USA > New York > Schoharie County > History of Schoharie County, New York : with illusustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 1
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23
O
1870
COURT HOUSE, SCHOHARIE, N. Y.
1713.
HISTORY -OF-
Schoharie County,
NEW YORK,
WITH
alllustrations and Biographical Itetches
SOME OF ITS PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS.
By WILLIAM E. ROSCOE.
Published by D. MASON & CO.,
SYRACUSE, N. Y.
-1882 .---
SYRACUSE, N. Y. : TRUAIR, SMITH & BRUCE, - PRINTERS AND BINDERS. 1882.
609298 27.5.55
1
6.40
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
CHAPTER 1 .- The Germans- Cause of their Leaving Germany-Palatine Tenants- Kocherthal's Petition-First Immigra- tion Agents sent to Germany-Ilunter's Petition - Report of Board of Trade Favorable to Immigration - Robert Hunter Appointed Superintendent of Immigration-His 1.etter of Arrival at New York-Appointed Governor-Ac- tion of the City Council-German Chil- dren Apprenticed- Settlement at the "Camps "-Number of Settlers-Trou- ble Experienced - Discontent of Ger- mans- Meetings Held - Lord Claren- don's Letter-Expedition to Canada- Germans Petition to the King .....
9
CIIAPTER HI .- The Foregoing Chapter Re- viewed - Expense of the Germans - Located at Schorie-Their Hardships -Judge Brown's Account-Fight-In- dians of what Tribe-Hunting Grounds -Ka-rig-hon-don-tee the Chief-Sale of Lands by Gov Ilunter-Schuyler and Coeymans' Purchase-Gov. Hun- ter's Defense to the Board of Trade- Bayard's Visit to Schoharie-Resumed Lands-Sheriff Adams-Adam Vroman -The Germans Trespass upon Him- His Letter to Gov. Ilunter-Weiser in England - Confined in the Tower- Clark's Letter-Jeremy Long's Council for the Germans-Purchase of Lands in 1719 - Location of Weiser's Dorf - Other Dorfs-Spread of Settlements- Mode of Living-Implements-Negro Slaves and Customs - Indians - Their Petition- Number of them in Schoharie -Military Affairs-Division of Albany County -- Early Officials
21
CHAPTER III .- Loyalty of Germans to Britain -Sacredness of their Oath - Mohawks and Tomahawks- First Committee of Safety-Military District and Officers- Events of 1777-Division of Scholarie -McDonald's Invasion-The Harpers -Adam Crysler-Skirmish at Oriskany -Bemis Heights-Building of Forts- Battle of Cobleskill-Morgan's Corps - Johnson and Brant's Invasion at Middle Fort-Lower Fort-Incidents- BraveWomen-Colonel V'roman's March
-
CHAPTER IH-CONTINUED. to Mohawk-Sethis Henry at "Turloch" -Dockstader at Currytown and Sharon - Willett-Seths Henry at Fox's Creek -- Crysler at Vromansland in 1781-Cap- tain Hager's Fight at the Lake-Camp- bell's and Simms' Labors - Returned Tories and Indians- Muster Koll of 1777-Schoharie Supplies Division of Albany County - Inundation of the Schoharie River 35
PAGE.
CHAPTER IV. - Formation of County - The Name of Schoharie - Population - Boundaries - Surface - The Schoharie and Tributaries - Inundations - Lakes -Formation of Towns- First County Officers - First Court House - l'oor- honse -- Paupers-County's Progress - War of 1812-Delegates to State Con- vention-Governor Bouck's Message- Sourkront Message -- Anti-Rent War- Railroads - Plank Roads - Seminary Mania-Susquehanna Railroad-Scho- harie Valley-Sharon and Cherry Valley -Ilowe's Cave Enterprises - Mineral Springs -Education - Religion-Tem- perance - Sabbath School Societies - Bible Society-Masonic Lodges-Agri- cultural and Medical Societies-Tele- phone Lines - Newspapers - Criminal List-Summary of Facts-Population by Census of ISSo.
56
CHAPTER V. - Civil War-The Year 1861- Captain Snyder-Volunteers first Re- cruiting-Colonel Mix and Comrades- The 76th Regiment-Members-134th - Members of Companies-The 44th- Members-Members of other Regiments -Colored Volunteers-Ilero Martyrs ... 86
CHAPTER VI .- Schoharie County Civil List- Judges of Common Pleas - Assistant Judges-Session Justices-Surrogates- District Attorneys -- County Clerks -- Sher- iffs -- Treasurers-Superintendents of Poor -- School Commissioners -- Loan Commis- sioners-Excise-Inspectors-Governor -Treasurers-Adjutant General -- Canal Commissioners - Canal Appraisers - Curator of State Library-Legislature- Senators -- Congress-Presidential Elect- ors-Consuls
102
4
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
CHAPTER VII. - Ilistory of the Town of Gilboa -Town Formed-First Town Officers -Board of Inspeetors-Division into Distriets - Town Meeting of 1849- Anti-Rent Difficulties -Sheriff's l'osse of Soldier- First Settlers and Mills- John Dise-Archibald Croswell-Tan- nery - 'Inttle & Osborne Tannery - Grist Mill Purchased by Platt, Potter & Co .- Cotton l'actory - Luman Reed- First Tavern-Gilboa Bridge-Furnace -Churches-Merchants-Broome Cen- tre-Ilenry Tibbetts-McKeys Corners - David Ellerson-Ilis Narrative-Offi- cial List-Supervisors-Distriet Attor- ney-County Clerk-Assembly - State Senator- Boundaries ....
CHAPTER VIII. - History of the Town of Cones- ville-Scenery-Manorkill Falls-Stry- ker Brothers' Tannery - Stevens' Mill- Colby Reed-The First Store-llunting Grounds -- Indian Relics - Dise Purchase of Land-Ury Richtmyer - The Dise Sons-Litigation - Peter Richtmyer- IIis Capture by Indians-Escape-Re- building of His House-1Ie Opens an Inn-Humphrey's-Additional Settlers -Dairying-Prominent Settlers-Town Formed -Boundaries-Jonathan Cone -Town Records ....
129
CHAPTER IX .- History of the Town of Broome - When Formed -- Name Changed - Catskill Creek-Indian Trail - General Aspeet-First Settlers-Daniel Shays- ITis Life-Rebellion and Death-David Williams-HIS Life-Incidents Rela- ting to Capture of Andre - Livings- tonville-Asa Starkweather -Ilis Argu- ment in Convention - Death - Adam Mattiee-Presbyterian Church -Meth- odist Church-Draft of 1813-Smithton -Hubbard's-The Vly-Supervisors -- Bounds I33
CHAPTER X-History of the Town of Jeffer- son-When Settled-By Whom-Inter- est in Education-First Town Meeting -Effort to Change the Name of Town -lleman Iliekok-Jefferson Academy -Donators-Stephen Judd's Donation of Farm-Teachers in Academy-Pres- ent School - Tanneries - Presbyterian Church-Merchants -- Physicians-Judd Family - Societies - Masonie Grand Army Republie - Methodist Church - West Kill Methodist Church - Galt's History of the Methodist Society of the Town-Revolutionary Ineidents- Smith Street-Tory Clawson-Taken Prisoner - Smith Family - Battle at Lake-Official - Supervisors-General Appearance of Town -The Lake - Tryon County Line - Rebellion - Amount of Town Bonds Issued Boundaries .. 142
CHIAPTER XI-History of the Town of Summit -Hon. Seymour Boughton-The Lake -Johnson and Brant's Halt -- Early Sct- tlers-Brown and Other Business Men -Charlotte Valley-Service Tragedy --
CHAPTER XI-CONTINUED). PAGE.
Murphy's Own Statement - Murphy's Purchase - Act of 1777 - Abraham Becker-Suit Gained -- Service's Affair Contemplated-Settlement of the West- ern l'art of the Town -- Seminary-Its Ilistory-Kaeu!ty, etc-Dairy Interest -Elisha Brown -- Assemblymen -- Sher- iffs -- John Lawyer -- S. J. Lake-Isaac W. Beard -- John H. Coons-Churches -- First Baptist Church -- Sccond Baptist Church-Reformed Church of Eminence -- Methodist -- Free Methodist -- Luth- cran of Lutheranville - Lutheran of Beard's Hollow -- Town Volunteers - Medical Fraternity -- First Town Meet- ing - Resolutions - Report of 1880 -- Officials-Eminenee .. 153
CHAPTER XIII-History of the Town of Ful- ton- First Purchase of Land by Adam Vroman-Adam Vroman and Family- Indian Deeds - Captain Vroman - In- dian Castle-Colonel l'eter Vroman- Swart Family-l'eter Swart - Ilis Man- uscript-Death -Crysler Family-Mrs. John Bouck - Henry Hager -- In Mc- Donald's Camp -- Captain Ilager at Bemis Ileights -- Upper Fort -- Exempt Volunteers- Invasion by Crysler -- Mur- der by Beaeraft Prisoners -- Crysler's Invasion-Murder near the Fort -- En- gagement with ('aptain Hager- Richard Hagadorn Wounded - Conflict at the Lake-Johnson's and Brant's Invasion -Mary Ilagadorn -- Bouek Family and Island -- Wm. C. Bouck -- Ilis Life -- Inhabitants of 1788-Timothy Murphy -- Ilis Life and Historical Incidents- Town Formed - Patriotism of 1812- l'ctersburgh - Breakabeen -- First Lands Settled -- Fultonham -- Charles Watson -West Fulton Churches -- Polly Hol- low - Reformed Church-Physicians -- Supervisors -- Boundaries .. . 166
CHAPTER XIV. -- History of the Town of Middleburgh -- Weiser's Dorf -- Conrad Weiser -- Ilis Daughter -- John Peter G. Muhlenberg -Conrad Weiser, Jr -- Settlers of the Dorf -Relies of the Past -- Reformed Church -- 1ts Early History -- Ed fee Rebuilt in 1785 -- Petition to Assembly -- Pastors' Reformed Church -Lutheran Church-Methodist -- Epis- copal-The True Reformed Church- Middle Fort-Description -- Zielie Fam- ily - Colonel Zielic - IIis Children- Peter Swart - Low Dutch Beckers - Borst Family - Grist Mills Louck's Family-Eekerson's-First Merchant- Grist Mill- Bellinger Family - HIart- man's Dorf-Richtmyer Family-Alex- ander Boyd - J. M. Scribner - John Ilinman - Nathan Ilinman-Jonathan Danforth -Atchinson House-Freemire House- Merchants-Freeman Stanton -John P'. Bellinger-D. D. Dodge -- General Danforth -Physicians-Legal Fraternity - Ilon. Lyman Sanford- National Bank-Masonie Lodge-I. O. G. T-G. A. R. Post-Ineorporation- Ilunter's Land-Supervisors-Bounda- ries. .... 196
5
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
CHAPTER XV .- History of the Town of Sharon -Formation of New Dorlach-Sharon -Dorlach Grant-First Settlers-Later Settlers - l'eter Sommers -- Mereness Brothers-William Beekman-Battle of Sharon -- Colonel Marinus Willett -- Leem and Hopper Families-Maria Leem- Capture of Myndert and Others-Will- iam Kneiskern-Rev. Peter N. Som- mers-St. John's Church - Reformed Church -Turnpikes-Taverns- Beek- man's Corners - l'eter A. Hilton - Robert Eldredge-Eldredge Family- Dr. Palmer-Engle's Mill-1,cesville- Dormant Villages-Leesville Lutheran Church - Leesville Baptist Church - Cemetery- Rockville-Sharon Springs -Publie Houses-Analysis of Water- Merchants-Roman Catholic Church- Sharon Centre-John Beakley-Sharon Hill and Hollow-E. S. Wales -- Zach- ariah Keyes-Killing of Van Schaik- Johannes Loucks-William Davenport -Lemuel Cross-Kling Settlement- Slate Hill Cemetery-Bellenger Family -Van Valkenburghs - Gilbert's Cor- ners-Reformed Church of Sharon - Masonic Lodge-Officials-Boundaries 226
CHAPTER XVI .- Ilistory of the Town of Blen- heim .... 249
CHAPTER XVII, - Ilistory of the Town of Seward -- Town Formed-Peter Hynds - Henry Haines-First Grist Mill- Capture of the Hynds Family-The Crysler Brothers - Invasion of Seths Henry-Murder of Michael Merckley -- Murder of Catharine and Sebastian France-Frederick Merckley's Family - France Family-John Rice-First Meeting House-Murder of Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman-Rhinebeck Church - Henry Moeller and Other Pastors - First Settlers of Rhinebeck-Strobeck -Hyndsville -- Seward Valley -- Seward Station - Gardnersville - Rev. Philip Wieting - Colonel Willctt's Raids - Mills-Business Interests-Churches- Dairy Interests - Physicians - Town Bonds-Supervisors-Boundaries ........ 268
CHAPTER XVIII .- History of the Town of Richmondville-Formation of Town- First Settlement - George Warner - John Zen and Family-Captain Snyder -His Life-Snyder Family-Warner- ville -- George Mann -- Warnerville Meth- odist Church -Christian Church-Sem- inary -- First Tavern-John Warner- First Justice of the Peace-Hon. John Westover -. Physicians - Churches - Methodist, Lutheran and Christian- Seminary - Richmondville Bank - Newspapers - School at West Rich- mondville-Supervisors-Present Busi- ness of Town .... 283
CHAPTER XIX .- History of the Town of Car- lisle-First Settlers-Dorlach Grant- New Rhinebeck-Mrs. Philip Karker -Judge Brown-George William Brown Young Family-John C. McNeill-Set- tlement of Grovenor's Corners-Joseph
CHAPTER XIX .- (CONTINUED.) PAGE.
Taylor - Benjamin Voung - Squire Jolin's Place - Carlisle Centie - First School House - Merchants of Grove- nor's Corners - Settlement upon the Turnpike - Carlisle Formed - First Officer -- P 1 Cromwell- D. W. Seeley -- Sloan's Tavern-Iluntington Tavern -Carlisle Church-Henry M. Brown- Killing of Keller- First Store-Mer- chants of Carlisle Village-Argusville - Physicians -- Mercantile Firms- The Bear Swamp-Carlisle Seminary- Rob- bery of Peter Becker-J. HI. Angle- First Mills-Selleck's Cave-Churches -Valuation of Town - Supervisors- Boundaries of Town .. 301
CHAPER XX,-History of the Town of Esperance -Location of Esperance Village-Pur- chase of the Lands by TenEyck-By General North - Turnpike - Bridge- Daniel Hare-Ilis Inn-Other Inns- Calvin Wright-J. C. Wright-Isaac H. Tiffany-Other Lawyers-Presbyterian Church-Methodist Church-Physicians -Storrs Messenger-Judge Briggs - Merchants-Village Corporation-Stage House and Route-Academy-Feathers House-Judge Fletcher-Peck's Inn- First Gate Keeper-Sloansville-V'an- Valkenburgh Settlement-Brown Broth- ers' Settlement-Sloan Family-Other Settlers-Stores-Stone Heap- Rev. Hawley's Narrative -- Foster Mill - Kneiskern's Dorf - Kneiskern Family -Enders Family-First Grist Mill- Johnson's Invasion - Encampment - Town Formed-First Officers-General Brown -Anti-Rent Troubles -- Assem- blymen -- Supervisors - Baptists-First Newspaper-Quotations from it-Land Patents ... 320
CHAPTER XXI .- History of the Town of Wright -Town Formed-First Settlement- Becker Family-Becker Land Grant- First Saw Mill-Hon Vost Becker- John Dominick and Family-Events of 1782-Burning of Zimmer's Buildings - Becker Murdered - Advance Upon Major Becker's House - Snyder and Mann Captured-Traditionary Tale of Seths Henry's Death-Major Becker's Death-Stone Store at Shutter's Corners -Henry Becker-Founding of School - Hunting Family - Gallupville - Churches-Reformed Church, Metho- dist and Lutheran - New Village - Wagon Making-Dutch Settlement- Weidman's- Iliram Walden-Super- visors-Valuation-Merchants and Phy- sicians-Boundaries. .....
CHAPTER XXII-History of the Town of Scho- harie-First Settlers of Brunnendorf- Schaeffer Family and Name-Lutheran Church and Parsonage-Dominie Som- mers, and other Pastors-Doctor Lint- ner-Reformed Dutch Church-Church Converted into a Fort-Doctor Budd- "Post Mix"-Peter Mix-Doctor Brig- ham-Physicians of Schoharie-Captain Mann - Captain Snyder - Taverns -
341
6
CONTENTS
CHAPTER XXII-(CONTINUED. ) PAGE.
Present Ilotels - Fox's Dorf - Dietz
Family-Colonel William Dietz-Will- iam Fox and Settlers of Fox's Dorf- Smith's Dorf-Court House-Gcorgc Tiffany-Lawyer Family - Garlock's Dorf-Jacob Vroman-Samuel Smith
O. Il. Williams-J. G. Caryl-Strubach Mill-Village at Depot-First Grist- Mill-Carding Mill-Distillery-Busi- ness of 1810-Engagement at Fort- John Ingold-Bouck House, and other Buildings-Burning of Court llouse- Great Fires -Fountain Town School House-Schoharie Academy-Metho- dist Church -- African Church -- Gebhard's Cave-Schoharie Bridge-Formation of Town - First Officers - Supervisors- Lutheran Cemctery-Commodore llard- ing .. 354
CHAPTER XXIII .- History of the Town of Cobleskill-First Settlement-Brown's Mill and Stream-Cobleskill Militia-
Building a Fort -Invasion by Indians and Tories-First Schoolhouse-Lam- bert Lawyer-Jacob L. Lawyer-Chas. Courter-Augustus C. Smith-Hotels and Inns-Early Merchants-Churches
-Mrs. Borst-The Schaeffer or Shafcr Family - Van Dresser Farm - Richt- myer Family-Captain Brown-Henry Shafer - Berner Settlement - Doctor Werner - Kilmcr Settlement -Wetsel Family-Brayman's Mill-Ilowe's Cave - Mineral Springs - Paul Shank -- Methodist Church of Mineral Springs - Lawyersville-First Settlers-Angle Family-Young Family-Gencral Dana - John Redington - William Elman- dorf - Jared Goodyear - Isaac H. Tif- fany-Thomas Lawyer-Jedediah Mil- Ier-Doctor Shepherd-Shutts Family
-Thomas Smith-Henry Smith-J. H.
Ramsey-William H. Young-Ceme- tery - Wakeman Family -- Rcformed Church-Lutheran Church-Early Mer- chants - Physicians - Legal Fraternity - Manufacturing Interest - Masonic Society-Good Templars-G. A. R. Post - National Bank - Formation of the Town-First Officers-Supervisors -Efforts to Remove the Court Ilouse -Boundarics ... 386
APPENDIX 449
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Bouck Governor William C., Fulton, portrait
.facing 176 Bouck Ilon. Charles, Fulton, portrait .. .facing 176 Bergh Philip, Fulton, portrait .. 190 Becker Saralı E., Sharon, view of residence. facing 239
Best Benjamin, Fulton, portrait ..... .facing 177 Couchman Ilon. Peter, Conesville, portrait .. facing 132
Clark Ilon. William S., Esperance, portrait .. facing 337
PAGE.
Colby Thomas, Gilboa, view of residence .... facing 128 Courter Charles, Cobleskill, portrait, (stcel) facing 444 Court House .... .frontis
Freemire John, Jr., Fulton, portrait. 193
Holmes Judge Charles, Cobleskill, portrait (steel) facing 431
Howe's Cave, Coblcskill, view of Cave House ..... 407
Ilowe's Cave, Cobleskill, view of Crystal Lake ..... 409 Keyser Barent and wifc, Blenhcim, portraits .. 266
Kilts Wesley H., Sharon, view of residence .. facing 228 Lawyer General Thomas, Cobleskill, portrait, (steel) facing 441
Mattice, Adam L., Fulton, portrait 194
Murphy Peter, Fulton, portrait. 191
Mayham Ilon. Stephen L., Schoharic, portrait. 384
Miller Jedediah, Cobleskill, portrait .. 434 Norwood Dr. J. E., Schoharie, portrait ....... facing 363 Old Brick Lutheran Church, Cobleskill. 398
Ramsey Hon. Joseph H., Cobleskill, portrait (steel)
.facing 435
Shafer Jacob L., Blenheim, portrait. 267
Swart, Dr. Peter S., Schoharie, portrait .. 385
Sanford. Hon. Lyman, Middleburgh, portrait (steel) between 222-223
Stone Fort, Schoharie.
360
Tanner James, Cobleskill, portrait (steel) .... facing 445
Vroman Ephraim B., Fulton, portrait .. 195
Wieting Rev. Philip, Cobleskill, portrait. 448
Westover Hon. John, Richmondville, portrait (stecl)
facing 299
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
Bergh Philip, Fulton .. I90
Best Benjamin, Fulton .. .facing 177
Bouck Governor William C., Fulton. I76
Bouck Hon. Charles, Fulton .. .facing 176
Clark Hon. William S., Esperance. 337
Colby Thomas, Gilboa. between 128-129
Couchman llon, Peter, Conesville I32
Courter Charles, Cobleskill 444
Frecmire John Jr., Fulton 193
Holmes Judge Charles, Cobleskill 431
Keyser Barent, Blenhcim 265
Lawyer General Thomas, Cobleskill 441
Mattice Adam L., Fulton .. 194
Mayham Hon. Stephen L., Scholarie. 383
Miller Jedediah, Cobleskill 433
Murphy Peter, Fulton. I9I
Ramsey Hon. Joseph H., Cobleskill. 435
Sanford Ilon. Lyman, Middleburgh ... between 222-223 Shafer, Jacol> L., Blenheim 267
Swart Peter S., M. D., Schoharie .. 385
Tanner James, Cobleskill 445
Vroman Ephraim B., Fulton. 195
Westover Hon. John, Richmondville. 299
Wieting Rev. Philip, Cobleskill. 447
INTRODUCTION.
In compiling the facts chronicled in the following pages, the Author has not been led by an idea of financial gain or literary glory, but by a sense of the worthi- ness of Schoharie's history being published by itself, and not in connection with that of other localities. In this County he has a pride. Itis the " land of his birth !" He glories in her beauty and grandeur.
Whether it be among her fossiliferous rocks, within her winding caverns, or upon the romantie surface, he feels that it is home; full of instruction, pleasing associations and wonders, such as few sections can boast.
Prompted by such motives, and the solicitations of those carnest in interest, the Author was induced, many years ago, to garner the harvest of events connected with the County, which he here presents for the instruction and pleasure of the youth of Schoharic, with the hope that a presentation of the struggles of their forc- fathers and mothers, in establishing peaceful homes, and their triumphs through sac- rifiec·of life, fortunes and personal pleasures, in obtaining the rich blessings of free- dom, may animate them to a just appreciation of the priceless inlieritance bequeathed to them.
Others with more pleasing pens, have traced our early history previously in connection with other border settlements, and brought to light many facts that would have been lost, or marred by ruthless tradition but for these labors at the time ; yet the inveterate animosity created by antagonistical interest through the settlement of the Palatines, and later through the Revolutionary war, has not died away, and much that was chronicled has been proved through more recent discoveries of documents, to have been exaggerations, dictated by those " bitterest of feelings."
The settlement of the Germans, and incidents connected with their pioneer life, was based entirely upon tradition, leaving important facts in doubt, and dates open to conjecture. The only work upon that event was by the late Judge John M. Brown, in his " Brief Sketch of the First Settlement of Sehoharie," published in 1823, when he had arrived at the advanced age of seventy-eight. The work was founded upon
S
INTRODUCTION.
tradition, with the exception of such events as eame under his personal observation, and proves to be incorrect, yet it is an interesting and amusing work, with too few pages to satisfy the reader, upon such an interesting subject. Campbell, in his " Annals of Tryon County," and Jeptha R. Simms, in his "Border Wars," have traced the same line of events through tradition, and brought their conelusions be- fore the reader in nearly parallel lines. They were better acquainted with the in- cidents connected with the Revolution, through many of the actors in that strife, with whom they were intimate, and to them we are indebted for many authentic facts that make up the general history of that eventful period. Revolutionary facts thus handed down, coupled with those collected in the forepart of the century by the Author's parent, who was conversant with many of the old patriots, together with rusty documents of late brought to light and never before published or eon- sulted, assure the authenticity of this work, from the first settlement of the County to the close of the war, which part of our history has hitherto proved unsatisfactory.
In collecting faets relating to the time intervening between the last event and the present day, the writer has spared neither time nor expense, and has traveled thousands of miles, repeatedly visiting each neighborhood to consult persons, records, and public archives, and feels that his labors have been in the main, fruitful in interest and accuracy.
The latter has been a pleasing portion of the task, as it has brought him in close acquaintance with the people of the County, from whom he has received the kindest hospitality, assistance and encouragement in the work, and given birth to many associations that will be treasured with pleasing remembrances and jealous care.
Among the many visited, were aged ones-the silver rays of Schoharie's heroic days-who have cleared the portals of seventy, eighty, and even ninety-five, with robust forms and active minds, and to them the writer has many times been indebt- ed for explanations and the information necessary to a correct filling out of records carelessly kept.
Those who have aided and encouraged in the work, have been almost " Legion," and to all such the writer extends his grateful thanks, and hopes his efforts to pre- sent a truthful history, will not prove fruitless, but that it may be a mile-stone of events reared upon our County's century course, and read by our youth and posterity with profit, and by their true patriotism, industry and frugality, be enabled to add as worthy a record of their day and generation, as the fathers of the County have here transcribed through the author
WILLIAM E. ROSCOE.
HISTORY
OF
SCHOHARIE COUNTY.
CHAPTER I.
THE GERMANS- CAUSE OF LEAVING GERMANY -PALATINE TENANTS - KOCHIERTHAL'S PE- TITION-FIRST IMMIGRATION AGENTS SENT TO GERMANY - HUNTER'S PETITION - RE- PORT OF BOARD OF TRADE FAVORABLE TO IMMIGRATION -- ROBERT HUNTER APPOINTED SUPERINTENDENT OF IMMIGRATION-HIS LET- TER OF ARRIVAL AT NEW YORK-APPOINTED GOVERNOR -ACTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL- FEELING OF ENMITY - GERMAN CHILDREN APPRENTICED-SETTLEMENT AT THIE "CAMPS" -NUMBER OF SETTLERS-TROUBLE EXPERI- ENCED-DISCONTENT OF GERMANS-MEET- INGS HELD-LORD CLARENDON'S LETTER- EXPEDITION TO CANADA - GERMANS PETITION TO THE KING.
A FTER wandering through the picturesque valleys and over the noble hills of Schoharie County, visiting the many places made historic by the scenes and incidents enacted in the " days that tried men's souls, " and after glean- ing from family records, official documents, public and private journals, and archives in gen- eral, we find ourselves upon a mountain of
facts, from which we can look over the whole territory. From this position let us look back beyond the advent here of the first pioneers, and satisfy ourselves as to whom they were, and the causes that induced them to brave old ocean's calms and storms ; and also at what time they came.
Let us not forget, however, that we are tread- ing upon tender ground that has been gleaned by others of riper age and greater ability, nor the natural propensity to condemn where ideas disagree. From this " mountain of facts " we find, regardless of the differences of opinion in relation to the time and the causes which led to the first settlement of Schoharie, that all writers agree as to the nationality of those settlers, and ascribe to them those commendable character- istics-Honesty, Frugality and Industry.
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