USA > New York > Oneida County > Annals and recollections of Oneida County > Part 5
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Oneida Oyer and Terminer, held at the Academy in Utica, Oct. 7, 1824. Present-Hon. Samuel R. Betts, Circuit Judge ; Joseph Grant and Samuel Jones, County .Judges.
The People
vs. Samuel Beardsley, District Attorney. Irad Morse.
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The prisoner was indicted at the previous May term of the General Sessions, for the murder of David Freeman, in the town of Rome, on the 9th of May, 1824, by shooting him with a gun charged with shot. Freeman lived two days after being shot.
Deceased was a lad about seventeen years of age, and the two were hunting on Sunday, one carrying the gun and the other a bottle of whiskey, when a drunken quarrel arose, and Morse seized the gun, and going off a short distance, turned and fired, lodging the charge in the lungs of the boy. The jury found the prisoner guilty, and he was sentenced to be hung on the 3d day of December then next. His punish- ment was, however, changed to imprisonment in the State's Prison for life, and it is understood that he died soon after at Auburn.
Oneida Oyer and Terminer, held at the Academy in Utica, on the 11th of October, 1839. Present-Hon. Philo Gridley, Circuit Judge ; Nathan Kimball and Pomroy Jones, County Judges.
The People U's.
Robert M ller.
Ichabod C. Baker, District Attorney.
The prisoner was indicted at the preceding June Sessions, for having murdered Barney Leddy, at the city of Utica, on the 29th day of April, 1839. Miller resided near Water street, in Utica, and deceased was proved to have been at his house on the evening of the murder, both being intoxicated, and having sent out for whiskey. The next morning Leddy was found, stripped of his clothing, insensible, and nearly motionless, lying upon the ground some thirty rods from Mil- ler's house, he having received a violent blow upon his head,
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apparently given with a club. Upon search being made, a part of Leddy's clothes were found buried under mud and water in the cellar of Miller's house, and the cinders and ashes of other articles in the fire-place, and bloody stains upon the floor. These facts taken together, unexplained, warranted the jury in finding the prisoner guilty of murder. He was sentenced to be executed on the second day of De- cember then next. He was however respited by the Gov- ernor for a few days, when he was hung, in the jail at Whites- town, under the direction of Sheriff Curtiss.
Oneida Circuit Court, hield at the Academy in Utica, from the 4th to the 12th of October, 1841. Present-Hon. Philo Gridley, Circuit Judge.
The People r's. Hon. Willis Hall, Attorney General.
Alexander McLeod.
J. L. Wood, District Attorney, Niagara County, and T. Jenkins, District Attorney, Oneida County, for the People. Messrs. Gardner and Bradley, Attorneys, and Hon. Joshua A. Spencer, Counsel for prisoner.
The prisoner was indicted at the February term of the Niagara County General Sessions, in the year 1841, for having, on the 30th day of December, 1837, crossed the Niagara River and burned the steamboat Caroline, then lying at the wharf at Schlosser, in the town and County of Niagara, in the State of New York, and at the same time murdering Amos Durfee. The facts of this case, as con- nected with the rebellion and disturbances in Canada in the ycar 1837, have become a part of the history of the country, and need not be repeated here. The venue in this cause had been changed from Niagara to Oneida by an order of the Supreme Court. Thirty-three witnesses were sworn on
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the part of the People, and fourteen for the defense. besides a large number residing in Canada sworn before commission- ers, whose depositions were read upon the trial. The follow- ing persons composed the Jury, viz .:- Charles O. Curtis, Edmund Allen, John Mott, Elijah Brush, Ira Byington, William Carpenter, Isaiah Thurber, Peter Sleight, Asher Allen, Seymour Carrier, Ezeck Allen, and Volney Elliott. \ Verdict-Not guilty.
Such was the anxiety on the part of the public to be present at the trial (numbers having come a great distance for that purpose), that the Sheriff had summoned a large force of constables and deputies for the purpose of preserving order, and by directions of the Judge the following order of entering and leaving the Court House was established, viz .:- 1. The Court. 2. Members of the bar and reporters. 3. Prisoner, in charge of constables. 4. Jury. 5. Wit- nesses. 6. Citizens, until seats were filled, when the doors were to be closed. 7. Persons having business in Court, admitted upon special application to the Sheriff.
Oncida Oyer and Terminer, held at the Academy in Utica, September 16, 1847. Present-Hon. Philo Gridley, Justice of the Supreme Court; P. Sheldon Root, County Judge ; Julius C. Thom and Caleb Steves, Justices of the Sessions.
The People Calvert Comstock, District Attorney. vs. J. A. Spencer and F. Kernan for prisoner.
Mary Runkle.
The prisoner was indicted in the Recorder's Court of Utica, at the August term, 1847, and was charged with having murdered her husband, John Runkle, in the city of Utica, on the 20th of August instant.
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The prisoner had seized deceased by the throat while he was asleep, in the middle of the night, with no light in the room, and with such a fiend-like grasp as to nearly sever his wind-pipe, and to cause immediate death. She was of a slight form, but, contrary to appearances, was proven to have possessed great muscular power. Common rumor had charged her-but with how much justice it is impossible to decide-with having destroyed two of her infant children by drowning them together in a wash-tub,-with murdering and robbing a pedlar,-with poisoning a son, who had arrived at manhood, and to whom she and her husband had conveyed some property to prevent its being taken by creditors,- and with many less heinous offenses. These are now, how- ever, beyond the reach of human investigation and legal tribunals. After committing the crime, and having washed the body of deceased, put clean linen upon the body, and hidden that which was soiled with blood, and washed the blood from the floor, in the night in question, she called in several of her neighbors, stating that her husband had died in a fit! While the deed was being perpetrated, the unna- tural monster, upon the pretext that her husband had been scized with a fit, called their daughter, about thirteen years of age, to her aid, directing her to hold his limbs in such a manner that he could make little or no resistance.
After a patient investigation, the jury found the prisoner guilty of murder, and she was sentenced to be hung on the 9th of November, 1847, between 10 A. M. and 2 P. M. She was accordingly executed, within the jail at Whitesboro, under the direction of Sheriff Barker, having made no revelations as to the crime for which she was convicted, nor relating to her previous life.
Other trials for murder have taken place in this county, 4
1
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but they have resulted in verdicts of acquittal, or in convic- tions for the different grades of manslaughter. punishable by imprisonment in the State's Prison.
COUNTY ORGANIZATIONS.
The Oncida Baptist Association was organized September 27th, 1820. The churches of this denomination within the county had, for a few of the first years of the present cen- tury, belonged to the Otsego Association, and subsequently for a few years previous to the formation of this Association, to the Madison Association.
It is somewhat difficult at the present time, from the annual minutes of this body, to give the increase of the denomination in the county, as at its formation quite a num- ber of churches from Madison County organized with it; still it can be approached with tolerable accuracy.
In 1823, there were fifteen churches in the county, (beside Boonville, which has ever belonged to the Black River Association,) seven ordained ministers, and 1074 members. On the same territory in 1850, there were twenty-six churches, twenty-seven ordained ministers, (two of whom are missionaries in the East Indies,) and 2.529 members.
This body has no ecclesiastical powers whatever It is only advisory.
The Presbytery of Oneida was organized by an act of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, at their meeting in the month of May, 1802. Its territorial limits included all of the State west of the cast lines of Herkimer and Otsego Counties. Its original mem- bers were Rev. Messrs. Jedediah Chapman. John Lindsley,
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Bethuel Dodd, Samuel F. Snowden, Isaac Lewis, and Peter Fish. The churches which were connected with it soon after its organization were, in Oneida County, those of Whitesboro, Utica, New Hartford, and Trenton; in Ot- sego County, those of Cooperstown, Cherry Valley, and Springfield ; in Herkimer County, that of Little Falls; in Cayuga County, those of Washington, Romulus, Ovid, and Ulysses; in Steuben County, that of Bath ; in Tioga, that at Painted Post ; in Ontario County, those of Geneva, Pal- myra. Lyons. Sodus, and Caledonia. Many of these coun- ties have had their lines so altered by divisions, that these churches do not now belong to the counties they then did. Subsequently, the limits of the Oneida Presbytery nar- rowed down by the formation of other Presbyteries, so that it was confined principally to Oneida and Herkimer Coun- ties. The first meeting was held at Whitesboro, September 7th, 1802.
In January, 1843, it consisted of thirty-one ministers. and about thirty-five churches. At that time it was divided by the Synod of Utica, the new body taking the name of the Presbytery of Utica. In consequence of some dissatis- faction, the two bodies were merged in the Presbytery of Utica at the next meeting of the Synod. The Presbytery of Utica, at the present time, consists of thirty-six ministers, and about thirty churches.
The Synod of Utica was organized at Utica, September 15th, 1829, by order of the General Assembly of the Pres- byterian Church. When organized, it was composed of the Presbyteries of Ogdensburg, Watertown, Oswego, Oneida, and Otsego. At this time it consists of the Watertown, Oswego, St. Lawrence, Utica, and Otsego Presbyteries. Its territory comprises the Counties of Herkimer, Otsego. Oneida, Lewis, Oswego, Jefferson, and St. Lawrence.
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In the summer of 1850, the " Old School" branch of the denomination organized a new body, by the name of the Presbytery of Mohawk. It is annexed to the Old School General Assembly of the United States.
The Episcopal Methodists have an Oneida Conference ; but it does not seem to be a county organization, for it com- prises much territory out of the county, while the Black River Conference embraces nearly or quite the northern half of Oneida.
The Oncida County Temperance Society, organized some years since, has performed well its part. It holds its annual meetings in the winter, and latterly it has had semi-annual meetings.
Oncida County Agricultural Society. - This Society holds a prominent place among the public institutions of the county. It was organized in 1841, and the first annual exhibition held in the autumn of that year, since which it has progressed steadily in usefulness and importance, until it now ranks among the best institutions of the kind in the Union.
Ten exhibitions have been held under the direction of this Society in as many successive years, each one of which has exceeded its predecessor in the amount of receipts, and the number of farmers and others in attendance. The premiums, which were at first confined chiefly to farm stock and products, have been extended so as to embrace most articles of household and domestic manufacture, and a large number of mechanical articles. Its funds for membership have steadily increased, and have for a few years past been augmented by making a small charge for admission to the show of domestie and faney articles, until they amounted-
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including the State appropriation of $255-in 1849 to about $1,000. In 1850 a new plan was adopted, the entire grounds (ten acres) for the exhibition enclosed with a high fence, at the expense of the citizens of Rome, and a charge for admission made to all who were not members of the Society. This arrangement brought into the Treasury about $1,500, a balance of some $500 above expenses for the same year. The Society has now a balance in the treasury amount- ing to near 81,000.
Many of the farmers and other citizens of the county have taken a deep interest in the success and management of this Society. In this brief notice it is impossible to do more than present the names of the Presidents for each year, and a complete list of the officers elected for the year 1851.
. President in 1841-2-Pomroy Jones.
1843-4-Benj. P. Johnson. 1845-Elon Comstock. 1846-Dolphus Skinner. 1847-8-Ira S. Hitchcock. 1849-Henry Rhodes.
1850-Benj. N. Huntington. 1851-Pliment Mattoon.
Vice Presidents-Franklin A. Spencer, Epliraim Storrs.
Executive Committee-Calvin Bishop, John Butterfield. Jonathan Talcott, Horace Dunbar, Henry Rhodes, Amasa S. Newberry, Oliver R. Babcock, Horace H. Eastman, Henry B. Bartlett, Horatio N. Carey.
Treasurer-Roland S. Doty.
Secretary-Levi T. Marshall.
The exhibitions of the Society have never been held two successive years in the same town, the opinion having pre- vailed that greater good could be accomplished by holding them in different parts of the county in alternate years. So large has been the attendance in the last two years, that it seems almost indispensable now to confine the show to a few of the larger towns, where only the great numbers who
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attend ean procure accomodations. Judging from the im- provements already visible in the agriculture of the county. and the present flourishing condition of the society, it seems safe to predict for it a long and useful eareer.
Political .- The two great and earliest political parties in the United States had formed before the organization of Oneida County. The Democratic, with Jefferson at its head, and the Federal, with Hamilton as its leader. After the formation of the county in 1798, it was found to contain a Federal majority. Subsequent to the organization of St. Lawrence County in 1802, the Democratic party for two or three years was in the ascendant. In 1805 the Counties of Jefferson and Lewis were taken from Oneida, which left it with a Federal majority of from twelve to fifteen hundred. This was a powerful majority, when it is recollected that at the time scarcely one half of the citizens were voters, as the old Constitution of the State contained that most aristocratic and odious provision, requiring a freehold qualification of $250 to entitle the citizen to the privilege of the elective franchise. In the war of 1812 the Federal party took strong ground, not only against the administration of Mr. Madison. but some of its movements were so anti-national. that they bordered on treason. In 1814 the Hartford Convention, composed of delegates from the New England States, held its secret session. At the time it was strongly suspected of hatching treason against the United States, and of giving aid and comfort to the enemy. The peace of 1815, however, entirely deprived the opposition of power for evil, if evil was actually intended. The party contrived to keep up its organization for three or four years, when it was found that the Hartford Convention was a mill-stone, sinking it too low for any reasonable hope of a resurrection. In 1819 was
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witnessed the disbanding of the Federal party, and the amalgamation of a large proportion of it with the Clinton- ians, a section that had seceded from the Democratic party. For a short season the Clintonians had the ascendancy in the county, and in the county, as in the State, although Mr. Clinton by reason of his personal popularity usually obtained a majority, yet the Democrats succeeded in the Legislature. In 1821 a Convention was called to amend the State Consti- tution. In this body the Clintonians in this county were represented by three. delegates, and the Democrats by two. The Convention was decidedly Democratic, and the amended Constitution which emanated from it, did away with the Council of Appointment, and the property qualification for suffrage, the two most obnoxious provisions of the old Con- stitution. Mr. Clinton's death took place soon after the commencement of the Anti-Masonic excitement, and the formation of that party. Strong men joined the Anti- Masonic party in the county ; yet Oneida never became so far "infected" as to once give a majority to that party. In 1834 the Anti-Masonic party disbanded, and the present Whig party raised on its ruins. The Democratic party maintained its position in the majority until within a few years, when, weakened by divisions, the Whig party has obtained the ascendancy in the county, State, and Nation. The spring of 1851 has witnessed another political somerset in the county, the Supervisors elected standing eighteen Democrats to twelve Whigs.
At the close of this political notice of the county, it may not be entirely uninteresting to the reader to have a short account of a political celebration of the "olden time," al- though in the numbers who participated, it fell far short of modern political gatherings at the raising of log cabins, hickory poles, etc.
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ANNALS OF ONEIDA COUNTY. [CHAP.
In September, 1801, the Democratic party having suc- ceeded in electing Mr. Jefferson to the Presidency of the Union, and George Clinton to the gubernatorial chair of New York, the few of that party in Oneida County- barely sufficient to form a corporal's guard-determined to celebrate their victories by a public dinner. The day and place were appointed, of which public notice was given. The place was White's Tavern, in Whitesboro, then kept by the widow of Daniel C. White. For days the busy hum of preparation was heard. Pigs squeaked their final gasp, and gobblers strutted their last brief hour, to grace the ponderous table. A cannon, that for many a long year had graced the parapets of Fort Stanwix, and poured forth its booming thunder on St. Leger's beleaguering forces, was carted, the day preceding the dinner, through the intervening fens and morasses, to belch forth its joyous roar to each successive toast. The day arrived. It was most propitious. No skulking clouds obstructed sol's morning rays. Early the guests by twos and threes hurried their way to the banquet. But on their arrival what consternation ! "The cannon is stolen." resounded from every mouth. Nought disheartened. another gun must be procured. It could be done in time, if man nor beast were spared. John B. Pease, trusty and true, was soon dispatched to relieve Fort Stanwix of another portion of its artillery. Jolin Gilpin's famous ride, com- pared with his, was tame. Howe'er, a new disaster overtook him. When the return journey was but half performed, the vehicle gave out ! But the good Dutch Colonel, who lived where Oriskany's waters mingle with the Mohawk, kindly supplied another, and soon the smoking steeds stood panting at our hostess' door, and joyous cheers announce the quick arrival. Anon the guests, fourteen all told, are doing ample justice to the good things the lone hostess had prepared, and soon, like all things else, the feast is at an end.
.
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The cloth removed, the sparkling, mocking wine appears. The first of thirteen toasts is then announced. No cannon's roar responded. The gun is spiked; or, to use the lines of the Federal bard for the occasion:
" A rat-tail file fell from the skies, And spiked the gun before their eyes."
These Democrats were still in courage. A sturdy son of Vulcan, residing in the same village, with sleeve uprolled, brawny arm, and ponderous sledge, cleared out the obstructed vent, and in due time nineteen discharges, told all within the sound, that thirteen regulars and half twelve volunteers had been drank. The ceremonies over, adieus exchanged, and ere the sun had sunk to rest beyond " Ontario's waters," all, all, had left for distant homes.
The half is not told. Time sped its way, as all time does, and the printed weekly messenger, " The Whitestown Gazette and Cato's Patrol," was scattered wide, by post, among the people. It was a small sheet, perhaps a little more than seven by nine. Weekly news and advertisements, com- pressed to smallest space, it had ; but the " Poet's corner" was filled to overflowing. 'Twas all about the Democratic celebration. Low and blackguardly in language, its only merit was its rhyme. It thus began :
" From Simonds down to Doctor Shaw, One great in physic, one in law."
'Twas said to have been the production of one who had spent long years in classie halls. Each of the fourteen Democrats came in by turns for a large share of personal abuse, if abuse it could be called. Capt. Isaac Jones re- ceived his full proportion, was termed " A would-be Justice living on the Genesee road." The sheet was read and laid
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aside. Another week rolled round, and then another " Ga- zette" came to its patrons. Canto II "of the same sort " came with it. "Twas like its predecessor, only its low slang sought to be more abusive. A specimen is given. Doct. Shaw's opties were of the largest, lightest kind. In speaking of the Doctor, the poet says:
" With eyes like new-peeled onions."
In those early days readers were so sparse, that one paper had to suffice for the whole county. Not then as now. Now, one party has its Observer, Democrat, and Sentinel; the other its Herald, Whig, and Citizen; and temperance men their Tectotaller, besides religious. Then one paper bad to cater for all its readers, and small patronage at that. There- fore, he that was termed " the would-be Justice," in the same paper that contained the second "Canto," was heard,-'twas all in prose, except one half the motto. It thus began : "For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of a fool."
" What sorry poems, what a wretched chime, Do such mere poltroons jingle into rhyme."
It was short, caustic, and severe. Opponents freely ad- mitted that the Captain took the advantage. The article thus concluded :- " You say I am a would-be Justice. God kuows I want no office, but I am proud, infinitely proud, of being with a majority of three millions of freemen ; and let me say to you, that your production is as heartily despised by the candid of your own party as by mine." And so it was. Federalists were heard to say, " that the actors should have been ashamed to have interfered in the least, and ob- structed the celebration. That if the Democrats wished to meet and partake of a public dinner, they had a perfect right to do so; that we had fought for liberty, and our
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citizens had the right, if they in no way disturbed the peace, to enjoy it."
In conclusion, the little petty persecutions at Whitesboro. no doubt made seores of Democrats in the county.
The foregoing is entirely from recollection. It is believed no copy of the papers are left in the county.
The names of the fourteen individuals who participated in the celebration, were, -John B. Pease, Esq., and Hon. Rufus Easton, of Rome; Maj. John Bellinger, Col. Nicholas Smith, Hon. Francis A. Bloodgood, James S. Kip, and Martin Dakin, Esquires, of Utica; Capt. Isaae Jones, Capt. Samuel Collins, and Hon. Truman Enos, of Westmoreland; John R. Todd, Esq., of Verona ; and Alexander Enos, Esq., Doct. Jonathan Shaw, and Shadrach Smith, of Whitestown. The last-named was the blacksmith who eleared the spiking from the gun. Joseph Simonds, Esq., of Clinton, an Attor- ney at that place, was to have been present and delivered an address, but was prevented by siekness.
COXE'S PATENT .- This is considered an appropriate place to notice this extensive Patent, extending aeross a portion of Rome, and quite across Westmoreland, Kirkland, and Paris, to the north line of Bridgwater. It was bounded on the west by the line of property, and extends the whole length of it. By the survey of this Patent, the line of property is twenty-two miles and sixty-four chains in length. The Patent is bounded on the south by Bridgwater, on the cast by Cosby's Manor, Bayar's, Morris', and Oriskany Patents, and north by Wood Creek. It contained 47,000 aeres, and was a part of 100,000 aeres granted by George III to William Coxe, Rebecca Coxe, John Tabor Kempe, and Grace his wife, descendants of Daniel Coxe, doctor of physie, on condition that said descendants execute a grant, release,
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and surrender to the crown of all their right and tike, or pretended right and tike, to the Province of Carolana and Islands, as described in a certain original Patent to Sir Robert Heath. The Patent also prescribes that the said Grace Kempe certify her consent and acceptance, by such separate examination as, according to the laws of New York. will bind the inheritance of married women. It was granted without quit-rents for ten years. It was also made with the following reservation : - " Except and always reserved all mines of gold and silver, also all white or other sorts of pine trees, twenty-four inches in diameter twelve inches from the ground, fit for masts for the royal navy.
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