first
was built in 1798, by Stephen and Elijah Avery, and stood
f Mr. Crippen built the trip-hammer shop in 1808.
520 HISTORY OF PITT8FORD.
some twenty rods east of their store, on the north side of the
road, and on land now owned by the heirs of the late George
B. Armington, M. D. This was kept in operation many years,
and the last to run it were John and Henry Simonds.
The second establishment of this kind was built in 1808,
by Elisha Adams, Jr. It stood on the south side of the south
road leading from the Village to Penfield s Mills, on land now
owned by Jeifrey A. Randall. This also was kept in operation
some years.
The third potash establishment was built in 1809, by Jere
miah Sheldon. This stood on the Mosher place, on land now
owned by Richard and Charles Burditt, and near their south
barn on the north side of the road. It was kept in operation
but a short time and was never of much account.
DISTILLERIES.
Three distilleries have existed within the limits of the town.
The first was built in 1811, by George Willson and William
House. This was located on land now owned by the heirs of
the late George H. Simonds, and some five or six rods south
west of the present barn. After changing owners several times
it was purchased by John and Henry Simonds, and by them
kept in operation several years. A large amount of grain went
through the process of distillation here every year, and the
whiskey turned out was sent to the various markets in New
England and New York, though it is to be supposed that a
part of it found a ready sale near home.
The second distillery was built by Allen Penfield in 1819.
This stood on the east side of East Branch and about twenty
rods south of the residence of Sturges Penfield, who after
wards bought one-half of it. The two brothers run it together
several years. When they gave up the business, Sturges
bought his brother s interest in the property, and the building
was converted into a dwelling house, and rented as such a num
MARBLE QUARRIES. 521
ber of years. Mr. Hammond, the present owner of the land
upon which it stood, demolished it in 1867.
The third distillery was built by Kobert Wright, in 1820.
This was on the west side of the Creek, and on the side of the
hill about twenty or twenty-five rods northwest of the Gorham
bridge. Mr. Wright run this distillery several years, and it
was then abandoned.
THE MARBLE INTERESTS OF PITTSFORD.
On the west side of Otter Creek are extensive beds of
marble in which quarries have been opened. Some of these
have been successfully worked.
The first marble quarry in this town was opened, by Jere
miah Sheldon, in 1795. This was about one-fourth of a mile
southeast of Mr. Sheldon s house, and on land now owned by
Abraham Owen. Garret Lawrence, of Brandon, bought this
quarry December 1, 1800, but sold it to Levi Foot of Rutland,
August 4, 1801. The latter gentleman sold it to William
Barnes in 1802, who sold it to Epaphras Jones of Middletown,
July 16, 1804. This quarry changed owners quite often, but
a great amount of marble was taken from it. The color of it
was somewhat darker than that afterwards taken from other
quarries, but it was of fine grain and easily worked. The
most of the marble used in this vicinity for monuments and
building purposes at that early day, was taken from this quarry.
The majority of the better class of houses contained more or
less of this marble, either in the jambs or backs of fire-places,
in the hearths, or in the underpinning. It may be readily
recognized by its color, and the most of it bears the marks of
the chisel.
The second marble quarry was opened by Eli Hudson in
1799, a few rods north of the quarry now being worked by the
Pittsford Company.
The third marble quarry was opened by Charles Lamb about
522 HISTORY OF PITT8FOKD.
the year 1806. This was located about thirty rods south or
southeast of his house, on land now owned by his daughter
Mrs. Sally Walker. This opening was never carried suffi
ciently deep to discover sound blocks, and the effort was con
tinued only a few years.
Edward Clifford and his son, Nathan, were the first to open
and work the quarry now being worked by the Pittsford
Quarry Company. It eventually passed into the hands of E.
D. Selden of Brandon, who quarried some blocks from it and
transported them to his mill to be sawed. It was purchased in
1866, by the present proprietors who have built a spacious mill
with all the modern improvements for sawing marble, and a
large amount is now being quarried and sawed for the market.
Attempts have been made at different times to open other
quarries, but either for the want of sufficient funds to prosecute
the work, or for some other cause they have not proved suc
cessful. Several companies, however, recently formed are now
opening quarries, and are prosecuting the work with encourag
ing prospects. There are vast ledges of marble in the town
and no doubt future explorations will bring to light far richer
deposits than any that have yet been made available.
Mr. George E. Hall, Esq., an enterprising gentleman of
Cleveland, Ohio, has recently leased or purchased a large tract
of the marble territory of this town, and he has caused a
scientific or geological survey to be made of this tract, by
Prof. Charles H. Hitchcock, the able geologist and mineralo
gist of Dartmouth College. In his report, Prof. Hitchcock
says : "A study of the locality shows that in Vermont there
is commonly an improvement in the quality of the marble in
proceeding northerly. The clouded and coarser varieties pre
vail south of Dorset, while the statuary predominates in Bran
don, and northwards. There are some exceptions to this
general rule.
The character of the dislocations and seams in the marble
GEOLOGICAL EEPOKT. 523
varies in different districts. All the efforts made to work the
marble north of Brandon have failed. Some of the earlier
attempts at quarrying were made in Middlebury, and large
sums of money have been expended in Middlebury, Shelburne
and other towns for the same purpose, but unsuccessfully.
This is dependent partly upon the nature of the disturb
ances, and partly upon the great number of seams or joints
present. The elevation of our mountains seems to have been
produced by forces pushing latterly. Parallel ridges have
been crowded towards each other, and consequently the rocks
between were jammed, faulted and plicated so as to occupy
less space horizontally. One great region of disturbance has
been the marble valley west of the Green Mountains, and as
the nearest rocks must first yield to pressure, the limestones
have been thrown out of place more than the firmer quartzites
and schists adjacent upon either side. To the south of Bran
don the pressure has been relieved by upthrows and downthrows
of mountain masses, leaving the marble in each segment unin
jured.
To the north, where the country i$ low, the disturbances
are of less magnitude, but very much more numerous ; the
results appear in the greater number of faults, foldings and
seams to the north, and the presence of large tracts to the
south comparatively free from them, and the consequent failure,
thus far, to establish workable quarries north of Brandon.
The application of these generalizations to your quarries"
(Mr. Hall s) "at Pittsford shows them to be favorably situated.
They are near the summit of the limestone series. They
are in the northern area where the quality of the marble
is of the superior order, including more of the statuary, and
they are not too far north to be seriously affected by the dis
locations in the low country, there being a mountain range
contiguous on the west. There are disturbances near your
524: HISTORY OF PITT8FORD.
property, but the properties seem to have been selected with a
view to avoid the faulted and plicated areas."
Mr. Hall has already opened one quarry on his territory
and has taken therefrom more than one hundred blocks of
marketable marble. Prof. H. says " the blocks raised show its
excellent quality ; they appear perfectly sound, though brought
from less than fifteen feet below the surface. It is not com
mon to find merchantable blocks so near the surface. The
trenches to the north show, in the easterly portion of the belt,
from six to eight feet of statuary marble. Nowhere are any
seams or fractures visible that will seriously affect the quality
or working of the marble. This belt extends north and south
one thousand seven hundred and nineteen feet across the whole
length of the tract.
About a quarter of a mile north of the quarry just noticed,
is what is known as the Marble Valley property. This has
upon it wider bands of marble, most of them for the distance
of over four thousand two hundred feet. A wide valley extends
along the tract underlaid by marble ; this may have been exca
vated partly by running water, and partly by the action of the
ice in the Glacial Period.
Shortly after the drift action the valley became covered by
the clays of the Champlain period, to the depth of fifteen or
twenty feet, and thus the marble has been protected from the
usual surface weathering. Consequently the marble is as sound
at the very beginning as if fifteen feet thickness of cap-rock
had been removed.
The marble belts in this valley are so extensive that a large
number of quarries can be worked in them at the same time,
and taking into consideration the excellent quality of the mar
ble, there can be little doubt that capitalists will be found
ready to furnish funds for prosecuting a business which has
been so auspiciously commenced."
MARBLE MILLS. 525
Two mills for sawing marble have been built within the
limits of the town, besides the one already mentioned. There
was one built by Epaphras Jones in 1806, and this stood on
Stevens Brook, near where Isaac Bresee afterwards lived. The
plan of this mill appears to have been entirely new, and it
proved a failure. Another mill was built soon after on Mill
Brook, by a Mr. Ballou. This was the mill now owned by
William C. Cotting, and used as a chair factory. Considerable
marble from the Sheldon quarry was sawed at this mill.
Since the foregoing was put in type, we have been per
mitted to examine an extensive series of trenches and trial-
pits recently opened under the direction of Mr. Geo. H. Os-
borne, who has become associated with Mr. Hall in his marble
business in Pittsford. These reveal an unexpected and even
an unexampled breadth in the belts of marble, and show the
quality, both as regards color, grain and soundness, to be equal
to that of any marble known in the country. There are two
distinct belts of marble which traverse the entire length of the
property leased and purchased by Messrs. Hall & Osborne,
one called the " Italian Belt," which is 205 feet in width, the
other named the " Marble Valley Belt," 449 feet wide. Both
belts are inclosed between solid and regular walls of limestone,
and throughout both tracts, over a mile in length, the dip and
trend of the rocks are remarkably uniform, and none of the
joints, breaks or disturbances which are so common and injuri
ous to other marble properties. In the two belts of marble
referred to, while there is an unusual proportion of white
marble, every desirable variety may be found, from blue and
clouded to the finest and purest statuary. All these varieties
exist in such abundance as to give room on the property for at
least fifty quarries, each of double the size of any now worked
in the State.
526 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
CHAPTER XVI.
The Librarian Society; Library Company; Maclure Library
Association; Schools.
LIBRARIES.
An eloquent hint at the Puritan origin of the early settlers
of this town, is disclosed in their efforts for self-improvement.
Private libraries at that day were luxuries which none of them
were in circumstances to enjoy. And in order to derive
the greatest possible benefit from small investments, they
formed an association, and, with common funds, purchased a
small library, to which all the members could have access.
The following is a copy of the constitution of the association :
"We, the Subscribers, desirous of collecting a Library for
common use among ourselves, with a view to our Improvement
in Knowledge, Virtue and Piety, consisting of Books of a
Moral, Historical, Philosophical and Theological kind, and
others, calculated to promote useful Literature. For the better
execution of our purpose and Government of ourselves in such
a social Combination, do, of our own free will, mutually obli
gate ourselves according to the following Articles :
ARTICLE I. We agree and consent to be called and known
by the name of the Librarian Society of Pittsford ; and if any
individual Proprietor or other Person shall distinguish himself
by Noble and Generous Donations to the Library, It shall be
called by his name, agreeable to a vote that may be passed by
the Society for that end.
ART. II. We severally agree to pay to the Society, as
they shall agree or appoint, the sum of two dollars to each
share, for the purpose of procuring said Library.
LIBRARY SOCIETY. 52 7
ART. III. We solemnly agree upon the Honour of Gentle
men, and Faith of Christians, that we will approve ourselves
good, regular, peaceable and honest members of the Society ;
and in particular that we will make good all loss or Damage of
Books belonging to the Society, whether we be Librarians or
others, which may be unnecessarily occasioned by our means
and committed to our custody; whether by tearing, effacing,
dirtying or folding down leaves, according as the Society shall
order or determine by their Committee chosen for that pur
pose, and this we engage to do on the forfeiture of our right
and Interest in said Library, likewise Subjection to any legal
Penalty that may be inflicted.
ART. IY. We will govern ourselves and conform to such
Rules and Orders as the Society shall hereafter establish from
time to time, at their regular Meetings of a majority of the
whole number of the proprietors then present, and nothing
short of it, in the case of enacting Laws and Orders for the
Society.
ART. Y. A regular Meeting besides the annual Meeting,
shall be such as is publickly notified by the Librarian or Libra
rians upon the written application of Seven of the Proprietors,
with fourteen days warning, and pointing out the special busi
ness of said Meeting in a paper, at two or more of the most
publick places for that purpose.
ART. YI. There shall be an annual meeting at a place
agreed upon by the Society, at which meeting the Librarian
for that year shall be chosen, the committee for estimating
damages done to the Books, all to be chosen by ballot, and all
other officers of said society of any importance in the same
manner, by a majority ot said Members then present. All
society Meetings shall be under the Government of a Moder
ator chosen at such Meetings.
ART. VII. Every Proprietor shall be allowed a complete
Catalogue of all the Books that compose the Library, which
528 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
shall be numbered and stand in numerical order on the shelves.
The Librarian shall keep an exact account of all books taken
out, by whom and when taken out, and when returned ; he
shall carefully examine them before he replaces them in the
Library, and if abused, shall forthwith submit them to the
Inspection of the Committee of Estimation, without letting
them know in whose hands the Books have been.
ART. YIII. The purchasing and procuring of Books for
the Library from time to time, shall be by a committee of said
Society chosen for that purpose, and agreeable to the general
Instructions they receive from said Proprietary.
ART. IX. No Proprietor (until the Society order other
wise) shall take out more than one Book to a share at a time,
and that he shall return in the space of eight weeks from the
drawing of it, or pay a Fine of a Penny per day for every day
over that space of time.
ART. X. Every Proprietor that shall suffer a library book
to be carried out of his own house, to be used by any other
person, shall forfeit the sum of Ten Shillings for each offence,
and Fines arising from the breach of this or the last article
shall be paid to the Librarian before the offenders may be per
mitted to draw again.
ART. XI. All monies arising from Fines and Forfeiture,
shall be delivered to the committee appointed to procure Books
for the Library by the Librarian, who shall take their receipts
for the same, which receipts he shall exhibit to the Society at
their annual Meeting, and the committee shall lay out the
Money so received for Books to enlarge the Library, unless
otherwise directed by the Society.
ART. XII. There shall be (for the prevention of difficulty)
no division of Eights or Shares; each Individual shall own one
or more Shares, and shall have a right to vote according to the
number of Shares he owns.
ART, XIII. On the decease of any Proprietor holding
CONSTITUTION. 529
more shares than one, those shares may be distributed among
the Heirs, as may be agreed upon, but no one single Share
shall be divided.
ART. XIV. Any Proprietor shall have a right to dispose
of one whole Share, or all their Interest in said Library, to
any Person residing in the limits of the said Society.
ART. XV. All Persons purchasing any Share or Shares in
said Library, or holding them by Heirship, shall subscribe the
then existing Constitution, or forfeit their Interest in said
Library.
ART. XYI. For the enlargement and increase of the
Library, there shall be annually paid to the Committee ap
pointed to procure Books, by each Proprietor, such a sum to
every Share as may be agreed on by the Society, at a legal
Meeting of theirs hereafter limiting the duration of said
annuity.
ART. XVII. The Library shall be kept not far from the
middle of Pittsford, and no Person living out of the town,
may be admitted as a Proprietor, unless they belong to Chit-
tenden or Philadelphia,* in which case they may be admitted
on account of their fewness of members and other disadvant
ages, they labor under.
ART. XVIII. The Constitution of the Library shall be
Revised by a Committee appointed for that purpose by the
Proprietors, so often as two-thirds of them deem it necessary.
ART. XIX. The subscription Money is to be paid in Cash,
or such Grain or other Produce as the Society shall think expe
dient hereafter, or in Books of the above description, or others,
all of which is to be paid to the Committee to be appointed to
procure Books, on or before the first day of December next,
and to the acceptance of the Committee.
*A town was chartered by this name March 14, 1761 ; Nov. 9, 1814, the north
half of it was annexed to Goshen ; and the remainder of it was annexed to Chit-
tendeu, Nov. 2, 1816.
35
530
HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
ART. XX. So soon as there are thirty Shares subscribed,
there shall be a Meeting warned for the purpose of organiza
tion, by posting up a written Notification on the Sign Post of
said Town, giving at least fourteen days notice, and signed by
three or more of the highest subscribers. Dated at Pittsford
this 12th day of April, A. D. 1796.
Subscribers. No. Shares. Subscribers.
Caleb Hendee, Jr., 2
Thomas Hammond, 2
Ebenezer Hopkins, 1
Stephen A very, 1
James Swings, 2
Alexander Ewings, 2
Phineas Ripley, 2
Samuel Craft, 1
William Orcutt, 2
Enoch Cheney, 1
Abiathar Millard, 1
Daniel Warren, 1
William Baxter, 2
Andrew Leach, 1
John Van Allen, 1
Matthew Hopkins, 1
John Hitchcock, Jr., 1
Milton Potter, 1
Samuel Hopkins, 1
Abraham Merrifield, 1
Lewis Drury, 1
Thomas Adams, 1
Calvin and Ebenezer Drury, 2
Martin Hopkins, 1
Jeremiah Powers, 1
John Penfield, 2
William Spencer, 1
No. Shares.
John Gillet, 1
James A. Potter, 2
Timothy Mead, 2
Elijah Adams, 2
Nathan Nelson, 1
Jonathan Dike, 1
Enos Pearson, 1
Andrew Barnard, 1
Hiram Hopkins, 1
Nathan McQuevey, 1
Samuel Harrison, 1
Thomas Keeler, 1
Ebenezer Beach, 1
Aaron Henry, 1
Ephraim Hendee, 1
Jeremiah Sheldon, 1
David Dresser, 1
Joel Green, 1
Isaac Osborn, 2
Daniel Lee, 1
Leonard Rawson, 1
Benjamin Cooley, 1
Samuel Cooley, 1
John Barnes, 1
Caleb Cooley, 1
Nathaniel Kingsley, 1
Oliver Hicok, 1
OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY.
531
Subscribers.
No. Shares.
Subscribers.
No. Shares.
Azariah Newcomb,
2
Ebenezer Lyman,
1
Michael Bates,
1
James Matson,
1
Abraham Drury,
1
Jacob Weed,
1
Noel Avery,
1
John Woodward,
1
Chapman Hitchcock,
1
Alfred Keith,
1
Elisha Bradford,
1
Martin Mead,
1
Amasa Ladd,
2
Daniel Keith,
1
Elisha Woodruff,
1
Benjamin Halburd,
1
Amos Kellogg,
2
Elihu Rowley,
1
Peter Bresee,
1
Jonathan Warner,
1
The foregoing are supposed to be the names of all who
subscribed for shares and signed the constitution, previously to
the 5th of May, on which day the Society met pursuant to a
warrant for that purpose, and organized by choosing Thomas
Hammond Moderator, and Caleb Hendee, Jr., Clerk.
"Voted that the committee to be appointed to procure
Books consist of three persons. Made choice of Maj. Thomas
Hammond, Esq., Nathan Nelson, and Lieut. James A. Potter
for the above said committee.
Voted that the committee appointed to procure Books, do
value the Books which are to be turned into the Library, as
specified heretofore.
Made choice of Caleb Hendee, Jr., as Librarian.
Voted that the committee to be appointed to estimate the
damages done to Books, consist of three persons.
Made choice of Stephen Avery, James Ewings and Dr.
Enos Parsons, for the last mentioned committee.
Voted that those proprietors who have Books now on hand,
that they would wish to turn into the Library, forward the
same to the committee appointed to procure Books, at our
next adjourned meeting, or be foreclosed the privilege.
532
HISTORY OF PITTSFOKD.
Adjourned until the last Monday of June next at this
place, at one o clock P. M.
By order of the Society.
THOS. HAMMOND, Moderator.
CALEB HENDEE, Jr., Clerk."
" Monday, June 27, 1796.
Met pursuant to adjournment, the meeting being opened
and the Moderator being absent,
Made choice of James Ewings, Esq., to serve in lieu of
Maj. Hammond, for the day.
Made choice of Amos Kellogg, Esq., to serve as committee
man to appraise the Books now on hand, in lieu of Maj.
Thomas Hammond, absent.
Voted to prolong the time of turning in Books until the
close of the next adjourned meeting."
With the proceedings of this meeting we find a report of
the first installment of books which had been turned into the
library as follows :
By whom turned in.
No.
Title of Book. No. Vol.
Price.
. s. d.
1,
Williams Hist. Vt.,
1,
06-6
Nathan Nelson,
2,
Gardner s Life,
1,
040
3,
Carver s Travels,
1,
040
John Penfield,
4,
Wood s Mentor,
1,
046
Ebenezer Beach and
5,
Gordon s Hist, of American Rev
A. Henry,
6,
olution,
>
140
7,
Samuel Harrison,
James Ewings,
Milton Potter,
Caleb Hendee, Jr.
10,
11,
12,
13,
14,
15,
16,
History of England,
Kirby s Reports,
Goodrich s Civil Officers,
Chipman s Reports,
Nisson s Columbus,
Orig l and Present State of Man,
Moore s Journals,
Life and Works of Dr. Franklin,
1, 076
090
050
04-0
026
026
090
040
SCALE FOR ESTIMATING DAMAGES. 533
To this small collection of books were soon added other
volumes, some of which were donations to the society, others
turned in by individual members, but by far the larger number
were purchased with funds which had accumulated from the
sale of shares.
At the first annual meeting of the society, January 2, 179T,
the books then on hand, consisting of one hundred and fifteen
volumes, were numbered and the price of each affixed ; but it
appears that the collection was not opened to the use of mem
bers until the first quarterly meeting, April 3d, when it was
" voted that the members present draw their books by ballot."
The society adopted the following scale of estimation of
damages done to books, and ordered the committee of estima
tion to govern themselves accordingly:
" 1st. For each blot or entire obscuration of print of the super
ficial area of one-half inch square, and so in propor
tion for any other dimentions, to be set at 12 cents.
2d. For each grease spot of like dimention, 8 "
3d. For every blur, 3 "
4th. For each leaf folded down, 6 "
5th. For each tear in the print of one-half inch and
so in proportion, at 12 "
6th. For each tear in a map (exclusive of folds), 16 "
7th. For each tear in the folds of maps, 2 "
8th. For scratching and damaging the covering of any
book, to be left to the discretion of the com
mittee of estimation, to determine according
to the damages it or they may sustain.
NOTE. The above scale of estimation is to be applied to
books of the value of one dollar each and upwards, and so in
proportion for books under that value."
The library was enlarged from year to year by donations
and the purchase of new books ; and it was a source of much
profit and enjoyment to the proprietors.
534 HISTORY OF PITTSFORD.
On the 12th of April, 1832, another, and perhaps a rival,
library association was formed by some twenty-eight individ
uals who adopted a constitution and by-laws, similar to those
which had been adopted by the Librarian Society. The asso
ciation took the name of the Pittsford Library Company. The
price of the shares in this library was fixed at three dollars.
By the sixteenth article of the constitution the library was " to
consist of such books as were calculated to improve the mem
bers of the company in history, geography, science and the
general principles of morality, together with such miscella
neous works as might be thought proper and useful ; such as
poetry, dramatic works, fiction and periodicals, but all reli
gious or sectarian works were to be forever excluded from said
library."
The company organized by choosing Thomas H. Palmer,
President; William Beal, Yice President ; Lyman Granger,
Secretary; A. G. Dana, Treasurer; B. F. Winslow, Librarian,
The efforts of the company in collecting a library were
somewhat successful, and soon more than one hundred and fifty
volumes were at their service. This number of books was
gradually increased until 1839, when this company united with
the Librarian Society, and the two organizations formed one
association, known as the u Maclure Library Association." The
person most instrumental in bringing about this union, and to
whom the citizens of the town are mainly indebted for their
valuable library is Hon. Thomas H. Palmer. Mr. Palmer was
what would be called a self-made man. By industry and per
severance he had acquired an extensive knowledge of the
sciences, and all his energies were devoted to the cause of edu-
dation. He had long labored to raise the standard of education,
and to improve the condition of our common schools; and he
had hope that by the establishment of a large and well-selected
library, to which all the citizens of the town could have access,
such a taste for reading would be created as would give a
MACLURE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION. 535
decided impulse to the intellectual and moral improvement of
the people. In the summer of 1838, while on a visit to Phila
delphia, he was shown, at one of the public institutions of that
city, a number of valuable books and specimens which he
learned were the gift of William Maclure, formerly a mer
chant of Philadelphia, but who had then retired with an ample
fortune, and was living in the city of Mexico. From what he
could learn of him Mr. Palmer supposed he might be per
suaded to aid in the efforts then being made to promote the
cause of education in Vermont. He accordingly wrote Mr.
Maclure an account of what had been done in this place, and
of the need then felt of a town library, from which the youth,
who were beginning to inquire for books, could be supplied.
He asked Mr. Maclure, furthermore, whether he felt willing to
assist in the formation of such a library, and suggested the
donation of four hundred dollars, on condition that the people
of Pittsford would add to it a like sum. Mr. Maclure replied
that he had sent orders to his Philadelphia banker to honor an
application for four hundred dollars ; whereupon over six hun
dred dollars were raised by the people of this town. Thus a
little more than one thousand dollars had been provided for
the foundation of a town library.
In order to enhance the value and extend the influence of
the library, Mr. Palmer exerted himself to unite upon this
foundation the two associations then existing, and with the
result already mentioned. The combined associations took the
name of the Maclure Library Association, in honor of the gen
erous donor. At the time the two libraries were consolidated
a room was prepared for it in the northwest corner of the
second story of the Town House, where it was kept several
years. It is now, however, kept in the front part of the second
story of William B. Shaw s store, at Mill Village. The library
has had accessions by purchase and donations until, at the
present time, there is upon its catalogue a list of more than
536 HISTORY OF PITT8FOED.
two thousand volumes, though so many of them have heen
scattered that it is doubtful if there are now upon the shelves
more than fifteen or sixteen hundred.
The following By-Laws have been adopted by the Asso
ciation :
"This Library being founded on a donation by William
Maclure, of four hundred dollars, and donations by the inhab
itants of Pittsford of upwards of six hundred, all given on the
express conditions that every inhabitant have an equal right
to the use of the library on the same terms, viz: on giving
security for the return of the books, and the payment of any
damages they may sustain in the hands of those using them,
and on the payment, in advance, of a small annual contribu
tion for the extension and support of the library ; it is, there
fore, a fundamental article of the laws of this association, which
can never be repealed, that none of the inhabitants of said
town, who shall comply with these conditions, can, on any pre
text, be deprived of their indefeasible right to the use of said
Library, and that all shall be on an equal footing, except that
the right of voting for officers, of selecting books, and of the
general management of the Library, shall be confined to
donors of not less than five dollars, who are hereby constituted
life members of the association ; and any inhabitant of Pitts-
ford may hereafter become a life-member, by the payment in
one donation of five dollars, and by vote of the majority of the
members present at any regular meeting, provided, however,
that the regulation, requiring a vote for admission, shall not
take effect until after the first of January, 1841.
2. The amount of the annual contribution shall be fifty
cents, payable semi-annually in advance, and shall become due
on the first of January and July of each year, provided that
any person paying fifty cents at one time, shall be allowed to
draw one book at a time for one year from the time of such
payment.
BY-LAWS OF THE MACLUKE LIBRAE Y ASSOCIATION. 537
3. The officers of the association shall be a President, two
Yice Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, Librarian, Auditor and
Board of Directors.
4. The duties of the President, Yice Presidents, Secretary,
Treasurer and Auditor shall be, in general, such as ordinarily
appertain to such officers. The Treasurer shall make a report
at the annual meeting of the association, of all monies received
during the year, and the manner in which they have been dis
posed of.
5. It shall be the duty of the Librarian to open the
Library, at the time appointed, superintend the drawing of
books, and in all respects proceed according to the rules herein
after provided.
6. The Board of Directors s 
