USA > New York > Oneida County > Annals and recollections of Oneida County > Part 52
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In the fall of this year (1786), Mr. James Dean went to Connecticut, and was married. He immediately returned with his wife, performing the journey on horseback, and they then commenced housekeeping.
The Judge, for we shall now give James Dean this title for the sake of distinction (although he was not appointed to
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the office until some years afterwards), erected his humble domicil a few rods westerly from the present saw-mill of Luke C. Dean, and his brother had his dwelling a short distance casterly on the farm now owned by the widow Mary Mori- son. In the same autumn, this little community received an accession of a third family. Silas Phelps with his family removed from New Marlborough, Berkshire County, Mass., and settled upon the next lot east of that of Jonathan Dean. His log cabin stood near where a large apple tree yet stands on the farm and about equi-distant between the two dwelling houses of George Langford, Esq. This was the entire num- ber of families in the town in 1786.
In January, 1787, Ephraim Blackmer and Nehemiah Jones, from New Marlborough, arrived. The author, a few years since, wrote a short chapter which was published in va- rious papers, giving an account of the last day's ride of Mr. Blackmer. Deeming it worth preserving, it is presented as originally given to the public.
" In January, 1787, Ephraim Blackmer, Esq., and Capt. Nehemiah Jones removed from Berkshire County, Mass., to Dean's Patent. Esquire Blackmer came in advance, with a horse team, bringing the families, consisting of their wives, Esquire Blackmer's two children, and Capt. Jones' one, some beds, bedding and clothing, while Capt. Jones followed more slowly with an ox team, with such furniture and provisions . as were supposed necessary to commence housekeeping among the Indians, as their New England friends were pleased to term the location of the settlers here in ' Deans- ville.' Esq. Blackmer staid the last night of his journey at Oriskany, a distance of about ten miles from Judge Dean's. The next morning he took, to use the teamster's phrase, an carly start, that is, before sunrise, well knowing it would con-
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sume the whole day to travel the distance, and wishing to get through before dark. (Probably they would have looked in- credulously at the idea of a rail road's being constructed in the then next half century, over a part of their route, carry- ing passengers at the rate of fifteen, twenty and even thirty miles per hour.) There was no road on any part of the dis- tance, nor track, except that of the Indian snow shoe, which rather impeded their progress, than otherwise. It was a bit- ter cold day, the snow about eighteen inches deep. By dint of untiring perseverance, our travellers had, by a little past the middle of the day, ken'd their way, to the spot near where the village of Hampton now stands. In crossing the creek a little north of said village, the stream being but partially fro- zen, the sleigh unluckily turned over, turning the women and children into the water, the youngest, a child of Mrs. Jones, less than one year of age, going completely under water. Happily the water was not deep enough to endanger them from drowning. In a few minutes they were all safe on shore, but in such a plight, or I might have said in ' such a pickle,'. the women and children to a considerable extent, drenched in water, without a shelter or fire nearer than Judge Dean's, a distance of about four miles, which would cost more than that number of hours to reach, with the thermometer, if one could have been consulted, ranging near Zero. Would not our modern delicate females rather shudder at the thought of being placed in such a situation, and under such circum- stances ? But our settlers had no idea of being disheartened or discouraged. 'Necessity is the mother of invention.' Fortunately the chest of bed clothes had escaped the drench- ing. The seats were removed from the sleigh, and dry bed clothes spread over the bottom of it. The women and chil- dren then placed themselves on them, the brandy jug was in- troduced, and cach one drank what they could bear, without
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being too far intoxicated, and some two quarts of it sprinkled over them. (In those days, alcohol was used to keep people warm in winter, and cool in summer.) A large amount of dry bedding spread over them, completed their arrangements for the rest of their journey. After the first half hour, all fear of freezing gave way to the equally disagreeable one ot suffocation. First, the water, and then the brandy, caused such a profuse perspiration, that our travellers could not liken the appearance of their sleigh to any thing more appropriate than a travelling coal pit. To conclude, they all safely ar- rived at Judge Dean's a little before dark. The women are both yet living, and I have frequently lieard them jocosely observe, that Judge Dean and lady's olfactory nerves must have borne strong testimony, that they had not been over temperate on their journey, but they always concluded by observing that not one of the party took even a ' slight cold.'"7
The same winter, and in the spring following, Joseph Jones and Joseph Blackmer, jr., arrived from New Marl- borough. Perhaps one or two others came this year, but this · is uncertain ; it is, however, believed, that William Dean, a younger brother of the Judge, with a large family, came this season.
In 1788, Samuel Laird, from New Marlborough, located himself at what is now known as Lairdsville, and soon after commenced keeping a public house, better known in the car- ly days as a log tavern, and Pelatiah Rawson also came this year. Thus far the settlement of the town had been confined to Dean's Patent, but in this year Deacon John Blair settled on the farm lately purchased by Esquire Mills, the house on this farm being the first north of that of William Griffin, on the road to Hampton. It is believed, there was no other in- habitant in town this year excepting those on Dean's Patent.
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In 1789, the town commenced settling more rapidly. John and Nathaniel Townsend, brothers, arrived this year, and Joha settled on the farm now owned by his son of the same name, and Nathaniel upon the farm of the late Julius Cur- tiss. Benjamin Blackman also came the same year, and Cap- tain John Vaughan, Josiah Stillman, and a number of others, came in this or the year following, and settled in that vicin- ity. Nathan Loomis also settled on the farm now owned by Benjamin and Tyler Seymour. As the history of the farm thus early settled by Mr. Loomis is peculiar, it is given in this place. Mr. Loomis resided upon it for but a short pe- riod, and sold it to Adonijah Strong. Mr. Strong cleared up much of the farm, and built a framed house and barn, and about 1797, sold out to Captain Peabody, grand-father of Abraham H. Halleek, Esq. The price is not precisely recol- lected, but is believed to have been 82,300. Eighteen hun- dred dollars were paid down, and a writing given by Peabody forfeiting the previous payment, and giving Strong the right to re-enter and disposses, if the balance was not paid by a specified day. The money being due, and Peabody absent at the east, it, from some casualty, was not forthcoming at the time, and Strong, taking the advantage given in the writing to the letter, re-entered and took the crops growing on the premises, except a very small quantity of wheat, which was harvested by Peabody in the night time. Peabody brought an action in a court of law, but the artfully drawn instrument precluded his recovery. He now made an agent of a son-in-law, who filed a bill in Chancery for the recovery of the payment. After years of delay in that almost inter- minable, though now obsolete court, a decree was obtained ordering Strong to refund the $ 1800 and interest. By this time, the expenses, costs, etc., incident to the suits and the " law's delay," had drawn the whole from Strong, so that he
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was now compelled to sell the farm a second time, to raise the money to pay the decree. This done, Peabody's agent set about paying up the expenditures he had made in and about the several suits, and when completed, he had not a dollar left for his principal. This is a striking illustration of the old fable, in which the title to an oyster was contested, when it was decided, that the officers of the court should have the meat, and each of the litigants one half the shell.
This year Joshua Green, with a family of sons and daugh- ters. removed from New Marlborough, to Dean's Patent. He settled and lived many years on the farm now owned by Luther Hunt, and his oldest son Israel, upon the farm now owned by Hector W. Roberts.
Joseph Blackmer, sen., and his son-in-law, Captain Amos Smith, from the same place, settled this year upon the road. now the plank road, one and a quarter miles west of Lairds- ville. John Morse came this year, and soon after " took up" the lot, the farm of the late James J. Curtiss. It is believed, that the section of the town in which Hampton Village is located. was also settled in 1789 .The late Daniel Seely was the first settler in this section. He took up, and resided a number of years on the farm which has since, and until re- cently, been owned by Samuel Halleck, and on which the De Lancy Institute is now situate. A Mr. Blodget is believed to have been the first settler in Hampton Village.
Elijah Smith and Samuel Starr located in that place early. There is a deed on record in the county clerk's office. executed in October, 1797, by George Washington and George Clinton, to said Smith and Starr, for 153 acres of land. This deed included the present farm of Capt. Noadiah Judson, and extended as far east as the north and south road, forming the four corners in the centre of Hampton. There is also another deed on record, executed by Washing-
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ton and Clinton, to John Baxter, of 2593 acres of land, dated September 2d, 1799, which was but a little more than three months previous to Gen. Washington's death. This deed included the farm of the late Jared Chittenden, Esq.
The farm on which the late James Tompkins resided, now owned by Francis Watson, was held by a deed from Wash- ington and Clinton, executed by Clinton as the attorney for Washington. Gen. Washington and George Clinton (the latter the first governor of this state, which office he held about twenty-one years, and died while vice-president) owned considerable tracts in Cox's Patent. Deeds from them are also found upon record given to Joseph Blodget for 355 " acres, and Daniel Babcock, Asa Turner, Stephen Hutchin- son, John Babcock and Ebenezer R. Fitch, for 152 acres, all of Westmoreland; also deeds to Ephraim Besse, then of . Cambridge ; Jedediah Sawyer, Nathaniel Griffin, Elias Hop- kins, Glen and Bleecker, George Brownell, Messrs. Thomas Hart, Deodatus Clark, Rufus Willard and Judah Stebbins, Treat Baldwin, Darius Scovill, Peter Selleck, John Wicks. Nathan Thompson and David Risley, for farms now lying in Whitestown, Paris, New Hartford and Westmoreland. Most of these deeds are executed by Clinton, as the attorney of Washington ; and after the death of the latter, George S. Washington, his devisee, conveyed his moiety in several farms ; among others, is 1,341 acres to John Young of Whites- town.
In 1790, Alexander Parkman, Esq., and Capt Stephen Brigham settled in the town, and a number came about this time, but the dates of their arrival cannot now be ascertained.
The hardships and privations of the first settlers of West- moreland, it is believed exceeded that of any other town in the county. They were farther inland and from the Dutch settlements of the Mohawk. The nearest grist-mill was at
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the German Flats, and as horses were nearly out of the ques- tion, from the difficulty of keeping them in the woods, many a time was the flour of a bushel of wheat brought that dis- tance on the back of the settler for the use of his family.
The spring and summer of 1787 was one of the most cold and rainy seasons known since the settlement of the county. Of course, clearing the land of its heavy timber was a slow and tedious process. But small patches were got in readi- ness in time to plant with Indian corn, and if the sun happened to shine between the showers, it was but a small portion of the day that their little corn fields could receive its genial rays, by reason of the surrounding forest. Rain and shade had so prevented its maturing, that the first frost found it, when not a tithe of it had commenced glazing. After the frost, its effluvia was most offensive, and flies preyed upon it as on carrion. Still it was their all, and it was dried as they best could, in the sun when it shone, and at other times by their fires. Thus prepared it was pounded in a samp-mortar, of which almost every settler had & specimen, formed by burning out the end of a log. Within the author's recollec- tion, although the ercetion of mills had rendered them use- dess, these mementos of the days of hardships were preserved with carc.
· Trials and privations were unmurmuringly endured. Hope pointed to those " better days a coming." As long as the carly pioneers lived, without exception, they spoke with en- thusiasm of the enjoyments of a border life. In a few years comforts clustered around them, and the virgin soil yielded its hundred fold. In 1787 or 1788, Judge Dean built a saw- mill, and the year after a grist-mill. The first run of mill- stones in this mill was manufactured by Edward Higbee from a large granite rock, found a few rods easterly from Samuel Laird's dwelling. The remnant of this rock, with
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the marks of the drill left by Mr. Higbce, is still to be seen within the limits of the plank road. and but a few feet from the travelled path, perhaps ten rods from the present resi- dence of Franklin Smith. In quality these stones were very little inferior to the best French burr. A little later. Higbee erected another grist mill. on the stream, in quite the cast part of the town.
The north part of the town was settled much later. Mc- Kesson's Patent. known by the early inhabitants as the " two mile tract," lies in the north-westerly part of the town, and on which the village of Lowell is situated. was first settled in 1802. Stephen Stilson, in that year. became the first settler. but was, however, in the same year. followed by Doddridge Loomis, who " took up" the lot now owned by his brother. Capt. William Loomis, and, it is believed. that John Tuttle (who took up the lot on which Lowell is located). Zebulon. Tuttle, Caleb Thurston, Calvin Adams and David Stilson all came in that year.
In 1803, Sullivan Brighan .. Abel Brigham. Cyrus Rice- Isaiah Shed, Joseph Perkins, Ezekiel Miller. James Hemp- sted, Amos Smith, Nathan Adams and Park Adams settled on the tract Perhaps, there were others. but in that respect the author is unadvised.
In the north-easterly part of the town. Captains Lay and Lee, Sherman Patterson and his sons. John and Josiah Pat. terson. Isaac Goodsell, William and Ebenezer Cheever. Geo and Consider Law, Elijah Waters, Thomas Barnum, Ebene- zer. Ephraim and Heman Besse, George Williams. Alfred Richardson, a family of Peckhams, another of Bicknells. and another of Barkers, Samuel Bailey, John Nicholson. Henry Halleck, Potter Doolittle, and many others. settled in the latter part of the last and early in the present cen- tury On and near the road between Hampton and the
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furnace, Walter Cone, William, Josiah and Jonathan Patten, John Bowen, Stephen Hutchinson, Stephen Brigham and Daniel Babcock, were first settlers. East of Hampton, Ches- ter Stillman, Samuel Collins, Benjamin Waters, Nathan Thompson and John Baxter, were the first.
GEOLOGY, &C.
There is nothing peculiar in the geology of Westmoreland. A large portion of the land is descending to the north and north-east. The extreme south-west corner is the highest, and just above the Gilmore school house it extends for a few rods upon the high limestone region of the south part of the county. Deseending from that point to the north, but a short distance, the red shale makes its appearance. This, although not in a continuous body, but in detached masses in near proximity, extends across the county from a point a short distance south of Utica, keeping south of the Seneca plank road. passing out of the county near Oneida Castle, and from thence extending across Madison County. This red shale in some places in this town is more than 100 feet in depth. There are occasionally small masses of green shale, irregular in position, found within it. The water has, in some instances, worn deep gullies into it. In the side of the hill near the residences of Capt. I. F. Goodwin and Gershom Wood. the largest and deepest gully has been formed, and upon digging a well, Mr. Wood found that the earth to the depth of eighteen feet had been formed by this shale, washed from the hill. There is no more productive land in the county than the flats formed by this shale, thus washed down. Descending still northwardly, the iron region commences, and the iron ore is found near the surface, a little east and
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north of Lairdsville. Large quantities of this ore has been heretofore used in the Westmoreland, Lenox, Onondaga. Paris and some other furnaces. Over the iron ore there are inexhaustible quarries of building stone. Some strata of the stone are made up of myriads of small shells, intermingled with iron. Other strata are blue, with straight seams and very fine for building purposes. The rock and the vein of iron ore have a considerable dip to the south-west. Still de- scending lower, and but a few feet higher than the Oriskany Creek where it forms the east line of the town, is a quarry of sand-stone. It is presumed to be extensive, but it lies so deep, that it has only been found near enough to the surface to be quarried upon the farms of Deacon Thomas Halbert and David Mansfield. Near the Verona Springs, the ledge of granite formation crosses the west line of the town, and which crosses the Rome and Madison plank road, about one hundred rods south of Lowell. Its course is north-easterly. crossing the road from Lowell to Hampton, about a mile east of the former place, and terminates a short distance from Oriskany Village. It consists of thick heavy layers, from three to four feet in thickness, and some blocks are very extensive, while others are so small that they can be used for walls. Still lower, and further north on the road from Low- ell to Rome, is a quarry of blue free-stone. This stone cuts well, and has been extensively used for all purposes, for which cut stone is necessary. This quarry extends nearly to the north-west corner of the town. One layer of this stone was formerly used to some extent for grindstones, but the supe- riority of the Nova Scotia stones, and present low prices, have thrown them into disuse. This quarry lies some five or six hundred feet lower than the limestone from whence we started in the south-west corner of the town.
The quality of the land, for farming purposes, in West-
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moreland, is very various. The flats formed where the gulf brook empties the valley of the Oriskany, known in the vi- cinity as the Townsend flats, and a portion of the land in the neighborhood of Hampton, are equal to any in the county, and, excepting for wheat, are equal to any in the State.
The land lying west and north-west of Lowell Village is what may be termed first quality. A considerable portion of the town is good second rate land, and a portion in the northern half is swampy, cold, and far better for grass than grain. This section is, however, susceptible of great improve- ment, and where a good farmer has gone into the draining, and sub-soiling systems in earnest, the improved appearance of the farm and crops show that the labor has been profitably invested.
A hurricane of tremendous power passed through this town from west to cast in August, 1777. Its ravages, in de- tached places, could be traced from the. Oneida Lake to Cooperstown, but in no scetion did it seem to expend its foree with that fury as here. Its track was from a half a mile to a mile in width. So far as the author has been able to learn, it was witnessed by none but the wild denizens of the forest, but its devastations, however, show it to have been most terrific. The entire mighty forest in its course was prostra- ted. When this town was first settled, the yet undecayed prostrate trunks, and up-turned surface, showed that none but " Him who holds the winds in his fists " could have pro- duced such mighty. results. Where the second growth tim- ber has not been removed, and the surface levelled by the plow, its route can still be traced. At the time of the first settlement, the second growth trees were but small poles merely large enough to be beyond the reach of cattle, but those parts of the forest remaining are now the heaviest and most valuable timbered lands in the vicinity. A large pro-
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portion of the second growth timber was of different varie- ties, from the primitive growth, ash, cherry, butternut and bass-wood generally prevailing.
HISTORICAL REMINISCENCES.
In the month of August, 1806, this town was the scene of one of the most heart-rending tragedies to be found in the history of the county. Mrs. Betsey Halleck, wife of Henry Halleck, who resided on the road from Hampton Village to Rome, in cold blood, cut the throats of her four daughters. and then finished her work of blood by cutting her own. Her previous life had been one of untarnished excellence She had been a good daughter, wife and mother. Her ar- rangements were made in the most perfect manner to precludo interruption or prevention. Although the deed must have been determined upon for days, she did nothing by one word or act to cause suspicion of mental aberration, or of her bloody purpose. She chose for the time, when her husband was absent. for the afternoon, at the raising of a building in the vicinity of their residence. She swept the floor, covered the fire, and placed the house in the most perfect order. Taking a razor from its case, she then lured her four little daughters. the oldest eight years of age, the youngest an infant, into a corn field, where the grain at that season was so thick and high as to screen her from the observation of any who might happen to pass by, thus secure from observation, she cut the throats of her four children, and then put an end to her own existence in the same manner. As no eye but that of Om- niscience witnessed the deed, it is unknown which was the first victim. It seemed that the oldest daughter after her
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throat was cut ran a few rods, leaving her blood sprinkled upon the standing corn, and that then she was overtaken by the mother and the work completed. It also appeared, that the first time she applied the razor to her own throat, its edge was caught by ber jaw inflicting but a slight wound. She then seemed to have nerved her arm with a frantic despera" tion, and striking a second blow almost severed her head from her body. Upon her husband's return, and finding the house in order as described, he sought for his wife's bonnet, and found it in its usual place, but discovered that his razor had been taken from its case. The dreadful truth immedi- ately flashed upon his mind, and he proceeded to a neighbor's house, the alarm was given, and the lifeless bodies were soon «liscovered in the corn field. Upon preparing the bodies for the grave, it was found that of this even she had not been unmindful, for in her chest were suits of grave clothes for the five, recently washed and ironed and placed in order for each from the eldest to the youngest. This sad office performed, the husband and father then went to view all that remained of what at noon of that day cemposed his pleasant and happy family. Until then his Christian fortitude had sustained him, but the sight was too much for his endurance, and he fell senseless to the floor.
The funeral was attended in Hampton, and the Rev. Mr. Carnahan, pastor of the " united societies of Whitestown and old Fort Schuyler," addressed the large assembly, which had come to witness the desolation caused by this most unnatur- al act of a mother. The remains of the five were buried in one common grave, and the mystery, which has ever enshroud- ed the awful tragedy, will remain unsolved until the great day when the secrets of all hearts shall be laid open before a righteous judge. Notwithstanding all the coolness and cau- tion which characterized the preparation for, and execution
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of the terrible design, few or none doubted but that Mrs Halleek was at the time laboring under a religious mono-ma- . nia. Doubtless, she was suffering under a gloomy desponden- cy as to her own salvation, and believing in the happiness of those who die in infancy, she formed the dreadful resolve to " rush uncalled." with her offspring, into her Maker's pres- ence. and thus ensure their future welfare. Aside from this unprecedented finale. but few circumstances came to light- upon which to predicate such a belief. It was well known. that she had been in a desponding state of mind, and a few" days previously to the deed, she asked her husband's opin- ion as to the future state of children who died before the age of accountability. He replied, that he believed the balance of scripture testimony to be in favor of their future well being. The author closes this sad o'er-truc tale with the question from inspiration, " shall not the Judge of all the earth de right."
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