USA > New York > Chenango County > Sherburne > Reminiscences, anecdotes and statistics of the early settlers and the 'olden time' in the town of Sherburne, Chenango county, N.Y. > Part 1
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F 129 Scott3
LIBRARY
CONGRE
1500
REMINISCENCES,
ANECDOTES AND STATISTICS
OF THE
EARLY SETTLERS AND THE 'OLDEN TIME'
IN THE
TOWN OF SHERBURNE,
CHENANGO COUNTY, N. Y.
BY JOEL HATCH, JR.
BR
Y
119 1876 SNWIĆ
UTICA, N. Y. CURTISS & WHITE, PRINTERS, 171 GENESEE ST. 1862.
F129 566 H3
PREFACE.
The incidents connected with the early history of the Town of Sher- burne, are resting mainly in the recollection of a few individuals; and if not soon recorded, will be irrecoverably lost.
The writer of the following pages undertakes the task, without any regard to his fitness or unfitness, for the following reasons: He is a descendant of one of the first settlers, and the longest resident in the town of any individual living; is the only male representative of any of the twenty proprietors, who now own or reside upon any portion of their paternal acres; and there are but eight of their children now living in the town. The remainder, over one hundred in number, are scattered to the four corners of the earth. Many minor incidents are related in this work, which are only worthy of note, as they serve to associate the reader with the trials, difficulties, and hardships, inci- dent to settling and subduing an unbroken forest.
HISTORY OF SHERBURNE.
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
From the commencement of the French war, to the close of the Revolutionary war, was a period of constant struggle, in cabinet or field, for our rights, civil and reli- gious. In the midst of these exciting and impressive scenes, the characters and principles of the early settlers of the town of Sherburne were developed and moulded. The exigencies of their country, together with uncer- tainty as to the result of passing events, confined them to those acts and exertions which were most immedi- ately pressing and necessary, until "the god of battles had crowned their arms with success, and the clarion of war had ceased to sound ;" when they found themselves free and independent, with the responsibilities of Church and State resting upon their shoulders. They were now under the necessity of entering without delay, into meas- ures to maintain themselves and their families, and lay a foundation for the future well being of their children.
Accordingly, they resolved to make a settlement in the woods and wilds of the State of New York; there bring up their children to habits of industry, and rear them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
Two years after peace with Great Britain was estab- lished, they removed from Kent, Litchfield county, Con-
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HISTORY OF SHERBURNE.
necticut, into the then county of Albany, to lands belong- ing to Judge Duane, in the town of Duanesburgh. Judge Duane was unwilling to sell to settlers in fee simple. He would consent only to rent his lands for limited periods. This savored too much of servility for them, with their views of freedom and independence, patiently to endure. After seven years bondage under the annual rent sys- tem, they determined to remove in one body to the Val- ley of the Chenango, and settle upon lands then recently purchased by the State of New York, of the Oneida Indians, known as the Governor's Purchase. The treaty by which the celebrated "Twenty Towns " became the property of the State, was made in 1788, by George Clinton, at Fort Schuyler, now Utica.
The act authorizing the Surveyor General, Simeon De Witt, to locate and number these towns, was passed February 25, 1789. The lands were advertised for sale in 1791. The sale was to take place at New York city.
It is reported that the following incident occured at the time when the treaty above alluded to was made. After it had been duly ratified, Governor Clinton having seated himself upon a log, one of the chiefs came and took a seat so close to him, that out of courtly respect, he moved along; the chief crowded close again-the Governor made another move. These movements were repeated, until the Governor, not only found himself off , the end of the log, but greatly perplexed, not compre- hending the meaning of all this! The chief stoically replied : "Just so white man crowd poor Indian - keep crowding-keep crowding-by and by, crowd him clear off !- where poor Indian then ?"
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HISTORY OF SHERBURNE.
PIONEERS.
Those who first came into the Valley of the Chenango, to examine the country, and select the location of a settle- ment for themselves and some of their neighbors, were: Deacon Nathaniel Gray, Elisha Gray, Joel Hatch, New- comb Raymond, and James Raymond. They started on their journey the day these lands were advertised for sale, piloted by Josiah Throop, chief of the engineering corps, who had surveyed the "Twenty Townships " the previous year. Deacon Gray and the Surveyor came on horse-back, the rest on foot, with their packs on their backs.
From Duanesburgh, they took a circuitous course to the north end of the Otsego Lake, thence down the east side of the lake to Cooperstown, at its southern ex- tremity.
Here, leaving the abodes of civilization, they take a westerly course, guided by compass and marked trees; now climbing precipitous hills-now penetrating dark and tangled forests, crossing deep rivers, threading vales, and fording streams. Thus they toiled on their weary way until night overtakes them. Soon their camp-fire sends up a cheerful blaze. They seat themselves around upon thickly spread Hemlock-boughs, fresh cut from the branches hanging over their heads. After partaking of the humble fare furnished by their knapsacks, they wrap themselves in their blankets, and invoking the watchful care of Him whose eye never sleeps, lie down to rest their weary limbs for the night. They rise at dawn, realizing "that the sleep of the laboring man is sweet." Their patriarchal leader mounts his horse, they shoulder their packs, and resume their march, re-enacting each day the toils of the preceding. At length, they find
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HISTORY OF SHERBURNE.
themselves on the bank of the Unandilla river, which they crossed three or four miles below the present site of New Berlin village, and pursued their journey, buoyant with hope and expectations, enlivened by the ever changing panorama passing before them, as they ap- proached the Valley of the Chenango." They struck this river, east of where Norwich village now stands, and followed its course ten miles north to the junction of the Handsome Brook, called by the natives To-to. They arrived at 2 P. M., after five days hard traveling, June 1791.
While standing upon the bank of this beautiful river, contemplating the scenery around their prospective local- ity-scanning the hills that bound the valley-eying the tall and stately Pines-admiring the extensive groves of Sugar Maples-and scrutinizing the soil and verdure, they discover that the grass has been recently cropt! While querying whether this has been done by wild or domestic animals, one of their number cries "Hark! I hear a bell!" They listen. "Its a cow-bell! Some family of white people must be near!" Guided by its tinkling sound, they cross the Handsome Brook, when, lo! amidst the forest trees, a new shanty appears, built of bark, in the form of a tent! Excitement quickening their pace, they were soon at the door, and found a family consisting of five men, one woman, and some small children, who had arrived about three hours before them, from the town of Paris, Oneida county. After mutual congratulations had been exchanged, such as only kindred spirits having the same objects in view, and braving the same toils and dangers, could realize; and
* The name Chenango is of Indian origin, and signifies in their lan- guage, "beautiful river."
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HISTORY OF SHERBURNE.
each others views and wishes obtained, they proposed to examine the south-west quarter of the ninth township, the next day in company.
The good woman of the house addressed herself to the entertaining of her guests, with right good will. Her house was soon in order; a place was found for everything, and everything was in its place. One of these pioneers remarked that "She appeared to be as well acquainted with every room in the house, as if she had lived in it a twelve month." With true pioneer hospitality, she prepared the best room in her mansion for their repose through the night. Including the Sur- veyor, she had six more lodgers to provide for. How she accomplished this, you can conceive better than I can express. Suffice it to say, she had good new bread and beer of her own baking and brewing, upon the table for breakfast, the next morning. Seating themselves around an apology for a table, arranged with primitive splendor, the unexpected good fortune of having these luxuries, together with milk, spread before them, called forth with lively emotion the remark, " We can tell our friends and neighbors at home, that we found the land flowing with milk, if not honey." Tasting the delicious beverage, he exclaimed with a ludicrous scowl, " What's the matter with the milk ?" They sip, shake their heads and look at each other in blank amazement. One better in- itiated into the mystery, laughing, steps out of the door, and soon returns with a leek, saying, "The cow has been eating leeks; taste this and you will not perceive the fla- vor in your milk." They rose from their repast wiser than when they sat down; and for years after were fain to put their knowledge to practical use. So luxuriant was the grass and herbage, so wonderful its effect upon the cow, that the milkman filled his pail the third time, when
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HISTORY OF SHERBURNE.
he exclaimed, "I wont go out again if the milk rots in her bag." My informant clapped his hand upon my knee, and looking archly in my face, said, "Its not necessary to state how large the pail was." After having finished their examination, and mutually agreeing to purchase in company, they departed, expecting to find this family on their return ; but never saw them afterwards.
Returning home, they take the northern route through the town of Paris. From thence to the Mohawk river ; following this stream to the junction of the Schoharie, and thence to Duanesburgh. As they brought a goodly report of the land they had visited, Nathaniel Gray was dispatched to New York city, empowered to negotitate for the same. On inquiring he found that the State had sold to Wm. S. Smith six townships, including the land he was in quest of. The patent granted to Wm. S. Smith, was dated April 16, 1794, and recorded in the office of the Secretary of State.
In disappointment he returned home. Unwilling how- ever to abandon the enterprise, they resolved to make one more effort. Accordingly, Mr. Gray made another journey to New York. On presenting his second pro- position, he had the mortification to be again rejected. As he was about to return, Mr. Smith offered him the quarter in question, at one dollar twenty-five cents per acre; proposing to execute a contract for a deed, upon certain conditions, to run seven years, which, if approved of by his associates, they might retain, if not, return it and he would charge nothing.
This contract was given to Nathaniel Gray, Timothy Hatch, Joel Hatch, Newcomb Raymond, Josiah Lathrop, James Raymond, John Gray, jr., Abraham Raymond, Elish Gray, Cornelius Clark, and Eleazer Lathrop.
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HISTORY OF SHERBURNE.
It was accepted, none of them being able to pay down for their lands. The land selected by this company was the southwest quarter of the ninth township,* one of the twenty towns purchased of the Oneida Indians, in 1788
The grantor of the deed to the eleven proprietors, was Benjamin Walker, its date 1796.
FIRST FAMILY.
Abraham Raymond and family, were the first to move on and take possession of their new home. They started in the winter of 1792, and came as far as Norwich, (where a few families had located about two years pre- vious, and were the nearest neighbors to their intended settlement,) and tarried there until spring, when they were joined by their associates, (their number having in the mean time increased from eleven to twenty,) who came on for the purpose of commencing improvements, and preparing for the reception of their families, the next year. Their names were, Nathaniel Gray, Joel North- rop, Joel Hatch, John Lathrop, Elisha Gray, John Gray, John Hebbard, Eleazer Lathrop, Ezra Lathrop, Corne- lius Clark, Timothy Hatch, Abraham Raymond, New_ comb Raymond, James Raymond, Josiah Lathrop, Eli- jah Gray, Elijah Foster, John Gray, jr.,t Amos Cole, David Perry.
* It contains six thousand, two hundred, twenty-two and one half acres.
+ John Gray, jr.'s name is on the original deed; but as he relin- quished his lot to his father, John Gray, who settled upon it, and was always spoken of as one of the first settlers by his associates, I think it proper to name him as one of the first proprietors; he was, to say the least, practically such. John Gray, jr., settled in the west part of the State, and died there ; and was the last of the twenty proprietors.
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HISTORY OF SHERBURNE.
A party of them arrived late one afternoon, and put up for the night on the west side of the Chenango river, opposite where Norwich village now stands. In a wig- wam, on the east side of the river, owned and occu- pied by a family of Oneida Indians, a few Tuscaroras, (after having drank more "fire-water " than was meet,) were reposing for the night. One of these began to stab with a knife the squaw of another Indian. The cry of "David ! David ! he kill your squaw !" awoke her sleeping lord, who, seeing the condition of his squaw, and him who had done the deed, struggling with a sober Indian, who sought to control him, seized a tomahawk and sank it into his head. Abraham Raymond and Joel Hatch visited the wigwam the next morning, with many painful misgivings as to what might be in store for them and their families, in the future. They found the wound-
ed man lying upon the ground, nearly naked, with a "lump of brain as large as a butternut, oozing out of the wound." He lived in this condition two or three days. Mrs. Raymond assisted in dressing the wounds, and administering to the necessities of the squaw, who, in a few days, was able to sail down the river in a canoe.
A runner carried the news of this tragedy to the chief of the Oneidas, who, with his head men and councillors, soon arrived, and proceeded to examine the case accord- ing to their own laws and customs. He inquired very particularly into the general conduct of David toward the white people. Whether he was saucy and quarrel- some, whether he injured their cattle, &c. The witnesses all gave him a good character for peace and quietness. The chief, after due consultation with his head men, thus decided : "If Indian go kill my squaw, I kill him, so David he clear."
Mr. Raymond and one of his associates went forward
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HISTORY OF SHERBURNE.
and erected a hut, for the accommodation of the whole company, for the ensuing season. This mansion, from which no one was turned away for want of room, was built in one day, and covered with bark and brush. It stood about forty rods below the junction of the Hand- some Brook with the river. Lift up your eyes and sur- vey the land, as when the fathers first beheld it! when trees of primeval growth, in towering grandeur, pierced the skies, carrying the mind back, almost coeval with the time when the morning stars sang together. What object in view has yonder solitary woodsman, with ax upon his shoulder, slowly wandering amid the giants of the forest, whose interlocking branches have for ages hid mother earth from the genial rays of the sun ? Be- hold, with slow and measured step he moves along- now halting upon the bank of this gurgling rill-now pausing to examine this cool bubbling spring. He seats himself upon a moss-covered mound, his manly brow exhibiting the intense workings of his mind : "Yes, here will I build my house, set up my altar, and enjoy life with her who is the sunshine of my soul, the centre of all my earthly joys. I have a part to act in the great drama of the world, a duty to perform to God and his Church, to my family and country. Providence having led my footsteps hither, I ought not, I cannot go back." He rises to his feet, runs his eye up the trunk of a stately tree, lays off his coat, seizes his ax, strikes ! It is. the first blow, and the first echo from the woodman's ax ever heard in this region, since time began. Blow suc- ceeds blow, and echo answers echo, until it totters to its fall. Instinctively raising his eye through the open- ing, the glorious orb of day salutes his gaze, apparently delighting to linger in his diurnal course to warm and vivify the earth, and cheer the laborer onward. Hark !
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HISTORY OF SHERBURNE.
what is that which comes swelling upon the breeze ? He listens, lost in a pleasing reverie ; a crash, succeeded by a heavy rolling sound, assures him that a brother pioneer has felled his first tree. Day after day witnesses to their patient, persevering toil.
The echo from lot to lot gives to each pleasing assur- ance, that he is not doomed to struggle alone- that kindred spirits have counted the cost and made the firm resolve, cheered by anticipations of the future when they may, around their own firesides, by the blessing of God, enjoy, amid the conveniences and comforts of civilized life, the sweets of domestic and social inter- course.
During the summer and autumn of 1792, the southwest quarter was re-surveyed and divided into twenty equal parts, by Cornelius Clark, in such manner that each might obtain an equal share of river and upland, and assigned by lot to the several proprietors .*
Such was their desire to live in peace and harmony with all men, especially with each other, that in order to remove, as far as possible, from their midst, every danger of disagreement, they mutually agreed to abide the metes and bounds established by their surveyor. They did abide them to the letter. I never knew any disagreement among them, on account of the bounds or quantity of land in their respective lots. This year they built their first saw-mill, cleared some land, erected a few log-houses, opened a road from the settlement now known as the Quarter, east to the Unadilla river, ten miles.
* Cornelius Clark having a preference for a particular lot, (the one now occupied by George Davis,) offered the man who drew it, a bot- tle of rum and an ax without helve, and in its rough state, to exchange with him, which offer was accepted.
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HISTORY OF SHERBURNE.
The saw-mill was located in the gulf, on the stream, east of Sherburne village, about half a mile below the falls, known as the Sulphur Springs. Finding some ne- cessary irons lacking, they dispatched Joel Hatch, on horse-back, to Clinton, (the nearest black-smith's,) to obtain them. Following Indian paths, after three days absence, he returned with them. The cost of the irons at the shop was trifling.
It was at this mill that the first sermon ever preached in town, and probably in the valley, was delivered in 1792, by the Rev. Blackleach Burritt .* His text, Isaiah xxxv. 1 : "The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them ; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom
* Mr. Burritt graduated at Yale, in 1765. That year, the British Parliament laid a tax of two pounds sterling, (about ten dollars,) on every diploma granted from any college in the colonies. He was a zealous Whig, during the Revolutionary War; often carrying his patriotism into his pulpit. He resided at that time on Long Island, near the East River, about twenty miles from New York city, which was in the possession of the British army. A party of British sold- iers, guided by Tories, surrounded his house in the night, took him prisoner, and hurried him into their boat; not allowing time to put on his clothes, until they had him safe on board. They sailed imme- diately for New York, where he was confined, most of the time, with other prisoners, in what was known as the "Sugar House."
He would preach to his fellow prisoners on the Sabbath, and admin- ister the consolations of religion to the sick and dying, under repeated insults and threats, from a rude, unfeeling soldiery. After about two years captivity, expecting to be released on a particular day, he pre- pared a spicy sermon for the occasion, which the officers, knowing his spirit and independence, were determined to prevent his delivering. Accordingly, when orders arrived for his discharge on the Monday following, they released him on Saturday night previous. He request- ed permission to stay and preach to his countrymen on the Sabbath day. They peremptorily refused, ordered him to leave immediately, which to his deep regret, he was obliged to do.
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HISTORY OF SHERBURNE.
as the rose." The emigrants, in the midst of their high hopes of future prosperity, were disheartened by the ap- pearance of a hard frost, on the morning of the 1st of September, succeeded by a premature snow, the effect of which was so severe on vegetation, that the trees of the forest were as effectually denuded of their foliage, by the 15th of September, as is usual by the middle of Oc- tober.
As they looked upon each other, almost in despair, they would inquire, Is this a cold, frosty country ? Is the climate unpropitious ? Will our undertaking prove a failure ? The only answer that could be given was, our all is at stake-we have purchased, and must abide the issue, whether for better or for worse.
After sixty years residence in town, some of them remarked, that they had never since seen frost or snow equally severe, as early in the season. With these gloomy forebodings they returned to their families, ex- cept Abraham Raymond, who having his with him, tar- ried upon the spot, residing part of the winter with the settlers in Norwich.
During the winter and spring of 1793, most of them, with their families, came on and took possession of their land of promise. Some of the company employed In- dians to convey their baggage up the river, in their canoes, at about twenty-five cents per hundred. After- wards, in their intercourse between the two settlements, the less timid mothers, with their children, would trust themselves to the skill of these primitive navigators, as preferable to traveling by cart and oxen through the almost pathless woods; and they never had cause to complain of their want of gallantry or honesty. Two sons of Cornelius Clark, Job and John, started on foot,
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HISTORY OF SHERBURNE.
in advance of their father and family. While on their way, they purchased a bag of flour, and carried it some sixty or seventy miles, upon their shoulders, together with necessary utensils for camping in the woods and clearing land. They built a hut three-fourths of a mile from any of the other settlers, and commenced pioneer life, cheered by the friendly interest in their welfare, manifested by their neighbors. With energy and ambi- tion, these young men plied their task. The tangled pile of prostrate trees, testified that they were not idle. On a certain night, one of them, being left alone, was sud- denly aroused from the enjoyment of "nature's sweet restorer," by his ever watchful dog springing upon his bed, uttering a low growl. Peering through the dark- ness, he discovered in the dim light of the aperture, which served for a door, the head of some wild animal, evidently determined unceremoniously to scrape his acquaint- ance ! Not being disposed, unarmed and alone, to entertain such company, he seized a log-chain, which prov- identially hung within reach, and hurled it violently at the head of the unwelcome intruder, causing him to beat a retreat, clamorously pursued by the faithful dog. The terrific yells which succeeded, gave unmistakable evidence to the panic-stricken listener, that deadly combat was raging ! At length, the uproar without gradually sub- siding, evinced that the battle was drawing to a close- leaving him to no enviable reflections upon his unpro- tected condition, impatiently awaiting the dawn of day. The fate of his dog hung in suspense until late the next afternoon, when he was discovered slowly advancing towards the cabin, so seriously injured that he died in two or three days.
After securing a shelter, barely sufficient to protect their families from inclement storms, the great desidera-
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HISTORY OF SHERBURNE.
tum was to raise the requisite supply of provisions for the ensuing year. In order to do this, it would first be necessary to clear their lands, which would call for all their energy to have it done in time to insure a crop.
The scarcity of seed among them at this time, espe- cially of the coarser kinds, was no small item in their perplexities, as the following incident will disclose : They had no potatoes, and none could be obtained nearer than Otsego county. John Lathrop, with cart and oxen, started to obtain a supply. After the usual events incident to traveling in a new country-plunging down steep banks, and fording unbridged streams-he finds himself across the Unadilla river, where he was enabled to obtain about twenty bushels of potatoes, of a farmer, by the name of Dickey, who, some thirty or forty years after, became a citizen of the town. Mr. Lathrop, on his return was struggling to ascend the west bank of the river, with his load, to accomplish which, required all the energy of himself and strength of his team. When near the top, up tipped his cart- body !- out slid the hind board-down rolled the pota- toes into the mud and water below, with a speed that contrasted finely (though not agreeably) with that of their ascent. To remedy this mishap, there was no alter- native but to gather them into a basket, and carry them upon his shoulders several rods up a steep, wet, and slip- pery bank, requiring some twenty or more journeys, up and down, to accomplish. In relating this incident, he said, " When I had to rush into the river to prevent some of them from floating down the stream, to dig others out of the mud, and wipe them on the grass or my old frock, and lug them on my back up the hill, I thought my troubles were great." On the half-century anniversary of the settlement, those who remained, had
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